By Nicole Wolke <CKgroupie@gmx.net> (AKA CKgroupie on IRC)
Rated PG-13
Submitted July 1999
Summary: Who led the decision to wait until the wedding night? This "missing scene" offers a theory.
Author's Note: A few weeks ago I had a very heated discussion with some German FoLC-friends of mine, about who was responsible for the 'waiting until the wedding night'. My own opinion clearly saw Lois as the main initiator for that decision, but my friends thought that there was no question about it that Clark was the one who wanted to wait. We couldn't find a solution until I finally wrote this little vignette below. I think neither of us was right, because it is like Jonathan said in JSN: In a partnership both members of that partnership make their decisions together.
Thanks to Lynn, Pitty, Tina and Sigi my great discussion-partners and a special thank you to Georgia, who edited this story.
Feedback is very appreciated.
***
Lois opened the door to her apartment and let Clark enter in front of her. They hadn't talked much since they had left the computer center. The picture of Jaxon in his chair, the tormented expression on his face and the thought of the condition he now was in, had affected them deeply and they felt depressed.
"I guess we better start writing down the story immediately, don't you think?" Lois asked and looked at Clark uncertainly. Actually, she didn't really want to. Usually at the end of an investigation, she had this exciting feeling of satisfaction to again have done it, to have uncovered an injustice, a crime or a scandal, but this time… Jaxon had been such a poor creature, with such a miserable life, more victim himself than perpetrator.
Clark watched her face thoughtfully. She was pale and she looked a little bit shaken. He was sure that he didn't look much different himself.
"What do you say we wait until tomorrow?" he proposed. "To be honest I've had enough of that story for today. I don't think I would be able to write anything sensible or rational tonight anyway."
Lois nodded silently, relieved. "Why don't you sit down and I'll make us tea?" She smiled and pointed to the sofa. She turned around and opened the cabinet over the kitchen counter. "At least this time my teabags are really in here."
She heard Clark chuckle behind her and already had another remark on the tip of her tongue when she suddenly remembered how the tea thing had turned out the last time they had been in her 'apartment', back in the virtual world. There still were some things they had to talk about.
So a little while later, as they sat on the sofa with Lois cuddled in Clark's arm, she began. "Clark, we have to talk."
"Hm-mm," he murmured and laid his cheek on her hair. "You mean about 'the thing'?"
Lois nodded. "Yes."
They were silent for a moment, both searching for the right words to begin.
Finally Lois said, "I'm sorry that I acted so insensitive during our conversation about it. I just was so surprised. I mean… I didn't expect *that*!"
"You weren't insensitive, Lois," Clark said gently. "I know that it *is* … well, a little bit unusual." He took her hand and closed his fingers over hers. "There're probably not too many 30- year-olds with that little experience."
"At least not many who are as handsome as you are." Lois grinned but she sobered almost immediately again. She turned around to face him and looked at him curiously. "What I would like to know is, why did you wait?"
Clark thought about it for a moment. "You know, I think it wasn't really a deliberate decision. The main reason for it is of course that I'm different. I always knew that I could never have an intimate relationship with a woman without letting her in on the secret. So the "threshold" as you called it, was probably much higher for me than for most people. Another reason for it is that I've never been in a relationship where 'it' even became an issue. You know as I told you I had girlfriends and I dated, but no relationship got so serious that I thought about taking that step."
"Sex only in combination with real love…" Lois sighed. "I wish my own threshold had been a little bit higher, too. It would have spared me some unpleasant memories now. Although…" she furrowed her brow, "I want to be honest here. I thought I was in love every time I slept with someone - not that I want to you think there were so many… only two, actually - well, and I always thought that the man I was with loved me, too. Only it always turned out as a betrayal afterwards."
Clark watched her sympathetically. "This time it *is* love, Lois," he said quietly. "So much even that I can't find the words to describe it."
"I know." Lois smiled. "And this time I not only believe it. This time I *know* it."
She crossed her knees on the sofa and played absently with his hand. "What I still want to know is, why did *we* wait?"
Clark shrugged his shoulders. "Actually, I have no idea. I always had the impression that it was too soon … for me? For you? I don't know. Fact is, I didn't want to pressure you and…" he grinned, a little bit embarrassed, "…as you know now, I don't have much experience in the 'pressuring department' anyway."
Lois chuckled. "True, you were a very good boy all this time." She took his hand and kissed it tenderly. "And I want you to know that I thought it was cute. I still do."
She looked down on their intertwined fingers. "I also can't really say why I wasn't a little bit more aggressive myself. I guess I felt the same way you did. There were so many new issues in our relationship to deal with. The change from friendship to love, your secret, the engagement… I thought we needed time to slowly work out everything."
For a while neither of them spoke. Finally Clark said slowly, "We don't have to be in a hurry now, Lois. We have our whole life ahead. A few weeks sooner or later won't change that." He watched her tenderly. "When we're finally together, I want it to be a perfect experience for us both. I don't want to rush things and I don't want any doubts left."
Lois suddenly smiled and climbed on his lap. "Come on, aren't you in a hurry now, after our… you know… experience in the virtual world?" She grinned and nodded to the bedroom.
Clark chuckled. "Oh yes, I definitely am," he said emphatically and tightened his grip around her waist. "But I've waited so long for you now, I can wait a little bit longer."
"Hmm… Superman," Lois whispered and kissed his neck. "The man with the will of steel."
"And not only the will, Lois," Clark grinned.
Lois laughed out loud. "Well, we'll see about that, flyboy."
"How long is it to the wedding?" she asked a few minutes later.
"Two and a half months," Clark answered. "Why? Do you think we should see it as the 'magic date'?" He winked at her.
Lois shrugged her shoulders. "What do you think?"
"Actually, I think it would be romantic," Clark said. "Even if two and a half months seem to be *very* long from now."
Lois grinned. "And they will seem even longer once I start to tempt that oh-so-steely will of yours," she murmured seductively.
"Oh boy." Clark sighed happily.
THE END