Because You Loved Me By Michelle Puthoff (Keina) keina@iwaynet.iwaynet.net Summary: Vignettes of Lois and Clark in later life, set against Celine Dion's song "Because You Loved Me." I would like to thank the following people who helped and/or inspired me in the writing of this story: Demi: A fellow Celine Dion fanatic. If you hadn't told me that she had a new CD out, I would have never heard this song until it had hit the charts. You are one of my favorite people and I'm really glad I have gotten the chance to know you. Bizarra: To my bestest friend! Your constant support, pushing, mothering, b*tching...(ur, I'll stop there! ) has not only improved my writing but been a sense of amusement to me! I tried to name a character for you but *You* told me to cut the name out ;-) I hope you finally finish the 18 gazlion stories you have started. All characters used here are copyrighted by Warner Brothers, etc...etc...etc. The characters are theirs, the story is mine! The song "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion is used without permission. I hope they don't mind too terribly, but it is such a beautiful song for Lois & Clark, it just screamed to have a song written to it. If you haven't heard this song, I STRONGLY suggest you take the time to listen to it. It is a beautifully haunting song that will stick on your head for hours. Hearing the song it your head while you read this will only increase your enjoyment of this story. Any questions comments, etc are always welcome. My email address is Keina@iwaynet.iwaynet.net. Keina (a.k.a. Michelle Puthoff) *** # For all those times you stood by me # For all the truth that you made me see # For all the joy you brought to my life # For all the wrong that you made right # For every dream you made come true # For all the love I found in you # I'll be forever thankful baby # You're the one who held me up # Never let me fall # You're the one who saw me through # through it all Clark felt Lois's hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he smiled "What, honey? Lois returned his smile. "I just wanted to spend some time with you," she said sadly. "What's wrong," Clark asked, pulling Lois onto his lap. Lois lay her forehead against Clark's chest. "Oh, I don't know, I just had this -overwhelming urge- to be with you." Tipping her head back so that he could stare into her eyes, Clark placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Lois, after fifty some odd years of marriage, I still have -overwhelming urges- to be with you." Laughing lightly, Lois slipped her arms around Clark's neck. "Well old man, let's go satisfy those urges." # You were my strength when I was weak # You were my voice when I couldn't speak # You were my eyes when I couldn't see # You saw the best there was in me # Lifted me up when I couldn't reach # You gave me faith 'coz you believed # I'm everything I am # Because you loved Clark awoke and immediately knew something was wrong; it was just -too- quiet. Looking down at Lois laying in his arms, it hit him. She was gone. Lois's heartbeat, the one constant in his life since the day he met her, was gone. His fingers sought out the spot on her neck where, today like so many times before, her heartbeat raced against his lips during their lovemaking. It was silent. # You gave me wings and made me fly # You touched my hand I could touch # the sky # I lost my faith, you gave it back to me # You said no star was out of reach # You stood by me and I stood tall # I had your love I had it all # I'm grateful for each day you gave me # Maybe I don't know that much # But I know this much is true # I was blessed because I was loved # by you A few days after the funeral, Clark finally made himself face the house alone. After Lois's death, he had stayed with their daughter, Lara and her husband. But now -Clark- had to face his memories. Walking through the quiet house, Clark felt more alone than ever; even when his powers were newly forming and he had realized just how truly different he was. Her presence was everywhere. He kept expecting to hear her voice calling from another room. But he knew that wasn't going to happen and he missed her. # You were my strength when I was weak # You were my voice when I couldn't speak # You were my eyes when I couldn't see # You saw the best there was in me # Lifted me up when I couldn't reach # You gave me faith 'coz you believed # I'm everything I am # Because you loved me Something drew him to her writing desk. A blue envelope leaned against a picture of them. It simply said, "Clark". Clark picked up the picture, their first Kerth award as husband and wife, and rested his forehead against the cool glass for a moment. Placing it back on the desk, he sat and opened the letter. Clark, Watching you sleep after making love to me, I suddenly needed to write this to you. For some unknown reason, I feel as though this is my last day with you. There are things I need to say to you. No matter what else you remember about our time together, remember that I loved you. With all my heart and all my soul. Even during the times when I was so angry at you, I couldn't see straight. I never stopped loving you. And I never will Remember Clark, you are never alone. My love, my everything is with you forever. Lois # You were always there for me # The tender wind that carried me # A light in the dark shining your love # into my life # You've been my inspiration # Through the lies you were the truth # My world is a better place because # of you Twenty years later, in a gaily decorated baby's nursery, Clark was startled out of his reminisces by the baby's cry. Looking down at the fragile newborn squirming in his arms, he smiled gently. Calming the infant's cries, he looked in her tiny brown eyes. *Just like Lois's,* he thought. His grand-son Jonathan, had asked if Clark would mind if he and his wife named their daughter Lois, since the baby was born exactly twenty years to the day after her death. Somehow that had seemed appropriate; remembering Lois's death with life. The baby fell asleep in Clark's arms. He rocked the child a while longer. For Lois, he had gone on. It had been hard to let her go, but Clark realized he had never lost her, not in his heart. She was right, she -was- always with him. Watching their children raise -their- children, and now with the birth of their first great-grandchild, Clark felt closer to Lois than ever. Lying the baby in her bassinet, Clark sat watching her sleep. # You were my strength when I was weak "Clark" # You were my voice when I couldn't speak Scanning the room quickly, he found there was no one there. But he -heard- a voice...Lois's voice. # You were my eyes when I couldn't see Clark felt her hand on his shoulder. "Lois" Looking up, he saw her again. She wasn't the Lois that he had seen on the day she had died; older, mature, and beautiful. She was the Lois of their wedding day; young, vibrant, bewitching. # You saw the best there was in me Lois smiled at Clark, "I love you." # Lifted me up when I couldn't reach Clark stood and pulled her into his arms, kissing her with all the passion of twenty years of lost love. Epilogue They found Clark sitting in the rocking chair, he had died peacefully as the baby Lois had been sucking on his finger. There was a gentle smile on his face. # You gave me faith 'coz you believed # I'm everything I am # Because you loved me THE END (b-cause.txt)