Chlark Fanfic: Today, Tomorrow and Forever
After being relentlessly badgered kindly asked to take Daisychain to a sweet conclusion, I put on my thinking hat and came up with this little oneshot.
I really need to learn to be firm with you guys. I’m such a pushover.
Enjoy! J
ETA 10.11.12: check out the amazing banner grlmonday made for me! Isn't she wonderful? Thank you so much, Caina! *smishes you* :-)
Title: Today, Tomorrow and Forever
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlark, Oneshot, 1,800 words
Rating: PG13
Warnings: None
Timeline: Post-series/futurefic
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Summary: Clark realises that wishes do come true when you wish upon a star with all your heart.
Feedback: I’m addicted to it. J
Sequel to Daisychain. Based on a suggestion by trini_redster at Kryptonsite. Thanks for the inspiration, babes. J
"I’ll wish to see her again, and know her name, and then I’ll take her to a dance, and we’ll be best friends forever.”
- Clark Kent, aged 6. Summer, 1992.
***
Summer, 2012
Chloe & Clark: Today, Tomorrow & Forever
Clark placed his hands over those of his bride and gently grasped the gilded knife. Chloe turned her head and glanced at him over her shoulder, a bright grin across her face. He smiled and leaned forward to rub his nose against hers.
Just then, the unmistakable sound of a throat being cleared made him jerk his head up suddenly. Lois stood looking at them with folded arms, a wry expression on her face.
“If you two are done ogling each other…” she quipped, tapping her foot sternly.
A rumble of laughter went through the room as he looked up and grinned, rubbing his chin against Chloe’s bare shoulder.
“Sorry,” he murmured, contrite. “We’re done - for now.”
“Thank you,” said Lois, with a grin. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Clark and Chloe chorused.
“Okay everyone,” Lois said, addressing the guests. “On the count of ‘Today, Tomorrow and Forever’, like the wedding banner says.” She rubbed her hands together. “Today…”
Clark tightened his hands on Chloe’s.
“Tomorrow…”
He felt her tense up against him in anticipation. Then…
“…and Forever!”
At the last word, Clark and Chloe sliced the knife downward and cut the decadent Belgian chocolate and coffee cake to a smattering of cheers and applause from their wedding guests. They grinned at each other, then Clark lowered his head and kissed his wife as the caterers came to collect the cake to serve up to the guests, leaving the top layer for the new couple.
He smiled to himself as he cut a generous slice of the decadent dessert. The unusual choice of wedding cake was such a representation of Chloe herself. Unconventional, eclectic…and thoroughly addictive.
He broke off a bite-sized piece and offered it to her. “Here you go,” he said, nudging her lips with the tasty morsel.
She grinned and obediently parted her lips so he could pop it in. “I could get used to this,” she sighed, making a production of chewing and swallowing the rich dessert.
“Is there a napkin handy?” he asked, scanning the table. “The frosting’s melting on my fingers.”
“I can take care of that,” she purred seductively with a sultry smile. In one graceful move she took his hand, slid his fingers into her mouth and sucked the frosting off.
“Mmm…” she said as she savoured the rich taste of the coffee and chocolate frosting. “It tastes better when it’s melted, anyway.”
Clark opened his mouth to agree with her when her words struck a chord in his distant memory. He narrowed his eyes as cobwebs gradually dissolved from the corners of his mind to reveal a young boy and a young girl sitting together in a park, years and years ago. The faded image became clearer and clearer until he could see it in his mind’s eye as though he were watching a 3D movie.
His heart beat faster as snippets of a conversation long since forgotten began to surface through the fog.
My chocolate’s melting, but you can have three squares…I like it better when it’s melted, anyway…when I grow up I’m gonna work in that building over there…what do they do there?...they write stories and put them in the newspapers…that sounds really cool…It is, and if they’re really good, you win Pull-It Surprises for them…
“Clark?” he heard Chloe say. “Hello, earth to Clark Kent…”
He looked into her eyes, and stared in wonderment. It was her. It had to be her. How could it possibly not be?
She regarded him curiously. “You okay, Clark?”
He nodded, memories swirling in his brain as he recalled their conversation almost word for word.
May I be your princess?...You can be my Queen…May I crown you?...it may not fit now, but you’ll grow into it…I’d love to be your Queen! I’ll be Queen Chl-
“Chloe,” he breathed. “Queen Chloe.”
She blinked up at him. “Whatever, dude. It’s time for our first dance. You ready?”
She’s my Queen, Mommy. When we grow up, we’re going to a dance.
He grinned down at her, his eyes shining. “You bet I’m ready.”
He led her to the centre of the dance floor and took her in his arms. Slowly, they swayed to the music as he held her as close as he could without drawing any disapproving looks from their wedding guests.
Chloe lifted her head and smiled up at him. “We did it.”
“We did it,” he beamed. He stroked her cheek tenderly. “You happy?”
“Happiest moment of my life,” she sighed, relaxing into his large frame. “Nothing can top this.”
He took a deep breath. “Chloe, can I ask you something?”
“Anything. Although if it’s what I think it is, you’ll have to save it for the Honeymoon Suite.”
He smiled indulgently. “Not that, though it is very high up on my list.” He gave her a twirl, then brought her back into his arms. “When was the first time you cut your hair?”
She frowned. “Wow, that’s going back pretty far. I know I had long hair right up until Mom left, so it must have been some time after that.” She squinted as she cast her mind back several years.
“I think Dad took me for a haircut one afternoon at a posh Metropolis Salon. I must have been about six years old.” She answered. “Why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “Just curious. How did you feel about having short hair?”
Her eyes narrowed and she looked thoughtful. “I remember being upset at the time, and I think my Dad must have realised it because he took me out for ice-cream.” She smiled. “Coffee Cream Delight, two scoops. And that was the beginning of a love affair that has surpassed all others and remains strong in my heart to this day.”
He smiled. “What did you look like?”
“Hmm,” she mused. “That first haircut was really short, like boy-short. I thought it was horrid, but someone…” she smiled distantly. “Someone told me I looked like an imp, or an elf, or…what was it, now…?”
“A pixie?”
She snapped her fingers. “Yeah, that’s it! A pixie!” She smiled reminiscently. “Wow…it’s interesting what you remember at the oddest of times.” She nodded to herself. “A pixie…I wasn’t too happy with that comparison, as I recall.”
“Pixies are cute,” he said softly.
She laughed gaily. “That’s…” Her smile disappeared, and he saw a faraway look in her eyes. “…what he said,” she finished on a whisper, looking up at him incredulously.
“Who?” he prodded gently.
“The little boy,” she whispered. “The little boy in the park…he sat with me. We had chocolate, and he gave me a crown…”
“…made of daisies,” he finished quietly.
Her eyes widened in disbelieving shock. “How do you…?” she breathed, not quite believing what her eyes were seeing. She tilted her head and looked at him, studying him through new eyes.
Her hands dropped away from him and she covered her mouth. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “My little King…”
“Not so little anymore, as it happens,” he said with a smile.
Chloe reached out and touched him, still in shock. “Oh, my God,” she repeated with a shaky laugh. “Clark! That was you?”
“Queen Chloe,” he said with a smile. He tapped the bridal tiara that he had picked out for her. “Seems like you did grow into my crown, after all.”
“This is crazy!” she said in amazed shock.
“Is it so hard to believe?” he asked tenderly. “I’m surprised I didn’t connect the dots years ago. I mean, how many cute, smart, blonde six-year-olds want to work at the Daily Planet?”
“I can’t believe it.” She seemed unable to take it all in. Then she grinned evilly. “I knew you were inhumanly pretty, I knew it!”
“Hey!” he said with mock severity. “My hair was not girly!”
“Maybe not, but you sure were pretty. You still are,” she said smugly.
“And you’ve still got a smart mouth on you,” he shot back. “Just where did you get off, calling me a strange kid?”
She laughed at the memory. “Turns out I wasn’t lying,” she chirped with a grin. She looked up at him and her gaze softened. “It’s so good to see you again.”
He enfolded her in a huge hug. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a long, long time,” he breathed into her hair. And he wasn’t lying. He’d sat up night after night for weeks, wearing his daisychain bracelet and staring up into the night sky, waiting for one of those twinkling lights to streak across the horizon so he could make his wish.
It would be three months before he spotted a shooting star. But spot one he did, and the moment the star seemed to fall out of the sky, he’d held onto the tattered and withered flowery remains of his bracelet and stated his list of demands with all his heart.
Like all children, he’d expected instant gratification. He’d waited for weeks and weeks, but the little girl didn’t show up in his driveway. Heartbroken, he’d thrown the flowers away and made up his mind to forget the little pixie who’d given them to him. Lana was still over the road, and his Dad had gotten him a telescope, so she’d provided a welcome distraction.
That was, until Chloe came into his life almost eight years later. And by then, he’d forgotten all about his blonde little pixie. In fact, he’d forgotten all about her until this very moment.
As the song drew to a close, he sent up a silent prayer of thanks. It had taken twenty years, but everything he’d wished for had been granted.
He’d met her again.
He knew her name, and she knew his. Better yet, his name was now her name.
They had finally finished a dance together; the first of many, he was sure.
And as he lowered his head to hers for a kiss, he knew without a doubt that they were definitely going to be friends for all eternity.
Today, tomorrow, and forever.
***
The End.