Eveything Changes but Some Things Don't

Chapter 33: The 21st century – Two months after Brian’s month long coma (edited and reuploaded version)

Two months later found everyone gathered at the Kent Farm for Thanksgiving, they had all just finished eating and now were spreading out throughout the cozy house to sit and talk, get caught up on how everyone’s lives were going. Clark sat in his Jonathan’s father’s old armchair watching his friends and family with a happy, content expression on his face. At the couch sat Lana and Pete who had been together since they ran into each at the movies in Washington a few years ago with his mother. Clark didn’t know how they had figured out how to disable the Green Kryptonite suit Lana wore, because of one of Lex’s experiments, for short periods of time but was glad that they had because now all of his dear friends could be there with him during holidays and special occasions like today without him getting ill or worse.

In the kitchen sat Oliver, Dinah, Bart, AC, Victor and few other League members Clark knew but not as well as the others. In the dining room around the table sat Brian and Justin with a few school friends. As he watched everyone around him in their happiness he heard the bathroom door upstairs close and the soft footfalls of the one person missing from this picturesque moment and just as he thought this she appeared at the upstairs landing, Chloe Sullivan. To the outside world the woman on the steps was Lois Lane, but to him and everyone in this house except for Brian and Justin’s friends at this moment and for the rest of their lives she was and always would be Chloe. As she entered the living room and sat on a couch arm to talk to Lana and Pete Clark found himself just watching her every small movement. He loved her, always had if he was true with himself but hadn’t known what the soul-fulfilling, deep heart stopping feeling was until she had been missing with Davis Bloom aka Doomsday so many years ago.

At 32 Chloe was still breath taking beautiful. She now had dark chocolate brown hair instead of the blonde it had been for so many years when they were younger. She had a few more lines around her eyes but they didn’t look bad. They actually added another level of beauty to her features. She was a career woman, a mother but yet she could turn heads if she wished to and she knew it. As Clark watched her flip her hair over her shoulder and laugh at something Pete had said he thought back to the time that Chloe had mentioned her hair not being naturally blonde and he could easily remember his surprised reaction.

This memory made him smirk but also led to a sadder memory, a memory of Chloe crying as she told her mother she loved her as her mother went catatonic once again after a medication Lex’s people had created had worn off. This memory faded into a happier, touching one of Chloe had coming over that night sad that she couldn’t tell her mother who she was, what had become and found out Clark had already told her mother who her daughter had become. They had sat on the couch by the fire that night just talking about Chloe’s life when she was little until Chloe had fallen asleep against Clark’s shoulder. Clark had learned that night that Chloe’s true hair color was a dark chocolate brown, the dark chocolate brown her hair it was at this moment in time in fact.

As Brian got up slowly and started walking to the stairs Clark’s eyes followed him concerned. Brian was mending well but slowly. As he watched Brian reach the landing all he could think was, “Now he’s a real hero not me.”

When Clark turned back to talk to John Jones or J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Man hunter who had been a friend and ally of his real father’s, who was in his human skin today as not to scare Brian and Justin’s friends about something he had discovered within the MPD that Clark and Chloe had been researching he caught Chloe watching him with a soft smile. She looked the way Brian had gone and back to him smiling. She knew exactly what Clark had been thinking and whole heartedly agreed and it wasn’t just because Brian was her son. She would have been proud of anyone who risked their life for others but knowing it was her son and the real risk he was taking made her even more proud and afraid at the same time. Brian’s friends at the table besides Justin thought Brian had hurt himself playing a rough game of football.

That night as the stars started coming out and everyone had left the Kent Farm for their own homes or planes home Clark and Chloe were sitting on the porch swing drinking some hot cocoa while Brian and Justin were asleep in Clark’s old room and Mrs. Kent was asleep in her own bed too.

“How is it this place always feel more like home to me than the city I grew up in?” Chloe asked to the air as she watched the stars sparkling.

“How is it this place feels like home to an alien from another planet like me?” Clark replied.

“Intergalactic traveler...”

“What?”

“You prefer intergalactic traveler instead of alien from another planet,” Chloe replied smiling at him in a way he was beginning to notice more and more was just for him and had always been that way.

“Okay, intergalactic traveler,” Clark smiled back remembering the conversation between them Chloe was paraphrasing.

“Let’s go for a walk around the yard like we used to.”

“Okay, Shelby…”Clark called out into the night. A few minutes later as the two started walking across the yard an old golden retriever came walking over slowly.

“Hey Shelby,” Chloe said softly kneeling down to pet the old dog who began licking her face.

When she stood she looked up to see Clark watching Shelby as he walked beside them sadly, “What’s wrong Clark?”

“He’s not going to last much longer…maybe a year or two. His heart is starting to give out on him, Chloe. There were health consequences because of Luthor Corp’s experiments on him but now that he’s older those problems as well as the ones that come with age are adding up and its getting to be too much for his body.”

“Oh, Clark, I’m so sorry.”

“Me too, but life has to end as well as start right?”

“Yes, but still it’s got to hurt to know he won’t be around much longer. Have you thought about maybe getting a puppy to fill the hole a bit?”

“Yes, actually I have but I don’t think I want to until Shelby starts to really fade, you know?”

“Yeah that makes sense.”

“I’ve been researching on the internet for the right kind of dog for the farm and mom to have now that she’s louder but still raising a teenage boy.”

“That’s smart.”

“Hey let’s go up to the loft I haven’t been up there for so long. I wonder if its changed any?”

“Probably not, but let’s go up for old times’ sake anyways,” Chloe replied starting up the stairs ahead of him with a smile.

When they got up to the loft Chloe went right to the loft doors and pushed them open to let the crisp fall wind blow through. She watched the night sky and landscape with a huge smile on her face.

She turned to Clark, who was carrying over a light jacket for her, having noticed the goose bumps appearing on her skin, and said, “Still the same; beautiful, breath taking and wonderfully homey like it always was. Nothing’s changed.”

“Things have changed just not the things that matter most,” Clark replied smiling softly down at Chloe after helping her put the jacket on and rubbing her arms for a moment.

“What’s wrong Clark?”

“Why do you think something’s wrong, Chlo?”

“Because I know you Clark. When you get this way, something’s wrong…so what is it?”

“Nothing…really,” he replied seeing her eyebrow raise and went on, “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s perfect…perfect for…”

“Perfect for what?” Chloe asked curious.

“Chloe, you know you mean a lot to me, right?” Clark said holding the barn window ledge and looking down at the ground.

“Of course I do. You mean a lot to me too, Clark. We’re friends, always will be,” Chloe said touching his hand softly.

“I know that Chlo, but that’s not what I mean – not exactly…” Clark said grasping her hand and looking at her seriously, beginning to get nervous she noticed.

“Then what do you mean, Clark?” Chloe said starting to get nervous too. Clark only got like this when something serious was happening and it was scaring her a bit.

“I mean…” Clark began as he walked away to the old wooden desk in the loft and reached below it for a strange metal box with Kryptonian symbols all over the lid.

“Clark?” Chloe asked turning fully to face him voice confused with just a hint of fear.

“I mean…I – I love you Chloe. Always have, really but I never had the brains… no…I never had the courage to own up to it or tell you. I let you slip away from me so many times either by agreeing to your ‘just friends’ speech or letting others get in the way like Lana and Jimmy. We were always there for each other no matter the situation. Nothing could separate us, not even space and time. We’ve always been the perfect team in everything we did or…do now. You’ve always stood beside me, encouraged me, put me back together – when I fell apart, kicked me in the ass when I needed it, believed in me and I’ve always done the same for you, always…”

“Clark what are you getting at? Not that the speech isn’t beautiful and sweet but its sounding like a goodbye speech and I have to tell you I don’t like your goodbye speeches because you end up walking away after them.” Chloe replied walking to stand right in front of Clark.

“It’s not a goodbye speech, Chloe believe me when I say I’m not going anywhere, not anymore. I’m home. Chloe, do you know what this says?”

“Okay, that’s good to hear because I like you here…” Chloe began with a relieved smile but then continued on saying, “Um, Clark it’s been a few years since I had a Kryptonian to English dictionary in my head so no I don’t know what the symbols say and what’s with the switch in conversation?”

“I’m not switching conversations Chloe. Trust me, I’m not. You see this is box holds something very special to me and my future…”

“Okay, want to clue a girl in here, I’m confused? What’s the box got to do with you and your future?”

“This box holds the bracelet meant for my síoraí céile, my eternal mate.”

“Wait, the bracelet you got from Kyla the Kawatche Indian girl who could turn into a wolf?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, neat…but I know that already why are you telling me again unless…you’ve found your mate? Have you Clark?” Chloe asked and when Clark remained silent not correcting her she knew her answer and replied, “That’s…that’s great Clark!” trying to sound happy for Clark but feeling her heart break just a little more once again.

“Yes, I have Chloe…it’s…”

“Who? Do I know her? Is it Kat the gossip columnist?”

“Kat! Heck NO! But you do know her…it’s you Chloe. Once I really began to think things through I knew it to be true. You’re my eternal mate.”

“What?! I think the wine’s gotten to your head Clark. How can I be your eternal mate? Your nuts!”

“No I’m not Chloe and you know alcohol doesn’t have any effect on me. Chloe your voice helped me focus my super hearing when it first came into the picture. Your heartbeat is the only heartbeat I can hear at all times no matter what. For everyone else even my own mother I have to concentrate. The few times I thought you were dead my super hearing would go out of control which upset the balance of all my other powers…”

“How does that prove I’m your eternal mate? It could just mean you need me around to keep balanced?”

“No Chloe you’re not listening to me. When I thought you were dead I didn’t want to go on, I didn’t want to be the hero you always knew me to be. Kryptonian mates balance each other and no one else can fill that place. Kryptonian mates stand side by side in everything, just like we have. You’re my eternal mate, Chloe I know it deep in my soul and I know you do too, you’ve always known,” he said taking the bracelet out of the box and holding it out to Chloe before he went down on one knee and asked, “Chloe, will you do our eternal souls’ the honor of being my bonded mate?”

“Ohh—my—please tell me this isn’t a dream that the alarm clock is going to wake me up from because if it is I may just hurt someone?” A truly shocked Chloe said to Clark holding her hands in front of her heart to try and control its pounding.

“It’s not a dream Chlo…unless it’s a dream come true if you answer the way I’m hoping you will?”

“And if I don’t?”

“We’ll continue with this dance we’ve been dancing since we met and never feel truly complete ever, even if we marry in the Earthly way, but really Chlo do you want to do that to us..after all we’ve been through?”

“No…um…okay.”

“Okay? Okay what? Say it.”

“Okay…yes….Yes I’ll be your mate.” Chloe said smiling down at Clark who was smiling shyly up at her.

“Yes? Yes!” He said standing up and grabbing her in a tight hug, swinging her around a bit.

When he placed her back on her feet he kissed her deeply until they were both a bit breathless. When they separated to get some air Clark put his forehead to Chloe’s and both had huge smiles on their faces. After a moment of standing like this Chloe nuzzled against Clark’s throat and said, “So, when are you going to give me my new bracelet accessory?”

“Right now,” Clark said laughing as he let her go and stepped away a bit. He carefully took her hand and slowly slid the bracelet on to her right wrist. Where for a moment it lay like a ring around a ring toss pole, not fitting right but just when Chloe was going to ask if they were going to need to get it sized it glowed turquoise and changed sizes on its own until it fit snuggly on her wrist without cutting off circulation.

“Clark not that this isn’t a beautiful bracelet up won’t people notice when Lois Lane starts wearing a weird alien metal bracelet all the time?”

“They won’t know. Only we and those we deem worthy will. If you push a sectional button of the bracelet it will change appearance to those around you who don’t know to look like any other bracelet or watch you might wear, but to those we trust and us it will look like it does right now.”

“Really?! That’s cool. Why’d your people build that into their bracelets?”

“They didn’t. This bracelet was my great-grandmother’s bracelet. My great-grandfather after she died couldn’t handle having it anymore and knowing one of his kin would be coming here and staying left it here with the Kawatche Indians, knowing somehow it would get to his kin one day again. If you look deep within the stone you will see my family’s symbol as well as the symbol for eternal mate side by side.”

“Whoa! Okay, that’s beyond cool. You’ll have to show me that sometime when we can’t sleep at night or something.”

“Okay. I can do that.” Clark smiled hugging Chloe to him again.

A while later they returned to the house and sat on the couch in front of the fire talking. In the morning they awoke to the smell of coffee brewing. When they arose from their sleeping positions (Clark sitting up on the couch with his head on top of Chloe’s who’s head was laying on his chest while she slept on him) they walked into the kitchen to find Mrs. Kent making omelets for everyone.

Mrs. Kent turned from the coffee pot with two steaming cups of coffee for her son and Chloe.

“Good Morn…Oh My God!” Mrs. Kent began but when her eyes fell on the bracelet on Chloe’s right wrist both cups fell from her grasp. Clark went into super speed to save the cups and placed them on the kitchen nook as Mrs. Kent ran around it to hug Chloe.

After Mrs. Kent released Chloe she brought her wrist up so the sunlight shone on the bracelet and looked at Clark asking with a huge smile on her face, “Does this mean what I think it does, Clark?!”

“Yes, Mom it does,” Clark said smiling brightly at Chloe who smirked back at him.

“Oh, I’m so happy for the both of you! We have to have a party to celebrate. Here. At the farm. Soon.”

“Actually Mrs. Kent…”

“Martha, dear. Call me Martha or…Mom. Both are fine. You’ve always been family to us, always.”

“Actually Mom…we were going to ask you about having a little ceremony here in the yard for just those close to us who…”

“Who know about Clark’s secret. Of course we can do that dear. But when?”

“We were thinking next week, Mom? Would that be okay? Or are you busy?”

“A week?! Well even if I am busy I’ll just have to reschedule whatever it is because my son has found his mate and we have to celebrate this great occasion,” Martha Kent smiled at her son.

“Oh, this is just wonderful…” she said as she went back to making breakfast mumbling about what had to be done before the party could happen and what she had to do to get the party ready.

Clark and Chloe left Martha to plan in the kitchen as they went up the stairs to wake Brian and Justin and tell them the news.

~The song Written In the Stars by Westlife starts playing in background ~

A week later found everyone back at the Kent Farm for a small Kryptonian bonding ceremony which was basically Clark and Chloe exchanging vows in Kryptonian and English. As well as Chloe placing the El family/leader of Krypton’s bracelet on Clark which now held her grandmother from her mom’s side’s wedding ring inside the ‘S’.

There in the yard out in front of one of the huge trees that Chloe always loved Clark and Chloe stood in front all their friends and committed themselves, completely to each other.

Clark smiled down at Chloe with tears in his eyes holding her hands and said, “ I, Kal-el of Krypton, also known as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas and Superman of Earth take you Chloe Sullivan to all here and Lois Lane to all the world as my eternal mate. You have always been my heart, soul, courage, strength and will throughout our lives. We may have only truly met when we were 14 but we were made for each other at the beginning of time and we will be together until the end of our time. You are my partner in everything we do, no matter what it be, an article, a life together, to fight for this world. We will be side by side from now until eternity ends. Which hopefully is not too soon. I have always and will remain by your side even if I leave this world one day and you must go on as you will remain with me. I have always and will always love you with all I am. I may be the strongest man on Earth because of my Kryptonian heritage but you Chloe are what makes me so strong. You are the strongest, most unbelievably talented, frustrating, and courageous women I know besides my own mother. You have been by my side guiding me in my destiny as much as anyone else here. You have saved me more times than I can count, even more than I have saved you and I can never thank you enough for each and every time but for the rest of our lives I will try and show you how grateful I am to for always believing in and loving me. You are my one and only true weakness, even more than Green Kryptonite and I wouldn’t want it any other way. So, I ask you Chloe Sullivan of Earth in front of all our friends and family to become my bonded mate for eternity and on.”

Chloe’s eyes were streaming tears but she was smiling her brightest smile yet and replied, “Yes, I, Chloe Sullivan of Earth will take you Kal-el of Krypton, also known as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas and Superman of Earth as my bonded mate for eternity and on. Clark from the moment a met you and you took me up to your loft for the first time, listening to me complain that nothing interesting would happen here in Smallville and how I lost my most precious book in the move, secretly using your powers to go to the library and get the book for me I have always loved you. At first it started out as a friendship love for this small town farm boy I had just met but soon it became a deep affection, unrequited. Then once I had learned your secret it became a deep admiring love. I was so proud and amazed by you. I watched as you loved another and began to become the hero I always knew you were. I loved you enough to let you go and find love with someone else. I love you enough to give you to the world that needed and still needs you even though I want to keep you with me forever, safe and away from anything that could hurt you. You have always been my heart, soul, courage, strength and will throughout our lives, in the best and worst of all things. You are my partner in everything. I know you like I know myself and I wouldn’t change a thing about you, your perfect in all your intergalactic travlerness. We will be side by side from now until eternity ends because now that I have you all to myself I’m not going to let you go, Mister. I have always and will remain by your side even if I leave this world one day and you must go on as you will remain with me. I have always and will always love you with all I am. You and my son are my only weaknesses and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I will always be around to encourage, strengthen, save you or bring you back to Earth when you get to high if you ever need me to as I always have. You have and always be my hero Clark and I love you for it. So I, Chloe Sullivan of Earth in front of all our friends and family ask you Kal-el of Krypton to become my bonded mate for eternity and on.”

Clark smiled down at Chloe, wiped her happy tears away and replied, “Yes I will,” and kissed her softly on the lips in front of everyone.

~song ends ~

As they kissed a circle of light spread out around them and everyone there and then disappeared. After it disappeared everyone looked to Clark for an explanation and all he said was, “Now Jor-el knows I’m married and will allow my wife to join me in the Fortress without the winter storms and blizzards.”

AN: please read, rate, review, etc please hope u all are liking it