dovelike | (no subject)

Six months ago, Eirene became engaged to an alien.

Fix months ago, she returned to her own world for almost two months, to make arrangements with Time himself so that she could pass through the Bar into Clark's world without things falling apart in her homeland without her presence.

Three months ago, the goddess returned to Clark's world with an agreement to go home twice a month to keep abreast of things and never leave her realm without a symbol of peace, barring any childbearing in which it would not be safe to travel.

Two month ago, she met with Senator Kent (and her future mother in law) and agreed to take cooking lessons when Martha had time.

An hour ago, Eirene completed her first solo dinner preparations, an early Halloween meal for herself and Clark. Except he's not returned from the office yet. Being late is generally an assumed thing with her fiance, and she's used to it. Really, it would just be nice if he called.

So she doesn't start panicking.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

hero_farmboy

He does, and then shakes his head. "I'm fine. Now. It's completely gone."

From:

eirenikos

She's pretty sure he knows what she means, but instead of trying to argue the point and get him to admit anything emotionally, Eirene is just going to tug him over and wrap her arms around as much of his shoulders as she can manage.

"I love you."

From:

hero_farmboy

"I love you, too." He leans his head against hers. "Do you think you might be able to forgive me one day?"

From:

eirenikos

There's a small sigh, before she reaches up and tilts his head just enough to brush her lips against his eyelids, and his eyebrows, and his nose.

"I already have, Clark."

And then his mouth, very gently.

From:

hero_farmboy

"I'm sorry," he whispers yet again as she draws back. "Thank you."

From:

eirenikos

"Hey, we love each other right? So when one person messes up, the other forgives," she whispers in return and settles a hand over his heart.

From:

hero_farmboy

That coaxes another smile out of him, although still small and hesitant. "I'm going to be waiting a long time for you to mess up, aren't I?"

From:

eirenikos

"Clark, you live with an accident-prone goddess. I mess up and break things, and occasionally get kidnapped by Lex all the time."

Sheepish look.

From:

hero_farmboy

"That wasn't your fault," he says firmly. "And you didn't hurt anyone."

From:

eirenikos

"Well, you did probably hurt that biker that was trying to assault me, and we had several confrontations, but you were on red k at the time. It doesn't excuse what you did, but ... I can't hold you completely responsible for being under the influence of something you don't have control over. And don't even bring up the subject of holding greek k here. I won't allow it."

From:

hero_farmboy

"That doesn't erase the hurt I did cause you. No, I didn't mean to do it, but it still happened." Clark sighs. "I'm dangerous."

From:

eirenikos

"And the hurt you did cause doesn't erase all the years I've known you where you've done good. Everyone has bad days, it's just in your case that you happen to be stronger than almost everyone around you."

Another quick kiss, and she'll tug him closer against her. "I'm not abandoning you. Promise."

From:

hero_farmboy

That-- doesn't exactly help, but it's a circular argument and Clark is starting to get tired.

"Thank you." For forgiving him, for not abandoning him, for still loving him.

From:

eirenikos

They specialize in circular arguments. Luckily for Clark, he's saved by the arrival of the pizza, and Eirene slides off the couch to get some cash and pay for the meal before he can. Once two plates, the pizza and two cokes are settled on the coffee table, she might just crawl back into his lap for a few minutes and rub a palm across his chest.

"For richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health. In six months, we're going to say something similar like that to each other. I mean it now and I'll mean it then."

Beat.

"And yes I'll probably babble like this in one hundred years."

From:

hero_farmboy

"I hope so," he teases softly, re-wrapping his arms around her. "I like your babble."

he kisses her cheek. "I can't believe how lucky I am to have found you."

From:

eirenikos

"It wasn't luck, but a really bad drink." She snuggles against him, and mouths her way across his chin; feeling a little calmer, and willing to put all this behind her. Because she's insane like that.

"I'm the lucky one, Clark. I found someone who loves me for me, and accepts that I love him too."

From:

hero_farmboy

Clark is not mollified so easily. Despite the training, the confidence he's fostered over the years, guilt is still an issue.

"We both are."

From:

eirenikos

"Agreed." Eirene is a patient woman, most of the time, but living around so many alpha males for the majority of her life has given her a little insight into how a man thinks. At least the ones in her world. So she eases one of his hands away from her waist and settles it over a breast.

"Very lucky."

Because when you fall down, you have to get back up and keep going.

From:

hero_farmboy

Yes, you do. Unless you're Clark. And then, you pull away almost immediately, frowning.

"Eirene, I can't... not after what I did."

From:

eirenikos

"Yes, you can. If only to remind yourself that we have something very special. Which we do. If necessary, there will be seduction involving an old belly dance outfit."

Stern face.

From:

hero_farmboy

"I know we have something special. That's why I don't want to ruin it." He's still inching away. "Let's just sleep on it tonight, okay?"

From:

eirenikos

"Yes, of course. The last thing I want to do is make you even more uncomfortable." She sits up, trailing a finger across his jaw. "But first, we should eat pizza."