Clark tried not to let the news upset him. Christmas was coming, and it wouldn't do for him to be sulking about.

His mother had found out that Lois didn't have anyone to celebrate the holidays with. Chloe would be with her father in Metropolis, General Lane was off on some mission in some corner of the world and Lucy wasn't able to come. So Lois had been invited to the Kent family Christmas celebrations.

Clark did feel sorry for Lois for not having family around this time of year. But why did she even have to join the Kents for their celebrations? Couldn't she have celebrated with the Sullivans?

"Smallville, why do you look like you've swallowed a lemon? It's Christmas, no one should be grumpy this time of the year, especially not you!" The bane of his existence had arrived at the farm two minutes ago and had immediately started bothering him.

Clark forced a smile on his face. "Hi Lois, it's nice of you to join us," he said. "But why didn't you want to celebrate with Chloe and her dad? I mean, they are your family."

Lois shrugged. "Chloe hasn't had a chance to spend much time with her dad lately," she said. "I didn't want to intrude on their alone time together."

She smiled at him and added, "Besides, things would be so much more fun here at the farm. I get to tease you."

Clark could tell that Lois was really hurt by the fact that she wasn't with family this time of year, but she was putting on a brave face for the world. No one should be unhappy on Christmas. He really should try and cheer her up. "Well, since you are here this early, why don't you help me decorate?" he asked.

This got him a real smile from Lois. "Okay Smallville, I'll help you," she said. "But you better not try and catch me under any mistletoe." She made a face.

"Don't worry Lois," he reassured her. "That won't happen, I promise." He did intend to keep his promise, even if kissing Lois might actually be-

He shook his head to get rid of the thought. He really didn't want to think of that right now.

Barely ten minutes into decorating, Lois insisted that they needed some background music to set the mood. She turned on the radio and switched to a channel that was playing non-stop Christmas songs (which, considering the time of year, was nearly all of them).

The two of them had fun singing along (badly) to the song and teasing each other about their lack of singing skills. The two of them were joined by his parents, who had pitched in to help. With the four of them working together, the farm was decorated in no time.

"That's the last of it," said Lois, wrapping the last bit of tinsel on the tree.

"Just the star left," said Mom, taking it out of its box. She turned to Lois and Clark. "How about the two of you put the star on the tree together?"

It was an odd request, but Clark couldn't see anything wrong with it.

"Why not?" asked Lois, echoing his thoughts.

As the two of them placed the star on the tree, Clark saw a camera flash at the corner of his eye. He turned and scowled at his father who was holding up a camera with a grin on his face. "It was a perfect Kodak moment," said Dad.

On Christmas morning after breakfast, the group sat down to open the presents they had got. Lois spent quite a bit of time staring at her pile of presents.

"Is something the matter Lois?" asked Mom.

"Nothing," she said, biting her lip. At the look Mom gave her, she hesitantly said, "There isn't anything from the General," she confessed. "Not that I was expecting anything, we didn't really celebrate Christmas much after my Mom died, but I just hoped that this time things would have been different." She sighed. "Well, I guess some things do never change."

The Kents didn't know what they could say to that. There was nothing that they could say to make things better for Lois.

"Well," said Lois, pasting a smile on her face, "I still have all of these presents! I can't wait to see what I got!"

Clark, sensing that Lois was trying to lighten the mood, smiled and said, "Well, I do hope that you like what I got you. I went all the way to this speciality store in Metropolis to get it."

"In that case," said Lois, picking up Clark's present and setting it aside, "I'll save the best for the last."

She busied herself in opening her presents. Clark watched her, not wanting to miss her reactions to any present. He could open his own later.

His parents had gotten Lois a beautiful silk scarf, Chloe had gotten Lois a book she had wanted and her sister Lucy had sent a box of Swiss chocolates.

"Nice haul for this year," said Lois. She then picked up Clark's present. "Did you get someone to help you with wrapping this Smallville? You normally don't do such a good job of it."

Again with the teasing. Lois couldn't seem to go one day without teasing him for something or the other. Well, it wasn't as if he gave as good as he got. But he wasn't in the mood for teasing her back right now.

What if she doesn't like it? he thought in a panic. What if she thinks it's too forward of me to give her something like this?

"Just open the present Lois," he said.

Lois carefully unwrapped the paper. It really was too pretty to be just ripped off. Underneath the wrapping paper was a cardboard box. There was the name of a shop written at the side of the box - but it wasn't one she recognised. She opened the box and took a bottle of perfume.

"Wow Smallville, this is great!" she said a wide smile on her face. She opened the bottle and sniffed at it. "Nice scent. Smells a little exotic, but I like it. What is it anyway?"

"Wild orchid," said Clark. "I think- well, it just seemed to suit you."

Lois smiled and pulled him into a quick hug. "I love it Smallville," she said. "Thank you so much."

It was now Clark's turn to open his presents. Well, at least the one Lois got him. It was a flat rectangular box. Clark wondered if she had gotten him a wallet or something similar. He didn't use x-ray vision to peek at his presents; he enjoyed having the surprise.

Lois had gotten him a lovely photo frame, but it was the picture in the frame that caught his attention.

It was a picture of himself and Lois; they were in the middle of a game of 'splash each other with the hose'. Both of them looked as if they were having the time of their lives.

"Smallville, I want this picture to remind you that you can smile; that you can have fun. I know that you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but that shouldn't all be of your life. You need some time to relax and have fun as well. So, will you promise me that you will do your best to be happy?" said Lois.

He smiled at her. "I promise Lois."