End: Marry Superman!

With a cackling laugh, Lois Lane's body was enveloped by cold flames and a cloud of sulfurous smoke. Trapped inside herself, a passenger within her own body, the reporter could feel strange, unfamiliar things moving through her like invisible currents...and when the smoke cleared she saw the familiar vista of the roof of the Daily Planet.

Darkness slid around her form, a dress woven around her as the reporter felt herself walk toward the edge...all the way to that little lip of cement to keep people from falling off accidentally. The cement hard under her palms as she pulled herself up to stare down at the dark street far below. Her hands clasped to her chest.

"Superman," Lois heard her own voice aloud, tone plainitive. "I can't do this anymore. I can't go on without you!"

No! The reporter shouted in her own mind as Blaze let them both fall forward into the abyss.

Wind rushed past her skin, tearing at her new dress. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, her body pointlessly striving to give her energy for one final effort...but no physical exertion would save her.

Lois felt her body turn in its freefall, facing toward the sky.

There was a blot against the moon. Was it a bird, or a plane, or...no, it was growing closer. Red cape flashing in a blur as it picked up speed. Lois Lane couldn't judge distances, but she prayed he caught her before she hit the ground...

Then he was there, cradling her in his arms, and the speed was lessening as they leveled out. Lois felt herself snuggle against his chest, warm against the dark night and the cold wind.

"Lois," Superman said. "What were you thinking, if I hadn't been by..."

"Superman," Lois heard her voice say, Blaze's mimicry absolutely perfect. "I can't do this anymore. I can't live without you. I stay up at night thinking about you...about us..."

She threw her arms around his neck.

"Please," she whispered. "No more games, no more waiting. I can't take it. Let's get married. Right now, tonight. A quick marriage in Gotham. No one else in the world has to know. I just...I can't..."

The reporter felt her lips pressed against that mouth. Slowly, carefully, he responded to it. His lips opening against hers, his hands tightening on her body. their tongues meeting, briefly, tenderly, then with increasing ardor.

"I love you," Lois Lane heard her own voice say, and a part of her hated herself that it wasn't really her saying it. This demon that had invaded her body, who hoped to trap Superman in some terrible plan to destroy him...and Lois Lane saw through her own eyes as the Last Son of Krypton stared at her with abject love and devotion and said simply:

"Okay."

Deep foreboding troubled Lois Lane's soul. The demon snuggled up to Superman as they flew over Metropolis, their course set for Gotham. Destination: matrimony.

They paused at an old-fashioned phonebooth for Superman to make a call. He emerged in civilian clothes...as Clark Kent. Lois Lane felt her own shock reflected in her features.

"Well...now you know," he said, a little sheepishly. "Second thoughts."

Lois felt her small hand slip into his bigger one, and squeeze it.

"None at all."

It's not fair, Lois thought to herself, as they appeared at the door of a Justice of the Peace that Superman knew.

That should be me! She thought, as she saw herself sign the marriage certificate. I should be Lois Lane-Kent!

The worst part—the absolute worst—was when Batman showed up at the little chapel on some private estate, a smiling collared priest already there waiting. The Dark Knight shook hands with Superman...and then handed him a pair of rings.

"About time," he growled.

"I know," Superman said. "Thanks for holding onto them."

There was a dress, with a veil. Catwoman was Lois Lane's Maid of Honor. A child Robin acted as ringbearer. An ancient British butler took the place of Lois Lane's father, here to give the bride away.

"Dearly Beloved," the priest said, after a cursory glance at the marriage license. "We are gathered here today..."

Lois mentally screamed when he asked if anyone had any objections. Her rage was a white-hot thing inside her mind, though she could feel that her features remained in a calm, beaming smile, heart thumping giddily.

"...do you take this man to be your lawfully-wedded husband?"

Then, for just a moment, Lois felt Blaze's control slip. She could feel the ring on her finger, the heavy gold band with diamond. Her tongue was her own, her body was her own...and the whole room was waiting there for her answer.

Do I tell them? Lois wondered. If Blaze seizes control again...

Then she realized when and where she was. How much would she have given for this in any other circumstance?

"I do," Lois said, with all her heart.

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife." The old man was beaming. "You may kiss the bride."

As he lifted the veil, Lois felt the demon's control slip back into her muscles. The reporter felt her hopes fall and crumble, joy turned to ashes in her mouth as Clark Kent, Superman, the Man of Steel, bent down to kiss his bride...and it was Blaze that answered him, eagerly, warmly, with all the passion of a woman who had obtained what she had long sought.

Trapped within her own body, Lois could only scream in impotent rage as Blaze stole the first kiss with her husband. The first, Lois was sure, of many yet to come that night.

What happened after is another story...for this night, so long in its telling, had reached the end.