Destiny     Destiny

 by awehla 

 Reposted due to formatting problems, now you can all read it without
scrolling along (tres annoying) Enjoy! 

 

  

 Destiny 

 Clark and Lana smiled as they stepped out of the limo. It was Prom night,
the
 Prom, supposedly the best night of an American High school student's
whole
 school experience. And it had been pretty cool. The band had been
awesome,
 the food was surprisingly good, everyone was happy whether they had a
date or
 not and everyone had managed to let their hair down. Chloe had managed to
get
 a babysitter and Lex had showed up as he had promised. 

 Arm in arm Clark and Lana walked to the front of the Kent house and Lana
turned 
 to kiss him. Clark stood there looking rather perplexed, though his
speech
 hardly betrayed him his facial expressions did. Lana's skin flushed from
 embarrassment. 

 "I'm sorry", she said. "I forgot". 

 "It's OK Lana", Clark said softly. "It would be the perfect end to a
perfect
 evening". 

 "But it can't be - right?" 

 "We agreed this, going to the prom was just a friend thing". That and he
could 
 not have imagined taking anyone else. 

 "Clark I know its just - ". Lana paused - what could she say? 

 "A lot has happened the past couple of years". Clark could not bring
himself
 to admit he was not sure he could kiss her, to start it all again because
of
 what she had done in the past. But there was also the fact he would soon
be
 leaving and that it would be unfair for both of them to start anything -
again. 
 "But it's prom night - we should be having fun". 

 "Reminiscing over old times?" 

 "Looking to the future," Clark said. "Do you wanna come inside?" 

 Again Clark wanted to run away and again that made Lana even more
determined to 
 get everything out in the open. Even now. 

 They entered the house through the kitchen door. Clark went for the
fridge
 which was full of plenty of fresh produce but not what he was after. 

 "I'll be back in a sec," he said and he whooshed down to the cellar and
back up 
 again before Lana had even managed to draw breath. She was sure he had
gotten
 faster in the past year she had known. He held a bottle of Californian
 wine. 

 "Won't your parents mind?" Lana asked and Clark blew on the bottle to
cool the
 red fruity liquid inside. Clark opened the bottle with a cork screw. 

 "Dad said we can have this - it's been in the cellar for a while," Clark
said
 as he poured Lana and himself a glass. "I think Lex bought it for them". 
 Clark handed Lana a glass and she took a sip. She grimaced at the taste.
She
 was not used to wine, usually she drank watered down beer at the
occasional
 high school party. 

 "Is it gross?" Clark asked and he took a sip from his glass. "I think I'd
be
 just as happy with coke". He gulped the rest of the glass down, took the
 bottle and Lana followed him into the living room. They sat down on the
 sofa. 

 "I suppose half the senior year will be drunk by now," Lana said. And
trying
 to lose their virginity. 

 "I think Lex and Chloe are going to John Mackey's party - his parents are
away
 for the week," Clark replied. 

 "I'd hate to be there in the morning to clean up". 

 "I'm not sure what Christian is up to though". 

 "I can imagine," Lana said smiling and Clark couldn't help blushing. Well
it
 was prom night - so many clichs sprang to mind. American Pie and such
films
 had a lot to answer for. "Clark I didn't come here to talk about our
 friends". 

 "Lana I'm leaving soon, I don't want to drag up the past again". 

 "This is exactly why we should talk - about us," Lana said, she could
feel her
 heart pounding away. She wondered if Clark could tell - he could see
through
 her after all, literally. "You know how I feel about you". 

 "And it wouldn't be fair for either of us to start anything now". 

 "Then why go Clark? Why can't you stay?" Lana cried taking hold of Clarks
arms. 

 "Lana," Clark began and he hesitated. "We were going to get together a
year
 ago remember - it didn't work". 

 "Come on Clark, what I found out about you - I needed to get used to it".


 "And it's been over a year". 

 Clark poured himself a glass of wine. 

 Kalel 

 Clark looked around him and could feel himself growing nervous. He had
not
 heard that voice for nearly a year. 

 "Now," he said out loud. 

 Soon the time will come my son. Jorel's voice echoed inside his mind. 

 "Clark are you OK?" Lana asked. He looked a bit strange. 

 "It's nothing," Clark replied, obviously on edge. "Lana I think maybe you
 should go to the party or something". 

 "We're not going to talk about this?" Lana cried and Clark shook his
head. She 
 had tears in her eyes. 

 "Lana I didn't want to say this but you had your chance," Clark said and
Lana
 stormed out of the house through the front door and Clark could feel his
hands
 shaking. He did not mean to push her away, he never did. 

 The Previous Spring - Over a year ago 

 Mr Hansen opened the doors of the music room and around fifty students
from
 freshman to senior year piled in. Lana looked surprised to see Clark sat
at
 the piano. 

 "I wasn't expecting so many of you," Mr Hanson said sounding quite
pleased. "I 
 hope you have all prepared a song from the list I put on the notice
board". 

 "Clark what are you doing here?" Lana asked quietly as Pete was talking
to a
 young girl - Sarah Nixon. 

 "Mr Hansen asked me to play piano for the auditions," Clark replied a
little
 embarrassed. "He overheard me practicing and kind of roped me in to help.
Tom 
 Bryant was going to do it but he's sick". 

 "Oh right". 

 "Right if you can all get in groups of five depending on which songs
you've
 prepared obviously," Mr Hansen cried. "I want a verse and a chorus from
each
 of you". 

 Mr Hansen listened to the groups and then began listening to individuals
who
 showed promise. Pete, the 6th or 7th student to sing did a competent
rendition 
 of `Your Song' and then it was Lana's turn. 

 Clark played the introduction and Mr Hansen glared at him as he played a
wrong
 note. Lana was making him nervous. 

 Lana's hand shook as she held the piece of paper with the words on in her
 hands. She didn't really need to look at it but wanted it there just in
 case. 

 "You with the sad eyes don't be discouraged, you must realise," she sang
in a
 sweet and pleasant voice which croaked slightly on the first note. Her
mouth
 was so dry. Her voice grew stronger with her confidence. "I see your true
 colours shining through, true colours that's why I love you, your true
colours, 
 beautiful like a rainbow". After that last note everyone in the room
applauded 
 and Lana beamed proudly. 

 "That was great Lana," Clark said and Mr Hansen looked unmoved. Lana sat
down
 and Christian Bienek, a student who had once lived in Smallville, went
away for 
 a while and had come back, stepped up to the piano. Clark remembered him
and
 he had changed a lot, he still had dark hair and glasses but he now had a
lip
 piercing and wore black t-shirts with jeans pretty much all the time. A
couple 
 of boys in football jackets were whispering and making comments as
Christian
 began to sing. 

 "We belong together and you know that I'm right". His voice was deep and
 soulful. "How could you play with my heart? Why do you play with my
 mind?" 

 Pete and the girl he had been speaking to earlier - Sarah, looked at each
 other, their expressions conveying the fact they were both surprised and
 impressed. 

 "When I can't sleep at night with out holding you tight". His voice did
not
 seem as if it belonged to him. It was as though his voice had been stolen
from 
 a forty year old black blues singer. "Pain in my head oh I'd rather be
dead,
 spinning around and around oh so we've come to the end of the road". 

 Lana almost felt embarrassed. He had blown her pathetic attempt at
singing
 right out of the water. 

 "Good," Mr Hansen said. The only comment he had made so far throughout
the
 auditions. "I think we should start reading for specific parts now, let
me
 just get my stuff together". He began sorting through a big pile of
papers he
 had sat down on a table in the corner earlier, like quite a few music
teachers
 Mr Hansen was quite unorganised. Everyone in the room began talking
amongst
 themselves. 

 "You could be a professional man," Pete said and Clark nodded. 

 "I am - sort of" Christian replied. "I sing in a club in Grandville once
a
 fortnight or so - depending on how much homework I've got to do". 

 "Which club?" Pete asked. 

 "The Black Cat bar on the corner of third street". 

 "Isn't that-?" 

 "Yeh its a gay friendly bar," Christian said looking at Clark for a
reaction. 
 The pair had been good friends when they were kids. 

 "Don't your parents mind?" Clark asked. "Singing in a club when you're
 underage I mean?" 

 "I don't live with my parents". 

 "Oh so how come you came back to Smallville?" 

 "They sent me back here to live with my grandparents". 

 "Oh yeh they've taken over the Greer's old shop" Pete said, recalling
something 
 he had heard around school earlier that week. 

 "Yeh except its more of a junk shop than an antique store now," Christian
said
 smiling. Clark could still here a hint of a British accent in Christian's
 voice, he and his parents had moved to Smallville from England around the
time
 of the meteor shower. "I heard Tina Greer, the daughter, was like a shape
 shifter or something". 

 "Well Smallville has only got weirder since you left" Pete said. 

 "Hey Clark," Lana said approaching the three boys tentatively. "I never
knew
 you could play piano". 

 Neither did he till he had found one of his mum's old piano books one
night
 when he could not sleep and had taught himself to play in two hours. 

 "I er, never knew you could sing," Clark replied. 

 "Right if Mr Bienek you can sing the part of Jesus, Mr Ross and Mr Mackey
you
 can do the part of Judas and Miss Lang, Miss Nixon the part of Mary
Magdalene
 please," Mr Hansen said. 

 The following Monday the cast list was on the notice board outside the
music
 room and Clark was kind of disappointed to see Tom's name next to where
it said 
 Show Pianist. Christian came walking along at that point with Pete and
Lana. 

 "Hey Clark man," Pete cried. "Let us in on the good news". 

 "You got the part," Clark said as he looked up at the list. 

 Judas Iscariot Pete Ross 

 "Cool," Pete said as he tapped the sheet on the board where his name was
 displayed. 

 "And I get to be Jesus," Christian said. "Now that's something I thought
I'd
 never get to say". 

 "And I got understudy," Lana said, disappointment clear in her voice. 

 "You've still got a part," Clark said patting her on the shoulder. 

 "As the deformed girl". Pete laughed at this point. 

 "That's not what the part is called," Clark said smiling. "Anyway guys
I'll be 
 back in a sec I just need to have a word with Mr Hansen". 

 Clark went into the music room leaving the others outside. 

 "Mr Hansen," Clark said. 

 "Mr Kent," he replied. "Thanks for helping out last week by the way". 

 "Thing is sir I'd still like to help out with the play". 

 "Well I thought you would be helping Miss Sullivan with reviews and
such". He
 packed a couple of things into his briefcase and did not look at Clark as
he
 did it. 

 "That won't be for another ten weeks on opening night," Clark said and Mr
 Hansen tucked his briefcase under his arm and looked at Clark. "You can
help
 the art department I suppose and if Tom gets sick again we'll need a back
 up". 

 "I can play in the band," Clark said. 

 "What else can you play?" Mr Hansen asked. 

 "Drums," Clark replied - it couldn't be that difficult to learn. 

 "We don't really need anyone else Mr Kent as I said speak to the art
 department," Mr Hansen said and he began walking out of the room. 

 "Sir have I done something wrong?" 

 "It's nothing personal Clark but trouble seems to have a habit of
following you 
 around and I can't afford to let anything ruin this play, I hope you
 understand," Mr Hansen said and he left the room. Clark followed and his
 friends were still stood outside. 

 "Guess what Clark, Christians invited us to one of his gigs tonight,"
Lana said. 

 "How are we going to get to Grandville?" Clark asked. 

 "Well I can drive us," Pete said. 

 "And you can bring your friends Chloe and Lex if you want," Christian
said. 
 "That's of course if you'll all be comfortable". 

 "It should be fun," Lana said smiling excitedly. 

 Later that afternoon Chloe was in The Torch office typing away on her
computer
 as usual. Clark was sat opposite her typing out the cast list for the
 play. 

 "I can't believe Mr Hansen blowing you off like that," Chloe said. "I
mean you 
 can be a bit unreliable at times but you're there when it matters". 

 "See I don't really like having that kind of reputation," Clark replied.
"It
 makes me more determined to prove him wrong". 

 "What kind of things are the art department doing for the play, sets and
 stuff?" Chloe asked. 

 "Yeh I spoke to Miss Lopez earlier and since I got an A in art she was
quite
 happy for me to help". 

 "Well that's good, I never knew you got an A in art". 

 "And you being a journalist". The pair heard a familiar voice emanating
from
 the doorway. 

 "Lex," Clark cried smiling. "I was trying to get hold of you". 

 "Yeh Pete just saw me in the halls going on about us all going to some
gay bar
 tonight - is there something you're not telling us Clark?" 

 "Actually its gay friendly which means its open to gay and straight
people,"
 Chloe replied in her usual slightly defensive tone when dealing with Lex.
"And 
 we're going to see Clark's friend do a gig". 

 "Well I'll be there if you're going Chloe," Lex said smiling and she
blushed. 
 "I'll see you all in there, I've got work to do". Lex left the office as
soon
 as he'd entered leaving Chloe's stomach doing somersaults. 

 "What did he mean he'll go if I'm going?" Chloe said. 

 "You know Lex," Clark replied. "He's always fooling around". Chloe
frowned at 
 that comment, Lex never fooled around. 

 Back in the Present (Well future) 

 "Wahhh," the baby screamed as Clark gently rocked her up and down. He had
 X-rayed Lillian three times and she seemed physically fine. Why had he
agreed
 to baby-sit? Well usually it was fun. 

 "Clark is she teething?" Martha cried as she walked into the room. She
had
 been trying to do some sewing in the kitchen with little success. 

 "Well it looks like there's a couple of teeth coming through," Clark said
as he 
 X-rayed her again. "Chloe did leave this Zilactin stuff in the baby bag".


 "Well I suggest you use it," Martha said. "You know I used to be a bit
sad
 Jonathan and I missed out on this stage of your development but now I can
see
 how it might have been a blessing". 

 Clark handed Lillian to Martha and went to get a washcloth, back in a
split
 second he sat down with the baby who began sucking on the cloth quite
 happy. 

 "Well it says on the instructions to massage it into the gums but she
seems
 quite happy to just suck on it," Clark said smiling at his goddaughter.
"I'm
 gonna miss you". He kissed her on the cheek and looked up at Martha. "And
you 
 mom". 

 "You'll get me started again," Martha said sitting down on the coffee
table and 
 reaching for a Kleenex. 

 "I'm going to England mom it's not the other side of the - world," Clark
said
 as he looked at the front door distracted. "Chloe's at the door". 

 Martha went to answer it as Chloe was about to knock and Chloe entered
the
 living room smiling. 

 "I got all our stuff sorted for graduation tomorrow," she said excitedly.
"And 
 how's my little girl, you know Lex was real pissed off I let you
baby-sit". 
 Chloe took hold of Lillian who was still sucking on the wash cloth. 

 "I hope you explained to Lex that I want to spend as much time with
Lillian as
 I can before I go away," Clark said. "He could have come round here
 anyway". 

 "He was going to," Chloe said cuddling her daughter to her newly ample
chest. 
 Lex loved it, Chloe thought she looked like a slightly chunky exotic
dancer. 
 "Then he remembered he had to work anyway". 

 "I'm glad you and Lex are working out," Martha said and Clark could
detect a
 hint of falseness from his mother. She had been fourth in line to beat
Lex up
 when he had gotten seventeen year old Chloe pregnant after Gabe, Clark
and
 Jonathan. "Anyway I have some work to do, I'll have those trousers you
wanted
 turned up done for you later this afternoon Chloe". 

 "Thanks Mrs Kent," Chloe said and Martha went back into the kitchen. "So
how
 is your Mom's new business going?" 

 "OK I guess," Clark said. "She's started doing design stuff now for this
 underwear company in Metropolis". 

 "Remember you owe me a flight before you go," Chloe said. 

 "I haven't forgotten Chloe," Clark replied wondering how Chloe's thoughts
had
 turned from underwear to flight like that. 

 "You know I was thinking about when I first found out earlier today". 

 "What about it?" Clark asked. 

 "All of it, you flying me to the hospital - I was so glad you trusted me
 Clark," Chloe said. "And after that whole Lionel wanting me to
investigate you 
 thing". 

 "Well that happened a long time ago". 

 "And you had tried so hard to keep your secret and-" 

 "I wasn't going to let my secret stop me from helping a friend," Clark
said. 

 "Total change of conversation but how are you and Lana at the moment?"
Chloe
 asked. "She said you don't want to get back with her". 

 "I'm going away, it wouldn't be fair". 

 "No I totally agree with you, and you've so moved on since then, she was
with
 that Jason guy for like ages". 

 "Thank Lex for getting me that work Visa," Clark said. "When I go to
Australia 
 they have special agencies for travellers to get work but in England you
should 
 really have the proper paperwork". 

 "You are so lucky," Chloe said, getting excited for her friend. "I mean
screw
 Journalism College; you'll get to learn everything about writing
travelling
 around the world". 

 "You're lucky too," Clark said stroking the top of Lillian's head gently.


 "Do you think you'll be able to have kids Clark?" Chloe asked looking at
her
 first born in her arms, Clark stroking her head, it was a picture. 

 "Who knows?" Clark said getting embarrassed. "All the parts are there,
they
 seem to work". 

 "You look human, I don't see why you couldn't have kids, our DNA can't be
that
 different," Chloe said. "You'll find someone Clark, don't worry". 

 "I still feel like a kid sometimes". 

 "Well maybe after we graduate tomorrow they'll be some magnificent
 transformation into adult hood," Chloe said and she looked down at
Lillian. 
 "Then again I've already had that, see you tomorrow Clark". Chloe headed
for
 the door. 

 "Chloe, I'm having a goodbye dinner next week, will you come?" Clark
asked. 

 "I wouldn't miss it for the world," Chloe said and Clark helped her carry
the
 baby bag to the car. 

 The Previous year 

 Ooh you're moving to fast and I don't think its right I'm not giving you
my
 love tonight. 

 A dance tune filled the club and crowds of people were dancing. Lex was
stood
 at the bar waiting for the others to show up. He could see Clark and Pete
 pushing through the crowds to the bar area where Lex was stood. As Clark
and
 Pete moved out of the way Lex saw Chloe and Lana who had been walking
behind
 them. Lana was dressed in tight leather hipster trousers, a pink
strapless
 corset style top, her hair was scraped up in a high ponytail and she was
 wearing bright pink lipstick and little black open toed shoes with very
high
 heels. Chloe was the real surprise though dressed in a short black skirt
she
 kept feeling she had to pull down, black shiny boots up to her knees and
a low
 cut dark red top, dark red lipstick and her hair was crimped and rather
trashy
 looking Lex thought. 

 "You both look so different," Lex said, his words slightly slurred. "I
might
 have to run away with one of you, Chloe". Lex picked Chloe up in his arms
and
 began running across the bar as Chloe screamed. 

 "Lex what has got into you?" she cried. "Put me down". Lex carried on
running 
 around like an idiot Pete, Clark and Lana watching on rather puzzled at
the
 usual cool mans odd behaviour. Chloe managed to kick Lex in the groin
area not 
 too hard and he dropped her on the floor. 

 "Nice underwear," Lex said as he helped Chloe up. Yet again another `non
Lex'
 comment. 

 "How much have you had to drink?" she asked. She didn't know whether she
liked 
 drunk Lex. 

 "Not much," he replied. "Just five beers". 

 "Well if you're going to be so playful maybe you've had enough". 

 "I'm sorry Chloe, I don't know what came over me," Lex said his
expression all
 of sudden serious, he was out of breath too. "I want us to be friends". 

 "I thought we were already," Chloe said smiling. "Now get me a diet
coke". 

 Lana went to the ladies room and Pete and Clark ordered drinks for the
three of 
 them since Chloe and Lex had gone off together. Pete nudged Clark and
nodded
 his head towards a pretty red haired barmaid. 

 "She's hot, do you reckon she's gay?" 

 "I don't know Pete maybe I should X-ray her and find out," Clark quipped.


 "You can do that?" Pete cried and Clark gave him a look as if to say `no
Pete'. 
 "Oh". 

 "Anyway Pete I thought you liked Sarah". 

 "Nah she's just a friend, a very hot very sexy friend," Pete said and
Clark
 laughed as the club went silent for a moment. 

 "And now the man of the hour" a man stood on a platform towards the back
of the 
 club announced. "It's Black Cat regular Christian Bienek". 

 "Very superstitious," Christian sang into the microphone as the band
behind him 
 played. "The writings on the wall". 

 "Oh good I didn't miss the start," Lana said to Pete and Clark as she
came back 
 over to the bar. 

 "Had a bit of trouble finding the bathroom?" Clark asked. 

 "No I was talking to Jason," Lana replied looking at Christian singing
rather
 than Clark. 

 "What is it with you two?" Clark asked. Jason Trebus had been in their
class
 for years and all of a sudden she and him were like best friends. 

 "We're friends," Lana replied. "Like you and me Clark". 

 Lex and Chloe walked back over to the trio. 

 "Your friend's very good Clark, how come I've never seen him before?" Lex
said. 

 "Christian used to live in Smallville, he and his parents moved here to
be with 
 his grandparents when he was three just before the meteor shower, they
then
 moved to Grandville when he was nine and now he's come back to Smallville
to
 live with his grandparents," Clark explained. "We were good friends". 

 "Could you tell he was a bit different when you were kids?" Chloe asked.
"You
 know that would suggest he was gay". 

 "Well he didn't have a secret desire to play with dolls or anything
Chloe,"
 Clark remarked, a bit defensive. "He was a regular kid -like me". 

 "Regular like you Clark," Lex said with a grin. 

 Christian finished his set after forty-five minutes, a mixture of Stevie
 Wonder, Justin Timberlake, The Beatles, even a bit of `old blue eyes' and
the
 audience loved it as usual. He came to join the others for a dance, the
music
 of Outkast was followed by Daniel Beddingfield which was followed by a
new band 
 called Mystique. 

 The way you move so scandalous 

 Lex, Pete and Christian were dancing with the girls and Clark was happy
to
 watch. They had all had the benefit of at least one drink, Clark had
 discovered in Metropolis he could have a gallon of beer and not be
effected in
 the slightest. 

 "Come and dance Clark," Lana cried. Clark looked at her and could not
help
 feeling guilty, guilty that he wanted her so much. He had found out even
his
 own father had not been above feeling lustful, maybe that was the effect
Earth
 had had on Jorel but the fact is Clark was on Earth permanently,
permanently
 conflicted, permanently horny. 

 It's all about the two of us, a one night stand just aint enough 

 "I need some stimulation baby, a little conversation maybe," Chloe sang
along
 looking up at Lex. She had quite a knack for picking up the words to
songs. 
 But boy she was drunk, there had obviously been some vodka in that coke.
She
 felt like she could take Lex round the back right now, up against the
wall. 
 Her heels might make her just tall enough but then again Lex worked out,
he
 might be able to lift her up. 

 Clark was dancing awkwardly with Lana and he realised after half an hour
or so
 no one really cared what he looked like and neither should he. 

 "That guys checking you out," Lana said to Clark nodding at a black guy
stood
 in the corner and she began giggling. 

 "Lana according to you every guy is checking me out even the straight
ones"
 Clark said. 

 "They are," Christian remarked. 

 "Ooh my phones vibrating - it might be Jason," Lana cried and she ran out
of
 the club into the street. 

 "Lana," Clark cried. 

 "She'll be all right, the bouncers will keep an eye on her," Christian
said. 

 Get off 

 Clark could hear Lana shouting outside and he whooshed out of the club. 

 "Where did Clark go?" Christian asked as he turned to see Clark had
disappeared. 

 "He always does that," Lex replied, suspicion not present in his voice
though
 he felt it. "You get used to it". 

 "Get off her," Clark cried as a man struggled with Lana to take her bag. 

 "Stay out of this kid," he cried pointing a knife in Clark's direction.
Clark
 knocked the knife out of the guys hand and Lana turned and kneed him in
the
 balls. 

 "You bitch," he said and he ran off leaving Lana's bag and phone on the
floor. 
 Clark helped her pick them up. 

 "Are you OK Lana?" Clark asked. 

 "It was Nell on the phone, she hasn't called me in like two weeks and she
had
 to call now and this happens," Lana replied getting tears in her eyes.
The
 vodka was getting to her. 

 "Lana no harm was done," Clark said and he laughed. "Except to that guy".


 "What will I do Clark when you leave Smallville and I don't have you to
save me 
 anymore?" 

 "Lana I'm not going anywhere," Clark said. "Shall I take you home?" 

 "Yeh I suppose we can get the next bus". 

 "I'll just text Pete and let him know". 

 For Clark and Lana the hour and a half bus ride back to Smallville was
one of
 the funnest parts of the evening. The alcohol had made Lana rather chatty
and
 funny and some of that rubbed off on Clark. For once they were not
discussing
 anything serious, nothing bad had happened and they could just enjoy
being kids 
 on a night out. 

 Clark and Lana managed to get off the bus half way between the town and
the
 farm but by the time they got back to Lana's house it was one a.m. Clark
 followed Lana up the stairs to her room as she kept putting her finger to
her
 mouth and shushing him. He wanted to make sure she got in her bed rather
than
 collapsing half way up the stairs. Lana opened the bedroom door. 

 "I don't think Chloe's back yet," she said as Clark followed her into the
room. 
 Lana closed the door. Clark began nosing around the room looking at the
 various posters on the wall, the pictures by the beds. Clark picked up a
care
 bear off of the bed and smiled. 

 "Whose is this?" he asked. 

 "That's `Love a Lot Bear'," Lana replied snatching it off him. "He's
mine". 

 Clark tripped over Lana's slippers on the floor and fell back onto Lana's
bed. 

 "Just what I've always wanted," Lana said chucking the bear on the floor.

 "Clark Kent in my bedroom and on my bed" 

 "Lana," Clark said, embarrassed. "Maybe I should go". 

 "Clark not yet," Lana cried as she knelt at the end of the bed in front
of
 Clark. "I wanted to thank you again, you're always there for me". 

 "I thought I was always letting you down," Clark said as Lana's face
moved
 closer to his. 

 "I know you think I'm just drunk Clark but I still care about you," she
said in 
 a soft voice. 

 "What about Jason?" Clark asked. 

 "It's not serious or anything," Lana replied. And that was good enough
for
 him. As Lana kissed Clark on the lips softly he pulled her down on top of
him
 and they began kissing passionately. Clark could feel his stomach doing
 somersaults, it was as though their bodies could not be close enough,
their
 lips could not move fast enough and Lana still a bit drunk couldn't help
biting 
 his mouth in the over excitement. But Clark did not mind, it was kinda
sexy. 
 Lana opened her eyes and straddled across Clark realised all of a sudden
there
 was a distance between them and the bed. "Oh my God Clark". 

 Clark looked up and realised the ceiling was closer than before and felt
like
 he was about to throw up. This was his worst nightmare. He would not have
 minded if his body had betrayed him like most teenage boys but this was
not
 most teenage boys, this was - awful. There was no way he could explain
this
 away - no way. Lana was not that drunk. 

 "Clark what the hells going on?" 

 "Lana it's OK it'll stop in a minute," Clark said quietly trying to shush
the
 girl up. 

 "You mean you're doing this?" 

 What else had she thought was going on? A ghost perhaps? 

 Clark closed his eyes and they fell back on the bed causing a large
crash. 

 "What are you girls up to?" they heard Gabriel cry from down the hall. 

 Lana immediately jumped off Clark. 

 "What the hell happened there Clark? You said you'd never been effected
by the 
 meteor rocks but well obviously-" Lana hissed. 

 "Look Lana I can explain," Clark cried. He was desperately upset but Lana
was
 caught up too much in her rant. 

 "You lied to me Clark and-" 

 Clark reached out for her hands. 

 "Don't touch me," she snapped. 

 "I didn't get effected by the meteor rocks I, I wasn't here during the
meteor
 shower in Smallville I mean," Clark began to explain. 

 "Keep away from me," Lana almost screamed, she was crying. Completely
freaked
 out. 

 A few moments before and Lex and Chloe were walking across the grass up
to the
 Sullivan house. Chloe was laughing and chatting away holding Lex's hand
and
 twirling around like a little girl. Lex loved to see her like this. The
 hard-nosed journalist routine he knew was just a cover as was his cool
rich guy 
 routine. 

 "I am going to be so sick tomorrow " Chloe said. "And guess what Lex
we've got 
 a maths test too and I didn't study". 

 "A right little rebel Miss Sullivan," Lex replied. 

 "Kiss me Lex," Chloe said suddenly after a few moments silence. 

 "OK," Lex said smiling and he leant down and cupping her face in his
hands
 kissed her on the lips gently. 

 "You can do better than that," Chloe said and she began kissing him back
 passionately. Despite her youthful clumsiness Lex was quite taken aback
at
 what had been bubbling up inside his blonde friend. His friend he was
kissing
 and he was loving it. They could only breath through their noses for so
long
 and when they looked up to catch a breath Chloe began laughing. 

 "What?" Lex said. 

 "You've got my whorish lipstick all over your face," Chloe replied
smiling. 
 She handed him a tissue knowing he wouldn't want to wipe it all over his
four
 hundred dollar suit. "See you later Lex". 

 "Bye". Chloe let herself in the house, waved at Lex one more time and
walked
 quietly up to her room. She could hear her dad snoring like a power
drill. 

 "Clark just get away from me," Lana cried and Chloe taking hold of her
handbag
 strap stormed into her room to find Clark sat on the bed and Lana
cowering in
 the corner crying hysterically. 

 "What?" Chloe cried. "Clark get away from her". 

 "Look Chloe this isn't what you think," Clark said in that insistent and
honest 
 tone of his but Chloe wasn't buying it. 

 "Clark get out before my dad wakes up," Chloe said a surprising maturity
and
 calm taking over. Clark got up and left the room, left the house as Lana
broke 
 down in Chloe's arms. She would not insist Clark was not a monster, that
 nothing had happened because in her eyes at that moment he was the liar
who had 
 been making out with her and floated them both up in the air. Clark said
he
 was not effected by the meteor rocks, so what else was he? He certainly
wasn't 
 human. So much that had happened, Perry White thinking he had powers,
being
 able to beat up three guys and throw one onto a car, what the freak
killer had
 told her, the flashbacks to 1961, how he had zipped from one place to
another
 in an instant the night Adam was killed, what had happened with Lex's car
- at
 that moment so many incidences filled Lana's mind and she had to cry to
stop
 her brain exploding. 

 One thirty a.m. and Clark was back at the Kent farm, he had gone as fast
as he
 could. Martha and Jonathan hearing the door open came rushing down the
stairs. 
 Where had he been till this hour? 

 Clark looked up at them with tears in his eyes but some how managed to
stop
 them flowing. Even though Jonathan had been a somewhat sensitive role
model
 for Clark but crying just was not a very Kent thing to do. 

 "Clark what happened?" Jonathan asked, trying his best not to sound
accusatory. 

 "Lana knows," Clark replied as he closed the door. And what he had feared
for
 the past few years had happened, she did not understand. 

 "Knows what Clark?" Jonathan knew exactly what he meant. 

 "Maybe you should start from the beginning," Martha said as Clark
followed his
 parents into the sitting area. Martha and Jonathan sat down on the sofa
and
 Clark sat down in the armchair. 

 "We went to this club," he said. "This place in Grandville, to hear my
friend
 Christian do one of his gigs". 

 "Christian Bienek?" Martha cried raising an eyebrow. "I heard he was back
in
 Smallville, his parents sent him back here because of something that
happened
 between him and a male school teacher". 

 "Well it was a gay club," Clark said, a little taken aback by what his
mother
 had just said. He had never realised she could be such a gossip. "Lana
went
 outside the club to answer her phone and she nearly got mugged". 

 "But you used your powers to save her," Jonathan interjected. 

 "I wish". Clark swallowed hard. "Anyway I took Lana home on the bus and
this
 is so embarrassing, we were making out on her bed and-" 

 "What son?" Though his tone was considerate the loudness of it showed
Clark he 
 was angry. 

 "Lana was on top of me and well, we ended up floating in the air, not for
very
 long. And we crashed back on the bed". 

 "Like when you've floated in your sleep a couple of times," Martha said. 

 "Yeh and well she just freaked out, wouldn't hear anything I wanted to
say, she 
 just shouted at me". 

 "What did she say?" 

 "Just that I lied to her about me not being effected by the meteor rocks,
I
 said I hadn't been and she was shouting at me and crying, she was a bit
 drunk". 

 "Maybe she won't remember," Jonathan said. 

 "Oh she'll remember, Chloe walked in and well - now she thinks I'm some
kind of 
 date rapist". 

 "Chloe wouldn't think that about you," Martha said and she went over to
Clark
 and gave him a hug. 

 "Perhaps you should talk to Lana tomorrow and explain son - you'll have
to tell 
 her the truth," Jonathan said. 

 The next day during morning recess Clark felt as though the whole school
was
 watching as he walked through the halls to his locker. Pete was waiting
for
 him. 

 "Clark man we have to talk," he said. "I can't believe what everyone is
 saying". 

 Clark nodded and they went into an empty classroom. 

 "What are they saying Pete?" 

 "That you tried to get it with Lana and she said no and you got erm a bit
 heavy, that you turned violent," Pete said nervously. "Some guys on the
 football team were talking about it and I was like there was no way you'd
do
 anything like that and that Lana's just tripping". 

 "Thanks Pete". 

 "So what did happen?" 

 "It's kind of embarrassing," Clark said and he took a deep breath.
"Basically
 me and Lana were making out and I was floating in the air and we both
were and
 she started going crazy. She knows Pete". 

 "Then why has Lana been telling people you attacked her?" 

 "Well Chloe heard her screaming and she saw us - she thought I was trying
to-" 

 "But Chloe wouldn't spread rumours, that's not her style". 

 "Maybe someone overheard Chloe and Lana, maybe Lana told Jason or one of
her
 other friends I don't know. I just need to talk to her and we can get
this all 
 straightened out". 

 "Well we've got track next period maybe you can get her alone then". 

 "Good idea Pete". 

 "You know Lana's probably just mad that you lied to her Clark, it was a
shock,
 she'll calm down". 

 "Yeh you're probably right, I was supposed to be in love with her and I
lied to 
 her". 

 "Well this isn't any ordinary lie," Pete said and the bell rang for next
period. 

 "Shouldn't you be out on the field with the other students?" 

 Chloe jumped to hear Lex's voice behind her as she was sat at her
computer in
 the Torch office. 

 "Lex," she said flushing from embarrassment remembering his kiss from the
night 
 before. She composed herself. "I told Mrs Peterson I was on my period". 

 "Not with that short skirt you were wearing last night," Lex remarked
with a
 grin. 

 "Well that was last night, this morning normal service has resumed,"
Chloe
 replied. "Once I've got rid of this hangover". She took a sip of her
coffee
 which had gone cold and Lex handed her a fresh one from the Talon he had
been
 keeping behind his back. 

 "Not too full of regrets I hope," he said. 

 "Thanks," Chloe said taking a sip of the fresh coffee. "I wasn't myself.
But
 at least this time I was just drunk and not infected by some cave
parasite or
 weird flower". 

 "Chloe you have to relax sometimes". 

 "Do you Lex? Do you ever just veg out on the sofa watching crap on TV
eating
 popcorn?" 

 "If I had someone to veg out with maybe," Lex said. "How about it Chloe?"


 "Is this your way of asking me on a sort of date?" 

 "Nothing sort of about it. I mean I could ask you to a fancy restaurant
or the 
 opera instead if you like". 

 "No TV is fine," Chloe said, she could not quite believe what was
happening. 

 "Just one other thing Chloe," Lex replied and he bent down to kiss her
again. 
 She kissed him back less hungry than before. They were in her school. And
 this time she knew it was going to happen again. 

 Lex walked back to the door. 

 "What time do you want me to come round?" Chloe asked. 

 "Seven OK, we can order pizza" Lex replied. 

 "OK". Lex smiled and just like that he was gone and so was Chloe. 

 Clark ran alongside Lana down the track. Mrs Peterson and Mr Grayling the
 coaches were too busy chatting amongst themselves to notice the separate
 classes had decided to merge into a co-ed one. Lana ran faster. 

 "I wouldn't bother Lana unless you've broken the sound barrier lately,"
Clark
 cried. 

 "Anything else you want to tell me Clark while you're at it?" Lana
retorted in
 an annoyed tone. 

 "Lana I just want to talk to you and explain". 

 "I don't want to talk to you Clark, what happened last night, you scared
me,"
 Lana said and she stopped running. She was out of breath and Clark
talking to
 her only made it harder to breath. 

 "You don't have to talk to me Lana, just listen," Clark said and she
nodded and 
 still out of breath she followed him under the bleachers and into the
boiler
 room. Some of the other kids watched confused. 

 "I didn't think Clark had done anything," one girl said. "Lana is just a
 tease". 

 "Where did you guys hear that stuff from?" Pete asked. 

 "We heard it from Gill from the cheerleading squad". 

 Clark closed the door behind him. 

 "Leave it open," Lana said. 

 "I don't particularly want anyone hearing this Lana," Clark snapped. "I
mean
 what do you think I'm going to do?" 

 "Fine". 

 "Look Lana I'm not a meteor freak". 

 "You keep saying that but you floated up in mid air Clark, what other
 explanation is there?" 

 "Lana I didn't want to lie to you but what I am it had to be kept a
secret,"
 Clark said. 

 "Just spit it out Clark". 

 "OK I'll just say it," Clark said and he swallowed hard and looked Lana
right
 in the eyes. "I'm not human". 

 "You must be human," Lana said, incredulously. "You look like a human,
you
 kiss like a human, you eat, you sleep, what was happening in your
trousers last 
 night seemed pretty damn human to me". 

 "The reason my father sent me here, I guess its because I do look and
seem
 human but I'm not. I was born on the planet Krypton". 

 "Krypton?" Lana cried. This was just getting stupider. "Why aren't you
living 
 there now? Why are you living with the Kent's?" 

 "The planet Krypton doesn't exist anymore," Clark said. "I'm the last one
left, 
 my father sent me here to save my life because he couldn't save them". 

 "So you're biological parents are dead," Lana said and her anger
dissipated for 
 a moment. "I'm sorry Clark". 

 "And you understand why I couldn't tell you?" 

 "Yeh I guess. How did you get here?" 

 "In a space ship" 

 "Can I see it?" 

 "I blew it up," Clark said. "Long story". Clark felt suddenly excited,
more
 relaxed, perhaps Lana would be cool with this. 

 "Wait a minute Clark when exactly did the spaceship land?" Lana asked, a
 terrible thought had just entered her mind, it made her sick just to
think
 it. 

 "It was during the meteor shower". 

 "The meteor shower that killed my parents," Lana exclaimed loudly, her
hands
 shaking. "No wonder you didn't want to tell me". 

 "Come on Lana don't you think I've thought the same thing, that things
would
 have been so much better in Smallville if I hadn't come here," Clark
cried but
 Lana could not sympathise with him. All of a sudden Clark looked some how
 different - like a monster. 

 "You're right Clark," she screamed. "There was a reason your race was
dying,
 why that planet exploded what good did it do for your father to send you
 here?" 

 "How dare you question my father?" Clark snapped almost shouting, the
anger
 boiling up inside him. 

 "Well, maybe if he'd thought before he'd acted all of the bad things that
have
 happened in Smallville the past fourteen years could have been avoided,"
Lana
 said, she paused for a moment and began speaking again in a softer voice.
"So
 that drifter Jo, that guy who looked like you - he was an alien, that was
your
 father". 

 "He sent me to Smallville because of how the Kent's helped him when he
was on
 the run. He knew Hiram Kent and his wife were expecting my dad, he knew
there
 would be good decent people here to take care of me". 

 "Why all this fuss over you? One life and for you all these people had to
die, 
 all these kids who could have had normal lives were mutated". Lana's
hands
 were shaking. "I could have had a normal life Clark". 

 "I know you're mad but I was like two or three years old I couldn't
control
 what happened". 

 "But you could control the fact you lied to me for the past three years,"
Lana
 said and she suddenly felt tired. 

 "Well don't you understand why I had to lie?" Clark asked, annoyed. "What
I am 
 is like the biggest secret in the history of the world". Clark felt
suddenly
 stupid saying that but it was true and he would realise that one day. 

 "How can you be so arrogant?" Lana exclaimed angrily and she went to hit
Clark
 in the chest and he grabbed her wrist as lightly as he could. She looked
up at 
 his face, he still looked the same, but the fact was he was a liar. And
the
 fact he was indirectly responsible for everything that had happened since
the
 meteor shower, the pain that caused her to hear that, to know that, was
almost
 crippling. They looked at each other just breathing for a moment. Clark
let
 go of Lana's wrist and she turned away from him. "I need time to digest
this,
 I'll make sure no one else at school thinks you, you know I-". Lana left
the
 boiler room and Clark had to stop himself lashing out, just because he
was
 angry did not mean the schools heating should be broken. 

 Clark left the boys changing room without waiting for Pete or Christian
as he
 would usually and the two boys looked at each other, Pete looked rather
pensive 
 and Christian raised an eyebrow. 

 "Shouldn't we go after him?" Christian asked. 

 "You can man but aren't we supposed to be rehearsing?" 

 Christian shrugged his shoulders, did the Velcro up on his sneakers and
 followed after Clark. He was still stood in the hall looking kind of
lost. 

 "Are you all right Clark? Did you and Lana have another argument?" 

 "It doesn't matter". 

 "Clark nobody thinks you did anything to her, you're not that type of
person". 

 "It's not about that," Clark said and he began walking, Christian
followed. 
 "Well it is, she found out something about me". 

 "Well I can't imagine it was anything bad - this is you we're talking
about,"
 Christian said smiling as they walked towards the exit of the school
grounds. 
 Clark found himself following Christian and not really paying much
 attention. 

 "I'm not that same goody goody kid I was back when we were ten". 

 "I know, you ran away to Metropolis but you didn't do it to be bad, you
were
 upset." 

 "What do you know about it?" 

 "People were only too happy to fill me in about you Clark". 

 "And you were asking?" 

 "People just remember us being friends before I went to Grandville,"
Christian
 said. "Anyway what did Lana find out that was so bad?" 

 "It's not exactly something bad - just different". 

 "Like being gay?" 

 "Well it is sort of," Clark replied thoughtfully. "Except `coming out'
for me
 would be a bit more difficult". 

 In half an hour Clark had followed Christian to the edge of a cornfield
they
 used to play in as children. Clark followed Christian through the long
grass. 

 "I remember this place.." he said smiling and looking around. 

 "Clark this stuff with Lana.." Christian said a more serious demeanour
over
 coming him. 

 "..There used to be a fence here". 

 "..It hasn't got anything to do with when we were kids". 

 "Huh?" 

 "That fence that used to be here - it fell down -nearly fell on me - and
you
 -you were seven and you stopped it". 

 "You remember that huh?" Clark said, nervously. Who else was going to
find
 out? Too many people knew already. 

 "Don't look so worried Clark. I'm not going to tell anyone, the less I
know
 the better". 

 "Then why bring it up?" Clark asked, defensive and annoyed. 

 "I wanted you to know I remember, it was pretty weird this seven year old
kid
 lifting a massive fence but that's not what I remember most about you.
You
 were always a good friend and you still are now even though we hadn't
spoken in 
 like seven years. I mean most straight guys freak if they find out one of
 their friends is gay". 

 "It makes no difference to me". 

 "Maybe that's because I was straight with you about it. The power of
secrets
 Clark is that they're secret and they involve lying and the lying is
usually
 worse than the secret". 

 "I think that's why Lana is so pissed off, because I lied". 

 "But if it's an honourable lie Clark, sometimes secrets have to be secret
for a 
 reason. The world isn't black and white, Lana should realise that". 

 "I guess," Clark said. "When did you get so wise?" 

 "You have to make a lot of mistakes Clark," Christian said looking out
across
 the field towards a small farmhouse. Some mistakes he had enjoyed more
than
 others. 

 Graduation Day 2005 

 "When you're weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes I will dry
them
 all," Christian sang. He was stood in front of the glee club who were
stood in 
 five neat rows, Seniors in graduation robes, the younger students in
smart
 clothes. 

 "Mr Kent take your place," Coach whispered annoyed as he shoved Clark in
the
 direction of the glee club. Clark smiled at the boy next to him
embarrassed as 
 he stood at the end of the row. 

 "Sail on silver girl sail on by," the choir sang. 

 Lex held Lillian in one arm as he held a state of the art video camera in
the
 other. Chloe afraid to watch signalled to her Dad to take hold of the
baby and 
 Lex handed her to him. 

 "Clark has changed," Gabe Sullivan said to Martha. "He would have been
too shy 
 to sing in public before". 

 "Well I guess no-one else can hear him in a group anyway," Martha replied
 smiling. "I think he just wanted to help his teacher out, they were
lacking
 bass singers". Clark had always got good grades but he had really come
into
 his own in his senior year, becoming sub editor of The Torch and
practically
 running it single handed during the later stages of Chloe's pregnancy,
joining
 the glee club, the Student Arts and Student Volunteer committees and the
swim
 team. Martha and Jonathan believed swimming was probably the fairest
sport
 Clark could join in respect of his powers. Then there was the flying and
the
 fact Clark had decided all by himself to travel the world rather than go
 straight to college. 

 The glee club finished their performance and there was a large applause
from
 the other students, staff, family and friends who had all come to take
part in
 the ceremony. `Bridge over troubled water' had been Christian's choice
since
 Clark had stated `You'll never walk alone' by Gerry and the Pacemakers
would
 make them sound like a British soccer crowd. 

 Lana stood at the front of the glee club felt pretty miserable. Clark had
his
 parents, Chloe had her father, Lex and the baby, Christian had his
grandparents 
 and who did she have? Nel could not get away from her new job and Henry
Small
 was helping some cause in West Africa. She was alone again on what was
 supposed to be this great day. Jason had turned up but she did not want
him
 here. What made it all worse was the fact Clark was still adamant he did
not
 want her anymore. They all sat down and it was time for the awards.
Everyone
 in the football team got a little medal, Clark got an award for coming
first in 
 a recent swimming race, completely unfair Lana thought since he put no
effort
 in for that whatsoever, he also along with four other students got an
 `outstanding contribution' award I suppose for all his contribution to
the
 school though his first three years had been pretty half arsed. Christian
got
 an award for being top in Physics and of course for music, though for him
he
 just opened his mouth and the sound came out. Lana had a lot to live up
to
 with her mother being valedictorian but though Lana had good enough
grades to
 get into college she had failed to excel. What made it worse was despite
her
 three months studying in Paris she had come second in the Art exhibition
to
 Halle Nichols. Though she never usually cared about that sort of thing
today
 it really mattered. Or did it? Was this bitterness due to the fact that
 no-one was here for her yet again? 

 "And now to address the school, alumni and guests the class of 2005's
 valedictorian Miss Chloe Sullivan," Principal Reynolds announced and the
crowd
 burst into rapturous applause as Chloe stepped up to the lectern. She
flushed
 embarrassed, her hands were shaking and she looked over at Lex and the
baby and 
 her dad. After childbirth she could do anything. 

 "Thank you," she said. "First let me say I never once dreamed it would be
me
 stood here making this address today. I also know there were many of you
who
 tried to stop me because as most of you know I'm an unmarried mother. I
want
 to take this opportunity to say that none of us are perfect, perfection
is not
 what being Valedictorian is about. It's about honour, achievement,
setting an
 example and working your ass off". There was laughter. "We all have our
flaws 
 but me having a child is not one of them, in fact being Valedictorian
comes no
 way close to being a mother. However we all want success and we all want
 recognition and something like this is a big boost to the ego. To see how
well 
 everyone has done today makes all the hard work worthwhile-". 

 Lex watched his girlfriend as Jonathan filmed the speech for him. Chloe
was so 
 smart, so beautiful and wonderful and for once Lex felt he belonged. He
 actually had everything he wanted now. He just hoped this time, as he
patted
 the ring in his pocket, Chloe would not say no. 

 "Lastly I would like to thank my father for all the fantastic support he
has
 shown me over the past year and well my whole life really, thank you
everyone," 
 Chloe said, she felt like crying but instead tried her best to smile. She
did
 not want to turn into some soppy mess like Gwyneth Paltrow or Halle Berry
at
 the Oscars. She would save that for her first Pulitzer prize. 

 As everyone went up to the podium to receive their scrolls Principal
Reynolds
 shook their hand and people's pictures were taken. 

 "Mr Kent," Principal Reynold's cried and he almost laughed in amazement.
"You
 know I'm not sure you want to know this but you came a pretty close
second to
 Miss Sullivan". 

 "Me?" Clark asked surprised. 

 "I suppose it came down to who had worked the hardest for the longest". 

 "I'm just glad I didn't have to make a speech". Principal Reynolds
laughed at
 this and the cameraman took their picture. 

 Lana was next and Clark waved to her as he went back to his seat. 

 Once everyone had received their scrolls the graduates threw their hats
in the
 air which proceeded to blow away in a huge gust of wind. 

 "Clark was that you?" Chloe asked quietly. 

 "Chloe no, we have to return those hats remember," Clark cried as
everyone
 began chasing after them. 

 Lana was laughing trying to get a hold of one when she was distracted by
a
 voice from the crowd. 

 "Lana," Henry cried and she ran towards him immediately. 

 "What, how did you get here?" Lana exclaimed. 

 "By plane like everyone else, I'm sorry I missed it Lana". 

 "You're here now Henry that's all that matters". 

 "Where's Nell?"
 "She couldn't come," Lana said and Henry immediately felt even more
guilty.
 "I'm sorry Lana".
 "Lana I got you your hat back," Clark said handing it to her. "Hello Mr 
 Small". 

 "Clark, hello," Henry said. "That's a hell of a lot of jewellery you've
got
 there". "Oh my awards yeh," Clark said embarrassed. 

 "Hey are you two coming?" Chloe cried. "Lex is inviting everyone back to
the
 mansion oh and Mr Small you're welcome too". 

 "Well if a Luthor is paying," Henry remarked and he, Clark and Lana
followed
 Chloe. 

 Clark and Chloe sat eating a large chocolate cake in Lex's kitchen. The
room
 was huge and almost like a restaurant kitchen in that respect. They had
 decided to escape briefly from Christian's singing, Lex gushing about how
 wonderful Chloe and the baby were and everyone telling Clark he was a
`dark
 horse'. 

 "Clark, what do you think you'll do with your powers? I mean you weren't
 planning on hiding them forever I assume," Chloe said as she piled her
fork up
 with another mound of chocolate. She had to make up the extra calories
for
 breast feeding some how. 

 "Well I'd like to use them to help people". 

 "Which you kind of do already". 

 "Yeh but there are certain things I have to watch happen because if I
used my
 powers everyone would see". 

 "And what would be so bad if you told everyone anyway?" 

 "I could never have a normal life, remember Eric when he got my powers-" 

 "So that's what happened," Chloe cried excitedly. "How did that happen?" 

 "Well it was a mixture of lightning and Kryptonite". 

 "Maybe there's a way you could still use your powers and still just be a
 regular person," Chloe said thoughtfully. 

 "Maybe". 

 "You know you did really well Clark". 

 "Says you Miss Valedictorian". 

 "I know I still can't believe it". 

 "You know I'm gonna miss you Chloe," Clark said taking hold of Chloe's
hand. 

 "I'll miss you too Clark," Chloe said as Lex walked into the kitchen. 

 "Hey hands off my missus," he cried and Chloe a little pissed off by that
 remark decided to ignore it as Clark took his hand away. Clark would
think he
 was just joking but since she had found out Clark's secret Lex not
knowing what 
 really was going on was starting to suspect there was something between
them. 
 He knew Clark would never do anything but Lex was just as jealous of any
 possible feelings as well as actions. 

 "Anyway I better go and see Mom and Dad I haven't really spoken to them
much,"
 Clark said and he left the kitchen. 

 Chloe, full of cake still felt a need to do something now she and Lex
were
 alone. Reading her mind as she stood up he put his arms around her and
kissed
 her on the lips gently at first and then more passionately as he could
hear
 Chloe's breathing getting heavier. Her need for him was as much as it had
 been, they had not been together much more than a year after all. 

 "You know it's been five months," Chloe said. "Much longer than the six
weeks
 the doctor said". 

 "What you want to do it right now, in the kitchen?" Lex asked, smiling. 

 "Well no but we could sneak upstairs," Chloe replied. 

 "So Clark what are you doing after graduation?" Felice asked, an
irritating
 blonde asked. 

 "I erm am going to England," Clark replied. 

 "Wow, are you going to College there?" 

 "I'm not sure I'm going to College, I just want to see some of the world,
you
 know see what's out there". 

 "That's nice," Felice said flicking back her hair as Lana approached.
"Lana
 did you know Clark's going to England?" 

 "Yeh I am aware," Lana remarked annoyed. "Clark can I have a word?" 

 "Yeh sure," Clark said. 

 "We were talking," Felice snapped, she sounded like a spoilt brat. 

 "And it was nice," Clark said as he followed Lana out onto the balcony. 
 Another couple were stood outside but after Clark blew some cold air in
their
 direction, they decided the wind was too cold and to go indoors. 

 "You look sad Lana," Clark said. "Are you OK?" 

 "I just think its starting to sink in, you know that's it for high school
now
 we've got to grow up and make lives for ourselves" Lana said,
thoughtfully. 

 "Yeh I suppose the last time we'll all see each other is next week". 

 "Oh yeh you're going to cook for us," Lana said smiling. 

 "Don't look so sceptical, I can cook". 

 "You're not going to use that eye thing are you?" Lana asked sticking her
hand
 up in front of her eyes and waving. 

 "No Lana I figured I'd use regular pots and pans and an oven". 

 "I wish you didn't have to go". 

 "Well other people are leaving too," Clark said starting to feel guilty
though
 he knew he had no real reason to. He had to do what he wanted for once. 
 "Chloe and Lex are moving to Metropolis with the baby when Chloe starts
her
 journalism degree and Christian is going to New York-". 

 "Don't remind me". 

 "I thought you would have caught the travelling bug from going to Paris".


 "Well it's not as easy as that Clark, I just got back the Talon and I
don't
 have any money to go to college," Lana said. 

 "What's Lex doing about the Talon?" 

 "Everything will be the same except he'll be in Metropolis," Lana said. 
 "Clark, why are you going to travel?" 

 "Lana I can fly I might as well use my ability and besides I want to
learn
 about the world, see places, experience other cultures, Lana this is
going to
 be the best experience of my life," Clark said and Lana's heart sank at
his
 enthusiasm. She had never seen him so excited, he had been going on about
all
 the stuff he was going to do for weeks. Stuff he was going to do without
 her. 

 "Are you sure you're not running away from something?" Lana asked. 

 "You never give up do you?" Clark replied annoyed. 

 "What?" 

 "You're purposely manipulating this 
 conversation". Suddenly a loud high
 pitched noise pierced through Clark's brain. 

 Kalel, the time has come 

 Clark placed his hands on his head and cried out in pain. 

 "Clark are you OK?" 

 "It's my father," he said. 

 "Jonathan?" 

 "No, it's Jorel," Clark said. "I have to go". 

 "Let me go with you". 

 "Lana knowing my father - Jorel - it's gonna be weird". 

 "Please Clark you shouldn't go alone," Lana insisted and Clark scooped
her up
 in his arms. "Oh no you're not flying me". 

 "We don't have time to argue," Clark said and looking behind them he
began to
 float up the side of the mansion, making sure to avoid any windows and
then
 began flying over the fields of Smallville. Lana was terrified and if
Clark
 was not invulnerable she would have bruised his arms very badly indeed
she was
 holding on so tight. She kept her eyes closed but could feel the air
getting
 colder. 

 The noise had stopped as Clark flew in the direction of the caves. 

 "Lana open your eyes," Clark said as they flew over the main street of
the town. 

 "No". 

 "You're not going to get hurt". 

 "You used to be scared of heights". 

 "That's before I knew I could fly, open your eyes". 

 Lana slowly opened her eyes and seeing the street so far below her
screamed and 
 closed them again, Clark laughed. She opened her eyes and saw that she
 recognised the Talon. 

 "It looks so small from up here," she said. They landed at the mouth of
the
 caves a few minutes later and Lana followed Clark holding onto his arm,
she
 could not see much. 

 "Well," Clark said holding out his arms shouting at the brightly
patterned
 walls. 

 There was silence. 

 "Are you sure your father wanted you to come here?" Lana asked, frowning.


 "That's what I felt, I heard his voice, a horrible noise, this has
happened
 before". 

 Except Kalel, this time, you are ready. 

 The Previous Spring.. 

 "Hey," Chloe said as she walked into the Talon that evening. Lex was sat
 reading the Smallville Ledger drinking a cup of tea. He had felt like
 something different from coffee. 

 "Hi," Lex said. "How are you?" 

 "Fine," Chloe replied and she sat next to him and lowered her voice. She
 noticed Lana at the counter and looking in their direction. "I just
wanted to
 make sure everything was OK, you know thought we could have the mandatory
post
 date talk". 

 "Really?" Lex asked looking up from his newspaper and into Chloe's face.
She
 was so gorgeous he wanted to kiss her right now. He could actually feel
 himself getting hot, thankfully he never blushed not since he was a
little boy. 
 If looking did this much to him well. "What does that involve then?" 

 "Oh the usual, we discuss whether we enjoyed ourselves and whether we
want to
 do it again". 

 "Well I say yes to both of those things," Lex said. 

 "Just one other thing, what do we tell people? I mean we can't can we? If
the 
 press found out you were dating a high school student". 

 "Chloe you are the press". 

 "Very funny, I'm being serious Lex". 

 "No you're right it would be best to be discreet, we wouldn't want your
father
 finding out," Lex said. "I did fire him". 

 "And he'll get a new job soon". 

 "Firing aside Chloe I did spend two hours last night kissing his teenage
 daughter". 

 "I'm just glad you shaved". 

 "I don't need to shave Chloe". 

 "Oh I thought it was just your hair, I mean head hair that you lost in
the
 meteor shower". 

 "No, I lost most of it". 

 "What like body hair - you have eyebrows though?" Chloe said, surprised
and
 wrinkling her face up in that cute way that she did. 

 "Well yeh I have eyebrows but there is other hair that is missing - at
least
 now it won't be a surprise," Lex said and Chloe could feel her stomach
doing
 summersaults. With her previous dates, she couldn't even call them
boyfriends
 as they would have had to last more than five minutes to be that, body
hair and 
 nakedness had never really been an issue, sex had never been an issue.
Now she 
 was seventeen and it looked like sex was about to be an issue, one she
could
 easily contemplate exploring - with Lex. 

 "It's not like I have anyone to compare you to - I mean," Chloe said the
words
 just falling out of her mouth and she blushed realising what she was
implying. 
 "Did I just say that?" 

 "We'd have to talk about it sooner or later Chloe". 

 "We've only been on one date". 

 "Maybe we should go on a second". 

 "But we can't go anywhere if we're supposed to be keeping it a secret". 

 "We can go where nobody knows us," Lex replied smiling. 

 "You're going to Mexico," Lana exclaimed laughter in her voice. Was Chloe
an
 alien too or what now? Chloe began packing some essentials into a blue
 rucksack. "How long are you going for?" 

 "Just for tonight, Lex is taking me to a restaurant". 

 "There are plenty of restaurants in Grandville or Edge City". 

 "But someone might see us there, Lex can fly us to Mexico in his jet in
like a
 few hours". 

 "When did you decide this?" 

 "Last night". 

 "So that's why you came straight home without going to the Torch, your
dad
 thinks you're sick," Lana said. "You and Lex? When did this all happen?" 

 "I've always had a bit of a crush on Lex, haven't you?" 

 "Not really - he's just my boss," Lana lied shaking her head in
disbelief. 
 "Chloe are you crazy?" 

 "Lex are you crazy, I mean Chloe?" Clark exclaimed, amazed. He had popped
 round for a game of pool and a chat and had been greeted with the site of
Lex
 packing a red rucksack. 

 "We're just going on a date Clark - nothing else". 

 "To Mexico?" 

 "Acapulco to be more specific, I know a great place there. I'm gonna do
this
 right this time Clark". 

 "But Chloe's still at school". 

 "You know Clark in less than a year Chloe is going to be 18 and no-one is
going 
 to care how old we are, it's only six years difference". 

 "And you're just going to a restaurant, where are you going to stay?" 

 "We can sleep in the jet on the way home". 

 "Wow - you and Chloe," Clark said and he sat down on a burgundy leather
chair
 by the fireplace. "My two best friends". 

 "You can't tell anyone Clark, the minute anyone else knows about this
it's
 ruined". 

 "Don't worry Lex I won't tell anyone, just promise you won't hurt her,
and be
 honest," Clark said and a look of sadness swept over his face. "I wasn't
 honest with Chloe about Lana and she was really hurt". 

 "Like I said Clark I wanna get this right". "Well good luck Lex," Clark
said. "Is it OK if I hang around here? I don't
 really feel like going home". 

 "Sure Clark, Lana troubles again?" 

 "Do I have any others these days?" 

 "Well it seems every week you've got some new problem Clark" 

 "Well yeh, there's always something happening in this town," Clark said. 
 "Can't wait till I leave". 

 "Well not yet I hope". 

 "Well not yet but eventually". 

 There was a knock at the door and one of Lex's staff bought Chloe into
the
 library. 

 "Clark," Chloe said surprised. 

 "Hey Chloe," Clark said smiling. 

 "We better go," Lex said. "See you later Clark". 

 "You guys have a great time," Clark said and Chloe smiled glad that Clark
 seemed OK with this - unlike Lana. 

 "Bye Clark," Chloe said and she and Lex headed for the car outside which
would
 take them to the airfield and their second date. 

 It was late afternoon the next day and Clark was sawing into a piece of
wood
 with his hand. He had decided to take some wood from a fallen tree to
make the
 cross look more authentic but then remembered Christian had to hang off
it so
 he would have to sand it down pretty well. He could hear Pete singing in
the
 auditorium from the art room with his super hearing. Pete was pretty
talented
 and under Mr Hansen's direction he was getting better. It was amazing the
 potential that was hidden inside people - he should know. Clark quickly
picked 
 up a saw as he heard footsteps down the hall. 

 "Clark", Chloe said as she walked into the room. 

 "Hey Chloe," Clark said with a sheepish smile standing up and putting his
saw
 on the floor. He had just remembered that other than the brief moment he
had
 seen her last night the last time he had seen her was when he was in her
 bedroom with Lana. 

 "Clark, Lana told me about the other night - I'm sorry I ever thought you
would 
 get heavy with anyone let alone Lana". 

 "That's OK, Lana was upset and I was lying on her bed and well you just
put two 
 and two together". 

 "Well you were always better at maths," Chloe said looking around the
room. 
 The painted sets were almost finished and hung up to dry, other props
were in
 the process of being made, Clark had been busy. "Wow Clark - did you do
all
 this?" 

 "I had some help". 

 "These backdrops look great". 

 "Thanks". 

 "You know at the risk of sounding like a teacher Clark I always thought
there
 was more in than you let on, being modest is great but you could achieve
a lot
 more. If you put all that energy you spend moping about Lana into school
-
 " Chloe said and she paused for a moment. "Then you're always saving
somebody
 or helping someone out - you can do things to help yourself too". 

 "We're not all as ambitious as you Chloe". 

 "See I think you are Clark, you're as good a writer as me and -". 

 "Really?" 

 "Yes silly, you just let me boss you around". 

 "I kinda like it," Clark said smiling and Chloe gently hit him on the
shoulder. 
 "Chloe - how was last night?" 

 "Ahh I did wonder when we'd get onto that". 

 "I just hope you had a good time". 

 "It was fantastic," Chloe said and she sighed. 

 "Hey I don't need to know any of the gory details," Clark said holding up
his
 hand briefly. 

 "Nothing like that happened Clark, we're gonna wait a while," Chloe said.
"Do
 you think that's lame?" 

 "No, that's cool, you have to be sure Chloe especially if it's your first
 time," Clark replied. "Sorry I don't want to embarrass you-" "No you're
 right, I've never, have you?" 

 "Me? No" Clark said almost too insistent. 

 "You know a lot of guys wouldn't admit it". 

 "Well I'm not a lot of guys," Clark said in a way that he knew he sounded
like
 a clich. He laughed and Chloe could see Clark was actually blushing but
he
 kept on talking. "My dad always said you have to be real comfortable with
 someone to do something like that and trust them 100%, Mom used to say
`if you
 can't walk around naked in front of someone then you shouldn't be having
sex
 with them'". 

 "You're mom used to say that?" 

 "Yeh her and Dad have always been into that `open about sex' parenting
deal". 

 Chloe picked up a wooden bowl, felt how smooth it was and then put it
down
 again. 

 "Clark, what did happen between you and Lana the other night?" 

 "Let's just say she saw the real me," Clark said, apparently glum. 

 "I would have thought that would be a good thing", Chloe replied quietly
and
 she turned towards the doorway and the pair could hear laughing in the
hall.
 "Someone sounds happy". 

 Lana and Jason appeared in the doorway giggling and Jason leant over to
kiss
 Lana. Noticing Clark and Chloe watching she pulled away. 

 "Hey guys," Jason said. "Wow look at all this cool stuff - did you do all
this 
 Clark?" 

 Clark nodded and smiled, Jason was a nice guy, a nice guy who was holding
 Lana's hand. 

 "This sort of thing comes naturally to Clark," Lana remarked, Clark was
annoyed 
 at this, having super powers did not make you good at art and even if it
did so 
 what? 

 "So are rehearsals finished for today?" Chloe asked, she could cut the
tension
 with a knife. 

 "Yeh, I'm taking Lana for a pizza," Jason said smiling. He reminded Chloe
of
 Whitney in some ways. 

 "Yeh it's not Mexico but I like it," Lana remarked glancing at Chloe. 

 Mexico? Jason thought. There was definitely something odd going on
between
 Lana and her friends he would do good to stay out of. They all stood
silent
 for a moment not looking at each other. 

 "Anyway we better go," Jason said and he and Lana carried on down the
hall. 

 "Well that was awkward," Chloe said. 

 "Yeh I'm sorry". 

 "I suppose you and Lana will be friends again soon you always make up in
the
 end," Chloe said. "And this time next year none of this will matter". 

 (2005) 

 "What exactly am I ready for?" Clark shouted out at the wall and then
realised
 there was probably no need to shout. 

 "To face your destiny Kalel," the voice of Jorel replied. 

 "Kalel?" Lana asked, frowning. 

 "It was the name my biological parents gave me," Clark replied surprised
he had 
 not told Lana that before. "I thought you had finished with me last
 summer". 

 Lana looked around at the cave walls, nervously, where was the voice
coming
 from? This was all so weird and scary no wonder Clark was so affected by
this
 place. 

 "The girl should leave, this is your path to follow Kalel - alone". 

 "Maybe you should go Lana it's not safe in here". 

 "You don't have to listen to him Clark - he's dead," Lana remarked,
annoyed. 

 "I know I don't have to listen but I want to, it can't hurt to listen". 

 "Ok Clark," she said and she nodded and made her way out of the cave
Clark
 surprised by the ease with which he had got to her leave. 

 "Why do I have to be alone?" Clark asked after Lana had left. 

 "You are young, you will not be alone forever but this journey is best
 undertaken alone with no hindrances". 

 "What journey?" 

 "When you were with me before that was your preparation for what is to
come. 
 You are now ready to leave Kalel, leave those behind who have shaped the
man
 you have become. To discover the third planet and its people. ". 

 "How do you interact with me as though you're still alive?" Clark asked. 

 "I am your fathers memory, a telepathic imprint, I react just as he
would". 

 "So it's like you live forever". 

 "I live on in you as you will live on in your children". 

 "You know I've already decided to travel, you don't need to try and
convince me 
 this time". 

 "I know you are having doubts". 

 "It's only because I'm not sure I want to leave Lana". 

 "And yet she causes you so much pain". 

 "Isn't that what real loves about?" Clark quipped. 

 "No, not at all. Not when there is no joy in return," Jorel replied quite
 seriously and it made Clark think. Was Lana right for him? 

 "I always thought love was a human thing". 

 "But you discovered the relics I left from my time on Earth". 

 "Yeh, I learned you were in love once too". 

 "I was young. But even now I appreciate humanity. I would not have sent
you
 here if I did not believe in the compassion, nobility and potential in
these
 people. You will help them find the good in themselves Kalel". 

 "So if you want me to leave and I want to leave - what is this all
about?" 

 "This is goodbye Kalel - it is time to face your future. And one warning
- the 
 path will not be an easy one. You must keep your eyes open for those who
will
 try and stop you in your goals". 

 "You said you would be with me all the days of my life - I always
remembered
 that". 

 "And I will, I and your ancestors are with you in everything you do -
remember
 that. You do not need my guidance now but one day in the future if you
need me 
 again I will be there for you - my son". 

 "Don't go," Clark cried out but there was nothing. Just the cave walls -
the
 map of Clark's destiny. 

 Lionel walked into the mansion library that morning to find Lex and Chloe
 tidying up. Clark, his parents, Lana and Pete were also helping out in
another 
 room in the house. 

 "There was a party and I wasn't invited why son I am offended," Lionel
quipped
 looking around at the mess. "Oh yes the class of 2005 graduated
 yesterday". 

 "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed you were never to come back
to
 Smallville" Lex asked, annoyed. 

 "I came to see my granddaughter, is that a crime?" 

 "She's asleep," Chloe said. 

 "You should be lucky I would even show an interest in that bastard
child,"
 Lionel said looking at Lex and ignoring Chloe. "Especially after what you
did
 to me". 

 "What was that exactly?" Chloe snapped. "You tried to blackmail me
because I
 wouldn't find out stuff about Clark for you, fired my father, made Lex
think he 
 was crazy, tried to kill me and my father and Lex and you're accusing Lex
of
 something". 

 "He's with you Miss Sullivan, that's enough of a betrayal regardless of
the
 fact you both let a dying man go to prison," Lionel replied. "She's only
after 
 your money son, can't you see that? Either that or she thinks if she
stays
 with you I'll leave her alone" 

 "I still live with my father, Lex doesn't give me anything except for the
baby
 and I can take care of myself" Chloe said. "I'm not scared of you". 

 "Chloe maybe you should go and see to Lillian, me and my father need to
discuss 
 this between the two of us," Lex said seriously. "I'll tell you
everything
 when we're done". 

 "OK," Chloe said and she left the room. Lex was surprised at how easily
she
 left, what he did not know was that she was planning on asking Clark to
 eavesdrop for her. 

 "Are you OK son?" Jonathan asked as Clark swept the same spot on the
floor for
 the fiftieth time. 

 "I know it sounds dumb but its like I'm gonna miss him, a strange voice -
he
 wasn't really a person. He died like 18 years ago," Clark replied. "You
know, 
 why are we wasting our time doing this?" Clark began whooshing around the
room 
 tidying at superspeed and at this point Chloe entered the room. Clark
finished 
 tidying and the room looked spotless. 

 "You mean we've been doing this for the past hour and you could have done
the
 whole house in like a minute?" she said smiling. Lana was annoyed as she
 finished putting the cushions back on the sofa. She did not know what it
was
 but sometimes she hated Clark using his powers - she blamed them for
keeping
 them apart. It was because of them he had had any secrets in the first
place. 
 That and it made him different to her - his powers were like an invisible
 barrier sometimes she could not get her head around. What was more
irritating
 was that Chloe seemed fine with it - she liked his powers. "Clark can you
 listen in on Lex and his Dad for me - I've been dismissed from the room?"


 "Chloe I can't do that - it's not right". 

 "Clark you listen in on people all the time". 

 "Only when I need to". 

 "I'm sorry I just hate him being here," Chloe said. "I mean how can Lex
talk
 to him as though nothing has happened after everything he has done to all
of
 us?" 

 "None of us want him here Chloe but he is Lex's father," Jonathan
remarked. 
 "Now I suppose we better get started on the gardens". 

 "This may be a hard concept for you to understand but Chloe loves me she
 doesn't care about the money and she's not with me because she's scared
of you" 
 Lex cried. "That's just a paranoid idea on your part, wouldn't it make
more
 sense for her to break up with me because of what you've done to us?" 

 "If it wasn't for your money she wouldn't be able to move to Metropolis".


 "Moving to Metropolis is good for both of us". 

 "And all the while son she's making a fool of you". 

 "How's that?" 

 "You must have noticed what's going on between her and Clark Kent". 

 "Her and Clark have been friends for years, he's Lillian's Godfather". 

 "You haven't noticed the way they talk quietly and shut up when you walk
in the 
 room, the way they look at each other," Lionel said. 

 "Unless you've been spying Dad how would you know? You haven't been
around". 

 "On your orders son, so I've had to keep an eye on things, otherwise I'd
have
 no idea what's going on - like you seem to have no idea Lex". 

 "And what do I have no idea about exactly?" 

 "Clark Kent - like me you've had your suspicions for some time". 

 "Suspicions?" 

 Chloe noticed Clark had not being paying attention at all for the past
few
 minutes as she had been talking. 

 "Clark you said you weren't going to listen in on them". 

 "They're talking about me Chloe". 

 "What are they saying Clark?" Jonathan asked, the usual intenseness in
his
 voice that was always present when there was a possibility Clark was in
 danger. 

 "Chloe and Clark are just friends, they've been friends for years,
Clark's my
 friend too," Clark relayed to the group in a monotone as he carried on
 listening. 

 "What exactly is Lionel Luthor accusing us off?" Chloe exclaimed angrily.


 "It's the secret Chloe," Lana said. "Now you know about Clark and Lex
doesn't". 

 "So what?" 

 "Shhh you two," Clark hissed, angrily. 

 "I wasn't suggesting something as vulgar as Chloe having an affair with
Clark
 Lex, Clark would never do that. I was thinking perhaps something even
worse. 
 Could it be possible that Chloe knows about Clark, what you've wanted to
know
 for the past four years? What nearly broke up your friendship with Clark
for
 good?" Lionel said. Lex could not tell whether Lionel really knew
something or 
 not, Lionel was such a convincing liar perhaps he did not even know
 himself. 

 "Chloe would have told me," Lex said, unable to hide the emotion from his
voice 
 as well as his face. 

 "What if Clark told her not to?" 

 "Look Dad I don't know what this is about. What kind of test you're
putting me 
 through, what kind of sick minded scheme, whether you just want Chloe and
I
 split up, I don't care - just get out". 

 "Even if I offered to tell you what it is about Clark Kent that has kept
us all 
 baffled, in exchange for you not marrying Chloe Sullivan, would you turn
it
 down?" 

 Lex hesitated. 

 Chloe back in the other room waited for Clark to relay the answer. 

 "I haven't asked her to marry me yet, I was going to do it the other
night
 but.." 

 "Regardless, I make no secret of the fact I do not think she and that
child are 
 good enough for my son". 

 "That child is my daughter". 

 "You didn't answer me Lex". 

 "Just get out," Lex said and Lionel shrugged his shoulders and made his
way to
 the doorway. 

 "I know you're trying to do the honourable thing Lex, but just because
you get
 some girl knocked up-" 

 Lex shook his head, it had been much more than that. 

 Chloe, her heart racing, looked along the chemist shelves. Ahh condoms.
Right 
 next to the pregnancy tests, not exactly reassuring, she thought with a
smile. OK ribbed ones, extra safe, extra sensitive, fruit flavoured, extra
large, how
 about just regular plain old condoms? Extra safe? Chloe picked up a box
and
 looked around to make sure she saw no-one she knew. She had thought about
 going to a chemist out of Smallville but how sad would that have been?
She was 
 perfectly legal and grown up enough to buy some dumb old condoms. And Lex
 would be impressed she had come prepared and probably glad that after
four
 weeks she had finally come to the decision. 

 And she was ready. She had seen Lex naked, he had seen her naked, she had
 touched him and everything and he had touched her. There was just one
last
 step to take and Chloe couldn't wait! 

 She turned round to walk to the cash desk and bumped right into Jonathan
Kent. 

 "Hi Chloe," he said smiling and then looked down at the box of condoms in
her
 hand. She flushed bright red and he nearly did too. "I just came to get
my
 medicine". 

 "Look I won't embarrass you any longer Mr Kent, I'll just go and pay for
these
 and we'll say no more about - it," her voice trailed off at the end of
the
 sentence as she almost ran to the counter to pay. Jonathan wondered who
the
 lucky man was but also hoped to God Chloe knew what she was doing. 

 She paid for the condoms ignoring the funny looks from Mrs Fredericks and
 smiling at Jonathan ran out of the chemist and into her car. No time like
the
 present. 

 "Chloe you're early," Lex said looking at his watch, it was six o'clock
and
 Chloe did not usually come round till about seven. 

 "Is that OK?" Chloe asked smiling closing the door behind her. 

 "No it's fine, did you want some dinner?" 

 "I thought we could eat afterwoulds," Chloe said throwing her bag down in
the
 hallway and she put her hands around his waist and they began to kiss
 passionately in the hallway. The only sound was of their breath and their
lips 
 moving. 

 "Let's go upstairs," Lex whispered and Chloe took the box of condoms out
of her 
 bag and followed him up to the bedroom. "What are they?" Lex nodded to
the
 box of condoms in Chloe's hand. 

 "I thought I better come prepared, just in case we want to". 

 "Oh I want to," Lex said as he began to kiss Chloe again, she began
undoing his 
 shirt that clumsy way she always did. "I love you". 

 "I love you too," Chloe replied her stomach leaping at the sexy way Lex
always
 said those three words to her as his shirt slipped onto the bed. She
liked his 
 chest, it was completely smooth but not plastic looking like some gross
body
 builder, it was more masculine than that. Chloe took her jacket off and
threw
 it across the room hitting a lamp and Lex burst out laughing as Chloe
flushed
 embarrassed and he pushed her down onto the bed. Chloe could feel a
longing, a 
 feeling, in her stomach, was it her womb? She wasn't sure but whatever it
was
 it made her want Lex inside her right at that minute. She was scared but
she
 didn't care. Chloe sat up and took her top off and grabbed Lex's crotch. 

 "There it is again," Chloe said. "Whenever I take my top off". 

 "It was hard before that," Lex replied taking off her pretty purple bra
and he
 began kissing her breasts, his kisses gradually going lower down her
body. He
 pulled her skirt up and pulled the matching purple French knickers down.
Was
 he going to go down on her again? Chloe thought. Last time she had nearly
wet 
 herself from excitement, nearly came. The `nearly' had annoyed Lex but
Chloe
 had read enough sex columns to know that the female orgasm was more
elusive
 than the media would let you believe. She knew when she could let go she
would 
 let go big style. Chloe took off her skirt and Lex began touching her.
She
 laid down so she could touch his penis at the same time. They began
kissing
 again and Chloe gasped as Lex dug two of his fingers inside her. Just
fuck me
 Lex, she thought. Should she say it? No he would probably keep on teasing
her 
 till she was going to explode if she said that. He was sadistic in that
 way. 

 Lex opened the box of condoms, took out one and Chloe grabbed it. 

 "Let me see," she said and she felt its rubbery material. "It's quite
thin". 

 "Thankfully," Lex said and he put it on. Chloe could not look, ahhh! It
was
 going to be in her any minute now. 

 Lex lay on top of her and after a bit of fumbling about began to push it
in
 inside her. 

 "Ow," Chloe said. 

 "Are you OK?" Lex asked, concerned. He actually thought whether he had
ever
 made love to a virgin before and he was not sure he had. He thought how
 important this would be for Chloe, he could not fuck it up. This was
 serious. 

 "Carry on - it's got to go in there sometime," Chloe insisted. Lex pushed
 harder and it stopped hurting, Chloe gasped as she felt him inside her.
She
 wasn't sure how but she knew how to move her body with his and she
grabbed his
 arse, wanting him as deep inside her as possible. Lex groaned and it was
all
 over. Chloe looked at the clock, after all that and from her coming to
the
 door to Lex coming, it had been about twenty minutes. They both breathed
 deeply staring into each others eyes and Lex smiled embarrassed. He
always
 felt embarrassed after sex for the first few times anyway. Chloe smiled
too
 and Lex got up off of her slowly and carefully. In all the excitement
when he
 took off the condom and put it in the bin next to the bed he neglected to
see a 
 tiny little tear in the top of it. 

 "I am starving," Chloe said sat up on the bed and she grabbed one of
Lex's
 bathrobes. 

 "Not getting dressed?" Lex asked. 

 "What's the point?" Chloe replied with a cheeky grin. "When my dinners
gone
 down, we're doing that again". 

 "Yes Mam," Lex said, stood to attention in more ways than one, Chloe
thought. 

 "Hey Chloe," Clark cried and she turned away from her locker embarrassed.

 Would Clark be able to tell? No of course not, it's not like he could see
 inside her or something. 

 Chloe did look different, Clark thought. She was happy! 

 "Hi Clark". She wondered if Mr Kent had said anything about the condoms.
"Hey 
 Christian". Christian walked up behind Clark and tapped him on the
 shoulder. 

 "You look tired," Clark said and Chloe blushed. 

 "Do I?" she said nervously. 

 "Actually Chloe I meant Christian looks tired". 

 "Well Clark I would tell you why but I wouldn't want to warp your
innocent
 mind," Christian said smiling. 

 Courtney Bryant who was handing out leaflets in the halls approached
Clark,
 Chloe and Christian and handed them each a leaflet. 

 "Abstinence drive tomorrow night at 7, should be fun," she said smiling. 

 "You do know I'm the schools resident queer right?" Christian remarked in
a
 bitchy tone throwing the leaflet on the floor. 

 "Christian don't be like that," Clark said smiling sheepishly at
Courtney. 

 "There's hope for everyone," Courtney said not letting Christians comment
 effect her in the slightest. "You can always become a secondary virgin". 

 "We might come," Clark said picking Christian's leaflet up and Courtney
smiled
 and carried on her crusade. 

 "What did you tell her that for?" Christian asked. 

 "I'm not really going," Clark replied. "I just felt sorry for her". 

 "Abstinence is proving pretty popular lately," Chloe said thoughtfully. 
 "Though it's not for everyone, I couldn't imagine waiting till marriage".


 "It might kind of nice to wait for the right person". 

 "The right person but not marriage, do you really wanna end up a
30-year-old
 virgin Clark?" Christian remarked as if the idea was some how repugnant. 
 "Anyway are you two coming to the play rehearsals?" 

 "Might as well," Clark said. "Nothing better to do" 

 "I need to get the pre show comments so yeh sure," Chloe said. "Only
three
 weeks till curtain up". 

 "Can't wait," Christian said twirling around in the hall linking arms
with
 Clark and Chloe, Clark was laughing and bumped into Jason in the hall who
was
 with a jock wearing a football jacket. 

 "Sorry," Clark said. 

 "You should watch the company you keep Kent, you were starting to be
cool, but
 hanging about with gay boy here, people will start putting two and two
 together," the jock said and he shoved Clark slightly. 

 "Just because Clark is comfortable enough with his sexuality to hang out
with
 Christian," Chloe said. "You guys strut around whacking each other on the
back 
 and grunting, thinking you're real men, you wouldn't know a real man if
he
 punched you right in the face". 

 "Hey Jason, maybe that's why things didn't work out between Clark and
Lana,
 Clark wasn't quite man enough for her". 

 "Do you wanna fight or what?" Clark exclaimed angrily his face only an
inch
 from the jocks. Chloe had seen that Clark before, in Metropolis. 

 "Clark don't mate you could really hurt him," Christian said. 

 "See he calls him his mate". 

 "Well?" Clark cried standing with his legs apart and holding up his
fists. 

 "Come on David," Jason said. "I'm supposed to be at play rehearsals". 

 "OK," David said. "Let's leave the gay and the psycho to it". 

 "Bye," Clark said waving his hand in a rather effeminate way and he
noticed
 Chloe looking at him rather disapprovingly. "I didn't mean any of that, I
 wouldn't really have fought with them". 

 "Well you're kind of scary when you act like that Clark," Christian said.


 "Well that's not the real me, it's just the only way to deal with people
like
 that". 

 "Come on guys, I think some of the costumes are being fitted today,"
Chloe
 said. 

 Lana walked up the steps to the top of the loft where Clark was
simultaneously
 reading a book on astrophysics and one on earthquakes for his science
project. 
 He had been unable to put the complicated book by Dr Swann down but had
to do
 his science homework and decided he could probably do both at the same
time,
 and he could. This boy, unlike others could definitely multitask. 

 "Hi Clark," Lana said smiling sheepishly. 

 "Lana," Clark said nervously and he stood up knocking all his books to
the
 ground. God, why was it she still had the power to make him feel like
that
 sometimes? Well it was different now. He had become relaxed and
comfortable
 in her company when she didn't know his secret and they had become
friends, now 
 she knew his secret they would have to start all over again. 

 "You're parents were surprised to see me". 

 "Well we haven't really spoken for a month," Clark said tidying his books
up. 
 "Look can I just finish these notes I was making for my Earth Quake
 project?" 

 "I, OK," Lana said frowning. What was she supposed to do? Watch him while
he
 did his homework. 

 Clark sat back down and began whizzing through the book, Lana watched in
 amazement, could his notes actually make sense writing that fast. After
three
 minutes Lana's eyes were hurting, Clark was moving faster than she could
 follow. Another minute Clark closed his books, looked up at Lana and
smiled. 
 She laughed nervously at the weirdo and sat down on a beanbag. 

 "Clark, I'm sorry I haven't spoken to you for a while, it's just I've
needed
 time to get used to you and well I was angry that you lied as well". 

 "I know but Lana you must understand that from your reaction, you can see
why I 
 didn't tell you," Clark said and he moved his chair closer, leaned down
and
 took her hands. "But the feelings, they were always real, I did love
you". 

 "Did?" Lana asked, she felt the warmth of his hands and was almost
tempted to
 kiss him again. But this Clark she wanted to kiss, he was an illusion.
The
 real Clark had weird scary powers - the real Clark wasn't even human.
Even
 more bitter tasting was the fact that the real Clark was indirectly
responsible 
 for the death of her parents. 

 "I do love you Lana, I know you loved me too, I know you didn't know
about my
 secret but the powers, being an alien it's not who I am. Who I am is what
I've 
 shown you every day since we've known each other," Clark said smiling and
he
 stood up and looked out of the loft window at the sunset. Lana noticed he
 could look directly at the bright yellow and orange. "I'm Clark Kent. The
 slightly geeky, slightly cool guy, who gets good grades at school, the
guy
 who's always late, the guy always helping out the old folks or saving
someone
 from a fire, the guy who's been in love with Lana Lang since he was eight
years 
 old. Lana being the guy who can lift up a car or take a steel bullet, who
can
 see through things-" 

 "You can see through things," Lana said, tears forming in her eyes. 

 "They're like extra's, bonus features, the powers are what makes it able
for me 
 to help people, I know I lied but I lied to protect you". 

 "What can you see in me Clark?" Lana asked. 

 "I can see you're heart is beating way too fast, you're stomach is
churning,
 you're mouth is as dry as a bone and you're skin - you're body is really
 beautiful," Clark said and Lana began to shake as if she were about to
cry. 
 Clark leaned forward and wiped away the tear. So close to her face he
kissed
 Lana gently on the lips. She kissed him back passionately and Clark got
out of 
 his chair and lay on top of her kissing her. She could feel the warmth of
his
 arms around her as she placed her hands on his back. She could feel him
 getting hard. 

 "Clark," Lana said suddenly. "You're heavy". 

 "Sorry," Clark said smiling. 

 "Look Clark I shouldn't have done that. I came to tell you Jason and I
are
 together now. I just wanted you to know that I won't tell anyone you're
 secret. Maybe we can still be friends". 

 "Friends," Clark said in a sulky tone and Lana couldn't help but snigger.


 "You sound like a four year old who isn't allowed any chocolate or
 something,"she said. 

 "Nice to see you taking my feelings seriously as usual," Clark snapped. 

 "Clark I can forgive you but I can't be with you. It's too much". 

 Too much, too much bother? Too much hard work? Too much to ignore about
one
 person? Did Lana see Clark as having some kind of a disability in some
 respects? 

 "You know you are too much Lana," Clark said. "You kiss me, like you
really
 mean it, like you really want me and then tell me you don't want me". 

 "I'm sorry Clark but I'm with Jason," Lana said. 

 "And I don't have to ask what he has that I don't," Clark said sitting
back
 down. "He's normal". 

 "Yes Clark if I'm honest," Lana said. "He's normal - Bye". Lana walked
off
 down the steps and Clark felt like crying, he felt like crying like a
little
 girl and one tear escaped before he leant on the table and buried his
head in
 his arms. 

 Back in 2005 

 "Can't explain the feelings that you're making me feel," Clark sang, or
almost
 shouted as the kitchen radio blasted out. "My hearts in overdrive and
your
 behind the steering wheel, touching me-eeeee, touching you-uuuuu,
touching me
 `cos I'm touching you". He was nodding his head up and down rather wildly
and
 chopping the mushrooms in time to the music as Lex came in through the
kitchen
 door. "I believe in a thing called love just listen to the rhythm of my
 heart". 

 "Clark, Clark," he shouted and Clark immediately turned around
embarrassed and
 turned the radio down. 

 "Lex," he said and he looked down at the mushrooms and continued chopping
them. 

 "You always surprise me Clark - you can sing falsetto as well now" Lex
said. 
 Actually he thought Clark sounded awful, perfect ears and vocal chords
didn't
 necessarily mean you could sound like Justin Hawkins. Clark kind of
shrugged
 his shoulders as Lex looked around the tidy kitchen, Clark obviously
cleaned up 
 as he went along. "What are you cooking? I don't see any meat". 

 "Christian is a vegetarian," Clark said. 

 "You and Christian are pretty close". 

 "He gives me space," Clark said sounding slightly annoyed looking at Lex
his
 eyes open quite wide. "We can just hang out without any issues". 

 "So you two aren't?" 

 "What?" Clark said and he laughed nervously. "No". 

 "I'm sorry Clark, I suppose now Chloe and I, and the baby I haven't had
as much 
 time". 

 "I'll always be your friend Lex," Clark said looking at Lex and patting
him on
 the arm. "One day I'll hopefully be married with kids and I won't have as
 much time for you either. It's what happens, people change, their
 circumstances change". 

 "Like you're trip around the world". 

 "Exactly" 

 "Out of all the weird things about you Clark I never would have seen you
as the 
 type to shed all responsibility and go off like that, I would have
thought
 you'd be off to college". 

 "I can still go to college," Clark said. "And what responsibilities Lex?
I'm
 18, no girlfriend". Yep he had no 
 responsibility, except for his
 responsibility to humanity and to saving people, nope no responsibility
at all
 - except to the world. 

 "So what are you cooking tonight?" 

 "It's a surprise," Clark replied. "Whose baby sitting Lillian?" 

 "Chloe's father". 

 "Did you have anything in particular you wanted to see me about Lex? I'm
kinda 
 busy". 

 "Just wondered if you'd heard from the newspaper in England I put you in
touch
 with". 

 "Yeh they said they can take me on as `unpaid work experience'," Clark
said. 
 "I suppose I can work in a bar in the evenings or something, it'll only
be over 
 the summer anyway". 

 "I warn you The Guardian has quite a reputation, even as `unpaid work
 experience' you won't have an easy ride". 

 "I'm sure I'll be able to handle it". 

 "Any other plans for when you go overseas?" 

 "Only that I want to see everything," Clark said smiling. 

 "I'll see you later Clark". 

 "What's this?" Lana asked as Clark placed a few large bowls of curry and
dishes 
 of rice on the table along with some onion bhaji, mushroom bhaji and sag
 cream. 

 "Cool," Chloe said. "It's not too hot is it?" 

 "No, well this one on the end is," Clark said. "Go ahead and try". 

 "Italian garlic mushrooms for starters and now curry, what is this, an
around
 the world menu?" Lana asked. 

 "Well it's kind of appropriate since I am going around the world," Clark
said.
 "Lana isn't used to anything more exotic than hot sauce on her fries"
Chloe
 added smiling. 

 "I spent last summer in Europe," Lana snapped back. 

 "Come on ladies lets keep the claws in this evening," Lex remarked
helping
 himself to portion of the hot curry and he plonked it on the top of his
saffron 
 rice. Christian smirked to himself as Lex tried to hide his discomfort at
 eating the hot curry. Lex coolly reached for his glass of wine. It was
 amazing how years of training could help hide the most simple biological
 reactions such as those caused by spicy food in the mouth. 

 "So where are your parents tonight?" Lana asked Clark. 

 "They've gone to Metropolis, they're staying in some hotel". 

 "I hope me and Lex can be like them when we're older," Chloe said
smiling.
 "What still together?" Christian remarked, cynically. 

 "Aren't your parents still together?" Lex asked. 

 "Yeh they just don't want me around because I sleep with men - I doubt
Clark's
 parents would do that hey". 

 "My parents aren't perfect," Clark said. "And besides you're grandparents
are
 OK with it". 

 "My Gran thinks she knows everything because she's watched `Will and
Grace' a
 couple a times". 

 "Actually I meant I hoped we were still sleeping together at that age,"
Chloe
 remarked and Lex looked up over his dinner and winked at her. 

 "Eww gross how do you know my parents are still - that is just," Clark
remarked 
 disgust clearly present in his voice. 

 "Well your Mom was pregnant quite recently Clark". Chloe didn't know
whether
 she should mention it but it had been two years since the miscarriage and
well
 it was a fact. Ship or not that child had been Jonathan's as well as
Martha's. 

 "I would have loved a brother or sister," Clark said. "That was a summer
I'd
 much rather forget and last summer too actually". 

 "And the summer before when there was the tornado wasn't much fun," Lana
said. 

 "Actually my summer after freshman year was pretty cool that was when I
went to 
 the Daily Planet for my internship," Chloe said. 

 "And my summer last year was cool I was in Paris," Lana added. 

 "Well," Chloe said smiling and holding up her glass of diet coke. "Here
is to
 a good summer for everyone wherever we are". 

 "Here here," Christian said as everyone clinked their glasses together. 

 "Well it won't be hard to top last summer since I was in the hospital,"
Chloe
 said. 

 "I still think it's amazing you survived that explosion," Christian said.
"How 
 did the baby survive?" 

 "A miracle I guess," Chloe said nervously trying to avoid looking at
either
 Clark or Lex. It had been a miracle, the miracle of a Junior doctor who
had
 stolen some of Clark's blood platelets from the experiments carried out
earlier 
 that year and just happened to have enough to save Chloe's baby. "Anyway
I'm
 glad Lillian is here I wouldn't change her and what's happened for the
world. 
 But I would say this, enjoy your freedom when you can - if you have the
 choice". 

 Back in 2004 

 Chloe nervously stepped into Dr Mae's surgery and she asked her to sit
down. 

 "Hi Chloe, what can I do for you today?" she asked. 

 "I'd like to go on the pill," Chloe replied. "I have a boyfriend and we
really 
 care for each other and-" 

 "Sure Chloe, let me just take your blood pressure," Dr Mae said. "Just
roll up your sleeve". Chloe took off her denim jacket and rolled up the
sleeve of her
 lime green long sleeved t-shirt. As the device closed in on her arm Chloe
 could feel her heart racing. She hated doctors; she didn't know why they
just
 made her nervous. She had been in hospital a couple of times and thought
she
 would be used to it by now. 

 "That's fine". The doctor undid the Velcro and put the blood pressure
taker
 back on her desk. "Right let's weigh you now". Chloe stood on the scales.

 The doctor used old fashioned ones Chloe couldn't see the reading on.
"Chloe
 when did you last have a period?" She stepped off the scales. 

 "Er about a month ago I think," Chloe replied smiling. "But mine aren't
always 
 regular". 

 "That's perfectly normal for a girl your age, the pill can regularise
your
 periods in some cases anyway. Are you sexually active at the moment? Just
 stand against the wall here - I need to measure your height". Chloe stood
 against the wall. 

 "I've been sexually active for a couple of months," Chloe said. "We've
been
 using condoms". 

 "Well we better do a test just in case since you haven't had a period
lately,"
 Dr Mae said and noticing Chloe's worried face she smiled warmly at her.
"I
 wouldn't worry it's just routine". 

 Chloe took the test with her to the bathroom in the doctors and since she
was
 nervous anyway managed to pee quite easily. She took the wand back into
the
 doctor's room. 

 "Oh," Dr Mae said surprised. "Chloe according to this - you are
pregnant". 

 "Oh no but I can't," Chloe said her stomach churning. That was it she was
 gonna be sick. "You said the test was just routine". 

 "I'm sorry Chloe, lay down on the couch". 

 "What are you gonna do?" 

 "I just want to examine you, see how many weeks pregnant you are". 

 "No, no way," Chloe said, tears coming to her eyes, her hands were
shaking and
 she threw up in the waste paper bin. The doctor winced a bit and handed
Chloe
 a tissue when she was done. 

 "Chloe," she said. "You are pregnant, the best thing we can do is try and
 decide what you're going to do about it". 

 That night during the first night of the school play all Chloe could
think
 about was how she was going to tell Lex, her friends and most importantly
her
 father. 

 2005 

 Clark was in the kitchen making drinks, he knocked together some fruit
punch,
 and could hear Christian murdering the piano in the other room. As soon
as he
 had seen it he screamed and began going through Martha's collection of
sheet
 music excitedly like a child. Lex, sat on the sofa had hung his head in
 disbelief and turned his attention to the television. For those of normal
 hearing Christian's bad playing was masked by his excellent singing voice
but
 to Clark every bad note stabbed his ears like a Kryptonite cotton bud in
his
 ear. Lex walked into the kitchen to find it spotlessly clean. Clark put
the
 jug of beautifully coloured punch and six glasses on a tray. 

 "Lex, hey," Clark said smiling. 

 "Your friend is murdering that piano". 

 "Don't worry Lex I've got something up my sleeve," Clark said. "Well
something 
 in that drawer". Clark lifted the tray up and nodded towards one of the
 kitchen drawers. Lex opened it and took out a videocassette. 

 "What's this?" Lex asked, suspicion in his voice. 

 "It's last years school production of Jesus Christ Superstar". 

 "Are you sure everyone wants to be reminded of that embarrassment?" 

 "Oh come on Lex this is the only time we ever just had fun without
something
 going wrong or me having to save someone". 

 "That was the day Chloe found out she was pregnant," Lex said thinking
out
 loud. "Oh and the following week my father was up in court for murder". 

 "Lex, have you still got that ring?" Clark asked ignoring Lex's
negativity. 

 "Is that your way of saying when am I going to propose?" 

 "Well you've had the ring for like a week now". 

 "I don't know if I can face it if she says no again". 

 "Lex, Chloe only said no before because she thought you were only
proposing
 because she `got knocked up'," Clark said. "Her words not mine". 

 "And you wouldn't do the same?" 

 "I don't need a piece of paper to prove how I feel, if I love someone and
they
 love me and we want to be together and can be together that's all that
 matters," Clark said. "But if you want to marry Chloe, ask her, ask her
now". 
 Clark walked into the living area and Lex could hear him asking Chloe to
go
 into the kitchen. 

 "Lex," Chloe said entering the kitchen. "Clark said you needed to talk to
me
 about something, you don't have to leave do you? Or are you making
excuses
 because you don't want to hang out with my goofy friends". 

 "I don't think you're friends are goofy Chloe - they're my friends too,"
Lex
 said. "I, well I needed to ask you something but I'm not sure the Kent's
 kitchen is really the most romantic place". 

 "Romantic?" 

 "Chloe," Lex said fiddling around in his jacket pocket. "I've been
carrying
 this around for a week trying to find a way to ask you". He took the
small
 velvet box out of his jacket pocket and bent down on one knee thankful it
 didn't crack and spoil the moment. Lex opened the box and looked right up
into 
 Chloe's face. There were tears in her eyes and she grabbed a tea towel
and
 wiped her eyes. Just the sight of him, making a complete fool of himself,
 being so non Lex in some respects made her want to ball. 

 "Chloe Sullivan will you marry me?" he asked. "Not because I `knocked you
up'
 or because we're moving to Metropolis together but because I love you". 

 "Of course I'll marry you," Chloe said still wiping her eyes with the tea
 towel. "Get up and come here". 

 Lex got up off the floor and put the ring on Chloe's finger. It was a
 sparkling emerald, Chloe looked at it 
 suspiciously. 

 "It's an emerald," Lex said. "Don't worry it wasn't too expensive, I know
if
 it was you'd want to sell it and buy something sensible like furniture".
Chloe 
 knew he was lying but perhaps she deserved an expensive engagement ring,
she
 would only have one after all. 

 "I just thought it looked like meteor rock for a minute," Chloe said. 

 "Would that matter?" 

 "No," Chloe said laughing nervously. 

 "I thought an emerald would be something different". 

 "It's beautiful Lex," Chloe said and she went on tiptoe and kissed him on
the
 lips. "Let's tell everyone". 

 "Here comes Lana," Clark said laughing and they all pointed to the TV
screen as 
 Lana dressed as a peasant playing the part of `Girl' was singing. 

 See my eyes I can hardly see, she sang on screen weakly but in tune. 

 Christian was laughing at Josh Turner who had played the part of `Boy'
and fell 
 over. 

 "The football team gave him stick about that for that for weeks". 

 "Let's fast forward to Jason's bit," Lana said. 

 "You're bit hasn't finished yet," Clark said. 

 See my skin I'm a mass of blood 

 "Why would you want to see Jason's bit anyway?" Christian asked. "You
guys
 broke up". 

 "Yeh but he sneezed on Sarah in his bit". 

 "That was gross," Clark said. 

 "Oh no you're not watching that," Chloe said as she and Lex entered the
room
 and she flashed her right hand about. 

 "Wow," Lana cried. 

 "Lex just asked me to marry me," Chloe cried excitedly. "And I said yes".


 "Congratulations," Clark said smiling and he and Lex exchanged knowing
nods. 

 "What's that ring made out of?" Christian asked. 

 "It's an emerald," Chloe replied. "Isn't it beautiful?" 

 "Yeh it'll do a treat next St Patrick's day," Christian remarked in a
mock
 Irish accent and Lana ran over to Chloe and the two girls hugged. Then
began
 the mass hugs which Christian decided to stay out of. 

 "Oh look its Sarah's solo," Christian said, the video tape was still
running. 

 "We can fast forward that," Lana said. 

 "You still bitter about her getting the part?" 

 "No," Lana said and she laughed. "Yes, does that make me a horrible
person?" 

 "That play was so weird, there was like Clark's props and sets and
Christian
 and Pete's singing which were just brilliant and then there were so many
stupid 
 disasters," Chloe said. 

 "Why did your music teacher pick that play anyway we did that when I was
at
 school?" Lex said. 

 "It was when `The Passion of the Christ' was popular," Christian
explained. 
 "Mr Hansen thought he was being cool". 

 "Oh don't show Christian singing Gethsemane I'll cry again," Chloe cried.


 "You only cried last time because you were pregnant," Christian said.
"You
 don't usually cry at girly crap". 

 "Well I just cried now, do marriage proposals count as girly crap?" Chloe
said
 and she poured herself a glass of punch. "Has this got vodka in it?"
Clark
 nodded. "I'll drink to that". 

 "And us getting engaged," Lex said. 

 "To Chloe and Lex," Clark cried raising a glass. 

 "To Chloe and Lex," everyone cried and Christian made a beeline for the
piano
 again. 

 "Christian give it a rest," Clark said and everyone cheered. "Let's put
on a
 CD". Clark put a CD in his parents CD player. 

 My baby don't mess around because she loves me so and I know fo shoo
Outkast
 began blasting out of the stereo and Chloe made a whooping sound and got
on top 
 of the sofa. Clark laughed and then all of a sudden felt very sad, it was
 surely the end of an era. 

 Lex heard a buzzing in his pocket, took out his mobile phone and saw a
name he
 recognised flashing on the display screen. 

 "Oh no," Chloe cried. "Don't answer it". 

 "I won't be more than a second OK," Lex insisted and he walked into the
 kitchen. "Look I've just proposed to my girlfriend so make this quick". 

 "That's all right boss I just wanted to check on the arrangements for
 tomorrow," a voice at the other end of the line said. 

 "My father is still in Smallville it shouldn't be too hard to find him". 

 "And how do you want me to?" 

 "I don't care how just make sure no-one else gets hurt - oh and try and
make it 
 look like an accident," Lex said rubbing his brow in concentration. 

 "How do I do that?" 

 "I don't know cut the breaks on his car or something, I pay you to think
of
 these things". 

 "OK Boss will do," the voice said. "Oh and Boss - Congratulations". 

 "Say that to me again tomorrow when he's gone," Lex said seriously. 

 Clark made his way out of the Smallville Medical Centre after saying
goodbye to 
 all the doctors and nurses who had been there for him, his friends and
family
 at so many disasters over the last four years. He made his way down the
road,
 the Smallville Medical Centre had been the last place on his list after
 visiting the Old folks home, the Library, the Talon, the Ledger, the Teen
 Crisis Hotline and Smallville High. 

 "You have been busy today Clark". 

 Clark turned around to see Lionel Luthor stood by one of his many flash
cars. 
 What was he doing in the middle of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere
 exactly? 

 "Get lost Luthor," Clark said and he turned to carry on walking. 

 "Now Clark that's not very respectful" 

 Clark turned again, walked up to Lionel and looked him right in the face.

 Lionel seemed completely calm about being in the presence of someone who
after
 all could knock him out by simply flicking his little finger in his
 forehead. 

 "People like you don't deserve respect". 

 "Now now I didn't come here to fight". 

 "And how did you know I was here exactly? Have you been following me?"
Clark
 asked, aggressively. "You know some people would have something to say
about a 
 man your age following young men around". 

 "I would have thought you would be beyond such juvenile remarks". 

 "What do you want anyway?" Clark seemed to get more aggressive as Lionel
 appeared more cool and disinterested. 

 "I heard your leaving Smallville". 

 "That's right I'm going on a trip, a long one, out of here". 

 "And you think that's a worthwhile use of your talents?" 

 "I want to be a writer, how can I write if I don't have anything to write
 about? Not that's its any of your business". 

 "We both know Clark what has happened to you since birth and what will
happen
 to you in the future could most likely inspire an entire mythology,"
Lionel
 said smiling and stroking his chin. 

 "I don't know what you mean," Clark said, his neck twinging slightly as
it did
 when he lied under pressure. 
 "And the lies continue. You don't have to lie to me Clark I know your
secret. 
 Don't look so worried. I think this knowledge could be profitable for
both of
 us," Lionel said. 

 "And how's that exactly?" 

 "You do as I say and the people you love will be well looked after". 

 "You seriously think I would work for you!" 

 "I don't think you understand Clark, you've never had much money, I can
change
 that, you've never had many chances, I can give you those chances. In
exchange 
 I would ask your completely loyalty to Luthor Corp and to me. With
someone as
 talented as yourself Clark - well its 
 unimaginable what I could do, what we
 could do - we could rule the planet," at this Lionel did get excited and
even
 laughed a little. Clark wondered if Lionel was in his right mind. He was
 suggesting he and Clark could join forces and do what? Rule the world
 together. Well that certainly was not part of Jorel's plan. Even if Clark
had 
 not figured out what Jorel meant he knew what it did not mean. Evil was
never
 part of his plan. "You're being quiet Clark". 

 "See ya later," Clark said and he began turning to walk away again. 

 "I told your father you were weak," Lionel shouted back. "A year ago when
we
 had that fight in the cave, you were born to greater things Clark - or
should
 that be Kalel". 

 Clark turned around and grabbed Lionel by the scruff of his jacket and
pushed
 him against the car. 

 "Where did you hear that name?" 

 "Dr Swann, don't worry he didn't betray you Clark, everything I have
found out
 this past year, well he tried to stop me". 

 Clark let go of Lionel shaking with anger. He was supposed to be making a
 fresh start and this, this was happening now a few hours before lift off.


 "I would never work or join forces with you," Clark snapped almost
spitting in
 Lionel's face. "You and people like you disgust me". Clark turned away
and
 looked across the horizon, the scrub land, he needed to calm down. 

 "And of course you," Lionel said reaching through his car window for a
small
 lead box. "Being from such a noble and strong race, you know better,
you're so 
 much better than us". 

 Clark turned to see the green menace shining from the box in Lionel's
hand and
 could feel the familiar dread and nausea take over his whole being. He
looked
 to see his once pink hand covered in black veins and collapsed to the
floor
 immediately. The gravel was cutting into his hands and face and all he
could
 do was look up at Lionel's menacing face, his face quivering like he was
a
 little boy. 

 "I knew you were weak," Lionel said again. 

 "You keep saying that," Clark said softly. He would have thought he would
have 
 built up a resistance to this damn stuff. 

 "Sorry am I boring you Clark? I gave you an opportunity but you are just
like
 your father Jonathan Kent - a sanctimonious, small minded bastard,
spineless. 
 You would have been better off if you had never come to this planet, the
last
 son of Krypton a crumpled heap on the floor, no wonder they destroyed
 themselves if you're the best example the wonderful Kryptonian race has
to
 offer!" 

 "Ahh," Clark shouted and he bashed Lionel in the legs and in pain Lionel
 dropped the lead box and the Kryptonite fell across the dirt path. Clark
stood 
 up and distanced himself from the green rock. Lionel sat on the floor
rubbing
 his sore legs. 

 "I wondered how long it would take me to get you really angry," he said.
Clark 
 took a deep breath and blew the Kryptonite further away down the path.
"Now
 that's a new power I haven't seen". 

 "How did you know about any of my powers?" Clark asked. 

 "Let's just say when I was blind I saw a lot more than I ever did now
that I
 can see again," Lionel replied smiling and Clark began walking away.
Lionel
 stood up and ran up and shoved the boy. "Where are you going?" 

 "I'm going to do what I was going to do?" 

 "Running away are we Clark?" Lionel said. "I was right about you". 

 "I'll be back for you Luthor, when I'm ready," Clark replied quite
seriously. 
 Lionel let go of Clark and began walking back to his car. "And
technically
 Luthor I'm not running". At that point Clark began to levitate off of the
 floor and Lionel watched in utter amazement as Clark flew across the sky
and
 out of eyeshot. 

 "My God," he said and then he laughed, he laughed loudly like he had not
 laughed in years. 

 Ten minutes later and Clark and Lex were sat on a leather couch in the
Mansion
 Library Lex completely oblivious to what had transpired between Clark and
Lex's 
 father. Clark hugged Lillian tightly and then handed her back to Lex.. In
 some ways Clark would miss the soft skinned little baby the most, she was
the
 only one who had never made him angry or upset. 

 "She's getting red hair - like you," Clark said and he smiled sheepishly.

 "Well like you used to have". 

 "Yeh she's going to be beautiful," Lex replied placing Lillian in a
basket that 
 was on the table his side of the couch. 

 "She is now". 

 "Yeh". 

 "Well I guess this is it Lex," Clark said softly and the two men stood up
and
 looked at each other, not quite sure what to say. "It's been
interesting". 

 "Clark I got you something-" 

 "Lex you didn't have to," 

 Lex took out a small well wrapped parcel and handed it to Clark. 

 "Open it". 

 "Thanks Lex," Clark said feeling guilty he hadn't bought Lex anything.
Then
 again what could he buy him? Clark took the wrapping off to reveal a
black
 leather box and opened it. Inside was a dark blue shiny fountain pen with
a
 huge silver nib which could seriously take someone's eye out. At the top
of
 the pen were engraved the letters CK. "Hey it looks like the Calvin Klein
 design a bit". 

 "Yeh I never noticed that". 

 "Thanks Lex this is really cool". 

 "Well if you're going to be a writer you'll need one of those," Lex said
 smiling. 

 "Yeh". 

 "Send us a postcard hey," Lex said as he and Clark hugged patting each
other on 
 the back the way they always did. And Clark could not help but hold on
extra
 tight. 

 Lex had been like a brother despite the secrets. Clark had loved Lex and
would 
 have done anything for him and Lex felt the same. Clark wondered why he
and
 Chloe had not told Lex his secret when she found out when Lillian was
born. 
 Clark had after all had seen Lex's reaction to his secret before and he
had
 seemed happy. Lex had been happy because he wasn't mad, he was right that
 there was something different about Clark and he was happy perhaps
because
 there were no longer any secrets between them. But that happiness was
short
 lived. Clark had to protect his secret from others, perhaps he had been a
 coward, whatever it was Lex was returned to the asylum and that memory
was
 erased forever despite any attempts to resurrect it. Since Lex's time in
the
 asylum Clark had felt even more protective of Lex and had wanted to help
him
 even more than ever. At the same time though the doubt was there because
of
 Lionel. So it was, deception and love, and the two men stood there unable
to
 let go for nearly ten minutes. 

 Clark hugged each of his parents in turn. 

 "We'll miss you son," Jonathan said. "You make us proud". 

 "And take care of yourself," Martha added. 

 "Away from this place and all the Kryptonite he'll feel better than he
has in
 years," Chloe said smiling. Despite Chloe's words Martha felt almost sick
from 
 nerves at the prospect of Clark flying, quite literally, out of their
lives. 
 But Jonathan was right - they had to let him go. 

 Clark turned to hug Chloe. 

 "I am going to miss you so much," she said emotion clear in her voice.
Her
 eyes were filled with tears and a few escaped down her cheeks. Clark felt
a
 lump form in his throat. 

 "I'll be back to visit you know," he said struggling to get the words out
and
 Chloe held back a sob. Even if Clark could fly the world would be a
bigger
 distraction than he could ever imagine and Chloe knew she would not see
him for 
 a long time. "And look after Lex". 

 "I will," Chloe said and Jonathan handed her a tissue as she and Clark
moved
 away from each other and she wiped her cheeks with it. 

 "Lana," Clark said to the young brunette stood further up the field.
Clark had 
 picked a particularly poignant place to take off, the field the ship had
landed 
 on fifteen years ago. Chloe, Martha and Jonathan stepped away to give the
pair 
 space. 

 She was crying and it tore into him. 

 "Clark". 

 He took hold of her and pulled her against his chest, holding her
tightly. 

 "I'll always love you," he said softly tears filling his eyes. "And I am
so
 sorry". 

 "What for?" Lana asked moving back to look into his face and the tears.
"Clark 
 if you're this upset you don't have to go". 

 "Lana I have to". 

 "Why?" 

 "Because I need to see what's out there, I need to find something I can't
find
 staying here". 

 "But if we love each other," Lana said hope clear in her face. 

 "It would never work Lana" 

 "Why not?" Lana asked, sounding a little frustrated. 

 "I can never give you the normal life you always wanted". 

 "What if I don't want a normal life anymore?" 

 "I see it in your eyes Lana," Clark said wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

 "Every time you see me use my powers you wish they weren't there". 

 "That's not true - I can put up with them - for you". 

 "I don't want you to put up with them, the powers, me being from Krypton
it's
 part of who I am I want you to do more than put up with that," Clark
said,
 seriously. The emotional strength in his whole person was apparent and
Lana
 knew that she would not change his mind about this. Though he could have
 talked her out of going to Paris over a year ago, she could not talk him
out of 
 this. Clark moved away from Lana and put his hand in his pocket and took
out a 
 clear rock on a silver chain. "I got you something Lana". 

 "It's my necklace," Lana cried, overwhelmed as Clark handed it to her.
"But it 
 was green before". 

 "I was in the storm cellar, someone had put it round my neck to try and
kill
 me, my space ship saved me - it turned the meteor rock clear. I could
never
 tell you before you found out the secret," Clark explained. "It reminded
me of 
 Whitney". 

 "Oh Clark," Lana said putting the necklace on. 

 "Lana all Whitney wanted to do was make out with you and take you to the
prom," 
 Clark said and they both smiled. "Lana that's what you need when you're
16. 
 We were too young for all this". 

 "You can't be too young to fall in love". 

 "Falling in love was fine but all the trouble I caused for you Lana
wasn't. 
 And all the pressure I put on you. I was hoping you would stop me feeling
 something that no one person could ever stop me feeling". 

 "What?" 

 "Alone," Clark said looking down at the floor. "I thought you were my
soul
 mate, but I was scared and I kept pushing you away". 

 "But you don't have to be alone Clark". 

 "I know that now and I couldn't believe it before," Clark said. "But
whatever
 it is that will stop me feeling this way, like I'm lost, it's not here in
 Smallville. I love you Lana but no matter what you say I know that you
can
 never love me truly for what I am only in spite of it". 

 Lana did not know what to say. Maybe because it was all true and there
was
 nothing left to say? The fact was if she could magic Clark's powers away
and
 make him human she would. 

 "Bye Clark," she said wiping her eyes with a crumpled up tissue from her
jacket 
 pocket. 

 "Bye Lana," Clark said and he kissed her on the cheek. Feeling her cheek
wet
 and warm from his kiss Lana smiled. 

 "You were a good friend Clark," she said. "And I will miss that so much".


 "Same here," Clark said smiling and they walked back over to where Chloe
and
 his parents were stood. 

 "Where's Christian?" Martha asked, suddenly realising the young man
wasn't
 there. 

 "We said goodbye earlier - he's in Grandville tonight". 

 "The winds picking up," Jonathan said as the cold wind whipped against
their
 faces. 

 "I better go," Clark cried and he hugged his parents one last time. "I'll
call 
 you tomorrow". 

 "Goodbye son," Jonathan said tears coming to his eyes as Martha squeezed
his
 hand tightly 

 "Bye," Clark said and he picked up his bag and began to float above the
ground. 
 Taking one last look at everyone he turned and flew through the air.
Jonathan, 
 Martha, Chloe and Lana kept waving even after Clark had disappeared from
 view. 

 "Right you guys I really need to get to The Ledger," Chloe said. "Lana me
and
 Lillian are staying with Lex tonight so let my Dad know". 

 "Yeh sure," Lana replied still looking up at the sky. 

 "See you later Chloe," Jonathan said as the young blonde made her way
back to
 her car. 

 "Lana did you want to come back to the farm with me and Jonathan for some
 coffee?" Martha asked. "You can sample some of the super size cookies
I've
 baked for the Talon". 

 "I'd love to," Lana replied and the three of them made their way back to
 Jonathan's truck. 

 Chloe left the Ledger building and as she was about to open her car door
 noticed a familiar face stood by his car. 

 "Miss Sullivan," he said. 

 "What do you want?" Chloe asked, annoyed. 

 "You're the second person to show me such hostility today, what have I
done to
 deserve it I wonder," Lionel replied grimacing slightly. He could feel a
 slight pain low in his abdomen. 

 "Second person?" 

 "Well you didn't think I was going to let Clark go - just like that".
Lionel
 smiled menacingly. 

 "Clark never mentioned seeing you". 

 "Well he had to fly - quite literally as I saw earlier" 

 "You know," Chloe said, putting her hand to her mouth shocked. 

 "And I was right about you knowing too I see. But I can see why you were
so
 reluctant to let Lex know. It's not just a case of super speed or his
vast
 strength anymore is it? His abilities are truly remarkable. You know as
well
 as I do Lex would do everything in his power to exploit that". 

 "Oh and you wouldn't". 

 "At least I admit it Chloe, I admit that I am not the most compassionate
and
 caring person in the world. But Lex is denying what he is, trying to
repress
 what he is inside". 

 "Lex is nothing like you. I didn't tell Lex because that was Clark's job
and
 he didn't want Lex to know. It's not an easy secret to keep". 

 "But why didn't Clark want Lex to know?" 

 "Look I shouldn't be discussing this with you, if the Kent's knew you
knew
 they'd be devastated," Chloe said. "Clark is gone now". Chloe opened the
door 
 to her car. 

 "Argh," Lionel cried clutching his abdomen. "Don't go". 

 "You expect me to fall for that old routine," Chloe said scepticism clear
in
 her voice and Lionel collapsed to the floor. 

 "I think, I need the hospital" Lionel croaked clutching the pain as if
his
 insides would spill out of him at any moment. 

 Chloe stood for a split second, was he really ill? But he had gone into
 remission. And then again he could be genuine. 

 Chloe closed the car door and dragged Lionel into the passenger seat of
his own 
 car since he was closer to it and closed the door. Chloe got into the
driving
 seat and started the car. 

 "We're going to get you to the hospital," Chloe said. The Smallville
Medical
 Centre wasn't too far. Lionel did look awful and Chloe realised there was
 blood soaking through his shirt. She started going faster towards the
medical
 centre and when she put her foot on the break repeatedly she realised
something 
 which made her stomach churn and her heart began racing. 

 "Lionel," she said. 

 "What?" he groaned. 

 "The breaks aren't working," Chloe replied terror in her voice. She
needed to
 crash into something just to stop the car, maybe she could jump out but
then
 what would happen to Lionel? He was in no safe state to jump. She swerved
the 
 car but misjudged in her anxiety and the car flew through a large glass
wall at 
 the front of the medical centre, at this point Lionel lost consciousness
and
 Chloe began to panic even more. The glass shattered all over the car
which
 carried on through the centre people screaming and running out of its
path. 
 Chloe managed to steer the car back outside and the car collided with a
brick
 wall. The windscreen shattered, the front of the car was crushed and so
were
 the two bodies inside. And that was it. 

 Clark flew across London oblivious to what had taken place back across
the
 other side of the Atlantic. And there it was - Big Ben. How cool it would
be
 to stand on a big clock he thought and he touched down on a ledge above
the
 clock face surrounded by large metal spikes. He listened to the inner
workings 
 of the clock and looked over London feeling an immense sense of freedom
as his
 coat flapped in the wind. 

 He was away from Smallville and the Kryptonite and from all the meteor
mutants. 
 He could just be normal now, he had a whole world to explore and learn
about. 
 This so called inferior world that his father Jorel had sent him to, this
 inferior world which had given him a chance of life and on which he would
serve 
 an important purpose was there in front of him. The future was a blank
slate
 despite his destiny. 

 He could hear the noise of a nearby night club and felt the lure of the
music
 and human company. London was waiting and so was the rest of the world.  

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