Clana - How "This Time" Will be Different (PG-13)

[kewl]

suuuuuupppppeeeeerrrrr llloooooooonnnnnggggg brilliant update aj!!!! L:lol:Lz Mr. Olsen is like a 5-year old kid!!! so funny!!! oh and i loved clark's new ability!!!
can't hardly wait for ur next update!!!

[dreammaster]

another awesome chapter

[SunniLvsSV]

“Okay, I’ll meet you there. I love you,” she said, kissing him. “Good luck.”

Clark smiled. “Good luck?” he said. “No . . . be careful, don’t get hurt, etcetera etcetera?”

She put her hand on his cheek. “I’m repaying the favor for when you withheld your expressions of fear when I had to rip Lex from his car,” she said. “I really needed to know that you had complete confidence in me at that moment.”

“I did,” he said. “I think the devil himself would’ve been afraid of you right then.”



AJ! That was truly inspired, wasn't it?!!!

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by SunniLvsSV
AJ! That was truly inspired, wasn't it?!!!

Why, yes. I had to clarify that :)

[SmallvilleMan]

Yeah, she had to clarify it for me;) BAH, he still should have it said beforehand. It's a classic before you go into danger line.

[littlegreenelf]

oooh that was really good i don't want it to end!
:D :D:(

[EyeluvTom]

That was fantastic aj! We will need to have a sequel after this, you do know that don't you?

[CLANAobsessed]

WOW, I was blown away at this update. I didn't get to see it last night so I grabbed a chance to see it during 1st period. I didn't have time to read the whole thing then but read all of it but like 4 paragraphs. I got in trouble for not being on there for academics, but I didn't care, I told the teacher,"BUT IT'S CLANA! or Kalobel whichever you want to call it." and she just laughed at me. Definitely worth the wait, aj.

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by CLANAobsessed
WOW, I was blown away at this update. I didn't get to see it last night so I grabbed a chance to see it during 1st period. I didn't have time to read the whole thing then but read all of it but like 4 paragraphs. I got in trouble for not being on there for academics, but I didn't care, I told the teacher,"BUT IT'S CLANA! or Kalobel whichever you want to call it." and she just laughed at me. Definitely worth the wait, aj.

Wow, I haven't gotten someone in trouble at school for a long time :) I used to be a chronic note-passer :D

Thanks for risking your education for my story :lol:

[CLANAobsessed]

I have to go to detention tomorrow, won't that be fun when I tell them why I have to go.

lady: "Why are you in here?"

me: "I was reading the Clana Bible."

lady: "Uh huh, sure, just sit down."

me: "Yes, ma'am."

*15 minutes later

lady: "Piper, will you come up here please?"

*walks up to desk

me: "yes?"

lady: "you said you were in here for reading the Clana bible, right?"

me: "yes."

lady: "Where did you find this bible?"

*goes on for the rest of detention telling her about this story.

I swear to my great aunt's grave, all of those teachers at my school are obsessed with Clana, it's the truth.

P.S. your welcome, aj, anytime.

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by CLANAobsessed
I have to go to detention tomorrow, won't that be fun when I tell them why I have to go.

ARE YOU SERIOUS!? You really have to go to DETENTION because you were reading my story? :rolleyes: *drops chin* I'm SO sorry.

I thought you meant that she only told you to stop, not that you got in THAT much trouble. And I don't get it . . . if the teachers are smart enough to like Clana, they should be smart enough to understand your obsession with it! :D

[CLANAobsessed]

yeah cuz it's the 3rd time I've been caught doing it, but it's ok I actually like the lady I have to go to. Mrs. Nichols, she used the Smallville season finale as an example in class a few weeks ago.

and at my school they don't count how many times you go to detention, they don't even count them against you.

So don't worry about it, aj. I'll be fine I think I'll live. I hope so, so I can read the rest of this story.

P.S. yeah they understand but they had to crack down on the whole school rule thing but I talked to her about it and worked out an agreement so I won't get in trouble anymore. I kind of used a little mental Lana-fu of my own.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: sorry u got detention but that's funny your teachers love Clana too? You got to watch the Smallville Season Finale in class! Your so lucky!!

PPMS AJ!!:D

[CLANAobsessed]

we didn't get to watch it( I wish though) she just used it as an example.

[LoisNClark]

Mr. Olsen was hilarious as usual:lol:

Loved the update and what Clark did to Lex....can't wait for more!!!

PPMS!!!:D

[SpeedyKate91]

can't wait for the next update, but im sad it'll be one of the last.

Oh well i guess youll just have to write a sequel!!:D
PPMS!!

[ClarksGirl21]

aww.. what am i gona do without this story? i love it so much. it's become a fun little hobby of mine to come and read your story everyday. i will miss it so much ;(.. you better keep writing on K-site finn.. i love you :D
(update soon) .. from ur favorite liddle blonde :D

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by ClarksGirl21
i will miss it so much ;(.. you better keep writing on K-site finn.. i love you :D (update soon) .. from ur favorite liddle blonde :D

And I wub you 2, my favorite liddle blonde :lol:

Well, truth be known, I was working diligently on tomorrow's update and something . . . well, distracting happened . . . I stumbled onto some new pictures on the Tom Welling Picture thread, and then . . .

whoooshhhhh

My brain was mush for two hours as I scrolled endlessly, my lap was wet from drool . . . Wow . . . how, tell me HOW, can a human look as delicious as a berry-topped crème brulee??? :eek: Wow :eek:

BUT, after my husband gave me a paper bag so I could stop hyperventilating, I am back at the keyboard . . . writing the update. Still on schedule for tomorrow. :D

You have my husband to thank for making the last two updates possible. I was almost unconscious, my hands trembling, when he found me with my face only one inch from the screen.

You would have Tom Welling to blame if the updates didn't happen, but I know that I would still have plenty of girls that would say, we understand . . . we've been in the Tom coma plenty of times ourselves . . . take your time . . . right?

[SmallvilleMan]

Maybe if you changed Tom to Kristen, then yes:D

[ClarksGirl21]

haha! exactly ajfinn! haha.. all i do is look at those pics of tom and read clana fics.. lol.. he's goreous.. i'm like in love with him. he needs to leave his wife and come get me out of high school.. lol.. naw.. i'm just kidding.. (but wouldn't that be nice) :lol:

[SVsleuth]

Wow, AJ! Terrific 3 part update! But it's almost over! :(

Now, AJ, isn't this fic actually a Season 5 pre-write? I mean, isn't it like AJ's season 5? So haven't you already fixed the Season 5 mess they are going to make?

I suppose you could allow Season 5 Clana to happen on the show & then take it off in a new direction when they mess it up - only how can we forget your "This time" version when we read you new Clana story? How can you? It's like CANON to us now. I bet we'll be watching S5 & waiting for Lana to use her magic, etc. because we're so used to it from your fic.
I'm almost hesitant to watch S5, knowing they will mess up the Clana. But at least I know I can always re-read this fic. I even started to print it out so I could re-read it any time & anywhere, but realized I'd have to go through more than 1 ink cartridge! - so I settled for copying & pasting it into Word & saving the file, so I can read it without the comments "this time."

AJ, you should find a place to post the entire file on the internet, so everyone can read it again more easily.

Ok, everyone, when the story is over, everyone must go back to the beginning & start reading it again. That will keep us happy long enough for AJ to come up with a new idea. Who's in?

1 - ME!(SVsleuth)

[SmallvilleMan]

So does that mean i'm going to have competition in the re-writing of season 5? :( I may re-read this story, i did skip some parts:eek:

[SVsleuth]

Well, SVM, I'm one of those who hasn't had time to start reading your Season 5 yet - So when Clana goes bad, I can hurry to read YOUR version too! Right now, the only story I'm keeping up on is "This time" - when I get a little more time, I will work on writing MY fics first, THEN finally start catching up on all the other great fics around here.

And I wouldn't think of it as competition - just multiple versions! The more CLANA the better, right?

[kewl]

L:lol:Lz AJ!!! :lol:
whew! that was close!!! we almost didn't get an update :D glad ur back at the keyboard now ;)

[SmallvilleMan]

And I wouldn't think of it as competition - just multiple versions! The more CLANA the better, right?

I guess, *sniffle* *sniffle*(j/k). I think you write your fics first though, i'm missing your stores:(

[Cardinal]

I suspect aj's husband is a man on a mission to see her complete this story and return to the already full-time roles of wife, mother and, yes, paid author.

Come hell or high water, he's gonna make sure aj finishes it.

By the way, we all owe a big thanks to aj's unnamed husband. This is the guy that takes the kids to the park so aj will have time to write for us.

So, for all you do for us (aj's legion of fans), we give you a big

THANKS!

[NYC300Z]

SVsleuth I'm in 2!:D

Yeah from what Card said THANKS!:D

oh and I like what Svsleuth said this fic is like CANNON!:D:lol: Maybe you could do the future thing with this fic have them settle down, break your rule let them have kids oh iono what am I thinking we still have this story!! That is very exciting and i'm going to miss tomorrow's update I have to drive my Papou to Virginia Beach!

[LanasLover16]

wonderful update aj!!!! cant wait to hear more!!

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Cardinal
I suspect aj's husband is a man on a mission to see her complete this story and return to the already full-time roles of wife, mother and, yes, paid author.

Come hell or high water, he's gonna make sure aj finishes it.

By the way, we all owe a big thanks to aj's unnamed husband. This is the guy that takes the kids to the park so aj will have time to write for us.

So, for all you do for us (aj's legion of fans), we give you a big

THANKS!

Ha ha ha . . . . I had him come read that, and he's thrilled to be getting his first fan mail! Anyway, he told me to tell you that he's happy to be coming home from the park now . . . he said that I should exaggerate a bit and tell you he's been camped out there (in a pup tent) with my two kids for over three months now. He needs to shower (trust me!) :lol:

Actually, he's almost as big of a Smallville fan as I am, so it's been awesome that he loves this fic -- which gives me a little more allowance, since he wants me to write updates so he can find out what happens! His favorite parts are Kalabel - he loves historical fiction.

And I won't be rewriting season 5. SVM is doing a great job at that . . . even BEFORE the season starts :lol: But I'm sure I'll be tempted to pick up where it starts to go wrong. Hopefully that won't be for a while, right? Maybe I'll do a sequel to this one . . . I don't know . . . we'll just see how my muse (Clark, of course) inspires me.

OH MY GOSH!!! ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL ARRIVAL!!!!!! Ahhhh yeah!!!!! I feel like doing a good ole' boys yeeewwwww haaaawwwwwww.

So, where could I post the entire fic, anyway?? I'm thinking about taking just the Kalabel parts, and posting them on their own thread. Whatchu guys think about that?

[NYC300Z]

:lol: a whole seperate fic just to Kalabel! Why not! sounds good to me!:D

[binkys711]

OoOoO....that would be soooo awesome aj! all though I don't think you could post it here, or maybe, cause it's kalabelle:\(I'm not sure though, I think it would be in the Other pairings and combos sec.)

and yes, I understand the reason why you almost didn't update:p:D

[ajfinn]

If I do the Kalabel updates as one continuous story, I'll definitely post it in Clana - that's what it is, just in another time period, right? :D

[NYC300Z]

Yeah AJ i'd post here! It's just what u said Clana in another time period!:D

[kewl]

yeah yeah!!! so cool AJ!!! more clana in the 1600s :D:D:D

[LuvClana]

HOLY CRAPOMOLI! PPMS!

[SunniLvsSV]

Woohoo! One week to Lift Off! Your story has truly carried me through AJ! I've been inspired to write my own fanfic! I'm going to complete it before I begin posting, because I KNOW that I won't be able to update quick enough for the Crazy Clana Fans (myself included there!) I cannot wait! :rotfl:

[LuvClana]

o cant wait to read it!

hey you casn call the sequel "How this time will be the same" because I dun want it to change :D

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by LuvClana
hey you casn call the sequel "How this time will be the same" because I dun want it to change :D

Yeah . . . that's what I'll do, that will be easy enough. I'll make the sequel exactly the same as the first one, and people will be like, "uhhh, this scene seems familiar. Have I read this before?" :lol: I'm sure you'd all love that. It would kind of ruin the surprise ending though, wouldn't it?

I'm right on target for the UPDATE.

It will be posted sometime before 10 PM my time (7 hours from now.) Most likely, it will be sooner. I just want to make sure it turns out the way I want it to.

*aj hits her head. Dang! What if it doesn't? What if Klax-Ar wins?*

[Cardinal]

Well, if Klax-Ar wins, at least you won't have anyone badgering you to write a sequel! :D

Now, NO MORE NON-UPDATE POSTS FOR YOU ON THIS THREAD TODAY! Frankly, my poor heart can't take the sudden rush of excitement, the race over here to read the update, and the crushing letdown when I find out its NOT an update. :(

I'll be looking forward to the real thing later tonight, though with my luck, I'll be at the football game when you are ready to update. :( :(

[Ketchup]

hey kidz... yes i love you too. :o

[itsallinthespelling]

nooo, no cheating. i'm not being nice anymore.
*edit*, ah, i hope that means you weren't cheating ketchup, looking foward to the update tonight.

[Cardinal]

I'm waiting for a newbie to discover this story on Saturday or Sunday, just as it's about to close down.

They'll be like, "What, you can't end this story now. I just found it."

[Shadowknight]

W00T! 3-part update. Sorry I am still posting like every few days. Been busy with school and watching the gulf coast get destroyed by hurricanes....sucks living on the gulf coast

[Cardinal]

Yay! Itsallinthespelling has a new avatar!

[CLANAobsessed]

*disappointed that the update isn't here yet*

Can't wait for the update, just came from band practice and yelled at everybody to hurry up cuz I wanted to read the update. Now I'm sitting here in a sports bra all sweaty and watching Smallville waiting for it.

[ajfinn]

Okay, guys, how about this . . . I'll post the first two parts in about 30 minutes, then I'll work on the third part and post it later tonight. Okie dokie??

[Cardinal]

Coolness!

[ClarksGirl21]

sounds good to me :D

[itsallinthespelling]

sounds good, but i have a feeling were gonna get left midfight, at the climax, thus making it impossible for any of us to get any sleep til we get that third part. :p yes, post the first two first please

[SmallvilleMan]

I feel so damn bad, hurry up!!!!!!

[LuvClana]

haha I meant the Clana will be the same not the storyline silly aj :p

[CLANAobsessed]

okie dokie, that'll work for me!

[ajfinn]

Okay, here we go . . . who's here to buffer?

[itsallinthespelling]

me

[Cardinal]

me

[MOOman0618]

ME!

[CLANAobsessed]

me?

[SmallvilleMan]

I think she gets the picture:p

[ajfinn]

It's umm itsallinthespelling's turn I guess . . . :D

[MOOman0618]

Heehee...sounds good. I will try to hold myself back

[itsallinthespelling]

lol, ok

[ajfinn]

Part 79: (This is a 4 part update, so settle in with some nice warm cocoa :) )

Clark and Lana had to take care of a much needed task before leaving the caves. They hid the trunk full of Kryptonite in a dark corner—for when they would need it most. “Do you still have the lead box with the ring and meteor rock crystal with you?” Clark asked.

To lighten the mood, which had been way too stressful tonight, Lana tipped her head and looked thoughtful. “Umm, actually, I thought I’d have the pretty green rock made into another necklace for myself,” she said. “What do you think?”

He picked Lana up, throwing her over his shoulder, and spinning in circles. “I think you may just need something like that for our honeymoon,” he said. “Otherwise, you’ll never get a break from me.”

She pounded on his back with her fists, laughing and getting very dizzy. “And what will you use to keep ME away from YOU?” she asked, between gasps for air.

Clark stopped spinning and moved her down to his arms. “Absolutely nothing,” he said, then kissed her until they both almost forgot about the rest of what had happened that night . . . and what still had to be done.

“Okay . . . we better save it for the closet, Clark,” Lana said, laughing as she gave him what she thought would wrap up their lingering kisses. But then she went back to his lips like a magnet. “Well, maybe just a few more little ones.”

Five minutes later, they’d finally made it back into the Hummer and were on their way to Luthor Mansion. Lana called Chloe and asked if she could get to work on finding files on Clark if she was done with manipulating the tapes, and if Jimmy could try to find what he could about Olsen Enterprises—they were going to trash everything possible that could trigger a relapse in Lex’s hatred.

Clark would’ve let Lana drive, while he super-sped ahead of her, but he was starting to feel uneasy again. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her abilities, it was that he didn’t yet know exactly what to expect out of Klax-Ar—or where he was.

And to be honest with himself, he admitted that he was a bit nervous about running into the dude without Lana at his side . . . and on their terms. The meeting HAD to take place at the cave. That was their only chance.

When searching through Lex’s memories, he discovered that Lex was tracking several cases of attacks in Smallville over the past week—all on meteor freaks. So Klax-Ar hadn’t just hit the Luthor Corp site to build his power—he’d been all over the place. Including Belle Reeve. Lex was paying off the authorities to keep Klax-Ar a secret from the public. He’d told them it was to prevent panic until they knew what they were dealing with, but Clark knew the secrecy was actually because Lex was serious about Klax-Ar putting Clark’s head on a platter and delivering it to him.

Lex believed he could convince Klax-Ar to join him in hunting Clark down. And that was even before Lex knew the guy that Klax-Ar was looking for, Kal-El, and Clark Kent were one in the same.

Clark had also seen the memories of Lex watching the security tapes from when Klax-Ar attacked Luthor Corp—it was bad, real bad. Clark saw enough to know that Klax-Ar had almost every power that he did, and obviously one more if he could take another’s just by touching them. When it happened, there seemed to be an increase in Klax-Ar’s power, but it didn’t seem that he actually acquired that person’s ability.

That was what Clark had been most worried about. It would’ve been like fighting every meteor freak he’d ever met, all at once. Not that this guy was going to be any less of a challenge, but at least it gave Clark an idea of what to expect. Now, unfortunately, Lana would have to know too. He hoped that having her watch the security tapes for herself a few times would take the shock out of when she first saw the real Klax-Ar. He definitely didn’t look like a friendly guy—and he was huge! Clark figured him to be at least twice as bulky, and six inches taller than himself. A full eighteen inches taller than Lana.

Not exactly a fair fight, but there were TWO of them, and they’d be prepared—they had to be.

They avoided driving past the scene of Lex’s “accident” but saw the flashing lights of an ambulance there. “Let’s just hope the doctors think he has some sort of amnesia when he wakes up,” Lana said. “Lex will be left to wonder, Now, what was it that I’ve been so obsessed about this past year? I know it must’ve been something.”

Clark laughed, which surprised even himself. “Yeah, that may throw him for a loop,” he said. “He always has to be obsessed about SOMETHING! I wish the guy would just relax and watch a football game every once in a while.”

“Well, unless a team playbook has a strategy for global takeover,” Lana said, “I doubt we’re going to find him in front of a big screen with a six pack anytime soon. Football and a fine wine don’t usually go together.”

Clark parked the Hummer on the side of the road again—it was already risky enough having the other vehicles still on Lex’s property. He x-rayed the area, saw that everything was all clear, then he and Lana sped inside. When they got there, Clark went to the basement to find as many boxes and crates and he could, then x-rayed every room, searching for evidence.

Lex had started another one of his “collector of the unexplained” rooms, which contained practically everything Lex claimed to have gotten rid of last year at this time. He’d never trashed it, just moved it. Clark piled everything into boxes, then sealed them up, setting the boxes in the hallway for Mr. Olsen’s men to load into the moving van. It only took Clark thirty minutes to do everything, but then he felt like he had to watch in slow motion while the van was being packed. He wished he could’ve been doing it himself, but there were too many of Mr. Olsen’s men around. Dang, he needed that Superman disguise! He knew they didn’t have much more time.

“You about done, Chloe?” Clark asked, finding her at Lex’s office desk.

“Yep,” she answered, with a relieved smile. “Man this jerk had a ton of crap on you. And on Olsen Enterprises. Jimmy found a truckload of files and back up discs. Should we just take those with us?”

Clark nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure we’ll snag stuff we don’t need, but Lex needs a good spring cleaning anyway,” he said. “Just take it back to the hideout and burn it, will you?”

She gave an affirmative nod as well. “Oh, and guess what Jimmy did—man, he’s brilliant,” she said, beaming as she put everything back in place on Lex’s desk. “He tapped into the security system and rigged it so that we can have a continuous feed of what Lex is up to. Including his network here—we’ll know about every email he sends and receives—every memo he writes.”

“Sweet,” Clark said, grinning. “I told you I liked Jimmy, didn’t I? You definitely have my approval.”

Chloe gave her darling smile, her eyes sparkling, and stood from the desk. “Alright, we’ll see you guys back at Jimmy’s place,” Chloe said. “Mr. Olsen was picked up here a while ago—he’s headed for Metropolis to get the security tapes. Lana told you about Lionel, right?”

Clark really hoped Mr. Olsen wouldn’t watch the tapes—but knowing him . . .

“Lionel . . . right,” he said. “I’ll go check on him right now.” He gave Chloe a big hug. “Thanks so much. You’re the best friend a guy could ever hope for.”

She looked up to his face. “And I’m happy to play that role in your life, Clark. I really am.”

Lana walked in on them hugging and didn’t feel even a tinge of discomfort. Clark was all hers, and she knew he always would be. “The van just pulled away,” she said. “And Jimmy is waiting in the Hummer for you, Chlo.”

They hugged too as Chloe left, and Lana expressed how much she appreciated her. Along with Clark, she also felt that she could never find another friend as loyal as Chloe was. They’d been through a lot together, and Chloe could’ve let her jealousy of Lana and Clark consume her—but she hadn’t.

Lana had nothing but love for that girl.

KEEP READING . . . PART 1 OF 4

[itsallinthespelling]

buffer

[ajfinn]

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 2 OF 4

Clark and Lana finally found the bedroom that Lionel was in. It looked like he’d been having some type of medical attention—he was on IV’s—but there was no one in the room with him. Just as Mr. Olsen said, Lionel was mumbling, but it was more than what had previously been explained.

Lionel’s eyes were opened wide, bloodshot and vacant. “He’s coming for you, Kal-El,” he said, his mouth sticky and dry. “He’s coming. He will take what is left of the power of Krypton. He will seek his revenge on the house of El. He shall be the last son of Krypton. Only he.”

Lana first let fear build inside her, then she chose to replace it with something else. “Oh, yeah,” she said, leaning closer to Lionel and looking in his eyes—deep as a black hole. “You can transmit this little message back to him . . . he didn’t count on a witch who’s just dying to open up a can of whoop . . . ”

She went on, and Clark felt his own courage building within him. Lana truly was his protector, in more than one way—she had protected him from further doubt about his destiny. Without her unwavering faith in him, he may have just given up on himself. He’d made so many mistakes, done so much that he wished he could reverse. But still, she was there, holding his hand as she trash talked to an alien . . . through a man in a coma.

Clark was going to become Superman, and he was going to save the planet. And for the very first time, he was looking forward to it.

“Why are you smiling again?” Lana asked, having finished her smack-down to find Clark with an enormous grin. “Don’t laugh at me. I’m seriously gonna take Klax-Ar and stuff him into a tuna fish can.”

“I’m not laughing, I swear,” Clark said, his grin still enormous. “Like I’ve said before, I’m just darn glad that you’re on MY side.” He sure hoped she kept up this confidence after she saw the Luthor Corp security tapes—and especially when it came time to battle. Clark learned early into his crime-fighting days that fear was his biggest enemy. There wasn’t time for it, not when just one lost second could cost you your life—or somebody else’s.

“Well, it’s always nice to be on the winning team, isn’t it?” she asked, then looked back to Lionel. “Do you think he’s really communicating with Klax-Ar?”

Clark shook his head. “I’m not sure, let me find out,” he said, putting his hand on Lionel’s sweaty forehead, then closing his eyes. The familiar glow appeared once more, and Lana stepped back, squinting into the brightness of the room.

Clark searched through Lionel’s memories—he went way back—erasing his first suspicions of Clark . . . learning that Lionel knew about Clark’s abilities long before Lex did . . . then he found where Lionel had first heard of the elements, by spying on Genevieve Teague years ago—they were partners in many corporate crimes, but rivals as well, always trying to outdo one another. The only elements he would leave as a memory for Lionel could be the ones easily found in a chemistry book—he wouldn’t have to go to China, Egypt or Honduras to find them.

Clark then reached the memories of when Lionel was in his body, which made him cringe—Lana hadn’t told him everything that Lionel had said and done to her—he felt like taking that dirty old man and . . . but then, he had to calm his emotions . . . concentrate on what he was doing so he wouldn’t let anger destroy what was left of Lionel’s mind . . . he’d faced that same potential slip before when he discovered Lex’s feelings for Lana.

Lionel hadn’t forgotten a single thing from when he had Clark’s abilities. Once again, Clark had Mr. Olsen to thank for finding Lionel so he could do some serious damage control. He searched and erased everything he had to, then at last opened his eyes and turned back to Lana.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, taking her hand. He super-sped to Lex’s bedroom first, where he and Lana cleaned up the absolute disaster that Mr. Olsen had made of it, so no one would have reason to suspect anything had gone on in the house while they were gone. They then went down to Lex’s remaining security guards, untied them, modified their memories, then put them back at their posts like nothing had happened.

When they reached the Hummer again, and had started driving, Lana finally asked, “So, what did you find out about Klax-Ar? How did Lionel know all of that?”

Clark was still trying to interpret it in his head, or he would’ve told her sooner. He was glad she was so patient with him, because just minutes before, he might have had to tell her that he had no idea.

“Well, this is what I think might have happened,” he said. “Lionel had the water element in his pocket on the day of the last meteor shower. And if I’m right, it shocked him when I put the other stones together. Since he had the stone of transference, some type of knowledge passed to him from the stone. If you can believe it, he knew Kryptonian—his mind was speaking it! But I think it overloaded his brain—just like what happened to Dr. Walden—it was just too much for him.”

“But then Dr. Walden woke up, right?” Lana said. “And went completely crazy.”

“Exactly,” Clark said. “Which I’m sure would’ve happened to Lionel as well. But he should be back to normal now. And I think he might have been picking up on Klax-Ar’s brain waves somehow—strange as that sounds. But that’s pretty much what Dr. Waldon was doing too, with Jor-El’s messages to me. Waldon knew of my destiny, saying that the day was coming . . . that I would rule, basically, which made him want to stop me.”

Lana shook her head, completely stunned. “We’re going to have a really long life together, aren’t we?” she said, foreseeing one bully after another trying to take down Clark. She finally managed a smile, and gripped his hand. “But, the longer the better.”

They headed straight for Luthor Corp in Smallville, making sure the place was now empty. They’d passed a stream of Lex’s vehicles on the way there, that were heading back to the mansion.

At Luthor Corp, Clark and Lana found the biggest treasure of all—Klax-Ar’s spaceship. Lana nearly passed out at the sight of it, the fear of the moment she first saw it filling her again, but then she straightened up and faced it like a man—or a woman, rather.

“Where are we supposed to hide THIS?” Lana asked, walking around it.

“I’m sending it to the Fortress,” Clark answered with a smile, feeling proud of himself for thinking about it, but at the same time hoping he could fit it through the cave entrance. “I’ll be right back.” Clark hefted the craft, and balanced it on his shoulders and head . . . then flew right out the hanger door, making him look like part of the ship itself.

Lana’s mouth hung open for quite a while before she had enough breath to speak to herself. “That was SO cool,” she said, thinking it was quite amazing that her future husband was a superhero. Of course, she had never thought anything less than that of Clark anyway. But as a young girl, she’d only stretched as far as imagining herself marrying a doctor or an attorney . . . that was until she fell in love with a farm boy. Who could’ve guessed she’d be so lucky. She was more than happy to marry Clark Kent in any package he came in.

“It’s a good thing Mr. Olsen’s guys fried the security system here,” Lana said, when Clark returned for her.

“Yeah, that would’ve been another one of those awkward things to explain,” Clark said, stretching out his back. Kryptonian metal was a lot heavier than he imagined. “And we’ll need to find every other person who might have seen this thing. There’s probably not that many, but . . . ”

“I’m sure they’re aren’t. I imagine Lex kept this sort of discovery a bit of a secret,” Lana said. “Just like everything else he does.”

They left the plant, parked the Hummer just outside the Smallville town limits, then flew to Metropolis where they scoured Lex’s office, along with Level 33.1. It was a good thing Lana was with Clark, because there was Kryptonite—both refined and in full meteor rock form—all over the place.

In a way, Klax-Ar had probably done Clark a huge favor. He doubted there were many meteor freaks left now—their powers were all siphoned. And now that Clark had erased Lex’s memory of the special abilities Kryptonite gives to humans, he hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with it anymore—with anything having to do with either of the meteor showers. He and Lana were determined to somehow rid Smallville of as much Kryptonite as possible. Wow, it was nice to have a partner . . . but of course, that was the smallest of the roles Lana would play in his life.

Clark and Lana stayed out all night, cleansing Lex’s life of everything they could find relating to Clark’s abilities—and Lana’s as well. He would remember nothing of Isobel, or Genevieve Teague’s murder. Not even of Jason’s murder, nor Mr. Teague’s—which Clark had at last confirmed were arranged by Lex, just as he suspected. That bad boy had been very busy in his role as evil mastermind. And Clark had an awful feeling that it wouldn’t be long until Lex was back at it. But what they’d accomplished gave Clark more time to become Superman, capable of doing what he needed to do without someone like Lex or Lionel on his trail all the time.

That day might come, but not today. Not anymore.

KEEP READING BELOW

[MOOman0618]

BUFFERING!!! :)

[ajfinn]

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 3 OF 4

* * *

Chloe found Clark and Lana sleeping on the couch the next day at noon. She’d heard them pull in the driveway around six that morning, and couldn’t imagine all they’d been doing. They really were a good team . . . perfect for one another.

Clark opened his heavy eyes and tried to focus on Chloe. “Sorry,” Chloe whispered. “You told me to wake you if you slept too long, and it’s noon.” She showed him the stack of DVDs in her hands.

He sat up, waking Lana without meaning to. “Yeah, we better get busy on those security tapes,” Clark said. “We’ve got a lot of planning to do.”

Another day of planning, Chloe thought. She couldn’t wait until this was over. Well . . . it might be nice to be planning something else, something that included a lot of flowers. She shook her head when she discovered she was daydreaming about more than just Clark and Lana’s wedding.

“Chlo, thanks again for last night,” Lana said, standing and taking the DVDs from her. “I think we’ll grab some food, then find somewhere to watch these—out of sight, if you don’t mind.”

“Yeah, great idea,” Chloe answered. “Mr. Olsen is pacing in the kitchen, dying to watch them, but I, uhhh . . . encouraged him to resist.”

Clark put his arm around her and gave a squeeze. “Maybe you three can get dressed in those black suits again and play Charlie’s Angels,” he said. “That would keep his mind off things.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’d do just about anything for you guys. But that crosses the line,” she said. “How about I just bring you some food so you can avoid the kitchen area.”

“Perfect, thanks!” Lana said, feeling the weight of the security footage in her hands. On their way down the hall to her bedroom, where she knew there was a DVD player, she paused and pushed Clark against the wall—just for good luck . . . it had worked yesterday. She kissed him once, and said, “Just so you know, I don’t care what I see on these DVDs, we’re going through with this—tonight. I’ll be ready.”

“Good,” Clark said, returning her kiss. “Then let’s get it done. Tomorrow morning we’re going back to Smallville, and back to the rest of our life together.”

* * *

They found the footage from the day that Klax-Ar invaded Level 33.1, and watched it several times. What they saw did prove to be a bit overwhelming at certain points, but by the time they were done, Clark and Lana both had on their battle faces, and discussed the final details of their strategy.

With night settling in, they knew it was time. Clark had feared that they’d have to fight Klax-Ar in the daylight where they risked more witnesses, because Lana had to have light to use her magic right. But yesterday, when they were messing around with all of Mr. Olsen’s heist gadgets, Lana took some night vision goggles into the closet with her, and found that she could do magic just fine in the dark.

Clark was definitely thinking the same thing . . . but she’d now taken the buttons off a second shirt . . . his mom was going to have some serious questions for him.

Oh well, it was all in the name of duty . . . well, at least at first.

Chloe gave them big hugs on their way out the door, with Jimmy thinking they were just off for another night of searching through Lex’s things . . . he knew they couldn’t have gotten that all done in one trip, right?

“Are you sure you don’t need me for anything?” Chloe asked, several times. It was always a confident, “No, thanks” from both of them. Chloe couldn’t help but wonder how Klax-Ar even stood a chance against them. In their black suits again, and with the looks of renegade demons on their faces, she knew they were ready to go.

* * *

When they reached the cave, having driven the Hummer so Clark could save his energy as much as possible, Clark took the Kryptonian key from his pocket and looked at it closely. “Jor-El told me this should call out to him—just as it has to me so many times,” he said. “I just need to put it in a different slot than the one that operates the passage way to the Fortress . . . which is different still from the one that we’ll use to send Klax-Ar to the Phantom Zone.” He pointed to a small crevice a few feet from where they were standing.

“Okay, let me make sure I have this down,” Lana said, going through the sequence of events. At last, she said. “When he’s standing close enough to the Phantom Zone passage way, I’ll put it in this slot, right?”

“Right,” Clark said with a confident nod. She knew exactly what to do, at exactly what time. Now if only he could know his own plans that well. He knew they shared similar abilities, but Clark had much more experience, so he hoped that would make up for the power advantage Klax-Ar seemed to have over him.

He ran his hand along the cave wall, remembering what it felt like to be sucked into the Phantom Zone last summer, where Jor-El reprogrammed him as Kal-El. He had only a few memories of the place . . . it was dark, and without boarders, with literally nothing but distant stars to look at for as far as he could see. He’d existed as only some type of wraith, needing no nutrition or air. And what was really strange, was that he could sense the presence of others there—but he couldn’t see them. It was like they were trying to communicate with him telepathically. He knew right off that they were criminals from Krypton, and shut his mind to them. But he could not do the same to his father, who did with him what he wished, but thankfully, released him back to Earth.

That was a privilege that Klax-Ar wouldn’t have. If they could banish him there—where he belonged, he’d be stuck there.

He turned around to see Lana levitating the trunk of Kryptonite—not an easy feat for a girl who barely weighed a hundred pounds, but then, this wasn’t a typical girl. “I need to get everything ready, Clark, can I have a kiss?” she asked, with a beautiful smile that was illuminated by the moonlight.

He walked over and took her in his arms, the trunk dropping to the ground. “Lots and lots of them,” he said, making good on his promise. “I love you, and I know we’re going to kick that guy to kingdom come . . . well, at least to the Phantom Zone.”

Lana touched his face, running her hands along his cheek bones, and into his soft hair. “Clark, I could never hope to truly repay you for all you’ve done, both to save my life—countless times—and otherwise,” she said. “But I hope you’ll always remember this as the night that I tried.”

Clark smiled, remembering a moment that had been previously painful until that very moment. “Lana, you never had to try,” he said. “You’ve already saved me.”

She kissed him. “I love you,” she said. “Now, get out there and take him down.” She laughed as he went to walk away, then did what was natural for any coach—she gave his butt a good slap.

He turned back. “Daaaannngggg! Now that dude’s really in trouble,” he said, strutting off. “I got my groove on.”

Ten minutes later, having scattered Kryptonite where she and Clark had previously decided to, Lana stood back from the cave wall with the key in her hand, and sent it zooming into the key slot.

Clark grabbed his ears, standing outside of the cave, and started searching the sky—waiting to see if it would call out to Klax-Ar as well, luring him to where he would surely find something that had to do with Krypton. Hopefully he wouldn’t suspect it to be a trap.

In the cave, Lana went back into the shadows and put on her night vision goggles, which, other than the green glow that they gave, were high-tech enough that she almost felt like she was using her natural eyes. Only a few minutes passed until Lana heard something that terrified her—but she quickly recovered, feeling her arms burn, ready to do some serious damage.

KEEP READING - FOUR POSTS DOWN

[itsallinthespelling]

1
great first two parts, but this main big battle better not only be one update long. :p, btw, streak's up to 6 :D

[MOOman0618]

Ok...now can we do our annoying little 1, 2, 3 thing?

I was beaten by while asking a question...


2 :(

[CLANAobsessed]

3

Woo hoo!! I would love to see (or read) Lana kick some Lionel Booty! he!he! Loved it aj!!! can't wait for part three.

[ajfinn]

CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 4 OF 4

The voice was so loud, that it shook the cave walls, making rocks fall off the ledges to the ground. “Kal-El! Come to me, surrender your powers,” Klax-Ar yelled, his mouth wide.

Clark stepped out of the shadow of a large tree, knowing he couldn’t be aggressive until he had to. He didn’t want to chance Klax-Ar taking his powers by touching him. When Klax-Ar saw him, he cackled even louder than before. “You look just like your smug father!” he said.

Clark gave a proud grin, like it was meant as a compliment. “And you look like the backside of a goat,” he said, laughing back. “Now, let’s play!”

He super-sped off, with Klax-Ar following him, and tried to get him confused by flying, then dropping—completely disappearing at times, as he hid in many of the secluded spots he knew so well around the caves.

Klax-Ar tried to fire at him with his eyes, but Clark was expecting it. This was when his experience came into play. He knew exactly the right moment to speed off . . . when Klax-Ar’s eyes were still adjusting from the blur the fire caused as it left.

Lana was back in the cave, having summoned the key to her once more, and went to stand in one of the piles of Kryptonite she’d made on a hill outside of the cave—waiting for Clark to lure him back. She had to keep the key away from Klax-Ar, and she also had to keep Clark away from the Kryptonite as she hurled it around. Tricky, but achievable, she kept reminding herself.

Soon, she saw the two of them speeding in her direction, Clark making a huge wall of thick ice behind him, which delayed Klax-Ar just a few seconds until he burst through it—chunks flying in every direction—sending Lana to the ground as she tried to avoid them.

When Klax-Ar found his bearings, looking around—his huge chest puffing in and out, Clark was gone. He still hadn’t noticed Lana on the hill, so this was ‘go time’ for her.

She stood upright, and made the full pile of Kryptonite hover in front of her . . . then sent them all racing through the air toward Klax-Ar. Only a few hit him, making him stumble, before he realized what was going on and sped off . . . in Lana’s direction.

“Damn!” Clark said in a panic, racing off to intercept his path.

His large ugly face screamed at Lana, but Klax-Ar stopped short of reaching her when he saw the glow of her Kryptonite ring, and the large green crystal she held in her other hand. She gave him a strong enough shock that it sent him backward.

“You’re a witch!” Klax-Ar screamed, his mouth opened wide again, getting to his feet.

“And you’re a loud mouth!” she said, walking toward with him confidence. She reached her hand out to send another shock, but Klax-Ar shot fire in her direction.

Clark got there just in time to stand between the hot flames and Lana—the fire hitting his chest and spreading like a fan around him. It blocked Klax-Ar’s view just enough that he didn’t see Lana escape to inside the cave—she HAD to get him down there. NOW!

She started running the very second Clark arrived, getting the Kryptonite as far away as possible. Klax-Ar made a dive for Clark, and Clark left him in the dust, speeding toward the cave. “Get ready!” he said as he passed, which Lana knew meant she had to go set the trap—but if Klax-Ar could so easily avoid her Kryptonite hurling before, what was she going to do?

Think like Isobel, think like Isobel, she said, over and over to herself, knowing she had to summon all of the power within her to pull this off. She wished for just one second that she had seen Isobel do more magic than she’d seen in her one day of memories after Gertrude had sucked her dry.

Klax-Ar came to the mouth of the cave, about twenty feet from where Lana was hiding. He looked around and roared for Clark again. Clark appeared out of nowhere, slamming Klax-Ar into the cave wall, and ripping his Luthor Corp lab coat off—a stupid disguise for an alien—his clothing underneath was the strangest material she’d ever seen—it shimmered with flecks of silver.

Klax-Ar reached out for Clark, trying to grip onto his arm as Clark was momentarily caught off guard.

He was trying to take his powers! “Don’t let him touch you!” Lana screamed.

Klax-Ar looked up in shock, just long enough for Clark to escape, trying hard to stay away from the scattered Kryptonite throughout the cave.

Klax-Ar huffed, directing his eyes toward Lana’s scream. It was then that Lana saw a curious band on Klax-Ar’s arm, now that the lab coat was gone. It reflected the moonlight in a way that sparked a not so distant memory for her—of Kal and Isobel in the forest the night he showed her the stone of transference.

And . . . then . . . she . . . knew! She knew how Klax-Ar was siphoning powers. His arm band was made out of the same Kryptonian element as the stone of transference!

“Hear me, Clark!” she screamed, which was their planned code for him to turn on his super hearing. “I need the lab coat!” she whispered now.

Clark sped faster than he ever had, grabbing the lab coat and placing it in her hands before Klax-Ar could even blink.

Klax-Ar took off toward her, his mouth open wide—yelling again as she expected. Lana was one step ahead of him, sending the Kryptonite ring off her finger right into the back of his throat. She then summoned as many meteor rocks as she could while she was racing toward him, and piled them around Klax-Ar as he fell to his knees, choking on the ring.

Clark stood in the background, at the ready—and almost lurched ahead when he realized she was going right up to Klax-Ar. What was she doing?

Lana grasped Klax-Ar’s arm band, and with the lab coat secured in her other hand, she demanded in her mind that Klax-Ar’s power be transferred into the coat. She felt a race of fire go through her, then the coat flew out of her hand.

“Burn it!” Lana screamed—thinking back to when Kal had done the same thing with Isobel’s cloak—to get rid of Gertrude’s powers.

Clark wasn’t going to ask any questions, as stunned as he was. His eyes lit up, and he shot fire at the lab coat, charring it in a matter of seconds.

Klax-Ar fell face forward into the pile of Kryptonite, but it wasn’t needed now. Lana summoned the ring out of his throat . . . swept away all the rocks with a strong swish of her arms . . . and propelled her Kryptonite crystal into the far corner of the cave.

Clark raced over and hefted the weak man above his head—who felt almost as heavy as the spaceship.

“Let’s do it!” he said, exhausted, but smiling.

Lana took the key from her pocket, and sent it racing into the right slot in the cave wall. It opened up a hole of brilliant light—she could barely squint against it, even in the night goggles.

Clark tossed Klax-Ar half the length of the cave, to make him disappear through the hole . . . and he was gone.

[linn]

that was great update,but the question im askin u guys if u any of u guys know, when i was watchin smallville's season finale of 4 and when it ended...it showed some of the preveiw of s5 why was Lois at a strip club stripping and Clark was there..Is there something goin on or something.? I was just askin to see if u guys know cause im so anxious too find out,,but i can't wait until it play, but if u guys don't have a anwser...i understabd cause u r probally wonderin too.....

PPMS AJ!!

[SmallvilleMan]

It wasn't anything sexual, Lois and Clark were the invesitgating someone.

[LuvClana]

4! lol

[linn]

oo
ok thank you SmallvilleMan

[Cardinal]

6

[linn]

I knew That in a way

[HP_DRAGON]

In Commencement Lionel had the water stone not the air stone sorry I have watched smallville to many times great story PPMS

[linn]

Welcome HP GRAGON

[Cardinal]

Don't worry HP, aj loves edits almost as much as she loves receiving posts from first-time posters!

Welcome to the world of Clana!

[ajfinn]

Okay guys, sorry, my arms are burning everybit as bad as Lana's right now. I'm going to need another buffer in about 30 minutes. I need to read through it, then I'll post.

[Cardinal]

Yay, I'll buffer! :)

[MOOman0618]

Wait...another buffer?? So you went beyond your one more page? This is awesome!!!

[binkys711]

wha?! you already updated?!...oh man....ok I'll read it now and see if i can buffer also or if ya need extra help i'm here...meanwhile i'm reading your previous update that I've been waiting for but already missed:(...oh well...:\

[ajfinn]

Okay, ya'll -- all four parts of update 79 are posted!! Go back a page or two and you'll find them :)

[binkys711]

oh ok...yay! i'm still reading the update:p...

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by ajfinn
CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 3 OF 4

“Lana, you never had to try,” he said. “You’ve already saved me.”



That's a cool 'flashback.'

Back to reading. Glad I didn't have to blow a milestone post on a buffer.

Transference rocks! Klax-Ar was hoisted on his own petard!

One down, one to go... :(

[binkys711]

oh darn it...I'm gonna have to read it later cuz my mom is ramming me off of the computer....sorry, promise i'll get to it as soon as i can:\...bye guys!

*waves asleep deprived goodbye*:p

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by HP_DRAGON
In Commencement Lionel had the water stone not the air stone sorry I have watched smallville to many times great story PPMS

Well, now. You see what I have to do to get a silent reader to post!! Make a major type-o :)

Yeah, yeah, the water element, I knew that :lol: I've been calling the transference stone the water element for months in this fic, then had a brain glitch :lol:

Thanks! I edited it. Good eye.

And welcome!!


Oh, and I didn't need a buffer between 3 & 4, because I just edited two posts that I had already made. I figured that out after I asked someone to buffer :) Thanks for hanging around for this monster update, guys. My hands are shaking. Seriously :lol:

[MOOman0618]

WOW!! That so great! That battle scene was so cool. They took that guy down! I really liked that Clark was more of the distraction for Lana to work her magic. He usually gets all the glory, I'm glad she had her moment. They work so well as a team.

So now all that’s left is the cool down right? No more surprises or villains or aliens or witches. :( But no sad thoughts, because I can only imagine the happy Clana that is to follow such a glorious victory! :)

[kewl]

wow super-dooper awesome long update aj!!!! they both took the evil giant alien down!!! teehee.... lana was so brilliant!!!! and whew i can just imagine how clark would be so exhausted after the heart-stopping battle w/ Klax-Ar!!!!!!
VICTORY TO CLANA!!!!!! :D:D:D:D
PPMS AJ!
~ hey HP_DRAGON welcome to the clana world ~ (:lol: linn wrote HP_GRAGON :lol:;))

[NYC300Z]

I finally got a chance to read ur update AJ!! Had a long day you know....got up at 6 am went to queens for Class at 7 didn't finish til 4pm caught a bus in Chinatown at 5pm and arrived in Virginia Beach at 12am then had to get a ride and I finally got to a computer and well mad busy, but ur update was fantastic! Very long! I knew the last few updates would have to be really long!!:D:D The whole fight scene was really cool. Liked how Klax-ar said Clark looked like his smug father. Lana was great figuring out the whole thing with the arm band!:D So much to say loved the update! Can't wait to read the next part even though I'm sad it's going to be the last part....

[linn]

that as a great update it was unbelievable........ppmS!

[SpeedyKate91]

amazing update. It really was great.
ppms!!

[Kryptoniangirl]

hey awesome update aj
keep itm coming ;)

[SunniLvsSV]

I can't wait for Sunday! Wow! :D

[dreammaster]

awesome chapter

[HP_DRAGON]

That was so cool

[SVsleuth]

Super great update, AJ! I especially loved these great CLANA moments:


“Umm, actually, I thought I’d have the pretty green rock made into another necklace for myself,” she said. “What do you think?”

He picked Lana up, throwing her over his shoulder, and spinning in circles. “I think you may just need something like that for our honeymoon,” he said. “Otherwise, you’ll never get a break from me.”

She pounded on his back with her fists, laughing and getting very dizzy. “And what will you use to keep ME away from YOU?” she asked, between gasps for air.

Clark stopped spinning and moved her down to his arms. “Absolutely nothing,” he said, then kissed her until they both almost forgot about the rest of what had happened that night . . . and what still had to be done.
“Okay . . . we better save it for the closet, Clark,” Lana said, laughing as she gave him what she thought would wrap up their lingering kisses. But then she went back to his lips like a magnet. “Well, maybe just a few more little ones.”

and


Lana touched his face, running her hands along his cheek bones, and into his soft hair. “Clark, I could never hope to truly repay you for all you’ve done, both to save my life—countless times—and otherwise,” she said. “But I hope you’ll always remember this as the night that I tried.”

Clark smiled, remembering a moment that had been previously painful until that very moment. “Lana, you never had to try,” he said. “You’ve already saved me.”

She kissed him. “I love you,” she said. “Now, get out there and take him down.” She laughed as he went to walk away, then did what was natural for any coach—she gave his butt a good slap.

And, of course the whole fight scene & how Lana was so crucial in the fight. Awesome. I also loved how you tied up several other loose ends from S4, giving explanatoins for what happened to Lionel, etc. Can't wait for the rest.
---

(P.S. AJ, You'll never guess where I am reading your story: yep, back in Birmingham. I was too nervous to stay home with the kids and a compromised roof with RITA out there - so I re-joined my hubby for the weekend, driving 6 hours last night to get here at midnight. Hope to return Sunday.)

[littlegreenelf]

That was a long update and of course the longer the better!:D
It's getting really exciting, can't wait to read the next one! :p
I loved the last bit with Clark, Lana and Klax - Ar, so cool!:cool:
Hey this is my 200th post !woopee! :rotfl:

[mcgairman]

been reading this one for a while; I find it the only Clana I REALLY LIKE!! Keep it up -- hate to see it end.
:)
MCGjr

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by mcgairman
been reading this one for a while; I find it the only Clana I REALLY LIKE!! Keep it up -- hate to see it end.
:)
MCGjr

Thanks, man :D That means a lot!!

[LuvClana]

woot! Great chapter aj! PPMS!

[LanasLover16]

totally unbelieveable chapter aj!! looking forward to the rest!!!!

[itsallinthespelling]

just read the last two updates to the last chapter aj, the were amazing as usual, though i wish it would last longer, i just don't want this fic to end *tear*. i look forward to the final update, but am still hoping for an epilogue (tell us clark can have kids, him and lana will live happily forever after). can't wait til sunday or saturday or whenever we get our update :D

[ajfinn]

Just as a reminder . . . the FINAL UPDATE to this story will be posted this Sunday.

It will probably be posted late that night . . . unless I've really got my mojo on, then it will be earlier that day. :D

*sigh* Wow, the end is near. Hope it makes the whole fic worth reading :)

[Ketchup]

Hehe Ill make sure to posst RIGHT after you =P

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Ketchup
Hehe Ill make sure to posst RIGHT after you =P

*faints!* KETCHUP IS POSTING SUNDAY NIGHT!! OH, DUDE, IF YOU HAVE IT READY BEFORE ME, BE MY GUEST :)

[Superboy2]

I can't wait to read both of your updates. Your both doing very well. I wish people liked mine as much as they like yours. Or at least a little more. Seems like people have lost interest. Hopefully you guys can give me one post to boost it up a bit. Anyways, good luck with your stories.

[NYC300Z]

Yes can't wait for updates to everybodys stories!! AJ i'm going back to NYC Sunday night at midnight will the post be up before then?? I sure hope so!:D

[Cardinal]

A semantic point to be made here. Ketchup didn't say he was updating Sunday, he said he would post. That could mean nothing more than a comment on your story.

I'll believe it's the long-awaited "Last Setting" finale when I see it.

Sorry, Special K, you've got a history.

If it is the finale, remember we want lots and lots of MOOman's "yummy Clana goodness." :p

[ajfinn]

WHAT? Mooman is writing MY finale!??! Yeaaaaaa!! That means I can go back to painting my toenails! (Just so you know, SVM, I DID paint my toenails tonight! :lol: )

Yummy Clana goodness, huh? Well, if it turns out right, it will be sticky, oooeyyy, gooey, nummy, SWEET Clana goodness.

And as for Ketchup, I have it on good authority, that he may, just may, be updating Sunday, not just posting. BUT, I heard it from a friend of a friend, who saw that in a tabloid . . . so I'm not sure how good the source was :lol:

NYC - as for having it posted by midnight Eastern time. I'll try to do what I did last time . . . post one section at a time. Did you guys like that? Or do you just want the update all at once?


edit -- oh, did you mean Mooman's clana goodness was for Ketchup's finale . . . ha ha ha . . . well, mooman can write MY finale too! :D

[Cardinal]

Umm...when I said finale and "yummy Clana goodness," I was referring to Ketchup. :p

We know you'll come through with the Clana! :D :D :D

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Cardinal
We know you'll come through with the Clana! :D :D :D

Ohhhhh. . . . but maybe, just maybe, Lana got sucked into the cave wall with Klax-Ar. You just never know what my crazy mind will come up with!

[SmallvilleMan]

SVM, I DID paint my toenails tonight! )

EWWWWWWWWW,

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by ajfinn
Ohhhhh. . . . but maybe, just maybe, Lana got sucked into the cave wall with Klax-Ar. You just never know what my crazy mind will come up with!

I'm gonna have to pretend I didn't read that. Nope, nope, it didn't happen. After all, you wouldn't want to hurt poor SVsleuth. All she's got right now in the world of Clana is the hope of a happy ending to your fic. Making idle threats like that is just plain, old mean to a person that's already gone through so much.

Now, back to my writing. Clark is in the middle of telling his secret to Chloe! This is fun stuff to write.

[Lana_Lang #1]

Lana touched his face, running her hands along his cheek bones, and into his soft hair. “Clark, I could never hope to truly repay you for all you’ve done, both to save my life—countless times—and otherwise,” she said. “But I hope you’ll always remember this as the night that I tried.”

Clark smiled, remembering a moment that had been previously painful until that very moment. “Lana, you never had to try,” he said. “You’ve already saved me.”

Beautiful!

[NYC300Z]

oh well if I miss the update that night I'll be sure to check at 8am when I get back to my apartment!:D

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
EWWWWWWWWW,

SVM, hate to tell you this, but Lana has TOENAILS too!! Mine are all pink and sparkly now, just like Season 1-3 Lana would've liked them.

Anyway, from toenails to fanfiction . . . all in the same breath . . . I wouldn't have written all this if my favorite coulple wasn't going to live happily ever after! :D So, have no fear, Cardinal!

[SmallvilleMan]

SVM, hate to tell you this, but Lana has TOENAILS too!! Mine are all pink and sparkly now, just like Season 1-3 Lana would've liked them.

Yeah, but at least she doesn't talk about them:p I don't need to know that, that crosses the too much info line. Although, now that i think about, Lana must have pretty cute toenails:D

[Cardinal]

Lana has gorgeous toenails!

They go along with her fabulous feet, kind of like an accessory!

[SmallvilleMan]

:rotfl:

[Lana_Lang #1]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Lana_Lang #1

*She dares to open her eyes and is surprised to find herself in pure white deep snow, she gazes around and she realizes she is at the North Pole!

*The crystal glows light blue and brightly in her hand. She opens her hand, it floats into the air and hovers just in front of her. She stares at it in wonder and amzement, wondering what to do next.

*The crystal turns and points further North. Without exactly knowing why and going more on instinct, she grabbed the crystal and hurled it towards the direction it was pointing.

*It shon and spun as it flew to the air and landed on a layer of snow, the crystal sank deep into the snow.

* "Well that was a pointless quest, next time why doesn't Jor-El just send me to get a pizza instead" she says frustrated and sarcastically.

*She turns around to leave, but freezes in her tracks when all of a sudden, she feels the ground beneath her feet begin to tremble...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*All of a sudden huge ice crystals start shooting up out the icy water and they collide and fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

*she says "Oh my God!"

*Suddenly a huge ice palace appears out of nowhere.

*As she falls to the ground, freezing and exhausted, out of that palace comes a lone man, muscular with dark hair. Clark?"

*Clark dressed in his red jacket and blue shirt runs over and takes her in his arms. Clark looks down at her, concern filling his eyes as he brushes her frost covered hair out of her face.

*Clark "What are you doing here?"

*So cold her teeth chittering, her strength and energy leaving her. She looks up into Clarks eyes as his face swims in and out of her vision.

*She says in barely a whisper "I...I came l...looking for you a...and the a...answers to my questions"

*She passes out in his arms as he hugs her close.

* Clark "NO!" He superspeeds her inside the fortress to try and save her life...

[binkys711]

aj! at 10:32 pm i finally read your super duper update! and i'm bewildered.....wow! I mean WOW! that fight scene was incredible! and the buttons off of 2 Clark shirts were ripped off....jeje....:Dthat update was so utterly fantastic!:D:D:D I absoltely loved it! and it was funny the way Lana was talking down to Lionel! oh man that was awesome!:D:D:D I'm going to try and stay at home on sunday as long as i can so I can be here for you final update *sighs*.....great job aj:)

and hooray for Ketchup! he's updating Sunday also....i hope:\:D

[NYC300Z]

Hey Lana_Lang#1 you should defiently write a slapstick!!:D

AJ here's to hoping you got ur mojo flowing!:D Cheers!

[Lana_Lang #1]

I will be updating my miniposts tomorrow so you all don't get to impatient waiting for ajfinn. Kinda of like an opening act for the main show.

I'm the temporary entertainment until Ajfinn is ready!

[NYC300Z]

Okay if u say so Lana_Lang#1 then when's the next mini post?:lol:

Aj u hear that?? You got an opening act!:D:lol:;)

[kewl]

ur doing a great job with the miniposts Lana_lang#1. keep it up! :lol::D:lol:

[Mythos]

..................

Having crawled and scrabbled my way up from part 49 I sit here gaping, mouth open, gasping for breath, paralyzed by utter amazement at the way the story has unfolded from a simple page of Clanaty goodness to the compelling and truly astonishing tale of epic proportion it has become.....

just..... amazing....

wow.....

....

[LuvClana]

darn I wont be able to read it till monday night :p I'll have my hands full with my new dog im getting on suday

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Lana_Lang #1

*She passes out in his arms as he hugs her close.

* Clark "NO!" He superspeeds her inside the fortress to try and save her life...

I would SO go to the arctic and freeze like that to get one little hug from the man of steel . . . and then be raced off to the fortress with him! Sign me up!


Mythos -- your return from the phantom zone is a welcome event!!! :D Glad to know work is back under control. You were on part 49??

*thinks of all that happened after that point* So you read all this, right? Isobel grows wings . . . Kal saves her from the fire . . . Marg gains super-powers . . . Lana moves to Paris again (don't worry, Clark went with her) . . . Clark gains the power to multiply himself to keep up with everything Lana wants him to do (hubba hubba!) . . . Chloe falls in love with the older of the Olsens . . . Mr. Olsen performs with the New York Ballet Company . . . Lex gets a toupee . . . and Jimmy sells the McLaren to buy the spaceship from the alien. Wow! Good thing you caught up on all that before the finale!

And LuvClana . . . a new dog (wonders if it's a puppy). Cute! Good luck! *laughs maniacally - that girl has no idea what she's in for!*

Wow! Pre-show entertainment?? I have REALLY made it to the big time now! :D

[Mythos]

You're leaving out the part where Lana and Chloe end up doing a striptease for mr. Olsen's 25th wedding anniversary! Got it all!

Seriously though, I finally got caught up again after my Phantom Zone visit (it's SO hard to read in there being denied a socket to plug in my night light), got through your special mythos mega-update and drew the rest straight off the board.

It really amazes me how much has happened and where you've taken the story. Although I have a pretty good idea that when you started you weren't sure of the direction in which you've now ended up , I must say it's been an incredible journey! And although it saddens me that it's coming to an end I can't wait to see the final fireworks! :D:D:D:D:D:D

Keep on truckin' ;)

[ajfinn]

Yes, Mythos, the story, for one, was never going to be this long.

Sometime soon, after the fic ends, I'm going to post a "behind the scenes special" . . . the making of "This Time," which will probably include deleted scenes and bloopers :) Maybe even an interview with the stars of the fic. Mr. Olsen included.

[midnite_spark]

hahaha :lol: aj that would be awesome!!!

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by ajfinn
WHAT? Mooman is writing MY finale!??! Yeaaaaaa!! That means I can go back to painting my toenails! (Just so you know, SVM, I DID paint my toenails tonight! :lol: )

edit -- oh, did you mean Mooman's clana goodness was for Ketchup's finale . . . ha ha ha . . . well, mooman can write MY finale too! :D


WHAT?!?! Have you read my story? If you had, I doubt you would be saying such things...but hey, I'll give 'er a go.



Part 80: THE FINALE


After Clark and Lana defeated Klax-Ar and had fixed Lex for at least a while, they decided to take a break for and enjoy one another...

*insert yummy Clana goodness*

But wait...

Lex is having a relapse and has regained his memories...and every meteor freak from the last four years has regained their powers that Klax-Ar has stolen from them, and Brainiac emerged from the spaceship and so did Darkseid and Doomsday and Imperiex and General Zod.

This could only mean one thing...

That this story would not and could not EVER end. It will go on forever whether the author likes it or not.

----------------------


Did I do good? I think I did. :D

I have a feeling Ketchup's story would get an equally well written ending, or rather forced continuation.

[LuvClana]

Originally posted by ajfinn
I
And LuvClana . . . a new dog (wonders if it's a puppy). Cute! Good luck! *laughs maniacally - that girl has no idea what she's in for!*


Hehe tis a puppy! 8 weeks today! and I have an idea, im just trying to not beleive it :p

[midnite_spark]

oh no oh no oh no....

aj if u're on target with ur updates...

oh no oh no oh no....

that means tomorrow...u'll....u'll....post the last update for this fanfic...!!!!!!.....

i'm torn!!! do i want u to post or do i want u to delay cuz i don't want this story to end?!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

what to do!?!?!? what to do?!?!!?!?!?

::whimper::whimper::looks around frantically for help::didn't get any...::

::eyes starts to tear...::sniff sniff::

::runs off and studies Japanese to distract myself::

[SpeedyKate91]

I can't wait till the next update tomorrow. But i'm sad cause it's gonna be the last n your story is awsome!! :mad:

[ajfinn]

Mooman . . . we'll you've trapped me now, haven't you :lol:

Yes, I'm still on schedule to post the finale tomorrow night.

BUT I could always wait until Monday, if you guys want to postpone this a bit longer . . . I wouldn't mind, I promise :lol:

[itsallinthespelling]

yea, i can't wait, and erm, i would love to find out what jor-el and the kents talked about while they were up in the fos, and i hope we get one, maybe two proposals in the final update :D

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by ajfinn
BUT I could always wait until Monday, if you guys want to postpone this a bit longer . . . I wouldn't mind, I promise :lol:

Them thar is fightin' words!

Besides, Ketchup said he'll post after you. If you delay Special K's final update by a day along with delaying your own, you'll have to talk to my lawyers from the firm of Dewey, Cheatum, and Howe. :p

The bills for this kind of distress will be monumental. :D

[NYC300Z]

Originally posted by ajfinn
Yes, Mythos, the story, for one, was never going to be this long.

Sometime soon, after the fic ends, I'm going to post a "behind the scenes special" . . . the making of "This Time," which will probably include deleted scenes and bloopers :) Maybe even an interview with the stars of the fic. Mr. Olsen included.

Yes it would be so neat too see the direction where this story could have gone!:D That would be really cool and interesting!

oh and actually I wouldn't mind if u delayed the finale to Monday night because i'm driving back to NYC Sunday night Monday morning sometime from 12am-1am Eastern I'm leaving, but do you update when u feel is the right time..

[bdog1usa]

This is my first post here, I found your story when you were about 23 chapters in. When I found it I started in the begining and read all 23 updates in a row. Ever since I've been captivated, and always searching for an update every chance I get. I cant wait for the finale but it will be a very sad day indeed to see it end. I agree completely with everyone here, you are an amazing writer and this is an amazing story. I would love to see Smallville season 5 go just like this....

[lady lover]

I'm dying to see this post

[linn]

hey ajfinn can't wait for the next post...........

[kewl]

hi bdog1usa & lady lover welcome to the clana world!!! :D
can't wait for ur next update AJ! ;)

[linn]

yes welcome right after kewl....

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by bdog1usa
This is my first post here, I found your story when you were about 23 chapters in. When I found it I started in the begining and read all 23 updates in a row. Ever since I've been captivated, and always searching for an update every chance I get. I cant wait for the finale but it will be a very sad day indeed to see it end. I agree completely with everyone here, you are an amazing writer and this is an amazing story. I would love to see Smallville season 5 go just like this....

Welcome to the boards, DOG. (Sorry, couldn't help that manly welcome) :lol:

Anyway, thanks for the great compliments! Glad you came out of silent reader status to join us. :D

Okay, ya'll, the GRAND FINALE is right on schedule to be posted tonight. It looks like it will be a 3 part update, maybe 4, but don't hold me to that :lol:

As far as an estimated time, I'd say 6 hours from right now. But if Clarky keeps giving me this shoulder massage, well . . . . it might take a bit longer :lol:

[Mythos]

wow! Story upon story upon story upon rhyme upon song upon poem!

You bring out a lot of good stuff with this story A.J.... Sure you want to quit it this soon....? ;) :p

Anyway, since I've posted next to nothing for a while and since Clark and Lana reminded me of it, I'll post the lyrics to an ancient but beautiful song in honor of both your story and Clana (sorry Cardinal, I know this is usually your thing, but I really want to dedicate this one;))

Blackbird - (John and Paul) :
-----------------------------------

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise
-------------------------------------------------------------

I advise everyone to go and look for this song and listen to it for a while.....

[CLANAobsessed]

Could it be a little sooner?

Sry but me being the Charmed fanatic that I am( I love Smallville just as much, it's a tie. ) I have to watch the premiere of Charmed when you said you'd post the update and, that'll ruin my Charmed Zone, but if you can't then I guess I'll just have to wait.

[lady lover]

I'm confused is the update coming today or not and thanks for the welcome I'm new so if you know of any other cool site please iet me know

I'm confused is the update coming today or not and thanks for the welcome I'm new so if you know of any other cool site please let me know

[ajfinn]

Clanaobsessed -- I'm so sorry, I wish I knew the exact time I'd be posting, but it's just all up to how my brain functions. I don't want to half-bake this update, you know? (ohhh, charmed is good :) )

And lady lover . . . YES the finale will be posted TONIGHT!! :D And we can't refer you to any other sites (k-site rules) but if you go to the Clana Fix Clubhouse, you'll find recommendations for Clana fics there :) Here's the link to the first page, but I think the recommendations for fics are actually on the last page, or second to the last. :D

Clana Clubhouse (http://www.kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39877&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

[Superboy2]

Originally posted by ajfinn
"As far as an estimated time, I'd say 6 hours from right now. But if Clarky keeps giving me this shoulder massage, well . . . . it might take a bit longer"

I'll give you a better shoulder massage and a foot rub if you update tonight. Can't wait for the update

[SmallvilleMan]

:rotfl: Hmmm.... Was that a..... Nevermind:p

[mcgairman]

Looking forward to that update. This story shouldn't really end. How about a sequel?

:D

[SmallvilleMan]

A whitney and Chloe avatar? Talk about something you never see.:eek:

[CLANAobsessed]

Hey everybody, let's try to post as much as possible, so that when aj posts the update it will be on a milestone post and page.

Just a thought

page 200 and post 3000
(if possible)

[Superboy2]

I'm posting because I feel like it. AJ, Are you gonna take up my offer of the shoulder and foot rub?

Damn she's offline.

[Lana_Lang #1]

Come On AJ! Read my PM! Either that or post more soon!

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Lana_Lang #1
Come On AJ! Read my PM! Either that or post more soon!

I HAVE!! :D But your PM box is full, so I can't respond :)


Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
A whitney and Chloe avatar? Talk about something you never see.:eek:

I think it's Chloe and Jonathan, in Covenant. Interesting choice, I agree. Very cool.


And Superboy, as much as I like your namesake, ha ha, Clark is doing just fine. Thanks!! :D


Originally posted by CLANAobsessed
Hey everybody, let's try to post as much as possible, so that when aj posts the update it will be on a milestone post and page.
Just a thought
page 200 and post 3000
(if possible)

ha ha, that's a nice gesture, but it would make the rest of the readers a little ticked to have to go through billions of posts to find the finale :) Thanks though, Clanaobsessed :D

Okay, gotta go offline so I can finish the finale :)

[LanasLover16]

i can not wait to read the finally aj! hope it comes soon!!

[Lana_Lang #1]

No wait! I just cleansed my PM Box so PM me back!

[Superboy2]

Well fine AJ, I see how it is. I'll throw Clark into a bunker if it means an update. You can forget the massage now(but I may reconsider if you really want me too) LOL, I can't wait for the update

[Kal-El & Me]

Yeeesssss!!!!
I fanally caught up on reading this. I've been so busy with school and sports. Not to mention my mom nagging on me to read my books assigned to me by my teacher. But hey, I'm here now so I hope you can forgive me.

*Gets down on knees and cries* "Please forgive me aj you know Clark would!"

[Lana_Lang #1]

AJ, PLEASE PM ME BEFORE YOU POST THE FINALE. THERE'S SOMETHING I WANNA SAY IN THIS THREAD TO EVERYONE, JUST BEFORE YOU POST PLEASE!

IT'S NOT SPOILERS I PROMISE!

Opps sorry about the caps I didn't realize!

[midnite_spark]

uh oh...D-Day...

can't wait!:D

[Lana102]

I am new at this posting thing and i gust want to say that I love this fic and this was the first I read so I posted here first

[Kal-El & Me]

Welcome to the boards Lana102!
We're extremely happy to have you here.
Right guys? *All posters reply 'right!'*

[ajfinn]

RIGHT!! Welcome :) You're right in time for the grand finale.

Okay, so here's the thing . . . I've got 3 parts almost ready to go, then there's one more after this . . . but it will take me another couple of hours before it's ready.

Do you want the first 3 parts now (well, in like a half hour or so, after I read them?)

[LuvClana]

yes yes yes!

PS: I got mah doggie. She won't shut up :p

[LanasLover16]

yea welcome!! and YES post them now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

Yeah why not that way i get to read them before I head out!

[Kal-El & Me]

Awwwww. I probably won't be able to read them till morning. Wait maybe if I pack my bag now and take a shower I'll be able to read the first three parts. You promise it'll be in half an hour aj???

[ajfinn]

Allrighty . . . I'm editing now, then I'll need 3 buffers . . . NYC, can you do that for me?

I'll post one part at a time, then hopefully by the time you're done with the first, I'll have the second ready to post (after editing) and then the third .. . and then you'll have to wait another couple of hours for the fourth, okay?

Yeaaaaa, we're almost there :D The big moment.


LANA_LANG_#1 -- YOUR BOX IS FULL AGAIN, SO I COULDN'T PM YOU, HOPE YOU SEE THIS :) REMEMBER NO SPOILERS :) NOT EVEN LITTLE ONES!!

[Lana_Lang #1]

AJ! Just cleaned out my box!

I'll be a buffer!



SPECIAL MESSAGE

In honour of AJ's season finale, I am officially ending my minipost pre-show entertainment. Perhaps one day, I will write a story that is worthy of all of you Clana fans out there. But that day is not today.

Today is the ending of a labour of time, love and legacy. A story that has carried us through many months on the wings of a truly beautifully written tale.

Special thanks to all those posters who have been there from the beginning of this story to the end. Those who have kept this story this alive, with kind words, CAP WARS, and the most persistant PPMS I have ever seen. If not for you I never would have found this story.


To AJ

I wish you all the happiness that the future may hold for you and I look forward to reading more stories from you in the days to come. PM me if you ever do, okay? I'll be right there! :)

This is officially one of the most visited threads on KryptonSite!

*"You did it AJ! Congratulations!"


*For this story this KryptonSite Pro kneels on bended knee for respect.

Now without much furthur ado myself and KryptonSite are proud to present the Season Finale to How "This Time Will Be Different" by Ajfinn!

[ajfinn]

Ahhh. . . . that was really nice!!

Okay, LANA :) I need 4 buffers -- yes, four, just in case.

Again, I'll be posting part 1, then part 2 about ten minutes later, then part 3 ten minutes later, then part 4 in a couple of hours . . . but 5, who knows how long winded I get :)


EDIT: I'M READY FOR THE BUFFERS, LANA_LANG :)

[Cardinal]

Four buffers? I'll need some major caffeine to finish reading this one! :p :p

[ajfinn]

Part 80 – The Finale:

Ten Weeks Later

Summer was gone, and it was definitely a time that would be missed. It had been the best months of both Clark and Lana’s lives—filled with sweeter memories than any they had ever shared combined.

With the entire town of Smallville a complete mess after the meteor storm, there had been plenty of clean-up work available for them to both earn money for their future. They definitely worked hard, but every spare moment of their time was spent together. This was made much easier by the fact that Clark’s parents insisted Lana move out of the Talon apartment, and into their home.

Clark was supposed to be sleeping on the couch by himself, but Lana would most often fall asleep in his arms there, then he’d eventually carry her up to her bed—where he’d watch her sleep until not even his super-strength could keep his eyes open any longer.

This routine often followed some very interesting—and super-secretive—dates they’d been going on the past couple of months. To help Clark deal with the guilt that he felt from the meteor shower causing such chaos in the lives of so many people—Lana thought of an idea one night, and they’d been following through with it as much as they could.

Mr. Olsen had let them keep their black outfits (which Clark was VERY happy about) as well as the night vision goggles . . . so Clark and Lana would go about town after dark, like secret elves, and fix as much damage as possible.

They figured that between their day jobs, and running around at night, they’d been responsible for half the clean-up in Smallville. As they cleaned, Lana would fill up the lead trunk they still had with Kryptonite, and she and Clark would take it to the cave, and banish it to the Phantom Zone. Lana practiced her magic more and more in the dark, and soon didn’t even need the night vision goggles.

One evening, Jonathan found Clark sneaking out of Lana’s bedroom at three in the morning. It wasn’t the first time he’d known Clark was in there, but it was time Clark knew that his parents had been having a lot of discussions about he and Lana.

“Son, we need to have a talk,” Jonathan whispered, following Clark down the stairs.

Clark whirled around, startled. “Dad, it’s not how it looks,” he said.

“Yeah, I think it is, Clark,” Jonathan said, reaching the bottom of the stairs where Clark was standing. “Let’s sit on the couch and talk man to man. It’s about time.”

Okay, Clark thought, they’d already had THAT talk long ago, so what was this all about? Clark sat on the couch and looked over when his dad joined him. “Seriously, I was sitting in the chair, just watching her sleep. That’s all.”

Jonathan put his hand on Clark’s shoulder. “I know, I know. You’re not in trouble,” he said, having spotted Clark in the chair several times in the past couple of months. “That’s why it’s important for me to finally tell you what your mother and I have been discussing.”

Clark could see his smile now. “Yeah, I’d definitely like to know what you guys really think of all this,” he said. “You’ve been so supportive, and I’m grateful for that. But I’m sure it’s made you a bit nervous at times—but we’ve behaved ourselves, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Which is exactly why we think you two are perfect for one another,” Jonathan said. “You made a promise to each other—which you told us about early in the summer—and you’ve stuck to it, no matter how difficult it’s been.”

And still is, Clark thought, letting out a heavy breath. “Yeah, difficult would be putting it mildly,” he said. “But . . . ” This was where he didn’t dare go on, he wanted to see if his dad brought it up first.

“But, the fact is, you’re very much in love,” Jonathan said, nodding and remembering what it felt like to be going through what Clark was. “And there’s no reason you two shouldn’t be together—as a married couple.”

Clark’s mouth literally fell open. He squinted at his dad. “You’re not going to tell me that we’re too young, because I know that’s what most people think, but are we just supposed to sit around and count birthdays so the rest of society can tell us we’re ready for it?”

Jonathan laughed, knowing Clark must’ve been planning that defense for a while now. “Well, just so you know, your mother and I weren’t much older than you two when we married, and things have turned out perfectly,” he said. “So you can just sit around, as you said, and count your birthdays, or you can accept our blessings—our encouragement, rather, and take that girl you love as your wife. It’s up to you.”

Clark stood from the couch—well, more like jumped. “Are you serious?” he asked, his smile so big that his teeth practically glowed in the dark. “Because I’ve been holding back talking to you about it until I could make this big case in our favor—one that you couldn’t dispute, and now you’re totally giving your blessing out of no where?” Clark stopped pacing and faced him. “I’ve gotta tell Lana right now!”

“Wait just a minute,” Jonathan said, grinning as he felt Clark’s excitement like warm coals on his chest. “I’m not quite done yet. There’s no reason to wake her until you’ve got the full scoop.”

What else mattered? Clark thought. But then, he was certain he knew. “Now you’re going to ask how I plan on providing for the two of us, aren’t you?” he asked. “And then you’re going to ask if I still plan on starting school next week . . . and how I plan to have a job, attend classes, study, help on the farm, and be a devoted husband.”

Jonathan started laughing again. “Either I know you, or you know me, much too well!” he said, patting the couch again so Clark would sit—which he did. “Let’s just tackle the list one at a time, okay? You’re not the only one who’s been trying to sort through this.”

Clark smiled, thinking for the umpteenth time in his life, that he truly had the most amazing parents on the planet—or on any planet. “Then by all means, give me your ideas.”

“First of all, a lot of men find ways to provide for a family while attending college,” Jonathan said. “And if anyone can do it, you can. Just think, you’ll able to get your work around the farm done in practically no time at all—which I’ll continue to pay you for—and as far as additional work, I really think you should take Mr. Olsen up on his offer to freelance write for the Daily Planet. He sees talent in your work, just as I do.”

“Really?” Clark asked. Chloe had taken the liberty to show Mr. Olsen some past Torch issues, and he’d really been impressed with Clark’s articles, much to Clark’s surprise. “I’d thought about it, because getting an inside scoop on crimes wouldn’t be that difficult for me. And that way, at least I’d be home with Lana while I wrote the articles. He said that I wouldn’t have to work in the office until I wanted to. He knows how important school is to me.”

“And how important Lana is to you as well,” Jonathan said. “That man is a piece of work, I’ll tell you. He’s probably called me ten times in the last month, asking if you two were engaged yet. He didn’t want to put any more pressure on you, so instead . . . ”

“You’re the one who’s getting the ear full, huh? I wondered why he’d laid off of me,” Clark said, grinning. He and Lana had seen Mr. Olsen several times over the summer, and they’d double dated with Chloe and Jimmy many times as well, whose relationship was getting more serious by the day. In fact, Jimmy had already told him that they were talking about marrying next summer. Clark and Lana wouldn’t wait that long. They’d get married as soon as they could reasonably pull together a wedding that would give Lana a lifetime of memories to look back on.

“Clark, if you and Lana had arrived home before your mom and I went to bed, I would’ve told you this,” Jonathan said, “but Mr. Olsen has offered you an Olsen Enterprises Scholarship to Central Kansas—just like the one Chloe received to Met U.”

“What?” Clark asked, feeling both a burden lifted, and another one gained. “As much as I’d like to, I can’t accept that. I’d rather have to pay back the student loans I’m taking out, then take a journalism scholarship away from someone who deserves it much more than myself.”

“The scholarship isn’t for journalism,” Jonathan said. “It’s for . . . ” he laughed. “To quote his exact words, ‘Saving his tushy!’”

“His tushy,” Clark said, blinking once. “How exactly will Central Kansas process a scholarship with that name?”

Jonathan shrugged. “Mr. Olsen said he doesn’t have to explain what the scholarship is for, money is money,” he said. “He’s just grateful that Lex has been nothing but hugs and bunnies with him since you ‘fixed him’. There’s a scholarship waiting for Lana as well, if she decides to take it in the future.”

Clark nodded. “That’s amazing,” he said, wishing Lex had indeed had a true personality change, but he was a whole lot better than before—to everyone—Mr. Olsen, Clark and Lana, and Chloe. “So, Dad, maybe it’s a good time to tell you that I already have a ring. Lana picked it out last month, and I used my savings for it. So the only question is, where can we live?” Clark was afraid his dad would tell him they could stay in Clark’s bedroom, which was generous, but completely out of the question. “I don’t think we can afford a decent place yet. I know it’s kinda crazy, but can we work out something with the loft?”

“I’m way ahead of you, Clark,” his dad answered. “We’ve got plenty of acreage here that isn’t being used. Why don’t the two of us build a home for you and Lana? It will be small at first, but we’ll design it so we can add on as the years go by.”

As long as it was big enough for a narrow hallway, a large closet, and a bedroom, Clark and Lana would be perfectly happy.

KEEP READING . . . PART 1 OF 5

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CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 2 OF 5

“Just go try it on,” Lana said the next morning, attempting to hide a smile as she looked over Martha’s masterpiece—which Clark was holding up to his body, his face as red as the cape attached to it. “You’re gonna look so hot, I know it.”

There was a firm knock on the kitchen door, and Clark super-sped out of the living room, stuffed the Superman suit in his room, and was back before Lana even took a step toward the door.

“Hey, Lex,” Clark said as he opened the door, thinking he would’ve had to do a bit more memory modifying if Lex had caught him with the suit.

“Hey, yourself, stranger,” Lex answered, then looked over to Lana, who was trying to manage a sincere smile. “How’s the happy couple?”

“Still very happy,” Lana said, knowing she had to really play up this moment. “It seems like forever since we’ve seen you! You look great.”

“Yes, but still bald,” Lex said with a laugh, running his hand over his bare head. “We’ve really been playing phone tag this summer, haven’t we, Clark?”

“I know,” Clark said, looking shocked. “It’s crazy. We just can’t seem to get our schedules together.”

Lex nodded. “That’s why I stopped by—didn’t want to chance getting your voice mail again,” he said. “But here you are, live and in person. I’d love to take you guys to lunch today, if you can manage the time.”

Lana looked sideways at Clark, still giving her ‘everything is perfect with the world’ grin.

He glanced to her, then to Lex. “Actually, today’s not a very good time, umm,” he said, putting his hand on Lex’s arm and starting to walk out the kitchen door, “Why don’t you come out to the barn with me, I’ve gotta get something . . . we’ll be right back, Lana.”

Lana didn’t think much of it, knowing Clark was just trying to get rid of Lex, but what she didn’t know was that he was trying to fool her as well. He had to have an excuse to go to the barn without her.

Lex followed Clark’s lead, walking across the lawn to the barn. “For two new grads, you guys sure have busy schedules,” he said with a sincere smile. “Can you pencil me in sometime next spring?”

The truth was, that they had been busy, but they’d also been avoiding Lex on purpose while still remaining friendly through phone calls so he wouldn’t think they were dropping him like a rock. Clark wanted to lessen the chance of Lex becoming curious about him again. As long as their relationship was mostly over phone calls—pretending that their schedules didn’t allow for more personal visits—then Clark would definitely decrease his chances of being put in a ‘ability exposing’ situation.

He was also anxious to keep Lana away from him, so Lex’s feelings for her would fade. Though Clark had erased a lot of their more personal moments together, affection isn’t something that is just gained through memories, it’s developed from compiled opinion and experiences with a person. So unless he’d erased every memory Lex had of Lana, he knew that a lot of those feelings for her would remain.

“Next spring, huh?” Clark asked, when they entered the barn. “Have I really been that pathetic? I’m sorry, but this has been the craziest summer of my life—I’ve been working non-stop, and well . . . ” he glanced toward the house.

“You’re in love,” Lex answered for him. “Which means you can barely manage breathing right now, let alone lunch with a friend. Believe me, I understand.”

“You do?” Clark asked, noticing the curious shimmer in Lex’s eyes. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?”

Lex nodded with a huge smile. “She’s amazing,” he said. “She makes my world spin—in a good way, of course.”

“Sounds like the girl’s got you in a golden lasso,” Clark said, truly happy for Lex. Maybe if he couldn’t save him, someone else could. “What’s her name?”

“Diana Prince,” he said. “I met her at a leadership lecture a few weeks ago—she was the speaker. And you know me, I can’t help but be drawn in by a dark-haired beauty. And she’s got these gorgeous blue eyes—I just couldn’t stop looking at her, and we’ve been out almost every night since. She’s fascinating.”

“She seems like a wonderful woman,” Clark said, gripping Lex’s shoulder, and feeling grateful that he had someone else to be fascinated with. “Hope we get to meet her sometime soon.”

“Oh, you will, I guarantee it,” Lex said. “I plan on having her in my life for a very long time.”

Lex left Clark with a feeling of ease that set the rest of his day up perfectly. This was the day that would change his life forever.

With this in mind, he knew he had to hurry and search through Lana’s boxes before she noticed he was still out there, and Lex was now gone. When Lana had moved there, she only took what she ‘absolutely needed’ into the house—which turned out to be four times the size of Clark’s wardrobe, but he thought that made her all the cuter—but this left box after box of more of her belongs being stored in the barn to look through to find the two items he needed. It was a good thing he had x-ray vision and super-speed, or he would’ve been there forever . . . man, that girl had a lot of clothes.

So much for using their large closet for entertainment—they’d need that one, and four others just to hang her wardrobe. But maybe Lana’s love for closet action would inspire her to downsize, and give some to charity. A man could only hope.

Just as Clark had found what he was looking for, Lana entered the barn, and he had to hide them. “What are you doing, Clark?” She asked, smiling at the look of guilt he had on his face.

“Nothing,” he said quickly. “I was, uhh . . . ”

“Hiding something from me?” she asked, running her hands along Clark’s waist and behind his back. “Common, what do you have?”

Clark smiled, knowing he’d fooled her. She hadn’t seen him speed off to hide the items. “Nothing, I said,” he repeated, showing his empty hands. “I was just . . . hey, didn’t I tell you that I had a big date planned? I thought you were going to shower.”

“I am,” she said. “But since you’re being so secretive about where were going on this day-long adventure, I wasn’t sure what clothes to take into the bathroom with me. Casual, fancy, what?”

“Umm, how about just ‘sexy,’” he said. “Which you do really well. And just make sure you have long pants on—that’s the only requirement.”

“Really?” she asked with a smile, which took a sec for Clark to catch on to.

“Don’t tease me,” he said, bringing her into his arms and kissing her. “You do enough of that by walking around in that hot little pajama number you’re wearing.”

Lana looked down at the grey leggings and tight-white tee she had on. “What these?” she asked, truly not understanding why Clark found the thrown together pajama set attractive.

Clark scooped her up and super-sped to the loft, where they were on the couch before Lana knew it. “Yes, THOSE . . . dang you,” he said, starting to kiss her again. “Now we’re never gonna make it on our date.”

But eventually they did, thank heaven, or Clark would’ve been crushed. Though he’d just decided after his talk with Jonathan last night, that today was the day, he’d been planning this in great detail for months—and partially before then. He’d been imagining how he’d propose to Lana for years.

By noon, they were off on their date, and Martha and Jonathan gave Clark a secretive wink.

Clark suddenly had a flock of butterflies flying around in him. He’d decided not to tell Lana about his conversation with his dad last night—he wanted this to be a complete surprise, and she didn’t even seem suspicious—except for one thing.

“Okay, why did you bring your backpack?” she asked, as he led her out the door by the hand.

“We’re going to have a picnic,” he said, which was true, but it was only a minor reason to have brought his backpack. “In the field.” He started walking toward the space between his home, and where Lana grew up.

“In the field?” she asked, laughing. “As in the same field that has a million grasshoppers this time of year?”

“Exactly,” he said with a grin.

And then she caught on. “Oh, you’re taking me where we used to play as kids?” she asked, feeling her insides warm. “Any particular reason why?”

He kissed her cheek. “Because I love you,” he said. “That’s good enough, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Just as long as you take that back pack off and give me a ride,” she said, thankful that Clark had told her to wear long pants, but also knowing how high those bugs could jump. “I’ll be fine.”

He threw the backpack over his shoulder and she leapt on his back. When they approached the particular area that Clark was sure was the place he once presented her with grasshopper, Lana saw the Kent truck parked there.

“Today, I thought I’d try to make up for a few of the things that I wish I’d done differently,” he said. “Starting with the day I tried to impress you with the gift of a grasshopper. Which didn’t turn out exactly how I planned.”

He helped her into the bed of the truck, then put her all the way on top of the truck cab. “Oh, this is MUCH better,” she said, looking down at the pouncing insects way below them. “I think you’ve grown a bit in the romance department since then.”

“I hope so,” he said, super-speeding off for a moment, then coming back to her side with his hand behind his back. She jumped, waiting for the surprise she was sure he had. “It’s not a bug this time, don’t worry.” He brought his hand forward and gave her a single white daisy, spinning it between his fingers. “I probably should’ve asked my mom what girls like better, flowers or grasshoppers, but I hope this makes up for it.”

Lana’s smile almost took up her entire face. “It definitely does,” she said, then leaned in to give him a small peck on the cheek—just like she would’ve done as a young girl if he’d done this very thing.

KEEP READING . . . PART 2 OF 5

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CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 3 OF 5

When they’d finished their picnic atop the truck, Clark replaced his backpack, and jumped into the truck bed, holding his hands out for her. She slid into his arms. “That was a yummy lunch,” she said. “Tell your mother thank you!”

Clark gave a look of mock pain. “Well, I was going to make it myself, but when she saw the time was getting close to leave, she stepped in to save the day,” he said. “You and I were, uhh, a little busy in the loft, if you don’t remember.”

She tipped her head. “Why, no, I don’t remember,” she said, standing on tiptoes to reach his lips. “Why don’t you remind me.”

He did so, but then he held onto her tightly, and sped off. When she recognized the familiar buzz of super-speeding, she opened her eyes . . . and it was pitch dark. “Uhh, hello?” she asked. “Where exactly are we?”

Clark laughed, his lips still on hers. “In Pete’s closet,” he said, whispering. “But I think his dad might be home, so we’ve got to be quiet.”

She whispered, “No problem.” And it definitely wasn’t a problem at all, they knew how to be VERY quiet when they needed to be. They’d had a lot of closet time over the summer, but nothing felt quite like the original one where they had both been hoping for their first kiss—and they more than made up for.

After another “make up” kiss on her aunt Nell’s porch, they were off to the windmill, where Clark also made up for another time he’d wanted so desperately to kiss her again, after his eventful seduction at the pool when Lana was influenced by the Nicodemus flower.

“All I kept thinking about was how much I wished it had been real,” Clark told her now, as they looked over the acres and acres of Smallville fields. “I’d been wanting to have that moment with you for so long—I mean not the red underwear part, well, okay maybe that part—but mostly the kiss . . . and then you couldn’t even remember it.”

Lana rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the fresh breeze cleanse her. “But, Clark, the flower only gave me the courage to do what I wanted to do,” she said. “Which proves that I’d been wanting that moment to happen for a long time as well.”

Clark smiled, tipping her head so their lips met, just as he’d hoped for that day. “Then I should’ve told you right then, that I was so madly in love with you that I couldn’t see straight,” he said. “And that it was a darn good thing that I didn’t have my heat-vision by then, or you would’ve been dodging fire beams as you strutted around on that diving board, trust me.”

“The question is, then, did you have your x-ray vision by that time?” she asked, squinting with mock accusation.

Clark laughed, and gave her another kiss. “Yes, but believe me, I didn’t need it.”

She backhanded his arm. “My one and only moment as an exhibitionist, and you were there for it! Nice.”

“Well, actually, I did have this dream once of skinny dipping with you at Crater Lake,” he said, his cheeks warm. Lately, he’d been surprised how easy it was to be entirely honest with her, even about things like this.

Lana giggled. “So, what would say if I told you I already knew that,” she said, gasping. “Sarah told me all about those dreams you had while she was entering them.”

“What?” Clark said, truly shocked—but knowing Sarah wouldn’t have told Lana about his powers. “When?”

“Umm, Clark,” she said. “Didn’t you notice how many times I visited her at the hospital?”

“Well, yes,” he said, “but . . . ” Clark didn’t even have a response for that. Lana had known for years that he was having dreams of skinny dipping with her . . . okay, that really WAS embarrassing.

He stepped off the windmill—hovering in the air. “So, as long as we’re trying to make up for lost opportunities, let’s uhh . . . head over to crater lake,” Clark said, trying to sound serious.

Lana gave a big sassy grin, and repeated the words that were once used as a hint that Sarah had already told her what she wanted to know. “Maybe in your dreams, Clark,” she said, then also stepped off the windmill, where he caught her and they hovered above the ground. “Anywhere else you want to take me, flyboy?”

Clark nodded with enthusiasm. “As long as you promise me a date to Crater Lake in the near future,” he said, hovering further away from the windmill.

She kissed his neck. “Haven’t I already told you that I want to make your dreams come true?” she said. “Even your wildest ones.”

Clark couldn’t even fly after that, and drifted down until he landed in the field, where they spent a lot more time than Clark planned for, but oh well. It was all about making this day special, and so far, it was the best day of his life.

Some of the most well-planned events get even better when spontaneity steps in.

Clark finally reached in his backpack—pulling out a pony-tail holder and handing it to Lana. She put it in, knowing what it was for. “Wow, you’ve thought of everything today, haven’t you?”

He smiled, and hoped she was right. “Okay, hold on,” Clark said. “I think my rockets are fired up again.”

He shot off into the sky, which was still filled with sunlight . . . but he’d figured something out the past couple of months while he practiced flying. If he stayed directly in line with the sun, its brightness hid him from onlookers below. Both Lana and his parents had promised him that. He wasn’t planning on day-flying on a regular basis, just in case, but this was a special occasion.

Clark had to be very careful about where he landed in Metropolis, so he’d avoid being thought of on radars as a plane. He stopped outside the city limits, then super-sped as close to his destination as he could without being seen by the busy crowd. When Lana looked around, she saw a familiar, and painful, site. They were at the airport.

She took the pony tail holder out, letting her wavy hair flow off her shoulders. Was he doing what she thought he was?

Clark took Lana’s hand and they started walking to the terminal that she had left for Paris from. Her eyes were already filling with tears by the time he told her, “Stay right here,” then walked across the road to where she had once seen him for only a brief moment with a white rose in his hand.

Lana blinked at the real Clark now, watching him standing there once more . . . with a white rose. Clark had lots of surprises for her in his backpack, she thought, then was taken up again in the moment from just over a year ago, when her heart felt like it would shatter. All she’d needed was for him to be there . . . and she would’ve gone back home with him.

Feeling the same lump in her throat, she watched as Clark walked across the road toward her. For a moment, she made a motion to set her luggage down . . . she was that caught up in the memory . . . of seeing what she so desperately wanted to see that fateful day.

Clark approached her with the rose, and she took it, unable to speak. “Lana, I’m so sorry I didn’t make it in time to pick you up,” he said, also feeling the pain in his gut that he felt for losing her in that dreadful moment. “But I’m here to ask you to come back home. Please don’t leave me. I am so in love with you, Lana, and I can’t live another moment without you at my side.”

“Neither can I,” Lana finally managed to say, wrapping her arms around him and crying into his chest.

They kissed several times, then hugged again . . . and then a loud applause broke out.

Clark and Lana glanced around, to find a crowd of cheering onlookers. “Way to go, man!” one guy said. “That’s the way to get your girl back!” An older woman came over and patted Lana on the back, whispering, “He’s a keeper.”

Clark was so high, he felt like dropping to his knee right then, but he hoped that he had something even better planned. He wondered, though, how anything could be better than what he was feeling . . . he knew that Lana, totally and completely, had forgiven him of everything he’d done to hurt her. And that was the best feeling he’d ever known. He could’ve chosen to take her dozens of other places to try to atone for everything he’d done, but right there at the airport, he knew it had been taken care of in one shot.

“I think this guy wants your autograph,” Lana said, laughing as another onlooker about their age gawked at the two of them in awe, then snapped a picture.

“Maybe another day,” he said, as they waved to the crowd and walked off. “I’ve got one more place to take you.”

“Clark, not that I don’t want to go,” she said, smelling her beautiful white rose. “But that airport scene was the most romantic moment of my life.”

“You don’t think I can top it, huh?” he asked, leading her around the corner, so they could super-speed away from their new fans.

Lana smiled. “I’ve learned that I should never doubt you again,” she said, wrapping her arms around him and holding on.

Clark once more ran to where he thought he could stay out of sight, then flew them back to Smallville. It was a long way to have gone to say something he’d pretty much said before, but the fact that he’d done it at the airport made the apology much more authentic for him. And he truly wanted to replace those old memories he had, with something that had been his intention all along when he went after her that day.

Lana was going home with him . . . where she belonged.

When they arrived in the cave, Lana laughed. “Oh, now you want me to work you over like Isobel once did, don’t you?” she said, having always imagined that the torture took place in the caves where she’d woken up.

“Yes, that would be nice, but that actually took place in the barn,” he said with a smile. “So we’ll save that for later. Right now, all I want you to do is put these on.” He reached into his backpack and took out her snow boots and winter jacket.”

She gasped. “No way!”

“Yep,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “Common, my little snow bunny, let’s go.”

KEEP READING . . . PART 3 OF 5

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CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 4 OF 5

Lana’s hands were shaking as she put on her boots and jacket. “Are you sure?” she asked. “Did Jor-El say I could come?”

Clark smiled, his insides ready to burst. “Yep, he said as long as I’m not in danger from an alien threat—so that I won’t hide my protector in the Fortress and run off without you, you can come with me from now on,” he answered.

She swallowed hard, both excited and nervous for the big moment, and Clark inserted the key into the cave wall. Clark held onto her tightly, which made her finally say, “I thought you told your parents that it wasn’t dangerous—is this going to hurt?”

He laughed. “No, but can’t a guy get a little action while he’s being space-warped?”

She locked her lips with his. “Darn straight he can.”

The swirling sensation Lana was expecting never came—she felt entirely comfortable. She only realized they were in the Fortress when a brilliant white light pressed against her eyes, and she opened them slowly.

Lana couldn’t speak for a full minute, taking in the beauty around her. It was like a castle made of ice—crystal pillars jetting out every which way. “Oh, my . . . Clark! You built this?” she asked.

“Well, kind of,” he said. “The first crystal—from the stones, did most of the work, then I just manipulated a few things here and there.” He walked her over to the bedroom he’d made, and tossed her onto the bed, which looked to be made of solid ice, but she easily sunk into it. “And after I learned some of the knowledge from the stones, I was able to make a lot more. Like this bed and the chamber over there . . . where I can talk to my biological parents.”

Lana’s eyes widened, and she shifted her attention to the chamber. “Both of them?” she asked. “Clark, are you saying that . . . ”

He nodded. “Yep, I met Lara last week,” he said, wanting to surprise her. “After Jor-El and I came to an understanding.”

Lana wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. “What KIND of understanding?”

He took her hand and led her toward the chamber, talking along the way. “The kind where I start giving him a few challenges, just like he’s given me over the past few years,” he said. “Let’s just say we have a relationship of mutual respect now—where we’re more like partners. I do things for him, and he does things for me.”

This could be really good news, Lana thought—but then again, this was Jor-El, so she couldn’t help but still have a little doubt. “Like what?”

“Well, I made an oath that I would continue to fight off the evil that threatens Earth,” he said. “And he allowed me to meet Lara—who was withheld from me before because Jor-El thought she wouldn’t be hard enough on me. And he was right—she’s the most soft spoken woman you could imagine—and so beautiful, just like my real mom.”

Martha and Jonathan were his REAL parents—they always would be.

“But, even before then, earlier in the summer,” Clark continued, “I gave Jor-El a task that he agreed to work on, but didn’t make any promises. He’s given up a few times, but I told him to try harder . . . and well, being the brilliant scientist that he is, he’s made a few modifications to me.”

Lana looked him over, knowing she’d have already noticed any changes. “What?”

Clark wanted to make a joke—like that his father had added the ability to finally dance decently, but instead, he gave into the warm sensation that was taking him over, and gripped her hands.

Lana’s face then reflected his sudden seriousness.

“Lana, do you remember how I told you that Kryptonians could alter genetics the way that they wanted them?” he said, to which she gave a slow nod. He let out a breath, then couldn’t help but smile. “Well, Jor-El had to stretch pretty far to do this, but he’s altered me so that all of my offspring will have human DNA—not Kryptonian.”

“Which means . . . ” she couldn’t even continue.

He nodded. “It means that we can have children together.”

She jumped right onto Clark, wrapping both her legs and arms around him, happier than he’d ever seen her—or she’d ever been.

“Okay, okay,” Clark laughed. “I didn’t mean right this second, but . . . ”

“I know,” she said, kissing him all over. “But I just can’t believe it . . . we were going to adopt, and I was fine with that . . . but this!” She choked up, imagining a mini-Clark toddling around their house—with a pretend Superman cape. Clark would be her children’s superhero in more than one way.

KEEP READING . . . PART 4 OF 5

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CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 5 OF 5


After they’d talked about every imaginable thing having to do with children, Clark wanted to show Lana something amazing that he’d found. He touched the outside of the chamber, and a screen lit up like a television set. The colors were like nothing Lana had ever seen, and he scanned through memories he’d found of other Kryptonians, blowing Lana away with the imagery of what Krypton looked like—what his parents looked like, and then she saw two familiar faces—Kal and Marg playing ball in the convent garden. Lana latched onto Clark as they watched the wonderful home movie. They viewed several more moments of their time together as father and daughter, then got to a part where Kal was writing a letter to Isa.

“Do you remember me saying that an ancestor of mine found some letters that inspired him to allow for more emotion in Kryptonian genetics?” Clark asked, and Lana nodded with a smile. “Do you want to read one of them?”

“Of course,” she said, anxiously watching as Clark found the particular image. And then they read the letter together.

My sweet Isa,
Each night when I lie in bed, I feel the warmth of you in my arms—my angel who was taken much too quickly from me. Never have I known such happiness before nor since you were in my life, but you have left behind the greatest of all treasures to remind me of your beautiful smile, your sparkling eyes. Our little Marg is growing so well, and so fast. She is just as curious as ever, and makes her Papa so very proud. She is every bit a lady as you are, petite and graceful. She gives me the breath that I lost that fateful night—she gives me the strength to go on. Yet not all the moments of joy in the universe combined could stop my heart from aching for you. I am forever yours, and you will always be mine. I love you, my dear Isa. Your loving husband, Kal.

Lana looked up to Clark, to find that he was looking at her as well. “True love really does last a lifetime,” Lana said.

“And beyond,” Clark added with a smile, then he took Lana’s hand and led her to a special place that he’d build just for the two of them—that he’d never allow anyone else to enter.

It was away from everything else in the Fortress—a place of solitude that held more peace than anywhere else on Earth. The gazebo-type room was enclosed from the outside elements—surrounded by ice windows—clear as any made of glass.

She stared out the windows in awe as she walked around the room, peering out over the vast white tundra—she was on top of the world, and it had very little to do with her location.

When she turned back around, Clark was making a snowball in his hand, blowing cold air onto it to increase its size—one new addition at a time. He stepped closer, and closer as he spoke.

“Lana, with every moment we’ve spent together, we’ve grown layer upon layer, into a couple that understands completely what gives the other breath,” Clark said, still rolling the snowball in his hands. “Every difficult experience has given us strength. We’ve never given up, we’ve never surrendered. And every moment of joy, has increased my love for you ten fold. When I lost you, I knew that if I was but half a man, I could go on, but what I discovered is that you are ALL of me—my very reason for living.”

Lana’s tears were coursing down her face, feeling as though she were already wrapped in his warm arms, the safest place she knew.

Clark was only inches from her now, bringing her hands up, and placing the snowball in them. She looked down at it, then back up to meet his eyes—also filled with tears. He smiled, then looked back to the snowball, gently using his heat vision to melt it.

Slowly water dripped through Lana’s fingers, leaving something that made her gasp—a diamond ring—sparkling just as brilliantly as the snow around her.

Clark went down to one knee, and took her now trembling hands. He made eye contact and said, “Lana, I love you more every day, and I can only imagine how very much that love will grow as the years pass,” he said, now smiling—just as she was. “Will you be my wife?”

Her first response was a cheerful sob, but then her legs couldn’t hold her up anymore, so she dropped to her knees, level with Clark. “Yes, I’ll be your wife,” she said, reaching out her hand as he slipped the ring on her finger. “And your honey, and sweetie, and baby, and whatever else you want to call me.”

They kissed for so long, that the ice windows started to fog up, and the ceiling started to drip on them. Clark took care of it with a little more cold air, then they went back to kissing again.

Eventually, they made it out to the main part of the Fortress, where the chamber was now lit up. “I think someone’s ready to meet you,” Clark said, carrying Lana in his arms, because he couldn’t handle the thought of letting go of her.

That night, Lana met both Lara and Jor-El, and they had a wonderful conversation. Jor-El was actually jovial, Clark thought, which was more than just a stretch for him.

In fact, he made an interesting suggestion at the end of their talk to show his support. He offered to unite them in a Kryptonian marriage ceremony, after their civil ceremony—which was considered binding throughout the universe, not just on Earth.

Both Clark and Lana were thrilled about his offer, and agreed right away. But then Lana had a better idea, which she whispered to Clark.

He looked up proudly, and said to Jor-El. “We’d like you to perform the ceremony tonight—right now, in fact.”

They’d save the civil ceremony for later.

After all, they were already in a very cool honeymoon suite.


THE END . . . NO, ACTUALLY . . . THE BEGINNING




THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading this story, everyone! You've really made the "non-Smallville Season" go so much faster for me :)

Click here to read an alternate ending to the Kal and Isa story :)

ALTERNATE ENDING FOR KAL AND ISOBEL (http://www.kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1713665#post1713665)

If you'd like to know when I start another fanfiction, email me at ajfinnfanfiction@yahoo.com (just click on that email link) or you can Private Message me through k-site.

I'll be posting author's notes tomorrow . . . with more fun snippets coming up here and there in the future . . .

[itsallinthespelling]

1

edit.
Aj, allow me to say that you have managed to touch mine along with everyone else’s lives this summer with this excellent fanfic of yours. Your story has been the refuge from the chaos and confusion we call life. Through hurricanes and wars, you have allowed us to forget the worries that consume our lives, if only for a moment, while we read your story, and for this I am grateful. I enjoyed watching this story ameliorate, though it was great from the beginning, and how your creativity is presented through the ingenious plot design and back story, and how you are now pulling it all together with the ending we have all been waiting for. You are one, if not the most talented and creative people on this site, and this can be seen by the length of this novella of yours, along with the praise and worship you have received from the loyal readers that you have turned into fans of yours, including myself(including the reservations of spots after your posts). I guess the point of this pleonastic (I love that word) is to say thanks. Thanks for sharing this story, thanks for putting the time, effort, research, and creativity you put into every one of your updates. Thanks, for taking time from your real life, to make our lives better.

(btw, streak up to, and is gonna end at 7)
(also, it takes alot to get me to leave long feedback like this, and so far you are one of the 2 that i have done this for. :D)

[Lana102]

thanks for the enthustatic(sp?) welcome everyone! :rotfl:
2nd!!!!!!!!
i loved it aj fantastic and what and ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LanasLover16]

3

OH
MY
GOD!!!!
that was like the most outstounding story i have ever read. at the end of reading it i was speachless! i could only hope that you right a sequil (sp?) to the beautifully written story. wow i hope they decide to change the story and go with this one!!! I LOVED it aj!! it was AMAZING!!!:eek:

[SpeedyKate91]

4
I loved the ending and the story in general!!! Thanks so much for writing it!!!
I have to say that this has to be like the best fanfic ever. I'm so sad it's over,but it was a great story and u are a great author. You have to write another fanfic!!!
Well at least we now have season 5 to look foward too.!!!!!!!!

[Superboy2]

Usually it's the kids who tell their parents that they want to get married, but this is still good. Can't wait to see what happens.

I'm still confused about buffering. You have to ask someone else to split it apart, right. Why can't someone do this by themselves, and not make it so long.

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by ajfinn
CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 2 OF 4

“Sounds like the girl’s got you in a golden lasso,” Clark said, truly happy for Lex. Maybe if he couldn’t save him, someone else could. “What’s her name?”

“Diana Prince,” he said.

Loved the first update. I will say that the cheese factor went up exponentially with this line. ;) Just what Lex needs, someone else that can make him tell the truth!

Can't wait for more!


*Finally finished reading, Cardinal does a seated happy Clana dance*

At my size, any kind of dance looks scary!

I may come back later with a more cogent analysis of what I'm feeling right now, but for now, suffice it to say, THANKS, AJ!

[Kal-El & Me]

Listen AJ. My mom is sending me off to bed so I'll have to finish this fic in the morning. But I know the ending is going to be just as good, if not better, than the other chapters. You literally had me dreaming about this fic at night and drifting off in classes just thinking about this fic. I literally can't wait to read the other parts.
I hope to see more CLANA fan fics from you in the future.
KAL-EL & ME;)

[Lana_Lang #1]

BUFFERING! It May Be Too Late But I Love Buffering When It Comes To This Story!

[LanasLover16]

haha a little late lana_lang #1

[HP_DRAGON]

This is great PPMS

[NYC300Z]

saves*

I just read parts 1-3 omg they were so awesome! So unbelievably good! All those moments so sweet! Really fantastic! When's part 4 coming??? I have to leave for NYC in about an hour maybe less! is the next part coming tonight?? oh please tell me yes!~!

[MOOman0618]

I can't speak...I can't believe all the wonderful Clana...and there is still more to come! I will definitely be posting more later.


I have no idea what you are talking about Cardinal. :p :D :cool:

[Cardinal]

Dang it, MOOman! We've talked about this before. :rolleyes:

De finite ly, that's how it's spelled. :D

Jeez, ask a guy to spell one word correctly... ;)

--------------------

CHEATER!!!!! :lol:

[midnite_spark]

::sings:: Clark and Lana are going to get married...married...married...clark and lana are going to get married...hooray for all the clana fans!

Lana finally gets to see FoS woot woot!!!!!!

[Lana102]

LOL

[ClarksGirl21]

aww... only 1 post left :( ..
I can't wait though!

[SunniLvsSV]

Oh My God! That was SOOOOO romantic! How sweet! Those words at the airport...her falling asleep in his arms on the couch...his parents pushing him on! I think I'm gonna EXPLODE, I'm SO happy!!! :D :rotfl:

[Superboy2]

Hey AJ, I'm loving where this story is going, but if you still need a real man to give you a back rub and a foot rub, let me know(LOL) Good luck with Part 4. PPMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SmallvilleMan]

So uh, did something happen well I was gone?:D ;)

[Superboy2]

I wonder if AJ thinks I'm funny or not. Or if anybody else does.

[itsallinthespelling]

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
So uh, did something happen well I was gone?:D ;)

yes, WHILE you were gone, she did update. :p

[SmallvilleMan]

hey don't you forget, the funny will come back and when it does. YOU ARE NUMBER 1 ON THE LIST;)

[NYC300Z]

Did Aj give any indication when part 4 would be posted??

[Superboy2]

I thought she said a few hours or one hour after part 3 was posted. Could be wrong though. Are you talking to me SmallvilleMan?

[ajfinn]

Okay, guys it's ALL posted . . . all 5 parts :D

I'll post some author's notes tomorrow! Hope you like the finale :D :D It's been a very fun ride!!

[Superboy2]

You know I was joking, right AJ?

[itsallinthespelling]

oh my god that was wonderful. the end, or the beginning. is that a prelude to some future plans??? i hope so. loved this amazing story, though i think i may have said that before. thanks once again.

[binkys711]

I'm here! finally! I tried my best to be here but i couldn't:(*looks at scratch marks on door*...at least i'm here now:\...ok I'm gonna read it now....

[NYC300Z]

I just read the fourth and fifth parts! So amazing! the way Clark proposed...Jor-el taking to so kindly to them! A binding ceremony recognized throughout the universe! How cool is that! amazing amazing uterrly amazing I can't express in words how much I loved your update! I was actually tearing up right along with them when Clark proposed! now I have about ten minutes before I have to head out! Thanks so much for posting before I left! Big ups to the amazing fan fic writer AJ!:D:D:D

[HP_DRAGON]

That was wonderful i loved it this is my favorite story you did a great job

[Superboy2]

I have a question. In part 4, it says “Lana, do you remember how I told you that Kryptonians could alter genetics the way that they wanted them?” he said, to which she gave a slow nod. He let out a breath, then couldn’t help but smile. “Well, Jor-El had to stretch pretty far to do this, but he’s altered me so that all of my offspring will have human DNA—not Kryptonian.”

“Which means . . . ” she couldn’t even continue.

He nodded. “It means that we can have children together.”
Does this mean that there children will not have any superpowers, or that they have both DNA. Just wondering. You did a great job AJ. I wish my story could be as good as yours. And you did it without my back rub(LOL) Good luck in future stories. I hope there is a sequel.

[Ketchup]

lalala catching up

[Superboy2]

If you want to do more catching up, you should read my story what you haven't read yet. I will be posting Chapter 18 on Wednesday, around 4:00 my time. Did you read the ending of AJ's story, Ketchup? I thought it was great.

(Hoping for a sequel)

[Ketchup]

nope, im still on part like 73 or something
and im not really paying attention cuz im writing my story at the same time lol

[Superboy2]

Ok, whenever you get a chance man.

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Superboy2
You know I was joking, right AJ?

Yes, darn . . . but I thought I was getting picked up by a MUCH younger guy than me. My husband didn't find it half as funny as me though, ha ha :lol: Just kidding.

And yes, Superboy2, it means that Clark and Lana can have children together, but that they'll be human -- without powers, because as the fic explains, their DNA otherwise could create unknowable results--which Clark wasn't willing to risk. They could have monstrous powers, with no ability to control them, or without a conscious to care. Clark has enough to worry about, don't you think?

But, I suspect Jor-El will toss in a bit of Kryptonian health, which would be great for any child to have. :D

And, WHOA, won't those Clana babies be gorgeous!?!!?

[Ketchup]

yeah, to the few who are wondering, the date didnt go to well so im home early. not cuz she hates me or anyhting, her brother just got in a wreck so i stayed with her at the hospital for a while until her parents got there and the doctors assured her that the guy shud be alright. he'll prolly be out in a few days, so its cool.

[Superboy2]

Sorry to hear that Ketchup. At least you had a date. I was suppose to have one two days ago my time. BTW, if you ask someone out, she says yes, and later on you find out she has a bf, is she a *****. Cause now I find myself hitting on women who are great writers and are married. Next time I hit on a girl, I'll make sure she's single first. God do I have bad luck this week.

[MOOman0618]

Wow...I will not try to be as eloquent as itsallinthespelling, but what he said was true. I enjoyed reading your story so much. As so many of the people who post here, your story is the reason that we started to post in the first place. That ending was so beautiful, I was so happy that Lana got to go to the Fortress of Solitude. And what more special place to propose? I don’t think many people could compete with that! And how great that they can have babies now! If every the new season gets me down, I know I have a refuge to come to and pretend that this is what is actually happening.

[Shadowknight]

Aj, firstly I Have to say what a wonderful writer you are. You have a way of saying things in your works that are truely touching. I see a great future for you in writing.

Secondly, I have to say WOW!!! What an AWESOME story. I Loved it. My all time favorite fic ever. I loved the ending, and I am sad to see it go.

And Lastly, I just want to say: Thank you you sharing your wonderful story with us. You truely are a gifted writer

[binkys711]

OMG aj! you've blown us away with your incredible writting.....that ending was so perfect! An incredible ending to an incredible story I must say. I'm so happy Lana finally got to see the FOS. And that airport scene always broke my heart, now that you have fixed it it won't feel as bad cause i'll always remember your amazing story. And I'm exstatic that they can have beautiful clana babies together. A lifetime of happy memories will come to this clana marriage. That proposal was divine, amazingly sweet and very romantic by Clark. Mr. Olsen must be gitty as a school girl right about now :lol:. Your an amazing writter aj! your story will go down in clana fic history I can tell ya that, just look at all who have read it and will continue to read it! This just proves how trully talented you are and more.

YOUR THE BOMB AJ!:D:D:D

and sorry Superboy & Ketchup for your dates:\ better luck next time!

[Superboy2]

Can we get back on topic? I'm hoping for a sequel. And no mobs.
Anyways, how is everyone otherwise?

[binkys711]

sleepy.....
tired......
excited about the premiere...
aggravated about going to school tomorrow...
sleepy....
tired.....
worried cause I told my mom I was doing my HW so i could read your update aj, and now it's 10:40 pm and i haven't done my stupid HW.....
sleepy...
tired.....
in need of more clana....
sleepy....
tired...

:p

and I also hope for a sequel aj!

[Superboy2]

10:40, what r u complaining about? It's 6:45 a.m. here. I have to wake up at 5:40. I didn't do my homework. Thanks for the reminder binkys711(LOL)

[ajfinn]

Okay, let's move ALL chat to the Clana clubhouse. Thanks!

I'll post my author's notes tomorrow :D

[SVsleuth]

Some favorite lines:
Part 1:

As long as it was big enough for a narrow hallway, a large closet, and a bedroom, Clark and Lana would be perfectly happy.:lol:

Part 2

So much for using their large closet for entertainment—they’d need that one, and four others just to hang her wardrobe. But maybe Lana’s love for closet action would inspire her to downsize, and give some to charity. A man could only hope.:lol: :lol:

Part 3

“Where exactly are we?”

Clark laughed, his lips still on hers. “In Pete’s closet,” he said, whispering. “But I think his dad might be home, so we’ve got to be quiet.”

She whispered, “No problem.” And it definitely wasn’t a problem at all, they knew how to be VERY quiet when they needed to be. They’d had a lot of closet time over the summer, but nothing felt quite like the original one where they had both been hoping for their first kiss—and they more than made up for.

After another “make up” kiss on her aunt Nell’s porch, they were off to the windmill, where Clark also made up for another time he’d wanted so desperately to kiss her again, after his eventful seduction at the pool when Lana was influenced by the Nicodemus flower. ::sweet::

....
And there was SO much to love in parts 4 & 5, I wouldn't know whre to begin to quote.,
AJ, you know this was the first fic I got hooked on & the one that inspired me to try my hand at it as well. It's the only one I've kept up on during all this hurricane mess. I love how you fixed so many of the angst moments from Clark & Lana's past.
And I guess great minds think alike on certain topics - I'll have to tell you privately about the similarities in your story to those I had planned for one of mine. At the pace I'm writing, though, who knows if I'll EVER get to my intended finale! I'm glad I got to enjoy yours.
Well, it's now 2 a.m. on the morning after I drove 6 hours back home from Birmingham after taking another trip there to avoid RITA - & here I am, reading your awesome finale & posting this for you. See how much you are loved! :)
Talk to you soon. Keep up the great writing. :):):):):):):):):):)

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Just what Lex needs, someone else that can make him tell the truth!

So far, Cardinal, you're the only one to have caught onto who Lex's new girlfriend is . . .

Anyone else know? There's like 5 BIG hints in there, including her "real" name.

[Cardinal]

Like I said somewhere else, the background music for this post is "The End" by the Doors.

Wow. What a wild ride we've been on. From post-meteor shower Clana in Lana's apartment right through some righteous snugglebunnies in the Arctic.

I think you married off, or were on the verge of marrying off, more people than Dr. Sun Yung Moon. :D

Clark and Lana will be forever grateful.

I Wonder if Lex's new romance will be as ill-fated as his others? What will 'she who must not be named' do as a German hausfrau?

Will Jonathon and Clark go into the construction business together since Jonathon's obviously the most incompetent farmer in history (anyone that gets as much help from Clark as he does with out making a profit has no business farming)?

Will Lana make Clark dress up as Superman so they can play their own version of Cops & Robbers?

These and a plethora of other equally asinine questions will, perforce, have to go unanswered, because, as Jim Morrison sang, "This is the end."

I'm so sad. :(


PS Did I give too big of a hint? I thought it was a capital idea! :lol:


Originally posted by ajfinn
CONTINUED FROM ABOVE . . . PART 2 OF 5

“She seems like a wonderful woman,” Clark said,

I can't believe I missed this piece of cheese the first time through. :rolleyes:

Arrrggggh! :p

[kewl]

just caught up with the finale, and wow 5 parts!!!!! brilliant, so brillianty written!!!! thanks for sharing such an awesome story AJ!!!! :D

[Mythos]

Gosh......

What a BEAUTIFUL ending to a BEAUTIFUL story! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

And what amazing CLANA! :D:D:D
Exactly what we'd want for our caped flyboy!

And LOL Lex! I wonder if he will get as obsessed with that woman's secret as he was with Clark ;)! After all, she's not in a league of her own.

(ok that was bad, but I couldn't resist! :D)

Great job and wonderful story! Thank you for your time and work and above all, patience with all of us demanding fans!

When you started your story I was drawn to it because of your concept of Clark and Lana sharing what they could never share in the real world, for a given value of real. I kept reading however because of your unique portrayal of the characters and the way they changed throughout the story.

Very well done indeed! :D

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by ajfinn
So far, Cardinal, you're the only one to have caught onto who Lex's new girlfriend is . . .

Anyone else know? There's like 5 BIG hints in there, including her "real" name.

When I first read her name I was like...hmm I have heard that before. But it was late at night and my brain had gone to sleep a while ago and not until I just ready Cardinal's comment did it click. Nice job with that. Maybe a strong woman can keep Lex in line.



Originally posted by
Cardinal Will Lana make Clark dress up as Superman so they can play their own version of Cops & Robbers?

Wow...

just wow

[Lana_Lang #1]

Diana Prince

A lasso

a wondeful woman

very fascinating


DUH IT'S WONDER WOMAN!!!


awww some story!!!

[SmallvilleMan]

So ah, what's going on?;)

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Lana_Lang #1
DUH IT'S WONDER WOMAN!!! awww some story!!!

BINGO :) They were such cheesy clues that I thought tons of people would catch on, but oh, well :D

I threw that in just for the comic book fans. Also, I put in a few more hints there . . . that she was the speaker at a leadership lecture (in some versions, she lectures on leadership and business tactics--something Lex would be going to), that she made Lex's world "spin" and that Clark was guaranteed to meet her. Also, technically, she is in Lex's life for a very long time, since Superman and Wonder Woman are partners, and Clark and Lex are lifetime enemies.

Ahhhh . . . well, at least Lex has someone else to investigate now. Poor girl.

[Lana_Lang #1]

RUN DIANA! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!


*comes out of the closet, with a flushed face.

*Thinking about the closet...that was fun...

*Goes back into the closet with Clark for more fun...

*Clark from behind the door "Hmmm you're wearing the black outfit huh?"

....

[Kal-El & Me]

O MY God O MY God O My God O my God let me just wait a few hours to get my head in place before I shower you with compliments.

[NYC300Z]

Yeah I knew it was Wonder Woman the fist time through but after reading the rest of the story I didn't think about that! I was so caught up with what was going on Clark proposing!:D

[Superboy2]

So, the ring is made from Kryptonian ice? It took me a while to ask, I was trying to figure it out.

[linn]

im speechless.....i think im gonna cry cause this story is over already.....Loved The Story Very Much...!!!,,,,hOPE U WRITE ANOTHER FIC AjFinn.!!!!!!!!

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Superboy2
So, the ring is made from Kryptonian ice? It took me a while to ask, I was trying to figure it out.

No, he told Jonathan that he bought it in Smallville after Lana picked it out. He just had it in his pocket, then built the snowball around it to hide it when Lana was looking out of the gazebo windows. So, when he melted the snowball, the ring was there in her hands :)

[midnite_spark]

awww aj this is such a bittersweet ending.....

it was...i was....u're such...i'm at a lost for words...

i'm going to miss this fanfic sooo much!

but of course i'm not gonna miss u that much...since u're going to keep on writing....and writing....and writing...:D

oh wow..i can't believe this story has come to a end already...or rather...beginning as u would put it.;)

u're such an awesome writer aj, i hope u never stop :)

[ajfinn]

ajfinn’s author’s notes . . .

First of all, thank you so much for reading this story of mine. Your kind words, excitement, and encouragement have meant more to me than I can find words for. Cliché, I know, but it’s true. I’ve been writing novels for the past few years, but have never tried to get them published because it’s just a really difficult market to break into . . . so I’ve been a chicken about submitting the manuscripts. But you have all made me realize that if I really work hard to get the novels ready for submission, that people may just like my stories. So thank you for giving me that courage!! I’m going to print out everyone’s comments, and read them whenever I’m feeling discouraged about my writing. You guys are all awesome!

If you’d like to know when I start a new fanfiction, please email me at ajfinnfanfiction@yahoo.com (just click on that email link and send the message – you don’t need to write anything) or send me a PM through k-site.

I’ll be finishing my 3 part slapstick fanfic, The Wizard of El, very soon. The first part of that story can be found on the Slapstick thread on the Clark & Lana board.

As time goes on, I’ll be posting little parodies for this story, here on this same thread. Who knows, maybe I’ll even write the civil wedding scene . . . maybe even their honeymoon (since Mr. Olsen is picking up the tab, they’re going to France, just so you know, not to Paris . . . but to where Kal and Isa spent their days together).

Most likely, I’ll post some deleted scenes, interview some of the characters, post bloopers, and explain the process of writing this . . . and how some of my ideas were changed to influence a totally new direction for the fic. For instance, Mr. Olsen only appeared at first, because I thought, well dang . . . these guys don’t have any food! But then I thought . . . ohhhh, Mr. Olsen has money, so he can sponsor this whole event . . . and then he took on a whole new personality of his own. And Kal and Isa were originally going to have about five short scenes together before Isa died. There’s a whole bunch of stuff like that.

Anyway, that’s what I’m planning to do, so keep checking the thread for additions. And if you re-read the fic, like many have told me they’re doing, continue to post your comments if you wish . . . and for heaven’s sake, PM me with type-os (I know there’s a ton of them) or anything else I messed up! I’d appreciate that!

Thanks, everyone! See you around! Here’s hoping to a great year of season 5 Clana!!!

[Superboy2]

AJ, I just sent you an email. Good luck writing.

[mcgairman]

:) That was a SPECTACULAR ending. I really enjoyed it. Please do write more. I'll read Clana from you ANY DAY!!

:cool:

[Lana102]

how much do you whant to bet that this thread will continue to go in #s of pages when you have finished this story! we love it that much!!!!!!!!!!!!