Clana - How "This Time" Will be Different (PG-13) [Archive] - Page 2

ajfinn

07-04-2005, 01:15 AM

Part 23: (Happy 4th of July — here’s some fireworks for you!)

Lana’s insides flipped over. She was glad she didn’t have to be the one to ask Clark about his connection to her parent’s death—that he’d decided to tell her himself, but she dreaded the thought of him having to explain it. She was certain it would tear him apart. She’d been thinking about the possibilities for the past few hours, ever since Martha dropped the bombshell. But she was glad she had. It gave Lana a chance to mull through everything and she had come up with only one conclusion. “Clark, I think I know what you’re about to tell me,” she said, putting her hands on his face. “And I know that you came to earth in the first meteor shower—but that doesn’t mean that my parents’ death is your fault.”

Clark’s face went white—all blood draining from it. “It doesn’t?” he asked, gaping at her. “How did you—”

She didn’t want to get Martha into trouble, so she only admitted to how she came to the conclusion after Martha’s slip. “It was a matter of deduction. Since I witnessed a spaceship coming to earth in a meteor shower just a few days ago,” she said, “I’m assuming you arrived in a similar way. So when I started doing the math of when you were adopted, and when the first meteors came—everything made sense. That’s the only way either ship could have gone unnoticed.”

Clark nodded, but didn’t feel any better about it. “But, Lana, what I think you may have missed is that the meteor shower that I arrived in was purposely sent to Smallville,” he said. “Jor-el—sent the shower so he could mask my arrival. He’d been here before and planned it out carefully—not only because of the location of the cave, but because he wanted someone in the Kent family to raise me.” In response to her wide, confused eyes, Clark felt he had to continue. “I don’t think he was awful enough to purposely kill people with the meteors, but that’s exactly what he did! How can you forgive me for that?”

Lana hadn’t considered all of this, but she knew one thing for certain. “Clark, whether or not your biological father is the reason my parents are dead, it was not YOUR fault,” she said, trying to keep his tearing eyes from darting away. “You were only a child. You had nothing to do with my parents’ death.” She could see that she wasn’t getting through to him. “If you expect me to forgive myself for what Isobel did while she was in my body, then you should forgive yourself as well. Neither of us could have prevented the lives that were lost—the damage caused by Isobel and Jor-el were because of THEIR choices, not OURS.”

“I’m so sorry, Lana,” Clark said bringing her against him and holding on as he never had before. “I wish I could bring your parents back. I’d do anything to change what happened.”

“I know you would,” Lana said. “And that’s all that matters to me. YOU are all that matters to me.”

After a time, they both calmed and looked out to see the red and orange hues of the sun fading, the crest of the yellow ball barely peeking over the horizon. “The next time we see the sun, Clark, it will be a new day,” Lana said, kissing him tenderly. “And every secret we’ve ever withheld from one another will be left behind.”

Clark gave a warm smile, melting inside. “Well, not EVERY secret. You still don’t know the reason I begged my dad for his telescope.”

Lana moved her face along the side of Clark’s neck, taking in the delicious smell of him. “Yes, I do,” she said, breathless. “But you don’t know about my secret stash of love letters I’ve written to you over the years—hidden between my mattresses.”

“Are you serious?” Clark asked with bulging eyes and an even wider grin.

Lana threw her hand over her mouth when Clark super-sped out of the barn. “I can’t believe I said that!” She’d have to get used to the fact that Clark’s new found confidence with her left the door wide open to embarrassment. He’d have never done this before.

In less than thirty seconds, Clark was back with both his hands and pockets stuffed with folded pieces of paper. “Sorry, I think I dropped some along the way.”

Lana shrieked and started grabbing what she could from him. “Great! Now I’ll be the gossip of every passerby in Smallville.”

“I thought you didn’t care what other people thought of us?” Clark asked, teasing her with the notes as he tried to read them.

“Well, I surely don’t want anyone finding scattered letters around town that GUSH with my feelings for you,” she said. “And I don’t want YOU reading them either—there’s nothing you don’t already know—give them back!”

They were in a mock-struggle for the next few minutes, love letters covering the floor all around them, until they both settled beside the couch and Lana gave up. “I’ll let you read ONE of them, and that’s all!” she said, gesturing to the mess. “You choose.”

Clark lit up, thrilled that he’d tricked her into it. He wouldn’t have read any without her permission, but it obviously paid off that she believed otherwise. Scanning over the notes, decorated with all sorts of flirtatious sayings and hearts, he selected one that looked to be an older one—wrinkled and worn. “How about this one?” he asked.

Lana put both hands over her face. “Dang! Why did you have to pick THAT one? I’m never going to live this down.”

4EverSmallville

07-04-2005, 01:20 AM

Oh, now what's in this little mystery letter? I can't wait to find out.

Ketchup

07-04-2005, 01:27 AM

Woah Lana seems to be taking everythign very easily... and thats good of course =) PPMS

kewl

07-04-2005, 01:59 AM

WOW!!!! great update!!! i wonder what lana's jotted down in that letter for clark... gosh i just can't wait!!!
Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

oh and thanks for the fireworks ajfinn :D

ClanaLover

07-04-2005, 07:20 AM

Wow, the one Lana didn't want him to read he picked...I liked the fireworks too ;)
Happy 4th of July everybody!

yojimbo

07-04-2005, 09:32 AM

nice update hapy 4 of july.

binkys711

07-04-2005, 11:06 AM

YAY!!!AWWW HOW SWEET!!! I LOVE THIS STORY!!! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT IT SAYS!!!PPMS!!!

BTW happy 4 of july!!!:D:D:D;)

LoisNClark

07-04-2005, 11:19 AM

really nice update
can't wait to find out what the letter says
happy 4th

writer93

07-04-2005, 02:02 PM

HAPPY 4TH!!!!!!!!!!!

Kal-El & Me

07-04-2005, 04:19 PM

I giggled in my head as I read this.
HAPPY 4th TO ALL!!!

Shadowknight

07-04-2005, 08:21 PM

PPMs soon! i love this story!

Ketchup

07-05-2005, 12:35 AM

No update? =( I cant wait to read the next part.

ajfinn

07-05-2005, 01:17 AM

Part 24:

Clark was quite proud of himself for his perfect pick of love letters. From what he could see of Lana’s face, it was already beet red. This was going to be fun. “All right, here we go,” Clark said, looking at the outside of the paper that said his name with hearts around it. He opened the letter, and read Lana’s writing that seemed to be from grade school, “Dear Clark, I like you a lot. You are sooooooo cute. Do you like me back? I wish you would hold my hand and ask me to go steady with you. Love, Lana Lang – your neighbor.”

Lana expected to hear hysterical laughter, but she looked up to see Clark silently reading it again—and then he reached over and held her hand.

“Yes, I definitely like you back—Lana Lang, my neighbor,” he said, looking to her with a much more serious expression than she expected. “Why didn’t you ever give these to me?”

“Because I didn’t have a clue that you felt the way you did,” Lana said, leaning against his shoulder. “It’s not like you were the most flirtatious of guys.”

“Yeah, like there was ever any room for me to flirt with you, even if I’d had the nerve,” Clark said. “You had too many admirers as it was.”

“But did you know that you were the only one I was interested in until the summer before high school—when I’d pretty much decided that you weren’t the slightest bit interested in me?” Lana asked, feeling a strange sense of rejection all over again.

Clark gave her a look of utter disbelief—Whitney was a rebound off of him? He couldn’t believe it! “You even liked me in Jr. High?” he asked. “I was a total geek.”

Lana smiled. “I didn’t think so,” she said, looking through the pile of letters and picking one out. “See for yourself.”

This was better than Christmas morning, Clark decided. He opened up the note, the handwriting having matured a bit now—but still, the paper had hearts all over it. “Clark, I think you’re really cool. We should hang out sometime. Do you want to go riding with me on Saturday? I hope so. Call me-k? Lana.”

“This is crazy, Lana,” he said. “What gave you the idea that I wasn’t interested in you?”

Lana gave a faint smile. “Let me see if I can find a letter that explains that,” she said, sifting through the papers again. She opened a few up, then found the perfect one. “Here.”

Clark took the note and started to read. “Clark, I don’t get you. Why do you always walk off when I try to talk to you? It’s like you can’t stand me or something. What did I do to make you so mad? I wish you would tell me. I feel so stupid. Lana.”

“I cried a river the night I wrote that,” Lana said. “I swore you off for good—well, until the next week, when I caught you staring at me with a cute smile on your face. And then, I was completely head over heels again.”

Clark figured these last two letters were from Jr. High. “You now know why I ran from you, right?” he asked. “I mean, I didn’t figure out for years why I got so sick around you—but it was your necklace.”

Lana’s eyes at last glimmered understanding. “You mean, all that time you thought it was because you were nervous?”

Clark nodded. “Well, you still do that to me, you know. With or without your necklace.”

“And you still turn me inside out with your cute smile,” Lana said. “No matter how many times I’ve sworn you off.”

Clark kissed her, and they were both glad they were beyond hand holding now. Pulling back with a smirk he said, “Lana, I know I’m about ten years late, but will you go steady with me?”

Lana laughed, kissing him even more. “Yes, I’ll to go steady with you. Even if you are a geek.”

“So now that we’re an official couple, can I have free reign on the letters?” Clark asked with a hopeful grin. “I’ll let you read some of my journal.”

“Your journal?” Lana said, perking up. “You can read every one of them, if I can read your JOURNAL!”

Clark nearly flew to the roof—literally. “It’s a deal,” he said, feeling kind of guilty by the time he pulled his journal from a drawer and gave it to her. He’d only written about twenty pages since he was a kid—nothing compared to Lana’s collection, but most of it was about her.

Lana sat back against the couch and started with page one, nervous about what note Clark would find next. She read, “Today I played with Lana. We caught grasshoppers in the field. First Lana screamed but then she held one and liked it. Until it jumped in her face and then she screamed again. It was funny. I like her. She is kinda cute. But she is a girl, so that is gross.”

“Sorry to break your heart, Clark, but I’m still a girl,” Lana said. “So I suppose that still qualifies me as gross.”

“Uhh, definitely not. I grew out of that mindset pretty quickly,” he said. “But I bet you’d still scream if I put a grasshopper in your hands.”

“You’re probably right,” she said. “Now, let’s see what journal entry number two brings.” She moved down the page to discover that he’d skipped a few years. “Dad says I have to be more careful in sports or I can’t play anymore. It’s not my fault that I’m so strong. I can’t help it. When I try to be careful, I look like I’m a wimp. Pete told me I hit the baseball like a girl today and I wanted to punch him in the face, but I knew I couldn’t. I wish I was like the other guys. I hate being a freak.”

In response to Lana’s watery eyes, Clark said. “I forgot that was in there.” He glanced down the page to see more entries like that one, then turned the page. “Why don’t you start over here?”

Lana turned the page back. “Clark, if it’s okay, I’d really like to read it. It’s important for me to understand what you’ve gone through—it’s part of who you are,” she said.

Clark held his breath for a second, then nodded. “Okay, but I don’t want you feeling sorry for me. It’s embarrassing.”

“Oh, and these love letters of mine aren’t embarrassing?” she asked. “Just ignore me and be as nosy as you want.”

He smiled at last and picked up another note—with no hearts this time—and clearly from a more mature high school Lana. As Lana continued with his journal, he silently read: “Dear Clark, I wish so much that we could get past the point we’re at right now. Tonight I broke up with Whitney—for good. In my video message to him, I said it didn’t have anything to do with you, but I lied. It has everything to do with you, I just didn’t want you feeling guilty for breaking your promise to Whitney. You seem to feel guilty about everything lately, and I wish I knew why. The truth is, that I’ve been in love with you as long as I can remember, and I don’t want to hide that any longer. But every time I try to get closer to you, you run away—emotionally at least. I know you’re afraid of hurting Chloe, and I am as well, but we can’t risk our own happiness for the sake of others. I’m sorry I always bother you about sharing your secrets with me, but the more you protect them, the more curious I get. How can I help it? Sometimes such crazy things come into my head about what you’re hiding that I can’t help but be scared. How horrible can it be, and why don’t you trust me? Are you dying from an incurable disease? I hope not! Were you affected by the meteor shower—because if you were, it’s okay, it wouldn’t change how I feel about you. Beyond those possibilities, everything else seems completely impossible. Clark, I don’t want our chance of a future together to be held up by your secret—but it’s the lies that eat at me. If you could just say, ‘I wasn’t there for you because something came up that I had to take care of,’ rather than what you usually seem to pull from the oblivion of space, I could handle it better. Please, please, don’t lie to me anymore. I don’t know how I can go on like this when all I want is to be with you, in your arms, where I’ve always wanted to be. Will you please give me that chance? With all my love, Lana.”

When Clark looked up, he found Lana staring at him. “That was you?” she asked.

“Was what me?” he asked, looking to the pages of his journal.

“It says here that you dreamed you were floating above my bed,” Lana said. “But, Clark, I don’t think you were dreaming—or we were having the same dream.”

“What do you mean?” Clark asked, taken off guard and still trying to get the tightness out of his throat from reading her letter.

“For years I’d wake to see—what I thought was someone hovering above me,” Lana said. “Of course, Nell told me I was having nightmares, but I knew that wasn’t true, because when it happened—I was never afraid. I always had a feeling of peace, and protection—the same feeling I have whenever I’m with you.”

Clark knew she had to be right—it wasn’t the first time he thought he was dreaming of flying, only to find out he wasn’t dreaming at all. Just as Clark was going in for a desperate kiss—all the lights in the barn went out—leaving them in a dark sea of black.

A booming voice echoed up to the loft. “I’m curious, Lana—can witches fight someone they can’t see?”

Lana gripped Clark’s shirt, whispering in a panic. “Clark, I can’t move anything unless I concentrate on it.”

Clark jumped up—taking Lana with him, and scanned the barn with his x-ray vision. Lex was racing toward the loft—his body laden with meteor rocks.

***Okay, everyone . . . I have to fess up! I’ve been posting every day so you won’t be mad at me when I tell you this—I’m leaving for the Bahamas in the morning until July 14th. IF I can get a good internet connection from there, I’ll keep posting, so keep checking for updates. But if not, I’ll write enough while I’m there to give daily posts when I return. Thanks for being such cool Clana buddies! You give me hope that there’s plenty of fans out there that still want the Clana as much as I do!! Sorry to leave you on such a cliffhanger!

Mythos

07-05-2005, 04:01 AM

As with every update of this story, it keeps getting better and better! CLANA FOREVER!:D :D :D

Happy Holiday and good luck with the updates ;)

LoisNClark

07-05-2005, 06:58 AM

That was an awesome update. I love the journal and note reading.
Have a great vacation and i'll be waiting for more updates

kewl

07-05-2005, 07:59 AM

what another cliffy??? but it was really a great update!!! GO CLANA!!!! :D :D
i do hope u can find a good internet connection over at the bahamas but if not, just make sure u give us a double foot long update when u get back :D enjoy ur vacation!

binkys711

07-05-2005, 08:59 AM

YEAH WHAT kewl SAID!!!;)CLANA ROCKS!!!:D

HOPE YA HAVE FUN ON VACATION!!!:p

Ketchup

07-05-2005, 10:00 AM

Woah this is awesome =) Have fun on ur vacation!

4EverSmallville

07-05-2005, 12:29 PM

You did it again! :lol: That was adorable and then wham! Well, I really liked the part of Clark's journal where he mentions wanting to be like the other guys, nice detail.

Have an awesome time on vacation while the rest of us are suspended in mid air over the largest cliff yet :lol:. I'll be looking for those updates upon your return ;).

avidreader

07-05-2005, 02:44 PM

That was too gorgeous. Loved that one.

Lex laced with meteors, eek I hate to think.

The Bahamas, I wish! Have a good trip.

Shadowknight

07-05-2005, 02:59 PM

PPMS....wait vacation? krap have fun on it but PLEASE could you maybe make one more before you leave? this is the best story!

ClanaLover

07-05-2005, 03:49 PM

Great update PPMASAP

CK726

07-05-2005, 04:38 PM

great update, whats up with Lex hes always after Clark now

booze_is_me09

07-05-2005, 06:15 PM

sweet. i can't wait & see what happens.

CLANA FOREVER AND ALWAYS!!!!!!

NYC300Z

07-06-2005, 12:19 AM

Really Great Update loved every minute of it!! I had to keep re-reading it, it was just so good!! Have a fun time in the Bahamas and don't forget us when u come back!!!

ajfinn

07-07-2005, 12:13 PM

Yahoo!! I have a good connection - so I'll be posting a few updates while I'm here. The first one will be either today or tomorrow :)

kewl

07-07-2005, 12:29 PM

do it today!!!!! PLEASEEEEE??? :D

peaches4cream

07-07-2005, 12:56 PM

today

binkys711

07-07-2005, 12:57 PM

TTOOODDAYYY!!!THANK GOD FOR NET ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!:D:D:D

Ketchup

07-07-2005, 01:19 PM

Today or I kill ya BWAHAHAHAA poison you with my ketchup. :D

binkys711

07-07-2005, 02:56 PM

HAHAHA!!!^^^^^ don't do it ketchup! or we'll never hear what happens next!!!:(

Ketchup

07-07-2005, 03:03 PM

Good point, I guess Ill just make him post it at gunpoint :p

binkys711

07-07-2005, 03:45 PM

YAY!!!I WANTED TO POST HERE FOR MY 2000th POST!!!! AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.....this story is so awesome, your doing an extremely great job on it and i want ya to PPMS!!!ok;)

-binkys:D

Kal-El & Me

07-07-2005, 03:53 PM

Yay!!! I'll be waiting for your post

booze_is_me09

07-07-2005, 05:40 PM

awesome!! i can barely wait!!!

mcgairman

07-07-2005, 05:46 PM

Been reading this one for a while. It's very good. Keep it up.

ajfinn

07-07-2005, 06:22 PM

Part 25:

There wasn’t time to test Lana’s ability to manipulate someone she couldn’t see, and Lex was now storming up the stairs. Clark threw his arms around Lana. “Hold on tight,” he said. “And close your eyes.”

He leapt to the top of the loft window ledge and jumped off.

Lana wanted to scream, but her lack of air wouldn’t allow it. Just as she was expecting to hit hard—nothing happened. And that’s when she screamed—like a banshee.

By that time, Clark had them so far above Smallville that all Lana could see was the small lights of the town. “Just keep your eyes closed, Lana,” Clark said again. “I’m not very good at this yet.” He wished he could close his own eyes.

Lana tried her hardest to stop screaming, but every time she took a peek, the shrills came back. Finally, she was able to form a string of sputtered words. “Uhh, you forgot to mention that you can fly!”

“I didn’t forget,” Clark said. “I just hate doing it, but I ran out of options back there.”

“That’s a pretty big rabbit to pull out of your hat,” Lana said, on the verge of nervous laughter now.

Clark couldn’t help but relax a little, knowing they were well out of Lex’s grasp—or even vision. “Sorry I had to go so high and so fast—I didn’t want Lex to see what I did, and I’m not exactly wearing ‘flying clothes’.” He was hardly a stealth bomber with his white tee-shirt on, which would make him glow like a strobe if the right light were to hit him.

Lana smiled, watching his hair flapping in the wind along with her own. “I really wanted tonight to be special, but I have to admit—you’ve gone beyond my wildest expectations.”

“Well, I always imagined this moment to be a little more romantic than this,” he said, thinking back to when Jor-el took his date for a bit of a ride. “But I’ll make it up to you—once I get better at it, we’ll fly to the Bahamas and enjoy the sunset.”

Lana hugged him tighter. “I am SO going to LOVE this!” she said, kissing his cheek. “And it seems that you’re already good at it. You’re not even flapping your arms.”

“Very funny,” Clark said. “It’s really strange—I don’t have to use anything but my mind to control where I go, or how fast.”

She was surprised how safe she felt, but that was hardly surprising considering whose strong arms were wrapped around her. “I’ve definitely found my favorite among your abilities.”

They were coming back toward the center of town now. “At least one of us enjoys it,” he said. “I think I’ve been able to fly for a few years now—starting when I appeared over your bed in the middle of the night—but I just refused to practice.”

“Of course,” Lana said, running her fingers through his wind blown hair. “I forgot—you’re afraid of heights.”

“Uh, huh,” he said. “Pretty unfortunate for the only guy on the planet who can fly, isn’t it?” He landed in a darkened area behind the Smallville Medical Center, looking around for witnesses before his descent.

Lana’s insides settled and she couldn’t help but be somewhat disappointed. “I hope you’ll be practicing a little more often now.”

Clark took Lana’s face in his hands and kissed her softly. “I promise we’ll go again soon,” he said. “But for now, I need to warn my parents about Lex.”

They held hands as they walked into the hospital, receiving a variety of strange looks from the hospital staff that knew the two of them all too well. “Why are they looking at us that way?” Lana asked.

Clark glanced around, then turned to Lana quickly. “It’s your leg!” He scooped her up into his arms. “You left last night with two nasty breaks.” He almost started to laugh when he realized their mistake.

“How depressing,” Lana said. “I heal my own leg and I can’t even brag about it.”

“Get used to it,” Clark said with a smile, walking toward his father’s room. “Pretty soon, you’ll have to start lying every bit as much as I do.”

Lana tipped her head, truly realizing how hard that must be on Clark—a model Boy Scout if there ever was one. “The more I learn about what you’ve been going through, the more I realize how lucky I am that you put up with my stubborn questioning for these years.”

Clark had something very out of character come to his mind. “Well, it’s only because you’re so hot,” he said with a smirk. “Even superheroes need a bit of action once in a while.”

“I can’t believe you just said that,” Lana said, pounding his chest and pretending to try to get away from him. “Did someone slip you some red-k? Sheesh!”

“Not yet, but stick around—it’s sure to happen soon enough,” Clark said, peeking into his father’s room. He set Lana down, and she made a conscious effort to limp into the room so the nurses would stop being so curious.

“Hey, Dad,” Clark said, surprised by Jonathan’s appearance. “You look great!”

Jonathan nodded and sat up. “I feel great,” he said, smiling. “Mom’s gone to the nurse’s station to sign my release papers. The doc says I can leave tonight if I want to.”

“I don’t even have to guess what you told him,” Clark said, knowing how much his dad hated being in the hospital. “I, uhh, don’t think it’s such a good idea to go home right now though.”

Jonathan squinted. “Is there a problem with the house? Do you need more material?”

“No,” Clark said. “I’m pretty much done—and Lana did a great job cleaning up the kitchen, but—”

Martha walked in and greeted everyone, waving a stack of release papers. “You’re set to go, sweetheart.”

“Great, Martha,” Jonathan said, sitting up. “Would you mind shutting the door? Clark has something he needs to tell us.” He nodded for Clark to go on.

Clark hesitated—they worried too much as it was. “Okay, don’t freak out, but Lex just tried to jump us again,” he said. “I think we all need to get away from Smallville until we can figure out what to do about him.”

Lana felt Martha’s brief glance at her. “I’m sorry, but I wasn’t able to help out this time,” Lana said. “Lex cut the power and I couldn’t focus on anything in the dark.”

Martha put her arm around Lana. “It’s alright, I didn’t mean to put so much pressure on you before,” she said. “And after talking to Jonathan about what’s been going on with you, well . . . ” She looked to her husband.

“Lana, I’m just not sure I feel comfortable with you putting yourself in such dangerous situations,” Jonathan said. “It’s true that Clark has a weakness to Kryptonite, but other than that, he’s, well . . . immortal, and you’re not. You can really get hurt.”

Lana nodded. “I know that, Mr. Kent,” she said, trying to appear confident. “But I’ve been working on some things this afternoon, and—” She stretched her arm out toward the corner of the room, raising a chair nearly to the ceiling without so much as pausing to take an extra breath. “I’m comfortable that I can control my power now.”

Clark beamed with pride as both his parents gawked at the chair, then back to Lana. “Wow!” they both said.

“Lana, that’s amazing,” Martha said with a smile. “Not even Clark has mastered something so quickly.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Clark said. “Rub it in, why don’t you?”

Lana shifted her weight and bumped Clark with her hip, trying not to smile. “She didn’t mean it that way.”

Martha and Jonathan looked down to Lana’s leg at the same time. “Where’s your cast?” Martha asked.

“She, uhh, put her leg back together,” Clark said, wrapping both arms around Lana. “And let me be the first to say that ‘not even Clark’ can do THAT.”

Jonathan’s mouth dropped. “Well, then, I stand corrected—it’s sounds like you’re very capable,” he said. “But I still want you two to avoid trouble when you can.”

“That’s exactly what we plan to do,” Clark said, becoming serious again. “We need to hurry though, before Lex figures out where we’ve gone. And I need to get you both somewhere safe so I don’t have to worry about him using you as bait.”

“Us?” Martha asked. “Where will you and Lana be?”

“We’ll figure that out,” Clark said.

Clark’s parents both nodded. “Where do you have in mind for us?” Jonathan asked.

Clark swallowed, unsure about how they’d react to his idea. “I think I should take you to, uhh, the arctic.”

“What?” all three of his onlookers asked.

“I know it sounds crazy, but the temperature in the fortress I built is perfect—you could stay there for as long as you needed to—as long as I brought you more food and clothing,” Clark said.

“And how do you plan on getting us there?” Jonathan asked. “Didn’t you say you got lost on the way back to Smallville?”

“Thanks for reminding me, but I’m not going to fly you there,” Clark said. “It would take too long—I can run faster than I can fly right now, and the journey would be too cold for you. I’ll need to send you there through the cave.”

“Through the cave?” Lana asked. “Why didn’t you just come back that way, rather than fly?”

Clark gave her a solemn nod. “Good question,” he said. “Jor-el sealed the portal—he said I had to fly if I wanted to get home.” He glanced at Jonathan. “Fathers have a way of making you grow up whether you want to or not.”

Jonathan laughed, and Clark knew it was the first time Jor-el had been the subject of a joke. “Let’s get going then.” Jonathan said.

Martha walked over to get Jonathan’s clothes so he could change, and Clark took Lana’s hand. “We’ll meet you two at the cave in ten minutes—drive straight there, okay?” he said. “We’ll get you some food, bedding and clothes. And I need to get the key . . . ” Clark stopped, feeling like a Kryptonite train just hit him, “the key . . . where’s the key?” He asked himself the question out loud several times, searching his pockets, even though he knew it wasn’t there. “I left the KEY in the cave!!”

Before anyone could react, Clark super-sped out, then returned a few minutes later. “It’s not there—Lex must have found it when I was transported during the meteor shower.”

(Ketchup - funny. And I hate to disappoint you, but I'm a GIRL :) )

peaches4cream

07-07-2005, 06:35 PM

so now how do they get to the artic and since he ant fly and cant run and what are they going todo about lex any way

SVsleuth

07-07-2005, 07:12 PM

Even a shout out to your own vacation! Cool! ;)

"we’ll fly to the Bahamas and enjoy the sunset.”

booze_is_me09

07-07-2005, 07:17 PM

i'm on the edge of my seat!!!!!!!!

Ketchup

07-07-2005, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by ajfinn
(Ketchup - funny. And I hate to disappoint you, but I'm a GIRL :) )

Im so sorry =( I was thinking about that when I typed up my last response and I was like... hmm ur profile doesnt say if you're a guy or a girl, and I couldnt call you "it" :p so being my sexist male self I used "him." :confused: sorry :\ no hard feelings? and disappointment? what are you talking about, girls rock my world! ;)

As for the update, all I can say is... Woah! Your description of Clark flying was amazing. I wonder, though, how does Lex know of Clark's weakness to Kryptonite? PPMS soon, cuz your writing kicks ass, my ass :eek:

ClanaLover

07-07-2005, 07:49 PM

Great update! PPMASAP

...Ketchup said "Clakr's" *teehee* :p

Ketchup

07-07-2005, 08:16 PM

hey!

4EverSmallville

07-07-2005, 08:52 PM

Great update, not as big of a cliffy this time, but still quite a drop lol. Hope you're having fun on vacation!

Kal-El & Me

07-07-2005, 08:59 PM

Just post asap. No. I'll try and not be my Sagittarius self and be polite. Please post asap.

NYC300Z

07-07-2005, 10:35 PM

Thanks alot for taking the time to post while ur on vacation!! ur last update was fantastic can't wait for more!!

kewl

07-08-2005, 01:56 AM

a big WOW!!!! please update us on when clark is gonna fly lana & him to the bahamas, ok??? jeje.... PPMS!

binkys711

07-08-2005, 08:55 AM

YAY!!!AMAZING UPDATE!!!I LOVE IT!!!PPMS!!and i hope ya havin' fun over there;)

booze_is_me09

07-08-2005, 08:16 PM

PPMS!!!!!!! awesome story!!!!!

ajfinn

07-08-2005, 10:46 PM

Part 26:

“I need to get the key back—now!” Clark said, wanting to bang his head against the wall for not thinking about the key sooner. “How could I be so stupid?”

Jonathan and Martha looked at each other like they agreed with Clark—how could he be so stupid?

“What’s the ‘key’ to?” Lana asked, confused about the sudden panic.

“I’ll have to explain it when we have more time,” Clark said, taking her hand and starting to leave. “Mom, Dad, I’ll still take care of everything, but you’ll need to hide the truck somewhere when you get to the cave. We’ll be there as soon as possible.”

“Son, it’s too dangerous for you to go after that key. Lex knows too much now,” Jonathan said.

Clark stopped, turning back with a look of determination. “Dad, the longer Lex has that key, the more dangerous he becomes. Don’t forget what happened to Dr. Walden,” he said. “He gained several Kryptonian powers, as well as the ability to read the cave walls.”

There was nothing more to argue about. Clark swept Lana up in his arms again and walked through the halls toward the exit. Once outside, Clark looked around and said, “You ready? Hold on.”

Instead of flying, Clark super-sped to the woods outside of Luthor Mansion. It seemed that no time at all had passed, and Lana was disoriented for a moment. “How did we get here?” she asked.

“I ran,” Clark answered, smiling. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“VERY cool,” she said. “Only I missed it somehow. You must’ve covered five miles in less than five seconds.”

“Something like that,” he said. “I told you I can run faster than I can fly. And I would’ve been quicker about getting the love letters from between your mattresses, but I forgot about Lex’s ring that you’d tossed into your bedroom.”

“What did you do about it?” Lana asked, surprised she’d forgotten about the ring.

“Threw the top mattress over it and got out of there as soon as I could,” he said. “I left a bit of a mess, sorry.”

“Well, it was worth it to read your journal,” Lana said, kissing Clark. “So, how are we going to get this key back?”

“Good question,” he said. They walked to the edge of the woods, and Clark used his x-ray vision to scan the mansion. He was careful not to miss anywhere and it took a few minutes. Clark suddenly smiled. “Well, at least this proves that Lex doesn’t know about my x-ray vision.”

“Why? Where is it?” Lana asked.

“Definitely somewhere that would take a normal person much too long to search for,” he said. “It’s hidden in one of his thousands of books.”

“It’s not in a safe?” Lana asked. “I guess he learned his lesson with the stone, and he probably thought that was the first place you’d look again.”

“It appears that way,” he said, shaking his head at how easy it was to find the key—his x-ray vision had increased in detail with his trip to the arctic. He started walking closer to the mansion then stopped, looking down at Lana. “Don’t take this wrong, okay? But maybe my dad’s right. I don’t want to put you in any danger.” He’d felt better about her abilities since this afternoon, but now that it was crunch time, he couldn’t convince himself that she’d be safe.

Lana put a hand on her hip. “Clark, we’ve already been through this. Please have a little more faith in me.”

Clark gave a reluctant nod, then had to think through the easiest plan possible. He was used to working alone, with little fear of getting hurt. “Okay, the first thing we need to do is take out the security cameras,” he said. “And pretty much all at once.”

“Done,” Lana said. “There’s four of them on this side of the estate. I’ve been here enough that I could take them out with my eyes closed.”

“Good, because it’s about that dark,” Clark said, giving an impressed smile. “As soon as you’re done, grab a hold of me.”

Lana looked on the ground and selected four round rocks—about the size of quarters. “I’ve never had a great aim, but after that knife incident, my confidence has grown a bit.”

Clark was standing behind Lana, and just as she was starting to focus—arms outstretched, Clark leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You know, I kind of like this knife-hurling, rock-tossing side of you.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” she said, patting the side of his face. “That’s NOT helping.”

Clark smiled and kissed her cheek. “Did you just call me ‘sweetheart’?”

Lana dropped her arm and looked at him, trying not to laugh. “Clark, you may have broken into mansions more times than you can count, but this happens to be my first time—so . . . ”

“Okay, okay,” he said, giving her a good luck squeeze and backing off a bit. “Let’s do this.”

Lana re-refocused and raised both arms, two rocks in each. She concentrated on one camera at a time—the rocks speeding thru the air like arrows—piercing each camera with a solid shot. It was all done in less than three seconds, then she grabbed onto Clark and he flew them straight to a window outside the second floor library above Lex’s study.

“Forth shelf up, fifth book from the left,” Clark said as they hovered outside the window. “It’s red with black lettering. Can you see it?”

Lana nodded. “What should I do with it?”

He knew she was capable of sending it thru the window and into his hands, but that would set off the alarms. Just as he was about to say something, the sound of Lex’s Mercedes was approaching and they both turned toward the noise. Clark lost his concentration and dropped them a few feet. “Okay, we’ve only got a moment longer,” he said, returning to their previous elevation. “Do you think you can send the book through the fireplace and out the chimney?” He knew it was a long shot, since she wouldn’t be able to see anything past the fireplace, but it was worth a try.

“I sure hope so,” she said, reaching toward the window and focusing just as hard as she had when she healed her leg. The book came off the shelf with ease, then she steered it toward the fireplace. With one sharp surge down her arm, she sent the book straight up the chimney.

Clark flew to the roof in an instant, where they both ran to the chimney. “Where is it?” Lana asked in disappointment, spinning around. “Where did it go?”

Clark used his x-ray vision to search the roof, then super-sped to where it was. He ripped open the book to find the key and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

“Let’s get out of here,” Lana said, jumping on Clark’s back—then they flew off into the dark night sky.

Just moments later, Lex walked into his study and peered up to the library shelves, looking for the book he’d been compulsive about checking on since he found the key in the cave. His knees locked when he noticed its absence and he sped up the stairs to make sure he wasn’t imagining things. A slew of curse words flew out of Lex—but he knew exactly where Clark was headed, and Lex’s thugs had just planted a surprise for him.

(Ketchup - the answer to your question about Lex is coming up soon.)

Ketchup

07-08-2005, 11:00 PM

Lana and Clark make a good team =) But the cliffhangers.... argh! PPMS!!!

binkys711

07-08-2005, 11:18 PM

YAY!!!!AWESOME!!!!I LOVE UPDATES!!!I LOVE THIS STORY!!! PMMS!!! and yeah stop the cliffhangers!!! it's getting frustrating!:D plz!PPMS!*puppy dog face*:\

kewl

07-09-2005, 01:08 AM

best clana fanfic!!!! GREAT update!!!! i really love how lana has been helping clark!!! CLANA rocks!!!! PPMS!!!! and yeah, no more cliffies pls?????? :D

Mythos

07-09-2005, 03:40 AM

Amazing story! You are really getting into details here. I like that a lot! :D
And PLEASE keep it up with the cliffhangers! You really know what you're doing ;)

Kal-El & Me

07-09-2005, 08:08 AM

I guess I'm the only one here who kinda likes the cliffhangers.
Just don't keep us hanging for too long. Heehee!

Mythos

07-09-2005, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by Kal-El & Me
I guess I'm the only one here who kinda likes the cliffhangers.
Just don't keep us hanging for too long. Heehee!

Well to help you out of that solitary point of view, I like em too! This story is great! :D

ajfinn

07-09-2005, 10:09 AM

MEMO RE: Cliffhangers :D I can't tell if some of you guys are serious about hating the cliffhangers or if you're just joking around with me. I hope you're just joking because it's part of the fun of writing a story like this. If you really are "frustrated" by them, then I'll mix it up a little more. Either way, thanks for reading!!! :D I've got some fun stuff coming up. The Bahamas is nice (but HUMID!) & I'm thinking we should plan the First Annual Clana Convention to be held at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas next year! Anyone interested?? ;)

Mythos

07-09-2005, 10:13 AM

Yeah! very! although I'm afraid I won't make it. The Bahama's are a little too far away from Amsterdam, the Netherlands to just go there ;)
lol

Keep up the great story though. I'm loving it! :D

NYC300Z

07-09-2005, 12:38 PM

Yeah the cliffhangers don't bother me that much I know that's part of what keeps me coming back!! I've been to the Atlantis resort that place is huge!! We stoped by there as a tourist attraction lol didn't actually stay there....and of course everywhere on the east coast and carribean is extremly humid!! Oh well have fun on vacation and PPMS!!!

Ketchup

07-09-2005, 12:51 PM

Yea everyone always complains about cliffies but the complaining is a sign of interest, so keep them cliffies comin' =D

4EverSmallville

07-09-2005, 02:03 PM

I'm just kidding when I tease about cliffies :). As Ketchup said the complaints are signs of interest and people are obviously interested :lol:. A good cliffhanger is one that leaves you suspended in mid-air until the next update so when I say that was a big cliffhanger I'm complimenting you because I am desperately wanting to know what's coming next.

You have very nice cliffhangers in your story because time and time again I come back wondering, "What's going on? Is Clark okay? Is Lana okay?..." Great job :). Keep it up.

P/S: I will certainly be on the first flight to the convention ;). Or better yet, why not a cruise :lol:.

booze_is_me09

07-09-2005, 04:14 PM

amazing update! i luv this story! PPMS!

ajfinn

07-09-2005, 06:53 PM

Part 27:

After ten minutes of rushing around the Kent home, gathering as much as they could carry, Clark and Lana were off again. With Lana balancing a box of ready to eat food, and Clark lugging a suitcase stuffed with clothing, pillows and blankets—it was a miracle they made it to the caves without being pegged by the Air Force as a UFO. Clark had at least changed into all black clothes this time—and even though it reminded Lana of a dark time in Metropolis, Clark was looking so good she wished they weren’t in such a hurry.

At the last minute—to lighten the mood, Lana suggested they bring along the kitchen broom and pretend to ride it to the caves, just for kicks. The witch joke got only a brief chuckle from Clark—his mind was on too many things, including what he’d just hidden in his pocket.

When they approached the cave entrance, Jonathan and Martha stepped from behind some bushes. “Thank heavens you’re all right,” Martha said.

“Don’t go in the cave, son,” Jonathan said in a stern command.

“Why?” Both Clark and Lana asked.

“When we arrived, there was a truck parked out here, so we waited to see what the men were up to,” Jonathan said. “They unloaded what appeared to be the same large artifacts from China you described being in Lex’s vault the day of the meteor shower.”

Clark’s shoulders slumped and he looked at Lana. “They’ve got Kryptonite for eyes, and they’re much too heavy for you to move,” he said. “But we’ve got to get in that cave.”

“I could TRY to move them, Clark,” Lana said.

“Lana, they’re at least a thousand pounds each—it will drain everything out of you,” he said. “I think there’s another way, I’ll just have to think about it for a minute.”

Lana lowered her head, wondering how Clark knew how much strength it took for her to levitate things that size. The chair in the hospital had been easy for the first thirty seconds or so—the same with the beam, but she knew she couldn’t last if she had to move several large artifacts like the ones Lex had showed her a few months ago.

Clark stepped behind Lana and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Believe it or not, even I get tired, Lana. We’ll figure something out.”

Martha was the one who finally broke the heavy silence. “Clark, what about the lead aprons from the hospital?”

Clark suddenly smiled and took off.

Lana shook her head. “Does he ALWAYS do that to you guys—no goodbye or anything?”

Jonathan laughed. “Yeah, you better get used to it,” he said. “Clark’s not one for chit-chat once he sets his mind to something.”

“I’d say,” Lana said. “But how are the lead aprons going to protect Clark from the meteor rocks?”

“Kryptonite can’t penetrate lead,” Martha said.

“How did you guys figure out all this stuff? I don’t imagine that Clark came with an instruction manual,” Lana said with a smile.

Martha and Jonathan both laughed. “Don’t we wish,” Jonathan said. “It’s been many years of trial and error—sometimes painful. And it doesn’t look to be over any time soon.”

Lana nodded, swallowing down the sudden anxiety she felt. What more would Clark have to go through to be who Jor-el wanted him to be? And would she have to give him up for that? She couldn’t allow herself to think about it, and shook off her chills.

Clark arrived moments later, with ten lead aprons in tow. “I hope no one needs an x-ray tonight,” he said.

“All right, let’s get this over with,” Jonathan said, grabbing as many aprons as he could manage. Lana and Martha followed, and they turned on the flashlights Clark brought along and went into the cave as Clark waited at the opening.

Finding the large artifacts, scattered along the cave walls—Lana, Martha and Jonathan put aprons over the statue’s heads, taking care that the eyes were entirely covered. Lana then called out to Clark and he entered with the key, going straight to its spot on the cave wall.

When the wall came alive with an assortment of colors, Lana gasped. “So this is what the key’s for?”

Clark turned and smiled at her. “Did I tell you I can read all this?” he asked, gesturing to the inscriptions with pride. “It’s Kryptonian.”

The amazing surprises kept coming, and Lana asked the first obvious question. “Can you tell me what the symbol on my back meant?”

Jonathan and Martha didn’t mean to break off their bonding time, but . . . “Uhh, Clark, I think we better get moving here.”

“Right,” Clark said, then whispered to Lana. “I’ll tell you all about it.”

The writing on the walls suddenly rearranged, and an opening in the cave appeared. Jonathan and Martha both looked skeptical, eyeing Clark for instructions.

“Okay, I hate to tell you this, but you two are about to become Jor-el’s guinea pigs,” he said, ushering them closer to the opening. “This is a different passageway to the Fortress than I took, but Jor-el promised it would work for mortals.” If it didn’t, Clark thought, Jor-el was gonna get his intergalactic butt kicked.

White light illuminated the opening and Clark gave them both hugs. “I’ll check in on you as soon as Lana is safe,” he said. “Make yourselves at home—you’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Why can’t the two of you come along?” Martha asked.

Clark was hoping that question wouldn’t come up in front of Lana. “I have too much to figure out here—including where that spaceship took off to,” Clark said. “And, well, Jor-el promised I could send anyone I loved to the Fortress to keep them safe . . . except for my ‘protector.’”

“Why?” Jonathan asked, as everyone’s eyes went to Lana to see her reaction.

“I’m not sure,” Clark said, inching the two of them forward. He hadn’t worried too much about that detail when Jor-el said it, imagining his protector to be someone more similar to himself, and definitely not Lana. “Why don’t you ask him for me?”

“Will we be seeing him?” Martha asked, her heart speeding up. She’d wanted to give Jor-el a swift slap in the face for years now, but . . .

“I’m sure you three will have some interesting conversations,” Clark said, putting his hand near the key, ready to send them through the light. “Just close your eyes—it shouldn’t hurt. I love you both.” When Clark gave the key a firm push, the light vacuumed up his parents, along with their suitcase and box of food.

Lana screamed at the sight and buried her head against Clark, and he gripped onto her just as tightly. “You know something is definitely messed up in your life when you have to send your parents to the middle of the arctic to keep them safe,” he said, taking the key out of the wall—before he forgot about it again.

“What now?” Lana asked, staring up at him with scared round eyes.

Clark kissed her. “Right now, I have something to show you,” he said, then walked her over to another section of the wall. “See that bracelet?” Clark asked, pointing up to the elaborate painting Kyla had introduced him too. “It’s for the woman I choose to spend my life with.”

Lana looked to the painting. She smiled, but didn’t glance back to Clark—not daring to hope that he would say that woman was her. She then felt something cold wrap around her wrist and looked down in shock to see a bracelet that looked exactly like the one on the cave wall. “Where did you get this?”

“It’s from Krypton—brought to the Kawatchi tribe long before my arrival in Smallville,” he said. “And I know with all my heart, Lana, that it's meant for you.”

SmallvilleMan

07-09-2005, 07:26 PM

Like i said before, tough competition for me. Great story, keep it up.

Kal-El & Me

07-09-2005, 07:56 PM

I'm definetely interested. But I don't think I'll make it since I'm only twelve and going to eigth grade and my parents don't care much for Smallville. At least my mom doesn't. My dad has never seen it but I think he would like it. He also likes to travel with me, so who knows!!!

That was for the Bahamas thing.

ajfinn

07-09-2005, 07:59 PM

It's okay, Kal-el & me :) It's going to be a VIRTUAL Clana convention in the Bahamas :D

Kal-El & Me

07-09-2005, 08:09 PM

Great update. I remember in one fic he gave it to Alicia. Just wanted to say that.

Originally posted by ajfinn
It's okay, Kal-el & me :) It's going to be a VIRTUAL Clana convention in the Bahamas :D

I know you didn't really mean it. But wouldn't it be cool?

NYC300Z

07-09-2005, 11:13 PM

Fantastic update!! So how are Clark and Lana planning on dealing with Lex?? and what about whatever was in the ship? And are we ever gonna get back to more love letter and journal readings?? I just have to know I can't wait...PPMS!!!

4EverSmallville

07-09-2005, 11:20 PM

Great update :D. Hope the vacation's going well. I have to say you are a truly devoted author. I can't imagine being in one of the most beautiful places on earth and coming back here regularly to update. :eek: I'd probably forget :lol:.

binkys711

07-10-2005, 12:17 AM

AMAZING UPDATE!!!PPMS!!!hope ya havin' fun over there!!!:D i love this story!

kewl

07-10-2005, 07:58 AM

GREAT UPDATE!!! i am really having so much fun!!!! PPMS!!!:D

Ketchup

07-10-2005, 10:43 AM

Woah I completely forgot about the bracelet! This story just keeps getting better and better. No cliffie? =( jk. PPMS!

lanaland

07-10-2005, 11:18 AM

AMAZING....I can't wait to see Lana's react and are we ever gonna get back to more love letter and journal readings?? Itwas so cute. PPMS!

mcgairman

07-10-2005, 11:52 AM

This story is close to being the best I've read in this forum. As I've said before, I'm not a Clana fan, but this version is the best I've seen. Lana here is more mature, responsible, and best of all -- understanding. Keep it up!!

ajfinn

07-10-2005, 01:06 PM

For: Kal-El & Me

This is a different bracelet from the one he gave to Alicia -- Clark made Alicia's out of lead (from a fishing tackle box) to keep her from teleporting. The bracelet that Clark just gave Lana is the one Kyla once owned and was given to Clark from the leader of the Kawatchi tribe when Kyla died. Clark is supposed to give it to his true love, and he's never given it to anyone :D (All this was from "Skinwalkers" Season 2)

Ketchup

07-10-2005, 01:13 PM

"Skinwalker" was prolly my favorite Season 2 episode. Cant believe you remember all of these details abotu the show =)

NYC300Z

07-10-2005, 01:16 PM

"Skinwalker" was the first Smallville episode I ever saw...(yeah I know I had to "ketchup" lol sorry couldn't resist)

yeah it's really great how u remeber everything like that can't wait for more!!!

Ketchup

07-10-2005, 01:26 PM

lol :D

clana4ev3r

07-10-2005, 05:00 PM

How sweet is that!! PPMS

ajfinn

07-10-2005, 05:21 PM

Part 28:

Lana looked between Clark and the bracelet. “Clark, I wake every day wanting to be the one you choose to be with.”

Clark kissed her again, keeping his lips on hers until the right words came. “I love you, Lana, and I hope you understand how committed I am to making our relationship work—to making it last.”

She put her hand on Clark’s cheek. “I do understand that. And I have faith in us—to make it through whatever life continues to challenge us with.”

Clark knew there wasn’t a lot of time to waste, but he had a hard time pulling away from Lana. “All right, we better get out of here,” he said. “Can you gather up the lead aprons once I’m out of the cave? We need to get them back before we head for Chloe’s place.”

“Wow, you really are a Boy Scout, aren’t you?” Lana said, smiling. Clark left and Lana stood at one side of the cave, summoning the aprons to her one at a time. They were too heavy to carry all at once, so she had to levitate the second pile. She noticed how difficult it was to use both her physical and mental strength at the same time. It was something she’d have to work on.

Just as they were speeding off, Clark glanced back to see two very familiar Halogen headlights approaching the cave. Lex was fortunately too late to see the two of them leave, and for a split second, Clark thought about going back to confront him. Where had their relationship gone so wrong? He guessed he had just as many questions for Lex as Lex had for him. Clark felt a surprising sense of emptiness from the loss and he’d do anything to have a civil, honest conversation with him, but the events of the past few days made that prospect seem impossible.

After a quick trip to the Smallville Medical Center, where Clark super-sped the aprons inside before anyone even noticed they were gone, they stopped by Lana’s apartment. “You better pack enough for a few days,” Clark said. “I don’t know how long we’ll be gone.”

Lana grabbed a duffle bag and headed toward her bedroom. “What should I do with this ring?”

“Do you still have the lead box that you kept your necklace in?” Clark asked, staying in the other room.

“Yes,” she said, taking it out of a drawer of keepsakes and putting the ring inside. “Where should I hide the box?”

Lex was likely to search Lana’s apartment sometime soon, so it wouldn’t be safe there. “This sounds crazy, but I think we should take it with us,” Clark said.

“You’re right, that is crazy,” Lana said, stuffing as much as she could into her bag. “Why?”

“Call it a hunch,” Clark answered, thinking he really was losing his mind for dreaming up what he planned to do with it—if given the chance.

“Whatever you say,” Lana said, shutting the box and placing it in a separate pocket of her duffle bag.

Once she was done packing, Clark walked into her bedroom and flipped the mattress up right. He made the bed in half of a second then looked at it with pride. Lana glanced at the bed on the way out. “Not bad for a guy,” she said with a smirk.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked, his hands outstretched.

Lana kept walking, pausing only to flip her hand and rearrange the decorated pillows to look like they should. “Nothing a little pixy dust can’t fix,” she said.

Clark followed. “You know, with all my abilities—why couldn’t I have been blessed with a bit of pixy dust?” he asked.

Lana turned back and took him by the belt loops, pulling him to her. “Probably because you’d look awful in a tutu.”

“But I bet you’d look REALLY good in one,” Clark said.

“Sorry, Peter Pan,” Lana said, wiping off his grin. “Last time I checked, the Disney costume shop wasn’t on the way to Metropolis.”

“It could be,” Clark said, raising his brows. “The world just got a whole lot smaller for us.”

“You’re completely hopeless,” Lana said, dragging him out the door. “What happened to my painfully shy, plaid-wearing farm boy who used to face plant at the site of a girl?”

Clark smiled, securing his backpack, as well as Lana’s duffle bag on his back. “He grew up,” he said. “And it wasn’t just ANY girl that made me face plant—she was a mysterious vixen who had the power to attract men with a single glance.”

Lana put one hand on the back of Clark’s neck, then jumped into his arms, preparing for him to super-speed them to Metropolis. “Like I said, you’re hopeless.”

“Yes, I am,” Clark said, nodding in mock shame. He then held onto her tightly and sped out of the Talon’s front door and toward Metropolis. He’d stop every few minutes to make sure Lana was doing alright. By the time they reached the center of the city, Lana’s hair was tangled in knots.

“Remind me to put my hair in a pony tail for our next long-distance journey,” she said, then her laughter suddenly turned into a tight cough. “I think I swallowed a bug.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. I’ve done it a lot more than I’d like to admit,” Clark said. “But it’s okay, we’ll just swear off kissing for the next few days.”

Lana pulled him to her lips. “Don’t even think about it.”

While packing at the Kents earlier that evening, Clark had called Chloe and asked if they could camp out at her place that night. She was staying with a friend from the Daily Planet, who was away on vacation, and said there was plenty of room. When they’d arrived at the location Chloe planned to meet them, Lana took the opportunity to tell Clark something that had been on her mind since Chloe spoke with them at the Talon.

“Clark, before Chloe arrives I wanted to ask you a nosy question,” Lana said. “Do you plan to tell Chloe about your origin, or is there a reason you’re avoiding it?”

Clark took Lana’s hands. “I’ve been avoiding it for a while—I didn’t even tell her that I knew she was aware of my abilities,” he said. “But it just didn’t feel right until I had the chance to tell YOU about everything. And it wasn’t that Chloe doesn’t deserve to know—she definitely does, but you’re the one I’m in love with.”

Lana nodded, getting chills from his sincerity. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you told me your secret when you didn’t really need to,” she said. “But, if you want my opinion—you don’t have to feel pressure from me though—I think Chloe can be trusted to know everything that I do.”

“I think so, too,” Clark said. “And I think it’s time to tell her. I can’t expect her to give us the help we’re going to need, if I can’t prove how much I believe in our friendship.”

“Good,” Lana said, standing on tiptoes to kiss him.

Chloe came walking out of an alleyway to see the kiss and stopped, reminding herself once again, for the hundredth time since Clark called her, that she could handle this. “Hey, guys.”

Clark and Lana turned, instinctively stepping away from each other. “Thanks for coming, Chloe,” Clark said as they walked to her.

Chloe’s eyes shot down to Lana’s leg and her jaw dropped. “Hold on, did I miss something? Like two months of rehab?”

“We’ve got a lot to talk about, Chloe,” Lana said, pulling up her pant leg to expose her skin—cast free. “Let’s get to your place.”

“Chloe Sullivan, you have now re-entered the Twilight Zone,” Chloe said to herself. “For some reason I thought I’d left it behind in Smallville.”

Clark put his arms around both girls as they walked back through the alleyway. “Chloe, I hate to tell you this, but things are about to get even stranger.”

Ketchup

07-10-2005, 05:49 PM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh this is Ahhhh-mazing. =) Screw my story, Im just gonna read yours. PPMS!

SmallvilleMan

07-10-2005, 05:58 PM

Yeah, this story is in it's best part. Keep on writing.

This story keeps getting better. Good job.

4EverSmallville

07-10-2005, 06:05 PM

Mmm, interesting. :).

Kal-El & Me

07-10-2005, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by ajfinn
For: Kal-El & Me

This is a different bracelet from the one he gave to Alicia -- Clark made Alicia's out of lead (from a fishing tackle box) to keep her from teleporting. The bracelet that Clark just gave Lana is the one Kyla once owned and was given to Clark from the leader of the Kawatchi tribe when Kyla died. Clark is supposed to give it to his true love, and he's never given it to anyone :D (All this was from "Skinwalkers" Season 2)

Yeah but I wasn't talking about the episode Pariah. I was talking about another fan fic where Clark does give Alicia that bracelet.

ClanaLover

07-10-2005, 08:52 PM

I really liked it how you put the bracelet in the story. This is probably my fave story. PPMASAP

binkys711

07-10-2005, 10:53 PM

YAY!!!I LOVE THIS STORY!!!PPMS!!!

Screw my story, Im just gonna read yours. PPMS!

Oh no you don't!!!ya better keep postin' your story too!!!;)

NYC300Z

07-10-2005, 11:28 PM

This story is amazing!! And ajfinn is amazing because she keeps consistently giving us updates even while on vacation in the bahamas!!

So Chloe is finally gonna learn the truth? Well I guess it is about time....can't wait! PPMS!!!

Mythos

07-11-2005, 01:18 AM

woah... Amazing story! :D
So when is this going to get published and sold in bookshops around the world? ;)

Truly a good fic and very wel written!

kewl

07-11-2005, 01:25 AM

i LOVE this story!!!! it just keeps getting better!!!! PPMS!!! :D

clana4ev3r

07-11-2005, 04:49 AM

Chloe is going to be so shocked!!! they are goin to drop a big a** bomb on her!! PPMS must find out what happens! :)

ajfinn

07-11-2005, 11:10 AM

Part 29:

(I couldn't sleep last night, so I wrote instead. :) Make sure you've read the updates I've posted the past few days--including last night's, before you read this.)

Just before the three of them were about to enter Chloe’s apartment building, Clark noticed a payphone. “Hey, Chloe,” he said. “Are you ready to start a whole list of favors I’m about to ask of you?”

Chloe squinted. “What sort of favor are we talking about?”

“Can you still do that impersonation of a deep Southern girl that you used when you’d prank call me in Jr. High?” Clark asked.

“That was YOU?” Lana asked before Chloe had a chance to respond. “You’re the one who would call and wake me up in the middle of the night?”

Chloe was going to deny the whole thing, but finally gave in with a shrug. “Well, it’s not like you needed any MORE beauty rest,” she said. “And, uhh, thanks a lot for exposing me, Clark—but, yes, I think I can summon the voice of ‘Bobby Sue’.”

“Great,” Clark said, stepping up to the payphone and waving the other two over. He took some change from his pocket and explained what Chloe needed to say. He had to go over it a few times, but Chloe felt she had it down by the time Clark dialed the number.

A man on the other side of the line answered. “Smallville Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Williams speaking.”

“Evenin,’ Deputy, I got me somethin’ strange to report to ya’ll,” Chloe said, laying on the drawl like any good Southern backwoods girl would. “Ya see, I’s goin’ thru y’alls town t’night and I spotted some fellas haulin’ some goods in a truck that a big news guy reported as missin’ from a museum of sorts.”

“A museum, you say?” asked the deputy. “The Smallville museum?”

“Nah—sounded much bigger thun that—the TV guy said thur’s a big reward an’ every’thang,” Chloe said. “So I expect to get my share, ya hear?”

The deputy paused, then Chloe could tell he moved the phone from his mouth before he said in a hurried whisper, “Sheriff Adams, I think I better put this call on the speaker for you.” A moment later, there was an echo quality to the phone call and the deputy said, “Can you describe the truck, and where it was heading, miss?”

“Sure can,” Chloe said, going on to describe the truck Jonathan and Martha had seen. “It was a long bed, white 4x4—looked like they tried cover’n up the statues, but the tarp blew clean off—hangin’ by nothing but a possum’s tail. And it was following some hoity-toity silver Mercedes. They turned up a dirt road marked with a post readin’ ‘Kawatchi Caves’ or somthin’ like that.” She said Kawatchi like she’d never heard of such a confusing word.

“I’m on it,” Chloe heard Sheriff Adams whisper in the background. “There’s only one Kawatchi Cave ‘round here . . . and one silver Mercedes.”

“Okay, miss,” the deputy said to Chloe. “What I’m going to need is your contact information.”

“Yes, sir’ree, sir, this here’s Bobby Sue Mayberry from . . . ” Chloe made muffled, crackling sounds into the phone.

“Can you repeat that, miss?” the deputy said.

“Bobby Sue . . . ” Crackle, crackle . . . then Chloe hung up, laughing so hard along with Clark and Lana that she could hardly stand.

Lana was already on the ground, holding her gut. She took her hand off her mouth and said with a gasp for air, “Bobby Sue, why you’re a no-good snitch. Sheriff Adams is gonna put Lex over her lap and swat ‘em with a paddle.” Lana’s faked Southern accent wasn’t nearly as good as Chloe’s, but that’s what made the moment all the funnier.

“I won’t even try to top that,” Clark said, remembering Lana’s earlier reaction to his cowboy impression. “I just hope Lex is wearing his spurs.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Lana said, standing. “Chloe I need to use your bathroom before I really embarrass myself.”

“Well, stand in line,” Chloe said, leading them both up some stairs. “With all the talk of Lex over the Sheriff’s knee, I need to puke.”

Ten minutes later, Lana and Chloe relaxed on the couch and Clark plopped down into a Luv Sac. “This is a nice place,” Clark said. “Are you going to live here?”

“I might,” Chloe said, “but for now, I’m just apartment sitting for the next week. So, like I told you earlier, no one knows where I’m staying, and I’m not expecting my dad to call for another few days—he’s still working on that project in Mozambique for that chemical company. You two should be safe here.”

It was then that both Clark and Lana’s smiles disappeared, remembering the seriousness of their situation. “Chloe, we really appreciate you helping us,” Lana said. “I know our call came as a shock, especially since we’d just spoken to you this afternoon, but after you left today, Lex broke into my apartment and threatened me.”

“What?” Chloe asked with a gasp.

“It gets worse,” Lana said. “When Clark came, Lex pulled a gun on him.”

Chloe stood up. “Whoa.” She walked around for a bit, then paused in front of Clark. “Okay, Kent, tell me you didn’t have to do anything crazy in front of Lex. I can’t imagine what he’d do if he knew about your abilities.”

“Actually, I couldn’t do anything, because Lex not only knows about my abilities,” Clark said, “but he also knows about my reaction to meteor rocks.”

“But how?” Chloe asked, then hit her head with her hand. “I bet it’s from the security tapes from the day of the meteor shower.”

Clark nodded. “Probably. He said he has me pulling off his vault door on tape—so he’d also see my subsequent moaning on the ground. But I think it may even be more than that.” This took Lana by surprise. Clark hadn’t mentioned any other theories to her. Clark went on. “When Lex had that accident at Luthor Corp a while ago—the one that split him in half—I’m not convinced that the ‘good Lex’ ever came back. He just hasn’t been the same.”

“Okay, I’m with you there,” Chloe said. “Based on that assumption—where do the rocks come in?”

“Well, during that time, the bad Lex must have witnessed me have a reaction to the rocks in the lab, because he showed up in my loft with a Kryptonite ring and threw me out the second story of the barn,” Clark said. “I think it’s possible that bad Lex came out on top and remembers everything that happened. I’m not sure anything remains of the man I once called my friend—even though he’s tried at times to make me think otherwise.”

“A Krypto-what ring?” Chloe asked.

“Kryptonite—that’s the official term for the meteor rocks,” Clark said. “But we’ll get to all that in a minute—I promise.”

“Whatever,” Chloe said. “So you think the good side of Lex is gone forever, and now all he cares about is killing off his friends?”

“Apparently,” Clark said, still in self-denial that this was Lex they were talking about. “I just wish he’d calm down enough to talk to me—but I can’t get close enough. And any phone call I make to him could be traced.”

“Well, then, Mr. Speedypants, why not call from somewhere else besides Metropolis?” Chloe suggested.

Lana smiled as wide as Clark. “Great idea, Chlo,” Lana said. “You shouldn’t get too crazy though, Clark, or he’ll figure out what you’re doing.”

Clark nodded. “It’s worth a try. I’ll call when I’m on my way to check on my parents.”

“Where are they?” Chloe asked.

Clark and Lana looked at each other, and Clark knew it was time to give Chloe what she deserved. “They’re, uhh, staying with my biological father up north?”

“North as in Chicago, or north as in Canada?” Chloe asked, irritated by his usual elusiveness.

He cleared his throat. “North as in as far as you can go—the arctic,” he said.

“Okay, now you’ve really lost me,” Chloe said, giving a skeptical grin. “Are you trying to say that you’re half elf and that’s why you can do all these amazing things—because I’m not that gullible.”

Clark looked at Lana and she gave him a nod of encouragement. “Lana made the Santa Claus connection as well,” Clark said, standing up and starting to pace. “I’m obviously not very good at this yet.”

“Duh,” Chloe said, regretting it when she saw Clark’s white face. “I’m joking, Clark.” She glanced between he and Lana. “Okay, I guess this isn’t a laughing matter . . . I’ll shut up now.”

“You know, I think I’ll go shower and leave you two to talk,” Lana said as she stood from the couch and grabbed her duffle bag on the way to the bathroom. She felt like she needed to show Chloe more respect. She’d been waiting for this news as long as Lana had.

Clark and Chloe were both silent for a few moments. Clark finally stopped pacing and sat next to Chloe on the couch. “All right, as soon as I tell you this, you might completely freak out and look at me like I’m growing an extra set of arms,” Clark said. “So just think of the wildest possible explanation for my powers—which, I’ll tell you right now, were NOT caused by the meteor rocks—and let me have it.”

Chloe was suddenly not in the mood for games but could tell how nervous Clark was, so she played along. “All right . . . your real name is Harry Potter and you grabbed onto the wrong port key at Hogwarts and ended up in Smallville.”

Clark shook his head. “Good one, but no. I’m not a wizard.”

“Darn!” Chloe said. “That was my favorite theory.” She bit both her lips, trying to think up another one. “Here’s my next one, you ready? It’s semi-serious—you said to think crazy, right?”

“Right. As crazy as you can.”

“Okay, here goes,” Chloe said. “I’ve been wondering for a while now—with all the strange occurrences—like you disappearing for extended periods of time, if you weren’t being abducted by aliens and they were giving you more abilities with each episode.” Clark gulped loud and Chloe instantly backtracked, feeling really stupid. “Well you said to think of the CRAZIEST explanation, so there. I’m sorry, but some people do believe in that stuff.”

“So, if that were true,” Clark said without a skip. “How would you feel about me?”

Chloe felt her arms go numb. “I . . . I guess I’d think it was kinda cool. Really cool, in fact,” she said. “I mean, wow, I’d want you to tell me all about it—not so I could write up a story or anything, unless of course you wanted me to, but . . . are you serious?” She just stared at Clark, waiting for him to respond with anything but laughter.

“So it wouldn’t freak you out to know that your best friend has been on another planet—Krypton, for example?” Clark asked.

“No, not at all,” Chloe answered with excitement.

“And how would you feel if I told you he was born there?” Clark asked, then held his breath for what seemed to be an eternity.

SVsleuth

07-11-2005, 11:30 AM

Noooo.......!!! Don't stop now!!!!!!!!!

Awesome story! Please don't make us wait too long for more...

We're all holding our breath, along with Clark. You wouldn't want us to all die of asphixiation, would you? ;)

kewl

07-11-2005, 11:36 AM

WHOA!!!!! fantastic!!!! just.......AWESOME update!!!!! i could just imagine chloe's face when she spoke that southern accent!!!! lol: and i really loved the part where chloe set Harry Potter as an example, I LOVE HP!!! :D:D:D i'm sure chloe can handle the fact that clark is an alien...remember, she did have her wall of weird back at smallville???
again, what a great update!!!! PPMS!!!! :D

SmallvilleMan

07-11-2005, 11:49 AM

Sweet, good as always.

binkys711

07-11-2005, 11:58 AM

WHAT?!!!WHY IN THE HELL DID YA STOP!!!!CONTINUE!!!PPMS!!!ASAP!!!

4EverSmallville

07-11-2005, 01:12 PM

:rotfl: :rotfl: Okay, I know that this isn't the most important part of the update, but Chloe's southern impersonation was hysterical IMO. I lol @ several parts of it. :D Great update.

NYC300Z

07-11-2005, 02:19 PM

Wow Really Great Update!!! OMG I can just see Chloe gushing with excitment and start asking Clark a million questions!! Fantastic!! PPMS!!!

Ketchup

07-11-2005, 04:27 PM

DOWN WITH CLIFFHANGERS!!! Give me MORE! =D

Kal-El & Me

07-11-2005, 05:53 PM

Continue NOOOOOWWWWW!!!!!!
Sorry I'm a Sagittarius and that is my only excuse for me making commands.

booze_is_me09

07-11-2005, 10:34 PM

ppms! need...more...

clana4ev3r

07-12-2005, 01:33 AM

PPMS!

SVsleuth

07-12-2005, 09:11 AM

We're still holding our breath... We're all turning blue! Help! Please continue the story. I can't breathe!!! :eek:

ajfinn

07-12-2005, 02:37 PM

Part 30: (SVsleuth - you can exhale now ;) )

“BORN there?” Chloe asked with a crooked smile. “Clark, you couldn’t have been BORN there. I mean, look at you—you’re completely human. But I think it’s possible that you may have been abducted as a baby and raised on another planet for a time. Have you ever considered that? But then how would you get back here?” Chloe continued rattling off questions to herself, anything to explain what she’d just heard.

Clark didn’t expect this reaction—screaming, fear, cries of deception—maybe, but not this. “For once, Chloe, believe it or not, I’m telling you the absolute truth about myself.”
Chloe squinted her eyes and examined Clark from several angles. “Please don’t do that. It makes me feel like you’re looking for extra sets of eyes—I’m physically just like any other guy, okay.” Clark said.

“Yeah, right. Like I’d ever believed that,” Chloe said with a laugh. “And if you’re an alien, then I know more than a few females who would die for earth to get invaded. Common’ Clark, I don’t really see you in the role of E.T.” She picked up his hands. “Nope, not a single one of your fingers is glowing.”

Clark was getting a bit irritated now. “All right, Chloe, it’s obvious that you’re not willing to believe me, so let’s just stick with your Harry Potter theory,” he said, then pointed to the bathroom. “And while we’re at it, we should probably get my sidekick Hermione out here, ‘cuz she can whip up some really great spells for you.”

Lana could hear the tone of Clark’s voice change. She turned off the water and dried off, wondering if she should interfere.

Chloe was taken aback by Clark’s sudden frustration. “I’m sorry, Clark,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to upset you.”

“You’re the last person I expected skepticism from—I mean, common, you’re the purveyor of the wall of weird. And I’m about as weird as they come, all right?” Clark said, pacing again. He finally turned back and saw that he’d hurt her much more than she had him. He dropped to his knees in front of the couch. “Chloe, you know me—do you think I’d joke about something like this?”

Chloe suddenly felt like all of the earth’s gravity was pulling her to the floor. She shook her head slowly, realizing for the first time that Clark was telling the truth. “Oh my . . . ” She stood, walking to the bathroom door and tapping on it rapidly. “Umm, Lana, can you come out here, please?”

Lana hesitated, then opened the door, drying her hair with a towel.

Chloe surprised both Lana and Clark with one of her enormous grins. “Lana, CLARK IS FROM ANOTHER PLANET!” Chloe was aware that she wasn’t telling Lana anything new, but she just wanted to say it out loud—to someone, anyone.

Lana’s eye got wide. “Kind of a shocker, isn’t it?”

Clark was still on his knees and face planted into the couch in a stupor of confusion. He was glad he’d live a really long life—he’d need that much time to figure out girls.

Chloe took Lana’s hands and led her to Clark. “Do you have any idea how COOL that is? That is SO cool. So SO cool.”

Lana sat on the couch and lifted Clark’s head so she could see him. “Our little friend Chloe is in a COOL coma. What should I do about that?”

He dropped his head again onto Lana’s knee and she ran her fingers through his hair while she watched Chloe walk around the room with a smile that couldn’t have been wiped off with extra-strength Windex. For a minute there, Lana thought she’d have to make room for Chloe to do some Tom Cruise couch jumping. “All right, Chlo. Let’s talk about this for a minute, shall we?” She received no response at all as Chloe continued to mumble to herself about how COOL it was that her friend was from another planet.

Finally, Lana thought of a way to get her attention. She stretched out her arm and summoned the Luv Sac from across the room. It zoomed along the floor and knocked Chloe right off her feet, landing her in a pile of soft fluff. “What the heck?” Chloe said, looking around for the invisible culprit.

“Sorry, I know tonight is supposed to be all about Clark,” Lana said. “But it looks like it’s time to let you in on another little secret—Isobel is gone, but she left behind a bit of hocus-pocus.”

“Shut up!” Chloe said, her eyes growing even larger than before. “Am I the only one without super powers around here?”

“For now, at least,” Clark said, his face finally making an appearance. “Hang out with us a while longer and something crazy is bound to happen.”

Chloe sat up in the Luv Sac, still smiling like this was a surprise party for her. She looked between the two of them, her grin finally fading. “Why am I the only one who’s excited about this?” Her eyes stopped on Lana. “Don’t tell me this freaks you out.”

Lana shook her head, sitting next to Clark on the floor and leaning into him. “Not at all—at least not the part about Clark being from another planet, or his abilities,” she said. “I’m just really nervous about the future—there’s a lot of questions still hanging out there.”

Chloe got a funny grin on her face, which always meant trouble for someone. “Like if you two can have kids together—‘cuz that’s definitely questionable,” Chloe said. “I mean, I don’t know if you’ve had blood work done, Clark, but you’re most likely an entirely different species—which is awesome, but—”

Clark felt like his gut had been ripped out. He didn’t want Lana to consider those types of questions yet.

“No, Chloe,” Lana said, feeling Clark’s level of discomfort. “That has nothing to do with what I’m nervous about. Clark and I haven’t even discussed things like that—and when we do, trust me, the word ‘species’ is not going to be part of the conversation. To me, Clark is exactly the same guy I fell in love with, and no amount of blood work could sway my decision to be with him.”

Clark couldn’t help but look at Lana, wanting to continue the conversation. But this wasn’t something he thought they should discuss in front of someone else. He turned back to Chloe, and said, “I hate to leave while the topics are getting hotter, but I have to check on my parents. Lana will explain everything else to you.”

“There’s more?” Chloe asked, looking to Lana.

Lana nodded. “For starters—Clark isn’t the only alien I’ve met.”

“Okay, I’m starting to feel like this is some kind of practical joke you two are playing on me,” Chloe said. “It’s like I’ve died and gone to investigative reporter’s heaven!” She raised her hands. “But don’t worry, nothing leaves my lips, nor my fingers—you guys know me better than that, right?”

“Chloe, by telling what we have, we’re trusting you with our lives,” Clark said, standing. “So, yes, we know you’d never betray us.” He helped Chloe out of the Luv Sac, giving her a long, tight hug. “It feels great to have all this in the open.”

Chloe nodded against him. “Yes, it does!” she said. “Hurry back.”

Lana walked Clark to the door and they stood on the porch, out of Chloe’s view. “Clark, I’m not sure that you should go by yourself,” Lana said. “I know Jor-el said I couldn’t come, but what if I stood outside of the fortress?”

Clark held her close. “I promise I’ll be all right. I’ll run as far as I can, then I’ll fly the rest of the way,” he said, knowing Sheriff Adams wasn’t fast enough to have those Kryptonite statues out of the cave yet. “It will only take me a few hours. Get some rest, okay?”

“Yeah, right,” Lana said, kissing him. “Please be careful.”

After Clark super-sped away, Lana stepped back inside, shutting the door behind her. “Can you give me a sec, Chlo?” she asked, heading straight to the bathroom.

Chloe could see the worry on Lana’s face and wished there was a way to help. Sometimes girls just needed a good cry though, so she sat on the couch for the next ten minutes until Lana came out, wiping her red eyes. “If you don’t feel like talking, we can wait,” Chloe said.

“No, it’s okay,” Lana said. “I’m just worried about him being alone—so I should probably tell you why.”

By the time the girls were starting their conversation, Clark was already in Nebraska. He stopped just short of where he figured he could’ve driven between that time and when he and Lana were last seen by Lex in the loft. He wanted to give Lex the illusion that they were running from him, so he’d stop looking around Smallville and avoid Metropolis all together.

Clark found a pay phone, then dropped in some change, trying Lex’s office phone first—where he was more likely to be able to trace the call.

Lex looked at his caller ID, and not recognizing the number, he hesitated, then finally picked up. “Yes?” he asked, not wanting to reveal his identity if the caller had dialed him by mistake.

Clark swallowed, closing his eyes and begging for the right worlds. “Lex, we need to talk.”

clana4ev3r

07-12-2005, 02:47 PM

oh snap!!! PPMS great update

SVsleuth

07-12-2005, 02:50 PM

Thank you! It was good to pull some air into my lungs. ;) Great update. Love your story. Keep writing.

Ketchup

07-12-2005, 03:02 PM

Woah this update has me laughing so hard.
There was:

Chloe surprised both Lana and Clark with one of her enormous grins. “Lana, CLARK IS FROM ANOTHER PLANET!” Chloe was aware that she wasn’t telling Lana anything new, but she just wanted to say it out loud—to someone, anyone.
and then this:

Lana sat on the couch and lifted Clark’s head so she could see him. “Our little friend Chloe is in a COOL coma. What should I do about that?”
And of course:

“Okay, I’m starting to feel like this is some kind of practical joke you two are playing on me,” Chloe said. “It’s like I’ve died and gone to investigative reporter’s heaven!”

I loooooooove this story, and for once there isnt a cliffie... yay? Im a hypocrite, I know. PPMS!!

SmallvilleMan

07-12-2005, 03:11 PM

Damn man, you sure do know how to steal the spotlight. My story gets to a good part and you just keep top it with this chapter. Good job;)

SVsleuth

07-12-2005, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
Damn man, you sure do know how to steal the spotlight. My story gets to a good part and you just keep top it with this chapter. Good job;)

SmallvilleMan, We're holding our breath waiting for YOUR next update now. C'mon, don't make us turn blue. I know you gave us a small preview, but we are waiting anxiously for your story to continue, too.
... AND hoping for daily updates on ajfinn's story as well. You're both awesome writers! Keep up the good work. :)

NYC300Z

07-12-2005, 05:15 PM

Originally posted by clana4ev3r
oh snap!!! PPMS great update

that's something I haven't said in years "oh snap" lol!!

Yeah really great update!! Can't wait to hear both the Clark Lex and the Lana Chloe conversations!! PPMS!!!

Kal-El & Me

07-12-2005, 05:40 PM

I've already said I love this story about a million times so PPMS.

booze_is_me09

07-12-2005, 06:52 PM

awesome post! PPMS!

C.A.chick

07-12-2005, 08:31 PM

WRITE SOME MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love clana fic!!!!!!!!!

smallvillewolf17

07-12-2005, 09:24 PM

keep it coming

Joshuabr

07-12-2005, 09:45 PM

Very interesting. PPMS!

binkys711

07-12-2005, 10:50 PM

YES AWESOME!!!PPMS!!!and yet another cliffy....:mad:oh well, just post more soon....asap!:D;)

Ketchup

07-12-2005, 10:55 PM

Nah not really a cliffie... a cliffie is when someone is about to die or something. aj, update, NOW! lol

kewl

07-13-2005, 01:44 AM

chloe is so hilarious!!!!! LOL LOL LOL!!!! oh man u really have a way with cliffhangers..... :D
i just LOVE this story!!!! PPMS!!!!:rotfl:

ajfinn

07-13-2005, 07:48 AM

Part 31:

As soon as Lex heard Clark’s voice, he pushed a button to alert his security that he needed the call traced. He sat upright. “This is a dangerous game you’re playing, Clark,” he said. “You know I always win.”

“If you want me to play your game, I’ll need to know the rules,” Clark said. “Otherwise, your win can only come by way of cheating. And I know you’d never be satisfied with that.”

“You want rules?” Lex asked. “Okay, here’s the first one—thou shalt not steal.”

Clark laughed. “As long as you’re issuing commandments, how about, thou shalt not kill?” he asked. “Would you mind explaining why my best friend is attempting to murder me?”

“Because you’re dangerous, Clark,” Lex answered without hesitating. “You always have been, it’s just taken me a while to discover how to do you in.”

“With meteor rock?” Clark asked, trying to sound confident. “Maybe if you stuck around long enough, you’d see that the rocks only weaken me while they strengthen my abilities.”

Lex didn’t know how to respond, pondering the possible truth of that. “Oh, common, Clark,” he said. “We both know there has to be a lethal dose—it’s only a matter of time before I find out how much.”

Clark tried to pretend that he wasn’t affected by this cold threat, but he couldn’t do it. “Lex, what’s happened to us? Why have you turned on me?”

“You’re the one who ruined our friendship, Clark,” Lex said. “You’ve lied to me since the day we met. You’ve stolen my two most valuable possessions, and I WANT THEM BACK!”

“Lex, let me save you some time, here,” Clark said with a tone of arrogance. “The stones are GONE, all of them. GONE, GONE, GONE! I threw them so far off the edge of the earth that no one will ever find them again. I wanted their influence to leave our lives forever! So do yourself a favor and stop obsessing over them.”

“More lies!” Lex shouted, but he could hear the honest, determined quality to Clark’s voice.

“And as for lying to you since they day we met—okay here’s the truth,” Clark said, with more emotion than he’d intended. “I saved your waste of a life that day, and I’ve saved your waste of a life at least a dozen times since. So how can that classify me as anything but a friend, even if I’ve had to lie to you about how I’ve done it?”

“Meteor freaks aren’t friends, Clark,” Lex said, feeling nothing in his heart but ice. “They’re demons.”

Between Clark’s heavy breaths, he could hear some commotion on Lex’s side of the phone call. Then the voice of Sheriff Adams became clear. “Mr. Luthor, I need to take you in for some questioning. And there are some mighty angry Chinese diplomats on their way with a search warrant.” The line went dead.

Clark could almost feel the blood drain out of Lex’s face. He wanted to give a smug smile of satisfaction, but it wouldn’t come. He held the receiver in his hand listening to the steady dial tone, until the automatic operator’s voice came on and asked if he’d ‘like to make a call.’ He couldn’t help but pay homage to Chloe’s earlier joke. “E.T. phone home,” Clark said flatly, then hung up.

He leaned against the uneven brick wall of a building and looked to the stars for answers. He was certain he already had one, however. Lex was not the same as he once was, and it was surely a result of the lab accident at Luthor Corp. There was nothing left of his friend, and Clark couldn’t help but mourn his loss. He’d do anything to bring the real Lex back into his life—flaws and all. At least the former Lex was always fighting his innate selfish desires, but this new Lex was evil to the core.

Hitting the brick wall and leaving an unintended crack, Clark finally snapped out of his stupor and super-sped toward the north—straight north.

***
“I’m so confused,” Chloe said, shaking her head to rid the clouds between her ears. It felt like everything Lana said was echoing. “How can YOU be Clark’s ‘protector’? I mean, I know you can move a few things around, but—” They’d already discussed Lana seeing the spaceship, hearing the voice, Lana accidentally using her powers, healing her own leg . . . just about everything that had happened during the day. Lana did not plan to tell Chloe about Genevieve, however. That would remain she and Clark’s burden alone.

Lana shrugged. “That’s the same question I’ve been asking myself,” she said, wishing Chloe would stop looking at her with her nose scrunched up in doubt. “I mean, I guess Clark could be wrong—maybe the person he sensed in his visions was someone else.”

“But didn’t you just say that your powers first popped up when you thought Clark was in danger?” Chloe asked, unable to make up her mind. “That sounds pretty protector-like to me.”

“Well, I’ve felt something strange bubbling inside me ever since Isobel left, but that’s true—nothing happened until Lex threatened to kill Clark,” Lana said.

“Not even when Lex first threatened YOU?” Chloe asked.

Lana shook her head. “I know it’s strange,” she said. “I mean, I was really scared, but not like I was when . . . ” Lana trailed off remembering the gun and the ring next to Clark’s heart. “I’m sorry I’m acting like such a drama queen, but I’ve never been so afraid in my life,” Lana continued with a sniff, her chin trembling. “What if I really am the one who has to help Clark fulfill his destiny—what if I fail? What if I’m forced to give him up so he can do whatever it is his biological father says he’s meant to do?”

Chloe didn’t know how to answer any of those questions, and for the first time in her life she was glad she wasn’t Lana Lang. She took Lana’s hand. “Whatever role you play in Clark’s life, I’ll be right beside you for support, okay?” she said. “You both mean the world to me and I’ll do anything I can to help.”

***

When Clark arrived at the Fortress of Solitude, he felt its peace immediately. And that wasn’t all that made him smile—his parents were lying comfortably in the large king-sized bed Clark had made.

He moved quietly so he wouldn’t disturb them, but his mother woke just as he approached. “Clark, thank heaven you made it here all right,” she said.

“Why were you worried about me?” he asked. “You’re the ones who were vacuumed to the North Pole.”

“We’re fine,” she said, sitting up. “I just can’t believe how wonderful this place is—and how warm.”

Clark nodded with pride, looking around at the solid walls of ice that held in the current of warm air he’d made with his heat vision. The walls didn’t even drip from the warmth. “I can’t take all the credit—Jor-el tutored me a bit. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’d be staying in nothing more than an igloo.”

Martha touched the bed, poking the see-through material and watching it bounce up again. “What is this stuff? It feels like Jello, but I’m not sinking into it.”

“It’s Kryptonian—a lot of this stuff is,” Clark said. “When I combined the elements, the crystal they made penetrated the ice and brought out all sorts of weird stuff that was hidden in the earth. And somehow, I knew what to do with all of it. That’s how I made the chamber where I could talk to Jor-el whenever I wanted to.” Clark glanced to the large ice chamber that looked a lot like a luxurious steam shower. “Have you tried it out yet?”

Martha shook her head. “Your father and I decided we’d wait. I’m not sure what to say right now,” she said. “You know how I feel about Jor-el.”

“Yes, but I now know exactly how he feels about the two of you,” Clark said. “We had some good chats while I was here, and he’s finally happy with the way I’ve turned out. He even went as far as to say that it’s because of the way my parents have raised me.”

“Really?” Martha asked, stunned. “Then maybe we’ll venture into the ‘chamber’ tomorrow.”

“I think it’s a good idea,” Clark said. “I stopped in Canada and brought some more food up—it should last you a few extra days. Is there anything else you need?”

“Not a thing,” Martha said. “Thanks for remembering your dad’s heart medication.”

“Is he doing all right?” Clark asked, looking over at Jonathan who was snoring peacefully.

Martha pulled the covers a little higher on him. “Perfect. He’s just as impressed as I am with this place. He even said he’s always wanted a vacation home, but never expected to have a place that was so spectacular.”

Clark gave a soft laugh, trying not to wake his father. “Well, I don’t expect we’ll be selling time shares or anything, but it’s a pretty cool crib. And I know you’ll be safe here.”

“We’re fine, son,” Martha said. “Why don’t you get back to Lana? You two seem very happy together.”

“We are. And when this is all over, I don’t want her to worry about another thing for the rest of her life,” Clark said. “I can’t stand to see her so concerned about me. Everything feels so out of my control right now.”

Martha took Clark’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “The only thing you can’t control is how much she loves you, Clark. LET her love you. LET her do all she can to protect you,” she said. “If you do that, I know that everything will fall in it’s proper place. I feel it in my heart.”

Clark gave his mom a hug. “Well, your heart has never been wrong,” he said. “And it’s surely believed in me more times than I deserved.”

The two of them talked a while longer, then Clark gave her a quick explanation of where he and Lana were staying and how he was trying to throw Lex off his trail. “I’ll be back soon,” he said, flying out the top of the fortress, and leaving his mother in awe.

***
When Clark arrived back in Metropolis at 3 AM, he discovered Lana waiting up for him on the couch. They had a nice reunion, then Lana joined Chloe in the bedroom, sleeping in a twin bed on the opposite side of the room.

Clark nestled into the couch—completely exhausted, and fell asleep within minutes. An hour later, he awoke to Lana’s terrified screams—piercing the still of the night.

Karen26

07-13-2005, 08:38 AM

dammit come on you cant leave it there post more soon

SVsleuth

07-13-2005, 09:05 AM

Keep up the great story. Love it! :)

booze_is_me09

07-13-2005, 09:48 AM

aww c'mon! PPMS!:D

kewl

07-13-2005, 11:28 AM

HEY, u can't just leave us hanging!!!! c'mon post some more!!!! i wonder why lana screamed???? :D oh great update btw!!! PPMS!!!!!

Ketchup

07-13-2005, 02:14 PM

Let me guess... a nightmare? This story is awesome, PPMS! =)

clana4ev3r

07-13-2005, 02:54 PM

don't leave us hanging like that!! PPMS!

dreammaster

07-13-2005, 04:17 PM

that was simply awesome

smallvillewolf17

07-13-2005, 04:44 PM

I'm loving the story. keep posting

mcgairman

07-13-2005, 04:50 PM

Boy do I hate cliffys!! Post soon!

binkys711

07-13-2005, 08:58 PM

STUPID CLIFFY'S!!!PPMS!!!

ajfinn

07-14-2005, 02:23 AM

Hey guys, just got back from the Bahamas :( It was a really long day, but I'll be writing tomorrow and post as soon as I have an update :D OKAY - those who hate "cliffys" are REALLY giving me a complex now. It's all part of the fun, guys! I'd feel really guilty if I wasn't posting every day, but you'll just have to wait until tomorrow ;)

NYC300Z

07-14-2005, 03:09 AM

Really Great Update!! And don't worry so much about leaving cliffys like u said u post like everyday!! And besides didn't we go over that once b4?? But yeah I can't wait to find out why Lana screamed PPMS!!!

kewl

07-14-2005, 03:47 AM

u know we're just kidding about the cliffies ajfinn so don't worry much about it. and besides that's what keeps us coming back for more, right??? oh and welcome back!!!! hope u had a great time at the bahamas! :D

SVsleuth

07-14-2005, 08:55 AM

Glad you had fun in the Bahamas. At least you didn't get a visit from hurricane Dennis while you were there. Here on the Gulf Coast, we spent our time boarding up windows, packing up suitcases, then breathing a sigh of relief that our town dodged another one, as we unpacked & unboarded... and keep an eye on hurricane Emily. (& in between the packing & unpacking, we squeezed in a few minutes to read your updates, so lovingly sent from the Bahamas. Thanks! You helped relieve a little stress around my house.) :)

ajfinn

07-14-2005, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by SVsleuth
Glad you had fun in the Bahamas. At least you didn't get a visit from hurricane Dennis while you were there. Here on the Gulf Coast, we spent our time boarding up windows, packing up suitcases, then breathing a sigh of relief that our town dodged another one, as we unpacked & unboarded... and keep an eye on hurricane Emily. (& in between the packing & unpacking, we squeezed in a few minutes to read your updates, so lovingly sent from the Bahamas. Thanks! You helped relieve a little stress around my house.) :)

Ahh, you just made my day. Okay, I'm motivated to write again :D I'm glad your family did all right - I hope everyone out there is doing all right with all the crazy weather. And if you're from the UK, our flags are at half-mast for you.:\

Ketchup

07-14-2005, 09:58 AM

It so pathetic, no one in the US even bothered to put our flags at half-mast. :(

clana4ev3r

07-14-2005, 06:16 PM

when are you goign to post?

ajfinn

07-14-2005, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by clana4ev3r
when are you goign to post?

I'll be posting within the next hour :D

SmallvilleMan

07-14-2005, 07:19 PM

i hate when u do that:rolleyes:

SVsleuth

07-14-2005, 07:20 PM

Yay! I'll check back in a little while... :) :) :)

EyeluvTom

07-14-2005, 07:59 PM

Can't wait for your post! I already read all of the chapters! Talk about interesting! :)

ajfinn

07-14-2005, 08:05 PM

Part 32:

Clark sped into the bedroom to find Lana thrashing around—still screaming. All at once, Lana went completely limp, breathing heavily as she lay there without a twitch. Chloe, who had bolted upright at the first scream, joined Clark in a questioning stare.

“I’ve heard her cry out in the night before,” Chloe whispered, but never like that.

As Clark sat on the bed, waiting to see if Lana would wake, he remembered Chloe once telling him that Lana had frequent nightmares, but he was certain this was anything but typical. Clark worried that Lana was having more terrifying memories from Isobel’s past—and he was right.

Lana’s mind was deep in the middle ages of France, and though she screamed at the spiraling sensation of being pulled into Isobel’s memories, this fresh scene felt anything but dark. The sun poured upon a young Isobel’s face as she played with her two year old daughter, Marguerite, in a flower patch. Isobel’s husband had died of the plague shortly before Marguerite was born, but they were left with enough of a fortune—Edmond Theroux having been a well-endowed Count—that their situation was not in the least unpleasant. Except for the loss of an adult companion—who had not been as charming as Isobel had dreamed of for a husband—Isobel was very content, and the two little maidens were happy in their new life in the countryside. It was not the common lifestyle of a Countess, but the one in which Isobel had chosen to raise her child—away from the judgmental eyes of Paris society.

“What’s this, Mama?” asked Marguerite in her elfishly high voice, having picked up a treasure from the fresh, damp soil.

Isobel smiled down on her. “It’s a snail, darling,” she said, turning the shell over. “See, there’s a little creature inside here.”

Marguerite’s round green eyes grew large. “Is this its home? But it’s so small!” Her tiny fingers prodded the snail, attempting to see inside the shell. “Where does it do its cooking?”

Isobel’s insides warmed and she tried not to laugh at the innocent question. There was nothing more wonderful, she thought, than being a mother. “Why, it must have a miniature little pot and fireplace in here somewhere, mustn’t it?” She continued to examine the shell as closely as her daughter. “But perhaps it prefers raw vegetables—” The two of them jolted at the site of sudden orange flames to the side of them, whirling to see the hay loft in their barn on fire.

Isobel scooped up her daughter and rushed toward the scene, looking around for help from her estate staff—but remembered in a panic that she’d given them a holiday. As the flames grew higher, spreading to the roof, Isobel kept a safe distance and placed her hysterical daughter on her hip. Releasing a frustrated cry, Isobel resigned herself to watching the barn go down. There was nothing she could do on her own, and the fire would not go far. The barn was surrounded by a lake on one side, and a freshly plowed field on the other.

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” Isobel said, trying to comfort Marguerite as she coddled her. She kept her eyes roving for any sign of the cause—barns did not just spontaneously erupt into flames—not on such a pleasant spring morning as this one. Then an even stranger event took place. The flames died to a smolder in mere moments. Isobel blinked and took another look. Confirming that all was as it appeared to be, she ran toward the barn, stopping only to set Marguerite in a fenced play yard.

She walked with caution into the barn, then grabbed onto a post to steady herself as she stared at the tall, dark-haired, breathtaking—and very naked man before her. “Who are you?” Isobel finally found the wits to ask.

This was when Lana gave one last jolt in bed and gasped for air—her eyes opening wide as her heart raced. Clark brought her to his chest and stroked her back. “I’m here, Lana. It was only a nightmare.”

Lana pulled back from him, and looked at his familiar silhouette, outlined by the moonlight seeping through the window curtains. “It was you, Clark,” she said, still panting for air. “And you were naked.”

Both Clark and Chloe couldn’t help but crack a smile at this, Clark’s being an utterly embarrassed one. “Okay,” he said slowly, trying not to feel self-conscious that Lana seeing him naked qualified as a ‘nightmare’. “I guess that explains all the horrified screaming.”

She gripped his shoulders, remaining serious. “No. It was you—in a barn in France—with Isobel.”

Chloe suddenly felt like a major intruder, and climbed out of bed. “I’ll get you a glass of water,” she said, noticing the dry rasp in Lana’s voice.

Neither Clark nor Lana had the capacity to answer. “How could it have been me?” Clark asked.

Lana shook her head. “I don’t know, but it was. It had to be,” she said, her whole body trembling. “I was in Isobel’s mind again, only this time, it felt like I was actually her—but she wasn't capable of magic yet, I could tell.” Clark’s strong Kryptonian muscles could only manage a weak swallow. “And she had a daughter . . . named Marguerite—who looked like she was only about two years old . . . she had a daughter, Clark! She was a good mother—I could feel how much she loved her. I mean, I’ve done enough research to know that Marguerite existed, but . . . ” Lana was crying without shame, feeling the full range of Isobel’s emotions, “to see them together—to see Isobel as an actual person, capable of loving someone.” She shivered, retelling the whole vision to him, starting in the flower garden. She finished with, “What happened that turned Isobel’s heart so black?”

Clark took Lana in his arms, holding her as she cried against him. “I don’t know, Lana. But I swear that I’d tell you if I’d ever been near Isobel before this past year—I’ve never even been to France.” Let alone hundreds of years ago, he thought.

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I know what I saw,” she said, for the first time coming out of her shock enough to realize the state she’d seen Clark in. “And I, uhh, probably shouldn’t have mentioned ALL the details.”

He laughed. “It’s not exactly how I’ve imagined the moment, but—”

“Yeah, me neither,” she said, feeling her face turn hot.

Chloe was resting with her back against the wall, just outside the bedroom door. She’d been there for the last ten minutes, trying as hard as she could to stop being so nosy—but it was in her blood. She finally braved the thick air of romance in the room, entering with a casual smile. “Here’s your water,” she said, placing it on a night stand. “I’ll, uhh, just be out on the couch if you need anything else.” She grabbed her pillow and blanket.

“You don’t need to leave, Chloe,” Lana said. “But do you mind if Clark stays in here with us? I’m kind of freaked out right now.”

Clark left Lana on the bed, and was back with the Luv Sac and his pillow and blanket from the couch, before Chloe could respond. “There’s room for all of us, isn’t there?”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’d tell you two to just ‘get a room,’ but it looks like you’ve already found one,” she said, bounding back into her bed and pulling the covers over her head as she rolled to face the wall.

Lana tried to smile. “Chloe, Clark and I slept in separate rooms last night, even though we didn’t need to,” she said. “There isn’t any reason for you to feel uncomfortable.”

Chloe didn’t answer, repeating, “Clark is my friend, Clark is my friend, Clark is ONLY my friend,” in her mind over and over again.

Clark and Lana didn’t know what else to say to make her relax, so Clark gave Lana a very silent good night kiss and Lana crawled into her bed—and Clark into the Luv Sac. When it was obvious that Chloe had at last fallen back to sleep, Clark could tell that Lana was still awake and stretched out his hand to find Lana’s own hand dangling over the side of the bed. He held it for a minute, his heart pounding deeper and faster than it ever had.

Lana felt his racing pulse as she ran her fingers over his wrist. Her own heart was keeping up the same speed, and she was strangely relieved that she hadn’t experienced Isobel’s memory in the barn last night—when Lana was very much alone with the real Clark.

Passion is a scary thing, she thought for the first time in her life.

(Just a note! I've been so excited to finally write this part, which introduces a sub-plot of the story that I've hinted at since the very first post--Lana's visions of Isobel's past including how Isobel gained her powers and her connection to the stones--whoo hoo, we're here! I hope you enjoy it, there's lots more to come.)

EyeluvTom

07-14-2005, 08:13 PM

Wow, that was great! I love how you use a variety of words in your writing and give us a clear picture of what's happening in your story! Three cheers for ajfinn! Give us another update soon!:)

kewl

07-14-2005, 09:44 PM

U R AWESOME AJFINN!!!!! i wonder was it really clark out there in isobel's barn in france??? great update!!!! PPMS!!! :D

Ketchup

07-14-2005, 10:19 PM

You are AMAZING!!! I absolutely loved this update! I was kind of getting tired of reading fics which simply described Clana's daily happenings, and now you knocked me of my feet by revealing a whole nother lever to your story. All I can say is... WOAH! And hey I read the update, despite how busy I am :p Keep this up, and PPMS!!!

MOOman0618

07-14-2005, 10:21 PM

This story is freaking great! Great update...looking forward to more.

itsallinthespelling

07-14-2005, 10:27 PM

i been a silent reader, but im still lovin this story and can't wait for more. (i'm back on the clana forum :D)

clana4ev3r

07-14-2005, 10:29 PM

cool update PPMS!

dreammaster

07-14-2005, 11:09 PM

awesome chapter

SVsleuth

07-15-2005, 12:54 AM

Great update. Can't wait to read about Isobel & Clark??? or maybe it's Jor-El? Or some other ancestor El? Hmmmm.... Great writing ajfinn. I really enjoy your writing. I hope you enjoy writing it as much as we enjoy reading it. :)

NYC300Z

07-15-2005, 02:13 AM

Fantastic update!! This story has so many things going on there's Lex tring to kill Clark, there's the alien Lana saw, now we have the sub-plot about Isobel's past, and we still have to get back to more love letter and journal readings!! LOL This story has a long way to go and that's just great cuz i don't want this story to end!! lol keep it up and PPMS!!!

binkys711

07-15-2005, 02:27 AM

OMG!!!SO AWESOME!!!PPMS!!!

booze_is_me09

07-15-2005, 08:14 AM

i did enjoy it! you are doing such a wonderful job! keep it up!PPMS!

Ketchup

07-15-2005, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by NYC300Z
Fantastic update!! This story has so many things going on there's Lex tring to kill Clark, there's the alien Lana saw, now we have the sub-plot about Isobel's past, and we still have to get back to more love letter and journal readings!! LOL This story has a long way to go and that's just great cuz i don't want this story to end!! lol keep it up and PPMS!!!

You forgot the Bahamas! :lol:

C.A.chick

07-15-2005, 11:24 AM

MORE MORE MORE!!!!!! PPMS!! this story rocks!!! i wanna find out more about Isobel and why Clark was there( or maybe somebody he's related to, like in the episode where we learned about jor-el and louise)

smallvillewolf17

07-15-2005, 12:15 PM

i'm loving this story. PPMS!

mcgairman

07-15-2005, 01:33 PM

Still like this story. Keep it going. Like the back in time subplot too.

NYC300Z

07-15-2005, 02:04 PM

Yeah ur right Ketchup.....She even took the time to post for us while she was in the Bahamas...she is truly dedicated to this story and that's FANtastic....lol

ajfinn

07-15-2005, 05:33 PM

Okay, guys. It looks like I won't get this next update done in time to post tonight. I have a date with my very own "Clark" so, even with an all night, mad read of Harry Potter, I will still have an update for you tomorrow. :D I'm curious, though if anyone will read it, since it seems 90% of the world will spend tomorrow with their noses deep in another story about magic and super powers. And I don't blame them, really ;) I'll be at least half way through before tomorrow morning, guaranteed.

And since I'm just posting to keep you updated, I have a question. WHO else is out there besides those who have already made themselves known????? HOW is it that is story is getting viewed over 800 times a day the past couple of weeks???? Either there are a whole lot of silent readers (that I'd LOVE to hear from) or I have a cyber stalker who keeps clicking through my pages to make me look good. It's you, Ketchup, isn't it?! :lol: :lol:

PS - and yes, Clark and Lana may island hop to the Bahamas as he promised. When has Clark ever let her down?

SmallvilleMan

07-15-2005, 05:36 PM

You can update, i know you can. And yes there are a lot of silent readers. I just started a new story and there's already 129 views.:eek:

4EverSmallville

07-15-2005, 05:37 PM

:rotfl: @ the Ketchup part. That does seem like something Ketchup would do lol.

Have fun on your date ;). I want details!!! j/k ;).

I have HP plans this weekend too :lol:.

As far as the people viewing your thread, it could be guests who aren't registered and can't reply. Or...it could be Ketchup :rotfl:.

LoisNClark

07-15-2005, 06:35 PM

there are always silent readers:)
I have HP plans as well.
Chances are the forum will be close to empty tomorrow and sunday as people read HBP.
looking forward to more of this story especially the bahamas part;)

C.A.chick

07-15-2005, 06:37 PM

HURRY UP!!!!!!!!!

SVsleuth

07-15-2005, 08:54 PM

I won't be reading Harry Potter. So if you update, I'll be here. One reason for the many views of the thread is that all of us keep checking to see if there are updates we haven't read yet, & we also like to read what the other readers thought of the latest updates. So I may view your story 5 times a day, checking for an update, but only post after you give us a new chapter. Does that make sense? There ARE silent readers, though. I was one for quite awhile, before I ever signed up for K-Site. Finally, when I just felt I HAD to post, I registered. I'm sure there are many of these silent readers out there. Enjoy your date & your book. I'll busy myself with preparations for my son's birthday party, & check for updates sometime tomorrow. (If there are none, I'll just go watch some Smallville DVD's to pass the time). ;)

Ketchup

07-15-2005, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by ajfinn
And since I'm just posting to keep you updated, I have a question. WHO else is out there besides those who have already made themselves known????? HOW is it that is story is getting viewed over 800 times a day the past couple of weeks???? Either there are a whole lot of silent readers (that I'd LOVE to hear from) or I have a cyber stalker who keeps clicking through my pages to make me look good. It's you, Ketchup, isn't it?! :lol: :lol:

PS - and yes, Clark and Lana may island hop to the Bahamas as he promised. When has Clark ever let her down?

DAMN! How did you know? Guess Im a pretty bad stalker eh? :rotfl: I have never read a single page of Harry Potter, and only watched the third movie (which was confusing but much better than I expected).

kewl

07-15-2005, 10:41 PM

i will surely be reading harry potter (one of my faves,btw:)) but i will be checking the forum every hour for more new updates. well except on sunday though coz i will be hanging out with my crazy friends :D have a great weekend u guys!!!

NYC300Z

07-16-2005, 12:06 AM

Yeah I just got back from picking up my copy of Harry Potter about an hour ago....the book almost killed me litteraly I was driving my motorcycle home with the book in a bag over my handlebars and I was red-lining 2nd gear going 50 mph and the book blew up against my knee and I couldn't shift gears and I almost leaned too much and barely missed the car next too me....very scary...well I just had to check k-site b4 I started reading Harry Potter, but don't worry I'll still be checking k-site for updates!!! PPMS!!!

EyeluvTom

07-16-2005, 09:50 AM

I haven't got a copy of HP either, so I'll just be checking this site for one of my favorite author's updates!

LoisNClark

07-16-2005, 11:00 AM

my copy is coming on monday so i'll be checking the forums today. Tomorrow i'll be busy.

SVsleuth

07-16-2005, 11:47 AM

Ahh, ajfinn, I see you are on the forum. Taking a break from Harry Potter? Does this mean you are about to update the story? :)

ajfinn

07-16-2005, 12:07 PM

I'm on page 450 of Harry Potter, can't put it down for longer than a few minutes . . . . dang, this is a good one! However, I've still been working on the update too. Sorry. I was afraid this would happen once I picked up the book. I'll have an update out today though, FOR SURE :D

SVsleuth

07-16-2005, 12:10 PM

Enjoy your book. You deserve it. I haven't read any of Harry Potter. It doesn't really appeal to me. But we can wait for your update. I'd rather it be good than written in a hurry. ;)

C.A.chick

07-16-2005, 12:12 PM

hey ajfinn, whats the new harry potter book about? and i hope you update soon.

LoisNClark

07-16-2005, 12:33 PM

can't wait to read your update.

NYC300Z

07-16-2005, 10:15 PM

Hey u said u'd have an update out today for sure?? and that was YESTERDAY!! Well I guess I'll just continue reading Harry Potter....
PPMS!!!

ajfinn

07-16-2005, 10:31 PM

Part 33:

As difficult as it was for Clark and Lana to remain in their separate sleeping spaces, they at last fell into a slumber again, still holding hands until Lana jerked away as she felt herself spiraling—back into another’s memory of a spring morning in the blossoming countryside of France. Lana did not scream this time, subconsciously wanting to return—knowing what she was about to experience. There could only be one thing better than having Clark in her life, and that was having TWO of him. One of which, was not as prone to wearing flannel, or anything, for that matter.

Isobel repeated her question to the naked, mysterious stranger—who stared at her with a dropped jaw as low as her own. “Who are you?” she asked once more.

The man didn’t know what to say, he didn’t even know why he could speak her language so well—it was not Kryptonian. But the ability to speak and understand the many languages of this strange new planet he’d arrived on three weeks ago had come along with his powerful abilities—as promised by his father—with the energy from the unfamiliar sun above him. “I am called Kal-el,” he said with a stammer, still taking in her rare beauty.

He’d seen enough earth girls to believe they were not much different from those on Krypton, but he’d never seen one so enchanting. As he’d stood in the hayloft, watching her in the flower patch, he’d discovered an ability he was unaware of—he could shoot fire from his eyes. When he at last realized what he’d done, he put out the fire as quickly as he could, resulting in the burning off of his clothes.

Isobel, hearing the gentleness of the stranger’s voice, felt comforted at once. “Is there a reason you’re standing naked in my barn?” She’d meant to sound demanding, but she couldn’t help her amused smile which defeated her purpose. “Did you start the fire?”

“It was an accident—I, uhh, stayed here last night, and woke when I heard voices,” he said, not yet learning the tendency for human men to hide truth. “Then I put the fire out—”

“With your clothes?” Isobel asked, again trying to hide her smile. It had certainly been a while since she’d seen a naked man, but she couldn’t ever recall meeting an honest one. “Well, in that case, I suppose I should excuse your trespassing and fire-starting, then thank you for risking your life to save this century old barn, of which I should have torn down ages ago.”

Kal-el was certain she was not entirely serious, but this new type of communication—sarcasm, as he’d been earlier taught by another earth girl, was not part of Kryptonian culture. He was sure he could get used to it, however, especially if it was coming from someone so breathtaking as the woman before him. In fact, as his eyes started to burn again, he decided he wouldn’t mind learning ANY kind of communication from her. “What are you called?” he asked her.

“Called?” Isobel asked. “Well, I’ve been CALLED many things, but my name is Isobel.”

“Isobel,” Kal-el repeated in a whisper.

Isobel noticed Kal-el rubbing his eyes and looking uncomfortable. “Are you all right?” she asked. “Are you ill?”

“No. I don’t believe so,” he said, walking away from her, where Isobel got a good view of the other side of him—and all of a sudden felt flushed again. “Can I trouble you for some water before I leave?” he asked, feeling very much like he needed to splash it on his face and eyes, rather than drink it.

Strangely disappointed that he planned to leave so soon, she said, “I’ll gather some clothes for you as well.” With that, she turned with reluctance and went toward the estate staff quarters. She passed Marguerite on her way, finding her merrily singing to one of her baby dolls. After entering the arrangement of outbuildings where her workforce stayed, she sifted through the wardrobe of her head of staff, whose stature came closest to Kal-el’s—though Isobel laughed at that comparison, for she doubted anyone’s stature came close to the young man’s who stood in her barn. She patted her hot cheeks at the thought of him again, reprimanding herself for being so silly—this was a straggler, after all, whom she knew nothing about, apart from his very strange name.

Making a quick trip to her well with a mug, Isobel drew Kal-el some water—only to drop the mug into the deep hole when she heard his deep voice behind her.

“Thank you—” he’d started to say, then watched the mug fall. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She faced him with her hand on her heart, feeling its fast pace. “Not a problem, I’ll just get another mug while you change.” She turned and started to walk off, then noticed she still had the clothes under one arm.

Kal-el smiled when she turned back around, obviously embarrassed—that was a well known emotion on Krypton as well—one he was all too familiar with.

“I meant, would you like to change inside?” she asked, not believing she’d said it.

“Thank you,” Kal-el said, taking the stack of clothes from her—their skin touching for the first time as their fingers lingered.

Isobel’s eyes stayed locked on his—the deepest and purest of blue she’d ever seen. “I—uhh, better fetch my daughter, she’s uhh—just go ahead inside, and we’ll be right in.”

Kal-el’s eyes were burning again, and he looked away at last, going toward the country manor she’d directed him to.

Isobel took an opposite path to gather Marguerite, then whirled around just before Kal-el stepped through the front door. “Can I offer you something to eat?” she asked against her better judgment.

He stopped with his hand on the latch, a wide grin taking over his face. “Yes, I’d love that.”

Lana’s reaction when she woke from the dream was quite the opposite from the last time. Before she’d fully come to, she slid off her bed and snuggled beside Clark in the Luv Sac—waking him in a very pleasant manner by running her hand slowly up his chest. “Well, good morning to you, too,” Clark said.

Chloe had been awake for an hour now, making them breakfast, but unfortunately stepped inside the doorway at that very moment—cold shivers go down her back. She repeated her mantra as she slugged back to the kitchen: Clark is only your friend.

Lana’s eyes flew open at last, just now realizing that she was no longer dreaming. “Not that I’m complaining, but how did I get here?” she asked with a laugh.

“Good question, and not that I’m complaining either,” he answered. “Did you sleep all right.”

Lana couldn’t help but nod with a satisfying smile. “I saw you in rather nice form again.”

“Man, is Isobel ever going to dress that guy?” he asked, having no other comeback for her.

She pulled back to look at him, studying his features like she’d just done through Isobel’s eyes. “Clark, ‘that guy’s’ name happens to be Kal-el.”

Clark’s breath left him and he sat up, bringing Lana with him. “Are you sure? Did he tell Isobel that?”

Lana gave a reluctant nod, seeing that this information was not well-received. “And I think he started the fire with his eyes—he kept shutting and rubbing them as he looked away—like it was about to happen again.”

He fell back into the Luv Sac and glancing away, leaving her sitting above him. “None of this makes sense, Lana,” he said, with a sinking feeling. How many more mysteries were there to discover about himself? “I mean, how could I have come to earth hundreds of years ago? And why wouldn’t I remember any of it?”

She put her hand on his cheek, turning his face to her. “Clark, maybe these memories will lead us to understand both of our connections to the stones,” she said. “But whatever the case, I’m not frightened by the visions any longer.”

Though Clark was happy to hear that, it didn’t ease the pit in his stomach. “I think I should ask Jor-el about all this,” he said.

Lana thought that might be a good idea and nodded. “You hungry? I can smell Chloe’s famous banana pancakes.”

They stood and walked out of the room to find Chloe busy with an apron on. “What is this, a bed and breakfast?” Clark asked.

Chloe gave a genuine smile, having snapped out of her momentary sulk. “Well, it’s not like I get the opportunity to cook for anyone lately—so this is just as much a treat for myself.”

“Yum,” Clark said, snatching a pancake right off the griddle and stuffing half of it in his mouth.

“Careful—you’ll burn your mouth,” Chloe said, thinking of the hot bananas inside the batter—then realizing how stupid it was to say that.

Clark put his hand flat on the griddle where the pancake had been. “You two still have a bit to get used to, don’t you?” he said with a pleasant smile, as steam smoldered between his fingers.

“Stop that,” Lana said, stepping up and pulling his hand away. “You’re making surges go through my arm.” She’d tried to make her voice light, but she wasn’t joking. Though she knew how to summon her magic now, she still couldn’t convince her senses—which controlled her natural reactions—of Clark’s invulnerability.

“Sorry,” Clark said, stuffing the other half of the pancake in his mouth, then using his newly free hands to massage Lana’s arms. He swallowed then continued, his mouth still a bit gummy. “It doesn’t hurt me though, I promise.”

Lana stepped away with a roll of her eyes and sidled up to the counter on a bar stool. “I believe you,” she said. “It’s just hard to see it sometimes—I don’t’ know if I’ll ever get ‘used’ to it, Clark.”

Clark joined her, uncertain of how to respond. He’d discussed these kinds of things with his parents too many times to count, but somehow he knew he shouldn’t compare Lana to his mom right now—girls don’t seem to appreciate that.

Chloe turned around, the spatula in her hand. “So, I’m curious, Clark,” she asked with one of her Inquisitor-type tones. “What exactly CAN you feel?”

That snapped him out of his stupor. “I can FEEL everything—it just doesn’t cause any pain.”

“You mean, you’re skin is just as sensitive as ours?” Chloe asked, stepping over an dropping a stack of pancakes on each of their plates.

“I think so,” he answered. “I can’t imagine that certain things feel any better to you guys than they do to me.”

Lana smiled, slipping her hand under the counter and putting it on his knee, where she already knew he was especially ticklish. “Certain things, huh?” she asked, her previous unease fading.

Clark jumped, prying her hand off. “Hey!”

Chloe turned around. “I did NOT need to see that!”

“Her hand was on my knee,” Clark said, realizing how it must have looked from the other side of the counter. “Seriously, please stop assuming our relationship is something it’s not—it just bothers me, all right?” His tone was sincere, almost pleading. It was difficult enough to keep things comfortable with he and Lana—and not just physically—he didn’t want any outside pressures influencing them.

“Backing off,” Chloe said, holding her hands in the air—spatula and all. But it was impossible for her not to think about it. I mean, hello, if SHE was with Clark . . . duh, she thought to herself.

After breakfast, when the tension had eased and they’d each said semi-apologies for their emotional reactions this morning, they dug into even more serious topics.

“So, did you speak with Lex on the phone last night?” Lana asked, feeling really selfish that she hadn’t asked earlier.

“Yeah,” Clark said, his chest feeling the pain again as he told them about the conversation they’d had.

Both Chloe and Lana had to agree that this was not the same Lex who had once been a friend to them—protected them and watched out for their best interests. “Clark, I think you might be right,” said Lana. “I don’t think the good that was left in Lex ever resurfaced after the Luthor Corp accident.”

Chloe nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it since Lana told me everything last night,” she said. “I think we should give him an all expense paid trip to Summerholt.”

Clark stood from the counter, putting his hands behind his head. “Don’t think I haven’t thought about that,” he said. “But I don’t think that erasing the last year of Lex’s life is going to fix the problem. He’s been investigating me for much longer than that—and if he really is evil to the core now, it would make things worse when he realizes what’s happened.”

“Then erase the past five years from him,” Chloe said. “Put him back in Metropolis before we even had to meet his sorry . . . ” she continued her rant, convinced that it was the best thing to do.

“And what? Do it to Lionel too, and whoever else is around to remind him how much he hated me,” Clark said, not hiding his emotion as well as he’d like to. “Nah—I think there might be another way, we just need to find it.”

“Well, it’s Saturday, so I’ve got the whole day off,” Chloe said. “Let’s get on it.”

Just as they’d settled onto the couch and Luv Sac that Clark promptly returned to the living room, there was a knock at the door. “Delivery for Chloe Sullivan,” a male voice said.

Clark and Lana both turned their heads to Chloe. “I thought you said no one knew where you were,” Clark said.

Ketchup

07-16-2005, 11:01 PM

That was an awesome update! Like keeping me on the edge of my seat? Well you're doing a good job. =)

ajfinn

07-16-2005, 11:30 PM

Sorry about all the type-os in the last update!! I can't edit them because the post is too long - some weird word count issue. Anyway, my apologies, I hate not being perfect. One day, though . . . :D

I finished Harry Potter, couldn't put it down to save my life. Holy cow, lots to take in. Breathe. Wow. It's better than book 5, which I liked, but wasn't stunned by. And Harry is so much more mature in this 6th book. Lots of "snogging" going on, I'll say that much, but that's all. Wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone. :)

4EverSmallville

07-17-2005, 12:11 AM

Great update - I know what you mean about that word count thing, that really used to set me off lol.

I didn't see how that date went though, did you think I was kidding? :rotfl: I was, don't worry :lol:.

You finished HP? :lol: I went out today so I'm at the halfway point, looks like I have something to look forward to, alongside that next update :D.

NYC300Z

07-17-2005, 12:42 AM

Glad I took a break from HP to check on ur update! I wasn't disapointed! U finished HP already? Wow i'm only a third of the way through....but i had to work all day so yeah...

Can't wait to see what Jor-el has to say about the dreams...maybe one of Clark's ancestors he was named after?? And what their plan for Lex is....PPMS!!!

EyeluvTom

07-17-2005, 08:02 AM

Great update! I heard that HP was almost 700 pages long! There is no way I could have already finished it, if I had it that is.

kewl

07-17-2005, 10:58 AM

just took a break from HP too and it was worth it...terrific upate!!! i'm on the edge of my seat, PPMS!!!

SVsleuth

07-17-2005, 12:25 PM

Super update. I really LOVE this story. Kal-El with Isobel! Can't wait for Lana to go back to sleep. ;)

ajfinn

07-17-2005, 06:34 PM

Is anyone reading today?? ;) The boards seem deserted. I'm almost done with my next update, but I don't want people to get left behind. So, if anyone out there wants the next update, let me know, or I'll just hold off until tomorrow. I'm sure most people will be through with HP by morning. Once I hit the middle, I couldn't stop.

LoisNClark

07-17-2005, 07:12 PM

please update because i'm getting my book tomorrow and i need an update before i start reading the book because once i start i won't stop:p

itsallinthespelling

07-17-2005, 07:15 PM

please please please please please update again today. love this fanfic.

ajfinn

07-17-2005, 08:22 PM

Part 34:

Chloe shrugged. “Uhh . . . ” she was sure no one else besides her friend who owned the place knew where she was, and then it hit her. “Crap. I guess there is one other person—but I don’t think we have to—” she cracked the door and peeked out, with Clark right behind her. “Oh my—” she threw open the door, almost smacking Clark in the face, “they’re BEAUTIFUL!”

Lana tipped her head to get a better view. Chloe’s reaction could mean only one thing. “Who on earth sent those orchids—and what’s his number?” Lana asked with a gasp.

Clark whirled around with a hurt look, but relaxed when Lana came from behind and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m joking, sweetheart,” she whispered.

His insides warmed to a boiling point—never imagining how good it would feel to have Lana call him pet names. It was silly for him to like it so much, he thought, but in a strange way it was starting to feel normal.

Chloe was breathless after she thanked the delivery man, and stepped back inside with the huge bouquet in a beveled vase. “Oh yeah, he’s a charmer—just like I thought.”

“Who?” Both Clark and Lana asked together.

“Uhh—” Chloe caught herself before speaking his name, throwing a quick glance to Lana. “James—and I forgot to tell you that we have a date tonight.”

“Cool,” Lana said, wondering why Chloe gave her that apprehensive look. “Do you like him?”

Chloe set the flowers on the coffee table, admiring them with wide eyes. “I’m not sure yet—but these flowers sure help the cause,” she said, leaning over to take a whiff of their sweetness. “This is kind of embarrassing to say, but this is the first time a guy has ever sent me flowers.”

“No it’s not,” Clark said defensively. “I sent you a whole dozen of roses once.”

Lana looked at him in shock—she’d never even received that grand of a gesture. She turned back quickly so her curiosity wouldn’t be so obvious.

“Uhh, Clark,” Chloe said, patting his chest as she walked by. “It doesn’t count when you send them to a hospital patient.”

“Why?” Clark asked, thinking he’d scored a serious touchdown because of it. He followed her into the kitchen where she intended to start cleaning up, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“Because, Clark,” Chloe answered, like she was teaching him some life-saving lesson. “It’s kind of expected—not spontaneous, and besides I was unconscious.”

Clark threw up his hands, looking over to Lana. “Help me here! That counts, doesn’t it?” Lana bit her lip, tipping her head. This was obviously a bad sign, and Clark walked over to the couch and fell into it. “Who makes up these stupid rules? Seriously, how are guys supposed to know that? I thought I was being thoughtful!”

“I wasn’t saying it wasn’t thoughtful,” Chloe said, rolling the Luv Sac closer to the coffee table so she could sit by the orchids. “All I was saying, is that it wasn’t romantic, and receiving flowers in THIS manner is! It was spontaneous and without purpose . . . except to butter me up—or something, who knows? But that’s what makes it romantic.”

“He sounds great, Chlo,” Lana said with a smile. “Tell me all about him before I have to jinx it out of you.” She pretended to be warming up her magical hands, though she didn’t know a single jinx—but Chloe didn’t have to know that.

Chloe shook her head. “Sorry, but there’s not much to say—he works at the Planet with me. He’s umm, twenty-one I think, and well . . . okay—his father owns the Daily Planet and about thirty other mega-businesses—so what?”

Clark knew about the enormous enterprise that owned the Daily Planet—they were almost as famous as the Luthors. “His dad owns the Olsen Corporation?”

Lana was about to shriek anyway, but when her mind spit out a curious name to her, she threw her hand over her mouth. “Jimmy Olsen! But he’s the guy—” and then she just stopped, knowing some boundaries should never be crossed, not even if it was just Clark standing in their midst. “I mean, umm, you’ve known him for a few years now, right?”

Chloe nodded with a raised brow to Lana, confirming that what she’d told her earlier about Jimmy Olsen was strictly between them. “We’ve emailed a few times over the years, but he started calling last month when he found out I was coming back for another internship this summer—crazy, huh?”

Clark was in a daze again. Lana bumped him to see what was up and he said, “Seriously? Flowers don’t count when they’re only ‘thoughtful’? What about when they’re given for an apology—like all those times I gave you a rose when I wanted to make up for something.”

“Clark, we’re talking about Chloe’s new guy,” Lana said, putting his face in her hands and turning his attention to her—but his lips were pouted in such a cute way, as she squished his cheeks together, that she couldn’t help but give him a quick peck. “Pay attention—you might learn something.”

“Yeah, I kinda suck at this stuff, I guess,” Clark said, feeling rightfully reproved.

“You don’t suck, Clark,” Chloe said, suddenly feeling sorry for her big dumb alien friend—despite the kiss Lana just planted on him. “You could just use some tweaking—like a good news article that could be GREAT, if it was only kicked up a notch.”

“A notch?” Clark asked flatly, then looked back to Lana and whispered, “Do I need to ‘kick it up a notch’?”

Lana laughed, seeing that he was entirely serious. “Not as many notches as you used to,” she said. “You’ve progressed a lot in the last couple of months.”

He couldn’t help but smile, giving a smug nod to Chloe. “See, I’m not THAT bad,” he said. “But I guess I could use a few pointers from this new Olsen hunk—do we get to meet him?”

That put a nice round rock right in the center of Chloe’s stomach—especially with the mention of the word ‘hunk’. “Well, he’s supposed to pick me up at seven, but I’m not really sure if—”

“Oh, common’ Chlo,” Clark said, mirroring Lana’s expression of disappointment. “I’ll behave myself—I promise. No joking, no teasing—I swear. I’ll even shower and comb my hair.”

“You’ll COMB your hair?” Lana asked, knowing he usually just tousled it around with his fingers. “Heaven forbid—I’d leave.” Instinctively, she wrapped one of her fingers around the loose curls resting above his shirt collar—dang, she loved his dark luscious hair—how it hung just above his eyes, how it smelled, ohh . . .

Now it was Lana who was in a trance—and Clark had closed his eyes in bliss, leaning his head back against the pressure of her fingers, that were now moving through the back of his hair.

Chloe stood to get a glass of water for herself—or poison if she could find it. “No, you can’t meet him,” she mumbled. FREAK! She couldn’t wait to leave this place tonight. She loved these two, and was doing a better job at closing her heart to the thought of them together—but that was really the problem—it wasn’t a ‘thought’ at all anymore. It was like watching her worst nightmare in movie form right in front of her! They were like a pair of squid, their sticky hands all over one another.

When she returned, a full minute later, Chloe stood in front of them with her glass of water. She put her hand on her hip, waiting for them to notice—but nothing! They weren’t even kissing—at least that would be excusable—they were just goggling at each other. There was only one way to rescue them from the Love Zone. SPLASH! “It’s time to talk about Lex!” she said.

SVsleuth

07-17-2005, 08:48 PM

Great update, as usual, ajfinn. These had me :lol:

“You’ll COMB your hair?” Lana asked, knowing he usually just tousled it around with his fingers. “Heaven forbid—I’d leave.”

"They weren’t even kissing—at least that would be excusable—they were just goggling at each other. "
(My sister used to complain about that when my husband and I had just gotten engaged. I guess she felt just like Chloe did!) ;)

Now, come on, ajfinn, Lana needs to go back to sleep & see Kal-El again. Please? :grin:

ajfinn

07-17-2005, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by SVsleuth
Great update, as usual, ajfinn. These had me :lol:

“You’ll COMB your hair?” Lana asked, knowing he usually just tousled it around with his fingers. “Heaven forbid—I’d leave.”

They weren’t even kissing—at least that would be excusable—they were just goggling at each other. (My sister used to complain about that when my husband and I had just gotten engaged. I guess she felt just like Chloe did!) ;)

Ahh, young love. It ROCKS, doesn't it?? I hope we see LOTS of "Clana goggling" in season 5.

SVsleuth

07-17-2005, 08:52 PM

Absolutely. And still does after 19 years!

ajfinn

07-17-2005, 08:55 PM

Originally posted by SVsleuth
Absolutely. And still does after 19 years!

I've been married for ten years now, and my husband still causes me to goggle at him--he has dreamy blue eyes, I should add. His hair is still luscious, though not dark. But he does let me call him "Kal-el" when he puts on a black shirt, and that works for me :D

NYC300Z

07-17-2005, 09:30 PM

Great Update and what about Lex do they have to talk about that they haven't covered already?? Can't wait to find out! PPMS!!!

peaches4cream

07-17-2005, 09:39 PM

ohhhhhhhhh how could you just leave it there

LoisNClark

07-17-2005, 09:40 PM

great chapter. loved the combing the hair part:lol:
ppms

peaches4cream

07-17-2005, 09:40 PM

They weren’t even kissing—at least that would be excusable—they were just goggling at each other. There was only one way to rescue them from the Love Zone. SPLASH! “It’s time to talk about Lex!” she said.

that was so cool and deep why there though you are so mean

SVsleuth

07-17-2005, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by ajfinn
I've been married for ten years now, and my husband still causes me to goggle at him--he has dreamy blue eyes, I should add. His hair is still luscious, though not dark. But he does let me call him "Kal-el" when he puts on a black shirt, and that works for me :D

Isn't true love great? It gets better & better when you marry the one you were "destined" to be with. Right? True for me. :)

And, in this forum, that will always be Clana, right?

ajfinn

07-17-2005, 10:20 PM

Originally posted by SVsleuth
Isn't true love great? It gets better & better when you marry the one you were "destined" to be with. Right? True for me. :)

And, in this forum, that will always be Clana, right?

YES!! And I'm going to give destiny a nice slap on the bottom for these two.

Which REMINDS me!!!!!!!! EVERYONE, LISTEN UP ;) Please go on the main Kryptonsite News board and vote for your favorite couple!! Voting will be over soon, and I know that there are a lot more CLANA shippers out there than people think! We want the Smallville powers that be to know how happy we are about CLANA coming back!!!! :D :D

peaches4cream

07-17-2005, 10:25 PM

ok hurra for clana

4EverSmallville

07-18-2005, 01:04 AM

:D. Very nice update once more. You're very consistent :). I can't wait for the next.

Your husband lets you call him Kal-el? :rotfl: That's hilariously cute.

ajfinn

07-18-2005, 01:07 AM

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
:D. Very nice update once more. You're very consistent :). I can't wait for the next.

Your husband lets you call him Kal-el? :rotfl: That's hilariously cute.

And my kids run around the house saying: "Mommy loves Clarky! Mommy loves Clarky!"

Yeah, we're a pretty mixed up set of Smallville freaks. :D

kewl

07-18-2005, 01:17 AM

once again ur update was just great!!!! PPMS!

4EverSmallville

07-18-2005, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by ajfinn
And my kids run around the house saying: "Mommy loves Clarky! Mommy loves Clarky!"

Yeah, we're a pretty mixed up set of Smallville freaks. :D

:lol: That's priceless.

EyeluvTom

07-18-2005, 07:00 AM

Great update, write more soon!

Post #100 is on ajfinn's story!

ajfinn

07-18-2005, 10:49 AM

Part 35:

“What the—” Clark said, wiping the water off his face.

“You said you needed a shower,” Chloe answered, then moved her eyes to Lana who was dripping as well. “Sorry, your close proximity made it impossible to miss you.”

Lana looked at Clark, removing a drop from the tip of his nose. “Somehow, I think we might have deserved that,” she said.

“Uhh, yeah—I thought I was gonna have to call the paramedics to separate you two with the jaws of life,” Chloe said. “Now, let’s get serious—we don’t have a lot of time. I need to get ready for tonight.”

Clark looked at the wall clock. “It’s noon! I thought you said he wasn’t coming until seven!”

“Exactly,” Chloe said, plopping down in the Luv Sac.

“And he sent her flowers,” Lana said, tipping her head as though that explained everything. “Which adds at least another hour to the prep time—she’s really got to look her best.”

Clark didn’t pick up on Lana’s sarcasm. “More girl rules? Man, do you have this stuff written down somewhere? It would be nice to have a copy,” he said, looking quite defeated.

“All right. Lex, Lex, Lex,” Chloe said, tapping the side of her head and trying to get on with the target subject for the umpteenth time. “What are we to do with our dear little friend who’s taken a one way ride to the dark side?”

Clark knew joking was a part of Chloe that came out in almost any circumstance, but the situation was anything but funny to him. “So far, I think we’ve established how Lex finally found out about my abilities, as well as my weakness for Kryptonite,” he said.

“But how MUCH does he know of your abilities?” Lana asked.

“On the phone he referred to me as a meteor freak, so at least he doesn’t know anything about my origin,” he said, placing his hand on Lana’s. “But that’s a good question—how many of my abilities has he seen? Let’s see . . . he knows about my strength for sure—he saw it in the Luthor Corp lab after he was split in two, and also when I ripped the so called indestructible door off his vault.”

“Yeah, that would do it,” Chloe said.

“And he might know about my speed—but my guess is that he thinks I teleport, because . . . ” Clark was suddenly gone and Chloe and Lana looked around for him . . . then they heard the toilet flush and Clark walked out of the bathroom, finishing his sentence like he hadn’t even left “ . . . I’m not sure how it looks to you guys, but I’d guess you can’t really see me move when I go that fast, right? So doesn’t it look like I just disappeared? Like I teleported?”

Both Chloe and Lana blinked at the same time, having been staring at him. “Did you just, uhh—” Chloe asked slowly.

“I’m pretty fast at EVERYTHING, Chloe. I even put the seat back down and washed my hands,” he answered, not thinking they’d make such a big deal of it. “You should see how fast I can eat if I need to—which really helped when I wanted to sleep in on a school day.”

Lana shook her head. Every wife’s dream she thought—a guy who was so fast he didn’t hog the bathroom—AND he puts the seat down. She was definitely sold. “Yeah, it does pretty much look like you disappear, except that there’s this momentary blur—it’s kinda hot, actually.”

“You can feel it?” Clark asked, having never been told that by his parents.

“Not that kind of HOT, Clark,” Chloe said, mentally agreeing with Lana because she felt the same way herself. “So what other tricks has Lex seen?”

Clark thought through the times Lex might have witnessed him—or his cameras catching stuff. “I’m sure he knows I’m pretty thick skinned—especially if he had security tapes of when his lab collapsed on me and Chloe. But I think that might be it. I doubt he made the connection between me squinting my eyes and his Kryptonite rock changing from green to black when I heated it up with my heat vision.”

“What do you mean?” Lana asked. “Why did you change the color of the Kryptonite? Is black less dangerous for you?”

“No, I just react differently to it—my mom used it against me when I came back last summer as Kal-el—to drive the . . . holy—” Clark cursed, and then he cursed again, and again, which was so unusual for him that it took both Chloe and Lana a second to realize that he was kind of doing a happy mambo around the room. “That’s it!”

“Okay, I think you just said more swear words in the last ten seconds than you’ve said in your entire life combined,” Chloe said.

Lana was sure she knew what all the hopping was about. “Do you think it can do the same thing to Lex?”

Clark finally stopped and faced them, trying to rethink everything. “When I heated the Kryptonite ring, it destroyed a part of Lex—but obviously the wrong part. When my mom used black-k against me, it forced the bad out and left only the real Clark Kent,” he said, walking around like he was a chemistry teacher trying to explain something really complicated to a freshman college class. “SO—”

“What if you were to try to do it again with Lex?” Lana asked. “Would the real side of him at last prevail? Or is it gone forever?”

“Exactly!” Clark said, sitting beside her—strangely exhausted from his speech—and finally seeing a flaw in it. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

“Because what if the Lex we know now is the REAL Lex—the man he was destined to become?” Chloe asked. “Or what if the better side of Lex DOES come back, but he still doesn’t stop with his obsession for destroying you, since he’ll still keep his memories of what he knows?”

Clark lowered is head. “That’s a chance I’ll have to take—I don’t see any other way to get him off my back—or yours or Lana’s either.”

Lana nodded. “I think it’s worth a try,” she said to Clark, as though the words were sacred. “We can’t run forever, Clark—Smallville is our home.”

Chloe looked between the two of them, holding hands and almost cooing to one another—like doves. She couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the Lana who wanted to bust out of Smallville the first chance she got—see the world—stretch her wings and soar. Now Lana seemed to dream of nothing but a closet full of flannel shirts, and making feed runs at the first crow of a rooster.

If this was true love, Chloe thought, spare her the details. She wouldn’t sacrifice her ambitions for anyone—not even the man of steel.

“Well, whatever you say,” Chloe said, surprised when they actually turned their attention to her. “And if the ring-thing backfires and Lex’s brain get fried . . . then I guess I’ll get my wish of erasing his memory, won’t I?”

Clark swallowed, again feeling sick over her flippancy. But there was no changing Chloe, so it was just best to love her the way she was. “I think you may be right about the memory thing, Chloe, but we won’t be doing it in the way you think. We’ll need to do some memory-MODIFYING, if we can.”

“How?” Lana and Chloe asked.

“By tweaking—as you earlier enlightened me to—his proof of my abilities,” Clark said. “Then, if the black-k turns him back into who he was, he may still have his memory of what he saw, but might second guess himself if his security tapes show something entirely different from what he remembers.”

“But how can we pull that off?” Chloe asked with a skeptical smirk.

“With a little magic,” Lana said, riding the surf of Clark’s brainwaves like she was the Big Kahuna.

Karen26

07-18-2005, 11:14 AM

nice update thsi story has so many twist and turns anyway cant wait for the next one

peaches4cream

07-18-2005, 01:09 PM

cool update come on whats going to happen to lex will the plan work????????????????????????

SVsleuth

07-18-2005, 02:03 PM

Super update, ajfinn. Now that I'm busy writing mine, I had to wait to find time to read everyone else's updates. But I really MUST stop doing this, & go clean the kitchen & do all the other million things I'm supposed to be doing today. :grin:

SmallvilleMan

07-18-2005, 09:04 PM

reading two parts in a row is cool:cool:

itsallinthespelling

07-18-2005, 09:10 PM

another great update from you. i cant wait for more.

Ketchup

07-18-2005, 09:23 PM

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
reading two parts in a row is cool:cool:

Yea I missed the last update as well, and reading two in a row is awesome =D

NYC300Z

07-18-2005, 10:44 PM

Sorry I couldn't find where u said to vote... Really great update so now they have a plan to take care of Lex...can't wait to see how it turns out!! PPMS!!!

booze_is_me09

07-18-2005, 10:47 PM

PPMS! this story is getting better and better!

ajfinn

07-18-2005, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by NYC300Z
Sorry I couldn't find where u said to vote... Really great update so now they have a plan to take care of Lex...can't wait to see how it turns out!! PPMS!!!

This is where to vote: Click on "News" at the top of the menu (should be at the very top of the Kryptonsite site) or at the left of the main Kryptonsite page. Then scroll down to the third news article, and it says something about the Kryptonsite awards :)

SmallvilleMan

07-18-2005, 11:09 PM

I see you up there afinn, i know you want to show me up, before a post an update on my big story. I can see you plotting now:p ;)

dreammaster

07-19-2005, 12:17 AM

another awesome chapter

NYC300Z

07-19-2005, 01:50 AM

Okay thanks I found it and voted! For Clark and Lana of course :)

So PPMS!!!

ajfinn

07-19-2005, 09:16 AM

I'm posting an update in a few hours . . . is everyone caught up though?? Surely, all are done with HP by now, right? ;)

SVsleuth

07-19-2005, 09:19 AM

I'm all caught up & ready for your update, ajfinn... :)

EyeluvTom

07-19-2005, 09:37 AM

*Waiting for ajfinn's update as she whistles and looks at her wish list for her birthday. At the top of the wish list it says HP book. * To answer your question ajfinn, I'm not done with HP cause I don't have it yet. *Sobs can be heard in the background.* Can't wait for your update! :)

Ketchup

07-19-2005, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by ajfinn
I'm posting an update in a few hours . . . is everyone caught up though?? Surely, all are done with HP by now, right? ;)

Cant wait!

ajfinn

07-19-2005, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by EyeluvTom
*Waiting for ajfinn's update as she whistles and looks at her wish list for her birthday. At the top of the wish list it says HP book. * To answer your question ajfinn, I'm not done with HP cause I don't have it yet. *Sobs can be heard in the background.* Can't wait for your update! :)

Oh, how sorry I feel for you!!!! I should send you my copy! But until then, here's what happens in half-blood prince, I'm sure you want to know . . . Crookshanks is the half-blood prince and helps Harry defeat Voldiepoo by transforming into a three-headed Hungarian Horntail and roasting the . . . out of Tom Riddle's bald and scaly head. And yes, a major character sadly dies . . . it's Wormtail. I cried. *sniff, still sobbing after three days* Hope you don't mind the spoilers. :lol:

(Going back to Word to finish my update ... which yes, I'm still posting in a few hours :) )

EyeluvTom

07-19-2005, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by ajfinn
Oh, how sorry I feel for you!!!! I should send you my copy! But until then, here's what happens in half-blood prince, I'm sure you want to know . . . Crookshanks is the half-blood prince and helps Harry defeat Voldiepoo by transforming into a three-headed Hungarian Horntail and roasting the . . . out of Tom Riddle's bald and scaly head. And yes, a major character sadly dies . . . it's Wormtail. I cried. *sniff, still sobbing after three days* Hope you don't mind the spoilers. :lol:

(Going back to Word to finish my update ... which yes, I'm still posting in a few hours :) )

Don't mind at all! Thanks for caring enough to feel sorry for me as I won't be getting the book until August 3, my birthday. Wormtail dies? NO!! Can't wait for the update!

binkys711

07-19-2005, 12:39 PM

well i didn't realize you were giving spoilers for HP....*sarcastically*....well thanxz for tellin' us! yeesh!:p jk;)I am barely on chapter 5:p:lol:....well anyways... I am oficially up to date with your story so...CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT UPDATE!!!PPMS!!!

Ketchup

07-19-2005, 12:42 PM

Woah AJ some ppl here like ur story more than HP... that shud tell you that you need to UPDATE!

ajfinn

07-19-2005, 03:58 PM

Part 36:

“Magic?” Chloe asked, knowing Lana had definitely let her new abilities go to her head. “Lana, I’m sure you’re capable of a lot of amazing things, but—”

“I’m not talking about MY magic,” Lana answered her with a smile. “I’m talking about YOURS.”

Clark was smiling too, waiting for Chloe to catch on—which she didn’t. Not even close. “Chloe, you’ve given me a lot of credit over the years for helping people out,” he said, “but I wouldn’t have been able to do even half of it without your help. You have more super-powered brain cells than I could ever hope to have.”

“And you’re a technical mastermind, Chlo,” Lana said. “I know you can figure out a way to hack into Lex’s security and manipulate the data.”

Chloe rolled her eyes, trying to ignore their flattery. “But it’s not just a matter of hacking into it—we can’t just erase what he saw and think he won’t suspect us. We’d have to . . . ” she stopped, staring right through the two of them as the wheels started turning, “. . . Wow . . . that might just work. Would it? Let’s see, if we . . . yeah . . . oh, but we might need more people to pull it off . . . ”

Clark and Lana looked to one another with hopeful grins as Chloe continued to sort through scattered thoughts. After a few minutes of self-brainstorming, completely ignoring Clark and Lana, Chloe enlightened them—to which they both nodded their heads enthusiastically, then shook them in awe.

“Wow. I knew you’d think of something, but that’s brilliant,” Lana said, thinking she’d give up her powers any day to match Chloe’s intellect. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever get over her questions of why Clark wanted her over Chloe. All she knew was that she felt pretty darn lucky to be sitting next to him. She scooted closer to Clark, feeling strangely protective for a moment.

By the time they were finished planning, it was after four, and Chloe shrieked when she saw the clock. “I’ve barely got enough time!” she said, standing from the Luv Sac and feeling her legs almost give out beneath her. “Nice, my first date with him in three years and my butt is numb—that ought to give me a nice strut.”

“What are you going to wear?” Lana asked, thinking of a shirt she had that would look great on Chloe.

Chloe looked at Lana in horror—as though her skin was peeling off. She cursed. “I don’t know! Help me! Should I go casual, or elegant, or . . . ” She rattled off more styles than Clark knew existed.

“How about ‘farm boy sleek’,” he said. “It works for me.”

Lana and Chloe stopped twittering just long enough to give him looks that said, “Clark, this is serious stuff, so run along and play with a chunk of Kryptonite.” Then Lana grabbed her duffle bag out of the bathroom and they headed to Chloe’s closet—acting as though they were going to a meeting on how to stop world hunger.

“All riiiiiighty then,” Clark mumbled to himself, grabbing the remote and stretching out on the couch—which was just right for his height, for a little TV—something he hadn’t done for over a week. He could hardly recall the last time he’d done anything normal. There was no harm in relaxing while he had the chance—the girls looked like they’d be ignoring him for a while anyway . . . or maybe a decade.

Clark flipped through channels for the next ten minutes, until he saw an all too familiar face flash behind a newscaster. “Lex Luthor’s attorneys claim the Chinese artifacts were purchased legally though an antiques dealer in London this past January,” the news lady said, “but already, there are sources who say Luthor visited China the very week that the artifacts were reported as missing from the Chinese temple—which he adamantly denies. Meanwhile, the artifacts have been returned to the foreign diplomats, and a criminal investigation is underway.”

Lana heard Lex’s name from the other room, and walked to the couch, as Chloe went to shower. “What did they say?” Lana asked.

Clark told her, feeling like the nightmare was never going to end. “I hope we didn’t make things worse. He’s obviously going to know who tipped off Sheriff Adams.”

She looked down at Clark lying there with his expression of worry she was so familiar with. She wished with all her heart that her magic had the ability to make every one of his problems disappear. She sighed. “I love you, Clark Kent.”

The corners of Clark’s lips raised. “Where’d that come from?”

“I don’t know,” Lana said, kneeling beside the couch and touching the smooth skin on his face. “It came into my mind, and it’s such a relief to finally say anything I want to you—that I just said it.”

Clark opened up his arms, hinting that he wanted her to lay beside him. She was happy to oblige as she spooned in next to him and he turned off the TV. “Anything else you want to say?” Clark asked, moving the silky long hair off her neck and replacing it with his lips.

“Actually, my mind just went mysteriously blank,” she said, feeling like she’d just slipped into a warm hot tub of bliss. And until they heard Chloe turn off the water—thirty minutes later—they didn’t speak another word. Their mouths were otherwise engaged.

Lana made a motion to sit up, but Clark pulled her back against him. “Chloe’s okay,” he said. “She might even be relieved that we’re up to something borderline scandalous.”

She couldn’t help but relax in his arms again, but still worried what Chloe’s expression would be when she opened the door to see them spooning on the couch. “Yeah, I guess this IS pretty scandalous for us, isn’t it?”

Chloe left the bathroom without even noticing the two of them as she made a beeline to the bedroom to finish getting ready.

Lana smiled, then placed another soft kiss on Clark’s wet lips. She was sure she’d never get over the newness of being with him like this—and she wanted so much more. All she could have. She wanted to be his wife.

“I love you, Lana Lang,” Clark whispered, sending static through her entire body. “And I’m also very happy that I can tell you whatever comes to my mind—well, maybe not EVERYTHING.”

Lana wove her fingers through Clark’s, closing her eyes and pleading to whatever power that would listen, that she would never have to leave this man’s arms again. And then she drifted off to a nice, afternoon nap. A very nice one.