Emotional Detachment

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Dr. Jeckyll
Actually, I agree with aj. It's ok to encourage, but huge smiley-posts makes it difficult to read the story, especially if it is your first time. It's kinda frustrating to skip through 20 pages with caps wars and smilies - and no updates. And ofc we don't want this thread to be closed. So continue to encourage, but tone it down a bit :)

PPMS! :D

A bit? :rolleyes: Let's face it, Dr Jeckyll--these guys are as over-the-top as Jim Carrey, albeit without the zany humor.

Nonetheless, I do wish for an update from 4Ever. This story is definitely good reading, even though the happy part of the Clana is taking some time yet in making its presence known.

[C.A.chick]

superman_lives_on, is that a compliment or an insult? I'll take it as a compliment thanks you.

[iloveit]

ill keep it simple: ppms!

[cufcchic]

i need an up date! PPMASAP! its been 4EVER since you last updated!

[Kal-El & Me]

How long has it been since 4ever updated. Just out of curiousity. I want to make sure I didn't miss anything.

[LoisNClark]

a really long time...i wanna say a month..maybe more...i'm not positively sure i just know it's been a long time!!:p

PPMS 4ever!!!:D

[cufcchic]

it has been more than a month. probaly two! ppmasap 4ever! dont forget about this fic!

[C.A.chick]

you guys, the last time 4ever update it was post 612, if i did my math then its been 395 post since she's update and about 30 pages.

WE MISS YOU 4EVER!!!PPMASAP!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

Hey C.A. chick if you go back to the page before this on your smiley wall you missed a colon on one of your smileys so it's just a capital letter D! Go fix it!:lol:

PPMS 4EVER!!:D

[rosewolfe87]

lol, Matt, you're so weird!

[4EverSmallville]

I know how much you guys dislike me posting without updates so I hope by doing this I might get the point across. I don't mind that you all have this raging war and what not going on because I'm not on K-Site enough to see much of it. However I have gotten complaints, on more than one occassion by more than one person, related to whatever is going on in this thread. Some are concerned about it being closed. Regardless of what's going on in here, I feel that the only way a mod would come in this thread would be if a post was reported. So I sincerely hope that things have not reached that point with this war, because I will be just as disappointed as everyone else if this thread gets shut down.

I'm truly thankful for everyone's interest and enthusiasm about the story, it means more to me than a post can express. Still, there is the matter of respecting other posters. I don't mean name calling or anything, but for example, someone who wants to start the story from the beginning has to dig through scores of pages to spot an update. And yes, I am to blame for the extensive time gap between updates, but the caps wars and disagreements over who's ranking where doesn't do anything to help that problem either.

I don't want to have to come in here and play moderator because there's some kind of problem going on. And I most certainly don't want to come across as a blunt 'party pooper' because that's not how I am. I'll update when I can, and I won't when I can't. I'm sorry if that sounds rude, but that's just the way it has to be right now. I don't mind the PPMS's and such but I have to ask that you guys cool it down a bit. Please.

[Somebodyfrommetropolis]

Thank you for that message, 4ever. What you said is not rude; it's true. I think that, despite being new, I can speak for everyone on this thread in saying that we enjoy this fic and don't want it to be closed.

On a brighter note, please post more as soon as you can; this story is worth waiting for!

:)

[ajfinn]

Great message 4ever!! It's awesome to hear from you.

*see, I told you guys she hadn't run off with Tom Welling. All those silly rumors were false!! ha ha* (too bad though!) :lol:

[NYC300Z]

:lol: AJ~! I think you started those rumors in the first place!

4Ever I hope that update comes soon!

[kewl]

hey 4Ever, thanks for the message. just update whenever u can coz i'll be here waiting :)
hey Somebodyfrommetropolis welcome aboard! :D

[cufcchic]

yea welcome Somebodyfrommetropolis! have a good time at k-site!
please update soon.

[C.A.chick]

I'm sorry 4ever. *hangs head in shame*
I will take a lot of the responsibility for what has happened in the recent days due to war. I'm very ashmaed of my self and sorry.
On a much brighter note: PPMASAP! We love your story and await an update.

[binkys711]

ok, since these silly ars all my stupid idea, I take full blame if this thread is closed.....*sees a mob forming* oh, oh....:p no seriously, I was tring to bring fun in here and enthusiasm for people in the time of your long absences all the while of getting a good laugh for for you to see how much we love your story and to update sooner, but even I have to admit i was worried for this thread closing down, I'm sorry, and take full blame if things get out of hands and there are problems with the mods.

*the general takes off hat*
*tries to hang it*
*hat hanger is to high to reach for she is too short*
*gets a foot stool*(more like a ladder)
*sets hat on hat hanger*
*looses balance and falls off ladder*

a little happier post: ok, Can't wait 'till ya update 4ever, glad to see you around here:)PPMS!!!

[C.A.chick]

4ever, all we wanted was an update, not to have the thread closed down...
*hangs head in shame*
*hits head on knees*
*knocked unconsious*
five minutes later:
*gets up slowy to see binks try to climb her ladder again and put the uniform away*
PPMASAP!!!!!!!!

[baldy92]

its great to hear from you 4ever PPMS i love this story!

[baldy92]

its great to hear from you 4ever PPMS i love this story!

[NYC300Z]

PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

wow, i haven't been on here in forever and i was sure that when i checked in on this story there would be a bunch of awesome updates that i would have to catch up on, guess i was wrong. I second the notion that baldy made.

*goes back to sweet to finish a story that is updated more than once a month (or has it been two, 4ever?)*

[sandy]

this is gonna sound really weird, but i had a dream last night that 4ever updated and it was two pages long! it felt so real! 4ever, if you're reading this, i need u to make my dreams come true! PPMS!

[C.A.chick]

yeah come on 4ever! we love your story soooooooooooo much.

[SuperNes]

Still no update?! :eek: Any idea when you will post again? This will be my last inquiry until you post more :) No need to be repetitive
Nes

[Clark&lana4eva]

ppms

[linn]

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
Please 4ever PLease update!!!
We Love Your Story Alot.!!!!!!!

[C.A.chick]

we miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PPMASAP!!!!

[kewl]

:(:(

[Ketchup]

bump, cant let this drop to third page

[SVsleuth]

Hi, Ketchup! Where you been hiding? 4Ever hasn't been around.
:( I DO wish she'd update.

[binkys711]

we all do SVsleuth, we all miss 4ever's updates....and of course 4ever herself :p

[NYC300Z]

4Ever come out come out where ever you are!

[clanafoeva]

come on u need 2 post ive been dieng 2 read more

[iloveit]

update puleeeeaaasssee!

[NYC300Z]

yes update! PPMS! continue your story! I don't care what you call it just do it!;)

[LoisNClark]

PPMS!!!:D

[nellie2]

ive been (silent) reading this story from the very beginning and i would REALLY like to read more! please update as soon as possible .

[kewl]

PPMS!!

[Clark&lana4eva]

we will wait 4ever

[Somebodyfrommetropolis]

we will, we will

[SmallvilleMan]

This needs to be said. BOO THIS 4EVER!:p

[sandy]

is this a record for no updates in the greatest amount of time? cuz I've literally forgotten almost the whole story! I NEED AN UPDATE PLEASE!!!

[midnite_spark]

::sigh:: guys...maybe we just have to accept the fact that 4Ever isn't going to update this story......

......

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


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

nahhhh......PPMS!!!!!!!!!:)

[akuma]

This is so depressing, everytime this comes back up my heart beat increases, and i get all excited for an update and yet everytime, what do i see? NOTHING!! Its so hard, but im sure she wouldnt leave this story so we can hope and pray for more soon!

[SVsleuth]

FANFIC CHALLENGE: I challenge 4Ever to re-read her own fic. If she does that, I'm sure an ending will materialize. PLEASE????

[Clark&lana4eva]

is it like a compatition btween 4ever & meg to see who can gok the longest w/ out updating?

[C.A.chick]

no competition........ 4ever is no doubt the winner though......... 4EVER! WE MISS YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!! IF YOU FEEL ANY COMPASSION: PLEASE UPDATE! :D

[binkys711]

I think I'm getting wrinkly.......:p

[C.A.chick]

YEAH... those wrinkles keep showing up...pretty soon I'll need a cane....:p :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[binkys711]

*looks down at cane*
*hides it behind back*
*whistles innocently*

Cane? what cane? I don't have a cane....:p

[NYC300Z]

:lol: come on 4Ever update!

[super12]

I maybe new to the site but please update soon its a real good story

[nellie2]

ohh mann i love this story please update!

[midnite_spark]

haha binkys' gettin wrinkly...

*brings up oxygen tank and mask for binkys just incase*

[C.A.chick]

HEY! where's my oxygen tank?!
*looks down at the large thing*
Oh.....nevermind......
hehe.......4EVER!IF YOU DON'T UPDATE SOON WE'LL DIE BEFORE YOU UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Cardinal]

You know you've been on the K-Site Clana board a long time when: You can actually remember a time when 4Ever used to update this story.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: well I'm one of them!:D I remember when 4Ever started this story and use to update every 3 days! :lol:

[SVsleuth]

Me too! Maybe she'll have time over Christmas break? I HOPE!
Don't forget us, Please!

[C.A.chick]

Me too!!!! I loved those days!!! And I sorely miss them!!!!!!!!!!!!! :( .... well lets just hope for another update......
PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[midnite_spark]

Originally posted by Cardinal
You know you've been on the K-Site Clana board a long time when: You can actually remember a time when 4Ever used to update this story.

hahaha yeah i remember those days....ahhh the good ol' times ;)

[C.A.chick]

hey 4Ever, if you're around: you better update, these people's jokes keep getting worse as they become senile with old age....:p, we miss you, and I really don't want to be put in a wheel chair considering the fact that I've already got my cane and oxygen tank which i stole *cough* i mean found.
*sees binks looking around for something*
*whistles innocently*
*walks slowly away*

[midnite_spark]

old age? i'm only 20....19...?..........45...? 101...? hmmmmm i forget how old i am, BUT that does not mean....wait...what was my point again?

*stops C.A.chick*
"Halt! C.A.chick, where do u think you're going? I know you took....wait....what was I going to say again? errrrr....hmmm....dagnabit....oh well couldn't have been that important..."
*lets C.A. chick walk away*

[LanasLover16]

I hope you update soon!!!! this is a really great story!!!

[akuma]

All i shall say is we are...anxious...for the next update, cant wait for this great story to continue, and HEY i see u on here 4Ever, u gonna update?:D:D:D

[binkys711]

*gets a black mask*
*breaths in and the mask makes a weezing computer like breath also*
*breathz out slowly also creating a computer-like breath*
*says in a dark and powerful voice*
Luke I am your father...no wait...Ash I am your reader, you must join me and together we can update this fic as writer and reader *hand with black glove raises in to the air holding a glowing red...mouse pointer*
Join me! It is your destiny!
*breaths in and out slowly again making computer-like breathing*

*takes mask of along with gloves*
*looks around*
Where in the hell is my oxygen tank?
*looks suspiciosly at C.Achick who is whistling*
*takes out glasses to make sure it's her*
'My sight isn't what it used to be' *adjusts glasses* "...it is her!"
*takes teeth out and hits C.Achick with them making her fall unconscious on the ground*
*goes over and pics up teeth and oxygen tank*
*heads over to the rocking chair and awaits 4ever's update*

:p

[superman_lives_on]

KER-BUMP!

[NYC300Z]

;););););)

[LoisNClark]

Originally posted by Cardinal
You know you've been on the K-Site Clana board a long time when: You can actually remember a time when 4Ever used to update this story.

I remember those days...:p

PPMS!!:D

[kewl]

L:lol:L

we're all waiting for ur update 4Ever....

[binkys711]

Originally posted by Cardinal
You know you've been on the K-Site Clana board a long time when: You can actually remember a time when 4Ever used to update this story.

I remember those days also...Now I know I'm getting old :lol:

[C.A.chick]

*wakes up slowly*
Where in the hell is my cane?!
* looks at stick next to her*
* puts on 2nd set of glasses*
oh, there's my cane. so where is that damn oxygen tank?
*sees binks hobbling away*
gosh darn it! i'll have to go buy one
* tries to get up*
* falls to ground unconcious*

4ever, my age is killing me! wait, i'm only like 14...ok 47...fine 103....okok, its more like 256......come on 4ever, we await you!

[midnite_spark]

*sees C.A. chick on the ground*
*hobbles to her*
*pokes her with cane a couple of times*
*no response from her*
*shrugs and hobbles away with her cane as well*

ok gotta go take #73 of my meds today...its the pink one this time yay! who's up for a game of Old Maid? :D

[C.A.chick]

hahah!!!!!!! old maid!!!!!!!! dang....... 4ever, we really are getting old! i take...lets see. 1,2,3............198,199,200,201! 201 different pills. one for vitamins, one for my heart, one for arthritis, one for bronchitis.... the list goes on 4ever!hahahaha......sorry.... PPMASAP!!!!!!

[C.A.chick]

*KER BUMPITY BUMP BUMP* 4EVER: WE SORELY MISS YOU!!!!!!!!

[SuperNes]

*Hardee harr harrr!!! The ClananaPirates are here with our Christmas wish list!!!!!

[akuma]

5. Some dvd's

4. Some videogames

3. A new leash for Trogdor

2. An update from Nessie

1. An update from....

[SuperNes]

Ahem! You forgot to include some Clanana for Craka tha Parrot! *Trusty wooden sword is not happy!


And now this just in from our mini cannon bearing friend and his flying Buffalo... our number one wish....

[NYC300Z]

A new leash for Trogdor!:lol: that's so funny!

oh so my wish list right?

4. Hayabusa

3. Vulks

2. F-40

1. An update from Ash!;)

[SuperNes]

KNOCK IT OFF YOU SNEAKY LITTLE >>> *arrr what can you expect from the likes of pirates... *"hhhharrr (sigh)

[C.A.chick]

my wish list:
5. new saxophone
4.laptop
3.my foot gets better
2.learn the secret of how to write well
1 the impossible: an update from a certain person named ___________ *cough cough* this thread starter!

[midnite_spark]

all i want for xmas is an update :D

[binkys711]

4)Some dvd's

3)Some cd's

2)More memory space on my computer

1)An update for Emotional Detachment done by non other than Ash!:D

[kewl]

PPMS!!!

[cufcchic]

all i want for christmas is
1. a new laptop with internet
2. go to spain
3. an update on this tread
4. gutiar lessons
5. for my soccer team to win state champs
6. lots and lots of clothes

[C.A.chick]

you forgot something!!!!!!!! an update from 4ever..........i forgot something too:
6. my soccer team to win state cup

[Scotty]

An update for Christmas? Yes, please. ;)

[SmallvilleMan]

She told me she was going to update, she just didn't say then. Just like women to leave themselves an out;) ;) :p (j/p)

[midnite_spark]

hey hey hey watch it SmallvilleMan ;) :p

[akuma]

I agree with SmallvilleMan, typical woman response:p

[kewl]

yeah, an update would be the best Christmas gift u can give us 4Ever!!! ;)

[NYC300Z]

So 4Ever are you out there?

[NYC300Z]

Ash you missed my birthday! How could you!

[cufcchic]

lol sorry matt, well maybe we will get one for christmas!!!! ;)

[booze_is_me09]

please post more 4ever!!! i love ur story!!!!!!!

[IluvCLANA]

heres mine:
- laptop
- new suit for mr.bubbles
-sv dvd set
-for 4ever to update
-new tv that has a remote i can find ;)

pps 4ever

[C.A.chick]

4ever, tomorrow is christmas eve *hint hint* *nudge nudge* *cough cough*
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we'd all appreciate an extra present! PPMASAP!!!!!;)

[NYC300Z]

Yeah come on Christmas Eve 4Ever!

PPMS!

[cufcchic]

maybe u can update for my bday?! its tommorrow a.k.a. christmas eve, please??!! that would be the best present ever!!! . ;)
or atleast for christmas, please?! we miss you and ur updates!!

[Kal-El & Me]

If you do end up updating soon. Could you please give us a reminder on what exactly was happening?
Thanx!

[Somebodyfrommetropolis]

Yes, that would be great! Have a wonderful Christmas...and update ASAP!

Thanks

:)

[booze_is_me09]

hmmm if I could think of the perfect Christmas gift...

PPMS!!!!!!!!

[binkys711]

plz, Ash?! PLZ?! COULD YOU JUST UPDATE ALREADY! I BEG OF YOU! plz?! PPMS!

Merry Christmas :)

btw...Happy Birthday Kat!:D:D:D

[Cardinal]

You actually mean to tell me there's a story on this thread somewhere? :rotfl:

[NYC300Z]

Oh come on Ash! Stop teasing us! Update already!;)

PS I thought you were going to send me something?;)

[SmallvilleMan]

WHa, classes? Oh and by the way, we definitely need a brief summary. All i remember is that Clark and Lana are still not together.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: I remember more than that! oh and welcome aboard somebody from Metropolis! You should tell us some stories about Ash!:lol:;)

[4EverSmallville]

Originally posted by NYC300Z
Oh come on Ash! Stop teasing us! Update already!;)

PS I thought you were going to send me something?;)

Yeah, I keep forgetting about that e-card. :lol: I'll get to it, promise :p.


Originally posted by NYC300Z
:lol: I remember more than that! oh and welcome aboard somebody from Metropolis! You should tell us some stories about Ash!:lol:;)

Um, no you really shouldn't :rotfl:.

[SmallvilleMan]

Stories eh? Hmmmm, i'd like to hear one. And why don't you make it an embarassing one:D

[NYC300Z]

yeah sounds good to me! Well Merry Christmas everyone! It's 2:23am here! I'm outz! 1

[Kal-El & Me]

You went to party didn't you, NYC?

[SVsleuth]

Wow! Thanks for the index Ash! That will make it SO much easier to refresh my memory. AND, thanks for letting us know you've been WRITING! That is GREAT news. I have hope. We WILL get this update during the Christmas holidays! :):):) I'm so excited. THE long awaitied update is almost here. Thanks for not forgetting us, Ashley! :D

[akuma]

Yay!! glad ur almost done Ash!! i will definately try to get on and read tonight!! i cant wait!!:D:D

[binkys711]

(I kinda snagged a computer....don't tell my mom though or I'm toast!)

Glad to see your almost done with the update Ash!:) Thanxz for the index;)

*slips a benjamin to somebodyfrommetropolis*
"What ya got on Ash? Tell us all" :p

j/k

[annaliese]

hey! i have been silently reading this fic for a while! it is very well written and i cant wait for the update that is supposedly going to come tonight. lol! :rotfl:

[C.A.chick]

Ash, THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH! I'm sorry for all the trouble I've given you, but it was only because I absolutely ADORE your story! PPMASAP!!

[kewl]

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

[Kal-El & Me]

For the 3rd time:
Merry Christmas to you too, Kewl.
Even though it's the 26th now.
(wow this is a great way to up my number of posts.)

[C.A.chick]

We are all waiting 4ever........ can't wait! YAY! I'm sooooooo excited!PPMASAP!

[IluvCLANA]

*drums fingers on computer table......*

[Kal-El & Me]

*Go gets a sledgehammer and bangs ILUVCLANA'S fingers off*
Man was that annoying.;)
*Sees Luvclana givng me the sinister lionel luther evil look. says innocently "What can I say? It's the holidays.

[Cardinal]

Everyone speak softly and choose your words carefully, we don't want to scare off 4Nev...4Ever before she posts her long-awaited update.

Welcome back to the ranks of actively posting authors, 4Ever! You have been missed.

[SVsleuth]

11:58 P.M. - I hope she's still typing away - I expect this will be an awesome, long, update - so I'll try to be patient a bit longer. I backtracked a few chapters & re-read them. They're just as good the 2nd time around as they were the first time, Ash. Thanks for working on this update. Can't wait to read it....

[C.A.chick]

We must all speak softly as Card said. We don't want scare Ash away.PPMASAP

[nellie2]

yay i cant wait for the update!

[C.A.chick]

welcome Somebodyfrommetropolis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

So when's the udpate coming?

[C.A.chick]

We're all sitting and waiting. PPMASAP!

[SVsleuth]

Hmmmmm.... I guess she's busy writing & lost track of the time??? Or she fell asleep... I'm sure the update will be on Monday... I really hope so...

[NYC300Z]

Yeah I really hope so too! It's Monday already!

[4EverSmallville]

Okay, a page left of writing, then editing, then posting. I just wanted to pop in so you know I haven't forgotten...as tempting as sleep is right now :lol:. Be back soon, bearing gifts :D.

[NYC300Z]

OMG you better not be kidding! I'm tired Ash! But i'll stay up!;)

[SVsleuth]

OOOOOOO......!!!!! She still intends to post it before she hits the bed???? Oh, my, I guess I'll be waiting up then...

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by SVsleuth
She still intends to post it before she hits the bed????

I believe the term is "hit the sack", SV.

[NYC300Z]

:lol:

[IluvCLANA]

*commands mr.bubbles to go eat kal-el+me's fingers*
*mr.bubbles spits out kal-el+me's finger, then shudders*

lol jk

and nice one svsleuth

;)

[Cardinal]

Sorry I missed your update, but I had to go to bed.

[IluvCLANA]

good-night card!!!!!!!!!

[4EverSmallville]

Night Cardinal :). I just finished typing it (16 pages!). If you all would like, we can all go to bed and I'll post in the morning :p.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: when I saw you write good night card I thought you were tring to give an actual card to 4Ever to say good night because you were going to bed. Then I scrolled up and saw Cardinal's message! :lol:

that was funny

NO NO NO post now!

[Ketchup]

16 pages?!?! f'ing insane!

[IluvCLANA]

lol

its going to be a SUPER update

[NYC300Z]

I can't wait! It's about time!:lol:

[IluvCLANA]

im going to miss joking around in the other forums about 4ever

ie "just dont take 4ever's example"

but im sooooo happy that she's FINALLY updating.....

[NYC300Z]

yeah everytime between updates gets longer and longer I wonder when the next one will come after this one? :lol:

[IluvCLANA]

:lol:

i dont even want to think about that---eeeeekkkkkkkkk

[NYC300Z]

:lol: I know!:eek:

[4EverSmallville]

I thought the character limit was 50,000, it's only forty :lol:. And without italics I have 40,900 or so. I'll need a buffer then, please :). It will be at least ten minutes though, I haven't read through yet.

You guys are a riot by the way :lol:.

[NYC300Z]

oh yeah i'll buffer no problem! just hurry please!

[IluvCLANA]

....

*faint sound of crickets is heard in the background*

yes yes yes yes yes yes


ill buffer too!!!

[NYC300Z]

:lol: I see you had to edit your post Iluvclana. I wonder why if you edit right away it doesn't show that you edited, but if you wait it does?

oh yeah Ash update already!:p

Ayios Basilis Erexte Zana!

[IluvCLANA]

hmmmmm *looks up and ponders NYC's comment*

ohhh!!! i cant take this!!!! im so excited

[NYC300Z]

:lol: i'm very excited too! It's 3:30 in the morning!

I think my refresh button is going to break!

[IluvCLANA]

lol, ok, im guessing that was based on your comment/question?

well, atleast i HOPE

[NYC300Z]

what are you talking about?

[IluvCLANA]

Originally posted by NYC300Z

Ayios Basilis Erexte Zana!


thats what i was talking about.... but well, nvm idk

[NYC300Z]

oh that literally translates directly to Saint Basil comes again or basically Santa Clause is coming to town :lol:

[IluvCLANA]

oh okay....... nvm then.... once i actually looked at it again i figured it meant something but, i couldn't take back what i said, well, i could've, but you had already seen it, so it wouldnt've mattered

c'mon 4ever!!!

[NYC300Z]

yes come on 4Ever!

She needs encouragment you know....we dont' want to scare her away!

[IluvCLANA]

how late/early is it where you are?

three hour time diff?

[NYC300Z]

I'm on K-site time!

[IluvCLANA]

lol... yea... remember to whisper....

[NYC300Z]

how do we show that we are whispering? shhh

[IluvCLANA]

*whispering*

like this

[NYC300Z]

*whispering*

oh I see

ppms;)

[IluvCLANA]

*still whipering*
lol see, your gettin' the hang of it ;)

ppms 4ever... we eagerly await your return bearing gifts

[NYC300Z]

*whispering*

yeah eagerly waiting until I fall asleep lol....what time is it where u are? I know Ash is only one hour behind me so it's 2:42 where she is*

[IluvCLANA]

its almost one.... lol....

[NYC300Z]

that's it! omg so early! *whispering*

[IluvCLANA]

i live in a small town about an hour away from vegas

*turns on whispering button so i dont have to keep saying '*whispering*' each time i post*

[NYC300Z]

that's funny I know a bunch of people going to Vegas tomorrow. I don't know why they go there I like AC better...that's where i'm headed the day after tomorrow

Ash you still out there and planning to update?

[IluvCLANA]

yea... are you still there?

are you asleep, drooling on the keyboard?

[NYC300Z]

:lol: that's what I feel like doing. Ash if your still there let us know!

[IluvCLANA]

am i going to be left the only one reading her late night update?

[NYC300Z]

you might be if she doesn't update soon! ;) hint hint Ash update now!

[IluvCLANA]

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

what happened to ten minutes ash?

[NYC300Z]

I know right! Ash where are you???

[4EverSmallville]

I so did not say ten minutes :lol:.

My last post before the update, someone stick something under this please. I just want this post to be closer to the update, as well as the summary I promised.

Prologue & Chapter I - Reunion (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

Chapter II - Ponderings (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=2)

Chapter III - Tactics (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=3)

Chapter IV - Confrontation (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=5)

Chapter V - Conflict (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=7)

Chapter VI - Disclosure (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=8)

Chapter VII - Cordial (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=9)

Chapter VIII - Busy (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=11)

Chapter IX - Insomnia (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=12)

Chapter X - Uncover (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=13)

Chapter XI - Mystery & Chapter XII Mystery II (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=15)

Chapter XIII - Unveiled (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=18)

Chapter XIV - Temptation (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=19)

Chapter XV - Alliance (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=23)

Chapter XVI - Nightmare (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=41)

Nightmare, the last chapter, began and ended in nightmares revealing a snippet of the mysteries in both Sean and Clark's pasts. Clark relives the evening of Lori's death as Jor-el becomes more impatient. In another corner of the subconcious universe, Sean realizes why people choose not to discuss 'the last guy'. Lana discusses her problems with Rae while Clark acts similarly with Chloe. Lana and Clark gain ground in some instances but backtrack in others, making Heedless either a turning point or a brick wall in their relationship.

Chapter XVII - Heedless (coming soon)

[IluvCLANA]

oh, lets stop, i dont want to scare her away

[NYC300Z]

1

[IluvCLANA]

yes you did say ten minutes

but heres something to put under that

[NYC300Z]

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
I It will be at least ten minutes though

you did say 10 mins!:lol:

[IluvCLANA]

either a turnign point or a brick wall in their relationship....dun dun duuuuuhhhhnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4EverSmallville]

At least and ten minutes are two completely different things, now let me work :lol: :p.

[IluvCLANA]

!!!!!!FINE!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

yeah looks like your going to have to post that index again!:p

[IluvCLANA]

HEE HEE HEE......

[SVsleuth]

I'm here too. I just got busy writing my own fic while I was waiting.

4Ever wanted her index to be posted closer to her update, so I'm editing this post and copying it here for y'all, from 4Ever's post on previous page. :)

Index to Emotional Detachment


Prologue & Chapter I - Reunion (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=1)

Chapter II - Ponderings (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=2)

Chapter III - Tactics (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=3)

Chapter IV - Confrontation (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=5)

Chapter V - Conflict (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=7)

Chapter VI - Disclosure (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=8)

Chapter VII - Cordial (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=9)

Chapter VIII - Busy (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=11)

Chapter IX - Insomnia (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=12)

Chapter X - Uncover (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=13)

Chapter XI - Mystery & Chapter XII Mystery II (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=15)

Chapter XIII - Unveiled (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=18)

Chapter XIV - Temptation (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=19)

Chapter XV - Alliance (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=23)

Chapter XVI - Nightmare (http://kryptonsite.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=38536&perpage=15&pagenumber=41)

Nightmare, the last chapter, began and ended in nightmares revealing a snippet of the mysteries in both Sean and Clark's pasts. Clark relives the evening of Lori's death as Jor-el becomes more impatient. In another corner of the subconcious universe, Sean realizes why people choose not to discuss 'the last guy'. Lana discusses her problems with Rae while Clark acts similarly with Chloe. Lana and Clark gain ground in some instances but backtrack in others, making Heedless either a turning point or a brick wall in their relationship.

Chapter XVII - Heedless (coming soon)

[4EverSmallville]

Emotional Detachment ~ Chapter XVII ~ Heedless

Golden rays poured down on the outdoor batting cages as Sean and his teammates swung at blurry, white projectiles. The temperature had steadily risen all afternoon, leaving the players as well as the onlookers to bask in the humidity.

Lana and Clark sat together on the blindingly bright metal bleachers, a comfortable stretch of unoccupied space separating the pair. Clark, in an effort to appear somewhat agitated by the extreme weather, had done away with the customary denim jeans. Instead of the usual waist to ankle outer wear, Clark was sporting a rugged pair of denim shorts accentuated simply by a plain red tee. His attire, uncomplicated though it was, managed to capture the attention of more than one single mother in the metal stands, as well as a few married ones, Lana included.

Unlike Clark, Lana had opted for a pair of dark jeans and an even darker tank for their trip to the batting cages. However, judging by the way they encompassed her slender figure and the light perspiration that clung to her glowing skin, Clark had no reason to complain.

Their main method of communication relied mostly on shifty eyes and sideways glances. With everything clashing at once, the last thing either of them needed was a forbidden affair, yet if they carried on again as they had the night before, an encounter even more dramatic was unavoidable. Thus, they both implicitly vied to keep all talking to a minimum, making the only entity being exchanged between them more than body heat, silence.

Lana had become so thoroughly enslaved by her scattered thoughts in the past few days that the events of the night before drove her to insomnia. She knew she wouldn’t rest peacefully until she took care of something, but she had the misfortune of not knowing which mess to clean up first.

Similarly, Clark was stewing in his own mental controversy. His thoughts were laced as much in his emotions as they were in his mandated detachment. The genuine level of concern he’d reserved for Sean and the steadily inclining level of emotion he’d always had for Lana in combination with the distaste he held for Jason and the hatred he’d developed for Lex blended to form an oily solution that didn’t sit well with his façade of cool, sleek detachment. The line between detachment and intimacy that had once stood firm, solid, and steadfast had developed the clarity of a wisp of smoke and the density of a cloud. With everything happening so fast with the case and with Lana, Clark’s conflicting emotions had bundled up into the same cloud he’d been floating on the evening before and only one thing was for certain. It was about to rain. Hard.

“Hey Lana,” Clark addressed, interrupting their ongoing silence rather croakily, attempting to force down his raging emotions.

Without responding, Lana turned her head slightly to see Clark, his powerful body silhouetted by the setting sun.

They had spent the remainder of the previous night, that morning, and the afternoon the same way they had spent the visit to the batting cages. Pure and uninterrupted silence. Lana exhausted a great deal of the evening nursing a rattled Sean back into a fitful sleep; he had awoken three times in quick succession after his original nightmare, no longer screaming but still muttering about ‘sparks’ and ‘not remembering’. Clark had stood guard in the doorframe the entire time, watching Sean’s every move with a distinct frown.

As Lana’s eyes met Clark’s she could hardly resist when her gaze dropped almost instantaneously to his full lips. She had chastised herself about their encounter the night before, but being faced with the same challenge, she found herself giving in to the same temptations…

“Lana?” Clark attempted again as Lana’s eyes seemed to glaze over with what was unmistakably passion.

“Hmm?” she questioned cordially. It was almost comical how they both seemed to gloss over their ‘almost’ moment. Almost doesn’t count, Lana repeated emphatically to herself; it was difficult for her to believe in the philosophical proverb anymore than she had the last ten times she’d reminded herself of it. The longer Lana remained in the company of Clark, the clearer the winner of the war between her conscience and her desires became.

“I was thinking…wondering if you knew what Sean dreamt about last night, it really spooked him.”

Blinking twice, Lana merely shrugged at Clark before returning her gaze to her son in the batting cages. She’d stopped denying her swelling feelings for Clark and she could no longer trust herself in his presence because of it. The less she said to him, the better off she’d be. I’m married, had become the battle cry of her conscience in the past twenty-four hours. Her vindictive side had other ideas, ideas that Clark’s fitting tee weren’t making any more innocent.

“It’s just that,” Clark pressed, gapping the distance between them slightly as he leaned in and lowered his voice. Lana shuddered at the sensuality of his tone, despite the increase in heat between them. “When I have nightmares,” Clark paused to ensure he’d captured Lana’s attention, “it’s usually about something I’ve been through.”

Lana’s attention, which Clark had already unknowingly possessed, shifted from his biceps to his ensnaring azure eyes as she mulled over his last words. “Are you saying…the nightmares you have…they’re simulations of things that have happened to you?” Lana blanched at the thought of what horrors he must have endured, remembering the empty, vacant look his eyes adopted after a nightmare.

Grimacing slightly, Clark directed his focus away from Lana momentarily. How do I tell her this? Along with his own chilling nightmare, a discussion with Chloe, and rather illicit fantasies involving both a single Lana and a married one, Clark had been trying to follow the original path set out for him by his superiors at the Metropolis Police Department.

It was the intention of James, Simpson, and Matthews, the three puppeteers, to have Clark use Sean and his relationship with Lana to bring down Jason Teague. Clark, however, had set his eyes on a higher authority, a man so untouchable it would take a nuclear weapon to bring him down. Sean was the match Clark needed to ignite the flame that would set the inevitable in motion, and all he’d done was whisper.

But when did my life get this complicated? He wondered as he met and held Lana’s penetrating gaze, his train of thought derailing slightly.

“Not simulations, exactly,” Clark answered, reliving the coldness of his father’s chastising voice. “But I’ve never met anyone outside of myself who’s had a dream that violent. If Sean’s work anything like mine, then maybe something has happened to him to bring them about.”

The tension in the air between them weighed thickly and did not limit itself to sexual. Lana quirked a curious brow at Clark, unsure whether the conversation was about him or her son. “Clark,” Lana began, however, choosing her words carefully, she amended her thoughts. “That may be true, but Sean hasn’t had a dream this bad in years.”

“He’s had nightmares like these before?”

Lana was startled slightly by Clark’s immediate interjection, but even her surprise could not shield the look of regret that passed her countenance. How had she let that go so easily? No one knew of Sean’s dreams, no one but her and Sean. Yet now Clark was in on the secret she had worked to keep hidden for five years.

“Clark-” Lana began in an almost pointless effort to rectify the damage her unintentional honesty had done. How many times had she had this discussion with herself? Despite my feelings for him, there are just some parts of my life he is not entitled to-

“Hey you two!” a warm voice called from the bottom of the bleachers.

Lana looked down and felt her expression change almost instantly when her eyes fell upon Rae climbing up the metal bleachers. Lana knew nor cared not whether it was relief or anxiety that caused the shift in her demeanor, but she remained painfully aware of Clark, who’s misty ocean eyes were barreling into her turned cheek, the distraction that was Rae doing nothing to deter his piqued curiosity.

“Hey,” Lana managed as animatedly as she could, while still inwardly trying to lower her blistering heart rate.

“What’s up?” Rae asked as she flopped down beside Lana, her loose ponytail bobbing all the while. “It’s hot as hell out here, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Lana weakly agreed. Clark, whose eyes had yet to leave an extremely flustered Lana, did not respond at all.

Rae leaned forward slightly, resting her forearms on her brown capris and allowing her hands to dangle between her legs. She looked from Clark to Lana with mild interest, scrunching her nose subconsciously in the process. “You know,” she surmised with a smug grin, “you two should really do something about that sexual tension.”

Lana’s eyes widened instantly as she heard Rae voice the thoughts she could or should not. She glared warningly; Rae could practically hear Lana admonish in her most scandalized tone, “Rae!”

Taking pleasure in Lana’s discomfort, she turned her attention back to Clark, who had finally removed his gaze from Lana to stare embarrassedly out at the batting cages. Rae noted the small tinge of red tickling his cheeks and her smile widened. “I mean, if you looked at her any harder, Clark, you might have lit her on fire.”

Although she was thinking similar things, Lana’s jaw dropped slightly at Rae’s directness.

Clark chanced a glance at Lana who was visibly laying into Rae with unspoken ferocity. Though Clark had only been searching so devotedly for an answer to Lana’s unintentional slip of the tongue, Rae had no idea how correct she was in her unfounded assumption.

Clearing his throat loudly, Clark noticed Sean’s team wrapping up down by the batting cages and used the conclusion of practice to mask his escape. “I think I’m gonna go talk to Sean. Bye, Rae.”

Clark stood and made his way down the bleachers, excusing himself as he bumped into several unsuspecting women, unaware that they were in fact, ensuring that Clark would brush against them. About half-way down the bleachers, Clark turned to capture Lana’s gaze one last time. “We’ll talk later,” he announced seriously.

Lana couldn’t help but swallow uneasily at his words, thankful, however, that she’d have more time to consider her response to his impending interrogation.

“Nice ass,” Rae stated approvingly once she thought Clark was out of earshot.

Lana whipped around, intent on reprimanding Rae for her unshakeable honesty as well as thank her profusely for rescuing her from the heated moment between her and Clark seconds before.

“Who you tellin’ honey?” came an aged voice from a lower row. Both Lana and Rae turned to locate the sultry stranger who had intruded on their conversation, only to find an elderly woman smiling up at them from beneath a beige sun bonnet. “You’re a lucky girl,” she added to Lana with a wink. “I hope you two have fun talking.” The elderly women winked again before slowly edging her wizened body down the bleachers.

“Thanks,” Lana replied awkwardly as the woman turned to leave, ignoring Rae’s fits of uncontrollable laughter. After the woman had safely reached the bottom, Lana glared angrily at her best friend.

“Have fun talking!” Rae echoed between laughs, only to merit herself and even more merciless scowl.

Rae eyed Lana’s flushed, angered expression and laughed harder. “Don’t give me that look, Lana, you were thinking it too.”

No longer able to uphold her outraged façade, Lana simply joined Rae in her laughter as they both turned to find Clark setting up for a swing in the cages with Sean looking in on him. His bright red tee stretched tautly as he forcefully brought the metal bat around his shoulder.

“So,” Rae began as she scrounged around her deep shoulder-bag, looking up occasionally to ogle Clark in his fitting tee, “a few days ago I was looking for pictures of Tom Johnson on the Metropolis PD web page and I never found them. But,” Rae paused as a smirk played across her lips, her fingers clasped around a folded piece of paper, “you won’t believe what I found when I googled ‘Clark Kent’.”

Lana withdrew her attention from the cages where Clark’s bulging muscles were easily visible and turned to gaze at Rae, who was sporting a devilish grin. “What did you find?” she asked, unable to repress her curiosity.

“Well,” Rae beamed, eager to reveal her latest news, “Metro Magazine does a ‘Boys of Summer’ issue every June where they list and bio the fifteen hottest men in the city. Guess who was last month’s number one.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope,” Rae laughed, “but that’s not even the real surprise. Guess who was your number two.”

“Who?” Lana asked, all thoughts of Clark’s mouthwatering physique swept clean from her mind.

“Lex,” Rae answered, beginning to unfold the paper. “That’s still not even the best part. Instead of being the typical sex selling piece, which, by judging the winner, I personally wouldn’t have minded, it turned out to be really controversial.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because your favorite bald billionaire removed a bunch of rocks from Clark’s hometown, yours too, I guess. Anyway, Clark didn’t want them moved apparently, because he accused Lex of just trying to make a profit. It turned into this really heated debate, though I don’t know why.”

“A bunch of rocks…” Lana thought aloud, the phrase triggering several things in her mind at once. Rocks…meteor rocks? “Lex sold those rocks to Jason?”

Rae looked up from the article, brown-eyes wide with curiosity and wonderment. “Lana, how did you know he sold them to Jason?”

***

“Chalk another one up for Clark Kent’s list of incredibly accurate hunches.”

“Chloe?” Clark whispered into the phone, glancing at the door of Jason’s office. The afternoon had gone by in a furious blur, him trying fervently to solve the mystery of the Teague family while holding on to the last thread of emotional detachment he had. Luckily for him, after her slip up that afternoon, Lana was avoiding Clark like the plague.

The mystery around the Teague family never seemed to end. The underlying theme, however, seemed to loom deeper than meteor rocks and illegal operations. Deeper, even, than arguments and long business trips. All Clark could conclude was that there was something intense prowling behind the upstanding surname. Something that had Lana falling asleep in tears and Sean waking up in them. And his journalistic instincts inclined him to believe that that something bore the initials L.L.

“Clark?” Chloe whispered back mockingly before laughing, “Why are we whispering?”

“Sorry,” Clark apologized as he stood to close the open door, not before looking both ways down the deserted hallway. “I just don’t want to be overheard.”

“Overheard?” Chloe repeated, a hint of the reporter’s flare in her voice, “Okay Special Agent Kent, when do I get the details on this top secret mission.”

Clark laughed dryly at Chloe’s taunt, the accuracy of it proving to be more alarming than amusing to him. “Did you find anything?”

“Actually, I didn’t,” replied Chloe from the other end. “It’s more what Jimmy didn’t find.”

“I’ll bite.”

“This plant, it’s supposedly at the bottom of the light tower off the peer right?”

“Right…”

“Well, beneath the plant charted on Teague Enterprises’ Online Records, is at least two hundred feet of undocumented space.”

“So…”

“So, it looks like the people at the top forgot to pencil in the basement at the bottom.”

“That’s where Jason’s taking the meteor rocks,” Clark concluded, patting the cool surface of the desk as understanding dawned on him.

“Clark, I’ve never been great with the technological hocus pocus, but Jimmy wired the system and hacked into the shipment records.”

“And?”

“And, the uncharted basement level of the plant has been receiving weekly shipments of meteor rocks via Lexcorp submarines.”

“So Lex is definitely involved in what Jason is doing with the meteors?”

“Did you ever doubt it?” asked a skeptical Chloe. “This entire set up screams Luthor. Secret labs? Consumer friendly plants? Uncharted basement levels for storage? Clark, what if they recreated level three?”

“Level three? Meteor rocks on humans level three?”

“The one and only.”

Clark leaned back in his seat as thoughts of the ominous level three enveloped his mind. Human cloning…genetic engineering…had Lex really become worse than his father?

“Well what would Jason have to do with this, Chloe,” Clark reasoned, “this has always been an obsession relative to only the Luthors.”

“Clark, Jason has a reputation as an upstanding and respectable businessman. All of his endeavors seem to be for nothing but the improvement of the world around him. Lex, on the other hand, has always been maimed and chided by critics because of his parentage and the less than moral ventures Lionel made. It’s a classic idea, one worthy of only a Luthor. Why spend so much time trying to rectify his own self image, when he can leech off of Jason’s?”

“You think Lex is using Jason?”

“I’m not saying Jason is completely innocent in all of this, but if the two of them get caught, who do you think would come out looking worse?”

Clark thought over these new revelations. The secret laboratory was definitely a trademark of Lex’s, but it made no sense for Jason to willingly involve himself in the madness.

“Clark?” Chloe called after a prolonged silence.

“Yeah, Chlo’?”

“Why are you on a first name basis with Jason Teague?”

Clark paused a moment to formulate a plausible response. “Why are you on a first name basis with Jason Teague?”

“Because you are, Clark, so what’s your reason?”

Clark’s brief second hesitation was all Chloe needed to draw her conclusion. “Clark have you seen Lana?”

A sudden, insistent beeping in his ear saved him from answering her probing question. “Chloe, that’s my other line, I’ll have to talk to you later.”

“Clark-”

“Thanks a lot Chloe, take care, Jimmy too.” Clark hastily changed lines to hear a female voice already in deep conversation on the other end.

“Hello?”

“…hang on Sam. That you sexy?”

“Who is this?” Clark asked, praying it was someone with the wrong number.

“Is your wife around?” the flirtatious voice questioned, ignoring Clark’s interruption.

“I think you have the wrong number…I’m not married.”

“You asked me to call this number if the real you ever came in again. And right now you and the bald guy are having a very heated discussion at the corner table.”

“Bald guy – what? …Oh! Are you the waitress from that restaurant?”

“I typically go by Melanie off the clock, but yeah, I’m that waitress,” the woman replied haughtily.

“And Jason Teague is there with Lex Luthor right now?” Clark pressed urgently.

The woman clicked her tongue impatiently as she addressed someone on her end. “Sam, hey Sam who’s that bald guy in the corner? Yeah, the one the blonde guy’s yelling at. …Oh, really? Thanks a lot, babe. You still there?”

“Yes,” Clark replied, hoping his annoyance was not evident in his tone. “I’m still here.”

“Well that was a pretty good guess, the real Jason Teague is really letting this Luthor guy have it right about now,” she informed with an amused chuckle. “We’re going to have to break it up soon.”

“What is he yelling about?”

“You mean, what are you yelling about?” Melanie corrected with another chuckle. “So does the real Jason Teague know about you and the Mrs.? It doesn’t seem like he has a good temper for infidelity.”

Clark ignored her comment as he posed his next question, “How long have they been there?”

“Not long,” Melanie replied with another click of the tongue. “But if you plan on coming down here, I’d suggest you do it soon. This Teague guy isn’t going to last in here much longer, yelling like that. Well he seems to be settling down a bit now, so maybe you’ll make it.”

“Alright, thank you,” Clark ended the call before Melanie could squeeze in another word. He had no idea what he was about to do, but rational thought had been abandoned ages ago. He gathered the cluster of papers he’d strewn across the desk and made his way from the room.

***
“Jason, calm down,” Lex instructed, looking up at him callously before indicating the dozens of concerned onlookers, “you’re making a scene.”

“Making a scene!” Jason’s bark echoed across the booth. “You set this up! You set it all up!”

Between them lay a wrinkled copy of the same magazine Rae had shown Lana earlier in the day. The roughened ages and worn look were products of the way it had been manhandled by a livid Jason.

“Set what up, Jason. You’re being irrational. Calm down so you can think more clearly,” Lex stated with almost undetectable amusement.

“I’ve never had a more rational thought than now, Lex,” Jason hissed, reclaiming his abandoned seat opposite a now smirking Lex.

“You may think when you bury something, it stays buried, but I have my ways of unearthing things like this,” Jason roughly shoved the magazine across at Lex who barely glanced at the cover. His plan was working almost too well. He thinks he’s accomplished something by finding this? Any idiot with an internet connection could have found this, and all because I made it so.

“Now that you’ve calmed,” Lex hesitated to allow his cool tone to shower over a purely spiteful Jason, “please tell me what this-” Lex froze again, incorporating a wonderful dramatic pause to further Jason’s temper, he dropped his gaze to the magazine momentarily, “-magazine, proves.”

“It proves that you knew this Tom guy. You knew his real name was Clark Kent, and you knew Clark Kent grew up in Smallville, which happens to be the same town my wife was brought up in?! I didn’t even have to look up Kent to know that he had some kind of relationship with my wife, that’s probably why you picked him!”

“Picked?” Lex inquired, no longer bothering to mask his wide grin. Sad though it was to see Jason dive off the deep end, Lex had to admit it was just as entertaining.

“Don’t pull this game on me, Lex,” Jason snapped. “I understand everything now.”

Do you?

“You told the Metropolis PD to hire Kent, to tell him to pose as this ‘Tom’. You knew that he knew Lana. But what was it Lex? Are you trying to steal Lana from me? I know you’ve had feelings for her, did you and –” Jason stopped to snatch up the magazine, -“Clark Jerome Kent set this all up to get me out of the way? Or are you really – What the hell are you laughing at?!!”

“Do you hear yourself?” Lex asked as Jason huffed heavily across the table. “Where do you get this, ‘I know you’ve had feelings for Lana’?”

“Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t,” Jason whispered venomously, his eyes sparking with repressed rage. A purple vein was pulsing fervently on Jason’s neck.

Lex locked in on Jason’s eyes, only to look away to force down his laughter. If his plan ever went to seed, it’d be because of the hilarity of Jason’s breakdown. Lex refocused his gaze, still smirking slightly but his eyes extremely serious.

“Jason, I don’t have feelings for Lana.”

“Then why did you plan all this?” Jason inquired, finally settling down.

“I planned very little of this,” Lex lied again. “I did encourage the Metropolis Police Department to hire Clark Kent, but only for my benefits, not your destruction.”

Lex smiled politely after this statement, partly to comfort Jason, but mostly as an outlet for his own inner amusement. Damn am I good.

“Your benefits?”

“Yes, mine, Jason,” Lex replied, leaning forward slightly across the table. Since Jason had lowered his voice to an acceptable roar, the gawking diners had returned to their own vintage meals, rendering Lex’s whispers quite unnecessary. However, he chose to murmur his next words only to add to the drama of it all.

“Do you remember five years ago, after Lana’s first file for divorce?”

“Do I remember what about that, Lex?” Jason questioned, Lex’s whisper becoming contagious.

“Do you remember me coming to see you before that thirtieth day, you were packing and you asked what I wanted?”

“So, Lex, what does this have to –”

“And I asked you, ‘Why do you think I want something?’ Do you remember what you said to me?”

“No, Lex –”

Without waiting for Jason to finish his thought, Lex intruded, “You said, ‘You always do.’”

Jason stared at Lex for several moments, allowing the importance of his words to wash over him. What does he get out of all this?

“How do you remember these things, Lex?” Jason asked in wonderment.

“Because a wise man never forgets, Jason, remember that.”

“I don’t understand what you get out of all this. I thought you wanted to help-”

Lex held out a slender hand to silence Jason. “I always want something, Jason. You ought to remember that, you’d do well to. A wise man never forgets. If you’ll follow me, I’ll tell you exactly what I want and what I’ll get out of all of this.”

Jason followed blindly as Lex led him by an invisible leash out of the restaurant. Neither of them had ordered, Lex knew neither of them had to. Jason would need no nourishment for the fate he’d meet. And food would do nothing to appease the ravenous monster inside of Lex. Tonight, however, he would feast. He would feast on a diet of revenge. All of his hard work boiled down to this one evening. A wise man never forgets.

***

[NYC300Z]

1

[SVsleuth]

Buffer?

[IluvCLANA]

wow, stupid k-site wouldn't let me back in, and so i guess ill read the long-awaited update now...

*rushes off to read*

[4EverSmallville]

***
“Lana, you got some ‘splaining to do,” Rae stated in her best ‘I Love Lucy’ impression.

Lana chuckled into the phone as she held it limply between her right ear and shoulder. Her lavish bedroom was immersed in semi darkness as the feeble rays of her bedside table lamp illuminated only a quarter of the vast room.

“What about, Rae?” Lana asked, assuming her most innocent persona. Her fingers idly traced the neat letters on the paper before her.

“You’re looking at it again, aren’t you?” Rae surmised suddenly, causing Lana to start at her abruptness.

“What?”

“That letter you wrote how many years ago.”

How does she know that?!

Lana’s lack of response was all the answer Rae needed. “Just show him the damned thing and get it over with.”

“Rae, I can’t show it to him. How would that look? ‘Here Clark, here’s a letter I wrote senior year. I just want you to know my feelings haven’t changed since then,’” Lana laughed sarcastically, accentuating the action with a roll of the eyes. “Come on, Rae.”

“So you admit your feelings haven’t changed?” Lana could practically feel Rae’s smirk on the other end. Why did things like that keep slipping out?

Again, Lana remained silent. Had her feelings changed at all? They were obviously still there. But things have changed since then, so much has changed…

“Lana?”

“Something happened last night,” Lana confessed quietly, her hushed tones passing through the wire in nothing louder than a low hiss, sending a shudder down Rae’s spine.

“What?”

“Something happened last night,” Lana repeated, a single tear falling as she recalled the elation, the passion, the…love.

“What happened?” inquired Rae, who had stopped chewing on her nails to listen closely.

“We almost…” Lana inhaled a deep breath, “kissed.”

“You almost what?” Rae exploded just as Lana’s bedroom door crashed open.

“Lana,” Clark entered urgently, freezing when he saw her in bed, cradling a familiar looking piece of paper and attempting to nurse a few fallen tears.

“Yeah?” Lana asked, managing a slight smile as she quickly folded the letter and slipped it less than discreetly into a drawer in the bedside table.

“You okay?” Clark’s attention was drawn to the closed drawer that Lana had stashed the letter inside. His eyes itched with the temptation to x-ray the wooden drawer.

His attention was only refocused after Lana cleared her throat loudly. “I’m fine, Clark. What’s up?”

“I just got a phone call,” Clark held his cell up for emphasis, his eyes returning every now and then to the drawer Lana had so hastily closed. “I have to run out for a minute.”

“Uhm, okay, but hey – can you do me a favor?” Lana moved the phone from her shoulder and held it as she gazed into Clark’s blue eyes, losing sight temporarily of what her original request had been.

“Uh, Sean wants to go to a friends house, but I’m not really dressed to go out,” she indicated her attire briefly, a white camisole with short blue shorts, “Do you mind taking him? He knows the way.”

As difficult as it was to resist Lana’s attractive hazel eyes, Clark found his reporter’s instinct turning on. If I do this, I’ll miss Lex and Jason…

“Please, Clark?”

Finding himself subjected to her enchanting hazel gaze, Clark’s heart rate increased slightly. Visions of the evening prior flooded his mind, as all detachment was washed away. How simple and irrelevant her words were, but oh, how they impacted him.

Lightening struck somewhere outside the window as raindrops began to pound furiously on the roof, each hammering droplet bringing Clark closer to reality. Though Clark did not weigh his decision heavily, he unknowingly ventured down the path that was anticipated. When it came between his detachment or his emotions, Clark’s choices in recent days had been extremely clear cut, and predictably so.

Jor-el had told him on countless occasions. That is your weakness, Kal-el.

Unfortunately, Jor-el was no longer the only person who knew.

***
“Turn here.”

Clark navigated Lana’s SUV through the splattering rainfall, taking his orders from Sean who sat beside him in the passenger seat.

Difficult though it was to maintain control of the vehicle in the rain, Clark couldn’t help but push the limit in order to insure he would be able to listen in on Jason and Lex’s meeting.

The rain fell harshly onto Lana’s windshield as Clark wheeled the vehicle around another corner, the rear wheels briefly spinning of their own accord.

“In a hurry.” stated Sean in more of a declaration than a question as he felt the durability of four wheel drive being put to the test beneath him.

“Yeah, sorry,” Clark apologized as the car skidded through a stop sign, “I’m trying to meet someone.”

“Lex?”

Clark jerked the wheel in surprise, sending himself, Sean, as well as Lana’s car flailing wildly to the right, Sean making a sickening noise as he was forced against the passenger door.

“How do you know?”

“He’s a bad person, Clark,” advised Sean, skillfully ignoring Clark’s previous question. Sean focused his bright green eyes out of the window he’d just been acquainted with, a lightening flash reflecting brilliantly off of his irises.

“Why do you say that?” inquired Clark. He was chillingly reminded of a conversation he’d held with his old friend, Ryan. Didn’t Ryan once say Lex was a bad person? Haven’t there always been people trying to warn me about him?

“He just is,” Sean replied, never removing his gaze from the passing scenery outside the misty window. “You should be careful.”

Sean brought his hand up to the window in an attempt to clear the condensation. When he’d dispersed enough of the offending cloud, he pointed out of the window, indicated a large home a few houses down.

Slowing the car to a drawling creep, Clark asked, “Is that who you dreamt about last night?”

Sean froze with his hand on the door handle and stared out blankly out of the large windshield. His brow was furrowed in a pondering expression while, contrastingly, his jaw was set firmly.

“I used to have that dream a lot,” he confided after several moments of silence, his whisper almost instantly being commandeered by the pounding rain. “I had it so much, I was starting to wonder whether it was real or not.”

Afraid to interrupt, Clark clung to Sean’s words as he uttered them, exercising his super-hearing to be certain he missed nothing.

“All that time, I thought –” Sean’s voice cracked slightly as he mumbled his next words. He shook his head to recollect himself, almost as if not believing the very thoughts he had been about to give breath. When he started again, Clark hadn’t the foggiest idea where he was going with his confessional. He continued to watch Sean with a thirsting expression, drinking in his words briskly, as if he feared they’d evaporate if he let them linger too long.

“When I was little, Lex used to tell me about his memories. Some things he could remember, other things he couldn’t for a while. Some things he’d repressed…but when he remembered everything…he realized what he’d been blind to and had a hard time accepting the truth.”

“Lex has always been obsessed with the past.” Clark interjected softly, still not following Sean’s obscure train of thought. Why would Lex confide in Sean about the memories he lost?

“It’s more than that, Clark,” Sean admonished, raising his voice slightly in an attempt to get Clark to understand. His voice was now wracked with emotion, but he persevered into his next sentence, “What if you repress something for so long, that when you start to see it differently, you don’t know what to believe any more.”

“Sean-” Clark started hesitantly but was interrupted by the young boy’s quivering voice.

“All this time…I thought it was Lex,” Sean whispered, more to himself than Clark. Rain continued to plow ominously onto the roof and the sodden ground around them. “But I was wrong, I thought I couldn’t trust him…but in a way…he’s probably the most honest person I’ll ever meet.”

Silence settled between them, punctured by the drops of rain and the low wheezing of Clark’s deep breaths.

“Lex used to say ‘things are rarely what they seem.’ He’s right. My dad’s a bad person, Clark, he’s not what he seems. Lex isn’t what he seems. You have to be careful of them. They’re dangerous.”

“Sean, how do you know they are dangerous? What aren’t you telling me?” Clark was becoming desperate for clues to solve this mystery, but no longer to fulfill his assignment or adhere by his unyielding destiny. He needed to crack the case in order to alleviate the stress it was clearly putting on Sean. Clark had never seen Sean so openly rattled, and it was unnerving.

“Things are never what they seem,” Sean repeated, still ignoring Clark’s questions. It was important to Sean that he understood. “Like my mom, she pretends like she doesn’t care about you but she does. She loves you. I’ve never seen her happier than she has been since you’ve been here, Clark. I can’t stand to see her get hurt, again. Be careful with her too, be safe.”

And with that last kernel of knowledge, Sean climbed out of the SUV, snatched up his overnight bag, and made his way to the door of his friend’s beautiful home.

***
Clark wasn’t sure how he’d ended up outside Johnny Rockets. His mind was swarming with the overload of information. There was Chloe’s plausible connection to Level 3, Sean’s soliloquy that he barely followed, and still the insatiable emotions that battled inside him where Lana and Sean were concerned.

By the time he’d made his way out of Lana’s SUV, Clark had forgotten why he’d left the house in the first place. He leaned against the large vehicle with both hands driven deeply into his pockets, allowing himself to be drenched in the downpour. So much for singing in the rain, he thought gloomily as he glared at his murky reflection in a puddle at his feet. His reflection seemed older, more troubled than he’d remembered. Lightning struck, reflecting ominously in the puddle.

Sighing, Clark tilted his head skyward, vainly attempting to make sense of Sean’s latest, and most cryptic, message. Did this have something to do with what Lana let slip earlier?

He could make neither heads nor tails as he slouched against the slick SUV and it wasn’t until another car drove through the puddle he’d been gazing into that he was reminded of his original purpose. Doused in rainwater, Clark quickly blinked the water from his eyes and focused on the fading license plate.

TEAGUE E…

Throwing caution to the raging winds, Clark darted after the offending car, tailing it discreetly until it reached the deserted harbor.

***
“Where the hell are the shipment schedules?”

Jason paced angrily around the circular tower, occasionally ripping out drawers and clicking away at a computer keyboard. He and Lex had just discussed the plan for the duration of the project, and it was imperative he got his hands on the shipping schedule for the meteor rocks.

“Mr. – Mr. Teague,” stuttered an elderly man, he tried vainly to yell over Jason in a fruitless attempt to calm him. “Don’t you remember, you took them home. You-” the old man quickly hustled out of the way as his boss ripped an entire drawer out and hurled it blindly behind him. “You felt they would be safer in your possession.”

“Does it look like they’re in my possession?” Jason snapped as he stalked past the quivering old man. “I left a copy here for reference, now where is it?!”

“I-, sir-”

“I-I-sir-sir,” mimicked Jason as he suddenly whipped around and approached the old man, a maniacal glint in his eye. The old man flinched when he noticed the pulsating vein in his superior’s neck. “You had one job! One job, damn it! That idiot,” Jason glared over at the scrawny younger man, “kept an eye out on the shores. And you,” Jason pushed the old man roughly back into one of the circuit boards where a newspaper crossword had been stretched out, “All you had to do was keep track of the papers! But neither of you can seem to do your job right. He whittles the day away, gawking at women, including my wife! And you can’t keep tabs on a piece of paper!”

“Sir-,” interrupted the younger man in a nervous voice. He was positioned at his station, viewing the screen before him, however having a livid Jason Teague in the same room was enough to have him on egg shells, regardless of their proximity.

“I’m not finished!” barked Jason, though he had nothing else left to say. He huffed loudly before returning to the task of dismantling the circular room.

“Sir, you might want to see this,” the young man said again, ducking as a stray pen whizzed past.

“What is it?!”

“It’s that guy again,” he indicated the screen. The young man watched concernedly as Jason’s complexion changed from a menacing red to a horrifying purple.

“Get-me-Lex-Luthor,” he managed between deep inhales, his anger bottling like vinegar and baking soda.

His hands clenched on the control panel, Jason squinted at the dark screen, barely making out the form of Clark Kent.

***
Clark had been using his super-hearing to catch portions of the conversation being held in the lighthouse. However even his own enhanced hearing did not grasp everything and Clark found himself only privy to the loudest parts of the one-sided conversation, the words “Shipment papers” standing out more than any other.

Time to see if Chloe's still got it, Clark thought as he focused his x-ray vision on the tower and trailed downward. The skeleton of the building below surface revealed large bodies of equipment that were unmistakably signs of a legitimate plant.

Dropping his gaze even lower, Clark’s eyes widened as they landed on a large mass of impenetrable space.

***
Closing the door silently behind him, Clark slipped into Lana’s bedroom undetected. He had passed her on his way in, still in a deep conversation with Rae, though now conversing over a large carton of ice cream rather than a faded piece of paper.

He had to find those shipment papers. Driven by a fervent desire to connect the dots between Lex, Jason, Sean, Lana, and the meteor rocks, Clark tore through the many shelves and drawers of Lana’s bedroom.

After circling the room three complete times and finding nothing even the slightest bit incriminating, Clark swore quietly under his breath. He wasn’t sure why he craved the shipment records so ravenously, but the mere fact that Jason had gotten so worked up searching for them made the documents worthy of Clark’s interest.

Chloe had mentioned that Jimmy managed to tap into the shipping records, but he had no idea how long that would take to research again. Jason seemed too urgent for Clark’s comfort, he had to get his hands on those records.

In a last ditch effort, Clark examined the bedside table, knowing full well that no sane person would put anything important in such an unguarded location. He blindly felt around the drawer before his fingers closed around a single sheet of folded paper.

Removing it and tapping the lamp on the table, Clark’s heart skipped a beat as he realized what he was holding. He had seen Lana with the paper on more than one occasion, and each time she seemed devoted to insuring that he never saw it himself.

Glancing cautiously at the closed bedroom door then through it, Clark’s fingers shook slightly as he began to open the aged letter.

***
A/N: I didn't edit it yet, K-Site's being a little strange so I'll drop in later to do that and add a proper author's note. Thanks for the buffers and the laughs, night everyone. Hope you had a good holiday.

[NYC300Z]

it wont let me post! oh now it does on the 4th try!

wow i'm almost trembling after reading your update! I'm so glad you finally updated! A bit late but oh well! It was really terrific! I wonder what Clark will think after he reads the letter. Will Lana catch him reading it? Will Rae get Lana to confide in Clark? What is Jason so urgent about? What the heck is Lex's master plan? What is Sean's dreams really about? So many questions still to be answered!

PPMS!*yeah like that will ever happen*:lol::p

[IluvCLANA]

completely amazing 4ever.... you had me reading every letter, and word, as if it were gold.... all the twists and turns were, just, mind-blowing. i cant even express how this update just shouted out to me with emotion. i LOVED the part where lana was crying, and holding the letter when clark walked in, and when she was on the phone with rea, and she was re-reading some of the parts of the letter,of what she had written, the whole thing was just, oh, wow. just amazing. thank you SO much for the long-awaited update, it was the perfect christmas present. hopefully you'll be updating a little more frequently? lol
thanks again for the awesomeness....

[SVsleuth]

It is 4 a.m., Ash, & I have just finished reading your awesome update! I haven't stayed up this late in 4Ever! :lol: It was worth it. I just hope I can get SOME sleep!

This story is still the greatest. PLEASE post more during the holidays. And PLEASE don't make us wait 3 more months for an update. You are an awesome writer, Ash. Keep it going.... Matt & IluvCLANA said everything I was thinking. Ditto, Ditto!

[IluvCLANA]

to everyone who reads this in the morning:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

[kewl]

yay!!!! u updated!!!! many thanks!!! off to read! :D

[kewl]

awesome!!!!! hope to get some more updates soon though!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

[C.A.chick]

OMG! 4ever updated! YAY! Wow........... that was amazingly astoundingly great!!!!!! I wonder what Lex is up to? He seems pretty evil to me..... And whats up with Lana and Clark and their avoidance dance? I had to go to bed before you updated but when I woke up this morning I remembered that you had updated and I literally jumped 3 feet out of my bed and sprinted downstairs! That was the most awesome update ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please try to update a little more frequently, I think EVERYONE would appreciate it! PPMASAP!!!!!!!!

[4EverSmallville]

Delayed A/N from Heedless: Thanks so much for the patience and lackthereof at times :lol:. My pm box definitely got it's share of exercise for the past few weeks (months?). But the chapter, it was basically going to look just like this for the longest time, but the conversation with Sean sort of morphed :lol:. I think for the better, however. The avoidance dance is a Clana tradition, C.A.Chick (I know you were the one with the million smiley posts :lol: ). They have to go two steps back after they go one step forward. And I know there seems like there are a lot of lingering questions, because there are :lol:. That's one of the problems I had with this chapter, not being sure what to address and what to put off for later.

If I were to give any hints to the future, I would say that I already have and if you haven't caught them ... . The titles are always a big hint of what's going to happen, which brings me to my next order of business. The title for the next chapter will probably not be posted until the next chapter is. I haven't the slightest idea what to call it. Maybe you guys can read it and name it for me :lol:.

I'm so happy to be able to post without a bounty on me :lol:. Maybe now I can reach my New Years goal lol.

:o I'm forever grateful to you guys though, you make my days :D.

[cufcchic]

omg omg omg you updated!!!!! i loved the update!! i wonder what lex is going to do?! he is soo evil and mean! when i saw that 4ever updated, i ran to my room and screamed in my pillow!!!!! im sooooooooooooo happy!!!!!!!!!! just in time too!!!!! ppmasap! i loved the update!!!!!!!!

[C.A.chick]

4ever........... I have to say that we all await another update because we all LOVE your story! I think you deserve a smiley wall! If you don't mind..... I'll give you 2 minutes to say no to a smiley wall!

[4EverSmallville]

:lol: Go for it lol.

By the way, there's an index of chapters a couple pages back, but Matt and ILuvClana made sure it wouldn't be on the same page as the update like I intended :lol:.

[C.A.chick]

I have to go.:( ut i will return with an extra long smiley wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just for 4ever!

[akuma]

OH MY GOD!! THAT WAS FREAKIN AWESOME!!:D:D:D AND U LEFT IT AT CLIFFY?!!?!?1? ARGH!! I CANT WAIT FOR MORE!!!

[Clark&lana4eva]

u cant leave it there

[super12]

that was a great update.ppms

[baldy92]

Wow, omg that was an amazing update!!:D PPMS!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that, on her first foray into Clana writing in some time, 4Ever still knows how to write a cliffie.

Boo for cliffies, yay for great updates!

[sandy]

Oh, the dramatic irony is killing me here! such a cliffy though!
I have countless questions which I hope you can answer soon in another reeaaallly long and reeaaallly amazing update!

don't leave it hanging too long!:D

[Somebodyfrommetropolis]

I am jumping up and down right now...yay for updating 4ever! I can't wait to see what will happen next! Hope everybody had a great holiday!

And thank you 4ever, 4ever!

:D

[C.A.chick]

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

hehe, I have major issues concerning my consant will to post smiley walls! :p, you deserve every smiley on the wall! PPMASAP! sorry!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

There isn't much to say as all the others have spoken my mind. That was an incredible update and I hope you know how much we all appreciated it. You left us hanging though (maybe not for months this time? Pleeeease).. Hope you'll squeeze in another update before the evil school takes you away again!

[Kal-El & Me]

Wow 4ever! THAT- WAS- AWESOME!!!!
It was the best one so far. I have not the slightest idea of what to say except PPMS!
And, Kewl. This definitely is the merriest Christmas I've had.
Or day after Christmas at least.

[super12]

that was a great i hope you post more soon. great story.ppms

[Somebodyfrommetropolis]

Agreed!

[SuperNes]

Ahhh!!! I acannot believe yo ended it there!!! What are yu trying to do to us!!! his was a curse in disguise!! Now I am at twice the previous anticipation level! It's ahhh !!!!

Oh and thanks for the really great update :) It was superb! The raw emotional tension between the two... nobody writes it like you do, except maybe T.P.T.B. themselves :P So anyways WOW, GREAT, FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL.

Eargerly awaiting more, Nessie

[binkys711]

HOW COULD YOU END IT ON A FRICKIN' CLIFFIE AFTER ALL THIS TIME?! AHHHHH!!!!....oh well....as long as you updated that's ok, juts don't take so long next time ok?!;) now on the update....

WOAH! Everything as finally starting to unravel! The sexual tension between them is really unnerving for all of us clana fans! but man is it awesome....they should really just et it all out;):p poor Sean, suffering al this time with his dreams and knowing that is father is evil, that's very sad, but at least he knows his mom is a good person and he wants her to be happy which of course is non-other than Clark:) Your writting is amazing, your words chosen so perfectly for everything. Awesome job!

I mean it this time.....PPMS!!!:D

thanxz for the update!:)

[LuvClana]

COULD THERE BUT A BIGGER CLICFFIE? Oh, i hope you plan on updating soon!

[superman_lives_on]

This was an excellent update after waiting so long--but the Clark-Lana interaction is still rather maddening, which is probably the point. I'll be as thrilled as anyone when they finally cease and desist with the avoidance dance and tell each other the truth--but who knows how long that'll take? At least now Clark is beginning to read that letter...

PPMS!!!

[IluvCLANA]

i bet shes going to walk in on him reading it...... i hope she doesn't get mad at him...... well ppms

we'll all be waiting eagerly.........

[Kal-El & Me]

PPMS, 4ever. I'm on the verge of getting worried that you won't update for a long long time again.

[annaliese]

hey! i have been (silently) reading this story for a while!!!!!!!! i love it... dont take 4ever (no pun intended) lol

[midnite_spark]

this story is like a drug! i was starting to get over the side effects of not having updates...but now that u've updated again....i'm going thru withdrawl again! plz don't leave us hanging for so long again!

PPMS!!

[Clark&lana4eva]

please update please please please please please please please

i know ur on

[IluvCLANA]

well... she WAS on.... and she didn't update :(
come on nessie.......

rinnnngggggg!!!!!
-"hello?"
-"yea, inspiration fairy?, our friend nessie needs your help. shes in the clana forum.
-"okay ill get right on it!"
-"thanks, bye"
-"bye"

click


did that help nessie?

hope you get 'unstuck' with that one paragragh soon, so you can put you thoughts onto the keyboard ;)

[C.A.chick]

PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!4ever, you're story rocks....I must've said that about 10 times now.........lol............. can't wait!!!!!!!!!!PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kewl]

Happy New Year!!!!!

[C.A.chick]

lol.................... 4ever? You here? An update coming at all????????????PLEASE? PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

Hey 4ever have you noticed that each one of your updates takes longer each time? Can you please get back to your every three day updates at least during the holidays??

PPMS!;)

[Somebodyfrommetropolis]

Hey! I still have to wait a day or more! Well, happy new year, kewl!

[ajfinn]

I saw something very interesting that 4ever just posted in the Clana club!!! You should check it out :D

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by ajfinn
I saw something very interesting that 4ever just posted in the Clana club!!! You should check it out :D

Er...got a link or post number handy, perchance? I'm a bit lazy, sorry.

[ajfinn]

This is what she said:


Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
I have a little something in the oven that will be done at a decent hour :lol:. Look out for that ;).

And I'm sorry if I misinterpreted this, 4ever, but I hope it means what I think it does :D

[Dr. Jeckyll]

I saw that as well and I share your interpretation, aj. We can just pray that it’s the right one :) I'll be reading it tomorrow anyway cuz I promised my sister that I would be skiing with her tomorrow. In fact we're off in less than 6 hrs :D

Oh, well... Good night ;) and hopefully PPMS!

[SVsleuth]

Is an update really coming, 4Ever?

[iloveit]

yay an update finally! its awesome! lol clark as the hottest guy in a magazine! so true!

[IluvCLANA]

well, shes not on........ but i hope she gets on and updates :D

*sees 4evers on*

geesh... first with card, now with 4ever..... arrrgggg

[ajfinn]

4ever just said she was talking about cookies ...... COOKIES!!!!!!!

WHO CAN THINK OF EATING COOKIES WHEN SHE HAS AN ANXIOUS MOB OF READERS WAITING? :lol:

[Cardinal]

Who makes cookies at midnight? This had better be an update, 4Never or...or...or I don't know what, but you won't like it, and neither will your dog, Toto!

[IluvCLANA]

GO READ WHAT SHE POSTED IN THE CLUBHOUSE YOU GUYS!!!!!! SHE JUST SAID WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW...... WELL.....KINDA......NOT IN THOSE EXACT WORDS, BUT, YEA THATS PRETTY MUCH THE SUM OF IT........
!!!!!!!!MAN!!!!!!!!

[SmallvilleMan]

I've adopted the, "I'll believe it, when i see it" stance when it comes to 4ever and her updates:p

[IluvCLANA]

yea.... good idea

[C.A.chick]

Yeah good idea! Either way, I hope there's an update coming!

[SVsleuth]

Almost ready, Ash? I hope so....

[SuperNes]

Any body else get that feelin like maybe just maybe she is gonna post?!


I'm sittin here like it's the Indy 500!!! Boarders START your fingers! ... ON your Keyboards... Get Set And POOOOSTT!!!!!!

It's Nes and Matt The M.O.S. racing for the #1Post!!!
They are neck and Neck Nes hits the refresh button but Mat the M.O.S pulls a fast one and cuts her off and the corner !! it's going to be close people!!!!

[4EverSmallville]

Emotional Detachment ~ Chapter XVIII ~ Passion

When it rains, it pours.

Lightening flashed outside Lana’s bedroom window, providing one last blinding burst of light before the entire house was submerged in darkness.

It was raining cats, dogs, and men outside but the shingled roof shielded Clark from the relentless drops and his shock shielded him from the rest of the world.

When he’d first grasped the letter, he expected to find something of Jason’s that Lana did not want him to find. Or possibly another mysterious document connected to the complications of their divorce files. Never, ever had he anticipated laying eyes on the passionate words scripted out before him.

Clark never noticed the absence of electrical power in the room, after reading and rereading the letter repeatedly in quick succession, light was no longer necessary for him to grasp the key points.

In his mind’s eye, impassioned phrases darted out at him, streaking and shrieking of the hidden emotions Lana reserved for him.

Is this what you wanted? Are you happy?

I’ve never felt this way before, and so much of me doesn’t want this feeling to go away…

I’m still not sure if you’ll ever see this…

I love you, and I don’t know if I’ll ever stop…

Clark shuddered as the seriousness of the situation washed over him with the intensity of a thrashing, ice cold wave. His breaths were coming heavy and irregular at the mere thought of the contents of the letter. Has she felt this way all this time?

The rational, logical, detached part of his personality caused him to question the reliability of this old letter. She had written it a year following her departure from Smallville, leaving a decade’s worth of undocumented emotions for Clark to incorrectly infer and interpret. Out of that ten year stretch of gray came a marriage and a child, both of which were inclusive enough about the type of life Lana had led since she’d written the letter.

But also out of that period came two divorce files, both initiated by an angry, emotional Lana. He’d witnessed how sensitive the topic was when she’d arrived from her visit to Lex. He hurt to see her endure pain in such a terrible way. Maybe she still isn’t happy with Jason…

If she doesn’t have these feelings anymore, why has she been reading this letter over the past few days? He reasoned with himself, knowing that he had caught her with it on more than one occasion, and each she was bent on keeping it from him, keeping him from seeing the emotion in her eyes, masking it with a false smile…

Clark stood in the center of the room, befuddled by his many thoughts. Should he just put it back? What bad could come from her not knowing he’d seen it? What good could come from me not telling her I’ve seen it?

There was a dispute for everything, a counter-argument for every thought he had, positive or negative, emotional or detached. What if I tell her I read it and she gets angry? Or worse, that she doesn’t have feelings for me anymore?

“She loves you. I’ve never seen her happier than she has been since you’ve been here….” Hadn’t Sean said that less than an hour ago? How were her feelings so much more apparent to a ten year old than they were for the person they were supposedly intended for?

Sean wasn’t flying solo down the runway of cryptic messages and subtle hints. Rae was right there with him, though she happened to be a bit more direct about her intentions.

“If Lana was single, would you date her?” Rae inquired, very directly.

Clark didn’t respond immediately, thinking hard on Rae’s question. Would I…? “It doesn’t matter, because she’s not,” Clark replied, his voice even.

“Hypothetically,” Rae prompted.

“Why?” Clark asked, knowing what his answer would be but not wanting to disclose it. “Do you know something I don’t?”

“Maybe,” Rae smirked with a flirtatious wink. She heaved a sigh as she picked up her bag. “I know you two had a rough past and Lana’s my best friend. If you do get another chance, Clark, try not to screw it up.”

Being married, in Clark’s opinion, labeled any type of relationship with Lana as a ‘no-fly zone.’ He was never the type of person to disrespect another, but Jason’s feelings did not rank very high on his endless list of priorities, and after all the animosity and tension Clark had experienced in the Teague household, he didn’t doubt Jason was at least one of the main sources of it all.

Clark was perfectly within his rights to accept the letter as a green light, if nothing else. And wouldn’t this constitute as ‘another chance,’ the chance I shouldn’t screw up?

Thoughts of Jason and Lex’s duplicity had washed away from his mind like the grime on the rain-soaked windows. Emotional detachment was a forbidden phrase in the internal chambers of his mind. Jor-el’s wrath was the least of his worries. He had had an inner battle with himself, and, folding and pocketing the letter in the darkness, Clark declared a winner before making his way to the door.

***
Lana was in the living room, adjacent to the kitchen, lighting scented candles throughout the room. Though she wasn’t too eager to spend the evening in semi-darkness, it had given her phone call slash interrogation with Rae an abrupt and very welcome ending.

How many different ways can she make me admit I have feelings for Clark? Damn, as if letting it slip out on my own wasn’t embarrassing enough.

Had they not been such good friends, Lana would have given Rae the dial tone long before the power died on them. She is relentless, Lana fumed as she continued to light candles, waving her match over the idle wicks like a magic wand. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d set out candles, but they certainly did add a certain flare to the living room that she rarely experienced.

She’d found some batteries in one of the kitchen’s voluminous drawers and took it upon herself to harmonize the household with one of her older cds.

She lit the final candle on the table behind the couch, staring fondly down at it, remembering her last siesta on its cushions. Clark had been so sweet that night….

Speaking of the devil, Clark himself descended the stairs, both hands buried deeply into his jeans pockets. Lana wondered when he’d abandoned the denim shorts from that morning, but she didn’t complain about the jeans he was wearing at the moment.

“Hey,” she smiled brightly up at him as he reached the bottom. She softly blew out the match she was holding, allowing the flame’s glow to briefly illuminate her skin before extinguishing it. “I guess you noticed the power’s out.” She bestowed upon him an enchanting smile he couldn’t help but return goofily. Remembering his purpose for coming down, he fought the strong urge to turn back around and run upstairs.

Boldly stepping forward, gapping the distance between them, he broke the ice by nodding toward the kitchen where the empty ice cream carton sat neglected on the counter. “I see you polished off the carton, impressive.”

Lana blushed slightly at his irresistible smile, her stomach knotted slightly at the idea of them being alone in her dark home, candles lit all around them. The last time a situation like this presented itself ended in her own tangled emotions wrapped in pleasure and tied with guilt.

“It was already half-empty when I started,” Lana laughed as she backtracked towards the kitchen. Observing her every movement carefully, Clark fully appreciated Lana’s beauty, her ability to make sweatpants and a tank top look stunning astounded him.

“Sure it wasn’t half-full?” Clark asked, dawdling behind her as she tossed the empty carton into the trash and began wiping the counter with a spare rag.

Lana eyed Clark from behind slightly lowered lashes, smirking curiously at his strange mood. “Well, if I’m eating it, wouldn’t it just become more empty?”

Their eyes locked from opposite sides of the counter, Clark’s a piercingly deep Mediterranean blue. Simultaneously, they both erupted in stifled laughter.

“So,” Lana giggled as their laughter subsided, “where did you have to run off to?”

Shrugging, Clark took the seat opposite Lana and smiled warmly. “What were you talking to Rae about?”

Laughing again, Lana shook her head at Clark, allowing the loose tendrils of her messy bun to fall over her eyes. Brushing them aside she grinned widely at Clark, pleased with their light banter, “I don’t want to know what you were doing that badly.”

In truth, she was, as always, curious about why he had to suddenly run out, but there was no way in hell she’d ever tell him what she and Rae discussed.

Clark continued to watch her bustle about the kitchen, sitting in silence until he saw her reach for a cabinet above her head. By the dim light of the candles he saw the dark pattern inked onto the delicate, creamy skin of her lower back.

“You know,” Clark commented, still debating whether to sneak a peak at her tattoo beneath her tank or just x-ray through it, “you never did tell me about that tattoo of yours.”

Facing away from Clark, Lana closed her eyes and attempted to force down yet another blush. She recalled their last discussion about her tattoo as she pulled her shirt down instinctively.

“You never told me about your dreams,” she retorted, turning to face him challengingly.

“I told you this morning,” Clark replied confidently, inwardly bubbling at the sight of her exposed skin. He was beginning to grow warm behind the eyes.

Frowning, Lana quickly flashed him a peak of her tattoo, a direct copy of the ‘LL’ signature in her clothing line before reclaiming her seat at the counter and clasping her hands together.

“There’s really not that much of a story behind it,” Lana explained, hoping to deter Clark’s interest.

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

She propped her chin up on her right fist, allowing her left arm to lie neatly on the counter in front of her. The flicker of a candle flame was caught momentarily on the glimmering piece of jewelry adorning her left hand, her wedding ring. Clark had never noticed it before, or had possibly chosen not to, but he found himself resenting the immaculate diamond, the kind he could never afford. He was, of course, well off with his job as a journalist, but the blinding diamond gleaming in the candlelight boasted of the lifestyle she led, the man she’d committed herself to, powerful, wealthy, unattainable.

“…so when we found out my company was going international, Rae automatically wanted to have this big party to celebrate,” Lana revealed, unaware that Clark had missed the first portion of her story. There was a candle at the end of the counter, reflecting perfectly on only half of her face and she seemed to glow while reliving the past.

“She got me-” Lana paused to laugh lightly at the memory, “so drunk. I couldn’t remember anything about that night, I still can’t.”

She chanced a glance at Clark, almost searching for repentance, as if she could only excuse her actions back then if he could. When he continued to gaze interestedly on her, his darkened eyes occasionally reflecting the flicker of the golden flame, she willingly accepted this as a sign to continue.

“Anyway, I guess she decided to get tattoos after the party, because I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and searing back pain,” Lana laughed at herself again. “If you ask her though, it was my idea.”

“I don’t know if I’d be surprised,” Clark smirked, his crystalline eyes piercing Lana’s soft hazel.

Holding his ravishing gaze, Lana raised a questioning eyebrow, squinting to see him as he reared back into the shadows. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She demanded playfully.

Clark shrugged, inconspicuously removing the letter from his pocket and toying with it beneath the counter. Heaving a big breath, he stated so softly that Lana had to lean in to hear him accurately, “You’ve changed a lot since high school.”

“And you haven’t?” Lana laughed, though she had no complaints about the changes if it meant more fitting tees and shirtless nights. You’re terrible! … Oh God, am I talking to myself?

This is it, Clark thought as he leaned in closer as well, fingering the edges of the letter nervously. “But I guess one thing hasn’t changed about either of us.”

“What’s that?” Lana asked, suddenly breathless for no apparent reason. As he inched closer she was vividly reminded of the evening prior; her desires had been the victor of that battle too…

Clark was about to slip the letter onto the counter before Lana when something caught his attention, something he hadn’t noticed before. He turned his head to listen to the soft music wafting in from the living room.

“What’s that?” he asked, the music’s familiarity becoming antagonizing. Where have I heard this?

Lana watched, baffled, unable to understand his question, as it was an exact replica of her own. What’s he talking about? He’s acting strange, even for him.

“Playing,” he whispered unnecessarily, “what’s that playing?”

“Oh, the music,” Lana surmised as comprehension dawned on her. She tried to quell the anticipation that had pulsed through her veins at his last notion, though her heart still pattered a little faster in her chest. “It’s an old group, Lifehouse. You ever heard them?”

“They played at prom,” Clark announced, unconsciously slipping the letter back into his pocket. In that moment his resolve had left him nervous and uncomfortable as thoughts of his prom flooded his mind, how it never lived up to his expectations…

“Really?” Lana was impressed, “I hope I’m not going out on a limb to assume Lex set that up.” Lifehouse in Smallville under any other circumstances just seemed unrealistic.

“He did,” Clark nodded indifferently. Silence fell between them as they listened to the soft melodies in the living room. Lana still wondered what Clark had been about to say, but by the time she’d made up her mind to ask him, the song changed and he was already speaking again.

“May I have this dance?”

What?!

“What?” Lana hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but since when did Clark Kent dance? She stared at his hand, open and inviting, reaching out to her across the counter. He’s not serious…

“Lana,” Clark chortled slightly at her reaction, but more to mask his swelling fear. What if she says no? “Will you do me the honor of having this dance?”

Her eyes misted when she noted the sincerity in his voice. How long had she waited for this moment? A lifetime, it seemed. If she thought her blood had been rushing before, it was nothing compared to the jittery, slightly dizzying experience she was having now. She wordlessly allowed her small dainty hand to fall into place with Clark’s as he led her around the counter and into the open space in the living room.

Swallowing nervously, Lana gazed up at Clark as he slowly, painfully slow, turned to face her. She said nothing as he gently pulled her nearer, inviting her to find refuge in his arms while the euphonic rhythm of “You and Me” played softly in the background.

What day is it?
And in what month
this clock never seemed so alive
I can’t keep up
and I can’t back down
I’ve been losing so much time
‘Cause it’s you and me…

The lyrics of the age-old classic hummed throughout the room, though neither Clark nor Lana comprehended them fully. Clark had finally surrendered to his undying emotions, Lana was in his arms, and as far as he was concerned at the moment, all was right in the world.

They revolved slowly, Clark wondering how he’d ever let something so wonderful slip through his fingers. Their eyes locked for an eternity, the candles of the room seeming to be circling them while they stood still. In all actuality, the beauty of the candlelit room was lost on them both as they entered a world of their own. Since discovering the hidden letter, all of Clark’s worries had been wiped from his mind. Lex, Jason, meteor rocks, Perry, journalism, Jor-el…none of it mattered. He was at peace as his emotions poured candidly from his eyes to hers, and he felt his heart flutter when Lana broke the bondage of their eye contact to rest her cheek comfortably on his chest, releasing a faint sigh as she did.

I can’t keep my eyes off of you…

All of the things
that I wanna say
just aren’t coming out right
I’m tripping on words
you’ve got my head spinning
I don’t know where to go from here
‘Cause it’s you and me…

Lana allowed her lashes to droop before closing them completely. She relished in the feeling of both of his strong arms around her, the sensation of his hands grazing the bare skin beneath her shirt but above her waistline. Clark’s mere presence seemed to cleanse her of every woe she’d ever had. How can he still do this to me?

The music was intoxicating, the rhythm inspiring. The tumult of emotions that overpowered her were unfamiliar but did not go unwelcomed. She’d never experienced emotions quite like these. Lana and Clark had surfed this wave before but never to music and never in a whirlwind of emotions and never at his mercy.

The power was vested in his super-powered hands, and he flaunted his many talents in the teasingly arousing way he caressed her trembling body. The wizardry in his motions coupled with the unflinchingly honest passion in his eyes served to disarm her as she strayed away on the waves of sound created by the once insignificant tune. Lana had arrived in all senses of the word.

There’s something about you now
I can’t quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right

The room began to turn or was she, in fact, spinning herself? And if that was so Clark had to have been steering for she had long since been rendered incapable of typical independent movement. But typical had been quarantined from her every day vocabulary the moment Clark Kent had found himself back in the inner most circle of her life.

It was atypical to invite a detective into her home and even more unusual for him to be an old flame unbeknownst to her husband. It was unordinary for them to be dancing so wonderfully close in her living room while a dated song that seemed to be written exclusively for them serenaded in the background. Bizarre for both of them to be so enchanted but mystified in the same respect. Peculiar for her to be swept off her feet by someone who had swept twelve years of separation under a rug of quilted passion in a matter of days. Irregular to be under the spell of a man outside her legal companion and even more so to be hanging on his every word. And it was just not typical to not fall in love with Clark Kent.

You and me and all of the people
with nothing to do
nothing to lose
And it’s you and me and all of the people
and I don’t know why
I can’t keep my eyes off of you

He began to whisper, the gentle breeze of his breath sending a calming yet explosive sensation to her ear, then lighting a fiery path through the rest of her body. His words did not fail in reaching her but barely sank in as her mind weighed heavily with a sober drunkenness as they continued to twirl about.

“I never wanted to go to prom with Chloe,” he whispered, a deep, husky tone in his voice she had never heard before.

“No?” Lana murmured softly, her cheek never abandoning its residence on his firm chest. It was a blessing, in her eyes, that he led her around to the beat of the music, her knees had gone weak ages ago.

“This was the last song we dance to, but through it all I was really only thinking one thing,” his voice lowered gradually until it became nothing more than a sensual hum. With reluctance, she removed her cheek from his chest to peer up into his eyes, only to find a wave of passion pouring out from them.

“What?” asked Lana, breathless but so full of life at the same time. She felt mildly lightheaded, but she hadn’t had a drink in days. This new experience was unfamiliar to her, but she enjoyed it nonetheless.

“That this is how I always wanted prom to be, Lana, just you…and me.”

What day is it?
And in what month
this clock never seemed so alive…

Tears would have fallen if she’d given them the chance. A gasp would have escaped her if she’d had the air left to exhale. The soft sexuality in his words seemed to awaken more emotions in her than she cared to number. There could be only one response to his last words.

As the last chords of the song faded into the silent intermission between tracks, Lana slowly tilted her head up to meet Clark’s awaiting lips.

It was a fireworks display on the forth of July. The ball had dropped at midnight on New Years. The explosion of their union rocked both of them and Lana had to lean completely into Clark to remain upright. His lips traveled softly over hers, tracing a path he hadn’t explored in a decade and some.

Her fingers found their way to the hair of his nape as she tugged on the soft locks affectionately before pulling him down closer to her.

The build-up of tension between the two was highly erotic; twelve years had been a long wait for this moment. Lana’s small hands separated from his neck briefly to locate the hem of his shirt. She unconsciously lifted until he continued the act himself. Using the moment to catch her breath, Lana was caught unawares when Clark’s lips darted down to capture hers again. He supported her against his body as they moved towards the couch, their once tender kisses becoming more passionate by the second.

Gravity being on his side, Clark lowered himself onto Lana, his kisses trailing from her lips down to her neck.

Lana fought the intense urge to moan as her eyes rolled back. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive, so sexy. Her conscience, which she had thus far managed to successfully ignore, became more urgent as she thought of her past. How far is this going to go?

“Clark,” she whispered faintly as he found a sensitive spot on her neck. “Clark, wait.”

He pulled back immediately as his eyes, darkened with passion, bored into hers. Allowing her enough space to sit in a sitting position, he asked concernedly, “What’s wrong?”

The room’s many candles seemed to fade slightly as the power returned. As the light from the kitchen fell over the back of the couch, Clark witnessed several tears cascading down Lana’s flustered cheeks.

“I’m married,” she whispered, hating the words with as much passion as she reserved for Clark.

“Are you happy?” he inquired after a moment, reaching out to brush the tears from her cheeks. He thought quoting the letter might be enough of a clue, but she never returned his gaze.

“Lana look at me.” She did so reluctantly, more tears falling as she met his eyes, two windows of love and adoration that she’d never seen from Jason. “I can make you happy,” he said seriously.

“How do you know?”

It was then that Clark removed the letter from his pocket and set it between them. Lana merely stared, not knowing what, if anything, she could say to explain it. How did he find that?

Before Lana could conjure any kind of explanation, Clark took her hand in hers and placed it over his chest. Through his warm, taut skin, she felt the steady cadence of his rapidly beating heart. He looked down to the letter once, fleetingly thinking of the consequences of his actions but not caring enough to stop, before delivering an answer. “Because I love you too.”

A small part of her wondered what she was doing. Why she was giving in to temptation. But she listened not to her mind and only to her heart. She wasn’t giving in to temptation; she was giving in to love.

They both leaned in simultaneously, meeting each other’s lips in the sweetest kiss they’d ever had. Lana’s hand rose to gently caress Clark’s cheek. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

They continued to kiss softly until the phone rang. Clark pulled away slightly to see if she would answer it, but it was obvious from her closed eyes and tranquil expression that she had no intentions of doing so.

The tape of the answering machine wound as the caller left their message.

“MOM!”

Lana became suddenly alert, separating from Clark and gazing wide-eyed at the answering machine.

“MOM! CLARK! HE’S GOT ME!”

Clark chanced a glance at Lana as Sean’s mortified screams permeated the room, drowning out the music from the stereo. Her complexion, which had been rosy and flushed seconds before, had blanched into a pallid, paper-white color.

“HE’S GOT ME! DAD’S-”

“Alright,” came another voice. “That’s enough!”

Sean’s voice was immediately stifled as this new man took over the call. Clark struggled momentarily to recognize the voice, but he did not need Lana’s whisper to assist him.

“Jason….”

“Well, well,” Jason snapped, clearly trying to repress his anger. “I can only imagine what you two love birds must be doing to keep you from answering the phone.”

He laughed wickedly before continuing. “You’ll regret it, Lana. You’ll regret you ever had feelings for our Mr. Clark Kent. And yes, I know his real name. So I suggest, if you value the life of your son as much as you value the life of your lover, that you come down here. He’ll know where to find me.”

The call ended and the answering machine announced the date and time. Lana turned to Clark, her impassioned face now usurped by a look of serious fury.

“Where are they?” she demanded.

“The docks-” Lana was instantly on her feet. “Lana, I think you should-”

She whipped around and glared venomously at him, the love in her eyes still evident. Lana tried to keep her tone as level as possible as she spoke warningly to him, “Clark, if you think I am going to stay here knowing my son is –” closing her eyes momentarily, Lana collected herself before continuing, “I will not stay here while you go get my son.”

She was already in shoes and a jacket and making her way purposefully to the front door. Grabbing his shirt from the floor, Clark made his way around the couch to block her exit.

“Get the hell out of my way,” she ordered. As much as she cared for him, nothing was going to stop her from saving her son.

“Lana,” Clark stated, raising his hands in a calming way, “you’re angry.”

Nice observation.

“I just think you’d be safer here. If you go out there mad like this you might do something-”

Lana took a step forward, glaring up into Clark’s eyes. “I’m only going to tell you this one more time.” She spoke pointedly, calmly, and succinctly. There would be no misinterpreting her purpose. “Get – the – hell – out – of – my – way.”

“Lana,” Clark began but was cut short as Lana made to go around him. “Okay, I understand you’re-”

“He has my son!” she shouted, not at all hearing what Clark was trying to say.

“I understand, Lana, I do,” he reasoned with her, holding his hands out to stop her from trying to barrel him over. “But you can’t go out there like this –”

Taking a deep breath, Lana looked into his eyes and sensed the love there. “I appreciate your concern, Clark. And I’m glad you care so deeply. But if you don’t move the hell out of my way in the next five seconds, I’m going to have to move you myself.”

They stared at each other for four seconds. Clark wondered if Lana would really hit him, especially after the moment of passion they’d just shared. Super though he was, this Lana, this angry mother-bear aspect of her personality, was uncharted territory. As she took an intimidating step towards him; he stepped aside.

She politely thanked him before marching out of the door, Clark on her heels.

***
A/N: I hope the few days between this update weren't as agonizing as you guys make them seem :o. I really do feel guilty sometimes.

Anyway, this chapter has been written in fragments for a while, a lot of the dance I found in the middle of one of my homework assignments :lol:. If you can't already tell, the climax is coming, which means the end is too. I'm not sure how many chapters it will take for me to do that though.

I think I accidently edited the post where I mentioned my friend from school. So if I'm being repetitive bear with me, but just say hey to Somebodyfrommetropolis!

Please reply & have a safe and happy New Years :D.

[SuperNes]

1st!!!!!!!

Ahahaah!!! yeahh!!!! 4 eva you rock!! ahh what luck! Now I am off to go read! :) thanks Merry New year by the way!

Love, Nessie

oH AND pSSST! 1 POST TILL THE BIG 10K :eek: :eek: :eek: :cool: :) cONGRATS!

_____________________________________--
Wow that was great!!!!!!!!1 I am so worried about Clark! will the meteor rocks hurt him? Is lana going to have to save him too?
Oh and is there any possible wat that Sean is Clark's son? (that would be cool :) )

Oh and Hey to somebodyfrommetropolis :) nice to see ya again :)