Bless the Broken Road

[Cardinal]

Chapter 80 - Tonight

Having finished practice, Clark showered and headed outside the locker room where Lana was waiting.

When he came into view, Lana literally jumped into his arms. It caught Clark off guard, but he still managed to catch her as she wrapped her legs around his waist and used her hands to seize his head. She then rained a flurry of kisses on his lips before he could catch his breath. Once he adjusted to having 100 pounds of warm, affectionate female plastered to his chest, Clark said, “Hi there. I’m Clark. Who are you and what did you do with my quiet girlfriend?”

“Hi, Yourself. I’m Lana. Your girlfriend is still in here somewhere,” Lana said as she used one hand to tap her breastbone. “Right now, though, I’m busy being a football fan…a football fan who heard earlier today that Met U’s stud quarterback is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.” Keeping her legs around his waist, Lana played with the crew neck of his sky blue Met U t-shirt and asked, “Other than news of the nomination, how did your day go?”

Clark tilted his head and raised one eyebrow as if to ask, Are you sure you want to know? and then said, “Oh, Baby, I have had the weirdest day. Ever since I left you this morning, it has been one thing after another.” Sensing that Clark was uptight, Lana laid her head on his shoulder and hugged him tightly, trying to draw the tension out of his body.

Though normally concerned about being the giver instead of the receiver, this time Clark allowed Lana to take charge. He could feel her small hands moving up and down his back, firmly rubbing his muscles as she tried to get him to relax. Other players walked by on their way home. Some openly admired Lana as they moved past, giving Clark a roguish wink over her shoulder, others took in her beauty and wondered how come the quarterbacks get everything, from media attention, to the best-looking women. Most of the guys, however, were busy with their own concerns and barely noticed the young couple.

Lana hopped down and led Clark over to a nearby tree-shaded bench and, after sitting him down and walking around behind the bench, proceeded to massage his neck and shoulders. When he began to moan softly from her pleasurable ministrations, Lana said, “Now. Tell me all about your day.”

As easily as water flowing from a mountain spring, Clark’s story began to bubble out of him. He told her everything, starting with meeting Chloe’s cousin outside Lana’s apartment door. While Lana was silently evaluating the pros and cons of a possible newspaper story about the rescue, Clark moved on to the news conference. Neither Clark nor Lana was happy with the idea of the stories on the Heisman leading off with him running home half-naked just before 8 a.m.

Clark was not looking forward to his parents finding out he had ‘been out all night.’ Once Lois’ article mentioned that he had been staying with his girlfriend, his parents would quickly put two and two together. He just hoped it would not end in another lecture about being careful.

As for Lana, the idea of the Kents knowing that she was sleeping with their son made the next time she went over to their house somewhat scary. She hoped she and Clark would be treated like adults, but you never know beforehand. She already knew her aunt would go ballistic and just in time for Thanksgiving dinner, too. This will be one fun holiday, she thought morosely. Just when I hoped to get Clark and Aunt Nell to start liking each other. They’re the two most important people in my life and I want them to appreciate each other. After this gets out, I’ll be thankful if Aunt Nell doesn’t poison Clark’s food.

Lana was careful to keep her concerns to herself, since it appeared to her that Clark’s mind already had plenty to keep it busy. All of that restraint went out the window, however, when Clark got to the lunch interview. Lana cringed when she heard that the reporter had directed the interview toward their, as of yet, non-existent sex life, but the real fireworks went off in her head when she heard that the reporter had blatantly hit on Clark even though she had been told he was taken.

Clark’s first clue to Lana’s suddenly agitated state was hearing her grind her teeth. He then noticed that her hands had stopped moving all over his shoulders and had instead each clutched a handful of his t-shirt in a death grip.

I oughta…oughta…ooooh! That makes me mad! Lana thought. I’d be understanding if she didn’t know about me, because Clark can be pretty irresistible. But now? All bets are off. No more Miss Nice Girl, not after what happened with Candy.

Clark became concerned as he could almost literally feel the tension flow from his body straight into hers. In an attempt at lightening her mood, he went ahead and told her exactly how he had responded to Lois’ advances. Lana’s heart warmed to hear of him telling someone he did not know that his relationship with her was ‘the real thing,’ and when he made it to the put down, she was surprised at his boldness but very, very pleased that he had put Lois in her place. Maybe he’s done my work for me, Lana thought. That woman ought to know by now that Clark is taken.

Clark reached back and lifted her hands off of his shoulders, pulling them down around his neck and across his chest. This forced her head down next to his and he asked softly, “Feeling better now, Lana?” She nodded yes, which he could see peripherally. “You do know that I love you and only you, right?” Another quick nod. Clark then kissed each of her hands and released them as he stood up. “Come on, let’s go home. You can tell me about your day on the way.”

Lana moved to his side and they each wrapped an arm around the other for the short walk. Instead of talking about her day, Lana and Clark made arrangements for visiting Nell and Dean on Thanksgiving. That made Clark realize what Lana already had figured out: her Aunt Nell would not be happy after finding out from the Daily Planet that they were sleeping together.

By the time they reached Clark’s place, Lana had made a decision: if Aunt Nell is going to be upset anyway, Lana thought, I’m going to make sure I’m guilty of the crime she will be convicting me of when I talk to her…better yet, if Clark and I reschedule our first time for tonight, I might be able to talk to her tomorrow morning before she reads the paper and tell her myself.

“Clark?”

“Yes?”

“Take a nap or do your homework or something. Then, dress nicely and come over to my place at eight, I’m making a romantic dinner for two.”

So much for going back to the cafeteria tonight, Clark thought, with a grin. She can’t compete with Mom’s cooking, but then, not many people can. Still, her results are usually really good. She already has cafeteria food beat all to pieces. Once again allowing her to take control, Clark acquiesced. They kissed quickly and Clark headed inside while Lana rushed across campus to get home.

Once home, Lana quickly checked the contents of her fridge and decided she needed to buy some more food. At the supermarket, she picked up a package of boneless chicken breasts to go along with the Spanish rice and mixed vegetables she already had at home.

Back in her kitchen, Lana counted back from Clark’s intended arrival at eight to figure out when to start cooking the various items on her menu. She started brewing a fresh pot of tea to use as iced tea, and then hurried into her walk-in closet to choose something to wear. Definitely something sexy, she thought. Whatever he’s thinking when he comes in the door, I want his focus to change to me. Clark said we needed to reschedule this, I’m just taking a little initiative and rescheduling for tonight.

Clark, meanwhile, had taken Lana’s suggestion and had napped briefly after school. His alarm went off at 7 p.m., giving him plenty of time to get ready. He was not sure if ‘dress nicely’ included wearing a jacket, but he did not want to disappoint Lana, so he pulled out his blue blazer to go with a pale blue shirt, red silk tie, and gray slacks. He gave his black loafers a quick buff and was out the door with time to spare.

Since Lana was making a nice dinner, Clark stopped by the closest florist and was about to pick up an autumn bouquet, filled with oranges, reds, and yellows, when he thought about irises. She was making a special effort tonight, probably to make up for last night, so he went ahead and got the irises.

Lana finally settled on a red Spaghetti-strapped dress that stopped at mid-thigh which she hung on the back of her closet door. Next, she set a pair of glossy black pumps on the floor next to her bed and laid out a pair of sheer stockings and a garter belt on the bed near the shoes. Once the food was beginning to cook, she took a hurried shower, but left her damp hair hanging as she raced back to check on the food. With fifteen minutes to spare, the food was finished and stored in covered glass serving dishes, the tea was in a pitcher in the freezer to help it chill faster, and her hair was nearly dry.

Lana scurried back into her bathroom to fix her hair before it dried completely. Wishing she had more time to ‘put on her face,’ she put on a basic application of makeup and then wriggled into her clothes. The last thing she had to do was set the table. She had one good linen tablecloth, which she snapped into place followed by a low centerpiece and two tall, tapered white candlesticks set in brass holders. Whether it was just luck, or impeccable timing, the flatware and tall glasses of iced tea were just being set out when Clark knocked. After checking her appearance one last time in her bathroom mirror, Lana headed for the front door.

“Hi, Clark, come on in,” Lana said. She accepted the bouquet, gave him a quick kiss, and said, “The irises are lovely, thank you.”

With the flowers out of the way, Clark could see Lana, and all he could think to say was, “Hi, Lana. The irises are nice, but they can’t possibly compare to you.”

Pleased with his reaction, Lana led him into her dining area, turning off room lights as they passed by. The irises could not be used as the centerpiece because they were too tall and would block their sight of each other, so she regretfully set them on her kitchen counter next to the serving dishes.

When Clark tried to help Lana with the food, she shooed him away and carefully portioned the rice, steamed veggies, and herb-crusted grilled chicken breasts onto two plates. She cautiously set the plates on the table and lit both candles. As she turned off the last electric lights, Clark rose from his seat and held Lana’s chair for her. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow across their faces, bringing out otherwise hidden hollows in their faces and glinting off the highlights in Lana’s hair.

Dinner seemed to pass by quickly. Lana was thrilled that everything had come out right. Nothing had been burned or overcooked, and the tea was properly cold. Clark was sure the food must have tasted good, but if pressed, he could not have possibly told Lana what it was he had just eaten…all his thoughts were of her.

When the meal was over, Clark cleared the table and complimented Lana’s efforts. When he asked about dessert, Lana prepared a dish of what she referred to as ‘half and half,’ which consisted of a scoop of vanilla ice cream with fudge topping and a scoop of chocolate ice cream with caramel topping. She held the dish where Clark could see it and said, “For dessert, you can have this…or you can have me.”

Clark’s chin hit his chest in surprise as Lana handed him the dish, which he promptly set down on the kitchen counter. Lana smiled, took Clark’s hand, and led him to her bedroom where she relit the candles from the night before, and pressed play on her bedroom stereo. In her haste the night before, she had forgotten to play this song as mood music, and was happy to have the chance to rectify that oversight.

She held out her hands and asked, “May I have this dance?”

Clark clasped her hands as the music started. The song was a classic love song by Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson. Lana loved the song for use at this moment for two reasons: the lyrics were perfect and the song was a duet.


“Tonight I Celebrate My Love for You” - Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson

Tonight I celebrate my love for you
It seems that natural thing to do
Tonight no one's gonna find us
We'll leave the world behind us
When I make love to you.

Tonight I celebrate my love for you
And hope that deep inside you feel it too
Tonight our spirits will be climbing
To the sky lit up with diamonds
When I make love to you.

Tonight I celebrate my love for you
And that midnight sun is gonna come shining through
Tonight there'll be no distance between us
What I want most to do
Is to get close to you…tonight.

Tonight I celebrate my love for you
And soon this old world will seem brand new
Tonight we will both discover
How friends turn into lovers
When I make love to you.

Tonight I celebrate my love for you
And that midnight sun is gonna come shining through
Tonight there'll be no distance between us
What I want most to do
Is to get close to you…tonight.

Tonight I celebrate my love for you...tonight .


What started out as a slow dance quickly progressed as their lips joined in the dancing. Then, reverently, almost hesitantly, their clothes began to come off. First, it was Clark’s blazer and tie, and then, as Lana pulled off his shirt, he slid the straps of her dress from her silky smooth shoulders. Her dress pooled around her ankles, joining the ever-growing pile of clothes on the floor of her bedroom.

Soon, there was nothing between their bodies but skin. Clark lifted Lana and carried her to her bed, where they spent the rest of the evening exploring this new facet of their relationship as they celebrated their love for each other.

[SVsleuth]

1st! :)

Beautiful writing, Cardinal. I can feel the depth of love between Clark & Lana. I like the tasteful way you wrote it, preferring it to the smut type fics so often seen, which seem to really debase sex rather then pointing toward the beautiful experience it can be.

I also liked how Lana reacted to learning of Lois trying to hit on Clark. Again, she doesn't want anyone coming after her man.

Can't wait to see the Kents' and Nell's reactions to the news articles & the implication of Clana sex. If they are unhappy about it, I can't say I blame them, though - being a parent of an 18 year old myself. Seriously, no matter how true & deep the love a couple share, sex should ideally wait for marriage, as an expression of the committment already made to each other. It is the language of total self giving, a physical expression of a committment already made - not one someday to be made.

That being said, I do see that Clark & Lana are acting as many young people do today, and this story shows a realistic view of how young couples tend to approach sex these days (even if I don't agree with their reasoning). Sorry for getting on my soap box, Card, but I'm very conscious of the fact that my positive comments about your writing could be taken as approval of the actions Clark & Lana are taking - and as a Mom, & a woman happily married for 20 years, I feel I have to make clear my position on this, so as not to encourage young people to follow Clark & Lana's lead - even if it does seem to work out beautifully for them in fanfics. Enough of my preaching. Keep up the great writing, Card. This is a beautiful story. PPMS.

[happycamper]

:)2:)

Well, I guess if you going to be blamed for it anyway, you might as well commit the crime. But I do see unhappy parents/guardians in their futures!

So what happened to the ice cream? Did they just leave it to melt?

I'm glad Clark told Lois off...I was afraid we were actually going to have to read about her attempt to hit on Clark!

But it sounded as if everything went off perfectly for them both!


:D :D

[NYC300Z]

3rd! Way to go Card! That update seemed perfect! Lois was blown over nicely as expected they finally go what they wanted now it's time to see the media damage and face the families!

PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

Tonight I celebrate my love for you...

That's very true in their case. Not nearly as much tension as there was the first (interrupted) time, but there didn't really need to be, I think.

God forbid that things go nothing but badly with Nell...

[Nemu]

That was very good!!!!

I would choose Lana every time too ;)

lol Lana's reaction to Clark's day was dead on the mark of what I thought it would be...

I hope Thanksgiving at Nell's wont be too awkward and bad...

PPMS :D

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by happycamper
So what happened to the ice cream? Did they just leave it to melt?

When they get up in the morning (both have 9:30 first classes) they will find a melted puddle of ice cream and topping in a dish on the kitchen counter right by Lana's irises.

[happycamper]

Originally posted by Cardinal
When they get up in the morning (both have 9:30 first classes) they will find a melted puddle of ice cream and topping in a dish on the kitchen counter right by Lana's irises.
That's terrible, Card. You're just too mean! :mad:

[treker]

Originally posted by happycamper
That's terrible, Card. You're just too mean! :mad:


don't listen to that Card....that was perfect. I was in a really bad mode until I read this...I feel so much better now.

Thank you....it was everything I was hoping for......

:)

[SmallvilleMan]

Can't wait to see the Kents' and Nell's reactions to the news articles & the implication of Clana sex. If they are unhappy about it, I can't say I blame them, though - being a parent of an 18 year old myself. Seriously, no matter how true & deep the love a couple share, sex should ideally wait for marriage, as an expression of the committment already made to each other. It is the language of total self giving, a physical expression of a committment already made - not one someday to be made.

I think Clark and Lana are about 100 times better then any real couple. I would say barely 30 percent of young couples wait like clark and lana do, for the reason they did. In fact, there's only one girl who I know that's waiting for marriage to have sex. Just one of the many things i love about her.:o :)

[clark&lanafan06]

Great update ! Can't wait for the next one . PPMS !!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by happycamper
That's terrible, Card. You're just too mean! :mad:

I'm too mean? I'm not the guy that just came up with another reason to keep Clark and Lana apart.

Not only are you keeping them apart, you're going a step beyond by keeping him away from everyone.

[SmallvilleMan]

:rotfl: zing!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

amazing update card

[clana1fan4ever]

Great update card!! cant wait for more!!
PPMS!!!

[deanyouk]

That was brilliant Cardinal

[that girl]

That was amazing! I loved Lana taking care of Clark and making sure he felt better. If I were a guy, I'd want a girlfriend like her. I'm not, however, and I'll have to settle for a boyfriend like Clark (who preferably looks just like him too! :D )

And they finally had sex. That makes me happy.

PPMS, Cardinal!

[kewl]

WOW! that was such a beautiful update! wish it would be like that on the real smallville series... *sigh*
:) ppm the soonest card!

[treker]

Originally posted by kewl
WOW! that was such a beautiful update! wish it would be like that on the real smallville series... *sigh*
:) ppm the soonest card!


This is the real smallville series...that other "thing" is just a poor imitation....

[MOOman0618]

Ok...first thing I have to say. With all that happend in that update, you guys are worried about the stinking ice cream!?!?

That was a really great update Card. So well written. I can't wait to see what exactly this does for their relationship...and the reaction of the parents/aunt/step-uncle.

[emsfan]

nice update! wow! can't wait fo the next post!

[happycamper]

Originally posted by Cardinal
I'm too mean? I'm not the guy that just came up with another reason to keep Clark and Lana apart.

Not only are you keeping them apart, you're going a step beyond by keeping him away from everyone.

And exactly what, may I ask, does this have anything to do with what you did to the poor ice cream? :confused:

[treker]

Originally posted by happycamper
And exactly what, may I ask, does this have anything to do with what you did to the poor ice cream? :confused:

what is wrong with you?

[maru11]

awesome update cardinal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by kewl
WOW! that was such a beautiful update! wish it would be like that on the real smallville series... *sigh*
:) ppm the soonest card!

Welcome back, kewl! :D

I haven't seen you here in a LONG time.

[kewl]

thanks card! :)

i've been kinda busy with work and everything.... but now i'm back, yes i'm back! :D

[tygershot]

Great update Card although I must agree with SVsleuth about premarital sex. PPMS!

[clark&lanafan06]

Update Soon Plz !!!!

[maitriniazngurl]

Awesome update!! They finally did it!! Yay!! Yay!!

Loved the update!! I truely, truely wished we get to see this on SV.. :D :D

Please update soon!! :D

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Wow - great update, Card.

I'll have to disagree with tyger and SVs about premarital sex and I think you wrote it both tastefully and beautifully. I just think of sex as an act between two people who love each other. As long as there’s love – then that’s commitment enough for me. I'm not a big fan of one night stands – I really think there should be more to it than that. Well, that's just my thoughts and I totally understand and respect that people have different view on this subject.

Your next updates should be interesting (Aunt Nell & the Kents).. I'm really looking forward to it! PPMS!

[maru11]

update soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Venezuelan Lana]

Great update Cardinal!!!!

Well, as everyone's giving his points of view, I think I have to agree with SVsleuth about premarital... I have always thought of it about an love act between a husband and wife... But that's my fantasious point of view, cus reality's always different...

PPMSSSSSS!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

;)

[emsfan]

that was great update need more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kewl]

hope u will be able to squeeze another update over the weekend card!

[treker]

well, since everyone else is voicing their opnion about premarital sex...here's my opnion.

One night stands are evil and should be outlawed. (that's just sex)

But, for two people who are in love. Being married or not shouldn't make a difference. It's just a piece of paper. What matters is that they love each other and are commited to one another.

Oh, fantastic update card....I'm off today and tomorrow. an update would be wonderfull. ;)

[maru11]

hope u can update soon

[deanyouk]

Right......

Premarital sex? lol who cares........ what are we in the 60's?

Everyones doing it these days, I cant believe theres still so many old fashioned people out there...

Even if you don't love the person, it's fun..... Nothing too bad with a one night stand, as long as both parties are ok with it....

It's just a bonus if the two people actually do love each other.


Great update anyhow Cardinal.

[emsfan]

update please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[maitriniazngurl]

I don't know... I have to agree with everyone how's going against one night stands...

Sex should only be done if too people are truely in love.. and it shouldn't be done just as fun..

Anyways... PPMS!! :D

[Cardinal]

Chapter 81 - The Morning After

Clark and Lana were tangled up in the sheets, and each other. Clark had an arm loosely wrapped around Lana’s shoulders, while her body was turned toward his as she was lazily tracing circles on his chest with a fingertip. Neither one was thinking coherently, they were just enjoying the last of the adrenaline that was working its way through their systems.

Finally, Lana noticed that Clark’s eyes were glazed and she wondered what was on his mind, so she asked, “Penny for your thoughts?”

“Wha…what?” Clark refocused his thoughts and said, “Oh, nothing special. A small part of me, the hormonal part of me, has been wondering why I waited all of these years to have sex. The rest of me has been telling my hormones to ‘just shut up already’ because I can’t possibly imagine sex with anyone else being as special as it was tonight with you.”

Lana’s eyes sought out Clark’s, and when they locked, she tilted her head in for a kiss. Having received her kiss, she said, “That’s because we didn’t just have sex, Clark, we made love.”

Clark shifted his head to collect a kiss of his own and said, “I couldn’t agree more.”

The hand that Lana had been using to draw circles on Clark’s chest eased its way along his ribs to his side, where all five fingertips began lightly stroking his skin. He started trying to squirm away from her touch, but was stuck in place because his arm was pinned under her.

Moments later, he began laughing and trying to push her hand away as he said, “Stop that, it tickles!”

Lana pounced, bringing her second hand to bear and beginning to tickle him in earnest. Clark finally defended himself by floating up off of the bed, which raised Lana’s shoulders along with his arm. Once he had enough room to pull his arm out from under her, he did and then flew to a far corner of the room as Lana’s shoulders, and the last corner of the bed sheet, fell six inches down onto the mattress.

Lana was all grins, saying, “I found another ticklish spot. That makes three so far.”

“You don’t play fair,” Clark said. “The spot on the bottom of my feet you found on accident, I’ll grant you, but you went looking for the other two spots. You’re sneaky!”

“All's fair in love and war, Clark. Haven’t you ever heard that before?” When he failed to answer, Lana said, “Anyway, who’d have thought that my indestructible boyfriend would have a weak spot, much less three of them?”

Clark floated back over to the bed until his face was directly above Lana’s and only inches away. She calmed down a bit when she saw that his expression was serious and he said, “Lana, I only have two real weaknesses in this world. Meteor rocks…and you.”

Lana’s face and neck flushed bright pink and she said, with love in her eyes, “Oh, Clark…you know exactly what to say.” Lana reached up and took hold of Clark, and began to gently pull him down out of the air. “Now, as much as I love the view, come back down here and kiss me. I love you, Clark.”

*KISS*

“I love you, too, Lana.”

This time, Lana had preset her alarm and it went off at precisely 8 a.m. with the two of them still wrapped in each others’ arms. Lana flailed around with the one arm she was able to pull free, until she found the offending appliance and silenced it…and then dropped it into her bedside trash can for good measure.

Even with just a thin sheet covering her, Lana was perfectly warm on this late November morning since Clark generated heat like a blast furnace. He was just coming to consciousness and asked sleepily, “What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock, Baby. You’ve got plenty of time since we don’t have class until nine-thirty.”

They cuddled, enjoying caresses and occasional slow kisses as they talked about nothing of importance. Clark finally started to get up once he located the clock in the trash can, x-rayed it and learned it was getting close to eight-thirty.

Lana decided she was not quite ready to let go of Clark, so she asked, “Clark? Why don’t you miss class just this once?”

Propped up on one arm, Clark grinned at Lana and said, “What? After last night, you want more?”

Lana dipped her head and blushed slightly. “While ‘more’ sounds nice, I may be a little too sore for that right now. I just wanted to spend a quiet morning with you.”

Hearing that Lana was feeling discomfort made Clark feel stupid for suggesting ‘more.’ Suddenly distraught over having hurt her, Clark said, “I’m so sorry, Lana. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I guess I got carried away.”

How could I hurt her? Clark thought as he began to mentally bash himself. She’s all I want in this world and our first time together, I cause her pain. I don’t know if I can be with anyone in that way if I can’t keep from hurting the one I love.

Lana could see the self-loathing building up in Clark’s face as he slid off the bed and moved away from her. She was determined to clear up any misconceptions he might be having right now, before they blossomed into something worse.

Lana pointed at the edge of the bed and said, in her best take-no-crap voice, “Clark, sit down!” Surprised by her sudden change in demeanor, Clark complied and sat on the edge of the bed, as far from Lana as he could get. “Clark, this was my first time, a little soreness is natural for a woman after her first time, don’t go blaming yourself for it. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, last night far exceeded my expectations for our first time, so I consider this to be the sweetest soreness I’ve ever had.”

With the determined look in her eyes telling him it would be unwise to move from his current position, Lana slid over to Clark and sat next to him on the edge of the bed.

“The fact that you asked me, almost ordered me, to tell you what was working for me and what wasn’t was a stroke of genius. I should have thought of that myself. Communication in bed can be just as important as it is in the rest of our relationship. By telling me you needed my guidance, you made me feel comfortable about telling you what I liked. Our night was so much better because we didn’t have to guess what made the other happy.”

Placing her hand in his and waiting for him to close his hand around hers, Lana said, “So, instead of being an inconsiderate lover who hurt me, you were the epitome of consideration since you made me comfortable and made sure I enjoyed last night as much as you did.” Lana lifted his hand to her mouth and placed a soft kiss on the back of his hand. “That’s just one more thing I love about you, Clark.”

The change that came over his face during Lana’s explanation, from closed and withdrawn to openly happy, warmed Lana’s heart. When Clark snuggled in close to her, Lana said hopefully, “I may be sore, but I’m more than ready for some serious kissing action.”

Clark needed no more convincing as he gave up on going to class. They began kissing and eventually fell back on the bed, where they stayed until hunger pangs drove them to raid Lana’s kitchen. Soon, they were each enjoying a bowl of cereal with slices of banana on top.

Afterward, they went to clean up, and still feeling a bit awkward, took separate showers. Lana insisted on Clark going first and by the time she finished her shower, he had made her bed with clean sheets, gone home and dressed in something clean and comfortable, and most importantly, had brought back a copy of the Daily Planet so they could see what the two articles about him said.

Just as Lois had said, the article about him saving the little girl was front page news, though it was below the fold. The title read “Kent Saves Girl in Apt. Fire.” They were happy to see that Lois put her personal disappointment behind her when she wrote the article as it cast him in a very good light. The only negatives were that the accompanying photo showed him wearing nothing but blue jeans, and that Lois mentioned he was spending time in his girlfriend’s apartment at the time of the fire.

Those two pieces of information were enough to give both of their families an idea of what was going on, but the other article, on the front page of the Sports Section, sealed the deal. That photo did not show him bare-chested, since it was from the short news conference that had been held after he changed clothes, but the article said it appeared he had just come home after a long night of celebrating his Heisman nomination when he was interviewed for this article.

Having read that, Clark and Lana looked at each other and winced.

“So much for keeping my love life secret,” Lana said.

Clark shrugged his shoulders and said, “Actually, I’m surprised our relationship hasn’t gotten any mention in the media yet. Everything I do seems to be fodder for a story.”

Clark’s brow furrowed as he thought, and then he said, “I’m sorry, Lana. You won’t have a lot of privacy as long as you date me…at least as long as I am playing football anyway.”

Lana rubbed his forearm and said, “That’s okay, Clark. I’ll take the spotlight with you over privacy with another guy any day of the week.”

“What are we going to tell our families?”

“I don’t know. I guess we’ll tell them the truth and hope they treat us like consenting adults instead of children.”

“If that doesn’t work,” Clark said, “we can always tell them it’s none of their business.”

Lana took a deep breath and said what was foremost on her mind, “This will make for an exciting Thanksgiving Day dinner with Nell and Dean.”

Clark’s thoughts had been focused on how to deal with his parents. Dealing with Lana’s aunt, who already thought he was Satan, was not something he was looking forward to doing. “Well,” he said, “I guess I’ll jump off that bridge when I come to it.” He digested that idea for a bit and then said, “As for my parents, I’m going home after practice today. Kathy left a baker’s-dozen messages on my cell phone yesterday when I didn’t call them on Monday to talk about the Heisman. So I can talk about that and what they suspect about us sexually at the same time. Kill two birds with one stone, as it were.”

“Okay,” Lana said, “that sounds fine to me. We can go straight from your place.”

“What? I want to keep you out of this.”

“Hey! If you can face Nell, then I can face your folks. After all, we did this together.”

Giving in, Clark said, “Always together.”

[Nemu]

1st?
That was very nice!

Glad that Lois didn't let her disappointment get the better of her...

And I agree with Lana at the end... they did this together so they will face the consequences together...

PPMS :D

[NYC300Z]

2nd! Awesome update Card! Clark finally skipped classes lol well about time if you ask me! Now they set off to face the families? I wonder how this will go? Will Clark go seek Jor-el for advice as well when he stops home? Will Lana acompany him? hmmmm

PPMS!

[SVsleuth]

Nice chapter. Clark & Lana will have some "'splainin'" to do, but I'm sure it will all work out fine.

Liked the line when Clark said he'd "jump off that bridge" when he comres to it. As if jumping off a bridge would hurt him in the jeast. I bett he'd choose jumping off a bridge any day over facing Nell's wrath.

Glad Lana insisted that they face all together.

PPMS!

[treker]

great update card....I loved the morning after in bed sequence.

so...Nell thinks Clark is satan? I can just picture him in a cape, a pitchford and horns. Fire coming out of his eyes. Maybe that should have been is halloween costume?

Lois showed a lot more maturity than I would give her credit for. nice article. I wonder how chloe feels at getting scoped by his cousin?

I look forward to next weeks post...thanks card.

[clana1fan4ever]

Great Update!!!!
PPMs!!

[Iowanmom]

Okay hon. I've caught up and let me say I you did a wonderful job showing the alarm with Clark as he's practically assaulted by the media in front of his house in Chapter 79. The fact that he was shirtless and barefoot was alarming.

Ugggg, to make his personal life so public is going to be difficult. You portray this wonderfully. The remark about Lana being a tiger had me laughing my socks off.

Clark being nominated for The Heisman Trophy is cool I love seeing my home town (KC) in writers' fics... makes me able to connect to the story all the easier. But you know this Cardinal. :)

And Lois... I am so glad Clark put her in her place. He was patient, nice and more than upfront with his status about having a girlfriend. Lois should be ashamed of herself and I hope Chloe lets her have it... maybe. ;)

Anyway, Chapter 80.



When he came into view, Lana literally jumped into his arms. It caught Clark off guard, but he still managed to catch her as she wrapped her legs around his waist and used her hands to seize his head. She then rained a flurry of kisses on his lips before he could catch his breath. Once he adjusted to having 100 pounds of warm, affectionate female plastered to his chest, Clark said, “Hi there. I’m Clark. Who are you and what did you do with my quiet girlfriend?”
Immediately you thrust us into a fun, intimate and affectionate scene with this opening paragraph. I've got to say... never have I been able to see Clana in this fashion and accept it without cringing had it not been for this story and your gifted muses.

I can not stand KK but your muses flavor her pleasingly toward my palate and I am grateful. Again it is nice to see these two so open and in love. We (yes me too) pined for it in the beginning on the show, and its wonderful to see it through fiction since TPTB ruined it from being anything more than angst, secrets and suspicion. I relish this couple, Cardinal. Wonderful job.

As Clark talks about his day, I am glad Lana didn't go off and start accusing him of anything. She seems to have learned her lesson with getting angry before getting all the facts. Just shows how she trust Clark before anything else. Nice touch.

I also like the visual of Lana massaging Clark's shoulders, working the stresses out of his body, his thoughts, and demenor. So often Clark is always catering to others. It's nice to see Lana taking care of him for a change. Truly this is a give and take relationship and its equal. I love it!!

Of course, Lana preparing to have sex with Clark to simply BE what her Aunt will accuse her of, has me a bit forelorn, but it does seem like something kids would do... being rebelious and all....

However, I know she loves him. You painted them so beautifully, there's no way anyone could walk away from this fic thinking its anything but a Love Story.

I know you've got a bit of a debate going on in this thread about premarital sex and all, but the way you handled this was great. This fic is beautiful and handled with class and the utmost respect for the characters and the 'act' of 'love making.' Kudos to you Cardinal.

And finally Chapter 81

I love that they woke up together. I expected them to get lost in each other again, but you brought out the reality of first time sex and the pains that go along with it... Lana's soreness. Very real, Card and so true. Wonderful job.

I'm glad your readers' clammerings about Clark missing class didn't fall on deft hears. :lol: Makes this all the more real and plausible for us. Great job. Missing classes is part of the College experience and Clark is due! :lol:

The fact that they are both going to confront their parents together is fantastic. They are definitely in this together and its wonderful to see.

Wonderful chapters Cardinal. I can't wait for more. Post when you can, hon. :)

[deanyouk]

Awesome update

[superman_lives_on]

Nell thinks Clark is Satan? Bah humbug! I mean, he looks good in red and all, but blue's the main color of HIS costume.

I'm glad Lois didn't try to paint Clark in a poor light. That was quite mature.

As for Clark and Lana...well, what can I say that hasn't been said already? Fantastic job, Card. These two deserve to be together. :)

Update soon!

[clark&lanafan06]

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

good job card

[maitriniazngurl]

Awesome Job like always!!

Lois not trying to get back at Clark was good on her behalf!!

And the Clana is just so so sweet!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

clana rules

[maru11]

awesome update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[happycamper]

Here I was grumbling to myself that Card had failed to update this weekend when I found I almost missed your post...:\

Sorry, but the sudden interest in old stories has really messed up my ability to find what's going on with 'current' stories...:(

Love the happiness between the pair, but I guess they both have a whole lot of explaining to do...

BTW, I believe the references to Clark's personal life were a bit unprofessional in what should have been two straight news stories. Yellow press! :mad:

If they can survive what's coming up, the pathway up ahead should be straight and smooth (despite titles :lol: ).


:D :D

[treker]

bump...

[LetMeGo]

I finally caught up!! Great stuff Card!! Amazing as always... can't wait for the next installment. :)

[treker]

Originally posted by LetMeGo
I finally caught up!! Great stuff Card!! Amazing as always... can't wait for the next installment. :)

Give you any idea's about writing Clanna? :)

[NYC300Z]

Bump~!

PPMS~!

[kewl]

awesome update card!
ppms!

[maru11]

update soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[<Nimrod>]

HEY CARDINAL its good to see some familiar faces here <or usernames, cause I cant really see your face>...ANYWAY just thought Id drop in and say that I still love this fanfic and yeah keep writing


||UPDATE||

[clark&lanafan06]

Update Soon Please !!!!!!!!!!

[maitriniazngurl]

When's the next update??

[maru11]

update soon please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

need an update

[clark&lanafan06]

PPMS !!!!!!!

[locathah]

People do realize that every time they make a useless "ppms!" or "need an update!" post they issue an update allert to all thread subscribers, right?

It's bloody annoying to have to check the thread ten times in two days only to find people with no patience spastically bumping the thread.

:: wonders why there isn't a form of thread subscription that applies only to the starter of the thread... it would be far more useful ::

[treker]

Originally posted by locathah
People do realize that every time they make a useless "ppms!" or "need an update!" post they issue an update allert to all thread subscribers, right?

It's bloody annoying to have to check the thread ten times in two days only to find people with no patience spastically bumping the thread.

:: wonders why there isn't a form of thread subscription that applies only to the starter of the thread... it would be far more useful ::


now that is an outstanding idea!!!!!

Hey moderator's how about it....a subscription for the thread starters only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SmallvilleMan]

why do u need to subscribe anyways?

[treker]

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
why do u need to subscribe anyways?


so that you're notified when an update comes in that thread. right now I get notified wheny any post comes on a thread I subscribe to....having it set for the author of the thread only would defeat the pain in the butt of when posters just go in and write "PPMS" on every thread out there. it makes it difficult to find the story update....

[NYC300Z]

La La La stalling for time...

[maru11]

update please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 82 - Art

Even after their late breakfast, Clark was hungry and was about to leave to have a quick lunch before changing for football practice, when they both heard a hesitant knock on her front door.

“Are you expecting someone, Lana?” Clark asked.

“No. I haven’t even told very many people where I live.”

“Well, I hope it’s not Lois Lane looking for a follow up,” Clark muttered. “Though I have to admit she gets full marks for not getting personal in her article after I got mean with her yesterday.”

Getting up off of the futon, where she had been watching Regis and Kelly, Lana padded toward the front door wearing comfy sweats and fuzzy house slippers. She passed Clark in the hallway, smiled, and waved off his silent offer to answer the door. She looked through the peephole and saw a Hispanic couple that looked familiar. When she opened the door, a small girl came into view and she immediately recognized her as being the one Clark had rescued on Sunday night.

The couple was obviously the girl’s parents, and they introduced themselves as Eduardo and Rosita Sanchez. The girl, who was half hiding behind her mother’s skirt, was Bianca. She was not too eager to greet Lana, but when she saw Clark step into view, she lit up like a Christmas tree and made a beeline for him.

The Kent charm even works on six-year-olds, Lana thought. I think any woman would be powerless to resist him…even one that’s young enough to think boys are ‘icky.’

When Bianca reached Clark, he swept her up into a bearhug as she planted a series of messy kisses all over his face. Eduardo and Rosita looked on fondly as Clark carried his young admirer back to the door.

Having been caught up in watching Clark and Bianca, Lana had forgotten to introduce herself, an oversight she corrected just as Clark came to her side. When she turned to introduce Clark, she found he needed no introduction. The Sanchezes had read the article about Clark in the Daily Planet and it turned out that Eduardo was also a die-hard Bulldog fan.

Lana invited the Sanchezes inside to talk, and as she was scurrying around to provide drinks for everyone, especially orange juice for Bianca, Clark endured enthusiastic hugs from both parents. The four of them took seats in Lana’s living room, with the Sanchezes on the futon and Clark in the armchair. When Lana came in with a tray of glasses, Clark got up and brought over a chair from the kitchen table. He placed it next to the armchair and claimed for his own, which put Lana in the armchair once she had passed out the drinks.

In the conversation, Clark and Lana learned that the Sanchezes would have been over yesterday to thank Clark, if they had not spent most of Monday moving their possessions to a different apartment and then had to deal with the insurance adjuster.

Halfway through the conversation, with her orange juice finished off, Bianca squirmed her way out from between her parents, and climbed up into Clark’s lap, where she snuggled against his chest. Clark was not sure what to do with his admirer, so he used one hand to help hold her in place while he slowly bounced her with his leg.

Lana could not help but think how completely adorable the two of them looked together, and she became misty-eyed as she wondered if this was how Clark would look with their own kids.

Besides offering profuse thanks for saving the life of their only child, the Sanchezes were curious and wanted to ask a few questions…a few questions that ended with this: Eduardo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and asked, “Why did you run inside a burning building? You, who have so much to lose. You’re young, you have a beautiful girlfriend, and, from what I can see on Saturdays, you have a career as an N.F.L. quarterback waiting for you after college. Why would you risk all of that for someone you don’t even know?”

Clark was caught off-guard by the question. How can I tell them that there wasn’t any risk at all, and that I was just doing what needed to be done?

Lana noticed that Clark was having trouble coming up with the right words, so she came to his rescue.

“Clark and I have talked about how fortunate he is to have the abilities that he possesses.” Exactly what abilities I’m talking about, Lana thought wryly, you’ll never guess in a million years.

“He had already decided he wanted to help others, and when we heard about the fire, Clark figured, with his speed and strength, he might be able to help. We’re both glad that he was able to save Bianca, put out the fire, and come out unscathed.” Especially the ‘come out unscathed part.’ Even knowing what he could do, my heart was in my throat the whole time he was inside the burning apartment.

Lana finished by locking eyes with Clark and smiling as she said, “And I can’t tell you how proud I am of him for what he did.”

Lana did not have to tell how proud she was, the pride shone from her eyes and both the Sanchezes and Clark could see it. Clark had known instinctively that Lana was proud of him for what he had done, but this was the first time that he could feel it and it affected him. He got so emotional upon feeling Lana’s pride, her love and support, that he had to set Bianca down for fear of dropping her with his suddenly shaky hands. His eyes never wavered, however, as they stayed locked on Lana and tried to absorb everything she was feeling.

Suddenly feeling that they were intruding upon a deeply personal moment, the Sanchezes collected their daughter and let themselves out.

The beeping from the clock on top of Lana’s television broke their lock and let them know that it was noon. Clark and Lana got up together, and as she was walking him to the door, Clark stopped her and said, “I love you, Lana, and I hope I always make you proud.”

“I love you too, Clark,” Lana replied. “I can’t ever imagine not being proud of you, in whatever you do with your life.”

After a passionate kiss that might have led to more without Clark’s need to get going, Lana nudged him toward the door, and in a nod to Spiderman’s girlfriend, said, “Go get ‘em, Tiger!”

Lana called a couple of friends to find out what she missed in class and then worked on her homework until it was time to meet Clark after practice. As they walked across campus to have an early dinner in the cafeteria before visiting his family, Lana saw a notice that was tacked on a campus bulletin board. It was brightly-colored, which made it stand out from the bland, black printing on most of the notices, and that came as no surprise, since this particular notice was from the Art Department.

Clark heard Lana sigh ever so slightly and he asked her what was the matter. She thought for a couple of seconds about whether or not it was advisable to tell him, but then she realized this was Clark, the man that had shared everything with her. Maybe it’s time I opened up in return, she thought.

She led him back to the bulletin board and just pointed at the Art Department’s brightly-colored notice. Clark read it quietly and spent some time making a few mental connections before he said anything. Lana was a bit alarmed to see him becoming more and more upset. It’s just a college art show, she thought, what in the world is bothering him?

“Oh, do I ever feel like a jackass! I’m so sorry, Lana, for not thinking about this before now.”

Confused, Lana asked, “Thinking about what?”

“Your art.”

Still not sure what Clark was getting at, Lana stood still and said nothing, hoping he would elaborate. Unable to stand the silence, Clark obliged her and explained. “I’ve known, ever since I first met you this semester, that you had been a student a prestigious art school for two years. I mean, on our first date, I took you to the Metropolis Museum because I knew you loved art, and we even talked about your portraiture ability, but it never occurred to me to ask to see your work.” Shrugging his shoulders, Clark said, “I guess I’ve been so involved with telling you my secrets and playing football, that I’ve been forgetting about the parts of you that I don’t know. So, can I see your artwork someday soon?”

Lana was gratified to know that Clark wanted to learn everything about her, but she was going to have to disappoint him this time. “Clark, when I moved to Metropolis this summer, I had decided to give up on an art career in favor of a career in architecture. Giving up my first dream was painful and I didn’t want a stack full of sketches and paintings laying around to remind me of what I had given up, so when I moved home, I gave my entire portfolio to Aunt Nell with explicit instructions to have it hauled off by the trash men.”

Clark was crestfallen at having missed something that has been such an integral part of her life. “Isn’t there anything left? One small portrait somewhere?”

“Well…there are two small paintings hanging on a wall at Aunt Nell’s place. One I did of her and Dean last year, and one self-portrait I did as a senior in Smallville.”

“Good!” Clark said, “at least I’ll get to see something you’ve done. That gives me one thing to look forward to tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe after I see your work, I can talk you into doing a portrait of me, like you talked about doing one time.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Clark,” Lana said sadly. “I haven’t touched my brushes in six months. Anything I tried now would look terrible.”

Starting them moving in the direction of the cafeteria, Clark hugged Lana with one arm and said, “I doubt that. Only seriously talented artists get into the kind of school you were in. While you may be rusty, those skills are still there.”

Buoyed by his show of support, Lana said, “Well, you may be right, but wait until you see my paintings tomorrow before you start worrying about asking me to paint you.”

“That sounds like a deal to me, Lana.”

After a nondescript cafeteria meal, the two of them headed to Clark’s place to get his truck and make the drive to the Kent house, each of them preparing themselves for a potentially touchy situation.

[Nemu]

1st?

Well.... I am up to re-reading Chapter 77 (which is the fire) and when i saw the update i read it... but i was lost a little bit because of the gap... then i remembered everything...


That was good... the little girl was cute...

Lana's ability to tell the truth without revealing anything was good!

And the "father-daughter" like moment was just one more detail added to her 'dream' husband...

PPMS :D

[SVsleuth]

2nd :)

Little Bianca bouncing on Clark's knee, giving Lana a glimpse of the future - sweet!

And Clark finally taking interest in Lana's art - :) I hope she DOES brush up on her skills and paint Clark.

Now for the Thanksgiving day and encounters with the parents...PPMS!

[happycamper]

:) 3rd

Very sweet Card, but of course...

I always find it amazing that you (and a very few others) are able to take those small moments and build them into such significant events that stick so much in the memory. I would have gone directly to the confrontations with the folks...

The interlude with Bianca and the Sanchez's was very moving, and something that should strengthen both of them for the ordeal that is coming up!

The Clark in your story (and of the show) should make a great father - but then again, he was lucky enough to have Jonathan and Martha as his own parents... :)

They are both lucky to have each other.


;) ;)

[clana1fan4ever]

4th :)
i loved the update little Bianca soo cute
PPMS!

[deanyouk]

Great update

[clark&lanafan06]

Great update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[emsfan]

amazing update!!!!!!!!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

It’s always so much fun to read this story, Card. It really has everything. You write romance like no others and have a really fun humor. It was sweet with the Sanchez’s and especially Bianca and Clark. Clark is really good on focusing on what Lana cares about. I think that’s a must if you want to make a relationship work. You need to care about each other.

The reason I haven’t been the last week is because I’ve moved to a new town and started on college. So now it’s even more fun to read about life in college :) My experience has been really great so far.

I think your next installments are gonna be fun, with the Kent’s and all... PPMS!

[LetMeGo]

Aww... I love it whenever Clark interacts with kids... it's always so sweet.

Great update! :) PPMS!

[NYC300Z]

Great Update Cardinal! Clark and Lana are getting even closer its wonderful to see! Let's see how the Kents react next right? I have a feeling they wont be as bad as Aunt Nell, but we'll see!

PPMS!

[ajfinn]

CONGRATS CARDINAL!!!!! THIS FIC HAS PASSED OVER 100,000 VIEWS!! TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!!! :D


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Cardinal]

Wow! Thanks, aj.

For a minute there, I thought C.A. chick had brought the smiley wall out of mothballs. ;)

[emsfan]

Congrats Cardinal your such a noble writer! BTW update soon!:):)

[C.A.chick]

Hey! You never know Card, maybe I'll just dig up one of those old smiley walls from my closet, this story definitely deserves one! Great updates. I know i haven't posted lately, but I've been following this story VERY closely. It is absolutely wonderful to see this story progressing! PPMS!

[maitriniazngurl]

AWESOME update!! And Congrats on 100,000 views!!

It's so cool how Clark is caring about what Lana thinks and all. And so sweet.

I really like Bianca and the Sanchez.. they're nice. I could see cute litte girl.

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by C.A.chick
Hey! You never know Card, maybe I'll just dig up one of those old smiley walls from my closet, this story definitely deserves one! Great updates. I know i haven't posted lately, but I've been following this story VERY closely. It is absolutely wonderful to see this story progressing! PPMS!

I figured that mentioning your name would get you to post. ;)

I was talking to aj and neither one of us had seen you for a long while.

It's good to see you back here and I'm flattered that you're still reading. :D

[MOOman0618]

I am finally back and ready to read!!

Loved the updates Card! Clark and Lana are so connected. And I am glad there was not too much trouble with the whole fire issue.

But I do hope that Nell has secretly saved more than just those two pictures. Can't wait for more.

POST MORE SOON!! :)

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

wow that was a refreshing update

[SVsleuth]

I KNOW you were working on this, Card. When might the update be? ;)

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

yes when

[NYC300Z]

yes yes!?

[Iowanmom]

Nice update, Cardinal. Sorry I'm late... :\ Anyway, I think it was great that the Sanchez family came to see Clark. Bianca sounds like a real sweet heart and could easily have Clark wrapped around her little finger.

I really enjoy fics where Clark is seen interacting with children. I love to see him being a big brother to someone. I've always wished he had one to lessen the load of his burdens, but.... wasn't to be. Anyway, Bianca sounds lovely. Lana's support of Clark is wonderful as well. I can truly see her as a strong ally by his side in the future. Nice work.

And Lana's Art. I'm glad you touched on this. It's nice to see Clark take an interest in what Lana is doing as well. Wonderful job. Now, if only they could get through Thanks giving Dinner. :)

Great update, Cardinal. Patienly waiting for the next one. :)

[Cardinal]

You won't have to wait too much longer, I'm mostly done with the next update and hope to post it later today...after getting some needed sleep.

[NYC300Z]

yes sleep is always a good thing! When u wake up don't foget to update!;)

[SVsleuth]

Hey there, Cardinal - :) Looks like you stayed up til 4:30 a.m. writing? Keeping odd hours, I see. Well, I hope you got enough sleep; and I'll be watching for your update. :D

[clark&lanafan06]

Can't wait for the update ! :)

[Cardinal]

Chapter 83 - Disagreement

Heading across town, the drive was rather quiet as each was kept occupied by their own thoughts. Finally, Lana looked at Clark and asked, “What do you think your parents reaction will be?”

“I’m hoping they’ll think you corrupted their precious little boy,” Clark said. As he grinned back at Lana to show he was not serious, he added, “That way, Dad will turn you over his knee, spank you, and be done with it.”

“Did your parents spank you growing up, Clark?”

“Dad did for a while, until he figured out it wasn’t bothering me. I think that’s why my parents, Dad especially, are so good at communicating with me. Early on they had to give up any kind of physical discipline. They adapted by becoming very good at reasoning with me. That kind of skill helped them a lot when it was time to talk about the spaceship when I found it in the basement.” Shrugging his shoulders, Clark added, “And that is the foundation for the fact that I can talk to my Dad about anything. After all, once you’ve had the ‘Son, you’re an alien’ conversation, everything else, sex included, is tame by comparison.”

Alarmed, Lana asked, “You haven’t talked to them about us and the possibility of sex have you?”

“Nope, and that might be one thing that bothers them. They’re used to knowing everything that is going on in my life. Finding out something like this in the newspaper can’t make them happy.”

Lana rubbed his arm in a comforting way and said, “No, I suppose not.” Her brow was furrowed in thought for a few seconds before she said, “Still, they’ll have to face the fact that you are growing up and developing a life of your own. You aren’t going to be running to your parents every time you skin a knee anymore…” Clark thought Lana had finished, but then he heard her mumble softly, “…I hope now you’ll come running to me.”

Clark did not know how to answer that, or even if he should, so he just reached his right hand across and wrapped it around her left one, giving her a light squeeze before returning his hand to the wheel. Lana snuggled in close to Clark, and he went back to try and answer her original question.

“I think they’ll want to make sure we’re doing this for the right reasons. Once they know that, I think they’ll be okay.”

By the time Clark pulled to a stop in front of his parents’ house, both he and Lana were feeling pretty good about this. Clark had not wanted to risk raising the tension, so he had not called to let his folks know he and Lana were coming.

Thus it was that they were met just inside the door by Kathy. When she saw it was Clark and Lana, she burst out chanting, “Clark and Lana, sittin’ in a tree. K - I - S - S - I - N - G.”

Clark rolled his eyes at his little sister and Lana tried to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. Kathy had run halfway down the hall while chanting, but when she saw that Clark was not in hot pursuit, she turned around and finished her chant. “First comes love, then comes marriage. Then comes Clark pushing a baby carriage.”

Kathy then resumed her retreat and Clark could hear her feet pounding up the stairs to her bedroom. Kathy’s performance brought the Kents out of their respective hiding places and they stood there, at different places in the hallway, waiting for Clark and Lana to say something.

Clark and Lana had decided something on the drive over: if they acted guilty, the Kents would treat them as if they were guilty. So Clark and Lana said hello in a cheery manner, then Lana lightly hugged each of Clark’s parents and Clark followed behind, kissing and hugging his mom and shaking hands with his dad.

When it became clear that the kids were not going to bring up the subject that had them concerned, Jonathan said, “It’s obvious from Kathy’s reaction when you came in, that even she knows something is ‘happening’ between you two. Whether or not she’s figured out exactly how much is going on is a question I can’t answer, and frankly, I’m not going to ask what she knows unless she starts asking questions of her own.”

Clark and Lana shared a look that spoke volumes. Lana led the way into the kitchen where the four of them seated themselves around the dinner table for a candid discussion. Clark held Lana’s seat for her and winked at Martha when he saw that Jonathan changed course to do the same thing for his wife. Once all four were seated, Clark pointed upstairs and said, “I’ll keep an eye on Kathy so she doesn’t hear what she isn’t supposed to.”

Jonathan and Martha had seen the look that passed between Clark and Lana, and they were surprised to see that level of communication between two people who had only known each other for a bare three months. They loved Lana dearly, and hoped she would be the one for their son, but this was the first time it occurred to them that Clark and Lana’s relationship might be getting very serious, very quickly. That caused the Kents to re-evaluate their thoughts on the fly.

Clark broke the silence by saying, “Mom? Dad? You two have never been afraid to tell me what you were thinking or feeling ever since I found the spaceship. I don’t see that there’s any point in starting now, so just say what you want to say.”

When Martha shot a look of caution at Lana, Clark said, “Mom, anything you can tell me in private, you can tell to Lana and me.”

As Lana clasped Clark’s hand, Martha took a deep breath and asked, “Okay. Are you two sleeping together as the Daily Planet insinuated?”

A pause, and a quick hand squeeze from Lana later, Clark replied, “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, we are, and we couldn’t be happier.”

“Next,” Jonathan said, bluntly, “did you push Lana into having sex with you? I know what it’s like to be with someone you love, but there are consequences for that act…consequences you can’t even dream of right now. Rushing into sex can be a huge mistake.”

Clark was stunned by his dad’s question, and he just sat there, unmoving, so it fell to Lana to answer his question. “No, Mr. Kent,” she said firmly, “Clark didn’t push me. We made that decision together. Not only that, but we made the decision ahead of time and not in a hormonal rush while kissing on the seat of his truck.”

That last comment of Lana’s made both of the Kents turn a bright pink. It took Lana a few seconds to realize what that must mean and she was blushing while Clark looked poleaxed by the thought of his parents ‘doing it’ on the front seat of a truck.

“Umm…getting back on track,” Jonathan said, somewhat too loudly, “the last question is, did you use protection?”

In unison, Lana and Clark said, “Yes.”

When that question was answered to their satisfaction, the Kents gave each other a look of their own and decided that everything was okay. Clark was sure of that when the next question from Jonathan was, “So. What’s this I read in the paper about my son being a Heisman Trophy finalist?”

“It’s true! It’s all true!” Lana gushed, knowing that Clark would not say anything about it if he could help it.

With a sense of timing that made Clark wonder if she had managed to hear any of the last conversation after all, Kathy chose that moment to come bounding down the stairs and raid the refrigerator. When she heard the word Heisman, Kathy turned to Clark with her fists on her hips and said, “It’s about time you talked to me about that.”

Clark corralled his sister, pulling her in to sit on his knee as he said, “I would never leave you out of this, Half-Pint. Tell me what you want to know.”

With Kathy leading the discussion, they spent the next twenty minutes discussing the upcoming game on Friday with K-State and Clark’s travel plans for attending the Heisman ceremony on Sunday. Since he would have an entire Saturday free in New York, the Kents gave him some money to bring home souvenirs for the family.

When the subject turned to why Clark had not been available on Sunday when the Heisman finalists were announced, the conversation turned to Lana and Clark’s trip to Smallville. Both parents instantly thought of meteor rock exposure and their worst fears were confirmed when Clark told them about how Lana had to save him. Those fears were put on the back burner when Clark told them, almost as an afterthought, that he had gained a new ability. Telescopic sight did not sound like something that would get Clark in trouble if he accidentally used it, so even the Kents agreed it sounded good, and Kathy wanted to know why Clark got all of the cool powers.

Finally, the conversation turned to the apartment fire. Everyone was proud of what he had done, but the Kents were worried that he was risking the exposure of his secrets.

Another shared look between Clark and Lana later, Clark said, “I think…” he sucked in a deep breath, “…I think it’s time to let you three in on a secret. In this family, we’ve always been of the ‘glass is half empty’ persuasion. When it comes to my abilities, we’ve always worried that someone else would discover them. Lana has always been a ‘glass is half full’ kind of girl, at least in my experience. She wondered what I could do to help others with my abilities and has convinced me to give it a try.”

He held up a hand to stop the protests he knew would be coming. “Before you say anything, let me explain. Sunday night’s rescue was kind of an accident, I just happened to be next door, literally, when the fire started and when we heard the word ‘fire’ we decided I had to try to do something.

“As for doing this on a regular basis, we’re already working on a costume to hide my identity. I’ve even mail-ordered a blue leather luchador mask from Mexico. It will hide my face perfectly.”

Lana had remained quiet all during Clark’s explanation. By the end, she was looking at the table and had hunched her shoulders and bowed her head in anticipation of bearing the brunt of the Kents’ wrath.

She was not to be disappointed.

Martha was not happy about the idea, but she liked the fact that Clark and Lana were working on a disguise to protect his identity. It was a compromise she thought she could live with. Jonathan, however, was a different story.

Red-faced and upset, Jonathan locked his eyes on Lana and said, “Use his abilities in public? What were you thinking of, Lana? Don’t you know what…”

“Hey!” Clark said loudly, cutting his dad off in mid-sentence. “If you’re mad about this, talk to me. Lana just made a suggestion, I’m the one that made the decision.”

For the first time in a long time, Clark was becoming angry at his father and Martha could see it in the way Clark’s face tightened and his eyes narrowed. She grabbed onto Jonathan’s arm, trying to get him to stop before it was too late, but failed.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you never would have made this decision without her!” Turning back to Lana, Jonathan picked up where he left off. “Don’t you know what the government will do to Clark if they find out about him? And now we have to worry about what they might do to Kathy, too.”

Clark put Kathy back on her feet, leaned forward as far as he could to shield Lana, and said, “Let me be plainly understood. If you can’t deal with me about this subject, Lana and I will be leaving. You’re baselessly attacking the woman I love and, at the same time, you’re disrespecting my ability to make a decision for myself. No one forced me to make this choice, I did it because it was, and is, the right thing to do.”

Jonathan was still upset, but the only way to get at Lana was through Clark, so he gave up. Secretly, he was pleased to see his son fervently defending the woman he loved, he just wished Clark had been defending her from someone else.

Lana looked up for the first time in a while, and saw Martha looking back and forth between her two men in fear. I think we’d better go home before someone says something they can’t take back, Lana thought. Waving a silent goodbye to Kathy, who was looking on wide-eyed, Lana said, “I’m sorry you feel the way you do, Mr. Kent. I only want the best for Clark.” She made a show of checking her watch and then pushed herself to her feet. “I need to get home, and so does Clark. We have an early wakeup call since we’re spending the day with my Aunt Nell.”

Clark had stood up as soon as Lana did, both as a gentleman, and as a further show of support. He was trying to get across the message that his allegiance was with Lana now and that his family necessarily had to come second.

“Maybe I’ll see you after the game on Friday, Dad. If not, I’ll try to come by after I get home on Sunday night. Goodbye.”

Once the front door clicked closed behind the departing couple, Martha said, “Kathy? It would be best if you found something else to occupy yourself for the time being. Your father and I are about to have a fight of our own.”

[Lost_In_Clana]

1ST!Awesoem update!!

I'm glad Clark came to Lana's defense when Jonathan began to shout. Jonathan should calm down and think thing throught properly without yelling. It's nice to see Lana comes before anything else. or anyone.

[NYC300Z]

2nd! The Kents fighting? wow wouldn't have expected that much of a reaction. Jonathon sure got made about that decision. Martha's prospect on the idea was much better, but hey it's JK so yeah I guess it was to be expected. The way Clark is with Lana now maybe marriage wont be such a foriegn idea to him anymore. Can't wait to see their thoughts about all this on the ride home or wherever. Next Aunt Nell and for some reason I have a feeling that will go even worse than this confrontation did.

PPMS!

[treker]

great update Cardinal....

We knew there would be a fight at the Kent's we just didn't know about what. I like this Clark....nobody goes after Lana without going thru him.

And Martha get's to lay into Jonathan too. Jonathan needs to learn to think about what he's about to say befor he says it....

I loved it....are we going to have the same fight at Nell's I wonder???

[clark&lanafan06]

Great update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!

[superman_lives_on]

NOT a good idea to go after Lana, Jonathan--Clark is not going to take that well at all! And now Martha's about to lay into him...though I doubt we'll get to see it, hopefully we'll see some positive results.

But the idea of wearing a mask... What will convince Clark and Lana to find another way of hiding his identity--namely, the glasses?

Lord knows what'll happen at Nell's...hopefully it won't be Hell-on-Earth.

Update again soon!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

yea that would be funny

[happycamper]

Here I was, back from an early morning appointment with my doctor before heading back to work, when I see what must have been a very[ late post.

Funny and wonderful as always. Maybe that's what Clark always needed, to think of Lana first instead of the reactions of his family and the rest of the world.

Poor Jonathan! It seems everyone is picking on him - even if it is well deserved. I can just picture the thoughts running through his head when Martha made that last announcement to Kathy...:lol:

Of course, I think Lana and Clark's next visit - with Nell - is going to go much worse... :(


:D :D

[Nemu]

Woah talk about disagreement... that was good...

Clark was right... doing what he did, Jonathan showed he thought Clark wasn't able to make decision of his own...

I like Martha's comment at the end...

lol... just thought of something... only one letter difference between Nell and Hell... hmm...

foreshadowing ;)

PPMS :D

[emsfan]

update please!!!!!!!!!!!

[deanyouk]

Brilliant update!

[LetMeGo]

One down one to go… They actually took the sex part of it pretty well. I wonder how Nell will react to that news. Clark sticking up for Lana was great… though I’m kind of surprised that Jonathan reacted so badly to the idea of Clark helping others. Hopefully Martha can bring him around and they can accept and support Clark’s decision! PPMS! :D

[SVsleuth]

Sorry I'm so late this time, Card. I don't think I've ever read a father/son fight in a Clana fic before. jonathan is just SO worried about Clark. But it wasn't fair of him to blame Lana. It was good to see Clark have a spine, and stand up for himself and Lana. Martha will bring Jonathan around, I'm sure.
The candid talk with the parents was not something I'd think would happen in most families - but it was funny about the front seat of the truck and all - LOL. I'm sure Clark was thinking, "I did NOT need to know that!"
Love your fic, Card. PPMS!

[hyper149]

I absolutely love the last comment! I laughed out loud.

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Super update. Jonathan’s got quite a temper. That’s how we all know him (especially when it comes to Clark’s abilities). I think he’ll understand with time though and at least realise he was very unfair with Lana. It’s gonna be exciting with the upcoming game and not to mention the Heisman trophy. I’ve got my fingers crossed for Clark ;) PPMS!

[maitriniazngurl]

Wow... a Kent fight?? And Jonathon isn't being fair in my opinion..
I love a good fight.. :D :D

Awesome update Card!! Can't wait for more!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

ye wonderful

[Iowanmom]

Wow, this was a shorter update for you Cardinal. No matter, it packed a punch!!!



“I’m hoping they’ll think you corrupted their precious little boy,” Clark said.
Well, I'd say despite the teasing and good humor, gotta wonder if his words ring regretfully in Clark's mind as his father let's Lana have it!!

Gotta say, didn't see this coming. The Kents have always been reasoning people... not much for raising voices and lashing out at innocent parties. I'm sure it's the fear talking in Jonathan, but I'm shocked. Lana's only trying to help Clark filter through some thoughts, but I'm sure Jonathan will come forward and apologize when the anger eases.



“Hey!” Clark said loudly, cutting his dad off in mid-sentence. “If you’re mad about this, talk to me. Lana just made a suggestion, I’m the one that made the decision.”
Way to go Clark!! You defend that girl of yours!!! Isn't it wonderful to be defended by the one that loves you??? Very nice, here Cardinal.



“That doesn’t change the fact that you never would have made this decision without her!” Turning back to Lana, Jonathan picked up where he left off. “Don’t you know what the government will do to Clark if they find out about him? And now we have to worry about what they might do to Kathy, too.”
Oh yeah, I find the first line of this quote very difficult to wrap my head around... darn it. Jon is wrong. I know it's just his fear speaking, but he's got some damage control to do.

And of course Lana can imagine what the government would do to both Clark and Kathy if their secrets were revealed... hence the disguise.... *sigh* Wow, Cardinal, Jon let lose. I'm glad Clark took the resposibility and drew the pressure back to himself.

Wow, I didn't expect this to happen. Neither did Lana and Clark. I do wonder what's going to happen. I wonder if Lana's treatment will hurt her more than what Nell's catty attitude does to Clark. *sigh* This is not a good situation. I hope it gets fixed soon.



“Kathy? It would be best if you found something else to occupy yourself for the time being. Your father and I are about to have a fight of our own.”
You go MARTHA!!! Someone's being knocked down a notch or two and rightly so. *sigh* Fix this Cardinal. An unhappy Kent familly makes for an unhappy Clark.

Great post, Card. Post when you can. We'll be here. :)

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[Iowanmom]

Oh, and Cardinal, I forgot to mention that I really enjoy the way Clark and Lana communicate. It's so respectful and full of fun and.... love. It's refreshing and very nice to see between two people. Especially kids as young as they are. Great job. :)

[Cardinal]

Why thank you, IO. ;)

Because I'm doing two fics right now, "Broken Road " updates ay be just a bit slower in coming. :(

[kewl]

cool update card! keep em up!

[C.A.chick]

Any idea of when the next update will be? Hope its soon. Great update!

[treker]

Originally posted by C.A.chick
Any idea of when the next update will be? Hope its soon. Great update!


ditto

[clark&lanafan06]

Can't wait for the next update !!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 84 - Thanksgiving

Lana picked up Clark bright and early on Thanksgiving morning, because Nell wanted her to help prepare the side dishes while the turkey was roasting.

Clark was quiet, still upset and embarrassed by the way his dad had treated Lana the day before. After a subdued ‘hello’ and a quick kiss good morning, Clark folded his arms across his chest and set his mouth in a deep frown. Lana quickly noticed his sulky mood and tried to draw him out.

“What’s wrong, Clark?” Lana asked, knowing full well what was bothering him. “Aunt Nell can’t be that bad, she hasn’t even tried to castrate you yet.”

Just the thought of castration did to Clark what it does to all men, causing him to wince and crouch in his seat in a reflexive attempt at shielding himself from injury. “Ouch,” he said. “That’s a vivid image.” He looked her way for the first time since she pulled into traffic. “Have you been talking to Chloe? That’s the kind of mental picture I would expect her to create.”

“No. No Chloe. But I’ve seen horses get gelded back when I lived in Smallville.”

“What made you bring up that subject anyway?”

“You were sulking,” Lana said simply, “and I wanted to break you out of it.” Sitting still at a stoplight, Lana gave him a look of patience. “Now, tell me what’s got you in such a rare mood.”

As the light turned green and Lana resumed her drive, “I’m still irritated by what Dad said to you yesterday. I’m so sorry that happened and…”

“Clark!” Lana said, cutting him off sharply. “Don’t you dare apologize for what your dad said, I won’t have it. If anyone needs to apologize, it’s him, not you.” Then, speaking more warmly, “I, on the other hand, haven’t yet thanked you properly for defending me yesterday.” Lana flashed Clark a glittering smile that meant more than gold to Clark. “Thank you.”

Two simple words, but when backed with the warmth of her voice and smile, they had the power to change Clark’s focus from what had gone wrong yesterday to what was going right today. Here I sit, with the most wonderful woman in the world, on a beautiful day, as we go to celebrate the things we are thankful for. My family is happy and healthy, and football is great. Things couldn’t be better even if I had planned them.

Realizing what Lana had done for him, Clark said, “You succeeded, Lana. Thanks.”

The only sounds they heard for a while after that were the commonplace rumbles, whirs, and clangs of city life, muted only slightly by the radio station Lana turned on.

Their comfortable silence was finally broken by the chirp of Clark’s cell phone. He knew it was not Chloe, because she had a special ringtone. When he checked the caller id. He was surprised to see that the caller was his dad and that he was calling from his cell phone, not the house phone.

“Who’s calling you this early?”

“It’s Dad.” Clark frowned at the cell phone. “I wonder what he wants.”

Lana remained silent as Clark flipped open his phone and answered. “Hello, Dad. Calling to attack me today?”

“No, Son,” Jonathan replied. “In fact, I’m calling to apologize for what I said yesterday. I was wrong to say the things I did to you and to Lana and I’m sorry.”

Lana thought they must be making up since, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a small smile flit across Clark’s face, and then she heard him say, “Dad, this is really nice to hear…but you’re talking to the wrong person. Lana is the one that you need to apologize to, not me.”

“Well…she was next on my list. After you two left last night, your mother let me know, in no uncertain terms, how upset she was with how I had acted. Even Kathy came back downstairs to talk to me just to say how embarrassed she was going to be the next time she called Lana to talk.” A short silence passed. “Clark, could you give me Lana’s number and maybe tell me when she might get up today? I don’t want to wake her from a sound sleep on a holiday just to hear the apology of an old man.”

“Sure thing, Dad.” Clark got Lana’s attention and pointed at his phone, wordlessly asking her if she wanted to talk to him now. Lana wanted to wait, but when she saw Clark’s pleading gesture, she relented and said, “Okay, just put him on the speaker phone.”

He got back to Jonathan and said, “Lana’s already up, Dad. In fact, she’s sitting right next to me while we head over to her aunt’s house for the day. Can I go ahead and put you on the speaker phone?”

“That…that would be fine, Son.”

Clark set the phone for speaker operation and held it where Lana would easily be able to hear it while she drove. “Okay, Dad, go ahead.”

“Lana?”

“Yes, Mr. Kent?”

“I’m sorry for what I said to you yesterday. I was wrong. There aren’t any excuses for my behavior. I guess I just got scared when I found out that Clark was going to use his abilities in public. Having people find out what my kids can do is my biggest fear and I think that announcement caught me unprepared. Like I said, that’s not an excuse, and I’m sorry.”

Knowing this apology could not be easy for Jonathan to make, and hearing the obvious sincerity in his voice, Lana said warmly, “Thank you, Mr. Kent. I’m glad to know you’ve changed your mind. Apology accepted.”

After Clark ended the call, Lana and Clark spent the rest of their drive talking about the big Thanksgiving game with K-State that would be played tomorrow in Manhattan, Kansas. Lana had deliberately kept the subject away from Nell and her likely reactions to Clark in an attempt at keeping him from tensing up too much. For his part, Clark allowed Lana to steer the conversation wherever she wanted it to go.

When they finally climbed out of the SUV, Clark looked up the walkway and asked, “Is it just me, or has that walkway gotten longer since the last time I was here?”

“It just seems that way, Clark. It probably looks as long to you as what your parents' front walk looked like to me yesterday.”

“Hmm…good point.” Clasping her hand as they began to head up the walkway, Clark muttered, “Dead man walking.”

Lana rolled her eyes extravagantly at that and said, “I didn’t know you were a drama queen.”

Clark responded by plastering the biggest, phoniest smile he could muster onto his face. Lana could not help but laugh and was still snickering when they reached the front door. Just as she reached for the door handle, Clark wiped the goofy smile from his face.

Stepping inside, Lana looked around as Clark helped her take off her jacket. She said loudly, “Hello? We’re here.”

Clark set her jacket down on the back of a chair while he removed his own jacket. He then folded both jackets over one arm and followed Lana, hoping that Nell had a sudden emergency that had forced her to leave town for the day.

No such luck. Dean came downstairs, calling out a hearty greeting, just as Nell called out from the kitchen. Dean had a big hug and a kiss on the cheek for his step-niece and firm handshake for the guy that, more and more in Dean’s estimation at least, was likely going to marry into the family. There was nothing concrete he could point to, but Clark had always seemed to be a serious young man when it came to Lana, which was exactly the way Dean wanted it. Lana finally headed for the kitchen, and Clark followed after her, looking like a man heading to his own execution. Dean chuckled softly to himself, knowing what Clark had to be thinking.

I’ve known Lana for years, Dean thought, and I know that she wouldn’t allow a guy to pressure her into sex. I also know she’s responsible, so I know they were safe…but Nell sees things differently, and Clark will have to bear the brunt of her worry and anger for a bit.

Nell looked like a Martha Stewart clone in her pantsuit and apron, without a speck of flour or any other ingredients anywhere on her, but what had really caught Clark’s attention was the fact that Nell was using a huge, stainless steel knife to mince ingredients for a recipe. Just the sight of her with a large blade in her hand made Clark slow down involuntarily as he and Lana approached.

Nell stepped away from her workspace and wiped her hands on a towel before greeting her niece and her niece’s…guest.

“Lana!” Nell exclaimed, truly happy to see Lana. The two women hugged each other tightly. The smiles on their faces told it all: this was Lana’s nearest and dearest relative. When Nell finally released Lana and turned to Clark though, watching Nell’s face change was like watching all the color drain out of a photograph. Icily polite as she always was around Clark, Nell offered a welcome that he could most politely describe as restrained.

After that greeting, Clark was banished from the kitchen by both of the women. When he questioned Dean about it later, Dean said, “Nell never lets anyone in the kitchen when she cooks. Lana is likely only in there because Nell needed some help…well, that and the fact that she wants to gossip some.”

The rest of the morning passed reasonably well. Clark and Dean watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by themselves until Lana finally finished helping and came in to join them and snuggled next to Clark on the couch. From that point on, Dean spent more time studying the young couple and how they interacted than he did watching the end of the parade.

When Nell joined them for a few minutes, he sensed the stiffness and resentment that seemed to follow Nell around like a cloud whenever he was around. Though she turned away all of Clark’s attempts at conversation, she did manage to keep from making any cutting remarks, something that gratified Clark for Lana’s sake. He knew how much it pained her that he and Nell were not getting along, though he had run out of ideas to try and win her over.

The Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful. They had roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, candied sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes with gravy, mixed vegetables, fresh dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce. Nell had made a pumpkin pie and an apple pie for dessert. They had been the last things out of her two ovens and had spent the entire meal cooling on the counter. Clark thought the aroma was heavenly, and his slice of apple pie tasted even better than it smelled. He plowed through that first piece in no time and was happy to say yes when Nell asked if he wanted another slice.

After dinner, the dishes were left for later as the four adults headed to the living room. Dean turned the Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins game on to observe that other Thanksgiving tradition…pro football. Lana and Clark were quick to take up position on the love seat, so Nell and Dean settled onto the couch. Dean quickly settled into watching the game, but Nell had her eyes on Clark and Lana.

The first time they kissed, Nell went into action, saying, “From what I’ve read in the paper, Clark, you’ve done more than enough kissing already this week.” Clark had just begun to think he was going to avoid a lecture and was thus unprepared for Nell's comment. Before he could say anything, Nell continued. “I don’t know how you tricked my sweet Lana into bed with you, but I’m letting you know right now that I won’t allow you to hurt Lana the way your father hurt me. It’s not going to happen again!”

Nell became more and more hysterical as she talked and Clark was frozen to his seat. Lana and Dean looked at each other when Nell paused, each hoping she was done. But no, she had just paused to take in a deep breath before renewing her assault.

“Your father thought I was the world to him until he had his way with me. Shortly thereafter, he went to Metropolis to take ‘one little finance course’ to help him and his dad with the farm. Then he met Martha and I was nothing more than a pleasant memory of a roll in the hay.”

Lana was not sure where this was going, but she had heard enough. She launched herself off of the love seat and stood directly between Clark and Nell. “Stop it, Nell. Just stop it! I won’t allow you to blame Clark for what happened between you and his dad twenty-five years ago.”

Lana is smaller than Nell, Clark thought, but right now, I'm reminded of the saying, ‘It’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.’

Lana loved Nell dearly, but there was only so much she would allow her to get away with and Clark had provided her a good example of how to protect a significant other. Clark thought Lana looked particularly fierce at that moment and would not want to get in her way for anything.

Once Lana brought Nell to a halt, Dean took advantage and led a surprised Nell into their bedroom for a private talk. Too worked up to sit around and watch TV, Lana headed to the kitchen to begin clearing the table and doing the dishes. Clark wasn’t sure if she wanted company, but decided he would rather be in trouble for asking to help than risking trouble by not asking to help, so he followed her to the kitchen seconds later.

Once the table was clear and the dishwasher was full, Lana began filling the sink with hot, soapy water to wash the large pots and pans. As the suds rose, Clark stepped behind her and started to gently massage her neck and shoulders. She had not realized just how wound up she had become until she felt Clark’s insistent fingers work their magic. With the pots and pans soaking and the water tuned off, Clark pulled Lana away from the sink and sat her down at the kitchen table.

Now wrapping her hands in his as they sat across the corner of the table from each other, Clark asked, “Would you like to talk about it?”

“I would, except I think we’d just replay the conversation we had in truck this morning, except I would be trying to apologize and you would be the one not letting me do it.”

“Well then, at least I can thank you for stepping in and stopping your aunt.”

“It was the least I could do. She was hurting you, making herself look like a fool, and embarrassing Dean and me all at the same time.”

Clark paused to think and then asked, “Do you even know what happened between my dad and your aunt?”

“Not really. All I know is she thought he was ‘the one,’ and he didn’t marry her.”

“Damn. I wish there was a way I could convince her of my intentions.”

“And your intentions are…?” Lana asked playfully.

She had not really meant for him to say anything, though she was definitely interested in the answer to that question. Brought to the brink, Clark chose to step over the edge instead of turning back: “My intentions are…” he took in a deep breath, let half of it out and continued, “…are nothing short of marriage.”

[maitriniazngurl]

1st!! :D

Wow!! This is the first time I've been first!! Ever!! I'm sorry it took forever to reply.. I took my time rereading it.. and I had to get off early yesterday. :D

Awesome update Card!! I'm so glad Jonathon apologized to Lana! That was sweet.. and knowing that Kathy even said she was embarrassed to talk to Lana made me feel like the Kents is probably like the perfect family!

Nell should just forget about Jonathon!! I mean she's happy with Dean isn't she??

Anyways.. PPMS!!

[clark&lanafan06]

Awsome Update ! Glad it was Lana's turn to stand up for Clark ! PPMS !!!!!!!

[SVsleuth]

Woah! Does that count as a proposal? Pretty darn close, if you ask me.

Yay for Dean, yay for Lana. Nell, get over it - you have Dean now- time to forgive Jonathan for his youthful mistakes.

That was great, Card, as always. Can't wait to see where the Clana goes from here. PPMS! :)

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by SVsleuth
Woah! Does that count as a proposal? Pretty darn close, if you ask me.

Yay for Dean, yay for Lana. Nell, get over it - you have Dean now- time to forgive Jonathan for his youthful mistakes.

That was great, Card, as always. Can't wait to see where the Clana goes from here. PPMS! :)

Nope, nope, nope, NOPE!

Not a proposal, just a general statement of intent. It means they can talk about marriage and what they want out of it freely. Lana won't have to worry about running Clark off now.

[akuma]

Marriage, that a boy Clark!

[happycamper]

4:) *****No, 5. Someone sneaky got in ahead of me. Well, two sneaks if you include yourself, Card.*****


Great job Card.

I have to say that Clark should be grateful that Nell chose to wait until after she had rid herself of sharp implements before beginning her attack. :lol:

Definitely not a proposal - yet - but a pretty clear statement of intent. Very smart move on Clark's part. ;)

I hope that Dean is able to blunt the anger and resentment Nell still seems to hold against Jonathan (and especially Martha?).

I have to wonder how Clark would have grown up with Jonathan and Nell as parents... :p


:D :D

[Nemu]

Well that sure was entertaining... Go Lana and Go Clark!!

We kinda all knew that marriage was both their intent... without being an official proposal...

PPMS :D

[Iowanmom]

Great post Cardinal. It's nice to see both Clark and Lana supporting each other. The bit of back history on Nell and Jon, while inapproriate for the company at the time, was cool. (Well, inappropriate to me... I was embarrassed, just goes to show how hurt Nell is, too... :\ ) I always wondered what happened with those two. Nice job.

And no, I didn't think Clark was proposing, but he indeed has thought about their future as being together. :D Again, great job.

Update when you can, we'll be here. :)

**Edit**
Sorry, I'm really tired, so my focus isn't really good...

I am glad Jonathan called and apologized to Lana and Clark. You could feel his sincerity. I'm sure being Clark and Kathy's parent is difficult and the fears he an Martha keep hidden are great. I'm glad Lana accepted the apology. Thanks, Cardinal. :)

[deanyouk]

Go Clarkie Go Clarkie! heh

great update

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by happycamper
I have to wonder how Clark would have grown up with Jonathan and Nell as parents... :p

That's a question I intend to have Clark and Lana ponder very soon, because then they would have grown up as adopted brother and sister.

Would Clark have fallen for his adopted sister at the age of five? Those and other potentially squirmy questions may be answered soon. :p

[kewl]

bittersweet update card! bitter at the start and sweet at the end :)
way to go clarkie! now they have so much to talk about...
need more card, hope u can update again soon!

[superman_lives_on]

His intentions are nothing short of marriage? :D YAY!

I'm glad that Jonathan apologized so soon--it definitely got rid of the tension there. But Nell... *sigh* I hope that Dean can talk some sense into her. That woman has to stop being so petty!

I look forward to the next chapter.

[happycamper]

Originally posted by Cardinal
That's a question I intend to have Clark and Lana ponder very soon, because then they would have grown up as adopted brother and sister.

Would Clark have fallen for his adopted sister at the age of five? Those and other potentially squirmy questions may be answered soon. :p


Or first cousins if Lana's parents had survived in a world where Jonathan had married Nell. :eek: :p

[LetMeGo]

That's going to be an interesting conversation! :lol: Can't wait for it! Loved the update by the way! :D PPMS!

[Venezuelan Lana]

it's absolutely incredible Nell's still not over Jonathan! God it's been over 20 years now... and she's with Dean so if she's still resented with John she shouldn't show it, much less in front of his son...

Still this has been an awesome update! You're very talented, Card... I can't wait for the next update!

[NYC300Z]

Originally posted by Cardinal
That's a question I intend to have Clark and Lana ponder very soon, because then they would have grown up as adopted brother and sister.

Would Clark have fallen for his adopted sister at the age of five? Those and other potentially squirmy questions may be answered soon. :p

Very odd indeed lol

Great update Card! Sorry i'm so late! I was expecting something from Nell, but not quite that! She was crazy! lol oh well Glad to see Clark and Lana taking it so well and Clark's thinking straight at least!;)

PPMS!

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[maru11]

great update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hope u can update soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Now that I'm done with the short fic and am back to just two fics, I can get something posted here. Hopefully sometime Sunday.

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

i would think that is a proposal if you ask me

[maru11]

update soon!!!!!!!!!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

post post post more more more soon soon soon asap asap asap

[treker]

I hope you're still on schedule for a sunday update card...as I am off sunday.

btw, I saved my 1300 post for you. aren't you proud. :D

[SVsleuth]

Congratulations on 1300 posts, treker!

Eager for the next update Card. Thanks for the many you gave us on LH during your vacaton week. :)

[clark&lanafan06]

Hope you can update soon !!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 85 - Why

While Clark and Lana had been talking in the kitchen, the older couple was in their bedroom. Dean was standing next to the door and Nell was sitting on the side of the bed. She was looking down at the floor. He, however, was looking at his wife…as if she had suddenly sprouted horns.

“What has gotten into you today, Nell?” Dean asked. “You embarrassed Lana, me, and most of all, yourself out there just now…not to mention absolutely humiliating Lana’s boyfriend.” Not quite able to completely master his irritation, Dean began to pace. “I’d like to remind you that’s the first guy she’s thought enough of to bring home and introduce to us in all the years I’ve known her. She has hopes for this one. Don’t blow it for her.”

That last comment finally caused Nell to look up. Dean could tell that he had gotten through to her. The very idea that she might be the one to ruin Lana’s love life was completely new to her. Now that Nell was truly paying attention, he said, “Until now, I had thought you just didn’t like Clark. I was fine with that, because we all have different opinions and you’re entitled to yours. But now…” Dean wiped a hand across his face. “What happened between you and Mr. Kent? I’ve never asked before, but now, I feel like I have a right to know.”

Nell was speechless. She had always prided herself on behaving ‘correctly’ in every situation, but the idea of another woman in her family being devastated by a Kent had been too much for her to take. She could not find the right words for her tangled web of emotions, but she haltingly tried to explain anyway.

“As seniors in high school, Jonathan and I were close, very close…we were already talking about marriage. Like Lana and Clark, we had become…sexually active.” She dipped her head in embarrassment, not liking to admit she had had sex before she was married. As bad as that was, there were other things in her past with Jonathan that were worse. She couldn’t bear telling everything, so she settled for an edited version of the truth…some skeletons should stay in the closet. “Things happened then and I think that’s when we began drifting apart.”

“After high school, Jonathan gave up a full-ride football scholarship to Met U so he could stay home and help his father run the Kent farm. Spring semester of that first year, Jonathan decided to make a weekly round trip to Metropolis to take a specialized finance course that he said would help him on the farm.” Nell dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a Kleenex and pressed on. “I didn’t want him to go. I figured he must be able to take a similar class at Central Kansas A&M, but he said this was something special for farmers. I thought it was ironic that the city college had a class like that for farmers but the college out in the middle of farm country didn’t. Anyway, he met Martha while at class, and after that, I never had a chance.” She finished quietly, saying, “I don’t want Lana to have to suffer like I did.”

“What did your sex life have to do with…” Dean said, and then, the light went on inside his head. “Oh dear, sweet Jesus. You got pregnant?”

All Nell could do in response to his guess was nod her head affirmatively. She had always known that Dean possessed a sharp mind, it was one of the first things about him that had attracted her. Right now, however, she was wishing that he was as dumb as a post. But since her darkest secret was out, she felt free enough to explain.

“During our senior year, Jonathan was the most heavily recruited high school football player in the state of Kansas, possibly in the whole Midwest, and he and I chose Met U. I would have followed him anywhere, but Metropolis was far enough for us to feel like we were on our own, and close enough for us to come home every so often.

“Early that same school year, we started having sex. Just after Christmas, despite taking responsible precautions, I became pregnant.” Nell’s eyes had glazed over by now as she thought back to long-buried memories. “Our whole future was in front of us, Dean. Four years of school and then we’d get good jobs, get married, and eventually start a family…but we’d got it backwards. The child had come first.”

Dean could see the pain Nell was in and told her she didn’t have to say anything more, but Nell disagreed. “I need to say this, to get it out into the open. I just need to.”

Dean sat at her side, and, wrapping one arm firmly around her midsection, said, “Okay then, tell me. Let it all out.”

“A baby at that time would have ruined everything. I mean, Jonathan would have given up his scholarship and stayed home to help support our child. Neither one of us would have been able to go to college and forget interesting careers in the big world, we would have been stuck in Smallville. Our lives would have been ruined before they even began, all because of one tiny growth in my belly.”

Knowing by now what had to have been the outcome, Dean said, “You aborted the child, didn’t you.”

Nell was crying profusely and Dean threw his other arm around her, wrapping her tightly in his arms, and in his love. It took a long time, but Nell finally brought her crying under control and said, “Yes, I did. I thought I knew what was best and so I went to Planned Parenthood in Metropolis and got an abortion.” A look of pure loathing crossed her face and she said, “I just talked about ending a life, a life, the same way as if I had gone to Metropolis to buy some shoes…but that’s the way I looked at it back then. It wasn’t a baby to me at seventeen, it was just an inconvenience, so I…got rid of it.”

“How did Jonathan feel? Was he supportive?”

“I didn’t tell him. He never even knew I was pregnant.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. And then, when Jonathan gave up football because his dad’s health had already started to fail, I went berserk. Knowing I had given up what would have been our child, for nothing, was more than I could take. We had a monstrously large fight. Everything came out then. He was shattered when he learned what I had done and I was furious that my sacrifice meant nothing.”

“I had done what I did out of love, for us, and he repaid me with…nothing.” A slight shrug of her shoulders, and Nell finished quietly, saying, “After that, our relationship was never the same. I now think he stayed with me mostly because it was expected. No one else knew about the abortion, not even my closest girlfriends. I still loved him very much and hoped to repair our relationship but that hope died quickly once Martha was on the scene. He broke my heart.”

After breathing deeply for a few seconds, Nell said, “There, now you know why it kills me to have the young woman I raised as my daughter dating Jonathan Kent’s son.”

Dean paused for a moment, torn between his desire to comfort his distraught wife, and his need to help her see that what she was doing was wrong. “Nell, you know I love you, right?” She nodded yes. “Then know I love you when I say you can’t assume Clark will hurt Lana just because you were hurt by Jonathan more than 20 years ago.”

When Nell just stared at him blankly, he asked, “Have you ever watched Lana when the two of them are together? I’ve never been especially good at telling what she’s thinking, but even I can tell she adores him. That young man is the center of her world.”

Almost too softly to hear, Nell said, “I know, that’s what I’m afraid of. I was just like that with Jonathan.”

“Okay, but have you ever really watched Clark when those two are together? He’s much easier for me to figure out. He worships the ground Lana walks on. If she said ‘jump,’ I think Clark’s only question would be, ‘How high?’”

Nell blew her nose and then asked, “Really? He loves her that much? How come I can’t see it?”

Going for broke, Dean said quietly, “Maybe you were so sure he was going to be the next Jonathan and break Lana‘s heart, that you didn’t give him a chance to be the first Clark. Why don’t you go back out there and give him a chance? Just try to see him, really see him for the first time, and I think you’ll be surprised.”

Finding crow to be a most foul tasting dish to have to eat on Thanksgiving, Nell grudgingly agreed. “Okay…but only if you’re sure…”

“I’m sure.”

“I suppose this means I need to apologize to Clark, also.”

“Yes, it does. Clark and Lana, but mostly Clark.”

Finally surrendering completely, Nell said, “I’m sorry for humiliating you like that Dean. I love you and would always wish to present myself in a way that makes you proud.”

Leaning his head against hers, Dean replied, “I know you’re sorry, and you always do make me proud, just like you’re about to do now…”

While Dean and Nell were finishing up story time, Clark and Lana were in a back hallway, preparing to look at Lana’s two portraits.

Lana had already given Clark her heart, completely and unreservedly, but showing him her art felt to her like she was baring a previously hidden part of her soul. She wondered if he would be able to understand just how important her art was to her…and how much she wanted him to genuinely like it.

“Keep those eyes closed, Clark,” Lana said. “No peeking.”

Her last command caused him to place both hands in front of his eyes, a precaution which caused both of them to giggle since they knew he could see through his hands if he truly wanted to.

“Now,” Lana said, going on as if nothing funny had just happened, “My first and only request before you get to open your eyes and look, is that you tell me what you truly think about my art. No butt-kissing statements about how ‘nice’ the paintings look.”

“But, I like kissing your…”

Throwing both hands over his mouth, Lana whispered fiercely, “Shush! Do you want Nell to turn into an axe murderer? ‘Cause that’s what’ll happen if she hears you say anything like that!” Cautiously removing her hands from his mouth, Lana said, “Now as I was saying, before someone lost his mind, I rely on you to be honest with me about everything, including this.”

“Okay, I’m your George Washington. Where are the cherry trees?”

“Open your eyes, and you’ll see them…just don’t chop them down.”

He uncovered his eyes and opened them, to be faced with two side-by-side portraits. The first was clearly Nell and Dean. They had worn what old-timers liked to refer to as ‘their Sunday best,’ and Clark was amazed at how they looked like they had just paused briefly for a photograph instead of sitting for an oil painting.

It was not until Lana impatiently asked, “Well?” that Clark realized he had been holding his breath.

He breathed deeply, shooed her away with one hand and said, “I’m busy. Leave me alone.” His attention shifted to the other portrait, which was Lana’s self-portrait. He could instantly see that her hair was styled somewhat differently back then, that her skin had been more tanned, and that her painting had caught herself with a buoyant grin that made him wonder what joke she had just told.

I wasn’t wrong, Clark thought. She is talented. These look great to me.

Lana knew Clark was impressed when she saw his mouth flop open while he continued to pore over the two paintings. When he was finally done drinking in the details, he turned to her and said, “These are fabulous! Just like I thought, you have some serious talent.”

Lana was about to make a very pleased reply when they heard the master bedroom door open, and Nell came out followed closely by Dean. Lana and Clark stood side-by-side with Lana actually starting to edge in front of Clark in case she needed to shield him.

Nell looked to be thoroughly ashamed. "Lana, I’m sorry. I should’ve known that when you decided to…to join with a man that way, that you would do it on your own terms. I should know you’d never allow any man to push you into sex. I’m also sorry I embarrassed you. That’s not the Aunt Nell you were hoping to see today, I’m sure.” Nell turned to Clark, a somber expression etched onto her face. “As for you, Clark, I have no excuses, only a heartfelt apology. I wronged you today, as you well know, and I’m truly sorry.”

After both Clark and Lana signaled their acceptance of her apologies, Nell cracked her first smile in a while and said, “Clark, that doesn’t mean you’ve won my approval yet. That has to be earned.”

Happy to finally have that chance, Clark smiled and said, “Yes, Ma’am. I look forward to the challenge.”

[SVsleuth]

:) So, Nell reveals her skeletons to Dean, and Dean proves to be a truly loving husband.

Glad Nell was ready to apologize, after her time with Dean.

And I wonder if Lana will decide to take up painting again? PPMS!

[treker]

nice update Card. and just so we're clear. What part of Lana's anatomy does clark like to kiss? ;)

Nells heartfelt confession to dean was nice. It makes much more sense than any other version of their relationship I've ever read. I can just see Jonathan's reaction to Nell aborting their child without ever telling him. It was no wonder they broke up after he meet martha.

And I feel a full court press coming from Clark to both win Nell's approval and to get Lana to resume her artistic career.

I look forward to what you have next in store for our fav couple

[happycamper]

Great update, Card! As much as I like the other fics you have active here on the board, this is still the one I really wait for. :D

Good for Dean to get things cleared up. And especially good for Nell, she is a "bigger" person than I would have given her credit, making such sincere apologies to both Lana and Clark. I like the challenge to Clark, too, because it showed that Nell is now honestly willing to give him a chance.:)

I guess something like showing Clark the paintings would be revealing a major portion of Lana's heart and soul. I'm glad he could give them an honest okay! (although I guess it also helps that he isn't an actual art critic nor that Lana paints abstracts or other such nonsense :lol: :lol: )


:D :D




***edit for poor typing...:lol:

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[deanyouk]

Amazing update

[Nemu]

That was good...

Sad in a way for Nell... but finally she realize that things may be different for her niece...

I like your description of Lana's art... Makes me curious to see it...

PPMS :D

[maru11]

great update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clark&lanafan06]

Good Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

Clark's sure sure of him self! lol well glad they got that out of the way! Nell shouldn't be a huge problem for them anymore! I wonder if they'll go back to the paintings and have Clark ask Lana any questions about them or not?


PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

Well, I'm glad that Dean got Nell to get rid of those skeletons in her closet and realize how horribly unfair she was to Clark and Lana. Apology over and done with... :)

Lana's reaction to Clark's "I like kissing your--" statement was a much needed dose of humor. :) :D Nice.

Update again soon.

[kewl]

great update card!

[Cardinal]

I've got an update almost ready to go, and I'll post it sometime Thursday morning.

[NYC300Z]

It's Thursday morning?;)

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

update soon

[kewl]

hey card, it's thursday evening from where i'm at ;)

[Cardinal]

Chapter 86 - Rapprochement

Everyone returned to the living room and reclaimed their previous seats. The Cowboys/Redskins game was already over, and the second game between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears was just about to get underway. Nell spent a good part of the first half watching Clark and Lana out of the corner of her eye, only now, her focus was on him. She was pleased to see that even though he was focused on the game, every time Lana had something to say, she instantly had his complete attention. Of course, Nell thought, Lana’s smart enough to keep her distractions to a minimum except during commercials.

The other thing Nell picked up on was that Clark kept stealing quick glances at Lana all during the game. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her…even with her sitting so close to him that their legs touched. And the way his massive fingers are interlaced with her delicate ones is just too cute.

By halftime, with the Bears holding a comfortable two-touchdown lead, Nell had to admit that Clark appeared to be just as smitten with Lana as she was with him. That caused Nell to ask Lana if she could borrow Clark for a little while. Curious, Lana agreed, but when Clark got up, Lana was surprised to see Nell lead him to the front door.

Before anyone could ask, Nell said, as she pulled on a jacket, “Clark and I are just going for a walk around the block. I should have him back by the end of halftime.”

For his part, Clark had been stunned to learn during the first half that Nell was a knowledgeable student of the game of football and he said as much as they started their walk.

Hearing his surprise, Nell smirked and said, “When you date a football player for as long as I did, there’s no way to avoid learning about the game. Lana could tell you that, first with Whitney and now you. Anyway, I think I learned everything by osmosis. Jona…your father used to rehash every game he played in high school right after the game with your grandfather. Those two would go at it from opposite sides of the kitchen table while your grandmother and I were trying to watch TV in the other room…something that was hard to do since those guys would always end up being louder than the TV.”

“You knew my grandma?”

“Yeah, I did. She was a wonderful woman. Beautiful too. Your dad got his blonde hair and blue eyes from her.” Clark was hanging on her every word. “She was the center of that home, and when she died in a car wreck early in my senior year, Hiram was crushed. He never really recovered mentally from that and died a few years later.”

“Thanks for telling me that. Dad doesn’t like to talk about her much.”

“No problem, Clark.” Nell checked her watch as they made their way around the block. “Time’s running, so I’d better get down to business.”

Clark waited expectantly, and Nell said, “Clark, I said earlier tonight that you’d have to earn my approval. While you still have a ways to go, keep treating Lana like you have been tonight, and you’ll get there.” Nell stopped and waited for Clark to stop too. When he turned and looked at her, she said, “Be the man Lana deserves, that’s all I’ll ever ask from you.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be everything that she deserves, but I’ll never stop trying.”

Nell smiled slightly and thought, Good boy! He may already know that being the right man is always a work in progress, not a finished product.

Before they started walking again, Clark had one thing of his own to say. “Ms. Potter…”

“Please, Clark, call me Nell. The other makes me sound like a spinster.”

“Okay…Nell, I told this to Lana earlier today, but I think it’s something you ought to hear too. When it comes to Lana and our relationship…I intend nothing less than marriage.”

Nell knew they were close, but was surprised to hear Clark talking about the big M so soon. They had only known each other for three months. Still, she was pleased to hear that Clark was serious about Lana. Curiosity led her to ask, “What was her reaction?”

Clark’s answering grin was all she needed to know, but he said, “Lana moved so fast, that she almost fell out of her chair when she tried to get up to kiss me. She made certain I know that she feels the same way.”

They began walking once more, as Nell asked, “No proposal yet?”

Clark was ready for that question. “Not yet. I’m only doing marriage one time in my life. I want to be sure she’s still the one once our initial passion moderates a bit…and I want her to have that same certainty about me.”

The rest of their walk was comfortable. Clark felt great now that he and Nell had come to an understanding regarding Lana, and Nell was happy that Lana seemed to have found a good guy. Nothing else of importance was discussed until Nell asked Clark if he had liked Lana’s portraits.

“Oh yes!” he said enthusiastically. “I think she’s got some serious talent. I only wish she had kept some more of her work.”

“She didn’t,” Nell said mischievously, “but I did.”

“Really? Where?”

“After Lana told me to have the garbage truck haul off the bulk of her collection, I rented a temperature-controlled self-storage unit to hide them in. She may not ever go back to making art her career, but someday, she’s going to get over the heartbreak of giving up her first dream and then she’ll want her art back…and it‘ll be waiting for her.”

Clark then explained as quickly as he could about how Lana had given a wistful sigh when she read an art department notice about the upcoming student art show. “I think Lana misses the chance to show off her work,” Clark finally said, “or maybe she just misses the creative process itself.”

Nell thought quietly as they rounded the last corner on their way home and finally said, “Do you think she really wants to enter the art show?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Well then, there’s nothing else to do except enter her work.”

The last part of their walk was spent arranging things. Clark needed to e-mail a copy of the flyer with the complete submission information to Nell. She would then select the art that best fit the art show’s criteria, out of the pieces Nell knew Lana loved the most, and Clark would come by early Monday morning to pick up her selections.

When Nell and Clark came through the front door only a couple minutes into the second half, Lana saw them exchange secretive grins. While she could not help but wonder what they were up to, the fact that they were finally getting along made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It was one more thing for her to be thankful for on the day set aside for thanks.

What neither one of them knew was that Lana had taken advantage of the halftime break and Clark’s absence to scurry back to her seldom-used bedroom and call Chloe. From past experience, Lana knew that Chloe and Gabe always had Thanksgiving dinner at noon at the Smallville Country Club since neither one of them could cook. Lana secretly thought Chloe might be able to manage toasting a pair of Pop-Tarts, but Gabe was not even that good of a cook.

As Lana thought, the Sullivans had been home for hours when she called and Chloe answered her cell phone immediately. “Hi, Lana!” Chloe chirped. After holiday greetings were exchanged, Chloe asked, “To what do I owe the pleasure of a holiday call when you’ll have to spend most of today finding creative ways to keep Clark and Nell from killing each other?”

The satisfaction in Lana’s voice was evident as she said, “Believe it or not, after one small explosion from Nell, Dean worked some magic and now the two most important people in my life appear to be on good terms.”

Chloe gave a low whistle of surprise and said, “That’s got to be some potent magic if what Clark’s told me is correct.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. But so far things look good. Anyway, I only have ten or twelve more minutes, so there’s something I want to say. Full details can wait for a long, leisurely conversation after Clark leaves on the team bus tomorrow morning, but right now, I want to thank you for the lead box.”

“Lead box?” Chloe wondered, and then realized, “Oh, that lead box…can I assume me receiving thanks means that the Planet was right about you having a need for that box already?”

Lana’s excitement was almost palpable as she said, “Oh yes. Monday night was the night.”

“Monday? I thought the Planet, in its brief descent into tabloid journalism, indicated Sunday night.”

“Well, it was supposed to be Sunday night, but a little thing called an apartment fire got in the way.”

“Yeah,” Chloe said dejectedly, “I can’t believe my reporter didn’t catch onto the story about Clark being the rescuer. I hate losing a story to the Planet, even if they do get to publish daily while I only get to publish weekly…by the way, give Clark my congrats for the rescue when you see him. He’s been ducking me again, probably because he thinks I’m mad at him since Lois of all people beat my staff to the story.”

“You’re not mad?”

Sounding vaguely offended, Chloe said, “Nooooo…well, maybe a little bit. It does hurt somewhat since the story was about one of my own people and I still got scooped. The fact that it was my own cousin that did the scooping just makes it that much worse.”

“You do know that Clark wanted to avoid any attention, don’t you? So there’s no way he could’ve given The Metropolitan the exclusive.”

“Yeah, I know. I still can’t believe SuperChicken actually took a chance and used his abilities in public.”

“Well, no one saw him use them, so it was okay. The only possible witness was hiding under her bed.”

“So I read, which was how I know he used his abilities. He never would have found her without his x-ray vision.” Chloe snuggled deeper into her down comforter and said, “Now…back to the important part. How was it?”

Lana needed no help to figure out what it Chloe was getting at. “It was…wonderful. We far exceeded my hopes for our first time, especially since it was the first time for each of us individually as well.”

“And Clark?”

“Patient, gentle, communicative, passionate, and big.” Oops, I didn’t mean to let that last one slip out. Crap!

“What was that last comment?” Chloe asked naughtily, trying to embarrass her friend just a bit.

“You heard me,” Lana mumbled.

“Well, pretend I didn’t.”

“Okay,” Lana said, reddening at the prospect. “Big hands, big feet…you do the math. Anyway, our first time was great. We were great together.”

Chloe chuckled and said, “I’m happy for you, Lana…for both of you. First times like that are rarer than…what’s that farm saying?…oh yeah, rarer than hen’s teeth.”

Lana could hear the announcer getting ready for the second half kickoff, so she said, “Sorry, Chlo, gotta go. Nell and Clark will be back any minute. Remember, I’ll call you after Clark leaves at 8 a.m., so we can have a nice, full-length chat. Don’t block my call just so you can get more sleep or you’ll miss out on something extra important. I’d tell you right now, except we don’t have the time for discussing this in depth. Bye.”

“Talk to you later.”

Lana shut down her cell phone and made it back to her seat just seconds before Nell and Clark came in the front door, exchanging their secretive grins.

[treker]

Yeah...I get to be first for a change.

This story just keeps getting better and better Card. Nell and Clark's private talk for very nice. and their devious conspiracy on Lana's artwork was nice to see.

You just knew that Lana was going to dish about the big night. Big feet indeed. :rotfl:

Now, the big question? What's Lana up to that she can't talk about right now????

The public must know.

Great Job Card!!!

PPMS

[superman_lives_on]

I have to admit, seeing Nell not only speak easily around Clark, but a little mischievously as well...that was a surprise. But the sneaky plan involving Lana's artwork--THAT was even more so!

And Lana and Chloe's conversation...heh. Should have known they'd be talking about Monday night.

Update again soon.

[deanyouk]

It's great how Nell and Clark have gone straight from that, to scheming about putting Lana in an art show.....

Just wondering what the other thing is that Lana wants to tell Chloe...

Great update Cardinal...

[happycamper]

Good to see the rapprochement between Clark and Nell, and it was funny how quickly they started scheming about Lana and her art. :lol:

Maybe Nell can even provide Clark more information about his own family...:)

But Card, you're going to have to explain to us - exactly what do big hands and feet have to with anything? :confused:


:D :D

[tygershot]

Great job Card! PPMS!

[SVsleuth]

6th? :eek: -- Sorry I'm so late, Card. :( Off to read....

So Glad Clark & Nell are getting along now - and not only getting along, but conspiting together - Hee-hee. Can't wait to see Lana's reaction to her art being in the show.

Lana and Chloe, of course HAD to have some girl talk. I think I know what else Lana didn't have time to share with Chloe, but since so many other readers don't seem to have a clue, I'll keep silent on that point for now.

Great chapter, as always, Card. PPMS!

[that girl]

Ah...deviousness. Clark & Nell are up to something...Lana and Chloe are up to something...terrific. :D

Overall, it was a sweet update and I enjoyed it very much. Loved the Clark/Nell interaction as well as the Lana/Chloe phone call.

Can't wait to find out what Lana's up to and to see what goes down with that lead box.

Update soon! :D

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[clark&lanafan06]

Great Update !!!!!! PPMS !!!!

[maru11]

great update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can´t wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nemu]

That was good! Nice to see the rapprochement between Nell and Clark...

And can I guess that the lengthy conversation is going to be about Monday night and Clark's statement to both Lana and Nell?

PPMS :D

[NYC300Z]

Well we know what Clark and Nell are planning, but I wonder what Lana has up her sleeve and what Chloe's part in all this will be?

PPMS!

[Cardinal]

Given the general run of comments since my last update, I think a small refresher is in order.

1. Clark and Lana discovered from talking to Chloe that he could likely be shielded from the effects of meteor rocks by lead.

2. They realized that with Lana's necklace currently being stored in Lana's bedroom, they'd need to either move it or shield it so Clark could, wink-wink, go into Lana's bedroom. So, Lana,

3. Asked Chloe if she could get another lead box just like the one Chloe already had.

That phone call was just to thank Chloe for getting the box to her in time. Lana has nothing up her sleeve but a slender arm.

[treker]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Given the general run of comments since my

That phone call was just to thank Chloe for getting the box to her in time. Lana has nothing up her sleeve but a slender arm.


a very sexy slender arm

[clana1fan4ever]

update soon!!!

[maitriniazngurl]

Awesome update!!

Clark and Lana's talk was really nice... I can't help feel like their plans...are somewho going to become more involved all of them.

I can't believe I didn't see the update... anyways.. awesome job! And please update soon. :D

[kewl]

it was.... wonderful!
great job card! glad that nell & clark are finally in good terms.ppms.

[maru11]

yeaah!!!
can´t wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

ppms!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

update soon just read entire story for the third time...awesome!

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by *#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*
update soon just read entire story for the third time...awesome!
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: ^^^
Post more soon, Cardinal. The Natives are getting restless. :D
:lol:

*off to read missed updates*

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

yea we are gettin restless....!

[maru11]

update soon!!!!!!!

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[maru11]

update soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MOOman0618]

Man...sorry for my lack of comments. I just caught up with 3 or 4 of your most recent updates. Great to see that Clark and Nell are able to get along so well now. Plotting against a common loved one always brings people together. :D

I can't believe Clark is actually admitting to thinking about marriage already. That is one brave soul.

Can't wait for more! POST MORE SOON :)

[maru11]

update please!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

This story is next, sometime Saturday.

[SVsleuth]

:)

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

UPDATE SOON!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 87 - This Time

After the Bears finished defeating the Lions, Clark and Lana made their excuses and headed for home, but not before both of them were laden down with plastic-wrapped paper plates of turkey and all the trimmings. Clark made sure he got two more pieces of the pie.

With the plates carefully placed on the floor of Lana’s SUV so they wouldn’t spill, Lana pulled away from her aunt’s house. Both Lana and Clark were happy to have made it through their first major holiday together as a couple.

Lana shot Clark a speculative look while they were at a stop sign and asked, “What happened with Nell on that walk you two took? She seemed to be content with you and me before you two left, but when you came back, you were smiling at each other like you two shared a secret.”

“Well…we do.” Before she could ask what it was, Clark added, “And no, I can’t tell you about it. This secret is to be kept from you…for a while at least.”

Lana’s lower lip was pushed out and she pouted for all she was worth in an attempt at wheedling this new secret out of her man. Clark was vastly amused by her performance, but remained unmoved. “You’re incredibly adorable when you do that, Dearest, but you won’t learn the secret until it’s the right time.”

Lana playfully stuck her tongue out and said, “Okay, just be that way, see if I care.”

Clark then went on to tell her the parts of the conversation with Nell that were safe to talk about. “Basically, she told me what her expectations were for the way I deal with you. In return, I let her know that I was extremely serious about our relationship.”

“I bet she liked hearing that.”

Clark smiled and said, “She asked me about a proposal.”

Not sure what answer she wanted to hear right now, even though she knew she wanted to marry him, she said, “Oh no. What did you say?”

“I told her that I was only doing marriage once in my life, so I wanted both of us to be as sure about us as a couple, when our initial white-hot passion cools down a bit, as we are right now.”

“That’s forward thinking, Clark, and it sounds like a good idea. I’m only getting married once myself, and while I intend for it to be you…sometimes things happen.”

Hearing Lana say ‘sometimes things happen’ made Clark feel like someone was walking on his grave, and he instantly regretted having brought up the fact that Nell asked about a proposal. Just thinking about breaking up with Lana gave him a case of the chills and he reflexively reached out for her hand before remembering she was driving. Just as he began to pull his hand back, Lana’s hand crept into his. When he looked over at her, she chanced a look at him and her face looked the way he felt inside…scared.

Trying to hide his own discomfort, Clark tried to soothe Lana, saying, “That’s not going to happen to us, Lana. I believe in us as much as you do.”

“Yeah, we'll be together for a long time. I don’t doubt that in the least, but talking about the possibility kind of creeped me out.” Lana paused and then added, “I don‘t know about you, but that made me think back to the evil stunt Candy Morgan pulled on us and how close we came to losing everything before we even got started.”

That had been what Clark had been thinking about also. He firmly squeezed Lana’s hand and said, “But we have your persistence to thank for saving us. I don’t know what I would be like right now without you, but I’m so much better with you than I am alone.”

The warmth and obvious sincerity of that statement gave Lana a warm feeling that completely replaced the cold knot that had formed in her stomach. Delighted, she kept her hand in Clark’s until she needed it once more for driving. As she finally pulled her hand back, Clark asked, “Why is your aunt still a Potter? Didn’t she want to take Dean’s name when they married?”

“Oh, yeah, she did, but keeping Potter was a business decision. She’s got a good credit history and a bunch of business relationships that all are tied to the name Potter. So she kept that name legally, but any time they are introduced as a couple, Nell makes sure it’s done as ‘Mr. and Mrs.’”

Damn, Clark thought, I hope she wasn’t irritated at me for calling her Ms. Potter. Of course, she didn’t sound mad, so maybe she didn’t mind.

“Speaking of Mr. and Mrs.,” Clark said, “do you ever wonder what our lives would have been like if my dad had married your aunt?”

“Not really.” But Clark’s question got Lana to think about it, and she came to some startling conclusions. “Umm…you mean that we might have grown up as step-brother and step-sister?”

“Yeah, that’s what I was getting at. Instead of meeting you when I was twenty, I would have met you when I was three.” Clark shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know if Nell would have wanted to adopt an alien child at the same time that she was adopting her niece, so we might not have grown up together. But the chance that we might have is mind-boggling for me to consider.”

“Having a brother to grow up with would have been nice…but being attracted to my brother would have been weird, even if we didn’t share any blood.”

“You seem to be awfully sure you would have fallen for me.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind. You and I are meant for each other, no matter where or how we would finally meet.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Then, Clark studied Lana’s face in profile as she drove, trying to imagine what she had looked like as a three-year-old. He wondered, at what age would she have quit being a sometimes fun, sometimes horrible girl, and, like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, have become a mysterious and beautiful creature for which he would have had strange and wonderful feelings.

“I can’t really imagine what it would have been like,” he said finally, “but I’m thrilled with what we have right now.”

“Me too.”

When Lana finally pulled up in front of Clark’s townhouse, they kissed goodnight. Finally breaking their kiss, Clark stayed only inches from her face and said softly, “I wish there could be more, but I need some sleep before that 6 a.m. wakeup tomorrow.”

“I’d like nothing more than to wake up in your arms tomorrow, but I think you’re right, I’d keep you up far too long tonight and even Kryptonians need their sleep before the big game.”

When Clark stepped out of the SUV, he stuck his head in through the open passenger side window and said, “I love you, Lana.”

“I love you too, Clark.”

Both of them kissed the fingertips of one hand and then reached out with that hand to press their kissed fingertips together. Before Clark could disappear, Lana asked, “What time does the team bus leave tomorrow?”

“Eight o’clock sharp.”

“Good, I’ll come by and see you off.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Clark said. “See you at eight.”

Six o’clock in the morning always seems to come too early, no matter who you are or how often you get up at that time. This is doubly true for college students who are known to cherish sleeping in late. While the rest of the Metropolis University community was enjoying their holiday on the day after Thanksgiving, Clark and his teammates were climbing out of bed. They were scheduled to meet at seven o’clock to walk over to the cafeteria as a team for breakfast before boarding their buses for the two-hour trip to Manhattan, Kansas, and the game with their archrivals, the Kansas State Wildcats.

First thing, Clark called Jabari White to make sure he was up and getting ready. The freshman had not been late for a team breakfast since that first game, and Clark intended to keep it that way. Then he showered, thankful that using his super-speed to get dressed allowed him to luxuriate in an extra-long shower.

Like the other team captains, Clark was at the team’s practice facility early, though he was the only one carrying a suitcase and a garment bag, since he was going to New York for the Heisman presentation show immediately after the game. He took some good-natured ribbing about ‘going Hollywood’ from the other players.

By N.C.A.A. rules, only sixty players were allowed to go to the road game, out of a total of eighty-five scholarship players. So the captains kept a count, and once all sixty were there, the they led them on the traditional walk to the Student Union cafeteria. Not wanting to risk Clark straining his arm before the game, one of the second-string players took Clark’s luggage away from him at the behest of one of the other team captains. The players loaded up at breakfast since the actual game time was nine hours away.

Once breakfast was over, the team returned to its practice facility where two tour buses were waiting to carry the Met U Bulldogs to the game. Clark climbed on the bus to stake claim to a seat in the middle of the bus where he would be able to keep an eye on his teammates and then he got back off to help make sure everyone got onboard while the coaches looked on.

Clark was back on the bus and halfway to his seat, when he saw Lana come around the corner of a building with another piece of poster board in her hands. She was wearing her favorite red and sky blue Met U sweatshirt and a pair of form-fitting blue jeans. He stopped in the middle of the aisle and watched as she held the sign up. It had three lines and read, “I love you, Clark. Go Met U. Beat K-State.” In each corner she had written “12-0” which would be the team’s record if they won today.

The last time she had seen him off had been before the Texas game. It had been while they were split up, and she had been in the middle of her campaign to get him back. At that time, it had taken all of Clark’s considerable willpower to keep from running outside and surrendering to her.

This time, with nothing holding him back, Clark made his way back down the aisle and outside the bus. Lana barely had time to drop her sign before Clark was lifting her off of her feet and giving her a thorough kissing. In between kisses, Clark managed to say, “I love you too, Lana.” By the time Clark regretfully broke their kiss and made his way back onto the bus, Lana was starry-eyed. The only thing she could think was, Wow! I’ve gotta do this more often.

Lana was just picking up her dropped sign when Clark made it to his seat. His teammates had been razzing him since the moment he stepped back on the bus for spending time with ‘the little woman,’

One of the offensive linemen said, “The offense is going to have a good day today. Kent has already scored and the bus hasn’t left the parking lot yet.”

Then, the backup quarterback said, facetiously, “Are you sure you want to leave a beauty like that, Kent? I mean, I can play if you want to stay.”

Clark smiled and took the good-natured teasing in stride. All that mattered to him at that moment was that Lana knew she was loved and appreciated. His seat was by a window, and when he sat down, he plastered his face to the lightly tinted glass, keeping his eyes on Lana as long as possible.

She could see him, and she gave him small wave as the bus began to move, and then she began to crack up because every guy with a window seat on that side of the bus was making goofy faces and blowing extravagant kisses at her. Other players were loudly telling her, though she couldn’t hear a word, just how much her Clarky-Warky loved her.

Clark was red-faced with a mixture of laughter and embarrassment after that performance until one careless idiot said, “Is that the little honey you've been shacking up with, Kent? I'd sure like a little of that honey myself!”

Clark’s eyes immediately sought out the offending big mouth and gave him a look of cold, implacable anger that promised swift retribution for his mistake. Clark did not have to say a word, the guy just wilted in place while babbling a hasty apology.

When the bus finally pulled into the parking lot at K-State’s football field, purple and silver were everywhere among the tailgaters with just a few clumps of red and blue sprinkled here and there.

As the team filed off of their buses, Clark took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air and thought, Three games left in my college career. Today, the conference championship game, and a bowl game. Time to make every second count.

[SVsleuth]

:) Clark and Lana are so in love. Have normal doubts about the possibility of things not working out, but are easily reassured that they probably do have the determination it takes to make a lifelong committment succeed.

I love how Clark unabashedly gives Lana a thorough kissing, paying no mind to anyone else. The good natured ribbing was fun, and the one jerk is put in his place quickly by a steely look from Clark. I'm sure they all understand now that Clark will not tolerate any disrespect toward Lana.

I hope they win the game. PPMS!

[Nemu]

2nd

As good as ever!!!!

They are soo cute together!!!

Well they are on the same page thats a good thing...

But life is life and anything can happen so yeah...

The image of the idiot in the bus was funny...

PPMS :D

[superman_lives_on]

No disrespect towards Lana--not when Clark's around! :D All it took to shut the idiot up was a look...heh. Nice. :D

And Clark and Lana themselves...well, what can I say? Amazing...absolutely amazing. :)

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

THAT WAS FREAKIN' AWESOME!!

[LetMeGo]

Aww... that was sweet! They are so happy and honest with each other.

While I understand the wisdom in taking one's time in choosing a mate, I hope we don't have too much longer to wait for a proposal. Life is short... things happen... you gotta take advantage of the time given to you. And besides... can their 'initial white-hot passion' ever cool down? This is Clark and Lana we're talking about! ;)

But I'll trust you on wherever you want to go with this story... you're an amazing writer! :D

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

ppmasap

[maru11]

awesome update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

ppmasap ppmasap ppmasap ppmasap

[Cardinal]

Sorry, Boys and Girls. I screwed up.

If you've already read the preceding update, Chapter 87 - This Time, then you need to reread it. I accidentally left out some dialogue from Clark and Lana's drive home. :(

It has now been added back in...think of this as the "Director's Cut Special Edition" of Chapter 87. :p

[treker]

that was a nice addition card.....I love everything about this fic and the way it's progressing....you should pass AJ for the most views and posts soon.

Then you'll be king.....

[Cardinal]

The only way I can do that is by sheer volume of updates.

If I EVER start think I'm as good as aj, then you know I'm delusional. :\

[treker]

Originally posted by Cardinal
The only way I can do that is by sheer volume of updates.

If I EVER start think I'm as good as aj, then you know I'm delusional. :\


You're a close 2nd there buddy....a very close second.

[clark&lanafan06]

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[happycamper]

I thoroughly enjoyed the director's cut...I only wish I knew what it was I didn't miss... :)

Glad the confrontations with both families are over. It is something that can never turn out real good or finished fast enough. Although I do admit I miss Kathy - are we going to see her again?

Big game, but if it's only a two-hour drive away, why aren't the Kents and Lana attending, anyway?


:D :D

[SVsleuth]

That was a great addition, Card, about Clark & Lana maybe having had a chance to be siblings. I'm glad things turned out THIS way instead, so they can be much more than siblings. :)

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by happycamper
Although I do admit I miss Kathy - are we going to see her again?

Yes. Special K has more appearances to make. ;)


Originally posted by happycamper
Big game, but if it's only a two-hour drive away, why aren't the Kents and Lana attending, anyway?

They will be. I thought I had mentioned it in passing in a previous chapter, but if I didn't, then just know that the three Kents and Lana will be there. They just won't leave Metropolis until 10 or 11 a.m.

[kewl]

awesome update card! clark and lana are just so super cute!!!
need more, ppms!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

yes supercute!

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[NYC300Z]

yes the end memories it's nice to remember to try and relish it at the end! Nice that Clark got a second chance with Lana and the bus!;) So much stuff for them still to do can't wait to see both their secrets unfold!;)

PPMS!

[smallvillewolf17]

You know Cardinal, your fic is really great.

It is the best fic I have ever read.

Keep at it. PPMS!

[maru11]

can´t wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!

[maitriniazngurl]

Awesome update!! I loved it!! It's truly sweet!!

update when u can. :D

[maru11]

hope u can update again!!!!
soon!!!!

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[maru11]

upate please!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 88 - Gabfest

Lana hurried home after seeing Clark off, grabbed her cell phone before jumping on her bed and calling Chloe. Lana had a little less than three hours before the Kents came by to pick her up for the trip to Manhattan, Kansas, a town affectionately known as the ‘Little Apple.’

Their seats were in a small section tucked away in one corner that were especially set aside for the visiting team’s fans. She was being picked up at 11 in the morning because Mr. Kent wanted to get to the game early so they could do some tailgating.

While Lana heard the phone ringing on her end as she waited for Chloe to answer, on her end Chloe heard a special ring tone that let her know Lana was calling. As their own private joke that referred to Lana’s ‘pink phase,’ the ring tone was “If You Leave” by Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark and it was the most famous song from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack. Lana had just about died when Chloe had told her about the ring tone, but Lana had to admit it was funny. Besides, Lana had thought later, I always liked that movie anyway.

Chloe groggily wondered who the heck was calling her this early on a Friday until she recognized the ring tone and realized it was Lana. Knowing it was Lana made her remember that Lana had something ‘extra important’ to discuss. In her haste to pick up the call, Chloe knocked her cell phone off of her bedside table, sending it flying across the room until it clattered against the wall and fell to the floor. She almost literally dove off of her bed as she tried to get the call before Lana hung up.

Chloe breathily said, “Hello? Lana?” as she finally picked up the call.

Laughing to herself, Lana said, “Relax, Chloe.”

Wiping a few perspiration-dampened strands of blonde hair from her face, Chloe asked, “Well, what’s so important that I had to get up this early? Aren’t you and the Kents going to the game today?”

“I know it’s Friday already, but this week has been hectic, and I still want to give you a rundown of how our big date went last Sunday…it was action-packed.”

“Action-packed, eh? I thought you said you didn’t ‘get any’ until Monday night.”

Lana rolled her eyes at that one and said, “Not that kind of action, Dummy!”

Lana then proceeded to tell Chloe everything in as much detail as she could remember, from the time she picked Clark up to the time they returned home. Chloe chuckled at the racy flirting they had engaged in outside The Beanery, was amazed when she learned about Clark’s telescopic vision, and swooned to hear about him brushing Lana’s hair before lunch.

“I can’t believe Clark was that romantic. How completely sweet of him,” Chloe said. “You must have been in heaven, Lana.”

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” Lana replied smugly.

The scary double rescue after Lana’s horse bolted made Chloe gasp and then earned Lana Chloe’s praise for her quick thinking. The next big thing was the Karaoke singing. Chloe loved the way Lana suckered Clark into singing for her.

“Two-for-one is almost always a good trade,” Chloe said approvingly.

“Try three for one. After he sang me ‘She’s More,’ which just about floored me, we climbed into my SUV, and I was driving toward a frozen custard stand when he sang ‘Iris’ just for me, without any musical backup. Then I was in heaven. I changed direction that very instant and got us to my place, pronto!”

“Couldn’t wait to get your hot little hands on him, huh?”

Grinning wildly, even though Chloe couldn‘t see her, Lana said, “Nope.”

After that, Lana covered the fire and what had happened there. Chloe knew the details of the fire itself already, including the fact that it had been started accidentally by a cigarette on the living room couch, so the only real news for her was how Lana reacted to seeing Clark dive into the fire, and how Clark actually put out the fire.

“…I got dressed in time to see him come out of the burning apartment holding little Bianca in his arms. The small crowd went wild cheering for him, including me, but when he dove back into the burning building, I got scared, Chloe. I know that Clark is indestructible, and it was my idea in the first place, but I couldn’t help it. I got all tense and held my breath. I think I was just about to cry when he finally popped back out. After that, I vented by screaming and yelling like a mad woman. No one cheered as loudly as I did. I was so proud of him and yet so relieved.”

“How’d he handle the fire?”

“Well, Clark’s indestructibility extends to being fireproof, so he used his arms in super-speed mode to swat out the fire. And when he came out, I took him away, pretending to be going to the hospital so he could avoid the media. Unfortunately, someone must have seen us come home, or might have recognized me, since that’s my apartment complex.”

“Pretty impressive for Clark,” Chloe said. “And pretty impressive that you were able to make yourself watch him do it.”

Deciding it was time to let Chloe in on something, Lana said, “Well…I have to get used to it, because Clark is going to be doing stuff like that on a more or less regular basis in the near future.”

Curious, Chloe asked, “What do you mean?”

“You know how Clark has always liked Spiderman comics?”

“Yeah, he has stacks of them in his parents’ attic.”

“Well, I suggested to Clark that he could become a superhero just like Peter Parker…and he liked the idea, so we’re putting together a costume and a way for him to disguise his identity since his face is already well-known in Metropolis.”

Chloe was stunned and mad and impressed all at the same time. She had been after Clark for some time to try something like this. Though she had to admit to herself that the disguise was an angle she hadn’t ever thought of. Once she got past her own concerns, Chloe was excited about the idea of SuperClark.

“Have you two come up with a name yet?”

Confused, Lana asked, “A name for what?”

“Duh! Every superhero has to have a catchy name. That nighttime vigilante in Gotham City is on everybody’s lips, at least in part, because he has a great name…Batman.”

“No. No name yet. Clark’s still waiting for some costume pieces to be delivered by mail.” Looking at the calendar, Lana said, “They should be here any day now.”

“What a great story a new superhero will make.”

“Umm…Chloe? You do know you won’t be able to cover Clark any closer than any other writer. Don’t you?”

Chloe had visions of Pulitzers dancing in her head, but Lana’s comment brought her crashing to the ground. “What do you mean?”

“Anyone that covers Clark’s alter ego will, themselves be subject to some scrutiny. Dangerous people will want to know who Clark really is, so they might try to find out if the people he is giving scoops to are in any way involved in his life. It would be too dangerous for you and, eventually for anyone else in Clark’s life, for you to be the one. You’re too close to him.”

“Crap! The story of the century, I have advance knowledge of it, and I can’t cover it…but you’re right. Everyone he knows well has to maintain their distance from his alter ego.” Chloe thought about Lana and her connection to Clark. “Remember that when the time comes, Lana. You can‘t have anything to do with Clark when he’s in superhero mode either.”

After that, Chloe headed to the kitchen with her cell phone and made herself a pot of coffee, while she listened as Lana recounted as much of their glorious night together as she felt comfortable with. Chloe was thrilled for both of her friends, and slightly jealous as her first time had been nothing like that. That’s what happens when your first time is at fourteen years old, but Lana had made her night with Clark sound like something straight out of a Lifetime Channel movie.

Before they passed on to the events at both families’ houses over the past two days, Lana wanted to pass along some information and ask a favor. She let Chloe know about her cousin Lois hitting on Clark. Chloe wasn’t too surprised, knowing Lois’ preferences in men, but when she heard that Lois had tried to move in on Clark even after being informed he was taken, Chloe agreed to help out if Lois ever tried to move in on Clark again.

Finally, Lana moved on to the back-to-back days spent with Clark’s family and then with her family. Jonathan’s hot-headed reaction to the superhero idea didn’t surprise Chloe very much, as she had done a few things in her life that had earned her a tirade or two, but his sincere apology the next day was even less of a surprise.

As for Nell finally going over the edge, that was less of a surprise to Chloe than when Lana reported that by the end of the visit, Clark and Nell were smiling and appeared to have something secret going on between them.

“I’m telling you, Lana,” Chloe said, “it’s the Kent charm. That stuff is so lethal to most women’s thought processes, that all Kent males ought to come with a warning label.”

“Normally, I’d agree with you about the Kent charm, but this time, it was Dean that soothed the savage beast. He took Nell back to their bedroom after her explosion, and when they came out, she was a different person.”

Chloe winked and asked, “A little bedroom diplomacy, huh?”

“Jeez, Chloe,” Lana said as she rolled her eyes, “not everything that happens in a bedroom between a man and woman is sex-related.”

“Well, nooooo, but good sex sure can put someone in a much better mood.”

Remembering Monday night, Lana could only agree, as the stupid smile on her face attested. Lana had carefully saved her best news for last, and the stupid smile on her face swept directly into a radiant smile as she explained about her conversation with Clark in Nell’s kitchen. She could barely contain herself as she said, “Clark was confused about Nell, because he had tried really hard to get her to like him right from the start. He wondered how he could convince her of his intentions.”

“And his intentions are…?” Chloe asked interestedly.

“Exactly my question. I swear I wasn’t trying to trap him or anything, but he said, and I quote, ‘My intentions are…are nothing short of marriage.’” Chloe let out a squeal as her feet kicked at her blankets in excitement. “Marriage, Chloe, he said it!!!! Clark plans to marry me!!!!”

“I’m so happy for you two, Lana,” Chloe said with a warmth that was obvious even over a cell phone connection. “You two are so perfect together, and you both deserve to finally be happy.”

“Thanks, Chloe. And to think, we never would have met without you. So thanks again for introducing me to the man I love.”

“Well, I guess I can take some small amount of credit for this…but now I’m wondering, do you know how amazing it is to me that Clark is even talking about marrying you?” Chloe looked at the date as displayed on her bedside alarm clock radio and added, “This is only a few days past the one year anniversary of the day he asked Lori to marry him.”

“Really? I knew the day was somewhere around this time of year, but I wasn’t sure of the specifics.”

“One small piece of advice from me to you, Lana. Don’t get impatient while waiting for Clark to actually propose. Knowing the BDA like I do, I expect he’ll be a little bit gun-shy when it comes to doing that again. After all, he was sure about Lori when he proposed to her, and she shot him down.”

“I wish I could meet this Lori just once so I could kick her in the ass for hurting Clark like that, and then kiss her for letting him go so I could have him.” Frowning, Lana said, “But you are, of course, correct. Clark was hurt as badly as he’s ever been hurt by that experience, an experience he’s not likely too keen on repeating.

“I guess I can best support Clark by taking every reasonable opportunity to tell him that I want to marry him just as much as he wants to marry me.”

[SVsleuth]

:) Yes, Lana, do make sure Clark knows you plan to marry him. :)

The Pretty in Pink ringtoe was funny! LOL

It's always good to see the genuine friendship between Lana and Chloe in this fic. That wasn't done enough on the show.

Nice to be reminded about all the events of the preceding week as well, and to know more of Lana's reactions - like hoe scared she was when Clark went into the burning building....

PPMS!.

[happycamper]

:)2

Well you two certainly make it hard to be first! :p

I like Chloe in this story, and it's so nice she and Lana are such good friends.

Everything is near perfect. The only thing we're waiting for is the costume and the official arrival of Superman. The problem here is that a Heisman candidate (and I assume winner!) is going to have a terrible time trying to become a meek and mild-mannered reporter. I know you talked about a mask, but somehow that just doesn't seem like Superman.


:D :D


PS - You know, in an MS-Word file I'm keeping (all the better for re-reading the parts I've forgotten), this story is now up to 256 pages (1" margins, Times New Roman 10, two columns). This has become a real novel... ;) :lol:

[NYC300Z]

Lana seems def. seems to be in heaven! I wonder how Clark will act to her plan should be positive lol Next the game right?

PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

No, hc, a mask doesn't fit Superman at all. He's one of the few superheroes who actually shows his face while he's wearing his suit! That's just one of the many reasons I admire him--his openness. :)

Hmm... I'm thinking that Jor-El will find a way to save Clark the trouble of wearing a mask... THEN he can really go out and be the Man of Steel! :D

Oh yes... I just LOVE the friendship between Chloe and Lana in this story. These two are like sisters--seriously! :D

Oh yeah, one last thing--it's Spider-Man, not Spiderman. :lol: I'm sorry, but I really don't know why so many people spell it the wrong way.

[kewl]

awesome update! ppms!

[tygershot]

Great update Card! I wouldn't expect anything less!

[Nemu]

That was good!!!! Sorry I didn't post feedback when I read... lol

Well... now... Lana sure had a lot to talk about...

next chapter is the game and the trophy event?

PPMS Card!!!! :D

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

yea no mask!

[clark&lanafan06]

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[maru11]

awesome udpate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 89 - Rivalry

Lana and Chloe continued gabbing until the Kents called Lana to tell her they were only a few minutes away from her place. Lana hurriedly made her excuses to Chloe, grabbed a winter coat and gloves just in case the late afternoon/early evening game got cold, and headed out to meet the Kents. My future in-laws, Lana thought.

Clark and his teammates had spent a good hour on the field, going through what the coaches called ‘walk-throughs.’ The walk-throughs mostly consisted of lining up in various formations, both offensive and defensive, that had been picked for use in this game and going through the list of audible options for each one, which depended on the choices made by the opposition.

The real purpose for these elementary exercises was to loosen up the player’s bodies after the two hour bus ride and also to get them focused on the task at hand, namely, beating the Kansas State Wildcats.

Once the coaches were satisfied, the team piled back on their buses to drive to a restaurant for a pre-arranged team meal. The coaches wanted them to be done eating at least three hours before the 4 p.m. game time, so the meal started by 11:30 a.m. and was done by 12:30 p.m.

The team was back at the stadium by 1 p.m. to begin their pre-game rituals. As the buses pulled into the parking lot and drove up to the entrance to the visitors’ locker room, they were greeted by a small but vocal contingent of Met U fans. Clark’s family was easy for him to pick out since Kathy was wearing her sky blue Met U jersey and was sitting on Jonathan’s shoulders with Lana and Martha standing nearby wearing Met U sweatshirts. When Clark stepped off the bus, Kathy let loose with an ear-piercing whistle just in case he hadn’t seen them.

Clark waved at Kathy, chuckling all the while. Before he walked out of sight, he locked eyes with Lana and winked at her. She responded by blowing a kiss to him which he caught and held close to his heart, something that was becoming a bit of a tradition for the two of them on game days.

The Kent family returned to the distant parking lot where Martha’s SUV was parked so they could tailgate, while Clark joined his teammates in getting taped up and dressed before pre-game warm-ups. After warm-ups, the Bulldogs went through offensive and defensive team meetings before the 4 p.m. kickoff of the nationally televised game. Texas A&M had just defeated Texas in their hotly contested rivalry. The Texas loss put Arkansas into the Big 14 conference title game next week in Kansas City against Met U. But Clark and his teammates had a game to win this week first.

Once game time rolled around, the ABC camera crews were in place and the open-air stadium was full. Looking out over the crowd as he waited with his teammates on the sidelines before the opening coin toss, Clark latched on to the people in a far corner where 1,000 seats had been saved for Met U fans. He thought their little knot of sky blue and red looked like a lonely island amidst a storm-tossed sea of purple and silver.

Things went wrong right from the beginning. The wind on the Great Plains in late November can be remarkably fierce, and today was no exception. That would make it hard on the passing game and allow both defenses to load up to stop the run. In anticipation of a potential ‘Kansas hurricane,’ the Met U coaching staff had put a lot of power running sets into the offensive game plan, but K-State had their own game plans…and the folks in purple and silver were having their way in the first quarter.

In a game where turnovers and field position were going to be of paramount importance, both went against the Bulldogs early. The opening kickoff was returned 68 yards by K-State which put them in business on the Met U 27-yard-line. Five plays later, Charlie Thomas, the K-State tailback, bowled over from the one yard line for a touchdown. After a successful extra-point kick, the Wildcats were up 7-0.

The next play was the kickoff and the Met U return man fumbled the ball and K-State recovered on the Met U 12-yard-line. Four plays later and the Bulldogs were behind 14-0 before their vaunted offense had even gotten on the field. The pro-Wildcat crowd was eating this up. They would love nothing better than to ruin the perfect season of their archrivals from the big city.

Meanwhile, the few Met U backers in attendance were sitting in stunned silence, including the normally voluble Kathy Kent. The only words she wanted to say right now would get her mouth washed out with soap, so she sat quietly like the everyone else from Met U. Martha and Lana wore near-identical expressions of dismay, and Jonathan looked like a volcano just about to erupt.

When Clark trotted onto the field and joined his offense in the huddle for the first time, he looked at each man, his face just exuding confidence, and said, “Now it’s our turn.”

Even without his super-strength, Clark possessed a very powerful throwing arm. That helped him have some success throwing the ball, especially when coupled with his deft play-action fakes. Still, sustaining a long drive was tough for either side and the Bulldogs went into halftime down 17-10. Jonathan went to the concession stand a minute before halftime to beat the rush and came back with four Styrofoam cups of hot chocolate to help keep everyone warm.

In the second half, under worsening weather conditions, the two teams traded touchdowns leaving the Bulldogs down 24-17 with two minutes and seven seconds to play and the ball at their own 23 yard line.

It was late enough that the Met U supporters were truly beginning to worry. Kathy was biting her nails and had been for some time, Martha was so nervous that she was having a hard time watching, Lana was sitting on the end of her seat, intently watching each play, and Jonathan’s conversational skills had devolved into grunts and single-syllable words as he focused on the game.

On first down, Clark completed a square out for a 15-yard gain and another first down. The next play, they faked a pass and ran a draw play up the middle for a seven yard gain. Met U was near midfield and the Bulldog fans were starting to hope.

On second down and three from the Met U 45-yard-line, the Met U coaches dug deep into their bag of tricks. The play was: Ace Twins Right, 48 Stretch, Throwback. It was a play designed to look like a power running play to the right side in an attempt to pick up the first down and stop the clock. On a normal running play, Clark’s job as quarterback was to hand off the ball and then stay out of the way to keep from getting hurt. This wasn’t a normal play though. Once Clark handed off the ball, he acted like he was out of the play for a second and then started running down the left sideline like a madman. The ball carrier stopped once he got way over to the right side, turned, and threw the ball as far down field to the left as he could.

Lana was the first one to notice that something strange was going on because she always watched Clark a little bit longer during every play than anyone else did, even on running plays where he didn’t have the ball. When she saw him running down the sideline in a full sprint, she rose up out of her seat and started screaming. The rest of the Met U fans caught on a second later when the ball carrier threw the pass and they leapt to their feet and joined in.

The pass was terrible, but the defense had been fooled by the fake run to the right, and no one was near Clark as he adjusted his path to catch the ball and race for the end zone.

The K-State fans, who only moments before had been cheering their team on, were now howling in disbelief as Clark sprinted past them. Lana and Kathy each had an arm wrapped around the other. They were jumping up and down like Red Bull addicts on pogo sticks and they were screaming as if their lives depended on Clark reaching the end zone on this play. Martha still couldn’t watch, and had buried her face in Jonathan’s shirt. He reflexively wrapped an arm around her shoulders, while pumping his other fist and muttering “Run, Clark, run” under his breath.

The only guys with a chance to catch Clark were the two defensive safeties. They had the angle on him…but not the speed. Clark avoided their outstretched arms at the five yard line and dove into the end zone for a touchdown with a minute and fifteen seconds left in the game to make the score 24-23 K-State.

The small island of Met U supporters exploded. Martha was so excited that she started crying with the release of tension. Jonathan’s face shone with pride as a tear of his own trickled down his weather-beaten face. Lana and Kathy turned to each other and wrapped both arms around each other as they continued to jump around and yell like banshees.

Everyone in the stadium from the TV announcers to the fans expected the Bulldogs to kick the one-point conversion to tie the game and send it into overtime, but the coaches believed in their offense and decided to go for the two-point conversion to take the lead right here. They called for a timeout and Clark trotted over to the sideline to discuss the play with the head coach.

Jonathan swore under his breath. “What is that coach doing?” he wondered aloud. Martha pointed toward Kathy and swatted her husband on the arm for his verbal indiscretion. Jonathan managed to look chagrined, but said nothing in the way of an apology. Kathy was one-hundred percent with her dad on this one. She was normally aggressive-minded where football was concerned, but even she thought they should kick and go to overtime. Only Lana thought this was a good idea.

When she said so, Jonathan and Kathy looked at her like she was crazy. Martha didn’t know too much about football strategy, so she just listened in politely as Lana explained.

“The coach doesn’t want to risk overtime on the road in this crummy weather. Too many weird things can happen. Instead, he’s putting his trust in the offense. More specifically, he’s trusting Clark to win the game right here. He knows he’s got the best player in the country playing quarterback. Why not let him decide the game?”

Kathy and Jonathan looked at each other and shrugged. Put that way, going for two didn’t sound so bad after all. Martha just smiled. She liked how completely Lana believed in Clark, even if it was just a football game.

“Besides,” Lana added, “with that wind getting stronger by the minute, Coach might not want to risk the whole season on a kick.”

The coaches sent in the players necessary to run the Jumbo Heavy formation: three tight ends, a fullback, and a tailback along with the five interior linemen. All that remained was to choose the play. The head coach leaned in and said, “Okay, Kent. The play is Jumbo Heavy Right, 46 Slam, Bootleg…only, don’t tell the bootleg part to the offense.”

Surprised to the point of shock, Clark asked, “Why? How will they be able to block for me if they don’t know what the play is?”

Calming Clark down, the coach said, “The point is, if your teammates think it’s really a 46 Slam, they will do a better job of selling that idea to the defense. So when you fake the handoff and keep the ball, there shouldn’t be anyone for you to have to run over or around. Get it?”

Seeing what his coach had in mind gave Clark a bit of a crocodile smile. “Jumbo Heavy Right, 46 Slam, Bootleg. But keep the bootleg to myself. Gotcha!”

Clark started back onto the field, but his coach grabbed him for one more thing. “Remember, Kent. Don’t get in a hurry on this play. You have to sell the fake handoff or else this play’s not going anywhere and we lose.”

“Yes, Sir. I understand.”

The coach swatted Clark on the butt with his clipboard and said, “Go win us the game, Kent.”

Clark rejoined his teammates in the huddle. He looked around at the ten guys who had sweated blood with him in two-a-day practices under the merciless August sun. Guys that knew and trusted him. Their undefeated season and national title hopes were on the line, and they were trusting him one more time.

“Okay guys, we worked our butts off in the weight room and in summer conditioning drills for one thing. So that when both teams are tired in the fourth quarter, we’ll be the fresher team. Let’s blow ‘em off the ball and score. The play is Jumbo Heavy Right, 46 Slam. On two.”

As the team trotted up to the line, Clark looked over the defense, making sure they weren’t aligned in a formation that would stop the play. If that happened, Clark would either have to change the play at the line of scrimmage or use Met U’s last timeout to get a new play from the coaches.

Satisfied with what he saw, Clark watched as his own teammates lined up. The five interior linemen, who averaged being 6’ 4” and 315 pounds, were flanked by two tight ends, with the third tight end lining up on the right side as a wingback. Four yards behind Clark was the fullback, a 255-pound mass of ‘mean and muscle,’ or at least that’s what the Met U press guide says. His girlfriend has always said he’s the world’s biggest teddy bear off the field. Two yards behind the fullback was the tailback, Met U’s primary ball carrier.

The play is supposed to look like the tailback is running to the right side behind the eight blockers up front plus the lead block of the fullback. When Clark keeps the ball, he will roll out to the left, and if the fake works, stroll into the end zone untouched.

As Clark stepped behind center, the rest of his teammates took their positions. When he squatted down and placed his hands under the center, his teammates got into their stances. Once again seeing nothing that would cause him to change the play, Clark called out his signals. “Hut one, Hut two.”

The center snapped the ball back through his legs to Clark’s waiting hands on the second ‘hut,’ and ten men surged toward the goal line only three yards away. Clark turned to his right and headed back on an angle with the ball outstretched so the tailback could see it easily for the handoff.

Lana and the Kents all held their breath. All of them were wondering what in the heck was going on. Met U had Clark on their side and it looked like they were just going to use him to hand the ball off on the most important play of the year.

Back on the field, the fullback blew past Clark, intent on creaming the first purple jersey that showed itself in the 6 hole, which was the hole between the right tackle and the tight end. The tailback used perfect form, running his chest into the ball and starting to wrap his hands around it. At that moment, Clark pulled the ball back with an iron grip. The ball was shielded from the defense by his broad back, so they assumed he handed it off, as they were fighting for their lives just to maintain their positions and didn’t have much time to spend on watching the handoff.

The tailback slowed just a fraction as he thought he had somehow missed the handoff, then he caught on to what was going on and accelerated into the line as if he actually had the ball. The two key defenders on this play were the outside linebacker and the cornerback on the right side of the defense. They were lined up across from the left end of the offense. If this play was going to work, they would have to be suckered in by the fake and pursue the tailback.

When Clark made his fake, he held the ball against himself and stood there, facing away from the line of scrimmage for a split-second to give the defense time to commit to the fake. Then he rolled to the left, immediately looking for any defenders that were coming after him instead of following the fake, but nothing was between him and the end zone except for green grass.

Due to their viewing angle, the fans in the Met U section figured out the fake before the K-State defense did and they watched with breathless anticipation as Clark sprinted into the end zone, untouched, for the two-point conversion that put the Bulldogs ahead 25-24 with a minute and fifteen seconds still on the clock.

K-State got the ball back for one last try at the upset, but was unable to move against the fired-up Met U defense. When the clock struck 0:00, the Met U players charged onto the field in celebration, while K-State headed for the locker room in disbelief.

The purple-and-silver clad K-State fans were disconsolate. Their team had led their hated archrivals for virtually the entire game, only to have it snatched away at the end. The small knot of Met U supporters were still celebrating jubilantly long after the K-State fans had headed for the exits.

Clark was quickly corralled by the sideline reporter for ABC to do a quick interview after the game and then he rushed off to celebrate with his teammates. They had done it, a 12-0 regular season record, champions of the North Division of the Big 14 Conference, and unanimously ranked #1 in the country. All that was left was the conference championship game next week in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium against South Division winner Arkansas, and then a bowl game.

Due to the crush of media obligations, it was nearly a full hour after the game before Clark left the locker room to meet his family for a few minutes before leaving for New York with his head coach for the Heisman award show on Sunday afternoon. That will be a pain in the butt, Clark thought, but that’s two days off. Right now, I need to see Lana and my family.

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

great update!

[SVsleuth]

2nd? 5 hours late? Wow!

That was great, Card. It was like I was watching the game myself. I guess all that fantasy football helped, huh? ;)

I always wonder how Clark draws a line between what is "normal" and what is "super-powered"?

I like how Lana has so much confidence in Clark. :)

Now it's time for him to see his family and Lana. PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

Pretty intense game, that! Clark sure showed them how it's done, huh? :)

[Nemu]

Well that sure was good...

Very well described game... Like SV said... you could picture the game...

Time for some family time... and that award...

PPMS

[clark&lanafan06]

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!

[happycamper]

I was here...so how did I miss this update?

Loved the game, and Lana's faith in her man. :)

SVsleuth wondered how Clark can draw a line between what is "normal" and what is "super-powered"? I'm thinking the same thing. What if there was one defender left to hit him on the bootleg, and they were going to hit each other near the goal to see who could drive the other back? How do you possibly separate super human effort from the superhuman?

Fortunately, no such decision was needed. The game was great, and I'm looking forward to the next two...don't you dare end the story before the national championship!! :lol:


:D :D

[superman's my hero]

Awesome update!! PPMS!

[Cardinal]

As far as I'm concerned, Clark has to make a conscious decision to use his abilities. So, unless he decides to use his super-strength or super-speed, he won't. :D

[Nemu]

Originally posted by Cardinal
As far as I'm concerned, Clark has to make a conscious decision to use his abilities. So, unless he decides to use his super-strength or super-speed, he won't. :D

the only exception would be his invulnerability... which is another one that could end up causing troubles in the heat of the moment...

PPMS :D

[maru11]

awesoem update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
can´t wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 90 - New York

For the first time in a long time, Clark was tired after a football game. Not physically, but the mental and emotional strain of the comeback had taken its toll. Combine that with the many interviewers he had had to deal with, each of which wanted a special quote to help put a different slant on his or her story, and Clark was done in. He trudged out of the locker room, waving goodbye to several of his teammates as they boarded the waiting team buses for the trip back to Metropolis.

They envied him because he was going to New York and had an entire Saturday to do whatever he wanted before the Sunday luncheon and afternoon award show. He envied them because he wanted nothing more than to be one of the guys. He just wanted to go home and celebrate the win by spending a quiet night with Lana.

Once Clark stepped out of the roped off area, he spotted Lana and his family. Someday, he thought, Lana will be part of my family. Despite his tiredness, a small smile crawled across his face. In a speed somewhere between a jog and a walk, Lana scurried over to meet him. Clark’s arms opened wide, and he engulfed her in his embrace. Her head nestled in the crook where his neck and shoulder joined and his head leaned against the top of hers. To anyone that saw them, they looked like they belonged together. Several fans that had started to come over and ask for autographs saw them and held back, not wanting to interrupt their personal moment.

“You were wonderful today, Clark,” Lana murmured into his shoulder.

“Thanks, Lana,” Clark replied as he stroked her long, wind-tangled hair, “but we played like crap.”

“Yeah, I know, I was just being nice.” Lana’s forthright statement brought an involuntary chuckle to his lips. “Special teams let you down, but the defense held on just long enough for you guys to come through at the end.”

After a brief pause, Clark said, “You know, Lana? I think I like the truth from you just as much as you like it from me. So many of the people I meet want nothing more than to blow sunshine up my butt 24/7...but you help keep me grounded. For that, along with your many other perfections, I thank you.” He kissed her forehead, which caused her lips to want to get in on the act, too. As she tilted her head upward, Clark willingly obliged her and they kissed warmly.

A careful clearing of the throat from just down the sidewalk brought them back to their senses. Clark could see his family and they were looking at him and Lana with nearly identical grins.

“I guess someone else wants to see me for a bit before I go.” Clark noticed the small crowd of fans waiting patiently for autographs and said, “Let me sign for these people really quickly and then we can go see my folks.”

Clark waded his way through a dozen autographs and requests for three ‘photographs with my kid’ before he was able to rejoin Lana and walk hand-in-hand over to the Kents. For once, Kathy waited her turn as Clark released Lana to hug and kiss his mother. He followed that up with a bear hug with his dad, before turning to his sister who was uncharacteristically silent, and asking, “What’s up Half-Pint? Normally, you’re on me like a cheap suit after a game.” He gave her an obviously fake accusatory glare. “Have you been eyeing my teammates while looking for a boyfriend again?”

“Nooooo,” was all she managed to croak before she leapt forward and began to wrestle with Clark right on the sidewalk. As the siblings wrestled, Lana told Clark that Kathy had lost her voice on the last touchdown drive. In a matter of seconds, Clark had plucked his sister off of his back, and was dangling her upside down by an ankle. She squawked in embarrassment as her sky blue Met U jersey began to fall up her body toward her chest and her hands shot down to her jersey in a desperate attempt at holding it in place. When Clark realized what was happening, he put his other hand on her waist, let go of her ankle, grabbed her waist with both hands and spun her upright to place her on the ground.

As Kathy rearranged her clothes, Clark ruffled her naturally curly dark blonde hair and said, “You have to bring your A-game if you’re going to mess with me.”

“Yeah, well,” she rasped, “my A-game can’t be shown in public, Doofus.”

“Shhh!” he replied. “Take care of that voice. You have two more games of mine to cheer at this year and I’m depending on you to be there in top form.”

It was another half hour before Clark’s head coach came out of the locker room. The Met U Athletic Department had rented a car for the drive from Manhattan, Kansas, to the Metropolis International Airport. Clark’s bags and the coach’s bags were already loaded in the trunk. Clark made his farewells one by one, finishing with Lana.

They stood face to face, her hands held lightly by his. “You know, Clark, this will be the longest we’ve ever had to be apart.”

“Yeah, I know,” he replied. “Two days doesn’t sound like much, but that’s 48 hours…2,880 minutes…172,800 seconds to be without your smile, your touch, and your comforting presence.”

“Yeah.” Then, brightening up, Lana said, “But you can call me on your cell phone and we can talk.”

“For hours. I’ll call you tomorrow night and tell you all about New York…though I’ll be sure to save the museums for when we can go there together.”

Knowing that he was thinking about her and her passion for art made Lana smile. “Have fun, Clark, and bring back that trophy.”

Clark saluted her like a Boy Scout and said, “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Looks like your coach is getting impatient, so you’d better get going.”

“Talk to you tomorrow night.”

“I’ll be waiting.” When Clark finally peeled himself away from Lana and headed to meet his coach, Lana waited until he was next to the coach before saying out loud, “I love you, Clark Kent.”

Clark grinned like a man that had just won the lottery, of course, as far as he was concerned, he had. In the lottery of life, he was the lucky guy that had won Lana’s love. How much good luck can one man have?

After savoring her smile and the sound of her voice as she made her declaration, Clark replied, not caring who heard or what they made of it. “I love you, too, Lana Lang.”

By midnight Central Standard Time, Clark and his coach were ensconced in an expensive downtown hotel only a few blocks away from the Downtown Athletic Club where the Heisman would be given out. The next morning at breakfast, Clark’s coach said, “Clark, I trust you, unlike a number of your teammates, to stay out of trouble. You’ve been with the Met U program for three years and in that time, no one has ever even joked that you’re a troublemaker. So here’s a hundred bucks in meal money. Have fun, see the sights and be back here tonight by 11. I will be performing a bed check tonight, but only because the university requires it. Don’t mess up and make both of us look bad.”

The hotel’s concierge warned him to go to the Statue of Liberty early due to the long lines that formed later in the day. So, first thing, he took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and then the Ellis Island immigration facility. He got some good photos and bought the first round of souvenirs for his family with the money his parents had given him. At Ellis Island, he had a personal chuckle when he realized that he was technically an illegal alien…with a heavy emphasis on the alien part. After all, he thought, I don’t think the U.S. government has an official immigration policy regarding potential immigrants from Krypton.

Once back on Manhattan, Clark visited Ground Zero. He tried to imagine how far into the sky the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers must have reached. He hoped, during his new career as a ‘superhero,’ to help stop things like this from ever happening again.

On his way uptown to do some shopping, Clark stopped in Chinatown for a late lunch of beef and broccoli with steamed rice. After eating, he collected more souvenirs for the family and then dug deep into his own savings account to make two special purchases for Lana, one for now and one for Christmas.

After what seemed to him to be a long afternoon of shopping, Clark headed back to his hotel in the early evening, stopping first in Little Italy for a dinner of veal parmigiana with some tiramisu for dessert. Once in his room, he carefully tucked the gifts away in his suitcase which he then locked.

But then, as he drummed his fingers on the surface of the hard-sided case, Clark decided he couldn’t wait to deliver his gift to Lana. And with the special piece of clothing he had tucked into his suitcase, he wouldn’t have to wait.

Clark threw open his suitcase and pulled out Lana’s gift along with his rolled up blue spandex bodysuit. Relocking his suitcase, he quickly stripped and pulled on the skin tight spandex. Good thing I’m in shape, Clark thought, ‘cause this suit shows everything. Late November days in New York get dark early, so all Clark had to do was turn out his room lights, open a window, and fly out into the night. The only things he carried with him were Lana’s gift and his cell phone.

It took him a bare ten minutes to complete the flight from New York to Kansas. Once in the air over Metropolis, Clark slowed to orient himself and then located Lana’s apartment. The easiest way of doing that was to locate Met U, since Lana only lived one street east of the campus. Once he found her apartment, he flipped open his Motorola Razr and chose Lana’s name from its position on top of his list of phone numbers. He knew she was waiting for him to call, so he was unsurprised when she picked up the phone almost immediately.

“Hi, Clark,” Lana said brightly, “I was just thinking about you.”

“Me too,” Clark replied. Then, realizing that may not have sounded like what he meant, Clark added, “I mean, I’ve been thinking about you.”

Lana giggled and said, “I know what you meant. So, tell me about the Big Apple.”

Circling over her apartment 2,000 feet up in the air, Clark asked, “Are you at home right now?”

“Yeah, I just got back from the library.”

“Library?”

“You remember, the big concrete building with the dangerous front steps?”

Clark rolled his eyes at that. “All I remember is the dangerous woman I was supposed to tutor in Trigonometry that night.”

“Mmm…well studying is what I was doing there tonight. I was working on a project for American History with a guy from my class.”

Clark paused, with his tongue tucked in his cheek, before asking, ever so casually, “A guy?”

Now it was Lana’s turn to roll her eyes.

“You wouldn’t happen to be getting jealous, would you now, Clark?”

“Who me?” Clark asked, in his most innocent voice. When he heard nothing but silence from her end, he added, “Well, maybe a little bit. I’m jealous of anyone who gets to spend time with you.”

Lana thought that was sweet, but she pressed her advantage, asking, “Don’t you trust me, Clark?”

He answered immediately, saying, “Yes. Absolutely. But I don’t trust any guys with you. I mean, a guy would have to be either gay or dead…or maybe even both, before he would be immune to you.”

“Greg’s just a nice guy and my project partner, Clark. He’s not trying to make a move on me.”

Not yet anyway, Clark thought darkly, but I know guys, and I’ll bet ten bucks against a kick in the butt that he does, and does it sometime soon.

“Okay, Lana. If you say it’s so, then I believe you. Just promise me you’ll let me know if he does try something.” So I can arrange for him to spend a couple of weeks in traction at Metropolis General Hospital. “Now, if you would be so kind as to unlock your front door and then return to your seat.”

“Huh?”

“Please? Just humor me.”

Clark activated his x-ray vision and watched as Lana stood up, left the well-padded comfort of her armchair and headed to the door to unlock the deadbolt. He timed his descent so that he opened her front door when she was halfway back to her chair. By the time she reached the chair, he was already sitting in it with a hand behind his back.

“Clark!” Lana squealed with delight. “I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow night at the airport.”

“What can I say? I missed you. 172,800 seconds was far too long for me to wait to see you again…especially when I’m dying to give you this.” Clark pulled his hand from behind his back and held it out toward Lana. In it was a felt-covered jewelry case.

[SVsleuth]

Evil, evil cliffie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fell asleep again, as you know. ;) I'll add more comments soon. - SV