Bless the Broken Road

[Cardinal]

Oh, BTW, those of you posting for 'snuggles' are hereby named 'Snuggle Bears' after Snuggle, the fabric softener bear.

So far, that's aj, Dr. J, and IluvCLANA.

[IluvCLANA]

im a snuggle bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!can the snuggle bears convince you to update tonight?plz?
*re-reads before posting*
darn..... look at my demandor instincts kicking in!!!!

[C.A.chick]

I'm a snuggle bear! GREAT UPDATE! Definately awesome! Card, you're still post-poning the dinner I see.....hmmmm can't wait though!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Wow just read the story, I'm still up at 6:39 am reading. Keep up the good work.PPMS

[Dr. Jeckyll]

It seems like you have dedicated fans, Card :)

And I'm a snugglebear? Hmm, okay, but don't tell any in my company. It’ll kinda ruin my image :lol:

[SVsleuth]

LOL, Dr. J :lol: (we won't tell).

I hope you get to finish the CLANA date this weekend, Card. PPMS!

[NYC300Z]

:lol: Card Clark's making jokes? oh well so far so good! Let's all hope their is a next time!;)

PPMS!

[Cardinal]

Jeez, after 4Ever's stupendous update today, I don't think I have the nerve to finish my update and post it tonight.

Instead, I think I'll just replay her first full-on Clana scene over and over in my head.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: your forgiven Card! I expect to see an update tomorrow though unless of course 4Ever updates again, but what are the chances of that?:lol:

[Cardinal]

About as good as Jonathan Kent's chances of surviving episode #12!

[4EverSmallville]

Originally posted by NYC300Z
:lol: your forgiven Card! I expect to see an update tomorrow though unless of course 4Ever updates again, but what are the chances of that?:lol:

That is so wrong :lol:. I updated today and still can't catch a break :lol:.

And Card you had better update :lol:. Don't use me as an excuse or I will make sure our updates won't coincide :lol:.

[Cardinal]

Okay, 4Ever, just because you posted a huge, Clanalicious update for us, I'll try to update tonight.

Though how I'm supposed to come up with something even half as good as what you wrote is beyond me.

You know, even with the two fabulous updates this week, that still only makes 18 updates in six months (as of this coming Monday). That's only 3 per month. I think we need a few more updates so you can raise that average a bit. :p :p :p :p :p

Anyway, that's all I wanted to say, except that the first two pics of TW in your avatar (after the shirtless Tom frame) make him look gay!

[booze_is_me09]

Great update, Card!! Looking forward to the rest o f the date!!! PPMS!!

[SpecKay11]

happy new year! *blows thingy that shoots out and sprays confetti all over everyone*

.

[4EverSmallville]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Okay, 4Ever, just because you posted a huge, Clanalicious update for us, I'll try to update tonight.

Though how I'm supposed to come up with something even half as good as what you wrote is beyond me.

You know, even with the two fabulous updates this week, that still only makes 18 updates in six months (as of this coming Monday). That's only 3 per month. I think we need a few more updates so you can raise that average a bit. :p :p :p :p :p

Anyway, that's all I wanted to say, except that the first two pics of TW in your avatar (after the shirtless Tom frame) make him look gay!

Thank you.

I'm sure you'll come up with someting :lol:.

Glad you're not reaching for reasons to make me feel bad :lol:. In my defense, my updates are always at least 10K characters or more, with the exception of maybe one :lol:.

Card, green's not an attractive color on you :p.

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
Card, green's not an attractive color on you :p.

I'm wounded m'lady, wounded I say!

That I could ever be infected by the green-eyed monster is...is...umm, oh shoot, never mind! :p

Actually, 4Ever, most of your updates are probably 20K characters in length. Mine are usually 10K-12K long and yours are almost always a lot longer than mine.

[sandy]

Wow! I just read the last 4 updates, and man, all I can say is PPMASAP! I hope the date will be sealed with a kiss!;) :D

[SVsleuth]

Pssst!!! sandy... he's about to update again....

[sandy]

:eek: really? don't kid about serious subjects like this SV!:mad: :D :D

[SVsleuth]

I'm not kidding. For real, he is. It will be VERY soon. :)

[Cardinal]

She's not kidding, Sandy! Oh, BTW, welcome back from wherever you've been.

[sandy]

ahh sweet! can't wait...:)

Yeah, I've been in Florida, away from a computer. :( But it feels awesome spending wintertime in summer weather! anyways, I'm here catchin up, and that update BETTER come soon!:D I'll be here, waiting!

[SVsleuth]

Don't go away then ;)

[Cardinal]

Chapter 26 - Cuisine

Driving down one of the expressways that wind throughout Metropolis, Clark pulled off and drove up an off-ramp. Just off the top of the ramp sat a low, wide building designed in the style of the Imperial palace buildings in Beijing’s Forbidden City. Once inside, Clark told the hostess that they had a table for two under the name Kent.

The hostess checked her seating chart, picked up two menus, and led them to their table. After Clark held Lana’s chair for her, he seated himself and they looked over the menus.

“Have you been here before?” Lana asked.

“A few times,” Clark said, “but it has been a while, since Dad’s stomach doesn’t tolerate spicy food that well and he doesn’t like the bland alternatives here.”

“What’s good?”

“If it’s on the menu here, it’s good. Just remember, when the menu says an item is spicy they are not kidding around.”

After a few minutes spent discussing options, they decided on soup as an appetizer and then planned to order ala carte portions of several different dishes. That way, they can each have a little of everything.

When the waiter came to take their orders, Lana ordered green tea, egg drop soup, and a shrimp egg roll. Clark ordered green tea, hot and sour soup, and some dim sum. Once the appetizers were ordered, Lana ordered Shrimp with Garlic Sauce and Szechuan Chicken while Clark ordered Mongolian Beef and Lobster Lo Mein.

While waiting for the appetizers to arrive, they discussed the museum, and what they had seen.

“I know what I got out of the museum, Clark,” Lana said. “I got to see paintings I’d only seen pictures of before. The colors really leap off of the canvas with true impressionist paintings. It’s something not readily captured by most photos, and those works by the smiths of the Faberge workshops are something that can’t be reproduced even today, one-hundred years later.

“Still, what I’d like to know is, what did you get out of the experience?”

“You mean,” Clark asked drily, “was I paying attention or was I just there to humor you?”

Lana colored slightly, and said, “Not exactly. I just wonder what that looked like to the eyes of someone who admitted he was ‘new at this art thing.’”

“Well, the thing that ‘impressed’ me the most about the paintings was how, up close, the paintings looked like a collection of individual brush strokes. I couldn’t really make out much of a picture. But when I stood back several feet, my brain was able to take those individual strokes and piece them together into a beautiful scene.

“And the Faberge stuff was so intricate, tiny clockwork mechanisms and painstakingly crafted surfaces…I can’t imagine the skill and the patience it must have taken to make such tiny, one-of-a-kind items. Those artists show a completely different kind of genius than the kind shown by scientists, economists, and engineers, but it’s no less impressive.”

By the end of his recitation, Clark was wistfully wishing at least some of his hidden talents were creative instead of destructive, while Lana was secretly pleased Clark was open to, as he put it, a “different kind of genius.”

Continuing that line of thought, Lana said, “I’ve heard that some psychologists have identified as many as fourteen different kinds of intelligence, including athletic ability.”

“Jumbo Thomas will be happy to hear his brains are good for something,” Clark said. “He’s one of those ‘underwater basket-weavers’ you were worried about. Some guys on the team are like what you said, but not Jumbo. He tries so hard in his classes…I’ve seen him put in the time and effort, but academics are tough for him. Still, he’s on track to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation. He’ll be the first member of his family to graduate from college.”

“I’m sorry I said that, Clark. I shouldn’t have implied most of the football team was like that, it’s just that, as someone on the outside looking in, I hear about players that are here only for football and it makes me mad that they’re getting a full-ride scholarship to a school like Met U, when there are so many qualified students that can’t come here because they can’t afford it.”

Finally, their soup and other appetizers came and they settled down to eat. Lana was ravenous, not having eaten yet today, and Clark had not eaten since his noontime ham sandwiches and potato chips, so he was hungry. They both stayed quiet until they had made their way through their food.

When the waiter cleared away their dishes, Lana said, “That was so good! I haven’t had good egg drop soup in a long time.”

“Even though I had nothing to do with making the soup,” Clark said, “I’m still glad you liked it.”

“Liked it? I loved it.”

Clark smiled the self-satisfied smile of any man who has made his date happy. At the most basic level, like most men, Clark was looking for a woman he can make happy.

Having ordered the main meal at the same time as the appetizers, the wait for the rest of their food was short. The waiter came out carrying a tray laden with small, white boxes filled with their selections. Each box had its contents written on the side in black magic marker and they dug in, with Clark waiting for Lana to serve her plate before he filled his own.

Again, the quality of the food and their hunger combined to limit conversation during dinner to which foods they liked the best and what menu items they would have to try some other time. As hungry as they were, four ala carte orders of food were more than they could finish, so the food still left in the boxes was taken by Lana and Clark to the truck after Clark paid the bill and tipped the waiter.

The time now was close to 10 p.m., and Clark asked, “Are you tired, Lana? I can take you home now if that’s what you’d like.”

“Thanks for asking, Clark, but I got up late today, so I’m good for a while longer yet.”

“In that case, Lana, I’ve got one more thing I want you to see.”

“Okay,” Lana said, with a grin. “Where you lead, I will follow…for tonight anyway.”

As they drove through the city once again, Lana brought up the football game since they had not had a chance to talk about it at the party the night before.

“What was going on in the first half of the game yesterday?” Lana asked. “The whole offense looked like they were playing for the Kansas School for the Blind, including you.”

Clark was taken aback a bit by her frank appraisal. “You don’t pull any punches when it comes to football, do you?”

“Nope,” she said, “Garbage is garbage, no matter what I call it, so I might as well call it by its proper name.”

“Well…you’re right. You don’t need me to tell you that, but we played terrible. Being down only three points at halftime was a miracle, and the coaches let us know it at halftime.” Flicking a quick glance at Lana before returning his eyes to the expressway, Clark said, “They swore a lot, and repeated themselves several times, but otherwise, their message was roughly the same as yours: ‘You stunk in the first half and embarrassed yourselves. What are you going to do about it?’ We were so mad and so focused in the second half, that nothing was going to stop us.”

“Yeah, I noticed. First half, you personally took a beating from the Utah State rush and got hurried into some bad throws. Second half, you were untouchable. The Aggie defense didn’t get close to you and you picked them apart. It looked like a high school varsity team practicing against its junior varsity team.”

“It wasn’t just an attitude change that helped us win. The coaches made some key adjustments at halftime, especially in our pass blocking scheme. When the other team couldn’t get to me fast enough, it exposed their secondary to a lot of one-on-one stuff versus our wideouts. Throwing under those conditions is easy.”

“You make it sound like anyone could do it,” Lana said, “when I know that’s not the case. Modesty in an athlete is a refreshing trait, but don’t over do it. It’s okay to take some credit when you deserve it.”

“Thanks, Lana.” Clark fiddled with the radio dial, trying to find some soft music to play in the background as he drove, but did not find anything to his liking. He turned back to Lana, and asked casually, “So, how’d you like my parents?”

“They were great. Very welcoming. Your mom is sweet and I think your dad is a big teddy bear. They were very levelheaded during the game, they must have seen you pull out a number of victories over the years, ‘cause they weren’t worried at all when you guys were getting beaten in the first half. A little bit mad, maybe, but not worried.”

Clark finally stopped the truck at Forest Park, though on the other side of the park from where he talked to Elaine. The weather was still comfortably warm, though some clouds were beginning to roll in from the northwest. Clark opened Lana’s door and handed her down from the cab. They clasped hands and went for a walk down worn paths through the trees that give the park its name. Oak, sweet gum, maple, cedar…a profusion of brilliant green in the daytime, now nearly black under the light of a full moon.

Tall, iron lampposts lit their way as they passed by wooden park benches and closed concession stands. It’s like connecting the dots, Lana thought. We’re walking from lamp to lamp. Lana smiled at the thought that, like connecting dots in a coloring book, their random-seeming path might end up making a beautiful picture.

Seeing Lana smile out of the corner of his eye, Clark ventured a look at her and marveled at the way the moonlight made her skin glow like alabaster, her hair shimmer like silk, and her eyes sparkle like diamonds. Or is that just me? he wondered. How can I ever hope to win this woman, when every guy that meets her will be chasing after her?

Clark inadvertently squeezed her hand just the slightest bit and Lana returned the squeeze, which transmitted her smile to his lips in an alchemical process akin to turning lead into gold.

Lana looked up at Clark as his smile grew, taking delight in the careless way his wavy hair framed his face, admiring the strong lines and sharp planes of his face, and watching the moonlight glitter across his perfect teeth. When the ancient Greeks wrote about Adonis, Lana thought, surely they were thinking of a man like Clark. He’s so…so… so beautiful! That word is usually reserved for women, but it’s true!

Clark led them at last to the edge of a small lake adjacent to a boathouse. During the day, small, remote-controlled boats could be rented and sailed on the lake, but now, with darkness having fallen, the only things to watch were the moonlight wavering on the water as ripples passed along it’s surface, and each other. The rest of the world was cloaked by a shroud of variegated gray that would not be lifted ‘til daybreak.

“Why are we here, Clark?” Lana asked, curiosity urging her to speak at last.

As they sat side-by-side on a park bench by the shore of the lake, Clark said, “Because tonight has been perfect, and I don’t want it to end just yet.”

Lana laid her head on his shoulder and said, “Me neither.”

Clark took that as his signal to proceed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders to pull her in close. With nothing to keep them company but a light breeze and the distant sounds of the city, they sat there, looking at the reflected moonlight, but thinking of each other.

The first thing to intrude on their quiet was the not-so-distant rumble of thunder. Those clouds that had been coming in from the northwest were now laying over the city like a lumpy, gray blanket. When they looked up, a few scattered bolts of lightning streaked across the sky.

Clark regretfully pulled his arm from around Lana and stood up, quickly pulling her to her feet. “We need to hurry, Lana, or we’re going to get wet.”

I knew it was too good to last! Lana thought.

“Come on,” Clark said, as he began to jog slowly in the direction of the truck.

Lana could not maintain a particularly fast pace due to her sandals, but Clark was mindful of that fact and kept his speed to something she could match. When he could see the advancing sheets of rain during a particularly close lightning strike, he bent down, picked her up and began to run.

Even his best non-Kryptonian speed was not fast enough and they got caught in the downpour a full one-hundred yards from his truck. Clark made it to the truck ten seconds later, and he set Lana down to unlock her door. He gallantly held her door and handed her in, just as if it was still dry, and then he shut her door and hustled around to his side to find that Lana had leaned across and unlocked his door.

When he jumped in, Lana was already starting to shiver from the cold rain. They both belted up and Clark started the truck. Thanks to the small size of the cab and the fact that he had been driving the truck a lot tonight, the air rapidly heated up and Lana’s shivers quickly faded away.

Lana pulled out her lighted compact and looked at the ruins of her carefully styled hair. “At least it happened at the end of the date,” she said.

Clark ventured a quick glance at Lana as they pulled on a main road, and said, “I think you look great.”

“Thanks, Clark, that’s a sweet thing to say…but I spent a long time getting this to look exactly right. It would have been nice if it had lasted a bit longer.”

“Well, I can understand that you wouldn’t want your careful preparations to be wasted, but believe me, they weren’t. I can’t tell you exactly how beautiful you looked when you opened your apartment door tonight. I used to think you had the face of an angel, but somehow…that seems inadequate now.”

“I…really?”

“I’ve been careful about not lying about my secrets, so I hope you’ll believe me when I tell you this: you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met…dry or wet.”

The radiant smile that shone through her bedraggled hair would keep Clark warm, on the inside, where he needs it, for many nights to come.

By the time they reached Lana’s building, she was quite warm and was not looking forward to going out into the rain. Clark reached under the bench seat and pulled out an old, black umbrella. He walked around the truck and opened the umbrella and held it over her door as he opened it. She grabbed her purse and her leftovers and climbed out of the cab.

For the short walk to her door, he held the umbrella squarely over her head and stayed right behind her to block the rain from that direction. When she unlocked her door and opened it, they were under an overhang, so Clark pulled the umbrella back to cover himself.

They just stood there looking at each other, each trying to imprint the memory of this night on their brains before it faded away in the morning like a dream. Finally, Clark said, “Except for the rain, I had a really great time tonight, Lana.”

Lana’s hands were clasping her purse and leftovers, and she bounced on her toes a little bit, as she said, “Me too, Clark. I haven’t had a date this good in a very long time.” Try never, she thought. That’s a little closer to the truth.

“Would you, umm, would you like to go out with me again sometime?” Clark asked, trying for nonchalance and failing miserably as his eagerness shone through.

All Lana said was, “When?”

Clark’s face lit up like a Vegas billboard and he said, “Let me check my schedule and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

As Clark turned to head for his truck, and home, Lana set her things down on a door-side table, called out to him, and asked, “Clark? Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Clark began checking his pockets as he turned around to face Lana. “What?”

“This, Clark…just this.” Lana rose up on her toes as she wrapped her arms around his chest, and gave him something soft and warm and lingering to see him home…their first kiss.

Clark’s toes curled fit to match his hair, and his breath came in short gasps as Lana’s kiss seemed to suck the air from his lungs. Tossing the umbrella aside, Clark wrapped his arms behind her neck and replied to her kiss in turn.

It was not the longest kiss of their lives, nor the most salacious, but it was their first, and they both remembered it to the end of their days.

[SVsleuth]

1st! Great date, Card. I loved the bit of snuggling in the park &, of course, the first CLANA kiss of this fic - many, many, more to come, I hope. ;)

I love Chinese food, and walks in the moonlit park are romantic. (what a great idea! ;) )They should do that again. You know I love this fic. I know you'd probaby update even MORE often, if I didn't keep interrupting you. :p PPMS!! I know, my turn to write now...off to write....

[sandy]

2nd! ok, this is what I thought of the update:
1. the words egg drop soup make me nauseous!:lol:
2. the Kansas School for the Blind statement was just :rotfl:
3. That date was too perfect for words!
4. That kiss? Well, all I can say that it's about time! loved the way u described it too!:D

btw, is this fic comin to a close? I hope not! ppms!:)

[superman_lives_on]

Third!

WOW! They kissed! I was hoping that'd happen...

PPMS!

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by sandy
btw, is this fic comin to a close? I hope not! ppms!:)
No, and don't start nasty rumors like that or I'll have people after me.

[ajfinn]

“This, Clark…just this.” Lana rose up on her toes as she wrapped her arms around his chest, and gave him something soft and warm and lingering to see him home…their first kiss.

Clark’s toes curled fit to match his hair, and his breath came in short gasps as Lana’s kiss seemed to suck the air from his lungs. Tossing the umbrella aside, Clark wrapped his arms behind her neck and replied to her kiss in turn.

It was not the longest kiss of their lives, nor the most salacious, but it was their first, and they both remembered it to the end of their days.

Now THAT was awesome!!!! So sweet, and I love that Lana took him by surprise and swept him off his feet.

Even better than CUDDLING, which I was excited to see in the park!

Great update! :D

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Cardinal
I'm wounded m'lady, wounded I say!

That I could ever be infected by the green-eyed monster is...is...umm, oh shoot, never mind! :p

Actually, 4Ever, most of your updates are probably 20K characters in length. Mine are usually 10K-12K long and yours are almost always a lot longer than mine.

Lol, Card.

Speaking of length, though...how long can any one post on here be?

[Cardinal]

50K characters long is the limit.

[superman_lives_on]

Thanks.

[Cardinal]

Now that I've posted this story everywhere else, I can come back here and give some acknowledgments.

Thanks to SVsleuth for suggesting/insisting that CK & LL have another chance to hold hands.

The part on the park bench was just for the "Snuggle Bears," ajfinn, Dr. Jeckyll, and IluvCLANA.

Thanks, and keep reading in 2006! :)

[SpecKay11]

happy new years! * blows sum more confetti* great update card!

[booze_is_me09]

that was an amazing update!! PPMS!!!!!!!!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Amazing, card!

I LOVED their first kiss! It was really cool to see Lana make the first move. And every time I read your updates I can really imagine the whole scene in my head… That's a sign of great writing!

Ofc we'll continue reading this magnificent story. Hope your next update isn't far away. PPMS!

[C.A.chick]

That was AMAZING Card!!!!!!!! WOW! Beautiful first kiss! Like Dr.Jeckyll said, I can really see whats happening, and its very beautiful.

Are you crazy?! DUH, we're gonna keep reading in 2006, considering I just read it, and it is 2006! I LOVE YOUR STORY CARD! PPMASAP!

[IluvCLANA]

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

i cant even tell you how much i just loved that update card... you're the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU PUT IN SOME SNUGGLING!!!! JUST FOR THE SNUGGLE BEARS!!!!!!YYYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAY....... okay, well, i haven't been on in a while, so im off to read 4nev...hee hee, i mean, 4evers update, yay!!!!!

[4EverSmallville]

Originally posted by Cardinal
50K characters long is the limit.

It's only 40 K, Card. Trust me, I've tested it :lol:. If you use the check message length button, it will say it's just 40K as well. 40 is decent though, a great improvement from ten.

Now there better be an update on the page before this :lol:.


Originally posted by IluvCLANA
so im off to read 4nev...hee hee, i mean, 4evers update, yay!!!!!

:rotfl: I give up :lol:.

[Cardinal]

Oh well, I was going by what the mods posted.

I'll never test that length limit...unless I take three months off from writing.

[4EverSmallville]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Seeing Lana smile out of the corner of his eye, Clark ventured a look at her and marveled at the way the moonlight made her skin glow like alabaster, her hair shimmer like silk, and her eyes sparkle like diamonds. Or is that just me? he wondered. How can I ever hope to win this woman, when every guy that meets her will be chasing after her?

Clark inadvertently squeezed her hand just the slightest bit and Lana returned the squeeze, which transmitted her smile to his lips in an alchemical process akin to turning lead into gold.

And I have a way with words? Don't sell yourself short, that was purely impressive.

The date was all I expected it to be, beautiful. I can't wait to see what happens next.


Originally posted by Cardinal
Oh well, I was going by what the mods posted.

I'll never test that length limit...unless I take three months off from writing.

Okay, you've got jokes. You're making it very hard to compliment you, buddy :lol:.

[MOOman0618]

Wow...I am gone for a week and there are three updates to catch up on. I don't even know where to start...

The party was awesome! Sneaky Lana and her boilermakers. Very much enjoyed how Clark took care of Lars.

The date was also great, Clark trying to open his mind to culture and such. The walk in the park was very sweet and very nicely writen. And I am sure Clark was not lying about Lana looking very good after getting caught in the rain. ;)

And the first kiss!! Awesome! I loved it that it was Lana that started it.

Post more soon Card!! I can't wait for more, and to see when Clark starts to share his secrets with her.

[IluvCLANA]

hmmm....
*tries to think of something to write*
*fails*

ditto to what moo posted :D

welcome back moo!!!

[Cardinal]

Working on the next update. :)

It won't be ready until at least tomorrow night. :(

[C.A.chick]

Yay! Another update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Card! PPMASAP!

[IluvCLANA]

cant wait card!!! your the best!!!!!!! ill be sitting here waiting eagerly for the wonderful clana fluff that is sure to come, right?

[NYC300Z]

Awesome awesome update! It was so sweet! What a way to end their first date! It's got me very excited to read more! PPMS!;)

[nellie2]

Awww that was so good! Perfect date. PPMS!!!

[IluvCLANA]

still planning on updating tonight, before i have to go back to school tomorrow?

[binkys711]

just read your updates! That clana date was just beautiful! it was perfect, just perfect! They finally kissed! YAY! and cuddled and held hands and....the list goes on! That was pure joy through and through! awesome job Card! BOOYAH! I loved it that Lana was the one to make the move on the kiss! great job as always! PPMS!!!:D

(a little off topic: hehe. I went to the Forbidden City in Beijing and it's beautiful! but by god you need a frickin' plane to get from one side to another. By the time we got out the entire group was ready to faint:lol: great choice in restaurant also! I thought Lana might say the line from Splinter "Is that Chow mein?":p)

[4EverSmallville]

Hope to see an update tonight :D.

[SuperNes]

How you manage to update so often just boggles my mind! (Come on Cardi your making me look bad! ) :p

No really that was some good stuff!! you are awesome! thanks a bunch :)

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by SuperNes
How you manage to update so often just boggles my mind! (Come on Cardi your making me look bad! ) :p No kidding! He makes us all look bad! But that doesn't mean I don't want him to update quickly. Actually I would very much enjoy an update right now. :)

[SuperNes]

haah! agreed! It is so nice to come in and almost always find a delicious update waiting here!!!

~sends subliminal messages to Card... "update update update"~

[IluvCLANA]

*helps nes and also sends card subliminal messages...update update update.....*

[Cardinal]

Chapter 27 - Aftermath

Regretfully finishing that kiss, Clark and Lana finally bid each other good night, and Clark headed back into the storm. His head was so filled with thoughts of her that he picked up his umbrella, left the apartment premises, and was halfway down the next block before he remembered he had driven his truck. Clark turned around and went back to get his truck and drove home.

Lana picked up her leftovers, stuck them in the fridge, and then scooped up her purse. While she transferred its contents to her everyday purse, she checked her cell phone and found that Chloe had called three times since 10 p.m.

Lana went to the kitchen and turned on the heat beneath her tea kettle, then stopped by her large bouquet of flowers on the table and took a big sniff. Next, she carried her cell phone into the bedroom and prepared for bed. After undressing, drying off, and pulling on a fresh set of white silk pajamas, Lana stepped into her fuzzy white slippers and returned to the kitchen to make a mug of hot cocoa. When the first sip of cocoa was to her satisfaction, Lana padded back to the bedroom with her cocoa and climbed into bed. She rearranged the pillows to prop her up, checked the time, and called Chloe.

Chloe heard her special ringtone, and rolled over on her couch to grab her cell phone out of her purse. Now that I’m finally watching a movie, she calls, Chloe thought. Still, I wouldn’t miss this call for a front page byline in The Planet. She rethought that idea, and said out loud, “Well, maybe this call isn’t that important…but it’s close.”

Pressing the send button, Chloe asked, “How are things tonight? Are we smiling or crying or mad?”

“Oh,” Lana said, “we are definitely smiling tonight, Chloe. From ear to ear!”

Just the bubbly tone of Lana’s voice was enough to let Chloe know how well the date had gone and she drummed her heels against the front of her couch in excitement. “Girl,” Chloe said, “you have so got to tell me everything that happened.”

Over the next hour or two, the two young women talked, with Lana describing what happened and what she felt, and Chloe asking occasional questions to clarify certain points of interest…and with both women trying to puzzle out exactly what Clark meant when he said this or felt when he did that.

It was almost three a.m. when the girls called it a night. They had been on the phone so long that both women had been forced to plug their cell phones into a wall outlet for power.

Clark, meanwhile, had managed to avoid conversing with Pete about the date by telling him that he had made that mistake after his first date with Elaine. His excitement over the fact that he was on a date at all had been mistakenly transferred to Elaine.

“This time, Pete,” Clark said, “I’m going to sleep on it before I talk about it. I need a chance to sort out what I‘m feeling.”

Just as Clark disappeared up the stairwell toward his bedroom and sleep, Pete called out, “Hey, Clark, your twerp sister called while you were out. She said you owe her a call after dinner tomorrow night.”

“Thanks, Pete.”

When Clark climbed into bed, it was nearly one a.m., but he was restless and could not sleep. He tossed and turned for what felt like hours as his mind replayed the events of the two and a half weeks since meeting Lana Lang. He tried to puzzle out how a girl he had just met had wormed her way into his heart so fast.

I’m normally so cautious where women are concerned, Clark thought, and yet…there’s something about her I can’t describe, something…magical.

Clark reached over to the beside clock-radio and turned it on, hoping for something to break his train of thought and allow him to sleep. When the first song came on, Clark couldn’t help but laugh, as the song almost perfectly fit his predicament.

Emerson Drive - “I Should Be Sleeping”

I never knew there were such great movies
On TV at three A.M.
I'd never guess that at midnight Tuesday
I could have pizza ordered in.
I've never been a real night owl,
But these days I'm all turned ’round.
There's only one thing I'm sure of right now

I should be sleeping
Instead of keeping
These late hours
I've been keeping.
I've been pacing
And retracing
Every step
Of every move.
Even though I'm
Feeling so right
I'm so happy
Still I know I
Should be sleeping
Instead of dreaming
About you.

I never knew that I was funny,
’Til I went and made you laugh.
Never liked a girl that called me honey,
But you did and I liked that.
I keep thinking about your smile,
Trying to read between the lines,
Looks like I'll be up for a while.

When I should be sleeping
Instead of keeping
These late hours
I've been keeping.
I've been pacing
And retracing
Every step
Of every move.
Even though I'm
Feeling so right,
I'm so happy,
Still I know I
Should be sleeping,
Instead of dreaming,
About you.

After just three dates
And one great kiss
It's way too soon
To be obsessing like this

I should be sleeping
Instead of keeping
These late hours
I've been keeping.
I've been pacing
And retracing
Every step
Of every move.
Even though I'm
Feeling so right
I'm so happy
Still I know I
Should be sleeping
Instead of dreaming
About you.

Dreaming about you.

I should be sleeping…dreaming about you.

I'm dreaming about you.

Clark chuckled at the situation he was in. I’m not worried about the homework I didn’t get done this weekend, he thought. Nor am I concerned about how poorly we played this weekend, and I’m definitely not losing sleep over our big game next week against West Virginia in Morgantown. Nope, my thoughts are being tangled by a little woman that wouldn’t weigh 100 pounds without carrying a box of rocks.

Clark’s thoughts about Lana had him smiling as he finally drifted off to sleep a couple of hours before he was due to wake up.

That 5:30 a.m. alarm seemed to come extra early today, Clark thought. Oh, man is staying awake in class today going to be tough! Lana’s classes are late in the day today, talk about unfair! First, she keeps me up half the night and then she gets to sleep in.

Clark had finished his workout, eaten breakfast and attended two of his classes before Lana made her way to campus. Like Clark, sleep had not come easy for her after talking to Chloe. That had been the most exciting night she had experienced in a very long time, and she had not wanted to let go.

Unlike Clark, however, Lana had managed plenty of sleep and sailed through her day with a luminous smile fixed in place. A number of acquaintances in her classes remarked on the change from the week before. Before she knew it, Lana was bouncing her way home.

Clark was winding up practice about the time Lana walked through her front door, and he hustled back into his clothes and rushed over to the cafeteria for dinner. Following a dinner of enchiladas and burritos on Mexican night, Clark rushed home, anxious to call Lana and set their next date.

Jogging home with his backpack slung over one shoulder, Clark rushed in the door and was headed for his room, when Pete called out from the kitchen to remind him to call “the twerp.” Reluctantly, Clark decided to get this call out of the way first, that way, he could talk to Lana as long as he and she wanted to without worrying about having to call his sister before her bedtime.

The phone rang four times before it was picked up. “Hi, Clark,” said the chirpy voice of his little sister, “whatcha doin’?”

“Nothing much right now, Kathy. How was that campout this weekend? I hope you enjoyed it, ‘cause I missed having my loudest supporter at the game.”

“Oh, the campout was fine…”

Clark spent the next several minutes listening as his sister explained the intricacies of making smores and how she helped put a garden snake into Brittany’s sleeping bag.

“I thought Brittany was your best friend, Kathy.”

“She is, Stupid Brother, but we were just getting her back for what she did to us at breakfast.”

“Which was…what?” Clark asked.

“She was in charge of cooking breakfast, and thought it would be funny to put hot sauce in our scrambled eggs. She used a lot of hot sauce.” Finally, Kathy worked her way around to the subject that had caused her to call last night in the first place. “What happened Saturday? Dad taped the game so I could watch it and was that ever a waste of time. I had figured I could miss this one game for a camping trip and you guys would be able to beat this sucky team from a nowhere football conference without my cheers to help you.”

“That’s three people who have read me the riot act about that game,” Clark said. “First Coach let us have it, then Lana chewed on me about it, and now you, Half-Pint.” Clark realized his mistake a mere second before Kathy called him on it and he cringed in anticipation of the expected onslaught.

“Lana…who’s Lana?” Kathy asked. “Is she some new girlfriend of yours or something?”

I sure hope she will be, was Clark’s first thought. Then, he tried to explain without giving too much away. “Lana is a girl I went out on a date with last night,” Clark said.

“Another date? Cool!” After a few seconds of silence, Kathy said, “So what are you waiting for? Spill already!”

Clark laughed at his sister’s eager insistence and told her the bare bones of the date, skipping over the near car wreck and leaving out the more personal details.

“So,” she asked, when he was done explaining, “are you going to ask her out again? It sounds like the first date went really well.” The sound of her voice was so hopeful, so enthusiastic, that Clark could not help but smile.

“Yes, Kathy. We’re going out again. In fact, I’m calling her to set a day for the date as soon as you get off the phone.”

“Really? Sorry, Clark!”

The next sound Clark heard was a click as his little sister hung up the phone. Before he could collect his thoughts and dial Lana, his phone rang again, and he answered it.

“It’s me again!” Kathy said.

“I never would have guessed,” Clark replied.

“I just wanted to let you know how happy I am for you right now.”

“Thanks, KK. Tell the folks I’ll try and come home on Sunday after we get back from West Virginia.”

“Okay, Clark. Bye now, I love you.

“I love you, too, Kathy. Good night.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! Sweet! I loved that
Lana & Chloe had a late night girl-talk marathon - about Clark. And it was funny how Clark forgot that he brought his truck. And Clark not getting much sleep, because Lana has a hold on him. And it was good to see Kathy again, supporting her big brother & hoping the best for his love life. Great wrting! PPMS, Card!

[Cardinal]

Oh! So you're up, but you're not on AOL.

[superman_lives_on]

WOOT!!! I loved that one! Keep 'em coming and keep 'em great, Card!

[SuperNes]

Yay an update! Hey Demandor looks like our subliminal messages must have worked!! yay




[i]Originally posted by Cardinal


“Thanks, KK. Tell the folks I’ll try and come home on Sunday after we get back from West Virginia.”

[/B]

heeh K.K. was that on purpose? :) great update!

[NYC300Z]

oh you know it was Nes!

Great Update Card! It was really cool the way you showed their day after the date! You just had to stop before he called Lana didn't you!

PPMS!

[4EverSmallville]

Great update! I enjoy how you get to see a little of how both of them reacted to their date the day before.

[MOOman0618]

Great update Card. Glad to see they both enjoyed their date! I will be curious to see how Clark and Lana react to each other when they talk again. Post more soon!

[sandy]

I loved the update! and I like how frequently they're comin too!:D post more, I need to see what happens next!

[ajfinn]

Another great update! Loved how Lana and Chloe stayed up ..... so girly of them (who told you we do that, huh?!)

And KK ..... umm, gosh ..... I don't see the connection :lol: Why would Card be thinking about those certain initials *ahem* non-stop! :D

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by ajfinn
Another great update! Loved how Lana and Chloe stayed up ..... so girly of them (who told you we do that, huh?!)

And KK ..... umm, gosh ..... I don't see the connection :lol: Why would Card be thinking about those certain initials *ahem* non-stop! :D

Great indeed. And...well, I think I see a connection--oh heck, I do see the connection! Don't blame him, of course.

BTW, aj, how's your *ahem* happy little development coming along?

[binkys711]

that update was great Card! I loved it! little KK :p was just a cutie! Lana and Chloe staying up was funny :lol: PPMS!!!

[Cardinal]

Believe it or not, the fact that Clark's sister's initials ended up being KK was a complete accident. I took the name Kathy from a close friend of mine.

It was only much later that I realized she was another KK.

[binkys711]

Sure it was......:lol:

[akuma]

Sweet! i go away for couple of days and i am treated to bunch of amazing update!! so awesome, i love this fic, and cant wait for the phone call!:D

[C.A.chick]

That was amazing Card....haha KK! I love how you showed that they both are really in love with each other! PPMASAP!

[ajfinn]

Okay, ya'll check out my new avi that Card made for me!!!! I made him promise that he wouldn't give it to anyone else, because that pic is ALL MINE. MINE MINE!! :D

I fainted when I saw it. :) Thus, the reason I put *thud* above it :lol:


Originally posted by superman_lives_on
BTW, aj, how's your *ahem* happy little development coming along?

How nice of you to ask :) The baby is starting to kick me like a superhero .... but if it's a boy, I'm told I can't name him Clark Thomas Welling ...... Dang :( Husbands can be so darn jealous sometimes :lol:

[SVsleuth]

Awesome avi, Amy! Yu did a great job on it, Card! PPMS!

[MOOman0618]

I think I like Card's new Avatar better than AJ's :p

[SVsleuth]

Card's new avi is really cool, too - but we girls like aj's better. :p
(Card made my avi too, BTW - isn't he talented?) I like yours too, Moo.

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by SVsleuth
Card's new avi is really cool, too - but we girls like aj's better. :p
(Card made my avi too, BTW - isn't he talented?) I like yours too, Moo.

Thanks! I just made it a couple days ago. Card does have a talent of capturing a moment. And I guess I can understand why you girls would like AJ's better...but still in a battle of beautiful people I think KK wins. :)



uh oh...I may have just started something bad in Card's thread.

ummm...ummm...POST MORE SOON!

*runs away*

[SmallvilleMan]

I think both your avatars are overrated. My avatar has the goods, clark and Lana. BOO YA.

[annaliese]

post more soon!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

If you say so Card!

PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

well, i was finally able to finish your update card!!! grrrr.... stupid homework!!!well, ppms

[ajfinn]

Hmmmph! Write faster, darn you! :D

[Cardinal]

Right back at ya! ;)

[IluvCLANA]

updating tonight?............

or not.....

[Cardinal]

That would be...not.

[SmallvilleMan]

Hey, listen buddy, we want an update and we want it now!:p ;)

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by Cardinal
That would be...not.

sooooo...when will we see an update?

[C.A.chick]

yeah, when??????

[Cardinal]

The fact that you had the stones to ask that question, MOOman, is amazing.

I ought to hold out for an update of "Brilliance."

That way, every one wanting an update on this thread, will direct their ire in YOUR direction. :p

Oh, BTW, I should start writing a new update on the evening of the 6th.

[NYC300Z]

oh so your not even going to start writing it until tonight? How long does it take you to write one?

PPMS!

[kewl]

awesome update!!! their 1st date was great & now there's another one coming!!! yay, just can't hardly wait!!! PPMS!!!!

[4EverSmallville]

PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

same to you 4ever...lol...

so the updates coming tonight? if i misinterpreted your post then sorry but, thats what i got out of it....

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Finally got to read your last update! Aftermath was great! Have I mentioned how much I love Kathy? It's so refreshing to see Clark having a sister.

Are you planning updating tonight? That would've been awesome! At least you're writing.. That's a start ;)

[SVsleuth]

This CANNOT be on page two! Bumping it up, hopfully for an update later today???? Maybe??? :)

[kewl]

umm, no update yet?

[Cardinal]

Nope. I'm working on it right now.

[IluvCLANA]

okay, well then, following my post in the clubhouse, im going to have a season 1 marathon.......

[Cardinal]

Chapter 28 - Scheduling Conflicts

Clark pressed the off button on the cordless phone’s handset and tossed it on his bed before heading downstairs to get something to drink. He had walked into the kitchen and was in the process of pouring a tall glass of Lemonade Tea when he got that itch between his shoulder blades that lets a person know he’s being stared at.

Clark finished pouring his drink and set the plastic pitcher back in the refrigerator before turning to see Pete looking at him from where he was standing next to the oven.

“So,” Pete said, “it’s tomorrow now and you’ve had time to think about it. The sixty-four dollar question is: what happened between you and the eminently eligible Miss Lang?”

Clark looked thoughtfully at his shoe tops for a few seconds before walking to their small dinner table and waving Pete over. When they had both sat down, Clark said, “Well, Pete, let me tell you. If more first dates were that good, there’d be a lot more couples in college.”

“Does that mean you and Lana are a pair?”

“Nothing’s official yet. We haven’t discussed making our relationship exclusive or anything, but…I’ve stopped looking at anyone else. Lana’s the one for me.”

“You don’t even look at other girls?” Pete asked, horrified at the thought of his friend being turned into a lobotomized Stepford boyfriend.

“I look…I just don’t look, if you know what I mean.”

“You’re telling me no one else interests you at all.”

“Nope,” Clark said. “I’ve already got the best girl out there. Why would I be interested in anything less?”

“Admittedly, Lana is fine, but how do you know she’s the best unless you explore the alternatives? You’ve only gone on one date with Lana and you’re already calling off the search.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Clark said, “What can I say? I know what I want…what I need…and Lana is it.”

Shaking his head disbelievingly, Pete said, “If I was in your shoes, I’d be dating a new girl or two every week, then, when I had sampled a large cross-section of the dating pool, I’d narrow it down some. Who knows, I might accidentally end up choosing one of them.”

“Since you and Veronica aren’t dating, shouldn’t you be out there finding your next vict…I mean, your next date?”

Pete responded to Clark’s teasing with a punch in the shoulder and a bellowed, “Victim, my ass! Now, give me some details on this date.”

Clark went on to give Pete a “guy’s eye” view of the date, choosing to emphasize different parts of the date than he did with Kathy.

First, Clark explained exactly how fine Lana looked when she opened her door. Next, he covered the near-accident in some detail. Glossing over the museum visit and the restaurant, Clark spent some time covering the park, ending with them getting caught in the downpour.

Pete’s eyes perked up at that, and he said, “A completely soaked Lana Lang had to be worth seeing.”

“Jeez, Pete, do your hormones ever take a rest?”

“Not that I’ve noticed, Clark.” Putting his elbows on the table, and resting his chin on his fists, Pete looked at Clark and said, “Now tell me you didn’t enjoy the sight.”

“Oh, I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy it, I just wasn’t going around talking about it like a high school freshman. Now, back to the date…when I got her home, we decided to go out again.”

“That’s nice, but what I want to know is: did you get to kiss her or not?” A helpless smile bloomed on Clark’s face as he started to turn red. Pete didn’t wait for Clark to answer, instead, he just pumped a fist into the air, and said, “That’s my boy!”

His story complete, Clark picked up his drink and made his way back to his bedroom to call Lana. Setting his drink on the bedside table, he sat down, on the edge of the bed, rubbed his hands on his denim-clad legs, and picked up the phone.

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

Lana was sitting at her dinner table, busy with her homework when Clark’s call finally came. She picked up her phone and smiled when the caller ID showed the name of her favorite football player.

Pressing send, she said, “Hi there, Handsome. How was your day?”

Clark flushed slightly at the unexpected compliment and replied, “Not bad, Gorgeous. I was very happy to have stayed awake in all three classes today, and practice for this week’s game is going much better than the practices we had leading up to the Utah State game. How was your day?”

“Oh, it was wonderful. It’s amazing how much being happy to start with can affect your day. Nothing was going to be able to bother me today after last night.”

“I’m glad you liked last night as much as I did, Lana.”

“Me too,” Lana said.

“As far as the next date goes, Friday and Saturday are out for me since we leave Friday night to fly to West Virginia. We won’t come back until late Saturday night.”

“Well, Thursday’s no good for me. I’m going to Nell’s shop to help out. There’s a big wedding order and Nell needs a little extra assistance getting it ready. How about another Sunday date?”

“That would be great,” Clark said, “except I just told my little sister I’d come over on Sunday for a visit. Sundays with the family at my parents’ house entails a big Martha Kent lunch followed by an afternoon of watching NFL games on TV with Dad and Kathy.”

While Clark was talking, Lana got up and walked over to her bedroom where she curled up on her bed and luxuriated in the softness of her sheets and the warmth of her comforter.

“Well…” Lana said, “I could come over and watch the Sharks game with you. A date doesn’t always have to mean going out somewhere. I just want to spend time with you and get to know you better.”

Clark smiled at this simple solution to their scheduling difficulties, and said, “The Sharks play at 3 p.m. this Sunday, so, I can pick you up at 2 p.m. to make sure we get there on time.”

“What about the noon game? Aren’t you going to watch that one, too?”

“I’ll watch the first half and then leave to pick you up. I can listen to the rest of that game on sports radio in the truck.”

“Okay,” Lana said, “That sounds good to me.” When Clark didn’t reply, Lana became concerned and said, “Clark? Clark! Are you still there?”

Clark had not fallen asleep, but had become entranced by the soft, sweet way Lana spoke, and he said so. “Sorry for zoning out on you, Lana. I was just thinking of something.”

“Thinking of what?”

Clark shook his head as though Lana could see him, and said, “Nah. It’s embarrassing. You’d laugh at me.”

Holding her free hand over her heart, Lana said, “I swear I won’t laugh at you…well, not much anyway.”

“Oh, that is sooooo, encouraging, but since you promised to not laugh, here it comes…I can’t believe I’m telling you this. Anyway, when you said that our plan ‘sounds good to me,’ it occurred to me just how much I like the sound of your voice. It’s soft and sweet and I think I could listen to you for hours and not get tired of it.”

“It’s nice to hear your voice, too, Clark. Though I don’t know if I’d categorize it as being sweet. ‘Pleasant’ is more what I’d be thinking of for you, or maybe I’d use ‘dulcet.’”

Clark laughed at that, hearing an echo of his conversation with Chloe where he told her he wanted to hear her ‘dulcet tones.’ When Lana wanted to know what was so funny, Clark told her. By the time he was through, Lana was laughing as she imagined Clark and Chloe’s playful banter.

“Do you really test your ‘lines’ on Chloe first?” Lana asked.

“No,” Clark said. “Actually, I don’t really have any ‘lines’ to use on women. I’m not that smooth.”

“That’s good. Most women, including me, aren’t fond of the pickup lines guys use on us.”

Curious, Clark asked, “What should guys do instead?”

“Just say hi and introduce themselves. It’s a direct approach and one that most women would welcome.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

“Oh yeah. I’ve heard more bad lines, poorly delivered, than a casting director for a B-movie.”

“I’ll be sure to pass that advice along to Pete…so, we’re all set for Sunday at two?

“Yeah,” Lana said, “I’ll be ready.”

“I don’t think I’ll tell anyone you’re coming though.”

“Why not?”

“Umm…my mom is a little too interested in my love life and my little sister Kathy will likely go berserk.”

“I've always wanted a little sister,” Lana said. “How old is she?”

“She’s eleven years old, soon to be twelve, and she’s about ninety pounds of hyperactivity stuffed into a 5’6” tall frame.”

“She’s 5’6” and she’s only eleven? Dang! She’s already taller than I am.”

Clark rolled over and saw the time on his bedroom alarm clock/radio and said, “As much as I’d like to stay on the phone and talk to you, I’ve got a lot of homework to do and I need to get started on it right away.”

Lana loaded her voice with mock disappointment, and said, “Aww…do you have to?”

When Clark replied in the affirmative, Lana said, “Yeah, me too. I’ve done some of mine already, but more is waiting.”

Clark pressed end, slid off his bed, and sat at his desk. Slowly unzipping his backpack, he pulled out his books and got to work, but his thoughts were on the other side of campus with Lana.

[SVsleuth]

1st! Nice update, Card. Clark is really smitten now. He's come a long way from the guy who couldn't get past Lori. And it's cool that Lana is comfortable enough to just want to hang out with Clark, & doesn't mind joining him at his parents' house. That should be an interesting afternoon. PPMS! :)

[NYC300Z]

2nd! Awesome update! Clark's conversations with both Pete and Lana were interesting! He's already opening up to Lana! I wonder what it will take him to open up completely? A few more dates at least i'd say! Probally a lot more! This fic sure has a lot more to go!

PPMS!

[akuma]

3, awesome job Card!! cant wait to see how lil sister reacts with Lana there:p and hope she enjoys the date:D MORE PLEASE!

[rosewolfe87]

4th!

[4EverSmallville]

Fantastic update! I'm always excited to see that you've updated :D. I can't wait for them to spend time together at the Kents'.

[IluvCLANA]

wow!!!awesome card!!!! i love how you show them just building their relationship day after day..... very....hmmm....clana-fluffy-ee

well...off to bed!!! good night everyone!!!

[Cardinal]

A lot of credit for the way this update turned out belongs to SVsleuth.

My first draft sucked like you wouldn't believe, but she gave me some solid ideas and got me straightened out.

Thanks, SV! ;)

[SVsleuth]

Aw.... thanks, Card. That's sweet. All our fics get better and better, because we have a great Clana support system here, and teamwork. :)

[4EverSmallville]

Way to go SV! :D :lol:

[kewl]

awesome update!!!! PPMS!!!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Fantastic update, Card! I enjoyed both of Clark's conversation. And Lana is already meeting the Kents. That's cool. I don't think many would have the guts to meet your boyfriends parents after just one date. You're really good at describing how people feel when they fall in love. I take it you have a lot of experience? :p

Can't wait for the next update and Lana spending time with the Kents - especially Kathy! PPMS!!

[binkys711]

Great update Card! Loved the conversations! hehe it was funny the way clark zooed out for a while just entranced in her voice:p very sweet! Glad to see he's more truthful:D can't wait for the Sunday meeting with teh Kents! PPMS!!!:D

[iloveit]

great update! theyre so cute together! ppms!

[sandy]

wow, they're really sounding like lovebirds now! fantastic update, and ppms!! can't wait to see what happens on their casual date!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Update soon! I wonder how Kathy is going to react with Lana there.

[maru11]

yeaahh!!! awesome
update soon!!

[NYC300Z]

Update!;)

[annaliese]

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

[akuma]

I didnt want to put too much pressure on u Card so im giving u my 1001 post instead of the big 1000, but hope u update soon!!:D

[MOOman0618]

Awesome update! I saw no hints of suckyness like you said there was. SVsleuth must have whipped you into shape. :)

Man...5'6" and 90 lbs. That is one skinny girl. The meeting with the family should be very interesting for Lana. Can't wait to read it. Post more soon!

[Cardinal]

Yeah, her growth has been outstripping her weight gain. Once she quits growing for a bit, her weight should catch up.

Plus, that may not be how heavy she really is. Like most girls, weight gain is a sensitive topic and watching her wieght go from double digits to triple digits might be particularly difficult, so she might not have told him an accurate weight any time recently.

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Yeah, her growth has been outstripping her weight gain. Once she quits growing for a bit, her weight should catch up.


Oh you don't have to tell that to me...I suffered that same thing all throughout high school...unfortunately my weight gain has caught up with a vengeance!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 29 - Confessor

The next morning, Clark was up early, even though he was not weightlifting today. He showered, dressed and headed over to the cafeteria to eat breakfast. After wolfing down biscuits and gravy, smoked bacon, and toast with butter and apple jelly, Clark shouldered his backpack and headed to Lana’s to surprise her.

Clark stood patiently outside her apartment door, using his x-ray vision just long enough to assure himself that she was still home. When her door finally opened, Clark smiled, said, “Hi, Lana,” and deftly relieved her of her backpack while she locked her door.

Her door locked, Lana returned Clark’s smile, and said, “Hi. I didn’t expect to see you this morning, Clark.”

As the began the long walk across campus to Thompson Hall for their science classes, Lana said, “You know, I can carry that backpack myself.”

“I’m sure you can, but that’s not the point.”

“And the point is?”

“The point is,” Clark said, “I like doing things of that nature for you. You know, standing up when you excuse yourself from our table and when you return, holding a door for you…simple, gentlemanly things like that. If you don’t like being treated like a lady, then you went on a date with the wrong guy.”

Pulling a loose strand of hair back behind her ear, Lana said, “No, I like it…I guess I just didn’t want you to think I was taking it for granted, but, more immediately, I realized that if you let me carry my own backpack, I can, umm, can…”

Clark stopped and turned toward Lana, patiently waiting for her to collect thoughts and say what she was thinking.

“…I can holdyourhand.” The last words came pouring out of her in a rush, and she was looking at her toes in embarrassment from having said that out loud. The first thing she saw was her backpack coming into view as it blocked the sight of her toes.

“That sounds like a fine idea to me,” Clark said, as he returned the backpack to her and wrapped his hand around her free one. She slung the pack over her shoulder, and they resumed their walk to class. A few steps later, Clark said, “This is much nicer.”

“I think so, too,” Lana replied.

Hours later, after two classes, a lunch with Lana in the cafeteria, and afternoon football practice, Clark was almost home when he was ambushed by Chloe.

“Hi, Clark,” Chloe said, as he fell in beside him.

Looking warily at her, Clark said, “Hi, Chloe. What’s up?”

“‘What’s up?’ Don’t give me that, Clark Kent. You’ve been avoiding me ever since you and Lana went on your date.”

Taking in a deep breath and blowing it out again in a rush, Clark looked straight ahead, and said, “What do you want, Chloe?”

“Right now, I’m not sure. At first, I wanted you to tell me what happened on your date, but now, I’d like to know why you’ve been avoiding me. We’ve been best friends forever and have always been able to talk to each other.” Chloe came to a stop on the sidewalk right in front of Clark’s townhouse. She reached out with her hand to stop Clark, and said, “What’s going on, Clark?”

“You really want to know?” Receiving a nod yes, Clark said, “Okay. I’ve been avoiding you since Sunday because the only person that could make me talk about the things I don’t want to deal with right now is you. I thought, if I could just avoid you, then things would stay perfect a few days longer.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Clark said, “Now, I suppose that time is at an end.”

Stunned, Chloe asked, “What’s wrong? According to Lana, the date was fabulous.”

“The date was great, Chloe. It went better than I could have possibly imagined it.”

“And the bad part is…?”

“The bad part is me,” Clark said. “Things are going too well, too soon, and I’m scared.”

“Scared about what?”

“Scared this will turn out the same way it did with Lori. That I’ll get all wound up in Lana, fall in love, and then she’ll kick me in the teeth…just like Lori did.” Then, very softly, Clark said, “I don’t know if I could take that again.”

Chloe wrapped her arms around Clark, gave him a ferocious hug, and said, “Well, besides the fact kicking you in the teeth would earn her a broken foot, I think Lana wants this relationship to work just as much as you do. I won’t tell you exactly what she said, but she was very excited Sunday night when she called me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really! There’s one other thing to keep in mind when comparing Lana and Lori.”

“What’s that?” Clark asked.

“Lana’s not a mind-reading fish.”

“Mermaid, Chloe, mermaid.”

“Whatever!” Chloe said, waving her hands as if the distinction was unimportant. “All I know is, Lori can breath water and swim faster than anyone I…” eyeing Clark, she changed what she had been about to say into, “…faster than any human I know.”

“Yeah, but while Lana may not be a mermaid, she doesn’t know about my secret. That kind of information would send most people running.”

“True…so I guess you’ll just have to tell her.”

Clark’s eyes popped wide open at the casual-seeming suggestion that he just reveal his secret. He reached forward, placed one of his hands on Chloe’s forehead, and said, “Hmm…you don’t feel like you’re running a temperature, but that had to be one of the dumbest ideas you’ve ever had…and that’s including the time you decided to jump off the roof.”

“Hey! I was seven years old at the time. You had just jumped off and I didn’t know you were unbreakable, so I followed you.”

“That has to be the last time you followed anyone else’s lead.”

“A broken ankle does tend to make you rethink the wisdom of following any moron that comes along,” Chloe said.

“Who’s dumber, Chloe? The moron? Or the person who follows the moron?”

“I don’t know, but…how did we get off onto this subject anyway? What I meant by telling her your secret was, start letting Lana in on your abilities a few at a time. If those don’t scare her off, then you should be able to move ahead and eventually let her in on your big secret.”

“That way,” Clark said, “if she can’t handle my abilities and thinks I’m a freak or something, I’ll find out now, before I get too involved in a relationship with her.” A smile broke out over his face as he thought some more about Chloe’s idea. “I haven’t told you this yet, but Lana already has a good idea that I can do things normal people can’t. She told me she’d wait until I was ready to tell her, so she shouldn’t be too freaked out by what I can do.”

“Lana suspects? What have you been doing to give her suspicions?”

Clark went on to explain. First, about the night of the comet viewing at the Meyer Observatory and how he had run home to change clothes after staining what he had been wearing while changing Lana’s tire. Then, about how Lana was surprised that Clark wasn’t all bruised up after falling down the steps at the library. Finally, how Clark’s heat vision had started to go haywire after that first dance with Lana and he had melted a double handful of ice with his eyes before he got the problem under control.

“Wow,” Chloe said, “for a guy that’s so worried about someone learning his secret, you sure have been giving Lana enough hints. I’m surprised she hasn’t been asking you about your abilities.”

“She has been asking, Chloe. I told her there were some things about me I wasn’t comfortable sharing with her right now and she said she understood. Then she said trust is something that has to be earned, and since we had just met, she didn’t expect me to open up and pour out my secrets to her instantly.”

“She’ll wait for you?”

“Yeah. She said she was content to wait until I am ready.”

“That’s a surprise,” Chloe said. “Lana’s never liked it when she thought someone was holding back. It’s a good thing you weren’t in Smallville back then, or she might not have been as patient.”

“Thanks for coming after me, Chloe. It’s nice to share my worries with someone else. It makes them seem…less somehow. Now, I need to get inside and get some homework done. Lana asked if she could come by tonight and wash some clothes, so we may watch a movie while her things are in the wash.”

“What movie?”

“Oh,” Clark said, “I don’t know, maybe something funny and romantic like the Steve Martin movie, 'Roxanne.'”

“Sounds nice, make sure you have some microwave popcorn. Lana loves popcorn.”

“Thanks, Chloe, I got it covered.” Clark turned and headed up the walk to his door, and said, “Bye, Chloe.”

Chloe waved at Clark just as he reached his door, and said, “Bye, Clark…good luck.”

[SVsleuth]

1st!“


"Hey! I was seven years old at the time. You had just jumped off and I didn’t know you were unbreakable, so I just followed you.”:lol: :lol: :lol:

I really enjoyed this update, Card ... holding hands, & having lunch at school, now a chance to do "laundry & a movie" - well, it's almost "Dinner & a Movie" :lol: And the Clark/Chloe talk was great too. Really great update - no help needed from me this time....;)

[MOOman0618]

2nd!

[akuma]

3rd!

Gigidy they r so cute!!:p surprise visits, holdin hands, awww. anyways love the update, but lets to some juicy clana:D

[maroon09854]

4th awsome update

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

*sighs* 5th if it even matters great update

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by Cardinal

“Lana’s not a mind-reading fish.”

“Mermaid, Chloe, mermaid.”

“Whatever!” Chloe said, waving her hands as if the distinction was unimportant.

HA! :lol: :lol:

Very super update Card. I liked the suprise visit by Clark. And I especially like Chloe's advise to let Lana in slowly to see how she reacts. Post more soon!

[4EverSmallville]

The conversation with Chloe was great :D. Can't wait to see the laundry and a movie date!

[iloveit]

yay great update!ppms!

[maru11]

yeah great update!!!!!!

[kewl]

that was such an awesome update and a great conversation between chloe and clark!!!! post more the soonest coz i wanna get to the laundry part, the movie part and the visit to the kents!!! :D

[binkys711]

Dude this update was absoutely hialrious! I loved it! I was laughing so hard on the crack up of the roof thing! :rotfl::lol::rotfl::lol: it was awesome! Glad Clark has a good friend like Chloe!:) Hope he at least tells her about his abilities now! PPMS!!!:D

[NYC300Z]

great update Card! I see they are getting very close! It could be harder for Clark to let Lana in then he thinks.....I mean his abilities are one thing, but then the last one especially since what happened to Lana's parents and well u know...

PPMS!

[Cardinal]

For those of you that are not familiar with Superman legend, a little explanation is in order.

The character Lori Lemaris was taken directly from the comics. Clark met her while he was attending school at Metropolis U. He fell in love with her and eventually proposed. She turned him down because she was a mermaid (which was why she was in a wheelchair) and had to return to the sea.

I didn't make this one up. The details will be different, but this was intended as a nod to Superman lore.

[sandy]

great update! Now I need to know what happens on their movie date! ppms!!!

[pacifichic]

Who needs dinner and a movie when there's...LAUNDRY AND A MOVIE! :)

Great update! PPMS!

[kewl]

hope u will be able to squeeze another update soon card! ;)

[Iowanmom]

Hey, Cardinal... very interesting introduction. I've only once traveled to this side of the boards, but your intro intrigues me. I hope to come back and read more later. I love the fact that you seem to have all the characters in your story and it seems despite the fact that this is a Clana fic, you have Clark and Chloe still as best friends. That's really cool. I'm a die hard Chlarker, but the pull of friends, family and a very interesting plot has me excited to read more. Keep up the good work. Looks like you have quite the following. I hope I can eventually catch up, if you don't mind a Chlarker in your midst!!! :D
Tina

[SVsleuth]

Welcome to Card's thread, Iowanmom! The very LAST update was the best Chole/Clark scene he's written yet, so read fast. I was LOL it was so funny!!! I'm sure Cardinal will love to welcome you himself, but he'll be working 'til late tonight, so I thought I'd welcome you, as one of his biggest fans (& his occasional assisstant.)

[Iowanmom]

Thanks, SVsleuth. 60 pages is really daunting, but I will try my best. I hope to start reading soon. Thanks for the welcome, SVsleuth.
Tina

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Well, the fact that you're having a "die hard Chlarker" reading your fic really says it all, Card :) It's a fantastic fic and I loved the last update. You always write Chlark scenes so perfect, like if it was in the show.

Now I can't wait for the laundry and movie! PPMS!

Oh, btw welcome to the clana-board Iowanmom! Feel free to check out more fics. We've got some talented writers here :)

[SVsleuth]

Iowanmom, I just HAVE to reccommend to you to read post #419 on the "Dreams" thread, by Minnesota girl - even if you don't read the rest of the fic - which is awesome, BTW. As a Chlarker, you'll probably enjoy it even more than we did. It's hilarious.

[SmallvilleMan]

Hey, in all of my fics chloe is one of the main reasons Clark and Lana stay together. Always giving good advice, i make chloe looks great, imo.

[4EverSmallville]

I love the Chlark/Clana immersion going on :lol:. It's like we're integrating :rotfl:.

[SmallvilleMan]

*Runs to the bathroom to throw up*:p What are you trying to do to me 4ever?:lol:

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
*Runs to the bathroom to throw up*:p What are you trying to do to me 4ever?:lol:

:lol: Man, you should really get yourself to a doctor. Get yourself checked out, cuz constant barfing is not a good thing. j/k :D

Thanks SVslueth, 4EverSmallville, and Dr. Jeckyll for the wonderful welcome. Being a lover of 'The Power of Chlark' doesn't mean I don't appreciate other shippers' soulful 'muses'. I was originally sent to this side of the boards by a Clana shipper, JulesMariah. I'm reading her fic in the Adult Section and she encouraged me to come and check you all out. Cardinal's fic sounds really interesting. My favorite stories (besides 'Chlark') center around fics with the whole cast. I so miss Pete. I loved him dearly and I'm so excited to find that this fic might have him in it, but also a nice friendship 'Chlark' tone along with the 'Clana'. I don't know. We'll see how it goes.This is only the 3rd Clana story I have read, actually that I'm currently reading.

Sorry to use your fic as a podium, Cardinal but I felt the need to defend myself. No worries, tho. You won't catch me running away. Your story intro shows a cool AU for Smallville and our Characters. I'll give it a shot, whether I'm wanted here or not. It's about your fic, not me being a Chlarker!!!

Post more when you can Cardinal... your fans await you!
:)

[SmallvilleMan]

Man, you should really get yourself to a doctor. Get yourself checked out, cuz constant barfing is not a good thing. j/k

It really isn't.....:eek:

[maroon09854]

Iowanmom of course your wanted here anyone is:) card cant wait till u post the date !!!!!!!

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by Iowanmom
I'll give it a shot, whether I'm wanted here or not. It's about your fic, not me being a Chlarker!!!
:)

I really hope you didn't get the impression you were not welcome! All are welcome...espcially those from other ships. If gives us a chance to try and convert you. :p

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Yeah, I love when ppl from other ships come around. It's almost bash-free zone here in clana-land. I enjoy Chlark very much, as long as it's written in a friendly, humorous way. But let’s not go off topic...

PPMS, CARD!

[NYC300Z]

Hey Card this deserves an update!;)

[kewl]

yep, this definitely deserves an update!! :)

i hope it's not too late for another welcome, so... welcome IowanMom :D

[Cardinal]

Welcome to Clanaland, Iowanmom!

Wow! It's a real red-letter day around here when an honest-to-goodness Chlarker comes in to read...and for that reader to choose my story is just amazing.

I really like Chloe and have always seen her as one of Clark's primary reality checks. No Chloe-bashing in my stories.


I WILL come clean and admit to saying mean things about Chloe when I think she's trying to interfere with the Clana, but other than that, she's cool with me. ;)

[NYC300Z]

that's cool Card, but where is the update!?;)

[kewl]

pleez update card ;)

[Cardinal]

I'm working on an update. It's currently halfway done.

[NYC300Z]

are you planning on updating tonight?

[Cardinal]

Not likely. Try tomorrow before noon.

[NYC300Z]

oh iight I'll be on after work then

[Cardinal]

Okay, the update is ready, but will not be posted until it has been proofread by someone I trust.

I'm guessing the update will be posted before noon ( I should be up by then).

[IluvCLANA]

do you trust the other person in your head thats telling you to post now, because your updates are always awesome?

[kewl]

please post in like today card! :D

[Cardinal]

Chapter 30 - Popcorn

Clark was studying in his room when, shortly after 7 p.m., the doorbell rang. Clark got up from his chair and headed for the front door. He was smiling in anticipation that Lana would be on the other side, laundry basket in hand. Upon opening the door, Clark’s smile grew wider as his anticipation was correct. Same as the last time she came over to do her laundry, Lana was dressed comfortably with her hair piled up at the back of her head in a loose bun, and her laundry basket was at the ready. Detergent and fabric softener were perched precariously on top of the mound of clothes.

“Hi, Lana,” Clark said, as he held the door open wide.

“Hi, Clark,” Lana said, returning his smile with one of her own as she entered the townhouse. As Clark began to close the door, Lana asked, “Would you do me a favor, Clark?”

“Most likely. What would you like for me to do?”

“I’ve got a second basket in the back seat of my SUV. Would you get it for me while I start the first load?”

“Sure,” Clark said.

When Clark came back inside with her clothes, he could hear the washing machine beginning to fill as he headed down the basement steps. Lana looked up and smiled as Clark came through the doorway into the small laundry room. Seeing the second basket, she said, “Thanks, Clark. It’s not enough that you guys let me use your facilities on short notice, but you also help lug my clothes down here. At this rate, you’ll be folding and ironing in no time.”

“Well…I am fairly fast.” Moving over to where Lana was sorting her clothes into piles for washing, Clark was about to offer to help until he saw a bra and figured out that one pile had to be underwear. Why didn’t I think of that before, an embarrassed Clark wondered as he headed for the door. “I’ll see you upstairs, Lana.”

“Okay,” Lana said, flashing Clark a smile, “and thanks again for helping me.”

The things I would do just to see that smile, Clark thought. He turned back as he reached the door, and asked, “Would you like some popcorn for the movie?”

“I’d love some popcorn.”

Minutes later, Lana had completed sorting her clothes and had dumped in the first load. Clark, meanwhile, had microwaved a large bag or Orville Redenbacher’s best popcorn and had dumped it into a large bowl. When she came up the stairs from the basement and closed the door, the scent of fresh, buttered popcorn permeated the air and she took a big sniff to enjoy the scent.

“So,” Lana asked, “what are we watching?”

“Well,” Clark replied, “I looked over my DVD collection and decided my idea from this afternoon was a good one. We’ll watch ‘Roxanne.’”

“I’ve never seen that movie before…what’s it about?”

“It’s a romantic comedy that stars Steve Martin and Darryl Hannah. It’s a modern-day retelling of Edmond Rostand’s play about Cyrano de Bergerac.”

“That sounds nice,” Lana said. At least he didn’t pick an action movie of some kind.

“What would you like to drink? I’ve got sweet tea, lemonade, Sprite, and water.”

“Sprite, please.”

As Lana made her way to the couch, Clark turned most of the lights off, leaving only the kitchen light on. He carried the refreshments into the living room, placed the drinks in front of Lana on the low coffee table and handed her the bowl of popcorn. While she was eating the first few kernels of corn, he placed the DVD into the player and the movie automatically started.

Clark sat down as close to Lana as he thought he could without making it look like he was going to ‘try something.’ Lana took care of that particular worry almost instantly as she scooted over a few inches into a position that pressed her thigh against his.

“Want some popcorn?” she asked. “It’s really good.”

Taking the proffered bowl, Clark reached in for a small handful of corn, and held the bowl where Lana would be able to reach it easily. After munching his handful, Clark grabbed the remote and skipped past the previews for other movies. This is better than the movie theater on several counts, Clark thought. First, we don’t have to sit through the previews, second, the refreshments are cheap, third, we can always replay a section of the movie we didn’t quite hear the first time, fourth, no jerk sitting in front of us talking on his cell phone, and last, but definitely not least, my girl gets to snuggle right up to me.

As the opening credits started, Lana reached forward and picked up her glass for a drink. She looked at Clark as if to ask whether or not he wanted his drink. He shook his head no, but smiled his thanks to her for asking.

The whole movie was a showcase for the comedic talents of Steve Martin. Instead of him being a 17th century French soldier, this telling of the story had him playing the chief of a volunteer fire department in a small tourist town.

Early in the movie, Darryl Hannah’s title character, Roxanne, is chasing her cat outside just after dawn, wearing nothing but a white silk robe. The robe became caught in her front door when the door shut unexpectedly. The door was locked, so not only was her robe stuck, but Roxanne was stuck herself. She could either suffer in the cold, waiting for sunrise and a helpful passerby, or she could slip out of her robe and go for help.

She gambled and took the latter course of action. Moving from tree to bush to hedge, Roxanne snuck unnoticed through the sleepy town and made her way to the fire station. She knocked on the fire station door and ran for cover.

When Steve Martin’s character, C.D. Bailes, appeared, she explained her situation. He asked if she would like a coat to wear, both for reasons of propriety and warmth. Roxanne gave a very sarcastic reply, “No, I’d really like to stand naked in this bush in the freezing cold.” C.D. took her at her word, collected his tools, but didn’t get her anything to wear.

While laughing at Roxanne’s predicament, Lana asked, “You wouldn’t do something like that to a girl would you?”

Muttering almost inaudibly, Clark said, “Not unless I wanted to burn down the whole town.” Realizing what he had said and who was sitting next to him to hear it, Clark just held his breath and waited for the inevitable question.

Lana just turned her head slightly in Clark’s direction and raised an eyebrow. When no immediate explanation was forthcoming, she reached over and gave him a quick, reassuring squeeze on his forearm.

After thirty minutes had passed, by Clark’s watch, the movie was paused when Lana went downstairs to move her first load from the washer to the dryer and to put her second load in the washer. When she came back upstairs, she found Clark pacing agitatedly across the kitchen floor.

“What’s wrong, Clark?”

“Nothing…everything…you…me…” Throwing up his hands in resignation, Clark said, “Basically, I’m too comfortable around you. I say things I shouldn’t and do things I shouldn’t and in the process, I’m giving up secrets I’ve kept since I was old enough to know what a secret was.”

“If this is about your ‘burning down the town’ comment,” Lana said, “I can wait. Remember, I promised to wait until I had earned your trust.”

“Thanks, Lana, but that has perils of its own. If I wait to tell you, I may end up driving you away, just as I…” Clark’s voice trailed off there as he was not yet willing to say the ‘L-word’ to Lana. Rubbing his hands together, Clark said, “So. It’s time to let you in on a secret or two and see how you handle it. If I’m going to scare you off, I’d rather have it be now, when we’re just beginning a relationship, than later.”

Somewhat taken aback by his sudden need to tell, Lana thought for a few seconds before asking, “Okay. What did you mean when you said you wouldn’t do that unless you wanted to burn down the whole town?”

“Starting with the tough one, huh?

“No, just starting with the most recent one.”

Clark’s mouth hung open as he searched for words to say to Lana what he had not said to anyone since explaining what he was to Chloe in the sixth grade. Finally, Clark decided a small demonstration might help. He went fishing around in their cabinets, looking for something to heat up, when he came upon the kind of popcorn that Pete liked.

Instead of microwaveable popcorn, Pete liked Jiffy Pop, the kind that came in a foil pan with an expandable foil cover. Personally, Clark thought the stuff had a vile taste, but it was perfect for what he had in mind. He handed the Jiffy Pop to Lana and said, “Feel this.”

Lana rubbed her hands all over the surface of the container, and said, “Okay, it’s an aluminum foil popcorn container.”

“Yes, but what temperature is it?”

Befuddled, Lana said, “Room temperature.”

Clark smiled and led Lana over to the small dining table. He stood on one side of the table and Lana stood on the other. Clark then directed her to place the container on the center of the table. She set it down, giving Clark a questioning look all the while.

When she straightened up, Clark said, “Watch this!” He then tilted his head forward slightly and focused his eyes on the container. After a few seconds, the foil covering began to rise rapidly, much faster than if it was being heated on a stove. Clark cut off his heat just in time for the package of popcorn to reach its peak without exploding.

Lana was slack jawed with disbelief. “What? How?” The first thing she did was feel the table immediately around the container, but she felt nothing but a room temperature tabletop. Then, she went to the kitchen and opened three drawers before finding what she wanted. Steak knife in hand, Lana came back to the table, cut open the foil top, and tasted a couple of kernels. Just as nasty as I remembered, Lana thought, but this is definitely the right stuff.

Even suspecting that Clark was capable of generating some heat had not prepared Lana for a demonstration like this. Clark has just shown that he can generate a significant amount of heat and place it a distance from his body at an exact location chosen before hand, Lana thought. All without letting his heat spill over onto the immediate surroundings of his target. In-freaking-credible!

Finally, Lana’s attention turned back to Clark. His face was tight with conflicting emotions: fear and hope. Lana realized that which emotion would win depended on her reaction. Finding his eyes with hers, Lana put all her effort into a smile. If you’re ever going to believe me, she thought, believe me now. I’m not scared. I’m not running away. Let me in.

Slowly, carefully, almost afraid of spooking him, Lana asked, “How did this happen? How long have you had this gift? What…?” As her voice trailed off Lana noticed that the hope in Clark’s face was now ascendant. The smile that had been threatening to break out ever since his demonstration had spread from ear to ear.

Clark did the only thing he could think of…he stepped around the table, effortlessly lifted Lana up, and spun her around once before setting her back down. “You’re still here!” Clark said. “If you only knew what this means to me.”

“In Smallville,” Lana said, “a number of people had a special ability and some of them were just fine. The ability didn’t define who they were as people. Their actions did that. Your actions speak of a man I very much want to know better.”

Still absorbing the idea that Lana was not going to leave him over this, Clark’s mind finally caught up to the fact that Lana had asked a few questions.

“How I gained this ‘gift’ is best left for another time,” Clark said. “I’m not quite ready to tell that story, but I’ve had this ability, heat vision I call it, since early in my sophomore year in high school. When it first showed up, I was scared. I didn’t know what triggered it or how to turn it off when it started. It took a lot of practice to gain control.”

“So, at the party, you melted those ice cubes on purpose? No, That doesn’t make any sense. That was something you’d want to keep secret, not show off in front of a large crowd. What did happen at the party?”

“Umm…” Clark edged a finger in under his shirt collar in a vain attempt at loosening what suddenly felt like a noose. “Well…you see…this ability has an unusual trigger. It originally occurred when I became, umm, excited? Turned on? Losing control of my heat vision like that is something that hasn‘t happened to me since high school.”

Lana just stared for a few seconds as she mentally went over what Clark had just said. Yup, she thought, he definitely said that getting horny triggers his heat vision. While Lana was busy being careful, Clark’s discomfort was growing at an exponential rate. His normally light-colored skin was turning an alarming shade of red as he waited for Lana to say something, anything, about what he just revealed.

Lana edged closer to Clark, standing so close to him that their bodies almost touched, and said, “So, if I walked up and stood toe-to-toe with you, like this…” Then, she rubbed her hands slowly up his chest, finally resting them on top of his shoulders, “and rubbed my hands up and down your chest, like this, and whispered just how fine you look, you might have trouble controlling your heat vision?”

“Might?” Clark asked. “Yeah, I might, and there would be only one remedy for that right here and now.”

Still clinging to his shoulders, Lana asked, “And what might that be, hmm?”

“This.” With that, Clark lowered his head, pressed his lips to hers, and gave her what she had been asking for…heat. Not a meaningful kiss like Sunday night, just heat given out and, increasingly, heat received back.

Finally, they broke apart, both of them gasping for air, laundry and movie equally forgotten. As Lana laid her head against Clark’s chest, she asked, “Got any more secrets this good?”

“Maybe, but I’ll save them for another time.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! That was so fun, Card. Having to explain heat vision first - probably not as easy as speed would have been. But that will make the others seem easier. Clark must be SO relieved that Lana didn't freak out. And I'm sure he didn't mind getting to kiss her either. I bet it won't be long before he reveals more to her. PPMS!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

2nd! I loved the update as usual, Card. They're always fun to read :) It's cool to see them so comfortable together and clana-kisses are always welcome. So is Lana visiting the Kents in the next update? PPMS!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Great update. Praise the clana kisses. PPMS

[sandy]

wow, that update was a lotta fun to read! never watched that movie, but it sounds interesting. ppms!!!

[akuma]

Gigidy!! Awesome job!! finally starting to let her in!!!:D keep this up!

[maru11]

great update!!!

[NYC300Z]

wow he started his reveal a lot sooner than I anticipated. I mean I know it must seem like a lot to him, but he hasn't know her that long....he must have some crazy feelings for her already!

PPMS!

[Cardinal]

She already has some suspicions, so Clark figures if he's going to chase her away by being different, it should be now instead of when he falls in love.

[Iowanmom]

And so it began....
Well Cardinal this is a delightful story. I've only read through 2 pages, but I wanted you to know I was reading. It's a bit painful for me to see Clark and Chloe sooooo brother sister-like but I relish the fact that you have a keen eye for their friend-like chemistry. I absolutely LOVE the Pete dialogue. I miss him so much. Thank you for putting all of our characters in this story. There are so few of them around. This is very good so far. I will continue to read and thanks for the reply to my fic. I'm honored you graced the pages. I hope to read more tomorrow. Keep those updates coming!!!!
Tina

[kewl]

awesome update!!!! clark's feelings for lana must really be that strong or else he wouldn't let her in!!!! need more, so PPMS!!!!!!

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by Cardinal

As his eyes refocused on Pete, Clark said softly, “It’s my first date since Lori rejected my marriage proposal, almost 10 months ago.”

Astounded by this revelation, Pete said, “You proposed? I thought she just dumped you, withdrew from school, and left town.” Trying to gather his thoughts, Pete asked, “Why haven’t you told me about this before now?”

“Simple, Pete,” Clark said, a sad smile evident on his face, “It hurt too much. If I could pretend she had just dumped me, I thought it would somehow seem less painful, and less personal, than being told she loved me but could never marry me.”

“Why couldn’t she marry you?”

“Now’s not the time to get into that, Pete.” You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, anyway, Clark thought. Leaving his room, Clark pulled the door closed behind him, and said, “At some point, I just have to move on with my life. Lori’s not ever coming back.”

Sooo sad, Cardinal. Dare I tell you I have tears in my eyes??? I may be a Chlarker, but I am a Supes fan all the way. I hate for my Clark Kent to hurt.

**wiping eyes**
I'm continuing to read. I do wonder if I'll ever catch up.

[iloveit]

aweseom update! aw clarks so comfortable around lana! ppms!

[C.A.chick]

PPMASAP! Can't wait! this is a GREAT story card.

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

YES PLEASE POST MORE SOON!!!!

[NYC300Z]

yeah come on Card hurry up and update!;)

[kewl]

yeah card, PPMS!!!

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Lana was dressed comfortably with her hair piled up at the back of her head in a loose bun, and her laundry basket was at the ready. Detergent and fabric softener were perched precariously on top of the mound of clothes.
I am not sure why, but this part made me smile. :)


Originally posted by Cardinal

This is better than the movie theater on several counts, Clark thought. First, we don’t have to sit through the previews...and last, but definitely not least, my girl gets to snuggle right up to me.
First, the preview are one of the BEST parts of going to a moive, but I definitly agree with the last part. ;)



I really enjoyed this update Card! Lana and Clark are definitely getting closer!! The kiss at the end was awesome.

I also very much like how you are dealing with Clark's secret. You had him tell Lana right off the bat that there are things about him he isn't ready to share...and it is great to see that he can finally share some of them. Growing up in Smallville would probably dull your senses about this sort of stuff...so that was a bonus for Clark. And choosing heat vision as the first to tell her, that is probably one of the hardest to explain. Anyway...great job and POST MORE SOON!!! :) :)

[ajfinn]

Fantasic updates :) Loved all of them that I missed while I was gone. It's so awesome that they are feeling more comfortable around each other, and that Clark is being aggressive for once :) That kiss was "hot" hee hee

Keep it coming, Card!!! We're all waiting!! :D

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Come on, Card! We're dying here! Gimme gimme gimme!

Okay, pleeeeeeeeease? :p

[binkys711]

I'm sorry it took me so long to read it:( with school starting again and then k-site regularly down I haven't had a chance to catch up.

The update was fricking awesome! Alright Clark! one piece of the secret is already out! HOOORAY! and the clana kiss was HOT;) lol, PPMS!!!:D

[Cardinal]

Chapter 31 - Family Time

“When did Clark say he was going to be here, Kathy?” Martha asked, as she scooped the drippings from the roast into a bowl so she could make gravy.

Looking up from her table-setting duties, Kathy said, “He didn’t…at least, I don’t think he did.”

“Don’t worry, Martha,” Jonathan said, as he entered the kitchen. “Our son has never missed a mealtime at your table when he was supposed to be here.”

Jonathan walked over to Martha and planted a kiss on her cheek. Kathy saw it , and said, “Oh gross! Why don’t you two get a room if you’re going to do that kind of stuff?”

Jonathan and Martha just smiled at each other as Clark super-sped into the room. He mussed Kathy’s hair, and said, “You’ll understand kissing a bit better in a few years, Half-Pint.”

“Clark!” Raising her hands to fend off her brother, Kathy said, “I understand it just fine, it’s just creepy watching them do it.”

“Hi, Clark,” Jonathan said, “we’re glad you could make it.”

“Yes,” Martha said, while whisking some flour into the drippings bowl. “It’s always nice to have my whole family together, even if it’s just for a little while.”

“Well, I like being here,” Clark said as he picked four glasses out of the cabinet to help Kathy finish setting the table. “Here, I’m just Clark. No one expects me to be anything except a member of this family.” Sniffing the air experimentally, Clark asked, “How long until lunch, Mom?”

“Not long,” Martha replied. “I just popped the rolls into the oven.”

“We watched your game on TV, Clark,” Kathy said. “You guys were awesome, right from the start. 41 to 10, what a beating you gave those guys.”

“Yeah,” Jonathan said, “I’d have to agree with Kathy. That was an impressive showing. Too bad you guys didn’t put out that kind of effort last week against Utah State.”

“West Virginia was in trouble from the minute we got out of film study last week. The coaches chewed our butts, long and hard, and then practice was tough all week. They had us going in full pads three different days.”

“It wasn’t as tough on you as it was on your teammates though,” Jonathan said, with a knowing smile.

“Well…no. Indestructibility is one ability I can’t turn off.”

“That’s a big relief to me,” Martha said. “I honestly don’t know how I’d make it through your games if I thought you were taking the full force of those impacts.” As Martha kept fiddling with the gravy to give it just the right consistency, a thought struck her and she said, “As far as your invulnerability goes, Clark, Lana was rather curious at your first game about the fact that we weren’t reacting to the hits you were taking in the first half. You might want to be careful around her, she seems to be a very sharp young woman.”

Clark made a careful study of his toes, before gathering his nerve and looking from one parent to the other. “That’s something we’ll need to talk about later.”

Sensing something he was not going to like, Jonathan asked, “Why later? We’ve got plenty of time right now.”

“Well…I’d like for you to meet her first before we talk.”

“It’s too late for that, Clark,” Martha said. “We met her at the game…remember?”

“It’s true you did get to meet her,” Clark said, “but this is different. I haven’t told you this yet, but she’ll be here to watch the Sharks’ game with us. We’re going out on a date tonight, and the game is the first part of it.”

“You’re bringing a girl over here?” Kathy asked. “Cool!”

“Clark,” Martha said, “how could you invite a girlfriend over here and not let me know ahead of time? Our house isn’t fit to be seen by company.”

Jonathan rolled his eyes skyward and said, “Martha, the house is so clean, that I could safely eat off the floor in the hallway by the front door. There are hospital operating rooms that aren’t this clean. Relax.”

Clark chuckled at his dad’s overstatement and then laughed again when he realized Jonathan wasn’t that far away from the truth.

Kathy smiled mischievously and said, “Maybe Clark will get to show us what he knows about kissing.”

Clark turned to his little sister and asked, “What is it with you and this sudden fascination with kissing? Earlier, you said something about understanding kissing ‘just fine.’ How would you know anything about kissing? Hmm?”

Kathy’s lightly-tanned, lightly-freckled face turned puce. Suddenly, she could not make eye contact with anyone in the room and stammered as she said, “I…uhhhhh…well, you see…ummmmm…”

“Kathy?” Jonathan asked, “Is there a young man I should be talking to about what he may and may not do with my daughter?”

Directing a glare in Clark’s direction, Kathy muttered, “You are so dead!” to him before turning to Jonathan and saying brightly, “Why no, Dad. One of the boys at school was just curious about what it was like to be kissed.” Dry-washing her hands, Kathy continued, saying, “And I was, too…a little bit anyway…and so we tried it.”

Sensing Jonathan had taken over the conversation in his capacity as chief guardian of his daughter’s virtue, Clark shot Kathy a quick look of apology and eased his way out of the kitchen and up to the attic for a quick cleanup of his side of the room. Lana was not likely to come up here today, but he was taking no chances. A burst of super-speed had everything looking clean enough to meet even Martha Kent’s draconian standards of cleanliness.

By the time he returned to the first floor, an uncomfortable silence had settled over the dining room, and dishes piled high with roasted beef, potatoes, and carrots were being placed on the table, while drinks were being poured.

Looking at his teary-eyed sister, Clark stooped down to apologize, saying, “I’m so sorry, Kathy. If I had any idea you had actually kissed a boy, I never would have said that. I was…I was just teasing you a little bit, that’s all.”

“Your ‘teasing’ got me grounded for a week, Clark,” Kathy said. “Thanks a lot!”

Knowing better than to hug his sister when she was mad, especially when that anger was at least partially directed at him, Clark asked, “Will you be able to go to my game next weekend?”

“I don’t know, I hadn’t thought of that yet.”

Kathy walked over to Jonathan, and asked, “Daddy?”

“Yes, Punkin?”

“Can I go to Clark’s game next Saturday even though I’m grounded?”

Jonathan noticed the ‘puppy dog eyes’ were being used to full effect. He looked over to Martha, and in one of those mysteries of marriage, a decision was made by the two of them without any outward sign of communication. At least, no sign that Clark had been able to pick up on.

Returning his gaze to his daughter, Jonathan said, “It’s a family thing, of course you’ll get to go.”

A smile creased Kathy’s tear-streaked face and she said a jubilant “Yes!” while making a fist and pumping her arm. Everyone smiled as this one ray of sunshine broke through the gloom.

“Now,” Martha said, “everyone go wash up. Dinner is ready.”

Later, as the Kents were demolishing a peach cobbler for dessert, Clark pointed his fork for emphasis, and said, “One thing I’d really like is if everyone would not make a big deal out of this. Lana’s just coming over to watch a game.”

“But it’s a date, Clark,” Martha said.

“Just a casual date, Mom,” Clark said, “Officially, it’s only our second one.”

Holding up her hands in surrender, Martha said, “All right, all right. I get it. You’re taking this slowly.”

Watching his mom try to bottle up her enthusiasm was like watching someone try to herd cats…it’s an impossible task, but very entertaining to watch. Her frustration was so palpable, that Clark felt he should’ve been able to see it.

“While I second your mother’s comments on your need to guard your secret around Lana,” Jonathan said, “I’d also like you to know just how delightful we found her to be when we met her at the game. She seems to be a nice young woman, I hope…well, let’s just say I hope things work out for the best.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Having filled every possible nook and cranny of their stomachs with Martha’s cooking, Jonathan headed into the den to put his feet up on the couch and get ready for the game, Martha left to start in on some paperwork she had brought home from the office, and Clark and Kathy were busy clearing the table, rinsing off the dishes, and putting them in the dishwasher.

“Hey, Big Mouth,” Kathy said, “why’d you have to get me in trouble?”

“Remember, Kathy,” Clark said, “you’re the one that brought up kissing. When you said you understood kissing, you made it sound like you had gotten some practice.” Looking at her out of the corner of his eye, Clark affected a casual air, and asked, “Who was your victim anyway?”

“He…my WHAT?”

“Victim. One of the meanings in the Encarta Dictionary is: somebody who is tricked or taken advantage of, and you had to have tricked somebody to get a kiss.”

“You and that stupid eidetic memory of yours,” Kathy said.

Kathy’s eyes showed she was just about to cry again, so Clark quit teasing her and asked, “What’s wrong? Normally when I give you a hard time, you fight back.”

“I just…I never…oh, I made the kissing sound like it was more than it really was. All I really did was kiss a boy, one time on the lips, and it was over so fast.” Shooting a sharp look at Clark, she added, “No, I won’t tell you who he was.”

“Did you tell this to Dad?” Clark asked.

“No. After I said I understood kissing just fine, why would he believe me? Especially after the way he overreacted.”

“He’s your dad. He wants to believe you. Besides, he may remember more about what it’s like to be eleven than you give him credit for, Kathy. I know I would have been scared to kiss a girl when I was eleven, I’ll bet he was, too. So he’d likely believe that you were scared to do more than a quick kiss.”

“So, what do I do?” Kathy asked.

“Go tell him. I’ll finish the dishes. Even if he doesn‘t relent on the grounding, it‘ll make you, and him, feel a lot better.”

As his sister headed for the den, Clark stopped her with a question. “Hey, Half-Pint, what did you think of your first kiss?”

She turned in the doorway and said, “I honestly don’t know why kissing is supposed to be such a big deal. I think it’ll be a while before I try it again.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! That was neat. A Kent Family interactions chapter. It's cool to see them all at home together. I love seeing how Clark & Kathy interact. We get to see a whole new side of Clark. Can't wait for Lana to get there. The next update should be another super one. PPMS! :)

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Poor Kathy got in trouble, shame on Clark. Cool update. PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

sv took the words right out of my mouth

well, except the '1st' part ;)

[MOOman0618]

Awww...poor Kathy. But I'll bet she'll get some jabs of her own in when Lana arrives. Can't wait for more!!!

[akuma]

ARGH!! Nice update, but need my Clana!!! PPMS!!!:D:D

[sandy]

wow, I love the fact that u write in such a detailed style! And a good ol' family get-together isn't so bad either!

ppms!!:D

[binkys711]

poor Kathy she got sooo busted!:p I felt sorry for her! Clark and his big mouth!:p awesome update Card! the Kent family dinner was great! I loved it!:D PPMS!!!

[iloveit]

aweseom update! everyone said all the good stuff so ill just say ppms!:D

[Dr. Jeckyll]

I've mentioned it before, but I'll do it again; I love Kathy. She brings out a different personality of Clark (like SV said) and it's really cool when they interact.

I'm really looking forward to Lana's arrival. That should be interesting!

PPMS!!

[maru11]

awesome update!!!
update soon!!

[NYC300Z]

yeah Great update Card! I agree with what everyone said! Can't wait for Lana to show up!;)

PPMS!

[super12]

that was a great post. i wonder how Jonathan will take Clark tell a little bit to Lana about his powers. ppms

[nellie2]

great update! PPMS!!!

[ajfinn]

Ahhhh ..... I can't wait until Lana comes :) That will be so fun!!!

Kathy is so funny, she's a perfect younger sis for Clark. And I bet Lana and Kathy have a very different opinion of kissing. I know I would if I was, umm, kissing Clark.

*contemplates erasing that last sentence. Husband looking over shoulder. Oh, well. I've said worse on these boards . . . remembers something about Clark tied up in a closet!! Runs to see if he's still there. Screams with glee!!!!*

[kewl]

great update!!! i love their family, they are just so open with each other. poor kathy though being grounded for a week :D can't wait til lana joins them, so PPMS!!!!!

[SVsleuth]

Originally posted by ajfinn
Ahhhh ..... I can't wait until Lana comes :) That will be so fun!!!

Kathy is so funny, she's a perfect younger sis for Clark. And I bet Lana and Kathy have a very different opinion of kissing. I know I would if I was, umm, kissing Clark.

*contemplates erasing that last sentence. Husband looking over shoulder. Oh, well. I've said worse on these boards . . . remembers something about Clark tied up in a closet!! Runs to see if he's still there. Screams with glee!!!!*

:lol: LOL!!! :lol: AJ, you always crack me up. Yes, I am CERTAIN, Lana won't say, "Yuck" or any such thing when Clark kisses her again. (Notice, that's a WHEN, not an IF.... right, Card??? - more Clana kissing soon!!!!)

[Cardinal]

Chapter 32 - It Might Be You

By the time Clark finished with the dishes and entered the den to watch the Broncos-Chargers game on TV, Kathy was already snuggled next to Jonathan. Both were smiling, and the tension-free atmosphere made Clark smile also. In his hands were a beer for Jonathan, a Coke for Kathy, and a glass of iced tea for himself.

Handing out the drinks, Clark said, “Make room, KK, I’ve got to fit on that couch somewhere.”

Jonathan and Kathy edged farther toward the left end of the couch to create enough space for Clark to sit on the right end. The black leather couch creaked as it shifted slightly under Clark’s added weight. Clark looked at Kathy, who looked at him and gave him a smile and a wink.

Feeling that all was right with the world, Clark settled in to watch the first half of the game. By halftime, the game was no longer in doubt, as three Bronco turnovers and 110 yards rushing by LaDainian Tomlinson led to a 28-3 Charger lead at the half.

Clark made his apologies and got up to leave to go pick up Lana. “Why isn’t she driving over here?” Kathy asked.

“Simple. I don’t want to risk her getting lost. Besides, this way I get to spend some time alone with her before the Sharks’ game. Also, I have to go get her. It would be difficult for me to explain how I got to our house without driving.”

“You ran here today?” Jonathan asked.

“Yeah, I took off my socks and shoes and came on over. That much driving didn’t appeal to me , especially with the price of gas these days.”

A short time later, Clark had just finished re-lacing his boots and was driving his truck out of the grocery store parking lot where it had been stashed. A ten-minute drive through Sunday afternoon traffic had him at Lana’s apartment building in plenty of time for the appointed 2 p.m. start time for their date.

Clark sat in the truck for a few minutes to avoid being too early, and then headed for her door at five minutes before two. A quick knock on Lana’s door brought a muffled reply from within. Using his super-hearing, Clark heard Lana say, “…got to go now, my date’s here and I’m not quite ready yet…I love you, too, Nell…Bye now.” Hearing the beep ending the cell phone call, Clark could then hear Lana’s small feet padding across the carpeted floors as she approached the front door. As Lana’s feet stopped moving, Clark waited a second and then waved his hand at the peephole in her door.

Clark was still using his super-hearing and thus was able to hear Lana’s surprise as she mumbled to herself, “How did Clark know to start waving just at that exact moment?” Then, speaking loudly so he could hear her through the door, Lana said, “Clark, I’m going to unlock the door so you can come in. Give me ten seconds to go back to my room before you come in since I’m not quite ready yet.”

“Okay.”

Clark resisted the temptation to use his x-ray vision and find out exactly how much work was left for Lana to do, instead contenting himself with the knowledge that at least he was on time and that Lana would soon be ready.

Having counted slowly to ten, Clark eased open the door and made his way to Lana’s living room. He sat down on the futon and picked up her TV remote, turning the TV on to see what was happening in the Denver-San Diego game. San Diego was still ahead and the game had just started the third quarter. Minutes later, San Diego was on the march again when Lana made her way out of her bedroom.

“I’m ready,” Lana said, as she pulled a light coat out of her hall closet to go over her Sharks sweatshirt.

Turning off the TV and standing, Clark said, “Let’s go,” and held Lana’s coat as she slipped her arms into the sleeves.

Once they were in Clark’s truck and on the freeway, he said, “I didn’t tell anyone you were coming over until lunch today, but the family knows now. I thought they should have some warning.”

Lana was in the middle of the bench seat, belted in just like Clark, and sitting as close to him as the belt allowed. She tilted her head up toward Clark, and said, “That’s okay.” Wondering how to phrase the question she wanted to ask, Lana thought for a moment, and asked, “Clark? Back at my apartment, how did you know when to wave at my peephole?”

In response, Clark turned the radio on and tuned in a frequency that had no station, and then turned up the sound loud enough that the static was plain to hear.

“Umm…Clark? Did you hear me?”

“Yes, I heard you,” Clark replied. “Wait just a minute, please.” A look of concentration came over his face for a few seconds before he said, “Lana, please change the station to 101.3 FM.”

Bewildered at this apparent change of subject, Lana nonetheless played along, saying, “That’s an easy-listening station, Clark.”

“I know that, but before you change the station, I’ll tell you what song 101.3 is playing.”

Doing her best Dr. Evil impersonation, Lana said, “Rrrrrright.” Stretching her arm forward and placing her fingertips on the tuning controls, she said, “Okay, Smart Guy. What’s playing now?”

A faint smile played over his face, as he said, “It’s ‘Moon River’ by Andy Williams.”

Lana changed the station to 101.3 and, much to her surprise, Lana could hear “Moon River, wider than a mile…” Stunned, Lana asked, “How did you know?”

Clark, however, was focusing again. “97.3 FM. The song will be ‘Hot For Teacher’ by Van Halen.”

Once again, Lana’s fingers raced to change the station and once again she heard the song Clark predicted. “No way,” she said. “Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, but three times…?”

One more time, Clark focused and after a few moments, he said, “1260 AM. A light-rock station. The song is ‘True’ by Spandau Ballet.”

A third time Lana changed the station. This time her mouth hung open in awe as she heard the predicted song come over the radio. After staring at the radio for a good ten seconds, Lana turned back to Clark and asked the only question she was capable of at the moment, “How?”

“Basically, I have the ability to, when I so desire, extend my hearing range far beyond that of a normal person. Each of those stations was being played in a car close by us. All I did was listen in to several different cars at once until I found one that announced its frequency and then listened for the song. Besides having much greater auditory range, or being able to hear something that is much more faint than what regular people could hear, I’m also able to sort out a particular sound I’m interested in hearing from a multitude of competing sounds, whether they’re close up or far away.”

“Why’d you choose to tell me about this now?” Lana asked. “You could have made up a plausible lie about how you happened to wave at the right time and I likely would never have known.”

“Actually, hearing the tail end of your private conversation was a big reason I told you now. I didn’t think it would be fair to you if I had this particular ability without letting you know about it quickly once I began letting you in on my secrets. You’ll never be able to walk away from me with someone and have a whispered conversation that I can’t hear...if I choose to use my skill. A mumbled complaint will be perfectly clear to my ears any time I want. I just wanted you to know that, so you’ll be better able to keep your secrets to yourself.”

“Thanks, Clark. That’s a very gentlemanly thing to do.”

“I wanted you to know now, instead of finding out later and wondering if I had taken advantage of my ability during our relationship.”

Clark’s inadvertent admission that he wanted a ‘later’ in their relationship brought a small smile to Lana’s face as she turned back to look at the road. I want a ‘later’ too, she thought.

As the truck wound it’s way through the city on the freeway, the DJ on the light-rock station Lana had left on announced the next song, saying, “From the soundtrack to the movie ‘Tootsie,’ the next song is ‘It Might Be You’ by Stephen Bishop.”

Time
I've been passing time watching trains go by
All of my life
Lying on the sand, watching seabirds fly
Wishing there would be
Someone waiting home for me
Something's telling me it might be you
It's telling me it might be you
All of my life

Looking back as lovers go walking past
All of my life
Wondering how they met and what makes it last
If I found the place
Would I recognize the face
Something's telling me it might be you
Yeah it's telling me it might be you

So many quiet walks to take
So many dreams to wake
And we've so much love to make
Oh, I think we've gonna need some time
Maybe all we need is time

And it's telling me it might be you
All of my life

I've been saving love songs and lullabies
And there are so much more
No one's ever heard before
Something's telling me it might be you
Yeah, it's telling me it must be you
And I'm feeling it'll just be you
All of my life

Maybe it's you (it's you)
Maybe it's you (it's you)
I've been waiting for all of my life

By the end of the soft and dreamy song, Clark and Lana were holding hands, neither one willing to talk for fear of breaking the spell they were under. Finally, Clark had to release her hand to return both hands to the wheel once they left the freeway and returned to the city streets.

Minutes later, they pulled up at the Kents’ house, a soaring Victorian-style home consisting of two stories plus a capacious attic. As they headed up the walk hand-in-hand, Lana noticed the double doors in the largest gable on the front of the west-facing house.

Pointing with her free hand, she said, “I’ve never seen a set of doors like that in a Victorian home before. What’s their purpose?”

“They were put in by my dad,” Clark said. “That way he was able to put some furnishings in the attic that wouldn’t have made it up the narrow fold-down ladder inside the house.”

“Why furnish an attic?”

“He called it my Fortress of Solitude when I was little. Now, I share it with my sister Kathy. It’s a place for us to go that belongs just to us. I guess it’s somewhat like an indoor tree house.”

“It sounds nice,” Lana said.

“You can see it later, if you want,” Clark said. “Sunsets seen from up there are especially nice.”

“I may have to take you up on that, Clark.”

Now standing in front of the front door, Lana looked somewhat apprehensive and Clark asked, “Are you ready for this? We can always wait for another day to do this.”

“No. I’ll be all right.” She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, and said, “Let’s do this.”

Clark opened the door and held it for her. Lana stepped through and Clark followed her inside. Immediately reclaiming Lana’s hand with his own, Clark was beginning to wonder where everyone was when Kathy popped out from a little-used front sitting room, and said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me, Clark?”

Clark had expected his irrepressible sister to be the first to greet Lana and he smiled as he made the introductions. “Lana,” Clark said, “this is my sister Kathy Kent.” Turning back to his sister, he said, “Kathy, this is Lana Lang.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Kathy,” Lana said. “Clark has said so much about you.”

“Same here, Lana,” Kathy said. “Clark hasn’t brought a girlfriend home to meet us in a long time.”

Clark started to tell Kathy that he and Lana were not boyfriend-girlfriend, but Kathy raced down the hallway, yelling, “Clark’s got a girlfriend! Clark’s got a girlfriend!” That brought Jonathan out of the den and Martha out of her first-floor office.

Clark looked at Lana and shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Lana replied by squeezing his hand, and saying, “Come on, Clark. Now that the hard part’s over, let’s get me introduced to your parents…again.”

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

1 st I thought you were talking about Kristin Kreuk for a minute. Cool update I want to see what happens later on

[SVsleuth]

2nd!


By the end of the soft and dreamy song, Clark and Lana were holding hands, neither one willing to talk for fear of breaking the spell they were under.

As they headed up the walk hand-in-hand...

Immediately reclaiming Lana’s hand with his own, Clark was beginning to wonder where everyone was...

Lana replied by squeezing his hand, and saying, “Come on, Clark.
Amazing how so much can be communicated simply by holding hands - especially with just the right song playing in the background. And now, they might get to watch a sunset from the attic FOS - so Smallville-like - it is so fitting. Hoping they'll get to a little more than holding hands... ;) they DID enjoy their first KISS - And the "hot" one.

And Kathy is as cute as ever. Glad she made peace with Jonathan. After her excited outburst, it will be cool to see if Clark and Lana bring up the "girlfriend" topic when they are alone.

Thanks for the update, Card. PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

So who's on first? I dunno--THIRD BASE! :D

PPMS!

[iloveit]

great update! i wish i could tell wat was on other radio stations! thatd be so aweseom! ppms!

[LovinMe210]

5th yay! That was a good updat ppms!

[C.A.chick]

WOAH! Awesome Card. I love how Kathy is KK....hehe. Hmmmm..... it was an absolutely lovely and cute update! PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ajfinn]

Great update again, Card. I love how Clark still has his FOS, that's such an important part of Smallville, and Clana history :D

Keep the updates coming!

[SVsleuth]

Forgot to add that I really loved this part:

“I wanted you to know now, instead of finding out later and wondering if I had taken advantage of my ability during our relationship.”

Clark’s inadvertent admission that he wanted a ‘later’ in their relationship brought a small smile to Lana’s face as she turned back to look at the road. I want a ‘later’ too, she thought.

Sweet! :)

[sandy]

wow, I loved that update! Such a carefree fic! And how can u not consider 2 people that have held hands and have kissed TWICE boyfriend-girlfriend?! That's a couple in my book!:lol:

PPMS!!!

[Cardinal]

They haven't made it official yet. Though I expect that will happen very soon (maybe even in the next update)

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Allen[/I]? I still can’t believe I let you talk me into going on a date with that guy. His feet aren’t the only part of his body that is fast.

"His hands,” Chloe shuddered, “it was like fighting off an octopus.”

“You did straighten him out though.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t fast enough to slap him, but he never saw the pepper spray coming,” Chloe said. “Remember Clark, when the time comes, you owe me one for that date.”

“Wait here, Chloe. I’ll be back soon.”
Cardinal..
Absolutely hilarious. I know it's taking me a long time to read, but I'm coming along!!!! This is a great story!!!

[Cardinal]

Don't worry. You'll catch up eventually. I don't write that fast.

It's taken me three months to get 32 updates written.

[nellie2]

great update! i like how you had clark show lana his super hearing ability. PPMS!!!

[MOOman0618]

Has it really been three months?? Wow...it doesn't seem like that long.

Anyway, great update!! I would have commented sooner, but we all know k-site is being really stupid lately. I so much love that Clark is willingly revealing small parts of himself to Lana a little bit at a time. I don't know how she is containing herself though...I would need to know every ability and how he got them all at once. She has more patients than I! Post more soon!!

[NYC300Z]

Awesome update Card! Can't wait for the rest of their date and maybe their adventure up to Clark's Fortress;)

PPMS!

[kewl]

i loved the update!!! awesome!!! keep it coming!!! PPMS!!!

[Minnesotagirl]

i just read your story, Card. It's soooooooo good! Keep it up.

[Cardinal]

Thanks for reading my story and posting a reply, Minnesotagirl!

I know you don't post very often on anything other than your threads and the Clana Fix Clubhouse, so receiving a post from you here is extra special!

Thanks, and I hope you continue to enjoy reading my story.

[akuma]

Finally i can get into ksite to say how great this is, keep it comin

[linn]

hey,,,...just caught up with the story.....it sucks when your crashes right....PPMS!:D

[Iowanmom]

Well, Cardinal I have finally caught up. Now because of the problems with K-site, I can’t give you the HUGE reply that I should. (More detailed and specific) The site keeps crashing and I can't copy from page to page, so I'll just have to wing it.

First and foremost, I must address the Chlark in your story. Now it is rough for me at times to see them so brother sister-like (I've said this before) but I am so glad you have put such delicate pains into establishing such a true and wonderful relationship between these two. They really do have great chemistry.

When Chloe took Lana aside and told her she'd come after her if Lana broke Clark's heart, I was so happy. I myself have done that to my best friend’s boyfriend. It solidified the trust, the valued care and love that Clark and Chloe have and that truly fuels my Chlark heart. Chloe is the most important thing (currently friend wise) to him and that is as it should be.

Pete. I love Pete. He has a way of keeping everything real, down to earth and nonmessy, where females tend to dramatize and overreact. I do wish for more of Pete in your story, but I am so glad he is bunkin' with our Clark. He brings out the true boyish nature of how men really see things and feel things. This is really refreshing to see: both POV. Clark's when relating to Chloe and Clark's when talking to his male bud. Excellent Cardinal.

And Lana. I gotta say. I do enjoy Lana in your fic. Soooo often I read fics where she is well... not that well received. Lana in your fic is funny, light, and airy. She is smart and trustworthy. She doesn't seem to have the baggage that weighs down the Lana on the show. She seems to be a free spirit. Willing to take things as they come and accept the outcome regardless of the reasons. She's not manipulative or 'guilt-trip' happy. She is sweet and gentle in her way of easing Clark's fears. So gentle in fact, he feels comfortable to tell her some of his secrets even before Pete. I find that a bit hard to believe, but I'm going with the flow, but I do wonder why Pete doesn't know yet. It could be Clark's heart is so desperate to find that special one person in his life, he's allowed his carefully placed walls to be enchanted by the beauty that is her smile. But not only is the physical beauty apparent, but deep inside this tiny creature there is a beauty much deeper than what's visual on the outside. And that is what truly captures Clark’s heart.

However, I did find myself raising an eyebrow quite a few times at Lana's underhandedness. Why try to 'get' Clark drunk when you can simply ask him? Why not come clean now that she knows he has secrets and is willing to share them with her??? I fear this could be a problem in the future, but maybe not. I tend to read deeper into fics than is actually written, so forgive me if I'm way off. Lana is honest, but she too is just 'human', not doing the right thing straight out of the box. If Clark can be curious and use his X-ray vision and super hearing to see and hear her, then I guess she too can be whisked away by her own curiosity. I do hope she confesses, tho. I really do.

I really enjoy the sparring of the Kent siblings. I have only read one other fic with Clark and a sibling and I think there are far too few of these fics around. Clark would surely blossom with a kid sister or brother around, but mostly he would be less burdened by the secrets of his very existence if he had a sibling to share it with. Nice work here, Cardinal

And the whole campus life you have drawn into our minds is perfect. Just perfect. You have truly done your homework. And the games and detailed attention to the football language, strategies, plays, etc. Wonderful. I'm not a football nut, but I appreciate the time you've taken to delve into the intricacies of the game. Highlighting the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork and responsibilities of the captains and players involved. I had no idea. Wonderfully done, Cardinal.

And Elaine. What a treat to read a new character. I'm seeing this more often. Writers brining in their own love interests for Clark. She so seemed an equal to Clark. A true friend and confidant, and potential lover. I did think Clark would make a longer go with her, especially being that she means so much to him, but at least he doesn't string her along.... He tells her right upfront there isn't a romantic interest. Sure, it hurts her, but she's better for it. She won't pine after him for years and years because he's too afraid to hurt her feelings. Honesty, it looks nice on your Clark Kent.

Well seeing that this reply is VERY long despite the fact that I don't have examples quoted, I should end my reply here and 'try' to get it posted. Again, I apologize for the length, but I feel if a writer has the courage to expose themselves in their writing for all of us to see, I have a responsibility to reply in kind. I don't always do these long replies, but I will try to bring to light what your writing moves in me. Great job, Cardinal. I look forward to reading many more updates from you. Thanks for allowing this die hard Chlarker in your midst. :D This truly has been a delight to read!!!
Thanks,
Tina

[IluvCLANA]

wow, i almost thought that was an update.....then i noticed the font.......then who it was written by.
card, i know we always say it all the time....but your a truly amazing writer. look, you even brought a die hard chlarker into the realm of the clana forums.
please post more soon card!!!!! :D

[NYC300Z]

:lol: yeah I was thinking that was an update for a sec too!

[binkys711]

lol so did I!:p

I just rad your update Card! sorry I've been a little slower on stuff these days, apart from the constant k-site crashing, going back to school has been literally brutal and HW has never been higher with our last mid-terms coming up (these define what high schools we're going to, cause here 9th grade is still junior high) so they're VERY important. I'll be trying to log on more often. I hate being the last to read *sigh* oh well.

Your update was awesome! I loved it! lol KK is so funny and cute! and all those clana moments and holding hands were just so sweet! and I loved the DR. Evil impression Lana did:p PPMS!!!:D:D:D

[Iowanmom]

Sorry everyone... I tend to get verbose in my replies. Sorry. You said I coud, Cardinal. Hope that was ok. I can't wait for the next update. Take your time tho. :D

[Cardinal]

Are you kidding? I LOVE long replies.

[binkys711]

yeah...I like it when people describe a lo on threads also. I just got confused:p

[Cardinal]

ELAINE

As far as Elaine goes, she was originally intended to be a much stiffer challenge for Lana, but some of the people around here started getting scared when it looked like Clark might really like her, so I bowed to my readers' wishes and cut that short.

Should I ever write another fan fic after this one is complete, I will likely stick to what I want to write and hope the readers will follow.


PETE

In this story, I'm not sure if Pete wants to know Clark's secret(s). So far, I've written him as a guy that goes along to get along. Off-screen, I think he's ignored any hints that Clark might be anything other that what he seems to be.

I'm turning into Al/Miles as far as Pete goes, meaning, I need to have something for him to do. Maybe he'll have a big role in an upcoming storyline that will involve homecoming.


LANA

The part with Lana being underhanded didn't work out the way I had hoped. A couple of updates after that update, I realized I probably shouldn't have done that. By then, it was too late to go back and rewrite since it had been widely read.

As far as I'm concerned, one of Clark's primary motivations for telling Lana about himself so soon is that he doesn't want to suffer the pain of heartbreak again. So, if he's going to scare her off, he'd like to do it at the beginning of the relationship instead of waiting until he's deeply in love. The other reason being, of course, how unaccountably comfortable he feels with Lana.


Thanks for reading,

Cardinal

[NYC300Z]

Awesome re-cap/insight into the writers mind! Very interesting!

PPMS!

[super12]

great know we know a little about the characters perposes lets get another post.ppms

[IluvCLANA]

everyone loves long replies......its definitely okay Iowanmom :D
so card.....is the next update coming along okay?

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Took me a long time to read your last update, Card. But I got to read it just now and it was marvelous. I love the Kents and their interaction with Lana will be cool. And maybe we get a clana kiss in the FOS? Would've been great! :D

Is your next installment far away? PPMS!

[SmallvilleMan]

She's not manipulative or 'guilt-trip' enforced

Whoa, i was loving ya until here;)

[ericatipton]

GREAT STORY!

[Cardinal]

Expect an update here sometime tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. :)

[SVsleuth]

Yay! An update on the way! I will try to be patient. :)

[iloveit]

*bes patient*

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by SmallvilleMan
Whoa, i was loving ya until here;)
I meant 'guilt trip' happy. Uhhh, my replies are never intended to upset people. ;)

Cardinal, I absolutely love the gentle way you are weaving Clark and Lana together. It's not forced at all. These two are slowly finding their own pace, surely a path to each other, but free of the potholes and complexities witnessed on the show.

Just because I don't 'ship' this particular duo, doesn't mean I can't appreciate the love of the couple and the tender feelings and emotions of thier passion. We've yet to even experience these two on a more 'adult' level, but I know the love and soulful desires of Clana is beautiful, sweet and tender in its own right.

The delicate way you write this story, I can only become enchanted with these two lovers. This fic is so fresh, so angst free, it evokes shining goodness, light and beautiful feelings for 'anyone' that decides to grace the pages.

You have many 'ships' in this fic. Clana, Chlark, even a budship with Pete and Clark. This is a treat for many 'shipper's' eyes. I am glad I moseyed over to this side. Like everyone else, I anxiously await your next update. Take your time. Good things come to those who wait. :)
Tina

[IluvCLANA]

Originally posted by Iowanmom


Just because I don't 'ship' this particular duo, doesn't mean I can't appreciate the love of the couple and the tender feelings and emotions of thier passion. We've yet to even experience these two on a more 'adult' level, but I know the love and soulful desires of Clana is beautiful, sweet and tender in its own right.


im loving you more every second ;) :D

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by IluvCLANA
im loving you more every second ;) :D

:lol: :rotfl: :rotfl:
LMAO!!!
Well, I'm soo happy to hear that, IluvCLANA!!!

[NYC300Z]

tomorrow?

[kewl]

PPMS!!!

[C.A.chick]

wow, I've missed a lot of talk around here. I just about gave up on K-site. I know you've heard this a million times Card, but you're truly amazing. Everytime I read an update of yours, whether it be the first time, or 52nd, I'm entranced by your skill. I love how Lana is willing to except that Clark has secrets and that it will take him some time to open up. I also love the tenderness. In the show, sometimes the Clana is very rushed, but here you take your time and gradually, but beautifully, show their relationship build into more and more. PPMASAP!

[superman_lives_on]

Looking forward to more soon! :D

[Cardinal]

Something else has come up, so the new chapter won't be early today.

It'll have to be tonight...SORRY! :(

[NYC300Z]

Well just make sure it is tonight!:D

[sandy]

oh, I didn't even know u were planning to update this morning. But an update tonight sounds good to me!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Darn! I'm gonna miss it :( Yeye, I'll read it tomorrow then!! I'm really excited about this one :)

[binkys711]

I can't wait 'till the update Card! take your time, we know it will be great anyways, it always is!;)

P.S: Congratulations on your thread hitting 1000 replies!!!