Bless the Broken Road

[SVsleuth]

Originally posted by binkys711
Congratulations on your thread hitting 1000 replies!!!

DITTO! Nice going, Card! :)

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by binkys711
Congratulations on your thread hitting 1000 replies!!!

Ditto too :D

HEY ....... TO CELEBRATE, WE NEED THE PROMISED UPDATE TONIGHT ..... RIGHT?!?!?!?!

YIPPEEE

It's a trip to the loft, right?

[iloveit]

Originally posted by binkys711


Congratulations on your thread hitting 1000 replies!!!

yaa congrats lets celebrate with cheese and updates!:D

[ericatipton]

WOW!

[Cardinal]

Okay. Personal issues have been cropping up today faster than mold in Seattle, so I won't be updating tonight.

I should be able to get most of an update done before going to bed and should finish it after tomorrow night's episode.

I know this is sounding like a broken record on the "Broken Road," but I am sorry. :(

[NYC300Z]

Come on Cardinal! You can do it! ;) Oh well Hope you get to it the soonest!

[C.A.chick]

Hey Card, we just appreciate all your efforts. You've updated so much so ofetn with such great updates. No need to be sorry. We understand, and I don't really mind waiting for what I know will be a great update.

[iloveclanamorethanu!!!]

i new here, card, post for the new guy plz!

[IluvCLANA]

Im sure that when you do update...it will be worth the wait for the beautiful clana that you write.........

[superman_lives_on]

I hope you can get it in tonight. I think we may need a major Clana fix depending on how "Reckoning" turns out.

[SmallvilleMan]

Definitely and it's so hard writing clana, when something goes bad on the show.

[ericatipton]

lol

[iloveclanamorethanu!!!]

reckoning 5 hours and counting for me . . . . ppms!

[IluvCLANA]

ditto :D

[binkys711]

LOL welcome iluvclanamorethanu!!! Glad to have ya here! Welcome to the Clana side! Hope ta see ya around more!:)

Take your time Card;) don't worry, when the update comes I know it will be the bomb!:D

(Since I have a "special" cable :p I get to see SV earleier than it should be on my time zone, so it's:1 hr and 45 minutes away! BOOYAH!:D:D:D

[IluvCLANA]

*blows rasberry*

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

*crying* I have to wait like 4 hrs n 20 min PPMS

[iloveclanamorethanu!!!]

reckoning for me in only 1 hour! im eating dinner and gettin all my stuff out of the way so i dont miss it!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

I guess I'm gonna have to do my homework to pass the time...not! It feels like time is going so slow 4 me

[superman_lives_on]

Please let Lana live...please let Lana live...please LET HER LIVE!!! If they keep her dead, I will never forgive them.

EDIT: .....I am never, ever, ever forgiving them for what they did instead--and I don't mean the death of Jonathan Kent. I am never watching another "fresh" episode of Smallville ever again. Not after this mess.

[Cardinal]

Chapter 33 - Parental Notification

The Kents were standing together expectantly just outside the den before Clark squared his shoulders, returned Lana’s hand squeeze, and said softly, “Here goes nothin’!”

Lana leaned in closer, and asked, “It can’t be that bad, can it?”

“Oh no…never…I’m just officially introducing the woman I’m on a date with to my folks. The first date they’ve seen me on in roughly a year. Not to mention the fact that my little sister just decided, all on her own, that you and me has become us…”

Lana pulled Clark around to face her in the narrow hallway, and asked, in a voice only Clark could hear, “Would that be so bad?”

“Would what be so bad?” asked a perplexed Clark.

“You and me being us,” Lana said. “Would it be so bad if we were a couple?”

“Are you serious? I’ve been thinking about making us official since our first date. I even discussed it with Pete, but I thought you might think I was moving too fast.” Clark took a deep breath, and said, “I don’t want to rush you into anything you don’t feel ready for, Lana.”

A wide smile bloomed across Lana’s face at Clark’s admission that he wanted to be her boyfriend, officially, as he so cutely put it. Lana rubbed her thumbs across the backs of Clark‘s fingers, and said, “I’ll take that as a proposal and say, ‘Yes, I’d love to be your girlfriend, Clark.’”

Clark’s hopeful, nervous grin broke out into a full-fledged smile and he picked Lana up for a quick 360 degree spin followed by a hug and a quick kiss. Their normal smiles had mutated into the goofiest grins by the time they completed the kiss.

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Martha watched this little drama from a distance, but could only guess at what was being said.

“I wish I could hear what’s going on over there,” Martha said.

“Well, I, for one, am glad super-hearing doesn’t run in the family,” Jonathan said.

“Why not?”

“A man needs to be able to keep some secrets.”

“From his wife?” Martha asked. The slight edge in Martha’s voice was enough to let Jonathan know he needed to choose his next words carefully.

“Uhh…I mean…those kids will need some privacy,” he said. And then, unable to resist the chance to stick the needle in just a little deeper, he added, “Lord knows they won’t get very much privacy around this house.”

That softly spoken comment earned him an elbow in the kidney just as Clark and Lana broke their kiss and headed down the hall.

As Clark and Lana headed toward his waiting parents, they noticed Martha elbow Jonathan in the side and shoot him a dirty look before she turned back toward her son and his date.

When they came to a stop a step in front of the Kents, Clark said, “Mom, Dad, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Lana Lang.”

His hand halfway to Lana for a welcoming handshake, Jonathan stopped, turned to Clark, and asked, “Your what? I thought this was just a casual date?”

The women shared knowing smiles as Clark said, “Well…it was…and then we decided that we wanted more than just dates, so we made a commitment to each other. We’re now an exclusive couple.”

Clark then finished the introduction, saying, “Lana, these are my parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.” After everyone reacquainted themselves, Clark said, “You’ve already met Dead Meat. I’m sure she’s in her bedroom right now, hiding under the blankets.”

“Dead Meat? What are you and Kathy after each other about now?” Martha asked.

Clark’s look was one of exasperation, while Lana’s was one of barely controlled amusement. Clark was about to fill them in, when Lana tugged on his arm to stop him. She then stood on her toes and whispered in his ear, “Let it go, Clark. She was just being a kid…besides, it was funny!”

Clark raised an eyebrow in surprise and turned to fully face her as he asked, “Funny? Mortifying is a little closer to what it was to me.”

The Kents backed off to give Clark and Lana a some privacy and then watched as this comparatively tiny woman went to work on their son.

“Of course it was mortifying to you, and that’s understandable. You were nervous about bringing me over here so your family could see us together…but watching her take off down the hall yelling with you looking fit to be tied was just hilarious. I’m still not sure how I kept from laughing out loud.”

“It was that good, huh?” A rueful, almost unwilling smile now on his face, Clark said, “I must have looked like a real jackass.”

“Nah! Now, though, I do know what you look like when you’re mad.”

“Thanks, Lana.”

As the young couple headed into the den to get ready for the Sharks’ game, Jonathan and Martha shared a look that spoke volumes, as in, Did you just see what I saw? and A few soft, patient words and his anger was gone, just like that! and How long have they been seeing each other for that kind of communication to be going on?

“I think…” Martha finally said, “I think I’ll watch the game with the rest of the family this week.” I have just got to see what other miracles Lana has up her sleeve.

By the time Martha and Jonathan came into the den, Clark had collected Lana’s coat and went back to the front door to hang it in the hall closet. When Clark came back, much to his dismay, Martha and Jonathan had claimed two seats on the couch with Lana sitting in the third and final spot. He spent a few seconds casting about for a place to sit when inspiration struck.

He hustled back into the little-used sitting room and pushed a well-cushioned loveseat down the hall and into the den. Lana’s eyes lit up when she saw the loveseat and the Kents just rolled their eyes at the triumphant expression on Clark’s face. After Clark adjusted the loveseat’s position, and moved the TV just enough so that it could be easily seen from both the couch and the loveseat, he waved Lana over and she quickly switched locations, with apologies to the Kents.

The pre-game show was just winding down , when Clark asked if anyone wanted a snack or something to drink. Everyone was good as far as food went, but Clark took orders for three lemonade teas and decided to get some orange juice for himself.

As the game neared halftime, Jonathan noticed Kathy stick her head around the corner and peer into the room. Clark just looked up from the TV and glared at her and she scampered back up the stairs. When the halftime show came on with JB, Terry, Howie, and Jimmy, and the Sharks ahead of the Houston Texans 14-6, Jonathan asked, “Clark, why were you scaring your sister off like that? It’s her room too, but you’re making her miss the game.”

“First,” Clark said, “I’m not scaring her off. The first time she came down here, she tried to sneak in without me noticing. When I saw her, she took off running. After that, it became a game for her to see if she could catch me ‘napping,’ so to speak. Second, she isn’t missing the game, Dad. You might have noticed she only came down during commercials. Plus, I can hear the TV on in her room, the sound delay is just enough to make it sound like an echo from this TV.”

Clark watched his parents carefully and was rewarded when their eyes just about bugged out of their heads as he mentioned being able to hear the TV in Kathy’s room upstairs while listening to this one not more than ten feet away.

“Clark? Are you sure you heard Kathy’s TV?” Martha asked

Jonathan, however, put this statement together with what he first suspected at lunch when Clark first mentioned that they ‘needed to talk.” That led him to ask, “Clark, are you trying to tell us something? If so, I’d like it if you'd go ahead and blurt it out.”

Lana took that as her cue to give the Kents some room for a discussion, so she asked Clark where the bathroom was, wiggled her way out of his arms, and left the den.

Watching Lana leave, Clark gave her enough time to clear the area before saying, “Yeah, Dad, what I wanted to talk about was Mom’s suggestion that I be extra careful around Lana with regards to my secrets.” Looking his parents in the eye, first Martha and then Jonathan, Clark said, “I’ve already begun telling Lana some of my abilities. I figured what I am might scare her away, so if I was going to run her off, I’d rather do it before we developed a close relationship.”

“Are you sure, Clark?” Jonathan asked. “This isn’t something you can take back if the result isn’t what you hoped for, you know.”

“Yeah, I know, Dad, and I’m sure. I have to do this. I don’t think I can go through…” Clark stopped, stood up, and collected the empty glasses and returned with refills. Settling into his seat, he said, “Let’s put it this way: if she will deserve to know eventually, then she needs to know now, so she can make an informed decision. I trust her to not tell my secrets if she decides to break up with me.”

“That’s a lot of trust to put in a young woman you have barely known for a month,” Martha said.

“Yeah, Mom, it is, but so’s giving her a chance at my heart. I’m much more worried that things might not work out between us, than I am about whether or not she’ll tell the world about what I can do. The first would break my heart, the second would only break my trust.”

Jonathan began to grill his son once again, but Martha stopped him by laying her fingers lightly on her husband’s forearm. “Whatever choice you make, Clark,” Martha said, “we want you to know we support you. We just want to make sure you’ve considered this carefully before leaping blindly into this.”

Shaking his head ever so slightly, Clark said, “I’ve done little else in my free time recently besides think of Lana, and I believe this topic came up one or twice.”

All three Kents looked back and forth, seeming to have brought this topic of conversation to a close. Pleased that he had gotten this admission out of the way, Clark took a quick look at the doorway with his x-ray vision and saw Kathy hiding just past the doorframe. “Kathy,” Clark said, “could you go to the bathroom and tell Lana it’s safe for her to come out now? She probably ran out of entertaining things to do in there a while ago and the second half is about to start.”

Chagrinned at being caught snooping, Kathy said, “Sure thing, Clark,” as she hurried back to the bathroom. Clark heard two sets of feet coming back down the hall seconds later. Lana’s voice could be heard saying, “…don’t think he’s mad at you anymore, Kathy. He was pretty steamed at you for a minute or two, but he got over it. So why don’t you come on down and watch the second half with the rest of us on the big TV in the den instead of the one in your room.”

“Okay! My TV is kinda small, it’s only got a 20” screen.”

At that point, the girls rounded the corner into the den, and a sheepish Kathy said, “I’m sorry, Clark. I didn’t mean to cause you problems today.”

“You didn’t, but thanks for the apology anyway.” Kathy leaned over the back of the loveseat to wrap a skinny arm around his neck for a quick hug, but Clark grabbed her arm and pulled her entire body over the back of the seat, whereupon he proceed to tickle her mercilessly.

Only the fact that the second half was about to start and that Lana was waiting for her seat convinced Clark to release his sister. Kathy scurried to the vacant seat next to her folks as Lana eased back onto the loveseat. All Lana needed to do to find out the results of the little pow-wow Clark had just held with his parents, was to see his smile as she leaned into him to snuggle up tight for the second half.

Her softest whisper from only inches away was audible only to Clark as she said, “One set of parents down, one more to go.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! Genius! Making CLANA official and posting it on the day of the official CLANA breakup on Smallville. You will gain a zillion more readers very soon. :) I love how Lana could dissipate his anger so quietly - & how his parents noticed. Also loved how he dropped the hint about his hearing & waited for his parents to catch on. Neat. And I think Lana & Kathy will get along just fine. You must think about writing an exclusively Lana/Kathy girltalk scene at some point in the future. PPMS! :)

[SplitCold]

wow great update, now there an official couple, i wish it was like that on the show

can't wait till you update again

[superman_lives_on]

*gasp*

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! The first light of Clana salvation! FANTASTIC!!!

PPMS!

[ericatipton]

awesome!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Great update! I'm so sad about the clana breakup and JK death.

[kewl]

YaY!!!! they're officially a couple, super great!!!! need more so PPMS!!!!

[iloveclanamorethanu!!!]

guys is clana really broken up! i mean have some faith, lana said she needed a break (not neccessarily break up ) and they end up holding hands at the end. im not sure if they are together, but in vengeance, there is one or two clana scenes based on trailers, so it'll all play out in front of us . . . . . next week

great update card but i need opinions on this before u post again. Thanks!

[MOOman0618]

Reading some good Clana is heaven from what yesterday brought! Thanks Card for the pick-me-up. Great update! Clark should be thanking Kathy for putting him and Lana together officially. Post more soon!

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Her softest whisper from only inches away was audible only to Clark as she said, “One set of parents down, one more to go.”

Pardon?

[super12]

that was a great post. ppms

[sandy]

I looove this fic! so carefree and refreshing! Keep up the awesome updates!

[iloveit]

aw its so cute. ppms!

[LovinMe210]

that was adorable ppms!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Originally posted by iloveclanamorethanu!!!
guys is clana really broken up! i mean have some faith, lana said she needed a break (not neccessarily break up ) and they end up holding hands at the end. im not sure if they are together, but in vengeance, there is one or two clana scenes based on trailers, so it'll all play out in front of us . . . . . next week

great update card but i need opinions on this before u post again. Thanks!

I'm losing faith:( , In the trailer they showed it seemed that it wasn't gonna be nice clana.

PPMS

[Cardinal]

The second set of parents Lana is referring to is Nell and Dean. Nell has been her surrogate parent for 17 years and Dean has been involved for 5 years, so they're as close to real parents as Lana can get.

Though she may eventually show Clark her parents' gravesite in Smallville and have a reprise of sorts of the graveyard scene from the pilot...MAYBE. ;)

[Iowanmom]

I am sooooooo sad today. Soooooo very sad. :(
Cardinal, I really enjoyed this update. I'm glad we got to read a happy update after the epi last night. The show may not respect and honor our deepest desires, but at least in Fan fiction we can continue to dream and hope for that which fuels our muse or beats our very hearts. I pray yours continues, Cardinal. I really do.

Nice update and I am sorry I am so meloncholy. I can't wait for the next update. Post more when you can.

[IluvCLANA]

thanks for the update.......im so depressed......man!!!!!!!!!!

im hoping that she stays with him for sympathy like she did with whitney, long enough for clark to atleast tell her about the going back in time thing...he can open up to her about that without telling her the whole story, idk just hoping tptb wont mess it up anymore, but, they are tptb so i guess im just wasting my time.....

oh and yea the clana in the spoilers doesn't look too good from what i saw...

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

he could of just proposed to her and all that and just kept her away from lex. Anyways PPMS

[linn]

Just read it all...loved it...PPMS!!!!

[IluvCLANA]

well, yea he could have...but jor-el would have killed her anyway bc clark got what he wanted and goodness knows he cant have what he wants/lana...she means too much to him....the whole human emotions are your weakness thing.....

ppms

[akuma]

Great update Card, ur writing continues to be great!:)

[Cardinal]

I'm more than halfway done with a new update.

[IluvCLANA]

!!!!!yay!!!!!! i cant wait card....i know its going to be great!

[ajfinn]

Yeah, Card. Another great one! Can't wait for the loft .... eer ...... attic or whatever ..... scene!!

And they're official..... yep, we all need that about now.

[Cardinal]

Chapter 34 - Sunset

An hour and a half later, Lana and the Kents were celebrating the Sharks’ first win of the year, by the score of 24 to 13 over the hapless Houston Texans. Kathy and Jonathan stiffly unwound themselves from an embrace they had been holding for over an hour. The Texans had been moving the ball down the field early in the second-half for a potential game-tying score when Jonathan and Kathy had hugged. During the hug, the Sharks intercepted a pass, and, being superstitious about sporting events, they held the hug for the rest of the game, each afraid to move for fear of somehow changing the outcome.

Clark and Lana had been watching them out of the corner of their eyes with growing amusement. Clark was sure that Jonathan’s right arm, which was pinned between Kathy’s slight frame and the backrest, had fallen asleep before the end of the third quarter, and Lana found it comical that Kathy was getting so comfortable leaning on her father’s chest that she kept trying to fall asleep in the darkened room. As soon as her head would touch down on his chest, she would jerk her head up, struggling mightily to stay awake. For her part, Martha had seen this all before and merely rolled her eyes when what was going on became apparent.

Rubbing her eyes as she climbed off the couch, Kathy said, “Wow. The Sharks finally won a game!”

“And we owe it all to you and Dad,” Clark said. “I mean, if you two hadn’t held that clinch for 90 minutes, the Texans might have made a comeback and won the game.”

“Laugh it up, Stupid Brother, but I wasn’t moving for anything or anybody!”

“I’ve seen people go to extremes to avoid messing up whatever karma they had going on, but that was unique.”

“But we won,” Jonathan said, “that’s all that matters.” Looking at the two new additions to the usual Sunday crowd, he added, “I think we had some other help today, though. Martha doesn’t usually watch the game with us and Clark’s newly-minted girlfriend, the lovely Miss Lang, made her first appearance here today. So…I think we’ll need both of you ladies back in this room next weekend. After all, we wouldn’t want to spoil the team’s karma, now would we?”

Martha started to protest that she usually uses that time for herself, but stopped when Lana looked up at Clark with an impish grin and said, “I think I can fit a Sunday football game into my schedule.”

“Looks like my Sunday afternoons are spoken for, for the foreseeable future,” Clark said. “Now, while I’d like to stand here gabbing all evening, I do want to show Lana around the house, topped off with some time alone in the attic.”

That last comment was pointed directly at Kathy, who was smart enough to take the hint.

“I think I’ll be working on my homework for a while,” Kathy said, “so you don’t have to worry about me interrupting you, but Mom is a whole ‘nother story.”

Martha brought her hands to rest on her hips, tilted her head toward her daughter, and said, “Excuse me?”

Kathy rolled her eyes dramatically and said, “Oh come on, Mom. Everybody knows you’re nosier than Pinocchio. I’m surprised you didn’t try squeezing onto the loveseat with Clark and Lana during the game.”

Jonathan drew himself up to try and deliver a mild rebuke to Kathy for disrespecting her mother, but never got the chance. Clark and Lana lost their fight to keep from laughing at approximately the same time. Their laughter started a cascade all around the room, until everyone, Martha included, had joined in.

“If we don’t see you later,” Clark said, “then thanks for having us over.”

“Yes,” Lana said, “it’s been fun meeting you and learning a little bit about the people who made Clark who he is today.”

Clark then took Lana on a leisurely tour of the first floor, pointing out the kitchen in particular, as being the unofficial family gathering place. Following Lana upstairs, Clark pointed out his parents’ bedroom door and was about to point to Kathy’s door, when it sprang open and Kathy invited Lana inside for a look around.

One step inside was all it took for Lana to noticed the decorating theme…pink. All the walls were painted a light shade of pink. The bed was a four-poster canopy bed trimmed with what looked like clouds of lace.

“What do you think?” Kathy asked expectantly.

“It’s not what I would have expected your room to look like,” Lana said, facing her hostess, “but it’s very pretty. When I was in high school, I loved pink a lot, also. You wouldn’t believe how many pink blouses I used to wear.”

“Really? I bet you’d look great in pink!”

“I’d bet she would look great in anything,” Clark said.

As Clark and Lana made their way out of Kathy’s room, Clark was about to shut the door when Kathy said, “I’m sorry, Lana, for what I said when you came over today. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. You’ve been really nice to me and I wasn’t so nice to you.”

“That was no problem for me, Kathy…in fact, you brought up a topic of conversation that both of us had been dying to talk about but neither one had the guts to mention. So, you get some credit for making us a couple.”

Kathy was beaming by the time Lana finished talking, and said, “Well, then maybe I’ll tell everyone you’re engaged next.”

Lana smiled at Kathy’s chutzpah, but Clark looked like he had just been sucker punched in the gut. He quickly pulled Kathy’s door closed and walked quickly toward the folding ladder that led to the attic. Lana was alarmed at Clark’s mottled complexion and the wild, distracted look in his eyes.

“Wait up, Clark,” Lana said.

Lana caught up to Clark as he pulled down the trap door and began to unfold the ladder. Her slender fingers took a hold of his bicep, and she asked, “What’s going on? You’re not actually going to propose, are you?”

“No, I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Then why the panic attack when Kathy mentioned an engagement. Even I knew she was kidding, and I’ve just met her.”

Still looking like a landed fish gasping for air, Clark finished lowering the ladder into place, and said, “She just caught me by surprise is all. I wasn’t…” Clark leaned his forehead on the ladder, closed his eyes, and said, “I wasn’t expecting the word ‘engagement’ to come up like that. Especially not from Kathy.”

Remembering that Chloe said his last girlfriend had hurt him deeply, Lana surmised that he proposed and she turned him down. Not knowing how to approach this topic, Lana asked, “Is this something you need to talk about? I’m here for you if you need me, Clark.”

“I don’t…I don’t think that’s something I’m ready to spend time thinking about, much less talking about.”

“Okay, then show me this ‘Fortress of Solitude’ of yours.”

Stepping back as Lana pulled her hand from his arm, Clark made his best attempt at a courtly bow as he pointed to the ladder and said, “Ladies first.” When Lana made it to the top, she stood in the attic, whose only illumination came from the slightly open doors, and waited for Clark.

Once Clark joined her in the wood floored attic, he pulled up the ladder and trap door behind them and then took a few steps to the side to turn on the lights. A variety of lights came on, including a vintage Lava Lamp in the corner next to an overstuffed armchair and strings of white Christmas lights hanging from the rafters.

Clark just stood in place as Lana took a look around and then walked slowly around the room. “This place is amazing,” Lana said. When her eyes finally returned their gaze to Clark, her face was suffused with a look of wonder.

“I’m glad you like it,” Clark replied.

“It’s easy to tell which side is yours and which belongs to Kathy, though.”

“What gave it away? The posters of Orlando Bloom that completely wallpaper her side, or the elegant way I stacked my old Spiderman comic books?”

“Those are comic books?” Lana asked. She walked over and picked up one of the comics which were stacked in a large bookcase next to an old couch that was facing the big Dutch doors. Thumbing through the comic book, she said, “I never would have picked you out as the comic book type.”

Clark followed her over to the bookcase, and said, “Are you kidding, a story about a boy that has special powers that he has to keep secret? That was made for me. I loved Spiderman. Still do, in fact.”

Looking thoughtfully up at Clark, Lana asked, “So, are you going to fight crime, wear a costume, and keep a secret identity?”

“I don’t think so. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Spiderman, it’s the fact that too many people would be trying to learn my secrets. It would be impossible to live a normal life.”

“Well, I’m not sure how useful having super-hearing and heat vision would be anyway, unless you wanted to be a professional police informer and listen in on criminals’ conversations or something.”

“Well,” Clark said. “I guess I could tell you about more of my abilities, that is, if you think you’re ready.”

“As much as I’d like to learn more about you, Clark, I just want tonight to be about spending time with you…no secrets, just us.”

“Sounds like a deal to me.”

Lana placed the comic book back on top of its pile and made her way over to the small couch. The fabric was well-worn, but it looked to be pleasantly overstuffed as she turned to sit down.

Clark moved to shut the Dutch doors in an effort to keep out the outside air now that the nights were becoming cooler. A quick look outside before closing the doors all the way showed the sun was low in the western sky, but not yet on the horizon. Clark pulled the doors closed and sat next to Lana on the couch.

“Why’d you close the doors, Clark?” Lana asked.

“To help keep it warm in here, your coat is still in the hall closet,” Clark said.

“Could you please open them back up? I’d really like to be able to see a sunset from up here, I bet it’ll look spectacular.”

Standing back up to comply with her request, Clark looked directly at Lana, and said, “Not as spectacular as what I’m looking at right now.”

Lana lowered her eyes and blushed. Clark reopened both sets of the Dutch doors. When he did not return immediately to the couch, Lana looked back up, and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Clark pointed vaguely toward Kathy’s side of the attic, and said, “I’m just going to turn on a couple of space heaters so you won’t get…” Clark’s speech ran down as Lana waved her first finger back and forth in a nearly universal signal for ‘No!’

“Okay,” he said, as he returned to her side on the couch, “but why not?”

“Because,” she said as she looped her arms around his neck, “I can think of a much more enjoyable way to stay warm while we wait for the sunset.”

Clark finally got the message, and his arms snaked their way under Lana’s arms and around her upper back so he could pull her closer. “How would this ‘more enjoyable way’ work?”

“Well, first, I press my lips against yours,” *kiss* “like this,” *kiss* “and if that doesn’t work,” *kiss* “I’ll keep trying until we both get really, really warm.” *kiss*

“Mmm…doesn’t seem to be working yet. Maybe I should help you.” *kiss* “How’s that feel?” *kiss* “Are you getting warm yet?” *kiss*

Both Lana and Clark spent the next several minutes in a feverish attempt to keep the other warm. Not surprisingly, they somehow failed to create enough extra warmth to allow themselves to stop.

Clark thought the kissing couldn’t get any better until Lana lowered her head and began leaving a spiral trail of kisses on his neck, from just below his ear on one side to his shirt collar on the other. With Lana’s face unfairly taken away from his lips for the moment, Clark was able to notice the sunset had finally begun.

“Umm…Lana?”

“Hmm?” *kiss*

“The sunset…ohhhh!”

“What about the sunset, Clark?” *kiss* By now, Lana had pushed Clark back and down, against the armrest of the couch while her lips continued their assault on his neck. Clark’s hands, helpless to do anything else, stroked her back, up and down her spine, then tracing her ribs, and finally, making small circles in the small of her back.

“Don’t…don’t you want to watch it?”

“Sunsets are nice.” *kiss* “This is better.” *kiss*

Having had all of the ‘warmth’ he could take without spontaneously combusting, Clark picked Lana up as though she were a feather, placed her against the opposite armrest, and said, “My turn. You’re not nearly warm enough.” *kiss*

“Oh goody,” she sighed.

Sometime later, with the sun already long gone and forgotten, Lana and Clark finally came up for air in mutual, but unspoken agreement that if they did not stop now, they soon would not be able to stop.

“Warm yet, Clark?” Lana asked innocently.

“Smoke’s been curling out of my ears for a long time, Lana. How about you?”

“Oh yeah,” she said, attempting to fan herself with her hand. “I’m definitely overheated.

They just sat there slumped together, catching their breath, until Clark said, “I don’t know what time it is…heck, I don’t even know what day it is…but we’d better start for home.”

“Okay.”

When they stood up, each spent a couple of minutes straightening their clothes and attempting to bring their hair into some kind of order.

“This is the first time in my life that I’ve ever been glad my hair is so unruly,” Clark said.

“Yeah,” Lana said, “but I have this fine, straight hair. I’ll have to brush it out to hide my evidence.”

Once Lana was satisfied with her appearance, Clark shut the Dutch doors and turned off the lights as they headed back down the folding ladder and went to the closet to retrieve Lana’s coat. The Kents had come out to say goodbye and see them off when Martha’s eyes narrowed slightly and then she asked, “What did you do up there all this time, Clark?”

“We, uh, we watched the sunset. You should see the purples, oranges and pinks from up there it’s amazing.”

Martha muttered a non-committal, “Mmm-hmm,” but after Lana went out the door and Clark was about to follow her, Martha said, “Tell ‘the sunset’ she ought to wear clear lip gloss instead of pale lipstick, it doesn’t leave the messy lip-prints on your shirt collar.”

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

1st hahaha good one martha. I like there way of warming up. PPMS

[Nemu]

well i guess this time im going to post here instead of there...

this was interesting and the ending was funny lol... Martha's remark for 'the sunset'

well PPMS :D

[super12]

that was great loved the whole keeping warm think. Martha has a good eye. ppms

[ericatipton]

i liked it!

[NYC300Z]

Awesome last couple of updates Card! I couldn't keep away as long as I thought I could!

PPMS!

[SVsleuth]

Great chapter, Card. Sounds like Clark & Lana are all warmed up now. And Martha sure has a sharp eye, noticing the lipstick.

And clark didn't want to be reminded of lori & her rejection of his engagement. Seems he hasn't allowed himself to think THAT far ahead about Lana yet- some day he'll tell her all about that, I guess.

Thanks for the update, Card.
PPMS! :)

[akuma]

YAY! Happy Clana, that was much needed! And i wish Lana would warm me up like that:p DAMN lucky Clark!:) Great update!

[IluvCLANA]

ditto....except im leaning towards clark warming me up.......lucky lana!!!!!!!

and yes..we do need happy clana right now...

ppms it was awesome card!!!

[ajfinn]

Card, I LOVED the comic book & spidey jokes, very funny!

And all the kissing made ME warm :D

Nice job. PPMS

[sandy]

The last line was just:rotfl: !
And the Spiderman references were great!
Once again, your writing keeps me coming back for more! PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

Nice Spider-Man references.

And WOW--what a way to warm each other up! :D

PPMS!

[maru11]

awesome update!!!!
update soon!!!!!

[smallvilleluver15]

nice story..... really nice story

[linn]

hahaha....that was good...i loved it....PPMS!!!!:D

[binkys711]

lol Card those updates were so awesome! woot woot! awesome clana make out session on the FOS;) and I that last line MK said was hilarious!:lol: I loved the updates! they were great! and we needed them so much during these dark clana times:( great job Card! PPMS!!!:D

[nellie2]

great updates!!! they were hilarious! i cant wait for more. PPMASAP

[iloveit]

lol so awesome! update soon!

[ericatipton]

POST!

[MOOman0618]

Firstly...I can't think of any better way to keep warm than that!!

Second...Spiderman is definitely my second favorite superhero. Second only to the one and only Supes.

Thirsd...Great update all around. Can't believe Lana turned down a chance to find out some more secret. But they both got some good stuff out of that deal. ;)

POST MORE SOON!!! :)

[kewl]

great update card!!!! that was so sweet and funny! nice one martha!!! PPMS!!! :D

[UWOCheerJason]

great story, started reading it today, love it so far, keep up the great work

[kewl]

hey UWOCheerJason this is the 1st time i've seen u here, so welcome! :D

[superman's my hero]

love it!! the Clana in this fic is so sweet. PPMS!!!

[super12]

wow Superman's my hero either your a fast reader or you have been reading these stories for a while but welcome. geezz i've looked threw like 10 stories and you have been like the last post.

Hope you ppms!

[Iowanmom]

Well Cardinal, I'm just going to apologize now for the 'Novel' like response to your update. I know they aren't liked much by some of your readers, but.... I can't help it. :\

Wonderful job on this update. The details and family euphoria is so real. It reminds me of watching football with my grandmother. Every game, she had to wear her Kansas City Chiefs shirt. Boy she would get so angry at the players. **wipes away a tear** Superstition. Seems silly, but when it's needed, it sure can get serious. :lol:

This fic seems to have Martha a bit more forward and nosier. I know she's always been interested in Clark's love life, but she curbs her nosiness a bit more in the show. I'm sure that was due to Jonathan's raised eye brows and gentle reproach. Either way, I love how you have everyone taking it with such stride. It's a known fact with Martha, and even she can admit it, but I feel everyone loves her more for it. Like they wouldn't have it any other way. Another, feather in your cap for how real you make this story. :)

Kathy is a delight. Such a big girl for owning up to how she originally treated Clark and Lana when the came in. And leave it to younger sybling to knock the wind out of you, even our superhero, with the remark about engagement. Uggg. An innocent comment, but so solid a hit, Clark can only try to get away.

This 'turned down' proposal, it really hurt Clark. This relationship... is it in another fic, Cardinal or is it strictly talked about only in Bless The Broken Road? I didn't know if this was a continuation of a previous fic.

Laying his head against the ladder, trying to forget the words Kathy uttered, Lana tries to soothe him, but backs off giving him space and respect, believing he will come to her when Clark is ready.

I can not get over your Lana. She isn't pushy. She takes things as they flow. Trusting, Cardinal. She trusts and seems confident to allow people time to come to her. This is precious and a quality I do not see on the show. I'm sorry. I don't mean to rag on Lana. I don't mean to compare your fic either. I'm just really enjoying your fic and I never thought I would like Clana or Lana for that matter, but you make her very real and pleasurable for me. That's truly a feat well accomplished. :)

In the attic. I absolutely love the spiderman mention. He is the misunderstood superhero. I love him. What an obvious connection Clark and he would have. Cool. And to have Lana tell him 'no' about revealing more of his secrets was a surprise for me. I'm glad she did it. He's so much more than super powers and abilities. They have time for all of that.

I enjoy reading Clark being human. Normal. The pain he feels, the secrecy of his origins and he weight of the world doesn't seem to press him quite so firmly. It doesn't seem to render him nearly 'still' by it's weight, like the CK on the show.

There I go again comparing, I'm sorry. I need you to know how truly I enjoy the difference I see in your characters. Still true to Smallville, yet refreshing and light. Not dark. I love it.

The attic scene was wonderful. I love the sunset references. We are so hooked on the whole barn loft and sunset scenes, I laughed outloud when Lana said,'“What about the sunset, Clark?” and “Sunsets are nice.” *kiss* “This is better.” I believe kissing a hunky man with the twinkle of Christmas lights and the hushed gentle sighs against my skin would make me forget the sunset. :lol:

Excellent job here and Martha. Boy, that Clark can't get a thing past her. Poor boy. And they went to such pains to make themselves presentable before decending the attic ladder...Very funny stuff, Cardinal. I anxiously await your next update. Only when you can. :):

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Originally posted by Iowanmom
Well Cardinal, I'm just going to apologize now for the 'Novel' like response to your update. I know they aren't liked much by some of your readers, but.... I can't help it.

I said the novel thing didn't I :( As I said in Ferd's story it shows how much you like the story. I think that deserves an update Cardinal *hint* *hint* *nudge* *nudge* But have you thought about writing books Iowanmom, you know how to put detail into such a simple thing.

[UWOCheerJason]

kewl i have been MIA for a while, busy with school etc.... finally have some free time, Glad to see some great stories up here

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by *~KrYpToN619~*
I said the novel thing didn't I :( As I said in Ferd's story it shows how much you like the story. I think that deserves an update Cardinal *hint* *hint* *nudge* *nudge* But have you thought about writing books Iowanmom, you know how to put detail into such a simple thing.
No biggie, ~KrYpToN619~ :). Just a bit more insecure here in Clana land. Not many people leave big replies here, just letting my insecurity show. :\ :lol: Of course, I could be totally wrong. I've only visited a couple fics! :rolleyes:

No, I haven't thought of writing. Well, I can't even get the muse back for my one and only fic. Thanks for the nice words tho. You are sweet. And yes, Cardinal I can't wait for that update!!! I won't *nudge* ya since I don't know you as well, but just know I'm here waiting like all your other fans. :D

[NYC300Z]

when's the next update?

[ericatipton]

I sure hope it's soon. This story is great and I would love to read more of it.


POST!

[IluvCLANA]

i love your novel like replies iowanmom....you sure do have a way with words!!!!!!

*hint* *hint* *nudge *nudge* *poke* *poke* *is demandor-like* ;)

well ppms

*goes back to clubhouse and remembers the clana-ending on the show*
*dies again*

[ericatipton]

Hope you post soon!

[LetMeGo]

This is my favorite fic! Can't wait to see what happens next!!

[ericatipton]

POST!

[tomfreak11]

ppms!!! i love this story!!!!

[booze_is_me09]

POST!!!!! i can't wait to see what happens next!!!!!!

[annaliese]

post more really really soon!!!!!!

[ericatipton]

LOVE THE STORY!

KEEP IT UP, ITS A GREAT STORY AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE MORE APPRICATION TO THE WRITERS RATHER THAN TAKE TAKE TAKE WE NEED TO GIVE THE WRITERS MORE.

[SVsleuth]

Hope you're working on the next update here, Card. I know, now you're juggling two fics; but this can't go to page two. UPDATE SOON!;)

[NYC300Z]

Yeah Card it's been a while since an update around here!

PPMS!

[clana4love]

Haha that was funny the lipstick comment Martha made. Also, please update soon Card! :)

[superman's my hero]

great update!! please update soon!! this story is soooo good!!

[annaliese]

post more soon!

[Cardinal]

Sorry it's been so long between updates on this fic. I've been writing another fic (which will only be 8-10 chapters long at most) and wanted to get that fic well and truly off the ground.

My next update will be here, I'm just not sure what day it will be.

Thanks for your patience, and of course, thanks for reading.

[NYC300Z]

Next Update is going to be here? oh come on how long will it be? Can you guestimate? ;)

PPMS!

[kewl]

hope u will be able to update very soon card!

[superman's my hero]

yea what kewl said!! this is a great story in case i havent stressed that enough!! :D good luck!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 35 - Custard

Lana was standing next to the truck when Clark came out of the house trying very hard not to laugh. His face was bright red and he looked like he was about to start choking.

“Clark? Are you okay, Clark?” Lana asked.

Still unable to speak, Clark waved to her to assure her he was okay as he made his way to her side of the truck. After fishing his keys out of his jeans, he unlocked and opened the door, and handed her up into the cab. As he shut the door, Lana slid to the middle of the bench seat and reached over to unlock his door for him. By the time Clark climbed in, he had mostly regained control of his face and was staring blankly ahead as he fastened his seatbelt.

Lana, sitting next to him in the middle of the bench, had already buckled up and asked, “What’s going on, Clark?”

When Clark turned to answer Lana’s question, that set him off on another laughing jag. Lana’s curiosity was turning to irritation by the time he composed himself enough to answer.

“Mom,” Clark said, “said to tell ‘the sunset’ that she ought to wear clear lip gloss instead of pale lipstick. That way, you won’t leave messy lip prints on my shirt collar.”

Lana’s face went pale, and she said, “Oh no. She noticed? I’m so mortified! What a great impression to make on my boyfriend’s parents. They’ll think I’m some kind of skanky woman…”

Seeing that Lana was distressed over this revelation, Clark raised his hand to her lips to stop her from saying any more. “Lana,” Clark said, “when my dad learns about us making out in the attic, he’s much more likely to blame me. He’ll say I should know better and that behavior of that type is not something they want to risk Kathy seeing.”

“But, you and Kathy had already agreed that she’d stay downstairs.”

“That won’t matter to Dad. He expects me to be better than that. The next time I see him, I’m likely to get a butt-chewing.”

Clark’s attempt to divert Lana’s thoughts to himself had worked, as she asked slyly, “Well, Clark, do you regret our little kissing session now?”

Looking directly into her eyes, Clark smiled widely and said, as he turned the key in the ignition, “No. Not for a minute, not for a second.”

Lana snuggled up close as Clark wrapped his arm around her after he backed out of the driveway. “Me neither,” she said. “That was hot!”

“I’ll say it was. If I’m ever at risk for hypothermia, I’ll just tell everyone that my girlfriend has a sure-fire cure. They’ll ask me what it is and I’ll say, ‘She gives me mouth-to-mouth.’ They’ll say, ‘But you don’t stop hypothermia with mouth-to-mouth,’ and I’ll say, ‘You obviously haven’t met my girlfriend yet.’”

Lana was smiling from hearing herself referred to as Clark’s girlfriend and giggled at the idea of people being instructed in her new lifesaving technique.

“You’re silly, Clark.”

Clark was struck by that comment and said, “Actually, I’m not silly nearly often enough. You bring that side of me out in the open and I’m glad. Too many people only see quiet, serious, studious Clark. You make me act more like the man I’d want to be someday.”

The rest of their drive was spent in contented silence until Clark pulled off the freeway short of the exit for Met U. Lana perked up, wondering where they were going. A raised eyebrow in Clark’s direction only garnered a smile in response. Minutes later, Clark’s truck pulled to a stop in front of what appeared to be an ice cream stand. The parking lot was nearly full with cars and a number of people were sitting or standing, eating their desserts, and talking on a reasonably warm fall evening. Lana left her coat behind in the truck as they headed for the order window.

“Ice cream, Clark?” Lana asked.

“Something like that,” Clark said, “only better. It’s frozen custard.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Custard is smoother and creamier than ice cream because it has much smaller pockets of air inside. It’s more expensive, but it’s definitely worth it.”

Clark then explained the difference between concretes and jackhammers, but in the end, Lana got a traditional Hot Fudge Sundae while Clark got a Key Lime Pie Concrete.

When they returned to the truck, Clark folded down the tailgate and they sat there alternately talking and eating their treats. Clark mowed his way through his concrete in no time, but Lana was taking smaller bites and was savoring each one. Consequently, her custard was melting well before she was done eating. Lana looked mournfully at the slumping mounds of custard while Clark told her she needed to pick up the pace before it turned to soup.

“Are you in that much of a hurry to get rid of me, Clark?” Lana asked.

“Nope,” Clark said. “In fact, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be than sitting with you on my tailgate, talking, and celebrating an actual Sharks’ win.” A thought came to Clark then and he said, “Maybe I could help you with your custard though.”

Lana pulled her dish away from him, saying, “You had yours, leave mine alone.”

She was in the middle of playfully sticking out her tongue, when Clark said, “No, you misunderstand me. I have an ability I’d like to show you that might actually be useful right now.”

Lana sat up straight and said, “Please don’t, Clark. I really rather you didn’t show me anymore abilities right now.”

“But this is a little thing, no one is going to see anything.”

“Now you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not worried about you showing what you can do to the wrong people, I trust you to know what to do and where you can get away with doing it. Right now, I just don’t want you to tell me about any more abilities…okay?”

Somewhat crestfallen, Clark drew back a bit and said, “If that’s what you want, then that’s how it will be. The only thing is, you wanted to know everything…but now, you can’t be bothered with what I want to tell you. What’s going on, Lana?”

Lana played with the custard and fudge syrup remaining in her dish to give herself time to think. Finally, she took one last bite and set her dish down on the tailgate between them. Wiping her hands that were wet with condensation on her denim-clad thighs, Lana looked at Clark out of the corner of her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “My conscience has been bothering me for a while, more so since you showed me your hearing ability this afternoon. I don’t want you to tell me anymore about your secrets until I confess to something I’ve done that you need to know about. This is something I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you for a while now and it looks like the time is here whether I’m ready or not.”

“Are you sick or something?” Clark asked.

“No, I’m not, but thanks for asking,” Lana said. “Now shush, this isn’t going to be pleasant for me to tell or for you to hear, so let me tell the story and then you can dive in with questions.

“Hmm…where to start?” Lana asked herself. “I guess this started the day I first met you when Chloe brought me over to your new place. Ostensibly, she was bring me over to see Pete and to make your acquaintance, but now I wonder…never mind, that line of speculation doesn’t have anything to do with what I need to tell you.

“When Chloe came to my place, she wanted to go over and visit you guys right away. She knew you two had been to a big party at the tri-Alpha house the night before and she hoped to catch you both with hangovers. The important point here was that she said she’d never seen you drunk before. At the time, I thought maybe you only drank on occasion and never drank too much. But as evidence that you weren’t like everyone else piled up, I began to wonder if it was possible for you to get drunk.

Looking at her toes now, Lana said, “So, despite my pledge to wait for you to tell me your secrets when you were good and ready, I went ahead and tried to find out if alcohol affected you. At the party you and Pete held after the first Utah State game, I, umm…IspikedyourbeerswithJackDaniel’s.” Lana scrunched her eyes closed and waited for the explosion that was sure to follow.

Clark waited patiently for more, but when none was forthcoming, he waited. Words spoken in anger cannot be retrieved, he thought, so he counted to one hundred, took a deep breath, let it out, and asked, “Why?”

Lana chanced a look at Clark’s face when that short, mild, and impossible to answer question came her way. Seeing him, she wished she had kept her eyes closed and pointed at her feet. Just looking at him she could see hurt and betrayal writ large on his face. Still, she kept her eyes locked on his, a small part of her penance for what she had done.

“I’m not sure if I can explain what I did and there’s definitely no excuse for my behavior, but since you asked for an explanation, I’ll try.” Lana wondered, not for the first time, how this idea had ever sounded good to her in the first place. “I had been collecting little hints that you weren’t normal ever since that night at the Meyer Observatory. On the day in question, I had noticed that even though you were taking a pounding in the first half from the Utah State pass rush, your parents weren’t bothered at all. No winces when you took a big hit, no wondering if their boy was going to be all right, just calm acceptance. Maybe your dad could manage a stoic outlook and believe that getting hit was just part of the game, but I’ll never believe that of a mother…and yet, she was as unaffected as he was.

“When I questioned them about it after the game, under the guise of complementing them on how well they stood up to the abuse you were taking, they both reacted noticeably. So when Pete told me immediately afterward that you two were having a party, I remembered what Chloe said about never having seen you drunk. Combined with what I was beginning to suspect about you maybe being impervious to physical damage and I wondered if you could get drunk.

“That’s when I got the bad idea. Maybe I could find out for myself. The idea just sat there in the back of my mind and wouldn’t go away. Before I knew it, I had a small bottle of Jack Daniel’s in my purse and the rest is stupid history.”

With Clark’s memory, he was able to think back to that night and recall that each and every beer he’d consumed had been given to him by Lana. “You spiked all seven beers?”

“Yeah, I did,” Lana said, “and now that I’ve confessed, I think it’s time for an apology. I’m sorry, Clark. I was wrong to do what I did. That act violated the trust you had placed in me, trust that apparently was misplaced. I hope you’ll be able to forgive me, but I’d understand if you can’t.”

Despite his anger at Lana’s behavior, Clark was impressed with the way she apologized. No attempts at excusing her actions, no lame attempt at shifting the blame, just ‘here’s what I did and I’m sorry I did it.’ Clark thought back to his own ideas that evening and realized how thin the line between a bad idea and a bad action can be sometimes.

Looking at Lana's face which was suffused with shame, Clark said, “You‘re forgiven.” Just two words, but their power was nothing short of amazing. Lana’s shame was rapidly replaced with a radiant smile and she leaned in for a hug which he returned along with placing a light kiss on her forehead.

“I had a bad idea or two that evening as well,” Clark said, “only one of which involved you, but that was the one that almost happened.”

“Really?” Lana asked, “What was it? That is, if you don’t mind telling.”

“No, I don’t mind, I think you ought to know I’m no saint and that the difference between a bad idea and a bad action is perilously thin sometimes.

“It’s humiliating to admit this,” Clark said, “but when you were teasing me about going around bare-chested for the rest of the night after I soaked the shirt I was wearing, I thought about getting even with you.”

“How?”

“Well, I was going to use the ability I had wanted to show you this evening…ah, screw it, the ability I’m going to show you right now.”

Clark picked up Lana’s abandoned dish of frozen custard, which had turned into liquid custard. “See how melted the custard is? Well, watch this!” Clark breathed onto the surface of the custard, instantly refreezing it.

Lana leaned in for a closer look and was completely amazed as she tapped the surface of the newly-refrozen custard. “That was…wow! Freeze breath?”

“Or frost breath, or cold breath, I don’t think there’s an official name for the ability, but yeah, I can freeze things if I want to by just breathing on them.”

Clark sat the refrozen custard down on his other side, and Lana slid over next to him.

“How were you going to use that ability to get even with me? I know I teased you a lot, including starting to take off my shirt, so some kind of payback would have been justified, but I’m having a hard time imagining a form of payback that you would find humiliating to admit having thought up.”

Clark squirmed a bit, and then said, “Well, remember what you said about how the bad idea just came to you? I had just come back downstairs with a t-shirt on and you were saying how much you liked ‘au naturel’ better. I noticed how sweaty your t-shirt had become and I thought I’d get even by using my cold breath ever so lightly on your chest. Just enough to make a couple of things, umm…stand out. I figured the embarrassment from having that happen right in front of me would have made us even.”

It took Lana a second to realize just what Clark was hinting at, but when she did, she said, “You didn’t!”

“Well, I thought about it and came very close to actually going through with it.”

“What stopped you?

“My conscience woke up just in time, I guess,” Clark said. “So what I’m trying to say is, I understand all about bad ideas, how quickly they can happen and how hard they are to resist sometimes.”

“Still, I am sorry I betrayed your trust like that.”

“Just don’t do it again. You have no idea how close that comes to my personal nightmare.”

Curious, Lana asked, “What nightmare?”

“The idea that the someone might learn what I can do and lock me away like a lab rat so they could experiment on me. That’s what made me the most angry, that you were experimenting on me like that.”

Just now realizing exactly what she had done to him, Lana tried to apologize all over again, but Clark wrapped her in a hug as he cut her off and said, “Hey, you’ve already apologized and I’ve already accepted your apology. We’re done with this. It’s like it never happened. Okay?”

“Okay.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! Wow, true confessions. I guess everyone has their tempations & their weak moments. I'm glad they came clean with each other, & still have their trust in tact. I'm glad Clark's conscience kicked in during the party - Lana would have been mortified. I guess it shows that he's more human than he thinks. As is Lana. She never realized what she was really doing to him - experimenting on him - something he has always feared - and for it to be at her hands must have hurt him a lot. Amazing that he is able to forgive her so readily - but remembering his own temptations allows him to do so. I'm so glad they have confessed & forgiven and are happily together still. Hope Lana enjoys the rest of her custard. ;) PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

FANTASTIC!!!

So now she knows about heat vision, super-hearing, and freeze breath--and he knows about the prank she pulled with the beers. This is going well...she still doesn't know about super-strength, super-speed, invulnerability, or flight yet--or his origins. And they found out together about the effect of Green Kryptonite on him.

PPMS!

[SVsleuth]

Well she knows a bit about his invulnerability - that he doesn't get hurt on the field, & can't get drunk. Just doesn't know the true extent of it yet - like not vulnerable to bullets - but does HE even know that?

[kewl]

AWESOME! PPMS!

[sandy]

Wow, how sweet is it that he forgave her?! Great chapter and PPMS!:)

[SpeedyKate91]

great chapter. PPMS!!!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

That would of been funny if he really did do that. Great chapter, PPMS!

[superman's my hero]

WOW THAT WAS A GREAT UPDATE!! SO GLAD THAT CLARK FORGAVE HER!! PPMS!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Aw, that was a really sweet update, Card. I hoped you'd make Lana come clean with Clark and you didn't disappoint me. Good! They’re so open and close now - and still they have this playful tone. That's what I love so much about this fic. Hope you'll update again soon! PPMS!

[NYC300Z]

That was awesome Card! Really a great update! I love the way they ineract with eachother and that Clark isn't too afraid of everything in your fic! I hope you find time for another update soon even though I know your working on two fics now! and wow it seems people come out of the woodwork for this fic! Great job!

PPMS!

[Iowanmom]

Great update

[binkys711]

aww.....alright Lana;) I'm glad Lana confessed what she did, and glad Clark didn't blow up:p That update was awesome Card! happy clana forgiveness all the way! woot woot! PPMS!!!!:D:D:D

[superman's my hero]

yea with the WOOT WOOTs!!! lol :lol:

[annaliese]

post more soon!!!!!

[basketballstar23]

loved the update. ppms!

[ajfinn]

Welcome, basketballstar23 :) Sounds like you're a Jordan fan!

Great update, Card :D Confessions ..... from lip gloss to beer and beyond :D

[ericatipton]

GOOD!

[Cardinal]

Or Chamique Holdsclaw. Anyway, welcome to Clanaland, basketballstar23! :D

[NYC300Z]

Yes yes Welcome welcome now update again Card!;)

[linn]

hahaha...crack my a** off...ppms!!!lolZ

[super12]

that was a good post. i would have went threw with what Clark was thinking just for a little show.
ppms

[MOOman0618]

Great update. Glad Lana decided to confess...and also that now she will feel better about learning more of his abilities. Post more soon!!

[SuperNes]

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.

Ok wow I am caught up again :) I loved that ^^^ paints a funny image :p

So here is me appreciating your story! :) Thanks

[annaliese]

post moresoon!!

[iloveit]

sooo good! ppms!:D

[ericatipton]

POST!!!!!!! I'm dying. This story is like a drug and I'm a clana junkie. lol.

[LLane_Adict_47]

AMAZING! I'm in love with your writing. After I read one of your stories (Reunion) I just HAD to read another one. So I found this one. Once I started I couldn't stop.

You deffinitly should be getting MUCH more praise then I'm giving you in that dinky little 4 sentence paragraph above but I currently am having a hard time keeping my eye's open. In the past 2 day's I've gotten about 6 hours of sleep because I've been addicted to reading ff here.

o crap! i've got to cut this review short. dad's home! awsome sotry. ppmasap

:p~Kimmi~:p

[cufcchic]

im so hooked on his fic! you are a great writer! please PPMASAP!

[smallvillewolf17]

where's the update?

[IluvCLANA]

ppms card

[NYC300Z]

No update yet? What's going on Card?

[ericatipton]

Hope ya post more soon!

[ericatipton]

Can't wait for more!

[super12]

we need an update please.
PPMS!

[ericatipton]

I'm losing my mind!

[KCook]

2nd post!

Hey there! Brand new in town, (my first post was a close one between you and ajfinn) What can I say, I love your stuff. You write very well, and the story is very engaging. Ive been spoiled, all of these chpaters that I got to read, and now Im dying waiting for an update. Now, what else is there to say except for PPMS.

KCook

[linn]

hey KCook welcome!:D

[NYC300Z]

Is the next update going to be here Cardinal?

[Cardinal]

Yes. Definitely here.

[SuperNes]

Where!! I don't see it!!! ~Darn invisible ink!!! Gets me every time :( ~

[IluvCLANA]

lol...so when do you think you'll be able to post it? i hope soon, maybe tonight?

[iloveit]

tonight would be ay-may-zing!

[NYC300Z]

Yes Yes it would!;)

[IluvCLANA]

ditto :D

[kewl]

PPMS!

[happycamper]

Cardinal:

A truly amazing story. I absolutely love it!

You know, I was just a casual reader of some of the spoiler and episode threads, but just had to register after "Reckoning" to respond to some of things I was seeing posted.

Well, we in Hawaii just got to see Cyborg at 5:00 PM this evening (Saturday) because the local station delays shows to accomodate U of Hawaii sports. I felt so bad after seeing Cyborg that I was almost forced to write up a little story to reflect my own thoughts, which I had originally intended to post on Fanfiction.net, which I have also been reading over the past month or so. I ended up posting it here, instead, when I found out that I would have needed to register with them, too.

I had checked this area of the forum once a few weeks ago, but gave it up when I discovered that the stories were mixed in with the comments - didn't want to waste time when I could be reading actual stories, after all.

After posting my own story, I read two other stories with a small number of posts, and then for some unknown reason decided to open yours. Well, I want you to know that I have now spent the last 5+ hours (it's now 4:30 AM Sunday) going through all 76 pages of this thread.

I loved your story, especially with Lana, KK, and the whole new situation. I also found that I actually enjoyed reading the comments, and have to agree that your story is special when you can get a "Chlarker" to love it so much.

Going through all the posts in one session really was a pain, but I now realize just how much more painful it is going to be waiting for the next update.

Congratulations, and thanks!!

[SVsleuth]

Welcome, happycamper. You are not the first clana addict to spend all night catching up on one of these great fics. Many more await you. Enjoy! :)

[kewl]

yeah welcome aboard the clana ship happycamper :)

PPMS card!

[superman's my hero]

Welcome happycamper!!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Hey, welcome aboard happycamper. You'll find lots of superb clana-fics in here. And you're definitively not the first to stay up late - just ask me. I read almost all of aj's "How "This Time" Will be Different" in one night. And I've stayed up until 3-4 AM waiting for SV, Cardinal or aj's updates. So trust me - I know how you can turn into a clana-junkie over night :D

And btw, how's your update coming, Card?

[mcgairman]

Cardinal: I hsve been enthralled with this story. I'm not a Clana fan, but this story is wonderful. Keepit up.

[iloveit]

welcome happycamper! and ya, i also have stayed up past 5am to read a fic, and i didnt even finish it! ppms!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

Welcome happycamper :D I read it till like 9am for Aj's fic and didn't finish :eek: then I passed out on the keyboard lol

[happycamper]

Thanks for the warm welcome . . . I guess I'm suddenly amidst a bunch of (fellow?) crazies!

But I really am enjoying this story, as well as SVsleuth's Alternate Clana Journals, which is also great!

Now I have to wait for updates to both stories (pout)...

[Cardinal]

Chapter 36 - The King?

Having decided that she had had enough to eat, Lana hopped off the tailgate and threw her mostly empty plastic dish into the nearest trash can. Clark slammed the tailgate back into an upright position, and then handed Lana back up into the cab for the remaining drive home.

The drive passed in silence with Lana snuggled into Clark on the bench seat and his right arm wrapped lightly around her shoulders. Thank God for automatic transmission, Clark thought.

As they walked hand-in-hand up the sidewalk to Lana’s apartment, Clark said, “This has been some day. Sharing abilities, seeing the Sharks win, watching the sunset, and…I seem to remember something else happening today, but I can’t quite recall what it was.”

That earned him a chuckle and dunt in the arm from Lana. “Let’s see if I can refresh your memory,” she said. “It had something to do with you and me becoming us.”

“Oh…that,” Clark said, as he rolled his eyes ostentatiously. “I was talking about something important.”

Picking up on Clark’s goofy mood, Lana clenched her free hand into a fist and waved it in Clark‘s face as she said, “I’ll give you something important, Buster, right between the eyes.”

The sheer lack of threat to Clark from any punch Lana might choose to throw had them both in stitches by the time they reached her door.

Turning to face Lana and pushing a few stray strands of hair back off of her face, Clark said, “Seriously, Lana, becoming your boyfriend was easily the best part of my day.”

“Better than watching the sunset?” she asked playfully.

Stepping in closer, Clark said, “Mmm…that’s a tough choice, but I think I’ll take long-term potential over short-term excitement any day.”

“Me too, but excitement does have its benefits,” Lana said, as she pressed against Clark, tilting her head back as Clark’s lips came down to hers.

*kkkkiiiiiiisssssssss*

Pulling back to catch their breath, Clark and Lana held on to each other lightly. “I think maybe that’s enough excitement for one night, before something happens that I don’t think either one of us is ready for quite yet.”

“I’ll second that,” Lana said as she regretfully stepped out of Clark’s arms. Having fished her keys out of her purse, Lana unlocked and opened her door. She paused just before stepping over the threshold and said, “Good night, Clark. Call me after practice tomorrow.”

“I will, you can count on it…speaking of calling, I need to talk to Chloe. She’ll be thrilled that I’ve got a girlfriend. Especially when she knows it‘s you, Lana.”

“I’d expect so. After all she did set us up.”

Perplexed, Clark asked, “She set us up? Really? How?”

Lana tilted her head down toward the ground as she shook it from side to side. “You men…sometimes you can be so oblivious to the world around you.”

“How did she…the tour of campus? Was that it?”

“See,” Lana said. “If you put your mind to it, Clark, you’re not totally helpless.”

“Thanks, Lana. Your confidence in me is underwhelming. I think I’ll go call Chloe now.”

“I need to talk to her too.”

“Hey! You got to talk to her first last time. Besides, I won’t take all night.”

Hands on her hips, Lana said, “Well, we could go over and see her together. That way we both get to tell Chloe.”

Clark pulled his cell phone from his pocket and said, “Okay, I’ll call Chloe and find out her location.”

On Clark’s end, the phone chirped like normal, but on Chloe’s end she heard the special ringtone she had assigned to any call coming from Clark, “Superfreak,” by Rick James. It was a running joke between them. Only Chloe’s playful manner kept that title from getting under Clark’s skin. His ringtone for her was the theme from “The Pink Panther.” If Chloe was going to refer to Clark as a freak, then he was going to compare her with that master sleuth, Inspector Clouseau.

“Hey there, Clarkie Boy, what’s going on?” Chloe asked.

“Nothin’ much, Short Stuff,” Clark replied. “I was just trying to nail down your location. There’s something I want to talk to you about, but I want to do it in person.”

Chloe leaned back in her desk chair and said, “I’m just writing a paper at home. I could use a break right about now, so come on over.” Her curiosity piqued, Chloe wondered, What could Clark have to talk about that he wants to keep secret?

“Thanks, Chloe.” Putting his phone back in his pocket, Clark looked at Lana and asked, “Ready to go?”

“Sure. Let me lock up first.” Sliding the bolt back into place, Lana placed her keys back in her purse and asked, “Do you want…”

Clark bent, picked Lana up under her knees and shoulders and super-sped to Chloe’s place.

“…to take my…car?” Looking around wildly, while wondering what had happened, Lana’s eyes finally turned to where she should have been looking all along…to Clark. “What was that? How the heck did we get over here so quickly?” Her wits finally caught up with her body and she asked, “Is this another one of your abilities?”

Clark had been waiting for an opportunity to demonstrate his speed and he was thoroughly enjoying Lana’s flabbergasted reaction. “Oh yeah. That’s a little something I call super-speed.”

“Do it again!”

Clark was about to respond, when Chloe’s door opened. “Seeing Lana here and knowing how long it takes to get here from anywhere you two might have been, I have to assume you took my advice and have started telling her about the Amazing Clark Kent.”

“Hi to you, too, Chloe,” Clark said.

“Hi, Chloe,” Lana said.

“Come on in you two.” After shutting the door behind her guests, Chloe asked, “So what brings the most eligible pair at Met U to my door on a Sunday evening?”

Clark and Lana stood side-by-side and holding hands as Clark said, “We wanted you to be the first to know…”

“…that we have decided to make it official. He’s my boyfriend,” Lana said.

“And she is most definitely my girlfriend,” Clark finished.

“AHHHH!!!! I knew it!” Chloe screamed, jumping up and down before attempting to hug both Clark and Lana at the same time. Foiled by the fact that her arms were not long enough to do the job, Chloe settled for hugging Lana, while whispering in her ear, “Stay with him, Lana, he’s worth it.”

Then she turned to her best friend, Clark, and hugged him fiercely, while whispering in his ear, “Remember, she’s not Lori.”

Congratulations over, Chloe stepped back to look at the happy couple. “I’m happy to say I was right about you two. I noticed the way you looked at each other the first time you met this year and just knew you’d be good together.”

Chloe led the happy couple into her living room and let them have the couch, while she pulled up a chair.

“But you weren’t above giving us a little shove to get us started, were you Chloe?” Clark asked.

Eyes moving rapidly from Clark to Lana, Chloe asked, “You told him? Some thanks I get!”

“Well, after all the things he’s been telling me, you didn’t really expect me to keep a comparatively little secret like that did you?”

“How about I tell him the truth about that Christmas-time history project back in high school?”

“What truth?” Clark asked innocently.

Lana looked distressed, but finally said, “Oh, just go ahead and tell him. Maybe he’ll think it’s funny.”

Surprised that Lana had given permission to tell this story, Chloe thought back and decided how she wanted to tell it.

“Remember the first time you met Lana, Clark? She was intentionally ignoring your attempts at hitting on her because she thought you were my date.”

“Yeah, I remember you and Lana telling me about this part at the beginning of the semester.”

Shifting position in her chair, Chloe leaned forward and said, “What you don’t know is that when Lana tried to apologize for attracting your attention at The Beanery, I let her know that you were just my best friend from Metropolis in town for a brief visit. She made me promise to tell her the next time you came to Smallville for a visit.”

By now, Lana had buried her scarlet face in Clark’s shoulder. Clark was absentmindedly patting her on the back to reassure her, but his whole attention was focused on Chloe.

“Your next visit was at Christmas time that year and, since she knew you were available, Lana really wanted to meet you, so she made up that whole story about us needing to work on a history project.”

Lana cringed inside, expecting to hear Clark laugh or make some kind of joke about the story, but all he did was softly kiss the top of her head and say, “That was so sweet! To think you did that just to meet me…”

Lana looked up from her position on Clark’s shoulder and their eyes met. Lana saw no humor there, just understanding, concern, and acceptance.

“The thing you two don’t know is,” Clark continued, “had Lana not had the bad luck to wear her meteor rock necklace that night, her plan to spend time with me would have succeeded. ‘Cause I’ll guarantee you that I didn’t try to get a drink of water out of that kitchen time after time after time just because I was thirsty. I could have gotten a drink, from the sink faucet upstairs. What I really wanted that night could only be found in the kitchen, sitting across from my best friend.”

Looking from Clark to Lana and back, Chloe gave a self-satisfied smile and said, “So, my two best friends are dating and both appear to be wildly happy with that idea. You can’t know how happy that makes me.”

Clark chuckled, “I know what makes you happy, Chloe. That would be Jonesy. Word around the Metropolitan offices is that you two are hot and heavy these days.”

Chloe flushed pink, but held Clark’s eyes as she said, “He’s just very sweet. He treats me like a princess.”

“That’s no less than you’re due, Chloe,” Clark said warmly.

“That’s for sure,” Lana said, echoing Clark’s sentiment. “If there’s someone who deserves to have a man in her life, it’s you.”

“Thanks, guys,” Chloe said. Then, her face lit up as an idea came to her. “Speaking of royalty, Clark, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Homecoming is what’s up. The Homecoming game is just a few weeks away and the administration is accepting applications for king and queen applicants. Each applicant is sponsored by an official school organization and this year, I’ve decided, the Metropolitan is going to sponsor you for Homecoming King.”

Clark jerked back like he had just seen a poisonous snake. “Uhh, Chloe, I don’t think that’s a good idea…and what made you think of me anyway?”

Holding out her hand, she began to tick off Clark’s qualifications one by one on her fingers. “First, you’re really handsome. If you don’t believe me, just ask Lana.”

Clark involuntarily looked Lana’s way and she nodded her head in support of Chloe. Then, she gave him a quick kiss which brought a smile to his face and widened the one on hers.

“Second,” Chloe said, rolling her eyes at this display of new-couple ardor, “you’re one of the most well-known and well-liked guys on campus. You’re the big football star and yet, you have a kind word or a warm smile for everybody. That will help you here.

“Third, your grades. The homecoming committee always wants a well-rounded student and no one can say you don’t take your studies seriously.

“Fourth, I strongly suspect this will be your last homecoming at Met U, so if I’m going to get you to do this, I have to ask now.”

Lana had been studying Clark’s reaction to Chloe’s laundry list of reasons but whipped her head around to Chloe upon hearing that this might be Clark’s last homecoming at Met U.

“What makes you say that, Chloe?” Lana asked.

“Because of summer classes, Clark is going to graduate in the spring, and it is widely thought by the sports cognoscenti on campus that he will take his degree and his football talents and head to the N.F.L., even though he has one more year of college eligibility left.”

“How involved is the application process?” Lana asked.

“A small, one-page application is submitted. After the committee reviews the application and the candidate’s grades, they bring him or her in for an interview. The committee narrows the field of applicants to five guys and five girls and then a campus-wide election is held the week before the game. The winners are announced at halftime and they reign over the rest of the homecoming festivities.”

“What do you think, Clark?” Lana asked.

“I think it sounds like a whole lot of trouble for a whole lot of nothing,” he said grumpily.

“Oh come on, Clark,” Chloe implored as she leaned forward in her seat again, “you’d be perfect!” Looking for some reinforcement, Chloe turned to Lana. “What do you think, Lana?”

“I think it sounds like a lot of fun,” Lana replied. “It’s not like you’re not used to the attention, Clark, and you are most definitely qualified, so what’s your problem?”

“I’ve never felt real comfortable putting myself out there like this,” Clark said. “It’s not easy for me.”

Rubbing his back with one hand as it was now her turn to be comforting, Lana said, “In that case, you have to do it. This must be the first thing I’ve heard of that isn’t easy for you. Trying new things is how we grow as people, Clark.”

“I don’t know…”

“Please,” she asked, hitting him with her version of puppy dog eyes, “would you do it for me?”

“Oh, all right. For you, I suspect I would do anything.” Turning to Chloe, he said, “Sign me up, Chloe, you’ve got your candidate.”

[Clark&lana4eva]

love it as always tha was a cute chapter

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Yeah, finally an update here! This story just keeps getting better! Now Lana knows about super-speed - that's cool! You're so amazing in describing just a 'normal' college life, which is really cool since there aren't many fics like that. I love this story. PPMS!

[linn]

awww.....now homecoming that'll be more better.....whos gonna be queen....

[SVsleuth]

4th?? :p (I was still up at 2 a.m. - Too bad you didn't finish then - j/k ;) )

“Oh yeah. That’s a little something I call super-speed.”
“Do it again!”
I loved that reaction from Lana! She's so comfortable with all these strange things about him.

“I’ve never felt real comfortable putting myself out there like this,” Clark said. “It’s not easy for me.”

Rubbing his back with one hand as it was now her turn to be comforting, Lana said, “In that case, you have to do it. This must be the first thing I’ve heard of that isn’t easy for you. Trying new things is how we grow as people, Clark.”

“I don’t know…”

“Please,” she asked, hitting him with her version of puppy dog eyes, “would you do it for me?”

“Oh, all right. For you, I suspect I would do anything.”
Loved this interaction between Clark & Lana. Lana trying to get him to move out of his comfort zone - that's really something. That's just the kind of woman he needs.

And of course, loved the good night kiss that turned out not to be the final kiss of the evening after all. Lana will be happy to get taken home again requiring another long kiss on her doorstep. ;)

Super update, Card! Oh, wait. Got to mention the ringtones too: Superfreak & Pink Panther: too funny! :lol:

PPMS!

[kewl]

awesome! need more, so PPMS card!

[akuma]

Amazing job Card, cant wait for the next super installment of this fic. I also cant wait for the next installment of ur other fic either:D PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ppms

[MOOman0618]

Originally posted by Cardinal



“Do it again!”



HA! That was an awesome reaction!! Still love how well Lana is taking everything. All around super update. And is there some way you are going to worm Lana into being the Homecoming Queen or is it going to be somebody else?? POST MORE SOON!!

[NYC300Z]

Awesome update Card! I wonder if there's any chance of Chloe sneaking Lana in there as Clark's queen? ;)

PPMS!

[cufcchic]

please PPMS!

[SuperNes]

Wow just absolutlyey wow!! This chapter was I think I must say the best read I have experienced in this thread! Fantastic! DId I mentuion I was Wowed?! hmm ya well ok now you won't forget it :p

P.S. that was a very short vacation! ... thanks :D

[Cardinal]

Thanks to aj for helping me with the ringtones, especially "The Pink Panther" for Chloe.

[superman_lives_on]

Fantastic update, Card! PPMS!

[happycamper]

I'm happy (scared?) that my pouting was so successful in getting all of us another update. If I do it again, will you give us another?

[SpeedyKate91]

AWsome update. PPMS!!!

[superman's my hero]

GREAT UPDATE!! LANA AND CLARK ARE SO CUTE!! I LOVE IT!!! PPMS!

[NYC300Z]

yeah ha ha the pink panther was a good choice for Chloe's ring tone!

[super12]

that was a great post.
PPMS!

[iloveit]

awesome!:D Clarks sooo gonna win! ppms:D

[KCook]

Look what happens, go away for a day or two, and I get an update to come back to. Right on the money there Card!

[NYC300Z]

Where's the next update coming?

[Cardinal]

Probably on "Reunion" since someone complained on that thread that two fics were slowing me down.

Might be tomorrow.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: ok good to hear!;)

[kewl]

waiting for ur next update!

[ajfinn]

Hey, Card ........ Super-freaky update!! Long live the "King" :D

[NYC300Z]

So where is it?

[kewl]

yeah, where's ur update card?

[booze_is_me09]

PPMS!!!!!!!!!!! i love ur story!!!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

An update is needed here!;)

[booze_is_me09]

PLEEEEEEZ UPDATE!!!!! THIS STORY IS AWESOME!!!!!!!

[binkys711]

I despise my computer! dang it! I barely read your last update. Sorry it took me so long.:( but anyways here I am now so.... I loved the ring tones Card! They were so perfect and so funny! :rotfl: genius! I can't wait to see how the homecoming goes now, especially with Clark as a candidate. I hope Lana enteres to be queen! That would be just perfect!:D:D:D awesome update Card! I absolutely adored it! Happy clana all around!:) PPMS!!!:D:D:D

[Iowanmom]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Chapter 35 - Custard
“Mom,” Clark said, “said to tell ‘the sunset’ that she ought to wear clear lip gloss instead of pale lipstick. That way, you won’t leave messy lip prints on my shirt collar.”

Okay, Cardinal. That was funny!!! I had a grin all over my face!
Martha, you can't get anything past her. :lol: I also love the little details you have woven through this fic.


Seeing that Lana was distressed over this revelation, Clark raised his hand to her lips to stop her from saying any more.

This brings such a reality to your fic. It's all in the details. It brings me closer to the characters and the feelings being displayed on the screen. I love it.


“Well, Clark, do you regret our little kissing session now?”
Looking directly into her eyes, Clark smiled widely and said, as he turned the key in the ignition, “No. Not for a minute, not for a second.”

I love the confidence of your Clark Kent. Really, to have a hunky man such as CK, looking me in the eyes and declare he didn't regret kissing me, I'd surely swoon. :lol: Yep, I'd swoon. I don't see how Lana keeps it together. :lol:


“You’re silly, Clark.”
Clark was struck by that comment and said, “Actually, I’m not silly nearly often enough. You bring that side of me out in the open and I’m glad. Too many people only see quiet, serious, studious Clark. You make me act more like the man I’d want to be someday.”

This is what I'm talking about. You bring such a freshness and light feeling to your story. It's so angst free. It is such a joy to read. I've missed it. This Clark is so free of the burdens of his secrets. He has prospered, and found a place in his life. He's confident and alive. Not pining away and living day to day in fear or torment. I love this. Wonderful work.

The discussion over wheather Clark could help with Lana's treat was funny as hell, too. :lol: I couldn't stop grinning.


“My conscience has been bothering me for a while, more so since you showed me your hearing ability this afternoon. I don’t want you to tell me anymore about your secrets until I confess to something I’ve done that you need to know about. This is something I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you for a while now and it looks like the time is here whether I’m ready or not.”

I am so glad you broached this subject. When I'd read how underhanded Lana'd been, I was a bit upset. You bring in an interesting realization, here. No matter if your alien, and been raised human, or just and ordinary human, we all make mistakes. Some thoughts better left unsaid have a way of becoming a reality and everyone struggles with right and wrong sometimes. Great job. And making Clark confess to the trick he was thinking about doing to Lana only made me see him as more of a gentleman. He too isn't perfect and I love him for it.


“Still, I am sorry I betrayed your trust like that.”

“Just don’t do it again. You have no idea how close that comes to my personal nightmare.”

Curious, Lana asked, “What nightmare?”

“The idea that the someone might learn what I can do and lock me away like a lab rat so they could experiment on me. That’s what made me the most angry, that you were experimenting on me like that.”

Wow, when I read this, the whole idea made me shiver. Clark's confidence hides his fears in this fic, I think. He speaks so little of them. It was a real eye opener for me to have Clark's fear present before my eyes. His fear of captivity. Of becoming a science project, and to be perceived as a threat or object to be owned. ugg, I couldn't imagine the fear and helplessness he would have to endure if someone found out about him.

Clark is so forgiving in this fic. He is so open to love, trust and chances given to those he loves. I know I'm behind in reading your fics, but I hope to catch up. I need to read and feel the confidence of your Clark. It fills me with hope. And a better view of the Superman he will become later. Wonderful job, Cardinal. Keep you updates coming. They are great!!! :D

[NYC300Z]

Second Page?! Bump!

[ericatipton]

Can't wait for more!

[booze_is_me09]

PPMS!!!!

[NYC300Z]

second page again~! BUMP~!

[Cardinal]

Sorry, Boys and Girls. I haven't forgotten this story...honest! I have had a slight glitch with the PC with has necessitated a complete emergency restore of my files.

Thankfully, I didn't lose my writing, which I had originally thought to be the case.

Those of you unfortunate enough to chat with me on AIM will notice you can't find me. That's because I haven't reloaded AIM yet.

Once everything is back in order, I'll update here next.

Thanks for your patience.

[SVsleuth]

Oh! So thats where you were tonight, Card! Oh, I hope you have been able to restore your most important stuff. And I hope you re-load AIM soon. Sorry to hear about the PC problem. Keep in touch any way you can meanwhile.

-SV

[NYC300Z]

oh well glad you haven't lost your writing! Hope you get everything back to normal operations soon!;)

PPMS!;)

[Cardinal]

Ok. Now that my computer is working and everything has been reloaded, I'll start writing the next update here.

[ericatipton]

great!

[kewl]

great! can't hardly wait!

[booze_is_me09]

Yay!!!! an update!!!!

[ericatipton]

UPDATE!

[sandy]

all caught up! post soon so I can see how this homecoming deal is gonna turn out!

[SVsleuth]

Hoping the next update is coming along nicely by now...??? ;)
PPMS!

[SmallvilleMan]

come on 4eversm..... Opps, come on cards update already:p

[Loves~Abyss]

Mod Note - Edited for TROLLING.

[superman_lives_on]

Oh dear... Mods?

[Loves~Abyss]

Mod Note - Edited for TROLLING.

[clarkandlana2]

Mod Note - Edited for slightly flaming said poster and a bit of self-moderating.

[linn]

Originally posted by Loves~Abyss
We all know this guy sucks and so does his story.

Uh do u got a problem here....all the clana fan here of Cardinal fans will be out saying things against this comment you just made....and he is not a bad writer you just got problem of not having patiences.....:mad:....or you just don't like reading period..

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Okay, let's not be annoyed by this guy who's clearly less mature than a six-year old. I just don't want Card's thread turn into a boring thread were people are bashing each other. This fic is too good for that to happen.

Now, about that update. You know how much we all love this story and we're all waiting eagerly. Hope you're done soon! It's gonna be grrrreat!

[SmallvilleMan]

Ooo man, i wanted a free crack at this guy. Now i have to be nice:( :\ ;)

[kewl]

still waiting for ur update card, so ppms! :)

Mod Note - Edited for flaming said poster.

[HP_DRAGON]

I just sent a pm to a mod so hopfully that will take care of Loves~Abyss and keep up the good work Card PPMS!

[annaliese]

ppms!

Mod Note - Discussion about posters directly isn't allowed.

[Cardinal]

Honestly, I haven't even read the comment yet. SVsleuth had to tell me my thread had been "trolled."

Oh well, I'm not worried about it...on to good stuff, there will be an update here tonight, probably after the Oscars are over.

Yeah, yeah, I know, it's been halfway to 4Ever since I last updated here, but I'm working on an update right now.

Thanks for your patience!

[booze_is_me09]

yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank God!!!!!! i can't wait!!!!!!! PPMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LexLuthorMetropolis]

Remedied ladies and gentlemen and F.Y.I. don't let the thread drift like this due to one poster. Ignore them and do what you all did. Attacking and commenting on the poster just makes it that much worse.

[ericatipton]

cant wait for the update!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 37 - The Source

After a few more minutes of chatting, Clark and Lana decided to head home so Chloe could get back to working on her paper. Chloe, however, pulled Clark aside for a brief talk when they got up to leave.

Lana went on to the front door as Chloe asked, “What abilities have you told her about, Clark?”

“Heat vision, super-hearing, cold breath, and speed. Why do you want to know?”

“Because I need to know what I can and can’t talk about with her, you big dummy. Now, have you mentioned anything about where you’re from?”

“No,” Clark said. “I thought I’d save that little piece of information for last. If I don‘t scare her off with the whole freak show I‘ve been putting on, then maybe I can hit her with the big secret.”

“Okay, Clark, good luck. I‘ll see you later.”

“Bye, Chloe.”

When Clark headed down the hallway to the door, Chloe heard a slight flopping sound, looked down at Clark’s feet, and said sarcastically, “Oh, that sound reminds me…nice shoes, Clark.”

Clark answered her with a sheepish grin, saying, “I was hoping no one would notice that.”

“How could I not notice? It sounds like you‘re wearing flip-flops when you walk. Just be thankful I didn‘t point out those shoes to Lana.”

Clark shook his head and headed for the door. As he stepped outside with Lana, Clark took a careful look around and asked, “Ready for another run, Lana?”

“My hair can’t get anymore tangled than it already is from your first show of speed, so go for it.”

Clark looked down at his feet and said, “Yeah well, my shoes were ruined by the first trip, so I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Lana followed Clark’s gaze to the remnants of what had been some nice athletic shoes. The leather uppers had completely separated from the hard rubber soles. The uppers were still laced onto Clark‘s feet, but they flopped up and down with each step he took. The soles, on the other hand, were nowhere to be found.

“I thought I saw that inside the apartment, but I decided my eyes must be playing tricks on me.” Lana put a hand to her mouth in an attempt to stifle her laughter, but was unsuccessful. “Oh my God!” she said between snickers, “how did that happen?”

Clark shrugged his shoulders and said, “Friction. Going from relative rest to my top speed creates so much friction that one of two things happens: either the threads that hold the uppers to the soles are shredded and the shoes come apart, or heat builds up in the soles and they turn to a hot, sticky mess. Thankfully, the shoes fell apart this time. Chloe would not have been happy if I had made a mess in her apartment.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t notice those. She was looking right at us.”

“Oh, she noticed all right. I think she was just being nice by not embarrassing me in front of my new girlfriend.” Looking back at Lana, he asked, “So, are you ready to go?”

Lana looped her arms around Clark’s neck, said, “Catch me,” and leapt into his arms.

Somewhat startled, Clark nonetheless made the grab, sliding one arm under her knees and the other under her back. He paused for a second, to wonder just how lucky he was to have found someone as special as Lana. Someone to whom his abilities were just another part of him, not something to be reviled or feared.

Curiosity at the smile spreading across Clark’s face and the tender look that suddenly appeared in his eyes made Lana hold back from urging Clark to ‘get a move on.’ Instead, she gazed back at him, and wondered why a guy like Clark would choose her. He could have almost any girl on campus, Lana thought, but he’s standing here, holding me in his arms, and giving me a look that could melt even the hardest heart.

Finally, Clark remembered what he was supposed to be doing and zipped back to Lana’s apartment, carrying what was to him, the most precious of cargoes.

“Wow,” Lana said, as Clark let her down and she collapsed against his chest. “Even knowing it was going to happen, I just…wow! I mean, by the time I knew we were leaving Chloe’s, we were just coming to a stop here.”

Clark wrapped Lana in his arms and rested his head atop her head and just stood there, breathing in the faint floral scent of her shampoo. When she had caught her breath and composed herself. Lana stepped back and asked a question that had been in the back of her mind for sometime.

“Clark…I know you have a lot of abilities and that there may be more you haven’t told me about yet, but what I want to know is, where do they all those abilities come from?”

Surprised, Clark could only manage a weak, “What?”

“Has Chloe told you about the people from Smallville that have special abilities?”

“Yeah, she mentioned what she liked to refer to as ‘meteor freaks’ several times. Apparently, their abilities were gained from exposure to meteor rocks. If I remember correctly, the rocks seemed to greatly enhance an ability that was related to what he/she was doing at the time of exposure.”

“That’s right,” Lana said, “and at first, I thought your abilities had to be from meteor exposure when you were little. You told me you lived in Smallville and moved to Metropolis after the meteor shower, so I figured you started showing new abilities and your folks moved you here to hide.

“But that didn’t make sense because how would they have known about the cause of the abilities? Chloe was the first person I heard talk about the idea of the ‘freak’ abilities being meteor-related and she didn‘t come to Smallville until eighth grade. Before her, we thought those people had been poisoned by the Luthor Corp plant somehow.

“Also, your allergy to the meteor rocks doesn’t fit with the idea of you being meteor-infected. That never happened back in Smallville, at least, not to my knowledge.”

Uncomfortable with putting Clark on the spot, Lana stuffed her hands into her pockets and said, “So…what is the cause of your abilities? Do you know?”

If there had been a chair outside Lana’s apartment, Clark would have sat down because Lana’s question was both unexpected and very perceptive. His jaw worked up and down, but no sound came out as he searched the best way to answer her question..

Lana grew worried at his glassy-eyed look and hurriedly opened her door. She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him into her apartment. Shutting and locking the door behind her, Lana led Clark to her futon where they both sat down. By this time, Clark had begun to get over his shock.

He faced Lana, and said, “I’m not going to lie to you, Lana. I know exactly why I have all of these abilities, and yes, there are more abilities that you don’t know about yet. But as much as these abilities of mine are secrets, the reason why I have them is an even bigger secret. That’s something I don’t feel comfortable telling you yet…frankly, I’m afraid of scaring you away if you knew.”

Lana reached up to stroke Clark‘s cheek, Lana said, “I don’t scare that easily, Clark, you ought to know that by now.”

Clark’s hand rose up to wrap itself around Lana’s as he said, “I know, if you did, you’d be long gone by now. Still, I think I need to wait on this one.”

“Okay. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

“That’s more comforting than you know, Lana.” Clark pulled Lana’s hand down from his face and said, “Now, I think I’d better go home. My Monday morning alarm clock isn’t that far away and this has been a loooooooong weekend, what with the game yesterday in West Virginia and then everything that has happened today.”

“The game…oh, I forgot to tell you Chloe and I watched you guys play yesterday. That was a much better performance than you guys gave in the Utah State game.”

Clark chuckled a bit at Lana having forgotten about his game. “Yeah, we played pretty well the whole game. West Virginia is a lot better than Utah State, but you couldn’t tell that from the final score…anyway, I’m glad you watched.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Not knowing what else to say, Clark rubbed his hands on his jeans and stood up to go home.

Lana joined him and said, “Wait a minute, don’t I get a goodbye kiss?”

“I thought I already gave you one of those earlier right outside your door.”

“You did, but then you didn’t go home, so I get another one.”

“That‘s a screwy bit of logic, but I like it,” Clark said as he leaned in to fulfill Lana’s request.

*kkkkiiiiiiisssssssss*

“Oh my,” Lana said, “that doesn’t feel like ‘goodbye,’ that feels like ‘heeeelllllllllllooo!’”

“I know what you mean.” Lana walked Clark to the door. Once there, Clark said, “I’ll call you tomorrow after practice.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

[ajfinn]

1st!

haha ..... that feels like "hellloooo!" Reminded me of that line in Oklahoma!! :)

Awesome update. I'm glad he was comfortable enough to tell her he wanted to wait for all the ability origin stuff, and that she didn't get mad.

PPMS!!!

[SVsleuth]

2nd! - I loved this:

Curiosity at the smile spreading across Clark’s face and the tender look that suddenly appeared in his eyes made Lana hold back from urging Clark to ‘get a move on.’ Instead, she gazed back at him, and wondered why a guy like Clark would choose her. He could have almost any girl on campus, Lana thought, but he’s standing here, holding me in his arms, and giving me a look that could melt even the hardest heart.
and this:

He faced Lana, and said, “I’m not going to lie to you, Lana. I know exactly why I have all of these abilities, and yes, there are more abilities that you don’t know about yet. But as much as these abilities of mine are secrets, the reason why I have them is an even bigger secret. That’s something I don’t feel comfortable telling you yet…frankly, I’m afraid of scaring you away if you knew.”

Lana reached up to stroke Clark‘s cheek, Lana said, “I don’t scare that easily, Clark, you ought to know that by now.”

Clark’s hand rose up to wrap itself around Lana’s as he said, “I know, if you did, you’d be long gone by now. Still, I think I need to wait on this one.”

“Okay. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here.”
and this:

Lana joined him and said, “Wait a minute, don’t I get a goodbye kiss?”

“I thought I already gave you one of those earlier right outside your door.”.....

*kkkkiiiiiiisssssssss*

“Oh my,” Lana said, “that doesn’t feel like ‘goodbye,’ that feels like ‘heeeelllllllllllooo!’”

“I know what you mean.”
So many favorite parts, so much "Clana fluff" - just lovin' it.

PPMS, Card! :):):):):)

[Nemu]

3rd?

Well this was excellent!!! At least Clark was honest with her even if he didnt tell her yet about his origin... If he were remotely like that on the show it would be a big improvment...

Great work Card...

Will your next update be here or Reunion?

PPMS anyway :D

[ericatipton]

great!

[happycamper]

Like the previous poster said, great!

I almost thought you had been deliberately torturing your readers, though . . .

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Ah, fantastic. Wonderful update. I love how they are around each other. You've created Clark and Lana the way they should've been on SV. Open, free and trusting. Hope you'll update this more frequent! We can only hope, but I know you probably don't have the time. PPMS!!

[linn]

oh......the update was sweet...PPMS!!

[MOOman0618]

Great update Card!!

I can't believe Clark would even pretend to protest about another goodbye kiss!! Silly man. It is still cool that Clark is not dodging questions but rather explaining things a little bit at a time.

POST MORE SOON!!

[ajfinn]

So, ahemm, do we get another update here soon, since we know you're on vacation this week? ;)

No pressure ....... PPMS!!!!!!!!!

[binkys711]

Card that update was great! My heart melted and floated away when I read what they were both feeling and thinking before super-speeding back to Lana's. It was amazing!:D:D:D great job Card! phew! that was a close call back there with Lana, she's really smart, Clark better watch out:p

PPMS!!!:)

[deanyouk]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS Finally I caught up! it took me hours!!!!!!!

around 5 and a half to 6!!! great story!!!!!!! PPMS!

[kewl]

one word... awesome! :D ppms card!

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by binkys711
:D:D:D great job Card! phew! that was a close call back there with Lana, she's really smart, Clark better watch out:p

PPMS!!!:)

That WAS a great job. Yeah, Lana's one smart cookie--Clark had better watch out, and he'd better not cry when he reveals his origin and means of getting to Earth. As Clark-like as it'd be, I'd hate for him to blame himself for the meteor shower. He already KNOWS he had no control over it, right?

PPMS! :D

[NYC300Z]

awesome update Card! That was really good and Lana putting Clark on the spot! I wonder how long before Clark reveals all! I wonder how Lana will react~!

PPMS!

[SuperNes]

NIce! Can't wait for another

[deanyouk]

*whistles innocently*... looking forward to update :D

[superman_lives_on]

*dancing to a song from "Riverdance"*

Looking forward to more whenever it's ready, Card!

[Cardinal]

I will be posting an update for this story later tonight.

[SVsleuth]

:) :) :) :) :) I'll be watching for it.... ;)

[super12]

that was a great post.
PPMS!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 38 - Jealous

Over the next couple of weeks, Clark and Lana spent increasing amounts of time together, both over the phone, and in person. When they were out together, there always seemed to be someone new for Clark to introduce to Lana. Shy or not, her circle of acquaintance was growing steadily. During their ever-increasing time together, Clark continued to reveal his abilities, adding strength, invulnerability, and both kinds of x-ray vision to the list of abilities that Lana knew about. Only flight remained secret.

The Met U Bulldogs continued their winning ways and kept their number two national ranking. The Heisman Trophy hype swung into full gear as Clark was averaging more than 350 yards passing and 4 touchdowns per game. With Kathy able to attend the rest of Clark’s home games, Pete returned to sitting in the student section, so Lana could sit with the family.

Finally, after a week where all of the king and queen aspirants had been thoroughly interviewed by a committee consisting of a former king and queen, an administration representative, a member of the faculty senate, and a member of the student senate, the list of king and queen candidate finalists was being posted in the main lobby of the student union early Friday evening, with the election to be held on the following Friday.

Strangely enough, when Clark and Lana met after football practice to make the short walk to the student union to check the results, it was Lana that was too nervous to look at the bulletin board. She hid her face behind her hand as Clark read the candidates and their sponsoring organization out loud.

“Tom Patterson, Phi Delta Theta…Roger Loretta, Campus Crusade for Christ…Ed Barnes, Sigma Nu…Chris Wood, College Young Republicans…and, oh crap, I made it. Clark Kent, The Metropolitan. I can‘t believe I have to go through with this.”

Clark’s disbelief warred briefly with Lana’s delight, as her hand came down from in front of her eyes and she bounced on her toes. Excited now, Lana read the other list, just in case one of her new friends had been chosen.

“Bianca Martinez, International Students Club…Tedra Smith, Alpha Delta Pi…Kelly Johnson, Phi Beta Kappa…Charlotte Templeton, Accounting Club…and, oh no, not her, it can’t be!” But it was. Elaine Thompson, Alpha Alpha Alpha.

Clark was still grousing about having to go through with this election and, consequently, had not heard Lana read the list of queen candidates. He knew something was wrong, however, when she clutched his hand and unceremoniously yanked him toward the front door.

By the time they made it through the two sets of glass doors, Clark was not sure whether Lana was more likely to punch something or to cry, but he was sure she was steaming mad about something, because she was talking to herself as she pulled him along.

“That witch!” she said, under her breath. “That sneaky, no-good…if I catch her trying to…oooh, she makes me mad!”

When Lana stopped mumbling and brought them to a stop, they were well on their way towards Clark’s place.

When Lana finally spun around to face Clark, he asked, “What’s going on, Lana?” Why are you so upset?”

“I’ll tell you why. While you were bemoaning the fact that you are a finalist, I read the other list. Guess who’s on it?”

“I haven’t the foggiest idea.” But I’m sure you’re about to tell me.

Lana placed her hands on her hips, tilted her head to one side, and said, “That…that…woman! Elaine!”

“Elaine Thompson?”

“That’s the one. If I had known she was going to be in the running, I would have found a group to sponsor me for Homecoming Queen, even if it had to be the campus janitors’ union .”

“Whoa, hold on there, Tiger. What’s going on?” Clark asked, as he got them moving again toward his place, where they were supposed to make dinner together. He had skipped eating the evening meal in the student union dining room for this occasion and was beginning to get hungry.

“Well, when I encouraged you to run for Homecoming King, it never occurred to me that that barracuda would show up on the other side, and now I’m wondering if it was such a great idea to encourage you in the first place. I mean, it would be great if you stretched your boundaries a little bit, but I don’t want that witch to get her hands on you, not even for a minute. She promised to make you hers and I don’t want her to have any chances to do so and…”

Clark finally got Lana’s attention by hitting her with the faintest puff of cold breath on the back of her neck. He had been told by Chloe that it felt like having an ice cube held in place.

“Lana, why are you worried about Elaine?” Clark asked, “She’s a very good friend of mine and she’s very important to me, but she’s not going to be my girlfriend, not ever.”

“But she’s so beautiful, and Chloe says her dad is rich.”

“You’re right on both counts. Her dad is as rich as Croesus and she’s the second most beautiful woman I know, but, when it came to her and me, something was missing. I just wasn’t attracted to her that way.”

Curiosity having caught her mind for a second, Lana asked, “Who’s the first?”

“First what?” Clark asked warily.

“Who’s the most beautiful woman you know?”

“Do you even have to ask?” Clark quickly wrapped his hand around hers and said, “Here’s a hint: I’m holding her hand right now.”

With that, Lana leaned against Clark with a sigh and said, “Oh, Clark.”

By the time they made it to the sidewalk in front of Clark and Pete’s place, it was full-dark outside and the only part of Clark that was easy to see besides his face and hands was the red windbreaker Clark was wearing along with his dark blue t-shirt and new, unfaded blue jeans.

Clark had enjoyed the quiet for the last few minutes, but now asked, “Who were the other girls on the queen’s list, Lana?”

Lana stopped and her eyes took on a distant look as she concentrated, but her emotional turmoil had pushed the other names right out of her head. “Sorry, Clark, I don’t remember. None of the names belonged to people I know.”

He thought for a second, always a fatal mistake for a man when dealing with a woman’s emotions, and said, “In that case, I think if I were to win, I’d like for Elaine to be the girl that wins the election as Homecoming Queen. After all, she’s one of my best friends.”

The words were no sooner out of his mouth than he realized his mistake. Oh crap, he thought, me and my big mouth!

Lana’s face screwed up tight as she jerked her hand out of Clark’s and stepped back from him, fending off every attempt Clark made at getting closer.

Fueled by anger, Lana went on the verbal offensive. “You WHAT?” she roared, “After everything I just told you, you want her by your side in the parade and at the dinner and dance? I can’t believe you! Well, if you want her, you can have her! I’m going home!”

Lana rushed across the narrow, two-lane street and put her head down as she walked at top speed toward her apartment. Clark followed after her, saying, “Come back, Lana! I didn’t mean it the way you think I did. Elaine’s just a friend. When will you get that through your head?”

Lana whipped back around so fast that Clark had to jump back to keep from running her over. “Oh. So now I’m too stupid to understand, am I? Well, for your information, Mr. Kent, I’m doing just fine in school, even in Trigonometry…so there!”

“But Lana…”

With her hand up, palm facing Clark, Lana looked like a member of the Supremes. “Don’t say another word, Clark. You’ll just dig that hole you’re standing in a little bit deeper.”

With the confrontation now over, Lana turned back for home and her anger turned into tears. When she turned the first corner, she saw Clark following her at a distance and yelled back at him, through her tears, “Leave me alone! Don’t you dare follow me. I’m a big girl and can get home on my own. I‘ve been doing it for years now.”

Defeated, Clark threw his hands up in the air and watched as Lana hurried down the sidewalk and passed out of sight.

Lana was right, she was not stupid, so she made most of the walk home along the east-west axis of campus due to the superior lighting and the security phones. Still, she felt kind of naked, all by herself in a city she did not know that well yet. By the time she was halfway across the campus, she had begun sneaking looks to see if Clark had followed her anyway.

If he really cared about me, she thought, he would have followed me anyway, no matter what I said, just to make sure I got home okay. But nooooooooo, Mr. High-and-Mighty can’t be bothered with his girlfriend’s safety.

Lana’s conscience came alive with a start, Well, what did you expect, Girl? You just gave that boy a royal butt-chewing for no reason at all. You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kick your butt to the curb the next time he sees you…and it would serve you right if he went back to that rich girl.

Willing her conscience to quiet down, Lana thought to herself, What have I done? One glance of a rival’s name on a bulletin board was enough to unhinge me, and I took it out on the sweetest, kindest man I know. How stupid can I get?

The rest of her trip was filled with self-loathing for what she did to Clark, and ever-increasing sadness since he had appeared to abandon her. At no time could she detect even the least little hint of his presence. Lana turned the last corner and headed for her front door. She was only steps away and was fishing in her purse for her keys when she heard a sound she could not quite place.

Whipping her head from side to side in an attempt at localizing the sound's source, Lana finally realized the sound was coming from directly overhead, and looked up just in time to see Clark float down out of the night sky, his red windbreaker fluttering in the breeze, arms folded across his chest.

No sooner had his feet touched the ground, than Lana was all over him, raining kisses on his face and desperately trying to apologize. “I’m so sorry, Clark.” *kiss* “I’ve been so evil to you this evening.” *kiss* “I don’t know what came over me.” *kiss* “Will you ever be able to forgive me?”

This isn’t the kick in the pants I was expecting, Clark thought, but I’ll take it.

Clark held Lana out at arm’s length and noticed her red-rimmed, blood-shot eyes and tear-streaked face. Unconsciously, he reached into his left rear jeans pocket for a plain, white linen handkerchief which he used to dry her tears as he asked, “Besides being angry with me, what else have you been doing to make this mess, Lana?”

“Oh nothing,” she wailed. “On the way home, I realized how poorly I treated you, and then I was getting worse ‘cause I thought you didn’t really care about me since you weren’t following me home, never mind that I told you not to, and then just when I’m at my lowest point, you drop…out of…the…sky.”

Lana just stared at Clark for several seconds, unwilling, or unable to do anything. Finally, she whispered, “You can fly?”

When Clark responded to her question with the slightest of nods, Lana said, “Oh…my…God! You can fly! If you have any more special abilities, they’d have to be along the line of ‘always leaves the toilet seat down,’ or ‘never leaves his socks and underwear on the floor.’”

“No promises there, Lana, but flying is the last of my special abilities. Only one more secret to go, but this one is bigger than all of the others combined.”

When Clark released her shoulders, Lana allowed herself to collapse against Clark and take some comfort to which she knew she was not entitled, but which she so desperately needed. Clark just enfolded her in his arms and rocked her gently side to side. “In case my hug hasn’t answered your question for you, Lana, you’re forgiven.”

When no reply was forthcoming, Clark ventured a quiet question, saying, “Lana, what’s happening between you and Elaine? Something’s going on there and I think I have a right to know.”

Lana looked up at Clark and said, “Oh, okay…well, Elaine and I had a confrontation the night you and I had our first study session in the library. She saw us together and somehow got my address. Just after you left after asking me out, she showed up and…it got kind of nasty, with both of us pledging to win you.”

Clark was smiling, which left Lana confused. “What’s so funny, Clark?”

“Oh, nothing,” he said. Then, in response to Lana’s raised eyebrows, he said, “It’s just that I’ve never had two women fight over me before and it’s kind of nice, even if I didn’t find out about it until after the fact.”

Lana’s hands were twisting together and she was unable to look Clark in the face, as she said, “Anyway, any mention of Elaine makes me afraid that she’ll come back and take you away from me. Chloe says she’s the kind of girl that’s used to getting her way and I can’t see her giving up on you just because I won the first round of the fight.”

“Lana…Lana?” Clark waited until she finally raised her eyes to his before continuing. “When I told Elaine that I couldn’t ask her out any more, I made sure she knew, unequivocally, that there was no future for her and me as a couple. Whatever happens between you and me, I will never go back to trying to date Elaine. As far as your contest goes, you won a long time ago.”

He was desperate to say ‘I love you,’ but the words just would not come out, so he settled for a fierce hug that nearly engulfed her slender frame.

When Clark relaxed his hold on her somewhat, Lana asked, “Clark, what’s it like to fly?”

Clark checked to make sure they were unobserved and then said, “Why tell you when I can show you?” With that, they shot up into the air, rising quickly to avoid detection, but slowing to a standstill at a low altitude to avoid freezing his passenger.

As they hovered in place, Lana looked around, taking in all the sites from a vantage point she never dreamed to have. Slowly, Clark began to fly her all over campus, wending this way and that, and ending up over a darkened parking lot near to Clark’s apartment.

They lowered to the ground gently, not raising so much as a puff of dust upon landing. Lana was struck speechless. After the short walk to Clark’s apartment, he x-rayed the interior to be sure Pete was still out.

“Why are we here, Clark?” Lana asked.

“Simple, we had a dinner date tonight and I intend to keep it.”

Lana’s face lit up with an incandescent grin, the kind of smile a woman reserves for the man she loves, only, Clark did not know that yet. But he was enchanted by it nonetheless. Just as they stepped through the front door, Clark asked, “Now, why don’t you tell me what it’s like to fly?”

[SVsleuth]

1st! That was awesome! Lana got to go flying with him. And, man, a jealous woman can be a bit irrational. Poor Clark. Good thing he was levelheaded & didn't get mad himself - just casually followed her - from above. ;)

And LOL about the toilet seat & socks abilities - Clark can't promise on those, eh? :lol:

Now only the origin is left...I wonder how much longer 'til he's willing to share that?

Well, on to the homecoming.... PPMS!

[*~KrYpToN619~*]

2nd!

Fantastic! When Clark said he wanted Elaine to win, I was like "Ooo Clark No! Shouldn't of said that!" I'm glad Lana didn't stay mad very long...Cool 1 more secret to go! PPMS!

[deanyouk]

3rd,

wow what a great update!!!!!!! speachless!

ppms

[MOOman0618]

Wow...holy green eyed monster!! That was some crazy stuff Lana was saying/doing/thinking. At least she snapped out of it. And now she knows Clark can fly! Only one left...how will she take that one??

POST MORE SOON!

[ajfinn]

Lana, Lana, Lana ......... she was acting like the BDAG (Big Dumb Alien Girlfriend) :D

Crazy chick!! You know though, us women get that way, out of no where, and men should just learn to deal with it! :lol:

Great chapter!!

[superman_lives_on]

Seems only too appropriate that the last ability he shows her is flight. And he actually followed her instead of just letting her go alone. He's definitely more mature than the Smallville version of Clark. I guess Superman isn't so far off after all (especially given what he was wearing).

And each now knows the depth of his/her own feelings. It's not just attraction, not even mere affection... It's love. At last....now they just need to tell each other that, once his Kryptonian origin is out of the way.

PPMS!

(P.S.: How come we haven't yet met Jor-El in this fic? It'd be good to see for ourselves how different he is from the one in Smallville.)

[Cardinal]

Jor-El will make an appearance, but not just yet. He's somewhat different from the Smallville version, but how much different, I don't know 'cause I haven't spent much time on the ODB yet.

[superman_lives_on]

ODB?

[Cardinal]

Old Dirty B@stard! :D

[superman_lives_on]

Sounds like a more accurate descriptor for Lionel Luthor...

[NYC300Z]

That was an awesome update Card! They had a little fight, but they over came it very nicely good for them! I wonder if Elaine has anything planned? oh well I can't wait for more!

PPMS!

[happycamper]

Great!!

Good thing that Clark isn't so well trained - or is it that he's so much smarter than 99.9% of us guys?

If told "don't you dare follow," I'd have meekly complied and never realized why I was in even more trouble!!!

[super12]

well all and all the post was great glad she knows all his abilities and hope she can have an open mind to the origin.
PPMS!

[linn]

ohh.....that was great.....so aweosme loved it......PPMS!!!

[binkys711]

wow Card! hehe Lana really blew up about that Elaine thing didn't she? and with a good right! Her enemy is getting close to her boyfriend! fight for what you love Lana! the kissing and making up scene was cute, especially when Lana came to realize HOW he got there:p The flight was awesome! I wish they would both come out and say 'I love you' already!:p

PPMS!!!

[NYC300Z]

Second Page BUMP!;)

[C.A.chick]

Woah!!!!!! Awesome Card! I don't blame Lana for being jealous, I mean who would wanna lose Clark? PPPMASAP!

[Cardinal]

There should be an update on this thread sometime late tonight. It's partially done now, but I'll have to finish after work tonight.