Lana's P&P

[oldmankent]

When I write a fanfic I usually don’t ask readers if they want me to continue. But in this case, what I’m interested in may be very different from what you’re interested in. Therefore, I would like your opinion as to whether or not you would like me to continue with this fanfic.

Maybe I’m crazy in attempting two long fanfics at the same time but writing this actually helps me with my primary fanfic (SV Season 6). It actually frees up my mind for some creative thinking. (At least I think so.)

Besides, you’ll find that the subject and tone of this is a lot different from anything I’ve previously written. With all of the depressing spoilers I felt the need to lighten things up.

I look forward to your comments and constructive criticism.


**********

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune is in want of a wife.”

Jane Austin
“Pride and Prejudice”


Chapter 1

The 60 inch plasma screen television was bright in the darkened room. Surround sound projected from all corners. Lana sat on the soft leather sofa. Her attention was entirely focused on the images before her. The show was ending. A smile came to her as she heard the final words.

“Oh, Mr. Bennett. God had been very good to us.”

“Yes. So it would seem.”

The projection ended and the lights came on in the room.

“Oh, Lex. Wasn’t that wonderful?”

Lana looked to her right and saw that Lex was asleep. The back of his head was sunk into the sofa. His mouth was open with air slowly entering and exiting. Lana pushed his shoulder to awaken.

“Lex! Wake up!”

He sat up ramrod straight. The light stunned his eyes.

“What? What? Oh. Is it over?”

Lana couldn’t keep her expression from showing disappointment.

“You didn’t watch any of it. Did you?”

Lex tried to be reason his way out of the situation.

“Lana, watching 6 hours of a 1995 BBC production of a Jane Austin romance isn’t exactly my cup of tea.”

“Lex, ‘Pride & Prejudice’ is one of the greatest romances of all time.”

“I’m sorry, Lana. My tastes run towards Akira Kurosawa’s ‘The Seven Samurai’. Now that’s a classic movie.”

“Lex, I watched The Seven Samurai with you. It was four hours of Japanese.”

“Yeah. Well I speak Japanese fluently.”

“Well, I don’t. Do you know what it’s like reading subtitles for four hours?”

“It can’t be any worse than watching Darcy and Elizabeth stare at each other for six hour in Pride and Prejudice. I’m sorry, Lana. Pride and Prejudice is a ‘chick’ flick. It’s just not for me.”

Lex walked behind Lana and placed his arms around her. He began to place small kisses on her neck.

“It’s not that I’m not romantic, Lana. I just wasn’t ‘into’ the movie. Not like I’m ‘into’ you.”

Lana was stilled annoyed and she pulled away from him.

“Lex, I sometimes doubt that you’re ‘into’ me. You seem to be ‘into’ me when we’re doing what you want to do. But when I suggest something that I like, you’re not ‘into’ it. You know this is one of my favorite stories. I’ve wanted to watch it with you for the longest time. But you’re not ‘into’ it. Now, when it’s over, you’re suddenly ‘into’ me. Sometimes I feel like I’m more a possession to you than anything else. A trophy for you to show off.”

Lex’s natural assertiveness could not be held in check. He decided that the best defense was a good offense.

“Maybe, I’m just not into watching leading men who are ‘tall, dark and handsome’.”

Lana was taken aback by Lex’s assertiveness.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I think you know.”

“No. I don’t. Explain it to me.”

Lex was only inches from her face.

“I don’t need to see movies with leading men that have the same characteristics as Clark Kent. Come on, Lana! You watch that movie all the time. You think I don’t know why.”

Lana Lang was never one to back down from anyone and this night was to be no exception.

“I don’t have to listen to this.”

Lana quickly turned and stormed out of the room. She left the mansion, got in her Jeep and started driving towards Smallville.

Lex began to feel guilty over what he had said. He left the mansion, got in his Ferrari and started after Lana.

Lana was speeding down the highway. She was angry and the angrier she became, the heavier her foot felt on the accelerator. She looked in her rear view mirror and she saw a pair of headlights getting closer to her. Lana pushed the accelerator down to the floor but the engine of the Jeep was no match to engine of the Italian racecar. It wasn’t long before Lex was along side of her. His passenger side window came. Lana kept her window up. She was used to Lex’s standard operating procedure. He would get angry and say hurtful things. She would leave. Then he would chase her down, cause her to stop, apologize and then bring her back to the mansion. “Well, this time it’s not going to work.”

“Lana, slow down and pull over!”

She ignored him.

“Lana, pull over! Let’s talk!”

Lana could see Lex’s lips move but she could not hear him with her window closed. She looked to her left and for a moment she saw his face in a panic as he slammed on his brakes. She looked to the front of her Jeep and saw the yellow school bus cross the road in front of her. She screamed as she put all the strength she could muster to the brake pedal.


**********


Chapter 2

“Lizzy, wake up.”

The morning sun was slowly creeping through the window. Lana found herself slowly waking up in a very comfortable bed. She inhaled deeply and smelled something she had not experienced in a long time. It was the sheets. She took part of the sheet in her hand and held it up to her nose and inhaled again. “This sheet had been washed and then dried outside on a clothesline. Not in a dryer.”

Lana found herself not in her dormitory twin bed but in a very large full sized bed. She sat up in a somewhat dazed state. As she looked around the room she saw that the bed and the accompanying furniture were made of a very heavy wood. “This isn’t from IKEA.” It also appeared to be antique. But it was antique furniture that was in very good condition. She sat up in her bed and noticed that she wasn’t in her usual sleeping attire. She was wearing a long cotton sleeping gown. “I don’t understand. Where am I and why am I wearing ‘this’?” Once again, she heard a voice outside her door.

“Lizzy, wake up.”

The voice sounded familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The door opened and Martha Kent walked in.

“Mrs. Kent?”

The woman was in a frenzied rush.

“No, we’re not going to Kent. Whatever gave you that idea? We’re going to Longbourne to buy some material to make new dresses for the Assembly. If you don’t get up soon, Lizzy, you’re won’t be able to come with us.”

The woman looked like Mrs. Kent. She sounded like Mrs. Kent. But she spoke with a definite British accent.

“Mrs. Kent, why are you calling me Lizzy?”

Lana brought her hand up to her mouth when she heard herself speak. “Oh my God! I’m speaking with a British accent.” Mrs. Kent approached her with a worried look on her face. She placed her hand on Lana’s forehead.

“Oh dear, dear. You must still have the fever.”

The she shouted.

“Jane! I need you!”

Lana heard footsteps running towards the room. Lois Lana came into the room. She too, spoke with a British accent.

“It’s Lizzy. I think she still has the fever. She thinks we’re going to Kent.”

Lois put her hand to Lana’s head.

“Lois, what are you doing? I don’t have a fever. Why is everyone acting so strangely?”

Lois and Martha looked at each other. Lois sat down on Lana’s bed and held her hand.

“Lizzy, you have to regain your senses. Otherwise, mother will have another attack of nerves.”

Martha nodded to what Lois was saying. Lois continued.

“Please come back to us. You are Elizabeth Bennett. I am your sister, Jane. This is your mother. Father and our other sisters, Mary, Kitty and Lydia are downstairs having breakfast.”

Lana’s was barely able to respond.

“This can’t be happening.”

Lois spoke to Martha.

“I think you better get Father. He has a way with Lizzy.”

Lana watched Martha run out of the room. She could hear her voice in the distance.

“My nerves! Oh my poor nerves! Mr. Bennett, please come to Lizzy’s room!”

Lois sat on the bed and held Lana’s hand.

“Dearest Lizzy, I had hoped the fever had passed.”

“Fever? What fever?”

“For the past several days you were with fever. We sat with you all through the night. You spoke in your delirium.”

“What did I say, Lois? I mean, Jane.”

“You said such strange things. You spoke of Smallville or something like that. And then you spoke of…oh who was it?”

“Of Lex?”

“Lex? No. No. No. It wasn’t Lex. It was…Clark. Yes. That’s it. You spoke of Clark.”

“Clark? Why would I speak of Clark?”

“I don’t know, Lizzy. Your fever was such that we thought need a physician to bleed you.”

“Bleed me?”

“Yes. To expel the vile humors from your body.”

Lana lay back on her pillow. “I must be dead.”


**********


Chapter 3

Lois patiently waited with Lana for the father to arrive. Lana kept a hand over her face hiding her eyes not knowing what to expect. She heard footsteps outside the door of the room. Footsteps that were climbing up a creaky set of stairs. Again she heard voices outside her room. The woman’s voice was that of Martha Kent. The man’s voice was also recognizable. Once again, both voices had British accents.

“I don’t see why I must be involved in these matters, Mrs. Bennett.”

“Oh, Mr. Bennett, you have no consideration for my nerves.”

“On the contrary. I have great respect for your nerves. Especially since I’ve lived with your nerves for over 20 years.”

Lana heard the footsteps enter the room. She slowly opened the fingers that covered her face and looked through. “Oh God! Lionel Luthor is my father.” She couldn’t keep herself from saying his name.

“Mr. Luthor.”

Lionel smiled as he saw Lana and he walked up her and took the hand that Lois was holding.

“Now you know better than that, Lizzy. You know full well that we are members of the Church of England and have nothing to do with the Lutherans. Now stop being a silly girl like your sisters and get out of that bed so you can go into town with your mother.”

Lana removed her hand from her face. She decided she needed time to reason out exactly what was happening. “Maybe I should just play along for awhile.” She spoke and addressed Lionel, Martha and Lois.

“I’m sorry…Father…Mother…Jane. I don’t know what’s come over me. It must be a dream I had. Exactly, why are we going into…town?”

An amused expression came over Lionel.

“Surely you jest my dearest Elizabeth. With the Assembly Ball taking place very soon, your mother insists on all of you having the newest fashions for the event. After all, how can we marry you off unless we clothe you decently?”

“Marry? I don’t want to get married.”

Martha almost had a heart attack in hearing Lana’s response.

“Not marry! Have you no concern for my nerves? You must marry! Your father isn’t going to live forever. And with five daughters. What’s to become of us? Of course you must marry.”

Lionel, still with the amused look on his face, spoke.

“Yes. Hopefully one of you, if not all of you, will meet a husband to be at the ball. Especially now that we’ve heard that our newest neighbor, Mr. Bingley has an income of over five thousand a year. Who knows, Lizzy? Maybe you will be the new Mrs. Bingley.”

Martha started raising her voice.

“Well, one of them better become Mrs. Bingley! Oh, what’s to become of us? My nerves! My nerves!”

Lionel walked out of the room. He was totally unconcerned about Martha’s tirades.

“I will be in the library. Do not disturb me again. Unless it is news of one of our daughters being married.”

Both Martha and Lionel left the room. Lana was left alone with Lois. Lois had an expression of affection as if Lana and she were truly very close.

“Lois, I mean Jane. I think I’m going to need some help getting dressed.”

“Of course, dearest sister. Let me help you.”

Lana got out of bed and her bare feet hit the floor. She noticed immediately that the room was much cooler than what she was used to. She looked around and saw the standard set of bedroom furniture – a bed, a dresser and a chest of drawers. She also saw that there were candles instead of electric lights. On the dresser were a basin and a pitcher. There was a fireplace with a set of chairs in front of it.

Lana saw the enormous amount of clothes that Lois was wearing. The length of the dress reached to the floor and then it appeared that Lois was wearing undergarment after undergarment underneath the dress. “Well, when in Rome do as the Romans so. Let’s take care of first things first.”

“Jane, I’m still a little disoriented. Where’s the bathroom?”

Lois looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Dearest sister, you know? The bathroom? The place where I can go….”

Lana made a motion of picking up her sleeping gown. Lois recognized what she met and began to chuckle.

“Oh, the little house. You make me laugh, Lizzy.”

She took Lana by the hand and led her to the window. She pointed to a little shack in the back of the yard. Lana was at a loss of words. “Wonderful. No indoor plumbing.”


**********

[RedGoldStar]

Very good start! Please continue!

[Venezuelan Lana]

ROFL!!! this sounds like a lot of fun! It's a very nice start!!! PPMs!!!

[SmallvilleMan]

With all of the depressing spoilers I felt the need to lighten things up.

Stop reading spoliers. Reading spoliers right is like going into a room with 10 people who hate you and no one else who cares about it. The only that's coming your way is bad news. Why can't some clana fans understand? There is no good news coming........On another note, good story, i think i like it.

[C.A.chick]

Very good, please continue. Mr.Darcy better be Clark! PPMA!

[Clana227]

yeah please continue

[maitriniazngurl]

This is Awesome!! I loved the Pride and Prejudice movie!! One of my faves.. but I couldn't understand some of the british accents.. maybe this would help.

Please Continue!! I can't wait!!

[SVsleuth]

This is unique. Continue! I always love your fics.

[happycamper]

Very nice, and very different from what I've read in your works before this.

I managed to both avoid the movie and the book many years ago in HS, so it should definitely be something different for me, at least. :lol:


:D :D

[oldmankent]

Chapter 4

Lana, although covered by a woolen robe, still shivered from the morning chill. Here she was, standing alone in the stink of the outhouse, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “What was the last thing I remember? She found that she could remember her friends. She remembered Lois and Chloe. Lex was her boyfriend. And she remembered “I’m not going to say his name.” She remembered Smallville in general but she could not remember any specifics. She could not recall where she was or what she was doing before she had awakened in the bed of Elizabeth Bennett.

“This must be a dream. If I realize that I’m dreaming than I should wake up.” She looked down at the latrine below and closed her eyes. “This is a dream. Lana, wake up. Lana, wake up.” She opened her eyes and looked down below her. She was still standing in the stink of an outhouse.

She started thinking of the situation she was in. “It’s obvious that I’m in the story of Pride and Prejudice. So I should know what’s going to happen. Okay, there’s going to be a Ball. Now what happens after that?” She was able to recall most of the characters but she was unable to recall the events of the story. “Oh my God! What if I am Elizabeth Bennett? What if being Lana Lang was the dream?” She expected to hear music in the background from The Twilight Zone but there was only silence. “Maybe, this is some kind of Matrix thing.”

“Lizzy, how long are you going to be in there?”

Lana opened the door and saw a young girl of around 15 years old in front of her. She was taller than Lana and very pretty. She had an infectious smile and seemed to be ready to laugh at anything. The way she was holding herself indicated that she was very proud of her blossoming womanhood. This was not someone that Lana recognized.

“I thought you had fallen in, Lizzy.”

The girl was laughing as she spoke. Lana didn’t know which one of her sisters this girl was. She decided to guess.

“I’m sorry, Mary.”

“Mary?”

“I mean Kitty.”

“Kitty?”

“Lydia. Yes, Lydia. I’m just making sure you know who you are.”

Saying this, Lana quickly walked away to make her escape. She could her Lydia behind her.

“You’re a strange bird, Lizzy. If you ask me, they should have bled you.”

Lana made her way into the house and back into the bedroom. Lois helped her put on an enormous amount of clothes that seemed to cover every square inch of her body. As they walked down the stairs and through the house to the dining area, Lana noticed that most of the house was very chilly. “I guess they don’t have centralized heating.” When they entered the dining area, she saw that the entire family was seated. Lionel and Martha were at separate ends of the table. She saw that the girl she met earlier, Lydia, was sitting next to another girl just slightly older. They were whispering and giggling with each other. “Okay, that must be Kitty.” Then she looked across from them on the other side of the table. Sitting there alone was another teenage girl, slightly older than Kitty and Lydia but younger than Lana. Her hair was severely tied back from her head. She wore eyeglasses and seemed to have a complexion problem. Her head was buried in a book. “That must be Mary.” Lionel spoke when he saw Lana.

“Thank goodness Lizzy and Jane are here. I’ve had to put up with the silly nonsense of Lydia and Kitty. Finally, there can be some decent conversation.”

Hearing his comment, Lydia replied.

“It’s not silly nonsense, Father. We’re just so exited about the Ball. I do hope there are soldiers there!”

Hearing Lydia’s comment Martha decided to respond.

“Oh, there was many a red coat that turned my head when I was her age.”

Lionel put an end to the subject. Lana sat down with Lois and looked at the enormous amount of food on the table. “This is breakfast!” Breakfast appeared to be more like a dinner buffet to Lana. Occasionally, some servants walked into the room to put more food on the table and to take plates away. Lana looked for something that would be light, like a muffin. Unable to find anything that was familiar with, she spoke.

“Do we have any orange juice?”

Everyone stopped talking when they heard the question and looked at Lana. Lana then realized that a glass of orange juice was probably not an every day occurrence for a British family in 1800.

“I guess a bowl of Cheerios is out of the question.”


**********

The six women crammed into a horse drawn carriage and were driven by one of the servants into the town of Longbourne. The ride was bumpy and the road was muddy. Lydia and Kitty kept fantasizing as to how they were going to be involved in every dance with a soldier in a red uniform and a sword. Mary tried to speak about some philosophical subject she had read in a book of sermons. Martha kept speaking about getting her daughters married and settled. The family owned property. But if Mr. Bennett died the family could not inherit the property. The inheritance could only be passed on to a male heir. The thought of being expelled from her own house weighed heavily on Martha’s mind. She was totally preoccupied with arranging marriages for her daughters and ensuring that everyone was taken care of.

The town of Longbourne was small but lively. People scurried from place to place. Everyone knew one another and stopped to exchange greetings. Lana was struck by the formality of the language. People would not say ‘hi’. They would say ‘How wonderful it is to see you this fine morning. Are you in good health?’ Mary left the group and went to a book shop. Lydia and Kitty went running to two officers on the street. Lois and Lana were left to go shopping with Martha. They went into what could be called ‘a general store’ and purchased cloth material, ribbons and bows. The six then made their way back to the Bennett house where the six women began creating their outfits for the Ball. Lana didn’t have a clue as to where to start. She was fortunate in that Lois was willing to help. And before the sun set in the sky she had an outfit for the ball.

She began to realize that there was a very strange set of dynamics in the family. There was a close relationship between herself and Lois. Their father treated them with more respect than the other girls and his wife. He sought the company of Lois and Lana and engaged them in a spirited conversation whenever he could. He frequently said that Lizzy and Jane had more sense than the rest of the women put together. Mary sought solace in her reading, her music and her studies. The antics of Lydia and Kitty, who were preoccupied with the thoughts of soldiers, dancing and balls, caused Lionel to shake his head in dismay. Most of all, Lionel tried to stay away from Martha and her constant complaints about how everything affected her nerves.

As the day progressed, the group changed from working in a room that was located on the east side of the house to a room located on the west side of the house. Lana realized that this was done to catch the rays of the sun since there was no electrical lighting. She found dinner to be as bountiful as breakfast but she did recognize the food and she ate heartily. However, instead of her usual Diet Coke, she drank a glass of red wine.

When dinner was over the family retired to a sitting room. The women did embroidery or read. Lana looked at the selection of books. The print was small, the language was longwinded and the subject matter was boring. She found a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets that she tried to occupy herself with. Mary began to play at the piano and sing at the same time. On hearing her sister sing, Lana wished for her iPod.

The family then retired for the night to their respective rooms. Lana once again found herself in the long cotton sleeping gown. She did find the candlelight and the quaintness of the room to be comforting. She heard a slight knock on her door and she answered. Lois was on the other side. Lois came into the room and Lana realized that this little get together was a nightly occurrence between the two close sisters. Lois began to speak.

“Do you think a great deal about the person you will marry, Lizzy?”

Lana tried to be nonchalant about the subject.

“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. If it happens, it happens.”

They were both sitting by the fireplace. Lana felt a certain wholesomeness in having someone to talk to like this. Being an orphan without any siblings she frequently felt lonely. Having someone close to speak to, even if it was Lois, was comforting. Lois continued.

“I don’t ask for much. All I ask is that he be an amiable man with a sufficient income and that he respects me.”

“Well, Lois, I mean Jane, what about…love?”

“Oh, well of course, if he loves me and I love him that would be very nice. But it’s not absolutely necessary.”

“What about other things?”

“What other things, Lizzy?”

Lana was finding it difficult to bring up the subject.

“You know. Things between a man and a woman.”

“Well, I’m prepared to fulfill my wifely obligations.”

“Well, it should be more than the fulfillment of an obligation, Jane. I mean…

Lana decided to dive in.

“Relations between a man and woman can be a wonderful thing.”

Lois looked at Lana with a surprised expression on her face.

“Lizzy, where did you hear such a thing?”

Lana was now struggling to find the right words. “Lois Lane is a virgin. This must be a dream.”

“I have it on good authority that it can be an awe inspiring experience.”

Panic took hold of Lois’ expression. She grasped Lana’s hand.

“Lizzy, you haven’t compromised your virtue, have you?”

Lana sat back wondering how to answer the question. She patted Lois’ hand and told the truth.

“Jane, Elizabeth Bennett hasn’t compromised anything.”


**********

[happycamper]

Lionel as a father?:mad:

Very amusing! I like how Lana is being forced to adapt to an earlier time. Even the rich in that period lived worse than the poor today. No television or other easy entertainment, no indoor plumbing and central heat (or AC), and poor medical care...

I also enjoyed Lana's reaction to discovering Lois' status as a virgin, and her surprise that 'relations' were just a burdensome duty that had to be borne by wives.


:D :D

[Clana227]

Great story please update soon.

[Smallville4]

i wonder who's clark??

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

this isnt weird at all

[maitriniazngurl]

Update soon!! This is very good! Its unique and I haven't seen this in a while. I can't wait until the ball.. I bet Clark is Mr. Darcy, and Lex.. is either the landlord.. or the soldiers.. hem.

PPMS!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

no i think that lex will be the rich guy with alota hair...PHSYC!!!

[oldmankent]

Chapter 5

Martha, Chloe and Lois walked up to the loft. Clark was lying on his well worn couch. He was reading a book. All three women did a double take when they saw the title.


Sense and Sensibility

By

Jane Austin

Lois was the first to speak.

“That’s not exactly what I would call standard Clark Kent reading material.

Clark looked up and smiled.

“It’s not The DaVinci Code but I am making a good faith effort to expand my horizons.”

The smile left his face when he saw the serious expressions on the women’s faces. He immediately stood up.

“What’s wrong?”

The three women seemed to be hesitant as to who should speak first. Martha stepped forward and placed her hand on Clark.

“Clark…there’s been an accident.”


**********

The Assembly Ball was held in a place called Meryton. Again, the five sisters and Martha were taken by a carriage. As Lana entered the hall she was struck by the good time being had by all. Everyone was engaged in conversation or dancing to music provided by a group of six musicians. The music was lively as lines of young people made their way back and forth in the intricate patterns of the dance. Lois had taught Lana a few of the steps the previous night. If Lana didn’t know the steps completely she thought she could fake her way through.

As she entered, a young woman came up to her and embraced. Lana looked into the face of …

“Chloe!”

Lois explained to Chloe that Lana was still recovering from her fever. Lana then searched her memory for the characters in the novel. She saw Chloe’s father in the distance greeting everyone and saying the words, ‘Capital! Capital’. She came to the conclusion that Chloe’s father must be Sir William Lucas and Chloe must be his daughter and Elizabeth’s best friend, Charlotte. But this Chloe was not the pretty, vivacious Chloe she had known. The only way she could describe this Chloe was…plain.

As they walked through the hall and made their way to the opposite end of the entrance Lana noticed that there were a great many more women than men. The women seated themselves in chairs along the walls, waiting to be asked to dance. When people greeted one another the women would curtsy and the men would bow.

At one point she noticed the music stopped as a group of five people entered the hall. All heads turned in the direction of the entrance. The assembly seemed to hold this small group of people in high esteem. Even though their clothing was not modern, Lana could see that it was of a finer quality than everyone else in the room. It was obvious that this was what could be called the ‘upper class’.

Lana saw that the group was led by a man who was tall and light haired. In fact, he looked a great deal like Oliver Queen. Chloe’s father went out of his way to greet him. Queen looked on the gathering and was smiling from ear to ear. She heard Chloe’s father call him ‘Mr. Bingley’. He was accompanied by two of his sisters, who bore a striking resemblance to the girls in a sorority that Lana been in briefly. There was another man she did not recognize. He was introduced as Mr. Hurst, the husband of one of the sisters.

In the background, keeping his distance from the greetings and introductions came the last member of the party. His back was turned to everyone as took off his tall hat and gave a servant his cloak and white gloves. Lana could see from the back that he was taller than Queen and his hair was black and full. He turned around and Lana was immediately recognized the full lips and intense blue-green eyes. “Clark!” He was striking in his dark attire. Even though the style was 200 years old Clark’s height and the width of his shoulders made an astonishing combination in formal attire. His hair was longer but well groomed with sideburns extending down to the bottom of his ear towards the corners of his mouth. Clark tagged along with the rest of Queen’s party but he looked like he had very little interest in being at the assembly.

The music resumed and the party made its way around the room. Finally they reached the Bennett party and Chloe’s father introduced Queen to Martha.

“And I have the honor of introducing, Mrs. Bennett.”

Queen was affable and smiling. Martha curtsied and Queen bowed. Chloe’s father then took turns introducing the five sisters. Each name was prefaced with a ‘Miss’ and followed by a ‘Bennett’ in the introduction. It was obvious to Lana that Queen had eyes only for Lois. He asked her to dance and she eagerly accepted. All this time, Clark stood in the background, speaking monosyllables only to Bingley’s sisters and not asking anyone to dance.

Lana was asked several times to dance and found herself keeping up with the steps and actually having a wonderful time. Later on in the evening, she found herself sitting out a dance. Nearby were Oliver and Clark. She could hear them talking but they were unaware of it. Oliver was the first to speak.

"Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."

Clark, who had a dour expression on his face the entire night, did not change.

"I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."

Lana’s eyes opened wide at what her ears were hearing.

"I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom! Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty."

“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room.”

A smile grew on Oliver’s face from ear to ear.

“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld. But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”

Clark gave a quick glance at Lana and then responded to Queen.

“She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me and I am in no humor to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”

When Lana heard this she could only think of one thing. “Why that son of a *****! When did Clark Kent get so high and mighty?”

Queen left Clark and went to dance with Lois. Clark continued to walk around the room with an expression that said he’s rather be someplace else. As he increased his distance from Lana, he turned to briefly look in her direction. And then he looked again and again. Queen’s unmarried sister, Caroline came to him and began to question him.

“Pray tell, Mr. Darcy. What is it that you are so intent on observing?”

In an unguarded moment, Clark answered her without hesitation.

“I’m looking at a pair of very fine eyes.”


**********

[happycamper]

I'm obviously lost and have absolutely no idea what is going on. Given that, I'm still enjoying the story...:)

I guess Clark can't avoid being attracted to Lana no matter the situation. :lol:


:D :D

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

well put the together already!

[Clana227]

great update please update soon

[maitriniazngurl]

Great update!! I'd be mad too!! I just can't quiet picture Tom instead of that guy who played Mr. Darcy.. I'm still seeing the original Pride and Prejudice.

Anyways.. update soon!!

[clark&lanafan06]

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Venezuelan Lana]

This fic's awesome!!! I can't see Tom acting like Darcy, it's just not the picture of him I have! Yet I can totally see Lana playing Elizabeth Bennet! The idea is incredible, the writting is outstanding and, although we all know what happens at the end, I can't wait to see what happens next!!

PPMS

[oldmankent]

Originally posted by Venezuelan Lana
This fic's awesome!!! I can't see Tom acting like Darcy, it's just not the picture of him I have!
Don't forget that the story of P&P is a story of people willing to change.

[oldmankent]

Chapter 6

In the aftermath of the Assembly, Martha couldn’t help but go on about Mr. Bingley and how he spent most of the night with Jane. It was clear that Martha was already hearing wedding bells for her eldest daughter. Mr. Bingley was the handsomest, the best mannered, the most agreeable and the most charming man she had ever met. He had moved in the residence at Neatherfield, which was close by and, according to Martha, it was only a matter of time before Jane would be mistress of that household. But as for Mr. Darcy, how could that contemptible man slight her dear Lizzy. Lana heard Martha label Darcy as despicable. She would be no son-in-law of hers even he was one of the richest men in England. Lana thought of him in a different way. “He’s an *******.”

Over the next two weeks many of the households in the Longbourne area held gatherings to welcome Mr. Bingley and his friends. At these gatherings Martha, who could not control her tongue, made her feelings known to anyone she came across that a marriage proposal from Bingley to her dear Jane was imminent. Lydia and Kitty also found it difficult to contain their enthusiasm. They pursued every officer they came in contact with, raised their voices with ill mannered abandon, and always prodded the musicians to play something lively so that they could dance whether the occasion called for it or not.

Bingley’s two sisters always seemed to be ‘above’ it all. To label them as ‘snobs’ would have been an understatement. In viewing Bingley’s brother-in-law’s expanding waistline and red nose Lana correctly surmised that Mr. Hurst had three main activities in his life – eating, drinking and more drinking. He had very little to contribute to any conversation. He always labeled any festive occasion as ‘a damn tedious waste of time’. Always accompanying Bingley was Clark. And always accompanying Clark was his sour disposition. Lana always noticed that Clark kept himself apart from the crowd. He only spoke when spoken to and his answers were short and closed. She also noticed that every time she looked in his direction she would catch him looking at her. He took no steps to conceal that his attention was focused on Lana. But his expression was unreadable. It caused Lana to think that he held her in contempt. The contempt of being in the same company with someone of a lower social class than him.

On one of these festive occasions, Chloe’s father took Lana by the hand and started walking with her.

“Miss Elizabeth, why are you not dancing?”

Lana was unprepared when he suddenly brought her up to Clark.

“Mr. Darcy, allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance I’m sure, when so much beauty is before you.”

Lana was silent for a moment and then responded.

“I’m sure Mr. Darcy has better things to do.”

Clark’s expression lightened just a little at the prospect of dancing with Lana. He was certain that a young lady would never refuse such an opportunity. He forced a small smile.

“I would be very happy if you would do me the honor of dancing with me, Miss Bennett.”

Lana lifted her eyes to his and answered.

“I’m sure there are others here who are more deserving.”

She abruptly left Chloe’s father and Clark. Clark watched her as she left. Even when spurned he was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes from her.


**********

It is ironic, considering the difference in social class, that Bingley’s sisters actually took a liking to Lois. On one occasion they sent a messenger to the Bennett household with an invitation for Lois to come to the Neatherfield residence for dinner. Martha was ecstatic at the invitation and tried to ensure that Lois would not only stay for dinner but several days afterwards. She made Lois ride on horseback in the rain to Neatherfield in the hope that the chill would cause her to become ill. This would necessitate Lois staying at Bingley’s until she was well. Martha’s plan worked to perfection. Lois became feverish and bedridden for several days.

After two days without her sister, Lana walked the distance to Neatherfield to be with Lois and to nurse her back to health. Of course, this meant that Lana would have to stay under the same roof as Clark. The time she spent with the sisters and Clark seemed like an eternity in Hades. Conversation from the sisters many consisted of pointing out to Lana how young women of their society were so much more ‘accomplished’ than the young women of the Bennett household. Lana also observed that the single Bingley sister, Caroline, had her eyes set on Clark. It was clear that Caroline Bingley wished to become Caroline Darcy.

One evening while they were gathered in a sitting room and Lana was reading, Caroline approached Lana.

“Miss Bennett, let me persuade you to follow my example and take a turn about the room.”

“You want me to walk around the room? Why?”

“I assure you it is very refreshing.”

Lana was struck by the tediousness of the request. Taking a ‘tour’ of the room seemed silly but did not want to be rude. She walked with Caroline around the room. “I feel like I’m in Kindergarten.” She also noticed that Clark did not try to conceal that his eyes were following her every step. Caroline noticed Clark’s tracking and asked him if he would like to join them. He declined saying that it was more advantageous for him to stay where he was. Caroline found this amusing and saw his reply as an opening to a unique conversation. She prodded Lana to join in.

“Why, what could he mean, Miss Bennett?”

Clark answered her question.

“Your figures appear to their greatest advantage in walking and I can admire you much better from where I sit.”

Lana found herself thinking, “Give me a break. Don’t try and get on my good side.”

Caroline took it a different way thinking that his admiration was directed towards her and not Lana.

“Oh! Shocking! I have never heard anything so abominable.”

Lana thought, “Obviously, you’ve never walked by a group of construction workers.” Caroline directed her next question to Lana.

“How shall we punish him for such a speech?”

Lana rolled her eyes up in her head and responded.

“Why don’t we just ignore him?”

“Ignore Mr. Darcy? We cannot ignore a man without fault.”

Lana was surprised at the statement. “This ***** really has the hots for Clark.” Clark answered.

“That is not possible. I have faults enough.

Lana responded.

“Such as vanity and pride.”

“Yes, vanity is a weakness but pride, where there is a real superiority of mind is not a weakness.”

Lana couldn’t help but think how different this Clark was from the Clark she knew in Smallville. Clark continued speaking.

“My temper is too unyielding. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. I could be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost forever. There is in everyone a tendency to some particular defect.”

Lana immediately answered.

“So your defect is to hate everybody.”

And Clark replied immediately.

“And yours is to willfully misunderstand them.”

That ended the conversation and the group went back to their reading and card playing. If Lana could have gone into Clark’s head she would have seen that he felt a danger to his self control of paying Lana too much attention. Not only was he having difficulty not looking at her but talking with her and hearing her voice, even when it was contentious, was becoming a welcomed event. She was certain that he couldn’t stand being in the same room with her when, in reality, his feelings were exactly the opposite.


**********

[happycamper]

So, is this an attraction of Clark for Lana, or of Mr. Darcy for Lizzy? and How long will they misunderstand the other?

Please don't force me to go read the book...:lol:


:D :D

[clark&lanafan06]

Good Update !

[maitriniazngurl]

U don't have to Nemu.. there's a movie!! I think it's Kiera Knightly..and some guy. It's pretty good.

Oh, Great update. :D

[mysteryman1]

Update Soon.

[oldmankent]

Chapter 7

“What exactly is going on, Doctor?”

“Mr. Luthor, Lana Lang is in a coma. Her airbag fully deployed in the crash and prevented a serious injury. But her brain has gone into a comatose phase. We just have to wait it out.”

“Patience is not a virtue of mine, Doctor. Does she have any injuries to her brain?”

“Her EEG is normal. However, there is some usual mental activity occurring.”

“What does that mean?”

“She seems to in an extended dream state. It may be a recuperative phase.”

Clark, Chloe, Lois and Martha walked through the door. Lex motioned for his guards to come in. He pointed to Clark.

“The women can stay. I want him out.”

Clark faced off with Lex.

“Why are you doing this, Lex?”

“I don’t want you near my fiancé.”

“Fiancé?”

“She will be as soon as she wakes up.”

Clark grabbed Lex by his coat and almost lifted him off of the floor.

“You listen to me. If I want to see Lana I will. And if you think there’s anything you and your goons can do about it, you better think some more.”

Chloe put her hands on Clark and prompted him to let go of Lex. She calmed Clark down and made him walk outside the room so that no one could hear her. She spoke quietly to Clark.

“Clark, we’ll find a way to get you in. Give us some time. Please.”

She motioned for him to go down the hall to the visitors’ waiting room.

“There’s a waiting room you can stay in. No one will bother you there. When Lana wakes up you’ll be there. I promise you.”

Clark nodded his head in understanding.

“I’m not leaving, Chloe. No matter how long it takes.”


**********

During the course of the next week two things of significance would happen to Lana. She would receive an offer of marriage and she would meet someone who would confirm that her dislike of Clark was justified.

Lionel had received a letter from a cousin he had never met, Mr. William Collins. Mr. Collins was a recently ordained clergyman who was the pastor at one of the wealthiest parishes in England. He had such an esteemed position because of the patronage of one the wealthiest women in England, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who just happened to be Mr. Darcy’s aunt. Mr. Collins was anxious to visit the Bennett household for two reasons. Being the sole male heir, Collins would inherit the estate in the event of Mr. Bennett’s death, and on hearing of the beauty of the Bennett sisters, particularly the two eldest, Collins was inclined to seek a wife from among them.

So Mr. Collins visited the Bennett household with the intention of staying a week and then leaving in the good graces of the family because he would bestow the honor of marrying him on one of the daughters. When Lana was introduced to Collins he bowed very low. Upon raising himself Lana was struck by the fact that he looked a great deal like Jimmy Olsen, Chloe’s new boyfriend. But unlike the friendly, enthusiastic Jimmy Olsen, Mr. Collins left much to be desired.

Mr. Collins was not a sensible man and this trait had not been helped by the education he had received or the society he kept. He had been brought up in great humility which had now been counteracted by his unexpected good fortune in securing a position in the parish sponsored by Lady Catherine. He would apologize unnecessarily, flatter everyone around him without provocation, and continually pay homage to the ‘magnificent condensation’ of Lady Catherine. Lana summed up all of his failings in a single sentence. “This guy is a jerk.”

It was soon after his arrival that he spoke to Martha about his desire to keep the Bennett estate within the family by marrying one of her daughters. He had his eye on Lois. Martha told him that Lois’ engagement to another man was imminent but please, feel free to choose from among the four remaining daughters. In the span of fifteen minutes, Collins changed his mind from Lois and fixed his sites on Lana. Martha assured him that Lana was free and would welcome his advances. So with Martha’s blessing Collins began his pursuit of Lana Lang.

Lana was unaware of Martha’s and Collins’ collaboration but she soon began to feel uneasy as Collin’s always strove to include her in everything he was doing. He always referred to her as ‘my sweet, dearest cousin, Elizabeth’. He constantly spoke of his secured future. Lana’s good manners and politeness only mistakenly reassured him that his advances were being whole heartedly received and that when he made his proposal of marriage it would be eagerly accepted.


**********

On one occasion the five sisters and Mr. Collins took a walk into the town of Meryton. As was usual, Lydia and Kitty made off for some men in uniform. But on this particular occasion the girls’ attention was caught by a young man accompanying the soldiers. He was tall and slim and wore a long black coat. When he removed his hat to expose his hairless head Lana’s spirits were lifted. “Lex!” He was introduced as George Wickham and everyone in the group took an immediate liking to him. He joined the conversation without hesitation and made everyone feel comfortable in his presence. He had an easy going way and Lana and Lex soon began acting like old friends instead brand new acquaintances.

Their conversation turned to the most recent events in the community, the foremost being the arrival of Mr. Bingley. Lex asked Lana if she knew of Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy. She replied that she did and he responded that they used to be friends. Lana took notice of the emphasis on ‘used to be’. Lex then told the story as to how he had been done a great wrong by Mr. Darcy.

“His father, the late Mr. Darcy was my godfather. He was a kind man and excessively attached to me. He had made an informal provision that after his death I was to be provided an income so that I could enter into the Church and become a clergyman. Upon his death when I tried to collect on his father’s promise so that I could follow my true calling, the son turned me away and reduced me to my present impoverished state.”

This state compelled him to join the army and in a few days time he would be joining his new regiment. Lana’s sympathetic feelings for Lex increased while her opinion of Clark was reduced even further.

“Why did he do such a thing?”

“A dislike that I can only attribute to jealously.

Lex’s testimony confirmed Lana’s feeling that Clark was an ill-tempered and vindictive man. And she saw the Lex Luthor of this time was just as supportive, just as loving as the world she had come from. She was impressed with Lex’s decision not to reveal Clark’s duplicitous nature, “I owe it to his father.” Lana remembered Clark’s word’s “My good opinion once lost is lost forever.” It seemed like the Clark Kent of this period had the same irrational paranoia of Lex Luthor as the Clark Kent of Smallville. Words that she had once said to Clark took hold in her mind. “How could I have ever loved you?”


**********

Towards the end of the week, the Bennett family was invited to a Grand Ball at Mr. Bingley’s residence in Neatherfield. This invitation was accepted with great excitement. There would be dozens of red coated officers for Lydia and Kitty to choose from. Lois would be partnered with Oliver Queen and Lana was sure that since Lex had joined the regiment he would be there too. Of course, Mr. Collins was also included and he proceeded to unknowingly deflate everyone’s spirits.

“I shall hope to honored with the hands of all my fair cousins during the course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the first two dances.”

Lana had planned to have those first two dances with Lex and now her happiness would be delayed.

Lana wore a gown that was befitting for the occasion. She was determined to impress Lex. With her hair flowing and white gloves extended the length of her arms she looked not only beautiful but stunningly elegant.

The Ball was grand. The house was full. The conversation was lively. The food was plentiful and the dancing was spirited. The only thing missing for Lana was the presence of Lex. She was told by one of his friends that Lex wished to avoid a scene with a certain gentleman whose name began with a D. Not only was Lana deprived by the one pleasure that she looked forward to but soon Mr. Collins was upon her to fulfill her promise to dance.

The two dances with Collins turned out to be one of the worst experiences of Lana’s life. In this time when dancing required a precise synchronization of steps and movements, not only with one’s partner but with a line of other couples, Collins was a bumbling fool. What was worse was that he thought he was good.

After the dance was over Lana met Chloe and related the story that Lex had told her regarding Clark’s despicable nature.

“Are you absolutely certain, Lizzy?”

“Of course I’m certain, Charlotte. You’ve met Wickham. How could such an amiable man like him not tell the truth?”

After she it she thought, “I don’t believe I just used the word ‘amiable’.” Lana was relaying Wickham’s story in such a self absorbed manner that she was unaware when Clark approached her and Chloe. Chloe put her hand on Lana’s to stop her and to bring her attention to Clark. Clark bowed and both women curtsied.

“If you are not otherwise engaged, Miss Bennett, would you do me the honor of the next dance?”

Lana began to stammer and then the words, “Thank you. Yes.” came out of her mouth. Clark left to take his place in the line. Lana angrily stomped her foot on the floor.

“What was I thinking? I promised myself I would never dance with him.”

Chloe brought Lana back to reality.

“He paid you a great compliment, Lizzy, by singling you out. Think of what you’re doing. You’d be a simpleton indeed if you let your fancy for Wickham lead you to slight a man of ten times his consequence.”

Hearing those words, Lana accepted her fate for the next dance and went to stand in line across from Clark. Their eyes met and locked. Both were unable to read the expression of the other. In a way they appeared more as adversaries rather than partners. Two fencing opponents ready to duel to the death.

The music began. The men bowed and the women curtsied simultaneously and the two lines began to move in unison. The couple would be brought together, then apart and then together again in a series of intricate steps that was not only intended for two people to have the pleasure of dancing with each other but also to allow them to have a private conversation at the same time.

Lana noticed that all of the couples were making small talk. Every couple except her and Clark. Lana decided to do something about the silence.

“Well, are we going to go through the entire dance without speaking a single word?”

Clark was still silent. His attention was focused on Lana. She thought, “God! This is like pulling teeth.” Again she tried to draw him out.

“I could talk about the dance. You might say something about the room.”

Lana felt like saying, “So how about those Yankees?” But then she remembered that baseball had not yet been invented. He was still silent. So she decided to zing him.

“I met an old friend of yours the other day, Mr. Wickham.”

The effect was immediate as the blood drained from Clark’s face and a smile developed on Lana’s face. “Gotcha!” She continued.

“I don’t think I ever met a man who could make friends as easily as Mr. Wickham.”

For the first time Clark spoke.

“Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends – whether he is equally certain of retaining them is less certain.”

Lana was not going to let Clark get the best of the conversation.

“He lost your friendship. And it looks like he’s going to suffer the rest of his life because of it.”

Clark was undecided as to what to how to respond. At this point, Chloe’s father interrupted to extend his compliments on their dancing.

“I have been most highly gratified indeed, my dear sir. Such superior dancing is not often seen. Allow me to say that your fair partner does you justice. I hope to have this pleasure repeated when a certain desirable event takes place.”

When Sir William said ‘desirable event’ he motioned his head in the direction of Lois and Oliver who were dancing with one another as if no one else existed. Lana didn’t know what to say but this was the first time that Clark was fully aware of his friend’s unbridled attachment towards Lois. Sir William continued.

“But let me not interrupt you and your bewitching partner any longer. A pleasure, sir. Capital! Capital!”

They continued dancing and Clark spoke.

“Sir William’s interruption has not made me forget what we were talking of.”

Again, Lana was quick to respond.

“You mean what I was talking of. You have hardly spoken a word.”

She continued on with the previous subject.

“I remember hearing you once say that you hardly ever forgave. That once your good opinion was lost it was gone forever. I hope that this doesn’t happen often?”

Clark was unsure as to where all of this was leading but he answered Lana’s question.

“It doesn’t.”

“And you don’t prejudice your judgment with pre-conceived ideas?”

“I hope not.”

Now Clark began asking the questions.

“May I ask to what these questions tend?”

Lana gave him a brief smile.

“I’m just trying to see what kind of person you are.”

“And what is your success?”

“None at all. I hear such different accounts of you as to puzzle me exceedingly.”

Lana stopped for a moment and thought about what she had just said. “I’m beginning to sound too much like the people of this time.” Clark responded.

“I can readily believe that report may vary greatly with respect to me. I wish that you would not sketch my character at the present moment.”

“But if I don’t do it now I may never get another chance.”

The dance was ending and Clark coldly replied.

“I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours, Miss Bennett.”

The music stopped. The dance ended. Clark and Lana stood in the exact same spot as where they started. They left each other and would not intersect for the remainder of the evening.


**********

The next day Mr. Collins decided that the time was right to issue his proposal of marriage to Lana. After breakfast, he spoke to Martha and requested a private audience with Lana. When Lana was called by Martha to go into a separate room and the door was shut behind her and she saw Mr. Collins standing there, she had one thought. “I have a bad feeling about this.” She tried to exit the room but Collins stopped her and he began his planned speech.

“Miss Elizabeth, you can hardly doubt the purpose of my discourse. My attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered this house I singled you out to be the companion of my future life. But perhaps before I run away with my feelings on this subject, perhaps I should state my reasons for marrying.”

Lana sat in silence with a straight posture thinking, “Please don’t.” But Collins was not to be stopped.

“My reasons are, first, I think it is right that every clergyman set an example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced that it will add greatly to my happiness. And third and most importantly, that it is the specific recommendation of my patroness, the Lady Catherine de Bough. And now nothing remains for me but to assure you of the violence of my affection.”

Collins stopped and waited for Lana’s affirmative answer. Lana put on her best smile.

“Mr. Collins, you seem like a nice man and I thank you. But right now I’m not interested in getting married.”

Collins seemed to be ready for her answer.

“I know that it is usual for young ladies to reject the addresses of the man they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for her favor. And that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second and even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said and I hope to lead you to the altar in the near future.”

Lana inhaled deeply. “This guy is not only stupid. He’s stubborn.” She smiled again and tried to explain to him.

“Mr. Collins, I’m not one of those ladies. I would never tease you. I’m being honest with you. Right now I’m not interested in getting married and even if I were, I don’t think I’d be the right girl for you.”

Collins continued as if Lana had never responded.

"When I do myself the honor of speaking to you next on this subject, I shall hope to receive a more favorable answer than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character."

Lana realized that the only way to extricate herself from this situation was to be tough and blunt.

“Mr. Collins, read my lips.[/b] I…do…not…want…to…marry…you[/b]. Please don’t ask me anymore.”

She left the room and passed Martha who had been trying to listen through the door. Martha was in a frenzied state. She tried to reassure Mr. Collins that everything would turn out just as he had planned. Lizzy was a headstrong girl who just needed to be guided as to the error of her ways.

Martha stormed into Lionel’s study and began screeching.

"Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her."

Lionel lifted his head from the book he was reading.

"I have not the pleasure of understanding you. Of what are you talking?"

"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy."

"And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems a hopeless business."

"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him."

"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion."

Lana was called down to Lionel’s study. She stood still, facing off against Martha. Lionel began to question her.

“I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?"

Lana said ‘yes’.

"Very well -- and this offer of marriage you have refused?"

Lana made the same reply.

"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so Mrs. Bennet?"

Martha replied.

"Yes, or I will never see her again."

Lionel stood between the two women.

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."

Lana’s reaction was to put her arms around Lionel’s neck and hug him. Martha burst into tears. Mr. Collins left the house within the hour.

The next morning the news was received that Mr. Collins had spent the night at the house of Sir William Lucas, Chloe’s father and that he had made Chloe an offer of marriage.

And she accepted.


**********

[Clana227]

great update , when is Lana going to snap[ out of her coma. ppms

[SmallvilleMan]

Have to love this stupid Lana. Honestly! She thinks Clark is the one who's wrong and that his dislike for lex is wrong. The same Clark Kent who has always had faith in other people and anytime he's disliked someone he's been right!!!! Except for A.C. HELLO LANA, you'd think someone like clark would have a good reason for disliking lex, BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Nice update and please hurry with the fixing, because this Lana pisses me off.

Oh and one last thing, i'm glad clark was about to go right through Lex to get to see Lana. I've grown very tired of the smallville clark being a wimp when it comes to Lex, especially after what he did in reckoning. After that happened, every time lex said anything wrong to clark, clark should have responded the way anyone would if that person was responsible for the murder of the one they loved. But again, NOOOOOOOO, clark is just going to be a wimp.

[happycamper]

While he put it a bit more strongly than I would have, I have to agree with SmallvilleMan. Clark does need to stand up for himself, and Lana needs to re-think what she is doing and how she is acting.

Otherwise, a very amusing update! I loved Lionel's line about being "a stranger to one of your parents." :lol:


:D :D

[oldmankent]

Chapter 8

The next forty eight hours were not good for Martha. Elizabeth had missed her opportunity to secure Mr. Collins as a husband. That opportunity had been seized by the very plain Charlotte Lucas. Elizabeth may have considered Charlotte a dear friend, but to Martha, Charlotte was a rival who had gained a victory over the Bennett family. Charlotte and Collins were quickly married and moved north back to his parsonage.

But the worst news of all came in an envelope. Jane received a letter from Caroline Bingley, stating that she and her family were leaving Neatherfield to go back home to London. Her brother, Charles had business in ‘town’, as Caroline called London, and it would be likely that he would not return again.

Lana like Lois was stunned at the news. It was less than two weeks ago that Lois and Oliver seemed destined for one another, that their happiness together would only be a small matter of time. Now, with this letter, all of the aspired to happiness was lost. Forty eight hours ago Martha felt certain that two of her five daughters would be married before the end of the year. Now they were back to the same state as they were before. There were zero prospects for marriage in the family.

Lois was stoic in concealing his disappointment but Lana could tell that her sister’s heart was broken.

There was much discussion as why things did not work out. But all the discussion was speculation. No one knew what made Mr. Bingley change his mind. But Martha’s determination to marry Jane to Mr. Bingley would not be so easily circumvented. If Mr. Bingley would not come to Jane than Jane would go to Mr. Bingley. Jane was sent to London to stay with Martha’s brother and his wife, Mr. And Mrs. Gardiner. Although Jane sent several letters to Bingley telling him that she had arrived and would like to visit, there were no responses. She did meet with the Bingley sisters but they were cold and distant. Jane came home more despondent than ever.

In their private conversations Lois revealed to Lana the extent of her heartache. They reasoned that the breakup was caused by their own family’s less than adequate financial and social situation. Mr. Bingley was in a social class far above the Bennett’s. It would take a special kind of love from him to face the adversity that a match with Lois would produce.

Lana saw Lex as often as she could. But soon he had to leave with his regiment to a western part of the country. Of course, with the officers gone, Lydia and Kitty were in a sour mood.


**********

Lana was invited to visit Chloe at the parsonage and she eagerly accepted. The trip took two days by carriage and when she arrived she was affectionately received. Collins proceeded to show Lana the entire area in which he lived with a description of each and every object. He described the house. Each room of the house. Each piece of furniture in each room. And he described every improvement he had made. In the guest room, where Lana would be sleeping, he pointed out the particular work he had done with the closet. He opened the door of the closet and with a grand gesture pointed out that he had installed…shelves.

“My dear cousin, shelves in a closet. Is that not a unique idea? It was recommended by Lady Catherine herself.”

Lana found herself nodding her approval. All the while thinking, “Now I’d really be impressed if you installed a toilet that flushes.” Chloe said nothing. It was obvious to Lana that Chloe was embarrassed by her husband’s behavior.

That evening they were invited to dinner at Rosings, the residence of the Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Collins felt the need to advise Lana as to how to dress for the occasion.

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest -- there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."

Lana’s impression of Rosings was that it was big. The area was big. The buildings were big. The windows were big. The rooms were big. The furniture was big. Everything was big. It was obvious that Collins was impressed by all of this. As he did with his own house, he commented on the grandeur of Rosings and how much everything cost. And the Lana met Lady Catherine herself. Lana gasped at seeing her. For Lady Catherine was the exact image of Genevieve Teague.

Lady Catherine held court with her sickly daughter, Anne, on a daily basis. She was surrounded by people who would sit in silence and listen to her pontificate on everything in such a decisive manner that it was clear that no one ever dared disagree with her. Nothing was too insignificant that she would not comment on it. She constantly told Chloe how to run her household and Collins how to run his parish. She influenced everyone and everything in the community. Lana struggled to keep her eyes open and to sit erect. She looked at the clock on wall. “It’s 8:30 on a Thursday night. I should be home watching Survivor. Instead, I’m barely surviving this night.” Lady Catherine then directed her comments to Lana. Observing that Lana was a ‘genteel, pretty girl’. She asked

“Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennett?”

Lana looked at Chloe. Not understanding the meaning of ‘out’. Chloe took the liberty of answering that they were all ‘out’ in society. Lady Catherine was taken aback that the younger sisters should be ‘out’ before the older sisters were married. Lana answered.

“Why not? They have just as much a right to meet young men as Jane and I.”

Lady Catherine was not accustomed to someone speaking up to her.

"Upon my word, you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person.”

These dinners were repeated several times over the next two weeks. And then one day Chloe and her husband received two special visitors from the town of Derbyshire. One of them was Mr. Darcy.


**********

Clark arrived with his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. The colonel bore a great resemblance to Arthur Curry, the young man Lois was attracted to at Crater Lake. Unlike Clark, AC was outgoing and enthusiastic about meeting Lana.

“Finally, I have the honor of meeting the famous Miss Elizabeth.”

Lana was flattered but didn’t understand. AC continued.

“My cousin never stops speaking of you.”

“Speaking of me? I was unaware that Mr. Darcy could speak at all.”

AC took this as an attempt at humor and laughed at the remark. Lana took a liking to AC. She learned that both Clark and AC were nephews of Lady Catherine. Clark had a 16 year old sister, Georgianna. Since the death of Darcy’ father, both AC and Clark had been appointed as legal guardians to Georgianna. All this time, Clark kept his distance from Lana. He may have kept his distance but he could not keep his eyes from continually looking at her.

On one occasion, Lana was sitting with AC at the piano when Darcy stood up and approached them. Standing above her, he said nothing. Lana told AC of the time she first Darcy and how he would not dance with anyone even though there were many opportunities. Clark responded to her remarks.

"I had not at that time the honor of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party. I should have judged better had I sought an introduction; but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers."

Lana to this an opportunity to comment in a sarcastic way about Clark’s manners and the general consciousness towards social classes.

“How is it that a man a man of breeding, education and money finds himself ‘ill qualified’ to recommend himself?”

Clark thought for a moment before answering.

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."

“Perhaps you should practice.”

Lana was taken aback by Clark’s reaction. He nodded his head.

“You are perfectly right, Miss Bennett.”


**********

Lana enjoyed her conversations with AC but one day he inadvertently told her something that made her physically ill. They were walking through the gardens at Rosings when the subject of Bingley being friends with Darcy was brought up. Lana commented that Bingley looks up to Darcy and that Darcy takes care of Bingley like an older brother. AC responded.

“Care of him! -- Yes, I really believe Darcy does take care of him in those points where he most wants care. From something that he told me in our journey. I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to him. But I ought to beg his pardon, for I have no right to suppose that Bingley was the person meant. It was all conjecture."

AC had captured Lana’s curiosity.

“What do you mean?”

"It is a circumstance which Darcy, of course, would not wish to be generally known, because if it were to get round to the lady's family it would be an unpleasant thing."

“Your secret is safe with me.”

"And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to be Bingley. What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names or any other particulars, and I only suspected it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man to get into a scrape of that sort.

Lana was now connecting the dots. She pressed on and AC was eager to answer.

“Did he tell you why he did this?”

"I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady."

It could only mean that Darcy had taken steps to separate Lois from Oliver. Lana excused herself and went back to her room where she found Clark waiting for her.


**********

Clark was the last person Lana wanted to see. She hoped that his visit would be brief and that he would leave. But she remembered the importance that was placed on manners. She sat down and asked him to do so. He remained standing. He paced back and forth through the room. He sat down and then immediately rose back up. He appeared to be nervous and seemed to be struggling to speak. At last, he approach Lana where she sat and he spoke.

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and… love you."

Lana sat in stunned silence. “This can’t be happening.” She could not bring her eyes to meet Clark’s. Especially after hearing what AC had just said. She was about to respond when Clark continued.

“In declaring myself thus I am fully aware that I am going expressly against the wishes of my family, my friends, and I hardly need add my own better judgment. The relative situation of our families is such that any alliance between us must be considered a highly reprehensible connection. Indeed as a rational man, I cannot disregard as such myself.”

Lana’s eyes met Clark’s. It was bad enough that he wanted to marry her. Now he was telling her why he shouldn’t marry her. He was still speaking.

“But it cannot be helped. Almost from the earliest moments of our acquaintance I have come to feel for you a…passionate…admiration and regard which despite all of my struggles has overcome every rational objection. I beg you most fervently to relieve my suffering and consent to be my wife.”

There were many things going through Lana’s mind at this moment but only one word came from her lips.

“No.”

Clark was shaken from her response. Surely a woman of Lana’s class would be eager to move up in the social order.

“I might wonder why with so little effort at civility I am rejected.”

Lana wanted to say, “What part of ‘no’ do you not understand?” Instead an unknown voice rose from within her.

"I might wonder with so evident a desire to offend and insult me, you chose to tell me that you loved me against your will, against your reason, and even against your character? Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I was uncivil? But I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. Do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining the happiness of a most beloved sister? Do you deny that you have done this?"

Clark was starting to regain his composure. He was staring to show the ‘coolness under fire’ that young men of his class were known for at this period in history.

“I have no wish to deny it. I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister and I rejoiced in my success. Towards him I have been kinder than towards myself.”

Lana wasn’t about to let go.

"But it is not merely this affair on which my dislike is founded. Long before it had taken place my opinion of you was decided when I heard of what you had done to Mr. Wickham. How do you defend yourself on this matter?”

Clark was now angry and the tone of his voice reflected his anger.

"You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns.

"Who that knows what his misfortunes have been, can help feeling an interest in him?"

"His misfortunes! Yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed."

Lana’s anger now matched Clark’s

“And of your infliction. You have reduced him to his present state of poverty. You have done all this and yet you can treat the mention of his misfortunes with contempt and ridicule."

Clark was still in a state of shock that his offer of marriage was being rejected in such a way. He was about to leave but he was determined to have the final word.

“And this is your opinion of me. My faults by this calculation are heavy indeed. But perhaps these offenses might have been overlooked had not your pride been hurt by the honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design on you. Had I concealed my struggles and flattered you. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly below my own?”

If this were the 21st century, Lana would have slapped the man standing before her. Instead, that unknown voice once again rose up from within her.

“You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy. The mode of your offer merely spared me any concern I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner. You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it. From the very beginning your manners impressed me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit and your selfish distain for the feelings of others. I had not know you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world whom I could ever marry!”

By this time Clark had fully recovered from the shock. He turned to leave.

"You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness."

Clark left. Lana sat down and began to cry - wishing she were back home.


**********

[SmallvilleMan]

WAIT A MINUTE!!!! I get it, this clark is the exact opposite of the real Clark And this going to show Lana how great the real Clark is? Am i right or making myself look foolish?:eek:

One more thing, I also noticed how honest Clark is in Lana's new world. What is it Lana? Now you can't handle the truth? :rolleyes:

[Clana227]

Hey your right SmallvilleMan. Great update please update soon.

[maitriniazngurl]

Great update!!

[happycamper]

I guess I must once more concur with SmallvilleMan (gasp!) in that Lana does not seem to care for the truth. Although I would point oput that any Lana marriage to Mr. Darcy might have caused the situation to change for Lois, as well. :\

But why is Clark doing all that he does? Did he have reason to fail Lex, and what possible reason (other than class conflicts) could he have had for doing ill to Lois?


:D :D

[SmallvilleMan]

I saw that gasp:mad: :p Anyways, here are some thoughts:

Lana: Oh Clark tell me the truth.

Clark: You can't handle the truth.

Lana: Yes, I can! Tell me the truth!!!

Clark: Okay you've acted like a total and complete female dog since we broke up. Your attitude sucks and you're a hypocrite who is being fooled by the bald rich guy.

*Lana starts to cry*

Lana: How could you.......

*Lana runs away*

"I told you couldn't handle it." Clark yells as Lana runs away.

[oldmankent]

Chapter 9

Chloe walked to the visitors’ waiting room to get Clark. It had been two days since Lana had entered the hospital. Clark had not left the room. She gently pushed his shoulder.

“Clark, wake up.”

He opened his eyes and sat up and rubbed his two days growth of beard.

“Chloe, is Lana awake?”

“Not yet. But Lex has left for awhile to get cleaned up. You can go into the room.”

“What about the guard?”

“Don’t worry about the guard.”

Clark and Chloe walked to the room. The guard was standing outside. He saw Clark and opened the door and motioned Clark to go inside. Clark spoke.

“Look. I don’t want you to get in trouble with your boss.”

The guard patted him on the shoulder.

“It’s okay. Go on in and see your girl.”

Clark and the guard shook hands. Chloe told him she would be a lookout in the waiting area. If Lex came back, she would ring Clark on his cell phone. He walked inside the room and the guard closed the door.

He saw Lana lying in bed with all the monitors attached to her. The light was dim. He pulled up a chair to the bed and sat down. He looked at her face. He could see her eyes moving rapidly underneath her eyelids. She was breathing on her own. He rubbed the beard on his face, struggling to find the right words.

“Lana, I wish I knew what to say.”

“I’ve made so many mistakes, so many mistakes.”

“The worst mistake I ever made was when I told you that I didn’t love you.”

“It’s funny that I could never hide my lying to you. You always had me figured out. But I worked so hard on that one to be convincing. You don’t know how many times I practiced saying ‘I don’t love you’ in front of the mirror to make myself believable. I guess all that practice paid off. You really believed me.”

“Look. I don’t have much time. I don’t know when Lex will be back.”

“Lana, please come back. Come back and I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Please don’t leave me like this.”

Tears began to form in Clark’s eyes. He left the chair and knelt by her bedside.

“Lana, even if you hate me. Even if you decide you want to be with Lex and you want me out of your life. Even you tell me that you don’t want me in Smallville, in Kansas or anywhere near you. I don’t care. I’ll do anything you want. Just come back. Just open your eyes and come back.”

“Please, just come back.”

Clark’s phone rang and he speeded out of the room back into the waiting area.


**********

Lana did not sleep very well that night. The entire conversation with Clark kept ringing in her head. All this time he was in love with her. Yet, he was such a despicable man. So proud and angry. So ready to hurt an innocent like Wickham. If he resembled even slightly the Clark Kent she knew from Smallville, she might have been tempted to say ‘yes’. But that Clark Kent was long gone.

The next morning she walked the grounds and found that Clark was waiting for her. She said nothing to him. He bowed his head to her.

"I have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you. Will you do me the honor of reading this letter?"

He slightly bowed again and then he walked away. She found a bench to sit on and opened the letter. Inside were two hand written pages. Clark’s penmanship was very different from the chicken scratch she had seen in Smallville. This letter was carefully written and very precise. “It must have taken him all night to write this.” She began to read.

"Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter. It shall not be a repetition of the sentiments or a renewal of the offers which were last night so disgusting to you. But I find I must seek justice to the two charges that you presented to me yesterday.

The first charge was that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister; and the other, that I had, in defiance of various claims, in defiance of honor and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. To these charges I now answer.

"I had not been long in Hertfordshire before I saw, in common with others, that Bingley preferred your eldest sister to any other young woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that ball, while I had the honor of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir William Lucas's accidental information, that Bingley's attentions to your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. He spoke of it as a certain event, of which the time alone could be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behavior attentively; and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny, that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment. For what you have told me, it is obvious that my observations were in error. If I have been misled by such error to inflict pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. However, even though I was in error, it cannot be denied that there were numerous times when you mother and three sisters displayed a total want of propriety that only exacerbated the gulf between a family of Bingley’s society and your own.

Once he left for London, it did not take a great effort from myself and from his sisters to convince him that a match with your sister was not in his best interests. There is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is, that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in Londonn. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without ill consequence is perhaps probable; but his regard did not appear to me enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no other apology to offer.

With respect to the other charge, of having injured Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his connection with my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate, I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity.

Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many years the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to be of service to him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his kindness was therefore liberally bestowed. My father supported him at school, and afterwards at Cambridge. My father was not only fond of this young man's society, whose manners were always engaging, he had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the Church would be his profession, intended to provide for him in it.

My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow -- and if he took orders of the Church, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant.

Mr. Wickham wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate monetary compensation. I rather wished than believed him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman; the business was therefore soon settled -- he resigned all claim to assistance in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds.

All connection between us seemed now dissolved. For about three years I heard little of him except those rumors regarding his profligate lifestyle. He tried to reestablish contact with me after his money had been spent. He asked that I once again support him in his effort to seek employment as a clergyman. You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition of it. After this period every appearance of acquaintance was dropt. How he lived I know not. But last summer he was again most painfully came upon my notice.

I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. About a year ago she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London. There she met Mr. Wickham. His entreaties were such that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen. I joined her unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledged the whole affair to me. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. I prevented the elopement and Mr. Wickham left the vicinity. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure. Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed.

This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham.

You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can appeal more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam. If your abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be the possibility of consulting him, I shall endeavor to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning. I will only add, God bless you.

Fitzwilliam Darcy."


**********

[happycamper]

So the truth comes out!

Lex is always Lex, so I hope Lana can learn that appearances can be deceiving.

Now with Lois, I'm not so sure. Darcy may really have stepped into something he should have avoided, and destroyed a true love match. I guess I better reserve judgement, though... (i.e. Darcy: DO SOMETHING to FIX it).

Is Lana's dream somehow an exaggerated reflection of how she actually feels about Clark? And since she might subconsciously be aware of what Clark told her in her sleep, the letter is what resulted? Could these events change how she feels about both Darcy and Clark?

:D :D

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

maybe this is all very confusing but i love the clark and lana in the dream and out. i always thought that clark should be more forward and tell lana the truth but her saying no was alomst like mean and cruel. we all know that you love him, lana. but he just expressed his feeling and you turn him down like a flapjack. no cool!

[Clana227]

Hey great update.ppms

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

post mor4 soon plzppamsa

[maitriniazngurl]

Very Nice update!! I'm getting use to this now.. I'm beginning to understand more!

PPMS!!

[oldmankent]

Chapter 10

It was not long after that receiving the letter that Lana left Chloe and her husband and returned home. She had now become as dejected as the rest of her family, but for a different reason. Lionel was preoccupied the family’s finances. Martha was depressed that she couldn’t arrange any marriages for her daughters. Lois was still heartbroken over Oliver. Lydia and Kitty were depressed that there were no longer any army officers in the vicinity. And Mary was upset because no one wanted to hear her sing. But Lana was overcome with grief. The grief resulting from a realization that she had not lived up to the standards by which she judged others. She had always considered herself to be a keen judge of character and she had made a terrible mistake. She had accused Clark of prejudice – prejudice against Lex. And she could not escape the fact that he was innocent and she was the one who was guilty of the offense.

On the way home she reviewed the sequence of events. Yes. Clark was wrong to separate Oliver and Lois. He admitted that he was mistaken about Lois’ feelings towards his friend. But Lana realized that she was now living within the rigid social confines of early 19th century England and not the People Magazine world of the 21st century. Martha and her younger sisters had acted without any type of constraint. Martha couldn’t control her tongue and Lydia and Kitty couldn’t control their attraction to men in red uniforms who carried swords. She reviewed her conversations with Wickham. His story was so one-sided. She believed it because she wanted to believe it. She had accused Clark of cruelty when it was Lana who was cruel by delivering an unwarranted accusation.

Lana came to the conclusion that she would probably never again see Clark Kent.

In one of their nightly conversations Lana told Lois about Clark’s proposal and the contents of the letter, carefully excluding the part of Clark’s role in the breakup. She didn’t want Lois to be even more heartbroken in finding out that her breakup was actually the result of a conspiracy. Lois was just as astonished as Lana is discovering the truth about the relationship between Clark and Lex.

“One has got all the goodness and the other all the appearance of it.”

The question now was what to do about Lex. Should he be exposed to the community as a person of despicable character? In Lana’s opinion, although she didn’t say it to Lois, Lex was more than a despicable character. Although, an adult man consorting with a young teenage girl was acceptable in the early 19th century, such a thing in the 21st century would be considered a crime - pedophilia. In Lana’s eyes Lex was practically a child molester.

But Lana and Lois agreed that nothing should be said. Not because they didn’t want to reveal Lex’s character but because it would bring Clark’s sister under scrutiny. Although he had revealed his secret to Lana he had not given his permission for the secret to be revealed to the world. This was Clark’s secret. If it was revealed, Lana would not be the one to do it.


**********

It wasn’t long after this that two invitations were received at the Bennett’s. The first invitation was for the youngest sister, Lydia. She was invited by Harriett Forster, the wife of the colonel in charge of an army regiment to make a visit to a place called Brighton where they were quartered. Harriet was a woman only a little older than Lydia who had married a much older man. She sought the company of someone closer to her own age. Lydia became ecstatic at the chance of once again being among young, virile army officers. Martha, remembering a time in her youth when she was just as enthralled by an officer in a red coat, was just as enthusiastic for Lydia to make the trip. Lana expressed her concerns of letting Lydia, a girl of fifteen, on her own to Lionel. Lana’s had the gnawing concern in the back of her head that Lex was now an officer with the very regiment that Lydia would be visiting. But since this was the 19th century and she could not reveal Lex’s past without revealing Clark’s personal business, what objections she had were dismissed by Lionel. And so Lydia made her trip to Brighton.

The second invitation was for Lana. Martha’s brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner were wonderful people and favorites of the family. Whereas, Martha had no common sense at all, her brother more than made up for it. Lizzy, in this case, Lana had always been a favorite of the Gardiners and they invited Lana to take an extended tour of the northern county of Derbyshire. A trip to take in the scenery of the hillsides and extended lakes. Lana, who by this time had her fill of manners, marriages, connections and tedium, jumped at the chance. She would welcome the chance to get some fresh air, plenty of exercise, decent conversation and a chance to see England in all of its pre-industrial beauty.


**********

It was in Derbyshire that the trio passed a magnificent residence with the name of Pemberley. It was the custom of the time that grand estates such as Pemberley could be toured by visitors with the permission of the owner. It was learned that the owner of Pemberley was none other than Mr. Darcy. Lana never would have intruded on him but when it was learned that he was away in London, the trio decided to make the visit. Mr. Gardiner asked the Chief Housekeeper of Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds, for permission to tour the estate and she enthusiastically agreed. It seemed that Mrs. Reynolds never missed an opportunity to extol the beauty of Pemberley and the virtues of its owner. She guided Lana and her uncle and aunt throughout the estate.

Lana had never seen such a place, in the 19th century or in the 21st. It was just as grand as Lady Catherine’s but not ostentatious. The architecture fit in perfect symmetry with the lay of the land. There were lakes and bridges throughout the estate. The servants were courteous and seemed happy in their duties. The inside was just as well thought out as the outside. If a single word could describe it, that word would be ‘noble’. Lana stood by a window inside the building and looked out over the green fields and clear lakes. “Of all this, I might have been mistress.” She was surprised by her own thought. Surprised by the feeling of regret. Was she actually getting accustomed to living in this time and place?

The housekeeper was taking them through the building when Mrs. Gardiner stopped to examine a set of miniature portraits that were enclosed in a glass case on a table.

“Lizzy, come here and look at this picture. Isn’t this someone we know?”

Mrs. Gardiner was joined by her husband, Lana and the housekeeper. Lana recognized the person in the picture by his hairless head. The housekeeper answered Mrs. Gardiner’s question.

“That is a picture of Mr. Wickham, the son of the late steward of Mr. Darcy. He’s gone into the army but I’m afraid he’s turned out very wild, very wild indeed.”

She then smiled and proudly pointed to a portrait that was next to it.

“And that is a picture of my master. And a very fine one.”

Mrs. Gardiner examined it and consulted Lana.

“It is a handsome face. Does the picture do him justice, Lizzy?”

The housekeeper was pleasantly surprised when she heard that Lana knew Clark.

“Oh! Does this young lady know the master?”

Lana answered shyly.

“Yes. A little.”

“And do you not think him a very handsome gentleman?”

Lana answered truthfully.

“Yes. Very handsome.”

It was here that Lana carefully listened to what the housekeeper had to say.

“I’m sure I know none so handsome or so kind.”

Lana looked directly at Mrs. Reynolds as she spoke, taking in every word.

“I’ve never heard a cross word from him in my life and I’ve know him since he was four years old. But I’ve always observed that they who are good natured when they are children are good natured when they grow up; and he was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boy in the world."

Lana stood by herself and felt empty inside. The housekeeper went on.

“His father was an excellent man. And the son will be just like him. The best landlord and the best master that ever lived. Not like the wild young men nowadays, who think of nothing but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but what will give him a good name. Some people call him proud but I fancy it’s only because he doesn’t rattle away like other young men.”


**********

Had Lana remained at the window the window looking over the grounds for an additional five minutes she would have seen a tall, dark haired man on horseback riding up to the estate. But because her attention was occupied in reviewing the miniature portraits, Lana was unaware that Clark had arrived home a day earlier than expected.

Lana’s refusal of Clark’s offer of marriage did nothing to stem the tide of emotion that had swept over him. It had only made the pain of his separation from her more acute. Being a young British aristocrat, he was determined to keep a stiff upper lip and conquer his emotional crutch. His inclination was to wear himself out physically. He went through fencing instructor after fencing instructor, attacking each of them as if it were a life or death struggle. He spent hours in the saddle horseback riding. Still, he could not put away the image of Lana from his mind’s eye nor could he remove her chastising words from his ears. Sleep became difficult for him.

As he approached Pemberley he stopped and dismounted by a lake. It was a semi hot day and he felt the need to be refreshed. He took off all of his clothes except for his trousers and dived into the lake. He welcomed the feel of the clear, cool water against him. He swam for a few minutes and then got out and continued walking back home. One of his servants met him who relieved him of the horse and took it to the stables. Clark continued walking, wet and shirtless, carrying the remainder of his clothes.

By this time Lana and the Gardiners had finished the tour inside the house and they now proceeded to walk around the grounds. Lana separated herself from the couple as she toured the gardens that were situated near the lake. She immersed herself in the color and fragrances surrounding her. She stood taking in the beauty of the irises when she saw a tall, dark haired, wet, shirtless figure approaching her. Both of them stopped, startled by the sight of the other.

“Mr. Darcy!”

“Miss Bennett!”

Clark tried with all his might to keep his eyes from Lana’s eyes but he was unsuccessful. Lana tried with all of her might to keep her eyes from him, his wet shirtless, muscular torso, but she was unsuccessful.

“I did not expect to see you. We understood that you were away or we would never have presumed to…”

“I returned a day early…Excuse me. Your parents are in good health.”

Lana was momentarily silent. “Is Clark actually trying to have a conversation?”

“Yes. They are very well. I thank you, sir”

“I’m glad to hear it. How long have you been in this part of the country?”

Again, Lana was pleasantly surprised. “Is he actually making a polite inquiry?”

“But two days, sir.”

“And where are you staying?”

“At the Inn at Lampton”

“Oh yes. Of course. I’ve just arrived myself…And your parents are in good health and all your sisters?”

Lana was shocked. After everything she had said to Clark in their previous encounter, he was being a well mannered gentleman.

“Yes. They are all in excellent health.”

It was now Clark who became conscious of his state of undress. He bowed to Lana, excused himself and walked to the house. Lana was completely out of kilter with the whole situation. This was not the Clark she expected. The Gardiners did not hear but saw the entire exchange between Clark and Lana. They joined her. Mr. Gardiner was the first to speak with his wife following.

“The man himself I presume.”

“Just as handsome as in his portrait though perhaps a little less formally attired.”

Lana began to quickly walk back to their carriage, upset that Clark not only came unexpectedly upon her but that he was nice about it when he had every excuse in the world to act otherwise. The party was about ready to leave when Clark made another appearance, running to meet them. This time fully clothed.

“Miss Bennett! Please allow me to apologize for not receiving your properly just now. You are not leaving?”

“We were. I’m afraid we must.”

“I hope you’re not displeased with Pemberley?”

Lana didn’t know what to think. He was actually interested in her opinion.

“No. Not at all.”

A smile appeared on Clark’s face.

“Then you approve of it?”

“Very much. But who wouldn’t like Pemberley?”

And then Clark responded with words that Lana felt very deeply.

“But your good opinion is rarely bestowed and therefore, more worth the earning.”

Lana didn’t know how to respond. He then did another unexpected thing. He asked to be formally introduced to the Gardiners. That someone of his esteemed social class should seek an introduction to someone lower on the scale was unheard of. They were introduced and Clark engaged them in a spirited conversation about growing up in the area. He even invited Mr. Gardiner to go fishing in the lake and nearby streams.

The two couples decided to walk the grounds while the carriage followed them. During this time, Clark asked Lana if she would do him the honor of letting him introduce his sister, Georgianna, to her. She happily accepted. It became clear to her that Clark was more at ease when he was surrounded by the familiarity of his own home.

As they left, he helped Mrs. Gardiner into the carriage and then offered the use of his hand to Lana. She took his hand and felt his strength and gentleness at the same time. He said farewell looking each person in the eye

“I hope we shall meet again very soon. Good day, Mr. Gardiner. Mrs. Gardiner…Good day, Miss Bennett.”

The carriage went off and Lana turned around to look at the tall figure that was slowly becoming smaller as the carriage increased its distance. She could not will her eyes to do otherwise.


**********

[Clana227]

Hey great update , I'm also starting to understand more.
ppms!!!!!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

wow that was awesome and why is clark even talking to her she doesnt deserve him!!!

[oldmankent]

Chapter 11

The next morning Lana took a walk by herself through the town of Lampton. She felt as if she were taking in all of the beauty of the countryside for the first time. She did not know why but her spirits had been lifted. But there was no doubt that she was seeing the world in a different light. When she arrived back at the Inn she was told that two gentlemen and a lady were waiting for her. Inside were Clark and his sister. Clark made his usual well mannered bow.

“May I introduce my sister, Georgianna?”

The women were introduced to one another. Both curtsied. Clark told Lana that Oliver was also with them and left to bring him in the room. This left Lana and Georgianna alone. Georgianna was tall and slim with blonde hair. Although not as strikingly handsome as her brother, Lana could see that it would come in due time. She was somewhat shy but with a pleasant smile and was totally unassuming. In a word, she was ‘innocent’ and her innocence only hammered home to Lana the depravity of Lex’s scheme. Georgianna was the first to speak.

“Miss Bennett, I’ve been so anxious to meet you. My brother has said so many wonderful things about you.”

Lana couldn’t believe her ears. Was Clark the type of person that even after all of the trouble she had caused him, he still could not bring himself to say anything against her?

“I’m sure your bother has exaggerated.”

Hearing this, Georgiana’s expression turned very serious.

“Oh no. That could not be so. My brother never exaggerates. He always tells the absolute truth. Except that sometimes I think he’s a little too kind to me.”

Once again, Lana was hearing of Clark’s kindness. She responded.

“An ideal older brother then.”

Georgiana’s face lit up.

“Oh yes! I could not imagine a better nor a kinder one.”

Oliver entered the room and began an enthusiastic conversation with Lana. He inquired about all of her family, especially her sisters. It seemed to Lana that he was trying to ask Lana about Lois without actually saying Lois’ name. He seemed to be saddened that he had spent so much time away from them. Georgiana then made the request for herself and her brother that Lana and the Gardiners join them for dinner at Pemberley. Lana accepted, keeping her enthusiasm under a tight lid.


**********

The dinner party consisted of Lana and the Gardiners, Clark, his sister and Oliver, and the two Bingley sisters. Lana was polite with the sisters but that was all. She sought neither their company nor their favor. Although they said nothing except later in private to each other, the Gardiners could not help but notice that Lizzy and Darcy could not keep their eyes from each other. They also could not help but notice that Lizzy was always under the watchful eye of Caroline Bingley.

Afterwards, as they were riding home, Lana reflected on the past two days. “Could it be that he still loves me?” And then she was slowly coming to terms with another question. “Could it be that I am falling in love with him?”

If Lana had somehow become a fly on the wall and stayed afterwards at Pemberley, she would have heard Caroline Bingley’s critique of Elizabeth Bennett.

“How very ill Elizabeth Bennett looks. I never in my life saw any one so much altered as she is. She is grown so brown and coarse.”

“For my own part I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her face is too thin; her complexion has no brilliancy’ and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character. There is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look, which I do not like at all; and in her air altogether there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is tolerable.”

She then directed her comments to Darcy.

“I remember when we first knew her, how amazed we were to find that she was a reputed beauty. I remember you saying, ‘She a beauty. I should as soon call her mother a wit.’”

The recollection of his comment made Darcy very uncomfortable. He rose from his seat and directly faced Caroline.

“Yes. But that was only when I first knew her. But now it has been many months since I have considered her to be the handsomest woman of my acquaintance.”

That shut Caroline Bingley’s mouth like a clam.


**********

The next morning Lana rose with the high expectation of seeing Clark again. As she waited for him two letters arrived for her. They were from Lois. One had been mistakenly sent to another town. Therefore, although written a day apart, both arrived together.

“Dearest Lizzy,

Something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature. Do not be alarmed for our health. We are all well. An express came last night from Colonel Forster in Brighton to inform us that Lydia has run off to Scotland with one of his officers. Dare I say it – George Wickham. As thoughtless and indiscreet as this action may be, we are hoping for the best. An elopement is not the way we would have wanted Lydia to be married but at this point it is the best we could hope for.

Sincerely,

Jane

Lana hurriedly opened the second letter.

Dearest sister,

I hardly know what to write but I have more bad news. Imprudent as a marriage may be between Mr. Wickham and Lydia, we are now anxious to be assured that a marriage has taken place. We now believe that they have not gone to Scotland and are somewhere in London. But worst of all, they are not married! We believe that Wickham never intended to marry her at all. Why would a man like Wickham, a man so cognizant of the monetary value of a good match, marry a young girl, without fortune or connections, like Lydia? Mother has taken to her bed with incredible headaches and her nervous attacks. Father has gone to London to search for Lydia. I hardly need add any words regarding the pall Lydia’s foolishness has cast upon our entire family. Please have our uncle return to Longbourne with all due haste. You are desperately needed.

Sincerely,

Jane

And so Lana’s worst case scenario had come to pass. She had wanted to warn her father about Wickham but could not do so with giving him specifics. And she could not do that and not reveal Clark’s secret at the same time. At the same time the gravity of Lydia’s foolhardy action began to take root. The act of living with a man outside the bonds of marriage would not only ruin Lydia’s reputation but would taint the reputations of all of the sisters. It was difficult enough trying to arrange decent marriages for women without connections and fortune. Now it would be next to impossible. Martha’s worst case scenario of being turned out into the street after the death of Mr. Bennett might actually come to pass. Lana felt light headed. The blood drained from her face. Then she heard the footsteps of Clark entering the room. Lana did not have time for manners.

“Darcy, I have to go. I have to find my uncle.”

Clark persuaded Lana to let a servant find her uncle and then she shared her news with Clark. With each of her words a more grave expression took hold of his face. He began to pace the room.

“What has been done? What has been attempted to recover your sister?”

Lana told him about her father traveling to London. Then she spoke of her regret.

“I knew about Wickham. I should have done something.”

Clark said nothing. Lana looked at him and it began to sink in that this horrible news must also greatly affect Clark’s view of her. It was only hours ago that she was thinking that his love for her still burned bright. Now, it didn’t matter. How could a man of Clark’s prominence ever condescend to love a woman from a scandalized family? She was silent but her heart was pleading. “Please say something.” Finally he spoke.

“I’m afraid you have long been desiring my absence. I have stayed too long. I shall leave you now.”

Lana nodded her concurrence. Clark bowed and left the room. There it was. If Lana could pinpoint an exact moment of heartbreak in her life it would be this moment. It was obvious he no longer wished to be in her company. “I shall never see him again.”


**********

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

no not at all! he only wants to be in ur presence! he is just giving you some space cuz u turned him down!

[happycamper]

Although for different reasons, the relationship between Lizzy and Darcy is just as unfortunate as that between Lana and Clark. :(

Was Lana/Lizzie ever going to tell Darcy that her orignal judgement of him had been wrong? What else is he to think other than that she still dislikes him?


:D :D

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

who knows?

[maitriniazngurl]

Hey, Great updates.. and i totally agree with HC.

PPMS!!

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

yes

[oldmankent]

Chapter 12

Lana came home to a family that was in dire straits. Martha was bedridden and constantly in tears. Lionel was in London in a futile attempt to find his daughter and Mr. Gardiner left to join him. Word of the scandal had already spread throughout the community. As the remaining sisters walked through town, people would stop and whisper to one another. The girls would conduct their business quickly and then return home as soon as they could.

Mary had come to the conclusion that her extensive reading had given some sort of special insight into the matter. At dinner she would pontificate about the matter.

“We must draw this useful lesson. The loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable.”

Lois and Lana would look at each other with an exasperated expression. Lana could feel her eyes roll up in her head. “Mary, pulleeze!”

But the worst was yet to come. Mr. Collins paid the family an unexpected visit. The four sisters met with him in one of the sitting rooms.

“I feel myself called on not only by our familial relationship but my situation as a clergyman to condole with you all on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under. Be assured that Mrs. Collins and I do sympathize in your present distress which must be of the bitterest kind proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. The death of your sister would have been a blessing in comparison to this. And I have been informed that this licentiousness of behavior in your sister has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence. Although I am inclined to believe that her disposition must be naturally bad.”

“You are grievously to be pitied. Lady Catherine de Bough also shares my opinion. She has condescended to say that this false step by your sister must be injurious to the fortunes of all of you for who will connect themselves with such a family?”

If Lana had been brought up as a 19th century woman she would have sat and taken Collins carefully worded diatribe without reply. But Lana was not a 19th century woman. Lana astonished all of her sisters with her reply. At the same time she gained their respect and gratitude for having the courage to say what they all were thinking.

“Mr. Collins, get the hell out of our house and take your self-righteous ******** with you! Now!”

Lionel soon returned home without success and confined himself to his library, isolating himself from his family. He would await word from Mr. Gardiner who would continue to search in London.


**********

A few days after Lionel’s return an express post was received. The entire family was anxious to hear of its contents. Lionel first shared the news with Lana and Lois. It was a letter from Mr. Gardiner and Lana carefully read it.

“Dear Brother in Law,

I have seen both Lydia and Mr. Wickham and they are not married. However, if certain arrangements can be made a marriage will take place. All that is required of you is to assure your daughter of an equal settlement of five thousand pounds after the decease of you and my sister; and to agree to a sum of one hundred pounds per year to be given to the new Mr. & Mrs. Wickham.

We have learned that Mr. Wickham’s circumstances are not so hopeless as they were generally believed. The amount of his debts has been grossly exaggerated. Please send your instructions with all due haste.

Yours truly,

Edward Gardiner”

Both Lana and Lois were surprised that the situation had been resolved so easily. It seemed that Wickham was asking a very small price for the land of Lydia. Lois was the first to give her opinion.

“Mr. Wickham must truly be in love with Lydia.”

Lionel laughed at her remark.

“You believe that, Jane. If it gives you comfort. He would be a fool if he asked for a farthing less than ten thousand pounds. It’s obvious that your uncle is laying out an enormous sum to induce Wickham to marry Lydia and to settle Wickham’s debt. This leaves me with two things I very much want to know. How much money did your uncle pay Wickham and how am I ever going to repay him?”


**********

That night Lois and Lana were having one of their private conversations. Lana had greatly come to appreciate these nightly talks. She now looked forward to having someone with which to share her innermost thoughts. It was a great comfort. Lois noticed that Lana seemed to be deep in thought.

“Lizzy, what’s wrong?”

“I wish I never said anything about this whole thing to Mr. Darcy.”

“Dear Lizzy, please do not distress yourself. I’m sure Mr. Darcy will respect your confidence.”

“Jane, that’s not what’s bothering me.”

“What then?”

“I don’t know. It just seems like he must be relieved to be away from me and our family.”

“But Lizzy, why should that bother you? You never sought his love nor welcomed it when he offered it. If he has withdrawn his high opinion of you now, why should you care?”

Lana did not know how to answer. Something usual was happening to her. That strange voice that first presented itself when Darcy first proposed to her was making its presence known more frequently. Although Lana was still thinking as a 21st century woman, she was expressing her thoughts as a 19th century woman.

“I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I know I shall probably never see him again. I cannot bear to think that he is alive in the world and thinking ill of me.”


**********

Martha was overjoyed at hearing that Lydia was to be married. Her headaches immediately stopped and her nervous condition subsided. Soon she was up and around praising her youngest daughter and Mr. Wickham.

“A daughter married!”

The couple arrived at the Bennett’s. Martha hugged Wickham around the neck like a long lost son. Lionel reluctantly gave him his hand. It was obvious to see that Lydia was overcome with joy not necessarily at being Mrs. Wickham but at being Mrs. Anybody. She considered the bonds of matrimony as a novelty as if it gave her a special status. She gloated over her older sisters.

“I am the youngest and I am the first married!”

She believed that being a ‘Mrs.’ meant that she should be given preferential treatment in everything.

Although she was overly affectionate with her new husband it was clear that his interest in her, if there ever was any, had passed. He seemed to be viewing his present situation as a sick child looks upon swallowing bitter tasting medicine. He didn’t like it but he accepted it. It was also clear to Lana, that Lex viewed his new connections as a chance to be close to her. She avoided him but one day he unexpectedly came upon her.

“Dearest sister, you have been avoiding me.”

Lana was determined to let Lex know exactly what she thought.

“Don’t you dare call me that. Don’t you ever think that just because you married my sister that I will ever change my opinion of you.”

Lex was not used to hearing such words from a man let alone a woman.

“What on earth is the matter?”

Lana shook her head. Just because the marriage was settled didn’t mean that everything was supposed to be right.

“What you have done and how it was resolved may be perfectly acceptable to my family and to the people of this time. But it’s not to me. If this were another time and another place, say 200 years in the future, you would now be in jail and a very large inmate would now be making you his girlfriend. You just remember one thing. If you ever do anything to hurt Lydia, I’ll find you and I’ll make you pay.”

Wickham began to chuckle at the threat. Especially from someone who was almost a foot shorter and a hundred pounds less. Lana was not in the least bit intimidated by his size.

“You go ahead and laugh, you *******. But you have yet to see what a woman is capable of. Especially this woman. Now just stay the hell away from me, Wickham!”


**********

One morning Lydia was decided to tell her sisters the circumstances of her wedding.

“Lizzy, I never gave you an account of my wedding. Are you not curious to hear how it was managed?”

“Not really.”

Lana’s reply did not stop Lydia from telling her story.

“Lizzy, you are so strange. But I must tell you how it went off. We were married at St. Clement’s. Everything was so rushed the day of the wedding. But I finally arrived at the church with our aunt and uncle. There stood Wickham. So handsome in his blue coat. I was so nervous. But Mr. Darcy calmed my nerves and soon thereafter I became Mrs. Wickham.”

“Mr. Darcy?”

“Oh yes! He was there with Wickham.”

Then Lydia caught herself and put a hand to her mouth.

“Oh dear! I forgot I wasn’t supposed to say a word about it. I promised them faithfully. It was to be a secret.”

Lydia went walking with the rest of her sisters while Lana stayed behind trying to comprehend what she had just heard. She quickly ran back to the house and wrote a letter to her aunt, asking for the circumstances of sister’s marriage.


**********

[happycamper]

Good for Lana/Lizzy and her reaction to Wickham!

But Lana must suspect who is actually responsible for her sister's good fortune, including the reduction of Wickham's debt and his resignation to the marriage.

Even though he believes she still dislikes him, Darcy has "saved" her yet again. She must feel terrible for doubting him.

Perhaps Lana's feeling towards Clark will mirror what she must be feeling towards Darcy. And the actions of Darcy and Wickham may finally give her a new perspective on what was happening in her own life.


:D :D

[Clana227]

great update ppms

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

update soon

wait is lana thinking of clark when she said if he was thinking illy of her? cuz it would make sense now tht lana comes to her senses!

[oldmankent]

Chapter 13

“How is she doing, Lex?”

“She’s still out, Chloe. There’s an enormous amount of brain activity. The doctors say that Lana seems to undergoing some type of internal struggle.”

Chloe placed her hand on Lex and tried to reason with him.

“Lex, can’t you let Clark see her? You know he cares for her.”

Lex pulled his arm away.

“No. No way. Lana doesn’t want Clark near her. He doesn’t get anyway near this room.”

Chloe thought, “How do you know what Lana really wants? I wonder if she knows how spiteful you can be.” Chloe nodded her as if she understood his point and put on her best smile.

“Well, can I have a few minutes alone with her?”

“Sure. I don’t see why not.”

Lex left the room. Chloe sat by Lana’s bedside. She pulled out an envelope from her pocket. She took Lana’s hand from underneath the sheet and placed the envelope in her palm. Lana’s fingers instinctively folded around the envelope. Chloe placed her hand back underneath the sheet.


**********

It was only a few days before Lana received a reply from her aunt.

“My dear Niece,

I have just received your letter and shall devote the whole morning to answering it. I must confess myself surprised by your application; I did not expect it from you. Do not think me angry. I did not imagine such inquiries to be necessary on your side. But if you are really innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit.

On the very day we arrived at London to search for Lydia we had a most unexpected visitor – Mr. Darcy. He told us that he had found Mr. Wickham and your sister. Being fully familiar with Mr. Wickham’s debauched lifestyle he knew precisely where to look for him.

He had convinced Mr. Wickham and Lydia to marry. Although I do not know what sum Mr. Darcy induced Wickham with, I can only imagine that it must have been exceedingly generous. He had done this because he felt the entire situation was due to his mistaken pride. He confessed that he originally thought it beneath him to lay his private life open to the world. He now feels that if he had acted sooner, Mr. Wickham’s true character would have been revealed and the resulting pain to your family would have been avoided. He considered the entire matter to be his responsibility and the rectification to be his alone.

His request of us was to have your uncle take credit for the solution. We did not want to do this. Credit is due to those who deserve it. But Mr. Darcy was adamant and we felt that it would be in the best interests of all to accede to his terms.

I believe I have now told you everything.

My dear Lizzy, please do not be angry with me if I tell you what I was never bold enough to tell you before – how much I like Mr. Darcy. His behavior to us, in every respect, has been as pleasing as when we were in Pemberley. His understanding and opinions all please me. He wants for nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him.

I thought him very sly. He hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion.

Yours very sincerely,

Mrs. Gardiner.”

This was the Clark Kent that Lana Lang had always known. Whether it was in the 21st century of the 19th century this was the man who would help others and never seek credit for himself. He had taken on his broad shoulders the task of dealing with a man he despised in order to resolve a grave situation for a family that not only had no connection to him but was lower on the social ladder.

Lana looked at herself in the mirror and came to a stunning realization. No matter what world she was in, whether it was 2006 in Smallville or 1805 in Great Britain, whether her name was Lana Lang or Elizabeth Bennett, whether his name was Clark Kent or Fitzwilliam Darcy, she could not escape the truth.

“There is only one man I will ever love.”


**********

[oldmankent]

Chapter 14

The news spread through the town like wildfire. Neatherfield was being reoccupied. The house was being cleaned. Furniture was being restored. The kitchen was being restocked. Mr. Bingley had returned. This time he had returned without his sisters.

Martha and the four remaining sisters were in their western sitting room one afternoon when Kitty noticed that there was a rider fast approaching the house. Even from a distance they could see that the rider was Mr. Bingley. What they did not see or hear was the conversation Bingley had with Darcy just an hour earlier.

“You tell me now that she was in London all those months and you concealed it from me?”

“Yes. I can offer no justification other than an arrogant presumption and a failure to recognize your true feelings and Miss. Bennett’s. I never should have interfered. It was very wrong of me and I apologize.”

Bingley was taken aback by Darcy’s admission of wrongdoing.

“You admit that you were in the wrong?”

“Absolutely and completely.”

“Then I have your blessing?”

“Do you need my blessing?”

“No. But I should like to know I have it all the same.”

“Then go to it.”

Oliver was greeted with great fanfare at the Bennett’s. Lois kept her cool, barely lifting her eyes to him. But Martha was overjoyed. After a short while Oliver asked for a private audience with Lois. Martha and the other sisters left the room. Lana found herself just as nervous as the rest of the family. Soon thereafter, Lana was asked to join the couple. Lois, with tears in her eyes simply nodded her head and smiled.

Just like bad news, good news also spread throughout the countryside. Especially when the news was of a local girl being engaged to a man of greater standing than the lady’s family. The news then spread north to the Collins’ household and from there to the Lady Catherine de Bough. Along with the news came speculation as to the next impending marriage.

It didn’t take long for Lady Catherine to take action. She arrived at the Bennett house a week later and demanded a private meeting with Lana. Lana had no idea as to why Lady Catherine was there and wanted to speak to her. They walked outside of the house to a wooded area nearby.

“You can be at no loss to understand the reasons for my journey, Miss Bennett.”

Immediately from Lady Catherine’s tone of voice, Lana realized that this was not going to be a pleasant situation. Lana wanted to say, “What is your problem, Lady?” But by now the 19th century inner voice had taken hold of her vocal cords and she responded in kind.

“Indeed you are mistaken, madam. I am quite unable to account for the honor of seeing you here.”

“Miss Bennett, you should know that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you choose to be you shall not find me so. A report of an alarming nature has reached me. I was told that not only that your sister was to be most advantageously married but that you, Miss Elizabeth Bennett, would soon be united with my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Although I know it to be a scandalous falsehood, I instantly resolved on setting off to here to make my sentiments known.”

Lana was stunned by this news. She had not seen Clark since she received the news of Lydia’s elopement from Lois.

“If you believed it to be impossible I wonder why you took the trip of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?”

“At once to insist on having such a report universally contradicted.”

“Your coming to my home will be taken as a confirmation of it if indeed such a report exists.”

“Miss Bennett, I insist on being satisfied. Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?”

“Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”

“It ought to be so. It must be so. But your arts and allurements may have made him forget of what he owes to himself and all of his family. You may have drawn him in.”

Lana thought, “I may have drawn him in. You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lana decided to be sarcastic.

“If I had I shall be the last to confess it.”

Not getting her way, Lady Catherine now decided to pull out the rank card.

“Miss Bennett, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to language such as this. I am almost the nearest relations he has and I am entitled to know all of his dearest concerns.”

“But you are not entitled to know mine nor will behavior such as this induce me to be explicit.”

Now Lady Catherine was raising her voice.

“Let me be rightly understood. This match which you have the presumption to aspire to can never take place. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?

Could it be true? Could Clark really be engaged to Lady Catherine’s sickly daughter? Lana kept her cool and responded.

“Only this. That if it is so you can have no reason to suppose that he will make an offer to me.”

Lady Catherine backed away from what she had just said.

“The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy they have been intended for each other. It was the favorite wish of his mother as well as hers. While they were in their cradles we planned the union. And now to be prevented by the upstart pretensions of a young girl without family, connections or fortune. Your alliance would be a disgrace. If you were sensible of your own good you would not wish to quit the sphere of which you had been brought up.”

Lana smiled inside of herself. “So, it’s only an engagement in Lady C’s mind.” But now was no time to back down.

“Lady Catherine, in marrying your nephew I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman. I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal”

“But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”

“Whatever my connections may be if your nephew does not object to them they can be nothing to you.”

Lady Catherine was now shouting.

“Tell me once and for all! Are you engaged to him?”

Lana paused before she answered. She had to tell the truth.

“I am not.”

Lady Catherine now seemed to regain her self control.

“And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement?”

It was now the moment of decision. Lana had to tell the truth.

“I will make no promise of the kind.”

Lady Catherine quickly reversed back to her angry tone.

“You have no regard then for the honor and credit of my nephew. Unfeeling selfish girl! You refused to oblige me. You refuse the claims of duty, honor, gratitude. You are determined to ruin him.”

Lana looked directly into Lady Catherine’s eyes. “Why would I ever want to ruin the man that I love?”

“I am only determined to act in a manner that will constitute my own happiness without reference to you or any person so wholly unconnected with me.”

Lady Catherine was sure she would have the final word.

“Very well. I shall know how to act. I take no leave of you, Miss Bennett. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”

Lana’s 19th century voice made room for the 21st century remark.

“Lady Catherine, take your displeasure and shove it up your ***!”


**********

[happycamper]

Yay Lana!

Sometimes a little 21st century sense and sensibility is to be preferred! :lol:

It good to know how Lana feels about Darcy/Clark, even if she can't admit it to his face.

Love your story!


:D :D

[Smallville4]

i read this story two times and i still dont get it??

[oldmankent]

Originally posted by Smallville4
i read this story two times and i still dont get it??

I'm sorry that you're having a problem with th story. You have to be familiar with the 200 year old story of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in order to understand it.

My apologies.

[SVsleuth]

omk, I finally caught up here. This is wonderful. I have never seen or read P & P, but I still get it, and this is so cool. Can't wait for Lana to wake up... that should be very interesting... PPMS!

[oldmankent]

Chapter 15

“Mr. Bingley is coming! There’s another man with him.”

It had been several days since Lana’s confrontation with Lady Catherine. Every day Oliver had made the trip to the house to see Lois and to make plans for their wedding. Today was no different but when Kitty saw him through the window, she saw that he was not alone. Martha responded.

“Who’s with him?”

“The tall, proud one.”

“Mr. Darcy! Oh, I hate that man! But I will be cordial for Mr. Bingley’s sake.”

Lana’s heart was in her throat. Oliver and Clark were introduced. Both bowed to the women in the room. Lana was struggling to keep her eyes in check. She was struggling not to lock eyes with Clark.

It was a wonderful looking day. Oliver suggested that everyone take a walk. The two couples walked together but soon Lois and Oliver speeded ahead, confined to their own little world. Lana and Clark were left by themselves. Clark was silent the whole time as was Lana. Finally, she could stand no more and the 19th century voice rose from within her.

“Mr. Darcy, I can go no longer without thanking you for your kindness to my poor sister. Ever since I have known of it I have been most anxious to tell you how grateful I am. For my family and for myself.”

Lana could see from the expression on Clark’s face that he was distressed that she knew of his secret.

“You must not blame my aunt for telling me. Lydia betrayed it first. And then I could not rest until I knew everything. I know what trouble and mortification it must have cost you. Please let me say this. Please allow me to thank on behalf of all of my family. They don’t know to whom they are indebted.”

Clark had his head down as he answered.

“If you are to thank me let it be for yourself. Your family owes me nothing. As much as I respect them I believe I thought only of you.”

A sigh left Lana’s throat. She could not believe what she was hearing. Clark stopped walking and turned to face her.

“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are the same as they were before tell me so at once.”

Clark now had a look in his eyes that was close to pleading.

“My affections and wishes are unchanged. But one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

There it was. It was now up to Lana to give her response.

“My feelings. I’m ashamed to think of what I said before. My feelings are so different. In fact, they are quite the opposite.”

The expression on Clark’s face changed as did the expression on Lana’s face. They kept walking together. Not looking at each other but smiling to themselves. Not touching yet so close it was difficult to tell that they were apart.

“Lady Catherine told me of her meeting with you. Her displeasure had quite the opposite effect of the one she intended. I knew that if you had absolutely decided against me you would have acknowledged it openly.”

Lana laughed at what he said.

“Yes. You know enough of my frankness to know me capable of that.”

For a moment, the 19th century voice left Lana. She stopped walking and faced Clark.

“Mr. Darcy. I’m so sorry of what I said to you before. If could take that moment back I would.”

Clark wouldn’t hear of an apology.

“What did you say to me that I did not deserve? What do I not owe you? You taught me a lesson. I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.”

Clark then allowed himself to place his hands on her arms.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennett, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

Lana’s throat was dry. Her heart was quickly beating. She nodded her acceptance. She stood closer to him and placed her hands on his chest.

“I love you, Mr. Darcy. I shall love you in this world or any other world.”

She closed her eyes and raised her lips to his. Their kiss seemed like magic to Lana. She moved slightly forward and placed her small feet on the top of his so she could better reach him. His arms circled around her as their kiss deepened and intensified. Lana felt like she was floating on air. She briefly broke the connection to regain her breath. She placed her head on his chest and whispered in his ear.

“I shall no longer call you Mr. Darcy. From now on I shall call you my Mr. Darcy.”

Then she opened her eyes. She looked below and saw that the two of them were above the trees. Acres of farmland stretched out below her. She looked up into his face and saw only his eyes. She smiled with astonishment and pleasure at the same time.

“Mr. Darcy!”

Then she heard voices. At first they were distant but gradually the voices grew closer.

“I think she’s coming around. She seems to be waking up.”


**********

Tomorrow, the conclusion of Lana’s P & P

[SVsleuth]

Ha! Floating with Mr. Darcy! LOL - I hope Lana remembers what she said to Mr Darcy: “I love you, Mr. Darcy. I shall love you in this world or any other world.” I hope she wakes up and tells Lex to get lost and keeps asking for Clark... ;) Can't wait for tomorrow. Thanks for the update, omk. :)

[happycamper]

I agree with everything that SVsleuth said!:)

In this world or any other...:)


:D :D




Note: I'm sorry no one seemed to get my own reference to Jane Austen.:mad: :( While I haven't read either book myself, I thought the joke would have been clear. :\

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

hahaha

[oldmankent]

Chapter 16

Lana began to open her eyes. The light in the room, even though it was dim, was still uncomfortable. She began to hear the beeping sound of monitors along with the voices of people. At first, the voices were garbled and unclear. Then, slowly, she began to recognize the words.

“She’s regaining consciousness. Ms. Lang, can you hear me?”

Lana’s eyes were coming into focus. It was now clear. She was in a hospital bed. There were about a half a dozen doctors in front of her. One was clothed in hospital greens. He was leaning over her.

“Can you tell me your name?”

Her throat was a little dry and she said weakly.

“Lana Lang.”

The doctor smiled and nodded his head. He took a cup of water with a straw and held it to her mouth. She drank a little and her throat felt better.

“What happened?”

“You had an accident. Your car hit a bus. We’ve been very worried about you.”

“How long have I been here?”

“About four days. What’s the last thing you remember?”

“I was in a field. Mr. Darcy had just proposed to me and I…”

There was some laughter in the room. Then Lana heard Lex’s voice as he moved forward to her. He sat next to her.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’ve had us very worried. But you’re going to be alright.”

Lana started blinking her eyes, trying to make sense of everything.”

“You mean it was all a dream?”

“What was all a dream?”

“Jane and Lydia and Pemberley and Mr. Darcy.”

A smile came to Lex’s face.

“Lana, that was the last thing we were watching on television before you had the accident.”

Lex could see the disappointment on Lana’s face. He made an attempt at cheering her up.

“Look, everyone’s outside. Everyone has been waiting for you to wake up.”

Outside the glass enclosure of the room Lana saw all of her friends standing, looking through the glass. There was Chloe and Jimmy, Lois and Oliver, Martha and Lionel.

“Where’s Clark?”

Lex tried to appear clueless.

“I don’t know where Clark is, Lana?”

Lana felt her spirits drop. “I guess it was just a dream.”She slowly raised herself to sit up. One of the attendants raised the bed so she was sitting up. As she pulled herself up she felt something in her hand. She withdrew her hand from underneath the sheet and saw that there was a crumpled letter in her palm. Lex saw the envelope.

“Here, let me take that.”

Lana surprised Lex with her quick movement and evaded his grasp.

“Don’t try to take something out of my hand, Lex. Don’t ever do that.”

Lex backed up when he heard Lana’s assertive tone of voice.

“I’d like to be alone for a few minutes.”

Lex tried to protest.

“Lex, please don’t tell me what I want. I’d like to be alone for a few minutes.”

Lex nodded his head to the doctors and attendants. Everyone slowly left the room and stood outside looking through the window. Lana tried to smooth out the envelope. She held it in front of her.


“Lana”

It was Clark’s handwriting but at the same time it wasn’t Clark’s handwriting. It was very neat. Each of the letters was written in a very precise manner. She opened the lid of the envelope and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. She opened it up and recognized the writing as the same as on the envelope. It was carefully written. Each of the letters fit an exact pattern of spacing and height. At first glance there weren’t any words crossed out or any other visible mistakes. “This must have taken a long time to write.” She began to read.

”Dear Lana,

If you are now reading this than you are awake and well and my prayers have been answered.

I am writing you a letter because it was the only way I could directly communicate with you. I have been prevented from seeing you. Chloe undertook the task of trying to slip this letter into your hand. It is to her credit and willingness to take a risk that you are now reading my words.

I am also being prompted to express myself in an unusual way. I don’t know why. Maybe, it’s these old British novels I’ve been reading. But I feel the need to express myself differently. Those old novels made full use of the English language. Language isn’t abbreviated. Thoughts, ideas and feelings are made crystal clear so that there would not be any type of misinterpretation. It may seem long-winded but there is a certain beauty in its construction. So I find myself compelled to write in the same fashion.

Too often things have remained unspoken between us. You are not to blame in this. There were numerous times when you tried to get me to confide in you, to trust you. And I only pushed you farther and farther away. It is shameful that many times we only begin to appreciate what we have in life after we lose it. It is my shame that I’ve only come to realize how much your presence in my life means to me only when I’m faced with the possibility that you may lose your own life.

Last spring when I told you that my feelings for you had changed, that was both the truth and a lie. It was true that my feelings for you had changed since you and I had been together. But I lied as to the direction of those feelings. The love I felt for you only increased with the passing of time and it remains to this day. It remains even though we are apart.

At the time I thought they were good reasons for doing what I did. But I was only deceiving myself. This confession has nothing to do with your association with Lex or any other person. You have never done anything to me that was false or dishonest or deliberately hurtful. And I responded to your love by lying to you and causing you pain. Perhaps irreparable pain. It was not only wrong of me, it was a crime. It was a crime to hurt the person who means most to me in this world.

An apology seems too little for such a wrong. But an apology is all I have to offer because I can’t think of a penance that is great enough to undo what I have done. I am so sorry for what I have said and what I have done. The only compensation I can offer is to tell you that what I did to you is something that will haunt me for the rest of my days.

But if you will grant me your trust for just a moment, there is a story I have to tell you. A story I need to tell you. A story that no one in the world has more of a right to hear than you. I have no right to demand your time; nor the right to even ask you for it. Lana, I’m begging you to hear me out. But if the pain I have caused you is beyond remedy and you have no desire to hear what I have to say, I understand. I will have to be satisfied in knowing that you are well; and with all of my heart I will wish for you all of the love that you deserve.

I am in the visitors’ room waiting for your decision. No word from you will silence me on this subject…forever.

Sincerely with all the love I have,

ClarK”

Lana looked up from the letter and saw that Chloe was carefully watching her through the glass. Chloe smiled at Lana and nodded her head. A smile made its way on Lana’s face and she motioned for Chloe to come in the room. Lex followed her.

“Hi. How are you feeling?”

“I think we’ll have an answer to that in the next five minutes. Is Clark here?”

Lex remained silent while Chloe answered.

“He’s in the visitors’ waiting room. He’s been here for four days, Lana. He hasn’t left.”

“Why isn’t he with everyone else?”

Chloe looked at Lex. Lex remained silent. Lana looked directly at Lex.

“You kept him away from me. Didn’t you? You lied to me.”

“Lana, I thought his being here would upset you. I knew you didn’t want to see him. I was only trying to protect you.”

Everyone outside of the room heard Lana’s voice rise.

“You don’t know what I want! You never did!”

Lana regained control and spoke quietly.

“Lex, I’d like to talk to Chloe…alone.”

Lex did not protest. He walked out of the room and continued walking out of the hospital.

“Chloe, did you help Clark write this?”

Chloe sat on Lana’s bedside.

“Lana, I don’t even know what he wrote. He asked me to get this in your hands. That’s all I know.”

Chloe wanted to make sure there were no doubts in Lana’s mind.

“That’s the truth, Lana. Whatever is in that letter, only you and Clark know.”

“Would you bring him in?”

“Sure I will. But I have to warn you. Clark looks like crap. He’s been here for four days. He’s hardly slept and he’s emptied out the vending machines.”

Lana nodded. Chloe left the room and told everyone outside that Lana wanted to see Clark and perhaps everyone should come back later. Through the window Lana saw that everyone understood. They looked at Lana, waved and smiled and then left her view. A few minutes later Chloe came into view with Clark by her side. He had four days growth of beard. His hair was unkempt and his clothes were wrinkled. The dark circles under his eyes showed that he hadn’t been sleeping. But his smile was bright and wide as he entered the room. Chloe left him at the door and then joined the others. The monitor showed that Lana’s heartbeat was increasing. Clark was the first to speak.

“Hi.”

Lana’s eyes didn’t leave him as she responded in kind. She said softly.

“We have a lot to talk about.”

He nodded. As he pulled up a chair to the bed Lana noticed he had something in his hand.

“What do you have in your hand?”

Clark was surprised. He had forgotten what he was carrying.

“Oh yeah. I noticed that there’s a DVD player with the TV in your room. I thought you might get bored with basic cable. So I bought this in the gift shop. It sort of jumped out at me. I thought it had ‘Lana’ written all over it.”

He handed her the DVD.


Pride and Prejudice

Lana looked at it and then looked at Clark.

“Would you watch it with me?”

Clark had his head down as he answered as if he was feeling great humility.

“I would do anything for you, Lana.”

Lana took his hand in hers and Clark began to talk. As she listened she heard a voice deep inside of her.

“I shall no longer call you Clark Kent. I shall call you my Clark Kent.”



The End


**********

[happycamper]

The happy ending we were all looking for. Thank you!

'Lana's P&P' was a wonderful story, and like you promised, very different from the others that you shared with us on this board.

I'm glad that getting to know Darcy helped Lana know - and accept - Clark.

While I can't promise you that I'll go out and immediately read the book, I am now intrigued by the original story, too.


:D :D

[Smallville4]

i only got the last 2 or 3 chapters but i love this story are u going to make an epoluigue


ps.I cant spell ^ because i dont know how

[SVsleuth]

Awesome ending. And the Clana is re-ignited. :) - I wonder what will become of Lex. He must be furious.

I love that what Lana/Lizzy experienced in the dream with Clark/Darcy taught her something about who she really wants, in any world, and that when she woke up, she immediately sought him out. Cool that Clark happened to have been reading Sense and Sensibility, and happened to see the DVD of P & P in the hospital bookstore. Almost seems like... Destiny. Yep, those two are destined to be together, in any time, in any place, in any universe.

You did a great job with this, omk. You are greatly talented. I always enjoy your fics so much. Now I'll have to wait patiently for the rest of Scimitar on your other thread. PPMS! Then you could always add an epilogue here. ;)

[Clana227]

great ending. loved the story