Notes Part 1: Okay, this one begged to be written after seeing this eppie. I will warn those fans of Super Lana, this is the “anti-SL” story. To find out what I mean, you’ll have to read on.

Notes Part 2: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com . Spoilers for Seasons 2-7.



Chapter 1 [Smallville—Kent Farm]

Lana stared out into the dark rain wondering about her actions from that day. For much of the previous month, she’d lived there happily with Clark without secrets, lies or any barriers. It had seemed like a dream come true.

Alas, she received the shock of her life when Clark showed up at the farm, telling her she’d been with an imposter. He revealed that Jor-El had imprisoned him at the Fortress for that time.

And then in a cruel twist of fate, she killed the doppelganger who’d been so loving to her. She still could see herself hesitate between the two Clarks. In a bizarre way, it reminded her of the time Clark had faced Tina Greer in the alley behind the Talon.

A real McCoy with doubts versus a fake with no such inhibitions.

She reached into her robe and produced a small blue fragment. The glowing blue kryptonite looked beautiful giving off a soft glow. If this killed the other Clark, should I have this here? She glanced toward the bed where the man she loved slept uneasily. Maybe not so close. She walked out into the hall and into Martha’s old room. In the corner, she found the older woman’s chest of drawers. This should work. She wrapped the fragment in a handkerchief and buried it amidst some sweaters.

Having accomplished this task, she returned to the bedroom and got into bed beside him. While she wanted to feel him against herself, she knew better.

The Old Clark with his tired doubts was back.

She lay awake staring at the ceiling. I wish this would stop. When will Clark stop feeling torn?

Outside the rain continued to fall.




Chapter 2
[Granville Cemetery—Ten minutes later]

Jor-El appeared in the middle of the silent necropolis. He had meant to teleport directly to the Kent Farm to deal with Clark directly. However his thoughts had digressed, bringing him there. He stewed over his son’s continued weakness in not dealing with Bizarro directly and in continuing to favor the brunette Earth female over his duty.

But for now, something distracted him. What is this place? I cannot delay any longer!

It’s not his fault, you know…..

The spirit turned to find a fellow spirit to his left. She wore white robes; her loose hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. And you are?

“My name is Alicia,” Alicia Baker indicated while considering the father spirit with purposeful eyes. “A friend and I have been sent to speak with you about Clark Kent.”

His name is Kal-El not Clark Kent! He glowered at her. I remember you! You attempted to poison his mind!

“I did much to my shame,” she admitted while bowing her head. “I love him but can’t have him. I will protect him though.”

He stopped in his tracks at this one’s devotion to his son. What does he do to inspire such feelings? He does nothing but fail me!

“He fails himself because he’s torn in two,” she corrected him as they headed deeper into the cemetery. “Have no fear, Jor-El, my companion would never harm you. She and I are linked. Much as I can never have Clark, she cannot have you. Duty and all of that.”

Duty? He hesitated for a second; his doubt diluting his focus.

“Now who’s torn?” she asked with a bit of sarcasm in her voice. “It isn’t as easy as you think, is it?”

One must keep to their mission, Alicia Baker….

“As you told me, Joe,” a familiar voice interrupted him. From her own grave, Louise’s spirit rose to meet him. “Remember?”

Louise. I told you that we couldn’t….

“Couldn’t be together. Yes, I remember. I love you, Joe, despite how thick headed you are. Problem is you’re forcing your son to treat my great-niece that way. It has to stop. He cannot keep tearing himself apart. Neither purpose will be served,” Louise advised.

Krypton is his purpose! He wanted to cast her aside and continue onto his goal. However his feelings stopped him from doing so. He actually hesitated.

“Your feelings are tearing you apart as they did in 1961,” Louise pointed out. “Can it be that you and Clark aren’t that much different? Lana, as Dexter has pointed out, is very much like me.”

And as then, Earth and Krypton cannot coexist. He faced the two female spirits. I will kill Kal-El if I have to in order to achieve my goal.

“Clark is so afraid of you. Yet here you are acting like a spiteful bully,” Alicia assessed with a shake of her head. “I will hide him and Lana from you if needed. If you’ve seen me, you know I can do it.”

“There is no need for this standoff,” Louise interceded, cutting off the debate between the other two spirits. “You are correct. But there is another solution and you know it.”

There is?

“You did,” Alicia chimed in. “Have someone take Clark’s place. Kara Kent.”

You know about her?

“Not much is hidden from us, Joe,” Louise pointed out. “And Kara will accept. The question is what will you allow Clark to do?”

Allow him to do?

“Will you deny him and Lana what you denied us?” Louise inquired impatiently. ”Duty! Duty! Duty! IS THAT ALL YOU THINK ABOUT?”

That is all there is!

“Then grant Clark’s greatest wish. Take the duty away,” Alicia noted. Although she knew he’d be devastated by the loss of his abilities, she well knew that his doubts would vanish along with them. “He wants to live like one of us. Let him.”

He is my son!

“And he is his own man,” Alicia argued. “I’m dead partially because of this garbage! Enough already! Leave him alone, Jor-El! Let him live his life with Lana!”

You want that? You said earlier that you love him. Yet you would give him away so easily?

“As I said, his love is for Lana, not for me. When one loves another, they’ll do whatever it takes to make them happy.” Alicia bowed her head, letting the others see the tears watering in her eyes. “Whatever it takes.”

Louise floated over to her companion’s side. “I’m sorry.”

“It’ll be…all right,” Alicia replied while collecting herself. “I wish things could be different.”

“You know they can’t be.”

“I know,” Alicia affirmed. “I wish we could make him understand!” She glared at Jor-El.

You both would distract us!

“You distract him from his Earth purpose. You distract him from love and obligation to my niece and family. Do you know how much pain you cause Clark? That you cause Lana? Do for him and her what your father would never do for us!” Louise countered.

Such things cannot be.

“Why not?” Louise demanded. “Joe, what good is duty, gifts and obligation if you can’t live and be happy? How can Clark ever be successful if he’s torn? Alicia has given you the answer. Kara gives you the means. It’s simple really.” She looked him in the eye. “I want you to see something.” She touched his forehead (or where that would’ve been).

Jor-El witnessed the previous time Clark had lost his powers. He saw how the younger man, despite not having his gifts, worked to rebuild his family house. Then the barn raising came into the picture and how Clark collaborated with his Earth father, Jonathan Kent, and others to accomplish the community work.

Most importantly, he could see Clark walking through the grass hand in hand and carefree with his love. No doubts or concerns. No nothing except love and life.

He seems focused, Jor-El admitted.

“He is, isn’t he? Notice Clark has no doubts about that.” Louise sighed. “Give him his life, Joe.” With that, she made the dreamscape vanish and they were back in the cemetery.

“Did he see?” Alicia asked hopefully.

Yes, I did. If I do this, he will not be able to protect himself.

“We all take risks for love,” Louise noted. “Alicia and I are both here due to that but it’s worth it.”

Thank you, Louise and Alicia Baker. I think I see now. With that, the spirit vanished into the night.

“You think he does?” Alicia queried anxiously.

“I believe so. Come. Now we watch what happens next,” Louise concurred before they disappeared as well.




Chapter 3 [Kent Farm—Clark and Lana’s Bedroom]

Lana still tried to sleep unsuccessfully but could not do so. She finally slid out of bed and into her robe. I wish I could make Clark understand. I can work with him. With the foundation’s assets, we’re a great team! She washed her face off in the bathroom before heading back toward the bedroom.

There her eyes went wide as she saw Jor-El floating in the corner. “Who are you? What are you?”

The question woke Clark up. “Lana? What?” Then he sat up in bed. “Jor-El, what are you doing here?”

Observing you both and making a decision about the future, Kal-El, Jor-El replied.

“Jor-El? Kal-El? What’s going on, Clark? You know this guy?” she asked.

Clark sighed and nodded while rolling his eyes. “This is Jor-El, he’s my birth father…his ghost anyhow. Kal-El is my birth name.”

And you are Lana Lang. I know of you, Jor-El noted.

“You’re the one who’s driving Clark on about his heritage?” she realized, suddenly recalling all of the times he’d committed and then hedged, running away and causing all Hell to break loose in both her and his personal lives. “You were the Voice from the storm cellar sophomore year weren’t you? Clark, is that who you were trying to protect me from?”

“It was,” Clark admitted.

I also helped Kal-El to save your life, Lana Lang. Much as Louise had done for him earlier, he linked minds with both Clark and Lana and revealed what had happened two years earlier.

She saw his proposal at the Fortress and her own acceptance of it. But things turned dark as Lex chased her down the state road, not wanting to lose her and the election at the same time.

Her car crashed. She died.

Clark winced, feeling the pain rising up again. “Stop it!”

She must see, Kal-El.

“It’s okay, Clark,” she assured her love while taking his hand in her own.

The vision started again. She witnessed the two ‘do-overs’ before the final result: Jonathan’s fatal heart attack.

Love can cause pain as well as good. This is what I seek to defend you from, Kal-El. With that, Jor-El brought them back to the bedroom.

“But love can heal! If you wanted to help us so much, why did you hide and use us? Why didn’t you help us?” she demanded.

“Lana, don’t,” Clark begged, not wanting to see her vaporized or worse.

“Answer her question,” Louise agreed while appearing with Alicia.

This is between us, Louise.

“And us,” Alicia disagreed.

“Alicia? Aunt Louise?” Lana asked recognizing both women.

“Hi, Lana. Sorry about just appearing without notice. He kind of forced it,” Alicia apologized.

“I’m waiting, Joe. Answer her question,” Louise pressed.

“Joe?” Lana’s eyes went wide again at the ghost. “You were the Drifter! Clark, is that right?”

Clark nodded reluctantly. “He’s the Drifter.”

“No wonder he looked so much like you,” Lana recalled while looking the ghost over again. “Meantime, I still want to know why you didn’t help us.”

Help you? Jor-El fumed. You’re not Kryptonian! You distract him!

“Distract Clark? Distract him from what?” Lana queried. “Clark, what’s he talking about?”

“He thinks you distract me from my true purpose. I’ve tried to balance both,” Clark explained sadly. “I can’t do either very well.”

“You do enough good though,” Lana assured him before turning back to the elder Kryptonian. “If you can’t help us then leave us alone.”

Clark locked eyes with his father. While he’d reluctantly gone along with Jor-El’s plans in the past, they had often come into conflict over Lana and his other friends. If Jor-El eliminated her, he’d truly be alone. [“There has to be a way to have both.”]

Not if you’re to be true to your way, Kal-El. I see where your heart is. Such is your choice. He raised his “hand”. I saw your conversation with our fellow Kryptonian earlier today.

From the other room, the blue shard flew into view, floating into view between father and son.

Outside, the first rays of Dawn broke over the prairie. Its beams flowed through the glass into the room and into the shard.

A blue light bathed Clark, burning him and causing him to spasm. “AHHH!”

“CLARK!” Lana yelled. She wheeled around. “Stop it!”

If he wishes to live like one of you, he will be one of you. Jor-El made the shard stop glowing. It is done.

“What?” Clark asked while getting out of bed. As he did so, he felt something sharp imbed itself in his big toe.

“Let’s see,” Lana insisted while looking at it. “You’ve got a splinter in there.”

“That’s impossible!” Clark protested before realizing. “You took my abilities.”

This time, it is permanent, Kal-El. Kara can carry your mantle. Farewell, my Son. With that, Jor-El disappeared from the room.

“Sorry, Clark. We didn’t want it to come to this,” Alicia apologized before teleporting in and out of the room to get a set of tweezers. “Let me.” She pulled the offending wood piece out of his toe. “Have to admit it’s weird to see that.”

He wiped the blood off of his toe. “Tell me about it.” He pulled on his robe. “It’s okay, Alicia. At least you tried to help us. Jor-El’s like that.” He sighed. “Maybe this is for the best. Now I can have a normal life without him.”

“Clark,” Louise interjected. “Your father does love you.”

“He has a funny way of showing it. None of us are going to sleep now. Might as well get some coffee going since it’s going to take a while to do chores. Thanks, everyone, for trying,” he disagreed before leaving the room.

“What happens now?” Lana wondered.

“You both make your lives as normally as possible. What and how you do it is up to you. I’m so proud of you, Lana. Clark is going to need you. Stand by him. All right?” her great-aunt advised.

“I’ll try, Aunt Louise. Thanks,” Lana agreed.

“You’re welcome,” Louise concluded before she and Alicia disappeared once more.

What and how we do it is up to us? Talk about a tall order! She looked in the mirror for about five minutes, analyzing the woman she saw there. How can I when I don’t even know myself!

Trying to consider all of these things, she headed downstairs to help Clark adjust to his new reality. She smelt the aroma of brewing coffee coming from the kitchen. That’s a start at least! But coming around the corner, she found him rinsing his right hand in the sink and trying to keep one eye on some sausages and eggs frying up on the stove. “What happened?”

“Some hero I am,” he groused. “Can’t even make breakfast without burning myself.”

She rubbed his shoulders consolingly. “You never had to worry about that before, Clark. We all need time to adjust right?”

“Yeah,” he agreed while conceding a little smile. “If you can wait for me to do so.”

She let her eyes shine into his. “I’ll wait until long after the stars go out for that, Clark. I know you love me and that’s enough.” She kissed him passionately. “Now let’s work on this breakfast together. Then we can do chores.” She shrugged. “And then maybe we can start thinking about the future together.”

“Sounds great to me, Lana. Thanks,” he expressed while flashing her a grin.

“My pleasure, Clark,” she assured him while going to the stove. “You’ve got eggs.”

He zoned out, admiring how steadfast Lana was being. Despite the changes he had just gone through, she insisted on standing by him. He appreciated the full person there—not just the long hair, shining eyes and shapely figure. He saw her inner light burning brighter than anything he could find in the Fortress, Cowache Caves or the Sun itself.

He realized who the true hero of the house was.

“Clark?” she cut in.

“Huh? What?” he asked in a daze.

“I said you’ve got eggs. Are you going to let them burn or what?” she supposed while arching her eyebrow.

“Nope,” he agreed while joining her at the stove for their first ‘totally normal’ collaboration…the first of many.




Conclusion [A Year Later—Capitol Café, Downtown Granville]
[A/N: Miranda is my OC.]

Lana churned out a couple of fresh lattes and set them on the counter for one of the waitresses to retrieve. She looked around the replica of the Talon with ironic introspection. Who would have thought I’d come back to this again?

“I’ll get these out to Table 11,” Miranda concurred while setting the drinks on a tray and taking them out.

Lana smiled at the fact that her best friend was once again her lieutenant. When she and Clark had broached the idea of a revived café albeit with a new name and locale, Miranda jumped at the chance to leave the Star Center she worked at.

The last year had flown by in a flash with a stream of activity. Kara assumed Clark’s role once Jor-El restored her memories. With Lionel’s help, Jor-El brought Lex down, leaving him locked away in a maximum security prison. She and Clark survived a final encounter with Brainiac thanks to Kara. Martha had been elected to the US Senate by a landslide. They sold the farm and moved to Granville about four months earlier.

Most importantly, her long dreamt of and sought after possession glittered at her from her ring finger. Just a week earlier, she and Clark had finally exchanged their vows, starting the next phase of their lives’ journey together. With Pete Ross and Chloe flanking them, they made the commitment.

And Clark didn’t hesitate. Unlike when he was ‘Super Clark’, there was no doubt. Rather there was only firm resolve and true devotion.

“Something isn’t it?” Clark asked while giving her a quick hug from behind.

“You have those dishes done, Mr. Kent?” she sassed with a smirk. She stole a quick look at the wedding band on his hand before looking back up again.

“You’re spending way too much time around Chloe, you know that?” he retorted, returning fire.

“Am I? I wonder,” she cracked while peeking in the back. There she heard the dishwashers churning. She noticed other pans and cups drying in the strainers on the counter. “Not bad. You might make Chief Dishwasher/Grill Chef yet.”

“I might? Maybe I can get a reference from the owner? I hear she’s really tough.”

She quirked a humorous eyebrow. “I’ll have to talk with her about that.” She kissed him. “Thanks, Clark.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For still being you—gifts or not,” she whispered. “Today’s the anniversary, you know.”

“Anniversary?”

“One year ago, Jor-El took away your gifts. Seems you’re doing pretty well to me. Of course, I’ll be watching,” she pointed out.

“Yeah thanks to you. And we’re watching each other,” he replied before heading back to his sink-side post.

She nodded happily to herself. She couldn’t believe life could be so simple and happy. But then again, we made it difficult. Once the lies stopped, so did the difficulty. With that, she headed back to the counter ready to dive back in again, feeling glad that everything was just normal.

And that was all they needed…..


THE END

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