Pairing: Clark/Lana; Jonathan/Martha; Clark/Lex (friends); Lex/Lana (friends-partners); Pete/Clark

Archive: Any listserv that I send this to has permission. In addition, permission given to Smallville Field of Dreams and the Talon Tales site to do so.

Summary: Lex and Lana finally confront the Kents on the issue of trust

Post-Eppie?: Takes place after “Perry”

Note: “You’re the Voice” was sung by Heart and is on several of their albums. Smallville belongs to DC and the WB. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com.



Chapter 1 [Luthor Mansion]

Lex paced around the library, wondering what he had to do to catch a break. He had tried many things to gain the Kents’ trust. Hadn’t he stood by Clark through a great deal? Hadn’t he tried to protect the boy from his father? Once I stopped investigating him that should have been a clear signal. Hearing a knock at the door, he asked, “Yes?”

The door opened and Lana stuck her head in. “Excuse me, Lex? Are you busy?”

He looked at his watch and winced. “It’s nothing. I just have some issues I’m thinking about. Our monthly meeting slipped my mind.”

“We can reschedule if you’d like,” she offered, feeling rather sheepish for disturbing him.

“That’s all right. Business has seemed brisk lately at the Talon and I can use some good news,” he declined, giving her a friendly smirk. “Take a seat. How are the numbers?”

“We did okay,” she replied curtly, handing him the binder with the figures inside.

He flipped through the accounting figures and marveled at the profits that the café had made. She certainly is doing all right. What's eating her? “A seventy five percent raise in profits is hardly cause for the long face, Lana. What’s going on?”

She shrugged, not wanting to share her problems with him. “It’s nothing, Lex.” She faked a smile for his benefit. “See?”

He frowned and got up from his chair. “The Talon’s flourishing and you’re not happy. Is that reporter, Perry White, back? If so, I’ll deal with him.”

“No, Clark’s done that….He made sure that man got on the bus back to Metropolis,” she stated.

“Good. White’s a menace, all right?” he assessed. “Come on, Lana; what is it?”

She sighed, allowing a tear to course down her right cheek.

“Clark, right?” he presumed, shaking his head.

She nodded, admitting, “Yeah. It’s Clark. How did you know?”

He shrugged. “It’s pretty obvious on both of your faces since his return.”

She gave him a pained expression. “It is?”

“As plain as the nose on your face,” Lex informed her.

She grimaced. “Great. I’m trying to deal with it, you know. I mean, you’re going through the annulment with Helen. You have enough to worry about.”

“I’m never too busy for my friends, Lana. Especially where it concerns you and Clark,” he pointed out.

She curled her lip, wondering how much to tell him. He is a Luthor. I guess if I keep it to general issues, I can tell him.

“Lana, you can trust me, you know,” he assured her. “My lips are sealed on this matter.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Absolutely. I’ll tell you what. Can I share an issue I have about Clark if you do the same?” he offered.

She squirmed, “I don’t talk behind my friends’ backs, Lex.”

“Who’s talking behind his back? The issues going through your head right now—have you talked with him about them?” he asked. Seeing her nod, he continued, “See? It’s not a big deal. I’ve talked with him about my issues too. He won’t answer me.”

As he related that experience, she heard the first lyrics of a song floating through her head.

We have a chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet
Before we get much older


Isn’t that the truth? She scratched her head. “I wish he’d open up to me, Lex. How can you love someone if they won’t open up to you?”

“I know the feeling. I’ve saved his father’s life and the farm. Still, he won’t open up with me,” he revealed.

“And I saved his parents from Morgan Edge’s goons,” she added, shuddering as she recalled kicking the man onto the pitchfork and watching him die in front of her. I committed murder—granted it was in self defense—for his parents. I would die for him. I love him. Isn’t that enough? Her eyes watered. “Lex, I…”

He turned; his face aghast. “What? What were his men doing there?”

“I don’t know,” she sniffled. “When I drove up, I saw two men loading something in that moving truck. I asked them where the Kents were. The next thing I know, they forced me into the barn where they had Clark’s parents. They were going to kill us, Lex. Fortunately, I was able to fight them off.”

“And that’s it?” he asked. Dad, I can see your fingerprints all over this one. What did you and Edge want with Clark and his family?

That’s all I want to tell you. “Pretty much,” she replied. “And what’s your deal with them?”

He commented, “Oh nothing much. Just saving Mr. Kent’s life right after the twisters. Then I bought their farm and put the Kents’ names on the deed. Why don’t they appreciate what we do for them?”

She sighed, rubbing her eyes and collecting herself. “Nothing much? Yeah right. Still, Lex, I think they do. Trust is the big issue.”

“The Kents and trust?” He rolled his eyes. “That’s the big issue, all right.”

“I mean, there are so many times where I can see it in Clark’s eyes,” she continued, getting up and pacing the floor. “There’s some big secret he’s keeping from me—from us. You know? He wants to tell us but something’s holding him back.”

“You mean his parents?” He sat down behind the desk. “Lana, you’re right on target.” He grabbed his jacket as his eyes narrowed. “Come on.”

“Uh, where are we going?” she wondered. “What about the numbers for the Talon?”

“We can deal with them later. Right now, I think it’s time for an overdue conversation with the Kents,” he supposed, marching out of the library.

She winced, knowing what the possible implications of this encounter could be. They could tell me never to see Clark again. Is that what you want? Are the risks worth it? She took a deep breath. Yes. Lana, you need to know. How else can you have a relationship with Clark? Grabbing her coat and the binder, she rushed after her business partner.



Chapter 2 [Kent Farm—Fifteen Minutes Later]

Martha dusted around the house, spot checking everything to be sure it was in pristine order. Other than the time she had spent as Lionel Luthor’s personal assistant, she didn’t allow a stray speck of dirt to make its presence felt in her domain. A clean house is a happy house. In the oven, a fresh pan of cookies baked away, aiming to be ready by the time Jonathan and Clark came in from their chores.

Hearing somebody heading up the driveway, she looked through the window to see Lex and Lana’s vehicles approaching. She stopped her dusting and went out to greet them. “Lex, Lana, how are you?”

“We’re okay, Mrs. Kent,” Lana replied.

Seeing the frown on the other woman’s face, Martha studied her demeanor carefully. “What is it, Lana? Is everything all right?”

The younger woman looked at her business partner before returning Martha’s gaze. “You want to pose the question, Lex?”

“Question? Lex, what is this about?” the farm wife inquired.

He ran his hand over the back of his scalp, drying the perspiration there. “Mrs. Kent, umm…is your husband around?”

“Yes. He and Clark are working in the barn. Why? What’s this about?” Martha asked, feeling more than a bit uneasy about this particular visit.

“We need to talk about things. Don’t worry; it’s not about the farm. We have some questions for Clark is all,” he told her.

Could they know? “I’ll be right back. Why don’t you go in the house and we’ll meet you there?” Martha offered.

“Thanks, Mrs. Kent,” Lana accepted, giving her a warm smile.

After their hostess had left, she turned to him and asked, “Are you sure this is worth it?”

He shrugged. “You can still back out if you want. I need to know. Are you in or out?”

She squirmed, still weighing the risk of rejection with the benefits of knowing. Now I wish I had Chloe’s drive to discover the Truth and take no prisoners. “I…well…I’m in.”

“I thought so,” he commented, holding the door to the Kent home open for her. “It won’t be long now.”

*****

[Five minutes later]

Lex and Lana saw the Kents walk into the house, clearly concerned over the nature of this visit. Judging from the latter’s faces; there had been some discussion before their appearance.

“Hey, guys,” Clark greeted, trying to ease the mood. “What’s going on?”

Lana frowned, still caught between feeling guilty and wanting to know. “I would like to know, Clark.”

“Know what?” Jonathan asked, feeling his anxiety percolating to the surface.

“About why he’s so secretive. It’s okay; we’re friends here, aren’t we?” Lex asked.

“Part of being a friend is knowing how to respect people’s boundaries, Lex,” Martha countered.

Clark squirmed under the pressure of this discussion, knowing that he could lose two key friendships in the process. “Can I be excused?”

“Clark, what is it?” Lana inquired, seeing his discomfort.

Feeling his father’s eyes burning into him, Clark shook his head. “I can’t, Lana.”

“Why can’t you? I’ll ask you again—do you want to be alone all of the time? You will be unless you open up,” she pushed. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course, he does,” Martha responded, trying to take the pressure from her son.

The businessman, however, wasn’t buying it. “Let him answer for himself, Mrs. Kent. How about it, Clark?”

Clark nodded. “I do.”

“Then how about it, Clark?” Lex inquired.

“Lex, stop it,” Jonathan interrupted.

The billionaire smirked incredulously. “With all due respect, what is so bad that you’ve got him on this leash? We’re his friends. We should all stand together.”

“Even with your pedigree?” the farmer supposed.

“Dad!” Clark protested. “That’s not fair!”

“Son, I know he’s done a lot for us but he’s still a Luthor,” Jonathan argued.

Lex felt indignation burning away inside of himself. Once again, it comes down to my father. “I thought we were past this. You know I wouldn’t say anything to him about Clark.” As he said it, he heard some lyrics go through his head:


We have a chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet
Before we get much older

We’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long before we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?


Don’t I know it? Why won’t he understand that I’m not like my father? He shook his head, wondering how to get that point across to the farmer and his wife.

“And what about the vial? Because of your connections between Helen Bryce and your father, he got his hands on it!” Jonathan snapped, forgetting himself for a minute.

“What vial? Lex, Clark, what is he talking about?” Lana wondered.

Martha sighed and shot her husband a frustrated look. “She needs to know, Jonathan.”

Seeing the frustrated looks at the table, Lana assured them, “It’s all right. Whatever it is; I can take it.”

The farmer sighed. “Here goes. Remember when Clark and Martha were sick last spring?” Seeing Lana nod, he continued, “Helen drew some blood from him.”

“Clark’s got a unique situation with his blood. We didn’t want it getting out,” Martha continued. “That’s why Edge’s men were here when you came that day.”

Clark looked at everyone with a stunned look on his face. “Lana ran into Edge’s goons? Is this true?”

“It is, Son,” Jonathan admitted. “She saved our lives.”

The teenaged girl bowed her head. “At a great cost.” She looked at her hands. Sometimes, she saw blood splattered on them. I know it was in self-defense but it was still murder. “It happened so quickly. I struggled with one of the men holding us and kicked him into the pitchfork.” Her eyes watered. “Sorry.”

Clark rubbed her shoulder, wishing that they were still together so he could comfort her. “I shouldn’t have exposed us like that. Those men came looking for me. This is all my fault.”

“No, Clark, my father got Edge involved when he accepted the vial from Helen,” Lex assured him. “Still, we are involved. Don’t we have the right to know what’s going on?”

“It’s all right,” Lana told them, leaning into Clark’s chest as she said that. “I love you, Clark, and your parents are like my own. Whatever it is, I can accept it.”

“And despite my genes, I can keep a secret,” Lex added. As he said that, he heard still more lyrics in his head:

You’re the voice-try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
We’re not going to sit in silence
We’re not going to live in fear

It’s time—you know we all should stand together
We got the power to be powerful
And believe it, we all could make it better


“We can watch out for each other if we know what’s going on,” Lex noted.

“That sounds nice, Lex, but can you both handle the truth?” Jonathan wondered.

“After saving your farm and your life, don’t you owe it to me to let me be the judge of that?” the billionaire argued. “Going back to what Lana said earlier, Clark, unless you open up, you’re going to be alone all of your life. Is that what you want?”

“Of course not,” Clark replied almost indignantly. “I really care about you guys. You have to believe me when I say that.”

“We know but then, why don’t you trust us?” Lex queried.

“I want to tell you but I don’t want to be seen differently either,” Clark expressed, slipping just a bit. He stood up and walked around for a few steps. “Sometimes I really hate being me.”

“Why?” Lana asked. “Clark, you’re a special guy. We care about you. Why won’t you open up?” She grabbed him, spinning him around so that he faced her. “You love me, right?”

“You know I do,” he replied.

“Then why can’t you share that secret with me? What’s so bad that you can’t tell me? Is this the reason you ran off to Metropolis in the first place?” she asked.

“Partially,” he replied, looking at his mother and recalling the loss of the baby.

Lana continued, “Maybe you don’t realize what your disappearance did to all of us here. What it did to me. I cried all summer, you know that? I nearly died in that barn out there for you! Doesn’t that matter to you?”

“Of course it does,” Clark replied. “I just don’t want to endanger you with the truth is all.”

“And we aren’t in danger now? Clark, I hate to break it to you and your folks, but just being around you puts us in danger. Knowing that secret will enable us to anticipate these things,” Lana countered.

“It’s more complicated than that, Lana,” Jonathan argued. “Knowing will increase the risk.”

“If I know, then I can use my resources to protect him from my father if that’s necessary,” Lex retorted earnestly. Looking across the room, he told his friend, “Clark, if our friendship means anything, you’ll tell me. A relationship built on lies and deceit is doomed to failure.”
Clark bowed his head, feeling clearly torn between his parents and friends.

“Jonathan,” Martha cut in. “They deserve to know.”

“Martha, we have to keep this secret,” her husband protested.

“I know it’s important but so is Clark’s happiness! This is tearing him apart,” she countered.

“Martha,” he argued.

“Mom, it’s okay,” Clark added. “I’m just meant to be alone is all.”

“No, Clark, you’re not,” his mother disagreed. “Lex and Lana, because of you both in part, we’re able to sit here and have this conversation. I need to know, if we tell you, will you keep the secret? No matter what?”

“I will,” Lana promised without hesitation. “Even if it horrifies me, I won’t tell.”

“Absolutely,” Lex concurred. “Neither will I.”

“Remember that, Lex,” Jonathan emphasized, staring into his eyes.

What could this be? “I said that I would, Mr. Kent. Please believe me when I say that,” the billionaire emphasized.

“And you won’t tell Chloe about this, Lana?” Clark added.

She shot him an indignant look. “Is that what you think of me? Clark, I would never do that unless you tell me it’s okay!”

“Sorry. I know, but I just wanted Mom and Dad to hear you say that,” Clark apologized, taking a deep breath. “Here goes.” He sped away from the table, out the door, into town and back again. As he sat down, he handed Lana a cup. “Here you go.”

She stared at him incredulously. “Clark, this is from the Talon. You were only gone for a minute. How did you do that?”

“He could have had one here,” Lex noted.

Lana shook her head. “We just got the order in from the factory today.”

“I ran there and back,” Clark admitted, feeling uncomfortable with saying it. Taking the cup from her, he filled it with water from the sink. “Want a cup of tea?”

“Sure,” Lana agreed. “But that’ll take too long.”

“Not for me, it won’t,” Clark pointed out, focusing on the water in the cup. Using his heat vision, he made it boil almost instantaneously. Plunking a tea bag into the hot liquid from his mother’s stores, he offered the cup back to Lana, making a point to hold the hot ceramic surface in his hand.

“Clark, your hand! You’re burning yourself!” Lana exclaimed, taking it from him and setting it down on the table. “Let me get you some ice!” She ran over to the refrigerator and threw three ice cubes in a dish towel before rushing back over. “Here.”

“Lana, I appreciate it but it isn’t necessary,” Clark expressed, holding his hand up so that she could see that it was fine.

She stared in wonder at him. “How can that be? The meteors affected you, didn’t they?”

Jonathan shook his head. “Actually, Clark’s situation didn’t happen because of the meteor rocks.” He reached into his pocket and held up the octagonal disk. “Recognize this?”

“That’s the disk from my library!  How did you get that?” Lex wondered.

“Phelan took it on the day of the twisters and used it here,” Jonathan admitted. “It belongs to Clark actually.”

Lex blinked a few times, trying to digest this information. “Used it? Used it on what?”

“My spaceship,” Clark noted. “I’m not from around here or from Earth for that matter.”

“Come on, Clark,” Lex doubted. “You mean to tell me that you’re from space somewhere? I think that kid, Cyrus, got to you.”

Lana shook her head. “Wait a minute, Lex. Clark, is this why you asked me how I would react to an alien after Cyrus left?” She sighed, recalling the event in her mind and her response. And I said what I did at that point.

“You said you wouldn’t be able to accept an alien, Lana,” Clark recalled. “How could I have told you if I knew you wouldn’t be with me after that?”

“So you lied to us, Clark?” Lex realized. “I hit you that day on the bridge, didn’t I?”

The younger man nodded. “You did.”

“And you denied that,” Lex continued, seething with rage at being deceived.

Clark frowned. “Look, Lex, at the time we talked, I didn’t have my gifts, all right? I had lost them. Remember the kid who couldn’t handle being super? He stole my abilities and I took them back afterwards. But until that point, I didn’t know if I would get them back. I just wanted a normal life.”

“You could have told me though. Clark, I’m really disappointed. I thought you were my friend,” Lex retorted.

“Lex, I am your friend. Look, you think I liked keeping things from you? Look at the way you’re reacting!” Clark commented. “I’m trying to be honest now.”

“I know, Clark,” Lex mentioned, putting his coat back on. “I need to think on this for a while. See you all later.” He stormed out the door and sped off in his Ferrari.

Jonathan shook his head. “That’s great. Now he’s going to tell everyone.”

“I don’t think so, Mr. Kent,” Lana disagreed. “I have to say though that I know how he feels.” She turned to Clark. “Can I ask you something? The day of the twisters—were you there?”

Clark looked at his parents before turning back to her. “Lana, I was. I saved you.”

“You lied to me, Clark. You know how that makes me feel?” she pointed out.

“I know and I’m sorry,” he apologized.

Jonathan cleared his throat and admitted, “He wanted to tell you, Lana, but I didn’t think it was a good idea at the time.”

“I see,” Lana said, trying to balance all of these revelations in her head. “Mr. and Mrs. Kent, we can’t hide from ourselves nor can we live in fear. If you want Clark to be happy then you need to trust him and all of us with that knowledge. I have a shift at the Talon so I have to run.” She put her coat on before leaving the house.

The Kents stared at the road for a long while, wondering how things were going to change.

“They’re right, Jonathan. Look at Pete Ross. He’s keeping Clark’s secret,” Martha indicated.

“I don’t have a problem with Lana, Martha. It’s Lex that I’m concerned about,” Jonathan replied, considering all of the factors involved.

“Maybe if we trusted folks, it wouldn’t be so bad. I know we can’t tell everyone but would it be so bad if those people who’ve proven themselves knew?” Clark pointed out. “I need to do some thinking.” With that, he walked out the door, heading for the Loft.

For a long while after that, his parents stared out the window, thinking about the conversation they had just had and the ramifications.



Chapter 3 [Three days later]

Clark muddled his way through his classes. He really wasn’t up to being there but he didn’t want to stay home either. Neither Lex nor Lana had talked to him. While he trusted them to keep quiet about his secret, their silence was deafening.

“Hey, Clark,” Pete greeted, walking over.

“Pete,” he replied, shutting his locker. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing much. I think that’s my line though,” Pete supposed. “You look like you lost your best friend.”

He frowned. “You’re still here, Pete. I may have lost Lex and Lana though.”

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, he pressed, “What happened?”

“I told them, Pete,” Clark admitted.

“You didn’t tell Billionaire Boy about what I think you told him, did you?” Pete asked incredulously. “Clark, you’re not serious!”

“I told both of them.” Clark reiterated, shouldering his knapsack. “They took it pretty hard.”

“Yeah. Sorry, Clark, that’s not exactly a light thing to drop on someone. Hey, if you want to talk later, call me, all right? I’ll have my cell on.”

“Yeah sure. Thanks, Pete,” he concluded, walking down the hall toward the front doors.

Pete shook his head. Man, you really stepped in it this time, Clark. I shouldn’t say anything but I can’t stand to see him like this. Having decided on a plan, he left the school.

****

[The Talon]

Pete walked through the front door of the café with a mission on his mind. I hope she’s here. After scanning the place, he saw her at the counter. Yeah. Clark, this is for you, Bro.

Seeing him, Lana asked, “How are you, Pete?”

“I’m okay,” he answered. “All right. I need a cappuccino and a couple of minutes in private if that’s okay?”

She looked at him. “I can get your drink but what do you need the other for?”

“I just saw Clark and he told me about the other day. Can we talk in the back?” he inquired.

She took a long look at him while the cappuccino press worked its magic. He knows too? How can that be? “All right, Pete. Follow me. Julie can cover me.” She led him into the back and made sure they were alone. “Okay, Pete, what is this about?”

“It’s about Clark and his…well…gifts,” he explained.

She stared at him incredulously. “You know? He just told you?”

“Well he didn’t exactly have a choice,” he told her. “I found his spaceship. He told me after that. It’s not an easy secret to keep.”

“I’ll say,” she agreed. “So he actually has a spaceship?”

“Yeah until he blew it up,” Pete explained. “You saw his storm cellar?”

“It looked like a bomb went off,” she remembered. “That’s what blew up?”

“You got it. I still can’t believe he did that,” Pete said in disbelief.

“Why?” she asked. “He wouldn’t say why he did it.”

“It’s really deep, Lana. You might not get it,” he told her.

“Try me,” she urged testily. “I’m in over my head anyway.”

“I guess the ghost of his real father spoke to him through it,” he explained. “Apparently, it threatened us and his parents so he tried to get rid of it.”

“Why couldn’t he have shared that with me, Pete?” she asked. “I would have stuck with him. You know that.”

He nodded. “I know but you know Clark. When it comes to you, he wants to protect you from everything.”

“Don’t I know it? I wish I knew how he really felt about me. He says he loves me. Why doesn’t he trust me?” she wondered.

“He told you, didn’t he? Lana, the guy worships you. He wanted you to think of him as normal,” he assured her. “Look, I’m glad you know. I’m sick of being the only person in the loop.”

She smiled. “Pete, I’m glad too. Thanks for being so honest. You’re a good friend to both Clark and me. I’ll keep what I know secret, okay?”

“That’s cool. Hey, can you stop by and talk to our boy? He could really use some company,” he requested. Seeing her nod, he concluded, “Gotta run and help my Mom at home. See ya!” With that, he finished his coffee, handed her a couple of dollars and left.

Clark, why do you have to be so deep? Pete’s right. You have to consider his whole situation. With that, she went back to work, pondering Pete’s words as she went.



Conclusion [Fortress of Solitude, That night]

Clark looked at the stars through his telescope, wondering about his origins. Why do I have to be so different? He sighed, thinking about his origins again. I wonder what would have happened if Krypton hadn’t blown up? Maybe it would have anyway just like my life has.

“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, Clark,” a familiar voice told him.

Clark turned to see Lex standing on the staircase looking earnestly at him. “Lex, good to see you. Look, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

The billionaire put his hand up, cutting off the other’s response. “That’s okay, Clark. Just make me a promise?”

“Sure,” the teenager agreed cautiously. “What is it?”

“Promise that you won’t lie to me anymore. I can take the truth. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. In a lot of ways, you’re a brother to me—more so than Lucas will ever be,” Lex requested.

Clark nodded. “I promise, Lex. Thank you for that.”

Lex embraced him. “It’s okay, Clark. I know what it’s like to have something cutting you off from the rest of the world. It took a ride to Metropolis and a visit to my mother’s grave to make me realize that. Your parents are afraid, Clark. I can’t say I blame them given how Phelan and others would use you. You never have to worry about that with me. I told your father that I wanted to be considered as a member of your family and I meant it. Is that okay with you?”

“You bet!” Clark accepted. “Thanks!”

“My pleasure,” the billionaire replied. Then he saw Lana walking into the barn. “Speaking of good things, looks like you have another visitor. I’ll let you both talk.”

“Thanks, Lex,” she expressed gratefully.

“My pleasure. Go easy on the Farm Boy, all right?” he requested, smirking at them both. “I have to let your folks know everything’s fine, Clark. Carpe noctem.”

“Sure. Whatever that means,” Clark agreed.

“It means ‘seize the night’, Clark,” she explained, sitting on his couch and looking at him. “How have you been?”

“Surviving,” he told her, giving her a longing glance. “It’s been a rough weekend.”

“Yeah, I guess it was given how our conversation on Friday ended,” she supposed. “It was for me too. Chloe has had to deal with my moods since then.”

He winced. “That must have been interesting.”

“To say the least. Mr. Sullivan had to put up with us both. That man should be canonized,” she recounted sheepishly. “Seriously, first—I thought about my feelings. Then this afternoon, I put together what I wanted to say to you.”

“I want to say I’m sorry, Lana,” he apologized. “I wanted to tell you.”

“That’s what Pete told me today,” she mentioned. “He told me that he knew and how he found out. It’s great that we have such a good friend. He explained a lot of things about you to me including how you feel about me.”

Clark shook his head. “Great. You must think I’m sick or something.”

She turned his head so he looked right into her eyes. “Why would I think that? He said you love me. Well, do you?”

“Do I what?” he asked.

“Do you love me? Look me in the eye and say it,” she insisted.

He gazed into her eyes, seeing the sparkles there. He floated on the gentle scent of her perfume mixing with that of her strawberry lip gloss. “Yes,” he whispered dreamily.

“Yes what, Clark?” she asked expectantly.

He looked her in the eye again and affirmed, “I love you, Lana. I can’t be without you. These last three days just about killed me.”

“I believe that. Clark, please know that I’m not made of glass. I can take anything you throw at me—in a verbal sense anyway,” she assured him with a serious expression on her face. “You’re not alone. Can I ask you something?” Seeing him nod, she asked, “The day of Lex’s wedding when we were here and you said you had something to do, were you going to blow up your spaceship?”

“How did you know?” he inquired in shock. “I can’t believe Pete said that!”

“Answer my question, Clark,” she insisted, crossing her arms.

“Yes. The Ship threatened you, Mom and Dad. I couldn’t allow anything to happen. So I sent you away in case the explosion was too bad. You saw what happened,” he explained.

“And you see what happens when you act on your own, right?” she inquired. Seeing the incredulous look on his face, she continued, “You can always talk to me about anything, all right? Promise me, Clark, that you’ll be honest with me from here on out.”

He nodded. Then he took her hands in his own and gazed into her dark pools. “I will. I promise, Lana, that I’ll be honest with you.”

“Thank you, Clark,” she replied, giving him a warm smile.

“It’s a relief actually,” he admitted. “I don’t have to hide anything from you anymore.”

“You never had to, Clark. But I’m glad to know that and who you truly are,” she assured him. “I love you.”

He grinned. “I love you too, Lana.” He embraced her and kissed her passionately. As they did, a shooting star shot through the darkness outside the Loft’s door, affirming that this greatest of wishes had indeed come true.

Trust, it seemed, had opened that final door for them. For it is said that the truth will set you free.

And in Clark and Lana’s case, it had done just that.


THE END
 

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