Prologue
So we've put an end to it this time
I'm no longer yours, and you're no longer mine…
He changed the station but what he heard next was not much better…
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just so much that time cannot erase
Clark turned off the radio…silence filled the air and the only background sound to his disturbed thoughts was the humming of the van's engine. He was having trouble focusing on the road…his life had been such a mess lately…losing his Dad, and now Lana…
Clark: Focus on the road Clark…Focus on the road…
He was on his way to the farm…a week away from University could not do any harm…besides he missed his mom and Shelby and seeing them would help cheer him up, or so he hoped. His mind was filled with memories of him and Lana, of how happy he had felt when they were finally together, and now all that was gone. He felt jaded, numb, and constantly had to remind to himself why he had chosen not to tell her, whatever the implications may be…and now she was Lex's… a new addition to his collection…how sad…
He felt slightly relieved when he finally parked in the Kent Farm driveway, as if just being home cleared his thoughts. Shelby came to greet him happily as he climbed out of the van and slowly walked to the entrance of the house. He felt tired and lonely and longed for the comforting smile of Martha Kent …he opened the door and surprise rooted him to the spot…
Clark: Lois!
Lois: Hey Smallville! Glad to see you too! You're just the man I was looking for….
Just at that moment Martha made her entrance in the kitchen. She stopped dead in her tracks on seeing Clark on the doorsill, looking incredulously at Lois, who was wearing only a towel wrapped around her body….
Martha: Lois? What are you doing dressed, or rather undressed, like that? Why don't you go upstairs and put some clothes on…so Clark can catch his breath!
Clark: Huh? Who? Me? What are you talking about?
Lois chuckled and walked upstairs… and though he would deny it even under most painful tortures, he couldn't help but stare…she looked really sexy in…wait a minute? Lois? Sexy? Remember to kick myself for ever thinking that!
Now that she was upstairs he could focus back on his mom. He realized how gorgeous his mom was; she was wearing a beautiful crimson gown.
Clark: Wow! Mom you look gorgeous! What's the occasion?
Martha: Oh thank you! Lionel and I are going to a ball in Metropolis tonight and then we're going to Australia where I have been invited as a guest for the World Peace Summit! I should be gone 10 days at most…
His mom's words quickly faded as Clark's mind drifted off to the song he had heard earlier…
Cause it's been ten days, without you in my reach,
And the only times I've touched you is in my sleep
Lois's voice snapped him back to reality
Lois: Lost in your wonderland again, Smallville? How's Alice doin' these days? Hey Mrs. Kent have you told Clark about the trip already?
Clark: Exasperated Yes Lois, she has told me about the trip to Australia and…
Lois: Well that's HER trip Smallville….guess she hasn't told you yet then...may I?
Martha: Of course sweety, go ahead!
Lois: Cheerfully we're going to Europe! And that great Clarky!
Clark's troubled mind took some time to digest the information and grasp its true meaning…
Clark: WE? Who is WE?
Lois: You, me and the Old continent! Oh come on Smallville, don't make me force you…It can't harm you, but I can…so?
Martha: She's right Clark…And besides I think getting away from Smallville could be just what you need right now…Since your father's departure you've seemed…disconnected…
When he thought back at this moment a few days, or even a few hours later, Clark still could not understand what made him say yes; maybe he was so tired that his brain wasn't functioning properly, or maybe he was too tired to argue with Lois, or maybe that a part of him understood that he needed to get out of Smallville; anyway he said yes, and he regretted his answer immediately, as he heard Lois's shriek of joy, or sadism, depending on the point of view…
On The Plane
Man of steel or not, he just couldn't stand it...Lois was going to drive him crazy! She had been acting like a possessive mother, or worse, like a zealous (he shivered each time he thought about the word) girlfriend: she had insisted on packing his bags (and took advantage of the situation to throw half of his 'plaid' shirts through the window), then she had taken care of all the necessary arrangements for the trip (hotel rooms etc…), and now she was holding his hand because the fact that they were at t a height of 30,000 ft completely freaked him out, and he wasn't even sure what was the most scary: Lois or the height! Yet he was slowly begin to relax and a few minutes after the plane took off blood finally made its way back into Lois's left hand…
Lois: Massaging her sore hand Man, Smallville, you surely got one hell of a grip!
Clark: huh…well, sorry Lois… Concerned Did I hurt you?
Lois: Wow…you truly sound concerned! No need to worry Smallville, I've seen worse! (With a smile) So, your first flight, huh?
Clark: uh….yeah….sort of…
Lois raised an eyebrow to the comment but soon brushed it aside when she noticed the beautiful scenery outside…Kansas was REALLY nice seen from above….large green fields…guess you really need to take some distance from things to see their true value and beauty…her mind drifted off to the conversation she had had with Martha Kent a few days before, when they were both in Washington for a rendezvous with a few senators.
Martha: I'm a little worried about Clark lately, you know?
Lois: Oh…and why is that?
Martha : Well, he has been through a lot lately…and as you know, he's never been one who easily confides and talks about how he feels…and I'm scared that if he doesn't confides in someone or at least get his mind on something else he's going to get worse and worse…
Her words die in her mouth as she thinks about her late husband and cannot hold back the tears that form in her eyes.
Martha: If only Jonathan was here….he would know what to do…what to say….I…I…
Lois: You are the best mom anyone could dream of…you're the closest thing to a mom I have…don't worry about Clark I'll take care of him!
Martha: What do you mean? You forgot you won't be in Kansas next week; you need to go to Europe to take care of all the preparation before my visit next month….
Lois: Well, I guess I'll just bring small…I mean Clark with me…getting away from Smallville and all this won't do him any harm!
Martha: Thank you Lois but I'm not sure that it's a good idea to…
Lois: Don't you worry I'll take care of everything! I'll make sure he doesn't think one minute about Smallville or anything and that he enjoys his…voyage…So it's decided, okay?
Martha knew she could nothing against Lois determination….anyone would be helpless against someone as determined and stubborn as Lois, but she also told herself that Lois was maybe right…Clark could use some vacation and she knew even though Lois would never tell her that she was tired of all these political games and could use a vacation too…
Martha: I guess I don't really have a choice…Your trip is supposed to last 3 days and you have to go to Paris, London and Milan…I'll make the necessary arrangements for it to last longer…you could use the vacation too...you'll chose the other places you want to visit with Clark I guess…okay?
Lois: Great! Thanks! I always wanted to visit…
Clark sneezed loudly next to her and she was back to the present…she looked at him and he seem a bit tense
Lois: What's happening Smallville? Already sick? I didn't know you were this fragile…
Clark: Very funny…it's just someone who's wearing too much of a very strong perfume and we're in a closed…aaaatchoooom…space…
Lois: Nice try big boy but no need for easy excuses…I can't smell anything… (Sarcastic) there's no shame in having a weak nature you know…?
Clark: Drop it…I need to use the bathroom…
Lois: Take your time…honey!
Clark jumped when he heard the word…he turned to look at her but her she was looking outside and didn't seem interested in what he was doing…he shrugged and thought that he had just dreamt, or rather nightmared!
Lois watched him walk to the bathroom…she couldn't believe she was the one who had proposed this trip…well, how bad could it be? Plus she needed the vacation…And she knew Clark wasn't going on too strong these days; the fact that he had accepted this trip to Europe with her was proof enough! She had no idea how she was going to cheer him up but she had promised to Martha that she would and she would hate to disappoint her boss!
When Clark came back they were already over Ohio. They were heading to New York were they would catch a direct flight to Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France, where Lois had a meeting with some of the top business men in France in preparation of Senator Kent's visit the next month. The meeting was scheduled 6 hours after their arrival and was the only thing she had to do in Paris, so she counted on the two days she would spend there to do some shopping; Lana had given her a few useful addresses and she planned on spending some of the money she had earned working for the senator! She also planned on buying a few fashion clothes for Mr. Plaid; she couldn't stand his dressing habits anymore! She looked at him from the corner of her eye; he had put on his earphones and stuck two pieces of toilet paper into his nostrils, probably to block the strong perfume…Lois couldn't help noticing how cute he looked…she brushed off the thought quickly and put on her earphones too…John Mayer's voice immediately relaxed her…
I am driving on 85 in the kind of morning that lasts all afternoon,
Just caught inside the gloom
Four more exits to my apartment but I am tempted to keep the car and drive,
And leave it all behind