Title: Redemption, The Series Finale
Author: baudyhallee
Characters: Clark, Lana, Lois, Chloe, Jimmy, Martha, JLA, other minor characters

I own nothing!

Rating: PG-13Timeline: Last arc of the series Smallville
Author's note: What if AlMiles held on to the Clana crapfest and Clark's not progressing towards his destiny to the bitter end. How would it align with the mythos?

Short summary: From Smallville, Season 5, Commencement—

Lois to Clark:: "You're going to major in agriculture and probably minor in law enforcement. Then you and Lana are going to have a nice little church wedding. . . .Then you and Lana can bring little Clark Jr. into the world."

Clark to Lois: "I think you're hallucinating."

Ben Hubbard sat at the counter of the Smallville Drug Store and watched the young sheriff pick up the morning's Daily Planet. It wasn't his regular routine. "Morning, Clark."

"Morning, Mr. Hubbard," said the very polite young man as he stared at the headline.

"Just finished your shift?" asked the farmer as he sipped his coffee.

"Yes, sir," said Clark as he read the article.

"No coffee this morning?"

"Uhhh, oh yes," said the young man as he sat at a stool still staring at the paper.

"I've got your coffee right here," said the clerk as he put the plastic top on the styrofoam cup.

"Thanks, Ed," said the deputy as he put down the paper to take a sip. He looked bewildered as if he had lost something.

Ben pulled the Planet across the counter to look at the picture of the beautiful young woman under the headline. "You knew that Lane girl, didn't you?"

With a far off stare Clark sipped his coffee and nodded, "Yes."

"And now she's won a Pulitzer. Wow! She must be something," said the farmer as he winked at the clerk.

"Yea, she's something," murmured Clark as he rose to leave. His cell phone rang and he looked at the Caller ID.

Ben thought he saw Clark cringe slightly but it disappeared too quickly to tell what the look was exactly.

"Yes, Lana. Yes, I'm on my way. Yes, of course I drove the truck. We've talked about this before. I'll be home in ten minutes. Yes. Okay. Uh, bye."

"How's the Missus?" asked Ed as he wiped a rag over the counter.

"She's fine. She's wants breakfast," said Clark. "I've got to be getting home."

"You're sure a lucky man, Clark. Lana Lang was the prettiest girl in Smallville. Still no kids?" asked Ed.

Clark shook his head as he opened the door. "No," he said quietly with his head down as he exited.

Ben thought he saw that look again but still wasn't sure what he saw.

"Ed," said Ben looking through the window at Clark getting into his truck across the street. "Something is really bothering that boy. I remember when he used to smile at the drop of a hat. It's like he's lost something."

"Like what, Ben?"

"I don't know. But I hope he sure finds it."

Clark drove the truck down the road towards the Kent farm. His fingers gravitated towards the newspaper that was beside him on the front seat. Lois' face was smiling as the word Pulitzer hung over her head. He knew Lois could take care of herself. How many times had she told him that? A grin formed on his face just before a pang squeezed his heart. He cleared his throat and tried to concentrate on the road he traveled everyday for work.

He'd have to remember to incinerate the paper before Lana saw it. It was one of the rules. No Daily Planet in the house.

Clark caught a glance at the paper again and thought Lois looked happy. She's probably ecstatic. She's accomplished something monumental in her career and life. Lois went after Lex and won a Pulitzer. Two rewards with one scoop. A wide smile grew across his face.

His cell phone rang again and he saw it was his mom. "Hey Senator! How are you?" he grinned with the phone to his ear.

His mother's chuckle brought joy to his heart. "I'm fine, son. Isn't it wonderful news about Lois?"

"Yea!" his voice cracked as if he was going through puberty again.

"Clark, are you alright?"

"Yea, Mom. I'm just running a little late."

"Still have to fix breakfast and milk the cows?"

"Uh, yea. Lana woke up a little early this morning." Clark could almost hear his mother shake her head.

"Clark, you know I don't . . . oh never mind," she paused and Clark could hear her take a breath. "About Lois . . ."

"What about her?" He felt something close to fear begin to form in his gut.

"The Daily Planet is throwing a gala in her honor and I've received an invitation. I wondered if you would be my escort?"

Relieved Clark pulled the truck over to the side of the road a mile before he would reach the farm. He didn't want to be talking on the phone when he arrived. "Mom, you know how Lana feels about Lois."

"I know, but wouldn't you like to see her again? It's been three years, Clark."

"I'm just trying to keep Lana happy," he said in a voice that made him wince.

"Clark," his mother paused again. He knew how she felt about his marriage, but he also knew she wouldn't berate him about it. "It'd just be for a few hours. Surely Lana could let you out of her sight for that long?"

She was trying to hide her disdain but her choice of words let it slip through the cracks.

"I'll see what I can do. When is it?" He sighed.

"Tomorrow night at nine." He could almost hear her smile.

"I'll need a tux," he said shaking his head as a grin formed.

"I'll get you one. You can change at the hotel. I'll be in my usual suite. Oh, Clark, I'm being motioned to. I'll see you tomorrow at 8:55 sharp. It'll take us that long to take the elevator to the ballroom. Bye, honey!"

"Bye, Mom!" He heard the click before he had finished answering. Clark looked at the early morning sun. It warmed his face. He took a deep breath and felt the solar energy invigorate his body. It was moments like this that made life worth living. He was at peace for a few seconds.

He pulled the truck back on the road and sighed. He couldn't keep the memories from flooding his mind. And right now, he didn't want to hold them back. Had it only been forty months ago that Chloe had arranged his bachelor party? She had just gotten her job as anchorwoman at WMET news. She and Lois were sharing an apartment in Metropolis.

He remembered it was a warm night and Jimmy kept after him to go to some of his old haunts. Chloe must have said something. They arrived at Atlantis and were immediately ushered into a backroom.

Jimmy pushed him into the dark room, as Clark listened to the breathing of about a half dozen people. "Surprise!" and then the lights came on.

"You didn't think we'd let you get married without a sendoff, did you?" said Oliver Queen as he hugged Clark.

"Bro! You looked like a frog in a spotlight when those lights came on," laughed AC.

"Didn't think anyone could catch you, Big Man," grinned Bart.

"Congratulations," nodded Victor as he shook Clark's hand. "I hope you'll be very happy."

Clark remembered being very touched by their camaraderie, but he felt as if it was under false pretenses. The night went well. Everyone drank except him. AC told fish stories. Victor chastised him for being such a dork. Bart kept running around the room listening in at all the conversations. The whole evening Oliver kept grinning at Clark. "How did you get her to agree to it?" He finally asked when they were alone.

"I asked her to marry me and she said yes. It was as simple as that," grinned Clark. He took a sip of his Coke and looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

"Nooooo," said Oliver slightly inebriated. "Not that! How did you get her to let you . . .y'know." He moved his hand in the air in a mock zooming motion.

Clark looked at the ice in his drink. He felt the lump in his throat as he tried to speak. "She didn't."

"What?" chuckled Oliver. "I didn't hear you." He nudged his body against Clark's.

"She didn't agree. I won't be . . . I'm won't be joining you on any missions."

Suddenly Oliver was stone cold sober. "What!?! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!"

From across the room, AC, Bart, and Victor turned in their direction as Jimmy answered the banging at the door.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" the redhead said staring at Chloe, Lois and Kara.

"It's not a party until somebody crashes it," said Kara as she strode past him.

"Must be a family thing," mumbled Lois as she walked in behind her.

"Jimmy, are you drunk?" giggled Chloe.

"So what if I am? It's a bachelor party!" he said a bit haughtily even though he was tripping over his own feet to be close to her.

"Chloelicious!" grinned Bart as he was immediately by her side.

"Hey! None of that funny stuff around my cousin!" said Lois as she grabbed Bart's arm.

"Oooo. You must be Lucious, I mean, Lois. Hi! I'm Bart," he said with a cute leer and a kiss on her hand.

"I've heard about you," said Lois as she watched Clark cross the room towards them.

"Good things, I hope," smiled Bart.

"The jury's still out on that," she said as Clark stood beside Kara but kept his eyes on her. She took a steadying breath. "Smallville. Sorry about this, but Chloe and Kara insisted."

"It's okay. I'm glad you're here," he said with a goofy grin on his face.

"Why?" asked Lois as her eyebrows met.

"Have you played any games yet?" said Chloe with her words slurring a bit.

"Gamesss?" said Jimmy with the same emphasis on the 'S's.

"Oh you've got to play games!" insisted Chloe.

"What kind of games?" asked Jimmy.

"So instead of strippers we get Lois?" said Oliver as he approached the group.

Lois bit her tongue and then thought better of it. "You've never seen my . . ."

"Lois is better, don't you think?" said Clark with a knowing grin.

Lois returned it with a smirk communicating 'Butt out, Smallville. I can take care of myself. And you're marrying Lana tomorrow.'

Oliver noticed their wordless messages and decided on another tact. "What kind of games did you have in mind, Chloe?"

"Me first," smiled Bart as he nuzzled Chloe's neck.

"Hey! I told you to knock it off," said Lois as she grabbed Bart's arm again.

"Bart, behave," warned Clark as Lois released his arm.

AC and Victor joined the group as Lois began to ask, "How do you guys know each . . ."

"Kissing games?" smiled Chloe to Oliver.

"Chloe, you little vixen," chuckled Oliver.

"No, Lois is the . . .," started Clark as he smiled appreciatively at her.

"You people have the strangest rituals," said Kara wondering what she had got herself into.

"We could have Clark kiss all the girls and then guess who they are," suggested Chloe as Jimmy put his arm around her waist.

"Not me," said Kara as she backed away. "He's my cousin."

"Good decision," nodded Lois.

"Thanks," grinned Kara as Oliver put his arm around her shoulders. She looked at him and decided to let him touch her.

"Not much of a party for us," grumbled Jimmy.

"I know," said AC. "Why don't we blindfold all the girls and let them guess who's kissing them?"

"Chloe, I don't know about this . . ." said Lois as she moved away from the group looking at Oliver and AC.

"I'm game," said Kara with a grin looking at Jimmy.

Chloe watched them. "Maybe you're right."

Bart grabbed her and Lois' arms and walked them over to the bar as Kara followed. "Does anyone have something for a blindfold?"

Victor found some linen napkins behind the bar. "Here ya go," he said as he handed them to Bart.

Lois and Chloe got hoisted on top of the bar as Kara jumped up on her own. Bart tied Lois' blindfold first. "I won't get in trouble this way," he chuckled.

"You'll be in trouble anyway," assured Lois.

"How will we know if we guess right?" asked Chloe.

"Would we lie to you?" grinned Bart.

"Uh, yes!" said Lois as she folded her hands in her lap. She looked as if she were praying to somehow get out of the situation.

"I know," said Chloe. "We'll put on different color lipsticks and then when we take the blindfold off we'll know who we kissed."

"Just like how they mark the rams before breeding," muttered Clark.

"Oh great! Farming metaphors," quipped Lois as her head tilted signaling she was rolling her eyes.

Chloe pulled several lipsticks from her purse. "Here Lois, I'll put some on you. Pucker up!"

"Chloe why can't you just use my . . ."

Chloe applied the deep red lipstick to Lois' lips and Clark recognized it immediately. He breathed a sigh of relief when Chloe handed Kara a pale pink shade.

"I don't look like Bozo the Clown, do I?" asked Lois a little unnerved.

"No way, Babe," chuckled AC as he got in line in front of Lois.

Clark sat in a chair behind the forming lines. Victor sat beside him obviously not willing to participate. He admired him for sticking to his principles.

Chloe put on a lip gloss and grinned as her blindfold was applied. Kara waited patiently as Oliver tied hers.

Clark watched Lois grow more nervous by the minute. She definitely wasn't comfortable with the situation. And he had a decision to make. Would he sit back and let others take their turn? Or for once would he do what he wanted to do? He liked kissing Lois. He liked the effects of Red-K when he was with her. Alcohol didn't affect him so what was the harm? It was just a kiss. Maybe . . . a kiss goodbye.

He watched Oliver and AC tug at one another as Oliver straddled the lines between Lois and Kara. Jimmy and Bart were locking arms and tugging at one another in front of Chloe.

Clark watched AC get closer as Oliver decided to kiss Kara. He knew the love potion made her fall in love with the first man she saw. Something boiled in his gut. There was no way he was going to let AC get to Lois first.

AC was a half a step away when Clark pushed him aside. Lois licked her lips and sighed. "Here I go again."

Clark chuckled before pulling her towards him. He recognized the song title from the White Snake CD she had made him the day after Valentine's. She still had the soft sweet scent that was uniquely Lois. Her heart was racing as he invaded her space. Did she know it was him?

His lips met hers and he could feel the exhilaration of the Red-K zooming into his veins. He welcomed it. He wanted it. He wanted her. He heard her moan and felt her melt against him. He slid his tongue inside her mouth and he thought about it being the last time. He'd never hold her again. Never be able to save her again. Never be able to kiss her again. If this was the final time, he'd make it last as long as possible. He owed her that much. His heart was beating against his chest and he knew that kissing would not be enough.

Lois pulled away from him and started to take off her blindfold. "Smallville?" When her eyes met his, her smile was as bright as the yellow sun and it had the same effect on him. "Clarrrk," she said with an appreciative moan.

"C'mon," he said as he took her off the bar, grabbed her hand and started to drag her across the room. He heard the shouts of his friends, but he couldn't stop. He had to get her alone. He was a man on a mission. He would have this night with her. He needed her. "Where can we go?"

"Wait! Just wait a minute, Smallville," said Lois breathlessly. "I need to know something first . . ." She tugged at his hand as they entered an alley.

"What?" He was frustrated that she had stopped them. He could feel the Red-K quickening his desires. No inhibitions. No fear.

"You're getting married tomorrow. What is this? A last minute fling?"

It felt like she had punched him in the gut. "No," he said shaking his head. "No, it's not." He pulled her towards him. His voice was tender and soft. He could see the effect it had on her. She relaxed as she looked into his eyes. She trusted him. She believed him. "I want you. I need to be with you. God, Lois, don't you know . . . I love you.

He kissed her with all the passion he was feeling. In her arms, he was free. He could soar without ever leaving the ground.

He wanted to howl at the moon when she returned his kiss with the same intensity. Her passion matched his own.

When their lips parted, he had to know. "Tell me you feel the same way."

He could see her defensive walls shudder but remain in place. "Clark, you're . . ." He let her slip from his embrace as she walked a short distance from him. He watched her hug herself. The wheels inside her head were turning.

He came up behind her and hugged her. He nuzzled her neck. "Lois, tell me." It was a request not a command.

Her skin was warm and soft and her hair tickled his face. He heard her take a breath and nod her head slightly. "Yes," she said quietly.

He spun her around and tried to look into her eyes which were lowered from his gaze. "Yes, what?"

When she lifted her head, she looked straight into his eyes. He felt his heart jump as he saw her expression. "I love you."

He hugged her against him. "I knew it."

Lois giggled as she leaned her upper body away from him to look into his face again. Then her expression changed. "Clark, are we dancing?" It was then she looked down. They were floating in the air level with the rooftops. "Clark!" She quickly hugged herself tightly against him as her legs looped around one of his.

"Don't worry. I've got you," he chuckled as they rose higher in the air.

He felt her relax and watched her expression as she looked around. "Do you do this often?" She said in wonderment.

"This is relatively new. Do you like it?"

"Oh yea," she nodded her head vigorously as she smiled at him. "What else can you do?"

"I'll show you," he said as he caressed her cheek and kissed her lips. They slowly flew across the Metropolis skyline towards the Daily Planet.