Disclaimers: I don't own Smallville nor any of the companies involved. I also don't own any of the Heinlein characters or the 'World As Myth' notions that may appear herein. There is no profit being made by this tale as I don't have the 'lobes' for business. However if Quark wants the holo-suite rights... we can talk.
A/N: This story continues the AU Smallville universe of the ' Lois Is Dead ' fic. I'd decided that Clark should not be left alone and was going to bring Lana in as a romantic interest with the blessings of an AU Lois, but along the way I got side tracked by the ' World As Myth ' possibilities...
Chapter: Lana
present...
" I'm not sure that she would approve of you spending so much time in mourning, " a soft and familiar voice spoke.
" Hi Lana! " Kent had a powerfully muscled shoulder planted against the huge trunk of an ancient oak. " You're right, She wouldn't. "
Lana Fordham studied her friend. Clark was still an extremely handsome man but the boyishness was long gone; erased by time and grief. He was clad in what had become his work uniform of sorts; black and grey digicam BDU's, black combat boots and a black canvas duster. " And yet here you are... "
Kent glance at Lana with an expression that was as much a grimace as it was any type of smile. He nodded, " Here I am... "
" Your haunting the cemetery is becoming quite the legend in Smallville. "
" I'll bet... " Kent growled with a dry chuckle. " Fortunately I don't give a damn... "
" Probably not... " Lana gazed out across the quiet space of tomb stones and mausoleums, floral arrangements and small American flags. The summer heat set humid and heavy with only the slightest of breezes to stir the pleasant and familiar scent of pollen and fresh mowed grass. " We need to stop meeting this way... "
" At least it's warmer and there is no fog this time. " Kent remembered too. " Damnation we were so young... "
" It was also the longest conversation we'd ever had, " Lana reminisced. " I introduced you to my parents... "
" Then I walked you home, Whitney saw us, got jealous and had me strung up as that year's scarecrow... "
" He was young too... " Lana shrugged. " It was an interesting start to our high school years... "
" In a Chinese curse kind of way, " Kent agreed. " It's good to see you... "
" You too! We don't see much of you these days... unless we're going to hang around the cemetery too... "
There was another flash of a brief and humorless grin. Kent heard the metallic crack of a baseball bat and a cheer, and glanced in the general direction of the Smallville Recreation Park. " Whitney still working the assistant ball coach gig? "
Lana nodded. " Yeah, and loving every minute of it... "
past...
" Hey Clark! "
" Lana! " Clark looked up with a glad and friendly smile. Lana Lang walked towards him across an empty row of bleacher seats with a shy smile of her own. " It's good to see you! Are you here for the weekend? "
She was looking lovely, with a fashionable sophistication to her make up and clothing that she'd never had in Smallville. She also seemed genuinely happy. Clark decided that living in Metropolis was agreeing with her, and he was glad for her.
Lana nodded. " Yeah... my high school is on spring break and I thought it'd be nice to come back to Smallville and catch up with every one. How are you doing? "
" I'm fine, " Clark replied with an off-handed shrug. His attention drifted towards the baseball field as the opposing batter swung and missed. " So grab a pew Lana... "
" Thanks. " She sat down next to him.
Lana thought Clark was looking good. He was dressed in Smallville casual; a faded Cowboy Up tee shirt, worn jeans... probably Wranglers, cowboy boots and a Kansas City Chiefs ball cap. The glasses were new and created a cute farm boy dork vibe. Yet there was a subtle something else about him, about his attitude that felt very different.
She considered the continuing enigma that was Clark Kent as she looked about at the familiar sights of the high school. Lana felt comfortable, like she was home, and that felt really nice. Several familiar Smallville students looked her way with friendly smiles, nods or waves.
" How are the Crows doing this year? "
" Not bad actually, " Clark answered, still concentrating on the game. " We have a winning season going with an awesome lefty pitcher in the starting rotation. Chloe is starting to think he might be a meteor freak as hard as he is throwing, and his uncanny command of the strike zone... "
" More ' Wall of Weird ' material huh? " Lana was well aware of her friend's interest in the strange and inexplicable happenings in Smallville Kansas that Chloe attributed to the green crystal rocks that littered the town and county.
Clark sighed, uneasy as the meteor rock enhanced were still an uncomfortable subject for him...
" And what do you think? " Lana asked softly.
" I think it's just a God given talent, " Clark said simply. " He's never gone psycho on anyone that we know of and which most of 'em tend to do. Hell, he hasn't even tried to hit any of the batters in any of the games I've seen... "
Lana glanced over as Clark's voice faded. He was gazing across the field towards a pair of young ladies approaching from the direction of the football stadium. The short blond danced along, gesticulating wildly to emphasize her speech. The taller brunette was a stranger. " Who's that with Chloe? "
" That is her cousin, Lois Lane, " Clark answered with a fond smile and without taking his eyes from the young ladies.
There was a husky timbre to his voice that caught her attention. She took a longer look at the brunette stranger. Unlike her cousin who was dressed in a quasi bohemian goth fashion, Lois wore the more typical Smallville farmer/cowgirl style; a colorful blouse over a tee shirt, tight jeans and cowboy boots. Lana felt an uneasy stirring of jealousy.
Chloe said something to her cousin who answered with a wave and a nod. Chloe then peeled away, headed towards the Smallville Crow's dugout. Lois continued on, smiling and exchanging quips and comments with various students, teachers and town folk along the way.
But Lana could see that her complete attention was focused on one Clark Kent, and his complete attention was focused on her. Her heart sank as Lois neared and she could see that the other girl was absolutely gorgeous by anyone's standards.
Lois hopped up on the bleachers and made her way towards them. " Hi Smallville! "
A brilliant smile broke across Clark's face. " Hey Lo'. Done for the day? "
" You know it, " Lois replied. " Are the Crow's winning? "
" Yep!"
Lois stooped and gave him a brief, light kiss before turning and plopping down on the bench in front of him. She leaned back between his thighs with a comfortable sigh, then turned and squinted up at Lana. " Chloe said you are Clark's old... sorry... ex girlfriend, Lana Lang? "
Lana appeared nonplussed. " Uh huh... "
" I'm Lois Lane! " She thrust out a tanned and slender hand. " Pleased to meet you. I've heard so much about you... "
Clark's chuckle was a quiet rumble. " Lois... Lana! Lana... Lois... "
A sharp metallic crack interrupted him. Both Lois and Clark leaped to their feet, cheering on the Smallville Crow's batter as he charged down the base line. Lana was slower to her feet but her encouraging cheer was just as loud and just as enthusiastic.
The Crow's player slid into second with a puff of dust and a satisfied grin. The fans settled back on the bleacher benches, chattering happily as they discussed the recent ball field heroics.
" Thirsty babe? " Clark asked Lois before he seated himself.
She nodded. " Yeah, please! My caffeine levels are getting a bit low so if you'll get me a Mello Yellow... "
" Okay, " Clark replied agreeably. " Can't risk having your caffeine levels low... who knows what horrible... "
" Don't push your luck bub, " Lois growled. She returned her attention to the ball field and began heckling the opposing pitcher.
" Lana? Can I get you a soda or a water? "
" A water will be fine Clark, " Lana replied with a grateful nod.
Clark nodded with a brief smile as he walked away. The aluminum walk shuddered beneath his Justin boots. Lana caught Lois watching his retreating back with a soft smile and luminous hazel eyes.
" How long have you guys been a couple? "
Lois turned back to the ball field. " Since last fall... "
There was another crack of a metallic bat and another outbreak of Smallville fan enthusiasm as the baseball sailed into the outfield.
" … I moved to Smallville about half way through the semester, " Lois continued. " My first day of school was on a Wednesday... we had our first ugly fight Friday and he asked me out Saturday. We've been dating since. Chloe likes to claim that we've actually been a couple since we were introduced... "
" Really? " Lana was intrigued that she had heard none of this from her friend.
Lois shrugged nonchalantly. " Clark claims it's some mystical chemistry or something. I think it's because I threw his Copenhagen away about two minutes after we met... "
A Smallville batter was walked and the bases filled. There was a lull in the game as the opposing coach strolled out to the mound for a conversation with his pitcher.
" You threw away his dip? " Lana said with obvious disbelief in her voice. She had complained about Clark's foul tobacco habit to deaf ears.
Lois tossed a smug smile at the ex-girlfriend. " Yeah! I told Clark that if he was planning on kissing me he couldn't dip... "
" And Pete's been calling me whipped ever since, " Clark said cheerfully. He swaggered up the bleachers bearing a bottle of water and a couple sweaty Smallville Crows soft drink cups.
" Are you whipped Smallville? " Lois asked with a smoldering leer.
" Damned skippy, " Clark replied complacently. " The kisses are well worth the sacrifice too! "
" Of course they are Smallville... "
He handed Lois her cup which she accepted with a grateful smile and took an immediate large swig. He handed the water bottle to Lana then seated himself behind Lois. As she leaned back, he separated his knees and allowed her to settle between them again, her head nestled against his broad chest.
Lana struggled to recall ever seeing Clark Kent this much at ease with anyone other than his parents. She failed. He smiled a lot, laughed at Lois' animated comments and held his own against a constant barrage of quips and barbed banter with a dry and droll wit of his own.
She also noticed how they were in constant physical contact with each other. They held hands or Clark had a brawny arm draped casually across her shoulders or Lois had a hand on his chest or forearm. When they stood, Clark would place a hand in the small of her slender back, or Lois would lean into him or rest a hip against him.
Chloe finally scurried up to join them on the bleachers with a perky and welcoming smile for her friend. " Hey Lana! "
" Chloe! It's good to see you, " Lana replied softly. She had been feeling like a third wheel...
present...
" You're still not talking to Chloe are you? " she asked as she pulled herself free of old memories.
" No and it's been worse since Lois' death, " Kent replied quietly. " She kept trying to help Jor-El force my hand and make me into some sort of messianic hero to the world, and I refused to have any part of that. All I wanted to be was Lois' husband and use my abilities to fight the bad guys.
" She managed to pull some rather underhanded tricks to try and separate us, for the good of the world of course, before we uncovered the truth... that Jor-El was using Chloe as a pawn. That stopped when I destroyed the AI, but the damage had been done. Lois never forgave Chloe or Jor-El for the pain they caused me, and I've never really forgiven them the pain they caused Lois... "
" I'm sorry Clark, " Lana murmured. " I know how close all of you had been in high school... "
past…
Lana heard a loud splash and a scream of laughter. She wandered through trees and brush, following a faint path down to the small private swimming pond that set behind the farmed acres of the Kent and Irig property.
" What kind of move was that Smallville? " she heard Lois call.
" I call it the C K bomb! " Clark returned, with humor evident in his voice.
" Well it sure bombed, " Lois said flippantly. " It was a 9.5... "
Lana stepped out onto a small dirt beach as Clark waded out of the water. She had a rather visceral reaction to seeing him in damp cut off jeans and lots of tanned skin and supple muscles. Clark had changed markedly from the rather lanky youth of their freshman year into an extremely powerful and attractive young man.
" Hey Lana! " He stepped up beside her and turned to face the pond. His blue eyes seemed to glow with an incandescent joy.
" Hi Clark! Your Mom said you guys were down here... "
" Hi Lana! " Chloe and Lois chorused happily. Lana waved back.
" It's your turn... " Lois called to her cousin.
" I'm glad you came, " Clark murmured. " Did you bring your swimsuit? "
" No! I didn't think I'd need it. Aunt Nell and I just got in this morning... "
With a blood curdling screech, Chloe launched herself out over the water, hanging from a knotted rope. Kicking wildly through the air, she let go with a whoop and arced into the water with a decent splash.
" And the judges give that splash a 9.7, " Lois called mockingly.
" A 9.7? " Chloe protested as she dog paddled towards Clark and Lana.
Lois seemed to frown with judicial consideration. " It would've been a 9.9 if you'd managed to loose part of your bikini and then we'd have been rating Smallville's blush... "
" Lois... " Clark groaned. His girlfriend stuck her tongue out at him.
Chloe giggled as she staggered from the water. " You're insane cuz... "
With a bad Tarzan yodel, Lois launched herself from the bank. Her lithe form swung through the air with an athletic grace, and Clark watched appreciatively as she had intended. She hit the water with an impressive splash and surfaced with a triumphant yell.
" The judges awarded Ms. Lane another perfect 10... "
" And if you'd lost part of your bikini Lo'? " Chloe asked with false wide eyed innocence.
" Smallville? " Lois asked archly as she floated towards them.
" A perfect 11? "
" Clarkie... " The warning was drawled.
" Ah... a perfect 20? "
" Better. " Lois strolled from the water; tall, broad shouldered and long legged with an exquisitely feminine sway to her hips. " Did you bring your bikini Lana? "
Lana shook her head, and fought back a brief spasm of jealously. " I hadn't planned on going swimming. Mrs. Kent told me you guys were down here when I dropped by the house. Plus I just had lunch a bit ago... "
Lois shrugged as she wrung the excess water from her long, brunette hair. " Sorry you're missing on the fun... Are you guys ready for another round? "
Chloe shook her head. " I'm gonna rest for a few and chat with Lana, so you two go right ahead... "
Clark stuck a hand out with a brilliant smile. " Ready Lane? "
" Let's go Smallville... " She took his hand and they wandered towards the bank. Lois was talking and Clark chuckled in response.
" Wow, " Lana muttered.
" Tell me about it, " Chloe answered with a sigh. " I've never seen anything like it. "
Lana shook her head with a bemused look. " I don't think I have either and certainly never expected to see anything like that from Clark. Are they always so... "
" Lois and Clark? Since day one, " Chloe replied thoughtfully. " Lois has the nasty habit of just jumping into situations without considering the consequences and Clark goes knight in shining armor and rescues her. This caused their first fight and it was a regular battle royale. They were up in Clark's loft going at it toe to toe until Mr. Kent finally stepped in claiming he was afraid they'd start tearing the barn down...
" Lois was a wreck that night, crying that she'd chased Clark off, that she was rather turned on by the way he stood up to her and which I felt was way more information than I really needed, that she was still furious with him for treating her like she was some delicate damsel in distress. Lois really pushed the limits of cousinly affection that night, which ended up a very long night... "
Lana giggled softly at Chloe's droll reminiscing.
" She started her job at the Smallville library the next morning... Clark showed up and asked her out. " Chloe chortled at her memories. " Needless to say she said yes, busting his chops the whole time he did it and the rest is history... "
" Wow! "
They watched as Clark swooped through the air with all the aerodynamic grace of a brick. His splash down was much more effective.
" I'm thinking about moving back to Smallville for our senior year, " Lana said.
" That'd be great Lana, " Chloe replied with an enthusiastic smile. " It would be like old times... Well sorta... "
present…
" How is Whitney doing these days? " Kent asked.
" Pretty good, " Lana returned quietly. " He still has the occasional bad day. They finally released him from all physical therapy a few months ago, but he insists that we continue with our couple counseling. He doesn't want any problems we might have to get out of control. "
Kent nodded. " Good man... "
" Are you avoiding him Clark? " she asked softly. " He's starting to feel like you... "
" Hold it against him that he survived and Lois didn't that day? " He stepped close and enfolded her in a brotherly hug. " Well I don't... I wouldn't wish that kind of pain and loss on either of you. I've just been very busy lately Lana... I know I need to get by and see him and I will... soon... I promise. "
" I'll let him know, " Lana said softly.
" Please do, " Kent returned just as softly.
" One last thing, " Lana began. " I had an interesting visitor a few days ago while Whitney was at ball practice... Lois Lane came to see me... "
" What? "
She took a small involuntary step back, almost instinctively afraid of the powerful and dangerous man with the intense predatory eyes who suddenly confronted her.
Kent read the fear in her face and tried a tentative smile.
Lana sighed with relief to see the boy of her youth in that smile. " This woman showed up at my front door and damned near caused heart failure... then I considered that I might be going crazy. I'm just glad Whitney wasn't there 'cause I'm not sure how he'd have handled seeing her.
" She said she was from an alternative universe? She said she was working with a group called the 'Corporal Ted Bronson Time Corps Irregulars'? Do you know them? "
Kent nodded. " I do... "
" Ah... Well she said she wanted to talk to me about you and Lois. She then asked a lot of questions about your past with Lois. I had the feeling that your history was rather different from hers. She seemed to be very interested your career as the Blur, and she also seemed amazed that you weren't in journalism... "
" If she'd bother to read the editorial page of the New York Times... " Kent growled. " Come to think of it, the Planet isn't much better. "
" Clark... " Lana spoke in warning tones. They were beginning to tread into agree to disagree territory.
" So how does a classic liberal and a progressive manage to stay married? " Kent asked with chilly amusement. Lana was married to a Marine and Kent knew very few progressive Marines. He figured they were out there, however Whitney wasn't one of them...
Lana had squared away with her arms folded and a look of cool amusement in her brown eyes. " The sex is great... "
Kent's ears turned red. " TMI Lana... though that would explain the house full of rug rats... "
" Two children don't make a house full, " Lana returned. " They do feel like it occasionally... "
" Well with the third one on the way... " Kent began.
Lana's mouth dropped open for a stunned moment. " T... th... third one? "
" Oh shit! " Kent shook his head with a chagrined look. " You don't know huh? Oops... "
A brilliant smile lighted her face. " No... that's fine... We've been hoping for another... oh my... "
Kent wrapped his babbling friend up in another warm and brotherly hug. " Congratulations to both of you... "
Lana nodded. The smile had not dimmed yet. " I need to go home now and give Whitney the good news... "
Kent could still hear the baseball game at the Smallville Recreation Park. " Take your time Lana. He's still at the ball field... "
" Good... good, " Lana began to walk away. " This will give me more time to prepare... I can send the kids to their Grandpa Small's house... "
" How is Henry these days? " Kent called. He was thrilled for his friends.
Lana paused. " He's okay! As he missed my growing up, he's been very involved with ours and seems really happy to do so... Jennifer's been... Bye Clark... "
" Be safe Lana... "