PROLOGUE

Clark entered the Talon. He had just got to Smallville from Metropolis. He didn't like the idea of spending another hour in that practically empty apartment of his, and after his mother's insistence he decided to move back here with her temporarily, until he sorted out his head and his heart.

His mother still came to the Talon every day to check that everything was going smoothly. Even though she now lived at the house that Clark had bought for her, she felt that the Talon was the only thing she had left to take care of. So despite the fact that the two girls, who were almost running the place, were very capable, as the owner of the place she was constantly there. Besides, she knew everyone in town and it was a fact that Smallville loved her.

When Martha saw him approach, her heart sunk. He was still in a bad shape. His eyes had black circles from lack of sleep, and he seemed tired. Not physically, but mentally tired. Still it was her son coming to live with her. A huge smile then formed in her face. She had visited him last week, just like every single week of the last six hard months of his life, but now she was seeing him literally walk back in her life. She immediately put down the mug of coffee and ran to him.

Clark seeing her reaction couldn't help but smile. She was acting like she hadn't seen him for years. But of course he didn't mind it one bit. If he was to admit it, he really needed his mother's open and unconditional displays of love. Especially at this point in his life.

He opened his arms and hugged her tightly.

"Oh… I'm so glad you decided to go through with this." Said his mother with an almost choked voice.

"Me too mom. Although I don't like the idea of becoming a burden, I…"

His mother abruptly broke off the hug and lightly slapped him across the face. "Don't you go talking all nonsense on me Clark. Burden? My son?"

Clark chuckled lightly. He hadn't done that for quite some time. As the years passed by and ever since his father died, his mother had become somewhat more quirky. He liked it though. It was the only thing that managed to lift his spirits once in a while.

"Ok mom… Ok… sorry… it was just a matter of speech…" said Clark smiling.

"Matter of speech… my son… burden… "Martha almost mumbled. "Did you bring your stuff?" she asked Clark quickly changing the subject.

"Yeah they're out in the car. Mom as I have to unpack and take a shower, I'm going to your place, and I'll be back here in a while."

Clark drove a couple of blocks down the street and reached his mother's house. He really liked it. It wasn't as big as the farm, but it certainly had the right feel. It was the first really important thing that Clark bought, with the money he had saved, ever since he had become a full fledged reporter.

He unpacked everything and entered the house. Even though he had come here before, it surprised him every time, how much this place felt like home. His mother had done a wonderful job with this house.

After he had put everything in its place, he went in for a shower. As he was standing there, with the hot water falling down on him, Clark closed his eyes and went in deep thought.

Back living in Smallville after so long. … He… I certainly wouldn't have imagined it a year back. … It was nice of Perry, to let me have a month's leave. I mean I really need it to sort out my head. I wasn't living the last six months. Not ever since she left… Gah! I'm so stupid! How could I let it come to this! I mean… Clark sighed in frustration. What's done is done… Besides… I'm going to have to think of a way to make this work, with the Daily Planet. I do have a month off, but then I'm either moving somewhere in Metropolis, or I'm going to have to find a way of living here and going back and forth to work. Not to mention the Superman thing. If I'm here… I will be away from action… I can't do this… But… I can't be Superman if I'm like this… the past six months… I can't find the strength and energy for it… I'm losing my will… I have done less in six months than I used to do in a week before that… but then again… that's probably why it all came to this… Clark felt his anger boiling, and the only person it was aimed at was himself. His frustration got the best of him and he punched the wall of the shower, opening a quite big hole. He started breathing in and out, which seemed to calm him down a bit. …I'm going to have to fix this…

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Lana was walking down the street, pushing along the baby carriage that carried her 2 year old daughter Laura. She had to do some baby shopping. Just last week she had finished moving back to the states from Italy and every day she found out she was missing something new.

As she was blissfully walking down the street she froze as her eyes fell upon a man she hadn't seen for quite some time. A man who was the last person she wanted to see right now.

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Clark having taken care of everything back in his mother's house, including the big hole in the shower, was walking back to the Talon. Then his heart stopped beating and his breath was caught in his throat, as he came almost face to face with the woman he used to love more than life itself. Lana Lang.

To be continued…