TITLE: Forever

Rating: PG

Pairing: I'll say mystery … 

Spoilers: None really.

Author's Note: I have archived this on K-site, but I thought I would archive it here, as well. My second Smallville fic, the first being Grow Into You. Thanks for reading! And reviews are very welcome!

Chapter One Title: The Dance

Lana stepped out onto the balcony into the warm summer air, the soft breeze a wonderful escape from the confines of the ballroom. From the pang of regret etched at the edge of her heart. Slowly she stepped to the railing just ahead and placed her hands on the stiff, decorated metal, allowing her eyes to get trapped in the city below. The skyline of Metropolis always took her breath away, its image like that of a dream – especially in the late hours of twilight. Usually it offered hope of a new tomorrow, a treasure trove of promises yet to come.

Tonight she wanted to succumb, to let the black hole of the city's life, its deep, dangerous side engulf her forever.

Among her sorrowful thoughts, Lana neglected to hear footsteps come up from behind. It took an entire thirty seconds before she sensed his presence, a life force she has come to know so well over the years. A life force so powerful. Never did she expect him to be standing here with her. Not now.

Yet he owed her this. In some way, after everything, she deserved this moment with him more than anything.

Clark.

Carefully she glanced over her shoulder to gaze at him, his eyes carrying a well of mixed emotions. What Lana did not know was that Clark's own thoughts dwelled mainly on how beautiful she looked tonight; in a long, red dress, with the lights of Metropolis as her background, and the stars above that highlighted every feature. Such an intense gaze he has given her often enough, maybe every time he has seen her, and tonight would be no exception.

With a soft smile, he outstretched his hand, he offered her this moment.

Clark and Lana – and no one else.

She let her eyes wander over his tall frame, handsome beyond words in a stunning, black tuxedo. And though so much must be said, to be discussed, Lana could do nothing but accept. An action she has done so many times before. To step easily into his arms. To let him take the lead into something amazing.

On cue, as if planned … fate …

… the music began to play …

Looking back
On the memory of
The dance we shared
Beneath the stars above

It hummed gracefully in the ballroom behind them, its echo, its melody barely heard through the cracked French door to the very balcony they danced upon. Some notes were lost to the humidity thick air that hovered around them, while others didn't quite make the journey across the full room, so packed with dancers, lovers, friends, and family.

For a moment
All the world was right
How could I have known
That you'd ever say goodbye

But the words rang an irrevocable truth. One neither could deny.

And now
I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go

In his eyes, Lana saw their past. What once had been. The friendship, the relationship, everything they promised each other, all they had survived together, had been through. What they meant to each other, so strong, so powerful to accentuate the rest of their lives. To be apart of the definition of whom they each would become. And in those same eyes, the same she stared into so often before, Lana saw the love Clark felt for her still existed on some level. Even now.

Our lives
Are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

So many of the good memories in his eyes, in hers … yet the unwanted and the difficult, as well. The memories that lead them here, to this moment, to a separate contentment neither expected nor counted on.

Holding you
I held everything
For a moment
Wasn't I a king

The intensity of revisiting the past, a past full of happiness and pain, so overwhelming, almost broke her, as tears formed at the edge of her eyes. Daring to reveal her frailty in front of the one man she could not dare show weakness. Not now, at the time she needed to be strong for him. For herself.

But if I'd only known
How the king would fall
Hey who's to say
You know I might have changed it all

Lana felt a soft smile tug at her lips, through her sadness, as the familiar smell, feel, and aura of Clark Kent was coming back to her. An aura he gave off that was distinctly him and no one else. But in his arms, as her own wrapped around to his back, her head drifted to his shoulder, something definitely seemed different from before. Something she could not ignore, a distance she has never felt before while in Clark's arms.

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Though they danced close, though it felt intimate, Lana knew Clark held something back from her. Part of himself she was not allowed to see anymore. A shield over his heart she has never had to deal with before now. So strange, so different and unreal. Something he always shared before, never neglected to unlock just for her.

Yes my life
Is better left to chance

But now … she was no longer the one.

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

The song eased to a close, as symbolic and meaningful as Lana could imagine. Though she never thought it would be like this, though she never guessed everything they shared together might come to an end here, all of it … the pain, the sorrow, the happiness, the joy … was worth it.

Of course they would still be friends. Lana would hope so. But it would never be the same again. And in some respect, a farewell to a lost but never forgotten time was in order.

Lana stepped back slightly, looked into his eyes once more. His smile, soft and tender, gave her the farewell, the change of venue, the change of friendship and meaning that she needed.

And with a smile of her own, Lana leaned in and placed a sweet kiss to his cheek. Lingering for a second, for a moment to whisper in his ear, to ensure only he heard, "Thanks for the dance."

Clark gave her a kiss on the cheek in return. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

With one more squeeze to his hand, Lana walked past his still form, returned to the ballroom, and left him alone on the balcony.

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on to chapter 2 ...