THE DARK PATH
By: Melbee1985/Jade4813
Pairing: Chlex, but also some Clana and Lexana
Rating: R
Spoilers: None after season 6's episode "Promise". Story takes place one week after Lex and Lana got married.
Disclaimers: Smallville World doesn't belong to us… *sigh*
Something else?: There is a little twist to the show. Lana decided to reveal to Clark all about Lionel and is decided to leave Lex, one week after the wedding.
WARNING : There will be some blana at the beggining.. Sorry ;)
A/S: It's still a WIP as to how the whole story will turn out to be, since it's entirely based on a RPG over Yahoo! Groups.
* * * * * * *
PROLOGUE
It's over now.
Slowly, but surely, Lana opened her eyes, feeling a little dizzy. The room was spinning around her and she tried to focus on something, anything, to make it stop. "A hospital room. I'm in a hospital room", she stated to herself as she tried to recollect her memory. Last thing she remembered, Lana was in the study talking to Lex. Or, to be more precise, she was about to walk out the room, to avoid him. But then… Oh, right. A stomachache. Really painful one. Then everything went dark.
As she was slowly remembering the events, Lana spotted Lex outside the room, speaking with a doctor. If it was already hard for her to get away from him for few hours, now it would just be impossible. Lana turned her head on the side, with her heart heavy. She had to escape. She had to be free again. And now that Clark knew about her secret, was there anything else keeping them apart? Some people could have said that the baby was an issue. But Lana knew it wasn't.
Not anymore.
*
Flashback :
Lana moved from the shadow and slowly walked towards Clark. She hadn't seen him since... since she had told him she had decided to marry Lex. Which had been probably one of the hardest thing in her life.
"Lana? What... what are you doing here?" he asked. He took a single step towards her and stopped. "Lana... is something wrong?"
Lana wondered herself why she was here. Of course she knew. But it was hard to tell him. Mostly because she had seen Lionel,s car at the farm and she feared he would come at any moment. Oh god, why was it so difficult?
"I..." Lana tried to smile. All she wanted to do was to run into his arms. She knew his secret. Finaly. And he knew she knew. Everything would now be perfect for them. But no. Something else had happened. And she could only blame herself. She never should have hooked up with Lex. Or accept his proposal. Never.
"I miss you Clark." It's all that could go out from her mouth at the moment, fighting the tears as hard as she could.
"Then, leave Lex," said Clark. He started walking towards her. "I know you're worried about the baby, but... that shouldn't be the only reason that you stay with Lex." Clark was now standing in front of Lana, only inches away.
"I love you, Lana," said Clark. "And I know you love me... otherwise you wouldn't be here!" Clark stared into her eyes. It was the same look he had seen the day she married Lex. "Walk away, Lana. Walk away with me."
It was so hard. So hard to look at Clark and stay emotionless. She just couldn't. Lana loved Clark too much to betray him once more. She had to do it. She had to. Lionel couldn't hurt Clark. She would make sure of it.
But was it selfish from her to reveal him what she knew? It could put both of them in danger. Nevertheless, since she had told Chloe, she couldn't go back now.
As now Clark was few inches from her, asking her to leave with him, she couldn't help but kiss him passionatly. If it had been her, she would have done it forever. But she couldn't take any chances and after few seconds, backed down.
"Clark. there is something I need to tell you." She paused, looking in his eyes, slightly shaking. "Clark... I..." She clearly didn't know how to start. "I'm sorry..."
Clark sighed as he heard those words... the same words she'd said to him before: 'I'm sorry.'
Clark shook his head. "Lana, I don't want an apology," said Clark. "I want to know... what happened?" Clark stared down in her eyes. He took a deep breath as he gazed at Lana. "What changed your mind that day, Lana? What did Lex say?" And then, there was the complication that Clark hadn't thought about... the one thing that could have changed Lana's mind. "Was it the baby?" he asked.
Lana wished she could say it was because of the baby. But it wasn,t. And Clark deserved to know the truth. "Lex has nothing to do with the decision.. neither does the baby.."
She walked closer to Clark, with saddened eyes, scared to tell him the truth, and also because she missed him so much. "I was about to join you that day", she said as she walked slithy away from him. "But someone found out about what I was about to do.. and threatened me.."
Lana walked back to him and took his hands. "I coudln't let anything happen to you.."
"Anything happen to me?" said Clark. He stared at her a little confused by what Lana was saying. "Are you saying that you were forced into marrying Lex, because someone was threatening me?" Clark shook his head. Perhaps there was a chance to save her.
"Lana... back at the cathedral, I was trying to tell you the truth. I'm not like other people. Because of my secret... you don't have to worry about that threat." Clark started to smile. "We can still be together if that was the only reason."
Clark didn't understand. She loved him so much tha she hadn't been able to take any small chance on his life. And now telling him, she was wondering if it wasn't more selfish than to be with him. Altough she DID want to be with him.
She took his hands and squeezed them. It was mostly in act of fear, but also becuase it felt good to touch him. "Clark. He knows your secret. He knows your weakness. He said he'd kill you if I didn't marry Lex..."
Few tears were now slowly falling on her face, as she felt so bad and teared up. And scared.
"Lana," said Clark stepping closer to Lana. He slowly reached out, gently wrapping his hands supportively on both of her arms. He gently stroked her arms, trying to comfort her. She had married Lex... to save him.
"Lana," Clark began, "who threatened you? Who said that they'd kill me if you didn't marry Lex?"
At this moment, Lana's eyes, already fullfilled with water started to close and as they opened, some tears ran down her face. "He said he knew your weakness" She repeated, altough herself didn't know his weakness and didn't even know he had one.
She hesitated to reveal the name. "It's..." She took a deep breath. If Lana wouldn't talk, Chloe would. She couldn't backdown.
"It's Lionel."
"Lionel?" Clark repeated. "Lionel forced you to marry Lex?" Clark took a deep breath. He had just started to believe Lionel was an ally, someone that could be trusted with his secret. But that was obviously far from the truth. And Lionel had also gotten very close to his mother in the past few months. "I... I can't believe he'd do this." Clark started to pace the room. It was obvious that Lionel Luthor hadn't changed after all.
"I didn't know what to do.. I was scared... to loose you." She looked away. "I know it sounds absurd. But I had to loose you to save you."
She walked closer to Clark, who seemed confused and shocked. It was getting more intense and being close to him just made her want to hold him even more. "I can't do it Clark. I thought I could, but I can't. And Lex doesn,t deserve this. I can't keep pretending I'm a happy wife.... Because I'm not. I want to be with you Clark. I love you and I'm scared that anything will happen to you.."
"Don't worry about me, Lana," said Clark. "Everything is going to be fine." Clark slowly reached out and gently grabbed Lana's arms. He started to rub them gently, hoping to calm her down. "Lionel's not going to get away with this, I promise."
Lana's response to Clark taking her arms was to get closer and hugged Clark. It felt so good. Maybe there was a way for them to be together. Maybe all hope wasn't all gone. She loved him so much and now that she knew his secret, there was no more reasons to be apart.
Clark gazed into Lana's eyes. "We've got to get you out of that house," said Clark. "Do you think
you can stay a few days with Chloe? Maybe tell Lex that you're visiting Nell."
"With Chloe.. And Lois.. I don't know how we could explain that to Lois." She sighed. There was the baby. There was Lex. Her feelings were still there for him, but not as strong as those for Clark. She felt bad for having marrying him because of Lionel. Lex seemed so happy and Lana wasn,t. At all. "Lex won't take it well..." She looked deeply at Clark. "We'll have to face both Luthors.." She added, a little scared.
"Then, we'll face them together," said Clark looking down at Lana. After holding her in his arms, he knew that he had to protect her. "I'll see if I can find a way to keep Lois out here on the farm for a few days. That'll free up some space at Chloe's place."
Clark looked down at Lana, gazing into her eyes. He took a deep breath. "We can do this, Lana," he said softly yet firmly. "We can do this." His hands slowly slid down her arms until they found her hands and he took them into his own.
Lana looked at Clark. Her sweet own hero. She listened him try to find a way to get her away from Lex and found herself smiling. He was so devoted to her. And she felt the same way for him. But there was one slight problem.
"I can,t protect you if I don't know what's your weakness Clark. What if he uses it against you?" As Clark's hands found hers, Lana looked down at them then back at Clark. "I don't want to loose you." On this, she couldn't resist and gave Clark a kiss.
Clark kissed Lana back. After a few moments, he pulled back from the kiss, keeping his eyes closed as he folded his lips, savoring the taste of her lips on his own. He then opened his eyes as he looked down at her. "The meteor rocks," said Clark. "I'm... allergic to them. That's my weakness."
Clark had just confessed his weakness to Lana, but he trusted her. "But Lana... I don't want you trying to protect me," said Clark. "I want you to just try to stay safe. I don't want you putting yourself in danger to help me. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." He reached out and began to gently caress the locks of her soft dark hair.
Meteor rocks. Like her necklace back then. Suddenly. some events of the past finaly made sense. She listened to Clark telling her to not protect him. Of course she would anyway. How many time had she ask him to not watch over her anymore? It had never stop him to still save her, whenever.
"So what are we going to do now?"
End of flashback
*
"Lana."
At the sound of her name, Lana got dragged back into reality, leaving her thoughts behind. Clark had made his way, somehow, in the room. Her first instinct was to look trough the window. Lex wasn't there. Soon, her eyes met Clark's and she couldn,t help but smile slightly. Not too much, giving the circunstances, but enough to show him that she was happy he was there. "Clark..." But she knew it wasn't a good idea. Lex was around. He could get in at any moment. "You shouldn't be here..."
Clark didn't give a damn about Lex. He had learned about Lana's accident and after what she had told him in the morning, there was nothing that wuld stop him from being with Lana. He could only hope that this 'accident' had nothing to do with their secret metting this morning.
His first reaction was to walk closer and took Lana's hand. "I had to make you were ok." He paused and looked into her eyes, worried. "What happened?"
Lana sighed. "I had a stomachache and the next moment I'm here, lying in a bed." She paused and looked scared, starting to breath heavily. "Do you think something happened to the baby?"
Still holding her hand, Clark's eyes slowly moved to Lana's abdomen. He began to use his x-ray vision, but what he saw, or didn't seemed to surprise him. Clark swallowed, his hand gently squeezing Lana's a little tighter. "Lana," said Clark, "You need to calm down. Everything will be all right."
Clark sighed and looked around. His other hand went to brush some of the brown locks from her forehead. "The doctors haven't spoken to you yet?" he asked, though he felt he already knew the answer. From her alarm, it seemed like she didn't know what was going on. "Look, whatever happened... it's over, now. And I'm going to make sure that nothing happens to you again."
It's over now.
*
Having properly cowed the admission clerk into submission, Lex strode quickly and confidently down the hall toward his wife's room, still ignorant of the other patients at the hospital. He paused in his long strides only when he came to the door and saw that she was not alone in the room.
His concern for his wife was briefly overshadowed by rage, and his hands convulsed into fists by his sides, which he only managed to relax with a force of will. Why was it always Clark? After everything that that farmboy hick had done to Lana, and after everything Lex had told her he was willing to do for her - to give to her - why did he always feel like he had to fight to keep her?
Well...but of course, not really. She had married him, after all. Oh, Lex knew Clark had tried, in a last ditch attempt, to get Lana back at Lex's engagement party, but he'd failed, hadn't he? No, Lana had married Lex, despite Clark's no-doubt-pretty protestations. She'd CHOSEN Lex.
Bolstered by the thought, Lex managed to regain his calm and his confident stride as he barged into his wife's hospital room and rushed to her side. She didn't look very good; her face was ashen and her skin clammy. He really was worried about her.
Ignoring Clark for a moment as the insignificant gnat that he was, Lex lowered leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across Lana's forehead - both to offer her comfort and (yes, okay) to lay claim on her. "Lana...sweetheart...I was just talking to the doctors. How are you feeling?"
Then, because he couldn't ignore the elephant in the room indefinitely, he raised his eyes to Clark, though they narrowed when he saw that Clark was holding his wife's hand. He entertained a brief fantasy of breaking every one of those fingers that was currently touching her; hadn't Clark hurt her enough? How many times had Lana turned to Lex, crying about the man who had so lied to her for so long? How many times had she come to Lex for comfort? How many times had she sworn that this time was the LAST time she'd be taken in by Clark Kent again?
And yet, every time Lex turned around, Clark was panting after Lana like some lovesick puppy. How it infuriated him. Maybe he wasn't perfect, but he, at least, genuinely cared for Lana. She didn't even know how much he cared for her - or the lengths he'd go to in order to keep her. Keep her with him. Keep her safe.
He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Clark...what a surprise, seeing you here," he said lightly, though his voice was laced with irony. "I'm sure Lana appreciates your concern. But, if you don't mind, I need to speak with my wife," so he couldn't help stressing the word. "privately. I'm sure you understand."
*
Lana was looking at Clark, then closed her eyes as he touched her hand. It felt so good. "Thanks" She only said, knowing he would always be there for her. With him, she felt safe and now that she knew his secret, she felt she could trust him, as he now trusted her.
She hadn't heard Lex coming, but when she heard his voice, Lana looked at him, left slowly Clark's hand and smiled at Lex. "Lex... I'm... I'm ok.. But.."
Lex had seen Clark. He might as well had seen Clark holding her hand. Lana eyed Clark. She would be ok. For now. "He just walked by Lex..." She said, then eyed Clark back, hoping he would leave without arguing too much with lex.
Clark felt Lana's hand leave his own, and then turned to look at Lex. The last thing that he wanted to do was leave Lana alone... especially with Lex. However, he read her glances, knowing that she was saying that it was okay... that she'd be okay. Clark took a deep breath, his eyes falling back on Lex. "I was just leaving," he said softly.
Clark glanced at Lana's belly briefly and then at her before turning to leave. He hadn't gotten the chance to tell her what he'd seen before Lex came. Clark moved towards the door and stood in the threshold. "I'll see you later, Lana," he said simply before Lex could say anything else. "I hope you feel better." The second after, Clark was out of sight, leaving the married couple alone.
Lana saw Clark leaving. She saw his eyes. They just wanted to crush Lex. She wasn't blaming him. In fact, she was amazed by the fact he still cared that much about her. After all that had happen. Of course, she hadn't been the one who had stopped the relationship last year, but still. She had been the one dating his ex bestfriend after all. Maybe she had ruin their chances of staying friends. What if she had stayed in Paris? What if she had never put her eyes on Clark?
*
Lex wasn't blind; he saw the looks Lana exchanged with Clark. It was amazing how easily he found his wife could hurt him without even trying, and he wanted to lash out, to put Clark in his place.
But now wasn't the time to deal with Clark, or even to deal with his own slowly breaking heart, every time he felt like the woman he loved was slowly slipping away from him, her affections turning back to a lesser man who had never deserved a woman like her the first time, let alone the second, the third, or any of the subsequent times after that.
Lana needed her husband right now. She didn't know it yet, but she did. And, regardless of how much he might want to crush Clark right now, he didn't want to make things any more difficult for her than he had to. As it was, he knew what he was about to tell her was likely going to be the hardest thing for her to hear of anything in her life.
He could barely take the news when he heard it, and he was nowhere near as fragile as the woman currently lying on the hospital bed.
"Hey," he said warmly when the two of them were alone, perching on a chair beside her bed and running a comforting hand across her forehead, brushing her hair off of her face. His throat choked up for a moment, and he had to take a second before he could speak, making sure to present as strong an image as possible. Though his voice was laced with compassion, he didn't want Lana to see how he really felt right now; she needed him to be strong.
Lana sighed and looked back at Lex. She tried to smile. But being at the hospital, and now alone with a man she wouldn't have married if it hadn't been because of Lionel. Lionel... She wondered what the hell this was all about and what would Clark do about him. She also wondered if Lex was involved in this. Was he aware that she had been forced to marry him?
"Hey" She replied, closing her eyes as he touched her, trying her best not to cry. She then reopened them and tried to look like her mood had nothing to do with Clark.
"How are you really feeling?" he asked her softly. "I was really worried about you." Above everything else that was going on, he felt immense relief that she was okay.
Then, keeping his concerned eyes locked on her face, he grabbed her hand and gave it a tight squeeze, offering whatever comfort he could. He knew she was going to need it. And, though he didn't want to admit it, he was taking as much comfort from her as he was giving. "Lana...sweetheart, there's something I have to tell you."
"I think I feel… ok.." But Lana put her hands on her stomach. She was more worried about 'him' or 'her'. As she was just wondering about it, Lex claimed he had something to tell her. She looked at her hand into his and back at him, with water in her eyes.
"Is it... the baby?"
Lex had never felt more powerless than when he met his wife's eyes. He wished there was a way he could break this to her gently, but no prettty words were going to stop her from being hurt at what he was about to say.
"Lana, sweetheart, I'm sorry," he said, holding her hand tighter and unable to completely hide the pain in his voice. He couldn't say more, but he suspected he didn't have to. She had to know what he was trying to say. "I'm so sorry."
Lana stared at Lex. She didn't know how to react. Deep down she was relieved this baby wouldn't be raised by a Luthor. And she had no reasons to stay with Lex now. The baby was the only thing that was keeping her sane at the Mansion. Her only hope of maybe being happy with Lex. Now it was all gone.
"No..." She said, with a few tears falling on her cheek. "No... no..." She said moving her head left from right then right from left, as she started to cry.. For so many reasons... For so many.
Leaning forward, Lex wrapped Lana in his arms and pulled her close, not wanting to move her too much, but wanting to offer her comfort. "I'm sorry, Lana...the doctors said...there was nothing that could be done." He brushed a kiss across her temple and said softly, "We'll get though this, Lana. I know it's hard, but I'm here...you don't have to go through this alone." It was an odd thing to say, perhaps, but he knew her - better than she realized, likely - and he knew her greatest fear was being alone. "I'm never going to leave you, Lana." Pulling away, he stared intently down at her, meeting her eyes. "I love you."
He didn't know what else to say, but he hoped she found comfort in the knowledge that he would always be there for her, for the rest of their lives. Always.
Lana didn't bother much to fight against Lex while he was trying to hold her. She just needed a shoulder to cry on. But as he started to talk about him always being there for her and he would never leave her, Lana stopped crying and what he couldn't see while holding her, was scared eyes. The words Never and Always were taking turn that scared her.
Lana remained silent. She didn't bother to move. No more tears. No more words. She seemed like she was in shock. Which she was partly because of the baby. But also about the whole 'I'm stuck with Lex forever' idea was paralizing her. Maybe she never would *and should* leave Lex for Clark. Not only Lionel would try to hurt Clark, but Lex would probably go mad and try to kill Clark himself. She was starting to think he was very capable of it. That scared her even more.
*I'll never be happy again.*
Lex realized that Lana's tears and stopped and he smiled encouragingly as he pulled away. Of course, it was going to take a while before she recovered from all this - hell, it would be a while before Lex recovered from the thought of what he'd lost - but she seemed to be doing better, at least.
Pulling away from her slightly, Lex smiled down at her, not noticing the doubts in her eyes. "You know, I think you might feel better if you just get out of this place. Why don't I talk to the doctors; I'm sure they won't mind me taking you home. And I have the best doctors in Metropolis at my disposal, so it will be perfectly safe." He raised the hand he held to his lips and brushed a kiss across the back of it.
"I'll take care of everything, Lana."
Lana didn't answer, barely looking at Lex. That was one of her worst day ever. Beside the day she was forced to marry Lex and the day her parents died. She didn't feel much like doing efforts and pretending she was happy with lex, something she had trouble to do since they were married anyway.
After a while, Lana looked at Lex. "Ok."
Lex brushed his lips across Lana's in a kiss and straightened. "Okay, sweetheart. I'll go talk to the doctors and be right back." He grabbed his phone out of his pocket and flipped it open, dialing a number. "Yes, Lex Luthor here...I need to have some flowers delivered..."
Lana closed her eyes, her heart racing, as Lex kissed her. it was getting even more harder to just kiss her husband. And now that she had lost the baby, it would only be a matter of time before he would put pression on her for sex. At least when she was pregnant she could use this as an argument. Lana watched Lex leave the room and leaned back on the bed wondering how could all of this happen.
He was feeling very self-satisfied when he returned to her room. Dozens of flowers were on their way to the Mansion to greet Lana upon her return, and he'd instructed his chef to cook Lana's favorite meal for dinner tonight. Then he'd made sure that business didn't interfere when he took her home and spent a quiet evening alone with her. Of course, he knew he couldn't take her pain away, but maybe just being with her could help. A grimace of pain crossed his features...And he hoped that maybe being with her would help his.
If she could only avoid the Mansion, which was probably goign to be impossible with the present situation. But as soon as she could, Lana would get off this place that already was killing her, just at the thought of spending another day.. and night.. there. Alone, with Lex. Hopefully she could reach Chloe and have her visit at the Mansion. But she wasn,t sure she was ready to tell anyone about her stillbirth. Somehow.. maybe it was her fault...
Lex took a deep breath to make sure he could keep a hold on his composure as he walked back ino Lana's hospital room. He had to be strong for her. "Okay, I've spoken with the doctors. Are you ready to go home?" Then he saw the expression on her face, and he rushed to her side again. She looked so shattered. "Lana...?" he asked in concern, trying to meet her eyes.
*I just lost the only thing keeping me with you and I'm not sure I'll ever have the chance to get back with the man I love and you're asking me if I'm ok.* She thought as she looked at Lex. Of course, she wasn't going to say one single word about those. She didn,t have the strength to do so. At least not now. "Let's.. Let's ust leave this place."
His shoulders sagged with relief when she spoke. For a minute, he'd thought...but, no, she was just as eager to leave this hospital as he was. "Of course, sweetheart." He heard the door behind him open, and he turned to see a nurse walking in with a wheelchair. She was glaring at him, clearly not happy with his dictate that Mrs. Luthor would be leaving. But he didn't care. As the nurse parked the chair by the bed, she moved to help Lana up, but Lex stepped in her way. "I've got this; thanks," he said curtly, wrapping his arm around Lana's back and preparing to help her up. "You ready? Just put your arm around my shoulders."
Lana nodded to Lex, ready to go on that wheelchair. She just wanted to be left alone. She just wanted time for herself. So much had happened and between all that, Lana wasn,t taking Lex's feeling in considerations. Not that that was going to change her mind, but having him being so nice to her when she was making her feel even more bad. Maybe she should just leave the town. Forget about Lex and Clark. Start a new life. If only it was that easy.
Lex escorted Lana out of the hospital and into the waiting limo, which pulled away from the curb and headed back to the Mansion. "When we get back home, why don't you go lie down for a while? I'm sure you could use some rest," he said warmly as he saw the drawn look on her face.
Lana faintly smiled to Lex. "Thanks." Why did he have to be so damn nice with her? "Let's just go home.." She said, altough the significance of home wasn't taking the same turn to her than she would have expected in the past few months.
Lex frowned and lapsed into silence. Lana was moody and preoccupied, and he couldn't read her mood. Of course, she'd just been through trauma, so she probably wasn't herself. So, for the rest of the drive, they sat in silence until they got back to the Mansion, and then Lex helped her out of the car and scooped her into his arms, heading for the bedroom. "It's going to be okay, Lana," he reiterated, more to break the silence than because he thought it would help. "As long as we...it's going to be okay."
Soon, they arrived at the Mansion and Lana wasn't feeling good enough (mentally) to push Lex away. She let him take her in his arms and walk to the bedroom. "I guess so..." She said, despite telling her that it would be ok didn't help her much... at all. Mostly since much more than the baby was worring her. Loosing the baby just implied so much stuffs at once.
Lex placed Lana gently down into bed and leaned down to kiss her. Before he made contact, however, something in her face caught his attention, because he paused and straightened without actually kissing her. Gazing down at her in puzzlement - and a little hurt - he tried to meet her eyes again and said, "Lana...?" he prompted, but he didn't seem to know what to ask her. Instead, he sighed and said heavily, "I guess I'll leave you to your rest, then."
Lana looked at Lex. On a 'normal' day *as normal as they could be*, Lana would have tried to reassure Lex with a warm smile and a kiss on the cheek. But instead, now, she just wanted to be alone. Be on her own. She didn't need much to rest, which after what had hapen was weird. But she needed time to think, without Lex looking into her eyes endlessly. "Ok." She paused and before he could leave, a part of Lana, feeling bad for Lex, took his hand. "Thanks. For... everything." She then let it go and turned herself so she wouldn,t face Lex and closed her eyes, with a tear running down her cheek.
Encouraged by that tiny gesture, Lex was relieved and turned to go. "If you need anything...I'm here," he said softly before heading out her door to leave her to her rest. Making his way down to his office (of sorts), he sat in the chair behind his desk and lapsed into silence for a few minutes. Then, with trembling hands, he pulled a piece of paper out of a drawer and stared at it for a long while. It was amazing how much it hurt, to think of what they'd lost today, and though he knew that Lana likely blamed herself, he knew the fault was his. He should have watched over her better. Reaching into his drawer again, he pulled out a lighter and brought the flame to the edge of the paper with shaking hands, waiting until the fire had almost reached him before dropping the paper into the trash. As he watched the flames devour the photo of his unborn child, Lex felt like he wanted to cry.
It's over now.