Title: The Roads Not Taken

Author: k3josai
Rated: PG-13 (T)
Spoilers: None.

Main Characters: Clark, Lois, Lana

Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville and its related characters

Thank yous:

THE WRITING TEAM (as Enid called)! Though it took months before we post this story, finally it's here! Whew! ^_^

First and foremost, to Lily Miranda for giving this Clois fanfic a wonderful title and for being my guest writer here– thank you so much. I'm so happy to have you here! ^_^ You're such a talented writer.

Second, to Enid Claudio for beta reading this fic – gracias for lending me some of your time. As I've said to you before, you're a Super Mom! I'm looking forward to do another Clois fanfic with you if time permits us to do so.

Third, to Kerly Cedeño Gomez, through your help, I found a beta reader – gracias more than words can say! Whoa, I'm speechless, but thank you (trillion times).

Fourth, to RPK_Jovi aka redplanetkrypton for the TRNT poster – you captured what the fic is all about. Thank you for lending me your creations including those Clois posters I showed on my latest Clois music videos. You rock!

Last but not the least, to you – the one who is reading right now. I can't tell much but I'm hoping that you will read the story until the end. This is a mini-series, so you won't wait too long for the story to finish. Enjoy the story.

Summary: Clark wants to live a normal life – away from all of his responsibilities, stay with Lana and build a family of his own. Everything is perfect until he meets a certain Lois Lane. Will he choose to live in a familiar place or explore the unknown territory?

Notes: To prevent confusion – scenes from the past/memories will be on italics and bold italics to distant past. I'm going to bold and underline some pronouns to get your attention – that means they're important to the story.

The trailer and love themes are available on my youtube channel, k3mylois

The Roads Not Taken

Prologue: Stones, Flowers and Snow

I led a normal life. The way I perceived it to be… It wasn't perfect. I experienced ups and downs, the same as anybody whom I shared the yellow rays of the sun, the cleanest water of falls, the deepest sea, the greenest forest, the bluish skies, and the freshest air I breathe. The beauty of Earth. The beauty of living, I never appreciated them until I met her.

I lived twenty years of my life witnessing death, experiencing natural calamities and trying to be one of the heroes on wars. Saving people without exposing myself was my way of paying my debt of gratitude to this world. It provided me the warmth of home that I needed for so long. It was her. My everything. Watching her sleeping beside me, it took the weight of the world off my shoulder for a while. The past few weeks had been the most amazing part of my life. If I would ever get old, I wouldn't regret remembering how happy I'd been having her, watching her so close, just like tonight. She just knocked and I welcomed her without thinking it twice.

If only I had more time, I would definitely keep her forever. Fate wasn't that kind to both of us. If I could only turn back time, I would find her earlier than destiny allowed us to have. I never said how much I loved her, for I was too afraid that if I'd do it, I couldn't let her go that easily. I got too many plans ahead of us. For our future together. A future I couldn't have. Since day one, I fully understood that she couldn't be mine forever. I was just too stubborn to allow myself to enter her life. I was only meant to be her guardian until he was ready to accept his destiny, but I broke the rule and I had to suffer all the consequences. But no matter what, my sacrifices will all be worth while. Because right now, I could tell that I knew what real love was.

I kissed her one more time and let myself feel her warmth once more. If I was originally from here, would I get the same chance to be with her? If only I had a different path to take, would we meet on one of the crossroads and still felt the way I feel for her? There were too many ifs that no one could give me the right answers.

I let myself breathed her scent and memorized her face. As I heard the tick of the clock, I fell into a deep slumber, wanting the clock to stop at this very moment. For tomorrow, a new day has to come. But no matter what… Birds would still be chirping. Clouds would turn from grey to blue. People would still be hurrying to go to their jobs or schools. Traffic lights would still have green, red and yellow beams. Half of the word would be asleep, half of it would stay awake. Tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day. Would I still be here? Would I become a song, fading on the last note? No matter what… I would always be here for her.

February 11, 2011 (Present time line)

7 am

She stood there watching the whitest snow she had ever seen in years. February snow. Everything seemed so cold. She looked up as she breathed the stiffness of the cool air, extending her hands and slowly turning around. The cool wind softly blew her hair and gently touched her cheek. Without wanting to, warm liquid flowed at the side of her eyes as she closed them.

"I know you're here like you promised me. I can feel your presence through the wind." She knelt down as she whispered a short prayer while holding something on the side pocket of her coat. She was seizing it like her life depended on it.

She wiped away her tears and then took out the small stone out of her pocket. "The wind and the stone are my strong connections to you. There will always be a special place for you in my heart."

She cleared the tombstone, thick from two days of snow. She put the flowers down and the piece of rock on top of his last resting place. She turned around and slowly walked towards the car she had parked a few feet away from the cemetery.

A pair of feet stood still in front of the graveyard, taking the small stone as he read the message. "You'll always be here, Clark Jerome." He sadly put back the thing that belonged to the person buried here. He removed his glasses. He let his tears flow freely while whispering, "I tried to fulfill your promise to her, but I failed. I'm so sorry."

Few minutes after, he left the cemetery as well, with a heavy heart. Leaving footprints on the snow…

Behind the chilly early Friday morning, his tomb was there. The physical existence of a faceless hero that lay rested beneath the surface, but his memory would live forever to the hearts of many… The people he saved… The people he loved… RIP. Clark Jerome Kent – 1982-2003

TBC…

Reviews are welcome!