I do not own 'Smallville' or any of the characters. Please review:)

Chapter 2: Past and present.

A couple of weeks passed and the Summer Holidays continued. It was a Friday evening and Martha and Johnathan Kent were coming to Metropolis to visit their children and to bring their grandsons to their new home. Lois was now far more settled into Chloe's flat and she had established a friendship with Oliver and Lex. She had spoken to her ex-fiancée, told him where she was and that she was safe and that she was sorry; A.C said that was sorry, too, and Lois had insisted that he had no reason to be sorry.

On the Friday evening, the six of them had all be to the cinema and they were now in Chloe and Lois's flat, eating pizza. Lana was arranging the new house, so she was not there, about which Lois was glad, as Lana was being very cold with her. There was a knock on the door and Chloe stood up from the sofa, where she was sitting next to Clark, and opened the door.

It was Lex's father, Lionel Luthor, who was in his late 50s. He looked nothing like Lex, as Lex looked like his mum. Oliver visibly tensed for a second at the sight of Lionel Luthor and Lex had the same reaction, which was not a surprise to any of them.

"Miss. Sullivan." Lionel nodded to Chloe, as he walked into the flat, looking around, with a very snobby look on his face. Eager to make it clear that it was her home, Lois asked, "Would you like anything to drink or eat, Mr. Luthor?" He shook his head and Chloe returned to her seat next to Clark.

"Dad," Lex forced a smile, as he stood up and walked over to his father, "I'm assuming that this isn't a social visit, so to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Lionel surveyed the group of friends, then remarked, "Your taste in friends has greatly changed, Lex. Apart from the Queen boy, of course, as you've known him since your boyhood." He threw a smile to Oliver, which was not returned, before turning his attention back to his son. "The interview which was shown today, Lex. I would rather, next time, that you did not make my affair clear to the public."

Lex rolled his eyes and asked, "Which affair, Dad? You're had so many? I really don't blame Mum for divorcing you and I can't believe that Pam married you."

"I was talking about my relationship with Pamela."

"You had an affair right after I was born, with my nanny! If the public thing that's bad, there's a reason for that: it is bad, Father. How could be so horrible? Did you not love Mum or me at all?" Lex shouted. "And, then, when Tess was born, she grew up not even knowing who she was! How did you justify that to yourself? And, then, Tess was taken into car-I wonder why that was! I don't blame Mum for divorcing you, I think that she should have done it years before my 12th birthday. You broke her heart." The last bit he said in a whisper, before hissing, "You found your way in, so you can find your way out." He walked back over to his friends and turned his back on his father.

Lionel shook his head, more to himself, then asked his son, "Why did you move here, then? Why not stay in Smallville?"

"I like it here." replied Lex, in a flat voice. "I didn't move here to be near you, if that's what you think. I've lived here for a couple of years anyway. I bet you don't even know where Tess lives. When was the last time you spoke to her, if ever?"

There was a silence, then Lionel sighed. "I came to tell you that Pamela is ill and she's in hospital. She's going to be ok, but she'd still like to see you."

Lex ran his hand across his head, "Dad, I care about Pam, you know I do. I'll go to see her, but don't for a second think that I'm going for you or for your company." He fixed his father with a stare and his father nodded and understood what he was saying.

In order to break the tension which was in the room, Kara asked Lionel if he would like some pizza. Lionel declined, then turned to Oliver and remarked, "You know, years ago, when I read that you were going to Metropolis University, I was rather confused. You had no need to go to university, as you were going to inherit the business. So why did you go?"

Making direct eye contact with Lionel, Oliver answered, "Well, the scenery in Metropolis is beautiful and I wanted to finish my education."

"You are aware that your father didn't go to university, aren't you?"

A certain look appeared to Oliver's eyes, as he replied, "Of course I knew that, Lionel."

Lionel sighed, then continued, "Your mother went, though. I suppose you take after her in more ways than one." He smiled, then asked, "Have you visited your parents recently?"

Oliver stood up. "Lionel, if you don't want to have any pizza, I think you've outstayed our welcome."

Lionel searched Oliver's eyes with his own eyes and murmured, "I must say I was very surprised that you've turned Queen Industries into what it is now. It surprised me, especially considering the way you were when you were at boarding school."

"Well, I like to think that I can beat you and Lex-if Queen Industries weren't here, you and Lex would have no reason to still act at least half civil to each other." He smiled at the older man, in order to annoy him, as the man had annoyed him.

There was a long silence, then Lionel remarked, "I remember how you were during your boarding school days, Oliver and I remember how you treated my son." He walked closer to Oliver, even though the younger man was taller than him. "I don't forget, nor do I forgive." Oliver stared back at him, showing that he was not intimidating by Lionel Luthor. With that, Lionel turned and left the flat.

Oliver walked over to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

"So, did you guys know each other at school?" Kara asked, in an attempt to break the tension which had been present in the room ever since Lex's father had entered.

Before an answer to that question could be given, Lana ran into the room, beaming. She walked over to her husband and asked, "Have you told them yet?"

Clark shook his head. "No, I was waiting until you got here." He turned back to his friends and smiled, "Lana and I have some exciting news: we're expecting another baby, in about 7 months. We're going to have another baby!"

All of their group of friends erupted with cheers and congratulations. Chloe and Kara both pulled Lana into hugs and the latter asked, "Do you know what sex it's going to be?"

Lana shook her head and replied, "No, I'm only 2 months along."

"Do Lewis and Matt know?" Oliver asked, as he walked back over to the fridge for some water. As he poured out a drink, he slipped a pill of some sorts into the water and drank it before anyone could see.

Clark, however, had seen, and he answered, "No, they don't know yet. Oliver, will you come with me for a second?"

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Oliver nodded and followed Clark out of Chloe and Lois's flat. When they were gone, Lex excused himself, by saying that he needed to catch on something at LuthorCorp and he left the flat.

The room fell into silence and Lois, not wanting to be alone with Lana, retreated to her bedroom. Lana gazed off into the distance and tears started to fill her eyes.

Both Chloe and Kara noticed this and they both moved closer to her and Chloe asked, "Lana, what's wrong?"

Forcing a smile, Lana asked, "What makes you think there's something wrong, Chloe? I'm fine, I'm happy."

Chloe and Kara exchanged a look, then Chloe continued, "Lana, when you just told us about the baby, there was a look in your eye and that look wasn't one of job. So, what's going on?"

Lana opened her mouth, then closed it and shook his head. "Chloe, you're one of Clark's best friends and, Kara, you're his sister. I wouldn't feel comfortable having this conversation with either of you."

"But we're your friends too." Kara pointed out, fixing Lana with her piercing green eyes.

There was a silence, then Lana whispered, "I feel trapped."

Confused, Chloe asked, "What? By what, by whom?"

Lana bit her lip, then looked at her two friends, before replying. "I didn't want to have any kids, but Clark did and I ended up pregnant. The boys weren't a planned part of my life, they just happened. I love them, but they weren't part of my plan. And this new baby certainly wasn't a part of my plan, or of Clark's, but we're going to have it anyway. I love Clark and I don't regret moving in with him, or marrying him, but I do regret putting my needs second." She sighed, then continued, "I started working for the Isis Foundation because I thought that I needed that independence and that's what I'm going to do now that we live here."

"Whose choice was it to move to Metropolis, Lana?" inquired Kara, in a very careful tone.

"It was Clark's, but I've wanted to get out of Smallville for ages. I moved into the farm house when I was 19. I've lived with Clark and his parents for seven years. I just want to be alone, with my husband and not feel as if we're still teenagers sneaking around, because that's how I feel when we're with his mum and dad-no offense, Kara." She hastily added, remembering that Martha and Johnathan were her parents as well as Clark's. "I guess, I wanted to move because I've known Clark since I was 3, since I moved in with Aunt Nell and since you, Kara, and he adopted-I feel as if that town defines me, so I want to get away from that and become the person I was meant to be."

Chloe and Kara looked at each other and they knew that the other was thinking the same thing. Chloe sighed, then remarked, "Lana, I've never been married-heck, I've never even had a boyfriend-but I think that you need to talk to Clark and tell him that you feel this way, because if he doesn't know"-

"I can't tell him, because he'll think that I don't love him anymore and I never want to see that look in his eyes." Tears forming in her eyes, she whispered, "I don't want to hurt him." The tears fell from her eyes and onto her checks and she rocked her head from side to side.

Meanwhile, Clark had bought himself and Oliver a coffee and, once they were sitting down, he asked, "What was that thing you put in your drink, Oliver?"

Oliver rolled his eyes. "I'm not back on drugs, if that's what you're thinking." He sighed, then admitted, "They're anti-depressants, ok? I have to take them sometimes, so can we drop this?"

Shaking his head, his best friend asked, "Why do you have to take them?"

"I have to take them because I was having flipping depression, Clark! I have since I was a kid, you know that." Oliver hissed. He ran his hands through his hair, then said, in a gentler voice, "Look, I can't talk about this, ok?"

"Is it because of what Lionel said to you, about your parents?" He was distracted by a text from Lana, telling him that his parents were there, with the boys. He texted back to tell her that they were on their way back, then locked his mobile.

Oliver watched his friend's facial expressions and asked, "So, have you talked to Lana? Asked her what's wrong?" He knew that Clark hadn't, but he'd rather talk about Lana than about himself.

Clark sighed and shook his head. "No. When we went home, she seemed fine. And now, we have this new baby to think about." He sighed, then added, "Don't get me wrong. I love my boys, but I wasn't planning on having a third. Two was perfect and I think Lana really wants to have a daughter now and…so do I."

"So, you guys are ok, then?" Oliver knew that there was something troubling his friend.

Clark forced a smile and replied, "Yeah, we're fine. My parents are at Chloe's, so we should get going."

"I-er-I'll stay here for a while. I don't want to intrude on a family reunion." Oliver stated, in a flat voice. The truth was that he always found seeing people with their parents hard.

Clark sighed. "Please, come, Oliver. The boys really want to see you and so do my mum and dad. They really like you, for some reason." He laughed, hoping to make his friend smile. Oliver did smile, though Clark guessed that it was more to keep him happy.

Once the two friends returned to Chloe and Lois's flat, Lewis and Matthew ran over to their dad and to their godfather. As soon as they hugged them, Martha and Johnathan walked over to their son and hugged him, whilst Oliver sneaked away and sat on the sofa, next to Matthew and Lewis; he sometimes found children easier to deal with adults, as children didn't ask children or watch his every move.

As the evening began to draw to a close, Johnathan sat down next to Oliver and observed, "You're very good with the kids." Oliver smiled back. "Thank you, sir." His eyes fell on Lois and he hoped that the older man would not notice.

"You like her, don't you?" Johnathan remarked, smiling. "I can tell, Oliver. Ask her out-she probably wouldn't say no, son."

Music came on and Clark pulled Lana into the middle of the room, where they started dancing together. Lana rested her head on Clark's chest, as it was where she felt safe and loved. Clark smiled, and rested his head against her, his love for her evident.

Lois walked over to her cousin and sat down next to her. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Are you still in love with him?"

Chloe stared at her and replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Chloe, you've been in love with him since you were 12. Anyone can see it."

Turning to her, Chloe snapped, "And what about you, Lois? You're obviously in love with him too, but he's with Lana, so there's nothing either of us can do. Besides," she added, with a smile, "when we were teenagers, he did have feelings for you and I think he still may, even now."

Lois snorted. "Somehow I don't think that Lois Lane and Clark Kent will ever be together in that way. He's my friend, that's all." As she said that, her eyes fell on Clark and Lana again and she felt a profound sense of longing to be in Lana's place, to be dancing in Clark's arms. The reason she had gone to Gotham had been to escape her love for Clark, yet here she was, watching Clark and Lana, as she had done when she had been 16, with Chloe by her side. The one thing she did have which Chloe didn't was the knowledge that, at one time, Clark had felt the same way about her.