Conclusion [Heaven]

For what seemed like an eternity, Clark floated in a lit space after his father had swept him away from his sick room. Having felt tired, he'd collapsed into the arms of the honor guard and knew little else.

Or so it seemed….

Clark blinked a couple of times to find himself in his own bed. Somehow he was able to move his arms and legs again. "I can walk?" He flexed his legs several times. Then he did the same with his other limbs. He waggled his ring finger and other digits too. He moved his head and neck. "Wow."

"You can do a lot of things, Clark," Ryan informed him with a grin. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Buddy!" He gladly embraced his friend. "It's great to see you again!"

"We'll be seeing a lot of each other. Don't worry. By the way, your Dad wants us to get chores done. You might want to get dressed and get down there." Ryan arched an eyebrow and hustled from the bedroom.

Nice to see some things don't change! Within a heartbeat, he'd changed into his familiar red plaid flannel shirt, blue jeans and boots. Despite being overjoyed at his regained abilities, function and his old friend, he considered the bed sadly. He'd hoped that Lana would've been sharing it with him….

Alas she hadn't been….

Where is she? Please don't let us be separated! PLEASE! He felt a momentary panic. Paradise or not, he didn't want to be without her.

"Clark, come on!" Ryan reminded him.

"Coming!" Clark trudged down the stairs and stopped in surprise.

"Morning, Sleepyhead. Nice of you to join us," Jonathan teased him from the table. He stood and pulled his son into a tight embrace. "I've missed you."

"Me too, Dad. I hope Mom's okay," Clark replied.

"Trust that He's looking out for her, Clark. We get to peek in every once in a while. And trust me, we'll do just that. Meantime you have chores so if you don't mind?" the farmer insisted while motioning with his head.

While he wanted to drop everything and search for her, he knew Jonathan would never let him out of chores to do it. He nodded and headed out toward the barn. For comfort, he imagined the wedding theme from Sam's exquisite violin. In the midst of the day dream, he basked in the activity. As he stepped into the barn, he noted that everything seemed to be the same.

Maybe it was a trick of his imagination…but he swore he could smell Lana's perfume nearby. He rushed about the barn but found nothing except the animals. He greeted the animals in turn recalling all of them in turn before grabbing for a pitchfork and leaning it against the wall.

Suddenly a hay bale landed hard on the concrete floor from the Loft not even three feet to his left.

"What the heck?" He scanned the upper level for loose bales. He knew his father would never be so careless as to allow a hazard like that one.

His ears picked up on a heartbeat playing a familiar pattern…a much longed for pattern….

"Dad's really going to be mad over that," a welcome voice lamented. From the shadows, Lana stepped into view. Looking down at the scene below, she stopped cold allowing her pitchfork to hit the floor next. "Clark? Is that….?"

While he wanted to make some snappy comment in retort, his mouth had no words. His eyes stared toward the upper level. Finally he rasped, "Lana?"

"YES!" She did a playful leap and rushed toward the stairs.

Before she reached that point, he'd super sped across the floor and up the stairs. He considered her while taking in her restored figure and movement. "The tumors?"

"Back on Earth along with your Kryptonite poisoning. We're free of all that!" She embraced him desperately. "I can't believe you're here! It's so good to hold you!"

"I've missed you so much," he indicated.

"That was the right answer, Mr. Kent." She smirked at him mischievously. "Between all of those trips to the mansion, I kind of fell behind with the chores. Your Dad needs us to catch up."

"I think he'll understand. We do have all eternity to catch up, right?" he supposed suggestively. "Too bad about that death do us part stuff."

"What stuff?" Lana grinned at him. "We have a waiver."

"Oh we do?" he queried.

"Darn straight." She kissed him on the cheek. "Let's get your Dad's stuff together. Then I can make you some breakfast." She held up her wedding ring in the sunlight. "Least a wife can do is keep you straight."

"Who keeps who straight?" he cracked. He pulled her closer to himself. "I want more." He locked lips with her again letting the contact remain for a full minute before breaking off. "Besides I can get this all done in a minute or so anyhow." He let her go, super sped through everything and had swept her up in his arms again. "There." He kissed her again.

"Mmmm….I could definitely get used to this. Let's get breakfast. Then we can get back to catching up," she told him before taking his hand and giving it an affectionate tug.

His heart soared in delight. After the ordeal, he and Lana had achieved their Paradise. They'd overcome the maladies forced upon them by their adversaries. They'd survived being separated by Death itself. They had their farm, the parents and each other forever.

"Coming, Clark?" she reminded him.

"Coming," he concurred while following her lead gladly and with a dreamy smile on his face. His feet seemed to float down the stairs.

As they reached the bottom, Ryan beamed up at them with a grin on his face.

"What's going on, Buddy?" Clark wondered.

"Nothing. I was enjoying seeing how you two are together. I told you to have faith. Great, isn't it? Come on, Guys, breakfast is almost ready!" Ryan announced. With that he walked toward the house.

Lana smiled and beckoned him onward.

Clark wasn't about to stop at that point either….

Hand in hand, they headed into the next stage of their life together. Their hearts soared. Their dreams reestablished themselves. Their hopes warmed the farm around themselves. Both had their health and heart's source restored. They had family, farm and life once again.

And they had the deal for all of eternity…..

That in the final equation is all that mattered to Clark and Lana. All that mattered indeed.

THE END