Title: Unexpected
Author: Empress V.
E-mail: empressvader01@hotmail.com
Pairing: Lana/Pete
Summary: After some time away, Lana returns to Smallville. Lana and Pete get closer, but there's a problem. Pete's girlfriend Rae.

Chapter 2: Jared

Pete's watch alarm went off. His brother was coming in for a visit today and his mother was throwing a surprise baby shower/party. He needed to get home. He had already missed the "surprise", but he knew his family and the "party" wasn't in full swing until midway through. He quickly gathered his paperwork into a pile and threw it in a box on his desk. He grabbed his jacket and ran for the door. As he rushed to his car, he nearly knocked over a woman coming down the street. He was lucky enough to break her fall. It took him a split second to recognize who the woman was.

"Lana," Pete said with a smile as he helped her to her feet. "I didn't know you were back in town."

"Yeah, My brother's christening his baby and our 'dad' forced him to invite me. It didn't matter, I was coming home anyway."

"Yeah, I got an invite to the christening of baby Small too. Baby Small of Smallville. I feel sorry for that kid."

They both laughed.

"How is that job with your dad going?" Pete asked.

"Not good. It's bad enough my half siblings think he overcompensates for me, it's just worse being the boss' daughter with people who aren't family."

"That's too bad, well I have to get to the house? I'm late for a family thing."

"Okay, I guess I'll see you around Pete."

Pete turned to walk away and then turned back.

"Lana, my dad he loves to cook, so when we have these big family things, there's never too many people. If you're not busy, you could come along."

"Well, I'm not doing anything important right this second, but are you sure it would be okay?"

"Yeah," Pete replied. "You're family."



The Ross house was bustling with noise and activity. When Lana got there she was surprised to see so many people. Kids were running around. Adults not in the kitchen were sitting in various groups talking about different things. Pete's brother and brother-in-law were talking about sports. His mother and a few of her friends were talking about some recent case she had worked on. Some scattered adults were talking about parenthood. And a couple of teenagers were running there mouth about recent music sensations.

Mrs. Ross saw Lana come in with Pete and came up to give her a hug and tell her how good it was to see her.

"Lana, what are you doing here?" she said.

"Pete invited me," Lana said. "I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, any friend of my son's is family."

"Told you," Pete said with a grin.

"Pete, is that you," a female voice called from across the room. A girl with short braids and light brown skin appeared in the crowd. She approached Pete and gave him a quick kiss. Pete's mother stepped away to attend to some other family memeber.

"Hey Rae," Pete said. "Lana, this is my girlfriend Rae, Rae this is my friend Lana."

"I remember Lana," Rae said. "We were in the same English class in high school. Not that I registered on her radar screen."

Lana didn't respond and then Pete's sister-in-law called to him from across the room. Both Lana and Rae followed Pete toward his brother, Sam, and sister-in-law, Marie. He hugged her and said he was sorry he missed the surprise. Pete's neice Asha was a little older now. She yelled mommy about 50 times, interrupting any attempt at conversation. She saw Adrian when she came in. He had shot up a few inches. It was amazing how much a little kid could develope in your absence. It was so easy to miss a kid's life.

Mrs. Ross asked for Lana's assitance setting up some of the games. She saw Rae quickly slip off with Pete. Lana knew a few faces at the party so she didn't feel out of place. Mrs. Ross then called for everyone's attention and they bagan the baby shower games. After that there were wishes made for the baby and Sam's family and the Ross family in gereral. They ate and opened presents. Rae seemed to intentionally keep Pete away from Lana. She almost laughed at the idea that the woman was afraid she would steal Pete away.

After most of the guest had left, she volunteered to help Pete's parents clean up. A few family members were still left hanging around the house. Mrs. Ross made her pregnant daughter-in-law sit down when she tried to help and when she claimed she had to get Asha in bed, she gave the sleeping toddler to Lana and said it was taken care of. Mrs. Ross told Lana which bedroom to take the child into.

Lana took Asha upstairs and put her in bed with one of her cousins. It really was like walking into an instant family when you were with the Ross clan. As Lana left the bedroom she ran into Pete's sister almost knocking her down.

"Sorry," she appologized.

"My fault, I didn't see you coming," she replied. "Pete's out back if you're looking for him, but Rae is out there."

"Okay," Lana said walking off. She figured it was time to go home and wanted to say good-bye. Before she reached the back porch, she heard arguing.

"Don't tell me that," Rae's voice snapped. "Even your nephew said she was you girlfriend once."

"I spent a couple days comforting a friend once. She's not my girlfriend, she's not my ex-girlfriend, she's not my lover, she's not my ex-lover. God, she's my best friend's ex."

"I want to believe you, but you showing up with her at the door as a couple and me coming alone doesn't send the right message to your family."

"You're not with my family, you're with me. And I'm telling you, you are my girlfriend. I ran into a friend, I invited her to a gathering, and that was it. My family knows most of my friends, they're like family. If I had run into Clark on the street it would have been the same thing."

"Did you ever spend the night with Clark and do the same things you did with Lana."

"Who told you I spent the night with her?"

"A 'friend' mentioned it. I didn't worry about it, because I figured it was just one of those things until she showed up on your arm."

"Listen, I was just there for her. She was having a hard time, her aunt died. She just needed someone to lean on a little bit, so I let her lean on me. It wasn't a love affair."

There was silence.

"I guess I believe you. Your sister doesn't like me. I guess she thought if she told me that you and Lana were involved, I'd break up with you."

Lana cleared her throat and stepped out onto the porch.

"I'm going," Lana said.

"Okay," Pete said. "You need a ride?"

"I'm okay," Lana said.

"Alright, I hope you enjoyed yourself."

"I did, thank you."

"We'll have to hang out some more."

"Definatly," Lana said.

He walked up to her and gave her a hug, then she parted company with the couple. So Pete had a girlfriend, Lana thought. That was certainly unexpected.


The elevator dinged as it hit Pete's floor. Lana didn't know why she was here, but Pete did say they should hang out. Pete had called her last night to make sure she got home okay and they had spent hours talking. She confessed she overheard the argument with his girlfriend and they laughed about how they had suddenly become some type of mini scandal. They finally hung up when Pete glanced at his clock and realized it was three in the morning.

Lana walked down to his office and knocked on his open door. The room was a mess, boxes tossed about, files here and there. Pete was on the phone and waved her in. She came in and sat down and waited. She noticed there were brand new file cabinets sitting empty in the room. Pete finally hung up.

"Sorry, we're still a little disorganized after the move," Pete said appologizing for his office.

"You really need to sort this mess out. How can you find anything?"

"There's a method to my maddness. I'm use to living in chaos."

He smiled and she smiled back.

"Not that I don't love your company, but why are you here?" Pete asked.

"I had some time to kill and I was wondering if an old friend would like to join me for lunch."

"You're asking me out on a date?" Pete asked.

"Pete, you have a girlfriend. Of course I'm not."

Pete leaned back in his seat. "Hey, I don't have a ring on my finger." He leaned forward and lowered his voice to a whisper. "But we can't be seen in public together."

Lana knew he was kidding, so she played along.

"Then what should we do?" she asked

"Maybe an office quickie."

Lana burst into laughter.

"Your're crazy Pete," Lana told him.

"How dare you call the man you love crazy?" he asked standing with playful indignance.

Lana couldn't stop laughing.

"Are you coming or not?" Lana asked.

"Yeah, let me get my jacket."

"And when we get back from lunch maybe I'll help you straighten out this mess."

"That might be more than a day's job."

"So I'll be back. Unless you don't want me around."

"You know it's not that," Pete replied as he got up to get his jacket. He met Lana at his office door. "I know you needed to get away after Nell's funeral, but I missed you."

"Me too, It was nice, getting to know you. I mean we grew up together, but we never--"

"Knew each other," Pete finished. "I know, it's weird, same two best friends, same town, same school, and we never really knew each other."

"Well, we can change that."

"I hope so."

Pete presented a hand and Lana took it. They walked out the building together.



That evening Pete had just slipped on his sweater when he heard the doorbell ring. He ran to the door and found Rae there. He told her he just needed to get his wallet and left the room. It wasn't until he returned that he noticed the look on Rae's face.

"What did I do now?" Pete asked.

"My friend Tara said she saw you and Lana walking together."

"We had lunch. I told you she's my friend."

"Do you hold hands with all your friends?"

"No, but you treat women differently than you do men. Lana and I will never be like that, okay, it just can't happen."

"Because of your friend Clark."

"Yes"

"Who's in Metropolis, proably dating someone else."

"Rae, that doesn't matter. He's Clark and she's Lana and it's like destined for Clark and Lana to fall in love again, and get married and have a couple of Superkids."

"What?"

"Nothing," Pete replied. "Why does my friendship with Lana bother you so much?"

"Because when it comes to women, I should be your best friend."

"I didn't say she was my best friend, I said she was a friend. And what am I going to do, just forget everything before you?"

"Are you cheating on me?"

"No, Rae are you listening? We just aren't like that, okay."

"Okay."

Pete kissed Rae on the forehead. "I won't hold her hand anymore if it will make you happy, but you are my girlfriend, my only girlfriend. I've loved being with you these past six months, I'm hoping we can have many more months like it."

"Okay, fine, as long as you don't hold her hand anymore, I guess I can deal with your 'friendship' with Lana."



Pete was surprised when Lana actually showed up to help him out the next day. He told her about his argument with Rae the day before and they both made jokes about having an affair. After that day, Lana became a permanent part of his day. Every morning she came by the office and almost became an unpaid secretary. Other people in the office joked about Lana's presence. They usually had lunch together, it became an unspoken arrangement. They were only good friends, but this didn't calm the worry in Rae's heart. She saw something in there eyes when they were around each other. Little by little it was eating away at her.

Pete was surprised to see Clark with Lana as she arrived at the Christening of Baby Small. It had been delayed quite a few times. First the baby got sick, then dad had a conflict, then mom had a conflict, and then the Godparents had a conflict. They had to by a new outfit because the baby outgrew the original one. Rae seemed pleased that Clark was around for the event and kept a vice grip on Pete's arm.

Lana couldn't help but reflect on the energy of the Christening vs. the baby shower at the Ross house. That felt very informal and friendly. This felt like a bussiness get together. No one seemed comfortable. They were polite, but most looked ready to go home. When guest began to part, Pete, Rae, Clark, and Lana left together went out for drinks. They were all a little more relaxed then and chatted casually. Eventually they parted company, Clark and Lana left together and Pete and Rae went back to his place together.

"You know," Rae said as she sat on the couch with Pete. "I tottally see what you were talking about."

"Huh?"

"Clark and Lana, completly meant to be. You could really see it when they were together."

"I happen to know Clark he's... let's just say he's not as single minded as he use to be when it comes to girls."

"What?"

"His partner at work, Lois Lane. He kind of has feelings for her."

"But you know he'll come back to Lana, you said it yourself."

"Yeah, but I'm starting to think. Lana and Clark... it's, it's over."

"It didn't look over to me."

********

"Hey Pete," Lana said coming in his office the next morning.

"Lana, how was the rest of your evening last night?" Pete asked.

"What do you mean?" Lana asked sitting down.

"Clark and yourself," Pete said. "Any old sparks?"

"Why, did he say there was?"

"I didn't ask him. I'm asking you."

"We hung out some and he went home," Lana said. "Why do you care?"

"No reason. I mean Clark's my boy, if he's happy, I'm happy."

Lana examined his face. "No way," she began. "You can't be. You're jealouse?"

"I'm not."

"Pete, I thought we were just--"

"We are," Pete replied.

"Okay, we are. Listen, I better not hang around today."

"Why not?"

"I just... need some air."

"I'm not jealouse," Pete said as she left.

****

Pete pulled up to the Kent farm just as Jonathan was loading another crate into the back of the pick-up.

"Hey Pete," Mr. Kent said. "I wasn't sure if you were still going to show up."

"You need a couple of extra hands, I'm here."

"Well you can start helping us move some of these crates."

"Pete?" a questioning voice said emerging from the house.

Pete turned to see Lana coming out the house with Martha Kent.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Lana is coming to help us out in Grandville too."

A few hours later they were driving toward Grandville. Lana sat with Pete in his truck, following the Kent truck along the road. Silence hung between Lana and Pete as they sat there.

"Did I do something wrong?" Pete finally asked.

"Why would you say that?" Lana asked.

"For the last week you've been avoiding me."

"I've been busy," Lana said.

"Come on Lana, what's the real reason?"

"I don't want to mess this up," Lana said. "We were becoming friends and I liked that, because we've all become sort of distanced. But then I figured out you were jealouse of Clark and it bothered me."

"I wasn't jealouse, but Why would it bother you?"

"We sort of pushed it to the side Pete, but we kissed. And it wasn't the same as two little kids playing around at there first kissing party."

"No, it wasn't. It was two adults who shared a moment and I thought that's all it was."

"So it meant nothing to you?" Lana questioned.

"Why? Did it mean something to you?"

"I don't know. Maybe that's the problem, we never figured out what it meant or if it meant anything."

"You think we should have?" Pete questioned.

"I don't know, I was going through a lot--"

"And that's why I backed off."

"I know," Lana said. "It's just, Chloe and I, we've been there. I don't want my friendship with you and my friendship with Clark to turn into a repeat of that whole Chloe, Clark, and me thing. And then there's Rae, I mean you're involved with her and I don't want to be a problem there."

"I like having you around Lana, okay. I enjoy Rae's company too, but it's either going to work with her or it isn't. And as for Clark and me, it's going to take more than you to ruin us. No offensem, but we're like brothers. Clark certainly didn't permanently damage you and Chloe or Clark and Chloe or you and Clark. And the four of us, no matter what, we're friends."

"I hope so."

"I don't know what was going on between us Lana, but I miss it."

"And Rae?" Lana questioned.

"I like Rae, a lot, she's a good one, but I'm not married to her, I'm not even engaged. I don't have to shut off my life for her, or shut out a friend I've known for years. I mean I might be attracted to you, but--."

"You're attracted to me?" Lana questioned.

"Have you looked in the mirror?" Pete replied.

Lana smiled to herself. "Well... I guess if we're being honest, I'm kind of attracted to you too."

"Really?" he questioned.

"Have you looked in the mirror?" Lana replied.

They both laughed.

"We better stop this now," Pete said.

"Yeah," Lana replied.

They arrived at the fair in Grandville a short while later. After helping the Kents set up and hanging arund with them for most of the morning, they told the two of them to go enjoy themselves. Pete and Lana walked around the fair, rode some rides, had there fortunes told and then went to treat themselves to some ice cream. That's when things took an intresting turn. They were sitting together talking when a guy walked up to Pete and punched him, knocking him to the ground.

"What the hell?" Pete said standing up.

Lana helped Pete to his feet and by then they saw a couple guys had jumped in to grab the guy who hit him.

"Brady, why did you--" one guy began

"That's Pete Ross man. He's the one."

"The one that what?" Pete said.

"Brady, you shouldn't have done that," a young woman said stepping into the commotion. She was carrying a two year old boy on her hip.

"He hasn't even seen Jared. He didn't know."

"Jared?" Pete questioned. "Who is Jared?"

"Your son man," Brady said.

"My what?" Pete took another look at the woman and the guy who punched him. "Brady, Jason's friend, I knew Jason in Metropolis?" He turned toward the young woman. "Janet? Oh my god."

"Pete?" Lana questioned. "What's going on?"

"I don't know."

"This is your son, Jared," Janet said.

"You have a son?" Lana questioned.

"I didn't know," Pete said looking at Lana. "I had no clue." He looked back at the little boy and then at Janet. "Mine?"

"Yours."



Pete sat on a couch in the Mason house. Brady Mason was still fumming and his sister Janet asked him to leave the room. Lana had stayed with in Grandville with Pete even though she still didn't know exactly how they had ended up here. She thought about riding back with the Kents, but she knew that would leave Pete all alone with some very shocking information. And she felt like she needed to be here for him right now.

At the moment Pete was sitting with his head in his hands watching the two year old play with a toy car. He was obviously trying to wrap his head around the idea he had a two year old son.

"I had a boyfriend," Janet began. "When I first found out I was preganant I thought it was his."

"Did you take a DNA test or something that told you he wasn't?" Lana asked.

"No, I didn't need too. As you can see I'm white and so was my boyfriend. And Jared obviously is biracial. That's how I knew it was Pete who was the father. We were trying to work it out, me and my boyfriend, so I lied to Brady because I thought, I could still have my family with the guy that I love."

"What do you mean you lied, what did you tell Brady?" Pete questioned.

"I told him that you knew you might be a father, that you told me that you didn't want anything to do with Jared."

"Why would you--"

"I loved Adam, I wanted him to be the father, and he was, for a year, but I guess he didn't love me enough to stick around for a baby that wasn't his."

"I'm sorry," Pete said.

"What for, he left me and you didn't even know about our son," Janet sighed. "It's about time for a nap, so I'll take Jared out of here and let you and your girlfriend--"

"She's not my--"

"I'm just a friend," Lana finished.

Janet didn't argue. She picked up Jared and left the room.

"Who is she Pete?" Lana asked. She'd wanted to ask that question since Pete was unexpectedly assaulted at the fair.

"I didn't know about her boyfriend, I didn't know much about her actually," Pete said.

"But you slept with her?"

"I was in Kansas City. It was a birthday party for a friend of mine, Janet and Brady's cousin, we went to law school together. Janet and I met, we talked, we got drunk... it was a one night stand. One time, one party. Haven't you ever--"

"No, I haven't," Lana interupted.

"Well, I did. I was protected at the time, at least I thought--man this is a mess."

"What are you going to do?"

"Do the best I can," Pete replied. "What is there for me to do. Just when I was measuring up to Clark Kent, I ruin your image of me with an illigitimate son. "

"I don't expect you to be perfect and I don't expect you to be Clark."

"Yeah, I know, I was just kidding," Pete told her. "You don't have to be here you know."

"I know," Lana replied. "But you didn't have to be there during the planning of Nell's funeral. But you were. It's what friends do."

*****

It was unseasonably warm in Metropolis when Lana and Pete dropped into the city for a visit. Chloe and Lana had went out shopping for a new wardrobe to fill the closet in Chloe's new apartment in Gotham City, leaving the guys to hang out together. Lana was still shocked Chle was moving so far away. Lana filled Chloe in on what was going on with her and Pete, the most recent devolpment being Jared. She knew since Chloe was going to be moving to Gotham soon, this was going to be one of the last times she would have to coviently drop in on her friend like this for a talk.

"I can't believe it," Chloe said. "Pete has a little boy he never knew about."

"Jared's so sweet, I just fell in love with him. Pete's going to have him over his house next week," Lana told her. "He's been sending the mother money every month for the last two months. He's sending toys every time he sees something he likes. He just bought the boy new sneakers. He goes to visit on the weekends so the boy will get to know him. Even though he was surprised, he's really stepped up. Jared called him daddy last week and he got so excited. He tried to play it off, but you could see it on his face."

"Wait, you go with him to visit his son?"

"Yeah, I went with them to the park," Lana told her. "And I love watching him and that little boy, he's so excited and scared at the same time. I think he loves being a father and having this little kid look up to him like he's... well a superman."

Chloe watched Lana get all dreamy eyed talking about Pete.

"I cannot believe you have a crush on Pete."

"I do not have a crush on Pete," Lana said. "I just think he's... a great guy... for Rae. Unfortunatly, Rae wasn't too happy to hear about Jared. I don't know how much longer they're going to last."

"Which leaves it open for you," Chloe entered.

"It's not like that with us," Lana said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's what you keep saying. You and Pete are always together these days. I don't know how it happened, but it's obvious there's something between you two and I'm not talking about friendship."

"I'm not saying there isn't something a little more, but we aren't going there."

"Lana, just admit you like him."

"Maybe I do kin of like him and maybe, just maybe, I think they're could be more, but I don't think he wants more or he would have said so."

"Let me school you a little on Pete. Even though Pete never had trouble getting a date, the girls, they never mattered. Most of these chicks didn't stick around very long and he never really connected with them. That's what makes you different, he's involved with you. He may date whatever her name is--"

"Rae"

"Right, whatever, but he doesn't get emotionally involved really. See Lana, Pete has real feelings for you, I can tell, but you were involved with Clark and I think that worries him. Pete loves and hates Clark all at once."

"What?"

"Clark is Clark, people love him and he doesn't even really have to try, there's just something about him. And Pete isn't alone, a lot of people end up both loving Clark and hating Clark for that reason. It's hard to stand next to perfection and not feel pale by comparison."

"Clark's hardly perfect," Lana replied.

"You know what I mean, or maybe you don't since you never had to measure up to you."

"Huh?"

"You were my Clark, I knew you were just another girl when I got to know you, as messed up as I was, but in Clark's head you were perfect. And whenever he stepped into a room or he came up between us, you were all the things I could never be to him, in his eyes, you never made mistakes and everything you did was right. I mean you know I love you Lana, but at those moments when you were his perfection I hated you too."

"Really, you really hated me?"

"Don't take it personally, it wasn't about you or you and me, it was about how Clark saw you and anyway you know what they say about love and hate and the thin line between the two. Besides, that was high school and that's over now. We're talking about you and Pete. Pete doesn't want to get burned again and one girl already broke Pete's heart because of her infactuation with the charms of Smallville's Prince Kent."

"You?"

"Yeah and he's more fragile then he seems Lana. And I'm sure he's afraid, even if he gets your attention now and then, he'll never be as good as Clark to you."




Meanwhile, in another section of Metropolis, Pete and Clark were walking togerher. Pete had just told Clark the complicated story of discovering Jared and shared a picture of the little boy.

"Cute kid," Clark said looking at a picture of Jared. "Too cute to be yours. You sure you're his father?2"

"Shut up man," Pete replied. "I get him on my own this weekend."

"Lana going to be helping you out?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I don't know, seems like you two are always together now."

"What you saying Clark?"

"I'm saying maybe you're not being honest with me about you and Lana."

"Clark, I have a girl, Rae. Have I shown you her picture? Have you forgotten that she's fine as hell. Not to say your girl isn't beautiful."

"Lana isn't my girl Pete."

"She'll always be your girl to me. I'm trying to make it work with Rae."

"And yet you drove up to Metropolis with Lana. And you went to Grandville with Lana. And you talk about your son with Lana."

"We drove up here together to see Chloe before she's off to Gotham and Chloe isn't Rae's friend. We didn't plan Grandville, I was there, she was there, and then the whole Janet thing blew up. And she sometimes goes with me to see Jared for that reason, she knows the situation she was there."

Clark gave him the 'yeah right' look.

"I promise," Pete said. "you'll be the first to know when something happens."

"When something happens?"

"I meant if, IF something happens."

"But you said--"

Suddenly Clark's attention was somewhere else. He was obviously hearing something that Pete couldn't.

"Pete, I got to--"

"Go, I'll catch you later," Pete replied.

Pete watched his friend disappear and then there was Superman. He couldn't believe he was best friends with the most powerful man on the planet.

******

It was weird being back in Pleasentville Meadows. Pete's new house was four houses down from the house she use to live in with Chloe and Mr. Sullivan. He had been living there exactly a month.

She knew Pete had arrived back from Grandville okay, because she could hear the two year old inside, crying. Lana knocked on Pete's door and wondered what was wrong inside. The first father-son, one on one, visit obviously wasn't going very well.

"Hey," Pete said nervously as he opened the door.

"Is Jared okay?"

"Sure he's fine," Pete said.

A piercing scream erupted from inside the house.

"Okay, he's been screaming like that since I brought him home and I don't know what's wrong."

Lana came in the house and found little Jared sitting on the living room floor crying.

"I tried everything. I tried to feed him, I tried toys, I thought maybe he was sick, but he's not warm or anything, I even tried bribing him with candy."

"Jared," Lana said walking up to the little boy. He was still crying as he looked up at her with puppy dog eyes. "Jared, what's wrong?" Lana asked sweetly.

He kept crying, even though the loud screaming had diminished.

"See what I mean," Pete said. "He won't stop crying, even if he calms down."

"Did you just try picking him up?" Lana asked.

"Every time I touch him he gets louder."

Lana picked up the little boy.

"Pete, he's wet," Lana said.

"He wasn't when I carried him into the house. And that's when he started crying."

"Did his mother send pampers?"

"He's toilet training, he has pull-ups and clothes in the bag," Pete said.

Lana grabbed the bag and the little boy. She disappeared into the bathroom. Pete sat and waited, the crying seem to fade into nothing. When Lana finally emerged from the bathroom Jared was quiet.

"You owe me," she said. "He's changed, he's had a bath."

Jared yawned as he rested his head on Lana's shoulder and locked his arms around the neck.

"He misses his mommy I think," Lana said trying to release Jared's grip on her shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Pete took the boy from Lana and he started crying again. Pete gave him back to Lana.

"This is just great, my own kid doesn't like being alone with me," Pete said.

"It's your first day, give him time."

The doorbell rang and Pete went to answer it.

"Rae," Pete said surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I came by to meet your little boy. I figure I should try to bond with him if he's going to be in your life."

"Pete," Lana called. "Where should I lay Jared down? He's sleepy."

"Just take him to my room," he said to her

"She's here?" Rae asked stepping in the house.

"Jared knows her," Pete told her. "She calmed him down."

"Of course she did, because she's miss perfect Lana Lang. I don't know why you need me when you have superwoman here, good friend, great mommy stand in, the only thing you need me for is the occasional booty call. I'm just guessing here, but miss perfect isn't giving up right?"

"Rae--"

"Don't give me the just friends speech again either. I've heard it so many times now and it's bullshit!"

Jared jumped in Lana's arms at the sharp inflection in Rae's voice.

"I'm going take him upstairs," Lana said.

Lana disappeared up the stairs with the little boy.

"Rae, why do we have to go through this again? Lana's not my girlfriend."

"You may not be calling her that, but that's what she is. When the important stuff happens, like finding out you have a son, who's there holding your hand, who's there supporting you? If we're ever going to be serious, it should be me and it's never me, it's her. I think it's clear at this point we're not going to be serious, so I'm gone."

"Rae, don't say that."

"You're a good guy Pete, but I just can't compete with her. I hope Lana knows what she has in you."

Rae gave him a kiss on the cheek and left the house. Pete sighed, locked the door behind her and went upstairs. Lana was sitting on his bed with the boy laying in her lap. Pete sat on the bed beside her.

"What happened?"

"Another one bites the dust," Pete said. "We broke up."

"Don't sound so broken hearted," Lana said.

Pete shrugged. "I suck with women."

"I don't believe that," Lana said.

"Well, I know how to play the game. I mean check out this face, who wouldn't love it?"

Lana laughed.

"But it just, never works out." Pete told her. "Well, I guess Pete Ross is once again a bachelor."

"Except now he's a father," Lana entered.

"Ladies love kids," Pete said. "Once he stops crying so much, he'll be a perfect babe magnet."

"Pete!"

"Kidding, I know he has to get use to me. And I have to get use to being a father. I mean, I'm uncle Pete. I hold my nieces and nephews, I play with them, but when it's changing or feeding time it's back to mommy, daddy, or grandparents. Out of all my nieces and nephews I've changed exactly two diapers. One of which was supervised. Same thing with Jared, his mom was there when I went to visit, but she did that stuff. I mean I knew I would have to eventually, but I didn't think-- So... You ready to call in the authorities on me yet?"

Lana grinned.

"Maybe you could just hang around this week."

"Are you asking me to be your babysitter or do you just want me around as a diaper changer?"

"Neither, I'm asking you... to help me... take care of my son."

"There's a difference?"

Pete looked at her, seriously, locking her gaze in his.

"Yeah, there is a difference. I trust you, completely," Pete told her. "But if you want to get paid." Pete reached in his pocket for his wallet. Lana reached out and stopped him.

"Don't be silly," Lana said stopping him with a hand over his.

Lana leaned forward and Pete met the approach of her lips. They shared a brief, soft kiss.
"Why did you?"

"I don't know, but I think I should have done it a long time ago," Lana replied.

****

The Ross house was alive with life as Pete pulled up in front. Everyone was gathered at the Ross house to meet little Jared. Despite a rough first day, the week had went well. His parents planned a big family get together at the end of the week. His mother had come over a few times to see the little boy and his sister had brought her own children by to play with him. Jared fit in easily with the rest of his Ross cousins when they arrived at the house. Pete's sister and mother already had Lana and Pete married in there heads, so watching them play house all week was a thrill for them. But Pete and Lana hadn't really talked about what was happening between them.

"My baby brother's finally a father," one of Pete's brother's said. "Sick of it yet."

"He's a great daddy," Lana added with a smile.

"And how long before you marry this one?" his other brother asked. "Maybe give her some kids."

Lana and Pete looked at each other and smiled. That aroused some teasing noises.

"You better hurry up boy, before you lose the best girl you ever had," his brother said.

"I'm working on it okay," Pete told them. "Will you please let us date first?"

"Pete," his brother said putting an arm around his shoulder. "Look what you're getting?" He said pointing to Lana. "Then look at yourself and see what she's getting. You better step up and grab her before she recovers from whatever drug you have her on."

"You are so bad," Lana said. She looked over at Pete. "Besides, I like what I'm getting."

Lana excused herself from the group as Pete got a couple pats on the back. She went into the kitchen for a drink of water. Mrs. Ross was sitting watching Mr. Ross cook. As usual, they were a friendly toward her.

"Hey Lana, seems like you my son are doing really well now that Rae's out of the picture."

"Don't put pressure on the girl," Mr. Ross said.

"I'm just saying Lana's been good for Pete and she seems to be perfect mother material. You should see her with Jared."

"Mrs. Ross I--" Lana began

"Call me Mom," Mrs. Ross interrupted. "You're family."

"Thanks, but Pete and I aren't... we're just figuring things out."

"You're good for each other Lana?"

"Honey," Mr. Ross said. "Stop it."

"I just want to see my son happy. He's my last little baby and I just want the best for him."

Just then Pete entered the kitchen.

"Lana, I have to drop Jared off, so I better get going. Are you still coming along?"

"Yeah," Lana said leaving the kitchen.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross watched them leave together.

"I give them a year," Mrs. Ross said.

"Nah, Pete's like his old man, he's going to take his time with this one."

"I hope not, if I hadn't asked you to marry me we might not be married with five kids and several grandkids today."


Lana and Pete dropped by his house to get Jared's things before taking the long drive up to Grandville. Jared was sleeping quietly when they pulled up in front of his mother's house. Pete parked the car and lifted the sleeping toddler out the back. Lana got the stuff out of the trunk. She met Pete at the front of the car and then they both saw someone staring at them from across the car. He crossed the street. Jared woke up and saw the stranger too. And he smiled at him.

"Dada," Jared said with a huge smile.

"Hey little man," the guy said to the little boy. "You must be Pete Ross," the unknown guy said to Pete.

"Yeah, I'm Pete. Who are you?"

"Adam," he replied.

Jared reached for Adam and Pete let him go to him. Lana could see he wasn't too happy about it.

"Listen man. I know you stepped up to the plate with Jared and everything," Adam looked at the boy and then back at Pete. "I tried to even though he wasn't mine. And I love the kid, I still see him, but I think I should tell you, he may not be your son."

"What? You can see he's not yours and Janet said--"

"Janet lies, okay. You're right, she obviously couldn't pin him on me, so she had to pin him on someone. Since Brady already knew about you it was easier to keep that image of perfect little sister if she blamed it on her one mistake. Well, I'm telling you Janet had a whole lot more than one mistake."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"For a year I tried to love this boy like my own and believe his mother would change, but she didn't change and she isn't going to. She lives in some type of fantasy world. She's always the victim and her mistakes, they're always justified. Look, Jared might be yours, but don't trust her on that."

Adam looked back at Jared and gave him a kiss on the head. He gave him back to Pete and walked away. Pete saw Jared wasn't too happy to see the man leave.

"Maybe you should get a paternity test," Lana said. "I mean, I'm surprised you haven't already, I would have suggested it up front, but I didn't think it was my place. If Janet's telling the truth and you're the only possible father if Adam's eliminated, all a paternity test can do is prove he is your son."

"I guess you're right."

"Besides," Lana said. "You're going to need to establish him as your son legally just in case anything happens."

"Which should be obvious to me," Pete said. "I mean this is the same thing I would tell anybody else in my situation."

They walked up to the door together and rang the doorbell. Janet answered the door and invited them in. Pete carried Jared to his room and tucked him in. Then he joined the women in the living room.

"Janet, I've been thinking," Pete told her. "We need to take a paternity test."

"Why?"

"Just to make it official. I want to legally establish I am Jared's father."

"I would never deny you access to him."

"I would just feel better about it. You said that when you were pregnant you knew it had to be me or Adam. And when he was born, it was obvious it wasn't Adam, so there's no problem here we just take the test to prove it."

"I am not a slut," Janet replied defensively.

Lana's heart dropped. She had to be lying or she wouldn't be getting so defensive.

"I know who I slept with, okay," Janet snapped.

"Maybe you do, but I don't," Pete replied.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"I honestly barely know you. Jared already dealt with losing a dad when you and Adam broke up. I don't want to build a relationship with him and have it happen to him again."

"You know what Pete, I don't need you if you're going to be like that."

Just then Brady came through the front door.

"Shit," Pete mumbled.

"Let's just go," Lana said.

Brady saw his sister was distressed. "What's going on?"

"Mr. Pete Ross is trying to say I'm a slut and I don't know who my baby's father is."

"What? I didn't say that."

"Listen," Lana interrupted. "All he asked for was a paternity test."

"He is the father," Janet yelled.

"You calling my sister a liar?" Brady asked.

"No, I'm saying I want to be sure," Pete told him.

"And if she's sure, that shouldn't be a problem," Lana added.

"You didn't lay down with him and have that baby, I did," Janet said. "So why don't you stay the fuck out of it."

"Don't talk to her like that," Pete told her.

"You think she's better than my sister?" Brady asked.

"I didn't disrespect your sister Brady. I just don't want my friend disrespected."

"Let's just get out of here," Lana said grabbing Pete's arm.

"No, he wants to fight, so let's fight," Brady said putting up his fist.

"I don't want to fight. I just want the truth."

"Fine," the man replied. "But you ain't no better than Adam, so why don't you just get out of here. And don't come back."

"I'm coming back if that's my son and I will find out if he is or not."

Lana maneuvered Pete out the door after that comment. They climbed in the car, but Pete didn't drive off. He sat there for a moment mentally kicking himself.

"I should have asked for one up front. I just spent the weekend bonding with a kid that may not be mine. I introduced him to my family."

He shook his head.

"I even lost my girlfriend."

"Don't beat yourself up for doing the right thing," Lana said reaching over to touch his cheek.

"And was the right thing accepting a kid I wasn't sure was mine or losing my girlfriend."

"I vote for losing the girlfriend," Lana said with a smile.

Lana reached for his hand and held it in hers.
"I'm glad you were here."

"What are we doing?" Lana asked. "With each other I mean."

"I don't know," Pete said. "Right now, I don't know anything."

"You're right, we'll just focus on finding out the truth about Jared and then we'll figure out everything else."
Pete started the car and headed back to Smallville.

****

It took a week for her to calm down, but Janet was finally allowed a DNA paternity test. The results seem to came to quick for Pete. When Lana knocked on his door that day, he answered the answer with the results on his face. So she knew before he even said the words.

"Peter Ross, you are not the father," he said sadly.

"I'm sorry," Lana said.

She gave him a hug and he invited her inside. They made some tea and they sat together in silence for a long time.

"Are you still going to see him?" Lana finally asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "I don't want to make the situation any more confusing than it already is. I don't know who Jared's biological father is, but Adam's the one Jared really sees as daddy anyway and I don't want to confuse that anymore than it's already been confused. He's only two, he'll forget me."

"But you won't."

"Well, I was looking forward to it," Pete said. "Being someone special to someone, a dad. Not just a dad, his dad, you know?"

"One day you will be a dad Pete and he'll be your son and you'll know it the moment you look at him. You won't have to settle for weekends and the occasional holiday, because it's the best thing to do since you and the mother aren't together. And you'll be the only dad to that little boy, from his first breath to his last, and you'll love his mother and you'll have all those important moments with him together."

"You think so?"

"Yes," Lana replied.

"Come here," Pete said.

"Why?"

"Just come here," Pete said.

She walked over to him and he pulled her into his lap and held her. She returned his embrace, holding his head against her chest. Then she turned up his face towards hers. She leaned forward and kissed him. His lips were so soft, his kiss delicate. There lips parted company and then Pete looked up at her, caressing her face with his hand.

"Are you here because you feel sorry for me?"

Lana was taken aback. The question came out of nowhere. "Is that what you think?"

"Seems like we only kiss like this when things go wrong."

"Is it so hard to believe that I care about you, Pete," Lana said.

"I want to believe it, because," Pete sighed. "I love you. "

"What did you say?" Lana said standing up.

"Not the response I was expecting," Pete said standing up also.

"Pete, we haven't even really... I mean I like you, but isn't it a little soon for 'I love you'."

"It's okay," Pete said. "I understand."

"Pete, I want to explore whatever this is," Lana told him. "Believe me I do. I just think we should stop and take a breath before we start saying things like that."

"Okay," Pete replied. "I think I need some time alone anyway."

"But you'll call me when you're ready to talk."

"Yeah," Pete replied. "We're friends right."
"Yeah, I'll go," Lana said. "She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away."

****

Lana gave Pete a couple of weeks. He didn't call and the most she got was a hello when she ran into him on the street twice. She missed him and almost picked up the phone a few times to make the call, but couldn't get herself to go through with it. Finally she decided to go see him and make him talk to her.
When Lana arrived at Pete's house he was loading some packages into the back of his car. Lana approached him, but he didn't seem to notice her.

"Pete, how you doing?" Lana asked.

"Okay," Pete replied.

"Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I didn't know what to say," Pete told. "I mean I already embarrassed myself."

"Stop running away Pete," Lana told him.

"What?"

"Maybe I'm not ready to say I love you yet, but I told you I want to be with you. Things were going well and I don't see a reason to back of it. Listen, I know you're not use to putting your emotions on the line and so you must have really meant what you said. Unless you mean it anymore."

"Of course I meant it," Pete said. "I still mean it."

"So lets do it," Lana said.

"Okay, fine," Pete replied. "What are you doing for Christmas."

"Me and Chloe are doing Christmas with Mr. Sullivan."

"In Smallville?"

"Metropolis," Lana replied.

"Well my parents asked and I was going to invite you, but you already have plans, so..."

"What about New Years?"

"I got an invite to Lex's thing in Metropolis."

"Me too," Lana said. "So maybe we could go together."

"Lex will probably invite Clark too," Pete told her.

"And?"

"You talk to him often?"

"Phone calls, the occasional visit," Lana told him.

"Yeah me too. Have you ever mentioned us to him?"

"When he brings it up. But Pete, I don't need his approval to go out with you."

"I know, it's just you're Lana and he's Clark."

"I'll always care about Clark," Lana told him. "But we're never going to know what we can be unless you let go of the Clark thing."

"Yeah, I know."

"So why don't we say New Years is a date," Lana said.

"Alright, it's a date," Pete replied. "I guess this makes it our first official date."

"Seems a little late doesn't it," Lana asked.

"No, it's right on time," Pete replied.

-End Chapter 2-

3-24-2003