Title: Letting Go

Feedback: Yes please.

Summary: (a Smallville/Gilmore Girls crossover) When Clark runs away from Smallville, where does he go? In a weird twist of fate, he finds himself in Stars Hollow, where Lorelai and Rory have just returned from Europe. What starts out as a coincidence slowly becomes a summer that they will never forget.

Rating: PG-13/R

Pairings: Clark/Rory, with Lex/Lana and Lorelai/Dean

Spoilers: Everything up to end of season 2 of Smallville and end of season 3 of Gilmore Girls. For those of you who are unfamiliar with either show, here's the breakdown: Clark runs away from Smallville after his alien father calls out to him and everything in his life had turned to a disaster. Despite his love for Lana, he still leaves without any explanation (along with his red kryptonite ring which turns him into bad Clark), breaking her heart. Lex, on the other hand, just got married but his wife supposedly tries to kill him and the season ends as his plane is crashing into the ocean. In Stars Hollow, Rory has just graduated and is about to go on the trip to Europe with Lorelai but she isn't as happy as she should be because Jess inexplicably left her to go to LA, while Dean, her other ex-boyfriend has just announced his engagement to Lindsay.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Gilmore Girls or Smallville.

Note: Thank you so much for the feedback. I wasn't sure how it was going to be received but I'm glad that you guys are enjoying it. I don't really know where this story is going exactly but I'm trying. This part is shorter yes but I thought you guys could need something to get you through.

****

Part III - On a night like this

A long pause of silence passed between them as they looked at each other in bewilderment. Rory quickly wiped her eyes as she looked towards him. All she could see was a shadow in the darkness, with two eyes peering at her. Even though she couldn't see his features, she saw how beautiful they were.

"I'm sorry." he replied. "I didn't mean to startle you. I didn't realize that anyone was here." As he took a step forward, the moonlit sky finally revealed his true face.

Rory looked at him, a little surprised at what she saw. She could tell he was tall, that was for sure, but she didn't realized how built and muscular he was until he came under the moonlight. And despite her initial shock, she couldn't help but be captivated by him. With his short dark locks, bluish hazel eyes, square jaw and full lips, he had to be the most attractive man she had ever met. The last time she had ever felt a pang like this was when she had seen Dean for the first time. The difference was that she fell in love with Dean the moment she laid eyes on him and now she could feel at this moment was fear, embarrassment and confusion.

"I didn't mean to bother you." Clark explained further. "I just thought that there was no one here. I'll leave you alone, okay?"

As he was about to leave, Rory began to speak.

"You don't have to leave." Rory explained. "The bridge is big enough for the both of us."

"It's not that." he replied. "It just seemed like you want to be alone."

"No it's fine." Rory replied. "I was just thinking, remembering."

"It couldn't have been a happy thought." he remarked. "You can't cry like that and be happy."

"They were some happy thoughts as well as sad." Rory replied, wondering what possessed her to talk to a stranger. She should be scared out of her wits. Part of her was and is still, but somehow, he wasn't at all threatening. His face was manly but cherubic as well. As though he couldn't imagine hurting anyone. Despite this overwhelming feeling of comfort, she couldn't help but keep her guard up. "Did you just move to Stars Hollow this summer? I've been away and I don't think we've met."

"Well I just came into town today, although I'm staying in Hartford." Clark replied. He felt awkward standing around like this. He didn't know whether to stay or go but he had to admit that he couldn't help but be mesmerized by the girl sitting before him. Although her eyes were red and puffy from crying, he could see the natural beauty beneath it. Her blue eyes still stood out at night and her skin was as smooth as porcelain despite some faint freckles on her face and arms. She wasn't as exotically beautiful as Lana was but she had a very delicate charm about her, as if she belonged in a different time or place or as is she was a sweet angel from heaven.

Rory could sense his awkwardness as he stood there, shifting from foot to foot. "You could sit down if you want. It's a free country."

Clark stood there in silence, hesitant about her offer. He wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to scare her or freak her out but she seemed genuine about wanting him to sit down. Slowly he walked towards her and settled down beside her, trying to keep a relative distance between them so that she wouldn't think that he was out there to attack her.

"Are you moving to Hartford or just visiting?" Rory asked as she looked at him. She tried not to look overwhelmed but she couldn't help but notice the obvious difference in size between them. She was so small compared to him, with his arms and neck so wide and solid. Even though he was sitting down now, she could literally feel him towering over her. Her mind began to wander, wondering how often he must train to be in this physical shape while she herself hated to exercise.

"Visiting." Clark replied. "I'm just taking a road trip before going home."

"Oh." Rory exclaimed, wondering what else to say. "Do you mind me asking where you're from?"

"No, it's okay." Clark replied simply. "I'm actually from a small town myself in Kansas. Smallville, ever heard of it?"

"No I haven't." Rory admitted. "But I guess you've never heard of Stars Hollow either so we're even."

"Yeah. I guess we are." Clark said with a chuckle. "Actually my town is nearby Metropolis. Kinda dwarfs in comparison but I love it." He had never really admitted that to anyone before, nevertheless a stranger but it was true. He loved Smallville.

"Metropolis." Rory repeated. She had heard of it but never seen any pictures of it. All that she knew was it is the headquarters of Luthorcorp, one of the most powerful companies in the world. And from what grandpa had told her about it, Lionel Luthor, the CEO of the company, was considered a legend in the business world. "So tell me, why are you visiting Connecticut? Do you have family here? Friends?"

"Just kinda passing by I guess." Clark replied. "I needed to eat and ended up here."

"Well you ended up in a strange town, that's for sure." Rory replied, as she thought of all the peculiar things that happen in Stars Hollow that never made it boring.

"It can't as weird as my town." Clark replied as he looked around. Just the fact that this town didn't have green meteor rocks imbedded into the ground was a plus." I kinda like it here. Maybe because I've lived in a small town all my life. I don't know, there is just something about small towns that cities just can't have." Clark replied as he looked up at the starlit sky. "I mean in a big city, you couldn't have a night like this where you could sit by a lake just enjoy the night."

"I know." Rory agreed. "I was travelling all over Europe this summer and despite having the best time, there is just something about a night like this that Europe could never come close to."

"Do you know what's funny?" Clark exclaimed with a laugh. "I swear there is a bridge just like this in Smallville. I guess that's why ever since I found it today, I can't help but be drawn to it. It makes me feel closer to home."

"Really?" Rory asked. "What do you think about when you see this place?"

"My girlf..."Clark began and stopped himself. "well I can't really say that since we never got to go on a date before I left but this place reminds me of her."

"This bridge makes me think of my ex-boyfriend." Rory explained. "This is where we became friends, where we figured out how we felt about each other....so many things."

"He's the one that made you cry before." Clark assumed as he looked at the expression on her face, seeing the sadness flood back to her.

"I don't know." Rory said honestly. "I just came here to think but all I could think about was him. All the memories flushing back."

"I know that feeling." Clark said, understanding immediately what she meant. He had left Smallville to escape it all but all he had was the past. "You can't help but remember when all you want to do...

"...is forget." Rory finished his sentence. "But I guess it doesn't work that way does it?"

"No it doesn't." Clark said with a sigh as he turned to look at her as she looked out onto the lake.

They sat in a spell of silence for what seemed to be so long until suddenly she shook them back into reality.

"Oh my God!" Rory replied as she shook her head and rushed to get on her feet. As she stood, she looked down at him. "Do you have the time?"

"Yeah." Clark replied as he looked down at his heavy silver watch. "It's 11:30."

"No..." Rory said in a panic, dusting her shorts off. "I should have been home a long time ago." As she was about to run off, Clark called out to her.

"Hey, it was nice talking to you." Clark exclaimed as she looked back.

"You too." Rory replied as she nodded her head nervously. As she turned her head again, Clark called out again.

"Before you leave, can you just tell me your name?" Clark asked.

"It's Rory." Rory replied as she looked back at him again.

"Rory...that's nice." Clark said with a small smile. "I'm Clark...it was nice meeting you Rory."

"Nice meeting you too Clark." Rory said, smiling shyly back as she started to run.

As she disappeared into the shadows, Clark turned his head towards the lake and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he sat and smiled to himself. He felt at peace.

****

It was dark in the room. It would have been completely if not for the small lit candles that found on the coffee table and the television radiating in the distance. They had been lounging on the couch watching It happened one night, one of his favourite movies of all time. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, hating each other, bantering until they fall in love. What could beat that?

Lex didn't know what to do after he had told Lana about Clark. He took her around the mansion but she was so silent all the way through, not uttering one word. Any other day, Lex wouldn't think twice about the silence but it was just the expression on her face that really worried him. Half way through the house, he decided to take a detour. He quickly took her hand and brought her to the theater room.

"Do you want to see anything?" Lex asked. "It's your choice."

"I don't know Lex." Lana said plainly as she shrugged her shoulders. "Why don't you choose?"

"How about It happened one night?" Lex suggested. It was a romantic comedy but still a classic nonetheless. "Have you ever seen it?"

"I haven't." Lana admitted. "That's fine."

As they watched the movie, neither one of them uttered a word. They both just sat on opposite ends of the couch, concentrating solely the screen before them. At times, Lex would glance quickly at her just to see how she was doing. His heart started to ease as she began to sit with her legs curled beside her as he could see her eyes staring intensely, smiling ever so slightly whenever something sweet or funny happened onscreen. At least for the time being, she was relaxed.

Lex still wondered in awe why the ending still gets to him. He had seen this movie a hundred times but every time Gable and Colbert finally realize they are in love, he can't help but smile. Despite everything, all the heartbreak he had suffered, the wrong women he had fallen for, there was always a small part of him who just can't help but be a romantic. He knows it's too easy to buy into the happy ending. It's sappy, unrealistic and idealistic, but at the same time, he wants it. Maybe that's why he had always been so sympathetic to Clark's love for Lana and why, in spite of it all, he still wanted to fall in love. For real. For good.

He looked over at Lana as he turned off the tv. Lana had curled herself up in a ball and was fast asleep. "When did she fall asleep?" he wondered to himself as he slowly sat up from the couch so not to wake her. He quickly picked up an afghan from an armchair nearby and draped it on her. As he stood near her, he quickly knelt down beside her. Touching her lightly across the forehead, Lana twitched a little but not enough to completely stir her. Despite Lex always having known her as very mature for her age, at this moment, she just looked like a girl sleeping so soundly, nothing could really wake her. Lex smiled once more as he watched and then gave her a quick peck on the forehead before leaving. "Night Lana." he whispered softly.

****

"Don't fall for her!" Lorelai cried out as she watched intensely at the screen. "She's a Nazi!"

Dean just looked on in amusement as Lorelai looked with disappointment at Indy falling once again for the charms of a female.

"I guess I can't blame him." Lorelai said dejectedly as if she had given up hope. "She is probably the hottest woman out of the three movies."

"I don't know, I kinda find Karen Allen a lot more attractive than her." Dean interjected as he referred to Raiders of the Lost Ark. As he finished his sentence, he looked over at Lorelai and knew he should have kept his mouth shut. She just kept staring at him as if he had committed the greatest sin.

"What?" Dean replied as he looked Lorelai shaking her head in disapproval.

"I can't believe you just said that." Lorelai replied as she stared at the screen. "Even Kate Capshaw had more sex appeal than Karen Allen!"

"Hey I never said I didn't think Kate Capshaw was hot." Dean protested. "I just think that I myself would be more into Karen Allen."

"I guess you think that Raiders was the best one out of the three, right?" Lorelai suggested. As she looked over at Dean's guilty expression, she knew that she had guessed right. "You can't be serious?"

"Well it's pretty much a known fact that with most trilogies, the first film is always the best." Dean explained.

"Most." Lorelai said as she raised her finger close to Dean's face. "Not all. Case in point: The Godfather. Part 2 was obviously way better than the first one."

"Hey I never argued that..."Dean interjected and then stopped. He had gotten himself into this mess in the first place. After all this time, he knew well and good never to argue with any Gilmore, especially Lorelai. It never goes anywhere and even if you're right, you're always wrong. "Why do I even bother?"

"See? I'm right." Lorelai said in satisfaction.

"And have you ever admitted that you were wrong?" Dean asked.

"Nope, because I'm always right." Lorelai replied with a grin. "Ooh...it's getting to the good part..."

"Mom..."Rory exclaimed from the kitchen. "I'm sorry I was so late."

"Hey honey." Lorelai replied as she got off the couch towards Rory. "Where were you? I tried calling the cell..."

"Remember?" Rory exclaimed as she hugged her mom. "Low battery." As she looked over her shoulder, she realized that Dean was sitting on the couch as well. "Dean!"

"Hey Rory." Dean replied as he waved.

"What are you doing here?" Rory asked, a little confused.

"He just came by to say hi and I thought he'd want to join us for movie night." Lorelai explained.

"Did you see all three without me?" Rory asked.

"Of course not." Lorelai replied. "We ended up watching Indiana Jones instead. Well, more like fast forwarding through the first two and getting to the third." She quickly looked at Dean and then at Rory. She knew better but she couldn't help herself. "Rory, which one of the three do you think is the best?"

"Come on! The Last Crusade, obviously." Rory replied as if it was too obvious to ask.

"See?" Lorelai said as she looked over to Dean.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Dean replied. "You guys always gang up on me."

"That's because you make it too easy!" Lorelai said with a laugh, as Rory giggled with her.

"Okay fine." Dean replied, knowing he was outnumbered. " I have to go anyways."

"Are you sure?" Lorelai asked, wondering if she hadn't gone too far.

"Yeah. It's getting late and you gotta know when you're being outnumbered." Dean said in a mocking tone." As he got up off of the couch, he walked towards Rory. " Welcome back Rory."

"Thanks." Rory answered as she watched him leave the room and walked towards the front door.

"Hey Dean," Lorelai exclaimed as he turned his head towards her. "Do you want to come over tomorrow? We're probably going to get to watch Back to the Future. Are you game?"

"Sure that sounds fine." Dean said as he shrugged. "And thanks."

As he leaves, Rory turns to Lorelai. "Is he okay?"

"Dean called off his wedding to Lindsay." Lorelai explained as they walked towards the couch. "He just realized that he didn't love her enough to get married, Lindsay freaked out and they broke up."

"I feel so bad for Dean..." Rory began,"but do you think it's wrong that I kinda feel relieved for him too? I mean getting married at 18 sounds crazy."

"Hey, it's okay. I'm relieved for him too." Lorelai admitted. "I can't imagine what life would be like if he had married Lindsay. He'd be on a short leash forever. And Dean's too good for that."

"I just hope he's happy one day." Rory exclaimed.

"He will be, honey." Lorelai said with a smile. "He's got a fresh start now and you know someday he's going to meet someone who will love him just the way he is....anyways, now that Dean's gone, would you tell me where you were tonight. I was worried."

"I was just by the lake mom." Rory explained. "I was just sitting there, thinking and then I lost track of time. By the time I remembered what time it was, I just ran home."

"What were you thinking about out there, alone?" Lorelai asked.

"Jess." Rory admitted. "I thought I was over it. Like it was out of sight, out of mind. I guess I wasn't really over it because tonight everything came flooding back and I just had to be alone."

"Honey, I'm sorry." Lorelai said as she stroked Rory's hair. "I thought our trip was going to help but I guess you never had a chance to process it all. One minute, he's here, the next he's gone and we're gone too. It'll get better, I promise."

"I know." Rory said with a small smile. "I just needed the time tonight to say goodbye. Think about him one more time before I move on. I know he's not coming back. I know that now. I just need a fresh start too, just like Dean."

"Yeah, like Dean." Lorelai answered with hope. "I just hate the fact that you had a horrible night. Tonight was supposed to be fun and relaxing, not remembering old wounds."

"Actually, to tell you the truth, it wasn't really that bad at all." Rory admitted, smiling to herself.

"Really?" Lorelai asked as she looked at Rory's expression. For a person thinking about her ex-boyfriend breaking her heart, she was taking it pretty well. "Why are you smiling?"

"Nothing." Rory replied, as she looked out the window. "It's just a really pretty night, don't you think?"

"It is." Lorelai replied softly, as she looked out the window as well.

To be continued.