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 for reading the story. I have been reading the comments and I have enjoyed them tremendously. Just to clarify, the girl in part I was just a random girl Bad Clark had found in a bar somewhere and just had a one night stand. It wasn't Rory or anything like that. I just needed a catalyst for Clark to return back to his real self so that he could meet Rory. Secondly, no, you are not imagining things: Yes, one of the subplots to this story is LORELAI AND DEAN (ie. Rory's mom and Rory's exboyfriend). If anyone has ever been to my site, you would know that I love Lorelai and Dean to death: (I have a L/D site too: Drawn to you ). Yes there will be probably some JJ moments too but it's headed towards L/D in one shape or form.

****

Part IV - Something to talk about

"Are you settled in?" Lex as he sat himself down at his desk. He had just driven Lana to work and now was in his office, starting up on his paperwork.

"I'm okay." Clark replied as he struggled to hold onto the receiver between his shoulder and ear while he was buttoning up his jeans. " Thanks again."

"As long as you are fine." Lex answered.

"Did you talk to my parents yet?" Clark asked, clearly worried about how they took it.

"Yeah I talked to them." Lex said with a sigh. It wasn't pretty.

"I'm sorry about that." Clark said, already anticipated what Lex had to go through. He knew his dad had always disliked Lex from the start and probably didn't help much that Lex had to be the one telling them where their son was.

"It's fine." Lex assured them. "It was a big shock for them as you can imagine but I think they were just both relieved that you were found. I think in the end, your mom understood, which will help your dad too."

"And Lana?" Clark said quietly, almost afraid to ask.

"I was worried about her at first but she'll be okay." Lex said. " Just don't underestimate her. She's strong."

"I know." Clark said simply. Although he hated to admit it before he left, the more she stopped relying on him to save her, the stronger she grew. And even though he had wanted to be the hero of her life, now, more than ever, he was just glad that she didn't need him to survive. "The less I am in her life, the better she will be." he thought to himself.

"Do you need anything?" Lex suddenly asked "Money, some clothes, food, car?"

"Hey, I told you." Clark answered. "I have enough money so the food and clothes factor is taken care of. I also have my motorcycle so transportation is not a problem. I can handle it."

"Even so, just call me if you need anything." Lex insisted. "I promised your mom that you'd be well taken care of and that you'd be safe."

"What can I say that will make you believe that I'm okay Lex?" Clark asked, wondering what words he could say to comfort his best friend.

"I do believe you Clark." Lex replied. "I just can't imagine you holed up in that house all by yourself all the time. It's like your loft but at least people came to visit you there. Over there, you're just alone."

"Hey you've lived by yourself for a long time," Clark remarked. "and you were fine. But I guess you've lost your perspective on this one now that you're married. So how is Helen?"

"Yeah..."Lex said hesitantly, not knowing what to say. "about that..."

"Married life isn't as great as the way you pictured it right?" Clark asked, in a joking manner.

"You can say that again but..." Lex said slowly.

"What?" Clark asked, wondering why Lex was beginning to sound strange.

"Helen and I aren't together anymore." Lex finally blurted with a heavy sigh.

"Um...wh...I'm sorry Lex." Clark managed to say, still trying to let the words sink in. "I thought you guys were in love." he remarked.

"I was in love with her Clark." Lex said. Maybe too much in love with her that he had let it blind him from the truth. Maybe if he hadn't followed his heart so much, he wouldn't have let himself fall in too deep.

"I don't know what to say." Clark admitted. This is beyond him. It was at this moment that he fully realized how much of a difference two months makes. He was still the same but the lives of everyone around him had changed. "When did it happen? How did it happen?"

"It's a long story Clark." Lex replied, partly because he just wasn't ready to relive it yet. "There's just too much to tell... I promise. I'll tell you all about it later."

"Okay." Clark said, still not being able to find the words.

"I'm going to clear my schedule so that I can come down there next week." Lex explained, trying to change the subject. "We'll talk then. Okay, I have to go now. And Clark?"

"Yeah?" Clark asked.

"Be careful." Lex said as he hung up the phone.

****

"Hey Lana." Chloe exclaimed suddenly as she plopped herself down unto the stool in front of her.

"Hey Chloe!" Lana said with a warm smile.

"I should be mad at you for ditching me." Chloe said with slightly teasing tone, trying to mask her true disappointment. "Now it's just me and my dad again. Do you know how boring that is? It kinda sucks. Was I such a horrible person to live with?"

" Chloe..." Lana said with a sigh." You know how much I loved to live with you...You are the only sister I've ever known...I...I just thought that after what happened between us before you left for Metropolis that maybe it'd be better for the both of us that we have some space between us."

"I thought we got past all of that Clark drama." Chloe pointed out.

"Yeah we have." Lana agreed. "But if there was any possibility that one day we'd hate each other, I don't know what I'll do...I can't risk it. I can't lose you."

"I can't lose you either." Chloe admitted softly too. "I just miss you."

"I miss you too." Lana said with a wistful smile.

"So...tell me." Chloe said suddenly, trying to sound more cheerful. "How is it living with the infamous Lex Luthor, in a mansion no less? Lex Luthor and Lana Lang, housemates? I never would have guessed."

"I know," Lana said as she began to arrange some muffins on the counter turntable. "Even though it sounds weird, Lex has been good to me. He's actually the best person I've ever lived with, present company excluded of course."

"Naturally." Chloe said with a laugh. "But really Lana, you are living with the one of the richest men in the country, in a mansion with servants and everything...maybe I should have been the one to move out."

"I don't think that your dad would have been too happy about that." Lana giggled.

"Well, what did Nell say about this new arrangement?" Chloe noted.

"She was hesitant at first but she's been friends with the Luthor family for years so in the end she caved in." Lana explained. "Anyways, it's a temporary situation. It's only going to be for a month." she paused. "I'm kinda glad that I'm living with him. He's been so supportive and understanding...I don't know how to explain it but he has really been there for me this summer when you were gone. Especially now with Clark and everything..."

"Clark?" Chloe asked, kinda disappointed. "I thought we had sworn off Clark already."

"No Chloe..." Lana explained, wondering where to start. "That's not it...Chloe, Clark called Lex yesterday." She could see the expression on Chloe's face change completely. She couldn't understand why but Clark still had an effect on the both of them.

"Where is he?" Chloe said softly, staring off into nowhere.

"He's in Connecticut. Lex is having him stay at his mother's old house in Hartford." Lana explained. "From what Lex told me, he sounds okay."

"Is he coming home any time soon?" Chloe asked as she looked at Lana.

"I don't know...Lex doesn't know either." Lana admitted as she shrugged her shoulders. Despite how close they all were, Clark was still a mystery to them. "He still needs some time to figure some things out, I guess."

"Are you okay Lana?" Chloe asked, concerned.

"I was wondering the same thing about you." Lana said, reaching her hand to rub Chloe's shoulder.

"Hey, I'm okay...a shock but I'm glad that he's fine." Chloe said, finally admitting that she still cared about Clark. "We'll all be fine."

"I'm still wondering Clark." Lana exclaimed. "What do you think he's doing down there?"

"Who knows?" Chloe said finally with a sigh. "We've never been able to figure him out, could we?"

"No...we couldn't." Lana said sadly.

****

Clark had spent the better part of the morning trying to buy himself some clothes. He just figured it'd probably be best if he'd get some clothes to get him through the week. The white t-shirt and jeans couldn't last this whole time and he really didn't want everyone who passed him by think that he didn't have any other clothes. He had quickly figured out from the phone books and maps for the nearest mall and quickly grabbed a couple of t-shirts and jeans. Like most boys his age, he just didn't have the patience or time to shop. He just wanted to get in and get out.

The next thing he had to tackle was food. There was nothing in the fridge in the house to eat so he had to bite the bullet and buy some food to last him for awhile. He had thought about going to a supermarket nearby, but at the last minute he changed his mind. When he had been in Stars Hollow yesterday, he had passed what seemed to be a small grocery store. Even though he tried not to think about it much, he knew that the real reason why he wanted to travel a half an hour instead of 10 mins to buy groceries was that he wanted to see her again. He couldn't really figured out why exactly but there was just something about her that just made him smile. And it didn't hurt the fact that they just knew nothing about each other. They just knew from what the other said and that was it. There were no mistakes or regrets. Everything was new and fresh and there was nothing to lose. He knew there was a good chance they'd meet accidentally but even if they didn't, he rationalized, he still needed food.

Riding through Stars Hollow again with his motorcycle, Clark was still surprised that he still got looks. "I guess they'd probably figured that I was just passing through," he thought to himself. "not staying awhile." Even though it was like the day before, now he started to notice whispering and pointing as he walked towards the store. There was even a bearded man who just shook his head from a distance and rushed right into the grocery as if no one would notice. Clark just tried his best not to let it bother him and walked calmly into the store.

He didn't need much. A few apples, oranges, cereal, soda, soup and spaghetti in a can and he was set. The hard part was maneuvering through the store. Clark knew it was going to be small but he didn't quite anticipate the aisles being so narrow. Even though there weren't that many people in the store, he had to make an effort not to bump into anybody. However, as his back was turned and he was to reach for some plastic bags, BAM! He had accidentally run into a lady holding various herbs in her hands.

"I'm so sorry!" Clark exclaimed immediately as he rushed to pick up the lady's groceries. As he stood up again, he quickly met the eyes of the woman staring straight at him.

"Well hello sailor." the woman said with a purr.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" Clark said with genuine concern as he helped to steady her but unbeknownst to him, she had her mind on other things.

"Wonderful my dear, now that you're here." the lady replied as she took a good look at him. "Oh my! You are a strong strapping young man aren't you?" as she touched his bicep.

Clark was getting red in the cheeks. The last time he was this embarrassed was the time when Desiree had tried to seduce him in the barn. But this time, he was even more flustered. If he wasn't so taken aback, he could swear that this woman was hitting on him. She was old enough to be his mother.

"Yes, thank you ma'am." He answered politely as he tried to make it to the checkout line.

"Don't worry dear, I'm harmless." She exclaimed as she could see the scared look on his face. "But if I were twenty years younger, you'd better watch out sweetheart." She just looked with a dreamy stare as he walked away. And as he turn his back towards her, she let out an amorous sigh. "That just made my day." she thought to herself as she exited the store.

Clark let out a sigh of relief as he saw her finally leave his peripheral view, as he waited for the bag boy to scan his groceries.

"Miss Patty means well." the boy replied as he kept on scanning. "She may come on strong but she really is a sweet lady."

Clark just looked on at the cashier with a smile. He had longish brown hair and was about his age. He had probably gone through the same thing, he thought, now he had lived to tell. "Thanks. How much is it?"

"$15.40" he replied.

Clark pulled out a few bills and waited for him to give him change. He nodded his head in appreciation as he hurriedly exited the store. He was quickly realizing how strange this town really was and maybe it'd be better if he didn't attract so much attention when he was really trying to keep a low profile. Before he could even turn the corner, he had realized he had spoke too soon and disaster laid ahead.

THWAP! Once again, Clark shook his head in disbelief as he managed not only to run into one person but two people in one day. This day was just getting worse by the minute.

"I can't believe this,' he thought to himself he rushed to the person's aide. "I'm sorry miss...I should have watched where I was going, I just didn't th..." As he looked up, he quickly realized who he had bumped into and secretly wished that he could take the last two minutes back. "Hi..."

"Hi." She answered as timidly as he had been.

"Are you hurt?" Clark asked, as he reached out to for her hand. She held onto it for a moment as she gained her composure and then quickly pulled away.

"No, I'm fine." Rory replied as she shook her head, trying to make light of the situation. "See? No broken bones." She had hoped to see him again but not to run smack dab right into him."

"It's all my fault." Clark said with guilt. "I should have looked where I was going."

"Hey, it was my fault too." Rory insisted as she pointed to her hand. "I was reading and I didn't see you."

"It's Rory right?" Clark asked, trying to find a way to rectify the situation.

"Yeah." Rory replied with a smile, happy that he had remembered her name. "Clark?"

"Yeah." he replied as well with a bashful smile. "Now since we all know each other's names, do you think that I could buy you a cup of coffee. It's only fair since I almost gave you a concussion."

"I told you, I'm okay." Rory insisted as she smiled back. She was tempted to take him on his offer but she just couldn't right now. "Anyways, I really wish I could stay but I have to go somewhere."

"A rain check maybe?" Clark asked.

"Um...definitely." Rory replied.

"Great." Clark answered, grinning from ear to ear. He walked over to the motorcycle nearby and started to put his groceries into his backpack.

"Wow." Rory exclaimed as she looked over his black motorcycle. "Very impressive. I mean, I don't know anything about them but it looks really beautiful."

"Thanks." Clark replied, happy that she approved. "I would ask you if you'd like to go for a ride but you have to go. I'll see you later Rory."

"See you..." Rory exclaimed as she watched him ride off.

****

"Hey, how's my partner doing?" Lex asked as he walked into the Talon.

"Miserable." Lana said with a sigh as she leaned onto the counter. "I mean business is going great but I haven't had a break in hours!" She looked onto Lex's amused face. "How about you?"

"Just replace annoying customers with my father and you'll know exactly how my day went." Lex said as he sat in front of her.

"That great huh?" Lana teasingly.

"Best day of my life." Lex said with a laugh.

"I can't believe this is what our summer has become." Lana exclaimed as she reached for a cup so that she could make him an ice cappuccino. "Me working day and night here and you having to deal with your father even though you don't even work for him anymore!"

"Life doesn't seem fair does it?" Lex replied as he walked around the counter and helped himself to the cappuccino machine as she started to serve other customers.

"Not to us." Lana agreed as she turned close to Lex. "Sometimes I just want to scream."

"Well we can't have that." Lex said as he bent closer to her, whispering in her ear. "Do you want to go?"

"What?" Lana whispered back, not believing what she was hearing. "I can't do that!"

"Who says?" Lex asked as he shrugged. "If you remember, we own the Talon. We can do whatever we want."

"What about the customers? My shift?" Lana insisted.

"Paula can cover for you." Lex explained as he walked behind her and started to untie her apron as well as push her out of the counter area. "Anyways, you need a break. You're due." As he folded her apron, he reached into the pocket and fished for the front door keys. "Paula?"

"Yes sir?" Paula replied as she turned towards him from a distance.

"Catch!" Lex exclaimed as he threw the keys to her. "Could you please lock up?"

"Yes sir." Paula replied as she caught the keys.

"Lex!" Lana protested as she tried to walk back. "I can'..."

"Hey, no backing up here." Lex continued as he kept pushing her towards the exit.

"Well then, where are we going?" Lana asked as she tried to look back.

"It's a surprise." Lex replied simply. "Now get going." He held the door open as he waited for her to walk through it.

Lana just looked at him skeptically before she stopped resisting and walked out in defeat.

****

"Lane?" Rory called out as she entered the Antique store. She had promised Lane that she'd come by to visit, but as she walked through the cluttered store, she couldn't see Lane or Mrs. Kim. "Lane? Where are you?"

As Rory walked deeper into the store, she could muffled sounds in the distance. As she followed the sounds, she could hear it coming from the armoire in the corner. She opened it and gasped.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed, as she covered her eyes. There, Lane and Dave were making out, caught in a passionate embrace, but once she opened the door, they pulled apart with lightning speed.

"Hey Rory." Lane said, completely flustered.

"Hey Rory." Dave said with a smile and then kissed Lane quickly. "I'll see you later okay?"

"You don't have to leave Dave." Rory protested, feeling as if she shouldn't have have interrupted him.

"Rory, it's fine." Dave said as he patted Rory on the shoulder. "Mrs. Kim is going to be back soon and I don't think she'd be too happy if she found me here."

"Dave's still trying to suck up to my mom." Lane explained as she walked over to Dave and put her arms around him. "Even after the prom, she is still suspicious of him. She loves him I know but the non-Korean factor is still making her sit on the fence on this one."

Dave just smiled and kissed her on the head. "Hey, at least she doesn't hate me."

"But still, " Lane said with a sigh. "What are we going to do when..."

"Lane?" Mrs. Kim called out in the distance.

"Yes Mama." Lane cried out as she looked over at Dave and Rory, panic stricken. "Oh God!" Lane whispered as she kissed Dave quickly. "Go through the back door!" she hissed.

He smiled before he rushed towards the door.

"How long do you think this can go on?" Rory asked as she watched him leap over a couple of chairs and sprinted out.

"I don't know Rory." Lane admitted. "I thought she would ease up on the rules now that me and Dave are together but I always feel like she's watching over my shoulder."

"LANE!" Mrs. Kim hollered as she entered.

"Mama!" Lane exclaimed after she jumped out of her skin.

"Why weren't you at the front?" Mrs. Kim demanded. "There could have been customers!"

"I'm sorry." Lane apologized.

"Fine, just go up there now." Mrs. Kim replied swiftly as she looked over at Rory. "Rory."

"Hi Mrs. Kim." Rory said politely, hoping that she wouldn't jump on her as well.

Mrs. Kim just looked at her and then walked towards the kitchen without saying a word.

"Your mom is never going to like me is she?" Rory said as she followed Lane towards the front of the store.

"Come on, my mom not saying anything is good." Lane explained. "At least she's not yelling at you. Anyways, let's talk about something else. Have you heard?"

"What?" Rory asked as she sat down on a chair.

"You haven't heard?" Lane said, kinda shocked. "It's all anyone's talking about today."

"What Lane?" Rory said as she smiled. " Taylor's controlling the world? Kirk's moved out of his mom's house?"

"There's a new guy in town." Lane said with a smile. "He came into town yesterday, but people were only talking about it today when Miss Patty saw him at Doose's Market and then the news of it just spread through town. I even heard Taylor got really upset about him, calling him a hoodlum for having a motorcycle. Kirk said he only saw him from far away and that he wasn't so cool...man, I wish I had seen him...I want to see this hot motorcycle guy."

"Um...Lane..."Rory began, not knowing how to start. "I think I saw him."

"You saw motorcycle guy?" Lane gasped, completely riveted.

"Last night when I was sitting at the bridge, he kinda snuck up on me and we...sort of...talked." Rory answered simply.

"You talked to him?" Lane repeated, unbelieving. "What does he look like? Is he as hot as Patty's been saying? She is still having chills right now."

"He's nice." Rory answered, trying to downplay it.

"He's hot! I knew it!" Lane exclaimed.

"I didn't say that." Rory insisted.

"I can see it in your eyes, Rory." Lane answered. "Tell me everything. I need details! It's been so long since I've heard any great gossip. I'm already depressed enough about college. You've got to cheer me up."

"There isn't any much to say." Rory admitted. "We talked, I left and we kinda bumped into each other earlier."

"You've talked to motorcycle guy twice already?" Lane said in admiration. "Man, you have a thing for bad boys."

"His name is Clark." Rory corrected her. "And he's not really a bad boy. He's kinda sweet."

"Are you going to see him again?" Lane asked, trying to pry.

"I don't know Lane." Rory replied, shrugging. "Maybe..."

"Well if you do, you have to let me see this guy." Lane said. "Now I'm all jealous."

"What about Dave?" Rory asked.

"No one is better than Dave." Lane said with a happy sigh. "But this is just cool....hey, did you tell Lorelai about it?"

"I haven't yet." Rory admitted.

"Why?" Lane asked.

"It's not like it was with Dean." Rory explained. "There's nothing that I have to tell her yet. We just talked, that's all. Who knows, I might never talk to him again."

"Maybe or maybe not." Lane said slyly. "You never know..."

****

"He broke up with you?" Sookie exclaimed, as she gave Lorelai another cup of coffee.

"It's no big deal Sookie." Lorelai insisted. "We didn't even date that long. He just called me up and told me it wasn't going to work out."

"He called you?" Sookie repeated. "He didn't even have the nerve to break up in person. That is just wrong."

"I can't really blame him Sookie." Lorelai answered. "We didn't spend too much time together when we were dating and then there was that whole mess with Max, not to mention the fact that I went away for two months. If I were Alex, I'd probably break up with me too."

"I'm sorry honey." Sookie sighed as she empathized with her. "I really thought you guys would be together for awhile. He seemed like a good guy."

"He was." Lorelai agreed as she sipped on her coffee. "But you know my track record with guys. I was with Christopher, Max, Christopher again, Alex...it all ends the same. It's never happy."

"You'll find it someday." Sookie insisted. "Anybody would be lucky to be with you."

"Thanks sweetie." Lorelai said with a smile. "You and Jackson are so lucky to have each other."

"Thanks..." Sookie answered. "Although he's been driving me nuts about the baby."

"He's just being protective." Lorelai explained.

"I know but I really, really want to tell him about the sex of the baby." Sookie replied. "I just want him to be as excited about our baby girl as I am."

"He will be." Lorelai said, holding Sookie's hand. "Just give him time. He'll relax at some point."

"I hope so." Sookie said with a smile. "I just don't want him to blow a blood cell running around all the time, worrying about the baby. I mean, the house is so babyproofed, I can't even get out of the house."

"Yeah, you can never accuse Jackson of not covering ALL the bases here." Lorelai exclaimed as she looked around the house. Everything just seemed to be bolted, locked or padded. "But he means well....anyways, how's the repairs on the inn doing?"

"It's been pretty good. We've been able to fix a lot of the exteriors and the foundation." Sookie explained. "We just have to decide on the interiors and design."

"Great." Lorelai said with a satisfied grin. "Though I'm not going to think about how much it's going to cost in the end."

"Oh, don't remind me." Sookie agreed. "With the baby coming and the inn, it's making me have a headache."

"Well then let's think about something else." Lorelai suggested.

"Hey, did you hear about the new guy in town? Patty couldn't stop talking about him. It's all over town." Sookie exclaimed.

"Yeah I saw him at Luke's yesterday. Seemed alright." Lorelai explained. "He looked like he could be in college or something."

"College boy?" Sookie said with a giggle.

"I have to say, that boy is gorgeous." Lorelai said, remembering. "Maybe it was the motorcycle or something...if I were 10 years younger, oy...God, I miss sex."

"You and me both." Sookie replied, as she sighed along with Lorelai.

****

Rory walked slowly but calmly. She didn't really know what she was doing but she just had this feeling like she needed to take a chance. Chances were he wouldn't be there. Everything that was rational or logical was telling her just to go home. Last night she had missed movie night and if she missed it again, her mom would probably be disappointed, again. "This is so stupid," Rory thought to herself. She had acted like an idiot like a hundred times before and even after all the mistakes she had made and even though with every stupid outcome, she had refused to make the same mistake again, here she was. Searching for a guy and waiting for him to show, when he'd probably never even come. With her luck, she'd probably never see him again. "To hell with it." Rory sighed as she walked on. She might as well go through with it. What is one more humiliation going to do. If he doesn't show, he doesn't. It's not like he owed her anything. They owed nothing to each other. They didn't even know each other. She just took a deep breath and kept walking. There was really nothing to lose.

"Hey, I thought you might show up." Clark exclaimed suddenly from where he sat as he turned around to look at her. All she could see was a smile. A big beautiful, bashful grin.

"Hi..."Rory replied, smiling right back at him.

To be continued.