4

Lana stunned at Mack's yelling took a seat on a milk crate, looked up at Mack and said, "Well go on then?"]

Mack stayed standing, she wasn't use to having to explain herself to anyone. She stood and told Lana about her fear of horses and that's why when Chloe pulled up they didn't notice her because, Clark was just making sure she was ok with everything and She was making sure she didn't have a panic attack. She went of further to explain why she looked so comfortable on the horse, "I was holding on for dear life Lana, I was so scared and despite the fact that Clark made me feel safe I tuck my head into him , held on to him and closed my eyes. I wasn't as comfortable as you perceived."

She went into how he slowed down the horse for her and that he said he felt really comfortable with her.

At that Lana looked sadly to the ground but didn't say a word. Mack paused and contemplated as to whether to tell her about the kiss and the major blow out they had about her. 'Should I tell her about the kiss then not tell her about Clark coming here later on?' she thought. Apparently this thought process was taking to long and Lana was getting annoyed.

"So why am I sitting here? For you to tell me how much more happy he is with you?" she says annoyed and rises to her feet.

Mack runs her hands through her hair nervously, 'X out the kiss Mack' "No, I'm standing here to tell you I asked him about you."

'And?"

'And he said he had done so much, lied so much."

Lana didn't respond so Mack opted to push forward, "So I looked at him in those eyes of his and asked 'If you told her right now that you loved her, would you be lying?"

Lana looked up with a look of hurtful hope. "What did he say?"

"No, he said no."

Lana smiled a weak smile and remember, "And that changes what?"

"Jesus, I come to this town and I'm forced to be the optimist this sucks," walking closer to Lana "Listen I can't tell you everything right now but I promise you know everything tonight."

"Tonight?" Lana asks exasperated with this entire situation.

"Yeah I promise..tonight," with that Mack walked out with an evil look on her face and retreated to her apartment.

Lana followed suit and watched her walk up the stares with a goofy smile on her face. 'What is she up to?'

::3 hours later..The Talon Closing time::

Mack poked her head out noticing that the last customer had just left and Lana was alone so she called Clark.

::Ring::Ring::

"Hello?" Martha Kent answered.

"Yeah Hey this is Mackenzie is Clark there."

"Yes he is hold on a minute," she places the phone down and yells up to Clark. Who runs down looking quite handsome. He picks up the phone.

"Mack?"

"Yeah hey man she's here everyone's gone.. Go for it."

Clark smiled from ear to ear, "Ok thanks be there in a minute." dropping the phone he sped to the truck and raced to the Talon. The butterflies from his stomach seemed to be choking him but it didn't matter this was going to happen.

::Meanwhile in the Talon::

Lana sadly rubbed down all the tables and counters and just started put up the chairs when Clark burst in.

Having heard this Mack positioned herself by her door to listen.

A bit startled by Clark's entrance Lana puts her hand to her heart, "You scared me."

Feeling terrible for it, "I'm sorry," walking closer and closer.

Lana confused as to Clarks behavior backs up a bit, "Clark what…."

Before she could finish Clark puts his finer to her mouth, "Not yet.." with that he pulls her into his arms and kisses her like he never has before. Lana shocked at first stumbles over herself then returns the kiss with just as much passion. Clark pulls back and looks at her. She still has her eyes closed, still mentally involved in the kiss. Her eyes open slowly to meet Clarks.

Putting her forehead to his and licking her lips, "wha…"

Cutting her off and lifting his head up, "I need to do that, I needed to start this off right. I've been wanting to do that since I got back from metropolis." He lets her go Lana doesn't say anything just stares at him trying to wrap her head around what just happened. Clark leads her to the counter stool and pulls it out for her. "Here sit because, I need to explain to you everything."

As Lana sits down she breathily says, "Everything?"

"Everything! And it might change how you see me but I need you to know. Because I don't know about you but I won't be happy until we're together again," turning his back to her and walking to the middle of the talon then turning around, "And if this doesn't work if you never want to see me again it doesn't matter…well I mean it does but I can't wake up one more morning wishing you knew.. So here it goes."

Lana just nods. She's been waiting for this their entire friendship she wasn't about to interrupt him.

Clark takes a deep breathe wondering how exactly to present this to her. "Ok then. First of all," walking close to her, "I've loved you since I can remember. You, Lana Lang not the girl who puts on a brave face for the world. You. I love you so much it kills me to hurt you."

Lana interrupting, "Then don't"

"I know just listen. I didn't mean to hurt you. There were times when…well it wasn't me hurting you.." He looks at Lana for some reaction but she just sits there confused. "You remember that day last year I came in here and just kissed you? Then we went out to a car and I basically ditched you.."

"I try to forget," Lana says liking down at her hands then back at him.

"It wasn't me. I mean it was but without a conscious. You know the red stone sin the class rings?" Lana nods, "yeah well they effect my inhibitions. I do everything without thinking of the repercussions…..I had it on the day I …" hesitating.

Getting up, "They day you told me you loved more then I'd ever know and left me for 3 months?1?!? That day?" She starts crying and at this Clark walks up to her and goes to wrap her in her arms but she pulls away. "Don't. I still have more questions."

Taken aback, "I know I just hate to see you cry."

Not reacting to his comment, "Why does it effect you and no one else?"

"Um because I'm not like everyone else," sitting down and pushing his hair back. 'this is harder then I thought it would be. '

"What are you?" Realizes that came ok harshly she walks over and sits across from him, "I didn't mean it like that I meant, what's different?"

"My parents didn't adopt me, they found me," getting up and walking toward the doors. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes.

Lana sits a bit confused, "Found you?"

"Yeah they day of the meteor shower they found my in a field. With a …well I was in a.." Clark moves his hands nervously and looks around 'in a spaceship just say it. A SPACE_SHIP'

Lana gets up and grabs his shaking hand, "What ever it is Clark just tell me.."

"If I do you might not want to know me anymore," looking at her strained.

"Nothing and I mean nothing could ever make me not want to know you," grabbing his other hand. She looks up at him with a look of angst and hope.

"In a spaceship..there I said it…" looking away from her.

Shocked Lana drops both his hands and walks backwards from him, "a space..ship ? That means you came with the meteors.. Which means you're an …an….an…" Looking at the ground her head shakes from side to side.

Clark is deeply sadden by her initial reaction, "an alien."

"What does this mean? I mean so your not human?"

"No, I mean I am human just like you but I can do things that no one else can…" walking towards her.

Still backing up, "Like..like what?" she couldn't help but fall on her words its not everyday the man you love tells you he's from another planet. Frankly its not any day.

Upset about her backing away, "Umm you see that candle on the counter?"

Lana turns around to see it and then looks back at him, "What about it? Its not lit."

"Just watch, stand back a little," Lana looks at him with a what the hell look then sees him squint his eyes. Suddenly his eyes get fire red and out comes a beam of light. She looks back at the candle and the wick starts burning until its lit.

Clark stops the heat vision and looks for her reaction but there isn't one she just stares at the candle as if it was a ghost.

Walking toward her, "Lana…"

Cutting him off "What else can you do?" still staring at the candle.

"Um well look up at Mack's door…"

"Ok," Lana turns to stareing at her door.

Suddenly a whoosh of wind goes through Lana's hair and she sees something speed up the stairs. Then there's Clark at the door, next the rushes back down grabs her on his way and brings her outside in a matter of seconds.

Putting her down, "I have this super speed thing.."

Fusing her hair out of habit, "yeah I see that, anything else."

"Umm yeah hold on," they walk back inside and he speeds to the kitchen and speeds back returning to a still dumfounded Lana lang. "You see this knife, it would cut a normal person right?"

"Yeah?"

Clark holds up the knife with one hand and puts the other hand's palm at the tip, "Now watch," he starts to push the knife…

Lana freaks, "Clark……" she watches the knife bend and break, "don't…how?"

Setting down the knife, "My skin is like steel, I can get shot with thousands of bullets and it wouldn't so much as nick me." Lana stands there not saying a word just taking everything in. Clark continues, "I have X-ray vision..umm I can see through everything but I don't think I can see through lead."

Lana thought to question him if had ever X-rayed her but she knew Clark. She knew the man he was and would be honorable and trustworthy. He had the biggest heart of anyone she ever knew, she didn't know that till right now.

The silence was deadening. Lana broke it with, "Is that everything?"

"One more thing…I have really good hearing," due to Lana's lack of response, seemingly lack of acceptance he stood their awkwardly.

Lana crosses her arms while shaking her head and looking up at him, "How good?"

Stepping closer to her, "That night you came to my loft and told me about Adam…"

"What about it?" tears brimming in her eyes and she doesn't know why.

"I could hear you crying in your car when you pulled out of the drive way."

Putting her hand to her forehead and slapping it back down to her thigh, "Well what can hurt you… there must be something…" looking up at him for the first time in awhile.

"There is the green meteor rock it can kill me.. And you…"

"Me? What are you talking about?" She says defensively.

"If you.. Lana if all of this changes who I am and your eyes….it will kill me. I rather jump in a pool of green rocks then have you think I'm not human, I'm not your Clark Kent."

Her heart was suddenly to heavy for her chest to hold so she sat down and put her head in her hands. She had no idea how to approach this situation, this was a lot for one person to handle. Clark didn't know what to do, he told her everything she wanted to know, everything he wanted her to know and she didn't say anything. Clark looked longingly at her then to the ground tears brimming in his eyes.

Suddenly he was overcome with frustration, "You think I'm a freak don't you?"

No reaction she just ran her hands through her hair and directed her attention at the wall in front of her." Fine, I'll go," he heads for the door and bends down to kiss her head, "I love you," walks away and as he reaches for the door turns around to her, "and nothing could change that." He bent his head and walked out,

'Get up Lana!' Lana's head kept yelling at her 'Get up!!' Lana sprang up not wasting time to dry her tears and ran out of the Talon to Clark. He just walking out past the old ticket booth.

"Clark," running up to him and grabbing his hand.

Clark spun around tears streaming down his cheeks, 'yeah'

Lana raised her hand to his chest to feel his heart beat, "You've got one heart," She looks at his face, "from the looks of it two eyes, one mouth, one nose," she reaches up to turn his head, "and look at that to ears. But there one more thing…." With that Lana grabs his hand and positions it so his open palm is facing her. Clark looks at his hand then her. Lana put her fist inside his palm then slowly and gently opens it to match Clarks. Crying her eyes out Clark reaches up with he other hand and cups the side of her face allowing him to wipe away her tears with his thumb.

She snuggles her head into his palm and stares into his eyes, "See just what I thought five fingers." She kisses the hand on her face, "Your not a freak, Clark. You're the person I admire, respect and most of all love."

Clark took that as a cue lifted her up and kissed her. Their they were kissing with tears still freely flowing down their cheeks in the spotlight of a streetlamp. The town was empty it was just them, making peace with themselves, with each other.

Lana pulled away reached up and brushed away his thick hair out of the way, "and nothing could ever change that."

They both smiled from ear to ear and kissed again. This time Clark pulled back, "Lana I'll never leave you again. I'm not going…"

Lana cut him short, "Shut up Clark and kiss me." Clark pulled her tighter to her and spun her around while they kissed.

::Mack looked down from her window and smiled at the scene before her, "Mission accomplished Mackenzie." She turned away from the window and crawled into bed staring at the ceiling, "All this drama better have gotten me mad karma points." She smiled one last time and went to sleep.::

When Lana and Clark finally stopped they both giggled and wiped each others tears.

After that was done they didn't know how to proceed. Lana just held on to him and rested her head against his chest, "You don't know how much, how long I've been wanting you to do that."

"You and me both," kissing her hair then running his hand down it and to her waist. Rocking her from side to side, "So what now?"

Lana looked up and smiled, "I think we should thank Mackenzie."

Glaring down at her, "Wait a second she…"

Lana shook her head yes and tuck her head back into his chest, "had this all planned."

"God she been here for two days and she's changed both our lives. Why would she go to the trouble?"

Lana laughed, "She was bored."

Clark shrugged and hugged her tighter, "Makes sense."

"Doesn't it? What bothers me is that one day she'll find out I'm her .. I'm her.." for some reason she couldn't say it out loud, "well you know and then what? She'll hate me."

Clark takes his hand and tilts Lana's face up, "She won't hate you. How could anyone hate you. But…" looking to the side with his eyebrows up. Lana lets go and steps back, "But what?"

"She'll hate Henry more then she already does that's for sure."

Lana smiled slightly and went back into his arms, "I'll figure it out right now it's just you and me. Oh yeah," looking back up at him, "I still have a few question I mean,,,"

Clark puts her finger to her lips, "Shut up Lana and kiss me."

Lana smiles ear to ear and kisses him.

::They said goodnight shortly after that. And went to sleep finally whole. Now all they had to do was tell everyone. And all Lana had to do was figure out the best way to let Mackenzie know about her and the real reason she knows her father:::