Chapter 13
(Chloe lays, comfortably snuggled in a warm fleece blanket, amongst a bed of hay. Her eyes are gently closed, and a smile fiddles across her lips as a pleasant dream plays in her head. Near by, Lana is in a similar position, lying amongst the hay that Clark so kindly carried up for them. Her chest slowly rises and falls with the deep rhythmic melody of sleep. Everything in the barn is silent and still in the brisk night air. In the open hayloft doors sits Clark. He silently observes the two sleeping girls. In his hands, he holds the bracelet given to him by Joseph Willowbrook, Kyla's father. He brushes his fingers gently over its polished surface. Lana stirs slightly in her sleep. Clark watches as she pulls her blanket up close around her. She smiles in her sleep. Clark looks down at the bracelet, the soft light from the lantern set on his desk casting placid hues against it, reflecting their light onto Clark's body and face. Smiling softly, he looks out into the night. The moon is three quarters full. Clark stares absent mindedly up at the stars, wondering what his life would have been like on Krypton. He hears his mother's voice softly reverberate in his ears.)
Lara: "Good-bye, my sweet Kal-El..."
(The stars twinkle and a shooting star streaks across the sky. Clark watches its progress, now fully lost in the black canvas above him. He is gently pulled back down to Earth by a hand touching his shoulder. Clark looks over and sees Lana standing beside him. She walks over and sits down opposite him in the hayloft doors. She looks out at the night sky. Clark watches her, once again lost deep in thought. She looks back at him after several moments. They stare into each other's eyes for a time. Lana looks down and sees the bracelet lightly held in Clark's hands.)
Lana (Speaking softly): "Wasn't that Kyla's?"
(Clark nods, looking down at it once more.)
Clark: "Her people believed it was meant for the one person you were destined to be with..."
(A tear forms at the corner of Clark's eye. He blinks and it frees itself, slowly snaking its way down his cheek. Lana quietly walks over, standing next to him. She wipes the tear from his cheek and rests her hand on top of his, closing his hand around the bracelet. He looks up into her soft brown eyes.)
Lana (Looking directly into his eyes): "Clark, you're not alone."
Clark (Smiling weakly): "I know."
(Clark stands to his full height. Lana watches him as he does. Their eyes never leave each other. Gently, Clark takes her chin in his hand. Their faces slowly draw closer to one another. They feel each other's breath softly brush against one another's lips, permeating the cool night air. Their lips meet, parting only slight. Lana moves closer to Clark, placing her hand on his shoulder. Clark wraps his arms around Lana. Their tongues shyly meet in a quiescent embrace, and then retract. Their lips slowly part, leaving them staring into each other's eyes.)
Lana (Whispering): "You're never alone."
(Clark hugs her close to himself, feeling the warmth of her body spread to his and his to hers. Together, they stare off into the night sky. A shooting star again streaks across the sky, leaving a trail of dust behind it that slowly disperses into the recesses of deep space. Behind them, Chloe silently awakens. She sees Clark and Lana. Tears form in the corners of her eyes and her mouth drops slightly ajar. Chloe sees the bracelet loosely clasped in Clark's hands. She silently blinks away the tears... and smiles... as she sees Clark fondly stroke Lana's hair. Closing her eyes, Chloe falls back asleep, letting the dream she had before slide away to let a new dream creep into the forefront of her subconscious...)