Note: Hopefully this chappy will tide you over for awhile. The next update will probably be around next week or this weekend, hopefully. Thanks for reading!

Metropolis: Shopping Avenue, Diana's Precious Stones

4:26 P.M.

Friday, June 4th

"Mom, how many more stores do we have to go to?"

"Hmm…that's funny, I thought you were the one who told me five minutes ago that you were an adult; but with all the whining you've been doing, it sounds like you're five years old."

Clark sighed with a resigned smile. Leave it to his mom to pull out that card on him.

"Mom, we've been to eight stores already and it's almost five."

"Well, weren't you the one who told me you wanted to find the perfect ring for Lana?"

"Well, yeah, but when I said that, I meant the perfect ring out of two or three stores; not eight."

They were walking down the probably the most expensive street in Metropolis. Every shop they passed was filled with designer clothes, shoes, or jewelry. He had brought Lana shopping here once and suffice to say it was the also the last time.

"I guess that's what you get for shopping with your mother," a voice behind Clark said.

"Pete! Thank God you're here! My mom was killing me with all of her shopping bags."

Clark spun around to dump imaginary bags into Pete's arms. Passersby looked curiously at the odd scene between the two men. Drivers that were stuck in traffic, who had nothing else better to do than to stare blankly at the commuters on foot, looked on with a similar expression.

"Whoa…how many credit cards did your mom max out man?" asked Pete playing along with Clark's game.

"I don't know, man. We started at ten this morning and since she spent all her money, she hasn't bought me anything to eat all day," he said emphasizing the last part.

Clark saw his friend glance at his mom's back to check her expression before responding, "Dude, that's just wrong. You're five years old! You need your peas!"

At that comment Clark's jaw dropped and he halted in mid-step. He turned around to stare daggers at his best friend but found that in he was now in pace with his mother. Clark sighed. It's typical of how telling your mom and best friend that you intended to propose to the girl of your life could lead to them joining forces. He hadn't even bought the ring yet and already they were acting like they lost him.

"Clark, honey, you're going to get lost in the crowd if you don't keep up," Clark faintly heard his mom calling. "Come over here and hold my hand now."

Clark let out an audible groan that overpowered Pete's sniggers. "I'm coming mommy."

Clark glanced wearily at the jewelry that was on display behind the shiny and regularly polished glass. His eyes were literally blinded by the glass and sparkling diamonds.

How on earth am I going to pay for this?

He had specifically told his mother that he wanted the best for Lana, but after all the stores that he had visited; he wasn't so sure he could even afford the best. His heart broke at the fact that plenty of other guys contending for her heart could probably give her a decent piece of jewelry. After all, he was just fresh out of college with an enormous pile of loans to pay off. Clark hadn't even thought of how he was going to pull off this particular fleet even if he did find a ring.

"I know what you're thinking man." Clark heard Pete's voice behind him say.

Clark straightened slowly and turned around to face him with a somber expression. A day of looking at happy and joyful couples picking out their rings regardless of the prices could do that to you.

"What am I thinking then?"

"How can a hick-town son of a farmer afford a perfect ring for the main lady of his life?"

"Way to cheer me up Pete," Clark said, sinking into a cushy armchair in front of the display case.

"Don't worry; I've got help on the way," Pete stated calmly as he sunk into a chair next to Clark's. When Clark turned his head to roll his eyes at him, he added, "Chloe's coming to help you with your wedding ring dilemma."

"What!?" Clark practically yelled the word out. A few heads turned his way but quickly looked the other way when Clark sent them all a forced smile.

"Pete, Chloe doesn't even know about this. Did you tell her already?"

Pete shifted uncomfortably in his chair before replying, "Look…I know I was supposed to keep the lid closed, but I think Chloe can really help us. I explained the situation to her and she said not to worry."

Clark looked down at his lap, knowing that his glares usually sent Pete into turmoil of guilt. He had no problem telling Chloe; in fact he was planning to tell her later, after he had actually had the chance to propose. He didn't want her poking fun of him if Lana didn't say 'yes.'

"It's okay man. At least it's out of the way." Clark said consolingly to Pete. "Let's just hope that Chloe can help me."

At that comment, Pete brightened up and a smile was replenished on his face. "I think that she can. I went to Lois's apartment and asked Chloe if Lana had been looking at any wedding magazines or rings lately. She said she had just the thing and would meet us here in thirty minutes."

"Wait a minute; you went to Lois's apartment? Since when?"

"Since I pulled the disappearing act on you and your mom."

"And why didn't I notice?"

Pete laughed at his comment, but stopped when Clark didn't join in. "You were too busy acting five years old."

"Right," Clark mumbled.

"Clark, why don't you come over here and look at this section?" Clark heard his mother calling from the other side of the room.

Clark sunk low in his chair hoping his mom wouldn't spot him. He wasn't really in the mood for a salesperson's persistent attempts to persuade him to buy the most expensive piece of item in the store.

A jingle of a store bell brought Clark out of his thoughts. He and Pete both spun around in their chairs.

"Wow, I didn't know I was that popular," Chloe stated.

"Hey you changed your hair back," Clark said, standing up.

"I figured old city, old look," Chloe said as she pulled out a magazine clipping from her furry green purse.

"I sorta like this look better than the old one," Pete said, standing up too.

"It's funny; I don't remember asking for an opinion," Chloe said sarcastically.

"Okay," Clark said, breaking up the verbal abuse. "What do you have there Chloe?"

Chloe gave him a proud smile before announcing, "A picture of Lana Lang's dream ring."

Clark's eyes widened in surprise and amusement as he looked at the magazine page. "Where the heck did you find that?"

Chloe sent him a smile before replying, "When I was over at her dorm room that night. She and I talked for hours and when we approached the hot topic of marriage, she pulled this," she waved the paper in the air, "from under her bed. Being as I am an ex-reporter, I bought the same exact magazine that she had and just tore this page out."

Pete looked over at Clark and shrugged his shoulders. It was a mystery how Chloe Sullivan finds information.

"Right…and where exactly is the store and how much does it cost?" Clark asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Well, you're in luck Kent. It's this store that you're in right now."

"This one?" Clark had a shocked expression on his face. He couldn't believe that they had been here for almost an hour hunting for the best ring and now they could probably find it in a minute.

Pete took the clipping from Chloe and waved down a sleepy-looking salesperson. He looked like he was about to daze off at the display counter but he straightened up when he saw Pete approaching.

"Hello Sir? How can I help you?"

"Do you have this ring in stock?" he asked, handing him the paper. Chloe stood next to him while Clark was behind them with a hopeful expression on his face.

"Yes, I believe we do," he said confidently. "Please, take a seat; I'll be right back."

All three took to his suggestion. They only had to wait a few moments before Mrs. Kent came over.

"Have you decided on a ring Clark?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Yup, thanks to Chloe here." Clark sent her a tired grateful smile.

Mrs. Kent glanced at her surprised for a second. "Well, hello Chloe. I haven't seen you in a while. I'm sure Clark just forgot to mention to me about you visiting or I would have stopped by your place." She gave her son a reprimanding look.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I think I'm going to be staying for awhile."

This was definitely news to Clark, Pete, and Mrs. Kent.

"You're staying?" Pete half shouted.

Chloe just gave him a mysterious smile. However, Pete's next action replaced her smile with a shocked expression. Pete practically threw himself on her and gave her the biggest hug Clark had seen him give in all the years they had been friends.

"Umm…glad to know your happy Pete," Chloe said uncertainly but hugged him back just as tightly.

"Hey, don't kill her now," Clark warned jokingly to Pete as he pulled away with a slight blush on his face. Clark smirked inwardly. He knew that Pete had crush on Chloe during their high school days. Maybe those feelings were slowly creeping back again.

"So, Clark, how are you exactly planning to pay for this ring?" Chloe asked as she straightened her shirt that had gotten wrinkled during the hug.

Clark's stomach sank when he was reminded of his earlier dilemma. "I'm not sure…."

"I think I have some money saved up…." Martha volunteered.

"Mom, I don't want you to have to worry about this. Besides, you need the money," Clark added thoughtfully. Jonathon Kent had passed away almost four years ago. Since then, he knew that the Kent Farm was pile ling up on its bills. Clark took small jobs during his college career to help out, but his mom insisted that he concentrate on his studies. She could handle the bills through the paycheck from the Talon.

"Clark, honey, Lana's like a daughter to me; I want her to have the best too," Mrs. Kent stated. "I want you both to be happy."

"I'd be happier if you kept the money to help out with the farm's bills," Clark argued back stubbornly.

Pete could see that the conversation was rapidly approaching a shouting-match. Ever since Mr. Kent had passed away, Clark and his mother were always arguing about money and where to put it to use. Clark wanted the money to go into the farm where he'd grown up in and Martha wanted it to go to Clark's future. She had insisted that Jonathon would have understood. Pete glanced at Chloe who was intrigued by the conversation. She turned her head when she felt his gaze on her. Chloe got the message that Pete wanted help with the current situation.

Chloe gave a small cough to indicate that she wanted to get a word in. Clark and Martha's heads swiftly turned to regard her.

"Well…if you're that tight on money Clark, I think I have a job for you that won't prove to be too difficult. And I'm sure the person employing will be glad to hire you."

"Really?" Clark asked, astonished. "What kind of job?"

"Well, you know how Lois is working at the Planet, right? She needs a coffee boy."

Clark's jaw dropped in anger at the last words.

A coffee boy? Is that all I'm good for?

"Chloe―" Clark started, but was cut off by the salesperson's return.

"It must be you're lucky day, Sir. This is the last one we have in stock," he said promptly as he placed a red velvet box on the table. When he opened the box, Chloe actually gasped. It was a princess cut diamond with white gold band. Simple, but beautiful. It actually reminded Clark of his own princess probably returning to their apartment in Smallville after a day of answering repeated questions. Like Clark too, Lana had been in the city; but instead of ring hunting, she had been over at Rockaway Fashions Inc. for a job interview.

"Would you like to try it on Miss?" Clark's thoughts were interrupted by that weird comment. Lana wasn't here so who was he talking to?

"Uhh…" Clark began, ready to correct him, but he found that his attention was on Chloe.

"I'm sure that it will fit perfectly on your fiancé," the salesperson said. Clark noticed that he wasn't talking to him, but to Pete!

"Wh—what?" Pete asked confused as Chloe was.

"Actually, I'm the one buying it for my girlfriend," Clark spoke up, coming to Pete and Chloe's rescue.

Clark watched as the guy at the counter turned a shade of red. "I'm terribly sorry Sir! I didn't mean any―"

"No, it's okay…." Pete said cutting him off. Apparently he just wanted to forget the whole thing ever happened.

Chloe, for the first time that Clark had known her, didn't reply back with a witty or sarcastic comment.

"So how much does it cost?" Clark asked bluntly, seemingly waiting for a blow.

"A little over a thousand."

Clark did a little mental math. He had saved up $500 from his odd jobs during that past four years. He could ask whoever was in charge of salaries at the Daily Planet for an advanced payment and he could borrow some from his mom if worst comes to worst. Clark sighed inwardly. He just realized that he had just thought of the job opportunity at the Planet.

I guess I really am going to be Lois Lane's coffee boy. Pete's right. Lana's got me wrapped around her sweet, delicate fingers; not that I'm complaining.