Clark POV
I watch Lana and my mom walk out of the room with longing. The last thing I want right now is to be left alone with my father and I wish I was the one helping with the dirty dishes.
"Clark," My father started.
Here we go.
"Now son, I know there's something going on here." Dad started gently. "I just want you to be honest with me."
I sighed as I realized that I was pushing away the inevitable. Eventually my parents were going to have to know I told Lana the truth. Telling my mom is going to be easy, it was my dad I was worried about.
I ran my fingers through my hair and fidgeted a little on the kitchen chair. My dad was giving me that look that usually withers me down into nothing, but I guess somewhere along the line in between living on my own in Metropolis and making love for the first time to the woman of my dreams, I had grown up slightly. While the look still intimidated me, it wasn't for the same reasons as before. My biggest fear used to be disappointing him. And while that still holds true in a certain sense, a part of me realizes I'm not perfect. I never will be. But that doesn't mean I don't love my dad and I don't want to please him. I do. It's just not as serious as it was before. I've realized that a part of growing up involves letting go. My dad's the one who needs to realize that now.
I took a deep breath. "Listen, Dad. I want to be as honest with you as possible. But you have to try to understand where I'm coming from and you have to try and let me finish before you start flipping out."
I saw my father tense up at my choice of words. "Clark…" He said in that warning tone.
"You see Dad? I haven't even started talking yet and your ready to jump down my throat."
Dad gave a heavy sigh. "Alright Clark. I promise I'll try to be objective about whatever it is you have to tell me."
I stared at him for a full second before nodding my head. I took another deep breath. "After everything that happened with Alexa last night-."
"Which you still haven't fully filled me in on." He interrupted.
"Dad!"
"Alright, alright. Go on."
"After everything that happened with Alexa last night," I repeated. "Lana and I began talking again. Like we had before all of our issues. I realized-." I paused not knowing how to continue, how to make my father understand where I was coming from. "I realized that she's worth the risk. I love her dad. And as much as that's hard for you to understand, I honestly and truly love her more than I ever thought I could love anyone."
My dad was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. "Clark, son, I'm trying to be patient but I already know all of this. You haven't exactly kept it a secret."
I gave my dad a pleading look. "I know that dad. But guess what the difference is this time? She actually loves me back. And your right I never did keep my feelings for her a secret but I kept a whole lot of other ones from her and I'm sick of it! That's why I told her."
My dad instantly tensed. "Told her what?"
I sat up and raised my chin. I looked my dad in the eye. "I told her my secret. I told her I was an alien. I told her everything."
My dad instantly stood up from his chair and loomed over me with a thunderous expression on his face. "YOU DID WHAT?"
At that moment, Lana and my mom rushed into the dining room. My mom stood with her hands on her hips and gave my father a disapproving look. "Jonathan! Why are you bellowing at Clark?"
My dad turned toward mom his face never changing. "Martha, your son has taken it upon himself to reveal everything our family has been trying to protect for the last 14 years."
My mom gave an exasperated sigh. "Jonathan, this is not the first time this issue has been brought up and I'm sure it won't be the last. I personally think that Clark has a right to share his secret with whomever he pleases. It's his secret to share. He's old enough to know the difference between who's worthy and who isn't."
Dad gave mom an incredulous look. "Martha! Are you serious! I thought we'd both agreed that it wasn't safe for Clark and whomever he decided to tell his secret to, to know! Where did this sudden turn around come from?"
I glanced back and forth between my mom and my dad and I gave a quick glance to Lana. She had an uncomfortable expression on her face but I could see an underlying anger. I myself felt my anger building. I stood up and put a comforting arm around Lana and braced myself for a big argument.
Before I could reply my mom walked closer to my father. "There was no sudden turn around. While I may have agreed that it wasn't the best choice to make, I also was a firm believer that when the time came and he was old enough, it would be Clark's decision. Not ours."
My mothers voice quieted as she put a hand on my fathers arm. "I know how much you want to try and keep this family and everyone associated with it safe, honey, but sometimes you can't have control of everything."
My mom turned my dad's face towards her with her hand. He looked down into my mom's eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, Clark happens to be very much in love with Lana and I can no longer find fault with Clark wanting to be honest with someone who so desperately loves him back. I think if there is anyone in this world who can understand that it would be you." My mom gave him a pointed look and I was reminded of their own star-crossed love story. They had to fight for their love as well.
My dad's face softened as he looked at his wife. His sigh of resignation sounded more like a growl but it was resignation none-the-less.
My dad looked at both Lana and myself. His eyes flickered over my arm around Lana and he finally let himself look at me and I mean really look at me.
"Clark, while I still don't agree with what you did," He stopped and looked down at my mom again. "I understand why you did it." He said without looking up.
Lana shifted in my arm. "Mr. Kent?" She said hesitantly.
"Yes Lana?"
Lana folded her hands together and held them in front of her. "I just want you to know that I would never endanger Clark and I would never do anything to hurt him. Clark is a very special person who was raised by a very special family and I hate that I'm the cause of so much tension between the three of you, but I don't regret Clark telling me the truth. I'll be there for him no matter what."
Lana held her back straight and kept her head high as she looked directly into my fathers eyes. She may have been nervous but she still made sure my dad knew how she felt. I was in awe of her and her inner strength. She was braver than me in so many different ways.
My dad put a hand on one of Lana's shoulders. "I know you will Lana. I never doubted that. But I am still concerned for your safety. I just want to make sure you know the responsibility involved with this secret." My dad smiled. "It's not easy being apart of this family."
Lana smiled back at him. "I'm willing to try anyway."
My dad sighed for what had to be the 100th time tonight. "Well then let me be the first to say welcome to the family."
A half hour later, Lana, dirty clothes in hand, and I were ushered out of the house unceremoniously by my mother.
"Geez mom can I get a second to wash my hands?" I asked her from the front porch.
Mom smiled at me and shook her head. "No you may not Clark. Now get out of here before your dad gets it into his head not to let you two go anywhere and instead talk rules and regulations."
I quickly grabbed Lana's elbow and helped my mom usher Lana down the steps. "Bye Mom."
My mother laughed and I could hear my dad grumbling in the background. Something about 'the power of women'.
Lana giggled as we reached her truck and got in.
She continued to laugh as she threw her clothes in the backseat. "What's so funny?" I asked.
Lana shook her head. "Nothing. I guess I just never thought of your dad as a softie."
I laughed slightly as well. "Softie, no. Pushover for my mom, yeah."
Lana gave me a knowing smile. "I guess that's comes with the territory when your in love huh?"
I smiled back. "I guess so."
Lana reached over and put her hand to my face. She pulled my head towards hers and gave me a long sweet kiss that had the potential to get us both into trouble.
As I came up for air, I noticed Lana in my mother's clothing and was reminded we had to make a stop before we embarked on any type of loafing and hanging out. "Hey, don't we have to stop by your house to pick up some fresh clothing?"
Lana nodded her head. "Yeah." She said looking slightly dazed. Out of nowhere her eyes widened and she out her hand to her mouth. "Clark!"
Immediately I sat up. "What? What's the matter?"
"Underwear. Upstairs. Behind hay." Her eyes widened in panic and I saw her hand reach for the door handle.
I put my hand on her arm and stilled her. "Lana, wait. I'll go get it. I'll be up and down the stairs before you can say 'Clark, I need a repeat performance of this morning.'"
In a flash I was out of the car. I could hear Lana with my superhearing saying "Clark, I need a repeat perfor-."
Before she could finish her words I was back in the car and handing her the underwear. "Here you go. One pair of sexy panties and bra at your command."
Lana laughed. "I think I could get used to having an alien as my boyfriend."
I smiled slightly. "So, is that it? Am I your boyfriend again?"
Lana gave me a serious look. "You mean after what happened between us this morning you still have doubts about that?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I guess after not having you for so long and having to go through so much to get to this point in our relationship I just don't know what to think anymore. I'm just glad that you're here right now."
Lana ran a hand over my hair before bringing me in for another heart stopping kiss. Her mouth opened under mine and I slipped my tongue in. I heard her moan slightly and I felt that strange sensation again. The air around us was almost tingling with static electricity. Before I could react to it and pull away from Lana, she had already put both arms around my neck and deepened the kiss. Her tongue was everywhere and it was driving me crazy. All thoughts of anything non-Lana flew out the window.
That is until I heard a car pull up behind us.
Lana pulled back a fraction of an inch and smiled at me. "Don't you ever doubt again that I love you. You have me in your life now whether you like it or not and if the title of boyfriend is what your looking for than I'm sorry to say that you're not."
I gave Lana a bewildered look. "Huh? What do you mean? I don't get it."
Lana continued to smile never relinquishing her hold on me. "Clark, you're not just my boyfriend. You're my best friend, companion, lover and my boyfriend."
My heart thumped in my chest to hear Lana utter those words. I had to be the luckiest guy on earth.
"I love you so much Lana."
"I love you too Clark."
A thump on the drivers side window broke up our happy little moment and I looked in back of Lana to see Lex smirking at us from outside.
"Ummmm, can I interest anyone in a bunch of now useless, highly toxic heart and teddy bear pendants?"
End of Chapter Seventeen
