Disclaimer: The television series "Smallville" is owned by the WB. Characters on which it is based are owned by DC Comics and were created by Jerry Siegler and Joe Schuster. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment, and no profit is being made from it.

In Somno Omne Revelatur

By Jeune Ecrivain

Rating: K+

Genre: drama, romance (Clana)

Summary: A dream reveals all and forever changes Lana's understanding of a certain farmboy.

PART III

Before either Clark or Lana knew it, midnight had come and gone, and they were still not done talking. Clark had reclaimed his seat on the couch and begun speaking slowly and deliberately. If Lana knew, she might as well know it all. Lana had instinctively sat down beside him. With one leg curled up underneath her and the opposite foot kissing the floor, she had positioned herself to face Clark as everything he had kept bottled up inside of him now spilled forth. He confessed that he had indeed been in the tornado that would've otherwise killed her. He told her how the fire at the Talon really started. He told her the truth about how he had saved her from Adam with a little help from a time anomaly. He revealed the circumstances that had led to his three-month exodus to Metropolis and what had happened while he was there. He divulged the truth about his more recent absence and near-amnesiac behavior. Finally, he explained to her the importance of the three mythical stones sought by the Teagues, Isabel, and himself.

Lana listened intently, catching his gaze every so often as if to say, "Keep going. I'm not going anywhere." Clark was leaving himself exposed and vulnerable, and she inwardly reveled in the fact that he trusted her so thoroughly.

As if he read her thoughts, Clark stated as he neared the end of his revelations, "The truth is, Lana, if it had only been a matter of trust, I would've told you along time ago. Whether or not I trusted you wasn't the issue. It's just…"

"I know," Lana interrupted gently. "You were trying to protect me," she said for him, suddenly not wanting to hear the same tired excuse from Clark's own lips again. "But Clark, your mother gave me a choice, and I made it. I love you for wanting to keep me safe, but at the end of the day, the decision is mine to make."

"You still love me…after everything I've put you through?" Clark marveled.

"Clark, you may have your…off days, but that doesn't change who you truly are. And I happen to love who you truly are."

"Yeah, but…"

"Clark,…" she interrupted, more firmly this time. "Do you still love me after everything Isabel has done."

"Of course."

She looked at him pointedly, and he scowled slightly in concession. "You see," stated Lana. "You're not the only one with paranormal baggage." She took his hand in hers. "If you can look at me the same way you always have after I've cast evil spells and made a mess of everything, the least I can do is return the favor."

"I never thought of it that way," Clark admitted. Half of him wanted to breathe a huge sigh of relief and even elation, the other half wasn't quite ready to let his guard down. "But still, Isabel never gave you a choice. That time I ran off to Metropolis, I willingly exposed myself to red kryptonite."

"Well, that I think we can chalk up to you being just as flawed as the rest of us. The truth is, with everything you've had to deal with, I'm amazed you haven't had more breakdowns like that. You made a mistake, and I believe you learned from it. It's what makes you human." As Clark opened his mouth to protest, Lana swiftly brought a finger to his lips and silenced him. "And you are human, Clark. Your own mother says so. You may be an extraterrestrial subspecies, but get this through your head: you are human."

"Lara said that?" replied Clark.

Lana nodded. "I'm a Homo sapiens terrae and you're a Homo sapiens kryptonis." Clark chuckled, and Lana was pleased to see a smile on his face for only the second time that evening. "What?" she asked with a grin of her own.

"It's just that I've fantasized about this conversation hundreds of times, but I never dreamed that you would give me new information."

"Well, your mother was very thorough," Lana explained matter-of-factly. She then grew serious. "Now about these stones," she began. "Your biological dad's disposition aside, I do think it would be best if you got them all together and saw what they have to offer. I don't think anything good will come of anyone else getting a hold of all three."

"I think so too," Clark agreed. "I have one safely placed in that chamber in the cave I told you about, but the other two are still out there somewhere. I think one of the Luthors might have one, maybe even both."

Lana swallowed, looking a little guilty as she retrieved her purse from its perch atop the right arm of the sofa. "I always knew somehow that this was meant for you," she admitted, reaching in and drawing forth a large, shiny stone with a single Kryptonian hieroglyph carved into its surface."

Clark's jaw dropped for the third time that night. "I thought Jason had it…or he'd given it to Lex or Lionel."

"No. He gave it to me. It was probably his last really noble act," she said, a trace of bitterness in her voice. "I'm sorry I kept it for this long. I just wasn't sure what to do with it." She looked down at the gem on her hands. "Huh," she remarked.

"What is it?" asked Clark.

"Open your shirt a minute," replied Lana.

Clark smirked, inwardly thinking he could interpret that request two ways. He unbuttoned his shirt and held it open for her.

"It's the same," she observed. "The symbol on the stone and on your chest are the same."

"Yeah," said Clark letting his shirt fall loosely closed. "It's sort of the El family coat-of-arms or something." He explained. "Needless to say, it's become a symbol of everything I hate about my…situation."

"I can imagine," she replied. "I hate Jor-El already just for branding you like some farm animal!"

Clark got a distinct look on his face.

"What is it now?" Lana asked, amused.

"It's just…weird…hearing you say Jor-El's name."

Lana smiled and nodded. "It's weird for me knowing that there are no more secrets between us. But I wouldn't have it any other way."

Clark grinned at her. "Me neither."