Clark sat in his loft looking through his telescope. He felt numb and he missed his dad. He laughed quietly at the irony of losing both his fathers within the span of a month or so. The last few days had been a blur to him. He sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. Memories flashed through his head.
"Nice one son!" Jonathan smiled at Clark.
"Look at it dad! Its huge!" a younger Clark shouted with excitement as he held up a huge Northern Pike that he had just pulled out of the lake. Jonathan beamed with pride at his son. Later they went and had their picture taken, Clark holding up his fish.
"It'll be better someday Clark!" Chloe cried and hugged him. She never wanted to let the crying farmboy go.
"I know Chloe." Clark sputtered. "Hey. I just wanted to thank you Chloe for being the best friend a guy could have. I'm really gonna miss you." Clark kissed Chloe on the cheek and walked away leaving her very confused by the "I'm gonna miss you" part.
"Hey no fair son! You can't use your powers to beat your old man at basketball!"
"I didn't dad! I'm just naturally talented."
"Talented my ass..." mumbled Jonathan.
Lana cried. She cried because Clark had experienced a loss that she was familiar with. She hugged him and took in his smell that she loved so much. All Clark could do was get teary eyed. "Lana. Promise me you'll make sure my dad never feels too alone out in that cemetery ok?"
"Ok Clark. I promise." Clark hugged once more and walked away, leaving Lana in confused tears.
"Thats it son! Wow you learned how to ride that fast!" Jonathan beamed in pride at his six year old son riding his first bike without training wheels.
"Daddy daddy! Look at me!"
"Pete! I'm so glad you made it!"
"Come on Clark, like I'd miss your dad's funeral. He was like a dad to me too man." The two friends hugged. They stared quietly down at Jonathan's grave.
"Thanks for being here Pete. It means a lot to me."
"I'll always be there for you when you need me man."
"I'll keep that in mind Pete. Ya think I could have some time alone with my dad?"
"Sure thing Clark." Pete started to walk away.
"Pete."
"Yeah Clark."
"Take good care of yourself for me ok?"
"Sure thing buddy." Clark bent down and touched his father's grave.
"Like the new color son?"
"Yellow? Its okay. It makes the house look nice and bright."
"Well your mother insisted on yellow and I'm a fool for that woman."
"It was an amazing service Clark." Lex spoke with a smile for his friend.
"Yeah it was Lex."
"Most of Smallville must have come to it Clark. Your father was an amazing man Clark. He touched so many people's lives. You're really a chip off the ol' block come to think of it. Nobody came to my father's memorial service. He was hated by all in his pathetic life." Clark wasn't surprised Lex didn't remember his father fondly.
"You know Clark we really are similar."
"I guess so Lex." Clark looked into Lex's cold eyes. "Lex. Promise me you'll try to stay out of trouble okay?"
"Sure Clark but why? We've still got you around to save the day."
"Yeah" Clark said quickly. "But I might not be around someday and I couldn't forgive myself if I lost you or any of my friends."
"Its okay Clark. I'm not going anywhere." Clark just looked away.
"Okay son, you plow the west field and I'll work on repairing this shed."
"Sure thing dad."
"Hey Clark."
"Yeah dad."
"I love you son."
"I love you too dad."
"Mom you know what I have to do now don't you?"
"Yes honey. I won't stop you. I agree with your father."
"I don't know when I'll be back mom."
"Clark it's okay. I have an entire town to help support me."
"Yeah but I'm your son. Are you sure this is the right call?"
"Clark. I will be fine. This farm and I will be right where you left us when you get back. Just be safe and try to stay out of trouble ok. And please write me and take lots of pictures okay!"
"Okay mom. I will. I'm gonna go now, right after I take one more visit to my loft." Clark grabbed a backpack that he had filled with some food and a few changes of plaid shirts and jeans.
"I love you Clark. Make me proud."
"I will mom. I love you." Clark kissed his mother on the cheek, hugged her close and walked out the screen door to the barn.
A hand on his shoulder brought Clark back to reality. Smell of flowers, beautiful green eyes, soft skin. It was Lois. Clark looked up.
"Hey smallville." She said gently as she sat down beside him.
"Hey." Clark mumbled. He looked into her green eyes. Ones that he had fallen deep into on more than one occasion recently.
"You know this is the one time I think I'll allow you to have a pity-party out in the barn." she smiled at him. 'God he's so cute.' she thought.
"Thanks Lois. Thank you for being there for my mom and I."
"You guys have been there for me. I mean your dad built me a room in your house."
"Hey can you promise me something."
"Anything Clark."
"Please take care of my mom ok." Lois seemed concerned by this
"Why can't you Clark?"
"Lois. I made my dad a promise before he died. I'm leaving Smallville tonight."
"Where are you going?" Lois did not like this at all. Clark couldn't be leaving. He was going to college in a few weeks! He was going to be able to stick around a spend time with her. Spend time with me! Why would I care if he does or not! Stop lying to yourself you love this guy! Lois slapped her hand to her mouth.
"I don't really know where I'm going." He opened his backpack and pulled out a newspaper. He pointed to a headline. Crime Wave Threatens Gotham City. "I thought I might see Gotham."
"Clark you can't go!" she found herself shouting. It caught Clark off guard.
"Why Lois?"
"Because Clark I've just found you!" she found herself admitting. "And if you left I'd find that very very unfortunate. Especially since we're finally becoming close!" Clark started to tear up. Of all the things he would miss about Smallville, he realized that Lois Lane was the thing he'd miss the most. He stood up and grabbed his backpack. Lois quickly stood up and ran to block the stairs. "No way Kent, you're not leaving me!" Clark put his hands on Lois' waist, looked her in the eyes and pulled her close and kissed her with passion. She didn't realize what was happening at first but she quickly kissed him back. When the broke apart Clark looked into her eyes.
"I will NEVER forget about you Lois. But right now I have a promise to keep. Goodbye." Clark pushed past her and walked down the stairs. Lois started to tear up. Come on Lane don't cry over a stupid guy! Clark exited the barn as the tears began to fall. At that moment he wanted to tell Lois everything about him to try and explain why he was leaving but he couldn't. He looked around his father's farm and regained his resolve. He had a promise to keep. He would help people in need all over the world. Clark threw his backpack over his shoulders and started walking down the driveway. From the loft window Lois watched him go, walking off into the sunset.
"Just come back to me someday Smallville." she whispered.
Fin
An: Thank you to everyone for reading my first story! Don't worry! It doesn't end here. I will be starting a sequel shortly! What will happen to Clark on the open road? What will bring him back home!