Note: Thanks for you reviews. The second part of this is in Clark's POV.

Lana stood on the steps of Smallville High with her hands crossed in front of her. The weather was sunny and warm—the perfect concoction for a lazy Friday afternoon. Students rushed out of the double doors behind her and Lana was soon swept down to the bottom steps. As she descended the remaining steps to stand off to the side, her eyes traveled to all the couples who had hooked up over the past year. Rosa Burns and Edwin Johnson were off to the side, quietly showing their affection by handing holds. The bolder couples like football star Trent Woods and cheerleader Erica Thompson were making out by Trent's truck. As she eyed the happy couples, a surge of jealousy ran through her.

They had everything that she had ever wanted, it seemed. Hope, happiness, and most of all, love. Lana sighed and wondered if she would ever find that. Maybe it was too much to ask for.

Lana allowed herself to slip back into the past, to the time of oak trees and picnics. She allowed warm strong arms to envelope her petite body and protect her from all lows. She allowed promises of hope and love to be whispered into her ear. Most of all, she allowed herself to love and to be loved back by someone just as much.

Unconsciously, her mind had drifted off to the past. Back at the present, however, someone was trying to grab her attention.

"Lana? Are you okay?"

Her eyes flew open and startled at the sight in front of her.

"Clark." Lana uncrossed her arms and nervously wringed them in front of her.

He looked at her with a funny expression and repeated, "You okay? You looked like your mind was somewhere else."

"It was," she said quietly. A tense silence fell between them. A moment later, she brightened up and asked with a smile, "So where are you taking me?"

Clark smiled with relief, glad that the awkward silence had passed. "It's a surprise."

Clark's POV

I watch as she polishes off the last meatball. The ending to a fine meal or the key to Pandora's Box? I view helplessly, knowing that the time is near, as she picks up her napkin and wipes her succulent lips, ridding them of my mom's spaghetti sauce.

"Clark, are you okay?" she asks me. "You barely ate anything." She scoots towards me and reaches for my seemingly frozen hand.

"I'm fine," I reply hoarsely, knowing that it is now time. But, how do I casually bring it up?

She looks at me with a disbelieving expression—she can read me so well. Lana lets the topic drop and snuggles up in my arms. Almost robotically, my arms go around her. We fit together like two puzzle pieces. It's a shame that I'm about to kill the comfortable vibe.

Somewhere inside of me, I know that Lana would never look at me any differently than she does now, if she knew that I was alien. That's the thing about love—it blinds you. It causes you to think irrationally and look beyond a person's faults. But, sometimes, I find myself wondering the 'what ifs'. What if Lana Lang stops loving me because I'm the alien that caused the meteor shower that killed her parents? What if she is simply grossed out by the fact that I'm from another planet?

Stop, I tell myself. I've come too far to back out now. It's now or never. I'm done with all the lies. I don't want to—I don't need to have to lie to the woman I love. I love her and she loves me. What more do I need?

"Clark?" she calls my name softly.

I smile apologetically. "Sorry. I was just thinking about some things."

"I could tell," she says, leaning her head against my chest. "You looked like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders again."

I nod and finally an idea comes to my head about how to begin.

"Lana, do you ever wonder what's out there?" I ask, looking up at the stars.

"Out where?" she asks curiously, lifting her head up to view me.

"There. In space."

Lana looks up and then back at me. "You mean aliens?"

She stares at me for a bit and uncomfortably, I lower my eyes. I am not going to chicken out now, I chant in my head.

I let a blanket of silence fall on us before I speak up again.

"Lana, do you see those stars over there?" I ask, stroking her hair tenderly, knowing that it may be the last time I'm allowed to do so.

"Which ones? I see a lot of them," she jokes.

I laugh nervously and point to them. "The ones that form a wolf."

She squints at the night sky for a moment before finding them.

"Do you see the eye? The missing eye?" I prompt.

"I see it," she says slowly, not quite understanding what I'm getting at.

I take a breath before stating, "That's where Krypton used to be."

"Kryp—what?"

I look down just in time to see her face contort to confusion. After a minute, she shifts around so that she's now directly facing me.

I swallow, knowing that she's waiting for me to say something. It takes a while for the words to come out. "My home planet."

To my surprise, instead of flipping out, she laughs. But it isn't one of joy.

"Clark…what are you trying to say?" Lana asks nervously, looking at my scared face.

I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. I can almost swear that my heart was beating loud enough for her to hear.

Suddenly, her eyes widen and her expression softens. A small smile appears on her angelic face.

"Clark…it's okay." She reaches for my hand.

I find myself unconsciously squeezing her hand tightly in mine. I need her support now more than ever.

She reads me with her exotic eyes. Even in the fading light, I can see them shining with hope.

"Lana…I can't…" I finally reply, my voice raspy. I avoid eye contact with her, knowing that I have disappointed her and myself once again. Why is this so hard?

"Please tell me, Clark. Let me in," she practically begs me. I glance up and notice tears in her eyes.

Why did I have to start this now? I ask myself angrily. I hate myself for doing this. For getting her and my hopes up. For actually believing that this could work between us. I can't even get the darn words out!

"God…I don't know why…" I begin, letting my frustration out. "Lana, I've practiced this over and over…and…" I stare into her eyes, pleading her to understand.

"Clark, I love you," she declares. "It'll be alright. I promise." She looks up at me earnestly, awaiting my response.

"I don't want to lose you," I whisper, suddenly feeling vulnerable. It's as if I'm finally taking off my mask and letting her truly in.

"You won't," she says softly, but firmly. "Clark…if you don't open up to the ones you love, you'll always be alone. Don't shut me out now. Not when we're so close."

I hold back my tears and wipe away a falling tear on her face. She's right. I can't shut her out now. I shouldn't be afraid of what her reaction will be…I know what it will be.

"Lana, that missing star—the eye of the wolf—was my home planet. It was called Krypton."

"You're home planet?" she breathes.

I nod my head weakly, suddenly drained from all this thinking. But, I know I have to go on.

I look down before saying, "Lana, I'm not exactly from around here—earth, I mean."

"So, you're an alien?" she says harshly, a little harsher than she means.

I cringe and she softens her expression again, squeezing my hand.

"Clark…I didn't mean it like that," she tells me, pleading me to forgive her. I already have.

"I know," I say quietly, avoiding her eyes again.

I hear her take a breath. "Okay, so you're from another planet. I can live with that. I mean, you're not green as far as I can tell and you don't have any extra limbs."

I glance at her and she manages a small smile at me.

"There's more," I say in a flat tone. She looks at me, waiting for me to continue.

"Lana…the day that I arrived on earth was the day of the meteor shower."

Her eyes widen. "A coincidence?"

This is it… "Lana…I arrived with the meteor shower."

Silence. I can hear crickets in the distance and the lake water gently splashing up against the dock that we are sitting on.

"Is that why you were so afraid to tell me?" she asks softly. "That I'd blame you for my parents' deaths?"

"I didn't want you to blame me for your parents' deaths; even if it was my fault."

"Clark," she begins gently, "how could it had possibly been your fault? You were only a baby." She looks at me with eyes filled with compassion.

I hang my head, ashamed that the thought of her blaming me even crossed my mind.

"Clark, it wasn't your fault."

I gaze at her. "What did I ever do to deserve someone like you?"

Lana's face breaks into a smile. Instead of replying, she hugs me tightly.

"I'm surprised that you haven't run away from me yet," I say, hugging her back just as tightly.

"I'm surprised that you underestimated me."

"I'm sorry," I whisper, stroking her hair.

"You should have told me sooner," she says, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I know." It's all that I can offer her. My head is still spinning from the fact that she hasn't bolted yet.

"I love you."

I pull back from the lengthy hug and repeat the words to her too. "I love you, too."

She smiles and wipes away her tears, leaning her head against my chest again.

"Lana, I still have more to tell you," I murmur.

"Can it wait until morning? I'm still trying to take this all in," I hear her say into my chest.

"Of course." I place a kiss on the top of her head. She sighs in content.

After a moment of reflection, I lay down on the blanket, bringing her with me. I feel some movement as she snuggles up beside me, her head on my chest.

I watch her as she glances at me one more time and finally closes her eyes. Soon, I can feel her soft breathing as she drifts off to sleep. I too, shut my eyes and tenderly run my hand through her silky hair. Sleep claims me soon enough and I allow it to, trying not to be afraid anymore.