Note: Some fluff to ease the high tensions. Enjoy!

Clark's POV

It's Monday now, two days since Jor-El's mysterious message and I haven't heard a word from him since. Lana takes this as a good sign, but she doesn't know how Jor-El operates. When Jor-El plans something, he expects it to happen.

My unexpected visit to the caves in the midst of Friday night and dawn, though brief, rattled Lana a bit. When I returned back to the loft, I found her at the window. After explaining to her what happened, I enveloped her in my arms and we tried our best to decipher the message.

Saturday passed slowly and melted into Sunday. Lana kept me company for most of Saturday and even offered to go with me to Metropolis on Sunday morning to visit my dad. Though Jor-El's message was bugging me as much as it was on Friday night, I kept it to myself. Neither Mom nor Dad knows about it. I plan to tell Mom eventually, but now isn't the right time; especially with Dad in the hospital.

Another thing that I've kept to myself is the incident with Lex at the Senior Bash. It hasn't been easy considering the news coverage it's been given, but I'm just glad that Mom hasn't read the Daily Planet lately.

As for my argument with Chloe…well, she's coming up the hallway just now.

"Hey, Chloe!" I dodge a few people and approach her cautiously.

"Clark! I wasn't sure that I would get to see you today considering the fight we had after prom," Chloe says, smiling slightly.

I follow her into The Torch. "Yeah…about that…I want to apologize for the way I acted and the things I said. I was way out of line and─"

"Clark," Chloe interrupts, holding up her hands. "Did you rehearse what you were going to say?"

I blink and know that I've been caught. "Yeah…sort of." Chloe stares at me in disbelief and I offer an explanation. "I was worried that you would never speak to me again, so Lana had me write down my apology and practice it."

Chloe nearly chokes on her coffee. "Lana? She thought of this?"

"Well, yeah."

Chloe takes a sip of coffee and sets it down on one of the desks. "Clark, first of all, I accept your apology and I hope that you'll accept mine, too. Despite my trying to help, I was part of the reason you went berserk in front of Lex and media. I shouldn't have been so…forward. I mean, you were going through a rough time and I just drove the nail in, didn't I? I'm really─"

"Apology accepted."

Chloe smiles. "Okay, second of all, Lana has really got you whipped, hasn't she? I mean, getting you to write your apology down? That sounds like something that a first grade teacher would do—I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that. Hey, if it works, it works, right?"

Despite her sarcasm, I can't help but smile. "Right, Chloe."

Chloe smirks and sits at the desk, starting up the computer. I move closer to her and look over her shoulder.

"So, are people giving you a hard time about what happened at Lex's mansion? I mean, asking questions?"

"Surprisingly, no."

"No?"

"No." I shrug.

Chloe swivels around in her chair, peeling her eyes away from the computer. "Nothing?"

"Nothing," I repeat. "I know it sounds strange, but no one has asked me anything." I pause. "Although…when I passed some of the football guys, they gave me slaps on the back like they were praising me for something."

"Really?" Chloe appears thoughtful and I wait for her to elaborate.

"Well, I heard some rumors…but they're not completely true."

"What are they?" I ask, shocked that someone would start a rumor about all this. Especially since the Daily Planet and The Torch all reported the facts of the heated argument between Lex and me. It's pretty obvious what we were fighting over…actually, what I was accusing Lex of, which just happens to be true.

"That Lex set you up to make you out like an idiot because he was jealous that Lana chose you over him," Chloe says casually.

"What? Who would start a rumor like that?"

"That would be me."

Both of us turn around. "Lana?"

She smiles sheepishly at Chloe and me and drops off her books on a chair.

"Before you two jump to conclusions, I didn't mean for it to come out this way," Lana explains, taking a seat next to Chloe, leaving me the only one standing. "I thought that by telling people about how Lex set Clark up to cover up his tracks, they would spread the word and people would know the truth. But, unfortunately, when the news hit Dawn Stiles and her rumor mill, the words kinda morphed into 'Lex Luthor set Clark Kent up because he has Lana Lang."

Lana finishes and bites her bottom lip. Chloe makes a disbelieving noise and turns to her computer, no doubt writing a follow up on her article in today's edition of The Torch.

Lana's still waiting for my response to all this. "Clark…you're not mad, are you?"

"Not at all. I mean, at least Dawn had enough consideration to twist it into me getting the girl."

Lana laughs in relief. "I think you always had her."

Lana's POV

Despite Jor-El's message and Mr. Kent's ailing condition, the week has surprisingly been a slow and sluggish one. It's almost as if life is winding down for an abrupt jolt later on.

It's Thursday, the day that Mrs. Kent is supposed to arrive home from Metropolis where she's been staying with her husband. Clark is in Metropolis right now, visiting his father. I guess that Chloe's advice, though a bit blunt, really got to him and now he's spending more time than ever with his father.

I've been in this situation before with Whitney, so it's no surprise that I've been ignored for the most part this week. Clark's been so preoccupied with his dad and the farm that he barely has anytime for me anymore. I don't blame the guy and I totally understand, but sometimes I wish that life for me could just be…normal. Why can't Clark and I just have a normal teenage relationship where all we have to worry about is which party to attend or where our next date would be? But then again, Clark isn't exactly a normal guy and I'm completely fine with that.

My mind consciously drifts back to reality and the situation at hand. The Kent Farm looms ahead in the windshield and I prepare to turn into the driveway. After killing the engine, I grab the groceries in the passenger's seat and make my way toward the house.

Hesitating at the door, I knock tentatively and hear footsteps approach the door. I shift the paper bag filled to the rim with assorted produce and meats to my other arm and wait for the door to open.

"Lana," Mrs. Kent says, pulling the door wider and gesturing me in. "C'mon in."

"Thanks, Mrs. Kent." I pass her and go over to the kitchen counter to set the bag down. "I…umm...brought groceries. I figured that your fridge might be a little bare of the usual fruit and vegetables and over stuffed with the left over pizza and Chinese that Clark has been binging on."

"You didn't have to do that." Mrs. Kent smiles and gives me a little hug. "But thank you anyway."

I smile and nod, helping her put away the food. When we're done, she offers me a glass of lemonade and I accept.

"Did you just get in this morning from Metropolis?" I ask her as she hands me a glass.

"Yes, I did. You can tell because I haven't even had the chance to shower yet due to the need to clean up this place." Martha pours a glass of lemonade for herself and sits in the chair adjacent to mine. "I can't believe that outside is exactly the same as I left it and inside is a complete mess."

I laugh and set my glass on the table. "Well, Clark has been working on keeping the farm running smoothly. I guess that he forgot about the inside."

Mrs. Kent sighs and shakes her head. "How is Clark holding up anyway? You must think that I'm a terrible mother for leaving him in charge of everything while I'm in Metropolis."

"No, not at all," I say quickly. "Clark's been doing fine...but I think he's secretly glad that you're back anyway. He's had enough fast food and my tasteless cooking to last a lifetime."

Martha laughs. "Well, I'm sure that he'll get used to it in the future."

Despite the innocent way it was said, I find myself blushing at her comment. It's almost as if she implied that I would be cooking for Clark as his wife.

Martha seems to notice this too as she changes the subject. "So, how are things going between you and Clark?"

"Great, actually. Clark and I finally talked about his decision to stay in Smallville. He asked me if I wanted to him to stay and I told him 'yes.'" I pause and think back to that day. "It's just…I don't want to hold him back, you know?"

Mrs. Kent nods. "Honey, I think we're all trying not to hold him back. Jonathon and I…" Martha stops, recollecting her thoughts. "Clark developed a lot of his abilities at a young age. At four, he discovered strength and at six, speed. Jonathon and I…we wanted to shield him away from the world. Right before Clark started kindergarten; we were still debating whether or not we should let him go. You have to understand…we were scared that people were going to take him away from us because of his amazing gifts. But, we realized that if kept trying to shield him, we would only be holding him back."

"Clark's lucky to have you and Mr. Kent as parents," I say quietly.

Martha smiles sympathetically, as if knowing that I'm thinking about my own parents now. "Lana, I'm glad that you realize that don't want to hold him back, but you also have to understand that Clark is like any other eighteen year old boy. He's scared of the same things as you probably are…college and what the future holds. And because of this, he's afraid to take certain chances or make certain decisions. Sometimes, all he needs is just a little push."

"A little push?"

"Just some support…someone he can go to when he needs help. He used to go to his father with all this…but now that Jonathon is dying…"

She trails off and I choose to leave it at that. Her words make a lot of sense…but at the same time, they're confusing. Am I supposed to give Clark that 'push' so that he will leave Smallville? Or, am I supposed to support his decision?

My thoughts drift from this to the list of things that I have to do back at my apartment. There's a pretty good chance that Clark won't be back from Metropolis until later tonight and as much as I would love to accept Mrs. Kent's dinner invitation later, I know that I shouldn't. I have to set things up for tomorrow. But first…

"Mrs. Kent," I begin tentatively, but she interrupts.

"Lana, I think that you've earned the right to call me Martha. Technically speaking, I've known you longer than I have Clark."

I laugh. "Okay, well, Martha, I was just wondering if you were planning anything for Clark's birthday tomorrow."

"To be completely honest, no. I was thinking of baking him a cake…. You know how we're not too big on birthdays around here."

I nod, remembering the time that she asked me specifically if I could do something special for Clark. "I know that Clark isn't too big on birthdays either…especially his, but I just wanted to do something special."

"Well, what did you have in mind?"

I shift in my seat. "At first, I thought of inviting over a few friends for a small party, but I know Clark well enough to know that he won't like that. After throwing around some ideas for an hour, I gave up. Nothing seems original or special enough."

Martha pats my hand. "Sweetie, Clark doesn't need anything fancy…he just needs you."

I grin. "So, he wouldn't mind if I baked him a cake again?"

"If it's from you, not at all."

Clark's POV

I yawn and look at my watch. Almost midnight. Mom is probably going to kill me if she finds that I stayed up this late on a school night. I'll just have to tell her that I couldn't sleep, which is the partial truth.

The image of Dad lying helpless on that hospital bed really freaks me out. My dad is the strongest person that I know and yet he's dying.

The thing that has really been irking me these past days is the fact that with all my abilities, there's nothing that I can really do for him. Even if Lex and I were still on good terms, he wouldn't be able to do much. There's only so many hearts available and there are so many patients in need of one. Dr. O'Brien ran the idea of an artificial heart between my mom and me, but we knew that it was pretty hopeless. We barely have enough money to keep the farm afloat let alone an artificial heart that will only keep Dad alive for another month or so.

I sigh and rub my face. My head shoots up when I hear a noise behind me.

"Lana?"

"I hope that I'm not interrupting."

I move away from the window a bit and notice a box in her hands. "No…not at all." I continue to look at the box.

"Good…good." Lana sets the box down on the table stands next to me by the window.

"What are you doing here, Lana? It's almost midnight." Suddenly, something clicks in my mind. It's my birthday?

"Can't a girl visit her guy?" Lana replies mysteriously, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Not at twelve in the morning. Unless, you want some action."

Lana laughs. "Maybe I do." She winks. "Now close your eyes."

"Is that what I think it is?" I point to the box, not bothering to close my eyes.

"Maybe, maybe not. You'll never find out if you don't close your eyes," Lana teases.

I oblige and hear her struggle to light the candles. Yes, I know that it's a cake.

"Okay. Go ahead and open them."

I do and feign surprise. Lana sees right through this.

"You peeked, didn't you?"

"Not at all," I say defensively. "I just did some deductive reasoning."

Lana pouts and sets the cake back on the table. "Well, lucky for you, this isn't your only present."

"I have more?"

"Of course." I watch as she goes over to the couch and pick up a bag that I hadn't even noticed. She pulls out a rather large flat rectangular object covered with a sheet.

I have an idea what it is, but I keep silent.

"I did this for you, Clark," Lana says softly. She unwraps the sheet slowly to reveal a spectacular painting full with color, texture, and vivid images and scenery. Some of the images are as clear as daylight and others are more abstract, giving you the feeling of staring into another reality. This, I think, is art at its finest.

"What do you think?"

I swallow. "I think that this is…amazing, Lana." I take it from her and trace my fingers around some of the images. The ones that I can make out are landmarks in Smallville. Chandler's Windmill for instance or the oak tree that Lana and I picnicked under. I look up from it and smile at her.

"Thank you, Lana."

Lana shrugs as if it's no big deal. Then, she picks up the cake. "Make a wish."

I grin, remembering what happened next. I carefully place the painting back in its sheet and into the bag that Lana brought along. Placing it on the table, I move toward the candles and gently blow them out.

"What did you wish for?"

"If I told you, it wouldn't come true." I take the cake from her hands and place on the table. I then lean forward and kiss her on the lips.

The kiss builds to a more passionate one. Almost instinctively, Lana leads me to the couch where we make love for the first time.

Some cynics might say that Lana and I are too young to know what it is to make love; that our lust for each other simply grew to the point where it needed some release. This is not true at all.

Lana and I may have not dated for very long, but I've loved her since that fateful night in the graveyard. She was kind and compassionate to my pain. She made me laugh in my darkest hour. These are only a few reasons of why I fell in love with her. There are many more and if I were to name them, it would be a never-ending list. So, I keep these reasons to myself and hope that one day, she'll let me spout them off, uninterrupted.

Making love with Lana for the first time is something that I will never forget. Watching her face fill with pleasure because of my doing makes my heart flutter and my love for her grow even stronger. After all these years of playing with my telescope and wishing, I finally have her love.

I wrap the blanket tighter around our naked bodies and watch her drift off to sleep. Only then, do I close my eyes and wait for tomorrow to come. With her by my side, I know that I can face anything.