Note: Last chapter, folks! I want to thank everyone who's been following this fic and reviewing. It means a lot. Now, I'm going to take a break from writing for awhile, but maybe I'll have a short ficlet for you sometime this month or next.

Clark's POV

"Clark, are you sure that you don't need any more underwear?" Mom calls to me from behind the kitchen counter where she's trying to stuff a bag of energy bars into my already crammed backpack.

"Mom, I think that if I pack anything else, it'll explode," I comment lightly. I watch her from the dining table, now trying to sneak an extra pair of boxer shorts into the bag. Even from here, I can see that her eyes are red and puffy.

It's been a week since that fateful night when Lana first told me that I had to leave Smallville to 'find myself,' as she had put it. Since that night, Lana and I have been spending every waking moment together in hopes that it'll help ease our pain when we both have to say 'good-bye.' The day before yesterday, I took her out to the oak tree that we fed with our secrets and our professions of love. I then attempted to burn a heart with the initials, 'C.K. & L.L.' into the trunk with my heat vision, despite Lana's protest. "I just want to make sure that no one claims our spot as their own while I'm gone," I had said to her.

Yesterday, due to Lana's suggestion, I had spent the morning with Chloe, the afternoon with Pete, and the evening with Mom. My conversations with Chloe and Pete are still fresh in my memory—Mom's not so much because she spent a good chunk of the time crying her eyes out.

"I don't know exactly why you have to go or how you plan on getting there, but I know that you will," Chloe had said to me the moment that I had finished telling her that I had to leave Smallville. "Maybe I'll see you at the Daily Planet someday," I had replied at the time, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.

Chloe of course, was skeptical. "Are you serious?" she had asked and I had answered, "Let's just say that after spending four years holed in the headquarters of the school newspaper with you, your enthusiasm for journalism finally got to me."

Pete's good-bye had been a little more sentimental than Chloe's, which is perfectly understandable since I've known Pete as long as I have Lana. He was my best friend growing up and a brother of sorts. We spent hours running around and getting ourselves into trouble when were younger. I remember one particular incident when Pete had tripped over the root of a tree and I had to carry him all the way back to my house, piggy back style. Plus, we had already said our good-byes to each other the year before and that was with the knowledge that we would still be keeping in touch.

Tears come to my eyes as I think back to our emotional farewells yesterday. Pete, unlike Chloe, had been uncharacteristically silent after I broke the news to him. When I had asked him to say something, he had this to say: "I always knew that you'd eventually find your way out of Smallville. You were always going on about Metropolis and New York City when we were younger…. I guess that I didn't expect you to leave so soon."

"I didn't expect to leave so soon, too, Pete. But Lana wants me to do this," I had told him. And he had inquired, "You coming back some day?"

"Of course. If not for Lana, then for you. You're like a brother to me, Pete," I had answered and by that time, Pete had been on the verge of tears. "Clark, I know that I said this before, but I'm saying this again. No one has ever put that much trust in me—your secret, I mean. Take care of yourself, man," Pete's final words had been before we had both sat in silence, reflecting on our younger years.

A particularly loud sob from Mom brings me out of my reverie. I get up from the dinner table and approach her.

"Mom?"

She turns around, a bit startled at my sudden presence in the kitchen. My red backpack that I've had for the past four years is lying on the counter, half open.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, Clark…I'm just thinking of the day that you found your father and me."

I smile, remembering the many times that Dad or Mom recounted this tale to me. "Did I scare you?"

"Oh, heavens, no. We were already shaken up as it is because of the meteor hitting our truck. Though, the last thing that we were expecting was to find you, standing there with a wide grin on your face, next to a spaceship." Mom sniffs and dabs her eyes with a freshly plucked tissue. "Your father was skeptical on actually keeping you, although, you started to grow on him hours later when we brought you back to the house. I think he was just scared of getting too attached and having to give you up if push came to shove."

"I just sorta wormed my way into your hearts, huh?" I hand her another tissue.

"You already wormed your way into my heart the first time I laid eyes on you. I've never told you this, but that day, Jonathon and I were in Nell's flower shop, looking for tulips. And Lana was sitting in the corner, dressed in her fairy princess costume, waving a wand around. Oh, you should have seen her. She looked so adorable."

I laugh, watching my mother's face brighten up as she tells me this story for the first time.

"I came up to her and she asked me if I wanted to make a wish. And I did. Not long after that, you came into our lives."

"Wow…Lana's really something, isn't she?" I comment, amazed at the events that took place before my arrival.

"Yes, she is." Mom looks directly at me and I can tell that she's about to start crying again.

"Mom, don't cry," I say quietly, enveloping her in a hug. "I can stop by Smallville anytime that I want. I'll write, too. Call even, if I have the money."

"I'm not worried about that, sweetie." Mom pulls back. "I guess…there comes a time in every mother's life when their son has to grow up and leave home. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."

"I didn't either, Mom."

"You've grown so much in these past months. I can't even begin to describe how much you've matured since your father's death. I'm proud of you, Clark. Dad would be proud of you, too."

"Thanks, Mom," I whisper, kissing her on the cheek. "No matter how old I get, I'll always need you."

Mom is practically bawling now. "I love you, sweetie."

"I love you, too, Mom."

We stand, embracing each other for a few more minutes before she pulls away, fussing over my backpack again.

"Lana should be coming over soon, shouldn't she?" Mom questions, trying her best to zip up the backpack.

I glance out the kitchen window. The beginnings of dawn are showing now. Soon, all of Smallville will be awake, the usual activities of the town taking place. I can imagine the milk truck, chugging along, bottles of milk clinking. Mr. Green getting a head start on feeding the cattle and Mrs. Andrews opening up shop later in the morning. It's hard to imagine that in just an hour time, I'll be long gone from here.

There's a knock at the door and both Mom and I turn at the interruption, knowing exactly who it is standing behind it. Mom nods at me to go answer it.

"Hey." I step back to allow her in. She's fully dressed and up close, I can tell that she hadn't slept a wink the night before. Her eyes are red and puffy, similar to Mom's.

"Hey," she says, barely audible. She passes me and sends a weak smile in Mom's direction. Mom returns it with an exact copy.

Mom turns to me, knowing that it's time. She hands me my backpack, her hands shaking slightly. I swallow a growing lump in my throat and hug her tightly. Wordlessly, we say our good-byes, knowing that saying them aloud will be too painful for either of us.

I turn away from, wiping my eyes. I then follow Lana outside, shutting the door behind us. Lana and I walk side-by-side to the truck where I open the passenger door for her. Soundlessly, we drive until we hit the deserted road that will take one to the main highway that leads to Metropolis and eventually, other parts of the country.

Lana starts to cry silently once we both slide out of the truck, leaving it on the side of the road. Knowing that no one will be out here until much later, we stand in the middle, Smallville behind us.

I place my backpack on the ground and simply stare out into the distance, pondering what's out there for me. Finally, Lana speaks.

"You got everything that you need?" Lana manages to get out.

"Almost everything, but you," I answer, turning to her. She looks as beautiful as ever, the rays of the rising sun casting its ethereal effect on her.

"Well, you're going to have to manage without me." Lana starts to sob and I draw her to me.

"Shh…it's okay," I whisper in her hair, knowing that it's really not. A lump grows in my throat as tears streak my face. I draw away slightly to pull out a velvet box. I hold it up in front of her.

"Clark…" she begins, but I cut her off gently.

"Lana, it's not what you think it is." I snap open the box to reveal a sparkling diamond and it's thin silver band. Without protest from her, I slip in on her left ring finger. Bringing her hand up to my lips, I kiss it.

"It's a promise ring," I explain. "I was supposed to give it to you the night that I made dinner, but we sort of got side tracked."

"A promise ring for what?" She wipes away some of her tears and gazes up at me, the contours of her mouth forming a small smile.

"A promise that I'll be back someday."

"Clark…"

"Lana, I know that I haven't been very good with promises in the past, but I swear that I really mean it this time. I will come back for you. That is, if you're willing to wait for me."

"Of course, I am," Lana says softly, touching my cheek. "I'll wait forever for you, Clark Kent."

I smile through my tears and kiss her hard. Our tears mingle with the kiss, making it sweet and salty. Bittersweet.

I pull away from her, looking into her eyes that can pierce my soul. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, I place both hands on either side of her face, my thumbs caressing her cheeks.

"Clark? Promise me something," Lana says hoarsely.

"Anything."

"Don't forget me, okay?"

Swallowing the growing lump in my throat, I reply, "Never."

We stand, in the center of the road that will eventually take me around the world. This road, I also know, will take me back to her, my first and only love.

We stand, embracing each other for what may seem like hours, but in reality, only a few more precious minutes together. Lana draws back slightly, knowing that it's time.

I kiss her one last time, savoring her taste in my mouth, realizing that this kiss will have to hold me over for quite some time.

I reach down and shrug my backpack over both shoulders, instead of my usual one. We hug one last time before Lana wordlessly hands me a folded up letter tucked safely in the contours of an envelope. She's written my first name on the front in perfectly formed cursive.

"Don't open it until you're gone, okay?"

I nod, tucking it into the security of my jeans pocket. I glance at her one last time, memorizing the outline of her angelic face, knowing that this image will be one that I will cherish for a lifetime.

I turn away from her, tears silently streaming down my cheeks. I take a few steps away from her before stopping. I turn around and she runs into my arms.

"I love you, Clark," Lana weeps. "You're going to change the world, I know it."

"I'll come back for you," I vow, hugging her tightly. "I love you so much, Lana. Thank you for letting me go."

My final words to her as I back away for the last time. I begin to run, my legs carrying me toward the horizon. Behind me, I can hear her sobbing hard, her heart breaking into little bits and pieces like mine.

Before I know it, I stop in front of the big sign that announces, "Smallville, The World's Meteor Capital." I glance at it and know that I have to go on. Even if she doesn't realize it, I'm not doing this for me, but for her.

As I continue on my journey toward the unknown, memories of Lana and our time spent together come rushing back to me. Watching her from the bleachers performing cheer routines, our eyes locking together from across a room, her adoring gaze after a heavy love making session. A sense of nostalgia overcomes me and I suddenly have a strong urge to turn around and run back into her arms. But I don't.

I close my eyes, minding where my legs are taking me. For a fleeting second, if I concentrate hard enough, I can almost hear her.

"Come back to me, Clark."

I will, Lana. I will.

Look for the epilogue tomorrow!