Chapter 10:

Christmas passed as it usually did on the Kent farm, with tradition and without real ceremony but this year Clark appreciated it a little bit more. He watched his parents interact and saw their deep love for each other with his own eyes and it comforted and reassured him. They were the two sides of one coin; one couldn't exist without the other.

He couldn't explain what had happened, he still wasn't sure whether it had been real or just an elaborate dream. It had felt too real at the time and all too terrifying to consider. He couldn't really talk about it with anyone for fear of being considered crazy but dream or not, it had made him take stock and think.

"Penny for them"

Clark's head snapped up at the familiar soft voice and he saw Lana standing at the top of the staircase. She was smiling and he remembered the Lana of his dream, frightened, self-loathing and saw that this girl was a million miles away from that scenario. He smiled and rose from the couch that had been the base of his meanderings.

"Hey Lana" he greeted, smiling. She walked towards him and immediately his eyes were drawn to her left hand, the solitaire diamond glinting in the winter sunlight. He realised then that it didn't hurt any more. Lana had made her choice and surprisingly, he was okay with it. She stood in front of him and looked up at him, staring into his eyes for a moment that warmed him.

"We didn't get a chance to talk much the other night and I got the impression that my…our news took you by surprise" she glanced down at her engagement ring and then back up at his face.

"You don't have to explain anything to me Lana. You're in love, you're getting married and most important, you're happy," he told her. She blinked in surprise.

"But given our history…"

"That's the past Lana, your future is with Jason. He loves you" Lana just stared at him. She looked genuinely puzzled at his words and he bit back a smile.

"Wow…" He allowed the smile to bloom.

"Not the reaction you were expecting, huh? I've had time to think…about a lot of things. You were my first love Lana, and I'll always remember that but as time moves on, so do people and the most important thing I wish for you at the moment is to be happy" she just looked up into his eyes.

"Thank you Clark" he smiled softly, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's something I should've said a while ago. I'm really happy that things are working out for you and Jason, I really am"

Hurricane Chloe decided to pay a visit a couple of days later and he was genuinely glad to see her. He watched her park her fire engine red VW bug outside of the house and almost bounce towards him. She looked very seasonal in a bright red knee length over coat and beret style hat that went well with her colouring and her personality. Her smile, as always, was huge and welcoming and as she got closer to him, she flung her arms around him and hugged him.

"I'm sorry I'm late with this, but Happy Christmas Clark!" she told him and he smiled and looked into her green eyes.

"Metropolis too much fun for a phone call?" he replied and the smile briefly flickered. He grinned.

"Kidding Chlo'. How was your holiday?" he opened the kitchen door and stood to one side as she preceded him into the hallway, discarding her coat and hat along the way, dumping them into his arms as she always did. He didn't get irritated this time, just hung them over the banister as he always did. She turned her head and smiled.

"We had a great time, parties, presents, mistletoe, what's there not to love?"

"Lois not visiting?" the cousins were normally glued at the hip. Clark followed Chloe into the kitchen area.

"No. She's spending a couple of days with her father, let's see how long that little reunion lasts. She's been in a weird mood the last couple of days" She sat at the kitchen table and watched Clark rescue a couple of mugs and pour hot coffee into both of them. He placed one in front of her and she smiled her thanks.

"Chloe, Lois has always been weird" he teased and smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"All I know is that she had a really weird dream just before Christmas but she won't tell me what it was about".

'Join the club' Clark wanted to say.

"Maybe she just overdosed on the Christmas spirit" he replied and Chloe just grinned at him. She began to regale him with tales of life at college in her own inimitable and breathless manner and Clark listened, and just appreciated her, as he always did.