To avoid confusion, as there will be some time- jumps throughout this fic, i will use their age as an indicator. So if we suppose that Through the Seasons ended when Clark was 18-19 years old, this story happens when he is 32 years old. So any time you see a different age, it means we've gone back... :-)

Never be the same again

20 years old.

Clark is flying at a great speed above the Waters of the Atlantic Ocean. He is finally returning home. He was away for a little less than 2 years, but to him it felt only like a couple of months. He didn't know how to feel. He was certainly scared of what he would find back at home. His parents, his friends he left behind and of course Lana.

Even though he was learning how to control his powers, how to best utilize them for the good of the world, and of the history of his own people, apart from his parents, there was only one image that kept coming back in his mind brighter than a sun. Lana Lang. And as his mind filled with beautiful images, that he had associated with Lana, his heart always ached. It ached because with the way things had gone, he didn't know what would happen to them, and Clark dreaded the thought of not having Lana in his life.

Now that he was only minutes away from finding out the answer, he almost hesitated. He had been away for the better part of two years. That was a long time, for things to not change at all. Of one thing he was certain though. Time had not diminished at all the way he felt about Lana.

32 years old

"Clark…" Lana was the one to speak first. "What are you doing here?" she said as she opened her arms to hug him, putting a weak smile on her face, to hide her nervousness. She really couldn't deal with this now.

Clark snapped out of his momentary trance, and gave Lana a hug. "Hey… I… I'm just here to stay with my mother for a while…" She was as beautiful as ever thought Clark.

Stay with his mother? …Does that mean that she… Anyway… either way doesn't matter… thought Lana dismissing the thoughts that were starting to creep in her head. "Oh… Uh… Well… as you can see we are also here… and probably permanently this time." Said Lana with a smile on her face.

Clark then knelt down and took the baby's hands. "And you must be the beautiful Laura, I keep hearing about." Laura reacted to Clark by saying something inaudible and then, turning to Lana, she started crying raising her hands up towards her mother. "Ma Ma!"

Clark panicked thinking that he scared Laura, but Lana chuckled lightly and knelt to take Laura in her arms. "I don't know who she took this from, but she is very… very shy and easily scared. Whenever she meets someone for the first time she bursts out crying for some reason." Said Lana to Clark smiling, as she was rocking Laura in her arms to calm her down.

Clark let out a relieved sigh. "Thank god. I thought it was hate at first sight."

Then Clark looked around a bit awkwardly. "So… back permanently? …Did Clive get a transfer here?" said Clark obviously not liking the subject. Even though, he and Lana haven't been together ever since he left from Smallville, even though more than 10 years have passed, and more importantly despite being happily married for some time, he never liked thinking about Lana's love life. And that had become even harder, ever since she had married Clive and gave birth to Laura.

Lana looked down a bit uncomfortable. "Uh… Clark… Clive is in Japan. We are divorced." Said Lana feeling very uncomfortable since she didn't like to talk about her failed marriage and especially not to Clark.

Clark was surprised. He felt bad for Lana, seeing that it obviously caused her pain, and what's more he felt bad for Laura, but he couldn't deny the fact that deep inside him it felt somewhat good. He never did like Clive, the one time he ever saw him.

"I… I'm sorry Lana… Well… I guess now is as good a time as any to say this. Me and Lois… we are also divorced now. I don't know if that helps in any way…" said Clark a bit clumsily, trying to lighten the mood.

Lana looked at him slightly irritated. "Why in the world would that help me Clark? How can you and Lois being separated help me and Laura in any way?"

Clark was surprised by Lana's reaction. "I… I'm sorry Lana… I just meant it as… you know…" Clark sighed frustrated. "…That was stupid… I'm sorry." As Clark turned to leave, Lana spoke.

"Clark… Look… I'm sorry I snapped at you, I'm just really having a bad time lately." Said Lana dejected.

Clark looked at her with understanding. "I think I know what you mean."

Lana looked at him with a weak smile. "It was stupid though…"

Clark chuckled lightly. "I know… Uh… listen Lana… I'm headed to the Talon, …do you want to perhaps go grab a cup of coffee?"

"I'm sorry Clark… I… I can't… I really have a lot to do…" she said a bit awkwardly.

"How about tomorrow?" said Clark seemingly oblivious to Lana's attempts to avoid him.

"No… Clark… I don't think that would be a good idea…" as she said that she put Laura to the baby carriage and went on her way.

"Bye Clark." She said with melancholy in her voice.

Clark just sat there, frozen, watching her walk away.

To be Continued...