The Space Between

"What about Clark?" said Lana, feeling way too tired emotionally to be having such a conversation.

"Look honey… I know you don't like taking about this and especially with me, but you have to know that I'm asking you this because I care about both of you." Said Martha in a motherly tone.

Lana sighed in defeat. Even though it might sound like an exaggeration to anyone else, that Martha could care about Lana as much as her own son, Lana knew that she was being honest, which is why she loved her so much. "Don't get me wrong Martha, I know you care about me a lot, but I don't think you can be very impartial on the subject of Clark."

"Try me…" said Martha smiling.

"Well… ok… what do you want to know?" asked Lana giving up.

"Why did you avoid him yesterday?"

"I didn't avoid him Martha, I was being as nice as I could, I just didn't think it would be a good idea for us to go out. That's all."

"He asked you out?" asked Martha in disbelief.

"Well… no… not exactly… just to get together and catch up…" said Lana feeling more and more like the bad guy and also getting very uncomfortable.

"And is that so bad?" asked Martha softly.

"Martha… you of all people know what I've been through with your son! I… I can't… I just can't…" said Lana as she started to get emotional.

Martha placed her hand on Lana's and spoke to her in a motherly and comforting voice. "I know what you mean sweetie, but what you just said means that you still love him."

Lana looked at Martha with misty eyes. "I never stopped loving him Martha, and I never denied it."

"Oh sweetie… come here" said Martha as she scooted her chair closer to Lana's and hugged her tightly, as Lana started to cry softly.

"And believe me Martha, when I realized that nothing could happen between us, I tried to get over him. But do you know what it's like to search for something you have already found but lost, knowing that you're probably not gonna find it? And I haven't found it again since Clark, which is why I can't get over him. And to tell you the truth I always secretly believed that one day he would return to me, but of course that hope came crushing down when he married Lois. I just can't put myself through that again Martha. Not again and for no one. I've got Laura to think about now not just myself." Said Lana as she turned to look at Laura who was blissfully playing with her doll in the close by couch. When she saw her mother looking at her, Laura using the hand of her doll waved at Lana and giggled happily.

Lana couldn't help but chuckle and smile lovingly at her daughter, as she waved back at her. "She is my only priority now Martha." Said Lana with a determined voice.

Martha lightly squeezed her hand and smiled supportingly at Lana. "And she should be. But please Lana, don't give up on Clark completely. He will need you soon, and I'm afraid for him. Please Lana… Please…"

Lana looked at Martha curiously, but also worried by Martha's tone. What did she mean?

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Clark arrived at the Daily Planet and he quickly headed for Perry's office. When he entered the office the first thing he saw was Lois. He swallowed hard and he felt his stomach tied in knots.

"Sorry to drag you from your vacations kid but we're in trouble." Said Perry who was pacing up and down the office.

Lois got worried when she saw Clark. He had black circles around his eyes and he seemed in an awful shape. She approached him and whispered to him. "Clark… you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Said Clark a bit abruptly and went towards Perry. "Perry how did this happen?"

"How? He bought the whole damn thing! That's how! He is Lex Luthor. What do you mean how? He convinced most of the board of directors to give up their share to him and now he owns the damn place." Said Perry screaming.

"Yeah but I mean why now? He could have done that from day one, ever since we became practically the only media outlet who constantly opposed him." Asked Clark.

"That would have been detrimental to his image. Silencing the only voice of opposition. He would seem like a tyrant to all of the world. Especially since he became his expansion in Europe. Lex wouldn't want that." Said Lois

"So what changed? What happened to make him change his mind?" asked Clark a bit confused.

"That's what I want to find out!" shouted an irate Perry. "All these years I've prided myself of maintaining one of the most objective papers in the world, and now Lex Luthor owns it. I could very well be fired tomorrow.

After some more steaming from Perry, they decided that Clark would go and meet Lex before he addressed the Daily Planet stuff the following day. As Clark and Lois exited Perry's office, Lois grabbed Clark's hand. "Clark… can we go have a coffee and talk?"

"Talk about what?" asked Clark seemingly indifferent.

"Please Clark… I'm worried about you… You don't look well… and you haven't looked well for some time now… Please let's just go talk for a while…" said Lois with honest concern in her voice.

Clark sighed frustrated. He didn't think being with Lois right now would be such a good idea for his mental health, but he just couldn't say no to her. Not after everything they've been through.

To be continued…