As i delayed this update a bit more than usual, here is a thirds chapter update. :-) Hope you enjoy.

Tayrion

Welcome to my truth

Clark flew as fast as he could towards Smallville. He tried though to be as discreet as he could, to avoid being seen by people. As he landed in an alley near Lana's apartment, he quickly changed into Clark Kent. He walked quickly towards Lana's front door and knocked. He heard footsteps on the other side of the door, running. The door opened really abruptly and Clark was greeted with Lana's face looking at him with tears in her eyes, but smiling relieved. Without a word she threw herself in his open arms and he held her tightly.

Little Laura saw them from inside the apartment and ran towards Clark with the encouragement of another figure. It was then that Clark noticed Pete who was already there. Clark bent a bit and caught Laura with one free hand and lift her into a hug along with her mother. Laura was smiling and laughing as Clark held her. "hullo C'ark" she said giggling. Clark just kissed her cheek and then kissed the top of Lana's head.

He put Laura down and looked Lana in the eyes. "I'm so sorry you had to see that…"

Lana stopped him by putting her index finger on his lips. "The important thing is that you're ok…" she said offering him a weak smile.

As they walked into the apartment Pete greeted Clark with a smile and opened his arms to give his friend a hug. "You gave us quite a scare man." Said Pete as he smiled to Clark.

"What are you doing here Pete?" asked Clark breaking the hug.

"Well… when we left with Chloe, I stayed in Metropolis for a couple of days more to see some clients, and I happened to catch the news, so I thought I'd come over here and see what was going on. Too bad Lana didn't know anything about what happened."

Lana looked at Clark guiltily and turned around avoiding to look at Pete.

"So tell us man… what happened?" asked Pete curious.

Clark looked a bit uncomfortable for a minute. "I'd rather not drag you into anything Pete… believe me it's best this way."

Pete chuckled turning to Lana "Same ol' Clark eh? Always trying to do what's best for others… I'm glad to see that phase you were on your mother's funeral passed quickly."

Clark then knelt down again, as he saw Laura approach him smiling from ear to ear. She was holding in her little hands a paper. Clark took her in his arms and examined the paper which contained a drawing. "Let's see what you have done for me here." Said Clark looking at the piece of paper and seeing a drawing of what he was certain was Superman. "C'ark" said Laura pointing with her little hands at the Superman she had drawn.

At first Clark smiled, but then he lift his head and looked at Lana with a confused look. "Is this good or bad?" he asked her sounding very uncertain.

Lana returned his puzzled look and just shook her head not certain herself.

"If you ask me, it could prove dangerous…" offered a troubled Pete. "Maybe you should try and explain to her a couple of things Lana…"

Clark smiled and kissed Laura on the cheek. "Thank you Laura, it's very beautiful."

Laura just giggled a little and ran off to the big sofa in the living room.

"Clark… could we please take a walk… I want to talk to you about something… " asked Pete.

Clark looked at Lana who just smiled to him warmly. Then he turned to Pete "Ok Pete let's go…"

Before he went out the door with Pete, he approached Lana and held her tightly once more. He then kissed her forehead and smiled to her. "I'm sorry again for this Lana…"

Lana kissed him quickly and softly on the lips. "And I told you, it doesn't matter as long as you're fine… I'll wait for you … " she said smiling to him.

Clark smiled warmly as he also kissed her softly on the lips. "I won't be long…"

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Pete suggested they should go and talk somewhere quiet, so they ended up going to Crater Lake.

"So what the hell happened Clark?" asked Pete.

"Pete… I… don't…"

"Cut the crap Clark… It's me…"

"Well… the only thing I can tell you, is that behind what happened is Lex. I'm certain of it… and I'm going to expose him." Said Clark with determination.

Pete looked at him uncertain. "How you going to do that? Doesn't he own the Daily Planet?"

"Well yeah… but I have a back door…" said Clark with a smile.

Pete looked troubled. "Clark don't you think you're taking this a little too far? I mean I know that you never saw eye to eye with Lex and there were many times when as Superman you stopped people who "supposedly" worked for him or some part of Luthorcorp… but this is Lex Luthor we're talking about… I mean… I know he might be involved in some shady affairs… but the guy provides work for half the country…" Pete looked very uncomfortable "including me man…"

Clark looked at him puzzled. "Did he buy out your company?"

"Yeah… it happened about four months ago… " admitted Pete looking downcast.

"Pete… why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I know how you feel about the guy Clark!" said Pete defensively.

"But Pete… I might have been able to help… Why do you still work for him though? I thought you hated the guy…"

Pete looked at Clark a bit angrily. "Because Clark… Some of us have to live in the real world! We don't have superpowers, going around worrying about the world, the environment and such! I have my family to think of first Clark! A family who depends on me! Should I just throw all that I have tried to achieve away, because I don't morally agree with everything Lex is doing?"

Clark looked at Pete a bit hurt. "Pete… I only asked because I knew how you felt about the man…"

Pete chuckled "Heh… I know… and now I depend on him… Ain't that funny? … He made me an offer to top it off…" Pete with tears in his eyes got out of his pocket a small box. As Clark looked at him quizzically, Pete opened it and Clark was immediately hit by nausea, as he felt his knees give way and he stumbled to the ground. Pete knelt down next to him as he now cried. "I'm sorry Clark… but he made an offer I just couldn't refuse man…"

Clark looked at him unable to understand what was going on. "P… Pete? What did you do?"

"I did not betray your identity Clark… I could have done that… But it would jeopardize far too many people, like Chloe and Lana and her daughter, and I couldn't do that… but you have to understand… Lex just wants to talk to the other you… and I know that there's only one way that can happen… I'm sorry Clark…" Pete took out a syringe filled with a red liquid. He moved the green kryptonite next to Clark's arm, and then he stuck the syringe in Clark's arms emptying its contents into Clark's system. He then closed the box with the kryptonite and put it in his pocket. Clark remained down on the ground for a while, before he lift his head and looked at Pete smiling.

Pete backtracked a bit. "Clark… I did it for all our sakes man… You have to see it…"

Clark stood up and dusted himself off. Then he turned to Pete and with lightning fast speed grabbed him by the throat. "You know I could snap your neck like a twig right here for betraying me like that. … But I won't do it, because … well you set me free…" said Clark with a chuckle as he let go of Pete's throat.

"Clark… Lex says that he can offer to you your heart's desires if Superman decided to just consider his offer… Go talk to him and see for yourself Clark…"

Clark smiled wickedly at Pete. "Well… Clark ain't going nowhere… Kal El though will consider his offer." And with that he took off to the sky.

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Pete walked to his car which he had parked out of Lana's apartment, wiping the tears from his eyes. As he hurriedly opened the door of his car, Lana got out to greet him. "Pete!"

Pete though did not answer and tried to avoid her worried look. He got in the car and started the engine.

"Pete! What's going on? Where's Clark?" said Lana as she became increasingly worried.

And just before he drove away, Pete turned to look at Lana with tears still running down his face. As he looked at her he mouthed to her "I'm sorry" and then he was off, leaving Lana behind dreading to think of what might have happened.

"Oh my god! What have you done Pete?" she said as tears threatened to fall down her beautiful face.

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Kal El flew towards Metropolis to meet with Lex Luthor, as Clark Kent was slowly becoming a distant memory.

To be Continued…