Angels and Devils

Lana felt really emotional with everything Clark said. She sat down in the couch and buried her face in her hands. Clark smiled lightly and approached her.

"You know I'm right Lana… and I tell you… you don't need him…" he put his hand on her shoulder. "You know I'm right…"

Lana lift her head and with tear stained eyes looked at him. "Clark…"

Even though she called him Clark he didn't correct her. "… I know that you're frustrated with everything that's been going on… I know you feel guilty about many things, because that has always been your nature… But you can't take the blame for everything that's been going wrong in the world… You're trying to set an example and that's more than anyone has ever done in the past… You stand for what you believe in… But it's not up to you to change the world… No one should be responsible for single handedly saving the world cause that would make the rest of us voluntary slaves to his power or just observers of our own lives while that person would take care of everything for us… You can only set the example with your actions and with being who you are… but allow the rest of the world the right to be the masters of their fates as well as to own up to their share of responsibility for when things go south…" Clark turned his head away seemingly annoyed by what he heard, but Lana softly turned his head so that he looked straight into her eyes. "You may have made mistakes as have I… it's only human to do that… And I must admit that some of those mistakes hurt both you and me… But that's exactly why I've always loved you… all these things, your successes, your failures, your kind heart, your strength of character, even your compulsive protective nature… all these make you into the man I love…"

Clark looked at her intensely, but his internal struggle was now very obvious. He seemed a bit confused and even lost. Lana placed her hand on his cheek. "Please… come back to me…" she said with a choking voice.

Clark sat up abruptly and turned his back to Lana, grabbing his head with his hands. Lana who got worried, got up and walked up to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Clark…?"

Clark then spun around abruptly, and grabbed her smiling. "I told you my name is Kal" he then leaned in and kissed her forcefully.

"No!" was all Lana managed to say before he sealed her mouth with his lips. Lana resisted it but he was holding her still with his powerful grip. She fought him and as she broke the kiss she instinctively slapped him hard. "I said No!"

Clark enraged, grabbed her with one hand and raised the other in a striking position. "Never hit me again!" he shouted as he readied himself to hit her. Lana didn't turn away and she didn't scream. She just looked at him with a mixed look of surprise, disappointment and fear and with her eyes still tear-stained. As Clark saw her like that he froze. His face was again a mask of confusion. His raised hand started trembling and he softly placed it on her cheek. "Lana… I… I would never hurt you…" he said in a stammering voice. Lana's face though hadn't changed and he couldn't bear to look at the fear and disappointment in her eyes. Clark fell to his knees, buried his face in his hands and started to sob violently. His internal struggle and all his frustrations had gotten the best of him.

Lana looked at him and her features softened. She placed her hand softly on his head and stroked his hair. She then kneeled down next to him and with slow and unthreatening motions she took Clark in her arms, as he kept on letting it all out.

They remained there for many minutes and Lana just held him, trying to soothe him. After a while Clark had stopped crying and just remained there in Lana's arms. He then kissed her hand. "Thank you…"

Lana looked at him smiling. "I didn't just do it for you, you know… I also did it for myself… Clark I never want to lose you again…"

Clark smiled at her and then he lift his head and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "My heart, my soul and all that is me… have always been yours and will always be yours…" said Clark really emotional as he kissed her again. Lana despite her tears, gave him a very happy smile, that sent Clark's heart soaring.

He meant every single word he said to her. So he remained there in her arms grateful for being allowed the blessing of her love.

To be Continued…