The Warmth

Clark and Pete were walking down the road towards Clark's house. Pete was silent and he seemed quite thoughtful in his depressed state. Clark didn't want to discuss anything out in the street, so he didn't say anything until they reached his house.

After they both got in, Clark turned to Pete casually. "Do you want anything to drink?"

Pete turned to him and hesitantly asked: "What do you got?"

Clark walked to the refrigerator. He looked inside and winced. "Hmm… a bit empty… but I do have a couple of beers here nonetheless. You want one?"

"Sure"

Clark threw one of the beers to Pete as he opened his and walked inside the living room. He sat on the sofa, as he saw Pete being more hesitant as to where he should sit. Finally he sat down opposite Clark on a chair.

"Look Pete… I'm not going to lie to you… I was very hurt by what you did, and to tell you the truth I don't think I can ever completely trust you again like I used to… but… I want to understand… I mean… why didn't you tell me anything if you were in trouble?"

"Because Clark… I really wanted that promotion Lex promised me and I knew the only way to get that is for you to go meet him like he wanted and consider his offer… to tell you the truth I kinda wished you'd accept the offer and…"

"And what Pete? We'd be all on big happy family working for Lex?" said Clark annoyed.

"I didn't say it was the right thing to do… but it was the only thing I could think of that had any chance of making everyone a winner…"

"Make you a winner you mean…"

"I panicked Clark! Ok… what do you want me to say…"

Clark looked at him surprised. "To tell you the truth I was expecting some sort of apology, but I'm not even sure whether even now you're sorry for what you did…"

"Of course I'm sorry for what I did Clark… Like I said it was a mistake! I just thought …" Pete paused and looked downwards. "…I don't know what I thought…"

Clark looked at him unsure of how to react or feel about his friend. "Listen Pete… I need to know that you're on my side… I mean… considering what you know about me… I … I mean I don't know what to do… What would you do If you were in my shoes?"

Pete looked up at him. "I would have kicked the crap out of me… but I'm hoping you're above those sort of things…"

Clark chuckled lightly. "Pete I need to know that you won't do anything else to interfere with my business with Lionel and Lex… I mean… I'll be honest with you… I would rather you stopped talking or seeing Lex…"

Pete looked at Clark in the eyes. "I'm not going to betray your trust ever again Clark… Even if it means losing my job, I will try to rise up to the task of being your friend. And I know that with what I did, things between us won't be the same… but to tell you the truth I want to do this mostly for my self! I want to prove to myself above anyone else that I can do this. Again Clark… I'm really sorry, but you have to understand that I never wished you harm…"

Clark looked at Pete dejected. "I know that Pete… I know that…"

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After Pete left for Washington this time, Clark spent the next hour on the phone with Lois, letting her know exactly what to write on tomorrow's paper. Nothing to revealing and cryptic enough to pave the ground for what he would write in his own article in two days.

When he finished talking to her he looked at his watch and saw that it was already half past twelve. He took out the key that Lana had given him before he left with Pete, and considered what he should do. He wanted more than anything to go and sleep at her place tonight, but he still wasn't sure if it was appropriate and if it would be good for Laura to see him there in the morning.

That led him to another thing that with everything that's been happening, he didn't have time to think about. What am I going to do with this? I mean let's be honest, Lana is now a single mother… the only way this can go is to marriage… and… I mean… why not… I love her… and Laura… she is amazing… does it really matter that she is not my child? … I mean I'm crazy about both of them… It's the only rational thing to do… And probably the best decision I will have taken in my life… I bet mom would have been thrilled to know that… So I'll just wait till all this craziness subsides and tell her… I hope she feels the same way… I mean… I know she feels the same way… So I guess… it will be good for little Laura to try and get used to my presence… although I think she kinda likes me… Thought Clark with a grin.

Having made his decision, he went out the door and sped to Lana's house. He unlocked the door and walked in quietly. The lights in the house were dark and for a moment he considered whether he should go up and disturb Lana or just sleep in the couch. As he was trying to make up his mind, he saw a vision that made him forget all about his dilemma. Lana appeared at the top of the stairs wearing a tank top and boxers. He smiled from ear to ear as he just stood there looking at her. She looked incredible even in simple clothes like that. None of them said anything as Lana just stood there and looked at him smiling. Clark started going up the stair with determination. When he reached the step just below the top he looked her straight in the eyes. He lift his hand and stroked her cheek gently. Lana closed her eyes as she savored the sensation of his touch. Then he leaned in and kissed her tenderly. He then picked her up in his arms and went into her bedroom.

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The next morning Clark woke up very early and as he looked at his side, he saw the most beautiful vision he could ever have hoped for, to be waking up next to. Lana was asleep peacefully and content next to him as he had his arm protectively around her. At that moment it occurred to him that he would consider himself to be the most blessed man in the world, if he could wake up to that image every morning from then on. Almost instinctively he wrapped his arm around her even more protectively, as though he wanted to shelter her from some unseen danger. But then it occurred to him how ironic it was, that even though he wanted to act as her protector and he was considered to be the protector of this world, this woman had saved him only this past week twice. He admired and loved her even more for that. He knew that whatever happened around him, he could always depend on her. Once more he felt tempted to fall back to cursing himself for spending so many years without her, but then he looked at her again and he couldn't help feeling extremely happy and lucky.

With his finger he softly brushed a strand of hair that was falling along side the gentle lines of her face. Feeling his gentle touch her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him. "Mmmorning…" she said lazily as she tried to cuddle up closer to him.

Clark just smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "Morning beautiful. Can I just say… that I love you, more than I have loved anything in my life… and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world…"

Lana smiled sweetly at him. "I love you too… and can I just say that from now on I wish to be woken up like this and you'll say those exact words every time."

Clark chuckled. "Every time? I… I don't know… I mean… It was more like on the spur of the moment… to tell you the truth I sort of forgot what I said already… Who are you by the way?"

Lana feigned being in shock as she slapped him on the shoulder. "All those things you said last night were just so you could get me into bed weren't they? Get off of my bed!" then she turned her back to him in mock anger.

"Oh come on…" said Clark as he kissed her naked shoulders. "I didn't mean that… besides… I had already been in your bed… so…"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence as Lana turned around abruptly, with amused anger. "Ok! That's it! You're done for!" she climbed up on top of him and held his hands pinned to the bed as Clark chuckled.

"Wow… you're quite strong…" said Clark amused.

Lana raised her eyebrows with pride. Before though she could say anything else she saw Clark looking on straight behind her, with a strange expression in his face. She turned around and saw Laura standing in her doorway looking on.

To be Continued…