Forever

Lana was almost mortified. She was stuck and didn't know what to say as she was looking at Laura with wide eyes.

"Good morning Laura." Said Clark coming in for the save.

Laura waved to him sleepily. "Goo monig C'ark"

"Hey sweetie." Said Lana finally. "We're just playing here with Clark."

Clark looked at her wondering What the hell was that?

Lana looked back at him almost saying I panicked I didn't know what to say

Then they both turned to see Laura standing very near the bed now looking a bit left out. "Wanna play.."

"You want to play with us?" asked Lana and Laura nodded her little head smiling.

Lana opened her arms and invited her little daughter on the bed. She started giggling and hurriedly climbed up to them and fell with force on Clark.

"Ooof… she's heavier than she looks when she charges on you." Said Clark with a smile. "Ok… come here you…" said Clark as he started tickling Laura and the little one burst out laughing happily.

Lana was silent for that moment just looking at her little daughter and Clark and she started getting very emotional as tears threatened to roll from her eyes. As Clark saw her misty eyes he got worried.

"Hey… are you alright?" he asked as he wiped with his finger the tear that was falling down her face.

Lana sniffed and a small laugh escaped her lips as she looked at Clark very moved but obviously happy. "I'm fine… I'm just… so happy…"

Clark smiled warmly at her as he stroked her cheek with his hand. Then he looked down and saw little Laura, who had crawled nearer to her mother, open her arms to Lana. "I play wit you mommy… don cly…"

Lana smiled happily as Laura tried to wrap her little hands around her. But Lana didn't wait she immediately started tickling Laura who again burst out laughing happily. You see tickling was Laura's weakness.

They spent the rest of the day all together in the house. They had breakfast and then Laura tried to explain to them the fine intricacies of the relationship between Bobby the turtle and Lenny the fox, as they watched cartoons with her. Clark was having a great time. He hadn't been so relaxed and happy in quite some time and he loved every minute of it. He was absolutely certain that that's what he wanted for the rest of his life.

At noon Laura felt a bit sleepy so Land went to put her to bed. As she was tucking her in she found the opportunity to ask her. "Honey… do you like Clark?"

"Yeah… C'ark play with me…" said Laura smiling.

Lana smiled satisfied. "So you like him being here with us?"

"Yes…" said Laura as she closed her eyes sleepily.

"Goodnight sweetie." Said Lana as she kissed Laura on the forehead.

She then went down to where Clark was still watching the cartoons. She smiled amused when she saw him looking on seemingly lost in thought or really into the cartoon he was watching.

"Wow… it must be a good cartoon…"

Clark turned to her. "I'm just trying to understand, why Lenny would actually hang out with Bobby… I mean it's not like they can do much together right?"

Lana chuckled. "Well… you've given it a lot of thought I see…"

Clark smiled as Lana sat beside him on the couch. "Well… It's Laura's fault really… she got me hooked…" they both chuckled, but then Clark took a more serious face. "But really Lana… I was thinking… This feels so right don't you think?"

Lana looked at him with understanding but didn't say anything else wanting him to say more.

"I mean… this is how it should be…" he said as he softly stroked her cheek and then leaned in to kiss her. "I have been thinking a lot about this lately… and…I know it's not fancy or romantic or anything… but I feel I've got to say it… Lana I want to spend the rest of my life like this… with you…"

Lana looked at him really emotional as she found herself tearing up again.

"You can never know what the past week has meant to me, what you have done for me and what you mean to me… but I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you… making you as happy as you make me… both you and Laura…"

Lana couldn't find any words to say as she just looked at him really moved with tears in her eyes. "I don't have a ring or anything… but… will you make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?" Lana was still tongue tied as she felt the emotions overwhelm her.

Clark seeing her not reply started babbling. "I… I'm sorry… I know it's a crappy way to ask you… I mean… what was I thinking? I don't even have a ring… and …"

"Shut up Clark." Said Lana smiling as she leaned in and kissed him very passionately, giving him a taste of how happy he had made her. Then breaking off the kiss she smiled sweetly at him. "I don't care about rings and fancy proposals Clark… It was perfect just you asking me… that's all that matters to me… my daughter and you…"

"That means… yes…?" asked Clark smiling.

"I love you Clark… and there's nothing I would want more than to spend the rest of my life with you… that's all I ever wanted…"

They kissed passionately and then just stayed in each other's arms, happier then they'd ever felt. No fancy proposals, no rings, no one else. Just the two of them surrounded by the love they felt for each other. Just as it should have always been.

To be continued…