The sun streamed through the windows, illuminating Lana and her bed in soft, golden relief. Lana's hazel eyes opened slowly, beautifully. They took in the perfect scene around her. She rose gracefully from the bed and made her way to the window.

"FUCK!" she screamed.

How dare the sun light up the world this way. How dare the sky be beautiful and the light comforting and the world fresh today. How dare the day begin so wonderfully.

How dare the world ignore the emotions of Lex Luthor and Lana Lang.

Lana frowned and let out a shaky sigh. She flashed on her dreams, dreams filled with knives and blood and that single, stupid rose.

Lex needs you, Lana. Get dressed and get over there.

I need time!

You need Lex. You love him.

Lana had to agree with herself on that one. She stepped in the shower, bitterly anticipating how radiant the light would look when it fell on the water.

……..

Lex was frowning before he even realized he was awake. When he did, he opened his eyes and took in the scene before him. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the trees were green with life.

What did he expect? At least some hail, maybe a hurricane.

Lex thought of the previous day's events. He groaned and hid under the covers like a five year old.

……..

Lana drove into the main driveway of the Luthor mansion. She parked and got out of the car. What now? Does one just barge into the mansion when they are not in a panicked preventing-suicide mode?

She could barge quietly.

Once inside, she ascended the stairs and went to the study. She knocked cautiously, then peeked inside when there was no response. The study was empty. Where do I go now?

Lana wandered down the hallway. "Lex?" she called out softly.

Lana carefully knocked on a door. She was surprised at how little she knew of the mansion.

A door a few feet to her right opened. Lex stepped out, still in his boxers. At the sight of Lana, his eyes widened and his lips curved in a smile.

"Hey."

"Hey. I think you better put some clothes on," Lana said, a little giggle accompanying her words.

"I'm on it," Lex deadpanned, leaning into the doorway and snatching a robe out of the room. He pulled it on.

"To the study?"

…….

Lex and Lana sat down on the couch they had both perched on so tensely the night before. This time, they were actually beginning to relax.

"Lex…..I need an explanation."

Or not.

Lex felt his body clench. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything, Lex. Starting with what possessed you to act so rashly."

The words left him of their own accord, completely ignoring his mental commands to stop them. "I saw you and Clark together."

Lana shook her head slightly, still searching. "But you've seen us together so many times."

Lex felt his chest tighten. "This time…you just looked so…happy. I realized that you….you were happy without me. You didn't….need me like I needed you."

Lana bit the inside of her lip. "I do need you, Lex. It just took me a while to see it."

She took his hand in hers. She had such small, fairy-like hands. His hands were so….well, the best word to describe them was manly. She laughed out loud at the thought.

"What?" Lex said, half-smiling.

"I was just thinking how manly your hands are," she snickered.

"Oh yes, I have very manly hands," Lex said, snickering as well.

They both laughed for a moment before Lana stopped. She clasped his hand more tightly and looked up at him, the laugher gone.

"Lex, just know that I love you. Never doubt that."

His love for her is constant, unending. It's the one variable that cannot be altered, the one thing that cannot change. It stretches into infinity. And he hopes that she feels the same.

He smiles at her, and whispers that he loves her too. But his mind hisses to him that she is young, she doesn't know what she wants. Her heart doesn't belong to him yet, and it may never.

But my heart is hers. That's enough for now.

She stands, pulling her up with him. Lex places one hand on the back of her neck, letting her glossy hair glide over his skin. She leans in towards him and gives him a hesitant kiss. Her liquid brown eyes stare into his, and he savors the moment, watching the light of her face.

OK, so maybe the weather agreed with him today after all.