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Lana held up a pair of pearl earrings to her ear, frowned, and then placed them back in her jewelry box. She then proceeded to close that particular box and rummage through another one. This one was held less elegant jewelry than the last and as she hunted for another pair of earrings, she took notice of the fun, flashy, fashion jewelry that she probably hadn't worn since she had started dating Jason. Once their relationship had turned serious, Jason began to buy expensive necklaces or earrings to make up for lost or canceled dates due to his long hours at the office. Lana still hadn't figured out how material things substituted for real, heart-to-heart conversations, but she rolled with it anyway.

One particular set of diamond earrings caught her eye. Wondering why it was in this box and not the other, she pulled it out. With a sudden jolt of realization, Lana recalled that Clark had given these to her. It had been their Christmas break of their senior year when Lana had dragged him to the shopping district in Metropolis. That precise pair of earrings had caught her eye at a jewelry display at one of the department stores that they had gone into. To her surprise, Clark had presented her with the exact pair on Christmas day.

She smiled against her will at the memory. Clark hadn't cared about the price of the items that he had bought her. As long as he knew that she'd liked them, he had bought them without considering how much it would put a dent in his allowance or how much he'd save. He was just that kind of guy and Lana missed him.

No, she corrected herself. She missed that quality--not him. As she had told herself the night before, ten years was a long time and she was certain that she was just in love with his memory and not the present-day him. Clark could be married with kids, for goodness's sake. Maybe the night before had meant nothing to him and he'd just wanted to apologize for the way that he had treated her before and start fresh.

Well, whatever the night before had meant to him and to her, it didn't matter. She had to look forward to the future now, Lana reminded herself, hooking one of the diamond studs onto her left ear. Just as she was finishing hooking the other one on, there was knock at the door.

"Lana? Are you decent?"

It was Jason. "Yeah. Come in."

The door creaked open and there stood Jason in a semi-casual tuxedo. Instead of a bow-tie, though, Jason had opted for a tie like his father, Edward Teague.

Oddly enough, Lana wasn't all too attracted to the sight of Jason in a tux. She knew that other women that he worked with in the office would have drool hanging out the side of his mouth right about now, but Jason just didn't bring out that...that side of her. Hence the reason why she had lied about her virginity and said she wanted to wait until their wedding night to have sex with him.

"I see that you decided to go with the black dress," Jason commented, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah...no point in upsetting your mother on your big night, right?" Lana watched his face carefully for his reaction. She was slightly disappointed to find relief there.

"I know that my mother is hard to please, but she'll warm up to you soon. Once she realizes how much I love you, she'll be the one trying to please you."

Somehow, Lana doubted that, but she kept quiet. "Let's just get this over with...maybe then I won't be so stressed about the wedding and everything."

Jason nodded, watching as she stood. His eyes took in her appearance--especially the small diamond studs in her ears. "Hey, what happened to the pearl ones I gave you last week?"

Self consciously, Lana reached a hand up to play with her ear. "I'd figured that I'd wear these..."

"Oh, okay..."

Lana sighed. "But, if you want, I can wear the pearls."

Jason instantly brightened up. "Thanks, babe. I just think that my mother will like the pearls a lot better."

She was tempted to call him on his attempts to please his mother through her, but she bit her tongue. Tonight wasn't the night. Besides, she was still drained from the night before.

Lana removed the diamonds from her ears and slipped on the pearl ones instead. She frowned at her appearance in the mirror once Jason's back was turned. The image staring back at her was something she had tried to avoid becoming. A trophy wife...someone who was just there for convenience and to show off to rich friends and business partners.

She sighed again and picked up her black evening purse. When she focused her attention back on Jason, his lips were coming dangerously close to hers.

At the last second, Lana took a step back. "My lipstick, remember? Your mother wouldn't want me showing up with smudged lipstick." She smiled inwardly when she caught his dumbfounded expression. If one could play at this game, then so could two.

Superman landed gracefully in the garden of the Teague Estate. He was grateful for the lack of moonlight tonight as the shadows would help him keep his identity hidden as he changed into his rented tux that he had picked up earlier from the dry cleaners. He just hoped that no one would be curious enough as to take a peak through the garden's double doors or even worse, take a stroll through the well kept rosebushes.

Once he was done changing, Clark inconspicuously slipped inside. His entrance gained a few curious stares, but Clark ignored them, making his way deeper through the throng of Metropolis's wealthiest. To his relief, he spotted Lois right away.

"Where have you been, Clark?" Lois demanded once she had reached him.

"Umm...long line at the dry cleaners." It wasn't his best excuse, but it was better than coming right out and admitting that he was Superman and that he had to help put out a warehouse fire.

Clark was certain that Lois didn't believe one word of his excuse, but she pressed on anyway.

"I think I found the angle on our story," Lois blurted out breathlessly. The only time she got breathless was when she stumbled upon something big.

"Angle?" Clark repeated, wondering how on earth she could have done that when Edward Teague hadn't even made his announcement yet--at least, he thought he hadn't.

Lois grabbed his arm and forcefully turned him around to face the buffet table where two iced swans were dripping into the buckets of champagne. There were a few people gathered in groups chatting near the swans, but other than that, Clark couldn't see an angle anywhere.

"Do you see them?"

"See who?"

Lois sighed and marched him closer to the table. "See him? Next to that woman in that ridiculous fur coat? That's Jason Teague."

"Son of Edward Teague?"

"Glad to see that you actually did some research, Smallville. My sources tell me that Edward Teague is planning to step down from head lawyer of Marion, Teague, and Weisman Law Firm and hand the title to his son."

Clark had learned a long time ago to never underestimate Lois' sources. "Okay...still not seeing the angle."

"You're going to get a quote from the new head of chief about his lovely arm ornament over there."

Clark's eyes followed Lois' finger to the brunette hanging on to Jason Teague's left arm. Her back was turned to him, but even from this distance, Clark felt something familiar about her.

"You want me to get a quote...about Teague's love life?"

"That's right. I'm going to go find Jimmy to get a photo of them." Lois gave him a shove in the back to tell him to get going.

Clark waited until she was gone before approaching them cautiously.

Both Jason and his 'arm ornament,' as Lois had affectionately referred to her as, turned around once Clark had cleared his throat. Before Clark could react, the wine glass that she was holding fell to the floor with a large crash.

"Clark?"

"Lana?"

This had to be some sick joke that the universe was playing on him, right? He fought the urge to reach up and wipe his glasses clean.

"You two know each other?" Jason asked, mildly amused. Obviously, he hadn't caught on to the bigger picture.

"Lana, where are your manners? Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?" the woman in the fur coat inquired, her British accent prominent.

Lana glanced at him, her exotic eyes wide with curiosity. "Umm...Mrs. Teague, Jason, this is Clark Kent...an old classmate."

Clark winced when she got to the 'old classmate' part. Well, at least she hadn't pretended that she had mistaken him for someone else.

But Lana wasn't done with the introductions. "Clark, this is Jason...my fiance...and his mother, Genevieve Teague."

Clark felt as if his heart had deflated. So, this was who she'd agreed to marry...Jason Teague, heir of Marion, Teague, and Weisman Law Firm and a hefty trust fund. Rumors had been flying around in The Inquisitor that Genevieve Teague was of British nobility and that Jason Teague was the long, lost cousin of Prince Harry. Of course, The Inquisitor was garbage, but then again, he was biased.

"Nice to meet you," Clark said politely, shaking hands with Jason. He was careful not to crush the lucky bastard's hand. "Congratulations on the engagement."

Lana avoided his eyes and Clark suddenly wished that he was alone with her. He wanted to make her understand the hell that he had been through in the past ten years...and most of all...he wanted her forgiveness.

Before Clark could say anything else, Lois and Jimmy arrived.

"Do you mind if our photographer snaps a photo of you two?"

Lana looked as if she were about to protest, but agreed to it anyway. Clark watched as Jason placed an arm around her nicely tan shoulders and pulled her to him. In a flash, the moment was captured.

Both Genevieve and Jason Teague had invited Lois and Clark to stay and chat about the company for a bit, but Clark's attention kept slipping back to Lana who had slipped away by the double doors leading to the garden. Once the conversation hit a lull, Clark excused himself, ignoring Lois' annoyed expression.

Clark approached her cautiously, unsure if she would welcome him or turn him away like last night. To his surprise and relief, when he reached her, she simply turned around and gave him a small smile. It was one of those smiles that he once knew so well, filled with a hint of melancholy and sorrow. It was the exact smile she had given him the day that he had left.

They stood in silence, enjoying each other's company, allowing the heavy tension between them to thin away. Finally, Lana broke the silence.

"It's weird, isn't it? Us being here...together...ten years later. It's almost like destiny."

Clark swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. He glanced down to find her luminous eyes staring back at him quite intensely. "I thought you didn't believe in destiny."

She shifted, turning to face the garden through the glass doors. "I don't...didn't..." She paused and bit her bottom lip. It was hard to imagine that those were the same lips that had pleasured him nearly ten years ago. "The day that you left...I realized something."

"What?" Clark breathed. He still couldn't believe that they were actually standing here, having this conversation. It was surreal...the whole thing was. The past night...bumping into her...was totally random and now...this...

"That you really did have to go. You didn't have a choice...it was your destiny," Lana murmured, looking up at him. Her eyes spoke of the pain that he had caused her the day that he had left. Clark felt a sudden urge to wrap her in his arms and never let go, but he held back.

There was an abrupt interruption of applause erupting from behind them. Clark glanced behind just in time to see Jason Teague make his way up to the stage where he shook hands with his father. Clark tore his eyes away from the scene and placed his full attention back on Lana. Their eyes met and Clark had the impression that she was about to make up an excuse to leave.

Thinking quickly, he blurted out, "Would you like to walk with me? In the garden, I mean." He made a vague gesture at the garden through the glass doors.

Clark took notice of her hesitation and the darting of her eyes from the stage and back to him. He knew that he had put her on the spot--choosing between where she belonged, and the past. His mind told him that she would decline his offer, but his heart sang a different tune, half hoping that she would accept.

Lana looked at the stage where Jason was giving his speech. He had practiced that particular speech in front of her until the words had driven her crazy. As much as she hated to listen to them for the umpteenth time, she knew that she should stay. This was where she belonged after all. But...did she? Did she really belong here?

Lana raised her eyes to meet Clark's and almost mechanically, she nodded her head. "I'd like that."

A small smile played on her lips as Clark, having gotten over his disbelief, finally took a step forward and held open one of the glass double doors for her. He was still the gentleman. As Lana stepped past him and out into the garden path, she couldn't help but get a whiff of his cologne. Or was that just his masculine scent? Whatever it was, it was certainly stirring up old memories for her.

Lana scolded herself for even thinking about those memories. She was an engaged woman, after all. It was wrong of her to be thinking of her and her ex-boyfriend's more...intimate moments.

She glimpsed a peak at Clark and caught his pensive expression. She wondered if he was thinking about her and this night. Of course, if he was or wasn't didn't matter. Their time had come and gone. Her feelings for him were completely platonic; nothing even remotely romantic. At least, she hoped not.

They walked in silence through the garden for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company and the warm April night. The bugs were out and more than once, Lana had to raise a hand to swat one away. Clark cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets. As he did this, Lana took notice of how he looked in his tux. God, he was as handsome as ever. She could tell that it wasn't a generic designer tux and for some reason, that give him a slight edge that even Jason didn't have.

"So, how'd you two meet?"

The sudden baritone of his voice startled her as these were his first words out in the open of the Teague gardens. It took a while before his question registered in her mind.

"I was working at local cafe to pay my way through college and there he was." Lana shrugged, pausing in her steps. "Things just started spiraling from there. The next thing I know, I'm planning a wedding for five hundred guests."

Clark nodded, sticking his hands in his pocket. "Does he treat you well?"

The question caught her off guard, but she held her ground. "Yeah, he does. He's always there when I need him."

He nodded again, bringing a hand up to straighten his glasses--a habit that he had picked up four years ago, when he had first starting wearing them. "Do you love him?"

Again, she was taken aback by the question and this time, Clark could sense it.

"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have..." Clark mumbled, mentally kicking himself.

"No...it's okay." Lana glanced at him before adding, "Yes, I do love him." For a fleeting second, she could have sworn she saw a momentarily expression of hurt on his face, but she shrugged it off.

Clark tried to keep his expression neutral as he replayed her words in his head. There was something in her voice...something that seemed as if she were simply saying the words aloud to convince herself of them.

The two continued their stroll through the garden, both lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, they reached the end of the vast ground and turned back.

"How about you? Is there anyone special in Clark Kent's life?" Lana inquired; her tone light.

He shook his head and kept his gaze down. "No...not really."

"Not even...?"

Clark looked up. "Well, there was someone. My partner from the Daily Planet...Lois Lane. We sorta dated for a while...but it didn't work out."

"I'm sorry," Lana said quietly, wondering if he really had a hard time picking up women or if he simply didn't want the company. Of course, Clark always had a hard time opening up to people. It wouldn't surprise her if his hero complex prevented him from getting into a serious relationship. He had used that excuse on her during their junior year of high school and Lana could understand how that threat was much stronger, now that he was Superman.

Lana smiled to herself, a memory flooding back to her. It had been a Sunday morning when she had unfolded The Daily Planet to the front page where a black and white picture of Superman had been spread across. The headline had read Metropolis' Caped Vigilante Saves Family From Apartment Fire. That had been the first major article and respectable newspaper that Superman had first appeared in. Shortly afterwards, The Daily Planet had decided to give the caped vigilante a name--Superman.

"Why are you smiling?" Clark asked, interrupting her thoughts.

She paused and turned to him. "I was just thinking of the day I opened the Sunday newspaper and there you were...spread right across the front page."

He didn't respond right away. Instead he made a small noise that Lana couldn't make heads or tail out of. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, he finally asked, "How long have you known?"

Lana didn't hesitate. "Since the moment I unfolded that newspaper."

"You knew last night, didn't you? The moment I landed..."

She nodded, turning to face him again. The light coming from the garden path was barely bright enough to make out the apprehension and wary drawn upon his facial features.

Clark also paused in his steps, turning to face her as well. From a short distance, the light coming from the gala could be seen and he wondered if she would be returning soon. She probably would, he decided. It had been a while since they had stepped out those doors and wasn't exactly like she wasn't unknown. In fact, it was the opposite. Lana was about to marry a well-known lawyer, after all. Someone was bound to notice that she had gone missing...even if it was for a short time.

After what seemed like eternity, Lana finally tore her eyes away from Clark, feeling a bit nostalgic. Once she had composed herself, she said, "I think that I'd better be heading back now."

Clark nodded, understanding. "I'll walk you back."

The two walked the rest of the way back with an air of familiarity and new-found intimacy. It wasn't until they reached the doors that Clark got up the nerves to ask her the one thing that had been bugging him throughout their stroll.

"Lana?"

She withdrew her hand from the door knob and turned to give him her full attention.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," she replied uncertainly. Nevertheless, she gave him a comforting smile.

Clark stuffed his hands in the pockets of his rented tux. "Why did you agree to come out with me tonight? I mean...last night..." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure making his or her way toward the doors.

Lana sighed, casting her eyes to the ground. Eventually, they found their way to his again. "For some reason, I just can't seem to stay mad at you for very long, Clark Kent."

Her comment surprised him, but he gave a little smile, nonetheless. "Lana...I know that I owe you an explanation of some sort...I'm not even sure if you want to hear it...but..."

Lana put up her hand. "Clark, it's alright." She paused and took a breath. "It's in the past now."

"I know..." He sighed in frustration. "I just wished that things could have ended differently between us."

"Me too," Lana said quietly.

There was an awkward pause before Clark stepped forward and swung open the door for her to enter.

As much as this went against her instinct, Lana hesitated. "Clark...I know that we can't undo the past...but maybe we can do something about the future."

It took a moment for her comment to register. Clark swallowed the lump growing in his throat. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...maybe we could be friends? You were the best friend I ever had, Clark. I...I want us to be close again." There. She had said it. Now the ball was in his court.

Clark could barely believe what he was hearing. He wasn't sure if he wanted to scream for joy or pinch himself--not that it would hurt. As much as he wanted...needed her in his life...it was a dangerous gamble. One, he wasn't sure if those feelings for her were still there, simply dormant and waiting to spring out at any time. Second, she was getting married. How would her fiancé approve of this? Her meeting her ex-boyfriend for friendly lunches or movies... And of course, there was the issue of Superman that needed to be addressed. Could he risk exposing her to that threat again?

"Clark?"

He glanced up. Her eyes were seemingly bright and luminescent. He couldn't bear to break her heart again...nor his own. "Yeah, of course. Friends."

Just seeing her break out into a genuine smile was enough for him to grin back as well. Their moment came to an abrupt end as the figure that Clark had seen earlier interrupt.

"Lana?"

She turned toward the figure that was only a few feet away, wearing a confused expression on his face.

"Jason..."

"What are you doing out there?"

Clark could see the wheels in Lana's head turning, quickly fishing for a cover-up story. He intervened before she had the chance.

"It's my fault. I was just pumping her on some information about your promotion to head of Marion, Teague, and Weisman Law Firm. I couldn't help it...journalistic skills just sorta kicked in." He threw in an apologetic grin for good measure as well.

"Right..." Jason nodded. "Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to steal her away for a while."

Clark didn't fail to catch the scowl on Lana's face, but he nodded, nonetheless. "Of course. Thanks for your time...Lana."

"Anything for an old friend," Lana said, assuming the role quickly. She gave him a discreet smile as she slipped inside, leaving Clark outside.

Through the glass doors, he saw Jason put a hand on her back, leading her away from prying eyes. Clark had to focus in on them with his x-ray vision as they had disappeared into one of the hallways leading to the other parts of the estate. He immediately regretted it as Jason leaned down to place a kiss on her lips.

Clark blinked, taking him out of his x-ray stupor. He took a few steps back and discreetly changed into his Superman costume. He then took off into the night sky, a lone figure in the midst of clusters of stars.