"Why don't you just go on up and talk to her?" Martha suggested after watching Ryan mope and brood on the couch for an hour. His father had talked to Casey and left to help Dave, but Ryan still didn't know Casey was still mad at him.

"I dunno." Ryan sighed.

"Well why not? I mean Clark said that she was happy that he was gonna help him. She probably appreciates what you did too."

Ryan made his way up the stairs to his sister's room. He opened the door and found her at her desk. "Hey Casey." He said timidly. She looked up at him. "Listen bugger, I am so sorry if you feel like I betrayed you or anything. I honestly didn't have any other choice. I couldn't let Dave…"

"I know." Casey said.

"I mean you know if there was any other way to help him I would have never even thought to…"

"I know." Casey repeated.

"And it's so important that you can trust me but…"

"Ryan I know!" Casey said. "You and Will did the right thing." She got up and hugged her brother, who after hearing her words had a smile plastered on his face.

In a two-week period, the life of Dave Hastings was entirely flipped upside down. After reviewing the evidence, Dave's testimony, and Casey's testimony, it was obvious to both sides that Dave's father had a fair chance of losing custody in court. Not wanting to sully his image and be known as the abusive parent he was, Dave's father chose to tell his clients and friends that he'd decided to move into their apartment in Metropolis full time. He also made it known that he was allowing his son to stay in Smallville so that "he could remain with his friends and be happy."

Dave didn't care what people thought, because he was free. Lana was more than happy to take Dave in. Having gone through her own violent relationship with her husband she could relate and help the boy. She also could relate to Dave in that he was pretty much an orphan too. They got along very well in a short time. He trusted that Lana wouldn't hurt him the way his father had.

His relationship with Casey was also going great. They were so happy together and he spent a lot of his time at the Kent farm ( and this time he was doing more than chores.) The love birds often went up to the loft after school to study and then reward themselves with a little making out and cuddling. One day they went up to study for a chemistry quiz and fell asleep on the couch. They were woken up when Will came in to look for his wallet.

"Casey." He said nudging her awake. "Case."

"Huh?" she moaned.

"Casey its seven o'clock."

Both Casey and Dave shot up. "Oh my God." Casey squealed. "Why didn't anybody wake us? Is Dad freakin out?"

"No. Dad, Grandma and Grandpa went to dinner at the neighbors. You're lucky kiddo. They would have had a fit." Will explained.

"I guess I'm not as lucky." Dave sighed as he checked his phone. He had 7 missed calls, all from Lana. He rushed to the truck and started on his way. He was nervous. He hadn't been in any trouble with Lana yet. How would she react? He gripped the steering wheel tightly, imagining how his father would react in this situation. He couldn't really imagine Lana punching him, kicking him, or pushing him down (all forms of punishment his father had frequently used). Still, he wasn't sure Lana was the type to let him off with a warning either.

He walked into the living room. Lana rushed from the kitchen with the phone in her hand. "Oh thank God." She said walking toward him. "Dave where have you been."

"I…well me and Casey fell asleep on the couch at her house. I didn't mean to worry you."

When Lana went to give the boy a hug, she saw him flinch just a little. "Dave?" she said "Are you alright?"

"I- Yeah I just thought maybe…I mean my father would have…"

"Dave I will never do what your father did. Okay?" The boy nodded and she hugged him. Then Lana added, "but don't think I wont tan your hide if you ever scare me like that again."

"Yes'm." Dave said bashfully.

"And I think you should stick close to home for the rest of the week." Lana said subtly grounding him. He nodded obediently. "Good. Now go wash up and I'll get you something to eat."

"Yes ma'am." Dave said exiting. In that moment, both Dave and Lana thought to themselves how lucky they were to find a sense of true family.