The next day Lana woke up on the floor. Even after a night of sleep she still felt exhausted, probably due to their ordeal last night. She heard breathing to her right and looked over at Clark, he was so innocent when he slept. Reluctantly deciding to start her day, she walked into the bathroom and splashed some water on her face. She examined herself in the mirror. There were noticeable traces of tears along her cheeks, her eyes were red, her hair was in complete disarray, and she had dark circles underneath of her eyes. Lana sighed to herself and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she didn't see herself, she saw Isobel. She was losing control, again. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to clear her head. As long as she didn't get worked up again, then perhaps she could maintain control.
Lana took one more glance at herself in the mirror before walking out into the living room. She paused when she saw Clark sitting on the couch. He had his elbows propped up on his knees and his head was in his hands. For a second she wasn't sure what to do, eventually she awkwardly ventured towards him. Stopping right in front of him, she waited for him to acknowledge her. When he looked up at her she sat in his lap, clinging to him. For the next hour no words were spoken between the two... none were needed.
Meanwhile Chloe was making a plan. What was she going to do? There was only one thing that came to mind, she had to call in reinforcements. She picked up the phone and quickly checked for a dial tone. As she dialed the number, she felt somehow unsure. She couldn't back out now though, she needed help.
"Yo."
"Pete?"
"Chloe?"
"Yeah."
"What's goin on?" Pete asked excitedly.
"Oh just seeing how you were doing." Chloe decided that it was best to just ease up on the subject.
"Pretty great, how about yourself?"
"I'm okay."
"How's Clark?" He started the conversation for her.
"About that..."
"What's up Chloe? Is he alright?"
"Pete it's a really long story but they're in trouble."
"They? Who's they?"
"Clark and Lana."
"What kind of trouble, is it alien related?" Pete said the last part in a whisper.
"Kinda."
"What?"
"Pete, I'd rather tell you in person."
"I can be there tomorrow morning and you can tell me all about it then."
"Thanks Pete, you're a life-saver."
"Of course."
"Tomorrow morning then."
Chloe felt a sense of relief; she didn't feel so alone anymore. Now, she wasn't the only who could help. Sitting back, she ran her fingers over the lead jar on her lap. Tomorrow she and Pete were going to devise a plan, after she broke the news to him about Clark and Lana and their counterparts. Chloe sighed and walked into the kitchen just as the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Chloe?" It was Martha.
"Yes, Mrs. Kent?"
"Where's Clark?"
"In Metropolis, but don't worry Mrs. Kent everything will be better soon. How is Jonathon doing?"
"Jonathon is fine," Martha slightly paused, "Chloe I don't why you doing this by yourself."
"I'm not; I've called a friend for help."
"Chloe..."
"Mrs. Kent, everything will be fine. When are you coming home?"
"The doctor said that Jonathon can leave today."
"Can't you guys stay just a little bit longer?"
"Why?"
"Well it's part of the plan to get Clark and Lana back and..."
"Okay, but who did you call?"
"Pete."
"Chloe are you sure you can do this? Do you know what you are dealing with?"
"It will be fine Mrs. Kent."
"Well, okay but please Chloe be careful."
"Of course."
"Good-bye."
"Bye Mrs. Kent." Chloe hung up the phone and began to plan out what she and Pete were going to do.
Things between Lana and Clark were now extremely awkward. They didn't know how to act around each other anymore. What to say? What to do? What to think? As they sat together on the couch, the hours passed by until the silence was broken by the obnoxious growling of Lana's stomach.
"You need to eat," Clark said, he didn't dare look at her. He was ashamed and not for the reasons that you'd think. Clark stood up, setting her down on the cushion next to him, and walked into the kitchen. "What do you want? I'll make it for you."
"Clark we both know that you can't cook," Lana said as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed a banana.
"We both also know that you hate bananas." Clark smiled, he was grateful for Lana being hungry. The growling of her stomach had broken the ice and shattered the awkwardness that lay between them.
"I'll take my chances with the banana."
"Lana, why don't we just go out?"
"Cuz I don't have any money."
"Well I do, I mean Kal did. You know he bought all of this stuff and I don't remember any of it." He looked around the extravagant loft. "You deserve all of this."
"You do too."
"Anyway, I think that we need to go and get out of this place for a little while, you know to calm our nerves and we can talk about it if you want. I know I kind of dropped a bomb on you last night, I'm sorry for that."
"Don't apologize for it Clark, we've both hidden things from each other. Yours just happened to be a bit more major than mine, well not really when you think about it. I have a split personality with a psychotic witch." Lana smiled, trying to make light of their situation. Clark smiled back, the best one that he could muster.
"Go get dressed now and we can discuss this later," Clark said as he kissed the top of her head. She nodded and headed back towards the bedroom. A few seconds later he followed.
After going through the clothes, Lana finally decided on some black pants and lavender top. She walked out to see Clark frowning at himself in the mirror. "Wow Clark, you look..."
"Stupid?"
"No, I was going to say you look really good, like really good." Lana studied him up and down. He wore black pants, and a simple black button-down shirt.
"It was the only thing that I would possibly wear. The whole wardrobe is black."
"Well..."
"What?"
"It suits you and I must say it is quite a change from the flannel."
"Ready to go then?" She nodded to him and they walked out into the elevator and down to the garage.
"Which one is it?" Lana asked as they stood in front of a range of cars, all black.
"Whatever one you want I guess." Lana pointed to a black Mercedes and the couple made their way over to it.
"Wow..." she trailed off as she stepped into the car, running her hand along the interior. "Is this ours?" Lana asked as Clark started the car.
"Technically," he said, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Can we keep this?"
"If you want it, I'll have to make sure that's it's all legally mine but if you want it."
"It will be perfect; we can go to Metropolis University and live here."
"I think we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves, things have to be taken care of first, but if you want Metropolis then we can stay here." Lana smiled to herself at Clark's desire to please her. "So what do you feel like eating?"
"I kinda want Italian."
"Okay." Clark pushed a button and a small screen popped on. He typed in a specific type of restaurant that he wanted and put the car on auto-pilot.
Soon they'd arrived at a small restaurant called Giovanni's. Clark stepped out and gave the keys to the valet. The couple walked up to the large restaurant and was seated in a private booth. Lana ordered spaghetti and Clark ordered Fettuccine Alfredo. After the waitress left, Clark made sure that no one was in ear shot.
"Do you want to talk about it Lana?" he whispered to her across the table. She nodded and slid in the booth, next to him.
"I just want to know one thing..."
"Yes."
"Will our baby survive? Will he be healthy?"
"Of course, why wouldn't he?"
"Because, we aren't even the same species." Lana whispered.
"There shouldn't be anything wrong. I remember Kal-El and Jor-El having a conversation about this. He and Isobel, you and me, were meant to have a child together."
"But why?"
"We are the two most powerful people on this earth, that's what Jor-El said. I'm not really sure on everything, some things are hazy, but that's why Isobel's symbol is on the cave walls. Jor-El said something about it being my destiny."
"Jor-El?"
"Biological father."
"Clark..."
"What?"
"You, yourself once said that destiny is a word for not having a choice."
"If I did have a choice then I would choose this so I don't look at it that way. I don't really know anything else Lana, if I did then I would tell you everything. I'm just as much in the dark as you are." Lana gave him a curt nod and leaned her head on his shoulder. "You okay?"
"Fine, just a little bit tired." Clark put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder until their food came. When it did Clark finished his, but Lana needed a box. As they waited Clark pulled out his wallet. "Holy crap!" Lana exclaimed when she saw what it contained. He pulled out a fifty dollar bill and set it on the tray. He felt himself getting a headache as he needed to go to the bathroom.
"I'll be right back okay?" Lana nodded a response and boxed up the rest of her spaghetti as Clark went into the bathroom.
Clark noticed the nice tile floor and marble counters, this place was really nice. He splashed some cold water on his face and looked into the mirror. His headache began to get really intense as he fell to his knees, but it was different than a normal headache. It seemed to only last for a split second. Having regained his composure, he stood back up and looked into the mirror. Kal stared back at him. He did his best and fought Kal off. Clark was growing weak. Having broken the stare-off that he was having with himself in the mirror, he nonchalantly grabbed a paper towel and dried off his face.
"Ready to go?" Lana said as she stood up and hugged him.
"Sure." Lana noticed his cold tone.
"Are you okay Clark? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I feel great babe."
