Chapter 3

"What are you going to do now?" Tess asked Lex.

"I'm going to look for the clone and stop him once and for all," he said in a determined voice.

"I want to help," she said. "I'll head over to Watchtower, and round up who else I can."

"We'll come with you." Lana suggested.

Lex turned to her. "Let's go."

The three of them headed over to Watchtower, where Clark, Chloe and Oliver were. Tess stopped them before heading in.

"Maybe I should prepare them for you two being here before you just go barging in," she suggested.

"Good idea," agreed Lana. With that, Tess proceeded on in.

"Tess, is everything ok?" Clark asked as soon as he saw her.

"Yeah, shouldn't you be home resting?" Oliver asked, just as concerned.

"I'm fine," Tess assured them, inwardly glad they cared. "But there is something I want to warn you all about. And prepare you for Clark." She then went on to explain who she had just encountered, and what Lex and Lana had explained to her.

"So you're saying Lex and Lana are right outside?" Chloe asked in disbelief. Clark and Oliver's looks also suggested they were taking in the new information.

Tess nodded. "I wanted to prepare you before they came in."

The others nodded to her before Tess walked back to the entrance.

As always, Chloe was the first to show some form of enthusiasm, running to Lana for a reunion hug as soon as she saw her. Everyone else stayed put, feeling a little awkward.

After a few minutes, Lana walked up to Clark. "I'm glad I can be around you again."

Clark gave a small smile in agreement. "Me too." He replied. "But Lana, I-

Lana held a hand up to cut him off. "Clark, it's okay. Tess told me about you and Lois being together. I'm really happy for you both."

"Thank you, Lana. I want you to be happy to."

"Well," Lana began to explain. "I found someone too."

FLASHBACK

"You've been pretty quiet this whole trip," Lex noted as him and Lana made their way back to Smallville. When Lana did not respond and did not make eye contact with him, he continued. "Look, Lana, I know this is a lot for you to take in-"

"It's not that, Lex," Lana cut in, still staring at the ground. "I'm sorry for thinking you could be so terrible of a person. That you would purposely try to make Clark and me miserable by forcing us apart. That's why I stole your suite, for vengeance. I'm sorry."

Lex put his hand on Lana's shoulder. "I don't blame you, Lana. I didn't exactly give you a reason to have faith in me. It's true I changed after we were married because I was so afraid of losing you."

Lana looked up at Lex and saw the sincerity in his eyes, causing her heart to clench with familiar feelings. "I don't deserve you or the suite. So if it has to be worn by someone other than me, I'm glad it's you." He gave her a small smile.

She took his free hand. "It's good to see you again, Lex. The real you." She flashed him her warm smile that he always adored, and never thought he would see again.

END FLASHBACK

"So you two are back together?" Chloe asked in a concerned voice.

"Yes, and don't worry," Lana replied. "After talking things through, we know they will be different this time."

"Well I hope so," Chloe said. Then she shot a playful look at Lex. "Because now that she is wearing your suite she can really hurt you."

Lex looked at her and smiled in return. "It's good to see you too, Chloe."

"Ok, well, I hate to break up this little love fest, but we really do need to find that clone," Oliver chimed in.

"He's right," Clark agreed. "I'll go check the farm, he may be looking for me there." With that, he super-sped away.

Lex stared in disbelief at where Clark was standing for a few seconds after he left. "That'll take some getting used to."

"Trust me, it does," Chloe agreed. "I'll alert the JLA to see if any of them can help with the search," she continued, speaking to Oliver. She and Tess went to work at Watchtower's computer system.

Clark found no trace of the clone at the farm. He had come down from the loft and was about to walk into the main house when Lois drove up.

"Hey, Smallville" she greeted him. "Why the long face?"

He went on to explain everything to her. When he reached the part about Lana's return, her face dropped.

"And here I thought you never would be able to be around Lana again from what you told me before," she said after he had finished. "But now…I know you said she's with Lex, but-"

"Lois," Clark began to reassure her. "We're not settling for you and Lex because we thought we couldn't be together. Look, I'll admit, I was happy to see Lana again. But when I saw her, it felt more like seeing an old friend again. And when I found out about her and Lex, it didn't bother me as much as it did before." He never admitted how he felt about them being together before, but it felt good to finally say it out loud and put the past behind him.

"I have you now, Lois, and I couldn't imagine happier with anyone else." He walked up to her and put her hands on her shoulders. "You believe me, don't you?"

Lois smiled at him. "Of course I do," she said quietly. She then reached up and kissed him. "Now go do your hero thing. I'll be fine."

Clark flashed her the big smile that she loved and sped off. After he left Lois let out a sigh of contentment. She had always wondered deep down what would have happened between Clark and Lana if they were able to be around each other. Now t she knew, and could not be happier with the answer.