This is the chapter I've worked the hardest on. The full chapter title is 'If your heartbeats like mine, you're human' but i thought that might be a smidge too long. Enjoy! Awardwinningsmile

Clark stared out of the big loft window in the barn. It was extremely late but he hadn't wanted to go inside after he got back from the mansion. It was going to be hard to see Ginny go. She wouldn't have to if it wasn't for Lex. He was experiment on people. Maybe Clark's dad was right about him. He sighed and stuck his head farther out the window so he could feel the light breeze that had been playing all night.

"I thought for sure you wouldn't let me down again."

Clark whipped his head around and found that he was about ten feet away from Lana. She looked extremely pretty in a lacey, crème colored dress with no sleeves and a swooping neck line. In her hand was what looked like a very dressy witches hat. The Dance.

Lana saw him look her over. "I was the good witch from Wizard of Oz."

Clark felt the familiar sinking sensation in his stomach. He could not believe he had done this to her again. He had forgotten all about the dance when the police had shown up. He hadn't even called. Clark saw the hurt and frustration on Lana's face and his heart sank too.

"You always do this to me."

"Lana, I'm sorry." There was no way those words were enough but what else could he tell her.

"I didn't come here for an apology Clark, I came to hear the reason for why you weren't there." Her face seemed almost like stone. Like he could reach out and break it with his next words. He couldn't lie to her anymore.

"Ginny was in some trouble. I couldn't leave her."

Lana's face softened. "What happened?"

Dead end. He couldn't tell her about Ginny. He wouldn't risk her safety even more. And it didn't matter that no false scenarios came to his mind because he knew they would never make it out of his mouth. So he just stood there. Silent. As a result Lana's face hardened again just like he knew it would.

"I can't do this anymore Clark. It's like you have two personalities. The things you do, and the things you say you'll do but never actually get to." She seemed to deflate a little. "I'm tired of waiting around for you to be honest. I figured that if I got close to you, someday you would trust me. But it's like there's a brick wall around your heart."

"I do trust you. It's just-"

"Either you trust me or you don't Clark, there's no in-between."

"It's too dangerous." Clark said very quietly, half hoping she wouldn't hear.

"Dangerous?" Her voice was rising opposite of Clark's. "What could be so dangerous about letting me get close?" She looked at him incredulously.

She didn't understand. She would never look at him the same. Who would after finding out their friend is from another planet? Clark faced his palms toward her as if to show their emptiness. "I can't."

Lana's eyes clouded but her face was resolved to anger. "You sure can't." She said quietly. The words were so cold that a shiver ran up Clark's spine. Without another word she spun around and descended stiffly down the dusty steps and out of the barn.

Clark didn't move until he could no longer hear the sound of her car. He walked to the edge of the stairs and sat down on the first step. There was no sound in the barn at all. The cows were out in the field and the machines had been turned off hours ago. Clarks stomach had not relinquished the knots it had tied together while Lana was talking. His heart was beating fast. This was it. This was the end. He had always known it would come eventually. How could it not with all the secrets tucked in the seam of their relationship. But he still wasn't ready. Clark thought back to the first time he had seen Lana when her family moved in next door and she got out of the minivan. "Is that an angel?" He had asked his mom. Lana had always been right next door. I can't lose her. Sudden determination sprung in his heart. He had not lied tonight. He did trust Lana, she would never betray his secret. But would she except him? Did that really matter now? He had already lost her, he had nothing to lose by telling her now. Hope gathered inside him as he thought about sharing his secret with her and having her embrace him. They could be happy. Clark had gotten halfway off the step before he stopped himself in a half seated position. Too Dangerous. Lana could get seriously hurt if she knew his secret. He sat back down. He couldn't always be there to protect her. Clark's stomach tightened even more as he imagined Lana in the hospital, maybe even dead. No, he would not be the reason she was put in danger. He would have to let her go. No matter how he felt.

"You ready?" Clark looked over at the red head beside him. Ginny picked Clark's old backpack off the gravel and swung it over her shoulder as the black van came to a halt. Ginny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She nodded but didn't step forward. Clark could tell she was nervous. "Lex found a good family for you in Colorado. He says they have always wanted a daughter."

"Do they know about what happened up here?" Ginny watched as two men in black suits stepped out of the van.

"No. They just know they are about to be parents."

"What if things don't work out." She looked up at Clark, she was scared.

"You can call me anytime and I can be there in a flash." Clark smiled.

"I'm going to miss you Clark. It's a shame your parents didn't have another kid. You'd be one heck of the brother."

"You're not so bad yourself." Clark messed with her hair and reached down and hugged the small girl. When he let go Martha and Jonathan came up from where they were standing on the porch.

"We're going to miss you Ginny." Martha said wiping a smudge off Ginny's face.

"Look after yourself." Jonathan came and stood next to his wife.

"I will. Bye." She turned stepped hesitantly into the waiting open door of the van. Clarks parents headed for the porch. Just as the van was about to leave and back window rolled down and Ginny stuck her face out.

"Clark. Tell her." She raised her eyebrows at him in a 'you better do it' way. "She'll understand." Ginny tapped her temple. "I know things." She waved again and rolled up the window. Clark watched until the car reached the end of the drive way. He raised his hand and waved one last time then turned to go back inside.

Clark brought the truck to a stop in front of Smallville stables. He had checked the Talon, her aunts house, this was last place Clark could think of that Lana might be. He opened the door and stepped onto the wet ground. It had been raining on and off all day. He stepped inside the barn just as it started to drizzle again. There she was. Her hair was damp from the rain. She had obviously just finished riding and was closing the stall door. She turned and looked in surprise to see him standing there. "What are you doing here?" Her words were guarded.

"Looking for a chance." Clark stepped farther in the barn. Thunder sounded outside.

"You've had enough chances." She moved to walk away.

"I know." He said quickly as if his words could keep her in place. He stood at the same stall of a chestnut mare that Lana was at. "I wasn't lying last night when I said it was dangerous." He looked down at the chipping wood of the stall door and picked at it. "There are some things about me that if you knew, you could get hurt." Clark looked up at her for the first time. "But it's not fair for me to make that decision for you."

"I never cared if there was danger I just wanted you to trust me." She spoke quietly.

"I do trust you. Just know that I kept this from you because I didn't want to lose you." Ten thousand different scenarios of how this day would end rushed into Clark's head. But he bit them back, closed his mind and willed himself to just do it. "Do you trust me?" He held out his hand.

Lana's face was serious but she didn't hesitate. She took his hand. "Always." Clark scooped her up in his arms and with one final glance super-sped away. In a flash they were standing beside the old windmill they had been to so many times. Lana looked around and gasped. "How did you-?" Lines creased her forehead. "You're meteor infected aren't you?" Clark shook his head. Little droplets of water fell from his hair, it was raining steadily now. He set Lana down.

"No. If it wasn't for me the meteor shower wouldn't have even happened." Clark took a deep breath and plunged into the explanation he had run through so many times in his mind. "I'm not from around here. I'm from a planet called Krypton. My parents sent me away to save me when the planet was destroyed. I'm the only one left." He could see the wheel turning in her head and imagined what she was thinking. Everything was becoming much clearer, all the close saves, all the quick exits. It would be a testament to their friendship if she even believed him and not thought he was insane.

"You're not human." The creases on her forehead deepened.

"My dad says that being human isn't about where you came from. Lana, I'm just as human as you." She continued to look him up and down. "I was afraid to tell you because I knew you'd never look at me the same." Lana reached up and touch his cheek, following the angles of his face. She let her hand trail down his neck and over his chest where she stopped, feeling his heart beat. She looked back up at him.

"You look like the same Clark Kent to me. No matter where you come from." The whole world seemed to expand. She was unbelievable. She was still standing here with him and she was looking at him differently but it was by no means a bad thing. A smile broke onto Lana's face and Clark followed suit. He felt like he could fly. Lana flung her arms around his neck and Clark had no intention on ever letting her go. She leaned back so he could see her face. He picked her up once more, and without looking away from her eyes, launched Lana and himself to the top of the wind mill. The rain was still coming down steadily but if it was loud or unpleasant neither one of them noticed and Lana showed no signs of worry. Clark bent his head and his lips met hers. All the years he had spent fighting a never ending battle inside himself was all for nothing. In the actual moment it didn't matter. And as he held Lana close he could not think of anything he would have done differently if in the end he would be here with her. Clark smile against her mouth. Although it wasn't really the end, it was the beginning.