Clark stood there for a few moments contemplating what his next move was. Did he want to tell Lana he had found her once? But the memory of it was too painful, he had tried to push it out of his mind, to forget it. It was the reason why he decided to make a go of it with Lois. Or should he just let Lana go on thinking she hadn't meant enough to him? No, that would be the last thing he would ever do, because if anything, Lana should know she meant more than the world to him.
Coming to a conclusion, he left the loft only to find Lana ready to pull away. Using his speed, Clark appeared before Lana's car in a blink of an eye, causing her to slam hard on the brakes. "Clark! Please move!" Lana yelled through the car window. She was frustrated and confused, trying to keep her calm.
Clark stood in defiance, arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. He didn't speak a word, just stood there, refusing to let Lana leave.
Lana glared at Clark. Why couldn't he let her go? She obviously wasn't emotionally stable for any kind of Clark Kent conversation. She thought she had been ready, but she just wasn't. Every time she was around him, feelings flooded her senses and memories plagued her mind. Images of the ways things used to be…reminders of what she used to have and everything she wanted back. The things Clark had just said didn't make anything better. It just made her heart ache more, yearn more for the gorgeous man who had haunted her dreams the all these years.
Seeing that Clark wasn't about to let her go anywhere, Lana put the car in park and stepped out, making sure to slam the door for emphasis. "Happy? I'm not leaving…not yet anyways."
Clark didn't say anything, he walked closer. Lana eyed him as he neared her and before she could say anything else, he wrapped his large, muscular arms around her petite waist. "Hang on," were the only words of warning Lana received before she found herself being lifted off the ground.
Glancing at the ground, watching as it became distant, Lana clutched onto Clark tighter and buried her head into his chest. Although she was lost in the momentary comfort of his arms around her and her head on his chest, taking in his scent, Lana was brought back to reality when she heard a chuckle emitted by Clark. Finding the courage to pull her face away from him only slightly, Lana looked up to discover Clark staring at her. A smile played off his lips and she couldn't help but return it, "You could have given me a better warning," she chastised.
"Don't you trust me?" Clark asked while Lana put her head back down. She heard the seriousness in his tone, and the hint of hurt displayed in his voice.
"Of course," she whispered, not daring to look back up at him. Clearing her throat, she wondered, " What are we doing up here Clark?"
"I wasn't done talking to you, and I figured the best way to keep you from running away was if you, well, flew with me," Clark stated. Now it was time for him to get some things off his chest that had been tearing him up inside. Keeping one arm tightly around her, he used the other to grab her chin and lift it up toward him. Before he began, he took a moment to gently caress the side of her beautiful face. Lana instantly reacted to his touch and her eyes fluttered shut. Relishing the feel of her skin, Clark sighed, his voice heavily laced with regret and pain, "Lana, there are so many things I am sorry for. Not saying goodbye to you before I left would be the top of the list. I wanted to, I really did, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I remember arguing with myself all night before I left. I wanted so bad to see your beautiful hazel eyes looking right back into mine. To hear your soft, angelic voice to say my name and to feel you in my arms one more time, but I…I just couldn't do it. I knew that you were the only one that could make me stay if you asked, but I couldn't. I was also afraid…afraid that I might see hate in your eyes. I would have never been able to handle it if you hated me Lana, and so I was afraid to say goodbye in case you hated me…"
Lana eyes glistened, listening to his words and trying to suppress her emotions. "I could never hate you," she murmured.
"I know, but I wasn't thinking clearly myself," Clark took a deep breath and was entranced in Lana's eyes, he felt he could see into her soul, "I spent a year away. Not a day, not a minute, and not a second went by that you weren't on my mind. I missed you so much it was hard to bare at times, but I knew I had to do what I was meant to. When I returned, you were the first person I looked for. My first stop in Smallville was your apartment atop the Talon. After I found out you had moved, my thoughts instantly reeled back to you hating me. Although, now I know you didn't, it was understandable if you had. Then Chloe gave me that letter you had written." A sad smile formed on his lips once again and he shook his head lightly, "You know me too well… but my heart broke when Chloe said that you wanted me to move on. My only thoughts of moving on were with you. I searched for you everywhere Lana…"
"But…" Lana started, but Clark placed a finger upon her lips, abruptly stopping her.
"Everywhere I thought you'd be. Paris, New York, not once did it occur to me you'd be in California. I had got a hold of Nell once out there, but she told me she hadn't seen you in years and then quickly hung up on me. Then a little of a year ago, I overheard Chloe having a conversation with someone on the phone and was not hiding it from me very well. Using my hearing, I heard her on the phone with Nell. Chloe asked if you were there, she said no and then Chloe asked for confirmation of your address out there so she could send you a card or something." Clark paused for a minute, thinking of the night he found Lana, "So I went after you Lana. I hadn't cared that years had passed, all I cared about was being near you again. That night, I went to the address I heard Nell give to Chloe and…and I saw you. You looked so beautiful. Absolutely stunning," a tear came to Clark's eye, "you took my breath away, You still do. Before I could make my presence known, I saw a tall guy walk up behind you and wrap his arms around you. You turned around and he kissed you. That was all I could stand before I flew home. I've tried everyday to get that image out of my mind, to forget that I ever saw you. I saw the look in your eyes when you looked at him, and I could tell that he had made you happy…And that's all I really wanted for you, to be happy, even if that meant sacrificing my own happiness. It looked as if you had moved on and I didn't want to disrupt your new life. I didn't deserve too…you have every right to be in love with…a normal guy." Clark's breathed out, his eyes shut tight, suppressing the pain of seeing Lana in another man's arms.
A hand on the side of his face caused his eyes to open and he saw Lana staring at him with such emotion, "Is that when you started dating Lois?" Clark simply nodded and Lana felt ashamed of herself. Since she had gotten here, she had resented Clark for moving on while she hadn't been able to, when in reality, he had only moved on because he thought she had moved on. The irony of it all was slowly killing her. Her voice was softly spoken and choked with tears, "Clark, I don't want to be in love with a normal guy... I want to be in love with you."
Clark pulled her into him tighter as they still stood in the air floating, "You looked so happy though, and after I've put you through, you deserve to be happy."
"I'm happiest when I'm with you," Lana sobbed against his chest before pulling away to look into his beautiful eyes, "Don't you understand? You are the love of my life Clark Kent, there could never be another you." No longer could she hold back the tears, and so they fell, streaking her lovely face.
Wiping a few stray tears away, Clark smiled, his heart swelling with love and passion for the woman in his arms, "How is that we've only been reunited for about a day and I feel as if I never lost you?"
No longer capable of containing himself, Clark lowered his face towards hers. He felt her sweet breath on his face, and yearned for a taste of her luscious lips. Both dieing with anticipation, he hesitated for only a moment before capturing his lips with hers. His arms tightened around her, and Lana's hands found themselves around Clark's neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. It was full of passion and hunger…hunger for one another. Searching their souls for the love that was never lost. They didn't break until the need for air became too much and when they did, Lana answered him.
"Because that's what love is."