Two weeks later...

"Clark?" Lana asked tentatively from where she stood at the top of the loft stairs.

He turned around, surprise all across his handsome face. "Lana? What are you doing here? You're getting married this afternoon!" he gasped. Lana smiled.

"Clark, I don't want to marry Lex!" she said softly after a moment. "He wasn't the person I thought he was and... I've realized that you're the person I want to spend the rest of my life with." She stared up at him, holding his gaze, waiting for the love and acceptance that had always been there whenever she remembered how much she truly loved him. And this time, it would be perfect; she knew what he'd been hiding, and there was nothing between them.

But the warm, overjoyed look she knew so well didn't infuse his eyes.

"Lana..." he began. Then he paused and bit his lip, clearly wondering how to continue. "Lana, there was a time when I would have taken you back without a second thought, but... I'm not in love with you anymore." Her eyes widened, and she could feel the whole world dropping out from beneath her. What was going on here? Clark was the one constant in her life; no matter how badly she messed up, Clark would always be there to put the pieces back together. So why was he standing here, saying these things he simply couldn't be?

"W-what?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Lana, I'll always care about you, but I don't love you. Marry Lex, or don't; I'll support you either way, if it's what you truly want." He smiled at her and her stomach dissolved into a mass of butterflies at the sight, even as her heart was spiraling downward.

"I--" she gasped, completely thrown. "I have to go." Choking back tears, she rushed out of the loft. She launched herself into her brand-new silver Porsche, and sped down the road toward the Luthor mansion. Fine, she decided. If Clark wouldn't have her, Lex was still the most honest person she knew. He might have a dark side, but Lana was sure that, given time, she could save him from that. And so she had to return to the mansion before Lex found the note she had left him...

--

After Lana left, Clark sighed and dropped onto the worn brown sofa. A month ago, he'd have never hesitated when Lana came back to him; he'd have simply taken her in his arms and kissed her for all she was worth. But now? He ran his hands through his dark hair, frowning at the floor in front of him.

"Careful Smallville. You stare at one spot too long, it's gonna burst into flames," came a voice from behind him. He jumped, startled.

"Lois?" he gasped, panicking. What had she meant by that? Had she found him out? But Lois's next words assuaged his fears.

"Relax Smallville. It's just me. I saw Lana flying out of here, and I popped up to see if you were okay." She sat down on the couch next to him.

He forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just doing some thinking before I get ready for the wedding," he said as calmly as he could.

Lois's eyebrows contracted. "Wait, you're going? I would think it would be really weird to go to an ex's wedding, let alone on ex you're so clearly not over."

Clark snorted. "Lois, believe me when I say that I've clearly moved on. I realized some time ago that I can't just keep hanging onto this hope that Lana will come back to me. There's nothing left in that relationship that hasn't been said and done already. I'll always care about Lana, but there's... nothing romantic there anymore." For a minute there was silence.

"So... what was Lana doing here anyway?" Lois asked finally.

Clark shrugged. "She just... wanted to talk about some of the things she felt were still hanging between us. I guess she was getting cold feet, and came to me."

He would never reveal to anyone what Lana had really come to him for- that was her secret to tell if she chose- but what he didn't say told Lois as much as what he did. Understanding dawned on her face, and she nodded to him, telling him she inferred what had happened, and acknowledging the truth of his earlier sentiments.

They sat together for awhile, and then Clark stood up. "Well, it's two hours until the wedding. I'd better go get ready." Lois glanced at her watch.

"Crap, you're right. I've got to go get ready myself," she said, rising and hurrying down the stairs. As she neared the bottom, Clark called after her.

"Lois... see you at the wedding?" he said in a questioning tone. She nodded, and continued on her way out.

--

A Note From Lara: As you can see, this is just a little interlude that comes between plot twists. So, that's that. Closure, more or less. Next up: The Wedding, and Lois has a close encounter with a certain Masked Mystery Man.