"The things I can do? You mean, like my farm chores? Do I need to do more? Because I will."
"I don't mean your farm chores, Peter. I mean your abilities, your powers."
Peter swallowed hard and realized he had been found out.
"How do you know? I thought I was being careful."
"You were, but I saw you use your abilities last week at the bank. I was on my way there to deposit a check when it was being robbed."
"You saw me? What do you mean you saw me? The only time I was outside, I was invisible."
"I saw you because I can see through things. I…I have abilities of my own."
"You do? Did you get your powers from the meteors like Chloe or were you born with your powers like I was?"
"None of the above, actually. Let's just say I'm not from around here."
"Where are you from?"
Clark thought about how to word his answer, not wanting to give Peter too much information.
"I'm from another world."
"Really? Cool."
"You're not gonna freak out? Call me a monster or something?"
"You look pretty normal to me. And no, I won't tell anyone your secret."
"How did you…?"
I can read minds, Clark.
"Oh. How do you have all of these different kinds of abilities?"
"I'm what you might call an empathic mimic."
Clark poured them both some orange juice and Peter began telling him telling him about all of the abilities he had picked up. When he mentioned he could travel through time, Clark jumped up.
"You could bring Lana back!"
Clark cursed himself immediately after making the statement. He knew it wasn't right to ask, but he couldn't live with himself if he didn't. He missed Lana more than anything.
"Clark, I can't change fate. I'm sorry. And I've already decided not to use that ability again. The guy I got it from is lost in the time stream somewhere. It's too dangerous."
"But she died in a car explosion. Almost no trace of her body was left over. We could bring her forward to now. Everyone will still think she died. Nothing has to change. I'm asking you to do this just this one time. I never got to say goodbye to her."
"I'm sorry, but the answer is no. If fate said that's when she was supposed to die, then that's when she was supposed to die."
Clark was furious. He got up and punched a hole in the wall and then ran out of the house. Peter called after him, but Clark couldn't hear it. He was already miles away.
It didn't take much running for Clark to realize it was wrong for him to pressure Peter into using his ability for his own selfish reasons. He was just going to have to accept that Lana was gone and wasn't coming back. He headed back home to apologize to Peter. He was surprised to find that the hole was already fixed.
"Peter, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to do that. It was stupid and selfish of me."
"It was, but I completely understand. I would've asked the same thing if I was in your position. All is forgiven."
"Thank you. How'd you fix the wall already? Do you have superspeed, too?"
"No, I stopped time and fixed it."
Clark was more than a little dismayed that Peter already seemed to be contradicting himself in regards to his time manipulation ability. Peter sensed this right away and explained himself.
"When you left, I started thinking. I thought about how you said you never got to say goodbye to Lana. Maybe that's why I have this power, to give people one last chance to say goodbye to their loved ones. As long as I use it sparingly, I should be fine."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I'm gonna give you a chance to get some closure. Have one final talk with her."
Peter reached out and touched Clark's shoulder. Clark blinked and suddenly they were in the alley where Lana died. Clark saw Lana open the door to her car and suddenly, everything stopped.
"What did you do?"
"I stopped time. Once I touch her, she'll be outside of time like us. She'll still have to die, but you can take all the time you want to talk to her."
Peter walked over to where Lana stood and touched her shoulder. She looked around, very confused about what was going on. Clark, unable to contain himself, began to tear up and hugged her as tight as he could.
"Clark, what's going on? What's happened?"
"I can answer that. My name's Peter Petrelli and I can control time, among other things."
"Peter Petrelli? As in Chloe's friend, Peter Petrelli? Nice to meet you, despite the very strange circumstances. How are you doing this?"
"That's not important, but what Clark has to tell you is. Clark, I'll be over here whenever you're ready."
Peter went and sat down a few dozen feet away from them.
"Clark, why are you speaking to me like this? There are easier ways."
"Lana, I'm from October of this year."
"If you're from October, then that means-"
"I'm from the future, yeah. I don't know how to tell you this, but by that time you're-"
"Dead. Don't look so surprised, Clark. I'm not. With the kind of life I got involved in when I married Lex, I'm almost surprised I've lasted as long as I did. Is this when I die?"
"Yes. There's a bomb in the car you're about to get into. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
"Don't be sorry. You saved me more times than I can count. I'm actually not sad that my life is about to end. Or I would've been, if you hadn't come back to speak to me one last time."
Clark started to cry. Lana pulled him close and hugged and kissed him.
"Tell me about what's happened since I've been gone."
"A lot has happened. Not a lot of good. My mom's in Washington, Lois is in Midway City, Jimmy and Chloe broke up and he moved to Star City. It's basically just me and Chloe. I haven't been as good of a friend to her as I should have. I haven't been around."
"What have you been doing?"
"I decided to start being proactive. I've been helping people, in Metroplis and all around the world."
"That's great, Clark. You're fulfilling your destiny. I'm so proud of you. But don't forget about Chloe. Don't forget about everything that makes you who you are."
"I'm trying, but it's so hard. Between running the farm and running around the world, Chloe seems to suffer the most."
"Maybe you need a special identity of your own. Like the Green Arrow."
"Me in tights? I don't know."
Lana laughed.
"I'm sure you'll look great no matter what you wear. Think about it."
"I will. For you. Lana…I love you. I'm sorry I kept my secret from you all those years,"
"I love you so much, Clark. I understand why you kept your secret from me. If I had known, I would've been in even more danger, as hard as that is to believe. Now listen closely to what I'm about to say. I want you to move on with your life, Clark. Don't let my memory hold you back from anything, whether it's being the best hero you can be or letting someone else get close to you. Just make sure she loves you as much as I do and don't hesitate to let her know how lucky she is."
Clark tears up again, as does Lana.
"Now it's time for me to go. I'm sure I'm keeping my parents waiting."
They kiss once more, for the last time. Clark calls Peter over, and Lana asks for one final word with him.
"I can never thank you enough for this gift, Peter."
"I'm just doing the right thing."
She gives him a hug.
"And one more thing. Ask Chloe out already."
Peter and Lana smile at each other. Peter goes to where Clark is standing. He starts time again and they teleport back to the present just as Lana's car is exploding.
"Thank you for what you did, Peter. You didn't have to do it, but I'm glad you did."
"I'm glad I did, too. So, should we start chores?"
"I was thinking we'd skip chores today and ask Chloe if she wants to go to the park and throw the frisbee around."
"Sounds like a plan to me."