Chapter 11 [Smallville Cemetery—Dawn]

Sol brushed its first beams across the eastern horizon. Deep crimson, orange and yellow lightened with each passing moment. The light burnished the passing clouds. A few birds sang their notes. A cool breeze rustled through the leaves.

And for one particular visitor, the answers to certain questions…..

[A/N: And here we're going to see some spiritual twists.]

Lana trod down the worn path between the gravestones. Exhaustion numbed her to the point of sleepwalking. Sleep however had denied her its release. She'd finished two mugs worth of the strongest coffee she could make. Still she almost felt like a zombie.

The questions kept up from relaxing…questions about everything and frankly everyone…

Are people who they are? Or are they what they seem? She frowned. The one constant in everything is change they say. Still how can we know who they are? If we don't know, can we trust them? She bowed her head. Until six months earlier, she'd thought she'd begun to have some security at least. Whitney struggled to balance his life and issues with their relationship. She'd moved on from cheerleading for the management job at the Talon. She'd developed mature relations with Lex Luthor for work as well as her neighbors. She'd gained some knowledge and appreciation for her parents. Clark proved a great friend.

Funny how Crisis unravels the facades.

Instinct bade her to stop. Without thinking, she glanced down at her parents' marker. "Hi, Mom and Dad. I know it's early. Sorry about not waiting for daylight. Got a lot on my mind. When don't I?" She rolled her eyes at herself. "I guess that's fair. We build up expectations. Since Nell doesn't tell me a lot about the past, I try to focus on now. It's just been so crazy lately. Whitney going to Marines. Henry Small possibly knowing you, Mom. That failed date with Clark. And now, we learn that Miranda's not really Mr. Arighatto's daughter. He went all weird. Then Clark went all super hero with speed and flying." She shook her head. "And then a real blast from your past showed up. Apparently you guys knew David Dubois? Well he went all slasher on Mr. Arighatto. Then he vanished in a flash of light. Poof!"

She sucked in a deep breath. Other than a few birds, Silence smothered any sound. Dread sped her heart up. Her eyes darted about the vicinity. She laid the bouquet down by the grave.

"It's just when you think you know people. Then they throw a curve. Clark's definitely not what he seemed. Neither is Mr. Dubois. I just wish I knew more," Lana lamented.

Then ask them.

Her eyes went wide. She looked around the area yet again. "Hello?"

Ask them. A bright light washed across the area. When it had ceased, a slender woman in a white robe stood in front of her. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with both the pale stars and Sol's light. Warmth shone from those eyes and the accompanying smile. "Hello, Lana."

"Mom?" Lana's eyes went wide. Her jaw dropped. She took a couple steps toward the newcomer. "But you can't be here. You're…you're…."

"Dead?" Laura shrugged. "Your Dad and I have passed on. That doesn't mean we're not watching over you. Maybe I can have a hug?" She held her arms out.

"Of course!" Lana beat down Skepticism and Disbelief. Given everything else, she craved Familiarity's embrace. She threw her arms around her mother's waist. "At least you're back!"

"Just for a few minutes. You have questions. I can answer some of them." Laura shrugged. "Both your Dad and I wish we could come back. We appreciate your Aunt Nell's raising you. Still we'd like to have been in your life more. At least you haven't forgotten."

"What? I could never do that!" Lana protested. "I know I've been forgetful lately. I'm sorry, Mom. It's been kind of overwhelming."

"I imagine it has been. The only constant is change, Lana. Your world is now expanding and opening up. Some parts of what you knew are going away. Other important things and people are just now appearing in your life. And those you knew are changing as well. As they discover more about themselves, they evolve. They might act out as this learning process continues. They might retreat into themselves or press on." Laura sighed.

"Act out? You mean like Clark's doing? I guess this is why he's been so secretive. Mom, I've known him since we were kids. He's a really nice guy…or at least I thought he was." Lana squirmed. "Well he still is. He had that one strange time when we tried to date."

"You mean the bad boy biker phase?" Laura supposed. She squeezed her hand into a fist. Then she opened it to reveal a small crimson stone in her palm. "Does this look familiar?"

"It looks like one of the stones from our class rings. So? It isn't like Clark was allergic to them," Lana assumed.

"In a matter of speaking, he is." Laura held the crimson meteor fragment up. She allowed it to glint and sparkle in the gathering daylight. "It's his version of the Nicodemus flower. You don't remember but it affected you last year."

Embarrassment flushed Lana's cheeks. While she didn't remember that, she knew she'd done some things under the ancient flower's influence. "It did. I had to apologize for three days after that. It's not like I did anything other than act out…did I?"

Laura coughed. "You had quite a creative flare when you let your hair down." She started counting off examples on each finger. "You dressed in the leather jacket and the dark clothes. You sported the same attitude. You took Alex's car for a joyride. You came onto Alex Luthor and Clark. And then you skinny dipped in the school's pool."

Lana gasped. Her eyes went wide. "Skinny dipped? Why didn't anyone…?"

"Clark didn't say anything about your part in it. He took the Saturday detention for you. He took the whole matter in stride knowing it wasn't the typical you." Laura raised her eyebrow.

"He said that I didn't do anything! I asked him and…." Lana argued.

"What he said, I think, was that he saw Alpha Lana or something like that." Laura shrugged. "I like watching you two together. He is a very special young man in so many regards, Lana. Don't push him away. Just take it all in stride as he did for you."

"We've seen so many examples of meteor freaks acting out this year. How do I know Clark isn't one?" Lana wondered.

"And how do you he is? Your friend, Byron Moore, wasn't affected by the meteors. Neither was Dave. Clark's also protected you from those people. Perhaps he could be something else? When the time comes to tell you, Lana, Clark will let you know. I can say that he is the same young man. He's watched you from afar. He genuinely cares for you," Laura pointed out. "Just be patient. Maybe let him know you support him? Clark would appreciate that. Jonathan and Martha Kent are scared that the world will take Clark away for research and study." She bowed her head.

Lana thought of Byron. From what he'd told everyone, LuthorCorp's clinical trials had created that darker side. "Mr. Luthor practically had to be ramrodded into taking responsibility. Lex and Mrs. Kent did that for Byron."

"Alex certainly has seen enough of his father's mistakes in that regard. We all did a generation ago." Laura frowned. "Dave was the earlier version of Byron. He's the super poet and scholar. He went through abuse. His personality split. We watched the Child emerge."

"The Child?" Lana narrowed her eyes. "So he's mentally ill?"

"More like semi-possessed. He was exposed to dark magic as a child. I remember watching him deal with ghosts and demons worse than any horror movie. That persona drove Arighatto off twice last night. He saved you all. Then he found Miranda and the others at the Talon. And that isn't the first time he saved you either." Laura rubbed her forehead. "It's a long story. All you need to know is that he knew you before the meteor shower. He protected you at great cost to himself."

Lana blinked. Incredulity clouded her mind. "So Clark and I knew him back then?"

"You did." Laura glanced skyward. She nodded. "I'm sorry, Lana. Our time's up. I have to go back."

"Sorry but do you? It's been great seeing you. I…" Disappointment caused Lana's mood to sag like a leaky balloon. "I don't want you to go."

"I don't either. Still it was a special favor for me to be able to do this." Laura embraced her daughter. "Your father and I love you, Lana. Remember that. We're always with you. Ask Alex and the Kents. Talk to Mr. and Mrs. Dubois. I'm sure they'll tell you about us."

"O…okay." Lana seized onto her mother. "I love you, Mom."

"I know. Just remember patience. Let Clark know you support him. Okay?" Laura reminded her. Then she melted away into the early morning. We love you, Lana.

Lana trembled. Even if she had some answers, more questions had blossomed up in their wake. She stifled a yawn. She ground her teeth as she knew school awaited her.

After that, she'd need answers…..