Chapter 24 [Kent Farm—7:45 PM]

Clark stared out the dining room's front window. His heart threatened to beat through his chest. His eyes searched Nocturne's dark depths for a certain blazer's headlights. He'd done his best to follow Lex's advice. He made sure everything was done right around the house. He kept the conversation light and away from the underlying issues in the room.

At the moment, Jonathan sharpened tools in the barn. Both to do those things and to think on the big picture one could imagine.

Maybe he's trying to deal with the situation. Maybe Dad will understand. Lex has to be right. Right? Clark moped. His nostrils stirred at the coffee's brewing scent from across the room.

"She'll be here, Clark. It's going to be all right," Martha assured him. She set a freshly baked apple pie on the counter.

"I just wish Dad would understand. Lana respects the Secret. She cares about us. We care about her. I just don't get it," Clark complained.

"He knows that, Clark." She cut into the pie forming the slices' imprints in the dessert. "He just wants Lana and you to understand."

"Understand what? Mom, I…." He puzzled through her meaning.

"Lana's got to understand the responsibility involved in this. She's going to have to protect you and your secret as much as you've protected her. It's going to seem like a burden at times. She has to discover who she can talk to. Then she has to know what she can say and what she can't. I know you've wanted this relationship, Clark. I want it too. Lana's a great young woman. Still she needs to know what's involved in being your girlfriend…in being part of this family."

"At least she has Pete to talk to," he noted.

"Thankfully they can do that." She saw the headlights coming up the driveway. "Just like that, she's here." She motioned toward the door. "Go on."

"Thanks, Mom." He walked out the door.

She sighed. I just hope Jonathan's as reasonable as I make him out to be. She looked toward the barn and pondered that point…..

Lana parked the blazer carefully beside the Kents' blue truck. The rest of her day had gone well. The customers interacted pleasantly with each other and her. Profit filled the register with its bounty. Rachel and she counted the drawer down quickly enough. She'd even got the last pint of vanilla and a fudge ripple at Dillons. Let's hope things keep going smoothly. She knew Clark was nervous. Heck she was nervous. I know Mr. Kent has to deal with Clark's secret. He has to know I want to keep Clark safe too! She set the parking brake. Her eyes alighted on the canary colored house. Clark and I have to face this. So what if he's from another planet? He's all alone. I might as well be too. She rolled her eyes. Then she saw Clark coming out the door. She noticed him rubbing the back of his neck. Now what? Concern raised her awareness. She edged her way out of the vehicle. "Clark? Are you all right? Did anything else happen?"

"Hi. Nothing's happened. Just nervous. I want this to be perfect." He embraced her. "Thanks for coming."

"I wouldn't miss it. Clark, it's going to be okay. Your Mom and Dad care. Granted they're going way overboard. Let's just show them we can handle things," she suggested.

He wanted to protest or raise an eyebrow or react in another way. Yet her confidence and composure eased his mood. "You don't know what you're about to get into."

She coughed. "I deal with Nell and her attitudes on things. She gets overprotective too. I'm just going into this the way I would with her. Then we will have to deal with her at some point." She sighed heavily.

"She's your guardian so yeah we will. Wish I was richer or had more to offer. Then she'd back off," he assumed.

Incredulity raised her eyebrow. "Clark, you're you. Nell can deal with that. I know she and your Dad have a history. That was then. This is now." She took his hands in hers. "We make this stand together. Still we don't start something." She went back to the blazer and took out the bagged ice cream.

"Right." He sucked in a deep breath. "We can do this together." He gently squeezed her hands as well. He led them back toward the house. "Mom? Dad?"

"We're set, Clark. Come on in." Martha glanced at Jonathan. She set out the pre-cut pie. Behind her the coffee perked away.

"Hi, Mrs. Kent. Brought the ice cream." She held up the bags. "That pie and coffee sure smells great."

"Thank you, Lana. How was the rest of your shift?" Martha asked.

"Everything went great, Mrs. Kent. Thanks." Lana smiled at the hostess' attempt to lighten the mood.

"Any problems today?" Jonathan considered the teens' faces and body language. He still didn't care for how the situation was unfolding. Granted he couldn't change the fact that Lana knew what she did. Still he wanted to control how much she was learning and her rapid (too rapid for his taste) learning curve in that regard.

"Everything seemed okay, Mr. Kent." Lana glanced over at Clark before continuing, "Clark was brooding about something between you and him. That's all he'd say. I figured that's between you and him, Mr. Kent. On the secret stuff, we talked in private. I'm assuming though that's it's about this secret stuff?"

Jonathan folded his arms across his chest. He almost squirmed. "We…had a disagreement."

Clark somehow didn't roll his eyes or say anything. He bit his tongue not wanting to sink the all important discussion before it really got started.

"We all have issues to adjust to and deal with," Martha assessed. "Lana, we know and accept that you know about Clark. You just made some important points."

"I…did?" Lana turned to Clark and then the two parents in question. "What did I say?"

"You're respecting boundaries. You're being discreet. That's great," Martha complimented.

Lana shrugged. Acceptance warmed her heart. She nodded. "Sure. Pete warned me about that. I'll admit that I'm trying to wrap my head around the whole 'Clark's an alien' thing." She set the ice cream containers on the counter. "Sorry it's a lot to take in."

"It's a big deal. Glad you understand that," Jonathan agreed. He relaxed ever so slightly. He cast a look at Martha. Then he motioned toward the table. "Maybe we can all sit down and have some dessert then?"

Clark remained quiet. Optimism brightened his mood however. They're agreeing? This is going way too easy.

"Thanks, Mr. Kent. I'd like to pitch in." Lana opened the bags. "I got vanilla and fudge ripple. Kind of was in a hot fudge mood. Hope you all like that. Do you have a scoop?"

"Been a while since we had fudge ripple," Clark noted. He went to the drawer and got the ice cream scoop. Then he handed it to Lana. "There you go." He grinned.

Lana's eyes sparkled into Clark's. Their fingers lingered in mid-touch over the chilled dairy confection. Their energy jumped back and forth. Joy's harmony soothed their ears and minds. In that moment, there was no Secret, no parents or any distractions. Rather their feelings washed away any boundaries and limitations. "Thanks, Clark."

The Farm Boy grinned. "No problem. Glad to help you for once." He shook his head. "Given what a disaster the last time was."

"Oh yeah that." Lana coughed. "You're definitely not a dishwasher, Clark." Her eyes twinkled a bit more into his.

Martha and Jonathan exchanged looks. They could definitely see a deeper understanding forming between the two teens. Moreover, Lana was demonstrating her developing understanding, caring and…well…maturity…previously only seen in flashes. They could see the younger woman trying to escape from her shell. Furthermore Clark wasn't shrinking from that contact. Rather he embraced it establishing the connection. Finally she cleared her throat. "Maybe we can get the dessert served and talk further?" She smirked at the two teens.

"Oh yeah. I'll get the coffee." Clark realized. He headed for the cabinet.

"And I'll get ice cream." Lana pulled the tops off of the containers. "Let me know what everyone wants." She held the scoop ready for its dive into the chilled creamy treats.

Martha smiled. "We rarely have a team like this." She lifted a piece of pie into each bowl. "Mr. Kent and I will do vanilla. Maybe I might try a scoop of fudge ripple too?"

"Done." Lana measured out three scoops of vanilla and one of fudge ripple. "Clark?"

"I'll do the fudge ripple. Change it up a little. You know?" Clark supposed.

Lana shrugged. "Sure, Clark. Coming up." She scooped him three scoops of fudge ripple to go with his pie.

"Thanks!" Clark expressed. He carried his treat to the table and set it front of his place. Granted he loved the vanilla and apple taste that his mother created with her presentation. Still he could appreciate Lana's variety too.

"I'm leaving the ice cream here if anyone wants another scoop," Lana volunteered. She scooped out one of each kind to go with her pie. She set the lids back on the containers. Then she headed to the table to find a steaming coffee mug awaiting her. "That smells great, Clark."

"Typical Kent brand. It's not fancy but it works," Jonathan declared. He sampled the softening ice cream and the pie crust. Continuity soothed some of Concern's jabs at his nerves. "As Mrs. Kent said earlier, Lana, it's great that you're taking this in as well as you are. I'll admit that I had my concerns."

"I definitely get why. It's a big deal, Mr. Kent." Lana sighed. Even if she'd expected the job interview feel, the vibe still chafed a little. "I care about Clark and you both. I've seen firsthand what happens when he lets his guard down. I can imagine it would be the same in conversation or if his abilities slip out?"

"That's right. Thank you for saying that, Lana." Jonathan took a hefty draught from his coffee mug. "Still what do you mean 'you've seen what happens'?"

Lana shrugged. "I've seen his heat vision burn things at school and the Talon. He was so concerned about me that he flew up into the twister to rescue me. I wondered how the cooling pipes twisted by themselves and left Sasha Cohen's bees frozen on the floor. Guess the answer was right in front of me all of the time?" She glanced at Clark.

"Sometimes when an ability surfaces, I have to learn I have it. Then I can learn how to control it. It's not always easy. I don't want to hurt anyone or damage anything," Clark clarified.

"So we all saw. Clark, it's great that you know that. Still you can't just cut yourself off. I know we all have to be careful. Still it is a balance. You have Pete. Now you have me too. We're here for you." Lana rubbed his arm.

Clark blushed. Amor and Embarrassment sent simultaneous warming and chilling waves through him.

"That balance is important," Jonathan allowed. "Still we have to be careful. Sometimes a look or body language can alert others without a single word. We've had several close calls this year alone. Some people with bad motives have found out Clark's secret. Others have investigated him."

"Dad," Clark groaned knowing where that point was going.

"Who would do that?" Lana wondered. "Clark?"

"Lex had me investigated after what happened on the bridge, Lana." Clark turned to his father. "He dropped it."

"Has he? Clark, how do you know that? He acts like your friend. Then he had Roger Nixon looking into you. He commissioned Dr. Hamilton to look at Chandler's Field. We don't know how much he knows," Jonathan insisted. Paranoia's bellows stoked his internal burning over the situation.

"Jonathan, please." Martha shook her head.

Clark fumed silently. He gulped down his retort with a big mouthful of chocolate and cream.

"Lex? Clark, he's our friend. He's my business partner. Mr. Kent, he's been trying to fit in. I can't imagine him trying to look into you all," Lana denied. That particular revelation blew her mind away. "You've helped him." She considered her boyfriend. "Wait. Whitney told me that you saved his life."

"Yeah I did." Clark coughed. "I was on the bridge west of town on 90. He swerved to avoid something in the road. He…kind of hit me head on. We went into the river. I pulled him out. Kind of had to tear his car roof open to get him out."

"You just tore his car's roof open." Lana blinked. Incredulity numbed her for a few heartbeats. "I can see why he'd question that. I'd want to know what did that to my blazer too." She shook her head. "He really hit you with his car?"

"At full speed."

"Wow. That's a new one." Lana shook her head. "I'm having a hard time seeing that in my mind. Now I believe what Pete said. Byron really threw you into a shed? Then you were able to pull him into that dark place while he was all Hyde?"

"I got through both," Clark admitted. "I was able to help Byron. That's what matters. Kind of had to make up for what happened at the cemetery."

"What happened at the cemetery?" Martha looked at Jonathan and then at Clark.

"He means when he caused Byron to knock his head against a gravestone." Lana sipped on her mug. "That's why we were out with him until sunrise the first time. I think you're being a great friend to him. We all make mistakes even if you were being overprotective."

Clark squirmed. "I care about you, Lana. Even Byron said I was being chivalrous."

"That was well intentioned. Still, Clark, you do need to be careful. That's what your Dad was just getting at," Martha interjected.

"So you always have to be on guard? Is that why when Eric had those powers, you were so relaxed?" Lana wondered.

"He took my powers for a few days. Kind of a freak accident. I was normal. I could try and be a normal friend. I could be the kind of boyfriend you deserve, Lana," Clark explained.

Lana shook her head. "Clark, the kind of boyfriend I deserve doesn't have to lie about who or what he is. He trusts me with everything. He'd like that back in return. He'd be okay with me talking to him or his parents about things. So far you're trying really hard. I appreciate that. And I have to learn more about your home world and everything. I want to. I just need time."

"That's all I've ever wanted to be, Lana. I really want this to work," Clark assured her.

Jonathan gulped at his coffee. "And that's the other thing. Clark told me this morning that you know where he came from?"

Lana stiffened. "I learned about that the other day. I still can't believe what happened. Talk about someone coming back to visit." She shook her head. "My Great Aunt Louise just appeared." She took a hard gulp from her mug.

"She appeared? Meaning she walked in?" Martha tried to grasp Lana's meaning.

"No I mean she literally appeared. She apparently died back in 1961." Lana shook her head. "I looked her obituary up in the Ledger's search engine. She really knew the guy in question. I saw a pencil sketch of him. Clark, he looks exactly like you."

"He what?" Jonathan nearly jumped out of his chair at that comment. "Clark wasn't here at that point, Lana. That can't be."

"It wasn't Clark, Mr. Kent. If my Aunt's right, it was Clark's father. He said his name was Joe. Besides she also said that Clark's birth name was Kal or Kal-El. That's why when he was in his bad boy phase, he was calling himself that," Lana continued.

"Kal-El," Clark said the name allowing it to run across his tongue. Almost like a coat, he wanted to see how well it fitted and suited him.

Seeing Jonathan's eyes narrow, Martha shook her head at him. Then she asked, "So what else did your Aunt tell you, Lana?"

"Well, Mrs. Kent, she said that Joe did things like what I saw Clark doing. She described his description of his world, Krypton. Then she told me that he returned there after her death. Joe married some woman there and had a son. Apparently they died along with the rest of the planet…all but their son." Lana turned to Clark. "You're that son, Clark. Aunt Louise said you came here in a spaceship."

Clark glanced at his parents. Now it was his turn to be overwhelmed even if he'd heard some of this story before. He still couldn't believe that his birth father had been in Smallville. "Maybe that's why he sent me here?"

"Even so, Clark, you're still our son. We raised you here on Earth not on Krypton or wherever," Jonathan insisted.

"Dad, I know that." Clark grimaced not really wanting this argument to start again at that point. "It's not like I'm just going to go 'All Krypton' and just forget about Mom, the farm or you. Is it so bad to know what I am or where I came from?"

"It's the past, Clark. You're Clark Kent. That world, if Lana's right, is gone. Your birth parents are dead," Jonathan asserted.

"That's not fair to Clark, Jonathan," Martha disagreed. "We're raising a teenager from another world. He's now of both worlds. Clark was just talking about balance. Why not let him find it?"

"If he finds that balance maybe he'll be more comfortable with himself, Mr. Kent?" Lana blurted out. "I'm glad I know about that. It's not something I'm going to spread any further. Still I know why Clark's been so mysterious and secretive."

"And how do you know that this spirit's really your Aunt? Do we know that Clark's planet is really Krypton?" Jonathan doubted.

"And how do we know it isn't? Dad, give this a chance. At least let me find out," Clark rebutted.

"Maybe we can just look into it at some point. Clark's already said he wants balance. As long as he keeps acting like a normal teenager out in the world, why not let him try?" Martha suggested. She took the last spoonful of cream and apple in her bowl.

"Martha, we know who Clark is. He's the young man we've raised on this farm. That's all we need to know," Jonathan countered. Stubbornness fixed him firmer in place than had his feet been imbedded in concrete.

Clark rolled his eyes. "You know…I think Lana and I need some air. Can we be excused?"

Martha jumped in before Jonathan could object. "That might be good for all of us. I'll have more coffee ready when you come back in."

"Uh…okay." Lana followed Clark to the entryway. She pulled her coat on. Then she followed Clark out into Nocturne's pall.

After they left, Martha cleared the table. Anger stewed in her over Jonathan's stubborn outlook. She silently put the ice cream and pie away in the freezer and fridge respectively. Then she began to wash dishes without another word.

Jonathan brooded at the table. He knew better than to try and engage Martha when she got like this. He wasn't about to concede the point. He didn't understand why things had to change. He knew the risk was too great if they did.

Tension threatened to blow up the dynamic at that point…..