After All These Years
Chapter 6 ITALY & HONOLULU
FRIDAY 09:00
Clark enters Lana's suite and announces, "Your pilot has arrived, and the pre-flight checklist has begun."
Lana laughs out loud! "What's next captain?"
"I need to explain your seating options."
"Seating options?" She giggles.
"Yes, let me show you." He pulls out a contraption of leather straps and plaid flannel padding.
Lana laughs harder. "Plaid, I should have known! Captain Plaid it is!"
"Hey, it works." Clark smirks.
"How stylish. I can do better."
"I'm sure you could. You weren't around though."
"I am now." She blushes.
"Well, we'll have to talk about that later. For now, let's see about your seating options."
He shows her the harness he and his dad have designed. It will hold her like a papoose; allowing her arms & hands to be free. She can be either on his back or stomach. She will have an increased sense of security and freedom. There is a strap to hold small or medium luggage. This will be its maiden voyage. Lana is impressed.
In addition, he has a black leather flying suit for her; designed and sewn by his mother. It is complete with a head-piece with a hole for her pony tail. After changing, she comes out and does a slow pirouette. Clark is speechless, his mouth remaining open.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer," she teases.
"Ah, ok, how do you want to do this?"
She chooses to be under his torso; he will have his head looking over her neck/shoulder.
They secure her and their minimal luggage and are off.
Clark makes two stops for Lana's comfort: Iceland and Ireland. Both islands have little used National parks where she can stretch and take a bathroom break if needed. They finished the trip in Arpino, Italy; a medium sized town NE of Naples.
They stay with a family of 4: Antonio, Martha and kids Julia and Matthew. The Queso's. The family owns 295 acres of melons; reputed to be the best in the world. Clark's story regarding his stay there as Superman is quite similar to the San Felipe story. His world tour evidently involved a lot of trouble-shooting. Unfortunately, that means he has made a lot of enemies; necessitating keeping his real identity tightly under wraps.
Friday evening, they enjoy a fabulous home-coked Italian dinner, topped off by a piece of tiramisu. Again, Lana is amazed by the sumptuous authentic cuisine that 6Clark is introducing her to. She could really het used to this!
Saturday, they take a ferry to Capri, the island where the Roman Emperor Tiberius spent his last 12 years in seclusion. They toured the island, including Villa Jovis – the emperor's finest architectural achievement and last residence.
Back in Arpino, Martha cornered Lana and asked her, "what's with you and Clark. I see lots of affection there, no?"
"Well, we are trying to figure things out."
"I see sparks, go for it girl. He is a wonderful man!"
"I know; we'll see what happens. Thanks for your hospitality, Martha."
"You are so welcome, my dear." They hug. "Come again, please?"
"I, er we will." Lana blushes.
Martha winks.
ON THE VERANDA, UNDER THE STARS
"Clark, I was wondering, any serious relationships?"
Silence. Clark sighs.
"About 2-years ago I was patrolling late at night . . . I heard a woman's cry for help. I responded, of course, and came upon a girl in an alley, being assaulted. 28-year-old Julie. The attacker had her blouse off and was going for her bra. She already had bruises on her arms and face. I threw him in a dumpster, then turned around to give her a little privacy to get herself together.
"Turns out I held her hand, emotionally, through the justice process. We had 3 dinner dates . . . no intimacy.
"Then 3-weeks later . . . a drunk driver-
"No, Clark! I'm so sorry!"
"T-boned her car, driver's side. She died in my arms."
They both are crying now; Lana pulls him into an embrace and holds him tightly.
"I was going to tell you, the time never seemed right. I'm sorry, I don't intend to keep any secrets from you, never again."
"Thank you for that. I'm really sorry . . . so, I have to ask-
"No, Lana, you are not a rebound for me. Absolutely not."
"I'm sorry for-
"Don't be. That's a reasonable thing for you to wonder about. Julie and I didn't go deep, no sex. But it did open my eyes, get me to thinking. And you were the only woman that I thought about in terms of filling that hole in my heart. The only one!"
Silence as they gaze at the stars. She reaches for his hand; he responds and pulls her into an embrace. He places a kiss on top of her head.
Martha comes out, clearing her throat. She is carrying a tray with 2 mugs of coffee, cream & sugar. "Coffee?"
"Yes, thank you," Lana says.
Martha puts the tray down and leaves.
Lana prepares the coffee; she knows how Clark likes it. She hands him his mug, he smiles sweetly.
Silence for a while as they sip their coffee.
"Lana?"
"Yes."
"How close are we to a decision?"
"I'm past that, can't you tell?"
"I guess I'm a little rusty at reading you."
"I'm in." She smiles.
"What? Just like that?"
"Yup, Martha convinced me."
"Who? Oh . . .you mean-
"Yes, our hostess, Martha."
"What did she say?"
"Secret, girl talk."
"Come on!"
"Nope. Let's enjoy the rest of our time here, then figure things out when we're back home. Ok?"
"Ok," he grumbles.
She giggles and gives him a peck on the cheek.
They fall asleep in each other's arms.
Martha wakes them up the next morning, with a gentle pat on their shoulders.
METROPOLIS
They talk almost daily, at her place or his; in person or via TXT, email or phone. It gets easier by the day. It's like old times, except they are grown up. They know how important this is.
They exchange keys – for emergency purposes of course.
They decide not to start out 24X7 together, to avoid flash in the pan burnout.
One evening while he is patrolling, she goes (sneaks) over to his place and selects a few clothes to bring back to her suite. She puts them in some spare closet space or 2 drawers she has cleared for him. He doesn't seem to notice, at least he doesn't say anything.
He did notice, he just smiled to himself.
They mix home-cooked suppers at her place with dinner out. He is not comfortable doing dinner at his small apartment, only short visits. No long-distance trips, for a while.
88888888888888888888888
4-weeks in, Clark accompanies her on a trip to Los Angeles.
SANTA MONICA PIER
After riding The Eye, they pick up dinner from a taco cart. It's not San Felipe, but the fish tacos are very good. The Pacific is calm, the breeze light, the temperature moderate, the companionship HOT.
"Clark?"
"Yes, sweetheart?" (he started terms of endearment a while back)
"When is your lease up?"
"On my apartment?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
She giggles. "Really? You can't figure this out?"
"Here's hoping," he kisses her on the lips – long and deep and tender.
"I think it's time we moved in together. You good with that?"
"Yup, I thought you'd never ask." He smirks.
"You said I was driving." She cocks her head.
"I did, and I'm not taking that back."
"Good. I've got some of your clothes already at my place."
"I noticed."
"You did! You didn't say anything!"
"Just biding my time."
He grins, she smiles.
4-WEKS LATER
Clark's cell rings, Lana's I/D appears. "Hi, babe. How is Kyoto?"
"It's ok."
"What's the matter, you sound down?"
"I've got some uneasy feelings about doing business in Japan. Nothing specific; just . . . I don't know."
"What can I do, babe?"
"Meet me in Hawaii?"
"Sure, when?"
"Tomorrow night, the Ilikai, Honolulu. 2 nights."
"Wow, Jack Lord's intro to Hawaii 5-0?"
"The very place."
"I'll be there. 1-4-3, always and forever!"
"`1-4-3, back at ya!"
THE ILIKAI, HONOLULU
After dinner by the pool, they are relaxing while authentic Hawaiian dancers entertain.
"What's got you worried, sweetheart?"
"Not here, up in our suite."
"Ok, let's go."
UPSTAIRS
"Ok, what's up?" Clark is worried.
"Well, the boutique in Kyoto is being harassed. We had a devil of a time getting our license and permits. Now, we are being inspected weekly. I've talked with people in charge and gotten nowhere."
"Do you have the names of people in charge who might be bothered by your starting up business in Kyoto?"
"Sure, what can you do?"
"Call Watchtower and have her do some digging."
"Who?"
"Chloe."
"Chloe? Our classmate Chloe?"
"The one and only. She married Oliver Queen."
"NO!"
"Yes, now she's the computer guru at the Justice League."
"Wow. So, she will do some digging for me, us?"
"Yup. I'm a JL member . . . with benefits."
"Whoa . . . speaking of benefits-
Lana walks over to the credenza, looks in her purse and pulls something out. She walks back to Clark.
"Put your hands out, palms up and close your eyes."
He complies. She drops her keychain into his hands.
"Open your eyes."
He does, looks down, then up at her.
"Keys?"
"My keys. Look at them."
He looks; one has a heart on it.
He looks up at her; she has a smile on her face that he's never seen. She licks her lips.
"Really?" He whispers.
"Really, and right now, my love." She reaches out and takes his hands. He rises from the love seat and follows her to the bedroom.
TBC