Disclaimer- If I owned anything to do with Superman and Lois or the CW, there'd be a fifth season.

Title: Best Friend

Summary: You can sometimes things to your best friend, that you can't your spouse. A little Clark and Lana, after episode 5, season 4

Clark heard Lana's feet hit the gravel in the driveway and leaned his shovel against the doorframe. Lois finally allowed him to do some chores around the barn, and he took full advantage of that enjoying the fall sunshine. He pulled his black T-shirt over his head, and took his glasses from the ledge.

"It's habit," he explained. His home was the one place he didn't have to pretend any longer, but he still felt better with the glasses. Lana acknowledged with a nod. He poured coffee from the carafe and they went out to the porch where she sat on one of the beach chairs. He leaned against the railing, taking a deep breath of warm fall air.

"I forgot how beautiful it was out here," she remarked.

"That's one thing that's stayed the same, even if the rest of feels like it changed,"

Lana sipped her coffee wondering where to go with that statement. It seemed like one minute he told her his true identity, the next he was dead. And now he was back, and it made her head spin.

"Not our friendship," she assured him.

A slow, unsure smile spread across his face; the man of steel had confidence issues. "Thank you for saying that. I know we haven't had a chance to talk through it…" her hand went up to stop the rambling.

"I'm really over it. The shock has worn off, and seeing now what you're up against, a degree of secrecy makes sense. And now with both boys turning out to have inherited their father's abilities, it's the right thing."

The grin reappeared, and reached the eyes. "That might be the biggest surprise of them all. It all seems easier for Jon, than it was for me at that age,"

"You were an awful lot more awkward than him at the age. I remember the sweaty palms when you showed up to ask me to prom. And that stutter was cute, but it took forever to get a complete sentence out. Jon has a way with girls, and he grew up with you. Even if he didn't know, he probably picked up a lot from you about how to behave. It is the quiet ones after all."

"You were just as awkward when Sam came with the army. You couldn't even look at me,"

"I should've put it together then. You, and Lois were always together. But, you were my favourite celebrity. I was completely blinded by that. I wasn't looking for my best friend." they both laughed at that, which faded to the easy silence.

Clark moved to the bench staring out at the farm. It was hard not to be proud of his boys, and how they'd helped each other, and Lois while he'd been gone. He dropped his guard, remembering this was Lana, and he had no secrets from her anymore. "Sam's heart is beating in my chest," he said.

Her smile dropped, that's what bothered him. "The man tried to kill me more than once, disapproved of our marriage, and suddenly it's his heart beating in my chest. The kids have no grandfather, and Lois has no father. While I'm here, saving the world like it's just another Tuesday." He turned his gaze down at the wooden railing. The guilt came and went in waves; he was sure Lois would at one point start blaming him for her father's actions.

"You know well that parents will do anything for their children. You've pretty much made your side job, an open secret here in Smallville, in order to allow the boys to have as normal life as they could. Lois, and the boys needed you more, and he saw that. It was a done deal by the time her and Jon went back to the base," Lois told her about Sam's death the day after it happened.

Screams of joy took over the skies, as they both looked upwards. Clark's smile widened again. "A chip off the old block," he said. It was hard not to smile in answer.

"Did you imagine a life like this?" Lana was honestly curious.

"No. When I made the decision to use my powers to help people, I knew I couldn't bring someone I cared about into it. There was too much of a risk to their safety, and whatever children we had," his gaze went skyward again. Finding Lois was fate, and luck. I love her more every day."

"Hashtag couple goals," He looked at her, a question on his face.

"Oh, it's something I heard Sarah say once. Speaking of, now that they are clearly back, I should take my daughter home." Lana replied

"Did you see how high I went," Jon landed on Jordan's left. "Show-off," he muttered, and Jon hit him up the back of the head.

"Be nice Jordan," Clark admonished playfully. Sarah pulled Jordan over to her mother's car, and they kissed.

"Keep practicing, just quieter so you don't draw attention to yourself."

"Yes dad," he took off again, and Lana watched her friend looking after his son; a smile on his face.

"I think you should live in the moment," Lana said. She clicked the seatbelt closed, and drove off. Clark included a second chance at their friendship as another thing he had to be thankful for.