Title: The Last Thing
Series: Finding Home. Seventh (and last!) in series.
Author: Christie
Email: tinamishi@yahoo.com
Archive: http://number14.org/precious
Genre: Smallville (Lex/Lana); established relationship, drama, angst
Rating: R (sexual situations, strong language)
Spoilers: General S1 & S2 (nothing overt)
Summary: Is Smallville ready for Lex and Lana? Are Lex and Lana ready
for each other?  Series sequel to Close Quarters.   
Disclaimer: Smallville was created by Millar & Gough.  This story is
non-profit.
Distribution: If you've got Close Quarters, by all means take this.

*

Clark never admitted to anyone that he'd eavesdropped once more on Lex
and Lana.  He'd used his super hearing powers to listen in while they
talked after Lana had woken up.  This is how he came to know that Lana
and Lex had slept together.  This is how he came to know that they
were, indisputably, in love.

He was left with the choice Chloe had posed to him in the hospital
cafeteria nearly three weeks ago.  Was he going to accept this, or was
he going to lose both Lex and Lana?  He still hadn't made up his mind,
and he still hadn't spoken two words to Lex.  They were always around
each other (always around Lana) but never actually interacted.  They
never brought each other coffee; they never nodded a casual greeting in
the hospital corridor.  They pretended the other wasn't there, and it
was beginning to weigh on Clark.  Heavily.

Clark wasn't the older and wiser one in the friendship but even he knew
that the silent treatment was getting a little old.  Lex, for his part,
was the most patient and shrewd person he'd ever known, and Clark knew
that as long as he wasn't saying anything, Lex wasn't about to broach
the subject.

Besides, he was too wrapped up in Lana.  If it was possible, his
presence at the hospital had increased since Lana had woken up.  Clark
was unsure Lex *ever* left.  Perhaps he'd had one of the offices on the
fifth floor turned into a makeshift apartment.  If anyone was capable
of having that done, Lex was.  He took Lana on a walk every day at 3:30
over the hospital grounds.  He oversaw her homework, and used a
messenger service rather than trusting one of Lana's friends to drop
off and pick up assignments.  He had one very important biology lecture
televised and beamed straight into Lana's hospital room.

Lana admitted to Clark that it had mortified her.  

Nell had jumped from one side (Lex Luthor is corrupting my niece!) to
the other (welcome to the family Lex!) and back again so many times
that it seemed to Clark neither Lex nor Lana took her seriously.  Not
that he could blame them.  It was annoying at the very least and even
Clark, who hadn't yet chosen a side, wanted to scream at her to choose
a side.

Chloe solidified all rumors of a possible romance between Lex and Lana
by publishing a large photo of them holding hands in Lana's hospital
room on the front page of the Torch.  She'd insisted it was simply an
article about Lana's accident and subsequent recovery, and claimed she
couldn't get a photo op when Lex wasn't in the room.  Clark suspected
that more people would read the article if Lex was on the front page,
but he didn't go as far as to accuse Chloe of ulterior motives.  He
simply shrugged, and figured that if Lana didn't have a problem with
her personal life being splashed all over campus then he should cease
to have an opinion.

And for her part, Lana seemed (dare he say it?) happy.   She was being
released in a few days, and according to Chloe, going back to the
Luthor guest house to finish her recovery.   Secretly, Clark worried
that he wasn't allowed on Lex's property anymore, and that it would be
nearly impossible to see Lana until she was back at school or the
Talon.  Chloe said he was being ridiculous, but Clark wasn't so sure.  

Clark figured he'd just play it by ear and try not to think about it
too much.  He loved Lana, but he wanted her happy and it seemed that
those two things were not destined to go together anymore.  His mom had
told him once that sometimes you find out if you truly love a person
when they choose to be with someone other than you.  Clark couldn't
bring himself to be *happy* just yet, but he still loved Lana no matter
who she chose to date or not date.  That had been true since Whitney,
and would be true long after Lex.

Clark wondered if maybe one day, far in the future when Lex and Lana
were proving everyone wrong and really lasting forever, he'd stop
having those kinds of traitorous thoughts about his friends.  He
wondered if he'd ever think that they were truly meant to be.  Because
right now, if he were strapped to a lie detector, he'd have to say no. 
Chloe told him those kinds of things didn't matter; nothing anyone
thought mattered, because Lex and Lana knew what was going on and no
one else would ever truly understand.  Clark tried to wrap his mind
around that: that Lex and Lana had lives that he would never really be
a part of.  

He couldn't.

*

It occurred to Lex that it might be a little strange to drive with Lana
in the car again, considering what had happened the last time.  He'd
brought his Range Rover to the hospital on the day she was to be
released, the largest and most sturdy vehicle he owned.  Pulling away
from the turnaround in front of the hospital, Lex spared the thought
that size and sturdiness aside, it didn't handle as well as his Aston
Martin.

When Lana was settled in the guest house, Henry asked Lex to walk out
to his car with him.  Lex innately knew that there was nothing friendly
about the invitation, that Henry was not going to thank him for his
steadfast conviction and dedication in making sure his daughter
recovered as quickly and as wholly as possible.  In fact, Lex had a
feeling the conversation would be exactly the opposite of that. 
Considering the family history between the Smalls and the Luthors; no
contact was ever amiable.

"Lana's sixteen, Lex," Henry said as soon as the guest house door shut
behind them.  

Lex would have been content with listening to the crunch of their shoes
on the gravel for a while as they walked toward the main drive where
Henry's car was parked, but better to get things out in the open as
soon as possible, he supposed.  He stopped and turned to face Henry. 
He liked to look people in the eye as often as possible while he was
arguing with them; it helped him keep the upper hand because he liked
to think he had a pretty damn good poker face.  Lex didn't say anything
in return.  Stating Lana's age was rhetorical as far as he was
concerned.  He slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked back on
his heels.

Henry had no problem keeping Lex's gaze, and Lex was reminded that as
gentle as he seemed with Lana, Henry Small was as ruthless a
businessman as the Luthor's were, he just maintained loftier moral
standards that Lex saw as unnecessary and insincere.

"She's my biological daughter, and I see no reason why she should live
in your guest house when I can provide a stable home for her."

Lex shifted.  This wasn't entirely unexpected.  His hands came out of
his pockets and he crossed them over his chest.  "Have you asked Lana
if she wants to do that?"

Henry chuckled.  "You see, Lex, I think you keep forgetting that Lana
is sixteen."  He put special emphasis on the word sixteen, bolding and
underlining it with his tone.  "These kinds of things aren't usually up
to the teenager."

Lex felt his lips turn upward into a smirk.  "I am aware she's
sixteen," he said, emphasizing sixteen just as Henry had.  "I am also
her legal guardian when Nell is in Metropolis.  She holds down a steady
job, doesn't miss a day of school and makes excellent grades.  Try to
find me a judge or arbitrator that considers that a harmful alternative
environment."

"Tell me, Lex.  What did your lawyer put in those guardianship
contracts about sleeping with the minor?"  Henry's voice was hard as
nails and it socked Lex right in the gut.  He blinked, but refused to
back down, refused to be called out in front of his own home by a man
who, for all intents and purposes, was the epitome of a has-been in the
business world.

"You have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Small," Lex told him,
and turned abruptly toward the castle.  

Henry's arm on Lex's shoulder surprised him.  "What would Lana tell
me," he said, voice colder than the air surrounding them, "if I asked
her about the nature of your relationship?"

Lex turned slowly, shrugging Henry's hand off of him.  He kept his
voice low and even when he said, "don't touch me."

Henry continued as if Lex hadn't said a word.  "You have no problem
lying.  You'll stand there and tell me you're not sleeping with my
daughter without blinking an eye.  But Lana…" he clicked his tongue to
the roof of his mouth.  "Lana doesn't, does she?   She'll tell me if I
ask her, and you'll be lucky not to be brought up on statutory rape
charges when all is said and done."

"The age of consent -- "  Lex began.  

Henry emitted a sharp, acrid laugh.  "I'm aware of the law, Mr. Luthor.
 I'm also aware of ways around the law, and frankly I'm sickened by
your audacity to take advantage of someone so young."

Now it was Lex's turn to bark out a harsh chuckle.  "Have you *met*
your daughter, Mr. Small?  You keep referring to her as a
sixteen-year-old girl, when it might be more accurate to give her
credit for being an intelligent, independent young woman.  Using her as
a pawn in your little personal battle against the Luthor's is only
going to drive her away from you."

"And straight to you, I presume?"

Lex shrugged.  He pushed out a breath and saw it surface as a muted
puff of warm air in front of him.  

Henry chuckled low in his throat.  "She doesn't love you, Lex.  She's a
teenage girl.  She sees power and respect and money.  She sees you as
the guy who invested in that coffee house when she asked you to and
anted up a place to live when there was nowhere else to go.  She's
blinded by what you've done for her, Lex.  It's not about you at all. 
Don't you get that?"

There were a thousand things Lex could have said in return to take
Henry Small down a peg or two, but it happened to be an argument about
Lana and if there was any time to take the high road, Lex figured this
was probably it.  Instead, he kept his eyes cold and hard until he
could barely stand to look at the man who was Lana's father anymore. 
Lex put his hand on the back of his neck and turned away, fully intent
on walking straight to the castle doors and going inside.  He heard the
gravel beneath Henry's shoes crunch as he turned as well and started
heading for his car.

On a whim, Lex turned back.  "I'll allow you on the property as long as
Lana's still recovering," Lex said, smiling a little when Henry stopped
in mid-stride.  "But once she's back on her feet, you're going to have
to arrange to see her elsewhere."

Without looking back, Lex turned and headed inside.

*

Lana hadn't slept in Lex's bed before.  But now that she had, she was
convinced she wasn't ever going back to her own.  Lex's bed was huge,
for starters.  She could lay in it horizontally and still not even come
close to either end.  His sheets were satin, at least for today, and a
burgundy color so deep and rich she felt like she'd jumped into a pool
of expensive wine.

When Lex came in carrying a cup of tea, he laughed and Lana realized
she must have that expression on her face again.   The cat that ate the
canary, Lex had said.

"I think you're starting to get used to the good life," he teased,
sitting down on the edge of the mattress and handing her the tea. 
"Julie wants to know if you'll just be moving in here."

Lana grinned a little and sipped the warm, sweet liquid.  Whoever made
the tea in this place certainly had the touch.  She let it surround her
tongue for a moment before swallowing it down.  "My aunt said to get as
much rest as I possibly can," she said coyly.  "I happen to rest better
here with you."

She shivered a little despite the warmth of the tea that was settling
into her belly when Lex reached out and stroked a hand down her face. 
"How are you feeling?"

The concern in his voice was palpable.  Lana bit her lip and looked
down at her lap.  All of the attention she'd been getting lately,
especially from Lex was, she had to admit, overwhelming.

"I'm okay," she said truthfully, letting him draw her eyes back to his
with a gentle fingertip under her chin.  She smiled.  "Really, I'm
feeling a lot better."

It was the truth, as much as she could explain it.  She got headaches
sometimes, and woke up bathed in sweat occasionally at night.  But he
knew all that.  Her ribs had healed, cuts and bruises faded back into
smooth, porcelain skin.  Lex leaned forward and brushed a kiss across
her forehead.

He seemed about to say something when the intercom on the nightstand
buzzed.  Lex depressed a button and Julie's voice crackled through.

"Clark Kent is here.  He's waiting in the study."

Lana raised her eyebrows when Lex simply said, "thanks, tell him I'll
be right down."

"You're going to talk to him?" she asked.

Lex shrugged.  "We're probably going to have to talk sometime, don't
you think?"  He punctuated the statement with a wry smile that Lana
couldn't help but smile back at.  She knew Lex had no qualms with
Clark, but that Clark wasn't going to be so forgiving.

"Be nice," Lana said teasingly.

Lex leaned forward and kissed her again.  "Get some rest," he said
sincerely.  When he stood up, he turned back at the doorway.  "And I'm
always nice."

*

Clark looked skittish.  There was no other way to describe it.  He was
at the pool table, picking up balls randomly and rolling them across
the felt.  Probably for no other reason but to have something to do
while he waited.

Lex put on an easy smile as he entered the study.

"Clark."

The boy turned and immediately opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. 
Thinking before he says a word, Lex thought, and didn't deem that a bad
idea.  Especially given their last several conversations.

"Lex," he said back, voice dropping an octave lower than usual.

Lex reached down to his mini refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of
water.  "Want something to drink?"

Clark shook his head unevenly.  Lex knew he was here to see Lana, and
knew he probably wasn't quite sure how to say that.  Still, Clark was
perfectly capable of expressing himself and definitely wouldn't hurt
for some practice.

"What can I do for you?" he asked genially.

Clark's gaze went back to the pool table.  "I went by the guest house
to check on Lana," he said, still staring at the red felt.  "She wasn't
there so I figured I'd check here."

Lex nodded though Clark wasn't watching him, and took a long sip of his
water.  "She's here," he said simply.  "She's resting.  I thought you
and I could talk."

Clark looked like he had put one of the pool balls in his mouth and
swallowed it.  His eyes darted from Lex to the door and back again, a
gesture Lex found amusing.  It was something he often did when he was
subjected to a visit from his father.  Calculating how long it would
take to rush to the door and make a break for it.

"Its okay, Clark," Lex said.  "I'm done fighting with you, I thought we
could discuss this like adults."

'Discuss' was an overstatement, purely thrown out there as a white flag
in hopes that Clark would surrender as well.  Lex had no intention of
giving Clark any choice in whether or not he continued to see Lana,
just as he had no intention of giving Henry Small a choice, or anyone
else who had a problem with it.  It just seemed the fraternal thing to
do; let Clark think he was part of the process, rather than just an
outsider looking in with no power to do anything about what he was
seeing.

Which was actually the case.

Still, Lex had enough experience with placating people to know that
this was the best way to go.

Clark nodded reluctantly, probably realizing that there was no escape. 
Lex doubted he thought talking was a good idea, although enough time
had gone by that Lex had to assume that Clark had at least put *some*
thought into what was going on and formed an opinion.  'Taken a side'
as Chloe had so elegantly put it to him one afternoon.

"Regardless of what you think I'm capable of," Lex began, setting the
water on his desk and taking several steps closer to Clark, "I do love
Lana."

"I know."

This surprised Lex; more than somewhat.  He pursed his lips, waiting
for Clark to elaborate.  Clark didn't, and Lex was honestly at a loss.

"Oh."

Whether Clark could sense that the power in the room had shifted or
not, Lex wasn't sure.  But it had, and it made Lex uncomfortable. 
Clark simply shrugged and finally brought his eyes up to meet Lex's.

"I'm trying really hard to understand how it all happened," he said.  

It was the most honest thing Lex thought he had heard Clark say in a
long time.  Lex felt marginally guilty because he knew how Clark felt
about Lana, and still he jumped in head first anyway.  He knew that was
primarily why Clark was angry.  But it was how Lex operated, always had
been.  Clark hadn't taken his shot, and Lex found himself falling, so
he did the only thing he knew.  He went for it.

"I don't know how it happened, either," Lex said candidly.  "I told you
before, I didn't go after Lana simply because you had feelings for
her."

Clark shifted and returned his gaze to the pool table.  He leaned
against it, fingers splaying against the wooden edge.  "I know," he
said quietly.

"I hope we can find some way to coexist," Lex said.  "Your friendship
isn't any less important to me than it was before."

"I know," Clark said again.

Lex waited.  Clark seemed to have it figured out.  He just didn't seem
to like what he'd figured.  Welcome to the trials and tribulations of
the average American teenager, Lex thought wryly.

Clark looked at him so suddenly, Lex was taken aback.  He picked up the
water and sipped it again, simply for something to do while Clark
studied him.

"Don't hurt her, Lex."

A statement like that would have normally been funny to Lex.  It
sounded so contrived, so movie-cliché.  But Clark was earnest, and
there was such sincerity behind the words that Lex couldn't bring
himself to find the humor in it this time.  He nodded instead.

"I'm trying my damndest not to," he said with equal sincerity.

Clark seemed to be satisfied with this.  He nodded.  Pushed a breath
out.  It seemed to lift him a little, like a huge weight was suddenly
taken from his shoulders.  Lex figured now was as good a time as any to
bring their friendship back to the fore.  He slipped his hands into his
pockets and his eyes strayed to the papers atop his desk.

Henry Small's petition for guardianship of Lana.

"Henry Small petitioned a judge for a hearing," Lex said suddenly. 
There was no rhyme or reason to tell Clark this, but it would be nice
to get off of his chest.  Lex knew he should have told Lana, but he had
already put a counter offer into motion and was now hoping he might
never have to.

Clark looked up sharply, brows furrowed.  "For what?"

"Guardianship of Lana while Nell is in Metropolis," Lex said.  He
shrugged his shoulders at Clark's surprised look.  "To be honest with
you, I guess I'm surprised he didn't do it sooner."

Clark shook his head.  He seemed to be trying to digest the
information.  "Well, what's going to happen?"

Lex shrugged again.  "I put a counter-offer on the table," he said
casually.  "I'm waiting to hear back from Henry."

"What's that mean, a counter-offer?"

A lopsided grin split Lex's lips.  He studied Clark before speaking. 
"Mr. Small was going to have me brought up on statutory rape charges,
so I looked into his past to see if there was anything I could play
hardball with."

Clark hesitated.  A myriad of expressions crossed his face before he
finally said, "did you find something?"

Lex raised his eyebrows.  He expected something from Clark, but not
that.  "Of course I did, Clark," he said evenly.  "Everyone's got
something."

Clark looked uncomfortable.  He moved around the pool table.  "So
what's going to happen now?"

Lex shrugged.  "I wait," he said.  "Are you hungry?"

The gaze that met Lex's was startled at the shift in conversation. 
Clark stumbled over a few words before nodding sheepishly.  "Sure."

Lex smiled and led the way out of the study.  "Lets see what they have
going on in the kitchen," he said over his shoulder.  From the corner
of his eye, he glimpsed Clark shove his hands into his pockets before
following him out of the room.  Power had shifted back.  Lex was
comfortable again.

*

The papers were right there, out in the open for God and everyone to
see.  Lana picked them up and read them again, as if they might say
something remotely different than the first three times she'd read
them.

They didn't, and she resisted the urge to slam them back onto the desk.
 She set them as gently as possible and turned away completely, gazing
out the stained glass window to the corn field beyond.

She didn't know how long she stood there, or what exactly she thought
about; the only thing she knew for certain was that she was equal parts
angry at both Lex and Henry.

"Lana?"

Lex's voice startled her and she turned, arms still crossed over her
chest.  The smile that split Lex's face didn’t improve her mood even a
little bit.  It faded to cautious concern when he said, "it's good to
see you up and around."

Lana only shrugged.  Her eyes flitted to the set of three papers
stapled together on the top of his desk.  She picked it up and held it
between two fingers, as if it were poison.  "What's this?"

Lex cocked his head slightly to read the text printed on the page. 
When he realized what it was, he reached out and took it from her, as
if he might keep her from reading it, again.  Too late, Lana wanted to
say.  By the fourth time, it's practically memorized.

"Henry Small petitioned a judge to revoke my guardianship over you on
the grounds that you have a biological parent in town," Lex said
calmly.

Lana appreciated his honesty.  Now.  "Why didn't you tell me this?"

Lex looked at the papers once more then threw them face down on the
desk.  "I got the papers yesterday."

"But you knew," Lana said, suddenly too restless to just stand there. 
She rounded the desk.  "You knew he was going to do this."

"He threatened it the day you got out of the hospital," Lex admitted. 
Lana felt his eyes following her around the room.  "I honestly thought
he would talk to you first."

Lana stopped moving, her hand gripping the back of a chair.  She turned
her eyes to the floor.  "He did talk to me," she admitted softly.  
When she looked back at Lex, he was taken aback.  

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was an argument," Lana said quickly.  "About you.  Not the first
one we've had.  He asked me to move in with him and I declined.  He
asked about our relationship and whether -- "  Lana stopped.  She felt
a blush heating her cheeks.

"Whether or not we'd slept together," Lex supplied gently.  Lana was
surprised to find him closer; she hadn't' realized he'd moved.  He was
practically at her back now, his hands gently pressing on either
shoulder blade.

"That was going to be his case to the judge.  That our relationship is
inappropriate.  He threatened to have me brought up on statutory rape
charges."

When Lana turned to Lex, she felt the tears burning against her eyelids
and didn't bother to brush them away.  "Why would he do this to me,
Lex?" she asked, grateful when he drew her into his arms and held her
tightly.  His shirt was soft and she inhaled its familiar scent,
immediately feeling safer.  "It doesn't seem fair.  That petition has
places for you, Nell, Henry and a witness to sign.  But not me. 
Nowhere in those papers does it ask my opinion."

During Lex's long hesitation, Lana felt the muscles in his back tense
and relax several times.  She began to pull away from him, but he held
her fast, resting his chin atop her head.

"I've done what I can to make sure that nothing changes," he finally
said, now allowing Lana to pull slightly back and look up at him.  She
saw something in his eyes that wasn't there when he was with her -- but
it wasn't entirely unfamiliar.  She'd seen him look that way while on
the phone with business associates, or while hammering out a
particularly hairy deal in a conference call.  He was harder, somehow
*more* like Lex but less like him too.

"Yes, I'd say he certainly has."  Henry Small's voice startled them
both from the doorway.  Lana let go and Lex immediately stepped
forward.

"Mr. Small.  I'm surprised to see you here.  I assume this means you
got my counter offer?"

Henry's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.  Lana barely recognized him
as the same man.  "I saw it as blackmail, but you say potato, I
suppose."

"Blackmail?" Lana asked, hearing a tremble in her voice that she wasn't
aware would be there.  She walked around Lex then turned to look at
him.  "What is he talking about?"

Lex looked past Lana for another moment before softening his gaze and
focusing on her.  She felt his concern and love for her, but confidence
energized his entire stature and this was a different Lex.  A harder,
more dangerous Lex.

"You know I'm always going to take care of you and do what I have to do
to make you happy," he said earnestly.  He'd lowered his voice and Lana
knew only she was meant to hear, but Henry had stepped further into the
room and closed the space between them considerably.  His hand appeared
on Lex's shoulder.

"Lex.  I'd really rather keep Lana out of this."

Lex raised his eyebrows and turned fractionally, gaze traveling down to
the offending hand on his person.  "I said don't do that," he
practically growled, and Lana bristled at his tone.  "This concerns
Lana as much as it does either of us," Lex continued.

Henry released his hand from Lex's shoulder, but cut him off with a
sharp laugh.  "Please spare us, Lex.  This is between you and I."

Now Lana's gaze was drawn to Henry.  She felt like she was locked in a
cage with two very large, and very territorial jungle cats, circling
each other, waiting for the opportunity to pounce.  Frustration built
up in every corner of her being, and Lana honestly felt like she might
burst if she wasn't able to catch her breath and just *think*.

"Uh, hey."  Clark drew all three pairs of eyes to the entryway of the
study, where he stood nervously, hands shoved into his jeans pockets. 
"I was hoping to see Lana."  His eyes strayed primarily to Lex, who,
Lana noticed, shook his head minutely.

"Clark, this isn't a good time."

Lana expelled a heavy breath from her lungs and walked past both Henry
and Lex.  "No, this is a great time.  You both are giving me a
headache."  

She pulled Clark with her as she left the study, headed through the
Great Hall and into the foyer.  It wasn't until she was halfway to the
front door that she remembered to inhale and begin to breathe again. 
She blinked, and found her eyes filling with tears.  Clark released her
hand but put both of his on her shoulders and stooped down to look her
in the eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Lana heard a bitter chuckle escape her lips.  She looked upward, toward
the towering ceiling and the beautiful crystal chandelier that Lex had
told her once belonged to Catherine the Great and was valued close to
six million dollars.  She blinked against the refractions of light the
thousands of tiny gems cast, and felt the lump in her throat begin to
melt away.

"I'm okay," she finally said, bringing her head back down and smiling
slightly at Clark's worried expression.  "Henry petitioned a judge for
guardianship of me."

Clark nodded, not seeming at all surprised.  Lana narrowed her eyes. 
"You knew…?"

A slight blush tinted his cheeks, and his eyes swept the floor in a
gesture Lana wasn't at all unfamiliar with.  "I talked to Lex
yesterday.  He told me what was going on."

Lana wasn't sure what to do with that.  Clark put it there, out in the
air between them as if it was supposed to make any sense at all.  She
shook her head.  "So you and Lex are not only speaking again but
conspiring already?"

Clark laughed nervously.  "No conspiracy, Lana.  He told me what was
going on.  I think he wanted to get it off his chest."

It should have been unbearably simple to understand, but Lana's head
was swimming.  It seemed that too many things were happening at once. 
She wanted to ask Clark a dozen questions.  She wanted to know what the
heck was going on in her life and why she was always the last to know
everything.  She wanted peace of mind; something she felt she'd lost
from the moment she and Lex kissed in the limo after the football game
in Metropolis.

God, that seemed like a million years ago.

"Do you know what Henry meant when he said Lex blackmailed him?"

Lana had to admit, she was surprised that was the question that came to
the fore.  Maybe she hadn't realized how much it bothered her; she
tried to reason that she knew a lot about Lex Luthor, and one of the
things she knew unequivocally was that she was never going to know
*everything* about Lex Luthor.  And some things, people had told her,
she probably wouldn't *want* to know.

Maybe this was one of them.  But still, she had to ask.

Clark only nodded slightly.  He'd unclasped her shoulders but was still
standing close, looking at her as if she might fall at any moment and
he'd have to be ready to catch her.  

"Lex described it as playing hardball.  That's all,"  Clark said.

Lana shifted on the balls of her feet impatiently.  "And that means…?"

"He dug up some information on some cases Henry took on in Metropolis. 
I don't know the details, but Lex said it could hurt his squeaky clean
reputation here in Smallville as the lawyer for the land and the
people.  Apparently it was stuff Henry didn't want resurfacing from his
past."

Lana shook her head and looked around the foyer.  She'd seen it a
million times, probably had every piece of furniture and artwork
memorized in her subconscious, but still she looked.  Simply for
something else to do.  Simply to buy time to figure this out.

Clark began speaking again, and Lana had to force herself to focus. 
"Lex only did it because Henry was going to tell the judge that you and
he…" he trailed off, his cheeks coloring an even deeper shade of red
than before.

Lana's mind kicked into overdrive.  "Henry was going to tell the judge
that Lex and I slept together?"

"It was more than that," Clark said, voice low.  "He was going to bring
Lex up on statutory rape charges.  I guess the biological father of a
teenage girl can do that and -- "

"Oh my god."

Clark was looking at her like she might fall over again.  This time,
Lana was entirely convinced that it was a possibility.  She hoped he
had quick reflexes.  When she had made the decision to make love to
Lex, nothing in her mind had ever considered the possibility that there
might be ramifications for him.  Not legal ones, anyway.  And it was
funny that her brain just shut off that kind of concern, because she
distinctly remembered when she'd first moved into the guest house being
very concerned with Lex's role as her temporary legal guardian and what
that meant she could and couldn't do without his permission.

Lana didn't want to feel that the night in the stables had been a
mistake.  Not the entire night, anyway.  Lana wanted her beautiful,
blissful memories of being in Lex's arms, and feeling him against her
and in her and *through* her.  She wanted them to stay pure, now they
felt tainted.  Her father was going to use that moment, one of the most
important of her life, and throw it out there for all the world to see
and judge.

Angry didn't even begin to cover it.

"I can't believe this," she heard herself say.  

Clark's nod was blurry in her eyes.  Lana backed up and sat in a chair
she was convinced no one ever sat in.  It was probably priceless and
belonged to someone important somewhere in Europe a long time ago, but
she honestly didn't care.

"Please don't worry about this," Clark said.

It was an honorable attempt, but Lana only laughed weakly.  "I just --
I thought things were going so well between Henry and me."

Clark knelt down, placing a hand on either side of the chair.  "It's
just Henry's way of trying to get to Lex.  He doesn't like him.  You
knew that from the start.  Lex didn't want you to have to be in the
middle -- "

"But I'm the only thing they have in common," Lana interrupted.  She
was surprised at the bitter, hard edge to her voice.  It wasn't a tone
she used often.  "I want to love my father, and I want to build a
relationship with him, but I love Lex.  That's not going to change no
matter how bad he wants it to."

Silence enveloped the entire foyer, seeming to hover specifically
around the two in the corner until it was nearly oppressing them.  Lana
sucked in a breath, hearing her words echoing in her mind and realizing
how closely they applied to Clark.

"I'm sorry…" 

Clark shook his head quickly.  "No.  It's okay.  I mean, I'm coming to
terms with this and I know Henry will too, eventually."

Lana smiled sadly at her friend.  She wanted to reach out, touch his
face and tell him that things would never change between them. But she
didn't.  She knew deep down that they had, and no matter how much time
went by, things would never be exactly the same as they once were. 

Change, Nell told her once, was that way.  It always came, no matter if
you wanted it to or not.  Sometimes it was painful, sometimes it was
beautiful, but most of the time it was both.

"Look, Lana," Clark said, shifting in the overwhelming silence.  "We
had our chance and it didn't work out.  It's okay.  I mean, the most
important thing is that we're friends.  I don't want to lose that."

"Thanks, Clark," Lana said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. 
She leaned forward to embrace him.  "You're one of my best friends and
I don't want to lose that," she said quietly, face buried in his neck. 
"I don't want to lose you."

It was Clark who was genuinely grinning when they separated.  "So, how
are you feeling?  Physically, I mean."

Lana tilted her head to the right and the left, as if to say so-so. 
"Better, I guess.  I hope I can go back to school soon.  If there's one
person you *don't* want home schooling you it's Lex Luthor."

Clark laughed.  "Tough, huh?"

"You have no idea," Lana said, rolling her eyes.  She bit down on her
bottom lip, considering, then shifted and let Clark help her out of the
chair.  "Want to go for a walk?" she asked.  "I think I'm feeling up to
it."

Clark's hand was on the front door handle when Henry strode into the
foyer.  Lana turned toward him and crossed her arms over her chest.  He
walked past her and pulled open the door Clark wasn't blocking.  Before
he stepped outside, he turned and looked imploringly at Lana.  She felt
her heart do a double flip.

"Just be careful, Lana.  That's all I ask."

Without another word, he was gone.  Lana wasn't sure whether to be
relieved or disappointed.  She was pretty sure she was both.  Lex
walked in as the door closed behind Henry, stoic expression masking his
face, hands stuffed deep into his pockets.

"He dropped the petition," he said gruffly.

Clark cleared his throat.  "I should go."

Lana blinked at him and managed a weak smile as he pulled the door
open.  "Rain check on the walk?" she asked.

Clark smiled, then looked over her head at Lex and nodded.  Lana waited
for the door to completely close behind him before she walked toward
Lex and put her arms around his waist.

She felt him release a breath, and his hands went from his pockets and
sunk into her hair.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

Lana held him tighter.  She breathed in the familiar scent of him,
relished in the soft cashmere of the pullover sweater he wore.  She
felt the muscles in his back begin to release their tension and soften
beneath her fingers.  Working her palms from his shoulders to his waist
and back again, she held on until his heart had stopped hammering in
his chest and when she pulled back to look at him, his eyes were no
longer hard and cold and glittering like ice.

"Don't apologize," she said earnestly, offering up a small smile.  "I
understand why you did what you did.  And I understand that there are
going to be times when I *don't* understand why you do what you do. 
I'm okay with it.  All of it."

The expression on Lex's face was one of pleasant surprise.  He leaned
down and kissed Lana chastely on the lips before pulling back and
brushing her hair from her shoulder.  "You really amaze me, you know
that?"

Lana shrugged.  "I'm just glad that I don't have to leave.  And I'll
work things out with Henry, I'm sure of it."

Lex watched her for a while.  It seemed to Lana that he was studying
her, memorizing her for some purpose she couldn't quite decipher.  When
she started to feel a heat creep into her cheeks at his intense
examination, he blinked, as if he wasn't even aware he'd been doing it.

"You always have a home here," he said simply, and leaned down to kiss
her again.  This time it wasn't chaste, but warm and soft and inviting.
 Lana felt herself begin to melt until her back hit the unforgiving
wood of the front door.  Lex pulled back and Lana grinned.

"What are you smiling like a maniac about?" he asked teasingly.

Lana pushed herself away from the door and stood on her tip toes,
wrapping her arms around Lex's neck.  "I have a man willing to go to
the mattress for me," she said simply.

Lex's lips split into a lavicious grin.  He bent down and scooped her
into his arms, making his way back through the foyer and in the general
direction of his bedroom.  "You also have a man willing to go to the
mattress *with* you," he growled, leaning down once more to capture her
lips in a searing kiss.

END.
16 Feb 2002

A/N: Thanks again to everyone who supported this series after Close
Quarters.  It was a little bit of a ride, but I really appreciate
everyone's comments and enthusiasm throughout.  Special mention to the
girls at DTS who have been my own personal cheering section no matter
what I chose to subject them to.  "It's all about subtext, baby!  Woot!"

=====
http://number14.org