A/N: Thanks for the reviews! They mean so much to me. This is the final chapter in this story, but, per request, I'm going to also write this story from Clark's POV, and also maybe a one-shot of Chloe's reaction to Clark's decision of what to do for Lois. There may also be a sequel, so stay tuned! They should be coming soon. Thanks for reading and please review.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to DC, WB, AlMiles, etc. etc. etc. I only own the story, so please don't take that away from me.

Chapter 12

She could probably find her way to the little yellow farmhouse in her sleep. Even though she only lived there for a little while, a small part of her called it home.

It was nearly two o'clock when she turned down the familiar dirt lane. She wasn't sure why she was going. But she wanted answers. She also wanted to know what suddenly caused Smallville to be so surprising.

Mrs. Kent and Chloe had both told her that he could surprise you when you least expected. Even after all that had happened that week, she still wasn't totally convinced. Sure, he had a few surprises in him, such as the movie and the lilies. Okay, the reappearing picture wasn't so bad either. But she still wasn't sure.

She had thought about going to say something to him about helping her look for the picture. But she didn't think she was ready to hug him again.

She noticed The Kents sure did hug a lot, and it was something she still had to get used to. She could hug Chloe, but that was entirely different. She was a girl and she was her cousin. Growing up a general's daughter, you didn't hug, you saluted. Hugs were foreign to her family.

But he had hugged her. She wasn't entirely sure why he did it, but, without flinching, she hugged him, too. They hugged and it lasted longer than two seconds. And she loved it.

She was quietly thankful he had asked her to come over. Being cooped up in the Talon all day would've been unbearable. She was sure she would've cried again, and she was sick of that.

She pulled her car up to the yellow farmhouse and noticed Chloe's red VW Beetle parked in the driveway. Had Smallville asked Chloe over, too? What was going on?

Turning off the engine and stepping out of the car, she wondered if they were in his loft or the house. She decided to check the house first. Even if they weren't there, she'd still like to say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Kent. She never tired of seeing them. And they were two of only a few people who always seemed happy to see her.

She didn't know what to expect today. She was just following instructions on a note that was supposedly left by him. And how had he gotten in her apartment anyway? She made a mental note to go to the hardware store for that deadbolt and safety lock first thing in the morning.

Slowly climbing the wooden steps to the house, she braced herself for anything. She walked to the screen door and knocked.

"Oh, hey, Lois."

Proof that Mrs. Kent always seemed happy to see her.

She held the door open for Lois who stepped into the kitchen where everyone, it appeared, had gathered and were waiting for her.

Mr. Kent and Chloe sat at the island while Smallville poured himself a glass of milk. Mrs. Kent moved to stand next to her husband.

"Lois, have you eaten? We've already had lunch, but I can whip something up for you, if you like?"

Always a mom. She hadn't had anything to eat, but if she did, she was pretty sure she'd throw up from the nerves. The two cups of coffee this morning were enough.

"No, thanks, Mrs. Kent. I'm fine."

She looked at the four faces. They were all smiling at her. And not just smiles. No, it seemed everyone, including Chloe, had contracted the Kent grin. Now she was really scared.

"Okay, got your note, Smallville. I'm here. So, what's going on?" She paused and looked at each of them. "And what is with the freaky smiles?"

Chloe was the first to move. She got up off the bar stool and stepped closer to Lois. She wrapped her arms tight around her and hugged her.

Sure, Chloe's hugs didn't usually freak her out, but this time something was up.

"I love you, Lois."

Okay…what was going on?

"Uh…you aren't possessed again, are you, Chlo? 'Cause if ya are, I want no part of it this time."

Chloe pulled away, keeping her hands on Lois' shoulders. She still had that goofy smile on her face. She was up to something.

"No, I'm not possessed." She smirked and looked back over her shoulder at Smallville. "I'm just happy."

Okay. She wanted to know what was going on. Someone had to start talking.

"Happy? You sure you don't mean drunk?"

"No, Lois, I'm not drunk. But, unfortunately, I can't stay. I've gotta get back to Metropolis. I just came by to take care of a few things for a friend." She turned and smiled at Clark, who matched her grin. She turned back to Lois, more serious this time. "But, Lois, I just want you to know…that everything will be okay."

Lois softly gasped and gave her cousin a puzzled look. How did she…?

He set his glass of milk on the counter and nodded his head. Now she was not only freaked out, but extremely confused. Was she dying and no one told her?

"Okay, all of you are really starting to creep me out, so if someone doesn't start talking soon…"

"Lois…"

"What, Smallville?"

He smiled and sighed.

"We know this week hasn't been the best for you. That's partly my fault."

She crossed her arms and cocked her hips to one side, waiting for his explanation.

"Okay. You're right. Go on."

He smiled and shook his head.

"So, we've been thinking."

We? Just how many people had he told?

"We? Who's we, Smallville?"

"Chloe, my parents and I."

It was a conspiracy, she just knew it.

Mr. Kent decided to speak up. He hadn't said a word the whole time, which was extremely unusual.

"Yes, and Lois, we want you to know that this is something we all wanted to do, and we were glad to do it."

Again, was she dying? Did she need a kidney? Did one of them need a kidney?

"Glad to do what?" She looked at Smallville. "What's going on?"

He looked at his parents and Chloe. Chloe smiled and grabbed her keys off the island countertop.

"Right. Well, I've gotta get going." She reached for Lois and pulled her into another hug. "Just give me a call later, cuz."

"Okay…sure."

Chloe pulled away and walked toward the door. She stopped, turned around and waved, still grinning like a fool.

"Bye."

"Uh…bye, Chlo."

Lois turned back to Smallville and the Kents. Mrs. Kent walked closer to Lois and hugged her.

"We're gonna go, too, Lois. I wish we could stay, but we've got some things to do."

Mrs. Kent pulled away and smiled. Lois was still confused. The Kents were usually nice to her, but not this nice.

Mr. Kent put his hand on his wife's shoulder and smiled.

"Yeah. And Lois, I know we've said it before, but you're welcome here anytime."

"Okay…thanks, Mr. Kent."

Mrs. Kent grabbed her coat off the chair in the dining room and Mr. Kent ushered her towards the door. She stopped and turned back to Lois.

"Oh, and Lois? It was all Clark's idea."

She smiled as Mr. Kent followed her out the door.

Lois turned to face Smallville, who was leaning back against the kitchen counter, hands stuffed in his pockets, with that stupid grin plastered on his face.

What was he up to? She used to think she could tell what he was thinking. But after this week, she realized she needed to reevaluate him.

"Okay, Smallville. What's going on? What was all your idea?"

He paused for a moment and looked at his feet. He looked back up at her and took a deep breath.

"You wanna go for a ride, Lois?"

A ride? No, she didn't want to go for a ride. She wanted to know what was going on. She wanted to know why Chloe was there and why she had hugged her like it was her last day on earth. She wanted to know what Mrs. Kent meant about it all being his idea. She also wanted answers to questions that she'd had since the picture miraculously returned this morning. She did not want to go for a ride with the farm boy.

"I'm not going anywhere, Smallville, til I find out what's going on."

He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Lois, don't you trust me? It's not like I'm asking you to go see the world with me. It's just a short ride in the truck."

She wasn't sure…she couldn't quite place her finger on it. But she thought, maybe somewhere…she'd heard that before. She shook her head and closed her eyes. If it would get him to explain all of this, then fine.

"Okay, fine. Let's go for a ride in the truck."

His grin widened.

"Okay."

He went to the living room and grabbed his jacket. He threw it on and walked to the door, taking his keys out of the pocket. He stopped and turned to her. She hadn't moved and kept her stance with her arms crossed against her chest.

"Hold up, there, Smallville. Just where is it that we're going exactly?"

He smiled and leaned towards her, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"I can't tell you. It's a surprise."

Of course, it was. Why didn't that surprise her. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Would she later regret this?

"Fine, let's go."

She walked past him out the door, down the steps and to the truck. She opened the passenger door and hopped in. She couldn't figure him out. And it was driving her crazy.

He opened the driver's side door and slid across the seat. She turned to look at him as he started the engine and drove away from the farm. He didn't say a word. He kept his eyes focused on the road. Where were they going?

She should say something. Now would be the perfect opportunity to mention the picture and lilies. After all, that uncomfortable silence was starting to creep its way back in.

She took a deep breath and looked out the window at the corn stalks zipping by.

She was about to say it. About to somehow say thanks. But then, the truck turned off the main highway onto a side road and she realized where they were going. What she didn't understand was why they were going there.

"Uh…Smallville?"

The rest of the question couldn't get out fast enough before they turned in.

He parked the truck and cut the engine. He started to get out when she grabbed his arm.

"Wait a minute! What are we doing at the cemetery, Smallville? Last I checked, it wasn't Halloween, so what's going on?"

He smiled and pushed the door open.

"Come on, Lois. I just thought we'd have a look around."

"A look around?"

He got out of the truck and slammed the door, leaving her sitting there wondering. She rolled her eyes, opened the door and got out. What was he up to? This had better be good.

She followed him over the hill. He could at least let her in on it now. After all she'd been through that week, she thought she at least deserved an explanation.

She thought she recognized where they were. She was certain this was the area where Chloe and her dad had been "buried." This was also where that freak Ginsu boy tried to run her through. Smallville had better start talking.

He stopped and turned to face her as she caught up to him.

"Okay, Smallville. You drag me all the way out here-"

"Lois."

"-without the decency of an explanation. You could at least-"

"Lois."

"-give me some clue as to what we're doing in a-"

"Lois!"

She stopped and looked at him, sounding harsher than she wanted, but with her level of frustration so high, anything less seemed impossible.

"What!"

He grinned and shook his head.

"Do you think you could ever shut up long enough to realize what's right in front of you?"

What?

He pointed to a large brown marble marker next to them. Her mouth fell open and she held her breath as she silently read the inscription.

Everlasting Memorial To
Ellen Joanne Lane

Born August 22, 1956
Died May 8, 1992
Buried in Heidelberg, Germany

Devoted wife of Gen. Samuel Lane
Loving mother of Lois Joanne Lane and Lucy Ellen Lane

Gone but never forgotten

Her glance fell below the last line. There, plastered in an oval in the marble was the picture of her mother and the lilies.

She looked at him. All the events from the past few days came flooding back. But, why? Why would he do this for her? They weren't even friends. Out loud, anyway.

The words wouldn't come. But they had to. If ever she had to speak…

"Clark…I…"

He smiled and stepped closer to her.

"I know, Lois."

He wrapped his arms around her as she pressed her cheek into his warm flannel shirt and turned her head to look at the marker. She raised her arms up and around his torso, pulling him closer to her.

He really could surprise you when you least expected. For the first time in four days she didn't cry. Instead, she smiled. And it was all because of him.

And though she didn't know it then, she'd later realize this was when she began to love him.