Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Smallville, etc.
Summary: Clark has chosen Lana once again. But is she really what he wants? Is Lois really out of his life for good?

Note: Hey all—I'm not watching the current eps, but I kinda have an idea what's happening. I have no idea how the writers are going to handle what they've done, but this is my version if I were writing it. Then again, if I were writing it, Lana would never gotten past the barn door. Just sayin'. This is a very short story and I'll probably be posting Being Mrs. very, very soon. Let me know what you think!!

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The Sum of All These

Chapter 1

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They had decided to try again. Despite the past. Regardless of the future.

She had come back for a reason, and found she couldn't leave. He had thought he let her go, until she'd given him a reason to hold on.

Lana Lang stepped into his new world and felt a bit off kilter. The fast pace, the overwhelming buzz, the general busyness of it all put her on edge.

She didn't know why.

She found him standing by his desk and took a moment to note the change in him. Gone were the jeans and flannel. Plaid seemed to be long forgotten. The often shaggy mess of hair was pushed into submission away from his face. In his dress pants and shirt, he looked…

Well, different. Grown up. No longer a boy full of dreams, he looked every bit the man ready to face reality.

His dark brows where knit in troubled concentration when she approached him.

"Clark?"

Clark glanced up, smiled warmly and accepted her peck on the cheek. "Lana." His frown returned when his gaze almost immediately shifted back to the paper in his hand.

"Are you…ok?" Lana asked, standing on tip toe to see if she could get a glimpse of what had her super guy so engrossed.

"Um…I'm not…sure."

"What is that?"

"Copy that I wrote for a story." Clark distractedly explained. "I just got it back from proofing."

Her eyebrows rose in understanding. "Oh. Did they bleed all over it?"

"No, that's just it." Clark answered as he casually sat on the edge of his desk. He was obviously surprised. "There's not a single change."

A mixture of confusion and amusement spread over her expression. "That's usually a good thing, right?"

"I don't know." Clark shrugged. "I've never had copy come back clean before. Especially not when Lois proofs." He added under his breath.

"She rough on you?" Lana asked with a twinge of edge to her voice.

"Rough?" Clark practically snorted. "Let's just say when Lois Lane proofs, she doesn't bleed, she massacres." Rolling his eyes and shaking his head in mild irritation, his eyes lit up when, just behind Lana, someone greeted them.

"Hey, guys!"

"Chloe!" Clark jumped off his desk. "Just the person I need to see." He shoved the paper in her face. "Take a look at this."

"Uh, ok." Surprised by the greeting, Chloe's eyes narrowed. "What am I doing here?"

"Proofing."

"Ah." Chloe scanned the page and pointed to a few minor changes then handed it back to Clark. "Good stuff there, Kent."

"Thanks." Clark frowned.

Chloe and Lana exchanged glances. Chloe stifled a grin. "Uh, Clark. What's the problem?"

Clark scratched his head in confusion. "I don't know. It just doesn't seem quite…" Sliding over to his desk he dropped into his seat and grabbed a red pencil. His own intense scrutiny began. "There's no way this part would have passed the Lois test." He marked through a section and hurriedly scribbled something. "And this? Please. She'd have my head…"

Chloe and Lana exchanged another glance. This time, it was Lana that spoke. "Clark, come on. I thought we were going to lunch."

"Right." Still engrossed, he slashed through another section then paused. His face scrunched into an apology as he turned to them. "Sorry. Do you mind going ahead? I'll just finish this and join you."

"Sure." Chloe shrugged.

"Ok." Lana agreed, unable to say no to those eyes. "But don't take too long, ok?"

"Sure thing." Clark promised.

Two hours later, Lana Lang was still waiting for his call.

Tbc…