Aereopagitica: Monday [10-23]

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana got into work a little early since she'd had trouble sleeping. Lex's visit had been troubling, even though at their last handwavy meeting he'd told her that she would always have a place to stay at the mansion. She couldn't help wondering when the other shoe would fall. Especially since he'd also said that, legal guardian or not, he intended to continue his involvement with her schooling until she was out of college.

At least he was gone now. And Jim had been a real trooper through the whole ordeal. She'd have to do something really nice for him to thank him.

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[sensethevisions]

After class and her visit to Vice Principal Pierce's office, Phoebe decided to go catch up with Lana since they hadn't seen each other at all over the weekend.

"So I'm thinking that the next parents thing that happens here, we head to bermuda for the weekend."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana sighed. "Maybe get Cole to shimmer us far, far away? That would be nice. How did yours go?"

[sensethevisions]

"Prue threw Cole into a wall."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana winced. "Poor Cole. What happened?"

[sensethevisions]

"I uhm... told her the truth."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"And she didn't take it very well, obviously," Lana said, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry, Pheebs."

[sensethevisions]

"Well, she'll have to deal. I love him and he loves me." She shrugged. "Oh... and my father showed up."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Your dad? Phoebe..." Lana's eyes widened. "But didn't he...? You mean he just showed up randomly after all this time?"

She hesitated. "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "Just suddenly out of the blue. Wanted to tell me about the women in my family. I explained that he was a little too late on that."

She bit her lip.

"He seems to like Cole."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's something at least," Lana said. "I'm... happy for you?"

[sensethevisions]

"Lana, I'm confused. I'm glad he's back... but I guess I'm still shocked about it."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "I know what you mean. I found out over Christmas break that the man I'd always believed was my father wasn't and this guy I'd never met before was."

[sensethevisions]

"Wow." Phoebe said, leaning against the counter. "Before I say anything else, how was yours?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana shrugged. "Lex accused Jim of only staying with me to save his own skin and had had him investigated. He wants me to move back to Smallville - preferably dating Clark Kent."

She sighed. "And I'm worried that if I don't do what he says that I won't be welcome there again, which will mean no home anywhere. So... I'm working on adjusting to the thought of not having a home, because I'm not doing what he wants."

[sensethevisions]

"You will always have a home with me, so don't that thought worry you, okay."

She frowned. "And how dare he! You're 18. Jim is a nice guy, I certainly would have been able to tell if he wasn't and I so want to meet Lex now."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana managed a smile. "Thanks, Phoebe. It's still... I mean, I don't know that I'd ever want to go back to live in Smallville, but to not even have a place to stay..."

"And yeah, Jim's a really great guy," Lana said, "But Lex... I don't think you'd like him very much. On the other hand, he's been really great to me."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Billy had thought long and hard about this before coming to see Lana. And now here he was.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana smiled at him. "Hi, Billy. What can I do for you?"

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Hey Lana. I uh, there's something, that's been bothering me, since the first day I met you. Something that, I feel I should tell you."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana looked at him curiously. "Okay..."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Billy took a deep breath. "I'm, not an orphan. Both my parents are alive, or, were last I heard."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana looked a little confused. "But you... Why would you tell me they were dead before?"

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"It's, well it's part of a cover story. I'm, I'm not a foster kid. I'm in witness protection."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana could feel her breath catch. "Oh, Billy," she said feeling hopeless. "I'm so sorry. That must be terrible."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"It hasn't been easy." he agreed. "But I'm starting to get over the paranoia."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "As weird a place as Fandom is, it's safer than most places you might end up."

She hesitated. "I won't say anything to anyone. You don't have to worry about that."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. I just, y'know, pretending to be an orphan to someone who actually is one, I couldn't do it anymore."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

The rush of sadness was both surprising and overwhelming. She turned away to try and hide the tears that suddenly filled her eyes as the longing for her parents, for a home, hit her with an intensity she hadn't felt for a long time.

She nodded her understanding, not able to find her voice to speak.

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

Oh damnit. "Oh, God, Lana I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"It's okay, Billy," she managed after a moment, her voice rough with tears she was trying desperately not to shed. "Thank you for telling me. I just... it was a hard weekend."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"I understand." he said. "I'll, uh, I should get going. Looking for a halloween costume."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "Okay. And thanks, Billy. For trusting me with that."

[l1ttle-billy.livejournal.com]

"No problem."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

She watched him go, then turned away to try and get herself back together.