Tuesday, May 15th, 2017. 6:45 AM.
• • •

Our descent was quick. The moment our feet touched the ground, I knew where we were. Crops and clean air made me smile as I stepped away from Clark looking at the house I haven't been to in years. My hand rested on Clark's chest, the slow hum of his heartbeat could be felt beneath my fingertips. His body was hot, and I looked up at him to see him already staring at me. A familiar scent greeted me, and I so wished my sheets, his shirt and his side of the bed still smelled as amazing as he did, but it didn't, and I scrunched my nose at the thought of why.

"You smell good."

A small smirk graced his lips, "Did I not before?"

"I've missed it." I averted my gaze back to the house, and he reached for my hair turning it over between his fingers.

"Your hair is longer."

"It's been a while." I told him, "I need to call Martha, and," Stepping away from him as my hair slipped from his grasp, I held out my hand.

"We need to get a shirt on you."

• • •

The house was unlocked, and cold. I expected a house void of any furniture, but all of the Kent's things were still inside. As I approached the kitchen to place the call, I heard Clark on the stairs. 

The moment he was out of earshot, my body doubled over, and I placed my head in my hands. Everything seemed to hit me at once. Clark was alive, what do I tell Ben, what does this mean for us? Is he enough to defeat Steppenwolf? Squeezing my eyes shut, I calmed myself down and stood up, pulling out my phone. The call was quick; she had already seen the news.

The voicemail icon had the number three attached in a red bubble. All three were from Ben.

"Is it true? Is he back? Annie, where are you? Are you with him-?"

I clicked the delete button on it and the other two and dialed his number. I was sent straight to voicemail, rolling my eyes. I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket when Clark rounded the corner. His movements were light and soft. He barely made any noise walking through the old house. He stood before me in a large old button-up- red, black and checkered.

"Where's my mom?" He asked, cocking his head slightly, no doubt taking in my red-rimmed eyes or the scars on my face.

"I take it you've seen the for sale sign?"

Clark's gaze didn't break from mine, so I continued, "The bank took the house. She's been staying in an apartment in town. I've called her."

The house was quiet as he processed the information.

"Clark, are you okay? You scared me back there. I've never seen you so-,"

"Angry?" He finished stepping towards me. His eyes roamed my face, and he placed his forefinger under my chin, tilting my head up slightly to take in the wounds that littered my temple and cheek.

"What happened?"

I pushed his hand away, a bit unsure of how to tell him. I sighed, "How are your senses? You're not overwhelmed, are you?"

Clark noticed my change of topic but didn't press. He shook his head, "Not right now. I was at first. Then I heard your voice, saw you,"

"You anchored me." His hand came up, cupping my cheek, his thumb stroked my skin.

I smiled. I felt like it was the first smile that actually meant something in a long time. Clark beamed at me and pulled me into his arms. My body fit perfectly against his. His arms wrapped around me, and I felt him sigh. I gripped at his back, fingers splayed. To hear his heart, and to feel his chest rise and fall with every breath was comforting. The last time I touched him, he was dead.

"I can feel you thinking." Clark's deep voice vibrated against my cheek, and I leaned back looking up at him.

"I was just thinking about the last time I held you...you were dead, Clark."

"I'm alive again. You can hold me for as long as you want." His lips pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. I stilled at his words, pulling my body from his. I slipped a strand of loose hair behind my ear and took a cautious step back.

I peered up at him to see him already studying me, his brow furrowed, and his jaw clenched. My eyes scanned over his broad shoulders, down his chest to his tense hands. They were tight, and my eyes shot back up to his face. His eyes were screwed shut; head cocked as if listening to something.

"Clark?"

"I'm going to get some fresh air." His words were blunt, and his eyes slipped open to look at me briefly before turning away.

"Come find me when you know how to be near me again."

His words sent a chill down my spine. Anger bubbled up. I groaned, I knew he was going to pick up on how different I was acting. Why couldn't I just shut off my mind and be with him? Shoving my hands in my pockets, I followed after him, my boots heavy against the wooden floor.

Outside, the air was slightly chilly, not yet Summer, and my eyes locked into his figure immediately. He was in the field, his back to me, watching the rest of the sunset. He knew I was walking towards him, but he didn't show it.

"I'm sorry. I'm-Clark it's been so long. Eighteen months, and it was so hard for me. I'm sorry if you coming back has me- has me scared that getting close to you will end badly. I need time. I need time to adjust. I love you so much, but your death broke my heart, Clark."

It was the first time I had told him I loved him, finally saying back after all this time. I sighed staring at his back that has yet to turn to me, tears were streaming down my face, "They called me The Widow, you know? It's funny because I never knew how much I wanted to marry you until you were gone."

Clark finally showed me he was listening; he shifted to turn slightly to me his head leaned in my direction, "Is that a yes?"

"What?" I stepped towards him, and he turned to face me, waiting for me to reach him. When I was in arms reach, he held out his hand, I took it, and a shiver of warmth slid up my spine. We stood in front of each other, his thumb rubbing circles in my palm before he spoke.

"When I saw you, and you pulled me out of my rage, my heart stopped. I had forgotten everything for those few moments, but when I saw you - I knew who you were. It's wrong of me to act like no time has passed, but for me, it hasn't." Clark clenched his jaw and breathed through his nose, "Your hair is longer, you don't smell the same- not bad - just new, it's a new perfume, and your eyes are sadder."

I shifted uncomfortably, biting my lip.

Clark's hand was warm against my cheek as he pulled me close by my hand, "If time is what you need, I can give it."

We were so close now. Clark had let go of my hand to place both hands against my cheeks, his thumb wiping away a lone tear, ghosting over my fresh and tender cuts. My hands pressed against his chest; I could feel his heart and hear him breathe in as he closed the distance. My eyes fluttered shut, awaiting the warmth of his lips. The kiss was tender, almost like it was our first, and in a way it was. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, and Clark's hands gripped my waist, pushing my coat aside.

I gasped, feeling his fingers grip at my shirt, eager, and a bit hard. I ignored it and trailed my tongue along his lower lip, asking for more, but he pulled back with a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry if that was too much-,"

Clark shook his head, cupping my cheek, "It's not that. I can hear my mom; she's on the road."

I turned my attention away from him to see the dirt cloud from a car coming down the long road. My gaze was drawn back to him at his next words.

"Tonight, after I save the world, laying next to you is all I'm looking forward to."

I closed my eyes, "Clark, you can't-you can't sleep in my bed."

He chuckled, "Rejection right out the gate."

"It's not that I don't-,"

"Annie, what aren't you telling me?" All trace of his laugh is gone, and I grab his hands, gripping them hard.

His blue eyes took in my tense shoulders, and misty eyes, "Annie, what's wrong? Was it something I said? Sweetie, calm down."

His palm pressed against my cheek, as I sobbed. He pulled me close, rubbing my back, speaking to me softly to calm me.

"I dreamt of this day for so long. I wanted to wake up next to you, to kiss you, to live with you again, but I can't, Clark."

"Annie, you can. I'm not dead. I'm right here. Just calm down, I think you're in shock. Your heart is racing." He told me, smiling into my hair, "I'm not leaving you again."

I was a blubbering mess, and the moment he pressed a kiss to my forehead, I blurted out what I was so terrified of saying. Clark's entire body went rigid, and his hands stilled on my shoulders, his lips frozen against my skin.

"What?" His voice was so small but so dense with anger that I didn't want to repeat it, but I did.

"I'm in a relationship-,"

"I heard you." Clark's hands tightened slightly on my shoulders before he stepped back, "You shouldn't have let me kiss you."

"Clark!" Terror took hold of me as I watched his entire body language towards me change. His jaw was tight, eyes narrowed as he looked at me, and his eyes weren't smiling anymore.

"You're not mine, and I'm not yours. You should have told me sooner before I assumed we were going to pick up where we left off." He looked me in the eye, "Are you happy?"

Of all the things to ask me! I shook my head, trying not to cry.

"You're not? He doesn't make you happy?"

"No, he does. Clark, I-,"

My voice was drowned out by a loud engine, and tires coming to a sudden halt against the dirt road. Our attention turned to the familiar blue and white truck. Martha was out of her seat in seconds, eyes wide as she took in her son. She seemed almost cautious as Clark began to walk towards her. I wiped my eyes and shook the conversation off my body and out of the air.

Clark was walking faster now. I could hear his voice waiver as he told her it was really him. Watching their reunion made me want to turn back time and not tell Clark. Not telling him now was only going to hurt him more. Sighing, I reached into my pocket to call Ben, but Martha's voice called to me, and I put it back in my pocket, looking up at them.

"Annie, he's back!" She squealed, holding tightly onto his arm.

I smiled at her and jogged the last of the way to catch up my eyes never leaving Clark.

"Yes, he is," Martha grabbed my hand, pulling me closer. I was next to Clark, but he wasn't looking at me.

"Clark, take her hand, we're going for breakfast."

He listened to his mother, hand engulfing mine, fingers intertwining. I tried to slow down my heart when he glanced at me, smiling as his mom, boasted about seeing us together again as she ran back around the driver side of the truck.

Clark's hand dropped mine the moment she wasn't looking, and I had to force the tears away as I climbed into the middle seat. I was crammed between Clark and Martha. She was rattling on about how much the world has changed since he died. She hoped we were going to like her new apartment, said it was a lot smaller than the house. I nodded and only spoke up when needed. The air was tense between Clark and me, and I wasn't sure if his mother caught on, but she didn't speak on it.

"Annie, you're not wearing the necklace?" She asked about twenty minutes into the drive.

Oh, no.

Clark had just cracked a joke, and I was hoping it'd be enough of a distraction.

"Necklace?" I wondered reaching for my neck as if it's there.

"The one with the ring on it? The promise ring?"

"Oh!" I tried to keep my voice steady as I snuck a glance at Clark. He wasn't looking at me, instead kept his gaze the window, his shoulders were tense as he awaited my answer.

"I haven't worn it in a while, Martha."

There was no point in lying.

"I don't think her boyfriend would appreciate it too much." Clark's voice cut through me, and I stilled.

"Boyfriend? Annie, you didn't tell me you were dating someone."

"I didn't know how to tell you." My voice was low as I wrung the hem of my shirt.

"Clark, are you alright?" Martha asked, her voice filled with concern and motherly love.

I suddenly felt tiny and very alone and wanted out of the car. The silence was heavy as Martha, and I waited for Clark's response.

He turned from the window, smiling, "I'm happy she's happy, ma."

I wanted to break down at that moment. Clark was angry. He must hate me, and I didn't blame him, the woman he loves and can't wait to start his life with again has moved on, and it's a slap in the face.

"And are you happy, Annie?" Martha asked.

Clark turned to me, our eyes locked and time stood still for just a moment. I shut my eyes and turned to Martha, smiling the fakest smile I've ever given, and said the most massive lie I've ever told.

"Yes."

• • •

Well, their reunion was sweet, and then the bomb was dropped. Like I said before the main plot will not span the entirety of the book, and Clark and Annie's relationship will take center stage, soon.

I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think!