Beta: svmaria (thanks for the sweet comments honey)
Warnings: Songfic
Disclaimer: Smallville is the property of the WB and CW. Superman is part of the DC comics universe. No maliciousness was intended.
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Chloe frowned at Clark, who was playing idly with a guitar he'd
recently gotten as a gift from one of the teachers at the school,
after discovering he was a natural at it. Previously, Clark would
stare out blankly of the windows of the Talon, hoping for a glimpse
of Lex, although he'd never admit it. To admit that would be
tantamount to admit he'd really screwed things up. And he had….big
time.

"You, Clark Kent, are an idiot." Chloe said at long last. "And I'm
sick of watching you mope over being an idiot. Lex is sure to be here
tonight. So tune up your guitar and I'll go talk to Lana." She shot
him a look that dared him to say a word, then headed for the person
in question.

Clark wasn't sure what was going on, but had a feeling he would be
very grateful that most of the coffee house crowd was watching the
movie tonight in the other half of the old theater. He focused solely
on tuning up his guitar and had just finished when Chloe grabbed his
hand. She dragged him up to the counter, ordered him to sit down and
pointed at a teleprompter. "Think you can sing that and play farm
boy?"

"There is no way Chloe, forget it –" Clark protested.

He was surprised to find both, Lana and Chloe, suddenly facing him
and looking angry. "Clark Kent, you are doing this. I'm tired of
seeing you and Lex eating yourselves over the fact that you are too
much of a bonehead to admit you screwed up," Lana snapped.

Clark felt his mouth drop as Chloe took over the verbal lashing. "If
you don't do this, Clark Kent, you might as well leave Smallville and
never talk to us again, because we sure as hell won't be talking to
you. Is that clear enough for you?"

"Uh…" Clark wasn't sure what to say and never got the chance as Lex
entered the café from the back. Lana ran forward, locking the door
behind her and changing the sign to "closed". Chloe clapped her hands
as she jumped up and ran to close of the Talon from the theater.

Clark found himself facing Lex for the first time since Lex left him,
not that he didn't deserve it. Lex turned on his heel to leave, but
Lana was on the outside of the door putting the key down her blouse.
Lex quickly checked his pockets and Clark heard him curse from across
the now empty café. Summoning up his courage, Clark kicked the
Karaoke machine on with his foot and began to sing.

I didn't mean it when I said
I didn't love you so
I should have held on tight
I never should have let you go
I didn't know nothing,
I was stupid, I was foolish
I was lying to myself
I couldn't have fathomed
I would ever be without your love
Never imagined I'd be sitting
Here beside myself
Guess I didn't know you
Guess I didn't know me
But I thought I knew everything
I never felt

Lex walked forward as if in disbelief. Clark took a deep breath and
continued.

The feeling that I'm feeling
Now that I don't hear your voice
Or have your touch and kiss your lips
Cause I don't have a choice
Oh what I wouldn't give
To have you lying by my side
Right here cause baby

"Baby?" Lex snorted. Yet he continued towards the front of the café.
Clark smiled hopefully, then continued.

When you left I lost a part of me
It's still so hard to believe
Come back baby please 'cause
We belong together
Who else am I gonna lean on when times get rough
Who's gonna talk to me on the phone
Till the sun comes up
Who's gonna take your place
There ain't nobody better
Oh baby baby
We belong together

"Next time you screw up, we find you a baby-free song," Lex remarked,
taking a seat right in front of Clark.

I can't sleep at night
When you are on my mind
Bobby Womack's on the radio
Singing to me "If You Think You're Lonely Now"
Wait a minute this is too deep
I gotta change the station
So I turn the dial tryin' to catch a break
And then I hear Babyface
"I Only Think Of You" and it's breakin' my heart
I'm tryin' to keep it together but I'm falling apart

"Do you even know who Bobby Womack is Clark?" Lex teased. Clark
shrugged and tried not too laugh. He might feel stupid, but it seemed
to be working.

I'm feeling all out of my element
Throwing things, crying tryin'
To figure out where the hell I went wrong
The pain reflected in this song
Ain't even half of what I'm feeling inside
I need you, need you back in my life baby

Clark looked up at Lex at the "baby", but Lex merely waved him on to
finish the song. Clark grinned and finished it off.

When you left I lost a part of me
It's still so hard to believe
Come back baby please cause
We belong together
Who else am I gonna lean on when times get rough
Who's gonna talk to me on the phone
Till the sun comes up
Who's gonna take your place
There ain't nobody better
Oh baby, baby
We belong together

When you left I lost a part of me
It's still so hard to believe
Come back baby please 'cause
We belong together
Who am I gonna lean on when times get rough
Who's gonna talk to me till the sun comes up
Who's gonna take your place
There ain't nobody better
Oh baby, baby
We belong together

Lex clapped politely. "Very nice Clark, I didn't even know that you
could sing. The question, however, is did you mean it or were they
simply lyrics?"

"I meant them," Clark admitted softly. "But I'm not good at saying
that kind of stuff on my own."

Lex smiled wryly and put a hand over Clark's. "You're an idiot, Clark
Kent."

"I know, but I do love you, Lex and I am so sorry. I really screwed
up." Clark said in a rush. "Can we…will you give me a second chance?"

"Yes, but just remember, I get equal amounts of second chances too.
But we're forever. Come on, let's go." Lex turned toward the door.

"Go? Where are we going?" Clark asked in confusion, slipping off the
counter.

"Make up sex, Clark," Lex stopped and gave him a kiss that took his
breath away. "Are you coming?" Lex turned and gave Lana the thumbs up
to open the door.

Clark didn't hesitate to follow.

It was a pattern he was smart enough to follow for the rest of their
years together.