I loved everything about this chapter! Wonderful the way "Al" and Clark begin to work together and start shaping a promising future, wonderful the way you make me feel the conflicts Clark goes through, and even make me understand that Clark has scruples and does not act on his attraction to Al, yet. Wonderful the way you threw in the mystery drug Lionel used on Lex, without straying to far from the narrative of Clark's and Al's domestic life, and I also totally loved the awkward visit from Pete, and Clark developing a "love of the land". Thank you so much for writing this story, I enjoy it tremendously.