A/N: Thanks for all the feedback, you guys! Keeps me writing. Now, I know this part isn't much, but it's something to tide you over until I have the next chapter up in maybe a few days. So read and enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Bruce and Chloe were seated at their table almost immediately after walking into the restaurant. She shifted uncomfortably from where she sat beside Bruce. He took her hand.

"What's wrong, Chloe?"

She sighed and simply smiled at him. "Nothing. Just... haven't seen Lex and Lana in a while."

"Right. He was your boyfriend and she was your friend. From Smallville. If you're uncomfortable seeing them again, I could-"

"No. I'm okay. Really."

He squeezed her hand once before releasing it. Chloe turned towards the doors and frowned. Still weren't here yet. She turned back to Bruce.

"I'll just be a second."

"All right."

She got up and walked towards the ladies room, just as Lex and Lana walked into the restaurant.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Bruce. Always a pleasure," Lex said smoothly as he shook Bruce Wayne's hand.

"Always. Mrs. Luthor," Bruce acknowledged Lana as he took her hand and kissed it. They all sat down.

"Here alone, Bruce?"

Bruce chuckled. "Not even close. She's in the ladies room."

"Where did you find this one?"

"She's my PR director. Not like all the other... women I'm seen with. Not by a long shot."

"Careful, Bruce. You sound a tad bit smitten with her."

"We work together. She's a brilliant young woman. And here she comes now."

Bruce and Lex got up in respect for Bruce's date.

"Lex, Lana, Chloe. I believe you've all met."

Chloe came to stand beside Bruce, but didn't look into Lex's or Lana's eyes. She could feel their eyes on her though.

"Yes, of course. Chloe," Lex spoke calmly as he took her hand and kissed it. She then looked into his eyes and saw everything she'd been afraid to see tonight. A different man. He was the same, mysterious Lex Luthor he always had been, that much was clear. But everything changes with time, and that was obvious by the run down, tired look in his eyes.

Lex's face stilled by her hand, their gazes never leaving each other. She could feel his breathe dance across her hand.

"Ahem. Chloe, nice to see you again," Lana interrupted, snaking her arm around Lex's, pulling him back to her in the process. Chloe's hand fell to her side as everyone took their seats in the booth. Of course, she was stuck sitting across from Mrs. Luthor herself, so Lex and Bruce could talk business.

"So Bruce, what's this meeting about?"

"Always one to get right down to business, aren't you Lex?"

"Of course."

They then proceeded to talk, but Chloe's mind didn't comprehend what they were saying. She'd told herself that she would be strong tonight. That she would be able to look him in the eye like the mature adult that she was. But here she sat, unable to do anything but fiddle with the hem of her dress. She looked up at Lana, who was studying her carefully. Against Chloe's better instincts, she couldn't help but send Lana a disgusted look before turning back to fidgeting with her dress.

'This is going to be a long night.'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Don't you agree, Lex?"

"Hm? Oh, yes. I think that's the best way to go about it."

Bruce continued to talk, but Lex couldn't, for the life of him, comprehend anything he was saying. How could he be expected to, when the love of his life sat not too far away from him? And, sad as it was, he wasn't referring to his wife. He chanced a look in her direction, and his breathe caught.

She looked incredibly uncomfortable, sitting there beside Bruce. He had to shove down the urge to take her hand under the table and give it a reassuring squeeze. From the second he'd seen her standing before him, he couldn't think of anything but her. And that was very bad when your wife was currently sitting beside you and Bruce Wayne sat across from you, talking. He forced himself to pay attention to what Bruce was saying.

'This is going to be a long night.'