Lex was surprised to see the figure of Martha Kent walking down the corridor of the Luthor mansion, clearly on course for his father's office. "Mrs Kent, you were one of the last people I expected to see here tonight," he called.

Her head jerked up, and he realised she'd been in a world of her own. She flashed him a tired smile after a second. "Lex, you can call me Martha, I don't think we need to stand on formalities."

Lex gave a nod, a small smile playing across his features as he echoed, "Martha then," He looked down at the folders in her arms and cocked his head thoughtfully, the smile fading into a faint frown. "Surely you haven't been working? I assumed you had been allowed time off given the circumstances."

"I've been working from home."

"I'll speak to my Father, I know he thinks that the Earth should revolve around himself and Luthorcorp, but you should be allowed compassionate leave and he needs to accept that," Lex ranted, bristling on her account at the assumed slight.

Martha placed a gentle hand on his arm as she replied softly, "Lex, I wanted to keep working, it helped keep my mind off Ryan, about what was happening." She managed a quiet laugh, her eyes sparkling for a brief moment as she recounted, "Actually your Father suggested that I take time off, in fact at one point he was even quite insistent. I did wonder if he was going to have me frogmarched out of here by security. Eventually though he agreed to let me work from home."

Lex couldn't help the raising his eyebrow at that statement, at the idea that his Father might actually be capable of reacting like a human being. He opened his mouth and then shut it again, unable to formulate the witty response he'd been hoping for. His expression dropped into a thoughtful frown, Lionel Luthor wasn't known for a pleasant or even humane approach towards his employees, yet Martha Kent made it sound as though he'd surpassed being reasonable, and seemingly managed concern, he was potentially even helpful. "I wonder if he's feeling well," he finally managed.

"He isn't always the terror everyone thinks," Martha told him.

"I haven't heard that sentiment echoed by any of his P.A's, general employess or in fact anyone else who's ever met my Father."

"Well I'll have to agree to disagree with them," she laughed. Her gaze softened as she took in Lex Luthor, there was no use denying that he and Lionel had a strained relationship and she didn't agree with Lionel's parenting style, but she could now see that there were more similarities between them than Lex would ever care to admit to. She took in the tired eyes in his pale face and asked, "How are you Lex? Clark told me how often you visited Ryan, about how you brought him the comics, that was kind of you."

He shook his head. "I forget myself, I haven't passed along my condolences."

"I appreciate the sentiment but I'll admit to being tired of hearing that word," Martha admitted. "I'm glad that in his last days at least, Ryan was surrounded by people who cared about him, and that included you."

"I found him interesting," Lex admitted. "He was...insightful."

"He was," Martha agreed easily. She hadn't been surprised that Lex had been drawn to Ryan, after all they both outsiders, Lex through his father's money and connections and Ryan through his abilities. They had both lost their Moms at a young age and that had left them feeling cast adrift from the rest of world.

"Clark will miss him."

"He will, but I'm glad he had time to spend with him, to say goodbye, and someday Clark will be too." She squeezed his arm. "I believe I have you to thank for that."

Lex shuffled, his gaze averting in embarrassment at the unexpected praise for a second before his eyes met hers again. "I didn't want him to make the same mistakes I did," he admitted. "I wish I had made more of my time and not spent it looking for a cure that didn't exist."

"When it comes to losing someone I think we all have regrets and wishes about how things might have been different."

"How is Clark?"

"Managing, he's staying with Pete tonight and I believe there was some talk of Chloe and Lana taking over some pizza and films, some normality will be good for him." She took in Lex's long, dark, wool coat that covered an immaculate shirt and trousers. "And where are you off to?"

"I thought I might drive to Metropolis, meet some friends for a drink and stay at my apartment there." He didn't tell her that there wasn't any friends, that he just wanted to drink himself into oblivion and seek some form of comfort from any attractive female that would have him. "Do you have any plans?" He asked politely.

"Nothing so enjoyable." She tapped the pile of papers in her arms and commented, "Since I had finished with these and Clark was away out, I thought I may as well drop them off. There's a meeting on Monday and your Father may find some of these statistics useful."

"Well it's Friday night, so he is of course still working away in his office." Lex frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure he's aware of the meaning of the phrase social life."

"I'm sometimes not sure that I am either anymore" Martha confided with a soft laugh. She shifted the papers in her arms. "Well you enjoy yourself at least," she told him warmly.

"I'd like to say the same to you, but I know what he's like, so I think I might just leave you to it."

Martha shook her head with a smile. "Goodnight Lex."

"Goodnight Mrs...Martha," Lex corrected himself. He stood for a minute and watched her head down the corridor, realising that he actually felt ever so slightly lighter for talking to her.

As his office door opened with a creak, a scowling Lionel looked up, prepared to snap at whoever was about to walk into the room. The sharp rebuke died on his tongue however when Martha stepped in. She was casually dressed, in jeans and an oversized flannel shirt over a black top, Lionel had never been a fan of flannel, but somehow she managed to pull it off. There was a smile of greeting on her face as she said, "I hope I'm not interupting."

Lionel got to his feet. "No, of course not. I was just catching up on some work."

"Snap," she commented, stepping forward to put the files onto his desk. "I finished going through these-"

He gave a sigh. "I told you that there wasn't a rush."

"I know, but it was easier to keep busy. Anyway you might just thank me, the highlighted section on page 4 makes for some interesting reading."

Unable to help himself, Lionel found himself flicking through the papers till he got to that page, a smirk playing about his lips when he saw what she had noted. "So it does, I may be able to negotiate further on price."

"See, I've saved you some pocket change," Martha quipped.

He laughed. "You have, I'm impressed."

"As you should be," she teased.

"So now that you've caught what my merger and aquisitions department missed, will you do as I've suggested and take a step back?"

Martha's smile faded. "I'd rather not," she admitted. "I was hoping to come back to work on Monday."

"Is that wise?" Lionel queried.

"Do you think I'm incapable?"

Lionel made a small noise of amusement, his head dipped as the corners of his mouth curled upwards. "Far from it, although I believe it is customary for employees to take a leave of absence after a loss." Looking up, he added dryly, "At least that's what I've been told."

"Well I'd rather be kept busy," she replied shortly.

He examined her carefully, his sharp eyes taking in the shadows under her eyes, the way they marred her otherwise flawless skin, along with her pinched expression and he stepped out from behind his desk. He saw her steel herself, straightening, her shoulders drawing back as though she expected a confrontation, her face tilting to look up at his as he stopped in front of her. "I haven't told you how sorry I was to hear about Ryan," he remarked quietly, his voice low.

Martha's breath caught in her throat at his words, she hadn't expected him to comment on Ryan, had thought, hoped, that perhaps he would just be glad she wanted to come back to work as it meant his daily routine would no longer be affected. "I..." She shook her head, he was so close to her, those sharp eyes softer than she'd seen them before, his concern palpable and she could hardly stand the combination; it certainly didn't help her put her thoughts in order, to voice the thoughts that she had forced herself to block out, for Ryan's sake. "Thank you," she finally replied.

"I know you'd hoped to welcome him into your family. This must be a very difficult time." She broke with his gaze at those words, he noted with interest, her right eye flickering ever so slightly. "When is the funeral?"

"We don't know," she admitted. "Ryan's aunt has claimed responsibility for it, I believe she wants it to be a private affair."

Lionel tsked. "It seems unfair that she has the right to step in now, when she walked away from her responsibilities."

Rubbing at her forehead, Martha gave a curt nod. "Yes, I suppose."

"You don't agree?" He asked with interest.

"I don't disagree."

"It's not like you to sit on the fence, Martha. It doesn't suit you, after all you've never shyed away from giving an opinion before."

Her eyes flashed briefly. "I wouldn't call it sitting on the fence." Lionel simply raised an eyebrow at her and she knew that he was simply waiting for her to elaborate. "Ryan had a miserable life," she finally told him. "He was used and exploited by people who should have cared about him, but at least in his last days he was surrounded by people who cared about him."

"Given that you had hoped for Ryan to stay with you permenantly, I imagine that his illness and death has been...difficult to say the least."

Martha's lips drew together and her gaze left his. "I did want to give Ryan a happy, stable home," she replied. "But he wasn't my son, we didn't have the chance to form that kind of bond." I feel like an awful person, everyone looks at me as though I should be about to fall apart, and..." She lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. "I just don't feel that way."

Lionel took a step closer, reaching out he let his fingertips graze the underside of her jaw, tilting her face so that her blue eyes connected with his again. For a moment he didn't speak, considering his options. He could understand the confusion she had to a certain extent. However, he would never have even thought about taking the boy into his life, he didn't want to deal with another person's damaged goods. He had never had a soft spot for children, had only chosen to have them to keep the family name going, to build his dynasty. He loved his sons, Julian's death...he couldn't even bring himself to think about it, but he hadn't been a natural father. Martha on the other hand, he could see her as a mother, soothing any upsets, wiping away tears and proudly pining those god awful finger paintings children made onto her fridge. He sighed, "I think you need a drink," he told her after a moment, his fingers stroking her skin as he drew his fingers back.

Martha shivered at his touch and felt goosebumps break out across her skin, her breath catching. "I can't," she told him. "I need to drive home."

"I keep a driver on standby, I'll have him take you home."

"I'll need the truck tomorrow," she argued.

He waved his hand, dismissing the argument. "I'll arrange for it be taken back to the farm." Personally he thought that heap of junk should be burned, but he doubted she'd appreciate that thought. He walked over to his drinks cabinet, adding, "Unless you need to rush back for Clark?"

"No," she shook her head. "He's at his friends tonight."

"Then it's sorted," he declared decisively, pouring her a generous glass of whiskey.

Martha hesitated for a moment before taking the glass. Truth be told she didn't want to go home, she didn't want to sit by herself and think about everything she had lost. She did enjoy Lionel's company, so where was the harm? "Thank you," she told him.

He waved her towards the large plush sofa and she took a seat, sipping at her drink as he sat next to her. He leaned back, surveying her. "You did your best for that boy, you gave him what he'd never had and what he'd always wanted, even if it only ended up being for a short time. It's more than most people would have done."

"I should be more upset though, I look at how devestated Clark is and I...I-"

"Everyone grieves differently. I'm sure there were many who felt that I didn't behave appropriately after Lillian died, some people aren't happy unless you wrape youself in a dark shroud and sit in a darkened room."

Despite everything, Martha couldn't help but smile at his dry remark. "You mean you didn't?"

"No, I went straight back into the boardroom."

"And yet you don't think I should come back to work," she commented innocently.

"Touche," he chuckled. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass as he watched her, finally shrugging. "Very well, if you feel it would help."

"I do."

"Monday then." He drained the last of his drink. "Now, when was the last time you ate?"

"I don't remember," she admitted, so surprised by the question that she didn't try to evade it.

"I'll arrange for the kitchen to send something up."

"Oh you don't have to."

"We both need to eat. I have to admit to being rather lax with my meals today. I was too caught up with business matters." He reached for the cordless phone lying on the side table next to him. "It will be nice to have the company."

"I suppose...if you insist," Martha replied.

"I do. Now red wine or white?"

Martha couldn't help but smile, answering decisively, "Red."

Swirling her fingertip around the rim of her wine glass, Martha relaxed back against the sofa, smiling across at Lionel. "Thank you for that," she told him, her hand gesturing at the empty plates that littered his large coffee table.

"My pleasure." He told her, without agenda, genuinely meaning the words for a change.

"And the wine is wonderful."

"It's Argentinian, I discovered the vineyard quite by accident when looking for a particular cask. This vintage however, is rather difficult to get hold of."

Martha glanced at her half filled wine glass and then back up at Lionel. "I hope you're not about to tell me that I'm drinking the equivelant of my monthly salary?"

"Not quite," he replied.

"Oh." She looked at the empty bottle on the table and felt almost out of her depth. "I normally just get whatever's on offer," she admitted. "You probably should have saved this for someone more important."

Lionel took a sip of wine, looking at her thoughtfully before telling her, "You have the ability to make me see things much more clearly, to put things in perspective to cut through any complications and make everything seem manageable. You are important to me."

His confession hung in the air and Martha felt her skin flush at his words. "It's nice to be appreciated," she finally managed.

Putting his wine glass onto the coffee table, Lionel reached across and easily slide hers out of her hand, placing it beside his. He took her hand in his, his fingertips stroking across the soft skin of her hand. "It's more than appreciation."

His touch made her stomach clench and she could feel her breathing grow heavy, she leaned into him, unable to help herself. "Lionel," she murmured softly, unsure if she were trying to warn him off or encourage him.

His hand dropped from hers, trailing up to her face, cupping her jaw, his thumb stroking her delicate skin while his fingers toyed with an auburn strand of hair that was brushing against her cheek. The hand he'd let go off resting flat against his chest now, her body angling into his, her eyes fized on his.

Unthinkingly as he lowered his head, she tilted her face upwards and felt his mouth brush gently against hers, repeating the action when she didn't protest. He pulled her closer to him, his mouth lowering to hers once more, pressing his lips against hers, softly at first and deepening the kiss when she brought her hands up to his face, drawing him closer.

She moaned quietly against his mouth and that one sound had him fighting to keep a grip on his self control, her lips were so warm and soft, she was addictive he thought dazedly.

Martha felt her pulse speed up as his slightly roughened fingers brushed up and down her neck as he kissed her, feeling as though he was setting off a trial of sparks along her skin as he touched her.

Her fingers curled into his hair, and she arched into him slightly, her breasts crushed against his chest, as he ran his hand from her throat to her hip, tugging her closer into his, pulling her over him. She was beginning to struggle to catch her breath as she ran her hands down to his shoulders, revelling in the warmth of his skin that she could feel even through the soft wool of his jumper. It was good…so good, she felt more than a little out of control as his hands ran over her, his fingers slipped underneath her flannel shirt, shifting the straps of her cami top to the side, enabling him to carress her collarbone

She broke the kiss, gasping for breath as she did so. "We shouldn't be doing this," she muttered, avoiding his gaze, although she stayed in his arms.

His mouth found the shell of her ear, his warm breath as he spoke did nothing to cool her ardour. "I know that you're lonely, Martha," he told her, his voice gravely. "That people don't see you for who you are, how capable you are. I do." He pressed a kiss to the pulse point on her neck.

She couldn't help but moan at his kiss. "I work for you, this could be a disaster."

"I do have the ability to seperate my work from my personal life. The two won't cross," he told her. His hand brushed against her breast and she arched into him, her fingers curling into his hair. "If you tell me to stop then I will and we'll act like this never happened.

Martha's mind raced. She should push him away, tell him no, but she didn't want to. Whatever was between them she was tired of fighting it, she wanted him out of her system. Her mouth finding his was her reply.

Author's note

I was always confused by the lack of reaction to Ryan's death, so I found trying to deal with it a bit more difficult than I was expecting.

Anyway on a totally different note, I can either ramp up the rating on this or keep it fairly mild. I'm happy to go with reader preference on this one. If it goes to M then it will either do so in the next chapter or the one after. Just in case anybody is looking for it. I didn't want to put this message at the top in case it spoiled the end of the chapter.

As always reviews are always welcome.