A/N : Thanx to everyone who read and reviewed the first two 'episodes' in this series. Here's the first part of the third one.

Disclaimer : All recognisable characters belong to DC Comics and/or WB, neither of which I am a part of.

CHAPTER 1

It had been three weeks since Clark had last seen Chloe or Lex and that worried him. He had scoured the city as both Clark and Superman, but to no avail. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air. He had no doubt they were still alive and possibly even still in town, but Lex had obviously got to Chloe somehow. Whether he had hurt her or not, Clark wasn't sure, he hoped not, but he was almost certain they were together and that Chloe probably knew the truth about his own identity now.

Clark was feeling guilty for not having told Chloe the truth himself. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but he wanted to protect her. It looked as if his plan had failed, since it was clear she was more than likely under the influence of the enemy now.

Chloe looked out of the window and out across the sea. She had spent almost three weeks in this place, on this island away from civilisation and the world she knew. It had taken her most of this time to come to terms with the fact that Clark was not the friend she had thought he was and that he was in fact a man with a deep dark secret. Not only was he secretly Superman, but he had been threatening the man who was supposed to be his best friend. His ex-best friend had become her best friend now and so much more.

"Ready to go home?" Lex came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"My home isn't Metropolis anymore" she sighed "or Smallville for that matter" she turned in his arms and added "it's wherever you are"

She kissed him briefly and he smiled as they parted.

"I know what you mean"

"But I guess we have to go back sometime" she shrugged "if only to put right all the wrong *he* has done" she couldn't even bring herself to same his name anymore, she didn't even want to think it.

"And we will do that, I promise you" Lex hugged her tightly "Together we can do anything"

He had spent the best part of a month explaining to Chloe all the wrong that Superman had done to him and the world. Of course, ninety five percent of it was fictitious and those parts based on truth were grossly exaggerated and twisted to suit his argument, but she had believed him. There was a part of him that hated to lie to her, he was a little worried about that. He had wanted this woman originally as nothing more than for revenge on Clark and Superman, then it had become more about wanting her for her own sake. Now, he could not use the word love, she had never asked him too, but he felt something deeper for her than he ever thought possible, and it seemed to him, by the way she trusted him and cared for him, that she felt the same way.

After she had learnt the so-called 'truth' she had professed a wish to get away, anywhere so long as Superman could never find her. That wasn't an easy task, to out-run and hide from a superhero, but again Lex's money played a huge part.

The bald billionaire actually owned an island, a small island that was discovered just over a year ago, but whose existence was never revealed to anyone other than the few rich men of the world who bid on it. Lex Luthors bid was the highest and the island was his, not that he ever intended to use it for anything, but he wanted it, so he bought it.

Now it was a priceless commodity. He could give Chloe what she wanted, sanctuary from the man she could not bear to see right now, who it was almost unbearable for her to think of.

Whilst Clark, as Superman, continued to scour the city of Metropolis and the practically the whole state, Lex and Chloe had spent their days together in tranquillity, and their nights in each others arms. But now it was time for them to confront the man they saw as an enemy.

"Lex" Chloe turned in the limo to look at him, "you know Clark is going to want to see me, he doesn't know that you've told me the truth, he doesn't know that we're..." she wasn't sure how to finish her sentence. In love? That just wasn't true. Sleeping together? Yes, but it was so much more than that. Together? But in what sense of the word.

It didn't matter, because he knew what she meant and he reached over to take her hand in his.

"Chloe, if you don't want to see him you don't have to" he told her, "but there really is only one way to keep him away"

"I know" she nodded, remembering that Superman could only be weakened by the green meteor rocks, now known as Kryptonite. She also knew that if was exposed to it for a long period of time, Superman could die. As hurt as she was, and as committed to Lex as she felt, Chloe wasn't sure if she wanted Clark to die.

The first day she'd arrived at Smallville High School, Clark had been there to show her around. From that first day she'd had a crush on him, she'd even kissed him, and the feelings she had for him never wavered, all through High School. It was only when Clark seemed to like her too, that she realised he wasn't all she thought he was. Chloe decided she must have wanted him because she couldn't have him, once he was available to her, she saw her mistake, much as Clark had done with Lana Lang.

They had stayed firm friends, as they left Smallville and went to college together.

Getting jobs at the Daily Planet had been perfect for them, working together on a newspaper just like they had back in High School. All those years of friendship seemed to dissolve before her eyes, crumbled into dust by lies and deceit.

Suddenly, the car stopped and Chloe was pulled from her thoughts as the driver got out and opened the door for her and Lex. They stepped out into the warm evening air of Metropolis, catching the attention of a few passers by who were well aware of who both Mr Luthor and Miss Sullivan were, him for his fortune, her for her career.

It suddenly occurred to Chloe that her journalistic career was over, at the Daily Planet at least. There was no way she could work with Clark, not now she knew the things she did. But there was a part of her which didn't care, that same part which felt such a strong connection to Lex Luthor right now that she was almost afraid of it.

Lex knew she must be feeling awful right now and it almost pained him to know it, but if he told her the real truth now she would leave him and he didn't think he could stand to be without her. While the larger part of him was proud to know he had her and that his revenge was so close to happening, there was a small part, not necessary in his head, although it worried him to think so he guessed that part was in his heart. Was it possible for a Luthor to fall in love? He'd never thought so, but something was happening to him. To feel guilt was strange to him and it was only hurting this woman that he seemed capable of feeling guilty about. It almost scared him.

"I'm almost surprised our primary coloured friend isn't here to meet us as we arrived" Lex smirked, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Apparently not" Chloe said, quietly.

"Well, unless anyone gets the urge to jump out of the hotel window" he continued, putting an arm around her shoulders as they walked up the steps, "We should have a quiet non-Super night"

Finding his smirk infectious, Chloe smiled a little too.

"Well, I hope it's not a completely quiet night" she said, a playful look in her eyes.

"I don't know what you mean, Miss Sullivan" she continued to walk as he stopped, a fake stunned expression on his face.

"Then follow me Mr Luthor" she beckoned for him to follow her, "and I'll show you what I mean"

A/N : Reviews are always welcome. I'll post the next chapter very soon.