A comfortable silence had fallen over Skye and Pamela as they drove through the countryside of Smallville. Skye had taken it upon herself to give her mother annotations on the various niceties Smallville had to offer. At first Pamela had found Skye's commentary entertaining but as time passed, Skye's comments had become more sarcastic and Pamela had found herself gripping the steering wheel tighter.

"Oh and surprise, surprise another cow and some more tree's. The trees I don't mind though."

"Really" Pamela asked turning to her daughter delighted she had finally made a positive remark.

"Yes. Especially when they are torn down and turned into useful products, which provide materials to build museums and art galleries, which I'm sure Smallville has none of"

Just as Skye had finished her sentence the car came to a halt. Turning to look out the window Skye was confronted with a building that looked like it should have safety and health warning signs on it. Standing three storey's tall, all windows but one had been either broken or were jammed open. The only positive Skye could see was a beautiful swinging chair under a tree out the front. Turning to look at her mother she saw she was doing the same but instead of a look of disgust like Skye had had on her face her mother was smiling brightly. Skye turned back to make sure they were both looking at the same building. Unfortunately they were.

"A real fixer upper huh" Pamela proclaimed as she climbed out of the car Skye doing the same.

"Hell I vote we just burn it down".

"SKYE"

"What?"

"You know what. I do not want to hear another negative word out of your mouth for the remainder of the day". Pamela told Skye sternly.

"Whatever". Skye said as she grabbed her satchel she had packed with overnight things knowing the movers wouldn't arrive until the following day and walked with her mother towards the house. Pamela put the key in the large oak door only to have it collapse forcefully with a 'thud', remembering what her mother had said, Skye choose her words carefully.

"Well um..It's obviously antique and the antique look is very in at the moment. Plus it makes it easier for us to get in no door handles and such" With that they both laughed pleased the tension of the past few days had been suppressed.

"How about we go into town for some coffee?"

"Ok. Sounds good" Skye was looking for any excuse to get away from that house.

"And besides' Pamela announced "The person I want you to meet owns the coffee shop and is meeting us there".

~~~~
The Talon 10minutes later

Lex sat on a couch in the Talon one arm carelessly draped over the back the other occupied with his coffee. Lex was very much looking forward to Pamela's arrival and somewhat curious to meet her daughter. Pamela had written in lengths in her emails about Skye. The average student but excelled in the arts, acting was her strength but she was also gifted behind the camera.

"Penny for your thoughts" A familiar voice asked him from behind.

'Welcome to Smallville Pamela" Lex said with a smile and directed her to take a seat next to him not quite comfortable with the public surroundings to hug her.

As Pamela made her way to the seat, he took notice of the figure that was standing behind her. Skye was fairly tall for a girl his age only a little shorter then himself. Skye held herself confidently making her appear older then just 17. The only sign of Skye's nervousness at meeting this new person was her fiddling with her hands. Skye had extremely blue eyes and her hair was a blush blonde colour and fell just below her shoulder with a slight curl to it. She wore a mid-length skirt, a baby doll t-shirt and a pair of knee high boots, and Lex stood quite taken with her attractiveness. Skye shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, that's when Lex realised he was starring.

"You must be Skye. I'm Lex Luther, nice to finally meet you" Lex said as he extended his hand. Skye took the opportunity to look at the man before her. He was good looking, and strangely Skye felt instantly attracted to him. He had impeccable taste in clothes the only thing that was out of the ordinary was his bald head which Skye found an appealing part of his appearance. Skye shook his hand.

" It's nice to meet you"

"Hey Lex, sorry I'm late" As if on cue Helen walked in giving Lex a quick kiss on the lips. Skye found herself strangely envious.

"Pamela and Skye I hope you don't mind, I invited my girlfriend Helen to join us"

"No not at all" Pamela replied

"No problem" Skye said still a little thrown at the emotions she was feeling for this stranger.

The four of them took their seats, Pamela next to Lex and Helen and Skye on the two single couches, each taking the time to look at one another. Helen cast a critical eye over Skye; she did not like the way Lex was looking at her. Skye was growing uncomfortable in the silence she had never liked silence her and decided to break it.

"So, how about some coffee, can I get you anything" she asked the others.

" No I'm fine still on my first cup" Lex said somewhat amused at Skye's abrupt reaction to the uncomfortable silence, he himself however was use to them. Skye looked at Helen and Pamela expectantly.

"A cappuccino would be nice" Helen answered

"How about I get the coffee" Pamela said as more of a statement then a question "what would you like Skye?"

"Umm.a hot chocolate please" with orders placed Pamela approached the counter, leaving Helen, Lex and Skye seated.

"Your not much of a coffee drinker?" Helen questioned Skye.

"No it makes me jumpy and I'm jumpy enough now as it is" Skye didn't like the way Helen was looking at her and decided to turn her attention to the man seated across from her.

"So Lex mum tell me you and her were quite close" Skye asked. Helen hadn't told Skye a lot about Lex, mostly because of the terms she left under.

"Yes Pamela was my nanny she practically raised me along with my mother of course" Lex answered looking over the rim of his coffee cup.

"Really mum never told me any of this before and she has never kept anything from me" Skye recalled a little concerned her mother had never mentioned this before, this did not go unnoticed by Lex who was about to say something when Helen interrupted.

"I'm sure she had her reasons"

"Yes your probably right" Skye replied. Lex now had a strange far away look on his face. He had always found it unusual Pamela had left him even if his father did threaten to disinherit him. That's when he realised his father had threatened to do something to Skye unless she left. All of a sudden he felt a surge of rage run through his body and he knew he had to leave.

"Sorry I have to go, there's something I forgot to do" with that said he exited the talon. Helen and Skye looked at each other in surprise. As this happened Pamela walked over with their beverages and asked the question Helen and Skye were about to.

"What was that?"