Title: 'Cause I Still Love You Like I Did Before

Chapter Completed: February 4, 2004

Festive words and the happy atmosphere had become suffocating. And Anna was determined to find air. She was in desperate need of it. Really she couldn't take the pro-love vibe anymore when her own romantic life was in shatters. It could have been selfish, if she wasn't truly happy for Chloe. Under any circumstances this party would feel like a trap. And really Anna felt more comfortable with her ghosts and demons, having spent more time with them.

She took a deep breath of the cold night air from the confines of the ballroom's balcony. It seemed every building in Metropolis was equipped with landing bays for the flying superhero. The slight, cool sting was a welcomed distraction.

She closed her eyes and quietly escaped from everything to the one place she worshipped in memory. The soft down filled bead and warm body pressed against hers. A sweet sounding voice filling her ears with the echo of her name.

"Anna."

She could almost hear it now, and her fingers moved around her neck to trace the one object that made it all real. A soft sigh escaped her painted lips.

Lex smirked as he watched her. He had followed her out here and his one attempt to gain her attention had failed, but he had initiated a response. Slowly, and silently he walked up to her, watching the gentle breathing and the parting of her lips. The whole scene made his feel like a voyeur, but he didn't risk touching her yet. Although, the temptation was there.

Anna was still lost in the memory. Her hands holding the delicate charm and her lips pursed. She could remember the soft pressure against them as he pledged himself and his future.

"Lex," she whispered his name at the recollection. A pledge of her own.

He had had enough. The sound of his name on her raspy voice made him move to her. Coming up behind her he let his own fingers trace along the chain on her exposed neck.

"Anna," he leaned in to speak into her ear. Hot breath spilling onto the chilled skin.

Her eyes fluttered open, finding herself over looking the dark city, but still the sensation remained. The hot tingle was still moving along her neck.

"Anna," he called to her again, louder but not any fiercer. His tongue disobeying his mind, and sneaking out to taste the soft flesh behind her ear.

Gasping slightly she turned around to face the blue eyes and smooth face.

"Hi," Lex smirked at her light blush.

She had no reply for a moment, all words failed her, until the light flash of hurt and anger hit her eyes, "What are you doing here?"

"At the party, or in this particular space?" he fought to keep the banter playful, it was much easier to reconcile that way.

She huffed in frustration, pacing around the small space they occupied, to put space between them. "Why do we have to keep playing this game?"

"Do you want the simple answer or the truth?" he leaned against the iron railing.

She turned to him, eyes pleading.

"I think the game is who we are," he replied casually with his philosophical remark, giving her an open, sideways glance.

The defencelessness of his approach made the woman relax; stepping into the sphere of his personal space. "Do we ever want to win?" the question was of sad surrender.

"I know I want to," he looked up at her, eyes a darkening shade of blue.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and licked at her lips, "How long do we have to dance around metaphors?" She stepped closer again, now in reaching distance if Lex made the move to finally reach out for her.

"I thought I was the straight forward one," he smiled.

Anna shrugged, a smile playing on her own lips. "Years," she offered as if that were an explanation.

Lex pushed himself off the iron bars, standing at full height in front of her. The strong frame reminding her of his great power, both in business and over her. His hand moved out toward her, clenching the charm between his fingers by their happy place against her skin. He leaned in close to her then, his fingers hovering over her skin and his lips over hers.

"I want you," he spoke in a raspy whisper, "Always have…"

"Always will," she found herself whispering back.

The smiled played on his lips now.

She placed her hand against his chest, pushing him back lightly, "What about everything?" she emphasised, hoping her would understand what she ment.

A small sigh deflated the squared shoulders. "Let's just forget that," he released the chain, but didn't move.

"Can you?"

He locked eyes with her, "Just say I accept it."

She searched his gaze to make sure that he did in fact. And he did.

The smile moved to her face.

His hand moved to cup her cheek, pulling their mouths painfully closer to each other, but still waiting. "Any other renovations?"

She licked her lips in anticipation, making it hard for him to keep the distance. "Just a question of curiosity," she replied.

He leaned his forehead against hers, signifying that he was ready for her to ask.

There were various things the lawyer was curious about, various questions that ran through her head, but one was of pure inquiry. And this would answer questions about both of them.

"Did you kill him?" she refused to say the name.

Amusement played in the millionaire's eyes; "I was no where near Metropolis at the time of the shooting." His official answer of avoidance received a raised eyebrow; her signal that she wanted a different response.

A dry chuckled started in his chest; "Does it matter?" He smirked, slightly lopsided.

She seemed to take a moment to think. Rolling her eyes away from him as her hands snaked around his neck. "Naw," a wicked smile danced on her face.

The Luthor wasted no more time. His own lips crushed themselves against hers. His hands moved along her body to rest on her hips, holding her against him as their mouths brought them closer. A quick lick across her lips granted him entrance, allowing him to penetrate her.

A soft moan made them separate; a need for air forced the issue.

Anna's hands moved up his neck and back down, a slow caress before pulling away. A mischievous smirk appeared on her swollen lips, "So what made you come to me this time?"

He licked his own lips, pulling his eyes away from her soft, red ones. "You," he explained simply. The very fact that his father had encountered the past life of his possession didn't enter him mind, at least not in the conscious one. But the answer made her happy and even content. "And destiny."

The woman raised an eyebrow at this, her interest perked, "Where did you get that?"

He chuckled, "Of all places, Clark mentioned that to me today."

Her eyes narrowed, processing that fact. IT was last night that she had used that exact word for this very situation – to Superman. Sure he and Clark were friends, but when would they of had the time to discuss it, in the last twenty hours? Would they really share the same word? The passing of knowledge was perplexing.

The confused look on her face made Lex concerned, "Anna?"

"Sorry," she smiled with a new light in her eyes, "I was thinking about our very curious friend Clark…"

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Clark, what are you staring at?" Chloe's voice invaded his hearing, breaking the concentration he had on the conversation taking place outside.

"Ah, oh…" he gave one last, unhopeful glance in the direction of the balcony doors, now unable to hear what Lex and Anna had began discussing, "Nothing. Just thinking Chloe."

The girl shook her head, laughing and locking arms with him to pull him over to the group. If he was ever going to explain himself, she'd have to wait for him to do it in his own time.