Chapter 3

A/N: Another short chapter. Sorry.



When Chloe went into the farmhouse she was pleased to find Pete inside, waiting with Jonathan and Martha. "Chloe," Martha rushed over and put an arm around her shoulder, leading her over to the sofa. "I'm so glad you decided to come. How was your day?"

"It was okay," she sunk back into the sofa, letting the overstuffed cushions hug her body. "Lex kept trying to buy me things ... now that I think about it, I probably should have let him." She grinned weakly to let them know she was joking, but Jonathan and Pete seemed to find it funny anyways. "How long are you here?" she asked Pete.

"As long as you want me," Pete assured her. Chloe nodded.

"Are you hungry?" Martha asked her eagerly. "Dinner will be ready in a couple of hours. But I can make you a snack if you'd like something now."

Chloe shook her head. "No thanks," she said. "I can wait."

"I'll just take your things upstairs than," Jonathan hoisted the duffle bag over his shoulder. "You'll be staying in Clark's room. Hope that's okay."

"That's fine," she nodded and jumped to her feet. "Can I help?"

"No, I've got it," Jonathan smiled, aiming for placating, but succeeding in annoying her. They were acting like she'd break down at any moment.

"Do you need help with dinner?" she asked Martha.

"No that's all right Chloe," Martha's smile almost blinded the rest of them. "Do you want a drink? I could make some coffee...or if you just want to talk we could do that." Chloe struggled not to smile at the overly kind smiles on the Kent's faces.

Pete seemed to sense her discomfort and walked quickly over to the window. "Stopped raining," he remarked. "Chloe let's go for a walk."

"Okay," she nodded at him, and then turned to Martha. "Is that okay?"

"Yes that's fine," Martha nodded enthusiastically. "You've been inside for so long lately, some fresh air would probably do you good." Chloe and Pete left quickly.

"Thanks Pete," Chloe said once they'd made their way out to the barn. "I really love Clark's parents, but it was beginning to feel like the Walton's got sick in there."

"No problem," Pete grinned, and for some reason when he did it, it didn't irritate her. They climbed the stairs into Clark's loft and sat on the couch. "So are you going to tell me now?"

"Tell you what?" she asked him, her nails pulling at a button on the upholstery.

"How you're really doing," Pete nudged her.

"I'm okay," Chloe repeated her earlier responses.

"And I'm Pete," he grabbed her fidgeting hand. "So...how are you really doing?"

Chloe turned to him, eyes welling up. "How do you think?" she sighed. "I'm mad, and I'm sad, and I'm really, really scared." She sniffled and pulled her knees up to her chest. "I don't know what to do about anything, and I don't know where I'm going to go...
Everyone wants me to open up, but no one really understands what I'm feeling – except maybe Lex. But he's Lex Luthor, you know; so you can't really talk to him. All I want is to see Dad again – and I keep wishing that Clark will come back, and that Lana was here, and that you didn't move away!" she took a shaky breath, needing air.
"And all I can think about is how stupid I was to try and take on Lionel Luthor! Even though everyone says it isn't, I can't help feeling that this is my fault. If I hadn't been so dumb, if I'd never made that deal with him... none of this would be happening."

"Chloe that's not why this happened," Pete grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "This isn't your fault! What happened to your father was Lionel Luthor's fault – and only his."

"Because I tried to beat him," she shrugged his hands away and jumped off of the couch. "My father is dead because I couldn't... blame Lionel all you want but it doesn't change the fact that my Dad would still be here if I had just learned to mind my own business!" Pete scrambled to his feet and stood in front of her.

"Chloe..." he muttered shakily, his eyes welled up as well. She caught his gaze quickly and then burst into tears. Pete reached out and hugged her tightly. Chloe buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his cologne, and sobs overtook her body.

TBC...