She had spent so much time and effort trying to avoid her problems that when she returned to them, she realized that much of them had never existed. They had resolved themselves and it made her wonder what the place was like she had all of them. Was it that she created them in her mind? Or were they never about her and by removing herself, all the problems were solved?

Smallville looked like it always did when she passed on the plane ride. Long acres of green grass and the waving stalks of grain dancing for the wind, and the huge open sky. She almost was waiting to see a tall man dressed in plaid wandering through them with his wide grin, but she wasn't anywhere near the Kent's Farm.

She had wanted to wait before returning, but life had a different plan for her. Lionel Luthor was dead, and Nell requested her presence to be at home. She wasn't sure why she should show up, not knowing the man at all, but she would go for the sake of Lex though she didn't consider him among her close knit group of friends. She was hoping it would win some brownie points with him, and maybe he'd admit his feelings for her.

She wasn't afraid anymore of facing Clark, she wasn't scared of the future, and the women she wanted to be. No, she was afraid to be rejected again by Lex, since he had done a fine job soaring her into the ground to crash and burn, and hopefully turn into ashes so she never faced him again.

But Lex Luthor wouldn't get rid of her that easily…

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How many times have you told me you love her?

As many times as I wanted to tell you the truth

The ice princess walks out of the plane, looking ever beautiful with her long black locks swinging around her perfect features. Those were Chloe's first thoughts as she saw Lana walking towards her at the airport. Her second was about Clark, and she understood why he liked her, for her beauty, but she thought about how fake it was. Her third thought was how the world been a lot nicer to everyone if Clark had just realized he didn't like Lana, fourth thought being shoved away in her mind, that Clark should have gone out with her.

Erasing the thoughts out of her mind, she smiled at the girl, and grabbed a few of the slipping suitcases out of Lana's hand, and they began their journey to the car waiting for them arranged by Nell for them to drop them off at Chloe's summer home where she was staying with her father in Metropolis.

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The silence could be make the strongest man deaf, and it hung heavily in the air as Chloe and Lana lay on the bunk beds, sleeping. But neither of them was sleeping. They knew the other wasn't sleeping either, but yet they wouldn't fill the silence between the crickets chirping on occasion and the sound of the grandfather clock in the hallway booming out the hour.

Chloe was thinking about what she was going to do tomorrow. She had been asked to cover the story tomorrow for the "Daily Planet" and she couldn't pass up the offer, it could be her big break, but she felt grimy, covering the funeral of a family friend's father, and a death she had helped orchestrate in a sense.

Lana was nibbling at the corner of her fingernails, where the skin was connected for the nail. It drove Chloe insane, knowing it to be a personal habit out of an abundance of nervous energy, and finally she spoke up, on a topic that was taboo in their friendship.

How long have I stood here be side you

I lived through you, you looked through me

"Do you love Clark, Lana?"

"Why do you ask?" Lana's voice was immediately suspicious.

"Just curious…"

"Yes, I guess I do."

"Then why do you hurt him?"

"How do I hurt Clark?"

Anger

"I think you know how."

Suspicion

"Is this about how you secretly are still in love with him?"

Defense

"He's my friend…"

Validation

"He's mine as well."

"What is it about him, Lana, that you can't love? He loves you so much and all you do is break his heart."

"He can't tell me the truth."

"Sometimes the truth is better not being known."

"He can't come up with any decent lies."

"He doesn't want to lie."

"And I can't be with someone who is a pathological liar."

"He has his reasons."

Lana poked her head over the side of the bed, and Chloe was surprised to see she wasn't crying or even angry. She looked almost serene, with her bronze eyes gleaming sharply in the moonlight.

"Do you know them, Chloe?"

"I don't need to know why he lies. I trust him, he'll tell us everything when it's time for us to know."

"Can't that be the same with me?"

"Maybe, is it?"

Lana didn't answer the question, just rolled over, and must have gone to sleep, for Chloe didn't hear a peep from her the rest of the night.

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"When my father dies, kings will come to his funeral. When your father dies, friends shall come to honor his life."

He had used that quote before when talking to Clark a few years ago. He had no clue how accurate it would be when his father died.
He looked over the yard that would hold his father's funeral, the public park of Metropolis, an imitation of Central Park in NYC, from his bird's eye view from his seat on the bench of the viewing deck. All his former competitors had shown up to honor his father, and to extend their hand to Lex in an attempt to buy the company when the ownership turned over to him. They hadn't seen him in years, they still thought of his as the reckless stoner he had been in his teenage years. They didn't know he had owned the business for the greater part of a month now, and he had already bought out their business, it would take only a few more days before they would discover it.

The president of the United States was there, with his hoard of lanky and chunky bodyguards, with his cabinet. Other country leaders were there, he recognized them by face, but not by name. It wasn't his concern to worry about people a lifetime away, he was more concentrated on remembering all the names of his exclusive plant in Smallville, and the head honchos he was going to fire next week, and the ones who could be loyal and stay.

Plenty of women had come, majority of them were his mistresses over the years, and the whole population of Metropolis seemed to have showed up, wandering in and out of the gates. They were all talking, socializing, and photographers were everywhere, media everywhere, documenting the life of this event, unaware that it should be a sober occasion of death, not a social event to make people happy.

Solitude

Still with me is only you

When he was little, he would hide out in the closet of the homes he visited when his father would go to parties. He didn't want to make ideal chatter with people he would never meet again and hear about their petty problems. They didn't care about him in the least…they are all fake friends.

He hadn't changed much, he was still hiding out in a place where no one would bother him, and Lex straightened his tie, laying his cheek against the cold frosted glass.

It immediately flushed, and he could see his reflection in the glass. He looked pale, his bald scalp gleaming in the light, his blue eyes hard and sharpened. He looked professional and only in close quarters could one see the redness stretching along the coloring of his eyes, and around the two nostrils of his nose.

The clock ticked and he stood up, walking down the stairs calmly, a perfectly composed soldier. It was time to face the world.

Cameras blazed their unholy light into him, and the rattling of buttons being pushed, and moments suspended in time being created, he kept his march. So much chaos and people trying to talk to him about how he felt, and he just wanted for all the noise and light to just leave so he could go in peace. He didn't want this private moment of eminent sadness to be shared with anyone but the people who loved him.

Was this how his father felt? Did he long to have silence? Could greatness only be succeeded through death?

In the end, the only person who would ever know how he was feeling, was his father. Lionel, his father, who hated him…who, could have loved him, if only life had not been so cruel. If destiny had been rededicated…

And Lionel was dead…this destiny had ended, and he was alone to face it now.

He sat down in the chair, the front seat on the side closest to the aisle. He wanted to be able to escape if the need may be, and he tried not to notice the ever obvious looks Victoria was giving him to sit down next to her, to hold him in his "time of need."

No one sat in that row and so alone he would remain, as the sermon began.

The funeral was open casket, and his father was dressed in his suit. He was probably smirking at the lameness of all the praises that were heaped upon him by random people he had never met in his life. Today was about to be about forgiveness, but Lex wasn't ready to forgive. He was still in the anger phase, and the funeral made him so mad. Because not even in death, would anyone say anything that offend the ghost of Lionel Luthor…

He was about ready to leave within the first half-hour, when he saw the tall shadow move past him, and take its place behind the mike. His eyes cast upon the pale green of his best friend, and Clark began to speak.

"I didn't know Lionel as the rest of you have. I only knew him as a man who would stop at nothing to destroy everything to achieve his dreams. I knew him as a man who believed kindness was not a virtue that got you far in life, but always seem to give you a lift when nothing else was working out. He was a man who would forsake the truth to live in his false realities. He was a man who forgot the meaning of living until the last breathing moment as he slipped back into living his life to only continue it somewhere else from here.

I didn't know him as a nice man or a nice husband or father. I didn't know him any other way but all the negative things humans can do in the world to each other, but he was a man who did it with class. He was a man who believed he was doing the right thing…and that is the man I wish for the world to remember. Thank you…"

Clark bowed his head, and walked off the stage, his eyes lightly thrown into Lex's who was staring at him, wide-eyed, mouth wide open in shock and amazement. He passed along the row, and ever so softly, slipped his hand into Lex's to smile and then walk back to his spot.

Time stood in place for a second, and Lex realized he had to get out of there. His lungs seemed to be heaving into each other, and he knew it was nothing like an attack. No, something had been building in him for a long time, and the beast wanted to get out, clawing at his insides, and he bolted, slipping behind the crowds of people around the edge of the chairs to avoid the cameras.

He had cleared half of the park, before he felt his limbs giving way, and he collapsed next to the pink rubber kid slide hooked for the jungle gym, and he leaned against the bolts in it, clutching his arms to his chest.

His whole body seemed to be screaming in pain and he bit the corner of his mouth to keep from screaming, letting the iron taste come to his mouth as he bled. Breathing was strained though it was more his lungs wouldn't take the air he was offering it, then lack of air.

His body was quivering when something finally touched him, snatching him off the sharp hard wood chips. His eyes opened enough to see ringlets of brown hair dangling in front of his eyes, and he wrapped his fingers around it, leaning into the soft tangerine smelling strand.

"It's okay to cry, Lex…" Clark whispered, hugging Lex close to his body as if he was a baby.

At that point, tears began leaking out of Lex's eyes though he kept trying to blink them away to find them keep coming, and he looked at Clark confused. Clark only smiled at him, brushing the tears off of Lex's cheek, and massaging the palm of Lex's hand lazily.

"I shouldn't be crying," he murmured.

"It's hurting you."

He felt the arms pull him closer, against Clark's chest, and he just lay there, content, crying silently. Clark just held him, rubbing his back in soothing patterns…whispering things into his ear ever so softly. He couldn't hear most of things been said but they put him at ease, and he slid off Clark's lap, sitting back on the wood chips, leaning his head on Clark's shoulder, hands still laced in Clark's larger.

Lex had gone past caring what they looked like, though if any pictures got taken, he'd be in a lot of hot water since they looked pretty much like a couple. For some reason, that didn't bother him…somewhere deep inside, he wanted that.

"I liked your speech…"

"It was for you…"

Lex smiled up at Clark, and stroked along the crease between the long fingers, getting a light purr, which made his smile expand more. Clark was a verbal person by nature, it made him happy to hear noise. It told him where Clark was placed in life.

"I'm sorry, " he apologized, tracing the outline of Clark's ear, waiting for him to squirm away from him.

After a few seconds, Clark finally flinched but didn't pull away. " For what?"

Lex made sure to be right next to Clark's ear, blowing lightly, getting a shiver out of Clark. " Everything."

"I'm sorry for over-reacting and jumping to conclusions."

His hand was running along Lex's scalp, nuzzling the light bud at the back of his skull, and Lex arched for the touch. It was one of the rare erogenous zones on his body, and he could feel himself flying mentally.

"You had every right to…" Lex defended, as the callused thumb stroked down the back of his neck, resting there, and he sighed, closing his eyes. He felt so at peace, with Clark's unique scent of sawdust and citrus lulling him into tranquility, and the press of a body next to him, reminding him he wasn't alone. Clark's breathes were in tune with his, nearly as unobserved as his, and he never felt so happy in his life. There was only one thing that could make this moment perfect…

"Clark, can I kiss you?"

Clark's eyes opened in shock, but he nodded dumbly, fixated on Lex who was looking up at him with lowered lashes, looking very much the sexual personified delicacy he was.

"You're beautiful, ya know," Lex muttered as his lips grazed Clark's neck as he made his way up Clark's lips. He paused for a second, their noses touching each other. "Is this okay with you?"

Clark nodded slightly, and Lex's face filled with a confident cocky smile, as he kissed Clark agonizingly slow, taking his time getting to Clark's lips.

The corner of his lip was kissed, to feel the rough pressure slowly descending towards the prize, a soft tongue outlining the boundaries of his lips. He groaned at the painful electrity that went through his stomach, and parted his lips, begging for Lex to just kiss him like a normal person.

Lex's eyes were closed, and he looked so peaceful in Clark's eyes, as their lips finally connected, separating to better drain their repressed emotions. The older male scraped his teeth along Clark's lower lip, nibbling it to bring him into his mouth, sucking on it.

Clark was finally relaxing, when Lex pulled away, looking at Clark, waiting for the verdict of guilt.

Solitude

I can't stay away from you

"Wow," was all that got past Clark's swollen lips as he stared into space, running his tongue against his lips. He finally lifted his eyes high enough to look into Lex's, and he reached forward, grabbing Lex, to deposit him in his lap as if he wasn't a full grown man but just a child.

Lex leaned his head back, tilting it far enough back so he could see Clark's face which was looking down at him with something akin to lust. "Is that a good wow or a bad wow?"

"What do you think?" was his only warning before Clark kissed him, clutching Lex to lean back into him, as years of sexual tension being resolved in a hungry primal kiss. Lex tugged at the curls that occupied his hands, pulling Clark's mouth closer to him, as he plumaged the willing mouth for the sweet taste he was craving for.

Even in love, Lex was a dominator, and Clark was only too happy to comply to the demands brought against him, kissing Lex back with as much passion as the older man had experience, and it was only when Lex needed more air then he could inhale within the short breaks between their bouts of passion, did he finally pull away, leaning his ear against Clark's chest, hearing the irregular heart beat. If he strained hard enough, it almost played Jingle Bells, if he added in a note or two.

"I'd love to continue but the funeral will be ending soon. Unless you want to end up on the front page…" Lex kept it open-ended, and Clark nodded, wrapping his arms around Lex's thin shoulders. He placed a chaste kiss between the exposed collar bones before buttoning the top of the dress shirt back up so Lex looked less disheveled then both of them were feeling.

"Thank you," the voice was barely audible but Lex could feel it more then hear it with the waves of contentment that wafted onto him from his lover surrounding him, and he smiled. The muscles in his cheeks were beginning to hurt from smiling so much, but it was well worth the happiness and joy that flew through his veins.

"No, thank you. You gave me a second chance, and my life is worth living now. Because of you…and sorry…I am being mushy." He apologized, realizing he spoke too much, revealing his emotions too soon.

"It's cute," Clark reassured him and Lex leaned up to nip at the skin, knowing the effect it would have on Clark, making him squirm uncontrollably.

A long pause of silence, with the gentle swaying of the wind, whistling through the trees.

"I'm not like you…." Clark blurted out randomly.

"No one is like you, Clark, because you're you." His nose was nuzzling into Clark's thin t-shirt, soaking in the scent of flowery soap.

"That's not what I mean…"

"I know…we don't have to talk about it yet if you don't want to." Clark petting him rewarded him, and he sighed in bliss, as Clark kissed his eyelids, and he just lay there, eyes closed. All his senses were full of Clark, and it felt like nothing in the world mattered anymore. Nothing besides he had the thing he wanted to most right by his side, and it was all his.

"Did I hit you that day with the car?"

"You did…"

"I am glad I did."

"Why is that?"

"I'd never have met you otherwise."

Clark chuckled, and Lex didn't have to turn around to see the radiant glow of Clark's full-blown smile.

"It's destiny." Lex purred, sucking on the skin just above his throat, swirling his tongue to gather the unusual taste. "You taste good."

"Thanks?" Clark was blushing and Lex had to smile at the innocent spectacle his friend made.

How many times have I done this to myself?

Hours seemed to pass though it was only minutes as they lay there, cuddling with each other, both content with no talking or moving. It seemed natural that they were together, no awkward fitting of their bodies together, it was just perfect juncture.

"You're so warm," Lex mumbled incoherently, his nose burrowed into Clark's shoulder.

"Elevated body temperature, it runs about hundred and two regularly."

"Are you hot? I can move if the heat is bothering you…"

"No, Lex, I'm fine…I like sitting here with you," like this he wanted to add but his courage was still too low to admit such loving things.

How long will it take before I see?

"I wish we could stay like this forever."

"Why's that?"

" The world is blind to what we feel." Lex raised his head from Clark's shoulder and traced Clark's strong jaw line, feeling the muscles move under his fingertips as Clark swallowed, opening his eyes to respond to Lex's silent question that was written all over in his eyes.

"Fuck the world," was his response, lost in the lapis lazuli orbs, all his rational thought processing skidding to a halt, and unabridged emotion replaced it, as Clark met Lex's lips, trying to convey more then he could ever say. He didn't want Lex to leave him, he wanted to be with Lex.

It was short and sweet which disappointed both, and they reluctantly pulled away from each other, sensing people were beginning to walk around, and they would be soon found.

When will this hole in my heart be mended?

"The media can't see us," Clark whispered hurriedly, and helped pull Lex to his feet who was still clinging to Clark.

All the blood rushed out of his head and he blinked several times, trying to get his bearing and a feel of balance back into his body. Clark was still holding him until he could see straight, and he looked up at Clark worried.

" I know…no one should ever know about you."

"You can't be known as a pedophile."

Clark's hands were slowly running themselves down his chest, straightening up his suit, and the urge to just grab Clark and give him the same dosage of temptation and satyriasis that was coursing through his blood stream was immense.

"Clark?" his voice was strangled and Clark looked up at him with a knowing smile, kissing the tip of his nose.

"I'll see you tonight, okay? I'll meet you at your penthouse," Another kiss was extended to him, and Clark was wandering back to the crowds to appear as if he had never left.

Who now is left alone but me

Lex watched Clark's retreat, meeting up with the two laughing girls. He couldn't but help feeling alone, and the pit in his stomach felt rather vacant, as if his body was made out of air instead of blood and various sorts of cells. He was empty…he didn't feel complete unless he was lying within Clark's arms, and touching him.

That feeling alone scared him, and he realized he had fallen hard for the teenage farm boy, and that boy liked him back just as much. Lex couldn't help but smile and he walked back towards the castle, counting the seconds in his mind before he could see Clark.

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It had become half past eleven when Clark finally showed up, slipping through Lex's glass door on the balcony of the penthouse, seventy floors up.

Lex had attempted to stay up, but had fallen asleep on the couch, still looking in the direction of the balcony doors and Clark had to grin. Lex almost resembled a child when he slept, years of being a ruthless and cold businessman seemed to melt off him, as he softly snored.

Clark pushed the swaying curtains out of the way and walked silently to where Lex was sleeping, hovering above the couch. He could see that Lex had fallen into a deep sleep, and that this rest was perhaps the only real sleep he had had all week. He looked too peaceful to wake up.

Lex was a lightweight man and it didn't take too much shifting to fit Clark on the couch with a pillow on his lap to support Lex's head. He made sure to be gentle enough to not wake up Lex who had a built in detector for protection when he slept. It was partly his upbringing that had got his accustomed to sleeping lightly to wake up at any unexpected movement.

Solitude

Forever me and Forever you

He rubbed circles onto Lex's skull, marveling at the soft skin and how natural it felt to find not a single strand of hair on it. Clark was a fan of a lot of hair on a person, but with Lex, the absence of it was even more sexier if then if he had a full mane of curly red hair which he would have had if not for Clark.

Yeah, he felt guilty about Lex losing his hair because it had been his fault, but he couldn't feel too bad about it. If that hadn't happened, he wouldn't exist and Lex would be a clone of his father. No, this way was better for them all in the end.

Solitude

Only you, Only true

Lex's eyes was baring into his when he returned out of his thoughts, and he watched them harden in confusment and sensing danger, to soften as Clark kissed his forehead, realizing he was fine.

"Hey," he smiled weakly as Clark's large hand enclosed his. "Sorry I fell asleep."

"You look at peace when you are sleeping, I couldn't bear to wake you."

"You should have. I wanted to see you."

The fingers tightened around his, and Clark caressed his thumb, reassuring him that it was okay.

"Did you have any problem getting in?"

Clark shook his head, and Lex placed his hands around Clark's chin, pulling him closer so he could kiss him. Their lips brushed together, gently and Clark lifted Lex up higher so neither of them had to strain.

Clark let Lex explore his mouth willingly, balking at the sensation of nerve endings he had yet to realize he had being activated, letting his hands wander along the waistband of Lex's plaid pajama pants, feeling the pointy hips bones that always fascinated him so much.

He knew he had achieved his goal when Lex stopped kissing him, opening his eyes, their lips still connected, hands coming to rest on Clark's. Clark looked up at him, and Lex licked his lips nervously.

"I can't lose control yet," he whispered, and Clark couldn't help the surprised look on his face. He wasn't expecting to hear that.

Lex responded quickly, seeing the hurt look stream across Clark's face. " Victoria is staying on the other side of the pent house. I want our first time to be without any inhibitions."

Clark nodded, seeing the logic behind it though his body was protesting giving up so late in the game. "Can we still make-out?" He made the puppy dog eyes and Lex's hard stare began to melt.

"I think that will be okay, " he whispered, and he straddled Clark's hips so he had better access to Clark who was clutching his desperately, needing to be touched in some form.

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The cruel mistress would always wander the halls when she could not lay her head down upon her pillow and drift off to her imagined Happily ever After land. Tonight was no different and the late night shows that were meant to occupy people like herself were calling her name viciously.

Everyone leaves me stranded

Forgotten, abandoned left behind

I can't stay here another night

She had worn a silk teddy to sleep, in hopes that Lex would find his way to her room, and see her in it. He hadn't come…and she was so cold. She felt like her fingers and toes would drop off any minute because she had no feeling in them, and even with the blanket around her shoulders, she was still shivering.

She would have thought that Lex would be depressed but had glee that his father was now dead and Lex now owned the company. The Lex she knew always crawled into bed with someone when he was depressed, craving the warmth of another body curled up to him.

She had filled that role for him once, she had planned on doing it again. She knew Lex loved her, though he didn't show her in any way besides the perimeter of his own home. He had saved her from the demons that came to occupy themselves into her life, and then, he wrote her off just like that. There ended their business and their pleasure.

Your secret admirer, who could it be?

Can't you see all along that it was me?

She had entered the side of his penthouse he had reserved for himself, which he had gave her strict instructions to not come into, if she wanted to stay with him. She had every intention of obeying them, but she wanted comfort. She wanted to find solace in his arms.

She hit the living room and what greeted her eyes peeved her off but also caught her curiosity.

Lex was snuggling under Clark's arm that held him in place against Clark's body. He was sitting on top of him, and Clark was slouched out, sitting up as well, their limbs entangled, and looking very much at ease with each other.

If the sight of her former lover and his younger farmer friend wasn't enough to make her lose her cool, it could be that when she stepped closer, she realized neither of them were fully on the couch. They were floating a few inches off of it in thin air, and she glared, storming off to her room to grab a camera.

How can you be so blind to see right through me?