She used to spend her Saturday nights managing the Talon, going to the movies, and hanging out with friends, but tonight Lana Lang was spending it lying on her bed watching shadows dance across the walls.  Although she'd been in Paris for two months, the only people she knew were Henri and Danielle, her host parents.  But, she was glad she'd come, glad to have gotten out of Smallville.  She lay there, barely able to make out her reflection in the oval mirror across the room, the only light coming from an open window, as Dave Matthew's voice filled the room accompanied by car horns and people shouting, sounds from the street below.  This glorious noise was like a lilting lullaby, so much so that she failed to hear the front doorbell ring.  Instead, she lay focused on the brass lion's head knocker that opened and closed a drawer of the antique mahogany dresser next to her bed.  Suddenly, the sound of Danielle's voice jarred her from her reverie.

            "Lana, you have a guest."

            A guest, she thought as she sat upright in the bed.  Who would be visiting me, she wondered as she slipped on a pair of white flats.

            Gripped by curiosity, she flew down the stairs, then stopped.

Standing in the foyer, dressed in black twill pants, a blue oxford shirt, and an expensive black jacket was Lex Luthor.

            "Lex," Lana said as she rushed down the stairs.  Her first impulse was to throw her arms around him, but propriety held her back.  As if reading her mind though, he reached out and enveloped her in a warm embrace.

            "How's it going partner?" he asked as he stepped back and smiled.

"Fine.  What are you doing here?"

"I had business in Paris."

"It's great to see you."

"So, are you busy?  I was hoping you could show me the city."

"I'm totally free.  But as for me showing you the city --," Lana said as she raised then dropped her arms exasperatedly.

"Then let me show you around."

"Sure," Lana said running her hand through her hair.  "Give me a minute to change?"

"You look fine."

She was dressed in a white peasant blouse with blue trim, jeans, and white flats – not the kind of outfit to go hobnobbing around Paris in.  "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Lex said cocking his head toward the door.  "Let's go."

"Danielle," Lana called out.  "We're leaving."

"Have a nice time," the other woman shouted from down the hall.

The warm nighttime air greeted Lana as soon as she opened the door.  The street was indeed crowded with people, Parisians and tourists alike.  The joie de vivre of the place was palpable as people rushed off to dine at one café or another. 

Parked in front of Henri and Danielle's flat was a black Mercedes Benz Coup.  As soon as the car's driver saw Lex, he leaped out of the car and opened the backseat door.  After they were settled, the driver started the car and pulled away from the curb.

"Where to?" Lex asked.

"I don't know.  I've already visited the Louvre and Notre Dame."

"Have you been to the Eiffel Tower?"

"It's closed for repairs."

"Jean-Paul," Lex said to the driver.  "The Eiffel Tower."  Quickly he pulled out his cell phone and made a quick call.

After he'd finished, Lana turned to him and said, "I didn't know you spoke fluent French."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," he said as he pushed a button, causing a partition to rise, closing them off from the driver.

Suddenly Lana's cheeks began to color and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.  Gingerly, she touched her neck; it was warm. 

She didn't know why she felt shy and nervous.  But Lex was right; there was a lot she didn't know about him.  She did know he had his soft side though.  He'd come to the airport to wish her well when she'd left for Paris, the only person to do so.  He'd patiently taught her self-defense techniques after those frat boys had threatened her.  And, he'd kept the Talon open even though it was losing money just because he'd known how much it meant to her.

"How is everyone back in Smallville?"

"The same.  Chloe is still Smallville's roving reporter, and Clark is still Clark."

Clark Kent.  She hated to admit it, especially to herself, but he was one of the reasons she'd decided to come to Paris.  She'd had romantic feeling for him once, and knew that he had felt the same, but something had held him back.  Well, she'd had enough.  It was time for her to move on.

"How do you like Paris?"  Lex asked her.  "Really."

"Truthfully, I'm out of my element.  Big surprise huh," she said self-deprecatingly. 

"We're here sir," Jean-Paul said in English over the car's speaker.

Standing before them was the Eiffel Tower in all its steel magnificence. 

"Wow," Lana said looking up.  "How far up do we have to climb?"

"We could walk, but I was thinking of taking the elevator."

Lana quickly hopped out of Lex's car; he climbed out leisurely after her.

They entered a yellow box that Lana didn't think looked particularly safe.  As they ascended, she could feel herself beginning to panic.

"Lana, are you okay?" Lex asked, a concerned look on his face.

"I'm fine," she began.  But as the elevator lurched forward, she gasped, "No, I can't breathe."  It was if someone had wrapped a vise around her heart and lungs and was squeezing them for all they were worth.

"Relax," he said as he put his arms around her.  She could smell the light sent of his cologne.  She'd always liked it and had meant to ask him what it was, but the opportunity never presented itself.  She could also feel his muscular arms through the jacket, and they made her feel safe.  Clark had made her feel safe, but there were too many secrets between them.  Whitney had made her feel safe, but he was dead, killed in Afghanistan.

She sighed and without thinking, leaned against Lex.  Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms tighter around her.  Why, she wondered, as she became lost in his scent and the feel of his body against hers, had she never noticed how sleek, strong, and powerful he was.

"We're here," the porter said clanking open the elevator's doors.  Quickly, Lana's eyes flew open and she pulled away from Lex.

"Sorry," she said embarrassed.

"That's okay.  Feel better?" he asked.

"Yeah.  Thanks."

Tentatively, she stepped out of the elevator and onto the Tower's deck.  Before her lay all of Paris.  Lights from the surrounding buildings and the cars below blinded her. 

"Oh god, Lex.  It's beautiful," she said smiling up at him.  Lana noticed that he looked pleased and for some crazy reason that pleased her.

"I'm glad you like it."

Slowly she made her way to the Tower's edge.  Against her better judgment, she peeked over.  Suddenly, the cookies she'd eaten earlier that day began to make their way back up from her stomach into her throat.  "I think I'm going to be sick," she said edging back.

"Uh oh," Lex said as he rushed to grab her.  "Take a deep breath."

Lana stood and turned into his chest.  She could hear his heart beating through the silk fabric of his shirt.

"I'm so sorry.  I seem to be saying that a lot today.  Sorry," she said again then laughed.

"That's okay," Lex said drawing her closer to him with one hand and stroking her long brown hair with the other.  "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.  Is there somewhere else you'd rather go?"

"Let me see," Lana said pulling back.  She thought about it for a minute.  "Mmmm.  Let's walk along the Seine.  I know it's totally pedestrian, but I want to do it anyway."

"Sure," Lex said as he offered her his arm.  She took it and with some trepidation, entered the elevator, closing her eyes as they headed down.  Lex moved behind her, then wrapped his arms around her.

"Lex," she began, her eyes still closed as the elevator jerked down.  "I like your cologne.  What's it called?"

"Aramis," he said.  "It was my mother's favorite."

"Nice," she said as she leaned back against him.

            Ten months after Lex Luthor had taken her to new heights, Lana Lang sat in Starbucks, formerly the Talon, across the table from Chloe Sullivan.

            "Tell me everything," Chloe said as she leaned over her café americano.     

"What can I say," Lana replied as she tossed her hair out of her face.  "Paris was great.  I stood face to face with the Mona Lisa.  I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower.  I walked along the Champs Elysées and the Seine."

            "Wow," Chloe said as she leaned back.  "It must be hard coming back to Smallville after all that."

            "Honestly, I really missed this place.  A lot has changed since I left."  Now that the Talon was a Starbucks, the Egyptian figures painted on its walls had been replaced with innocuous wallpaper.  Not surprisingly, the Smallville High kids no longer hung out there.  Instead, the clientele now consisted of young professionals, college students, and couples with small children.  Smallville had seemingly changed from a small Kansas town to suburbia.  "I was sorry to hear about Pete's parents.  Is he adjusting any better to Wichita Falls?"  After his parents' divorce and his mother's acceptance of a federal judgeship, Pete had moved with her to the area.

            "It's still kinda hard for him, but I think he's adapting."

            Lana had deliberately chosen a table near the front door, so every time the door's bell chimed, she automatically looked toward it. 

            Chloe followed her gaze, then said, "Clark couldn't come.  He said something about having to help his dad."

            Lana blushed.  Clark Kent had been a major source of tension between them for a long time so of course Chloe would assume she'd been looking for him, but how could she tell Chloe that it wasn't Clark she was looking for?

            "How is Mr. Kent doing?" Lana asked avoiding Chloe's gaze.

            "Okay, I guess.  You know how tight lipped the Kents are."

            She did, Lana thought as she broke off a piece of biscotti and popped it into her mouth.  

            "You look great Chloe.  Having your room to yourself again must have agreed with you."

            "Hey roomie, I'm glad you're back," Chloe said then playfully punched Lana in the arm.  "Speaking of looking great.  I can't get over your hair."

            "It was time for a change."  Instead of trailing down her back, it was now shoulder length, cut into a stylish asymmetrical bob, a new look for a new life. 

            "Mmm," Chloe said.  The bell over the door rang again.  Out of habit, Lana looked toward it.  Her heart stopped.  He really is quite handsome, she thought as she unconsciously brought her hand to the back of her neck.

            "Welcome back Lana," Lex Luthor said as he approached the table. 

            "Hey Lex," she said, her voice catching.  Did Chloe notice?

"How was Paris?"

            "It was great.  Thanks for upgrading my seat from business to first class.  It was a nice surprise."

            "Don't mention it.  It was the least I could do for my partner," he said then smiled at her.

            After almost a year of dating Lex, he could still make her feel like a giddy school girl.  In fact, at that very moment she had the urge to grin like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, but suppressed the impulse.        

In her letters home to Chloe, she'd failed to mention that she'd gotten romantically involved with Lex.  Why?  A number of reasons.  One, she wanted to savor the relationship, keep it her and Lex's little secret.  Secondly, she didn't know how people would react.  Lana Lang and Lex Luthor, who would have thought it?  Lex was rich, powerful, and smart.  She, on the other hand, was just a small town girl.  Most importantly of all, how was Clark going to react to the news?  Lex was his best friend.  Be that as it may, Lana had convinced herself that there was no way Clark could still be harboring romantic feelings for her.  She hadn't seen him in a year and their 'relationship' had been awkward at best before she'd left. 

            "Lana.  Lana," she heard Lex say as if they were in a wind tunnel.  Shaking herself from her reverie, she immediately noticed him looking at her, an amused look on his face.  "Stop by the mansion later so we can talk more in depth," he said.

            "Yeah, sure."

            "Great," he said then walked up to the Starbucks counter.  After paying for and receiving his order, Lex turned, waved at Chloe and Lana, then walked out of the coffee shop.

            "Earth to Lana.  Earth to Lana," Chloe said, eyeing Lana suspiciously.  "What was that about?"

            "What?" Lana said as she brushed imaginary dust from her black cotton skirt.

            "You spaced out for a few seconds.  If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had a thing for Lex."

            Lana avoided the other girl's eyes. 

            "Lana," Chloe pressed.

            "Don't be silly.  Of course, I don't have a thing for Lex," she said.  Unfortunately, she sounded unconvincing even to herself.

            "Lana Lang," Chloe said incredulously.  "You and Lex Luthor.  How did that happen?"
            "I don't know.  He was in Paris on business … a friendly face from home … one thing lead to another.  You can't tell anyone though.  Promise me Chloe."

            "I promise.  I promise.  But …," Chloe began then trailed off, uncertainty creeping onto her face.

            "But what?"

            "Does Clark know?"

            "Does Clark know what?" a male voice said from the doorway.