"Built in 1869, it is one of the oldest buildings in Metropolis. It used to be the house of one of the city founders," Chloe pointed out as they stood in front of a very old looking house with lights and greenery up its walls, the valet had already taken the car. "until they turned it into a French restaurant in 1900 or so, due to his wife's love for Paris. Romantic, don't you think? Not quite a place to talk business if I may say so" she looked up at Lex as he led her to the entrance.

Lex let a crooked grin to his lips.

"You never cease to amaze me, it seems your brain is constantly connected to the internet." He decided to avoid the last piece of her speech. The door was opened and they were greeted with beautiful music she guessed was French. "Now I understand why my father hired you. Nothing can get by you, right?" He then turned to mention his name for the reservation and they were immediately led to their table

"Well, I try my best." She said as they walked to their table.

Once they were sitting, they were brought the menu and they examined it silently. Chloe broke the silence.

"I thought you said Bach, not French ballads" she said looking at him with a smile dancing in her eyes from above her menu.

"huh, Bach? Oh yes, I did say that didn't I? This is much more relaxing, don't you think?" he swept his arm to the cozy, candlelit environment around them. Her smile vanished and she let the menu drop. Sensing her change in attitude he continued. "We will talk after we eat, I seldom do business with women, so maybe I did exaggerate on the place, but please, enjoy." He lied, but he was glad to see that she didn't know that much about him.

"Okay, but promise me one thing?" she looked at him seriously. His stomach tightened, maybe she did know.

"Sure, what ever the lady wants." He laid back in his chair.

Silence reigned for a couple of seconds.

"You order for me, everything here is in French, and I don't understand anything. I could end up ordering raw meat, for all I know." Her eyes danced with enjoyment at the place and the company. Her smile bright and open.

Lex maintained a serious demeanour, but inwardly relaxed. This was going to be easier than he thought.

"Very well, like I said, whatever the lady wishes."

Technically it wasn't a date. After Clark had gotten the guts to kiss her, she agreed to talk to him, after she closed the Talon. He was there, but she hadn't closed yet, so he sat back in one of the tables to wait. He felt like he had never felt before, yet there was this nagging feeling inside him that told him something was missing, there was something else to do. For once he didn't have to cover his back or rescue someone, and that felt oddly wrong. He shifted in his seat as the uncomfortable thoughts flooded his mind. Should he tell her the truth? He had nothing to show off now, so how could he convince her? He hadn't thought of that before, maybe he should wait until this week was over. He just wanted her to be with him for him, not for his alien powers.

"I'll be right there, I just need to finish up some orders." Lana's soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He caught most of it to understand. He nodded in agreement and flashed her an understanding smile.

"Don't worry, I won't be running off anywhere." He said in a serious tone, his eyes penetrating hers.

Lana let out a sad smile and turned away.

"At least not for a while." He whispered at her retreating back.

She set the tray down and looked back at Clark, who was staring at her. She smiled and turned again. She wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing, giving him another chance. He somehow always managed to run off, or to hurt her one way or the other. But added to Pete's word of advice she remember summer was coming soon and the high school gang would go separate ways, she would be pretty naïve if she thought they would all stay here. She wasn't sure if she would. She let out a deep sigh and sat behind the counter. She had to close some orders so she could close the door and be alone with Clark. The thought scared her and exited her all at once.

"Do you want me to close the door Lana?, people are still coming in." a short girl asked her boss.

"Yeah, you do that. It's time to close anyway." She saw as the girl closed the door, and proceeded to clean the tables that weren't occupied.

What was he going to tell her, she wondered. His long kept secret? If there even is a secret. She tried to imagine an honest Clark, a secure arm she could count on anytime. But she couldn't, Clark was mystery and stolen moments of comfort and romance. She knew she was selfish, wanting to have him like she had had Whitney, but they were two different people.

"Way different" she said out loud. She let her gaze wander to Clark's table, he was reading something so she took the chance to examine him. He was handsome, tall, and had the face of a god. He had tried so hard to go unnoticed, but that was just not possible.

So many things had happened between them that she didn't know now whether she could accept him just how he gave himself to her, the mystery unsolved, just him. I guess its time to stop pressuring him. Maybe then he will open up. it wasn't curiosity, just the need to know and understand completely this enigma of a man she had grown to love.

"Wow, delicious." Chloe let a deep groan escape her throat as the taste of the veal conquered her senses.

Lex smiled coyly at her reaction, suddenly feeling jealous for the piece of food in her mouth.

"Are you this passionate about everything?" he asked leaning closer into the table. He had finished his food already, but Chloe was taking her time.

She laughed sheepishly into her hand as she realized what her reaction may have sounded like.

"Oops, sorry, its just so good!" she said as she cleared her throat. "Besides, as an investigative reporter I am not very patient, but when it comes to knowing about something, you have to be. And I am getting to know this wonderful piece of art."

"Glad you are enjoying it. That was the point." He leaned back in his chair.

"I thought the point was to talk business." She had said that word so much in her brain and out loud that it sounded funny now.

"What is the lady laughing at now?" his curious gaze trying to penetrate the dancing eyes before it.

"sorry, its just that," she took a deep breath to calm her laughing. "haven't you ever said a word so much that it loses its meaning?"

"No I don't think so." She was ever so cheerful and childlike that Lex suddenly felt trapped in her laugh.

"Yeah, look, say business 5 times in a row." Her eyes were still laughing at him.

"Here?" suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh come on, just say it, its not like I am asking you to dance on the table or something." The laugh took voice again in her mouth.

"I don't think I ever knew you this way. You were much more serious when you started working for my father." His abrupt change in the conversation made her smile vanish.

"Well that's probably because that was a very tough time for me." Her eyes wandered to the quaint lamps that were on top of every table until she reach theirs, then her gaze turned to her hands in her lap. "I had forgotten to enjoy life the way Chloe only knew how." She looked up at him, her look now had a shield on them, her face serious and dark. That how he remembered her. "That's what my father said."

"What happened, I mean, what made you change again?"

"What is this? And interview, Mr. Luthor?" she smiled straight into his eyes.

"Not exactly. I just want to know to what do I owe meeting the real Chloe Sullivan." His ever so clear eyes seemed more on an inquisition than ever.

"I guess that would be Time. One can get tired of suffering don't you think?" Something hit her like ice and she suddenly forgot her food. "why are you so interested Lex." Her questioning tone heightened by the minute. "Not that I don't enjoy your company, I do, but after the first lie, and now this, I can only wonder." Her eyes now turned cold.

"What are you talking about, I thought we were having a good time." Lex stiffened at the change in attitude of the blonde in front of him.

"Never done business with women before? Please, who do you think I am? And all this talk about me, I can't believe I fell for that!" she was getting madder by the minute as she realized how exposed she had been. How could she ever think that he could be interested in her, well maybe, but to get something from her, like everyone else. Having remember why she had been so sad lately made her remember her bitterness and distrust to the whole male population.

"Wait, what is going on? we were talking perfectly fine just a minute ago." For once Lex felt at loss for words, he didn't know what had gone wrong.

"Just take me home Luthor." Her voice cold and her eyes shooting razors at the bald young man in front of her. "I will be waiting outside." She couldn't stand being made a fool anymore. She stood and walked towards the door, leaving Lex a little over perplexed and with the bill to pay.

The Talon was silent, most of the lights were off, just two twinkled atop of a table, Lana and Clark sat in front of each other. Everyone had left and she went to sit with him. None had said a word, they simply stared, replacing words with forlorn gazes and soft touches. Clark broke the silence.

"You are so beautiful. Did I ever tell you that?" he said, not waiting for a response he continued. "I probably didn't, not out loud at least." His fingers played with hers on top of the table. "but that's before, now its now." She opened her mouth to say something, he stopped her placing his hand on her mouth, "I just have to say this first okay?" his fingers lingered on her lips as he traced her mouth with his thumb. "I don't know what tomorrow will bring me, but I want to have this today with you. All I am asking for is the present. I am asking you to forget the past and not think of the future, just today."

She took his hand and held it tightly against her cheek.

"Just today." She repeated and looked up at him. "For so long I worried about my past, my parents, my father, my aunt. It was the only thing I could count on, and now you are asking me to forget everything, pretend nothing has happened between us and live today." She put his hand down on the table, covering it with her small hand.

"Yes, just be with me, please." He turned his hand and enveloped her small one in his.

"That's a pretty tall order, even for you Clark, But okay. I guess I want that too. I want us to work, I don't care how long, even if its just for a couple days, but I want it to work." She smiled and surprised him by leaning over the table and planting a firm kiss on his lips. "Take me home Clark." He stood and walked around the table until he was right in front of her.

"I love you Lana Lang." She looked up at him as tears welled up in her eyes. Having said it out loud, suddenly he felt his soul bared in front of her. He leaned in for a kiss and she willingly took it and kissed him back. The taste of her tears mixed with that of the sweet kiss. He wanted to hold her tight, until they could become one, all their fears and distrust were in that kiss, they wanted to make them disappear.

But only fools can live the present forgetting the past and ignoring the future.