A/N: Okay, I'll be the first to say that things have been going down hill lately, but hopefully, this will be the last horrendous (and long) chapter and I'll get back on track. I don't know why I'm so sappy lately, but I promise I'm almost over it. And I want to apologize one more time for 'Solemn Vow.' The entire concept was awful and the editing was worse. Anyway, I think it's in a language that resembles English now and Lex isn't saying things he's not supposed to (rolling eyes), so if you want to give it another run, feel free, although I'm seriously considering removing it all together. Sorry about the obnoxiously long author's notes lately-and the abnormally long chapters. You guys rock, thanks for reading!

"Well, how does it feel?"

I nearly jump out of my skin. Lex is grinning at me from the stairs of Clark's loft.

"Like I'm finally qualified to go to college," I grin at him.

"Where's Clark?" Lex asks.

"Ran inside for a minute. Where did you disappear to after the ceremony?"

"My father called," his tone betrays his lack of expression.

"You missed an incredible dinner. Mrs. Kent out did herself."

He joins me on the sofa, "How many times has she cried today?"

I grin, "About a thousand. If she takes one more picture I'll be blind."

"Sounds about right."

"Did you enjoy the festivities of the Smallville High commencement?"

He grins a little wryly, "I've never heard so many fog horns outside of a football stadium."

"Classy, isn't it?"

"Quaint in an annoying sense," he offers.

"How about just annoying?"

He laughs, "That's about right. Although my favorite part was seeing my favorite people receiving their diplomas. Congratulations Chloe."

I smile, "Thank you."

"I liked the hat too."

I roll my eyes, "Here," I pick my mortar board up off the trunk in front of us and set it on his head.

"How does it look?"

"Ridiculous," I say, taking it off him.

We're quiet for a few minutes before I finally speak, "Lex, I-I just-I wanted to thank you again for taking me to the prom. I know it couldn't have been much fun for you at all."

He kind of shrugs it off, "It was important to you. I was happy to Chloe."

I'm still trying to figure out where this Lex came from, the one who's relaxed and jokes with me, then offers to take me to my prom so I don't have to go alone.

"It meant a lot that you were willing to do that."

He looks at me with this utterly inscrutable expression, and I have no clue what's about to come out of his mouth, "I'm sure you've noticed that things have been different since-since the trial," he says for lack of a better label. He doesn't want to say 'since I almost got you blown to bits' which is fine with me.

"We've been a lot closer," I acknowledge.

He nods, "My feelings toward you have changed quite a bit, and I think you realize that to some extent."

I don't say anything because it sounds like he's trying to say that he has feelings for me. Feelings like that.

"You've changed," I say softly. He had me worried for a while, but he came out of his mood, rebounded from the near slip into past reckless behavior, he's become a kinder, gentler version of himself.

"I've tried to anyway," he says, and before I know what's happened he's holding my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, "I've been trying to make myself worthy of you Chloe."

That takes several moments to sink in.

"Lex, why?"

His other hand brushes my hair out of my eyes, "Because I can't stop thinking about you Chloe. You've completely consumed me."

I shake my head at him, "But-Lex, you can have anyone-"

"I want you. Chloe, I've been holding this in for over a year. I can't do it anymore. You're out of high school, you're well past eighteen-I won't hide these feelings anymore."

He's got this completely honest and open expression on his face. For a second I want to ask if he's been taking lessons from Clark. But I know this is real. Lex wouldn't mess around like that.

"You haven't been doing a very good job hiding lately Lex. You took me to the prom."

He chuckles, "You still sound like you can't believe it.

"I can't. Why on earth would you want to do that? I don't care if it's me or Britney Spears, why would you want to go to a prom?"

"Britney Spears is disgusting Chloe. And I wanted to spend time with you. I'd have done anything to have you to myself for a whole night."

"You almost made my father have a heart attack," I giggle.

"I wish I could have seen his face when you told him," Lex grins, "which brings me to something else. Your father probably isn't going to appreciate this situation."

"I'm an adult Lex. Who I chose to spend my time with is my business. If he doesn't like it, he's going to have to get over it."

"I hate to alienate him-"

"Lex, he'll get past what ever problems he has."

My brain starts to function normally out of no where, "Lex, where's Clark? He's been gone for a long time."

Lex looks a little embarrassed, some thing I never thought I'd live to see, "I might have told our good friend that you and I were going to have a little chat and that he should leave us alone."

I grin, "So you were planning this?"

"Chloe, do you know how long I've waited to tell you this?"

I look down at our joined hands, "You could have told me sooner."

"Hindsight's always 20/20, right?"

When I lift my gaze he's suddenly very close. It's almost too late when I realize that he's going to kiss me. Not that I plan on making any protests.

His lip are soft against mine, completely undemanding, just a gentle caress. He doesn't push, goes slowly and when he finally coaxes my mouth open and slips inside I realize I don't ever want to kiss another man. This touch, his touch is all I ever want.