A/N: Second to the last chapter, not including the Epilogue… Now if you were following along with the movie, this would be the chapter that it would end. And, hey. If you don't like extra stuff, stop reading after this. :D

I'm terribly sorry that it's taken me SOOOOOOOOO long to upload the last three chapters. But I decided that since they were done, I would just upload them all. And once that is done, I will be uploading all the songs for those that are interested in just the lyrics.

Chapter 19

Chloe collapsed to the ground as it shook with a huge explosion. She could hear Lana screaming in fear near her, but couldn't raise the enthusiasm to feel sorry for her or even pay her any more attention. Plus, it kinda' seemed like Pete had her well in hand. She was just worried about Clark. She had been able to herd about 10 people out of the building, but that hadn't even been half of the people in there. And he had been so determined to save everyone. A tear rolled down her cheek. What if he had still been in there when the building had finally exploded? Even they had nearly not even reached minimum safe distance…

Pete brought his head up to survey the damage. An enormous crater resided where once the Luthor mansion had stood so proudly. No matter how much he had hated the Luthors, that castle had been a piece of history and a landmark in their small town. To have it be gone… "I've done a lot. Got knows I've tried. To hide the truth, I've always lied, but all I know is, down inside, I'm hurting…" He looked at Lana. Would she ever love him? Did he even want to find out? Why did he feel like his entire life had changed in one brief night?

Chloe had heard Pete's song and wondered at the pain there. Being the typical male teenager, you would have thought he was happy just to have sex with one of the most popular girls in school and make it out of that nightmare alive. After all, he hadn't had to fight off Lionel Luthor's advances… She lifted her head to stare at the crater and the tears started to flow freely. If Clark had been anywhere near that building, let alone inside, there would have been no way for him to have made it…

Misery clouded her vision for awhile, but then something curious made her wipe at them so she could see clearly. There in the smoldering remains, something stood upright and was moving toward her… She held her breath, refusing to believe it until she saw him up close. It only took a few breaths before the figure was miraculously right in front of her, bending over.

"Chloe?" Clark's welcome voice caressed her ears. "Are you alright?"

"Clark?" she quavered, hiccupping in happiness and relief. "You're not dead!"

He laughed. "It'll take a lot more than some stupid castle exploding to get rid of me." He helped her up into a sitting position. "Are you hurt?" he asked, one hand against the side of her face which she leaned into and the rest looking intently at her body as if he could see through her.

Chloe closed her eyes and smiled. "My super hero came to me. Dream made flesh, I feel at peace. And all I know is to my pain he's heeding." She pulled him down and kissed him deeply.

He lifted her to her feet and they looked into the crater. Chloe thought she was going to pass out as the scene before them started swirling, so she caught hold of Clark tightly. Nothing was going to rip him from her arms after all they'd been through! After a few moments, the scene cleared and they were all sitting on the comfortable sofas inside of the Talon. Chloe opened and closed her mouth a number of times, but nothing would come out. Of all the things that had happened, there was just nothing she could say to this newest anomaly.

Martha Kent stood before them, holding a tray of coffees. As she bent to place them before all of them, she started speaking. "And flying above the planet's face, a young man will save the human race. Just in time… He came from space. He's leading." Martha embraced Jonathan and seemed to snap out of her trance.

"I thought you could all use some coffee," she smiled. "Now drink up 'cause it's quitting time. I think everyone needs to get some sleep."

"You dose us with caffeine and then tell us to get some sleep?" Jonathan grinned, gazing at his wife fondly but with some newly realized passion flickering in his eyes.

Martha laughed. "OK, how about I need some sleep?" She gave her husband a hug before quickly gathering up the miraculously empty cups. "Lana, can you make it up the stairs on your own?"

Lana looked at her blankly. It appeared that the events of the evening were going to take her even longer to get over. When she made no move to respond or even more, Pete stood. "I'll help her upstairs, Mrs. Kent."

"Thank you, Pete. You're such a good boy!" Martha's back was turned to the young man, so she missed the wry face he pulled. But without another word, he put one of Lana's arms over his shoulders and half hauled her to her room. Within moments, he was back with them.

"What about you, Chloe?" Pete asked. "Won't your dad be freaking out?"

"Nah, he's totally out of town for the week." She tried to hide the trepidation she felt at being alone in her house while Lex was still acting so oddly.

Clark hugged her tight, for once not missing her non-verbal clues. "I don't think that's a good idea right now. Mom, Dad… Can she stay with us until her dad gets back?"

The two adults shared a knowing look, but they only shrugged. "Lex was acting rather murderous. If he felt like coming back to finish the job on any of us…" Jonathan trailed off, giving his son a good excuse but unwilling to further frighten the children.

Clark smiled. "OK, that's settled. Why don't you give Chloe a ride to our house and I'll drop off Pete and maybe pick up a couple of things for her…" Pete nodded his assent, still looking rather depressed. Maybe he had hoped that Lana would invite him to stay… Clark bent and gave Chloe another lingering kiss. But before she could open her eyes, he and Pete were gone.

At her bewildered look, the elder Kents just gathered her up and ushered her to the door. "Since you two seem to be even closer than usual now," Martha smiled, her voice revealing that she was holding back a giggle, "there are probably a few things you should know…" When they were all at the door, she turned back into the Talon and shut off the lights. "Leading," she whispered and then shut the door.

A/N: I hope you have been enjoying reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. The next chapter has some lyrics from the end theme song and then there's the epilogue. I would say review to tell me if you want me to continue, but they're practically written so they're going up no matter what. Now I just have to figure out my next attempt at fan fiction!

Snowbunny3: Thank you so much for your review. Short and sweet, but always encouraging. I appreciate you!

MarkMark261: You're the best proofreader ever! I appreciate you as well! ;D

Now, in regards to Lex killing Lionel, you're probably right. It would have been more in character to have Lex just throw his dad in jail, but there was just something satisfying with killing Lionel. Now, if it's true and stays true that he's turned over a new leaf, I may repent on some of my ire… :D

And Jason was blown up. It made me happy! (Didn't know I was quite this evil, did you?)