As Clark and Chloe pulled into the Kent driveway, a low slung black car also followed them down and stopped. Clark frowned into his rearview mirror and then grinned.

"Chloe, Bruce is here."

"Bruce? Really?" Chloe squealed, her eyes glowing. "Is Lois with him? "

"Um, no. Come on, let's go find out what's going on." Clark got out of the car, and walked over to the black sports car. "What are you doing? Slumming?"

"I was looking for some fresh pie, and I was told this was the place for it." Bruce replied, sliding out of his car, silent as a shadow. "Your mom called earlier today about some benefit day after tomorrow, so I thought I'd come out early." The two young men shook hands, and Bruce gave Chloe a brief and brotherly hug. He looked down into her face. "What's wrong with my favorite investigative reporter?"

Clark and Chloe looked at each other, surprised. "How do you know these things?" Chloe asked, leading Bruce to the house. "Don't say you read my face. It's too dark for that."

"I have your car bugged." Bruce said simply, and when Chloe sputtered in shock, he laughed. "I don't really, but you believed me. That's pretty funny." Clark laughed too, and Chloe folded her arms, eyeing them both. "I really did read your face, Chloe. It's not that hard."

"Just came from visiting my mom." Chloe replied, her expression still wary. She looked over at her car, the back at the young tycoon and Bruce shook his head, holding up his hands innocently. Chloe looked back at Clark, who shrugged as he walked behind them.

"You know she's going to have her car checked now for listening devices." Clark said, and Bruce laughed. Chloe turned and stuck her tongue out at Clark as they made their way up the porch steps and into the house. She flounced ahead of Bruce and pulled the screen door shut behind her with a slam, turning with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Get the bug out of my car, Wayne. No dinner for either of you until it's gone." Chloe said, smiling as she closed the interior door and turned the lock with a triumphant snap.

"You didn't really." Clark looked at his friend and Bruce shrugged, not at all embarrassed. Clark didn't need to Bruce to say anymore. "She'd kill you."

"No, of course not. I was tempted to put a standard GPS under the bumper, though."

Bruce looked back at Chloe's car, appraisingly. "Just in case."

"Don't do it." Clark said, although the thought of Bruce also looking out for Chloe was reassuring, Clark was certain Chloe would not appreciate being electronically tagged. He leaned forward and knocked on the door. There was a muffled giggle and then the door swung open, the smell of fried chicken washing over them. Kara stood in the doorway, smiling angelically, her slight frame a barrier,

"You can only come in if you've gotten the insect from Chloe's car." She said to Bruce, and he folded his arms and scowled at her, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Hello, Boss." Bruce said seriously. "There is no insect in Chloe's car."

"Are you sure?" Kara asked, wheedling. "Chloe thinks you are lying."

"Oh, Chloe does." Bruce looked at Chloe over Kara's head. She grinned at the men and took a large bite out of a chicken leg. "There is no "insect" in your car, Chloe. Okay, Boss?"

"You can let them in, Kara." Chloe said majestically, and Kara stepped aside, allowing Bruce and Clark to enter. As her cousin passed, she grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the kitchen.

"Something happened tonight before you got home." Kara told Clark when they got into the front hall. "My head hurt really bad, and I could hear everything – EVERYTHING." She winced remembering the sensation. "I also saw something."

"Well, I can see through things, so I guess it's something you'll be able to do too." Clark said, his hands on Kara's shoulders. "You said your head hurt?"

"I heard everything, the whole world." Kara explained. "Everything all at once. I felt like my head was going to pop. And then, I saw him, and it stopped."

"He? You saw a person?" Clark asked, and Kara looked over at the fireplace.

"Well, he's not there now." She sighed impatiently. "A little old man. Very old. Dark skin, white hair. I saw him in the living room, and he spoke to me. That's when my head stopped hurting. Now I can just hear things from far away. The Johnsons are going to Club Med. Aunt Martha says that's where humans go on something called vacation."

Clark stifled a laugh. "You can't listen in on people's conversations, Kara. Our abilities come whether we want them to or not. We have to learn to control them. This old man, what did he say to you?"

"I don't remember it now, just that when he spoke, his voice was all I heard. And then, I felt better." Kara looked up at Clark. "Just like that."

"Come on, you two." Martha called. "Chicken is getting cold."

Clark smiled at his cousin. "Tomorrow Chloe and I will take you to meet some people that know our secret. Maybe they can help us figure out what the old man is trying to tell you."

"I hope so." Kara said walking back into the kitchen. "Everything is so new…humans lead such confusing lives."

Clark laughed. "Take it from me, Kara, it only gets worse as you get older."

"Thanks." Kara sighed. "Not the answer I was hoping for."

Clark reached over and ruffled Kara's hair. "I know."

"Hey, Kent Family! I hope I'm not…." Lois came through the door, and stopped dead in her tracks, seeing Bruce happily eating fried chicken with Chloe and the Kents. She tipped her head to the side, and folded her arms as the screen door slammed shut behind her. "What are YOU doing here?"

"I was invited." Bruce said neutrally. "By Martha. I do have other reasons to be in Smallville other than being rejected. You made yourself clear." He took a glass of lemonade from Kara with a wink at the young girl. "Why not make the best of it?"

"Outside, now." Lois pointed, and Bruce languidly sat back, setting his fork on his plate. "I mean it."

"Hello, Lois. How nice to see you this evening." Martha said, rushing to Lois. "I'm so glad you could join us." Lois nodded to her employer, and stamped her foot, pointing more emphatically. Bruce, ignoring her, took a long drink from the glass of lemonade Kara had poured for him. Lois and Bruce locked eyes, saying nothing. Clark and Chloe exchanged amused glances as they passed mashed potatoes and gravy between them. After a long pause, Bruce rose, excusing himself and went outside, followed loudly by Lois. Again, the screen door slammed, but not loud enough to cover Lois' voice, fast and furiously scolding.

"Wow." Clark said, shaking his head as he dished out potatoes. "Bruce Wayne getting bullied by a girl."

"Oh, okay." Chloe laughed, taking the bowl. "Don't even start. " She grinned at Clark. "We could play 'remember when', if you want."

Martha and Clark laughed, and Kara pushed her hair behind her ear, and tuned in to the conversation between her friends outside. She looked up from her plate to see if anyone was paying attention, and found, to her utter delight, that Clark was also listening to the conversation outside. A giggle escaped her lips, and Clark looked over at her. Catching Kara's eye and conspiratorial grin, Clark half frowned knowing she was eavesdropping too. "That's enough, miss. Eat your dinner." Kara smiled, and applied herself to the food before her.

"Of all the low down, miserable things to do…" Lois spat, pacing. "After I told you that I thought we shouldn't see each other anymore…"

Bruce shook his head. "Look, if we're going to do this, I'd like to finish dinner first. I flew in from California and I'm kind of hungry."

"You think you're being funny, but you are so NOT funny." Lois retorted. "You're trying to change the subject."

"Lois, I'm not a stupid man." Bruce said, folding his arms. "I'm generally not one to put myself in this kind of position either. So think about it for a minute. The Kents are my friends. Chloe is my friend. I'm not going to avoid them because you think they're your territory. Whether I bump into you while I'm seeing THEM is really immaterial."

"This really isn't some ploy just to see me again?" Lois asked, suddenly subdued.

"This really isn't a ploy to see you again." Bruce repeated. "I told you, you were perfectly clear."

"Oh." Lois said, deflated. "I guess that's okay, then." Turning, she went to go into the house. "You'd better come finish dinner."

"Lois." Bruce said, coming up the path behind her. She turned, finding herself face to face with him. Bruce looked down at her, and smiled. "For the record, I don't agree with you. About us being over, I mean."

"Well, I, " Lois swallowed. "It's hard to think straight on an empty stomach, and with a full moon and all. Go eat. I know there's fresh pie."

"Don't think it's an empty stomach that's the problem." Bruce took her in his arms. "You are awfully pretty when you're mad, Miss Lane." He looked into her eyes, and Lois felt her resolve crumble. "Prettier when you're mad and in the moonlight. What a combination."

"Stop." Lois said, in a tone that hinted at something else. She hated herself for it, but she was hoping he'd kiss her.

"I'm not doing anything." Bruce let her go. "It's up to you now." He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly. "Come on, dinner is getting cold."

Lois nodded, and without thinking slid her hand into his as they walked up the steps.