Later, after Lex had fallen asleep, Lana made her way back downstairs. She had every intention of getting in her jeep and driving over to the guesthouse to get her things settled. That arrangement was only temporary, at least until the condo Lex bought for her in Metropolis was ready. But a noise in the study drew her attention, and Lana felt a little like Alice in Wonderland as she entered the room.

Lionel Luthor was near the desk, concentrating on the conversation he was having on his cell phone.

"No, I don't think you understand, I want to find out when Bruce Wayne will be here in Metropolis, BEFORE he gets here. Old news doesn't do me any good, Myerson, so get with the program." He turned and seeing Lana, he nodded, bringing the conversation to an abrupt halt. "Just don't let me down again."

"Hello, Mr. Luthor, I was just getting ready to head over to the guest-house. I'll get out of your way." Lana turned to leave, but Lionel's smooth voice stopped her.

"No, no, Miss Lang, please." Lionel slid his phone into a pocket "We're practically family, now. The guesthouse? Well, Lex is certainly taking no chances with you." Lionel smiled, a shark smile, a crocodile smile, and Lana felt small and helpless.

Mustering all the bravado she could, Lana raised her chin. "It's temporary. I'm moving into a condo near school."

"Oh, yes." Lionel nodded, looking at her over his glasses. "That will be nice for you, won't it? Honestly, Miss Lang, my son has made very questionable real estate investments on your behalf. The Talon, now this loft condo near Met U. He's being quite generous, but I guess the usual diamond earrings aren't appropriate for Lana Lang." Lionel chuckled. " I understand you are quite devoted to truth, Ms. Lang."

"Who isn't?" Lana answered, feeling like Lionel was making fun of her. "I think that most people prefer to know the truth."

"Of course. I don't doubt it. I know that the truth was something that you and young Mr. Kent could not ever seem to agree on." Lionel continued to peer at her over his glasses, rubbing his chin with one long, elegant hand.

"That would be between Clark and myself, Mr. Luthor." Lana retorted, readjusting her purse on her shoulder. "It really doesn't concern you."

"It most certainly does concern me, Ms. Lang. You see, my son is used to playing things close to the vest – not showing all his cards to one person, so to speak. He has become very attached to you, for reasons that escape me, and with your penchant for rooting out 'secrets and lies', I think Lex will be very heartbroken, very fast."

"Lex and I have no secrets, Mr. Luthor." Lana said, feeling uncertain. "I trust him."

"Admirable, truly." Lionel took a step closer to Lana. "You trust him to tell you everything?
"Yes." Lana nodded.

"I heard him tell you this morning he has information on Clark Kent, information that would prove to you that Clark Kent is less than honest. When you see what Lex has to show you, I want you to ask yourself something." Lionel leaned forward. "Ask yourself if you are not just an addition to Lex's little Clark Kent oddity collection."

"Thanks, Dad." Lex drawled from the doorway, and Lana turned, her mind puzzling over Lionel's words, and yet her heart filled with gratitude for Lex and his perfect timing.

However, this Lex in the doorway was not the one Lana felt comfortable with. His grey eyes were cold, his expression stony and the very air around him charged with an energy that made Lana uneasy. "I can only imagine you've been trying to welcome Lana in your own" Lex paused, rolling the word around in his mouth. "unique style."

"Unique?" Lionel, the consummate actor, looked insulted. "I've been filling Ms. Lang in on the challenges of a relationship with a Luthor. It's the least I can do." Lionel laughed softly and bowed slightly to Lana. "I'll leave you in Lex's capable hands." He raised his eyebrows at Lana, and smiled his sharky smile again. "A beautiful addition to the collection, Lex. Good work." Lionel shook his head and left the room, but his leaving did not lift the air of foreboding Lana felt closing in around her.

"I'm sorry, Lana." Lex said, suddenly softer, warmer. "Dad can be hard to deal with."

"I felt like I was drowning in a shark tank for a minute." Lana replied, taking Lex's hand in her own, seeking comfort. It was like holding velvet covered steel.

Lex thought over Lana's description, then smiled. "I guess we could come across that way, if you aren't used to us. Next time, just leave the room when he's here. You sure you're okay?"

'I'm fine." Lana spoke bravely, nodding. "Lex, earlier you said something about showing me evidence about Clark being dishonest with me? What kind of evidence?"

Lex's mild expression flickered, his grey eyes flashed with a gleam Lana did not like.

"I guess I could give you the grand tour, if you're up for it." Lex said, squeezing her hand. All traces of malice vanished from him, and were replaced with a shimmer of insecurity, which Lana absolutely adored in Lex. "I hope whatever Dad said to you doesn't make you question my feelings for you, Lana. We're in this together."

"Just keep being honest with me, Lex." Lana smiled, cuddling close to him. "And you'll have nothing to worry about."

Fifteen minutes later, with the hum of florescent lighting overhead, Lana regretted her innocent assurances to Lex in the study. There would have been no way to be prepared for this room, no words could express what was going through Lana's head. The

Alice in Wonderland feeling she had experienced in the study was just a delicate hint at how Lana felt right now. She had stepped through the looking glass and everything around her made Lana question everything she had ever known to be true or believed about Clark, and Lex. This made even Chloe's old Wall of Weird seem just amusing by comparison. Everywhere, images of Clark, computer modeling of the accident Lex had when he first moved to Smallville, bullets, hunks of meteor rock, and even the pieces of the necklace that Simone had worn to hypnotize Clark. That was only the beginning, and Lana walked around the room, mesmerized, as she had when she first entered the Louvre in Paris last year. It was overwhelming, overpowering and Lana felt like she was being sucked out with an irresistible tide. And as repulsed as she was by being in the room, she could not stop herself from investigating it. There were images of the petroglyphs in the caves, a replica of the gravestone of Countess Isabelle Theroux, various artifacts from the temple in China, oddly enough, an octagonal piece of metal, with the petroglyphs from the caves embedded in it. She stopped at a photo of Clark, Chloe and herself, a candid snapped on a random day at the Talon. They were all so happy that day for whatever reason, and now, nothing could take back what Lana had seen, what she was learning, and how sick the presence of Lex was making her. She could not look at him at all.

"I don't know what to say, Lex." Lana turned away from the photo, her eyes landing on an illuminated copy of a legal document that turned out to be a copy of Clark's adoption papers. "I mean, why just falls short."

"Why?" Lex choked on the word. "Lana, you're a bright girl. Put it together."

"You're obsessed with Clark Kent. I get that." Lana nodded, keeping to the perimeter of the room, her eyes avoiding Lex, who was standing next to a block of twisted metal. "I don't want to ask why, Lex. If you are in love with him…" She trailed off hopelessly, searching for the right thing to say. "I know Clark isn't that way, but he'd…"

"Oh, come on, Lana." Lex sneered at her, his face a study in disgust. "I'm not some high school girl writing the name of the star quarterback all over my notebook. This is not about 'love' and 'desire' at all. Clark's secret isn't about whether he prefers blondes or brunettes, either." Lex paused and looked at Lana sharply. "You really don't see the where this all connects, do you?"

"No, I don't." Lana saw her own picture, the awful 'Time' magazine cover from after the first meteor shower. "I can't, Lex. Not right now. This is all a little overwhelming."

She laughed nervously and raised her hands in the air. "Look at this place. All you need is vial of his blood and a hair sample."

"I almost had the blood," Lex mused, then noting the horror on Lana's face, shook his head. He walked to her and ignored the fact that she flinched as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Lana, think about it. The second meteor shower brought a huge ship with it, big enough for those two aliens to arrive in. What if the first shower had a ship too, a small one, say big enough for a small child, oh, about three or four years old to ride in."

"Are you thinking Clark is like those aliens? That's ridiculous. Lex, I've seen him bleed a thousand times! My God, I watched him die!" Lana wailed, pulling herself from Lex's grip. "Clark is a lot of things, Lex, but this is going too far."

"Is it? Lana, it's the ONLY thing that makes sense. You watched him die, but you've never been able to explain the miracle of his resurrection." Lex reached for Lana again, but she moved out of his reach. "I've tried to tell myself it's not true, Lana. Do you think I want to believe that Clark Kent is like those aliens that nearly killed you?"

"I don't know what to believe, Lex." Lana looked around the room again. "So, is your father right? Am I just one more part of the collection, Lex? Another Clark Kent curiosity- the girl that lost her virginity with him? Do you need to know if I was HIS first too, Lex? Because I was." Her voice was pure venom. "Is that all you needed?"

"No." Lex hung his head. "I wish it were that simple, Lana. Because then I could just let you walk out of here and not care one way or the other." He looked up at her, and Lana could see traces of tears in his silver eyes, something she had never seen in all the years she and Lex had known each other. "I have your pictures in here, and now your actual testimony that you did sleep with Clark. That, for the purposes of this room would be enough. But, for me, it's not. I showed you this room, because its my darkest secret, my deepest fear, and I love you enough to share it with you. In the Greek myth, Pandora opens the box and lives to regret it. She never gets to give up the guilt and responsibility of what the box had inside. This is my Pandora's box, and I'm showing it to you."

"Lex?" Lana took a step toward Lex and stopped. "You showed this to me because you love me? You love me and you wanted to burden me with this?"
"Yes, Lana. I don't think we'd have any kind of chance going forward if you didn't know about all the skeletons in my closets. And I have plenty of them, believe me. Secrets and lies are what ended you and Clark, really, and you can't say that it wasn't. I don't want that to be what destroys us, Lana." Lex smiled ruefully and rubbed his eyes. "If you can love me in spite of this room, be my partner in nailing down this mystery of Clark Kent, then we can accomplish anything."

"But if Clark is one of these aliens, Lex, so what?" Lana took another small step in Lex's direction. "He's not hurt anyone, hasn't tried to take over the world. He's just Clark Kent, taking care of his family farm and going to school."

"It seems that way, Lana, I'll give you that." Lex closed the distance between them and took Lana's hand in his own. She did not pull away. "But if he is really one of the same kind of aliens that landed here this fall, then we need to know what he's capable of, and how to keep him in line if he tried."

"Lex, it was a leap for you to show me this room, to trust me with so much." Lana turned to him, the fear and revulsion she had felt earlier dissolving. "I can't say I understand all of it, or that I agree with your conclusion, but I'll help you, as much as I can." She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "I want to believe that you love me, Lex. That I'm not just a part of this insane collection of yours. I'm willing to believe all that, because I love you, too."

Lex pulled her to him in a possessive embrace that left Lana breathless. "Lana, I'll do what ever I have to so you never doubt my feelings for you. No matter what happens, we'll always face it, together."

Chloe had decided to go to Smallville about ten minutes after Clark had sped off. She knew she'd never catch him before he got back to Smallville, but the three hour drive would be enough for her to work out what went on in her room earlier. Clark loved her. It did not feel strange to think it, nor did it feel even slightly unreal, after dreaming about that very thing for years. Her feelings for him had never changed, except to mellow and grow. But, to let go enough to act on them? Chloe didn't know if she could. She'd spent too much time being Clark's best friend, and trying to forget about being in love with him, that she was afraid that when it all came down to it, she'd be the one hurting Clark, and not the other way around.

Closing her door behind her, Chloe marched out of the dorm and into the bright Sunday morning. She marched to her car and got in, setting her mp3 player for the long drive. Music was the best constant companion Chloe could think of – that and coffee, but Clark's declaration had pulled her out of her morning stupor better than any Kona blend could have. Chloe set her cell phone on it's dashboard mount and put the ear-piece in place. She turned the key in the ignition and suddenly got the feeling that there was no turning back from this moment. Whatever happened from right now would define the rest of their lives.

"Well, let's do this." Chloe said to herself. She put the car in gear and headed off to face Clark.

"Catch it, Shelby!" Clark threw the red Frisbee easily, and the dog jumped, his golden coat flashing in the afternoon light. Hanging out with Shelby was probably one of the most relaxing ways Clark could think of to spend his time. He didn't want to think about what Chloe's reaction would be. He had acted on impulse, but it had made sense and felt absolutely right. There'd be no blaming Chloe if she rejected him, Clark thought tossing the Frisbee again. I've been at the center of some really strange stuff, Clark thought, glad that at least Chloe knew his secret. If things went well, her knowing would help them get over hurdles that were sure to keep coming. Clark could not imagine life without Chloe, that was for sure. Clark watched as Shelby brought the Frisbee back, tail wagging.

Chloe's phone rang, and she answered it, touching the control on the earpiece.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Sullivan?" An unfamiliar male voice said, "This is Bruce Wayne."

"Get out." Chloe laughed. "Come on, Clark, this isn't funny. I'll be there in an hour and half.'
"I'm not trying to be funny, Ms. Sullivan." She could hear a smile in his voice. "I've not been accused of being funny often, either."

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Wayne." Chloe apologized quickly. "I thought you might be a friend playing a joke. After I found that I missed you at the concert yesterday, I've been kicking myself for not realizing you were, well., You – when I saw you with Clark, I mean. I would have loved an interview with you."

"Yeah, me too. "Bruce Wayne said amiably. "I did have to go, had an appointment in Gotham City I couldn't miss. So, I was thinking, if you haven't sent your piece about yesterday in yet, maybe we could set up that interview after all. I know it's Sunday, and I won't be back in Metropolis for at least a week."

"You're in Metropolis? Gosh, I'd hate to be your pilot." Chloe laughed, and Bruce Wayne did too.

"Yeah, he's got it hard. I do the flying and he plays video games in the cabin. It's a great arrangement. Anyway, Ms. Sullivan, I gather that you are on your way somewhere, so I'm not going to impose on your Sunday plans, but how about next Friday? I'll be in town for a lecture at Met U I'm giving on business ethics, we could get together after that."

"Are you kidding?" Chloe felt herself blush and willed the butterflies in her stomach to stop flying around. "That would be wonderful."

"Good. Tell your friend Clark that he's welcome too. I don't want to deprive you of your body guard."

"Oh, it's not like that," Chloe began, and then stopped herself. "But, I'm sure he'd like the chance to meet you again too."

"Great." Bruce Wayne said, his tone businesslike. "Friday evening, around seven" There was a long pause, and Chloe wondered what he was thinking. "See you then." He hung up, and Chloe gave a squeal of delight. What a story! She couldn't wait to tell Clark. And suddenly, any doubt she had about taking him up on his offer vanished. It didn't matter who hurt who this time, or if Lana made a surprise reappearance, reclaiming her right to Clark. Chloe laughed to herself, amazed that she had missed the obvious the whole time – Clark was right. He had always trusted her, even when she'd nearly betrayed him out of jealousy, the few times he'd been mad at her had ended with genuine forgiveness. She was willing to believe that he'd loved her the whole time and was too blinded by a childhood infatuation to act on it. Willing to believe it because after all of her own efforts to keep him strictly in her mind and heart as her friend, she never quite made it happen. She loved investigating with him, loved teasing him and spending time with him. Chloe even loved Martha Kent. There wasn't anyone else she wanted, no guy she'd ever been involved with that even came close to how she felt about Clark, none that caused her heart to leap every single time she looked at him. There was no other way to handle this situation, Chloe thought. And I don't care what happens, she told herself, her heart racing at the thought of seeing Clark at the end of the drive. She gripped the steering wheel tight, setting her mind on the next task, preparing for meeting Bruce Wayne on Friday. It would be a career-making interview, and Chloe could just about contain her excitement.

Bruce Wayne looked at the collection of papers around him. He'd closed on his purchase of Dr. Virgil Swann's research last week, but had only taken possession of some of the work last night. The idea had been to make sure it was all preserved at the Wayne Planetarium, all of the extraterrestrial research catalogued and assimilated into the daily star shows, with Dr. Swann himself providing the recorded commentary. Bruce had admired Dr. Swann greatly, and hated the fact that he'd been away when the great man had passed. That Wayne Industries would house the research had been a foregone conclusion, but there were huge pieces of information that Bruce could not figure out. Missing items, and the fact that the Luthors had been his main competition for the work had all bumped the issue up from a simple transfer of data to a mission quest that Bruce was not about to drop. He picked up a CD and popped it into the drive of his computer. A picture of a smiling Clark Kent appeared on the computer screen, and Bruce frowned at it thoughtfully.

"What have you got to do with Dr. Swann, I wonder." Bruce said to the picture on the screen. He'd give Chloe Sullivan an interview, as a hand up to an ambitious young reporter and a chance to actually meet her. But, if it also put him in contact with someone who was so central to Dr. Swann's research, then so much the better.

"Alfred?"

As always, the Englishman's voice replied, calm and cool through the intercom. "Yes, Mr. Wayne?"

"When you make the arrangements for my trip to Metropolis next week, find me a nice, quiet place for an interview, please."

"You're giving an interview, sir?" Alfred's shock was tinged with good humor. "With the blonde Ms. Sullivan of the Daily Planet?"

"Yes, Alfred. And make sure the reservation is for three, if you don't mind. She'll be bringing a chaperone."

Chloe pulled into the Kents driveway, and seeing Clark and Shelby on the porch, she honked her horn twice, waving. Shelby leapt from the porch and raced to the car, eager to be first to greet her.

"Hi Shelby!" Chloe hugged the dog, laughing as he licked her face. "I'm glad to see you too." Clark had followed his dog to Chloe, and stood smiling at her as she got out of the car. "Hello to you too, Clark."

"I had a different greeting planned, but Shelby beat me to it." Clark teased, taking her laptop and bad from her to carry in the house. I'm glad you decided to come over, Chloe."

"Me too. Clark, guess what?" Chloe pulled on his arm, excited. "Bruce Wayne called me."

"Called you? How did he get your number?" Clark asked, more than a little suspicious.

"I don't know." Chloe frowned herself, looking at her cell phone. "I guess billionaires have their methods. Oh, relax, Clark. I'm sure he just called The Planet and got it from someone."

"I suppose." Clark replied, "What did he want?"

"Okay." Chloe took a deep breath, smiling so wide Clark could barely stand to not hug her. "He wants me to interview him this Friday."

"Really?" They were walking up the path to the house, and Clark stopped. "I thought he didn't give interviews."

"I know. That's why this is such a big deal, Clark. Out of all the reporters in Metropolis, he chose me. And he even invited you to be there. Isn't that great?"

Chloe was so excited, and Clark nodded in agreement. He suddenly remembered

Bruce Wayne's warning about keeping Chloe close. It was all he wanted to do, but he wasn't going to hold on too tightly – Chloe needed to be happy, after all the years of waiting for him, if her feelings had changed, then Clark realized he'd have to accept that. Chloe was going up the porch steps ahead of Clark, and she turned abruptly, nearly knocking him backwards. Clark caught his balance, and when their eyes met again, both Clark and Chloe couldn't help but giggle.

"I've been thinking about your confession today, Mr. Kent." Chloe said, when the giggles passed, casually putting her arms around Clark's neck.

"Oh?" Clark was the picture of surprised innocence. "I forgot all about that."

"Clark!" Chloe shook him a little, and he laughed again. "You didn't!"

"I didn't forget, Chloe." Clark reached up to brush her hair away from her face. "I promised I wouldn't."

"I'm glad. I've known how I felt about you for, well, forever." Chloe said, resting her hands on Clark's shoulders. "I came here ready to tell you forget it, that I didn't think either of us needed to be hurt again this way. But it hurt to even think about that – keeping things the way they've been. I don't think I could stand it." Her eyes filled with tears, and she bowed her head. "Besides, I have to catch you before someone shows up with some other way to enchant you. Maybe if I love you enough, you'll learn how to avoid that stuff."

"If you love me enough?" Clark repeated, looking into her eyes. "Does that mean you still love me? That you're willing to give me a chance…"

"You know, Clark, I think we talk WAY too much." Chloe laughed, kissing Clark, who was finally all hers.