A.N. This chapter goes by rather quickly, and at the end of the chapter I'm pretty sure it will be a 'hate Lex' moment but I promise he will redeem himself in the end. On an off topic note watched Hostel last night and all I can say is damn, loved the movie but that was gory even for me. I was covering my eyes in some spots, peeking through my fingers of course. Great movie if you like horror, not for the squeamish.

Chapter 4 of 5

"Ok so you promised me lunch," Liz sits next to Lex in his Porsche, "but all I'm seeing is the country." She teases lightly, with her parents other wised occupied she left them a message on their cell phone telling them the game plan for her that day and who she'd be with for the entire day. Liz can just imagine her father's reaction to her going with Lex.

Lex brings her hand up to his mouth and kisses the soft skin, "Patience is a virtue." Originally he was planning to return to Smallville this morning but Liz changed that when she agreed to go to lunch with him that afternoon.

At first he made reservations for a very fancy and expensive restaurant but at the last minute he canceled the table. Instead he called in his favorite cooks and had them prepare various foods, put them together in a picnic basket, and he was going to take her about twenty miles out of Metropolis to a slice of country he owned.

The land they are driving to is where he has been planning to build a home for him and his future family, but for now it is gloriously bare except for trees, grass, and the occasional animal cutting through. Easily Lex maneuvers his car like a pro along the curvy road taking Liz to a 'secret' place, secret only because he refused to tell her.

"Alright, fine, I can be patient…for a little while, so where were we on the 'Getting to Know You Game'?" She questions him.

"I believe you were about to tell me about the time you won a date off a radio show."

Liz turns to him; she wasn't about to talk about that. "Wait a minute…I never even mentioned that before. How do you know about it?" Liz keeps her tone teasing but her mind is in a panic, how can he know that?

"Luthor Corp sponsored many radio dates that year," It was a great way to get good PR enough to overshadow a small infraction he had last year. "Your name was one of the fifteen that was pulled. I believe you went out on a date with one of my employees."

"You have your fingers into everything don't you?" She shakes her head, of course it would be something like that, she has to stop thinking everyone had an ulterior motive. It's not a huge shock to her that she automatically thinks the worse of someone, it's what she's been conditioned to think after two years.

It takes only ten more minutes to make it to the secret spot Lex is taking her too. Along the way they continue their 'game' of one person telling the other something personal about themselves and then they switch.

"Here we are," Lex stops his car and throws out his hand, "the place where I'm going to build my future family home." He turns his gaze toward his passenger and is delighted by the sparkle in her eyes, she likes the spot.

"This place is beautiful Lex. I'm sure whoever you build a family with is going to love it too." Liz couldn't even begin to explain why that thought brought pain to her heart, Lex had every right to find someone to share his life with…but why can't it be her? Coughing uncomfortably she plasters a smile on her face, "So what's for lunch Mr. Luthor?" She smirks.

"Glad you asked." Lex leaves his car and jogs over to the other side his mid-length overcoat billowing behind him. The boy billionaire reaches the passenger door and opens it for Liz, holding his hand out he helps her out of the low riding vehicle and guides her to the trunk.

Unlocking the trunk he reveals to her a picnic lunch, complete with plaid blanket and fine china. The fine china seemed out of place but Liz warmed at the effort Lex put into this lunch. Standing on her tiptoes she kisses his cheek, "It's wonderful Lex. This is going to be a first for me, I've never had a picnic lunch before."

"Well then I'm glad I decided on this as opposed to the three-hundred dollar lunch I was thinking about." He grins good-naturedly, he picks up the basket, Liz grabs the blanket, and they walk hand and hand to a piece of land that is shaded underneath a tree. Getting settled on the now spread blanket Lex and Liz continue to talk about everything under the sun.

Roswell

It took only two days for the picture of Liz and Lex dancing the night away to reach the Roswell papers. Two out of the thirty or so pictures seem to be the most popular, pick up any magazine or newspaper and there would be at least one of the two pictures plastered on the front page.

Diane Evans called her children down when she saw the picture of Liz smiling up at the billionaire she wasn't quite sure it was her until she read the caption on the bottom. Boy Billionaire and Mysterious Princess of Roswell dance under twinkling lights of love.

Max's expression, after his mother showed him the photo's, changed from a curious and innocent teenager to one of rage and untapped fury. Before that instant Diane never would have been afraid of her son but she can't say that now. The stare he gave the pictures in the newspaper threatened to set the paper on fire, she was relieved when he stormed back up to his room.

Maria couldn't believe that Liz was dancing with the most eligible bachelor on the face of the planet. Seeing Liz smile up at the bald man hit something inside of her. Ever since they had become apart of the Alien Abyss Liz stopped smiling—or at least genuinely.

How could she have missed that? Why did she turn her back on her best friend? Answers that would have come easily to her only a day before left her. She's known Liz ever since they were in diapers. Their mother's were best friends since elementary school and she took the side of people she's only known for two years?

She's been so wrapped up in Michael and everything alien that she forgot about her friend. A single tear trails down her cheek, this couldn't continue. As soon as Liz comes back she'd make things right with her. They'd yell, scream, cry but in the end everything would be out and they could start to build their friendship again.

Metropolis

The past four days have been wonderful for Liz; she couldn't remember when she's had so much fun. After their day in the country with a picnic lunch Lex took her back to the hotel, where he immediately asked her for a second…well third date if she counted the party as well. Lex had been so amazing and warm and such a blast to be around that she agreed.

He took her to see an ice show; Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Ice. The day before she told him that she used to love going ice skating, her mother would take her every weekend since the time she was 8 till she a few weeks after her tenth birthday. Unfortunately she stopped after she broke her arm; she hasn't been on the ice since.

Sometime during the conversation yesterday Liz had mentioned that her favorite Disney movie was Beauty and the Beast. When Lex asked why Liz explained her fascination with the tale; Belle didn't come from a rich family and she was happy in that life, no abuse from the step-family, no evil Queen's trying to stop Belle from getting her true love. Although there is Gaston he gets his just desserts in the end.

Belle even fell in love with him, the Prince, while he was still the Beast. She didn't fall for the handsome looks of the Prince she fell for who he was even furry and snarly she loved him. Plus a huge selling point is the fact that Belle read everything, she couldn't get enough of reading books, it made her an outcast but she didn't care about that.

For these four days she hardly saw her parents except for a brief moment in the morning and then after Lex dropped her off at her room. Mom and Dad told her that she had to call them when she got in or she wouldn't be able to go back out with Lex the next day.

Everything was going great till today, with a heavy heart Liz continues to pack her things. She just got finished telling her parents that she wants to go home now. As she shuffles passed a mirror she takes a good look at her face, her cheeks are red and blotchy, and her eyes are puffy like someone socked her good on each eye. Even her lips are effected by her sadness, raw and chapped, God they'd be sore tomorrow, it'd hurt to do much of anything.

Today a switch had turned on or off depending on how she saw it; she and Lex as usual had made plans to go out on another date. However her powers, they had been going hay-wire, she couldn't control them at all, not even the little bit she had learned in the two weeks since they've surfaced. When it became obvious that it wasn't getting better she called Lex to cancel, told him she wasn't feeling so good and wanted to stay in.

Lex offered to come over and take care of her for the day but she quickly told him that it was all right she'd be fine and she didn't need his help. She hated how she sounded on the phone like she didn't want him around any longer but what the hell else was she supposed to do tell him to come on over and let him enjoy the light show she was putting on? Maybe she could even charge admission to the kids at the hotel make some quick cash.

Swallowing passed the lump in her throat she crawls into bed, she just needs a few hours of sleep and everything would be fine. Did she really believe that a nap would solve her problems right now? No, not really, but what else could she do?

Penthouse

The dial tone sounds in his ear, he just got off the phone with Liz. She didn't sound right, in the few days they've been together she's never been so curt to him. Did he push her too much, too fast? They came so close to making love two nights ago after dinner, he'd taken her back to her hotel and she invited him inside. It didn't take long for them to end up sprawled on the bed easing clothes from one another, but she stopped him, told him she was sorry but she wasn't ready yet.

He understood, don't get him wrong he had a nasty case of blue balls but he wouldn't push, Liz meant too much to him. Lex sits down on his couch in his Metropolis penthouse, his butt barely brushes the fine leather when his father bursts into the room. Lionel Luthor always did have to make an entrance no matter how unneeded.

"Not really in the mood Dad," He's busy with trying to figure out what is going on with Liz. Besides going down there himself there is no sure way to find that out. Did he read her completely wrong, was she really just out for his money? Being one of the richest men in the world it wouldn't come as a shock but Liz—Liz seems so different, like she didn't care about money, fame…she just wanted him.

"Afraid this can't wait Lex. Do you have any idea who Elizabeth Parker is?" He jumps right to the chase. This couldn't wait. "First off that little girl you've been gallivanting with around town is only seventeen, you can be put in jail. Secondly Ms. Parker is being investigated by the FBI what kind of small town girl is investigated by the FBI?"

"Yes I know Liz is seventeen, I've known since I first became interested in her story how old she is. But you've slept with fifteen-year-old girls so don't throw stones Dad. As for the FBI I don't know and I don't care." He refused to let his father get between him and Liz, whatever his ploy is it won't work.

"Had a feeling you wouldn't be deterred, so maybe what I have to say next will change your mind. Liz isn't just a sweet innocent Inormal/I girl, my sources have told me that she's neck deep in a conspiracy. Just watch this tape and then make up your mind." Lionel sets the tape gently on the table and leaves the room, no way in Hell will Lex be able to resist looking at that tape.

He tried, really he did try to not view the tape but he had to know what his father claimed to have on Liz, then he could make up his own mind. Slowly he plugged the tape in and watched in silence as the video played. The camera had to have been positioned somewhere outside a window it doesn't take long for Liz to enter the shot hurrying through her door and shutting it behind her.

Lex stares in amazement, shock, and a little bit of horror as she slides down her door holding her head, he can barely hear her say 'stop, stop'. Across the room a lamp shatters, Liz threads her fingers through her hair, small lines of green can be seen on her hands it looks like electricity. Her bed begins to shake, followed by other items, tables, chairs, and mirrors all shaking like an earthquake is happening and abruptly the camera turns off.

The power button is pushed and the TV shut off. Lex stands and paces around the living room, what the Hell does this mean? Is Liz human, is she an advanced human, is she made, so many choices of what she could be and none of them were plausible…right? Then again, Meteor rocks aren't exactly of the norm either; he has to see her.

Hotel Room

She'd been laying in bed for two hours when a knock came to the door, figuring if she just ignored the sound the person on the other side of it would go away. With a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door she doubted it was a maid coming to clean the room. If it were her parents they would have spoken through the door letting her know it was them.

After a few minutes when no other knock came she assumed the person left, needing something to drink she rose from the bed to get a glass of water. What she didn't count on was Lex being on the other side of that door, let alone sporting a key to her room.

She deduced that he thought she was sleeping and would surprise her by being there when she woke up. Oh he surprised her all right, so much so in fact that when she turned around to face the intruder green bolts of electricity crackled from her fingertips to above Lex's head shattering the glass door next to him.

"Oh God Lex," He just staring at her. Staring at her like she's some Ithing/I. "Lex I can explain." Please, would he stop looking at her like that, she's still the same damn person he met just with extra gifts. Anger surges through her body, how dare he stare at her like she's a monster, no, she needs to breathe, needs to control this, she can control this.

"Stay away from me." Lex murmurs out, he narrows his eyes at her, shakes his head and leaves the room jogging away from the room, away from the hall, away from her.

"Lex, please!" Liz yells from inside her room, she collapses to her knees and lets out a cry of utter anguish. After she pulled herself together she went upstairs to her parent's room and begged them not to ask her any questions but to take her home. She needed to go home. Amazingly when she blasted above Lex's head that was enough for her powers to snap back into control.

Nancy asked her one question, "Is this about Lex?" Immediately she broke down, tears flooded passed the damn she built and she didn't stop crying. Her mother held her for forty-five minutes soothing her frazzled emotions and crooned a soft lullaby to her as she cried out her aches. Every sadness, every anger, every pain was let out and while her stomach clenched and gurgled with nausea and her head pounded from a killer headache she felt better.

Liz didn't think she'd ever feel better. The pain and sadness is still there from Alex dying and Lex crushing her heart but it didn't hurt quite so much. Jeff and Nancy told her to go pack her things; they'd leave within the hour. Respecting her wishes they didn't ask her any questions, she'd talk when she was ready and they'd be there when she was.

TBC