A/N: The first part of this will be Clark putting the finishing touches on his apologies. Then hopefully I'll move onto some more details or the bigger pictures so hang in there!

Clark approached the Talon with caution. Lana was the person he had been most worried about. Every once in a while she accepted certain things but usually she took everything to the utmost personal level. He knew she would be hurt and angry. He also knew that she was the one person he would not be able to avoid.

As soon as he walked through the door he felt the urge to super speed away.Lana Lang looked at the unmistakable form of Clark Kent in the doorway and promptly dropped the glass she had been carrying.

"Oh my God...Clark?"

"Hey." He said shyly and looked at the floor for a few moments.

"So what brings you back to our quaint little town." She said venomously, annoyance dripping off of every word.

"I was so stupid. I blamed myself for a lot of things and just... left."

"This whole time I've been here wondering if I was the stupid one for turning you down on your offer to go along and now here you are trying to go back to how things used to be? I mean, at least that Clark said what he meant. You were completely honest with me and asked me to come along. But now here you are, back to lying to me. No real reason for your sudden return other then a change of heart. What would have happened if I had come with you? I'd like to think you would have stayed their. Because at least I knew that you would tell me anything without regretting it. I can't take being with you knowing your lying to me."

"I know that. I didn't come back to try and win you over. I just want to make it up to you."

"Clark you just don't get it. I have to admit I liked the you that left. The honest Clark. Thats not what you need to make up for."

"Lana what do you want from me?"

"Just what I want from everyone. To not be treated like a glass doll thats going to break. Despite popular belief I can handle truth." She said, the venom still hanging at every word.

"I'm sorry I can't give you every little bit of my life. Anyone who wants to be a part of my life has to accept it that way. Some things just won't ever add up."

"Well I'm sorry Clark. I just can't accept that." and with that, Lana turned and disappeared into the back room leaving a torn looking Clark standing there. Standing there waging an internal war on himself. At that moment he wanted to run and tell her everything. Instead he turned and walked from the Talon. At least he only had one person left to deal with.

Lex Luthor sat in his large library/office, starring at his computer. His father, having pulled a classic Lionel maneuver, wanted him to choose a department of the plant to lay off 40 percent of the work force. He couldn't bring himself to choose. How was one suppose to say "hey,you, you, you, and you. Sorry you're fired. Don't take it personally it's just business." As hard as the decision was, a part deep inside of him liked that he had that type of control over people's lives. If asked about it he would have denied it. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but the darkness was there. He couldn't get it out of him.

"Hey lex" he heard and instantly peered upward, only to be greeted by the face of a certain Clark Kent.

"Clark. When did you get back" The two embraced for a second.

"Yesterday." Was Clark's only reply.

"You know since you left I've had some interesting phone calls."

"Oh?" Said Clark, trying his hardest to sound surprised.

"And they all had something to do with a masked terrorist of sorts. Bank robberies, bar fights...threats. I've also had some people who could have sworn that this man looked an awful lot like you Clark."

"It wasn't me Lex. Come on... you know me."

"Do I? If these rumors were true it would explain what happened the day you came into my life Clark."

"Lex I thought we'd agreed you'd drop that. That was two years ago. Don't you think we should try living in the now?"

"Even though that was two years ago... this last summer... was very literally only a few days ago. Just tell me the truth Clark. Is there more to you then meets the eye?"

"Lex, stop investigating me. There's nothing to find." and Clark walked angrily from the mansion, and speed off as soon as he was out of sight. Or, rather, as soon as he thought he was out of sight.

Clark walked up to his loft to reflect. He knew he had his parents forgiveness. That was complete and good. He had Pete's forgiveness, well sort of anyways. He was still holding out hope for Chloe, which inside he thought, made no sense being as she had been the one he had hurt first hand. He had no clue as to whether Lana would come around, and now he was sure his little disappearing act had made it impossible to trust Lex whether he forgave him or not. It was difficult being Clark Kent. Thankfully, for the time being, it was about to get a little easier.

He sat on the couch in his loft thinking when he heard foot steps. He had never been so happy/nervous to see the spunky blond head of Chloe Sullivan appear at the top of the stairs. He immediately rose from his spot out of suprise.

"Chlo..."

"Hey Clark." Chloe's voice was shaking slightly and she looked awkwardly away from him and decided the wall would be much easier to look at. Before she could realize what had happened, she was trapped in a huge embrace. Though slightly unexpected, she welcome it and wrapped her arms around Clark, and laid her head on his shoulder. Clark was surprised that the first thought that raced through his mind was how perfectly her head fit in the crook of his arm.

Although almost reluctantly, Clark unhanded Chloe and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I'm really glad you're here Chlo..." Her eyes glittered with emotion and filled with water,

"Honestly, so am I. As much as I'd like to say I can hold my ground, I can't be mad at you. Not forever. I'm sorry I blew up at you. I just..." Her voice cracked a bit and she looked away. Before Clark had a chance to think he'd grabbed her head in his hands gently, forcing her to look in his eyes.

"Chlo you have every right in the world to blow up at me. I was even scaring myself a little. At least inside."

"Yeah well you scared me too. I know I said you didn't, but the truth is... I was terrified. I never thought I'd see the day when Clark Kent scared me. Can you tell me it won't happen again?"

"I'd like to. And yet... there are things about me. I can't always control these things."

"How can you not control yourself. It's not like you were hypnotized."

Clark resisted the urge to protest and replied with a simple "I know."

"Well I've come to the conclusion that a world with a sometimes temperamental Clark Kent is better then one with none at all." Chloe smiled slightly. "Best friends?"

"Better then you could ever know. Oh and Chloe..."

"Yeah."

"Don't ever think that I don't love you. Your the one constant thing in my life. No matter how mad I've ever gotten at you... you always been waiting for me in the end. Even when I attacked you in Metropolis you still kept my secret of where I was. Most people wouldn't have done that."

"What can I say?" she laughed a bit. "I have a weakness for Kent charm... and now that you know my weakness I think it's only fair for a quid pro quo. What gets to Clark Kent?"

"Plucky blonde's" he stated sweetly, and he did something. Something Chloe Sullivan never would have expected a simple farm boy with more issues then rolling stone to do. He didn't even plan it. It just seemed right. He leaned over and kissed her. Right on the lips, short but sweet.

He lingered by her face for a few moments with a serious expression that was meet with a shocked and wide eyed one by his friend.

"Clark..."

"Don't say it Chlo. I've been thinking about it for a while. Of all the things I've done... it was what I did to you that kept haunting me. Lana was mad at me when I came to apologize just like you were but it was still you who I was thinking about. I kept thinking, "God I hope that women forgives me" And Clark swooped her into his arms again. She couldn't think of anything else to say to that. She was too shell shocked.

After about 10 minuets of standing there, it was Clark who broke the silence.

"As much as I'd like to just be here in this moment. I need your help."

"With what?"

"Whats the story on this murderer in town? My dad didn't know the whole story so we figured maybe you would. He won't let me ask Lex and I'm starting to agree with him."

"Yeah I had a contact at the police station fill me in. I'll gladly fill you in as well but first what the deal with Lex?"

"I'd like to tell you that Chlo. But I can't.. not right now anyways."

Chloe felt a bit defeated but her luck had been impeccable today and she didn't want to jinx it.

"Ok. Lets get to the torch and I can fill you in."

sorry for cutting it off there. I wanted to add more but I haven't updated in a little while so I didn't want people to lose interest. So I'll get the next part up as soon as possible.