A/N: Thanks to those that replied. I'm trying to weave what has been going on in the show with the story although I'm changing certain event to move my own story along. Enjoy! Replies are always welcome!

All In the Timing

Chapter Two: When Words just aren't Enough

He had been to her house hundreds of times but in all the times he had been there he had never felt this nervous. He could hear her moving around on the other side; walking back and forth from the kitchen to the living room as she placed what he could only assume was a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. At least he thought he could smell the faint aroma of Kettle Korn popcorn. She was humming to herself absently… softly whispering words from some random song. She was off key… but then Chloe had never been known for her talents with her voice but she always had a way with words. He exhaled a deep breath clutching the bag of Swedish fish in one hand and knocking with the other.

A moment later the door opened and there she was. Standing in the doorway, she had traded her business suit for something more relaxed. The dark blue tank top and plaid pajama pants made her so much more adorable than she probably would ever know. Looking into her eyes he could see the furrowed brow.

"You knocked?" She asked somewhat confused.

"Yeah…"

"You never knock." She observed still staring at him like he had grown another head. Cocking her head to one side she raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Did you get the wrong kind of candy?" She asked already reaching for the bag. He looked down, watching as her fingers brushed over his hand as she grabbed it from him analyzing the package.

"It's the right one… right?" He asked already knowing. He had double checked it more than a few times just to be certain.

Looking up she shrugged. "Yeah… knocking… that's just so new for you. I mean you're like family Clark… you just… did Lois say something?" She asked staring into his eyes searching for the answer.

He shrugged. "No… I mean yeah… no." He remarked looking away feeling the flush come to his face.

"Okay…" Turning away from the door she went straight to kitchen. Reaching into a cabinet she pulled a bright orange plastic bowl from the shelf. Emptying the contents into it she grabbed one biting into it. "So the movie is all set. Do you know that the guy who composed the music did it in 48 hours and he won an Oscar for it?" She remarked walking to the living room expecting him to follow.

Crossing into her apartment he closed the door. Shedding his red jacket he threw it over a stool and followed her to the couch. He watched her sink onto the sofa tucking one leg beneath her as she kept a firm hold on the candy. She was already reaching for the remote when she looked over at him. "Will you get the lights?" She remarked.

He nodded finding that his voice was having trouble working. Coming back to the sofa he sat down trying to act normal. Staring straight ahead he tried to focus on anything but finding it hard. Suddenly he could feel her eyes on him, watching him. "Are you okay?" She asked.

Looking over at her he gave her the best smile that he could muster. "Yeah… why?" The laugh that he tried to force came out as a mixture between that and a cough.

"You just… you seem really uptight… is something wrong?" She asked.

He shook his head realizing just how foolish he must have looked sitting there as though he were in some kind of private school! This was Chloe… his best friend, his buddy… his Chloe. He smiled again, this time it was genuine. "Yeah… just wondering why you're hogging the fish." He remarked.

She smiled. "Hey I got you popcorn… you like popcorn!" She pointed out still not willing to give up the bowl. Reaching for the remote she smiled over at him. "I'm really glad we're doing this… you know it's been a while since we had a movie night." She remarked.

He smiled again. "Me too Chloe; it seems like the only time we see each other is when there is a possibility the world is coming to an end. It's nice to have just a night in."

She smiled. "Yeah… it is… you're still not getting any of my Swedish Fish… and don't even think about using your super speed… that's cheating and you know it." She warned settling into the sofa as he did the same. Pressing play she handed him a soda and focused on the film.

He watched her profile for a moment, the light from the television creating a glow over her pale skin. There was something about her… she was bright, and vibrant… and ever so strong… she was like the sun…his sun. And just like the planet that orbed in the sky he found that she gave him strength… she gave him more than she would ever know.

Two hours later…

Bouncing slightly to the beat of the ending credits she couldn't help but smile. Looking over at Clark expecting his face to mirror her own she stopped at the sight. His face was laced with conflict. "What… what's the problem?" She asked as she paused the credits and turned to face him.

"Nothing… it's just… Jamal's brother was a really bad guy." He stated and yet there was something more.

"Yeah… but without his brother… he would have been dead a long time ago… and that's what's bothering you isn't it?" She asked.

He exhaled a deep breath still contemplating the movie. "Yeah… I guess I just don't like the way they made it seem that good could only exist with the aide of evil… you know?"

"But isn't that how it is? How do you know what's good if you don't have anything to compare it to?" He turned to her, his face showing his discomfort with her question. She rolled her eyes. Sometimes her friend could be so naïve sometimes. "Come on Clark… it's one of the oldest arguments in the book… how can good exist without the presence of evil? Besides as bad as his brother was… without him… he would be blind, possibly dead. He never would have killed that guy, he didn't have it in him, but if Salim didn't there is no way they would have walked out of there alive. Let's face it… Jamal had all the heart in the world… but his brother understood that it's the absence of love that keeps you alive sometimes."

Clark shook his head not willing to accept it. "It doesn't have to be that way. It shouldn't be that way." He stated.

Staring him in the eye she realized that Clark would never see her point of things on this… not until he had to make the decision himself. She understood what it meant to cross the line to protect a friend… she would do it in a heartbeat if it meant saving Clark… he didn't understand that… hopefully he never would. "You know what… it doesn't matter… because it's a love story and all the deep meanings should fade at the sight of that fabulous dance number at the end." She remarked pressing the play button letting the sounds of AR Rahman drift over them. Jumping up from her seat she stood before him beginning to mimic the actors on screen to the best of her ability. "I mean this music alone should make you forget all the heavy stuff." She smiled moving her hips to beat. "Jai ho…" She yelled out pumping her fist in the air like the actors were doing.

He couldn't help the smile that formed or the laugh that burst forth as she dipped low almost getting stuck trying to come back up. "Chloe…" He laughed softly. "I love you." He remarked. The words were out before he could stop them. They came as natural as taking a breath and he felt his heart stop for a moment as he watched her face for a reaction.

She simply grinned at him as though it was the most natural thing in the world. "That's because I'm not afraid to make a fool of myself!" She remarked with a laugh of her own not taking his words for the meaning they were intended to be. She didn't realize that he had just inadvertently professed his love to her. She was completely oblivious to his declaration. He swallowed hard feeling the disappointment deeply. There was a time when she wanted nothing more than to be romantically loved by him, wanted by him and even needed by him; and now that he was finally ready to do all of those things she seemed to not want those things anymore. Looking down at his hands for a moment he sighed realizing that maybe he had just taken too long to see what had been right in front of him the whole time.

He looked up and exhaled a breath watching as she turned off the movie and began cleaning up. "You know putting aside the whole issue of good vs evil I really thought it was a great film." She stated lazily emptying the bowl of partially eaten popcorn into the trash and then placing the bowl and empty glasses in the sink to rinse.

He nodded as he took a stand rubbing his palms on his jeans in a nervous manner. "Do you need any help?" He asked already heading to the sink to help her wash dishes.

"That's why man invented the dishwasher…" She remarked rinsing out the remaining glasses and placing them into the electronic appliance. Closing the door with a snap she looked up at him with a smile.

Now that he was standing in front of her, while she looked up into his face with those bright eyes he found it hard to look away. He found it hard to ignore the rapid beating of his heart and all the desires that beat within him. Why hadn't he ever been able to feel this way before? Why had it taken him so many years to notice what they could be if given the chance? He saw her furrow her brow at him and realized that he had been staring at her for moments in silence. He stepped back needing to put distance between them before he did something that she wasn't ready for. "Then I guess I should get going… busy day tomorrow." He remarked ready to make his retreat when she reached out and grabbed his arm. Looking down at her slender fingers wrapped around his forearm he felt the goosebumps rise on his skin. He hoped that she didn't notice.

"Hey… are you sure everything is okay?" She asked softly drawing his attention back to her face.

Staring for a moment he found just how easy it could be to get lost in her if he just allowed himself to. She could see the hesitation in his eyes and found herself stepping closer, invading his personal space without thought. "Hey… you can tell me anything you know that, right?" She reminded him. Concerned laced her tone making him want nothing more than to grab her close and never let her go. If she only understood what was happening inside him… ever since that night with Davis… something had shifted inside him. He hated what she had done. He didn't believe in killing anyone… not if he could prevent it and for a long time he knew that she had felt the same way. But when it came to him… when it came to choosing between his safety and someone else she had chosen him and she made no apologies for it. When they had discussed it she had told him that it would always be him. That in the end she would always choose him and suddenly it hit him; it had always been that way with her. He was the most important thing in her life… she would guard his secret with her life… and protect him from anyone who wanted to do him hard. He had always known that she would do anything for him but it never really registered until that moment and suddenly as if a light had been turned on he saw the depth of her devotion, her loyalty towards him and everything he stood for. For the first time he finally truly understood the depth of her love for him and it knocked him over… completely blew him away.

Looking into her eyes now he felt himself reaching and brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "I know." He stated. "I'm fine… just a lot on my mind you know? Ever since I found out Davis was still alive… asking you to run away with him I've just been on edge waiting for him to make his next move… I mean he could have killed you that night." He remarked.

She shook her head. "But he didn't Clark. I don't think he would hurt me at least not intentionally. He could have and he didn't. I really think that he believes I can save him." She replied thinking back on that night with such clarity. That night she had gone home ready to relax and forget the past three days and the lost of her friend. Instead she found Davis waiting for her in her basement, pleading his case that only she could keep him calm, keep him from harming anyone else. She had listened to his words, tried to sort through her fear and listen to what he was saying… 'being immune to kryptonite' 'something inside him being calmed by her presence'. He asked her to run away from Smallville. He wanted her to leave her life behind and start over with him, to love him.

She remembered looking into his dark eyes and found herself wavering back and forth, weighing the pros and the cons. If she said no, he might get angry, kill her… or worst, go after Clark and kill him. On the other hand if she left with him she would never see Clark again. She would have to walk away from him and the only life she had ever known. Before she could decide however Clark had appeared in the doorway of the basement. He had been calling her for the past hour and she hadn't picked up and he sensed that there was a problem. Finding Davis with his best friend didn't make anything easier and after a brief albeit destructive encounter Davis had fled the scene. It had left Clark with more than a few bruises and Chloe quite shaken.

Both knew that he would be back, and something would have to be done… but for the past month there had been no sign of Davis. In fact it was as if he had dropped off the face of the Earth altogether. But silence usually meant it was the calm before the storm and that's what they both were waiting for; the storm of Davis Bloom.

"He may not mean to hurt you but I don't want to give him the chance to do it by accident either." He remarked. "Chloe I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you."

She smiled, shaking her head. "Clark, I'm not the one that you need to worry about. It's you… don't you see that? Anytime Davis is around you that beast starts to come out. The last time you had a run in with it, it almost killed you. And I know that you don't believe me when I say this but this world needs you in it. You're meant for great things Clark… even if you can't see it. I'm not going to let anyone rob this world of what you could do for it… no matter the cost." She stated.

He furrowed his brow as something finally dawned on him and the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "Would you have gone with him?" He asked and saw her flinch slightly realizing that he had hit a sore spot. She took a step back.

"Clark… come on." She stated trying to shake off his question.

"Answer me Chloe. Would you have gone with him, if it meant protecting me?" Somehow he already knew the answer. He could see it in her eyes. The furrow of her brow and the silent apology behind her green orbs told him the answer.

"It doesn't matter now."

"You would have gone with him… you would have run away with him to protect me." He stated softly feeling his chest tighten at the thought. She took another step back, and he stepped in, closing the distance between them. Reaching out he grabbed her hand. "I don't want you to do that for me; not ever. I won't let you." He stated resolutely staring into her eyes.

She cocked her head to one side. "Clark you couldn't stop me." She tried to reason with him but he cut off her words with his own.

"I would have come after you. I would have looked for you. I wouldn't have stopped Chloe until I found you."

She gave him a warm smile. "I know you want to protect me Clark just like I want to protect you.

Furrowing his brow he stared at her seeing that she didn't understand what he was truly saying. It wasn't that he wouldn't let her go… it was that he couldn't let her go. She didn't see just how important she had become to him. He didn't know if he had the right words in him so he did the only thing he could. With his hand still tightly wrapped around hers he gave her arm a soft tug, pulling her into him. Her form bumped into his softly as he reached around with his other hand, cupped the back of her neck in his palm, and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was about to change both of their lives forever.