Chloe sipped on her ice tea as Martha Kent emerged from the house onto the porch, with a small pink box in her hands. "For the baby" Martha said handing her the box. "Oh Mrs. Kent…you shouldn't have. I didn't come here for any presents," Chloe argued, flushing with embarrassment, still awkward with all the attention that followed her wherever she went. Martha shook her head, "No. No I insist. It's not everyday that Miss Independent Chloe Sullivan is pregnant and engaged" She smiled at her words, and opened the box. Inside were two hand knitted pink booties with the initials C and B on the toes of each. "C for Chloe and B for Bruce" Martha explained patting her unofficial daughter's hand.

"Their wonderful. Thank you Mrs. Kent" Chloe said, her voice shaking with happy tears. Laughing she wiped them away, "I always get like this" she explained to the older woman.

Martha smiled at her, and then sighed "Clark called while I was inside"

Chloe froze her heart slamming in her ears, "He's on his way?"

"Yes"

She packed away the booties and slipped the box inside of her purse. One of the main reasons she had come down to Smallville was to talk with Clark and settle everything between them. She rubbed her temple already feeling a tension on the nape of her neck. Chloe closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh woody air of her hometown. The sun licked at her skin playfully and suddenly she wished she had brought Pudge with her. The kitten had been growing quickly and had a fondness for following Chloe out wherever she went. Alfred had dropped her off that morning while Bruce was at work. He knew nothing about Chloe visiting Smallville and she knew Alfred wouldn't say anything. "I'm happy for you and for Bruce" Martha said pulling Chloe back to reality.

"Thanks" she answered.

"How's Gotham? I suppose you'll be raising the girl there?" Martha asked.

"Gotham is… A diamond in the rough" Chloe said with a smile "But Bruce has promised me that we'll vacation a lot in other cities. I wish I could raise her here in Smallville it's a good place to grow up. There's a lot of space to run around and tons of trees to climb"

"Then why don't you raise her here?"

"Because Bruce's company and life is centered around Gotham. Without Wayne Enterprise at its heart, there would be utter chaos in the streets. Besides The Manor hasn't had a family living inside its walls for over 20 years"

A car pulled up into the dirt driveway and she saw Clark sitting at the wheel. Martha stood as he made his way to the porch. "Clark!" she shouted happily as her son crushed her into a bear hug. Chloe smiled faintly wondering if Bruce and the baby would ever share moments like that. She hoped so. After a moment of catching up Clark looked at Chloe his eyes didn't reveal anything to her. Martha patted Clark's knee as she stepped inside the house, "Play nice you two" The words she would always say when a six year old Chloe and a seven year old Clark would push and shove each other into the dirt behind the farm.

"Yes Mrs. Kent"

"Yes, Mom"

Nothing had changed even though they were full grown adults now. "Let's go to the barn" she suggested, and pushed her engorged body off from the rocking chair. Clark held out a hand to her but she pushed it away and he followed her as they went around back. The barn hadn't changed either. It stood there just as it had since Chloe could remember. It didn't seem to age as the years flew by, in fact she thought Smallville never aged it was only the people who resided in the small town that wrinkled. They climbed up onto the huge alcove that had been Clark's refuge for so long (although Chloe could swear that the climb had been much shorter in her teenage years). The couch and desk had remained undisturbed along with Clark's old telescope and various other trinkets piled high in old boxes.

She moved to sit on the couch as Clark fiddled with his telescope. "I remember you used that little toy to spy on Lana"

He turned to look at her a half smile of victory on his face, "Yup loved every second of it"

Chloe shook her head and laughed, "Gross but I didn't come to Smallville to reminisce. I came here to talk to you we have to settle this once and for all"

"Settle what?" he asked picking up an old football that looked strangely small in his hands.

"You know what." She snapped, thinking she was here wasting her time.

"I care for you so you can't just expect me to stop" he said bluntly.

"I'm not asking you to stop Kent. I'm asking you not to go further than just caring for me. I'm not your girlfriend or you property. I'm not Lois or Lana. It's me" she said "Look at me"

He raised his eyes to look at her face. "I'm Chloe Sullivan the girl who grew up with you, the girl who first helped you with your powers. Yes, I was madly in love with you all throughout high school but I'm not in school anymore. We're out here in the real world. So please I'm begging you Clark. I'm tired of playing this game."

"What game?" he asked her tightly, his anger resting on his shoulders.

"THIS GODDAMN GAME WE'VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE NINTH GRADE!" Chloe shouted, getting off the couch. Her face was flushed pink from the heat and her frustration. "Enough." She said.

Clark flinched at her tone of voice. For the first time he noticed the wrinkles and mature eyes that had been shaped out of the naïve and ecstatic young Chloe he had known. Her skin glowed with the pregnancy and she'd be a mother soon. It was time to let go. He sighed and let his shoulders sag, "Your right. Your not Lana or Lois. I'm not Bruce either" Chloe looked at him, expecting more. "No more of this. I promise you Chloe. No more. It's time that I grow up."

She smiled, "Thank you!" and threw her arms around him. Shocked, he hugged her back as much as her stomach would allow. He looked around the barn and felt the sunshine breaking down his hate and reluctance for Bruce. Something in him shattered, and was quickly replaced with warmth. He threw back his head and laughed, rich and full it reached Chloe ears and she couldn't help but laugh with him.

Later on as they walked around Smallville and visited the their old high school, she felt truly happy. So finally it was settled.