Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters

AN: Yay update…! Sorry its taken so long to post this chapter, but I had some trouble with it. But now it's done and I promise this fic will get finished and I think you guys will love the ending. Thanks to all of those who reviewed and to those of you who will review…Wink…Wink! Yes I'm talking to you in the back there LOL!

Chapter 23: Cinder's of Darkness

"If he lives, he will cause so much pain. He won't stop until he gets what he wants, he's worse than his father." It took every ounce of self control he had and the firm hand of the Martian Manhunter on his shoulder for Oliver Queen not to bolt from his hiding place and stop Moira Sullivan from putting a bullet through the skull of their greatest enemy.

"She's going to kill him." Oliver mouthed the words no sound behind them.

'We don't know if she's going to pull that trigger or not. Give Chloe time to talk her down.' John replied mentally entering his fellow hero's mind.

'What if she ca…' Oliver was cut off mid thought.

'You love Chloe, you trust in her capacity to save a life. Now trust in the capacity of love her mother has for her. They both glanced back down to the scene playing out in the grand room, not listening to most of what had just been said. 'If anyone can save Moira from falling to the darkness it's her daughter.'

They listened on and saw the older Sullivan hesitate when Chloe mentioned about getting the trait of not taking a life from her mother.

'MOIRA ENOUGH!' John entered her mind as Chloe continued to try and talk Moira down. 'It's time to retreat. Chloe is right there is another way. A better way I will show you if you let me.'

With that, she put down the gun and gave into Chloe's request or was it the Martian's? Moira decided she could figure out that bit later.

"You think you can just walk in here threaten my life and get away with it? I'm going to hunt you down I won't stop until your put away for good. You're going to pay for this Sullivan." Thank goodness for Lex Luthor that Chloe and the Martian Manhunter were there to stop Moira from pulling the trigger.

"And you will pay for threatening and using my family. You think yourself as mighty as a Greek god. Make no mistake Luthor, like them you will fall. Maybe not by my hand, but you will get whats coming to you." Moira turned back around to the door and walked out of the great room not looking back.

"I'm proud of you. I knew my faith in you was not misplaced." John smiled as Moira walked pass him on her way out of the mansion.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence John, but we both know if Chloe hadn't found out about this then I would have skinned that snake alive." That was all she said making her exit.

"You and your mother are going away for a long time." Lex growled out causing Chloe to smirk. "I would wipe that look off your face if I wer…"

"It must be driving you to the brink of insanity not being able to remember that night." Chloe's smirk did not falter, she was finally able to move feeling her mother's power over her actions fading.

"Night, what night? I see the nut doesn't fall far from the tree." He was just digging his grave deeper, thankfully Chloe's patience for his insults was far greater than her mothers.

"You should have seen the look on your face when you realized I was the one that broke through your security net." She didn't mention the saving Bart part knowing she shouldn't. But as Chloe spoke the words an image of his security ripping off a mask to reveal Chloe's face flashed through his mind.

"You were there." It was more a statement then a question, realization of what may have happened that night passed across his thoughts.

"I'm wounded. you don't remember 'our fun' as you so eloquently put it. You tortured me Lex! Its alright though I don't hold a grudge like my mother." She enjoyed reminding him of a night he couldn't recall. "I think we're even anyway considering I'm partly responsible for destroying that facility."

"Torture, really? Your just as delusional as she is, don't worry I'm sure if you enter the insanity plea the DA won't go so hard on you or maybe not. With destruction of corporate property being on the top of the list of your crimes. He might just have a field day with you." His words didn't faze her, he was grasping at power trying to control the situation.

"Not compared to the fun he's going to have with you." She wasn't going to let him shift who was in control, it helped he was still tied to the chair.

"And what can little Chloe Sullivan do to Lex Luthor? The last time you waged a legal battle with a Luthor it almost cost you your life. You needed a savior then and what I have in mind for you, you're going to need a superhero." Lex didn't know the irony of it all, but Chloe did and she smirked again glancing up toward the loft area of the grand room where Oliver was still hiding.

"I'm surprised your mother would leave you alone with me, considering...I am the villain of the story."

"Don't worry your shiny bald head about my safety Lex." She rounded him making sure his hands were still bound securely and then leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Unlike you, I'm not alone."

"Clark? Come out CLARK I thought you were a better man than to a woman fight your battles." Lex shouted out to no one thinking the farmboy was in the mansion too.

"Right idea wrong friend, or should I say enemy." Chloe looked towards the loft again. "Doesn't matter, I'm not here to fight anyone's war but my own."

"Your war or has your mother's vendetta toward me finally given you an excuse to put me in my place? Admit it, you're doing it all for Clark, you think if you do this then he will finally love you." He couldn't see her reaction because Chloe was now comfortably perched on Lex's desk.

"That might have worked a year ago, too bad for you and your ego I'm not that girl anymore Lex." Chloe slid off the desk walking in front of Lex locking eyes with him. "I'm not a pawn in anyone's game, but my own. You started this war the day you kidnapped my mother and decided you could use her for world domination."

"World domination sounds so cliché, the only thing I'm guilty of is putting meteor freaks like you and your mother where they belong." He returned her stern gaze.

"Put it however you want, you're still guilty and if you want to stay out of jail you're not going to say a word of what happened here tonight, to anyone." Chloe had him where she wanted him.

"And why wouldn't I?" Lex quirked an eyebrow and Chloe could see what could only be a sick plan forming behind his eyes. "The 33.1 project has been going on for years. I've covered my tracks well. What makes you think anyone will believe you over me, Chloe? You're nothing, but a low rate reporter known for getting in over her head."

"I have all the proof I need, thanks to an interview with one Dr. Caselli. Not to mention countless statements from some of your, 'patients'." She knew that guy was going to come in handy sooner or later.

"A washed up fool and group of meteor freaks no one will believe." He would have been right if Chloe didn't have an ace up her sleeve.

"Well if that's not enough for your favorite district attorney, maybe this will be?" Chloe held up her cell phone and played an audio file.

"What you're doing here is wrong Lex. You have no right to experiment on people with abilities they are human beings." Chloe's distressed voice could be heard over the small device.

"They aren't human they are a danger to mankind..." There it was, all the evidence she needed to put him away.

"Theirs more where that came from, you incriminate yourself." The wicked smirk that had dawned her face when they first started their little conversation had not left yet. "And don't worry about the original file I have it locked away in a place that even you can't get to it."

"The Daily Planet is never going to publish a story so unbelievable, you're never going to make it past the spellchecker." Lex was losing not something he liked.

"I have other resources, Lex." Resources that included a Martian Detective with ties to an underground publishing company. And of course a superhero boyfriend with a few billionaire dollars, who could easily hire any publisher to print her work.

But Chloe didn't want Oliver involved, not in this. People would just write off her work as another weapon in the endless war between fanatical giants, not to mention that Oliver could get hurt just because of something she wrote. Chloe knew that was something she would never be able to live with.

"Even with all your knowledge, you're forgetting one important fact Chloe." A sly evil grin crossed his features.

"And what would that be?" Chloe said standing her ground.

"That for you to put your plan into action, you have to leave here alive first." Lex answered and then leapt towards the petite blond now free of his bonds with a face full of anger.

Lois looked over the clean apartment. Chloe had not been home for more than one night for over a month. It was starting to feel like she was living with a ghost. Her cousin didn't have another apartment in Metropolis of her own, that much Lois knew. Clark had kept making stupid excuses for Chloe and told Lois that their favorite blonde reporter was staying out at the farm. Something about still needing fresh air, but every time Lois stopped by her cousin wasn't in sight. Clark would just say that she was at work or out doing something.

What bothered her the most, was being ignored, Chloe use to drop everything to help her out. But lately she was ignoring her supposed favorite cousin, Lois knew that Chloe's star in the journalist world was starting to rise all to proof to that fact was on the front page of the Daily Planet for the past few weeks. Story upon story about the Green Arrow, it suddenly all was starting to make since to Lois.

Chloe's stupid excuses Clark covering for her, the not coming home, and the thing stopping Clark from committing to her. Why didn't she put two and two together before? It was so simple and yet so complicated but it was the only explanation, Clark was the Green Arrow Oliver Queen was funding him, and Chloe was helping. Now just to prove her theory, but how was…

"… holding out for a hero…" Lois' cell phone went off and she answered it before it got through the first lyric of her ringtone.

"Hello" Her cheery voice answered the call.

"Hey Lois, I hope you're packed. We have to be at the airport in under an hour." Martha Kent replied to the greeting.

"Packed? Airport? What are you talking about?" Confusion washed over the younger woman as she listened for a reply.

"Don't tell me you forgot again? You're going to the capital with me for the weekend." The Senator said smiling to herself, she hated being on distraction duty, but Clark had said Chloe needed Lois out of town for a few days. "No matter, I'm sure you left something at the townhouse in the capital. Now please get down here I'm waiting in the car."

"Yes sir, I'm on my way." Lois mocked saluted to no one and then scrambled to get ready. How could she have forgotten something as important as going to the capital with Mrs. K for the weekend? Confronting Clark about his duel identity would have to wait.

This was taking too long there was no telling how long until someone walked in and found the scene playing itself out in the grand room. Oliver stayed in his hiding spot on the upper level and smirked when he heard Chloe say that unlike Lex, she wasn't alone. His mind quickly flashed back to a few moments before he and Chloe entered the mansion.

"Hey, wait?" Oliver grabbed Chloe's hand stopping the petite blonde's stride towards the Luthor Mansion. They had parked the motorcycle next to John's police car and Chloe had almost all but bolted off the bike before Oliver turned off the engine.

"There's no time for this Ollie." Chloe said as she was pulled into a tight embrace against his broad chest. "We have to get in there, there's no telling what could or what has already happen."

"I know that, but I also know it's dangerous in there. Are you ready for this?"He hoped that she could recognize the concern he had for her in the way he held her.

"I've faced Lex before. I'm not scared I know what I'm doing." She tried to pull away again, but Oliver kept her in his strong arms. "Don't worry, I can handle that snake."

"It's not him I'm worried about. I've seen you hold your own against Lex. But can you handle her." He knew Chloe was aware of who he was talking about, the want to harm the viper was strong in both of them. But the urge to save him from one of their own was there to.

"Fighting Lex is easier than saving him, and I would like to think my mother is on our side. But honestly I don't know what's happening in there and whatever does please just remember…" Chloe cut herself off placing a chaste kiss on his lips and then turned around escaping his grasp heading to a window to break into the castle.

Oliver didn't know what to make of the small kiss at first, but then reminded himself of the last few weeks. Chloe kissed him every time she was feeling unsure or she thought he was worried. It was her way of telling him everything was going to be okay. He was proud of the way she had handled everything and talked her mother down and it didn't surprise him when she traded insult for insult with Lex. The woman he loved was really snarky, which helped when one was trying to black mail your worst enemy. He blocked out most of the conversation out, but still kept a hawk eye on Lex.

"That for you to put your plan into action, you have to leave here alive first." The hair on the back of Oliver's neck stood on end at the sound of Lex's threat within seconds he jumped down from the upper level and was in between the viper and his intended prey.

Oliver tried to subdue Lex but the bald billionaire wasn't going to give up without a fight. Lex turned realization at who stopped him dawning on his face. What the hell was Oliver Queen doing there? Lex throw a punch causing Oliver to retaliate, he gladly returned the jab and the fight ended as quickly as it started when Oliver pinned Lex's arms behind his back.

"Oliver Queen...Why isn't this as much of a shocker as it should be. You know he's just using you, right?" Lex said his eyes locking with Chloe's, who had gotten out of the way of the fight, "So you're the Queen in this chess match? What's your stake in this?"

"No I'm more like knight, Ms. Sullivan here is the true Queen of this game. So be a gentleman and apologize." Oliver held Lex's arms tightly making sure he couldn't escape.

"Maybe in another reality," Lex broke his gaze with Chloe whipping his head to the side like a restrained animal. "An apology would be to good for someone as easily manipulated as her."

"You better take that back befo…" The level of rage in him was rising and Chloe could see it in his brown eyes.

"That's enough Oliver, it's just big words coming from a small defeated man." Chloe stepped closer to Lex getting face to face with him. "I've had enough of your threats Lex and I can forgive what you just tried to do, I understand you're in pain the woman you love just walked out on you and you just had another near death experience."

"How can you understand a broken heart, no man has ever loved you?" Another insult, or maybe not Chloe's eyes shot to Oliver's almond gaze and it reaffirmed what she felt in her heart, Chloe Sullivan was loved. The two of them might not be perfect and after tonight they're secret would be out but they were both in love and loved in return.

"We can sit here and trade insults all night, but I'm tired and have things to do in the morning. So here's the deal Lex, Mr. Queen and I are going to walk out of here. You're going to forget about this whole night and the name Moira Sullivan or I'm going to expose your little science experiment to the world." She backed off for a second as if giving him a moment to think it over. "Deal?"

"And what if…" Lex was about to speak but Oliver cut him off.

"This woman has just saved your life Lex, don't waste it." Oliver growled out the warning into the bald viper's ear.

"Fine, you win. Now let me go." Lex dropped his head in defeat. "and get out!"

"Good, that wasn't so hard now was it. Now if you'll excuse me I have a story to write. I'll meet you outside, Mr. Queen." With that Chloe turned on her heel making her exit and not looking back.

"How long until you discard that one, Queen?" Lex bit out as Oliver released him and stood wiping some blood off his lip with the back of his hand.

"I don't need her to expose the real you. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. What happened here was your own fault, karma and all. You're lucky she was here Luthor if it wasn't for that woman you would be dead right now. " Oliver turned his back to the bald viper and then looked back for a moment. "And don't even think about coming after Chloe or her mother, your already losing your war with a Sullivan. You don't want to add another war with a Queen to the list."

"I told you there was another way, I still think you should have…" Moira cut herself off as Chloe and Oliver walked into the high rise penthouse. Silence filled the room, Chloe took a seat across from the older Sullivan just staring at her for a few moments.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me about any of this? We could have figured it together. There are other ways to fight them." Chloe said trying to understand her mother's reasoning for going after Lex without telling her.

"It wasn't your burden to bare sweetheart. I just wanted you to be safe. This isn't your fight it's mine." Moira took Chloe's hands in her own trying to help her comprehend the nature of things, this was her war not her daughters.

"Not my fight, you're my mother your fight is my fight. We're family, even if you kept this all from me I still love and trust in you. Please let me help you mom, I have been fighting the Luthors since before I could drive. I know what I'm d…" She replied.

"No you don't my dear, I told you about Veritas. But there is more, There are things that I can't even bring myself to talk about. You're fighting a war that started before you were even born. The Luthor's are evil they need to be taken down." Moira pulled away getting up to stand, not wanting to be touched by anyone at the moment.

"Look, we know how you feel and no one can blame you. But taking revenge is not worth a man's life." Oliver piped up feeling the need to help Chloe push her point across.

"He looks like his mother, but speaks with the wisdom of his father." Moira smiled at the thought of her old friends.

"You knew my parents?" It shouldn't have been to shocking for any of them after the way she had spoke about the Queen name when she had a gun pointed to Lex's head. "When did you meet them?"

"Along time ago, but I believe it's best to talk about this another day." She quickly changed the subject looking to Chloe. "You're tired, when's the last time you slept, honey? I can feel how exhausted you are. It's not good for the baby to go so long without sleep."

"Hey, we were talking about your homicidal ambitions, just because you're my mother doesn't mean you're going to get out of this." Chloe stood and would have fallen over if it wasn't for Oliver catching her before she hit the floor.

"She's right sidekick, you need rest." The billionaire lifted the snarky blonde up bridal style and started to head for the bedroom nodding to Moira and John who had remained quiet and unnoticed.

"Fine, but expect an interrogation in the morning mom." Chloe could feel the exhaustion starting to hit her, when was the last time she slept? Oh yeah yesterday, it didn't help that she couldn't have coffee anymore.

A cool breeze caught her attention as Moira Sullivan's gaze fell over the sparkling skyline of Metropolis. She had once called this city home in her younger years. It was where she met Gabriel Sullivan and where she gave birth to their beautiful child. She smiled at the thought of Chloe's birth, which was more difficult than most.

"It's cold out here, you should be inside." Oliver interrupted her thoughts placing a throw blanket around the older woman's shoulders and then backing out a few feet.

"I suppose I should be shouldn't I? " Moira glanced at the blond billionaire noting the awkward atmosphere that always accompanied his presence. He still didn't know how to act around her. It was time to end that, she had kept silent during most of her stay in his penthouse, but now most of her secrets were out and so was the fact she had once knew the Queens. "Speak your mind,...Oliver."

"You said you knew my parents…." His jaw was tense like he felt guilty for desiring what knowledge Moira had about his parents. "Please, I need to know how you met my parents or how you knew them."

AN: Lets try to get to 100 reviews that would make my year…Again thanks for reading this far. Look for the next Chapter sometime next Tah For Now...