Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville. If I did, I'd be at the beach right now.

A/N: This next chapter finds Lex and Clark meeting again after eight years. It has been a long time for these two. A lot has happened since that fateful day in the Arctic. I wanted to thank Hana again, like always, but because my daughter, whose having a tough pregnancy and also she's also overworked at her job, won't be able to help me out, so it's just Hana and me! *hugs her faithful beta* !! On with the story, guys! Please R&R. Thanks!

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Chapter 7 – We Meet Again

Previously:

"Well, I can just imagine seeing Lex alive after all this time, and it must have been disconcerting for both of you," Chloe said.

Lois watched Clark for moment, and she could tell that seeing Lex again had affected him more than he was saying. She took his hand in hers, telling him with her touch that she understood. Clark squeezed her hand, understanding. "It was, Chloe," Lois said. More than you know, Lois thought.

"So, what's our next more?" Chloe asked.

"Change in plans." Clark knew Lois wasn't going to like this. "I have to go see Lex myself to be sure."

Everyone just stared at him as if he had lost his mind.

##

Meanwhile back at the police station.

"What do you mean spend the night in jail? I'm Lex Luthor; I'm not spending another minute in this place. Do you hear me? I won't." Lex was so furious; he didn't care how he sounded. He wanted out of there.

Dennison stared at Luthor as if he were a petulant child. He definitely sounded like one. "Now, Mr. Luthor, don't get upset. I've tried to get the judge to do your arraignment tonight, but it's just not happening."

"Don't patronize me. I eat lawyers for lunch!" Lex shouted, trying another tact.

"Losing your temper won't help matters, Mr. Luthor. Threatening me won't get the judge to open his court, not at this late hour."

"Why did I hire you?" Lex asked. "You're a complete waste of my money. Get out!" He shouted. He couldn't stand to look at him.

"I'll speak to you in the morning, Mr. Luthor," Dennison said, as he left the visitor's area.

##

The next day, as Clark waited to meet with Lex, he couldn't help the memories that flooded his mind … their first meeting, all the talks, Lex trying to buy his friendship, then came the hatred and suspicion, and then all the other bad memories completely overwhelmed him. Were we really ever friends? I doubt it, and he probably feels exactly the same way.

After spending the night in jail, Lex was waiting to have his bail hearing. Then, he found out Clark Kent wanted to meet with him. He couldn't fathom why. They weren't friends, never were, not in any sense of the word. Lex thought he came to gloat because he's done so well for himself, and here he sat in a jail cell with countless charges against him. He probably wanted an exclusive interview, but he had nothing to say to the press.

The guard announced Clark's arrival. "Luthor you have a visitor." Lex was led to the visitor's area, where Clark waited for him. "Kent, you have ten minutes."

"Come to gloat, Clark?" Lex did not want to see him, not at all.

"No, Lex, that's not why I'm here." Clark was hoping for a straight answer. "What's the real reason you came back to Metropolis?"

"This is my home, Clark. Why wouldn't I come back?" Lex asked, surprising himself with that answer. He truly believed it to be true.

"Lex, I'm not here to play games or to spar words with you. Just tell me the truth."

"You want the truth?" Lex chuckled. He looked at Clark, really looked at him. "You seem to have done well for yourself, Clark. I hear you're a Daily Planet reporter and you convinced Lois Lane to marry you, and you're a father. Congratulations. How is Lois these days? I can't help but think you're one lucky man. How do you do it?"

Clark mentally stiffened. He refused to let Lex see how his words affected him, and why all of these questions about Lois and his life. What does he want? I knew I would never get a straight answer from him. He decided to try another tactic. "Lex, where have you been all this time? Are you alright?" Clark had to try to get through to him.

Lex let out a bark of laughter. "Where did that come from? You could care less about me, Clark, so why pretend that you do. Why did you come here?"

Clark sighed. "Lex, a lot has happened while you were away. Lana has moved away, trying to build a new life away from Smallville. Lois and I are married, we have a family, and we're very happy. We're working at the Planet, building a life together, and we don't want any trouble."

"Clark, I'm not here to cause you or anyone else any trouble. I want to rebuild my company, working on legitimate projects, and try to build a new life, just as you have." We can both play this game, Lex thought.

"Do you think it's possible for both of us to live and work here in Metropolis, not get in each other's way, and live our lives like the past never happened?" Clark believed in miracles, but he doubted they could do it.

"Clark, we can do it. I'll stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine. Deal?"

"Lex, I've seen the charges against you. What have your lawyers said?"

"Now, Clark, that's attorney-client privileged. What I can say is that I will be out of here in no time at all. Count on it."

"Lex, I hope you mean what you say. I think it would be best if we stay out of each other's way. It's not in the cards for us to be friends, Lex, but I don't want any bad feelings between us. The past is over and done. Let's move on from here. I'll try if you will."

"Sure, Clark, I can try," Lex said.

"That's all I ask. Well, goodbye, Lex."

"See you around, Clark. Guard, Mr. Kent is done here."

The guard let Clark out of the visitor's area. He left without a backward glance. Should I believe him? No, I'd be a fool to believe anything Lex says. Lois was right, it was a complete waste of time coming here. My gut tells me he's faking, but why would he fake amnesia? It would be to his advantage to call me on it. Eventually, Lex will show his hand. He always does. And when that happens, I will protect my family and my secret no matter what the cost..

##

Clark returned to the Planet after making a few flybys over the city. He found Lois in the copy center to tell her about his visit with Lex. "I'm glad you're finally back. Well, how did it go?" Lois asked, pulling him inside a vacant office so that they could talk in private.

Clark sighed. "It was a complete waste of time. I still believe Lex is faking and he's definitely up to something. He wouldn't be Lex if he weren't planning something underhanded. He did have a lot of questions about our life together, Lois. It sent chills down my spine because it sounded like he was obsessing again."

"Great. That's all we need," Lois said, as she rubbed her temples.

"Are you alright, honey?" Clark asked, as he rubbed her shoulders from behind.

Lois sighed. "No, Clark, I'm not alright." She turned to face him. "I'm still worried about my father. I haven't talked to him in days. I don't know what to do."

"I'm worried too, honey. He hasn't returned any of your calls?" Clark asked beginning to think something wasn't right.

"No, not one returned call. His assistant said he was out of the reach on some special assignment, and now I'm not sure what to believe. Could Lex have gotten to him somehow? It seems very unlikely, but people have been known to do more than that for money."

"Lois, please don't jump to any conclusions." Clark tried to reassure her. He took her into his arms for a moment.

"Alright, I'll try. It's just all this wondering and worrying about Lex and what he'll do next is making me suspicious of everything. I hate this."

"I know, honey. At least we have one less thing to worry about. The kids are safe, and if Luthor even tries to do anything, we will know about it."

Lois and Clark had decided to ask Jor-El for help again. He had taken the kids to the Fortress and had them scanned, but this time Jor-El had activated a Kryptonian beacon to the children and it would know where they were at all times. The beacon would work only for Kryptonians of the family of El. If the kids went missing for any length of time, they would be easily located through an ice crystal device assembled by Jor-El. Clark had the device with him at all times.

"I can't tell you how relieved I am not to worry about the kids, Clark, but what about the kryptonite on the base? Without my father to help us, it's still sitting there waiting for someone to take it and do something bad with it." Lois shuddered to herself.

"Well, until we hear from your father, there's nothing we can do about it," Clark said. "Come on, let's get back to work. You should contact Lucy and maybe you could contact a few family friends who may have heard from him. That's a good place to start." Clark vowed to himself to take to the skies again, stretch out his hearing even more, and to find Lois' father sooner rather than later.

"Wait a minute, I have an idea, and I think Perry will go along with it. Come on." Lois grabbed her husband by the arm and barged into Perry's office without knocking. "Perry, I have an idea for a front page story," Lois began.

"Lex?" Both Lois and Clark asked, stunned to see Lex Luthor at the Planet.

"Lane? How many times have I told you to knock before you enter my office?" Perry sighed. "Lex Luthor, you know my star reporting team ... Lois Lane-Kent and Clark Kent?" Perry asked, knowing no introductions were necessary. He was trying to be polite in a very volatile situation.

"We know each other," Clark mumbled, even more suspicious of Lex's actions.

"Lex, what are you doing here? When did you get out of jail?" Lois asked still not believing he was actually in Perry's office.

"Well, it's good to see you too, Lois, Clark. I was released not an hour ago. You're both looking well." Lex couldn't help having a little fun with them, but they weren't laughing.

"Mr. Luthor stopped by to … ah… tell the press his side of the story and to proclaim his innocence," Perry stammered.

Clark's eyes widened at that remark. Lois wasn't so subtle. She snorted. "Lex, the Daily Planet doesn't print lies and half-truths. You should take it to the Inquisitor. They'll be happy to print whatever you have to say. We, on the other hand, don't want to hear it. Am I right, chief?" Lois asked, looking at Perry to back up her statement.

"Mr. White has already agreed to print my story, haven't you Mr. White?" Lex asked, giving Perry a look.

Lois and Clark looked at Perry, both shocked by Lex's question.

Perry looked at Lex and refused to be intimidated. "I know what I said, Mr. Luthor. I said I would take your story to my Board of Directors. It's too big a story and we want to make sure it's right for the Daily Planet. Now, I really am busy. I'll be in touch, Mr. Luthor," Perry said as he escorted him out of his office. "Thank you for stopping by."

Lois crossed her arms and smirked at Lex as he left. Clark stared at his life-long enemy, wishing in spite of himself that things could have been different.

"Well, thank you for your time, Mr. White. Lois, Clark, have a good day," Lex said nodding to them as he left, and not at all happy about this meeting and how it had turned out. He left Perry's office and the Daily Planet offices without looking back.

##

A/N: Lex is a sneaky one. Amnesia is tricky. He may remember some things, but not everything. I thought I'd play with that scenario for a little while, and let you guys think about it. We'll see what happens next. Thanks for reading. Reviews are love!