This took longer than I anticipated. Apparently I was doing my own "Struggle To Write in April" challenge.

[][][]

Even after Jeff was arrested and the Palmer family reassigned, even after the manor was cleaned and put back together, Peyton decided not to move back into her original room. Lex found that interesting. He found it hopeful.

She was still determined to find an answer to getting back to "her world", but the longer she stayed the more her defenses crumbled. Their first kiss was a turning point for their relationship. It was a turning point for him.

Lex acknowledged half his interest in her as a child was the mystery of her; it would be lying if he tried to deny that. But she was always more than just a mystery. He'd gotten enough glimpses of her true self through the years that it was agonizing when she vanished.

And after their kiss he finally felt such a strong yearning, such a powerful rightness, that he understood why Paris would start a war for Helen of Troy.

Peyton was perfect and the idea that she might someday fade away again, and possibly never return, left him short of breath.

His father's lessons told him to do whatever was necessary to ensure victory. To make sure she stayed. Sabotage, lie, manipulate. They were all tools he was familiar with in the corporate world.

But Peyton wasn't part of his corporate world. She didn't think like they did.

And she'd never forgive him if he treated her like a game to win. He didn't want to. Not when she was so separate, so open. Lex would hate himself if he betrayed her again when she trusted him so wholly.

He still didn't want her to leave. Especially when he had no concept of what her "leaving" really entailed. For all he knew, she was just gone when not present. For all he knew, all this "other life" stuff was a concoction her mind made up to fill in the blank spaces.

He was still a Luthor at the end of the day; and he wasn't going to let her go without a fight. All he had to do was convince her that she didn't want to go back.

He hoped he was making some progress. Marriage gave him plenty to work with.

And now she chose to stay in the room across from his. It was another small step, and he was a patient man.

Peyton chewed her bottom lip as she walked into the room carrying her open laptop, there was a small crease between her eyes as she read over something on the screen and Lex watched as she settled herself on the couch nearer to the fireplace. The bruises on her throat weren't as prominent as they were a few days ago, but it still sent a shock of anger through Lex every time he saw them. Anger at himself, more than Jeff, for being helpless and weak when she needed him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He prompted as she continued to pensively stare at her laptop.

Her gaze broke away from her screen at his voice and she looked up at him sheepishly. Lex shoved aside the satisfaction at still getting to see her changing expressions. Peyton brushed back her bangs, an action she did when she was uncertain, and she set her laptop down on the cushion as she flexed her fingers.

"I think you can afford a dollar."

She forced herself to grin at him and Lex returned the expression with a mild smirk.

"Convince me to invest," he said.

Peyton rolled her eyes and waggled the fingers on her left hand at him, showing off the ring.

"Pretty sure I already did."

Her expression flickered as she second-guessed her cheekiness and Lex felt a thrill. Those were some of his favorite moments. When, for a second, she forgot to try and remain distant, and let herself just be. He couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face at her statement.

"Touché," he said. "Fine; a dollar then."

She sighed, dropping the bit, and gestured to her laptop with a roll of her eyes.

"I finally got a reply from Dr. Henson. He doesn't want to email me the records he has on hand about me. He wants to meet in person. I can only assume to see the case study that got away."

"He can't do that." Lex scowled as he stood to join her. "They're your records."

The fact that Dr. Henson was trying something like this didn't exactly surprise Lex. He'd been more intrigued by Peyton's condition then some of the other doctors, and he had protested when Lex cut off their sessions. The doctor would only be more interested to see Peyton freely communicating without being prompted. But the fact that Dr. Henson thought he could hold her information hostage irritated Lex.

"I can talk to him if he's being obstinate," he offered.

Peyton shook her head but looked at him in a way that told him she wasn't being dismissive.

"Part of me was wondering if I shouldn't go and talk with him anyway. It's still very strange that we both interacted with someone who has the same name; it has to mean something."

Lex remained quiet about that; she wouldn't like his thoughts.

Like perhaps the fact that they both knew Dr. Robert Henson was because she had met him before, and maybe her mind had created a fiction in her state for why she knew him. Instead of voicing that, Lex simply watched her work through her thoughts.

"Whatever you feel comfortable with," he said.

Peyton eyed him nervously, like she thought going to see Dr. Henson was a touchy subject and felt bad bringing it up. He noticed she'd been doing that more recently. Feeling guilty for bringing up the idea of, or reminding him of, her pursuit to "go home". Especially since their marriage.

"Do you- Would you mind coming with me?" She asked. "I've never actually met him that I can remember, and he's spoken to you before."

She could ask him for the moon and he'd figure out a way to buy it for her.

"Of course." He reached for her hand and satisfaction ran through him that she now didn't pull away. "Whenever you want to go, I'll be there."

Her shoulders dropped in relief and she smiled at him.

"Thank you. I wouldn't feel as comfortable going alone."

"If your problems are my problems, then your comfort is my comfort too, right?"

Peyton gave him a funny little look, like she was seriously thinking but bemused at the same time.

"You seem to like the idea of mutuality," she pointed out.

Lex laughed lightly and briefly broke eye contact before he recentered himself. She had a way of plucking truths from him that made him feel too known, and he had a way of letting them slip in the first place when he normally wouldn't.

He hesitated a moment as he tried to figure out whether to deny her observation or try to sweep it under the rug. She simply waited for him to respond, but her knowing kept his shoulders tense.

"It's a novel idea," he admitted. "God knows, my father didn't prescribe to it."

"Then that's a fault on his part," she told him. She looked at him with a mock solemness and patted his hand. "One you clearly don't share, which is why I happen to like you a little bit more."

"A little bit?"

And just like that she pulled him out of the stiffness of vulnerability and made him feel like, perhaps, it wasn't always harmful. Made it seem like it wasn't a big deal. Like it was fine and normal.

"I'd hope I beat out my father on a scale of likeability by more than a slim margin."

They both relaxed into the banter and Peyton grinned.

"You have plenty of more likable traits," she reassured him. She ticked off her list on her fingers as she named them. "Capable of smiling, compliment my baking, live in a castle, can make a decent cup of coffee-"

Lex pushed her hand down and stared at her flatly as she cackled.

"These sound suspiciously like things that directly benefit you."

"Which makes them very likable."

"You could try a little harder."
"Sorry, you only invested a dollar. Trying harder costs more."

Lex couldn't help himself. She presented the opportunity to bargain and he helped run a corporation. He was rather good at negotiating costs.

He coyly slid her laptop out of his way as he moved closer. Peyton's eyes darted over him as she evaluated his approach.

"How much more?" He prompted.

Her eyes drifted down his face before they snapped back up and Lex knew she knew his game.

There was plenty of space between them for her to move away. There was more than enough room in his question for her to turn him down and offer something else or simply reject him. He understood it when she did, but he was delighted when she didn't. It was always obvious, the conflict in her expression. The war between head and heart was something he could relate to, despite his father's attempts to snuff it out of him.

And what more, it hadn't grown boring to see her express and emote. To go years not being able to tell if she had a real thought in her head, to nearly being able to read every single one. Not that Peyton couldn't mask it. He'd seen her lie to his father and knew she was capable of it, capable of lying convincingly if she wanted to. But she didn't.

Her feelings were out there for all to see because she didn't want to mask them.

And that was something Lex couldn't relate to. It was an enigma.

Her eyes flickered again before she closed them in a prolonged blink and shook her head minutely. It caught Lex mildly by surprise when she pressed a finger against his lips and pushed his head back away from her.

"You can't afford it," she said.

He kept the disappointment buried away and focused on the fact that she considered it. And regardless of the circumstances, she'd already freely kissed him twice without prompting in the last week.

Lex sat back with a practiced smile and crossed his ankle over his knee.

"I highly doubt that," he rebutted.

She eyed him again in consideration then bit her lip and looked away.

"How's the plant doing?" She diverted. "Did the latest reports come in yet?"

"Numbers are up," Lex responded automatically. "Nothing my father should be able to complain about."

Peyton squinted at his tone.

"But he's still going to try?"

"He doesn't like that I'm not following orders like a good son should."

"Ah, my ears are burning."

Lex and Peyton turned at the same time to find Lionel in the doorway. Next to him, Peyton stiffened and distaste flashed across her features before she smoothed it away. He stood to catch his father before he could get too far into the room. Peyton reached over and closed her laptop.

Lionel took it all in with a shrewd eye and a sharp, caustic smile.

"Dad, I didn't hear you knock." Lex said in place of a greeting.

"Why should I have to knock to enter my own home? Surely, any good son would be happy to see his father." Lionel shifted slightly to look around Lex. "Hello Peyton."

"Lionel," Peyton replied coolly.

She smiled back at his father and it was sharp. Challenging. This was why he wished he could have kept her state secret from Lionel longer. Because even if Peyton didn't exactly know how to play the part of It, at least she'd tried to pretend before. But now since that part of the truth was out, just like with him, she didn't feel inclined to hide her true feelings.

Only his father wasn't a normal adversary. He tore challengers apart at the first sight of blood, and Peyton wasn't like them. She cared. She showed mercy.

If he were honest with himself, Lex feared that Lionel would eventually behave monstrously enough that she'd finally look at him like everyone else did. As the son of a monster. So he had to keep his father tempered enough while she was around to stop that possibility from ever occurring.

That included not letting them interact as much as possible.

"I'd appreciate it if we kept plant related conversations relegated to business hours," Lex said dryly. "Maybe you can schedule a meeting first thing tomorrow. I am assuming it's important if you came all the way here."

"Can a father not check on the well-being of his only son?" Lionel questioned, but his tone was saccharine. "I had to hear through whispers that there was an attack here a few days ago." He purposefully let his gaze linger on Peyton's neck. "It seems like both of you were assaulted. I can't believe Merrill isn't down here nursing you back to health."

Peyton, wisely, didn't reply or even move to pointlessly cover the evidence of violence. Lex walked to his drink cart and poured two glasses of bourbon.

"And who's whispers are you listening to?"

"What does it matter, Lex? I can't believe you would be assaulted in your own home and try to hide it from me!"

"I didn't realize merely not calling to inform you was considered 'hiding' it." Lex made brief eye contact with Peyton as he passed his father one of the glasses. Just one look and yet it told him so much.

She was less pleased with the sudden visit than he was. She still wasn't fully certain how to behave in front of Lionel, but she didn't plan to cow before him. She'd follow Lex's lead for how to steer the conversation.

"Lex, I'm concerned about you. You've been behaving erratically ever since-"

Lionel paused and looked at Peyton as if he was hesitant to say his true thoughts but it was obvious that he did it as a direct barb at her. Both an insult and a test. Lex grit his teeth behind closed lips.

"Since when?" Peyton spoke before he could respond. Her question lilted in almost an innocent way, but the way she twisted her head in faux curiosity said otherwise.

Lionel raised a brow at her response and she pressed her lips together in a patronizing smile.

"Because if you say since he met me, that's going back quite a ways, don't you think? Even since we started dating is a tad bit too far."

"Forgive me if I gave the impression that this was about you," Lionel shot back. "I was going to say since your arrival in Smallville."

"Right, of course," Peyton replied in a dry tone. "Like you said, you're here because you're worried about Lex after he's had several near death experiences and is still, somehow, managing to successfully oversee a fully functioning plant. It'd be a lot for anyone."

Lionel spared her a cold smile and drank from his glass.

They were like two hissing cats, Lex swore. Peyton had the wit but she lacked any of the subtlety that would maintain the polite veneer of deniability in this sort of tête-à-tête.

Lex stepped between them.

"It's late, dad. All of your concerns can wait until morning."

"Of course. We'll discuss these concerns first thing tomorrow. I expect there's a guest room available."

Resigned dread settled in Lex's gut.

[]

An alarm rang in Peyton's head at Lionel's self invitation to stay. He hadn't invaded in such a blatant way before now, and it made what should be a familial visit feel like an inquisition. She looked at Lex and his face was impressively stoic. She still didn't like the expression. It was even, but there was a stiffness underneath, like being in a meeting with a manager you didn't particularly like.

Her father would never cultivate those sorts of feelings in her. Neither of her fathers would. He, they, loved her. He'd gotten misty eyed at their wedding, gotten her mom to back off when she pressured her and Peyton didn't know how to respond, and he used to sit at her bedside when she was a child and simply watch her when she was supposed to be sleeping. Sometimes he'd read her a story if he realized she was awake.

There was nothing resembling that for Lex. Lionel had yelled at him in front of her before; he hadn't tried to comfort Lex when no one else in their class came to his birthday party.

And now he took charge in their own house. As if owning the building gave him the right to come and go as he pleased after he sent them to live in it.

If she thought for half a second he might consider selling it, she'd buy it just to change the locks.

"Luckily for you, it just so happens that there is," Lex said. He swirled his drink in his glass and took another sip. "Upstairs, to the right of the staircase."

Her old room.

Oh, the ironies.

At the realization of what that meant hit her, her heartbeat quickened. Her original room wasn't that far from Lex's, really. Lionel would be able to see if she went into or came out of a different bedroom. Perhaps she could wait until he retired for the evening; she still had her laptop to use as an excuse to stay up. Or she could beat him upstairs before he could see what room she went to.

Peyton picked up her computer and prepared to make a bee line upstairs. She came up behind Lex and touched his arm to get his attention.

"I'm going to head to bed," she told him.

"I was thinking the same thing," Lionel said. "I'll follow you up, Peyton. You can make sure I find the correct room."

Peyton blinked and tightened her grip on her laptop, but she kept the displeasure from showing openly on her face.

He was doing it on purpose. For whatever reason, even if just to bother her, he was only going to his room now because she was.

Peyton forced herself to shrug her shoulders and walk past him as if she didn't care. Lex stepped forward and raised his brow in question.

"You just got here and you want to go to bed? That doesn't seem like you."

"I've been busy lately trying to clean up your messes, Lex, I'm exhausted. If you feel you need to stay up and strategize for tomorrow, by all means."

"No need," said Lex. "But maybe you're getting too old."

Lionel let out a bark of a laugh and wagged a finger in Lex's direction.

"If that were true, you'd already have your teeth around my throat."

"They should put that on a Hallmark card," Peyton said blandly without looking back as she headed for the hall. "Happy Birthday Dad, you may be older but I still can't rip your throat out. Yet."

Peyton heard the clink of glass on wood and then Lex was suddenly at her side, his hand on her back as he walked up the stairs next to her. Lionel trailed ominously behind them.

"You're familiar with the manor," Lex said, with a dismissive wave of his hand in the room's direction. "The room should be up to your standards, given you furnished it."

"I look forward to our talk, son."

Peyton didn't offer him a goodnight and Lionel didn't acknowledge her either, but he did linger near his bedroom door as he went through the motions of carefully removing his overcoat. Lex's room was feet away and Lionel was taking his sweet time. Peyton didn't have much of a choice and she mentally cursed Lionel as she turned and entered Lex's room before him like it was totally normal.

Lex followed her and closed the door after him. Peyton dropped her laptop on his bed and turned to him, eyes wide in frustration and panic.

"I know," Lex said before she could get a word out. "I apologize for this interruption; we can work something out."

"I'm not mad at you," Peyton whisper-yelled. "What is he doing just showing up here for a sleepover like that's normal?"

"A smart general catches his enemy off guard. He's trying to rattle me to get what he wants. And possibly to see if he can sniff out any secrets he feels may be being kept."

Peyton raised her arms as her fingers curled towards her palm.

"That is so messed up. I'm sorry, he just gets to me-"

"I understand."

"The way he talks to you. To everyone. And now this." She gestured around his room.

The realization that she'd never actually been in his room struck her next and her face grew warm. It was like the rest of the mansion. He had a four poster bed in a wood that probably came from an endangered rain forest. There was a dresser and a large fireplace, as well as a bookcase in one corner.

In her memories of her other life, calling it a bedroom would be an understatement. It was a suite. Not that her current room was lacking at all, but this was obviously one of the main bedrooms.

There was evidence of him in the room at least, so it didn't look like it was only a stock image from something like a Forbes magazine. A box of his watches sat on the dresser and some art hung on the walls. A tie laid over the chair near the fireplace and there was a book on one of his nightstands.

She took it all in within seconds, but she still snapped her head back to Lex as if she was caught snooping.

"I didn't mean to barge in on your space," she told him, the words rushing from her lips in an embarrassed hurry.

"It's alright. He'd have found it strange if we went to different rooms. It would only have given him more ammunition to use tomorrow."

They stood facing each other, quiet, as the situation settled. Peyton brushed back her bangs and cleared her throat. Lex watched her; he pulled his eyes away and let them trail towards the fireplace.

"I can take the chair," he said, "if it will make you feel comfortable."

Surprise and alarm crossed her face at his suggestion. She couldn't stay in his room. She had her own room and she had to get back to her own room. It would be inappropriate for her to be-

Okay, they were technically married, and maybe she told him she believed it was legitimate, and she did, but that didn't mean they should be sharing a room. Not right now; not like this.

She was trying to get back home. Dr. Henson had finally replied to her inquiry and that was something almost like progress.

"You don't have to do that. I can just wait until he's asleep and sneak across the hall."

Lex shoved one hand in his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck with the other.

"Do you know when he's getting up?" He prompted. "He's usually an early riser."

Peyton rubbed her face in frustration and groaned.

"Of course. Of course he is. What else? Does he still pay off the staff to spy for him as well?"

Lex stiffened. He hadn't moved further into the room and Peyton didn't make any inclination to do so either.

"Still?" He prodded gently. "Did you see something before?"
Peyton rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms and leaned on one leg.

"Obviously I never saw money exchange hands," she said, "but they would whisper enough to him."

Lex continued to stare.

"In front of you?"
"People would do a lot in front of me. I didn't count." She broke eye contact and looked from the bed to the chair in thought. "I don't even have pajamas."

"You can borrow a pair. What do you mean you didn't count? Did this happen often?"

"People didn't consider me since I didn't say much-" Peyton's voice tapered off as she blinked and her face paled. "I mean, from what I gather," she tried to supplement.

Lex rolled his lips and let her off the hook as he turned to his dresser and pulled out a shirt and pair of sweats. Peyton accepted the clothes; the fabric was soft against her skin and she stared at the bundle a moment as she sorted through her thoughts. She swallowed and pressed her lips together.

"It's been…happening more often," she admitted. The room was quiet. Still. Waiting. Peyton chewed her bottom lip and stared at the floor. "Why would I have these- Why would I know these things if there wasn't another Peyton?"

For a few seconds she didn't look up, and when she did Lex was watching her carefully. She ignored the surfacing memories, the knowledge, when she could, when she noticed it, but there was no denying that Lex caught this one. Likely caught more of these incidents than she did.

And she'd seen the video, she didn't think Lex was lying about thinking there wasn't another Peyton, especially not after experiencing how everyone else who knew her before treated her. But that didn't explain the knowledge she shouldn't have. It was terrifying. If she thought about it, she could still feel the throbbing in her tongue and the familiar smell of linseed oil and exotic wood.

"I don't know," Lex said. His words were cautious; considered. "I don't think we have enough information yet to come to any real conclusions."

Peyton pressed her lips together and nodded in agreement. She broke eye contact again and lifted the pile of clothes in her hands to redirect to conversation.

"I'm just going to… get changed."

"Of course."

He had a private bathroom, like she did, and Peyton closed the door to slip into the sweats and shirt. Like the first time she had to borrow his clothes, they were too big and she had to roll the waistband. It was somehow different now, wearing them. Now that they were married. She shoved the thoughts away and washed her face with his cleanser before going back to the room. Lex was already changed into his own pajama bottoms and shirt; he had a pillow tucked under one arm and a spare blanket in the other.

"I'll take the bench," he said.

Peyton's eyes shifted to the bench seat against the large window and she frowned.

"You don't have to do that. I can sleep on the bench."

"Don't even try arguing for it." Lex grinned gently. "You've already admitted I'm better at negotiating."

Peyton scoffed.

"I don't remember saying you were better."

"It'd be better to leave it a mystery, then, wouldn't it?"

Peyton twisted her lips in an attempt to mask amusement and put her fists on her hips as she tilted her head up to look down at him.

"That's cruel," she said. "Now I have to either fight for it, or I relent and that proves your claim."

His grin only grew wider as he walked backward and sat down on the bench in question.

"There's a polite facade of deniability in backing out before you fail."

At that, Peyton's face scrunched and she made a show of taking the bed for herself. Lex chuckled and situated his pillow and blanket over the bench cushion. From the left side of the bed, Peyton could watch him as she laid on her side; she curled up with her knees at her chest and pulled the comforter up near her ears.

The simple act of being in his room at night, of sleeping in his bed, was another line crossed, and she didn't know what to do about it.

She turned off the bedside lamp and a waiting silence filled the room. Thanks to the window she could see the outline of Lex. She couldn't see enough detail to know if his eyes were open or not, but his head was turned in her direction. One of them ought to say 'goodnight' so the other could return the sentiment and they'd be released from their limbo. But neither of them did. She curled further into herself and let the covers partially block her view of him.

Her thoughts wandered as she gnawed on her lip. All this time she'd tried to maintain distance. She did want to go home, even if she'd fallen into a rhythm here. She hated that her original family had been relegated to mere memories.

But then she'd gone and gotten married. And no matter what she told herself, if she ever made it back it'd tear her too, not just him.

Her other family didn't even know the truth. They had no idea of what was happening to her thanks to her secrecy and maybe that had actually hurt her situation.

The silence lingered. Still, neither of them moved.

"She bit her tongue once," she admitted. The words spilled out of her like a confession; they bloomed in the dim room and melted; as if they were less real in the dark.

"I… saw it. I felt it. Annalise didn't even tell me-her to do it. She just said a common phrase and I… just did it."

Peyton pressed her eyes closed as the remnant of the sensation filled her. A new feeling of helplessness settled as she looked back and understood.

"I should have known better, that she wasn't telling me to actually do it, but I didn't, and I- I don't know why. I don't know why I would know about that moment; I shouldn't. And it terrifies me."

Lex didn't move.

"You couldn't speak properly until the swelling went down," he said. Peyton grit her teeth and pulled the comforter up over her eyes. "How long have you noticed this happening?"

"I don't know. It feels like the longer I'm here, the more I realize the mistakes. The memories. They don't belong to me."

"Perhaps they only feel that way because you believe they don't."

Peyton rolled her tongue in her mouth and pulled the comforter down far enough to uncover her lips. Lex still laid on the bench; it didn't look like he'd moved a muscle since their conversation started. She picked at the fabric.

"Maybe the crash jumbled some wires."

"You're not crazy, Peyton; I do know that."

She wished she had his confidence in that. Peyton thought she knew the truth. She did. She was Peyton Woods, a daughter and a sister, from an earth with no Luthors or Metropolis', where she was just a nobody career woman working at a banking firm.

But every time she found herself slipping, every time she found that she knew information she had no right knowing, it made her feel mad.

Peyton licked her lips and scooted further from the edge of the bed.

"Goodnight, Lex."

Her voice was quiet, loud enough only to reach Lex on his bench. At her words, the shadow of his figure shifted and settled back against the cushions.

"Goodnight, Peyton."

[][][]

As the morning sun crested the horizon, Peyton's alarm chirped thrice before she turned it off and slipped out of Lex's room to dart into her own for a set of clothes. She had no idea when Lionel would be up, and the last thing they all needed was for her to have to explain why she didn't keep any of her own clothes in "their" room. Luck was on her side for once, and she was able to make the trip without seeing him.

But Lionel was already awake and ready for the day by the time Peyton made it downstairs to make coffee. Lex had made his way directly to his office in anticipation of his father's intentions, so it was surprising to find Lionel in the kitchen instead. He didn't strike Peyton as a breakfast person.

They eyed each other and exchanged quiet, tense greetings as Peyton walked around him to get to the coffee machine. She could feel his eyes on her back as she ground fresh beans. As she pulled out two mugs from the cupboard and sat them on the counter, she shot her own evaluating look back at him.

He appeared well rested and alert, and he watched her with such scrutiny that Peyton felt it must be to purposefully try and make her feel uncomfortable.

"Well," Lionel spoke up, "I suppose I don't have to ask where the cups are now."

It was petty and rude and she ought to be the bigger person and just pull one out for him, but Peyton busied herself with grabbing milk from the fridge instead.

"Help yourself," she told him, managing a tone that was halfway friendly. "After all, it's your house."

Lionel snorted through his nose in acknowledgement of her jibe and collected a mug for himself. He poured the first cup of fresh brewed coffee, much to her irritation.

"I do hope my intrusion didn't cause any disruption to your nightly routines," he said. His tone was just a bit too casual.

Peyton remained on guard as she fixed hers and Lex's drinks. She left her back to him, as vulnerable as that felt, and kept herself from tensing at his prodding as she frothed some milk.

"Not at all," she said dismissively. "I had been about to suggest to Lex that we turn in anyway. Hopefully the guest room was comfortable enough for you."

"It was satisfactory."

She hummed in acknowledgement and poured the milk into the coffee. Lionel still watched her. Peyton got the feeling that there was something he wanted to say, or question, but wouldn't.

This is where she had the upper hand.

No matter what scheme Lionel pulled or snide remarks he made, he still knew less about her than she did him. Perhaps she didn't know personal details, she had no real shared memories with him, but she felt confident enough to know the size of him.

There was no way he could say the same about her. Not in the same sense. Perhaps he was getting a sort of gauge on her now, finding where to try and press or dig, but it was all exploratory. He was having to rebuild his evaluation of her on an entirely new personality.

And he had no clue as to why.

It wasn't much of an edge over him, if it counted as power at all, but it filled Peyton with a bit more confidence when she turned with the prepared mugs of coffee and a thin smile.

Lionel's eyes flickered over her face but the rest of him was still, his steaming mug raised near his mouth. When his gaze dropped briefly to her neck again, she nearly asked if he'd like the criminal investigation photos to see the bruises better, but that felt too childishly petty even for her.

The bruises had faded significantly, but were unfortunately still noticeable. Peyton wondered who told Lionel about the attack; perhaps the police notified him if the house was under his name.

But, if he wasn't going to ask about it, she certainly wasn't going to offer up free information. Peyton walked past him on her way out of the kitchen and tossed a small, polite smile his way.

"Well, hopefully you're rested enough for what I'm sure will be a delightful conversation about the plant with Lex."

"Given how spirited you've been concerning the plant and its employees, I'm surprised you're not joining us."

Lionel matched her pace and walked alongside her through the hall; his presence looming. Peyton only briefly grit her teeth.

"I have my own work to get to."

"Ah, yes," he agreed like he just remembered. "Your parents granted you an entry level position, didn't they? And how do you find it?"

Peyton cut her eyes up and noticed his wolf gaze, sharp smile. If he thought he could embarrass her this easily, he was wrong.

"Simple," she said shortly.

Using her shoulder, she pushed Lex's office door open and made eye contact with Lex as he closed his laptop. He frowned as he noted his father with her. She rounded his desk and placed the mug a hands-length away from the computer.

"Thank you, Peyton," Lex said.

And Lionel was still watching hawkishly. Evaluating. He was searching for something wrong, something off. Like a bloodhound that knew a trail existed, he just needed to find it. Peyton had already done enough to contribute to his suspicion. So, she girded her resolve and leaned over to press a kiss to the corner of Lex's mouth. His eyelids fluttered, she could feel the brush of his lashes against her cheek, and if she weren't so close she would have missed the hitch in his breath. It made her insides twist.

It shouldn't be right, feeling confident enough to act this way with him. It shouldn't feel so natural to be close to him. But those were thoughts for another time. As far ahead in time as she could push them.

"You're welcome." She said as she forced herself back into the present. "I can check in at lunch and make sure no one has ripped anyone's throat out."

Lex huffed and Lionel raised a sardonic brow. Peyton took a sip of her own coffee and made to leave for the safety of her own office.

And yet, she hadn't made it to the door when the pettiness in her reared its ugly head again. This time it was too good for her to manage to tamp down.

She swiveled around on one foot and grinned like the idea sprang up from pure, benevolent consideration.

"Since you're here, Lionel, you know what would be so wonderful? Dinner with the whole family! I'm going to call my mom and see if she and my dad are available to come down. They've been wanting to visit more often."

Lex held a prolonged blink at her words and then rubbed aggressively between his eyes; Lionel's lips thinned at the mention of her mother. Peyton held her overly innocent smile. A smile with teeth.

If Lex complained later, Peyton would simply beg forgiveness. Lionel really did bring out the worst in her.

[][][]

All I can picture is Lex holding Lionel and Peyton like one would hold cats by the scruff, while they hiss and swipe at each other. It amuses me to no end.