"She's still resting" Clark says peering into the living room from the kitchen.

    "Thank God sheís all right" Martha says, pouring a cup of coffee for Jonathan.

    "You said she knew your name, Clark, but you've never met her before?" Jonathan retraces the events that have just unfolded in his living room.

    "No, I've never seen her before."

    "Maybe she's a friend of Lana's?" Martha asks, handing some coffee to her husband.

    "There's a bunch of stuff in her car. Like she might be living in it" Clark says concerned.

    "Well, she's not going to sleep out in that cold anymore. She can stay here" Martha proclaims.

    "Martha, we know nothing about her."

    "She's got nowhere to go, Jonathan. I'm not going to throw an innocent girl out into the streets to freeze to death."

    Jonathan looks into the living room, his eyes soften when he is reminded of the frail girl sleeping on his couch.

    "We should probably keep it quiet that she's staying here, at least until we figure this whole thing out" Jonathan instructs his family. "And Clark, I think you better not use your abilities for a few days, and we'll just try to find out who she is."
 
 

******
 

    The sun streams through the ornate stained glass windows of the Luthor mansion. Lex stands in his study, dippled with colored beams of the early morning light. He sips his orange juice, turning as he hears his assistant Darius enter the room.

    "Mr. Luthor..." Darius begins, "your helicopter will be here in a few moments."

    "Thank you, Darius" Lex says, taking another sip.

    Darius steps back out, closing the door.

    Lex walks over to his bookcases, pausing to look at a small painting he has framed on the shelf. He touches it, rubbing the corner with his thumb. He seems to be lost in it, but snaps back to reality when his telephone rings. Lex turns towards the desk, an annoyed giggle escaping his lips. He hesitates, but reluctantly walks over to the desk and picks up the phone.

    "Yes?" Lex says impatiently into the phone. "How ironic, Dad. You're actually trying to keep me in Smallville, now. Why the sudden change of heart?" Lex asks his father. "Of course any situation can only stem from my incompetence."

    Darius enters the study to announce the chopper is there, Lex stops him with a shake of his head. Darius takes the command and leaves the study once more.

    Lex hangs up the phone, his face full of frustration. He gets up and walks towards the window. He watches the chopper fly away.

    Clark walks down the hallway of the Luthor mansion, but is abruptly stopped by Darius.

    "Hi, Darius" Clark says smiling, passing off his surprise. "Has Lex left for Metropolis yet?"

    "No, Mr. Luthor's trip was canceled" Darius offers, directing Clark to the study.

    Clark walks in, catching Lex on the phone.

    "..white, four dozen" Lex says into the phone. He covers the receiver with his palm and says to Clark "Just a second, Clark."

    Clark scans the room with his eyes, never knowing what he might see on display in the elaborate study.

    "Just 'LL'" Lex says into the phone. "Thank you" He adds, hanging up the phone.

    "Clark..." Lex says standing, walking towards his friend with extended hand. They shake, both smiling.

    "Don't you Luthors own enough land here in Smallville to control the climate?" Clark asks with a smile.

    "Sorry, Clark. I hope your family's crops survived the freeze."

    "Everything's fine. Thanks" Clark says with a grin.

    "I thought you were going to be in Metropolis this week?" Clark asks.

    "Seems there's a situation at the plant that needed my immediate attention."

    "I don't know if Chloeís called you...?" Clark begins, and Lex finishes with a grin "She has."

    "Well, she's been working on a special edition of 'The Torch' about single successful twenty-somethings, and I'm supposed to interview you for it" Clark continues.

    "So, I'm glad you didn't go to Metropolis" Clarks says with his Kent famous grin.
 
 

******
 
 

    Chloe is buzzing about The Torch office like a busy bee. Clark comes in with his book bag sloppily slung over his broad shoulder.

    "There you are!" Chloe says, tossing her hand up in the air. "Where have you been?"

    "Good morning, Chloe" Clark says smiling.

    "You won't believe who I ran into yesterday at the Talon" She says with a gummy grin, her finger boastfully tapping on his chest. "I am so excited, this is just the interview I need for the special edition."

    "Who did you meet?" Clark asks, taking his seat at the desk.

    "Miss Audrey Peyton" Chloe announces proudly, adding a picture of her subject up to her cork board.

    Clark's eyes widen, recognizing her instantly. His mind suddenly overflowing with thoughts.

    Consumed by the thoughts swirling in his head he lets "and she knows me..." escape his lips.

    Chloe whips her head around and raises an eyebrow to him.

    He tries to cover by asking Chloe "I, uh mean how should I know her?"

    Chloe blinks off another unexplainable Clark Kent moment and begins again.

    "You shouldn't know her. I mean, I don't think you should. Her name is Audrey Peyton. Sheís riding the elevator to the top of the art world and is only like the most sought after interview in Metropolis, well, if you don't the Luthors. Can you believe she just landed in my lap" Chloe says, tossing Clark a file with Audrey's name on it.

    "How?" Clark asks, flipping through the file folder, stopping at a clipping from The Daily Planet.

    "Clark, do you not listen to anything I say? She came into the Talon yesterday" Chloe quips back.

    "She's an artist?" Clark asks, looking at one of the pictures in the folder.

    "Yeah, and she has a fabulous new gallery in the east end of Metropolis."

    "What's she doing in Smallville?" Clark asks.

    "Well, I havenít found that out yet, but you can read my interview on the front page on Friday" Chloe says, playfully tapping the eraser of her pencil on his shoulder, her eyes sparkling just looking at him.

    "You already got an interview?" Clark asks curiously. Surprise filling his face at Chloeís skill.

    "Well, not exactly, but donít you worry your pretty little head about it, Clark. I'm going to find her later today and get my cover story out of her" Chloe says with a confident grin.

    "Maybe she's already left. I mean, maybe she just stopped at the Talon for a drink, and then left."

    "Trust me, Clark. Women like Audrey Peyton donít stop off in Smallville for a cup of coffee. There's a reason she got off in our neck of the woods, and Iím here to find out what that reason is."
 
 

*****
 
 

    Clark walks into The Talon, his eyes scanning the shop. Lana is pouring coffee for a customer, turning gracefully back towards the counter. She is wearing a crisp pink apron, looking always like the prettiest girl in town. She catches a glimpse of Clark, her cheeks instantly turn rosy.

    "Clark" Lana calls out.

    Clark looks up at her, distracted he says "Oh, hi Lana."

    He continues to look over all the customers in the coffee shop, obviously searching for something, or someone. If he's trying to be secretive, once more he has failed miserably.

    "Can I help you find something, Clark?" Lana asked, with a jovial tone in her throaty feminine voice. She stares at him, not able to keep from smiling.

    Clark, realizing he's once again looking suspicious, attempts to cover.

    "Uh, I think I might have left my bag here" Clark stammers out.

    "Your bag is on your shoulder" Lana says with a grin, trying hard to not laugh at him. He slings his bag around him, grabbing it with his large hand, blushing with embarrassment.

    "I'm sorry, Lana, I meant my book" he smiles.

    She may not know every chapter of his life, but she can read him like a book.

    "Is everything OK, Clark?" Lana asks.

    "Yeah, Lana, everything's fine" he says, working that famous Kent charm. "How about one of your famous hot chocolates?" he asks, with sparkling eyes.

    "Sure thing" she smiles, turning to make it. "You know I think the word is out about my hot chocolates" Lana says, giggling. "Metropolis's star artist was in just last night ordering one" Lana says, playfully topping his chocolate with whipped cream. "Get it while it's hot" Lana says, presenting his mug down in front of him.

    "Star artist?" Clark prods, taking a sip.

    "Yeah, Audrey...uh, something. Chloe didnít mention it? She practically attacks her when she came in."

    "Attacked her?" Clark asks, with a shocked face.

    "For an interview. You know how she does. She was so excited to see her" Lana says laughing, wiping the whipped cream from his nose.

    "So, Chloe interviewed her?" Clarks asks.

    "Not exactly. We all chatted for a little bit, but she just seemed sort of shy about the whole interview thing."

    "Do you have any idea why she was here, in Smallville?" Clark asks, hoping to solve the mystery.

    "No, she didn't say" Lana says.

    "Did I come up?" Clark asks, sheepishly.

    "No, as a matter of fact you didn't. Chloe and I do talk about other things, ya know" Lana says, poking fun at him. Aware, that Clark seems serious she asks. "Why? What's up?"

    "Nothing. Just curious" Clark says, taking a final sip of the chocolate. "Thanks, Lana. I'll talk to you later."

    Lana stands there with her tiny nose wrinkled, shaking her head once more in disbelief at how quickly Clark Kent can disappear.
 
 

*****
 
 
 

    Martha and Audrey are mulling around the Kent kitchen working an assembly line of mason jars and peach preserves. Martha is a glow with the company of another female. Audreyís face is full of color and she seems quite at comfortable alongside Mrs. Kent. Sheís wearing an oversized plaid flannel shirt that usually resides in Clarkís closet, but she makes it work with rolled up sleeves, high ponytail and cute glasses.
 

    "I never thought I'd know how to cook anything" Audrey says smiling.

    "You're a natural" Martha says, with a warm glow on her face.

    "Clark is so lucky to grow up here, with you as a mom."

    Martha blushes with maternal pride, peeling a peach with expert precision.

    "He really means the world to you, doesn't he?" Audrey asks, her tone more serious.

    Martha looks up at Audrey, and instantly replies "I can't imagine life without him."

    Audrey, still possessing her serious tone says "I know he's special."

    Martha replies with a grin "I think he's pretty special, but as his mother I guess I'm biased."

    Audrey softly takes Martha's hand off the peach and holds it into her own, looking right into Marthaís eyes says again "I know he's special."

    This time the words sink in.

    Martha stands frozen, only able to continue to stand by Audrey's soft grip on her hands.