Martha and Audrey are in the truck driving into town. "I just need to pick up a few things. We shouldn't be long" Martha says behind the wheel. "It's nice to get out for a little while" Audrey says, enjoying the scenery from the truck window.

    "The kids are in school, and the town is usually pretty quiet in the morning, so we wonít have to worry about running into anyone" Martha reassures Audrey.
 
 

*****
 
 

    The two women leave the grocery store, Martha clutches a small brown bag of groceries.

    "You want to grab some coffee?" Martha asks, motioning down the street towards The Talon.

    Audrey recalling that the girls who first greeted her in Smallville, would be in school now, agrees to go back into The Talon.

    They go in and order two lattes, taking a seat at a little bistro table near the window. The two sit quietly, sipping their lattes, looking around the shop. Martha wants to get back into the conversation they started yesterday, but doesn't know quite where to begin. Audrey reaches over taking the pen from the comment card box that is sitting on the table. She plays with the artificial daisy that has been hot glued to the top of the pen. Almost unconsciously she starts doodling on the back of one of the napkins on the table. Without effort her strokes become art, beautiful art that catches Martha's eyes.

    "Jonathan said you were painting this morning" Martha begins, hoping Audrey will open up to her.

    Audrey answers, her tone distant, not looking up from the napkin. "I used to have my own gallery."

    "Used to? What happened?" Martha asks, hoping she does not offend her company, but still hoping for more information.

    Audrey puts down the pen, looking at her sketch on the napkin. Martha watches her, seeing the emotion in her eyes that this seems to invoke.

    The damn breaks, and words begin to flow from Audrey. "It all just fell apart. I've lost everything. My gallery, my apartment, my...." Audrey says, stopping short. She's trying hard to talk about this without crying. It's not going to help anyway.

Audrey takes another sip of her drink, exhaling as she puts it down. Martha's tender expression comforts her, so she decides to continue sharing it all with her.

    "I never imagined I would have what I did. A beautiful gallery in Metropolis. Actually making money by doing what I love. And him..."
Audrey says, pausing. "I never thought I could love someone so much, and be loved in return."

    Martha's heart instantly understands, for she too had been hoping for success in Metropolis when she was Audrey's age. She too, had fallen hard in love, and couldnít imagine her life without the man who compliments and completes her so well.

    Out of the corner of her eye Audrey sees a stretch limo pulling up outside. She gasps, the color going out of her face. Martha, noticing her reaction to the activity outside turns to look. She sees Lionel Luthor stepping out of the car. Martha has her own reasons to want to avoid Lionel, but the tight grip Audrey has put on her forearm tells her Audrey's reasons are more serious.

    "Martha, He can't see me. He canít know I'm in Smallville" Audrey quickly says, running off to hide in the restroom, turning back to lock eyes with Martha whose eyes reassure her she will keep her secret.

    Lionel Luthor comes into the Talon, instantly noticing Martha Kent.

    "Martha" He says, taking her hand into his. "What does Jonathan think of you out on the town alone?" he says toying with her. Always on the prowl he looks down at the table, noticing two glasses partially full, and the napkin Audrey had been doodling on. "Well well well. Guess you're not alone, after all" he says, that ever present evil glimmer in his eyes.

    Martha's heart leaps as she realizes he noticed the two glasses. "Clark just left" she says, hoping he didn't see Audrey through the window.

    He nods, his grin possessing an even more devilish curve than normal. His eyes on her make her feel uneasy. She knows his feelings towards her, that mixed with the fear of him finding out she is with Audrey drives her.

    "I need to be leaving myself" Martha adds, getting up, digging a few dollars out of her purse for a tip.

    "Oh please, allow me" Lionel says, reaching across the table towards the bill, quickly grabbing up the napkin without Martha seeing. He slides it into his coat pocket, pulling out his wallet.

    Martha, knowing full well the consequences of being in debt to Lionel Luthor, smiles and insists "I've got it, but thank you" she takes the bills from her purse and lays them on the table.

    "Enjoy your coffee" Martha says, leaving the Talon, feeling his eyes go over her as she walks away.

    Martha's heart is racing, praying he'll leave soon. She ducks into the doorway of the hardware store to wait. Luckily he doesn't stay long. She watches his car drive out of sight before she goes back in the Talon to rescue Audrey.
 
 

*****
 
 

    Lionel bursts into the study of Luthor Mansion unannounced. Much to his surprise, Lex is not seated at his desk, nor is he anywhere else in the mansion. An annoyed grin creeps across Lionel's lips. Lex is one step ahead of him this time. He catches a glimpse of the small print Lex has on the shelf. His eyes fix, hardening as he moves closer towards it. He reaches into his coat pocket, pulling out the napkin from the Talon. He brings the napkin up side by side with the small print in the elaborate frame. He exhales, his breath almost growling, as he confirms they are both the same. Both art created by hands that have slipped out of his grasp. He crushes the napkin in his hand, his jaw locking with anger.
 
 
 

*****
 
 

    Lex Luthor stands inside the empty loft high above Metropolis. His designer shoes clicking against the polished wooden floors as he walks past the walls that are now bare, his fingers sliding across them as he moves. He stops and looks through the glass towards the outside terrace. He pauses, perplexed. He opens the glass door to outside, walking to the edge of the balcony that overlooks the busy city. He inhales, taking in his surroundings, his eyes not missing a detail of the elaborate terrace and cityscape. He turns to leave the loft, stopping in the doorway when he notices a small note stuck to the door. He peels it off the door, examining it. Itís a delivery notice from The Metropolis Flower Shoppe expressing that the flowers he had sent to this address never reached the recipient.