Sitting at the kitchen table, Audrey continues sharing the history between she and Lex with Mrs. Kent. Her words expressing her emotions so vividly that they take Martha back to that time and place. Audrey's gentle descriptions allow her to see these tender moments as though they were acted out in front of her.

    Audrey is perched on a little folding chair, lost in her canvas. Her eyes move back in forth from the night sky to the little wooden easel that holds her art. She is sloppily dressed, wearing a paint stained apron. Her hair is loosely twisted into a knot on top of her head, her square glasses oddly framing her fair face. She seems oblivious to the fact that Lex Luthor is standing right behind her, admiring her work.

    Her work is extraordinary, but he feels the need to tease her.

    "Now, surely you have something better to do on a Friday night than doodle" Lex says, smiling with his eyes.

    Shocked by what she thinks is a rude stranger, she spins quickly on her chair, ready to attack. Her wide eyes soften, recognizing a familiar face.

    "Lex!" she says, jumping up to hug him, knocking over the easel.

    He smiles, opening his arms to embrace her.

    Realizing she's covered in paint she gasps, pulling herself back.

    "Oh, I'm such a mess. I'm sorry. Look what I've done to your beautiful suit" she says, trying desperately to wipe the paint off of his designer jacket.

   He stops her hands, holding them in his. He does not care about the suit. He looks deep into her eyes seeing that which he has longed for so long.

    Her eyes invite him in, offering unconditional love, a sense of home.

    Lex takes her into his arms, his lips exploring those of his love, savoring her sweetness.

    Audrey falls into his kiss. Dangling over the edge of delirium, only able to hang on by his powerful hands, caressing the small of her back.
 
 
 

******
 
 

    Lex and Audrey walk into the atrium of Audrey's apartment building. It's late and everyone else in the around has retired for the evening. Audrey has taken off her apron and let her hair down. Lex is carrying her sandals.

    "I missed you tonight. Why weren't you there?" Lex asks.

    "I'm never invited to those things. You know that crowd, they want the art, just not the people who create it" Audrey answers, regretting the words as soon as she speaks them. She looks to him, offering apologetic eyes.

    His smile shows he understands.

    "Anyways, I was there, remember?" she teases, spinning on her tiny bare feet.

    Lex walks over to her, taking both her hands into his own. "I'm not sure, but I don't think painting in the parking lot is exactly what they had in mind when they planned the event" he says, twirling her around, his eyes dancing along with her. "Besides, I thought it was black tie" he adds, playfully teasing her back.

    She looks down at her clothes, giggling. She grabs the end of his tie, flipping it with her fingers. "I guess maybe next time I can borrow one from you" she says grinning up at him.

    He leans down, kissing her on the cheek. Driven by his feelings he nuzzles his way down to her neck. His hand cradles her head, his fingers losing themselves in her hair.
 
 
 

*****
 
 

    Later that night the two are laying in bed in Audrey's apartment. Her tousled hair falling along his chest.

    He kisses her head, smiling, contented.

    Audrey closes her eyes, trying to hold onto the moment. Savor this exquisite intimacy she fears cannot last.

    "Lex..." she begins, taking in her breath. She ponders her next words, feeling their impact before she speaks them. "Now just don't go back to the Smallville and forget me again" she says, her voice quiet.

    He gently raises his head from the pillow, sitting up to comfort her.

    Gathering herself into the sheet, she turns to face him . She takes his hands into hers, holding them near her heart.

    "Now Mr. Luthor, time to go back to the real world" she says, batting her eyes, trying to be strong.

    "Audrey" he begins, picking up her chin with his hand. "It's not midnight yet" he whispers, kissing her fears away.
 
 

*****
 
 

    Audrey takes another sip of her lemonade, bringing herself back to the real world.

    Martha is riveted by the realization that Lex Luthor possesses such emotions. She has always seen him as a misguided young man. Considering his domineering father, and lack of a mother, she had always assumed Lex would follow a similar path as Lionel. It saddened her that she had judged him so unfairly.
 
 

*****
 
 

    Lex is poised over his pool table, gliding the cue through his shot slowly. Finally executing the shot with expert precision, the ball slams into the pocket. He rises, taking a drink of his swiss water. The afternoon sun creates a blue reflection from the bottle that climbs the wall as he drinks.

    He hears the door to the study open. He turns, surprised to see some unexpected visitors.

    "Clark, Chloe" he says, placing the bottle down. "I'd ask you to join the game, but in my experience three makes for an uncomfortable pair."

    Clark, embarrassed by Lex's comment looks over to Chloe, allowing her to take the lead.

    "Lex, I was hoping you might be able to help me with a story" Chloe says, reaching into her bag for her folder.

    "I thought Clark was supposed to be conducting the interview?" Lex asks, taking another sip of his water.

    Chloe flashes Clark an annoyed look, still not over the fact that he missed his deadline, again.

    "This is for my article" Chloe answers, her tone serious.

    Lex grins, amused by the backseat position Clark takes to Chloe.

    "How can I help you, Chloe?" Lex asks, it's evident in his eyes he enjoys toying with her.

    Chloe opens her folder, producing a document to Lex. "I was hoping you could tell me what connection your father has to Audrey Peyton."

    Lex's eyes immediately change. He takes the document, scanning it as he sets back down his bottle of water.

    "It's an eviction notice. It seems your father ordered her out of her apartment two days ago" Chloe says, her eyes wide in anticipation of his reply.

    Lex offers none, covering his shock with a cool expression.

    Chloe, anxious to find her story prods on with "Why would he do that Lex? There's got to be an explanation."

    Lex moves towards his desk, holding onto the document. With his back to them he replies "My father's business dealings often upset people's ways of life. Thatís nothing new, Chloe."

    Chloe, seeing this as Lex making excuses for his father, marches the second document over to him. "I realize this may be old hat for you Lex, but I don't think a person's life being dismantled is trivial."

    "Chloe.." Clark says, shocked by Chloe's passion towards the subject, frightened of her tone toward Lex, walks to her, hoping to stop her from making a mistake.

    "No Clark!" she says, stopping him with her hand. "This woman was on top of the world a few days ago, and now itís like she disappeared into thin air all thanks to the famous Luthor signature."

    Lex takes up the document from his desk, seeing that it's the lease agreement on Audreyís gallery, he files away the information for his own personal agenda.

    "As much as I respect your tenacity, Chloe, I don't see how the mundane real estate practices of my father affect the lunchroom crowd at Smallville high" Lex says, hoping to coax out her own agenda.

    Chloe, standing by her right to the truth is not affected by Lex's condescending words. She does, however, bite on the bait he threw out to her, giving him a piece of information he can run with.

    "I ran into her in 'The Talon' two days ago" Chloe says.

    Lex digests Chloe's words, able to hide the fact that this is a major revelation impeccably.

    "I wanted to interview her about her art, her gallery in Metropolis. I thought it would be a nice addition to the career issue I've been working on" Chloe says, explaining. "But when she just happened to show up in Smallville, I couldnít help but wonder why. I started looking for her, hoping we could talk, thatís when I found those" Chloe says, pointing towards the documents in Lexís hands.

    "I can see how this would pique your interest about Ms..." Lex pauses, looking down at the name on the document.

    "Peyton" Chloe finishes, her eyes looking to him for information.

    Lex smiles at her, his eyes sparkling.

    "I'm afraid I can't help you. My father signs hundreds of documents a week. I highly doubt he'd be able to recall the details of something as routine as a property eviction" Lex says cooly.

    Chloe bites her lip, disappointment evident in her eyes. She takes the documents back from Lex.

    "Thanks Lex. Come on Clark, we'll just have to see what we can dig up at 'The Torch,'" exiting the mansion with Clark close behind.
 
 

*****
 
 

    Lex is seated at his desk, the small painting in front of him. He's rubbing his temple with his forefinger, staring at the piece, lost in his thoughts.