Chapter 1

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that has to do with Smallville, the WB, DC comics, Superman, yada yada yada
Pairing: Clark/Chloe



The day was an example of a perfect summer day. The sky was a cloudless shade of blue for as far as the eye could see. There was a wonderful mixture of smells; hay, corn, freshness and of course, manure that was in the air. The temperature was warm, but it felt good. And the sounds, oh the sounds! Livestock in the background, birds in the air, the sound of a truck coming up the road in the distance, other than that it was quiet. Blessed quiet. That meant one thing….she was home.

The Kent’s were driving back home from another successful day at the farmer’s market.
“Have you heard from Pete lately?” Martha asked.
“Yeah, he’s got another girlfriend.,” Clark chuckled, “His mom is seeing someone. He doesn’t know what to think.”
“Well, it has been a while since the Ross’ divorce was final, Son” Jonathon replied.
“Oh Pete know that Dad. I just think he always hoped that there would be a chance his parents would get back together and he could move back home to Smallville.”
“I think every child who has had their parents divorce hope for that Clark,” Martha said. “Sometimes people who love each other just grow apart. It’s better that they divorces when they did instead of trying to stay together for the kids—“
“I know Mom, if they had stayed together, they would have resented each other and made life Hell for Pete.” Clark sighed. “Why couldn’t everyone be happy like you and Dad?”
“As much as I would like to see the world be a ‘perfect’ place Clark,” Jonathon said, “that would make it pretty boring.”
Jonathon made the turn that led to their farm. As always, Jonathon felt a surge of pride when he saw the sign “Kent Farm”. ‘We built this,’ his mind said. ‘This family, and we have been able to make it thrive no matter what! I would be nothing without my family.’
Martha’s thought were very close to her husbands, ‘I’m so thankful that we have a home to come to. We have been through so much, and yet together as a family, we have weathered many a crisis. Even if it would be a boring world, I wish everyone was blessed with a family like mine.’
Clark, being a typical college student, in at least one aspect, was thinking something entirely different. ‘I wonder if that girl in my journalism class would like to go out with me? She’s pretty cute, funny and smart. Will I ever get over being so shy around girls? I miss Pete, he’d make me get my ass in gear and ask her out. Better yet, I wish Chloe would get in touch, she’s snark at me until I did something. I wonder where-'
“Chloe!” Clark cried out.
As if she had appeared from his thoughts, Chloe Sullivan stood by a beat up Ford Taurus with a huge smile on her face.
Johnathan and Martha smiled at each other at their son’s outburst. Chloe had called early this morning and told them she was back home for the summer. She had wanted to surprise Clark.
Clark barely waited for the truck to stop before he flew out of it and ran up to Chloe. He scooped her into a bear hug and swung her around and around until she threatened to cover him in coffee flavored vomit.
“Clark!”, Chloe panted, “Hi! Nice to see you too!”
“I was just thinking about you! When did you get home? I thought you were taking classes this summer. Why haven’t you-“
“I got home yesterday and I wanted to take the summer off from classes. I- I needed to get away for a while.” A shadow crossed Chloe’s face briefly before the trademark Chloe smile came back. “Don’t tell me you missed me?”
“Uh, yeah! But where have you—“
“Hi Mr and Mrs Kent”, Chloe said. She knew she kept interrupting Clark, but she wasn’t ready to talk some things yet.
“Hi Chloe.” Martha said as she took her into her arms for a hug. Just for a few moments Chloe let herself lose herself in the motherly gesture. It wasn’t the first time she wished Martha was her mother.
“How’s our favorite reporter?” Jonathan asked as he pulled her into a mini version of Clark’s bear hug, with out the swinging, much to Chloe’s relief. She was, as always in awe of Jonathan Kent. He had a presence that commanded respect and trust. When she saw him and Martha, she knew that there were still good people in the world. ‘Get a grip Sullivan!’ Chloe thought ‘There’s good people everywhere! I can’t let one bad one effect the way I live my life!’
“Fine, thanks Mr. Kent. But I must say Gotham is a little boring after Smallville.”
Clark stood back just beaming at Chloe. ‘I can’t believe she’s here. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed her! She looks beautiful! Is her hair longer? She’s lost some weight-when did her chest get so big? I never noticed those before. Whoa Kent! This is CHLOE—I can’t be thinking about her like that. We put that behind us years ago! She wanted to be friends remember? She’s freak out if she knew I was thinking—‘
“Earth to Clark, come in Clark!” Chloe waved a hand in front of Clark’s face. “Did Lana walk by?” Chloe looked around. “You had that dreamy expression on your face!”
Clark laughed. He got over his crush on Lana years ago. She was still one of his best friends, but sometimes Pete and Chloe liked to remind him of his slightly “obsessive” crush.
“I don not have a ‘dreamy’ look on my face Sullivan! Men do not get ‘dreamy’ looks. Have you been reading romance novels again?”
“Ha! When I see a man around here, other than your father, we will then discuss ‘dreamy looks’. I will not even dignify the remark you just made about my questionable reading choices with a comment.” Chloe huffed and spun on her heels to walk toward the truck to help the Kents unload. The Kents had made a strategic retreat when the snarking began.
“Since when does Clark know what’s in a romance novel? Is there something I should know?” Chloe asked the Kents innocently.
“Wha—I do not—I—uh”, Clark sputtered.
Martha and Jonathan broke out in laughter at the sight of their stuttering son.
“Clark, you may be smart, but you still do not have a chance against the ‘Queen of Snark’.” Chloe said as he sailed past Clark and went into the house with and empty crate.
The Kents looked at their son. He returned the look and said,
“I’m glad she’s home!”