Disclaimer: see Chapter 1.

A/N: This is the end folks !

CHAPTER 17: Full Circle

" Come, Lindsey, " said Lex, offering her his hand to step out of the limo.

" What are we doing here in the middle of the night, Lex ? " asked Chloe, her heart racing.

" Robbins, have you got them ? " he asked his chauffeur.

" Here they are, sir, " he responded, handing Lex a bunch of white roses.

" Thank you, Robbins. Wait for us here. It won't take us long, " said Lex before addressing Chloe. " Look for an oak tree. You should be able to spot it. It's the only one on the grounds. "

" OK, " she answered with misty eyes, letting him take her by the arm. " It's just a few steps away now, " she added with a strangled voice.

" Could you read what's written on it, please ? " asked Lex when they stopped under the tree.

The young reporter focused her eyes on it and saw her own name carved on the tombstone lying under the oak.

" Happy birthday, Chloe Sullivan, " said Lex, turning round and handing her the roses. " You're one lousy liar. You've got the greenest eyes I've ever seen, " he said, wiping the tears off her face.

" How long have you known ? " asked Chloe chokingly.

" For what felt like an eternity, " answered Lex, cupping her face in both hands.

" Why didn't you say anything ? " she sobbed, " Why did you hide from me that you could see again ? " she asked, clinging to him for dear life.

" I understand why you didn't tell me who you were from the start. In the consition I was, and taking into account what had happened the last time, you weren't sure I could protect you from my father. That was also the reason I had to bide my time well, Chloe. I had to make sure dad was behind bars and you were out of danger before making a move. I didn't want to lose you one more time around, " he explained stroking her hair

" All this time... we should have been honest with each other and put an end to our misery, " she murmured, raising her glassy eyes to meet his stormy blue-grey ones.

" It was the hardest thing I've ever done living under the same roof, not being able to touch you because I knew that there'd be no turning back. You've got to understand, Chloe, that if we had resumed the things where we had left them before the trial, there was no way we could have hidden what we felt to the world. I may appear cold and composed most of the time but when it comes to you, Chloe... ," he said, brushing her lips with his in a tentative kiss. " I've missed you so much, " he added emotionally, tasting the salt of his own tears on her mouth.

" I'd struggled for so long to forget you, Lex, believing that I'd never be able to see you again. There were days I thought I had almost succeeded but, then, my world came tumbling down when I came across that damn article on the Net. As if getting used to the idea of a life without you wasn't enough, I had to cope with the fact that you might be permanently blind and more vulnerable than ever to your father's evil designs, " she responded croakingly, caressing his left cheek.

" You've grown into a beautiful woman, " he answered, leaning on her right hand and grazing her palm with a kiss.

" Well... I've got to thank Uncle Sam for that. The plastic surgeons did a pretty good job, don't you think ? " she responded with the ghost of a smile.

" You know I'm not talking about that, Chloe. You're beautiful inside, where it counts. "

" That means you don't approve of my new appearance ? " asked Chloe seemingly offended.

" Far from it. I just wanted for you to know that I'd still love you without your surgeries... I feel so guilty, Chloe. If you hadn't been caught in the crossfire between me and my dad, none of this would have happened. I cannot imagine how much you must have suffered, " answered Lex before Chloe silenced him by placing two fingers on his lips.

" I wanted so much to blame someone for what had happened to both me and dad. But I could never blame you, Lex. It was me who walked straight into your father's trap and if there's any culprit here it is me and my own immaturity, " she said before removing her fingers and looking down at the roses. " They're beautiful, Lex, " she added with a luminous smile.

" I'm aware you're turning 31, but I asked Stevens to cut thirteen of them; one for every year my father's robbed us, " said Lex, lowering his mouth to meet Chloe in a kiss that said everything he couldn't put in words. She tasted as sweet as she had that spring, the spring their hearts had finally recognised each other and had started beating as one.

" I could get used to that, Mr Luthor, " smirked Chloe, letting go of his lips reluctantly.

" So... what do you say, Miss Sullivan ? " asked Lex, his mouth hovering over hers. "Will we be toasting a new beginning tomorrow ? "

" Oh, most definitely, Mr Luthor, " she answered, flashing him the smile he lived for. " Now, stop talking, Lex. And show me what I've been missing all these years, " she finished, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing his mouth close to hers.

" I'm at your service, Miss Sullivan, " he answered, letting her see his knee-weakening smile.

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