**For those waiting for updates to my other fic, they are coming. I got distracted by this and this is nearly finished. I hope y'all will still read them when I put them up.***

(Smallville sadly doesn't belong to me, neither do the characters. Just borrowing for fun.)

Pairings: Chlollie, Clois, and maybe others to appear.

Rating: ADULT

Baldivia, a small European country on the boarder of many larger countries, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in its technologies. It used to be a power house in wool exports but as times changed so did the way for them to survive. The country is ruled by a monarchy. The family is centuries old, and the King who is nearing his 58th year is ready to retire. He wants his son, Oliver to take over the empire. Unfortunately all Kings need a Queen and the rules of succession are air tight, a Queen must be in place at the time of succession, or the crown is forfeit to the next heir which is the prince's young cousin.

The original castle the family used to live in is now a place for tourists to come and visit, the family moved into a more modern manor. The current King and his bride had lived a charmed life. He married her out of University, after a whirl wind romance. She had been a royal, and loved her husband greatly. Then the day came she had been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and he rallied support until the day that she lost her battle. They had only one son Oliver who was the apple of their eye. He was inquisitive, charming and just like his father. He loved the outdoors, loved technology, and had a love for his father's favorite past time, archery. He was an award winning archer, he knew where his life was supposed to head, knew he was supposed to be King, but sometimes he just wanted more. What more could there be than being a ruler of a small but powerful country? Living a life when one isn't always being watched by guards or by local media. The photographers had only ever really photographed his personal assistant and that left Oliver relatively anonymous. Which he was grateful for.

He had finished some meetings for the company firm, there had been more talk about his succession and he needed to breath, needed to think. So he went into his workout room to exercise his angst away. Until Guntar his assistant came in and broke the news that his father was nearly done arranging his marriage. He dressed more properly rather quickly and led a full steam charge toward his fathers' office. Oliver could only shake his head as he made his way toward the great hall. He understands the need to find a wife, but wants one who loves him, not grows to love him. He wants to find the kind of love his father was lucky enough to have with his mother. He entered his father's office unceremoniously too see his father standing at his window looking out. His father had expected to see his son, not quite as soon as he showed up. Oliver started in with his protests when the King turned to face him and leveled his gaze to his son.

"Oliver I don't understand why you're fighting this?" his father spoke.. "You are THE heir to the crown of Baldivia, you must have a bride and since you resist all of the opportunities affronted you than I had to take matters in my own hands. Your bride has already been selected."

"All those women want a chance to be a Queen and don't care about me. Is it wrong for me to want to marry for love?" the prince protested. "A lifetime in a business deal really hasn't worked in our family," he shot. His father sighed his son was right. His Uncle divorced his wife, his cousin divorced his wife, his father had the only successful marriage and he had deeply loved his mother until the day she died.

"You're right, you should be allowed to find what your mother and I had," His father grew quiet than sat down at his desk. "A deal then?" his father spoke a smirk slowly appearing on his face.

Oliver sat down on the chair in front of the great oak desk. "Go on?" Oliver's curiosity was peaked.

"The succession ceremony will be on your 30th birthday,"

"In 8 months," Oliver spoke trying to figure out what he was thinking.

"Find your love, and convince her to marry you in that time, but if you fail, its Serinma Vontoya," he spoke. "She comes from a fine and affluent family."

Oliver was smiling, "But I have 8 months?" He stood in a hurry.

"Yes son you do."

"Then I will see you in 8 months," he smiled and turned and left the office.

Oliver nearly ran to his quarters, excited of the prospect of being able to find the kind of love he wanted. The problem at the prospect stopped him in his tracks and nearly caused him to have a full fledged panic attack. 'Where does one go to find a bride ?' he entered his quarters and went to his desk and immediately got on line. He had had a friend he met on line, a friend he had kept secret.

He typed in Snrkyaltr into the messenger and hoped that she had been logged on. She was an IT genius who he had found out through late night conversations had a penchant for mischief. His IM was very, very encrypted again by his doing. People that got support from the family company had no idea they were talking to an actual Prince. Waiting for any sign his friend was on line, he thought about how he had met her. Snrkyaltr had fallen onto the Baldivian technologies site looking for some very specific software, software that was miles and miles ahead of what was on the market, it was able to sift and sort out hidden files and ghost others and it was totally undetectable. Since Oliver had written the programs and the help wear he was forwarded all the messenges and that's how they met. She had intrigued him and they had had many conversations about tech and life in general.

Snrkyaltr :What are you doing up so late?: her IM avatar came up.

ITisme :Its mid day here, what are you doing up so late?:

:nothing much, you?:

:Not really just catching up on some things:

: I see:

:So, I'm finally getting some time off and was looking for a place to take my vacation. I think I may finally come to the states, any ideas of where to go?:

:Well if you've never been here, then there are the typical touristy places, New York, Los Angeles, Florida…:

:Not in the mood for typical, looking for normal,:

:Oh well then those are definitely off the list, ummm:

:My time would be very short but I would love to see what ordinary and average would be like, not much of that where I'm at:

:Middle America…: there was a long pause. : BRB:

Oliver pulled up another screen and entered Middle America into his search engine. He found several suggestions.

:Sorry but I have to go. Good luck with your travel plans. IM me if you get into the states any time soon: and in a split second his friend half a world away was logged off. He sighed as he closed that site and went back to his search.

He shook his head, he needed to think, a plan. Most definitely did he need a plan. He smiled as her recalled he had a large map of the US in his library. He left his chambers and headed to his private library then went out to his archery practice field. He stopped at the equipment room to grab his compound bow and some arrows.

Oliver stared at the map on the target, he knew that the US was where he needed to go, and he would let fate decide where. He tied a blindfold around his head and aimed at the target. He released the arrow and the paused, then removed the blind fold. He walked slowly toward the target, he looked at where the arrow landed and smiled, Middle America indeed.

0000000

"Chloe hurry up!" Clark shouted.

"Sorry, grumpy pants, but I needed to get some help with that software." She lied. Chloe was known as a hard worker for everyone around her. She was wicked on the Intel, searching and looking for Meta humans and researching stories for her new job as a reporter for the Daily Planet. Chloe very seldom took time for herself, so when she met the mystery guy from BDVI Technologies, she really enjoyed the friendship and tried to keep it quiet.

"You were talking tech when there is coffee waiting for you?" Clark teased.

"Really you have to ask?" Chloe snarked. "Come on, Lois is going to meet us." He smiled as he led her from her apartment to the elevator.

"So what's the big rush to have coffee with you and Lois?" Chloe asked as she and Clark began to walk down the street. He didn't answer. "See the only time really she really gets pushy is…" Chloe stopped. "Oh nonononono, she wants to set me up with another blind date." Clark shrugged and smiled.

"Come on Chloe she's worried about you. We just want you happy. All you do is work."

"But I love to work Clark, I have goals and the only way to achieve them is to work hard."

"But there is so much more out there than that." He argued.

"Unbelievable set up by the two who did everything but become physically violent with each other until they kissed." She shook her head and turned to continue down the sidewalk. Clark shook his head and followed, Chloe was pissed and the explosion at the coffee shop was going to be huge.

00000000000

"Sire, please, at least let me go with you." Guntar pleaded.

"Not a chance," he spoke while packing. " You can't go five minutes without calling me by some royal title, the entire point is to not be recognized as a royal at all."

"But it's not safe."

"You don't think I can take care of myself?" he questioned while glaring at his assistant.

"No," he answered and then he realized what he said. "Oh, sir, I meant that…."

"Stop, just stop," he was growing angry. "I'm going….alone." He spoke and began packing more furiously.

"But."

"Take a vacation, go see your parents, but leave me in peace. I need to do this." His aid bowed his head and then left the room. Oliver finished packing and looked around the room. He went and packed his lap top then carried his belongings out of his room.

000000

"Lois Lane!" Chloe shouted as she entered Brew You. Lois glared at her boyfriend.

"You had to tell her?" she asked. Clark shrugged as he and Chloe sat at the booth Lois was at.

"Look short stuff, he's a nice guy. He's smart funny, he works in….."

"Lois, NO," Chloe spoke. "Look I appreciate that you looking out for me, but I love my life. I don't need a relationship to give me balance." She spoke. Her phone chimed. "I have to go," she growled and left the booth.

Lois just glared at Clark. "Way to go."

"What?" he shrugged as the coffee was delivered by the waitress.

"Well, not to worry, I have a backup plan." Lois smiled. Clark just shook his head.

"You know she might end up hating you for this."

"She can't hate me and she can't hide her heart forever." Lois grinned as she sipped her coffee.

00000000

Going through the airport with the general public was something that Oliver had never done. Being born of privilege a private jet was a phone call away. A limousine was always ready to pick him up and take him to any destination he desired. It was actually very humbling to see how the other half lived. He had put on a ball cap and shades to hide his identity. Fortunately only those who lived next to the manor would have seen him and that population was very small. He wanted the full experience he wanted to know what it was like to not have everything handed to him.

He sat in the back of the plane, and there were a few babies in the back with him. He was able to get at window seat, he had 3 flights to get to the London airport and then off to New York and then his flight to Topeka.

The flight was full and a young man and his mother ended up sitting next to him. The boy was around 10 years old. He looked over at Oliver and squinted. Oliver was leafing through the Sky shopping catalog and raised an eye brow at the boy looking at him. "Hi," he spoke.

"Do you like Spiderman?" the boy asked. His mother was on the phone talking to someone and hung up when she saw her son bothering the man next to the window. The woman was in her late 40's and appeared worn from life.

"Andrew don't bother the nice man with your comics."

Oliver watched the boy's face fall and he sighed and sat properly in his chair and buckled his seat belt. "Sorry."

"It's alright really." Oliver smiled and the woman blushed. "I didn't get to read may comic books as a kid, tell me about him."

"What? No comics? That's awful, see Spiderman is actually Peter Parker." The boy wound up and began to tell the entire story of the amazing Spiderman. The boy pulled out several comics from his back pack and began to show them to Oliver. Oliver looked over at the boy's mother who sighed and shook her head.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No problem." He replied and gave his full attention to the little boy. After a few hours the boy fell asleep with his head against Oliver's shoulder.

"I thought he would never fall asleep." She sighed. "Are you sure he's not bothering you?"

"No ma'am." He smiled.

"Thanks," she frowned. "He's had a hard time, with his father being gone." She started. "He's in the army and was deployed. He got hurt and is on his way to hospital in London." She continued.

"I'm sorry is he going to be okay?"

"I think so," she smiled. She pulled out her purse and pulled out a picture of the 3 of them. "He's a commander. Oliver saw the love in the picture and was hoping he could find that. Oliver listened to her talk filed some things to memory. He wanted to help her and her family. By the time they landed in London he knew all of her family and when her son woke up he became familiar with Spiderman and his amazing friends.

00000

Oliver made his way to his terminal for his flight to the US. He was surprised about security. He knew the world was in trouble, but he had no idea the methods that were used to assess and eliminate airport threats. He sat at the gate for nearly an hour, nose in a magazine to avoid any possibility of being recognized.

He boarded the flight, and was grateful he was near the front. There was an even more eclectic mixture of travelers, he saw military, business men and women, families, and newlyweds. He thought that he definitely lived a very sheltered life. He ended up falling asleep after takeoff. He was dreaming of his mother and watching his parents together. They were halfway through the flight when he was woken by a flight attendant.

"Excuse me, are you a doctor?" she whispered. Oliver shook his head, he may be many things and he also has a huge IQ but he was no doctor. "Ok sorry to bother you." Oliver watched as she continued on her way. Finally she headed back up the aisle to with a young woman following him. ' So strange,' he thought his personal physician was a speed dial away and he'd never really been sick a day in his life.

Oliver leaned back in his seat and pulled his magazine from the inside of his jacket pocket and began to flip the pages. Dinner was served and then an in flight movie was shown. Oliver fell asleep again and slept until they began to approach New York's JFK Airport.

Oliver made his way through the Zoo of the airport to catch his flight to Topeka. He wondered how people did this on a daily basis. It was nearly a marathon just to get from point A to point B. He stopped off at a Starbucks after checking in for his next flight. He was fortunate to have his own personal barista. He had latte's made with the best coffee in the world, and would be the first to admit he was a coffee snob.

His flight wasn't scheduled to leave for a couple of hours, so he took the time to walk around, look at the shops and people watch. It was refreshing to not be hounded, hunted or pestered for something. He was just a guy traveling, blending in with everyone else. He was standing at window front and felt something touch his pocket. His reflexes were nearly cat like, he reached and grabbed the wrist of the young man who was trying to pick his pocket.

"Think again friend." He turned to face the boy. The boy's eyes were wide with fear.

"Let go mister!" he protested.

"Pretty sure that stealing is against the law." He spoke.

"But.."

"No, " he spoke. "No buts." He studied the boy. His hair was unkempt, he looked pale and hungry.

"Look I'm sorry ok?"

"Not ok, " he spoke. "How old are you?"

"16,"

"Where are your parents."

"What do you care."

"Hey you tried to rob me, now tell me." He spoke.

"They're dead ok." He spoke.

"Is this kid bothering you?" A uniform police officer came up to them. "Hey," he spoke. "We've been trying to catch him for weeks." He spoke . He grabbed the kid by his jacket.

"He wasn't really bothering me." Oliver spoke. The kid shook his head. "Well thanks for catching him. Come on Andy your time for the airport is over." The cop and the kid left. Oliver shook his head. There was very little crime in his country. How bad could that boy's life be if he was picking pockets at the airport. He headed back to his gate to sit and wait for his plane.

0000

The flight to Topeka was uneventful. He was actually very grateful for that. He had one of his aides have a car left at the airport for him, one that wouldn't require ID or talking to too many people. He navigated the airport with ease and found the jeep he had sent, in the parking garage. He entered the code on the door and opened the back seat and set his luggage down. He closed the door and then hopped into the driver's side. He found the keys under the passenger side floor mat. He then pulled his phone out of his pocket and turned on his navigator. He plugged Metropolis into it and put the keys in the ignition, put the jeep in reverse, and began his journey.

00000

Chloe left the coffee shop and headed back to the Daily Planet. She fumed the entire way. She had a life she was proud of. She helped people in her public life and her private life. She was getting a reputation as the champion for the little guy. She would push while others would only stand back and let enormous injustices go unchallenged. She had taken down slum lords, dirty politicians and even taken down evil diminutive lunch ladies in the public school system. In her private life she was just as active in getting bad guys. Sometimes those worlds collided. Chloe also helps a band of wayward superheroes take down bad guys with her computer skills. It started one night by happenstance but turned into a regular gig. They had become her friends and she would do anything to keep them safe.

Chloe entered the Planet and went to her desk and found a note to that read, "My office NOW!, " PW. Chloe marched into his office, heaven only knew what he wanted..

"Sullivan, you've been here what 6 years?" she nodded. " And you've fought to get where you are correct? " he asked while studying his computer screen.

"Yes, but sir,"

The man stopped reading and looked at his rising star reporter, he studied her. "You want your career to last a long time?"

"Yes, is there a problem here chief?" she asked.

"It's been brought to my attention that you don't take any time for yourself. When was the last time you had a vacation?"

Chloe growled, "LOIS," she cursed. "Sir, I take time for myself, I…."

"How long Sullivan?" he asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"Sir, I,"

"You as of this moment are on paid vacation. I've reviewed your works pending and they can wait. You need to take time from here and enjoy life."

"But sir,"

"Don't but sir me Chloe." He spoke softly. "You're good, really good. You can have a long career, but don't burn yourself out. Take the time, get away. "

"But sir,"

"Two weeks Sullivan," he spoke. His phone rang and he picked up essentially dismissing her. Chloe was dumb struck and twice as mad as she was when she left Brew You. She went to her desk and pulled some things that she would need and slammed them into her bag, mumbling and grumbling to herself the entire time. She then went to the elevator but decided she was pissed off enough to take the stairs.

She made it home in near record time. She slammed her door behind herself. She locked her door, shut off her cell phone, disconnected her land line, and unplugged her modem. She wasn't going to talk to anyone. She stomped to her room dropped off her bag and put on her comfies; cut off sweats and her favorite T-shirt. She stomped to her kitchen and pulled out her tub of cookie dough ice cream . She grabbed a spoon and went into her living room. She flopped onto her couch and turned on her TV.

00000

Oliver decided that he should probably rest. He'd been traveling for the last two days and he was exhausted. He has successfully made it onto the main highway heading out of town so he cruised until he found a place to stay, a place called Marriott. Oliver knew he had been getting stares at the airport, he'd been getting stares his entire life. He was tall, blond, great hair and he worked out…A LOT. Apparently that was what most women in any country thought was attractive. He really didn't get it until he came up to the counter and the mid 40's female at the counter.

"Good evening sir, How may I help you sir?" she asked while never looking at her computer. She was undressing him with her eyes. He tried to remain calm and smiled his most charming smile.

"Uh, I need a room for the night."

"Oh I can definitely help you there, is it just you or is your wife joining you this evening?"

"No, no wife." He smiled.

"Well then let's see what we have for you." She smiled. "Have you ever stayed with us before?"

"No this would be a first time for me."

"Oh well let me tell you about our services," she just chatted on. Oliver politely smiled back and watched her type away as she talked. She finally paused "'Are you a smoker?" she continued.

"No,"

"I have one on the third floor, non smoking, and Queen sized bed." She smirked at him.

"That would be fine thank you." He spoke. "How much will it cost?"

" $100.00" she purred. " And your name sir?"

"Oliver… Marshall." He spoke this was it, the test. He was using his alias and hoped it would work.

"Can I see your ID please, Mr. Marshall?" she asked sweetly and he gave over the his ID. She seemed to study it for a while then slid it across the counter.

"Cash or charge sir,"

Oliver reached into his jacket pocket for his wallet. "Cash." He spoke as he pulled a crisp one hundred dollar bill out and handed it to the lady. She bit her lip, he was hot and apparently loaded.

Oliver inwardly groaned. He had seen that look before and it was a look of someone who saw him as a means to an end. He kept his smile , sure that she didn't notice that it wasn't genuine. She coded his key card slid it into an envelope with his receipt.

"Here you go," she smiled. "Do you need any help with anything else? Do you know where to get a hot meal?" she purred.

He grabbed the envelope and put it into his pocket. "Uh, not really, but I can figure that out, thank you." He politely dismissed her.

"Well alright, you're in room 330 and the elevators are down the hall."

"Thank you," he spoke turning to leave to go and get his bags.

"If there is anything else you need, I'm on operator duty." She shouted to him.

He didn't reply only left the building. He made his way out to his jeep grabbed his things and went back into the hotel. The clerk was on the phone so he didn't have to worry about any embarrassing conversations. He entered the elevator and went to his floor. He opened the door after a few unsuccessful attempts with the key. He entered slowly, another adventure in his journey.

The room was simple, Oliver was used to expensive wood furniture, high end décor, this was normal, average, and it was kinda cool. The door shut behind him and he moved to put his belongings on the bed. He went to the window and pulled open the curtain, he looked out to the city scape. He was in Topeka, Kansas in the United States. He shook his head, Middle America, he hoped he could find what he was looking for, what his heart truly desired. He didn't see the minivan across the street, and didn't know he was being followed. Oliver drew the curtains and sighed, he wanted to grab a shower and then he would think about food.

He flipped on the TV to find some news. Once he found CNN he started stripping and headed into the shower.

"He arrived, your majesty," Guntar spoke from across the street. He was in a Minivan, limousine tinted. "Yes sir, I won't let him out of my sight." He spoke.

00000

Chloe spent two days hiding from Lois and Clark. She cleaned her apartment, read a romance novel, baked a cake, and made some cookies. She then decided she would just go shopping, maybe get a manicure, and if she was feeling generous she would drive over to the farm to hang out.

00000

It was a new day, Oliver felt rested and full of hope. He checked out early, wanting to start on his way to Metropolis. He stopped at a small diner just outside of Topeka and had a home cooked breakfast. All of his meals were prepared by a 5 star gourmet chef, but this was good. The flavors were unlike anything he ever had, and it was delicious. The coffee was actually comparable to high dollar coffee. After his meal, he hit the open road.

Oliver couldn't believe how open and green Kansas was. He had spent most of his years in his homeland in the back seat of a limo. He had ridden his horse in the country but all of that was well supervised with his handlers or he was doing some sort of photo op. He never really got to enjoy the view. This trip was all his and it was beautiful. It was like he was seeing the world for the very first time.

He had had a route to Metropolis mapped out but wasn't going to deny himself an adventure by avoiding detours. There had been many interesting names on the map, like Granville and Smallville. Who wouldn't want to check those out?

He drove nonstop for several hours and when he came to the exit for Smallville, he took it immediately. 'Why not' he thought to himself.

It didn't seem to take him long to enter a whole other world. It was corn fields as far as the eye could see, like an ocean of green extending to the horizon. He smiled at the notion, it was very charming. He rolled into town by late afternoon. The main drag was filled with small stores. He thought he would drive down town first then park and walk to check things out.

He ended up parking in front of the Talon and got out and started walking down the street. His mother would have loved the feel of the town, very mom and pop, very Americana.

He wandered in to a Woolworths and looked around. He bopped in and out of several stores, then hit the malt shop at the end of town. He got a milkshake and a lot of attention from the teens working the counter. He left a half hour later to make his way back to his jeep when he heard shouting.

He turned to see the commotion across the street at the Feed and Grain.

"You know I'm good for it," the lady shouted to a man in a suit.

"I also know you're near foreclosure."

"If I don't get these things, than my farm will go under. I have to feed the animals. I…"

"Then you can load it yourself. My men won't lift a finger to help you. I'm watching you Mary, I will own that farm."

"Ohhh Jessie, what would your mama think about this."

"My mom is in a nursing home, she can't think." He spoke.

"But I'm 70. I can't."

"Nana?" Oliver took the initiative and entered the conversation, "Is there a problem here?" He used a little of the board room voice. "It's me, Oliver." He smiled. " Sometimes her eyesight isn't so good." He spoke to the suite.

"Oh Oliver, " the woman sighed grateful for whoever the young man was. "What are you doing here?"

"I just got into town." He spoke sitting on the bumper of her old pick up. "Are you alright? What seems to be the problem here?"

"Well Oliver," the suit spoke.

"He was just giving me a business education." She snarled.

"I see, is he going to help you load your things?" he asked. The man only laughed. "Then I see no point in you continuing your conversation. " Oliver stood to his full height and stared the middle aged man down.

"This isn't over Mary." He spoke and turned and went into the store.

"You alright?" he asked the lady again.

"I am, thanks for helping." She smiled.

"I just couldn't not." He smiled. "Here let me help you." He lowered her tail gate.

"You really don't have to." She sighed.

"Do you have any other ideas?" he smiled. She shrugged and he started lifting large feed bags and other items into the bed. When it was all loaded he closed the bed.

"I don't know how to thank you, young man." She smiled.

"There's no need."

"Well at least let me cook you dinner." She pleaded. "My farm is just a few miles from here." Her eyes were full of hope and Oliver couldn't deny her thanks.

"Alright, I'll follow you." He spoke. He smiled turned and went to his Jeep while she climbed into the old truck. She didn't back out until she knew he was behind her and then drove on toward her farm.

The lane that they drove down was quaint. The house itself was amazing. Old style, well kept and something Oliver had never seen in his entire life. He had been surrounded by wealth and privilege, seeing the best that money could buy and this was just simple. He parked near the front of the house and exited to see Mary waiting for him at the front steps.

"Sorry, the house is a mess." She spoke. "It needs paint and some repairs."

"Nonsense its nice." He spoke. She blushed and led him into her house.

"Mary? Mary?" A voice came from the back room.

"Excuse me," she spoke and left to go to the voice. Oliver looked around the living room, memories hung on every wall. There was warmth here that the Manor just didn't have. It was so pristine and sterile. There were no pictures of family, except for maybe Kings past. He saw photo albums on the coffee table, a handmade quilt was even on the back of the sofa.

"Sorry, Oliver that was my husband." She spoke out of breath. "Would you like some iced tea while I start dinner?" she asked.

"That would be great thank you." He spoke and followed her into the kitchen. He had to duck his head to not hit it on the low ceiling.

"I was going to make a meat loaf." She spoke she poured him a tall glass of sun made tea.

"Sounds delicious." He smiled. She just blushed.

"I had hoped to find someone to fix my fence today in town. I didn't expect to get harassed by the Jenkins boy."

"What was all that regarding if you don't mind me asking?"

"Ohh such impeccable manners, did you go to a fancy school?" she asked.

"Something like that." He blushed.

"I…I would rather not tell a stranger, Joe would be upset."

"Well, how about this," he smiled. "Show me what fence needs fixing and where to put those things that you bought away. When I'm done, hopefully you won't still consider me a stranger and you'll tell me your story."

"I…" she tried to argue but his look was so sincere. "Alright," she smiled. Oliver took a sip of his tea and followed her out of the house. She led him down the lane to the front fence that was near the main road. There were tools leaning against a fence post, tools he had never seen before. "I've been out here digging post holes to put these up, " she pointed. Joe wants a barbed wire fence along here to maybe discourage the riff raff from coming in our yard." Oliver just looked at her in wonder. She continued on with the specifications of the distance between posts .

"Okay, I can dig the holes for you, no problem. Now show me where to unload your truck," he smiled.

"Thank you," she sighed. "Ever since Joe had his stroke, I've been doing this by myself. The Kent boy used to help a lot, but he got a job in Metropolis and stopped coming by."

"Well not to worry, I'll help." He followed her to the barn and listened intently to the instructions. "Ok, well, I'll get as much as I can done." He smiled.

"I'm so grateful, I'll call when dinner is ready." He nodded and went to her truck and drove it closer to the barn. It took him only half an hour to get everything unloaded. But it was thirty minutes of heavy lifting . He was glad he decided to wear jeans and a t-shirt to travel in. His shirt however was sticking to his skin and he pealed it off as he left the barn and walked down the lane to his other assignment. He grabbed the post hole digger, and looked at the other hole. He gauged the depth, marked his paces and began to dig his first post hole.

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"No Clark, I'm not at all sorry for not talking to you for 2 days. I'm heading to your farm whether you're there or not. I think it's a great place to vacation…..I understand you and Lois are on an assignment, but you did this to me. …Guilty by association. Besides Martha said I was always welcome." Chloe's prius made its way down the road. She hung up the phone as Clark began to apologize more. Her friend and family who work for the competition called her editor and forced him into forcing her to take a vacation. She would use his house and he could just stick it.

Chloe knew it was only a few minutes until the Kent farm when she passed the Peabody farm. She knew the old house and she often saw Mary Peabody gardening or pulling weeds. Chloe gasped and her foot slipped off the accelerator as she saw a hot blond guy pouring a water bottle over his head. Chloe swallowed hard, his muscles had muscles. She bit her lip, then gasped when she was honked at. A delivery truck was behind her. The blond guy turned to see what the commotion on the road was. Totally embarrassed for ogling a guy, Chloe slammed her foot onto the accelerator and peeled her tires. The blond guy shook his head and continued working. Chloe however wanted to die. She was embarrassed. She took the Kent lane faster than normal and had to pause half way down to let her heart catch up with her brain. That guy had been the epitome of sex on a stick and Chloe who never really took the time to notice things like that took notice. If he was staying with the Peabody's than her mandatory exile was starting to look up.

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"Oliver, dinner!" Mary called. Oliver finished his last fence post hole just in time. He grabbed his T-shirt that he left hanging on the post that was in place and he began to sort of wipe himself off. He stopped at his jeep to grab his suit case. Hopefully Mary wouldn't mind him taking a quick shower.

"Ohh my," she spoke as he entered the house. Oliver blushed, he knew the look on her face. "Sorry, but wow,"

"Ehh, is there a place I can maybe clean up before we eat?" he spoke slightly embarrassed.

"Of course of course, the shower is up the stairs first door on the left." She smiled.

"Thanks, I'll be down in a minute." He grinned. "I got the row on the side you started done."

"What?"

"What can I say," he grinned. "I'll be right back," his smile was warm as he turned and headed upstairs to take a shower. After he left Mary clasped her hands together and said a silent prayer of thanks. God had clearly sent her an angel.