AN: The last two episodes of Smallville that aired garnered a lot of mixed results. I loved Luthor but only liked Icarus. I thought Luthor was a well written story that deserved to be explored more than just for 40 minutes. We need to see more of Clark Luthor. I think if we had, a lot of people would have thought differently of him. I wrote this story right after the episode aired but am getting around to posting it now. It takes place solely in the alternate universe that is Earth II. If darkness and angst isn't your thing, then I don't suggest reading this. But if you do choose to, then hopefully I can help give Clark Luthor that redemption and forgiveness he so desperately needed. As always... reviews are what get me off my arse to continue writing. :)

Chapter 1: Forgiveness

Blinding pain.

He closed his eyes as he fell to the ground. He was still in the place they called Watchtower, but it was different. It was destroyed but he knew he hadn't done this. He opened his eyes slowly and stared into the eyes of his executioner.

"Well, isn't this poetic." Clark Luthor sneered at his childhood classmate.

"Luthor," Oliver smirked. "So your doppelganger was right. He really was you from a parallel universe."

Clark laughed despite the pain. It felt like a thousand knives pricking his skin all over. This was it. This was the moment he'd meet his fate.

Oliver held the gun up and pointed it at him.

"Do it," Clark mocked, "Prove to me that you really are just like me."

"I'm nothing…" Oliver cocked the gun. "Like you."

Clark smirked. His small smile became a full blown grin. "Oliver, we're more alike than you realize. We're both the products of our fathers."

"Except yours was the devil."

"Like yours was such a saint," Clark snorted shaking his head as he tried sitting up. "Did you ever wonder how Lionel knew to be in Smallville on that specific day and at that specific time?"

Oliver eyed him wearily.

"You never wondered why you suddenly stopped coming over for play dates?" Clark continued. "Why your father and my father never spoke again?"

"I'm sure you've made up some elaborate story in your head about it."

Clark shrugged. "Except it's not a story. It's the truth."

Oliver began lowering his gun. He saw Clark smile and raised it again. "I don't believe you."

"Doesn't matter," Clark shrugged again. "This world is hell. I've seen what's on the other side of the mirror. You'll only be putting me out of my misery."

"Finally…" Oliver placed his finger on the trigger. "We're on the same page."

Clark smiled softly and watched him. Confusion overtook him when he suddenly had his view of Oliver blocked by red. He looked up and recognized Lois Lane's backside and smiled appreciatively.

"Oliver," She was standing between him and Oliver. "Put the gun down."

"Get out of the way, Lois."

"No," She said softly. "I won't let you kill him."

"Why not?" Oliver asked holding the gun out. "You hate him too. We both do."

"Still…" She started walking toward him with her hands spread out. "You're not a murderer."

"He is," Oliver said. "He killed the Swann's. He killed Chloe. He killed Lex. He killed your dad."

Lois nodded and swallowed thickly. "And you killing him will make you no better than he is. You're a good person, Oliver. Please don't prove him right and prove me wrong."

Oliver watched her as she stepped right in the line of fire. The gun was against her chest. He looked up at her face and knew instantly. "You love him."

Her face crumbled as her bottom lip quivered. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I can still see some goodness in him." She whispered.

"You two…" Oliver couldn't finish the sentence as he stepped away from her.

Lois let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Clark Luthor watched the exchange from the floor and blinked rapidly. He felt an unfamiliar pain in his chest that almost made him choke as Lois watched Oliver's retreating back.

"Oliver…"

"When?"

She closed her eyes and bit her lip. "Before we met."

Oliver nodded. "So this engagement…it's because you're settling for me."

"No." She shook her head. "I meant what I said. You are a good man. And I've never met a better man…but…"

"But you don't love me…" He finished the sentence for her.

The tear that ran down her cheek was all the confirmation he needed.

Oliver looked past her at the man on the floor. "You son of bitch."

He began stalking toward him when Lois stepped in front of him again. "Oliver."

He stopped in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He lifted them up and held her face in his hands. Lois shivered at the cold steel against her temple. Even if it was in a non threatening way, she still shuddered.

"Lois…choose me," He was telling her. "We'll leave Metropolis…we'll get out of here. He'll never find us. I can make us disappear."

She stepped out of his grip and shook her head. "He needs me."

"I need you," Oliver was pleading with her now. "Damn it! I need you!"

She smiled softly and touched his face lightly. He leaned into her touch. "No, you don't."

He looked into her eyes and understood. He could be good without her. Clark, on the other hand, couldn't. He nodded in defeat. "I'll always love you, Lois Lane."

"I know," She nodded. "I wish…"

"I know," He took her hand in his and lowered it placing the gun in her palm looking into her eyes. "Take care of yourself."

She nodded as he leaned in and kissed her temple. Taking off her ring and placing it in his palm, she closed his hand around it. "I'm so sorry."

He swallowed thickly and attempted a small smile before walking around her. He stopped next to Clark before walking out the door. "Take good care of her, Luthor."

Lois turned around when the door finally closed and pointed the gun at Clark.

"I'm going to take away the green stuff," She said picking up the small remote on the floor without taking her eyes off him. "But you've got to promise to be good."

He nodded and she lifted the remote over her shoulder and pointed it at the window. As soon as the kryptonite disappeared he could breathe again and his blood no longer felt like it was boiling. He stood up and started walking toward her when she stepped back. She was still afraid of him. And for some reason that broke his heart. Despite all the things he'd done, he'd never meant to hurt her. Sometimes he just didn't think straight and his rage could blind him.

"Why?"

It was a simple question. And she only wished the answer was as simple.

"Because everyone deserves a second chance," She answered instead. "This is yours."

He nodded and watched as she unloaded the gun in front of him and disarmed it completely and almost professionally. He smiled proudly. "Neat trick."

"You taught me well."

He nodded understanding as he remembered.

Five years ago…

He traced her naked back lightly and smiled softly and she slept profoundly with the light of the full moon streaming through the window. She sighed softly and turned around to face him. Tucking the sheet tighter around her she smiled.

"Hi."

He leaned in and kissed her. What should have been a soft greeting of a kiss turned into one of urgency. He plunged his tongue into her mouth and sucked hers into his. He bruised her lips with his harsh kisses. She finally found his chest and was able to push him back and pull away.

"Woah there…" she tried to make her smile seem unaffected.

His eyes widened. He'd hurt her. His super strength had hurt her again. He saw the bruising around her mouth and pulled back completely. Jumping out of the bed and wrapping a sheet around his midsection he stepped away from the bed. "I…."

"Clark…"

"I'm sorry." He finished turning to leave the bedroom when he heard the bed move. He knew she was getting out and closed his eyes when he heard the shuffling of clothes. When he'd turned around she was already dressed. He frowned.

"You didn't hurt me." She was saying as she started walking toward him.

He tried stepping back but bumped into the wall, making her giggle at his predicament. "There's a first. Clark Luthor actually cowering away from a girl…"

His eyes narrowed at her and she knew she was getting to him. But this was their thing. They riled each other up and then brought each other down. They were destructive like that. But they always kept coming back for more. They couldn't stay away from each other despite knowing that if the wrong people found out they'd both be in danger.

Clark placed his hands on her waist and pulled her closer to his body. "Your father is probably wondering where you are."

"That's if he's even noticed." She said tracing his arms with her light touch. "What about your father."

"He's out of town." He smirked.

He heard it before she did. Someone was in the apartment. Clark shielded her from the door. Lois tried looking over him but he towered above her.

"You have to go." He whispered when he turned to face her.

"What?" she asked.

"He can't find you here."

"Who?"

"Clark…"

Her eyes widened. "It's Lex."

"Lois…please…go hide."

She nodded understanding. Once Clark knew she was safely hidden away in his closet he super sped around the room fixing it and making sure there was no sign of her presence at all.

By the time the door to the bedroom was opening he was putting on a t-shirt. He turned to the doorway and found his brother shadowing it. "Lex."

Clark walked up to him and hugged him tersely.

"What are you doing here?" Clark asked as Lex walked further into the room.

"I just got into town," Lex smiled. "Can't I come in and check on my little brother?"

Clark smiled and nodded. "Yeah, of course. It's just not your style. You usually find other company first."

"True. But there was something I needed to share with you and it couldn't wait."

"What is it?"

Lex sat on the small couch in the room next to the closet. Clark's eyes snapped to the door and his heart sped up.

"I found our father's dirty little secret."

"We already knew about Lucas, Lex."

"Not that bastard," Lex rolled his eyes. "This bastard's female."

"A daughter?" Clark asked. "Lionel Luthor has a daughter out there."

"Yes," Lex said standing and walking toward the dresser picking up a frame. He held up a picture of the two of them from when they were younger. "And I hate to say it but she's just turned eighteen and you know what happens when illegitimate Luthors turn eighteen."

Clark watched as he placed the frame back.

"They come looking to collect." He continued. "We have to take care of her."

"What?"

"We have to get rid of her," Lex elaborated. "Lucas was one thing. He actually hated our dad more than we did. We can't risk this bitch's loyalty to dear old dad."

"Lex…"

"What, Clark? This is what we do…" he continued. "We've been planning this for as long as I remember. Get rid of dad and take over the empire. With your strength and my intellectual together we will rule this planet."

Clark eyed him. "I have some things I need to take care of first."

Lex nodded as he turned toward the door to leave. "Understood…" He turned back around to face him. "Just don't keep me waiting or I might have to team up with our new sister instead."

Clark watched the front door slam behind him. He super sped to lock the dead bolt and was back before Lois was fully out of the closet. Her eyes were different. She was disappointed. He could see it on her face.

"Lois…" he started toward her but for every step he took forward she took two back. "You don't understand…"

"Don't I?" she asked. "Because it looks like you and Lex just planned to kill your sister and father."

"It's not what you think."

"Then explain it."

"I can't." he lowered his gaze from her. He couldn't take her looking at him like that.

"I'm leaving."

"Wait," He stepped in front of her. "If you're going to leave, the fire escape is better."

She rolled her eyes. "He's gone, Clark."

She tried to walk around him again but he grabbed her arm. He was holding her a little rougher than necessary. She looked up at him.

"Please." It was all he said and she nodded succumbing to what he'd asked of her.

She turned toward the window.

"Lois, wait."

Her shoulders deflated. She turned around. "What now…"

He showed her a gun. She gasped. "Where did you get that?"

"It's mine."

He stepped toward her and once again she was stepping back.

"Take it." He said.

"What?" she shook her head. "No."

He put the weapon in her hand. "It's not safe out there and you know it. If you're running out of my apartment in the middle of the night and not even letting me take you home at least take the damn gun, Lois."

She rolled her eyes and took it from him.

"Do I need to teach you how to use it?" he asked smirking.

She glared at him.

He asked for it back and took it from her hand. He cocked it pointing it at the wall in demonstration. "Point and shoot." He then disarmed it in a matter of seconds in front of her. "Disarming it, just in case," He walked toward his dresser and pulled out a box of extra bullets and replaced the ones already in the chamber. "Reload. Got it?"

She groaned.

"Lois. Did you get it?"

"I got it." She mumbled and took the weapon again from his outstretched hand.

"Let me see."

"Clark."

"Lois."

She rolled her eyes again and repeated what he'd just shown her. He smiled proudly.

"That's my girl."

She smirked. "I'm still mad at you."

"I know."

"And once I'm calm you will explain everything."

"Of course."

"Okay, I'm going to go."

She turned toward the window again when he called out her name.

"Lois."

She turned back around.

"I love you."

She smiled and winked. "Right back atcha, Smallville."

And she was gone.

"That's my girl." He smirked.

"I'm not your girl, Clark."

"You were…once…"

"That was another lifetime, Small-"

She caught herself and inhaled deeply. He smiled softly.

"It's been a long time since I've heard that nickname."

"Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Luthor," She smiled sweetly. "I have no intention of actually using it unless I'm talking about the town itself."

He nodded. "Fair enough."

"Good." She felt as if they'd finally come to an understanding.

"So, what now?" he asked looking around.

"I don't know…" she admitted. "I didn't actually think that far ahead."

He gave her an amused smile.

"Shut up." She glared.

"I didn't…"

"I'll figure something out."

"It's only a matter of time before Lionel realizes I'm gone, Lois."

"Is it?" she smiled. "For all he knows you took off with your sister."

His eyes snapped to her.

"Yes. I know about that."

He lowered his gaze.

"I…she and I…we weren't…"

"Save it." She stopped it. "Please…I really don't want the details."

He nodded and clamped his mouth shut. He wouldn't mention it again unless she asked him to.

She looked around her. "What is this place?"

Clark trailed her gaze. "They call it Watchtower…" His eyes landed on her. "I think…"

She nodded and bit her lip before smiling. "This will do."

"What?"

She ran up the stairs and grinned. There was a bed in the corner. She smiled mischievously. She walked back toward the railing and looked down on him. "Welcome home, Clark."

He eyed her and went to protest. When she tossed him another glare he quickly shut his mouth.