Before you begin reading this chapter I need to let you know about a few things:

References to "The Flashpoint Paradox" will be made, and yes, I am fully aware that the Flash of that movie is Barry Allen and not Bart from the Smallville universe. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this story I felt that it was suitable, and it was something that I decided on since the very beginning (when I decided to make this a multi-chapter story).

Also, piggybacking on the note above, parts about Iris or The Flash living in Central City are omitted for a reason (while they occurred in the movie, they play NO role on this story)

Later in this chapter there is a scene where Clark eavesdrops on a conversation the "[]" are meant to show you that he cannot hear what Bernstein is saying –just in case you forgot that both Clarks can't use their alien abilities on each other.

Lastly, if you haven't seen "The Flashpoint Paradox"… shame on you, it's AWESOME!

Thank you for your patience and continuous support!

Date

"Man, I'm so glad to see you," The Flash said with his usual grin.

Bernstein smiled, "I'm glad to see you too. How did you find me?" truth be told, he was utterly intrigued at seeing the Bart from the future here. He still had some hope that maybe, just maybe, Chloe could be taken to the future and be saved.

Bart just shrugged, "Meh, just did some research with the Bats and the Martian, then off I went to Tijuana. That's where I was during this time, and I needed to picture in my head exactly where I was in order to time travel." At the intriguing look that he received from the Man of Steel he continued, "You have no idea how you made it here, do you?"

The man from the future simply shook his head and waited for Bart to continue.

"Well," he placed an arm around the Big Blue's broad shoulders, "you happened to increase your speed just enough, to break the time barrier and travel to the place you envisioned at that time,"

He though back on the moment that he felt that change within him, which he suspects was when he crossed the time barrier. At that particular time, back in his time, he thought of his blonde friend, and out of all the happy memories that crossed his mind, he specifically thought on the time where she lost her child. He had to leave for that cleanup mission, even though he deeply wished to stay and offer her comfort and support. He desired in his heart that he could see her, at least one last time, to be there for her. "I see what you are saying,"

Bart let go of his friend and in seconds was dressed once again with his scarlet suit. "Now it's time to go home, amigo,"

"Home…" he repeated with apprehension, "I…we…" his face turned to the couple that was a distance away and saw them in a rather intimate position. He looked at it intrigued, as he remembered that during this time while they were getting closer, as friends, they were not nearly as close as that. Could it be that his younger self was not as dense as he remembered? He smiled sideways, no, the real reason that his past self was acting this way was because he was afraid and felt threatened by the possibility of Chloe being taken away.

Bart also looked in direction of the couple, and he wondered what he had missed during his time away. He remembered Chloe and Clark being close, and Chloe's feelings being fairly obvious, while Clark's were not exactly explicitly romantic but were not platonic either. Clark always seemed to be in the gray zone where it concerned Chloe, and while he liked Lois just fine as Clark's future partner, he thought that maybe had Clark and Chloe taken the opportunity to be more than friends…

"Did you plan this?" He couldn't help asking Superman.

The Man of Steel shook his head, "No, but I can't say it is completely unexpected either. My feelings for Chloe were always there, they were just hidden deep within in me and disguised under the veil of a close friendship."

He eyed the Clark of his time frame and then again at the couple, it was obvious that the past had already changed, but to what extent? What will await them once they return to their time? Now it was only a matter of going back to where they belonged and hopefully nothing too drastic had changed. His little time travel adventures had already had dire consequences before. Fortunately, he was able to fix everything, or almost everything, and things had gone back to normal. However, how much Clark had changed the future, and when did those changes occur, would be harder to pin point, and ultimately fix if they ever needed to travel in time again.

"Why can't we take Chloe back with us?" Clark asked, pulling Bart away from his thoughts.

"Well…" He never confessed this to anyone before, could he really tell Clark why they couldn't change her fate? He looked directly at him, and knew that the only way to convince him otherwise would be to share with him a secret he has guarded for a long time. A secret involving his first time travel adventure, "I've never told anyone before but… I've been to the past and saved someone, just like you want to save Chloe," his eyes looked towards the horizon and it seemed to Clark that he was miles away.

"I went back to save my mom."

{-}

Slowly Clark and Chloe pulled away from each other, and both missed the warmth the other provided immediately. Chloe, on one hand, started to think about Oliver and that he was the man that choose to be by her side, Clark had chosen otherwise, and while they had many fallouts there was no denying that her feelings for Clark were coming back full force, not that they ever disappeared. Clark, on the other hand, started to think on all those times that they could've been more, but weren't. He thought about Lois too, she was the woman that he choose to be by his side, wasn't she? She was the one that was with him now, and besides, Chloe had Oliver. But then why does he feel the need to…

"Those two have been talking for a while don't you think?" Chloe said as she put even more distance between them and took a couple of steps away.

It didn't elude Clark that their closeness earlier had an effect on the blonde woman. It had an effect on him also, but as always they were not going to act upon it, at this point in their lives they couldn't.

"Yeah, you're right, I wonder what they are talking about…" he trailed off as he felt Chloe's mischievous eyes look at him.

"It's not like one of us has super-hearing or anything."

He just rolled his eyes playfully, "It's an invasion of pri-"

"-vacy, yeah and don't you know a lot about that?" she said with a mixture of playfulness and an accusing tone as well.

Clark just sighed and tuned in.

"I went back to save my mom,"

["I didn't know that you…"]

A humorless chuckle came from Bart, "Yeah, not a lot of people know about my past, much less my mom."

["I'm sorry."]

"It's okay, it's been a long time since she's been gone. Besides, going back in time to save her did teach me something: some events cannot be changed. And shouldn't be."

Instinctively both Clarks turned to look at Chloe. One had a pained expression coming to the realization that maybe everything did happen for a reason. The other, had the determination of changing the fate of the woman, regardless of the consequences. Bernstein turned back his attention to Bart, while Clark pretended he was talking to Chloe and continued to tune in on their conversation.

"You see, I went back to save my mom with the hope that my future would be better, happier, and she would be by my side. I saved her, with only my selfish interests in mind. When I returned back to the present she was by my side," another humorless chuckle came from him, "but at what cost…"

Bernstein placed a hand on Bart's shoulder in understanding and support. ["You don't have to continue,"]

"No, I need to keep going for you to understand." Bart's expression was both one of pain and one of determination, "My mom was with me, but the world…the world that one single event created, was one I would not wish upon my worst enemy. Bruce was dead, Wonder Woman and Aquaman were destroying the world with their own hands in some personal vendetta, and you…" His eyes looked at Clark pointedly, "you were never with the Kents."

Clark stopped listening after that. How did the life of one person have such an effect on the world? He barely met Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman this year, but he could never imagine a world where there was no Batman, or where a Wonder Woman and Aquaman would kill people in a meaningless vendetta. And to not be raised by his parents, he couldn't even fathom the idea.

"What are they saying?" Chloe asked in concern, she saw that shift in Clark immediately. Whatever it was he heard took an effect on him.

Clark frowned, he didn't want to lie to Chloe, but if she knew about Bart's particular experience, she would not let him be close to her to prevent her death, in fear that a similar fate comes upon the world. "He was telling Clark, I mean Bernstein, that the League needed him back, something about and evil league and stuff"

Chloe lowered her head and smiled slightly, how gullible did he think she was? "Really? Was that all?"

"Uh, yeah," if he even budged a little she would drill him nonstop, "besides, I don't feel right about this, we shouldn't know too much about the future, remember?"

Chloe nodded, he was right about that, knowing too much was not a good idea. "I suppose."

A slight breeze caressed Chloe and Clark, and the two men of the future were instantly in front of them, "You weren't talking about us while we were gone, were you?" asked the Flash playfully, reverting back to the upbeat person everyone believed him to be.

"Us? Never." Added Chloe with an exaggerated expression. Without missing a beat, and getting down to business, she added, "So, what are you guys going to do now? I assume you know how to get back?" asked the blonde.

Bart only smirked, "Of course. It's me you're talking to."

Bernstein looked at his younger self briefly and then smiled towards the blonde woman, "Rest assured that I will not bother you to come to the future with me anymore,"

"It seems that Bart's words really had an effect on him," Clark thought to himself. That meant that it was only up to him to change Chloe's fate now.

"Well amen to that. So when will you be leaving?" she said trying to disguise the sadness that quickly approached. It didn't go unnoticed by any of the men around her, specially her current colleague.

Bernstein turn to look at Bart with a knowing look, to which the scarlet speedster slowly nodded. "Soon, but before that can I have a word with you?" he looked at Clark, and the man just raised an eyebrow. "Alone." He stated with emphasis as he looked at his younger version.

Clark scoffed and crossed his arms around his chest.

Chloe looked at the time traveler and then at her friend, "I'll be back soon, no need to worry."

"Actually," Bernstein quipped, "this may take some time."

Just at that moment Chloe's cellphone went off, it was Ollie who was probably coming back from a business trip. She eyed the caller ID and after one glance towards the Man of Steel of the future, her decision was taken. She shut down her phone. There was no denying that Ollie was important to her, but Clark, well, he's always been more important, whether she cared to admit it or not. "I'll be back. Please cover me at the office."

"But-" He couldn't even protest, by the time the word came out of his mouth his future self had already taken Chloe and sped away. He felt the hand of the Flash squeeze his shoulder lightly.

"Let them go,"

Clark turned to look at the man not believing his ears, "You're just letting them go like that? What if he takes her away? To the future no less. I don't believe him one bit when he said he would not pester her about the future anymore…"

The Flash just let his friend keep rambling, it was amusing to see how immature he still was during this time. He guessed three years really did make a difference on a person. "What can they possibly do? Don't you trust yourself? After all Big Blue is you."

Did he trust himself with Chloe? They've been alone numerous times already, this one is just one of many. Yeah, there was nothing to be worried about. Then again, the future Clark clearly did not see Chloe as a mere friend, and Chloe is not as oblivious to his advances either. No, no, he was just seeing things, he was with Lois. It's Lois and Clark against the world. Then, how come he has not asked about Lois' future, or about her at all for that matter?

"Okay, I'm starting to see smoke come out of your ears. Come on, let's go."

"Go where?"

Bart rolled his eyes, "To spy on them of course," he sent a quick and knowing glance to his young friend, "you were thinking about it anyway." Before Clark could deny it he continued, "You can track Chloe's heartbeat, can't you?"

Clark nodded.

"Okay then let's roll. Oh, and please don't go slow." Both of them sprinted in the direction of the couple. They were almost in Metropolis when Bart mentioned, "If it makes you feel any better, they're on a date."

Clark stopped dead on his tracks and looked at the speedster with incredulity, "WHAT!?"

{-}

In a matter of seconds Chloe and Bernstein found themselves in front of the Kent Farm.

"What are we doing here?"

He smiled as he settled her down, "If I remember correctly, there are some clothes here for you that will suit you better for what I have planned."

For a split second Chloe's thoughts were going to go down the gutter, but then she remembered this was Clark, plain ol' Clark, "Uhm, okay." She headed inside the house that she knew better than her own and went to his room to get changed. While she was changing into plain jeans, flats, and a white shirt, she wondered what exactly he had planned. He said he was no longer planning on taking her to the future, then what was his plan?

"Are you done?" he asked politely, but with a hint of impatience.

She opened the door and stood in front of him, "Why did you want me to get changed? No denying this is more comfortable though."

"I figured," he took in the sight of her, while her clothes were far less remarkable now, she seemed younger in casual wear, and definitely happier, "you look beautiful by the way."

She rolled her eyes, trying to disguise a pleased smile that crept upon her, "because washed out jeans and a plain old tee makes anyone beautiful."

He chuckled, "It's a Chloe thing."

She raised her eyebrow in response, "A Chloe thing?"

Bernstein just shook his head and took her hand gently, "Let's go."

"Where to?"

As he led her towards a window, he picked her up bridal style and looked up to the sky ready to take flight.

.

.

.

"Anywhere"

{x}

Let me know what you think?

I shall warn you now, the next chapter will be super fluffy…too romantic… just putting it out there.

Our. Feather: Chloe was definitely my favorite character of show as well and I totally agree with you on her relationship with Clark, why they never gave them a chance will always be a mystery to me. I feel honored that this is the first CHLARK story you've read, I hope you keep enjoying it. Please keep sharing your feedback!

Fiona91: I'm glad you liked the chapter! Lol, SV Lois was definitely not favorite character either, but I try not to dislike her (mind you, it's nearly impossible), but because I respect and very much like the Lois in the comics I try not to hate this one. I also prefer Ollie a million times over Jimmy, I think his personality better suits Chloe's.
Will Chloe die? Hmmm… I could tell you, but I'm evil so I won't lol.
The orange kryptonite will appear soon enough, don't worry.

Codymom: I totally respect your opinion, yet cannot share it, so let's agree to disagree. Thank you for sharing though!

Supernena25: I know! It's been a while. In my defense… never mind…
In my mind that's how Chloe would've reacted, lol. Clark can be as dense as…well you get my drift. He will realize soon enough that he loves her… let's hope he does. As far as future Clark not leaving without Chloe, well you saw how this chapter played out, I want to believe that with time the Man of Steel becomes more mature and wise, but who knows. Ah yes, the show could have used so many things, but alas they did not. I try to reference things from the show that I find meaningful (like in the first chapter) so thank you very much for noticing. Let me know what you think of this chappie!

Badkidoh: Thank you for reading!