Powerful Women (R) FIN 12/3/08

[superag]

Title: Powerful Women
Author: Superag
Rating: R now…
Disclaimer: I own NONE of these characters and only borrow them for my personal entertainment. I also own none of the script from the book, On War.
Summary: Lex learns the trademarks of powerful women, but it’s AU. (I’m not telling anymore b/c I don’t know yet.)
A/N - Please shoot me...first day back at work and I start something new. Stupid......I love feedback - that's how more chapters get written.

For a wonderful Trailer that Ultra made for this fic, see http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_bOKuwliMcs

**************


Changing of the Guard – Chapter 1


“Son?” Lionel spoke quietly as the door to his bedroom opened and a small bald boy poked his head in. “Come sit with me Lex.”

Lex moved slowly across the room, noting the strange smell of mint that seemed to ooze from the walls around him. Lex sat in the wooden chair next to the bed and dropped his hands in his lap. He couldn’t look at the man that had been ashamed of him for now a year.

His head still felt funny when he thought about it. At night, he would have dreams about waking up and seeing his red hair that he had gotten from his mother adorning his head again. But he woke everyday with more of a bald head than before. Now, a year later, it was as smooth as could be.

His mother told him to not let it bother him. The lack of hair never would outdo his intelligence. She tried to keep him positive. Things were hard for Lex, but he would endure.

“Lex? Would you read for me?” Lex looked over at the book on the shelf. His mother disapproved, and he had heard the conversation before. Still, his father had tried to mend fences in the last few months, and she understood. Lex picked up the book and opened it to the marker.

Reading aloud, Lex tried not to pay attention to the words on the page. His mother would have his hide. “The higher we rise in a position of command, the more of the mind, understanding, and penetration predominate in activity, the more therefore is boldness, which is a property of the feelings, kept in subjection, and for that reason we find it so rarely in the highest positions, but then, so much the more should it be admired. Boldness, directed by an overruling intelligence, is the stamp of the hero: this boldness does not consist in venturing directly against the nature of things, in a downright contempt of the laws of probability, but, if a choice is once made, in the rigorous adherence to that higher calculation which genius, the tact of judgment, has gone over with the speed of lightning. The more boldness lends wings to the mind and the discernment, so much the farther they will reach in their flight, so much the more comprehensive will be the view, the more exact the result, but certainly always only in the sense that with greater objects greater dangers are connected. The ordinary man, not to speak of the weak and irresolute, arrives at an exact result so far as such is possible without ocular demonstration, at most after diligent reflection in his chamber, at a distance from danger and responsibility. Let danger and responsibility draw close round him in every direction, then he loses the power of comprehensive vision, and if he retains this in any measure by the influence of others, still he will lose his power of DECISION, because in that point no one can help him.”

“Alexander, put the book down.” Lex looked up and shut the book. Looking at his mother’s upset face, he ran from the room and slammed the door two rooms down the hall. “I’ve told you that I don’t want him reading that material. He’s a BOY. He’s not one of your little soldiers to order around or make work in your plants. Now the doctor is here.”

Lionel groaned and put his head back as Lillian sat in the chair across the room from him. “Mr. Luthor, how are we feeling today?” The doctor pulled out his chart and sat in the chair next to the man.

Lionel answered saying nothing, but turned and looked at Lillian. She no longer slept with him and had been needless to say, terse, with him since onset of his illness and her subsequent miscarriage. She had not wanted another child anyway. She had voiced her concerns on Alexander not getting the attention he needed, much less bringing another into the picture the way it was.

“I want to be completely truthful with you Mr. Luthor.” Lex heard the strange old doctor’s voice from outside in the hallway. “The IPF is not responding since the diagnosis was so late.” The doctor stopped and eyed Lillian in the corner. “I would suggest possibly we discuss Hospice care.” The doctor stopped and handed Lionel a handkerchief as he coughed harder and began to gag.

Lex leaned into the cracked opened door and watched the doctor hold his father over the bed. He wondered if he should cry; his father just yelled about his son being a freak when he had lost his hair. His mother had comforted him. The role reversal seemed appropriate. Watching his father wretch, Lex’s face never faltered from his feeling, the eleven year old boy felt nothing for the man.

Lillian stood up and started over to the bed but stopped and pushed the bedroom door shut after seeing Lex’s figure. She would talk to him later. “I think his care right now is adequate. We have no need to add another person to home. Krista is perfectly capable with her nursing background to handle his care.” The doctor shook his head.

“How long?” Lionel gasped through the now dry throbbing in his throat.

The doctor stared at Mr. Luthor and then Lillian. “We are close,” was all he could come up with.

“Thank you. Lillian, the lawyers please.” Lillian shook her head and escorted the doctor out into the hallway.

Lex leaned against the hallway and stared at his mother coming out of the room. “Alexander, to your room. I will come see you.” Lex stared up at the doctor who tried to break a smile and watched his mother’s face turn pale after she gently rubbed her hand over his head.

She touched his head all the time. She made him feel more comfortable with his condition since she had done it before he lost his hair. He wandered back to his room and looked at the piles of army men built up on a table with imaginary weapons and fortifications. Books on his shelf were overly confusing and mundane, only speaking of war and leadership by design. Other children in the overly expensive neighborhood in Metropolis played outside and acted out warriors with each other.

Angry at his father and seeing what the end result would be, Lex jumped up on the window seat in his third story room of the insanely huge mansion. Pulling his stuffy jacket off, he swung the window open and stared down at the flowerbed below. He laughed to himself. “The more boldness lends wings to the mind. Let’s see if it lends wings to the armies themselves.”

Lex jumped off the window seat and picked up the intricate battleground. Stepping carefully back up on the seat, he heaved the battleground scene out and watched as hundreds of army men flew into the air and the battleground landed with a thud. “Hmm, guess not,” he giggled as the army men rained down on the side yard. He would hear from mom about it when the gardening man came tomorrow. With a smile on his face, it was worth it.

“Alexander?” His mother peeked in and saw his hands on his hips in front of the open window and panicked. “Lex!” she screamed and wrapped her arms around his waist, yanking him from the windows before looking down. Maybe she would figure it out before tomorrow.

“I wasn’t going to jump. I wanted to see if it could fly like the scene in Dead Poet’s Society.” His father had hated that movie, but Lillian sat up with Lex and watched it repeatedly.

“Alexander, you will pick those up as soon as we get done with lunch today. Now, come sit with me.” Lex sat next to his mother on the bed and laid his had down in her lap.

“He’s dying isn’t he?” Lex spoke softly.

“Yes honey.” She felt Lex stiffen on her lap as she ran her fingers along his head the same as if he had hair. “You want to talk about it?”

“When?”

“We’re not sure, but I don’t want you to worry about anything. He has taken great care to make sure we are well.” Lex turned over on his back and looked up and giggled as his mother’s hair tickled his cheek before she threw it behind her.

“And what about school?” Lex was concerned. His father had sent him to Excelsior Academy, far from home. He was supposed to grow from a boy into a man by learning subjects he cared less for. When Lillian had miscarried, he came home and refused to go back. “Are you sending me back?”

She sat Lex up and put her arm around him. “I’m sure we can find somewhere here in town to your liking. I need you here with me Alexander.” Lex grabbed his mother around the waist and held her. She could feel the tears now flow from his eyes but didn’t know whether they were for his father or not.

***********

Lex stood in front of the large stone in the Luthorcorp Plaza and stared at the glare from the sun on it. It should be raining he thought. It’s supposed to rain at funerals, but maybe even God knew that today was a happy day. Lex at least felt freer. He felt his mother’s hand in his as they headed slowly back into the Luthorcorp building and up the elevator to his father’s office.

He had sat in father’s office many times before watching the cars below and thinking he could move them. He listened to his father prattle on the phone for hours and order people around. He felt bad as he grew older, knowing his father drank constantly and took pills for what could only be the stress he caused himself and his family.

“Sit here honey,” Lillian instructed as she handed him something new he had never had before. “It’s a Gameboy. Your father said no, but see what you think.” Lex looked at the side and stuck the ear bud in his ear. Strange sounds emanated from it as he hit buttons and smiled. His mother was letting him play. He looked over at his mom and smiled as she sat behind her husband’s old desk.

Clicking through the multitude of passwords that Lionel had finally left her, she found the project she was searching for. She knew about Veritas from the beginning; it was a confusing tale of someone that would protect the world. With all his discussions of business and ranting about fairytales, Lillian scoffed at her now dead husband’s fascination with little green men. Clicking the intercom, she waited. “Yes ma’am?”

“Can I see Lionel’s business manager in my office a minute?” Lillian stopped and unclicked the call button, thinking about the words. Her office. She knew it would only be a small time of grieving before the board would want another man in charge.

The decently young man walked in and sat down across the desk from Lillian. “Mrs. Luthor, I’m Gabe Sullivan. I was Lionel’s business manager accountant. I heard you were looking for me.”

Lillian looked over the man and saw he was decently pleasant compared to the rest of the wolves her husband had hired. “Gabe, please call me Lillian. We will be working together to get some things straightened out accountingwise. As you know, all accounts will be needing a name transfer and there are some accounts I would like to have investigated and closed.”

Gabe looked through the files that she had pulled from the safe in the office and then back at her. “Veritas? I haven’t heard of it, but I will see what I can find. And what would you like me to do?”

“Close the account. Reroute the money to a general fund. Make no notes on its existence. That would be the priority. Some of Lionel’s projects were questionable and I think we shall steer clear of those from now on. You come to me personally with any other ones you may come across.” Lillian’s attention moved to a small girl that appeared in the doorway after her screaming down the hall.

“Sorry ma’am. I didn’t have time before the funeral to drop her off at school.” The blond girl with curls flopped up in his lap and immediately grabbed a knick knack from the desk. Lex watched as she turned and stuck her tongue out at him before smiling.

“School? Do you mind telling me where? Alexander is going to be remaining in town with me now and I am looking for a good private school.” Gabe looked over his shoulder at the bald boy that now was kicking his feet in obvious rhythm of whatever game he was playing.

He had seen Lex in the office before, but never allowed to do anything but write or read. It was refreshing to see the child relax. “Chloe is attending Berkshire Academy. It’s not the best but they have a lot of activities even for her younger age. Lex is now 5th grade?”

“6th, but his being out this year I hope has not hampered him. I will contact the school and arrange a tour. Hey Chloe,” Lillian smiled as the girl put the object back on the desk and slid down of Gabe’s lap.

Wandering over to Lex, she sat on the couch next to him and watched over his shoulder. Fascinated by the small electronic device, she tapped him on the shoulder. “Can I?”

Lex looked at his mother and knew that look. He had to share with his cousin when his mother had taken him to Montana. Handing the game to her, he watched as she repeatedly died and laughed. “Wow, you really suck.”

“ALEXANDER JOSEPH LUTHOR! To the corner with you.” Lex’s mouth shut and his body automatically found a corner of the office as he waited for his now eleven minutes to pass. It was humiliating but he liked it better than his father hitting him. Thinking to himself, he would never have to endure that again.

“Sorry about that Gabe. Now, there is not a daycare here?” She asked confused why his daughter had to be in his office.

“No ma’am. Lionel removed it because of room constraints.”

“Meaning he didn’t want to build a playground in the middle of Luthorcorp Plaza. Let’s reroute those funds and get something going on that little project. Put together a list of all employee children and their ages to sixteen. I want something comprehensive and the names of the best services in town. Also, find me a construction crew that specializes in the like.”

Gabe furiously wrote and then quietly excused himself, taking the game from Chloe and putting it on the table. “Alexander, come here.”

Lex sat in the seat where Gabe had been. “You will never repeat that word again. I don’t care where you heard it. There are some things not tolerated regardless of whether it’s me or your father making the rules.” She watched his eyes lower and him lean over like he did to avoid his father’s hand. “Alex,” she softened. He liked when she called him that. Looking up with only his eyes, he grimaced. “Do we understand each other?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good, now where would you want to go to eat?” Lex’s head popped up. He got a choice? He looked up at the ceiling like he was thinking.

“Pizza?” Lex was careful, knowing that would have never been a choice when his father sat across from him.

“I’m thinking Antonio’s on the corner. They got that neat game room.” She took Lex’s hand and put his coat back on him before nodding politely at the secretary that she would replace soon. Leggy brunettes did nothing for her. “I bet you an ice cream that I beat you at PacMan.”

“How do you know about PacMan?” Lex was confused as he looked at his mother.

“Hon, I did a lot of things differently before I met your father. And God rest his soul, but some of those things need to happen again.” She and Lex exited the building and ignored the limo driver, turning toward to the hole in the wall restaurant two blocks away.

************

“GIVE IT BACK! MY MOM GAVE ME THAT!” Lex heard the screaming coming from around the corner of the house. He ran through his yard and followed the repeated screaming and saw the little blond girl throwing a fit. She crossed her arms and pouted and started to cry as the older child walked away. “MINE!!!”

Lex threw up his arms and trounced the other boy into the mud and pulled his hair. Grabbing the boy, he turned him over and thrust a fist in his child’s face and kicked him the side. Pulling the object out of the boy’s hand, he left the boy there screaming he was going to tell. Lex knew he was in trouble, but his mother would understand.

“Here,” he handed the locket back to her. “Why are you here?”

“Dad’s at a meeting with the company there.” Chloe pointed at the house that his mother had mentioned she was at. Board members seemed to live in the same snooty neighborhood as he did. The kids were just as snooty.

“Come on, I’ve got some games back at the house.”

“I have to tell my dad,” Chloe pulled away from him. Lex rolled his eyes and walked up the steps into the house. Peering through the parlor doors, he pointed her in. “Dad? I’m going to his house.” Chloe pointed at the crack in the double doors as Lillian smiled at her son.

“They’ll be fine Gabe.” Lillian smiled at Gabe and gave Lex a come hither finger. Lex walked across the room silently among the executives and leaned in to hear Lillian. “We will talk about the grass and mud on your clothes later,” she whispered.

Lex nodded and took Chloe’s hand as they headed out of the house.

Chloe bounced down the stairs and smiled as she followed Lex. Walking into his room at the largest mansion in the neighborhood, she gawked at the mess on his floor. “What are you doing?”

Lex turned around and handed her a book. “Currently, I’m ripping up books that I hate and planning on having a bonfire sometime before mother gets home.” Chloe was confused but after hearing the sound of paper ripping, she giggled. She sat in the middle of the pile of loose paper and proceeded to destroy Lex’s personal favorite, The Art of War.

TBC

[kimbo]

Interesting beginning. I like the twist that lionel's dying and Lillian's lives. Very cute chloe. Can't wait to see what you have installed next. :)

[lexie]

This is a very interesting beginning, superag. I love the premise of having Lillian alive- she´s always been a favourite of mine. I wonder if this Lex will be anything like the one we know so well or what will turn him into the man we´ve come to meet in SV.

Fics with Lex and Chloe as children are rare but they seldom disappoint. I hope you´ll be able to update this one with regularity, despite your being back at work, because it certainly looks promising.

[tatie87]

This is off to a very interesting beginning. Can't wait to see the impact on Lex of Lillian still being alive and growing up with Chloe as a playmate. Can't wait for the next chapter.

[hfce]

That was interesting start Chlex as kids and Lionel dead. I love it. More please.. :)

[dagney]

Oh I'm doing a great big happy dance. I love the story. An interestering what if... I adore that we get to see Chloe/lex as children. I'm sorry work is so stressful, but I'm glad your releaving a bit of tension by writing. Dagney

[Gaia]

An interesting choice for an AU. Can't wait to read more

[hiddenangel]

Aww...chlex as children are adorable, can't wait to see how it all pans out.

[ChloeLovesLex]

I told you I liked this story :D
Glad you posted it...now keep going. I wanna read more more MORE!!!
What will Lex grow up to be like in this setting? How will Chloe and Lex's relationship develop? Will she still be pining over Clark while she is in school or will it be Lex?

[wistfulwatcher]

Great start! I'm really digging the concept. I, like most other readers, love the chlex kid fics, and am always glad to see more.

I know it says AU, and I do have one question; is there still a six year difference? I don't know if I just missed Chloe's age in this, or if it's not supposed to be clear, but I was curious.

Love the way you portray Lillian; strict, but in the good way.

Can't wait to read more!

WW

[Linda]

Thank you for giving us another one of your wonderful stories. I love your work!

This is a very interesting idea. You have my imagination working overtime. I can't wait to see where you are going to take us.

[Impress]

Interesting start. I like the idea that it's Lilian not Lionel who survived.

[SVfan1286]

Interesting beginning! I love the what if.. of Lionel dying instead of Lillian. Chlex knowing each other as kids is awsome. I look forward to reading more!!

[superag]

A/N - Wrote this mainly on the trip to and from Dragon*Con because I can't sleep on planes. Anyway, a couple of notes. They 6 years does exist between them. It makes the dynamic different than if I made them the same. Also, I will be writing each chapter as a different age/grade level so it will progress. Thans for all the feedback; makes me want to write more!

Parents and Children – Chapter 2

Lillian sat at the computer in the Luthorcorp office and ran her hands through her hair. The board members were going behind her back, again. They thought she was just the one on Lionel’s arm at the Christmas parties. They were sorely mistaken.

Lillian Carlisle had not grown up poor or disadvantaged like her dead husband. Her parents were wealthy brokers in New York and her father sat on the board of two Fortune 100 companies before Luthor was even a name. She had been in offices higher than Lionel’s and had spent countless hours studying business reports from her dad while at Columbia. Lionel didn’t marry a pretty face; she had simply chosen not to use her skills.

But with the recent contract that crossed her desk, things would quickly change. She looked outside briefly at the corner of the window, barely able to make out the small fences going up for the daycare playground. The floor of copyrighters had not understood why they were moved to small quarters, but she had received numerous emails from employees about the cute daycare that was between floors from the bulk of the staff.

Looking back at the contract, the board had offered a buyout. They stated reasons like she could be at home with her son and their experience would keep the company afloat. She scoffed. Pulling out the personnel files of the board members, she realized two things: they were all male and all over 60. That made them ripe, incredibly ripe for retirement. She picked up the folder and walked into the boardroom, pulling Gabe from his office on the way.

“Gentlemen, I have an announcement. Mr. Sullivan is passing out the newly voted on Board of Directors contracts. You are also being supplied with the breakdowns of the items that have been altered. Mr. Milam, you have been on the board here for now 23 years. The original contract of your term was 20 years, but my husband never saw fit to have you be reelected to the post. You, Mr. Barren and Mr. Watters are also over the term limit. Now you have the option of running again or, if you read through your materials, your severance package is very adequate, including additional healthcare benefits for your lifetime. I understand Medicare is not adequate. Now, Mr. Soto. Your green card reflected some very interesting details involving your wife that you met three days before your re-election. I’m sorry to say but the United States frowns on immigration officers that are bought off and so do I. Your position has already been posted as vacant. You may need to get home and pack.”

The other three men she smiled at as they nervously waited for her to continue. “Mr. Morris, Mr. Michaels, and Mr. Yung, I have read extensively through your files, including all votes and decisions pertaining to Luthorcorp. You three abstained or voted against the most of the unruly decisions. Particularly the ones that disadvantaged the employees. Please see your new contract and package and understand Mr. Yung, you are up for vote next year.” Lillian stopped as the first three men continued reading through the package and saw her detail. Blinking back up at her, they realized Lionel had married a shark in a kitten suit.

“Mrs. Luthor, this is unfair and outrageous. The lawyers…”

“The lawyers wrote the airtight packages and new contracts. You will find that my offers are better than you can get elsewhere.” Lillian sat down at the head of the table and the men stared. Lionel had never sat down during a meeting.

“Who exactly are you planning on getting to replace us? The stockholders will go mad if your decisions eat into their profits.”

“I have thought about that. I assure you that even your holdings in your severance packages will be well taken care of. I have contact with several executives and board members from other prominent locations that could be an asset to Luthorcorp. You competition could be interesting.” She flipped through her notes on the ones interested in the positions open. A female from Intel, another female from Phillip Morris, another one Scholastic.

She had reviewed the voting logs that Lionel kept against company policy. Women didn’t vote even though he had kept an abundance of them around until they would get married. Hiring practice had to change too. Employees happy at home would be happy at work. She glanced at her watch and silently cussed to herself. “Gentlemen, we are dismissed.”

Gabe followed her out of the room and down the hall. “Anything I can do?”

“Not unless you can get me to the soccer match on time. Damn, I’m late.” She grabbed her materials and handed a stack to Gabe. “Please file these and retype the notes in the blue folder. I know that’s Kat’s job, but I don’t like her either. Maybe you could look into that for me too.”

She stopped and looked at Gabe. “Chloe is at the school’s program for another hour.”

“I’ll get her before I head over to the fields.” Lillian stomped out of the office and hit the elevator button over and over. Gabe wondered if she really took more upon herself than she could handle in the last year.

Lillian drove her car to the school and ran into the daycare area, “Chloe Sullivan.”

“Yes, Ms. Luthor. Gabe called and notified us.” Chloe appeared at the end of the hallway and waved as the older woman bent down to hug her.

“We’re going to see if Alexander breaks a leg today.” She was nervous for her son. Lionel had taught him fencing, which they continued. But Lex wanted a sport in junior high. The coach suggested the soccer team. He proudly marked up the marble floor in the foyer the night he got his cleats and successfully broke a second story window. But to actually see her son run up and down the field was something she looked forward to.

Pulling Chloe up next to her on the bleacher, she looked at the other parents in their casual dress and noted that she needed to still work on some fitting in. “There he is, #6.” Chloe pointed across the field as Lillian pulled her hand down.

Just as she looked up, Lex kneed the ball over an opponent’s head assisting in what became a goal. He turned around and waved at his mom. She hadn’t seen his smile like that since before he had lost his hair. The kids had accepted him at the school. He wasn’t as advanced as he would have been at Excelsior but he was happy. He could be a kid.

After the game was over, Lillian and Chloe met Lex at the end of the team meeting. They had lost by one point. Chloe let go of Lillian’s hand and ran across the grass, “Lex! Hey!”

Lex looked over at the little girl running across the field. “Is that your sister?” one of the other team members asked.

“No, she’s the daughter of one of my mom’s employees,” Lex casually tried to brush off as Chloe wrapped her arms around his waist. “Hey. Where’s your dad?”

“Working. Your mom picked me up.” Lex laughed and walked over to his mom and received a hug that the other guys tried to giggle at. Looking back at them, he gave them a smartass look and walked off.

“Gabe is working late for me tonight. Any idea what would you like to have for dinner tonight?” Lillian leaned over and pulled out her blinking PDA and read the text message from another employee. “Damn,” she whispered to herself.

“Mom?”

Lillian leaned over and hugged her son and smiled at him. Lex knew what that look was for. He had seen it before when his father would have worked late, but his mother never wanted to. “You mind looking after Chloe at the house? We’ve run into a little snag at work.”

Lex nodded disappointingly at his mom and knew there was no reason to argue. Still, he knew that regardless of what time she ever got in, she would always tuck him in. “Tell Mr. Sullivan she’s in capable hands.”

When Lex and Chloe were left at the house, he walked her into the kitchen and fumbled around. Things had changed in the Luthor household since his father’s passing.

The most noticeable change had been the lack of twenty-four hour help. The change had taken one month from his father’s death. The employees seemed to shuffle around the house right after his death and waited to find out their fate. Their pay was now the same, the hours finally reasonable.

Life with mom had changed for Lex too. Sunday was mandatory bonding time. His friends that he had made since at school made fun of him, but he for once found he didn’t care. Sundays were now trips to museums, zoos, and carnivals.

“So, what do you want?” Lex asked staring at the inside of the walk in pantry. “We have…”

“Can you make that?” Chloe pointed over his shoulder as Lex looked in the direction of the macaroni and cheese in a box. Pulling the box out of the pantry, he pointed her to a chair and started boiling the water. When the pasta was ready, he handed her the open bag and let her mix the rest.

“See, you’re a wonderful cook!” Lex genuinely smiled as he handed her a fork and they shared the bowl of pasta while watching the small television kept in the kitchen for the staff.

Lillian and Gabe walked into the living room several hours later to the sounds of Nick at Night blaring with two kids curled up on throw pillows in the middle of the floor. Smiling, Lillian looked over at Gabe. “It’s going to be something when Lex finally starts to grow up.”

“I know. I never thought I would have to worry about my daughter’s broken heart before her first boyfriend.” The two sighed and picked up their respective children. “Come on honey,” Gabe whispered as he waved good night to Lillian and walked out the door.

“Thank you Lex.” Lillian pulled a twenty out of her wallet and handed it to him. Looking at it strangely, he shoved the bill in his pocket while trying to focus his tired eyes.

“Good night mom. No problem.” Lex wandered off to bed, laying the twenty on his dresser. Staring at it, he realized that was his first honest work and he didn’t even need to be asked.

**********

“Lex! You’re going to be late.” Lillian yelled up hoping that he could hear her on the third floor. He was probably up there practicing again. She smiled when he first asked her to teach him to dance. He was nervous.

Walking down the stairs, Lillian had seen him in a tuxedo countless times at public functions that she felt he had to go to as a Luthor family member. But this suit for tonight with the simple maroon tie was something different for him.

Her name was Carrie. Her auburn hair reminded him of his mother but her cute dimples made her irresistible to Lex. She had been over at the house several times after his soccer games. Lillian approved after meeting her parents and trying to not make it a business partnership.

Carrie’s parents were in the oil business and made a profitable statement, making the temptation something more than remarkable. But Lillian promised that Lex’s personal dates would not cross the business lines.

They had met through one of the boys on the soccer team. Carrie was on a girl’s team that played at the same field on every other Saturdays. He had watched his father flaunt his money and his attitude on numerous occasions when his mother had never been around. But after meeting Carrie, he was nervous.

Their first date had been unnerving. The two shared a movie in town during a Saturday afternoon as his mother sat in the back of the theater just like any other mother.

Lex smoothly tried to move his arm around the young girl’s neck and embarrassingly stabbed her in the ear with his hand. Mortified, he sat in the seat with his hands between his legs until he felt a soft hand pull on his. He watched as the auburn haired girl glanced over, blushed, and took his hand in his.

For the second date, Lex had talked to Greg, one of the staff who married his high school sweetheart. Greg explained Lex’s precarious position of being a Luthor. Even girls at a young age learned where the money and lifestyle could come from. He warned him to watch her moves carefully.

Carrie came to the house for dinner and to watch a movie in the theatre room. The room door remained open and Lex noticed that more than once that Greg was instructed to pop in and interrupt them. Taking heed in Greg’s advice, Lex offered nothing out of the ordinary to Carrie to see what she asked for.

“How’s it going Lex?” Greg asked as Lex entered the hallway, excusing himself to the restroom.

“I think everything is going pretty good. She wants a coke though.” Greg nodded and patted Lex on the back.

That night, Lex sat on the front steps waiting for Carrie’s parents to pick her up from the house. Lillian watched from the window of her bedroom as her breathing became heavier. Lex’s first kiss, or so she hoped, was messy but they both smiled at each other after it.

“You look very debonair,” his mother commented as he came down the stairs and she straightened his tie. “Shall we be going?” Lillian held out her arm to her son as they exited from the house to personally drive him and his now steady to the Valentine’s Dance.

Across the street, Chloe sat in her window seat in her and her father’s new house and watched Lex get in the car dressed funny. “Dad? Why is Lex dressed like that?”

“Because honey, it’s Valentines and he has a dance tonight.” Chloe didn’t respond but looked at her box of valentines that she had brought home from school earlier in the day. She and Gabe had spent an hour writing her name carefully on all the little cards and shoving them in envelopes. “Time for bed.”

“But I forgot Lex. Will you help me?” Gabe groaned and tried to keep from rolling his eyes at his daughter’s little crush and sat down with one of the last blank ones to help her.

Gabe and Chloe walked over and met Lilian after she arrived back home. “Ms. Luthor, can you give this to Lex?” Chloe asked as she handed the little white envelope to Lillian.

“I will. He will see it as soon as he gets home.” The three bid good night and Lillian looked at the carefully drawn heart on the front of the envelope and shook her head.

**********

“Hey, I was wondering where you ran off to. I got you a drink,” Lex casually handed the glass of punch to Carrie and sat down next to her on the steps of the school. They had danced together for three songs. She felt strange though.

“Lex,” Carrie started by dropping her head and taking a sip of her drink and lowering it in between her legs of her knee length dress. “I really like you.”

“I really like you too.”

Carrie paused and waited to see if he was finished. She ran her fingers along the outside of the glass, pushing the sweat beads down onto her dress. “Todd asked me if I would go see a movie with him on Friday.”

Lex felt like he had been hit in the gut. Todd was the captain of the 8th grade football team and had just broke up with Amanda, the winter princess. Todd could have anyone in the school and happened to choose Carrie to use as his rebound.

“Lex?”

Lex looked in her direction and had no expression. He wasn’t going to cry in front of this girl. She didn’t deserve it; he had cancelled plans with his guy friends for the last two weeks to spend time with her and had spent his own money he earned from chores for the corsage that night. “What?”

“It’s just a movie,” she tried to plead with him.

“But we were steady.”

Carrie waited and eventually put her cup down and stood up. “But I like Todd.” Before trying to correct what she knew sounded like a flagrant insult, Carrie turned and disappeared into the gym.

For another hour, Lex sat alone on the steps of the gym and waited until his mother finally showed up. Running to the car, he climbed in the back and landed face first into the seat. “Honey?”

“Just drive mom,” she heard muffled from the backseat. She lowered her head and covered her mouth in disappointment. Lex’s first girlfriend was history and she had to deal with the disappointment. After listening to the muffled sobs for the trip home, she pulled into the driveway and stopped the car. “Lex?”

Saying nothing, he climbed out of the backseat and trudged up the steps to the house. Lillian caught him in the hallway by the shoulder and Lex looked at her. His eyes were now puffy and red. “Why?”

“Because girls are mean, and they don’t get better with age.” She hugged him and ran her hand over his scalp lovingly.

“You’re nice mom.”

“Only when it counts, but if I talked to Carrie…”

“Please don’t.” Lillian pulled her son into her again and felt another sob escape from his throat as his head sunk further into his shoulder.

“How about some ice cream?” Lex looked up at his mom and smiled. The worst night of his life was starting to look up. Wrapping his arm around his mother’s waist, he walked into the kitchen and sat on the stool. “Oh, Chloe came by and dropped this off.”

Lex picked up the small envelope and ripped carefully through the hand drawn heart on the back. Staring at it, he could tell her wobbly penmanship was getting better now in first grade. Smiling, it simply read, ‘Will you be Mine?’ Slipping the card back in the envelope, he shoved a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth.

“I’ll thank her tomorrow.”

***********

Chloe ran through the house and whipped open the front door the next morning and stood in her pajamas as Lex appeared on her front steps. “Come in!”

Smiling, he entered the house and handed her a small box. “I wanted to thank you for the nice valentine.”

Chloe motioned for him to follow her into the living room and he plopped on the sofa. Sitting down next to him, she ripped the paper off the small box and looked at the Hershey’s Kisses neatly taped in a heart shape inside the bottom of the box. “Don’t eat them all at once. I don’t want your dad coming after me when you get a stomach ache.”

Chloe grabbed him around the neck and squeezed. She kissed his cheek before ripping one kiss out and handing it to him.

Peeling the paper off, he smiled and popped the kiss in his mouth, thinking how a kiss from a 6 year old somehow could replace all the crap he had been through the day before. His best friend was a six year old.


TBC

[Kit Merlot]

This is an extremely awesome concept!

I love your version of Lillian, and how smart and powerful she is--fabulous.

And I love how motherly and loving she is with Lex--she's not pulling the "no emotions Son" crap. She's giving him a safe place to cry when he needs to.

Carrie's a bitch, but your Chloe is just adorable:D

Can't wait for more.

[lexie]

Lovely new chapter, superag. This is turning out to be one of my favourite stories coming from your pen.

Nice work. I´m looking forward to reading an update soon.:blinkkiss

[hfce]

Aww that was so cute! I love how you have Lex having a normal life. I also love how he is taking care of Chloe. Carrie needs to die I hate her. :wth:

[dagney]

Its so wonderful to see Lex's life and times as a young boy in this fic. Chloe is cute and Lillian my heroine. Dagney

[tatie87]

Lex and Chloe as kids. Very interesting. How old is CHloe in the story, I don't know if I missed it or what? I can't believe Lex got dumped at a Junior High dance by some flake. All the better for Chloe. I really like the idea behind this story. Can't wait for the next chapter.

[Impress]

Awww...young Chloe and Lex are so cute. I'm with Lillian and Gabe, poor Chloe is going to have her heart broken in a few years when Lex gets older. Good update.

[superag]

This is not an update, but an answer to the question that keeps coming up. Chloe and Lex are as apart age wise here as in the real SV. Currently, Lex is in 7th grade (12ish) and Chloe in 1st grade (6ish). I teach, so I work with grade levels better than ages.

The next and every subsequent chapter will be increased by a grade or year. Alas, real schoolwork does get in the way and will keep me from being inventive anytime soon. But thanks for the encouragement to keep it going.

[purplemoon123]

I'm so loving this AU. Lionel dies of cancer instead of Lillian. Lillian is just made of awesome. Does the buisness shark and is making time for Lex. Young Chlex is just too cute for words.


Lex picked up the small envelope and ripped carefully through the hand drawn heart on the back. Staring at it, he could tell her wobbly penmanship was getting better now in first grade. Smiling, it simply read, ‘Will you be Mine?’ Slipping the card back in the envelope, he shoved a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth.

Awww, too cute. But when I first read it I switched will and you, which I read as: You will be mine. *shrug*

Can't wait for more.

[GroundedSouls]

That was so sweet. I agree Chloe's heart is going to be broken in a few years. I love that the card from Chloe made up for everything at the dance. I can't wait to read more to see what happens between them as the grow up.

[wistfulwatcher]

Aww... That whole update made me smile. I absolutely adore their bond. I both, can't wait, and dread, Chloe getting her heart broken. I know it will be sad, but it will lead to Chlex love...

I also love Lillian. She is the best rich mom ever. I love that Lex has to work for money, and be a normal kid.

Love it. Please update soon?

WW

[Gaia]

awww, that was just so cute! And sad at the same time....the little thing with Lex and Cassie..
More

[SVfan1286]

Young Chloe is too cute for words. The poor thing will definitely get her heart broken as Lex grows up though. And poor Lex has had his first experience with heart break... that Cassie girl is a bitch, even at that young of an age.

Lillian is awesome. Shark in the boardroom and loving mother at home. She's definitely a powerful women and I can totally see Chloe growing up to be just like her.

Loved the update!!

[superag]

A/N - Thank you for the wonderful feedback. We're heading into the turbulent teens with Lex. This is more male oriented (and a little touchy subject) but with a little hint of our women in it. Enjoy!!

Male Bonding - Chapter 3


“What does he play again?” Chloe asked as she clutched her father’s hand walking through the small group of people.

“Free Safety. He runs a lot and tries to catch the boys on the other team that have the ball thrown to them.” Gabe pointed out a small empty location on the bench seats at the small football stadium.

Gabe was overly nervous considering Lex was not even his child. The long talk back in June before Lillian signed the paperwork concerned him. He remembered the sound of her voice and it cracked as he walked into the office that day.

“Gabe, what do you think about football? Lex is small for his age.” Lillian’s obvious concern was written in the tight wrinkles in her face. “He wants to do this. The coach and I just got off the phone and he assures me that nothing will happen to him, but…” she stopped and sighed.

Gabe sat in the chair across from her and rubbed his hands together trying to put his words together as delicately as possible. “If the coach is careful with him, he should be fine. Lillian, he’ll get beaten up a bit, but all boys do. Remember the bruise from the soccer ball that he got last year on his back? Boys are going to be rough. But it will be your call,” he answered as she saw her run her hand along the permission slips and medical release forms.

The Luthors had the best medical team money could buy but she wasn’t ready to test that theory. She thanked Gabe and sighed again while leaning back in the tall leather chair behind the desk. The discussion the night before with Lex about it had come almost to a shouting match. Fencing was an obvious choice for him, soccer was athletic but still dignified, but football was barbaric. And Lex wanted to play.

She said a silent prayer and signed the form. That night, she walked into Lex’s room and silently laid the form on his bed. The two exchanged no words but Lex cracked a smile. He knew mom hated the idea but she was strong and he wanted to become his own man. They understood each other, and that was rare among mothers and teenage sons.

Back at the game, Chloe looked around the throngs of black and gold uniforms and winced at having to stare into the sun. “Is Ms. Luthor coming?”

“I’m assuming she will be. You can look for Lex; I will keep a look out for her.” Gabe let go of Chloe’s small hand and saw her stand up on the bleacher where she could pick out Lex easier.

“He’s number 78, right there.” Yet again, Gabe shook his head at his daughter’s determination and innate ability to keep almost stalkerish lookout on him. Pulling her down on the bleacher, he eyed where Lex lined up and realized he would in deed play. He looked at his watch and wondered where Lillian was.

Lillian sat on the phone with a conference call and stared at her watch. The call was mistakenly scheduled and she couldn’t get out of it. She watched the second hand on her antique clock tick around as the man on the other end went over charts that she had pulled up on her computer and dropped “uh huh and I understand” where appropriate. She was going to miss his first game. The only consolation was that Gabe was there.

The second quarter of the game started as the sun started to hide behind the bleachers and Chloe continued to stand on the bleacher as she had from the beginning of the game. Gabe had explained most of the rules of the game to her as each play was completed. She now knew when to yell.

By the end of the fourth quarter, things were all tied up in the game and Gabe became nervous as the quarterback from the other team began throwing bombs as a last ditch effort to catch a receiver out on the field. Lex was going to have to step up his position now. They were aiming balls at boys to run through him.

Lex looked up from his stance fifteen yards back from the rest of the scrimmage and eyed the other team’s quarterback. Seeing his arm go up, he watched as his other teammate slipped and two receivers on the right side took aim in his direction. As he eyed the route, he moved forward and then quickly up into the receiver who now had the ball.

Then the world became fuzzy and something cracked. Spitting turf out of his mouth, he heard the rush of the bench yelling as he supposed the other team dropped the ball. He shook his head and stared at the green grass below him. Something felt like it was on fire as he tried to move and he let out an agonizing scream and then bit his lip.

Gabe watched the situation in slow motion as the coaches ran out on the field and stood over Lex without moving him. “Daddy? What happened?”

“Chloe, it’ll be ok.”

“Dad?”

Gabe got up from his seat and took Chloe’s hand as they started down the bleachers. He couldn’t form any other words as he led Chloe down to the small field. “He’ll be ok.”

Chloe watched as the coaches walked back to the line and made some signal to the players as they went down on one knee and the medical crew at the end of the field started out. Chloe knew what an ambulance was.

“He’s hurt.” Chloe tugged from her dad’s grip surprisingly quick and ran onto the field. Pushing her head through the legs of one of the trainers from the school she looked and saw Lex’s eyes filled with tears. He held his arm. “You’re going to ok.”

Lex looked up from the trainers toward to the familiar voice and cringed, “Chloe get off the field.”

“No, you are hurt.”

“Chloe! Go away!” Lex turned and cringed as the emergency crews pulled her out of the way and attended to him.

Chloe walked over to her dad and slumped into his side, tears welling up in her eyes. “He hates me.”

Gabe rubbed his hand over the golden curls and watched as the coach approached him. “I’m sorry his mother is not here. I will call her from the car as soon as we know what is going on.”

“He’s going to Metropolis General. I think we have just a broken bone, but he needs x-rays regardless. It’s too bad because that was a great hit.” Gabe nodded his head and watched as the emergency team had him up walking across the field clutching his arm.

Lex looked up at Gabe as they headed off the field, completely missing the immense applause afforded him from the play and walking on his own power. “Mr. Sullivan, where’s my mom?”

“She’s still working tonight son. We’ll see you at the hospital.” Lex nodded and stepped into the ambulance before noticing Chloe’s face hugged tightly against her father. He winced in pain at his arm but more upset with himself.

***********

“Oh my baby,” Lillian cried as she met them at the hospital doors. She didn’t see Lex yet, but covered her mouth in distress. “Is it bad?”

“He’ll be ok. He walked off with his own power minus a few tears, but he’s a tough kid. Probably tougher now.” Gabe tried to reassure her. “How did the meeting pan out?”

“Didn’t. Something about my son breaking something caused me to hang up the phone on some very confused Koreans.” Lillian paced in the small waiting room she was escorted to. Chloe watched the two discuss Lex’s game and the subsequent injury with little interest.

Wandering off down the hall, she noticed the cute pictures of cartoon characters on the walls and looked in the small rooms behind curtains to see what went on. No one seemed to be around except for a small noise coming from the end of the hall. Pulling the curtain aside, she became nervous.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered.

Lex looked up from the magazine he was flipping through on the small bed and smiled at her. “I was mad. I should apologize to you.” He looked around and noticed Chloe alone. “Where’s your dad.”

“Talking to your mom.”

“You walked away without telling them? Good, now they have one more thing to panic about.” Lex flipped the page again in the magazine.

“Does it hurt?” Chloe asked as she climbed up on the other end of the bed and looked absently at the same magazine.

“Some. They gave me something for it. It’s broken, but at least it’s not the arm I use to write. That would suck.” Chloe snickered as Lex covered his mouth. “Sorry.”

“I won’t tell,” Chloe answered as she ran her fingers along the cast on his forearm. “Can I sign it?”

“Maybe, when I get a pen. I’ll save you the first place.” Lex threw the magazine back on the table and slid off the end of the bed, helping Chloe down afterwards. The doctor walked in followed by two more people very red. “She found me,” Lex admitted.

Gabe grabbed her and pulled her into him. “Do not ever run away like that again!”

Lex looked over at Chloe’s smothered face in her dad’s shirt, “Told you.” Lillian looked over at the two and smiled as she ran her hand along the cast lightly.

“So, is football over now?” She looked at Lex and almost sounded relieved already knowing what the doctor had told her before they realized that Chloe was missing.

“Yeah, but you should have seen the play mom. The other kid went flying and the ball was picked off in the air by one of our players. I hope we won.” She hugged Lex realizing how much he was enjoying his teen years.

Regardless the injuries and small heartbreaks, she was finally happy that Lex got to be a young man. Knowing he experienced things that he would have never gotten to with his father still alive, she sighed and tried to not to think of Lionel with ill will. Maybe neither of them have the perfect formula, but Lex was balanced and happy.

Wrapping his arm around Chloe, Lex started out of the pediatric emergency and cringed when he saw where he had been brought to. He would have to talk to mom about his age now. Emerging from the doors, a girl flew into his arms and pushed Chloe to the floor.
“Oh God, you’re ok. We were all terrified about what happened. Did it hurt? Are you ever going to be ok?” Jessica Minter. She was brunette, petite, dumb as a brick, head of this year’s cheerleading squad, and just grabbed his ass.

“Whoa,” were the only words Lex could come up with. Jessica backed up and surveyed the damage.

“We won the game and I made my folks come straight over here to check on you. That play was awesome! We got it on tape if you want to watch it later. You can actually hear the crack in the tape.” Jessica slipped her hand into Lex’s as she walked him toward her parents.

Lex was suddenly on cloud nine. He had eyed this girl for two years, even while his brief stint with Carrie. Mitchell had told him in confidence the week before that she asked about him, but Lex brushed it off. Jessica went out with the studs, boys older than her, and definitely jocks.

“Mom, dad. This is Lex Luthor.” Jessica let go of his hand and watched Lex smoothly introduce himself to the parents. She smiled at her choice as her mom nodded in approval. When her father finally let his lip quirk up a bit, she knew Lex was a keeper. “Tell him about his play.”

“That was a quite a wallop you gave the other young man. He was a little woozy afterwards. I’m sorry that you are out of the game though.”

“That’s ok. I’ll just cinch up the cast tighter and go back to fencing.” The parents nodded at each other, obviously impressed that their daughter finally brought a cultured jock around.

“Jessica, the car in five minutes,” her father casually dropped as they headed off. “Nice to meet you Lex. Would love to have your family for dinner.”

Lex tried to say thank you but they were gone too fast. “So, your parents are nice.”

“Yeah. They like you. Usually I get rolled eyes when the boys appear in jeans and a t-shirt.” Jessica leaned back on her heels as Lex caught a quick once over in her cheerleader outfit. There was a reason they couldn’t wear during the school day. Jessica caught his eyes and smiled slightly.

Slipping her hand into his free one, she moved closer to him. Leaning into him, she kissed him on the cheek. “I’ve liked you for a long time, but the other girls said you were weird.”

“I’m bald, not weird.” Lex pulled back defensively.

Running her hand along the base of his hairless head, she whispered to him, “I know; I think it’s kind of unique.”

Lex felt something strange surge through his body as she touched his neck again. Trying to regain control of whatever it was, he smiled and pulled her hand off his neck and wrapped his fingers in it. “So, since we’re at this point, what about Homecoming in three weeks?” Lex swallowed remembering what happened at the last dance and hoped the same thing wouldn’t happen.

“I’ll call you and let you know the dress color where we can match. You and I are going to be the it couple.” Lex looked strangely at her completely unromantic answer, but was startled out of his thoughts when her lips met his in a chaste kiss. “Preview,” she smiled. “Talk to you on Monday.”

Lex watched her skip down the angled driveway and jump into her parent’s car. They had watched all that play out and he was suddenly mortified thinking about the people behind him.

Turning, he saw Mr. Sullivan and his mother try to control their either fury or shock. “I think you have had quite enough excitement tonight son. We should be getting home,” Lillian wrapped her arm around his shoulder and led him toward the car now pulling in front of them.

He looked back at Chloe buried into her father’s side. She was crying for reasons he didn’t quite understand.

Chloe sat in the car with her dad and virtually followed Lex’s car home. They lived so close now, they could walk to each other’s places. It didn’t seem to matter anymore. Chloe saw the girl kiss Lex. She remembered how her mom kissed her dad and knew what it meant. She slumped in the seat and pouted without her father noticing.

***************

“Hey Lex!” Chloe beamed as she opened the front door. “You come over to play?”

“Actually, I need to see your dad if he’s around.” Chloe’s excitement dropped from her face and threw out her hand as if to lead him down the hall like a servant.

“DAD! Lex is here!” she screamed and then headed upstairs. Lex stood in the middle of the hallway and noticed Gabe come around the corner of the living room.

“In here Lex.” Gabe watched Lex slump into the chair across from the couch. “What’s going on?”

“I told mom I was coming over here to see Chloe. If you don’t mind sir, if she asks could you stick to that story? I would rather not have to explain my visit in detail.”

Gabe leaned forward before getting up and walking into the kitchen briefly, returning with two waters. “So, what is the real reason for your visit?”

Gabe watched Lex nervously tug on the cap of the water and look around the room as if he was trying to form complete thoughts before saying anything. “My father died before we had…” Lex stopped. It was too embarrassing.

Gabe got up from his seat and motioned for Lex to follow him into another room. Both quickly glanced upstairs to see no traces of a little girl. Motioning for Lex to sit in the seat in the study, Gabe closed the door. “Care to try again.”

“Will you promise to not tell my mom? I think grounded for life would come to her mind.” Lex sat and stared at the floor but saw Gabe’s head somewhat agree. “I…Jessica…”

“Lex, how far have you gone?”

The fourteen year old suddenly felt flush at the straightforward question. He was supposed to be the strong one his mother said, but he suddenly felt a few inches tall. “The night of the Homecoming Dance we snuck out and. I don’t know how to describe what happened.”

“Just tell me.”

Lex rolled his eyes realizing that Gabe’s honest looking face, nothing like his father’s ever was, should be a comfort. “We didn’t have sex, just she showed me her underwear she had taken from her mother’s drawer and what she had seen on some channel and we … touched each other.”

“I see. And what was the result? Who ended it?”

“The door around the corner opened and we kind of just stopped. Of course I was in pain all night. And she was red for the longest time.” Lex lowered his head and stared at the ground. “This is embarrassing.”

“It’s a natural part of life, and you would have either needed this talk eventually or made mistakes that would have gotten you or a young woman, perhaps Jessica upset.” Trying to lighten the mood, Gabe offered his congratulations. “I saw the pictures from the dance. You two make quite the King and Queen.”

“Thank you.” Lex choked out as he tried to compose himself. For another two hours Gabe caused Lex to go through random faces he had never made and colors of flush he had never experienced. Lex didn’t mind in the end; he knew what to expect. Men didn’t have to force themselves on women in a power play like his father seemed to do for affections from his mother sometimes, even if it was just a kiss.

Walking out of the study, he shook Gabe’s hand and thanked him. Discussing wet dreams, premature ejaculation, and condom use was not what Lex had in mind when he had come over. But honesty was something that he treasured since his father passed away.

“Hey Lex,” Chloe said quietly down the hall. “You want part of a sandwich? I got hungry while you and dad were talking?”

Lex smiled over at Gabe once more and followed Chloe into the kitchen and sat at the table. He watched Chloe pull the sandwich violently apart and set each half on a napkin. “Thank you,” he stated as she pushed a glass of water in front of him.

“So, what did you and my dad talk about?” Lex almost choked.

“Guy stuff. Nothing you would be interested in.” Chloe nodded and turned her lip at his obvious lie.

“I thought I was your girl?” Chloe dropped her sandwich and stared at Lex. Lex looked at her as he took another bite and realized that the second grader was challenging him and his relationship with Jessica.

“Chloe, you’ll always be my girl. You’re almost like a sister to me. I would do anything for you.” He leaned over and smiled at her as she hid her disgruntled face behind her napkin.

“I’m not your sister!” Chloe threw down her napkin and ran down the hall as she heard Lex calling her name, pleading with her to come back.

“Lex, just go home and don’t worry about her.” Gabe said softly coming out of the living room.

“I’m sorry sir; I really have no idea. She just flipped.” Gabe laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.

“She’ll be fine.” Gabe shut the door and sighed at the overly busy Sunday afternoon. The boy’s sex talk was much easier than the girl’s one would be. He needed to talk to Lillian.

*************

“Good morning Gabe. How was your weekend?” Lillian opened another file on her desk in the Luthorcorp office and looked over the numbers that appeared in front of her. “The Minters called me with an impressive deal involving one of Cheryl’s vintage furniture lines last night.”
“Interesting.” Gabe shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “And? I thought you had steered from Lex’s girlfriend’s families?”

Lillian had made that promise to herself. But the woman also realized the money made would pay for the phone calls across town to the little cheerleader. She wanted to make Lex pay for them, but he was for all intense purposes in love with the girl.

“I know. And relationships in junior high are completely fickle, but I genuinely like the Minters even with Jessica being somewhat of a tease. I just wish Lex could understand.”

Gabe groaned. He had made a promise that he was about to break, but his mother needed to know the truth. “She’s not that much of a tease.”

Lillian looked up from the folder and saw the man’s face slowly become flushed. “Talk.” She dropped the pen and leaned back in her chair, not breaking her eye contact with Gabe.

“Lex came and talked to me yesterday. He made me promise to not tell you, so don’t make it out as if you have.” Lillian nodded and gulped at the realization that Lex was actually to that point. “Lillian, you know he’s actually older than most boys get the talk. He at least asked. And I was honest, but Lex is,” Gabe nodded, “dangerously close to be sexually active, with Jessica. I don’t think this is fickle.”

Lillian stared at the picture of her little boy on her desk and realized he wasn’t eight anymore. Things had changed dramatically in a year. The books she read said the change from seventh to eighth was something far different than any other change. She sighed realizing that Lex was at least brave enough and smart enough to ask for assistance. “Mum’s the word. Thank you for the inside information.”

Gabe silently left Lillian to stare at the folder she was looking at. Instead of seeing the last name, she shuddered and tried to keep her posture even through wondering how far her son had gone with the little cheerleader. She had to be strong; these were the years that terrified her.

TBC

[dagney]

I'm thrilled by the slice of life glimpses we get into Lex/Chloe and their parents. I'm enjoying each developmental stage and can't wait for the show to be on the other foot when the older teen Lex starts to worry about Chloe's boy friends. Dagney

[meeaz]

Poor Lex! I can feel his embarrassment. This story is really great; I'm thoroughly enjoying it and waiting patiently for updates!!!

[kimbo]

This is great. Love the AU life you've built for Lex. I feel bad for chloe, but she's just so young lol. Can't wait for the next bit.

[hfce]

That was a great update. Lex is growing up. I feel so bad for Chloe though. She loves him but is to young for him. To bad they are not the same age. Otherwise it would be she he would date not the icky Jessica. :wth:

[tatie87]

I really and am enjoying this storu of Chloe and Lex growing up. It's weird, but in a good way. Can't wait for the next chapter.

[Kit Merlot]

I really love how you are having Gabe being a father to Lex--you know Gabe is a better one then Lionel ever was, and I like how much Lillian relies on Gabe for his help with Lex and Luthorcorp.

But poor Chloe--she has a crush on him, but she is just too little to understand Lex and his new teenage ways.

This is a great story:grin3:

[lexie]

Fantastic update, superag. I can see a lot of heartache ahead for little Chloe- it´s only natural when you´re a young girl with a crush on an older young man. Who hasn´t lived through this experience? Lillian and Gabe´ll have a pretty difficult time raising up their kids without the aid of a partner, I guess they´ll start collaborating with each other soon enough. Maybe Lillian´ll have a similar talk with Chloe?

If Lex in this fic is anything like the one we´ve seen on the show when it comes to his relationship with women other than his mum, I wonder what this new girl will do to him? I hope she won´t hurt him by standing him up at the ball or making fun of him when the time comes to take their budding relationship to a new level.

I´m looking forward to your next update. Great job!

[GroundedSouls]

Great update! I feel for Lex and his embarssment. I also feel for little Chloe and her hurting over her crush on Lex. I thought it was good for him to go to Gabe for the talk. I could imagine how more ackward it would of been with his mother.Can't wait to read more.

[Gaia]

I love this story! Oh it will be fun when Gabe tries to give "the talk" to Chloe...:P

[Impress]

I love this story! Oh it will be fun when Gabe tries to give "the talk" to Chloe...:P

I think Lillian will return the favor and have "the talk" with Chloe.

I feel so sad for Chloe, poor thing. But yeah, she's too young for him. Though you just know that no boy or man will ever be good enough in Lex's eyes for Chloe when she starts dating.

More soon.

[purplemoon123]

I'm so loving this story.

My poor Chloe suffering from a crush and Lex has no idea. Can't wait for the next chapter and the next age jump.

[karila]

This new story is really great.
It's nice to see Chloe and Lex who know each other during chidhood.
And the fact that Lilian is alive should be interesting. I am curious to see how different Lex will be with her mother still alive and Lionel dead.
I have to admit that I am impatient to see Chloe older and how her relationship with Lex will evolve.

[SVfan1286]

I loved the embarrassing talk between Gabe and Lex. Gabe's a way better father than Lionel ever was. That Jessica girl seems like an idiot though, but at that age boys only go after girls for their looks and nothing more... well except girls who put out. (Lol) So I really can't be mad at Lex's taste in girls, for now at least...

Poor little Chloe, she's got the cutest crush on Lex but she's way to young for him right now. I can't wait for when she grows up a little and starts dating to see how Lex reacts. Unless Chloe's going to be like with her Clark crush on SV and be crushing after Lex for years, with him not even noticing. I hope not, when she's a teenager she should have some fun with boys from her age for a while at least.

Another wonderful chapter... I look forward to reading more!!

[wistfulwatcher]

Poor Chloe. It's realistic, but still sad that Lex is oblivious to her crush. I can't wait until we're into CHLOE'S teen years. That'll be fun ;)

WW

[superag]

A/N - Thanks for the feedback. We are jumping two years here in order for us to get Chloe a little older. But she is still having difficulties poor girl. Please continue leaving awesome feedback!!!


The Girl in Between – Chapter 4


Lillian sat in the passenger seat and stared at her son intently. They had memorized the manual together. Sitting in the dingy little office in downtown Metropolis, Lillian waited anxiously for the computer screen to hopefully, and frighteningly, tell Lex he had passed the written part of the test. It had; now, there they sat.

“Lex?”

She watched as his eyes darted from the side mirrors to the rear view and back to the sides. Turning the key, she slightly touched his shoulder when he almost flooded the gas on the small car.

He had been noticeably upset at the car his mother had chosen for him. The posters on his wall in his bedroom of Lamborghinis and Porsches were all but ignored. She said she got him a gift for passing the written part of his test; it was a nice, boxy Volvo.

“If I’m paying the insurance, you’re driving what I choose. When you get a job, you can pay for whatever you want. Now, take us to school. And remember to stop on the way to pick up Chloe.”

Lex rolled his eyes and sighed at her obvious unwavering of choice in vehicle. He pulled carefully out of the driveway and headed down the street to the Sullivan’s house. This was evidently his lot in life is what he found. The deal was he could get his license at 16 unrestricted but his 50 required hours of observation would be driving to and from school with his mom and an eight year old.

Lex sat momentarily at the stop sign and calculated he had only two weeks left until his 16th birthday. His mother was planning the perfect party and everyone at the school was coming. Then, he could get his real license, and better yet, a job. High school would hopefully improve dramatically around that time.

The last two years had been a blur. Lex had never imagined himself making friends and being involved in school when he was at Excelsior. His father had been very strict on what exactly a young man of his upbringing should be seen doing. Mom had other thoughts.

As soon as his arm healed, Lex was back out on the field, baseball that was. Surprisingly, he hated watching the game but loved playing. His quick intuition and sharp thinking had landed him in the shortstop position on a community league his football friends were in during the Spring.

Gratefully, Lillian approved of the new kids he hung out with. They found purpose in the sports and genuinely enjoyed the game for the sport, not the win. Showing Lex that everything in life didn’t have to be based on winning was important to her.

She would know. She explained none of the issues to Lex; he was too young to be concerned anyway. The markets had fallen out of one sector in Luthorcorp and hit everyone hard. Never to be known as a failure in the past, Lillian tried dutifully to cover her tracks and ended up having fingers pointed at her. The news still got the story wrong, but the damage was done.

Documents had said she had approved several desecrations of landmarks throughout several Asian nations in preparations for new factories, sweatshops as the news called them, to be built. The man she had hired as her overseas assistant, though, had a history with the company when Lionel was in charge. Seeing his perfect opportunity, he manipulated her name on the documents and angered the entire Pacific Rim. Months of overseas trips remained useless, the Japanese market tanked, and Luthorcorp lost their major worldwide foothold. A year later, the man went to jail for fraud, but the damage was done.

Lillian had found other outlets. The board was now of a more female persuasion, and other high powered women surprisingly contacted her. Luthorcorp was not female dominated but seen more gender neutral and a safe place for women workers. Metropolis took notice, and Lillian woke up on Saturday morning to Lex yelling down the hallway before throwing her bedroom open. “They want you to run for city council?”

And there she was – teaching her son to drive, dropping him off at school and heading to a council meeting. She had lost the company billions but gained much more than money; she gained the city’s respect.

Looking over and opening the door, she noticed the car a good four inches from the curb and approvingly nodded at Lex as Chloe ran out to the car. “Good morning Chloe.”

“Good morning Mrs. Luthor. Nice car Lex.” Lex looked back and rolled his eyes realizing the thing had a back seat. Groaning, he pulled out and headed off to school.

The last two years had changed little for Chloe. Now in the intermediate school at the campus, she was one of the tiniest ones on the fourth grade totem pole. She hated feeling inferior. Having gotten bored with playing after school, she implored her father to let her get involved in something. She took up piano but hated it. She tried ballet but was bored. She watched Lex once in his back yard spinning and kicking and smiled. Last weekend, she had won her first inter city match in Tae Kwan Do.

Honey,” Lillian egged on Lex.

“Thank you. Heard about your match last week. Care to show off some of your moves this afternoon? I’m not doing anything today.”

Chloe’s face lit up as she looked at Lex in the rear view mirror. Her dad and she had talked about Lex. In the end, having Lex as a pseudo brother was not a bad deal. At least she had a protector. “Sure. Are you leaving the normal time?”

“Yeah, mom’s sending a car since she’ll be at work.” Chloe nodded and opened up one of her books, looking over a homework assignment.

That afternoon, Chloe sat on the steps in front of the high school complex and waited for Lex to get out of class. The high school went thirty minutes longer and gave her time to finish her work for the day. Hearing the bell ring, she got out of the way and stood on statue in front of the building.

“Hey you. You ready to see if you can kick my ass?” Lex smiled and ran his hand over her head. Smiling up at him, she giggled at his now lack of ability to hide any cussing from her. Still, she never told.

“Yeah, where’s the car?”

“This way. But we have to stop at the side door ok?” Chloe nodded and wondered what he meant but knew as the two rounded the corner. Jessica had indeed not been a fickle couple of weeks. Chloe stepped back under a tree and pulled out a book to read as Lex walked up to a group of girls in the empty green section behind the gym.

“Hey,” he smoothly whispered as his hand wrapped around and slightly under the small tank top Jessica wore. Pulling her close to him, Chloe watched and turned her nose up seeing Jessica’s tongue in Lex’s mouth. Gross, she thought. She would never do that. Ever. It’s germy.

Pulling out of the kiss, Jessica ran her hand over Lex’s well defined chest and smiled around his shoulder. “Babysitting again?”

“She’s going to try to beat me up. She’s taking karate. Besides, she’s a little old to use the word babysitting.”

Jessica pulled back slightly and smirked, “I wasn’t saying she was a baby Lex. Anyway, are we still on for Saturday night? I’ll pick you up.” Jessica was born after enrollment dates and was one of the older girls in the tenth grade. Guys made fun of Lex for being driven around but he blew them off. Coolly, he just commented he liked older women.

“Yeah. Mom’s leaving for a trip in a couple of days and has been really wrapped up in the waste management plant debate with the city council. It’ll be fine.” Lex looked over his shoulder at Chloe’s not frustrated look. She was partially sweating and squinting. “Look, I’ll call you tonight.”

Jessica kissed him once again, ignoring the snickers from the other cheerleaders. Lex and Jessica were one of the longest standing relationships on the campus. Their parents were in business together and things were perfect. Letting go of his hand, Jessica smiled. “Love you.”

Lex looked over his shoulder and nodded. He didn’t even tell his mother he loved her in public. It didn’t matter; Jessica knew how he felt. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah,” Chloe responded as they jumped into the car. “Lex, you love her?”

Chloe was nothing but to the point. “Yeah. It’s been two years. Of course I love her.”

“Why don’t you tell her?”

Lex looked away and bit his lip, “It’s hard to explain but guys just aren’t comfortable throwing that word around. Why?”

Chloe shrugged. “Because my dad has no problem telling me he loves me.”

“Ohhhh. Dad and daughters are different.” The two sat silently in the car as Lex flipped through his chemistry homework. Mom was going to tan his ass when she found out about his C. He had tutoring at 7:00AM and would somehow have to get to school early without her asking questions. Jessica would be done if she did.

“You think you and Jessica will get married?” Lex’s eyes bulged and he swore he felt his heart stop. Turning to look at the little girl, he couldn’t wipe the look off his face.

“That’s a long way off, even if it is Jessica. Why the sudden question?” Lex turned looking over at Chloe.

“Dad’s girlfriend is saying ‘I love you’ to him and me. I don’t like her, and I’m afraid she’s going to be my new mom. Can’t your mom and my dad just get married? Then all of us would be happy and then I would be your sister.”

Lex leaned back against the car seat and had to choke back the laughter that wanted to come up. The girl had a plan, albeit a very far fetched plan, to keep the girlfriend out of the picture. “I think my mom and your dad are a little too close to be married. They get along too well.”

Chloe’s eyes wriggled up as she stared at Lex’s smile broaden. “Oh,” she said confused and unsatisfied.

That night Lex pulled his shirt off in the bathroom and looked at his back. The mark was already starting to turn blue. Lex had thought his few years in Tae Kwon Do himself, he would be able to hold her off. But the eight year old surprised him to a swift kick in the back. That would make Friday night fun.

***********

The music was obnoxious and loud. Lillian couldn’t describe the general mind pounding noise that came from the overly gigantic speakers in the main hall. She had asked Lex to list the names of the bands that he liked where she could get the DJ for his dance to put together the best techno mix possible. Now, standing in the corner of the club she had rented out, she squinted hoping it would make the sound dissipate.

“How’s it going?” Gabe leaned over and yelled in Lillian’s ear.

Looking over at who spoke to her, she mashed her palm to her head. “I need either a big drink or ear plugs.” She yelled back. “Who’s your lady friend? Chloe mentioned her.”

“This is Angela. Angela, Lillian Luthor, my boss.” Lillian leaned over and shook the woman’s hand and did a quick once over.

Angela and Gabe had met on a flight he had several weeks earlier. She was relocating to Metropolis for business and had quickly become friends with Gabe when he offered to point her in the direction of the best real estate office. It was a simple two people meet story.

On the other hand, Chloe didn’t take the first meeting of Angela too well. Lillian remembered the afternoon that Gabe introduced them, she found Chloe in the community park hoping awful things for the simple woman. Lillian wondered if she ever had the time to date if Lex would react the same way to replacing his father.

The three stood on the side wall and watched as the lights flickered and the music continued to play. In the middle of the room was a relatively tall bald young man in slacks and a loosened button down laughing as his friend gave a demonstration of the breakdancing of yesteryear.

“I worry about Josh. He’s going to hurt himself someday,” Jessica leaned in and yelled in Lex’s ear. He wrapped his arm around her waist and laughed again.

“Don’t worry. He’s had too many injuries to count from stuff stupider than this.” He leaned in and kissed her behind the ear and felt her shiver. “When I’m done with the whole cake and punch routine, we should slip away.” Jessica pinched his side slightly with her arm around him and shook her head.

The night wore on late into the evening with the crowd from Lex’s school, sports teams, and buddies continuing to request new music and danced longer. He had politely excused himself and sat down in the back room of the club with his mother.

“Thanks mom. Everyone is enjoying it.”

“Are you? That’s the important part.” Lillian cradled a small box in her hand.

“Of course! Everything is fabulous. Renting a club that is normally 21 and over is cool enough.” He sat and beamed at his mother. She smiled back at him and handed the small box to him.

“Happy birthday honey. But before you open it, I want you to know that the days you don’t have practice, I expect you in the mail room right after you drop Chloe off.”

Lex looked strangely at his mother. She just gave him a job? He popped the top of the small box off and looked at the simple key hanging from the famous symbol. Lex glanced up at his mother and tried to speak.

“It’s an older model. Something to get your feet wet. This was your father’s desire for you. Men and their toys. But I like the Volvo.” Lex stood up and pulled the keys out of his pocket and handed them to her. Lex stood and waited. Before pulling the key out of the box. “It’s in the back. Be careful and not too late.”

Lex leaned over and kissed his mother before disappearing into the club. Grabbing Jessica by the arm, he pulled her over to the side of the club and pressed her into the wall. Running his hand down her arm, he kissed her sloppily but with fervor.

Pulling out the kiss almost breathless, she smiled at Lex. “Where did that come from?” Lex pulled the key out and showed her.

“How about I pick you up next date?” Jessica stared at the key and wrapped her arms around him.

“Congrats honey. So? You want to get out of here?” Lex took her hand as they disappeared from the music and lights and ran across the street to the parking garage.

An little later, Lex and Jessica quietly entered a room of a house on the other side of town. “Are you sure your parents aren’t coming home?”

“Yeah, they’re in Zurich for their skiing vacation. The nanny is fast asleep.” Jessica threw her coat down on the plush lounger and watched Lex follow suit. Turning to look in his direction, she backed up to the bed and sat down on it. “Well, you want your birthday gift?”

Lex turned and moved toward her as he leaned into her for a slow deep kiss. Pulling out of the kiss, he ran his hands down her face and cupped her chin for another kiss. “And what would that be?”

Jessica smiled up at him as he could feel her start to tremble slightly. “Me,” she whispered as she slid off the bed and pulled the one piece dress over her head. Lex stood still and gazed as slowly her smooth skin appeared little by little.

“I love you,” Lex whispered as he nestled his lips into her neck. He felt her hands work on the buttons of his shirt as she sat back up on the bed in her simple red bra and panties.

“I love you too. I’m glad that our first times will be with each other.” She stopped and pulled his shirt from his pants and felt the small bulge she had heard about. Her friends had said if it was there, he wanted her.

Lex threw his shirt on the ground and caressed his hands down the front of her body, carefully running his fingers slightly inside the cups of her bra. He heard her gasp and throw her head back. “Lex, I’m nervous,” she whispered as he drew her into his bare chest.

“Me too,” he whispered as they moved back on the bed and fumbled with the rest of the clothes.

Lex looked at the clock a little later and noticed a couple of hours had passed since they got there. People may wonder where he had disappeared to at his own party, but the moment away had been worth it. It had been awkward. It took the two of them to get the condom on the first time and he had waited through her tears and pain when he pushed a little too much the first time.

“You ok?” He asked gently, tracing his hand down her arm.

“Yeah, but I hope it gets better.” They both giggled realizing that losing their virginity was not the exciting, passion filled evening the movies made it out to be. Jessica turned to Lex seeing his serious look after her last comment. “You were incredibly gentle. I’m really glad we’re together.”

Lex turned and smiled at her before pulling her into a small, wet kiss.

**********

Chloe walked through the hallway of her house later that evening. She hated babysitter nights; they always treated her like she was three and put her to bed even before the sun went down.

She stopped at the doorway of the living room and listened to the murmurs coming from the room. She heard her father and Angela talking and occasionally giggling quietly. She didn’t know what they were talking about and didn’t care. Angela was occupying too much of her dad’s time. She slid quietly down on the other side of the wall from the living room and listened.

“I thought about taking Chloe to the movies sometime tomorrow. Maybe a little girl’s day out.” Angela stopped. “I don’t think she likes me Gabe. Every time I’m here, I’m worried that she’s plotting against me.”

Gabe threw his head back and tried to stifle a laugh. “No, Chloe has just had kind of a time with her mother leaving the way she did. In a way, I think she believes that if I wait around with her, that her mom will come back to us.”

“Oh.” Angela quietly whispered. “But I can’t just wait around for her to grow up and understand it Gabe.” She started becoming defensive.

“Shh, I know,” Gabe kissed her bare shoulder. “Just don’t push her. She’s stubborn like her mother was.” Gabe kissed her shoulder again and leaned in further. Chloe pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them while sitting in the hallway.

Sounds from the living room became more muffled after a few minutes and she wondered if her dad and that woman had secretly escaped to another room. Standing back up, Chloe leaned against the door frame and peeked around the corner. Covering her mouth, a little squeak of surprise escaped as she watched her dad make out with this strange woman like Lex made out with Jessica.

Chloe’s hands balled into fists and she pounded one foot on the floor. Marching into the living room, she couldn’t think of what to say. “STOP! Get away from my dad.”

Gabe sat up quickly and stared at her little girl in front of them. “Chloe, you need to go back to bed. We’ll talk later.”

“NO! I want her,” she yelled as she pointed at Angela, “to leave. You don’t love her! You love me.” Chloe crossed her arms and spread her feet out further as if to plant herself securely on the floor.

“I’m going to go. But I’ll call you tomorrow about that thing.” Angela picked up her purse and started out of the room.

“And I don’t want to go to the movies with you. YOU are not my mom. YOU will never be my mom.”

Gabe stood up and took Chloe by the shoulder. “You will stop this NOW and go to your room.” Chloe eyed her dad and refused to leave. “Now Chloe.” She shook her head no and still didn’t move. “Chloe, you know what a third time means.”

She turned and looked at her dad. “I DON’T CARE! Ground me or spank me or whatever, but mom will be mad when she comes back and finds that woman here.” Chloe stuck her tongue out at Angela and ran up to her room. “I HATE YOU!” she screamed downstairs before the door slammed.

Gabe sighed and walked Angela to the door. “It might need to wait before we try a family day together. I’ll call you.” He kissed Angela and headed up to Chloe’s room.

Opening the door, all he could hear were thick sobs coming from the pillow and a lump in the bed. Moving across the room, Gabe sat on the corner of the bed and ran his hands gently over the lump. “Chloe honey. I know you miss your mom, but you have to give Angela a chance.”

Chloe threw the covers off and sat up to look at her dad. Her eyes were red and puffy, her nose running. “No, I don’t want to. Why can’t it just be us like it has been? Why does everyone have to have someone else except for me?”

Gabe pulled Chloe up into his arms and rocked her. He could feel her tears still drenching his shirt and her shaking. “Honey, you still have me. Angela or anyone else for that matter is not going to replace you. I love you, and I’ll always be here.”

Chloe looked up at her dad and he tried to break a smile. He felt for his little girl. Maybe it was the wrong time for him to be in a relationship, but he needed someone too. He felt her hands against him pushing her out of his arms. “But you love Angela and Lex loves Jessica.” Chloe laid back down in the pillows and pushed her dad’s hand off her.

“Chloe.”

Chloe piled another pillow on the top of her head and held it in place where she couldn’t hear her father’s tired soothing words. Gabe squeezed her ankle gently at the last chance to make some sort of contact and pulled her door closed.

************

Things improved over the next few months between Angela and Chloe to the point they had gone shopping for Gabe’s birthday gift together. Chloe was still not quite trustworthy of the woman but was more willing to give her a chance.

School was going well too. Chloe started understanding Lex’s need for Jessica like her father’s need for Angela. It was hard to swallow though watching Lex and Jessica make out every afternoon before they went home. Chloe smiled knowing that Lex still saw her last everyday. And Lex was satisfied to tell Chloe that she was his girl.

“You have a good day. Ok?” Lex shut the car door and walked Chloe across the street with him to her campus.

“Ok. Say hi to Jessica for me. And remind her about my meet on Saturday.” Lex smiled and waved as Chloe disappeared into the Intermediate School.

Algebra II class was putting Lex to sleep. He daydreamed about Jessica since it was the only class that they didn’t have together. Things hadn’t changed between them since his birthday; they had been afraid that they would. Lex turned and looked outside seeing the classroom startto get darker. Almost too dark.

“A tornado warning has been issued for the area. Please take precautions as everyone needs to get into the shelter.” Lex and the others listened to the announcement. Picking up their things, all the students filed into the basement shelter and waited, listening to the roar like trains overhead.

Lex held onto Jessica as she buried her head into his chest. They had been through tornados before. It was the Midwest. “You think Chloe is ok?”

Lex looked down at Jessica and then panicked. Looking around the shelter, he didn’t see any of the fourth grade class in the bunker. “I’m sure they are somewhere else in the basement. Maybe the building has its own.” Lex pulled her closer to him but couldn’t get his mind off the blond little girl.

*********

“CHLOE!” Lex and Jessica both hollered as students started piling out of the two different underground shelters. He watched as the fourth grade teacher emerged from the other location with her class and scanned the heads for the blond curls. “She’s not there.”

“Lex don’t panic. She’ll turn up.” Jessica tried to calm him before she continued calling her name.

“Mrs. Creighton, have you seen Chloe?” Lex asked as the fourth grade teacher as she tried to keep twenty eight year olds calm.

The woman looked around and then at her list. “She had gone to the bathroom right before the announcement and we didn’t have time to wait on her. We are starting our search.” Lex’s color in his face disappeared as the woman continued to speak about Chloe.

He looked over at the remains of the Intermediate School. The campus as a whole was a direct hit. No building was left standing. Eyeing what were now a row of toilets with no stalls, he saw no one, just shambles. Jessica squeezed his hand harder as she continued to call for her.


TBC

[lexie]

I feel for poor Chloe and the sensation she´s being left behind by the men in her life. I find it endearing that Lex cares for her so much despite the eight years that separate them. I hope everything´s well with Chloe!

[hfce]

I feel so bad for Chloe. She feels alone but I am glad Gab and Lex are making her feel better. But I am so scared for Chloe. Please say she was smart and took cover safely. :eek:

[GroundedSouls]

Grrr you had to leave it there. Poor Chloe feeling like all her guys are leaving her for other women. I hope she is okay and not seriously injured. I'm glad she's finally getting along with Angela although I liked her plan of Gabe and Lillian marrying that was cute. I agree Chloe's teen years should be fun. I can't wait to read more.

[tatie87]

Ok I want to kill Chloe's teacher for not waiting for her or having someone go get her. It's a freaking tornado. I can't wait for the next chapter.

[purplemoon123]

My poor Chloe still suffering from the guys in her life having other's.

That cliffhanger is just so mean!!! For the next update is it going to immediately follow this or is it going to jump????

[Gaia]

Ok I want to kill Chloe's teacher for not waiting for her or having someone go get her. It's a freaking tornado. I can't wait for the next chapter.

yeah exactly. It is her responsibility to take care of the children. I hope Chloe is OK, I mean she is smart she must have thought of something to protect herself from the tornado.

and I can't wait for Lex to start college and for Chloe to be in her teens!!!

[hiddenangel]

Aww...I feel for Chloe, I can't wait until they all grow up. Great chapter, can't wait to read more!

[Impress]

good update. more soon.

[dagney]

Your killing me here, this was such an emotional chapter, the scene with Chloe and her Dad and girlfriend made me laugh and cry at the same time. I 'm frightened for Chloe, give us the next part soon. Sherry

[Kit Merlot]

This was a wonderful update!

Poor Chloe feels like she's being left behind by Lex and Gabe, but they at last have the good sense to keep reassuring her that they will always be there for her.

And Jessica and Angela both seem nice--I was prepared to hate them, but they both seem to genuinely care for Lex and Gabe, and they are both rather sweet to Chloe:D

I just hope that Chloe's okay--her teacher should be fired for leaving her behind in the bathroom like that.

[SVfan1286]

Horrible cliffhanger... You are an evil woman. Lol I hope Chloe's okay. The poor thing went through alot in this chapter. I feel so sad for her about her feeling of being left behind by Gabe and Lex. More so Gabe, because he's her father, her only family and Lex is only a friend, a crush. At least Angela seems like a good woman, and hopefully she will treat Chloe well.

As for Jessica, she seems nice enough, but I hate seeing anyone with Lex that isn't Chloe. *grins* But I think I live through it. Lol

Emotional chapter... I look forward to reading more!!

[karila]

It was a great chapter.
I hope to read more soon. I really want to know if Chloe is ok.

[michelle_19781997]

Poor Chloe. I hope she's okay.

[itsjustXchar]

Oh no! Please hurry and find Chloe! Chloe needs to hurry up and get older, so that she can have her chance with Lex. Speaking of which, I'll be the first to call Lex a moron! He should know that he's gonna break little Chloe's heart, even though she is what, nine? Anyways, please pick up the pieces..=D

[superag]

A/N - Well, here's the aftermath. Sorry about being out sooo long. Football wkds don't allow for writing. This is a mini chapter. Thanks for ALL the reviews!!!



Separation Anxiety – Chapter 5


Lex let his hand slip from Jessica’s and continued calling Chloe’s name as the rest of the classes of the private school continued to count heads and start signing out students to parents that had shown up.

Jessica stood in the middle of what used to be the gymnasium and scanned the entire campus, not seeing anyone that remotely looked like Chloe. She watched Lex as his quick saunter turned more into a run from building to building. He was more nervous than she had ever seen him.

“Jessica, where’s Lex?” Jessica nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden tap on the shoulder and voice behind her. Lillian stood next to Gabe as they watched Lex come out of the ruins of one of the high school wings.

“He’s looking for,” she paused staring at Gabe, “Chloe.” She covered her mouth and started nervously shaking her hands in the air. “I’m sorry sir. He really wanted to go look for her as we went into the shelter and I said she would be fine. God, I feel like this is all my fault. She could be with us if I let him find her before.”

Gabe stood stock still and tried to calm his pounding in his chest at every word the young teenager was saying. She was not at fault for not finding Chloe; it wasn’t Lex’s job to take care of her. Silently leaving Jessica and Lillian to continue searching the grounds, he found Mrs. Creighton.

“Where’s my daughter?”

“Mr. Sullivan, we have people looking for her. I’m sure…”

“You’re not sure. She’s not in your group, her name is not marked off and the only people I see looking are the ones that actually care for her.”

“Mr. Sullivan, the policy is in place that we record the ones missing and take care of the others.”

Lillian walked up behind Gabe and heard the supposed policy. Looking around Gabe’s shoulder at the woman, she directed her comments to the other woman that had just walked up. “If she is not found, your school is going to be legally responsible and will change that policy.”

The headmaster was about to speak when the sirens begin blaring again. Teachers and students began to filter into the shelters once more understanding that the Midwest and afternoon tornadoes were a normal occurrence. “We have to get to a shelter,” the headmaster called through the newly whipped up wind.

“My son is now out there!” Lillian yelled as Gabe started to drag her and Jessica into the shelter. He could feel the strength and adrenaline that was giving Lillian her fight. Two other high school boys held her from the door. “Let me go. Gabe your daughter.”

“I know,” he held Lillian to him as the boys let go. “Lex is smart and it’s just a warning. There’s no indication that the path would be anywhere near the same.”

“Your optimism is really not comforting right now Gabe.” Lillian shook his hands off and leaned against the dirt wall, looking at all the other parents and children huddled now tighter together as the wind whipped up outside more.

Outside, Lex struggled against the dirt being thrown up in his eyes as the wind picked up again. There was no way that lightning could strike twice he thought. He continued searching the grounds for Chloe, carefully turning over scraps of the roof and walls, making sure they would blow away from him.

The wind started to howl louder than he thought it had the first time and looked around as the hail started. Eyeing a small ditch behind the track, he thought twice about waiting it out but finally decided dirty was better than dead. Crawling into the ditch, he tried to shield his head from the hail that beat down on his back painfully.

He didn’t know how long he had laid face first in the culvert but could feel the hail give way to drenching rain and looked up. The shelter doors were still closed, the sirens still blared, but he wiped the mud from his face and continued on.

“Chloe!” he continued to scream as he walked the edge of the property. Hearing something faint in the storm, he walked the culvert and stopped at a drainage pipe where the water was now starting to run swifter. “Chloe!”

A whimper. Lex stopped and listened as the sound of the water in the concrete culvert under the road became louder. Jumping down into the now several inches deep current, he peered into the darkness and saw an arm jut out in his direction. Grabbing the hand, he saw dirty, wet blonde hair appear with dirt on her face.

“Lex!” the small body grabbed him around the legs and squeezed. She wasn’t even recognizable she was so dirty. Lex fell to the ground and rubbed the mud off her face to see her green eyes. Soaked, Chloe let go of his legs and fell into his body. “Don’t ever leave me.”

Lex wrapped his arms around her and felt her small fingers dig into his back before grabbing wads of his shirt. Kissing the top of her wet head, he felt himself tear up before his mouth quivered. “Never, I’ll never leave you Chloe.”

The two eyed each other before the little girl put her head down into his chest, exhausted. “Chloe, we have to move out of this. The water is picking up speed. I don’t want us to get washed into the drain. You’re going to have to walk.”

He helped her out of the culvert and eyed the ditch he had been in before. The rain had continued as the winds picked up again. “You think they’ll let us back in the shelter.”

“They’re locked. I found somewhere we can lay down until this warning passes.” Lex pulled her down into the other ditch with him and felt her cling to his side as they faced the ground as much as possible. “It’s going to be ok. Your dad is here.”

“Good. Jessica?”

“She’s in the shelter I would guess.”

Chloe laid and looked at Lex while his eyes seem to jump from place to place nervously waiting for the siren to stop. “Thank you. I didn’t think anyone would come after me.”

The sirens broke and Lex pulled Chloe up beside him. Sitting in what now was a swamp of mud and grass, he put his dirty arm around the girl. “Chloe, I told you that you were my girl. You’ll always be my girl. There would have been no way I would have left before finding you.”

He watched Chloe as tears escaped her eyes. She wrapped her hands around his waist and hugged him before hearing her name from her father’s boisterous lungs. “That’s dad.” She poked her head up from the culvert and started up the muddy slope. “Come on.”

****************

Lex and Lillian sat across the small dining room table from each other and stared at the letters that riddled the table. He had to accept one of them by the end of the week in order to keep his plans of graduating on time on track. He looked at the names of the schools but concentrated on the locations. None were near Metropolis.

The conversation with the headmaster about the school was not one any of the parents wanted to hear about. Other schools had been gracious to step in and try to transition most of the students as well as possible. Lillian had other thoughts. She had no desire for Lex to go to any school just for the sake of finishing. The letter with the Excelsior letterhead made him cringe.

“I won’t go back there.” He sternly stated and picked up the letter.

“Then put it in the pile.” Lillian watched as the letter from his old boarding school went in the rejected pile as the number dwindled to three.

Lex eyed the names of the other schools that were left and thought about the distance from his mother, from Jessica, and from Chloe. Even with him driving, five hours one way, the closest one, was still tough to navigate on a weekend. “I don’t like McCathern Academy. They didn’t offer a baseball program.” He removed one more letter and placed it with the others.

“I liked St. Thomas Prep. You said you liked their athletic dorm.”

“They said I wouldn’t be able to play until next year.”

“Lex, I think under the circumstances, you should concentrate on studies the remainder of the year as it is.” Lillian stared at her son as he tapped his fingers on the paper before nodding.

“It’s a ten hour drive one way. I won’t be able to see Jessica.”

“That shouldn’t be your first priority.” Lillian knew the closeness that Jessica and Lex had for each other. She was pretty sure that her son was now sexually active and his feelings were surrounded by the thoughts of what if. She had been that girl at one time too. But Lex needed to be led in a direction that would secure his success when the company became his.

After a heavy sigh, Lex picked up the letter from the prep school in Dallas and pushed it toward his mother. “I pick this one. I can play on the intramurals until next year and that will still give the scouts two years to look at me.”

“Fine, I will call them tomorrow and arrange the flight down there for the weekend.” Lillian picked up the letter and started toward the door. “You might want to talk to Jessica this weekend and explain things. And Chloe.”

His mother left him to sit at the table alone and stare at all the choices that he had passed on. He knew his future wasn’t in the Midwest city following his mother around the office. He had bigger plans. The rub was leaving his friends behind, leaving Jessica behind. He sunk down further in the chair when his words to Chloe came back to haunt him. He was leaving.

On the other side of town, Chloe sat with her father and Angela at the dinner table and discussed her outfit for her first day at her new school. She had written a small essay on her experience in the tornado and had been invited to a gifted campus that would develop her love for writing even at her young age.

She was happy to stay in town because all her friends had found school that were also in town, including Jessica. She had heard that even Lex was talking his mother into staying at the public school since they had a place for him on the team.

“Hey, can I go call Lex?”

Gabe looked at Angela and sighed. She still was in love with the man. It was completely worthless trying to fight with her about it. “Fine, but don’t be a bother.”

Chloe disappeared down the hall and was on the way to the living room when the doorbell rang. Changing her direction, she opened the door to a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. “Don’t tell your dad.”

Chloe stared up at Lex and smiled before grabbing the pint and a spoon from his hand. “So, what’s the occasion? By the way, I was about to call you. I got into the gifted program for writing.”

“That’s cool,” Lex smiled and held his hand out to her as she jumped down the last stair going down from her front porch. “So, I wanted to come by and talk to you.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up unexpectedly and Lex took a deep breath. He was breaking the news to Chloe even before Jessica. It felt almost like he was breaking up with her. “About?” Chloe asked as she sat down on the park bench down the street from the house.

“I know I had told you that I was trying to get to go to a school here in town but it didn’t work out. I’m going to Texas for class. There’s a really good school that will let me finish out my eligibility there and hopefully get looked at for college.”

Chloe dropped her spoon into the half empty container and stared at Lex. “Your mom is actually letting you go to a school for sports? Since when did you care so much for sports? I thought you were going to school where you could take over the company someday. And all you care about is playing baseball or football or fencing or whatever.”

“Chloe, this is my ticket to a college.”

“Why do you need a ticket? You could go to any college you want with your last name or your money. You don’t need a sport’s scholarship and aren’t exactly setting up your life the way your mom wants it.”

“This is what I want Chloe. My mom is not exactly happy about the decision either, but I can start college classes at the same time while I’m there.” Chloe stared up at Lex as he seemed to plead with her not to be upset. She slid off the bench and started to her house without saying a word. “Chloe.”

“What? You’ve made your decision. You said you weren’t going to leave me and you are. How’s Jessica taking the news?” Chloe stopped and turned with her fists at her sides. Eyeing Lex’s reaction, her composure softened. “You told me first.” Her heart, even heavy, skipped a beat it seemed.

Lex looked at his hands and sighed, “I thought since you and I…”

Chloe ran back up to him and wrapped her arms around him. “You said you wouldn’t leave me though.”

“I know, but I promise I will write you all the time and call and have your dad send you for visits. Anyway, time will go by so fast you won’t believe it and then I’ll be back.” Lex held the small girl in his arms as he felt her grip tighten around his waist.

“Thank you for telling me first.” Chloe paused and choked on her sobs causing her to cough. Sinking further into him, she whispered, “I love you.”

Through the heaviness of the starched shirt, he could feel the small tears as they seem to scorch his chest. Through a muffled breath, he barely could hear her words. They seared his heart and made him wonder who exactly he would miss more. All the talks that his mother and Gabe had with him over the last several years rushed through his brain. He finally got it. Rubbing the top of her head, he suddenly felt more pain than he had felt in a long time and a confusing feeling in his gut. The words seemed to come automatically. “I love you too Chloe. It won’t be forever.”

TBC

[lexie]

Thanks for posting an update. This was a really sweet chapter. I like the fact that Lex isn´t so consumed by his relationship with Jessica as to neglect his friendship with Chloe, despite the years that separate them- which I know won´t be much of an issue once Chloe grows up.

I love that it was Chloe he told about first and that he considered the three women in his life before reaching a decision as to where he´d continue studying. It shows he´s more Lillian´s son than Lionel´s.

Chloe showed maturity when she accepted his decision, although I´m sure it was heart-breaking for both of them. Her love confession was really tender and his response was what I imagine she wanted to hear- he´s now realised how deep her crush goes and he´s confused. I hope he´ll keep his promise because if his studies and sport commitments keep him too busy and he fails Chloe, there´ll be lots of angst in store for little Chloe.

[hfce]

Oh my God that was so sweet and sad. I hate that he has to go away. :(

[purplemoon123]

So happy that Lex found Chloe and that she was okay.

So, Lex finally figured out that Chloe had a crush on him. The declarations were sweet.

How is Lex leaving going to change things????

[dagney]

How brave Lex was to keep looking for Chloe. I think him realising how he could have lost her/in addition to her unconditional devotion to him made him recognize how important she is to him and that he really cares for her too. I'm anxious to see what some time/distance and Chloe maturing alter this relationship. Nice as always Dagney

[Gaia]

And now Chloe will keep on hearing that Lex loves her too......this will get very interesting.

[hiddenangel]

Awww...that is so sad, though I can't wait for Chloe and Lex to grow and get things moving.

That was so great and so emotional, especially love the last part of the chapter!!

[Linda]

Wow, fantastic update, Thank you!

[SVfan1286]

Aw, such a sweet and sad update... Lovely chapter!

First of all, I glad that Chloe's okay, and I loved that Lex went off all by himself to look for and find her. Him saying he would never leave her was really bittersweet with what happened later on in the chapter.

While I'm sad that Lex is moving away, maybe it would be good for Chloe, that way she will have sometime to grow up without Lex. Because with Lex there I don't think Chloe could have ever moved on from her crush. But it's also sad because she will be so heartbroken with Lex gone for a while. *sniffle* I really can't wait to see what happens for the next couple years for Chloe with Lex gone.

I really liked that Lex finally realized Chloe's crush on him. And her 'I love you' and his 'I love you' back, was wonderfully sweet. Plus him telling her first instead of Jessica was just all kinds of awesome. *grins*

Great job... I look forward to reading more!!

[Kit Merlot]

A great update!

Good for Lex for not stopping until he found Chloe, and I liked Gabe and Lillian's threatening the teacher and headmaster was awesome.

This part:


Kissing the top of her wet head, he felt himself tear up before his mouth quivered. “Never, I’ll never leave you Chloe.”

damn well made me cry;) The Chlex love is there, even when they are this young.

Continued excellent work on this fic.

[superag]

A/N - Time will start moving forward a little faster now. Thanks for still reading.

Moving On – Chapter 6

Spring semester for the two students went on as planned. Chloe noticed the extra amount of time her father was preoccupied at Luthorcorp, knowing that Lillian was out of town at another one of Lex’s baseball games.

Although Chloe missed him, she was proud of him. If he stayed on the same course, he would easily walk into any major academic college desperate for a good shortstop. She followed his progress on the website link that Lex had sent her in one of his emails.

As promised, he wrote her every other day, at least to keep in touch. She smiled everytime she saw the little ‘you’ve got mail’ smiley face show up. She knew exactly who it was.

Personally, her life picked up the following Spring as well. She sent Lex copies of pieces she was now writing for her enrichment part of her new gifted program and would wait patiently as they came back a couple days later completely rewritten. Smiling, most of the time Chloe nodded her head and whispered to herself that Lex should stick to sports or numbers seeing the amount of things he unnecessarily changed.

Summer flew by as well for the spry 11 year old. She insisted that she get to play too. Taking a cue from her best friend, she joined a grade school league and hoped that Lex might get to see one game. The one he saw was via videotape.

Lex had other plans during the summer. Staying in the South, he attended several clinics and attended extra classes that would let him graduate a little earlier from high school. Not exactly what he wanted to do, but Lillian finally played her card against his interest in sports. He would finish school a year early and move on to college. The discussion as to why she was pushing him through was something that hadn’t occurred yet, but would. The move was too much of his father to not have another reason.

Chloe understood after several long discussions with both Gabe and Lillian the reason behind Lex’s working so hard. She had secretly told Gabe that Lex would hopefully come back to see her eventually. Gabe simply nodded and hugged his daughter.

“Lillian will be here soon. Why don’t you clean up for dinner?” Chloe slid off the couch and disappeared down the hall before asking why Lillian was coming over instead of Angela.

Angela had been a fixture in the house almost every night since she and her father had decided to take the relationship to the next level. Chloe noticed none of it except the woman was around all the time. She didn’t seem to mind though; Angela always brought gifts for Chloe.

Returning back into the kitchen to gather up the utensils, she shut the drawer with her elbow and looked at her dad standing over the stove. “So, where’s Angela tonight and why is Ms. Luthor coming over? Did you dump Angela for her?”

Gabe chuckled and licked the spoon of the homemade pasta sauce before clicking off the stove. “No honey. Angela had a business meeting out of town this week and Lillian is having a little homesickness for Lex.”

Chloe got strangely silent at the mention of Lex’s name before pursing her lips together and disappearing into the dining room. Arranging the table carefully as to impress the most important woman she knew, she eyed the straightness of the table before hearing the doorbell ring.

“Good evening Ms. Luthor.” Chloe pulled the door open and smiled before checking over her own clothes, noticing the simple gray business skirt suit that Lillian wore. “My dad is finishing up on dinner but I can show you to the dining room.”

Lillian cocked her head to one side and smiled at the girl who seemed to magically age over the last few months. “That would be very nice Chloe. How have you been this summer?”

“Good. You probably heard that dad finally let me begin playing on the soccer team down at the youth center. I have to say though, I am not as inclined as Lex.”

Lillian sat across from Chloe at the table and smiled. “Lex was gifted in the sports arena. One of the few perks he gained from his father. I certainly had nothing to do with his prowess. So, I hear you also decided to take a class over the summer?”

“Yeah, the school is one of the those self paced programs and I’m trying to get my math and science out of the way where I can concentrate on other things.”

“You can’t ignore math and science Chloe. It makes a difference to be well rounded.”

Chloe sighed and put her head in her palm, leaning against the table with her elbow. “I know, dad says the same thing. It’s just I don’t see why I should care if I’m going to write.”

“Because you’re young and you could very well find that you are channeling yourself into a place that you can’t explore other options later.” Lillian folded her hands together and seemed to ‘show’ the proper sitting technique to Chloe. Chloe took her hands down off the table slowly and placed them in her lap, following Lillian’s not so forced guidance. Gabe pushed the door from the kitchen open slightly and caught the end of the exchange with a smile on his face.

“I see that Chloe has already talked your ear off,” Gabe commented as he brought the main courses out and laid them on the table.

“We were just having a discussion about Chloe’s need to expand her horizons.”

“Good luck with that one Lillian. She is set in her ways.” Lillian glanced over at Gabe as the three began passing dinner around the table and silently ate.

After dinner, Lillian sat down next to Chloe in the living room and put her arm around her. Chloe glanced up at Lillian and then at her father in his easy chair. Eyeing her father, she somehow understood the need for Lillian to hold onto the small girl. Sinking further into her, Chloe watched the movie that was boasted as a thriller and she didn’t quite get why.

“Chloe, I have an idea.” Chloe looked up at Lillian and then moved when Lillian turn to her. “I want you to come to work with your dad this weekend.”

“Why?”

“Because I think you need to see another side of the coin. Expand your horizons. Gabe, can you bring her into my office on Saturday?”

Gabe eyed Lillian with some curiosity. She was just an eleven year old. Gabe wondered what Lillian had up her sleeve. “I suppose.”

“Good, then it’s settled. I’m sorry but I have to take a raincheck on the rest of the movie. Lex is supposed to be getting out of his late class and will be calling soon.” Chloe broke a half hearted smile wondering if she should check her email tonight or wait until later in the week. She was curious about going to Luthorcorp too. Watching her father walk her to the door, she wondered why Lex was only mentioned twice in the whole evening, as if he didn’t exist anymore.

**************

“Good morning Chloe,” Lillian smiled as she came around the edge of the desk overlooking the now park right below her office. She had commented how much she liked seeing employees enjoying the few months of nice weather with their lunch. Things were definitely not as stale and cold in the office as it was the first time her dad brought her in.

Lillian had changed the office inside as well. Colors were now warm beiges, muted brown, and jewel tones. Chairs no longer had any chrome trim, but simple leather. The place looked almost inviting as she welcomed new employees and associates.

Gabe had left Chloe at Lillian’s office without a word at Lillian’s request. Chloe sat silently on the couch as Lillian went over a few details of her Saturday with the secretary. Coming back into the room, she eyed Chloe and sat next to her.

“You look very professionally dressed.”

“Thank you. I thought I would fit in better.” Chloe smoothed her hands over a crease in her black skirt and smiled back up to the CEO.

“Good. Now, I didn’t have your father bring you for any reason. Please come with me.” Lillian had Chloe follow her down the small hallway to a conference room and a closed workroom down the hall from her office. Pulling the chair out away from the table, she motioned for Chloe to sit. Chloe picked up the piece of paper in front of her and read it before shooting another look up to Lillian.

“As you can read, the job today pays $10 an hour, with a bonus at the end of the day if it is done. We are having a firm come in this coming week that we are presenting a major project to and need exactly 20 binders done exactly to the letter as this one.” Lillian slid the binder over to Chloe as she flipped through the different pages. “The supplies are in the workroom across the hall and the copies for the first five are laid out on a table in the workroom. Jennifer is in process of running the rest and will show you where the paper reams go in the copier when it runs out. If it jams, call 1119.”

Chloe listened intently to the entire conversation while mentally calculating the amount of money that she would be leaving the day with. Precision would get her nearly $200 for eight hours of work. She thought Lillian must be losing her mind by not just hiring a temp for work that mundane. This was an object lesson and would have a talk with her father on the way home.

“Yes ma’am,” Chloe smiled as she carefully signed her name to what she wondered was actually a legally binding contract. “I should get busy then.”

Her dad appeared several hours later and looked at the progress of the binders. “Looks like you are going to get it all done.”

“Maybe. Why am I here?”

“Lillian thought it would be nice to let you earn some money. For that computer of your own that I told you I wouldn’t buy you.” Gabe smiled and Chloe’s eyes grew wider.

“But even if I get the bonus, there’s no way one day…”

“Honey, you skimmed the contract, didn’t you?” Chloe nodded her head and Gabe laughed. “Either that or the word retainer is not part of the fifth grade vocabulary.”

Chloe put the pieces together herself and realized that she could work on the weekends for personal cash until she earned her own computer. “Cool.” Her dad was almost out the door when she grabbed him. “But I think she may want to redo the red section of the binder, pages 45-48.”

“Why?”

“The numbers are wrong. I added them up on the scratch paper and they are off unless there is a number missing.” Chloe handed a copy of the pages in question to her dad and her small fifth grade ramblings on the other paper. She watched his eyes flicker over the different pages and then silently disappear down the hall.

A few minutes later Chloe was pulling a jammed piece of paper out of the copier after watching the tech do it the first time and then shut the door. She heard Lillian and Gabe’s voice on the other side of the door. Pressing pause on the machine she silently stacked papers into another binder and tried to eavesdrop.

The door opened to a very flustered looking Ms. Luthor. “Chloe, did you pull these pages from the binders?”

“No ma’am. That is just from the one I put over there.” She pointed. “Why?”

“Do it. Run these three pages instead for all the binders and replace them. There was glitch in the formula and it was skipping a cell. Do you have a handle on things? I’ll have your dad come back and have lunch with you.”

“No, I’m good. Early dinner though. It’ll be done soon.” Lillian smiled at Chloe as Chloe shoved the three new pages into the copier and started them before wiping up the remainder of the toner that the tech replaced. Gabe and Lillian slipped out of the workroom and smiled at each other.

“Gabe, she’s going to be fine.”

“I know, but they grow up fast starting right about now.”

“Don’t I know.” The two smiled and disappeared in the respective directions.

Several hours later, Lillian walked down the hall and eyed Chloe up in one of the chairs in the conference room and silently watched. Chloe arranged the binders perfectly to one side where one flap would not take up space in someone’s else area. Above each binder she had placed the cork coasters and a glass upside down. She also had found the snacks in the workroom and refilled the glass bowls in the middle of the table, moving the flowers over to a side table by the door. Chloe was 11.

“I believe there is a payment involved.” Lillian spoke softly and signaled for Chloe to follow her back to her office. Pulling out the small drawer on the desk, she carefully scripted the child’s name and signed it. “If I remember the contract was for $200 upon completion of the job. I will give you the $80 for today and upon complete inspection on Monday morning, I will have the rest mailed to you.”

Chloe took the check with the Luthorcorp logo on it and fanned it in front of herself proudly. Her first job.

That night, Chloe carefully filed her check into her drawer and knew Monday after school her father was taking her to the bank to open up her own account. It was strange; she felt powerful with the check in her hand, as if she had some control over her next move. Smiling, she went into her father’s office and logged into her email.

To: Little_MsSumthin@aol.com
From: AlexanderL@BBA.edu
Subject: Don’t Tell Mom

Hey. I had to tell someone, but DO NOT TELL MOM. I had a scout from one of the pro teams come and look at me yesterday. They called me back today and offered me a minor league team with a move up when I hit 18. So? What do you think I should do?

L


Chloe stared at the print on the screen before running and quietly closing the door to the office. Her father reading over her shoulder would get to Lillian faster than her calling his mom herself. She contemplated the different things she could ask. He didn’t even say which team. If they sucked, it would be a waste. If they were good, he would still have to play in a crap league first.


To: AlexanderL@BBA.edu
From: Little_MsSumthin@aol.com
Subject: Are you ready?

I know this is what you want to do, but it’s the minors. Didn’t you tell me that they pay nothing and work twice as hard? You know your mom will KILL you. Don’t hate me, but don’t do it. Think about it.

C


Chloe closed the mail and then sighed. She probably shouldn’t tell him she was working for his mother. Crawling out of the seat, she watched the door open as her father entered the room. “Anything interesting with Lex?”

“Nah. Just school stuff,” she lied as she headed to bed.

***********

Another year flew by as Chloe continued working ahead in school and working on the weekend at Luthorcorp. She was partially fascinated by the number of staff that treated her as if she actually belonged there. Some weekends she went with Lillian without her father. It was actually fun she admitted to herself.

This coming weekend, though, was pretty much shut down except for essential personnel. Chloe looked at the dark green dress she had picked out for the occasion. Her father had tried to explain that it was warm in Texas and she would be uncomfortable. She didn’t listen. Lex had already said that green was pretty on her.

It was strange being in the car all together. Chloe sat in the back of the vehicle and listened to her CD player while Gabe and Lillian discussed business on the way to the airport. Almost two years ago, Lex had said that Chloe would come visit him. Her father had put a complete stop to that idea the first time Chloe asked. She was finally going to see him.

Several hours later, the three landed the Luthorcorp jet in Dallas and Chloe stared out the window at the small plane and looked seeing no one. “Where is he?”

“Honey, he can’t be on the tarmac.” Gabe rubbed Chloe’s back as they began to exit the plane. She had done so well and grown up since Lex had left. He hated to hear that whimpering sound return to her voice. He had hoped that the one weekend to see him wouldn’t have undone all her progress.

Chloe walked down the small staircase and pushed in front of Lillian and swiftly stepped into the small private airstrip hanger. “Looking for me?”

Chloe spun around and stared at the taller, and strangely different man than what she remembered. He moved toward her and she plastered a smile on her face uncomfortably. “Yeah, it’s been a long time. You look different.”

“Me? You’ve grown a foot I swear since I saw you last.” Lex leaned over and eyed her. “And you’re dressed very nicely.”

Chloe smiled and raised her head up. “My father said I’ll be uncomfortable in it. He said it would be overly hot down here.”

“Possibly.” He cut off the rest of his conversation and turned to his mom. “Hey, trip go ok?”

“Good.” Lillian hugged her son as if she didn’t want to let him go. “I’ve missed you too mom.” He answered to her almost strangle hold around his neck. She let go as Lex shook hands with Gabe.

Gabe eyed the now young man and glanced at Chloe. They were probably further apart in age now than ever. He wondered how controlled Chloe could be in Lex’s presence. He prayed the weekend would end without any strange or uncomfortable tears.

“I should show you to your hotel where I can get back and get ready.” Chloe never took her eyes off the man that used to be her best friend. Still was her best friend. He had grown up in all kinds of ways. Her friend at school, Leann, had a brother the same age as Lex and had developed. Chloe never pictured Lex doing the same. He had left a little lanky but cute. He was different person in the dress shirt that was just tight enough to see what Chloe could only think were now muscle development. He wasn't her Lex.

The three sat watching the sun fall over the side of one the buildings of the private school as Chloe eyed Lex sitting on the stage next to one of the instructors she could only guess. Lillian leaned over and smiled at Chloe. “Thank you. Lex told me you were the one that talked him into staying in school.”

Chloe smiled up in Lillian’s direction. Nothing had ever been spoken again about the topic after a series of emails between the two. She just knew he had made his decision when his graduation announcement came in the mail. Now, she watched as the man got up and addressed the crowd. He was valedictorian of the class one year ahead of his age.

After the graduation had ended, Chloe stood around with his mother and her father waiting for Lex to quit taking pictures. The party that the families all pitched in for would be in about an hour. Chloe wanted to talk to him more than the few words at the airport. She tried to find him in the crowd, but he could hide surprisingly well for his stature.

“Hey!” Lex walked up to the family with his arm around someone already. “I thought we would all go back to the dorm and I could get out of this get up before heading over to the dinner.” Chloe eyed the brunette in his arm with disgust. She had a enormous chest and heels that she kept balancing off of not to sink into the grass.

“Sounds good. How are you doing Caroline?”

“Good Ms. Luthor.” The four walked ahead of Chloe back to the dorm talking about Lex’s address and the momentary lapse in memory that the dean had for one of the student’s names. Chloe’s face wriggled up into a disgusting display as she playfully made faces after every face that Caroline made. Lex had now slipped his hand into hers and leaned over and kissed her on the neck. Chloe just shivered and stuck her tongue out at the woman behind her back.

Slowing up, Gabe walked beside Chloe the last few meters. Leaning over to her, he whispered, “You will cut that out now young lady.” Chloe’s eyes widened as she knew her father had been catching glances of her antics the whole walk.

Dinner was uneventful. Chloe sat silently stuffing food in her face while everyone else talked. And some giggled at the mere sound of Lex’s voice. She was the most disgusting of the women that Lex had attached himself to. Chloe tried to silently come up with a scheme to break them up to no avail.

“What’s up? He leaned over and finally acknowledged her.

“Nothing. Dinner’s good.”

Lex watched Chloe’s eyes politely look back down at her plate before breaking a small insincere smile and looking back in his direction. “Chloe.”

“Nothing. Dinner is good. I’m happy you graduated, but feel a little ignored.”

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t talked to mom and Gabe in a long time. You and I have talked every week, well not talked…”

“Strange that Caroline never came up.” Chloe’s hand flew up over her mouth but the words were already out there.

“That’s not fair Chloe. Caroline and I are the same age.” He glanced over and saw both adults were still involved in another conversation. “You can’t possibly think that Caroline and I have the same thing you and I have. I love you.”

“Yeah, like a sister. I get it now. Have fun in college. Tell my dad I went to the restroom.” Chloe pushed her chair back and headed into the small ladies room off the side of the chow hall. “Excuse me.” Lex watched her walk away as Gabe tapped him on the shoulder. Lex knew to drop it as he had been told.

“Chloe,” Caroline stammered as she held the girl in her arms. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

“Apparently. That seems to be happening a lot this weekend.” Caroline’s strange, almost dumb look annoyed Chloe. “By the way, where are you going to college?”

“South Carolina.” Chloe took a deep breath. “Why?”

“Just curious.” Chloe closed the door to a stall and listened as they went through the names of the class and where each student was going.

Through a muffled voice, Chloe could hear the names. “Alexander Luthor. Academic and Baseball scholarship to South Carolina for International Business Studies.” Chloe huffed and waited. “Caroline Maxwell. Cheerleading Scholarship to University of South Carolina for Mass Communications.”

Chloe heard the words and knew what mass communications were. Stupid Luthor she thought to herself. His girlfriend’s going to make him the story. He had told Chloe his plan. South Carolina was one of the best in the country for his sport and his major. He was there for at least five years. He was a different person than she remembered anyway. Now he was with her. Let her break his heart. Chloe was done with him. She was ready to move on.

Exiting the bathroom, Gabe met his daughter and gripped her shoulder. “Want to talk about it?” Chloe looked around seeing it was just her father. Looking past him, Lex had his arm around Caroline again and they were laughing at the baseball caps that they both had on now.

“No, I’m fine now dad. Just ready to go home. I have things to do.”

TBC

[Gaia]

Will Chloe talk to Lex in the next five years or not? It would be interesting to see Lex's reaction if she didn't.
More soon please

[Kit Merlot]

This was just awesome!

I loved that Lillian's helping Chloe to earn her own way in the world, and become a powerful woman in her own right. And good for Chloe for catching that mistake on the printouts.

I liked that Chloe helped Lex to stay in school and not make a mistake in joining the minors, and I also liked Chloe's reaction to Lex's maturity--very believable.

But I have to ask: does Chloe think that Caroline is just using Lex for a story? That's pretty damn coldhearted if it's true.

I hope the Chlex remain friends through his going to collge in South Carolina. If his girlfriend is up to no good, he's going to need the support of his loved ones.

ETA: I just realized that Chloe is 11 and 12 years old in this fic. In a few years time, she will be 14 which is exactly how old Chloe is in S1 of Smallville (14/15 yrs.old) and I remember Lex's admiring gaze on the pretty blonde reporter. And of course the famous Verbal Judo line from Kinetic:D

I think the Chlex dynamic will change when he finally notices her becoming a young woman.

Continued excellent work on this fic:D

[hfce]

I loved it. This quote had me cracking up:

Slowing up, Gabe walked beside Chloe the last few meters. Leaning over to her, he whispered, “You will cut that out now young lady.” Chloe’s eyes widened as she knew her father had been catching glances of her antics the whole walk. :rofl:

I am sad she will move on. But this is good. Now Lex can brood over not talking to her. :D

[dagney]

I loved how you had Chloe/Lillian together. Its nice, and Chloe needs that influence and mesage that she can be a woman and powerful. I love that she caught the mistake. I like that Chloe is maturing, and thinking about herself-her life besides her hero worship of Lex. That lex actually kept in contact with her regularly speaks so highly of his character and the love and affection eh has for Chloe, I can't wait till the romantic-shoe is on the other foot so to speak when Chloe has guys buzzing round and Lex begins to see her as a young woman. I really adore this story, thanks so much for your hard work. dagney

[basmas84]

i've just finnished reading through the story... and omg, what took me so long to read this through, is all i have to say...
great story, great characters... i like the fact that lillian is in there, adn that lex is always making chloe jelious with other girls...
but if you ask me, next should be chloe having her first boy friend and lex being possessive of 'his girl'

in short: love it, waiting for more!!! :drool2:

[lexie]

I love the new posting. Hard as it is for Chloe to see Lex with girls of his age, she´s starting to outgrow her crush in a way- not that she´ll stop loving him but, at least, she´s trying to accept he doesn´t see her as a woman yet (it´s natural she´s too young).

I´m glad Lex kept his promise; that shows he really cares about her. And the fact he asked for her advice reveals how much he respects her opinion.

I´ve got the hunch he´ll be the jealous one next time they meet; that is if superag chooses to jump a few years.

Very good work. Keep it up!

[purplemoon123]

It's good to see Chloe outgrowing her crush. But how is she going to change towards Lex???

[hiddenangel]

That was amazing!! I loved it, it's great that Chloe is so intelligient that she's earning her way from such a young age. Poor Chloe, but I'm glad she's not pining over him though, Can't wait to read more soon!

[Ultra]

Oh my God, superag, I cannot tell you how much I love this story and I really cannot wait for the next part! :)

I have been feeling kind of crappy the last couple of days, just wanted to curl up with some good fic, but instead I got excellent fic when I started reading this one ;)

Love the concept and the idea of Lex and Chloe growing up so close. Of course now they're growing apart a little with him being so much older, but I'm sure it'll all work out in the end :) Hope you get a chance to write some more very soon!

[SVfan1286]

Another amazing chapter. With every update I fall more in love with this story... Wonderful job!

The relationship between Lillian and Chloe is wonderful. I love how with Lillian's guidance Chloe's becoming a strong independent woman.. at the age of 11. Wow.

I really liked that Lex kept in contact with Chloe through emails, it was really sweet that he kept his promise. And I love that Chloe's finally letting go of her crush/worship of Lex. Her thoughts on Caroline were hilarious, especially because Chloe only 11. I wonder if she was right about Caroline's plans for Lex? I also wonder if Chloe sticks to her plan of not talking to Lex anymore. It should be an interesting couple of years ahead, for the both of them.

I can't wait to read more!!

[superag]

A/N - Next part. Not much Chlex but Chloe's growing up.

"Through the darkness
I can see your light
And you will always shine."
You're Still You
Ennio Morocone and Linda Thompson


Forced to Grow Up – Chapter 7

Three years passed quickly for Chloe. Taking a page out of her former friend’s book, Chloe had decided that staying busy was the way to go to get her out of high school and into college quicker. Every school year had been filled with endless amounts of studying sprinkled with journalism and work while the summer looked very much the same.

But she was incredibly happy. Gabe didn’t know what exactly to attest it too, not that he cared. He was happy to see the smile that he had missed on her face the entire summer after they returned from Lex’s graduation. That was the last time she had mentioned him.

Now, three years later, she was the associate editor for the private school newspaper. A job not normally given to ne under the age of 16, but the editor had been fascinated by Chloe’s need to investigate and her perfectionist attitude.

Even with all the attention in the school newspaper, her heart wasn’t completely in it. She loved her job, and the car that the money bought for her. She had been a little surprised at the offer to move into the copywriter division in Luthorcorp, but Lillian had assured her in front of the entire copywrighting team that she would an asset to them. After some grumbles, she actually was accepted as part of the team.

**********

“Come in,” Lillian stated as she sat mulling over recent developments in the foreign markets. She hated working on the weekends but the house was quiet and empty, and she hated being there.

“Hey, am I bothering you?” Chloe peeked her head around the door and looked as Lillian looked quietly frazzled.

Lillian closed the folder she was staring blankly at and motioned for Chloe to enter the room. “Honey, you are saving me. Come sit down.” Lillian came around the corner and poured both of them water. Sitting down next to Chloe on the couch, she smiled as the young woman looked nervous. “What do I owe this wonderful interruption?”

Chloe loved the way that Lillian always made her feel comfortable. Her mere presence took strain off. She wondered if that was why even with not making the money that Luthorcorp used to make, people were flocking to work there.

“I’m having a bit of an issue that I thought maybe you could help me with.” Lillian sat quietly and listened as Chloe sighed and started. “The editor of the school newspaper and I have been dating I guess you could say for about a month now. Trevor is really cute and a junior and well, he asked me to the junior prom. Not that that’s a bad thing, but dad isn’t exactly the kind to understand the girl's need in that department. And Angela’s great but she’s not exactly the best person either.”

“Are we talking about the sex talk because I think you and I covered that about two years ago.” Lillian looked confused.

Chloe’s eyes widened at the prospect of Lillian picturing her and Trevor having sex in the back of an old car somewhere. “God no! No, I need help with prom. You know dresses and makeup and stuff. Dad thinks I’m too young to even go, but is giving in since it’s a school function. And Angela convinced him it’s a right of passage.”

Lillian laughed at the way Chloe put it. Angela had been something special to Gabe and Chloe had finally gotten used to the woman being around the house. She had to; her dad was in love with his wife. But mother material she was not, and she admitted it.

“Ahhh, I think I can help you out with it. When is this blessed occasion?” Lillian walked back over to her desk and picked up her calendar.

“In three weeks.” Lillian shot a look of shock back at Chloe and wrote in the date the young woman gave her.

“My, does Trevor know he’s not giving much notice to get anything together? Who is Trevor anyway? Tell me about him and then maybe we can get something together.”

“He’s a junior obviously. He’s at the school on scholarship because his parents both work at the factory on the south side. He’s working on getting a college scholarship based on his merits at the newspaper. He’s the editor of the paper. He’s a nice guy.”

Lillian just nodded her head but could see a hint of something behind Chloe’s expression that told her something wasn’t quite right. “How’s your father with this? I mean I understand that you are taking sophomore levels classes but you are still the age of a ninth grader.”

Chloe rolled her eyes and waited for the inquisition like the one she received when she told Gabe about her prom date. She wanted to go. Freshmen didn’t get asked to prom for nothing. Trevor was something special and someone who made her feel special without doing anything like someone else did a long time ago.

Lillian watched Chloe’s face slip from excitement to a quick depression. “Honey, that’s not what I meant or maybe it was. I simply am just questioning how your father was about it. I know about the whole girl’s right of passage etcetera.”

“Dad thinks I’m too young and basically said no way in hell when I asked about staying with the big group in the hotel room for the night. So, the only junior at the prom is going to be bringing his date home at 11 and then probably going back to hang out with his friends after getting rid of me.”

Lillian rubbed Chloe’s back and could see the disappointment in her eyes. “We’ll work on that detail later, but for now…we have some shopping to do.” Lillian picked up her calendar and without saying anything to Chloe dialed up a number. “Yes, that invitation that I received for this weekend. Call them back and ask for three seats.”

Chloe sat and listened to the conversations that Lillian had with three different people before returning to her. “What was all that about?”

“You’ll find out. Just be ready around 4 o’clock on Friday afternoon. I’ll have the car come get you and meet you and Angela at the airstrip.” Chloe’s eyes widened at the mention that Lillian even included Angela. They were acquaintances but never had become close. “It’ll be a girl’s weekend. Oh, and make sure you bring your boardroom suit for Saturday. The same for Angela.” Now Chloe was really confused.

**************

Chloe walked through the doors of the otherwise unmarked building. She was already gawking fantastically at the architecture and could barely close her mouth when the Luthorcorp jet wheeled by the Charles De Gaulle airport sign. She was in Paris for the weekend. Now, she entered the hall with the loud, obnoxious music and ferocious lights.

“Madam Luthor, your seats are this way.” The man that had to be obscenely gay showed them three seats in front of a runway.

“You brought me to a Paris fashion show?!” Chloe could barely contain herself. She was thinking more like Saks off the rack and a little hairdresser help.

Lillian leaned over with a smile on her face as Angela just gaped at all the sights. “You wanted something special. I got an invitation that I wasn’t going to use until you asked for help, and we’re all going to have a fabulous time. Now, this is the Winter show, but you will be able to see which designer has what you are looking for in color and texture. So take some notes for you and your newspaper article.”

Lillian leaned back over just as the music started. Chloe dug to the bottom of her bag for her notepad she never intended on using this weekend. But this was Paris.

During the show Chloe turned and looked up at Angela. They had become closer since her father told her that he and Angela were engaged. Now, it almost seemed as the woman had been there all along. Still, there was a weird tension between the two of them, mainly both knew that Chloe saw Lillian as the mother figure. Angela took it in stride, understanding that she got there after Lillian.

“What do you think?” Chloe leaned over and looked at the notes that Angela had made.

“I liked Dior, but that’s a given. I have feeling you are going for something more out there.” Angela smiled and patted Chloe on the back.

“Not really. This is prom. It’s supposed to be classic and timeless. I have some ideas.” Chloe sat back in her chair and looked over the rest of the last few models that came across the catwalk, all wonderfully frail in size and bleached white. They really needed some color.

After the show, Lillian stood up and looked at Chloe. “Well, shall we got meet with a designer?”

Chloe’s mouth dropped as Angela nearly dumped the contents of her purse on the floor in front of her. The fashion show was something of dreams and a perfect article for the lifestyle section of their little school newspaper. Chloe had pictured getting ideas and store shopping. The word designer was never in her thoughts.

“Come now. You had to pick out something that will work for you.” Lillian repeated her gesture for the other two women to follow her behind the white curtains and into the throngs of models and random languages. Chloe tapped Lillian on the shoulder and handed her the names of the designers that she thought could find something for her.

Lillian guided them over to one designer that Chloe named, knowing the job could be easily done in time. “Dominic.”

The wiry little man turned around and hugged Lillian without question. “Lillian Luthor. At last you grace our shores with your presence again. I haven’t heard form you in ages.” The man looked in Chloe and Angela’s direction. “I see you brought me some guests.”

“Dominic, I need a favor dearheart. This is Chloe Sullivan. She is a junior copywrighter at Luthorcorp and I need to have a formal made for an occasion in three weeks.” Dominic took Chloe’s hand and spun her around once, sizing her up.

“What are the specifications?” Dominic pulled a small pad and pen out of his back pocket and looked into Chloe’s eyes. “I would definitely go emerald. And silver with a touch of sparkle.”

Lillian nodded in Chloe’s direction seeing that Chloe completely agreed with the designers ideas from just looking her once over. “Floor length but no poofs. Toght bodice, possibly strapless, but with a wrap of somesort.”

Angela leaned over and saw the amount of detail in the little sketch that the man drew with a whisp of his fingers. “My goodness, he’s good.”

Chloe looked up at Angela and shook her head. Lillian looked over Dominic’s hands and noticed the bow in the front. “No, take that out.” His pen quickly drew a precise X over something that Chloe couldn’t even see.

“This can be in no time. Light satin with the lamae. It will be done simply in a week and sent to your home my dear. Anything else?”

Lillian amost clapped in the sheer joy of getting the dress soon enough to decide on Chloe’s hair before the night of. She laughed to herself knowing it would be the closest thing she got to planning a daughter’s wedding. The son’s side is never as fun. “I want another one of the lined 500 point cotton suits that you made me last Spring. I will get with your accounting department and work out the details.” She hugged Dominic and turned to Angela.

“So, what are we having for dinner? I famished.” Angela just giggled and hugged Chloe.

“When in Paris,” she commented as the three women exited the building the headed off in the car to dinner and what Chloe could only imagine as a stellar suite of a hotel room. Thinking to herself, she smiled; powerful women occasionally get to play some too.

************

Chloe ran through the door of her house and stopped briefly before seeing her dad. “Hey Angela.” She yelled as she passed the kitchen heading down the hall to the office. Busting through the door, she watched her father nearly jump out of his skin.

“Slow down hun.” Gabe turned and slid into his office chair. “What’s the hurry?”

Chloe slapped the envelope down on the desk and flopped back in the chair on the other side of the desk. “We,” she started and pointed at the envelope, “had a deal. You made me write it down. Now, you have to honor it. No going back just because your dad.”

Gabe opened the little gray envelope that he already knew enclosed her grades. The deal was simple. Her C in geometry had to be an A, as well as the others in order to get her curfew extended to 1 AM for Prom. He still had no intention for her to stay at some hotel all night, even with Lillian’s offer of security. But he had made the deal. Looking at the 97 in the geometry class among all the other A’s, he shrugged his shoulders and admitted defeat.

“You will keep your cellphone on all the time and call if anything goes wrong. No hotel of any kind. No after prom party, no nightcap. Understand?”

Chloe jumped out of the chair and hugged her dad. “I know. I promise.” As Chloe started out the door, Gabe cleared his throat.

“By the way, a little birdy told me that the Luthor limo is available for the evening and there will be a photographer at the Luthor mansion for the two of you and your friends.” Chloe’s eyes widened at the discussion her father had obviously already had with Lillian and hugged her dad again.

“Thank you.”

“I love you baby. You’re growing up too fast.”

Chloe looked back at her dad and smiled. “I know, but it’s fun.”

**********

Lillian looked out the window at the car that pulled up in the driveway and shook her head. His time was impeccable as always. She was hoping he would have stayed a week later, but Lex was always one to be ahead of schedule. Some traits from his father were to remain.

She watched as he walked around the edge of the car and opened the door. Caroline was still very much in the picture, or so it looked like. Pulling bags out of the trunk of the Mercedes, she realized that this was a family stay.

Lex had worked hard over the last three years. His team made it to the College World Series before Lex broke his thumb catching a ball. That ended whatever baseball aspirations he had for the future. She could hear Lionel breathing a sigh of relief from above or below, she never decided. Lex stayed every summer and worked straight through. Now, he was poised to graduate and start graduate work next year. Another year and the man would be looking for work. That discussion would come later.

The one she was intrigued by now was the weekly mention of what he and Caroline had done. Caroline was now the college’s first female sports anchor for the school. Lillian was glad that she didn’t exploit Lex directly, but just as part of the baseball team. Caroline had something about her that was likable. An after three years, Lillian wondered if the family visit between semesters was a take it to the next step discussion. It almost made her sick to her stomach. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but Caroline wasn’t the one.

“Mom? The car’s going to be okay.” Lillian popped out of her train of thought and wrapped her arms around her son and then gently hugged Caroline. “You don’t mind a little visiting do you?”

“No, of course not. How long will you two be here?” Lex sat down next to Caroline and across from his mother in the living room.

“A week or so. We’re between sessions and wanted to get away.” Lillian noticed the grip that Caroline had on her son’s hand and the careful eye she kept on Lex. It was as if she was hoping he would mention something. Lillian checked both hands of the young woman noticing nothing but her school ring and sighed.

“Good, then we will have plenty of time to catch up. Now, you two have fun getting settled. I have some guests that will be arriving in a bit.”

“I was hoping mom that Caroline and I could borrow the limo tonight.” Lillian stopped and turned before shaking her head.

“Actually, it’s taken for the evening. There will be several young couples adorning the back seat of it this evening into the early hours. Some of them will be arriving soon. The hors d'oeuvres in the salon are for the guests. You are welcome to any of the other cars honey.”

The doorbell rang and Lillian walked out of the room, leaving Lex with a strange dumbfounded look on his face. “I know we can find something else to take that is just as sexy,” Caroline purred in his ear before he forgot about the limo or the guests and pressed Caroline into the corner of the couch, kissing her deeply.

“Come on in Chloe and Angela and head up to my room. Gabe, if your don’t mind, but it’s kind of girl’s thing. I got the game on in the entertainment room. Make yourself comfortable. There’s a beer a in the minifridge.” Lillian took off up the stairs behind the two anxious women.

Lillian walked in the door of the bedroom and watched Chloe’s hands graze over the slick fabric and slightly tug on the silver lamae. “Ms. Luthor, it’s incredible. The rhinestones on the lamae really set off the whole thing.”

Lillian walked over as Angela handed Chloe the matching shoes from the box. “Honey, those aren’t rhinestones.”

Chloe turned and had tears well up in her eyes realizing that the encrusted pieces sewn into the dress made it more expensive than her entire school education. “And the line down the heel of the shoes?”

Lillian simply nodded and Chloe hugged her harder than when the dress was ordered. “How about you go get into the dress. The detail seamstress is here and the hairdresser is on her way.” Chloe and Angela disappeared into the dressing area of the bathroom as Lillian worked her way back down stairs.

Walking past the entertainment room, she noticed the boredom on Caroline’s face as Lex and Gabe sat with their feet on the coffee table, laughing at the baseball game over a beer. “Honey, come upstairs. It’s quite more girlish. We’re getting makeovers.”

Caroline smiled in Lillian’s direction before putting a peck on Lex’s cheek. Smiling, he let her hand slide from his and watched as she left the room. It was the first time he could remember that his mother made an effort with a girlfriend. He knew she was sizing Caroline up.

“So, what’s going on up there? Must be a big deal. Mom’s as busy as if she was planning one of her famous holiday parties.” Lex popped another beer open and noticed that Gabe was not careful to finish the first before grabbing the second one.

“My baby is growing up and going to prom tonight. Four couples in your mom’s limo until 1 AM. I mean Trevor seems like a nice kid, but he’s 17. I may have to just kill him if Chloe dates him until he’s 18.” Lex laughed at Gabe’s thought of taking the boy out before he turned legal. After the laughter faded, it hit him. Gabe said prom.

“What’s Trevor like?” Suddenly Lex found himself more intrigued by the boy. Or concerned. He sat back down on the couch across from Gabe and muted the game.

“He’s the editor of the paper. He’s on the golf team and is a straight A student. His parents are factory workers and he’s never had Chloe to their place. He usually stays at our place when they are hanging out. He’s not much for going home, but won’t talk about it.”

“How involved are they?”

“A month or so. I was hoping that it would fizzle out before this blessed event, but I don’t always get my way.” Gabe hunched further back into the couch and groaned. Lex watched as his mother let her long time hairdresser in and rolled his eyes. Now she had sucked Caroline into the glorious event. No doubt she would be wanting the same treatment for her wedding. Lex choked on his beer at the strange thought.

“Lex you ok? I thought I was the one that was going to be sick tonight.” Gabe laughed and slapped the young man on the back.

“Yeah, fine.” Lex sat back and turned the volume back up one the game and tried to push the thought aside. Weddings lead to marriage. He was still in school. He had no intention on getting married. The ring of the doorbell broke both men’s concentration.

Lex strode down the hall and opened it to a young man in a tux with a photographer following close behind. “And you are?”

“Trevor. You’re Lex Luthor. I had no idea this was a family affair.” Lex behind the boy and another two cars pull up and park. Two more young couples got out and headed up the steps.”

“The more the merrier. Come on in. The salon is the second door on the right. Chloe’s still attached to the women upstairs and will be down in a bit.” Lex looked at the corsage in the kid’s hand and smirked. “Nice. You know it’ll go?”

“She told me her colors.” Lex eyed the kid’s tie and noted the color. He was a little shorter than Lex and had not had the complete voice change yet. “Can I get you something?”

“Nah.”

Lex turned up his nose at the obvious brush off as Trevor joined the rest of his buddies from Chloe’s school around the food table. One of the sprite brunette girls in her bright pink getup nearly caused Lex to turn off the lights, but it would have been rude. Closing the door behind him, he rolled his eyes at the mistake Chloe was making. Trevor was no nice kid.

“Well?” Gabe leaned against the staircase in the main hall, still nursing what Lex hoped was still the second beer.

“I don’t like him.”

“That makes two of us. Where can we bury the body?” Gabe joked, but Lex was wondering if he would fit under the poolhouse.

“Oh Boys!!!!” Caroline poked her head out of the door and appeared dolled up with her hair and makeup done for the evening. “Not that I don’t want to know what you think of me, but the prom girl is ready!”

Caroline ran down the stairs as Lex put out an arm and caught her on the last step. Spinning her out of his grip, he stood back and watched as Gabe handed him the beer and waited at the bottom of the stairs for his little girl. It felt surreal. He had no idea why he cared or was excited for the whole event. His mother was simply getting a good reason to play dressup.

The door opened and he could hear his mother urge Chloe on into the hallway. Coming around the corner, he caught the glitter of tiny diamonds sewn into a silver sash swayed on the front of an emerald dress. The sash continued around the upper bodice, expertly holding in the body that Chloe had obviously developed in the last three years.

“Baby, you look beautiful.” Gabe barely whispered. Chloe smiled in her father’s direction as her hands slid down the rail gently.

Lex eyed the loaned jewelry, including the simple line of diamonds around her neck. The last gift his father gave his mother. Chloe smiled back up at Lillian and then locked eyes with Lex two steps above him.

“Come to see me off?” She smiled and her braces that his mom mentioned last year were gone. Her hair was longer with most swept up, with longer curls tracing the line of her jaw.

Holding out his hand on her other side, he smiled. “You look stunning Chloe.” He caught himself the last word, realizing the low sultry voice was one usually reserved for Caroline.

“Thank you.” Chloe kissed her father and slid her hand from Lex’s before disappearing into the salon with the rest of the party. The ‘you’re gorgeous babe’ that came from the salon made both Gabe and Lex grimace.

Lex turned back to Caroline and noticed the change in her expression. “What?”

“Nothing. I’ll be ready soon.” Caroline disappeared back upstairs to get changed as Lex looked over at Gabe. He shook his head and patted Lex on the back. Lillian walked up behind Lex and put her hands on his shoulders as she heard the door upstairs closed with a little more than a quiet shut.

“She’s really grown up into a beautiful young woman.” Lillian felt Lex stiffen under her grip. “Take Caroline out tonight. She’s a nice woman too.” Lex looked back in his mother’s direction and then at the salon door. Pulling out of Lillian’s gentle hold, he ran upstairs and disappeared into the bedroom with Caroline.

***********

“Was dinner good?” Lex nodded at the waiter as he removed the last of the dinner in front of the two of them.

Caroline slid her hand across the table and took Lex’s hand. “As always. You always treat me like a princess. Everyone your family comes in contact with gets treated like royalty.”

“Growing up with mom does that. But she knows when to bring me down a notch.” Lex smiled and pulled Caroline’s hand up to kiss her palm. He felt the slight quiver from Caroline at the action.

Caroline eyed another couple across the way that was in almost the same position was the two of them. “Three years is a long time. I can’t believe you are graduating and all this coming semester.”

“Me neither. But it’s not over. We still got a lot to go before real life bites me in the ass.” Lex tried to chuckle at the sheer terror he felt in his stomach every time his mother reminded him of his responsibilities after he got his MBA. A year and half and he would be in the halls of Luthorcorp as an executive. “It’s going to be a ride.”

“Yeah, but we’ll make it together.” Lex’s head popped up from concentrating on Caroline’s hand and thinking of his obligations.

“What?”

Caroline’s face shifted from happiness to confusion. “Lex, three years. I was kind of assuming that this little jaunt home was to retrieve some kind of piece of jewelry. The big fancy dinner and all.”

Still holding her hand, he ran his other hand over his mouth realizing what she thought tonight was all about. “Caroline, I didn’t mean to give you that impression. I thought a nice dinner in town would be…” Caroline pulled away. “Honey, I love you.”

“But you won’t commit.”

“What do you mean? Three years is a commitment. I don’t know how many articles I have fended off about people trying to compare my father’s cheating past to me. I have never…”

“Not that Lex. I need something. Do you love me?” Caroline tried not to raise her voice or cry. She could feel her face become more flushed with every moment.

Lex leaned over the small table and grabbed her hand back in his. “I love you, but I can’t go there.”

“Why? What are you afraid of? You already proved you’re not your dad.”

“Why does it have to happen now? Both of us are in school.” Lex was starting to feel desperation and a slight sheen of perspiration on his back build.

“It’s just a promise to me that your aren’t holding out for anyone else.” Caroline swallowed back the pain in her thoughts as she waited for the answer.

“Anyone else? I’m just not ready.”

“No,” Caroline shook her head and pulled her hand from his. “There is someone. And I can’t wait around for you to give up or be the starter wife until you can move on.” Lex watched as Caroline stood up and started out of the restaurant. Throwing some cash on the table, probably double of the needed, Lex headed out the door and caught her halfway down the street.

“Dammit stop! What in the hell? What are you talking about?” Lex grabbed her by the shoulders and wanted to hear the rest of the story.

Caroline closed her eyes and shrugged his hands off her. Slinging her small purse up on her shoulder, she glared at Lex and shook her head. “I saw how you looked at her. You ask about her all the time and yet haven’t seen her in years.”

“Chloe? She’s like a little sister to me.”

“No!” Caroline yelled and pointed at Lex. “You looked at her as if … I don’t know, but you did not look at me that way when I got dressed.”

“You’re making more out of this than needed.”

“Lex, just let me get my stuff and get on with my life while you wait around for your whatever.” Caroline pulled out of Lex’s one last attempt at a grip on her and walked away. Lex leaned against the side of the building and noticed a couple of people across the street trying not to be seen watching the fight play out on the street.

Running his head across his scalp, he closed his eyes. Caroline would get over and they would get back together eventually. Give her some time and she would realize that it was all too soon for them and marriage was just not in the cards. Nothing was between him and Chloe. He shoved his hands in his pants and started down the street back toward the car.

Halfway there, he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and muttered to himself, “Shit.” She was right. He felt the phone vibrate and looked at his watch before pulling it out of the pocket. No one would call at midnight. Shaking his head, he ignored the first call but felt it go off again.

“Luthor,” he answered tired and frustrated.

“I…come…get…please…,” was all that Lex made out through the heavy sobs on the other line.

“Who is this?” He waited and didn’t get an answer but more sobs and crying. Moans like pain. “Mom?” He waited with no answer. “Chloe?”

“Lex,” she sobbed.

“Where are you?” Lex’s voice became more worried and urgent. His hand shook as he reached the car.

“Plaza…level 3,” again he could barely hear through the sobbing before he heard the line go dead.

TBC

[tatie87]

There was so much going on in this chapter. I love that Lex made it home to see Chloe go to prom. I almost died that Caroline could tell Lex was hung up on CHloe. Love Love the comment about the starter wife. I can't wait to see what's going on with Chloe. I just know Trevor is probably some kind of freak. Please update soon. I loved this chapter.

[hfce]

What a great update and I loved reading about how much Chloe has grown. But what happened to her? I hope Lex gets to her in time. :eek:

[lexie]

Just a little Chlex but enough to warm our hearts. I loved the update as usual. Caroline´s a really intelligent and perceptive young woman- we should give her points for that and for stepping aside!

And what a note to end the instalment! Lex to the rescue! I hope nothing bad or irreversible has happened to Chloe.

[dagney]

I adore this story so much. I hope you update soon because I'm so anxious about Chloe. Dagney

[SVfan1286]

OMG... what happened to Chloe? I hope she's okay and that Lex gets to her in time... She seems to have the worst luck.

I simply loved Lex's reaction to seeing Chloe after three years... it was so sweet. Plus him being jealous of Trevor was wonderful. I was surprised that Caroline confronted Lex about his feelings for Chloe, but I loved it and it made me actually like Lex's girlfriend, or now maybe ex-girlfriend, which is usually impossible for my Chlexer heart. *grins*

I also loved the continued relationship between Lillian and Chloe, they have a wonderful mother/daughter relationship.

Lovely chapter... Continue the excellent work. I look forward to reading more!!

[sparrow]

Well... It's safe to say Trevor is a dead man. The poolhouse might never be so well used again.

[ChloeLovesLex]

Oh no! You can't leave it there. There will be no HTC writing until you update the cliffhanger on this. You naughty naughty girl!!!!

Loved Lex oogling Chloe now that she is growing up. Ha! She's only going to get better as she grows up Lexie boy!

Now hurry up and have Lex terrify that sorry excuse for a prom date pronto and fix whatever is wrong with Chloe.

[Ultra]

Ha, I loved how taken aback Lex was by Chloe looking so grown up and beautiful - excellent! :) As for Caroline, well, at least she's not so dumb she couldn't see that Chlexy look of love, and she won't be second best which means she has more self-respect than she has aspirations of riches - kudos to her for that. Still, I'm now worried what has happened to Chloe. Here's hoping that if Trevor did anything wrong Lex will kick his sorry ass for it! ;) Update soon please! :D

[hiddenangel]

OMG What's happened? I need to know what's happening!! Update soon!!

Loved the momements between Lex and Chloe. And Lillian and Chloe!

[happybum]

You can't leave it there, that's evil! ;)The suspense is killing me. Is Chloe okay? Now they will definitely have to bury Trevor under the pool house. Lex finally noticed that Chloe is growing up. I am glad that Caroline called him out on his feelings for her. Now they can finally fulfill Chloe's dream of being together as a family but with them being a couple. I can't wait for the next installment. :D

[Kit Merlot]

This was an awesome chapter!

I like how motherly Lillian is to Chloe, and how protective Gabe is. And I liked that both Gabe and Lex knew that Trevor wasn't a good guy.

Caroline was able to see the potential Chlex and she made a huge mistake trying to push Lex into something he wasn't ready for.

And what the heck was up with that phone call from Chloe? What exactly did Trevor do to Chloe to make her cry? Man, I woulld not want to be Trevor when Lex shows up to help Chloe.

Continued excellent work on this fic.:grin3:

[leiseman04]

Just found this story and love it! Can't wait to read your your next installment and find out what happens to Chloe.

I've never been one that usually likes the Chlex starting out as kids, but you've taken it slowly and have built up a sound background and foundation for the story to mature. I like how Lex is slowly realizing his feelings for Chloe.

I can't wait to read more.

[Gaia]

Please let her be OK, she does not deserve anything bad to happen to her. And just make lex kick Trevor and Lilian run him to the ground if he did anything.
UPDATE REALLY QUICKLY PLEASE!!!!!

[superag]

A/N - **KNOCK** I'm still here. Just serious busy. I hate walking around days with this in my head and not having time!!! Well, Lex to the rescue!


Closer – Chapter 8

Chloe could hear the squeeling of what she hoped was a very expensive car fighting its way through the parking garage turns. She continued to stay hiding in the corner with what of her wrap she could use to cover herself. It was the easiest way to hide the evidence. In her hand she clutched the necklace from around her neck.

Looking up, she turned her head away as the lights of a Mercedes beat directly down on her before turning into the handicap spot next to far corner of the level. She closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief that he was there.

Lex looked at the huddled ball of silver and green in the corner and quickly choked at the statement that Caroline had made. He would never tell her, but he was. Running across the parking level, he leaned over Chloe.

“Chloe? Look at me.” Putting her head in his hands, he turned her face towards him to see the large purple whelp forming on her cheek. Her makeup ran down her face and stained the small cut on her lip with mascara.

“Ouch.” Chloe whimpered gently into Lex’s hand as his fingers grazed the growing bruise. He pulled the wrap and felt Chloe tug back against it.

“What happened?” Chloe noticed his voice change again to something softer; that reminded her of him after the tornado years ago. “Chloe, you stay with me.” He paused and closed his eyes. “Did Trevor … rape you?”

Chloe’s eyes met Lex’s as her increasing tears started smudging her make up more. She shook her head no as Lex pulled her into him and hugged her to his chest, careful not to touch her face. “He tried. He touched me and said that it was just something that should happen on prom night.”

“No it doesn’t. And?” Lex could feel anger curling in his stomach and reconsidered the use of the poolroom.

“I kneed him. And…” Chloe faded into a whisper getting ready to tell him the entire story.

“Not now. As long as the bruises are the only thing.” Lex kissed the top of her forehead and felt Chloe halfway chuckle in his arms.

Pulling back out of her arms, he stared at her and wiped her face with the end of the wrap. “What were you laughing at?” He secretly hoped this delirium wasn’t a phase of what she was going through. She hadn’t let go of him, so he wasn’t going to press the hospital yet.

“That was the only kiss I got tonight.” Chloe whispered as she buried herself back into Lex’s chest. “Where’s Caroline?” he heard in a muffled noise from his shirt.

“Long story. Let’s get you to a hospital.” Chloe nodded against Lex’s chest and carefully stood up against his body, trying to keep the drape against her. “Chloe, you’re ok.” He responded to her not moving from his side.

“My dress. He ripped it and my … it’s personal.” Without any other words uttered he turned away as Chloe tried to retie the wrap around her body. She was sick to her stomach every time that she thought about that asshole having her underwear like a trophy. Hopefully he still looked like shit after she emptied her can of pepper spray on him.

“Well, look who’s here.” Chloe stiffened as she heard the doors of the parking garage open to the hall level and heard the voice.

“Please Lex.” She whispered behind him.

Turning back, he smiled. “Stay here.” Directing his attention to the teary eyed boy, he crossed his arms. “You look like hell. Please tell me that you beat yourself up for dramatic effect because I would hate to think that a ninth grade girl got the better of you.”

Trevor rolled his eyes and then quietly muttered an ouch from mixing up the left over chemicals in his lids. “Where’s Chloe? I want to apologize.”

“I don’t think so.” Lex stayed quietly still leaning against the corner wall, keeping Chloe tucked behind him. “I have a feeling your apology should be carefully worded for a court judge and jury.”

“Chloe? Come on. Don’t let your ‘big brother’ stand between us. I made a mistake.” Trevor reached around Lex to touch her and then grunted. In one move, Lex grabbed the young man’s arm, twisted it behind his body and shoved him against the opposite wall.

“Now, why did you have to go all stupid on me son? The LADY doesn’t want to talk to you. I never want to see you again unless it‘s behind bars.” Lex let go of Trevor as the young man stared at him and then back at Chloe.

“She’s probably a fucked up lay anyway,” Trevor offhanded as he shook his arm out and started to pass Chloe to go back inside. He felt someone grab his shoulder and turned into Lex’s fist.

Chloe jumped as Trevor fell to the ground in front of her feet and looked back at Lex almost accusingly. “What? That wasn’t very nice to say.” Lex watched as Chloe glanced back at Trevor and a smile broke across her face until she grabbed it in pain and stopped.

Lex help his hand out over Trevor’s body and smiled. “Come on. He’s going to wake up and I’m going to be in court with you for assault.” Chloe took his hand and stepped on Trevor’s back to get over, trying not to giggle at the added groan.

Once in the car, Chloe became eerily silent and it scared Lex. He watched as she continued to adjust the wrap around her, trying hard to keep her innocence around him. He sadly realized that she wasn’t going to be the same from now on, but she always surprised him.

“Why did you call me?”

Chloe turned and partially smiled at Lex. “Because I wasn’t prepared for the inquisition and dad telling me who knew what was going to happen. Can you call him when we get there?”

“Sure. But truth be told, neither of us liked him.” Lex chuckled and wondered if telling her about the poolhouse would be the right thing to break the mood.

“Well, I’ll remember to ask for both of your permissions before dating anyone else ever again.” Chloe turned back to the window and closed her eyes. Finding another guy to treat her like Lex always did was a waste. He had always been there for everything. Slowly, they were finally becoming closer in age to make a difference. Still, there was a ‘long story’ that involved Caroline. He loved her.

**************

Gabe and Angela ran through the corridor of the Metropolis General emergency room and stopped quickly when they saw Lex stand and meet them in the middle of the hallway. “What happened?"

“Mr. Sullivan, Chloe’s going to be ok. She’s got some scrapes and bruises. The doctor is checking her out right now.”

Angela leaned in and held onto Gabe’s hand. “Lex, what happened to her though?”

“Trevor tried to sexually assault her and she pepper sprayed him and kneed him in the groin. Apparently he didn’t get the message since he later came back to see her and somehow caused me to punch him. Mom’s already working on getting an attorney arranged. I have a feeling we’re both going to need one.”

Angela shook her head and felt Gabe’s grip tighten on her hand. “I told her no hotel room.”

“Sir, with all respect, she listened. They had gone on a walk at the convention center out to a terrace, probably to get her alone. She listened to you, and did the best she could in the circumstances. I would go easy on her. She called me first to ease you into it because she knew you would freak.”

Gabe felt Lex’s hand on his shoulder and felt Angela also pull him into the chair he was standing by now. The two coaxed him to sit and calm down before walking into the emergency room. “I’ll go check on Chloe.” Angela patted Gabe’s hand and walked up to the desk and then disappeared behind the double doors.

Gabe sat back in the chair and sighed. Her only little girl had been violated by a perverted young man. She didn’t deserve the treatment she got from her latest boyfriends of being dumped on dates and then culminating with this man stringing her along just to think she would give herself to him. She was in ninth grade. Gabe felt ill.

Lex leaned over in the seat next to Gabe and folded his hands together. He could say something, but he didn’t know exactly what was going through Gabe’s mind. It was his daughter. It almost felt creepy to Lex thinking of how Gabe would react if he knew his feelings. Lex wanted to desperately tell Gabe the truth and then tell Chloe to wait for him. He would take care of her. She didn’t deserve this.

Angela rejoined the two men and sat across from Gabe, taking his hands in hers. “They’re almost done. They are confirming Chloe’s story with the police and finishing up the rape kit. She said she wasn’t but they wanted to be sure. Her cheek is going to be really bruised for a few weeks and the doctor suggested several support groups to us.”

Gabe kept his head down through everything that Angela said and swallowed noticeably when a rape kit was mentioned. His little girl. Lex put his arm around Gabe and whispered, “She’s a great young lady. She’s going to be fine.”

“Thanks for everything. She thinks of the world of you.” Gabe smiled and patted Lex on the back as he heard the doctor call for the two of them. “Go home Lex. We’re going to as soon as we can get out of here.”

Lex nodded and sat on the chair a little longer wondering when everything would be able to go back to normal.

***********

Several days later, Lex was tired of hearing about it. Every paper had a different angle, including the Daily Planet pulling out the line of ‘Luthor = Savior.’ He had heard all the lame names and stories and just wanted to see Chloe. She had refused everyone’s request to visit her for days. He had to do something about it.

Lex appeared on the Sullivan doorstep and had a small flashback of when they were kids. Knocking on the door, he wasn’t quite sure what he could hear but it was most definitely yelling. “What?”

Gabe turned and saw Lex looking completely stunned at the aggressive greeting and wondered if he should just excuse himself and go home. “Mr. Sullivan, I was hoping Chloe was in the mood to see someone today.”

“Sure!” Chloe came around the corner of the living room and dragged Lex into the house and turned to her dad. “Maybe while you’re here you can talk some sense into my father. He thinks that I should turn tail and go to another school for the last month because Trevor is still attending school there. I keep trying to explain he’s at alternative campus location and can’t touch me. He’s treating me like a freaking coward!”

Chloe let go of Lex’s hand and stomped up the stairs to her room and left the two men in the hallway. “Wow, when did this argument start?”

“Two days ago. The principal said it might be wise to take some of the focus off the situation but Chloe is stubborn. She said there’s no reason to pick a new school this late in the year and doesn’t want to leave her friends because Trevor will more than likely be expelled at the hearing next week and then be in juvenile hall afterwards. I’m not comfortable with that.”

Lex followed Gabe into the kitchen and took the beer offered to him. Sitting down at the kitchen table, the two listened at the noise of things being thrown across the bedroom right above them. “She’s pissed that’s for sure.”

“At me. I just don’t see another option until he’s out of there,” Gabe sighed.

Lex sat silently staring at the wall and occasionally jumping slightly at something else breaking upstairs. “I have a thought. Can you ask for an extended absence? She needs time for her face to heal but could still keep up with her studies and stay enrolled there.”

“Listening? Like homebound?”

“Exactly. I would be willing to take care of her studies. I don’t have to return to campus until a couple of days after she’s done.” Gabe looked at Lex and wondered if it was wise putting the two back together after he and Lillian had tried so desperately to keep them apart. What good that did. Lex ended up dumped again, why Gabe didn’t know, and Chloe…he couldn’t think about it.

“Fine. I’ll talk to the school and see what I can do about the last few weeks.” He paused and hit intercom button on the wall behind him. “Chloe, come down here now.”

The two of them giggled at themselves listening to the young woman get huffy into the intercom and then stomp all the way downstairs. Chloe walked into the kitchen and saw her dad and her first real love drinking as if there was nothing wrong. The picture was uncomfortable.

“Yes?” she sarcastically asked. “You called.”

Lex got up and pulled the chair between the two men out and pulled a soda out of the refrigerator. “Now, are you going to calm down?” Chloe looked up at Lex’s irritating comment and stuck her tongue out at him. “Ahhh, we’re back to that childish move. Maybe I changed my mind Gabe; she doesn’t seem to be mature enough.”

Chloe’s eyes widened at the empty offer she still had not heard. “What?”

Gabe leaned over in Chloe’s direction. “You know honey, I have this sneaking suspicion that Lex might remember that when he grades you on your conduct.” Gabe had to snicker at his lame sense of humor.

“Cut the crap you two.” She glared at the two men trying hard not to bust out laughing at the girl’s childish antics.

“Ok, what if I keep you enrolled in the school where you can go back next year BUT you finish the rest of the year on homebound for my sanity.”

“But…”

“Lex offered to tutor.” That shut her mouth, Gabe thought, seeing Chloe’s mouth draw up quickly.

Chloe sat back in the chair and tried not to act excited about the opportunity to have Lex in the house with her every day unsupervised. It was a dangerous thought. Still, the man was only a couple of years from being an executive at Luthorcorp and probably still completely head over heels with the sports journalist. It might be fun having Lex teach.

Looking over at Lex leaned back in the chair, swigging the last of the beer he had, she smiled. “I agree. If you promise I won’t miss any work, it won’t affect my gradepoint, and I can go back to school next year.”

“Deal. Except, I would hope with Lex’s assistance, that your grades get better.” Lex eyeballed Chloe and nodded at the statement from Gabe. “I’ll pick up your assignments for this week tomorrow and you and Lex work out some schedule.”

Chloe returned to her room in incredible pain, but she couldn’t wipe the ridiculous smile off her face. She wondered how her incredibly stupid hope had come true.

**************

Finals were upon her and Chloe had only read half of the assignments that Lex had left her two days ago. Things with the tutoring schedule had gone well all things considered. He had missed a couple of days due to work obligations his mother had put him on. Another couple of sessions were rescheduled for things he didn’t mention, probably Caroline whining for attention.

Chloe flopped back on her bed and picked up the mirror and stared at her now partially green face. The swelling had mostly gone down, but the tint of the wicked witch was not amusing or attractive. He never seemed to look at her when they studied. He sat and stared at his copy of the textbook and even seemed to talk to the book.

Studying was just that. Lex never let her leave the topic in front of them and was starting to annoy her that way. Even her real teachers would get off the subject occasionally. Chloe wondered what was really bothering Lex.

Hearing the doorbell, she walked over and opened the door to Lex dressed casually, which meant no work after they were done today. “Hey.”

“Hi. Ready to get started?” Lex clasped his hands together as if he was ready to dive into a new project.

“Actually, I fell behind on the reading yesterday since I had a migraine left over from my lovely green face. Like?”

Lex eyed the bruise and tried not to turn up the corner of his lip. “Lovely. Goes so well with your eyes,” he tried to joke. He hated to see her go through the obvious discomfort of her natural beauty being marred. She knew it. “Now, what didn’t you get read?”

“The chapter on the German bombing of London. The text is just so damn boring.” The two sat on the couch together and opened up the history books. “Oh, and the damn PE class is having some crap test over folk dancing. Are they freaking kidding me?” She handed the test to Lex, who immediately felt like filling out the answers and simply handing it back to her. He would wait.

Leaning back in the couch and looking over at Chloe, he always liked sitting on her left side; the bruise was less visible when she looked at him. “I think we should skim through the parts I suspect the teacher is going to find important and then I got a story for you.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up. He was going to change the day up a little…finally. The two spent the next hour outlining the drab textbook entries and discussing the highlights of the German Blitzkrieg. Chloe sometimes forgot to write, listening to the man’s voice made it hard to concentrate on its context.

“Chloe, are you feeling ok?” Lex’s hand on her back shook her awake from her daydreaming.

“Yeah, just repeat,“ she looked at her notes so far. “From the actual Blitz to the end. Sorry, I kind of zoned.”

Lex shut the book and leaned back. “I guess it’s a good place to end. Besides, I can finish out the last part in a more interesting way.” Chloe threw her book on the stack on the living room table and leaned back in the couch, staring at Lex. He looked partly at her and then at the ceiling.

Half an hour later Chloe could hear the bombs hitting the actual buildings in London from Lex’s account he said his grandparents had told his father. The images of buildings’ facings crumbling and children waving to their friends in the room below them was vivid as if she was there. She could tell places that Lex tried to fill in to make the story flow, but it was impressive nonetheless. Lex was full of knowledge and the little piece of his personal family history was something Chloe treasured.

“Ok, enough walk down memory lane. Let’s beat out this stupid PE test and call it a day.” Chloe rolled her eyes but giggled at Lex’s agreement at the stupidity of a PE test in the first place. The two moved closer as the test was one copy and Lex went through each question, quickly explained it, and gave the answer.

“Ok, this one is actually kind of interesting.” He pulled the test out of her hand and set it on the table. Chloe watched as he turned on the CD player and wrinkled up his nose at the lame choices and then shut it off. “You’re going to have to imagine music.”

“What?”

Lex held out his hand and signaled for her to approach him. “Come on. This one is kind of fun.” The dance was from Scotland and Lex went into detail trying to explain all the different steps.

“Where do you learn this stuff?”

“Mom said her grandparents and parents hand it down. So as part of the getting the ‘teen’ added to my age, I had to learn it.” Chloe smiled up at him and placed her hands where he appropriately told her.

The two fumbled over each other’s feet repeatedly and laughed at each other’s confusion over what Lex was trying to remember from years ago. “I think you’ve forgotten some of it.”

“I think I’ve forgotten a lot of it,” Lex laughed and threw his head back, throwing Chloe off balance.

“Shit!” Chloe let go as she tumbled toward the floor dragging Lex down nearly on top of her. She started laughing hysterically. “Maybe we shouldn’t dance together, ever.”

“Possibly.” Lex turned and pushed himself up, looking over her. “It’s kind of dangerous after all.”

“Yeah,” Chloe whispered as she realized that he was close enough to her to feel his warm breath when he spoke. Pulling her head up off the floor, she smiled at Lex who continued to gaze at her. “Still, it was better than prom.” Closing her eyes, she leaned up closer until she felt his lips.


TBC

[lexie]

An update! This was a very enjoyable instalment. Trevor? What a bastard! I´m glad he didn´t go all the way and that this unfortunate incident made Lex realise once and for all that Chloe means a lot more to him than just a dear friend.

Ending the chapter with Chloe leaning forward to give him a kiss was plain mean- we wanted for it to go on! I hope you´ll be able to post something new soon.

[Kit Merlot]

An awesome update!

I love that Trevor was given a well deserved Chlex smackdown: hit with pepper spray from Chloe, and punched out by Lex:grin3:

And I love that Lex now realizes that his feelings for Chloe are turning towards romantic, and I like the idea of his being Chloe's tutor--I didn't see that plot twist coming at all.

The ending of this chapter was fabulous--good for Chloe for leaning in for the kiss but I'm kind of afraid to see what happens in the next chapter. Will Lex pull away or kiss her back?

Continued excellent work on this fic;)

[dagney]

I'm happy to read the update. I'm glad Chloe was able to defend herself against the a hole. Lex to the rescue was great, Lex is falling in love oooohhhh, sweet. Dagney

[hfce]

What a great update. I loved that Lex was there to rescue and take care of her. Go Chloe for getting that rapist with pepper spray and hitting where it hurts. I love that Lex is her tutor and they better kiss in the next chapter. :)

[purplemoon123]

What very two lovely updates.

Love seeing Lillian do the motherly things for Chloe.

Too bad Trevor turned out to be such an asshole. It's good that Chloe was able to pepper spray his pathetic ass.


Closing her eyes, she leaned up closer until she felt his lips.


Come back, what happens????

[Gaia]

And of course that kiss is going to make things weird between them, because she is underage and he is ......well older:D
More quickly!!!

[Ultra]

Well, Trevor is a total asshole and then some! I am so proud of Chloe for not letting him get anywhere fast with her, and for fighting back when he tried to force her. He deserved every bit of that pepper spray and I'm so glad Lex smacked him down too! Guys can be such bastards! 'Cept for Lex, cos he's just perfect right now... although I doubt Gabe would think so if he knew he was in love with his underage daughter! Ending on the kiss was kind of a mean cliffhanger and I actually feel really bad for Lex right now - moral dilemma much? Hope you get time to update again really soon! :)

[hiddenangel]

Oh that was great, please tell me Lex won't spoil it all.

[SVfan1286]

What an evil cliffhanger! I hope it doesn't get to weird between them now after that kiss.

I'm so happy that Lex found Chloe... My hero! I loved that he punched that bastards face in, he deserved it and more. I'm also so proud of Chloe, she totally rescued herself from that rapist... You go girl!

I love that Lex is realizing he's in love with Chloe, that what he feels for her is more than just brotherly. To bad she's still to young for him. I wonder what Gabe and Lillian would think if they found out?

This fic is brilliant and I can't wait to read more!!

[daria_103]

I'm absolutely loving this story, I love the way it started off with Chloe being too young and infatuated with Lex and now it's kind of flipping around to show him realising his feelings for her.

I love Lex riding to Chloes rescue but I was so glad to see her defending herself first. I can't wait to see where the rest of this goes.

[superag]

A/N - A little shorter than normal and the rating has been upped to R. Now, let the ranting begin.

The Fallout – Chapter 8

Before Lex comprehended what was going on, Chloe’s lips were against his. Instantly he pictured the two of them together and jumped back away from the girl. It was the first time in a long time he pictured her as such. “Chloe we can’t.”

Chloe’s head plopped back against the floor, and she looked sadly up at Lex. “I know, but it still was better than what I had at prom.” She sat up and walked back over to the couch just as she heard the door close. “Lex, get up! Dad’s home.”

Lex pulled Chloe up from the floor and sat back next to her on the couch, still looking through the copies of the history book as if nothing had happened. Lex glanced over the top of his book to see Chloe intently trying to hide the flush that was late coming to her cheeks. He wanted to finish the kiss, but she was young, real young.

He almost found it laughable as he thought about it. A woman his age dumped him where he could wait his years out for a teenager. He decided he needed to drink and party heavily as soon as he left.

“Good afternoon you two. How is studying today?” Gabe dropped his briefcase by his small desk in the corner and looked at Chloe. “Are you feeling ok honey?”

“Fine,” Chloe dropped nervously looking in Lex’s direction. He gave a subtle nod to tell her to quit looking at him.

“Angela and I will be in the kitchen. You may need to have Lex go and get some rest. You are looking a little flushed.” Gabe kissed her on the side of the cheek and disappeared down the hall.

Chloe dropped the book that she was holding and stared at Lex. She wanted to ask him if their circumstances were different, if he would ever be interested. It seemed sometimes he looked like the jealous boyfriend and others like he could care less. Lex was too hard to read. She just wanted him to be honest.

“I guess you should get going. I’m sure you have some big date or phone call or something.” The two stood and headed for the front door. Neither knew how to handle the last few tutorial sessions. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?” Chloe questioned.

Lex took Chloe by the shoulders and gripped her. “What almost happened has nothing to do with your tutoring. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He let go and left the house. Chloe watched him as he shoved his hands in his pockets, walking back over to his mother’s place.

That night Lex casually made his way down the stairs after calling a few buddies from around the city. He had been home for weeks now without a night out. He knew what precipitated the need but it was a good idea anyway.

“Going out?” Lillian dropped carefully.

“Meting some of the guys at the new club in town.” Lex picked up his keys and started out the door.

“I’m sure you’ll find some way to take your mind off your debacle.” Lex turned and looked at his mother. She halfway smiled and shook her head. “She’s still young Lex. Take your mind off it, just be safe.”

Lex shook his head and couldn’t believe he couldn’t hide from his mother. She was almost impossible to keep a secret from. He was still learning some of those traits. He waved and closed the door behind him.

************

“Finally out of the shadow of the little girl or the woman who would be Mrs. Luthor.” Mark leaned back in the booth across from Lex and threw back his beer as Lex sipped on a scotch.

“Bite your damn tongue. I would have never married that chick.” Mark and David both smiled and gave a round of high fives for everyone staying completely drunk all night and apparently all celebrating their freedom.

The three hadn’t seen each other for several years and at least Mark had gone through one very short lived marriage and lived to tell about it. The other men heeded the warning. “So what’s on the plan tonight?” Lex asked.

“Well, I plan to be fucking some incredibly over zealous chick by about 2. Then go home and sleep until the other 2. It’s been too long since I had someone else take care of me if your know what I mean.”

Lex laughed at his friend. “Yeah, your hand will be busy once again tonight with that attitude, Women don’t take men like you seriously.” Lex threw back the rest of his drink and immediately had another one replace it. He smiled at the pretty waitress and then looked back over in David’s direction.

Mark caught the exchange. “I think Lex is working on spending the evening in this booth until close.” David glanced over and looked at a smirk cross his lips.

Lex felt almost bad. He had been taught never to objectify a woman; he had been perfectly monogamous for a better part of his dating life and blamed his mother for all of it. Blame in a good way. She was a good role model, but he was a semester from graduate school and never really played. He watched the dirty blonde ponytail walk by him again, nodding as her smile increased back in his direction.

Several hours later, Lex continued to push his incredibly drunk friend over in the corner of the booth. “Dave hasn’t learned,” he said looking over at Mark stroking some brunette’s hair and nuzzling her.

“Nah,” was all Mark could come up with. Lex stared at his friends, both very happy with whatever was going on with them. He resigned that he had grown up a little better than they had. He was expected to. Slipping out of the booth, he threw down enough money to pay for the night and a hefty tip, smiled at Christy, the waitress, and started out.

Outside the air was muggy and uncomfortable. He stood in front of the doors and waited for the valet to bring his car around, explaining that his buddy’s red Porsche would not be moved tonight for any reason. He felt a tap on his shoulder.

“Hey, I called a taxi service for your friend like you asked. He’ still talking but he’s kind of out of it.” Christy was different than what the high society offered him. She was cute and bubbly without the fake pretentious look.

“Are you off?” Lex asked eyeing the disappearance of the waitress apron.

“Yeah, I live right around the block, so I’m just waiting for Rob to come back with your car and I’ll be walking home.” She was as simple as Lex was picturing.

“How about a cup of coffee. Look like you could use a wind down.” Lex squeezed her shoulder softly to gauge her comfort level with him. She closed her eyes to his touch and softly moaned. Lex pulled his hand back and popped open the car door for her. “Anywhere you want.”

Christy looked back in Rob’s direction and nodded. Lex handed a tip to the man and shut the door. Lex watched the man’s mannerisms carefully, trying to read what he knew about Christy’s intentions. Getting in the car, he didn’t have to read them from Rob.

“Coffee’s free at my place,” Christy dropped quietly. Lex smiled over at the young waitress and ran his hand down the side of her arm. She didn’t pull away. He started off and followed the short directions to the building some three blocks away. Parking the car, he looked over at her. It was the first time he saw general nervousness on her. “Look, I don’t do this normally. I’m looking for no strings.”

Lex’s mind raced. She was actually offering the one thing that he had left Chloe’s house wondering if he could find. Christy was pretty, young, and interesting. Convincing his brain that he was very much single and he couldn’t wait long enough for Chloe, he got out of the car and followed her up the stairs of her apartment.

The coffee was good and the company was simple. He had never seen furnishings in an apartment like hers. She had a futon as an actual piece of living room furniture. Pulling out the couch, he picked a movie from her library and propped pillows against the wall.

An hour later, the movie was forgotten as Christy gently massaged him through his pants. The clothes quickly disappeared as the two fumbled to get what they both wanted. The moans in the small apartment got louder as Lex laid down and watched Christy carefully ride him.

As she leaned over him, he ran his hands along her luscious body and felt every curve under his fingers. He closed his eyes and could hear her moan, but never say his name. “I’m going to come,” he simply stated after making sure she had. Feeling her bear down on him harder, he grunted a couple more times.

“Come for me,” he heard from her in almost a whisper.

Holding her against him, he grunted once more before writhing under her.

“Chloe!”

Christy rolled off him and watched his naked form disappear into her tiny bathroom. She watched him gather up his underwear and slide them on before returning to her. He looked concerned as he ran his hand down her arm and kissed her shoulder.

“She must have been something special.” Lex knew exactly what she was talking about. He had said Chloe’s name in the heat of the moment. He had to admit, he was never picturing Christy on top of him, just an older version of Chloe.

“She is. She will be. It’s kind of screwed up but she’s too young for me right now. I’m sorry for that.”

“We’ve all done it. Last man, several months ago, that came back dealt with me hollering ‘Vince’ for hours.” She giggled at the thought.

“Hours huh?” Lex turned and smiled at her.

“Ok, maybe not hours, but I got what I needed that night and apparently you got what you needed tonight. No strings.” Lex kissed her again thinking this is what it would take until Chloe was old enough. He wasn’t sure how he could possibly manage taking advantage of women like this. Something else would have to be done.

Getting dressed, he ran his hand along Christy’s face and could see a glimmer of sadness as he left her in the doorway. But the image of Chloe continued to sit in the back of his mind.

************

The last few days of tutoring seemed like nothing ever happened. Chloe and Lex continued to work on a daily basis together without a mention of the almost kiss from days earlier.

Chloe was actually relieved that Lex didn’t make anymore of it. She was terrified that he would go to her dad about the incident and she would never see him again. She knew that date was coming all too soon. Lex would return to school and she would start searching for schools.

Lex sat on the couch and glanced over at Chloe biting her tongue to concentrate. He had been more relaxed the last few days with her as if things were back to normal. They were brother and sister again, at least during the day. At night, Christy played Chloe in what Lex knew was some very twisted sex game. He was more worried that Christy was actually getting off on it. Still, Christy even knew it ended with the week.

***************

Chloe and Lillian stood together at the front of the private plane terminal. Gabe and Lex were trading some last minute advice for his last semester as well as how to handle himself when he ran into Caroline again. Lex actually felt nervous talking about her, wondering if Gabe could see the man’s emotions when he cared little for the name Caroline and all for the name Chloe.

“Honey, the pilot said he’s ready.” Lillian walked over and broke up the testosterone fest. She hugged her son and whispered, “You do me proud, you always have.”

Chloe watched the exchange and smiled. She adored Lillian and loved her son.

Lex shook hands with Gabe and stared at Chloe. She looked suddenly older than when they rode over all together in the car. He was afraid it would be like every other time he left. He finally just wanted to stay put and be with Chloe. He would seriously think about whether the best school or Chloe was more important. Besides, for all the degrees, his mother had taught him the business.

“You know that spacey look you have, you should save it for class.” Lex broke out of his thoughts and stared at Chloe. Pulling her into him, he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek, lingering longer than a friendly kiss. “I’m going to miss you. Keep in touch this time please,” he whispered to her.

Gabe and Lillian glanced at each other and barely nodded acknowledging their children’s growing interest in each other.

“I will. I promise.” Chloe let go of his grip and saw the strange look on his face as he smiled at her.

TBC

[dagney]

Nice update, I find it interestering that Lex just knows that he loves Chloe and she is the one, and recognizes he needs to wait a bit longer. I would have expected him to be fighting this or be in doubt and want to date others. Its also nice to know that both gabe and Lillian recognize the changing bond between the two. Dagney

[Kit Merlot]

This was just wonderful!

I think it's rather amusing that Lex is having such a difficult time accepting his attraction to Chloe. He knows that she's too young for him right now, but he still wants her. I also like that he wants her to keep in touch with him while he's away--she's too important for him to lose.


Gabe and Lillian glanced at each other and barely nodded acknowledging their children’s growing interest in each other.

Gabe and Lillian don't miss a trick do they?

This story is just awesome:D Keep up the excellent work and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[tatie87]

This story keeps me interested. I just love the plot it's so interesting. I can't wait to see if Lex can hold out until Chloe's legal. Please update soon.

[Ultra]

Ooh, awesome chapter! :D

I feel so bad for both Lex and Chloe, both knowing what they want and that they can't have it, at least not yet! ;)

Though it seems wrong, I kinda see why Lex is doing what he's doing with Christy, and it seems like she gets that she's being used and doesn't actually care... not a lot of self-respect going on there, but hey, thats her problem. With a little luck, Lex and Chloe can hold out til the time is right, though somehow I wonder... ;)

Even Lillian and Gabe see whats going on! There such cool parents, there not even being weird about it. :)

Can't wait for another chapter, you know how much I love this fic! :D

[hfce]

oh my goodness I love this story. I am glad they both know they have feelings and have to wait. I can 't wait until Chloe gets older. I want them to date already. :D

[ChloeLovesLex]

Fabulous Chapter Super. I'm a little concerned though. All of this banging Christy and no mention of a condom. I hope she isn't the next wrench in the Chlexy goodness with some pregnancy scare or child on the way. That would certainly sucketh. Not to mention she'd become one of the Powerful Women in Lex's life as well. Weilding a Luthor child over his head. Say it isn't so and that we get a warm fuzzy and happy Chlex soon.

[lexie]

Like ChloelovesLex, I´m a bit concerned about the consequences this Christy business might have if Lex isn´t careful.

Hopefully now that they´re leaving for school again, Lex´ll concentrate on his studies and forget all about partying to get away from what he knows he wants and he´ll eventually have.

Great update, superag. I look forward to your next update. And, by the way, Lillian´s as lovable as she was on the show- I love how attuned she is with her son and his feelings.:grin3:

[SVfan1286]

Another brilliant chapter!

I love that Lex knows he loves and wants Chloe, but that she's too young for him and has to wait... It must be frustrating. And while he's single and he has every right to screw Christy, it's getting me a little worried that he's going to end up knocking her up... or some other replacement Chloe woman. Hopefully not.. that would definitely complicate things for future Chlex.

I loved the exchange between Gabe and Lillian. It's awesome that they see what's going on between Lex and Chloe and are somewhat okay with it. I'm actually surprised that Gabe's okay with it.

I really look forward to reading more!!

[Gaia]

Looks like all of us are afraid of the same thing- please don't let Lex knock anyone up while he pretends that they are Chloe.
MORE!!!!

[lkedino]

I love update and can't wait for next update

[purplemoon123]

Awesome update!!!

Will there be consequences for Lex's no strings????

[superag]

A/N - I have to thank you all for the feedback. I love how one person's thought sparks others to all be concerned about the same thing. All you do is put ideas in my head. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new update.

Unspoken Agreement – Chapter 9

The summer was slow for Chloe. She wasn’t attending near the amount of summer school classes she wanted at her new campus but still went into work everyday. She liked her job, especially when the ‘big boss’ came and invited her to lunch. Others in her department swore they were looking at Chloe as the copywrighters’ next boss.

The time she got to spend with her dad and Lillian at work made her appreciate when she went out with her friends and saw others working behind the counter at the movie theater. Lillian paid her no more than other teenagers and Chloe knew Lilian was getting a steal for the amount of work Chloe did, but Chloe enjoyed the atmosphere. Journalism had slowly faded to a passive interest in finding mistakes in the Daily Planet.

Lex’s summer was equally as slow. He was on par to finish his degree during the small August graduation and start his graduate work the next fall. Still, he sat in most classes everyday and daydreamed about Chloe. He knew it was absurd to think about a girl who wouldn’t even be the legal age of consent for another five months, but there was something about her that he couldn’t shake.

The only bright spot Lex could find was seeing her emails everyday and talking on the phone on Sunday afternoon. As promised, the two continued their back and forth ramblings about Luthorcorp and school. Occasionally, Chloe sent Lex items she was working on for school to proof. He had come a long way since high school with his writing.

Lex sat his small desk in his antiquated house that he had rented to finally get off campus. He enjoyed the on campus atmosphere, but discussions from his mother had led to the more adult setting. Staring at the same page for what seemed like several minutes, Lex finally gave up studying for a midterm and rubbed his eyes. He started off to bed when the phone rang.

“Hello?” He wasn’t quite sure who would call this late. The only times he had gotten out of the ordinary calls were when Chloe seemed to be in trouble. He wondered what she could have done this time.

“Lex?” The woman’s voice was different from Chloe. Trying to place it, she saved him from asking. “This is Christy.”

He hadn’t spoken to Christy since their last ‘meeting.’ They had agreed to go their separate ways and chalk up the time to having fun. She actually had turned out to be someone that Lex sat and talked to after they had sex. He talked about Chloe; she talked about her parents. It was an odd but good relationship.

“Christy, what’s going on?” He had given her the number in case she ever wanted to talk. It wasn’t ever planned that he would hear from her.

“Lex, you have to help me out.” She was sobbing into the phone and didn’t give any other details.

Lex felt his heart stop. Christy had been the first non girlfriend that he had played around with. Their relationship wasn’t even defined since it had been so short. He tried to recount his times with her while he continued to say for her to calm down. Nodding his head to himself, he remembered going through the entire box of condoms those last few weeks. There was no way.

Nervously, he asked, “What wrong?”

“Have you read the papers from town? They shot up that place. My boss is dead, and two of the waitresses. They didn’t have any money on them. They didn’t deserve it. I can’t stay there.” She sobbed again into the phone.

“Someone shot up the club?” Lex knew the place wasn’t in the best area of town, but there were better places to rob than a nightclub. There had to be more to the story.

“I just can’t work there anymore. I think there’s some kind of gang vendetta that I really don’t want to be the next dead waitress. I’m not that book smart or whatever, but I have been a damn fine waitress and that was going to be a good paying job. I don’t want to die for my work.” Her voice started to crack but she was more solid in her statements now.

Lex leaned back in the couch that he had sat down in and started to slowly think about some options. “Hey, let me make some calls tomorrow. I may be able to help you out.” He paused as she sighed for at least the attempt. “You know, it’s funny. I thought you might be pregnant.”

He heard a laugh come from the other end of the line. “God NO! Last thing I want is to be part of scandal. I just really needed to talk to someone I trust.”

Lex softly sighed and agreed with her about his stupid thought. The two stayed up way past late and continued to talk. Somewhere between the screwing and the after sex conversations, she had become Lex’s new confidant, a girlfriend he didn’t have to impress.

***************

Fourth of July was coming up quick. Chloe was excited to hear that Lex was coming home for the extended weekend and had actually sent her an email that he was excited to see her. Things were in an interesting but confusing place.

The two still talked on a once a week basis and he had mentioned he might bring someone to the barbeque their parents was having. He had every right to date someone else. Chloe knew that they had left it with nothing between them. They had been as they always were, best friends.

Chloe shut her computer after the last brief email about the exact plans for the fourth and headed down to the main lobby of the Luthorcorp building. You couldn’t really say it was a building anymore, more like a complex. Four buildings with a small garden / playground in between. The ingenuity of Lillian understanding that if men’s stomachs were happy, they worked harder paid off. The restaurants, both fast and fancy that she put in the lobby were goldmines.

“Good afternoon. Can I get you something while you are looking at the menu?” A woman walked up to Chloe and smiled, after filling the coffee cup that Chloe turned over.

“I think the club sandwich is in order this time.” Chloe watched the woman write the order and then glanced at all the other workers in the restaurant seeing all familiar faces. “You’re new?”

“Yes, a couple of days ago.” She leaned in and looked at the badge around Chloe’s neck. “I guess working in the building you get to know a lot of the familiar faces. I’m Christy.”

Chloe nodded and smiled, “Chloe.” The two shook hands and smiled before Christy disappeared into the mass of waiters gathered around the front of the kitchen.

Chloe read through some project ideas that she had brought with her to work on while waiting for her lunch. She knew eventually when she was a real employee at that level that she would have to do the working lunch, but her time alone was precious.

Christy returned with her lunch and smiled as she glanced over the work that Chloe was doing. “Are you some kind of genius?”

Chloe looked at her awkwardly. “What do you mean?”

“Just the material that you are working on and you just look so young. I guess businesses know that the younger generation is where the profits are.” Christy smiled and started off.

Chloe rolled her eyes playfully at the statement about the younger generation. She wondered if she could have been in Christy’s situation if she hadn’t had the upbringing of her dad and Lillian. It would have definitely been a different type of life. She was truly blessed for her small family and circle of friends.

As she was paying, Chloe saw the young woman sitting by herself on her break. Christy wasn’t like the other waitresses that chatted on their phones or smoked like chimneys. Walking over and sitting down in the seat across from her, she looked at the applications in front of her. “Paralegal. Sounds like something interesting.”

Christy looked up from the forms that she was filling out for different schools around the area. “Yeah, I never got to goto college but I got this job that actually pays a tad enough to afford a couple of classes.”

Chloe smiled at her and thought about the barbeque. “I think there’s someone you should meet. My family is having a barbeque on the fourth. You should totally come by and say hi. Here’s my card,” Chloe smiled and handed her an unofficial business card.

“Thanks. I hate to impose.” Christy was curious why someone she just met felt the need or desire to be friendly to her. Working at the club, she had her ass grabbed dozens of times a night and never called anything but babe or asked to come home for a lay.

“No problem. Give me a call and I’ll let you know when and where.” Chloe nodded and started out of the small restaurant.

Several days passed before Chloe heard from Christy. In the meantime, Christy had done some thinking and finally had put together the name with the place she worked at. This presented an odd set of circumstances. This was Lex’s Chloe that wanted to be friends with her. And even though Christy knew in her heart that Lex was friendly and cordial to her, their relationship had been built on a figment of each other’s imagination. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to fantasize when you know exactly what she really looks like.

Christy, though, went against her heart’s better judgment and accepted the invitation, realizing that interesting sparks would fly if a certain young man came home for the weekend.

***********

Lex walked through the side door of the immense yard behind the Luthor mansion. He was amazed at the simplicity that his mother had given it since his childhood. It used to look like a museum storage for statues and had slowly switched to flowers, picnic tables, and a little vegetable garden. He stood in between shrubs adorning the edge of the yard and put his hands in his pockets.

She still had a hold on his concentration that he couldn’t understand. She was something; he felt he watched his own mother in her teen years as he watched Chloe move about the throngs of people with a smile. The picnic had turned into something of more a get together of business associates, but not a business meeting.

“Lex!” he heard his name from across the yard and waved back in the direction of Chloe. She turned back to setting out the needed items and waited until he crossed the yard at least his half before she walked up to him and hugged him. Wrapping his arms around, he breathed in slowly. She looked up at him and smiled, “So glad you made it, even if it’s only for a couple of days.”

Letting go and walking along beside her, they chatted about his midterms that he had suffered through the last week. He complained constantly about the inane classes in his undergrad and how grad school would be hopefully much useful.

Chloe would chide him in emails, reminding him what family he came from and that he had to understand most of those in class with him picked it because they wanted to go into business, not because they had to. They weren’t raised in it.

“So, who are all these people?” Chloe shot him a look and covered her lips with her finger.

“Don’t let your mom hear you say that. She would expect better of the soon to be executive. They are all the board members and their families and the custodial staff and their families. It’s a crossing of the socioeconomic plain – she wants the board to know where they could be and the custodial staff to know they are actually someone and not the silent night robots from the building or something. Just listen and learn names on both sides.”

Lex leaned into Chloe as she tried to keep her voice down. Lillian actually had no idea that Lex would be there; it had been a planned surprise that Lex told only Chloe about. Eyeing his mom, he squeezed Chloe’s hand, “I’ll see you later.”

Chloe went back over to one of the families who were currently arguing over the rules of tailgating golf. Chloe secretly wondered where people came up with these absurd yard games, but the adults love them as much as the kids liked the temporary sandbox that Lillian had installed for the weekend.

Lex tapped on the older woman’s shoulder as she was leaning over the cook and observing how the massive grill was working. Turning around, she screamed and threw her arms around her son. “Oh my. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I would have made it just us.”

“Well, that was the impression I was under from talking to Chloe.”

His mother glanced up at Lex before letting him go. “Talking to Chloe to get the dirt on your mom huh? That’s spying.”

Lex chuckled and shook his head, “Whatever you want to call it, but I was under the impression it was a family thing.”

“Just extended family of sorts; people you should know since you will probably be working with them in a matter of years.” Lillian took her son’s arm in hers and led him around the massive yard, first introducing him to custodial families and then board member’s families.

“And this is Chloe’s friend from the restaurant, the one you asked me to help. She's actually very good.” Lex’s heart stopped at the remark of Chloe’s friend. He stared right at Christy as his mother excused herself.

Christy smiled from ear to ear. She had grown her hair back out to its natural brunette tint since Lex had seen her last. It was odd with the tips still blonde. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he continued to stand stunned. Chloe’s friend. “Glad to see you,” she whispered.

“I had thought about asking you to this, but I wasn’t quite sure how to…”

“Ask me out on a date? It’s ok because the object of your affection and I are actually oddly close. She and I have been having girls’ nights out for the last couple of weeks. She’s really restrained though. She never talks about you. Are you sure it’s the right Chloe?”

Lex nodded and acknowledged that he was obviously very much on the back burner in her mind and smiled, “It’s the very one. Does she know anything about us?” Christy just glared at him as if he had been stupid to ask such a question.

The rest of the picnic, Lex and Christy hung out and talked to others at the picnic in their age group. Occasionally, Chloe glanced over and would give a broken smile in his direction, knowing that he belonged with someone his age.

Chloe leaned back in the swing in the garden area of the yard and peered out on the throngs of people eating and playing. She glanced up and smiled in the direction of the young man that walked up to her. “So, I see the junior hostess is taking a well deserved break.”

“What?”

“You’ve been running around like the party coordinator, but you work with Mrs. Luthor. My dad said you are some advanced high schooler or something.” He sat on the other end of the swing and watched the people along with her.

Chloe’s smile increased as he smoothly sat down next to him. He was the son of the Herrod family, the day custodial director’s son. Joel was a year older than she was and a football player from the high school she would be attending the next year. He started to push the swing with his feet slightly as Chloe curled her feet under her.

“You and I will be classmates next year. I am a year ahead as your dad kind of suggested.” Joel smiled back at her.

“Then I will definitely be asking you for some tutoring.” Joel looked and saw his parents waving at him near the exit of the yard. “Well, that would be my cue. See you in a few weeks.” He pushed off the swing and waved back at Chloe, not ever even asking her name.

As the groups of people left to find their way out to the country for the fireworks displays, Chloe started to pick up the leftover garbage. She felt a hand on hers and looked over. “Mom hired people for that. Let’s go.”

“Where’s Christy?”

“She has to work the early shift and decided to take off. Mom and your dad and Angela and I are taking off. Come on.” Lex took Chloe’s hand as she silently gulped at his electricity. He was so cool about the touch, seeming to forget the incident earlier in the year completely.

The two families made it out to the outskirts of town just in time and settled in on the blankets as the fireworks started. Lillian’s companion from the last few dinners accompanied them, so Lex grabbed a blanket. “Come on; let your dad and Angela have some time.”

Chloe followed him to a location against the tire of the limo and uneasily sat down on the blanket as Lex backed into the tire. “I won’t bite.”

“I know,” Chloe whispered as she backed into his chest and leaned back. She watched as he wrapped his arms around her.

************

The rest of the summer went by much faster. Chloe seemed oddly content with the arrangement that she and Lex had made in some silent formation. Chloe continued to work to finish a project for the Luthorcorp BioDiesel line while Lillian jetted off to see her son graduate.

Chloe had sent a card. She said her money was tight and that was what she had. Lex laughed hard on the phone when he called her a few days after his graduation. “You know you don’t have to ever get me anything.”

“Yeah I know,” she sighed and continued typing away on the computer as she held the phone at work to her ear. “How’s Christy liking the campus?”

“She thinks its intimidating. But she’s enjoying the drives out to the country. I guess down inside she’s still the small town girl she tried to lose.” Lex leaned back against the bed frame in his place and smiled as the subject of the conversation strolled through the living room.

Chloe felt odd being friends with the one woman that held Lex’s attention. She guessed that they had been sleeping together since she went to stay with Lex for his graduation. The image of Lex calling her name in the moment of passion seared in her brain. “I guess everyone has their way of relaxing.”

The phone seemed to go dead as the two suddenly hit a road block in the conversation. They both knew what they wanted to say and what they wanted to hear, but neither were ready. “Christy and I were going to go eat before I run her to airport, so I’m going to let you go. Have fun with the first week of school and behave.”

Chloe chuckled. “You know I picked out the shortest skirt to wear on the first day just in case I drop my pencil.” She heard a slight sigh from the other end of the line and knew she was baiting him.

“Goodbye Chloe.” He couldn’t handle any other words after her visual suggestion. Putting the phone down, he felt the bed dip behind him and hands run up his bare chest. Turning, he looked at Christy.

Christy ran her hands down his chest again before landing on his face. She straddled his hips and silently began to grind. She felt Lex adjust underneath her and take her hips in his hands as he closed his eyes. Sighing, he whispered, “I can’t.”

His eyes opened to Christy’s face as she slid off him. Kissing the side of his cheek, she threw him a shirt and smiled before saying, “Good boy.”

Lex had fully expected for the weekend to be a simple graduation with his mother and then the three additional nights of fucking Christy’s brains out. They had slept together all three nights, never once coming close to a sexual move. She had teased and taunted him all weekend. He knew she was testing him, testing his real love for Chloe.

*************

Chloe sat on one of the small stools in the back of the classroom and read some of the class information as she waited for the bell to ring. She looked up at the doorway and grinned seeing who walked in. “Here,” she called and waved as the young man from the picnic moved across the room to her.

He obviously had spent the rest of the summer working out with the team. He was in a football jersey with the sleeves rolled to make his arms look more pronounced. Sitting on the stool beside her, he eyed the rest of the room. “Well, you have just become the most hated female in this room.” Chloe smirked and eyed one of the cheerleaders that was shooting her death glares.

“No worries. Besides, at the end of the term, you’ll be happy we are sitting together and not with her. At least you’ll pass.” Chloe giggled and continued reading through the syllabus.

Joel leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I think there may be other reasons too.” Chloe felt his hot breath on her neck and tried to control the warmth that increased in her body. She glanced over and smiled at him as he leaned back over on his side, now firmly attentive on the teacher.

After class, Chloe slid off her seat and picked up her books. The chemistry class would rank up there in boredom to the history class she had to take. She so wished she could have had Lex’s brain to get all the work done. Walking down the hall to the next class of torture, she felt a hand on her shoulder. “Hey! I think we’re going the same way.”

Chloe turned around and saw Joel following her down the hall. Looking at the schedule in his hand, they had the afternoon together. Smiling up at him, they silently made their way down the hall.

The two picked out seats next to each other the rest of the afternoon, alternating sitting in the front which Chloe chose and the back where Joel chose. The two rambled about each other’s families and Chloe’s other schools. Joel never took his eyes off her and Chloe’s grin grew.

Stopping at her locker, Joel smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I have practice until 6 and then off to homework land.”

“I have work until 6 and then same for me.” Chloe dumped most of her materials in a backpack that Joel helped on her shoulder. He pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen.

“Write down your number where I can call if I run into problems on homework or need to ask you out.” Chloe’s hand stopped in the middle of writing the number. Looking up at him, she looked almost confused. Joel nodded sheepishly. “I know its not really a girl’s thing, but my brother drag races outside of town and I wondered if you would want to go Saturday night?”

TBC

[tatie87]

Great chapter. I love that you're starting to move time up. What is the chance that Lex's F*** buddy and Chloe would become best pals. Can't wait to see what happens with Joel. I sense jealousy on the horizion. Please update soon!!

[Olympias]

I so love this fic! Can't wait for the next update :)

[lexie]

Oh, my! I see more angst and trouble ahead.

When Christy phoned Lex I feared she was going to say the word ¨pregnant¨,so I was truly relieved the moment she chuckled. Then, my heart stopped for a bit when Chloe befriended her and the girl accepted the invitation to the barbecue. Good for Lex that despite her attempts to seduce him, he´s resisting the advances.

However, now that Chloe´s getting closer to Joel I´m starting to wonder if Lex´s jealousy won´t drive him back to Christy´s bed- I hope not because, so far, they´ve been lucky. What if she gets pregnant for real this time? And... what about that gang thing that was mentioned before? I´m really worried about the consequences of Lex being near this girl, because we know he´s always prone to attacks and accidents.

I´ll be biting my nails till your next update.::/:

[hfce]

I don't care for Joel or Christy but this is a great update. I want them together so bad. ;)

[Gaia]

Oh I can't wait for Lex to find out about this new development. he will be so mad,and then Christy will tell something really obvious to him like "well it is your own fault for not telling her how you feel" or something like that. Sounds like a plan to me or what?:P

[dagney]

How intuitive Chloe is. Her maturity is what Lex will need in a partner. The boy Joel is a nice addition, Chloe will need to date and spend time with other boys to know that Lex is the man for her. They are both very young. I too am greedy for more. The relationship/friendship with Christy is a wild card you've added but intriguing. I can see as an older female friend Chloe talking with her about sex. Dagney

[Kit Merlot]

An awesome update!

A very interesting twist that Christy and Chloe have become friends, and I like the idea of Christy taunting Lex to see if he was truly worthy of Chloe. Her "Good boy" when he turned her down made me smile.

Joel seems like a nice guy, and I wonder how Lex will feel about having a little competition for Chloe's attention--I love it:D

This fic is just wonderful--keep up the great work:grin3:

[lkedino]

i love this chapter update soon

[purplemoon123]

What a wonderful update. Love both Chloe's and Lex's maturity. Didn't see Christy and Chloe becoming friends. Just please tell me that Joel won't be like her last boyfriend!!

[Ultra]

You had me so worried when Christy called - much like Lex I was sure she would be pregnant! Thank goodness that wasn't true! :)

Whilst I was a little nervous over Christy and Chloe making friends, she seems like a decent person (for a whore) and I trusted she wouldn't wreck things for Lex and Chloe.

Now we have Joel. He seems nice and I really hope he is. I know that might mean he'll get his heart broken one day when Chloe dumps him for Lex but I can't bear to see her go through the horror of the last git again! So yeah, hoping Joel is a nice guy like he seems :)

Another few months and things should get a little simpler from the Chlex perspective, and since Chloe already assumes that Lex and Christy are/were sleeping together, that won't be a nasty surprise later.

Enough rambling from me now, just need to say... Please Update Again Soon! :D

[ChloeLovesLex]

Still, he sat in most classes everyday and daydreamed about Chloe. He knew it was absurd to think about a girl who wouldn’t even be the legal age of consent for another five months, but there was something about her that he couldn’t shake.

But who's counting, right Lex? LOL!



Lex felt his heart stop. Christy had been the first non girlfriend that he had played around with. Their relationship wasn’t even defined since it had been so short. He tried to recount his times with her while he continued to say for her to calm down. Nodding his head to himself, he remembered going through the entire box of condoms those last few weeks. There was no way.

NEVER say never Lex. There are lots 'o kids out there who are the product of modern "protection". Thank your lucky stars that wasn't the case *this time*.


The two stayed up way past late and continued to talk. Somewhere between the screwing and the after sex conversations, she had become Lex’s new confidant, a girlfriend he didn’t have to impress.

I don't like her. Something about her bothers me...plus 'a girlfriend he didn't have to impress' better mean. Girl. Friend.



Chloe smiled at her and thought about the barbeque. “I think there’s someone you should meet. My family is having a barbeque on the fourth. You should totally come by and say hi. Here’s my card,” Chloe smiled and handed her an unofficial business card.

Somebody slap her (Chloe). Seriously. Let's suppose Christy didn't know Lex. What the hell was that about. I'm going to kick Chloe's arse. Ding-dong.



“Don’t let your mom hear you say that. She would expect better of the soon to be executive. They are all the board members and their families and the custodial staff and their families. It’s a crossing of the socioeconomic plain – she wants the board to know where they could be and the custodial staff to know they are actually someone and not the silent night robots from the building or something. Just listen and learn names on both sides.”

Ahhh, finally the Chloe I'm used to. Clearly wise beyond her years. Lex better keep her around just because when he become's a LuthorCorp employee Chloe will be his eyes and ears for certain.


Christy smiled from ear to ear. She had grown her hair back out to its natural brunette tint since Lex had seen her last. It was odd with the tips still blonde. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he continued to stand stunned. Chloe’s friend. “Glad to see you,” she whispered.

Get your mitts off him girl. Can I slap her Superag. Can I? I don't trust her. She 'says' it's just a casual sexual relationship, but something tells me somewhere deep down she's lying to herself. I can totally see her becoming a crazy stalker girl and with Chloe giving her the inside dirt on the in's and out's of their relationship as it progresses she'll have just the right tools to attempt to weasel her way in. Especially if Lex and Christy continue to keep their relationship a secret. Nope, I don't like it one single bit.


Chloe followed him to a location against the tire of the limo and uneasily sat down on the blanket as Lex backed into the tire. “I won’t bite.”

“I know,” Chloe whispered as she backed into his chest and leaned back. She watched as he wrapped his arms around her.

Oh, come on Lex. Bite her!!!
Ok, sorry back to reality of her age. I admire Lex's restraint. It can't be easy to have the object of your desire that close and not act on it at all. It seems so unfair doesn't it that the number of her age makes her off limits...yet she is totally mature enough for it. I mean look at where she is working and holding her own.


Chloe had sent a card. She said her money was tight and that was what she had. Lex laughed hard on the phone when he called her a few days after his graduation. “You know you don’t have to ever get me anything.”

Chloe didn't go? WTH? Lillian should have taken her with her. She KNOWS how Chloe feels about him. Add her to my list of people to slap today.


Chloe chuckled. “You know I picked out the shortest skirt to wear on the first day just in case I drop my pencil.” She heard a slight sigh from the other end of the line and knew she was baiting him.

*snicker* She's so awesome. Poor Lex.


Christy ran her hands down his chest again before landing on his face. She straddled his hips and silently began to grind.

Bitch.


She felt Lex adjust underneath her and take her hips in his hands as he closed his eyes. Sighing, he whispered, “I can’t.”

His eyes opened to Christy’s face as she slid off him. Kissing the side of his cheek, she threw him a shirt and smiled before saying, “Good boy.”

He's not a dog you ho. 'Good boy' is an insult. He's in love with someone else. Straddle some other man. I thought Chloe was your friend? Liar.



Lex had fully expected for the weekend to be a simple graduation with his mother and then the three additional nights of fucking Christy’s brains out. They had slept together all three nights, never once coming close to a sexual move. She had teased and taunted him all weekend. He knew she was testing him, testing his real love for Chloe.

Just now figuring out he can't do it anymore eh? Silly Lex. It's only going to get worse buddy. Wait till Chloe gets a boyfriend her own age mister.


“Write down your number where I can call if I run into problems on homework or need to ask you out.” Chloe’s hand stopped in the middle of writing the number. Looking up at him, she looked almost confused. Joel nodded sheepishly. “I know its not really a girl’s thing, but my brother drag races outside of town and I wondered if you would want to go Saturday night?”

ruh-roh. Here comes that boyfriend now. Prepare the jet for a trip to the land of jealousy Lex.

[superag]

A/N - I am so happy about all the feedback this little story keeps getting. I can't get it typed in as fast as my brain wants me to go. But I'm going to try since I have some time. Now, on with the story. **dodges future articles thrown**

Perchè evitiamo quella verità
Che niente dura per sempre
Ci nascondiamo e poi
Neghiamo noi
Perciò non siamo insieme
Verita

Holiday Breakdowns – Chapter 10

Chloe slipped into the comfortable tennis shoes that Joel had suggested that she wear to the track. She was sure if she mentioned any of this to Lex that he would laugh at her and tell her to find something more cultured to do with her evening. But Joel seemed genuine.

The night before, the first home football game led to her, Gabe, and Angela all meeting Joel’s family. It was an awkward but nice occasion. The men that already knew each other from work eventually broke from their shop talk to discuss the events of the following evening. Chloe was under the impression that Joel and she were going to the drag races. After her dad’s discussion with Joel’s father, she found out drag racing was a family pastime.

“You have fun,” Gabe kissed her on the forehead as she ran toward the door. Opening the door, she saw Joel in the oddest shirt.

“It’s my brother’s logo. We got you one in the car.” Leaning around Chloe, he waved at Gabe. “We’ll be back by midnight.”

Chloe turned around and saw Gabe smile at the obvious polite man and sighed as the door closed. Angela walked up behind him. “You know, at least she’s trying to be with someone else.”

“Yeah, and I like him and his family. What a change from what I thought I would have to endure after the other boyfriend.” Gabe walked with Angela back into the living room and cuddled up for their own ‘date night.’

The track was what Chloe expected, loud and just loud. Joel handed her a bag of earplugs and waited outside the small bathrooms for her to change into the family’s team shirt. “Is there any money in this?”

“Some, my brother built his own car and got his own sponsors. Saved some money by shopping himself around.” Joel took Chloe’s hand in his and walked her up to the small bleachers where the rest of the family sat already.

The rest of the evening, she watched as Joel’s parents screamed obscenities at other drag racers as their cars flew down the strip. She felt Joel sink into her embarrassed every time his mother yelled ‘cock sucker’ across the track. “Sorry, my parents kind of forget company when they’re here. This is usually my first and last date with girls, but it’s part of me, so you just have to know about it up front.”

Chloe giggled at his embarrassed reaction. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not like I didn’t hear those words at the game yesterday. By the way, that was an awesome tackle last night. I just hope the other guy is going to be ok.”

“I talked to him this morning and it’s just a bruised wrist. He’ll be back.” Joel wrapped his arm in Chloe’s and pulled her into him. “Jeff is up next. But call him Spike.” Chloe shook her head as the whole small group she was sitting with started chanting Joel’s brother’s nickname. This had to be the oddest date she had ever been on.

When she returned home, Joel’s parents stopped in front of the house and watched as Joel walked her to the door. Holding her hand as if he was afraid to let go, he smiled. “So, too weird?”

Chloe shook her head, “No. And to your next question, I would love to go out again.” She let go of his hand and hugged him on the front porch in front of his parents. It seemed odd to her to go on a date with his family, but it was comforting. Knowing that he was that close to his family made her calmer about dating someone after the last date she had. “Goodnight. See you Monday. And tell your brother I had fun!”

Joel smiled and waited for her to disappear behind the door before returning to the car. Chloe shook her head as she heard the obvious engine overhaul his brother did on the car rev up and take off. “Have fun?” Gabe asked but he didn’t need to. The smile on Chloe’s face was one he had missed for years.

*************

The next few months went by with Chloe and Joel becoming closer. Halfway through football season, she was wrapped up in a blanket sitting with the other football player girlfriends. She wore his letter jacket and his picture on the lapel. She screamed for the team despite the horrifying losses against very unmatched opponents.

Christy and Chloe also became closer. Chloe knew nothing of Christy’s previous relationship with Lex but knew they had somehow gotten to know each other fourth of July and stayed in contact. Chloe understood the need for Lex to have someone that was nearer to his age, but she still thought it odd having his probable girlfriend as her friend.

“What do you think of this one?” Chloe pulled the costume off the rack and showed it to Christy.

“No. It’s too cliché. How about this one?” Christy held up the Alice in Wonderland outfit for Chloe to eye. Turning up her nose, Christy silently put the costume back on the rack. “So what are you and mr. football going as to this thing. I still can’t believe I’m going.”

Chloe pulled another costume off the rack as Christy shook her head no. “We’re going as Sleeping Beauty and the Prince.” Chloe smiled at Christy and showed her the costumes that her and Joel had already purchased.

“Good, then I’ll go as the evil witch that turns into a dragon and destroys the prince.” Christy found the costume for the event in the alphabetical listing of Disney outfits and threw it over her shoulder. Finding Chloe in line, she got behind her.

Chloe turned around and threw her smirk. “Joel will bring you down with a quick slice of his sword.” Christy laughed as the two paid for the outfits and headed off toward the small tearoom for lunch.

The two nestled into the small antique store with the tearoom buried in the back. Chloe and Christy found they shared a love of the antique smell. Old leather and wood scents hit them as soon as they entered the building. “I think the egg salad is on the menu today.”

The two sat and eyed the different purchases they made for the Halloween party Mrs. Luthor was throwing and the other small trinkets that Chloe knew she couldn’t really afford. “Have you talked to Lex much?” Chloe’s question, she could tell, caught Christy off guard. “Sorry, I haven’t really had the time and hadn’t been really involved. Last time I talked to him was like two weeks ago and that was just email.”

Christy set her bags down and leaned back in her chair. “I think he’s pretty buried with his new graduate classes. That MBA is supposed to be two years and he’s trying to force it in 18 months. That takes a lot of extra work. Plus, last time I heard, his mom had some kind of project brewing out near him and he’s been handling that for her. Honestly, I’ve been guilty of ignoring his absence since Steven came around.”

Steven was one of the security truck drivers from Luthorcorp that always stopped for early morning coffee before riding his route with the delivery trucks from the main Metropolis building. Whether it was actual merchandise or a very important envelope, Steven was the man to have to protect it.

Chloe liked Steven but wasn’t completely convinced that he wasn’t just an easy replacement for Lex. “Steven seems nice.”

“Yeah, I like him and he’s actually closer to my age than Lex and a whole lot more polite than the men that hit on me at my old job. But he’s kind of my secret if you know what I mean.”

Chloe knew what she meant. Lex knew nothing of Joel, and she wanted to keep it that way. He had no hold on her and Joel was the best thing that ever happened to her, her dad even reaffirmed the thought the past weekend.

The two finished up lunch and parted ways, discussing and rechecking on each other’s stories in case Lex tried to play the two against each other. Saying goodbye, Chloe chuckled thinking how mean it was to plan what could and could not be said to Lex.

***********

The next month went by quickly. The families prepared for the simple Thanksgiving at the Luthor mansion while things progressed for both Chloe and Christy. The two girls spent what seemed to be every moment they had together.

Christy watched as the two strangely double dated to the drag races one night and noticed the closeness that Joel and Chloe actually had. She had previously spoken to Lex a few nights earlier about Chloe. It wasn’t for her to say anything about, but she knew eventually that Lex would find out. It would crush him.

“Hey!” Chloe walked into the restaurant and sat in one of the small booths.

“I’m on a break in five; I’ll be right over.” Christy scurried around the restaurant until she arrived with coffee in hand for her and Chloe. Sitting down in the booth, she beamed in Chloe’s direction.

“Ok, spill it woman.” Chloe had talked to her early in the morning on the phone and wondered what could get the girl so excited she couldn’t say on the phone.

“I got into OSU, not the one everyone thinks of though. I took a wild shot and got in on a probationary period. Steven and I are moving over the Christmas break. His sister lives in Oklahoma anyway, so it’ll be a place we can stay.” Christy was beaming with the news as Chloe’s smile grew across her face.

“Oklahoma State. I thought you were just trying for a small AA degree somewhere.” Chloe questioned.

“I was, but Steven was over one night I was filling out applications and kind of put it on the top of the pile and said try it. I think personally he had someone from his family pull a few strings but he won’t own up to it. I don’t care how, but I’m finally going to college. My parents weren’t exactly big on education. My mom thought finding an education was finding the right overly drunk man in a ritzy club and convincing him to be my sugardaddy. That leads to my folks; one dead, one in Wall Street ruin. Anyway, I wanted you to know second. Of course, I already called Steven.”

“Take a breath,” Chloe giggled at the excitement in Christy’s ramblings. “So, you’re really serious about Steven?” Chloe was concerned about Christy’s quick jump from Lex to Steven. “Don’t you think that your relationship with Steven is going a little fast? I mean you never really ended things with Lex.”

Christy nodded confused in Chloe’s direction and covered her mouth in dawning. “Lex and I were only friends. Anyway, he’s number three on the list of who to tell and I guess I will have to explain Steven also. But I wanted you to know I will really miss you.”

The two girls hugged and smiled at each other. It was weird the way Christy seemed to appear and disappear from Chloe’s life. Chloe walked back up to her office in the Luthorcorp building and sat alone at her desk.

“What’s the glum look for?”

Chloe’s head spun around and she smiled at Gabe. Standing up, she hugged her dad and tried to keep the smile on her face. “Christy got into college and is moving. Her and Steven are taking off over the holidays to get her settled.”

Gabe rubbed his daughter’s back and sat down across from her in the closet of an office, “Isn’t that good news?”

“Yeah, but it just reminds me that I can’t get out of here fast enough. I’ve been in this city my entire life. All these people around me jet off to here and there and I never see or go anywhere. I just want to be done with high school and move on.”

Gabe took her hand in his. “I know sweetheart, and great things will come to you. But don’t be too hurried to grow up.”

Chloe’s head popped up and she glared at her father. “Don’t you dare call me your little girl,” Gabe shut his mouth and chuckled. She knew him all too well.

***********

Chloe watched from the table in the kitchen in the Luthor mansion as the caterers rushed around and fixed the Thanksgiving dinner that could have fed the entire soup kitchen in Metropolis. Of course, Lillian was no where to be seen in the house. She was attending to the other group at the soup kitchen downtown.

Chloe arrived with Angela and her father earlier in the morning to watch the parades on the big screen before the noon game. Lillian’s companion, Robert, had obliged to play host and currently sat with Gabe and Angela yelling at the screen as the Dallas Cowboys once again threw an interception. America’s Team they weren’t anymore.

The doorbell rang and Chloe ran down the hall until she got close enough to the door for someone to tell what she could be doing through the frosted glass. Opening the door, she suddenly was swept up in someone’s arms. “Hey gorgeous.”

“Hey to you too,” she whispered as Joel’s hand flew up into her hair and his lips pressed against hers as she melted into his body. She loved the feeling when his arms were around her. Dropping her back to the floor, Chloe let Joel enter and took his coat.

“The others are in watching the game. You should go join them. Dad was wondering if you’d brave the mansion to come.” Joel waited until the coat closet door was closed and surprised Chloe with another kiss, pressing her against the door.

Chloe closed her eyes and moaned into the kiss that she let deepen. Things definitely had changed since her birthday two weeks earlier. She turned 16, received Joel’s letter jacket permanently, and lost her virginity in one night. He had said the three words every young woman died to hear and actually meant them.

Chloe had been scared to death after her last incident had become such a disaster, but Joel had been completely different. The party that Lillian had thrown her had been good, but she enjoyed the family dinner that Joel’s parents had for her the next night. The two went for a walk and ended up at a well planned picnic in the middle of the night. Chloe couldn’t have pictured it any better, just warmer she and Joel agreed.

“How many bedrooms are in here?” Joel pulled out of the kiss and kind of chuckled at Chloe’s obvious loss of composure.

“Get your head out of the gutter. Besides, if something happens in this house, Mrs. Luthor will know about it. If nothing else, she is all knowing of these grounds. Now go be cordial to my father.”

“Yes, mom.” Joel kissed her again on the cheek and disappeared into the room as Chloe started back down the hall. Turning, she sighed and realized her father or Robert playing host was not going to happen as the front door started to open again. Turning she saw a man appear in a trenchcoat.

“Happy Thanksgiving Chloe.” Covering her mouth in surprise, she walked up to Lex and threw her arms around his neck. “My mom off saving the poor again?”

“Yeah,” she slid down from his shoulders and stood back from him as he put his own coat away. “She should be back in about two hours. By then the screaming fest in the living room might be over. How have you been?”

“Good,” he guided Chloe down the hall to the kitchen, lightly touching her in the small of the back. A feeling of sadness washed over Chloe as he touched her. “I’m hungry now though.”

He pushed opened the kitchen door and went straight for the stack of cookies that were to be put out after dinner. “So, how is school?” Chloe sat down at the little table in the kitchen as Lex sat down across from her.

“Busy. And mom’s drilling experiment in the marshes takes up all the other time I have. Amazingly enough, she has finally found a way to piss people off. Apparently, folks like black mud and trees and don’t want them touched.”

Chloe laughed and rolled her eyes. “At least someone is concerned about the foreign dependency on oil. What’s a few mud puddles. Sorry I haven’t really kept in touch.”

The two had been slowly slacking on their communication with each other in the past month. Lex’s excuse was school and work; Chloe’s was something she wasn’t ready to talk about yet. But she needed the separation. If only, she thought…

“Beautiful, are there some hors…”

Lex turned and looked at the well dressed and obviously healthy young man walk into the kitchen. Without batting an eyelash, Lex stared at the man walk over and kiss Chloe on the cheek before smirking and stealing a cookie off the plate in front of the two of them. “Lex might fight you for those.”

Joel turned and met Lex’s now erect body. He looked stiff and uncomfortable to Chloe, and she knew there was no time but the present.

“Lex, this is Joel, my boyfriend.” Lex glanced in Chloe’s direction and shook hands with the man. “Joel, Lex Luthor.”

“The famous, never a bad word spoken about Lex Luthor. I feel like I should be kneeling or something. Chloe makes you out to be her personal savior.” He smiled genuinely at Lex. Lex felt an uncomfortable knot in his stomach as the boy continued to talk. “Seriously, your dad’s complaining about wanting a veggie tray or something. Said that if I mentioned it…”

A servant looked up and nodded his head in reaction to the mention of the guests needing something. “That’s just creepy; that means they listen to everything you say.”

“I told you this house has ears,” Chloe joked as she wrapped her arms around Joel’s and nodded to Lex to follow the two of them down the hall.

“I’ll be there in a minute.” Lex held back but caught the kiss between the two in the hall as the swinging door reaffirmed that Chloe definitely had a boyfriend that was closer than a few days old. She had never mentioned a word. He had heard from Christy about Steven only a few days earlier. It didn’t bother him; Christy had been a plaything and a confidant, not a girlfriend. But Chloe had been a … like a sister.

Running his hand along his scalp, he found the cabinet with the cheap booze and poured himself a healthy glass of scotch from the bottle. After numerous shots, he walked down the hall and opened the doors to the living room.

He greeted the room and smiled as Robert shook the young man’s hand. Robert was what his mother called a companion. He would never be Lex’s father, nor her husband. She wasn’t interested in anything complicated at her age. Lex sat in the lounge chair to the side of the television, directly in sight of Joel and Chloe wrapped up in each other’s arms on the floor.

He watched Gabe’s reaction, or non-reaction as it seemed, as Joel snuggled his face into the crook of Chloe’s neck. Her eyes rolled and closed as she giggled at the touch. Turning to face him, Chloe glared at him but he continued the little game.

Lex thought he was going to be sick. He understood why his mother had told him to bring someone with him. He wasn’t sure how he was going to eat through this. He had asked Christy and that led to her news. Feeling a sense of bitterness and anger boiling within him, he excused himself. He couldn’t believe that Chloe never said anything to him.

Walking up the stairs, he heard a voice behind him and turned to someone saying his name. “Gabe. How are you doing?” Lex walked back down and met Gabe at the bottom of the stairs.

“I thought we could share a drink,” Gabe commented cautiously. The two silently disappeared into the small reading room and poured drinks. “Come clean son.”

“She didn’t tell me.”

“She didn’t have to. You haven’t told her the truth all the time either.”

“But he’s just a kid. He could do what that dick…”

Gabe cut him off, “She and Joel are serious. Probably more serious than I want her to tell me about but I like him. He has a good family.” Gabe laid his hand on Lex’s shoulder and put down his empty tumbler. Walking out the door, he closed it behind him as Lex stood in the middle room trying to compose himself. He should really be happy for her, finally.

The rest of the Thanksgiving dinner went off without another incident. Lillian had prepared the table as to break up the couples and encourage discussion. Lex actually found he liked the young man, jealous nonetheless, but liked him. The meal consisted of the two men trading power plays from baseball and football.

Chloe leaned over and pointed out to her dad the ‘who’s got the most testosterone contest’ going on across the table from them. She glanced over and smiled at Lex on more than one occasion and mouthed ‘thank you’ as Lex became more comfortable with the idea of Joel in her life.

After dinner, Joel and Chloe excused themselves as they were going to have to eat twice. Chloe was leaving with him to attend his parent’s dinner later in the evening. As they walked out of the dining room, Lex followed them to the notice of everyone sitting at the dining table.

“Chloe.”

Chloe turned after slipping into her coat. “Hey, are you going to stick around or back to the grind tomorrow?” She hugged Lex and looked back over her shoulder as Joel announced he would go warm up the car. When the door closed, she looked back up Lex.

“Going in with mom to go over some of the quarterlies tomorrow. Then I fly out on Sunday. You?”

“I’m going camping this weekend with several kids, so we’ll be back Sunday night.” Lex resisted asking if Joel was one of the kids going on the camping trip. He almost didn’t want to hear the yes that would come from her lips.

Lex hugged Chloe and smiled at her. “I like him. I do.” Chloe pulled out of the hug and eyed Lex’s face to see what the real thought was. She had grown up with him; she knew if he was lying.

She could feel his heart beat harder as she let him go. “Thank you. I have to go,” she whispered as she let Lex’s hand go. He watched the door close behind her as Joel had returned to the front porch to help her down the front steps that were starting to ice over.

************

Since Thanksgiving, Chloe and Lex talked again every few days. He would listen to her ramble on about Joel even though it caused him to seeth inside. Joel did everything for her that he wished he could do for her. The two promised that even though he would only be in town for a few days, they would see each other.

Chloe appeared at the front door of the mansion bundled to where you could only see her face. “Good Lord, get in here,” Lex pulled on her arm before she even got to knock.

“Impatient any?”

“No, but I wasn’t going to let you wait by the door on the coldest day we’ve had in a decade. How are you? You have a good Christmas?” Lex asked as Chloe undid part of her coat.

“Good. Joel and I are going out to the Holiday Lights tonight, but I got my Christmas gift from him last night. His family does all the gifts on Christmas Eve. See?” Chloe pulled her hair back to show off the simple diamond earring drops the high schooler had picked out. “I think he has to get a scholarship now since I think he spent his savings on these.”

Lex took the opportunity to touch her, running his fingers along her ear lobe and then down the earrings that were actually decently tasteful. “They’re incredible.”

Chloe smiled as she pulled her hair quickly back in place. She hoped Lex didn’t notice the hitch in her breath as he touched her. The lump in throat sat idle as he continued to smile at her.

“Here,” Lex handed her a small box as Chloe’s eyes grew. Holding the box between her fingers, she searched her purse and found the gift for him as well. She handed the package to him and continued to open hers. Popping the lid of the box open, she covered her mouth and giggled at the diamond locket. It was exquisite and obviously very expensive. Opening the locket, her eyes welled up with tears. Pictures of them as kids.

“Oh God, where did you get these?”

“Your dad. You know how he was with the camera. Anyway,” he was cut off by her arms around his neck and her crying into his shoulder.

“It’s wonderful Lex.” She slid out of his arms and waited for him to open her gift. She now was concerned that he wouldn’t appreciate it. It wasn’t something special or expensive. Lex opened the small box and noticed the heavy crystal. “I know it’ll be a few years, but I saw it and…”

“It’s stunning.” The crystal nameplate was simple and yet elegant. Complete with the Luthorcorp logo on each side of his name. The irony of the two gifts hit Lex. She was looking at his future and he was trying to hold on to his past. He was losing her, to Luthorcorp, to Joel, to the future.

“Well, I have to get going. I told dad I would be home pretty quick where we could get going.” Lex nodded silently and walked Chloe to the door and opened the door for her.

“Merry Christmas Chloe.”

“Merry Christmas Lex.” She smiled over her shoulder like he always liked and started out the door before a hand covered hers on the knob and shut it. Whipping her around, Lex pressed her against the other door and crushed his lips into hers.

Breathing heavy, Chloe couldn’t resist closing her eyes, even with pressing her hands firmly against his chest to no avail. She obliged and let him deepen the kiss, letting his tongue slide past hers before one final shove against him, throwing his questionable balance off.

“WHAT THE HELL?”

“Chloe, I can’t let you go. I know how this is going to end.” Chloe heaved deep breaths and glared at him, sitting the box down on the end table in the hall.

“YEAH, I know how it is too. HOW DARE YOU!”

Lex tried to calm himself and hopefully would calm her. “Chloe, I can explain. I’m in love with you.”

Chloe’s mouth dropped and her face seemed to deepen in rage. “AFTER EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO FUCKING RUIN IT. I’M FUCKING HAPPY NOW AND YOU PICK NOW TO TELL ME.” She took a deep breath. “Well, guess what? I’m over you. I love Joel. Yes, I love him. So, just leave me the hell alone!”

Chloe slammed the door behind her and left the gift sitting on the table next to where Lex made the mistake of his life. He listened as the car peeled out of the driveway and disappeared.

“Lex?” Lex took a deep breath and choked down his broken pride and embarrassment. He turned and looked at the top of the stairs where his mother leaned on the banister. “What happened?”

“I kissed her,” his voice shook as he could barely find the words to tell her. He bit his bottom lip to avoid any other reaction in front of her. He watched as she made her way down the stairs to meet him. She raised her chin and eyed him suspiciously.

“And?” She waited through the silence as her son tried to give her the same stare but failed and let out a crumbled sigh.

“I told her I love her.” Lillian watched his emotionless face drain of its color as he admitted his feelings to her.

Lillian felt for her son. She knew the feeling had been a long time coming and wanted to hold him in her arms like she did when he was little. It was like a deep cut that needed to be healed, but Lex was a man bearing his soul to a girl that was not meant to be.

“First, lift your head up and act like you are a man. You will listen to me and do as I say.” Lex locked eyes with his mother and nodded. “You will go back to school come tomorrow, you will not wait until next week. You will finish your degree and then take over the executive office in Seoul. You are not to call her, email her, fax her, or communicate with Chloe in any way. Are we understood?”

Lex stood silent but never broke his stare on his mother. He swallowed, thinking of a way to retort what his mother had just ordered him to do. She very rarely had been this way with him, and he knew the consequences of not following her directions regardless of his being grown up in his own right. He watched her tilt her head slightly to the side when he had not yet answered her. “Yes ma’am.”

Lillian simply nodded and started back up the stairs, taking the gift from the side table and placing it in her robe pocket. “Turn off the lights and lock the doors when you come up for bed.” She closed the bedroom door and left Lex alone.

***********

Five months went by without a mention of anything from home. The only emails or phone calls regarded Luthorcorp and were strictly business. He knew this was his mother’s way of healing him, but it never seemed to work. The one folder on the laptop that was hidden deep in other folders and named ‘connections’ was his only link to the woman who truly wanted nothing to do with him now.

Lex sighed and closed the file of childhood pictures and went back to reading emails from corporate moguls that he would soon need to know on a first name basis. Eyeing the ringing phone, he continued to ignore it until the person called back for the third time.

“Luthor,” he spoke irritated.

“Lex,” he sat up immediately hearing the voice on the other end. It was shaky and nervous. A million things went through his head in an instant. She only called when she needed him.

“Chloe, I’m so sorry. I should…”

“Lex, it’s about your mom.”

TBC

[tatie87]

Ok this was a great chapter, but I'm a little disappointed that Chloe didn't wait for Lex. I like Joel's charchter well enough, but I was holding out for a Chlex union sooner than later. I've got to know how Chloe and Lex are going to get back together. Keep up the great writing. I love that Lillian has a companion and his name is proper.

[hfce]

Yeah Joel I don't like. Lillian what the hell? ::/: She knows Chloe and Lex are meant to be. What changed her mind? Joel is temporary and Lex is the future. I am just not really happy. So I will stop. :wth:

[Kit Merlot]

What an awesome chapter!

Joel seems like a genuinely good guy, and I'm kind of glad that Chloe lost her virginity to him. I think it's good that Chloe gets some experiences of her own with men before she and Lex finally get together--it levels the playing field a litte:D

Also, could Lex have chosen a worse time to tell Chloe he's in love with her? Lillian was right to send him away because both Chloe and Lex need more time to grow up.

But what the heck is wrong with Lillian?

This story absolutely rocks!!:grin3:

[lexie]

I agree with tatie and Hope, Lex should have been her first. Joel might be a decent guy but he isn´t Lex and besides, she was just sixteen. Why the hell couldn´t she wait a couple of years? She´s a perceptive girl, she must have realised that the only reason Lex was with Christy was just because he couldn´t be with her. Going out with a boy her age was OK, but starting to explore her sexuality with someone we all know isn´t the one she loves? Grrr, I´m mad, and I´m suffering with Lex for this.


“Lex,” he sat up immediately hearing the voice on the other end. It was shaky and nervous. A million things went through his head in an instant. She only called when she needed him.

Poor soul, he´s always the one they come to when they need something, and who´s there when he needs someone? Lillian´s an amazing mum but if she really thought asking him to put geographical distance between him and Chloe would put an end to his misery, she was sourly mistaken. And that phone call, will it mean more heartbreak for Lex? Please, don´t tell me Lillian´s dead or seriously ill.

Come back soon and fix this, superag. Be gentle with Lex´s heart! And you, Chloe, I expect you to be there for him just as he was there for you in your time of need. You´d better or heads´ll start rolling. :wth:

[meeaz]

My heart is breaking right now. I adore this story. You've created such a great alternate reality and I find myself loving the characters you have created...probably more than the real characters. Chloe and Lex's relationship is epic and I love that they have had torubles and ordeals to overcome. Hopefully, they will come together finally. Great job!

[zho9]

I was looking forward to Lex being the jealous one this time but I was actually heartbroken for Lex.


The irony of the two gifts hit Lex. She was looking at his future and he was trying to hold on to his past. He was losing her, to Luthorcorp, to Joel, to the future.


“I kissed her,” his voice shook as he could barely find the words to tell her. He bit his bottom lip to avoid any other reaction in front of her. He watched as she made her way down the stairs to meet him. She raised her chin and eyed him suspiciously.

“And?” She waited through the silence as her son tried to give her the same stare but failed and let out a crumbled sigh.

“I told her I love her.” Lillian watched his emotionless face drain of its color as he admitted his feelings to her.

Lillian felt for her son. She knew the feeling had been a long time coming and wanted to hold him in her arms like she did when he was little. It was like a deep cut that needed to be healed, but Lex was a man bearing his soul to a girl that was not meant to be.


Poor Lex. Now, to make it worse something has happened to Lillian!

Really enjoying this story.

[lkedino]

i love this chapter and I hope Lex and Chloe come together

[purplemoon123]

I gotta say that I'm loving this updates!!

No need to dodge!!! Chloe has to also explore just as Lex did otherwise how does she really know if she truly loves Lex and not just a crush from childhood.

Now come back!!! What is wrong with Lillian???

[Gaia]

This does not sound good. At all.
And I can't believe he just kissed her! although....what other choice was there. Brilliant chapter:D
MORE!!!!!

[Ultra]

See, now I'm gonna be a grown up about this (which is not to say anybody else with their different comments are being childish, only that I usually would be! ;)) because I understand that Chloe needed someone her own age and that Joel is a nice guy. It'd be easy to blame him for getting in the way of the Chlex, but he didn't steal Chloe from Lex, she moved on from one to the other. Of coiurse, I do hope she hasn't completey moved on because in the end we do need the Chlexy goodness! :)

Poor Lex, I do feel for him. Kissing Chloe the way he did was going to get one of two reactions - her kissing him back and declaring she loves him too and always has, or what actually happened, the yelling! I don't blame her for being mad. Poor Chloe, she waited for Lex to return her feelings, which he did only secretly, and now he decides to tell her when she's happy with Joel!

Oh what a mess our poor characters are in, and now Lillian! Whats up with her?! I'm worried now that she's going to die like in the show, and I'd hate for that to happen. Surely she's a 'powerful woman' like the title says - she has to be okay ::/:

Anyway, this was another awesome update, super, as always, and I can't wait for the next! :D

[leiseman04]

Wonderful updates! I just love what you've done with the story. You've made it so compelling. I just want to read more and more.

Argh! This is why I hate reading stories that aren't finished!

Keep up the great work! :)

[lexie]

I gotta say that I'm loving this updates!!

No need to dodge!!! Chloe has to also explore just as Lex did otherwise how does she really know if she truly loves Lex and not just a crush from childhood.

Like Ultra said, and I said in my previous post, Chloe needed and had the right to be with someone her own age; I´m not arguing this point. I understand her going out with Joel or any guy for that matter. Going to parties, meeting new people, kissing... why hold the candle for Lex when he´d never said the ¨words¨, right? Still, I don´t believe that experimenting sex with someone else is a sure way to test whether what you feel for another is love or just a crush. In short, there are other ways in which she could have tested if what she felt for Lex was real or just a childish infatuation.

On the good side, she seems to have had a nice first experience- and Joel seems to genuinely care for her- but now that she knows that her love for Lex isn´t unrequited she might regret being so rush; I know I would.:grin3:

[Kit Merlot]

Still, I don´t believe that experimenting sex with someone else is a sure way to test whether what you feel for another is love or just a crush. In short, there are other ways in which she could have tested if what she felt for Lex was real or just a childish infatuation.


To me, it seems that when Chloe lost her virginity to Joel it was because he told her he loved her, and she knows he meant it. I don't think Chloe was just experimenting or testing her feelings for Lex when she had sex with Joel. She truly cares for Joel and is genuinely happy with him.

And like I said in my earlier post, I think it's good for Chloe to gain her own experiences with men before she and Lex get together. Thus far in this story, Lex has slept with three different women that we know of, and Chloe has only been with one guy. I think Chloe should have at least one more boyfriend before she realizes that Lex is the man for her.

But that is just my opinion:D If our dear author wants to get the Chlex together in the next chapter, I'm cool with that too.

[superag]

Ok, I want my two cents too because, well, it's my brain that wrote it.

I don't think it would have done Chloe any good to wait until she was older to lose her virginity. Girls do things earlier and earlier and at least Joel is someone that truly cares for her. He didn't do her and leave her. Besides, if she had waited, it would have prolonged it with someone else that would probably still not be Lex.

To that point, I knew to simply leave it as one line though. No one wants to read about two fumbling teenagers getting it on.

Regardless, I love the replies that I get that entice me to sometimes change up things or go in a different direction or just start some debate.

[lexie]

I don't think Chloe was just experimenting or testing her feelings for Lex when she had sex with Joel. She truly cares for Joel and is genuinely happy with him.

I didn´t say that Chloe lost her virginity to Joel just to test what she felt for Lex- it´s clear she feels comfortable with the young man and that Joel truly cares for her. What I said in my previous post was just a response to Rocío´s (purplemoon) assertion: ¨Chloe has to also explore just as Lex did otherwise how does she really know if she truly loves Lex and not just a crush from childhood.¨ I simply stated that, as a general rule.- in RL- sex isn´t a sure way to test your feelings for a third party; not that I believe Chloe slept with Joel to prove anything.


Besides, if she had waited, it would have prolonged it with someone else that would probably still not be Lex.

Well, we wouldn´t know that if this were RL; but hey! This is entertainment, you´re the author and you´re the one who decides how the characters will act and what´s in store for them in the future, and we´re along for the ride. So... keep writing. I´m still pissed with Chloe for not waiting for Lex, but that´s just me and I´m sure they´ll be Chlexiness ahead and that he´ll show her what she´s been missing, right?:yeahbaby:

[Esther25jm]

*cries* You got me and my muse all emo, super! *sniffles* Wonderful story/updates! Neat look into how Lex (and Chloe's) lives would be had Lillian lived. I don't know what else to say except the my heart broke for Chloe when she was in love with Lex and he didn't realize it, and now it's breaking for Lex because Chloe loves someone else. *bawls* I love it, all of it, and can't wait for more.

[ChloeLovesLex]

The rest of the evening, she watched as Joel’s parents screamed obscenities at other drag racers as their cars flew down the strip. She felt Joel sink into her embarrassed every time his mother yelled ‘cock sucker’ across the track. “Sorry, my parents kind of forget company when they’re here. This is usually my first and last date with girls, but it’s part of me, so you just have to know about it up front.”

Poor Joel. That can't be something he's proud of from his parents.


Chloe shook her head, “No. And to your next question, I would love to go out again.”

I like how confident Chloe is that he wants to go out with her again. It's good to see that her feelings for Lex didn't affect her the way her feelings portrayed on Smallville for Clark had.



Honestly, I’ve been guilty of ignoring his absence since Steven came around.”

Yeah, see, I still don't like her.


Chloe knew what she meant. Lex knew nothing of Joel, and she wanted to keep it that way. He had no hold on her and Joel was the best thing that ever happened to her, her dad even reaffirmed the thought the past weekend.

That's just wrong of both of them. I didn't like it when Lex hid Christy from Chloe and now she's doing it to him. This is going to bite both of them in the bum.



Christy nodded confused in Chloe’s direction and covered her mouth in dawning. “Lex and I were only friends. Anyway, he’s number three on the list of who to tell and I guess I will have to explain Steven also. But I wanted you to know I will really miss you.”

Good...she's gone. YAY! I still don't like her and I still don't believe her. So there.


“Hey to you too,” she whispered as Joel’s hand flew up into her hair and his lips pressed against hers as she melted into his body. She loved the feeling when his arms were around her. Dropping her back to the floor, Chloe let Joel enter and took his coat.

Ruh-roh. I'm sensing a serious type relationship here. Not good. Not good at all.


Chloe closed her eyes and moaned into the kiss that she let deepen. Things definitely had changed since her birthday two weeks earlier. She turned 16, received Joel’s letter jacket permanently, and lost her virginity in one night. He had said the three words every young woman died to hear and actually meant them.

I had hoped she would wait for Lex too. I mean he was supposedly the love of her life. Even though someone was in her life at the moment she could have waited to see how things panned out later on. I've read some other opinions on here and I don't think sex is a way to explore if a relationship works or not nor do I believe you need more than one partner before marriage. That's just me though and is a whole other converstaion - LOL. Let's just hope Chloe and this guy used protection as well. I don't want to see the reverse of what we thought would happen to Christy occur. Not even a little scare.


“I’ll be there in a minute.” Lex held back but caught the kiss between the two in the hall as the swinging door reaffirmed that Chloe definitely had a boyfriend that was closer than a few days old. She had never mentioned a word. He had heard from Christy about Steven only a few days earlier. It didn’t bother him; Christy had been a plaything and a confidant, not a girlfriend. But Chloe had been a … like a sister.

A sister? Seriously Lex...you came up with sister? Hmmmm.



Lex hugged Chloe and smiled at her. “I like him. I do.” Chloe pulled out of the hug and eyed Lex’s face to see what the real thought was. She had grown up with him; she knew if he was lying.

She could feel his heart beat harder as she let him go. “Thank you. I have to go,” she whispered as she let Lex’s hand go. He watched the door close behind her as Joel had returned to the front porch to help her down the front steps that were starting to ice over.

Very big of Lex and probably very hard for him to admit. Little Chloe is all grown up now buddy.



“Here,” Lex handed her a small box as Chloe’s eyes grew. Holding the box between her fingers, she searched her purse and found the gift for him as well. She handed the package to him and continued to open hers. Popping the lid of the box open, she covered her mouth and giggled at the diamond locket. It was exquisite and obviously very expensive. Opening the locket, her eyes welled up with tears. Pictures of them as kids.

Leave it to Lex to outdo the boyfriend. :D Sweet.


“It’s stunning.” The crystal nameplate was simple and yet elegant. Complete with the Luthorcorp logo on each side of his name. The irony of the two gifts hit Lex. She was looking at his future and he was trying to hold on to his past. He was losing her, to Luthorcorp, to Joel, to the future.

What a harsh realization there. Poor Lex. His heart must be breaking at that thought.


Whipping her around, Lex pressed her against the other door and crushed his lips into hers.

Oh my! Awesome yumminess. Even though he totally shouldn't have.


Lex tried to calm himself and hopefully would calm her. “Chloe, I can explain. I’m in love with you.”

...I SO wish this would make everything all better.


“First, lift your head up and act like you are a man. You will listen to me and do as I say.” Lex locked eyes with his mother and nodded. “You will go back to school come tomorrow, you will not wait until next week. You will finish your degree and then take over the executive office in Seoul. You are not to call her, email her, fax her, or communicate with Chloe in any way. Are we understood?”

Ok, can I just say...I don't get Lillian here with this at all. I agree he shouldn't run after her and he should lay low...but she sounds so permanant with this and I think it's too harsh.



“Lex, it’s about your mom.”

CRAP!!!! Not Lillian!

[superag]

A/N – I suck at the whole quoting thing, so I just wanted to address/thank people that are still with this. And to think that Undoing Lex Luthor was going to be my last long fic. So much for promises to myself.

Again, I think Chloe has every right to be with someone other than Lex for her first time and maybe other times. We shall see. He didn’t exactly wait on her. But, this is a Chlex forum, so….

Also, I think that Lillian was doing what she thought would be the best for the two of them. She knew how Chloe felt and after her being the one hurt for so long. She didn't mean to hurt Lex in the process, she just recognized the bad timing.

Also, a general thanks to those that have stuck through it all, Kit, Hope, Lexie, Tatie, Rocio, Ultra, Esther, and Gaia. And welcome to all those that have jumped on the last few updates. Hope you ride the rest out with us. Also, thanks to CLL, who find ALLL my mistakes.

Now, part 1 of this chapter.

Becoming A Man – Chapter 11 part 1


Lex flew through the doors of the hospital and straight up to the desk. Skipping the elevator, he took every other step for three flights of stairs before coming through a set of doors into a hallway. Following the signs, he slowed into the waiting room outside the ICU level.

He could only think of directions and questions he needed to ask of the doctors, asking anything else would cause him to possibly lose his calm. He had met the jet at the tarmac before he could have gotten all the details of her condition. He never admitted to her that Chloe’s voice was a calming tone in the face of what was to come.

Lex walked into the back of the little waiting room and saw Joel running his hands through Chloe’s hair. “She was exhausted. Her dad is in with your mom,” he whispered as Lex nodded and left.

Walking through the ICU doors, he saw the small cluster of rooms and drew a faint breath. Hospitals never smelled good, the cleaning solvents were there just enough to cover the smell of impending death. It had been the same with his father.

“Gabe.” Lex glanced at his mother as the older man held him. “How is she really?”

“The doctors have been checking on her progress through the last few hours. They went on and did a catheter for the TpA treatment and they have been giving the rest intravenously. They are real hopeful. She just fell back to sleep so I stepped out for some coffee.”

Lex walked beside the older man as the two went into the small room off the side of the ICU unit. “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you and Chloe hadn’t been at lunch with her.”

“The doctors said the same thing. Your mom’s far off look was not her.” Gabe and Lex silently agreed. “Robert was overseas; he’s on his way back.”

“Thank you for staying with her. Why don’t you two go home and I’ll call you later.” Gabe gripped the young man’s shoulder and took a deep breath as he left Lex at the small sliding door to his mother’s room.

Sitting on the seat next to the bed, he closed his eyes and tried something he never thought he would, he prayed. He knew for the mere fact that if she had not been with someone at lunch and had chosen to work through lunch, he would be burying her instead.

Sitting back in the chair, he made some notes from the materials that either Gabe or one of the staff had left. His last six months of school would have to be moved home. This would be complicated but not impossible.

Hearing the sliding glass, he got up and greeted the doctor. “I’m Dr. Farris. Why don’t we step out and talk.” Lex followed the doctor out of the room and folded his arms. “Your mother had an Ischemic Stroke. Now, we have located the point of issue. As with many stroke victims, her high blood pressure is something we can continue to tackle, but she is going to recover.”

“Any residual problems?” The doctor nodded in agreement.

“Your friends were with her and immediately called 911. She gained a great better chance with them being there. She will have some issues with speech and her sight but she suffered no major paralysis, which is our typical worry in stroke patients. It’ll be a long recovery but a much easier one in her condition. I’ll call the home health team to get in touch with you here either later today or tomorrow.”

“Thank you. Can she speak now?”

“She was speaking to Mr. Sullivan. Very short one or two words. Tiring her out this close to the actual stroke could cause another onset. Be cautious.” Lex nodded silently and shook the doctor’s hand.

Entering the room, he smiled as he could see his mother’s eyes open and a small smile creeping up one side of her face. The paralysis on the other side would eventually fade away. “Hey,” she whispered.

Lex pulled the chair up next to her and took his mother’s hand. “You don’t have to talk. In fact, I think you should stop. You stressed yourself out until we’re here.”

Lillian rolled her eyes at him and patted him on the top of the hand. “Stocks.”

“No, no news, no stock reports. Just rest. Life will go on.”

“Press Rel…”

Lex squeezed his mother’s hand. “Stop. Things are being taken care of. I want you to worry about getting enough rest to get you home. And by home, I mean the house.” Lillian rolled her eyes again at her son. He was growing up before her eyes. His stature remained the same, but his voice and inflection was now one of an adult.

Lex sat with his mother until she faded off to sleep again. Holding her hand, he could feel her grip loosen and tighten somewhat uncontrollably. It was part of the damage, however small. He leaned back in the chair, made a few more notes on the pad, but eventually fell asleep when the ICU lights were dimmed.

Waking to an awful beeping, he quickly shot up from the chair and turned. “Sorry, her bag needed replacing. The beeping is just signaling that it is not attached. You must be her son. I’ll be on until 6 AM. Call me if you need anything.” The unidentified nurse picked up the empty bags and started to pull the door closed. Seeing Lex stand up and stretch, she left it cracked.

“Coffee?”

“This way. There’s a little nurse’s hangout behind the machines with a table if you need some time alone.” Lex thanked the woman and leaned against the back of one of the machines after pouring coffee from the nurses’ station. He contemplated the possible actions he should take. Looking at the clock, he wondered if Gabe would possibly be up.

“Hello?” came from a groggy voice on the other end of the line.

“Chloe.” She sat up and waited to hear the bad news. “Is your dad available. I know it’s early.”

“I don’t think he’s gone to bed. He’s been going over Impairment documents all night. And writing a statement for the press that I proofed a couple of hours ago.”

Lex sighed under his breath at the dedication of someone to his family. If his father were laying in that bed, nothing would be done. People would have prayed for him to have another stroke. Instead, even the one that wanted him gone from her life still loved his mother with that much conviction.

“Can you have him bring them up to the hospital along with the market reports for the morning. And Chloe?” He heard her barely groan into the phone.

“Go to bed.” He heard the phone click off on the other end and then finished off his coffee. Making his way back into his mother’s room, he saw lights coming from the ceiling and rolled his eyes. “Who did you coax?” addressing his mother’s incessant need to watch the stock reports coming in from overseas.

“No one knows,” she slowly articulated.

“Mom, not now. Gabe and Chloe worked on the press release. He and I will take care of it.” She shook her head no almost too fast for her fuzzy thoughts to stay in tact.

“Not you,” she simply stated.

“What do you mean?”

“Gabe’s in charge.” Lex sat in seat next to his mother, stunned. “Until you 24.” She held her hand out to him. Taking it reluctantly, he felt completely cut out of the family. “You go school.”

“Mom, I can handle it. I’ve been taking care of the Southeast division this whole time.” He stopped. “I’m not arguing about this. If you think Gabe is the better person right now, I will learn from him while you get better. But I’m going to finish my schooling here. The university does the MBA by distance learning; I can simply transfer into that program. I’m staying home.”

She patted his hand with hers and smiled the halfway smile again. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

****************

Lillian remained in the hospital for almost two weeks. Lex finished up his finals via the Internet and oral exams from the conference room in Luthorcorp. Impressed by the surroundings and Lex’s obvious concentration regardless of the very public report on his own mother’s health, the professors immediately sent the next quarter’s materials at his request.

Lex walked around the mansion and the redecorated study. The shelves now cleared of many of the heavy objects and random antiquities that could be dangerous if his mother slipped in what was now her bedroom. All rugs and decorative furniture removed, the room was bare with only needed medicinal equipment and her own bed and rocking chair.

Lex’s face was drawn as he sat down in the chair and rocked, looking at the wheelchair and other objects in the room. They couldn’t predict the recovery for his mom. The prognosis for her was promising with the strict orders for her to take it easy to avoid another stroke, a very real possibility. She had been lucky. Leaning back in the chair, he rubbed his eyes trying to stave off the tears.

“Sir, there’s someone here to see you.” The older gentleman that his mother hired as the butler stood genteelly in the doorway, careful to not irritate the stressed out man.

“Send him in.” Lex took a deep breath, knowing that a day of interviews for rehab doctors and therapists were to start in a few short minutes, he hoped the visitor would be quick.

“Good morning,” Lex’s hand dropped from his face as he looked over at Chloe in the doorway. “I was on my way to school and dad said you were working here today. He needed you to look these over and message them back over to him later this afternoon.” Chloe handed the three folders to Lex and stepped back out of his personal space.

“Thank you.” The two stared at each other as Chloe gently raised her chin in response to his questioning look of her speaking again. “I have to go.” Chloe turned on her heel and closed the door to the room, leaving Lex standing there alone again.

TBC

[basmas84]

I know that this is mean and everything especially when his mom had an ischemic attack, but i was really hoping for more CHlex in there...
and I totally don'T like her new boyfriend... he is evil....

but, yeah, I am happy that you didn't kill off his mom... aand I am happy to have lex permanatly home until lillian is better...

so all in all i loved your update!!! i was a great chapter... :blinkkiss

[lkedino]

please chloe and lex must be together in future hopefully soon

[Gaia]

It will be another few years for Chlex I think. I mean Lex had a serious girlfriend through his high school/ college years. So Joe will stick around for that. Plus she is still 16 and I would like for her to be mature age wise, before she goes into a relationship with Lex.

[dagney]

I somehow missed 2 updates yikes. The debate about Joel. It seemed pretty typical to me, her relationship with someone her own age. The bond btw the 2 is strong and like any relationship is tested with good and bad and this relationship and Lillians illness will reflect the closeness. Nice work Dagney

[lexie]

It seems your muse is really inspired these days. Thanks for not keeping us waiting.

I´m really glad Lillian didn´t pass away; although I´m sure it must be really hard for someone who´s always in control to have to relinquish that role to others- thank God she has Gabe and I´m convinced she´s more than aware of how lucky she is. It must also be hard on Lex to see her so fragile when she´s always been the one adult on whose strength he could count.

I love the fact that Lillian wants to spare Lex the stress of taking on such a big responsibility as leading a multimillion-dollar conglomerate at so young an age. Knowing Lex, however, I´m certain he won´t let this prevent him from taking an active part in the decisions concerning the corporation until his mum´s recovered. I feel this´ll be a coming of age for Lex, he´s a man now and- perceptive as usual- Lillian has already realised it.



“Good morning,” Lex’s hand dropped from his face as he looked over at Chloe in the doorway. “I was on my way to school and dad said you were working here today. He needed you to look these over and message them back over to him later this afternoon.” Chloe handed the three folders to Lex and stepped back out of his personal space.

“Thank you.” The two stared at each other as Chloe gently raised her chin in response to his questioning look of her speaking again. “I have to go.” Chloe turned on her heel and closed the door to the room, leaving Lex standing there alone again.

Now... about this last part. Although Chloe was there for Lillian and Lex during the first moments of the crisis, she now seems awkward around her old friend. I sense confusion in her- she no longer knows how to treat him and her attitude in this closing scene comes across as cold; it provokes me to shout at her: Hug him! I understand the awkwardness; still I can´t help but remember how Lex behaved around her when she was assaulted. The guy needs his friend not just a secretary- she´s helping him (of course she is), but I´m not sure she´s giving him what he needs right now.

I hope the air between them clears up soon, and that they can rebuild what was partially broken. And, please, keep Lillian alive!

[hfce]

That was a good update. I feel bad for Lillian though. I hope she makes a full recovery. I will keep my mouth shut about Joel. I know Chloe deserves to be happy. She shouldn't let her life stop just because she is to young for Lex. But I reserve my right in not liking him. LOL!! :D

[tatie87]

Well Lillian's stroke brought Lex back to Metropolis so one can only hope him and Chloe will make-up. I loved that Lex took charge. Great update.

[Esther25jm]

Great update, sweetie! Oh, man, poor Lillian, but I'm glad that Lex has made arrangements to stay there with her. It's nice to see him taking care of his mother and the business, plus making sure that he's still going to school. I'm actually pretty happy to not see very much Chlex interaction because it would've been a bit weird, considering that his mother needs him so much. Still, that last scene was nice and I'm really happy to see that Chloe (hopefully) doesn't hate him like she said she did. Can't wait for more, hon!!

[karila]

This story is still wonderful.
Sorry for the lack of feedback.

I have a few things to say.

First of all, I have to admit that I'm disappointed in Chloe.
I agree with those who think that she needed to date other boys before realising that Lex is the good one. What I didn't appreciated is how she treated Lex after he kissed her. I mean, he was her best friend, he was always here for her when she needed someone and now that he is the one who need a friend because of his mother she treats him like a stranger.

Secondly, I know that you all love Lilian and I have to agree that she is a great mum. Nevertheless, I didn't liked how she decided that Lex and Chloe are not meant to be together. And her idea to send Lex away wasn't a good one. Out of sight, out of mind is a stupid concept for me. How can you stop loving someone just because you don't see him?

I think that was all I had to say.

Continue the great job.

[dagney]

All this chatter about Chloe, she is protrayed as very mature in this story but she is what not yet 18 still nearly 17. She is not an experienced woman, so her actions of being unsure and contrairy can be chalked about to developmental age. Think about what lex's priorities were when he was protrayed at this age. Keep up with the good work with this story Dagney

[Kit Merlot]

Oh man, I am so glad that Lillian is alright, and I like that Lex was ready and willing to take the reins of the company.

However, Lillian is right that Lex needs to finish his education first. I do feel horrible for him though; it seems that Chloe's not able to get past his kissing her and declaring his love for her. I hope they are able to start talking soon--they need each others friendship, now more then ever.

Keep up the great work on this fic:D

[purplemoon123]

I'm so excited with all these updates!!!

Happy to see that you didn't send Lillian to her grave. I like that she made Lex keep going to school.

My poor Chlex dont' know how to be around each other after the kiss and declaration.


“Thank you.” The two stared at each other as Chloe gently raised her chin in response to his questioning look of her speaking again. “I have to go.” Chloe turned on her heel and closed the door to the room, leaving Lex standing there alone again.

I don't blame Chloe for not knowing how to be around Lex. I think she was trying but she just didn't know what to say that would get them back to how they were.

[superag]

A/N - First, thank you for the review and continued reading. It's wonderful! But I hope not to disappoint, but this chapter is going to launch us a little more in the future. I have a plan and it doesn't include paragraphs about rehab and other side stories that no one cares about. They are simply truncated to get more Chlex. SO, here we go.

Chapter 11 part 2

“I’m fine,” the woman protested as she pushed herself up from the dining room table and picked up her cane. Seeing Lex and Robert stand after her, she laid her cane back against the table. “Now, sit. I am tired of you two treating me like an egg. It’s been almost a year. The speech is back, the walking is better, and I want my bedroom upstairs again. That study smells like musty death.”

The two men continued to stand as the woman walked out of the room, hobbling to her right side slightly, but no slower than she used to. Slamming the door behind her, she poked it with the end of the cane to test they weren’t opening it right behind her.

Lillian had about had all she could stand of the ailment they called a stroke. She had been through so many treatments, and yoga classes, and speech therapies, and massages, and rehabs, and… It made her head spin thinking of the amount of her investments that went to just her damn care. She hated her bedroom, but Lex refused to move it because he felt it wasn’t safe. It wasn’t his damn body.

Sitting in the chair that was now next to the coat closet, she carefully pulled on her sweater and opened the front door. “Freedom,” she said to herself as she descended the porch stairs. She could feel the eyes from the living room window and had the desire to flip both of them off.

Sitting in the swing in the front yard, she watched several of the neighborhood children roll by on their bicycles and smiled. She missed seeing Lex that young. She didn’t have the heart to tell him to quit working so hard; he was simply helping out and learning the business that would soon be his. Later than sooner, she thought. She had no intention on telling him that she was returning with the doctor’s permission fairly soon.

All in all, she was impressed in Gabe and Lex’s work at the company. Gabe she had watched for years, but Lex still had some to learn. He was lacking the ability to be the boss. She remembered those small lessons she learned when Lionel died and she was thrust into something she didn’t understand.

She let the setting sun warm her face as she swung by herself. “Mind if I join you?”

Opening her eyes, Lillian smiled and signaled for her visitor to join her. “I would love to have a female to talk to besides the nurse.” Lillian stopped and took a deep breath. She hated getting out of breath, one of the last residual problems with her stroke. “The nurses are all gone as of next week. I told Lex if he didn’t terminate them, I was moving out.”

Chloe stared at Lillian and busted out in laughter. “So, everything with the company is going ok I take it. Otherwise you would be up there wielding your cane at the morons.”

“That cane would have whapped Lex a few times in the last month. I swear, as soon as I think he’s grown up, he does something stupid.” Chloe didn't pursue the question but could tell Lillian wanted her to ask. “I’m sorry I pushed him away.”

Chloe looked at his mother, stunned. She was apologizing for nothing. Chloe had been the first to tell Lex go to hell. And, for awhile, he had done so. They still passed each other in the halls of the office. She had still been in the same meetings with him and gone to him for research tips. Still, the relationship was shaky, questionable and hard to define. Then she saw him just the week before at the benefit that Luthorcorp had for charity that Lillian had started for other stroke victim’s families.

She and Joel had arrived with her father right behind the guest of honor and her companion. Lex arrived half an hour later with the woman that looked exactly like the occupational therapist that visited the mansion every week. Squinting across the dance floor, the woman hung on Lex’s shoulder like cold honey.

They had spoken once that night, introducing each other’s dates to the other and talking light business. Mandy was just obnoxious. It reminded Chloe of the women that were paid to be escorts, ones that would fawn over you for the right price. The right price in Mandy’s eyes must have been Lex’s wallet. She remembered the two leaving for the evening early and wondered what hotel suite he took her back to.

That night she and Joel learned what angry sex felt like. She never quite understood why she felt that way or explained it to Joel except for she was in the mood for something harder, and Joel just prayed the condoms held. After that night, she steered from him altogether.

Thinking back to what Lillian had said, “You didn’t. It was a long time coming and I’m really happy with Joel.”

Lillian cocked her head to the side and smiled at the now young woman. She had watched Chloe grow up, fawn over Lex, and then grow up some more. “You really love him.”

“More than anything. I can’t believe that we have only one more year left. I just feel bad that I haven’t seen you. It’s hard to come see you and…”

“I know hon. But you’ve been busy. I’m so excited for you.” Lillian hugged Chloe and whispered, “You make sure you do what makes you happy.”

Chloe smiled and nodded. “I have to be getting back, but how about a walk tomorrow afternoon?”

“I would love that.” Lillian watched Chloe disappear around the side of the house and looked up at the living room windows. Groaning, she knew that both men wanted her back in the house in order to keep her controlled. She was ready for work again.

The next day Chloe knocked on the door of the mansion, fully expecting to Robert or Albert, the butler. Stepping back from the doorway, she saw the one person she wasn’t expecting. “I thought you would be at work. I was going to go for a walk with your mom.”

“Come in. She had some pain last night and was awake for awhile. She’s actually napping. I can wake her.” Lex opened the door for Chloe to enter and watched her make her way down the short hall. “She moved upstairs.”

“Oh, well I don’t need to wake her. She’s the one that the walk was for anyway. I’ll be making my way home then.” Chloe turned back to the door when she heard Lex open the living room door.

“You know, I actually just got home and was going to make some notes for you on the last proposal that came out of your division. You have some time?” Chloe looked over her shoulder confused. Was he actually going to hold business in the house? It was against all the rules his mother had taught him. “Please, a drink first.”

“Lex, we could do this tomorrow.” She waited for him to oblige her suggestion and then recanted. “Fine, what did the group do?”

She followed him into the office and sat across from his desk chair. She watched him pop the top off two sparkling waters and place one in front of her. Pulling out his briefcase, he pulled a folder from the case and sat it in front of her. “These aren’t going to be any good. The prelims came in on them and they aren’t cultured enough.”

Chloe looked through the marketing pieces that her group had prepared for the latest venture at Luthorcorp and turned up her nose. “What’s wrong with them? They are cultural.”

Lex walked around and looked at the schemes over her shoulder and nodded to himself. “Maybe the word is multi-cultural. The perspectives were just not what the preliminary panel wanted from you. You have to redo them.”

Chloe shoved the schemes back into the folder and placed them in front of Lex as he sat in front of the now open computer on the desk. “That’s it? You know there are two copyright teams at Luthorcorp. Maybe the other team would be better suited for this particular job since I, as you say, didn’t have the right vision.”

“Chloe, I have every faith that the second effort will be better than the first.” He typed something on the keyboard as Chloe took one finger and lowered the screen onto his hands.

“Lex, I would have thought all those degrees or at least your mom would have taught you better. You really need to work on firing someone from a project. This soft approach is really not you.”

Lex looked up from his crushed hand under the laptop screen and almost giggled at Chloe. “Ok,” he drawled as he slid his hand out from under the keyboard. “Have it your way…your group is off the project.” He watched Chloe’s smile appear as she knew that even though she lost a week’s worth of pay, it was worth finally seeing Lex as a boss.

“Anyway, I have to get home.”

“Any reason?” Lex walked around and caught up to her.

“Nah, just have some homework and stuff. Why?” Chloe turned almost directly into Lex’s body.

“I thought we could talk. It’s been a more than a year since…”

“We can talk, but I’m not going there.” Chloe followed Lex into the living room and sat down on the couch. Thoughts flashed back to her about the last time the two sat on a couch together. She nervously grinned as Lex sat down on the other end.

“So how have you really been?” Chloe looked at Lex confused. “I mean with your dad being really preoccupied this year with the company and all.”

“I should be asking you. I mean dad’s been busy, but your mom practically ripped it out from your hands. My dad, though, he’s been really tired. It’ll be nice to see him back to his regular overtime job when your mom goes back to work.”

“That isn’t happening for awhile,” Lex retorted.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t hold your breath,” Chloe giggled. “I think she has some plans for her office and her cane for that matter.” Lex smirked confusingly at her. Chloe watched the expression on his face and remembered his mother talking about who she’d cane first. She wasn’t going to let a stroke get her down.

“So how about you? Any plans yet? Your dad was talking about Metropolis University; I’m sure you would get in there with no problems.” Lex eyed her suspiciously, trying to get a read on all that he had not heard about. His mother obviously had been out of the loop for the longest time and Gabe never spoke of his personal life. That included Chloe.

“Actually, Joel and I have plans. Joel has the plans, and I’m sure my father is going to kill him when he finds out.” Chloe covered her mouth and bit her tongue. Lex and Gabe worked side by side; this would get back to him for sure. “Lex, you can’t give anything away. Please, if my dad found out about Joel. I love him. Joel’s taking the ASVAB.”

“A military wife. You?”

“You sound surprised?”

Lex was stunned. Chloe seemed so much more of her own boss than taking orders from someone in uniform. She needed something more than following a man around and making a home for him. Getting over the shock of her first few words, he knew that they had just stepped back into their old routine of confidant, something he wasn’t about to give up on. Swallowing his other thoughts and criticisms, he asked, “What branch?”

“He’s joining the Marines. He’s got top scores on the practice tests and will probably go into some nuclear work. They’ll pay for his engineering degree for a few years of service. So, his date would be sometime next June to San Diego.” Chloe took a deep breath, knowing Lex could simply pick up the phone and ruin her life. She didn’t know why after all they had been through, that she would still trust him. He had his life, and she had hers now. And he could ruin hers.

Lex sat back in the couch, calmly nursing the bottle of water and taking in everything that Chloe had said. Playing back the words in his head, the small part of moving with him meant she would leave, she would marry, and she would be no longer in his life. It killed him, and he could end it quickly. On the other hand, when he wanted to do something, Gabe had slowed him down and Lex ruined it anyway. After almost a year and a half, they had barely made eye contact. He couldn’t ruin this for her; it was worth giving her up to keep her close.

“Well, I’m sure you and he will find the world an exciting place. Just let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”

Chloe made a cleansing sigh, assuming his offer for assistance was an olive branch of sorts for their past. It was still like walking on glass they both knew, would probably be one of their last heart to hearts, but something they would cherish.

He watched as Chloe set the bottle on the table and stood up. “I’ll see you out.”

Chloe turned and took a deep breath. Hugging him was risky; she sighed before slowing wrapping her arms around him. Feeling his body against hers didn’t feel the same. “Thanks. Have a good night. Tell your mom I’ll try some other time.” Chloe made her way down the stairs as Lex closed the door.

**************

Graduation from high school was odd for Chloe. She was nervous standing in front of the mirror in her room. Everyone was downstairs, including Joel’s family and Lex. It was going to be an odd set of company. She straightened her hair as the door opened. “Can I help?”

Twirling around, Chloe bobbled on the heels she was wearing under her cap and gown. “I don’t know if I can do this. Speak in front of all those people.”

Lillian walked over and straightened up Chloe’s collar. “At least when you talk to your fellow classmates about their futures, you know what that already feels like.” Chloe turned and looked at Lillian. Her mouth still slipped slightly to the side and her eye still drooped when she got tired. But her spirit had never been broken.

“Thank you.” Hugging her surrogate mother, Chloe and Lillian made their way down to the living room and saw the whole room smile at the two of them.

Breaking off into different cars, the family met again at the grand hall in the downtown convention center. Chloe hugged everyone and came down to Lex and Joel.

“You are going to do awesome honey. Who cares if the rest of the class is drunk and way past ready to party.” Joel hugged Chloe and placed a small kiss on her lips as Lex looked on. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw his mother purse her lips in calm. He had seen that look before, but he didn’t need it this time. He had finally grown up.

Leaning over, he hugged Chloe. “It’s a good speech. You will be wonderful. Just pretend they are all naked.” Chloe pulled from his hug and laughed.

“I’m liable to not get a word out that way.” She hugged him again and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

Lex stood up from her embrace and felt a strange fire as her lips left his cheek. Suppressing the thought, he quickly smiled in her direction. Chloe glanced back in his direction, catching the strange smile and a sinking sensation in her own stomach. Dismissing it as nerves, she wrapped her arm around Joel.

Chloe heard her name halfway through the ceremony and calmly went through her speech as the student council president. As expected, many students only wanted to get onto the diplomas and subsequent illegal drinking that was expected after the event. Still, Chloe spoke smoothly and proud.

She stepped off the podium after the ceremony with her diploma in hand and smiled at the young man that she met at the bottom. “So it didn’t completely suck and I made it through without throwing up.”

“It’s all those presentations that you do at work. I don’t understand any of what you do, but you’re really good at it,” Joel beamed. Lex heard the remark and wanted to explain her obvious value at Luthorcorp based on that work she does that he didn’t get. He mentally counted the days until he would have to fill her place with someone else.

Chloe had broken the news to her father a few days earlier. The screamfest as she had called it when she explained it to Lex had put everything out on the table. Not quite 18, she was still legal and not going to be under Gabe’s roof, the two points he tried to use to keep her there. He knew that Chloe needed someone to rant to besides Joel. Joel was suffering his parents’ wrath himself. Simply, they wanted him, them, to wait.

After the massive dinner at home, she and Joel slipped out of the house and out toward the park in the neighborhood. Lex had escaped the dinner right after the last course, citing an early morning and more work at home. Walking through the park back to the house, he caught sight of Chloe’s blonde hair in the lights at the park.

They used to push each other on the swings in the park years ago. Now she and Joel simply sat in them and talked. Joel was a genuine young man. He had never done Chloe wrong in all the times he had seen them together. He talked to Joel earlier in the evening and found the man educated and well rounded. He was what Chloe wanted.

Standing back in the shadows, he watched as they talked and pulled in for a kiss. His heart dropped another notch seeing Chloe’s grip increase against Joel. A small sad smile grew on his lips as the boy barely eighteen proposed to the woman of his dreams.

TBC

[basmas84]

omg!!!! :eek:
what are you doing to us readers.... every chapter you bring such a great writing... and then leave us hanging just before the real bomb drops...

this chapter is amazing.... and seriously... I know i say that very same thing every chapter... but this only shows how good you are, and that your work continues on this great level all of the time...!!!!!

*heartbreak* as for lex and this chapter... it really breaks my heart... to see joel propose instead of him... omg...
I know this will bring me some bad charma... but i really hope that this wedding is not gonna happen and that you will pull a 'lana and whitney'...

I am going to go off now and eat some ice-cream or choclate for my lex-heartbreak...

[Gaia]

He.....she....they....ARE GETTING MARRIED!?!?!?!?!?!?
sorry......but I can't focus my mind onto antyhing else at this point.....

[zho9]

You're killing me. Ugh, poor Lex.
Does it make me a horrible person to hope that Chloe's heart will be broken and that Joel ultimately turns out to be an ass?

[Olympias]

I really shouldn't have read this update :( . I really hope that there will be some Chlex...

[tatie87]

Holy crap Joel and CHloe are geting hitched and she's going to be a military wife. Please no. I want CHLEX. The writing was superb in this chapter even though I wnted to rip out my hair. I will be quiet now and keep waiting patiently for the CHLEX.

[Ultra]

Okay, I accepted that Chloe needd a guy her own age for a while in High School and all that, but she's going to marry the boy! No way, man! :eek:

Surely you cannot be so cruel, superag, as to destroy all hope of Chlex?! But then, I remember that this is a Chlex forum, and so in the end it has to work out. Just so you know, the wait is making me (and no doubt many others) suffer terribly!!!

Okay, okay, I'm calm, and I do have to say you're writing continues to be nothing but excellent, a fact proven by how worked up I'm getting about the story! ;)

Another update very soon would be appreciated, even if it is greedy to ask for more so fast after all the other postings! Oh well, can't wait! :blinkkiss

[lexie]

They had spoken once that night, introducing each other’s dates to the other and talking light business. Mandy was just obnoxious. It reminded Chloe of the women that were paid to be escorts, ones that would fawn over you for the right price. The right price in Mandy’s eyes must have been Lex’s wallet. She remembered the two leaving for the evening early and wondered what hotel suite he took her back to.

That night she and Joel learned what angry sex felt like. She never quite understood why she felt that way or explained it to Joel except for she was in the mood for something harder, and Joel just prayed the condoms held. After that night, she steered from him altogether.

I´m getting really pissed at Chloe and her stubbornness.By reading this part only it´s so clear her feelings for Lex still run so deep. She might have steered from him altogether but she is definitely not over him.


Chloe turned and took a deep breath. Hugging him was risky; she sighed before slowing wrapping her arms around him.

You bet hugging him is risky. If she just forgave him for not opening his heart sooner, she would accept they´re meant to be together.


Standing back in the shadows, he watched as they talked and pulled in for a kiss. His heart dropped another notch seeing Chloe’s grip increase against Joel. A small sad smile grew on his lips as the boy barely eighteen proposed to the woman of his dreams.

Damn, I hate how much Lex is suffering and how hard he´s trying to let her be happy with the one she ¨thinks¨she wants.

I´m hoping and praying for Chlex soon. Don´t let her marry Joel or we´ll plot ourselves and crash the wedding to abduct her on Lex´s behalf.

Great writing though I´m not at all happy with Chloe´s choices, especially because I believe she´s trying to convince herself Joel is who she really wants. :wth:

[hfce]

All I can say is :wth:

[Esther25jm]

Great update, sweetie, and I will fully admit that it broke my heart. Can't wait for more!

[Kit Merlot]

This was a beautiful yet heart-breaking chapter!

I like that the Chlex friendship was back in that they were able to have a pretty good conversation, but then Lex had to watch Joel propose to Chloe. I wonder if he will try and talk her out of marrying Joel, and to marry him instead:grin3:

This story continues to rock and I can't wait to see what happens next;)

[purplemoon123]

Like I've said I'm loving this frequent updates!!! They're beyond awesome!!!

I don't mind the year jumping if it gets us closer to Chlex. Happy to see that Lex and Chloe are trying to get their freindship back.


Joel hugged Chloe and placed a small kiss on her lips as Lex looked on. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw his mother purse her lips in calm. He had seen that look before, but he didn’t need it this time. He had finally grown up.

Is Lillian plotting something????

I'm not going to freak out over the Chloe and Joel getting married. Why?? Because I have faith that everything will work out!!!

[lilinny]

I just read in two days, and it was beautiful. I love how this story is unfolding.

I can't wait for more.

[ChloeLovesLex]

Sitting on the seat next to the bed, he closed his eyes and tried something he never thought he would, he prayed. He knew for the mere fact that if she had not been with someone at lunch and had chosen to work through lunch, he would be burying her instead.

What an intense realization. In a moment she could have been gone. Hope he added a "Thanks" in there along with the rest of his prayers. You just never know do you? Hard to find out first hand.


Lex squeezed his mother’s hand. “Stop. Things are being taken care of. I want you to worry about getting enough rest to get you home. And by home, I mean the house.” Lillian rolled her eyes again at her son. He was growing up before her eyes. His stature remained the same, but his voice and inflection was now one of an adult.

It's good to see Lex being able to step up to the plate when needed quickly. I bet Lionel never thought his son could still become a wonderful businessman even without the crummy upbringing we saw on SV.


“Gabe’s in charge.” Lex sat in seat next to his mother, stunned. “Until you 24.” She held her hand out to him. Taking it reluctantly, he felt completely cut out of the family. “You go school.”

Patience Lex...a little patience. School is important. That company has been around a while. It'll still be there when you are finished.


Lex walked around the mansion and the redecorated study. The shelves now cleared of many of the heavy objects and random antiquities that could be dangerous if his mother slipped in what was now her bedroom. All rugs and decorative furniture removed, the room was bare with only needed medicinal equipment and her own bed and rocking chair.

Oh goodness...what a horrible thing for Lillian to have to see, but certainly neccessary. Hopefully it isn't so stale that she loathes being there. That can put a damper on the healing process sometimes.


“Good morning,” Lex’s hand dropped from his face as he looked over at Chloe in the doorway. “I was on my way to school and dad said you were working here today. He needed you to look these over and message them back over to him later this afternoon.” Chloe handed the three folders to Lex and stepped back out of his personal space.

She certainly does seem very impersonal and secretary-ish doesn't she? It's understandable though. She's young and hasn't a clue how to separate the two lives. Business from personal can easily intermingle when you are young. Hopefully it doesn't take her too long to fix that.



She hated her bedroom, but Lex refused to move it because he felt it wasn’t safe. It wasn’t his damn body.

At some point Lex has to realize she has recovered to a degree. Enough to allow her a few liberties such as enjoying her surroundings. He should trust her on how she says she feels.


“That cane would have whapped Lex a few times in the last month. I swear, as soon as I think he’s grown up, he does something stupid.” Chloe didn't pursue the question but could tell Lillian wanted her to ask. “I’m sorry I pushed him away.”

I was laughing at Lillian wanting to smack Lex with her cane. I imagine as his mother seeing him take care of her in the obsessive ways that Lex can takes a toll on a person. Especially one who used to be the care giver instead. I can just picture her on a rigid schedule that Lex had prepared for her rehab and such and not allowing her to deviate for any reason whatsoever. I'd whap him too.


They had spoken once that night, introducing each other’s dates to the other and talking light business. Mandy was just obnoxious. It reminded Chloe of the women that were paid to be escorts, ones that would fawn over you for the right price. The right price in Mandy’s eyes must have been Lex’s wallet. She remembered the two leaving for the evening early and wondered what hotel suite he took her back to.

That night she and Joel learned what angry sex felt like. She never quite understood why she felt that way or explained it to Joel except for she was in the mood for something harder, and Joel just prayed the condoms held. After that night, she steered from him altogether.

Hmmmmmmmm, sounds like the thoughts of a jealous girl to me. As only a friend I don't think that aside from being skeptical about Mandy's motives she would even consider the thought of what hotel suite Lex was securing and her "angry sex" certainly proves that.


The next day Chloe knocked on the door of the mansion, fully expecting to Robert or Albert, the butler. Stepping back from the doorway, she saw the one person she wasn’t expecting. “I thought you would be at work. I was going to go for a walk with your mom.”

What a nice surprise - hahaha! Ok, probably not for Chloe. I'm sure she would much rather continue to avoid him.


She followed him into the office and sat across from his desk chair. She watched him pop the top off two sparkling waters and place one in front of her. Pulling out his briefcase, he pulled a folder from the case and sat it in front of her. “These aren’t going to be any good. The prelims came in on them and they aren’t cultured enough.”

Chloe looked through the marketing pieces that her group had prepared for the latest venture at Luthorcorp and turned up her nose. “What’s wrong with them? They are cultural.”

What an interesting position for Lex to be in. Here sits the woman he is in love with before him and he has to criticize her work completely objectively. That's got to be difficult.


“Lex, I would have thought all those degrees or at least your mom would have taught you better. You really need to work on firing someone from a project. This soft approach is really not you.”

It's not him and I think it's funny that she doesn't realize the reason he probably didn't just flat fire her a bit more curtly was that he cares about her. Silly girl. I bet he'd give her a hundred chances if he thought it would go unnoticed by the rest of the staff.


“Actually, Joel and I have plans. Joel has the plans, and I’m sure my father is going to kill him when he finds out.” Chloe covered her mouth and bit her tongue. Lex and Gabe worked side by side; this would get back to him for sure. “Lex, you can’t give anything away. Please, if my dad found out about Joel. I love him. Joel’s taking the ASVAB.”

Ouch. What a hard bit of news for Lex.


Chloe took a deep breath, knowing Lex could simply pick up the phone and ruin her life. She didn’t know why after all they had been through, that she would still trust him. He had his life, and she had hers now. And he could ruin hers.

He could ruin hers and the fact that she does trust him should tell her a bit of something about her relationship with him. I've always said if it has to be secret there is usually something wrong with the idea unless you are afraid of someone simply stealing it.


Lex sat back in the couch, calmly nursing the bottle of water and taking in everything that Chloe had said. Playing back the words in his head, the small part of moving with him meant she would leave, she would marry, and she would be no longer in his life. It killed him, and he could end it quickly. On the other hand, when he wanted to do something, Gabe had slowed him down and Lex ruined it anyway. After almost a year and a half, they had barely made eye contact. He couldn’t ruin this for her; it was worth giving her up to keep her close.

Certainly not an easy decision for him, but the right one. It's not his secret to tell, but he could encourage Chloe to reveal is ASAP to her father. No point in ruining the other kids life just because he was there when Lex wasn't for Chloe. No matter how much it hurts.


“You are going to do awesome honey. Who cares if the rest of the class is drunk and way past ready to party.” Joel hugged Chloe and placed a small kiss on her lips as Lex looked on. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw his mother purse her lips in calm. He had seen that look before, but he didn’t need it this time. He had finally grown up.

Leaning over, he hugged Chloe. “It’s a good speech. You will be wonderful. Just pretend they are all naked.” Chloe pulled from his hug and laughed.

I'm certain Lex wishes he could be the one in Joel's shoes right now. He would have said something much more important. More reassuring. He's just not her type. Good for Lex being the adult about it though. He could have said something much different to her anyway.


Lex stood up from her embrace and felt a strange fire as her lips left his cheek. Suppressing the thought, he quickly smiled in her direction. Chloe glanced back in his direction, catching the strange smile and a sinking sensation in her own stomach. Dismissing it as nerves, she wrapped her arm around Joel.

She dismissed it as nerves eh? Denial much?


They used to push each other on the swings in the park years ago. Now she and Joel simply sat in them and talked. Joel was a genuine young man. He had never done Chloe wrong in all the times he had seen them together. He talked to Joel earlier in the evening and found the man educated and well rounded. He was what Chloe wanted.

Standing back in the shadows, he watched as they talked and pulled in for a kiss. His heart dropped another notch seeing Chloe’s grip increase against Joel. A small sad smile grew on his lips as the boy barely eighteen proposed to the woman of his dreams.

Poor Lex. Back to his old memories of her and how things used to be. How he wishes he could be sitting there with her on those swings. How he wishes he were the one proposing to her. Heck, I wish he was the one proposing to her. Damn in. Can't this part be like a nightmare dreamy portion or something? I'd like that better :D

[superag]

A/N - Thanks again for the wonderful feedback! I hope you will stick with me for a little more...we're getting to that good part.

Changes – Chapter 12


Standing in front of the door, he was aware of the way his actions could look. He waited after knocking a second time and wondered if he was perhaps at the wrong house. Rubbing his head, he sighed and turned away just as the door opened.

“Lex?” Chloe opened the door and giggled at the man dressed in a black trenchcoat in the middle of the San Diego summer. She watched his eyes trail her body and then remembered she had been running. “Come in.” Opening the door, she watched as he looked around the small house.

“I was in town for a meeting and thought I would drop by. Your dad said that you had been missing some companionship since Joel went out to the field.” Chloe pointed at the small couch as she took Lex’s coat. Hanging it up in the closet, she walked over and sat across from him.

“Yeah, he had a training exercise for the last week, but he’s sleeping upstairs. I had to go running alone today because he walked in, dropped his gear, and crawled up the stairs, literally.” Chloe laughed and saw Lex break a quick smile.

“Glad to know that you two are still doing well. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the wedding. It was…”

Chloe interrupted his obvious cover story, “That’s ok. It was just a small group of people. But we both love the china that you sent us. I think it’s worth more than the rent we pay on the house.” Chloe stood up and walked into the kitchen. “You want something?”

“I’ll take whatever,” Lex answered back. He looked at the simple furnishings and knew that the enlisted soldier made close to no money. He had heard that Chloe had gotten the full scholarship to San Diego State. Watching as she eased past his legs between the couch and table, she handed him the drink and sat down. “So, I guess you two are doing ok?”

Chloe swallowed at the way Lex phrased the question, as if he was looking for something that could hint at an in for him. “Yeah. We’re both busy but good.” Just then, the two turned and heard a creak in the stairs. Chloe’s face lit up as she saw Joel coming down the stairs. “Hey honey. Look who was in town.”

Joel, still trying to wake from his two hour nap to make up for 96 hours of no sleep, squinted and stared at the couch. “Lex. How’s it going?”

“Good,” he shortly stated as he cordially stood and shook the man’s hand. Observing his attire as Joel went into the kitchen, he wondered if the athletic shorts and ripped t-shirt was what all other men wore around the house.

“Hey babe, you know where the scissors are? They plastic tied my duffle on the flight back.” Lex heard several zippers and things obviously rolling out onto the kitchen floor. He wondered how Chloe could be happy with this man, with this life. Maybe she was stronger than he had given her credit for. Lex thought about the business meetings he had and knew it still didn’t stand up to the time Joel would spend away.

“In the junk drawer by the phone.” Chloe looked back in Lex’s direction, and he knew what it meant. “He’s such a scatter brain after field training.” She got up off the couch and started for the kitchen. As she passed him, Lex he grabbed her wrist and startled her.

“Let me let you go. I’ll be in town again in a couple of weeks. You need to see to him.” Chloe turned and smiled at Lex, not removing her hand from his grip. She walked him to the door, gathered his coat, and walked out on the front step with him. “It was really good to see you Chloe.”

“You too,” Chloe whispered back. “Call when you’re in town and we can do lunch next time.” She moved him and wrapped her arms around him and felt his arms envelope her. Pulling out of the embrace, Lex caught her and kissed her cheek.

“He’s a very lucky man.” He slipped his hand out of hers and walked to the rental car parked on the street.

Chloe stood and watched as the car drove out of sight. Leaning against the front porch, she held the tears that tried to escape from the corners of her eyes. “Chloe, you ok?” Joel walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He noticed her flushed face and the sadness that escaped her features. Concerned, his arms tightened around her as he kissed up the back of her neck until he felt a small moan escape from her lips.

Lex sat on the jet and flipped through the pictures of Chloe in San Diego. Cameras from the school as well as the private detective shots had brought nothing but great views of the woman he still loved. But never once in any photo did she appear unhappy or discontent with her life or Joel. Picking up the phone on the jet, he connected to someone. “Yes, cancel it all. I’ll send the last payment as soon as I land.” The man on the other end asked something. “No, destroy everything, including whatever you haven’t sent me. No hard or digital copies. Make this whole investigation disappear.”

Hanging up the phone, he wasn’t happy. But he could at least leave the San Diego airspace knowing that Chloe was indeed happy.

***************

Lex stood in front of the window on the top floor of the Luthorcorp building. The cars were so small it was hard to tell if they were real. Glancing back at his desk, he sadly looked at the crystal nameplate. It went with nothing else in the office, but it was all he had left of her.

The last time he had heard from her she was in San Diego. That had been five years ago. Gabe mentioned her move to Hawaii being a difficult one and that she was somewhat homesick for being stateside. The two then moved to a Naval station in Sicily. She had wanted to see the world, and he had offered it.

“How is your new office Mr. CEO?” His mother joked as she walked through the door seeing her son lost in thought.

Turning around and laughing, he noted her face becoming more drawn with wrinkles that had not appeared there until the last few years. “It’s very…feminine,” he joked as he ran his hand along the lace covered side table.

“Well haha. The decorators were on my list of people to call this morning so you’ll only have to deal with my doilies for a few days longer. Anyway,” his mother paused and took a breath before sitting the box in front of him. “This is yours now.”

Lex looked at a dusty box and wondered what his mother had been holding from him for it seemed years. Opening the box, he flipped through the leatherbound attaché and pursed his lips. Pulling the item from the box, a note slipped out of the box.

Lex,

Congratulations on becoming CEO. I have always been proud of you no matter how I show it.

Dad

Lex choked reading the small note, realizing his father had never called himself dad. “It’s in the present tense,” he whispered.

“He boxed that up the day you came home after his first time in the hospital. I had never seen him smile so much even though he was in so much pain.” His mother ran her arms down his shoulders. “Now, I have some calls to make and arrangements for the coming weekend. Your assistant will be in shortly.” His mother turned toward the door but looked once more at her son in his custom tailored suit and nodded her head to herself. He had arrived.

Lex sat and flipped through the attaché at the names and accounts that his father had first acquired, the ones that he had built Luthorcorp on. Most of the business names were long forgotten, even now replaced with a smattering of everything from cosmetics to military weapons. His mother had truly taken his father’s purpose and expanded it beyond what he ever saw possible.

Flipping to the back page, he smiled as his hand ran across the crayon infested page that simply read, “Lex,” in bright purple crayon. Laughing to himself, he placed it back in the box and locked it in a safe in the office.

Sitting back down at his desk, he stared at the schedule for the day. He had been spending a steady fourteen to sixteen hours a day at the Luthorcorp office in Metropolis for several months after a brief stint in Tokyo. His mother’s retirement and subsequent handover had an overwhelming amount of work to go with it. He had sat in daily meetings with both Lillian and Gabe preparing for the moment he was now having.

In five hours he would sit at the head of the table of the board of directors for the first time. He took a moment to take in how far he had come and what he had given up for it. Losing his focus, he refocused and organized some papers on the table set up behind the desk.

Lost in thought, Lex barely heard the assistant enter. Holding a Blackberry in one hand and a clipboard in the other, she began to ramble off his schedule. “You have a meeting with the Smithson Brothers at 10 over the marketing campaign, lunch with your mother at 11, and the board meeting at 1. Coffee is brewing as we speak, one sugar, no cream. Your mother just phoned and said the decorator could meet with you at 3 and your tailor will be here by 5 to do final alterations on the tuxedo for the retirement dinner this weekend. Is there anything else?”

Lex ran his fingers along his head and closed his eyes. Day 1 of eternity and he already felt lost. Hearing about half of the schedule from his sudden case of spacing as he stared at the marketing campaign, he asked for a repeat.

“The decorator is at 3 and the …” Lex stopped as he turned and stared at her.

“Good morning Mr. Luthor. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Lex stood stock still and continued to stare at her, almost breathless. “Chloe,” he barely whispered. He watched as her clipboard dropped to her side and a smile appeared on her face, genuine and happy. “You’re my …”

“If you say secretary, I will quit.” She giggled as he literally bit down on his lip and moved around the desk toward her. He eyed her carefully, noticing she never once moved from her position in the room nor lowered her head in any way. “I’m sorry I was late, but the class that I am taking ends slightly later than work starts, but I will make it up in the evenings.”

Lex stood right in front of her, clasping his hands in front of him as he carefully looked her up and down. The suit she had on wasn’t hand tailored but very sharp for the money. He guessed Benetton for her younger generation. The small line of pearls that matched the earrings were carefully picked to be subtle but feminine. She had certainly matured in the five years she was away. “And what class would that be?”

“Risk Management in the Business Enterprise. I’m in a Master’s program after I finished my degree in Business Technology.” Seeming to shake his head in disbelief, Chloe was actually staying in the field.

“That’s sounds incredibly provocative to have to you getting a degree that would essentially put you out of this office.” Lex pointed to the chair in front of the desk. Moving back to his side of the desk, he glanced at his watch and noticed he had a few minutes to talk. It had been five years. Watching as she sat down, he noticed something. “So why risk management? I thought you went finance to begin with.”

Chloe leaned back in the chair after setting his schedule on the desk and typing a few reminders into her handheld. “I did, but I thought I would be more useful as seeing risks as a person on the business side of the management game. Examine risks before the insurers show up at the office door. It’s a legal and money saving position.”

Lex crossed his arms as he sat back in his seat and smirked. “You have certainly grown up Chloe. How is Joel?” He really cared none for the young man, but knew his concern would at least win him a few points. Still, he was wondering the circumstances that would land a Marine in Metropolis. With no bases, posts, or air stations, he was either recruiting or…

“Our divorce was final a month ago,” Chloe stated quietly as she stared at her hands in her lap. It was the first moment that Lex saw her new strong will deteriorate into what reminded him of her after her first bad boyfriend.

Looking up uncomfortably, she locked eyes with Lex and sighed. “We made better friends and roommates than husband and wife. And if I had to attend another enlisted wives meeting and watch those women cut their husbands down and drink, I would have been arrested for shooting the host.” She stopped and saw the slight tilt and overly obvious interest that Lex had and stopped. “I didn’t mean to put that all on you.”

Moving forward in his seat, he leaned into the desk. “Chloe, we can always talk like this. We always have. But I’m sorry to hear about it. What led you back here?”

Chloe shifted uncomfortably in the seat. She wasn’t ready for the real answer that her heart was begging for her to say. She hadn’t spoken to him or even kept up with his life since he walked out of her house in San Diego. That had been the first Lex / Joel discussion. The one of several that she had with Joel. It had been a five year uphill battle that she lost. It was like surrender.

“Dad, and the rush of working here again.”

“Why didn’t you go back to your old division? I’m sure mom would have been happy to give you the lead on the department.” She watched Lex’s stature as he talked. Whatever he was thinking, he wasn’t revealing his thoughts to her. He had changed, grown up and matured. She had no idea what he thought.

“Your mother said she was retiring and then my dad said so too. When she said you were taking the reigns so to speak, I thought it would be novelty to have the Luthor-Sullivan team part 2. But of you want someone else, I’ll be happy to step aside.” Chloe rose during the last statement, picking up the clipboard from the desk and turning toward the door.

“Chloe,” Lex could barely get her name out now. She was going to stay around; be around him all day as a single woman. “When is my last appointment?”

The breath that Chloe had hitched at the mention of her name disappeared as he asked the innocent question. “The tailor at 5.” She smiled and started out the door.

“Chloe,” he lowered his voice to the seductive sound she heard just before the last time he kissed her. He waited until she turned around. Coming around the desk, he walked toward her and stopped just before entering her personal space. “Can you add in dinner at 8? I will make the arrangements if, that is, you’ll accompany me?”

Closing the distance between them, he ran the back of his hand down her flushed cheek waiting for the answer.

TBC

[tatie87]

Finally, Chloe and Lex are in the same solar system. She's his executive assistant, I can't wait to see how these two get together. Please update soon.

[lkedino]

Yes It about time and love this chapter
:nsparty::drinkin:

[lexie]

Chlex at last! If only Chloe had listened to what her heart was telling her before getting hitched...

The goodbye scene in San Diego showed Chloe´s marriage wasn´t exactly a happy one, at least when Lex payed her a visit. It´s clear she put up a brave face in front of her old friend and that Lex bought the lie that she was satisfied with her new life. Now I wonder what her marriage to Joel was like and how much of her real feelings for Lex her husband perceived. It seems Lex was the subject of either discussions or arguments between Chloe and Joel.

Maybe my mind is playing tricks but something tells me she´s got things to hide about her married life. She must have been a pretty good actress outside home if the investigating team Lex had engaged didn´t get any hint that things weren´t so bright. Perhaps it´s just me being biased... maybe there isn´t any deep dark secret, just that Chloe realised she´d made a mistake in marrying Joel and that she had loved Lex all along and her husband knew it.Oh, well, I´m sure you won´t keep us in the dark for long.

I´m relieved the Joel/Chloe part is over, although I would have liked it to be over before she entered the institution of marriage with the Marine. I know, I know, she´s human and expected to make mistakes and learn from them. Still, I don´t like seeing Lex suffer because of the women in his life.

I´m looking forward to that dinner, now that things are getting brighter. Or do you have more angst planned for them?

[hfce]

Thanks for the update.

[Esther25jm]

SQUEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told you I had all my faith in you, sweets, and you totally proved me right! I love it!! I'm so glad that Lex let her go to live her life, also not interferring, because it showed her that Lex is the man she wants to be with.

And that lapse into the future was perfection!! I totally wasn't expecting Chloe to be his new assistant, so I was just as surprised as Lex. GAH!! I'm still freaking out and on Cloud a billion!! Can't wait for more, hon!! *hugs*

[purplemoon123]

Oh wow!!! When you said year jumpage you really meant it.

You broke my heart when you had Lex leave San Diego.

But yay, both Lex and Chloe are ready to be together.

[Ultra]

Oh, super, I knew all we had to do was have faith in you to put this right and you're certainly delivering the goods now :D I can't believe Chloe actually went through with it and married Joel, but hey, maybe she needed that to make her realise just how much she really does belong with Lex, and she so does! Here's hoping she accepts that dinner invitation and all goes well. I need my Chlexy smoochies already, I'm pretty sure we all do ;)

[basmas84]

yeah... finally chloe isn't married anymore...
lex is free and single
and chloe is working for him...
life couldn't be better... it could! just get them together...!!!

[Kit Merlot]

A lovely update!

I feel bad that Chloe and Lex had to go through such personal angst, but it does look like they are finally at a place where they can start seeing each other as a romantic possibility.

Can't wait to see what happens next:D

[dagney]

I'm glad Chloe is back where she belongs with her family. I'm glad to see them working together. Dagney

[Gaia]

This better be the start of their realtionship and not her wanting to take time off after her divorce. Which of course would make sense in the real world, but I.WANT.CHLEX!!!!!!!!!

[lilinny]

She is back! I wonder how their relationship will turn out.

Will it be just work? Or does she have something else in mind?

Fantastic chapter.

[kinky]

Shes divorced! weirdly i feel bad for, i feel like she wasted a lot of time! but well now shes back to work for lex so...

[Olympias]

Yeah!! I am so happy she divorced ^^ that's great :) (yeah I know : chlex forever ^^)

[superag]

A/N - See? You have to trust me. Now the next part. I don't guarantee another update until after the Thanksgiving holidays (that American holiday where we eat ourselves silly) . Camping in the middle of nowhere makes Internet hard to come by...

Chapter 13 – A New Beginning


Chloe tried to keep her breathing in check as she felt his hand bring a fire to the surface of her face and a rapid heartbeat in her chest. Pulling her face slightly from his hand, she nervously wrapped her arms around the clipboard tighter. “Lex.”

Knowing he may have again scared her into a place she wasn’t ready to go yet, he backed away and lowered his hands. “I’ve missed you Chloe. It’s just dinner. I didn’t mean to make this all weird between us on your first day. I totally understand if you don’t want to go or would rather rethink the arrangement.”

Chloe loosened her grip and raised her head to meet his eyes. She suddenly realized that Lex had waited for her, for all those years. She swallowed and wondered why all the women that could have easily given him the perfect trophy wife had been overlooked.

He stood in front of her and said nothing as he could tell she was thinking hard about his multiple offers. He wondered which way she would lean. Would she stay, go out, or altogether leave him? He watched her lick her lips slightly and could only feel the knot in his stomach grow.

Chloe looked at her watch and gasped. “Your meeting is in five minutes. I will bring your coffee in when the gentlemen arrive.” She started out the door when Lex nodded at the obvious ignoring of his earlier question.

Shaking of the obvious diss, he pulled together the notes he had for the upcoming meeting as Chloe silently showed the clients in. Sitting the coffee cup on his desk, he looked at the small napkin underneath the cup. Knowing the time was completely inappropriate to address it, he looked at the small ‘yes’ on the corner of the napkin in her handwriting and ignored it, moving on with his meeting.


**********

Chloe swallowed hard as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had retreated from the office soon after the tailor arrived and left for her father’s house. In her strange transition between married life and single life, she had problems finding a place in the city that she could afford. She opted to move back home when Gabe offered her the chance. She wouldn’t have gone home otherwise.

She pulled two strands of her curled hair out from behind the decorative barrettes that held the rest of her now shoulder length hair in place. She ran her hands over the simple red top and black jeans she had picked out for the evening. Lex had not given any hints to where or what they were going to do for the evening except that it was casual. She remembered the quirky look he gave her when she questioned him about it. She opened the drawer in her bathroom where she had shoved random articles and stared at strip of condoms.

It wouldn’t happen tonight. She wouldn’t let it. She and Lex had barely had a chance to talk the rest of the day except for trading folders and conversations about business as she tried to start organizing the small office outside Lex’s office suite. She had watched her dad for years, but the two were not nearly built the same in organizational methods.

Taking one last glance, she knew that if Lex didn’t accept her the way she was now, he would never. She walked down the stairs and met her father and Angela in the living room. “Well?”

Gabe looked over at his grown up daughter and knew that this was the date he had both waited for and dreaded. “You look beautiful. You have fun tonight.”

“I would say not to wait up, but…”

“You’re grown up honey.” Gabe kissed her and followed Angela upstairs, leaving Chloe to wait alone for her date. She heard the clock click in the main hall and almost on the same moment, the doorbell rang. Taking another slow steady breath, she walked down the hall and opened the door.

“Hi,” she quietly said as a whiff of Lex’s cologne hit her like a wave of passion. She smiled nondescriptly and held onto the doorknob as if to steady her balance.

He had dressed casually for himself as well. The blue jeans and gray sweater with a simple blazer showed that he was not going to try to impress her. They both knew they were beyond that point in their relationship. They had seen each other at their worst and their best. “Hey, are you ready to go?”

Putting out his hand, Chloe took it as he reached around her and pulled the door closed behind her. Chloe felt his hand run down her back and settle in the small of her back as they walked down the front steps to the car. “Where are we off to?”

“Something a little different,” Lex gently answered as he held the door open for her and then made his way around to the other side of the car. Once he was seated, she looked over at him.

“This seems a little out of your league; the car I mean, but not in a bad way.”

His normal ride was the typical expensive sports car, but he had picked her up in the simple four door Mercedes. Tasteful yet exquisite to show off a different side of him. Looking over at her, he noticed the slight of goosebumps up her arm. He adjusted in the seat to keep from making a scene of it. “You look beautiful.” He watched Chloe’s eyes nervously trace his face.

“You look good to, but you still haven’t been straight with me about where we are off to.” Chloe smiled easily back at him and saw that his nervousness seemed to ease up.

“I told you, something a little different.” Chloe dropped the subject as they got on the loop around town and obviously weren’t headed into town. “So, I want to put this out there before anything happens.” Chloe stiffened at his statement but eased at the smile he shot her. “No shop talk.”

“Deal, I think the 12 hours we’ll see each other will allow enough time for that.” Chloe sat back in the seat more comfortably as Lex flipped on the radio and easily conceded the remote to her. Flipping through the songs on the MP3 she stopped and smirked, trying not to laugh.

And I remembered everything
And every windowpane
Every word came back to me
The way it used to be

“Ok, so I don’t just listen to the pretentious classical or heavy metal. I’d like to see what’s on your Ipod.” Lex laughed and tried to pull the remote out of her hand and then conceded to her. Lex’s eyes widened as she ran her hand down his shoulder.

Then I saw your face across the street
And my heart was home again

The two continued around the town. As much as the strange sensation of being on a date together was, the two fell into a comfortable discussion of both of the parents retiring. Lillian had explained that she and Robert were off to Australia for the winter. Chloe laughed and said her dad and Angela were on their way to Europe for the New Year’s in Paris. It seemed they couldn’t leave the two of them fast enough.

“Do you think it’s on purpose?” Chloe questioned.

“Maybe, but since no one seems to take vacations, I have a feeling the two month rendezvous has something to do with the house she bought in Sydney a couple of months ago.” Lex leaned back and pressed down on the gas.

“Yeah, and apparently all my inheritance is going to be turned into Euros.”

Coming around the corner, Chloe couldn’t exactly place where they were after they turned off the loop. Turning off the car when they were parked, Lex turned to Chloe and took a deep breath. “I heard its good, but I hope you’re up for an adventure.” Lex wanted to rethink his choice. If he had taken out any other woman, he would have reserved a table at the fanciest and most expensive place. But this was Chloe.

As Chloe shut the door and Lex’s hand once again met the lower part of her back, she smiled over her shoulder at him. “Well, I’ll try anything once.” The two walked into the restaurant that obviously was doing well based on the reviews that Lex had read. The restaurant was decidingly American and seemed more upscale than they were dressed. She grabbed Lex’s arm and pulled him back, looking in the windows and seeing only one other couple dressed down. “Are you really sure we’re not underdressed?”

Lex leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m pretty sure.” He pulled on her arm as she stepped reluctantly into the front door. Seeing the host’s eyes, he lowered his hand as of to calm her. “Good evening Mr. Luthor. It’s nice to see you this evening.” The host quietly had the two follow him into a back corner of the restaurant that was otherwise bustling.

After he and Chloe sat down at he small table away from any drink stations, bathrooms, or kitchen doors, Lex eyed the small list and glanced over at Chloe already buried in the menu. He knew she hadn’t eaten all day. “We will take a bottle of the Screaming Eagle.” The host nodded as Chloe’s head popped up. Chuckling, Lex looked back at Chloe. “The name is incredibly embarrassing but the wine is actually very good.”

“What do you suggest?”

Lex flipped open the menu as Chloe glanced around the restaurant. No one seemed to bother that Lex Luthor walked in jeans. The other patrons just nodded and smiled with their friends, lovers, or business partners. Something felt out of place for her.

“Good evening Mr. Luthor. We are glad to finally see you have come for a visit.” Chloe eyed the waiter suspiciously. She knew that Lex would have become somewhat of an icon since the turnover had been announced a few months ago, but his commanding presence was something completely different for her. She didn’t remember him ever getting the attention he did now.

“My date and I are just out for the evening. Something easy for the palette to start with.” The waiter nodded his head and disappeared.

“Lex, cough it up.”

“What?”

“Come on. Everyone in the restaurant either is hanging on your every request, even if it’s to be left alone and yet the patrons just ignore you. It’s odd and…” she paused. “You own the place, don’t you?”

Lex folded his arms carefully over the menu and leaned into her. “See, you’re still a bright girl. Yeah, I actually ate at the sister restaurant in New York and opened one up here in Metropolis. I truly have not been here yet, but the reviews were good.”

Chloe shook her head and rolled her eyes playfully, “So all the employees are probably shaking in their shoes. So, Mr. Owner, what do you suggest?” Lex got up from his seat and moved to the chair next to hers instead of opening up his menu.

“If you are actually hungry and interested in actual meat, I suggest the filet but the miso marinated fish is good too.”

Chloe barely concentrate on the suggestions as he pointed them out, gently rubbing against her shoulder as he pointed and spoke. A strange wave came over her but quickly dissipated when the waiter arrived.

The two sat and laughed while waiting for the food. Childhood memories flooded both of them as they discussed how weird things had become between them over the last ten years. As they sat and ate, the quick glances in the other’s direction increased, but the strange nervousness seemed to fade between the two.

“Are you ready?” he asked as Chloe returned from the restroom and sat down. The dinner had been incredible and the s’more that she seriously didn’t think Lex would order was to die for. She swore she would never eat normal food again but then remembered she was poor.

“You took care of the bill already. You didn’t want me to see it.” Lex silently smiled and offered his hand to her as they exited the restaurant.

“It’s not something that the lady should worry about. Besides, there is no bill when you own the restaurant.” They got in the car and both looked at the clock. “I had something else in mind, but if you need to get home to study or something…”

“No, whatever you want, but I’m really not up for clubbing though.” Lex nodded and started off to the other destination he was sure she would never predict.

*************

“I look silly.” Chloe threw her hands up and felt like hiding in the bathroom of the establishment. “And it’s heavy.”

“Oh quit complaining and get in here.” She eyed that the billionaire, now CEO, had a helmet very much like hers, but somehow it looked better on him. She reluctantly walked into the small space as Lex held the bat out to her.

“How did you come up with this for the evening. I doubt the trophy wives audition group ever went through this,” she joked as she took her stand over the plate.

Lex leaned in and ran his arms down her arms, trying to position her. Tucking her hair further back under the helmet, he whispered in her ear, “No, those other so called auditions for my affections would have not gotten past the me in jeans. They would have split seeing that I had a real personality. Now, how about you,” he paused as he slid his hands between her legs. She jumped but realized he was separating her legs, “widen your stance and I’ll put a quarter in.”

Lex left as Chloe tried to turn and smirk at him. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“I figured there will be plenty of chances to play dress up. And I haven’t loosened up like this in a long time.” She heard the coin drop and saw the machine start up, throwing the first ball. Closing her eyes, she swung blindly as she heard the man on the other side of the fence bust out in laughter. Humiliating maybe, but she had really missed hearing that sound for a long time.

She sat out the next round and watched as Lex nailed every swing, hitting several into the upper deck that the kids working there would have to retrieve later. He hadn’t lost his touch.

Looking at his watch, he sighed. “I guess we should get going. We could get back and just walk a bit.” The two chatted about Chloe’s school pursuits and family as they pulled into the neighborhood. Getting out of the car, Lex took her hand in his and didn’t let go.

Chloe eyed the gesture and wondered if his growing up with his mother had just facilitated the moments that most men would dread that came easy to him. As they walked, she eventually ran her arm around his and laid her head on his shoulder. “What happened, between you and Joel?”

She knew that the question would eventually bubble to the surface but somehow she didn’t mind it. This was her best friend. “Two things. The first was the separation; I had problems with him being gone so often. And his being gone wasn’t like business meetings; we couldn’t call or talk when he was in the field for weeks at a time. It was stressful and almost killed me.”

Lex stopped in his tracks and turned her toward him, “What do you mean?” He held her shoulders in his hands nervously.

“I actually asked for my dad not to tell anyone. When we got to Italy for the beginning of his tour, I found out I was pregnant. Then he got assigned to Bagram in Afghanistan. The stress of his leaving and me having to immediately set up the house, I miscarried. And I guess we never got past it, so I moved back to the states with my dad’s help and filed the papers.”

She barely finished her explanation before Lex pulled her into him and apologized for not being there.

“It wasn’t your battle to fight.” Pulling from his embrace, she saw Lex’s genuine sad expression and his lips twitch in an upsetting way. “Lex, you stop that. I thought I knew what I was getting into, and I didn’t. Things happen and we live and learn.”

Lex shook himself out of the stunned horror that Chloe had lost a child. “You said two things.”

Chloe slid her arms out of his embrace and ran them down to clasp her hands in his. “We fought. Or he actually would ask over and over and I would deny over and over.” She paused at the questioningly look on Lex’s face. “If I was in love with you.”

Lex felt himself stop breathing at the sudden startling confession that fell from her lips. “And?” he quietly whispered.

Chloe bit her lip playfully and looked back up into eyes, “We’ll see. But tonight’s a good start.” She held the small smile on her face as her eyes never left his. Running her hands up his shoulders, she pulled him down into their first real kiss. Not overbearing or hungry, they let their tongues carefully taste each other slowly as if they had the rest of their lives.

“I can’t believe how late it is. We must have walked around the park a dozen times,” Chloe added as they walked back to the Sullivan house. All the lights were out and Lex could see the tiredness setting in on Chloe’s features. Putting his arm around her, he walked her to the door and stopped as she unlocked it.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Lex whispered as he ran his hand along the side of her cheek and pulled her into another weak-kneed kiss. Chloe felt her body somehow give out as his passion pushed her to a feeling she couldn’t remember having, even with Joel.

Stumbling back into the doorway, she felt a hint of sadness as his hands slipped off her sides and he stood back. “I’ll be going in early. I have some presentation folders to get together before the afternoon’s meeting.”

Lex felt like they could stand there and stall all night. He wanted to simply push the door open and spend the night with her. Not necessarily have sex; their relationship was way more involved than bagging the woman on the first date. He wanted to hold her, feel her sleep in his arms, comfort her in her bad dreams, and wake up to her eyes in the morning. “Goodnight.”

Chloe could see the conflict on his face. Not questioning why he wasn’t pushing to come inside, she whispered, “goodnight,” before closing the door. Leaning against the other side of the door, she let out a large sigh before a smile broke across her face. She wouldn’t quite tell him yet.

TBC

Song: My Heart was Home Again written by Marc Jordan & Stephan Moccio

[lexie]

This was a very sweet and romantic update. I´m glad they´ve both decided to wait a little bit before taking any big steps. And we all know what your answer to Lex´s question will be, Chloe, you naughty girl- you´ve never stopped loving him.

Say you´ll update this before Xmas, superag- you were referring to the holiday season, right? It´ll be one long hiatus::/: .

[purplemoon123]

Yay!!!! Chlex date!!! I just love that they could be themselves. The kiss was amazing!!! Love that Lex wanted to spend the night but not for the sexing but just to hold her and be with her.

[lkedino]

i love this chapter how chloe and lex date was and how they both want each other

[dagney]

I love how they still have such a close connection. The date was wonderful. I loved that they went to a batting cage. Dagney

[lilinny]

What a beautiful chapter.

I love how they're getting to know each other again.

Happy Holidays!

[Gaia]

She had a miscarriage? Poor Chloe. That must have been horrible.
Have a happy thanksgiving....I assume I can say Happy...or is there something else said for that?
Anyway- post as soon as you are back!

[ChloeLovesLex]

*sigh* That was yumminess. I'd do a big review Super, but you have the whip cracked and I need to finish up the next HTC chappie before you head out for Thanksgiving. ;)

Lexie - never fear. She'll be back at the beginning of December. She's just away for Thanksgiving.

Anyway, I loved their "date" and their reconnection. Funny how at some point in the chapter each of them acknowledged they fully intend to sleep together just not now. Chloe with her condoms and Lex wanting to come inside. They are so cute. I do imagine that when they get to that point it will be incredibly intense. I, for one, can't wait :yeahbaby:

[Ultra]

Aaw, that was beautiful, super! :D

I do feel bad for Chloe, given what she went through with Joel and the miscarriage and all, but at least she has a bright future ahead with Lex... at least, I hope so :)

Their first official date was just wonderful, much more fun than if they'd just got dressed up and gone somewhere fancy and stuff. The kissing was extremely sweet, as was the fact Lex wanted to spend the night with Chloe, not for the sex, but just to be close to her. Gorgeousness! :)

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving and come back soon, okay? ;)

[Kit Merlot]

This was just lovely!

I really like the image of Lex taking Chloe to the batting cages--nice:D

And I like that they can still talk about everything--including their relationships with other people.

Continued excellent work on this fic:D

[hfce]

I am back on track with this story. I almost gave up on it sorry. I just was feeling ::/: about Chloe and Joel. I just felt she didn't need to marry him and go as far as she did with him. I enjoyed this update and am glad Chloe and Lex are on their way toward each other. :D

[Esther25jm]

SQUEEE!!! Their first date!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it, sweetie!! I love that Lex was himself and didn't try to impress Chloe with fancy dinners, etc. It just proves that she means much more to him and I think it shows Chloe that he really does love her. Gah, I don't know what else to say except I LOVE IT!!! Can't wait for the next one, hon!!! *hugs*

[malugargula]

This fic is amazing
:)
I loved their first real date... it`s so sweet
I can`t wait for more

ps: what does this WIP before the title means???

[Gaia]

ps: what does this WIP before the title means???

Work In Progress. Meaning it is not finished yet.

On another note.....That better me that we are going to have an update soon!!!!!!!!!

[superag]

A/N - I'm back from vacation! And got more Chlexy goodness and NC17 stuff for you. It's light NC17, but there's the warning nonetheless. The flashback is in italics. Enjoy and thanks for the continued lovely support and feedback!


Chapter 14 – The Beginning of Something


Chloe hastily walked through the offices of Luthorcorp picking up needed information for the meeting that would be on Monday morning. She knew Lex had to be somewhat nervous knowing it would be the first time that he would be conducting business alone.

He had matured beyond his years it seemed since she had been gone. She actually was surprised by his overly obsessive workaholic mode when he was at work. It had been two weeks since their first official date, but both were busy and seemed to forget their other dates.

Almost out of breath, she wondered how her father had done it for so many years. Possibly Lillian had a cooler head and took things more in stride or Lex was just nervous and that made her nervous. Walking back into the office suite, she sat down at her desk and huffed at the stack she had created.

Lex heard the outside door close and briefly glanced up from the computer he was buried in. Stock reports and a merger in Japan of two subsidiaries was all he could concentrate on. He enjoyed smelling the brief hints of magnolia that wafted from Chloe’s desk when the main doors would open and close and now left the door to his office open.

Hearing a bit of vocalized frustration coming from the other room, he got up and stood in the doorway unheard. Chloe moved twice as fast as he did it seemed, but he could tell she was already wearing out. Walking over, he took her arm and spun her against the massive file cabinets behind her. Plunging his lips onto hers, he could feel her struggle to gain her composure and then give in.

Chloe’s breath continued to hitch, partly from her speed around the office and partly from the surprise. Forgetting about work, she closed her eyes and dropped the file in her hand in the chair behind Lex. Moaning softly, she let his tongue slide past hers and could taste the tea she had made him for the afternoon. She wrapped her arms around him as he tangled his hands in her hair.

She felt so good against him as if she was freeing. Feeling his body melt further into hers, he deepened the kiss before trailing his hands over the outside of her suit. Pulling out of the kiss, he whispered in her ear, “I needed a break.”

Lowering her head against the file cabinets, she looked up into his eyes and knew that this would be much more than a working relationship. “Me too,” was all she could manage to get out.

The doors opened to the hallway and both turned, still in a somewhat compromising position. “You think we should worry about separating them?” Lillian halfway chuckled as Gabe shook his head at Chloe.

“No, but I might want to teach her where the lock for the outside door is,” he stated as the two walked in. They watched as their children separated embarrassingly and straightened out their now rumpled clothes. Stopping in front of her desk, Gabe laid a folder down and smiled at his daughter, “I see you made a wise choice for his assistant.”

“I think so,” Lillian chuckled as she signaled for Lex to follow her into his office. Closing the doors behind her, he stood and waited for the inquisition. Lillian moved around the room and almost seemed sad. “You know I remember when you and she first met in this office. You yelled at her.” Lillian looked up at the now almost reminiscing look on Lex’s face. “Are you sure she is what you want?”

Without skipping a beat, Lex calmly answered, “Yes.” Lillian patted him on the back and continued on with her private meeting. It had been only two weeks and Lex knew what he wanted.

Chloe sat down at the little desk outside Lex’s office and tried not to giggle when looking at her father. They both knew that things had progressed fast for the two’s budding romance. Gabe, though, didn’t seem to be upset. “You know, I wasn’t happy when you went off with Joel. But if I had stopped you, you would have gone anyway.”

“I know,” Chloe said quietly, feeling a now weird stinging sensation when Joel was mentioned. It had been a couple of weeks since his name had come up. “Dad, did you always know that I would come back? You just never seemed surprised.”

Gabe crossed his arms and shook his head at his daughter. “We were afraid that you and Lex would have not waited for each other. There were so many times that Lillian and I wanted to just forget the age difference and let things play themselves out, but it never happened we could quite get over it. But now, you both are both are adults and in love.”

Chloe’s head snapped up. “We never said we were in love.”

“Yeah,” Gabe sarcastically answered as Lillian came out of the office with Lex.

“Let’s leave the boss alone. He’s got work to do.” Lillian smiled as she cradled a few choice items in her arms and walked out of the office for the last time.

Lex watched as the door closed behind her and Gabe. Walking up behind Chloe, he wrapped his arms around her and whispered, “You can go. I have another couple of hours here. I’ll swing by later and catch a late movie with you.”

Chloe spun around in his arms and renewed the kiss that had been interrupted before. A strange warmth ran through her body as she tasted Lex on her tongue. Moaning into the kiss, Lex pushed her back up against the file cabinets but then quickly stopped the kiss in a fit of laughter.

“What?” Chloe tried to speak in between breaths still with her arms wrapped around his body now encompassed with laughter.

“This is how we got caught the first time.” She watched Lex back up and slide his fingers down her arm before wrapping her up into him again. “I.” He kissed her on the cheek. “want.” He kissed her on the neck. “you.” He playfully bit her ear. “to go.” Leaning in, he pushed her collar to the side and kissed the crook of her neck. Spinning her back around, he let go and smiled at her. “I can’t concentrate with you here.”

“Then you’re concentrating on the wrong thing,” Chloe joked as she could tell that he was seriously in need of getting some work done. “Fine. Call me when you’re on your way.” She picked up her purse and coat and headed out the door.

Lex watched the double doors close and headed back into the office. Looking out on the plaza, he eyed the small playground and gardens that now adorned part of the grassy areas between the two buildings. The office and all those below him were his, he had good friends, and was in love.

***********

Chloe flung open the closet door and kicked her heels off. She stared at the dress hanging at the end of the closet. The elegant wine color strapless dress reminded her of the moment she knew Lex would be the one. She shook her head, still not believing that it took a lifetime and a week to find that out.

Lex watched as she descended the stairs. This time her eyes never left his. The wine colored dress that he had heard took hours to pick out was too stunning for words. Holding out his hand, he almost broke eye contact when her silky fingers grazed over his palm. “You’re incredible Chloe. By far, you’ll be the most beautiful one there.”

He heard someone behind him clear her throat before Chloe’s thousand watt grin turned into a snicker. “I think at least one person will be upset with that compliment.” Lex helped her down the last stair and turned looking at his mother’s very faked upset look. “You look stunning as always mom.”

“Thank you, but I’m not in the mood to be late to my own party, so shall we?” The six climbed into the limo together, not unlike many other times in the past. Lex put his arm up around Chloe and ran his fingers across her bare shoulder. He could feel her slightly move as his fingers trailed up behind her hair and back down to her shoulder.

The three rode to the dinner at the top of the Luthorcorp chatting about the past. Business seemed to occupy most of the conversation, although the playful touches between all the couples were not overlooked. Everyone in the families had found someone.

Pulling her chair out for her, Lex watched the change in her shoulder blades as she sat down. Tonight was the night to practice composure, and he had a great distraction to tempt him. She had only been home for a week; he wouldn’t pressure her into anything she wasn’t ready for, regardless of his very, very long sexual dry spell. Sitting down next to her, he pressed his thighs together upon feeling her hand slide over and grab his knee.

“Mr. Luthor? Is there something wrong?” she coyly asked.

Lex turned and rolled his eyes while trying to adjust in his seat. “Just an annoying tingle in my leg. Have any ideas on what could be causing it?”

Chloe’s hand immediately moved back to her lap as his hand moved to the back of her chair and his fingers drew circles on her bare back. “I have no idea. But I think I’m getting the same sensation on my back.”

Lex leaned over and kissed her cheek, “Two can play this game,” he whispered before quickly taking in the mixed scents of her hair and perfume. Leaning over closer, he pushed the hair back from her ear and whispered, “I want you.”

He leaned back up and turned to the conversation that his mother and Robert were having with Gabe and Angela. They had been comparing vacation plans for several weeks. Chloe couldn’t hear anything else in the room. The words that Lex spoke repeated themselves over and over in her mind. She felt her face become flushed and hoped no one would notice.

She hadn’t heard someone admit that they wanted her for her love or her body in a year. Joel had stopped wanting anything after their second move. Still concentrating on her breathing, she glanced over and caught Lex’s smile in her direction. He knew he had her. “Are you ok?” he asked as of nothing was wrong.

“Fine.” She quickly covered as her father turned to see her cheeks somewhat rosy but caught the smirk on Lex’s face and knew he was toying with his daughter. Chloe glanced and smiled at her dad before he turned back to Angela, drawing small circles on her back. “Now that’s just weird.”

“What?” Lex asked.

“You’re using moves my father makes on Angela on me. It’s just weird.” Chloe seemed to have lost the feeling from a few minutes earlier when she saw the move. Lex leaned over again and kissed her shoulder, but all Chloe could feel were the fingers that trailed under the slit in her dress, stopping only inches from the gathering warmth between her thighs.

“How about now?” he whispered before pulling his hand from her dress and innocently turning back to the table conversation, leaving Chloe completely stunned and aching for more.

Throughout the dinner, Chloe hitched a breath and pressed her thighs closer together every time Lex would lean in her direction. She glared at him repeatedly and he just smirked, teasing her a little more. They sat and held hands during his mother’s retirement speech.

Lex felt odd seeing the woman that years ago walked into a board room with men that she didn’t know finally release her control to him. She had known little from his father but had proved to be much more of a threat to corporate America than anyone had imagined when Lionel’s death took place.

“I stand before you humbled by the presence of all those in attendance tonight. I had fully expected the board members to attend for they felt they had to, but when the numbers came back with the invitations from the party planner, I nearly stroked. I know, bad joke, but I am truly and graciously thankful for all of you.

You see companies that rise and fall, disappear into non-existence for various reasons. I have a theory after many years of picking up these companies. It comes down to leadership. It’s not the power of the CEOs to control those fellow employees, it’s their responsibility to work with them, side by side. If I didn’t have Ruthie, Calvin, and their team to come in at night happy, knowing their children are not sleeping alone at home, our building would not be clean the next morning and work would suffer. Denise came to me and wanted more time with her husband who is working a night shift elsewhere. She loved the daycare job; we made it work. We are now one of the first in the country offering night employees daycare. These instances abound.

But the company could have suffered long ago without my right hand. Gabe Sullivan came to me through my late husband and has never faltered. I have truly enjoyed every second we have worked together and I know others in this room will miss seeing your calm demeanor as much as I will. You are a wonderful working partner and a gracious human being. To Robert, you have taken a lot from me since we met. I never would have imagined meeting another that would understand my need to balance home and work. And Lex, you have grown up before my eyes. It still is difficult to watch you work now behind my desk and not picture a crayon in your hand. You are more than my son and successor, you are and will remain my inspiration. You make me want to be a better person, if for no reason than to be an example. I am so proud of you.”

Lex let go of Chloe’s hand and walked up to hug his mom to a strange sound of applause. Looking at the tears streaming down her face, Lex knew it was the hardest moment his mother had dealt with. She had come from living in the house to running the most successful conglomerate on the planet. “I love you mom.” Pulling out of her arms, the weight on his shoulders was now fully realized. He felt overwhelmed knowing his mother was not only all these people’s boss, but had become their friend too. Now he had to continue the tradition.

“The podium is yours.” She choked out before sitting back down next to Robert and Gabe.

Chloe took a deep breath, almost it seemed for him more than her. This was the man she was falling in love with. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. As my mother stated, we are both overwhelmed by the outpouring and thanks for the years she has been at the helm. This is a daunting task ahead. Whenever there is a changing of the guard, nervousness sets in. What will be different? How will things change? The phrase is old and overused, but if ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Lillian has done more than anyone ever expected. Who would have thought of mixing elements of military technology and creating tracking for kids’ cars? I for one did not like the prototype on my vehicle in high school. But this is where we are. The door is open now. I plan to continue her plans and hopefully move forward into the next generation with some more original ideas, which will, as she did, go through many Q&A sessions with various company employees. I know she will be watching me as I fully expect all of you will be too. If she has shown me one thing, she has proved that being in power is not the same as being powerful. Another hand for Lillian.”

Chloe smiled as Lex stood back from the podium and smiled from ear to ear. His mother had done what most people had thought unimaginable. She had taken over Luthorcorp, raised a child alone, and survived a stroke to see him through to his goal. He walked down off the small stage as employees from all walks of life and variously dressed patted his mother and him on the back. He walked back over after hugging his mother again and was met with arms around him.

“You were wonderful. You will do a great job,” Chloe smiled and spoke before wrapping her arms around him and kissing him.

“You know you’re going to have to be right there with me?” Chloe heard the statement that almost sounded like a question. Was he really nervous about his new position?

“For everything. It’s going to be great!” She smiled and wrapped her arms around him again.

The rest of the night Lex and Chloe floated through the room, mingling with everyone from the board of directors’ families to the ones his mother spoke of. Lillian treated no one differently. Those making millions could only do so with those that make less, and Lex had to know them all. The night went for several more hours before Chloe squeezed his arm.

“I want to dance.” Lex took her hand in his and politely excused themselves from the group of machinists who worked at one of the downtown factories. Walking with her to the floor, he noticed his mother tapping Gabe on the shoulder. “I think we’re being watched,” he whispered as he spun Chloe into him.

Glancing over, Chloe pulled herself closer to Lex and smiled up at him, “Since when have our parents not watched us together.”

“True.” Lex smiled back as Chloe settled her head into chest and moved along with the music.

You’re lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me
But to love you, and the way you look tonight….

The two danced until the floor seemed to clear. Neither noticed that people had left since the last few songs. Chloe pulled slightly from Lex’s hold. “Hey, it’s getting late. You should see the last few people out and then us get home.”

He didn’t want to let her go, but he knew that she was right. That’s why he wanted her around; she completed him. Overwhelmed by the evening, they politely said goodnight to the rest of the guests and rode home with the rest of the family.

Walking her to the door, Gabe and Angela smiled before closing the door. Lex felt self-conscious with his mother in the car at the curb. “I’ll see you at work.”

“I had a wonderful time. I’m so happy to be home.” Chloe sighed a little after saying home.

Lex moved in closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, “So am I, for more reasons than you know.”

“I bet I know most of them,” Chloe whispered as she pulled him down into a gentle open-mouthed kiss. Damn his mother in the car watching; Chloe knew she had to be smiling. Lex’s grip tightened as he deepened the kiss before breaking it off.

“Goodnight.” Turning, he grazed her fingers before letting go. Chloe watched until the car disappeared around the corner. Walking into the house, Gabe stood in the hallway about to make his way upstairs.

“Have a good time?”

“Yeah, it was fun.”

“In love?”

Chloe coughed at the sudden question, but smiled. “Yeah, goodnight dad.”


Snapping out of her daze, she found a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt. She knew her father was going out with Angela and that she and Lex would have the house to themselves. She mentally counted and knew they had not spent many weeks together, but it just felt right. Pulling the sweatshirt on, she removed the bra. Blaming it on being restrictive, she secretly hoped for something else.

The rest of the evening she worked on some files that she had brought home. Lex had sent her home to get work done, both of them. She looked at the clock and started something simple for dinner and picked up the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.” She hung up the phone and almost skipped around the kitchen. She thought it was funny that someone she had known all her life could make her so giddy in love. She wanted the moment to be right; she didn’t want it to go wrong this time.

Finishing up dinner, Chloe ran down the hall to the door. Opening it, Lex grabbed her and slammed the door behind them. Pressing her against the hallway wall, he wrapped his hands around her ribcage and plunged his lips into hers. Chloe melted into him as she raked her fingers down his head. Hearing him moan, she repeated the motion before shoving him off her.

“The buzzer. I made dinner and really don’t want it to burn because we have no control.” Following her down the hall, he grabbed her around the waist and walked in time with her.

“I don’t have any. You’re too damn delicious.” Noticing that the dining room was set for only two, he asked, “Where’s your dad?”

“They went out. It’s just us tonight.” Chloe answered as she pulled out dinner and started loading their plates. She felt Lex walk up behind her and press himself into her.

“Good because I’m starving,” he whispered in her ear before kissing her neck and pressing against her harder. Chloe could feel him slightly harden through her sweats and she was suddenly warm. Feeling him let up, he reached over her shoulder and popped a crouton in his mouth. He was teasing her, obviously ignoring his own growing need.

After dinner, Chloe walked down the hall and stood in the living room doorway. She watched Lex lean back into the couch and turn on the entertainment center. She was really starting to enjoy their wind down time every night. They didn’t even call them dates; they simply spent time together. “Hey.”

Lex looked up just as the beer bottle flew into his hand. “Our timing is getting better. I picked some sci-fi film tonight.” Chloe sat down on the couch and nestled in between Lex’s legs propped up on the couch and coffee table. Hitting the play button and turning off the overhead lights, Lex wrapped his arm around the front of Chloe and kissed her on the neck. “I’m so glad that it’s the weekend. I was thinking of a museum tomorrow. We haven’t been to the science museum since it was redone.”

Chloe turned her head slightly where she could see him and smiled. “That would be nice. Shhhh.” Chloe turned back around as Lex pulled her closer to him. He felt her breath hitch as he touched her arm and took the hint, running his hand under her sweatshirt.

The two continued discussing the inane plot of the scifi film, picking apart the pieces that could not possibly happen. Feeling his fingers run along her stomach, Chloe closed her eyes before accidentally moaning quietly. Lex kissed her neck as he moved his hand up and cupped what surprised him. She had forgone the bra for the night. “Chloe?”

Leaning her head to the side, her smile and gentle moan was a good sign. Leaning down into her, he met her lips in a hot kiss as he cupped her breast in his hand, flicking the nipple between his fingers as Chloe whimpered.

Pulling up from Lex’s grip, Chloe turned around on the oversized couch and pulled the sweat shirt over her head revealing her bare chest. Lex tilted his head to the side as he slid his hands up and over her breasts. Feeling the warmth of his hands, Chloe longed for more. She wanted more of him.

Easing closer to him, Chloe unbuttoned the dress shirt that he had pulled from the business slacks after dinner. The silk felt smooth between her fingers, each undone button revealing his warm, fit chest. Sitting up from the edge of the couch, Lex pulled the shirt off and draped it over the edge of the couch.

Chloe ran her fingertips over his chest as she heard Lex barely moan her name before pulling her down into him on the couch, gathering his hand in her hair and capturing her lips with his. Feeling the warmth of his skin hitting her sent a surge through her body that immediately caused the warmth between her thighs to return.

“Upstairs,” she choked out in between kisses. Without replying, Lex grabbed both shirts and scooped Chloe up in his arms. Pushing the door to her room open with her foot, Lex dropped her on the bed and climbed over her.

Balancing over her, Chloe eyed the obvious bulge from his pants. “Are you sure? Chloe, I’m not really prepared for this.”

“Drawer on the right in the bathroom.” Lex’s face changed from confusion to a sly grin when he realized that she was prepared. As he got up, he felt her finger snake into his back beltloop. Stopping, her hands moved around his waist undoing his pants from behind him. Feeling her hand tease him through his pants, he groaned and removed his pants and pulled from her grip.

He stared at himself, barely dressed and standing in Chloe’s bathroom. A wave of nervousness hit him as he gripped the edge of the bathroom sink. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the condom package and turned back to the bed hoping she hadn’t changed her mind. Turning the corner out of the doorway, he stared at the blond lying in the now undone bed and saw the pile of sweats at the end of the bed.

“Are you ok?” Chloe kidded. Lex looked more nervous than she was. “You can’t tell me that you haven’t thought about this, dreamt about this.” She pulled the sheet back where Lex caught a glimpse of her thigh. “Come to bed.”

Chloe eyed him seductively like he hadn’t seen from any other woman. He honestly wondered where she had learned such a look. Taking a deep breath, she quietly sighed when Lex pulled the silk boxers down before getting in bed. Pulling her in next to him, he propped up on one arm and pulled her hair back out of her face. “I love you Chloe. I always have.”

Chloe slid her hand around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. “I love you too. It just took awhile to figure it out.” Running her hand along the side of his face, he kissed her again before continuing the trail of kisses down under the sheet.

Feeling Lex move in between her legs, massaging her nub with his fingers, she grazed her fingers along the edge of the bed and moaned his name. She gasped as she felt his tongue graze in between her legs. Feeling him work his way back up to her, she opened her eyes to his face. The two stared at each other for a long while. “I want you. Show me how long you’ve wanted me.”

Lex smirked before reaching for the condom and sliding it on. He felt Chloe become wetter as he pumped his fingers inside her a few more time. Returning the gesture, Chloe ran her fingers over her wet core and stroked on his hard shaft. Sucking in a surprised breath, Lex was in shock. Locking eyes with him, she watched him try to keep his composure as he balanced over her before carefully lining up. “I won’t break Lex.”

She sensed what he was feeling. It had been so long that he had seen her as the little girl he protected regardless of his feelings. Now, he was taking another step with her. He felt her hands take his shaft and touch it to her. “Chloe. I…”

“Make love to me Lex.” Her voice was even and unwavering. Her hands guided his shaft to her entrance. She was the one in power of their destiny after all this time. Leaning over her, he groaned as he penetrated her and heard her whimper his name.

The two increased sighing each others names as Lex moved deeper in her. Hearing her gasp and watching her grab the bed post behind her, Lex knew she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was the woman he had waited for. He watched her eyes flutter back and her mouth open as she gasped and screamed, “LEX!” right as her climax washed over her.

Feeling her clinch him after she came down, he moaned her name as he feel forward on his arms and pounded into her almost uncontrollably. “God Chloe,” he cried as he met her climax with his.

Falling to her side, the two heaved deep breaths after what Chloe would count as epic lovemaking. Lex looked exhausted after holding back and restraining to make the moment last. She panted as she felt small beads of sweat run down the side of her chest. She watched Lex’s naked form slip into the bathroom and return in the dark.

“Hey you,” he whispered as he crawled back under the sheet with her. “You ok?”

“Spent, but incredible. You’re incredible.” She ran her hand down his face, now being cooled by the beads of water he splashed on it. Pulling him into a kiss, she cupped his face and smiled.

“I love you Chloe.” She didn’t answer but he didn’t care. He watched as her eyes partly closed. She had said he loved him before and he knew she meant it. “Chloe, I should go.”

Reaching out for his arm without opening her eyes, a smile came across her face. “Stay.”

“But your dad…”

“Just stay.” Lex nodded to himself and took a deep breath. Pulling her into his still naked form, he cupped her breast in his hand and heard a small moan before kissing her shoulder and falling asleep.

Downstairs, Gabe and Angela eyed the car still in front of the house and walked in. Angela walked into the living room and spotted the pair of men’s shoes and turned off the television.

“You see Chloe?” Gabe asked as she pulled the door to the living room closed.

“No, but I think we should let them be.” Gabe took his wife’s hand and headed upstairs before stopping on the stairs, looking at the closed door to Chloe’s room. Angela stared at Gabe. “She’s an adult now. We’ll invite him for breakfast tomorrow.”

Grabbing him by the tie, she playfully drug Gabe up the rest of the stairs. Closing the bedroom door, she smirked in Gabe’s direction. “Now, I would like to think they aren’t the only ones going to have fun tonight.” Gabe obliged.

TBC

Song: The Way You Look Tonight by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields

[hfce]

That was a great update. I am glad they finally did it. :D

[lkedino]

i love this update

[happybum]

now THAT was yummy. I have another thing to be greatful for. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. :D I am finally glad that they are happy and finally together in every since of that word. :grin3: I can't wait for the next chapter.

[dagney]

The speech at the retirement party had me crying it was so beautiful. I enjoyed the comfortable intimacy between Lex and Chloe. Terrific part. Dagney

[lexie]

It was so nice to read Lillian´s speech and to feel the love she has for her son. To see Lex loved by his parent and to have him express his love for his mum so openly was priceless- how I wish this could have happened on the show (Damn Lionel!)!

I´m so happy Lex and Chloe have finally come together and that she has accepted he´s always been the one for her.

I´m looking forward to your next update. Great work!:blinkkiss

[Gaia]

awww...they finally did it. Thank God for that!

[malugargula]

Their first time!!! So romantic, I loved it
:)

Thanks Gaia for the explanation about the WIP
:)

[lilinny]

Finally together, as they should be.

Fantastic chapter.

[michelle_19781997]

Well worth the wait. Wonderful chapter.

[Kit Merlot]

What a beautifully romantic, yet sexy update!

Lillian and Gabe's reactions to the Chlex romance was fabulous, and I love how much they trust their kids' judgements. Besides, I think Lillian and Gabe have been cheering them on the whole time:grin3:

This story continues to rock--excellent work:D

[superag]

A/N - Ok, a couple more chapters before its over. And I'm still itching to start something new but don't know what yet. Feedback keeps the posts coming while I wrack my brain for a new idea.

Warning: Light NC17 again....

Chapter 15 – Work n Play

The next couple of months the two saw each other at work but didn’t steadily date, mainly because of time. When Lex took over he found himself in the middle of an Asian buyout that kept him away from the office and her for weeks. At this point, no one knew the two were anything but assistant and boss except for Lillian and Gabe. Chloe didn’t mind since she knew eventually Lex would have to make a decision on how that would be handled.

Walking through the living room in her jeans and San Diego State shirt, she sat down on the couch and flipped through channels, knowing the price for dating someone of Lex’s stature was that many weekends she would be on her own. The house just seemed empty as was the Luthor house. Lillian and Gabe both made on their promises and went of with their significant others.

“Well popcorn, what shall we watch tonight?” Chloe half asked the bowl sitting next to her. Flipping through the channels, she stopped on a news program with a mention of the dinner with the Australian Prime Minister.

“Lex Luthor, the new CEO for Luthorcorp, was entertained last night by the Prime Minister and his wife. Luthor, who attended with the dinner with Miss Australia, looked like quite the dancer gliding across the floor with his date.” Chloe curled up her lip and stared at the typical model on Lex’s arm. She seemed pleasant enough from the conversation she and the woman had a couple of nights ago when the date was arranged.

Continuing to watch, she smiled at Lex’s whispers to the woman on the other side of him. His mother donned her favorite Vera Wang for the occasion and smiled as she watched Lex fully extend his control of the empire she created.

Hearing the door, Chloe rolled her eyes and plodded down the hall. Looking out the door, she only noticed a bottle of wine with a kangaroo on it and a roll of tickets around it. Stepping out onto the front porch, someone grabbed her and Chloe screamed before someone covered her mouth.

“Shhhh. You’ll freak out the neighbors,” Lex whispered in her ear as he held her in one arm and picked up the wine in the other.

“What the hell? What about the deal?”

“Done. I just got back and we’re going out. No more stuffy parties or expensive suits. Get your shoes on; the fair is in town.”

Chloe ran up the stairs and retrieved her shoes, realizing why she loved him so much. His mother wanted him to be a normal person and that was how he was raised. She enjoyed having their time split between fancy parties and just being normal.

Chloe smiled up at Lex as he stood in line for what had to be the worst thing in the world for either one of them, a corndog. She couldn’t comprehend the amount of money that Lex had already plunked down for games and rides that couldn’t possibly be safe. But she loved him for it.

“What are you thinking about?” Lex asked as he sat down on the bench next to her and handed her the obscene looking food.

“The fact that the head a multi-billion dollar company is about to give himself and his girlfriend acid reflux.” Chloe stopped and took a bite as Lex nudged her gently. “No, really. People staring at us and saying congrats on the company doesn’t really bother you?”

“Actually, I was expecting the stares. The congratulations are a little weird, but it’s nice.” Lex leaned over and licked part of the mustard off Chloe’s hand as she closed her eyes and quivered at the tickle.

“So what do you want to do after this? Funnel cake or fried coke?” Lex looked at her funny and she pointed at the sign displaying what could only be the newest way to get fat. Reading about the concoction on the side of the stand, his lips turned up. “I agree – funnel cake.”

A few hours later, Lex opened the door to Sullivan residence for Chloe, who balanced a bag of cotton candy and the bear that was taller than she was. Dropping the bear in the front foyer, she giggled as she looked at Lex rotating his arm. “You’re getting old.”

“Am not.” He commented, quickly dropping his throwing arm and wincing enough for Chloe to notice.

“Yeah, your aim isn’t the best anymore either. $100 worth of throws for that thing. We could have bought one outright for less. My hero!” Chloe giggled as she clasped her hands under her chin and mocking a damsel in distress.

Lex had enough. “I’ll show you old,” he smirked as his hands flew up under Chloe and he threw her over her shoulder. He laughed as he hauled her upstairs, listening to her scream the whole way.

They spent the rest of the weekend together, not leaving the house, barely leaving the bed. Catching the tabloid news, they both giggled at the story of exactly who was Luthor was dating. Flipping to the local news, Lex wrapped his bare arm around Chloe’s bare shoulders under the sheets. The Daily Planet printed the first picture of the two making out behind a candy apple stand the night before on the front page.

“Guess we know what we should tackle first tomorrow,” Lex laughed as he threw the paper on the floor and pulled Chloe back underneath the sheets.

*********

Chloe met Lex at the front door with the folders that he had asked for on the way into the Luthorcorp building. “The plant suffered extensive damage in the fire. The executives there want to call it a total loss, but I heard rumblings on the International market they are expecting you to dump it and Queen Industries is hot for the property taking.”

“Fat fucking chance.” Lex and Chloe walked down the hall and both hit buttons on opposite sides of the elevator up to the office suite. Those that worked in the building now knew that the two were a high-powered couple both in and out of the office. The two had now been dating openly for six months as well as working together.

Business moguls and tabloid rags rumbled repeatedly about the idea of the business and personal relationship would snag and rip in half eventually, but the arrangement that Lex and Chloe had proved them wrong. After their first night together, they laid the ground rules. They never talked about work on dates and never talked about their personal life at work. People in the office were amazed at the two’s separation as if they were different people.

“Get on the phone and make arrangements for two tickets to Singapore and a place to stay for a week. I’m going to fix this.” Chloe took notes and handed the other file from her desk to him as the doors to his office started to close for the conference call he was about to have. She knew it wasn’t going to pretty, at least the words he spoke wouldn’t be.

“Two tickets?”

Lex turned and smirked, “I’m going to need you on this one.” Not missing a beat, he shut the door between him as Chloe held the phone in her hand unable to speak with surprise.

She didn’t see him again until they were leaving. The two now carpooled home, but they insisted on still living apart. They wanted the realism of dating and Chloe felt more comfortable at her place. When the office doors opened, he smiled as he picked up her coat for her. Slipping her arms into the coat, she felt a kiss on her cheek.

“You know we have rules.”

“I needed to feel something soft after today.” He ran his hands down her arms and sighed, “This deal is going to blow up on me. Those assholes in Singapore are trying to freaking blackmail me into giving them what they want.” Chloe felt the tension in his voice and took his arm.

Walking toward the private elevator down, she laid her head against his shoulder unlike any other time in the office. “We can make it work. And if we get there and the plant is a total loss, it may be a good move to let it go. The labor coming out of there was not producing anyhow.”

Lex leaned against the elevator wall and closed his eyes. Fourteen hours on the phone produced nothing but more arguments. He wanted nothing more than to wrap up with Chloe and disappear for the weekend. “I’m glad you’re going.”

“It’ll be different. I remember when dad would go away with Lillian.”

“I don’t think they shared a hotel room though,” Lex halfway smiled before kissing her cheek. Seeing the elevator doors open, a couple of employees eyed the quick exchange and smiled at the couple.

**********

The flight over to Singapore was interesting at least. Chloe remembered the flight to Hawaii with Joel but flying private was much better than flying military charters. She got to sip champagne versus sitting next to a crate of bullets.

Lex gently guided Chloe behind the butler from the hotel in downtown and followed him into the suite as Lex called it. It was larger than the top floor of her house. “This is absolutely incredible.” Chloe glided her hand across the marble countertops in the kitchen. “But I’m not cooking.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Lex threw his coat down and fell on the bed. “Actually, I’m dreaming of a nap.” Chloe cocked her head to one side and slipped out of her coat after paying the butler who would be on call for them the remainder of their stay.

“Mr. Luthor, you have a meeting in two hours,” she dropped in her very businesslike tone as she dropped the folder on his chest. “Sleep is for the weak and jet lagged.”

Groaning, he grabbed the folder and followed his girlfriend/workaholic assistant over to the dining room table. The two sat for another hour and half going over photos of the burned plant and the peripheral damage to other areas in the downtown area. “Reparations are definitely going to be part of the cleansing package.”

Chloe got up and grabbed their coats. “I think a trip to the plant would be the first wise choice.”

Meeting now at the plant site, the two looked on with the other executives from the plant and covered their faces. The fumes from the still smoldering rubber caused Chloe, Lex, and their guide to all squint and breathe heavier.

“I think the clean up here is going to be far more than merely the building. The fumes are going to be an environmental hazard if not handled first. That could be easily bring lawsuits from the businesses around here,” Chloe commented as she carefully walked around the barrier around the remains.

Lex held her hand as she teetered in heels up through the middle of the pile of rubble. Parts would turn to ash under her feet as Lex would feel her bobble as she made notes. After spending two hours walking through the remains with the company board in Singapore, he looked at Chloe and the insurers that had met them at the site.

“What’s the suggestion?”

“Pay out the plant employees for the term of their contracts and sell off the land. Queen Industries already has a foothold here in the central city and could easily take over this portion for a decent price. We have already been in contact and they…”

Lex held up his hand, “You’ve already what? You talked to Queen’s associates behind my back? What’s your cut?” Lex spat. He felt Chloe grip him in the elbow and slightly nodded. It wouldn’t make it any better if he argued. “I’m not keeping men on my team that take handouts from others. You’re fired.”

Chloe silently made some notes, keeping her opinions to herself until she heard her name. “What?”

“Your impression.” Lex pulled her to the side as the men he had just fired stood firmly still.

“I agree the whole area is a total loss, but it was an important subsidiary for the plant in Tokyo. Therefore, the price tag to rebuild and pay those employees while waiting for the rebuild is not economically sound.”

Lex rubbed his forehead in frustration. He couldn’t even get his own girlfriend to say what he wanted. Hearing her drop price tag numbers, he knew she was basing her decisions on what she knew and learned. She continued, keeping a very businesslike attitude, “Mr. Luthor, it’s not a sound investment. The environmental cleanup would be astronomical in order to put people back in this location. However, there is an abandoned warehouse on the wharf side that would provide access to the shipping channel and an easy refitting of the building.” Chloe took a nervous breath; she was taking a risk. “The warehouse is Queen Industries as well. It could work as more of a trade than a buyout as this property would be.”

Lex glared at her not believing that she was actually siding with the men that he just fired. Shaking his head, he walked off by himself as Chloe tried to calm the nerves of the nervous board of directors that now stood on their personal belongings made of soot.

A few days later, Chloe collapsed on the bed in the hotel after the eight hour meeting with the insurance company and the other investors in the property. Scrapping the entire building was suggested for the best course of action. She hated agreeing with them for the simple reason that it would cost Lex twice as much in the beginning. But the deal was a success. Luthorcorp would acquire the wharf location and only lose the employees’ severance while the wharf location was retooled. The downtown location would now become a parking garage for the Asian Queen Tower a block away.

“Sorry about the price tag.” Chloe pulled her shoes off and threw them across the hotel room.

Lex undid his tie and slunk into the oversized chair. “That’s why I have my own risk manager. If I had done it my way, that site would have become one environmental disaster after another. Then I would have had millions more in payouts. It’s not your fault. Mom said the same thing when I talked to her this morning.” Lex looked over at Chloe. She looked exhausted as he was. “I’m sorry for snapping at you this week. It’s hard to take the truth from your own.”

“You should hire Marsh back on as the insurers. They were just trying to create a deal that worked best in all directions.”

“I suppose.” Lex moved from the couch to the bed, ripping his tie completely off and throwing it on the ground. Thinking back over the last two nights, he was glad that tonight they hopefully could sleep together, much less have sex. The tension in the room after Chloe had told him he was wrong was hard to take until his mother said the same thing. They had their first fight, over business.

Lying awake the nights before, he wondered if he should even keep Chloe in the office with him. Stepping out into the hallway early that morning, he called and talked to his mother who explained that she and Gabe had numerous blow ups over the years about pure business decisions but Lex couldn’t take them to bed with him. Not if he wanted Chloe to remain with him. Hanging up the phone, he tried to tug Chloe off the couch, but she turned over and ignored him. They hadn’t been together all week.

Now, Chloe laid down on the bed next to Lex. “So, you want to stay in and enjoy each other’s company or go out and celebrate?”

Lex put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. Groaning to himself, Chloe could tell Lex was still not interested in talking and pulled herself up and headed into the bathroom. From inside the bathroom as she got undressed, she giggled. She guessed they would stay in when the man on the bed started quietly snoring.

Walking out of the bathroom, Chloe pulled the chenille throw off the couch and started to cover Lex when she spotted something on the bed. Pushing his now completely limp arm out of the way, she laughed as he groaned. Pulling out the small box lodged partly under him, her breath hitched. “Lex.”

Poking him harder, he groaned and turned his head in her direction. “What?” He groaned halfway angrily. Opening his eyes just slightly, he spotted the stunned look on her face and a small blue box in her hand. Opening his eyes wider, he grabbed one of her hands in his. “So much for the surprise at dinner tonight.”

“Lex.”

Sitting up and kissing her on the bare shoulder, he caressed her arms in his fingers as she popped the box open and swallowed nervously. He could feel her shake in his hands. Looking back in his direction, she turned, trying to keep the towel around her from falling. Seeing the smile on his face, she barely could breathe. “Chloe, will you marry me?”

***********

A few days later, Lex walked into his office and saw the warm cup of coffee sitting on the desk and his usual work already arranged for his needs. They had something special that he couldn’t quite explain to others. Still, he wondered where she had run off to.

Sitting down at his desk, he opened the partially open screen of the laptop to the simple words, ‘I love you,’ typed on the notepad that was open. Running his hand over the small screen, he shook his head and realized again how lucky he was that she had come back at all.

“Good morning.” She saw his smile and giggled. “Guess you got our notes for the day.”

“Yes. And I have to say that as the boss, I am truly disappointed in the behavior of my employee.”

“Really?” Chloe’s look of concern was genuine as Lex rounded his desk and closed the doors to his office and locked them. She watched him come around her and move her hair to the side, kissing her on the neck. “Lex, the rules.”

“Damn the rules.” Taking her by the hand, he pushed her onto the couch in the office and moved in to kiss her. Moving to the side, Chloe pointed at the other end of the couch and started to undo her blouse. Lex sat on the couch and gripped Chloe’s sides as she straddled him.

“Why the sudden interest in needing me now? Not that I mind.” Chloe giggled as Lex pushed her now undone blouse back to reveal the perky breasts that shown through the lacy bra making him harden almost instantly. Reaching behind her, he flicked it open with one hand before rendering her completely topless.

“I got the board to agree with the electronics merger in Taiwan and I wanted to celebrate. But you were out with your dad last night and didn’t get to. So,” he stopped as he buried his face into her chest, gently biting on a nipple as Chloe gasped.

Continuing his ministrations on her chest, Chloe got her composure and unbuckled his belt and undid his pants, pushing them to his ankles. “Then you really had to wait. Just be aware you are breaking the rules, not me.” She freed his cock from his pants just as Lex found his fingers trailing inside the edge of her lace underwear under her skirt that now floated around her waist.

“I’ll risk the rules.” Looking up at his girlfriend, he pulled her down into a hot kiss as his fingers found their way past the thin lace underwear and plunged into her. Chloe moaned into his mouth as he continued deepening his reach into her.

Lex groaned Chloe’s name as her hand increased pace on his shaft. “Me too. I have wanted to do this for so long.” Chloe smiled as Lex groaned at the incredible pleasure in hearing her think about office sex. Chloe whimpered when he removed his fingers and placed his hands on her hips. Lining herself up, she gasped as she lowered herself down on him.

Only the second time they had had sex since she started birth control, she forgot how much she enjoyed it without anything between her and the other person. Lex, though, was so much better at making her lose control. She hoped that the people downstairs wouldn’t hear her as she plunged down on him again.

*********

“Damn honey,” Lex moaned after Chloe pulled off him and put herself back together. Looking over at her sitting next to him on the couch, he smiled. “Now I can work all day. And I promise I won’t make it a habit.”

“Yeah sure boss,” Chloe joked as she buttoned her blouse together. “Damn buzzer,” Chloe cursed as she kissed Lex and walked out to her desk. Picking up the phone, she could just hear someone talking erratically on the other end.

“Whoa, slow down dad,” Lex heard as he walked out of the office to see whom the call was from. Lex walked up behind Chloe as she stopped and the color drained from her face.

Lex picked up the phone as Chloe sat in the chair. Listening to Gabe repeat what he had told Chloe, Lex quickly answered, “We’ll be right there.” It wasn’t something he could control, but he would be there for Chloe. Hanging up the phone, Lex kneeled in front of Chloe and held her hands. They shook like leaves in the wind. Pulling the phone down next to him, he didn’t let go of her hands while he dialed. “I need the car pulled around and all meetings canceled for the next week. Please clear Ms. Sullivan’s schedule as well.”

TBC

A/N 2 - Fried Coke anyone? http://www.beverageworld.com/content/view/33707/

[lexie]

Oh, he proposed at last! I loved the whole fair business, but now I wonder... who/what that phone call was about. Please, tell me nothing bad has happened to Lillian. Or is Gabe a widower now?

I´m eagerly awaiting a new chapter. :grin3:

[Gaia]

hmmmm....did something happen to her ex-husband?
More please

[smithers]

i'm confused...did she say yes?

[ChloeLovesLex]

Oh I love that they are together now. Yay for them getting engaged! They are obviously doing a wonderful job of separating work from home for the most part save for that last little work smut slip-up. Something tells me it won't be the last now that they've tasted the fun it can be for them :yeahbaby:

Poor Chloe. What's going on.

[superag]

i'm confused...did she say yes?

It doesn't say. Sneaky I know.:grin:

[lilinny]

The fried coke is so wrong!

Did Chloe say yes? Because the next paragraph you mention Chloe as the girlfriend.

Other than that, fantastic chapter.

[ChloeLovesLex]

It doesn't say. Sneaky I know.:grin:

If they are not engaged I'm not talking to you until you fix it. :rules:

[basmas84]

yeay... he proposed... but what a way to do it... ;)

and what are the news? omg... i wonder if it is lillian again... but i dont think so, because lex would be more under stress... so who could it be... hmmmm

anyway. nice chapter... good work!!

[hfce]

It doesn't say. Sneaky I know.:grin:

I was just about to ask but you answered my question. I don't like you. :D

That phone call is about her ex he is dead right? ;)

I love how Lex knows that Chloe won't be his yes woman. When he needs to know the truth she will let him know. That is someone to value in his world. :blinkkiss

[malugargula]

Yay they`re engaged
:)
I`m really curious about what Gabe told them.

I really wish I could have a fried coke and a funnel cake (I don`t even know what it is but pregnant women are always wanting to try everything...)

[superag]

Yay they`re engaged
:)

I really wish I could have a fried coke and a funnel cake (I don`t even know what it is but pregnant women are always wanting to try everything...)

First, I never said she said yes. Also, there is a link at the bottom of the update for the explanation of a fried coke. I will have to thank the idiots in my state of the US that came up with it but will never have one. Who could possibly decimate Coca Cola like that is beyond me.

[hfce]

First, I never said she said yes. Also, there is a link at the bottom of the update for the explanation of a fried coke. I will have to thank the idiots in my state of the US that came up with it but will never have one. Who could possibly decimate Coca Cola like that is beyond me.

Coke should not be fried or tampered with in anyway. It is fine the way it is. ;)

[Kit Merlot]

An awesome update!

First, fabulous Chlex smut:D I do like that they are both working so hard at their keeping their working and romantic relationships seperate.

And I really like that Lex isn't afraid to ask his mom's advice about dealing with Luthorcorp and his life with Chloe--Good man:D

Lastly, I need these two questions answered: what did Chloe say when Lex asked her to marry him, and what happened at the end of the chapter? Is Gabe in the hospital?

Let us know the answers as soon as you can;)

[superag]

A/N - Well, I am sick sick sick. So, while I can't sleep or eat, I will update this. Epilogue after this. By the way, she never said yes yet. Feedback keeps it coming regardless of my fever. Congrats to hfce and gaia for being one the money.

Chapter 16 – Wills Tested


Chloe and Lex barely spoke on the plane to Washington DC. She thought she had put this part of her life behind her just for it to come back and haunt her again. Lex watched her looking out the window as they landed at the airport.

“It’s just like him to do something stupid like this.”

Lex tried to resist saying anything. He hadn’t been there for the years she had been married. “Chloe, he may have not had the ability.”

“Yeah, but he could have called someone else, anyone else. He probably knew that we were together and decided what a way to fuck up my life as to pull me back into his. He has a goddamn family.” Chloe released the safety belt and started toward the door of the plane that was now open.

Lex grabbed her from behind. “I know this isn’t what you wanted to happen but things don’t always go as we plan. Let’s just handle it together and get home.”

Chloe glared in Lex’s direction, pulling her arm from his grip and started to the limo that waited to take her to the hospital.

In all that Lex could surmise from the indirect rant that he received on the plane ride over was that Joel had screwed up something royally. The man that Chloe had chosen before him had neglected to officially file papers with the Navy and Chloe remained his dependent, and now his sole decision maker.

Pulling up to the gate of the installation, the driver opened his window and was signaled over to the side of the parking lot. “Shit, they’re not going to let you on.” Chloe gathered up the papers that she brought from home that proved that she and Joel were a thing of the past. Getting out of the limo, she sighed. “They’re going to take me to see him. Go back to the hotel and I’ll call you when I’m done here.”

“Chloe,” Lex spoke low and even. “Ex-husband or not, he’s a human being. Be understanding.” He grasped her in his hands as she shook her head, staring straight at him.

“Maybe you should go visit him.” Chloe cursed under her breath before Lex quickly kissed her on the cheek and she got in the MP car, leaving in the direction of the hospital. Lex sat back in the limo and leaned back against the plush leather seat, wondering what would happen on the other side of those enforced gates.

Chloe walked into the hospital and shivered as she slung the bag of documents onto her shoulder. The last time she had been in a military hospital had been during her miscarriage. She had sworn she would never see the inside of another one. Walking up to the front desk, she noted the impersonal attitudes of those behind the desk and knew she was definitely in a military health organization.

“Can I help you?”

“Sergeant Herrod.” The nurse looked through the patient records and pulled his.

“And you are?”

“His ex-wife,” Chloe emphasized the ex as the woman behind the counter nodded her head and highlighted Chloe’s name on the patient visitor roster. “Has any one else visited?”

“His parents have been in and out since yesterday. I believe his brother is in with him right now. We have records that show that you are still in charge of his care. The doctor would like to speak to you as soon as you are done seeing him.” The woman in uniform signaled for Chloe to follow her as the two went down into a hallway that smelled of cheap cleaning products.

Chloe looked at the one room three doors down from Joel and eyed the ceiling caving in and nodded her head in disgust. Pushing the door open, the nurse noted the time of the next visitor and closed the door, reminding Chloe she still needed to meet with the doctor.

“Chloe?”

Chloe looked over and saw Jeff as he stood to greet her. Seeing his arms go out, she uncomfortably let him wrap his arms around her. “Hi. Guess you heard the smashing news.”

“I’m so sorry about all of this. Joel hadn’t told us anything until we got here and dad wanted to let him go and found out we couldn’t do anything. They’re at the installation motel. I told them I would stick around until you got here.”

Chloe sat down in the chair next to the bed and nodded her head as she lowered her bag. “Typical. They go on the missions for the extra cash and end up like this.” Chloe eyed her ex up and down as Jeff sat in the other chair. She didn’t hold his burned hand or touch him in any way. His eyes were melted shut as was his mouth. Extremities didn’t look like limbs anymore. “What happened?”

“They really don’t talk to us. Mom and dad got the call about it. They said something about a firefight in the mountains. They don’t talk about it that much. Joel never really said that much either.” Jeff watched as Chloe hesitated. “He won’t feel it anymore. Mom wouldn’t let go of him.”

Chloe moved her hand along the edge of one of Joel’s mangled fingers. She wondered how she couldn’t feel anything and then remembered how he yelled at her after the miscarriage, blaming her for not being strong enough to handle being a military wife. “You need to call your folks. I’m invoking the DNR.”

Jeff swallowed and nodded in sad agreement. There was barely a body there and after what Chloe went through, not much of a soul. Chloe ran her fingers along the rubbery skin and cringed as the doctor came in. She watched as Jeff left to call the rest of the family. Pulling out the folder with the documents that she thought she would never have to use, she thanked her stars that she had saved them. Signing the order, she handed it silently to the doctor.

Lex paced in the hotel waiting for the phone to ring. All they had heard was that Joel had survived a firefight but no other details had been given to Gabe so he couldn’t relay any more to them. He sat and stared at the little blue box he carried with him everywhere. Chloe had never said yes, but Lex knew it was more timing than her not wanting him.

Now he worried. Worried that she would feel for Joel as he lied in the hospital and that he would have to wait through his rehab to even know if he and Chloe still had a chance. Looking at his watch, he realized he had silently talked to himself about his different strategies with Chloe and Joel for almost four hours. He slipped his phone out of his pocket again and looked to see if there had been a call he had missed but nothing.

He heard the door click and looked at the clock. She had finally returned to the hotel eight hours later. He watched her in the dark as she dropped her coat and bag into the chair and curled up silently on the bed next to him without undressing. Not saying a word, he wrapped his arms around her and felt the tears fall from her eyes and run down his arm and knew what happened.

************

Lex sat in the office and tried to concentrate on the latest figures from the overseas markets to no avail. Chloe was with her father at Joel’s funeral. The two had barely seen each other in the last week. Lex returned earlier from DC, leaving Chloe to wait on her father while running from building to building on the installation trying to straighten out paperwork that should have been done a year ago.

“Lex?”

Not looking up in the direction of the voice at he door, he wasn’t particularly interested in being consoled. He didn’t understand his unnecessary problem of being upset. Chloe lost someone she had been married to; he was just the sideline casualty.

“Son.”

“Yes ma’am?” It was more a controlled response than something that meant anything. He continued to sit and stare at the desk in front of him. He couldn’t see his mother coming up to the desk until she picked up the picture that he had been staring at. The small collage had the two as kids and then the proofs he bought of their chaste kiss at the fair. He liked the picture so much more than any pictures taken at dinners they had been to together.

“She’s going to have to have some time.” Lillian sat down across the desk from him. “You can’t understand the power that a death of a spouse has over you, even if she wasn’t still married to him. They had a bond. You’re going to have to let her work through this time without her feeling you’re pushing her.”

Lex turned in the chair and stared out the window at the storm clouds. It was like even mother nature expected things to disintegrate into nothing. Crossing his hands in front of him, he leaned back in the chair. “She still loves me.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Lillian corrected herself, “but she has to settle this business both in her heart and life before you two can move on.” Lex turned back to look at his mother as she motioned for him to close his mouth. “You will leave her be. I have no doubt she’ll come back to you when she’s good and ready.”

Lex swallowed and watched his mother leave the office and then watched as her car pulled out of the private drive below the office many floors below. He hated when she was right. Shoving the picture in the desk, he shook his head and tried in vain to concentrate on work to cover his broken heart.

*********

Chloe grasped her father’s hand as she walked up the stairs of the church that was doing the memorial. She shivered as she walked through the door as even someone from above was telling her that she was in the wrong place. “Dad, we should go.”

“You came to pay your respects. He was your husband.”

“Was. Dad, I’m not exactly the most liked person here.” Gabe shushed her as they sat in the back pews and listened as the service started. As the preacher read the names of the living, Chloe hitched a breath as they skipped over the fact that he had ever been married to anyone. She should have expected it, but something stabbed her in the chest and she felt the tears start.

As if on cue, Gabe pulled a handkerchief and handed to her. He knew it had hurt her not to even be acknowledged. She had grown up being married to him, even if it was to learn to be independent. He had wanted forever to tell Joel that his duty to his country couldn’t always take precedence over his home, but he knew that some men were built for marriage, others work. Joel had died for his country.

Chloe and Gabe got up quietly at the end of the service and waited outside as they were going to follow the line of cars out to the burial. Sitting on steps at the bottom of the church, Jeff saw her first. Walking down to her before the rest of the family emerged from the church, he took her hand. “Chloe. We didn’t expect you here.”

“I can tell. He wasn’t ever married according to that little biography.”

“It was the way mom and dad wanted it written.” He stopped and put his arm around her, walking her down away from the path of the casket. “We were under the impression that after the paperwork was done back in DC, that we wouldn’t see each other again.”

Chloe stopped walking and forced his arm from around her. “He was my husband. Ok, we had our problems and one was his issue with getting things done in a timely fashion. But that doesn’t mean that I should be pushed aside.”

Jeff took a deep breath looking over his shoulder as the family car was loading. Chloe turned and looked in the same direction seeing the looks on the faces of Joel’s parents. Staring back at Jeff, she shook her head. “I promise I won’t make a scene and as soon as he’s in the ground, you won’t have to bother with me again.”

Chloe walked back over to Gabe and grabbed his hand, pulling him toward their car and pulled out behind the last car in line to go to the cemetery. Gabe squeezed her shoulder as Chloe shuddered. “How could he talk to me like that? It was like I was just written off.”

Gabe stayed silent as Chloe continued to talk herself through the myriad of feelings. She pulled up behind the last car as the ceremony in the garden was starting and asked him to stay in the car. As the preacher asked for those to come pay their last respects, she glanced in Jeff’s direction and pushed past his parents. Kneeling next to the casket, she kissed him goodbye for the last time. Chloe stood up and walked off back to the car as the ceremony continued on.

“Better?”

“No, but eventually.” She drove silently back into Metropolis and went straight to bed when she went home. Gabe waited up in the living room with Angela until he received a phone call from Lillian. Understanding that she had instructed Lex, Gabe and Angela went to bed.

**********

Lex walked past the temp once again and smiled as politely as he could at the young brunette. She had dressed more and more provocatively as more rumors flurried about Lex and Chloe being done with.

The two had been spotted several times separately, but nothing that would point to a new relationship for either. The press made it to be they were simply on a very serious break.

Closing the office door, Lex had no interest in the secretary as he thought of her knowing his business. As far as he was concerned, she was earning a few notches on her bad resume before moving across town when Chloe came back.

The question remained when. The funeral had now been a month ago. He had tried to call, but either his mother cut off his calls from the office or Gabe answered all the calls the same way, she’s not available. Disgruntled, Lex now arrived at work early and stayed late seven days a week. Locking all mementos away, traces of her livelihood were all but gone, except for in his memory.

“Miss, you can’t go in….” Lex looked up as the door flew open and then shut in the secretary’s face. She popped in and tried to explain. “She doesn’t have an appoint…”

“Get out.” Lex stood and pointed as both the unnamed secretary and Chloe pointed at themselves. “No, you sit. You out.” The secretary stared at the man that hadn’t spoken two words to her in the weeks she had been there shut the door.

Chloe didn’t listen as well. She stared at Lex from across the office floor before walking over him and shoving her hands in his pants. “Where is it?” Lex moved to adjust her fingers running along parts he obviously didn’t want aroused at the moment. He hadn’t seen her in weeks and the first place she would go is his pants.

“Where is what?”

“You keep it with you all the time. I want you to find it now.” Lex looked at her blankly. She hadn’t said hello or explained what had happened for the last month. Confused, he watched as Chloe went through every drawer and then through all the pockets on his coat.

“What?” Lex spun around seeing her walk around his office like a whirlwind.

“My ring?” Chloe stopped and grabbed Lex by the lapels and pulled him into a hungry kiss. Almost choking, Lex ran his hand through her hair, deepening the kiss until it was painful. Pulling out of the kiss, she shoved her hands in his pockets again.

“What’s going on Chloe? Where have you been? I’ve tried to call…”

“I’ll tell you everything later, but right now I want to,” she stopped in front of Lex and looked up at his very confused look. “I want to be your wife.” Tears drained from her eyes as Lex’s eyes grew and his breath escaped him. “I love you Lex Luthor and I want to make you happy.”

Lex picked her up and pressed his lips to hers as her hands slid down the back of his head and his neck. He could barely breathe. He had taken everything down, hidden everything, and almost had taken the ring back. But she was here. Letting her down from his grip, he looked at her mascara-drenched face and crooked smile. “Go out and get rid of whatever her name is. And wait for me.” Chloe nodded and disappeared. Lex could hear the two women argue until Chloe announced who she was to the woman.

Lex had to think of something quick. Popping open the safe that his parent’s trusted heirlooms were, he searched for something that would work. “Yeah,” he whispered as he pulled the object out and closed the safe.

Walking out into the lobby of the office suite, he hit the button on the lock of the outside door and then watched as Chloe tried to put things from a month back in the order she wanted. He waited patiently as she finished up. “You know that wom…”

Chloe stopped midsentence and forgot the rest when she saw him on one knee.

“Chloe Sullivan, will you marry me?” Chloe eyed the ring she knew well. Lillian had worn it around her neck for years and it meant more than any carat diamond.

Smiling from ear to ear like he could remember her at her best, Chloe whispered, “Yes.”

TBC

[tatie87]

Good chapter! I realyy want to know the dirt about Joel/Chloe marriage going south and why the bad blood. Also, wow, Chloe had a miscarriage.

[lexie]

Oh, wow! I was dreading what the phone call might mean, and when I started reading the chapter I thought Chloe would leave Lex hanging and stand by her former-husband during rehab.::/:

Now I´m so pleased they´re engaged at last. I´m looking forward to reading the last chapters, because the ending must be close, right?

[hfce]

Wow that was a good one. Yeah for me being right but I would love for you to give us a background of their marriage. He went from nice guy when they were teens to a real ass in their marriage. What the heck happened? It seemed their marriage was more strife than fun. I wonder if Chloe figured that out from the get go but decided to stick to her decision? So many questions but so little time. ;)

I am glad she said yes but she could have at least said hi first. :P

[purplemoon123]

OMG!!! I missed three updates!!!

:drool: They finally did it. That was sweet, romantic and hot!!! Love that they work hard at maintaining their professional and personal lives separate. Their date at the fair was so adorable. ICK on the fried-coke. That's just wrong!!!

Chloe not backing down to what Lex wanted to do the burned warehouse/office is one of the reasons she is the right one for him.

Office sex, niiiiiiice!!!!

Damn Joel. Grrrrrr I can't believe he would tell Chloe that it was her fault for the miscarriage. Ass!!! Good to see that Jeff didn't write her off like his parents.

Love that Chloe kicked that slutty temp out.

YAY!!!! They're engaged!!!

[lkedino]

Yes it about time :respect:

[Gaia]

Oh thank God it was only Joel. Bad of me to say, but seriously, blaming Chloe for her miscarriage. That was just......evil.
Can't wait for the epilogue!!!!

[basmas84]

omg... him proposing is sooo cute!

[dagney]

Two updates, sad stuff with Chloe and Joel, no matter what went down good or bad they had a history together. That she needed to work through all that was understandable was needed, the disturbing part was her shutting Lex out totally, they had made work and intimate relationship work and he is her best friend so it was odd she cut him totally out while she processed things. He was patient as advised by his mom but I would have expected he would have pushed to see her more, I'm very glad she has said yes.

PS. You must start another story before you end this one so your fans won't have with drawl. Dagney

[Kit Merlot]

An awesome chapter!

Man, Joel and his family are a bunch of jerks. Good for Chloe for going to his funeral and paying her respects anyway.

And the Chlex are engaged--YEAH!!:D

[malugargula]

I was wrong before but...
YAY!!! Now they really are engaged
:D:D:D:D:D:D

Ok, I really have to ask this... what`s the funnel cake??? I read about the coke but I still couldn`t find anything about this funnel cake
:)

[superag]

Ok, I really have to ask this... what`s the funnel cake??? I read about the coke but I still couldn`t find anything about this funnel cake
:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funnel_cake

They are actually quite tasty and really bad for you.

[hfce]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funnel_cake

They are actually quite tasty and really bad for you.

But they are good. :rofl:

[lilinny]

Chloe had this whole other life that we didn't know about.

I'm glad they're finally engaged.

As always a fantastic chapter.

[superag]

A/N - YAY!!!! It's the end. It's short but wraps things up. I did address Joel, a little, but through Chloe and Lex. I felt I couldn't beat him anymore. Anyhoo, thanks for the wonderful feedback all along!!!!!

Epilogue –

Chloe heard the door open and turned to see the man she was about to marry peer around the door out her. “Hey,” she whispered as she looked at him. “You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding.”

“I think we’ve gone through enough things together that me seeing you a few minutes before your dad walks you down the aisle is not going to make a difference.” He grinned at her as she looked back in the mirror and twirled her engagement ring around.

Lex took her hand and pulled the ring on and placed it on her right hand. She watched her eyes as they seemed to stay focused on the ring and her hand shook. “We’re going to be ok, right?”

Lex’s face contorted into something she hadn’t seen before and she suddenly got nervous. “Lex, I…”

Feeling his hand brush up the side of her cheek, he pushed the hair away and shook his head. “We’ve got some time. Tell me.”

Chloe sighed and pressed her fingers to her head as if to hold the tears back. The man in front of her she had waited for and then leaped away as soon as she thought someone really loved her. Joel loved her, but it was hard to explain to anyone on the outside.

“I just saw all the moving and all the stress and all the missions that Joel went on. His work was so important to him. I went to meetings with other wives and they bashed them up and down about how duty came before marriage. And how I married the Marines, not the Marine.” She stopped and felt Lex hold her hands tightly in hers. Looking down at him kneeling in front of her, she shook her head. “I just don’t want that to happen again. You own practically the world, and I’m …”

“Going to be there every step of the way. We’re a team. In and out of the office. Remember, we still have our rules.”

Chloe’s smile brightened a little as he smirked about the few mores times they conveniently forgot them. “But what if I get pregnant? Lex I can’t guarantee…”

“Stop. Look at me.” Lex waited to see her eyes as they started to turn pink from the small red lines. She shook remembering how her first miscarriage was her fault. “What Joel blamed you for was not fair to you. I will be damned if anyone ever treats you like that again. You’re here with family, all of us.” Putting his hand behind her head, he made sure she looked in his direction. “I love you. I always have. Always will. Regardless and unconditionally.”

“And if it happens again?” Chloe whispered as she bit her lip.

Lex just smiled and shook his head. Chloe looked at him as if he had gone crazy. “Then all that money mom poured into the youth home will have one less child to worry about.” Chloe let out something that sounded like a laugh as Lex pulled Kleenex out of the box on the dresser. “Come on. We’ve got a lifetime, Mrs. Chloe Ann Luthor.”

Her smile beamed back as she took Lex’s hand and turned back to the door where her dad stood. “Shame on you. Go get where you’re supposed to be.”

“Going…going.” Lex shook Gabe’s hand as he peered at his daughter and smiled.

*************

Chloe sat in the bleachers and watched intently as the boys in the bright purple uniforms lined up. She couldn’t hardly watch most Saturdays. He wasn’t strong enough or large enough she thought to play that position.

Looking up behind her, she watched Lex pace back and forth across the bleacher right below the announcer. He never missed a game; for ten weeks out of the year, she knew he would have nothing come between him and football. Every so often, she would hear his voice rumble over the crowd’s, offering up the words, “stuff him” or “cut him underneath.” She and the other moms would sit and giggle at the quiet intensity that he felt.

Jacob was largest child on the 5th grade West Metropolis Spartans. He played free safety and could run like the wind. Other teams scouted the games and avoided the side that Jacob would line up on.

“Do you know why they changed his position? He was doing so well at safety,” Lillian leaned over and asked Chloe. Chloe just nodded and tried to readjust herself in the bleacher.

Putting her hand behind her, she looked over at Gabe and Angela sitting apart from each other. “Thanks dad. He’s going to be our track star.” Chloe saw her father smile as 16 month old Christopher ran back and forth between he and Angela screaming louder with every movement.

Chloe eyed Lex again as he leaned against the bleacher barrier fence at the top of the stands with his hand firmly on their three year old daughter’s head. Lex looked down as she grinned with her mommy’s smile and blonde hair.

“I wish Lex would come down and sit with us during the games. He gets too tense.”

Chloe laughed at Lillian’s remark as she heard plodding from the bleachers up above. The family watched as Nicole came down from the top with Lex and started digging through her bag on the stroller. Finding the orange slices, she pulled on the little tabs and opened the bag herself. “That’s my girl. The only one in her class that can open a Ziploc by herself.”

Nicole disappeared back up to the stop of the stairs just as a thud came from behind them. Chloe whipped around at the errant crying as Angela picked up Christopher and cuddled him. “It’s ok. You’re fine.” Chris looked at her and then his mom who rolled her eyes before bounding back into Gabe’s arms.

Looking up at the score, Chloe knew halftime was not going to be pretty. Her son, usually a star in his right, was playing a position that he didn’t care for and was showing it. The halftime whistle blew and Chloe grabbed Lex’s pant leg as he passed her.

“Be gentle.”

Lex leaned over and grabbed an orange out of Nicole’s bag that garnered him a glare just like his wife’s when she was angry. “Don’t worry. I’m not that much of a hard nose.”

“Yeah right,” was all Lex heard as the coach was gathering the team around, calling for all defensive players, the coach also called for the dads.

Gabe walked down and watched the interrogation of players by the coach. Jacob was on the best little league team in the state who were currently losing a playoff game. It was unacceptable to Jacob, to Lex, to the team.

Lex stood in front of Jacob and smirked disapprovingly. “When they are playing the come around route, Luthor what is your position?” The coach asked while Jacob concentrated on Lex’s eyes.

“To push the blocker off and go for the runningback,” Jacob answered as the coach moved onto the next player on the line. Lex looked behind his son and squatted down in front of him.

“Then why are you the one going backwards five yards?” Lex gently asked as he surprised Jacob and shoved him back about the same distance. Jacob knew the challenge when he saw it. Walking back up to the line while the coach addressed the safeties, he beared down and pushed Lex onto his back. The other dads watched as Lex pulled himself off the ground and smiled. “Now, do that to someone your own size.” Lex slapped him on the helmet and followed Gabe back up in the stands.

Sitting down next to Chloe, he turned and met her lips in a surprise kiss. “And what was that for?” She asked playfully as she held Nicole in her lap.

“I had a booboo. Your son pushed me on the ground.”

“My son? Oh no, don’t start that again.” Chloe bumped shoulders with her husband as the game started again.

When the second half buzzer finally sounded, the Spartans had pulled out a one point win after the goal line stand that included Jacob pushing one child to the ground so hard you could hear the thud. Jacob ran off the field yelling and screaming.

“Slow down with those pads on around your little sister and brother. Where do you want to eat?” Chloe asked.

Lex helped gather up the toys strewn about the bleachers and loaded the stroller before Angela and Lillian took over and put Christopher in. Turning around, he rolled his eyes at his son’s obvious attempt at bad humor with his hand on his hip scratching his chin.

“Today son.”

Jacob flashed a smile at Lex before grabbing his hand. Lex pulled on his sweaty shirt and helped heave his son out of his pads. “BJ’s.”

And the Saturday tradition continued. Healthy breakfast, piling the family into the SUV, football, and the greasiest burgers in Metropolis for lunch. Gabe and Angela walked with the stroller as Chloe, Lillian, and Robert carried the leftovers of the football uniform. In front of them, Lex and Jacob obviously still talked about football as Nicole tugged on Lex’s pants. Seeing Lex stop and shrug as Jacob giggled, Lex tossed her on his shoulders, obviously losing a battle to next powerful woman in his life.

THE END

A/N 2 - Starting a Christmas fic soon. Very fluffy and based off the relationship from The Gift Exchange and Ring in the New, my holiday fics from last year. If you're new and haven't read them, have at it...they're much shorter.

[lexie]

You´ve wrapped things up beautifully and not only did Lex and Chloe have offspring but three of them!

I´m looking forward to your Christmas fic.:grin3:

[hfce]

Ok I am a but confused how many kids do they have and what are their ages? :P That was a nice wrap up of this story. I loved it. :)

[purplemoon123]

Yay!! They got married and had chlexy babies!!!

And now I have two fics to read.

[Gaia]

Fab ending to a fab story:D And I just loved the last line. Brilliant.

[basmas84]

beautiful ending...
but omg i can't believe this is really over now...
at least i know now that lex and chloe have childrne are married and live a happy life... not that i doubted that to begin with...:P

[superag]

Ok I am a but confused how many kids do they have and what are their ages? :P That was a nice wrap up of this story. I loved it. :)

There are three. Jacob is in grade school (10ish), Nicole is 3, and Chris is 16 months. Big age difference in the first two, but it works.

[Kit Merlot]

A wonderful ending to a beautiful story!

Good for Lex for being such an involved dad--Lillian was a superb influence on him. And Chloe's protective mothering is just too cute.

The Chlex children are adorable, and I'm thrilled that their lives have turned out to so well.

Well done:D

[dagney]

what a wonderful ending. I like the whole family connecting and the interplay btw the grandparents also. Dagney

[malugargula]

Thanks for the link about the funnel cake... they seem to be delicious
LOL

Wonderful ending for a wonderful fic
:)
Great job

[chloedreamer]

I just read the ending and must say I think I missed out on a great fic but the title kind of scared me away. I'm going back to read the beginning now.

Loved Lex and Chloe with their kids are a really cute family.