NS Fanfic Challenge - #6 November 2009 - "Pregnant Pause"

Welcome to the voting for the November Fanfic Challenge!!!

This month's theme was:

Quote:

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A Pregnant Pause

A story set in the first trimester of the pregnancy. The story can be anything from anyone learning about the pregnancy, to the blessings and loss that can come with such a life changing event.

Now, to be clear, Chloe and Lex do not have to be married in this fic. It was simply brought to mind by the fact that we’ve had a marriage challenge not so long ago. :)

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So many fantastic writers stepped up and provided excellent stories. I really do want to take a moment to commend them all for the effort that they put in to make this contest a success. They exemplify the wonderful community that is NS!

I would encourage everyone to take a moment to vote after reading. The authors really do work hard for our enjoyment and it's so nice for them to see a response from the readers.

Also, if you'd like to comment on any of the stories, please feel free to leave a reply. The authors would love it. And, if you'd rather comment anonymously, you are more than welcome to send me your comments here, and I will post them without including your name.

Voting for this challenge will end at 11:59 pm (Pacific time) on December 1st.


Story One
Story Two
Story Three
Story Four
Story Five
Story Six
Story Seven
Story Eight


~Sarah~

Story One


Choices

She must have gone over this in her head at least a hundred times, most likely more, but after the first few days, Chloe had completely lost count. One day she thought it was better to stay silent, the next she’d want to run straight to him and tell the truth, and a third she wanted to convince her father they should leave town and never come back, though she wouldn’t have a clue as to a reason why to give him.

That part wasn’t strictly true, she did have a reason, and it was a good one, but there was no way Daddy would understand. Neither would her friends, not any one of them. Clark would be shocked, Pete would be disgusted, it was more than Chloe could bear to alienate everybody like that, especially now.

Anyway, before all these other people were told, she had to tell him, and though she had come up with a million reasons why that was a bad idea, she could come up with a million more to urge her on. He deserved the truth, though what he would do with it, she could not be certain.

They really didn’t know each other as well as they should have before he took her into his bed. She had been swept up in a moment, flattered by his words, comforted by his arms, excited by his kiss, and taken to heaven by the night they shared. One night, one time, it was all it had taken, and now here she was, almost three months down the line, with an even bigger secret to keep.

It couldn’t be her alone holding onto this truth, he had to be told and now was the time to share. Chloe knew how crappy her timing was, but he’d forced her hand. It was bad enough watching him run around with his new woman, the beautiful and brilliant Dr Bryce, but now they were planning a wedding. There was no way Chloe could allow Lex to marry Helen, not knowing what had come out of their one night together. He was going to be a father, and he had every right to know it, even if his reaction was a bad one, even if he didn’t care, though Chloe couldn’t think for a moment that would be true.

Escorted through the mansion and to Lex’s office, she winced as the security guard knocked on the doors, then opened them to announce her arrival. He had to be wondering why she was there, though Chloe was certain he would never guess her reasons. They really hadn’t seen each other since their night together, or rather since the awkward morning after when she had been sworn to secrecy and they had agreed to avoid each other for the time being at least. Chloe had agreed to that, she had little choice, and honestly she was happy to oblige.

Seeing Lex may remind her of one glorious event in her life, of feelings she had never felt before and still dreamt of almost every night, but it also made her feel ashamed. Within hours of declaring love for Clark, she had fallen into the bed of his supposed best friend, a man who was having his own romantic crisis at the time. Now she was carrying that same man’s child, as he planned a wedding to another woman. It was hardly a respectable position to be in.

“Chloe, this is a surprise,” said Lex, his tone a little colder than she would have liked, but then it was hardly likely he’d be comfortable knowing his latest and most forthright conquest was in the house where his bride-to-be could walk in at any moment.

“You think this is a surprise?” she laughed nervously, “Oh, Lex, you have no idea.”

That seemed to bother him, and Chloe half-wondered if he’d figured out what she had come here for, if he could possibly anticipate her next words. It might make things easier if he could, though it seemed unlikely some how.

“Should I be worried?” he asked with a smirk that suggested he was joking, but as he and Chloe approached each other and met in the middle of the room something in his eyes was genuine enough.

“I don’t know,” she shook her head slightly as she stared up at him, “How do you feel about fatherhood, Lex?” she asked him straight-out, even though it was far from the gentle way she’d intended to break this huge piece of news.

It took just a second or two for light to dawn in the billionaire’s mind, and the expression on his face when it did was such a mixture of emotion, Chloe honestly couldn’t be sure which one he was going to pick up and run with.

“One time,” he said after a while, the smile at his lips appearing as amusement, but clearly the light scoff that escaped was shock-related and pained.

“It’s all it takes,” she said pointlessly, since clearly they already knew that.

As Lex turned away, trying to process what she was telling him, Chloe wasn’t sure she wanted to wait. Given that there was space here for her to throw in an explanation, she decided she should probably go for it, just in case his impending reaction was negative and involved having her thrown out.

“Lex, I’m not telling you this to make your life difficult,” she assured him, “Even though I know this is the biggest wrench I could put in the works of your wedding plans, but I thought you had a right to know,” she explained.

“Who else have you told?” was his first question as he spun to face her so suddenly he made her jump just a little.

“No-one,” she said definitely with a shake of her head to back up her words, “I thought you should be the first to know, other than the doctor, obviously,” she told him, “It’s definite, Lex, and before you ask it has to be yours. We might not know each other as well as we should given what we did, but I hope you would believe you were the first and only person that I...” she stopped short of actually saying he words, pretty sure that a) he knew what she meant and b) she was now as red as a tomato.

It was crazy that she couldn’t talk about sex in front of the guy who’d got her pregnant, who had taken her virginity when she offered it. They had done things she’d only ever read about in romance novels, and Chloe had felt things that, even with her talent and flair for the written word, she could not begin to describe. Now they could barely look at each other; it was almost laughable.

“Chloe,” Lex said then, putting his hands to her shoulders as he made himself face her, “I’m glad you told me, and I do believe you, of course,” he assured her, knowing that perhaps people would call him a fool for doing so, but he couldn’t help himself.

As badly timed and inappropriate as this situation was, Lex couldn’t be mad, couldn’t be disappointed, couldn’t find it in him to scream or yell or cry. It was the strangest thing but whilst the idea of marrying Helen and being a husband brought fear and loathing alongside the joy and happiness that ought to exist inside of him, the moment Chloe had mentioned the prospect of being a father, there was nothing but warmth in his heart, and perhaps just a touch of panic...

“So, what happens now?” asked Chloe with a shake in her voice that she did her best to quash, “I mean, I am having this baby, Lex” she said definitely, “I couldn’t do anything else, but... we still have decisions to make.”

Lex ought to have been astounded by how mature she was being, but he honestly wasn’t so very stunned. At sixteen, she was practically his intellectual equal. Smarter and better company than even Helen, he had found, not to mention beautiful and fun. Had things been different, Chloe Sullivan wouldn’t have been just a one night stand. Of course, now things were different, very different, and Lex had a difficult choice to make.

Helen and a mediocre married life, or wonderful, beautiful Chloe and a child to call their own?

Perhaps the choice wasn’t so difficult after all.

~ The End ~

Story Two


Lex rushed into the apartment, his heart in his throat. He had told his receptionist to cancel all of his appointment due to a family emergency. He only hoped the emergency wasn’t something that would require him to kill someone in defense of his family or, even worse, in retribution for his family.

His wife was sitting on the sofa in front of a dark television screen.

‘What happened?’ demanded Lex. He sat down beside Chloe running his hands over her body, checking over her to make sure she wasn’t dying while he was waiting for her answer.

Chloe rolled her eyes, and Lex realized that her call “Lex, if you’re not too busy today, can you come home a little early?” was actually not a sign of impending disaster.

He began to feel rather foolish. He was greatly relieved of course, but it was still uncomfortable realizing that he had over-reacted yet again.

He wondered how long Chloe was going to mock him for it this time.

Chloe was speaking to him while he was simultaneously relaxing as well as fighting off an embarrassed wince, ‘Lex, I told you over the phone that I only wanted you to come if you didn’t have anything horribly important on your plate today. I didn’t mean for you to drop everything to rush over!’

‘Yes, dear. Sorry, dear.’

Chloe looked sharply at him to make sure he wasn’t being condescending. Lex arranged his features in as neutral a pose as possible. Inwardly he was cringing about the brewing of another screaming blow-out session. They had become scarily frequent over the past month.

Chloe nodded, satisfied, and then slapped a remote control into his hand. She gestured at the blank television screen, ‘I’m sure you’ll agree that as the person responsible for knocking me up, you have certain responsibilities to myself as well as your child of six weeks’.

Lex nodded gravely, resisting the urge to fall back on, “Yes, dear” again.

‘Good, then I’m sure you’ll understand that it’s your solemn duty to watch this video… NO! Don’t turn it on!!’, she shrieked as Lex’s finger moved automatically to obey her command to watch the video.

Lex froze.

Chloe blew out a puff of air in relief.

‘What I meant was, I want you to watch this after I walk out of the room, and then give me a detailed report of everything that happened in the video. Everything that you believe will be of use to us during… in the future.’

By this point, Lex’s survival instincts were warring against his learned reaction to obey his wife, which was a survival instinct in itself right now. It was rather disconcerting having your survival instincts screaming two separate messages at you.

‘Chloe’, he asked slowly, ‘just what is on this video?’

Chloe shook her head at her husband’s paranoia, ‘It’s nothing terrible, Lex. In fact, it’s something natural and beautiful’.

By now Lex’s instinct to run out of the room NOW was overwhelming the instinct to obey his wife to keep the peace.

‘Something natural and beautiful,’ he intoned flatly, ‘that you refuse to watch yourself, or even with me?’

Chloe flushed guiltily, ‘ok, let’s say it’s something completely natural and necessary for viewing’, she conceded.

Lex was now holding the remote as if it was waiting for the chance to bite him… possibly with painfully, poisoned fangs.

Chloe sighed as she realized that she wouldn’t convince Lex to watch the video until he knew the length of the breadth of its contents. ‘It’s a birthing video’, she finally admitted.

Lex looked at Chloe in horror. He was no fool, and he had heard enough ‘reviews’ about birthing videos to know that viewing them was a horrible, traumatizing affair that left the strongest of people huddled underneath their blankets, shivering and moaning in terror… sometimes for several days.

That is precisely the reason why both he and Chloe had so far avoided the inevitable necessity of watching such a video, preferring to pore over birthing books instead. Those were also rather unnerving, but nothing compared to a full colour and surround sound experience.

Chloe had picked up on his horror quite easily. He wasn’t really making any attempt to hide his reaction, after all, hoping for a respite from her request. She sighed again, ‘Look, I know you don’t want to do this, but it’s something that I’m not ready to go through myself, and quite honestly it IS easier for you to sit through considering that you won’t have to live through it.’

She turned her eyes towards Lex. She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t even teared up. But the way she looked at him hinted quite strongly that if he didn’t do as she asked, she would start crying or screaming… or both.

Lex had gotten used to these kinds of looks. “She’s having my baby, it’s the least I can do in return!’, he intoned what had become his mantra over the past month.

He turned back to Chloe, and smiled, ‘You go ahead and take a bubble bath, love. I’ll watch the video, and give you a summary of the important points later’.

Chloe smiled, it was a smile much more genuine and brighter than his own, and he felt his own wan smile perk up a little bit in its light. She kissed him and left alone with the dark, blank, looming screen.


Half an hour later

Lex was huddled, cringing back, trying to burrow himself into the sofa to try and get away from the scream on-screen. He would have run off screaming himself about fifteen minutes ago, except he just couldn’t. It wasn’t even obligation to his wife holding him in place… it was just that the video seemed to have stolen away the strength of his limbs, leaving him helpless to flail against the sofa to try and get away from the horrific sight the television was searing out at him.


One hour later

Lex was in a daze back to his master bathroom. Chloe had heeded his advice, and was engulfed in a bubble bath, trying to amuse herself by flicking bubbles while her husband was being tortured.

‘Lex!’, she leaned against the side of the tub when she noticed him in the doorframe. ‘How was it? Did you watch the whole thing? Was it horrible and painful? Do you think a woman with a very low threshold for pain can survive that?’

Lex sat down on the edge of the tub, his eyes off-focused on her. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Chloe was beginning to get really scared at this point. It really takes a lot to freak out Lex Luthor, and merely viewing the damned video seemed to have broken him. How was she supposed to survive living through such an experience?

A cesarean seemed like a pretty good option right now.

‘Lex?’, Chloe poked her husband, first gently, and then not so gently, ‘for heaven’s sake, talk to me!’

Lex finally seemed to shake himself out of his stupor and actually look at her. He gazed at her in what seemed like absolute awe.

‘I absolutely adore you, and I’ll make sure you’ll never want for anything throughout the rest of your life with me’, he said. His tone wasn’t really as loving and reassuring as might have befitted the words. His tone was actually flatter, authoritative and certain. It was a contractual statement.”

Chloe cringed, ‘Was it really all that terrible?’, she asked.

Lex finally reached out towards her. He idly rolled a strand of wet hair between his fingers.

‘It was not easy to begin with’, he admitted, ‘in fact, I was about ready to run out of the room during the early stage. But then…’, Lex met her eyes, ‘then the baby was born, and it was…’ Lex grinned ironically ‘beautiful and natural.’

Chloe looked at him, realizing that the shock and daze she had initially assessed in her husband was actually awed wonder.

‘The mother looked at her baby for the first time, Chloe, and it was the most perfect moment you can imagine. The screaming and the pain from just a minute ago disappeared like it never existed, and the mother… she has such joy in her face, Chloe. She was doing all these silly things, like counting her child’s fingers and toes, sniffing it, and cooing at it in a voice hoarse from screaming. And throughout the whole thing, she was so… happy with her baby… which was beautiful and perfect and hers!’

Lex leaned over and looked at Chloe intently. His hand curved around her neck to cup her head reverently, ‘I’m not looking forward to seeing you go through the early part of the video. In fact, I’m certain it’s going to tear me up to go through that. But I know I WILL be able to go through it, because now… now I know how it’s going to end.

Story Three


Title: Unexpected Fate

Chloe walked into the office and sat down. Every time she returned from the restroom that seemed further away from her desk then before, she wondered if she was making a mistake. Not that she wanted or would even consider aborting such a miracle, she was still torn on how she felt about the whole situation. Her perfectly planned time line of events was not exactly working out to her liking.

Resigning to dealing with the physical consequences that were left to come, she opened her email and saw the email card that Lois had sent her from her trip overseas. That witch of a cousin had gotten the trip to London after Chloe's unexpected bowing out of the trip.

That got Chloe the most. If it had been fashion or entertainment, she would have passed just on the lack of interest in the story at all. This was royalty though. Maybe not either of the princes, not that fame or fortune made a difference to her, but interviewing royals on political topics would have been more intriguing than writing the police blotter.

Hey cuz. Thought you would like to have lunch today. My flight got in early and I am so stoked about getting the dirt written. Pick u up at noon.

Chloe reread the email. Stoked and dirt should be so ripped from the English language, at least their present context, she thought. She closed the email and grabbed the side of her desk. I am not going to vomit...for either reason.

Chloe looked at the clock and convinced herself she could make the police blotter interesting for the next hour until Lois arrived. Taking a deep breath, she started typing while in the back of her mind formulating the exact words that would transpire at lunch and exactly how Lois would react.

*****

"So, how was your wonderful trip?" Chloe asked as she sat down at the tiny bistro with Lois.

"Incredible! And I got to meet Prince William. A little stubborn and arrogant but so drool worthy. Then we took a tour of the national museum as he told me about his castles in the English hillside. I may be on my way back. He said he may be having a little get together later around the holidays."

Chloe nodded and smiled through Lois' continued rambling of the trip. She almost couldn't help but laugh about Lois' assumption that the man cared about her anymore than a piece of lint on his suit. People tended to find ways to coo Lois into leaving them alone.

"Chloe? Are you ok?"

"What? Oh, yeah. Just have a lot on my mind."

Lois looked down at Chloe's plate and then at the strange twisted smile that Chloe was now sporting. Reaching across the table, Lois lifted Chloe's chin up higher as Chloe pulled away quickly. "What gives. You never have turned down Al's espresso and fried chicken Caesar."

"It's not anything, ok? Look, I need to ..."

"Chloe." Chloe stiffened at the sound of the voice that stood behind her. Ten weeks had gone by so quickly she hadn't even considered when the matter would come up, if ever. She glared at Lois who smiled as if nothing was wrong when Lex placed his hand on Chloe's shoulder.

Turning in her seat where she could see Lex, she smiled. "Hello." She hoped Lex could read her face. "I didn't know you'd be down here this afternoon. I would ask you to join us but we were just getting ready to leave."

"Actually, Chloe was just about to tell me why she suddenly stopped eating while I was gone. I didn't know that she would be so upset with my absence." Lois chided, not clear as to what exactly was taking place.

"Lois," Chloe snarled slightly, "is such a kidder. I'm just not too hungry. She kind of sprung this whole lunch on me and I had eaten a big breakfast." Chloe tried to make the argument convincing.

Lex patted Chloe on the back slightly and smiled at the two women. "Well, have a good rest of your lunch ladies. Chloe," Lex politely answered and nodded before leaving.

Lois watched the billionaire walk away and then looked skeptically at Chloe. "You know if I didn't know any better, I would think there was something going on between you."

"Not exactly it Lois," Chloe whispered as her hands fell in her lap and her head fell.

"Chloe?"

Chloe raised her head up and now looked strangely determined. "I feel like I'm going to hurl and not eating because I'm pregnant. No, I have not decided to tell the guy. Yes, I know who it is, and no, you cannot know. It would be sort of uncouth to go spouting to another reporter about it."

Chloe stopped and looked at Lois. Chloe couldn't help but burst into laughter for the first time in a long time. She had remedied her cousin speechless. She could see expressions run across her face, but no words.

Lois finally broke her silence with just a simple squeak before finding words once again. "Ok, but why not tell him?"

"It's complicated." Looking slightly back to her right, she smiled back at Lois. "Real complicated."

Lois looked in the same direction as Chloe had glanced. "Ok, I'll be there for you. Whatever you ..." Looking in the direction again, her eyes fell on a certain building facade. "Chloe, you have to tell him."

********

She wondered what he possibly did when he leaned out over the shelf that lined the wall of windows so high up. Waiting to bird watch or counting the planes that blew past the building were not options. Chloe couldn't form words as she watched him gaze into the abyss of blue sky.

"Your secretary wasn't at your desk. I didn't think you would mind." Chloe spoke quietly, halfway hoping that he wouldn't hear.

"I never mind for you Chloe." Lex turned and looked at Chloe. The brazen facial features that he exhibited during lunch had all fallen to the side. "It was nice running into you. It's been awhile." Lex commented as he took her coat.

Sitting on the couch in the office, she tried to break a smile. It was tougher than she thought. She knew just arriving there would open old doors, wounds. "Yes, it has."

Lex sat next to Chloe, taking her hand in his. Chloe looked over and caught the pulse in his neck. Regardless of how calm he looked outwardly, his heart was beating just as fast as hers. "Do you think we..."

"Yes." Lex answered without hearing the rest of question. Chloe shook her head at the uncanny way of reading her mind for years now. Placing a small kiss on her cheek, he whispered in her ear, "I'm willing to try again if you'll have me."

"No over the top crap, no big gifts, ok?" Chloe asked. Lex silently nodded as she could see a smile start to creep across his face. "Besides, I did kind of blow things out of proportion with all that arranged birthday weekend."

"Can I agree with you?" Lex joked. "You have to let me spoil you some; that's the part that should be fun."

Chloe felt her entrance. "No, I really have no reason to be spoiled. But I give you permission, at least for the next few years."

"Meaning?"

Chloe turned and took both of his hands in hers. Closing her eyes, she saw to very concerned blue eyes staring back at her when she opened hers. "I've been feeling sick the last several weeks. When we broke up, I just equated it to a broken heart, but the physical effects got worse. So I went to the doctor. And needless to say I may need that engagement ring back."

Chloe felt Lex's hand try to tug from hers. She knew that her ring was there in the office most likely. His secretary had told her a few weeks earlier that she caught him staring at it more than once.

"Lex hang on, let me finish." Sitting back down, he had calmed down considerably from when she had first come in. "Lex, we're pregnant. Ten weeks actually."

Chloe waited and saw the color wash through his face until he had turned almost all pastel shapes. She had never seen him outwardly emotional, at least without yelling at someone.

"Lex?"

Cupping her jaw in both hands, he pulled her into a kiss that he had felt like he had been saving for months. He couldn't breathe; he felt like he was floating; he was going to be a dad. A dad, not a father.

Pulling out of the kiss, Chloe couldn't stop smiling. "Now..."

"Chloe, I promise I will run everything through you for our child. Nothing without your permission. I promise."

Chloe shook her head. "No, I just want my ring back now. Details later." She smiled.

Story Four


“Leap of Faith”

RATING: PG

A/N: This story is set in the first quarter of Season 5 but it also makes reference to events that occurred in Season 3 and the second half of Season 4. The three-month gap between seasons 4 and 5 has been omitted for my own creative needs.

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The moment I learn through Clark she´s been hospitalised and that her life is hanging by a thread, I´m assaulted by a sudden bout of pain and regret- feelings which I´ve tried to crush ever since her return to Smallville after the trial. I´ve done my best to forget her because thinking of her and entertaining dreams of a happy life with someone like her not only make me weak but annihilate my most treasured shield against the curveballs of this world- the self-delusion of having control , of believing myself invulnerable. That very same armour which she can dent so easily by the mere fact of being made me lash out at her in the caves not so long ago. Does she know jealousy is consuming me? Does she realise that our silent pact to stay away from each other has never been what I wanted? Why have you been avoiding me, Chloe? I could replay the whole conversation by heart, imagine the grimace on my father´s face if he heard his son demean himself by begging for an explanation, then see the proud smile on my old man´s face. I heard being a third wheel is very time consuming.

I wish I could withdraw those words, say what I wanted to say. Regret... longing... aren´t emotions that I- the man who´s plotting to win over the girl of Clark´s dreams- should allow himself to have; and still I experience them whenever the thought of the blonde spitfire crosses my mind. Why is she haunting my sleep of late? Is it, perhaps, the knowledge that by pursuing Lana I´m forfeiting every chance I might ever have to attain happiness? Such questions accompany me to the room at Smallville Medical Center where Chloe is lying unconscious like Sleeping Beauty awaiting her Prince´s kiss of life.

I close the door behind me and approach the orthopaedic bed. I couldn´t be further removed from a fairytale prince and Chloe has never been the proverbial damsel in distress, still I wonder if my mere presence will bring her out of her slumber the way it did back in Yukon. She looks unnaturally pale- all those transfusions have taken their toll. I´m not ready to lose yet another woman I love. I take a deep breath and remove from my pocket the syringe with the antidote my team has produced as part of Project 1138 and, gingerly, as if I were trespassing on sacred ground, I part her hospital gown with fingers which are uncharacteristically shaky. I should be in another hospital room, impaling a brunette´s heart with this needle-like stake like a modern day Van Helsing. Why? Why did my heart bring me here first? This wasn´t part of my carefully laid plans. I find my answer the second the swell of her creamy breasts comes to view. And the response leaves me breathless.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It´s been two weeks since I was bitten by Vampire Lana and awoke in a hospital bed with Clark´s name on my lips to find myself being virtually cradled by the man who´s been haunting both my sleeping and my waking hours. I wonder if he knows, if his agile mind has already worked it out. It´s taken me over two months to come to terms with the fact that it isn´t just stress what´s interfering with my menstrual cycle. It´s taken me over two months and being touched by the same hands which worshipped me one night not so very long ago to accept that it wasn´t just a dream. I wonder if knowing would make any difference to him now that he´s set his eyes on Lana.

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The ding announces an incoming e-mail while I´m on the phone giving my stockbroker some last minute instructions. I see the sender´s name and can hear my heart galloping like a young colt. The arrow hovers for a few seconds over the message which I´ve been expecting since last morning. I click on the attachment and as the images load on my laptop my heart skips a beat. Twelve weeks. It all adds up.

The basement of The Planet is deserted when I cross the door of her crammed little office- the one Mrs Kahn allotted her after reading her sorority piece. She´s got her back to the entrance and seems to be too engrossed in what her eyes are perusing to notice she´s no longer alone. I see her wipe her eyes with the back of her hand and then lay it on her womb protectively. She´s looking at the baby´s first NT scan. I wonder if she feels the way I did when I stared in rapture at the miracle of life we created together. Childhood dreams. A lifetime of yearning denied by the cruel hand of fate. The blessed chance of unconditional love.

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I close my eyes overwhelmed by the sight of the life that´s growing inside me. I´m short of breath all of a sudden, assailed by memories of my own mother and the gaping affective void she left in my life. Would he feel the same? Would he be assaulted by that gnawing feeling of inadequacy? He would. I know him too well to ever doubt that. I open my eyes again and trace the contours of innocence with eager fingers. It´s only twelve weeks and I cannot wait to hold it- I, who´s never thought of herself as the motherly type. Warm tears are pricking behind my eyelids. I can still feel the devotion of his hands on my skin and see the naked need to be loved and accepted in his blue-grey eyes as he fills me. Happiness is such an elusive creature, isn't it? We all wish for it, but very few ever really find it. Doesn't make the search any less important. Or the destination. I opened my door and let him in knowing the odds, and I can´t say I regret it. I realised who was standing at my doorstep the moment I looked into his eyes. I clung to that part of us we´d left in the summer house and decided to make a leap of faith.

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This young woman standing in front of me holds the key to my heart and every dream I´ve ever dared to dream. This beautiful soul who helped me believe I too could be someone´s knight in shining armour- despite the blood that runs through my veins- is carrying our child. I don´t need a DNA test to prove what my heart already knows; the simple jewel dangling from her gold necklace is proof enough. She´s the one; and the twin that didn´t make a move on Lana but sought his soul mate in Clark´s best friend evidently knew it-he gave her the chain and the pendant I bought my mother for our last Christmas together.

“Did he hurt you?” I ask quietly when a subtle gesture tells me she´s become aware of my presence.

“He didn´t. He´d never harm me; he loves me. But the other one did,” she responds in a raspy voice.

“I´m sorry, Chloe,” I say after a pregnant pause. “I´m so very sorry.”

“Sorry is not enough, Lex. You´ve robbed me. You´ve robbed us,” she replies with glassy eyes as she turns around and looks at me unflinchingly. “I want him back. We want him back,” she adds passionately, touching the little bump that is our baby. She knows I´m aware she isn´t talking just about herself now; she´s known it ever since she woke up in that hospital bed and met my incredulous eyes. Although I pride myself on being a great actor, I´ve had the best teacher, seeing my mother´s gift on her and realising why she´d been avoiding me cracked my armour for a couple of seconds- long enough for her to see beyond my mask.

“So do I. I want to be there for the second sonogram,” I tell her with a big lump in my throat.

I hold my breath waiting for her answer, hoping to be deserving and- when it finally comes- I feel tears of relief and joy well up in my eyes. I can´t do it. I can´t keep my cool façade around her; she sees through me. And for the first time, I don´t care she realises how vulnerable I´m around her, how easily she can hurt me the way my darker half has hurt her.

We´ve both stripped our souls bare and I don´t mind feeling weak. I welcome it. It makes me feel human; it makes me want to be the husband my dad never was to my mum and the father he´s never been to me. I´m terrified, scared witless of ruining everything. I suppose that´s a start.

THE END

Note: The lines in italics have been taken verbatim from "Mortal" (Season 5).

Story Five


The Perfect Announcement


How does one tell her husband that in less than seven months he will be a father?


Even in the most healthy and loving marriages this kind of information could be quite a shock. And let’s face it, while her and Lex’s marriage was far from the turmoil of his previous marriages, neither of their pasts made the news of impending parenthood something to be taken with aspect of flowers and kittens. Sure all parents are scared the first time around, but Chloe knew their shared worries would make the record books.

She wanted to make sure she got this right the first time around. Just in case there wouldn’t be a chance for a second child.

She could choose the normal “Dear, sweetie, honey, baby, I need to talk to you.” But that certainly wasn’t their style.

Or she could write an article in the Daily Planet announcing the pregnancy thus ensuring that Lex would discover it while drinking his morning coffee. She wasn’t being conceded knowing that it would make the front page. This was her life now and even if it was annoying, such was the cost for the benefits. However, that wouldn’t be fair to him to discover with the rest of the population of Metropolis.

Maybe she could get inspiration from their history of danger in Smallville:

Dear Lex Luthor,


I am currently holding your wife’s uterus hostage. I will return it in approximately seven months in exchange for food and shelter for the next eighteen years. Please be advised to be on your best behavior, or I will unleash unruly hormones thus ensuring you never have the chance to reproduce again.

Sincerely,

Baby Luthor

Cute and unique, but would it be worth the heart attack she’d give him before his brain had a chance to kick in and realize what the letter meant? She’d put the idea in the ‘maybe’ pile in case she couldn’t think of anything better.

She could hide clues or leave a treasure map that would lead to the pregnancy test. However, knowing Lex, he would probably think this was just a fun way to get sex. He’d give up half way through just to find her himself, and then they would be too busy to talk.

Another way would be in the form of an interview. Again, he would just assume it was another sex game, but he would indulge a few questions first. She would just have to start right out of the gate before he managed to get her mind off topic.

“Mr. Luthor, how do you feel about children?”

“Children are very nice when they are well behaved. My very intelligent and amazingly sexy wife and I participate in several LuthorCorp charities to help children in need. We want to make sure every child has wonderful memories to balance out the unfortunate troubles they may have to endure.”

Again, she wasn’t being conceded when she imagined Lex’s answer. She just knew him well enough that he would throw in compliments if he thought it would get the interview over faster and get to the sex sooner.

“And how do you feel about becoming a father very soon?”

“Lex?”

“Lex, did you hear me?”

“Blink once if you’re still alive.”

What would it say if the first time he became speechless during their conversations was because she announced she was pregnant? The idea had its appeal if she really wanted to win one of their sessions, but she couldn’t use it every time. Besides, she didn’t really want the news to send him in a catatonic state.

Perhaps, she wasn’t being fair to him. He might be able to take the news really well. They had discussed their desire for children before they got married. And they recognized their weaknesses but also knew that when the time came, they would rally and be capable. As long as only one of them broke down at a time, the other would be around to help and pull the other back together. But how one handled the imagined ‘what if?’ could not prepare them for the actual ‘it’s here.’ Were they really ready to be parents?

Was she?

“Chloe?”

Only then did she realize Lex had entered the room. She took a calming breath determined not alert him to anything being wrong. “Hey, sorry I didn’t hear you come in. I was busy thinking.”

Lex nodded in understanding while he came around to face her. Gently cupping her face, he asked “Would this thinking have anything to do with you being pregnant?” Noting her surprise and anticipating the question, “I saw the pregnancy test in the trash can.”

“Seems I’ve lost some of my sneaking skills. I’ll have to work on that.”

“After the baby comes. Not even you could manage to be inconspicuous while pregnant.” He skillfully avoided her playful slap, leaned in and kissed her.

“Happy?” She asked trying her best to keep the worry out of her voice.

“Ecstatic.”

Looking into his eyes, she could tell that he was. Whether or not they were ready was still in question, but she knew he was eager. And for that matter, so was she.

And if everything worked out well, then maybe in a few years she could use the ransom letter for the next time.

Story Six


Crossing in the Night


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



She was ignoring him.

Although he sat at the table in the shadowed corner of the Talon, even Lois was getting unnerved.

“Chloe?”

The blonde looked up from the article she was proofing. “Yes?”

She nodded her head toward the bald man. “He’s staring at you.”

Chloe didn‘t even turn around to see. “Glaring would be more accurate, I think.”

Lois narrowed her own glare at her cousin, but before she could question her further the waitress deposited their cups onto the table.

“You know I’ll get it out of you sooner or later.”

Chloe raised her eyebrows, silently challenging her statement before taking a drink.

And promptly spitting it out.

“Hey!” Lois cried, frantically grabbing napkins to clean coffee stains off the papers in front of Chloe. “I’ve got to turn that in!”

Chloe glared at the cup in her hands before waving the waitress over. The perky redhead seemed a bit reluctant as she walked to their table, and Chloe’s suspicions were confirmed when the girl darted quick glances toward the man in the back.

“Yes?”

Chloe shook her cup. “This is decaff. I ordered regular.”

Once more the girls eyes flicked toward the back before returning to Chloe. “I-I’m sure I made it correctly, miss.” She gave a shaky smile.

The blonde seethed. “You may have made it correctly, but it’s not what I ordered.” She resisted (barely) growling at the girl. “I don’t suppose it’d be any use having you re-make it, would it?” Chloe stood, gathering the papers strewn about the table. “Let’s go, Lois.”

Figuring she may be able to get more out of her cousin once they left, Lois un-slung her bag from the chair and began putting her papers away. “Okay Chloe-” looking up, she saw the woman in question stalking toward the back. Stopping in front of Luthor, there was a fierce hissed conversation between the two before Chloe’s voice raised. “I am not!” The bald man said something that had her shoulders stiffen in anger, and Lois’s jaw dropped as in a fit of rage the little blonde dumped her latte in his lap. Lex jumped from his seat cursing, grabbing a handful of napkins to blot his pants while glaring as Chloe walked back to where her cousin stood.

“What are you waiting for?”

Lois’ lips thinned as she did her best to suppress her questions. In a calculated ‘suck-up’ move, she offered her drink to Chloe.

Chloe recognized it for what it was, but took the bait regardless. The clack of his shoes on the polished floor was the only warning she received before his hand reached out from behind to snatch it out of hers. Almost tossing it at the brunette, Lex grabbed Chloe’s arm and spun her around to face him. “We are going to talk. Now.” He half-drug her to the stairs leading up to her loft- Lois intended to follow, but Chloe shook her head; and the reporter could only hope she knew what she was doing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was oh-so-careful with her, but it still felt as though he practically threw her into the room before shutting the door. Chloe whirled around to face him, hands clenched into fists.

“Say your piece and get out.”

Lex stalked to where she stood and grabbed her stiff shoulders. “You won’t listen to me! I’ve tried-”

Chloe tried to push him back but he was unshakeable in his fury. “I haven’t even missed a period yet you fool! How can I be pregnant?!”

“Last time you were pregnant you didn’t stop until the second month.”

A jolt of rage-fueled adrenaline gave her the strength to break his hold on her. She was nearly choking with anger as she replied. “You don’t get to talk about that. You have no right!”

“Chloe-” he reached out a hand, his anger drained but dropped it uselessly to his side. “You never let me explain…”

“Explain?” she gave a mirthless laugh. “No. Let me explain. You told me you were done with Lana, but you and I both know that wasn’t true. And it just so happened months after you get back together, your scientists decide to ‘test’ my meteor infection so rigorously that…” she bit her lip. “You want to know what I see? That two weeks before your wedding I was kidnapped, tortured, and sent home where twelve hours later I miscarried. Now, suddenly two years later we have a one-night-stand/pity fuck and you think you can waltz back into my life and control me because I’m ‘pregnant’. Well, Luthor, in case you haven’t gotten the message, I’m not as gullible as Lana.”

“Chloe, it was a mistake-”

“You got that right.”

Lex gave a silent snarl. “I’m talking about Lana.”

“No argument there either.”

“You and I both know she’s infected. I was trying, Chloe- so hard to get away from her, but…every time I tried her power kicked in and I was trapped. I wasn’t able to leave her until she didn’t want me anymore; and by that time, our relationship was unsalvageable.”

She remained silent, not looking at him and he took the opportunity to approach her. He set his hand on her should as he continued.

“I just had to make sure the reason I was with you wasn’t meteor related as well. You never told me you were pregnant.”

“Would it have mattered?”

He turned her head to force her to look at him. “God, yes Chloe! I wouldn’t have risked our child for anything.”

When she refused to reply, he slid to his knees in a moment of desperation, grabbing her waist and burying his head against her stomach.

“Please, I’m trying to make it up to you now. We can start over and things can be what they were supposed to be…”

Something clicked in Chloe’s brain, and she looked down at him, a sense of horror growing in the pit of her stomach. “You planned this.”

He went still.

“You’re trying in some twisted, fucked up way to replace the baby you helped lose. You son-of-a-bitch,” she tried to push him away but his hold on her merely tightened. “What did you do? Fertility drugs in the food? Placebo birth control?” She broke from his hold and nearly fled across the room to the door. Pausing, she grit through her teeth, “If I find out you did…you’ll be lucky I don’t abort it.”

He slowly raised himself from the floor. “You’re not a murderer, Chloe.” His voice was steel.

“At least that makes one of us.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day she bought the test she locked herself in her apartment. Four minutes later, she had her answer.

Ten minutes after that saw Lex knocking on her door trying to cajole Chloe into letting him in.

She ignored him, sitting on the bathroom floor, head leaning against the tub.

“I’m not leaving, Chloe.”

He slid down to sit on the floor of the hallway, resting his head on the wall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A month later he happened upon an article in the society pages of the Planet.

A wedding was being planned.

Chloe’s.

And…

The next morning saw workers busy at the Luthor mansion, replacing varied pieces of furniture and windows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chloe briskly sorted through the various pieces of mail before pausing at a classy, heavy-stock envelope.

Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the handwriting.

It turned out to be little more than a card, with a generic ‘Congratulations’ printed on the inside.

With a hand-written note below.

“What’s that?”

Chloe handed the card to her hovering fiancé. He quickly scanned the few lines.

He balled the piece of paper up in his fist before tossing it in the trash.

They exchanged concerned looks for a moment.

Then Oliver Queen gave a smirk.

“Bring it on.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Did you really think I would give up so easily? Did you think by hiding behind him I would withdraw my claim to you? You knew this wouldn’t be the end. So if it is a fight you want, prepare your fiancé so the next time he sees me he knows he will fail. And you will be coming home.”

Story Seven


Title: Unflinching



This place was cold. Not very welcoming, but this was important. Chloe had done the research. She had exhausted her mind and body. Chloe knew that not many people truly considered the act or the consequences; but she wouldn’t be one of those people. She would do this right. There couldn’t be any doubt because there would be no making it better or gentling the effect this one act would have on her life. This was immovable reality and she would face it.

There was nothing but unyielding apprehension. Questions that twisted and entwined into themselves until there was only a knot. There wasn’t understanding here. Only four walls, her thoughts, and the relentless stare of the only other person in the room.

********

Chloe knew exactly how she got here, so that wasn’t a particular concern. She knew how he would react. She couldn’t imagine a reality where this would be okay with him. His control over a situation had to be absolute. His opinion had to be heard and listened to until it was the only thing that filled the space. Of course, Lex’s silences demanded their fair share of attention as well.

Her decision would come at a price she knew. It wasn’t that she couldn’t foresee the issue. It wasn’t that she discounted the harm to herself and to her life. Those were the questions that danced like a drunken frenzy in her mind: “How can I tell him? Do I even need to tell him? What about my father? Will they be disappointed? Maybe I should wait?”

Of course there was one consideration that truly resounded within her: “Is this what I truly want?” And that’s where her mind stuttered and stopped. Chloe knew that answer. She wouldn’t be putting herself through this if it wasn’t what she wanted. It didn’t make the wait any less nerve-wracking or confusing. It didn’t make the decision any easier, but she welcomed it. Such callous disregard to what came next would be morally reprehensible. She held no illusions that this would change her forever; and she welcomed that as well.

There was a line. A line that you walked down and wondered if you there would be an end. Wondered when that line you drew a week ago, year ago, or even ten years ago would be readjusted. Chloe understood that she pushed this line to accompany her new circumstance, but it was life. She would have to remember that when things got hard. It was life and she could deal with it.

Never in a million years would she have thought that she’d be in a hospital in New York at twenty-five. Just another anonymous person waiting to be seen by a doctor. She was nothing special and neither was her present condition. This was necessary. She couldn’t let Lex find out before she was ready. It would needlessly complicate things.

Chloe had been a fool to get involved with Lex Luthor in the first place. It was the first in a long list of foolishness that brought her here and that was okay. She could own her mistake and not indulge in the self-pity that could only lead to even more mistakes. If there was one true thing that she prided herself on, it was her learning curve. Of course, the mistakes she made were dramatic in nature and yielded the commensurate results.

She let her hand drift to her belly and saw the knowing glance of a woman slightly older than herself. Chloe met her eyes and there was a moment of shared trepidation. Two random people who, for a moment in time, knew exactly what the other felt. Chloe would always remember the shape of that woman’s face and the color of her eyes; and she knew it was true of the other woman. This day would stand among the other seminal events that formed them.

It always amazed Chloe the kind of people who ended up sharing the important moments with her. A bad break-up, one too many drinks, and Lex Luthor proved to share what would probably be the most important event in her life; and now was the time for consequences.

They weren’t friends, or even acquaintances. In fact, they didn’t speak to each other.vvThey drifted in different circles. Despite their estrangement, Chloe knew that he would want to control this. She knew that he wouldn’t be able to let it go; and that scared her. She had ambitions that far exceeded whatever plans Lex Luthor thought would be best.

Tilting her head back, Chloe closed her eyes in a vain attempt to calm herself. She felt herself relax; but whatever peace she had achieved was broken when the nurse called her name. She dropped her hand from her belly, hastily gathered her things and followed the nurse into the backroom. Chloe calmly submitted to the physical and signed the waivers she needed to sign.

********

Chloe glanced at the ultrasound screen. She already knew she was pregnant. This was just a formality. The doctor shifted his eyes to hers. He must have seen her conviction because he simply nodded.

His voice was soft and understanding, “You are sure you want this? You can change your mind.”

Chloe nodded to herself and met his gaze. Unflinching. “Yeah, this is what I want.”

He nodded and started a speech he must have recited a dozen times, “As you know, abortion during the first trimester carries a small, but serious risk.”

She let his voice fill the silence. He was telling her nothing that he hadn’t told her already, but this was procedure. This was the right choice for her at this time in her life. She tuned back in to him asking her if she had any questions. At Chloe’s negation, he said that a nurse would direct her to the room where the procedure would take place.

Chloe was as ready as any person could be in this kind of circumstance.

Story Eight


His hand rose to cup the back of the lovely, shaky brunette's across the table, but Lex Luthor recalled their public location in time. He pulled a napkin from the dispenser and nodded for a long moment.

“You're pregnant,” he confirmed quietly, mindful of a stray reporter or photographer having lunch serendipitously in the same coffee shop. It only took one word to set loose a scandal, especially word of a pregnancy. “That's quick.”

His throat was dry and it came out almost disapproving. Maureen Thompson shifted in her chair and looked down. “I thought – I mean you said you'd been waiting for years - “

Lex twitched the small framed dessert menu around with his knuckle, blocking as many people as he could from seeing the warm rub he gave her wrist. She smiled cautiously and he did the same. It was good news, but it had to be handled like every other event in his infamous life. He needed to inform some people quickly and withhold the information from others. There was paperwork to be drawn up, the sooner the better now that a growing belly was marking the time.

And Chloe – his wife – would be so hurt.

They had married sensibly enough, and lived in good faith with their vows for six years. Lex had loved her then, and still did. She was more beautiful by the day, and her mind increased in speed and complexity with her looks. She taught him how to be with someone, how to exist as a person instead of a personality driven by ambition. She made him relearn family until the old scars were smoothed and nearly hidden.

He would never have pushed for children, but she wanted them, and two years ago they had gotten checkups and stopped birth control. They had fun planning and hoping for different traits in their children. Lex wanted blond girls one week, then red-headed boys the next. They compromised with strawberry blond as the hair colour, and one of each sex. He insisted they wouldn't be subjected to silly outfits and Chloe sketched pudgy little faces and limbs inside Jack O'Lantern Hallowe'en costumes.

Lex had skipped an entire week of work and stayed in bed with Chloe, letting her giggle and cuddle in between 'attempts.' She had been so sure it worked that time. She had told him it might even be twins. Her lunches doubled and triped in size, until she stopped eating. She wasn't pregnant, though she had been so sure.

He wasn't used to being the patient one, and the monthly defeat was harder for her. She started overworking during the days, neglecting her nutrition and rest. Lex found himself unsure what to do around her. The unfamiliarity of their home was harsh to his soul. She had built that home with her bare hands, mostly on her own. He had tried to help in the final few bricks, but the strong foundation and sturdy walls were all Chloe's example. She kept him from the cold world outside their union.

He didn't blame her, but she had to know it hurt him to see her so sad. At night she would curl into his arms and tell him she was sorry, again and again. He made sure he told her it wasn't anything that was her fault, but he understood the impulse. He was sorry, too. He might have anticipated their problem conceiving and said he didn't want kids. He could have had his doctor deem him infertile and saved Chloe so many humilating tests.

She had read medical journals and found specialists to help. Lex watched her grow obsessed with different diets and exercises. He suggested they take a break from trying for a baby, and go on an extended vaction. Chloe brushed him off and listed her full schedule of work appointments and doctor's visits. Lex stopped going, stopped paying attention as she spoke about tips and tricks that worked for other women. He felt removed from Chloe's desire for a baby, little more than a breathing sperm delivery mechanism. Then he made his grave error.

“Honestly, Chloe, I love you and I want you to have everything you want, but maybe having a child isn't worth all this,” he'd told her in exasperation. “We don't talk about anything else. You don't do anything except follow strange food experiments or learn yoga positions. The trying is enough to make it too stressful to work. There's adoption, and -”

His dear wife, all five feet five inches of her, coiled and struck like a trampled rattlesnake. She slapped him and put her hands to her abdomen. “I want to have your baby,” she cried. “I want to feel it growing, and give it life! There's no substitute for it, and everyone else gets to have that. Terrible people who don't even like each other have children together. I want that for us!”

Lex gave in, helpless when she wept out the months of heartbreaking disappointments. He accompanied her to a consultation and realized how far she'd gone. The doctor reminded her once again of the side effects; hormone spikes and drops, increased risk of certain cancers, significant risk of miscarriage if she did conceive. Chloe nodded calmly. In his horror, Lex left her to sign for her poison. She returned home with a prescription and sad gaze.

“I'm failing you,” she sobbed. “Do you think I don't know?”

“I can't go along with this. You're willing to die and leave me alone for the possibility of a pregnancy that won't be successful. I can't defy you but I can't help you anymore. I'm moving out for a while.”

Lex moved into the suite in his office building, and worked to forget his pain. He hoped she was doing the same rather than looking for his replacement. Her goals had narrowed to having a baby, and Lex wondered if any man's baby would fill her arms as well as his own. He met Maureen and things started making sense to him. He saw the path to his future.

Absorbing Maureen's nervous confession, Lex knew that future was coming up faster than he'd expected. Chloe didn't hate her, and they actually had much in common. He knew that probably made it worse. He frowned.

“I'll have to go tell Chloe right now,” he told Maureen. “Things like this have a way of getting out. She deserves to know directly from me.”

Ever understanding, the woman carrying his child held her teacup and brought it to her mouth with both hands. She didn't have Chloe's relentless debating skills.

“I wouldn't have minded if you brought her,” Maureen whispered kindly, blue eyes sparkling with sincerity.

“It's been two years of negative pregnancy tests for Chloe, and I wanted to spare her. It's better she hears in private.”

They pushed out from the table and he went around to help her with her coat. Lex couldn't help staring down at her belly in the loose tunic she wore. He made a face as she caught him.

“Sorry, it's . . . “

Maureen nodded, and held one side of her coat out, between Lex and the window to the street. “Go ahead,” she offered. “It's not very much, but I can feel a difference.”

His palm lay solidly over her shirt, holding gentle pressure on the discrete swell. It was likely only bloating yet, but Lex's heart jumped a little. He met her eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Maureen. I'll never be able to say what you've done for me.”

She didn't answer, just glowed at him. His smile dimmed. Chloe would glow like that if she had the same news to give him, and Lex had crossed his fingers he was where their problem lay. Unfortunately, his body was working perfectly. Chloe would have to put her body through hell for just a slim chance to carry a baby.

Chloe was in the penthouse when he arrived, her face fixed into resignation. She looked at him directly and said, “Maureen is pregnant, isn't she?”

Lex wanted to comfort her, but he didn't have words. With Chloe, even the bad news was best given honestly. She respected that even when it was hard to accept.

“She is,” he replied. “Are you okay?”

Chloe looked at her husband and thought about it. She would never give birth, but she had held Lex's hand tight as the doctor harvested her eggs. She held Maureen's hand as the fertilized eggs were inserted into her borrowed womb. She would be there to watch the development inside their surrogate's body, and present to coach the labour that produced her child with Lex. It wasn't everything, but it wouldn't leave Lex a widower or a grieving father. It wouldn't force him to distance himself from their marriage.

She raised her arms up and he bowed his head down for a kiss. “I am,” Chloe told him. “I'm about to be somebody's mother.”

Great stories, again so many different ways to go and all done so well. Ultimately it was a choice of whether I wanted to go fluffy or angsty with my vote and I decided for a mix and went with number 8.

I will say that I'd be interested to read a full-length story with number 6. It along with 3 & 7 were very close in my top choices.