A/N: Thanx to lexie, daria, Mindy, super, Kit, Mel, and autumngold for all your lovely comments. I shall admit that the line Mel and autumngold picked out as a favourite was not mine, but actually the prompt I received from skauble I really hope she likes this when she finds and reads it...
Part 2 of 2
~ ~ ~ 25th December 2002, 1.00pm ~ ~ ~
In the absence of Lex’s usual chef and cooking staff, the Sullivans took over his kitchen and even managed to get him involved too. Chloe found it highly amusing when he offered his assistance and almost immediately her father had the billionaire in an apron helping to peel vegetables. As Gabe hurried off then to find some forgotten ingredient left in the car, Chloe let out a giggle she had been trying to hold in.
“Something amusing you, Chloe?” asked Lex as he heard her sniggering from her place at the hob, stirring sauce in a pan.
“Not really” she replied, looking back at him, “I guess I just never thought about you doing such menial tasks as this” she shrugged, innocent in her comment.
“Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time I’ve helped make dinner” Lex surprised her with those words and it showed on her face as they glanced at each other in between concentrating on the jobs at hand, “When my mother was still alive...” he began, finding himself feeling a little too emotional right now to think about her too much, “Things used to be very different, especially at Christmas” he said quietly, not quite all he’d meant to say as explanation, but all he could deal with right now.
Too much sympathy or worse pity for the poor little rich boy might cause him to break, today of all days. Chloe and Gabe were already being so kind to him, when Lex wasn’t quite sure what he’d done to deserve it. There was only so much he could take in this situation that made him feel oddly out of his depth, and at the same time more warm, comfortable, and almost loved than he had in a very long time.
“I know what it’s like, Lex” said Chloe kindly, “I mean, I know my Mom chose to leave and yours didn’t, but it still hurts just the same”
They shared a look then, a friendly smile of understanding and support somehow. Chloe was at least lucky to have a father that loved her to no end, whilst Lex was stuck with the evil tyrant that was Lionel Luthor. It was really no surprise to her that Lex wasn’t a huge fan of Christmas right now, but she really did hope to change that this year.
“Here we go” said Gabe, interrupting their moment as he strolled back in with a bottle in his hand, “Can’t have brandy sauce without the brandy” he smiled.
“Gabe, you know I have a cellar full of wines and spirits” Lex shook his head, wondering at his employee and friend’s behaviour.
“This is our gift to you, Lex” Chloe pointed out, taking the bottle from her father and adding a slug of its contents to the pan she’d been stirring, “We want to do this” she smiled.
It was the weirdest feeling for Lex Luthor, and yet also perhaps the nicest and warmest sensation to realise that Gabe and Chloe were being so selfless, and all for him. They planned their Christmas together, and yet were prepared to alter everything, move it all into his home so he might be included in what passed for a family scene. He honestly couldn’t remember a Christmas Day quite like this before. His mother made an effort when he was small but his father never did. The memories were hazy and painfully vague to Lex these days, but it seemed at last their might be one more Christmas worth remembering.
~ ~ ~ 25th December 2002, 4.00pm ~ ~ ~
“Oh my God!” gasped Chloe as she leaned back in the dining room chair, one hand going straight to her full stomach, the other pushing a scraped dish away from her that used to contain a large helping of pudding and cream, “That was the best, but I think I might actually die if I have to move... ever!” she declared in over-dramatic fashion, making both her father and Lex chuckle.
“Well, I’m sure I can ask the staff to clean around you for a few days, if necessary” said Lex, sipping at his wine, the smile on his face making Chloe grin just the same.
She loved to see him like this, relaxed and happy. It was a rare occurrence, but every time it happened it gave Chloe a warm feeling inside.
Lex’s life had been far from easy, despite his power and riches, she knew. So much cold and lonely time spent, she was so happy to be able to give him at least this one Merry Christmas. Still, in her heart, she knew this day was as much for herself as for him, and was making her just as happy as she was sure Lex was.
“I have to say, I think we proved ourselves worthy as master chefs” joked Gabe as he leaned back in similar fashion to his daughter, feeling as stuffed as the turkey had been, “Good work, kiddo” he said, reaching out to ruffle Chloe’s hair and making her complain.
Lex watched the pair and smiled. They were the perfect father-daughter pair, so very close, he was almost jealous. After all, he’d lost his mother too, and in a much more final way than even Chloe had, yet it had not made him and Lionel closer, only driven an even bigger wedge between them. He wouldn’t even get a phone call today to say Merry Christmas, Lex doubted Lionel was even aware of the specialness today ought to bring. No matter, he had a make-shift family here who cared enough to spend their day with him, and for that he was truly grateful.
“A toast” he said, catching the attention of his guests albeit uninvited in the first instance, “To family and very good friends” he said as he looked from Chloe to Gabe and back, sincerity written on every feature.
“Family and friends” Chloe echoed lifting her barely-permitted small glass of wine, as her father did the same with his own drink.
Three glasses clinked together and a bond was sealed somehow. There had been no physical gifts shared today. Chloe and Gabe had exchanged presents at their own home, and token gifts amongst Chloe, Lex, Clark, Lana, and Pete had already been shared the day before. Still, Lex Luthor felt as if he were living a gift, being brought into a family like this for one day. It was Christmas and not Thanksgiving but he had never been so grateful in all his life, to have such efforts made for him. It made even such a rich and powerful man feel very humble indeed.
~ ~ ~ 25th December 2002, 9.30pm ~ ~ ~
Lex put his empty brandy glass on the table, laughing heartily at the story Gabe had just told. For a man unaccustomed to sharing so openly and being so at ease, this situation might feel awkward to him, and yet it wasn’t. Perhaps the wine had helped, and the glasses of Christmas cheer that followed, as he and Chloe sat either end of the couch and Gabe took the armchair opposite. They talked of memories, old times, only the happiest and most amusing of tales were told. For a while it was as if the bad events, the pain and heartache, had never occurred.
“Oh, would you look at that” said Gabe suddenly as he peered out of the window across the room and noticed it was all but dark outside, “Geez, Lex, why didn’t you tell us we were imposing? It’s way past the time we should be going” he said, attempting to lever himself out of the comfortable armchair and finding it harder than he should.
Too much good food and alcohol made his body feel heavy, as did the sheer amount of comfort he’d felt, sat there in the huge soft chair, just enjoying the company of his beloved daughter and a good friend. Not many could or would ever think such a thing about anyone who bore the name Luthor, but Gabe Sullivan was glad he’d let Chloe get her way today and convince him to come here and share his Christmas with a lonely but entirely decent young man.
“Wow, where did the day go?” asked Chloe as she looked over her shoulder at the clock on the mantle and yawned heartily a moment later.
Lex smiled at how sweet she looked all curled up in the corner of his couch like a cat, and apparently quite ready to drift off to sleep right there. He’d be happy with that. In fact, Lex knew he would be more than happy if Chloe would stay forever here in his home, keeping him company and brightening his days. She was a very special young woman, and he hoped she knew that.
“You should stay” he found himself saying, turning to Gabe as the older man moved to get up, “Honestly, it wouldn’t be a problem at all. I have more rooms here than I could ever use, and you’re welcome to take any two you wanted” he told the pair, who shared a look.
Chloe knew her father would be concerned about imposing, but she would be quite happy to trespass on Lex’s hospitality. It had been a great day but also long, and she was so comfortable, she really didn’t want to get bundled up and set off in the cold headed to her home.
“Lex, that’s very kind of you...” began Gabe, despite the fact he was tempted.
“Dad, you can’t drive with all the drinks you’ve had” his daughter quickly cut in, “So we’d have to pay a cab, and you know you hate trusting others when it comes to driving in the dark” she reminded him, looking to Lex then when she added, “He barely even lets me be in charge of a car when it looks anywhere close to sundown”
“Then it’s settled, you can stay here” agreed Lex with a smile, “Call it a Christmas gift if it would make you feel better, Gabe, saving you the trouble and stress of getting home tonight”
Gabe looked between Lex and Chloe and sighed. He was fighting a losing battle with the pair of them and himself.
“Thank you, Lex” he said at last, “We’ll take you up on your very kind offer”
~ ~ ~ 25th December 2002, 11.30pm ~ ~ ~
It was late in the evening, almost midnight according to the clock, and yet Lex couldn’t even contemplate going to bed, nevermind sleeping. His mind buzzed with the days events, mundane and boring to most he was sure, but so very special to him. He was supposed to be a monster, cold as ice, and completely without feeling, but that was so far from the truth. Today had been about nothing but warmth and acceptance, all he ever really craved, both man and boy.
Though he was alone now in the living room save for the small but sparkling Christmas tree the Sullivans had brought, and a mug of hot chocolate in his hands, Lex’s mood was far from as dark as the night sky he stared out at. Christmas had brought such a black mood upon him in the past, but today his heart was as light a feather, the last twelve hours a magical experience he would not exchange for anything else in the whole world.
“What did I do to deserve this?” he softly asked the dark sky beyond the window, obviously not expecting any kind of answer, and therefore just a little startled when he heard a voice behind him give a reply.
“Why do you do that?” asked Chloe as he turned and spotted her in the doorway and she padded in, wearing only her borrowed pyjamas and a frown, “Why do you assume you’re not good enough, Lex?” she shook her head, as she wandered over to join him, rubbing one eye as she did so, “Does your father tell you that?” she asked, sure she was right when his eyes left her and returned to the window.
“Frequently” he said flatly, breaking Chloe’s heart for him just a little bit more than it already was.
“It’s not true” she said easily, not expecting a reaction to her words and not really getting one as she kept her eyes trained on the night sky, even when Lex spared her a glance.
A few moments strangely comfortable silence passed, no sound at all, and the only movement from the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. There was no awkwardness here, not between these two, despite the fact they were from different worlds in a lot of ways. They also had a lot in common, more than perhaps either had ever realised until today.
Chloe shivered involuntarily then, the chill of the night catching up to her even in the warm house. Pyjamas only protected against so much, especially when stood by a cold dark window. Without a word, Lex moved to grab the throw from the back of the couch, wrapping it around Chloe’s shoulders as she smiled gratefully up at him.
“What are you doing up so late?” he asked her then, turning away one more time to pour her a mug of the hot chocolate he’d been drinking himself.
“I don’t know” she sighed, “I was so tired but I just couldn’t sleep, and I hate that” she complained, thanking Lex as she took the steaming mug from him, “Call me psychic but I had a feeling you’d still be up” she smirked in similar fashion to the way he usually did, knowing she’d just proven she knew him way better than he ever thought.
Lex didn’t say anything, he wouldn’t know where to begin if he wanted to. Chloe Sullivan was a very special young woman, he had known it on some level from the first day they met, perhaps even before that when he heard so many tales about her from Gabe. Still, she had proven beyond any reasonable doubt today that although he had never been wrong in his assessment of her, she could still surprise him. Clark was a very good friend, but Chloe had gone beyond the call of her friend-of-a-friend duties today and that Lex would never forget. He hoped it meant he and Chloe were better friends than he ever thought before, because honestly, he would love to have her forever in his life like this.
“I want to thank you for today, Chloe” he said, glancing down at her, “it was... it’s the best Christmas present anybody could’ve given me” he smiled, as genuine as she had ever seen him in all the time they’d known each other.
“Wow, Lex Luthor does sentimental. Who knew?” she teased him, unable to help herself, perhaps only because if this moment got any more serious one of them at least was going to end today in tears.
“And Chloe Sullivan does sarcastic” he countered with a smirk, “Not quite the surprise it could’ve been”
That got a laugh out of her as he was certain it would, and earned him a swipe across the arm that came a little more unexpected. It was fine, more than that even, it was the perfect ending to a perfect day as they stood together in the window and she leant her head against his shoulder, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Merry Christmas, Chloe” he said softly, one arm daring to hold her close, the other offering his hot chocolate like some kind of mini-toast, “May it be the first of many”
“Merry Christmas, Lex” she replied in kind, a smile on her lips as she clinked her mug against his own, “I promise it will be”
~ The End ~
A/N2: Merry Christmas to all!
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