"It was very sweet that Catherine kind of 'passed the torch' to Chloe, asking her to take care of Lex. But I really don't think this is the time to rush into a Chlex relationship... not while Lex is grieving and getting over the loss of the mother of his child."
To please myself or to please Sabrina. Decisions - decisions....thanks for the review...keeps me on my toes (and rewriting)
A/N - well, after some pointed discussion about whether greiving should be a catalyst for a relationship, I came up with this. And the lack of sleep gave me ideas too.
Grieving – Chapter 11
Lex sat across the aisle from Chloe on the trip home. He instructed the one servant on the jet to stay out of sight. Chloe tried to keep attention on the ground that peaked out under the clouds. She watched as Lex pulled his laptop out and started going through email was her best guess. He said nothing, didn’t look in her direction; she wasn’t even there.
Upon returning to Metropolis, Lex’s demeanor didn’t change. He was back to the cold, almost heartless man that she hadn’t seen in a month. Offering his hand to her getting out of the car, he gazed into her eyes. His lips were flat and stressed, and his expression made her shiver. She worried about him, hoping self destruction would not come to his mind.
“Lex,” she almost whispered. She looked at him and rubbed her hands down his arms and held his hands.
Letting go of her and handing her bag to her, he grimaced, “I’m fine.” He watched as Chloe got in her car at Luthorcorp and looked back in his direction. He halfway nodded before turning to enter the building.
Returning back to the mansion, he looked in the office and set his stuff down. He walked through the side entrance and walked into the nursery where the nanny just put him down. He pulled the rocking chair over to the crib and sat in front of the slats, watching Julian sleep. He looked up to see the nanny cleaning up around the room. “Leave. I’ll take him on weekends. I will see you Monday at 5.” The nanny nodded, picked up her things, and left, closing the door behind her. Lex slid his hand through the slats and took Julian’s tiny hand in his. Bracing his head against the side of the crib, he felt the hot tears run down his face.
He woke the next morning to the sun streaming into his face. Looking in the crib, Julian was batting his feet against one of the mobile figures and gurgled. Lex rubbed the back of his neck and head, realizing the additional groove he had added to his head. He was covered in a blanket and figured one of the night watchmen had checked on Julian and saw him. He leaned over the side of the crib and let Julian grab at his fingers. “Hey you,” he spoke softly. He picked him up and took a deep breath. He could do this.
Lex had made it through the first weekend with Julian alone fairly well. The servants had been more than accommodating trying to help him out, especially those that had children of their own. He had learned a lot in one weekend from people he had previously assumed didn’t know anything. He sat down in his office chair and turned on the computer. He smiled, looking in the direction of the playpen and other toys and blankets that didn’t match the rest of the décor. Getting out of his seat, he walked over to the bar. He poured himself a glass of scotch and looked at it. He was tired, frustrated, sad, and tired. Really tired. Since returning from the trip, he had slept three hours between being daddy and CEO and depressed.
He sat back down at the desk with the glass decanter and his glass. He ran his fingers along the edge of the glass, briefly making the crystal sing. He closed his eyes and cussed under his breath before taking a drink. It felt bitter and unusual; the taste was the same but unfamiliar. He put the glass down and pressed a button on his desk.
“Sir?”
“I need you to take the bar out. Find a nice piece in the basement that can be recreated into a refrigerator.” He watched as the man started working on the bar. “No, not right now, but while I am gone tomorrow. I want the refrigerator and maybe a microwave installed while I’m gone tomorrow.” The servant had almost made it to the door. “Wait, what do you do when you can’t sleep?” Lex had always resorted to pills and alcohol, but he was willing to make a move to overhaul his entire life since Julian already turned it upside down.
“Sir? You want something to take?” The man looked oddly at Lex when he shook his head. “I tend toward warm milk, but my wife takes chamomile with honey or sometimes peppermint. Occasionally, I also will take an herbal supplement.”
Lex got up and handed his glass and decanter to the servant. “Bring me the tea and the herbal treatment to my room and pour those out.” He walked past the servant and went to his room to change. Upon coming out of the bathroom, he found that his request was already filled. The files he had brought to the room with him had been moved to the dresser and replaced by a Hemingway novel. He crawled into bed and admired his staff’s insistence in changing his habits. Opening the front cover, he read the post-it-note from the staff, ‘she left it here.’ Pulling the post-it-note off, he saw Chloe’s name.
He hadn’t even called her that weekend. Looking at the clock, he knew she would either be asleep or studying. She had been his anchor all weekend, and he hadn’t even thanked her. Taking the small capsules, he leaned back and put the book down. He thought about how she had held him and felt his chest tighten, realizing that was the first time he had really cried since his father had hit him after finding his brother.
She had let him cry without making a judgment on him. His father had seen it as a sign of weakness and never allowed his mother to see his sadness. But Chloe just held him. He felt a twinge in his back and his head, remembering where Chloe had wrapped her hands around him. He had never felt so low than crying in front of the college student.
Thoughts floated back and forth between two blondes. Catherine would have loved to see Julian’s smile that each day grew more pronounced. He wondered if he had ever looked that happy. He could have been happy with her; she had never expected anything from him or their awkward relationship but a few nights of passion drinks. There were no strings, no plots, just their companionship. He breathed a sigh and slid down on the pillow.
He looked at the other side of the bed and rubbed his hand across the pillow. No one had been allowed there since Helen. She had broke him, made him believe he could really love someone just to be hurt and deceived. Part of an elaborate plan that kept him alone and distrusting until this day. And now he had a child and no mother. Thinking briefly about calling one of his normal weekend conquests, he thought about Julian and realized that was never an option again. Catherine had now broke him with Julian’s help. He didn’t want a physical relationship; he wanted a family.
Then Chloe happened, as fast as she had exited his life, she was back. He had invited her and against probably her better judgment, she gave in. She was young and now under her exterior more wary of him than before. She had been on the wrong side of Luthorcorp projects one too many times since she went into hiding, and he had let her down. He didn’t deserve her. A nice young man that didn’t mind the strong will of a powerful woman in a relationship would be a better fit.
Yet Catherine had nudged him repeatedly, and then she had talked to Chloe. He didn’t know what exactly they talked about, but he remembered her gaze when he saw her come out of Catherine’s bedroom. Compassion that he had never even seen when she thought about Clark was evident. He had heard her cry when she went to bed; she didn’t know Catherine – she had been crying for him. She was shouldering his pain, and it wasn’t fair for her. He felt a tug at his breath thinking about her. What had he done this morning?
“This is Chloe,” she answered chipper.
He took a deep breath. “I just wanted to apologize for cutting you off this morning.”
Chloe gasped at the call, remembering the number showed up as private. Looking at the clock, she was sure he would have been working. “It’s ok; I understand.”
She really did understand; he could tell by her voice. “Thank you for going. You were a big help.”
“You need me to go to the funeral?”
“No, the doctor has cleared Julian to fly so I’m taking him. I think his great-grandmother would appreciate it.” He heard Chloe chuckle and a smile broke across his face. I made her laugh, not just smirk. He suddenly felt better. “I should let you go. Goodnight Chloe.”
“Get some sleep. Goodnight Lex.” He heard her click her phone off and he closed his eyes. The feeling of hearing her say goodnight cracked a smile across his face. He out his phone down and pulled the other pillow into him. Suddenly, he wasn’t as lonely as he thought. She genuinely cared for him and for right now, that was as complicated as he wanted it.
*****************
Thursday came quickly to Lex. He felt like he should have been arrested by the amount of neglect Julian had experienced in the last week. The nanny was useful, but he needed to be with him. Lex pulled up to the small seaside cemetery with Julian in his arms. The trip would be quick, but he needed to be there for Catherine, even if Julian would never remember.
The ceremony was simple as expected, not the circus his father had planned for albeit being in prison. The pastor spoke simply about the little girl of the island. Robert talked about her passion for the beach and for the law. He looked directly at Lex, attempting in his way to punish him for her death. Lex knew he had bent the rules, leading to probably progressing her illness with stress. Walking away at the end of the ceremony, a woman grabbed his arm. He had seen her but wasn’t quite sure that she wanted him there.
“Mr. Luthor,” the old woman spoke as she shook hands gently and took Julian from him. Julian cooed and grabbed at the woman’s glasses. “We’re having a little early dinner back at the house.” Her grandmother was cordial and he motioned her to the car.
The other family members back at the house took him in like he was not expecting. Even the somber occasion didn’t dampen the affections of the people in attendance. They said they were actually grateful that she had met someone that could take care of her. She had told them he could take care of her. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and the bitter grandmother all passed Julian around and took pictures. He sat at a picnic table watching a cousin feed Julian when Dave slapped him on the back.
The man wore jeans and a shirt that made him looking eerily like Clark. He nodded. “He’s got her smile. Catherine kept trying to convince us that he was better off with you and we never believed her.” Dave, Catherine’s cousin, looked over at his wife feeding Julian and controlling their own child tugging to see him. “You’re doing a good job. But just in case, or perhaps just where we can come visit him when you two are settled,” Dave didn’t finish but handed him his business card for some fish market. Dave’s wife handed Julian back and said their goodbyes. Lex took Julian and bid everyone goodbye. Riding back on the plane, he pulled his business email up and grinned at the photo they had taken at the dinner. He had experienced his first family reunion so to speak.
**************
The rest of the month, he felt he barely saw Julian. He forced time in between phone calls to just run and feed him. More and more time was spent in Metropolis for the reason secrecy. Having meetings without worrying about a baby crying in the background began to eat at him. One night, he walked out on a guaranteed multi-million dollar merger meeting for a call from the nanny about his coughing. Julian was fine, but the merger was not.
He continued to dig himself deeper. He traveled to Mexico, Indonesia, and Italy in three weeks. But at the end of the three weeks, he was fairly proud of himself. He had consciously kept his promise to the nanny to care for Julian on his own every weekend, upsetting a few clients and losing a business deal in the process. He now understood his father’s need to work, his obsession with the finer things and Lex realized it wasn’t that important. He had not taken a drink since the night he got back and after a couple of close calls at private parties, he always returned to his hotel room alone.
The last one was the hardest one; his playboy lifestyle was one that still dug at him. On one particular night, Lex had the woman, another brunette, in the elevator. He had his keycard out, his hand on the zipper of her dress, and his lips on her neck when the phone beeped. He opened up the message and saw a picture of Julian leaning up eating his first cereal. He politely zipped up the woman’s dress and escorted her back down to the lobby without explanation. The nanny afterwards actually suggested the web camera in the nursery. Now, he sat almost nightly on his trips working on paperwork and watching his son sleep, eat, or play and pretended he was right there with him. And most nights, he fell asleep thinking about how Chloe was.
He wanted to see her; he had spent almost a month jetting all over the world in between jumps from Metropolis and Smallville. He didn’t know what time it was anywhere, just it was time to see her. He had grieved, he had worked, and now he wanted to slow down. He looked at the clock and counted the time zones from Japan. “Screw it,” he said and dialed.
TBC
I love that Lex is trying to change to be a better father. And I do love Daddy Lex, but I think he's beginning to realize that he can't be a weekend father. Hopefully, he knows that Julian comes first and work second or you know third after a certain reporter. I hope to see more of Chloe interacting with Lex and Julian.
I'm disorganized, so I'll be doing reviews backwards for this story. Sorry about that, but trust me - my reviews when I'm not in the mood to review don't make sense.
CHAPTER 11
I started out this chapter not very pleased with Lex. I know he's sad and he's been through a lot, but he could have tried a little harder to reassure Chloe. I'm sure she felt like she should have done more to help, maybe even guilty not to have been able to find Catherine sooner. It's all nonsense, since both she and Lex worked very hard. The problem is Catherine's death is personal to Lex, while Chloe barely met her and would feel awkward being more emotional than Lex is being.Originally Posted by superag
I have a lot of sympathy for Lex, but as a father and a friend/lover to Chloe he's going to have to let emotions out, otherwise the people around him will drive themselves crazy trying to repress theirs.
I was pleased with this. Of all the things Lex can turn to for comfort, his son needs him for comfort as well. He's still having to think very hard about what a father should do, but he's getting it right. I liked that his employees are rooting for him as well. It's not the same as friends and family but it's something.
This is the major danger with Lex's ambitions of fatherhood - his old habits. He needs to learn he can't substitute working and drinking for his well-being. I was worried he was going to drown his exhaustion but when he decided the library needed to change with the rest of his life he was still on track. It meant more that he picked up the drink out of habit but put it down from a conscious decision.
I'm glad to see Lex recognizes Julian has 'turned his life upside down,' but isn't resentful for it. One thing about Lex is that when he's in he's all in and no looking back.
Again, the Luthor invulnerability complex is holding him back. He cried and she comforted him but he's so backward about emotion. If he didn't feel any judgment from Chloe at the time he shouldn't try to talk himself out of the comfort. It makes me want to club him in a gentle, sympathetic manner. Realistic Lex frequently drives me to violence - kudos.
Comparing one person to another is never good. It's not accurate on an emotional level and Lex in particular has been fooled by feelings and/or the denial of them. I think Catherine's similarity to Chloe is going to be a good and bad part of the Chlex courtship.
As happy as I am to see Lex seriously thinking about Chloe and how she might feel, I can't help a suspicion that he's not going to get it unless she decides to explain to him herself. The phone call was a nice, if overly cautious step for him.
I'll be honest - I expected Catherine's family to be awful to Lex. I'm glad they weren't, but very surprised. It's good - probably the only way he'd be comfortable enough to allow future visits for Julian. That he understood the importance of having the baby at the funeral was comforting, too. Sometimes it's not clear how much of Lex is functioning on a level of social expectations rather than actual participation.
Not a critcism, but I didn't think the sex would be the hardest deprivation for Lex. I've always seen him as a reluctant member of society, rather a loner. The women he sleeps with don't seem to matter much to him. Maybe he's looking for the physical sensations to drive off the depression, or just a little piece of time where he feels in charge?
Finally, I'm glad he's over the idea of separation and ready to try to pursue Chloe. Don't be too mean to them, that's my job.
Wonderful story, and I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Her soul is senstive like a finely made tuning fork. It vibrates and resonates with every little hint of trauma, evil and monstrosity that might be humming in the air, and channels it into expressions of fiction... or recomended websites - somethingeasy
Another excellent chapter. I love how quickly you are updating this. I really wanted Lex to call Chloe but I guess he had to have time to grieve. SO glad that is over with & he's gonna call Chloe. Can't wait for more.
This was a beautiful update of Lex slowly adjusting to the role of a father. I really enjoyed how he was slowly shedding away his vices in an effort to be an attentive father as well as a 'good role model' for his son. It was jaw-droppingly amazing seeing him actually clearing out the bar in favour of the refrigerator and a microwave. In all the Daddy!Lex fics I have ever read, I have NEVER seen him make the move of removing his precious scotch from his life... even though it IS an obvious thing to do considering that he's already a borderline alcoholic and a history of substance abuse.
I also enjoyed how his staff (especially the ones with children of their own) were patiently helping him learn the ropes of parenting basics. And it was also great that Lex was asking for their help, and humbling himself enough to listen to their advice and experience.
The next jaw=dropping scene that caught me by surprise was the part where Lex also made a conscious decision to stop his whoring around... because he's a dad now, and needs to be available for his son... not to mention that I sensed a considerable amount of guilt from him about the sordid way he was behaving when he SHOULD be constantly aware that he's setting an example for an impressionable young mind now.
This was a very sweet update, and I look forward to more.
This was a lovely chapter, and I liked that Lex realized that his playboy lifestyle was not going to mesh with his role as a dad.
So good for him for choosing the role of dad
And good for him for deciding that he wanted Chloe in his life--I can't wait to see what happens next.
KATHY
"Don't quote me to me!" Detective Danny "Danno" WIlliams, Hawaii Five-0, episode 1.8 Mana'o
"This could barely fill up Thumbelina!" SALIGIA by westwingwolf
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My livejournal: An Accused Heretic
He`s becoming such a good father
I like that he`s missing Chloe... I can`t wait to see this calling
Malu
I like the movement in this story and I agree that it would be wrong for Lex to persue a relationship with Chloe so soon after Catherine's death. Which I think that you state with this.
When Chloe and Lex were on their way home and you had this
I felt for Chloe cause this tied in with her feelings of being left behind by Lex, although it came about in a different situation.
The changes that Lex has made for himself are lovely to read and the moment where he got the photo of Julian was enough for me to go ohh.
I am thoroughly enjoying all of this story and look forward for to the next move.
'I build you out of nothing to have you near
I remembered you on trains
So now you're on every train I hear'
Something For Kate: Old Pictures
A/N 1 – Well, I tried to clear some things up with the last chapter that never actually existed, so I think we have solved the ‘time for grief’ problem. Anyhoo, I want to thank nonky and SE for making expand my chapters from 1000 words to more. Detail writing is acquired learning! Thanks for lj, Kit, www, malu, and froggyjump for other insights and reviews. If you were on ff.net, you may have already read this although I tweaked it some.
A/N 2 – BIG FAT WARNING – Super R and NC-17 in Chapters 13 and 14. Although I suspect most people are honest, DO NOT read if you’re not supposed to. Shame on you!
Come for Dinner, Stay for the Weekend – Chapter 12
“Good evening Miss Sullivan,” the servant said politely as he opened the door for her. “Mr. Luthor has not arrived back from his trip, but you are welcome to wait in his office.” The servant opened the office door and left Chloe in the large room. Lex had called and told her that he was returning from Japan that afternoon and wondered what had sidetracked him. She sat down on the couch and waited.
He had called her last night from Japan, obviously losing track of the time change, although she couldn’t picture him having done that. Lana was irritated by the phone call that Chloe said she had to take at 3 AM, so she went out in the hall. He explained that things were finally winding down after more than a month, and he wanted to see her. Actually, he said that Julian wanted to see her, but she would take whatever she could get. Not knowing how long her wait was, she dug through her bag and found her pad to come up with new stories for the Met U. paper next week.
Her thoughts couldn’t leave Lex though. She was anxious to see him, like he had be deployed. It had only been 4 weeks, but it felt like forever. She knew he needed the time to get back into work and raising Julian. Still, she sat in class and thought of him, worked on the paper thinking of him, saw Lana and Clark together and thought of him. Thinking back to Catherine’s conversation, she hadn’t needed to tell Chloe to not leave him, she was already in love with the man. She would just wait it out because, for once, she thought the one she waited for might actually be interested.
She had spoken to him a week after the funeral; he seemed at least at ease even grieving in his own individual way. Maybe his reaction to her death was similar to that of a spouse losing someone during a war. She had interviewed soldiers’ spouses from the National Guard in Kansas and noticed that those with children somehow grieved through their children. They would try to make sure their children were their priority and see their lost one in their actions. I have to do a puff piece this week because the war is depressing, she thought as she went back over all her analogies of the last few minutes.
He hadn’t even spoken to her about the funeral. She never asked – it wasn’t her place. She had asked if he needed her assistance numerous times, but he explained the need for extensive business trips that had to be taken care of. She chastised him for his traveling so much without Julian, but he said at least right now he wouldn’t remember. Still, the nights he was there in the mansion alone after Julian went to sleep was what she worried most about. She tried to picture his dealing with his pain, hoping it hadn’t involved an alcoholic beverage. Looking behind her from the couch, the bar was gone. “Miss Sullivan, can I get you something?”
“No thank you,” she said decently startled at the servant’s sneaking up on her. “Umm, where did the bar go – not that I drink,” she felt she had to add.
“Mr. Luthor removed it last month. But the cherry cabinet is a converted refrigerator if you are in need of anything later.” The servant waited for another request or question and nodded.
So, even without his interest in seeing her, she kept tabs on him. He obliged the careful eye taking her explanation that he had watched over her in her time of need and she needed to return the favor. Small phone calls late in the evening or the dozen or so emails that always included pictures. One in particular was her favorite. The nanny had taken it, and Lex said he had it enlarged for his room. It was the early morning sun streaming through the windows and made of all people, Lex, and Julian look almost angelic sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery. Chloe had heard the almost chuckle escape from the man telling her it was actually the first family photo that had ever been hung in the mansion.
She heard a noise pierce the halls of the mansion and headed to the room next to Lex’s. Poking her head in, she had fully expected the nanny to jump at her movement and all but kick her out. Seeing no nanny, she walked over and let the side of the crib down. Taking Julian in her arms, she moved to check the child. She wasn’t much for changing diapers but the heat on her arm indicated the reason for his crying.
Turning around, she pulled a diaper out of the changing table. “I got this ok,” she replied as the frantic man servant came through the door.
“Thank you. The nanny gets the weekends off, and the master is usually attentive to him. He just called – a storm over the Rockies caused his plane a delay and he just landed in Metropolis.” Chloe smiled as the servant excused himself.
“You hear that? Daddy will be home soon.” Chloe lifted Julian off the table and marveled at her ability with the diaper. Then she caught herself; she had almost forgotten about Lex being a daddy. Or was he more the father type?
She sat in the rocking chair and looked at the perfect child. He looked like Lex down to the curious glares and the unexplainable eyebrow thing. That’s creepy.
Lex stood in the doorway and watched in silence as she prattled off the Little Piggie rhyme and continued playing with Julian. He felt a fire in his chest build along with a smile creep across his face.
“I think he’s going to need this soon.” Chloe jumped slightly at the sudden voice in the silence and smiled as Lex walked in. He handed her a bottle and propped her arm up higher on a pillow.
“You’ve really got this down now.”
She heard him sigh, “I’m getting there; it’s the walking and talking years I worry about. That means I will have to talk back to him and hope I don’t …”
Chloe balanced the bottle against her chest like a pro and took Lex’s hand. “You won’t. Don’t think of it.” She went back and held the bottle while Lex knelt down next to her and rubbed his hand gently over Julian’s arm.
“Chloe, you ever think about having kids?” Lex knew it was a loaded question – he was looking for more than the average answer, especially after Catherine’s insistence that Chloe was perfect for him.
Chloe looked down at him and then watched how he took Julian’s hand and wrapped it around one of his fingers. “I guess. I mean starting a career, just getting out of college, is kind of top priority. Why?”
Lex thought about responding and paused. Chloe watched as he carefully formulated his heartfelt but well composed answer, knowing that it could come back to haunt him when he finally let her write the article. “I always wanted a family, but I watched as my father let business run his life and run my mother into the ground.” He looked up at Chloe as she continued to casually observe his words. Looking back down at Julian, he rubbed his fingers down the side of his face as Julian started nodding off to sleep. “It takes a special person to deal with people like me. I’m not exactly the easiest person to get along with, and the last person that should be allowed to have a child. As soon as the press gets a hold of the information, the hate mail will start rolling in complete with requests that Child Protective Services be over here moving him out.”
“Lex, don’t talk like that. So, you have a reputation but you’ve also earned some respect. I talked to Martha Kent; she said she was over here earlier in the week dropping off the Talon reports. She said you were sitting in the middle of the nursery with Julian on his back doing baby aerobics with him, in the middle of the day, a work day.”
Lex covered his mouth when he felt an ear to ear smile creep across his face and a blush hit his cheeks. Looking up, she continued, “She said you were singing to him and liked that you had taken their advice about the wardrobe change around him.”
“He has ruined a couple of shirts,” he replied as he stood up and pulled a cloth out of the drawer. Chloe watched as he pulled the bottle from her hands and propped Julian against his chest and shoulder.
“Good Lord,” she commented when Julian burped. “You sound like that when you’re drunk?” Lex turned and looked at her after she wiped Julian’s face.
“I’ll have you know Miss Sullivan, I have not had any alcohol since we returned from our trip. I can’t exactly be gallivanting around like a playboy when he’s here.” Chloe got out of the chair and let Lex take the seat.
“Are you telling me that you’ve given up your…”
“That’s about right. For your future article, Miss Sullivan, how’s this? Billionaire Luthor – Single Parent” Chloe and Lex both laughed, not sure whether at the child’s burp that shook the windows or that Lex was finally able to accept his situation lightheartedly.
Lex placed Julian back in the crib, and Chloe watched as Lex covered him up and kissed his forehead. He rearranged the plush animals in the crib, realizing that FAO Schwartz made their sales quota this past month. He walked toward the door and turned out the light. Chloe stood in the hallway and watched as Lex went the opposite direction of the office.
“Come on,” he chided as he looked back in her direction. Lex opened the door to his private bedroom. Chloe stood bemused at the casual offering that she was pretty sure not many women got even in serious relationships with the man. Following him into the room, she marveled at the room. She walked over and ran her hand along the comforter and noticed the slightest spot. Lex wouldn’t stand for it. He saw her observation coming out of the bathroom.
“Oh that. I had Julian up there and he got a little excited and ... It wasn’t pretty. The maid tried to get it out and was terrified I would fire her when she told me she couldn’t. I figured no harm since I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the last time Julian’s going to stain something. My place is not exactly made for children.”
“No kidding.” Chloe watched as Lex disappeared into the closet and came out without the towel that graced his shoulder. Lex walked past her and placed his personals on the night table. She was still speechless that she was in his room; this wasn’t for a romp in the sheets – she was just there. Turning around, she looked at Lex’s shoulder. “Umm, is that one of the good shirts? You know, expensive?”
“Yes,” he commented turning around and facing her. “Why?”
“I know you’re not going to want to hear this, but…your back.” Chloe turned him around and touched near the place that the towel didn’t help.
Lex rolled his eyes and his head back. “Crap.” He looked at Chloe as she bit her lips together to keep from laughing. “Good ahead, laugh it up.” She opened her mouth and let it go.
“I’m sorry.” She watched and continued laughing at him looking in the mirror at his back. She quickly lost her need for laughter when he started undoing his shirt in front of her. She stared as he undid each button and pulled the remainder out of his pants. Gaining her composure, she jerked back to reality. “I’m going to wait for you in your office.”
Lex was now standing in front of her with his shirt hanging open. He watched her eyes as they hung there staring at him. He felt a heat rise in him he hadn’t felt in a long time. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and bury her in his chest. He needed her but didn’t know how she felt. Ignoring his thoughts, he nodded.
“Just wait outside the door; I’m not going back to the office tonight.” Chloe’s eyes grew in shock. He’s not working? He disappeared into the closet again. She could hear him moving around and saw the shirt in question fly across the room to the bed. “That’s garbage. Hey, did you bring anything with you this weekend?”
Chloe called back to him, “Yeah, I actually left it in the office. I was going to stay at Lois’.” She somewhat jumped when he swung the door open and appeared in a gray t-shirt and sweat pants. Pointing at his pants, “I bet even those are more than my college tuition.”
“No, maybe the price of one of your textbooks, but they are perfect for the weekend evening.” He pulled the door to the room closed and guided her down the hall. He looked over as her eyes fluttered to his touch on her back. He smiled inwardly to himself, hoping that was a good sign. Walking into the kitchen, he looked around and motioned to Chloe to take a seat. “Why don’t you stay over here since we both know you’re here to see me this weekend, or Julian I should say. Besides, then you won’t have to come up with lame excuses to get out of Clark or Lois’ grips.”
Chloe sat at the kitchen island and contemplated the thought. “Three very square meals and good company. How can I refuse.” Chloe shrugged somewhat when Lex turned away from her. You were supposed to decline – I know what I want to happen, but this is kind of sudden. And we’re not even on the same playing field as we were on the plane. She snapped back hearing Lex call the intercom.
“Sir?”
“Could you get Miss Sullivan’s belongings out of the office and put them in the green room,” he stated over the intercom. He flipped it off and looked back in her direction.
“The green room?”
“Your favorite color. I had the bedrooms redecorated for no reason apparently last year and did them in different colors. So, you like green. It’s the opposite direction at the top the stairs from mine, but still in ear shot of Julian.”
“Obviously from his earlier calling tonight, he’s in earshot of pretty much every room here.” Lex cocked his head to one side in agreement as Chloe watched him dig through the cabinets.
“Lex, don’t you have a cook?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t cook.” Looking at Chloe leaning against the kitchen island, he gave her a disgruntled look. “And you’re going to help.” He pointed at her. He’s being playful and domestic. Damn Julian, keep it up, whatever you are doing to him.
Chloe watched Lex pull vegetables out of the refrigerator and laid them on the counter. “What can I do?”
“Get a knife out of the drawer you’re leaning on and the cutting board from the cabinet under you and get started.” She looked for the cutting board and knocked her head against the countertop. Lex looked up at the cuss word she let fly and opened the freezer. Chloe rubbed her head and started on the vegetables. “Here, stop and put that on it for a few minutes.” He took the knife from Chloe’s hand and gently put the ice pack on her head.
He felt a tingle from touching her hands and smiled at her, hoping she felt it too. “Thank you,” she whispered, not able to find her voice all of a sudden. Lex nodded and went back to the counter. Chloe strained to see what he was doing with his back to her. Wow, he has a good butt. The way his pants curve around his…stop that now! Clearing her throat, she asked, “What exactly are we making?”
He looked over his shoulder and smile, “Something I haven’t had in a long time.” She heard him sigh and then smiled as he turned to lean against the counter. “Something only I was taught to make, and something my father wouldn’t allow after my mother died.” Chloe was almost sad, and he could tell. Changing the mood quickly, he spun back around. “Enough with the ice pack. Get chopping, small pieces Sullivan.”
“You have a food processor on the counter next to you.”
“It’s not the same. Sucks the juice out of the vegetables.” He was still not facing her. “Besides, I want to cook like I remember.”
“So, you don’t know how to use it?”
“Exactly.” He heard Chloe laugh and returned the slight giggle clinking the knife in his hand against the hard metal bowl of the overly priced food processor.
The two continued working through the kitchen. She wondered what in the world he was going to do with just a couple of fresh herbs, spinach, and carrots. She watched Lex pour yogurt and dried mustard in the same bowl and winced at what it might taste like. He added a couple of more items to the bowl and smiled, sitting the bowl in front of her. “Trust me. Now stir.”
He handed her a spoon and took the vegetables from her. She watched from her seat as the man who she thought never did anything for himself proceeded to intricately lay out plates for each little item. First sautéing the vegetables and then the spices, not mixing yet. She winced watching Lex proceed to pound the chicken into the countertop.
“Anger issues?”
He looked back and smirked. “Be my guest.” Chloe jumped off the stool and took over while Lex watched. Leaning against the refrigerator, he crossed his arms. “Having fun yet?”
“This is really good for aggression.” She handed him the mallet back and sat up on the counter diagonal to him.
“Now I remember why my mother always made this the nights dad yelled at me.” He looked up at her sitting on the counter. “Chloe, go change. There’s a bathroom attached to your room.”
Chloe looked down at her clothes that she was still wearing from school and slid off the counter. Lex turned and watched as she left the kitchen. If her skirt had hiked up the counter anymore, you could see her…get a grip. Lex continued with dinner, calling for the cook to complete the finishing touches on the dining table in the breakfast nook. The table was reserved for the mansion staff but would do since he knew Chloe wasn’t interested in sitting half a football field from him. He nodded at the cook directing her out of sight just before Chloe returned.
“Wow, you would do well in the kitchen. Ever thought about a fall back career. I’m sure you and Chef Ramsey could make for interesting banter.” Chloe smiled, recalling the only half interesting reality show on television.
“I’ll tell you,” Lex stopped for the moment and returned with the rest of dinner before sitting across from her, “he is quite the pleasant man when not dealing with idiots. Kind of like me.”
Chloe dropped her mouth, realizing that Lex knew the man. “I just thought…never mind.” Lex let the line drop and waited before starting to eat. He watched as Chloe slowly tried the first bite, still thinking of the mustard in yogurt. She chewed and smiled.
“I have to say, I didn’t think you knew what you were doing, but this is better than a lot of cook’s recipes.”
He nodded silently and proceeded to eat. Looking around the kitchen, Chloe noticed Lex’s obvious irritation. He picked up the phone and called the servant. Chloe continued to eat silently through the conversation Lex had about a particular bottle of wine. She watched the man servant bring the chilled bottle up and pour for both of them.
“To the weekend,” Lex raised his glass to hers.
“May it be…filled with laughter and a lot of screaming apparently.” Chloe finished the strange speech and got up from her chair.
“I can go.”
“No, stay here and eat. Set up that chair thing and I’ll bring him in here.” Lex watched her leave and fixed up the baby seat in the other empty seat at the table. He sat in daze wondering what he had invited into his home for the weekend. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his forehead. She and I? There’s nothing remotely right about us. She’s not my type. Then again, my type leaves me heartbroken or just injured. But she’s bullheaded, stubborn, pushy. He watched silently while Chloe strapped Julian into the seat and sat down. She didn’t look in his direction but continued eating. She’s perfect with him, and he’s not even hers. She’s going to be a great mother to our children. He imagined Chloe as a mom; she was stern but not harsh, just like her normal tone. His gaze passed between her and Julian when he realized what he had pictured.
“Lex?”
“Sorry, I was just thinking.” He reached over and wiped Julian’s face. He was getting to that stage of drool way too quickly for Lex’s stomach. He imagined important reports for business meetings being chewed on in a few months.
“I can listen you know.”
“It’s nothing.” Chloe watched his face change expressions and wondered where he had been. She hoped somewhere near where she was when walking back with Julian. She wondered how Lex would handle single parenthood and if he minded having a college student around during his most private moments. Looking around the kitchen and then watching him let Julian suck on his finger, I could get used to this, just like this.
“Now look who’s in a daze.” Lex smiled at her and grabbed Julian out of the seat. Propping him up in one arm, he held his hand out to Chloe. “Come on, we still have work to do.” Chloe took his hand and left the kitchen.
“How about the kitchen?”
“Denise will get it; I informed her we would be done around nine.” Lex stopped and felt the strange sensation of Chloe’s hand loosening when they approached his bedroom again. “Chloe, come on; he needs a bath.” Chloe shook her head and followed Lex into the bathroom that same size as her bedroom.
“Holy cow.” She looked around and then watched Lex put the baby tub in his and lay Julian in it. “You actually need all this room in a bathroom?”
“Chloe, focus please.” She noticed he was pointing at the basket on the floor next to the shower that had the baby supplies in it. Pushing the basket over to him, he proceeded to bathe Julian. Chloe sat on the step of the tub and just observed him. He looked like he had been doing it for years or that other older children should be running about the house. She observed him talking to him about nothing special, stock reports and the day’s news, while he bathed him. Lex noticed her passing interest in his useless conversation and spoke, “the nanny said it’s good for him to hear distinct voices to familiarize himself with his family and friends.”
Lex pulled the plug in the bathtub and Julian out of the tub. Chloe continued to watch as he took care of Julian and followed him into the nursery. She waited in the doorway while Lex put him in bed for the night. Turning out the light, he pulled the door slightly closed. Chloe leaned up against the hallway wall and waited. “Lex, I’m going to head to bed. I know you probably need to work or something.” Chloe started off down the hallway, praying every step that Lex would stop her.
TBC - Again, next chapter is R, and the one after that is my first NC-17 ever, so if you are underage or afraid it'll suck, skip it!
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