The Christmas Wish

Lex was standing in his study looking out the window as he watched the snow envelope the town in white. He never liked Christmas to begin with but Lana had insisted last year that they celebrate and Lex grudgingly complied. Lana had done her best to help him enjoy the festivities but he was never completely at ease. He wasn't sure if it was the fact that there was so much giving and receiving from people that were perfect strangers or if it was the fake happiness people displayed at receiving gifts they clearly had no use for, or if it was the fact that he knew Lana was faking happiness just as much as everyone else. Now that she was gone from his life he would give anything to see her fake happiness so that he could at least pretend his dreams had come true. He moved to the bar to pour himself some scotch and he sighed. Perhaps losing her was the reason he was working so hard lately, on the weekends and on the holidays. He was trying desperately to distract himself from the loneliness that threatened to consume him. On this Christmas Eve he was happier than usual because project Gemini was coming so close to becoming a reality, that he had ask Dr. Wilson to present him with her results. Soon he may not have to be lonely, he thought, if he couldn't earn, buy, or steal love for himself he would create it. A perfect human being that would provide him with what he had always been denied from those closest to him. At first he was going to clone Lana and if she ever left him he could at least pretend she was there and that she loved him. However, that dream ended when she stole Model 503 from him. If he couldn't have the love of his life he would re-create the childhood that he never had. He would clone his brother Julian and give him memories of a childhood he never got the chance to live.

Dr. Wilson was not too happy to be coming in on Christmas Eve and Lex knew he shouldn't ask her to but it was the only thing that would make his Christmas bearable. He walked over to the desk and began to shuffle through the paperwork in an attempt to prepare for their meeting but he was having trouble concentrating. Dr. Wilson tended to have that effect on him although he wasn't quite sure why. If it was her piercing deep blue eyes that could look right into his soul without even trying or her beautiful red hair that reminded him of his mother or the fact that she could beat him at any battle of the wits and she knew it. Dr. Kate Wilson had been his only choice to lead the Gemini project. She was the leading researcher around the globe in human genetics as well as Neurosurgery. She graduated top of her class with a double major at Princeton with a degree in Genetics and Neuroscience and went on to study medicine at Northwestern. She was the best and Lex always got the best. Her ethics were also impeccable and given the many scandals that LuthorCorp had been involved in Lex didn't want to take the chance that if this project became public it would not be tarnished with questionable medical procedures. Dr. Wilson insisted that the project be done her way with little interference from him. He can still remember when he met her at the prestigious World Health Organization's annual new age science conference.

Flashback:

"Ladies and Gentleman, we are on precipice of a medical breakthrough. My research has indicated that cloning and genetic modification may hold the cures for incurable deceases such as cancer, sickle cell and Down syndrome. While I realize human cloning can be viewed by some as playing God, let me assure you gentleman that perhaps it is." Kate laughed a little and continued, "However, I ask you-if we were never intended to make these scientific discoveries than why did God provide us with the knowledge and the tools to do so? I believe we can be his vessel and although there are many that would use this type of power for selfish ventures I assure you that I will always put the greater good of the people before I would allow any harm to come to anyone involved in my research. I believe my record speaks for itself. I do not want to play God; I only want to act as a vessel to save the world. Thank you again for hearing me out and I appreciate any donations to fund this research as it doesn't come for free, Gentleman and Ladies." She stepped down from the podium and walked over to her table as the crowd began to disperse.

She was well aware of the kind of scrutiny she was under for advocating this type of research but she had to stand up for her belief that if she couldn't cure her own heart than she would try and cure others. She looked up from the table and saw him approaching. She smirked a little because she knew he would show up sooner or later. That is whole reason she came to this event. She knew everything about him and she couldn't wait to finally meet him in person. Lex Luthor – she did her research and knew about his obsession with family and his need for love in his life. At first she was planning on using it as a tool to get him to fund her research completely. But the farther she dug into his life the more fascinated she became and fascination eventually turned into empathy and empathy to love. As crazy at it sounded she was head over heels in love with a man she had never met. She knew that he would understand her and her research. After all, he had a God complex too. While she knew he would have ulterior motives in funding it, she didn't care as long as he didn't let those motives interfere with her research and she was going to make that perfectly clear before she agreed to his investment. She needed to feel like she could save the world and so did he and that made them perfect partners. Oh she knew he was engaged and that their relationship would be nothing but professional she couldn't help but stare at the bald billionaire and feel the urge to tell him that if everyone in his life had deserted him she would be there-and she was real not a dream and not a clone but a real chance. Lex stared at her intense eyes and felt a bit uncomfortable. The girl standing in front of him was stripping him down to his bare soul and he didn't like it one bit.

Clearing his throat he brought her out of her daze and said "Dr. Wilson that was an incredibly persuasive speech there. You had me at playing God."

She laughed and said "Well Mr. Luthor I am glad you were enticed, you of all people should understand that while we are but a lame substitute for God, we can be his disciples." She said.

Lex looked at her trying to read the expression on her face. "Creating human life is the old fashioned way was God's solution to pro-creation, but creating life through cloning and genetic alterations is man's way of improving God's solution. Dr. Wilson."

"Who said there is anything wrong with the old fashioned way?" she asked and winked at him. Lex smiled-she was clever and beautiful and he was intrigued. Although he would never admit it-he had Lana and that is what he wanted.

"Nothing, but it leaves life to chance and I prefer to be in control of my own destiny, don't you Dr. Wilson?"

"And others you mean, you would be in control of all the people you created as well. Now that is a dangerous line Mr. Luthor. She said as she pulled some paperwork out of a folder. "Shall we get down to business and discuss the terms of our arrangement." She said as she handed him the paperwork.

He looked a bit surprised at the fact that she already knew he wanted to invest in her research and judging by the paperwork she anticipated he would want to be the exclusive investor. He looked at her questioningly, "Dr. Wilson, how did you know that I would want to invest in your research and that I would insist on these terms?"

She gave him a knowing smile, "Because I know what you crave Lex, and I know that you think I can help you get it." She stepped closer to him so that their faces were inches apart and lowered her voice. "I can help you Lex, just not in the way you think." She said. He looked into her blue eyes again and wondered what she meant by that? Had she been one step ahead of him all this time? He would have to keep a close eye on her because she was obviously smarter than he thought. "Okay, let's say I believe you can help-what is it you want in return?" He asked skeptically. A woman this cunning must want something from him. What her answer was surprised him even more. She bent over and whispered in his ear-"Nothing." She said. She pulled away and handed him the pen on the table.

"I just have one condition of our partnership; you stay out of the science. I have done my homework on you, Mr. Luthor and I know you have a tendency to get too involved in projects and something always goes wrong when you do. This is too important of research to have it screwed up by an overzealous billionaire trying to gain approval. I will run the project and make all the decisions. While am not entirely convinced that the rumors are true about you and LuthorCorp, I do not want my name dragged through the mud simply because I am associating myself with you."

Lex feigned innocence, "Of course not, Dr. Wilson, I appreciate the vote of confidence." "Call me Kate- since we will be working closely together we should be on a first name basis don't you think?" She flashed him a warm smile and he was hooked. He wouldn't let himself admit it but here was a women who was as savvy as he in business and yet a perfect angel all at the same time. They shook hands and the deal was made.

Present day-Back at Lex's study

Lex had thought back to the months they had worked together and how their relationship grew from partners to friends. Very similar to the way his relationship with Lana grew only he did nothing to this one to manipulate the situation, it just happened on its own. He had a suspicion that Kate might feel something more for him and of course he was attracted to her but he was with Lana at the time. Now of course, nothing was stopping him from pursuing anything with her except himself.

Flashback:

Kate was sitting at her desk going through some paperwork she needed to submit to the government along with her latest report on the cloning results. Lex had insisted on seeing the results before she submitted them to be sure there was nothing incriminating about the report. Not that there was, she took special care with this project to be sure it was all above board. She never met anyone more paranoid in her life! Although she didn't blame him with all that he had been through how could he really feel that he could trust anyone. It was so bad that he had approached her a month ago asking her to clone his dead brother as her next experiment. She initially thought it was a bad idea because it was too close to home but the look on his face told her how desperate he was to have someone in his life to cling to. It was at that moment that she truly fell in love with him. Oh sure she had always had an infatuation with him, hence the reason she wanted to work with him but this, this started to get real. She knew from her research the tragic story of Julian died and how Lex became bald and his father…his father she had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting the man when she first began her research and boy was he a piece of work! The man had manipulation down to an art. She saw the way he treated Lex not as a son but as some abstract threat that he had to vanquish any way possible. He constantly reminded Lex every chance he got that he wasn't deserving of love and that he was never going to be good enough. And if he wasn't verbally abusive he was going behind Lex's back to undermine any of his accomplishments. He even had the guts to imply that Lana, Lex's wife at the time really didn't love him but was marrying him to protect Clark. Kate didn't know much about Lex's relationship with Lana but from what he told her he loved her more than his own life. Lionel knew that and he used it against Lex. Over the months that she was working with him she had done her best to gain his trust and he started to open up to her a bit. He told her about his marriage to Helen and how she betrayed him and that Lionel had him committed as a result. Between the women in his life and his father she didn't blame Lex for wanting to clone his dead brother. He figured if he couldn't get love from any one real he would create someone! Kate tried hard to keep her feelings for Lex to herself, especially when he was with Lana but it was getting harder to do now that Lana was out of the picture. However, she knew that Lex had closed himself off and she wasn't sure she could ever reach him now. She saw the devastation he felt when Lana had betrayed him and then went crazy and tried to kill him too. She probably should take that as a warning. Anyone who gets involved with Lex ends up going crazy but she didn't think it was his fault at all. As sad as it is, they just never truly loved him. If they did, she thought they could have forgiven him for whatever he had done to cause the heart break.

She was interrupted from her thought by the intercom that buzzed. "Dr. Wilson, there is a Clark Kent here to see you?" Kate sighed-she was anticipating his visit but hoped it would come later rather than sooner. "Send him in Jennifer." She said as she got up from the desk. Clark entered the room with a big smile on his face.

"Clark, it's great to finally meet you, your mother has spoken very highly of you and if you are anything like her then I am sure you are worthy of the praise." Kate said as she shook his hand. Clark blushed and sat down as Kate gestured toward the couch in front of them. "Thank you" He said.

"Well Clark your mother informed me that there are some concerns in Washington about my research and I hope to put an end to those by talking with you today." Kate told him as his smiled disappeared. As they continued their discussion Lex had arrived in the hall for their update. He knew he was early and Jennifer ask him to wait as Kate was finishing up another meeting. Jennifer had gotten up from her spot by the phones to go to the washroom and Lex couldn't help but easedrop on the conversation. The walls were thin.

"Dr. Wilson, the concern here is that you are working with Lex Luthor on this project and his ethics are not exactly in line with the kind of research the government will support." Clark said as he handed her an envelope.

Kate sighed, yet another former friend who had given up on Lex to soon. "Look, Clark I appreciate the concern but I can assure you that this project is all above board. Lex just rights the checks. That was our agreement when I started. I told him that he was not to interfere with the science." Kate said looking Clark in the eye. "That may be, but you can't trust him, he always has an ulterior motive." Clark said getting a bit more agitated.

"Clark, I know all about Lex Luthor, I do thorough research on anyone I am considering doing business with. The truth is I don't blame him one bit for any of the mistakes that he's made in his life or his questionable business practices. I blame those people who claimed to care about him so much and then turned their backs on him the minute he screwed up." Kate said directing her gaze at Clark. She was trying to make him feel a little guilty.

"Kate you don't know Lex like the rest of us. I know you feel bad for him but you can't let him suck you into his games." Clark replied trying desperately to get through to her.

"Clark is this about me going into business with him or my personal relationship with him because at this point I can't tell." She questioned. "Look, Kate the government will not approve your research unless Lex Luthor is out of the picture and as far as your personal relationship with him, all I can say is be careful, he destroys everything that he touches." Clark said as he stood up from the couch.

Kate walked over to the desk and grabbed the report she had been working on. "Clark, I think this report speaks for itself on the subject of ethics so I would appreciate it if you would give it to your mother to present to the Senate. If the government can't see the benefits to this project because they have some misguided notion that Lex is running the show then screw them! He and I will continue the research without their approval. And as for Lex destroying everything he touches, I think it's the other way around. Because what I see is that everyone in his life has betrayed him and that has destroyed him." Kate said as she handed Clark the envelope.

Clark looked at her and saw right through the wall she had erected around her heart. "You are in love with him, aren't you?" He asked in a defeated tone. Kate was taken back a little by Clark's candor considering they had just met. "Clark, whatever my feelings for Lex, I would never let that interfere with my work. Besides, I gave up the idea a long time ago that I could ever be happy, that there was someone out there for me. I have my work and that's enough." She walked over to the door and turned the nob.

Outside, Lex had been listening the entire time. His suspicions were confirmed. He was touched that she had defended him and that it seemed she understood him better than anyone, even Lana. He had always wondered why a beautiful and smart girl like her wasn't already married with children. Lex stepped away from the door. There must be more to the story than I thought. Kate opened the door and shook Clark's hand as he stepped out of the office. Clark stoped and stared when he saw Lex and the two men looked at each other with resentment for a moment until Clark left the office. Kate turned to Lex and said "Hey there boss, you ready to have your mind blown!" He cocked his eyebrow and smirked, "I think I just did" He said as they walked into the office together.

Present:

He didn't deserve the kind of happiness he always dreamed of. After what happened with Lana, he realized that she was his last chance and he blew it. He had always thought he was making decisions to protect the people around him but they never saw it that way. They always somehow twisted his intentions around to make him out to be the bad guy. Then of course, there was the fact that he tried to have a normal relationship with a Doctor once upon a time and that almost got him killed. Lex sighed and walked back over to the bar to refill his scotch. He took a huge swig and went back to the window. No, he would lock his heart up again and this time he would not make the mistake of letting it out. Sure, he had needs but those could be fulfilled easily with any bimbo off the street but real love would always be illusive to him. If it wasn't the outside world keeping him from what he truly needed it was his own nature that would hold him back. He decided the only way he could get what he wanted was to create someone, anyone, who he could control and force them to love him with no questions ask. Hence, the reason he was so interested in cloning.

"Well ba hum bug to you too boss. I really appreciate the fact that you interrupted me on my way to the many Christmas parties I was planning on attending." Kate said sarcastically, as she entered Lex's study and saw him drinking alone on Christmas Eve without even a lit tree to remind him of the season. She had faked anger when he had asked her to meet him today for a business meeting but the truth was she had nothing better to do today anyway. Every Christmas she drove up by herself to her parent's cabin in the woods and would spend the day remembering the happy memories that were made there with her and her brother and mom and dad. That was before the accident at the LuthorCorp plant that took both her parents. She came to him today because she didn't really feel like spending another Christmas alone and she figured deep down he had a similar reason that he ask her to come.

Lex turned around and smiled as she came toward him and they embraced in a hug. Every time she got close to him she savored the smell of his Armani musk cologne. When they finally broke away from each other Lex cocked his eyebrow in confusion "What does ba-hum bug mean?" He asked her as they walked over to the couch.

"Wait-don't tell me you have never seen A Christmas Carol?" she asked. "It's a classic and it happens to be the story of your life." She said as she laughed a little.

"Really, well I must get around to watching it sometime." He was intrigued. "Okay, well, I'll tell you what, you can watch it with me tonight." She said apprehensively.

Lex looked at her a little more seriously. "Look, Kate, I am not really the Christmas type, the holidays always seem to remind me of how alone I really am." Kate watched him as his eyes became distant. That was it; she had enough of all this self-pity and doubt. It was Christmas for heaven sake it was time to be merry. "Lex, I don't care what type you are. You deserve to have a little fun in your life and I for one am not going to have you and I sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves and wasting a perfectly good snow when we could be out on the slopes."

Kate said as she stood up and put the papers down on the table. Lex was surprised that she was the type to ski but he should never underestimate an east coast girl. "What about all those parties you had to get to?" He questioned as he stood up and walked towards the window where she was standing.

"Ha, ha…they can do without me for a night. Same boring people and places. Besides I was thinking about heading up to my parents Lodge near Colorado Springs and since I don't want to go alone this year, you are coming with." She turned toward him and grabbed his arm before he had a chance to respond.

"Kate, I really don't think that is a good idea I have a lot of work to do and…" "Lex," she stopped him mid- sentence "We both know that you will not be working but sitting hear drinking your sorrows away pinning after Lana and I will be at the lodge having a pity party of my own so if we are going to feel sorry for ourselves then we might as well do it together." She turned just as she let go of his arm and saw his face grow white at the mention of Lana.

"Lex, I never told you how sorry I was about Lana. I know how much you loved her." Kate said as they both stood in the middle of the study not taking their eyes off one another.

"I don't think she ever loved me, how could she after what I did to her."

"Lex, if she didn't love you then that was her loss. Look I know you think that you don't deserve love but everyone deserves to be loved. I understand why you did what you did- it was selfish- but it was out of love none the less." Kate said still keeping her eyes on him.

"Kate, can you honestly say that if you were in her position you wouldn't hate me either?" Lex asked not daring to hope that she might be telling the truth.

"I wouldn't hate you Lex, I would be angry but if it was me, it would only make me try even harder to convince you that I wasn't going anywhere and that no matter what I would always be there." She said swallowing an uncomfortable lump in her throat.

He stepped closer to her getting lost in her blue eyes. "Kate, I don't think I can give you what you are asking for." He said, knowing that he wasn't ready to break another heart with his selfish need to be loved. She took another step toward him so there faces were now inches apart. "But I can give you what need, Lex" she hesitated and then said "Fun, we both deserve to have some fun!" She said as she pulled back from him leaving a surprised look on his face. She grabbed his hand again and started to rush him out the door of the study.

"That is why you are coming with me to my parents lodge and I don't want to hear another word about it. I'll give you some time to pack an overnight bag and I'll be waiting in the car." She said with a big smile. Lex was about to protest again but he knew she was right. Fun really wasn't in his vocabulary but he knew it would be fruitless to argue with her. Lex admired her because in a lot of way she was like him. When she wanted something she got it, she saw greys in the world and most importantly she needed to be loved. The difference was that she was the light and he was the dark and the last thing he wanted was to drag her down the way he did everyone else in his life. She stood there watching him stare at her and wondered what he was thinking.

"Lex, go upstairs and get ready, we are leaving in a half an hour." She said snapping him out of his thoughts. "Yes boss." He said as he smiled at her before he turned and walked up the stairs. This was going to be the best Christmas he ever had and she was going to make sure that no matter what happened this weekend that he would always remember her gift of Christmas.