Chapter 4: Wishes come true
When Lex finally woke up he looked at the clock and found that it was already 10:00 a.m. He wasn't sure why Kate had let him sleep in but he thought they were planning on leaving early. He put on his slacks and a sweater and walked out of the bedroom. He saw Kate sitting at the table in the kitchen with a strange man. He looked about 10 years older than them and he had sandy blonde hair and sat pretty tall. Lex guessed about 6 ft. tall. Kate saw him walking toward them and got out of her seat and to give him a hug.
"Hey there sleepy head, I thought I was going to have to bring in the heavy artillery to wake you this morning. When I went outside to try and get the car started I found 10 feet of snow. It must have started last night and it hasn't stopped since. So I decided to let you sleep because we obviously aren't going anywhere today!" she said as she took Lex by the arm and lead him to sit. "This is my brothe Kyle, Kyle this Lex Luthor, my boss" she said and then looked down in embarrassment. "And my friend" she added quickly.
Kyle got up out his chair and shook Lex's hand. "It's nice to finally meet you Lex, Kate's told me a lot about you I feel like I know you." He said.
"Well only good things I hope, although I am not sure there is much good left." He said quickly as they all sat down. "So tell me if there was such a bad storm how did you get here so early?" Lex asked.
"Oh well, I took the helicopter in. I actually live up in Canada where I manage all of mom and dad's companies up there so were used to braving the storms." Kyle replied. Lex looked at him and nodded.
Kate stood up and grabbed the axe that was lying near the stove."I am going to go out and chop some more wood for the fire, we are running a bit low and something tells me we are going to need a lot more to get us through the night." She said as Lex stood up to help her.
He looked at her and smirked, "Kate don't you think you should let a man handle that thing. It might be a bit heavy and the trees aren't going to be falling like leaves in this weather." He said as Kate put on her hat and gloves. She looked at Kyle who was trying to keep from laughing.
"Lex, this is a side of Kate that you haven't seen. Not many people have actually but she is more than capable of handling that axe." Kyle replied. Lex looked back and forth between Kate and Kyle with a confused look on his face,"Am I missing something here?"
Kate couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a big laugh. "Miss Wood Chop champion from 2002-2005." She said. It used to be called mister until I entered the contest. First female to enter and win. It's all in the form you don't actually need much strength, just precision." She said proudly.
Lex smirked at her again. "Okay, Okay I concede, who needs superman when you have wonder women right here." Lex said as she rolled her eyes at him.
"Well glad I could be of service" she replied slapping him on the arm. Kate opened the door and let a gust of wind inside and then closed the door behind her. Lex stood by the door watching her still not completely convinced she could chop firewood with 50 mile an hour winds blowing all over. He sighed and stared out the window. Kyle looked at Lex and couldn't help but get the feeling that his sister's feelings for the bald billionaire weren't unrequited as she had always insisted to him.
"She's something else isn't she?" Kyle said.
Lex looked at him and stepped away from the window. "Yeah she is. She never stops seeing the good in things and people. I think that's why her research so amazing." He said as he went to sit back down at the table.
"Yeah most of the time she's too trusting and ends up getting hurt. I hope that's not your, intention Mr. Luthor. Kate deserves someone who will always be there for her and not leave when things get tough. "Kyle said.
Lex heard his tone change and he actually though it was sweet that her older brother was trying to protect her. "I can assure you Kyle that Kate and I are very good friends and I intend to keep it that way. She has been there for me when everyone else has turned their back and I don't take that lightly." Lex said trying to be cautious with his words.
"Is that all you are Lex, is just friends? Maybe if you heard the way that Kate talks about you, you would know that her feelings for you go much deeper than that." Kyle cocked his eyebrow questioningly.
Lex shifted uncomfortably. "Look, Kyle, Kate is a smart and beautiful woman but I agree with you that she deserves someone better. I am actually quite shocked that she hasn't been caught up by someone already." He said. He really didn't want to get into his feelings for Kate without discussing it with her first.
"Well Kate is a lot like me Lex. She gets very passionate about her work and doesn't leave much time for anything else. It's her way of escaping. You see, when she was a first year med student she met a rich billionaire much like yourself. Although they were both young then and liked to party they had a lot in common and she fell for him hard. They were getting very serious and she hoped he would propose. Until one day she found out that she was pregnant. She told him about it hoping he would finally pop the question and he told her he didn't want anything to do with her or the baby. He thought she had done it on purpose to trap him and he had no interest in settling down. She was heartbroken and didn't know what to do. Our parents were very strict Catholics and probably would have cut her out of their fortune if she had kept the baby. So she terminated the pregnancy. She was devastated because as a Doctor she knew that she had taken a life and she has lived with that guilt ever since." Kyle got up from the table and started to pace. "She doesn't believe she deserves to be loved after what she did so she has closed herself off to anyone who tries to get close. Except you. She actually fell for you without even trying."
Lex sat there trying to digest everything Kyle was telling him. How could such a caring soul feel unworthy? He realized for the first time that maybe they both needed to be saved. They both carried around this guilt that no one knew and they were both afraid to lose. It all made sense to him now. The reason why they had always felt drawn to each other, the reason she could understand his own darkness was because she too was living it. Although you'd never know it the way she wears her heart on sleeve. That's just it though she was seeking redemption for a sin she thought committed.
"Lex, don't make the same mistake I have. Don't push love out because you are afraid. My wife and I and our two children usually spend our Christmas in Canada with her family. Sometimes Kate joins us and other times she comes here. Anyway, I have spent so much time on my own work that I have pushed my family away and this is the second Christmas I have spent without them. The house was so empty I had to get out for a little while. I was hoping for a Christmas miracle and that maybe we could work it out." Kyle shook his head and looked back at Lex from the doorway. "The point is that you and Kate will spend the rest of your lives alone if you both don't let go of whatever is weighing you down and just love each other." He said just as he opened the door and Kate walked in with a bundle of firewood in her hand.
"Hey guys, sorry I took so long. The wind was definitely a problem but I got us enough firewood to last us the night." She stepped in the door and took off her hat and gloves. Lex stood up and walked over to her and took the firewood from her hands. He stared in her eyes for a moment trying to find some indication of her pain but all he could see was the love she was trying so hard not to show. He was really amazed at her capacity to forget her own problems and care so much about his enough to bring him here to forget. He felt the overwhelming urge to hold her and tell her that he had seen their future and that he knew everything would turn out alright so there was no reason to be afraid. But he knew it wasn't that easy. Besides she'd probably think he was losing his mind talking about ghosts. Kate looked in his eyes for what felt like an eternity. She couldn't fully read the expression on his face but she could tell that the weight that had been holding him down was lifted and for the first time in a long time she could see hope in his eyes.
"Hmmm" Kyle cleared his throat and interrupted their thoughts. "Well I don't know about you but it wouldn't be Christmas without watching a Christmas Carol. What do you say Kate, Lex you up for it?" he said as he walked over to the living room. Lex took the firewood and put it in the fireplace to keep it from dying.
"Well we watched it yesterday but I did fall asleep so I wouldn't mind seeing it this time around. That is of course if you don't mind watching it again Lex?" Kate said as she took a seat on the floor. Lex sat on the chair next to Kate and shook his head no and put his hand on his forehead.
"Kate, I don't know what it is with you and that movie but after the dream I had last night I would just assume skip it tonight." He said.
Kate looked at him questioningly, "Why, you said last night that you liked it? What did you dream about last night?"
Lex looked at her not really wanting to relive it and especially because he wasn't quite sure it was a dream he said, "I'd really rather not talk about it but I would okay with any other choices. I was never really into movies as a child as I preferred to read so I'll trust your choices since this is all new to me."
Kate smiled at him as she imagined this little nerdy child with glasses reading in the library instead of having fun with other kids. She really felt like he had such a sheltered childhood and yet he was wise beyond his years. She figured it was a result of growing up too fast. "Alright then how about a Christmas Story-that's a classic. And that little boy who plays Ralphie is so cute!" She squealed and Kyle couldn't help but smile. He knew Kate would make a great mother someday. Not only did she get excited about real children but she was a sucker for the fictional ones too.
The day went by fairly quickly as they ended up watching two Christmas movies and then found themselves engulfed in a game of chess as the clock struck 8:00 p.m. Kyle yawned and looked at Kate and Lex. They looked quite tired even though they hadn't done much but something told him that the secret feelings they were hiding from each other weighed them down even more than the sleepless night they had last night. Kyle could cut the sexual tension between the two with a knife from the moment he arrived at the cabin this morning. Kyle really hoped that his sister could find happiness with someone who would take care of her and not abandoned her again. He had heard stories about Lex Luthor from the media and he knew the man could be cruel if he wanted to. When he first realized that Kate had feelings for Lex he was worried that he would use her and break her heart again or else that he would manipulate her and her work with him for his own purposes but so far neither one had happened and the man sitting in front of him now was not the man he read about in the paper. He suspected that had a lot to do with Kate. He wished for their sake that this Christmas they could find a miracle. He got up from his seat and walked over to the Christmas tree.
"Kate, before I turn in for the night, it is Christmas and I did bring you something so, here it is from your big brother. He picked up a small package and handed it to her.
"Kyle you didn't have to. I actually sent your gift in the mail with Janet's and the kids. I didn't know I'd be seeing you this Christmas." She said as she took the gift and started to open it. She took out the picture frame and looked at it trying to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes. It was a stone statue of St. Raphael-the patron saint of soulmates and in the middle a heart was carved out where there was a picture of her mother and father on their wedding day.
"Oh Kyle, it's beautiful, thank you so much." She cried as she stood up to hug him.
"I hope you find love, that's my Christmas wish for you." He whispered in her ear as he hugged her tightly. He broke the hug and turned to Lex who was standing up and took his hand again.
"Lex, I am sorry I don't have anything for you. I had no idea Kate would have a guest here. Although, what can you get the man who has it all." Kyle said jokingly.
Lex shook Kyle's hand but he was looking right past him at Kate. "I don't have everything, Kyle. But thank you there is no need to worry. It was nice to meet you." He said. Kyle turned and walked down the hall to the third bedroom when Lex called out to him and he turned around to face him. "Kyle, I hope you find your way back to your wife and children as well." Kyle just nodded in a thank you and turned and walked into the bedroom leaving Lex and Kate alone.
Lex took the picture frame out of her hand and looked at it. "So these are your parent huh? They look happy."
Kate bent down under the tree and picked up another present. "Yeah they were. I always said that if I was ever lucky enough to find my soulmate like they did I would hold on and never let go no matter what. Out of the 6 million people in this world not everyone finds their other half." She said as she took the frame back from him and put it under the tree. She walked over to the couch and gestured to him to come and sit next to her. "Look, Lex I know you are not exactly the Christmas type but I am really glad you came with me this weekend. I really didn't feel like being alone." She said to him as she took his hands in hers.
Lex could feel the warmth from her hands piercing through his body and he didn't know how much longer he could continue this act of not feeling anything when just being around her made him feel more than he wanted to. He smiled at her and said, "Kate, you should be proud, you accomplished your mission. You wanted me to have fun and I did. For the first time in a long time I felt the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders." He said. S
he smiled back at him, "Good! But this night wouldn't be complete without me giving you your Christmas gift." She handed him the package that was in her hand. He looked at it and then looked at her. He didn't expect anything from this weekend but he got so much more than he could ever imagine.
He swallowed hard, "Kate you didn't have to do this. Just coming here is good enough. Just being here with you. I don't have anything for you."
She put her finger on his lips to stop him. "Lex, just open it. I know I didn't have to but I wanted to. I told you before I don't want anything from you." She said as he tore the wrapping paper open like an excited little child. When he saw what was inside his mouth dropped open in shock. It was the rare 8th edition of Warrior Angel. The original copy that his mom had gotten him the last Christmas they were all together. It was right after the edition where Warrior Angel's girlfriend dies and he goes into a dark place and the only person who can bring him back was his best friend and former side kick Flash. Lex had been searching for years for this issue and kept coming up empty handed. He couldn't believe that she had thought that much of him.
"Kate" he whispered her name.
She put her hands on his face and smiled, "You told me once that you grew up and didn't believe in this stuff anymore. I didn't really understand why but when I heard about how your friendship with Clark had deteriorated I realized that's why you stopped believing. I just thought this might help you remember again."
Lex could feel her breath on his lips and he knew he couldn't fight it anymore. He pulled her to him kissed her gently at first but more hungry the longer their lips were together. She slid her tongue against his lips begging him to open up to her and he complied. He slid his hands down her neck and she shuddered. Before she realized what she was doing she pushed him down on the couch and laid herself on top of him. Lex let his hands slide down her back onto her buttocks as she pulled out of the kiss. She looked at him for a moment and realized what had happened. She didn't want just one night with him and she may have lied when she said she didn't want anything from him. She did; she wanted his love forever.
She looked at him in surprise, "I am so sorry, I can't do this," she said as she got up off the couch quickly and started to walk toward the bedroom. Lex was very confused and he got up and followed her and grabbed her arm to stop her. "Kate, I am sorry I thought this what you wanted I …"
"Lex, it's okay it's not you I just, I can't let myself get caught up in a whirlwind romance and then be disappointed again. I am sorry I thought I was ready." She said as she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Lex understood what she meant. She thought that he was going to leave her like everyone else in her life had. Even though she told him she wanted nothing from him she really did. Yesterday he wasn't sure if he could give her what she wanted but now after everything that has happened he was sure he could. They wanted the same thing and could never find it…until now.
"Kate, I know about what happen to you in med school. I promise you I won't leave if you don't leave me." He took his hand and wiped a tear off her face. "You and I are afraid of the same things. Maybe it's time to just let it go and let love in. For the first time in my life I feel like I have something to live for and that's because of you. Kate I am going to ask you again and I want an honest answer this time. What do you want from me?" he looked at her with so much longing in his eyes she couldn't help but to tell him the truth.
"I want you to let me love you Lex, and I want you to love me." She said. That was all he needed to hear. He crashed his lips onto hers and pushed her backwards and closed the door behind them.
The next morning the sun was peeking through the blinds as Kate opened her eyes. She could feel his strong arms around hers and she turned to face him."Well hello there, now whose the sleepy head." He said as he gave her a smile. She could feel his hands on her hips and their bare skin against the sheets and she looked into his eyes.
"Well you gave me quite a workout last night. I guess I should have figured that a playboy like you would have a lot of stamina." She joked. He smirked and she could feel his hands under the sheets glide down in between her legs.
"Lex" she whispered as he took her mouth in his. She felt his hunger all over again and his arousal was evident. She felt his hands rub against her sensitive opening as they slid inside her. At the same time she felt his tongue making the same circular motions as his hands and she couldn't control the sensations he was creating inside her. She slid her hand down to feel his arousal. She cupped him and started sliding her hand back and forth all the while never breaking their hungry kiss. Her motions started to speed up along with his as they could both feel the heat building up inside them. She started contracting first and then Lex began pulsing in her hand until both of them felt release at the same time. She caught hold of her breathing and opened her eyes to look at him again and she could see the fire that he had even now. She smiled at him and moved her hand up to his chest.
"Well nothing says good morning like a little passionate foreplay!" she said and she winked at him. "Unfortunately though we do have to get back to Smallville and our research. I think we can activate Model 506 later this week." She looked at him hesitantly and then added, "If that's what you still want."
Lex cupped her chin and leaned in to kiss her gently. He broke the kiss and looked deep in her eyes and smiled. "I think I have everything I need right here. Besides something tells me we are going to have plenty of family and friends around us in the future." He said.
She cocked her eyebrow and asked "What makes you so sure?" He laughed and got out of the bed and started to get dressed. "I'll tell you all about my dream on the way home. Right now I need to pack the car up." Lex said.
Kate got out of bed and started to get dressed as well. When they were both ready they left the bedroom and walked down the hall. Kate saw the scene in front of her and grabbed Lex's arm to stop him. Lex looked back at her questioningly, "That's Janet, my brother's wife." She said. Lex nodded in understanding as they stood there and watched. Kyle was holding Janet tenderly in his arms as she let her tears fall. It took a few minutes but she finally stopped crying and he kissed her on the forehead.
Kate grabbed onto Lex's hand and walked into the living room. "Well, isn't this a surprise." She said as she smiled and embraced Janet in a hug.
"The best Christmas gift ever. I got my family back." Kyle said as he winked at Janet. Kate turned around and introduced Lex to Janet and then turned to Kyle and said"So I guess this means the two of you will be staying here for a few more days?"
"It looks like it-Janet said her parents are watching the boys while she came here to find me." He replied.
Kate patted her brother on the shoulder. "Well big brother it looks like everyone got their Christmas wish this year!"
Kyle put his arm around her and whispered, "I love you sis, mom and dad would be proud…of both of you." He said nodding over at Lex in acknowledgement. Kate embraced her brother one more time and said.
"They'd be proud of you too, Kyle. Don't be a stranger." Lex took their bags from the living room and walked to the door. "It was nice meeting both and I hope we can see more of each other soon." He nodded at both of them and kissed Kate on the forehead.
Kate took Lex by hand and said her final goodbye as they walked out to the car. Lex put the bags in the trunk of the Porsche and got in the driver's seat. He looked over at Kate and said "They make a nice couple." Kate smiled at him and took his hand in hers. "Yeah, they have some issues to work out but, I think they'll make it. I think this was probably one of the best Christmas's we've ever had!"
Lex took her hand and kissed it. "You gave me the best Christmas gift anyone could ever get, another chance at love. I don't think I'll ever look at this holiday the same way again." He said. As the two sped down the road to home the clouds parted and Lilian smiled down at her son from above. He finally made the right choice she said as she sighed. She could finally rest in peace now knowing that her son was going to be okay.