There is one more chapter left after this one and it will be rated R

Thanks to those of you who have Faved and hung on to read - we are reaching the end. :)

Chapt 9 Ruse

The alarm clock went off; its loud obnoxious, unfriendly cringe-worthy beeping roused me from an un-fitful sleep. I would have to buy another one. This one soon lay in a pile of twisted broken metal bits. Recent need had driven me to buy them in bulk but this was the last of a ten pack. I reassured myself I had no anger issues, just that today Chloe would become Mrs. George reminded me they just didn't make enough alarm clocks in the world for me to smash to alleviate the irritation and fear.

I knew she was depending on me to be there. I didn't want to let her down but I didn't know if I could stand idly by and watch Gabe smilingly give her away. At the part where the preacher asked if any opposed the two who were to be wed would I rush up, sweep her up into my arms and declare like Daffy Duck that she was "Mine, mine all mine!" then super speed us both away? It was too tempting by half.

I would have to still myself for such desires. I lost my chance and she had given me far too many anyway.

I shuffled through the normal rig-a-marol as if on autopilot only to come to the startling realization that I was crying. I stared at my sallow reflection in the mirror. A man in a pristine tux with not a dark hair out of place, shining blue eyes and lazy tears curving over his face.

"Hmh Superman does cry after all."

Anger set in as I appraised myself. You let her go. You kept your eyes closed when she waited. You used her as a search engine. You couldn't get your head out of Lana's hind end long enough to see she was bad for you and that the perfect woman stood by your side… Then when Chloe is happy you conveniently noticed you were in love with her only at the moment you understood you could rip her happiness to shreds. I couldn't look at myself anymore.

Now it was time to suck it up and be there when your 'best friend' needs you. Put your petty needs and wants aside and put a smile on because she's worth it, because she deserves it and because finally you realize there are people more important than you.

A honk outside my flat pulled me away from more bolstering or destructive thoughts. I stuffed my dress-stocking feet into my gleaming polished paten leather shoes and rushed down to see who was causing a ruckus with the car horn. A shining black stretch limo was parked in front of the no parking sign. A female chauffer was standing by the open back door.

"I think you're at the wrong address and you're parked in a bad zone. The police might come tow you if you're not careful."

"Name's Meggy and I'm not worried, I have it in with the cops. And I AM in the right place. You are Clark Kent right? Don't bother to answer, just get in. One Ms. Sullivan sent me to pick you up and I refuse to be on time, I mean I refuse to not be on time." Meggy made a shoo, shoo motion to the back seat.

I obliged the lady by crawling in. Less than a minute later I was clawing the back seat trying to hang on through the rough bends and quick stops. She rolled the partition window down and looked at me from her rear view mirror.

"Have some wine. Ms. Sullivan insists you will probably need it for this day. Anyway most everyone who comes for a ride with me is most happy to guzzle down the stuff. Don't know why." She hit a sharp curve and I tumbled to the right almost sliding into the floor.

"Have you there in a jiff." The tinted window zipped back up.

At this rate I could be sick by the time we got there. Forget Kryptonite, want to make me weak? Just stick me in the back of a limo driven by a spunky lil' gal from Metropolis.

"We're here." Meggy grinningly said when she opened the door for me."

"Erm, thank you for the um conveyance?"

"Not a problem, anything for Maria. I brought you to the door so you wouldn't have to wade through the cars and people."

I happily watched her drive away and climbed the steps to the church. Seeing the door greeter, the only thought that came to mind was 'out of the fire into the frying pan'.

Lois stood at the double doors swathed from top to bottom in flowing sea foam green.

"Lois that color does not become you."

"Zip it Smallville. Chloe is waiting for you. She is in the room down the hall to the right, last door. And make it snappy."

"Yessum!"

I followed the directions, girded myself up and knocked on the closed mahogany door before me.

"Come in."

I shoved the door open, apology on my lips ready and waiting to be uttered… but it never came. The sight before me robbed me of all speech and thought.

"Whaddaya think?"

"St st sunning Chloe."

She tossed her head back and laughed.

"You can drop the goofy act Clark. No one is in here except me and you."
She did a small pirouette then walked within a foot of me.

"Isn't this a wonderful dress? But of course you think so too since you chose it. I'm going to wear it when I get married."

"I'm both happy and saddened by this news." I cupped her check. "Sorry I'm late."

To my pleasurable surprise she pressed her face into my hand.

"I'm glad you came Clark, I had my doubts," she whispered.

"One of these days you will believe me. Regardless of..." I dropped my hand. "Even though you will have George to catch you when you fall."

"Kind of hard for him to do that when we are no longer engaged. Besides, he can't quite fly up and snap me up from harms way now can he?"

Lack of sleep was playing tricks on me. I stepped back from this illustrious convincing vision.

"You aren't going to leave me in this building by myself on what should have been my wedding day are you?"

"By yourself? Chloe you are suppose to get married in.." I looked down at my watch. The wedding was due to start at one o'clock and it was six til. "A little over five minutes. I'm sure every pew is packed."

"You have super hearing. Do you HEAR a bunch of people." she scoffed.

There was definitely a lack of people noise in the church.

"Say um what's going on Chloe?" I couldn't think with her yelling at me through her beauty. And through the possibility of a fantasy that could very much become reality within the span of a few most important moments.

She laughed again, the tinkling noise breaking through the throbbing blood ricocheting around under my skin.

"I love you Clark. I never stopped. I've been fighting it because…"

"Don't Chloe. After all the mistakes I have made, you don't owe me an explanation. Just tell me loud and clear that you are not marrying George, I want, no I need to hear it."

Chloe swayed to me in that glowing white dress, her smile as wide as an ocean and equally as gleaming as the creation she wore.

"I'm not marrying George. I love George but I'm not in love with George. I knew with him I could be complacent that I could hold off a part of myself that got crushed so much.

I kinda hoped he would make me forget about you." She added sheepishly. She came just within arms length and I snatched her to me and dipped her low.

"I'll never let you forget me."

Just like the first time, but not the last time, she kissed me. The difference was I kissed her back with fierceness because my heart was in it. When I ended the fusion of our mouths I was grinning and she was panting and clinging to me like a wanton.

"Superman is a tough act to follow but Clark Kent ruined me for any other man."

I chuckled; Chloe always knew what to say. "So let me get this straight, you called off the wedding and I am the last to know?"

"Mmmhmm."

"You wanted me to sweat it?" I nuzzled her neck with my nose.

"Mmmhmmm." I growled at her, to which she giggled.

"But that wasn't all. I knew you would love me enough to show up even though it would be awful for you. It wasn't a test, it was a reaffirmation. My savvy friends helped me contact everyone last night and this morning. I just had Lois dress up because she loves sea foam green so much." She snickered before continuing, "Well that and because she wanted to help me lure you here."

"Well you are mine now and I am not letting you go Chloe Sullivan. And I get to make Perry happy by keeping one of his top reporters at the 'The greatest paper in the world.' Just do me one favor."

"Yes Clark?"

"One day I am going to ask you to marry me; you are going to say yes because we both know you can't live without me." Chloe popped me on the chest. "When you walk down the isle to me I want you to wear this dress. I don't think there is a more perfect gown for you in the world."

"Deal. But you have to wear a tux WITH tales."

"Deal. Now my dear Chloe I will wait for you to change clothes, then maybe you will take Superman back to your apartment for an exclusive." I let her slip from my arms secure in the knowing that whether she was physically present or not, she would always have her home there, in my arms.

"On what the future holds for the man of tomorrow?" she disappeared and I let it wash over me that this was real. That finally after all the mistakes and off track places we had gone with all the wrong people, we finally got to each other. She was changing in the bathroom and my heart was beating a sporadic pace because she hadn't closed the door. She hung out the dress for me from behind the door and I slid it in the plastic carrying bag.

"You misunderstand Ms. Sullivan; I will be conducting the interview. We will be conversing over the most fascinating of subjects." I spoke in my 'Superman' tone.

"Why I let George get away?" She was adorable in stone washed low riding jeans and midnight blue halter top.

I held my hand out to her and she came to me without hesitation. I slung her dress over one shoulder and pulled her delectable form to the other one. I flicked my tongue over her full bottom lip.

"Far more important, something that could decide the way of the world." Her amazing green eyes pondered up at me, quizzical interest shining through them.

I flashed a grin.
"What color did you wear for me today?"