Chapter 25

Chloe slams into Clark with such force that anyone else would have certainly been winded but those people aren't a virtually invulnerable alien as she wraps her arms around him in a hug. Clark soon returns the hug to the diminutive blonde while Pete chooses the more dignified pat on Clark's shoulder. "What are you guys doing here?" he just has to ask them.

"We could ask you the same thing," Chloe snarks as she pulls back from him. "After all this isn't Bayville," she cleverly and obviously points out.

Clark rubs the back of his neck in what is his nervous gesture as he quickly tries to think of an excuse that doesn't include looking for a guy with wings. "Um yeah. Good point...but we'll get to that in a second. Let me introduce you first." Clark turns and holds his hand out in the direction of Scott and Rogue. "Pete. Chloe. These are a couple of friends of mine at the school I attend. Scott Summers and Rogue."

"Rogue?" Chloe queries with a quirk of her eyebrow at the unusual name.

Rogue shrugs. "Ah prefer it," she says not wishing to get into detail about it. Also she wasn't exactly thrilled about the way this blond girl wrapped herself around Clark. He had said they were only friends...still she gets to do something easily which Rogue has to take care doing worrying all the time about not making skin to skin contact.

Clark does the reverse introductions. "Scott, Rogue these are my friends from Smallville. Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross."

There is an exchange of handshakes. Rogue is thankful it is winter so she doesn't have to explain her gloves. That is always so damn awkward in the summer.

"Cool shades," Chloe remarks as she shakes Scott's hand. She had never seen anyone wear red coloured shades like that before and certainly not at night.

"I have an eye condition," Scott reels off as his usual reply to whenever someone asks him about that.

"Really? What one?"

Scott blinks. No-one ever asks that. He says he has an eye-condition and then they drop it. Of course none of those people were Chloe.

"Chloe," Clark says warningly. "Will you please stop giving my friends the 3rd degree."

"I was only asking a question," Chloe says innocently.

Clark snorts. "Right. Sure you were Chlo," he says with complete sarcasm. "You do remember who you're speaking to?"

Chloe places her hands on her hips and gives him her most annoyed expression. "Oh I remember alright you great big dumb farm boy."

"Caffeine addict," Clark hits back.

"Overgrown boyscout."

"Nosy Parker."

"Hey that's rude," Chloe complains. "I'm not nosy. Just inquisitive."

"And denial is a river in Egypt."

"Four eyes!" she hits him back with in reference to his glasses.

"Is that the best you can come up with?" Clark asks her not sounding all that impressed as he folds his arms across his chest trying to make himself seem even bigger and imposing as he looks down on his friend. "You're losing your touch Chlo."

Rogue and Scott look on a little bemused and getting flashbacks of Clark and Kitty when they are in full flow. For most people they would like their arguing by on both Clark and Chloe's faces are these tiny little smiles showing that they are only having fun with each other.

"By the way what is up with the glasses?" Chloe asks him.

Clark shrugs. "Turns out I'm short-sighted," he says using the excuse that was the simplest one to come up with.

Pete actually knew better. Clark had explained to him over the phone what happened with the kryptonite at the jewellery store although Pete couldn't help but note that Clark had been vague on certain things when he was telling the story. Pete hadn't decided if that was because Clark just wasn't comfortable talking about it or if he was hiding something...or back to hiding something.

Anyway Pete turns his attention to Rogue. "How do you do that with your hair?" he asks her in reference to the white stripe in it. "Because you know it is really kind of awesome."

Clark rolls his eyes, moves next to Pete and bends down slightly so he can whisper in Pete's ear. "Pete. Will you please refrain from hitting on my girlfriend."

"Whoa! She's your girlfriend?" Pete says in total shock at that revelation.

"Yes ah am," Rogue confirms.

"Yes she is and why are you sounding so surprised?" Clark asks Pete. "I told you I was seeing someone when we talked last week."

Pete scratches his head. "You did?" he asks unable to recall that.

"Yes I did...or I thought I did but obviously I was talking to an entirely different Peter Ross."

"You probably did Clark," Chloe says. "But Pete's brain has been out to lunch ever since he started dating Mandy."

"Head of the cheerleaders Mandy?" Clark seeks to clarify.

"That's the one. I'm thinking cheerleaders must carry an infectious virus that causes anyone they date to drop 20 IQ points."

"How did you get her to go out with you?" Clark asks Pete unable to see that at all.

"My natural charm and charisma," Pete answers like it should be blindingly obvious which makes Chloe snort loudly.

"I'm thinking he used hypnosis or some sort of mind control," Chloe airs her thoughts. "But I haven't been able to prove anything yet."

Pete turns to Scott and Rogue. "And these are my so called friends saying these things."

"Well friends are suppose to be honest with each other," Chloe points out.

Clark almost visibly winces. Stabbing him with Kryptonite in the gut would have been kinder because he has not been honest with Chloe...really ever.

"So Clark what are you doing here in New York?" Chloe asks getting back to that.

"Last minute Christmas shopping," Clark comes up with now he has had a minute or two to think on it. "Right guys?" Clark asks Scott and Rogue to back him up.

"Oh yeah. Really last minute," Scott says in support.

"What about you?" Clark asks Chloe and Pete.

"Kind of the same really. Lana wanted to come to New York to do her shopping and she asked us along," Chloe tells him.

Emotions flicker across Clark's face. "Lana is here with you?"

Pete shakes his head. Chloe just had to bluntly drop that in. He points at the hospital. "She's in there. She slipped on the ice."

"Is she alright?"

"It's just a sprained ankle," Chloe informs him.

"Why are you out here then?" Clark asks in some confusion.

"We needed some air and frankly I think Lana wanted to be alone to spend some 'quality' time with Lex."

Now Clark was more confused than ever. "Lex is here too?"

Pete hits Chloe across the back of the head.

"Hey! What was that for?" Chloe demands to know as she rubs her head where Pete hit her.

"Chloe. He doesn't know," Pete reminds her.

Chloe's eyes widen as she realises what Pete means. "Oh," she says her mouth forming a perfect 'O'.

Ok Clark is starting to get annoyed. "Know what?"

Chloe and Pete share a look before Pete decides he better be the one to tell Clark. "Um well you see after Lex came back into town he and Lana spent a lot of time together. You know with him...'comforting' her after your break-up." Pete can't help but put a suggestive tone on the word 'comforting' considering his dislike of anyone with the surname Luthor.

It finally clicks in Clark's mind. "They're dating?"

Chloe shrugs a little helplessly and lost at what to say. "How do you think we got here? Lex brought us on his private jet."

Clark is lost in his emotions. What is he suppose to feel right now? What does one feel when your ex and your one time former and maybe still friend start dating?

Clark's attention is grabbed when he feels a hand slip into his own. He turns his head to find Rogue standing next to him. Oh right that is what he is suppose to feel. What it is he feels for Rogue. Lana is the ex but still...there is just this pang of regret in his heart whenever he thinks of Lana about how it all ended.

"Here they come," Chloe mutters.

All turn to see a bald man aiding a limping brunette girl walking towards them.

"Chloe! Pete!" Lana shouts out as she limps towards them.

"Hey Lana!" Chloe says forcing herself to sound overly cheerful. "Look who we found," she says gesturing at Clark.

Emotions now flicker across Lana's features as despite the glasses that now adorn his face she can see quite clearly standing there is "Clark." Her eyes then drop to the hand he is holding belonging to this Goth girl with brown and white hair. Lana's eyes narrow as to what that signifies as to the type of relationship Clark has with this girl.

"Hey Lana," Clark says obviously a little uncomfortable at this situation.

Lex is actually as surprised to see Clark as Lana is. He hadn't seen or spoken to Clark in months. He only found out Clark had left town when he returned to Smallville after being out of the country for a few weeks to find the Kent farm empty. It was only after he talked to Lana he learned Clark was attending a private school in Bayville which of course explains why his father developed a sudden interest in the place. Lex could have sought Clark out but his...'relationship' with his father occupies most of his time.

In reality of course it is more like a battle as always between Lex and his father and Lex needs to consolidate his power base in Smallville at the moment which takes precedent over almost everything else with the exception of Lana. Lex had never really planned to date her. He spent some time consoling her upon his return over her break-up with Clark and somehow they just fell into dating. Not that Lex is really complaining. Lana is beautiful and smart and a bright spot in his otherwise seemingly dark world. The darkness that pervades Lex's life is completely his father's doing and one day Lex will...he doesn't know what exactly but one day he will be rid of his father. He swears he will.

"How are you Lex?" Clark asks him although Clark has a few other questions like why he hasn't been able to contact Lex by any method short of running all the way back to Smallville.

"Fine. Yourself Clark? Your parents?"

"Fine. We're all fine. Well I guess I should do some more introductions. Scott, Rogue this is Lana Lang and Lex Luthor."

"Luthor?" Scott queries. "As in Lionel Luthor?"

Lex nods. "My father," he confirms.

Rogue remembers something Clark said. "Clark saved ya from a car accident."

"He did. I owe Clark my life." Lex appraises Rogue. "Let me guess...Mississippi right?" he asks as to where she is from guessing from her accent.

"Um yeah."

Lex turns back to Clark. "Haven't heard from you for awhile Clark."

"Could say the same about you Lex and it wasn't like I didn't try. However it seems your phone number stopped being valid and every letter I sent got no reply."

Lex smiles lopsidedly. "My father cancelled my phones while I was abroad and as for the letters I'm guessing he had them intercepted."

Clark shakes his head. "Are these more of his tests or something?"

"I'm a Luthor Clark. I'm always being tested and I'm always having to prove myself," Lex says a little bitterly at the lack of normalcy in the relationship he has with his father. "I am sorry I wasn't around when your parents lost the farm though. If I had been I would have helped you."

"I know...but to be truthful it all worked out in its own way. My parents have good jobs and I'm happy. I have good friends...and I feel like I'm in a place I belong."

Lex smiles a little and steps closer to Clark so he can whisper in his ear. "I'm guessing more than friends with Rogue right?" he guesses from seeing the same as what Lana did with Clark holding the Goth girl's hand.

Clark simply nods in response.

"Interesting choice," Lex remarks because Lex knew girls from the south. They were...feisty. Clark probably had little idea what a handful he was letting himself in for.

"Same could be said of you," Clark whispers back with it coming out more snidely than he meant it to.

"Clark," Lex starts to say with a sigh.

Clark cuts Lex off. "It's alright Lex. You don't need to explain. Lana and I...whatever we had is over. She is free to do whatever she wants."

Lex steps back and appraises his friend. That was much more mature than he remembered Clark being. He guesses that whatever this school Clark attends really does it has seemingly done him some good. Lex then checks his watch. "Well as much I would love to catch up we have to get to the airport if we are to get back to Smallville for Christmas," he says a little regretfully but he can't stop time. Not yet anyway but if he puts his mind to it Lex is sure he could think of a way. His phone then goes off and he fishes out from his pocket. "Lex Luthor," he says as his way of answering it.

While Lex chats to whoever it is on the other end Rouge takes a moment to look over Lana. Break-up. That is what Pete said which means that Clark must have dated her which he has never mentioned to Rogue she might add. In Rogue's opinion Lana does have an exotic quality to her features which just makes her feel kind of plain by comparison.

From the other end Lana is looking this Rogue over. In Lana's opinion she is rather plain and ordinary, the Goth thing aside. She has no idea what it is Clark sees in her. A Goth of all things. Doesn't seem like Clark's type in Lana's opinion. Clark's type is well...her but he upped and left and kept secrets and lied constantly. The poor girl. Lana almost feels sorry for her for what Clark is no doubt putting her through. That was why she started dating Lex because at least Lex is honest with her and he was there for her when Clark most certainly wasn't.

Meanwhile Lex's phone conversation has gotten quite heated before he sighs totally exasperated and hangs up. "What?" Lana asks him.

"The plane has engine trouble," he has to sadly inform her so they won't be getting back to Smallville. The only alternatives now are a hotel or his father's new place in Bayville. Considering it is virtually Christmas and hotel vacancies are a near impossibility Lex dials his father. Not Lex's first choice considering he and his father have that never admitted but well known feud going on but it would give Lex an excuse to be around his father and see if he can find out what it is his father is up to.

After speaking to his father Lex informs them all that they are all welcome to join him since Lionel actually offered an open invitation. No doubt his father was trying to do what Lex is trying to do in reverse and find out what Lex was up to so that makes it another typical Christmas for the Luthor household.

Lana wants to stay with hew new boyfriend for Christmas so she decides to go with Lex.

"Hell no!" is Pete's reaction and he says it in no uncertain terms. He tolerated the plane ride with Lex for Chloe's sake. No way in hell is he spending Christmas at Lionel Luthor's house. He would rather stand here and freeze to death.

Clark has an idea. "Can you excuse us a minute?" he asks of his friends as he pulls Scott and Rogue aside. He keeps his voice low. "Is there any chance we could offer them a place at the mansion?"

Scott is sceptical. Sure he can understand why Clark would want to do that. It is Christmas after all. "What about Mr McCoy," Scott points out. As soon as anyone sees him there goes the secret.

Clark looks over at his friends. Lex and Lana have made their choice but Pete and Chloe don't deserve to be stuck with Lionel Luthor of all people. "Pete can be trusted. I mean he knows about me."

"He does?" Scott asks a little surprised. He doesn't think Clark mentioned that before.

"He found my spaceship so I had to tell him and he has kept it secret since. Chloe...I'm sure she can be trusted as well." Well Clark thinks she can anyway. Besides it is worth the risk rather than leave her stranded and alone at Christmas.

Scott thinks on it and makes a decision. "Only if the Professor agrees Clark and if they can't be trusted or can't handle it he will have to wipe their memories," Scott warns him.

Clark isn't entirely comfortable with that possibility but he can understand why. "Alright. We better ask him now."

Scott nods and fishes his phone out of his pocket. The one he keeps for emergencies and this sort of counts. As Scott moves away a distance so he can't be overheard Lana manages to pry Rogue away from Clark. "So are you and Clark dating?" Lana asks Rogue seeking to have her suspicions confirmed.

"Yes we are."

"Just a little friendly warning expect to be hurt."

Rogue scowls at Lana's tone. "What do ya mean?"

"Clark lies," she says shortly. "Clark keeps secrets and he doesn't trust anyone." The bitterness of what transpired between herself and Clark slips into her tone of voice.

"He trusts meh," Rogue says confidently. After all who was it he took with him to see Dr Swann. Who was it he first sat down and told his story to. It was her. That's who.

Lana's lips curl into the twisted parody of a smile. "I see he has managed to fool you too."

"Ya don't know what ya are talkin about and if ya say one more bad word about Clark ah swear ah'll make ya sorry."

Rogue locks stares with Lana in a battle of wills which Lana loses. "Don't say I didn't warn you," Lana says before she turns on her heels and limps back towards Lex. Rogue has to restrain the urge to punch Lana's lights out.

"What was that about?" Scott asks Rogue. He had finished his call with the Professor and had caught the end of that little scene.

"Nothin!" Rogue snaps in reply. "She is just a jealous bitter cow."

"Ok," Scott says while mentally noting he is so not getting sucked into whatever that was.

Rogue moves topic off of that unpleasantness. "What did the Professor say?" she asks Scott.

"He agreed to let them stay with the warning I gave Clark."

"Tha mind wipe?"

"Yeah."

"Well lets hope they can handle it then."

Rogue and Scott go to tell Clark who was back chatting to Pete and Chloe and miraculously unaware of what just took place between Rogue and Lana. Lex and Lana go off back inside the hospital to stay warm to await the car Lionel was sending for them. That leaves Clark, Scott and Rogue to make the offer to Pete and Chloe.

While both would obviously prefer to spend Christmas with their own families this was the next best thing. Only one thing remained. The whole mutant and in Clark's case alien secret. They decide to save that one for when they get back to the Institute.

An hour later they arrive a little cramped at being squeezed into Scott's convertible. Chloe and Pete exchange greetings with Clark's parents before they are led into the Professor's study.

Chloe can't help but feel as she sits down that a bombshell is about to land on her. Turns out she is right.

A good 15 minutes later the Professor has summarised everything. Mutants, his school and its purpose. Considering the somewhat late hour he kept it to the short version. He agreed to let Clark's friends stay for the obvious reason. It was Christmas and no-one should be left out in the cold.

Chloe blinks rapidly as she absorbs all this. In fact she can't believe she of all people is being told this. It then hits her. She now knows Clark's secret. He is a mutant and she had just learned from the Professor that there are what he called x-gene mutants, and those mutations caused by the meteor rocks are different. "I have like a million questions," she says.

The Professor smiles kindly at her. He could actually sense her questions at the top of her mind. "Why don't we save at least some of them for tomorrow," he suggests.

"Fresh minds and all that?" she queries.

Charles nods. "Yes."

Chloe yawns at that moment so she can see his point.

Charles gestures at the door. "Clark is waiting outside. I'm sure you have a few questions for him too and when you are done he'll show you to the rooms Martha has prepared for you."

Charles watches the two young people get up and leave. He will spend tomorrow observing them, scanning them to make sure they can be trusted. He hopes they can. He dislikes having to alter the memories of people.

Clark had been leaning against the wall when Pete and Chloe exit.

Pete shakes his head as he looks at his friend. "Clark only you could end up at a school for mutants," he says in a wry tone.

Clark shrugs and smiles in such a way as to say he doesn't know how this happens to him.

"Do the others know...?" Pete asks and Clark gets it. Do they know he is an alien?

"They do. When Lionel came into town I felt they deserved to know everything as to why he followed me here."

Pete shakes his head and mutters some unpleasantries under his breath about Lionel.

Clark turns his attentions to Chloe who is looking at him in a whole new way. "Say something Chloe," he asks of her.

"It was you wasn't it. All the meteor freaks who were stopped somehow. It was you." It is all suddenly falling into place.

"It was me," he confirms for her, "and Chloe could you refrain from the freak description. Mutants are just people."

"Sorry," she says a little sheepishly. Force of habit. "So this was the big secret huh? Clark Kent. Mutant."

Clark rubs the back of his neck. "Um yeah about that. Everyone here is a mutant. Everyone except me...and my parents but they're human. I'm something else."

"Like what?" Chloe asks unable to figure it out.

"Remember that scene in Roswell where Max explains to Liz about where he is from?" Clark asks her.

"Uh huh," Chloe says a little confused. Clark then points upward in an impression of Max in that scene and she gets it. Her eyes widen. "No way! That's...that's just...um..." she struggles for what to say next.

"It's still me Chlo. I'm still the same person," Clark says silently praying that Chloe doesn't react quite as badly as Pete did.

Chloe gazes at him for several seconds. "Well that does clear up one thing," she says.

"What?"

"Your fashion sense," she quips.

A smile creeps onto Clark's lips. "Coming from the girl who wore skirt over jeans I don't think I'll be taking that to heart somehow."

"Hey. That will come back into fashion!" Chloe insists.

"It was never in fashion in the first place Chlo."

Chloe pouts in response to that and then turns her gaze to Pete. "You knew didn't you," she accuses him guessing from what Pete said when they exited the room.

"Yes he did," Clark answers for Pete. He then takes Chloe by the shoulders and starts to lead leads her. "Lets go sit down and I'll tell you all about it. Oh and I should probably give you the heads up on one of the teachers here; Mr McCoy."

"What is he an alien too?" Pete asks as he follows Clark through the halls of the mansion. Pete is a little surprised how well Chloe is taking this. Better than he did he must admit which makes him feel a little guilty as his...he would probably call it now overreaction.

"Oh no. He is a mutant. It is just...he looks a bit different from what you might expect."

"Different how?" Pete asks as they walk into the lounge to find a big blue fur covered man sitting by the fire reading a book.

"Like that," Clark says in answer to Pete's question.

Author's Note: So I threw in two L.L's for you all. You'll see more of Lex and Lana down the line as I'm planning a sort of 'Return to Smallville' arc. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Christmas!