One Month Later, Daily Planet
"How is my crack reporter tandem?" Perry asked, walking over to the new office Clark and Lois shared, along with Jimmy. After their rousing success in the Mayor Delanberg story, they'd gotten their own private suite, essentially. And giving partial credit to Jimmy, they'd gotten a co-byline for his involvement, which had brought Jimmy great prestige.
"Busy ever since we blew the doors off the case. The other newspapers have been wanting to interview us. I'm not sure about Lois, but I'd much rather be the interviewer, then the interviewee." Clark said, smiling.
"Can you really blame them, though? I mean, it's not everyday two newspaper reporters and a photographer are responsible for mass convictions and resignations. It wasn't just the mayor, it was his entire cabinet and half the city commissioners! We basically ripped apart half the municipal government in one fell swoop. That makes me feel good." Lois grinned.
"I ask because I think the three of you have done enough work since then to earn yourselves a three week vacation. Starting right now." Perry smiled, before heading back to his office.
"What are you going to do on your vacation, Lois?" Clark asked, still in a bit of shock. Perry the Pitbull rarely gave vacations, and extremely rarely gave more then one person a vacation at a time.
"I think I'm going to go to the Caribbean, get me a tan. Maybe go on a cruise and just forget about the past five months or so. How about you, Clark?"
"I'll probably stay at the farm, fix the damage Lex caused, and just try and rest up from what's been going on, like you said, in the past few months. Lois, why don't you take your Mom and Dad along on the cruise? Or, if you want to be alone, why don't you buy them their own cruise. Give them a chance to get back together and rekindle any magic that might be left."
"You think that would be a good idea, Clark? I mean, we haven't had time to set up that meeting, what with you and Lex being caught in the cave in a month ago. I had to set up my own meeting, but I don't know how … into it Dad was. After that initial meeting, I've pretty much stayed out of their business, so I don't know exactly if they've been meeting, or whether they even want to go on a cruise together."
"The best you could do is ask, Lois. There's no harm in that." Clark said.
"Yeah, I guess I could ask Dad or Mom."
"Whichever one is easier to approach, Lois." Clark grinned.
"So you're just going to lounge around at home? That's not much of a vacation, Clark. Why don't you go somewhere?"
"Because I can, like, go anywhere I want to, on this planet or not, anytime. Vacations for me are like trips to the shopping mall are for you."
"Well, I guess you have a point there."
Kent Farm
"Hey, Lex, what brings you by?" Jonathan asked, smiling and holding the door open for the young man. While Lex had recovered from the majority of his injuries, he still walked with a slight limp, which doctors said would be permanent as a result of snapping so many of his bones in his feet and lower legs.
"Just a thought I had over the past month. I had a lot of time to think in the hospital, and…well…I was thinking about Clark, our, um, rekindled friendship. And, um, what that's done to me, and the, um, changes that we've gone through. What was on the wall in the Kawatche Caves, about Naman and Seegeth standing together to overcome their differences–"
"You're babbling, Lex." Jonathan noted, sitting down in his armchair. Lex sank into a sofa.
"Yes, well, this would most aptly be compared to me asking for your daughter's hand in marriage. I want Clark to, uh, that is…I need Clark to…"
"Spit it out, son."
"I want Clark to be my vice president of operations at Luthorcorp."
"I see. Have you spoken to Clark about this?"
"No, I really haven't seen him over the past month. I guess with me laid up like I was, he got really into the paper, much more so than he was prior to my getting hurt. He and Lois have been turning out bylines by the handful lately, tons of high profile stuff, too. Mayor Delanberg in Metropolis, Police Chief Anderson in Crosly, Sheriff Jones in Branton. Those two have been on the rampage. So between that and PT, I haven't had much time for a social life. But I have had plenty of time to think, as I said."
"Well, um, Lex, I don't really, uh, know what you were hoping for by coming to me first, but it's, um . . . It has to be Clark's decision, son. I'm not going to influence him, one way or another."
"I didn't come to ask you to influence him. I came to make sure, that, um…make sure you didn't have any problems with your son working for a…Luthor."
"No, Lex, son, you're not a Luthor. Not anymore. You're your own person now: you control your future, not some surname which doesn't mean anything. You've shown me that the sins of the father do not reflect on the son."
"Thank you, Jonathan, that means a lot to me. So when are you expecting Clark home?"
"I'm not sure he's going to be coming home. He's been spending his days at the Planet, and then at his apartment. So I'm not sure if he'll be coming home today. Your best bet would be to catch him at his apartment."
"Thank you, Jonathan."
"Anytime. Say, Lex, how is your recovery progressing?"
"Pretty well. Doctors have told me that I'll most likely always have a slight limp, due to the bones I broke in my foot and legs, but that's a small price to pay, considering the alternative. All my other injuries have healed nicely, and I won't be suffering any side effects from them. So all in all, I got out pretty fortunately; again, considering what the possible outcomes were."
"Yeah. Good luck with Clark, Lex."
"Thanks." Lex smiled.
Daily Planet
"I thought I told you three to scram. Unless, of course, you don't want the vacations." Perry said, walking into the office of Clark, Jimmy and Lois.
"No, we want it. I'm just wrapping up some stuff. Would you mind closing the door?" Clark asked, looking up from his computer. Perry shut the door, and Clark went back to speed-typing, finishing up his three stories. He then got up, and supersped around the office, tidying everything up, ending up right in front of Perry with a huge grin on his face.
"I'm clocking out, chief." Clark said, smirking and walking out of the office.
"Yeah…sure…" Perry managed, looking around the office in awe.
"And don't call me chief!" Perry yelled, realizing that was what Clark had done. Clark grinned from outside the Planet building, before heading for his apartment.
"And what's your story, Lois?" Perry asked, watching as she struggled to maintain a straight face.
"I was going to be working on some stories, but Clark finished them up for me in about ten seconds. So I'm just trying to, uh…work up the courage to set up a meeting between my Mom and Dad."
"Ask them to meet you at Shaffin's Cuisine in 20 minutes. Is your Dad here, or in Smallville?"
"He's been staying in Metropolis since he and Mom–well, since I got them together. But, see, I don't know how they'd react to my plans."
"Just ask, Lo, what's the worst that could happen?"
"I guess. Thanks, Perry. You're the best."
"Yeah, yeah, don't let it spread." He smiled before turning to his photographer.
"I'm just developing these pictures. Clark said superspeeding this might screw it up somehow, although he's never tried it. So I'll be here for an hour or so."
"Okay, Jimmy. Have fun on your vacations, guys." Perry smiled again, before walking out of the office.
Clark's apartment
"I was wondering when you'd get here. It's kind of nippy today." Lex greeted Clark, getting up from the stoop.
"And you couldn't wait in the lobby because?" Clark asked from behind a stack of his stuff that he'd cleaned out from the office.
"Felt like some fresh air. Here, Clark." Lex said, taking half from Clark's pile.
"Thanks, that helps." Clark said, shifting everything into one hand and fishing out his keys. He led Lex up to his apartment, and let him in.
"First time I've been in here since…well, that day a long time ago." Lex mused, sitting down on a couch.
"At least you're not holding a box of kryptonite this time." Clark said, superspeeding into his room and depositing the stuff he'd gotten from the office. He also changed into a tee shirt and sweats before walking back out and heading into the kitchen.
"Coffee?"
"Yeah, thanks, Clark."
"Did you want something? Besides free coffee, I mean." Clark grinned.
"Yeah, but I'd rather talk about it over coffee and toast, or something. Kind of relax things a bit."
"Why does that not fill me with confidence?" Clark asked, putting toast into the toaster, nonetheless.
"It's nothing bad, Clark, just something I've been thinking of for the past month."
"Yeah, about that. Look, Lex, I'm sorry I haven't been more…diligent about our friendship, but I –"
"No, Clark, don't apologize. After what we went through in those caves, I don't blame you for getting back to your career, believe me."
"No, not that, Lex. I'm sorry I didn't visit you more during your hospital stay, especially when, for me, it wouldn't have been more than a two second trip."
"You think I don't know why, Clark? You put more high profile people behind bars in a month than Metropolis PD did in the past five years. That's quite an accomplishment, believe me. And that award you got last week? I wish I could've been there, Clark. I really do."
"Thanks, Lex. I just feel guilty that I didn't think to spare even fifteen minutes to come see you over the past month."
"Don't worry so much, Clark, my feelings weren't hurt in any way."
"One lump, or two?" Clark asked, retrieving the coffee off the stove.
"Two, thanks." Clark nodded, and then grabbed the toast from the toaster.
"Hey, Clark, why do you even own a toaster?"
"Because I don't feel like heat visioning breakfast every morning, plus, what if I have guests over? It's safer this way." Clark dished out three slices to Lex, and took three himself. They relocated to the living room, and Lex's gaze kept moving from Clark to the bedroom and back again.
"You want to sleep with me?" Clark dead panned.
"WHAT! NO!" Lex said, shocked out of his stupor.
"Then spit it out, Lex. I'm not getting any younger."
"Do we know that for certain?" Lex shot back. Clark just smiled and drank his coffee.
"So, I was thinking, that, well… You know how I . . . How you've helped me with the–how shall I put this?–morality aspect of my life? Well, Luthorcorp is still pretty, hm, corrupt, since I really haven't involved myself in any big purges."
"You want me to help you go through the company and fix any morality issues?"
"Well, it's partially that, Clark, but um, much more involved. I want you to quit your job and take the vice president's position at Luthorcorp."
"Lex, I just don't know what to think. I'm really flattered by the offer, but I don't want to take a job where I'll be playing second fiddle to you where something could happen to endanger our friendship. I mean, despite everything we've been through over the past five months, we're still on a very rocky road in that department, and I think it would be unwise to jeopardize that right now."
"Think about it, Clark. All I wanted to do was broach the subject with you: I don't want or need an answer until you feel completely comfortable giving me one. Now, I must put in at least an hour at the gym, or my friendly doctor will become unfriendly. Thanks for the coffee and toast, Clark. Think about my offer: it's an opportunity, for both of us."
Lex let himself out of the apartment and left Clark to think all alone. After pondering the question and making a pro and con list, Clark decided to go talk to his parents.
Kent Farm
"I'd set an extra place for dinner tonight, Martha." Jonathan grinned, kissing her behind her ears, making her yelp and laugh.
"Someone's in a frisky mood, Jonathan." Martha grinned back, turning around and kissing him fully on the lips.
"I just have this feeling like everything's going to be all right now. For everyone." Jonathan kissed her again before placing three plates on the table.
"Who are we expecting, Jonathan?"
"I have a feeling our son will be joining us tonight."
"Did he call? Is he bringing Lois around?"
"No, and no. I just have this parental instinct, Martha. We'll see if I'm right or not." Jonathan said, grinning again.
"Jonathan Kent, you're hiding something from me. What is it?"
"I'm not telling…" Jonathan teased. Martha sidled up to him and sensually rubbed his arms and upper chest, then kissed him once.
"Still not telling?" she whispered.
"Mum's the word." Jonathan grinned, trying to resist his wife–and failing miserably, he admitted to himself. He finally gave in after she began giving him a lap dance in the kitchen.
"Lex came by earlier and we talked about something, that's how I know Clark's most likely going to be dropping by." Jonathan said, kissing Martha and forgetting himself, that is, until Clark knocked on the door and then walked in, before turning around and walking out, shutting the door behind him.
"I think we freaked him out." Jonathan said, ending the kiss and opening the door. On the other side Clark was standing with his back to the house, looking across the fields.
"You can come in now, son." Jonathan grinned, laughing and clapping Clark on the back.
"You sure? I could always come back tomorrow."
"Yes, son, we're done. Come on in." Clark kept his eyes closed as he walked into the house, until Martha hit him upside the head.
"Come eat dinner, Clark. And just for your information, we're middle-aged, not ancient!"
"Noted and ignored." Clark said, sitting at the table and digging into his food. After dinner, Clark and his parents were seated around the living room, Jonathan and Martha knowingly waiting for Clark to open the conversation.
"Lex stopped by to see me today."
"How is Lex?" Martha asked.
"He's better. Still has a slight limp, but otherwise okay. But that's not why he stopped by. He…he had a proposition for me. I don't know how I feel about it, though."
"What did he propose?" Martha asked again. Since neither parent liked lying to their son, Jonathan wasn't going to open his mouth. Martha didn't know anything of the conversation between Jonathan and Lex.
"Well, he wants me to be the vice president of Luthorcorp. I think it's sort of a morality officer type of thing, as well. You know, to keep him in check. But the advantages of being a reporter and being Superman would go away. I don't even know if Lex would allow me to continue being Superman, or if he would want me in the office all day."
"So ask, Clark. Look, son, we can't tell you what to do here. Whatever decision you make, your mother and I will be behind you one hundred percent. We both feel Lex has grown a great deal as a man and a person in the past five months, but he is not perfect. His wanting to hire you as his second in command just proves he does want to be perfect. That is a very noble gesture."
"But he is still haunted by Lionel, still striving to meet his father's lofty expectations. The whole purple kryptonite incident shows us that." Clark countered.
"Like your father said, Clark, whatever decision you make, we will support you. It cannot be our decision, it has to be yours."
"Why don't you sleep on it, Clark? Think of all the pros and cons to the job offer, come up with any questions you might have for Lex, put them to him, and then make your decision." Jonathan suggested. Clark smiled and nodded, heading to his room.
"We'd better get to bed ourselves, it's late." Martha grinned, pulling Jonathan by his shirt.
"I doubt we'll be sleeping anytime soon." He beamed, goosing Martha and running ahead of her. The next morning, Clark got up and noticed the sun wasn't up yet.
"Farm life." He cracked a smile, zipping through the bathroom and out to the barn, starting on his and Jonathan's chores. It also gave him further time to think about Lex's offer, and what his questions would be. Once he finished up his chores, he zipped back into the house and began cooking breakfast.
"Out! Shoo!" Martha said, walking into the kitchen and slapping Clark on the rear.
"Hey! Is Dad up?"
"No, we had a kind of a long night."
"So why are you up?"
"Someone needs to feed your father."
"Scary mental images."
"Take them into the living room, I'll cook breakfast, Clark."
"You think Lex is up, Mom?"
"Why don't you call and find out, Clark?" Clark nodded, and dialed the direct line to Lex's room, something he'd had committed to memory a long time ago.
"Hello?" Lex sounded confused, and with good reason. How many people had this number, and actually cared enough to call it?
"Hi, Lex, it's Clark."
"Yeah, and I didn't know that when I heard your voice, thanks for telling me."
"Someone's in a bad mood."
"It's seven fifteen in the morning and the sun's not even out yet! You do the math, Clark."
"Heh, sorry, Lex."
"It's okay, I suppose. What did you want?"
"I have some questions to ask you about your offer."
"Can you make breakfast in a half hour?"
"Should be able to. See ya then, Lex."
"Sure thing." They hung up, and Clark headed into the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom? I'll be going over to Lex's for breakfast."
"That's all right, honey. Did you do your chores?"
"Yeah, I did mine and Dad's."
"And have you made a decision regarding Lex's offer?"
"Yeah, I think I have. But I do want to go get some questions answered. Just to placate my mind, you know?"
"Yeah, I can imagine. Clark, like your father and I said last night, whatever you decide will be fully backed by us."
"I know. I just want to make sure I make the right decision. I think I'll jog out there, give me a little more time to think. Bye, Mom." Clark grabbed a jacket and put it on.
"Bye, honey." Clark smiled and headed out the door, jogging towards the Luthor Mansion. He arrived after a half hour jog which yielded a few more questions for him to ask, and also yielded an appetite. He knocked, and was let in by Lex himself.
"What took you so long?"
"So long? You said a half hour, it's been a half hour."
"Yeah, I said a half hour, but I thought you'd be here in half a second." Lex led Clark into the kitchen.
"Now, I'm not anywhere as good of a cook as Martha, but I can make a pretty good breakfast." Lex grinned, putting two plates of food on the table.
"Wow, Lex, you're such a good domestic."
"Just eat, flyboy."
"Hey, that's Lois' nickname for me, come up with your own!"
"Anyway, what did you want to ask me?"
"Many things. The big thing is, will I still be able to, you know, be Superman? If I take the job, will I have to be in the office all the time?"
"Oh, no, Clark. You'll definitely be continuing your superhero routine. That is extremely vital and important to the city, and I would never force you to stop. Plus I'm sure you enjoy it, as well."
"How about vacation time and pay?"
"Well, we can work all of that out, Clark. But, it's not an all day in the office type of job, anyway. And you can make it to anyplace in the world in a minute, basically. As for your pay, I'll quintuple your pay from the Planet."
"I make ninety-six thousand a year, Lex. Quintupling that would be four hundred and eighty thousand dollars!"
"That's fine, Clark. You'd be worth way more than that if you'd just let your superior intellect out more often." Clark smiled thinly.
"Any other questions?"
"Yeah, what exactly will I be doing? Like, what's my job description?"
"Well, you will be using that super noggin of yours to come up with safe, moral ways to make an awful lot of money. Maybe, with your full approval, of course, even using some technology from Krypton?"
"I don't know, Lex. That technology is miles and miles away from anything on Earth. The last time Kryptonians allowed some advanced technology into the hands of humans, the world was destroyed. Haven't you ever wondered why all the ancient civilizations only go back to about ten thousand BC? From the years 100,000 BC to 20,000 BC, Earth was about 4,000 years more advanced than it is right now. There were space ports everywhere, and the Earth-Mars combination was the most fruitful part of this quadrant. Earth was a virtual utopia, and diseases didn't exist. We let a little extra slip into the human population, and wham-bam, before we knew it, humans went and destroyed themselves, the atmosphere, and everything else in the solar system. Mars? According to Kryptonian history, it was a planet that was thriving, it was the hub between the inner planets and outer planets. So, I don't think so."
"Whoa."
"Yeah, you wouldn't want to bring about Armageddon, would you? That'd be hell on your publicity." Clark smirked.
"Sounds fun." Lex grinned back.
"So basically, you're paying me nearly half a million to make sure you don't take Luthorcorp farther than it is already and to bring it back to a respectable organization?"
"That, and to share any knowledge of Krypton you feel wouldn't send us rushing to Armageddon."
"I'll see what I can do."
"I'll need a private exit from my office, Lex, and a closet or something, so I can change."
"I'll make the exit from the closet, Clark. That way, no one will know you're gone. And I'll give you an underground entrance about a couple miles away. Don't worry, you won't be risking your secret anymore than you do now when you take this job."
"When?"
"You wouldn't be here asking me these kind of specific questions if you weren't already convinced that this job is the right thing for you."
"I need to go talk to Perry." Clark said, not admitting that Lex was right. Lex just smiled and nodded.
"Press conference tomorrow, Clark. We'll have to hold one, to announce a hiring this big. All the local press will be all over it."
"I know. Thanks, Lex."
"Clark? I told you that our friendship was going to be the stuff of legend. It will be, but now, we will be standing together and knocking over boundaries others only dream of approaching."
"Let's just try to concentrate on not knocking ourselves over, Lex, before having delusions of grandeur." Clark smiled and supersped out, leaving Lex deep in thought. He arrived at the Planet in short order and sighed before walking into the newsroom.
"Clark? I told you to not show up for 3 weeks!" Perry said, looking up from one of the desks scattered around the newsroom.
"Can we talk, chief? I have some bad news."
"Yeah, sure, Clark. What's wrong?" Perry motioned to his office. They both walked in, and Perry shut the blinds.
"I, that is… I have received a job offer."
"From a competing newspaper? I'll match their offer. Anything, Clark. We need you to stay."
"The offer's from Lex. He wants me to be the vice president of Luthorcorp."
"Oh, well…"
"Look, I'm sorry, Perry. I really am, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime: I'd be a fool to not take it."
"Then why do you sound like you're trying to convince yourself of that? Come on, Clark, you've worked here for close to six years. I know you pretty well. That's got to mean something to you! Why are you really taking this job?"
"Because he offered, and because I want to do it, and because it's a terrific opportunity. Plus, I feel like I'm wasting my brain here. I mean, I could let a cure to cancer slip at Luthorcorp. Krypton was so much more advanced than Earth is."
"Look, I can't talk you out of this, Clark, but just promise me you'll examine why you're doing this. Is it for the right reasons?"
"Yes."
"And if you can live with yourself after saying that to my face, then you know what? I'm happy for you, I really am. This is a terrific opportunity. Good luck, Clark. You'll always be welcome back to the newsroom whenever you want."
"Thank you, chief."
"You're a good kid, Clark, and you'll be a valuable asset to Lex and Luthorcorp." They shook hands, and Clark departed, a smile on his face. He got into the elevator and headed to the garage, where he got into his car and headed off to Lois' apartment. Once he arrived, he got out of the car and sat on the hood, contemplating going inside or not.
"It won't be light out forever, Smallville." Lois called out of her window, ten minutes later. Clark sighed, put his hands into his pockets, and slowly walked to the door, which opened a second later as Lois let him in.
"Hi, Chloe." He smiled gently.
"Hey, Clark." She smiled back.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing at the moment. Why? Did you want to do something? Date, perhaps?"
"Uh, no, not exactly. I came to tell you something, Chloe. And I don't think you're going to like me very much afterwards."
"You…you're not breaking up with me, are you, Clark? You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and–"
"No, no. No way! Not after I finally came to my senses, Chlo. You'll be mine for a very long time, baby." Clark leaned in and kissed her for emphasis.
"Then what's so urgent, Clark?"
"I'm leaving the Planet, Chloe."
"But, it's always been you and me, Clark. Ever since junior year, it's been you and me doing our thing together for so long. Why are you leaving now? Come on, it's always been us."
"Lex offered me a job, one that I would be insane to pass up on. He offered me the vice presidential job at Luthorcorp. Five times as much pay as I'm getting at the Planet, other perks, plus I'll always stop by to do our stuff, Chloe. I just won't be getting any credit for it." Clark smiled a quirky little smile.
"But this is like breaking up Siskel and Ebert, Albert and Costello, Bert and Ernie…"
"I'm sorry, Chloe, but I'm doing what I think is best for me and for everyone else. This is just something I have to do. But you won't be losing me: you won't ever lose me. I promise you that, Chlo."
"Why, Clark? Give me a good reason why you have to do this, tell me." Chloe was more broken up than Clark was expecting.
"Because I have a chance to make a difference at Luthorcorp. I can let some small pieces of technology from Krypton slip out, a formula which is maybe twenty years away, stuff to improve the standard of living here on Earth, but I won't repeat the same mistakes which brought an end to Krypton." Or Earth, Clark thought.
"Clark, are you sure Lex isn't manipulating you in some way? Doesn't it seem dangerous to hand over Kryptonian knowledge, considering what happened to Krypton?"
"Lex has nothing to do with my decisions, Chloe. I'm a grown man, and I can make my own choices, thank you very much. I want to do this."
"You want to make sure Lex doesn't slip back, don't you? You're going to Luthorcorp to act as a safety net for him."
"That's part of it, not the overwhelming part, but a part. The largest is all the help I can give to mankind, but I'll be making sure Krypton Part II will not be coming to an Earth near you."
"Clark, I can't say I'm not disappointed. I mean, I was hoping we'd work together until retirement, but I'm also not angry, if that's what you're worried about. I know you've had to hold back at the paper, Clark. This should allow you to give Luthorcorp your full and complete brainpower, not the minute amount you give the Planet. I'm happy for you, Clark, I really am."
"So why do you sound so close to tears?"
"Because I'm selfish, Clark! I don't want to share you with anyone, not with Perry, Jimmy, Lex. I want you all to myself. Is that so bad?" Chloe wailed, collapsing in his arms.
"Noooo, never bad. But you need to understand, Chlo, I'm the world's superhero. You share me everyday. But I only come home to you, yours is the only bed I share. You're the only one for me. Now, isn't that better than what anyone else has?" Clark softly stroked Chloe's hair, and she smiled through her tears.
"You always know just what to say, Clark."
"Years of practice with a journalist helps." he grinned. Then he got down on one knee.
"Clark? What…oh my god, are you…?"
"One life changing decision is never enough. Chloe Ann Sullivan, will you do the honor of marrying me?"
"Oh…god, Clark. YES! YES! YES!" Chloe bowled him over, tackling him to the ground, and showering him with kisses.
"You have NO IDEA how happy I am." Chloe shouted in his face.
"I think I have a pretty good idea." Clark grinned, flipping them over and taking off her shirt.
Luthorcorp
"I'm clocking out for the day." Lex said, leaving his office, and putting on a jacket. While it was still October, in Kansas, it got chillier around six. He walked out of the building, and towards the cemetery. He quietly walked past the group of people at one of the plots, heading toward the prestigious (if such a thing existed in a cemetery) area where the Luthor burial plot was located. He ignored Lionel's and stopped next to his mother's.
"Hello, Mother. I know I haven't been by in a while, but things have been…busy. I'm back, Mom. I'm sure you know who Clark is. He brought me back. He's such a remarkable person, did you know that? And Dad's not dead: he faked his own death to try and bait Clark, and the BDA fell for it. But that's all right, because I think Dad's body is just about ready to give out. I've made so many mistakes, done so much wrong, am I insane to think that just by simply hiring Clark, my demons will be eradicated? I was on the edge for so long, I don't know if I can make it back up. Clark believes in me, as he always has, and I think that's still one of his many weaknesses, his penchant for seeing the good in everyone. There certainly wasn't much good in me when he confronted me so many months ago." Lex sighed, and lay down on the grass, facing his mother's tomb. Lex was so intent on talking to his mother, he failed to notice a pair of beautiful blue eyes watching from the trees.
"And even since he accosted me, I've done bad things. I threatened a few people, covered up the plant explosion in Smallville, aided and abetted Clark when he was under the influence of a powerful drug, all sorts of things that make even me ashamed. But I think, I think the path I'm on now is one which would meet your approval. You'd be proud of me, Mom. I hope you would be."
"Of course I would be, honey. Everything you've done in the past six months makes me glad to be your mother."
"Mom?" Lex asked, looking all around the graveyard.
"Yes, Lex. I'm here where I've always been. Locked in your heart, waiting for another opportunity to shine. Oh my son, my baby boy, what did Lionel do to you? Why do you tremble so at your mother's voice? Am I that frightening?"
"No, Mom, never. I haven't been a man that any mother could easily be proud of. Everyone gave up on me, with good reason."
"No, Lex, not everyone. Not me, and not Clark. If no one believed in you, son, you wouldn't be here tonight or any night. My poor baby, I'm so sorry I left you alone with Lionel."
"Why? Why did you have to take Julian?" Lex whispered, whimpering slightly. The shadowy figure in the trees reached up to those crystalline blue eyes, wiping away tears.
"I thought I would be saving all of us, Lex. Julian wouldn't grow up with Lionel as his father. I'd have you to protect, and Lionel wouldn't go after you, since you were his sole remaining heir. But I didn't know you would take the blame. For that, I'm so sorry, son. So sorry. Julian's so proud of you, Lex, I'm sure you know that."
"Yeah…" Lex was starting to feel a bit drowsy. He curled up on his mother's plot, wrapping his jacket around himself.
"I'll always love you, Lex. Whenever you need me, you know where to look. Take care of Clark, be true to yourself. I love you, my precious baby boy." Lex sighed in contentment, dozing off.
3 hours later
The pair of eyes slowly concentrated, nudging Lex's shoulder with her mind. She got the desired effect, as Lex slowly started to wake up.
"Hey, you." she said softly, smiling from the trees.
"Mom?" Lex asked, still in a groggy state.
"No, Lex."
"How do you know my name?"
"Everyone knows who you are, Lex." She smirked, knowing him better than most people.
"For all the wrong reasons." Lex sighed, rubbing some of the sleep out of his eyes.
"Not everyone, Lex. Certainly not me." she said sincerely.
"I don't know you."
"Not yet," she whispered, making sure he wouldn't catch that.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, just musing to myself." She chuckled.
"Okay. Is there any particular reason you're moping around a graveyard at," he stopped to check his watch.
"Nine p.m. on a Sunday night?"
"One could ask you the same question." she countered. Lex pointed at the tombstone.
"I'm visiting my mother." He smiled sadly.
"I know." She smiled mystically.
"So why ask the question if you know the answer?" Lex sighed, still trying to completely wake up and also trying to see into the trees. He wanted to know whom he was talking to.
"Why answer if you don't know the question?" she teased, knowing it would get under his skin.
"Why ask the question if you know the answer to the question that I'm not supposed to know?"
"Always have to get in the last word in, don't you?" she chuckled softly, eyeing him, still not moving from her hiding place. She saw how he was trying to see her, and she kept moving out of the way just enough.
"Yeah, I do. It's a serious character flaw. And again, how do you know me?"
"Now, if I told you that, it wouldn't be any fun."
"Fun for who?"
"Not sure."
"Then why introduce fun into the equation?"
"Why keep it out in the first place?"
"Because fun never got Alexander the Great anywhere."
"And maybe that was his downfall."
"Or maybe he trusted his lieutenants too much for his own good." Lex countered, giving up on seeing his mysterious companion and deciding instead to sit down on the ground next to his mother's grave.
"You make it sound like trust is a bad thing." She smirked at his abandonment of his quest to see her clearly.
"My father taught me trust is a bad thing."
"And look where it got him."
"Where did it get him? How do you know my father?" Lex immediately sat back up, concerned for this young woman. She was in extreme danger, whether she knew it or not.
"Does it really matter? My concern isn't for him. It's for you, Lex."
"Yes, it matters. He is alive, not dead, and anyone who is associated with him, or anyone who has been, is in mortal danger. I can protect you if you let me know how you know him and what you know of him."
"I appreciate the offer, but that's okay," she said, finally stepping out from behind the trees, and walking slowly towards Lex.
"I am more concerned for you."
"Why all the concern for me?" Lex asked, looking up as the voice got closer. He did a double take, shocked at how beautiful she was.
"Wow, you must be some kinda angel or something. Maybe we can discuss how you know of me and my father over a late dinner? Say, in a half hour?"
"I am really flattered, but no thanks. Would you mind if I join you?" she grinned at his come on, but brushed it aside.
"On the ground? It's kind of cold."
"Doesn't really bother me."
"If you want to, sure." She walked over a bit more, and then sat down right next to Lex.
"You really look good, I'm sure I'd remember someone of your...attractiveness. And you seem smart, a rare breed in Hazzard," he grinned.
"In Metropolis, I mean. Jonathan's been forcing me to watch The Dukes of Hazzard DVD sets with him."
"They are fun." She grinned as well.
"Aha! How do you know who Jonathan is? No last name, or anything. Who are you?"
"I never said I knew Jonathan. I know the Dukes of Hazzard pretty well, though. A certain ... friend of mine forced me to watch them by sitting on me for a weekend."
"You said 'they are fun'in a way that implied you knew who I was talking about. Are you someone my father sent? Games are all he has left at this point, why are you playing them for him?"
"You think I'm with your father?" she asked, hurt creeping into her voice.
"That would explain how you'd know so much about me and him and Jonathan, among other things.
Doesn't matter, though. He's going to die soon, for real." Lex informed her.
"I came here to help you. Believe me, if I could, I'd make him die a lot sooner. He hurt some people very close to me." she told him.
"If that's the case, let me make sure he can't hurt you. Tell me all you know, and I'll make sure you aren't on his next list. Believe me, my father can be a real bastard when he wants to be." Lex turned to her, concern etched on his face.
"The last thing I'd want is for you to get caught in the cross hairs."
"Don't worry about me, Lex, not right now. Worry about something much more important - you."
"I'm fine." Lex couldn't get why this girl, who seemed to be omnipotent, would worry about him.
"If you're fine, then why are you here at," she paused to look at his watch.
"Nine p.m. on a Sunday night?" she finished, grinning in victory.
" I told you, I'm here to visit my Mother. Is that a sign of being unwell?"
"She is proud of you, Lex. Of everything you've done recently."
"I know she's proud of me, but how do you know? How do you know these things?"
"Let's just say I'm a friend."
"More like a telepath with knowledge of the future."
" Or maybe you're still dreaming, or maybe I'm an angel."
"Or maybe you're an angel who is telepathic from the future."
"Or maybe, I'm an alien," she grinned, leaning in conspiratorially
"There is that possibility, as well." Lex said, contemplating her.
"What doesn't make sense is, whatever you are, or whenever you're from, why are you here? What concerns could you possibly have for me?"
"I have more concerns about you than you'll ever really know, Lex."
"Way to be cryptic."
"You . You are so important to a lot of people."
"I find that very hard to believe."
"Why? Because of your past? Believe me, that excuse is not going to hold up with me."
"Yes, and because of the things I've done in the past six months, less than ... things that have shaken everyone's faith in me." Lex sighed, dropping his head slightly, looking at the tombstone once more.
"Less than noble things."
"I know that all too well. That was my life," she said sadly, looking at Lex, knowing the problems he was facing and those he had yet to face.
"You don't seem as bad as I got. If you had a tenth of my life, and you turned out this caring, I'd say you have a pretty good character."
"Because I had a lot of great people help me get here, and even then I still struggle."
"Yeah, don't have that support, though."
"You have Clark and the Kents and Chloe."
"How do you know Chloe is still alive?
"Do I look like I would be a threat to her, Lex? Look me in the eyes and tell me that you see anything that would ever be a threat to her or the Kents." She straightened up, and looked directly into Lex's eyes, having to stand on her tippy toes to do so.
"That doesn't matter. Not many people should know that, especially someone none of us knows. Who seems to have a lot of information about us. Level with me, who are you?"
"A friend."
"Whom I've not yet met. Funny definition of friend you have there."
"That's all I can say right now. You'll just have to trust me."
"I don't trust easily."
"Neither do I."
"Yet, here you are, and apparently you know me–or think you know me–well enough to care." Lex pointed out, looking at her.
"Lex, I know how hard it's been for you." she said, gently putting a hand on his cheek, sighing.
"It'd be easier with you here with me." Lex said, putting a hand on top of hers and squeezing.
"You don't need me, Lex. You need to trust yourself. You need to trust those who love you," she said, smiling, but keeping her hand on his cheek.
"You would be treated as a queen. That past of yours would never haunt you again. Think about it, you would be like a sister to me, only we'd be dating."
"You would date your sister?"
"I would date someone as close to me as a sister, yes."
"And how do you think that would make her father feel?" she asked, trying desperately not to smile.
" Well, we would be best friends, so I don't know how he would feel. But none of this solves the problem of you knowing Chloe is alive. Which you still haven't explained."
"If I'm an angel, I know everything."
"Or if you're a telepath from the future, you know everything."
"Either way, I'm not a threat to her."
"Or you're a psycho who likes stalking people. Lots of those from Smallville, thanks to the meteor showers."
"I'm not a psycho. Almost became one, though, thanks to my father."
"Well, we have one thing in common. My father drove me insane, and yours almost did."
"We also have an L as our first initial."
"Do we have an L as the last initial as well?"
"If I married you, then yeah, but otherwise, nope."
"Well, what is your name? We completely missed that part of the introductions."
"I already told you - a friend." She smirked.
"I get the feeling that wherever I know you from, I didn't win many of our arguments." Lex said, sighing with another blown effort of trying to find out her name. She smiled at him, but didn't say anything.
"So what did you want to tell me, Angelica?"
"I just want you to realize that your future is what you make of it. This destiny thing: not as big as you think it is."
"You wouldn't agree with me if you saw some of the stuff back in Smallville."
"You'd be surprised."
"Maybe I'm always meant to be the villain of the story. This," he motioned all around him, indicating the things which had been happening in the past five or so months.
"Maybe this is all be a facade."
"It only is if you let it. Believe me, I know facades, and this isn't one of them."
"I just dont know. I tried to beat destiny once and failed. And just recently, I was tempted back to the dark side by one of my friends who wasn't himself, but he still made me turn back. How much does that say to you about what kind of a place I'm in right now?"
"It makes you human. Humans are not perfect, even people like me. If you knew the darkness that I struggled against everyday, it would kill you."
"Are you implying you're slightly more than human?"
"I'm as human as you are."
"Again with the vagueness."
"I wish I didn't have to be so cryptic, Lex."
"Then don't." Lex answered, gazing at her.
"I can't."
"And the why is the bit you can't tell me, right?"
"Yeah. Believe me, you will understand ... eventually."
"And am I going to like it?"
"Not sure just yet. How about we discuss that when you finally understand it?"
"Sometime in the future?"
"Count on it. Don't think you can get rid of me easily, Lex Luthor."
"I don't plan on letting you out of my life." He grinned, finally having gotten her to concretely say she was from the future.
"See, you're not a bad person. You're like me; believe me, that's a good start." She smiled, trying to cheer him up.
"So now that we've established you're from the future, what did you come back in time to tell me, specifically?"
"Like I said, you need to realize that your life is in your hands and not anyone else's."
"So am I doing the right thing having my best friend around as basically a safety net?"
"Yeah. Clark is really great like that, and even a little annoying."
"And again, I didn't mention who my best friend was. I wish you would tell me who you are, already."
"And I wish you would stop asking me . You can be annoying too, you know." she noted, sighing in frustration. She wanted to just tell him, but she couldn't, she knew that.
"And you didn't know this before you came back to the past, Marty?"
"Believe me, Doc, I knew what I was doing."
"At least I'm the smarter one."
"But I'm the good-looking one."
"No argument there." Lex said, smiling at her, looking appreciatively up and down her body. The woman just smiled, doing her own checking out. Lex of the past was certainly eye candy, it was no wonder he was such a womanizer.
"Am I happy?"
"You want to be."
"In the future."
"Oh yeah, you are."
"Married? Kids?"
"Well, you married a six-foot woman named Bertha and had two kids named Jake and Earl."
"What about the tradition of having one son with an 'L' for his first initial?"
"You married a six-foot woman named Bertha, you think you're thinking straight by that time?"
"Not sure. I'll be on the lookout for her." He laughed, knowing this was another joke she was pulling.
"Seriously. Kids? Wife?"
"Can't say. Have to have some mystery."
"Fun. Is Clark happy working for me?"
"Yes, he is."
"That's good. Did he ever...did he want? Did I force?" She took a deep breath, and that silenced Lex. Was she about to reveal something big?
"And so am I."
"You work for me?"
"Part-time, yeah."
"How old are you? About twenty, twenty-one?"
"Now, Lex, you know better than to ask a woman her age."
"I thought we were close." Lex smirked.
"Yeah, but I'll still deck you if you don't watch it." She grinned, letting him know she was joking.
"Well, I guess you know I need to prepare for a press conference tomorrow."
"Yeah, but you need to get some sleep. In your own bed."
"Y'all come back now, you hear?" Lex grinned.
"Got to. You make a good teddy bear sometimes."
"So we're, but, we're not, are we?"
"Yeah."
"We are? We're together?"
"Yeah."
"Weird, the age difference must be big."
"Yeah, but it doesn't really matter to us."
"I guess not."
"I bet you're lying to me just to mess with my mind. That seems to be your secondary motive here. If we're really together, kiss me on the lips." she shrugged, leaned over, and kissed him softly. Lex grabbed the back of her head and deepened the kiss.
"I believe you." he breathed.
"Then trust me, and trust yourself."
"I do trust myself, but even that trust gets misplaced from time to time." Lex got up off the ground and looked down at the grave site, sighing. She smiled, standing up as well, putting a hand on his shoulder, and squeezing once.
"I know. Just remember you have friends to help you, and don't turn away from them."
"The one time she commits a Luthorian act, and she didn't need to. Such a waste." Lex chuckled softly. Then he turned to the girl.
"I would do anything for my friends, I'm sure you know that."
"I know, Lex. Believe me, I know."
"Am I going to kill you when you get back to the future, Marty?" (for those of you thinking that joke wasn't going to be made, you don't know me very well, do you?)
"You might. Just keep in mind what I did today."
"It depends on how you got back here." Lex said, grinning.
"I'm not saying."
"Cause I'll kill you right here?"
"Probably."
"Doesn't sound good. For you, that is. So why do it?"
"For you."
"And I suppose through time travel and my fading memory in the future, you want me to remember that?"
"Hey, it's worth the shot. I'm sure you'll remember the kiss."
"I have a feeling I will too."
"So we'll definitely be seeing each other again, I'm guessing." Lex said, not wanting to admit it, but he was warming up to this strange girl.
"Yep."
"Happy travels, Angelica."
"Until we meet again, Lex." Lex kneeled down to the tombstone, closing his eyes.
"Bye, Mom. I'm off to make the world a better place tomorrow." He softly kissed the tombstone, and felt a soft breeze wash over him, as if his mother had just blown him a kiss. He got up off the ground and turned around.
"Hey, listen," he looked around him, not seeing the girl anywhere.
"Angelica?" still no answer.
"Mysterious to the end." he mused, slowly walking out of the graveyard and back to Luthorcorp. He got into his car and headed back to the mansion, going at least twice the posted speed limit.
"Some things never change." Lex's "angel" grinned before flying away. Lex made it home in just under an hour and a half and went upstairs to lay out a suit for Clark.
"BDA won't have one picked out, I'd wager anything." Lex mused out loud, grinning at his nickname for Clark. After he'd properly ironed it, he hung it up in his closet and then went to bed, exhausted. Before closing his eyes, he looked at the picture of his mother that he'd put back by his bed.
"Tomorrow, Mom, you'll be proud of me tomorrow."
The next morning a loud ringing noise awoke Lex. He jumped out of bed before grabbing the alarm clock and flinging it across the room.
"It's been ringing for a half hour, sir. I have your breakfast ready, your suit is laid out in your bathroom, and the other is downstairs in a suit bag ready for Mr. Kent. The conference is in two hours." his butler said, almost in a reproachful manner.
"Thank you, Niles." Lex said, heading into the bathroom. Niles turned around, winked and walked out of the room.
"Oh, Ms. Babcock!" he yelled. Lex emerged from the bathroom, decked out in the suit. He ran downstairs, devoured his food, took Clark's suit, and got into his fastest car, all in under thirty minutes. He took off from the garage, roaring towards the Kent Farm.
"Clark, eat your breakfast, Lex should be here any minute." Martha fussed.
"Mom, I can, like, eat it in 10 seconds. Don't worry."
"Just like you didn't worry about picking out a suit?" Jonathan asked, smirking at his son.
"S!" Clark yelled.
"When's the press conference?" Clark glanced at his watch.
"An hour and a half."
"How long do you think it would take for you to get a tailored suit, son?"
"Way too long, but let's try." Clark said, superspeeding out of the house. He saw Lex getting out of his car with a suit bag, and since Lex was wearing a suit, he assumed that this suit was for him. Clark slammed on the breaks, skidding straight through a tree, uprooting it.
"Way to be subtle, Clark." Lex said, laughing hard. He walked into the house, still grinning.
"Hey, Lex. You brought a suit, nice." Jonathan said. He couldn't help but grinning at his son's crash landing. Clark picked up the tree, looked at it, and then tossed it aside, brushed himself off, and walked back into the house.
"Jerk." he said. He grabbed the suit from Lex, marched up to his room, and changed into it. He walked back downstairs and smiled at his Mom, Dad and best friend.
"You look sharp, son, very sharp." A sudden whirring sound was heard, and Jonathan just sighed and looked at Lex.
"Another helicopter?"
"Fastest non-Kryptonian way to Metropolis. Hey, we don't want to be superspeeding around in suits." Jonathan rolled his eyes but acquiesced. They filed out of the house, and boarded the helicopter, which then took off and whisked away towards Luthorcorp. Once they got there, Lex and Clark deplaned and headed into the main Luthorcorp media relations room.
"All those people," Clark said.
"Are all here to see both of us. It is time to forge a new future, together." Lex answered.
"Besides, you've been on the other side of that stage many times, Clark. You know what kinds of questions they'll be asking, so you're well prepared. Don't worry so much." Lex waited for his president of media relations to give him his cue. When that cue came, Lex looked at Clark.
"Wait until I introduce you, then you know what to do." Lex said, walking calmly out onto the stage.
"Thank you, Regina. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. I didn't make this decision until thirty-six hours ago myself, so it's kind of short notice for me, too. All my life has been about besting my father, proving my worth to him. He was a criminal, a cold-hearted man bent on destroying anything that stood in his way to the top. And, in true Luthor fashion, I did best him. I destroyed anything, regardless of whether or not it stood in my way. For five years, I've been more ruthless, more cold than my father ever was. Despite warnings from my friends during my time in Smallville, I gave in to my father's teachings. I made Luthorcorp into one of the richest companies in the world, but also one of the companies with the highest worker turnover, highest percentage of dissatisfied workers, not that they ever told me.
"They feared me, and that was something I coveted. I lived so people would fear me. I didn't want to live with any limitations, and I didn't. I was worse then my father in every aspect: I committed crimes, heinous crimes, but I made sure I could never be fingered for them. I was everything I didn't want to be. Everything I had rebelled against. One visit from a prominent figure changed that, brought back the things I'd fought for and lost, once. Now, I've begun that fight again, as you've noted. I've made changes to Luthorcorp, donated money to build child-care centers for our employees, worker training, and I've tried to tear down that wall of fear and rebuild a new reputation, the one I held for a while in Smallville.
"That Lex Luthor was different: he wasn't his father, and he wasn't going to be that. Well, I followed my father for a good while, but I'm going to rebel once more. And to make sure I don't revert to Luthor form, I've made a few changes at the top. May I present Luthorcorp's new Chief Operating Officer and executive vice president, renowned reporter and friend of Superman, Mr. Clark Kent." Clark strode out from the wing, and shook Lex's hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Luthor. Ladies and gentlemen, as I look out among the throng gathered, I don't see an end to my previous journey. I see a never-ending journey for both myself and for Lex Luthor. True, this is the pinnacle, the top for this portion, but this journey," Clark paused and looked up at the rest of his life and flashed his famous Kent grin. He'd done what he'd wanted to: changed his life, transformed Lex Luthor back into his friend, and found true love with someone he thought he'd lost. Not bad for a mild-mannered reporter, he thought. Nope, not bad at all.