Chapter 16- Whining And Complaints
"How did it go?" Lex asked as Lana and Chloe came into the Talon.
"Perfect. The doctor says everything is fine. I'm right at six months," Chloe answered.
"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" Pete asked.
Chloe grinned. "Yes."
"Well?" Clark asked expectantly.
"I'm not telling," Chloe said smiling.
All three guys' jaws dropped. They each turned to Lana.
Lana put up her hands in surrender. "She wouldn't let me in there when the doctor told her."
"Why won't you tell us?" Pete asked.
"I don't want you guys to know until I pick out the name. It will be soon, don't worry," Chloe said. When Chloe winced Lana grabbed her arm to help her into a chair.
"What's wrong?" Clark asked.
"My back hurts," Chloe replied.
Clark looked worried.
"It's natural for the sixth month. The doctor said she needs to wear low heel or flat shoes," Lana said.
"And if I had any I would," Chloe retorted.
"That's why we're going shopping tomorrow," Lana replied.
"Whoa!" Chloe said, her hand flying to her ribs.
When everyone's eyes got wide Chloe laughed. "The baby's very active. It keeps kicking me. If I didn't know better I'd say the dad was Whitney!"
Lana laughed. "Well, that's very doubtful, seeing as he's married and living in Cleveland, but the kicking's normal, too."
Chloe twisted her shoulders. "My back hurts so much."
"Here," Clark said moving behind her. He put his fingertips on the sides of her back and used his thumbs to put light pressure on her muscles.
Chloe shut her eyes. "I could stay here for days."
Clark smiled. "Help?"
"Very much," Chloe answered.
"Good," Clark replied.
"Pete, want to do the same?" Lana asked sitting next to her fiancé.
"Why? You're not." Pete trailed off.
Lana narrowed her eyes and slapped Pete's arm. "What do you think?"
"Considering we never-" Pete started.
"Pete!" Lana exclaimed.
Everyone laughed.
"It's the truth," Pete said.
Lana crossed her arms in a mock pout and threw herself back against the soft cushions of the booth.
Chloe laughed again.
"What's so funny?" Lana asked.
"You two are so adorable," Chloe said with a grin.
"I'm glad someone thinks so," Lana said pointedly to Pete.
"Ouch," Pete replied.
"Look who's here," Lex said looking at the door with a smile.
Hannah bounded in a moment later with Martha at her heels.
"Hello everyone," Martha said. "Lana, I came to deliver some more apple pies."
"Wonderful," Lana said, not getting up. "Pete will carry them in for you."
Pete shook his head, smiled, and followed Martha out of the coffeehouse.
"Cwark?" Hannah asked. "What's wong with Aunt Chwoe?"
"Her back hurts," Clark answered.
Hannah bent over and kissed Chloe's back. "All better?" she asked Chloe.
Chloe smiled and sat back. "All better. Thank you, Hannah."
"You're tummy's big," Hannah exclaimed.
Chloe laughed. "Yes, it is."
"Why?" Hannah asked.
Lex reached over and pulled Hannah onto his lap. "Aunt Chloe's going to have a baby."
Hannah looked puzzled, so Clark explained.
"You're going to get a little boy or girl to play with," Clark said.
"Oohhh," Hannah exclaimed.
"The baby's kicking again," Chloe said, pressing her hand to her stomach.
"Can I feel?" Clark asked timidly.
Chloe smiled. "Sure," she said taking Clark's hand and pressing it to her stomach.
Clark smiled. "It's strong."
"You're telling me," Chloe said.
"Aunt Wana, can I have some candy?" Hannah asked.
"Ask your mommy," Lana said, as Pete and Martha walked back in.
"Mommy, can Aunt Wana give me candy?" she asked.
"One piece," Martha answered.
"Tank you," Hannah answered.
"You're welcome. Don't forget to thank Aunt Lana," Martha said, setting the pies on the counter.
"Tank you Aunt Wana," Hannah said as Lana handed her a piece of candy.
"You're welcome," Lana answered.
"Clark, can I ask a big favor of you?" Martha asked.
"What, Mom?" Clark asked.
"Can you watch Hannah for an hour or two while I go to my class?" Martha asked.
"He would love to," Chloe answered for him.
"How are you, Chloe?" Martha asked, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Tired, and my back hurts, but other than that as well as can be expected," Chloe answered.
"I have some house shoes I forgot to put in the box of clothes. They take a lot of pressure off of your back if you want them," Martha offered.
"That would be great," Chloe said.
"I'll have Clark bring them over today or tomorrow," Martha answered with a smile. "Hannah, you be good and mind what Lex, Clark, Chloe, Lana, and Pete tell you."
"I will Mommy," Hannah answered.
"Okay. Give me kisses," Martha said leaning down to Hannah. "Bye everybody, and thanks for babysitting."
"No problem," Pete answered.
"Anytime," Lana said.
"Bye, Mrs. Kent," Lex called.
"Mommy gone," Hannah said.
"Yes," Clark replied. "Mommy's gone, but she'll be back soon. Now you get to play with Uncle Pete, Uncle Lex, Aunt Chloe, and Aunt Lana."
"Play!" Hannah exclaimed trying to jump on Chloe's lap.
Clark quickly caught her before she could do any damage. "Aunt Chloe doesn't feel good, so we have to be very careful around her so we won't hurt her."
"Sowwy," Hannah told Chloe.
"It's okay, sweetie," Chloe said with a smile.
"You guys want some coffee?" Lana asked.
Everyone nodded.
"The regulars?" Lana asked.
When everyone nodded again Chloe laughed. "Be adventurous. I'll take one of those new raspberry cappuccinos."
"Alright," Lana said. "Be right back."
"I wanna help," Hannah said climbing off of Clark.
"Okay, cutie," Lana said holding out her hand. Hannah took it and the two walked off.
"I want to know if the baby's a boy or a girl," Pete whined.
"And I want you to stop whining," Chloe said in the same tone.
Lex laughed. "She told you."
"Seriously, though, I don't know why but I don't want anyone to know until I pick out a name," Chloe said.
"And we respect that. Right Pete?" Clark prompted.
"Fine," Pete said sullenly.
"Tell you what, I'll tell you first," Chloe told him. When she glanced at Clark she whined, "That's not fair," at the exact same time he did.
Again Lex laughed. "You guys are hilarious."
"Yeah, yeah," Clark said, his eyes betraying his pout.
"You'll be the second to know," Chloe said.
"Hey!" Lex exclaimed.
"And you'll be the third," Chloe said exasperated.
"What about me?" Lana asked from behind Chloe.
Chloe threw up her arms. "I'll tell everyone all at once."
"Hold me, Unka Pete," Hannah said walking to Pete.
Pete smiled. "Yes, ma'am." He picked Hannah up, placed her on his knee, and bounced her up and down.
Hannah giggled. "Cwark, I'm hungwy."
"You're always hungry, Han," Clark said with a smile.
"But I'm hungwy now," Hannah whined.
"What would you like to eat?" Clark asked.
"Hambugger," Hannah said confidently.
"Let's go to my place and I'll have the cook make hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes for dessert," Lex suggested.
"Yay!" Hannah exclaimed.
"I guess we're going to Lex's," Clark said with a smile.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Twinkle, twinkle, wittle staw. How I wonder what you awe. Up above the wowld so high. Wike a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, wittle staw. How I wonder what you awe," Hannah sang to her doll on the floor in Lex's playroom.
"This room is amazing, Lex," Chloe said. There was a rocking horse with cloth seat, a rocking chair, colorful blocks, a dollhouse, and a whole zoo of stuffed animals among other toys.
Lex smiled. "Clark comes over so much, I thought he might need to bring Hannah sometimes. So, I had this room put together so she would have something to do when she was here."
"It puts the rest of us to shame," Lana said with a wink.
"Let's go sit down," Lex suggested.
"Will Hannah be okay?" Chloe asked.
"She knows where we'll be and not to run off on her own. We're just going across the hall anyway," Lex replied.
Chloe nodded.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, Hannah," Lex told the small girl. "We'll come get you when it's time."
"Okay, Unka Wex," Hannah answered, keeping her eyes on her doll. "The itsy bitsy pider wan up da water spout."
"You okay?" Clark asked Chloe as they sat on the couch.
"I wish people would stop asking me that," Chloe said.
"We just worry about you," Lana said.
"I guess that's a good thing," Chloe admitted.
"What's a good thing?" Pete asked walking into the room.
"What took so long?" Lana asked.
"I've been in this house a million times and I still manage to get lost on the way to the bathroom," Pete said with a chuckle.
Lana smiled and pulled Pete onto the couch next to her. She wrapped both her arms around one of his and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Well, next time I will be sure to escort you in the right direction," Lex said sitting next to Clark.
"That would be most helpful," Pete said in a dignified tone.
"You guys will have to excuse me," Chloe said dragging herself off of the couch. "Lex?"
"First hallway on your right. Fifth door on the left," Lex supplied.
"Thanks," Chloe said leaving the room.
"How you doing, Clark?" Lex asked when Chloe was out of earshot.
"Making progress slowly, but surely," Clark answered.
"Meaning?" Lex asked.
"Chloe's opening up somewhat. We're not nearly as close as I want us to be, but we're getting there," Clark said.
"Good for you, Clark," Lana said smiling. "Remember the space thing."
"It's hard now that she's getting so far along in her pregnancy," Clark said.
"I know, man. You just want to wrap her up in a warm blanket, and do everything for her," Pete said.
"Exactly," Clark said.
Lana laughed. "Let's not do that. Chloe's strong and likes to do things herself."
"I won't," Clark said. "But it won't keep me from wanting to."
"I hope it won't," Lex said. "She needs someone who will want to protect her."
"That would be me," Clark responded with a smile. "I wonder where Chloe is. She's been gone a while."
"Maybe she got lost," Pete said with a laugh.
"Go check on her, Clark," Lana said, knowing Clark wanted to give Chloe space.
"Okay," Clark said walking from the room. As he passed the playroom he heard singing and muffled sobs. Peeking in he saw Chloe holding Hannah. Hannah was crying on Chloe's shoulder as Chloe sang to her and rocked her back and forth.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird. If that mocking bird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don't shine, Mama's gonna buy you a." Chloe sang, stroking Hannah's silky hair.
As she sang Hannah stopped crying.
"All better?" Chloe asked softly.
Hannah nodded.
Chloe wiped the tears from Hannah's cheeks. "There, sweetie. Do you want to play again?"
Hannah nodded and crawled onto the floor to play with her dolls.
Chloe started to get off the floor when Clark walked in to help her up. "Clark!"
"What happened?" Clark asked looking at his sister.
"She fell off the horse," Chloe explained.
"You're great with her," Clark said smiling. "She really likes you."
"I like her, too," Chloe said holding onto Clark's arm as they walked across the room. When she pressed her fingers to her back Clark wrapped his arm around her waist to support her. "Thanks."
"Anytime," Clark said.
"Hey you guys, where you been?" Pete asked.
"The playroom," Chloe answered.
"Is Hannah okay?" Lex asked worriedly.
"She's fine. She fell off the rocking horse," Chloe answered as Clark helped her onto the couch.
"Excuse me, Mr. Luthor. Dinner is ready," a servant said from the door.
"Thank you, Cynthia," Lex said to the servant.
"Here I go again," said Chloe climbing up off the couch.
Once again Clark wrapped his arm around her waist as the walked into the hallway.
"Hey, munchkin. Time for dinner," Pete said sticking his head into the playroom.
Hannah reluctantly put down her doll and took Pete's hand. Pete swung her onto his shoulders and she squealed. Pete held onto Hannah with one hand and put the other around Lana's shoulders.
"You guys are going to be like that soon," Chloe said affectionately. "With a child all your own."
"Don't forget that you are, too," Lana said.
"Not exactly," Chloe said, her eyes full of sadness.
Pete caught onto the unhappiness in Chloe's voice. "It will come soon enough, Chlo. Give it time."
"All I have is time," Chloe said glumly.
"How did it go?" Lex asked as Lana and Chloe came into the Talon.
"Perfect. The doctor says everything is fine. I'm right at six months," Chloe answered.
"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" Pete asked.
Chloe grinned. "Yes."
"Well?" Clark asked expectantly.
"I'm not telling," Chloe said smiling.
All three guys' jaws dropped. They each turned to Lana.
Lana put up her hands in surrender. "She wouldn't let me in there when the doctor told her."
"Why won't you tell us?" Pete asked.
"I don't want you guys to know until I pick out the name. It will be soon, don't worry," Chloe said. When Chloe winced Lana grabbed her arm to help her into a chair.
"What's wrong?" Clark asked.
"My back hurts," Chloe replied.
Clark looked worried.
"It's natural for the sixth month. The doctor said she needs to wear low heel or flat shoes," Lana said.
"And if I had any I would," Chloe retorted.
"That's why we're going shopping tomorrow," Lana replied.
"Whoa!" Chloe said, her hand flying to her ribs.
When everyone's eyes got wide Chloe laughed. "The baby's very active. It keeps kicking me. If I didn't know better I'd say the dad was Whitney!"
Lana laughed. "Well, that's very doubtful, seeing as he's married and living in Cleveland, but the kicking's normal, too."
Chloe twisted her shoulders. "My back hurts so much."
"Here," Clark said moving behind her. He put his fingertips on the sides of her back and used his thumbs to put light pressure on her muscles.
Chloe shut her eyes. "I could stay here for days."
Clark smiled. "Help?"
"Very much," Chloe answered.
"Good," Clark replied.
"Pete, want to do the same?" Lana asked sitting next to her fiancé.
"Why? You're not." Pete trailed off.
Lana narrowed her eyes and slapped Pete's arm. "What do you think?"
"Considering we never-" Pete started.
"Pete!" Lana exclaimed.
Everyone laughed.
"It's the truth," Pete said.
Lana crossed her arms in a mock pout and threw herself back against the soft cushions of the booth.
Chloe laughed again.
"What's so funny?" Lana asked.
"You two are so adorable," Chloe said with a grin.
"I'm glad someone thinks so," Lana said pointedly to Pete.
"Ouch," Pete replied.
"Look who's here," Lex said looking at the door with a smile.
Hannah bounded in a moment later with Martha at her heels.
"Hello everyone," Martha said. "Lana, I came to deliver some more apple pies."
"Wonderful," Lana said, not getting up. "Pete will carry them in for you."
Pete shook his head, smiled, and followed Martha out of the coffeehouse.
"Cwark?" Hannah asked. "What's wong with Aunt Chwoe?"
"Her back hurts," Clark answered.
Hannah bent over and kissed Chloe's back. "All better?" she asked Chloe.
Chloe smiled and sat back. "All better. Thank you, Hannah."
"You're tummy's big," Hannah exclaimed.
Chloe laughed. "Yes, it is."
"Why?" Hannah asked.
Lex reached over and pulled Hannah onto his lap. "Aunt Chloe's going to have a baby."
Hannah looked puzzled, so Clark explained.
"You're going to get a little boy or girl to play with," Clark said.
"Oohhh," Hannah exclaimed.
"The baby's kicking again," Chloe said, pressing her hand to her stomach.
"Can I feel?" Clark asked timidly.
Chloe smiled. "Sure," she said taking Clark's hand and pressing it to her stomach.
Clark smiled. "It's strong."
"You're telling me," Chloe said.
"Aunt Wana, can I have some candy?" Hannah asked.
"Ask your mommy," Lana said, as Pete and Martha walked back in.
"Mommy, can Aunt Wana give me candy?" she asked.
"One piece," Martha answered.
"Tank you," Hannah answered.
"You're welcome. Don't forget to thank Aunt Lana," Martha said, setting the pies on the counter.
"Tank you Aunt Wana," Hannah said as Lana handed her a piece of candy.
"You're welcome," Lana answered.
"Clark, can I ask a big favor of you?" Martha asked.
"What, Mom?" Clark asked.
"Can you watch Hannah for an hour or two while I go to my class?" Martha asked.
"He would love to," Chloe answered for him.
"How are you, Chloe?" Martha asked, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Tired, and my back hurts, but other than that as well as can be expected," Chloe answered.
"I have some house shoes I forgot to put in the box of clothes. They take a lot of pressure off of your back if you want them," Martha offered.
"That would be great," Chloe said.
"I'll have Clark bring them over today or tomorrow," Martha answered with a smile. "Hannah, you be good and mind what Lex, Clark, Chloe, Lana, and Pete tell you."
"I will Mommy," Hannah answered.
"Okay. Give me kisses," Martha said leaning down to Hannah. "Bye everybody, and thanks for babysitting."
"No problem," Pete answered.
"Anytime," Lana said.
"Bye, Mrs. Kent," Lex called.
"Mommy gone," Hannah said.
"Yes," Clark replied. "Mommy's gone, but she'll be back soon. Now you get to play with Uncle Pete, Uncle Lex, Aunt Chloe, and Aunt Lana."
"Play!" Hannah exclaimed trying to jump on Chloe's lap.
Clark quickly caught her before she could do any damage. "Aunt Chloe doesn't feel good, so we have to be very careful around her so we won't hurt her."
"Sowwy," Hannah told Chloe.
"It's okay, sweetie," Chloe said with a smile.
"You guys want some coffee?" Lana asked.
Everyone nodded.
"The regulars?" Lana asked.
When everyone nodded again Chloe laughed. "Be adventurous. I'll take one of those new raspberry cappuccinos."
"Alright," Lana said. "Be right back."
"I wanna help," Hannah said climbing off of Clark.
"Okay, cutie," Lana said holding out her hand. Hannah took it and the two walked off.
"I want to know if the baby's a boy or a girl," Pete whined.
"And I want you to stop whining," Chloe said in the same tone.
Lex laughed. "She told you."
"Seriously, though, I don't know why but I don't want anyone to know until I pick out a name," Chloe said.
"And we respect that. Right Pete?" Clark prompted.
"Fine," Pete said sullenly.
"Tell you what, I'll tell you first," Chloe told him. When she glanced at Clark she whined, "That's not fair," at the exact same time he did.
Again Lex laughed. "You guys are hilarious."
"Yeah, yeah," Clark said, his eyes betraying his pout.
"You'll be the second to know," Chloe said.
"Hey!" Lex exclaimed.
"And you'll be the third," Chloe said exasperated.
"What about me?" Lana asked from behind Chloe.
Chloe threw up her arms. "I'll tell everyone all at once."
"Hold me, Unka Pete," Hannah said walking to Pete.
Pete smiled. "Yes, ma'am." He picked Hannah up, placed her on his knee, and bounced her up and down.
Hannah giggled. "Cwark, I'm hungwy."
"You're always hungry, Han," Clark said with a smile.
"But I'm hungwy now," Hannah whined.
"What would you like to eat?" Clark asked.
"Hambugger," Hannah said confidently.
"Let's go to my place and I'll have the cook make hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes for dessert," Lex suggested.
"Yay!" Hannah exclaimed.
"I guess we're going to Lex's," Clark said with a smile.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Twinkle, twinkle, wittle staw. How I wonder what you awe. Up above the wowld so high. Wike a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, wittle staw. How I wonder what you awe," Hannah sang to her doll on the floor in Lex's playroom.
"This room is amazing, Lex," Chloe said. There was a rocking horse with cloth seat, a rocking chair, colorful blocks, a dollhouse, and a whole zoo of stuffed animals among other toys.
Lex smiled. "Clark comes over so much, I thought he might need to bring Hannah sometimes. So, I had this room put together so she would have something to do when she was here."
"It puts the rest of us to shame," Lana said with a wink.
"Let's go sit down," Lex suggested.
"Will Hannah be okay?" Chloe asked.
"She knows where we'll be and not to run off on her own. We're just going across the hall anyway," Lex replied.
Chloe nodded.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, Hannah," Lex told the small girl. "We'll come get you when it's time."
"Okay, Unka Wex," Hannah answered, keeping her eyes on her doll. "The itsy bitsy pider wan up da water spout."
"You okay?" Clark asked Chloe as they sat on the couch.
"I wish people would stop asking me that," Chloe said.
"We just worry about you," Lana said.
"I guess that's a good thing," Chloe admitted.
"What's a good thing?" Pete asked walking into the room.
"What took so long?" Lana asked.
"I've been in this house a million times and I still manage to get lost on the way to the bathroom," Pete said with a chuckle.
Lana smiled and pulled Pete onto the couch next to her. She wrapped both her arms around one of his and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Well, next time I will be sure to escort you in the right direction," Lex said sitting next to Clark.
"That would be most helpful," Pete said in a dignified tone.
"You guys will have to excuse me," Chloe said dragging herself off of the couch. "Lex?"
"First hallway on your right. Fifth door on the left," Lex supplied.
"Thanks," Chloe said leaving the room.
"How you doing, Clark?" Lex asked when Chloe was out of earshot.
"Making progress slowly, but surely," Clark answered.
"Meaning?" Lex asked.
"Chloe's opening up somewhat. We're not nearly as close as I want us to be, but we're getting there," Clark said.
"Good for you, Clark," Lana said smiling. "Remember the space thing."
"It's hard now that she's getting so far along in her pregnancy," Clark said.
"I know, man. You just want to wrap her up in a warm blanket, and do everything for her," Pete said.
"Exactly," Clark said.
Lana laughed. "Let's not do that. Chloe's strong and likes to do things herself."
"I won't," Clark said. "But it won't keep me from wanting to."
"I hope it won't," Lex said. "She needs someone who will want to protect her."
"That would be me," Clark responded with a smile. "I wonder where Chloe is. She's been gone a while."
"Maybe she got lost," Pete said with a laugh.
"Go check on her, Clark," Lana said, knowing Clark wanted to give Chloe space.
"Okay," Clark said walking from the room. As he passed the playroom he heard singing and muffled sobs. Peeking in he saw Chloe holding Hannah. Hannah was crying on Chloe's shoulder as Chloe sang to her and rocked her back and forth.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird. If that mocking bird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. If that diamond ring don't shine, Mama's gonna buy you a." Chloe sang, stroking Hannah's silky hair.
As she sang Hannah stopped crying.
"All better?" Chloe asked softly.
Hannah nodded.
Chloe wiped the tears from Hannah's cheeks. "There, sweetie. Do you want to play again?"
Hannah nodded and crawled onto the floor to play with her dolls.
Chloe started to get off the floor when Clark walked in to help her up. "Clark!"
"What happened?" Clark asked looking at his sister.
"She fell off the horse," Chloe explained.
"You're great with her," Clark said smiling. "She really likes you."
"I like her, too," Chloe said holding onto Clark's arm as they walked across the room. When she pressed her fingers to her back Clark wrapped his arm around her waist to support her. "Thanks."
"Anytime," Clark said.
"Hey you guys, where you been?" Pete asked.
"The playroom," Chloe answered.
"Is Hannah okay?" Lex asked worriedly.
"She's fine. She fell off the rocking horse," Chloe answered as Clark helped her onto the couch.
"Excuse me, Mr. Luthor. Dinner is ready," a servant said from the door.
"Thank you, Cynthia," Lex said to the servant.
"Here I go again," said Chloe climbing up off the couch.
Once again Clark wrapped his arm around her waist as the walked into the hallway.
"Hey, munchkin. Time for dinner," Pete said sticking his head into the playroom.
Hannah reluctantly put down her doll and took Pete's hand. Pete swung her onto his shoulders and she squealed. Pete held onto Hannah with one hand and put the other around Lana's shoulders.
"You guys are going to be like that soon," Chloe said affectionately. "With a child all your own."
"Don't forget that you are, too," Lana said.
"Not exactly," Chloe said, her eyes full of sadness.
Pete caught onto the unhappiness in Chloe's voice. "It will come soon enough, Chlo. Give it time."
"All I have is time," Chloe said glumly.