Hello everyone! Thanks for the review. I realize I haven't been working on this story as much as I hoped, I started a new one, but that's done and I plan to work hard on this one.

Well, enjoy!

And how shameless is the WB!? Plugging their new CD on the show itself! Tsk tsk.

^_^

~AM

With the rise of the sun Abby was up and ready, even Lex wasn't up yet. He was shocked to see her up so early.

"You must be awfully excited. I have yet to see you stir before a double digit hour, unless I was waking you up."

"Save it Lex. Nothing can bring me down today."

"So it would seem. You even made breakfast, I'm impressed."

She said nothing and ate her breakfast then hurried to get dressed. Lex was waiting for her when she came downstairs. "Ready to go?"

"Ready!"

When they pulled up to the house the realtor was waiting. At seeing Lex she seemed to fidget a little more. "Ms. Mullins, Mr. Luthor a surprise to see you. Let's look at the house shall we?"

The inside of the house was just as nice as the outside. There was a large living room, a dining room off the kitchen and a smaller room she would convert into a playroom, on the second floor was two bedrooms with a full bath in-between, another room she would make an office and plenty of storage room. The last owner had poor taste and she knew she was going to have to repaint most of the house. The attic she thought about converting into a studio. The exterior was fine though other than the few imperfections she had noticed earlier.

When they finished the realtor waited patiently, "I love it, I'll take it!" Abby could barely contain her excitement. The realtor beamed, "Well then, why don't we discuss payment so that I can get the papers to you this afternoon and that way everything can be processed and you can be in your house by New Years."

She took out some papers and handed them over to Abby. Lex took them from her hand and looked them over himself, "I'll send them to my lawyer and he'll contact you. We'll get them back to you by the end of the day."

The realtor was a little shocked at Lex getting involved but nodded in agreement. Abby thanked her and the two left.

"Lex, why did you do that? I could've handled looking over papers at least," she whined clinging to his arm. He pulled her a little closer as the wind blew, "My lawyer will look over it and send it to us with a final price you can sign them and fax them over. It'll be yours in no time," he explained. She clung tighter, jumping up and down slightly in happiness. "Okay, Talon ho!"

"What?"

"To the Talon, I want to tell Lana the news."

"It's only 11 a.m., school isn't out yet."

"Oh, yea, I guess in all my excitement I forgot."

"We can go there later, I have to get back to the mansion, I have to get things ready to go to Metropolis. Besides, my father should be here soon." As well as something else I've got to intercept.

"Okay," she said sliding into the car.

"So, have you thought about Christmas yet? The invitation is still open you know," he told her.

"I spoke to the Kent's, I'm going to stay with them for Christmas. Besides, I promised Lana help tomorrow at the Talon. I don't want to leave her shorthanded."

"Of course, but you don't have to stay at the Kent's, you're welcome to stay here. I know they don't have too much room."

"It's okay, they already set one up for me. Don't worry, everything will be fine, I'm not going to be going over until tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be here tonight, especially since I have to get those papers."

"I know everything will be fine, I was just worried about you having to spend Christmas by yourself."

"Well, I'm not so no worries. Oh, and I hope you have wrapping paper somewhere cause I need to wrap presents."

"I don't, but I need some myself, I'll pick some up when we go into town later."

When they pulled up to the house a brown package was waiting for Lex in his office. "What is it?" she asked.

"You'll see."

When he put the package down her face fell, "Not now?"

"Sorry," he smiled.

While Lex spent the next couple hours packing and preparing his things for the meetings that were sure to come, Abby was constantly pacing the house waiting on the papers. Lex had already chased her out of the room a couple times, her antics distracting. They ate lunch together and soon after Lex' dad arrived.

"Dad, I don't understand why you had to come in yourself. I can make the trip alright on my own."

"Well, I was afraid that if I didn't come get you myself you might change your mind about coming. I also arranged a meeting tomorrow morning, so I hope you have things ready because I would like to get back."

"Well, I promised Abby I would take her into town before I left. I'll be ready after that," Lex explained.

"Yes, I heard she was still around. I was at a shareholders meeting and Mr. Donaldson approached me. He said you beat up his son in the street, I for one don't give a crap, I can't stand that boy either, but I prefer it not be someone I know. They bring their problems to me, you're grown, and if they have problems with you they should come to you. Don't know why they bother me about it, could care less."

"I assure you, he deserved it."

"He's dating that girl isn't he?"

"Was, it's been over for a while."

"So what exactly is she still doing here? Have you taken a liking to her?"

"And if I have?"

Lionel was quiet, thinking his answer over.

"You can do better."

"I could do worse, a lot worse."

"Perhaps. But I suggest you keep looking."

Lex decided it best not to rebuke, "As soon as I take care of things in town we can leave. Until then, make yourself at home."  You always do anyhow.

Lionel nodded and Lex excused himself and went to get Abby. They hurried into town so as to not keep his father waiting too long. "If we time this right, we can do our thing and then head over to the Talon and catch Lana before she starts her shift," Abby said.

The two went into a small store and picked out wrapping paper for their gifts. "I didn't see any gifts lying around, what are you wrapping? Oh, is it in the box?" she asked.

"Perhaps."

"And do I know who this present is for?"
 "Perhaps."

"You're no fun," she teased.

Abby was right and they caught Lana just as she was heading inside. "Lana! I got the house!"

Lex watched as the two girls jumped up and down in excitement, but on the inside so was he. "Abby, we can't stay too long," he reminded.

"I know, I know. I'll just be a minute." She headed inside quickly while Lex waited in the car.

"So how did the date go?" Abby asked.

"It was good," she said. Abby raised an eyebrow, "Ok, so it was great! We had such a good time. He took me to dinner and then we saw a movie and just hung out."

"Anything else?" she teased.

"We kissed goodnight, that was it. But it was nice, farther than you've gotten with Lex," she chided.

"Lana! First off, you and Clark have had this attraction forever far as I've heard and it was bound to happen. Second, for something like that to occur between Lex and myself there would have to be more of an attraction."

"So there is an attraction though? I knew it! You like him!"

"Keep your voice down will ya! I never said anything like that."

"Oh, so he likes you."

"…"

"I knew it, well he did ask you out and he lets you live in his house and he punched out your ex for you."

"Well, yea, but he could just be plain nice."

"Lex Luthor is not plain nice. Trust me, 'nice' is not in their emotional lexicon. There's got to be a reason behind it. And it's cause he likes you," she teased.

"Ok Lana, I get it. I had better get going though, we have to get back before his dad gets mad, he wanted to leave like an hour ago. But I'll see you tomorrow for work," she said getting up and leaving.

She slid into the passenger seat, "That was a rather long minute," he said. She rolled her eyes at him. He gave a chuckle under his breath and drove off.

When they got to the house Abby bounded up the stairs to her room wrapping paper in hand. "I've got to wrap Lex's present so I can get it to him before he leaves. God, I'll feel really stupid if I don't get one. I hope this is all right. If he doesn't give me one I'll just tell him it's to thank him for letting me stay here, then I don't seem like a fool."

One half of her hoped Lana was right, her other half was pensive, drawing on the fears of her previous relationship. She wrapped the box just as she heard Lex holler for her from the bottom of the stairs. She emerged with her gift in hand and greeted him. His things had already been packed into the helicopter.

"I've got to get going now, I just wanted to say goodbye," he said.

'Was he nervous!?'

"Ok, well, before you go, here. Merry Christmas," she said handing him the nicely wrapped box. A small smile appeared on his face, "Thank you."

She looked hoping he had something but he didn't, she got kind of nervous. He gave the box a shake.

"What are you five? That's what you do to tell whether you got clothes or toys," she joked.

"Then I guess I got clothes." She smiled slightly, he took her hand and pulled her down off the step she was on before giving her a hug.

"Have a good Christmas."

"Yea, you too."

They stayed like that a little longer than necessary before Lex pulled away, "I'll call you when I get back and you can let me know how things went with the house."

"Ok, I'll talk to you then. Bye," she said.

"Bye," he said starting to turn away , then quickly changing his mind he turned back and planted a small kiss on her cheek.

She looked up startled until she saw that he was looking up. She followed his gaze and she broke out in a grin.

Mistletoe.

Lex smiled and left, a few minutes later Abby could hear the whir of the helicopter as it took off. She shook her head to clear it then headed up to her room to finish packing.

"Abby, over here!"

Abby followed the voice until she saw Lana pop up from behind the counter. "Glad you made it."

"I promised I would. I had a hell of a time getting here. As soon as Lex left yesterday I had his employees leave, I didn't want them to stay any longer than necessary. Well I totally forgot that by sending home the driver I didn't have a ride anywhere. So Mr. Kent gave me a ride and I gave him my stuff."

"Well, I'm glad you were able to get here. Now, let's get to work!"

Abby sighed; Lana had too much stamina when it came to working. She was always running about but it never seemed to faze her, she always seemed to have as much energy as when she started. "I guess that's what happens when you work in a coffee house all day."

It was days like these that she wished she could drink her caffeine, decaf did nothing for her only gave her the slight pleasure of having her morning coffee, a tradition she wasn't about to break. 

When they closed up, Clark pulled up in his truck and came in and offered a hand. Him and Lana were a little occupied with each other before Abby was able to tear him away so they could get going.

Upon reaching the house Abby took a shower and retired much earlier than usual. Yesterday had been a long day. As soon as she got the papers she had to call her bank and arrange for the money to be sent to the realtor and then she had to arrange to have her things sent from storage. It had been to late to get a hold of the storage company and a moving company so she wasn't going to be able to call for a few days. After all that she had packed up most of her things leaving out what she would need the remainder of the time.

At times her hand would wander up to her cheek where Lex had kissed her but she would just shake her head and tell herself to quit it. Tomorrow was Christmas and she looked forward to it. She would spend the morning with the Kent's and then in the afternoon she planned to go to Chloe's to see her and Lana and give them their gifts. Then it was back to the Kent's for dinner. She regretted not getting to see Lex for Christmas even after he had been a bit persistent on coming along with him. A Luthor Family Christmas was not one she was ready to be a part of.

"Abby, wake up!"

She rolled over in the bed and put the pillow over her head. "Waszztimizit?" she mumbled

 "Seven, now get up, it's Christmas," Clark told her laughing at the bundle in the middle of the bed.

"To bad. It's not going anywhere, it can wait!"

He came into the room and half dragged her out of the bed. "I swear, you and Lex, don't you people ever let anyone sleep," she grumbled.

"C'mon, breakfast is ready and then we open presents."

He's like a little kid, it's so cute, I see what Lana likes about him.

"Fine, I'm coming. Let me get dressed," she said pushing him out of the room.

She emerged a few minutes later and joined the Kent's who were already waiting for her to begin.

As soon as breakfast was done and cleared, the four sat in the livingroom around the tree. Abby had wrapped and added her presents the night before and was surprised to see a stack for her as well. She opened her presents from the Kent's, a few things for her house and some things for the baby as well. She had gotten Mr. Kent a tool set, for Mrs. Kent a sweater, and for Clark a gift certificate to the record shop. She looked at the last few boxes that were for her, all labeled 'From Santa.' The wrapping paper didn't match the others so she wondered who they came from.

She opened one that was labeled 'one' as they had an order to them. She opened the first and let out a gasp before pulling it up and looking at it fully.

It was a dress, "Santa has expensive taste," she noted. It was emerald green and came to just below her knees; it was strapless and had a small slit along the one leg. Mrs. Kent gasped at the dress as well and held it while Abby went through the other boxes. Number two was a pair of shoes; they were silver, with thin heels, but only about an inch. The third was a necklace and earrings, both emeralds to wear with the dress. She finally noticed a card that had been attached to the boxes.

Abby~

For the New Year's Party.

Merry Christmas.

L .Luthor

A smile crossed her face he had gotten her something! "And I only got him a sweater."