IMPROBABLE EDEN
CHAPTER SEVEN
I'm crying and she is laughing
Her joy is slowly tapping into me
So heavenly when
The stars all around her
My heart beating louder
There's something about her
That makes me smile
Beautiful - Echoing Green
Headed down the road toward the field of the alleged crash site, Lex picked up his cell phone and hit the button for Cady's number. He really hated making this call, especially after they had spoken last night at the Talon and she had seemed so excited about the trip in to Metropolis. Truthfully, he had been looking forward to it as well but this couldn't be put off. He had to be a part of it - what if they really found something out there? Something to explain that fateful day that changed his life so completely twelve years ago?
"Hello?"
Leaning his head to hold the phone against his shoulder while he switched gears, Lex found himself smiling a little at the voice on the other end. "Cady. It's Lex."
"Hey, Lex. What's up?"
I'm on my way to a supposed crash site of a spaceship and I have to cancel our date for today. I'm sure you understand. "I'm heading to an unexpected meeting," he told her, wincing a little at the lie. "Cady, I'm sorry, but there is no way I am going to be able to take you to Metropolis today."
There was a long silence during which Lex was mentally cussing at both himself and her. After all, wasn't this for the best?
"Cady, I - "
"That's okay, Lex. I understand." Her voice clearly said otherwise.
Picking up the phone in his hand again, Lex sought for a way to make this better - and to lessen his own guilt. "Cady, I promise I'll make this up to you. We'll . we'll go next weekend. And let me take you to dinner this week somewhere in town - "
"It's no big deal, Lex," came the flippant reply, as if it really weren't any big deal.
But Lex had been around women long enough to know better. "Look, Cady - "
"Aunt Martha's calling me. Gotta go. Bye." The phone clicked in his ear.
"Dammit, Cady!"
Lex tossed the phone into the passenger seat, considering for a brief moment calling her back then pushing the idea from his mind. He would deal with that later. For now, he had other issues to keep him occupied for the day.
Cady slammed the phone down, then silently asked herself the cause for such a childish act. After all, had she truly expected Lex Luthor to really take her out on a date? That was just crazy talk.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your date with Lex?" Martha asked as she passed by her niece carrying a laundry basket filled with dirty clothes.
Making a face, Cady sighed, grabbing an apple out of the basket of fruit on the counter. "Let's be honest with ourselves, aunt Martha. Lex had no intention of actually going out with me."
Stopping to regard the young woman for a moment, Martha set the laundry basket down and moved over to sit down beside her niece at the island. "I take it that was Lex on the phone." It wasn't a question.
"Yes. Some unexpected meeting."
"Well, he is a business man, you know, honey. Sometimes these things do happen." Reaching out, she laid her hand on Cady's forearm, cocking her head slightly to catch her niece's gaze. "If he didn't want to go out with you, why did he ask you in the first place?"
Cady hated it when her aunt made sense. More than that, she wanted to at least be angry at Lex for a good five minutes. At this rate, she would be forgiving him and waiting by the phone for the 'rain check' in three. "Maybe it was part of some messed up Luthor game or something." She shrugged.
"Now that sounds like your uncle talking," Martha admonished gently with a smile. "Cady, I saw how Lex was looking at you the other morning. I'll admit that a part of me hoped I was wrong," she told her honestly. "As much as I like Lex, I'm not certain he's 'boyfriend' material. At least not for someone like you."
"Yeah. Wholesome and innocent," Cady remarked, rolling her eyes in self- deprecation.
Martha watched her niece thoughtfully for a long moment. "You are, Cady. Especially where someone like Lex is concerned. He's led a life so different from your own. His living in Smallville now doesn't change that."
Frowning, Cady glanced over at her aunt as she nibbled on a bite of apple. "So you don't want me going on this date? Why didn't you say so the other night when uncle Jonathon threw such a fit?"
Sighing, Martha replied, "You're old enough to make your own decisions, Cady. And. I know how much you like Lex. I didn't want to stand in the way of that. I know what its like to have the guy you doubt would ever even glance your way suddenly return the interest." She paused a moment, looking down at the countertop, before adding, "I didn't say anything because I figured either things would work out, and your uncle would once more be forced to change his opinion of Lex. Or, they don't, and you learn only one of many life lessons that will be handed to you in the intervening years."
Cady smiled at her aunt. "Those aren't very encouraging words, aunt Martha."
Her aunt smiled at her for a moment, before asking, "You like Lex a lot, don't you?"
"Sometimes he's all I think about," the young woman admitted quietly, staring at the half-eaten apple in her hand. "I know its impossible to think that someone like him could ever be interested in someone like me but. I guess I just like to believe in fairy tales."
"Cady, it's not impossible," Martha told her, not really wanting to encourage but neither did she wish to destroy her niece's dreams. "You're a beautiful, smart and special young woman. Lex sees that - I don't see how he couldn't."
"I'm sure he still sees me as silly and provincial."
Shaking her head, Martha asked, "If that were the case, why does he enjoy Clark's company so much? I think Lex might just have a secret wish inside of him to live the simpler life that you and Clark are accustomed to."
Leaning her chin on her hand, Cady stared across the kitchen, considering that thought for a moment. She couldn't picture anyone in their right mind wanting to trade living the life of luxury over doing chores on a farm. Then again, she certainly had no complaints about this life and she knew she was never lonely or bored. There was always someone around to cheer you up when you needed it or something to be done if you needed to get your mind off of things. Lex was all alone in that big castle, except for staff which she knew for a fact he didn't exactly have late night chats with. No wonder he appeared in her cousin's loft so often or spent hours at a time doing work at the Talon that he could have easily done at the office or the study in the castle. Of course his being alone was not wished-for - Cady could see that quite easily. But sometimes she tended to forget since Lex was so good at masking his true feelings. She couldn't help but think to herself that if Lex really wanted to experience what her life was like, she would gladly show it to him.
Martha watched her niece for another moment, noting the wistful gaze one her face and trying very hard not to sigh in resignation. Cady was falling in love with Lex Luthor and there was nothing Martha could do but prepare herself - and her husband - for where it could all end up leading. Smiling once more at her niece, she gathered up the basket and headed off to do laundry.
Cady spent the rest of the day helping her aunt plant the spring tulips and preparing the food for tomorrow's Easter feast. She still couldn't get over the fact that Easter was here already - that she had already been in Smallville for four months. Dinner tomorrow without her parents was a reality she would rather not allow herself to consider. She knew that her relations were doing their best to make her forget any sorrow she might be feeling and she was more than grateful for their love and company.
When Clark and uncle Jonathon returned from delivering feed that afternoon, Cady immediately sensed that something was wrong. Clark refused to answer any of her questions and her aunt and uncle disappeared upstairs for almost an hour, during which she heard her uncle's raised voice more than once. It wasn't the first time that Cady felt as if her family was keeping something from her, but she couldn't seem to make any sense of it. After continued pestering, Clark finally said it all had to do with his father not accepting the check from Lex. More questions followed, none of which Clark seemed able (willing?) to answer. Cady had let it drop, even throughout the strangely silent dinner that night. She just couldn't understand why, if the farm was so indebt, that her uncle wouldn't accept the insurance check that was completely and rightly due to him. But then, she would be the first to admit that she didn't totally understand the workings of everything going on around her.
After dinner, Clark retreated to his loft and Cady helped her aunt with the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. They quietly discussed the plan of attack for the meal the next day and shared with each other what they had gotten Clark for his Easter gifts. Folding the dish towel, Martha glanced over to the corner of the kitchen and sighed.
"Cady, would you mind telling your cousin that he forgot to take the trash out?"
"I can do it," Cady said, moving towards the trash can.
"No, it's Clark's job and he will do it. You've done enough today," Martha told her with a smile. "He is getting spoiled enough having you around to help with the chores."
Shrugging, Cady exited the back door, slipping on a light jacket as she walked towards the barn. It was only as she reached the door that she noticed the silver Aston Martin out of the corner of her eyes. Hesitating, she considered going back to the house but then decided that seeing Lex and letting him know that she truly wasn't upset might be the better plan. Opening the barn door, she walked in, moving to the loft stairs when snatches of the conversation above her brought her to a halt.
". I find it hard to believe that you'd waste your time supervising a routine land survey... if that's what it was." Clark's voice drifted down to her, questioning and uncertain.
"My life changed when the meteors hit and I need to know why."
"You can't let it go?"
"This isn't some empty, emotional quest, Clark. It's about finding the truth."
"The truth?"
There was a slight pause before Lex replied, "I found a man. He said that something besides the meteors came down that day. "
"Like what?"
"A ship."
Another longer pause. "And you believe him?" Clark's tone was filled with disbelief and the hint of a smile.
"I listened," Lex replied. "Chances are he's just another crackpot. But I'd be remiss if I didn't check it out."
"And when the next story pops up you'll be sure to check that one out, too." Her cousin was near laughter.
"Clark - "
"When are you going to be able to put your past behind you?"
Another slight pause. Cady found herself holding her breath throughout the conversation, a frown marring her brow. She listened intently as Lex spoke, her mind able to picture him with his words - his stance, the determined expression on his face, the need in his eyes for someone to understand him.
"You look at the stars, Clark. Some of them have been extinguished for thousands of years but their light is only reaching us now. The past is always influencing the present. I can't change that... All I can do is try to understand it."
So there wasn't a 'meeting'. Lex had been out looking for a spaceship. Cady would have burst in to laughter at the thought had his voice not been so sincere. He truly believed that it was worth checking in to, that the man he had spoken with might have actually seen something. And while Clark's tone hinted at his disbelief, Cady found herself thinking that Lex wasn't the type to just go off on some stupid tangent, believing whatever anyone told him. After all, the meteor shower, and its residual effects, had been strange in itself. Who was to say there wasn't more behind it?
Knowing that she didn't want to get caught eavesdropping, Cady turned to leave when she ended up stepping on a creaky board, causing her to freeze instantly. For a moment there was silent then she heard the heavy footsteps of her cousin move across the floor of the loft.
"Cady?"
Glancing up, Cady smiled at Clark, who was peering over the railing to where she stood beneath him. "Hey, Clark."
He frowned for a moment and shook his head, as if he knew she had been there the whole time. Hearing the lighter, more graceful tread of Lex, Cady turned her gaze past Clark's shoulder to smile at him as he appeared.
Knowing she needed to make it clear that she wasn't an eavesdropper by nature, she told them both quite clearly, "Your mom wants you to take out the trash, Clark. She said I've been spoiling you by doing your chores." Deciding to add her own embellishment, Cady told him, "She also said if you don't do it within ten minutes, you won't get any dessert tomorrow."
Clark stuck his tongue out at his cousin. "She did not," he replied, but moved down the staircase any way to go and take out the offending trash. Before he reached the bottom step, he looked back up at Lex. "Thanks for stopping by, Lex," he told his friend. "I. I appreciate your honesty."
Lex shrugged. "I have no reason to lie to you, Clark."
Flashing a half-smile at the older boy, Clark smacked his cousin gently upside the back of her head and hurried out of the barn.
"Brute!" Cady called after him, rubbing her head though it didn't really hurt.
"You heard," Lex's voice pulled her from her musings on what reptile she would put in her cousin's bed that night. It wasn't a question.
Cady nodded, sitting down on the third step. "At least I understand now why you cancelled the trip into Metropolis."
Lex moved down the steps to sit a few above her. "Cady, I'm - "
She waved a hand in dismissal, interrupting him. "Don't worry about it. I'm not upset. well, I was at first. But not anymore." She peered up at him in the dim light. "Do you think that man really saw a spaceship?"
"I don't know, Cady." Lex leaned his elbows on his knees as he looked down at her. "But it doesn't hurt to check."
"Did you find anything?"
A slight pause, then, "Possibly."
"Good." Cady smiled up at him. "I'd hate to think a perfectly good date was ruined for no reason at all."
Lex laughed, rising to his feet to move down the last few steps. "Thank you for understanding, Cady. It means a lot to me." He wanted to say more, wanted to set a day for when they could try the 'date' again but something buried deep inside held him back from doing so. He flashed her a brief smile before heading to the door. "See you at the Plant on Monday."
Sighing, Cady leaned back against the staircase railing behind her. "Yeah," she called out quietly to the empty space where Lex had just been. "See ya."
***
Staring out the window from the front room, belly stuffed full of ham and scalloped potatoes and too much strawberry pie and peach cobbler, Cady couldn't tear her thoughts away from the man who had occupied them since late last night. She had dreamt about him, as she always did, but this time the dream had been beyond realistic and desire and need that she wasn't certain how to handle, had snaked its way through her upon awakening. She wanted to know what it would truly feel like to have Lex touch her, to have his mouth on hers, to feel the soft slide of his tongue against her lips. More than anything, she wanted to know what it would feel like to touch him. Was his skin as cold and hard as it looked, like marble? Or soft and smooth and impossible to stop touching? Cady had hoped he would have arranged another day to take her out while they had spoken last night, but nothing of the sort had been forthcoming. Perhaps he had decided that by asking her, he had made a mistake.
"You look entirely too sad for Easter," Martha said as she walked up behind her niece to glance over her shoulder at the rolling fields through the window.
Laying her cheek on her forearms, Cady looked back at her aunt. "Sorry. Just thinking, I guess."
"Hmmmm." Martha sat down on the bench beside her. "And could those thoughts include a handsome young man who right now is likely sitting alone in his enormous castle on Easter Sunday?"
Cady smiled. "You make it all sound so Gothic."
"We all need a little romance and fairy tales in our lives, honey," Martha told her niece, reaching out to brush a strand of dark hair from her forehead. "The difference between enjoying life and becoming consumed by fantasy is how to know when you should make it reality."
"No one should be alone on Easter," Cady commented after a moment's silence.
Martha smiled and leaned over to whisper conspiratorially to Cady, "Which is exactly why if you were to go into the kitchen, you would find a box of leftovers neatly packed up along with that basket you and your cousin put together."
"Oh aunt Martha!" Cady threw her arms around her aunt and hugged her tightly. "You are the best, you know that, don't you?"
"Shhh!" Martha hugged her niece back then stood. "We don't want your uncle hearing about this. Hurry up and get out of here while the men are passed out in front of 'The Sound of Music'."
Smiling, Cady jumped up and hurried to the kitchen to gather her things.
Lex sat staring at the monitor in front of him, his mind definitely not on the Plant or the emails from Gabe that he had meant to reply to ten minutes ago. He hadn't heard from Dr. Hamilton yet regarding the strange object that had been discovered in the field yesterday. That could mean there was nothing to find - or it was a lot more difficult to draw conclusions from than the doctor had anticipated. Either way, Lex highly doubted that the good doctor had any family with whom he was spending the Easter holiday.
Sighing, Lex reached out and grabbed the almost empty glass of scotch sitting beside him, quickly finishing it off. Easter. Yet one more holiday that he would drink himself into a stupor and fall asleep in the chair by the fire with the laptop or a book or some meaningless file on his lap. Every holiday was like the one before and Lex couldn't help but wonder why the infernal things weren't simply rid from the world completely. While everyone around him seemed to look forward to each and every holiday with enthusiasm and joy, he dreaded them more and more as the years passed by. For people like the Kent's, a holiday meant time with the family, laughter, warmth, love. People always asked him why he seemed to despise Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter so much. No one seemed to take into account that while they were gathering with loved ones, Lex Luthor was left utterly and completely alone. His staff was off for the day, his few friends were with family, his father was invariably off in some foreign country on business or hiding in his Penthouse with his current girlfriend.
Not that he would have ever wished to spend a holiday with his father - he had to deal with that enough at the annual LuthorCorp Christmas party. Plastic people with plastic smiles, all gathered together for the purpose of showing off their jewelry and discussing their financial status and screwing each other in the coat closet. Lex had hidden in there enough as a child to know whose wife was sleeping with whose husband and which secretary was currently giving blow jobs along her way up the corporate ladder. Holidays had become very pointless to him.
Maybe it was living in a place like Smallville that caused him to regret that feeling. To wish, if only for a moment, that he had somewhere to go to or someone to come to him. That he could sit around the dining room table with a large family, all of whom were laughing and talking and passing the food around and loving one another instead of one another's wives. That morning when he had driven into town for a cappuccino, completely forgetting that Lana had made the decision to close the Talon because of the holiday, the streets had been deserted, worse so than normal for a Sunday morning in Smallville. He'd heard church bells ringing and out of curiosity, had driven by one of the larger churches in town to see people gathered in the parking lot and on the steps, families talking to one another, children running around in their Sunday best, chasing each other on the lawn. It had been a postcard perfect scene and Lex had allowed himself to watch for just a while before heading back to the castle to attempt to use the cappuccino machine in the kitchen. After three unsuccessful attempts, he had retreated into the study and to the scotch.
And here he continued to sit, hours later, waiting for the morning to come and some semblance of normalcy to return to his life. Switching off the monitor, Lex leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The castle was eerily silent, more so than usual. He could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall distinctly, ticking the long afternoon minutes by at an infuriatingly slow rate. He considered getting up to play some pool but the effort seemed beyond his reach at the moment. He wanted some more scotch, but unless he could achieve Jedi status, he wasn't going to have that wish either. Weariness had crept over him and the last thing Lex wanted to do was move.
Cady knocked once on the main door, waiting for an answer before knocking again. After a few minutes of silence, she gathered her packages back into her arms and followed the stone path around the castle to the servants entrance which was always open. Moving through the kitchen, she adjusted her packages under her arms as she made her way down the hall and up the staircase to the study. The doors were open but Cady didn't hear any noise coming from inside. Peering around the corner, a smile instantly crossed her face at the sight of Lex asleep in the chair behind his desk. For a moment, she couldn't help but think her uncle and cousin were in similar reposes on the couch and easy chair in the family room while aunt Martha was likely finishing up in the kitchen.
Setting the parcels behind the chair, Cady moved into the room and walked over to where Lex sat. Crouching beside him, she reached out and brushed her fingers over his cheek lightly. He looked so innocent and peaceful in sleep. So very young. Sometimes Cady couldn't help but think that Lex was very much in face and form like an angel. Oh, she knew it was fanciful thinking and she doubted he would appreciate it very much, but there was something about his appearance that was other-worldly and completely captivating. For a moment, she considered simply writing a note and leaving everything there for him. But then Cady realized she didn't want Lex to be alone any longer that day.
"Lex?" She called out quietly, standing so he didn't catch her behaving too familiarly with him.
Hearing Cady's voice, Lex opened his eyes to find the young woman standing beside him, smiling slightly. Immediately he felt slightly silly and a little frustrated at having been discovered sleeping, but those feelings dissipated quickly at the realization of her presence. Blinking himself awake, Lex sat up straighter in his chair.
"Cady. What are you doing here?"
Cady smiled and stepped back a little. "I'm sorry to disturb you."
Lex shook his head. "You didn't."
He allowed his gaze to travel over her for a moment, noting the very pale pink short-sleeved cashmere sweater she wore with ivory-colored slacks and matching flats. It added another dimension to Cady that Lex never would have attributed to her before - delicateness. Softness. It made Lex want to pull her on to his lap and hold her there, protecting her from all of the demons and dragons of the world, including himself. But for the moment, he could forget that.
"Shouldn't you be home celebrating the holiday with the Kent's?"
Shaking her head, Cady moved back over behind the chair and retrieved a good-sized box. "Aunt Martha sent some leftovers with me."
Lex watched in mild surprise as she began withdrawing the plates and bowls of food, glancing around for a moment until her gaze alighted on the small coffee table near the fireplace. Carrying everything over there, Cady began laying the meal out, complete with spring-green linen napkins embroidered with tiny white bunnies and brightly colored Easter eggs. Glancing over her shoulder, she cast a soft smile at him as if asking 'Well?'
Unbidden, Lex stood and walked over to where she had knelt on the floor, kneeling down to sit beside her. The array of food before him included thick-sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, fruit salad in whipping cream, a mixture of spring vegetables and fresh-baked rolls with butter. He looked over at Cady and smiled. "You didn't have to do this."
"I know." Cady reached over to grab the napkin and set it in his lap. "Do you want something to drink?"
"I can get it - " Lex began as he started to get up.
"Nonsense. Eat." Cady sprang to her feet before he could. "What do you want?"
Lex was about to ask for scotch then changed his mind. "Water, please." He watched her for a moment as she walked over to the mini-refrigerator then turned to pick up the fork provided and took a small bite of potatoes. They were really cheesy.
"Here you go." Cady set a bottle of Ty Nant beside his plate before sitting once more on the rug beneath them. "How is it?"
"Very good." Lex nodded, slicing a piece off of the cherry-glazed ham. "Will you have some with me?"
Cady shook her head with a laugh, placing her hand over her stomach. "Oh no! I think I was trying to keep up with my cousin or something. I ate Way too much!"
Lex smiled as he finished the first bite of ham. "I can't imagine anyone even beginning to think that they could keep up with Clark! I've never seen anyone eat as much as that kid can put away." Taking a sip of his water, Lex watched Cady for a long moment as she turned and rifled through something in the box behind her. He ate a few bites of the vegetables then turned his attention to the potatoes once more as Cady laid yet another plate on the table. "You've got to be kidding me? More food?"
"You haven't lived until you've had my aunt's peach cobbler." Cady smiled. "Unless, of course, you prefer strawberry pie, which I made," she added as she pulled a plate of that out as well.
Chuckling, Lex replied, "I think I'll have some of each."
"How very diplomatic of you!"
Knowing there was no way he would finish everything in front of him, Lex made certain to have a few more bites of each item as he watched Cady scoop out a heaping spoonful of peach cobbler next to a slice of strawberry pie. His brow furrowing slightly, Lex couldn't seem to remember ever having tried either of the dessert items before him. The fact that they weren't made by professional chefs made him even more curious. He knew Martha Kent was a fabulous baker - her apple pies were all the rage at the Talon. He wondered if her niece shared in that talent. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Lex reached out with his fork to try a bite of pie, only to have his hand slapped by Cady.
Staring at the young woman in a mixture of disbelieve and surprise, Lex demanded, "What the hell was that for?"
"No dessert until you finish your meal," came the reply.
Someone could have knocked Lex over with a feather. "Huh? You're not serious?"
"Perfectly." Cady looked up at him innocently. "It's a standing rule at any holiday."
"This is my house and I'll eat what I want when I want," Lex told her, reaching for the pie again - only to find the plate swept off of the table and set back in the box. "Hey!"
Folding her arms over her chest, Cady looked down at Lex's plate. "Such a shame. The pie was really good too, if I do say so myself."
Closing his mouth that had somehow developed a recent habit of hanging open in astonishment, Lex turned back to his plate. "I can't eat all of this," he pouted.
"Then we'll save dessert for later."
Like a chastised child, Lex returned to eating his meal in silence, casting the occasional sullen glance in Cady's direction. She only met each one with a pleasant and teasing smile until Lex finally gave in and smiled in return, shaking his head at her treatment of him.
He finished his plate down to the last pea, feeling fuller than he had in ages and couldn't even contemplate the idea of attempting to eat the dessert. Leaning back against the side of the chair behind him, Lex watched quietly as Cady put everything back in the box while he sipped at his water. His eyes widened slightly when she suddenly pulled out a bright pink and green Easter basket trimmed in pale yellow ribbon and filled with plastic green grass. She set it before him and for the longest moment, Lex just stared at it.
"What's this?" He asked blankly.
"An Easter basket. Yours."
He looked up at her, blinked for a moment, then glanced back down at the strange gift in front of him. He remembered the last Easter basket he had received. He'd been four years old and his mother had woken him early that Sunday morning to take his hand and lead him down to the family room where she said the Easter bunny had already been. The basket had been enormous - a good four times the size of what was sitting in front of him. It had been filled with candy and toys and stuffed animals and Lex had made himself sick off of marshmallow bunnies before noon. His father had returned from a business trip later that evening and the basket had been promptly disposed of. Lex could still hear his father's voice as he had stood there in his room, telling him that there was no such thing as an Easter bunny, Santa Claus or any of the other 'silly' fantasies his mother enjoyed filling his head with. After telling him in no uncertain terms to grow up, Lionel had turned and left Lex alone in his room.
Reaching in to the basket before him, Lex first withdrew a stuffed white rabbit with pink ears and nose and a bright orange carrot in its paws.
"Aunt Martha put that in there," Cady commented beside him. "She said that no Easter basket was complete without a bunny."
Smiling, because he was afraid to attempt to speak, Lex laid the bunny aside and reached in again. This time he withdrew a pack of three Hot Wheels cars. He turned to Cady for explanation.
"Clark." She rolled her eyes. "He's gotten a pack of Hot Wheels every Easter since he was first adopted. This one has a Ferrari in it, see? So he decided to give it to you."
That sounded so much like Clark. Trying very hard to hold on to the emotions that were snaking their way through him, Lex reached into the basket again and pulled out a brightly colored plastic egg. Opening it, he found a hard, clay-like substance that was day-glow green. It was plastic in texture and smelled horrible.
"That's Silly Putty," the young woman beside him explained. "Do you have a newspaper anywhere?"
Frowning at the change in subject, Lex was unable to tear his gaze away from the strange substance in his hand as he replied, "The Ledger is on my desk."
Cady scampered away from him, grabbing the paper and coming back within seconds to flop down beside him and take the 'Silly Putty' from his hands. She leafed through the paper a moment before finding the comics, then laid them on the floor between them. Molding the putty into a soft, pliable mass in her hand, she placed it on the wood floor, pounding it with the palm of her hand until it was flat, then laid it over one of the comic strips and pressed down for a moment. Carefully peeling it back, she lifted it up for Lex's perusal, a perfect imprint of the first frame of the 'Get Fuzzy' cartoon on the day-glow green putty.
Lex shook his head. "And the point is. ?"
"It's fun," Cady replied, in a tone that said he should have known that. "And it's a good stress reliever, too." She placed it back in its container and nodded toward the basket for him to continue.
Hoping not to come across any foul-smelling substances again, Lex was more than pleased to discover another plastic, colored egg filled with jelly beans. Setting them on the table, he encouraged Cady to have some with him while he continued digging through his present, smiling at the many hand- decorated colored hard boiled eggs that were hiding in the plastic grass. He found a box of solid chocolate eggs, some Sweetarts and a peanut-butter filled chocolate bunny. Looking through it all, Lex had a horrid feeling the Kent's were trying to make him fat. He finally withdrew a package of four individually foil-wrapped eggs.
"Cadbury Cream Eggs," he read off of the package. "What are these?"
"You've never had a Cadbury egg?" Cady asked in astonishment, immediately pulling the package from his hand and opening the plastic. Pulling one of the eggs out, she completely unwrapped it, holding the egg-shaped chocolate before him.
Lex shrugged. "It's a large chocolate egg - as opposed to the smaller ones."
Cady shook her head. "Nope. They are much more special than that." Picking up a leftover knife, she laid the egg on the table and lightly tapped it, breaking the chocolate shell open. Pulling the halves gently apart, she opened the egg to show Lex the creamed yoke and white on the inside. "See? They look like real eggs!"
Frowning, Lex peered into the candy. "That's disgusting, Cady."
"No, its really yummy!" She argued, dipping her finger into the 'yoke' and holding it up to Lex's mouth. "Try it."
Lex made a face, glancing from the strange candy to Cady. Her expression was one of such encouragement that he could do little more than open his mouth obediently, accepting the fingertip and the sugary-substance it held. Without thinking, his lips closed over her finger and he held it there for a moment while his tongue licked at the candy. Even after her fingertip was clean, Lex was reluctant to let it go. Looking up, he saw that the green eyes before him had widened slightly, the full mouth was parted and there was pure desire written all over the innocent face. Lex let go of her finger immediately, shifting the basket away from him as he quickly stood and walked over to the bar, his back to Cady, as he tried to still the want that was raging through him.
Taking a deep breath, he poured himself a drink, the silence behind him stretching on. Unable to stand it any longer, he asked, "Anything else amusing in the basket?" He still didn't turn back to her.
Cady snapped out of her fugue at the question and peered through the grass. "Just my gift to you."
Lex turned at her words and immediately walked back over to sit beside her, reaching in to pull out the last object. It was a platinum picture frame, mostly plain except for engraved writing at the bottom which spelled out in large letters 'Best Friends'. Encased behind the glass was a picture of him and Clark at the Shark's practice he had arranged for Whitney. Lex stared in awe at the picture for a long moment, realizing he had never had such a thing before. His hand gripped the item tightly as he heard Cady say something beside him about Clark having one as well. It was the most precious gift that had ever been given to him and Lex knew he would cherish it like no other.
Turning his head slightly, he met her gaze. "Thank you, Cady," he told her softly. "It's perfect."
The smile bestowed on him at such simple words seemed to light the room. He found himself wanting to luxuriate in that light, be a part of it, welcome it into his life. Then why was he suddenly saying, " Go home, Cady," and standing and walking away, setting the framed picture on the corner of his desk?
"Lex, why are you - "
"I said 'Go home'. Go back to your family and your Easter holiday and your cows and your cobbler and what the hell ever else it is the Kent's spend their time doing."
Cady fought back the anger and hurt she felt at his words. Angrily, she began packing everything back into the box, not wanting the tears that threatened to fall. Standing, she reached down to pick up the box then instantly changed her mind and turned to Lex. "I want the truth, Lex. For once. How do you feel about me?"
Looking up at her finally, Lex allowed a ghost of a smile to appear. "How do I feel about you? I am extremely attracted to you. You are constantly on my mind. I find you beautiful, alluring, sweet, and caring and you are always in my dreams."
Blinking with surprise, Cady grew silent, her mind doubting what she had just heard. It couldn't be possible!... Could it? "I. I don't understand. If you feel that way, then why - "
"Because, Cady," Lex interrupted softly. "We can't be together. You are too special, too important, too innocent. I won't allow you to get hurt like so many people have before you. Now do you understand?"
No, she didn't understand. In fact, his words had to be the most pitiful excuse that she had ever heard in her life. "Who the hell died and made you God?" She demanded angrily. "You decide now what is best for me and my life. You make the decisions. You can't allow circumstances to hurt me -- but you obviously have no compunction about doing it yourself!
"You constantly take because the thought of giving terrifies you!" Cady accused through sudden tears. "You take from me, from my family! You take what I just gave you - then promptly take my heart and give it a good swift kick as well! I can't believe I would be so foolish as to believe -- " She cut herself off, unable to say more.
Lex knew he should have lied to her, told her he only thought of her as a friend. He did know that he was hurting her by not letting her be with him, but ultimately Lex thought this would hurt less. Tears shed because of him, shattered his previously broken heart, and her words were accurate for the most part. He would not deny them.
Softly, he insisted, "Go home, Cady. Forget this."
Backing away, Cady turned to leave, reaching for the box once more to grab it and run and simply forget his existence. But something deep inside urged her to try one more time, to not give up. Lex had admitted how he felt, so why not run with it? Whirling back around just as quickly, she said plainly, "No," before moving back over to stand before him and reaching up to grab him.
The last thing on earth Lex had expected was Cady's hand moving around to the back of his neck, pulling him forward, bringing his mouth down to hers. Soft, inexperienced lips moved tentatively against his, bringing with them warmth and tenderness. The hint of lime-flavored jelly beans tainted her mouth and for Lex it was a stirring reminder of the innocence she harbored. The hand that cradled his neck was slightly cold, but gentle, the fingers slowly caressing the skin at the back of his head. It was tempting beyond reason to take what Cady was so sweetly offering but Lex kept his hands clenched into fists at his sides, refusing to kiss her back, hoping that she would take it as rejection and leave.
But when he felt her hold lessen, when he felt her begin to pull away, Lex realized he didn't want her to. He wanted this moment to continue forever. No matter how wrong it was. Her hold had lessened only slightly, her fingertips still grazing over his neck as her lips pulled away. Opening his eyes, Lex found that she was still only a hair's breadth away from him, staring up at him.
"Cady - "
"Don't throw this away, Lex. Give it a chance. Give us a chance. Please?" She pleaded, leaning in to kiss him again, softly, reverently. She whispered again, "If things become too much, too frightening, I'll walk away and never ask it of you again, I promise." She kissed him again, over and over, between her quietly spoken words, "Please, Lex... Don't give up on this... Not yet... "
He knew he had long since sobered from the alcohol he had drank that day, but still felt drunk. The feeling must have stemmed from her kisses, her words, her touch. Giving in would be the wrong thing to do. He told himself to let go of her, to walk away now, to not destroy the beautiful creature before him. And then Lex reached out for her, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him as his mouth claimed hers, silently accepting a victory he hadn't even known he had laid claim to.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I'm crying and she is laughing
Her joy is slowly tapping into me
So heavenly when
The stars all around her
My heart beating louder
There's something about her
That makes me smile
Beautiful - Echoing Green
Headed down the road toward the field of the alleged crash site, Lex picked up his cell phone and hit the button for Cady's number. He really hated making this call, especially after they had spoken last night at the Talon and she had seemed so excited about the trip in to Metropolis. Truthfully, he had been looking forward to it as well but this couldn't be put off. He had to be a part of it - what if they really found something out there? Something to explain that fateful day that changed his life so completely twelve years ago?
"Hello?"
Leaning his head to hold the phone against his shoulder while he switched gears, Lex found himself smiling a little at the voice on the other end. "Cady. It's Lex."
"Hey, Lex. What's up?"
I'm on my way to a supposed crash site of a spaceship and I have to cancel our date for today. I'm sure you understand. "I'm heading to an unexpected meeting," he told her, wincing a little at the lie. "Cady, I'm sorry, but there is no way I am going to be able to take you to Metropolis today."
There was a long silence during which Lex was mentally cussing at both himself and her. After all, wasn't this for the best?
"Cady, I - "
"That's okay, Lex. I understand." Her voice clearly said otherwise.
Picking up the phone in his hand again, Lex sought for a way to make this better - and to lessen his own guilt. "Cady, I promise I'll make this up to you. We'll . we'll go next weekend. And let me take you to dinner this week somewhere in town - "
"It's no big deal, Lex," came the flippant reply, as if it really weren't any big deal.
But Lex had been around women long enough to know better. "Look, Cady - "
"Aunt Martha's calling me. Gotta go. Bye." The phone clicked in his ear.
"Dammit, Cady!"
Lex tossed the phone into the passenger seat, considering for a brief moment calling her back then pushing the idea from his mind. He would deal with that later. For now, he had other issues to keep him occupied for the day.
Cady slammed the phone down, then silently asked herself the cause for such a childish act. After all, had she truly expected Lex Luthor to really take her out on a date? That was just crazy talk.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your date with Lex?" Martha asked as she passed by her niece carrying a laundry basket filled with dirty clothes.
Making a face, Cady sighed, grabbing an apple out of the basket of fruit on the counter. "Let's be honest with ourselves, aunt Martha. Lex had no intention of actually going out with me."
Stopping to regard the young woman for a moment, Martha set the laundry basket down and moved over to sit down beside her niece at the island. "I take it that was Lex on the phone." It wasn't a question.
"Yes. Some unexpected meeting."
"Well, he is a business man, you know, honey. Sometimes these things do happen." Reaching out, she laid her hand on Cady's forearm, cocking her head slightly to catch her niece's gaze. "If he didn't want to go out with you, why did he ask you in the first place?"
Cady hated it when her aunt made sense. More than that, she wanted to at least be angry at Lex for a good five minutes. At this rate, she would be forgiving him and waiting by the phone for the 'rain check' in three. "Maybe it was part of some messed up Luthor game or something." She shrugged.
"Now that sounds like your uncle talking," Martha admonished gently with a smile. "Cady, I saw how Lex was looking at you the other morning. I'll admit that a part of me hoped I was wrong," she told her honestly. "As much as I like Lex, I'm not certain he's 'boyfriend' material. At least not for someone like you."
"Yeah. Wholesome and innocent," Cady remarked, rolling her eyes in self- deprecation.
Martha watched her niece thoughtfully for a long moment. "You are, Cady. Especially where someone like Lex is concerned. He's led a life so different from your own. His living in Smallville now doesn't change that."
Frowning, Cady glanced over at her aunt as she nibbled on a bite of apple. "So you don't want me going on this date? Why didn't you say so the other night when uncle Jonathon threw such a fit?"
Sighing, Martha replied, "You're old enough to make your own decisions, Cady. And. I know how much you like Lex. I didn't want to stand in the way of that. I know what its like to have the guy you doubt would ever even glance your way suddenly return the interest." She paused a moment, looking down at the countertop, before adding, "I didn't say anything because I figured either things would work out, and your uncle would once more be forced to change his opinion of Lex. Or, they don't, and you learn only one of many life lessons that will be handed to you in the intervening years."
Cady smiled at her aunt. "Those aren't very encouraging words, aunt Martha."
Her aunt smiled at her for a moment, before asking, "You like Lex a lot, don't you?"
"Sometimes he's all I think about," the young woman admitted quietly, staring at the half-eaten apple in her hand. "I know its impossible to think that someone like him could ever be interested in someone like me but. I guess I just like to believe in fairy tales."
"Cady, it's not impossible," Martha told her, not really wanting to encourage but neither did she wish to destroy her niece's dreams. "You're a beautiful, smart and special young woman. Lex sees that - I don't see how he couldn't."
"I'm sure he still sees me as silly and provincial."
Shaking her head, Martha asked, "If that were the case, why does he enjoy Clark's company so much? I think Lex might just have a secret wish inside of him to live the simpler life that you and Clark are accustomed to."
Leaning her chin on her hand, Cady stared across the kitchen, considering that thought for a moment. She couldn't picture anyone in their right mind wanting to trade living the life of luxury over doing chores on a farm. Then again, she certainly had no complaints about this life and she knew she was never lonely or bored. There was always someone around to cheer you up when you needed it or something to be done if you needed to get your mind off of things. Lex was all alone in that big castle, except for staff which she knew for a fact he didn't exactly have late night chats with. No wonder he appeared in her cousin's loft so often or spent hours at a time doing work at the Talon that he could have easily done at the office or the study in the castle. Of course his being alone was not wished-for - Cady could see that quite easily. But sometimes she tended to forget since Lex was so good at masking his true feelings. She couldn't help but think to herself that if Lex really wanted to experience what her life was like, she would gladly show it to him.
Martha watched her niece for another moment, noting the wistful gaze one her face and trying very hard not to sigh in resignation. Cady was falling in love with Lex Luthor and there was nothing Martha could do but prepare herself - and her husband - for where it could all end up leading. Smiling once more at her niece, she gathered up the basket and headed off to do laundry.
Cady spent the rest of the day helping her aunt plant the spring tulips and preparing the food for tomorrow's Easter feast. She still couldn't get over the fact that Easter was here already - that she had already been in Smallville for four months. Dinner tomorrow without her parents was a reality she would rather not allow herself to consider. She knew that her relations were doing their best to make her forget any sorrow she might be feeling and she was more than grateful for their love and company.
When Clark and uncle Jonathon returned from delivering feed that afternoon, Cady immediately sensed that something was wrong. Clark refused to answer any of her questions and her aunt and uncle disappeared upstairs for almost an hour, during which she heard her uncle's raised voice more than once. It wasn't the first time that Cady felt as if her family was keeping something from her, but she couldn't seem to make any sense of it. After continued pestering, Clark finally said it all had to do with his father not accepting the check from Lex. More questions followed, none of which Clark seemed able (willing?) to answer. Cady had let it drop, even throughout the strangely silent dinner that night. She just couldn't understand why, if the farm was so indebt, that her uncle wouldn't accept the insurance check that was completely and rightly due to him. But then, she would be the first to admit that she didn't totally understand the workings of everything going on around her.
After dinner, Clark retreated to his loft and Cady helped her aunt with the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. They quietly discussed the plan of attack for the meal the next day and shared with each other what they had gotten Clark for his Easter gifts. Folding the dish towel, Martha glanced over to the corner of the kitchen and sighed.
"Cady, would you mind telling your cousin that he forgot to take the trash out?"
"I can do it," Cady said, moving towards the trash can.
"No, it's Clark's job and he will do it. You've done enough today," Martha told her with a smile. "He is getting spoiled enough having you around to help with the chores."
Shrugging, Cady exited the back door, slipping on a light jacket as she walked towards the barn. It was only as she reached the door that she noticed the silver Aston Martin out of the corner of her eyes. Hesitating, she considered going back to the house but then decided that seeing Lex and letting him know that she truly wasn't upset might be the better plan. Opening the barn door, she walked in, moving to the loft stairs when snatches of the conversation above her brought her to a halt.
". I find it hard to believe that you'd waste your time supervising a routine land survey... if that's what it was." Clark's voice drifted down to her, questioning and uncertain.
"My life changed when the meteors hit and I need to know why."
"You can't let it go?"
"This isn't some empty, emotional quest, Clark. It's about finding the truth."
"The truth?"
There was a slight pause before Lex replied, "I found a man. He said that something besides the meteors came down that day. "
"Like what?"
"A ship."
Another longer pause. "And you believe him?" Clark's tone was filled with disbelief and the hint of a smile.
"I listened," Lex replied. "Chances are he's just another crackpot. But I'd be remiss if I didn't check it out."
"And when the next story pops up you'll be sure to check that one out, too." Her cousin was near laughter.
"Clark - "
"When are you going to be able to put your past behind you?"
Another slight pause. Cady found herself holding her breath throughout the conversation, a frown marring her brow. She listened intently as Lex spoke, her mind able to picture him with his words - his stance, the determined expression on his face, the need in his eyes for someone to understand him.
"You look at the stars, Clark. Some of them have been extinguished for thousands of years but their light is only reaching us now. The past is always influencing the present. I can't change that... All I can do is try to understand it."
So there wasn't a 'meeting'. Lex had been out looking for a spaceship. Cady would have burst in to laughter at the thought had his voice not been so sincere. He truly believed that it was worth checking in to, that the man he had spoken with might have actually seen something. And while Clark's tone hinted at his disbelief, Cady found herself thinking that Lex wasn't the type to just go off on some stupid tangent, believing whatever anyone told him. After all, the meteor shower, and its residual effects, had been strange in itself. Who was to say there wasn't more behind it?
Knowing that she didn't want to get caught eavesdropping, Cady turned to leave when she ended up stepping on a creaky board, causing her to freeze instantly. For a moment there was silent then she heard the heavy footsteps of her cousin move across the floor of the loft.
"Cady?"
Glancing up, Cady smiled at Clark, who was peering over the railing to where she stood beneath him. "Hey, Clark."
He frowned for a moment and shook his head, as if he knew she had been there the whole time. Hearing the lighter, more graceful tread of Lex, Cady turned her gaze past Clark's shoulder to smile at him as he appeared.
Knowing she needed to make it clear that she wasn't an eavesdropper by nature, she told them both quite clearly, "Your mom wants you to take out the trash, Clark. She said I've been spoiling you by doing your chores." Deciding to add her own embellishment, Cady told him, "She also said if you don't do it within ten minutes, you won't get any dessert tomorrow."
Clark stuck his tongue out at his cousin. "She did not," he replied, but moved down the staircase any way to go and take out the offending trash. Before he reached the bottom step, he looked back up at Lex. "Thanks for stopping by, Lex," he told his friend. "I. I appreciate your honesty."
Lex shrugged. "I have no reason to lie to you, Clark."
Flashing a half-smile at the older boy, Clark smacked his cousin gently upside the back of her head and hurried out of the barn.
"Brute!" Cady called after him, rubbing her head though it didn't really hurt.
"You heard," Lex's voice pulled her from her musings on what reptile she would put in her cousin's bed that night. It wasn't a question.
Cady nodded, sitting down on the third step. "At least I understand now why you cancelled the trip into Metropolis."
Lex moved down the steps to sit a few above her. "Cady, I'm - "
She waved a hand in dismissal, interrupting him. "Don't worry about it. I'm not upset. well, I was at first. But not anymore." She peered up at him in the dim light. "Do you think that man really saw a spaceship?"
"I don't know, Cady." Lex leaned his elbows on his knees as he looked down at her. "But it doesn't hurt to check."
"Did you find anything?"
A slight pause, then, "Possibly."
"Good." Cady smiled up at him. "I'd hate to think a perfectly good date was ruined for no reason at all."
Lex laughed, rising to his feet to move down the last few steps. "Thank you for understanding, Cady. It means a lot to me." He wanted to say more, wanted to set a day for when they could try the 'date' again but something buried deep inside held him back from doing so. He flashed her a brief smile before heading to the door. "See you at the Plant on Monday."
Sighing, Cady leaned back against the staircase railing behind her. "Yeah," she called out quietly to the empty space where Lex had just been. "See ya."
***
Staring out the window from the front room, belly stuffed full of ham and scalloped potatoes and too much strawberry pie and peach cobbler, Cady couldn't tear her thoughts away from the man who had occupied them since late last night. She had dreamt about him, as she always did, but this time the dream had been beyond realistic and desire and need that she wasn't certain how to handle, had snaked its way through her upon awakening. She wanted to know what it would truly feel like to have Lex touch her, to have his mouth on hers, to feel the soft slide of his tongue against her lips. More than anything, she wanted to know what it would feel like to touch him. Was his skin as cold and hard as it looked, like marble? Or soft and smooth and impossible to stop touching? Cady had hoped he would have arranged another day to take her out while they had spoken last night, but nothing of the sort had been forthcoming. Perhaps he had decided that by asking her, he had made a mistake.
"You look entirely too sad for Easter," Martha said as she walked up behind her niece to glance over her shoulder at the rolling fields through the window.
Laying her cheek on her forearms, Cady looked back at her aunt. "Sorry. Just thinking, I guess."
"Hmmmm." Martha sat down on the bench beside her. "And could those thoughts include a handsome young man who right now is likely sitting alone in his enormous castle on Easter Sunday?"
Cady smiled. "You make it all sound so Gothic."
"We all need a little romance and fairy tales in our lives, honey," Martha told her niece, reaching out to brush a strand of dark hair from her forehead. "The difference between enjoying life and becoming consumed by fantasy is how to know when you should make it reality."
"No one should be alone on Easter," Cady commented after a moment's silence.
Martha smiled and leaned over to whisper conspiratorially to Cady, "Which is exactly why if you were to go into the kitchen, you would find a box of leftovers neatly packed up along with that basket you and your cousin put together."
"Oh aunt Martha!" Cady threw her arms around her aunt and hugged her tightly. "You are the best, you know that, don't you?"
"Shhh!" Martha hugged her niece back then stood. "We don't want your uncle hearing about this. Hurry up and get out of here while the men are passed out in front of 'The Sound of Music'."
Smiling, Cady jumped up and hurried to the kitchen to gather her things.
Lex sat staring at the monitor in front of him, his mind definitely not on the Plant or the emails from Gabe that he had meant to reply to ten minutes ago. He hadn't heard from Dr. Hamilton yet regarding the strange object that had been discovered in the field yesterday. That could mean there was nothing to find - or it was a lot more difficult to draw conclusions from than the doctor had anticipated. Either way, Lex highly doubted that the good doctor had any family with whom he was spending the Easter holiday.
Sighing, Lex reached out and grabbed the almost empty glass of scotch sitting beside him, quickly finishing it off. Easter. Yet one more holiday that he would drink himself into a stupor and fall asleep in the chair by the fire with the laptop or a book or some meaningless file on his lap. Every holiday was like the one before and Lex couldn't help but wonder why the infernal things weren't simply rid from the world completely. While everyone around him seemed to look forward to each and every holiday with enthusiasm and joy, he dreaded them more and more as the years passed by. For people like the Kent's, a holiday meant time with the family, laughter, warmth, love. People always asked him why he seemed to despise Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter so much. No one seemed to take into account that while they were gathering with loved ones, Lex Luthor was left utterly and completely alone. His staff was off for the day, his few friends were with family, his father was invariably off in some foreign country on business or hiding in his Penthouse with his current girlfriend.
Not that he would have ever wished to spend a holiday with his father - he had to deal with that enough at the annual LuthorCorp Christmas party. Plastic people with plastic smiles, all gathered together for the purpose of showing off their jewelry and discussing their financial status and screwing each other in the coat closet. Lex had hidden in there enough as a child to know whose wife was sleeping with whose husband and which secretary was currently giving blow jobs along her way up the corporate ladder. Holidays had become very pointless to him.
Maybe it was living in a place like Smallville that caused him to regret that feeling. To wish, if only for a moment, that he had somewhere to go to or someone to come to him. That he could sit around the dining room table with a large family, all of whom were laughing and talking and passing the food around and loving one another instead of one another's wives. That morning when he had driven into town for a cappuccino, completely forgetting that Lana had made the decision to close the Talon because of the holiday, the streets had been deserted, worse so than normal for a Sunday morning in Smallville. He'd heard church bells ringing and out of curiosity, had driven by one of the larger churches in town to see people gathered in the parking lot and on the steps, families talking to one another, children running around in their Sunday best, chasing each other on the lawn. It had been a postcard perfect scene and Lex had allowed himself to watch for just a while before heading back to the castle to attempt to use the cappuccino machine in the kitchen. After three unsuccessful attempts, he had retreated into the study and to the scotch.
And here he continued to sit, hours later, waiting for the morning to come and some semblance of normalcy to return to his life. Switching off the monitor, Lex leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The castle was eerily silent, more so than usual. He could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall distinctly, ticking the long afternoon minutes by at an infuriatingly slow rate. He considered getting up to play some pool but the effort seemed beyond his reach at the moment. He wanted some more scotch, but unless he could achieve Jedi status, he wasn't going to have that wish either. Weariness had crept over him and the last thing Lex wanted to do was move.
Cady knocked once on the main door, waiting for an answer before knocking again. After a few minutes of silence, she gathered her packages back into her arms and followed the stone path around the castle to the servants entrance which was always open. Moving through the kitchen, she adjusted her packages under her arms as she made her way down the hall and up the staircase to the study. The doors were open but Cady didn't hear any noise coming from inside. Peering around the corner, a smile instantly crossed her face at the sight of Lex asleep in the chair behind his desk. For a moment, she couldn't help but think her uncle and cousin were in similar reposes on the couch and easy chair in the family room while aunt Martha was likely finishing up in the kitchen.
Setting the parcels behind the chair, Cady moved into the room and walked over to where Lex sat. Crouching beside him, she reached out and brushed her fingers over his cheek lightly. He looked so innocent and peaceful in sleep. So very young. Sometimes Cady couldn't help but think that Lex was very much in face and form like an angel. Oh, she knew it was fanciful thinking and she doubted he would appreciate it very much, but there was something about his appearance that was other-worldly and completely captivating. For a moment, she considered simply writing a note and leaving everything there for him. But then Cady realized she didn't want Lex to be alone any longer that day.
"Lex?" She called out quietly, standing so he didn't catch her behaving too familiarly with him.
Hearing Cady's voice, Lex opened his eyes to find the young woman standing beside him, smiling slightly. Immediately he felt slightly silly and a little frustrated at having been discovered sleeping, but those feelings dissipated quickly at the realization of her presence. Blinking himself awake, Lex sat up straighter in his chair.
"Cady. What are you doing here?"
Cady smiled and stepped back a little. "I'm sorry to disturb you."
Lex shook his head. "You didn't."
He allowed his gaze to travel over her for a moment, noting the very pale pink short-sleeved cashmere sweater she wore with ivory-colored slacks and matching flats. It added another dimension to Cady that Lex never would have attributed to her before - delicateness. Softness. It made Lex want to pull her on to his lap and hold her there, protecting her from all of the demons and dragons of the world, including himself. But for the moment, he could forget that.
"Shouldn't you be home celebrating the holiday with the Kent's?"
Shaking her head, Cady moved back over behind the chair and retrieved a good-sized box. "Aunt Martha sent some leftovers with me."
Lex watched in mild surprise as she began withdrawing the plates and bowls of food, glancing around for a moment until her gaze alighted on the small coffee table near the fireplace. Carrying everything over there, Cady began laying the meal out, complete with spring-green linen napkins embroidered with tiny white bunnies and brightly colored Easter eggs. Glancing over her shoulder, she cast a soft smile at him as if asking 'Well?'
Unbidden, Lex stood and walked over to where she had knelt on the floor, kneeling down to sit beside her. The array of food before him included thick-sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, fruit salad in whipping cream, a mixture of spring vegetables and fresh-baked rolls with butter. He looked over at Cady and smiled. "You didn't have to do this."
"I know." Cady reached over to grab the napkin and set it in his lap. "Do you want something to drink?"
"I can get it - " Lex began as he started to get up.
"Nonsense. Eat." Cady sprang to her feet before he could. "What do you want?"
Lex was about to ask for scotch then changed his mind. "Water, please." He watched her for a moment as she walked over to the mini-refrigerator then turned to pick up the fork provided and took a small bite of potatoes. They were really cheesy.
"Here you go." Cady set a bottle of Ty Nant beside his plate before sitting once more on the rug beneath them. "How is it?"
"Very good." Lex nodded, slicing a piece off of the cherry-glazed ham. "Will you have some with me?"
Cady shook her head with a laugh, placing her hand over her stomach. "Oh no! I think I was trying to keep up with my cousin or something. I ate Way too much!"
Lex smiled as he finished the first bite of ham. "I can't imagine anyone even beginning to think that they could keep up with Clark! I've never seen anyone eat as much as that kid can put away." Taking a sip of his water, Lex watched Cady for a long moment as she turned and rifled through something in the box behind her. He ate a few bites of the vegetables then turned his attention to the potatoes once more as Cady laid yet another plate on the table. "You've got to be kidding me? More food?"
"You haven't lived until you've had my aunt's peach cobbler." Cady smiled. "Unless, of course, you prefer strawberry pie, which I made," she added as she pulled a plate of that out as well.
Chuckling, Lex replied, "I think I'll have some of each."
"How very diplomatic of you!"
Knowing there was no way he would finish everything in front of him, Lex made certain to have a few more bites of each item as he watched Cady scoop out a heaping spoonful of peach cobbler next to a slice of strawberry pie. His brow furrowing slightly, Lex couldn't seem to remember ever having tried either of the dessert items before him. The fact that they weren't made by professional chefs made him even more curious. He knew Martha Kent was a fabulous baker - her apple pies were all the rage at the Talon. He wondered if her niece shared in that talent. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Lex reached out with his fork to try a bite of pie, only to have his hand slapped by Cady.
Staring at the young woman in a mixture of disbelieve and surprise, Lex demanded, "What the hell was that for?"
"No dessert until you finish your meal," came the reply.
Someone could have knocked Lex over with a feather. "Huh? You're not serious?"
"Perfectly." Cady looked up at him innocently. "It's a standing rule at any holiday."
"This is my house and I'll eat what I want when I want," Lex told her, reaching for the pie again - only to find the plate swept off of the table and set back in the box. "Hey!"
Folding her arms over her chest, Cady looked down at Lex's plate. "Such a shame. The pie was really good too, if I do say so myself."
Closing his mouth that had somehow developed a recent habit of hanging open in astonishment, Lex turned back to his plate. "I can't eat all of this," he pouted.
"Then we'll save dessert for later."
Like a chastised child, Lex returned to eating his meal in silence, casting the occasional sullen glance in Cady's direction. She only met each one with a pleasant and teasing smile until Lex finally gave in and smiled in return, shaking his head at her treatment of him.
He finished his plate down to the last pea, feeling fuller than he had in ages and couldn't even contemplate the idea of attempting to eat the dessert. Leaning back against the side of the chair behind him, Lex watched quietly as Cady put everything back in the box while he sipped at his water. His eyes widened slightly when she suddenly pulled out a bright pink and green Easter basket trimmed in pale yellow ribbon and filled with plastic green grass. She set it before him and for the longest moment, Lex just stared at it.
"What's this?" He asked blankly.
"An Easter basket. Yours."
He looked up at her, blinked for a moment, then glanced back down at the strange gift in front of him. He remembered the last Easter basket he had received. He'd been four years old and his mother had woken him early that Sunday morning to take his hand and lead him down to the family room where she said the Easter bunny had already been. The basket had been enormous - a good four times the size of what was sitting in front of him. It had been filled with candy and toys and stuffed animals and Lex had made himself sick off of marshmallow bunnies before noon. His father had returned from a business trip later that evening and the basket had been promptly disposed of. Lex could still hear his father's voice as he had stood there in his room, telling him that there was no such thing as an Easter bunny, Santa Claus or any of the other 'silly' fantasies his mother enjoyed filling his head with. After telling him in no uncertain terms to grow up, Lionel had turned and left Lex alone in his room.
Reaching in to the basket before him, Lex first withdrew a stuffed white rabbit with pink ears and nose and a bright orange carrot in its paws.
"Aunt Martha put that in there," Cady commented beside him. "She said that no Easter basket was complete without a bunny."
Smiling, because he was afraid to attempt to speak, Lex laid the bunny aside and reached in again. This time he withdrew a pack of three Hot Wheels cars. He turned to Cady for explanation.
"Clark." She rolled her eyes. "He's gotten a pack of Hot Wheels every Easter since he was first adopted. This one has a Ferrari in it, see? So he decided to give it to you."
That sounded so much like Clark. Trying very hard to hold on to the emotions that were snaking their way through him, Lex reached into the basket again and pulled out a brightly colored plastic egg. Opening it, he found a hard, clay-like substance that was day-glow green. It was plastic in texture and smelled horrible.
"That's Silly Putty," the young woman beside him explained. "Do you have a newspaper anywhere?"
Frowning at the change in subject, Lex was unable to tear his gaze away from the strange substance in his hand as he replied, "The Ledger is on my desk."
Cady scampered away from him, grabbing the paper and coming back within seconds to flop down beside him and take the 'Silly Putty' from his hands. She leafed through the paper a moment before finding the comics, then laid them on the floor between them. Molding the putty into a soft, pliable mass in her hand, she placed it on the wood floor, pounding it with the palm of her hand until it was flat, then laid it over one of the comic strips and pressed down for a moment. Carefully peeling it back, she lifted it up for Lex's perusal, a perfect imprint of the first frame of the 'Get Fuzzy' cartoon on the day-glow green putty.
Lex shook his head. "And the point is. ?"
"It's fun," Cady replied, in a tone that said he should have known that. "And it's a good stress reliever, too." She placed it back in its container and nodded toward the basket for him to continue.
Hoping not to come across any foul-smelling substances again, Lex was more than pleased to discover another plastic, colored egg filled with jelly beans. Setting them on the table, he encouraged Cady to have some with him while he continued digging through his present, smiling at the many hand- decorated colored hard boiled eggs that were hiding in the plastic grass. He found a box of solid chocolate eggs, some Sweetarts and a peanut-butter filled chocolate bunny. Looking through it all, Lex had a horrid feeling the Kent's were trying to make him fat. He finally withdrew a package of four individually foil-wrapped eggs.
"Cadbury Cream Eggs," he read off of the package. "What are these?"
"You've never had a Cadbury egg?" Cady asked in astonishment, immediately pulling the package from his hand and opening the plastic. Pulling one of the eggs out, she completely unwrapped it, holding the egg-shaped chocolate before him.
Lex shrugged. "It's a large chocolate egg - as opposed to the smaller ones."
Cady shook her head. "Nope. They are much more special than that." Picking up a leftover knife, she laid the egg on the table and lightly tapped it, breaking the chocolate shell open. Pulling the halves gently apart, she opened the egg to show Lex the creamed yoke and white on the inside. "See? They look like real eggs!"
Frowning, Lex peered into the candy. "That's disgusting, Cady."
"No, its really yummy!" She argued, dipping her finger into the 'yoke' and holding it up to Lex's mouth. "Try it."
Lex made a face, glancing from the strange candy to Cady. Her expression was one of such encouragement that he could do little more than open his mouth obediently, accepting the fingertip and the sugary-substance it held. Without thinking, his lips closed over her finger and he held it there for a moment while his tongue licked at the candy. Even after her fingertip was clean, Lex was reluctant to let it go. Looking up, he saw that the green eyes before him had widened slightly, the full mouth was parted and there was pure desire written all over the innocent face. Lex let go of her finger immediately, shifting the basket away from him as he quickly stood and walked over to the bar, his back to Cady, as he tried to still the want that was raging through him.
Taking a deep breath, he poured himself a drink, the silence behind him stretching on. Unable to stand it any longer, he asked, "Anything else amusing in the basket?" He still didn't turn back to her.
Cady snapped out of her fugue at the question and peered through the grass. "Just my gift to you."
Lex turned at her words and immediately walked back over to sit beside her, reaching in to pull out the last object. It was a platinum picture frame, mostly plain except for engraved writing at the bottom which spelled out in large letters 'Best Friends'. Encased behind the glass was a picture of him and Clark at the Shark's practice he had arranged for Whitney. Lex stared in awe at the picture for a long moment, realizing he had never had such a thing before. His hand gripped the item tightly as he heard Cady say something beside him about Clark having one as well. It was the most precious gift that had ever been given to him and Lex knew he would cherish it like no other.
Turning his head slightly, he met her gaze. "Thank you, Cady," he told her softly. "It's perfect."
The smile bestowed on him at such simple words seemed to light the room. He found himself wanting to luxuriate in that light, be a part of it, welcome it into his life. Then why was he suddenly saying, " Go home, Cady," and standing and walking away, setting the framed picture on the corner of his desk?
"Lex, why are you - "
"I said 'Go home'. Go back to your family and your Easter holiday and your cows and your cobbler and what the hell ever else it is the Kent's spend their time doing."
Cady fought back the anger and hurt she felt at his words. Angrily, she began packing everything back into the box, not wanting the tears that threatened to fall. Standing, she reached down to pick up the box then instantly changed her mind and turned to Lex. "I want the truth, Lex. For once. How do you feel about me?"
Looking up at her finally, Lex allowed a ghost of a smile to appear. "How do I feel about you? I am extremely attracted to you. You are constantly on my mind. I find you beautiful, alluring, sweet, and caring and you are always in my dreams."
Blinking with surprise, Cady grew silent, her mind doubting what she had just heard. It couldn't be possible!... Could it? "I. I don't understand. If you feel that way, then why - "
"Because, Cady," Lex interrupted softly. "We can't be together. You are too special, too important, too innocent. I won't allow you to get hurt like so many people have before you. Now do you understand?"
No, she didn't understand. In fact, his words had to be the most pitiful excuse that she had ever heard in her life. "Who the hell died and made you God?" She demanded angrily. "You decide now what is best for me and my life. You make the decisions. You can't allow circumstances to hurt me -- but you obviously have no compunction about doing it yourself!
"You constantly take because the thought of giving terrifies you!" Cady accused through sudden tears. "You take from me, from my family! You take what I just gave you - then promptly take my heart and give it a good swift kick as well! I can't believe I would be so foolish as to believe -- " She cut herself off, unable to say more.
Lex knew he should have lied to her, told her he only thought of her as a friend. He did know that he was hurting her by not letting her be with him, but ultimately Lex thought this would hurt less. Tears shed because of him, shattered his previously broken heart, and her words were accurate for the most part. He would not deny them.
Softly, he insisted, "Go home, Cady. Forget this."
Backing away, Cady turned to leave, reaching for the box once more to grab it and run and simply forget his existence. But something deep inside urged her to try one more time, to not give up. Lex had admitted how he felt, so why not run with it? Whirling back around just as quickly, she said plainly, "No," before moving back over to stand before him and reaching up to grab him.
The last thing on earth Lex had expected was Cady's hand moving around to the back of his neck, pulling him forward, bringing his mouth down to hers. Soft, inexperienced lips moved tentatively against his, bringing with them warmth and tenderness. The hint of lime-flavored jelly beans tainted her mouth and for Lex it was a stirring reminder of the innocence she harbored. The hand that cradled his neck was slightly cold, but gentle, the fingers slowly caressing the skin at the back of his head. It was tempting beyond reason to take what Cady was so sweetly offering but Lex kept his hands clenched into fists at his sides, refusing to kiss her back, hoping that she would take it as rejection and leave.
But when he felt her hold lessen, when he felt her begin to pull away, Lex realized he didn't want her to. He wanted this moment to continue forever. No matter how wrong it was. Her hold had lessened only slightly, her fingertips still grazing over his neck as her lips pulled away. Opening his eyes, Lex found that she was still only a hair's breadth away from him, staring up at him.
"Cady - "
"Don't throw this away, Lex. Give it a chance. Give us a chance. Please?" She pleaded, leaning in to kiss him again, softly, reverently. She whispered again, "If things become too much, too frightening, I'll walk away and never ask it of you again, I promise." She kissed him again, over and over, between her quietly spoken words, "Please, Lex... Don't give up on this... Not yet... "
He knew he had long since sobered from the alcohol he had drank that day, but still felt drunk. The feeling must have stemmed from her kisses, her words, her touch. Giving in would be the wrong thing to do. He told himself to let go of her, to walk away now, to not destroy the beautiful creature before him. And then Lex reached out for her, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him as his mouth claimed hers, silently accepting a victory he hadn't even known he had laid claim to.