IMPROBABLE EDEN

CHAPTER TEN

Tell me that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips

Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above I'll Be - Edwin McCain

The Symphony was as wonderful as Cady remembered. The concert they attended was a Brahms celebration, including his Symphony No. 4, Variations on a Theme by Haydn and Concerto No. 1. Throughout the two hours of the performance, Cady lost herself in the music, staring down at the orchestra and stage from the elegantly appointed Luthor box. Lex left once to answer a phone call but other than that, she could feel him observing her throughout the entire concert and she tried very hard not to feel overly self-conscious at the attention.

When it was over, Lex found a smile creeping across his face as Cady turned, eyes flashing with obvious pleasure in his direction. "Did you enjoy yourself?" He asked, standing and straightening his coat before reaching at hand out to help her up.

"Oh, yes!" Cady enthused, fighting to remain still as Lex placed her wrap over her shoulders and then took her arm in his. She found she was filled with boundless energy for some reason. "The music was so beautiful. It's been years since my mother last took me to the Symphony."

"Your mother enjoyed music?" Holding the door open, Lex led her from the box into the throng of attendees that were slowly milling their way out into the brightly lit lobby.

Cady grinned up at him. "We're not a complete bunch of hicks, Lex. My family has a subtle mix - hicks and sophisticates. Its what keeps us grounded."

Lex chuckled.

"Now I admit, my uncle would rather have bamboo shoots shoved up his fingernails than attend a Symphony, but he would do so for my aunt's sake." Holding tightly to Lex's arm so that she didn't get separated from him in the crowd, Cady allowed her gaze to roam around the sprawling lobby, from the golden chandeliers that hung from the 100-foot ceiling high above them to the grand staircase that they were currently descending. "Do you attend often?"

"Not by choice," Lex replied. At Cady's glance, he amended, "Not that I don't enjoy the music. It's just that these things," he waved a hand, encompassing the crowd around them, "Are more of a social obligation than anything. Luckily, the afternoon performances are usually frequented by tourists and families with their children. Those who run in my father's circles won't be here until later - "

"Lex Luthor! I thought that was you!"

Flashing a tight smile at Cady, Lex whispered, "Opened my big mouth." Turning to the older woman who was rapidly approaching, Lex nodded in greeting, "Mrs. Cartwright. It's good to see you."

"Oh, don't be so formal with me, young man! Mrs. Cartwright, indeed!" The woman admonished, pulling Lex down for a kiss to each pale cheek. "It's been far too long since I've seen you around the city. I told Phil just the other night that I thought perhaps you were growing accustomed to living in the country. He said I was insane."

"You may assure yourself that you were right and your husband was wrong, Lucy," Lex replied, relaxing only slightly. "I have become attached to Smallville." Noticing Lucy's gaze sweeping over Cady, Lex tugged her slightly forward and slipped his arm around her waist. "Lucy, I would like to introduce you to one of Smallville's denizens, Cady O'Rourke. Cady, this is Lucy Cartwright, a longtime friend of the family."

"And now I know why you've become attached, Lex," Lucy commented to him with a wink before holding her hand out to Cady. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss O'Rourke."

"And you, Mrs. Cartwright," Cady replied quietly with a smile, trying desperately not to appear too overly provincial to someone who was a good friend of the Luthor family.

"Did you enjoy the Symphony?" Lucy asked.

Cady nodded. "Very much. Ann Mason is a thrilling conductor to watch."

Lucy smiled. "That she is. My club is throwing a bridal shower for her next month. I'll be certain to get an invitation in the mail to you."

"Ummm. I. thank you." Cady glanced up at Lex in a panic.

"That's very kind of you, Lucy," Lex commented, tightening his grip around Cady's waist slightly. "Send the invitation to me and I'll be certain Cady receives it."

"Wonderful! So good to see you again, darling!" Lucy gave Lex a brisk hug, then whispered, "She's adorable," before turning and disappearing back into the crowd with a quick wave.

"That was entirely unexpected," Cady commented, staring in the direction that the woman had disappeared.

"Welcome to my world," Lex replied blandly.

"You've got lipstick on your cheeks."

Lex rolled his eyes. "Wonderful."

Grabbing a tissue from her purse, Cady leaned up, holding Lex's chin with her hand and rubbed the matching marks from each cheek. Lex shifted under the attention, not wanting to look up for fear of the stares they were likely receiving. Then again, there was something about this maternal act that he strangely found himself appreciating. His gaze moved to Cady's eyes, holding there until she caught his look and smiled. For the briefest of moments, they regarded one another in silence, and then it was broken and Cady pulled back, tucking the tissue back into her purse.

"There. All clean."

"Thank you," Lex told her quietly, wanting very much to lean in at that moment and kiss her but there were people all around and he knew they were being closely watched, tongues already wagging with unsubstantiated rumors. It didn't matter if many of those rumors were likely true, Lex didn't want Cady to be a part of it. Taking her hand, he quickly led her out of the Symphony Hall and back towards the parking lot.

"So how is it that Mrs. Cartwright is throwing a bridal shower for Ann Mason?" Cady asked as Lex opened the passenger side door for her. She slid in to the seat, tucking her purse away as Lex closed the door.

When the driver's side opened, he replied, "Lucy heads the Fine Arts Club for her high society friends. They do everything from holding fundraising galas to group trips to New York and London to view the latest operas. With all of the work she has done through the years, she was invited to be a board member for the Symphony." Revving the engine to life, Lex pulled out of the parking lot and into traffic, heading toward Halls Center where the American Restaurant was located. "Lucy is the reason Ann has a job here."

"Oh." Cady mulled this information over in her mind for a moment. "What else does Mrs. Cartwright do?"

Lex grinned over at Cady. "Nothing. Her husband owns Metropolis Bank. Lucy spends her life throwing parties for society."

Frowning slightly, Cady shifted in her seat, attempting to imagine a life of luxury, with nothing more expected of you beyond shopping and attending teas and throwing fundraising galas for your thousand or so closest friends. She didn't know if it was something she would personally choose to do with her life or not. It seemed a little. monotonous. Oh sure, everyone dreads getting up on Monday morning and starting another work week. But wouldn't you get just as bored waking up every Monday knowing you were starting another week of socializing? Maybe it was something you got used to. Or, like Lex, you were simply born into it and it seemed perfectly normal. Cady doubted that Lex would find waking up to milk cows every morning any less aggravating.

"Is that how your father knows her? From attending those parties?"

Lex felt his jaw clench automatically at the mention of his father. His brow furrowed as he kept his attention focused closely on the road in front of him. "My father can't stand Lucy. And the feeling is mutual, trust me." He paused, then added, "My mother and Lucy were good friends. She used to contribute to all of Lucy's charities whether my father wanted to attend the parties or not."

Cady hadn't meant to bring his mother up and wouldn't have asked the question if she had known that was where it would lead. She knew nothing about Lex's mother - he never talked about her - but she could tell her loss affected him deeply. It was obvious that his mother had provided the love that he had been denied by his father. Cady couldn't help but wonder if Lex wouldn't have been better off if his mother hadn't known how to love him the same as Lionel, then he never would have felt what was missing from his life. It was a cruel thought. After all, wasn't it better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all? She didn't believe so in Lex's case. At least not with regards to his parents.

Deciding to change the subject, Cady asked, "So where are we having dinner?"

"The American Restaurant."

Cady raised an eyebrow at that, casting a glance at the man beside her. "My dad took my mom there for their tenth anniversary. She really liked it."

"It's the best Metropolis has to offer."

Silent for a moment, Cady commented, "My dad always said he liked Benton's better."

Lex allowed a ghost of a smile. "Benton's is nothing more than a posh steakhouse."

"And my dad would say the American Restaurant is simply overpriced. Does that make it the best?"

Glancing over at her, Lex replied, "You get what you pay for, Cady."

Cady couldn't argue with that. The dress she had purchased, though fairly simple in appearance, fit as if it had been tailored for her. The back draped low and gathered at the waist while the skirt fell conservatively to her knees. The stockings were of the finest silk she could have possibly imagined, though she had felt a little silly when she had put on the garter, like she was wearing something forbidden. It gave her the sensation of being naughty. But Cady had to admit that everything she was wearing that evening felt positively exquisite against her skin. Besides that, the look Lex had given her when she had emerged wearing it had certainly been worth the strangeness of allowing him to purchase it for her.

A few minutes later, Lex pulled up to the front of the restaurant where a valet was waiting to open Cady's door. She smiled slightly as he helped her out of the car and Lex appeared beside her, taking the ticket from the valet and handing him a tip. Then he took her arm in his and led her forward into the lobby. An elevator took them up to the restaurant which overlooked the city through walls of glass. Set in a tier of three landings, the American Restaurant boasted a world famous culinary staff and a premier setting in the heart of the city of Metropolis. It's owner, Lee Halls, was possibly Lionel Luthor's only competition within the city for power.

The bottom tier was the bar and waiting area, complete with black baby grand piano on which Chopin was currently being played. The second tier comprised the main floor of the restaurant and the third was for special parties. Cady was not the least surprised when they were seated immediately, on the third level, beside the windows. A breathtaking view of Metropolis and the river beyond, separating it from Kansas City, spread out before them. The Maitre'd held out her chair then handed them each a menu. Cady was a little surprised to see that hers did not have any prices listed on it. She glanced over at Lex.

"How do you know how much everything costs?"

The man across smiled up at her over his menu. "Mine has the pricing, yours doesn't."

"That's a bit sexist, don't you think?" Cady asked with a slight frown. "How do they know I'm not paying for this?"

Lex just raised a light eyebrow, saying nothing.

Cady waved a hand. "Okay, if I were here with someone other than a Luthor, how do they know I wasn't paying?"

"They know their customers. It's their job."

That was the second time Cady had heard that phrase today.

"It's fairly simple," Lex explained. "The person to walk up and mention the reservations is typically the individual paying."

"That kind of makes sense. But what if my date stopped to talk to someone in the hall and I was the one who approached and gave the name? Then what?"

"Then your date would be a fool to let you out of his sight," he teased, happy to see a blush stain her cheeks at his compliment.

Shaking her head, Cady took a sip of the water that had magically appeared before her. She refrained from giving in to the temptation to glance over her shoulder for the server who had somehow placed her water beside her without being noticed. "You have the most infuriating way of changing the subject," Cady commented with a smile.

"I'll take that as a compliment," came the slightly amused reply.

Cady returned her attention to the menu before her, glancing up only once when the server appeared and Lex ordered a bottle of Moet et Chandon, Dom Perignon, Brut Rose, circa 1982. She could admit to herself that she had yet to understand the subtle differences in wines from year to year, let alone how someone would know the right year to order. Across from her, Lex smiled inwardly, wondering what Cady would do if she knew he had just ordered a $350 bottle of champagne. Turning back to the server, he went on to order a serving of caviar and their Hudson Valley Foie Gras.

As the server moved away, Lex asked, "What are you thinking of ordering?"

Worrying her lower lip for a moment, Cady looked across the table at Lex to see he had already set his menu aside and was regarding her thoughtfully. "Umm. What are you having?"

Lex allowed a hint of a smile. "That shouldn't have any bearing on your choice."

"What do you suggest then?"

"What do you prefer? Fish? Steak? Poultry? Lamb?"

Cady fidgeted in her chair for a moment. "Steak."

"Then I would suggest the filet."

Cady glanced back down at her menu, scanning the description of the filet which came with a crispy potato cake with black trumpet and shiitake mushroom ragout. Whatever that was. She nodded. "Okay." Raising her eyes back to his, she asked, "And what are you having?"

"The roasted lamb."

"Oh." Cady stared at her menu for a moment longer before commenting, "I had a lamb once. Then my father sent it away. I didn't eat lamb chops for years, fearing it might be him. Lamb still creeps me out."

Lex placed two fingers over his mouth, attempting to hide a smile of amusement. "I would assume so."

Knowing he was laughing at her, and unable to think of a single reason why he shouldn't be, Cady fought hard not to smile in return. Conversation soon drifted back to what made a good restaurant 'good' and by the time the hors d'oeuvres arrived, they were arguing over whether or not pricing was a factor to be considered. While Lex insisted that establishments like the American Restaurant didn't simply pull prices out of the air and set them without reason, Cady pointed out that the food at well-known restaurants such as Arthur Bryant's Barbeque and Westport Flea Market were in even higher demand and yet a fraction of the cost. The argument returned was that neither place included much of an atmosphere and Cady replied that she would much prefer the atmosphere they provided than the cliché around her of the piano, low lights and floor-to-ceiling windows. Lex raised a brow at that, taking a sip of his champagne as he watched her over the glass, then set it down with a resounding clank. Placing his napkin on the plate in front of him, he stood and held out his hand.

Cady stared up at him blankly. "What. ?"

"If you prefer one of the. seedier establishments in town, then by all means, let's not waste our time here."

"Uh. " Cady wasn't certain how to reply. She couldn't tell if Lex was serious or not. And she couldn't tell if he was angry or not. She felt like she had just walked into the middle of a very complicated French film. "You're not serious."

"No?"

Lex raised his brow again. Reaching into her lap, he grabber her napkin, tossing it to the table, then pulled her chair out, taking her hand and tugging her to her feet. At the same moment, their server approached, looking as confused as Cady felt.

"Mr. Luthor?" He inquired, glancing at the table and back at the couple before him. "Is there something amiss?"

"No." Lex shook his head, pulling out his wallet and a few bills and slipping them into the pocket of the man's shirt. "Cady decided she wanted barbeque."

"Lex - " Cady began to protest but could say little more as she was pulled through the restaurant, down the stairs and to the elevators. Once inside, she retrieved her hand from his hold and turned to stare at him, noting that he had yet to look at her, his gaze firmly set on the lit buttons of the panel. Worried that she might have angered him, Cady touched his arm lightly, her tone soft as she prompted, "Lex, I - "

Turning to look at her with a quick grin, Lex asked, "Was that eccentric enough for you?"

Cady blinked. "I. I'm not certain."

Lex nodded as if he understood. "So which shall it be - Arthur Bryant's or the Westport Flea Market?"

Still unable to believe that she had somehow prompted Lex to leave an expensive, finely prepared meal for something that involved a lot more grease and a lot less flare, Cady quietly responded that burgers sounded good as Lex took her hand and led her towards the valet parking.

The drive was mostly silent, Cady worrying that she had somehow angered Lex and Lex certain that he had disappointed Cady. He had meant for their date to be romantic, something she would never forget but he hadn't taken into account that she might find all of it a bit pretentious. Sometimes, it hit him quite forcefully that she was a member of the Kent family and therefore likely harbored some of Jonathon Kent's traits. She wasn't impressed by the American Restaurant so he had obviously failed in his attempt to please her. Now, Lex only hoped that he could make up for it by taking her to dinner somewhere that she actually wanted to eat. He wondered if she could appreciate the sacrifice he was making. Burgers? For a date? He was surprised that he actually suppressed the sigh he was longing to utter.

Locating a parking spot in Westport on a weekend wasn't easy but finally someone pulled out, surprisingly close to the Westport Flea Market. Lex glanced over at Cady, noting that she had become uncharacteristically quiet. Not wanting this date to turn into something both of them would rather forget, he asked, "Cady, are you all right?"

She glanced over at him, searching his eyes silently for a moment before flashing a reassuring smile. "Fine. I just. well, I didn't mean for you to do this. I really was enjoying myself at the American. Sometimes my mouth tends to get ahead of me. Dad always accused me of loving to argue."

Lex could see that. She did harbor a certain stubborn flare for disagreeing with just about anything he said. Maybe it was one of the traits he found so charming about her. Cady wasn't predisposed to say 'yes' to everything simply because of who he was. She wasn't afraid to tell him he was wrong, even when he wasn't. Finding a returning smile, Lex replied, "Don't worry about it. I eat at places like the American all of the time. This will be a welcome change of pace."

Cady raised an amused eyebrow at that. "Erm. exactly how often do you eat hamburgers?"

Refusing to answer that question, Lex climbed out of the car, moving over to the passenger side to offer Cady a hand out, taking her arm and leading her into the building. The Westport Flea Market was a dark little establishment that really did have a small, permanent flea market set up to one side. It had different booths containing everything from old lunch boxes and lamps to comic books and dolls. Some were antiques. some were just old. It was impossibly dark, and loud, with televisions blaring news and sports in every corner, a pool table where some college kids were busy playing and drinking and cooks calling out orders at the pick-up window. Lex found himself thankful for the darkness so he could hide, not that anyone he knew would be in this place, but still word really didn't need to get out. The whole place smelled like. well, grease, actually. And alcohol. It wasn't entirely pleasant.

Stopping just inside the door, he realized a little belatedly that there was no one to seat them and Cady was already taking his hand and leading him through the place to a tiny round table for two just below a television playing a Metropolis Monarchs baseball game. She took the seat facing the set, which was just fine by him. He glanced at the chair first, certain to check if there was any food or anything else left there, before sitting down with a grimace. Uncomfortable wood. He was just beginning to glance around for a waitress when Cady was suddenly waving a menu in front of his face. Oh, how quaint. Menus at the table.

"What'dya want to drink?"

Lex winced at both the grammar and the rude, demanding question, turning to frown up at the woman standing next to the table, chewing gum loudly, one hand on her hip, the other holding a tray with empty beer mugs. He considered telling her just how inappropriate her waitressing skills were but decided it was more important to consider his own manners. He looked over at Cady, waiting for her to reply while he pondered his own response. He very much doubted they carried scotch. And if they did, he was afraid of the brand and the year.

"A Midori Sour, please," Cady replied politely, as if not in the least phased by the rude behavior of their waitress.

The woman nodded and looked at Lex. "An' you?"

Lex tried counting but it really didn't work. "A Vodka Tonic. " He almost added 'please' but decided she didn't deserve it.

Nodding again, she slapped down two cocktail napkins and wandered off.

Lex looked after her then turned back to Cady. "She didn't ask if we were ready to order."

Cady was absorbed in her menu, not looking up as she replied, "Oh, they don't take food orders here. Just drinks. We have to go up to the counter and order for ourselves."

He almost left then and there. Instead, he just sat and stared at Cady, thinking surely she had to be joking. This entire surreal moment was a joke. All of it. Or maybe a bad dream. At any moment, Lex would open his eyes and they would still be sitting in the American Restaurant with soft music playing and a beautiful view out the windows beside them and flowers and candles on the table. But the noise and the smells and the hard seat beneath him didn't go away. Weren't going to go away.

At the continued silence from her date, Cady glanced up and saw the expression of complete disbelief on Lex's face. She had to swallow her laughter. Reaching out, she laid her hand over his consolingly. "Lex, don't worry. I'll go up and order for you."

Somehow, that didn't help. Lex tried to turn his attention to the menu and figure out what to order. Unfortunately, there was nothing even remotely healthy listed. Oh sure, there were salads, but he could only imagine what varying degrees of brown the lettuce leaves were. And he wouldn't have doubted for a second that they likely used something as cheap as Iceberg. He decided not to complain. Cady would probably respond that one did not come to a place like this to eat salad. Still, he didn't think his stomach could handle this much grease.

"Well?"

Lex looked up at her question just as their waitress returned, slamming their drinks down in front of them. "That'll be seven thirty-six."

Sighing, Lex reached into his pocket to pull out his money clip and hand her a fifty. The woman stared at it for a moment then looked at him as if he had horns growing out of his head. "Don't you have anything smaller?"

Lex just looked at her without replying.

Glaring, she told him, "I'll be back with your change," and stomped off.

Cady was really trying not to lose it over the entire exchange. Lex appeared as if he were going to simply explode at any moment and she thought he had to be the sweetest being on earth to put himself through this experience all for her. "Tell you what," she began, squeezing his hand. "I'll order for you. I know you're positively going to love their cheeseburgers." She jumped to her feet and headed toward the counter.

"You really don't. have to. do that. " Lex trailed off as Cady disappeared into the throng of customers waiting to give their orders at the counter.

He realized belatedly that he had forgotten to give her money as he watched her digging through her purse and retrieving her wallet. Dammit all anyway. This wasn't going well. Sighing, Lex ran a hand over his bare scalp in frustration before picking up his drink and taking a sip. The liquid burnt a fire straight down his throat and it took every ounce of willpower Lex had not to choke on it. Christ! What were they serving? McCormick?? That they had the audacity to charge $3.50 for the crap was beyond his understanding. Feeling the need to rinse his mouth out, Lex reached out for Cady's drink, which was a frightening shade of green, and took a cautious sip. It was disgustingly sweet but at least it didn't try to tear a hole in his throat. Who knew what that crap passed off as Vodka was currently doing to his stomach!

"Back." Cady dropped into her chair and leaned forward, her brow furrowing a little as she watched Lex set her glass down. "Help yourself," she teased.

Lex rubbed a finger over his brow. "Sorry. This stuff," he pointed at the Vodka Tonic, "Is nothing short of gasoline."

Cady grinned. "Poor Lex. Seeing how the other 99% live."

"Remind me to start a charity fund for establishments forced to serve bad alcohol to their customers," he returned, allowing a smirk and surprised that he was finding humor in the situation. Who knew? Maybe ten years from now, he would look back on this moment and laugh. Okay, maybe in twenty years. Frowning, he told her, "You should have let me give you some money before you dashed off to place our orders."

Shrugging, Cady leaned forward and grasped the stirring straw with her lips, taking a sip of her drink. Letting go, she answered, "So we'll consider this my treat. It is the twenty-first century, after all." Then she was grinning again. "Besides, we wouldn't want it to get out that Lex Luthor paid for a cheeseburger and fries."

"Fries, too?" Lex raised a brow in amusement. "Don't you think you are moving me along a little fast?"

"Watch it, rich boy," Cady warned with a teasing glint in her eye. "Or I'll get you a chocolate shake, too."

"Anything would have to be better than this stuff they pass for Vodka."

Cady laughed.

They spent the next few minutes pointing out some of the items on the other side of the fence where the flea market was located. Cady located a Scooby- Doo lunch box and a Barbie that she had growing up. Lex didn't see anything that he had ever owned, though he did point out a very bad imitation of a Tiffany lamp. Hearing her name called out by one of the cook's, Cady jumped to her feet, grabbing Lex's hand and pulling him with her, even though he insisted that she could choose his condiments for him. Refusing to do so, she led him up to the pick-up window to grab their baskets - plastic baskets! - of burgers and fries and then over to the small bar where the condiments were located. Just as he expected, the lettuce was brown, the tomatoes unripe and the pickles obviously precut and packaged. Lex was beyond horrified to see that they left the mayonnaise sitting out, even though Cady pointed out that the container was on a bed of ice.

Shaking her head, Cady glanced at a woman behind her and commented, "They don't let him out much."

The woman looked on with an amused smile as Lex commented that the entire place should be condemned.

Finally giving up, Cady took Lex's basket from him and loaded both their burgers up with everything, then grabbed a bottle of ketchup and headed back to the table, telling him over her shoulder to bring some napkins. They both sat down and Cady poured some ketchup over her fries, eating a few, then picked up the enormous burger and took a bite, sighing in contentment. Lex just stared at her for a moment, then looked back down at his meal with an expression akin to horror.

"Lex. " Cady began in frustration.

"Okay, okay," he told her before she could say anything further. "I'll try it."

Of course, deciding to eat it and actually doing so were two different things. Lex couldn't figure out how he was going to get through this meal without getting half of it on himself. Finally, he took up the knife that he was certain hadn't been washed in years and cut the burger in half, much to Cady's silent amusement. Then he attempted to push his sleeves back before gingerly reaching out and lifting one half of the burger into his hands. He held it out from him as if it might attack for a moment, then finally leaned in and took a small, tentative bite, chewing slowly. Cady continued to watch him, waiting, when Lex's gaze gradually flickered up to hers. The mixed expression of disbelief, shock and creeping joy was almost enough to send her into a fit of laughter.

As it was, she contained her amusement to just a small smile and asked, "Well?"

Lex swallowed, his expression still somewhat amazed. "It's. good."

Cady raised an eyebrow.

"Okay." He nodded, conceding defeat. "Very good."

"See? Grease isn't such a bad thing, is it?"

"I think that depends. I can feel my arteries hardening all ready," he replied, but didn't seem to adverse to taking another bite, this time much larger and less cautiously. In fact, Lex Luthor suddenly seemed to be enjoying himself, even as he dipped a French fry into a glob of ketchup.

Grinning, Cady returned to her own meal while Lex finished everything in his basket.

***

After dinner, Lex swore he wasn't about to drive all of the way back to Smallville for three hours after filling his stomach with nothing but grease. He suggested taking a leisurely stroll around the park to walk some of the food off which Cady just thought was insane and told him she really never wanted to move again. Deciding that she had already made enough choices for the evening, Lex drove them to the city park anyway, dragging her out of the car once they got there and laughing in disbelief when she swore she was just going to sit down in the middle of the path. Not believing her, Lex hooked her arm through his and began leading her toward the lake in the center.

"Admit it," Cady urged as she looked up at Lex with a smile. "You enjoyed yourself more than you ultimately would have at the American."

Lex looked down at her haughtily. "Is that what you believe? At least at the American, I could have gotten drunk without killing myself."

Cady laughed and pressed close to his arm. "You really are a snob, you know that?"

The bark of laughter was completely unintentional and unexpected and for a moment Lex wondered where it had come from and if it had really been from him before he sobered and glanced down at the woman beside him. "I don't think anyone has ever said that to me before."

"I guess this really is a night of 'firsts' for you."

"And just think? I'll add one more to the list when I drown you in the lake."

Cady stopped. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh? Wouldn't I?" Lex looked down at her with a very serious expression before glancing at the lake and pier that stretched before them, then back at Cady again. "Wouldn't I?"

She barely had time to screech before Lex was sliding his arm underneath her legs and swinging her up into his embrace, heading straight for the dock. Cady kicked and screamed and laughed and threatened him that if he so much as even got a drop of water on her, she would sue. Or something to that effect. Lex just laughed at her warnings and carried her all of the way to the end of the slats of wood, where Cady suddenly grew very still, for fear of pitching them both into the cold, dark water before them.

"Lex. don't," she whimpered, turning a pleading gaze to him.

He laughed. "Since when is Cady O'Rourke afraid of something as harmless as water?"

"Since she realized she didn't enjoy the idea of riding in a car for three hours soaked to the bone."

"Good point." Lex let go of her legs but held on to her tightly, allowing her to slide slowly down his body until her feet touched the wood. "I guess I'm getting soft in my old age," he whispered before leaning down to brush his lips softly over hers.

Cady felt a sigh welling up within her as she pressed against him, holding tightly to his jacket with still a little fear that she might fall in at any moment. "I don't mind," she replied and felt him smile against her mouth before he kissed her again, this time a little deeper, a little longer.

She was still certain that Lex Luthor had the softest lips imaginable. And the most gentle kisses when he wanted them to be. She could taste the cheap after-dinner mint that he had popped into his mouth after eating the cheeseburger and fries and beneath it there was the faintest taste of ketchup. Strangely, she missed the scotch that she had become accustomed to but this was just as pleasant, in a very different way. Maybe because it was so very not-Lex. Pulling her thoughts away from the flavors of his mouth, Cady turned her attention to the feeling of his hands as they moved over her waist and across her back, caressing gently before moving down to cup her buttocks and pull her closer to him. She loved the feeling of his body against hers, it always evoked all kinds of thoughts that she believed were better left for late nights alone in her room. She still had difficulty accepting the fact that Lex Luthor would ever want her, ever find her attractive. His hands and his mouth always had a way of changing her mind though.

Breaking the kiss, Lex smiled down at Cady as she sort of swayed in his arms for a moment before she opened her eyes to look up at him. Although he had become used to it, every time she looked at him like that - eyes half-glazed over, smoky green, her lips swollen with his kisses - he found that every honorable thought he had ever harbored regarding her innocence would quickly disappear. Only the cool breeze of the evening and the couples that were occasionally walking by on the path, forced his thoughts back on track this time.

"I'd better get you back to the Kent farm before I forget myself in a very public place," he told her, smiling at the flash of understanding that sparked in her eyes and caused a faint blush to color her cheeks. Placing a chaste kiss on her forehead, Lex tucked her arm back in the fold of his and led her away from the dock.

As they exited the main entrance of the park and headed down the walkway toward the curb where the Ferrari was parked, Cady glanced over at the fountain that depicted five enormous horses rising out of the water, in rearing stances. On the way in, she had commented how much she had always loved it and as a child, wanted it in her backyard. Lex had replied that it wouldn't fit in the Ferrari but there might be a place somewhere on the estate in Smallville that it would look nice in. The worst part was, Cady couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. Her mind was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't realize something was wrong until she felt Lex's arm tense over hers and he came to a stop, slightly forcing her behind him. She peered around his shoulder to see two men approaching them, dressed in dark clothing and wearing stocking caps.

"Hey," the tallest of the two called out.

"May I help you, gentlemen?" Lex asked politely, his tone cautious. It was readily apparent that the men had chosen a path that effectively cut them off from the Ferrari. Silently, Lex cursed himself for not being more alert at this late hour in the city.

"Yeah," the man replied back. "You can give me your wallet." So saying, a gun was suddenly whipped into sight, pointed at Lex.

Ignoring Cady's gasp, Lex slowly pushed her a little further behind him, his eyes trained on the weapon for a moment before rising to meet the gaze of their assailant. He mentally cursed himself again for not being more cautious, for forgetting who he was. But then, Cady had a way of doing that to him, of making him believe he was just some regular guy, not one walking around with a few thousand dollars in his pocket and keys to a Ferrari. He found himself wishing he still carried his own gun; he hadn't done that in over a year, not since the last time the police had discovered it on him. Lex doubted the good people of Smallville would take kindly to the idea of him 'packing heat'.

The tall man waved his gun impatiently, his dark eyes narrowing. Blonde curls peered from beneath the cap and Lex memorized that feature. "Are you hard of hearing? Wallet. Now."

Lex reached calmly into his jacket and pulled out his money clip. The other, shorter man, snatched it from his hand. "Woohoo. Lookit this, man! I thought only guys in movies carried things like this. " He paused, shuffling through the bills while the blonde continued to hold his staring contest with Lex. "Goddamn! There's like a thousand dollars here! Mebbe more!"

"Of course there is," his partner nodded and flashed a feral smile. "Don't you realize who this is?"

The shorter man - he had about two days worth of dark stubble on his pudgy face - looked up blankly and shook his head.

"It's Lex Luthor." The blonde smiled triumphantly. "We bagged ourselves a real good catch this time." He nodded toward the street. "That your car over there?"

Lex looked at him blankly. "No. I think it belongs to the meter maid."

A quick, warning sneer and then the gun and the hand that held it slammed across Lex's face. He heard Cady cry out as he staggered to the side, stars flashing before his eyes as the pain reverberated through his face. He wanted to assure her that he was okay but for the moment, he couldn't quite collect his thoughts.

"Yeah, you're a real smart ass," the voice Lex was beginning to hate, taunted.

Cady tried to reach for Lex to help him but suddenly she was grabbed around the waist and pulled back against the stocky man, his face buried into her hair. She gasped at the hold he had on her, struggling until she felt his grip tighten and most of the air left her. He was breathing into her ear and she quickly understood the meaning of the phrase 'your skin crawling'.

"This one's real purdy," he commented into her ear. "We could have some fun with her. Bet she's a real high society type. Probably locked at the knees." His hands began roaming over her and Cady really did struggle, regardless of how much it hurt. "Yeah, we'll show you what real men are like."

"Let her go," Lex demanded, straightening instantly and ignoring the pain in his cheek.

"I don't think you have any say in the matter," the blonde commented with another wave of his gun. "In fact, I think if you really want to see the little bitch here unharmed, then you'll do exactly as we say."

Lex clenched his fists at his sides, anger suffusing him as he watched the man that was holding Cady move his hands over her. She was terrified, that much was obvious in the pale gleam her complexion had taken on and the ever- increasing wideness of her eyes. Lex contemplated his options, knowing that there were very few avenues out of this mess. If he didn't do anything, Cady would most assuredly be raped. And if he did do something, it was more than likely that he would be shot. She might not even get away. But he had to take that chance. These pieces of shit were not going to destroy the innocence that was uniquely Cady O'Rourke.

Slowly holding out his hands as if he were about to agree with what they were demanding, Lex glanced over at Cady for a quick moment, hoping to quietly reassure her, drawing the blonde's attention over to her as well, and away from him. Then he quickly whipped his hand out, grabbing the man that held Cady by the hair, pulling his head out and punching him hard in the face. Instantly, the grip around Cady fell away and she staggered forward. The gun wavered for a moment before steadying towards Lex once more.

"Lex!"

"Cady - run!" Came the reply. "Go, dammit!"

She had wanted to help him; she feared that the gun was going to go off in any moment. But Cady realized the sacrifice Lex was making for her, that if she didn't take this chance to get away, it might all be for nothing. She hesitated only a moment longer before sprinting away, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She had to find help - surely there was a cop car or something near by.

"Fuck!" Lex heard the blonde curse. "Don't let her get away!"

Lex moved to grab the stocky man who was about to go after Cady, but before he got there, an incredible - and familiar - pain shot through the back of his head, sending him quickly to his knees. Great, just what I need, Lex thought momentarily. Another concussion.

"I don't think so, rich boy."

Cady heard footsteps behind her as she reached the fountain of horses. She thought of she could get to the other side, she could keep it between herself and her attacker. Unfortunately, just as that thought filtered through her mind, the assailant caught up to her, tackling her from behind and forcing her forward into the fountain. There was a loud splash and Cady sputtered, unable to close her mouth before a rush of water swept down her throat. Struggling to sit up, she felt large hands wrap around her throat, forcing her back down to the floor of the fountain. Panic swept through her that this man meant to kill her and she thrashed about violently within his grasp. For a quick moment, she surfaced, taking in a deep breath of much needed air, to find her attacker leering over her.

"You and your rich little boyfriend should have stuck to the Plaza," he taunted before forcing her back under the water once more.

She was going to die. And it was all going to be because of some stupid violent crime during a date in the city that her uncle didn't want her going to in the first place. Cady could just see uncle Jonathon standing over her grave, saying something like 'I told you so'. That was something she simply could not allow to happen. This date with Lex was supposed to end on a happy note and right at this very moment he could be laying in a pool of blood on the sidewalk while she was being drowned. Some fairy tale.

Just when she knew that she wouldn't last much longer, the hold on her neck released and Cady weakly pushed herself up out of the water, her hands slipping momentarily on the bottom before she balanced herself. She heard sirens, and footsteps running, someone yelling "Come on! Come on!" and the screech of a car that sounded very much like the Ferrari. Blinking her eyes to regain some focus, she caught sight of the expensive sports car as it rounded the corner and disappeared into the city. A police car raced after it from a block over. The sirens were getting louder, pounding through her head.

"Cady!"

Relief swept through Cady as Lex ran over to her, immediately reaching in to help her from the fountain, strong arms lifting her up and out and holding her tightly against him. She could barely stand, clinging to his coat as she attempted to regain a steady heartbeat and chase away the constricting pain in her chest. Lex's hands moved over her back soothingly, calming her as he held her. A police car pulled up along the sidewalk.

"The police. " Cady stuttered, shivering in the night air. "H-how d-did they --- ?"

"A panic button on my cell," Lex explained, glancing over his shoulder at the officers who were approaching. "When you bolted I had a chance to push it. I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner - "

Cady shook her head. He was here now and that was all that mattered.

Forty-five minutes later, Cady was sitting on the bumper of an ambulance, wrapped in a fleece blanket, a medic kneeling beside her, continually checking her pulse and blood pressure. The pain in her chest had lessened and she felt a little more lucid, her gaze fixed on Lex who was still speaking with the police. Occasionally he would glance over at her and she would offer a small smile to let him know that she was all right. What she really felt was cold. The night air had taken on a distinct chill and the slight breeze cut right through her wet clothing, blanket or no. She didn't think she could stand being this wet all the way back to Smallville, no matter how fast Lex decided to drive. Of course, it only just hit her with that thought that at the moment they had no mode of transportation to get home. The police had yet to find their attackers or the Ferrari.

"Feeling better?" The medic asked.

Cady nodded in reply, glancing up as Lex walked over to her. Crouching down in front of her, Lex reached out to touch her cheek, smiling a little as she moved into his hand. "You're cold," he commented, casting a frown at the medic. "If this is how you take care of people - "

"It's all right, Lex," Cady said quickly, noticing the darkening expression in Lex's gaze. "It's not as if they have an extra change of clothes or anything. I'm fine."

Still glaring at the medic, who quickly began gathering his things to retreat into the ambulance, Lex stood, taking Cady's hand and pulling her to her feet. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her close to offer her some of his own warmth. "We'll get you to the Penthouse and you can take a hot bath."

Eyes widening, Cady looked up at Lex. "We're not going back to Smallville?"

"Not like this you aren't," Lex replied, turning away from her gaze. "I'm going to have enough explaining to do to your uncle without dropping you off on his porch looking like an ice cube."

"But this wasn't your fault!"

Lex ran a hand over his head in slight agitation. "It doesn't matter, Cady. I'm a Luthor. That's all Jonathon Kent sees."

Unable to think of anything to say to refute that statement, Cady remained silent, allowing Lex to guide her down the sidewalk where she looked ahead to see a limousine pulling up to meet them. The driver's door opened and Ron, the security guard from Luthor Towers, climbed out and walked over to them, where he opened the back door.

"Are you all right, Mr. Luthor?" He asked, his gaze sweeping over both Cady and Lex. "I am sorry I wasn't here sooner."

Lex waved a hand in dismissal. "You made it in record time, Ron. Just get us back to the Penthouse and everything will be fine."

"Yes, sir."

Cady crawled into the car, sitting back against the leather seat, her gaze sweeping over the cabin before her. She had never been in a limousine before and she hated that she felt so miserable for her first time in one. It was warm though, and that was a small comfort. Wondering what was keeping Lex, she peered out the open door to see that he was speaking quietly with Ron still, their voices lowered to just above a whisper where Cady would have to blatantly eavesdrop to know what was being said. The security guard had a fierce expression on his face, and was saying very little, only nodding occasionally to whatever Lex was telling him. Sighing, Cady curled in to the corner, tucking her feet beneath her on the seat and closed her eyes, hoping she could somehow Will the cold to go away.

"I'd prefer you took care of it, Ron," Lex told the big man before him quietly.

"Not a problem, Mr. Luthor. I don't trust the Metropolis PD anymore than you."

Nodding, Lex moved in to the limousine, only to find Cady asleep in the far corner. As the door closed behind him, he moved over to her, pulling her into his arms and holding her gently against him. She stirred for a moment then drifted off into a peaceful sleep once more. Lex sighed, his gaze moving to the floor of the cabin. What he had said to Cady regarding her uncle blaming him was true but the heart of the matter was how correct Jonathon Kent would be to place the blame fully at his feet. True, the mugging itself had been an accident and could have happened to anyone. But it was the moment that their assailants had realized his identity when it had become dangerous. Had Cady been out with any other man, she would have simply lost her purse, he his wallet and that would have been the end of it. Instead, she had almost been raped and because of his useless attempt to protect her, she had come close to losing her life. Lex had known from the beginning that this relationship was a bad idea and the evening's events only served to further cement that in his mind. But what could he do? He had promised her to give them a chance. Perhaps this would force Cady to see the light and she would be the one to walk away.

Although, the thought of her doing so bothered him. Lex didn't want to lose Cady. He had become attached all too quickly. He enjoyed her laughter and her warmth and how differently she viewed the world around her compared to the people he was used to. His reasons were selfish and self- serving and he didn't care. Maybe it was part of the whole Luthor attitude not to worry so much about the consequences of what his actions could do to others. But the problem was, he did worry. At least about Cady. He didn't want to see her get hurt and tonight that fear had almost come to fruition. So what was he supposed to do about it?

In no time, Ron brought the car to a halt in front of Luthor's Gate Apartments and the bellman, Carl, stepped forward to open the door. Placing his fingers against Cady's cheek, Lex caressed her skin for a moment gently before leaning over to kiss her.

"Wake up, sweetie," he whispered, smiling at her as her eyes opened to gaze up at him.

This brief moment only served to show how completely trusting Cady was, for Lex knew he would have awoken under similar circumstances much more panicked and alert. But the woman before him was still slightly groggy, and seemed in no hurry to change that state, offering him the softest of smiles as he continued to watch her. Unable to stop himself, Lex leaned in for another quick kiss before climbing out of the limousine and helping her to her feet. Slipping his arm around her waist, he led Cady into the building, taking the private elevator up to the 80th floor where his Penthouse was located.

Cady was slowly waking up, taking in the ornate, mirrored elevator that they stood in and watching the steadily rising numbers on the readout over the door. She glanced over at Lex a little hesitantly. "Will your father mind that we're here?"

Lex looked at her in confusion for a brief moment then smiled. "No. This is my place. My father stays at the mansion in the Heights. That's where I grew up. He was generous enough," and with this there was a tone of derision in his voice, "To give me the Penthouse when I attended college."

"Oh." Well, at least she didn't have to worry about running into the elder Luthor.

The car came to a smooth stop and the doors opened directly into the apartment, the main room spreading out before them in a carpet of white. There were white leather couches and chairs that Cady had no doubt were even softer than they appeared to be and glass coffee tables molded in brushed pewter. The artwork was sparse and, like the castle, accents included various ancient artifacts from civilizations past. She stepped gingerly onto the immaculate carpet as the doors slid shut behind them and Lex entered a code into the keypad, locking them. Cady barely had a chance to glance at the front room as Lex led her down the hallway and into the master bedroom. Stopping beside the closet, he dropped her hand and opened the doors, stepping inside to grab his robe before appearing before her once more and handing it to her.

"Go take a hot bath," he instructed, pointing to a door on the opposite end of the room. "Put that on. I'm going to attempt to call your uncle."

"Do you want me to - "

"No." Lex shook his head. "This is my responsibility. Go get warm."

He was bossing her around like he did at the Plant, and Cady was tempted to snap right back at him, but she could tell that Lex was simply upset over everything that had occurred and the upcoming phone call to her uncle. She didn't envy him the task. Neither did she wish to add to his list of worries, so she quietly nodded and moved toward the bathroom door. Hearing Lex leave the room behind her, Cady stopped halfway to her destination and took a moment to look around.

It wasn't the castle but the Penthouse was just as elegantly appointed only in a much more modern fashion. Like the castle, she considered it more as a museum, where she was terribly afraid to touch anything for fear of moving it out of place. Cady couldn't help but wonder if Lex had grown up in such a home? Where he had never been allowed to run through the halls, slide down the stairs and play with toys wherever he so chose. Come to think of it, Lex didn't seem the type to have ever played with toys. She had the feeling that if she gave him an Etch-A-Sketch, he would likely tear it apart to see how the thing worked. Grinning a little at the thought, she knew she would have to buy him one soon, just to see him do that.

The bathroom was even bigger than the one in Lionel's office and it too had a Jacuzzi tub which Cady found herself silently thanking the designers for. Filling it with the hottest water that she could stand, Cady slipped out of her wet clothing and climbed up the steps into the tub. Sinking down into the warm water, she let a sigh of contentment escape her before she reached over and turned on the jets. The instant bubbles worked immediately at soothing her aching muscles and frozen joints and she contemplated momentarily the idea of convincing her uncle to put one of these in the farm house. Of course, the bathroom upstairs wasn't big enough, but maybe they could put one in the basement. Laughing silently at the thought of her uncle's reply to such an idea, Cady closed her eyes and sank further into the jet-churned water.

As he had expected, the call to the Kents had not gone very well and Lex stood staring at the phone in his hand for a long while, trying to reconcile in his head why it was that he very much longed for respect from the one man he would never receive it. Why did he even try? Jonathon Kent had been more than ready to drive straight to Metropolis to pick up his niece, and Lex had visions of him showing up at the Penthouse with shotgun in hand. Luckily, Martha had taken the phone and presented a much calmer and more understanding attitude towards the situation. She assured Lex that bringing Cady home tomorrow morning first thing would be fine and thanked him for telling them the truth of the evening's events. Before hanging up, Martha had promised that she would settle her husband, no doubt having the same thoughts as he that Cady's uncle would likely shoot Lex if she didn't do something.

For a moment, Lex considered going back to the bathroom to tell Cady that all was well in the Kent household but he stopped himself before he made it out of the living room, knowing that she likely wouldn't appreciate having him just walk in unannounced. Changing his mind, he walked over to the bar and poured a glass of scotch from the decanter, taking it in hand and moved over to the terrace doors where he stared out at the cityscape before him. Dealing with someone as innocent as Cady O'Rourke had Lex rethinking a lot of things, constantly. Not that he completely minded. It was refreshing, knowing that the woman he was seeing had never been with anyone but him, was learning everything she knew from him. Not to mention it made him feel powerful, which he could admit was beyond arrogant for him to feel, but still Lex felt as if he had control over this situation like no other. And yet, at the same time, he was smart enough to know that when it came to Cady, he really had no control at all.

Lex had no idea how long he had been standing there when he heard Cady's soft footfalls move down the hall and into the main room. He remained staring out the window for a few moments, before turning to find his guest standing in his robe, her hair wet and brushed off of her face, looking positively adorable as she stared at the floor below her.

Smiling to himself, Lex walked over to stand in front of her, taking another sip of scotch before asking, "Have a nice bath?"

"Yes. Thank you." She glanced up at him momentarily, and found herself reaching out to touch the dark bruise on his cheek. "What about you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he assured her with a tight smile. "I heal quickly."

"Oh." Cady nodded, pulling her hand back before returning her gaze to the plush carpet. "Did you. Have you called the farm?"

"I did. Your uncle is on his way with a shotgun."

Cady's eyes shot up to his in an expression of panic. "Lex, he - "

The smile broke out before he could stop it. "I'm kidding, Cady. Everything is fine."

Her relief was immediately evident but Lex wasn't quick enough to move away from the punch to his arm that Cady gave him. "That was mean. Not even worth joking about."

Rubbing his upper arm as if she had actually hurt him, Lex replied with a continued smirk, "It was a half-truth. He did sound ready to come out here with a gun. But then Mrs. Kent got on the phone and assured me everything was fine as long as I had you home first thing tomorrow morning."

"If she knew how horribly you tease me, she would have let my uncle come to get me," Cady pouted before glancing back at Lex with a slow smile.

"I don't tease." Lex stepped closer to her until their thighs were touching. Raising the edge of his glass to beneath her jaw, he tipped her head back, bringing his mouth to her throat. "I never tease," he whispered against the tender skin before pressing his lips against it in a gentle kiss.