Author's Note: Thanks so much for the great reviews, everyone! The more reviews I get, the faster I write! And don't forget to drop me a line to tell me what you think about this chapter. I know it's all a little Mary Sue, but tell me if it's too much Mary or OOC.

Chapter Summary: In which there are arguments, mistletoe, kissing---the stereotypical things present in a Christmas 'shipper fic.

***

When it comes to December it's obvious why

No one wants to be alone at Christmas time

-John Mayer's "St. Patrick's Day"

***

"I was incredibly pleased to get an invite to this intimate party." Lex smiled as he surveyed the real, home-made and store-bought Christmas decorations that hung all around him, not the expensive kind that his father had imported and always had put out Christmas Eve Day and taken down by December 26th, always in a place no one could reach, only observe.

"Hey, you spend a night locked in a coffeehouse with someone and it's just plain rude not to invite them to gatherings. And I guarantee there are no people hiding in the coat closet this time." Chloe grinned.

*

"What's Lex doing here?" Pete snarled at Chloe as Lex chatted with Chloe's father and Lana's aunt.

"He's a nice guy, Pete. You'd e surprised what you find out about one person you spend a whole night with them." Chloe grinned absentmindedly.

"Chloe, he didn't---you two didn't---" Pete stumbled over his own words.

"No, Pete, we didn't. I can't even believe you would think that!" Chloe cried, shoving Pete hard against a wall.

"Think what?" Clark asked with a worried look on his face.

"Pete thinks I slept with Lex!" Chloe cried, spinning to face Clark and Lana. "Do either of you think that?"

"Well, the thought HAD crossed my mind---"Clark started, trying to defend himself but failing greatly.

"What the hell?!" Chloe yelled, snarling at her three friends, then spinning on her heel, grabbing her coat, and walking out the Sullivan's front door, slamming it behind her.

"Oops." Clark muttered, barely audible over the Christmas music.

"I'll go talk to her." Lana offered, heading towards the door. She was grabbing her coat when Lex slide up next to her.

"I'd like to talk to Chloe, actually." Lex smiled as he grabbed his coat. "You stay inside, talk to Pete and Clark."

Lana nodded, rolling her eyes at the two boys.

"Thanks." Lex said as Lana replaced her jacket and he slipped his on.

*

"Chloe?" Lex called as he stepped out into the bitter winter cold and walking down the steps of the porch until he was on the walkway leading up to the Sullivan's house. "Chloe?" He tried again, peering into the front lawn.

"I didn't run away from my own party, Lex." Chloe's voice sounded from beside him. Lex turned to see Chloe hugging herself, obviously feeling the same effects of the cold as he was.

Lex raised an eyebrow at Chloe and she sighed and stepped down to Lex's level. "Ok, so I'm---hiding. We just don't have a big enough coat closet." Chloe snarled.

Lex smiled and took a pair of expensive-looking gloves out of his coat pocket and brushed some snow off of the porch step, then sat down and gestured that Chloe do the same.

"They think I slept with you." Chloe said sullenly as she sat down, knowing that Lex had heard the conversation. Chloe was surprised the whole PARTY hadn't heard her outburst.

"I know." Lex smirked. "But you didn't, did you?"

Chloe shook her head.

"So what does it matter what they think?"

"Lex, do you have any idea how much it hurts to have some of the most important people in my life think that I could be wooed by your---your--- you?" Chloe struggled with the words, her eyes opening a bit wider as she realized what she had said.

"Oh, my God! Lex, that didn't---that wasn't what I thought---" Chloe sputtered. "Damnit!" She muttered, causing Lex to smirk despite himself.

"What did you mean?" Lex said, looking unbelievably comfortable on a stone step in the middle of winter.

"They think that I would sleep with you, even though I hardly know you! I mean, yes, you're rich and practically a celebrity and kinda good looking and I haven't found any homicidal tendencies in your personality, but those aren't good reasons to sleep with anyone! I mean---I can't believe they could think so little of me." Chloe sighed, dropping her head into her lap.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't particularly like that people think I would seduce my plant manager's daughter---his UNDERAGE daughter."

"I'll be legal in the state of Kansas on January second." Chloe said absent- mindedly. "Damn, it's cold." Chloe shuddered, then stood up, shaking the fallen snow out of her hair. "I think I'm going to go in and see what Lana counseled the guys to do. It might be fun to mess with there heads." Chloe said, thinking out loud.

Lex stood up and smiled as Chloe's face returned to its normal cheerful disposition.

Chloe and Lex both turned to step onto the porch and rejoin the party, but Chloe groaned as she saw Lana waving her finger at her through the door.

"What is she doing?" Lex asked.

"She hung some mistletoe right after everyone got here so some funny couples could end up locking lips by the end of the night." Chloe said, pointing to the green thing dangling over the porch step.

Lex looked at Chloe and then back at Lana's smiling face.

"I'm never one to disappoint. Would you mind?" Lex grinned, turning to Chloe.

Chloe saw Lana's shocked expression out of the corner of her eye.

"Not at all." Chloe grinned as Clark and Pete joined Lana at the door's window. "Let's see what the peanut has to say about this." Chloe grinned as Lex leaned down and Chloe stepped closer, leaning up and allowing their lips to collide.

Chloe felt Lex smile against her lips and begin to pull away, but Chloe stood on her tip-toes and wrapped her arm around his neck.

Lex gave a small gasp of surprise, causing Chloe to grin as she pulled away.

"Thanks." She grinned breathlessly as she turned to the door, faking surprise as she saw three awe-struck faces staring back at her.