Thank you so much for the responses! They mean a great deal to me and it's
a wonderful encouragement to keep writing. I really hope you enjoy the
rest of this story. To my first reviewers, and I'm shocked that there were
so many in one day, I want to especially thank: Carina, Die Hard,
Trenchtown, Sunny Angel, Ditey, Braedon, Blaire023, HumbugGirl, NickyJean
and Tandy for their quick-to-write support, as well as those who took the
time to drop me an email for encouragement.
So on to the news and whatnot: this is a plot bunny that made me stay up late one night, so I couldn't help but jot it all out. And, oops! I didn't know I confused you guys with the logistics, I was just too eager to finally put the first part up (this problem has been partially solve by the fact that I'm now working on chapter five and the subsequent chapters have gone under several rewrites - I tend to rethink a lot. Anyway.). I should have mentioned that this is an AU futurefic (it has to be slightly AU, seeing as Chloe doesn't exist in the Superman comics, hence wouldn't hold up much water in the future of it). I plan to put it in nine parts (Nine months of pregnancy, nine chapters, get it? Heh. : ) Yeah, I'm silly.) It begins at the end of Chloe's third year of college; Smallville High was referred to as her alma mater in the first chapter, I didn't think to make a big deal of how old she was. But I promise, DieHard, I'm not in the place to be making 16 year old mommies. I think that's everything, except for Lex's love or lack thereof for Chloe. A note of warning, though, this story goes on to a month by month basis, in case you get confused how suddenly a lot of time has passed. I'll try to hint at how much it's actually been. It's an actual attempt on my part to not blather on too much, as I've done with this opening statement and completely failed.
Well, we'll just have to see what happens, now don't we? Enjoy!
P.S. All the same disclaimers and threats of bodily harm for plagiarism apply.
******************************************************
Month #2
"What do you mean you're not coming back?"
Chloe groaned as she stuffed a few more t-shirts into her already-full suitcase. Jamming the lid down, it further irritated her to find that it was refusing to completely latch. Determined to come out the victor, Chloe tried the age-old trick of jumping on it. It didn't help all that much. Butt planted firmly on a crooked lid, she blew hair out of her eyes and looked over at her guest. "Care to help me here, Clark?"
Though he looked at odds with himself, Clark moved to help her, gently moving Chloe off the suitcase and pressing it down. The latches clicked firmly in place and Chloe could only look on, feeling quite inept at that. "Thanks, I would have been fighting that all afternoon."
His hands were still resting on top of the suitcase, but Clark's eyes were scrutinizing her closely. "Are you going to ignore what I was asking you?"
"No," Chloe said slowly. She threw her hands up in the air, "I just need to take a break is all, okay? And that means longer than the few weeks this school tries to call a summer vacation around here. Things have been a bit, well, stressful and I need some time off."
She pretended not to see the look of guilt flash across his face, but Chloe couldn't stop from hearing his words. "Chloe, I know we haven't been the same-"
"Clark, please," she held up a hand as she dropped a duffel bag next to her closed suitcase. "Don't. I'd like to have one afternoon of hanging out with you that doesn't consist of guilt trips or any 'defining the relationship' moments. You want to be friends, we're friends, okay?"
He paused before grabbing some clothes from her closet and laying them on the bed. "You make it sound like a trial."
Chloe pasted a smile on her face when she looked up from putting a few stray knickknacks in the bag, "What? The two of us having difficulties? You don't say!"
"Chloe."
She hated that impatient tone in Clark's voice. It was as if he knew she was hiding something (which she was) and he figured that if he asked just enough, he'd make her spill it all out (which she usually did). Instead of giving in, though, she focused on taking clothes off the plastic hangers and throwing them into her duffel. She'd let one of Lex's maids figure out the mess later. Voice striving to be even, she replied, "Things haven't worked out the way I expected. in lots of areas of my life. Journalism is- "
"Your passion, so why are you quitting?" He threw another armful of garments onto the pile.
"Journalism is," she continued, ignoring Clark's interruption, "Something I'd like to continue in the future, when I'm ready. But right now I need to get out of here. For once, Metropolis has succeeded in stifling me. Would it kill you to be pleased with the fact that I'm trying to spread my wings a little?" In the general direction of a Luthor, but she wasn't going to reveal that just yet.
She expected him to return with another load of her clothes, but Clark surprised her by sitting down her dorm bed, right on top of the small mountain he'd made. He regarded her slowly with the green eyes she'd long ago memorized the shape of and Chloe was close to squirming if he kept going with his appraisal. At last he said, "What happened to you being psyched about being editor for the Met U newspaper next semester?"
Could he twist the knife anymore? This time she tried to betray the ache inside by making her attitude dismissive. "Have you read some of the stories around here, Clark? Half the English students don't deserve to hold a dictionary and I'm quite sure some of them never have. Why in the world I wanted to be an editor when it would have clearly driven me mad, I don't know. I don't think I'll be missing anything."
Though Chloe's hands were still busy with pretending to pack and not be so aware of the man sitting next to her, it was difficult to keep up the pretense. It was even worse when he softly replied, "But I'll miss you."
Her movements stilled at that. Though her heart wanted to run away with what he was saying, Chloe's mind quickly screamed out that Clark, this Clark Kent, was not the one she'd always dreamed of. He didn't have romance on the brain; he wasn't going to miss her because he thought of her as much as she did of him. the real Clark Kent was simply going to miss his friend. This in mind, Chloe began to pack with even more fervor.
"I'll call. We'll talk. It's going to be the same around here, just a little less blond, you know?"
"Chloe."
"I mean, it's not like I'm dropping off the face of the planet. I have a cell phone, you know it, just like you know my email. I wish I could give you a land line, but who knows where I'll be from time to time?" The words kept coming out faster and faster and her hands tried to keep up.
"Chloe, please."
"I mean, this week: Metropolis; next week: Gotham City. There's a charm to that, don't you think? I've always wondered if I could live the nomad style, it'll be nice to try and figure it out. Maybe I'll finally get to visit Europe, or if I don't get there, maybe Canada. I hear Vancouver is lovely."
Clark finally put his hands over hers, making her entire body go still and her mouth mute. "Chloe, I'm sorry. I really am."
Chloe couldn't stop the tears from gathering when Clark did that. Whether they were from anger or frustration or just plain heartbreak, Chloe couldn't tell. Part of her wanted to throw herself at him, begging for at least one chance to show him how much she could be worth in his life. but the other. The other side was the rational one, the side that knew that Clark Kent was out of her reach now, more so than ever before because of Lex and what had been done.
That in mind, she wrenched her hands away from Clark's. Turning away, she faced the wall and crossed her arms. When Chloe felt she had a grip on herself, she said, "I guess it was all a pipe dream, huh, Clark?"
He wasn't sure how to answer, so finally he asked, "What was?"
Chloe stayed with her back to him, but her head knelt down as if in defeat. "This whole attempt at being just friends again. After what happened. After what I said."
"But we are friends." Clark's protest, while heart-felt, was just not enough.
"No, Clark. We aren't. We can't be." Chloe finally turned and he could see that her eyes were dry, though her voice was full of emotion. Left hand settled at her hip, the fingers of Chloe's right hand idly tapped just below her belly button and she appeared deep in thought before saying, "I think you should leave."
When he started to say something again, Chloe shook her head. "Just go, Clark. We'll talk, maybe someday. Just not right now. I need to be alone."
It was a few long moments before Clark stopped trying to find something to say and he finally, hesitantly got to his feet. Looking between the door and Chloe, he seemed to be fighting with himself first, between approaching her and doing what she was demanding. Only after Chloe broke the long stare between them by looking down at nothing in particular did it occur to him that his exit was long overdue. Nodding slightly, he breathed out, "I guess I'll be going then."
"I guess so," she responded quietly without looking up
And with that, Clark turned around and walked out the door. Chloe never saw if he looked back or not.
*******************************************
When the phone beside him rang, Lex couldn't help but feel a wave of pleasure. He'd long ago memorized the number that was showing on the caller id, but it was hardly needed at all. Only one person knew this particular phone number, so he expected calls from only her. Picking it up and pressing 'send', he was honest in saying, "I'm glad you called, Chloe. I was just thinking about you."
The other line was silent for a moment before Chloe said, "I need you to send someone over here after all. I'm not going to be able to carry some of these bags down the stairs by myself."
He didn't expect her to take the bait, but Lex couldn't help a small feeling of disappointment. Reveling in it, he scathingly countered with, "What happened to the strapping Mr. Kent? You were adamant about him helping you out and not needing any of my help."
Chloe looked around her empty room. The last of the packing had taken her hours; her stubborn nature had refused to let the number be dialed that would take the tiring process out of her hands. Even so, Chloe had to admit that the thought of carrying down several heavy boxes in her condition wasn't the smartest thing to do. "Clark Kent is the least of my thoughts right now, okay? I just need some help over here, we both know I can't do this by myself. The lifting, I mean," she added quickly.
"Indeed, Chloe." The sound of her name rolling off his tongue was still off-putting, but it was better than the 'Miss Sullivan' that he'd insisted on keeping up until she'd agreed to move into the mansion. "I'll send over some of my guys. As luck would have it, they've been here at the offices all day with nothing to do."
"I'm sure, Lex. They just happened to be there," Chloe rolled her eyes at his blatant manipulation. "Look, just send them over all right? I'm tired in more ways than one and this has taken me all day already, I'd rather not continue with the conversation games right now."
"Very well," she could practically hear his grin. "What did you eat for lunch?"
Chloe sighed, "Turkey sandwich, some fruit, water. That was hours ago, though."
Lex tsked into the phone as he wrote a message on a piece of paper. The secretary was quick to come in and take it off his hand when he called her on the intercom system. "That won't do at all. Here, just leave the dorm key inside your room and leave it unlocked, the guys are on their way."
"I just want to go home, Lex," Chloe moaned.
"Nonsense. If you're so tired, you certainly can't handle a three-hour drive to the mansion by yourself. Just get in your car and drive over to the office. We'll order in something for the two of us, we need to discuss some things anyway about our accommodations. I'll see you in thirty minutes."
"Lex-" But he'd already hung up before Chloe could object to his 'suggestion'. "Damn, I hate it when he does that."
*******************************************
There was no resisting the inward reporter, no matter how much morning sickness proved to be detrimental. It called out, no, it more demanded in a screaming voice for Chloe to leave her room and study her surroundings. She couldn't ignore it, so here she was at the top of the stairs staring down at her grand new adventure. There was only a flicker of hope that her stomach would stay still for the rest of the day.
The wooden banister was as smooth as glass underneath her fingertips, and possessed an even more brilliant shine. Chloe let her fingers dance across it as she took each careful step down the staircase, drinking in the picture before her. The biggest decision she'd had to make in the past couple of days was the one being presented to her now. Right or left? Down to Lex's business area of mansion or to the family rooms were the options, which held an ironic tone to Chloe's skeptical opinion. It took only a few quick thoughts to convince herself that she'd probably get more use out of the living rooms, so Chloe headed in that direction, all the while letting her fingers join in the journey by strumming them against the cold stone wall.
A quick glance into different doorways showed rooms filled with stylish furniture and light from the tall windows. It was a relief to know that some of the panes were clear rather than strained, as she'd seen in Lex's own offices. Soon, however, the décor seemed to be blur before her and it was hard to take much interest in what was set up for all to see. It was plain to see that while all these so-called family rooms were dressed to the nines, they held a certain loneliness and emptiness that defied the name.
It probably wouldn't have mattered to her much, but Chloe decided to try one more door, only to find herself pleasantly surprised. Not only did the room possess more worth than the past seven combined, it also contained something special: another person.
"Oh, hello." Chloe smiled weakly at the older man who was looking at her with a strange expression on his face. "I was wondering if I'd run into someone, unless of course you're a ghost. I'd expect that from an old Scottish castle, the damp and darkness just fits a poltergeist, don't you think?"
As if he had to shake himself from his surprise, the older gentleman began to shake his head. "I assure you Miss Sullivan, I'm no ghost. I am Louis, the head of the staff."
Chloe raised an eyebrow at his almost haughty voice and high-set shoulders. "I guess that would explain how you know my name, but please, call me Chloe."
"Very well." Louis picked up a newspaper from a large, well-used coffee table that sat in front of a similarly treated sofa. "Have you found everything to your satisfaction?"
"Um, yeah," Chloe chose to take a chance and ventured further into the room. It was charming in its own under-stated, I-didn't-cost-thirty- thousand-dollars-to-decorate feel to it. "I just finally wanted to take a look around here, see what the Luthor's had to offer in the way of comfortable rooms. I have to say, this is my favorite."
Louis looked at her strangely once more.
"What, do I have something on my face?" Chloe picked up a self-conscious hand and touched her cheek. It was bad enough that she couldn't stop herself from jabbering on, what if she had a foolish look to match?
He finally allowed small smile. "Not at all, Chloe. It's just that you missed the family rooms. This is the common area for the staff."
"Ah-ha! So that's what's different," surprising him, Chloe seemed to relax even more. She glanced around and played with the fringe of a blanket thrown over a welcome-looking armchair. "Mind if I stick around a bit? I have a feeling I won't find a place like this even if I were to look all over the house for the next three days."
She'd obviously surprised Louis again, but he quickly recovered. "Of course. Would you like me to bring you anything? Are you thirsty?"
"Well, if you don't mind, sure," Chloe replied easily as she plopped down into the armchair and gave him a real smile. "This is great. Oh, drink, right. Can I have a chocolate milk?"
"Chocolate milk, yes." Louis bowed his head a little at her and left the room just as another woman began to enter the room. Chloe watched his departure with an amused expression.
"I have a feeling I've somehow gone against what he was expecting of me," Chloe remarked to the woman who had come into the room as Louis left. "Hi, I'm Chloe."
"Ann-Marie." The older woman smiled at her, quickly showing her ease with the young blond. "It's nice to meet you, Chloe. Now what did you do to Louis to make him look that way?"
"I ordered chocolate milk. Oh, and requested to hang out in here." Chloe jumped a little in the chair and tapped on the arm rests. "Is it really so shocking?"
"Yes," Ann-Marie answered plainly. "The past ladies of the mansion have always tended to stay away from the staff quarters and their tastes are a bit more extravagant than Hershey's chocolate."
"Well, believe me, I'm not a demanding person. I'd sooner try and help you guys clean up than let myself be shooed out of a room so you can pick up my crumbs," Chloe motioned to the couch next to her. "Are you on a break? I'd really love some company."
Ann-Marie didn't answer at first, but instead gave a deep-searching look to the younger girl. It was odd, but her boss had never brought someone home quite like her. Then again, the circumstances here were completely different. It was well known among the staff that there was an heir- apparent in this woman who was obviously more comfortable in her presence rather than a Luthor's.
"Um, Ann-Marie? You're making me squirm here."
"Oh, excuse me." Breaking out of her thoughts, Ann-Marie sat down on the couch. "So, tell me what you think about the castle."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Where do I start?"
***************************************
"Hello?" Lex glanced around the doorway to find the room dark and empty. Feeling slightly foolish, he uncertainly called out, "Chloe?"
It took a few blinks of his eyes after a moment of waiting for any telltale noises to make Lex realize that Chloe wasn't in her room. "Just as she would have it," Lex grumbled to himself as he sharply shut the door behind him. "The one time I go looking for her myself and she's gone."
He stood for a moment in the hallway, hands on his hips, wondering where to go to next. Admonishing himself for not just calling Chloe to his office, Lex consulted his watch; there wasn't any reason that she'd left the house, but then again-
The door slammed back open with a bang and Lex strode in quickly, barely making time to flick on the lights as he entered. The first place he looked was in the closets only to find Chloe's clothes hanging exactly where the maid had last unpacked them. Still not convinced, he began to pull the empty baggage off the shelves, rifling through them and counting to make sure that all that Chloe had come to the mansion was still there. They were, but it was hardly satisfying to him. He didn't bother to put back the bunch as he came back out of the second closet. All right, he thought grimly, she might have just left the way she was, but Chloe wouldn't have left without it.
But it was Chloe's purse and just as his thought ended, Lex's gaze fell on the nightstand where it sat. Lex hesitated for a moment, silently acknowledging that the brightly colored item looked completely innocent and if he was smart, he would leave the room; the hesitation was short-lived, though, as he made up his mind and picked it up, quickly looking through the various pockets while every once in a while sparing a glance to the still empty doorway.
"License, checkbook, coin purse, lipstick," Lex picked up the last one as he ticked it off out loud. Opening the cap, he couldn't help the feeling that he'd seen the shade before. "Oh, right," Lex twisted his lips into a smirk as he thought back to their fateful night together and threw it back into the purse. Now convinced that Chloe had to be somewhere around, and not off somewhere trying to hitchhike into oblivion, he put the purse back on the dresser, only to have it tumble off the side.
Shaking his head, Lex began to stuff everything back in, but his hands froze when he laid his eyes on a picture booklet. Picking it up off the floor was easy, but it was his breath that stopped when he opened it up and began to flip through it. Clark. Pete. Lana. Chloe and Clark. Pete again. Clark. Clark.
Lex flipped over to the last page.
Clark.
It was all he could do not to take out the smiling picture of his best friend and rip it up into a thousand pieces. It took all of him to not even crumple it in his hand. Lex instead found his satisfaction of throwing the booklet down and kicking at the dresser with his specially made leather shoe. The mess stayed on the floor as Lex stalked out of the room, his mind consumed with an unfair and momentary disgust at the other man.
As far as he was concerned, Clark Kent had given up any claim over Chloe Sullivan.
So why was the mere memory of the man stopping Lex Luthor from getting what he wanted?
***********************************
Ann-Marie and Chloe were both girlishly giggling into their hands when they heard the door creak open. Ann-Marie automatically stood when she saw her employer standing there. "Mr. Luthor. How is your evening?"
"Good," Lex replied amiably. He turned to Chloe, giving her an intense stare. "Better now, though."
Chloe looked at him with wide eyes. "Lex. Um. Ann-Marie?" She looked at the other woman for help.
She smiled serenely in response. "I'll see you later, Chloe. Make sure and tell me if you are having anymore morning sickness, I've got some home remedies that'll make you feel better."
Face colored, Chloe nodded as Ann-Marie began to leave, but Lex caught her by the arm and whispered something into her ear. The other woman nodded quickly and left just the same.
"What was that all about?" Chloe cocked her head in bewilderment.
"Oh, someone just made a mess in another wing of the house. Ann-Marie's going to take care of it." Lex stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. "Though I would have sent someone else if I thought I would be interrupting."
"Right, Lex." A little annoyed by the intrusion now, Chloe stood and began to fix up the pillows on the couch.
"I mean it," he grabbed the another pillow and tried to hand it to her. "You were enjoying yourself, I'm sorry that my presence made you feeling like stopping it all."
Chloe's hands stopped short of taking it off his hands. She stared at him oddly as she asked, "What are you doing here, Lex?"
"Last I understood I live here."
Moving now towards the door, Chloe shrugged, "Really, what do you want?"
"Must I have an ulterior motive?" Lex followed after her into the hallway.
"You're Lex Luthor, of course you do," Chloe said back over her shoulder.
"To be honest, I was going to ask you to join me to dinner tonight."
Chloe stopped in place and turned. "Dinner?"
"Yes, that meal that comes at the end of the day," Lex mocked. "What's the fun in eating alone when you can have perfectly lovely company there? I'm sure you're bored of sitting in your room by yourself by now. Although, self-restriction wasn't ever really my thing."
She was looking at him as if he'd grown a second, fully-haired head. "I don't get you. I seriously don't."
"I have to say the same back to you, Chloe. What's wrong with spending a little time together?"
"Because you never do that. I've been here for nearly two weeks, Lex. For the full period of that, all I've seen of you of you is when I have any updates from the doctor and you know what? I'm more than fine with that. Why this? Why now?"
Lex frowned at her and ran a hand across the back of his neck. "Can't a person change things up a little?"
"Not when it comes to you, Lex."
His expression visibly grew colder and the mask came over him. "If that's what you wish, Chloe, then fine. I was just trying to be a little friendly. I suppose that won't be called for when it comes to you."
"You don't do anything without careful planning, Lex. I just have to figure out what you really want," Chloe said off-handedly.
"And you never had problems like this with Clark, now did you?" Lex asked coldly. "He was perfectly clear on what he did or didn't want. Or should I say who?"
Chloe sucked in a deep breath. "Damn you."
"Very well," Lex started walking again and moved past her, towards his office. "The doctor will be coming in for your next examination tomorrow. I expect a full report on what he suggests for your prenatal care, especially concerning your morning sickness. Maybe he should look into your mood swings as well, they're becoming more apparent."
Chloe glared at him as he continued with, "Is my request clear?"
"Crystal," Chloe muttered. She began to climb the stairs to go to her room, but then stopped to turn in the direction Lex had gone to. She yelled at his retreating back, "That's what I mean right here, Lex. One minute warm and the next cold. The mood swings probably come from your side of the family!"
Lex didn't answer and simply disappeared into the dark shadows of the hall.
So on to the news and whatnot: this is a plot bunny that made me stay up late one night, so I couldn't help but jot it all out. And, oops! I didn't know I confused you guys with the logistics, I was just too eager to finally put the first part up (this problem has been partially solve by the fact that I'm now working on chapter five and the subsequent chapters have gone under several rewrites - I tend to rethink a lot. Anyway.). I should have mentioned that this is an AU futurefic (it has to be slightly AU, seeing as Chloe doesn't exist in the Superman comics, hence wouldn't hold up much water in the future of it). I plan to put it in nine parts (Nine months of pregnancy, nine chapters, get it? Heh. : ) Yeah, I'm silly.) It begins at the end of Chloe's third year of college; Smallville High was referred to as her alma mater in the first chapter, I didn't think to make a big deal of how old she was. But I promise, DieHard, I'm not in the place to be making 16 year old mommies. I think that's everything, except for Lex's love or lack thereof for Chloe. A note of warning, though, this story goes on to a month by month basis, in case you get confused how suddenly a lot of time has passed. I'll try to hint at how much it's actually been. It's an actual attempt on my part to not blather on too much, as I've done with this opening statement and completely failed.
Well, we'll just have to see what happens, now don't we? Enjoy!
P.S. All the same disclaimers and threats of bodily harm for plagiarism apply.
******************************************************
Month #2
"What do you mean you're not coming back?"
Chloe groaned as she stuffed a few more t-shirts into her already-full suitcase. Jamming the lid down, it further irritated her to find that it was refusing to completely latch. Determined to come out the victor, Chloe tried the age-old trick of jumping on it. It didn't help all that much. Butt planted firmly on a crooked lid, she blew hair out of her eyes and looked over at her guest. "Care to help me here, Clark?"
Though he looked at odds with himself, Clark moved to help her, gently moving Chloe off the suitcase and pressing it down. The latches clicked firmly in place and Chloe could only look on, feeling quite inept at that. "Thanks, I would have been fighting that all afternoon."
His hands were still resting on top of the suitcase, but Clark's eyes were scrutinizing her closely. "Are you going to ignore what I was asking you?"
"No," Chloe said slowly. She threw her hands up in the air, "I just need to take a break is all, okay? And that means longer than the few weeks this school tries to call a summer vacation around here. Things have been a bit, well, stressful and I need some time off."
She pretended not to see the look of guilt flash across his face, but Chloe couldn't stop from hearing his words. "Chloe, I know we haven't been the same-"
"Clark, please," she held up a hand as she dropped a duffel bag next to her closed suitcase. "Don't. I'd like to have one afternoon of hanging out with you that doesn't consist of guilt trips or any 'defining the relationship' moments. You want to be friends, we're friends, okay?"
He paused before grabbing some clothes from her closet and laying them on the bed. "You make it sound like a trial."
Chloe pasted a smile on her face when she looked up from putting a few stray knickknacks in the bag, "What? The two of us having difficulties? You don't say!"
"Chloe."
She hated that impatient tone in Clark's voice. It was as if he knew she was hiding something (which she was) and he figured that if he asked just enough, he'd make her spill it all out (which she usually did). Instead of giving in, though, she focused on taking clothes off the plastic hangers and throwing them into her duffel. She'd let one of Lex's maids figure out the mess later. Voice striving to be even, she replied, "Things haven't worked out the way I expected. in lots of areas of my life. Journalism is- "
"Your passion, so why are you quitting?" He threw another armful of garments onto the pile.
"Journalism is," she continued, ignoring Clark's interruption, "Something I'd like to continue in the future, when I'm ready. But right now I need to get out of here. For once, Metropolis has succeeded in stifling me. Would it kill you to be pleased with the fact that I'm trying to spread my wings a little?" In the general direction of a Luthor, but she wasn't going to reveal that just yet.
She expected him to return with another load of her clothes, but Clark surprised her by sitting down her dorm bed, right on top of the small mountain he'd made. He regarded her slowly with the green eyes she'd long ago memorized the shape of and Chloe was close to squirming if he kept going with his appraisal. At last he said, "What happened to you being psyched about being editor for the Met U newspaper next semester?"
Could he twist the knife anymore? This time she tried to betray the ache inside by making her attitude dismissive. "Have you read some of the stories around here, Clark? Half the English students don't deserve to hold a dictionary and I'm quite sure some of them never have. Why in the world I wanted to be an editor when it would have clearly driven me mad, I don't know. I don't think I'll be missing anything."
Though Chloe's hands were still busy with pretending to pack and not be so aware of the man sitting next to her, it was difficult to keep up the pretense. It was even worse when he softly replied, "But I'll miss you."
Her movements stilled at that. Though her heart wanted to run away with what he was saying, Chloe's mind quickly screamed out that Clark, this Clark Kent, was not the one she'd always dreamed of. He didn't have romance on the brain; he wasn't going to miss her because he thought of her as much as she did of him. the real Clark Kent was simply going to miss his friend. This in mind, Chloe began to pack with even more fervor.
"I'll call. We'll talk. It's going to be the same around here, just a little less blond, you know?"
"Chloe."
"I mean, it's not like I'm dropping off the face of the planet. I have a cell phone, you know it, just like you know my email. I wish I could give you a land line, but who knows where I'll be from time to time?" The words kept coming out faster and faster and her hands tried to keep up.
"Chloe, please."
"I mean, this week: Metropolis; next week: Gotham City. There's a charm to that, don't you think? I've always wondered if I could live the nomad style, it'll be nice to try and figure it out. Maybe I'll finally get to visit Europe, or if I don't get there, maybe Canada. I hear Vancouver is lovely."
Clark finally put his hands over hers, making her entire body go still and her mouth mute. "Chloe, I'm sorry. I really am."
Chloe couldn't stop the tears from gathering when Clark did that. Whether they were from anger or frustration or just plain heartbreak, Chloe couldn't tell. Part of her wanted to throw herself at him, begging for at least one chance to show him how much she could be worth in his life. but the other. The other side was the rational one, the side that knew that Clark Kent was out of her reach now, more so than ever before because of Lex and what had been done.
That in mind, she wrenched her hands away from Clark's. Turning away, she faced the wall and crossed her arms. When Chloe felt she had a grip on herself, she said, "I guess it was all a pipe dream, huh, Clark?"
He wasn't sure how to answer, so finally he asked, "What was?"
Chloe stayed with her back to him, but her head knelt down as if in defeat. "This whole attempt at being just friends again. After what happened. After what I said."
"But we are friends." Clark's protest, while heart-felt, was just not enough.
"No, Clark. We aren't. We can't be." Chloe finally turned and he could see that her eyes were dry, though her voice was full of emotion. Left hand settled at her hip, the fingers of Chloe's right hand idly tapped just below her belly button and she appeared deep in thought before saying, "I think you should leave."
When he started to say something again, Chloe shook her head. "Just go, Clark. We'll talk, maybe someday. Just not right now. I need to be alone."
It was a few long moments before Clark stopped trying to find something to say and he finally, hesitantly got to his feet. Looking between the door and Chloe, he seemed to be fighting with himself first, between approaching her and doing what she was demanding. Only after Chloe broke the long stare between them by looking down at nothing in particular did it occur to him that his exit was long overdue. Nodding slightly, he breathed out, "I guess I'll be going then."
"I guess so," she responded quietly without looking up
And with that, Clark turned around and walked out the door. Chloe never saw if he looked back or not.
*******************************************
When the phone beside him rang, Lex couldn't help but feel a wave of pleasure. He'd long ago memorized the number that was showing on the caller id, but it was hardly needed at all. Only one person knew this particular phone number, so he expected calls from only her. Picking it up and pressing 'send', he was honest in saying, "I'm glad you called, Chloe. I was just thinking about you."
The other line was silent for a moment before Chloe said, "I need you to send someone over here after all. I'm not going to be able to carry some of these bags down the stairs by myself."
He didn't expect her to take the bait, but Lex couldn't help a small feeling of disappointment. Reveling in it, he scathingly countered with, "What happened to the strapping Mr. Kent? You were adamant about him helping you out and not needing any of my help."
Chloe looked around her empty room. The last of the packing had taken her hours; her stubborn nature had refused to let the number be dialed that would take the tiring process out of her hands. Even so, Chloe had to admit that the thought of carrying down several heavy boxes in her condition wasn't the smartest thing to do. "Clark Kent is the least of my thoughts right now, okay? I just need some help over here, we both know I can't do this by myself. The lifting, I mean," she added quickly.
"Indeed, Chloe." The sound of her name rolling off his tongue was still off-putting, but it was better than the 'Miss Sullivan' that he'd insisted on keeping up until she'd agreed to move into the mansion. "I'll send over some of my guys. As luck would have it, they've been here at the offices all day with nothing to do."
"I'm sure, Lex. They just happened to be there," Chloe rolled her eyes at his blatant manipulation. "Look, just send them over all right? I'm tired in more ways than one and this has taken me all day already, I'd rather not continue with the conversation games right now."
"Very well," she could practically hear his grin. "What did you eat for lunch?"
Chloe sighed, "Turkey sandwich, some fruit, water. That was hours ago, though."
Lex tsked into the phone as he wrote a message on a piece of paper. The secretary was quick to come in and take it off his hand when he called her on the intercom system. "That won't do at all. Here, just leave the dorm key inside your room and leave it unlocked, the guys are on their way."
"I just want to go home, Lex," Chloe moaned.
"Nonsense. If you're so tired, you certainly can't handle a three-hour drive to the mansion by yourself. Just get in your car and drive over to the office. We'll order in something for the two of us, we need to discuss some things anyway about our accommodations. I'll see you in thirty minutes."
"Lex-" But he'd already hung up before Chloe could object to his 'suggestion'. "Damn, I hate it when he does that."
*******************************************
There was no resisting the inward reporter, no matter how much morning sickness proved to be detrimental. It called out, no, it more demanded in a screaming voice for Chloe to leave her room and study her surroundings. She couldn't ignore it, so here she was at the top of the stairs staring down at her grand new adventure. There was only a flicker of hope that her stomach would stay still for the rest of the day.
The wooden banister was as smooth as glass underneath her fingertips, and possessed an even more brilliant shine. Chloe let her fingers dance across it as she took each careful step down the staircase, drinking in the picture before her. The biggest decision she'd had to make in the past couple of days was the one being presented to her now. Right or left? Down to Lex's business area of mansion or to the family rooms were the options, which held an ironic tone to Chloe's skeptical opinion. It took only a few quick thoughts to convince herself that she'd probably get more use out of the living rooms, so Chloe headed in that direction, all the while letting her fingers join in the journey by strumming them against the cold stone wall.
A quick glance into different doorways showed rooms filled with stylish furniture and light from the tall windows. It was a relief to know that some of the panes were clear rather than strained, as she'd seen in Lex's own offices. Soon, however, the décor seemed to be blur before her and it was hard to take much interest in what was set up for all to see. It was plain to see that while all these so-called family rooms were dressed to the nines, they held a certain loneliness and emptiness that defied the name.
It probably wouldn't have mattered to her much, but Chloe decided to try one more door, only to find herself pleasantly surprised. Not only did the room possess more worth than the past seven combined, it also contained something special: another person.
"Oh, hello." Chloe smiled weakly at the older man who was looking at her with a strange expression on his face. "I was wondering if I'd run into someone, unless of course you're a ghost. I'd expect that from an old Scottish castle, the damp and darkness just fits a poltergeist, don't you think?"
As if he had to shake himself from his surprise, the older gentleman began to shake his head. "I assure you Miss Sullivan, I'm no ghost. I am Louis, the head of the staff."
Chloe raised an eyebrow at his almost haughty voice and high-set shoulders. "I guess that would explain how you know my name, but please, call me Chloe."
"Very well." Louis picked up a newspaper from a large, well-used coffee table that sat in front of a similarly treated sofa. "Have you found everything to your satisfaction?"
"Um, yeah," Chloe chose to take a chance and ventured further into the room. It was charming in its own under-stated, I-didn't-cost-thirty- thousand-dollars-to-decorate feel to it. "I just finally wanted to take a look around here, see what the Luthor's had to offer in the way of comfortable rooms. I have to say, this is my favorite."
Louis looked at her strangely once more.
"What, do I have something on my face?" Chloe picked up a self-conscious hand and touched her cheek. It was bad enough that she couldn't stop herself from jabbering on, what if she had a foolish look to match?
He finally allowed small smile. "Not at all, Chloe. It's just that you missed the family rooms. This is the common area for the staff."
"Ah-ha! So that's what's different," surprising him, Chloe seemed to relax even more. She glanced around and played with the fringe of a blanket thrown over a welcome-looking armchair. "Mind if I stick around a bit? I have a feeling I won't find a place like this even if I were to look all over the house for the next three days."
She'd obviously surprised Louis again, but he quickly recovered. "Of course. Would you like me to bring you anything? Are you thirsty?"
"Well, if you don't mind, sure," Chloe replied easily as she plopped down into the armchair and gave him a real smile. "This is great. Oh, drink, right. Can I have a chocolate milk?"
"Chocolate milk, yes." Louis bowed his head a little at her and left the room just as another woman began to enter the room. Chloe watched his departure with an amused expression.
"I have a feeling I've somehow gone against what he was expecting of me," Chloe remarked to the woman who had come into the room as Louis left. "Hi, I'm Chloe."
"Ann-Marie." The older woman smiled at her, quickly showing her ease with the young blond. "It's nice to meet you, Chloe. Now what did you do to Louis to make him look that way?"
"I ordered chocolate milk. Oh, and requested to hang out in here." Chloe jumped a little in the chair and tapped on the arm rests. "Is it really so shocking?"
"Yes," Ann-Marie answered plainly. "The past ladies of the mansion have always tended to stay away from the staff quarters and their tastes are a bit more extravagant than Hershey's chocolate."
"Well, believe me, I'm not a demanding person. I'd sooner try and help you guys clean up than let myself be shooed out of a room so you can pick up my crumbs," Chloe motioned to the couch next to her. "Are you on a break? I'd really love some company."
Ann-Marie didn't answer at first, but instead gave a deep-searching look to the younger girl. It was odd, but her boss had never brought someone home quite like her. Then again, the circumstances here were completely different. It was well known among the staff that there was an heir- apparent in this woman who was obviously more comfortable in her presence rather than a Luthor's.
"Um, Ann-Marie? You're making me squirm here."
"Oh, excuse me." Breaking out of her thoughts, Ann-Marie sat down on the couch. "So, tell me what you think about the castle."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Where do I start?"
***************************************
"Hello?" Lex glanced around the doorway to find the room dark and empty. Feeling slightly foolish, he uncertainly called out, "Chloe?"
It took a few blinks of his eyes after a moment of waiting for any telltale noises to make Lex realize that Chloe wasn't in her room. "Just as she would have it," Lex grumbled to himself as he sharply shut the door behind him. "The one time I go looking for her myself and she's gone."
He stood for a moment in the hallway, hands on his hips, wondering where to go to next. Admonishing himself for not just calling Chloe to his office, Lex consulted his watch; there wasn't any reason that she'd left the house, but then again-
The door slammed back open with a bang and Lex strode in quickly, barely making time to flick on the lights as he entered. The first place he looked was in the closets only to find Chloe's clothes hanging exactly where the maid had last unpacked them. Still not convinced, he began to pull the empty baggage off the shelves, rifling through them and counting to make sure that all that Chloe had come to the mansion was still there. They were, but it was hardly satisfying to him. He didn't bother to put back the bunch as he came back out of the second closet. All right, he thought grimly, she might have just left the way she was, but Chloe wouldn't have left without it.
But it was Chloe's purse and just as his thought ended, Lex's gaze fell on the nightstand where it sat. Lex hesitated for a moment, silently acknowledging that the brightly colored item looked completely innocent and if he was smart, he would leave the room; the hesitation was short-lived, though, as he made up his mind and picked it up, quickly looking through the various pockets while every once in a while sparing a glance to the still empty doorway.
"License, checkbook, coin purse, lipstick," Lex picked up the last one as he ticked it off out loud. Opening the cap, he couldn't help the feeling that he'd seen the shade before. "Oh, right," Lex twisted his lips into a smirk as he thought back to their fateful night together and threw it back into the purse. Now convinced that Chloe had to be somewhere around, and not off somewhere trying to hitchhike into oblivion, he put the purse back on the dresser, only to have it tumble off the side.
Shaking his head, Lex began to stuff everything back in, but his hands froze when he laid his eyes on a picture booklet. Picking it up off the floor was easy, but it was his breath that stopped when he opened it up and began to flip through it. Clark. Pete. Lana. Chloe and Clark. Pete again. Clark. Clark.
Lex flipped over to the last page.
Clark.
It was all he could do not to take out the smiling picture of his best friend and rip it up into a thousand pieces. It took all of him to not even crumple it in his hand. Lex instead found his satisfaction of throwing the booklet down and kicking at the dresser with his specially made leather shoe. The mess stayed on the floor as Lex stalked out of the room, his mind consumed with an unfair and momentary disgust at the other man.
As far as he was concerned, Clark Kent had given up any claim over Chloe Sullivan.
So why was the mere memory of the man stopping Lex Luthor from getting what he wanted?
***********************************
Ann-Marie and Chloe were both girlishly giggling into their hands when they heard the door creak open. Ann-Marie automatically stood when she saw her employer standing there. "Mr. Luthor. How is your evening?"
"Good," Lex replied amiably. He turned to Chloe, giving her an intense stare. "Better now, though."
Chloe looked at him with wide eyes. "Lex. Um. Ann-Marie?" She looked at the other woman for help.
She smiled serenely in response. "I'll see you later, Chloe. Make sure and tell me if you are having anymore morning sickness, I've got some home remedies that'll make you feel better."
Face colored, Chloe nodded as Ann-Marie began to leave, but Lex caught her by the arm and whispered something into her ear. The other woman nodded quickly and left just the same.
"What was that all about?" Chloe cocked her head in bewilderment.
"Oh, someone just made a mess in another wing of the house. Ann-Marie's going to take care of it." Lex stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. "Though I would have sent someone else if I thought I would be interrupting."
"Right, Lex." A little annoyed by the intrusion now, Chloe stood and began to fix up the pillows on the couch.
"I mean it," he grabbed the another pillow and tried to hand it to her. "You were enjoying yourself, I'm sorry that my presence made you feeling like stopping it all."
Chloe's hands stopped short of taking it off his hands. She stared at him oddly as she asked, "What are you doing here, Lex?"
"Last I understood I live here."
Moving now towards the door, Chloe shrugged, "Really, what do you want?"
"Must I have an ulterior motive?" Lex followed after her into the hallway.
"You're Lex Luthor, of course you do," Chloe said back over her shoulder.
"To be honest, I was going to ask you to join me to dinner tonight."
Chloe stopped in place and turned. "Dinner?"
"Yes, that meal that comes at the end of the day," Lex mocked. "What's the fun in eating alone when you can have perfectly lovely company there? I'm sure you're bored of sitting in your room by yourself by now. Although, self-restriction wasn't ever really my thing."
She was looking at him as if he'd grown a second, fully-haired head. "I don't get you. I seriously don't."
"I have to say the same back to you, Chloe. What's wrong with spending a little time together?"
"Because you never do that. I've been here for nearly two weeks, Lex. For the full period of that, all I've seen of you of you is when I have any updates from the doctor and you know what? I'm more than fine with that. Why this? Why now?"
Lex frowned at her and ran a hand across the back of his neck. "Can't a person change things up a little?"
"Not when it comes to you, Lex."
His expression visibly grew colder and the mask came over him. "If that's what you wish, Chloe, then fine. I was just trying to be a little friendly. I suppose that won't be called for when it comes to you."
"You don't do anything without careful planning, Lex. I just have to figure out what you really want," Chloe said off-handedly.
"And you never had problems like this with Clark, now did you?" Lex asked coldly. "He was perfectly clear on what he did or didn't want. Or should I say who?"
Chloe sucked in a deep breath. "Damn you."
"Very well," Lex started walking again and moved past her, towards his office. "The doctor will be coming in for your next examination tomorrow. I expect a full report on what he suggests for your prenatal care, especially concerning your morning sickness. Maybe he should look into your mood swings as well, they're becoming more apparent."
Chloe glared at him as he continued with, "Is my request clear?"
"Crystal," Chloe muttered. She began to climb the stairs to go to her room, but then stopped to turn in the direction Lex had gone to. She yelled at his retreating back, "That's what I mean right here, Lex. One minute warm and the next cold. The mood swings probably come from your side of the family!"
Lex didn't answer and simply disappeared into the dark shadows of the hall.
