This post may seem a little early, but it's been almost a week since I last updated, so I figured I'd give the ff.net readers two chapters that were really close to being together.  The next post will probably take about a week, so I hope you enjoy this one a lot, I certainly did as I wrote it.  Tell me what you think! (Oh, and please tell me of a different way to say thank you for all your reviews already, I'm running out of words to express my happiness over them.)  : )

Disclaimers still apply!

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Month #5

"So, I heard there's a wedding going on today."

Chloe's eyes moved from where she'd concentrated on the mirror, attempting to push an earring through the stubborn hole in the lobe.  When she looked at the reflection behind her, delight spread across her face.  "Pete!"

He stood in the doorway, looking a little sheepish, but very grown up in a well-fitting dark gray suit.  Pete walked a little further into the room and opened his arms a little, inviting Chloe into a warm hug that she gladly accepted.

"I'm so glad you made it!  Last time Lana and I spoke, she still hadn't convinced you."  She squeezed him tightly before stepping back.  Taking a good look at him, it was hard to believe the polish that practically exuded from his skin.  "Heeeeey, aren't we looking extravagant!"

"Yeah, I clean up nice, don't I?"  Pete pretended to pose after he pulled back from her.  Giving her a once over, his face softened, "Wow, you look beautiful."

Blushing, Chloe fingered her ear, making sure her earring was in correctly.  Ducking her head a little, she gave Pete a thankful look.  "I feel like a cow."

It was with those words that Pete's gaze was drawn to her middle.  His expression sobered when he saw the faint outline of her pregnant stomach, which was mostly concealed by the gathers of the high-waisted dress she wore.  "Wow," he uttered when he found his voice.  "There it is."

Chloe pushed his shoulder back gently. "You're supposed to say that I'm still beautiful.  Stunning even."

"Well, of course you are," Pete rushed to make it up to her.  "Glowing with the new mom shine and everything."

"Watch it, Ross.  Get any slicker and I might mistake you for a politician," Chloe pointed at him jokingly.  When his face brightened at the idea, she shook her head.  "Same old Pete, always wearing your emotions readily available on your sleeve."

"Lana doesn't seem to mind," Pete replied easily.  The grin that accompanied the words made it more than obvious what was going through his head. 

"I'm sure she doesn't.  Lana and Pete, who knew?"

"Better yet, Chloe and Lex.  Where the hell did that come from?"

Chloe's eyes narrowed in concentration, considering the serious question behind the falsely glib words.  "Some very weird place that I have yet to truly understand, I think."

"That makes two of us," Pete mumbled.

"Let's not go there right now, okay Pete?"  Chloe felt her happy mood begin to fade a little.  "Don't be here just to make me feel as if I'm making a mistake."

"Are you making a mistake, Chloe?" He asked gently.

"No, I'm not," Chloe sighed.  "I take it you haven't spoken to Lana about this."

"Oh, we have.  Believe me, we've gone over what you told her very thoroughly.  We had to in order for me to agree to come."  Pete walked over and sat on her bed, glancing around the room.  The pillows lay neatly against the headboard and the top of the dresser was completely empty besides a small, battered alarm clock.  Recognizing instantly, Pete picked it up.  How many times had he seen it in Chloe's room back in the Sullivan house?  Turning it over in his hands, he said out loud, "I haven't seen this in years."

"Oh, that," Chloe sat down next to him. "Yeah, one of those keepsakes you can't seem to get rid of.  See that dent right there?  I think it's from when my dad tried to wake me up at four in the morning to go fishing.  Needless to say, he never bothered me about it again."

Pete snorted; it sounded exactly like Chloe.  "Still, it's amazing how things change over the years, huh?" He barely murmured the words.

"Not exactly high school anymore."

"If it were, there'd be someone else here," the words slipped out before Pete could stop them.  "Damn it, I'm sorry, Chloe.  I shouldn't have said that."

"No, you shouldn't have.  But it's okay," Chloe shrugged. "A part of me is expecting him to burst through the doors in the middle of the ceremony and stop it all.  The rest of me knows a lot better, smacks the stupid out of me and helps me recognize that it's a good thing that the ceremony will be short."

"How can he burst in if he doesn't even know?" Pete grabbed the clock back from her and placed it on the nightstand.

"He doesn't have to know."  Chloe stood, wiping wrinkles away from the folds of her dress and said firmly, "Clark Kent is very much in my past."

Now if she could only convince herself of that, Chloe would be set.

"But not mine.  Or Lana's," Pete said back.  "Or even Lex's."

Chloe paused at the words.  Yes, indeed, Clark was a part of Lex, even to this day.  They talked every once in a while, Lex said so himself when he felt comfortable enough to mention him by name.  There was always a tension behind it, as if Lex were testing her reaction.  How indeed was Lex holding a secret as great as this from his own friend? 

Because, Chloe, he's doing it for you, the woman who is going to become his wife today.

She cleared her throat before saying, "I guess he's a little more fond of me than Clark.  About time I'm favored above someone else."

"Chloe," Pete drew closer to her, placing his hands on her arms.  "Don't say that.  You weren't second place with everyone."

"I was second place to the person that mattered for much too long, Pete.  Don't look down on the way I live my life," she snapped at him.  Her chin began to tremble when she heard her own words, knowing that they were the full truth.  It didn't, however, stop her from pushing the point.  "I question myself enough without you coming in here and very outspokenly doubting that I'm happy."

"Are you?"  Pete reached up and wiped the beginnings of a tear from the corner of her eye.

"Stupid pregnancy," Chloe broke away from him and crossed her arms.

"Chlo."

"It's not an ecstatic happiness, Pete.  Or even a living in the clouds type, either," Chloe said so quietly that he could barely hear her.  "But for some reason, this just flows.  It makes more sense every day."

"But Chloe," Pete slowly turned her around.  "Do you want him?  Or the stability that you're getting from him?  I'm not even going to ask if you love him, because it's obvious that you don't.  I've known you too long for you to lie to me."

Chloe stared up at his dark eyes, slowly trying to calm herself down.  Heaven knew, she didn't want to break down before her own wedding, no matter how much Pete's voice was striking at her.  But just as she was to feed him the false words she'd fed her father, something came out of her that she couldn't quite place.  "Pete."

"Tell me, Chlo," Pete urged.  "Tell me the truth."

"I don't love him," she said.  "But I think I need him, I need the way he makes me feel wanted, makes me feel that I matter in his life.  And right now, that's enough, especially since it's more than just Lex and me.  It's about a baby, too."

She was looking at him such honesty in her eyes, Pete knew without a doubt in that moment that Chloe meant every word.  Twisted as it was, undeniably disconcerting as it was, Chloe was telling the truth.  A little stunned, Pete backed up and scratched his head for lack of anything better to do.  He coughed once and broke his silence with, "There was a time that I wanted you for my own, you know?"

"I knew."

"Did you?"

"Nicodemus flower ring a bell?"

"Oh," Pete thought about it.  "OH!  Why didn't you tell me?"

"It just never felt right, telling you that I knew your secret."  Chloe turned away before seeing the look in her eyes, a something there that he didn't quite understand.  "Besides, you were chasing after other girls in no time, so I figured you were over it."

"It didn't last a long time," Pete consented.  "But it would have been fun to make out, don't you think?"

Chloe laughed, his attempt at humor immediately making her mood lighter.  "Don't let Lana hear you say that."

"Ah, she knows where I stand now."  He moved around the room to face her, "I just want you to be happy now, Chlo.  If… Lex is the one who does it, then that's what it's gotta be."

"You don't have to make it sound like a prison sentence," she replied dryly.  "Maybe one of these days you'll give him a chance."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Only to try and get me to stop the wedding."

"Well, a little bit that.  A guy's got to try."

"It's a bit strange that you're giving in so quickly."

"We get older, Chloe, not dumber.  I know better than to go against the grain when it comes to your decisions.  I've gotten trampled enough in the past to do anything stupid."

"Are you trying to put me in a better disposition?"

"Is it working?"

"Yes."  The corner of her mouth picked up in a smile.

Pete attempted to bring it out some more.  "You do look beautiful, Chloe."

"Fairy princess beautiful?  Or hot-damn-what-a-gorgeous-pregger beautiful?"

"Seeing as Lana's has been and always will be the princess," Pete grinned, "All I can say is hot damn."

"Good answer," Chloe tapped him on his nose.  "I was never the princess type."

"Good thing, I've never seen Lex as a knight in shining armor."

"I don't need to be saved, Pete.  Not anymore."  She giggled when he took the finger she'd put on his nose and quickly kissed the tip.  "Just do me one favor, okay?"

"Anything."

"When your mom asks if anyone has any reason against the wedding, don't say anything.  Let the silence be your friend."

Pete crossed his heart.  "Consider me muted."

"Oh, and…"

"Yes?"

"Make sure the doors stay shut." 

**********************************************************

"So?"  Lana asked, holding a slim flute full of champagne in her hand.  She'd been speaking with Gabe Sullivan in the open porch where they had been waiting until Pete had entered.  After politely excusing herself, she'd approached him, anxiety clear.

"I found her.  We talked."  Pete grabbed his own champagne from a waiter who discreetly approached them.  He threw it back in a few gulps before adding, "Small party."

Sure enough, besides the two of them, it was simply Gabe, Louis and Ann-Marie, all of them dressed to the nines.  They milled around the brighty-lit porch, joking back and forth and enjoying their own flutes of champagne.  Lana nodded, "I was thinking that myself."

"It's the people who matter, though," Pete pondered out loud.  Struck by his own words, he said, "It's nice to be someone who matters."

Lana stopped her movement when he said that, taking in his look, obviously deep in thought.  Putting the glass down, she asked, "Are you okay?"

"I think…" he trailed off.  "I think that I just got a clue."

"Okay, but I think I'm going to need one as well, because I have no idea what you're talking about."

Pete chuckled.  "Sorry.  It's just someone Chloe said.  About how Lex favors her more than Clark."

"Well, that's obvious," Lana said.  "It takes a certain guy to be with the woman he wants at the risk of a friendship."

"Hey," Pete pulled her into him by looping an arm around her waist.  "If I remember correctly, I had to do some dancing of my own after I told Clark about us."

Lana kissed his cheek.  "And that's what makes you absolutely wonderful."

Pete leaned his forehead against hers, letting his mind run over what Chloe had told him back upstairs, considering exactly what Clark would say if he heard of what was going on.  And sooner or later, he was going to find out.  "Things have worked out in a really odd way."

"Are they working out?" Lana whispered.

"I'm at the wedding of my friend to the man that is seeing what almost everyone else missed," Pete said thoughtfully.  "Yeah, I think they are."

Sighing, Lana dropped her head on his shoulder.  "I'm still worried about her.  And strangely enough, Lex, too."

"They need to make their own decisions," Pete said into her ear.  "But I have a feeling… this is going to work for them.  Somehow, it is.  I just can't explain it.  I only hope I'm right."

"I guess it's not up to us to say if it's wrong or right."

"I guess not."  Sighing, Pete held her closer, quietly thankful that his was the simpler love story.

*********************************************************

"Well, hello there, Miss Sullivan."

Chloe turned from where she'd stood waiting for Judge Ross to call her into the room, a smile slowly growing on her face.  Pete had left her uplifted and she wasn't fighting it at all.  Pleased to see Lex, she said, "It's been a while since I heard you say that."

"Well, after about, oh," Lex consulted his watch, "less than half an hour, I won't be able to say it at all.  Thought I should get it in while I still could."

"Mm," Chloe replied.  He looked so incredibly handsome in front of her, his blue eyes prominent from the color-complimentary tie that she'd picked out for him.  Coming closer, Chloe fixed it in place and asked, "Isn't it bad luck to see me before the wedding?"

Lex arched an eyebrow, "And since have we ever conformed to the rules?"

"True," she said with a wry grin.  "So, are we ready to go in?"

"Actually, I just asked Louis to have everyone meet us in the atrium.  I wanted to see you first." 

Brushing back a lock of hair from her forehead, barely touching the little flower she'd tucked behind her ear, Chloe looked at him quizzically, "What for?"

Shrugging, Lex said, "Just because."  He began to walk around the room, or more specifically, around her.

"Ooh, mysterious." 

Looking as if he were about to laugh at her quip, Lex admitted, "Okay, I'm lying."

"Well, that didn't take any needling at all for you to admit."  Chloe smiled brightly.  "So what is it?"

"This," Lex reached into the pocket inside his suit jacket.  When he brought out his hand, he was carrying a long, slender velvet box.  Its hinges were anything but shiny, as if they had been opened and closed many a time, showing an age that the smooth velvet had seemed to defy. 

Chloe's interest perked up.  "I could get used to this whole jewelry appearing out of nowhere thing."

Lex tried to give her stern look but ended up looking sheepish instead.  Composing himself, he gestured towards the box.  "I've been meaning to give you this for some time, but decided to wait until today.  I figured we should at least keep the tradition of the Bride's Gift."

"That's… sweet, Lex.  Thank you." Chloe walked up to him until they were standing close.  "I'm sorry that I didn't get you anything."

"Nah, it's all right."  Seemingly caught in a struggle before finally doing it, Lex placed his hand on her stomach, which had grown significantly since he'd last done it.  "I'll consider this mine, if it doesn't bother you."

"Smooth talker," Chloe smirked at him, but didn't move his hand.  Instead she held out her own.  "So what do I get?  Gimme gimme gimme."

Laughing at her chant, Lex opened the long box, revealing the silver necklace inside.  Its craftsmanship paled in comparison to the ring on her finger, but before Chloe could even form an opinion of it, Lex interrupted, "It belonged to my mother."

Blinking in surprise, Chloe stared at the necklace in his hand.  "Oh."

Seeing her hesitation, Lex went on as he removed it from the bed of velvet, "I bought it for her when I was four.  Silly, really, children at that age know nothing about karats.  My dad gave me an allowance to buy whatever I wanted for her birthday, he even let Pamela take me to Tiffany's.  Before, however, they could bring anything out from the most overstated cases, I caught sight of this one in the 'affordable' area.  Being of a child's mind, I thought it was absolutely perfect."

It took her inventive mind only a moment's notice to change Lex from the man in front of her to a small red-haired child excitingly holding the same jewelry in his hand, pudgy fingers and all.  Heart melting at the thought, she lifted her eyes to his. "Did she love it?"

"Yes," Lex whispered thoughtfully, as if he too was caught up in the memories. "My father, however, was livid that I hadn't bought anything of higher quality and refused to let me give it to her.  I was able to get it to her anyway and she said she adored it.  That was, I believe, one of the first times I outright defied my father.  Haven't looked back since you could say.  It was worth it, though, my mother said she treasured it more than any of her finest pieces."

"She sounds like she was a wonderful person."  Chloe hardly wanted to interrupt his whirlwind of remembrance.  Inwardly crushing her resentment against Lionel for not understanding his son's childish wishes, she reached out and stroked a finger on the necklace.  "And I'm sure she meant every word."

"My mother was incredible.  And I know she did," Lex nodded and reached out, turning Chloe's hand palm up.  Slowly, he pooled the necklace into her open hand.  "Before she died, she gave me my watch and this.  I was explicitly told that I was not to let go of it until I found someone who I felt was as deserving of it as she was."

Lex waited until Chloe's eyes had stopped its stare on the necklace and had gone back to his.  Once they were there, he added seriously, "Never thought I'd ever let it leave my possession again."

Words had escaped her and for Chloe Sullivan, soon to be Luthor, that meant a lot.  Rather than try and express the warmth beginning to flow through her, Chloe smiled and pulled the strand to its full length.  Finally, when she finally felt she once more had a command on the English language, she asked, "Will you help me put it on?"

He responded by walking around her and placing his hands on her shoulders.  Chloe lifted the necklace to his hands and was waiting patiently as he began to latch it together.  Suddenly struck by a thought, Chloe stopped him, "Wait."

"Excuse me?"

Chloe carefully ducked down from beneath the ring of his arms, holding a palm to the small of he back at the same time, and moved to the table where she'd left a small velvet box of her own.  Opening it, she pulled out a wedding band and waved it at Lex.  Going back to him, she pulled one side of the strand to wind it through the loop.  "I'd been wondering how I was going to hold onto this during the ceremony.  Ideal, huh?"

The ring dangled freely in the middle of the necklace, each of them holding an end.  Lex lifted his free hand and pushed it lightly.  Looking at Chloe, at last he responded, "Absolutely perfect."

Chloe turned her back to him, allowing him to once more try and entwine the strand around her neck.  Lex took his time, carefully fastening it and setting it gently against her skin.  Unable to resist, he ran his fingers against the smooth expanse of flesh before leaning in and laying a delicate kiss in the small spot where Chloe's shoulder met her neck.  She shivered slightly under his touch, surprised by the contact, but Lex was doubly pleased when she didn't pull away.  Moving his mouth near her ear, he asked softly, "Ready to go?"

Slowly swiveling her head towards him, Chloe's gaze caught him less than inches away.  She slowly blinked once before nodding, "I'm ready."

*********************************************

When Lana and Pete, along with everyone else, walked into the atrium, they were surprised to find Chloe and Lex already waiting at the head of the room, Judge Ross standing on a step above them.  A handsomely dressed young man stood to the side with a camera, taking pictures as the guests arrived.  Pete was tugging on Lana's hand as they sat down.  Squeezing in return, Lana gave him a reassuring smile and pointed in the direction of the couple at the front.

Smiling a little as well, Chloe looked back at Lex.  His eyes were trained on her as she reached out and slowly fixed his tie again, straightening it out so the blue contrasted well with the white of his tailored shirt.  She then reached behind her ear, retrieved the flower the flower she'd put there earlier and tucked it into a buttonhole on the front of his suit.  "Ready?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

She took a deep breath.  "Let's do it."

There wasn't a song and dance, or a speech from Judge Ross extolling the virtues of love.  Instead, as soon as the last person was seated, Pete's mom began with a short speech on how long Chloe and Lex had known each other and how they were embarking on a new journey together, just as they had asked her to.  When she asked if anyone had a voice to raise against their joining, Pete took an obvious glance back to the door before giving Chloe a big thumbs up and smiling at the small laugh she let escape.  After glaring at her son, Judge Ross turned to Chloe and asked, "Do you, Chloe Sullivan, take Lex Luthor to be your husband, to cherish and honor, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"

She didn't hesitate.  "I do."

Turning to Lex then, she repeated, "Do you, Lex Luthor, take Chloe Sullivan to be your wife, to cherish and honor, in sickness and in health until death do you part?"

There was a pause and it was in that short moment that Chloe's heart stopped as Lex gave her a profound stare.  Finally, on the brink of the pause becoming an unanswerable valley, Lex said confidently, "Yes, I believe I do."

Chloe glared at him and shook her head as if she was about to try and punch him.  "Bastard," she murmured.

"But I'm your bastard now," Lex whispered back.

Chloe scowled, "Not yet."

Judge Ross pretended not to hear them, though it was obvious that everyone in the room had, their chuckles quite telling at that.  "Now we will have the exchange of the rings."

As if to make up for his teasing, Lex went first, reaching into his front pocket and pulling out a band that matched Chloe's engagement ring.  Silently, he reached out for her hand, and placed it on her finger.  After he was done, Chloe reached around her neck to pull off the silver necklace from which hung a matching ring.  Just as quietly, she pulled up Lex's hand and slid the loop on his left ring finger.  "Now," she emphasized calmly as she replaced the necklace around her neck, "you're mine."

Lex only grinned.

Upon their completion of the exchange, Judge Ross managed a small soliloquy about how she was allowed by the state of Kansas to announce them husband and wife, as if she were trying to make up for the small amount of time that the ceremony had taken.  The entire time, though, Chloe stared at Lex, or at least, one part of Lex.

She hadn't forgotten what was coming next, but it was a whole hell of a lot different when they were on the verge of sealing their vows.  Entwining her hands in front of her, Chloe bit her lip, wondering what it would be like.  The last time she'd truly kissed Lex was, well, that night.  While she had to admit now that not all that night had been a frenzied coupling, it was hard to remember just how he'd kissed her then.  All she could remember was everything else.  Her eyes widened as she noted the exact moment that Lex practically read her mind and got a mischievous look in his eye.  Her thoughts became frantic.  Oh, God, what am I doing?

The blood was pounding so loudly in her ears that Chloe didn't even hear Judge Ross give the cue, she only saw Lex begin to come towards her.  It took all she could, but she managed not to shrink back, but stand still and hope that Lex would keep in mind that her father was still in the room.  Chloe shut her eyes, expecting to be hit quickly, with the intensity only Lex could manage.

It was anything but.

Who is this? was her last coherent thought.  Chloe practically melted as Lex's slowly mouth slid over hers, his hands reaching around her and up into her hair.  Thoughts becoming scattered as she began to respond, her own hands reaching up to grip the shoulders of Lex's jacket, Chloe forgot her father even existed, let alone was watching them.  Goodness, she'd been afraid of this?

The moment was broken by the loud clicking of the camera from the side of them; the cameraman was certainly earning his wages by the sound of the speeding shutter.  Before she knew it, Lex was stepping back, an arrogant and satisfied expression plain to see and her own cheeks becoming flooded with heat.  It got worse when she heard Pete call out, "Now that was a kiss!"

"Shut up, Pete," Lex replied, his eyes still on his new wife.  "How do you feel, Mrs. Luthor?"

Chloe couldn't answer, her head was still floating somewhere above them all.

********************************

"Lana, Pete," Lex called out to the two of them as Louis and Ann-Marie led away a very weepy Gabe Sullivan.  Chloe looked after him fondly, brushing away a small tear that had formed in her own eye.  She began to laugh though, when Gabe started to loudly recount how little Chloe used to be and 'oh, how big she is now!'

Lex, mouth lifted in a half-grin, shook Pete's hand and leaned over to kiss Lana on the cheek.  "Thank you for coming."

"Yes, really. It means a lot to us that you were both here," Chloe echoed, hugging Lana and then Pete.

"Hey, do you think your dad's going to be okay?"  Pete remarked when they heard Gabe burst into a fresh bout of happy tears.

Chloe looked over his shoulder.  "I hope so.  I can only imagine what he'll be like when the baby arrives."

"We'll get to that when the time comes," Lex gestured over to Judge Ross to join them.  "Chloe and I were actually going to ask you two a favor."

Handing them both silver pens, Chloe went on, "We need your signatures."

"But I didn't see a guest book-" Lana stopped when Judge Ross thrust a sheet of paper into her hands.

"What's this, a gag order?"  Pete asked cautiously as he tried to see what Lana was holding.

Chloe smacked him on the arm.  "We're asking you to be our witnesses."

Lana broke into a wide smile, looking between the paper in one hand and the pen in the other.  Engraved in it was, "Lex & Chloe" along with the date and underneath, "Lana Lang, Fairy Princess Witness."

"I would be very honored," she replied happily, quickly jotting down her name below Chloe's already written signature. 

Pete stared down at his pen.  "Pete Ross, Silent Witness?"

Chloe raised an eyebrow as she replied, "Fitting, don't you think?"

Pete rolled his eyes, but uncapped the pen and wrote down his name next to Lana's.  As he stood straight, he entwined his fingers in Lana's, facing the other couple.  "My name on an official legal document with Lex Luthor.  Let's not make this habit okay, Lex?"

"Of course not," Lex replied, his voice light-hearted as he drew an arm around Chloe's waist.  Pete saw the light brighten in Lex's eyes as he addressed his new wife.  "So, Mrs. Luthor."

"Yes, Mr. Luthor?"  Chloe grinned up at him.  Her happy face matched Lex's in every way, so much that Pete and Lana gave each other a glance before turning back to them.

"Let's go celebrate."

****************************************************

"And what would you have done with the pen if I hadn't come, Lex?"  Pete sidled up to him, watching Lana and Chloe talk animatedly as they both excitedly stuffed wedding cake into their mouths.

"Have you noticed that I'm a billionaire?"  Lex raised a sardonic eyebrow.  "I'm sure I would have managed the expense just fine."

Pete chuckled.  "If you say so."

"Besides, I knew you'd come."

Looking over the rim of his glass, Pete asked, "Did you?"

"You're Chloe's friend, of course you would be here," Lex said.  "I would have been very surprised if you'd skipped the opportunity to try and talk her out of this."

"Now, Lex-"

"And knowing you, as her friend, I understand that as well."  Lex interrupted him with a hand held in the air.  "But it's done, you and Lana have each had your chances.  Are you at least satisfied with whatever answer she gave you?"

He looked struck for a moment, but Pete recovered quickly.  "Somewhat.  Enough to have a feeling that she knows what she's doing."

"Chloe's always been a big girl. You don't have to watch over her anymore, Pete." 

"I've known her for nearly ten years," Pete held out his glass for Lex to refill and waited until he was done.  "How can I stop trying to protect her?"

"Because she's a married woman now and I have the means to take care of her all by myself."

Pete's eyes narrowed.  "Money isn't everything, Lex."

Lex drew his glance over to the other man.  His eyes were hooded as he coolly replied, "Who said anything about money?"

When Pete couldn't seem to find anything in response, Lex said, "Pete, you are her friend and I'm glad for that.  Chloe doesn't have nearly as many as she deserves, at least ones who appreciate her for who she is.  And now that she's my wife, I'd like to avoid this red flag nonsense.  Don't stop seeing her on account of me."

"Are you asking me to be her friend, Lex?" Pete asked suspiciously.  "Or yours?"

"I'm not asking you anything, Pete.  I'm expecting it.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a new bride to attend to."  With that, Lex walked away.

**************************************************

Chloe was laying on the couch in one of the seldom used family rooms when Lex waved the last maid away from clearing the room where they'd held their small reception.  Lex shut the door as softly as he could, carrying two wine glasses in one hand and a flask of milk in the other.  Treading carefully, he placed the items down on the coffee table and sat down at Chloe's feet.  Though he stretched out one hand to wake her, he pulled back before their skin touched.

Instead, Lex Luthor sat and simply watched his wife breathe. 

Her blonde hair was splashed against the pillow she lay on, her eyelashes barely fluttering in her sleep.  A hand was tucked under her cheek, exhaustion from their long day evident in the way none of her limbs moved in the minutes that passed as he simply stared.  His wife.  Chloe Luthor.  He'd seen the way she's panicked right before they'd first kissed as husband and wife, but Lex had no intention of letting her know that his own had far outweighed hers.  Because it was true what he had said, this relationship was one that seemed to break every rule ever made.

He wanted to hear her voice with such an intensity right then, that Lex reached out his hand once more and lightly shook her knee.  "Chloe.  Wake up."

She shifted slightly, "Mm?"

"I can't let you sleep on the couch for the entire night.  Come on, up."  Lex left his hand on her knee, smiling as she let out a huge yawn and watched him with sleepy eyes. 

The contact with her skin was broken when she slung her legs off the couch and sat up.  Yawning again, Chloe asked, "What time is it?"

"After twelve.  I would have come and gotten you earlier, but I needed to arrange a ride home for your father." 

"Ah," Chloe spied the drinks on the table. "That for me?"

"Well, seeing as any alcohol was out," Lex leaned forward, pouring the milk into a wine glass and handing it over to her, "I decided to let you go at least halfway there."

Chloe smiled, but took a large sip.  "Lex Luthor, always about the ambiance."

"Environment is half the battle."

"Hmm," Chloe murmured, polishing off the glass and holding it out for more.  "So, what's next?"

He poured some more, saying, "It's up to you.  We could get up at a dreadful hour in the morning and catch the first flight out of here to some random beach and give ourselves a proper honeymoon, or…"

"Or…" Chloe waited.

"We could stay here."

She appeared to give it some deep thought before replying, "I'd look terrible in a bikini right now."

Lex chuckled, "Who said anything about swimsuits?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "And I'm not sure about traveling.  With our luck, we'd crash shortly after takeoff."

"And that wouldn't be any fun at all.  Or relaxing, for that matter."

"So staying here is sounding better and better."

"I'd have to agree with you there."

"Do you mind?"

"Not at all."

"Good."  Chloe finished off her second glass with a flourish, setting it down with a large clink and wiping at her upper lip.  "You're acting different."

It was an unpredicted comment, so Lex was immediately guarded.  "What do you mean?"

"You're just," Chloe shrugged, "nicer."

"Is there some sort of rule that I'm not supposed to be?"

"No," she said slowly.  "Just out of the ordinary."

"An explanation of that would be appreciated." 

"What kind of man brings milk in wine glasses?  Or gives someone the necklace that his mother cherished?"  Chloe bit her lip, hoping she hadn't gone too far.

"The kind of man who just got married, Chloe."  Lex gave her a deep searching look.  "What is this really about?"

"I'm just," Chloe spread her hands, "I'm just trying to figure out who you really are, Lex.  So far I've known at least three different Lex Luthors.  The first was this guy my dad worked for that I hardly ever saw around Smallville except for speeding around in the latest, fastest car.  The second was the guy who I met in Metropolis who pretty much joined in dropping my life into the blender.  That's the one I saw in the parking lot that night, that's what I thought I would expect from now on.  But now it's this… milk in wine glasses."

She was obviously flustered, her cheeks growing hot at the explanation she gave him.  Lex dipped his head forward in thought, waiting a moment before answering her.  "Do I have to necessarily be one of those, Chloe?"

"Why can't anything be straightforward with you, Lex?" 

Lex reached out a hand, laying his palm against her cheek and lightly stroking her skin.  "Because, that's not the way I work, Chloe.  It never has been."

She leant into his hand, closing her eyes.  "Then what am I supposed to expect?"

"The unexpected, perhaps."

"I don't like the unexpected," she whispered. 

The real worry was evident now, in the way she moved and in the tone of her voice.  It was a small stab, but Lex also knew she wasn't ready.  "Chloe, you don't have to come to my bed tonight."

Her protest was weak, "But we're married now."

"But you're not ready," Lex reminded her.  "And I'm not going to make you go somewhere you're uncomfortable with."

There was something in the way that he said that that made Chloe nod.  "I just need a little time.  I need to know who I married, Lex."

"I understand. Or at least, I'll try to."  Lex smiled wryly.  "You're tired and it's time for bed anyway."

Leaving the glasses where they'd been set down, the two of them rose and exited the room.  Lex laid an arm around Chloe as they climbed the stairs and stopped outside of her room.  The hallway was dark, but as Chloe reached in and flipped the switch, the light shone brightly on the two of them through the doorway.  She looked at him uncertainly as he began to push her through the doorway. 

"We're a strange pair, aren't we Lex?"  She reached up and brushed away a nonexistent piece of dust from his shirt.  Lex caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, slowly placing a kiss in her palm. 

"It fits us, Chloe.  Go to sleep.  I'll see you in the morning."  It took a great deal of determination, but Lex turned on his heel and began to walk down the hallway.

Chloe watched him take a few steps before saying, "Lex, wait."

"Yes, Chloe?"

He'd barely turned back to her before she said, "Sorry for the milk breath."

And she kissed him.

It was quick and closed, but at that moment there was nothing that Lex would have loved more than to relive that moment.  Her lips were warm against his own, as were the hands lightly gripping his neck where she'd grabbed to pull him down to her.  Before he could truly react, Chloe had stepped back, a shaky hand being pushed through her hair.  "I wanted to return the favor.  You know, from this afternoon."

Lex grinned.  "Good night, Chloe."

He was gone before she could stop him, but Chloe still said quietly into the darkness, "Good night, Lex."

It was when the lights were off and her alarm clock set that it hit Chloe.  Sitting up in bed, clad in her warmest pajamas, Chloe realized that not once since Pete had mentioned him had she thought of Clark Kent.  Any thoughts of him had been banished on her wedding day.  Laying a hand on her stomach, she rubbed it slowly as she did often those days.  It was a good thought. 

And it made Chloe Luthor smile.