Chapter 1

"Growing Pains"

A Smallville story by Xica

Characters: Clark, Chloe, Pete, Lana, Lex, and Mari

Disclaimer: The only character I own is Mari; everything else belongs to some very rich men who don't understand that the Chlark is what makes the Smallville world go round. Enjoy

This story is a sequel to my story "Blow the Candles Out". No one was really begging for it or anything but I just felt like picking back up with these characters since I enjoyed them so much the first time. And yes the title is a little corny but since this one is going to deal with the evolution of all of the characters relationships, its appropriate.  I really think you need to read the first story to understand the sequel, but that's up to you. Anyone will tell you that I'm a feedback slut so please read and review if you would be so kind.

"Clark, this just isn't going to work out"

Clark looked up from the tractor motor he was tinkering with and stared at Chloe like she was out of her mind. "Chloe stop overreacting".

"No Clark, I'm absolutely serious. I've put up with a lot from you these past few months, but this is going too far".

"Chloe, it's only a tractor".

"Humph" Chloe sniffed, "Chloe Sullivan does not ride tractors, it's uncivilized".

At that Clark smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Uncivilized? Oh, so I guess strip poker in the hay loft and skinny dipping at crater lake is "more" civilized?" he asked walking towards her.

Chloe blushed, but remained firm, "I'm just saying Clark, there have got to be better ways for us to spend time together than rumbling around on some phallic farm equipment".

"Chloe, we've been over this a million times. Between school, you, and the 'Torch" my parents think I'm not spending enough time helping out at the farm as it is. So this is the best I can do".

"I know," Chloe sighed. "Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that I have to go to that wedding this weekend. I wouldn't want your parents to start thinking badly of me".

"No Chloe, my parents adore you, its me that they think is irresponsible".

 "If you say so. Listen, why don't I just clear out of here okay? You can get everything done and I'll just have to find some way to occupy myself this evening".

"Are you sure?" Clark asked pulling Chloe close.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I did have a life before you came along remember?" Chloe said, giggling as Clark's fingers tickled the small of her back.

"Yeah, but you gotta admit, things are a lot more fun nowadays" Clark replied, kissing Chloe gently. "So what are you going to do?"

"I dunno" Chloe said thoughtfully, "Lana's working at the Talon tonight so I'll probably try to extract Mari from the mansion".

"She has been spending more time there than usual the past couple of days".

"Well apparently Lex has to go to Metropolis for a conference. He's leaving tonight. I'd say she's experiencing a little separation anxiety".

"Why?" Clark asked, clearly confused.

"Well" Chloe said, walking towards her car, "this will be the first time he's gone away without her for longer than a day or two".

"So?"

"Sooo she knew him in Metropolis Clark. And for all the obvious positive influences small town life has had, the person that he was is still inside him".

"So basically she doesn't trust him." Clark said, opening up Chloe's car door.

"Maybe, maybe not. All I know for sure is that she's worried that by comparison to all the pleasures of Metropolis she'll look a little less exciting".

"That's ridiculous, Lex lo-…" Clark started, "well I mean, Lex, he really…".

"Exactly Clark. She has no idea really where things stand with them. And she never really felt the need to define it until now, so she's a little freaked out".

"I think everything will work out. Lex would never try to hurt her".

"Well you know what they say about best intentions. But enough about them. Do I get a good-bye kiss? I'll be gone for three whole days" Chloe said.

"I don't know how I'll survive", Clark murmured against Chloe's lips.

"Lex we've really got to do something about your wardrobe".

"What!?"

"I mean seriously, I know black goes with everything but I think you're taking this a little too far". Mari's eyes rested on the rack containing Lex's dress shirts and rolled her eyes. "And don't even get me started on this purple thing".

"I don't believe this", Lex said as he exited the bathroom and stepped into the closet.

"Me either, even morticians throw in a few primary colors once in a while".

"No, I mean I can't believe you're complaining about my clothes. Don't all those  women's magazines warn people like you not to try and change men?"

Mari turned around to face him, and the words got caught in her throat. Lex was fresh out of the shower, clad in only a towel, drops of water still clinging to his body.

"And besides, if we got rid of all my shirts, what would you wear?" Lex said gesturing towards the deep purple shirt that constituted all of what Mari was wearing at the moment.

"Okay then. I'll take it all back on one condition", she said playfully.

"Mari, I'm not staying home".

"Why not?" Mari purred, switching tactics.

Lex smirked, Mari was a lot of things, but subtle wasn't one of them. " Mari, I have to go to work sometime. And if I have any chance of making more out of LexCorp than one fertilizer plant, I've got to stay visible".

Mari didn't say anything and just pouted. She was really laying it on thick now.

"Believe me, I'd rather be here with you, than schmoozing all those Fortune 500 cronies".

"If you say so" Mari huffed, grabbing one of Lex's suits and walking into the bedroom.

"Unbelievable" Lex muttered to himself, and followed her.

Lex leaned against the doorway and watched as Mari finished packing his suitcase. She bustled back and forth, pulling things from the closet and bureaus, and placing them neatly inside. It was something that he was more than capable of doing it for himself, but she seemed to feel some need to do this. It would have been cute if it weren't slowly becoming obvious that she was absolutely insane. On her next pass into the closet Lex grabbed her and walked her over to the bed. He sat down on the edge and pulled her down next to him. 

"Mari, what is this all about?"

"What is what all about? I'm just trying to help you pack for your 'big' week in Metropolis".

"You're acting like a madwoman", Lex replied.

"Abandon me for a week, and now you insult me. Well maybe while you're in Metropolis maybe you can find someone a little more level-headed that me" she said, jumping away from the bed and yanking open the dresser drawer that held the few things she kept there.

Lex rolled his eyes. "You're jealous".

"Me? Jealous? Please. I am jealous of nothing"

"You are. You're one psycho pool of jealous rage. You think I'm going to go to Metropolis and find someone else. That's great Mari".

Mari paused; what the hell was he getting angry about? She's the one who was about to get replaced by some air-headed heiress.

Mari whirled on him, "Don't you cop an attitude with me Lex. Don't forget I know all about your wild days in Metropolis. They were my main source of entertainment for years. And I know you'd like everyone believe that you've seen the light and changed your ways but I know better. You just haven't been tested. The minute you get back there those floozies are going to come out of the woodwork, attracted by the scent of your bank account, and you won't be able to handle it Lex. Who cares about the naive "kid" in Smallville when there's tons of jaded socialites willing to put up with anything just to stay 'visible'".

 Lex had to resist the urge to laugh. The same woman who had just been proclaiming how incapable she was of jealousy was exhibiting textbook green-eyed monster syndrome. It was becoming apparent that no rational conversation could solve this, it was time to go back to basics.

Advancing upon her Lex grabbed Mari, and before she knew what happening he was hoisting her over his shoulder. He carried her to the bed and dropped her like a sac of potatoes. He climbed in after her and pinned her arms to the sides, straddling her.

"Lex, stop it!" Mari whined, but Lex ignored her pleas.

Eventually she stopped trying to fight him and she lie still, her lips poked out in her usual pout.

"That's better", Lex said, loosening his grip on her arms, but still holding her still. "Mari, I don't really know where that little performance came from, and I'm not sure who you have less faith in, me, or you".

Mari started to speak, but he shushed her, dragging a finger slowly across her lips. "You need to know that if I wanted someone else, I would have someone else. But you can rest assured that at this moment the last thing I need is to divide my attention with another person. You wear me out as it is". Lex hesitated, not sure if he should say more.

Mari looked thoughtful. "So basically you're saying that I'm such a colossal pain in the ass that I've turned you off all other women, but the sex is good so you'll keep me around?"

"Something like that".

"Not exactly Shakespeare but I'll take what I can get".

Lex sighed and lie down on the bed next to Mari. She rolled over and placed her head on his chest, trying to commit the feeling to memory. Lex softly stroked her hair and Mari sighed contentedly. This was what he was going to miss.

His relationship with Mari wasn't quite turbulent, but it wasn't smooth sailing either. They were both rightly paranoid about being seen in public together, because the fact remained that he was still seen as a pariah by most of the residents of Smallville. Lex could care less about the antiquated opinions of the Smallville townies, but Mari was another story. She was part of a family that had a positive reputation in the community, and she would be ill advised to sully it. Metropolis was equally off limits because gossip-hounds dogged his every step, and Mari's parents were very much a part of the Metropolis social scene. In a few years maybe it wouldn't be such big deal, but from what he knew of Mari's family they'd pack her off to boarding school at the first hint of scandal.

As a result they spent most of their time together in the mansion, which brought on a whole new set of problems. Someone was always bursting in. Be it Lionel, business associates, security and even Clark, many a private evening had been ruined by unwanted company. Sometimes Lex wondered why he even bothered. But every once in a while he'd pull out a picture he kept hidden in his desk and it reminded him. It was just a candid snapshot that Chloe took at Mari's birthday party earlier in the year. He was sitting in one of the dining room chairs with Mari in his lap. They looked to be in conversation about something. The remarkable thing to Lex, was the expression on his face. Lex as a rule avoided cameras, save the few LexCorp publicity stills he had sat for, and in every picture he'd ever seen of himself he had the same grim, emotionless expression. But here simply sitting with Mari he was smiling, most likely at whatever absolutely absurd thing that was coming out of her mouth. It amazed even him how foreign happiness was to him. But he was happy now. LexCorp was slowly but surely gaining its footing and his father seemed to have taken a hiatus from testing him. Mari was just icing.

"Lex?"

"Yes Mari".

"I'm going to miss you".

"I'll miss you too", you have no idea how much.

"I'm sorry I spazzed out, I just…" she trailed off.

"I know" Lex said simply, reading more into her silence than he had ever thought possible. They both knew what was supposed to come next, but neither of them was ready for that yet.

"So do we get to have good-bye sex now or what?"

In spite of himself Lex laughed loud and hard. This woman was going to be the death of him.