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And now, on with the chapter!
Chapter Nine : A Long Awaited Question
The sun was shinning brighter then ever as Lex and Chloe walked hand in hand down the sidewalk leading away from the cafe. Neither had spoken, they were still absorbed in their own thoughts. They had been walked for ten minutes not going in any real direction when Chloe stopped. "We are we going, Lex?" Lex only smirked, Chloe never ceased to amaze him. Her constant want of knowledge and demand to know what was going on around her at all times drove him mad some times but the need for perfection always over that. He saw to much of himself in her. His soul mate.
He'd missed her so much he thought he deserved a little annoyance. "I'd tell you to close your eyes but," he looked around, noticing all the people walking around them, "I do not think anyone here would be happy about that. You'll just have to follow me, Miss. Sullivan." What little bit of smirk he been able to keep on his face had completely vanished when he saw the look on her face. Chloe was trying, and rather hard from the way she was straying at him, to give him "the look", the effect however was diminished by her laughter.
"Does that mean I have to trust you?" She inquired innocently.
"Completely."
"Lead the way Mr. Luthor." she told him, tightening the grip on his hand in a loving fashion.
They made small talk as they walked the last couple of block. Nothing of great importance, each caring more about the closeness to each other then to what they were saying. Finally Lex stopped in front of a tall building. Chloe recognized it immediately, the Ciel as it was appropriately named was the most exclusive residential dwelling in M--.
"Shall we go up?" Lex asked, when Chloe only continued to stare at the building Lex was a little worried he'd done something wrong by bringing her here so soon. "Chloe, it's all right. I just want to talk, that's all." He explained while his mind raced with other thoughts, 'Don't get ahead of your self, Lex.'.
"You live here?" She asked. Lex was a little taken aback by this question, Chloe of course knew he had money, why she would be surprised, by his musing was cut off when she clarified. "No, Lex I'm not surprised you live here, I just meant, well," she looked slightly uncomfortable, "the way things have been between us lately, I just did not think you would want to..." She trailed off, her face was glowing a deep shade of red and her eyes were down cast. Lex had to bite his lip to keep from laughing, 'Good to know I'm not the only one feeling like this.' he thought to himself.
"We can take this, what ever this is, as slow as you want, Chloe." He told her opening the door, "You don't have to worry around me, I hope you know that." he told her with a great deal of sincerity.
It was Chloe's turn to smirk, "I'm not worried about myself, Lexy." she told him entering and calling him by the pet name she had created one morning. 'Those were the days.' She thought.
"So when did you get this place?" Chloe asked as the entered the elevator.
"Two years ago." Lex answered promptly. "I don't come here often, in fact this is the second time I've been here in nine months." He told her sadly, "I needed a place for, well when my father and I fought, I needed somewhere to come that he did not know about. I purchased this under a different name and the staff along with the other people that live here are good about keeping what they see and hear to themselves. Ah," he said in a much more cheerful tone, "here we are!"
The doors opened to a cozy looking apartment. Steeping out of the elevator, Chloe felt a very soft carpet under her feet, it was area rug that accented the dark cherry wood floor nicely with it's greens. The entry way it self was only about ten feet by eight feet, marble pillars stood in the four corners but three sides were open. Directly ahead of them was the sitting room with a kitchen off of it providing a great view of the skyline. Lex had decorated in what Chloe thought had to be a French country theme. While she thought the manor was gorgeous this was warm and inviting.
"Make your self at home." Lex said, indicating the oversized chairs and sofa. Chloe sank into one of the chairs, 'As conformable as they feel." she thought.
"You know," she told him, "I never pictured your city dwelling to be so, so inviting."
" Does kind of wreck the playboy image a little?" Lex asked, coming back into the living room, caring two drinks. "Club soda with lime, your still drinking that right?" he asked as he handed it to her.
"It has not been that long, Lex. And thank you." She told him taking the glass gratefully.
"So how did the Daily Planet thing go this afternoon?" Lex asked as he slid in beside Chloe in the chair. Taking this move as a positive sign Chloe shifted and curled up into his lap.
"I was a little surprised when I found out what you did." Chloe admitted. "Why did you show them that?" She asked looking into his eyes.
"It was not to assure you of the job or to undermine you, Chloe. I just wanted to tell you I remember that night, and that morning." For the second time that day Chloe looked away as her cheeks warmed up.
"That was good." Chloe said, her voice dreamy.
"So what job did you get?" Lex asked, wanting to know more, he had been dying over the last couple weeks not knowing anything about her life.
"Junior Researcher." Chloe said tensely. Lex looked stunned, "Why?" He asked, "Surely they have something better."
"Lex, I don't want you to worry about it." Chloe told him.
"Chloe," Lex said nervously, "what did you say?" Chloe simply rolled her eyes, "Mr. Davis, the guy who interviewed me, wanted me to clean that article up a bit and use it." Chloe told him. "Of course I said no."
"But it could have landed you the job you've been dreaming of for as long as I've known you!" Lex told her hotly.
"I won't take it at the expense of our rela- friendship." She said with a look of great discovert. 'Damnit Chloe watch what you say!' That annoying voice in her head said again.
Neither spoke for a while. It was Lex who finally broke the silence, "I wish you would have said relationship, Chloe." he said quietly, eyes fixed on the glass in his hand.
"I'm sorry." She whispered back, "It's just, it's just when we fight." "I know." He finished for her. They looked into each other's eyes again and Lex was struck by just how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. He set his glass down on the table next to his chair and pulled her close to him into a hug.
They remained in the embrace for a while, Chloe had begun to cry a little, Lex just whispered in her ear and held her tighter, never wanting to let go. Lex's stomach started making little noises after they had been cuddling for an hour which finally forced them to break apart.
"What would you like?" He asked standing up and walking over to the refrigerator and pulling out several containers.
"I thought you said you never come here?" Chloe asked eyeing the food.
"Well," Lex said shifting around the containers, "after my father and I talked I told him I needed to be on my own for a while, just think some things over. When I bought the roses for you I got some off."
Chloe nodded, "I'm glad you still eat take out at home." she muttered.
"Is that a remark about my cooking?" He asked in mock offense as he came up behind her, planting a soft kiss on her neck and wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Yes." Chloe said with a smile while she reached over and remover their plates from the microwave. "I've tasted your so called 'cooking' it was worse then mine and that's saying a lot."
"How is your dad any ways?" She asked as they sat down. Lex hesitated in answering, he knew some of the history between Chloe and his father, he was happy for the most part with how the evening had been progressing and he was worried this topic would stir up unwanted anger. The last thing he wanted right now was a row with Chloe so soon after they had begun the healing process.
"How are you asking?" He questioned her then quickly put of forkful of food into his mouth.
"As your partner not as a former employee's daughter." She told him bluntly. 'My list of reasons why I lover her will never end.' Lex thought, her ability to be blunt when needed had helped many times in their relationship.
"He's not doing so well." Lex said a note of sadness in his voice that Chloe did not miss. She let the subject drop for now and they finished eating in silence.
"Lex," she ventured again as they stacked the dishes in the sink, "what's wrong?" His reaction to her earlier question and the way his eyes were down cast now bothered her a great deal. Taking his hand she lead him over to the sofa and sat down pulling him close to her. She rested back and he laid his head on her shoulder.
"He's sick." He choked out. "I don't know why I'm so bothered by it. I've hated him, always. Even when my other was alive I hated him. The way he treated her. All those women, I never understood why he did it. My four years at Cambridge were the best of my life. I was away really for the first time, in a different country where he could not watch my every move even though he tried. Now," He trailed off, looking up at, Chloe and then down again at his hands, "After my mom died, I stilled hated my dad but he was my father, I just worried, losing my other parents." He said quietly.
Chloe knew how he felt in a way, she could not imagine losing her father. She knew that how ever much Lex said he hated Lionel he wanted his father to be proud of him, to be there when he needed to vent his anger and, to, if even in a small way, love him.
Chloe could think of not words of comfort to offer, anything she thought of sounded ridicules in her head. Say things like, "it will get better" or "it won't be that bad" seemed to do little more then to clam the person saying them down and not the one that needed the support. She reached out her hand and cupped the back of his head bringing it down to rest in her lap. Her other hand he rested on his side and slowly massaged his back.
"Your not alone in this you know. I'll always be here." She told him, a tear running down her cheek.
"Thank you." He said grabbing her hand and pressing it to his lips. "Are you going tonight?" He asked, turning to lay on his back, his head still in her lap.
"I can stay if you want me to." Chloe told him, looking at the time and realizing with a start that it was eleven at night. "I really should call my dad though." She said cringing at the thought of telling him where she was.
"Here," Lex said reaching for the phone, "how does a hot bath sound?" he asked. Chloe looked down at their fingers that were intertwined and then back up into Lex's eyes. "Wonderful." She told him before she pressed her lips to his.
"Great. You call your father and I'll draw the bath." He told her as he got up and headed towards the bathroom.
When Chloe came in she thought she walked into a spa. The only light in the room was from about two dozen candles let, hot water was flowing out of the tap and the top of the water already in the tub was over in bubbles. The smell of vanilla filled the air, Chloe's favorite scent.
Lex gave her a warm smile as he reentered the room with two fluffy towels. Chloe wanted to jump him when she saw he was down to just his pants but remembering the scene from ten minutes before just smiled back.
Lex came over to her and placed his hands on her waist. "Chloe, are you ready for this?" He asked her, "If it's to so-" but anything he might have said was cut off when she pressed a finger to his lips.
"Lex, it's not like this is our first time." She said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Fair point." He said as he began removing her cloths.
Once they were in the tub he again drew her close and wrapped his arms around her tracing pattern on her arm and kissing her neck. Chloe moaned in response. "I think I'll need to call in sick tomorrow." Chloe said in-between moans of pleasure.
After their bath then each dried off and sank into bed. Chloe cuddled up next to Lex as soon as he turned off the light on the best side table.
"Good night, Love." He said as he looked at her.
"Night." She muttered from against his chest, "And Lex," she said bringing her head up, "thank you for being you."
*** Next Morning ***
Sunlight filtered in though the cracks in the window hangings. Lex and Chloe awoke to the sound of Chloe's cell phone going off. "Ugh," she moaned, "why did those damn things have to be invented?" and quickly pulled the sheet they had used around her, leaving Lex with the comforter and raced to find her phone.
Lex watched her go sinking back into the pillows. He was so happy, he had been waiting for this day his hole life. Taking advantage of Chloe's absence he found his pants and pulled out the ring.
"Who was that?" Lex asked as Chloe came back in tossing her cell phone rather hardly near her cloths.
"My new boss. Thankfully that place is so chaotic before he had time to sack me he hand to go do something." She told him as she climbed back into bed.
"So you still have your job then?" Lex asked feeling bad in a way for her that she had to go thought all this.
"Yeah."
"And your in a good mood?" He questioned farther. Chloe propped her self up on he elbow and looked at him. "What's this about Lex?" She asked.
"Can you handle one last question?" He asked smiling brightly. Chloe nodded and watched with excitement as he rolled over and grabbed some off his bed side table.
"Chloe," He said looking into her eyes and trying to calm himself. He was not a man known to worry about anything but this terrified him. He was so worried she would say no. Though the rational side of his mind told him that she loved him. "I've been wanting to ask you this for a long time now." He opened the box and she gasped, "Will you marry me?" He asked pulling the ring from the box and holding his hand out.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked from the ring to him. "Yes." She said very quietly and nodding. They both broke into smiles and he reached for her hand, placing the ring on her finger.
"I love you, Chloe" He said before pressing his lips to hers.
"I love you too, Lex." She said as they broke apart. "I always will."