Disclaimer: See Chapter One
A/N: I know it's been a while since I have updated but between finals and moving back home for Christmas break, everything was crazy. But I'm back now. Also this is the first of the last three chapters. Thanks for sticking with me. *one love*
Ch. 11
A Sad Goodbye
Coiling wisps of smoke floated into the atmosphere as Lionel Luthor lit his Cuban cigar.
"Yes, Charles the wedding was quite lovely," said Lionel, sniffing the cigar. "My son and his new wife certainly outdid themselves."
"Yes, all the press attended and the articles for their Winter Wonderland wedding are being printed as we speak," said Charles, glancing longingly at the cigar Lionel was smoking.
"I assume they are heading for the airstrip to board the Luhtorcorp jet."
"Yes, Mr. Luthor, I understand that they are on their way to Paris for the rest of the girl's Christmas break. They are scheduled to return on the fourth of January."
"Indeed," said Lionel, rewinding the video, "My son looks very happy Charles. And the girl is quite lovely. They could have been so happy."
"Sir?"
"Plan B, Charles."
"Well, it's official, Chloe and Lex are married," said Lana, coming from the Torch office. "Gabe just called and said so. He's on his way here to get me. He said he has the entire video and reception on tape."
"I can't believe Chloe's married," Clark murmured. He glanced at Lana and quickly dropped his head.
"That and I can't believe we weren't invited," said Lana, somberly, wiping the counters.
Clark stared at her in disbelief. "Come on Lana, do you really think she would invite us after we lied to her? Besides Chloe made it known whose side she was on. She's a Luthor now. She investigated me and she went off and married Lex. The old Chloe Sullivan is dead to us now."
"Hey, Clark," said Pete, strolling up toward them, "Man, Chloe's married." He paused. "To Lex," he almost choked.
"Lana and I were just talking about that," said Clark, slightly grinning. "Chloe Luthor."
"You want me to change my name Lex just say it," said Chloe, watching him in the limo.
"And if I do?" he asked, grinning and taking her hand into his.
"Well get used to disappointment. This is the twenty first century Lex. And besides men marry their women, they don't buy them."
Lex smiled gently and kissed her hand. "Whatever you say, Mrs. Luthor."
"Sullivan-Luthor," she said, mock glaring at him. She watched as he lowered his lips to her hand again. She felt her body shiver gently as his lips pressed against her skin.
"So soft," he murmured, his lips trailing slowly up her arm. Lex smiled inwardly as he heard her sharp breath intake.
"Lex," she whispered. "I- I think we're here."
"Is that right?" he said, his lips brushing against her collarbone.
Chloe pressed her eyes closed as she felt warm breath blow softly against her earlobe. Lex leaned forward and pressed a short kiss against her ear, along her jaw line right before brushing his lips against her waiting mouth.
Chloe moaned softly at the warmth between them, her hands rising to meet his chest as the weight of his body pushed her back into the seat. Lex gasped when he felt her thigh rubbing against his own and pressed his tongue into her deeper.
Once again, Chloe was left thoughtless and speechless.
"Yes, Lois, I'll send you and your aunt the video tape as soon as possible," said Gabe Luthor to his niece as he drove toward the Talon. "Chloe was very beautiful. She looked happy even. The happiest I've ever seen her. She was practically glowing," he beamed, as he turned a sharp corner.
He looked at the upcoming cement road and saw the detour sign. "Oh, I'm sorry Lois, I just have to take another way to pick up Lana is all. Yes, Chloe's little pink, ditzy friend. Yes, Lois I'll be sure to tell her that," he said, backing up and taking the dirt road to his left.
"Yes, Lois I know you don't like Lana," he grimaced. "Yes, she can be a bit vapid at times. Look I have to go now, the roads and all, but I'll send the tape and pictures this evening. Tell your aunt I said hello, bye now."
Gabe sighed as he sat the phone down. With one hand he gently rubbed his eyes. It had been a tiring day indeed.
His daughter is married to Lex Luthor. He still was in shock. 'But she seems to love him and he her. I'll never forget Lex's face. I remember feeling like that when I saw Veronica for the first time,' he thought, as the whimsical smile fell from his lips.
Then there was Veronica. He truly never expected to see her again, especially not through Chloe. She was so hurt when her mother left. And as hard as Veronica tried, it took quite some time before they patched their relationship up. As for his ex-wife and himself. He knew there was no hope for a future with them.
"Although she did look quite stunning this evening," he said, smiling sadly as he sped down the darkening dirt road.
"He's going down the road, sir," said Charles brightly.
"Wonderful, Charles. If you don't screw this up you'll be sure to find a nice Christmas bonus in your stocking this year," said Lionel, smoking his cigar.
"Sir, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, to say, murder is a very serious offense," Charles said slowly.
"Don't be so dramatic Charles," Lionel snapped. "It's not deep enough to kill him, just to give him some very serious injuries. I'm not that heartless. Killing a girl's father on Christmas Eve, and her wedding day at that," he said smirking.
'No, you just want to put him in a coma,' Charles thought. "Very well, sir," he said exiting the room.
"I think you almost gave the chauffer a heart attack with that little show back there, Lex," Chloe said, smiling at him, as she settled herself on the couch and began smoothing out her short white cocktail dress.
"It takes two, you know, *Mrs. Luthor*," he said, as he poured two glass of champagne and handed her one.
"You're not going to drop that are you?" she said, lifting her eyebrow and taking the glass.
"Don't bet you life on it," he said, reaching out and brushing his fingertips against her cheeks.
"You know," Chloe began, staring down at her glass, "I've had about three of these already at the reception. If I didn't know any better, Mr. Luthor, I'd say you were trying to get me drunk."
"Why on earth would I need to do that?'" he asked innocently. "We're married I don't have to resort to getting you drunk, *honey*."
"Sir," said a man coming toward them. "We'll be taking off within the next five minutes for-"
Lex glared at him and the man stopped before he could uncover their destination. Chloe eyes followed them both and she grimaced.
"Lex, where are we going?" she asked, suspiciously.
"You told me to surprise you, and it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now, would it?" he said playfully, draining his glass. "You're very intuitive, *darling*, I'm sure you'll figure it out," he said, kissing her cheek, before he walked toward the cockpit.
Gabe continued his solemn drive down the murky roads of Smallville. It seemed as though he had been driving for a very long time and it didn't appear that he was getting any closer to the Talon.
Unconsciously he turned on his high beams; he could barely see the road in front of him. As he continued, the path became rough and he found himself being pushed forward by the potholes in the street.
He squinted gently. There seemed to be something in the road before him. He sped up figuring it was just shadows.
"Lana's going to pitch a fit if I keep her waiting," he said, pushing on the accelerator.
Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes, as he caught sight to what was in front of him. He felt his body fly onto the steering wheel, the air bag thrusting forward and the tipping of the car. The earth crumbled beneath him and sent him and his vehicle, crashing into the solid depths below.
"Where is he?" asked Lana impatiently as she locked the Talon doors. "It's not like him to be late."
"He'll be here, there might be a lot of traffic coming from the wedding," said Clark, resting his hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently.
"It's not that. I'm just worried."
"Gabe's a good driver I doubt anything has happened."
"I don't know Clark," she said looking at him, " I just have a really bad feeling something terrible just happened."
"Mr. Luthor," said Charles, as he opened the door roughly, "Sullivan is down, sir. We had an anonymous caller phone 911."
"Very good Charles, make sure the new Mrs. Luthor finds out about her father before they take off for France," Lionel said, staring at the television screen as his own wedding played out before him. "Better yet," he said scratching his bushel of hair, "leave it to me." He grinned. "Now go away, I have a very important call to make."
"Mr. Luthor, sir, your father is on the phone," said the pilot, as Lex surveyed the cockpit carefully.
"Ruin my day, father," he said quietly as he sighed and picked up the phone. "Luthor."
"How is the current Mrs. Lex Luthor?" asked Lionel grimly. "I trust she's safe in your embrace as we speak. Really Lex, she's a very beautiful girl and has a lot of spunk, but son couldn't you have just had your little fun with her and threw her to the dogs like the others. Looks to me like you're losing your touch."
Lex's fist tightened as he gently chewed on his tongue. "I believe a congratulations is in order, Lex. You have succeeded in making sure that I cannot discipline the girl. Moreover I am sure that you can protect her. But can you protect her family? Accidents do happen son. God tends to work in mysterious ways," he said darkly and the phone went dead.
Lex grimaced as he slammed it down. Digging into his pockets he flipped open his cell phone and quickly began dialing numbers.
He knew from experience not to take his father's inklings for granted.
Chloe sat silently, twirling her hair around her fingers. When she noticed what she was doing, she quickly stopped. She was not going to turn into one of those airheads that played in their hair all day long.
"Lex?" she called out, standing up, "what the hell are you doing in there?" she asked playfully.
She stumbled backwards as the door to cockpit swung open and banged loudly against the wall. She was about to say something sarcastic when she noticed the look on Lex's face. He was pale, more so than usual, and his eyes carried something within them. Was it pity? Or grief?
"Lex," she asked, fear etching itself across her face. He walked toward her and wrapped her in his arms, the warmth of their conjoined bodies soothing them both slightly.
He parted from her slowly. "Your father," he whispered.
"What about him?" she asked, backing away from him and wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
Lex stared at her sadly as she began to breathe roughly, her breath coming in short gasps.
"No," she whispered. "Lex, please what's wrong with my dad?"
He looked into her eyes and stepped toward her slowly, his hand resting on her cheek. "He fell."