Disclaimer: See Chapter one
A/N: Happy Holidays, y'all. Okay so I know I said that there was going to be 2 more chapters but I can't do what I want with the characters in only two chapters so as of today I really couldn't tell you how many are left. If you haven't already figured it out this will end up being an evil somewhat evil Chlex fic climaxing with the final chapter and the sequel that I might possibly be planning. We all know that Pete and Lana get married and end up being a part of Lex's presidential campaign, so the characters need to be moved to the point where they are against Clark in light of future events.
Ch. 14
Tithings and Such
Rosy patches formed on the sleeping figure lying tangled amongst the satin red sheets as dawn's rays fell upon her golden face. She roused slowly, her legs gliding silkily along the soft sheets as her eyes fluttered open. Blonde curls fell into her emerald eyes as she surveyed the room that held her with sudden curiosity.
Her eyes rested on the empty space beside her that should have been the resting figure of her husband, but was instead replaced by the presence of a single, long-stemmed scarlet rose that blended with the sheets that enveloped her. Her lips formed a gentle smile as she picked up the rose and felt the velvety texture brush against her bright skin as she inhaled the gentle aroma.
Her eyes fell upon the pillow from where the rose nested and picked up a note, folded with great care. She smiled again as she opened it and surveyed its contents.
"I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times in life, after life, in age, after age, forever.
Rabindranath Tagre
I'm sorry I can't watch you wake but there is some business that I must attend to. I will return at noon and am waiting to see your smile.
Lex
P.S. Every rose petal is for every minute that I spend thinking of you.
Chloe cocked her head at the last line as she held the single red rose between her fingertips. Her eyes swept the room again and noticed there was something covering the floor. She leaned forward, holding the sheet around her, to behold hundreds of white, pink and red rose petals gracing their bedroom floor. 'Every rose petal is for every minute that I spend thinking of you.' Chloe's heart warmed at the thought that he was thinking of her a lot.
Lana glanced at the digital alarm clock resting upon her night stand as it changed from 10:59 to 11:00 am. She had been waiting with bated breath until she felt that it was the right time to call Chloe.
She glanced at the phone sitting beside her bed as she slowly picked it up and dialed Chloe's cell phone number.
"Hello," said Chloe, merrily.
"Hey there, at least one of us is happy," she said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Lana? What's up?"
"We need to talk," she said somberly.
"About what?" she asked slowly, her heart beginning to beat terribly fast. "The doctor's didn't call about my dad did they? Please don't tell me something's wrong."
"No nothing like that. The doctors haven't called at all."
"Then what do we need to talk about?" she asked, the panic leaving her voice being quickly replaced by curiosity.
Lana paused for almost a minute before she continued. "Clark."
Chloe fidgeted slightly upon the squashy leather seats of one Lex's many limos. It seemed as though it was taking them ages to get to her house and Chloe's mind couldn't help but wonder why Lana wanted to talk about Clark to her. She had barely said two words to him since she got back from Spain. Her eyes fell to the clock that read 11:26 am and began to worry. Lex said he would be back around noon and it was almost 11:30. She wanted to be their when he arrived, to see him the morning after they confessed and expressed their love.
She jumped from the limo quickly, not waiting for the chauffer to open her door and bounded up to the front door and opened it slowly.
"Lana?" she called out, surveying her home and searching for the brunette.
"I'm here," she said, coming from the back of the house. "How have you been Chloe?"
Chloe pondered the question. She had gone from devastated, to vengeful and to elated all in the course of two days. "Okay," she said, deciding that was a good enough answer. "How about you?"
"Fine," said Lana quietly.
"No you're not," said Chloe as she took a seat on the couch and patted the cushion beside her, requesting that Lana sit.
"I'm just lonely that's all," she said, taking the seat beside Chloe. "With you and you're dad gone, this house is way too big for one person to be in by herself."
Chloe squirmed in her chair. She had completely forgotten that Lana was here by herself, left to grieve over her father's accident alone. "Sorry, about that-"
"Don't be," Lana interrupted. "You're married now and you didn't get to go on your honeymoon and I'm sure you and Lex were rather busy," Lana quipped, smirking.
Chloe blushed. "But hey, I'm sure a certain farm boy would come and visit if you asked," she said, hoping that bringing up Clark would force Lana to say what she really had on her mind.
"Not after last night," she responded.
"What happened?"
"I asked him to be truthful with me about what was in the envelope that was sent to us and he said it was nothing," said Lana rising from her seat. "I know I can be ditzy and irrational at times and even a little self-absorbed but I'm not stupid. I know when I'm being lied to."
"Join the club," Chloe mumbled. "Clark's a liar, Lana," she said soothingly, walking towards the girl who was standing in the kitchen. "He's been lying to us since the first day we met him."
Lana glanced at Chloe and looked to the floor, staring at her socks. "He told me he loved me, that night in the barn."
"Is that right," Chloe said sarcastically. "Well I don't doubt that he does. But if he really loved you Lana, he wouldn't lie to you. He wouldn't lie to any of us," she said opening the refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of apple juice. "Take for instance him and Lex. How many times has Lex helped him out of a bind with his assistance and his money?" she asked.
"Too many times to count," said Lana, crossing her arms against her chest.
"Exactly, I mean that should count for something. He should trust Lex. And after everything the four of us have been through, you me, Pete and Clark, we deserve to know the truth."
"Chloe," said Lana thoughtfully, "I think Pete knows. You didn't see his face when he opened the envelope. He was turning purple he was so mad. You don't react to spotty information like that if you don't know the truth behind it."
"Since when did you become so insightful?" Chloe asked, smirking as she gathered two cups from the cupboard.
"Since I've sat and thought about all the times Clark has rescued all of us. He really does have a hero complex."
"Indeed," she said, glancing at the girl. Perhaps Chloe and Lex had been underestimating this girl for far too long. "Yes, he does strive to save the 'less fortunate,' doesn't he?" Chloe asked, facing Lana. "Perhaps he feels the need to save the people he loves, or maybe it's just a guilty conscience pushing him to right the wrongs he's caused."
"What do you mean, right the wrongs?" asked Lana.
"Well," Chloe said, slowly, "What if I told you that everything that's happened to us since the day the meteors fell, including your parents death, could all be traced back to Clark Kent, farm boy and superhero extraordinaire?"
"I would say that I was thirsty for answers and you could be just what the doctor ordered to satisfy my unquenchable thirst."
"I bet you would. But how would I know that I and my husband could trust you, Lana? You don't expect me to just show you my hand and trust that you won't betray my confidence."
"My parents died the day the meteors fell. I want to know the truth, Chloe. You can trust me and I'll prove it anyway you want."
Chloe grinned. 'Perfect,' she thought. She opened her mouth to respond to Lana when the house phone rang and Lana rushed to get it.
"Hello?" she asked, cheerily, "Hey Pete." She paused and immediately her face fell into an expression of shock and wonderment. Chloe watched her features as she picked up her glass of juice and sipped it slowly. "Thanks Pete, I'll tell Chloe she's here," said Lana, hanging up the phone.
"You'll never believe what happened!" said Lana, rushing toward the coffee table and grabbing the remote control as she turned to the channel five news.
"I'll decide whether I believe it or not as soon as you decide to tell me," said Chloe dryly.
"Lionel Luthor is dead," she said quickly.
Chloe swayed gently at the news, as the glass slid from her fingertips and shattered against the ground, sending tiny glass shards flying in every direction. She looked to the ground as the brown liquid formed a river on the kitchen floor. Her breath hitched in her throat as her hands began to shake violently.
"Chloe?" asked Lana, loudly, standing beside the girl. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes," she stammered breathlessly. "Just shocked that's all," she said, staring at the television screen.
"I know," said Lana, grabbing a towel. "It looks as though he was driving behind a truck carrying metal rods when the restraints broke and the poles were released. Two went through the passenger side window and the other through the front window. A pole went through his stomach Chloe. He bled to death. Pete said it was in the paper today. They said it happened at about 5:55 this morning when he was driving to the Luthorcorp airstrip to return to New York…"
Lana continued talking as Chloe tuned her out and redirected her ears to the news report on television. "…it has been confirmed that Lionel Luthor, founder of Luthorcorp, died today, Friday December 26th, 2003. Lex Luthor, Luthor senior's oldest son has not commented publicly on his father's death but had scheduled a press conference for five this evening where he and his new bride, Chloe Luthor, will discuss Lionel Luthor's untimely demise and their plans for Luthorcorp. Lionel Luthor was 57…"
Chloe's mind was racing as she moved toward the door, her purse and jacket in hand. "I'm sorry Lana, I have to go, to be with Lex, but I won't forget our talk and I'll contact you as soon as possible," she said, closing the door behind her and rested in the limo as it sped toward the Luthor castle.