Title: Stay With Me, A Little While

Chapter Completed: February 13, 2004

The First Church of Gotham was bursting with guests and a steady stream of press on the outside. The afternoon wedding was big news, along with its guest list. Arkham Asylum was put under special lock-down just as a special request of the benefactor Bruce Wayne. No precaution was too big for this big day.

"Mr. and Mrs. Kent," Anna greeted them openly. Her dress and hair only slightly rumbled from her earlier activities. Although Lex seemed to have disappeared.

"Anna?" the aged Martha Kent squinted to look at the girl, "Ah, yes, you're that sweet girl." She smiled brightly before the full memory formed on her mind, and sadness registered in her eyes, "How are you?"

"Good," she smiled back at the couple, "Have you seen Clark?"

The two looked back and fourth between each other.

"Isn't he here?" Martha answered first.

"Haven't seen him," she shrugged. Which was true. She hadn't seen him, and that was also the point.

"I'm sure he's around," Jonathan added quickly, pulling his wife along.

"I'm sure he is," Anna smiled at his curt nod, a twisted type of excitement filling her. She may just uncover a mystery. The greatest one in Metropolis, even bigger than the question of whom killed Lionel. But also one that held great consequences if discovered. It is only what one does with their knowledge that makes them evil or not, at least that's how she was choosing to view it. And right then she wasn't sure how she would use it. She was just curious.

Pausing the thought, Anna entered the Chapel. As she walked through the giant doors she was taken aback by the elegant beauty. White roses clung to each pew with the assistance of red ribbons. The symbols of pure, fertile passion hung in their fragrant abundance. Their smell and meaning almost strangled the girl as they surrounded her – reminding her of the life and future that were no longer hers. But maybe never truly were hers to begin with.

Anna sat, taking a seat in one of the pews by the back – closest to the doors. The rest of the pew was filling with unknown faces, having all the Smallville players, minus Clark, near the front. Even the tragic Lana sat happily in her pink dress. The other side of the aisle was filled with the best of Gotham society, from the mayor to the Police Commissioner. All were in attendance.

But Lex still seemed to be missing. After they had defiled the church he had disappeared on a business call, promising to be back soon. She never held her breath on that. Since she had agreed to try it again with the millionaire businessman his cell phone had been the relationship's appendage. Taking him away at some of the worst moments. It was just something she needed to become accustomed to. And a valid reason to look into the pill instead of other forms just for the erratic schedule.

The organ playing cut off her mild mind ramblings. The first grouping of notes managed to rouse everyone's attention. The ceremony had begun.

Anna watched the small precession with an awed admiration, and possible a tang of jealousy. Lois looked elegant in the tailored red dress, contentedly linked with the debonair Bruce. Murmurs circulated through the crowd – varying comments on how both looked, their narrative and the various gossip.

At the start of the wedding march everyone grew quiet, collectively raising to their feet. But as Chloe entered, clung to by her father, they drew a breath as if they were all one creature or shared a bond. It was true she looked stunning. The white gown hugged her but flowed, managing to even take away the groom's breath.

Anna herself found tears in her eyes as her friend walked past. Any jealousy faded by pure joy.

As Gab gave his little girl away to her new husband the tears flowed, provoking everyone else into tears and gentle sobs. But as Chloe took her position next to Dick everyone knew that everything was the way it should be. Everything was proper. The crowd took a comfortable seat and waited for the efficient to speak.

But in the back pew Anna held her cellular phone expectantly. Her eyes at the pulpit, but her hands wrapped around the plastic object. And still its gentle vibrating made her jump. Trying to control her excitement she looked down at the digital screen, finding the name she expected and an option to answer the call.

Biting her lip she quietly and carefully slipped out of the chapel, taking several steps away from the doors she opened the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey gorgeous," Lucas' smug voice greeted her, cracking slightly through the phone.

Rolling her eyes she spoke again, "How's it going Lucas?"

"The bird left the nest about five minuets ago," surprisingly all humour was lost in his voice.

"Beautiful, thanks," she smiled and hung up, not bothering to wait for a reply or give a goodbye. An anxious smile played on her face as she paced in front of the doors, still clenching the phone in her hands.

In a burst of energy the church doors opened and Clark flew in, stopping short in his dash at Anna.

"Why aren't you inside?" he was surprised to find her standing there, but not winded from his pace. Something Anna took note of.

"Phone call," she smiled shyly, holding up her cellular phone for his inspection.

Clark only nodded, eyeing her with some suspicion. "Coming back in?" he asked with his hand on the chapel doorknob.

"Yeah," she eyes him over, "Late?"

"Oh, um…yeah, traffic," he sputtered over his words, almost nervous of the question.

The handmaid just smiled at him, following him into the ceremony.

Clark slinked into one of the pews, as if he had always been there. Anna took to standing at the back of the chapel, in just enough time to bear witness to the 'I do's' of the ceremony. The pair exchanged vows, influenced by the very people pledging them.

Chloe promising to protect all Dick's secrets stood out, at least to the small audience at the back of the room. But wither way the bonding kiss produced the same emotional response as the precession had – and almost the same fan fair.

As the pair descended down the aisle, now tied by the bond of matrimony, the crowd erupted in applause and weepy cheers. The event nothing more then a blur to the ones having taken part, but a happy blur that neither would forget.

Few people in attendance would forget either. One such person was the handmaid, who watched with weepy eyes of her own. She was in fact so lost in the emotional reaction that, even being the closest to the doors; she was one of the last ones to leave. And her time taken was noticed: As she stepped through the doors someone grabbed her arm and pulled her over.

"ah-," what Lex had planned to say dried on his lips when he saw her red and wet eyes. Surprisingly to most, his first reaction wasn't concern , but was anger. He wanted to seek vengeance on whoever made the tears fall from her blue eyes. The second was concern as he wiped away the last drop from her cheek with his thumb, "What's wrong?"

Anna sniffled, wiping at her own cheeks in embarrassment, "Nothing. The wedding was just beautiful."

He smiled at her. Amused by the tender display she was making.

"Were you in there?" she had cradled his hand in hers, against her cheek, comforted by the touch.

He shrugged a shoulder; "I caught it." Not as impressed, when he spent the ceremony on the phone clarifying things at home with Lucas.

She smiled, almost sadly, "It was beautiful." She repeated, the smile reaching her eyes now. But still the slightest bit of melancholy colouring them.

The smirk threatened to break into a smile on the millionaire's face, "Marry me."

Anna was taken aback by the casual way he sprung the question, and the wideness of her eyes and the way her mouth gaped expressed that.

"I had planned on asking you before," he swept a stray hair from her face, "It was far more planned and romantic, but the timing was off." He shrugged a shoulder again.

She was still dumbstruck by it. There had only been days between reconciling and now, even if they had spent a decade in love.

"Lex," speaking softly she intertwined her fingers in his. Before the answer would be a quick and positive yes, but now, reflecting on both her and Lex, the answer was unclear. Taking a deep breath she looked into his eyes, "I can't marry you and will never bear Luthor children." She knew he would try to turn, escape what he saw as rejection, and hide his reaction. But by holding on to his hands so desperately she forced him to stay, and forced herself to watch the emotions rage through his eyes.

"Wait," she tried to soothe him as he continued to try and pull away, retracting from her. "Please,' she was whispering, finding some new strength to do this, "I will stay with you," she moved her hands to frame his face, "forever. And I want to have your child."

He seemed confused by this, taking a moment to process just what was transpiring. They were exchanging vows, but different than the traditional ones of the day, these were their own. Specific to these two, different people and their different circumstances.

"I love you," Anna softly pressed her lips to his, sealing what she pledged but holding back for a reaction.

Lex added the desired pressure to their chased kiss. He hated having someone else set the rules, it was a loss of control, but he loved the handmaid that had been forced into his life.

Pulling back himself, he mirrored her pervious stance, cradling her face in his hands.

"And I love you."

Their vows were exchanged. For better or for worse. For all the lives involved.