A/N: I know that I shouldn't try to juggle three stories, but this idea came to me through Tandy at NS.net. She suggested this challenge, and it just called to me that it was just wrong not to answer. So many thanks to Tandy for the challenge, and I certainly hope that I'll do your idea justice.
TITLE: Cinderchloe
AUTHOR: Kaya
EMAIL: deessedelune@yahoo.com
DESCRIPTION: Cinderella..Chlex style.
RATING: Rated PG-13 for Language and Sexual Content
DISCLAIMER: I own none of these people. I just like to borrow.
CHAPTER ONE
"Please, grandpa.." the little girl begged. "Please tell me the story again."
"But, honey, I've told you that story a million times."
"That's okay. It's my favorite." She emphasized her point with a toothy grin.
The grandfather could only shake his head in an obvious defeat. "Alright," he conceded. "Let me see..how does it start again?" he teased.
The girl rolled her eyes in disbelief. "It's 'Once Upon A Time', Grandpa."
He laughed. "That's right," he said. "Once upon a time, there was a young reporter living with her father. They lived a happy life together.."
"She had three friends: a coffee shop owner, a farmboy and a judge's son. One summer, the judge's son had to go away for a vacation at his grandfather's place in Gotham City, leaving the reporter, the shop owner and the farmboy to their own devices. And this is where our story begins.."
Chloe Sullivan was tapping away at her computer, trying to finish the last piece for this week's Torch. Deep in thought and adrenaline pumping through her typing fingers, she was on a roll until..
"Chloe," someone interrupted her train of thought as a hand waved between her and the computer monitor.
Annoyed, she turned to that person. "Clark, I'm in the middle of something here," she pointed out.
"I know," Clark shrugged. "But I need you to do something for me."
Chloe looked at him incredulously. "Clark, I have to email the layout to the printers in 30 minutes. Torch..slightly more important."
"Please, Chloe," Clark begged, attempting a rather pitiful try at puppy dog eyes. 'Somebody ought to tell him about that,' she thought.
"Fine," she finally conceded. "What is it?"
"I need you to research what Lana would want for her birthday," he smiled.
Appalled at the pettiness of the request, Chloe's jaw nearly dropped. "Clark, her birthday isn't until three months from now.."
"Well, I want to be prepared," he defended himself.
"You could just ask her," she told him.
"But I want it to be a surprise."
The blonde reporter threw her hands in the air. "Does it really have to happen now? I really need to submit this layout to the printers or Mike will have my head for making him work overtime again."
"Yes," Clark whined. "Please, Chloe? As a favor for me?"
Chloe rolled her eyes in defeat. "Fine, come back in fifteen minutes," she surrendered. "Now shoo!"
When Clark left, she grabbed her cell phone. "Mike, it's Chloe. I know, I know, it's going to be late again," she sighed in frustration. "Yeah, it's a Clark thing."