Chapter 20

Remy giggled as he ate at the table with the other children. He had known that Yahiko would be there, but when he saw the other kids with ages ranging from his cousin's age to his own, he was more than delighted. They all took to little action figure role-playing game wars, using the computer and watching television shows. Of course it had been difficult to choose synonymously on what show to watch as they all had different preferences – 'I want Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!' 'But Sponge Bob Square Pants is so much more awesomer!' 'You guys are being such babies! We should watch X-Men! That's the best show in the whole, entire universe!' – so Remy chose to play with the others who commanded a small army of plastic figures into an downsized 'apocalyptic war'.

They didn't fight when it came to dinner, which they were enjoying at that moment. They hungrily consumed the fries and hamburgers that were presented to them, talking with full mouths to each other about the latest games, shows and kicking each others butts in the plastic wars they had just been playing before they began their dinner. Remy watched speculatively at how everyone was acting – how carefree this environment was. He thought back to how that seemed lacking nowadays in his own home; how tense Lexie and Chloe acted around each other. But Remy was always hopeful. People never stayed angry at one another forever… they just couldn't.

His thoughts were cut off abruptly by the sudden sound of shattering glass, the fearful screams of men and women alike and then the sound of the same glass hitting the hard marble floor. All of those with him jumped and squeaked in fright as they turned their heads simultaneously toward the doorway connecting the main congregation area with their own area. They watched as four guards made hurried towards the door and the three others remained with the children.

One of them spoke – a woman with a hard expression on her face, but with the same black attire as the rest. "Kids, please stand and follow us to the other end of the room. Come, now, quickly."

They did as they were told with little to no protests, but with tears spilling from their eyes. One girl near Remy began to sob. He moved closer to her and clasped her hand in his and squeezed it lightly when she looked at him with shining eyes. Biting her lip she nodded and with their hands joined, they followed the three guards to one corner of the room. The same guard that had spoken to them looked back at the doorway and noted that two of her comrades were not there anymore and then looked back at the wall to run her hand across the point where the two walls met. She felt a disguised bump and pulled on it, causing a panel to slide to the side. She turned back to the kids and told them to go inside. They did as they were told and once all of them were safely tucked in the secret nook, she turned to a male comrade.

"You stay with them," she commanded in an unwavering whisper.

He did as she told, though something in his demeanour changed – as if he knew what was going to happen to her. Remy could sense the sadness from the three and he moved a bit closer to the girl whose hand he was holding for comfort. He knew that Chloe was out there and from the look that his father had given him, Lexie would be out there as well.

And the four-year-old hoped with all his heart that those he loved would not be lost tonight… no, not now… not ever.

The panelling slid closed with a definitive rumble.

In the building across from where the Halloween party had just begun, Shishio, Yumi and Clark's old acquaintance stood watch. Shishio's eyes drifted to his third companion as person shifted impatiently. "What is it, young one?"

"Why is it that he gets all the fun?" It was asked in a huffy and pouting voice.

The bandaged man chuckled and looked back at the building. "Come now, this is his trial. Besides, I told him specifically just to harm those that Shinomori are emotionally attached to."

"Does that include Chloe Sullivan? Damn whore, she is," the person growled with clenched fists. "Did you see how she was hanging off of Lex? It was disgusting, like she was selling himself to him… and him, being the stupid idiot he is, believes that she actually cares when all she wants is a fucking interview and publish an article on him."

"Now, now, you'll have your turn on her… on all of them, in fact… just be patient, little one."

"Fine…" was the grumbling reply. Vengeful eyes turned back to the penthouse that Clark had just infiltrated.

When the glass fell away, Clark grinned to himself as he literally 'dropped in'; lithely landing on his feet with a loud thump, he raised his eyes to the screaming crowd surrounding him. Ah, what a thrill it was to be the cause of such great chaos! All those times he had seen a crime take place, there was always a rush when the adrenaline just began to pump at the sight of terror and disorientation. Clark took a moment to allow the sensations to sink in before he went through with his mission. His hearing picked up the sound of someone approaching him and his eyes snapped open as his smile grew wider. Stupid humans, he thought chuckling to himself and then just as the attack was made, he used his heightened abilities to go behind the attacker and snap his neck. The man before him crumpled lifelessly to the ground like a puppet with no strings.

Clark snorted as the main area cleared out and all that were left were the guards, Shinomori Aoshi, Sagara Sanosuke and the newly arrived Kenshin Himura. Turning around in a full circle, the Kryptonian man let out a loud laugh. "Oh, this will be an absolute joy… to finish off the whole Shinomori band in just one night… wouldn't Shishio be pleased with me!"

"You're a cocky bakayarou, aren't you?" Sano growled as his light brown eyes flashed with anger. "You actually have the gall to crash the party… now you've gotta pay for it."

He was just about to move forward when Kenshin stopped him with the hilt of his sakabatou. His purple gaze was trained on their foe with in serious curiosity. "No, Sano… this one is different. He's not like any of us."

"Are you sure? He doesn't look it."

"Don't you feel it? He exudes a different aura from anyone I've faced before. This one's capable of many great and terrible things…"

Aoshi had been listening to what the three had been saying with just a half ear. His face was stoic and deadly calm as he watched this single man. Why would Shishio send merely one man? Was he really that capable? The man knew that who his enemies were… and yet here was a young man – younger, even than Sano. "What is your purpose here?" he asked icily.

Clark turned to Aoshi and gave him a superior look. "I'm here to kick your ass."

They never saw him move – not even Kenshin, who was a trained and practiced assassin. In a matter of seconds a job that might have taken Kenshin, Sano and Aoshi a minute was accomplished and Clark stood just a few feet away from the three – who he had deliberately avoided. Rolling his shoulders, the young Kryptonian watched with a smug look upon his face as the Shinomori guards fell almost in unison to the ground much in the same manner as the first one he had killed. Sano jolted back, startled at the feat. It was an impossible thing for a normal human to do and here, this man had done it.

Clark watched entertained as the three stiffened as they became intimidated by him. Power was such a wondrous thing to wield and Clark had a lot. Cocking his head to the side, he cracked his knuckles and smiled pleasantly at the three. "Are you ready to die?"

"No!" a clear female voice yelled before Clark felt the familiar pain sear his senses.

The grin upon Clark's face dwindled and contorted into that of agony as the effects of the green kryptonite she held in her hand worked its magic upon him. Chloe walked confidently closer to him and didn't flinch as he turned to her with a look of disbelief.

"Ch – Chloe – no – stop – hurts!" he groaned and fell to his knees, curling into himself as he went down and the waves of pain grew stronger.

Chloe made her way towards him until she stood with the other three. Nothing in her demeanour wavered and her expression became black with rage. "You are and always have been the stupidest person in the world, Clark. I don't care if you're under the influence of some other asshole, but you had a choice of not joining his side. I'll never forgive you for this, Clark… The next time I see you, I'll make sure to leave my mark upon you – a big foot mark on your ass branded on by a kryptonite covered boot."

Clark heard someone mumble and recognized it as Lex. Soon the shafts of pain stopped and he was left in the aftershocks of the green kryptonite. The voice he heard next rang clear. "Leave now, Clark," Lex commanded. "Or you'll get a dosage of this green kryptonite that is guaranteed to kill you…"

Obediently, but humiliated, Clark shakily got to his feet and with as much strength as he had left, he lifted himself and left the same way he came. The moment of silence stayed for a moment after Clark left. Then Chloe, who had been firm and strong, finally broke down and felt her legs collapse. Had Lex not been there, she would have fallen gracelessly to the floor, but his arms supported her. She swivelled around to bury herself into his hold and took in great gulps of air. It was still strange to have Clark as the opposition instead of on the same side. She knew she would have to see him as such one of these days but it had been sooner than expected. Needing the comfort, she pressed further into Lex's embrace – burrowing as far as she could; hoping that perhaps he would be able to envelope her wholly.

Lex, being the regular 'boy-scout' had kept a green kryptonite rock with him sure that the moment would arrive when he would require it. This extra step to being prepared had undoubtedly saved Aoshi, Sano and Kenshin – as well as the rest of the guests. Unfortunately, they had come a few seconds too late for the guards…

"It seems that you have become our heroes instead of the other way around," Kenshin noted with light amusement.

"So it seems," the bald man answered in a low murmur, still holding Chloe close to him. He watched the two businessmen before him with a levelled gaze. "You want to know what warded him off, don't you?"

"I'm sure any person in their right mind would want to know what it is that has saved them," Aoshi said squarely.

"And knowing you, you won't take 'a miracle' as an answer." Lex sighed and glanced down at the top of Chloe's head. "Can we first see Remy?"

Chloe cradled Remy in her lap as they sat in the backseat of the limousine on the way home. She stared distantly out the window – as did Remy. It was an exhausting night that he didn't want to repeat any time soon. The girl he had taken under his wing while waiting tensely inside the panelling had demanded a lot of his empathy and patience to calm her down. When they finally got out the girl gave him a peck on the cheek before she was swept away by her parents and he by – well, his Chloe and Lexie; his mommy-sister and his dad.

Remy watched at how the kids reacted to their rightful mothers and fathers, felt the way they were connected and for a moment envied what they had. Sure he had something akin to it, but there was still a great barrier between the 'parent' figures of his so-called family. He wanted them to just get over whatever it was that kept them apart because he could see they needed each other. Taking in a deep breath, Remy closed his eyes and leaned his head against Chloe's chest, allowing himself to drift off into a nap for the rest of the trip home.

Chloe's eyes shifted from outside the window to Remy's raven locks and felt her heart stir. "You poor child," she murmured.

Beside her Lex glanced down at his son. "After what happened night… it's a wonder he's not crying like the rest of the kids."

"Remy's always been different… wonderful and sweet…" Chloe choked. "I don't know what I would have done if Clark had gotten to him."

"Now, it won't help you to think of the what-ifs of the situation when it's already passed."

Impulsively, Lex scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Chloe jolted a bit, but loosened in his hold a second later, placing her head upon his shoulder and letting out a sigh. "Thank you, Lex… if you hadn't been there…" she trailed off and shifted her head against him to inhale his scent; a comforting aroma that calmed her instantaneously.

He in turn placed a soothing kiss atop her dyed hair and tilted his head so that it lay upon her head and closing his eyes. Misao, who had been assigned as their driver glanced at the rear-view mirror and smiled. The picture that the three created was beautiful, causing her heart to melt at the sight. She looked back at the road. Now, if only she brought her damn camera…

"Chloe?" Remy called in a sleepy voice, causing her to stop her movements to tuck him in bed. "Can we stay with Lexie tonight?"

Chloe tensed visibly and frowned at the small child. "Why 'we'?"

"Because you're scared, too," he answered plainly.

Chloe desperately looked for a way to talk the boy out of his request. "Don't you think he would be bothered with us being there?"

Remy just shook his head. "He's scared, but doesn't want to show it because he is a man."

She in turn snorted quietly at his statement and gave him a tiny smile. It faded after a moment and Chloe watched the four-year-old closely as she thought the option over. "I'll ask, but there's no guaranteeing he'll let us, okay, Remy?"

She moved to go, but Remy pushed the covers away from him as she did. "I'll come with you, too," he said quickly as he grabbed her hand and hopped off of the bed.

Where Chloe would have been hesitant, Remy was sure and they made their way, half-confident towards Lex's quarters. Once in front of his closed door, they stopped and the child looked up at Chloe insistently. Pursing her lips together, she lifted her closed fist upwards and before she had second thoughts she knocked lightly on the wooden door. She stepped back and brought Remy with her as they waited for him to answer.

It took a moment before Lex appeared, looking wary and cautious at first. The expression upon his face transformed almost immediately when he registered who was at his door. "Remy; Chloe…"

"Uh – well, Remy wanted to stay with you tonight… or actually he wanted all of us to stay together…" Chloe trailed off, feeling that the way she worded it had been awkward to say the least.

Lex stared at the two for a moment, taken back by the request. As he observed his son, he noted just how fearful the boy was and felt his gut wrench. His answer came in his actions as he opened the doorway wider and stepped aside. Remy moved first, tugging Chloe along with him. She kept her eyes trained to the ground as she moved passed him, but once she was inside, her eyes lifted to her surroundings.

She noted that it was simply furnished, just as large as the room she shared with Remy, but with darker shades. It whispered of a man who was still a bachelor, causing her heart to sink. The click of the door closing caused the two to turn back to the bald man. He ran a hand over his scalp and glanced at the bed.

Remy didn't seem to have any doubt of how he wanted the arrangement. Leaving Chloe momentarily by herself in the middle of the dimly lit room, he made his way over to his father and took the large hand in his small one and in the same manner as he had with Chloe, tugged him along to where Chloe stood. Then, taking Chloe's hand in his free one, Remy led the two towards the foot of the bed. He looked up at the two adults with him and let go of both of them then climbed up from the foot of the mattress towards the middle of the bed. He pushed back the covers and slide underneath them; his head propped on the pillows and looked expectantly at Chloe and Lex, who still hadn't moved.

Taking a deep breath Lex moved first, stealing a glance at Chloe before going to the right side of Remy. Chloe moved to the opposite side, feeling slightly shaky and got under the covers beside the child. Turning to her side, she brought her gaze to the young boy before looking up at Lex. His grey eyes stayed on her and they didn't move for a moment.

It was after a few seconds that they moved in unison towards Remy, then pulled up the covers before wrapping one hand around the boy. Their hands met and Chloe jumped slightly at the touch, but didn't shy away. Slowly, their fingers moved so they were intertwined with one another and were settled upon Remy's covered middle. All the while, their eyes never left one another.

Remy watched the two curiously, noting that the barrier between them was crumbling significantly and he smiled to himself. "Goodnight," he murmured in a garble voice as he settled himself more surely between them and closed his eyes.

He didn't hear an answer from them. Nor did he see the stolen chaste kiss they shared above his head. He was already comfortably and safely asleep.

[to be continued...]

A/N: No vocabulary needed this time around... anyway, just thought you ought to know that this is the second to last chapter... Thank you for reading this far... and also for reviewing. It's really quite encouraging.

to the one who posted about the broken link at my website, I checked it out and fixed the links... they should work now

Thank you again, you guys!

Take care

DB aka BB