Chapter Two: No Place Like Home For the Holidays

Merry Christmas Darling
We're apart that's true
But I can dream
And in my dreams
I'm Christmasing with you

We'd all had a tough time sleeping that night, and that was always the way when Lex wasn't home. Christmas was closing in, only a few more nights. Clark watched the kids, the next day, while I went to the airport to pick up dad.

"Why Chloe Nicoletta, is it possible that you've become even more beautiful since I last saw you?" My dad asked, throwing his arms around me. "How are those grandchildren of mine?"

"They're great dad, you'll see them soon. They are very excited." I promised. We got his luggage and I drove back towards home.

"What's wrong pumpkin?" he asked me, my father always had a way of telling when something was not quite right. "And don't tell me nothing, because I know something is bothering you."

I sighed and was silent for a few moments, just focusing on the road and not how much I missed Lex. I could even feel my eyes starting to tear, but I fought it off, and put on a happy face, that was what people did, right? "It's Lex..." I said, I didn't want to say much more.

"What did he do? Is he cheating on you? Did he hurt you, baby girl?" my father asked. "I swear I'll kill him if he did anything to hurt you." my dad looked very serious when I looked over at him.

I almost laughed. "No dad, nothing like that...he's not cheating on me, he's just on business, you know how it is. I'd just like to have him home for the holidays."

"I know you would, pumpkin" My dad said calming down a little, I could see the muscles in his hand starting to untense. "It'll still be a great Christmas, Pete and his wife are coming in to see you, aren't they?"

"Well they were, but Shelly's about to have the baby any minute now" I explained. "The Kents are already there, the kids do adore their Uncle Clark." I said. "And Lois was supposed to be here yesterday, but she's late, as usual." I pressed the button and put in the code to open the fence and drove up the drive, the fence closing behind me. "Where's Adella?" I finally asked, I'd been so wrapped up in missing Lex that I didn't notice my step mother was missing.

"You know her, she's afraid to fly" my dad said with a chuckle. "She'll be here tomorrow, she didn't tell me that she hated planes till after I bought the tickets, I couldn't give em back, so I flew and she's driving, which works out because she has all kinds of presents to bring. Did you go shopping yet?"

"Not yet, I keep putting it off." I told him honestly. "It's just been crazy with shopping for presents and the kids and everything, I haven't gotten a chance to go out and get dinner yet."

"Chlo, Christmas is three days away, you may wanna get on it," My dad said, ever so obviously. "I can help you if you want, or watch the kids...I love those grandchildren of mine, after all one is named after me.

"We'll see dad" I said, helping him into the mansion with his luggage. Instantly my two sons almost knocked us down.

"Grandpa!" they exclaimed excitedly, tackling him to the ground. Lila was a bit more, shy...she came out of the hall and walked over to me, clinging to my pants and hiding behind my leg. She was sucking her thumb and her pretty blonde hair was all messy. "Julian stole Mr. Snuffles..." she said softly.

"Aww ma, I didn't steal him. I borrowed him. I just didn't give him back." Julian explained to me, and Gabriel snickered as they jumped up and down all around their grandpa. I couldn't help but smirk a little.

Clark came into the room holding Mr. Snuffles. "I think Julian put more peanut butter on Mr. Snuffles than he did his sandwich." he laughed a little. "Nice to see you, Mr. Sullivan." he told my dad. Clark always was too polite, even when my father insisted he call him Gabe.

I helped Dad get settled in and then I cleaned up Julian and Mr. Snuffles and let the kids hang out with their grandpa.

Oh there's no place like home for the holidays
Cuz no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home