A/N: Oh goodness. Pure fluff I tossed off in between two tests to calm me down. I feel like I'm getting back on track. Enjoy!

I've had a long day. I just want to crawl into Lex's bed and hope that he's close behind. Climbing the stairs to his bedroom, I wonder if I should have checked his office, even though he rarely uses it here at the penthouse. I decide not to and keep going. I'm surprised to find him in bed all ready.

"Hey you," I say softly.

He looks up from the book he's reading, "Hey. You look like you've had a rough day. Come here."

I climb into the bed beside him, not bothering to take off my clothes. His arms wrap around me tightly and he kisses my forehead.

"You don't look so great yourself," I point out.

He shrugs, "I've traveled about a million miles since this morning. What's your excuse?"

"I chased the Dean for student affairs to all ends of the city today and never got a quote."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, I felt like Michael Moore in 'Roger and Me." I snuggle closer to him, "Have fun on your little excursion?"

"If I ever decide that it's necessary to spend that much time in a confined space with my father again kill me."

I smile, "It was that bad?"

"He kept asking when I was going to make an honest woman out of you."

"He used those words?" I giggle.

"Yeah," his hand runs down my back, hitting about a hundred knots as it does so.

"Okay," he says, pulling me into a sitting position and pulling my shirt off.

"Lex, what-"
"Lay down," he instructs, taking off my bra as well, "you need a back rub more than any person I've ever seen."

I stretch out on my stomach and feel the mattress sink as he kneels on either side of my thighs.

Oh God. I bury my face in a pillow as his hands work at my tense shoulders. He's good at this.

"Lex?"

"Hmm?"

"Why am I just now discovering this talent?"

He chuckles, "I have lots of hidden talents Chloe."

"I know-" I gasp as he hits a sore spot the sigh as he works it out, "-I've benefited from most of them all ready."

Lex doesn't say any thing, but I know he has a smile on his face.

"Why were chasing the dean?" Lex asks.

"There was an incident last night with two students. An RA found them having sex in the shower."

"And? I know they frowned on it when I was there too, but no one ever really cared."

"Well, both these students happened to be male. Now they have to go to the disciplinary committee and explain themselves. They'll probably be expelled."

Lex doesn't stop rubbing my lower back, "That's incredibly biased. I never got written up for that even."

I turn my head and raise an eyebrow, "Really?"

"Not with men," he offers.

I let it fall there because his thumbs are working over my neck, smoothing the tired and tense muscles.

"Feel better now sweetheart?" Lex asks, pressing his lips to my shoulder again.

"Sweetheart?" I roll over to look at him.

He's almost-he is blushing. I don't think I've ever made him blush before. This could be fun!

"I don't know what made me say that," he mutters, getting off of me.

"I'm just so sweet. Like honey?"

Lex shakes his head at me, grinning, "Why do I put up with you?"

"Because I'm your sweetheart-darling," I lean on the last word.

Lex kisses me, "What ever you say sugar lips."

"Sweetums," I snicker.

"Honey," he says in a sickeningly sweet voice.

"Dear."

"Muffin," he leans in for a kiss but we both end up laughing.

He kisses the end of my nose, "At least I got you to laugh."

I stretch contentedly, "I even got a massage out of it."

"You need to sleep now," he says, pulling the sheets back over our bodies.

I snuggle into his embrace, but he pulls me back up to him to kiss me good night.

"I love you," he says softly. That's new too. He said that for the first time only a few weeks ago. It filled me with terror at first. Now though, it just warms me down to my toes. I'm still waiting for the courage to say it back to him though.

"Goodnight darling."

Lex chuckles softly, "Goodnight muffin."