After the incident in the snow Paris and Lex steered clear of each other
for the rest of the day. Lionel had left by the time they had gotten back
to the house, apparently his plane had been given clearance to take off and
he was on his way to his house in Maui for a few weeks of R&R.
Once all roads were cleared and the patient load had greatly decreased Helen was given the okay to leave and had tomorrow off, which meant she headed straight for Lex's place. Unfortunately Lex and Len had to cancel their trip to Colorado since the mountains were all closed due to the blizzard and a few missing skiers.
Gustave didn't believe in making his employees go back to work during their time off and since he hadn't counted on the snowstorm he had given his pilots the week off starting the 23rd and the blizzard was making it's way across the US and was currently attacking the East Coast making any and all flight through there impossible. Paris and Albert were stuck in Smallville until the 27th at the earliest.
Dinner was awkward that night, afterward Paris and Albert made themselves scarce by playing billiards, giving Lex and Helen the entire rest of the house. Albert didn't trust Helen at all, something about her just set alarms off inside him but he didn't voice his concern to Lex because he knew what kind of reaction his friend would have and it wouldn't be pretty.
----December 24th, Christmas Eve----
----Paris----
Paris was sitting at Lex's desk, trying to keep the fantasy of her and him naked on top of it out of her head, answering her e-mails since her laptop was broken and even she, the computer nerd, couldn't fix it. The bottom was cracked and the screen was shattered, so she humbled herself to ask Lex to use his IMac. Paris's E-mail account was flooded with greetings and support from her friends an colleagues about her current legal situation and at least three of her past therapists contacted her letting her know that their services were still available. She had to check her voice mail from the house because her cell phone wasn't in commission and that account needed to be cleared 5 times before noon, she could only imagine what her publicist must have been dealing with from all the TV stations. All five of Mackenzie's brothers and her older sister called her to show their support and Bruce had called half a dozen times between the 22nd and then. She also had a brief conversation with her grandfather. She had spent most of the morning returning calls and e-mails so by the time the afternoon rolled around she was ready to crash, but she couldn't due to the giant pile of scripts and paperwork that would surely keep her away from Helen for the rest of the week.
----Lex----
Lex spent most of the day with Helen trying to keep Paris out of the fore front of his mind, which is quite a hard task to do. After his talk with Paris the previous afternoon he knew she didn't want him to get involved with her current situation, but that didn't stop him from trying to think up ways to help her. It was no use, she would know if he had a hand in it. He was sitting on the couch with Helen watching TV, he didn't even know what they were watching because he kept thinking about Paris. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Helen.
----Helen----
Helen had noticed the uneasiness between the three when she saw them the night before, but she chalked it up to cabin fever. Today though it was hard to ignore. At breakfast she was reading the entertainment pages because Lex had snagged business, Albert had gotten sports and Paris took the comics. Anyway Lex glanced up and saw Paris's picture on the page she was holding and promptly asked her if she wanted to trade sections, when they did he folded the paper and laid it on the table. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence. This afternoon they were flipping though channels and landed on E!. They were running a blurb on Paris, Helen saw Lex's posture immediately stiffen and his face turn stoney. She knew what that meant, he was feeling protective toward her. Helen wasn't going to let Lex Luthor get away from her, she had to make sure of that. For now she contended herself with burying herself further into his side.
Lex looked down at her with a look of question on his face.
She looked up with an innocent look and blinked a few times. "It's drafty in this old castle."
Lex knew this flirt all too well. "I could turn the fire up if you'd like." He said with a playful smile.
"No I'm fine like this." She settled back down and laid her head on his chest. With her free hand she began to stroke the soft lambs wool that made up his sweater. "You know, there are other things we can do to keep warm." Her voice was low and seductive.
"Oh and that would be?" He teased.
"A very simple procedure." She sat up and crawled up his body, straddling his lap. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he rested his hands on her hips.
Lex looked intrigued. "Oh and that procedure would be?" He asked in a seductive voice.
"Well." Kiss. "When people are cold." Kiss. "They can share body heat." Kiss.
"Oh, and how does said body heat get shared?"
"Well." She slid her hands under the hem of his sweater and lightly stroked the smooth skin underneath. "In order to properly share body heat both people have to be naked."
Lex lifted an inquisitive eyebrow and licked his lips. "Naked huh? Go on."
"And they can be engaged in some form of physical activity, just to raise the body heat of course."
"I see. It's purely scientific."
"Exactly."
"Well who am I to argue with a doctor?"
Helen leaned forward and kissed Lex while he worked his hands under the back of her sweater and she started to undo the button on his trousers.
Albert came walking into the media room not expecting what he was about to interrupt. "Lex mate have you...." He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Helen straddling Lex.
Lex broke the kiss quick and stood up, dropping Helen onto the floor. "Shit, Helen sorry." He grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. "Hey. Albert. What's up?"
"Sorry mate. I was just trying to find my cousin."
"She's in my. In my ummm...." Lex struggled to find the word. Albert smirked at Lex's loss for words, considering he was never at one.
"She's in your office. She's been in your office since after breakfast. And I'm sure she'll still be in your office when we ring in the New Year." Helen said, annoyed with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Right then I'll be on my way. As you were." Albert gave a wave, turned around and hurried out of the room and to the office, snickering the whole way.
"God you'd swear bad timing was in their DNA." Helen said crossly.
"He didn't mean to."
"Whatever. When are they leaving?"
"It's not like they want to be here. Hell it's not like we want to be here."
"I'm not so sure about that."
Lex looked at her but said nothing.
-----Lex's Office----
Albert burst through the office doors in a full roar of laughter. "Peanut you'll never guess what I did." He flopped down in one of the leather chairs in front of Lex's desk where Paris was sitting.
Paris didn't look away form the monitor. "Proposed marriage to Prince William?"
"No smart ass, you know he rebuked my past offers. I walked in on Lex and Helen."
Paris looked over from the monitor at her cousin a big smile on her face. "You didn't. Please Albie, tell me you didn't." Pretty soon she was in a fit of laughter along with Albert. "Please tell me they weren't naked." Paris said through choked laughter.
"No but the top button of Lex's pants was undone. I walked in on foreplay." More ruckus laughter. After they calmed down Albert asked her, "So why are you in here? I thought Lex gave you an office. I mean are you not the woman who once said 'Apples are for eating not computing.' By the way you are a techno snob."
She had to think of a lie quick, her and Lex decided not to tell Albert about her episode the night before. "There's something wrong with the hard drive and I don't have the part here so I'm using his. No big." The computer beeped and she looked over at the monitor. "Crap."
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. I've been doing re-writes through e-mail with some writers from Paramount and I'm printing the script out for a proper read. And Lex's jackass printer just ran out of paper."
"Just grab more."
"And where do you suppose I'd do that?" She gestured to the glass desk and sparsely decorated room. "He decorated in early Spartan."
"Why don't you prance down to your office and get some of your own?"
"Well I would if I had a printer." She began looking through the shelves.
"You don't have a printer? It can't be for lack of sufficient funds."
"No I threw it off the balcony in California and I haven't bought a new one. Crap, there is no freaking paper in this soddin' room."
"What about in the book shelves?"
"No, Lex keeps the cabinets locked."
"Key?"
"Hmmm... If I were Lex where would I put a key?" She walked over and surveyed the surroundings behind the desk. "Ah ha." She walked over to a purple vase on the window sill and turned it over in her hand, producing a key. "Lex is so predictable. Don't tell him I said that." She put the vase back and waltzed over to the bookcase. "What have you been up to all day? You've been conspicuously absent since breakfast."
"Working on something for you?"
"Oh yeah, what?"
"You'll see."
Paris opened a cabinet ad started rifling around for paper when a black and white picture caught her eye. She grabbed it and stared in disbelief. It was a picture of Lionel and Victoria having sex. 'Ewwww!' She thought disgusted. 'Whore.'. The date showed that it was shortly before they took over Sir Harry's company, meaning Victoria was living with Lex at the time. 'I really am the only one he hasn't slept with.' She thought sadly then put the picture back.
"Paris, earth to Paris."
"Huh, what?" Paris snapped out of her daze.
"Nothing. What'd you find in there?"
"Nothing." She reached father back until she could find a ream of paper. "Found it." She locked the cabinet, replaced the key, went back and put the paper in the printer and finished her project.
"Why don't you shut that down I have something to show you."
"Alright."
"Oh and you'll need to change into this." He produced a sarong and bathing suit from the pocket of his sweatshirt.
Paris took the items with a questioning look on her face. "Umm, where did you find these and you do realize that snow indicates freezing weather conditions. And this definitely would get me frost bite."
"I went through your suitcase. Now stop questioning and just go change."
"Fine. Lex has a bathroom in here. I'll change, you wait here."
Paris came back a few minutes later changed into a black two piece bathing suit with red flowers on the top and bottoms and her red sarong. "I'm still confused. Not that I mind the choice in bathing suits but I have bikinis."
"You won't be. I chose one that covered more cause anything else would have made me feel creepy. Come with me." Paris followed Albert through the house to the indoor pool. "Close your eyes."
"Alright." Paris did as she was instructed and Albert led her into the room.
"Alright open 'em."
Paris opened her eyes and looked around her. The pool was completely decorated with bright white garden lights, a few sun lamps, tropical flowers and small trees from the green house, tropical music was playing, a table was set up with fruit and Mai-tai's. "Oh my god Abie this is awesome."
"I figured since we couldn't have the beach, the beach would come to us."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She gave her cousin a hug.
"Alright I'm going to go put my trunks on, why don't you have a swim."
Albert shoved her into the pool. "Wha...AH!" When she resurfaced she swept the hair out of her face and threw her sarong on the deck. "Jerk." And swam for a raft that was in the middle of the pool. After hoisting herself up, she laid back and relaxed in the tranquility of the room.
"So I take it you like it." Albert came back in and took the other raft.
"Very much. Thank you, again Albie."
"You're welcome Peanut. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas. So did you talk to Brian today?"
"Yes."
"And how is he?"
"He's alright. He said he'd still meet us for New Year's. He also sends his condolences to you."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh god. I am going to kill Jeremy. And then I'm going to buy E! and shut it down."
"I believe you yanks call that censorship."
"Shut up." She said annoyed and splashed him. "Besides I have dual citizenship so I'm still a Brit."
"You defected." He splashed her harder and laughed.
"I was brought here against my will." She splashed him again.
They stayed in the pool until late into the evening when Lex and Helen came in to see where they had run off too. The cousins were laughing hysterically at something unknown to the couple.
When they walked in the music was turned up and Paris and Albert were laughing, Albert on a raft and Paris standing on the high dive, Lex surveyed the room, grabbed the remote and clicked the system off. "Well I see Albert has volunteered his decorating services. I like it, very tropical."
"Hey mate." Albert waved to him from the middle of the pool.
"Luthor what up!" Paris said happily as she dove off the high dive.
"You two seem to have kept yourselves well entertained."
Paris resurfaced and swam to her raft. "Very much so." Paris said as she paddled her way to the side. "Wanna join us?"
"Sorry Paris we were on our way to bed we just wanted to say good night." Helen said snidely as she stood at Lex's side, glaring at Paris.
"Well I didn't ask you if you wanted to join us."
"Well I thought it was implied."
"Well then there's your problem."
"Paris be nice." Albert came over and dumped her off her raft.
She came up sputtering water. "Hey, now, uncalled for."
"Cool off and go get another drink."
"Well if you insist. As I always say, drinking is the cause and solution for life's problems." Paris got out of the pool, shook her long hair of excess water all over Helen, earning herself a glare from Lex, and got herself yet another Mai-tai that evening.
"Albert how many of those has she had so far?" Lex asked.
"Dunno mate. We stopped counting after the first two pitchers and that was awhile ago."
"Jesus Lex they're plastered. They really shouldn't be swimming in this condition."
"Helen they'll be fine."
"Fine, but when one of them drowns I'm going to say I told you so."
"Get off it lady. Please take the broom out of your ass and fly it to your castle of flying monkeys."
"PARIS!" Lex and Albert both snapped at her at the same time.
"Fuck you Paris. You are nothing but self indulgent, spoiled, rich brat, and I'm tired of watching these two coddle your ass because god forbid life throw anything in Paris's way. The world would stop on it's axis." Helen laid into Paris.
"You don't know the first thing about my life, so why don't you leave now before I lose my temper."
"Threats. Nice, really classy."
"It wasn't a threat." Paris narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. "Just because you have a PhD does not mean you know anything. I've seen others like you, and they all have one thing in common. They came and they left."
"Yep that's enough, time for bed." Albert got out of the pool. "Paris say good night."
"No Albert I'm...." She stopped her protest when he threw her over his shoulder and started walking out of the room. "You do know that this is highly undignified."
"Only for you Peanut."
"Hey did you know these floors are marble?"
After the cousins left Lex and Helen were standing alone in the pool.
"I'm sorry she said those things. Sometimes when she's in a mood like this she just gets on a roll and she can't stop herself, especially if she's been drinking."
"Yeah, well the next time she pulls something like that she won't be standing when she gets done."
Lex smirked at her. "Not that I don't think she was wrong but you aren't entirely innocent yourself."
"I can't believe you're actually defending her."
"Look you don't know her the way I do. She's not a bad person."
"No she's just a juvenile bitch."
"She hates the holidays and usually she's okay she makes it through relatively unscathed, but this past month has been really bad for her. If she wants to be numb and left alone I say we let her do it. Albert and I know how to handle her. "
"You really think that letting her drink herself into a stupor is going to solve anything. Lex if you're really her friend you'll get her some help."
"She doesn't need help, she needs to be left alone, if she wants to talk about something she knows where I am. I won't argue with you about this. I'll talk to her tomorrow about this, she'll apologize and everything will be worked out."
"I don't want to work things out with her. I want her out of this house."
"That's not going to happen."
"Really." Helen pursed her lips
"Let's just go to bed and we'll talk about this tomorrow."
"Fine."
----December 25th, Christmas Day----
Everyone slept late the next day, Paris and Helen still weren't speaking, Helen and Lex weren't entirely on good terms, Lex was trying to think of ways to get Helen to hate Paris less and trying to figure out what to say to her later that wouldn't make her fly off the handle, everyone was okay with Albert.
Paris and Albert were on the couch, still in their pajamas, eating cookies, watching 'Steele Magnolias' around mid-morning when Lex walked into the media room. He stood in front of the TV blocking their view in order to get their attention.
Paris looked at him annoyed and said sarcastically. "Excuse me, but Weezer is about to say something mind blowingly heartfelt and prolific so I would appreciate it if you would move."
"The movie's 13 years old, you know it by heart. Come on you two, Helen has to be at the hospital in a few hours and I thought it would be nice if we ALL made an effort to be together, get along and open presents."
Paris and Albert looked at each other, shrugged, then looked beck at Lex. "Sounds like a good idea mate. Come on Paris it'll be fun."
"Nothing about Christmas is fun." She said as she got up and shuffled out of the room behind Lex and Albert.
"Come on you'll love what I got you."
"Only if it's a shot gun." She muttered.
They walked into the formal sitting room where a large beautifully decorated Christmas tree was waiting for them, with their presents for each other under it. Helen was sitting in a high backed chair with a mug of coffee in her hand. "Paris so nice of you to join us, and sober yet. How's the hang over?"
"Nonexistent. Your concern has been noted." Paris said dryly.
Lex was getting annoyed. "Everybody be nice and open presents."
Albert was rummaging under the tree looking for something, when he found it he smiled. "Here peanut this is for you." He handed Paris a box wrapped in red metallic paper.
Paris sat down next to him and smiled as he handed out other gifts from the tree.
"Don't just look at, open it."
"Fine, fine." She tore into the paper and opened the shirt box it contained. She took out the neatly folded shirt and laughed at what she saw. A black ribbed racer back tank, with the words 'Sparkles Fontane Lives' written across the front in pink cursive covered in glitter. "Oh my god. Where did you get this?" She held it to her body to show everyone. Lex and Albert laughed because they knew the joke.
"I had it printed especially for you."
"This is unbelievable."
"I don't get it. Who's Sparkles Fontane?" Helen asked.
"She, is Sparkles Fontane." Albert said, pointing to Paris.
Helen looked even more confused.
"Let me clarify. When I was in high school my friend Mackenzie and I would sometimes dress in drag when we went to the village and hung out with our gay friends in the drag bars and clubs. And someone once told me that I looked like a 'Sparkles Fontane.' Hence the Sparkles Fontane. We dragged these two there a couple of times. Anyway when I transferred to Excelsior I couldn't go to the village because I wasn't there and when I came back for the summer someone said, 'We thought Sparkles Fontane died.' And I said no, 'she's still very much alive.' After that whenever someone would say, 'Oh my god I haven't seen you in forever.' I'd say 'Sparkles Fontane lives.' I still use the name sometimes when I check into hotels. The story's dumb, but if you were there it's funny."
"How do girls dress in drag?"
"A lot of makeup and a little imagination."
"Oh."
"Here." Lex handed Helen a long, slim, elegantly wrapped box. Paris knew what it was right away and she was sure Helen did too, Albert wasn't paying attention, he was too busy looking for Paris's gift to him. Helen opened the box revealing a platinum tennis bracelet with diamonds.
"Oh my gosh Lex. It's beautiful. Thank you." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Paris discretely rolled her eyes.
Paris turned her attention back to the tree and Albert when she heard a scuffle behind her. Albert had shimmied under the tree in search of his present. "What are you doing G.I Joe?"
"Looking for my present from you Ducks."
She shook her head and smiled. "You are such a child."
"This from a woman with a Grover doll." He retorted dryly.
"Hey, it has sentimental value and it's not like I sleep with it. Move over, you're going to break the tree." She stepped over him and found the package he was looking for. "Here, merry Christmas." She smiled and handed him a square box of medium thickness wrapped in shiny red paper with a green bow and ribbon.
"My cousin may hate Christmas but she gives the best gifts."
"I'm good at shopping."
Albert tore into his present with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old on espresso. His eyes widened in surprise at the object that awaited him. In the box laid a large photo album looking book. When he opened it he saw that it was actually a scrap book full of pictures of all of them, some of their more memorable sayings, inside jokes, funny bumper stickers and pins that fit their personalities. There was a pin next to a picture of him that said 'I'm the pink sheep of the family.' And one next to a picture of Paris, when she had pink hair that said 'I don't do normal.' "Paris this is bloody brilliant. I love it. This must have taken you forever." He hugged her tight.
"Once I decided what I wanted to do it pretty much put itself together."
They continued to open presents for the next few minutes, Lex's present to Paris was the last one to be opened. Paris carefully unwrapped the perfectly wrapped present. When she finally got it open she was speechless. Lex had gotten her a first edition book of classic French fairytales, in French. "Oh my god. Lex, where'd you get this? It's beautiful." She marveled at the book, the soft leather cover, and the original bindings, it smelled like leather.
"I found it in a book store in Province. I thought it would go well with your other books."
"It does, thank you." She got up and gave him a hug, earning herself yet another glare form Helen.
The group cleaned up the gift wrap mess and went their separate ways. Albert went to his room to look at the scrap book Paris had given him. Lex and Helen went to his room while she got ready for work. Paris went to her office to read the book Lex had given her.
She put her broken cell phone and computer in the closet before she sat down at her desk, just to get comfortable and maybe forget what was going on around her. She curled up in the comfortable leather chair and opened the antique book. To her surprise Lex had written an inscription to her, in French, on the inside cover. When she read it the words made her choke up with emotion. The translation read, 'Paris. I know you don't believe in fairytale love but I hope you find your Prince Charming once and for all you deserve your happy ending. Merry Christmas. Love Always, Alexander.' She carefully closed the book, laid it on the desk and grabbed a Kleenex. 'I already found him, but his heart belongs to someone else.' She thought sadly as she dabbed her tears.
----The kitchen that afternoon----
After changing her clothes and getting herself presentable Paris was rummaging through the kitchen looking for something to eat but not finding anything she liked. Lex came in a few minutes later and joined her. "Not to be picky, but I can't find anything to eat in this house." She took a sip from her glass of soda that was on the counter next to her.
"I was just thinking the same thing." Lex said leaning against the counter. "Any ideas?"
"Take out?"
"Where do you want to order from?"
"I feel guilty ordering on Christmas."
"Well if they're open it's not our fault."
"True."
"Italian?"
"Nah, I want noodles but no marinara sauce. Chinese?"
"That sounds great."
"I'll find Albert and ask him what he wants."
"Hey Paris before you do that can I talk to you for a minute."
"Sure. What about?" She leaned up against the counter across from him.
Lex looked at the floor. "I don't know how to say this exactly. We need to talk about you."
"Wouldn't that be a bit narcissistic on my part?" She joked.
He looked up at her. "Paris I'm serious. Helen is on my back about you."
Paris got defensive. "Look, with the exception of last night I have been nothing but cordial to the woman. She treats me like, she treats me the same way our fathers treat us. She's jealous of our friendship, that's not my problem."
"It is your problem Paris. She is pissed at you and she wants you out of this house. I don't need to be hearing about you from her and I don't need to be hearing about her form you."
"I haven't said a word about her. I bite my tongue because not talking about problems is how we keep the peace."
"That's not true and you know it."
"Oh really." She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her eyebrow at him. "If she's making you choose between her or me which one of us do you think is actually the problem in this scenario?"
"She wants me to put you in therapy because of the drinking."
"I don't need therapy and you know that. Besides I'm over 18, no one's putting me in therapy unless I deem otherwise."
Lex gritted his teeth. "I didn't say you need therapy. But out of curiosity, how long has it been since you have been to your therapist?"
"I don't need a therapist, I'm not sick. And I don't need to be ragged on about drinking every so often by someone who needs 2 drinks after work and another 3 before he goes to bed."
"This isn't about me." He snapped.
"Hit a nerve did I. Well maybe it should be."
"Paris don't make me argue with you about this. Can you just please watch how you are around her?"
"Lex I already walk on egg shells around her, and I do it for you. Don't you ever forget that."
"And don't forget that I am putting my relationship on the line so you can stay here until your house is done."
"I said I'd stay in a hotel in Metropolis, but you said 'no stay here, it'll be great.' And then Helen comes along and all of a sudden I'm the obstacle in your relationship. She hates me and that's never going to change. Maybe you need to take a look at what's really going on here before you blame me."
"You know what, I'm done talking about this with you. I'm trying to have a conversation with you and you're jumping down my throat."
"Fine, I'm done talking to you period. I'm going for a drive, and when I get back I'll pack my stuff I can be out by the end of the week."
"Damn it, Paris! Don't do this."
"I'm not doing anything. You already chose Lex." Paris walked out the door not looking back a Lex who was calling after her.
"Fuck!" Lex grabbed the glass of soda and threw it against the wall. Without looking back he stormed out of the kitchen and to his office. The maid could clean it up tomorrow.
Without looking back Paris ran to the garage, grabbed her car keys, climbed in her BMW and sped out.
----Later that evening----
Paris drove straight down route 7 and out of Smallville, tears streaming down her face. How could he do that to her, this week of all weeks, and after everything yesterday, this was all his fault. She drove for a few hours before the snow started falling. She pulled off to the side for a few minutes, got herself back together and turned back, unfortunately for her the closer she got to Smallville the harder it started snowing. She was 20 minutes away form the castle when a pack of deer ran out of a field, one of them, a buck, ran straight into the passenger side of her car she slammed on the brakes but there were patches of black ice everywhere, her car did 3 full 360s as she spun off the road, ricocheted off a tree twice, deploying the air bags which hit her in the face causing her hear to bounce off the seat behind her, and got wedged in a snow bank. "Fucking deer." She muttered aloud, she tried to move her left hand to wipe the blood from her forehead head off her face but it was wedged between the steering wheel and the window and every time she tried to move it pain shot through her hand. "Owww." She whined as tears of pain came to her eyes. "Alright Paris, calm down. You'll get through this." She surveyed the interior of her car. She had a quarter tank of gas, the heater was going full blast, she couldn't see her headlights because the whole front end of the car was buried in the snow, the entire dash board was lit up, the passenger side window and windshield were cracked from the impact of the deer. "Well it looks like I'm getting a new car." She cut the engine because she didn't want the car to start on fire with her in it. With her good arm she tried to reach around what was left of her car, for a sweatshirt, or a jacket or a blanket but she came up empty handed. She let out a disappointed huff and wiped the trickle of blood off the left side of her face and away from her eye with her good hand. "Somebody please help me." She said weak and shivering.
----Lex looked out the window and then back at the clock on his desk. Paris left at 3:00 and it was now 6:00 and the snow was coming down harder and harder. He knew she would never stay out in the snow this late without calling no matter how pissed off she was, especially since she hated driving in the snow. "Shit." He ran a worried hand over his head and went to find Albert. He walked out of his office and went to Albert's room. He knocked on the door and waited for a reply before walking in.
"Come in." Albert called through the door. Lex took a breath and turned the knob.
"Hey Albert, has Paris called you?"
"No, why?"
"She left here a few hours ago and it's starting to snow badly and she's not home yet."
"Have you tried calling her cell phone?"
"She didn't take it with her."
"Oh. Do you think we should go looking for her?"
"Yeah. I have a truck in the garage."
"Alright. Let's go."
Albert and Lex got bundled up and piled into the truck, they sat in uneasy silence for a while led by Lex.
"So where do you think we should look first?" Albert asked.
"She might just be at the Kent's so we'll try there first." Lex said, never looking at his friend, he had a bad feeling about this situation.
"Who are they?"
"Remember Clark?"
"The tall kid with the brown hair?"
"Yeah. His parents like Paris a lot so she might be there."
"Why did she leave in the first place?"
"We got into an argument."
Albert rolled his eyes. "Gee there's a shock. What about?"
"Helen."
"Oh." Albert said curtly, and quieted for the rest of the ride.
They pulled up to the Kent farm, luckily Lex knew the landscape well or else they ran the serious chance of driving into the pasture with all the snow that was coming down and one less person he had pissed at him the better, especially since Jonathan ha begun to warm up to him as of late. Lex cut the engine and headed to the house with Albert. After Lex rang the door bell they waited for someone to answer, hopefully the Kents were stranded here along with everybody else.
"Well Merry Christmas Lex, come in." Martha said cheerfully ushering the boys into the warm, joyfully decorated, house.
"Merry Christmas Mrs. Kent."
"I don't believe I know you." She said looking at Albert.
"I'm sorry Miss. Albert Stratford." He took Martha's hand and kissed the top.
"Paris never mentioned anything about having a brother."
"That is because I am her cousin. But that happens all the time."
Martha nodded in understanding. Jonathan and Clark came into the room to see what all the commotion was about.
"Hey Lex, Albert, what's up?"
"Paris hasn't come by here at all has she?" Lex asked.
"Not today no. Did she say she was coming by?" Martha asked.
"Well no, she really didn't say much of anything as she stormed out of the house."
"My cousin has a habit of leaving and not telling anyone where she's going. Especially if she's in a bad mood."
"Why would Paris be in a bad mood?" Martha asked, confused.
"Because she hates Christmas and everything it stands for." Clark said dryly.
"Clark, don't be like that." Jonathan corrected his son.
"Look everyone I know not liking Christmas may seem absurd to all of you. But my cousin has very good reasons for dreading this time of year. She didn't just take her day planner out one day and randomly decide to despise a holiday. When we were kids she actually used to like Christmas time."
"Okay, all that aside. Has she called or anything?" Jonathan asked, looking like he missed something somewhere.
"Yeah, usually Paris has her cell phone with her like everywhere." Clark piped in.
Lex was getting nervous and exasperated and it was beginning to show. "She doesn't have her cell phone with her because she broke it with her computer last night after all the stuff on TV and a rather loud tongue lashing from her father and then in the papers this morning! We argued this afternoon and she took off! Now can we please get out there and find her?" Lex sounded a bit more urgent than he intended.
Everyone looked at Lex stunned at his outburst, they were used to the reserved, soft spoken, cool headed Lex.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to." Martha apologized to the shaken boy in front of her.
Lex shook it off. "It's fine Mrs. Kent."
Albert turned to Lex with a shocked and angered look on his face. "She smashed her cell with her bloody computer and you didn't bother to tell me about it. These are the kinds of things you need to tell me!"
"She asked me not to. I didn't see the harm." Lex defended himself.
"Well of course you didn't see that harm Lex, neither of you ever see the harm in anything until it's done! And now we don't even know where the bloody 'ell she is! You know what, I'm not even shocked, Paris and Lex vs. the world, tag team behavior, same as always."
"Oh please don't give me that! She probably confides in you more than she does in me. She just didn't want you to worry about how badly she was handling this. Your opinion matters more to her than anyone else's and you know that! And if it weren't for your uncle jumping down her throat she wouldn't have smashed the phone in the first place and we wouldn't be having this conversation!"
"No, if you hadn't been flirting with her in the snow yesterday she never would have snapped last night and there never would have been any added stress in an already volatile situation AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT!" Albert yelled the last part at Lex.
"SO THIS IS MY FAULT!" Lex shouted back.
Clark and Jonathan stood shocked at the display that was taking place in their kitchen.
"YES IT IS!"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I DON'T NEED...." Lex was cut off by a high pitched whistle from Martha, everyone turned her way.
"Thank you both for shutting up. Now Clark and Jonathan you head out in our truck. Lex and Albert what kind of car did you come here in?"
"We took my truck."
"You have a..." Clark trailed off as he realized where Lex got the truck. "Oh."
"That's fine. You two head out in yours. Jonathan take our cell phone. Lex do I even need to ask if you have yours?"
"No, I have mine."
"What kind of car is she driving."
"Black four door BMW. Licnse plate, Paris2."
"Good. Lex and Albert take route 9 and Jonathan and Clark take route 7. Check in every 45 minutes, call if you see anything. Those roads get pretty nasty in whether like this you know how many accidents there can be. I will stay here in case she comes by or calls. Lex is there anyone on staff at your house tonight?"
"Just some security guards."
"Okay, I'll call and tell them what's going on. Everyone get moving." Martha ushered them all out of the house. 'Men' she thought to herself as they all piled into the trucks.
Lex and Albert spent their trip not talking or looking the other's way, they just kept their eyes peeled for anything that looked like her car.
Jonathan and Clark headed down their road and carefully looked for her car. Fortunately for Jonathan Clark could do the scanning for the both of them.
"Dad I can get out and do this on foot it would probably be faster."
"Yes, but what happens if you do find her and I'm 6 miles away. It may be easier for you Clark but it's not as safe for everyone else."
"I guess you're right. Dad stop I think I see something." They were on route 7, 20 miles from Lex's castle. "It's up there on the left. It's a BMW!"
"Alright son. Calm down." Jonathan guided the truck where Clark was pointing. He hadn't even put the car in park when Clark jumped out of the passenger side and ran into the ditch on the side of the road that held Paris' car.
"Dad stay there!" Clark yelled to his father. "Get a blanket!" Clark scanned the accident site, he could see Paris in the car shivering and passed out and her wrist pinned against the door, and if he X-rayed further he could see her heart beating slowly. "Okay Paris I'm here." He pulled the car as far out of the snow as he needed then opened the door. Lucky for him Paris didn't see any of that. When he got the door open Paris stirred a bit, but didn't open her eyes or say anything.
"Here's the blanket son!" Jonathan tossed the heavy wool blanket down to him.
He quickly undid her seatbelt, wrapped the blanket around her slender body and headed back up to the truck. "Dad we need to get her to the hospital now, she's in shock and may have hypothermia.
"Okay, we'll call your mother when we get there." They got back in the cab. "Shouldn't you put her in the middle, in front of the heater son?"
"Dad I'm like a human heater, she'll be better off I just hold onto her."
"Alright." Jonathan started the truck and headed to the hospital.
Clark made sure her head, torso, and as much of her legs as possible were safely cocooned in the blanket., he tucked her head under his chin and held her as tight as possible without further injuring her. "I think her wrist may be broken, and she looks like she might need some stitches in her forehead near her eye."
"The doctors will take care of that. You just make sure she warms up a bit." The ride to the hospital was long and tense because of the weather, Clark was relieved to see the bright letters come into view as they pulled up. Jonathan let him out at the emergency room door and went to park. Clark burst inside the emergency room, carrying an unconscious Paris and ran to the front desk.
"We need help now. She was in a car accident and she's frozen."
The nurse got up from behind the desk, grabbed the nearest gurney and put Paris on it. "Page Dr. Bryce." She instructed someone behind the desk.
"Dr. Bryce. Paging Dr. Helen Bryce to the ER. Dr. Bryce to the ER."
"Okay son, your friend is going to be just fine, wait out here and we'll take good care of her."
Helen ran into the ER. "What do we have?"
"Female, car accident. She doesn't have any ID on her. This young man brought her in."
Helen looked at Clark. "Thank you." She turned back to the nurse. "Paris Stratford, female age 23." She started try and get Paris' attention. "Paris look at me, Paris wake up." She patted her cheeks and opened her eyes to see if they were responsive.
"How do you know all that?" The nurse looked at her confused.
"She lives with my boyfriend." Helen said sardonically, the nurse just lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "Pupils fixed and dilated. She's in shock! We need warm blanket and an IV kit. Clark we're taking her down the hall, I'll be out to get you when she's stable." Helen disappeared with the nurse and Paris.
"Clark I'm going to call your mother. Have a seat."
"No I'll call Lex from the pay phone."
"Alright."
Clark's fingers trembled as he dialed the number.
The ringer was louder than normal in the quiet truck. "Hello?" Lex answered, not taking his eyes off the road as he flipped his one open.
"Lex it's Clark. We found Paris."
"That's great. Is she going home?"
"Not exactly. She's in the hospital."
Lex sobered as his face paled. "Which one?"
"Smallville general."
"We'll be right there." Lex hung up and dropped the phone in the cup holder.
"Where is she?" Albert looked at him worried.
"In the hospital."
Albert nodded as Lex turned the truck around and sped to the hospital. The ride was a long and tense one but they got there in one piece. They came running through the doors and straight into the Kent men.
"Mr. Kent where did they take my cousin?" Albert asked anxiously.
"Albert she is going to be fine. Dr. Bryce is her doctor and she is very good at what she does."
Albert snorted. "Oh this is going to be interesting."
"Shut up." Lex said heatedly to his friend, leveling him with a glare. "When can we see her?" He asked turning back to Jonathan.
"I don't know, she said she would come to get us when we could. So now we wait. Clark why don't you go get us some coffee from the cafeteria."
"Sure dad."
"I'll go with you Clark." Lex said.
They headed down the hall leaving Albert with Jonathan.
"So you're Paris' cousin?" Jonathan asked, hoping to calm him down.
"Yeah, we're pretty close. She's better to me than my own sister is."
"You have a sister?"
"Yep, and a brother in law and a mum and a dad and an uncle and a slightly senile grandmum and a few other relatives who are disappointed in ,my lifestyle choices, to say the least. Well accept maybe Gran, like I said she's not all there anymore. And we are all one big miserable dysfunctional family."
Jonathan looked at him quizzically.
Albert blushed a little and scuffed the floor. "Sorry to lay than on you Mr. Kent."
"Please call me Jonathan." He extended his hand to him.
Albert shook it and smiled a bit. "Alright, I am sorry to lay that all on you Jonathan. But when it comes to high pressure situations I'm almost useless."
Jonathan took a seat. "I understand, have a seat you look like you could use the rest."
"If I sit I'll jiggle my leg and I'm so nervous I could probably make the hospital shake. I'm better pacing."
"So giving you coffee is a great idea?" Jonathan joked.
Albert chuckled a bit. "Yeah I guess that was a bad judgment call." Albert shook his head and laughed. "When we were in boarding school Paris and I made a bet one Saturday after studying for mid terms non stop. Who could drink the most Red Bull? Somewhere around my 8th I wet on a 5 mile run. They came and got me because I crashed so hard that I could barely walk. When they got to me Paris was asleep in the passenger seat. I shared a dorm with Lex and Bruce and she had decided to power clean our dorm room that afternoon. Every CD and movie was in alphabetical order, and my closet was arranged by color and type of shirt. She even got into Lex's books and Dewey decimaled them."
Jonathan smiled at the story. "You and Paris went to the same boarding school? Aren't they usually non co-ed?"
"Not anymore. Almost everyone in our family including my sister went to Excelsior. When Aunt Yvonne was alive she didn't want Paris that far from home, and Excelsior's in England, so she went to some upstate New York boarding school. But after she died Paris managed to get herself thrown out of 3 schools even though Lex holds the record at 7. Excelsior was a last chance for her and she managed to stay there for the last 2 years of high school. Those were the best years of my life and I think Bruce and Lex feel the same way. See everyone went through school pigeon holed. Bruce was the moody loner, Lex was the troubled bald kid and I was the gay one. And when Paris came none of that mattered she was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stifling existence. Even though she resided in the alterna-punk bad girl from New York hole. I can't believe all this crap is happening to her. If it weren't for her..." Albert trailed off and sat down, rested his elbows on his knees and held his head in his hands.
Jonathan looked at Albert with a fatherly look on his face. "She's going to be fine."
Lex and Clark came down the hall holding coffees in their hands. Clark handed one to his dad and Lex handed one to Albert.
"Thanks mate." Albert gratefully took the coffee and smiled at his friend.
"So what, now we wait?" Clark asked.
"Basically son. We have to let the doctors work."
"Hey Lex, I told him the Red Bull story." Albert said shakily.
Lex laughed. "Yeah, you go for a run and Bruce and I get locked out of our room so Paris can clean. And Paris doesn't clean."
"How'd she manage to get the two of you out of your room? I mean, you're bigger than her and there were two of you." Clark asked.
"I don't know. It was kind of like a tornado came in and just moved us. One minute I was watching TV, the next I was in the hall still holding the remote." Lex chuckled. "She's a handful."
"To say the least." Albert agreed. "Remember when she got there and her hair was bright pink for the entire first year, and it's not like we didn't know about it but the faculty and staff didn't know what to do with her. But it was her hair and that's how she wanted it and no one tells Paris what to do.."
"Well when there are 3 buildings and 2 dorms in your family name, they tend to give you a bit of lee way. Didn't she get into an argument with the ballet instructor because she wanted her to dye it back for The Nutcracker?"
"I remember that. They finally compromised and got her to wear a wig." Lex and Albert smiled fondly at the memory.
Helen walked into the waiting room and smiled upon seeing Lex. All four men rushed toward her. "She's awake now and she's going to be fine. Her left wrist has a minor hairline fracture it's in a cast now, we cleaned her cut and put liquid stitches on it, and she's under warming blankets. You can see her one at a time."
"You two can stay and see her, we'll be going." Jonathan said.
"Alright. Thank you Mr. Kent."
"Thank you, Jonathan and Clark. Have a good evening."
They left Lex and Albert with Helen.
"Well she's your cousin." Lex gestured for Albert to go ahead of him.
Albert nodded in understanding. "Hey, mate, before I go back there. You know I don't actually think any of this is your fault. That back there was all just stress talking."
"I know. Now go see Paris before she comes looking for you." Lex and Albert shook hands.
"What room is she in?" He asked Helen.
"114, straight down the hall."
"Thank you Helen." He hugged her then left.
Helen turned to Lex. "That was a wonderful thing Mr. Kent and Clark did tonight. I don't know what would have happened if they weren't there. She couldn't have survived more than another hour out there."
Lex became serious. "I don't want to think about it. Helen I know you don't like her at all, but she is my friend and she needs me. She isn't leaving until she's ready. But she's not you."
Helen put on a serious face. "I understand. I get off my shift around 9:00, I'll be by later." Helen gave him a small kiss. "I have to get back to work."
----Paris' hospital room----
Albert quietly creped into Paris' room as not to disturb her. Seeing Paris laying helpless in a hospital bed, for the first time he thought he knew a fraction of what it must have been like for Paris to watch her mother dying and not being able to do a thing about it. Upon seeing her he felt grateful and scared and relieved and the entire time the devil's advocate in his head was whispering 'What if'. He closed the door carefully with a little click. Paris stirred in her bed and looked over at him.
"Hey Albie." She smiled brightly, but still looked tired and broken. Her wrist was in a cast and there was an IV in her right hand and there was a breathing tube in her nose. "Well here's a happy ending to yet another miserable, failure of a Christmas. Maybe next year we can burn the house down."
"Nah, next year is definitely avalanche at the ski cabin with the entire Stratford clan." Albert gave a half smile as he walked over to his cousin's bed. "Don't scare me like that anymore okay?" He gave her a small hug, afraid of further damaging her.
"Agreed, especially since I hate hospitals. Where's Lex, or is he still mad at me?"
"He's out there. I heard you two had words before you left."
"We both have short tempers, let's leave it at that."
"Oh, and your cell phone?"
"I told him no to say anything to you. For a guy who values privacy, he has such a big mouth lately."
"He didn't tell me because he wanted to. He did it because of the stress. It's not his fault. The bloke was worried, and people were asking a lot of questions."
"I guess. It's not like my whole life isn't fodder for the late shows any way."
"You'll see, in a few days Jessica Simpson will say something stupid, or Brittney Spears will say that she's still a virgin, or Bush will declare war on Finland and you'll be old news." He smiled at her reassuringly.
She gave a chuckle. "I don't think I'll be going to Fiji. Being broken and all."
"That's okay, we always have next year."
"Nope, next year I will be in a bomb shelter with a year's worth of supplies and a TV assuring that nothing bad will happen to me and I'm not coming out until Three Kings Day."
"Well your TV could break."
"Pessimist."
"Says the woman designing a holiday bomb shelter." They laughed. "Seriously you've hit a rough patch of Christmases but they'll get better."
"No they won't. The only Christmases worth having were the ones she was here for, everything since then has been crap and you know it. Even after Lillian died we always celebrated with Lex and Lionel. She dies and I don't see Lex for almost a year afterward. Due to some kind of conflict between the Paters, the origins of which are still not known to said offspring. Not to mention the laundry list of misfortunes that seem to pop up around the holidays including this week's spectacle. There is no coincidence. Christmas is a sham and I choose to abstain from said sham."
Albert looked at her soberly. "I'm sorry you feel that way Peanut, I really do." Just then someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." Paris called from the bed.
Lex opened the door and walked in. "Well look who finally decided go out and mingle with people. We really must come here more often, the food is horrible, the coffee's stale and the TVs get 3 stations." Lex walked over and gave her a hug. "You really had us scared for awhile there. Don't do that again. Okay?"
Paris nodded in agreement. "Besides I don't think my car insurance covers act of deer."
"You hit a deer?" Lex asked, shocked.
"Actually the deer hit me, but yes there was a collision with a deer, a buck to be exact, the horns are probably lodged in my hood somewhere."
"So what you're saying is not only is this the second car wrecked on Christmas, but this is the second car you have had wrecked by a deer around Christmas. So this is the third car to meet a gory Christmas end."
The group exchanged glances and laughed. "That is exactly what I'm saying. But if you remember correctly, you wrecked my grandfather's car that Christmas not me, I was a passenger. "
"We were 14, I think we were all to blame for that little joy ride."
"Except me, as I remember I was a hostage to your Bonnie and Clyde." Albert chimed in.
"You loved it and you know it." Paris retorted.
"Right, what part of 'oh my god stop, we're all going to die,' sounded like loving it?"
Paris rolled her eyes at him. "And the other car was just a rogue deer in Westchester N.Y."
The nurse from earlier came walking into he room. "Alright you two I think it's time to let the patient get some sleep. Will either of you be staying the night?"
"No, they're both going home." Paris replied.
"Are you sure?" Albert asked.
"I'm a big girl, I think I can handle one night in a hospital alone. Besides you secretly know you're glad you won't be sleeping in one of those chairs." She winked at him mischievously.
"Alright, but if you need anything don't hesitate call."
"I wont."
They all bid their good nights. As Albert was walking out of the room Paris called him back.
"What do you need luv?"
"Nothing. Remember when we left Excelsior after graduation?"
"Sort of."
"Do you remember the conversation we had in the car?"
"The one where you were crying?"
"Yeah."
"Parts."
"Did you ever tell any of that to Lex?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"No special reason."
"Alright." He looked skeptical.
"Good night Albert."
"Good night Paris." Albert left the room quietly.
----Graduation night and the day after graduation, Excelsior Prep, England, May 20, 1998----
Grad night.
Lex couldn't sleep, Paris on the other hand was sleeping on top of him dead to the world, but that's not the point. Lex looked around Paris's now vacant bedroom, the walls that used to sport posters were now bare everything that made her room fun and homey was gone, all that was left was her bed and a few suitcases, everyone's big furniture and things they didn't need were sent home a few days ago, a sad smile crossed his lips as he remembered the many days and nights he and his friends had spent laying around the room, doing their homework, watching TV, drinking, smoking pot, laughing, hatching ingenious plans, crawling out the windows, the days and nights he and Paris spent in there alone etc. He peered down at Paris's sleeping form, her hair was wild and unkempt falling loose and curling after hours of love making, when she moved her head the ends tickled Lex's naked chest. He could see her tattoo, he idly traced the outline of the flower with his finger. Her left leg was slung over his, her left hand rested on his chest and the right was on the pillow next to her. He loved nights like these, they didn't even need to have sex, he just loved the feeling of sleeping next to her, she was beautiful and smart and funny and loving and his. Well until tomorrow at least, tomorrow life at Excelsior would only be a memory and he would be separated from Paris and he didn't know how long for. He would be starting Met U in the fall, Lionel wanted to keep him close so he could keep an eye on him, and she would be busy in California. Their father's surely wouldn't understand them dating, he could just imagine the inevitable argument that would ensue if the subject were ever breached, that's why he wanted tonight to last for as long as he could make it, there was no definite tomorrow for them.
Paris woke up and shifted. "Hey." She said happily, yet groggy. "What're you doing still up? I figured after the third or fourth time your brain would have stopped working."
He smiled down at her and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm just thinking about stuff."
"Anything interesting."
"Not particularly."
"Well then you should try and get some sleep, tomorrow's going to be a pain in the ass."
"I can't. I don't want tomorrow to come. I want to stay here, with you."
"Oh. I've been trying not to think about that much."
"How can you not? Do you even realize what tomorrow is?"
"Lex I know what tomorrow is. Tomorrow is the last time we'll see each other until at least July, and then who knows after that. Tomorrow is the end of an era. Tomorrow is D-day for our little family."
"Exactly."
"But staying up all night worrying yourself won't help. Believe me. Please try to get some sleep, I'll feel better knowing you got at least some sleep."
"Alright." Paris moved so she was lying on her back and Lex was lying on her chest. He started rubbing circles on her bars stomach and she lightly stroked his scalp in a soothing way. "Paris."
"Yes?"
"Promise me something."
"Anything."
"Promise me that you won't leave me behind."
"Why would I leave you behind?"
"I don't know. But just promise me that no matter what happens we'll always be there for each other."
"Okay I promise." She kissed the top of his head.
The next morning
After breakfast the next morning everyone went to their rooms to get the last of their belongings and meet their rides home. Paris grabbed her suitcase and backpack and headed upstairs to see Lex.
She walked inside Lex, Albert and Bruce's room. Everyone's stuff was waiting and ready to go. The boys were just sitting around talking, Albert had his video camera out.
"Hey Paris have any last parting words for our old friend the video camera?" Albert asked.
"No I think me and Mr. Video camera have said all we need to say to each other. Can I actually have a minute alone with Lex? I'll see you downstairs when the limo gets here."
"Sure. Come on Bruce I think we should get going anyway."
"Later Paris."
"Bye Bruce." Paris and Bruce hugged before the boys left the room.
Lex waited until they were gone to ask her what was up. "Hey beautiful, why so glum?" Lex asked as he walked up to her.
"I don't want to go." She whispered softly, looking at the floor.
"What are you talking about?" He asked tilting her chin up to look her in the eyes.
"I don't want to go, I know I've been going on all week about how graduating is so great and how I'm so excited about leaving, but I don't want to leave this place, I don't want to wake up tomorrow morning and not have you next to me or on the next floor." Her chin started trembling.
"Oh babe come here." Lex hugged her tightly. "I know you don't want to leave."
"Lex when I get home all hell is going to break loose and I don't think I can do that alone. Not again. Please can't we just use our trust funds and get an apartment in the city? Or buy a house in a cute little town in Maine or Massachusetts? It's not like we can't afford it."
"As much as I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I plan on doing so, we need to face the music sometime."
"No we don't, we're rich."
"Paris."
"Lex please, I love you and I don't want to go back to my father."
"I know you don't. I don't either, but we have to, for a little while."
"Lex I don't think I'll be able to survive on E-mail and phone calls for the next two months."
"What about AIM?"
"Lex."
"I know. Look I love you and you love me right?"
"Yeah."
"And nothing in the world can change that right?"
"Yeah."
"So we're fine right?"
"I guess."
"Good." Lex dipped his head and kissed her passionately, they didn't separate until they needed air.
"What was that for?" Paris asked breathlessly.
"I needed to get one last fix before we left."
"Oh. Well in that case." Paris grabbed the collar of his shirt and kissed him hard and passionately. "I was returning the gesture."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Come on we have to go." Lex took Paris's hand as they walked down to the lobby of their dorm. When they got to the front doors they knew that the people waiting for them outside were hired by their fathers so they couldn't trust them with their secret, they separated and Lex let Paris out ahead of him.
"See ya around." Lex said nonchalantly.
"You wish." Paris ribbed him.
"You're not as hot as you think you are Stratford."
"And you wouldn't know unless you were looking."
"Hardly."
"Bite me Luthor."
They exchanged smiles and went to their waiting limos.
Paris took a last look back at Lex before he got into his limo and then climbed into hers. She sat on the back bench seat and on her knees looking out the back window like a child. Silent tears were streaming down her cheeks. Albert said nothing.
"Ms. Stratford, I'm going to have to insist that you turn around and sit properly before we can depart." The driver stated.
Paris reluctantly turned around and sat back in her seat. Albert put the privacy glass up.
Paris shifted in her seat so she could see Lex's limo out the back window as they pulled away.
"What's wrong Paris?" Albert asked concerned.
"You know the part at the end of the movie where the guy comes running up to the girls car, he runs right in front of the car and the driver slams on the brakes. And after the driver stops the girl sees the guy standing in front of the car and is totally puzzled. So she gets out of the car and asks him what he's doing there. And he walks up to her and says, 'I couldn't let you go. I love you.' and the girl says 'I love you too.' And throws her arms around the guys neck and they kiss and live happily ever after 'The End.'"
"Yeah."
"Where's my happy ending?"
"You'll get it Peanut, don't worry."
----Present day Smallville----
Paris Stratford slept soundly in her hospital bed due to the pain killers and sleeping pill the nurse had given her.
----The next day----
Paris was released from the hospital the next morning and spent the rest of the day sleeping in her own bed while people waited on her. Albert and Lex wouldn't have it any other way.
Clark stopped by in the afternoon to drop off some baked goods from his mother and some apple cider. He went to the office to see Lex.
"Hey Clark. What brings you by?"
"Just a special post-holiday feel better delivery for all of you. Mom sent over some bakery along with a gallon of apple cider."
"I'll be sure to call her later and thank her."
"Hey Lex can I ask you a stupid question?"
"Why don't you ask it first then we'll decide whether or not it's stupid?"
"Why does Paris hate Christmas?"
Lex cringed a bit but slipped back into his cool demeanor. "Her mom died 5 days before Christmas, the funeral was only a few days before the holiday. Christmas was Yvonne's favorite holiday, she always made sure the house was beautifully decorated and it smelled wonderful and that everyone just had a great time, our families always spent the holidays together. After my mom died I always spent Christmas with them even if my father wasn't there, after she died nothing was ever the same, it wasn't as festive. That next year was particularly tough on her she got into tons of trouble, and that's putting it mildly. A few years after that she came to Excelsior and we started dating, everything was great until our father's found out. After that we pretended like we had broken up and continued dating but they knew differently. They were putting excessive pressure on both of us to end it once and for all, Paris cracked first and I took it out on her, we didn't talk for a long time after that. We broke up December 21 1998. There are way more things to add to the list but they're for another time, when she can tell you."
Clark understood. "I wish there was a way to reverse it all for her."
"I think you started that last night. Helen told me that if you and your father hadn't come along when you did she may have well died. I don't think Albert or I would have ever recovered from that. We owe you a lot Clark."
"It was nothing. I did what was right. Any of yo would have done that too. I have to get home, mom needs me to help with some chores."
"Bye Clark." Lex bid him farewell.
"Bye Lex." Clark left
----Later that evening----
Paris was feeling up to walking around the house a bit and decided to go to her office and call Mackenzie, but first she checked her voice mail.
After a few boring voice mails she was about to hang up when a familiar, almost lyrical voice came through on the other end.
"Hey Paris it's your old pal Jack. I just wanted to call and tell you that you won't be hearing any more from you ex in the press. We had a bit of a chat and he decided to drop the case against you and make a public apology. I've got to be going I just thought I'd give you a heads up on that. Can't wait to see you back here. Have a good holiday."
Paris hung up the phone and sat back in her chair with a grin on her face. "If people knew what a softie Jack Nicholson really was."
End Chapter. This took me over a month to write, be kind rewind.
Once all roads were cleared and the patient load had greatly decreased Helen was given the okay to leave and had tomorrow off, which meant she headed straight for Lex's place. Unfortunately Lex and Len had to cancel their trip to Colorado since the mountains were all closed due to the blizzard and a few missing skiers.
Gustave didn't believe in making his employees go back to work during their time off and since he hadn't counted on the snowstorm he had given his pilots the week off starting the 23rd and the blizzard was making it's way across the US and was currently attacking the East Coast making any and all flight through there impossible. Paris and Albert were stuck in Smallville until the 27th at the earliest.
Dinner was awkward that night, afterward Paris and Albert made themselves scarce by playing billiards, giving Lex and Helen the entire rest of the house. Albert didn't trust Helen at all, something about her just set alarms off inside him but he didn't voice his concern to Lex because he knew what kind of reaction his friend would have and it wouldn't be pretty.
----December 24th, Christmas Eve----
----Paris----
Paris was sitting at Lex's desk, trying to keep the fantasy of her and him naked on top of it out of her head, answering her e-mails since her laptop was broken and even she, the computer nerd, couldn't fix it. The bottom was cracked and the screen was shattered, so she humbled herself to ask Lex to use his IMac. Paris's E-mail account was flooded with greetings and support from her friends an colleagues about her current legal situation and at least three of her past therapists contacted her letting her know that their services were still available. She had to check her voice mail from the house because her cell phone wasn't in commission and that account needed to be cleared 5 times before noon, she could only imagine what her publicist must have been dealing with from all the TV stations. All five of Mackenzie's brothers and her older sister called her to show their support and Bruce had called half a dozen times between the 22nd and then. She also had a brief conversation with her grandfather. She had spent most of the morning returning calls and e-mails so by the time the afternoon rolled around she was ready to crash, but she couldn't due to the giant pile of scripts and paperwork that would surely keep her away from Helen for the rest of the week.
----Lex----
Lex spent most of the day with Helen trying to keep Paris out of the fore front of his mind, which is quite a hard task to do. After his talk with Paris the previous afternoon he knew she didn't want him to get involved with her current situation, but that didn't stop him from trying to think up ways to help her. It was no use, she would know if he had a hand in it. He was sitting on the couch with Helen watching TV, he didn't even know what they were watching because he kept thinking about Paris. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Helen.
----Helen----
Helen had noticed the uneasiness between the three when she saw them the night before, but she chalked it up to cabin fever. Today though it was hard to ignore. At breakfast she was reading the entertainment pages because Lex had snagged business, Albert had gotten sports and Paris took the comics. Anyway Lex glanced up and saw Paris's picture on the page she was holding and promptly asked her if she wanted to trade sections, when they did he folded the paper and laid it on the table. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence. This afternoon they were flipping though channels and landed on E!. They were running a blurb on Paris, Helen saw Lex's posture immediately stiffen and his face turn stoney. She knew what that meant, he was feeling protective toward her. Helen wasn't going to let Lex Luthor get away from her, she had to make sure of that. For now she contended herself with burying herself further into his side.
Lex looked down at her with a look of question on his face.
She looked up with an innocent look and blinked a few times. "It's drafty in this old castle."
Lex knew this flirt all too well. "I could turn the fire up if you'd like." He said with a playful smile.
"No I'm fine like this." She settled back down and laid her head on his chest. With her free hand she began to stroke the soft lambs wool that made up his sweater. "You know, there are other things we can do to keep warm." Her voice was low and seductive.
"Oh and that would be?" He teased.
"A very simple procedure." She sat up and crawled up his body, straddling his lap. She placed her hands on his shoulders and he rested his hands on her hips.
Lex looked intrigued. "Oh and that procedure would be?" He asked in a seductive voice.
"Well." Kiss. "When people are cold." Kiss. "They can share body heat." Kiss.
"Oh, and how does said body heat get shared?"
"Well." She slid her hands under the hem of his sweater and lightly stroked the smooth skin underneath. "In order to properly share body heat both people have to be naked."
Lex lifted an inquisitive eyebrow and licked his lips. "Naked huh? Go on."
"And they can be engaged in some form of physical activity, just to raise the body heat of course."
"I see. It's purely scientific."
"Exactly."
"Well who am I to argue with a doctor?"
Helen leaned forward and kissed Lex while he worked his hands under the back of her sweater and she started to undo the button on his trousers.
Albert came walking into the media room not expecting what he was about to interrupt. "Lex mate have you...." He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Helen straddling Lex.
Lex broke the kiss quick and stood up, dropping Helen onto the floor. "Shit, Helen sorry." He grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. "Hey. Albert. What's up?"
"Sorry mate. I was just trying to find my cousin."
"She's in my. In my ummm...." Lex struggled to find the word. Albert smirked at Lex's loss for words, considering he was never at one.
"She's in your office. She's been in your office since after breakfast. And I'm sure she'll still be in your office when we ring in the New Year." Helen said, annoyed with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Right then I'll be on my way. As you were." Albert gave a wave, turned around and hurried out of the room and to the office, snickering the whole way.
"God you'd swear bad timing was in their DNA." Helen said crossly.
"He didn't mean to."
"Whatever. When are they leaving?"
"It's not like they want to be here. Hell it's not like we want to be here."
"I'm not so sure about that."
Lex looked at her but said nothing.
-----Lex's Office----
Albert burst through the office doors in a full roar of laughter. "Peanut you'll never guess what I did." He flopped down in one of the leather chairs in front of Lex's desk where Paris was sitting.
Paris didn't look away form the monitor. "Proposed marriage to Prince William?"
"No smart ass, you know he rebuked my past offers. I walked in on Lex and Helen."
Paris looked over from the monitor at her cousin a big smile on her face. "You didn't. Please Albie, tell me you didn't." Pretty soon she was in a fit of laughter along with Albert. "Please tell me they weren't naked." Paris said through choked laughter.
"No but the top button of Lex's pants was undone. I walked in on foreplay." More ruckus laughter. After they calmed down Albert asked her, "So why are you in here? I thought Lex gave you an office. I mean are you not the woman who once said 'Apples are for eating not computing.' By the way you are a techno snob."
She had to think of a lie quick, her and Lex decided not to tell Albert about her episode the night before. "There's something wrong with the hard drive and I don't have the part here so I'm using his. No big." The computer beeped and she looked over at the monitor. "Crap."
"What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. I've been doing re-writes through e-mail with some writers from Paramount and I'm printing the script out for a proper read. And Lex's jackass printer just ran out of paper."
"Just grab more."
"And where do you suppose I'd do that?" She gestured to the glass desk and sparsely decorated room. "He decorated in early Spartan."
"Why don't you prance down to your office and get some of your own?"
"Well I would if I had a printer." She began looking through the shelves.
"You don't have a printer? It can't be for lack of sufficient funds."
"No I threw it off the balcony in California and I haven't bought a new one. Crap, there is no freaking paper in this soddin' room."
"What about in the book shelves?"
"No, Lex keeps the cabinets locked."
"Key?"
"Hmmm... If I were Lex where would I put a key?" She walked over and surveyed the surroundings behind the desk. "Ah ha." She walked over to a purple vase on the window sill and turned it over in her hand, producing a key. "Lex is so predictable. Don't tell him I said that." She put the vase back and waltzed over to the bookcase. "What have you been up to all day? You've been conspicuously absent since breakfast."
"Working on something for you?"
"Oh yeah, what?"
"You'll see."
Paris opened a cabinet ad started rifling around for paper when a black and white picture caught her eye. She grabbed it and stared in disbelief. It was a picture of Lionel and Victoria having sex. 'Ewwww!' She thought disgusted. 'Whore.'. The date showed that it was shortly before they took over Sir Harry's company, meaning Victoria was living with Lex at the time. 'I really am the only one he hasn't slept with.' She thought sadly then put the picture back.
"Paris, earth to Paris."
"Huh, what?" Paris snapped out of her daze.
"Nothing. What'd you find in there?"
"Nothing." She reached father back until she could find a ream of paper. "Found it." She locked the cabinet, replaced the key, went back and put the paper in the printer and finished her project.
"Why don't you shut that down I have something to show you."
"Alright."
"Oh and you'll need to change into this." He produced a sarong and bathing suit from the pocket of his sweatshirt.
Paris took the items with a questioning look on her face. "Umm, where did you find these and you do realize that snow indicates freezing weather conditions. And this definitely would get me frost bite."
"I went through your suitcase. Now stop questioning and just go change."
"Fine. Lex has a bathroom in here. I'll change, you wait here."
Paris came back a few minutes later changed into a black two piece bathing suit with red flowers on the top and bottoms and her red sarong. "I'm still confused. Not that I mind the choice in bathing suits but I have bikinis."
"You won't be. I chose one that covered more cause anything else would have made me feel creepy. Come with me." Paris followed Albert through the house to the indoor pool. "Close your eyes."
"Alright." Paris did as she was instructed and Albert led her into the room.
"Alright open 'em."
Paris opened her eyes and looked around her. The pool was completely decorated with bright white garden lights, a few sun lamps, tropical flowers and small trees from the green house, tropical music was playing, a table was set up with fruit and Mai-tai's. "Oh my god Abie this is awesome."
"I figured since we couldn't have the beach, the beach would come to us."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you." She gave her cousin a hug.
"Alright I'm going to go put my trunks on, why don't you have a swim."
Albert shoved her into the pool. "Wha...AH!" When she resurfaced she swept the hair out of her face and threw her sarong on the deck. "Jerk." And swam for a raft that was in the middle of the pool. After hoisting herself up, she laid back and relaxed in the tranquility of the room.
"So I take it you like it." Albert came back in and took the other raft.
"Very much. Thank you, again Albie."
"You're welcome Peanut. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas. So did you talk to Brian today?"
"Yes."
"And how is he?"
"He's alright. He said he'd still meet us for New Year's. He also sends his condolences to you."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh god. I am going to kill Jeremy. And then I'm going to buy E! and shut it down."
"I believe you yanks call that censorship."
"Shut up." She said annoyed and splashed him. "Besides I have dual citizenship so I'm still a Brit."
"You defected." He splashed her harder and laughed.
"I was brought here against my will." She splashed him again.
They stayed in the pool until late into the evening when Lex and Helen came in to see where they had run off too. The cousins were laughing hysterically at something unknown to the couple.
When they walked in the music was turned up and Paris and Albert were laughing, Albert on a raft and Paris standing on the high dive, Lex surveyed the room, grabbed the remote and clicked the system off. "Well I see Albert has volunteered his decorating services. I like it, very tropical."
"Hey mate." Albert waved to him from the middle of the pool.
"Luthor what up!" Paris said happily as she dove off the high dive.
"You two seem to have kept yourselves well entertained."
Paris resurfaced and swam to her raft. "Very much so." Paris said as she paddled her way to the side. "Wanna join us?"
"Sorry Paris we were on our way to bed we just wanted to say good night." Helen said snidely as she stood at Lex's side, glaring at Paris.
"Well I didn't ask you if you wanted to join us."
"Well I thought it was implied."
"Well then there's your problem."
"Paris be nice." Albert came over and dumped her off her raft.
She came up sputtering water. "Hey, now, uncalled for."
"Cool off and go get another drink."
"Well if you insist. As I always say, drinking is the cause and solution for life's problems." Paris got out of the pool, shook her long hair of excess water all over Helen, earning herself a glare from Lex, and got herself yet another Mai-tai that evening.
"Albert how many of those has she had so far?" Lex asked.
"Dunno mate. We stopped counting after the first two pitchers and that was awhile ago."
"Jesus Lex they're plastered. They really shouldn't be swimming in this condition."
"Helen they'll be fine."
"Fine, but when one of them drowns I'm going to say I told you so."
"Get off it lady. Please take the broom out of your ass and fly it to your castle of flying monkeys."
"PARIS!" Lex and Albert both snapped at her at the same time.
"Fuck you Paris. You are nothing but self indulgent, spoiled, rich brat, and I'm tired of watching these two coddle your ass because god forbid life throw anything in Paris's way. The world would stop on it's axis." Helen laid into Paris.
"You don't know the first thing about my life, so why don't you leave now before I lose my temper."
"Threats. Nice, really classy."
"It wasn't a threat." Paris narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. "Just because you have a PhD does not mean you know anything. I've seen others like you, and they all have one thing in common. They came and they left."
"Yep that's enough, time for bed." Albert got out of the pool. "Paris say good night."
"No Albert I'm...." She stopped her protest when he threw her over his shoulder and started walking out of the room. "You do know that this is highly undignified."
"Only for you Peanut."
"Hey did you know these floors are marble?"
After the cousins left Lex and Helen were standing alone in the pool.
"I'm sorry she said those things. Sometimes when she's in a mood like this she just gets on a roll and she can't stop herself, especially if she's been drinking."
"Yeah, well the next time she pulls something like that she won't be standing when she gets done."
Lex smirked at her. "Not that I don't think she was wrong but you aren't entirely innocent yourself."
"I can't believe you're actually defending her."
"Look you don't know her the way I do. She's not a bad person."
"No she's just a juvenile bitch."
"She hates the holidays and usually she's okay she makes it through relatively unscathed, but this past month has been really bad for her. If she wants to be numb and left alone I say we let her do it. Albert and I know how to handle her. "
"You really think that letting her drink herself into a stupor is going to solve anything. Lex if you're really her friend you'll get her some help."
"She doesn't need help, she needs to be left alone, if she wants to talk about something she knows where I am. I won't argue with you about this. I'll talk to her tomorrow about this, she'll apologize and everything will be worked out."
"I don't want to work things out with her. I want her out of this house."
"That's not going to happen."
"Really." Helen pursed her lips
"Let's just go to bed and we'll talk about this tomorrow."
"Fine."
----December 25th, Christmas Day----
Everyone slept late the next day, Paris and Helen still weren't speaking, Helen and Lex weren't entirely on good terms, Lex was trying to think of ways to get Helen to hate Paris less and trying to figure out what to say to her later that wouldn't make her fly off the handle, everyone was okay with Albert.
Paris and Albert were on the couch, still in their pajamas, eating cookies, watching 'Steele Magnolias' around mid-morning when Lex walked into the media room. He stood in front of the TV blocking their view in order to get their attention.
Paris looked at him annoyed and said sarcastically. "Excuse me, but Weezer is about to say something mind blowingly heartfelt and prolific so I would appreciate it if you would move."
"The movie's 13 years old, you know it by heart. Come on you two, Helen has to be at the hospital in a few hours and I thought it would be nice if we ALL made an effort to be together, get along and open presents."
Paris and Albert looked at each other, shrugged, then looked beck at Lex. "Sounds like a good idea mate. Come on Paris it'll be fun."
"Nothing about Christmas is fun." She said as she got up and shuffled out of the room behind Lex and Albert.
"Come on you'll love what I got you."
"Only if it's a shot gun." She muttered.
They walked into the formal sitting room where a large beautifully decorated Christmas tree was waiting for them, with their presents for each other under it. Helen was sitting in a high backed chair with a mug of coffee in her hand. "Paris so nice of you to join us, and sober yet. How's the hang over?"
"Nonexistent. Your concern has been noted." Paris said dryly.
Lex was getting annoyed. "Everybody be nice and open presents."
Albert was rummaging under the tree looking for something, when he found it he smiled. "Here peanut this is for you." He handed Paris a box wrapped in red metallic paper.
Paris sat down next to him and smiled as he handed out other gifts from the tree.
"Don't just look at, open it."
"Fine, fine." She tore into the paper and opened the shirt box it contained. She took out the neatly folded shirt and laughed at what she saw. A black ribbed racer back tank, with the words 'Sparkles Fontane Lives' written across the front in pink cursive covered in glitter. "Oh my god. Where did you get this?" She held it to her body to show everyone. Lex and Albert laughed because they knew the joke.
"I had it printed especially for you."
"This is unbelievable."
"I don't get it. Who's Sparkles Fontane?" Helen asked.
"She, is Sparkles Fontane." Albert said, pointing to Paris.
Helen looked even more confused.
"Let me clarify. When I was in high school my friend Mackenzie and I would sometimes dress in drag when we went to the village and hung out with our gay friends in the drag bars and clubs. And someone once told me that I looked like a 'Sparkles Fontane.' Hence the Sparkles Fontane. We dragged these two there a couple of times. Anyway when I transferred to Excelsior I couldn't go to the village because I wasn't there and when I came back for the summer someone said, 'We thought Sparkles Fontane died.' And I said no, 'she's still very much alive.' After that whenever someone would say, 'Oh my god I haven't seen you in forever.' I'd say 'Sparkles Fontane lives.' I still use the name sometimes when I check into hotels. The story's dumb, but if you were there it's funny."
"How do girls dress in drag?"
"A lot of makeup and a little imagination."
"Oh."
"Here." Lex handed Helen a long, slim, elegantly wrapped box. Paris knew what it was right away and she was sure Helen did too, Albert wasn't paying attention, he was too busy looking for Paris's gift to him. Helen opened the box revealing a platinum tennis bracelet with diamonds.
"Oh my gosh Lex. It's beautiful. Thank you." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Paris discretely rolled her eyes.
Paris turned her attention back to the tree and Albert when she heard a scuffle behind her. Albert had shimmied under the tree in search of his present. "What are you doing G.I Joe?"
"Looking for my present from you Ducks."
She shook her head and smiled. "You are such a child."
"This from a woman with a Grover doll." He retorted dryly.
"Hey, it has sentimental value and it's not like I sleep with it. Move over, you're going to break the tree." She stepped over him and found the package he was looking for. "Here, merry Christmas." She smiled and handed him a square box of medium thickness wrapped in shiny red paper with a green bow and ribbon.
"My cousin may hate Christmas but she gives the best gifts."
"I'm good at shopping."
Albert tore into his present with the enthusiasm of an 8 year old on espresso. His eyes widened in surprise at the object that awaited him. In the box laid a large photo album looking book. When he opened it he saw that it was actually a scrap book full of pictures of all of them, some of their more memorable sayings, inside jokes, funny bumper stickers and pins that fit their personalities. There was a pin next to a picture of him that said 'I'm the pink sheep of the family.' And one next to a picture of Paris, when she had pink hair that said 'I don't do normal.' "Paris this is bloody brilliant. I love it. This must have taken you forever." He hugged her tight.
"Once I decided what I wanted to do it pretty much put itself together."
They continued to open presents for the next few minutes, Lex's present to Paris was the last one to be opened. Paris carefully unwrapped the perfectly wrapped present. When she finally got it open she was speechless. Lex had gotten her a first edition book of classic French fairytales, in French. "Oh my god. Lex, where'd you get this? It's beautiful." She marveled at the book, the soft leather cover, and the original bindings, it smelled like leather.
"I found it in a book store in Province. I thought it would go well with your other books."
"It does, thank you." She got up and gave him a hug, earning herself yet another glare form Helen.
The group cleaned up the gift wrap mess and went their separate ways. Albert went to his room to look at the scrap book Paris had given him. Lex and Helen went to his room while she got ready for work. Paris went to her office to read the book Lex had given her.
She put her broken cell phone and computer in the closet before she sat down at her desk, just to get comfortable and maybe forget what was going on around her. She curled up in the comfortable leather chair and opened the antique book. To her surprise Lex had written an inscription to her, in French, on the inside cover. When she read it the words made her choke up with emotion. The translation read, 'Paris. I know you don't believe in fairytale love but I hope you find your Prince Charming once and for all you deserve your happy ending. Merry Christmas. Love Always, Alexander.' She carefully closed the book, laid it on the desk and grabbed a Kleenex. 'I already found him, but his heart belongs to someone else.' She thought sadly as she dabbed her tears.
----The kitchen that afternoon----
After changing her clothes and getting herself presentable Paris was rummaging through the kitchen looking for something to eat but not finding anything she liked. Lex came in a few minutes later and joined her. "Not to be picky, but I can't find anything to eat in this house." She took a sip from her glass of soda that was on the counter next to her.
"I was just thinking the same thing." Lex said leaning against the counter. "Any ideas?"
"Take out?"
"Where do you want to order from?"
"I feel guilty ordering on Christmas."
"Well if they're open it's not our fault."
"True."
"Italian?"
"Nah, I want noodles but no marinara sauce. Chinese?"
"That sounds great."
"I'll find Albert and ask him what he wants."
"Hey Paris before you do that can I talk to you for a minute."
"Sure. What about?" She leaned up against the counter across from him.
Lex looked at the floor. "I don't know how to say this exactly. We need to talk about you."
"Wouldn't that be a bit narcissistic on my part?" She joked.
He looked up at her. "Paris I'm serious. Helen is on my back about you."
Paris got defensive. "Look, with the exception of last night I have been nothing but cordial to the woman. She treats me like, she treats me the same way our fathers treat us. She's jealous of our friendship, that's not my problem."
"It is your problem Paris. She is pissed at you and she wants you out of this house. I don't need to be hearing about you from her and I don't need to be hearing about her form you."
"I haven't said a word about her. I bite my tongue because not talking about problems is how we keep the peace."
"That's not true and you know it."
"Oh really." She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her eyebrow at him. "If she's making you choose between her or me which one of us do you think is actually the problem in this scenario?"
"She wants me to put you in therapy because of the drinking."
"I don't need therapy and you know that. Besides I'm over 18, no one's putting me in therapy unless I deem otherwise."
Lex gritted his teeth. "I didn't say you need therapy. But out of curiosity, how long has it been since you have been to your therapist?"
"I don't need a therapist, I'm not sick. And I don't need to be ragged on about drinking every so often by someone who needs 2 drinks after work and another 3 before he goes to bed."
"This isn't about me." He snapped.
"Hit a nerve did I. Well maybe it should be."
"Paris don't make me argue with you about this. Can you just please watch how you are around her?"
"Lex I already walk on egg shells around her, and I do it for you. Don't you ever forget that."
"And don't forget that I am putting my relationship on the line so you can stay here until your house is done."
"I said I'd stay in a hotel in Metropolis, but you said 'no stay here, it'll be great.' And then Helen comes along and all of a sudden I'm the obstacle in your relationship. She hates me and that's never going to change. Maybe you need to take a look at what's really going on here before you blame me."
"You know what, I'm done talking about this with you. I'm trying to have a conversation with you and you're jumping down my throat."
"Fine, I'm done talking to you period. I'm going for a drive, and when I get back I'll pack my stuff I can be out by the end of the week."
"Damn it, Paris! Don't do this."
"I'm not doing anything. You already chose Lex." Paris walked out the door not looking back a Lex who was calling after her.
"Fuck!" Lex grabbed the glass of soda and threw it against the wall. Without looking back he stormed out of the kitchen and to his office. The maid could clean it up tomorrow.
Without looking back Paris ran to the garage, grabbed her car keys, climbed in her BMW and sped out.
----Later that evening----
Paris drove straight down route 7 and out of Smallville, tears streaming down her face. How could he do that to her, this week of all weeks, and after everything yesterday, this was all his fault. She drove for a few hours before the snow started falling. She pulled off to the side for a few minutes, got herself back together and turned back, unfortunately for her the closer she got to Smallville the harder it started snowing. She was 20 minutes away form the castle when a pack of deer ran out of a field, one of them, a buck, ran straight into the passenger side of her car she slammed on the brakes but there were patches of black ice everywhere, her car did 3 full 360s as she spun off the road, ricocheted off a tree twice, deploying the air bags which hit her in the face causing her hear to bounce off the seat behind her, and got wedged in a snow bank. "Fucking deer." She muttered aloud, she tried to move her left hand to wipe the blood from her forehead head off her face but it was wedged between the steering wheel and the window and every time she tried to move it pain shot through her hand. "Owww." She whined as tears of pain came to her eyes. "Alright Paris, calm down. You'll get through this." She surveyed the interior of her car. She had a quarter tank of gas, the heater was going full blast, she couldn't see her headlights because the whole front end of the car was buried in the snow, the entire dash board was lit up, the passenger side window and windshield were cracked from the impact of the deer. "Well it looks like I'm getting a new car." She cut the engine because she didn't want the car to start on fire with her in it. With her good arm she tried to reach around what was left of her car, for a sweatshirt, or a jacket or a blanket but she came up empty handed. She let out a disappointed huff and wiped the trickle of blood off the left side of her face and away from her eye with her good hand. "Somebody please help me." She said weak and shivering.
----Lex looked out the window and then back at the clock on his desk. Paris left at 3:00 and it was now 6:00 and the snow was coming down harder and harder. He knew she would never stay out in the snow this late without calling no matter how pissed off she was, especially since she hated driving in the snow. "Shit." He ran a worried hand over his head and went to find Albert. He walked out of his office and went to Albert's room. He knocked on the door and waited for a reply before walking in.
"Come in." Albert called through the door. Lex took a breath and turned the knob.
"Hey Albert, has Paris called you?"
"No, why?"
"She left here a few hours ago and it's starting to snow badly and she's not home yet."
"Have you tried calling her cell phone?"
"She didn't take it with her."
"Oh. Do you think we should go looking for her?"
"Yeah. I have a truck in the garage."
"Alright. Let's go."
Albert and Lex got bundled up and piled into the truck, they sat in uneasy silence for a while led by Lex.
"So where do you think we should look first?" Albert asked.
"She might just be at the Kent's so we'll try there first." Lex said, never looking at his friend, he had a bad feeling about this situation.
"Who are they?"
"Remember Clark?"
"The tall kid with the brown hair?"
"Yeah. His parents like Paris a lot so she might be there."
"Why did she leave in the first place?"
"We got into an argument."
Albert rolled his eyes. "Gee there's a shock. What about?"
"Helen."
"Oh." Albert said curtly, and quieted for the rest of the ride.
They pulled up to the Kent farm, luckily Lex knew the landscape well or else they ran the serious chance of driving into the pasture with all the snow that was coming down and one less person he had pissed at him the better, especially since Jonathan ha begun to warm up to him as of late. Lex cut the engine and headed to the house with Albert. After Lex rang the door bell they waited for someone to answer, hopefully the Kents were stranded here along with everybody else.
"Well Merry Christmas Lex, come in." Martha said cheerfully ushering the boys into the warm, joyfully decorated, house.
"Merry Christmas Mrs. Kent."
"I don't believe I know you." She said looking at Albert.
"I'm sorry Miss. Albert Stratford." He took Martha's hand and kissed the top.
"Paris never mentioned anything about having a brother."
"That is because I am her cousin. But that happens all the time."
Martha nodded in understanding. Jonathan and Clark came into the room to see what all the commotion was about.
"Hey Lex, Albert, what's up?"
"Paris hasn't come by here at all has she?" Lex asked.
"Not today no. Did she say she was coming by?" Martha asked.
"Well no, she really didn't say much of anything as she stormed out of the house."
"My cousin has a habit of leaving and not telling anyone where she's going. Especially if she's in a bad mood."
"Why would Paris be in a bad mood?" Martha asked, confused.
"Because she hates Christmas and everything it stands for." Clark said dryly.
"Clark, don't be like that." Jonathan corrected his son.
"Look everyone I know not liking Christmas may seem absurd to all of you. But my cousin has very good reasons for dreading this time of year. She didn't just take her day planner out one day and randomly decide to despise a holiday. When we were kids she actually used to like Christmas time."
"Okay, all that aside. Has she called or anything?" Jonathan asked, looking like he missed something somewhere.
"Yeah, usually Paris has her cell phone with her like everywhere." Clark piped in.
Lex was getting nervous and exasperated and it was beginning to show. "She doesn't have her cell phone with her because she broke it with her computer last night after all the stuff on TV and a rather loud tongue lashing from her father and then in the papers this morning! We argued this afternoon and she took off! Now can we please get out there and find her?" Lex sounded a bit more urgent than he intended.
Everyone looked at Lex stunned at his outburst, they were used to the reserved, soft spoken, cool headed Lex.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to." Martha apologized to the shaken boy in front of her.
Lex shook it off. "It's fine Mrs. Kent."
Albert turned to Lex with a shocked and angered look on his face. "She smashed her cell with her bloody computer and you didn't bother to tell me about it. These are the kinds of things you need to tell me!"
"She asked me not to. I didn't see the harm." Lex defended himself.
"Well of course you didn't see that harm Lex, neither of you ever see the harm in anything until it's done! And now we don't even know where the bloody 'ell she is! You know what, I'm not even shocked, Paris and Lex vs. the world, tag team behavior, same as always."
"Oh please don't give me that! She probably confides in you more than she does in me. She just didn't want you to worry about how badly she was handling this. Your opinion matters more to her than anyone else's and you know that! And if it weren't for your uncle jumping down her throat she wouldn't have smashed the phone in the first place and we wouldn't be having this conversation!"
"No, if you hadn't been flirting with her in the snow yesterday she never would have snapped last night and there never would have been any added stress in an already volatile situation AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT!" Albert yelled the last part at Lex.
"SO THIS IS MY FAULT!" Lex shouted back.
Clark and Jonathan stood shocked at the display that was taking place in their kitchen.
"YES IT IS!"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I DON'T NEED...." Lex was cut off by a high pitched whistle from Martha, everyone turned her way.
"Thank you both for shutting up. Now Clark and Jonathan you head out in our truck. Lex and Albert what kind of car did you come here in?"
"We took my truck."
"You have a..." Clark trailed off as he realized where Lex got the truck. "Oh."
"That's fine. You two head out in yours. Jonathan take our cell phone. Lex do I even need to ask if you have yours?"
"No, I have mine."
"What kind of car is she driving."
"Black four door BMW. Licnse plate, Paris2."
"Good. Lex and Albert take route 9 and Jonathan and Clark take route 7. Check in every 45 minutes, call if you see anything. Those roads get pretty nasty in whether like this you know how many accidents there can be. I will stay here in case she comes by or calls. Lex is there anyone on staff at your house tonight?"
"Just some security guards."
"Okay, I'll call and tell them what's going on. Everyone get moving." Martha ushered them all out of the house. 'Men' she thought to herself as they all piled into the trucks.
Lex and Albert spent their trip not talking or looking the other's way, they just kept their eyes peeled for anything that looked like her car.
Jonathan and Clark headed down their road and carefully looked for her car. Fortunately for Jonathan Clark could do the scanning for the both of them.
"Dad I can get out and do this on foot it would probably be faster."
"Yes, but what happens if you do find her and I'm 6 miles away. It may be easier for you Clark but it's not as safe for everyone else."
"I guess you're right. Dad stop I think I see something." They were on route 7, 20 miles from Lex's castle. "It's up there on the left. It's a BMW!"
"Alright son. Calm down." Jonathan guided the truck where Clark was pointing. He hadn't even put the car in park when Clark jumped out of the passenger side and ran into the ditch on the side of the road that held Paris' car.
"Dad stay there!" Clark yelled to his father. "Get a blanket!" Clark scanned the accident site, he could see Paris in the car shivering and passed out and her wrist pinned against the door, and if he X-rayed further he could see her heart beating slowly. "Okay Paris I'm here." He pulled the car as far out of the snow as he needed then opened the door. Lucky for him Paris didn't see any of that. When he got the door open Paris stirred a bit, but didn't open her eyes or say anything.
"Here's the blanket son!" Jonathan tossed the heavy wool blanket down to him.
He quickly undid her seatbelt, wrapped the blanket around her slender body and headed back up to the truck. "Dad we need to get her to the hospital now, she's in shock and may have hypothermia.
"Okay, we'll call your mother when we get there." They got back in the cab. "Shouldn't you put her in the middle, in front of the heater son?"
"Dad I'm like a human heater, she'll be better off I just hold onto her."
"Alright." Jonathan started the truck and headed to the hospital.
Clark made sure her head, torso, and as much of her legs as possible were safely cocooned in the blanket., he tucked her head under his chin and held her as tight as possible without further injuring her. "I think her wrist may be broken, and she looks like she might need some stitches in her forehead near her eye."
"The doctors will take care of that. You just make sure she warms up a bit." The ride to the hospital was long and tense because of the weather, Clark was relieved to see the bright letters come into view as they pulled up. Jonathan let him out at the emergency room door and went to park. Clark burst inside the emergency room, carrying an unconscious Paris and ran to the front desk.
"We need help now. She was in a car accident and she's frozen."
The nurse got up from behind the desk, grabbed the nearest gurney and put Paris on it. "Page Dr. Bryce." She instructed someone behind the desk.
"Dr. Bryce. Paging Dr. Helen Bryce to the ER. Dr. Bryce to the ER."
"Okay son, your friend is going to be just fine, wait out here and we'll take good care of her."
Helen ran into the ER. "What do we have?"
"Female, car accident. She doesn't have any ID on her. This young man brought her in."
Helen looked at Clark. "Thank you." She turned back to the nurse. "Paris Stratford, female age 23." She started try and get Paris' attention. "Paris look at me, Paris wake up." She patted her cheeks and opened her eyes to see if they were responsive.
"How do you know all that?" The nurse looked at her confused.
"She lives with my boyfriend." Helen said sardonically, the nurse just lifted an eyebrow in surprise. "Pupils fixed and dilated. She's in shock! We need warm blanket and an IV kit. Clark we're taking her down the hall, I'll be out to get you when she's stable." Helen disappeared with the nurse and Paris.
"Clark I'm going to call your mother. Have a seat."
"No I'll call Lex from the pay phone."
"Alright."
Clark's fingers trembled as he dialed the number.
The ringer was louder than normal in the quiet truck. "Hello?" Lex answered, not taking his eyes off the road as he flipped his one open.
"Lex it's Clark. We found Paris."
"That's great. Is she going home?"
"Not exactly. She's in the hospital."
Lex sobered as his face paled. "Which one?"
"Smallville general."
"We'll be right there." Lex hung up and dropped the phone in the cup holder.
"Where is she?" Albert looked at him worried.
"In the hospital."
Albert nodded as Lex turned the truck around and sped to the hospital. The ride was a long and tense one but they got there in one piece. They came running through the doors and straight into the Kent men.
"Mr. Kent where did they take my cousin?" Albert asked anxiously.
"Albert she is going to be fine. Dr. Bryce is her doctor and she is very good at what she does."
Albert snorted. "Oh this is going to be interesting."
"Shut up." Lex said heatedly to his friend, leveling him with a glare. "When can we see her?" He asked turning back to Jonathan.
"I don't know, she said she would come to get us when we could. So now we wait. Clark why don't you go get us some coffee from the cafeteria."
"Sure dad."
"I'll go with you Clark." Lex said.
They headed down the hall leaving Albert with Jonathan.
"So you're Paris' cousin?" Jonathan asked, hoping to calm him down.
"Yeah, we're pretty close. She's better to me than my own sister is."
"You have a sister?"
"Yep, and a brother in law and a mum and a dad and an uncle and a slightly senile grandmum and a few other relatives who are disappointed in ,my lifestyle choices, to say the least. Well accept maybe Gran, like I said she's not all there anymore. And we are all one big miserable dysfunctional family."
Jonathan looked at him quizzically.
Albert blushed a little and scuffed the floor. "Sorry to lay than on you Mr. Kent."
"Please call me Jonathan." He extended his hand to him.
Albert shook it and smiled a bit. "Alright, I am sorry to lay that all on you Jonathan. But when it comes to high pressure situations I'm almost useless."
Jonathan took a seat. "I understand, have a seat you look like you could use the rest."
"If I sit I'll jiggle my leg and I'm so nervous I could probably make the hospital shake. I'm better pacing."
"So giving you coffee is a great idea?" Jonathan joked.
Albert chuckled a bit. "Yeah I guess that was a bad judgment call." Albert shook his head and laughed. "When we were in boarding school Paris and I made a bet one Saturday after studying for mid terms non stop. Who could drink the most Red Bull? Somewhere around my 8th I wet on a 5 mile run. They came and got me because I crashed so hard that I could barely walk. When they got to me Paris was asleep in the passenger seat. I shared a dorm with Lex and Bruce and she had decided to power clean our dorm room that afternoon. Every CD and movie was in alphabetical order, and my closet was arranged by color and type of shirt. She even got into Lex's books and Dewey decimaled them."
Jonathan smiled at the story. "You and Paris went to the same boarding school? Aren't they usually non co-ed?"
"Not anymore. Almost everyone in our family including my sister went to Excelsior. When Aunt Yvonne was alive she didn't want Paris that far from home, and Excelsior's in England, so she went to some upstate New York boarding school. But after she died Paris managed to get herself thrown out of 3 schools even though Lex holds the record at 7. Excelsior was a last chance for her and she managed to stay there for the last 2 years of high school. Those were the best years of my life and I think Bruce and Lex feel the same way. See everyone went through school pigeon holed. Bruce was the moody loner, Lex was the troubled bald kid and I was the gay one. And when Paris came none of that mattered she was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stifling existence. Even though she resided in the alterna-punk bad girl from New York hole. I can't believe all this crap is happening to her. If it weren't for her..." Albert trailed off and sat down, rested his elbows on his knees and held his head in his hands.
Jonathan looked at Albert with a fatherly look on his face. "She's going to be fine."
Lex and Clark came down the hall holding coffees in their hands. Clark handed one to his dad and Lex handed one to Albert.
"Thanks mate." Albert gratefully took the coffee and smiled at his friend.
"So what, now we wait?" Clark asked.
"Basically son. We have to let the doctors work."
"Hey Lex, I told him the Red Bull story." Albert said shakily.
Lex laughed. "Yeah, you go for a run and Bruce and I get locked out of our room so Paris can clean. And Paris doesn't clean."
"How'd she manage to get the two of you out of your room? I mean, you're bigger than her and there were two of you." Clark asked.
"I don't know. It was kind of like a tornado came in and just moved us. One minute I was watching TV, the next I was in the hall still holding the remote." Lex chuckled. "She's a handful."
"To say the least." Albert agreed. "Remember when she got there and her hair was bright pink for the entire first year, and it's not like we didn't know about it but the faculty and staff didn't know what to do with her. But it was her hair and that's how she wanted it and no one tells Paris what to do.."
"Well when there are 3 buildings and 2 dorms in your family name, they tend to give you a bit of lee way. Didn't she get into an argument with the ballet instructor because she wanted her to dye it back for The Nutcracker?"
"I remember that. They finally compromised and got her to wear a wig." Lex and Albert smiled fondly at the memory.
Helen walked into the waiting room and smiled upon seeing Lex. All four men rushed toward her. "She's awake now and she's going to be fine. Her left wrist has a minor hairline fracture it's in a cast now, we cleaned her cut and put liquid stitches on it, and she's under warming blankets. You can see her one at a time."
"You two can stay and see her, we'll be going." Jonathan said.
"Alright. Thank you Mr. Kent."
"Thank you, Jonathan and Clark. Have a good evening."
They left Lex and Albert with Helen.
"Well she's your cousin." Lex gestured for Albert to go ahead of him.
Albert nodded in understanding. "Hey, mate, before I go back there. You know I don't actually think any of this is your fault. That back there was all just stress talking."
"I know. Now go see Paris before she comes looking for you." Lex and Albert shook hands.
"What room is she in?" He asked Helen.
"114, straight down the hall."
"Thank you Helen." He hugged her then left.
Helen turned to Lex. "That was a wonderful thing Mr. Kent and Clark did tonight. I don't know what would have happened if they weren't there. She couldn't have survived more than another hour out there."
Lex became serious. "I don't want to think about it. Helen I know you don't like her at all, but she is my friend and she needs me. She isn't leaving until she's ready. But she's not you."
Helen put on a serious face. "I understand. I get off my shift around 9:00, I'll be by later." Helen gave him a small kiss. "I have to get back to work."
----Paris' hospital room----
Albert quietly creped into Paris' room as not to disturb her. Seeing Paris laying helpless in a hospital bed, for the first time he thought he knew a fraction of what it must have been like for Paris to watch her mother dying and not being able to do a thing about it. Upon seeing her he felt grateful and scared and relieved and the entire time the devil's advocate in his head was whispering 'What if'. He closed the door carefully with a little click. Paris stirred in her bed and looked over at him.
"Hey Albie." She smiled brightly, but still looked tired and broken. Her wrist was in a cast and there was an IV in her right hand and there was a breathing tube in her nose. "Well here's a happy ending to yet another miserable, failure of a Christmas. Maybe next year we can burn the house down."
"Nah, next year is definitely avalanche at the ski cabin with the entire Stratford clan." Albert gave a half smile as he walked over to his cousin's bed. "Don't scare me like that anymore okay?" He gave her a small hug, afraid of further damaging her.
"Agreed, especially since I hate hospitals. Where's Lex, or is he still mad at me?"
"He's out there. I heard you two had words before you left."
"We both have short tempers, let's leave it at that."
"Oh, and your cell phone?"
"I told him no to say anything to you. For a guy who values privacy, he has such a big mouth lately."
"He didn't tell me because he wanted to. He did it because of the stress. It's not his fault. The bloke was worried, and people were asking a lot of questions."
"I guess. It's not like my whole life isn't fodder for the late shows any way."
"You'll see, in a few days Jessica Simpson will say something stupid, or Brittney Spears will say that she's still a virgin, or Bush will declare war on Finland and you'll be old news." He smiled at her reassuringly.
She gave a chuckle. "I don't think I'll be going to Fiji. Being broken and all."
"That's okay, we always have next year."
"Nope, next year I will be in a bomb shelter with a year's worth of supplies and a TV assuring that nothing bad will happen to me and I'm not coming out until Three Kings Day."
"Well your TV could break."
"Pessimist."
"Says the woman designing a holiday bomb shelter." They laughed. "Seriously you've hit a rough patch of Christmases but they'll get better."
"No they won't. The only Christmases worth having were the ones she was here for, everything since then has been crap and you know it. Even after Lillian died we always celebrated with Lex and Lionel. She dies and I don't see Lex for almost a year afterward. Due to some kind of conflict between the Paters, the origins of which are still not known to said offspring. Not to mention the laundry list of misfortunes that seem to pop up around the holidays including this week's spectacle. There is no coincidence. Christmas is a sham and I choose to abstain from said sham."
Albert looked at her soberly. "I'm sorry you feel that way Peanut, I really do." Just then someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." Paris called from the bed.
Lex opened the door and walked in. "Well look who finally decided go out and mingle with people. We really must come here more often, the food is horrible, the coffee's stale and the TVs get 3 stations." Lex walked over and gave her a hug. "You really had us scared for awhile there. Don't do that again. Okay?"
Paris nodded in agreement. "Besides I don't think my car insurance covers act of deer."
"You hit a deer?" Lex asked, shocked.
"Actually the deer hit me, but yes there was a collision with a deer, a buck to be exact, the horns are probably lodged in my hood somewhere."
"So what you're saying is not only is this the second car wrecked on Christmas, but this is the second car you have had wrecked by a deer around Christmas. So this is the third car to meet a gory Christmas end."
The group exchanged glances and laughed. "That is exactly what I'm saying. But if you remember correctly, you wrecked my grandfather's car that Christmas not me, I was a passenger. "
"We were 14, I think we were all to blame for that little joy ride."
"Except me, as I remember I was a hostage to your Bonnie and Clyde." Albert chimed in.
"You loved it and you know it." Paris retorted.
"Right, what part of 'oh my god stop, we're all going to die,' sounded like loving it?"
Paris rolled her eyes at him. "And the other car was just a rogue deer in Westchester N.Y."
The nurse from earlier came walking into he room. "Alright you two I think it's time to let the patient get some sleep. Will either of you be staying the night?"
"No, they're both going home." Paris replied.
"Are you sure?" Albert asked.
"I'm a big girl, I think I can handle one night in a hospital alone. Besides you secretly know you're glad you won't be sleeping in one of those chairs." She winked at him mischievously.
"Alright, but if you need anything don't hesitate call."
"I wont."
They all bid their good nights. As Albert was walking out of the room Paris called him back.
"What do you need luv?"
"Nothing. Remember when we left Excelsior after graduation?"
"Sort of."
"Do you remember the conversation we had in the car?"
"The one where you were crying?"
"Yeah."
"Parts."
"Did you ever tell any of that to Lex?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"No special reason."
"Alright." He looked skeptical.
"Good night Albert."
"Good night Paris." Albert left the room quietly.
----Graduation night and the day after graduation, Excelsior Prep, England, May 20, 1998----
Grad night.
Lex couldn't sleep, Paris on the other hand was sleeping on top of him dead to the world, but that's not the point. Lex looked around Paris's now vacant bedroom, the walls that used to sport posters were now bare everything that made her room fun and homey was gone, all that was left was her bed and a few suitcases, everyone's big furniture and things they didn't need were sent home a few days ago, a sad smile crossed his lips as he remembered the many days and nights he and his friends had spent laying around the room, doing their homework, watching TV, drinking, smoking pot, laughing, hatching ingenious plans, crawling out the windows, the days and nights he and Paris spent in there alone etc. He peered down at Paris's sleeping form, her hair was wild and unkempt falling loose and curling after hours of love making, when she moved her head the ends tickled Lex's naked chest. He could see her tattoo, he idly traced the outline of the flower with his finger. Her left leg was slung over his, her left hand rested on his chest and the right was on the pillow next to her. He loved nights like these, they didn't even need to have sex, he just loved the feeling of sleeping next to her, she was beautiful and smart and funny and loving and his. Well until tomorrow at least, tomorrow life at Excelsior would only be a memory and he would be separated from Paris and he didn't know how long for. He would be starting Met U in the fall, Lionel wanted to keep him close so he could keep an eye on him, and she would be busy in California. Their father's surely wouldn't understand them dating, he could just imagine the inevitable argument that would ensue if the subject were ever breached, that's why he wanted tonight to last for as long as he could make it, there was no definite tomorrow for them.
Paris woke up and shifted. "Hey." She said happily, yet groggy. "What're you doing still up? I figured after the third or fourth time your brain would have stopped working."
He smiled down at her and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm just thinking about stuff."
"Anything interesting."
"Not particularly."
"Well then you should try and get some sleep, tomorrow's going to be a pain in the ass."
"I can't. I don't want tomorrow to come. I want to stay here, with you."
"Oh. I've been trying not to think about that much."
"How can you not? Do you even realize what tomorrow is?"
"Lex I know what tomorrow is. Tomorrow is the last time we'll see each other until at least July, and then who knows after that. Tomorrow is the end of an era. Tomorrow is D-day for our little family."
"Exactly."
"But staying up all night worrying yourself won't help. Believe me. Please try to get some sleep, I'll feel better knowing you got at least some sleep."
"Alright." Paris moved so she was lying on her back and Lex was lying on her chest. He started rubbing circles on her bars stomach and she lightly stroked his scalp in a soothing way. "Paris."
"Yes?"
"Promise me something."
"Anything."
"Promise me that you won't leave me behind."
"Why would I leave you behind?"
"I don't know. But just promise me that no matter what happens we'll always be there for each other."
"Okay I promise." She kissed the top of his head.
The next morning
After breakfast the next morning everyone went to their rooms to get the last of their belongings and meet their rides home. Paris grabbed her suitcase and backpack and headed upstairs to see Lex.
She walked inside Lex, Albert and Bruce's room. Everyone's stuff was waiting and ready to go. The boys were just sitting around talking, Albert had his video camera out.
"Hey Paris have any last parting words for our old friend the video camera?" Albert asked.
"No I think me and Mr. Video camera have said all we need to say to each other. Can I actually have a minute alone with Lex? I'll see you downstairs when the limo gets here."
"Sure. Come on Bruce I think we should get going anyway."
"Later Paris."
"Bye Bruce." Paris and Bruce hugged before the boys left the room.
Lex waited until they were gone to ask her what was up. "Hey beautiful, why so glum?" Lex asked as he walked up to her.
"I don't want to go." She whispered softly, looking at the floor.
"What are you talking about?" He asked tilting her chin up to look her in the eyes.
"I don't want to go, I know I've been going on all week about how graduating is so great and how I'm so excited about leaving, but I don't want to leave this place, I don't want to wake up tomorrow morning and not have you next to me or on the next floor." Her chin started trembling.
"Oh babe come here." Lex hugged her tightly. "I know you don't want to leave."
"Lex when I get home all hell is going to break loose and I don't think I can do that alone. Not again. Please can't we just use our trust funds and get an apartment in the city? Or buy a house in a cute little town in Maine or Massachusetts? It's not like we can't afford it."
"As much as I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I plan on doing so, we need to face the music sometime."
"No we don't, we're rich."
"Paris."
"Lex please, I love you and I don't want to go back to my father."
"I know you don't. I don't either, but we have to, for a little while."
"Lex I don't think I'll be able to survive on E-mail and phone calls for the next two months."
"What about AIM?"
"Lex."
"I know. Look I love you and you love me right?"
"Yeah."
"And nothing in the world can change that right?"
"Yeah."
"So we're fine right?"
"I guess."
"Good." Lex dipped his head and kissed her passionately, they didn't separate until they needed air.
"What was that for?" Paris asked breathlessly.
"I needed to get one last fix before we left."
"Oh. Well in that case." Paris grabbed the collar of his shirt and kissed him hard and passionately. "I was returning the gesture."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Come on we have to go." Lex took Paris's hand as they walked down to the lobby of their dorm. When they got to the front doors they knew that the people waiting for them outside were hired by their fathers so they couldn't trust them with their secret, they separated and Lex let Paris out ahead of him.
"See ya around." Lex said nonchalantly.
"You wish." Paris ribbed him.
"You're not as hot as you think you are Stratford."
"And you wouldn't know unless you were looking."
"Hardly."
"Bite me Luthor."
They exchanged smiles and went to their waiting limos.
Paris took a last look back at Lex before he got into his limo and then climbed into hers. She sat on the back bench seat and on her knees looking out the back window like a child. Silent tears were streaming down her cheeks. Albert said nothing.
"Ms. Stratford, I'm going to have to insist that you turn around and sit properly before we can depart." The driver stated.
Paris reluctantly turned around and sat back in her seat. Albert put the privacy glass up.
Paris shifted in her seat so she could see Lex's limo out the back window as they pulled away.
"What's wrong Paris?" Albert asked concerned.
"You know the part at the end of the movie where the guy comes running up to the girls car, he runs right in front of the car and the driver slams on the brakes. And after the driver stops the girl sees the guy standing in front of the car and is totally puzzled. So she gets out of the car and asks him what he's doing there. And he walks up to her and says, 'I couldn't let you go. I love you.' and the girl says 'I love you too.' And throws her arms around the guys neck and they kiss and live happily ever after 'The End.'"
"Yeah."
"Where's my happy ending?"
"You'll get it Peanut, don't worry."
----Present day Smallville----
Paris Stratford slept soundly in her hospital bed due to the pain killers and sleeping pill the nurse had given her.
----The next day----
Paris was released from the hospital the next morning and spent the rest of the day sleeping in her own bed while people waited on her. Albert and Lex wouldn't have it any other way.
Clark stopped by in the afternoon to drop off some baked goods from his mother and some apple cider. He went to the office to see Lex.
"Hey Clark. What brings you by?"
"Just a special post-holiday feel better delivery for all of you. Mom sent over some bakery along with a gallon of apple cider."
"I'll be sure to call her later and thank her."
"Hey Lex can I ask you a stupid question?"
"Why don't you ask it first then we'll decide whether or not it's stupid?"
"Why does Paris hate Christmas?"
Lex cringed a bit but slipped back into his cool demeanor. "Her mom died 5 days before Christmas, the funeral was only a few days before the holiday. Christmas was Yvonne's favorite holiday, she always made sure the house was beautifully decorated and it smelled wonderful and that everyone just had a great time, our families always spent the holidays together. After my mom died I always spent Christmas with them even if my father wasn't there, after she died nothing was ever the same, it wasn't as festive. That next year was particularly tough on her she got into tons of trouble, and that's putting it mildly. A few years after that she came to Excelsior and we started dating, everything was great until our father's found out. After that we pretended like we had broken up and continued dating but they knew differently. They were putting excessive pressure on both of us to end it once and for all, Paris cracked first and I took it out on her, we didn't talk for a long time after that. We broke up December 21 1998. There are way more things to add to the list but they're for another time, when she can tell you."
Clark understood. "I wish there was a way to reverse it all for her."
"I think you started that last night. Helen told me that if you and your father hadn't come along when you did she may have well died. I don't think Albert or I would have ever recovered from that. We owe you a lot Clark."
"It was nothing. I did what was right. Any of yo would have done that too. I have to get home, mom needs me to help with some chores."
"Bye Clark." Lex bid him farewell.
"Bye Lex." Clark left
----Later that evening----
Paris was feeling up to walking around the house a bit and decided to go to her office and call Mackenzie, but first she checked her voice mail.
After a few boring voice mails she was about to hang up when a familiar, almost lyrical voice came through on the other end.
"Hey Paris it's your old pal Jack. I just wanted to call and tell you that you won't be hearing any more from you ex in the press. We had a bit of a chat and he decided to drop the case against you and make a public apology. I've got to be going I just thought I'd give you a heads up on that. Can't wait to see you back here. Have a good holiday."
Paris hung up the phone and sat back in her chair with a grin on her face. "If people knew what a softie Jack Nicholson really was."
End Chapter. This took me over a month to write, be kind rewind.
