AN: Okay the events of the entire last part of the season between prodigal and calling happened. Paris was not there for them because she was in Canada shooting a movie. She came back a few days after Witness.
----Smallville Medical Center three days after Witness----
Lionel had stopped by the Smallville Medical Center a few times that week to see his injured employee and play the part of the compassionate employer. He hated that particular roll, he found it beneath him, but it made great press. He was walking to the elevator when Paris emerged from a different hallway carrying a prescription bag. She was wearing a suit, looking like she was headed off somewhere, but her face showed that she was distraught, she was reading the label on whatever bag she was carrying mumbling to herself she hadn't even seen Lionel until she almost ran him over. She stopped she saw a pair of Italian shoes peering up at her, she looked up, saw Lionel and looked as if she was going to vomit.
"You're the last person I expected to see here." She said, trying to cover.
"One could say the same about you Paris. Is everything alright? Lionel asked, seeming concerned.
"Oh I'm just here for a routine checkup, and a re-fill on some allergy meds. I'm not used to these Kansas springs." She lied to the older man, then dropped the hand carrying the bag to her side.
"Lex used to be the same way. How was your trip?" He didn't push the medication question.
She relaxed. "It went well thank you. Actually I'm on my way back from an emergency meeting in Metropolis. Hence the business apparel." She gestured to the suit she was wearing. "Someone's unwillingness to follow orders undid six months of pre-production negotiations, long excruciatingly boring negotiations, and I don't feel like losing money so I had to go fix it. You know, fire people. If there's one thing I hate worse than losing time it's incompetence."
Lionel chuckled at her comment. "Yes I am familiar with the concept. And the business attire suits you quite well Paris, I'm sure you are quite a force to be reckoned with in meetings."
A nurse came calling after Paris. "Ms. Stratford there you are. You forgot."
Paris turned around, cut the nurse off, and broke Lionel's view of what she was carrying. "Thank you." Snatching the pamphlet out of her hand and stuffing it into her purse with her prescription. The nurse gave her an awkward look and turned away. Paris turned around and saw Lionel holding the elevator for her.
"Ever the consummate gentlemen aren't you Lionel." She said stepping into the elevator.
Lionel just chuckled. "You're welcome."
"Sorry, thank you. I've been a little stressed out, everyone in my path makes a good target."
"You stress wouldn't have anything to do with a bit of unexpected news would it?" Lionel said looking straight ahead.
Paris got nervous, she didn't dare look over at Lionel. He would have been able to see straight through to her fear. "Wh-what kind of unexpected news?"
"You know, Lex and Dr. Bryce, they're getting married."
"Oh." Paris' face fell. "No I hadn't heard that yet, between being out of town and other work related things I guess I've been out of the loop."
"Don't worry, I heard it from the inquisitor." Lionel chuckled.
The elevator opened to the ground floor and they exited, running into Helen.
"Paris, Mr. Luthor, what a surprise." Paris said with a fake smile.
"Yeah that seems to be the general theme of the day." Paris remarked sarcastically, not smiling at all. "Congratulations by the way, I hope you and Lex are happy together. Lionel, always a pleasure" She gave a half wave before turning and walking out of the hospital.
Helen just looked after her questioningly then turned back to Lionel. "I will never understand her."
"The thing you have to understand Helen is that for the longest time Paris and Lex were all the other had, they couldn't trust the people around them and they hated their fathers. Still do actually. They have come to depend on each other heavily over the years. She'll warm up to the idea." He gave a small smile.
"With all due respect Mr. Luthor I am not going to let a childhood friend of Lex's jeopardize our happiness." Helen said icily.
"Helen aren't you supposed to be out of town?" Lionel asked pointedly.
Helen countered as she walked into the elevator. "I was, until today. I just stopped by here to pick something up and I'm headed home." The elevator doors closed before Lionel could say another word.
----Later that day----
After going home and getting some other work done Paris changed her clothes and headed to Lex's to pick up some things she left there when she left. She didn't know why she hadn't done it earlier but she sure had reason to now. She had decided to go when Lex was going to be at work and hopefully when Helen was going to be on shift, or at least wedding planning.
Paris managed to get into the house unannounced and up to her room without much fanfare. In fact just about all the staff and security she ran into were more than happy to see her. She was in the closet folding a sweater and talking on her cell phone when Helen walked in. Paris emerged from the closet holding a few pieces of clothing and a pair of shoes, and walked over to the bed to put the stuff into a duffel bag. She took no notice of Helen standing nearby because of the phone conversation. "Hey, don't start with me. Are we forgetting whose production company it is. That's right, it's mine, and I have been very successful doing projects I believe in with the actors I feel fit the part. Don't start throwing orders at me, and don't ever use that tone again. This is not ego, it's business. I have spent months working on this with my staff and I will not be undermined."
"How may I ask was I not made aware that you were here?" Helen asked making Paris jump.
Paris turned to look at her. "Yeah I have to let you go. I'll call you later." Paris flipped her phone shut and slipped it into her jacket pocket. "I have a key and security clearance. Not to mention I'm liked around here. I just came by to grab a few stray things I forgot when I moved out. With all the traveling and working in Metropolis I've been doing I haven't had a chance to come by before now"
"You just happened to remember that you had things here after you found out about us being engaged."
Paris bawked at the thought, she gave a chuckle. "Please Helen don't flatter yourself, you don't intimidate me. Just because I am not a doctor or head of a billion dollar corporation doesn't mean that I don't have a demanding schedule or a life outside of Smallville." She zipped up the duffel she had been putting her belongings in and slung it over her shoulder.
Helen looked innocent. "I never accused you of not having a life. I was merely commenting on your renewed interest in this house."
Paris walked toward Helen, her boots giving her some added height over the older woman. Her tone was matter of fact. "I came to gather the last of my belongings and move them into my house. And for the record I never lost interest in this house or the family it belongs to. I have known the Luthors since I was a child. I know things that would keep you sleepless for days. I have cared for Lex ever since I can remember. I have seen women come and go. You aren't anything new."
"Your key please." Helen held out her hand as she glared at Paris.
"Fine." Paris took the key off her key ring and threw it on the bed. She put her sunglasses on, picked up the duffel, put the strap over her shoulder and walked past Helen. She stopped in the doorway and turned. "I was here before you and I'll be here when you get bored and leave, just like the rest."
"Tell me Paris what makes you believe that you are more deserving of Lex than I am?"
"I never said I deserved him. I just know that you don't, and that's an undeniable fact."
"Paris is it my imagination or have you put on a few pounds in your absence?" Helen said with a satisfied grin.
"I, uh, gained a few pounds for my role, nothing monumental just five or six." She turned around and left the room.
"Well I'd hate to see that cute figure of yours spoil, especially before you ever get a chance to wear a wedding dress."
"Don't worry about me, I'll have the weight off in no time."
Helen walked over to the bed and picked the key up off the comforter. She studied it for a minute before putting it in her pocket.
Outside Paris threw her bag in the backseat of her car and was getting ready to step in when she heard a car behind her. "Oh dear god this day couldn't get any worse. Just let me go without further delay."
Lex got out of his car and walked up to hers. Paris leaned on her car and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Hello Paris. You've been absent lately." Lex said as he walked up and leaned on the car next to her.
She snapped her voice rose as her emotions started to get unraveled. "It's not like I've been absent on purpose. You all may view my work as trivial and solely for your entertainment but it takes a lot to do what I do. I'm sorry if you all think you're above me but you're not. If you'll excuse me I have things to do." She was defensive and her tone was harsh.
Lex kept his tone light to try and calm her down. "Okay. Look Paris I know you're under a lot of pressure and we haven't really gotten to talk since I started dating Helen. Why don't you come over for dinner some night this week and we'll all have a nice relaxing time and we can catch up."
"Tell me. Has there ever been a 'nice relaxing' dinner in this house?" She asked dryly.
Lex chuckled. "I guess not."
Keeping her seriousness. "Then what makes you think that would be any different. Besides I don't think I'm welcome in this house anymore."
"What does that mean?" Lex was confused.
"Why don't you ask your fiancée? She's the one who took my key." She said still matter of fact.
"Paris I'm sorry I didn't tell you before I was just waiting until you got home."
"I'm not mad about that. God it's your life do whatever you want with it. I hope you two are happy together. Now if you'd kindly get off my car it's bad for the paint."
"Fine." Lex leaned of the car.
Paris got in and started it up and sped away wordlessly, not looking back.
When she got off the property she took her hand off the shift and put it over her abdomen. "That was your dad. We're not welcome at his house anymore because his fiancée doesn't like me. I'm sorry you'll never meet him because he really is a great man. Don't worry though we don't need him. I'll take care of you and find a someone who will appreciate us both." She wiped away the tear that was sliding down her cheek.
----The Talon a few days later----
Paris was sitting at a table talking with Chloe and Lana when Lex walked in. He sauntered up to the table and cleared his throat. "Hello ladies." He said smoothly.
Chloe looked up at Lex cheerily. "Hey Lex. How's the wedding planning going?"
"Wonderful, Helen's having a great time."
"That's great. If you need help with anything you can always count on your trusty business partner." Lana added.
Paris remained silent.
"Thanks Lana. Uhm, Chloe, Lana can I have a word with Paris, in private?"
Chloe looked to Paris then Lana. "Sure, I have to proofread a few articles for the Torch anyway."
"Yeah, I'll make that coffee to go for you Chloe." Lana added as the two girls quickly scurried off.
Lex sat down across from Paris, who was avoiding eye contact with him. "So, I left you a message yesterday. Your assistant said she'd give it to you."
She spoke softly. "Sorry it must have slipped my mind. Then again I'm surprised you're still allowed to talk to me." She said as she looked at everything on the table but him.
He chose to ignore the last sentence because he knew she was still pissed about the key situation. "Well just in case you forget to get your mail I decided to hand deliver this to you." He took a white invitation envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.
She reached across the table, the cuff of her sweater covering her hand up to the knuckles, took it cautiously and inspected it.
"Don't worry it's not going to explode." He assured, jokingly."
"One can never be too careful these days." She said with a slight smile. She slid her finger under the slit and started to take out the invitation.
"I actually got a smile. I thought those were out of season." He smiled happily at her.
She read the invitation carefully, making sure to mask all the emotions she was feeling. "You're getting married in 2 weeks. Wow that's some quick work!" She looked up at him.
"Well I wanted to be married before the summer when everyone scatters."
"Good plan." She took a sip from her decaf tea and grimaced a bit at the taste.
"Is something wrong with the coffee?" Lex asked when he saw her grimace.
"I wouldn't know. I'm drinking decaf tea." She set the mug down far away from her.
"Why the change in drinks? I thought the world would have to come to a screeching halt before you stopped drinking coffee." He joked.
"I'm on new allergy medication and I have to cut down on caffeine or else I get migraines." She lied smoothly.
"Oh. So will you be attending the wedding?" He asked hopefully.
"Of course I will. I'd never miss out on something this big." She said reassuringly.
Lex smiled. "Good because I was afraid that your situation with Helen would keep you from coming."
Paris' face fell. "Why does everything come back to that? Is it so hard to believe that my life isn't driven by the women in yours?" She asked angrily.
Lex was taken aback. "I'm sorry I didn't. Where is this coming from?" His voice rose a bit.
"Nowhere, it's nothing." She paused for a bit. "Look is there anything else I need to know?"
"Just that the rehearsal dinner will be formal attire. But that's all in your invitation."
"Great I'll see you later."
"Paris what's going on with you lately?"
"Nothing is going on with me! Has it escaped all of you that I work in a high stress industry coupled with the fact that I own my own production company? That adds to the already high stress. Not to mention that I have a director yelling at me because he doesn't like the leading lady. People's lives depend on me and I have 2 people stalling a shoot because they dated once upon a time. How absurd is that? I'll see you later." She got up, shoved the invitation in her purse, paid Lana and took off, leaving Lex sitting staring at the spot she used to be sitting in.
'No matter how long I live I will never understand women.' He thought exasperated.
She sped the whole way home not caring that she was beyond over the speed limit, when she got in the door she ran upstairs and threw herself on her bed. She cried for 45 minutes and fell asleep. Cicero had hopped up on the bed next to her and laid his head on her hip, he stayed to protect her as she wept herself tired.
