The next day, Lois and Chloe were in the city, shopping with their fathers. They decided to take the girls to a restaurant, and bought some ice cream when they finished their shopping.

Coincidentally, Clark was there with Martha, who was helping the restaurant's owner that week.

When Clark noticed Lois and Chloe in a table next to his, he couldn't help it- he had to tease Lois again. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. Are you following us?"

"Oh, no. Don't start up again, you two," Chloe exclaimed, already annoyed with their fights.

"I didn't do anything. As you can see, he was the one who started. I was quiet here, talking with you Chloe. He teased me."

"No, I didn't." Clark replied with a smirk.

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

"Argh. I have to be away of you two for a while. Try not to kill each other while I'm gone, okay?" Chloe said going to the bathroom.

Martha came to their table to talk to them. "Lois, Sweetie, how are you? Did you order yet?"

"Not yet, Mrs. Kent. Your son was annoying me," Lois complained, crossing her arms.

"No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you" But before Lois could finish, Martha interrupted, not giving them a chance to start another quarrel.

"Okay, enough, you two. Can you try to get along, at least during Christmas? For Chloe, at least. She is very upset about this. You do care about Chloe, right?"

"Yes, of course. She is my best friend, Mom," Clark said with a smile.

"And she is my best cousin and friend," Lois answered.

"So, you can do this for her?"

"All right. I'll behave, Mom," Clark said with a smile.

"Okay. But tell your son not tease me again."

"I'm sure he'll stop now, Lois," Martha said before Clark could answer.

When Chloe came back from the bathroom, she ordered her ice cream by herself, as Lois and Clark had already done so themselves.

Suddenly, Martha noticed Lionel Luthor, with his son, Lex, who was 12. Martha always felt sorry for the boy, who had become bald, due to the meteor shower. Lex was such a sweet kid, but he was so alone at the same time. Martha didn't understand how an adorable boy like him couldn't have any friends.

"Well, what do we have here?" Lionel asked Martha, noticing Clark. "A little reunion."

"Hi, Mr. Luthor. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Kent. Can you do me a favor? Can you watch Lex for me? I have do some business."

"Sure. He can stay with us at this table. I'm sure he'll have fun with the kids."

"I'm sure he will," Lionel nodded. "All right, Lex. Be good. I'll back in an hour, all right?"

"All right, father," Lex agreed, sitting next to Chloe, who was already enjoying her ice cream.

"Hi, I'm Chloe," she introduce herself to him with a smile.

"Hi, I'm Alexander Lex," Lex said with a shy smile.

"I'm Lois, and this is Clark. I'm Chloe's cousin and I'll be here for the holidays. Are you from here, too? I haven't seen you here since I arrived, and I've already seen a lot of people."

"Lois, calm down. Let him breathe before answering your questions," Clark told her. "So, are you from around here?"

"No, I'm from Metropolis, but I've been here since the meteor shower."

"And what happens to you?" Lois asked, curious about why Lex was bald.

"Lois!" Chloe yelled, angry with her. Why does my cousin have to be so curious? Chloe thought.

"That's okay, Chloe. That happened the day of the meteor shower. I lost all my hair that day," Lex said, a little sad.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Lex," Chloe told him sincerely.

"That's okay. I've already gotten used to it," Lex explained, looking at them, still nervous.

One hour later, when Lionel came back, he found Lex laughing with his new friends. Lionel had never seen Lex so happy since his mother had died. It was a relief to see his son smiling, for a change.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Lionel asked, grinning as he came closer to the kids' table.

When Lex noticed Lionel, his smile faded away. He knew it was already time to go home. "Hi, father."

"Lex, it's time to go. You know you have piano lessons in 20 minutes," Lionel reminded him.

"Yes, I know." Lex nodded and got up to leave. "Goodbye, everybody. Thanks for everything."

Lex looked at them once more before he left.

"Such a sweet kid," Martha comment.

"Yes, but he is so unhappy," Chloe answered, with a sad look.

Continued...