As Chloe pulled the car into the Kent's drive way she saw Mrs. Kent come running out to greet them. She smiled at how happy she looked, she got out and watched as Martha ambushed Clark.
Clark had spotted his mom long before she made it down the porch steps, he could tell they had worried her but now she was better. Clark got out and was almost pushed to the ground by his mom, "Hey, glad to see you too mom." He looked over at Chloe to she was laughing.
"Come in! We have some hot cocoa and cookies in the kitchen. You kids should hurry up or you will be late for your party with Pete and Lana." Martha was busying around, she could sense something had happened between both of them. But it was a good something, she went back in and left them to come in when they were ready.
Clark loved that his mom could sense things and had left them to come in on their own time. Chloe was getting their gifts for Pete and Lana out so they could wrap them quickly. He walked up behind her and put his hands around her waist and pulled her close. "Why don't we wait until after the party to give each other our gifts." He whispered into her hair, he wanted to make it really special for her and didn't want Pete or Lana around.
Chloe jumped at his touch at first but quickly relaxed into it, it felt so good to have him hold her like this. She turned to face him, "Ya know that sounds like a great idea, but what will we tell Pete and Lana?
Clark thought, "We can just tell them we agreed spending two days together was enough, or we could tell them we are each other's gifts." He leaned in to kiss her again.
Chloe watched Clark put his thinking face on, it was cute. She finally managed to pull out of the kiss to talk, "How bout we tell them both, just word it a bit different, like we got together."
Clark grinned, "Alright, sounds good. We can have our own party here tonight. My parents are leaving later tonight to go to a party and won't be back until late. But I suppose we should go and talk with mom and dad before we leave."
Chloe nodded, "Yeah and I can call my dad to tell him we will be out a little later."
"Alright, lets go then." Clark shut the trunk and took the bags in one hand and put the other around Chloe's waist as they walked together. When they entered the Kent kitchen they could smell all the good home made cookies and cocoa. They sat down with Martha and Jonathan and enjoyed some talk about their trip and the party tonight. Chloe called her dad to tell him she was home but would be out a bit late tonight, he let it go because she sounded so excited about it. He knew something good must have happened to have her that happy. Chloe and Clark wrapped their gifts for Pete and Lana and headed out to meet them at the Talon.
Chloe and Clark entered the Talon hand in hand and laughing about something. Lana and Pete both looked at each other as they noticed something was definitely different.
Pete was happy for the both of them, he knew this was what Chloe had wanted since the day she had laid eyes on Clark. And even though he always wanted Chloe to notice him he was just happy she was happy. He had noticed lately though that Clark was acting differently towards her and Pete had a feeling it had to do with his feelings towards her. He was just happy for them both, "Hey you two, how goes the big shopping trip?"
Chloe smiled at how easy Pete was taking it all in, he was always good old Pete. "It was great, I got everything I wanted." She pinched Clark's butt behind them to let him know she didn't just mean the presents.
Clark felt the slight pinch and was shocked she would do that in front of Pete and Lana already. But he kept his cool, "Yeah, no complaining here."
"Well that's good." Lana chipped in from behind the bar, " I am just getting us some coffee and I will be right there. Go sit down you guys and draw a name to go first." She watched over her shoulder as the three walked to the sitting area, Chloe and Clark playing grab ass the whole way. As much as Lana knew she should be happy, she wasn't. She had been hoping that she could win Clark back tonight. She sighed as she knew that wasn't happening and brought the trey of coffee over to everyone. "So who is first?"
"It just so happens it is you Ms. Lang." Chloe held out her gift for Lana, as Clark and Pete followed. Chloe could see that Lana was a bit shocked and not to happy about her and Clark but Chloe wanted to still keep things friendly.
Lana smiled and opened all the gifts, she got a bottle of perfume from both of the boys. Both different scents, and both very good smelling, from Chloe she got a necklace and earrings set. It was gorgeous, the earrings were just simple pink studs but the necklace had a coffee mug on it. "Aw thanks guys I love them all really."
Next it was Pete's turn and he had gotten playstation games from Chloe, The Ladies Man from Clark, and a pair of Shark's tickets from Lana. "Wow, these all rock guys thanks."
Next came Clark's turn he opened both of them slowly to make up for Chloe's missing present. Lana had gotten him a book on Astronomy, he smiled even though he already had it. Pete always the joker got him a book of pick up lines, Clark shook his head and just laughed. "Thanks you two"
Then Chloe started on hers, hoping to quickly get through this so they could get back to Clark's.
"Hey! Hey! Clark you didn't get one from Chloe or what?" Pete had to ruin everything didn't he.
Chloe shot him a death stare while Clark just laughed, "Well we decided that the shopping trip, spending all that time together, was good enough. Plus, I am sure you two noticed but we are together now." Clark knew he was beyond red by now but it didn't matter as he felt Chloe grab his hand and squeeze it.
"Ohhhh I see, the never mind Chloe carry on." Pete saw the look Chloe had given him and didn't want to be hurt so he left it be.
Chloe ripped into her gifts, Pete had given her two new memory cards for her digital camera and Lana gave her pretty new pens and notebooks. "These are great guys thanks a bunch!"
After they had talked a little longer and clean up their mess they had all agreed
they had places to be tonight and should head out. They all said their good
byes and left the Talon. Chloe hopped in Clark's truck with him and was practically bouncing in her seat.
Clark loved to see Chloe so excited, he grabbed her hand and started to drive home. He would sneak glances at her and just take in her beauty under the town lights.
Chloe could feel Clark taking peeks at her and she didn't mind, after a while she just scooted closer and laid her head on his shoulder as he drove. "I love you."
"I love you too." Clark kissed the top of her head and they had a silent drive the rest of the way home.
Clark pulled the truck into the barn and got out to help Chloe out of the truck. "Now just wait here and keep your eyes closed, I will be right back, just gonna grab some stuff." He left her standing there as we went into super speed and ran in the house and got some candle's and blankets. While he was at it he grabbed so left over chicken and a bottle of sparkling juice. He whizzed back up to the loft and set everything out and back down to Chloe in under a minute.
Chloe was suspicious of Clark's actions but she knew he was just trying to do something nice so she let him. She stood their patiently and waited for Clark to come and get her. She could hear him running around and it made her wonder grow in what he was doing.
After Clark had thought everything looked nice and he had all the candles lit he went down to get Chloe. He saw her moving around unable to keep still in anticipation. He smiled as he came down the stairs and walked up next to her, he leaned in next to her ear. "Mmk so we are going to go up the stairs but you have to keep your eyes closed okay?"
Chloe jumped when she felt his warm breath in her ear, she sighed as he told her to keep her eyes shut. "Oh alright, but you have to lead me up there."
"I know just making sure you know the rules." He took her hand and started to lead her up the stairs. He could see her really trying to keep her eyes shut, it was cute and he knew the wait was killing her.
Chloe loved the feeling of her small hand in Clark's large one, it just felt right. She was nervous to go up stairs without looking but she trusted Clark, she clung to his hand quite tightly though. She couldn't wait to see what he had for her.
Clark finally got them to the top of the stairs and he walked behind her and placed his hands over her eyes. He leaned in again, "Merry Christmas Chloe Sullivan."
When Clark pulled his hands away her eyes were already open, she gasped when she saw the sight before her though. "Oh Clark it is so beautiful, Merry Christmas to you too!" She turned around and jump hugged him, it was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for her.
Clark could see the pure joy in Chloe's eyes when she turned around, he was just happy to know he put it there. He wasn't expecting the huge hug but welcomed it greatly, "I thought you might like it, now shall we go sit." He started to carry her over to the blanket and set her down.
Chloe was in heaven, Clark had set this all up and was being so sweet for her. She giggled as he set her down and offered her some chicken. They ate together in silence just looking at each other was all they needed. After they had finished eating Chloe got a twinkle in her eye. "So gift time?"
Clark loved just watching her, she was one of the most fascinating people to watch. He was glad she was ready to exchange gifts because she sure was ready. "Yep, you want to go first?"
"Nope I want to go last, so hand er over." She was trying her best not to bounce off the floor.
Clark just laughed and got up to get her present, he knew she would like it. He handed it to her, "It is just something simple but I think it might mean more to us."
Chloe was now dieing to rip it open, when Clark said things like that it could only be good. She tore at the paper not even thinking of being nice, when she saw it she giggled." To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee" she looked up at him, "You are too cute you know that?"
Clark gave her his biggest smile, "Open it up," he motioned to her with a nod of his head.
Chloe looked down and opened it, there was something inscribed on the inside of the cover. "To my Scout, may I always be there to save you from your wild adventures and cheer you up. Merry Chirstmas, I love you." Chloe was tearing up it was so sweet, she looked up and jumped at him. "Thank you! So does this make you Dill?"
Clark fell over with her on top of him and he watched a few of her tears fall upon her cheeks. He brushed them away along with some of her hair, "I guess it does." He leaned to kiss her again, he loved little moments like this.
Chloe wanted to just gobble him up, Clark definitely outdid all her dreams and fantasies of him. She finally broke away and crawled off him, "My turn! My turn!" She got up and ran to her purse and pulled out a little folder.
Clark looked at her with an eyebrow cocked, he loved how excited she was about it though. "What could you have possibly gotten me that is in that folder?"
"Well you'll find out if you open it up mister." She handed him the folder and sat beside him leaning against his shoulder again.
Clark rolled his eyes and took the folder, when he opened it up he had to admit it was a shock. "Where did you come up with this idea?"
Chloe smiled, she knew he loved it, "Well I was sitting in the mall with fifteen minutes left to meet you and I was thinking about the things you love in life. The only two that came to mind where Lana and Astronomy." She felt foolish saying this now but it was what she thought at the time. "And as you can see I went for the astronomy angle, I knew you had pretty much every astronomy book there is, even the one Lana gave you tonight, so I decided to get you your own star."
Clark was amazed, it was a brilliant gift. He leaned down to kiss her again, god he loved her. He hated to hear her thinking the only things he really loved where Lana and astronomy because it wasn't true. But she knew that now and that was what counted, "So you bought me my own star, how brilliant, what to go find it and look at it?" He pointed to the telescope.
"Yeah that would be great, but did you notice the name?" Chloe wanted to hear what he thought of it.
"Chlark? I don't get it?"
Chloe rolled her eyes, he could still be pretty dense at times. "Well I had a hard time thinking of a name. I was going to name it Clark, but I figured you didn't really want to go looking for a star with your own name. I don't why but just didn't seem like you. Then I thought maybe my name, so no matter what happens you can always look up and find me, but I thought that to be to mushy for best friends. I didn't anticipate this," she motioned with her hands them being together, "At the time."
Clark kept nodding his head hoping that soon she would get on with it, he did like the idea of naming it after her though.
"So I combined our names, see it starts out as mine but ends with yours. The idea just came to me, I figured that whenever you got low you could look up and remember all the great times we had together. Sorta corny I know but the best I could do." She let out a breath now that she was done with her long explanation.
Clark smiled as he finally noticed it, "Chlo that is brilliant, it isn't corny it is cute. Now it can symbolize more than our friendship. According to the coordinates the star is in the northwestern sky." Clark started to fix his telescope to the right area. He leaned in to find it and it took him only a matter of seconds. "I found it!"
Chloe watched as Clark maneuvered the telescope, she thought he looked so at home behind that telescope. Then he announced he found it and she jumped, "Really? Let me see!" she tickled his sides to make him move.
Clark laughed at her excitement but moved for her, "Alright so look for the star three to the right of the that big bright one. See it?" He was standing behind her wrapping his arms around her and talking in her ear.
His voice was tickling her ear, she shrugged her shoulder, "Clark if you keep distracting me I won't see it." But she did and she loved to know that it was their star. She leaned up and turned to face him, "Let's go star gazing."
Clark liked the sound of that idea, "Okay, just grab a couple blankets and we can go and lay in the fields."
"Yay!" Chloe squealed and scooped up some blankets and started down the stairs, "Well come on!"
Clark watched as she hustled around to get the blankets, she was so cute when she was excited. He walked after her, "Yes I wouldn't miss this for the world."
They walked down the stairs hand in hand and made their way out to an empty filed. Chloe waited as Clark spread out the blankets for them, when he was done he sat down and opened his arms to her. "Come here we can cuddle."
No way Chloe was objecting to that idea. She jumped down and pulled the top blanket over them. She snuggled up real close to Clark and just looked up. "Wow they are so beautiful. You know this turned out to be a good Christmas if I do say so myself."
Clark held her tight as if something was going to take her away, he nuzzled into her hair as she looked and talked. "Yeah it turned out to be a great Christmas."
With that the two love birds watched the stars till they fell asleep under the stars. Jonathan and Martha came home and found them but didn't have the heart to wake them. They called Gabe to let him know Chloe was there and she was safe, they would send her home in the morning. Martha watched the kids from their bedroom window, she felt Jonathan come up behind her and draw her to him. "I knew he would see the light someday."
"Me too," Jonathan whispered into her hair, "But for now lets just leave them be."
Martha nodded and followed him to bed, happy at just how great a Christmas this turned out to be.
-x-There ya have it folks, here in lies the end to this story. I hope you enjoyed it as I had fun writing it, did anyone guess Chloe's gift from Clark? Well thanx for all the great reviews and keep them coming about the ending! I have another story underway and I hope to present it soon, Thanx again!