We were running late, as usual. Lex was used to this by now, we never managed to make it there on time. It was just an odd dysfunction we have, nobody expects us to be on time anymore. "Come on sweets we need to get going, we are already late." I shout at Laura as I throw my jacket on and wait for her by the door.
"I'm coming, just grabbing my picture to show Uncle Lex!" She yelled from her bedroom. Our apartment was very nice, just perfect for two girls living in the big city. Not two minutes later Laura came running from her room with the picture in hand. She slipped on her shoes and coat and looked up at me. "Ready."
I just ruffle her hair and open the door, she takes off running for the elevator. "Laura honey you can't just run off like that." She is to independent for her own good, I think my dad must be a saint for having to put up with me all those years.
Laura stops just in front of the elevator and pushes the down button before she turns to face me. "Sorry Mommy, just thought I would make it go faster." She gives me the angle face she knows I can't stay mad at and I just smile. Then she smiles, knowing she is off the hook yet again.
The elevator door opens and we step in, I let her push the buttons because it makes her feel grown up. We wait as we watch the numbers slowly make the count down to 1, Laura jumps in excitement knowing she is that much closer to seeing Lex tonight. I grab her hand as we step out and make our way to the car. She hates me still having to hold her hand but there is no way I am letting her go now that we are outside our safe apartment.
We hop in the car and pull out for Lex's, I sneak glances over at Laura as she bops along with the music. I have raised Laura on the good old classics, such as The Stones, AC/DC, Journey,(alright I know corny because that is the title but they do rock!)but I have only let her listen to songs with out bad words or any bad insinuations.
As I make the final turn for Lex's I can see Laura practically bouncing off her seat. I pull up to the gate and meet the security guard, "Good evening, a Lois and Laura Lane to see Lex."
The guard knew who we wore and why we were here but he had to do his job, lord knows Lex was paying him enough to do it. "Alright, you may go on in miss have a great night."
"Thanks, you too." I pulled our car into it's usual spot and got Laura out. The minute her door opened Laura bolted for the house. "Laura, hold on!"
"Laura, you should listen to your mother, she is a very wise woman." Lex, he was standing at the door with his arms open for a hug.
"Uncle Lex!" she ran into his arms and about tackled him. "I know but we were late and I wanted to show you this." She pulled out her drawing and shoved it in his face.
"Well I suppose I can let you off this time," as he did every time, "Now let me see." He grabbed the picture in one hand and her hand in the other as he walked her in the house. "Oh Laura, this is beautiful!"
I just followed them and shut the door behind me. I watched as Lex hung up the picture on his mantle, along with the loads of others. He looked back to me and strode over, "And Lois, you are looking as amazing as ever." He pulled me into a hug, which I accepted happily.
"Thanks Lex, right back at ya." We walked into the living room where Laura was already playing with some Barbies.
"So can I get my ladies anything?" Lex ever the gentleman.
"Can I have some apple juice?" Laura asked from the floor, she knew she could get just about anything from Lex.
"I'll just have my usual Lex, thanks." I smiled as I sat down in my usual chair and got comfy.
"Alright, be back in a flash." Lex disappeared into his kitchen and was back in a flash, he just knew us to well. He probably had the stuff ready and waiting, sneaky bastard. "Here we go, one apple juice for the little lady and one glass of white wine for the lovely mother." He sat down next to me with his usual glass of scotch.
We always did this, watch Laura together for a while. Then we talk for a bit and eventually Laura gets Lex down onto the floor her. It was our routine and I wouldn't have it any other way. "So how has life been for you Lois?" Always the same opening question, but it got things started.
"Well great, work has been hectic lately but I manage. Laura's been running around the apartment practicing her lines and songs for her school play next week, which you are coming to right?" I already knew the answer but I just liked to toy with him.
"Wouldn't think of missing it, I took the entire day off. So after we can go out and celebrate how great she was." That Lex, always thinking ahead.
"Good, but you don't have to do all that, you just showing up will be enough for Laura."
"I know, buy I love spoiling you two."
"And we loved to be spoiled." I laughed even though it was true. "So how about you, how has life been to Lex Luthor?"
"Well the same as always, just making sure this business stays afloat and trying to have some fun." Yep, Lex still loved to have fun. That would never change about him, just his ideas of what fun was.
I always tried my best to not ask, but I always ended up asking, the journalist in me always wanted to get all the facts. "So what's new in Smallville?"
He chuckled because he knew it was coming sooner or later, again he knew me too well. "Do you mean how are Clark and Lana?"
I blushed shamelessly, "More or less, but go on."
He got a smug smirk on his face, he knew he was right. "Well last time Clark and I talked he was still trying to save the marriage. Then last time Lana and I talked she was getting more and more angry with him. I think he finally told her, and she got a little freaked." Lex looked at me to see my reaction.
I wasn't sure what I thought though, I mean I wanted Clark's happiness more than anything, but I knew he wasn't if Lana wasn't. if you're wondering, Clark told Lex after his father died with his moms permission. I just looked at him, "Well I hope they work it out."
He just nodded, he knew that inside I was doing a happy dance. Why, I don't know, I think it was me always knowing that Lana could never handle it. After that we sat and watched Laura play and sipped at our drinks.
"Uncle Lex, come and play with me!" I knew Laura would want him all to herself soon enough.
"Well how could I ever refuse Laura Lane?" He set his drink down and got on the floor with her. I just smile and watch two of the most important people in my life play with Barbies.
After an hour of Barbies Laura and Lex had moved on to coloring, which I always loved to join in on. I attempted to draw Laura a pretty flower, it wasn't what I had pictured in my mind but it put a smile on her face. After that I gave up and sat back against the chair and just watched them again.
As much as I loved watching these two, I was getting tired and I had to be to work early the next morning. "Hey sweets finished up that drawing and we need to be going."
"Ah, do we have to go?"
"Yes we do, I have to be to work early and you have school." I hated to be a party pooper but I knew I had to also be a parent here.
"Laura, your mom is right. We don't need you being tired while you are in school. Plus I should be getting to bed as well." Lex looked up and winked at me, I just narrowed my eyes at him and mouth "thank you."
"Well alright, just let me finish up this picture then I will be done." She turned back to her picture and started to color faster.
I stood up and started to clean up the mess we had made, "Don't worry about that Lois. I can get Diane to clean this up." Lex never allowed me to pick up, every week I tried and every week he stopped me.
"Why won't you ever let me clean up? Not like I am will break a nail, or that I care if I do."
"You do enough of that at home I am sure, here is where you come to relax and take a load off." Why did he have to be such a charmer? All I could think of to do was just smiled and nod.
"Well I am going to go and grab our coats, Laura stay with Uncle Lex till I get back alright?" I knew she would and started to make my way to the entry way. I heard her say okay and I just kept going. I was on my way back into the living room with the coats when I heard an all to familiar voice.
"Lex I know you told me never to come here on Thursdays, but I had to. I did it, I got my job at the Planet and I told Lana I want a divorce." It was Clark.
-x-Here is the next chapter, I hope you all like it. Not quite sure where I am going with this but hopefully a good place. Thanx for all the reviews and please keep them coming, they are my muses!