I stopped dead in my tracks, I was in the rooms other doorway and I just stopped. I was speechless, I could think of nothing to say, I just stared at my favorite farm boy.
Lex looked from Clark to me, which in case caused Clark to look at me. I had dropped mine and Laura's coats and was just staring at him. He still looked as good as the day he left me, I saw the signs of recognition cross his face. "Damn!" I silently cursed myself for finally feeling that I wanted my old hair length back. I had cut it a couple of weeks ago, not ever thinking I would run into Clark again.
"Ah, Clark lets take this in another room." Lex started to walk towards him in an attempt to make him walk with him, it didn't work.
"Chloe?" I still said nothing, I was still in shock for not only seeing him again but for everything he had just said.
"Mommy why did he just call you Chloe?" I was then shaken out of my daze, I looked down to see Laura staring from me then to Clark and back again. I walked up to her and knelt down to her eye level.
"Well honey, that used to be my name." I didn't have enough time or even enough brain cells to come up with a good lie right now.
"Why did you change it, that is such a pretty name?" I just smiled, like I said this girl can bring a smile to my face no matter what the situation.
"I just wanted to, I needed it. Someday when you are older I think you may understand a bit more." I kissed her forehead and stood back up, I looked to Clark then back down at Laura. I couldn't stand him staring at me anymore, so I went back over to get our coats from the floor where they had fallen.
Clark, ever the gentleman, walked towards our coats too. We made it there at the same time and grabbed at Laura's coat at the same time. Our hands touched, and I swear I felt the energy I used to feel when he would touch me. I bit my lips and closed my eyes as I stood again.
"Chloe, since when do you have a daughter and I thought you lived in Europe?" I knew he would ask all these questions. I wasn't ready to talk with him, I don't know if I would ever be.
"Just goes to show how much you know me, a lot can happen in five years Clark." I knew I sounded like a bitter bitch, but he did deserve it and if I told him the truth I would break down. I walked back over to Laura, "Well lets get your coat on and we can head home alright."
Laura nodded and stuck out her arm for me to slip her coat sleeve over. I could still feel his eyes on me. I was shaking and fumbling with Laura's coat, but I tried not to show it.
"Clark, please lets take this into another room." Lex, thank god please get him as far away as possible.
"No Lex, I want to talk with Chloe." Oh damn you Clark, just leave, leave like you did five years ago. "Chloe…"
I stopped him, "The name is Lois Clark, use it."
"Sorry, Lois would you please just talk with me?" He put on that damn puppy dog face that used to drive me wild. I was never able to resist it, until now.
"There isn't much to talk about Clark, but if you excuse us we have to be going." I looked down at Laura to make sure she was ready and grabbed her hand. We walked passed Clark and I just kept biting my tongue praying he wouldn't say any more. Then I felt Laura let go of my hand, I turned to see her running back in the living room. "Laura, what are you doing?"
"We forgot to say goodbye to Uncle Lex," she was running now. I walked faster to catch up with her. As I entered the room I saw Lex and Laura in their usual bear hug, and Clark watching them. But as soon as I entered his eyes fell upon me, I just looked away.
"Sorry Lex," I walked towards him and opened my arms to give him a farewell hug, "My manners must have slipped my mind, this was great again, see you next week. And don't forget the play." I pulled back and smiled at him knowing he would give me the low down tomorrow about Clark.
"It is alright Lois, of course I wouldn't miss seeing Laura grace the stage." He bent down and gave her another hug. "Now you two should be going, I'll call you tomorrow or soon at least."
"Alright, thanks again. Come on Laura." I didn't grab her hand this time, I knew she hated when I did that.
"Bye Uncle Lex, but I have a favor?" I stop and turn around again, Clark has just been standing there watching all of this. I want to slug him but I know that would do nothing so why bother, just ignore him Lois.
"Oh yeah and what is that?" Lex kneels down to Laura's eye level and looks from me back to her. I shrug my shoulders in the confusion we share.
"Can I have my drawing back?" Laura has never done this, I scrunch my face up in confusion.
"Laura, that isn't very nice. Why would you want that back?" This is a question I would like to have answered. I couldn't fathom why she would want it back, if she didn't want Lex to have it she never would've brought it.
"No Lois that is fine, I assume that Laura has great plans for the picture, and I have so many what is one to spare?" Lex looks at me and winks again, he is too good to my daughter. He gets up and walks over to the mantle to get the picture down and hands it back to her.
"Thanks" she is all smiles from ear to ear, it is like he had just made her day by returning her picture to her. She turns around and runs past me to Clark, I watch in awe as how many times I had dreamed of watching this moment. I look at Clark and he is in confusion too. "Here, I want you to have this because you remind me of Superman."
My breath catches, I knew she would recognize him if she ever saw him. Tears are now forming behind my eyes but I will not cry. I watch as Clark takes the picture and looks at it, he then looks to me and I am silently swearing at the tear that has betrayed me and is falling down my face. "Well thank you Laura."
"Your welcome," she turns back to me and runs to my side. She doesn't notice the tear and I thank god because I couldn't face the interrogation that would bring. "Okay I am ready mommy," she tugs at my coat sleeve and I wipe the tear away with my free hand.
"Well alright," I turn to face Lex again, "Bye Lex." I mouth "call me ASAP" to him and he just nods. I place my hand on Laura's back and start to walk to the door for the second time that night.
"Bye Chloe" I hear him whisper it just as I walk bye and it hits me like a truck. Why does he still get to me? I say nothing and keep on walking forward, as I get Laura situated in the car I think about how awkward this will be, him working at the Planet.
The drive home was a long and quite one, I think Laura could sense that I wasn't in the talking mood. I loved her for respecting me as I respect her when she is in a mood. We get out of the car and walk up to our apartment. As we enter I see that it is after eight and Laura still has to take her bath, I sigh.
"Mommy, what is wrong?" Bless her for worrying about me, I look down to see those green eyes, I see the same look of care in them I used to see in Clark's. I again kneel down to eye level and decide that I should just tell her.
"Well it is just the man you saw tonight, it was a bit of a shock to see him again. He brings up a lot of old memories." I could see the wheels turning in her head, she was just like me, putting all the information together to form her next question.
"You mean my daddy?" There it was, my fear confirmed.
"Laura sweets, why would you think he is your daddy."
"Well he has my eyes, and I saw the way you looked at him mommy. The only other time you get that look in your eyes was when you would talk about daddy." I laugh, I sure had raised a reporter.
"I am not going to lie straight to your face, especially when you are right." I ruffle her hair and kiss her forehead again. "How come you gave him your picture?"
"Well I figured that since he was my daddy he should have something to remember me by, even if he doesn't know me. Plus it was exciting to see the real Superman and I wanted him to see how I drew him."
Again she shocks me, I can't believe she is only five, she is so wise beyond her years. I smile at her again, "I am not even going to ask how you know he is Superman, but just to let you know…you're right. But you can tell nobody that you actually met him alright? He doesn't like to have people knowing who he really is." She has the right to know who her father is and what he does, but I always told Clark nobody would ever learn his secret if I could help it and I will always keep that promise.
She looks up at me and nods, "Of course mommy, his secret is safe with me" How many times I have heard that in my life I am not sure.
"Well you still need a bath tonight, so lets make it a quick one okay? You go and get ready in your room and I will meet you in the bathroom."
"Okay, meet you there," she runs away to her room, her long blonde hair bouncing every where. I watch her until she closes her door on me and I remember I am to start the bath. I walk in the bathroom and turn on the water, check to make sure it is just the right temperature then head into my room to put on some comfy clothes. When I return to the bathroom Laura already is in the tub and starting to wash her hair.
"Hey, I thought you were gonna wait for me?" I put my hands on my hips and put on a pouty face.
She laughs at me, "Well you said it had to be quick, so I figured I would speed up the process so we could get to bed on time."
"You Laura Lane, are quite the smart girl, but am I allowed to help?" I kneel down next to the tub and pick up a washcloth to start her scrub down.
"Of course," she continues with her hair and I start scrubbing her down. After only ten minutes we have completed her bath and even played a little bit. I get her out and wrap a towel around her, I am soaked from head to toe but don't care. We get her dressed and tucked in when she asks me to read her a story. She picks out Sleeping Beauty, she must have my taste in fairy tales too, as it was my favorite as a girl. I read her the story and kiss her good night.
I walk out into the kitchen and see it is just going on nine o'clock, I sigh and open the fridge in search of food. I find me a piece of cheesecake and a bottle of water, I take them out and sit in the living room and turn on the TV to watch the news. I am half way through my piece of cheesecake when I hear a knock at the door, "Who the…?" I ask myself as I get up and walk over to the door. I think the anticipation of wanting to know who would be coming to my apartment this late over took my usual nature to look in the peep hole. I just unlocked the door and flung it open, "Damn!" I swear to myself silently, I definitely should've looked in the peep hole, "Clark, what do you want?"
-x-Hopefully another exciting chapter, hope to update soon. Keep the reviews coming!