A/N: I want to thank every single one of you for reading, and hanging in there with me. :) This story is near and dear to my heart, so every review has meant more than you could know. I'm only sorry this thing doesn't have a reply feature, or I would've answered each of them. I hope you find this conclusion satisfactory, and thanks again for all the interest and the kind words.
(14/14)
Monday morning, Clark entered Chloe's bedroom, Daily Planet in hand.
"Wake up, sleepy head," he said, sitting down beside her.
"Huh? What? Is something wrong?" she said, slightly disoriented.
Clark laughed. "Not anymore." He laid the paper down beside her. The headline read: Witness, Protected and featured a split shot of Chloe, pre and post-Lois. Below that was the story of her ordeal and the corruption that ran deep within the Luthor family. Clark was beyond proud of her.
She sat up in bed and scanned the front page. "People are going to think I'm insane," she said, but she was smiling.
"People are going to be grateful that you took down Lex Luthor."
"Well, Superman helped," she said with a wink.
He laughed. She still wasn't over teasing him about his alter ego as often as she could. "Yeah, he could've left you to become a meteor freak," he said.
She scrunched her nose playfully. "I think he would've regretted that," she said lightly.
"Maybe," he said with feigned nonchalance and a shrug.
Chloe crawled into his lap. "Thanks for bringing this over. It feels so good to be me again. Though, oddly, it will take some getting used to."
"Let me know if you get confused and I'll be glad to remind you," he offered.
She kissed him on the cheek.
"I have more good news."
"Yeah?"
"The Chief gave us the day off. He said we deserve it."
"Really? Does this mean...?" The look on her face said she didn't dare hope.
"We can go see your dad before the weekend," he confirmed.
Her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around him. "Oh, Clark, what if he hates me?"
"He won't. I know from experience he'll be glad to have you back."
"I'm not sure surprising him is a good idea, but I don't know how I would do this over the phone either," she worried.
"It'll be all right, Chloe. He won't want to wait to see you."
She nodded, looking lost in her own thoughts.
"Why don't you go get ready? Then we can try to make it before he sees the paper, okay?"
"We're flying there, aren't we?" she asked warily.
"If you want to."
"I do," she said and with a quick kiss she jumped off of his lap and headed for the shower.
Clark re-read her article as he waited and laughed at the memory of Chloe explaining her situation to the Chief. He hadn't been angry, but he had definitely been confused until at least the third rendition of her identity crisis. In the end, he agreed to let her run with her story, happy his reporter had the information to bring down the most corrupt corporation in the midwest.
"I'm ready," Chloe declared as she appeared before him.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
She nodded. "Let's go home."
He picked her up and carried her out on the balcony. "Hold on tight."
"Okay," she said, tightening her arms around his neck.
"Do you trust me?"
"Completely."
"Here we go," he said as he stepped off the railing.
She buried her face in his shoulder at first, but became braver as Clark encouraged her to look around.
After a few minutes she was more relaxed and she took everything in.
"This is amazing," she breathed.
Clark smiled. "I'm glad you think so."
In a matter of minutes they landed in Gabe's front yard.
Chloe's heart was pounding and it wasn't because of the flight.
"I don't know if I can do this, Clark," she said hesitantly.
"You can, Chloe. He needs to know you're alive. You know that."
"I know... Please stay close, all right? I'm going to need the support." Stop being such a coward, she thought. This is your dad, practically all the family you've got.
She approached the front door while Clark hung back slightly. She took a deep breath and knocked.
Gabe answered the door and they stared at each other in shock.
The first thing that struck her was how much older he looked and the slight burn scars on his face. Tears filled her eyes as she remembered her role in causing his pain - both physical and emotional - and how she could never take it back.
"Dad?" she said, letting the tears fall.
"Chloe? Oh my God," he said, his voice breaking. "How...?" He was speechless, but he opened his arms.
She leapt into them, sobbing. "It's a long story, Daddy," she sniffed. "I'm so sorry."
Gabe pulled back, wiping away her tears even as his fell. "Come in and tell me all about it," he said, embracing her again.
She pulled away and turned to Clark, reaching out her hand. He took it. "Dad, Clark's the one who found me. I wouldn't be here without him."
"Thank you," Gabe said, and Clark nodded.
She followed her father inside, Clark trailing behind.
Rebuilding her life would be a long process, but it would be easier with the two people she loved most in the world. Finally, she was free to have everything she ever wanted.
Finis