A/N - Third Times a charm I hope...sorry again for the multiple posts

Chapter 15 – The Dream

Lex looked at his watch and headed for bed. He had read so many charts and reports that all he could see was numbers as he closed his eyes. He cleared his mind by thinking of Chloe and her call earlier in the day. It wasn't much and he knew that she was busy, but it was nice all the same. They had discussed the next weekend; he received an invitation to a fundraiser for a children's home and asked her to attend with him. It would be the first outing he had since the accident and was nervous to go alone. Chloe had practically gushed through the phone in excitement, and he arranged for her to pick out something in her favorite boutique in Metropolis on him. He couldn't wait to see what she would some up with.

"Good morning," she purred as he turned to face her. Sitting up, he swallowed hard as he saw her rub her fingers up and down his arm before getting out of bed. Dressed in a light green silk nightgown, he took a deep breath seeing her. She squinted at him curiously, "Baby, you ok?"

He looked up at her and then felt the ring on his finger. "Yeah, just had a weird dream."

"Ok, well get ready quick and go get Alexis. I'm going to jump in the shower." She watched as Lex spaced out again. "Lex?"

"Alexis?"

"Yeah, our daughter? Oh seesh – now quit acting like this and go get her ready. You know that we have tickets for the 11 AM circus." He sat in the middle of the bed and scratched his head as he tried to focus.

Oh God, it's happening again, he thought in his sleep. He had been here before but with a different person. He had been shot the last time and woke up next to Lana. He recounted the dream as he moved down the hall to a bright pink door. Lana had died at the end of the dream last time, and he decided to run for Senate instead of falling in love. He struggled to wake up but couldn't.

Opening the door, he noticed the sun streaming in and hitting a girl with strawberry blond hair right in the face. He pulled the shades slightly to keep the sun out of her eyes. He sat down on the side of the bed and looked around. This dream was different. The house was large and magnificent, unlike before. She slept in sheets from Nieman Marcus, and he was still in his trademark silk pants and t-shirt. He touched her curls and caressed her face in his hand.

"Good morning daddy." Lex stopped breathing and swallowed. Breaking a smile, he pulled back the covers as she slipped off the bed and rubbed her eyes. Pulling on the drawers, she yanked out a shirt and skirt. "Can I wear this?"

As smooth as he could, he walked over and looked through her clothes. He noticed that the dream had definitely changed when looking at the labels. "How about this shirt instead?" he questioned her as he found something that matched better. She stuffed the other back in the drawer and grabbed the one from his hand. She swung the door to her bathroom open and proceeded to change.

"Go get ready daddy." Alexis came out of the bathroom, pushed Lex out of the bedroom, and slammed the door.

"I told her to quit slamming that door," Chloe yelled from down the hall. "Lex, come get ready." Lex headed back into the bedroom and marveled at her. She had grown her hair out and it draped her shoulders graciously. "Earth to Lex. Where are you this morning?" She reached up and kissed him quickly and proceeded to the closet, dropping her robe in the process. Lex took a deep breath and admired her form or what his mind was making her form out to be. He went in the bathroom and started the shower.

"Lex." He jumped as she appeared in the full length mirror as he was brushing his teeth.

"Mom. I've been here before. Am I …"

"Dead? No, but your brain's state is confused." Lex stood still as he watched his mother move across the large bathroom to him. Taking his hand, she smiled hopefully. "You've been given another chance Alexander. Another chance to love." She waited.

"But the last time this happened my wife died."

"Lex, your destiny changed. Look around you – you have now the chance to create the best from your father and I. Granted, the money and the power are still there but the change in you has created something far more perfect than even before." She pointed at a box on the closet. "Look Alexander, you are going to be far greater now, but do not ever forget that love has gotten you to this point."

Lex opened the keepsake box in the closet and pulled out the newspaper that Chloe had evidently saved. He glanced at his mother as he read the front page of the Daily Planet. In a bold headline with Chloe's byline, he read 'Business Mogul Lex Luthor Wins Independent Primary – Reporter Wife, Chloe Sullivan, Resigns Daily Planet to Hit Campaign Trail'

"I'm running for president?"

"It's always been your dream. Your new identity and the old memories. You have fought your old self since the day of your surgery. Don't lose sight of what you are to become." She rubbed her hand down the side of his face as he closed his eyes. "Alexander, just don't lose sight of what's most important this time."

"I won't…" He opened his eyes and looked at the paper in his hand.

"You won't what? Get ready?" Chloe grabbed the paper out of his hand and threw it back in the box. "Look Lex, you said that this weekend we weren't campaigning and if you change your mind now, you go explain it to that little girl jumping on the couch. Now, I'm getting in the car in exactly 5 minutes and maybe you'll join us?" Chloe snapped him on the butt and headed out of the bathroom.

Lex looked around for something suitable to wear and headed down stairs. He looked at what his new life would entail – a Porsche Cayenne. Nice, he thought to himself. He admired Chloe as she strapped in Alexis, thinking how strange that he enjoyed the sight of the little girl more than the boy from the previous dream. He watched as he pulled out of the drive and two other cars, security he figured, pulled out behind him.

"I'll get her," Lex whispered as Chloe leaned over and kissed him before getting out of the car. He looked in the rearview mirror and saw the little girl holding the remainder of a cotton candy and sleeping. He unbuckled her and carried her up to her room.

"Not too long daddy. We're going to have a tea party today." She mumbled as he slid her under the covers.

"Ok, I'll wake you soon enough." He kissed her forehead and breathed in the smell of baby powder as he closed his eyes. He watched her from the doorway in dismay. He walked down the hall looking at the photos of his family. He admired the wedding photo wondering who exactly Clark was standing so happily with; it wasn't Lana. Gabe was there, as well as Jonathon and Martha.

He walked into the living room and saw Chloe sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine.

"Have I told you I love you today?" He laughed and smiled at her in response. "Hey, are you really ok?"

Lex put his arm around her and gently pulled her onto him. "Perfect, and I love you Chloe Sullivan Luthor," he whispered as he kissed her.

Lex shot out of bed and looked at the clock. 4 AM. She would be asleep. He lay back down in the bed and looked around the room. He pictured the maroon walls like in the dream. Turning over, he pulled the pillow in beside him and went back to sleep.