Disclaimer: still don't own Smallville, but I hear there's a town in Texas I could buy

Now What – Chapter 4

Chloe watched as Lex picked up the picture of the baby that was by now hopefully resting peacefully in the guest room next to his at the mansion. Chloe glanced at him trying to think of something to say but felt the moment wasn't there.

Turning to her, he took both of her arms in his hands, "How about a trip to Smallville Miss Sullivan. I promise if you can keep this secret, I will let you have the story of your career when I get ready to tell the world."

Chloe mused at the fact that Lex wanted only her to be involved with the project. It wasn't as if he needed her after the trial. And she definitely did not come from a family that was bursting with family ties or siblings. She and Lois were perfect example. Then again, she looked at Lex and knew he really knew nothing about what to do. His father was the last example of parenting. Maybe that was why the woman, whoever she was, waited until after Lionel had died to give it up. She didn't even know what it was.

"Ok, let me get some things together and I'll stay with Lois. Lex, is it a.."

"A boy. I have to get the papers from the doctor who ran the test. He said that the birth certificate only listed him as X. He said that a judge would be very willing to change it and it will be sealed like it is now." Chloe examined everything he said as he picked up all the files lying around the office and called for the staff to come pick up lunch. Chloe wrapped the rest of her sandwich in a napkin and stuffed it in her purse for later. It was going to be a long day.

"Pontius, I want you to burn the materials that I gave you. Your payment is being doubled as we speak for you to forget that we ever spoke about this." Chloe could barely hear the man agree with Lex. Lex hung up the phone and started out the door with her in tow.

"You trust him?"

"I have for many years. He's my right arm as far as detective work, but this isn't business –this is personal."

"That's why you have me here?"

Chloe watched as his expressionless face looked over at her and just slightly grinned, "Yes."

Back at the mansion, Lex threw his stuff on the couch in his library and waited for Chloe to deposit her things as well. Lex put his hands in his pockets as he waited impatiently for the woman to get her act together. He missed her; her preciseness, her inquisitiveness, her impetuousness. He was happy to have her back in some capacity. They had made a good team before, and now she was there to help him again. His head jolted around as he heard as massive scream come from another room in the mansion.

Chloe looked at him as he stood in the doorway, "Ok, I'm ready and he's not waiting." Chloe walked in front of him and out the door, down the hall, following the bellows of the little lungs.

Opening the door, she gawked at the amount of stuff in the room. Lex walked up behind her and pushed the door open all the way. "A little overkill?"

Chloe picked up the football from the basket full of sports equipment. "I think you've got awhile before he can use this. Besides," she moved closer to him where the nanny in the rocking chair couldn't hear, "if you didn't want him, why did you try so hard to set up the perfect nursery so quickly? It's not like he's going to notice."

Lex looked at her irritatingly. He knew, deep in his heart, she was right. "Ok, I was a little surprised at myself but I wasn't going to just let him continue sleeping in the box he came in." Chloe nodded as she moved across the room. Lex leaned against the doorframe as if afraid to enter the room. He gazed at Chloe as she lightly rubbed the boy's face and let him squeeze her finger.

"Come here," she whispered across the room as the nanny stood up out of the chair. Lex nodded and didn't move. "He's not going to bite, at least not yet." Still not moving, she could see his breathing getting heavier. She walked over to him and signaled for the nanny not to get too comfortable. "What is your problem?" she yanked on his arm. "You are never like this – you act like you're scared."

"I'm terrified." He looked down at Chloe, and she noticed he was almost in tears. She softened up her grip. "I don't want to be my father; I don't want him to grow up like me." She realized what he was scared of. Whatever Lionel had done to him had gone way back even before Smallville.

Smiling her best smile, she took his hand and gently pulled him across the room, "You won't be – your friends will make sure of that." She pointed at the chair and waited as the nanny one handily arranged the blanket in his lap.

"I can't do this," he choked as he tried to get up. Chloe pushed him back in the seat.

"Yes, you can." She pushed him back into the seat.

"Mr. Luthor, set your arm up on the pillow and support his head. Let your hand cradle around his legs." Chloe gulped as she watched the nanny carefully put his still unnamed son his arms.

"Breathe Lex. It's ok, you're doing fine. He's not even crying." Lex looked down at the two month old and slowed his breathing. He combed the one long strand of auburn hair out the baby's eyes and gently touched his tiny hand. "See, you're a natural."

"Thanks for the confidence boost. Where is she going?" Chloe noticed that Lex got nervous seeing the only qualified person to be in the room leave.

"She's going to go get a bottle warmed up. It's time for daddy to feed him." Lex shot her a look of shock. "Yes, you're his daddy. Now what are you going to name him?"

Lex looked down at the child and concentrated on his features. His hair was a straight auburn and his eyes were a misty green. His skin was perfect with one small freckle on his left arm. He kept reaching for Lex's hand with his right. Finally a right-handed Luthor. Lex's thoughts swimmed, remembering his mother rocking Julian just hours before she smothered him. He bit his lip to keep from crying. Barely whispering, "Julian." He looked for approval in Chloe's face. Smiling down at him, she squeezed his shoulder in agreement. Looking up at her again, he confidently stated, "Julian Lucas Luthor."

Chloe somewhat giggled, "Well, nothing like keeping the names in the family. Look, saved by the delivery." She backed up as she observed the nanny give Lex instructions on the fine art of feeding.

Lex knew so much – he was versed in the finest books, art, music, but this was new territory – one he had always wanted to experience but not quite this way. Still, Chloe observed the smile creep across his face as Julian started taking to the bottle; she knew he was going to be ok, as ok as a Luthor could be.

"Hey," she whispered as she walked back over to him, "I'm going to get going. You need some bonding time. Call me if you need something, and make sure the nanny keeps working with you. It's going to be ok. You're going to be a great dad. I'll start checking out the information you gave me. But to be honest, I think you may need some more help in the parenting thing. Lex, you don't want to be like your father – so don't shun him and keep him locked up here. There are people that care about you enough to keep your secret. I mean, you trusted me – the reporter – with one of the biggest stories of the decade." She smiled at him; rubbed Julian's face once more, and left Lex with his thoughts.

He looked down at Julian and shook his head, "Guess it's just you and me." He let out a big sigh. "We're going to be ok," he reassured himself.