A/N: I'm So So So Sorry I haven't updated writer's Block has plagued the mind for quite awhile and, Thank you for the reviews and keep em coming I'm a review addict. I deleted this Chapter and added onto it this is before 'Progeny'
Chapter 7: One Step Forward
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Chloe awoke alone in bed the next morning she sighed and hoped that the change of heart Lex went through the night before held through to this morning at least. She slipped on her fluffy green robe Lois gave her for Christmas last year. She padded into Lex's office where he saw him typing in concentration.
Lex saw her out of the corner of his eye and looked up at her. Her eyes were narrowed and he could see the tense muscles, she was ready to fight or flee, "So did your epiphany stick last night Lex or have you gone back to your dastardly ways." he took in her appearance and remembered the easy smile on her face, wrapped snugly in his shirt, last night in his dream. He tried to squish the disappointment at not seeing her in it today.
"Good morning to you as well Chloe and to answer your question yes I still wish to become a better man." he saw her eyes narrow and he realized that she didn't quite believe him and he smirked sardonically in her direction, "I understand you will probably need proof so here." he took the papers from the inside pocket of his jacket, and handed them to her. She looked them over and a bright smile lit her face, "Divorce papers." this proved that he was serious about changing. "Lex I promised you last night I would help you change and I meant that and if I signed these I would be way too tempted to simply leave you here so lets sign these after you earn back your dented halo." she put the divorce papers in her pocket
His heart faltered when he saw her smile he'd nearly forgotten what it was like since the only looks she had been giving him for so long had been of hatred and disdain. "Thank you Chloe." he was unable to keep the shock from her voice. His heart leapt into his throat when she didn't ask for a pen immediately and he felt something he hadn't in a long time hope. "I don't know how to change, or what to do to change Chloe." he hated looking vulnerable in front of anyone, yet he knew that Chloe wouldn't judge him for it. He looked up and into her eyes and saw gentle understanding in them. "Lex you're entire way of thinking is going to have to change I can't do this for you, but I will help to the best of my ability."
"I think I've forgotten how to fight destiny Chloe."
"You know what I think about destiny Lex, I think destiny is your future, fate is your present, and karma is their combined sense of humor, yet all of which are what you make them."
"Do you really think I can do this Chloe."
"You have always been a very determined person Lex if anyone can do it, it is you." she saw his smirk and she smiled a small smile and he cleared his throat feeling slightly uncomfortable at feeling open with his emotions for so long.
"This evening is a Luthorcorps charity event, and I have to attend it would you like to as well?" he'd already bought her the dress while he was waiting on her to accept his proposal and he wanted to see her in it.
"Sure Lex besides this gives me a chance to be the 'loving little wife' in public." she turned to leave.
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Chloe looked at the dress in her closet, it had been in the front and Lex had left the sticky note with tonight's date on it and she assumed it was for the charity event, she didn't fully trust Lex yet knowing everything that she knew about him she doubted she ever would trust him completely. However he was making an effort and a less evil Lex Luthor was better than an evil one through and through. She placed the dress on the bed and left to take a shower.
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About an hour later Lex knocked on the door of his bedroom leaving Chloe to get ready on her own, he chose another bedroom to get ready in. Chloe opened the door and Lex's heart thudded in his chest. The dress was black with a red trim, and contrasted wonderfully with her creamy skin, and brought out her eyes, and it hugged her curves in all the right spots, while showing just enough cleavage, and ending right above her knees. He realized that she was beautiful before this but with her standing here before him he realized now that he had begun to want her and his heart dropped when he realized that she could never want him not after everything he has done to her and her family and friends.
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They step onto the roof of his building and Chloe took in the beautifully decorated rooftop. "Kudos to the decorator Lex," she saw him smirk but he didn't comment. They walked further onto the roof when a surprised voice sounded behind them, "Chloe?" they turned to the sound of the deep voice and to her surprise she saw Oliver Queen. "And Lex," Lex's name was said in venom and he looked at Chloe. As Lex watched Oliver watching Chloe a possessiveness and jealousy coursed in his veins for a moment and he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. Since she wasn't used to wearing heels after six months of bare footedness, Chloe nearly fell over, she placed her hand on his chest to stop her fall. Oliver's eyes widened when he noticed the ring on Chloe's finger, and his eyes kept darting back and forth between Chloe and the ring. "Clark and Lois told me but-" Oliver trailed off unable to keep the disbelief from his voice.
"Yes well now that your suspicions have been confirmed I would love to dance with my beautiful wife." he turned them toward the dance floor leaving a gaping Oliver behind.
"What the hell was that about Lex," she said through clenched teeth. Before Lex could answer her a short stout man with kind brown eyes in about his mid fifty's, walked up to them.
"Lex my boy how are you ." the man said smiling kindly at Lex.
"Mr. Luxemburg I am well , and how are you ." Lex said, he'd always liked this man he was one of the few men who never felt intimidated by anyone's presence and was unbelievably kind and fiercely protective of his family, he was supportive of all of his business ventures while leaving Lex's Father out in the cold.
"Oh I'm puttering along, who is this exquisite creature on your arm Lex."
"This is my wife Chloe Sullivan-Luthor."
"Hello Chloe it is nice to meet you how are you." he took her hand and kissed it gently.
"I am fine Mr. Luxemburg, it was very nice to meet you. Wait you wouldn't be the founder and CEO of Luxemburg Industries would you."
"Yes I am, why do you ask."
Chloe felt Lex stiffen he knew that tone in Chloe's voice it was the tone that said she knew something that most are not privy too. "Did you know that your Vice President Mitch Elson is a corporate spy for your top competitors." Lex saw the shock on the man's face and knew that he knew nothing about this.
"Lex she's a keeper, thank you young lady, now if you'll excuse me I need to make a phone call." then he walked away pulling his cell phone from his pocket.
"That was amazing Chloe but then again I always knew you were very thorough with you're research." by then they had reached the dance floor and a song began, it was a waltz of some sort and Chloe tried to keep up with Lex. The waltz ended and they heard the familiar voice of Oliver sound behind them, "May I cut in." Lex felt it again possessive jealousy, but Chloe turned to him and nodded smiling.
Another dance started and Chloe was led by Oliver, then he let out a chuckle, "I guess that explains it."
"Explains what."
"Chloe I don't think you know how powerful your influence can be on someone."
"Ollie I'm confused," she said furrowing her brow.
"As of three this morning 33.1 activities have all but shut down and the prisoners released, except for the mentally unstable ones, but they are going to well equipped facilities and their care is being paid for by Luthorcorp."
Chloe was floored and her gaze locked onto Lex's she now realized how seriously he was taking his change, and she realized that no one will probably ever truly believe his turn around and she was sad for him. She smiled tenderly in his direction and she could see the cool aloof smirk on his face, but she could see that his eyes held the same tenderness. She felt something tug at her heart, and she knew that this was the first step forward.
The song had ended and Oliver let go of Chloe, and she felt strangely warm and more trusting of Lex. Then Oliver said, "There is one thing I don't understand."
"Really well what is that?"
"How could you stay with him after what he did to your mother."
Chloe's eyes widened at that remark, "What do you mean?"
"Well your mother was one of the first to be let go she was transferred to the best sanatorium in Metropolis all paid for by Luthorcorp. And then I found out she was recently in 33.1."
The feelings of trust she had for Lex vanished and in its place was replaced by anger and betrayal. "Excused me Oliver."
Lex knew exactly what Oliver had said and dread had settled into his gut he'd read the other billionaire's lips and he knew that Chloe felt angry even though she was no longer facing him because her back went ridged and the rest of her body stiffened. She turned to him and he saw fire in her eyes as she casually walked over to him not wanting to make a scene in front of all these people including the paparazzi. When she reached him she leaned up to his ear, "Meet me in the car in twenty minutes and we are going to you're penthouse it's closer." her cold tone made him shiver and glare in Queen's direction, who was smiling smugly. He said nothing simply nodded and then she turned from him and headed to the coat room.
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When they reached the pent house Chloe reached it first and she slammed the door in Lex's face. They had said nothing in the short drive to the apartment and Chloe was shaking with pent up rage. When he entered it he had to duck because Chloe's purse flew passed his head. "You took my mother she did not have an ability."
"Yes she does she can control all of the Meteor Infected people and I gave her a drug that brought her out of her catatonia to make her help me."
"I want every scrap of paper you have on me and my mother in my possession now." she told him her voice kept low as not to become violent like she knew she would if she began screaming at him.
"Fine but you won't like what you find Chloe."
"Why?" she asked her voice now ragged with held back tears.
"She held a key piece to a puzzle I wanted to solve." he said his tone was formal and calculating."
"Did I hold the same value."
"Yes at that time you did now you hold much more that is if you still want to help me." he saw her take a deep breath and he hoped she wouldn't leave him standing there because he truly thought he wouldn't be able to help falling back on old habits without her there.
"Yes I will still help you because I need to keep my mother safe; now where are those files. And I want you to sleep in the guest room for the next couple of days." he frowned not liking that idea he'd gotten used to using her deep breathing as a soothing way to sleep, but he didn't push it he simply sighed and went over to retrieve the file, and the video flash drives he had on Chloe and her mother.
"These were the only ones I didn't destroy because I was going to give them to you eventually." he told her then went to the bed room he intended to sleep in, "Goodnight Chloe."
She quickly went to her laptop and plugged in the flash drives and several widows popped up, she read file after file then she got to it, her ability. She had to swallow the lump in her throat she kept telling herself that his goons had been wrong that she didn't have an ability, but she did she healed people, that did make her feel a little relief at least if she did go crazy she can't hurt anyone, and if she did she could just simply heal them. She sighed and resigned herself to the fact that she couldn't go through everything tonight, and so she went to bed, knowing she wouldn't get much sleep.
A/N: Hello I have a few ways I can take this and I can't make up my mind but I am always open to suggestions. Please review Again Sorry it took so long my life has been crazy with School friends and stuff plus a horible case of writer's block, but here ya go, please review.
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