CHAPTER 3: THE GIFT

SMALLVILLE-THREE YEARS LATER-CHRISTMAS

Three years had passed since that very special Christmas. One year and a half since their private wedding ceremony. Lana couldn't believe how immensely happy she was and her bliss and Lex's would be complete this season with the arrival of their baby girl, Lily.

Lex had taken the news of her pregnancy very quietly at first. She had found it hard to dispel that wounded look in his eyes. Surely he wasn't jealous, was he? No, of course not. It was wonderful news! Still, she would surprise him watching her, now and then, with a look of deep love mingled with pain. It ached her because she had never seen him like this ever since that Christmas three years before.

After her first ultrasound, when they found out she was expecting a baby girl, Lex seemed to become his new self again. He was on cloud nine, and pampered her to distraction.

"What do you think of calling her Lily after your mum, Lex? "

She knew the moment those words left her mouth that he had made him the happiest man on Earth.

Lex worried sick about Lana and, although she understood his fears, she had always been a strong-willed young woman who loved doing things her own way. Lex had tried to convince her to move to Metropolis to be close to the best-equipped hospitals but she never gave an inch. Hadn't he said once he wanted to be as far away as possible from Metropolis, Luthorcorp and Lionel? They had vacated the mansion immediately after their honeymoon and moved into their own house to sever all ties with Lionel. They had chosen Smallville over Metropolis to raise a family and she didn't want to come near the man who had made her husband suffer so much in the past.

Against Lex's wishes, Lana still worked a few hours at The Talon in the mornings. She had resumed her duties after Lois got a job in Metropolis working for The Daily Planet. By that time, Martha Kent's her term in office had finished and she was back in Smallville for a well-deserved hiatus.

God Bless Mrs. Kent, her help came in handy now that Lana could scarcely move.

It was Christmas Eve and Lana had got up early to start preparing dinner for that night. She had invited Mrs. Kent over when she learnt that Clark was covering a story with Lois somewhere in the Middle East and that she would have to spend Christmas alone.

Lex was in his study going over some Lexcorp papers and sending some last minute instructions by fax to close a deal he had been after for the past six months. He had closed down several divisions of the corporation, and relocated his personnel, to devote the company's energy and resources to the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Lana was proud of him and of what he was doing through Lexcorp.

Lana felt the first contraction when she opened the oven to put the stuffed turkey in, and knew the moment had come. She shut the oven door, turned the knob, cut off the gas and made her way to Lex's study.

"Lex? It's time. "

He sprang from his swivel chair like a coil. She had never seen him move so fast. He picked up her car keys on his way down the corridor- no Porsche this time; he couldn't trust his reflexes- and drove her to hospital.

It took her eight hours of hard labour to be ready for the delivery room. Lex had been with her all the time, except when the doctor entered with a nurse to do the regular check-ups. When he was not in the room, she could hear him pace up and down the corridor like a caged animal; she was certain he would burn two holes in his soles and that they would have to change the hospital floor tiles. Lily was born the minute the clock stroke midnight. It had been a long ordeal and Lana had lost a lot of blood but she convinced the doctors to let her say goodbye to Lex in her own terms.

Lex was ecstatic and looked at Lana as if she had given him the world. She smiled at him tenderly and stretching her arms out handed him the baby.

"She's beautiful, Lana. "

"I know she is. She's your daughter. "

He blushed and said "She takes after her mother. "

Lex couldn't tear his eyes away from the babe. It was such a miracle!

"Lex? Lex, you have to be strong. I know I've promised ... "

"What are you talking about, Lana? I don't understand... "

She looked up at him, all the love she felt for him in her eyes. "I'll never leave you. Know that you've been loved, Lex. You are loved. "

Lana closed her eyes and slipped quietly away. Lex collapsed on the hospital bed, Lily still in his arms, and burst into bitter tears for the third time in his life. Then, he felt the baby stir and touch his wet face with her tiny hand. He looked down and saw Lily's lovely face, eyes looking lovingly at him and realised Lana was right. She would never leave him. He had her unconditional love.

Lillian and Lorna looked at each other and smiled. God had answered their prayers, at last.