Disclaimer: see Chapter 1

CHAPTER 2: The Revelation.

Chloe couldn't believe her luck. She had attended that cocktail party reluctantly, simply to humour Vicki and her cousin Lois. In fact, if somebody had told her she would meet there of all places a man that would make her stomach flutter after so many years, she would have laughed in their faces.

The moment Bruce had introduced Daniel to her, she felt she had found a kindred spirit, a young man to whom she felt as connected as to Clark. Their meeting had had such a deep impact on her that she had decided to prolong her stay in Gotham and crashed at Vicki's apartment for a month. However, her temporary visit to the city would eventually turn permanent, when Daniel asked her hand in marriage a few months later, and Chloe decided to give up her job in NY and take another in Gotham's leading newspaper.

" I'm pleased to see you this happy, Chloe-although everything seems to have happened a little too fast. I was afraid you'd finish your days as an old spinster, " confessed Vicki.

" Did you really consider me a lost cause, Vicki ? "

" Well, I was starting to lose faith. You were too hurt when I met you, and I'm aware you take disappointment too much to heart. "

" Aren't you afraid of the competition at work, Vicki ? "

" There's enough room in the newspaper for both of us, Chloe. Gotham has always been rich in stories to write about, and one reporter can't cover all the news. I love having you here. "

" You're the best friend I could ask for, Vicki. I'm permanently indebted to you. I wouldn't have got this job if it hadn't been for you. "

" Are you kidding ? With your talent you could have any job you applied for. "

" Maybe, but there wasn't an opening available . You merely talked the director into creating one for me. "

" He won't regret his decision. Wait and see. He'll give me a pay rise for the favour I've done him. "

" Ah ! So helping a friend wasn't the main reason behind this favour. "

" Oh ! Those must be the boys, " said Vicki on hearing the bell ring.

" Good evening, ladies, " greeted Bruce, walking into the room. " The chariot's waiting for you downstairs. "

" Why don't you go ahead, Bruce ? I'd like to have a word with Chloe first, " said Daniel.

" Certainly. Vicki, shall we ? " said Bruce, offering her his arm.

" We'll wait for you in the car, " added Vicki, closing the door behind her.

" You look amazing, Chloe ! Have I told you how lucky I am that you've accepted my proposal ? "

" About a hundred times, Daniel, " she responded with a wide smile." What was it that you wanted to talk about ? " she asked, noticing he had turned sober all of a sudden.

" I hope you'll understand, Chloe. If I had told you this the night we met, you wouldn't have given us a chance. "

" What are you talking about, Daniel ? You're starting to freak me out. "

" Remember that I love you, Chloe, and I wouldn't like what I've got to say to stand between us, " he said, taking her hands in his and motioning her to sit down on the sofa.

" Is everything all right, Chloe ? " asked Vicki under her breath once they were at the restaurant.

" Yes, I'm fine, " she said, browsing the menu.

" Have you told her the truth ? " whispered Bruce to the young man sitting beside him. "What did she say ? " he added when he saw him nod.

" She'll give me an answer tomorrow, " he confessed.

" Don't worry. She'll accept, " Bruce reassured him" Well, ladies, what shall we order ? "

Chloe did her best effort to appear collected throughout dinner. Her fiance's revelation had certainly been a shock, but she couldn't blame him for lying to her. She would have never considered going out with him knowing who he was. Now, her mind was in a whirl. Weighing the pros and cons of doing what she felt deep in her heart was giving her a splitting headache. She had promised to have an answer by the following day, and she didn't want to keep him waiting. It would be the second hardest decision of her life; the first being her resolution to leave Smallville behind.

The following morning Chloe phoned the man she'd known as Daniel for six months and asked him to meet her in the park.

" Have you got your answer ? " he asked nervously.

" I have, " she answered, placing a hand on top of his and squeezing it tightly.

" You understand I couldn't go through the ceremony without telling you who I was, don't you ? We wouldn't have been legally married if I had lied, " he explained.

" I understand why you thought you had to lie to me, and I forgive you for that. Let me ask you one question, though, are you an employee at Wayne Enterprises or was that a lie, too ? "

" No, Bruce told the truth. I love the idea of earning my own living. Despite the blood that runs through my veins, this is the only life I've ever known, and I don't want for it to change. You know, nobody, except Vicki and Bruce, knows I've asked your hand in marriage, and it can stay like that. My family doesn't need to know. "

" They're your family. I couldn't ask you to stop seeing them on my account. "

" I'd do anything not to displease you. "

" Your name doesn't change what I feel for you, Lucas Luthor. My answer's ' yes'. I'll marry you," she answered, looking at him straight in the eye.

" You've made me the happiest man on earth, Chloe Sullivan, " he responded, kissing her warmly on the lips.

Don't stop reading, there's another chapter ahead.