Lilah Morgan tried not to shudder at the recent events of her life.
She'd kissed the damn vampire, the vampire of all things.
What the hell was the matter with her?
A surreptitious glance at her abdomen was her answer.
Oh, right.
Ever since she had learned of her condition she had read up on just what to expect.
Fatigue? Not yet, but she was willing to bet it wouldn't be long before it would kick in. Lilah hoped that she'd be able to keep her regular hours at least until she started showing.
Frequent urination? So far regular as clockwork, that was to say every other hour on the hour during the day, but it settled somewhat when the sun went down, so at least she wasn't getting up all hours of the night.
Bloating? Lilah had cursed when she'd read that one. She didn't enjoy having to use the facilities all the time, but the exact opposite wasn't exactly desirable either.
Bleeding and cramping? Lilah hoped to whoever was listening not.
Food aversions and cravings? Aversions yes, cravings no. Which had her a little puzzled. She knew all about weird food combinations that pregnant mothers tended to go in for. Everyone did. But the thought that her usual taste in food could be taken off the menu seemed a little strange. Eating for two now, why would I become picky?
Nausea and a heightened sense of smell? Check. She couldn't smell coffee without feeling sick. It was the first warning sign she'd had that something was different.
Tender, swollen breasts? Absolutely, she was currently stuck with her sports bra since it was the only thing which didn't make her feel worse. Shopping for more was on her to do list. She also made it a habit to keep her jackets on when she wasn't alone. It was downright embarrassing seeing her nipples poking against the material of her tops all the time.
The sudden increase in her sex drive had taken her completely by surprise. Thought that was just an urban myth. Lilah Morgan prided herself on her control, no matter the situation, it never slipped. If the world was a poker game, then she was it's champion player.
Unfortunately fate had dealt her a wild card. Making her iron control slide at the worst possible times.
Case in point with the freaking vampire. Her body had already been tender and growing increasingly tingly in certain places with every step she'd taken into the old hotel. The material of her clothes brushing against her skin like the light teasing caress of a lover.
All she'd wanted to do was wipe the superior look off Gavin Park's face after he had told her how he was going after Angel through his documentation and finances.
Lilah had gone to Angel with a bundle of paper work she'd had drawn up by her client who specialised in creating new identities.
She'd first met him through the firm when he'd been named by a desperate criminal who had tried to plea bargain for immunity by throwing him before the courts in exchange. Lilah had managed to get the case thrown out by bringing to light the evidence of the accuser's history of wrong doing and frankly incompetent criminal behaviour, then she had brought up the fact that he was known to be a notoriously compulsive liar. By the time she was finished her client was so impressed he'd offered Lilah his services for half the normal going rate he was still a businessman after all, all the 'competent' criminals were, he also gave her priority treatment whenever she called. She now got all her forgeries from him.
One moment she was handing the vampire everything he needed to stay ahead of Gavin's schemes.
The next she was indulging in necrophilia with someone she'd happily set on fire given half a chance.
Just thinking about it made her skin crawl. If he hadn't bitten me when he did who knows how far it would have gone.
Then of course there were the other things to take into consideration.
Because the supposedly 'normal' changes weren't the only things she'd noticed.
She seemed to crave sunlight. Unfiltered, direct sunlight. The difference between the light that got through the firms necro-tempered glass and the real thing in the street was something Lilah had never noticed before. But she did notice how much better she felt when she took a walk outside during the day. She had decided to take her lunches outside the office and enjoy the unexpected pick-me-up every chance she got.
Immunity or shielding from telepaths. That was something that Lilah would never consider a bad thing. The fact two of those snooty mind readers who looked at others with superior eyes were now afraid of her was just, fun.
Lilah looked down at her abdomen again. Your daddy even 'convinced' them to become informants for us, if anyone becomes interested in either of us, we'll hear all about it. It was liberating to have complete privacy to plan without running the risk of being discovered.
Because Lilah had big plans for her future. Big plans that involved Clark Kent.
It was just a question of how she would put him firmly under her thumb.
Lilah let herself into the overpriced apartment that her quarry was living in. It had been useful having one of her clients teach her how to pick locks. It had come in handy on more than one occasion.
Lilah had defended them from a charge of B and E, or breaking and entering. Her Client had gotten off due to the surprising fact they were actually innocent of the charge. Apparently the arresting officer remembered them from a similar case from years ago, before the defendant had refined their methods. As a thank you Lilah had picked up a new skill for her repertoire.
While she would never take to a life of theft and burglary, it did open doors for her.
Smirking at her own joke, she moved around the apartment silently until she found the bedroom. Lilah pulled out her hand gun and fired a few rounds at the familiar figure on the bed.
Before she could blink she found herself pinned to the bedroom wall by a very naked man.
"Did you have to put holes in my silk sheets? A simple knock on the door would have worked." His words were a low growl next to her ear. Lilah had seen it first hand, but this confirmed it. Very strong. He kept her hands above her head and her body suspended against the wall with his own. Her feet didn't even come close to touching the floor.
"Had to be sure you'd notice." Lilah relaxed in his grip, not even trying to struggle, with what he'd done to that car, she knew she'd never overpower him.
"Standing, at, attention." He said slowly and clearly.
"Well, something certainly is." Lilah replied with one eyebrow arched, she couldn't help a self satisfied smirk at just what was pressing against her. Well, at least this won't be boring.
"If this is how you treat all the men you sleep with I can understand why you don't get many second dates." Looking into those eyes, full of reckless mischief, Lilah almost hissed at the pleasurable tingling that came from his solid unyielding chest pressed against her sensitive breasts. She fought the urge to squirm as he remained perfectly still, not moving a muscle. Down girl, remember the plan.
"What can I say, I like men with staying power, Clark." His expression flickered for a moment, but only for a moment.
"That's right, I know who you are Clark Kent." Another flicker, any faster and she probably would have missed it, but then he took away her gun and threw her on the bed.
"Done your homework then?" He asked as she turned over to face him. After straightening her clothes, Lilah looked up to see he was now sitting in a chair facing her. Fingers laced together over his chest, absently tracing one finger over the ruby in his ring. The gun was gone from her sight.
"You've done a good job of covering your tracks, if you hadn't been arrested for suspected arson last year you might have been able to stay under the radar . . . do you want to put some clothes on? I can wait." His smirk was back again as he sat up in his chair. Smug bastard is trying to distract me! Damn him!
"Is my being naked a problem for you counsellor? Does it offend your delicate sensibilities?" Lilah realised she'd been taking a good long look while she had been talking and pulled herself back into the present. Stop checking him out! Plan first! Fun later!
"I wouldn't say offend. But if we're going to talk I'd like you thinking with your big head, not your, little one." Lilah nodded to below his navel, indicating he look as well. Take that you over confident jerk!
"Of course. Care to aid me with my problem counsellor?" He propositioned her with a wink, penetrating eyes full of mischief and smile full of teeth. Lilah grit her own teeth while remaining still on the bed, shooting him a look that had scared one intern so badly that he had never spoken in her presence again.
Unsurprisingly it didn't work on a man who could tear apart cars with his bare hands.
"This is a business deal Mr Kent, not a booty call, go and take a cold shower. I'll be in the main room when you're ready to talk." Shrugging indifferently, he rose to his feet and with confident swaggering strides, made his way past her to the bathroom. Seemingly in no hurry to get showered and dressed.
Lilah watched him go, her fingertips absently stroking the silk sheets. Shaking her head at his antics she quietly said. "Such an ass."
"Thank you." Came his reply from the bathroom.
"That wasn't a compliment! Make sure that water's freezing. I don't have all day." Waiting for the sound of running water before rising and making her way out of the bedroom. Lilah couldn't help smiling despite her words to Clark. Definitely won't be boring.
Clark emerged fifteen minutes later, dressed in jeans and a shirt and immediately made his way for the kitchen.
"Coffee? Tea? Juice?" He asked as he moved around the kitchen.
"Tea." She replied. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't make any coffee, unless you want to see first hand what happens when I smell it these days."
Clark turned to regard her with a curious look. "Bad?"
"Messy." She answered. Understanding dawning on his face, he simply nodded and turned back to his task.
"So, Clark Kent, why L.A?" Lilah asked as Clark placed down two mugs of tea on the small table she had sat by.
"I told you, my name is Kal-El, or Kal for short." Came his reply as he sat down. Lilah almost growled in annoyance.
"And I told you before, don't mess me around, I'll make you wish you'd never been born." As her control slipped, Lilah realised he was smiling indulgently at her.
"You're cute when you're angry." His smile just made her wish for her gun.
"Look, the whole 'I'm an alien from another planet' spiel may work great with the coeds, but we both know you're actually Clark Kent from Smallville, Kansas. . . ."
"How far back did you go?" His question threw her off for a second. What kind of game was he playing?
"Far back enough to know your parents names are Jonathan and Martha Kent." That indulgent smile was back, making her feel like he was only humouring her.
"If you went back far enough, you'd realise that Clark Kent only exists on paper from age three." That threw her for a loop. It was a cover? A false identity?
"You have school records, attendance records . . . " Clark interrupted again.
"All of which can be faked. Tell me Lilah, did you find any medical records?" That question stumped her. She hadn't been able to find any medical records, not even a list of inoculations everybody received in their school years. Only school records and his arrest report that had a copy of his fingerprints and a mug shot. Could it be a bluff? Was he telling the truth? Only one way to find out.
"So you're saying that if Jonathan and Martha Kent were killed, it wouldn't matter?" Lilah's answer was the very impressive shattering of the mug in Clark's hand. Before she knew it, he had grabbed her by the throat and lifted her straight up into the air. Looking into his fiery red glowing eyes. She made sure not to allow the self satisfied smirk to appear on her face. Well now, there's a nice bit of leverage I can use.
Voice dropping to a low dangerous growl, Clark looked her in the eyes and answered. "Leave them alone, they don't have any part of this." Lilah just looked him in the eyes and allowed an offended look to appear on her face as she kept talking despite the vice grip on her throat.
"I never said I would kill them. Do you honestly think I would do that? What do you think I am? Some sort of monster? Now if you're done with your manly display, I'd like to finish my tea before it goes cold." Clark considered her words before asking.
"What's to stop me from killing you?" Lilah almost laughed in delight. So damn easy to push his buttons. Fighting a smile that was tugging at the corners of her mouth, Lilah kept the mask of offence on her face as she answered.
"If you kill me, you kill the baby." A panicked look passed over Clarks face as he suddenly looked down at her abdomen. There was that flash of electric blue again. He gently placed her back on her feet and backed away a few steps. And there's another nice bit of leverage I can use.
"What do you want?" He asked in a voice that seemed both guarded and curious. Lilah shivered in anticipation. Manipulating and moulding him is going to be so much fun! Sitting back down, Lilah reached for her tea from the small table, leaned back into the comfortable chair while crossing her long legs and told him.
"Very simple. I want us to work together, in exchange for occasional tasks, I'll provide you with a new identity." Lilah waited for his reply. Knowing what he'd say before he said it.
"What sort of tasks?" He asked.
"Nothing difficult for a man with your abilities. You might even enjoy some of them. But they are the sort of things a lawyer can't be seen to be doing." Lilah smiled reassuringly. And when I show you who's in charge, you'll do only what I tell you to.
"And if I refuse? I could just leave. Disappear to where no-one could find me." There was that oh so predictable recklessness again. Oh honey, soon you'll learn you don't ever get to say no to me. He wouldn't be going anywhere.
"If I could track you down, then others could too. The difference is I'm far more reasonable. I'm offering you a deal where I protect you and your interests, like Jonathan and Martha Kent, from anyone looking into them and in return, you protect me and the baby." The look in his eyes. Followed by his nod of acceptance was proof that Lilah had him right where she wanted him.
"You have a deal Lilah."
Lilah Morgan smiled at the prospect of a very interesting future. Gotcha!