Thank you for the reviews! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was reading this.

Since you like it I'll give you more, I hope you enjoy it!

Stars and Water

Chapter 5

It wasn't how she preferred to spend Saturday night, at a party full of glittering strangers who wore designer clothes that cost more than her used Toyota, but her Mom needed her support, so here she was. Maria sighed and looked around the ballroom, sipping her sparkling cider. Champagne might have helped but she had a few months until her twenty first birthday so cider would have to do. She started counting diamond necklaces just for fun, wow, that ladies' necklace should count for two, she thought.

Then she saw him. He walked in the door and he was so tall you could see him clearly above everyone else. He was breathtaking in a black Tux and black tie with a crisp white shirt. His hair was windblown and a bit wet from the rain and he ran his fingers through it nervously trying to get it to behave. She could feel her heartbeat speed up and her face flush. "Get a grip girl" she thought. She noticed a beautiful, older, redheaded woman holding his arm. The woman laughed and reached up to brush his hair off his face, looking up at him with such open love and pride Maria knew it had to be his Mother. Maria saw the way he looked back at her and thought, "Well, I like that. It's sweet he's so close to his Mom."

"Maria," her Mom said "I've been looking for you. Isn't this crazy? How do I look?" she twirled around so Maria could check. She had short, black hair liberally sprinkled with grey and hazel eyes that sparkled with excitement. She was a little shorter than Maria, and a lot heavier but Maria thought she looked beautiful in her long black silk dress and simple jewelry. "I have to stand in front of all these people in a minute and make a speech. I don't want my slip showing or something." She twisted her hands and bit her lip nervously.

"Mom, you look fantastic. You are going to do great!" Maria said proudly. "They may be dressed like royalty but these are all just people who care about children. They want to hear what you have to say."

Her Mom looked at her gratefully. "I'd rather be in the lab." She said with a half smile identical to Maria's own. "As a matter of fact I'd rather be getting a root canal but Mr. Luthor himself asked me to speak about children's cancer and our research, and I can't say no to him. Besides it's for a good cause, the hospital does need better facilities for the kids and their parents who want to stay there."

Maria grinned, "That's right Mom. Focus on the important stuff and you'll do fine." she said. "It's time Mom, go for it!"

As she watched her Mom approach the podium she overheard a brassy voice near her call out.

"Smallville! Man, you almost look handsome tonight!" Maria turned to see a tall, leggy blond in a glittering red dress talking to Clark nearby. "Hi, Lois" He said with a grin "you look nice too."

Then a short blond woman in a clinging low cut black dress hopped up and gave him a quick hug. "Glad to see you got away from the farm, Clark" she said with a sweet smile. "Are you here with your Mom? Where is she?"

"Hey, Chloe" He stepped back to look at her, his eyebrows arching and said, "Nice dress, you look like a high society babe." Clark smiled at Chloe as she grinned and blushed.

A young man cleared his throat and stepped forward between Clark and Chloe "Good to see ya CK." He said, holding out his hand.

Clark shook it, smiling happily into his face, "Jimmy, I'm glad you're back!"

"Hey guys, shut it," Commanded Lois, "Senator Kent is speaking."

Maria turned back to the podium in time to hear the Senator introduce her mother as "The distinguished scientist, Dr. Katherine Desantis." There was some polite applause and then the room got quiet as her mother stepped up to speak.

Maria felt a thrill of pride but it was replaced by anger when she heard a woman's voice mutter "So that's Lex's new pet scientist. I wonder how much souls are going for nowadays."

Maria whipped her head around to see Lois whispering to Chloe and heard Chloe reply "Come on Lois, she might not know what he's really up to. She wouldn't be the first good person to work for Lex."

Lois looked indignant. "Your dad worked in the fertilizer plant, Chloe, not the lab!"

Maria turned back around trying to ignore them and listen to her Mother's speech but she found it impossible as Lois choked and coughed when her mother praised Lex for his efforts in searching for a cure for children's cancer. Maria was ready to give Lois a piece of her mind when she heard Clark saying "Shhhh, Lois, come on, you're being rude."

"Fine Smallville," Lois said "I'll just interview Dr. Desantis later and see if I can find out what she really knows."

The next thing Maria knew her Mother had finished and the room erupted into applause as she stepped off the podium. Maria hurried forward to give her a hug. Her mother breathed a huge sigh of relief as she held Maria close. "I'm so glad that's over. Okay, where's the champagne? I need a huge glass or maybe just the bottle."

Senator Kent approached them smiling with her hand outstretched. "That was an excellent speech Dr. Desantis." She said warmly, "I can tell you share my passion for children."

"Thank you Senator Kent, please call me Kate," she said with a smile. "I'd like you to meet my daughter Maria." As Maria stepped forward to shake hands she saw Clark appear at his Mother's side. Martha introduced him to Kate and Maria.

"It's nice to meet you Dr. Desantis," Clark said as he gently took her hand. Maria watched in amusement as her Mom flushed and stared at Clark in stunned admiration.

"Clark." Kate said, and she turned to Maria. "Isn't this the young man you told me about?" Now it was Maria's turn to blush.

"Yes Mom." She said quietly, trying to signal with her eyes, don't, don't say it! Aack, too late.

"Maria has told me such wonderful things about you Clark." She turned to Martha "Your son is quite the hero Senator; I think Maria's got a bit of a crush on him."

Martha smiled. "Thank you Kate and please call me Martha." She looked curiously over at Clark. "Hero…what happened?"

Clark gave her a sheepish grin. He hadn't wanted to tell her about his brush with death at the river, she had enough to worry about as it was. "I'll tell you later Mom." Martha looked at him concerned, and then nodded.

Maria wanted to sink into the ground. She looked apologetically at Clark. Could it get any worse? Apparently it could. Her mother turned to her and said "You're right Maria. He is very handsome." And Kate smiled happily at a now blushing Clark.

Maria wanted to cheer when the band started up loudly, drowning out any possibility of further humiliation. "I'd like to steal your Mother for a minute Maria," Martha called loudly over the music, "there are some people I'd like her to meet." then she and Kate walked away, talking with their heads bent close to hear each other over the band.

Maria looked at Clark and wondered what to do now. Talk about an awkward moment, at least the worst was over. Then out of the corner of her eye Maria saw Dr Steiner approaching. He was the head of her Mom's project and Maria had met him when she came to take her Mom to lunch on her first day of work. The man had stared at her in a way that made her extremely uncomfortable, letting his eyes wander over her body and smiling in a predatory way when she blushed. Now he was walking towards her with his eyes locked on hers and that same smile.

She had a sudden horrible thought. What if he asks me to dance? He had hinted at that earlier in the evening and she thought she had let him know she wasn't interested. He was her Mom's superior and she didn't have a clue how to handle him. She just wanted to get away.

"Dance with me now Clark!" Maria said suddenly with a desperate tone in her voice. "Please!"

Clark smiled at her, puzzled. "I… um…"

Maria grabbed him and pulled him out onto the dance floor, placing one hand on his shoulder and taking his other hand in hers. "If you don't dance with me now Dr. Steiner will. He works with my Mom and the man is horrible. He's heading my way and he looks like he won't take no for an answer. Please Clark? Could we please just dance?"

Clark smiled and pulled her closer, moving her smoothly across the dance floor. "So, I'm your protection?" He asked, quirking one eyebrow at her.

"My hero," murmured Maria, looking up into his eyes with a grin.

Clark was enjoying this. When he saw Maria he'd hoped they might get to talk but this was much better. Her deep blue silk dress clung to her body and felt amazing under his hands. She smelled lightly of jasmine combined with a spicy scent that was unique to her alone. Maria's hair was braided and twisted up on her head to expose her long, graceful neck and beautiful bare shoulders. Clark looked down into her eyes and noticed she was taller than any girl he'd ever danced with, not that he'd danced with very many but in her heels they were almost eye to eye. Kissing her would take the barest tilt of the head and he wondered what she would do if he tried it.

They moved together well, Maria following along with him effortlessly, her body shifting and changing direction almost like she could read his thoughts. It made him feel confident with his dancing and let him relax even though they were in a crowd. Clark always had to be careful in crowds, he didn't want to have anyone bump into him and hurt themselves. Maria shifted closer and he found himself slipping his arm around her waist and drawing her up tight against him.

She could feel the warmth of his body through the silky suit and he smelled so good, shampoo and soap and cologne and something else she responded to without thought. She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned into him, swaying to the beat of the music, moving her body in synch with his. Her eyes were on a level with his lips and she looked at them and thought about what it would be like to be kissed by him.

The song stopped and the band switched to a sultry, slow number. Clark looked into Maria's eyes. "Do you want to stop? I think your stalker's gone." He asked reluctantly.

" Hmmmm. Nope." murmured Maria in a low voice, "I think we should keep dancing just in case." She tilted her head and looked at him with a dreamy, soft expression that changed as she said "unless you don't want to, after all I dragged you out here. You didn't ask me to dance." Clark felt her body tense and she pushed away from him a little. Her expression had become guarded.

He pulled her up against him and wrapped both arms lightly around her waist, caressing her back gently with his hands. "I want to. Maria would you like to dance?" he asked softly.

Maria snuggled in against him and pressed her body close. She slid both arms up around his shoulders and rested her head in the crook of his neck. "Yes, I'd love to." she whispered in his ear.

To be continued…