Holidays Part 2 – Chapter 15
Lana held Chloe's gloved hand as they sat next to each other in the light snow that fell in the middle of Metropolis Luthorcorp Plaza. Lex sat on the other side of Chloe trying to concentrate on his breathing. Why he was nervous he had no idea. Maybe the fact that he was about to embark down a road he had never been on.
Lex looked out on the throngs of people that had gathered over the last several hours on the plaza lawn, only steps from the family plot where his father and mother were buried. People had been coming and going all day in between trips into the different stores that surrounded the plaza to catch the after Thanksgiving Day specials.
He laughed at Chloe when she had suggested such a crazy idea. He was simply going to call his PR agent and have something put in the paper about their engagement and be done with it. Chloe pointed out that it would simply eat at reporters who would not stop bothering them.
"We've got a good crowd. All the press is here." She whispered over to her fiancée. She could feel his grip on her hand stiffen.
"Perfect," Lex mumbled before turning to her. "Actually, everyone looks like they are having a decent time." Chloe looked at the people that stopped at the different booths.
The 1st Annual Luthorcorp Tree lighting seemed severely out of place for a Luthor. Lex had stopped celebrating Christmas long ago along with every other holiday. The tree that Chloe had picked out rivaled the one in New York and the shadow fell upon Lionel's grave for the added touch of 'screw you.'
The different booths that littered the plaza all were raising money for different charities by selling arts and crafts, food, and drinks while the corner of the plaza held loud screams of excitement from the bounce house and different games the local high school had for the kids. "They're having a great time," she reassured him.
Lex stood up as his assistant finished an announcement for everyone to gather around the tree. Taking Chloe's hand once more, he walked over to the podium and let go of her just behind him. "Welcome everyone to Luthorcorp Plaza for the day 1st Annual Tree Lighting. This is something new that we at Luthorcorp wanted to start as a way to give back to the community. Hearing from many of the different booths as I walked through earlier today, you have done a great service in supporting these worthy causes."
He looked back over his shoulder at Chloe as she stood next to the small table that was wired to the tree out in the middle of the plaza. She nodded as the rest of the crowd below him applauded politely and press flashbulbs and television cameras played the broadcast. "Now, to the employees of Luthorcorp. I want to thank you for another of successful year despite our obvious loss," Lex paused trying not to choke on his words. "And for that, I will be giving paid leave for the holidays of December 25 to January 1."
Chloe looked at Lex and covered her mouth in a chuckle hearing the gasps and whispers of his employees thinking that he had finally lost his mind and would quickly follow his father to the grave. Chloe moved up beside him and hugged his hand in hers. "I will personally be spending my holiday quietly at home with my fiancée, Chloe Sullivan."
He paused again seeing the throng of cameras, both professional and personal aim in their direction as Chloe blinked repeatedly from the lights that all turned in their direction. "You ok?" Lex whispered.
"As long as you're here." She hugged closer to him, which only caused more pictures to be snapped of the two. She secretly still couldn't believe that Lex had agreed to such a spectacle but knew it would make things easier in the long run. Press would look for him in Smallville and Metropolis; their home was still very much a secret.
"And now with the tree lighting." Lex turned and nodded at Chloe. Pressing the little button on the small table, the crowd oohed and aahed at the mixture of red, white, and green lights that lit the plaza. Seeing the cameras all turn to capture the tree, Lex grabbed Chloe's hand and signaled to Lana before dashing down the stairs, trying to avoid the throngs of people.
"Mr. Luthor!" Chloe looked over her shoulder and pushed on Lex's side. "Mr. Luthor, can we have a moment of Ms. Sullivan's time?"
"Faster!" Lex whispered in Chloe's ear as he led her and Lana into the limo waiting at the bottom of the stairs. As the car pulled away, his PR agent appeared at the base of the stairs.
"Mr. Luthor is sorry but he has several engagements planned for the evening and has made his public statements for the day. If you have any questions, you can call my office and I will relay any questions. However, the couple's official statement will appear in the Daily Planet tomorrow. Thank you." The PR agent disappeared into the Luthorcorp building behind locked doors.
Lex watched in the car as the crowd of reporters dispersed from the front of the building and looked at the people in the limo. "Well done Lex," Jonathon admitted. "Your father is rolling in his grave as we speak."
"Probably trying to turn over to shield his eyes from all those Christmas lights," Lex giggled as he placed a kiss on top of Chloe's head. She looked back behind her at the crowd in the plaza as they headed for the airport.
The next morning Lex and Chloe headed out of the mansion in Smallville for what she understood would be their last time there until the Lana and Clark's wedding. Lex watched Chloe sleep restlessly all night, tossing and turning more than she had since they had started sleeping together.
"Are you ok?" Lex whispered as he walked through the small cemetery holding her hand. She didn't answer, but just let go of his hand several yards before her father's grave.
"I want to be alone."
"I'll be in the car." Lex kissed her cheek and left her for the rest of the walk.
"Hey dad," Chloe whispered as she knelt down next to the grave she had put him in just a year earlier. "It's been a hell of a year. I wasn't going to come, but Lex thought…Lex and I are getting married and we're going to have a baby. I know dad; I can hear you. He's good to me." Chloe sat silently and just stared at the stone until tired over took her body. Walking back over to the car, Lex opened the door and pulled her into him in the seat.
"I want to go home." Lex kissed the top of her head and silently put the separator up between the driver and them.
***********
Chloe sat in front of the tree in the living room and moped. He was late. He had given the employees the week off, but she forgot to remind herself he would still work. Watching the slight wind blow through the tree, she marveled at the strange sensation of a warm suntan on her arms while looking at a Christmas tree.
She moved a couple of the presents around to make them look more centered as she hummed to herself. She was nervous. Lex had explained his reservations about Christmas from the beginning, and her gift was added anticipation. Now she wondered how he would handle it. She had flown back to St Thomas alone the weekend after Thanksgiving and had talked to him only twice a week for the last month.
"No shaking the boxes." She turned and ran across the room, flying into his arms. "Hey, I told you I would be home by Christmas." He kissed her.
"Yeah, but I didn't think you would wait until sundown on Christmas Day." She pulled from him and gazed into his eyes. "But I forgive you." He followed her pull over to beside the tree and sat down.
"I take it we're doing the present thing first." Lex laughed as he threw his overcoat on the back of the couch and turned back to pick something out for her. He had sent everything through Magnil and made sure Chloe didn't touch any of them. "This one first."
Chloe sat in between Lex's outstretched legs as she opened the small box. He had done a great deal not to spoil her, but the small boxes all under the tree worried her. She loved him, but she knew he understood her issue with the money. Ripping the bright paper off, she opened the box and then over her shoulder at Lex.
"Correction fluid. Funny."
"Open that one." Lex smirked as she put the bottle of Liquid Paper back under the tree. Ripping open the larger box, she stared at the antique typewriter. "I don't expect you to use it, maybe just use it as inspiration. It typed out the very first article at the Daily Planet."
Chloe ran her hand over the keys and the hugged Lex. "This is really…different. But you really listened. Ok, now for you." Chloe handed him a small box and he shook it as she pulled his tie off of him. "I couldn't decide what to get you."
Lex ripped the paper off the small box and opened it. Chloe had searched for something unique to Lex. It was hard to buy for the man who had everything, so she dug deeper. Lex pulled the chain out of the box and stared at it. "I did a little of that investigation thing I used to work on and found this at a pawn shop in Suicide Slums."
Lex held the small pendant in his hand and popped it open. Hitching his breath, he gulped and ran his hand over the worn picture of his mother when she couldn't have been older than a college student. "It was the first gift your mom got from your dad. She had sold it for money when she thought about leaving your father and that's where it sat. I meant to replace the pic…"
"No, it's unbelievable." Lex wrapped his hand around the necklace and suddenly disappeared from the room. Chloe sat in front of the tree and waited for him to return but he didn't. When she got up and headed for the door, Charles cut her off.
"Charles, please move."
"Ma'am, Lex has requested a few minutes alone." Chloe backed up and saw Magnil and stared at the floor concerned. Magnil came in and walked Chloe over to the couch and sat down next to her.
"I thought it would make him happy. I thought he would like it." Chloe cried into Magnil's arms as Magnil motioned for Charles and Carmen to go. "I should have just gotten him something lame like the rest of his women probably bought him."
"Chloe, I'm sure he really loves the gift, but it's just emotional to him. I mean I remember the amount of work it took for you to find that and he probably realizes that and is overwhelmed." Magnil continued to hold Chloe in her arms, smiling quietly to herself as Charles walked back by the door. "Go now. Charles says things are clear."
Chloe looked over at Magnil and walked out of the living room in search of her fiancée. "Lex?" she called softly as she walked through the house to the main entrance, finding a trail of the local flowers out to the beach trail. "Lex?"
Lex watched her from behind a tree and appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "What the hell?" Chloe cried as she turned to him. "I thought you were upset with me and had decided to leave." She stopped and looked at his clothes and then pulled the gold chain out from under his shirt.
"No," Lex kissed her quickly on the lips. "But I have one more surprise, but thank you." He leaned in and hugged her as she started to cry. "You are so special to me and this just proves why I fell in love with you. Now, we have to hurry."
Chloe took his hand and followed him down the beach to a small bonfire and saw other people waiting around the fire. Chloe blinked through the small smoke that came up from the bonfire. Chloe turned around and looked up at Lex. "What's going on?"
Lex looked over Chloe's shoulder and pulled her into him. "Marry me." Chloe looked at the expression on Lex's face and then at the group of people around the fire. Her mouth dropped and she stared at Lex in disbelief.
Lots of Little Surprises – Chapter 16
"Right now?" Chloe stuttered. Her question caused Lex to drop his hands. "Lex, seriously? Did you get hit in the head with a coconut or something?"
Running his hands up and down her shoulders, he smirked at her. "No, but I realized that I don't want to spend one more day without you and I together, even when we're apart." Chloe tilted her head and ran her hands up and down his chest in response. Something happened in the last few minutes since she gave him her gift that made him lose his mind.
Reaching up and touching his face, she broke her confusing look and pressed her lips to his. "Lex, I'm not ever going to be apart from you. But I have reservations about mixing Christmas and my wedding date. Besides, it's dark and I'd like a few pictures of our wedding as would the press I'm sure. Can't we just enjoy the night?"
Lex held her face in both hands and saw her tilted smile he remembered from when she first told him that he would protect her and let out a laugh. "You were the one that said let loose."
"Throwing a surprise wedding on Christmas is a little too much honey." Lex leaned in and grazed her lips before Chloe pulled away. "Besides, there are people here and I would love to know who." Chloe ran her hand along his and curled her fingers into it before heading down the beach. "Anyway, who's ordained in this crowd?" she asked as she looked at her friends that he had obviously flown in for the holiday.
"Guilty," Don waved as he turned with a beer in one hand and Lex's scotch in the other. Chloe let out a big laugh as she and Lana hugged barefoot in the sand.
***********
With Luthorcorp plants shut down for the first time ever over the holidays, Chloe would enjoy waking up every morning again with Lex's legs twisted up into hers. The nights had become cooler and the shutters closed, but she still felt comfort with his bare back against her chest.
This morning was different. She rubbed her eyes as she watched Lana mill through her clothes that she had brought on the trip. She stared at the slow ceiling fan and suddenly felt a twinge of nausea. Not today. Any day but today.
"Hey Lana? Could you go tell Carmen to bring me something to eat? I think I'm getting nervous knots."
"Sure," she smiled as she plodded out of the room in her tank and pajama pants. Chloe had been given specific instructions to not be walking around the villa before the ceremony later in the day. She told Lex he was being insane with the old traditions; he reminded her how the other times they had been not followed and how well things worked out.
"She gave me this." Lana sat the tray of coffee and pastry down on the table. "Are you ok? You look a little off color."
"I'm just nervous," Chloe reassured Lana as Lana pulled the simple white cotton dress out for the beach wedding that Chloe finally gave into. But she had won the battle over the name. Chloe Sullivan-Luthor. So, she thought to herself, it wasn't much of a battle since they played heads or tails.
"Nerves get the best of us." Martha interjected in the conversation entering the girls' room and pouring a coffee for herself. "I remember I nearly left for the restroom halfway down the aisle when Jonathon and I got married."
"You? I hardly picture the model of decorum vomiting in the middle of her wedding." Chloe and Martha laughed lightly as if they were the best of friends.
"I can't believe that you are beating me and Clark down the aisle." Lana hugged Chloe and looked at the ring on her hand. "Lex really loves you, and not anything like his other two weddings. This one looks like it's going to take. I think whatever you did to get Lex here has been really something good for him. He's like he was when we all first met."
"I wouldn't call him mellow, but he definitely is a new person." A knock caused the two girls to turn their heads and see Magnil poke her head in.
"Hey, I found this one wandering around the airport about an hour ago. Make sure she changes into something appropriate. A woman in a pant suit and a ponytail slid in the doorway as Chloe nearly flew over the chair. "LOIS!"
"Whoa cous!" Lois screamed as Chloe launched herself into Lois' arms. "You know if you hadn't cut off contact with everyone, you probably wouldn't miss us so much."
"I know, but I had to find myself."
"And a man apparently. How ironic it was someone right under your nose and as crooked as the coral that grows here." Chloe glared at Lois' last comment. "Fine, I'll stop. Besides, I already ran into the lucky bastard and told him I'll kill him if he hurts you. He smiled at me and then hugged me. You give him some kind of voodoo potion or something?"
"He's just blissfully in love," Lana interjected as Lois handed Chloe a copy of the latest Daily Planet. "Go change Lois."
Chloe read the headline and covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. 'Third Time's a Charm Luthor Quoted.' His PR agent was having a field day with the press feeding them bits and pieces with his and Chloe's permission. Chloe read the byline and saw that Lex had even given in to giving Lois the reporter tag. Her fate at the Daily Planet was sealed without Lex having to buy anyone off.
On the other side of the villa, Charles pushed the door open and saw three men laying in loungers with bottles strewn about. He shook his head and realized that as much giggling that came the night before from the girls room, the loud music from the men's room was what he should have worried about.
"Sir, the women are all up." Lex came around the corner of the closet and smiled. "Oh, I guess you should wake up the others. Sir, is that the officiator with a bottle in each hand?" Lex nodded as Charles gently removed the bottles from the man's grip.
"Lex, we are so sorry we all fell asleep on your balcony. How exactly do you convince yourself to come back to Kansas when you wake up to this every morning?" Clark asked as he stretched and tried to shake himself awake.
"It gets harder every day. I'm still working on modifications to this place to make it meeting worthy. See, the mansion in Smallville was basically a place to live, but I went into Metropolis for business. This is a little more complicated."
"But Chloe won't budge." Lex shook his head and continued throwing out different shirts on the bed. Jonathon looked over the bed covered in shirts and pointed one out silently.
"It kind of came with the marriage talk. Her name and that we live here. Besides, I have had a much easier time with security here since we're surrounded by water."
"Except for a little blonde that broke in a few months ago," Jonathon interjected before laughing. Lex rolled his eyes and admitted that wasn't his brightest of moments.
The two men had almost made it to the friends stage. Clark had talked seriously with his dad about Lex's change, and Jonathon was slowly seeing the difference that Clark's best friend was making on the man. He was more mature, more collected, and yet easier going. Chloe had done some amazing work on him.
***********
Chloe leaned against the railing on the lanai overlooking the lights of St. Thomas watching the fireworks. With every boom, she could feel the time ticking for Lex to leave again. They had discussed it and planned it out thoughtfully together, which she was happy about. But separation from him for another six weeks at least was going to be nearly impossible on her sanity.
The wedding had gone off without a hitch except for the one small helicopter from a newspaper rag she was sure that buzzed them. But her fear of throwing up or him backing out of his own insane idea didn't occur. It had been low key with only those few invited and Don had sobered up in time to officiate, causing Lex not to kill him.
Chloe smiled to herself remembering the bear hug that Jonathon finally gave Lex at the end of the ceremony. Things were definitely different in the Luthor household now. Chloe stared down at her ring and spun it around, her engagement ring of only a few weeks old tucked carefully away in a safe at her request.
"Where are you?" Lex wrapped his arms around his wife's and nuzzled his face into her neck before kissing lightly from her ear to shoulder. The last week had been something he couldn't forget. He was comfortable here like no where before. Chloe made him that way, his wife. He closed his eyes and sighed into her neck whenever he thought of that word.
"London," she whispered, closing her eyes to his touch. She loved his touch. She saw him in action and his anger in his early years but had not seen that part of him in so long she wondered if it really existed anymore.
"I have to go. We talked about this."
"I know. It's just hard." Sliding one of his hands into hers, he pulled her back into the living room and looked around. The staff was out for the evening together. Lex had insisted that they all go enjoy the New Year's party on the other island. Magnil suggested it had nothing to do with giving them the night off. "Let's change the subject," he murmured into her ear as he slipped his fingers in one of the ties on her top and it fell, revealing her now heaving chest.
Chloe popped a glare in his direction before grabbing him his crotch, feeling that him leaving wasn't the only thing that was hard. Lex's eyes met hers and he saw her inching up to him for a kiss. Slipping out of her grip, he smirked quickly and walked out of the room.
Chloe pulled up her top and followed him out the door to see him no where in the hall. "Ohh, you wanna play?" She retied her top and headed down the hall, looking in each room as she passed. Passing the half open door of the bedroom, she was sure he wasn't that dense and kept walking. "Shit!" she screamed as he threw her over his shoulder and vaulted her onto the bed, quickly straddling her with his body.
"Yeah, I want to play," Lex grunted as he yanked on the tie to her top again before burying his face in her chest, holding her hands down while she giggled at the raspberries he blew on her chest.
*************
Chloe walked into the conference room the next morning and saw her husband well recovered from their late night and dressed to leave. "Good morning. Did you ever sleep?"
"Sleep on the plane. How are you this morning?" He said without looking up from the computer and files he was reading through. Chloe refilled his coffee cup and sat across the table from him.
Lex had even surprised himself by the openness of their relationship. He had never left anything out on the desk except for his business associates and even then, things were well guarded. But Chloe had changed too. Her interviews with long time islanders and snow birds were not exactly the riveting journalism she had done before, but somehow she stayed busy. Lex didn't ask because if she was unhappy, she told him so.
"Good. I have to work this afternoon after you leave. The winter cruise ship season is in full swing. Do you mind if I use the helicopter this evening to get home. Don needs me longer than the ferry is running."
Lex stopped and looked up from his work. "Are you seriously asking me if you have to have my permission to call Daryl to get a ride home?" Lex pushed his chair out from behind the desk and pulled Chloe down on his lap. "You're my wife. I am now officially married longer than I have been previously, and I plan to make it truly until death do us part. Now, I will call Daryl and tell him to expect you to call him with your schedule." Lex placed kisses up and down her back and pushed her off his lap slightly, "but I have something else to handle for you. Hang on."
Chloe sat back in the chair next to Lex and looked at the pile of papers in front of Lex. It wasn't a Luthorcorp holding contract. "Lex?"
"Magnil, we need to go over the meeting with the Ship Bard production numbers where Chloe knows how to handle the meeting with Rey." Chloe's mouth dropped and watched Lex pile up several folders and slide another folder in front of her as Magnil sat on the other side of them.
"What?"
"I couldn't be here for the meeting with the beverage commission and Rey is not exactly the picture of business, so Magnil will go over the finer points with you. But I want you to run the meeting in my place." Chloe stared at her husband as if he had lost his mind. Reaching across the table, Lex grabbed Chloe's hand in his and smiled. "You'll do fine. It's just a recertification meeting. I trust you."
And that was it. Lex left later that afternoon to catch a late plane to London for the first official day of business in Luthorcorp. Papers all over the world had reported the unprecedented move that irritated some underling companies but impressed the stockholders. A Luthor had actually developed a heart and the blonde woman with the sharp intellect had caused the fuss in six months time.
*************
January flew by as Chloe juggled working at the bar with being busier with the small newspaper. The editor recently got wind of her work in the Daily Planet and gave her harder subjects to tackle. Not harder for her, but Chloe pictured it as a small step up. She was happy that no one on the islands cared what her last name entailed.
She read the other newspapers every morning keeping tabs on her husband's antics. The tabloids had become the most difficult to deal with from so far away. Chloe spent a morning picking up parts of one particular tabloid she threw over the railing after a picture appeared of Lex and another distinct brunette woman coming out of a restaurant together. Magnil had caught her fit and called Lex immediately.
The woman appeared no later than fifteen minutes later on the webcam with Lex. She was decidedly older than the smudged tabloid picture suggested and happily married with grandkids. Lex explained the business luncheon and that Chloe could just call him about the rest of her insecurities. Satisfied with the answer, she turned off the computer and leaned back in the chair.
"Magnil, how mad do you think Lex is going to be about you know." Magnil looked over at Chloe. She glowed more each day and recently had done some new wardrobe shopping that hopefully would last the duration. Besides her out of control fits dealing with the tabloid fodder, Chloe had been quite calm throughout her ordeal.
"I remember when you two first got together you made him promise no schemes or games, and I guess I'm on the fence. It was something you probably should have told him about, especially since he's been asking lately."
"You think it will change things?"
"For the better dear. Why?"
"I have an idea." Chloe motioned for Magnil to follow her down the hall.
A week later Lex sat at his desk in Metropolis depressed. Valentine's Day was a fabricated holiday but he was still missing the first one with Chloe. He had missed so much as he went back through all the time they had been apart. They talked nearly everyday but it wasn't enough anymore. Sending her roses was lame, but he didn't know what else he could do. He had to think before scheduling meetings from now on.
Opening his email, he filtered out the junk and looked at the address that looked familiar. Shaking his head, he wondered what possessed her to write him instead of just calling. Opening the email, he began to read.
Lex,
Good morning honey and Happy Valentine's Day.
I know you have a ton of meetings today, which
I don't exactly understand what possessed you.
Oh, nice move with Chris – I should be pissed at
you, but he seems to be doing well on the ocean.
I wanted to let you know that I had to quit the
bar last week. Don was upset but he understood.
Now, I don't want you to get upset, but it's just
I've been getting more tired and it's causing a
strain to keep up there and the paper. Anyway,
I'm sending you this picture hoping it might get
you to rethink your schedule for next week and
pencil in an appointment for me.
Love, Chloe
Lex reread the cryptic message and wondered what in the world the woman was talking about. Besides her obviously finding out about Chris, Lex wondered about the rest of the email. Chloe could write so eloquently and then slice up words to where no one could decipher anything from them. And she didn't like his games he thought to himself. She played plenty herself. Clicking on the attachment, he waited for the picture to download. Staring at it, a smile and giggle escaped his lips.
.com/albums/e...ch_
Picking up the phone, he spoke almost giddy, "Yeah, I need to you to clear my schedule for the rest of the week and next. I'm going home."
TBC