Chapter 19

Chloe did end up going to see Lana a few days later. Flying to London was an adventure in itself, as she hadn't done much traveling in her life.

Truthfully, Chloe was nervous about how Lana would act after spending all of this time with Lex. Lois had been the one to see her last and after Lois's spunky description, it was clear that things didn't go too smoothly. Chloe worried that Lana would give into Lex's darkness and put Clark in danger. But after Chloe agreed to come across an ocean to see her, she heard nothing but relief, curiosity, and even happiness in Lana's voice.

Lana had one of Lex's limos pick her up and take her to the house they were living in. Chloe was surprised to be told by Lex's staff that Lex and Lana were at a pub not too far away and that they would take her there as soon as she was settled in.

Washing the feel of airplane filth off herself, she took the fastest shower she had in years, and then called Jimmy to tell him she loved him before going to join Lana.

Feeling slightly like a piece of delicate mail with all of the service she was receiving, she admired the room the odd couple had provided her and left it to go join them.

After a very short ride later, she had the car door opened for her as if she were royalty and stepped out of it to see a regular British pub on a street corner. Not exactly the place she envisioned Lex Luthor to be on a Thursday night. Trying to prepare herself for seeing them together, and how they might be, she took a deep breath and walked inside.

The pub smelled like peanuts, liquor, and meaty appetizers. Chloe scanned the restaurant, seeing the high tables with tall chairs, and she searched for her estranged best friend. As she walked further, her eyes widened when she saw Lex and Lana sitting across from three people that Chloe didn't recognize, laughing merrily.

Chloe stood there for a minute trying to remember the last time she'd seen Lex laugh, not to mention him being out socializing at a middle-class pub on a Thursday night, with a beer in his hand. He and Lana were all jokes and laughter, his hand on her back, leaving Chloe with a confused frown on her face.

Lana's giggling eyes turned to see Chloe and she instantly lit up.

"Chloe!" she cried out. "Oh my God, you're here!"

Chloe jerked herself out of confusion and rushed forward to embrace her friend. They'd left a spare chair for her and Lex stood up, ushering a waiter over to retrieve a drink for Chloe.

"Oh my God, it's been so long!" Lana cried.

"I know, I know!"

"Chloe, it's so good to see you," Lex said sincerely, with a grin as Chloe pulled back from Lana's embrace.

Chloe had never remembered Lex actually being happy to see her before, so in her shocked state, all she could muster up to say was 'thank you'.

"Let's get you something to drink and eat. You must be exhausted from your flight," he said, gracefully touching her shoulder.

Chloe sat back, allowing Lex and Lana to take control as food and drinks were ordered for her and she was taken care of. In the process it became the three of them and she wasn't even sure where their friends disappeared to.

"Was your room okay?" Lana asked as the waiter sat Chloe's drink down in front of her.

"Yes, thank you so much," Chloe replied, still feeling awkward about Lana being so comfortable commanding orders and applying her new power.

"I hope you don't mind coming out to dinner with us," Lana continued. "I love coming here but we won't stay long. I'm sure after the flight being out late is the last thing you want."

"Actually, not being cooped up somewhere after the flight is refreshing. It's great to see you both smiling so much. But then again you are in England."

"It has been a dream," Lex said. "But when Lana told me we'd be seeing a familiar face I knew we had to celebrate. How are you, Chloe?"

"I'm-"

They were interrupted by Lex's cell ringing. He removed his arm from around Lana to see who it was. His face dropped when he saw it was Mercy Graves.

"It's Mercy," he told Lana who then groaned in annoyance.

"My God, Lex. Can't she leave you alone for one whole day?"

"I guess not," he sighed. Standing up out his chair, he looked at the two women. "You two enjoy yourselves. Order whatever you'd like, talk, and I'll be back as soon as I can."

After he left, Chloe leaned into Lana.

"Who's Mercy Graves?"

Lana made an exasperated noise.

"She's a lot of things, but mostly she works for him. He keeps promoting her, mostly to try to shut her up. It doesn't work."

Chloe nodded, sipping her beer.

"Are they close?"

Lana's eyes turned cold.

"He's not sleeping with her, Chloe. Even if he were as bad as you still believe he is, she's intoxicated by his work and who he is, but she's not attracted to him romantically."

"I'm sorry," Chloe said sincerely. "I respect your choices and I see that you're happy."

Then Lana asked the question.

"Is he?" Lana asked, and Chloe knew immediately who Lana was talking about.

Chloe didn't want to answer. She didn't want to hurt Lana by admitting Clark and Lois were a success.

"Yes."

Lana looked down.

"You know since I've been out here with Lex, all I've had is time to think. Think about Lois, myself, and why all of this happened. Lois and I are two very different kinds of women and I think we do have things in common, but ultimately, we go about things and want things differently."

Chloe nodded, listening.

"Lois likes doing things herself. Whatever the task is, she'll do it herself. Whenever Clark and I had differences, I would go to Lex. I liked his power. I liked him using his power to help me achieve whatever task I felt I needed done or completed. Clark, he didn't have the darkness I had. Lex did."

"Lana, what Lex did to you. You truly believe you're anywhere in the same-"

"I know. I'll never forget it or fully understand it, but I can know it and I think I can be the thing in his life that can push that out of him. I think he and I understand each other. Now to be honest, both Clark and Lex kept things from me, but Clark, although I loved him more than anyone, he never understood the darker side of me."

Chloe sighed. It was hard for her to admit that Lana could be admitting something so truthful about herself that she honestly didn't want to hear.

"It just seems like you're putting so much faith into something so dangerous."

"I'm trying to let go of something that isn't there anymore. Clark fits better with another woman. I have to accept that and you know what? I don't hate Lois. That angers me more than anything. I can't even hate the woman who stole the man I loved. She is someone I liked."

Chloe smiled a little. In some ways, she felt that Lois got everything she didn't too, but Lois had definitely earned it so Chloe had no ground to stand on in the jealousy department.

"So I'm choosing to see what I've done to myself; who I really am. I am strong but I do like the power. And Lex can give me that. I like the way he makes me feel."

Chloe surrendered, ready to support Lana. There was nothing she could do. If this was the path Lana needed to take, she had to accept it.

"Then here's to you and Lex."

Lana smiled. "Thank you."

The rest of the night Chloe spent with Lex and Lana was surprisingly enjoyable. Chloe really felt like she was out with friends…even sitting near Lex. She had no idea what was wrong with him except maybe Lana was right. Maybe Smallville, Lionel, and everything there was like Kryptonite to him. And with Lana, he was going through detox.

Though Lex? Letting go? It would take a lot more than three hundred pounds on drinks to prove that to Chloe. 'Course after the drinks, she didn't really care. She filled Lana in on Jimmy and their love life, her new job, anything but Lois and Clark. Lana did the same, asking Chloe to help her with Isis in the Metropolis area. Chloe, though slightly tipsy, said she'd love to consider it.

Lex, the one who remained sober for the most part, gathered the ladies up a few hours later and got them home safely. It was pouring rain outside and neither umbrellas nor curbside limos could keep them from getting drenched. Wet and tired, Chloe hit her pillows hard, happy to be on a different part of the planet celebrating her travels with Lana, despite her choice in men.

Lana had reached her goal. She was ready. She felt the alcohol inside her body, easing her senses, but not overpowering her judgment. She wanted it so badly that she didn't take the time to change into a skimpy nightgown. She went right to his door, knocking lightly. Turning it before receiving an answer, she opened it.

His eyes looked at her knowing full well what she intended.

She rushed forward towards him, forcing him to take her over. Never one to disappoint, he kissed her back, his hands crawling all over her in seconds, ridding her body of any fabric.

She turned off the scared voices in her mind, allowed herself to relax, to absorb and soak up everything that he induced inside of her. The sparks easily erupted between them as they always had. This had never been a problem between them, not once. Even when she was disgusted by him, their sexuality spilled out and they were both cloaked in it.

Now was no different. Finding his bare skin she pushed him to the bed, wrapping her slender legs around his waist. He cupped her hips, drawing her against him as he licked her neck, trying to be gentle - but honestly, Lex and Lana weren't always gentle. He slipped his hand down her body, feeling her, watching her face as she thrust herself against his hand, bucking as her folds became wet by his teasing.

Pulling closer around him she tightened her legs around his waist, impaling herself over him, feeling him inside her. Her eyes locked with his, knowing him, knowing herself, flaws and all. A tiny fear crept out of her repressed mind and she paused, eyes shutting, and she lost her concentration.

Lex lifted his hands to her shoulders, rocking her gently.

"Lana," he whispered and she looked at him. "Nothing bad is going to happen. This isn't about control or domination. I love you and there is no consequence to this action that you are not aware of."

She felt her muscles stop clenching. She felt soothed by his words and she chose to believe him.

"I couldn't bear it if you stopped, Lex," she told him.

Cupping the back of her head, he buried his face in her wet hair, slowly thrusting inside her as she cried out. She came easily, quickly and more than once, remembering what Lex could do to her. His body shook against hers with his own release, clutching at her in a way he never did with any other woman.

Lana was the light in his life, the one bright spot in all of the darkness he had. She was the redemption he almost dared to have, and still sought after. If he could have her, maybe he could be a good person. And as he held her, he felt a goodness spread inside his soul. She caressed his back as he continued latching onto her, her legs still folded around his waist.

"I'm still here, Lex," she said softly.

"I love you, Lana," he said honestly. "I've always loved you."

She kissed his shoulder.

"I'm not worthy of the pedestal you put me on. I'm not as good as you think. But I'm feeling everything you're feeling. And I can finally admit to you that I love you too."

~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~