A/N: Okay if you felt part 3 was sad you'll probably need tissue's for this. Do not worry I love Chlark and as most know I also love Clois and put them through bad stuff too. Just remember part 5 is happy.
With how this story has gone the angst route I think I need to redo the banner
Credit and thanks goes to D(Chlarkfan_phantom) for the puppy name
And big thanks to Summerfor not only encouraging and being a listening ear but also beta-ing my migraine influenced mess. You are fab hun!
Part 4: Darkest before the..
Glancing at the desk where she normally sat across from him day after day and seeing it empty had begun to become a torment. She was hurting and it was painful to watch, yet he was confused as to why she didn't seem to be able to get over this. It wasn't that he was minimizing the loss for it weighed heavy on him, too. The thought that the baby they had been given at Christmas, like a gift, was gone and they weren't meant to have that happiness, was there every day.
Truth was he felt he was losing her and he didn't know why. It didn't feel that losing the baby would be enough for her to be so distant, uninterested in work, in doing anything. She'd smile but it didn't reach her eyes, she called Lois to check on her, even visited but it was obvious to them all Chloe was far from okay.
Sighing, Clark signed off his computer and began packing up. It would have been better if it had of been a busy news day so he was distracted from looking at her empty seat. Technically she didn't have to come back to work yet, not with her medical leave not ending for another week, but he had thought she would have been ready to return. That he would have had to fight her to keep her home and instead it was the other way around.
Scooping up a couple of files in hopes they would catch her interest, he headed out the door, hoping that he'd come home to her smiling face or even her anger. Something else other then the cold that seemed to have filled their home.
Finn was at the door to greet him. Jumping up and down with excitement as well as the obvious desperate need for a bathroom break. From the piddle on the kitchen floor he'd have to say it wasn't the first time the little gal had needed one. Clark patted her head and picked up the lead after putting his briefcase down, glancing around for Chloe. He caught the sight of her blonde head laying on arm of the sofa.
"Hold Finn, one second girl!" He reassured the anxious pup before kneeling by his wife. "Hey." He smiled at her, looking for anything resembling his Chloe.
She glanced at him before looking back at the muted TV. "Hi. Sorry, she only just started. I was going to get up. . ." She trailed off.
Sighing, Clark kissed her on the forehead. "It's fine, I can take her out and clean up." A small part of him wanted to yell at her. Tell her to get up and move. To stop this! Even the puppy she adored was getting the distant treatment.
He didn't yell, opting instead for something more peaceful, a past time they use to enjoy. "Want to watch a movie and have take out tonight?"Maybe tempt you with an assignment, you can be my partner like before,he thought.
Chloe glanced at him again, forcing a smile. "Sure. Pick whatever you want, its fine with me." Her eyes refused to be locked by his. Clark nodded, taking what he could get.
"I'll be back shortly." This was how it was every night lately.
Outside his cell rang. Pulling it out as he watched Finn search for a suitable spot to relieve herself Clark answered. "Hello Lois."
"Wow, you sound chipper," Was her come back from a stressed and hoarse voice.
"Its been in short supply lately."
Lois' voice softened. "I know. Look, I wanted to thank you for what you did. That wasn't necessary Smallville but its really appreciated."
"Anytime Lois. I know it must be hard right now. I figured a story could help."
"Yes, well, I'm surprised Chloe didn't grab at it. Really she should have. Saying that though maybe I shouldn't be surprised?"
Clark sat on the bench for a moment, releasing more of the lead for the exploring puppy. "I tried, I'm trying, Lois. She can barely look me in the face and I am not even sure what I've done." He felt his voice catch as he thought back to that day. That moment when he found them. "I should have gotten there in time and now. . ."
"Whoa...Hold it right there!" She grunted and he knew she was trying to find a comfortable position and again felt the guilt. Lois would be out of commission for some time due to her injuries.
"You don't have to feel guilty for anything. Superman can't be in two places at once. If you hadn't of come when you did Chloe or I would be dead. No, I know I'd be dead. And I know that no matter what is going on in her head its not cause of you. So get that out right now. "
"Lois."
She continued as if he hadn't of spoken. "You need to get her to talk Clark. She won't to me and I don't know why either. If I didn't know better I think she was blaming herself and I can't understand why."
"The baby," He held back the sob that threatened to come out.
"That," Lois' voice filled with emotion as well. "She. . . Just can't. She didn't make them attack us. Clark, I think Sam would. . ." She took a deep breath. He could hear the pounding of her heart over the phone. "I think Sam would have died. I don't remember everything but I remember shielding him. She's my heart, Clark, like she is yours. And she protected my baby. Don't let her do this!"
Clark stood and ran a hand through his hair. "What do I do then?" He asked, his voice raising sharply. "I try to get her to talk but she won't. Every attempt I make she cuts me off. There is more silence between us then there ever has been and its killing me!"
"Then make her, for gawd sakes, Clark. You know her. She loves you and there must be something. Some way you can get her to talk to you. Because something must have happened."
"I know, I know." He growled in frustration, seeing the pain and emptiness in Chloe's eyes flash through his mind. "I don't know what else to do."
"Yell at her. I dunno. Please tell me you haven't been babying her all the time. Come on Clark, she isn't going to break because the two of you have a fight. Beside makeup sex.."
"I know about make up sex, Lois."
"Oh, I know you do and it's time for a Chloe and Clark rematch session, Smallville" At the half groan he gave she added, "Don't get mad at me. Get mad at her, get her to talk. I mean it. Pick a fight because today Clark, she didn't even visit today. If you let her she'll avoid this Clark till it can't be fixed."
He wanted to say that she was exaggerating but deep down he knew she wasn't. Something was seriously wrong with his wife, the woman he loved was hurting and he was hurting. Question was how did he fix it? How exactly was he going to get her to open up?
"I'll take care of it Lois."
"I know Smallville" Her voice having gone tight with emotion, echoing his own. "I just can't do this. I look at her and I know something is wrong and if she wont talk to either of us .." She trailed off.
"Yeah, I know" Clark inhaled the cold air letting it soak into his lungs and stood. "Lois, I will find a way to fix this. Thank you ..I.. "
"It's alright Clark, you're my friend, she is my cousin. Let me know how goes and remember you can't break her, if anything I think you're the only one who can help her."
She just has to let me, he thought. Tonight things would change. Clark could only hope for the better.
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"Not very professional," Clark offered watching Chloe stare at the movie she obviously wasn't paying any real attention too.
"Yeah..." was the soft halfhearted reply.
Sighing for the thousandth time Clark closed his eyes and swallowed back his frustration. It seemed picking out a movie he knew Chloe normally would have nitpicked to death wasn't going to bring the old her out.
He ached for her. For the closeness, the talking, how normally she'd have chattered her way through the movie and he'd have no real idea of what it was supposed to be about. They didn't really watch movies like this for the movie anyway. It was for companionship, the conversation, her brilliant mind going a 100 miles-per-hour and making connections he hadn't thought of.
Feeling sick of the emotional distance between them Clark found himself suddenly standing and picking up the uneaten popcorn and headed for the kitchen. He was disappointed again when she didn't even react to his departure.
Unable to help himself, he slammed cupboard doors as he put things away. He wanted his Chloe back, not this person who looked like her but gave him nothing but the cold shoulder.
Snatching a dirty plate he was startled by the loud crack as it broke in his hand. Eyes wide, he stared at it. Lately his self-control was severely lacking. He found the only way to get through being Superman was to avoid all thoughts of his wife and lost child. It hurt too much otherwise and if he did, things broke.
"Feel better?"
Clark turned to find her staring at him. Something in her eyes he couldn't quite read but for a moment he wondered if she hated him. She looked away when his eyes met hers and then turned back toward the living room as if she had never spoken, Finn trailing behind but getting no attention.
This was it. It had to happen now.
Following her, Clark swooped up Finn and lovingly placed her in her kennel. The puppy yawned and immediately settled so Clark made his way back to the living room.
She stood in the center of it looking lost, as lost as he felt.
"Do I feel better?" He began. "I didn't realize you cared!"
Chloe turned but still avoided looking at him. "Of course I care, why wouldn't I care?"
"You tell me." His tone went flat.
"I'm sorry, Clark but I don't know what you're talking about." Her own voice was devoid of emotion, making him feel sick.
Stepping closer, Clark stared down at her, "We need to talk Chloe. "
She frowned, "About what?"
"About what's going on with you. You can't keep giving me the cold shoulder. Have I done something?"
"What? No!"
Mentally telling himself he could say it, Clark pushed forward, allowing himself to sound mean, "Well, you could have fooled me!"
And there it was. Not just a frown or a flicker of something he couldn't quite read but real emotion. Her face filled with reflecting anger, fear, guilt and what hurt the most to see. Pain.
Backing up from him as if struck by lightning, Chloe shook her head and headed for their bedroom, "I can't do this with you right now!"
"You don't get to walk away from this or avoid it, Chloe. Not anymore!" He followed right on her heels, knowing it would piss her off further. He hated pushing at her like this but now that he was resolved to it, for her own good, he felt a sense of relief.
Whatever it was that was tormenting her, knowing would give him a chance to fix this, he needed it so if she was mad at him so be it. He could deal with her anger far better than he could cope from losing her to an unknown pain she was keeping to herself.
At the entry to their bedroom Chloe spun, "Why? Why are you doing this? Let it be all right!" wishing he would both hold her and leave her alone at the same time. The frustration from the opposing desires left her feeling angry. Before she knew it hurtful words leapt out of her mouth like flames. "Maybe I just can't forget like you can!"
She regretted the words as soon as they left. The cloud of emotion that passed over his face she had seen before but never directed at her. The mixture of pain and anger, of being deeply hurt. They both had stilled. Clark became like a statue, the only movement was the clenching of his jaw. His eyes boring deeply into her own as she tried to find the words to take it back.
There wasn't any way to take it back.
For the first time in weeks Chloe was finally looking at him, but any relief that could be found from it was extinguished by the thought she could actually believe he had forgotten.
"You think I forgot?" Struggling not to raise his voice, to stay calm. "Tell me, Chloe, how I could forget. How can I ever forget when I every time I close my eyes I see you laying there. All three of you! Every day I live with the thought I should have gotten there sooner!"
Guilt had been her constant friend and now it felt like she was being suffocated by it. She had never meant for it to become this gap between them, or to hurt him. Unable to bear looking in his eyes she looked away and fanned the flame against her.
"Don't do that!" He all but shouted causing Chloe's eyes to snap back to his face. "Don't you do that! Ever since you were told about..." his voice caught for barely a second "The baby, you've refused to look me in the eyes."
"Clark… I, I didn't–"
"No." Clark shook his head having had enough. Unable to take another excuse, if she was going to blame him he needed to hear her say it. Not avoid him and drag it out.
"What else am I supposed to think? You don't talk to me unless I say something, I barely get two words out of you most of the time. You don't even touch me Chloe! Nothing, when we go to bed you move away. I can't comfort you and when I've needed you, you're not there. It feels like you're not even here with me anymore."
He had moved closer, their bed was now the only thing separating them, yet it felt like an ocean. Chloe couldn't fight the tears a moment longer. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, the words wouldn't come. Instead, she was drowning, struggling to breath from all the pent up guilt she'd been carrying and the realization she had been hurting him when it was the last thing she had wanted.
The tears continued to stream down as they stood in silence. Clark felt the familiar war inside, the one where he was angry at her for how she had been acting and yet wanting to offer her comfort. Seeing her cry, the silent tears and the tremors shaking her shoulders broke his heart.
The only thing stopping him from going to her, breaching the distance between them was Lois' words. That Chloe would not break because they fought, but she would if he didn't find a way to get her to talk.
Now though, how did get her to open up when he had made her cry?
"Talk to me Chloe, please?" he pleaded softly, moving across the bed till he was kneeling on it directly in front of her.
Chloe shook her head, looking down holding her arms close to her body. Not wanting to carry this burden any longer but unsure if she could tell him what she had done, or if she could bear the inevitable look in his eyes when he realized.
Letting him feel that he was guilty wasn't an option she could live with either.
"Chloe," Clark pleaded again. Closing the last bit of distance, he reached out tentatively to touch her. When she didn't pull away he placed a hand on each of her upper arms. "Please tell me. Let me help, let me in..."
"I can't... If I tell you…" He felt her stiffen in his arms, though she was unable to look at him he could still see the misery written on her face, her voice a whisper so quiet if he hadn't of had super hearing he'd have missed it. "You'll hate me"
Swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in his throat Clark rubbed her arms, "Chloe I could never hate you. Why would you think I could hate you?"
"I can't…"
Clark tipped her chin up, catching her eyes with his, expressing through them how serious he was. "I'm not going anywhere till you do. Please Chloe!"
Giving a shuddering sigh Chloe pulled away again, unable to bear his touch while she finally admitted it. "It was me, okay?"
"I don't understand. What was you?" Clark didn't like the look on her face as her eyes once again met his.
"I haven't been able to look at you... Because of me. When I do look at you or Lois or Sam all I feel is guilt. It was my fault... I failed."
"What, Chloe, how could you have failed? Because of you–"
"No! Let me finish, please, if you want to know, " she sobbed. "Then please let me finish!"
Clark stilled, waiting for her to continue. Chloe took a deep breath, desperately trying to find the words to tell him. How was she to tell the father of her child that she was the reason their baby was gone?
As if sensing her distress Clark got off the bed, reaching a hand out, lightly taking one of hers. Not saying a word but conveying through touch that she could do this. Chloe swallowed, how was he able to give her strength and courage when what she was trying to say would hurt him and that was something she was sure she couldn't handle.
There was no win, no right way anymore. She was trapped between a rock and hard place.
"Sam," She began closing her eyes briefly before opening them again, forcing herself to look at his face. "I saw Sam. I tried to get him before he fell. Lois was… it was bad Clark, she fought back so much but they were strong, faster, more prepared and they knew it. Sam fell… oh gawd he fell. And there was blood and he was still. I crawled over to him, I couldn't let them hurt him more and Lois she was too far away I couldn't. "A sob escaped as the memory flashed through her. "I don't even remember. I mean I know I was hit, that ..."
Neither of them needed her to recount her injuries.
Clark tightened his grip on her hand, "Chloe, how does protecting Sam or any of this your fault?" He couldn't understand it. Even without protecting Sam Chloe had been injured and guarding the boy had saved him. He could never hate her for that.
"No Clark! I didn't protect him. That's the thing" She cried at him pulling her hand from his and stepping back, a look of anguish falling over her face. "I didn't. He wouldn't move Clark. So still. So very still. And I... I couldn't bear the thought of Lois finding him like that. It would kill her!"
Her words weren't quite sinking in but the way she was moving away from him, visibly shaking as she talked, sounding upset in a way he had never heard her before. It was too much to take in. Clark felt the tears in his own eyes; hands held out forward he tried to sooth her. "Chloe you tried, it's not your fault!"
"It is! I chose, Clark!" She tried to back further away as he grasped her arms, but the wall prevented her. Trapped physically just as she was emotionally, Chloe started to panic, feeling bile rise from her stomach. She had to finish this. Seal her fate in his eyes.
"I don't understand. Chloe what do you mean" Feeling her fight against his touch made his own heart ache more. Lois said she wouldn't break but was she right? Was he now pushing her too far?
Chloe stilled for a moment, the tears streaming down her face "I chose Sam. I chose Sam and killed our baby." The words came out a sob. She felt herself go weak in the knees unable to stand a moment longer.
Clark pulled her close as she began to drop then lifted her up and placed her on the bed. Still unsure of what she meant, he couldn't let it hang there though he was scared of going forward. "Chloe... how?" at a loss of what to ask her. He placed a hand on the side of her face, wiping the tears with his thumb.
Chloe sighed against the sob that threatened to take over. How could he not see? "Clark, Sam was dead. And I couldn't let it stay that way." She started to shake her head and pull away. "I chose to save him. I killed our baby"
Holding tight to her Clark frowned, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to understand what she meant then it hit him. He was unable to stop the gasp that came out. "You brought back… if he was dead then…?"
The full truth hit Clark hard. Chloe had used her gift to save Sam and the price had been their unborn child. Chloe hadn't died herself in exchange for Sam; their baby had been the sacrifice.
Pushing against him, though it was futile Chloe tried to get away. She couldn't look him in the eye, couldn't bear to see the blame. They had agreed ages ago, she was to avoid using her healing gift. They had no clue how many times she could escape death and she couldn't go around taking every injury, fixing every tragedy. Especially with the fear that if she used it she could go crazy like so many of the other meteor infected.
But how could she have let Sam die?
Feeling heavy like a tone of weight rested on his chest Clark kept his hold on her but pulled back enough to look at her. "Chloe!" She was fighting him, desperate to get out of his grasp. She said not a word but he could tell she was still crying.
"Chloe stop! Please stop, honey. Look at me!"
She quit moving but refused to look up, her shoulders shook. So he said what needed to be said anyway. Hoping she was listening, that somehow he could stop this pain. "Chloe, you didn't choose to kill our baby. You didn't kill anyone. Chloe you saved Sam. If anyone is to blame it's the men that attacked you. You did nothing wrong. "
Swallowing he continued needing more than anything in that moment to make her better, remove this guilt, get his Chloe back. "I'm proud of you."
Her head slowly lifted, "How?" the word barely a whisper.
Clark tipped her face upward completely so he could look her in the eyes. "You chose to save someone. How could I ever blame you for that? "
She shook her head slightly, "No Clark… I..."
He cut her off, "No! No, you saved a life, that makes you a hero Chloe. Our baby…" he paused, his voice catching for a moment, "Our baby wasmurderedby the men who did this to you, to Sam, to Lois." He pulled her close, completely enveloping her in his arms. Chloe sighed.
"You are amazing Chloe. I love you so much. I could never hate you. " Clark kissed the top of her head, feeling her sag against him, completely spent. "I'm sorry I didn't get there in time, but I promise you I will find them. I can't bring back what we lost but I can find them, get us answers."
He felt her nod and bury her face into his chest. There was so much pain to deal with but maybe now she could heal.
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He watched her sleep, the fall and rise of her chest, the way her lips twitched when she dreamt. He had to. To know she was okay, that she was his, that somehow they could heal.
Every night since his wife had finally confessed what she had been holding in, what she imagined was an unforgivable crime, he would come home from his nightly rounds as Superman and stand by the window to watch her. Sometimes he'd kneel and lean against the bed over her, wanting to touch her but knowing she was still working through it all.
The first night she had let him hold her it was out of sheer exhaustion and the need to feel forgiven. After it seemed she still carried guilt which shown in how much she let him touch her. Now knowing what she did, it only hurt him to see her hurting rather than feel like the lack of physical contact was a sign of her anger or disappointment with him.
Tonight watching wasn't enough. Once again he was faced with something he found hard to cope with and Chloe wasn't there. It did help to know why she hadn't even noticed it before and it was why Clark couldn't get himself to wake her. In the past it would have been the first thing he'd have done on a night like this. To feel her arms around him, her words of love and encouragement.
Not now. She simply wasn't ready to carry his burden with her own. He had to hope she would be again but until then he had to manage and find a way to ease her burden as well.
To express to her that he held nothing against her, that he loved her so much. That the day he decided to not let one Chloe Anne Sullivan get away his life had truly changed for the better. Like her, he loved that baby but their sacrifice wasn't her fault, rather her selflessness touched him to the core of his soul and made her all the more beautiful in his eyes.
Clark felt the wetness on his hands and realized he was crying. Wiping at his face he stood back from the bed and tried to fight the overwhelming emotions rolling through him. It was crashing down, all of it, the failure, the loss.
His side of the bed was cold. Chloe was aware of that fact even before she woke enough to register the quiet sounds of sobbing. Frowning, she sat up and looked around the dark room, the only light came from their window. The sound was so low she wondered if she was hearing someone from a neighboring apartment but as her eyes adjusted she recognized the hunched shoulders that sat against the hallway wall right outside their bedroom.
"Clark?" she called out softly, seeing his head lift up sharply. She couldn't make out his face but if he was crying she knew it must be bad.
Before he could stand and pretend nothing was wrong she was at his side, needing to offer comfort just as much as he needed her to give it. The last few weeks she had been slowly coming to terms. The road ahead was still long but with it out in the open between them there had been a peace, the tension had fled and Clark's patience and loving manner soothed like a healing balm.
Question now was what had happened to make the strong shoulders she leaned on, protected the world, shudder in despair?
Turning on the hallway light, Chloe knelt down beside him. "Clark, what happened?"
He took a deep breath and rubbed his face, the tears having already dried. "It's okay. I..." he shook his head and gave her a forced smile. "It's been a long day. Why don't we go to bed?"
Starting to stand, Clark found his hand grabbed, preventing him from continuing, forcing him to settle back down.
"No." The single word response carried with it a lot more meaning then simple a negative to going to bed.
Sighing, Clark looked at her, noting she still seemed drawn. He wondered how much sleep she was really getting when he was on patrol.
She returned his stare. "We're not going to bed till you tell me what's going on. This," She nodded her head and lifted her hand indicating him and the hallway, "Isn't something you do from a long day, Clark. You only do this when you are really upset, when someone has…"
Neither needed her to finish the statement.
He squeezed her hand still holding on to his. "Chloe, I'll be fine. You need your rest."
"What I needis for my husband to talk to me." Her tone was soft even though her face and posture told him she meant business.
"I can't do that, I can't put this on you," came his honest reply. Chloe closed her eyes slowly and took a deep breath.
"I need you to, please, I know I've not been easy lately. I know it hasn't been the same but please let me try to be there for you."
She leaned up against the hallway wall opposite him.
Clark studied her for a moment debating how much he should say, wondering if he could say it at all. Did he even have words? Everything lately was off. While it had been better on many levels with her, his world was still askew and tonight even more so.
"I didn't get there in time."
Chloe knew he didn't need her to say anything, rather to listen as he talked it through. With his opening words however she felt an anxiety grow, was he referring to that day? She wasn't sure she could hear it again, though she longed to help him understand it wasn't his fault.
Running a slightly shaky hand through his hair Clark continued, "It must have happened so fast, she never had a chance." He looked up to meet her eyes, something in them told her he was holding back.
"Clark, you can tell me, whatever it is." She reached out to touch him gently. He flinched from her touch at first then a visible tremor passed over him.
"I can't if it hurts you." His hand slipped around hers, thumb caressing over the top of her hand, relishing in the connection the physical contact gave and loathing what he knew he'd have to say. She wasn't going to let him keep it in and really he could never deny her.
Slipping her fingers between his Chloe took a deep breath, "You can't protect me from everything Clark and sometimes you shouldn't. I love you and I know you need me like I need you. Please, I was wrong to push you away but I thought…"
Clark put his hand gently under her chin and lifted her face back up to his, "No. Chloe, I understand. I was hurt, but you don't need to apologize. I just," He felt the tears threaten to come back. The sense of grief and loss and guilt flowed over him again. No matter how misplaced it was, it was still there.
"It's okay. Please, tell me." She pleaded, knowing even the strongest man on the planet needed a release, a safe haven, a place where he didn't have to be strong. She had promised to be that haven, she wanted to be.
It was now or never.
"I promised I'd fix this. That I'd get us all answers but I can't, Chloe and today, today I failed. It was like finding you all over again." His words coming fast as if saying them quickly would ease the torment. Chloe scooted closer; take his hand in both of hers, encouraging him to continue.
"She was lying there. I think it was the same people. Worst of it," he looked back up from staring at her hands, "Her son was there. They hurt a little boy, Chloe. No thought, no care. What kind of evil does that? "
Chloe couldn't speak past the lump in her throat. Instead she reached up to gingerly touch his face.
Closing his eyes at her comforting touch, Clark continued, "I was able to save him but I failed her and all I could think of was you! And how I promised, but there is nothing I may be able to do. You, Lois, Oliver, all of you deserve answers and we know nothing."
His voice began to raise, anger flaring up in his eyes. "I am Superman and I can't even catch these men! What kind of hero am I?"
"Shh…" Chloe cupped his face, fighting back her tears, "Clark, oh no Clark! You are not God. You can't…" By the way he was looking at her she had a feeling he wasn't really listening to her, caught up in his pain as she had been.
"Clark, listen!" She commanded with a tone she rarely used with him. His eyes snapped to hers. "You are not God. You cannot guarantee life and death. You can't save everyone or stop every crime. And I know." Chloe softened her voice and stroked his face with her thumbs, "I know you have done everything you can for us and that is why you are a hero. Your heart Clark, not your powers make you that. You care and you try and you fight on our behalf and that is enough."
The tears came and she choked out a small sob before continuing. "I love you and I need you. Not answers. And you don't have to look alone. We'll do this together. And one day they will have to answer for… our baby, for that woman, for everyone they have hurt. But until then this" Chloe clutched his arm, motioning between their bodies. "Is enough. Please…"
Clark pulled her into his arms unable to speak but needing to feel. "Please..." she repeated as he kissed her; over and over tender kisses, on her tears, her eyes and her lips. Chloe sighed and stroked his face. "I love you."
He stopped to stare at her, conveying how much he loved her in deep pools of green, how precious she was to him. When he found his voice it was raw with emotion, almost painful to hear, "I love you, too."
Leaning her forehead against his she whispered, "Promise me we'll do this together. Share it all with me, Clark. Both of us, we'll share it all. Promise!"
Clark nodded, his fingers playing with the strap of her night gown, caressing her skin. "I promise." His mouth claimed hers for a kiss that was the beginning of their healing.
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