Hi everyone how's it going?
Yep it's been a significantly long while but I'be finally returned for now and with this next chapter. And now let's see if Lucy will also manage to convince Candice of the latter's own error.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Superman and Lois" or their characters.
Setting: Smallville
Location: Pergande Residence
The sun ascended over the horizon the following morning, rousing Candice from her slumber. Signaling to her that it was time to prepare for her day. Therefore she stretched herself before removing herself from her bed and making her way to the bathroom. Which was adjacent to her bedroom.
After showering she then exited it and returned to her bedroom where she put on her chosen attire for the day and packed into her backpack the necessary school essentials she required. She then headed into the kitchen where she prepared a ham and cheese sandwich for her father to consume whenever he finally emerged from his drunken slumber. Having consumed a significant amount of beer following whatever secretive business he'd been conducting the previous evening. Business Candice had suspected was probably shady but hadn't pressed.
Regrettably but this was not the first instance her father had overdone it with his alcohol consumption. As a matter of fact but his routine primarily consisted of regular drinking, causing trouble at different locations such as bar fighting and disturbing the peace, gambling, and whatever unknown business he'd conducted behind her back.
Not that she had any authority to judge considering her activities with the X-K and that was something she was more than aware of. But Candice was nonetheless deeply concerned for her father's safety and especially since however he was receiving their money might've been far worse and more dangerous compared to her actions. And especially with his penchant for trouble which she'd had to repeatedly bail him out of.
He'd also been unappreciative of her actions to maintain the smooth running of their household. Taking her for granted and at times responding to her in ways that somewhat resembled emotional abuse. Though she'd excused it by reasoning to herself that he was under a significant amount of stress. They both were. It's also what prevented Candice from succumbing to the emotional pain resulting from it. And in turn further doubling her efforts to be the perfect daughter.
Once her father's sandwich was prepared she'd headed out the door and headed off to school. Unaware that someone within their vehicle was observing her from a distance. Once she began her walk the aforementioned individual then drove up until they were beside her before rolling down their window.
"Hello Candice. Headed to school I presume?" the woman inside greeted the other younger female..
Candice jumped. startled. Before quickly recovering then turning her head to face the woman who'd just addressed her. Seeing it was an older brunette who for some reason slightly resembled Mrs. Lane-Kent. At least to her.
"Uh, yeah. I'm sorry but who might you be exactly?" the 16 year old woman answered in the affirmative before countering with her own question. Curious as to who the other woman's identity.
The latter smiled warmly.
"Forgive me. I'm Lucy Lane. Your boyfriend's aunt and his mother's sister," Lucy introduced herself before extending her hand out for Candice to take. To which the younger woman did. The 2 of them shaking hands.
"His aunt? I mean I didn't know Jon had an aunt," she responded. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"It's not exactly common knowledge so I don't blame you," Lucy chuckled good naturedly.
Candice smiled back.
"Thanks. And it was very nice to meet you Miss Lane. I guess I'd better be going now," she replied amicably before preparing to head off once more before Lucy addressed her once more.
"You know, it's only 30 minutes before school starts and I'd be pleased to become further acquainted with the young woman whose stolen my nephew's heart. And so how about I take you out for breakfast? My treat."
Candice eyebrows raised at the unexpected offer. Though she could not deny it wasn't appealing and especially with her stomach rumbling in agreement. Though she was hesitant.
"Are you sure? I don't want to impose and I can get something at lunch later," she politely questioned. Uncertain if the other woman was only being polite and not wanting to be a bother.
"It's no imposition I promise," Lucy reassured her. "Besides we need to ensure a growing young woman such as yourself is properly nourished. Come on. My treat."
Candice shrugged in response. Not having anything to counter. Followed by walking around to the passenger side of the vehicle before her and then entering it. Closing its pertaining door afterwards. Lucy then began the drive to the local diner where they would purchase their breakfast.
Location: Victoria May's Diner
Upon their arrival and after they'd claimed their chosen booth Lucy ordered them one pancake each plus some scrambled eggs and half a cup of blueberries. Along with beverages consisting of a cup of coffee, decaf, for herself and a small glass of chocolate milk for Candice.
After the waitress had received their orders and left to call it in the 2 of them began conversing. Sharing info about themselves such as how Candice and her father came to reside in Smallville and her impression of that town. Candice admitting she'd really enjoyed living there and the friendships she'd formed. But adding that out of everything else her relationship with Jon was the absolute best thing she'd received. Finding him to be a huge improvement compared to the previous young men she'd dated and someone who truly respected her as a person. And nor did he try to pressure her into anything.
Lucy smiled. Pleased with the glowing report surrounding her nephew. Agreeing that her current companion had chosen well.
She also shared some of her own life with Candice such as a bit of what her life was like growing up with Lois and being raised inside of a military family. Also regaling her with a few tales of Jon's funniest moments as a child which made his current girlfriend laugh in amusement.
Their breakfast then arrived and after they'd thanked the waitress they'd immediately dug in. As they consumed their pancakes and sipped their respective beverages Lucy decided it was time to broach the main subject in regards to why she'd approached Candice.
"For the record, and while my intentions in further making your acquaintance were genuine, I'll admit there was another primary motive in inviting you for breakfast," she carefully began. Keeping her tone warm.
Candice paused mid bite in response. Not having expected that and it leaving her curious and suddenly worried.
"Ooookay. And what might that be?" she slowly replied then questioned with hesitance. Wondering as to what Lucy wanted to speak with her about.
Lucy took a deep breath before continued.
"Frankly but it has to do with you, my nephew, and your shared involvement with the X-K," she answered her. Deciding to just be straightforward instead of beating around the bush.
The young woman before her paled in respons. Her lips opening and closing while her chin quivered in fear. Eyes darting around while her own heart pounded rapidly.
"I, um, it's, not, um, it's just that, umm," she stuttered while attempting to formulate a response. "Listen Miss Lane please don't blame Jon for this. This is entirely my fault and he's only been trying to protect me and if it hadn't been for me he wouldn't have gotten suspended and oh my gosh now he's in huge trouble and I'm such an awful girlfriend but please Miss Lane please don't hate him and please ask his parents not to hate him for this is all on me it's entirely my ….," Candice finally blurted out and then began rambling before she felt a soft hand resting comfortingly upon her own. Causing her to cease her emotional ramblings and impassioned pleas.
"It's alright Candice and I understand completely," Lucy softly assured her. Leaving the young woman surprised once more.
"You do?" she questioned the younger Lane sister. Some of the tension evaporating from her body.
Lucy nodded sympathetically while rubbing soothing circles upon her hand.
"Jon told me everything. After I'd convinced him to. It wasn't hard to deduce who he was trying to protect with his silence and especially with certain obvious clues. He also informed me of your situation and how he'd gotten involved in it," she explained and with a sad tone. "And I can only say that my heart breaks for you and especially since this is not a responsibility someone your age should have to endure. Though I completely support teens assisting in maintaining the smooth operation of their household. Yet it still should not have been a burden hoisted upon your shoulders.
"I also understand the entirety of why Jon and yourself made the decisions you made and how they were noble on a surface level. Decisions conceived from selfless love. Love towards your father and Jon's love towards you."
Lucy's facial expression then transitioned into a more serious one.
"Nevertheless and while your respective actions are noble on a surface level that does not make them acceptable. You're literally involved in drug selling and while the X-K you're selling is not officially illegal it is theft since it's currently been relegated as military property. Something that could result in severe trouble for you and especially if you were not a minor. And I know this since I'm a major within the army and serve directly underneath my father as a D.O.D. member."
Candice's eyes immediately shot up upon hearing Lucy's profession and she found herself starting to panic.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to arrest you. Both because you're a minor and especially since I completely understand the position you're in," the young major quickly moved to reassure her. "I just wanted to magnify the severity of your actions and it appears you're properly absorbing it," she added with satisfaction before continuing.
"Beyond that but by providing not only Jon but other members of your school's football team with the X-K version of performance enhancing drugs you're not only potentially ruining their lives since doping in sports is extremely serious regardless of age, though it doesn't excuse their actions in purchasing it from you, but you're also giving the team an unfair advantage against their competitors. Which is extremely unethical and I'm certain you know better than that."
Candice dropped her head downwards in shame and remorse. Unable to counter the words the other woman had just spoken. Instead she agreed with her entirely and had not set out to become a drug dealer. But at the time she could not think of any other way to support herself and her father. Especially considering how expensive her father's hospital bills were.
However and after what Lucy had kindly though firmly reinforced, she was currently starting to wonder if she should've further explored other possible solutions.
Lucy meanwhile quietly observed as her words penetrated the mind of the woman seated across from her. She then continued.
"There's something else and it's something I'd pointed out to Jon. But neither of you are being a good boyfriend or girlfriend towards each other. The reason being that by his going along with your actions he's allowing the potential for your morals to become increasingly skewed and I can assure you that's a significantly real danger regardless of your current intentions. Because while those intentions may have started out as pure, your getting away with this could result in you exploring other immoral or unethical opportunities. And before you know it your intentions will have transitioned from selfless to selfish.
"All of that in turn can direct you towards an extremely dark path. And in turn an ending that's untenable and with no way to extricate yourself from it.
"On your end but you can easily come forward anytime you wish and confess your own actions instead of permitting my nephew to take the entirety of the blame for himself. It's not fair to him whatsoever and while he's rightfully being disciplined for his own actions it's significantly worse than it should be since the 3 of us are aware that he's not the dealer. And it could potentially deteriorate to the point that his future prospects besides a football career are ruined. Especially since he's currently the town pariah due to being the supposed dealer.
"All of that is something you should consider. And you need to ask yourself if the current path you're traversing on is the correct one for either of you."
Candice listened quietly to everything that her boyfriend's aunt was informing her of. Swallowing hard while her body trembled slightly as she absorbed the pertaining ramifications.
"What have I done? What the heck am I even doing? You're absolutely right Miss Lane I've totally screwed up. Worse than that even," she emotionally acknowledged. "And Jon. Oh my gosh poor Jon. Some girlfriend I am," she added while her eyes glistened with tears before continuing. "I certainly don't want him to suffer because of me and you're totally correct in that this is entirely unfair to him. When I got into this X-K mess with Mikey, the guy who'd hooked me up with this venture," she'd quickly explained when Lucy raised her eyebrows questioningly at the name before filing it away for future use, "I only did it with the intent to assist my dad and to maintain our household so that we wouldn't have to continuously moving around. But I've completely crossed the line."
"I've made an enormous mess of things and there's no one else to blame except for myself. Gosh I messed up and in one of the worst ways possible," she stated while her tears finally began pouring down her cheeks. Shaking her head in disappointment and anger towards herself.
"You're absolutely correct in everything you've just said. And I'm extremely pleased to hear you take responsibility and acknowledge all of that," Lucy nodded and commended her. "But you must also understand that it's never too late to repent and make the correct choices. Therefore the question I have for you is this. What are you going to do going forward?"
Candice took a deep breath, mulling over the question. In the end however she knew what the answer was deep within herself.
"I need to confess. Reveal that I'm the dealer. Not Jon. And accept whatever the consequences are. He does not need to suffer more than he already has because of me," she admitted. Her tone resolute. "I also need to put an end to my current actions. Remove myself from that operation and everything having to do with it and the X-K. Followed by figuring out how I'm going to support my father in the meantime until I can properly apply for employment in a few months. But first I'm going to inform Jon of what I intend to do."
Lucy smiled brightly in response.
"Glad to hear it. And I'm so proud of you," she warmly praised her. "And I agree on you guys needing to discuss things to ensure the 2 of you are in agreement. But this time with the correct decision making."
Candace nodded in agreement. Her face then transitioned to an expression of contrition.
"I really am sorry for getting your nephew into such trouble Miss Lane. I swear it wasn't my intention and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me," she apologized and then implored the older woman.
"I believe you though please don't place the entirety of the blame onto yourself Candice. Jon's responsible for his own actions just as much as you are," Lucy responded in assurance while pointing out that fact. "What's important is the 2 of you owning up to your respective and shared mistakes and wrongs and practicing better decision making in your futures."
Lucy then paused for a moment. Pursing her lips in thought. Before speaking once more.
"As for your current predicament with your father's medical bills, I'm going to take it upon myself to figure out a way to assist you with that. But I promise you won't have to worry about it anymore."
"Oh no Miss Lane. You really don't need to do that. I'm certain I'll figure out a way for us on my own," Candice quickly yet respectfully objected. Having no desire for herself or her father to become a burden for the former.
"It's no trouble I promise. You clearly require the assistance and I'm going to provide it for you. No one should have to endure through what your currently going through and if I can ascertain a way to relinquish you from this burden I will do so."
The younger woman found herself weeping once more.
"I honestly don't know what to say. Thank you so much. For everything. And not just the offer but the talk and the for breakfast," she emotionally replied and expressed her gratitude.
"Of course. And I personally think you're a solid individual deep inside of yourself. You only need to listen to that side of yourself regularly and I guarantee you'll experience a more fulfilling life. It won't be without trouble or difficulty and you'll probably screw up once more at different points. But it will still allow you to experience more positives than negatives," Lucy stated and then encouraged her. "Now let's hurry up and finish this so we can ensure you arrive at school at the appropriate time," she then added while gesturing towards their food.
Candice in response checked her watch and saw it was 15 minutes before she needed to be there. She then quickly dug into her food once more. Consuming her food in record time together with Lucy.
Once they'd finished, the latter drove her straight to Smallville High and let her out. Candice bidding Lucy farewell and the 2 women promising to remain in touch.
Candice then headed into the school building and as she headed towards her first period of the day she resolved to speak with Jon about her current decision when she saw him at the store later that afternoon following school.
To Be Continued
A/N What did you guys think?
As we can see, Candice's redemption arc is transpiring earlier than in canon. And the following chapter will show her's and Jon's aforementioned discussion regarding everything.
Good thing Lucy was present to set these young adults onto the straight path.
Have a great day.