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            Christmas Gifts 

                                                    by Mark Jones

"Ugh! Fruitcake?" Clark said, his face squinching up as he stood over the island in the center of the Kent kitchen. "You’ve got to have teeth of steel to eat this stuff…" Martha Kent looked over at her son and smiled.

"Mrs. Whitmore sent that to us, Clark. She sends a fruitcake every year." Clark vaguely remembered the older woman that lived three farms over from them.

"And every year we use it to reinforce the storm cellar." Jonathan Kent piped in, getting popped with the dishtowel by his wife for his smart remark. A grin spread across Clark’s face in response to his parent’s playfulness.

Christmas was in the air, the smell, the sound, and now, the look. They had put the finishing touches on the tree last night, and the whole house was filled with the freshly cut pine smell. Elvis' "Home on Christmas Day" was playing softly in the background from the old stereo.

Clark smiled. He had the fondest memories of Christmas with his family. From getting up at 5am and running at super-speed downstairs to the (surprisingly large) load of toys he’d always get, Christmas was just a great time of year. He remembered how his mom and dad would get a little frustrated with him opening his gifts… being able to move as fast as he could didn’t leave a lot of patience and anticipation in opening a present. Mainly Clark would pick up the present, and a flash later, he was sitting in a tattered mess of wrapping paper, holding the toy with his eyes lit up.

A chuckle came from Clark as he remembered.

"So what’s the plan for the rest of the week now that school’s out?" Jonathan asked. Clark looked up from his reminiscing.

"Well, I’m going to the Christmas party tomorrow night over at the Sullivan’s house. Other than that, I’m going to be around here. We still have a farm to run!" The husband and wife exchanged a look… who is this space alien and what did they do with their son? "Hey…" Clark laughed, seeing his parent’s reaction. "I guess I’ve got the ‘giving’ Christmas spirit." He looked at his watch. "Oh, I gotta go…"

"What about the farm you’re running?" Martha said sarcastically. Clark’s head tilted a little as he half-smiled.

"I’ll be back in a while, and the farm will get run just the same. I’m meeting Lana in town so she can help me shop for presents." Jonathan and Martha exchanged another glance as Clark walked out the door.

"I saw that." He called back. 

"What do you think?" Lana said. Clark jerked himself awake again… he didn’t realize he had nodded off in the chair, head leaning over in his palm. This was the 4^th outfit Lana had tried on. A number of packages were sitting beside the chair he was in, and now it was Lana’s turn to do some shopping. It was only fair, she had said. He tried to smile and look like he wasn’t bored out of his mind.

"I think we need the music to ‘Pretty Woman’ playing in the background." Clark said. Lana smiled at him, but then got a little puzzled… did that mean he thought she looked as pretty as Julia Roberts, or was he bored out of his mind?

"Really, Clark. What do you think?" Clark looked her over. Not that he ever needed an excuse to stare at Lana Lang… he had been doing it for years. Now she was giving him permission! Her black sheer pants hugged tight around her lean legs and narrow hips. She wore a white tee, covered by a red zip front fleece top. With her hair down the way it was, she was breathtaking. Clark had to catch himself… he could feel his eyes wanting to burn all of a sudden.

"It looks great, Lana." He smiled. "You look really good." A smile spread across her elfin features.

"Thanks, Clark…" She nodded her affirmation as she surveyed herself in the mirror. "I think I’ll buy it!" She bounced back into the dressing room.

"Oh, thank you, Lord!" Clark muttered. 

"Some party, eh, Clark?" Pete Ross asked, looking up at his best friend. Clark nodded back, standing in his trademark flannel shirt, red and white checkered for the holidays. Since he was ‘dressed up’ a little, it was tucked into his jeans. Looking around, Clark was impressed by the gathering in the modest-sized Sullivan house. A lot of the kids from school had come out, and it was fairly crowded.

"Yeah, with Lana and Chloe working together on this, we have all the coffee we want, and the whole thing was almost advertised in the Torch… until Chloe’s ‘journalistic integrity’ kicked in and she pulled the promo article she wrote." They both grinned at the thought of Chloe fussing over the ad she drafted for the party.

"I will not compromise my newspaper for anyone else, why should I do it, even for me?" Pete mocked as he recalled the conversation in the office of the Torch the other day. He clammed up as the blonde came bouncing over to them.

"Hey, fellas…" Chloe said in her normal jovial voice. Clark gave her a smile, and half-hugged her with one arm.

"Great party, Chloe…" he started, but was interrupted as she threw both of her arms around his neck and hugged him close. Surprise registered on Clark’s face, but he wasn’t upset by the hug. He didn’t mind. When she pulled away, she was rewarded with one of those shiny-white Kent charm smiles. "Nice to see you, too…" he said. Chloe just grinned back at him.

"You guys did this up really well…" Pete said, and Chloe smiled as she looked around.

"I am pretty pleased." Chloe chimed. "Not like the last wild party that happened at the Kent Farm…" Clark rolled his eyes at the memory of that nightmare the last time him parents went to Metropolis. Most of their fury had been deflected because of what happened with Earl Jenkins, but he still had been grounded. For a month.

"This is… endorsed by your dad, right?" Clark asked. Chloe nodded her head.

"Yep. Senõr Sullivan is upstairs, staying out of the way, but available if needed. He was pretty cool about the whole thing." Clark suddenly perked up as if stuck by a cattle prod.

"Excuse me, guys…" he said, making his way out through the crowd. Chloe watched him go, a look of disappointment and longing showing on her face. Always sympathetic Pete put his arm around her shoulders, hugging her a little. But he didn’t get a full hug like Clark Kent did. 

"Lana…" Clark said, walking up to where her and another friend were talking. The other girl excused herself to mingle, and Lana turned to face Clark.

"Hey, Clark."
            "You’re wearing that outfit… it looks good…" Lana nodded and gave him a soft smile.

"It’s gotten rave reviews from everyone. I had good help picking it out." Clark smiled back at her, pleased with himself. "You’re looking fairly festive…" she said, looking at his picnic-blanket like shirt. Lana noted to herself to take Clark to buy clothes for himself next time. "Here… this will help." She picked up one of the festive necklaces from the coffee table that she and Chloe had made that afternoon for people at the party. It had jingly Christmas bells, holly, pine and pretty red rocks all bound to it. She slipped it on Clark’s neck.

Red rocks.

Clark felt the surge of… power charge through his body. His momentarily red-tinged eyes returned to their normal color, but were now almost lust-filled as he looked down on Lana.

"Clark? Are you okay?" she asked, noticing some kind of change in him. Clark bit his bottom lip and looked up… mistletoe. He looked back down at her, her gaze also returning to him.

"I’m great…" He said, reaching down to plant a kiss on Lana Lang’s lips… first soft and sweet, but then as they both held contact, the passion grew between them. He pulled her tight to him, mouths parting as Clark moved his head in small circles on Lana’s mouth, sucking her bottom lip. Lana was taken off guard… but she couldn’t deny her feelings for Clark either. She hadn’t seen this side of Clark since their kiss at the Talon.

From across the room, Chloe Sullivan saw what transpired. Her mouth, gaping open, emitted a tiny gasp.

"Chloe…" Pete started, but she held a hand up to him. She looked back at him for a moment with tear filled eyes, and ran out of the room. Why did she pine for Clark Kent? Why did he always leave her to go to Lana? Why didn’t he see how she felt… how she fully hugged him when he half-hugged her? How she looked at him?

Collapsing on her bed upstairs, Chloe buried her face in the pillow, crying hard. Why didn’t he know how she still felt, even after the events of the spring formal?

Why didn’t he know she was in love with him?

            Having watched Chloe run off, Pete could do little but look over at Clark Kent doing his best to convince Lana Lang to let him unwrap her for Christmas. But something didn't seem right about the whole thing. Clark wasn't Mr. Show My Emotions On My Sleeve, so what was up?

             It didn't matter. Steel skin or whatever, he needed his ass kicked.

             Pete walked over through the crowd and got to Clark and Lana, Clark doing his best to suck the skin clean off her neck, and Lana seeming to… well, she seemed to be enjoying herself and be a little weirded out at the same time.

            "Clark!" Pete called out. Clark pulled back enough to give Pete a toothy grin.

             "Hey, Pete. Found yourself a little hottie for the mistletoe?" Clark asked. Pete's eyes bulged out of their sockets as he saw what was around Clark's neck. Before Clark could say 'hey' even, Pete reached out and snapped the necklace right off Clark's neck. The balls, tinsel, holly and pretty red rocks slid off the string and clattered on the floor.

             "Pete… what?" A confused Clark Kent stood there, releasing Lana and taking a step back. Lana watched what happened, a perplexed look on her face.

             "Clark… you don't look so well… come on… too much to drink…" Pete explained to Lana, taking Clark's arm and leading him down towards the bathroom. Good thing I do know your secret, Clark. No one would save your sorry butt otherwise.

             "Funny," Lana thought. "I don't remember tasting alcohol on his breath…" She crossed her arms in a defensive posture as she watched the two friends walk away.

             "Pete, did what I think just happen, happen?" Clark sat on a chair in the kitchen, just apart from everyone else. Pete nodded, a somewhat sympathetic look on his face.

             "Yeah, I'm afraid it did." Clark's face grew long, and he put his head down in his hands. "But Lana is not the worst of it… Chloe…" Clark sat up straight again as he realized what must have happened.

             "Oh, no, where is she?" Pete shook his head.

             "Not now, Clark. We both know Chloe… she's in hibernation mode. You have another problem to deal with now, in the form of your former next-door neighbor that lives in the same house with the girl that's also got it in for you." Again the exasperated look shown on the young Kent's face. "But there's more, Clark." If it was possible for Clark's face to droop more, it would. "Chloe… well, you know, she's…"

             "In love with me?" Clark finished. Pete didn't nod, but silent agreement kicked in at that moment. Clark likes Lana… Chloe likes Clark. He'd heard this one before. But an unfinished moment at the Spring Formal left… left them as 'just friends'. Chloe had suggested it, and Clark, of course, went right along with it. Stupid. He knew it was just a way for Chloe and himself not to deal with the problem, but he agreed to mask it with 'friendship' just the same. Meanwhile Lana was still wide open with Whitney gone, and no such 'promises' between herself and Clark. He stood up and went and looked out the back window, silence descending on him in the middle of the loud party.

             "What do I do, Pete?" he asked quietly. "I don't want to ruin it with either girl…" Pete did his best to be a 'friend', as jealous as he was of Chloe and Clark's potential relationship.

             "We should all have your problems, man." Pete said, standing beside Clark now at the window. They looked over the decorated houses on the next street over. Clark nodded softly, patted Pete on the shoulder and headed back to the front room.

             "Lana, we need to talk…" 

            Chloe Sullivan had spent the past two days of Christmas break sequestered in her room. Her dad and Lana checked on her, but both knew that she was in emotional turmoil. Lana would keep her distance, simply because of what happened. Her father respected her privacy and left her alone, for the most part.

             "I'm not hungry, dad." Chloe responded to the knock on the door. It opened, and a familiar dark-haired member of the Torch staff stuck his head in.

             "Can I come in?" Chloe was immediately hit with the fact that she had no makeup on, her hair was not done and she was sitting around in a long-sleeve green t-shirt and jeans, without a belt and white socks. She was in 'comfy' mode, and thought she looked a mess.

             "Um… sure…I look terrible" She really couldn't tell Clark no, but part of her dreaded seeing him. But it was Christmas… and the season for giving, forgiving, yadda, yadda, yadda. Clark slipped into the room, pushing the door behind him, but not closing it all the way. It wouldn't be proper… and Chloe thought that was pretty good of him to think that way. Just like Clark Kent.

            "You look beautiful." Clark said with a deep sincerity in his voice. Chloe, taken aback by his bluntness, blushed. "I wanted to come by and drop off your Christmas present. I know it's a day early, and I'll see you tomorrow, but…" He handed her a small package… and a red rose. Chloe's 'angry resolve' face melted away when she saw that, her mouth hanging open.

             "Clark… why…" The boyish grin spread across his face said he was happy with her reaction, that much was for sure.

            "I felt bad about the other night, for starters." The light in Chloe's face dimmed a little. "I realize I was… it wasn't me. And I know it hurt your feelings." He sat down on Chloe's bed as she crossed her legs, sitting up. "None of this was done to hurt you, or cause you pain." The look on her face softened, and she nodded.

            "I know that, Clark. You can't get over seven years of 'crush'… ever?" She said the last part as a joke, but Clark could read the truth behind it: Chloe may just believe he would not get over Lana, ever. Clark gave her a little smile.

             "Lana and I had a talk that night, Chloe. That's why you haven't seen a lot of her around you…" Chloe's immediate thought was to complete Clark's sentence with 'that's because she's been with me the whole time…' Clark continued. "She's the one who recommended the rose for you." The blonde's face lit up again at the renewed sight of the flower.

             "Clark, I've never gotten flowers before… ever." She gave him one of her patented grins, and Clark smiled back in pure happiness.

             "Well, open your present." He said. She gave him a look like he just committed blasphemy.

             "But it's not Christmas." All she got was a shrug from Clark. "Okay…" she acquiesced. She tore into the small package, coming up with a heavy cardboard box. She opened it… and withdrew two fountain pens. She gave Clark an odd look. He just nodded with a hidden smile for her to continue. She reached into the bottom of the box to pull out a marble base for the pens that had an engraving:

Chloe Sullivan

Reporter

            Chloe's mouth hung open… it was one of the most thoughtful gifts she had ever gotten. And it put into tangible material something she always wanted: to be a reporter.

            Clark Kent found himself being hugged. It was a good thing… she smelled so… feminine. He could just catch the whiff of her shampoo – the salt of her skin – the scent of their two dogs, Bailey and Kasey. Something minty? Maybe that was her toothpaste that he could smell. But the scent of her was… intoxicating.

            "Um, Clark…" Chloe said. "Not that I mind your hugs, but air is good?" Clark didn't realize he was squeezing her so tight or that he was still holding onto her, even. Time had suddenly stopped, or maybe it was just Clark's wish for time to stop. Let him have this moment, holding her forever.

            He let her go, and she sat back from him a little. She didn't completely break contact, but looked at him with a new appreciation… or the realization that he appreciated her. It was something that moved her deep in her soul. Fair's fair, she thought, and dug around the other side of her bed.

             "This is for you." Chloe said, handing Clark a small package. He turned the small rectangle back and forth, noting it's size and weight. No rocks in there. Safe. He found the taped corner, pulling it open as he smiled at Chloe, who rewarded his smile with one of her own. He pulled the remainder of the paper off, and turned the picture frame over to look at the front.

    Clark and Ryan, sitting on his desk at the Torch.

             Clark looked over at Chloe, mouth hanging open. "Let's get a picture of my boys." Chloe repeated from that day, choking up a little with her own emotions. She looked at him with a bittersweet smile. "I know how much he meant to you." Clark looked back at Chloe, tears filling his blue eyes.

             "Chloe, I…" Words escaped him. A moment later, Chloe found herself wrapped in Clark Kent. His arms were around her waist, her arms encircling his neck as he buried his head in her neck and shoulder. For the first time since she met Clark Kent many years ago, he was crying on her shoulder. She reached a hand up and cupped the back of his head, smoothing his hair as she whispered that it would be okay.

             Clark liked her touch. He liked her hugs. She was stronger than he thought, physically and emotionally. He liked how her fingers kneaded his shoulder and back muscles involuntarily when she held him tight. He finally pulled his head back just a little to let Chloe see his face, see his bloodshot tear-ridden eyes. She reached up and gently wiped his wet cheek with her thumb.

             "Chloe, have you always been this way?" Clark asked. She gave him that 'what do you mean' look. "Have you always been this… sensitive and caring… about me?" He could see her eyes starting to rim with moisture, but he just wasn't sure what for.

             "I mean, I don't…" She swallowed, looking around in an avoidance tactic. "I've always… um…since April I think…" Chloe Sullivan found herself without words. Clark Kent, for the first time in his life, did not act like he was ignorant of the feelings in front of him. He reached his hand up to place his thumb over her lips, something that sent a chill down his spine.

             "I know, Chloe." Clark said, his head turning slightly to the right as he looked at her with affection. "I know." Clark closed the distance between their faces and brushed his lips softly against hers. He could almost hear her heart flutter. Or maybe that was just his. Pulling back, he pressed his forehead against hers, noses almost touching in a show of endearment.

             "Chloe… I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner." He said quietly. He could just make out her smile.

             "It's okay. It was worth the wait."

             It was Christmas, and they both had the perfect gift: each other.

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