“That really happened?” Mark asked with a skeptical look.

“It did,” Lex confirmed. “And cured me of sex in automobiles when I’m the driver.”

“I can see how it would do that,” Mark allowed. “Do you think it changed Delia’s perceptions of you?”

“I would suspect that it didn’t,” Lex said. “I had a rather flamboyant adolescence.  You would have to be incredibly naïve not to realize that I’ve been involved in some compromising incidents during the course of my life.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Lex noticed that Clark was fidgeting in his seat again. He wondered whether the naïve comment had struck a chord with Clark; he hadn’t meant to hurt or upset Clark, but it was becoming clearer with each segment of the show that he was doing exactly that.

Clark wanted nothing more than to get up and leave, but he knew he couldn’t.  First, he’d promised Lex that he would support him, and second, he wasn’t about to let everyone know how upset he was by the events transpiring on the screen. Or by the comments that Lex was making.

Clark was having a hard enough time dealing with Lex marrying one of these women; he didn’t need to hear about all his previous exploits too.  Why couldn’t Lex see that he had another option and that Clark would never hurt him or embarrass him or get him into compromising positions in public?

Clark stopped his rationalizations and almost laughed out loud.  Because, really?  He knew that he would probably have embarrassed Lex from time to time.  He just didn’t know how to handle himself in Lex’s world all the time and in all situations.  So, surely, there would have been some swank affair where Clark wore the wrong shoes, or drank the wrong drink, or used the wrong fork.  And a good part of his goal would be to get Lex into compromising positions in public so that everyone would know that Lex was taken.  Lex belonged to someone other than himself.

And that line of thought was just wrong.  Because Lex was taken by either Delia or Marnie.  Clark was going to have to get over his fantasies and start trying to deal with reality. After all, reality was why he was sitting in the audience gripping his seat in the first place.  If his fantasies were true, he and Lex wouldn’t even be in this studio right now; they’d be off somewhere together just enjoying each other.

Maybe he could get Lex to rethink his position on car sex.  Clark grinned faintly at the thought.

Lex was startled by the sudden change of expression on Clark’s face.  He’d gone from desperately miserable to grinning in mere seconds.  He wanted to know what was going on in that head of Clark’s, but there was no way to ask, no way to find out.  He was just going to have to sit and wait until the show was over, and then he could find out what Clark was doing.

“You seem to be drifting quite a bit tonight, Lex,” Mark observed.  “Does this mean that you’re in love?”

Lex considered the question carefully for a moment.  Was he in love?  He supposed that he was, but not with either of the women he was set up with by the show.  Would an honest answer at this juncture jeopardize his planned goal for the evening?  He hoped not.  “Yes, Mark.  I do believe that I am.”

Lex glanced back toward Clark and saw complete dejection and misery envelop him.  Why would Clark respond that way?  Wouldn’t he be happy that Lex had found love, no matter how unlikely that particular outcome might be?  When he saw Clark gripping the seat tightly again, he began to ponder reasons why Clark would be reacting so strongly to Lex’s sudden declaration.  Nothing fit together.  It was like someone had handed him a puzzle but had taken out the piece that held the whole works together.

“That’s wonderful news, Lex,” Mark enthused. “Let’s get back to your date with Delia and see what her ‘bad sex’ moment is, shall we?”

“I can assure you it pales in comparison to mine,” Lex smirked as the screen began to fade back in to the date.

On screen, Delia was looking out the limo’s window.

“Delia, this is supposed to be a get-to-know-you moment.  I shared my worst sexual experience, and now you’re supposed to do the same.” 

“I’d rather not,” Delia said. 

“I would have rathered not, either, but the rules of the game say we have to.” Lex leaned over, put his hand over Delia’s. “We only have a couple more minutes before we get to our destination, so you can tell an abbreviated version, if you would prefer.” 

Delia turned away from the window to face Lex.  She still did not look at all happy about having to share a story, but she took one breath in and out and then said, “I was in college.  It was my first time.” 

“Oh?” Lex asked. 

“The guy was nice enough, but I didn’t really know him well.  He was the brother of a friend of a friend, the way these things happen at college.”

“I’m familiar with that sort of dynamic,” Lex said.

“Well, anyway,” Delia said, “we got drunk at a party, went back to his dorm, and, well, that’s when it happened.  It was nothing like I had anticipated.” She stopped talking and turned back toward the window.

Lex looked like he wanted to press Delia for more details, but just then the limo pulled up to the curb.  The chauffer stepped out and opened the door for Delia, putting out his hand to help her out of the car.  Lex, too, got out of the car, coming around to put his arm around Delia to escort her into the building.

The screen faded to black again, and Mark said, “That must’ve been awkward.”

“It was awkward, yes,” Lex said, “but it told me a lot about Delia in a very short period.  So while I felt bad about her discomfort, I did understand what the point of the exercise had been.”

“Well, that’s good, then,” Mark said.  “Now, let’s see what happened when you met Delia’s family for the first time.”

“Oh yes, let’s,” Lex said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Lex looked around and allowed a small measure of confusion to show on his face. 

“This is an interesting family home,” he ventured as he stared up at the forbidding brick building.  It made his castle in Smallville look positively homey.

“Oh, this isn’t my family home, Lex,” Delia said, a laugh in her voice.

“It isn’t?” Lex asked, obviously perplexed. “Wasn’t I supposed to meet your family?”

“No,” Delia paused as they were let into the building by security.  “The producers wanted you to meet people who are important to me.  And you will be meeting them.”

“So family isn’t important,” Lex asked.

“Family is important, but this is my other family – my intellectual family – and I think you’ll better understand me by spending the time they’ve allotted with them rather than with my parents.”

“I see.”

“It’s not that much different than having us spend time with the Kents rather than your father, you know,” Delia said as she led Lex down a hallway toward a moderately loud gathering.

Lex’s smile was strained as he nodded.  He felt there was a world of difference.  If he could choose, the Kents would be his family.  Although perhaps that was how Delia felt as well, so he felt himself relax a bit more and he was sure it showed on camera.

“Hi, everyone!” Delia called out as they entered the room hand in hand. “I want you all to meet Lex.”

“Hi Lex!” the group chorused.

“Hello,” Lex said, taking in the small groups scattered in the large room.  Some of the people looked up and nodded in his direction, but others were simply too engrossed in their conversations to pay attention to the newcomers.

Delia laughed off the lukewarm welcome. “Don’t mind them, Lex.  Once they realize that you’re responsible for the museum exhibit, they’ll warm right up to you.”

“I see,” Lex said, trying to keep the cynical note out of his voice.

“It’s good of you to join us this evening, Delia,” an older man with a somewhat overbearing manner said.

“Professor Jenkis, I want you to meet Lex Luthor – my date for the evening,” Delia said.

“Any connection to the Lillian Luthor Foundation?” Professor Jenkis demanded, even as Delia blushed.  “Is there something wrong, Delia?”

“No, sir,” Delia said quietly.

Lex raised an eyebrow at the obvious deference that Delia paid to this professor but then quickly put the pieces together. Professor Jenkis must be Delia’s dissertation director – a relationship at least as fraught with misery as his relationship with his father.

“Lillian Luthor was my mother and I am the caretaker of the foundation,” Lex said.

“I see.” Professor Jenkis grabbed Lex’s arm and began to direct the younger man toward a quiet alcove.  “I really need to speak with you then about a matter of some importance.”

Lex glared at the hand on his arm but allowed himself to be propelled along. He would prefer not to make a scene on what would be national television.  He threw a quick glance back at Delia, but determined quickly that she was more than okay with the current situation.  He supposed that he could liken this to an earnest father who wanted to determine Lex’s motives for dating his daughter.

“Now, Lex, I may call you Lex, right,” Dr. Jenkis said, barely pausing for a nod before continuing. “I can’t say that I understand this folly that Delia has become involved with.  No serious academic would participate in a television program – well, maybe ‘Jeopardy,’ but surely you can see that’s different.”

Lex nodded again.

“I don’t know that she really understood what she was doing, but she gained an opportunity here that I simply can’t allow her to jeopardize.”

“What opportunity?” Lex didn’t believe that the professor was talking about marrying him.

“Why a chance to become affiliated with the Lillian Luthor Foundation, of course.” Professor Jenkis studied Lex as if he thought maybe Lex was missing a brain cell or two.

“And marrying me?”

“I suppose that would be acceptable, but the true opportunity here is to influence the acquisitions and staffing of the foundation.”

“The foundation is my personal project, Professor Jenkis. I make those decisions.”

“I’m sure that you do, but surely you can see the benefit of having a well-trained classicist or two on your staff and helping you make the important decisions.  Why the prestige of such a position could make a young academic’s career.”

“Or give an old one a last shot at glory,” Lex added cynically.

“What?”  Professor Jenkis was startled out his revery.  “While I certainly wouldn’t turn an opportunity down, Mr. Luthor, I must say that I’m very comfortable in my position at the university.  I am trying to place one or two of my most gifted students in positions that would only help them achieve their goals.”

“And I assume that one of those is Delia, correct?”

“I think that Delia has done well enough for herself.  She has your attention, Lex.  Even if you don’t choose her, I believe that you will find a place for her somewhere.”

“Your confidence in me is surprising,” Lex said.  He wouldn’t have considered keeping Delia around if he chose Marnie, but perhaps he could find her a position at a university back east or something as a consolation prize.  It was an interesting idea.

“Professor Jenkis?” Delia said quietly so as not to disturb her mentor.

“Yes?”

“I would like to introduce Lex to some of my colleagues,” Delia began.

“Of course, of course.” Professor Jenkis made shooing motions with his hands. He took hold of Lex’s arm briefly and said, “Remember what we’ve been discussing and I’ll have a list prepared for you before you leave.”

“It’s been interesting meeting you,” Lex said, feeling somewhat like he’d been dropped in an alternate universe.

“I’m sorry about that,” Delia said.  “He’s very protective of me, and he has been concerned about this whole experience and the effect that it might have in my work.”

Lex made a noncommittal noise that could be taken as agreement while he was being led toward a group of people who were congregated around the food.

“So you’re the one whose been keeping Delia busy the last few weeks,” a guy in a torn pair of jeans and fraying polo shirt said.

“I suppose,” Lex said.

“Jerry – you don’t need to be so obnoxious.”

“You misunderstand,” Jerry said. “Keeping you busy means the rest of us stand a chance at getting a paper accepted at the Classics Association meeting.”

“Oh, I finished my abstract for that long before I started on this,” Delia said with an airy wave of her hand.

“Damn,” Jerry muttered as he reached for another sandwich.

Another person, overhearing that, asked, “What did you submit this year, Delia?”

“Um, I’d rather not talk about it,” Delia responded with a blush.

“I presume that means you’ve written something castigating the foundation?” Lex inquired.

“I might have, but that was before I knew you and knew how deeply committed you are to preserving the classics.” Delia continued, “I’m going to withdraw the paper immediately.”

“I’m not sure that I see the point,” Jerry said.

“Lex is in charge of the foundation.  It would be a conflict of interest for me to present a paper on that foundation while I’m involved with its caretaker.”

“So you’ve made your decision then, Lex?” A woman wearing exceptionally thick glasses asked.

“I have not made a final decision at this time,” Lex said. He wondered if it was typical for the group he was with to not introduce themselves to someone they didn’t know.

“Delia, can you tell me something about your colleagues?” he asked quietly.

“Oh, Lex, I’m sorry.  Jerry is a PhD candidate working on the Aramaic translations of sacred texts.  Cheryl is working on depictions of women in Greco-Roman cultures.”

“I see,” Lex said. “Do you find your work interesting?”

The scene faded out as Jerry began talking endlessly about his work and how fascinating it was.

“So, Lex, what did you learn from that experience?”

“I learned a great deal about Delia and how sharp she has to be to deal with academic politics.” Lex meant this as a compliment, but even to his own ears it rang a bit false.

“I’m not sure I understand,” Mark said, seemingly willing Lex to find a way to rescue that comment.

“What I mean is that academic circles are, in many ways, comparable to business circles.  You’ll find many of the same types of people in both arenas, and it doesn’t do to underestimate the perseverance and dedication it takes to be a success in either area.  Many would view Delia’s accomplishments as less than others because they don’t generate significant income for the university.  However, those individuals underestimate the importance of her contributions to our culture.” Lex glanced over toward Clark and saw him nodding and even smiling slightly.  He had to wonder what that was about.

Clark knew from what Lex was saying that he found that experience every bit as intolerable as Lana’s coffee.  He was far too polite, in these circumstances, to say so, but he had to have been appalled by the professor’s blatant promotion of others when he should have been telling Lex how suitable and wonderful Delia was.

On the other hand, Clark couldn’t believe the obvious error in judgment that Delia had made.  How could she have chosen to introduce Lex to people who would see him as a potential meal ticket rather than introducing him to her family?  How bad could her family be that those sharks would seem wonderful in comparison?

Clark shifted uncomfortably in his seat.  He wanted so badly to tell Lex that he would never put him in a position like that, but he knew it was too late for him to make things work out the way he really wanted them to.  He could feel himself slipping into depression.  What a hell of a thing.  He was supposed to be supporting Lex and all he could think about was what he was losing as the show came nearer and nearer to ending.

Lex watched as the smile gradually faded from Clark’s face and wondered what was going through his head now.  It was killing him not being able to talk to Clark at all and to not know what was bothering Clark.  If this weren’t live television, he would have taken a minute and gone down to check on Clark or tried to convince Clark to join him on stage.

As the show returned, Lex saw the light in Clark’s eyes dim even more.  Lex was really impatient to see the show end so he could talk with Clark.

“I’m so sorry about Jerry, Lex,” Delia said, snuggling up to him in the limousine.

“I found his dissertation topic quite interesting,” Lex said diplomatically as he ran a finger over the edge of the piece of paper that Professor Jenkis had handed him on his way out the door.  His curiosity was piqued.  He desperately wanted to know who among the people he’d met tonight Professor Jenkis felt should join and have a role in directing his foundation, but he couldn’t open the list in front of Delia because he was certain that her name wasn’t on the list.

“He doesn’t always know when to stop,” Delia said, as she started kissing her way up Lex’s neck.

“He’s enthusiastic about what he does,” Lex replied, turning to initiate a more satisfying kiss, and all concern about his experiences with Jerry were silenced during the ride to the airport.

“I wish I could walk you to the gate,” Delia said, frowning at all the security.

“Security is the way it is,” Lex said, knowing full well that if he insisted, she would be allowed to escort him to the gate.

“I understand.  I’m just going to miss you terribly, and I don’t want to be parted until the last possible second.”  Delia sighed.  “Besides, when I next see you, we’re going to be in front of an audience and you’ll either be choosing me or telling me good-bye.  Either way, these are our last private moments together, and I don’t want them to end.”

“I would hardly call this private,” Lex said, motioning in the direction of the camera.

“You know what I mean, Lex.”  Delia seemed to hesitate and then said, “I want to tell you something.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve grown very fond of you over the last few weeks, Lex.  I want to give this relationship a chance to grow and become something.  I want to be your wife.  I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Lex looked bewildered as the words tumbled from Delia’s mouth.  He wasn’t sure which parts were truly sincere and which parts were meant to try to manipulate him into doing as she wished. 

“I’ve grown fond of you as well, Delia. Obviously, I have a great deal to think about before we next meet, and I don’t want you to think that I’m taking your feelings or your declarations lightly.  However, you know that there is another person involved, and she deserves an equal chance to make her case and convince me that she is best suited to the role of my spouse.”

“Can’t you see that it simply won’t work with Marnie?”

“I’m not sure why you feel that way.  On what do you base that conclusion?”

“She’s more like Clark than like you.  She prefers simple things and has simple tastes.  I don’t think that you understand the true significance of that.”

“Perhaps I don’t.  Continue.”

“She’s never going to be able to keep up with your life, your ambitions, or your expectations.  Much like Clark, she will, eventually, have to drift away because she’s holding you back.  With me, that will never be a problem.  Not only can I adapt to changing circumstances, but I can also match you intellectually.  No one else that you’ve met through this show can do that.”

“What makes you think Clark will drift away?” Lex asked, curious about that particular assumption more than any other she had made.

“As I said, it’s inevitable.  You don’t have many common interests. He’s not your intellectual equal.  Frankly, I’m surprised that you’ve kept him around as long as you have.  I assume it must be the novelty of him rather than his actual person that keeps you intrigued.”

“Novelty?”

“You know – someone who isn’t accustomed to moving in the same circles that you are.  You have to derive some amusement from his bumbling.  Why else would he still be around?” Delia smiled confidently.

“Why else indeed?” Lex said, turning toward the gate.  “My pilot is signaling.  I’ll see you in Metropolis in a few days.”

“I’ll miss you.”

Lex nodded and then walked toward the plane.

“So how would you rate that date, Lex,” Mark demanded as the image faded from the screen.

“It was a good date. I believe it successfully accomplished the purpose for which it was intended,” Lex said, carefully.

“So it didn’t qualify on your list of bad dates.”

“Hardly.  My bad dates seem to end up with destruction of property or death.  Any date where those things don’t happen seem to be an unqualified success in my book.”

“I can see your point,” Mark said, wondering but not asking about the death component of Lex’s previous dating life.

“Has your date with Delia changed any of your impressions of her?”

“I don’t think it changed anything; I think it solidified my overall understanding of Delia and her reasons for pursuing this relationship.”

“And what would those reasons be, do you think?”

“I believe those are best addressed between me and Delia, don’t you?” Lex replied.

“What did you think about what she had to say about Clark and the comparison with Marnie?”

“I can see how she makes that connection, but I believe that she’s underestimated Clark’s determination and staying power.  After all, he’s been my friend for five years.  I think that indicates that he’s not going to be easily dismissed.”  Lex smirked and glanced over to Clark, whose expression was every bit as fiercely determined as Lex expected it would be.

“And if your future wife wants to see you spend less time with Clark?”

“Obviously, there are adjustments that have to be made in every marriage and relationship, and we’ll have to make those adjustments.” Lex was determined to remain vague about this, but he saw Clark’s face begin to close off.  He hoped Clark remembered everything they’d talked about. It wasn’t Clark who would have to change expectations; it was Delia – assuming he picked Delia, which wasn’t guaranteed at this point given her attitude toward Clark.

“I see,” Mark said, not sure he understood at all.

Clark tried to reassure himself that Lex meant that Delia would have to change her expectations, but there was a part of him that felt certain that Lex was underestimating the ways that being married would change his life and his approach to things.  Even if he didn’t love the woman he picked at the moment he picked her, Lex would come to love her and any children they had, and Clark would be left out in the cold.

He tried to keep these thoughts out of his mind because he knew that Lex was committed to maintaining their friendship.  Ultimately, though, he knew he was losing more than his best friend; he was losing the love of his life.

Lex tried not to react as he saw Clark’s face fall again.  This was simply intolerable.  His best friend was suffering and he couldn’t do anything about it.  It was driving him absolutely crazy. He wanted to talk to him, but he had to concentrate on what was happening in front of him right now.

“So, in your mind, how did the dates compare?” Mark asked.

“Perhaps we should watch and you can see for yourself,” Lex suggested, smoothly.

“And so we will,” Mark said as the image of Lex in another airport began to fade in on the screen.

Marnie was standing at the gate waiting for Lex as he came off the plane.  She was wringing her hands nervously as he picked her out of the crowd.

He walked up to her, kissed her gently on cheek, and said, “It’s wonderful to see you, Marnie.”

“I’m glad you came, Lex.  I hope this visit doesn’t disappoint you,” Marnie said.

“I’m sure that time spent with you could never be a disappointment.”

Marnie blushed and then said, “Thank you, Lex.  I’m really looking forward to showing you around, though I’m sure you’re already familiar with the area.  After that, we’re going to meet my parents and some family friends at a local restaurant.”

“Why aren’t we meeting at your parents’ home?” Lex had already had one weird experience and he wanted forewarning before he had another.

“Oh, my parents live way out in the country and we decided that it would be easier for everyone if they came into town rather than us spending our whole day together getting to the farm.” Marnie left unsaid that it was the producers who made that decision, not her parents.

“I would have been happy to supply speedier transport,” Lex offered.

“That’s sweet, Lex, but I think that they’d feel intimidated having you in their house.  I tried to explain about Clark and his parents, but they seemed to think that you needed something fancier than the simple farm.”

“I see,” Lex said.

Marnie frowned.  It seemed to her that she might have hurt Lex’s feelings. “Oh Lex, I’m sorry.  Why don’t I call my parents and we’ll change the plan.”

“I wouldn’t want to put anyone out.”

“I can’t imagine that it would put them out.  If you can arrange for that transportation to Greenville while I’m talking to my parents, I think we can make this work.”

Lex pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and said, “Consider it done.  Is there a place to land a helicopter convenient to your parents’ home?”

“We can land in the fallow field. It’s not too far from the house.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Lex said, pulling a cell phone from his pocket to summon his helicopter from Metropolis for the evening.

“That was a nice thing you did, Lex,” Mark said.

“I think the situation was awkward enough. There was no need to make it more awkward by forcing her parents and friends to endure a long drive and a meal they might or might not have been comfortable with.”

“I still think it was remarkably considerate.”

“It seems as if you’re suggesting that I am not known for my consideration, Mark.”

“I’m suggesting that, of all people, you are not expected to think about matters like these.”

“I shudder to think what sort of person I would be if I didn’t consider the feelings of others, particularly in a situation such as this.” Lex frowned at the presumption that he was perceived in such a way.

“What makes it remarkable, Lex, is that you don’t have to do it; you choose to do it.”  Mark seemed oblivious to the fact that he was heading toward dangerous territory.

“I choose to do many things, Mark.  Some of them are due to the good influence of others,” Lex said, glancing out into the audience at Clark.  “And some result from my own ability to discern when it’s appropriate to do something and when it is not. To me, it’s inappropriate to force people from their homes to accommodate the whims of a television producer who seems to want to wring more drama from the situation than is already inherent in it.”

“Uh, okay,” Mark wasn’t sure what to say next.  The damned thing was live, so they couldn’t cut what Lex had just said, and he’d really been left no avenue to pursue.

“Perhaps we should watch more of the date,” Lex suggested, a sharkish grin appearing at Mark’s clear loss of control of the situation.

“Sounds like a good idea,” Mark said, relieved.

Clark was grinning.  He couldn’t help it.  Lex had done a great job of shoving Mark and the producers into place and pointing out the falseness of the whole experience to the viewing audience.  He knew how important it was to Lex for people to understand that many of the things they were seeing were manipulated.

He hadn’t realized, though, that Lex had done something as drastic as insist on the change in venue for his meeting with Marnie’s family.  He took that as a good sign for Marnie.  He figured if he couldn’t have Lex, then Marnie should.  Maybe Delia was right – there was something about Marnie that Clark felt an affinity to, but he wasn’t sure what it was.  Even though it felt like it would kill him, he could, eventually, handle losing Lex to Marnie.  Not that he had ever had Lex, but, well, it felt like he was losing the most important person in his life.

Clark was taken aback by what he was thinking.  How did this relationship, which wasn’t a relationship, suddenly become so important?  What was he going to do when Lex finally made a choice?  Jor-El had said that Lex had to choose, but why did it feel like Clark’s world was ending while he was waiting for that choice?

Lex followed Marnie out of the airport to the waiting limousine.  After they’d gotten settled, he asked, “What will we be doing today?”

“I thought we might go back to my home so you can see where I live and how I live.  Then, I thought we’d go to a couple of my favorite places here and meet some of my local friends for lunch.  We’ll have a couple of hours after lunch, so if there’s something you’d like to do or investigate – just let me know.”

“Sounds like an excellent plan, Marnie.  I’m looking forward to seeing more of Opal City.  I’ve only been here a few times, and I’m afraid I spent most of my time in meetings.”

“That’s not a good way to see the city, Lex,” Marnie teased.

“I’d have to agree with you,” Lex said. “So I’m particularly looking forward to what you consider to be the important sites of the city.”

“I’m afraid you may be disappointed,” Marnie said, blushing.  “I do enjoy cultural activities and the like, but I think you get enough of that in your ‘regular’ life, so I thought we could investigate some other types of things.  I think we’ve both had quite enough of museums for a while, don’t you?”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Lex said, with a smile as the limousine slowed to a stop in front of an older building with character.  “Your apartment, I presume?”

“My brownstone, but yes, this is mine.” Marnie didn’t wait for the driver to open the door but rather let herself out and waited for Lex to join her on the steps to her front door.

“I like what you’ve done with the exterior,” Lex commented as he noted the carefully arranged planting beds and the red front door.

“It has a lot of character on its own, but I wanted to give it a little bit of me.”

“And you see yourself as the color red?” Lex was quietly amazed.

“It’s a facet of my personality, I think.”

“Interesting,” said Lex. 

He was further amazed when he was led inside.  The décor was difficult to describe.  It wasn’t overly done; it wasn’t overtly feminine.  It seemed like a comfortable space where people would simply feel at home.  He didn’t think he’d ever felt quite so immediately comfortable anywhere other than Martha’s home and his own.

“Who did your interiors?”

“I did,” Marnie smiled. “I did all of this, including the refinishing and some of the remodeling.  I admit that the kitchen was a bit beyond my skill level and I had to hire a contractor for that, but I put in all of the mouldings, the floors, the chair rail in the dining room, and I did all of the painting and upholstering of the furniture.”

“You have quite a talent.  Have you considered interior design for a career change?” Lex inquired.

“Oh, I couldn’t do this for anyone else.  This is how I wanted the space to feel and I did it for me.  I don’t think I could even do something like this for my parents.  This was all about trying to make something that makes me feel comfortable, but I’m glad that you like it.”

“I think it makes people feel welcome and like they know something about you by seeing your surroundings.  You’ve done more than create a ‘me’ zone; you’ve created a welcoming environment that encourages people to want to get to know you better.”

“That’s so nice of you to say, Lex.  My goal is always to make people feel comfortable.”

Lex allowed himself to be led into the living room, which again looked comfortable rather than decorated.  He saw quality everywhere he looked.

Marnie took a seat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her.

Lex eased down onto the remarkably comfortable couch and asked, “How much time do you get to spend here?  It seems incredibly restful.”

“I work from home two days a week, so I get to spend a great deal of my time here.  It was important to me that this be a place of rest and relaxation for me and that my friends and family feel comfortable here as well.”

“I think you’ve achieved your goal.”

“I’m so glad you like it,” Marnie said, obviously pleased. “Would you like to see the courtyard?”

“There’s a courtyard, too?  You must be doing very well.”

“I do okay; this place was in serious disrepair when I found it and in foreclosure, so I got it for a song.” Marnie led the way through the kitchen to a French door that led to the courtyard.

Lex nodded his approval at the remodeled kitchen.  It looked both classic and modern at the same time and, again, appealed to his sense of home.  It was something like Martha’s kitchen with Lex’s edge.

Lex was, again, pleasantly surprised when he saw the courtyard.  It was neatly kept and clearly well cared for.

“I imagine you tend this yourself?”

“I do.  Gardening is one of my favorite activities.  I can’t imagine not having something green that I can take care of.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have a garden or the space for one at the penthouse,” Lex said. “Will that prove to be a problem for you?”

To Marnie’s credit, from Lex’s perspective, she took a few moments to think about what Lex had said before responding.  She seemed to be weighing alternatives and then said, “If we could agree that we are going to find another place, eventually, it’s a compromise I could make now.”

“I would need to keep the penthouse.”

“I understand that, but I think if we were to marry and have children, a place outside the city would be good for the children and would give me a place where I could do the things that give me peace.”

Lex considered that and then nodded, “I do see your point.”

“Does that mean that you are willing to leave Metropolis?” Mark asked.

“I absolutely did not say that nor did I intend that,” Lex replied. “I own several properties around the country and could certainly see adding one on the outskirts of Metropolis where children could have space to play.”

“So the talk of children didn’t concern you or make you think that Marnie is getting too serious too quickly.”

“I think it demonstrates that Marnie understands the full implications of this project and sees that all angles and avenues need to be explored before a decision of this magnitude is made.” Lex frowned when it appeared that Mark was going to ask more questions that implied there was something wrong or inappropriate with Marnie’s concerns.

“Well, that’s good, right?”

“I believe so. She’s a smart, rational woman who has put a great deal of thought into her participation, and I think we see, from each interaction, her genuine personality.” Lex knew he hadn’t made a decision, but he also know that everyone would assume that he had from those comments.

He glanced out in the audience and noticed Clark’s frown.  He really thought that Clark would be happy that Lex liked Marnie as much as he did.

Watching Lex sing Marnie’s praises, all Clark could think was that Lex was making a huge mistake.  Instead of choosing Clark, who he should be with, he was going to choose Marnie, who was nothing better than a close second. 

As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t get up and leave because it would draw attention to him that he didn’t want.  He just stayed in his seat stewing over the fact that Lex couldn’t see what was in front of him and was, once again, choosing someone who wasn’t right for him.

Lex was surprised when he followed Marnie into what was clearly a private home for the lunch with her friends.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“I felt an intimate setting would be more appropriate for this gathering,” Marnie said with a smile.  “I think you’ll find this more restful than the usual restaurant lunch, and you’ll have a better opportunity to get to know my friends and them you.”

“I’m Colleen.  You must be Lex,” a young, blonde woman said, swooping in from a room off the main hall.  She offered a hand, which Lex shook, and then said, “Everyone is waiting for us in the dining room.”

“Wonderful,” Marnie said. “Just follow me and, remember, they don’t bite, but they do giggle.”

Lex raised an eyebrow but followed Marnie into the dining room where he found seven women and two obviously gay men.  Although, given that he too was wearing a pastel-colored shirt, he probably shouldn’t make that assumption.  He was pleasantly surprised as Marnie ran through introductions of each of the people present for the lunch with a brief explanation of how she knew them.

“I realize this could be overwhelming,” Marnie said. “I tried to limit the group to people I’m closest to.  Colleen, Marie, Joy, and Lucy were in my sorority in college.  Michelle and Renee work with me.  Lori and Josie used to live next door to me before I bought the brownstone.  Mike and Adam are two of my dearest friends from high school.”

“Hi Lex!” The whole group said, somewhat reminiscent of an AA meeting.  Then individual people started talking with Lex and giving him reasons, good reasons, why he should choose Marnie.

When lunch was served, Lex was pleasantly surprised that the menu comprised some of his favorites both from his own cook and from Martha Kent.  He eyed Marnie curiously and asked, “How did you arrange this?”

“I called Martha and she helped me get the recipes.  It seemed like the least I could do – make this more comfortable by serving food that you enjoy. I can’t promise you the same treatment at my parents’ tonight, but I will try.” Marnie waited while everyone seated themselves at a round table that was tastefully set with nice china, silver, and crystal.

“My compliments to your organizer,” Lex said. “This was done quite well.”

“Thank you,” Marnie said, with a slight blush. “I wanted you to see that I can accept the responsibilities that come with being your wife.  Setting a pleasant table, arranging good food and good company – these are skills that I think are important for the supporting partner to provide to the other.”

“Would I be expected to play the role of supporting partner at times?”

“Of course, at times, you would,” Marnie smiled.  “It would hardly be a partnership if only one of us was allowed to shine.”

“Quite true,” Mike said, eavesdropping shamelessly. “Our Marnie is quite the capable woman, Lex.  It wouldn’t do to underestimate her because of that country naïveté she has.”

“I do not believe I have underestimated her at all.”

“She’s a gem – a real gem,” Adam said. “And she’s a great matchmaker.  If you have friends who are single, she’s great at finding the right person for them.  All of us are in relationships that are products of Marnie’s matchmaking.”

“Perhaps Clark could benefit from your skills,” Lex said.

“He’s a sweet man, Lex.  I don’t think he needs any help.  He’ll find his way when he’s ready,” Marnie said as she sipped her iced tea.

The group was laughing and chatting as the picture dimmed on the screen.  Mark jumped in immediately to ask, “How was this meeting with friends different from your meeting with Delia’s friends?”

“Each woman seems to inspire strong emotions from those around her,” Lex said diplomatically.

“Did you find their friends helpful as you made your decision?”

“As I’ve already suggested, Mark, I haven’t made my final decision yet. I did see these opportunities for what they were – chances to see Delia and Marnie in their own environments and see how I fit into their lives.  It’s not simply a matter of them fitting with me; I need to fit with them, too.”

“That’s an unusually enlightened view for someone in your position.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean, Mark,” Lex said silkily.  Anyone who knew him would have realized they were treading on incredibly unstable ground.

“I mean, you can expect everyone, including your wife, to accommodate your needs without there being a reciprocal accommodation.  After all, you are Lex Luthor.”

“That I am,” Lex allowed. “However, were that the case, there are several things that occurred during the filming of this program that would have never made it to air, don’t you think?”

“I’m not sure I get your point.”

“My point is that I’ve amply demonstrated over the course of this experience that I am not your typical wealthy man.  I choose my own course and I make every effort to be reasonable in my interactions with others – regardless of the inanity of their conversation or requests.” Lex frowned at the other man and waited a beat before saying, “I think we should turn our attention to the show.”

“Perhaps you’re right, Lex,” Mark said, trying not to show that he’d understood that Lex had reached the limit of his patience with Mark.

Clark couldn’t contain the small chuckle as Lex handed Mark his head so skillfully that Mark didn’t fully realize it had happened. The amount of patience that Lex had exhibited over the course of this show had been immense, and Clark knew that he was reaching his limits in this live show.

He ducked his head down when he saw Mark cast a glare in his direction.  He imagined that Mark would give anything at this point to get Clark up on the stage to buffer for Lex.  He brought his head up with a shy grin and a smallish wave designed to irritate Mark because he knew, just knew, that there was no way that Mark could get him on that stage.  It would violate every agreement they had with Lex, and at this point the only thing keeping Lex on the stage was that agreement.

He chuckled again when Mark scowled at Clark as scenes from the lunch flashed by quickly on the screen behind him.

Lex appeared relaxed and comfortable – well, as relaxed and comfortable as he was likely to given the circumstances.

As the scene shifted, Lex and Marnie were suddenly at an airport awaiting the arrival of the LexCorp helicopter.  Marnie seemed more tense than she’d been during the lunch, but she didn’t say anything to indicate that she was concerned or worried.

“Is there anything I should know before meeting your parents?” Lex asked, hesitantly.  You never knew with small town folks what might set them off or make them unreasonably irritated.

“You’re comfortable with Clark’s parents, so I imagine you’ll find mine to be somewhat similar.  However, Dad isn’t an organic farmer, so he won’t be nearly as concerned about LexCorp’s activities in the fertilizer industry as Mr. Kent seems to be.  In fact, I believe he is now exclusively using LexCorp products in the fields.”

“That’s good to hear.  I’ve been working with Jonathan for several years to develop products that don’t violate the organic principles but also allow him to contain pests and encourage growth. It’s a slow process, but I believe, ultimately, it will be a valuable contribution to the organic farming industry.”

“It doesn’t sound like it will make a lot of money.”

“It may not, but Jonathan has been supportive of me over the years, and this is a small way that I can repay that support without irritating him.”

They both looked up when they heard the beat of the helicopter blades, and conversation halted as they boarded the copter.

“We probably won’t be able to talk much during the flight,” Lex practically shouted. “Let’s just enjoy the views.”

Marnie smiled and gave him a thumb up to indicate she understood.

“I notice we didn’t see what you and Marnie did after lunch, Lex.  Why is that?” Mark demanded.

“I’m afraid I’m not privy to the decisions of the production staff, Mark.  Shouldn’t you know the answer to that question?”

Mark looked stunned, but he gamely tried again.

“I meant was there something about that part of the date that wasn’t suitable for our television audience?” Mark added a small leer to his question.

“I can assure you that no one behaved improperly during the filming of this episode, and there was nothing that couldn’t be shown on a family program.”

Mark frowned again. “So why didn’t we see what happened?”

“As I said, I wouldn’t know.  Perhaps we should have someone from production or editing on the stage to answer these sorts of questions,” Lex replied, beginning to show his irritation.

“Fine, fine,” Mark said, holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender.  “Why don’t we watch the rest of your date?”

“Why don’t we,” Lex said, making it clear that he would like this ordeal over as soon as possible.

Lex let himself look out at the audience again and focus on Clark.  He could see that the other man was caught in some sort of turmoil.  Something was going on in his head that was distracting him from the train wreck that was occurring on the stage. It took everything in Lex to stay in his seat because he was getting more and more worried about Clark the longer he was on the stage.

Why would Clark be so upset right now?  What would be sending him into these obvious bad moods while watching this date? He knew Clark liked Marnie.

And then it dawned on him – maybe Clark *really* liked Marnie and he was jealous and concerned that Lex was going to choose Marnie.  But Clark had said he wasn’t interested in any of the women many times while they’d been watching the episodes and he’d been so earnest that Lex believed him.

He knew that Clark was worried about their friendship changing once he married one of these women, but could it be more than that?

Clark tried desperately to keep his thoughts off his face, but he knew from the looks he was getting from Lex that he was losing the battle. His only hope was that Lex wouldn’t figure out that Clark’s reactions had everything to do with Lex and nothing to do with the women involved.  He couldn’t live with the pity he was sure he’d get from Lex since Lex couldn’t return his feelings.

But even as he thought that, he knew that Lex wouldn’t really pity him and maybe he’d reconsider what he was doing if he knew how Clark felt.  It was a big maybe, but Clark was starting to wonder if it could be possible.  Even if Lex didn’t feel half of what Clark felt, shouldn’t he know that Clark had feelings before he made such a momentous decision? 

Clark was half-way out of his seat before he realized what he had been about to do. He slumped back down in his seat.  He couldn’t go charging up there. He had to let Lex make his choice, just like Jor-El said.  It wasn’t his place to influence the decision, no matter how much he might want to try.

As the helicopter touched down, Lex felt a moment of anxiety.  Maybe it would have been better to meet with Marnie’s parents in the city, but he knew from experience that her parents would be more comfortable in their own home and the person who should be somewhat off-balance in the experience was him, not her parents.

Marnie took Lex’s hand as soon as they’d cleared the chopper blades and led him toward a farmhouse that wasn’t unlike the Kent’s.  It was older, but well maintained and appeared homey and cheerful – at least from a distance.  There were sheets hanging on a line and horses in a corral near the barn.

Marnie grinned when she saw Lex eying the horses. “Mine’s the sorrel bay.”

“Great animal,” Lex said, admiring the horse.  “Do you get to ride her much?”

“Not as much as I’d like, but there are a couple of local girls who keep her exercised for me. She’s a good horse and she deserves a lot more attention than she’d get here otherwise.”

Marnie’s attention was caught by an older gentleman who was walking out of the barn. “Dad!”

“Marnie girl!  You made good time,” Hank said as he opened his arms for Marnie to run into, which she did.

Lex followed behind at a more sedate pace and waited for father and daughter to recall his presence. He wasn’t disappointed.

“Dad,” Marnie said, turning toward Lex. “I’d like you to meet Lex Luthor.”

“Welcome to our home, Mr. Luthor.”

“Daddy, call him Lex.”

“That’s right, please call me Lex, sir,” Lex said, offering a hand and receiving a hearty shake from Marnie’s father.

“Only if you call me Hank.  Sir sounds like you’re talking to my father.” Hank grinned and started toward the main house. “Well, let’s not keep your mother and the others waiting.”

“Others?” Lex echoed quietly to Marnie.

“Cousins, aunts, and uncles, I’m guessing.  Maybe a couple of family friends as well,” Marnie replied quietly.

“Oh, honey, we’re so glad you’re here,” Marnie’s mother, Lex presumed, appeared in the doorway.

“Hi, Mom,” Marnie said, moving to kiss her mother on the cheek.  “This is Lex Luthor.”

“Well, Lex, we’re sure glad you decided to come out here.  I wasn’t looking forward to the drive into the city. I can tell you that.”

“I just felt it was more reasonable for the two of us to come to you rather than force a larger number of people to come to us, ma’am,” Lex said.

“Oh, please.  Call me Sissy – everyone does.” Sissy turned to Marnie and said, “He’s quite a polite young man. I’m pleased that you’ve brought him home to meet us.”

“Mom,” Marnie said, blushing. “He’s standing right here.”

“I know that, honey.  But I’m just so pleased that you’ve found a nice young man to bring home.  He’s nothing like those boys you dated in college.”

“Thank you, Sissy. I will endeavor to remain unlike the others that Marnie has dated in the past.” Lex peered past his hostess into a crowded living room. Marnie either had a large family or the entire town had appeared for his arrival.

He followed his host and hostess into the house and was instantly mobbed by the group.  Unlike other situations where he would have been very disturbed by the group behavior, he found this one to be reminiscent of some of his activities with the Kents.  Everyone was amiable and trying to alternately feed him and get him beverages.

“Hey, everyone!” Marnie called over the din.

“Yeah?” They all shouted back.

“Give the man room to breathe.  This is Lex and he’s here to meet you and get to know my family and friends.  It wouldn’t do to overwhelm him before he actually gets to eat something.” Marnie squeezed through the crowd to reach Lex and took his hand. “We’re heading to the buffet.  Give us a few minutes, okay?”

Lex heard various cat calls as they walked out of the room.

“I’m so sorry, Lex.  I have no idea how they got this many people together so quickly,” Marnie said. “I was expecting a small gathering of my parents and maybe a couple of their closest friends.  This is practically the whole town.”

“I wondered,” Lex said dryly. He eyed the laden tables in front of him. “How in the world did they get all this food together so quickly?”

“I imagine that there was some other party planned and they just moved it here.” Marnie peered at the table.  “Follow my lead and you should be fine.”

“I will trust your judgment.” Lex followed Marnie around the table and followed her advice on the food.  As he sat down and began to eat, he was impressed by the choices she’d made.  They all seemed geared toward a blending of his personal taste and what he’d enjoyed by being around Martha Kent.

When Lex came face to face with Sissy again, he was quick to compliment her on the food.  She flushed with pleasure and then said, “Hank wanted to see you in the barn.”

“Of course,” Lex replied, reminding himself that this wasn’t Smallville and the likelihood was that he wouldn’t be attacked by a farming implement if he walked into the barn. He made his way through the crowd of people speaking quickly and nicely to everyone.

It took him far longer than he’d expected to make it to the front door.  He turned to catch Marnie’s eye across the room and then inclined his head outdoors.  When he saw her nod, he opened the door and headed for the barn.

He wasn’t surprised to find Hank leaning against a hay bale waiting for him.

“Hank? Sissy said you wanted to se me.” Lex eased into the barn, allowing the door to remain slightly open behind him.

“I do, Lex,” Hank motioned for Lex to move closer.

Lex held his ground and waited for Hank to continue.

“I just wanted to talk with you about Marnie.  There are things about her that you should know.”

“Okay,” Lex said. “I’m listening.”

“My daughter tends to downplay her success.  She’s extremely good at what she does and I don’t want her to feel like she has to give up a career that she loves to be with you.”

“I can assure you, Hank, that I have no intention of asking Marnie to give up her career.” Lex forbore saying that he didn’t know what that career was. He assumed that if Marnie wanted him to know what she did, she would have volunteered the information to him at some point during the course of the show.

“It’s not just her career.  She’s created a strong circle of support in town, and I’m not sure that a move is in her best interests.”

“I can understand your concern, but my situation is such that I can’t move too far from Metropolis.  Marnie and I have discussed moving to a more suburban area, and I’m willing to consider that, but Opal City puts me too far from my business interests.” Lex paused and then added, “Marnie has led me to believe that her priorities, after marriage, will be children and family.  Are you saying that is not the case?”

“Oh, I’m not suggesting that at all.  I just think that moving her away from all of her support system would not be in her best interests.”

“She will always have my resources at her disposal.  She will be able to see her friends as often as she likes.  I’m not planning to move her to an island and chain her to the wall.”

“I do understand, Lex.  I didn’t mean to imply that you weren’t going to be reasonable, but I’m a father and Marnie is my only daughter. I can’t help but be concerned.”

“I think it’s admirable that you are concerned with more than how much money she can expect to have or what connections of mine she can use to further her own interests.”

“I’m far more concerned with her happiness than with her bank balance,” Hank said baldly. “I think we understand each other.”

“I think we do,” Lex replied, offering a hand and shaking Hank’s warmly when he held one out as well.

Lex and Hank walked back toward the house together.

“It goes without saying, Lex, that I’d prefer Marnie didn’t know what we discussed.”

“Of course,” Lex said. “Most women would be unhappy to discover their boyfriend and their father reaching an accord about their future.”

Marnie met Lex at the door of the house with a smile and a glass of tea. “I hope my Dad didn’t drive you crazy.”

“Oh, no, our discussion was quite informative.”

“Well, then, I’m glad.” Marnie smiled. “There are a few other people I’d really like you to meet.”

She led Lex back into the party and they began mingling with different groups of people.

“What was it like having a father interrogate you about your intentions?” Mark demanded as the scene faded from view.

“That was hardly an interrogation,” Lex said. “He has concerns and he asked about them.  I’ve done parental interrogation before.  It was far more uncomfortable than this was.”

Lex let his gaze wander to Clark and shared a brief grin with the other man.  Jonathan Kent could teach Hank a thing or two about interrogating a person.  He still remembered how nervous he’d been when he tried to convince the Kents that Clark’s appearance on the show would not compromise any of the values that the younger man had learned from his parents.

It had finally been Clark’s own insistence that Lex not go through this experience alone that overrode Jonathan’s concerns. Clark’s concern for his well-being and his happiness had always moved Lex, but he felt sure that his concern for Clark was equal or greater than Clark’s concern.

Clark couldn’t help but grin when Lex caught his eye.  Given the number of times that his Dad had pulled Lex into the barn for a chat, it was a wonder that Lex hadn’t immediately headed for the helicopter to get away.

While Lex didn’t think he’d made a decision, Clark felt certain that he had.  The way he talked about Marnie and the concern that he had for her happiness and welfare suggested to Clark that Lex would, ultimately, choose Marnie.  He tried to be happy about that, but he was finding it very difficult.

“As amazing as this sounds, folks, the date ends here,” Mark said. “Lex what happened after you went back in the party?”

“We talked with some of Marnie’s friends and then, due to an early meeting I had in Metropolis, we bid our farewells in a fallow field with the helicopter blades as our background music.  It was an impossible spot for filming, I’m afraid,” Lex said with a smirk.

“So I’ve heard,” Mark replied. “I’m sure you’re wondering where we go from here.”

“I assume that I’m to make my choice now and that we’ll go on to live happily ever after,” Lex said, smirking again.

“Actually, both Marnie and Delia are here tonight.  We’re going to invite both of them out here for a brief chat where you can ask any remaining questions you might have.  They will also be able to ask questions of you and each other.”

“That should prove interesting,” Lex said dryly.

“Once our discussion is complete, you will be asked to make your choice.”

“I see.”

“Without further ado, I’d like to invite Marnie and Delia to join us on the stage.” A curtain pulled back revealing both women standing somewhat apart from each other, but both smiling at Lex.

They’d clearly been dressed to highlight the differences between them.  Delia was in a slinky black dress that left little to the imagination, while Marnie was in a diaphanous blue number that highlighted her eyes and made her seem completely radiant.

“You both look beautiful,” Mark said as Lex stood to greet the two final contestants.  Lex gave each woman a hug and kiss on the cheek as they settled into seats on either side of him.

“So, tell us,” Mark said, “What has it been like dating Lex Luthor?”

“It’s been the most rewarding experience of my life,” Delia gushed.

“Surely there are other things that you’ve done that are more rewarding than dating someone,” Marnie protested.

“I’ve found Lex to be a fascinating and challenging individual who makes me grow with every interaction.  I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than that,” Delia protested.

In the audience, Clark rolled his eyes and almost laughed when he saw Lex catch him doing it.  Lex looked like he was about to choke trying to keep from laughing.

“How do you feel, Lex, about being the most rewarding experience in someone’s life,” Mark asked.

“I think it might be a bit of overstatement to suggest that I’m a rewarding experience.  However, I do try to challenge the person I’m with and if Delia feels challenged by me, then I’m accomplishing my personal goal.”

“What’s your experience been like, Marnie?” Mark asked.

“I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent with Lex.  He’s an interesting man and I hope to get to know him more in the future.”

“You don’t feel like you’ve gotten to know him well enough from our experiences here?” Delia demanded.

“I feel like I’ve gotten to know him on one level much like he’s gotten to know me to a certain level.  There is so much more to both of us, I suspect, than we could possibly reveal in a few short weeks on a television program.  Wouldn’t you agree, Delia?”

“I think I know what I need to know about Lex,” Delia said.

“And what do you think you know?” Marnie asked.

“I think I know what he needs and what he wants in a wife.  I know that I’m up to the job.”

“Are you suggesting I’m not?”

“Ladies, ladies.  You’ve both made it this far. I’m sure that Lex sees things in both of you that make him believe you would fit into his life,” Mark chided, though he was eating up the clear rivalry between the two women.

Lex leaned back on the couch to try to keep out of the discussion as much as possible.  It was clear to him, and to most of the audience, that both women had virtually forgotten his presence.

“Do either of you have any last questions for Lex?” Mark asked, once both women seemed to have calmed down.

“I think Marnie and I have both been hinting at it, Lex.  We’re very different women with different priorities.  How do you explain that we’re the final two?”

Lex studied her carefully for a moment and allowed himself to glance out toward Clark in the audience.

“I believe that most of us recall that you were not my choice.  You were Clark’s choice for me.  I have to agree, after due consideration, that he saw things that I didn’t in each of you that make you more appropriate possibilities for me than my own choices.”  Lex smiled out at Clark who gave him a weak grin in return.  Lex paused and thought about this for a moment.  Clark should have been pleased, instead he looked like he was about to be sick.

“But what do you see?” Delia demanded.

“I see two women who, though different, have similar strengths.  You’re both confident, smart, and socially aware.  Each of you would complement my personal and professional life.  I can see either of you fitting into my life and making a place for yourself without significant trauma to any of the parties involved.” Lex realized as he was saying these things that he could just as easily be describing Clark.  And why was he doing this again?  He was happy with his life and he was happy with having Clark in it. The only thing wrong with his life as it is was that Clark wasn’t in love with him.

But as he looked out at Clark again, he kept seeing something in his face that made him think maybe, just maybe, he should have actually talked to Clark about how he felt.  Maybe he wouldn’t be stuck marrying yet another appropriate, but ultimately not quite right, woman, because the right person for him wasn’t a woman at all.

Clark was trying not to fold in on himself as he watched Lex field questions and the women actually fight over him.  He supposed it was kind of funny – the kind of thing that Lex would normally abhor – but he just couldn’t find the humor. 

He felt Lex’s eyes on him again and looked up to see a questioning look from Lex.  It was like Lex was trying to figure something out and that he just couldn’t quite make everything fit together. Clark knew he was still struggling with his decision and wondered if he should try to help.  He wouldn’t be much help – honestly – because he couldn’t, at this point, recommend either woman.  He preferred Marnie, if he were pressed, but he would rather Lex remain alone or suddenly realize that he’d prefer to be with Clark.

Clark was glad, again, that he’d decided not to sit up on the stage with Lex and the women.  Marnie and Delia had begun trading insults again, and Lex was clearly beginning to get agitated.  Mark wasn’t helping the situation any, but Clark knew it had to be over soon.  There simply couldn’t be much more that any of them could say before Lex would have to make a choice.

Clark just hoped that Lex’s choice would be final and that he could then stop wearing the hair piece.

“Lex, do you have any final questions for our two candidates?”

“I do,” Lex said.  Whether he had questions or not, the producers had made it clear that he needed to ask something of each woman that would give the audience a final hint at the direction he was leaning.  Unfortunately, he still wasn’t sure which direction he was leaning, so the audience was just going to have to deal.

“Ask when you’re ready,” Mark prompted and then bit back anything else he might have said at the glare he received from Lex.

“Having now seen the conversation I had with your father, Marnie, do you feel that his concerns are valid?  Would you be unhappy moving from Opal City to Metropolis?”

“I think she would,” Delia said clearly.

“I believe I can answer for myself, thank you,” Marnie glared at her rival.  “It would be an adjustment.  I’m not going to say that I would be averse to moving, but I would need time to become accustomed to my new surroundings and I would expect to have your support and consideration during that transition.”

“You didn’t answer the question,” Delia said.

“To my satisfaction she did,” Lex said giving Delia a look that quelled any other objections she might make. He looked at each woman critically again – if only one of them could be Clark, then this wouldn’t be so difficult.

“And your question for Delia?”

“Why didn’t you introduce me to your family?” Lex asked.

“Well, why didn’t you introduce me to yours?” Delia responded.

“A lawyer would call that non-responsive,” Lex said with a smirk. “I introduced you to the family I’ve chosen rather than the family I was born to.  I can’t imagine a bigger honor than to be included in the Kent family – even in the smallest way. My own familial relations are strained, at best; the Kents have helped me find the best in myself and in others. I would choose a Kent over a Luthor most any time.”  Lex knew he would pay for that when the program was over, but he could claim heat of the moment and Lionel would get over it.

Clark felt a click reverberate in his head.  Lex wanted to be part of the Kent family.  Given a choice, if he knew he had it, Lex would choose Clark. Whether he realized it or not, Lex was in love with Clark.  The question was – what should Clark do about it? 

He wanted to jump from his chair and stop this before it hit a point where Lex was bound by something that he shouldn’t be. But Jor-El had said it had to be Lex’s choice.  He had no choice he had to sit, wait, and see what happened.

Lex noticed Clark tensing out of the corner of his eye and then he fell back in his chair looking defeated.  He hated that look on Clark – he’d seen it before.  He was straining so much to remember when he’d seen it that he missed Mark’s next question.

“Lex?”

Lex shook himself and looked to Mark. “What?”

“I take it you didn’t hear my question.”

“Obviously not,” Lex said, barely maintaining civility.  When had Clark last looked that defeated?  When was it?

“I asked if you have any more questions for our two candidates.”

“I do not,” Lex said. The last time Clark had looked that defeated . . .

“Then the time has come for you to choose.”  Mark waved his hands with a dramatic flair.  “Which woman will it be?  Marnie or Delia?”

The last time was when Lana had chosen to date that guy she was now so serious about.  God damn it – “Clark.”

“No, Lex.  Pay attention,” Mark realized he probably shouldn’t have said that at the lethal glare he received from Lex. “I asked you who you want to spend the rest of your life with?”

“I answered you – I choose Clark.”

Lex appeared stunned by the words coming out of his mouth, but no more stunned than Clark who was staring at Lex like he’d both lost his mind and granted Clark’s fondest wish.

“Good for you,” Marnie said quietly as she pushed Lex from the couch toward Clark. “Now go get him and get out of here.”

With Delia screeching in the background, Lex took the gentle prod from Marnie with a grateful smile and moved quickly toward Clark.

“You with me?” Lex asked.

“Always,” Clark said, grasping the outstretched hand and allowing Lex to lead him away quickly.

“Trust me?” Lex asked.

Clark nodded.  There was no question that he’d trust Lex.

“Good,” Lex said.

Clark allowed Lex to lead him out of the main room of the studio, through a warren of corridors and offices, and out the back door and into an alley, where Lex’s limo was waiting.  Lex opened the back door, allowed Clark to enter, and then followed him inside and shut the door.

The frosted glass between the front and back compartments slid open.  “Good evening, Mr. Luthor,” the limo driver said.  If he was confused by the fact that Lex’s companion was male or by the fact that he hadn’t received the expected call from the TV crew to bring the limo around to the front so that Lex’s departure could be filmed, it did not show in his tone.

“Good evening, Robert.  Please take us to the penthouse,” Lex said.

“Very good, sir,” Robert said, and then the glass slid shut again and the limo started out of the alley.

Clark, who had been silent since he agreed to follow Lex, finally spoke.  “Lex?”

“Yes, Clark?”

“Did you just do what I think you just did?”  Before Lex had a chance to answer, Clark continued.  “Are you completely out of your mind?  Have you just completely violated the contract with the production company?”

“Yes, no, and no,” Lex said with a smile.  Now that he’d made his decision, and had acted on it, he felt a sense of almost unworldly calm.  He’d done the right thing, his father and national television be damned.

Clark hardly seemed to have noticed Lex’s responses.  He just continued firing questions.  “And what about outing yourself like that on national TV?  And since when are you gay?  What was up with all those women you dated in the past?  And what does this mean...”  Clark was close to spilling more than he was at all ready for, as he speculated to himself whether or not Lex choosing him at the end of the show would satisfy the conditions sufficiently that Clark would get his hair back.  It was only because of quick thinking on his part that he ended that sentence with “...for the future?” and not “for my hair?”

Lex held up a hand.  “Clark, relax.  Everything will be resolved.  And to put your mind at ease, I’ll tell you that the contract with the producers of ‘Single Millionaire’ stated explicitly that I did not have to choose one of the contestants at the end of the final episode.”  That had been one of Lex’s make-or-break stipulations from the beginning, given his checkered marital history.

"But..."

"Clark, there's nothing to worry about, really."

"But..."

Lex slid over on the bench seat until his leg was pressed against Clark's.  "Clark," he said again, "don't worry."

"But..."

Lex shifted slightly and pushed on Clark's shoulder enough so that he shifted as well.  "It'll all be fine.  Trust me."

Clark looked like he was about to protest again, so Lex did the only thing he could -- he put his hands on Clark's shoulders, pulled Clark closer, and kissed him.

It was a closed-lipped, chaste kiss, no more intimate than kisses Lex had given Martha Kent in the past, except for its placement on Clark's lips rather than his cheek.  After a moment, Lex broke the kiss but did not release Clark's shoulders.

"Lex?" Clark asked.

"Yes?"

"This is real, right?  You really chose me instead of Marnie or Delia?"

"Yes, I did."

"I'm not imagining this, right?  I'm not still sitting in the studio, watching you make your final choice, am I?"

Lex laughed.  "No, Clark.  You're not imagining anything.  You're here in the back of my limo and we're heading to the penthouse, where I will make sure you eat dinner."  Lex knew that there were some prepared meals in the refrigerator, even though he'd told the staff not to expect him back until the next morning.

"Eat?"

"Yes, Clark.  Eat.  I know I haven't eaten since breakfast this morning, and I have to guess that you haven't either.  So let's go to the penthouse, have dinner, and then we'll figure out what happens from here."

Clark considered all that had happened since he'd headed to the studio, lingering in his mind over the kiss, and then said, "That sounds good to me."

"All right, then," Lex said.  He removed his hands from Clark's shoulders and sat back again in the seat.  Clark did the same, reaching out and taking Lex's hand in his as he resettled.

They were silent for the rest of the ride to the penthouse.  It was a comfortable silence, more comfortable than Clark and Lex had experienced since Clark had lost his hair.

Just as they were pulling up to the LexCorp building, Clark broke the silence.

"Oh, shit!  Chloe and Pete!"

"Language, Clark," Lex said.

As the limo came to a stop, Lex knocked on the glass.  “Take the rest of the night off, Robert,” he said when the panel slid open.

“Very good, Mr. Luthor.”

The panel slid shut again and the power locks opened.  Lex and Clark left the car and headed toward the private elevator to the penthouse in silence, lost in their own thoughts.

“Really, Lex,” Clark said as they rode up in the elevator, picking up the conversational thread from where he had left off in the car.  “I’m gonna be in such trouble.  Chloe’s gonna skin me alive.  And Pete...I can only imagine what his reaction is going to be.”

“Because I’m a Luthor?” Lex said, his tone bitter.

“No, Lex.  Because he’s convinced that Lana and I have a future.  It’s how he rationalizes his own lack of interest in Lana.”

“I see,” Lex said. 

The elevator doors opened and Lex led Clark to the penthouse door.  “Sorry it’s not the posh accommodations I’m sure that the producers had set for me.”

“Lex, it’s plenty posh.  And it’s familiar, unlike everything else that’s happened today.”

“All right, then.”  Lex unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing for Clark to precede him through the door.  Once they’d both entered, Lex closed and locked the door.  For a long minute, neither man moved.  Then, as if choreographed, they stepped toward each other and hugged.

“God,” Clark said, “I was so sure you were going to choose one of them.  I was so ready to run out instead of facing that.”

“Is that what all that was about?” Lex asked.

“All what?”

“Your face, Clark.  I was watching you, and minute to minute your expression kept changing, from joy to sadness to resignation.”

“I was hoping you hadn’t seen that.”

“I was worried about you,” Lex said.  He tightened his arms around Clark briefly and then loosened his hold but kept Clark in the circle of his arms.

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” Clark said.

“Nothing to be sorry for, Clark.  It all worked out in the end.” 

Lex fell silent, content to just hold Clark for a while.  There was so much that had to be said, so much that had to be figured out about the future, but now was not the time.

After a minute or two, though, Clark looked down at Lex.  “You said something about food?” he asked.

Lex laughed.  “Yes, I did, didn’t I?”  He broke the hug but took Clark’s hand as he headed to the kitchen, pulling Clark behind him.  “There’s bound to be plenty in the refrigerator.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the mood to really eat,” Clark admitted.  “I’m really hungry now.”

“Too nervous to eat?” Lex asked.  “Me, too.  Lunch sat on my desk, untouched, until Maxwell commented on it, and then I simply ate while he was watching me, mostly to make him go away.”

Lex opened the refrigerator and started pulling covered dishes out and lining them up on the kitchen island.  When he’d pulled out sufficient food to feed ten people – or one hungry Clark – he closed the refrigerator and started heating things in the microwave.

“I’ve been avoiding Chloe and Pete at meal times, because I knew they’d know something was up if I wasn’t eating.”  And that was another reason Clark felt guilty for leaving his two friends behind at the studio.

As if he could read Clark’s mind, Lex said, “Don’t worry about them – you’ll call them tomorrow, make amends.  Promise them a night of free rein in my game room here if you need to bribe them.”

“That’ll work for sure,” Clark said, laughing.

Lex finished heating up the food as Clark set the table.  Once both men were done with their allotted tasks, they sat at the kitchen table and passed food back and forth until they each had significant amounts of food in front of them.

Clark took his first bite and closed his eyes.  "Oh, yeah," he said, "I should've been eating here all week."

"The food has been here, Clark," Lex said.

"Yeah, I know.  Because you've been hiding in your office for most of the week."

"Except when you got me to come up and go to sleep," Lex reminded him.

"Right.  Exactly."  He paused.  "So, how stupid were we?"

"Pretty darn stupid, I'd say now.  But we didn't know how we felt for one another."

"And now we know?" Clark asked, still not completely sure of Lex's intentions.

"I'd say we do, Clark.  Not only that, all of America -- or, at least, the population that watches 'Single Millionnaire' -- knows."  Lex paused.  "Not that I did this as a publicity stunt or anything; don't ever think that.  I chose you because you are really the one I want.  I realized as I rewatched the dates with Delia and Marnie that I was constantly comparing them to you -- how you would react, what you might say, what you might do.  And it made me realize that I didn't want any of the women I'd been introduced to through the show; I wanted the person I already have in my life."

"And what about the problem of us both being guys?  Your dad's going to absolutely flip!"

"First off, Clark, my father -- despite what he might think -- has very little say over what happens in my life.  And, anyway, it's not like he doesn't know I date men."

Clark dropped his fork, and it clattered against his plate.  "What?!?"

"Do you remember the story I told Delia in the limo?  The one about my worst sexual experience?"

"Yes."

"It didn't happen exactly the way I told it to the camera.  The person in the car with me was my roommate.  My father convinced the press to print the Chantal story instead.  He was worried how it would affect my future in the business world if I was known to be bisexual."

“My dad wasn’t particularly supportive, either,” Clark said, “but he seemed to accept it.”

“Hang on, Clark.  Are you telling me that you told your father that you’re gay?”

“I told him I thought I was.”  Clark wasn’t ready quite yet to tell Lex that what he’d told Jonathan was that he thought he was in love with Lex.  There were other things they had to cover first.

“And he took it all right?”

“As well as I could’ve hoped.”

“That’s good,” Lex said, though he still had doubts about Jonathan’s reaction toward Clark’s being involved with Lex specifically.

They fell silent for a few minutes as they ate dinner, and then Clark spoke up again.  “Tell me honestly, Lex.  Were you always going to choose me?”

“Honestly, Clark, no.  But that was because I didn’t think you were interested.  The more I contemplated my future with the women that remained, the more I found myself contemplating what choosing one or the other of them would mean to my relationship with you.  And it finally occurred to me that who I really wanted was you, and that I was playing the game to satisfy other people.  And I really wasn’t sure if you were at all receptive, if you had similar feelings about me.  It was only while I was sitting there, watching your expression darken every time it looked like I was going to choose either Marnie or Delia that I put it all together.”  Lex put aside his napkin and stood up to begin clearing away the dishes.  “But that’s all past.  Now it’s just you and me, and we have much better things to be doing than dissecting the decisions that led up to us being here.”

Clark also stood and started helping clear the dishes and put away the remaining food.  When everything was back in the refrigerator and the dishes were stacked in the sink -- Lex having argued against washing them immediately -- Lex reached out his hand.

“Come with me?”

“Anywhere,” Clark responded, reaching out to clasp Lex’s hand in his.

Lex led Clark out of the kitchen and down the hall toward the master bedroom.  As they walked down the hall, Clark began to get more and more nervous.  When they got to the doorway of Lex’s bedroom, Clark stopped short, causing Lex to be jerked back slightly.

“What’s wrong, Clark?” Lex asked, turning to face Clark.

“This is...”  Clark gestured toward the open door, indicating not just the room itself but the bed and, by extension, all it symbolized.

There were times, Lex knew, where his verbal powers of persuasion -- impressive though they were -- were not sufficient.  Instead, he wrapped his arms around Clark’s waist and then reached up and kissed Clark, infusing the kiss with all the emotion he hadn’t previously shown Clark.  When he finally pulled back, releasing Clark’s lips but not relinquishing his hold, Clark was gasping for breath.

“Clark?” Lex asked softly.

“Mm?”

“Trust me.”

Clark nodded, and Lex unwrapped one arm from around Clark’s waist, using the other to guide Clark into the bedroom.  At the foot of the bed, Lex stopped but still did not remove his arm from around Clark's waist.

"We're not going to do anything tonight you don't want, Clark," Lex said.  "We've both waited for too long to screw this up by rushing anything.  That said, however..."  He paused.

"Mm?" Clark said again, still not sure of his voice.

"We're both way, way overdressed."

Lex undid his tie and then began removing the suit he'd worn for the finale.  After a minute, Clark did the same, taking off the jacket of the suit that Lex had purchased for him and loosening his tie.  He draped the jacket over the back of the chair in Lex's sitting area, not wanting to wrinkle the obviously expensive suit.

Lex stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt and then paused.  "If you'll be more comfortable, I can put on sweatpants, and you can put on whatever you want," he said.

"No," Clark said, speaking for the first time since Lex had asked for his trust.  "It's not like anything we'd put on would be staying on for too long."

"It doesn't have to play out that way if you don't want it to," Lex said, though he hoped that Clark would want what Lex himself wanted.

"I want, Lex.  I'm just not...familiar," Clark responded, blushing and ducking his head.

"Don't worry, Clark," Lex said, returning to Clark's side and smoothing a hand down Clark's arm.  "I can...familiarize you."

Lex kissed Clark again, pulling Clark against himself but not so hard that Clark couldn't pull himself free if he wished.  After a few minutes, though, Clark pulled away from the kiss.

"I've always found this easier sitting down," Clark said.  "Of course, everyone I've ever kissed has been at least a foot shorter than me."

Lex took Clark's hand again and led him to the side of the bed.   They sat on the edge and began kissing again.  Soon, however, they shifted so that they were lying on their sides facing each other.

"Clark?"

"Yeah?" Clark answered, stringing kisses down Lex's jaw.

"In my estimation, you're still wearing more than you should be."

"You may be right," Clark said.  He continued to kiss Lex, leaving his jaw and making his way down Lex's neck.

"Clark.  Clark.  Clark."  The strident tone of the last caught Clark's attention, though Lex couldn't say for sure if the tone was due to his desire to get Clark's attention or to the light nip Clark had given to the area immediately under Lex's adam's apple.

"Yes?" Clark said, looking up.

"I'd like you to take off..."

Clark sat up and pulled his t-shirt off over his head. 

Lex cleared his throat.  "That wasn't exactly what I meant, though I appreciate that, too." 

Lex pulled his t-shirt off, as well, placing it on the chair next to the bed.  When he turned back to face Clark, he found Clark shooting him a confused look. 

"What did you mean then?"

"I want...  If you're willing, I'd like you to take the wig off.  It's just the two of us here.  I don't want any artifice between us."

Clark swung around until he was sitting on the edge of the bed again.  "It'll take me a couple of minutes to remove it," he said.

“Don’t you need my help?  I thought you were worried about damaging it.”

“If you remember, you were pulling a marathon work night when I told you that.  I knew you’d come upstairs with me if I needed you.”  Clark smiled.  “But, really, I can do it myself.  Though, as I said, it’ll take me some time.”

"I know.  I've waited this long; another couple of minutes won't kill me."

"Okay," Clark said, getting up and heading toward his room.  Lex took the opportunity to hang Clark's suit in the closet and to check the contents of his bedside table drawer.  Not that he anticipated needing the majority of the supplies there, but he figured it never hurt to be prepared for any eventuality.

When Clark returned, Lex was lying in the center of the bed.  Clark paused again in the doorway.

"Still nervous?" Lex asked.

"A bit.  But I was really just enjoying the view."  He grinned, and Lex thought it lit Clark's entire face.

"It's even better from here," Lex said, returning Clark's assessing gaze.

Clark returned to the bed, sliding in next to Lex.  "So, where were we?"

"Somewhere here," Lex said, rolling onto his side and kissing Clark's shoulder.  He reached up and cupped Clark's head in his hands, lightly caressing the thin fuzz of hair he found there as he pulled Clark back into a kiss.

They kissed for a long while, and then they started discovering each other with hands and lips.  The longer they explored, the bolder they became, until they both found themselves hampered by the other's boxer shorts.  In unspoken agreement, they helped each other remove the interfering clothing, and then, for the first time, they were completely exposed to each other.

For an extended moment, they simply looked at each other.  But it wasn't enough.  They had to touch, to feel, to experience.  No longer timid, their touches became bold, each seeking the other's sensitive spots.  They stroked and caressed, teased and played, until they were both on the edge of orgasm.  Then Clark shifted his hip and their erections came into contact.

"Clark," Lex said once more as he climaxed.

"Oh, God, Lex," Clark responded, reaching his own climax.

As they lay against each other, still entwined, Lex felt himself relaxing for the first time in as long as he could remember.  He had Clark in his arms; he'd found what -- and who -- he'd been searching for.

He considered saying something, but then he heard the soft snoring coming from Clark.  He smiled, promising himself he'd have other opportunities to tell Clark.

When Clark awoke, he found himself being watched by Lex.

“Clark, when did you get up and put the wig back on?” Lex asked.  “Don’t you remember that you shouldn’t sleep in it?”

“Huh? What?”  Clark came more fully awake and put a hand up to his head and felt his completely regrown hair.  “Oh, cool,” he whispered.  To Lex he said, “I didn’t put the wig back on.”

“But...  How...”  Lex couldn’t even conceptualize the question he wanted to ask.

“Lex, I have something I need to tell you.”

The Beginning