Chapter 2: Projects and Plans of Love and Courage

A/N: Sorry for the wait on this. I struggle with health issues and it tends to play havoc with my fanfic writting. I also apologize if its not as thrilling as the last chapter.. but I do hope you enjoy it. Please be patient i promise lots of Chlark and sexy Chlark at that coming soon. Shortly after Christmas probably :)

Thanks to Summer for looking this over and giving input and fixing my punctuationally challenged mistakes.. Also thanks to Onoxxx, Kitty, D and Jeff for thoughts and encouragement.

ღ Chapter 2: Projects and Plans of Love and Courage.

"No no no no.. Damn it! No" The words came out vehemently and half mumbled. There was way to much light in the apartment and noise. Who was so rude enough to be making so much gawd dang noise at this hour?

Lois pulled herself up and realized she was in the bed rather the couch. Chloe.. sweet Chloe who she now remembered had held her hair and rubbed her back when the sherry mixed with ice cream tried to revisit her in the middle of the night, had given up half her bed.

However, at that moment Chloe wasn't seeming so sweet as she sung to herself, the sound echoing off the bathroom walls and reverberating in Lois' head. Having a nice voice didn't save Chloe from the scowl that spread across Lois' face.

"No Op.." Lois started to yell but quickly put a hand to her head at the pain that flashed through it. "No Opera's.." This time she hissed it loudly but no where near what was required to catch her happy cousins attention.

The thought struck Lois hard enough she fell back onto the pillow with a groan. Chloe sounded happy..no.. not just happy. She hadn't heard Chloe sound like this or sing to herself for ages. Not since her and Jimmy had been at their best..when Chloe had been fooled into thinking she had conquered her feelings for Clark.

Chloe was care free. How, during the night, had Chloe come to this? Not that Lois was complaining per'se, but it didn't seem entirely natural. It worried her. Did Chloe have a mental breakdown?

Despite her worry, Lois couldn't get herself to move from the bed and confront the cousin in question. Chloe solved the dilemma for her, coming out of the bathroom not even five minutes later. Looking what Lois could only explain as..dolled up.

Lois cracked an eye at her as if trying to decide if Chloe was high or something. "Where you going? I thought you had to work."

"I do.."

Eyebrow raised, Lois forced herself to sit up and lean against the headboard, "Isn't Clark coming with breakfast?"

"Yep..should be here soon" Chloe's tone was so happy it made Lois' teeth ache.

"I see. So why are you dressed like that?"

Chloe turned from looking herself over in the mirror to stare at Lois. "What do you mean?"

Closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath, Lois gave a very slight shake to her head, it was all she could handle . "Chloe.. please don't play coy.. You look like you're dressed to go to the prom or whatever. "

"This is hardly a prom dress Lois."

"No, I guess not..but its hardly intrepid reporter attire either."

Neither remotely put out or understanding Lois' issue with her outfit, Chloe began looking through her jewelry. She wanted something nice around her neck. Something that would flatter her cleavage.

Watching, Lois decided Chloe had gotten bitten by the crazy bug, or drank the rest of the sherry. With a huff, she pulled her legs over the side of the bed and wobbly made her way towards the bathroom. A shower would cut the crap from the hangover and she'd feel human again. Maybe after Chloe would make sense.

It didn't work. The water ran out five minutes in and Lois got out quickly and dressed. Hoping atleast a cup of coffee from Clark would be what she needed.

Clark hadn't arrived yet. Lois laid down on the couch depressed and continued to watch Chloe move about their apartment as if she was a no more then an adolescent preteen high on love. It was driving Lois mental.

They lived in Smallville..this could not be good, definitely not if it happened over night. Pinching the bridge of her nose. Lois tried to get Chloe to sit down, talk to her but Chloe seemed to be on another planet entirely.

There was knock at the door and Lois let out a breath of air she hadn't realized she had been holding.

Chloe breezed to the door and opened it. Lois swore she was seeing her cousin lean against the door frame provocatively. Was Chloe flirting? With Clark? Now?

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Clark hoped the extra amount of maple donuts would get Lois off his back for being late. Before he had even arrived at the bakery to pick up donuts and bagels, he found himself stopping an accident from going from a little fender bender to something far bigger. 

Relieved that he had been able to do so without being seen and watching to make sure all was okay though, delayed him by about five minutes. Which was enough to get Lois ammunition against him and considering her mood since Oliver left he was expecting the worst.

What he had not been expecting was to find Chloe, who he knew would understand, smiling at him the way she was..or wearing what she was. For a brief second he found himself returning her smile, his eyes roving over her, taking her all in.

She was always pretty to him but she seemed to have a glow about her now that he couldn't explain and it really didn't matter.

"Hello Clark.." Chloe practically purred at him.

That broke the moment just slightly. "Uh..I..Uh Hi Chloe" Clark stammered back, unsure of where to focus his eyes. Confused at what was going on. Was Chloe going out? On a date? Didn't she have to work?

He found himself frowning, wondering why he didn't know about this date and who it was with.

"Come in Clark." She made the move to grab his hand but was intercepted by Lois who roughly yanked Chloe aside. Clark stepped in, his frown deepening as he realized he must be intruding on something only girls understood.

Chloe sputtered, "Lois what are you doing?"

Pulling Chloe away from Clark and towards the bedroom Lois hissed, "Okay.. I know I've been encouraging you to embrace your inner Clark love and face the ole' red and blue and all that but THIS" She indicated Chloes attire. "Is not how to go about it.. Seriously! Chloe what are you thinking? I mean yes Clark isn't one for catching subtle hints but .."

"Lois" Chloe shook her head amused. "I'm not worried and you shouldn't be either. I can do this. It was like I had this epiphany last night, when it comes to him. I can do this. "

Pinching the bridge of her nose again Lois took in a deep breath wishing her head would stop pounding and give her a chance to catch up with this new Chloe. "Fine.. Just..tone it down a knotch. Clark may need a chance to play catch up on this new you, comprende?"

The oddly sweet and happy smile filled Chloe's face again. "I promise. " Chloe suddenly felt her nerves return for a moment. "I can do this.. " She took Lois' hand. "Thank you... I guess I did lose my head for a bit there."

Feeling relief that Chloe was a bit more herself Lois gave her a kind smile. "Nah cuz.. I'm glad you feel ready to face your fear. About time. But" She pulled her closer, glancing conspiratorially at Clark who fidgeted while getting plates out. "Lets not chase him away being too overly enthusiastic. This is Clark we are talking about.."

She narrowed her eyes at him, causing Clark to swallow and wonder what he had done, he so badly wanted to eavesdrop but fear of Chloe's retaliation for privacy invasion kept him in check.

"Yes, you are right!.." Chloe turned more so her back was to Clark and looked Lois straight in the eye, "I look okay.. I mean, this.." She looked down at her clothes realizing they were a bit more..revealing then she usually wore. "Isn't going to ruin anything.."

Lois took her in one more time. "Chloe you look beautiful. And I think.." Remembering the way Clark had practically swooned towards Chloe when she had opened the door. "Clark loves it. I just recommend a little something to cover it while at work. I mean Clark won't be there the whole time so lets not attract unwanted attention."

Rolling her eyes Chloe nodded, She couldn't explain why she had thought this was a good idea. But now she knew everything Lois said was true..though she was loathed to change or give up her plans. Actually she decided to herself she wasn't going too, just modify them a bit. She had no intention of frightening Clark off.

It was a possibility considering how timid the guy could be. How could he be so hot and yet so.. awkwardly stupid when it came to taking hints.

Lois left Chloe's side after whispering one last bit of encouragement and snatched at the plate Clark had in his hands. "Thank You.. good idea Smallville maple donuts." She looked around, "Now where is the coffee?"

Clark lifted up the cup and placed it before her "There, happy?"

"Not even close..but this will do for now." Amused at the continuing bewildered look on Clark's face. It made her happy she wasn't the only one a bit lost today.

"Thank You Clark.. ignore Lois.." Chloe came from the room now wearing a shrug over her revealing top. It may have covered up more of her chest but it didn't do much to stop his imagination.

Taking her own plate and coffee, Chloe missed Lois choking on her coffee as she caught sight of her addition. It wasn't exactly what Lois had meant. The shrug was designed more to tease then to be modest. Where in the world did Chloe pick that up?

Realizing that Chloe wasn't going to turn it down a notch, Lois sprang up from her seat, intent on doing damage control. Much needed damage control as Chloe leaned forward to slowly pick up a napkin she didn't need, letting Clark get a long look down the front of her top.

Half way into his sentence Clark started to stutter, "I..I..was...figur.." He glanced away blushing slightly. "figuring.." Trailing off when it was apparent he didn't have the girls complete attention.

What was wrong with them?

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If she hadn't been her cousin Chloe would have killed her. The first ten minutes in the car together would have seemed to an outsider like a prempt to war. The tension had been thick, mostly from Chloe's end. On Lois' part it had been all about confusion and worry of the increasing strange behavior of the cousin who was like a sister.

Silence had become the chosen method of handling their issue until neither one could handle the awkwardness of it and they had begun to argue over the details of handling one particular man.

Chloe gripped the steering wheel hard enough to turn her knuckles white as she listened to Lois excuse how she ruined every chance she had to touch or cozy up to Clark. What was so wrong that she couldn't be near him? Lois had even given her a pep talk, and here Chloe had even taken it to heart trying not to scare Clark away but Lois suddenly had been all up in her face again. Only instead of a one on one it had been Lois playing monkey in the middle between them.

"You'll thank me when you have a clear head Chloe. You did see Clark's face right?"

Chloe took a deep breath before answering, "Considering how everytime I went to even look at him you stood in the way I can't say I did."

Lois rolled her eyes, "I gave you plenty of time to talk to him, but running your finger down the front of his jacket like that was hardly toning down the enthusiasm was it?"

"Do you want me to face this elephant Lois or not? "

"Of course I do! Good grief Chloe seeing you pine after him is doing my head in and my heart isn't fairing better alright!" Lois ranted back in the same frustrated tone Chloe had used on her. "What's gotten into you?"

"I told you. I had an epiphany and am trying to enjoy the consequences of it before it leaves me!" Chloe snapped back before hitting the steering wheel. The traffic really sucked as they headed into Metropolis.

Lois groaned and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Any other day..any other girl or guy and she'd have just stood back and watch the fallout. But this was her cousin and if project 'just friends no more' was to succeed then Lois knew she had to continued to do damage control. Clark had looked like a panicked deer in headlights during his brief time at the Talon that morning.

"Chloe, I'm sorry its just you seem like you tapped into some liquid courage and well, it was wigging me out!"

Chloe pressed her lips together. All she wanted was to get to work and get it over with so she could hopefully spend time with Clark. The plan she hope to set in motion was once again being delayed, this time not by unwanted cousin hindrance but by the traffic in front of her. Why couldn't she have Clark's super powers too?

"Okay Chloe." Lois responded to her silence. "I get it. I really am sorry but I still think when you are a bit more like yourself you'll thank me. Coming on to Clark first thing in the morning was not the route to go. But as I told you earlier..I believe you can do this. Just as yourself okay?"

'Fine .." Chloe managed to get out without sounding like she was gonna take Lois' head off.

It went silent again the only sound to be heard was the growling of half empty stomachs as no one had really gotten much to eat with the three's a crowd performance that had played out. Lois gazed out the window wishing she could start her day over.

A half hour later, once Lois was dropped off at her job and Chloe rode up the elevator in the Daily Planet did the words sink into her.

But as I told you earlier..I believe you can do this. Just as yourself okay?

Could she really do this as her usual self. Despite Lois interference Chloe had felt stronger then ever that morning. Yes, she had some nervousness but she had been able to express some of how she really felt without feeling tons of shame and fear. Of course due to Lois, Clark probably hadn't seen any of it so now how did she show him. The plan was to call him and ask him to meet her for lunch, then hopefully make plans for that night. Even if it meant on the pretense of just some friend time. Yet, Chloe found she had a need to do more then just meet up with him. She really really wanted to show him how she felt.

I'm sorry its just you seem like you tapped into some liquid courage

Liquid courage. The words rang in her head and she made her way to her desk. Yes maybe Lois was right, she had tapped into some liquid courage. Who knew a blissful bath could impower her so much?

Courage...

Confidence...

The word was familiar for another reason and Chloe realized why. If Surrender was able to help with achieving her emotional epiphany then what would a little tube of confidence do?

Opening her purse, Chloe dug inside it till she felt the cold tube. Pulling it out she turned it over in her fingers. Another place and time she would have snorted with disdain at the thought playing through her head, the very idea that a lip gloss could do anything more then make her lips shiny.

But this wasn't the Chloe of yesterday. This was one filled with determination, who was tired of waiting for the boy to fly back to her. No..time to take the bull by his horns, or in this case her best friend by his lapels and kiss him senseless. Or was that kiss some sense into him?

The gloss was a very faint pink with brilliant red sparkles that shimmered in the light streaming down from the window on to her desk in the bullpen. Mesmerized momentarily by the effect Chloe was snapped out of it by the phone on her desk ringing.

Picking it up she barely registered what she was hearing. Her source blabbering about a recent string of weird incidents at spa's, something about massage oils and people getting frisky or violent or something or the other. Writing down the necessary info Chloe thanked her source and returned her gaze to the lip gloss.

It was time for a bit more courage. Maybe it wouldn't do anything ,it was after all just lipgloss but just maybe she'd get a boost of inspiration on how to show Clark what she felt. Twisting the tube she brought it to her lips and gave a small gasp as a tingling sensation shot through them. It was almost electrifying but oddly pleasant.

Unknown to her the little red sparkles not only gave her lips just a touch extra colour but soaked into her bloodstream as she pressed her lips together. They entered her system, colliding with bits already there from the bath the night before. Their radiation flowing through out her and recharging the very feeling that Chloe Sullivan could tackle any problem and the one problem Chloe wanted most to tackle was Clark Kent.

Slipping the tube back in her purse Chloe picked up her phone and dialed an all too familiar number. "Hi Clark.. Yes, I know.. I don't know what got into her either... Me? I'm fine. More then fine..Look Clark, I was hoping you'd met me for lunch. I've something I'd like to show you... " Her eyes fell on her computer as the inspiration hit, "..Thanks, I promise you're going to love it!"

ღ

Jimmy Olson, had lately, avoided as much as possible any real one on one with a certain blonde. Mostly because as much as his own heart hurt he didn't like seeing her upset nor enjoyed the incredibly awkward moments that occurred when they were together since breaking up.

He couldn't deny either that there was at times an extreme jealous reaction at the thought of Chloe with the guy he knew she really wanted. This jealousy sometimes got the best of him and Jimmy didn't like being that sort of guy. First because it wasn't him and second because neither Chloe or Clark were bad people.

It was in these feelings that he did as he usually did: tried to avoid direct contact when in the bullpen and never be left alone with Chloe. Cause sometimes despite his best efforts that jealousy reared its ugly head. Twice last week he found himself throwing out little barbs and each time upon leaving Chloe, he felt like he was two inches tall.

He got off the elevator to find a number of people standing near the entrance to the bullpen. All of them had their attention focused on the inside of it. Right near the center where Chloe's desk was. Jimmy frowned when he heard Chloe's voice, realizing she must have been giving some sort of speech and was interrupted by Clark.

Squeezing the best he could through the onlookers he found Chloe beaming down at Clark, who was about as red as Jimmy had ever seen a man get.

Unfazed by Clark trying to get her to stop, Chloe continued not just beaming with happiness but seeming to be very proud. "I can no longer hold it in. You are my sun and my moon. ..I "

"Alright Chloe..thanks!" Clark suddenly pulled Chloe down from on top of her desk, guiding her towards the back copy room, away from the gawkers.

Jimmy gave a sigh at the happy look on Chloe's face as she was lead away by an extremely embarrassed Clark.

He wasn't sure why there had been a performance of desktop poetry from Chloe to Clark in the bullpen or even totally understand the whispers from his coworkers about the event. Just that Clark was able to put that smile on her face, even get her to go to such great lengths to express her feelings. Defeated Jimmy went back to work, shoulders slumped. Getting Chloe back wasn't ever going to be an option. He only could hope Clark would appreciate the opportunity he now had, and how very special Chloe Sullivan was.

It was about five minutes later when Jimmy was done with his bull pen errands and without thinking made for the back copy room. It was the usual for him, to stop in there last to do any copying that might need to be done before heading out.

Placing a hand on the door he heard a moan and froze. The shades were down but further along one of the windows he could see where one of them hadn't quite closed properly. Taking a quick look Jimmy's eyes widened. For the sight before him wasn't one he expected to see at work. Clark and Chloe kissing. Chloe sitting on the copier and Clark with his shirt off.

Jimmy spun around wishing he could un-see his ex making out with her new boyfriend.

"Damn"

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A/N: I promise loads of Clark/Chlark POV in the next Chapter. Including what happened at the DP and in the Copy room.