Fic: Two Bits [SMLJ series] Chloe, Lois, Clark. Ollie. (rated teen)
Two Bits
Fandom: Smallville
Characters: Chloe Sullivan, Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Oliver Queen
Rating: Teen (strong language)
Summary: Post Season 9. Chloe has a little secret she's not aware of.
Author Notes: Part of the Stars are Made of Lemon Juice series.
=^o.O^=
Lois jumped to conclusions because it saved her time when she was right. She pushed Chloe down on the couch and dropped a nauseatingly pastel box on her lap. "Go. Pee."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "The what where now?"
"You're pregnant. Go prove it."
"Sorry to pause your PVRed tabloid talk show, Lois, but you're talking crazy talk."
Lois counted off points with her fingers. "You have seven new sets of extremely sexy underwear, you don't come home half the week, you smell like Ermenegildo Zegna--"
"That's not how it's pronounced."
"Pfft." She waved the comment away. "Don't distract me. You haven't bugged me for your monthly Hagen Daas Caramel Cone Explosion and Notting Hill sobfest twice now and as much as I hate the idea of Julia Roberts with the adorkable shlebbiness of Hugh Grant, that is just not right. You're sleeping with Ollie and now he's gone and knocked you up."
"Ollie and I are not going out."
"Who said anything about going out? You're scratching each other's itches which is way more than I can say about me and Mr. Plaid Promise Ring and considering how smashing the guy is in bed, go you, two-bit."
Cautiously, Chloe said, "So, you're okay with it?"
"Hell no! Where does he get off sleeping with you without making a commitment? I know his priorities screw towards leather and rooftops-- and by the way, don't give me any hand-wavey denial about it because I know because I'm awesomesauce-- but I'd've at least expected a bit more wining and dining on his part."
"The strike tag on wining and dining was my idea," said Chloe. "I'm not ready for a relationship and I'm certainly not going through the tabloid fodder you did when you went out with Ollie. We work together, and yes, sometimes, we..."
"Polish the whiteboard? Leverage a little nookie? Test the ergonomics of the office chairs?"
"Lois!"
"Sorry! Except not really because you're a really amazing shade of pink right now. I think I can probably toast breakfast on your cheeks if you ate breakfast which you don't because you've been throwing up the minute I even mention pastry."
Chloe pushed Lois aside as she bolted for the bathroom.
"Like so." Lois filled a glass with ice and water and snagged a clean face towel from the linen cupboard before joining Chloe in the bathroom. Her cousin hunched over the toilet dry-heaving. Lois wet the towel, folded it in thirds and placed it on the back of Chloe's neck.
"Jesus." Chloe pulled off the towel to wipe her mouth. She leaned back against Lois and let out a ragged breath.
Lois embraced her tightly. "Want me to kick his ass?"
"Nah, it's a nice ass."
"It is." She stroked her Chloe's hair and they sat on the very uncomfortable linoleum while the radio blasted alt-country.
Chloe's eyes were closed, her breaths forcibly regular. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"It's okay. I've gotten used to everyone telling me nothing."
"Lois--" She bit her lip.
"I don't mind," Lois said. "It's kind of like Christmas when you know your presents are unwrapped somewhere in the house. Makes looking for it more fun. Besides, I know a lot more than you and your merry band of comic book geeks give me credit for."
"Oh, really?"
"Yup. I'm awesomesauce, remember?"
"You are." Chloe squeezed her hand. "Okay. I'm ready to pee now."
***
Look-before-you-leap factored heavily in everything Chloe did. She couldn't be Watchtower or do half the things she'd been subjected to since high school freshman year otherwise. Which is why she now faced the mirror in Watchtower's sole bathroom to practice what she'd say to Ollie when he inevitably swung by this evening.
"Ollie, we have to talk," she told her reflection, pulling her face into solemnity. "Yuck. No, that's a relationship face. Hey, Ollie! Guess what? I personally know your swimmers are in excellent health. How? Well--- argh! No. Lame, lame, lame." She took a deep breath. "Arrow, something vital's come up in-- Wow. Using business. This is sad."
"Chloe?" She jumped and twirled around. Clark looked at her, worry wrinkling his forehead. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she chirped. "Never better."
"When Lois says that, I start prepping to save her from injury."
"I'm not injured."
He dipped his chin and kept on staring. Not for the last time, Chloe suspected Kryptonians had some sort of mind-meld powers because that expression made her want to blurt out everything then feed him hot chocolate.
"All right. But if you have anything at all on your mind, you know you can talk to me, right?"
"Of course, Clark. So, what can I do for you?"
He handed her a manila envelope and a croissandwich. Chloe up-chucked on his trenchcoat.
"Oh. I thought you liked roast beef and havarti."
***
That's how Chloe ended up in the waiting room of a doctor's clinic with Lois and Clark flanking her. "The concern's greatly appreciated, guys, but I think I can handle it from here."
"I'm here to make sure you don't have another episode," said Clark.
"And I'm here to kick your ass," said Lois.
Clark frowned at her. "Lois."
"Smallville."
They exchanged nonverbals: Lois arched her eyebrows, Clark's lips twitched on one side, Lois tapped her fingers on her lap, Clark let out a sigh and a smile which Lois promptly returned.
"Get a room," Chloe said glumly, planting her chin on her hand.
"I can't." said Lois. "You barfed all over it."
"Chloe Sullivan?" A nurse called out.
Chloe ran for safety.
***
Over raspberry sorbet swimming in hot fudge, Lois told Chloe, "Whatever you decide to do, two-bit, I'm absolutely, one-hundred-and-forty-seven percent behind your back."
"That's great, once I figure out what I'm going to do." Chloe stirred her sorbet. Pink streaked through the hot fudge. "I'm so not ready to be a mom. Work is just... a lot of work. And my most intimate relationship is a toss up between my Blackberry and a billionaire who's still not over my cousin."
"Hey." Lois nudged her foot. "Ollie is totally over me."
"Ollie will never get over you," said Chloe. "He still has a picture of you on his phone."
Lois wriggled uncomfortably. "We're friends."
"Keep swimming in that river of denial, Lois. I hear the water's peachy."
Throwing up her hands, Lois said, "I can't control Ollie's damage which is why if you had asked me, which you didn't which we are so revisiting at a later date, I'd've told you to steer clear from those puppy browns. Or at least used a lot of spermicide."
Chloe stuck her tongue out. "Seriously though, I'm not in love with Ollie. That's part of the trouble. If I was, this would be a much easier decision. Y'know, bear his love-child--" Lois failed to hide a snicker; Chloe made a face at her again which ended in a smile-- "and all that Nicholas Sparkism. But we're just fuck-buddies who fell into that stupid eight percent failure-rate for oral contraceptives. My work is..."
"Dangerous," said Lois.
"... is what it is."
"Which is dangerous."
"Hi Pot, my name is Kettle. It's still not what scares me the most." She took on an unfounded fascination muddiness of her dessert. "I'm a meteor mutant." She didn't look up, not wanting to see Lois' expression.
"Oh. Did... did you think I'd freak out about it? Because I'm not. I happen to be pro-powers."
"No." Chloe sighed. "No, I didn't think you would. Maybe before when I found out."
"Which was when?"
"A while ago. Remember when you snuck into Reeves Dam looking for evidence on LexCorp's involvement with Wes Keenan? You... I found you and you were... well, mostly dead."
"Which is better than all dead."
Chloe hiccupped. "Yeah. Just call me Miracle Max."
"Wait." Lois straightened. "So that's why you were KO when I work up. That's your power? To absorb people's injury? And you thought I'd get mad about it?"
"No! Well, maybe then?" Chloe stirred her sorbet some more. It now looked perfectly inedible. "I was so confused myself and by the time I figure it would be okay to tell you, it had been so long that my keeping the secret would make you angry, I thought. But that's not even the worst part. I might've gotten my mutation from Mom which means my kid could be a mutant. Or psychotic."
"Chloe!"
"Call it what it is, Lois. My mom is at least clinically depressed, not that I blame her. So now I have two wonderful legacies for my little stowaway; three if you count shortness."
"Oh, two-bit." Lois slipped out of her chair and onto the couch where Chloe was trying her best to curl into a ball.
"It would be better if I terminate." The word caught in her throat. Chloe tried to curl in even further but Lois' hold prevented it. Finally, she couldn't resist it any more; she turned into her cousin's embrace. Lois petted her hair and rubbed her back, as though she were a child again. They rocked, curled around each other, tears streaking down both their cheeks.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Chloe?" Ollie knocked again. "Can we talk?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to kick his ass?" Lois whispered.
Chloe let out a curt laugh. "Tempting but he signs my cheques."
"I'll get rid of him." Lois hopped off the couch. She cracked the door open. "Now's not a good time, Ollie."
"Please. I really need to talk to Chloe."
"It's after-hours and right now, no overtime on Earth is worth this."
"Lois, you don't understand--"
"No, Ollie, you don't understand that off-hours means off-hours. Now run along until Chloe clocks in again in the morning, mm-kay?"
"This can't wait until morning."
Lois turned around. "I'm sorry, coz, I will have to kick his ass after all."
Chloe waved her away. "Let him in. I can spare five minutes." Lois put her hands on his hips. "I can!" Chloe insisted.
Reluctantly, Lois stepped aside. Ollie entered, worried, his shirt wrinkled even worse than usual, a paper bag in one hand. "Can I talk to her in private?"
"It's okay," Chloe assured her cousin once again.
Shaking her head, Lois said, "Remember, it's your body and your decision. No one can tell you what to do."
"I know. Thank you."
"And you--" Lois jabbed Ollie's chest. "We're going to have words, Oliver Jonas Queen. Now gimme the bag."
Ollie drew away. "This is for Chloe."
"I know what it is and trust me, Chloe doesn't want it."
"But it's an almond mocha and pain de chocolat."
Chloe slapped a hand over her mouth and sprinted for the bathroom.
Lois glared at Ollie and snatched the offending paper bag away. "Words,.Oliver Queen. Words."
***
When Chloe gargled, washed, dried, combed and otherwise exhausted all her excuses, she returned to the main room to find Ollie standing by the kitchen counter. Two mugs steamed near his hands.
"Ginger tea. I heard it was good for..." His voice trailed off as he focussed on her stomach.
Nervously, Chloe straightened her shirt. "Thanks."
They sipped without making eye-contact.
"Were you ever going to tell me?" asked Ollie.
"Tell you what?"
"You're not the only one who can hack phones into being transmitters."
"Touché." Chloe took another sip of her tea. "I really don't know what I'm going to do yet, Ollie. But I would've told you once I made a decision."
"Chloe, I--" He ran his hands through his hair. "Do you want to get married?"
She laughed. "Stop yourself."
"I mean it."
"No, you don't and even if you did, I wouldn't accept because I don't want to marry you. I'm still hurting from my last one. Besides, I'd still work for you and occasionally sleep with you after all of this, so you don't have to worry about that."
"Jesus, Chloe, that's not the only reason I proposed!" Ollie burst out. "Is that what you really think of me? Or are you being a hard-ass hacker bitch again?"
Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose. "What do you want, Ollie?"
"I want to help you," he said. He took her hands and encapsulated them in his own. "You're my friend, my teammate and one of the best lovers I've ever had. And I want... God, Chloe, I do want this baby. I know this is your decision and your body and all of that but I really, really want this baby."
"Why?"
His mouth gaped momentarily. "Because he's family. Or she. And family's important. I have a son, you know. Of course you know; you know everything. But I'm telling you because... because I should. When I was seventeen, I got a girl pregnant. I visit him at least one weekend a month and I pay his grandparents child support. I have a college fund for him, too. His name's--"
"Roy," Chloe said.
Ollie smiled weakly. "See. You do know everything. I know monthly visits don't make me a stellar dad but I promise you, Chloe, I love that kid. And I'd love yours just as much. I'd make sure he's taken care of; he'd have every opportunity available to a Queen."
"Where exactly would we take care of him? We'll make a little booby-trapped nursery in the Watchtower, maybe? Teach him to use firearms as soon as he can walk straight? Our lives aren't suitable for raising children."
"Then we'll change our lives."
"We? I'm not the one who wants to keep the kid!"
Ollie took a step back. "So. You do want to terminate him."
"I want to terminate you!" Chloe shouted. "Other than that, everything else is up in the air."
"What about adoption then?"
"If you're so keen on having kids, why didn't you change your lifestyle and take custody of your first one?" At his audible gulp, Chloe snorted. "Not so easy, is it?"
Ollie stared at his mug. Sadly, it didn't yield any answers. "I'd do it," he said, softly at first then, with more intent, "I'll do it. I'll take custody. I'll semi-retire. I can make sure you get the best health care team in the country. You and Lois can even move out of here, if you want, into a nicer place in New Troy. There's a two bedroom and den for rent at Queen Towers. I'll buy it and give it to you while you're pregnant."
"What if I decided I wanted her adopted out?"
"Then I'd help you place her in a good family but insist on an open adoption where I can have visitation rights."
Chloe raised her hands. "Why would you do all of that?"
He shrugged lightly. "I told you, the baby's family. And so are you. Also, I'm pretty sure Lois would stomp on my kidneys if I didn't at least offer. Clark would help. Between the two of them, they'd make sure I wouldn't be able to father any more children." Taking her hands again, he said, "Just think about it, okay? You're not going to be alone in all of this." With a kiss on her forehead, he left.
Chloe stared at her tea. One hand snuck down to her abdomen. She closed her eyes. And breathed.
fin~
Fandom: Smallville
Characters: Chloe Sullivan, Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Oliver Queen
Rating: Teen (strong language)
Summary: Post Season 9. Chloe has a little secret she's not aware of.
Author Notes: Part of the Stars are Made of Lemon Juice series.
=^o.O^=
Lois jumped to conclusions because it saved her time when she was right. She pushed Chloe down on the couch and dropped a nauseatingly pastel box on her lap. "Go. Pee."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "The what where now?"
"You're pregnant. Go prove it."
"Sorry to pause your PVRed tabloid talk show, Lois, but you're talking crazy talk."
Lois counted off points with her fingers. "You have seven new sets of extremely sexy underwear, you don't come home half the week, you smell like Ermenegildo Zegna--"
"That's not how it's pronounced."
"Pfft." She waved the comment away. "Don't distract me. You haven't bugged me for your monthly Hagen Daas Caramel Cone Explosion and Notting Hill sobfest twice now and as much as I hate the idea of Julia Roberts with the adorkable shlebbiness of Hugh Grant, that is just not right. You're sleeping with Ollie and now he's gone and knocked you up."
"Ollie and I are not going out."
"Who said anything about going out? You're scratching each other's itches which is way more than I can say about me and Mr. Plaid Promise Ring and considering how smashing the guy is in bed, go you, two-bit."
Cautiously, Chloe said, "So, you're okay with it?"
"Hell no! Where does he get off sleeping with you without making a commitment? I know his priorities screw towards leather and rooftops-- and by the way, don't give me any hand-wavey denial about it because I know because I'm awesomesauce-- but I'd've at least expected a bit more wining and dining on his part."
"The strike tag on wining and dining was my idea," said Chloe. "I'm not ready for a relationship and I'm certainly not going through the tabloid fodder you did when you went out with Ollie. We work together, and yes, sometimes, we..."
"Polish the whiteboard? Leverage a little nookie? Test the ergonomics of the office chairs?"
"Lois!"
"Sorry! Except not really because you're a really amazing shade of pink right now. I think I can probably toast breakfast on your cheeks if you ate breakfast which you don't because you've been throwing up the minute I even mention pastry."
Chloe pushed Lois aside as she bolted for the bathroom.
"Like so." Lois filled a glass with ice and water and snagged a clean face towel from the linen cupboard before joining Chloe in the bathroom. Her cousin hunched over the toilet dry-heaving. Lois wet the towel, folded it in thirds and placed it on the back of Chloe's neck.
"Jesus." Chloe pulled off the towel to wipe her mouth. She leaned back against Lois and let out a ragged breath.
Lois embraced her tightly. "Want me to kick his ass?"
"Nah, it's a nice ass."
"It is." She stroked her Chloe's hair and they sat on the very uncomfortable linoleum while the radio blasted alt-country.
Chloe's eyes were closed, her breaths forcibly regular. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"It's okay. I've gotten used to everyone telling me nothing."
"Lois--" She bit her lip.
"I don't mind," Lois said. "It's kind of like Christmas when you know your presents are unwrapped somewhere in the house. Makes looking for it more fun. Besides, I know a lot more than you and your merry band of comic book geeks give me credit for."
"Oh, really?"
"Yup. I'm awesomesauce, remember?"
"You are." Chloe squeezed her hand. "Okay. I'm ready to pee now."
***
Look-before-you-leap factored heavily in everything Chloe did. She couldn't be Watchtower or do half the things she'd been subjected to since high school freshman year otherwise. Which is why she now faced the mirror in Watchtower's sole bathroom to practice what she'd say to Ollie when he inevitably swung by this evening.
"Ollie, we have to talk," she told her reflection, pulling her face into solemnity. "Yuck. No, that's a relationship face. Hey, Ollie! Guess what? I personally know your swimmers are in excellent health. How? Well--- argh! No. Lame, lame, lame." She took a deep breath. "Arrow, something vital's come up in-- Wow. Using business. This is sad."
"Chloe?" She jumped and twirled around. Clark looked at her, worry wrinkling his forehead. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she chirped. "Never better."
"When Lois says that, I start prepping to save her from injury."
"I'm not injured."
He dipped his chin and kept on staring. Not for the last time, Chloe suspected Kryptonians had some sort of mind-meld powers because that expression made her want to blurt out everything then feed him hot chocolate.
"All right. But if you have anything at all on your mind, you know you can talk to me, right?"
"Of course, Clark. So, what can I do for you?"
He handed her a manila envelope and a croissandwich. Chloe up-chucked on his trenchcoat.
"Oh. I thought you liked roast beef and havarti."
***
That's how Chloe ended up in the waiting room of a doctor's clinic with Lois and Clark flanking her. "The concern's greatly appreciated, guys, but I think I can handle it from here."
"I'm here to make sure you don't have another episode," said Clark.
"And I'm here to kick your ass," said Lois.
Clark frowned at her. "Lois."
"Smallville."
They exchanged nonverbals: Lois arched her eyebrows, Clark's lips twitched on one side, Lois tapped her fingers on her lap, Clark let out a sigh and a smile which Lois promptly returned.
"Get a room," Chloe said glumly, planting her chin on her hand.
"I can't." said Lois. "You barfed all over it."
"Chloe Sullivan?" A nurse called out.
Chloe ran for safety.
***
Over raspberry sorbet swimming in hot fudge, Lois told Chloe, "Whatever you decide to do, two-bit, I'm absolutely, one-hundred-and-forty-seven percent behind your back."
"That's great, once I figure out what I'm going to do." Chloe stirred her sorbet. Pink streaked through the hot fudge. "I'm so not ready to be a mom. Work is just... a lot of work. And my most intimate relationship is a toss up between my Blackberry and a billionaire who's still not over my cousin."
"Hey." Lois nudged her foot. "Ollie is totally over me."
"Ollie will never get over you," said Chloe. "He still has a picture of you on his phone."
Lois wriggled uncomfortably. "We're friends."
"Keep swimming in that river of denial, Lois. I hear the water's peachy."
Throwing up her hands, Lois said, "I can't control Ollie's damage which is why if you had asked me, which you didn't which we are so revisiting at a later date, I'd've told you to steer clear from those puppy browns. Or at least used a lot of spermicide."
Chloe stuck her tongue out. "Seriously though, I'm not in love with Ollie. That's part of the trouble. If I was, this would be a much easier decision. Y'know, bear his love-child--" Lois failed to hide a snicker; Chloe made a face at her again which ended in a smile-- "and all that Nicholas Sparkism. But we're just fuck-buddies who fell into that stupid eight percent failure-rate for oral contraceptives. My work is..."
"Dangerous," said Lois.
"... is what it is."
"Which is dangerous."
"Hi Pot, my name is Kettle. It's still not what scares me the most." She took on an unfounded fascination muddiness of her dessert. "I'm a meteor mutant." She didn't look up, not wanting to see Lois' expression.
"Oh. Did... did you think I'd freak out about it? Because I'm not. I happen to be pro-powers."
"No." Chloe sighed. "No, I didn't think you would. Maybe before when I found out."
"Which was when?"
"A while ago. Remember when you snuck into Reeves Dam looking for evidence on LexCorp's involvement with Wes Keenan? You... I found you and you were... well, mostly dead."
"Which is better than all dead."
Chloe hiccupped. "Yeah. Just call me Miracle Max."
"Wait." Lois straightened. "So that's why you were KO when I work up. That's your power? To absorb people's injury? And you thought I'd get mad about it?"
"No! Well, maybe then?" Chloe stirred her sorbet some more. It now looked perfectly inedible. "I was so confused myself and by the time I figure it would be okay to tell you, it had been so long that my keeping the secret would make you angry, I thought. But that's not even the worst part. I might've gotten my mutation from Mom which means my kid could be a mutant. Or psychotic."
"Chloe!"
"Call it what it is, Lois. My mom is at least clinically depressed, not that I blame her. So now I have two wonderful legacies for my little stowaway; three if you count shortness."
"Oh, two-bit." Lois slipped out of her chair and onto the couch where Chloe was trying her best to curl into a ball.
"It would be better if I terminate." The word caught in her throat. Chloe tried to curl in even further but Lois' hold prevented it. Finally, she couldn't resist it any more; she turned into her cousin's embrace. Lois petted her hair and rubbed her back, as though she were a child again. They rocked, curled around each other, tears streaking down both their cheeks.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Chloe?" Ollie knocked again. "Can we talk?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to kick his ass?" Lois whispered.
Chloe let out a curt laugh. "Tempting but he signs my cheques."
"I'll get rid of him." Lois hopped off the couch. She cracked the door open. "Now's not a good time, Ollie."
"Please. I really need to talk to Chloe."
"It's after-hours and right now, no overtime on Earth is worth this."
"Lois, you don't understand--"
"No, Ollie, you don't understand that off-hours means off-hours. Now run along until Chloe clocks in again in the morning, mm-kay?"
"This can't wait until morning."
Lois turned around. "I'm sorry, coz, I will have to kick his ass after all."
Chloe waved her away. "Let him in. I can spare five minutes." Lois put her hands on his hips. "I can!" Chloe insisted.
Reluctantly, Lois stepped aside. Ollie entered, worried, his shirt wrinkled even worse than usual, a paper bag in one hand. "Can I talk to her in private?"
"It's okay," Chloe assured her cousin once again.
Shaking her head, Lois said, "Remember, it's your body and your decision. No one can tell you what to do."
"I know. Thank you."
"And you--" Lois jabbed Ollie's chest. "We're going to have words, Oliver Jonas Queen. Now gimme the bag."
Ollie drew away. "This is for Chloe."
"I know what it is and trust me, Chloe doesn't want it."
"But it's an almond mocha and pain de chocolat."
Chloe slapped a hand over her mouth and sprinted for the bathroom.
Lois glared at Ollie and snatched the offending paper bag away. "Words,.Oliver Queen. Words."
***
When Chloe gargled, washed, dried, combed and otherwise exhausted all her excuses, she returned to the main room to find Ollie standing by the kitchen counter. Two mugs steamed near his hands.
"Ginger tea. I heard it was good for..." His voice trailed off as he focussed on her stomach.
Nervously, Chloe straightened her shirt. "Thanks."
They sipped without making eye-contact.
"Were you ever going to tell me?" asked Ollie.
"Tell you what?"
"You're not the only one who can hack phones into being transmitters."
"Touché." Chloe took another sip of her tea. "I really don't know what I'm going to do yet, Ollie. But I would've told you once I made a decision."
"Chloe, I--" He ran his hands through his hair. "Do you want to get married?"
She laughed. "Stop yourself."
"I mean it."
"No, you don't and even if you did, I wouldn't accept because I don't want to marry you. I'm still hurting from my last one. Besides, I'd still work for you and occasionally sleep with you after all of this, so you don't have to worry about that."
"Jesus, Chloe, that's not the only reason I proposed!" Ollie burst out. "Is that what you really think of me? Or are you being a hard-ass hacker bitch again?"
Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose. "What do you want, Ollie?"
"I want to help you," he said. He took her hands and encapsulated them in his own. "You're my friend, my teammate and one of the best lovers I've ever had. And I want... God, Chloe, I do want this baby. I know this is your decision and your body and all of that but I really, really want this baby."
"Why?"
His mouth gaped momentarily. "Because he's family. Or she. And family's important. I have a son, you know. Of course you know; you know everything. But I'm telling you because... because I should. When I was seventeen, I got a girl pregnant. I visit him at least one weekend a month and I pay his grandparents child support. I have a college fund for him, too. His name's--"
"Roy," Chloe said.
Ollie smiled weakly. "See. You do know everything. I know monthly visits don't make me a stellar dad but I promise you, Chloe, I love that kid. And I'd love yours just as much. I'd make sure he's taken care of; he'd have every opportunity available to a Queen."
"Where exactly would we take care of him? We'll make a little booby-trapped nursery in the Watchtower, maybe? Teach him to use firearms as soon as he can walk straight? Our lives aren't suitable for raising children."
"Then we'll change our lives."
"We? I'm not the one who wants to keep the kid!"
Ollie took a step back. "So. You do want to terminate him."
"I want to terminate you!" Chloe shouted. "Other than that, everything else is up in the air."
"What about adoption then?"
"If you're so keen on having kids, why didn't you change your lifestyle and take custody of your first one?" At his audible gulp, Chloe snorted. "Not so easy, is it?"
Ollie stared at his mug. Sadly, it didn't yield any answers. "I'd do it," he said, softly at first then, with more intent, "I'll do it. I'll take custody. I'll semi-retire. I can make sure you get the best health care team in the country. You and Lois can even move out of here, if you want, into a nicer place in New Troy. There's a two bedroom and den for rent at Queen Towers. I'll buy it and give it to you while you're pregnant."
"What if I decided I wanted her adopted out?"
"Then I'd help you place her in a good family but insist on an open adoption where I can have visitation rights."
Chloe raised her hands. "Why would you do all of that?"
He shrugged lightly. "I told you, the baby's family. And so are you. Also, I'm pretty sure Lois would stomp on my kidneys if I didn't at least offer. Clark would help. Between the two of them, they'd make sure I wouldn't be able to father any more children." Taking her hands again, he said, "Just think about it, okay? You're not going to be alone in all of this." With a kiss on her forehead, he left.
Chloe stared at her tea. One hand snuck down to her abdomen. She closed her eyes. And breathed.
fin~