Fic: Yes Virginia, There is a . . . Nevermind (1/1)
Chloe Winchester and Lex Luthor traded stink-eyes as they sat across from each other on tiny plastic chairs that weren’t meant for full sized adults. Each of them was certain that the other was at fault.
Both were fairly used to this drill. By now a pattern was emerging amongst their progeny. Either Chance or Lena would get into a fight with another child, and the other would jump in to the rescue.
“Well,” Dean spoke up from his seat next to Chloe. “At least they got each other’s back.”
He was rewarded with twin angry looks from Chloe and Lex.
Dean looked down and cleared his throat. “Just sayin’.”
At that moment, the principal came to the door and looked at the three of them with a tired expression. “You can come in now.”
They three of them filed single-file into the office, where principal Donalds glared at the three of them. Chloe sat down in the chair next to Lex’s and felt Dean’s hands on her shoulders. Anyone else might think that he was lending her support, but Chloe knew better. He was just keeping a living barrier between her and the principal in case he had to make a run for it.
“What happened this time?” Lex spoke up.
“It was actually relatively minor,” Principal Donalds said. “I wouldn’t have called if it had been any other student. But since it was your kids . . .” He trailed off with an uncomfortable grimace.
“Three strikes and you’re out,” Dean surmised.
“For the rest of the semester.” Principal Donalds grimaced. “All half-day of it.
“What did they do?” A dozen scenarios filled Chloe’s mind. Chance was, after all, Dean’s son. It could be anything from cherry bombs to frogs.
“Someone told your son that there is no Santa.”
Chloe and Lex exchanged a look, while Dean’s grip tightened on her shoulder.
“And?” Lex leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers.
“And he and your daughter both said that they had been told by their parents that Santa is real. The other child said that you were lying. And that’s when the fight began.”
Chloe and Lex exchanged another glance. They both nodded.
“Thank you for telling us,” Chloe said. “I’ll have another word with Chance about fighting.”
“And I with Lena,” Lex said.
As the three of them left the office, they stopped in front of the door to look at each other.
“Lena showed me the right cross that your son taught her,” Lex said. “Impressive.”
“Thanks,” Dean said.
The three of them exchanged looks that assured one another that this little moment never happened. Then they walked away down opposite ends of the hallway.