Title: Melissa's BAFsFF Challenge - "Saying Goodbye To A Daughter - Part 1"

Author: PMD

e-mail: mary.davidson@sympatico.ca

Rating: K/G

Category: Chlex, slight Clana, Gabe's POV, AU

Spoilers: Anything is fair game in Smallville.    

Summary: Gabe says goodbye to a daughter and leads her to her next step in life---marriage.     

Disclaimer: To whomever owns Smallville, its characters, and the characters from Batman, I'm just borrowing them, will give them back, not making any money with their use, so don't sue me.

Archive: To BAFsFF, BtS, BT2, Electricchlex, MD, N.S. Forums, SPP, and fan_fic_central If anybody else wants it, all you have to do it ask.

Feedback: Yes I would love feedback. 

Author Notes: This is in answer to this weeks challenge on BAFsFF by Melissa: a tender moment. Enjoy.

Melissa's BAFsFF Challenge - "Saying Goodbye To A Daughter- Part 1" - by PMD

~

Metropolis Gardens

She always was the one good thing I created with her mother. She is beautiful and smart; charming and insightful; obstinate and opting to care for all.

She is fearless and frightened; good and bad; light and dark. She is my daughter and I love Chloe with all my heart. And today, I say goodbye to a daughter and hello to somebody's wife.

"Daddy?"

I turn around and look at her. "Oh, honey, you look so beautiful. I love you."

"Daddy," she sighs as she walks towards me, the tears threatening to fall.

I open my arms and she finds her way into them. Then I let out a sigh, remembering how hurt she's been in the past with love. And I know, this time, she's found the love she's always sought for.

All those years of pining after the Flannel King, blind to the one who looked on, who wanted her to be happy, if not with him.

He went after Clark's girl, so she might find happiness with Clark. Didn't work. Clark set his sights still on Lana.

When he saw that didn't work, he was there once more for her. And set her up with Bruce Wayne. But then Bruce fell for another blonde and she was left out in the cold again.

I hear a sigh from her and back away.

"He really loves me, doesn't he, Daddy."

"Honey, he put your own happiness before his. If that isn't love, then it doesn't exist in this world."

She goes back into my arms and I remember the night it changed.

She had just gotten home from classes and saw a present outside her room. She thought it was for Lana and was surprised it wasn't. It wasn't her birthday or Christmas. It was just something unexpected. And from a person unexpected. She said she took it in, since she wanted privacy when she opened it---not like she wanted the whole world to know her business---except for me, of course.

She told me she had listened to the box to make sure it wasn't ticking. It was---and she jumped back. Then she heard the alarm through the thin box and had to open it up to see what was going on. Sometimes my daughter can really take her life into her own hands but this time, it was a clock within the soft tissue paper.

She told me the tears came when she opened the note beside it and it said:

'Time for the most perfect girl to fall in love. Meet me at 7 tonight at Rosco's.

Signed: Your Knight In Black'

I remembered her calling me after the date. How she said she walked into the restaurant and was led to the outside garden. How she looked around and let out a sigh, seeing nobody was there. Then she turned to leave and saw him in the doorway, leaning against it, his classic smirk replaced quickly by a soft smile. And she was so excited that she even forgot I wasn't Lana, and told me about the most amazing kiss she had ever gotten in her life. I still tease her about that.

"It's time."

She backs away and we look to see Lana Kent standing there.

"Chloe---you're----you outshine us all today."

She smiles at Lana and I just laugh at her answer:

"All brides are supposed to do that, silly."

She grins at that and walks in. "You nervous?"

Chloe backs away and walks towards the mirror, nearby. She smiles, smoothing down her dress---simple and yet elegant. Then she looks at us through the mirror.

"All brides are like that. I seem to recall you threw up on the day you and Clark got married. Hence, nothing for me to eat this morning."

Lana walks over to her and places a hand on her shoulder, turning her around.

"He's always loved you---even when he tried for me, I knew it was to help you find happiness. And when it didn't work, he want out to find somebody else for you. And---"

"---when that didn't work, he presented himself for inspection and was the Grade A choice I always needed."

Trust my daughter to come up with a food analogy for Lex Luthor. He's not a ham as much as Grade A sirloin in her eyes, though.

"So?" I ask her.

"Time to get married?" she queries.

"Lana, can I have a moment with my daughter?"

She nods and is gone.

"Chloe?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"If he ever hurts you, I own a gun."

She gives me a grin and then a sniffle. "Daddy, he'll never hurt me---he loves me too much. Besides, he knows if he does, I can kick his butt."

"That's my girl," I state, walking over to her and pulling her into my arms.

I pull back and hold out my arm for her. We walk out of the room and towards the outdoors.

We stop just inside of the doorway. I kiss her softly on the forehead and then place the veil over her face.

The scene is set---the music plays---I lead her down a carpet, sprinkled with daisy petals, her favorite flowers, and then I hear a gasp---it's not from the crowd.

I look straight ahead and see the man who gasped; who has captured my daughters heart, mind, and soul. And she has captured all of him too.

We are there and I lift the veil. "I love you," I state, a tear in my eyes.

Then I turn to him:

"Lex I give to you the one thing that means the world to me. Please be good to each other---protect one another---love one another. That is all I ask of you."

"I promise, Gabe."

I smile and then look back at her. "Good luck---to both of you."

She smiles once more and then looks at him, the love shining in her eyes.

As I sit down, I find that saying goodbye to a daughter on her wedding day isn't so bad after all---for her happiness was the utmost importance to me too. And she will be forever happy with this man who's changed her life with love, as much as she has his.