A/N: First I'd like to say that my beta, Jane Elizabeth, tried and tried to convince me to let Chloe live. My muse demanded otherwise. Thanks to everyone who stuck with this whole LONG story. And for all the wonderful reviews. I'm still in shock over the number of reviews and all the kind things you all have said. THANKS!!! Also, I know Nixon died, but I wanted him alive, so instead of killing him Lex just wounded him and threatened/bribed him to keep his big mouth shut.

Chapter 17

A long retired Nixon was in the crowd that made up the funeral of Chloe Sullivan Luthor. She had been killed in what was believed to have been a botched robbery or abduction. According to the contacts he still had in the police department the three men believed responsible for her death had vanished off the face of the earth. Nixon couldn't help but remember Lex long ago telling him that what he buried stayed buried. Nixon seriously doubted the three bodies would ever be found. Nixon could tell that Lex was now wounded. A wound to the soul so deep it would never stopped hurting. Never stop bleeding. A wound so deep it was mortal. Nixon had seen men like that before, men whose souls were dead, though their bodies still moved.

Beside Lex stood his 25 year old son Julian Gabriele Luthor and his daughter 22 year old daughter Pamela Lillian Luthor. Clark and Lana also stood near Lex, as did Jonathon and Martha Kent. Lionel was not in attendance due to health problems. Chloe was being buried with her wedding ring, but Lex had removed the Claudgh ring he'd given her years ago and now wore it on a chain around his neck where it would remain for the rest of his life.

Clark was worried about Lex. Very worried. It had taken a great deal of his super strength to pull Lex away from Chloe's lifeless body. Lex had been sobbing uncontrollably at the time, not caring who saw. But after disappearing into his penthouse for three days, allowing only his children and Clark in, Lex had emerged and shown no emotion since. It was as if in losing Chloe Lex had lost his ability to feel emotion. When Clark had talked with him before the funeral Lex had looked... empty. Even his eyes, which for three days had held nothing but the raw agony ripping apart his soul, were dull, drained of life, but also drained of that hellish pain that had torn into Clark each time he saw it. It wasn't really an improvement.

Lex wore dark sunglasses that hid his eyes. Eyes that shone with a dark light; a light which suggested a soul who had been lingering in the lowest levels of Hell--one who was coming back now to take his revenge on those who had put him there.

In his room Lionel watched the news coverage of the funeral. He had finally done it. Finally found away to rid Lex of Chloe's influence. It had grown over the years to a level that had become unacceptable to Lionel. He'd forgotten the promise he'd once made that she had nothing more to fear from him.

He'd considered having her killed when he retired several years before, leaving Lex head of Lex Corps and Luthor Corps, which had merged, but decided the timing would be to suspicious. There was also the fact that he did love his son and wanted to give him as much time with Chloe as he dared. But now Lionel's heart was failing him. He knew he only had weeks or months left, he had to ensure Lex would run the Luthor Empire without the emotions Chloe encouraged in him.

Lionel knew there was a chance that Lex would learn of his involvement. Learn he'd hired the three men to kill Chloe. But he remembered that during the tornado years before Lex had been unable to stand by and watch him die. He didn't think Lex would be capable of killing him. Not when he was already dying anyway.

That night Lex went to the secret location where the men who had held Chloe were being held - -and questioned. As Lex had expected one of the men was foolish enough to think that if he admitted who had hired him he might be allowed to live. Lex found himself curiously unsurprised to hear his fathers name given as the one who ordered Chloe killed.

One week after Chloe's funeral Lex sat in his office listening to the news reports on his fathers death. It was said that his already failing heart could not stand the stress of losing his much loved daughter in law, Chloe. It was also reported that because of Lionel's known illness no autopsy would be preformed. This was ensured by Lionel's personal physician who Lex had given a substantial donation to; "for taking such good care of my father and ensure his last days and moments were as painless as possible," according to Lex official statement.

In truth Lionel's final moments had not been painless. The drug his physician had given Lionel had paralyzed him but left him able to fell the terrible pain it caused as he slowly died. That drug and the assurance that there would be no autopsy was the true reason for the large sum Lex paid the physician.

As the news ended Lex clicked it off and a smile cold enough to freeze Hell itself spread across his face. For the rest of his life what little emotion Lex was still capable of feeling was reserved solely for his children and the Kent's, including Lana. A distance had now grown between Lex and everything else, between Lex and everyone else. A thread-thine line that stretched wider than the ocean. Only those few where ever able to cross that line.

As Lex had once predicted to Clark kings and heads of state attended his fathers funeral. He accepted their sympathy and condolences with dry eyes, a somber tone and straight face.

A few years later Jonathon Kent died. Again as predicted his funeral was attended by his friends. Lex was one of them and a few tears ran down his face as he gave Martha and Clark his deeply felt sympathy. There were those that noticed that he cried at Jonathon's funeral, as he had not at his own father's. None of them ever mentioned it aloud.

A/N: (ducks sharp objects heading towards her)

Callista NicTernyn: THANKS!!!

Lily: No. No sadness for Lionel. At least I let them have a fabulous life for 25 years. . . does that count? Please?

Scifichick: Thank you for understanding that this is what my muse made me write. I usually don't like unhappy ending either.

Lady Pyra: Thanks for the compliment. Do I get any credit for nothing happening to either of the children? I didn't let the baby get hurt. . .

Leonsalanna: WOW! Your favorite ChLex? I'm flattered. Thank you!!!

Autumngold: You are welcome, and thank you for all the kind reviews.

Csk8-20: Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

Kit Merlot: Thanks for the compliments. It made my day! Hope the ending didn't disappoint you.

Sofia: THANK YOU! It means a lot to me to hear, uh, read, that you liked the story so much.

Alecsgrl: Thanks!