Author: gitania

Rating: Definitely PG – a little innuendo, but nothing stronger than a kiss!

Disclaimer: I own the character Kate and the plot of the story. Everything else belongs to people far richer than I.

Author's Note: I haven't watched the show in a while, but I couldn't get this out of my head. Sorry if the details are sketchy! Please read and review. Enjoy! - gitania

Summary: Lex meets up with an old friend who could be the key to outwitting his father, but will she hold the key to his heart?

Something Old, Something New

Chapter 1: The Wedding that Wasn't

Mr. Lex Luthor and Guest,

You are cordially invited to the wedding of

Daniel Hamilton and Katherine Finn

At 10:30 on the morning of October second;

Saint Christopher's Church,

32 Lovell Avenue, Smallville.

Lex frowned at the invitation in his hand as he stood staring out the window of his study. The weather was perfect, but he could see some dark clouds moving in from the west. The steeple of Saint Christopher's Church was visible as it rose above the buildings that surrounded it; and he could picture her in his mind, preparing to walk down the aisle towards the insufferable Daniel Hamilton.

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Kate looked out of the bedroom window at the clouds that were forming in the distance. She frowned, turning from the view to take one last look at herself before heading to the church for the ceremony.

Her white dress fit perfectly, and her veil flowed beautifully down her back. Her head itched like mad, but Kate didn't dare scratch for fear of dislodging the veil or any of her hair, which had been laboriously put up and out of her way by her hairdresser.

There was a light knock on her door, and Kate turned to see who was there.

"It's time to go, Miss," her regular driver William had come to take her to the church.

Kate sighed, smiled valiantly, and followed him out of the room, sweeping her bouquet into her hands as she went.

The long line of black town cars was beginning to move off as Kate approached the last one in the line. The entire wedding party was before her; the perfect image would only be complete when Kate arrived last of all and proceeded into the church in her turn. Her stomach knotted itself tightly.

William placed her honeymoon suitcases in the trunk before gallantly offering his hand and helping her into the back of her car, closing the door securely behind her. He sat in the driver's seat and turned the engine over.

"Everything alright, Miss?" he asked, seeing her frowning image in the rear-view mirror.

"I think I've forgotten my bouquet, William," Kate said hopelessly. "Would you run up to my room and find it for me?"

"Of course, Miss." William left the car in a hurry, disappearing into the house as the car directly before them rounded the first turn out of the driveway.

After a quick look around to be sure she wasn't seen, Kate leapt from the back seat and settled herself behind the wheel. She threw her bouquet onto the front passenger seat and put the car into gear, pressing her foot down hard on the accelerator. Gravel from the driveway flew out from under the wheels as the car lurched forwards.

Kate took a deep breath as she pulled out into the traffic; she had just abandoned her own wedding.

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The rain was just beginning to come down as Kate pulled the car to a stop in front of the mansion. She leapt from the car, still afraid that she might be caught, and pulled her luggage from the trunk. She kicked her skirt out from under her feet and ran up the front steps, getting dampened by rain as she went. Finally she reached the door and hammered on it with her fists.

An old woman answered the door, obviously surprised to see the young lady waiting outside of it.

"I'm here to see Lex Luthor, please," Kate said quickly. "It's rather urgent."

"Come in then, dear; I'll let him know you're here."

Kate stepped into the enormous house, grateful to be out of the rain. She put her luggage on the floor and waited as the woman looked at her expectantly.

"Yes?"

"Your name, dear? So I can tell Mr. Luthor."

"Of course, I'm sorry," Kate looked increasingly flustered. "Katherine Finn."

The woman left her in the entrance hall and Kate wandered slowly around, looking at the furniture and other adornments in the room. An old clock caught her eye, and she noted the time; she should have started her walk down the aisle eleven minutes ago.

She heard footsteps in the upstairs hall, and prepared herself for an awkward meeting.

"I do," Lex smiled down at Kate from the top of the stairs as she stood in her damp wedding dress, wondering what she was getting herself into by coming to this particular house.

She smiled ruefully, "Well I very obviously do not."

"I would think that your plans for today would have been too pressing for you to make an impromptu visit to the Luthor Mansion," Lex observed with a smirk, walking steadily down the stairs towards her.

Kate gave him a hard look, "I notice that you made no effort to attend my wedding."

"And lucky I didn't," Lex said softly. "It seems to me that it's going to be quite a non-event."

Kate looked at the floor, wondering why Lex Luthor always managed to make her feel so childish.

He stood before her, and finally gave a genuine smile as he lifted her chin to meet her eyes. "It's good to see you."

Kate sighed with relief, and accepted his open arms, giving him a warm hug of greeting.

"I know it's been a long time; I'm sorry." She smiled sadly, "I didn't know where else to go."

"You're always welcome here," Lex replied. "How long will you be staying?"

"I don't know," Kate said honestly. "I don't really know what I'm going to do."

"Well, the first thing is to change your clothes," Lex said with a smile. "You're never going to figure out what to do about your current lack of wedding without first getting out of the wedding dress."

"It cost a small fortune, you know," Kate lamented, bringing a smile to Lex's face.

"I'm sure it did," he said seriously. "The Hamiltons would have nothing less."

"Nor would the Luthors," Kate said in defence.

"Touché," Lex grinned. "It's going to be good having you around, Kate – it's been far too long."

Kate smiled as a well-dressed man appeared out of nowhere and picked up her suitcases.

"The spare room near mine," Lex said to the man. He turned to Kate, "Follow him up and get changed; I'll be in the kitchen."

"Okay," Kate nodded and followed the man up the enormous staircase, gathering up handfuls of her skirt as she went.