Title: Mind vs. Heart

Author: Malana

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I have no rights to either Angel or Smallville

Spoilers: Around season 2 for Angel and going AU rather quickly.  I'm not doing the Darla storyline.  A few years in the future for Smallville.  Chloe has just graduated college.  But as far as show cannon goes, assume to the beginning of season three.

Pairings: Chloe/Lindsey, Chloe/Angel, Cordelia/Angel

Previous Parts can be found at:

 

 

 

    It had been three months since Chloe Sullivan had met Lindsey MacDonald. 

 

    Three wonderful, blissfully happy months. 

 

    It was the first time in long time that the blonde reporter had felt this way.  In fact, she was pretty sure she had never really felt this way before.  She was in love. But unlike her love for Clark, this was returned.

 

    Lindsey was amazing.  He was kind, funny and intelligent.  He was handsome and successful.  He also put her first.  They had only been together for three months, but Lindsey always put her first.  He was never running off to save some damsel in distress.  Chloe didn't feel like she had to fight to get to know him.  He didn't hide things from her, and she loved in for it.

 

    They went out to dinner together most nights, and would just spend hours talking.  He was truly interested in her and her opinions. It wasn't like he just turned to her when he needed something. It was nice to be in a relationship on equal footing.

 

    Lindsey would be picking her up for dinner in half an hour. Chloe was excited. The last few days he had been busy at the law firm, and she hadn't seen much of him. But tonight he had promised her a romantic dinner and dancing. 

   

    Chloe looked at the dress that lay on her bed.  It was simple but beautiful.  The dress made of red satin.  It had spaghetti straps, and clung to her figure.  It was tight, but allowed for plenty of movement, so she'd be able to dance without worrying about ripping anything.

 

    Chloe dressed, then started on make-up and hair.  She didn't like to use too much make-up.  She preferred a more natural look. But she did put on some eye shadow, and a lightly tinted lip-gloss. She squirted a bit of gel in her hand, and began playing with her hair, wresting her short blonde tresses into place.  She was just finishing up when there was a knock on the door.

 

    Wiping her hands on a nearby towel, Chloe walked quickly out of her bedroom.  She opened the door, and smiled at Lindsey. He was looking incredibly handsome in a black suit with a pale blue shirt and dark blue tie.

 

    "Hey," she said.

 

    "Hey yourself."  Lindsey stepped inside and planted a light kiss on Chloe's lips.

 

    "These are for you." Lindsey held out a bouquet of pale yellow roses.

 

    "Oh," Chloe breathed. "My favorite. Thank you so much."  She took them from him and inhaled their heady scent. "Let me go put these in some water."

 

    "Sure."

 

    Chloe walked over to her small kitchen and opened the cupboard to get a vase.  They were on the very top shelf, and she had to stretch to get them. She got on her tiptoes and reached.

 

    "Here, let me." Lindsey had come up behind her. He reached up and pulled down a vase, his body pressed closely against hers.  He set the vase down on the counter.  Chloe turned around and Lindsey wrapped her arms around her.

 

    "Looks like I have you trapped," he joked.

 

    "Oh, no." Chloe smiled. "Whatever will I do?"   She grabbed Lindsey's tie and pulled him down to meet her lips. 

 

    "Mmm..." Lindsey said as their kiss broke off. "Not that I would mind doing this all night, but our reservation is for 8:00. We should probably get going."

 

    Chloe grinned, "Okay, but you owe me a rain check on the kissing."

 

    "If you insist."

 

    "Alright.  Just let me grab my purse."

 

    "Great, I'll put the flowers in some water."

 

 *********

 

    An hour later Chloe and Lindsey were enjoying their dinner.  Chloe was in the middle of talking about her latest assignment at the newspaper when she stopped, mid-sentence.

 

    "Lindsey?  Is something wrong?"

 

    Lindsey blinked, "What do you mean?"

 

    "You were just staring at me so intensely."

 

    Lindsey smiled, "No, nothing's wrong. I just wanted to ask you something.  But I'm kind of nervous about it."

 

    Chloe looked at him, a little concerned. Lindsey was normally so confident.  "What is it?  You know you can ask me anything."

 

    Lindsey reached across the table and took Chloe's hand.  "I know that we've only been together for a few months now.  And I don't want you to get freaked out or anything, but I've really developed serious feelings for you."

 

    Chloe looked down at the table, blushing a little. "I feel the same way."

 

    "I'd like you to move in with me."

 

    Chloe took in a sharp breath. She hadn't been expecting anything like this.  "Really?"

 

    "I'll understand if you don't want to."

 

    "No!" Chloe exclaimed. "I'd love to. I'm just surprised."

 

    "You're sure about this?  I don't want to pressure you into anything."

 

    "You're not pressuring me," Chloe said with a smile. "I want this."

 

    Lindsey stood up and moved around the table. He leaned down and kissed Chloe gently. "I'm really happy to hear you say that.  We can work out all the details later. Now, I hate to do this, but I have to go make a phone call.  I've been working on an important case lately. I promise I'll be right back. No more than 2 minutes."

 

    "No problem."

 

    "I'll be right back." With that, Lindsey grabbed his jacket and walked to the lobby of the restaurant.

 

    Chloe gazed around the room, looking at the other patrons.  It was a romantic restaurant, and most of the people here seemed to be couples.  There were some young rich looking people, and a few older couples.  The pair at the table right next to theirs consisted of a handsome blonde man and a pretty brunette who appeared to be about Chloe's own age. Chloe could have sworn that the woman had kept looking over at her and Lindsey's table.  It seemed almost like she had been trying to overhear their conversation. The woman looked up, and Chloe met her eyes. They smiled at each other stiffly, then Chloe turned her attention back to her food.

 

    "I'm back."

 

    Chloe smiled as Lindsey slipped back into his seat.

 

    "Everything all right at the office?" she asked.

 

    Lindsey nodded, "Yeah, everything's fine."

 

    "Look," Chloe leaned over the table and spoke in a whisper. "That girl at the next table, do you know her? I could swear that she keeps looking at us."

 

    Lindsey glanced over. A look Chloe couldn't quite interpret passed over his face.

 

    "Yeah," he said finally. "I've had a few run-ins with her employer. Her name’s Cordelia Chase."

 

 

 

TBC