FIC: Must Be Dreaming

[ladydreamer]

Title: Must Be Dreaming
Series/WIP: Sequel to So Much Dreaming
Pairing: Clex!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After being abducted by aliens and discovering that Jonathan Kent is alive, Lex must come to grips with his shifting relationship with Clark and an unexpected pregnancy.
Spoilers: Through S5, after Cyborg.
Warnings: MPREG!!

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter 5.1
Chapter 5.2
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten


Eleven

“…Oh.”

Lena laughed softly and kissed Lex’s cheek. She wished they’d let her out of here, now, but the doctors weren’t willing and Lex was still nervous as hell. Her hand smoothed over the side of his stomach, and she watched the awed expression on his face.

“That’s… so funny.”

“It does feel funny at first,” Lena replied softly. There was a pang of happiness and sadness. Lex was feeling little bubbles inside him right now, the first movements of his baby that he was aware of, and no matter how much missing her own child hurt, Lena closed her eyes and felt it with him.

At least now she understood why her connection to him was so strong.

“Where did it go?”

Lena smiled and touched his pouting face lightly. “It’ll be back. You’re not going to feel it very often at first, but you’re getting to the point where you’ll definitely know the baby’s there.”

“That’s reassuring,” Lex murmured. He patted her hand and looked into her eyes.

“No feeling guilty,” she ordered. She just couldn’t cry any more today.

“I’m trying, but-“

“You didn’t cause that man to attack me. He may have been your enemy, Lex, but you don’t have control over what he does.” Lena rested her head on his shoulder, wishing she could feel less of his exhaustion. He really needed to go sleep in a regular bed, but she wanted him by her side. And as selfish as it was, she did not want any of the other people who had come to visit her there.

She had flipped out on Maureena. The woman hadn’t done anything wrong, really, and before Lena had met Lex, she and Maureena had been on-again off-again girlfriends, but the moment that Maureena had come in to visit, Lena had been overcome with the woman’s fatigue and stress, but most of all how much she pitied Lena for losing her child.

Maureena had come in and taken her hand, promising that everything was going to be alright. These things happen for a reason. When she was ready, she could try for another. Then little Tay, the youngest of her brood, had come in whining. The boy was tired and his sister had likely been picking on him.

The uncharitable negative feeling that Maureena had towards her boy just then… Lena couldn’t handle it. She knew, rationally, that mothers couldn’t be perfect all the time and that Maureena had the tendency to brush off her kids in the best of times, to say nothing of times when she was exhausted from waiting on a friend to die…

Lena had screamed. Screamed at her for not appreciating her children, and then ordered her out, telling Maureena that she didn’t need any goddamn pity from a woman who had more wonderful children than she would ever deserve.

Well, that had gotten Maureena to leave. Lena felt incredibly embarrassed, but she still teared up every time she thought of Maureena yelling at her darling boy.

“Lenie,” Lex said softly, caressing her face. “Don’t cry.”

Lena sighed. “Lexie, please, do me a favor?”

“Anything. I’ll bring you the moon.”

Lena rolled her eyes. “Spare me the moon. Go home. Get a shower. Get some good food in you and some good sleep. I need you to take care of yourself and your little one, okay? Please do this for me?”

“I…” Fear coiling inside of him, Lex probably wouldn’t leave easily.

Lena held him securely. “You have two guards outside my door!”

“He could easily take care of them, if he wanted to come after you.”

“Perhaps. But, Lex, I’m asking you to do this for me. You can come back after. Or maybe they’ll let me out by the time you’ve rested.”

Lex sat up on the bed and rubbed one of his eyes tiredly with his index and middle fingers. “Come stay with me. I don’t know if it will be safer, but… it’ll be quiet. There’s only really me, a few servants, and Maddie. Tanaka, sometimes, but she’s in the guesthouse and comes and goes. I can see the stress on you when other people are around.”

“Yeah,” she murmured. She closed her eyes and let him pet her hair. “I… I miss Maddie.”

“She misses you quite a bit as well,” Lex said gently.

Lena nodded. She sighed, feeling Clark outside of the room. Her abilities always seemed stronger when she was distressed, but she was beginning to notice a difference in the way Clark felt sometimes. It was very strange, but not frightening, like the man with the cheekbones and no soul.

“Clark is outside, Lex. Let him take you to go rest. Please, do that for me, and I’ll let you take me home when they release me.”

Lex kissed the top of her head, then sighed heavily, laying her back on the bed and looking down on her sadly.

“No pity, Lex. Please.”

“No pity. But I’m still-“

“I know.” She motioned her head over to where Clark was standing by the doorway.

Lex looked over his shoulder, then back to her. “I’ll tell my security not to let anyone else in other than the doctors. Alright? You rest up, too.”

“Clark, take Lex out of here for a while?” Lena called over Lex’s shoulder in a soft voice.

“I will. You still have your loft? It’s closer,” Clark suggested. Protectiveness was oozing off of him. No more jealousy. Just adoration and the desire to protect Lex.

***

Strong hands slipped down Chloe’s shoulders, waking her from her troubled sleep. “Oh! Oh, Mercy! I’m sorry.”

“S’okay.” The tall woman knelt beside her and put her hands on Chloe’s knees. “Lex told me where he and Clark went. You look like you could use some time in your own bed.”

“I could.” Chloe sat up and made a big yawn.

Mercy’s lips curved pleasantly, and she rubbed Chloe’s leg. “Go home. I got this now.”

“Don’t you have to keep an eye on the company?” Chloe asked.

Mercy nodded. “Yeah, and I will be, but Lex has guards here now, and he’s not here. You can go home.”

“But who…” Chloe swallowed and rubbed one of her eyes before leaning over and resting her forearms on her thighs. “Mercy, how are we going to protect them? Even if we could manage to be there when Fine attacked, we couldn’t stop him. Not with anything we’ve got.”

She held her tongue on the one person who might be able to stop Fine, but he wasn’t always there. At least he was by Lex’s side right now.

“I’ve stopped plenty of people after Boss. Don’t you worry about that.”

Chloe pinched her lips together and paled. “No, Mercy, you can’t stop this guy. He’s not human. Not even close.”

Pausing to scan Chloe’s eyes, Mercy’s face became a bit more serious. “So. What do you know about this guy?”

“I’ll tell you what I can,” Chloe said softly, hoping that she could guard Clark’s secret while protecting Lex at the same time. “But I honestly don’t know how to stop him. The last time I saw him, he was impaled.”

”So he can be hurt?”

“Usually not, but somehow he was. Then, but other times… Mercy, he can shapeshift, shoot fire from his eyes, move incredibly fast, and make multiple copies of himself. We know so little about him, other than the fact that we’re really outclassed.”

Mercy gave a single nod. “Lex told me that this man has been focusing around Clark. Attacking his mother? Abducting his father? Has he made any moves against you?”

“No.” Chloe shivered. “Not yet.”

Mercy rose and rubbed Chloe’s arms. “Don’t worry, kitten. I’ve got you, okay? Boss and I are going to make sure you stay safe.”

“Lex has to make sure that he can stay safe first. After what happened to Lena, I really don’t know about that. He felt what she felt. You remember, the day that this happened, probably just as it was happening, Lex felt it when Fine attacked Lena.”

Mercy drew in a deep breath and looked into Chloe’s eyes. They stared at one another for several moments, and then she said, “I’d figured that, too. And I have to wonder… did Fine attack her because she could sense when he was around? Because, from what Lena’s been saying, when she was near him, there was a complete absence of feeling. She’d be able to detect him. Or did he do it so that she’d have a free blood supply for Lex while he carried his baby to term?”

Chloe’s nose wrinkled in disgust and horror.

Mercy smoothed her hand over her short-cropped hair. “I know, but I can’t help but thinking that. Or maybe a bit of both? This guy is something else, and right now, I barely trust anyone.”

“Then why talk to me about this?” Chloe asked.

Mercy scanned the hallway, where a few doctors were talking outside of a patient’s room, then in front of Lena’s door. “I’m not sure. I only met you recently, and Lena does seem to trust you, which is a plus. She’d know if you didn’t have a soul.”

“Nice to know I managed to hang on to that,” Chloe joked.

Mercy looked at her once more, narrowing her large hazel eyes. “Boss trusts you, too. But you didn’t trust us at first, and what you were doing didn’t feel at all like a calculated game of cat and mouse. You seem genuine, and until I’ve got a better method, I’m sticking with my gut.”

“Thanks.” Chloe smiled and touched one of her hands.

“C’mon. Let me drive you home,” Mercy offered.

Chloe smiled wider as she took Mercy’s hand and rose, suspecting that Mercy would be asking more questions and checking out her place for clues. It should have angered her, but it was comforting instead that Mercy was keeping a sharp eye on everyone getting close to Lex.

***

“Wow,” Clark muttered when he stepped into Lex’s loft. “This place looks like the loft on Queer as Folk.”

Lex turned to him and gave him a perplexed frown.

“Chloe watches it,” Clark protested, though he wasn’t quite sure what he was protesting. The place was expansive, clean, and surprisingly devoid of purple, for a dwelling that belonged to Lex. Over to their right was what looked like a stainless steel kitchenette, and to their left were an entertainment area, a desk, and a stationary bike and weight machine. Lex had better not try to use those while they were there. “I trust you actually keep a bed at this place?”

“Of course I do.” Lex walked towards the long curtain that came down to two small steps. “I’m going to take a shower. Mind?”

“Not at all. I’ll make us some breakfast while you’re in there.”

Lex shrugged his head to the side. “If you can. I don’t know that there’s any food in the refrigerator.” Lex ascended the steps and pulled back the curtain, revealing a bedroom and a king sized bed.

“Just go on. I’ll manage.” Clark smirked at the size of the bed and at the royal purple duvet. So that was where Lex had been hiding it.

Once Lex had disappeared into the bedroom, Clark checked his wallet, then supersped down to the market on the corner to get some supplies. By the time Lex had come out of the shower, Clark had a bowl of cut fruit on the counter and all the burners on the stove going.

“Nice,” Lex remarked, coming over the counter. He selected a piece of apple and took a bite before steadying himself and lifting himself up onto one of the bar stools with black leather on the seat and back.

Clark watched him a bit nervously, afraid Lex might lose his balance and fall. Thankfully, Lex managed just fine, and took another piece of fruit. Clark turned back to the food on the stove, forcing himself not to stare. The clothes at the loft were clearly pre-pregnancy, and it looked as though Lex had been forced to settle for a pair of jogging pants and one of those expensive, clinging sweaters that he used to love so much. So while Lex wasn’t huge-yet-at the moment he wasn’t hiding much at all.

Clark could have died at how cute Lex had been trying to get up on that stool.

“I’m glad you like the fruit. How are you feeling?” Clark asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Lex shrugged again. “I’m worried for her. It looks like she’s going to be fine, physically, but it’s never easy to lose a baby, and even less so when you were attacked. I don’t want her blaming herself, I’m afraid she’s going to suffer from post-traumatic stress, and I really didn’t want to leave her alone.”

“I meant, mostly, because you’ve been sick.” Clark gave Lex a sharp look as he loaded a plate with bacon, eggs, and hash browns. Then Clark set it in front of Lex and turned to get a fork for him. “I forgot to ask if there were any foods still making you queasy, but I have some tea going instead of coffee.”

Lex thinned his lips curiously. “That was thoughtful of you. What kind of tea?”

Clark took the kettle off and poured two cups. He’d asked the clerk what kind of tea would be okay for a pregnant woman, and he figured Lex was close enough. “It’s an herbal thing. Raspberry leaf? And it’s got some other stuff. It uh… was all they had.”

He put the tea and two glasses of milk on the counter, then set the box in front of Lex so that he could look at the box, and then took his own plate and sat down next to Lex. Sure enough, Lex was studying the box as he ate his eggs.

“These are fantastic eggs, Clark. I didn’t realize you were such a good cook,” Lex remarked after a moment.

“I’m not an Iron Chef or anything, but anyone can do eggs.”

”Not like this,” Lex argued. “I’m going to have to keep you around the house.”

Clark shook his head and smiled. It was good to see Lex eating like that. He looked like he felt okay. “You’re just saying that because you’re really hungry.”

“Perhaps. But they are very good, Clark. I appreciate you cooking for me.”

Clark chewed on a piece of bacon and x-rayed Lex’s tummy. Ah! The tiny baby was cupping her face! “You’ve been having a really hard time, and I want to be here for you.”

“Well, thank you.” Lex patted Clark’s leg as he took a drink of milk. Surprise registered on his face. “You got me skim!”

“Shh. Don’t tell Romi. She might hurt me.” Clark wanted to put his hand over Lex’s and keep it there. Suddenly he realized that the delicious scent that had gotten him in trouble a few weeks ago was still there, stronger than ever. It took all of his willpower not to scoop Lex up in his arms and tuck him safely into the enormous purple bed right now.

“I really am feeling much better. At least the nausea’s gone, thank goodness. Sometimes certain smells bother me. Lois’s ‘perfume,’ or so she called it, gave me such a headache the last time the girls and I went to the Talon, I almost grabbed a bucket from the supply closet to douse her with water.”

Clark threw his head back and laughed. “I told her, you spritz yourself with perfume; you don’t marinate in it. She’s dating a guy right now who does that with his cologne. I think the two of them are having a war of the stench.”

It pleased Clark when Lex took a sip of the tea and nodded in approval. In fact, his heart fluttered a little, happily.

“Is the bacon no good?” Clark asked, noticing that Lex hadn’t touched it. “Oh, or is it one of your forbidden foods lately?”

“I’m sure it’s excellent, and no, my doctors haven’t forbidden bacon. I just don’t think I could stomach the taste today. Sorry. It isn’t as though I’ve disliked it before.”

Clark quickly snatched the offending bacon from Lex’s plate and stuffed it in his mouth.

Lex chuckled. “A month ago just the smell would have sent me back into the bathroom.”

“Glad to be of service,” Clark replied, his mouth still full.

Lex smiled, wiping his mouth and then leaned back to sip on his tea. “So… how long have you known?”

Clark looked up. He’d been staring at Lex’s middle again and flushed deeply at Lex’s words. “Uh… known what?”

“Known to go to the corner store and buy me pregnancy tea in lieu of coffee?”

“Oh. Geez.” Clark wiped his mouth and looked forward. “Lex, it was… not long. Yesterday when I met you at the hospital. Before that, I hadn’t put it together. I dunno. I guess, with pregnancy on the brain and your symptoms and…”

Clark bit his lip and looked back down at Lex’s middle. Lex ducked his head self-consciously and ran his tongue over his upper lip.

“I wasn’t going to say anything. Because I know it’s your secret to keep or tell, and probably-“ Clark shrugged and folded his hands in his lap. “-you don’t want to go blabbing to me if you’re not sure I’m going to be there when she comes. But I will be. I promise.”

”There’s a lot of water under the bridge between us, Clark. I’m not saying that I don’t want you by my side, I do, but… this isn’t going to be easy. It never was, and this makes it more complicated.” Lex looked up at Clark, who sighed and moved to touch Lex’s shoulders. When Lex didn’t pull away, Clark began to rub them softly.

“I didn’t apologize just because you’re pregnant, by the way. I was planning on it when I came to see you in the hospital.”

“Thank you for saying so. It’s not charitable, but I would have wondered.” Lex took another sip of his tea and set it back on the counter. His right hand pressed flat against the side of his belly. “I have to commend you on not prying for details of how?”

“I kind of figured. The abduction. Fine.”

Lex pressed his lips together worriedly and nodded.

“I won’t let him take her from you.” Clark reached over with one hand, then stopped halfway. “Can… can I…?”

Lex’s features tightened as he thought about it, but after several tense moments he nodded in affirmation. Clark’s large hand covered the soft curve of Lex’s stomach completely, and a grin just blossomed on Clark’s face. It was one thing to see her, but it was another to be able to feel where she was. He let out a soft laugh, and somehow, he could feel Lex relaxing.

“Can you feel her move?” Clark asked hopefully.

Lex creased his eyes a bit. “A little. It’s so very soft. I think I missed it at first, but this morning when I was lying still, and again a few moments ago… Clark, what makes you think that the baby’s a she?”

Clark looked up, surprised. “Oh… I dunno. Is it a boy? Should I say ‘it’?”

“No, don’t call my baby it. I was just wondering. Tanaka hasn’t looked for the sex of the baby yet.” Lex’s hand touched Clark’s briefly and some emotion flickered over his eyes, but Clark couldn’t tell what it was. “It would be nice to have a girl.”

“I think you’ll do okay no matter what it is,” Clark said firmly. “Let me put you to bed. Lena can probably feel how exhausted you are.”

Clark wasn’t sure what Lex’s smile was about when he took Lex’s hand and touched his back gently to guide him off the stool and onto the safe, steady floor. It was enough that Lex was smiling, and so Clark walked with Lex back to the bedroom where he lay down without complaint. Clark sat on the bed next to him and rubbed his back.

“Clark?” Lex asked after a moment.

Clark wished Lex would just go to sleep but humored his poor pregnant friend. “What is it?”

“Don’t you have school?”

“Oh. Um, well, yeah, but you need me here.”

Lex turned his head. “You need to go to class, Clark.”

“I can miss a few days, Lex. It won’t be a problem. And I’m not leaving you alone here with the baby-skewering Milton Fine on the loose.”

When Lex’s face blanched, Clark knew that he had won the argument, but he wasn’t particularly pleased by how he’d done it. Lex took an anxious breath and cupped his hand over his belly. “Be that as it may,” he said quietly. “I won’t be your excuse for not embracing your future. You need to go back to school tomorrow.”

Lex laid his head back down and stared at the wall. Clark licked his lips, and after a long silence, managed to speak again. ”I’m sorry about what I said-“

“No, Clark. Point well taken. We aren’t exactly in a safe situation here, and I need to remember that if I want to protect my child,” Lex said stiffly. “But you are going back to school tomorrow. I’ll have a word with your professors, if you like.”

“I don’t know that they’ll accept that. My best friend’s sister was in the hospital, and he’s pregnant, so I had to come be with him?”

“Leave out the pregnant part, and it sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Although, admittedly, my attendance was never exemplary.”

Clark kicked off his shoes and slid under the covers with Lex. He didn’t particularly sound tired now, just nervous and frustrated, so Clark wrapped his arms around Lex, just above his expanding waist, and held him securely. It took a little while for Lex to even remotely relax, but when he did Clark went and ruined it. He kissed the bump on the back of Lex’s head.

You idiot! Why did you do that? Clark cringed, but he hooked his chin on Lex’s shoulder and whispered, “Try to sleep, okay?”

“I…” Lex’s arms settled over Clark’s, and he bobbed his head a little. Clark could feel him breathing deeply, in and out, and Clark mimicked Lex’s breathing, until he could feel Lex’s body giving in to sleep.

Life could not be more complicated. Clark’s best friend was pregnant with some crazy, dangerous alien’s baby. And he was in love with him.

***

With a graceful nod, Lana clipped past her new doorman and into the elevator. The man inside smiled at her and gave her a warm “Good morning, Ms. Lang,” before pressing the number to her floor.

Lana stepped out into the hallway and fished out the keys to her penthouse. It was, in a word, exquisite. Although she hadn’t quite ironed out all of the details with the interior decorator, quite a lot of it had been done over to her tastes. The chandelier was simply gorgeous, imported of course. The rugs were as well, and they were made of an expensive silk. Lana hadn’t looked at a single price tag, just ordered what she had desired, and it had been delivered to her quickly. As she set down her purse and closed the door, she looked around the foyer room, done largely in pinks and purples, and thought that she’d come a long way since decorating The Talon. She had kept the Egyptian theme for one of the sitting rooms, however.

With a sigh, Lana headed to her kitchen with a calm, contented look on her face. She poured herself a glass of wine and leaned back on the pink marble counter. She quite liked it in her brand new place. She felt as though she were finally coming into her own.

“Are you home, Ms. Lang?”

Lana’s lips twisted upward, and she slowly walked back out, wine glass in hand. “I am, Mr. Luthor.”

“Excellent.” Lionel stepped forward, rubbing his hands together. “I have some business to discuss with you, actually.”

“Come in,” Lana replied with a sleek smile. Once she had poured him a drink, and they had settled in the sitting room, Lana sat, crossing her legs and sipped her wine. “What did you have on your mind?”

Lionel looked away from the hieroglyphics he had been staring at on the wall and gave her a shark’s smile. “Ah, yes. You remember the foundation that I told you about before?”

Lana nodded.

“Yes, well, since we’re almost up and running, I would like you to come down and meet the staff. I think they’ll take to you quite well, and after that, if you’re up for it…”

“You have a client already,” Lana stated, lifting her chin and frowning slightly.

“Yes.” Lionel watched her face closely.

Lana licked her lips and nodded again. “So there’s a problem. And you need help.”

“Yes. He isn’t being quite… cooperative, and I thought that you might assist us. We’re but a bunch of stuffy old men and scientists. You’re about his age, clever, and very charismatic. I thought you might have a talk with him.” His hands folded, and he crossed his legs.

Lana set her glass down and filled with pride. Clark and Lex never knew how to ask for her help. Clark always holding in his secrets, and Lex with that ship. If he’d told her sooner, maybe they could have gotten to the bottom of it. Now, with Lionel, he told her everything about their new projects, and she could really get in there and do something.

“Alright,” she agreed in a cool voice. “Tell me what I can do for this poor young man.”

“Ah, Lana. I knew appealing to your charitable side would work,” Lionel chimed knowingly.

Lana dipped her head and laughed a little. “You know me, I guess.”

“Since you were but a girl. It’s a pity you and Lex never really got on.”

“Well, he’s just so…” Lana curled her lip and considered her words.

“Inaccessible?”

She laughed again. “Yeah, that one. He doesn’t open up! Neither does Clark, but at least you can tell how Clark feels most of the time. With Lex…” She threw her hands up. “It’s like talking to a brick wall sometimes. It’s like he’s taken all of his emotions and locked them away in a box somewhere.”

“I’ve tried so hard with the boy. Sadly, I don’t know that he’ll ever be able to share his life with anyone. He’s self-protective and paranoid. If he does anything well, it’s guard his heart.”

Lana nodded along as he spoke.

“Lex is a fragile man.” Lionel shook his head woefully. “I’m afraid that part of his malingering might have something to do with his ongoing mental illness.”

“You think so?” Lana asked in alarm. “Do you think it’ll be as bad as last time?”

“I think that with his most recent abduction-mind, Lana, post-traumatic stress can be straining on the healthiest of minds-I wonder how much longer he’ll be functional.”

Her eyes widened in alarm. “Is he having delusions again? I was never able to figure out what was wrong with him. It can’t all be in his head, can it?”

Lionel raised a hand. “I couldn’t say. Hopefully we’ll be able to get in there with his doctors and determine what’s ailing him.”

”Well, let me know what I can do to help.” Lana reached over and touched his arm.

Lionel moved his other hand over hers and squeezed gently. “I will, Lana. Thank you.”

***

Maddie’s eyes were round like saucers as she stepped back from the guards by the hospital room’s door. They were kind of scary and big. Really really big like Clark, only not as likely to grab you up in their strong arms and hug you until you giggled.

“I um… I’d like to see Lena. Please.” She held onto Jonathan Kent’s hand tightly and looked up at them with her brows screwed up and her lower lip rolled out.

“We’re on strict orders from Mr. Luthor not to let anyone inside,” one of the two men stated firmly.

“C’mon. She’s just a kid. I don’t even have to go in. But she’s worried and she’d like to see Lena,” Jonathan explained.

“No visitors,” the man repeated, not moving at all.

Maddie’s brows went really high. Gosh, Jonathan’s face was red! He shook his head after a moment and lead Maddie in the other direction. “We’ll have to wait. Someone will come by.”

“Where’s Lex?” Maddie asked worriedly.

“I dunno. Clark came down here to check on him. Lemme call.” Jonathan pulled out his cell phone and paused back in the waiting area. “Clark?”

“Uh… dad?” Clark’s voice was a little groggy and quite soft.

“Where are you? The guards outside Lena’s door won’t let us in,” Jonathan grumbled.

“Uh, what? Um… hang on a sec.”

Jonathan could hear the rustling of blankets and then after a moment, Clark came on again. “What now? Sorry, I got Lex to bed and fell asleep myself.”

“Well, y’been staying up with them. My problem was that Lex’s guards won’t let Maddie in to see Lena.”

“Huh. Is Chloe there? She should be able to tell them. Or Domovoi?”

“He’s securing the perimeter, or something like that,” Jonathan replied.

“Well, when he’s done. Tell Maddie I’m sorry, but I won’t wake up Lex. He needs the sleep, Dad.”

Jonathan sighed and took a seat. “We’ll have to wait then. I have no idea where Chloe is.”

“Call her cell.”

Jonathan shrugged and opened his arms for Maddie, who quickly crawled into his arms. “I don’t have her number.”

“Hang on,” Clark said, just before he rattled off a series of numbers. “Is that Maddie?”

“Yeah.” Jonathan handed her the phone.

“Hi, Clark! How is Lex? Is he feeling okay? Did he eat?” Maddie asked, leaning forward a little.

“I made him breakfast, and he ate, then I put him to bed. He’s sleeping pretty hard.”

“Good. He wasn’t dizzy or anything?”

“No, Chloe and I took good care of him while he was watching over Lena,” Clark promised.

It was hard for Maddie not to believe Clark when he promised things. “It’s really important that you do that.”

“I know, Maddie,” Clark said warmly.

Maddie pouched her lips out. “You know? What do you know?”

“I know,” Clark repeated firmly. “And it’s okay. I’ll look after him.”

Maddie squealed. “Oh, Clark!”

“Calm down!” Clark laughed. “Look, Maddie, he’s gonna be fine. And so is Lena. You’ll see.”

“What happened is horrible,” Maddie said, putting again. “Isn’t she awfully alone?”

“She made me take Lex out of the hospital. I think she was right to do it, too. He needs to de-stress, though we need to find some way to protect Lena better, too.”

“I could protect her,” Maddie offered.

“Maddie-“

“What? I have powers!”

Jonathan squeezed her around the waist. “In public, kiddo. Voice down about the powers.”

“Oh, well.” She switched to a whisper. “I do. I can protect her.”

“Well, Maddie, do you want to stay with her until she gets out of the hospital?” Clark asked.

“Oh! Yes! If your dad will let me.”

“Let you what?”

Maddie looked up to him. “Stay with Lena to protect her.”

“I s’pose, if she agrees. I’ll give Martha a call in a bit and tell her what’s going on,” Jonathan said.

Maddie bounced. “I can stay. I’ll look after her, and you’ll look after Lex!”

“Sounds like a deal,” Clark replied cheerfully.

Maddie beamed.

“I’m going to get back to Lex, okay?”

“Yes!” she replied excitedly. After ending the call she got up and walked over to the guards determinedly. “I have to be with Lena.”

One of the men rolled his eyes. “No visitors, sweetheart.”

Jonathan shot up, both startled and worried by Maddie’s sudden action. She didn’t normally speak to strangers, male or female, and while he was proud of her, he had to make sure that she could restrain her powers if she got angry or nervous.

“Ask Lena. She’ll let us in,” Maddie argued. Jonathan’s hands touched her shoulders, and she looked up at him plaintively.

“Let her in,” a soft voice said from behind the guards. Lena peeked her sallow face out of the door and gave Maddie a gentle smile. “Come on, little girl. Give me some company.”

Maddie ran up to her and wrapped her arms gently around Lena’s waist. “We were worried.”

“Yeah? I’m pretty okay now, baby. “ Lena looked up at Jonathan and thinned her lips, then turned back into her room with Maddie.

“I’ll just wait here then,” Jonathan said to the guards, who didn’t appear to care.

***

“Dad!” Chloe bellowed, poking her head into the small Metropolis apartment. Now that school was technically over for her, Chloe had a lot of time on her hands until the second summer session at Met U, when she was signed up to get some of her core classes out of the way.

Mercy followed her inside and took in the apartment with one quirked one brow. “Not a bad place.”

”It’s the best he can do right now. Where is he?” Chloe headed into the kitchen to check the refrigerator door for a message. “No note. Huh. Gosh, everyone’s just disappearing on me lately.”

“Everyone?” Mercy came into the kitchen and perched on a barstool.

“My so-called bff roommate,” Chloe said dryly as she opened the refrigerator. She sniffed a takeout carton, made a face, then put it back. “I haven’t set eyes on her since our dorm was robbed. I have no idea where she’s staying, and she’s not answering her cell.”

Mercy leaned on her hand. “Are you worried?”

“Yeah…” Chloe pulled out a container of juice and closed the door as she walked over to the counter. “I’ve talk to her Aunt Nell, but Lana’s apparently been avoiding her since she got back from Paris... Lana got back, not Nell. I guess I don’t blame Lana too much for not wanting to see her. She made this huge power play will her aunt back in sophomore year of high school to get Nell to choose between her and her new fiancé and Lana lost big time.”

“Nell chose the guy over her?”

“Yeah. Lana doesn’t miss a chance to hate on Nell. I wish they’d take a moment to get back on track with each other. Nell really just gave Lana pretty much everything she asked for, and Lana was never a bit grateful.” Chloe drank from the carton and leaned on the counter with her elbows. “I think Lana really needed more boundaries from Nell, but Nell couldn’t see that what Lana wanted wasn’t always what she needed.”

Chloe laughed suddenly. “Easy to judge from the outside, isn’t it? I kinda liked Nell, actually. Maybe it was because my father and I had so much distance between us, so I had no basis for comparison, or maybe I missed my mom so much, I would have taken any female role model! Mrs. Kent was never that interested in me, but Nell was always nice to all of Lana’s friends, no matter how nosy or iconoclastic they were.”

“What happened to your mother?” Mercy asked softly.

“Lex doesn’t have a file on that?” Chloe countered with a little smirk.

“I’d like to hear it from you. I knew who you were, definitely, when I met you in that coffee shop, but I never looked into the personal details.” Her plump lips curved. “I like to save a little mystery.”

Chloe set the juice aside and shrugged. “Mom left when I was little. Just left in the middle of the night. I found her once.” She clasped her hands together and licked his lips as she stared down at them. “It wasn’t… great. She didn’t want me. I mean, usually when parents split up, the parent that leaves tells their kid that they aren’t divorcing them right?”

Mercy touched Chloe’s hands then felt a drop of wetness hit her fingers.

“After that she disappeared again. I didn’t find her again until last year, when she was committed to a mental institution.” Chloe moved one hand to pull the thin, blond hair behind her ear. She needed a shower. She needed some sleep. It felt as though something was inside her head pounding the backs of her eyeballs. “I go to see her, when I can, but…”

Mercy squeezed her hand.

“I miss her still. I mean, I was only five when she left. I wish I remembered more.” Chloe’s hand moved to her lips, and then her head bowed over and she hid her face. “Sorry, I don’t talk about it much.”

Mercy stood and walked over behind her, wrapping strong arms around her shoulders. “These things are hard, I know. I know, kitten. Don’t cry.”

That only made Chloe sob harder, and she brought her arms up around Mercy’s, hugging her back in some small gesture of thanks for not running away. Chloe spent so much time worried about every one else that she barely had time to deal with what was happening in her own family. Easier to laugh it off. To go after another story, do more research for Clark, take on another class or job.

Even now, with Lex and Lena in danger, it seemed indulgent of her to cry over something that wasn’t immediate and was never going to change. Losses that she’d felt for years and years already. Still, Mercy held her, yet again, smiling softly and kissing the back of her neck.

After what seemed like too long, Chloe turned in Mercy’s arms and placed one hand on the other woman’s cheek. Mercy’s breathing hitched and her large eyes widened just a bit as she searched Chloe’s, appearing lost as to what to do with the woman she hand in her arms. Slowly, very slowly, their faces grew closer, until their lips were brushing together.

“Chlobear?” Gabe’s voice called from the front door.

Chloe squeaked, stumbled backwards, and dropped to the floor before Mercy could get a better grip on her. “Mother fu-“

“Geezus, I’m sorry!” Mercy hissed.

“You there, Chlobear? I saw your car in front of the building.”

“Yeah, Dad,” Chloe called back, looking up at Mercy who was, for the first time since Chloe had met her, blushing just a bit. “Help me up.”

Mercy took her hands and lifted Chloe to her feet. They both faced the kitchen door as her father came in.

“Oh, uh… hey there.” Gabe ruffled his hair and offered a hand to Mercy. “I’m Chloe’s father, Gabe Sullivan. And you are?”

“Mercy Graves,” Mercy told him, shaking his hand. Hers was at least as big as his, and she held back so not to hurt the man. “Chlobear and I were just hanging out and talking a bit. It’s been a really long couple of days.”

Chloe glared at Mercy for calling her ‘Chlobear.’ Only her dad got to call her embarrassing names.

“Yeah, so I heard. Is Lex okay?” Gabe looked between them with interest.

“Actually, it was Lex’s friend, but so far, she’s doing alright,” Chloe explained. “She lost her baby, and wow. God, she’s so destroyed.”

“I’d imagine. It’s rough.” Gabe sighed. “Well, it’s good to see you, Chloe. I was starting to wonder if you were still staying here for the summer.”

Chloe felt a small stab of guilt, although she knew her father well enough to know that it wasn’t a dig. It never was. He’d let her flit off for a month or so without being angry with her, as long as she came back. “For another couple of weeks.”

“Great! You girls hungry?”

Chloe looked up at Mercy, who shook her head. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

“You can stay to eat, at least,” Chloe argued. “Don’t deny the Sullivan hospitality.”

“Maybe one of you could manage to do the dishes,” Gabe suggested with a laugh.

Mercy slapped Chloe’s butt. “Go shower. I’ll get the dishes.”

Chloe’s eyes popped wide open, and she hurried out of the kitchen, her heart fluttering excitedly. Emotionally, she felt like she was everywhere at once. It was scary, and she wanted more control than this, but at the same time, she didn’t want to stop.

***

Lex knows that he’s had this dream before because he’s standing before the board of LuthorCorp presenting his recent findings on Princess Aletheia’s escape from 33.1 inside a great bald cat, and his father is nodding along, shaking a small antique porcelain baby rattle impatiently. He’s waiting for the presentation to be over. Lex tries to make the presentation last as long as he possibly can. Once things get going, he won’t be able to stop them. He’s had this dream many times.

Too soon his father is coming towards him with that creepy ear-to-ear smile that says that he has control over everything, and Lex is sitting in a wheelchair being rolled into Smallville Medical with his hands on his huge belly.

“This is ridiculous,” he grumbles to no one in particular. No one ever listens to him. “I’m not having twins.”

He tries to maneuver himself up, but he finds it impossible to do with the orderly continuing to push him so quickly down the endless hallways of the hospital.

“I’m fucking pregnant. Slow down, you fucking jackass!”

“Oh, Lex. You shouldn’t get so emotional!” Lionel chides, pushing him down and rubbing his belly. “It’s bad for the baby. Not to mention, you don’t want my new daughter picking up naughty words.”

“Hands off! If you touch me, I’m going to set you on fire, I swear!”

Lionel just chuckles.

Inside the delivery room, Clark’s lip curls in disgust as he realizes exactly who he’s banging doggie style. He’s a bit surprised at his own reaction, although he shouldn’t be, since he’s been panting after her for most of his teenage years, but when he sees the doors open and Lex being wheeled in, he pulls out and gives Lana a shove. She falls to the floor with a squeak.

“We’re in a hospital,” he says in surprise.

“No fucking, Clark,” Lex snaps. “I hope you’re using a condom.”

Clark climbs off the table the moment he sees Lionel enter the room. Lionel is touching Lex, kneeling beside him and looking so like a predator about to devour him that Clark moves before thinking and grabs Lionel’s hand as he reaches for Lex’s belly and pulls the man to the side. Clark’s eyes bulge because Lex’s belly is just… really big, and he’s pretty sure that he hasn’t abandoned Lex for that long.

“Don’t touch him!” Clark roared

Looking up at him in abject surprise, Lex takes the wheels and backs away from Lionel. “Clark, I have to get out of here.”

“Clark, don’t leave me!” Lana pleads, standing up and touching the bed lightly. With a sudden self-awareness, she covers herself as though intensely ashamed. “I never meant for you to see me like this.”

“Hold on, Lex.” Clark drops Lionel to the floor and pushes Lex out of the hospital room, leaving Lana and Lionel to each other’s mercy.

They end up rolling into the Kawatche caves of all places, and Lex looks around curiously. “Why are we here?”

“I don’t know.” Clark offers him a hand up, and together they walk through the caves. Iridescent fishes swim through the air all around them. At one point, Lori Lemuris swims by doing the breaststroke. She waves, so Clark confusedly waves back.

Lex keeps one hand atop his belly as he waddles through the caves, although he seems to be a more reasonable size now. The rooms keep on changing as they do, and even Clark seems confused. After what seems like hours, they come to a room with a drawing of what looks like a serpent impaling itself on a knife.

“What does it mean?” Lex asks.

Again, Clark shakes his head. He’s never understood what these caves are actually doing here. Taking his eyes away from the drawing, he notices that the red couch from his loft is sitting in the middle of the cavern. He takes Lex’s hand and leads him over, helping Lex to lower himself onto it once they are there.

Lex leans back and sighs heavily, rubbing both hands over the sides of his belly. The child feels restless. “Sageeth is the suicidal king.”

“What’s the suicidal king?” Clark asks, pulling Lex’s feet into his lap and beginning to rub them.

“The suicidal prince when he’s all grown up.”

Clark smiles a little at his weird friend and moves closer. He gives Lex a sweet, soft kiss. So light that it might have been a butterfly landing.

“Clark,” Lex whispers. His eyes are shimmering, a jewel like gray that sends a chill right down Clark’s back.

“What is it?” Clark asks. He works Lex’s arches and smiles at him contentedly. Their lips touch again just as softly and sweetly, and it fills them both with warmth.

Lex’s lip part after a moment, and his sad whisper echoes throughout the caves, “We must be dreaming.”

“Dreaming?” Clark asks in confusion and then glances around the cavern. When his eyes return to Lex, they are both in a field, covered in Lex’s blood.

“No!” he screams, shaking Lex’s slender, lifeless body. “No, Lex wake up. You can’t leave me! Please don’t leave!”

Lex awoke in his bed covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Well, that one had been odd, but he’d had worse. Perhaps with Clark by his side, he could keep this child away from those who wanted to harm her.

Rubbing his forehead, Lex sat slowly and put his legs over the side of the bed. His stomach gave a growl. With a sigh, he stood and went to the main area of the apartment to see if Clark was still around.

Clark had nodded off on the expansive, soft black sofa. The remote control tipped dangerously out of his hand, and Lex walked over to him and took it from him, turning off the television and setting the remote on the glass coffee table. He sat beside Clark and yawned, giving his tummy a pet and looking to the wall clock for the time.

“Oh, wow. Slept all day,” he murmured.

Clark slowly began to stir and looked over at Lex. His eyes widened to puppy-like proportions, and he wrapped his arms around Lex’s shoulders.

“What is it?” Lex asked. Half a moment later he was hugging Clark in return.

“I had a bad dream.”

Lex chuckled and rubbed Clark’s back. “My dreams lately have been odd too. It’s like a Technicolor LSD show at night.”

“Mm.” Clark buried his face into Lex’s shoulder. Lex let himself be squeezed for a few silent moments, and then Clark whispered, “Thanks.” He pulled back and gave Lex a weak smile. “How do you feel?”

“Not bad. I slept a long time.”

“Even with your Technicolor LSD dreams? You needed the sleep.” Clark patted his shoulder. “Hungry?”

“Oh, yeah. You?”

“Pfft. Always. “ Clark stood and walked over to the kitchen. “I cooked it earlier so I could just heat it when you finally woke up.”

“That was considerate of you.”

“Well, I wasn’t going anywhere. Oh, Lena called. They can’t find anything wrong with her now, physically, anyway, so they had to let her go. My dad took her and Maddie back to the farm, once he got approval from Mercy. Domovoi’s with them.” Clark leaned over to put something in the oven. He set the timer and walked back over. “So we’ll have you on the helicopter and back to meet your sister when you’re up to it. But you eat first.”

“Hm. Yes, daddy.”

“I’ll settle for Uncle Clark.”

Lex raised a brow and looked down. Lena had been right. He would have liked for Clark to settle for daddy instead, but he wasn’t going to kid himself. Clark was drawn to him purely by hormones. It would be platonic soon enough, and that was only fair to Clark.

“Do you want to call her?” Clark asked from the kitchen, where he was putting something in the oven.

“Yes, I could do that,” Lex said noncommittally. He touched the arm of the sofa and pushed himself up. He had to find his cell first.

Clark set the timer on the stove then looked over at Lex with a frown. “You look blue.”

“I’m fine,” Lex replied. He walked back into the bedroom to find his other set of pants, which had ended up in the hamper. After pulling out the phone, he dialed the Kents’ number and waited, sitting on the bed and realizing how little this shirt did to hide his bulge. He walked over to his walk-in closet, surprised by some of the slutty garments he had left behind when he’d moved to Smallville. What a diva he’d been back in the day. Lex sighed, realizing that he wouldn’t likely be doing that any longer. He wondered if he’d miss it.

“Kent Farm,” Martha answered.

“Hello, Mrs. Kent,” Lex returned stiffly. “Clark told me that Mr. Kent brought Maddie and Lena home.”

Martha’s sigh was audible. “Yes, they are here. I’ll get her for you.”

“Mrs. Ke- hm.” Lex sighed and waited. His fingers slid over a mesh shirt, then a gorgeous electric silk shirt. He wondered if this would even button up and tried it as he waited. Sure enough, he couldn’t get the buttons closed around his middle, although he was happy to note that he could still get it buttoned over his chest, barely. The silk shirt he stripped off and re-hung properly. Then he found a pair of shimmery black pants that had barely fit five years ago. He dropped his sweats and began to wiggle into the club pants.

“Save me,” Lena pleaded when she finally got on the phone.

Lex’s head jerked up. He pulled on one of the rave shirts, but it only came down his torso halfway. “Have Domovoi take you to the castle.”

“I don’t want to leave Maddie here,” Lena explained quietly, almost apologetically. Her voice hardly sounded like her own.

Lex frowned deeply as he felt a pang of grief in his chest. “Wait… why wouldn’t she come back with you? I have custody of her.”

“You do. I don’t. Martha despises me. She’s a sour-faced bitter old-”

“She does? Why? Never mind. Lena, you don’t need that right now. Tell Domovoi to take you and Maddie home. He’ll handle it. I’ll be heading back soon,” Lex promised.

“Lexie, please don’t stress yourself over me.“

“Lenie, you have to listen to me. You need to be away from people right now. Especially Martha Kent. You need to let yourself heal. Talk to Domovoi, please. Now, if Domovoi can’t deal with this, I don’t think that Jonathan Kent would let anything happen to Maddie, and I don’t think you’re up to taking Martha on right now. I did you a favor earlier today.”

Lena made a sound low in her throat.

“Please go back to the castle. Maybe an hour, and I’ll be home. We can go get Maddie together then if Martha won’t let her got.”

“Lexie…”

It broke Lex’s heart to hear her that way. His jubilant, warm, beautiful sister reduced to tears. “Half an hour. We can leave now.”

“No, don’t, Lex. You need to eat first.”

“Of course,” Lex replied, adoring her. “Of course you know that. We’ll eat first, and then Clark will take me to the helicopter-“

“Baby, don’t rush yourself.”

“Thirty minutes isn’t a bad trip!”

Clark peeked his head into the bedroom, then his eyes bulged wide at the sight of Lex standing there in the tight club clothes that stretched snugly over the curves of his body and left his baby bump hanging out. Lex looked up and immediately flushed.

“Why are you so embarrassed?” Lena asked.

“Hang on a sec, Lenie.”

“I-I don’t t-think those fit, Lex,” Clark stammered as his cheeks went just as red as Lex’s.

“Get out,” Lex ordered, turning quickly to pull off the shirt.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Lena asked a little more urgently.

“Nothing fucking fits me anymore,” Lex grumbled. He pinched his stinging eyes closed as he heard a snicker behind him. “God dammit.”

Lena was quiet for a moment and then whispered, “Please don’t cry, Lex. Please don’t be upset. Your clothes don’t fit right now because your darling baby is inside you.”

“I know, I know, and I’m glad. I…” Lex swallowed. “Don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad! Since when can’t you talk to me about this stuff, huh?”

“I know that I’m lucky to have her. The baby.” Lex leaned against the inside of his walk-in closet and began to try pulling those ridiculous pants off in rough jerks.

“Lex, I was pregnant just a few days ago. I know that your emotions are shifting rapidly, and you can’t help it. Just because you’re upset about your figure doesn’t mean you aren’t grateful to have your baby.” She paused. “You don’t want to talk about this because I lost my boy.”

Lex slipped to the bottom of the closet and felt tears running down his face.

Lena choked back a sob. “I’m sorry. Those are my tears, baby. Take a breath.”

“I’m trying,” Lex gasped.

“I…” Lena sounded as though she were about to break.

“C-Clark can take me to you-“

“No, Lexie, please stay the night there,” Lena sobbed. “I’ll go to the barn away from everybody, and I’ll be fine, yeah? Baby, I feel so much of what you’re feeling, and you’re feeling me now. I can’t let you be so upset!”

“You need someone to be there with you,” Lex insisted.

“I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “God, hon, you know I’m just going to mope and sleep.”

“Lena, are you sure?” Lex asked seriously. “I want to be there for you.”

“You will be. Soon. Okay?”

Lex hesitated, wiping his eyes. “If you think that’s the best thing for you, Lena.”

“Sister knows best,” she joked softly.

Lex didn’t laugh. He wanted to be there with her to rub her back as she cried.

“I love you, Lex. Please, try to relax, okay? We’ll be together soon enough.”

“Yes.” It was all he could say. After closing his phone, he set it aside, folded his arms over his knees, and pressed his face into them, sobbing. Part of it was clearly something he was picking up from her, but he doubted that was all. His dreams. The danger to his sister and himself and his baby. And of course that little laugh from Clark at how he looked. He bit his lip and did as Lena had suggested. One slow breath after the other. He needed to calm himself down.

A shadow fell over him, and Lex jumped hard.

“Lex!” Clark exclaimed, putting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. Just me. I uh… Don’t cry.”

Lex just averted his eyes, wishing he could disappear. Fat and naked in front of Clark and his sister was so destroyed by her loss that his pregnancy made her cry. Lex could barely stand it.

“Dinner is ready. I’ve got it sitting out there.” Clark tented his brows, looking as though he felt helpless.

Lex caught the expression out of the corner of his eye and took pity on him. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“You can’t stay here in the closet crying in your underwear!” Clark argued. His eyes bulged when Lex’s lip quivered. “Lex! I uh… I think what you were wearing earlier was fine but, uh… Chloe brought over a couple of sets of clothes for us. Let me go get you something more comfy. Just stay here, okay?”

Clark gave Lex’s back a rub and walked into the other room. Lex pressed his face into his hands and shook his head. What was he doing? When had he become so pathetic? If his father could see him now, he’d have such a laugh at his weak, fragile son. Lex hated it. He hated proving to his father that he was emotional, irrational, that he was so like his mother.

Lex knew all too well that he was very much like his mother.

Clark returned with his hair looking like he’d been standing in front of a chopper and he knelt beside Lex once again. “C’mon, let me…”

He gently took Lex’s arm and began to slip a soft, blue sweater over Lex’s head. First the arms, then over the head. Clark tugged the sweater into place and looked into Lex’s heartbreaking gray eyes.

“What are you doing?” Lex asked.

“Dressing you.” Clark reached under Lex’s armpits and lifted him up easily. “Gimme your foot.”

Lex looked down as Clark pulled the loose pants up one leg and then the other. He slowly slipped them up Lex’s hips as though he were afraid of touching Lex too much or bruising him. Clark’s eyes avoided looking at Lex’s body, but his hands remained on Lex’s hips for a moment and then he looked up at Lex again.

“How do they feel? Good?” Clark stood. “Don’t they need to be kinda loose? For good circulation?”

“Uh, yeah. I was just… Fooling around,” Lex replied shortly. “I am quite aware that those clothes no longer fit.”

He pulled away from Clark and walked into the other room, almost groaning at how delicious the lasagna sitting on the dining table smelled. He might eat the whole pan.

Clark lingered on the steps a moment, then walked over to the table and lit a candle in the middle and held out a chair for Lex. “I’m starving. Seriously.”

Lex sat before the plate and watched as Clark did the same before his own. The younger man dug in eagerly, taking liberal bites of salad, lasagna, and garlic bread. With a bit of a smile, Lex began to eat as well.

“I’m sorry,” Clark said, when he was almost finished eating. He didn’t look up to Lex. “For making you upset.”

“It’s fine, Clark,” Lex insisted. You think I’m fat. So what? I am.

“No, it isn’t. I didn’t mean to. It was me, wasn’t it? I… did something.” Clark looked up with an effort. “Tell me what I did. I don’t want to hurt you anymore, and I think we’ve established that I suck at not doing that.”

Lex rubbed his eyebrow. “It’s…. Clark, it isn’t your fault that I’m oversensitive and moody.”

“Well, you’ve been under a lot of stress. Of course you’re going to be on edge!” Clark shook his head. “You don’t even know. I remember earlier this year I snapped at Chloe, and she told me to take a Midol.”

Lex covered his mouth and chuckled softly. “Did it help?”

“I didn’t take one! Geez.” Clark petted down his hair. “Oh, wow. I had tornado hair there for a minute.”

“I wasn’t going to mention it. How did you do that just going from one room to the next?” Lex asked.

A guilty look passed over Clark’s face. “Must have been running my hands through it trying to find those clothes Chloe dropped off. Finish your dinner. Is it good?”

“Very. You’re becoming a nice little cook.” Lex lifted his fork and started in again.

“I can follow a recipe,” Clark scoffed. “But thanks. Are we going to be going back tonight?”

“I’d like to, but Lena doesn’t want to see me right now. I just don’t know what to do.” Lex rubbed his temple.

“I can’t believe she doesn’t want to see you,” Clark said with a skeptical look. “She adores you.”

“No, with her empathy- it’s difficult for her to be around me right now, I guess.”

”Oh.” Clark looked sulky. Then he perked up. “Are you up for some dessert?”

“Ah ha,” Lex laughed. “No, I’m not up for empty calories.”

“Oh, please. When you’re pregnant, you’re allowed.”

“What exactly do you know about being pregnant, hm?” Lex demanded. He sighed. It was a good meal, and when he was full, he poked out even more. He leaned back in his chair.

Clark rolled his eyes up to the ceiling in contemplation. “Uh… the circulation thing. I know that you shouldn’t smoke or drink alcohol. Or too much coffee.”

“Well, I already stopped. Believe me, it was a rough period.” Lex crossed his arms.

“Yeah, I bet. How soon did you?”

“Well, as soon as I found out,” Lex said. He picked up his glass and drank the rest of the milk.

“You didn’t seem that grumpy to me,” Clark objected.

“You brought me pie.”

Clark laughed. “Is that all it takes?”

“These days? Apparently so.”

Clark’s face lit up, and he stood from his chair, offering a large hand. Lex took it and gasped softly as Clark picked him up and carried him over to the sofa.

“What’s this for?” Lex asked, holding on with one arm. “I know you’re strong, but you don’t have to carry me around.”

“Please. I toss bales of hay around all the time,” Clark scoffed.

“You’d better not be comparing me to one of those huge bales I see out with the herd.”

“Dealing with pregnant persons rule number three: Don’t discuss weight,” Clark replied, sitting them down on the sofa with Lex in his lap. “Don’t let me hurt you, Lex. Speak up. This is because I saw you, isn’t it? Is that what I did? I didn’t mean to. I was embarrassed. I wasn’t laughing at you.”

Lex leaned back in Clark’s arms. “Do you want me to speak up even if it’s over something foolish?”

“It’s not stupid if it hurts you.” Clark frowned.

“It wasn’t just you.”

“I know.” Clark rubbed his hands over Lex’s shoulders, then grabbed the remote and started flipping around. “Relax. We can go back whenever you want.”

“You need to go to school tomorrow,” Lex reminded him.

“Spoilsport. Well, sit here and digest a little while.”

Lex closed his eyes and let himself go limp. Clark’s strong hand moved in circles on his back, causing him to bob back and forth a little. He groaned softly in appreciation. He hadn’t realized until now how tense he’d been.

“Feel good?”

“Yeah,” Lex murmured. Clark’s other hand wrapped around his waist and held him securely. It was a little strange to be held like this by him. Outside of his dreams, anyway.

“Maybe we should go get some pie. Fruit’s good for you, right?”

“I’m not a sucker for just anyone’s pie,” Lex teased. He stiffened when Clark lifted up his sweater and leaned over.

“Hey, baby. Do you want some pie? Your daddy will eat it if you ask him.”

Lex bit his lip trying not to laugh. “What are you doing?”

“Rule about pregnant persons four: It’s good to talk to the baby.” Clark grinned at him.

A small smile spread on Lex’s lips.

“Am I forgiven?” Clark asked, raising his brows. He quirked his mouth to the side then leaned over to Lex’s little baby bump again. “Tell daddy to forgive Uncle Clark! Help me out here!”

Lex shook his head and pointed at Clark. “Don’t put her in the middle of this.”

“She loves her Uncle Clark!” Clark protested. “Look! She’s giving me a wave.” He waved. “And a kiss.”

“Clark!” Lex protested, to no avail. Clark leaned over and kissed his stomach. “You’re only going to get worse, aren’t you?”

“God, I am.” Clark wrapped his arms around Lex’s shoulders. “Don’t give up on me.”

“Hm. Maybe. Rub my back again,” Lex ordered.

With a nod, Clark obeyed, rubbing gently and watching Lex until his legs curled up and he rested his head on Clark’s shoulder with a sigh. Lex looked over to see what Clark was watching. Some sitcom. It didn’t matter to him; he was too comfortable to move. He didn’t even protest when Clark gave him another kiss on the back of his head.