Caryatid

Clark's hands clenched in frustration as he shredded the newspaper in his hands. He shouldn't be this angry, but he knew it wasn't merely anger, was jealousy, hate, grief, despair, and to end it all, love. Because despite it all, he still loved Lex. He looked at the bits of paper on the floor and reached over to pick up the small bronze replica of 'The Caryatid with Stone'. He knew what it meant now.

When he’d first unpacked it after months stored in his father's barn he’d almost sent it back to Lex. It took him a few moments to realize that the servants never would have packed it unless Lex had specifically wanted him to have it. At that moment, he hadn’t understood the meaning. That had taken some time.

He thought back what had happened over four years ago. When he’d returned to their apartment, Lex had been gone. The servants had been cleaning up—and packing up. Lex was leaving, at least for the time being. They’d said he’d gone to Europe. Even then, Clark had thought he could patch things up.

It wasn't until Lex came home two months later with Victoria, his wife, on his arm that Clark had realized that Lex never said anything he didn't mean. With the servants around Clark couldn't use his speed or strength, much, and he had years of his life packed up in only a little time, but still he was out within two days.

A little over a year later, Lex's son was born. Jonathan Julian Luthor. When Clark had first read about it, he’d wondered why Lex had chosen Clark's father's name, until he talked to his mother. He hefted the statue in his hand as he remembered. That had been some conversation.

His mother had set him straight. Jonathan meant 'gift from God'. That was when he’d learned that Lex had come to Clark’s mother for help raising little Jonathan. That was what the conversation was about. His mom wouldn’t do it if Clark objected, but Lex didn't want his son to be raised as he’d been raised. He needed someone to teach him how to be a good parent, someone who was a good parent. Clark didn't know if Lex knew at the time that his father had recently died and his mother was at loose ends. Clark agreed with his mom that she could certainly help Lex to be a good father. Clark never told his mother that he thought caring for a child would help her as well.

Clark still smiled at the thought of Lex, changing wet diapers and dealing with dirty fingers all over his clothes. He wasn't surprised that Lex could do it though. Look at all the hell Clark had dragged Lex through.

For years, Lex had been part of their lives. Clark wouldn't cut him out even if he and Lex never spoke again. He told her go ahead. He didn't mind. He did but he didn't too. His mom worried some because it hadn't been too many months before that her grown son had sobbed on her shoulder at what he’d lost, what he’d foolishly thrown away. His mother had told him it would get better. His father had told him to buck up and move on. And he had, in some ways. But he’d never stopped loving Lex.

Clark never did figure out why Lex decided to move back into the mansion. Victoria lived in Metropolis, and New York, and Switzerland, and Italy. But not Smallville.

Lex lived in Smallville, with his son. He ran his empire from there. How, Clark didn't know, but Lex did it.

It wasn't until the earthquake hit in California that Clark had learned the meaning of the statue. The massive quake that had been predicted for years hit and he’d gone to help. The deaths weren't in the thousands; they were in the millions. California ended up with some new islands. People died from the quake itself and more died from hunger, thirst and disease. He’d worked for months trying to help, but people still died. In his more cynical moments, he thought he was on the set of 'Escape from LA', but this was no movie.

It had finally hit him. He wasn't Clark any more. Clark had gone into the quake area as a reporter and he ended up being Superman most of the time. That's when Clark had become a freelancer and Superman disappeared for a while. Lex had been right. His parents had been right. He couldn't save everyone. And he was losing himself. The meaning of the statue became apparent. He had to set down the stone of being Superman occasionally in order to be Clark, or risk being crushed by the weight of expectations and responsibilities that came with the hero’s persona.

He sighed, put down the statue, and started cleaning up the shredded newspaper. Lex’s family was complete now. With the new baby, a fine older son, and a loving wife, there was likely not even room left for memories of Clark, much less regrets.

Clark wanted to send something but he didn't want it to be returned like every other present or card he’d sent. The papers said that Victoria and Lex would be returning to Smallville in a couple of weeks. Maybe he’d better call his mother.

He picked up the phone with a heavy heart. At this time of day, his mom would be at the mansion watching Lex's son while Lex was in the city with Victoria and the new baby. She always lived in when Lex had to be gone. When the phone picked up, his mom was on it. "Mom," he began. "I need you to do me a favor." He swallowed and with it, he swallowed his pride, the pride that had been preventing him from seeing Lex for so many years. "I need you to talk to Lex for me."

He told his mother everything. He didn't want to interfere in Lex's marriage but he hoped he would at least be allowed to send gifts. It wasn't that Lex or the children needed anything but Clark would like to. She said she'd ask but not to have a lot of hope. Clark was one thing that she and Lex never discussed. Maybe that was the way it should be.

Clark couldn't sit and wait. It would be a couple of weeks before she could talk to Lex. He had to keep busy. And the easiest way to do that was to spend a couple of weeks as Superman. Sometimes he wondered if Lex noticed that Superman was more active at certain times. When Clark couldn't cope, he was Superman because Superman didn't have to feel anything.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

The hectic race of putting everything to rights with a new baby was finally over and Martha worried about what to say to Lex, and when, and how.

She finally decided she couldn't side step it any longer and knocked on the door to his office. When he called for her to enter, he was surprised.

"Martha, you don't need to knock." He chided lightly. "You're always welcome."

She carefully sat down in one of the chairs opposite his desk. "I know, but this isn't about the children. It's about Clark."

He was in the process of sitting down, but went totally still at the mention of Clark's name. His hand wiped across his forehead and then back across his scalp to rub at the nape of his neck. She'd seen that motion dozens of times. It meant I'm worried and I don’t know what to do. "Is he all right?" The question came out harshly. Martha knew then that he didn't care at all about the years of estrangement between them. If Clark needed help, he’d help.

"He's fine. He just wants to know if he'll be allowed to send you something for the baby, or should he just wrap it and put it in his closet. He said he couldn't take something else being returned." He stared at her as he slowly finished sitting.

"He never sent anything." Lex's voice was hard, brittle. It made her shiver to hear it. He'd never used this tone around her.

She shook her head. "He told me he sent something for every birthday, every anniversary, Christmas too. Everything was sent back unopened, everything: cards, letters, gifts. He would have called but he didn't think you'd talk to him."

Lex went still again, trying to comprehend what she’d said. "Christ." His hands rubbed into his eyes. "Tell him." He stopped. He had to bring himself under control. "Tell him he's welcome here. Always. He can send something or come himself." He whispered. " I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."

She didn't think a living man could go as white as Lex did. She got up, walked around the desk, and put her hand on Lex's shoulder. "Are you all right?"

He reached up, clasped her hand, and held it while his breathing got under control. "I'll be all right. I'm all right." He corrected almost immediately. He turned around and rose from his chair. "I can't thank you enough for telling me."

"You're sure?" she asked, looking up into slate eyes that were filled with emotion. Lex had been in her life for years, the other son she’d never had. She’d told him that once, after he and Clark had told her and Jonathan about their relationship. It had taken time to accept but accept it they did. Clark had softened the edges on Lex. Lex had put some armor on Clark. They had been good together.

"Yes. Now, let's go see how the children are, why don't we?" He held out his arm to her to escort her from his office. It was obvious to her the subject was closed.

"Oh, Lex. They're asleep." But she took his arm anyway.

"That's perfect then." He escorted her out of the office and down to the wing that was living quarters. "I don't have to calm colic, change diapers, bathe, feed or burp. I can admire." And admire he did, for a few moments, before begging her leave. He returned to his office but only to retrieve a file folder from his safe.

He returned to the living quarters, expecting that this part of the day Victoria would still be in her suite. She seldom left it when she was in Smallville.

He was surprised that she was actually up and dressed when he entered her suite. He waited until she deigned to notice him. The more distant he was during this conversation the better.

"Why are you here, Lex?" Her voice was tired and she likely expected an argument. He wouldn't argue. He’d given up arguing with her long ago. He gave orders and brought pressure on her. When she tried to go her own way, he curtailed her privileges.

He reflected that she might be expecting him to be lenient, as he had been when Jonathan was born. He might have if he hadn't learned what he’d just learned. But he’d given her too long a leash. As long as she’d fulfilled her part of the contract, he had been content. But she had erred and gone too far.

He suspected she’d once thought he’d weaken and their marriage would be more than a contract. She had been wrong.

"You were careless and stupid." He watched her gape like a fish and wondered why he had ever thought her attractive.

She walked over and poured herself a drink. "I don't know what you're talking about." She sipped the aged whiskey but Lex saw her hand shake. "I've done exactly what you asked. Provided you with an heir and a spare." She said derisively.

"That you've done." He agreed. "But you haven't adhered to other parts of the agreement." He tossed the file folder on the table. She came over to go through the photographs in it. Photographs of her with other men. Many other men.

He saw her pale. "Why would you care? You’ve never shared my bed. And part of the agreement was that I could take other lovers as long as all children were yours. They are. You had their DNA analyzed."

He nodded. "Yes, I did. And I doubt you could suborn my doctors. But I said discrete lovers. I've paid a fortune to keep this out of the papers. I won't be seen as a cuckold. No more. But this was just careless. Don't you want to know why I think you’re stupid?"

"I'm not interested." Her so-called indifference was pleasing. He knew that she had been successful at this for so long she didn’t have any reason to think he’d ever discover her perfidy.

"You undermined my staff. I'll discover who and how eventually. If you'd been smart, you would have destroyed everything Clark sent to me. By sending them back to him, you were flaunting your power and position. Unwise." She turned to stare at him. She was shocked.

"I wasn't going to have MY CHILD have anything to do with anything from HIS FATHER'S country bumpkin lover. I won't have it. It's bad enough you hired HIS MOTHER to be a nanny." She flamed at him. "If I could have, I'd have prevented that." She spat out.

He smiled at her, cold, brittle, icy. "You have no choice. He's your child only by blood. You haven't seen him but three times since he was born. That was your choice. Don't fight me on this, you'll lose."

"I could divorce you now. I'd get more than what's in the prenuptial agreement." She threw the glass at him. He stepped aside and it smashed against the far wall.

"You'd get almost nothing. The agreement calls for you to receive a car and two houses. You'd get it. I'd continue to pay your father's medical bills but no cash. And you'd never see your children again. Not that you'd care. But not a single penny more."

She stalked over to him and swung her hand to slap him. "You bastard!" He stopped her and held her hand as she struggled. He shoved her slightly and she stumbled back and fell on her butt.

"Perhaps. However, you knew exactly what you were doing when we got married. It was carefully explained to you. I have the children I wanted. And you have money and position." He stared at her, waiting for her reaction.

"I'm going back to Metropolis." She told him.

"I'm going to have to keep you on a very tight leash. No more lovers. You will keep a very low profile. And Jeremy will be going with you as your bodyguard." She got up and went back to the liquor cabinet.

"Bastard." She threw the whiskey bottle.

"You could be more creative in your curses." But he let her vent.

"I'll go to the papers. They'd be glad to pay me for my story." She threatened.

"You do and I stop paying for your father’s health care." He cocked his head at her. "Your choice. Revenge or your father's life."

"I—I—I—Bastard." She really did need help with the expletives.

"You have less than a year to go on the contract. When the five-year mark rolls around, I'll give you a quiet divorce and the generous settlement I promised. The choice is yours. And by the way, don't bother trying to seduce Jeremy. He's gay." With that last remark, he turned and left the room. He called Jeremy and told him his new assignment and the parameters there of. It meant a gap in the protection of his children though. He’d have to get another guard to take his place. In the meantime, a reshuffling of schedules would have to suffice.

He went back to his office but couldn't work. He didn’t want to confront Victoria again. He didn’t dare call Clark and say…what? He didn't know.

He locked up and finished for the day. He went to his haven from the world, the nursery. When he entered, Martha was just finishing changing the new baby. "Looks like I'm right on time."

Martha shook her head. "You have a knack for arriving after the diaper, not before." She put the infant in his open arms. "Jonny is going to want to play with you later if you're going to be in the nursery."

Lex frowned. "When are you going to start calling him Jonathan?"

She looked at him. "When are you going to start going by Alexander?"

He opened his mouth then shut it. Some battles were better never fought. "Here, Daddy." She handed him a warm bottle. "Sit and feed your son." He checked the temperature. He was sure she had but she'd drilled it into him to always check.

"Is Jon still asleep?" He asked. Sitting rocking the baby his cares melted away. Here he could be 'Daddy' and let the rest of the world go. The icy lump in the center of his stomach melted as he rocked and watched his newborn son eat.

"Yes, but he'll be up soon." She hesitated. "Lex, I called Clark. He said he’d like to see you, if you’re sure you don’t mind. He'll be here tomorrow, if it's okay."

"I'd like to see him again." He didn't want to look at her. She'd see the tears in his eyes. "Thank you."

She patted his shoulder. "What are you going to name him? You know you should have decided that in the hospital."

"I've been thinking about it and really I didn't decide until today." He took a deep breath that he knew shuddered. He put his son on his shoulder and he patted lightly waiting for a burp. "Reginald Clark Luthor."

"Oh, Lex." She sighed. "You don't have to do that."

"I know. If I'd known sooner…. I didn't think he’d want me to give my son his name. Victoria was the one sending things back. She wanted to keep me away from Clark." He sighed. He hadn’t thought she could be that vindictive. He frowned again. He didn’t think Victoria was that smart, smart enough to realize if he knew what she was doing, he’d see Clark again, he'd try to reconnect with Clark in some way, try to keep Clark a part of his life.

Then again, he’d been very angry with Clark when he had married Victoria, even though he had never lied to her about his relationship with Clark.

"Reginald?" She questioned.

"Strong ruler." He replied and gave her a half smile. "Be glad it isn't Pendragon. I took your advice and gave him a name that he wouldn't be teased about in school."

She nodded to him and Lex rocked his son until he fell asleep again. Perhaps later young Reginald would be awake for a while. Lex carefully put him in his crib and turned on the monitor. The cameras were only used at night.

He spent the rest of the afternoon with Jonathan. Between building towers with blocks (and knocking them down), racing cars and having a young boy sit in his lap and listen to him read, Lex spent a calm afternoon. He felt more balanced. Instead of eating in the dining room, he ate in the nursery with the children. For him, this was the usual rather than the unusual. Martha left after dinner, now that he was back.

He knew the nurse on duty would call him if anything happened. The only change he had in his security was that Victoria was not to enter the nursery without a guard, nor was she allowed to leave with the children. He didn't really think she would try anything, but he wouldn’t take a chance.

Having an international company meant that he could work at any time. He was able to get a few more hours in before he gave up and went to bed. Tomorrow would likely be full.

It was early in the morning when he got the phone call from Walter, his mechanic. Victoria had taken his Porsche. This was fine, except the transmission needed work. He shook himself awake and woke Jeremy. He sent Jeremy after her, but knew that by the time the man got on the road, she'd be so far ahead he wouldn’t be able to catch her. He told Jeremy to go to Victoria's penthouse in Metropolis. He thought about the irony. The penthouse used to be his.

He went back to sleep, not knowing how his life had changed.

Jeremy wakened him a few hours later, calling from Metropolis. Victoria had never arrived. Damn! He didn't need this. She'd probably run to one of her lovers.

He had plenty of security available to him by the way of LexCorp. He made another phone call. Soon, there would be dozens of people looking for her. If she didn't show up in a couple of days, he’d call the police and report her missing. He didn't want to. He’d rather handle it himself, but it would be easier for the police to discover if she'd gone overseas. The police had more means to get the information.

He discovered he could no longer sleep, so he got up and started his day. He was in his office even before breakfast. Working from home had perks he had never imagined. Although he only had a small staff here, he could in fact work pretty much when he wanted. That gave him a lot of time with his son- his children, he corrected himself with a smile.

Even as he settled in to work, it niggled in the back of his mind that Clark was going to be over today. So, he anticipated. Something he knew he shouldn’t do. He was also a little concerned about what Victoria was doing. She might drag his name through the mud. He didn't want that, but his children were young and by the time they understood, he should have smoothed over any waves she could make.

Damn the woman! He’d known she was a thief. He should have kept a closer eye on her. He still had to ferret out who in his staff was on her payroll.

At first, he’d thought it had to be someone who handled the mail -- the personal mail. Then, on reflection, he realized it didn't have to be. Since personal mail was placed in his study until he had time to go over it, the mole could be almost anyone with access. It wasn't likely that Clark had sent anything to LexCorp.

He ran his hands across his face. He missed Clark's friendship. Their physical relationship had been dynamic. It had been everything he had always wanted even though it was fiery at times. But it was the friendship he missed the most. All those years lost. Gone never to get back. He hoped he could repair the friendship. In fact, he hoped he could do much more than that. He'd never worried about being faithful to Victoria; that wasn't part of the contract. But he’d never been interested in anyone else. Between his empire and his children he was…content wasn’t the word, but he accepted at least that he wasn't unhappy.

He wondered where he and Clark would be if Victoria hadn't interfered. He’d like to think they'd at least be friends. He hoped that they'd have been able to become lovers again, although that might have been difficult. He didn’t know how Clark would have reacted to that. And that was part of the problem. He didn't know.

When he finally decided that he wasn't going to get any work done, he went over to the nursery. He spent much more time with his son than his father had ever spent with him. He could put in a 12-hour day if he had to and still have a little time just being family. It wasn't that he spent all of his time there, but since he had a tendency to drop in, the nursing staff kept on their toes. The only one that never seemed fazed was Martha. Not even the time he had dropped in on the chocolate pudding finger-painting episode. It had been worth it, ruined clothes and all. He smiled fondly in remembrance. His father would say he was getting soft.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

Clark stood in the foyer, thinking, a small wrapped gift in his hand. So much had changed here. He looked in one direction, the office wing, where Lex worked. In the other direction were the living quarters; his mom was there, somewhere.

Clark worried at why Lex had allowed him to come. Mom had only said that Lex wanted to see him and he would explain. He sighed. He knew it was too much to expect his mother to explain it to him. She had done far more than he had expected she would.

What did Lex want? After all these years? All the returned gifts? Did Lex want to throw it in his face once again that Clark had been the one to end their relationship? He wondered if what had happened had been enough to turn Lex into a cold-blooded bastard like Lionel Luthor. Could Lex have changed so much that he’d want to lure Clark here to humiliate him one last time? To tell him Lex never wanted to see him again; maybe that he’d never wanted him in the first place? It would be very much like Lionel to revel in the degradation of someone he had defeated. Clark wondered if, now, it was also something Lex would do.

He fingered the brightly wrapped package in his hand. Lex, with children of his own. It was something that he’d never talked with Lex about, not even with Lionel Luthor ragging on Lex all the time about forming a dynasty. That Lex was his heir and it was Lex's responsibility to produce the next generation. Well, Lionel Luthor got what he wanted. He had his dynasty.

He wanted so much to go and see his mom, but he couldn't hide behind her skirts, no matter how much he wanted to. He ran his hand through his unruly hair. He was glad, in a way, the servant at the door left him to decide. He still didn't know why Lex would let him have the run of his house. Why Lex said he was to be treated as family.

He finally decided, ran his hand through his hair again and wondered if he should get it cut. Or cut it himself. And he was trying not to think as he took the hallway that led to the offices.

He trudged down the hall, thinking how familiar as well as strange everything looked. The hardwood walls still had that aged, beautiful look, polished and gleaming. The familiar maze of hallways and rooms let the memories filter back. Clark guessed that very few people came to see Lex at his business office here, and those that did had to be impressed with everything.

He turned a corner and ran right into the object of his musing. Clark's mouth dropped open as Lex stepped back and looked him over. They stared at each other like they were strangers.

Lex was the first one to get his brain back online. Hello, Clark.

Clark stared at him, then blushed and ducked his head, letting a stray lock of hair fall into his face. The move kick-started Lex's libido after years of hibernation. He reached out to tuck it back in place and stopped mid motion, not sure he had permission any more, not that it had stopped him years ago. Another duck and he did it, smoothing the dark lock back where it belonged.

A long sigh from Clark. Everything Clark planned to say flew away when he saw Lex. "Lex…I-I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. For leaving. For not seeing you. For…just…I'm sorry." It was hard to believe he was a kick ass investigative reporter when he couldn't find the words. Talking to Lex should be easy. He had talked to Lex for years, about anything, about everything, except about Superman.

Lex shook his head. "I thought that was my line. I'm sorry for trying to make you choose. I said the wrong thing. I never should have issued an ultimatum like that. I’m sorry for that and for everything that happened afterwards." He rocked back on his heels, noticing the package in Clark's hand. "Except for a couple of things. Come with me."

Relief flooded through Clark, so much that he almost didn't hear what Lex had to say. He tensed slightly at the thought that there was something that Lex didn't regret.

He took Clark's hand and led him to the nursery, stopping first at a bathroom. "Your mother has rules. One is that you wash before entering the nursery." He washed and watched Clark while he dried his hands. He held the towel out to Clark but resisted leaning in for a kiss.

"Lex," Clark said. "Before we go in, I have to say something before I lose my nerve." He watched Clark clear his throat and look around the room. "Will we be disturbed here?"

Lex shook his head and flipped the lock shut. "No one will bother us." For some reason, he didn't think it incongruous. He closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck. He was going to end up with a headache. He didn't want to hear how Clark had chosen Superman over him.

"I was wrong." Lex's head jerked up to look at Clark. "You were right. Mom was right. Dad was right." He watched Clark lean back against the wall and stare at the ceiling. "I was wrong. I can't be Superman all the time without losing Clark."

Lex surged forward, but Clark held up his hand. "There's more. With everything that happened between us, I wouldn't change anything, not a moment, not a second. Except… I… I shouldn't have left. I love you, Lex. I loved you then. I love you now. I guess I always will. For a while I lost Clark, I lost you. So, now I'm Clark more, Superman less. I think I finally get what you were trying to tell me; I won't be crushed like the caryatid."

"You never lost me. I'm still here." As he said it, he knew it was true. He’d waited for Clark to return, at first tied up in working 12-16-20 hour days. Fighting to make LexCorp strong, fighting his father, sometimes even fighting himself.

When Jonathan had been born, he’d stepped back, and realized that he didn’t want his son raised like he had been raised. So, he came here, where it felt right to raise him. Somewhere along the line, Smallville had become home.

"I love you." Lex said. In recent years, he’d gotten lots of practice saying it. He'd gone to Martha Kent to learn how to be a good parent. She'd shown him a lot, taught him a lot. And one of the things she taught him was that no matter how much you show someone you love them, you still need to say it occasionally.

Some part of his mind noticed that his hand was shaking as he put it on Clark's cheek. He ran his hand along Clark's cheek his thumb tracing Clark's lips. "Clark?" He questioned softly. He wasn't even sure what the question was. But he knew the answer was Clark.

He didn't think they’d stopped or stared at each other. He didn’t think they’d moved, either. He didn’t think time had stopped. But something must have happened to close the last few inches of distance between them, because the next thing he clearly remembered was kissing Clark. The hot wet slick slide of tongue over tongue, and Clark had stopped somewhere to have Chinese for lunch. His mother would be furious. Somehow, his hand had gotten underneath Clark's t-shirt and he was searching for the hot spots he knew were there.

Desire slammed through Lex. He wondered how he’d lived without this. All those years with nothing. Lex Luthor, devout libertine and debaucher, had spent his last[how many?] years celibate.

Lex's fingers found Clark's nipple and he gave it a vicious twist, eliciting a moan from Clark, followed by that little hitch that screamed to Lex, more. He knew the things Clark wanted, needed. Lex thrust his tongue into Clark's mouth, swiping through. It reacquainted him with everything, every taste, every nuance that was Clark. He pulled back slightly to see Clark’s face.

Clark's eyes were closed and he was breathing harshly. Sometime in the past few seconds, Clark had pressed Lex against the wall and Clark's hands were on each side of Lex's head, clutching the wall. Lex knew that sometimes Clark feared he’d lose control and hurt him, although he never had.

Lex bit Clark on his chin, then jaw, and then neck, tasting every time he bit. He wanted to mark Clark, anywhere, everywhere. He wanted to proclaim to the world, mine, mine, MINE, even though he knew he couldn't. Any mark he made would fade quickly, usually in a few minutes, never lasting longer than a few hours.

He pushed up Clark's shirt so he could get to his chest. He wanted to taste Clark, everywhere. He’d been far too long without.

His scrabbling hands were wrapped up in a bigger one, stronger ones. He heard Clark's voice. Like he’d been saying something for a while. "Lex, Lex stop. We've got to stop." Clark's voice was harsh and breathless.

"Clark." He leaned against Clark's chest.

"We've got to stop or we'll be fucking in the bathroom." Clark said into his ear. Clark rubbed against Lex. "I don't want to stop, but-." He planted a kiss above that ear and then sighed. "You're married, remember?"

"And fucking without talking was what caused the problems in the first place, wasn't it?" Lex was putting into words what had happened so many years ago. He felt the hard length of Clark against his thigh. "Can I suck you off?" He asked hopefully.

He felt Clark's chuckle through his chest. "I'd love that, but if we went in there smelling of sex, Mom would tear strips from the both of us." He leaned back and tried to put himself to rights. Lex could see Clark was as affected as he was. Clark's hands were shaking.

"Okay. We'll talk first. And Clark, my marriage isn't what you think it is." He went to the sink, splashed cold water over his face, and watched Clark do the same.

Clark had almost buttoned up his shirt when reaction well and truly set in. The slight shaking of his hand went to outright shuddering that cascaded through his body. He leaned back against the nearest wall and tried to hold onto himself through the shuddering. What the hell had they been thinking? He didn't know he’d said it out loud until Lex answered.

"I think we were getting reacquainted." Lex had splashed cold water all over his face and scalp, and now was toweling himself dry.

"Getting reacquainted? Hell, Lex, your wife is somewhere down that hall, and you're talking about sucking me off in the bathroom. This is so screwed."

"In the first place if she was here, she wouldn't be down the hall, she'd be upstairs. In the second place, she isn't here. She left sometime last night." He wondered where the calm came from. Maybe he could only be calm while talking about her.

"And that makes it okay? After all those years? Your refusal to acknowledge my existence? Why was that, Lex? What took so long? Why did I have to make the first move?" Lex could see the emotions flitter in Clark's eyes. Shame came first. He hadn't seen that one for a long time, then came anger to wipe the shame away. Lex knew Clark had learned that trick from him.

He wasn't going to be distracted this time, though, and begging still wasn't in the Luthor vocabulary. He strode over and wove his hand in Clark's hair; pulling Clark's face so close Lex could smell him. He knew Clark could jerk his head away and if he did, Clark's hair could cut Lex to the bone. He also knew Clark wouldn't do it. "Do you honestly think if we'd been married where we had to talk about things we'd be here now? I don't think you would have walked away like you did that night when I was so drunk and you had a tantrum. We'd have worked it out."

"I had a tantrum! What do you call what you did, Mr. Calm and Collected Businessman?"

"Okay, we both had a tantrum. But it was something we should have talked about, not shouted about." He kissed Clark brutally, with a clashing of teeth, lips, and tongue.

He knew Clark felt the desire as sharply as he did, even if the evidence of it hadn’t been pressing into his thigh.

"Tell me SHE wasn't part of your plan when you left." Clark fiercely whispered to him. "Tell me."

"NO. I swear." Lex stopped and leaned against Clark and took a deep breath. "You wanted to talk, not fuck. Fine, we'll talk. Just...not now." Lex leaned back and ran his thumb across Clark's cheek. "I still have something to show you."

"I don't want to fuck any more." He waited for Clark's reaction. At the shocked look with a towel in Clark's hands, Lex broke into a smile. "I want to make love."

"Shit." Clark leaned back against the wall. "I'm getting too damn old for you to give me shocks like that."

Lex grinned that he could still surprise Clark.

"I still have something to show you." He nodded to the package that Clark picked up. "Is that for me?"

"Don't you wish." It was a question Clark had hoped for, in a way. It was reminiscent of the camaraderie that they had shared years ago.

Lex grasped his hand and led him into the Nursery. "These are what I'm not sorry for." Clark heard an excited squeal of 'Daddy', and a three-year-old was plastered to Lex's leg. Lex's hand went to stroke the dark auburn hair of the lad's head. "Clark, this is Jonathan." Lex reached down to pick up his son.

"Jon, this is Clark. He's a friend of mine. He's Nana's son." Lex waited to see what Jon would do.

"Hello." Jon looked at his father and Lex could see he was thinking. "Sir."

Clark glanced at Lex only to see the slight nod. "Hello, Jonathan. I think you can call me Clark, if your father doesn't mind."

Lex nodded, and Jon, with a finger in his mouth pointed, with his other hand, to the package that Clark was still holding. "Is that for me?"

"Jonathan." Lex scolded. "That's not polite."

"Well, I can tell he's your son, Lex. Clark grinned. Turning his attention back to Jonny, he said, Actually, this was for the new baby, but," Clark's voice lowered conspiratorially. "I don't think he’d mind if I gave it to you. I can get something for him later." Clark glanced at Lex as if asking for permission. Lex gave a slight nod.

"Here." Clark handed the brightly wrapped package to the boy.

Lex watched Jon tear the paper off and drop it to the floor. Inside was a patchwork bear with carefully embroidered slate blue eyes and a purple nose.

Lex ran a finger over the careful embroidery. "Clark?"

Clark shrugged. "Anything I could buy, you could too. So, I made something. You had to know I knew how."

Lex put his son down and the boy ran over to show off his new treasure, forgetting to say thank you. Lex remembered the patchwork quilt that he kept in his safe with all his other treasures. Martha Kent made them a double wedding ring for their bed. It was something that Clark really should have had but it also was something that he couldn't bear to give up.

"I suppose I knew. It wasn't something I really thought about." He saw Martha Kent coming over to him. He wondered if he was going to get a dressing down. Clark didn't look well kissed, but he knew he did. He ran his tongue over his lips. It wasn't even like he had an excuse.

She glanced over him. "I see the reunion went well." She said quietly. "But you might want to tone down the wattage. Do you want to show Clark your youngest?"

Lex didn't miss the recrimination in her voice. He'd have to moderate his feelings for Clark, at least until the situation with Victoria was settled. It was enough to make him consider her proposition of ending the marriage early. As he followed her to the infant's room, he decided he'd have to give that serious thought.

"I heard noise from the nursery. I think Reginald will be awake soon." She said as she led him there.

"And you want me for diaper changing?" He whispered, in the semi-light of the room. It didn't need to be dark, as the child would sleep anyway, but if it wasn't bright, Martha thought the baby would sleep better at night.

Reginald was awake and fussy. Lex had been through this before; he picked up the baby and soothed him before taking him to the changing table.

"Lex," Martha began. "I don't know what's going on between you and Clark. I won't ask. But don't hurt him again."

Lex froze then continued his job. "I won't."

"I think, when it comes to you, Clark is..." she paused looking for the correct words. "Fragile. He believes in you."

Lex felt his gut clench. They both had made so many mistakes. He probably made more than Clark. And they both were stubborn and proud. Clark hadn't been to Smallville in years. He’d known Clark was a freelancer and he’d known Clark was Superman. He'd always thought Clark had been too busy. Now, he had to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, Clark had been avoiding him. He hoped that they hadn't cut each other up so much that they couldn't heal. No matter how much they wanted each other, no matter how good the sex was, if they couldn't work things out, whatever they had wouldn't last.

"Martha, believe me, I never meant to hurt Clark. We argued and things were said. Maybe if things had gone differently we could have patched things up. I've come to the conclusion we do need to talk. And talk about the things we DON'T want to talk about."

He picked up the baby and settled Reg in his arms. "Can I ask, was it this hard for you and Jonathan?"

Martha thought carefully. "Lex, we had a farm to run and a business together. We had things to draw us together. We had to talk about things we didn't want to talk about. That's not to say things were easy, because they weren't. You and Clark have things that drive you apart. It's not because you're both men, although that contributes to it. Your backgrounds and your goals differ, which makes it a lot harder. And you both are stubborn and want your own way. It takes compromise."

"I love him, Martha. Isn't that enough?" He cradled his son in his arms knowing the answer. If love were enough, he wouldn't be in the position he was in now.

"You know the answer to that, but it's a good beginning." She gently touched the child in his arms. "Nothing truly worth having is easy, Lex. You know that. The point is; how hard are you willing to work for it?"

He thought about that as he sat in the rocking chair and fed the infant. He watched Clark across the room, playing with Jon. It was right then and there; that he decided the harder a job was the more satisfaction there was in doing it. Before it had always been rather easy. At first, Clark had been in high school and they’d had to hide their relationship. In college they’d been apart a lot of the time because of their schedules. It wasn't until they’d actually lived together and had tried to make it work that the cracks started appearing.

After four years with Victoria, he knew that he could make things work with Clark, if only Clark would let him.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

After an afternoon in the sunshine, watching a three-year-old play in the sand with Clark, Lex watched and played himself. It was casual, a touch to the shoulder or the small of Clark's back, so reminiscent of their casual closeness so long ago. The comments he made held the subtle intuition of more than friendship, nothing overt, merely slightly suggestive. Lex considered it a victory that he'd coaxed a blush out of Clark at least once.

Even though they had an outdoor play area for the children, if Clark looked closely he could spot the seamless security Lex had created. Even though the sandbox had a tented covering, it still felt like they were only outdoors in what could have been a park. Clark could see the perimeter alarms, the security forces that stayed at a discrete distance. He'd be willing to bet that the airy tenting fabric made it impossible for photographs to be taken even if flyovers did happen. Clark wondered if the heli-pad at the fertilizer plant was still the one that Lex came and went from.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

Lex watched Clark go over the documents he had put in front of him. Lex wanted a drink but he refrained, because doubtless Clark would want to talk. Among other things, he would want to talk about Victoria and why he had chosen her. In retrospect, he knew he hadn't chosen her, his father had. If he hadn't been so angry…. His father was right in that occasionally he was ruled by his emotions. And his father had used that against him once again.

But in dealing with Victoria, he had never let his emotions rule him. As he watched Clark, he thought back to the time when he realized that, when he actually KNEW he could never truly care for her.

It had been that first year he was in Smallville, after she showed up so unexpectedly at the museum. Victoria claimed she wanted to form a partnership and gain control of her father's company. She had come to Smallville without being invited and he was deep in trying to turn the plant around in defiance of his father's orders.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

"Lex, why?" She whined. He never could stand that whine in her voice.

"Because I'm working twelve and sixteen hour days." He stroked his hand over her hair and his fingers gently traced the lines of her face. "I'll sleep with you if you want the company but I have neither the time or energy to be involved with you sexually." Besides, at that time Lex's interest had been drawn elsewhere, a place he had been resisting fiercely.

He saw the disappointment in her eyes. He had suspicions of why she was here but no proof as of yet. "Victoria," he drew out her name in a sultry manner, to let her know he apparently was interested. He could have believed her, barely, when she said she wanted form an alliance with him to defeat both of their fathers. In the world they both had been raised in, success and betrayal were two sides of the same coin. The problem was that Lex knew that this particular coin had many more than two sides.

"My ego is such that I want to make sure my partner is as satisfied as I am. I can't right now." A thumb went across her cheek and he watched her eyes.

"In my bad boy days, it wouldn't matter. You wouldn't want our relationship to be based on business, now, would you?" That's when it happened. That little spark that flashed in her eye that told him everything. After that, it had become a game she couldn’t win. At least when he had gotten the pictures of her with his father, it hadn't been too great of a shock.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

He tried to shake away the memory, but it remained. It told him that Victoria was always for sale -- the only thing mattered was the price. He wondered to whom she had sold herself this time.

Lex watched Clark toss the document across the table towards him. "So, what does that mean to me? You're still married, Lex. It's not like you can make a wish and she's gone."

Lex sat on the table and looked down at Clark. He knew the desire was there, bubbling just below the surface. "She is gone. She tore out of here last night. But I don't want her. I want you."

"As what, Lex? As your catamite?" That cut. Clark had learned how to cut to the bone at the hands of a master.

Lex touched Clark's face and was pleased that Clark did not pull away from him. "You're a little old for that, I mean, you're almost thirty." He smirked at Clark. Lex knew exactly what that expression did to Clark.

"Don't start with me, Lex. You've been teasing me all day." Clark growled at him.

"You're the one who wanted to talk." Lex shot back at him. "What do I have to do to convince you that she doesn't mean anything to me? When can we be together?"

"When she's gone, Lex. When she doesn't have any more of you than some money and a couple of your houses. Not before." Clark's mouth was set in a thin line.

"That's all she has now, Clark." Lex gathered up the copy of the prenuptial contract on the table. "She had her lawyer examine everything before she signed. She had every chance to back out. She has nothing of me."

"No. She has your name." When Lex heard those words ground out of Clark he knew what part of the problem was. It was something he could do nothing about.

Lex took the document over to the safe and returned it there. As he got the package of photographs, he realized that he might want to make up a few more copies and put them in safekeeping. Now that Victoria knew he had them, she might want to try to destroy them to give her greater leverage in court.

"Look at this, Clark." He tossed the folder with the photographs in front of his former lover. It wasn't something he wanted Clark to know, but he had to make Clark understand that this wasn't any more than a marriage on paper.

Lex sat near Clark on the table as Clark sorted through the photographs. Lex's fingers sat lightly on Clark's shoulder. When he was not rebuffed, he moved them to gently card them through Clark's hair. "Clark?" Lex questioned.

Clark gave a big sigh. "How could she do this?" He pushed the photographs away. "Were you having her followed?"

"No." Lex continued his caresses. "They were…attempts at blackmail, you might say. I paid, ruined or bought out all of them. I made sure nothing got into the papers."

Clark turned to look into Lex's eyes. "What do you want, Lex?"

"You." He stopped and waited to see if Clark was going to ask again. He knew Clark's limitations. As long as he was still married, it was very unlikely that he could persuade Clark to resume their relationship. "Give me today. If then you can walk away, I won't ask again."

Clark's eyes narrowed. He knew he wouldn't be able to walk away. He suspected that Lex knew it as well. "Lex, I…" Clark gave a great sigh. "Today, but I stay at my parents."

Lex grinned and kissed him. Clark had just capitulated. What Clark didn't know was how much Lex had capitulated as well. Lex leaned down to kiss him. It started out gentle but soon was heated. Clark pulled Lex down into his lap and Clark's hands roamed over Lex's back, then came to rest on his ass as he pulled Lex close. The kiss was never broken.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing heavily. Lex could see the dilation of Clark's eyes and the desire therein. He knew Clark could see the same.

"Clark, come on. My bedroom." He slid off Clark's lap trying to pull him along.

"No, Lex. Not your bedroom. Not… No." Clark was adamant.

Lex thought for a moment. Clark couldn't know that Victoria had never graced that room. "Guest bedroom, then." Clark gave a single nod of his head and let Lex lead him, up the stairs and into one of the guest bedrooms. He knew there would be everything he needed. He was a considerate host and he assumed that, occasionally, some of his guests would indulge themselves in sexual relationships. Condoms, lubricants and other supplies were kept in a bedside drawer.

"I've got to be totally freaking out of my mind." Clark mumbled to himself. "How does he do this to me? I'm here less than a day and he's convinced me to get in his bed." He shook his head at himself.

"What was that, Clark?" Lex paused and turned back to look at him.

Clark shook his head. "Nothing." It didn't really matter anyway. Lex was persuasive but he never could convince Clark to do anything he really didn't want to do.

Lex knew though. Clark was worried about something. Lex was of the opinion that Clark let himself worry too much. Lex knew he worried about too many things, but with the exception of Clark being Superman, he had never worried about their sexual relationship. It was one thing that, despite all the problems they had being together, was easy.

He pulled Clark into one of the sumptuous bedrooms. He closed the door, locked it behind him and leaned against it. For a moment, he let himself drink in the sight of Clark here. For some reason, he’d had the irrational feeling that he’d never see Clark again. He was so glad he was wrong.

"Clark, NOW can I suck you off?" He said it in the petulant tone he’d heard from Clark a number of times. It had the desired effect. Clark's lips twitched. Lex kept his face straight. It had been Clark that had taught Lex that sex could be fun, not merely pleasurable but fun.

Clark collapsed on the bed. "Yes," a chuckle erupted from somewhere in Clark's chest. "Lex, how do you always know the right thing to say?"

By now, Lex was leaning over Clark, who was lying back on the bed, and suddenly serious. "I don't always. I wish I did." He supported himself on one hand and the other started to open Clark's shirt, button by button.

Lex tossed Clark's shirt open and rubbed his hand over Clark's chest, considering.

Sometime during the process, Clark had closed his eyes. "Scoot up," Lex whispered into Clark's ear. "I need some room to work."

Clark's eyes opened expectantly. "I thought you were going to blow me?" But he moved up on the bed anyway, pushing his shoes off with his toes. If Lex wanted his socks off, he’d take them off when he stripped Clark down.

"Perhaps, but that was about a destination. This is about a journey." Lex was suddenly serious in a way Clark hadn't seen since he had arrived. Lex lay down beside Clark, one hand on Clark's chest, the other arm supporting his head, as he looked Clark in the eyes. "I'm not the man you knew years ago. I want to renew our relationship. I want there to be an 'us'."

He leaned over to kiss Clark, slow and easy. He’d made the mistake of waiting too long for this and part of him thought that things actually might have been better if they'd simply fucked each other raw in the bathroom hours ago. It would have let them both know the passion that still raged between them. He had no doubt that it still did.

He wondered if, by waiting, he'd let Clark think about it for too long, if he'd let Clark form regrets that Lex couldn't wash away in a sea of passion. He knew there was more to their relationship then the passion. There was a lot of mutual respect as well. It wouldn't hurt to remind Clark of that.

Lex skated his lips down Clark's jaw to suckle at the hollow of his neck. Lex could bring blood to the surface and color the skin for a while, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for an hour or more.

"Lex, what…. Oh, god." Lex knew he was being distracting. This was something Clark loved. Clark wanted to know what had changed, the why's and where's of what Lex had become, what they had become, both together and apart. It was complicated and Lex knew Clark had changed, as well. Lex hadn't realized how much his expectations of what he wanted had altered until he actually saw Clark.

He worried and nibbled down Clark's chest until he came to one of Clark's nipples. He listened to Clark moan as he licked and sucked, making the nub of flesh lightly coated with hair firm, then he bit down hard. He felt Clark arch against him and growl "more."

Lex had him.

Lex repeated his actions on the other nipple, then slicked his fingers with a wipe of his tongue. He continued his torment, callused pads of his fingers manipulating Clark's nipples, the hair getting caught on Lex's thickened skin. Lex continued lower, letting his tongue make a meandering wet path in the downy fur leading to Clark's crotch. Clark's moaning was almost constant now.

Clark's fingers hesitatingly skimmed over Lex's head, as if he were afraid that the touch would be unwelcome.

Since he started this little distraction, he had worked at Clark's waist to unbuckle his belt as well as unzip his pants. He’d freed Clark's cock from its confinement and, when he arrived at his goal, he abandoned the fully erect nipple that he’d been teasing. A hot breath over the head of Clark's cock where the pearling tip was exposed, the foreskin pulled back, combined with a sharp jerk, made Clark lift his hips. Lex jerked again and Clark's slacks and boxers were around his ankles.

Momentarily the fingers on Lex's head tightened, then spasmed, as Clark's hips rose off the bed, when Lex engulfed Clark. "Arggghhhh!" Clark roared.

Lex was carried away by the taste on his tongue and the scent in his nostrils. It was something he’d missed, he’d craved, he’d ached to have again. Lex suspected that Clark felt the same way.

Lex tightened his grip on Clark's hips, pushing him down, hard, onto the bed. Lex's fingers gripped tightly into the long muscles of Clark's thigh, not holding him down with strength, but with a promise. The pressure of his grip broke through Clark's haze to let him know what was required of him, fingers deep in the hard muscles allowed Clark to relax, assuring him that there would be more.

Lex's tongue slipped down, making Clark's cock slick and wet. It had been a while since he had done this so he took his time without teasing. Lex didn't want his gag reflex to kick in at the wrong time.

His head bobbed up and down; with each downward motion, he could take Clark in deeper. Lex didn't know why he liked this. With any other lover, he’d given head only if it had been required in order to receive or to fuck, which hadn’t happened often. His name, in some circles, had been enough to get whatever he wanted. The taste of latex in his mouth had been a turn-off as well. He’d been many things in his youth, but not foolish.

With Clark, he liked it. It gave him a sense of power to know that he could reduce Clark to a whimpering, mewling, pliant lump of flesh. He felt Clark's hand on his shoulder, tightening. There would be bruises tomorrow. He didn't care. Clark's large hand caressed his scalp, urging him on.

One hand released Clark's thigh to cup his heavy sac beneath. Saliva dribbled down as Lex took Clark completely in and worked the head of Clark's cock with the muscles of his throat. Lex smeared the moisture over Clark and pulled slightly to delay Clark's orgasm a bit. He sat up and back to take a deep breath as his damp hand kept up the pressure on Clark's cock.

Lex glanced at Clark's face and knew from the expression he saw that his lover would come momentarily. Lex took Clark in deeply again and massaged the head of his cock with his throat while his hand went to Clark's perineum where he pressed hard…just…there. Lex undulated his throat so he could swallow most of Clark's semen, because he knew Clark wouldn't be able to let him pull back enough to savor the taste.

When Clark's hands relaxed, he pulled back but continued sucking to get some of Clark's emission on this tongue, enough to taste and know. He finally released Clark's flaccid organ when he felt the twitch that meant ‘too much stimulation’. Lex slunk up to Clark's mouth and shared his discovery with his lover. It had been far too long since he’d done this. He didn't think he’d be able to give it up again.

Lex was so immersed in Clark he didn't come up for air until he felt Clark's hand on his ass, holding him tightly.

"If you want to fuck me, then fuck me. Don't hump my leg like a dog." Clark growled at Lex. Lex stilled himself, consciously. He hadn't realized he was doing it.

"Lube—bedside drawer." Lex choked out.

Clark scrabbled for it with the hand that wasn't on Lex's ass. He found the bottle and slapped it in Lex's hand. "Do it." Clark forced out. The expression on Lex's face was making it hard for Clark to talk. Clark didn't think he'd ever seen such out and out desire in all the years they'd been together. The recent orgasm wasn't making it any easier

Lex flipped the top off and dribbled the gelatinous liquid over his fingers and moved his hand to Clark's crotch. He made sure that his fingers were warmed before he let his slicked digit slowly circle and then swipe across his opening. Clark moaned.

Lex put his hand on Clark's chest and pushed himself to his knees. Lex maneuvered himself until he was sitting on his ankles between Clark's legs. He spread his knees and pushed Clark's legs apart. He pushed at Clark's asshole again with his eyes on Clark's face. Lex watched Clark's body ripple in reaction. He wondered how many lovers Clark had had in the past few years, and just as quickly pushed that thought away. It wasn't any business of his. He had to concentrate on Clark.

Lex knew that Clark liked a little domination. He couldn’t force Clark to do anything Clark wasn't willing to do, but he could make Clark want.

Lex leaned forward putting some of his weight on his hand on Clark's chest. "You are the most gorgeous creature on this planet or any other." One thing really used to get Clark, that he could be a sap in bed. One finger slipped inside Clark. Clark was so relaxed Lex could slip inside easily.

"How would you know?" Clark asked lazily, satisfied but not replete. "Been to another planet lately?"

"Don't need to." Lex said, keeping his finger moving inside Clark, waiting for Clark to arch his back, telling Lex he had given Clark enough stimulation. "I've got eyes."

Lex kept his eyes on Clark's face as he carefully stretched Clark. Finally he pushed himself up and leaned back to watch, the hand that had supported him sliding down Clark's chest, his thumb pressing deep into the furrow of light hair that became the fur surrounding Clark's genitals.

"Lex, you're teasing." Clark said, exasperated.

"Um-hm." He admitted. "I'm not going to last very long and I want it to be good."

Clark's head snapped back and he arched again, pushing himself on Lex's fingers as Lex introduced another one into Clark. "It will be." Clark gasped out. "It always is."

Lex leaned down to Clark's chest to suck a nipple into his mouth. Lex rolled the hard nub between his teeth getting the feel. Clark's arms and hands were on him again encouraging him onward. Clark was ready enough. If Lex didn't act now he wouldn't be able to.

Lex pulled his fingers out of Clark, making Clark's eyes snap open with loss. Lex carefully slicked up his cock, trying not to stimulate himself too much. He now realized that he should have done this before he prepared Clark. The stimulation was close to overwhelming.

He knew what Clark liked and he sheathed himself inside Clark in one motion. It was very nearly over for him. Clark was almost too snug. He had to stop and gain control back.

Lex blew out the breath he'd been holding and began to thrust inside his lover. It was almost too much but he wanted more. He wanted to know that Clark missed this as much as he did.

He leaned down and wrapped his arms beneath Clark's arms and clasped Clark's shoulders, clenching in a claw- like grip. His hips pistoned into Clark ferociously. Harder and harder, again and again until there was nothing for him except the tight heat surrounding his cock, the smell of Clark in his nostrils and the taste of Clark on his tongue as he bit Clark's chest again and again wanting more, tasting more. If Clark had been human, Lex would have drawn blood. As it was all he did was make Clark want more.

Lex was close to coming when he felt Clark's hand on his ass and another on the back of his neck. Lex was thrusting deep and grinding his hips against Clark with each stroke. Clark's renewed erection was sandwiched between them, the sweat from both their bodies letting it slip and slide against Lex's belly.

Clark was chanting Lex's name like a mantra as if he were worshiping Lex. Lex could feel the ache in his knees and ankles from the position he was in, and the mad thrusting. He could feel the sharp fire building in his groin and knew that he'd come soon. When he felt his balls start to tighten and the pressure build he, thrust deep and hard into Clark, burying his face into Clark's chest as he screamed Clark's name. His fingers clenched tightly around the bones in Clark's shoulders. Lex felt as if his spine was being pulled out of him as he came. He felt warmth emerge between them as Clark came as well. Each pulse of Clark's orgasm was matched by a welcoming pulse around Lex's cock, milking the last dregs of pleasure from him.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

Lex's head was pillowed on Clark's belly, quietly drowsing, as Clark ran his fingers over his bare skull. He’d missed this more than the sex in some ways. The quiet time while they were together. He knew he couldn't wait forever. Eventually, Clark would want to have that talk.

"Lex," he heard. "Tell me this has nothing to do with the photographs I saw in your office."

Lex lifted his head and stared at Clark. "What are you talking about?" Clark couldn't mean…

He could hear the attempt at distance in Clark's voice when he asked again. "Was this about revenge against Victoria, or was it something else?"

Right then, Lex knew how much he had hurt Clark. How much Victoria had hurt him.

"NO." Lex calmed himself. "This is about us. And how I want it to be. I was almost thirty years old and I was throwing a temper tantrum about the fact that my lover didn't have enough time for me."

"I shouldn't have walked away." Clark said sadly. "I just…I didn't want to argue."

Lex shook his head. "I shouldn't have given you that ultimatum. I didn't want to argue either but I wanted to settle some things between us." Lex thought about his next words. "Things between us had always been easy, you and me against the world. But when we didn’t have to fight the world so much, when it was just the two of us, our relationship started to show cracks. I wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening between us and repair it."

"You wanted to fight?" Clark asked with some amazement in his voice.

Lex shook his head. "Not fight so much as to settle our differences. We are different in many ways and, in my opinion, that's one of our strengths. But if we don’t acknowledge our differences and know how to work around them they can tear us apart." It wasn't exactly what Martha had told him, but it was close enough.

"Lex, I thought…I thought…" Clark stopped talking and put his arm over his eyes. "I didn't want to drive you away."

Lex opened his mouth and shut it again. Somewhere along the line, he had made a gross error in knowing what Clark was and what he wanted. Now was a time to listen, not talk.

"I always thought…" Clark gave a huge sigh. "I never wanted it to end, Lex. You were…are so handsome, suave. You always know the right thing to say and do in any situation. I always figured you'd grow tired of me and move on. I didn’t want to fight with you; I wanted to be with you. Even when you were gone when I got back, I thought we could patch things up. When you came back with her, I realized I was right all along and you had moved on to someone more suitable for you."

Lex crawled up to where he could look Clark in the eyes and pulled his arm away. "I never wanted it to end. Never. I thought you knew."

"I didn't. I couldn't. I still saw you through the eyes of that sixteen-year-old boy that worshiped you. I kept thinking that even if you left tomorrow, I had today and it was something I could keep. Nothing could take that away. But…" Lex saw the sorrow in Clark's eyes.

"It wasn't enough, was it?" He whispered to Clark.

"It was never enough."

Lex dropped his head to Clark's shoulder. "I never meant for this to happen. When you walked out I thought I didn't matter to you."

Clark's arm came around him to hold him close. "It was because you were too important to me, too important for me to screw up."

"You wanted to be Superman to prove you were deserving of…what? Me?" Lex was trying to put the pieces together of this puzzle that had plagued him for years. The how and why that had torn him and Clark apart.

"Yeah." Clark told him quietly. "Even though you told me if I left, you wouldn't be there when I got back, I figured we could work things out later. I'd been with you so long I'd forgot that you never say anything you don't mean."

"You remember my exact words." Lex shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised but you continue to do that to me," Lex grinned into Clark's shoulder. "Farmboy."

"I've changed a lot, Lex." Clark paused. "And it makes me wonder if we …"

"Still could make it work?" Lex finished it for him.

Clark nodded.

Lex crossed his forearms on Clark's chest and stared at him as if he were an alien from another planet, which he was, but that was beside the point. "Clark, we've both changed, it's true. I happen to think we've both matured enough that we can make the compromises we need to, to make things work between us."

Clark sighed and asked the question that had to be asked. "What about Victoria?"

Lex knew the question was coming. It was an answer he didn’t have to think about; it was a decision he had already made without being consciously aware of it. "I’ll give her a divorce." He looked at Clark, seeing surprise on his face. "She's already asked for one. I'll call my lawyer this afternoon."

Lex felt Clark's hand on the back of his skull, patiently stroking him. "You're sure."

Lex nodded. "It's not like…" he paused. For once, he wasn't sure exactly what he should say. "Our marriage was nothing more than a contract. Clark, you had to have known. You lived in my world long enough to have seen it before." He paused for a moment. "You read the prenuptial agreement."

The stroking paused but did not stop. "I suppose. I think…. It's different seeing it rather than experiencing it." Clark sighed. He wanted this, more than he had imagined. The sex wasn't what he missed -- he’d missed the closeness he had with Lex. That had been slipping away before they parted. He hadn't noticed but it was obvious that Lex had. "I never thought I'd be part of one of those…" he hesitated slightly. "Relationships." He continued to stroke along Lex's bare skull. He could feel Lex collapse against him and his breath even out, lulling him into sleep. "I'm sorry I was such an idiot."

Lex stirred and chuckled against his chest. "It took the both of us to get to that place. It took a long time for me to understand, but eventually I did."

A shrill beeping ran through the room. "Crap," Lex exclaimed as he scrambled off Clark's chest looking for his pants. He pulled a small device out of the pocket and flipped it open, cutting off the noise.

Lex glared at his organizer/cell phone. "Clark, I'd like to continue this conversation, but I've got a video conference in an hour. I'll go shower and dress." Lex picked up his scattered shirt and pants. "Listen, you can stay here and get some rest or you can explore the mansion." Lex leaned down for a kiss before picking up the rest of his clothes. He paused at the door before he walked into the attached bathroom. "You will be here later, won't you?"

"Yes, I'll be here. We have a lot to talk about." Lex stared at him for a moment then nodded, leaving Clark alone.

Clark lay back, staring at the ceiling. He wasn't sure what he should do. His mother was going to be more than upset at his actions, but he was an adult and would take the fallout.

Clark rummaged around on the bed, looking for the discarded bottle of lubricant, then got up to follow Lex. He walked into the door and saw the silhouette of Lex in the shower. He let himself watch for a moment and made a decision. He opened the shower and got in. He wrapped an arm around Lex, making him jump a little.

Clark pulled Lex close and rubbed against him. "Lex," Clark spoke into Lex's ear. "I want you."

Lex leaned back against Clark. "You still have the libido of a sixteen year old." Lex moaned against him. "We don't have time."

"We have an hour. Plenty of time." Clark ran his hand over Lex's ass and dipped one finger into the cleft between. "Do you want it?" Clark wouldn't push, but he still dreamed about fucking Lex quite often.

"Hell, yes." Lex put his hands against the walls of the shower and spread. "Fuck me, Clark. Make me feel it. Fuck me so hard that when I'm talking to my lawyer tomorrow I remember exactly why I'm doing it."

Clark ran his hand over Lex's ass. "Do you need to remember?"

Lex wiggled his ass at Clark. "No, it'll just be a bonus."

Clark tried to start slow and stretch Lex so he wouldn't hurt him, but Lex was having none of it. Clark had barely put his second finger inside to loosen Lex up when…

"Clark, quit screwing around and just screw me." Lex panted out. "Now. Do it."

"I don't want to hurt you." Clark countered with.

"The point is to hurt me." Lex told him. "I want to feel it."

Clark reluctantly agreed. Lex was panting heavily when Clark was inside him. "Damn. I'd forgotten how big you were." Lex's hand went back to stop Clark from moving. "It's okay, babe. I like it. I just need a minute to adjust." Lex's hand moved up to Clark's head to pull him down for a kiss. To Lex, it was an exquisite feeling, having Clark inside of his ass and mouth at the same time. When he released Clark's lips, he whispered, "Now."

Clark started slowly at first but soon he was slamming into Lex, making him scream for more, again and again. Lex kept his hands on the wall and pushed back against Clark, giving as much as he could, knowing that Clark would help him come. When he felt Clark's hand close around his cock that was almost all she wrote. It took only a few strokes before he came and his knees collapsed. He could feel Clark coming deep inside him. Clark held him for a while afterwards, the hot water sluicing over them, quickly washing the evidence of their pleasure away.

When Clark gently pulled out, Lex suppressed the wince. He'd be feeling it for at least a couple of days-- and that was what he wanted. He turned to Clark and kissed him deeply. "I'd like to go back to bed, but I still have that meeting. We've got to hurry."

They showered quickly and Lex threw on his shirt and pants. He'd change into something suitable for the meeting back in his room. He kissed Clark as Clark sat on the bed and promised he'd talk to him after he finished work.

Clark watched him leave and knew he needed to talk to his mother. He figured he needed some time to reacquaint himself with Lex, but he could see already that the façade of the cold, unreachable businessman that the rest of the world saw was not true.

He'd accepted an assignment in South America, but that wasn't for at least two weeks. That would give them all time to reassess what they wanted. He would have to be gone for at least six weeks. Perhaps when he returned Lex would be working on his divorce, or perhaps not. Only time would tell.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

Lex rubbed the back of his neck and undid his tie. It had taken him much longer than he thought and it was nearly midnight. Reginald would be up soon for his feeding. He held out little hope that Clark was still awake.

He entered the darkened nursery to hear the sounds of cooing and clucking, but the voice was not female, it was male. The opened door to the infant's room told the story. Clark was in the rocking chair feeding his youngest. He paused for a moment to watch.

"That's a good boy." Clark hummed to the child. "Come on in, Lex. Don't wait at the door." Clark put the bottle on the table beside him.

Lex came in to stand beside the chair. "I didn't want to disturb you." Lex put his hand on the child's head, brushing back the wisps of hair.

"Sure." Clark said derisively. "I never realized how tiny babies were." He said as he put the child on his towel-covered shoulder and patted gently.

"Stick around." Lex told him. "Soon you'll find it hard to remember when they were that small. They grow so quickly."

"Mom showed me how to feed him. I did the put to bed thing and I read to Jonny before he went to sleep. Since you were still busy, I haunted the library for a while, then came down here to help." He looked at the drowsy child on his shoulder and patted a little more.

A small burp later and Reginald was handed to his father. "Hey, kiddo, have you been charming Clark while I work?" He looked at Clark. "The meeting went longer than I thought it would."

Half-opened eyes blinked at his father, followed by a large yawn. The eyes closed again and soon he was asleep. Lex held him close and breathed in that particular smell that all babies seem to have. This was one of the things he loved about being a father.

"I'll put him down." Lex put his son in the crib and looked up to see the night nurse, Jenny Caldwell, at the door. He was not pleased at her expression.

"Clark, are you spending the night?" Lex's eyes were on Jenny's face, not on Clark.

"Sure." Lex heard Clark rising from the chair, the chair creaking a little as it rocked.

"Why don't you go and get your bag?" Lex kept his eyes on the nurse as she retrieved the bottle.

Clark yawned and stretched. "I'll be back in a minute." Lex didn't watch him leave.

Lex followed the nurse out of the infant's room. When the door was firmly shut, he asked. "Miss Caldwell, what is your concern?"

She pursed her lips and replied. "I don't think he should be here, especially around the children."

"I don't pay you for your opinions." Lex told her coldly. "If you want to make judgments, you can leave my employ." He turned to leave the nursery. "But please remember the confidentiality agreement you signed. I pay you generously. It would be a pity to find yourself impoverished by legal fees." He left. If she objected, he would replace her.

He waited at the side door for Clark to come in carrying a duffle bag and case for a notebook computer. Lex looked at it. "I'm getting you a new computer. That thing’s ancient." It looked far too thick and heavy to be new.

He reached for it, but Clark held on. "Lex, it's fine."

"Let me see it." Lex insisted as they worked their way up to the guest bedroom. "I'll get you a new one." When Clark started to object again, Lex said, "Listen, you don't have to take it with you. You can use it here. That thing," he pointed to the computer Clark was taking from its case, "will run the mini disc's, won't it?"

Clark sighed. "Yes, of course it does. Um, can I connect to the internet from the library?"

"Clark, are you staying?" Lex asked, knowing that Clark wouldn't ask for anything.

"I am for a couple of weeks. I've got an assignment down in South America. But I won't stay here while I'm waiting. Mom's getting my room ready. I'll spend the nights there, but the days here." Clark sat down in the cushioned chair in the room, praying that Lex understood.

Lex thought for a moment. Clark didn't always say exactly what he meant so Lex had to work out what the meaning was behind the words. "You want me to get my life in order, don't you?"

"I want you to be sure." He ran his finger along the arm of the chair. "I've missed you, but you have a family. I don't want to interfere with that."

"Fair enough." Lex said. "Jeremy called. He can't find Victoria. I think she may have run to ground with one of the remnants of Hardwick Enterprises." Clark nodded. "Jeremy's checking. Actually, I'm quite surprised there hasn't been any trace of her. Usually when she's angry with me, she goes on a spending spree." He wanted to keep Clark abreast of what was happening.

"Is that good or bad?" Clark asked.

Lex considered. "I don't know. I suspect that she might be working with someone. This disappearing act doesn't seem to be her style. I did, however, call my lawyer. The papers are in the works."

Clark leaned forward to put his elbows on his knees. "Are you sure about this?"

"As sure as I've ever been about anything." Lex told him. He knelt before Clark. "Do you want to spend the next couple of weeks reconnecting? Getting to know each other again?" He clasped his hands around Clark's larger ones.

"Yeah." Clark bit his lip. "You knew, didn't you?"

"I suspected." The back of Clark's fingers brushed across Lex's cheek.

"Sleep with me tonight." Clark was wondering if he was being bold. "I've missed being with you."

Lex nodded. "I was going to ask." Soon they were cradled together, in exhausted sleep, neither realizing how they reached for each other in the darkness.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

That morning dawned with Clark watching Lex sleep. Lex woke to blue-green eyes smiling at him. "Now that is a sight." He yawned and stretched. "Up. Breakfast."

"This from the man who used to eat toast and coffee?" Clark said surprise clear in his voice.

"Your mother's spoiled me. Besides, it gives me more energy through the day." He rolled out of the bed and headed for the shower.

"Clark. There was more to you being Superman than you told me. What was it?" Lex asked him over breakfast in the garden. They had wakened late enough that he knew his children had already eaten.

Clark played with the food on his plate and pushed it aside. "Nothing, really." He drank his coffee, not looking at Lex.

"Tell me what the ‘really’ was. Was it because I was so busy with LexCorp?" Lex had leaned back in his chair and was listening intently. If this was going to work, they couldn't let past mistakes come to haunt them. "Clark," he said sharply, recognizing the look on Clark's face.

"Well, maybe a little." He looked at Lex, who was waiting expectantly.

"Did you ever notice that I never went out as Superman when you were there? Never went out in the wee hours of the morning if you were sleeping beside me?" Clark asked.

Lex shook his head slowly. "I know I went out early and came in late, but often you were gone."

"Gone when you came in." Clark corrected. "How many times did you wake up without me there?"

Lex closed his eyes to try to remember. "Almost never." He finally said.

Clark nodded. "Without you there," he paused, unsure of how to put it. "I could hear the city. I couldn't block it out. People hurting. Fires. Sirens. Other sounds. He took a breath, and looked up at Lex. When you were there, I could concentrate on your heartbeat. I knew the outside world was still there, but I didn't have to do anything." Clark shook his head. "It probably doesn't make sense, but as long as I knew you were there, knew you were safe, I could let the world take care of itself for a few hours."

Lex put his cup down. "I never knew. I never would have," he sighed, something he seldom did. "Regret doesn't begin to cover what we lost. Clark, I think we can make it work, make it better, if you'll give me the chance."

Clark nodded. "Just be sure. I don't think…I can't lose you all over again." Lex nodded and started to plan what had to be done to make their dreams reality. The first order of business was Victoria.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

It became obvious over the next few days that she had gone into hiding. There was no trace of her and Lex finally reported her disappearance to the police, hoping if she had fled the country, the police would be able to trace where she went.

He found his answer a few days later.

Lex had just decided to close up for the day when his secretary buzzed him that he had a visitor, the Sheriff. He didn't have a chance to reply when the man barged in. Lex tried to remember what his name was, Whitney, William, Warren? That was it, Warren Littlefield. Appropriate for
Smallville.

"Sheriff Littlefield." Lex said genially. "What can I do for you?"

"I think we found your wife." Littlefield said. "Could you come down and identify the body?"

"Is that necessary, Sheriff?" Lex was wary about going with the sheriff. He had a tickle at that back of his neck that said that there was more to this than caught the eye. The fact that Victoria was dead wasn't so much a surprise as the sheriff being here.

"Well, we do want to ask you a few questions." The sheriff said.

"I don't answer questions posed by the police." Lex said plainly. "Talk to my lawyer."

"Not even to find out how your wife died?" The sheriff asked.

"No." He didn't answer for any reason.

"We could arrest you." The sheriff was threatening.

"Then do so." Lex never lost a game of chicken. "If you need me to identify the body, I'll go. If she died soon after she left, it would be easier to do a forensic examination to determine if the body was Victoria's. Other than that, sir, I have no comment."

The sheriff put his hat back on his head. "We'll be back."

"Of that, I have no doubt." Lex let his assistant lead the sheriff out. He called his lawyer and made a few arrangements. It was always the easiest tactic to accuse the husband. With the relationship he’d had with Victoria, he had no illusions that within weeks if not days he'd be on trial for murder, regardless of the evidence.

It was late and Clark had left for the day. He smiled. Things were going better and they were getting their relationship back on track. He frowned on his way to the nursery. He didn't want this to taint his relationship with Clark, but he very well knew that it might. He tried to put his worry out of his mind and enjoy his children. It could be the last time he saw them for a while.

It was after midnight when his lawyer arrived and he signed papers. If he were arrested, he didn't think he'd spend more than a few nights in jail, but he wanted to be prepared.

He'd gathered Clark and his mother, who had Reginald in her arms, in the library the next morning to tell them about what had happened the evening before. Something in the back of his mind ate at him like he was missing a clue but he wanted them prepared. He didn’t have a chance

"Sheriff Littlefield came to see me late yesterday afternoon." He began. "He came to tell me he had found Victoria." He watched as Clark sat heavily on the sofa and Martha tensed. He steeled himself for what he had to say next. "He said she was dead."

"Oh, Lex." Martha touched his shoulder.

"He wanted me to go to the morgue to identify the body." Lex sipped at the coffee in his cup. "He also wanted to ask me some questions. I wouldn't go with him."

"Why not?" Clark asked, surprised.

"Our marriage was far from ideal. With her death coming so soon after a precipitous argument, I expect to be brought in for questioning at the very least. At worst, I expect to be arrested for her murder." He was quiet and calm as he told them, but Martha gasped.

"Why?" She asked.

"I understand." Clark said.

Martha turned to stare at her son. "Why?" Her tenseness was affecting Reginald and the child was fussing. She automatically calmed him.

"In an unexpected death, the husband is the prime suspect." Clark ran his hand through his hair. "I know why you wouldn't talk to the sheriff, Lex. But first instinct…." He shrugged. "Have you talked to your lawyer?"

Lex nodded. "I've made some arrangements if things go sour." He nodded towards the desk in the room. "We can talk it over later."

Clark got up to face Lex. "Are you sure?"

Lex nodded again. "There's nothing we can do but wait."

The double doors to the library burst open. The sheriff and half a dozen deputies interrupted the meeting.

"What the he…" That Lex was startled was evidenced by the fact that he almost cursed. He never cursed in front of Martha. It kept his language cleaner in front of his children. The coffee cup in his hand fell, shattering on the wood floor.

The sheriff came to stand in front of Lex. "You're under arrest." He said without preamble. "For the murder of Victoria Hardwick Luthor." He snapped a handcuff on Lex's wrist and handed it to one of his deputies. The deputy was behind Lex and already held Lex's other hand behind him. The deputy fastened the handcuffs behind Lex's back.

"Here's the arrest warrant." Sheriff Littlefield said, tapping a folded paper against Lex's chest. "And here's the warrant to search." He said, tapping another one. "Take him away."

"Wait," Clark took the papers from Littlefield's hand. He opened it up and glanced through it.

The deputy started to drag Lex away. "Clark," he shouted. "Get in touch with my attorney. I've signed a POA over to you. Martha, you have custody of the children." The deputies were tearing into the room, dumping books on the floor as they searched for who knows what. One of them was packing up Lex's computers and taking them away.

"Quite useless." Another voice was heard as Lex was almost dragged close to the doors. "I obtained custody early this morning." Lionel Luthor stood at the door flanked by his men and two women who were obviously caretakers of some sort.

"YOU BASTARD." Lex pulled away from the men that held him. "What have you done? How did you know?"

Lionel almost stepped back in the face of the assault. Clark could see the hesitation. Clark wasn't sure that Lex could see anything but his own rage.

"Alexander," Lionel admonished. "How could I have done anything?" He said with perfect aplomb. "Since Victoria's disappearance, I've been keeping an eye on you. I thought it would be prudent to obtain custody in case you were…otherwise occupied. How fortunate that I did."

"How did you get custody of my children without any cause?" Lex's eyes blazed in anger.

"I have my sources." Lionel said dryly.

"And pet judges as well. What are the odds that Mitchell signed the order?" Lex spat out at him.

Lionel gave Lex that quirky smile that said victory. That expression made Clark's jaw ache -- because he always tightened up when Lionel did that to Lex.

As the interaction between the two ended, the head of Lex's security force entered the room. "Sir," a confused voice said. "There are men in the Nursery."

The unexpected entrance diverted Lex's attention and the deputies collared Lex once again.

"They wish to take Jonathan." The man continued.

Clark stepped forward. He wanted to defuse the situation. Clark didn't think there was anything that could be done to prevent Lex's arrest. In fact, Clark was quite sure that when Lex arrived at the local police department for Lex to be incarcerated, the press would be there, hounding Lex. Unless the sheriff took him to Metropolis, which was entirely within the sheriff's rights to do so.

"Lionel," Clark interrupted, turning attention to himself. "Why not have the children cared for here? It is their home." He looked into Lionel's eyes challenging him. They had never gotten along; their relationship far worse than his own father’s was with Lex. Clark gave a silent thought of gratitude that his own father had finally accepted Clark's relationship with Lex, however grudgingly.

"I think not." Lionel drawled. Clark almost did a second take. Lionel did not drawl. "This," Lionel made a motion with his hand to include his surroundings. "place has not been suitable for my grandchildren. I will make sure that they are cared for in more appropriate surroundings."

Baby Reginald had been taken from Martha by one of Lionel's drones. Lionel accepted the child into his arms. Lex was at the door waiting to be taken out. "Lex," Lionel called. "You finally did something right. You gave me a dynasty, one I can be sure will be raised correctly." Lionel gave the child back to a woman who Clark assumed was a nurse.

Clark could see the change on Lex's face as he was led out. Clark knew that Lex would not soon forgive Lionel. Right now, the concern was to get Lex's lawyers on the case. Clark pulled out his cell phone and called Lex's lawyers. He didn't think that Lex had changed law firms even though Clark hadn't been involved with Lex's life for years.

As he made the phone call, the Sheriff reached for the phone in his hand. Clark stopped him before he reached it. "Sheriff, I wouldn't do that." Clark held a subtle menace in his tone. "Am I under arrest?"

"No." He backpedaled a little and tempered his denial. "At least not yet. I will, however, need your statement."

"Like hell." Clark commented. "This is Clark Kent." He spoke into the phone. "I want to talk to Mr. Whittingham." He waited for a moment. "Mr. Whittingham, Lex has been arrested and Lionel has custody of the children." He listened and nodded. "Very well. Good-by." He turned it off.

"Mom, let's go home. I'm keeping the staff on salary but we'll need to know when we'll have the use of the mansion back." He looked directly at the sheriff at that statement.

"You can't leave. I need your statement." He protested.

Clark turned and faced the man. "You know where we live. My mother is not at her best after losing the children. Separating children from their primary caregiver under trying circumstances is a familiar tactic of Lionel's." By this time it was evident that Clark was talking to Lionel Luthor, not the sheriff. "You'd think he'd learned better tactics."

He led his mother from the room; when they were outside, he handed her his cell phone and told her to warn Mr. Henderson. He had leased the farmland after his father's death. Clark had no doubt that the sheriff would search the Kent farm, looking for something on the back acreage. After all, his mother was Lex’s employee. Clark hoped that the zealous officers didn't do too much damage to the farmhouse. He didn't really want to have to move his mother to a motel in town. She'd be much more comfortable at home.

He gave orders to Sara, Lex's secretary/assistant, to set up headquarters in the Talon. He reminded himself he was going to have to call Lana. He told the security men to allow Jon to be taken by Lionel, even though it was the exact opposite of what he wanted to do. The last thing before he left was to order everyone but the security crew to go home as soon as the police would let them. They'd be kept on salary until things could get settled. The security detail was to observe the police without interfering and make note of all damage. The county and state could be billed for the damage later. The Sheriff was furious about the last order, but Clark didn't care. They could search but they didn't have to ransack the mansion. He'd all ready seen too much damage today.

As he drove his mother home, he asked. "Has Pete passed the bar yet?"

"No, I don't think so." She replied. "His brother Mike has, though."

"Call him. I want to make sure that you are represented at the questioning." Clark was grim faced as he drove his mother home. He watched as she dialed.

"They haven't gotten to the farm yet." She commented after talking to someone at the Henderson's. "Clark, you can't run Lex's business from the Talon." Clark glanced at her, hoping the next few days wouldn't be too hard on her.

"No, I'm going to run it from Plant 1. Lex goes there a couple of times a week, right?" She nodded in agreement. "I figure that they'll search there and try to shut down the plant, but I've got to be brought up to speed with what he's been doing. I think that probably most of his plans can be put on hold. What I have to do is try and stabilize the stock and prevent it from going into the toilet." And see if he could save Lex's skin, Clark thought to himself.

He didn't want to worry his mother, but he thought that likely there would be a long hard road ahead of them. His next phone call was to Perry White, to inform him that he wouldn't be taking that assignment in South America. Perry wanted him to write an inside exclusive. Clark said no. After all was said and done, he might write a story but he was too close right now. He couldn't be objective.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

The next few weeks passed in a whirlwind of activity. The police kept the plant shut down as a 'possible crime scene' for a week, but Clark was able to get it back up and operational. The mansion was kept locked up for even longer. They searched all the employees' homes and drove the town to distraction. Dozens of police were imported from the county and Metropolis. Clark saw the not- so- subtle hand of Lionel involved, but he was willing to say that he was probably paranoid. When dealing with Lionel, it was smart to be paranoid.

Clark immersed himself in running LexCorp, sending information in with Lex's lawyers about the company when he wasn't sure what to do. Lex was remaining mum. If he were to be convicted, they were going to have to work for it. Lex refused to give them any ammunition. Clark doubted that Lex was even speaking to his lawyers. Clark suspected that everything Lex said was recorded and looked over for anything that could incriminate him, even when he was supposed to have confidentiality. Neither of them had any faith in the police.

When he wasn't working keeping LexCorp afloat, he was researching Victoria. He knew that when someone was murdered, his or her past usually told who it might be. The ME's report said she died in an accident. The conclusion of the police was that the accident was arranged.

He couldn't find anything that pointed specifically to Victoria, so he started investigating Lex. Perhaps Victoria had been killed in order to hurt Lex. If that was true, it was succeeding admirably.

After repairs were completed and he finally was able to move back into the mansion, he interviewed all the staff. He didn’t think that so much damage could be done in the name of investigation.

Clark's head ached. He knew he had something, but he didn't know what it was. When his mother came in with some tea and dragged him away from his research he tried to relax. One thing nagged at him, though.

"Mom, last fall, when did Victoria come here?" He asked, trying to track her movements.

"She didn't." Martha pursed her lips. "Last fall, Lex spent three weeks in Japan finalizing a big contract. He came back in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Remember, you were out of the country that Thanksgiving. Lex brought Jon to the farm."

Clark sat up. "What about earlier? Was she here? Did Lex go see her in New York?"

Martha shook her head. "No. I don't think so. I mean, he went into Metropolis a few times for business, but I don't think he was ever gone for more than a day."

Clark nodded. "That's what his records show, too. Everything I've been able to find out about Victoria says she spent the summer and fall in New York. Mom, Reg was born in late June. He had to have been conceived in the fall."

Martha hadn't thought about that. "Maybe Victoria was with Lex in Metropolis?"

Clark shook his head. "None of the records show that. And no one saw Victoria at the penthouse. I don't think she would have stayed anyplace else."

"What does that mean?" She asked, thoughtfully.

"It means that Reg was conceived without Lex being there." Clark got up to pace the room. "And maybe so was Jon."

"But both the children are his." Martha protested. "Lex had them tested."

"I know, Mom. But when was the last time we had a bull in with our cows?" He flashed his mother a grin as he said it.

"Oh. You mean, oh," she said quietly. "Why is this important?"

"You've read the stories in the tabloids. 'Billionaire Beats Wife', 'Violent Marriage of Lex Luthor', complete with pictures. The press is painting Lex as violent and dangerous. They don't know that Victoria and Lex were seldom together." He tried to make her understand.

"So where is this information coming from? And the pictures?" She asked him.

"Good questions. I don't have the answers. What I have to do is find a fertility specialist that is now based in New York that used to be based in Metropolis." He stopped to think. "I'll have to search through Lex's financial records to see how Lex paid him."

"Do you think he used the same doctor?" She asked.

"I doubt that Lex would want any but the minimum number of people to know." Clark was thinking out loud. "Knowing Lex and his penchant for secrecy, he hid the payments pretty deep. It looks like I have a lot of work to do." He headed back to the computer.

"Clark," his mother said. "Tomorrow. The information isn't going anywhere."

Clark reluctantly agreed. He gathered all the information he could and gave it to Lex's lawyer. The weeks were passing, but Clark got worried when the prosecution was able to get a change of venue to Metropolis. That was still Lionel Luthor's town, and this time he and Lex were enemies. Lionel would do anything he could to destroy Lex now that he had custody of Lex's children.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

Clark relocated his office to LexCorp's office in Metropolis where he could keep an eye -- or, rather, an ear on what was happening to Lex in the local jail. In retrospect, he was very glad he did.

It wasn't the fact that Lex's heart rate sped up. He had gotten used to that relatively recently. Lex had reason to fear being incarcerated in the Metropolis lockup. It was that Lex's heart stopped. And Superman was in flight almost immediately. It only stopped momentarily, but Clark was there. Lex had been stabbed while he was out in the exercise yard with other prisoners. He was supposed to be in isolation.

Superman scooped Lex up and wrapped him in his cape in one smooth movement. Clark knew he didn't have too much time. Lex was bleeding to death.

Lex woke up in a round bed, in muted light. He ran his hand across the ache in his chest and saw that the wound was almost healed. He wondered where he was. "Clark?" He called.

"Kal-el is not here at the moment." He heard a female voice say. It took him a moment to recognize it.

"Martha?" He asked.

"I have been programmed with Martha Kent's voice. Kal-el will be with you shortly." The voice went silent. Lex thought for a moment. It took him a few minutes to remember that Kal-el was Clark's name.

He lay back down and covered up. The air smelled sterile. This must be a place that Clark had created. He smiled that Clark had used his mother's voice to program whatever kind of computer he had to run this place. He supposed he could get up and look around but when he tried, he got very dizzy.

"Please remain at rest. You have not recovered enough strength." The voice said, kind and caring in tone, much like Martha Kent herself.

He lay back down and drifted back to sleep.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he woke to a pair of green eyes looking at him.

"Hey." Clark grinned at him. "Mom sent food." Lex noticed that Clark held a tray on his lap. Lex was going to fluff the pillows up against the wall but then he noticed that the bed was in the middle of the room, not against the wall.

"Clark?" He said the question clear in his voice.

"Here." Clark laid the tray on Lex's legs, then slipped behind him so Lex could lean against him.

Lex started eating, realizing with his first bite how hungry he was. Weeks of prison food had left him desirous of real food. He ate, quickly clearing his plate. He groaned and leaned back against Clark. "I didn't realize how hungry I was."

"Dying does that to you, I guess." Clark took the tray off of Lex's lap and placed it aside. He wrapped his arms around Lex. "Your heart stopped."

"I'm alive though. How long have I been here?" He asked because he knew even a severe injury took him some time to heal.

"Three days. The AI sealed the wound and kept you asleep until it thought you were strong enough." Clark rocked back and forth holding Lex, which told Lex of the depth of his grief. "I have to take you back."

"I know." Lex said quietly. "How come I'm still here?"

"I told the authorities that you were healing." Clark ran a hand over Lex's chest. "As fast as you heal, I would have had to do something anyway, even if your heart hadn't stopped."

"What have you done?" Lex asked, because he knew that Clark would have done something.

"As Superman, little except to assure that you would be watched closely." He leaned down and kissed Lex on the temple. "As Clark, I've been helping the defense."

"I'm not going to ask what you've done. I don't want to know, and truthfully, it might be better if I don't know. I suppose it will be back to solitary, although," he groaned a little as he shifted. "If this is what happens when I'm out, I'll suffer with solitary."

"By the way, Lex, try to be amazed at how quickly you healed with my 'alien technology'." Lex smirked at him and Clark knew he was feeling better.

Less than a week later, Superman publicly returned Lex Luthor to custody. In the interim, several prisoners were discovered to have weapons, and several guards were in custody for providing them with said weapons. Several mysterious deaths happened in the intervening time.

The trial was not delayed because of his injury; it was underway within a week of his return. Right before the jury was impaneled, headlines were shouting that Lex's youngest child was the result of marital rape. Lex forced her to have another child to ensure that he would have an heir. Clark walked around grinding his teeth to think that members of the press were printing these stories on the flimsiest of excuses.

Clark was working harder and resting less than he ever had in his life. He didn't know if Lex knew what was being said about him, but Clark worked away.

As a potential witness, Clark wasn’t allowed in the courtroom, but it didn't really matter. He continued to collect any information that he could.

He paced and worried for weeks as the prosecution presented its case. The defense was actually almost simple. Lex didn't do it because he had no cause. She died in an accident after taking a car that wasn't in good repair. She had a lot of alcohol in her system. The final blow came when all of the so-called ‘proof’ of domestic violence was shown to be unsubstantiated. There was no independent proof that Lex had even seen Victoria at the times of the alleged instances.

Clark lounged in the corner of the nearby pressroom. He finally was allowed to observe the proceedings when the prosecution discovered that his testimony didn't help their case. He never lied, but he was skilled with words. Nothing he said was detrimental to Lex, the prosecution had to use innuendo to color his testimony.

Lex didn’t look like a spoiled bon vivant as he sat with his lawyer. Although Lex couldn't suppress his style -- he still dressed in shades of purple and dark suits -- he paid attention and took notes about the proceedings, occasionally consulting with his attorneys in low tones.

Edmond Whitehill was the fertility specialist who had attended Victoria. Clark watched the proceedings and kept an eye on Lex. Lex was usually movement personified, never still. In the courtroom, Lex was calm, but Clark could see that the calm was like the calm of a bowstring, taut and ready for action.

Lex was perturbed that Whitehill had been found. Clark was quite sure that Lex didn't want how his children had been conceived as a matter of public record, but he didn't forbid his attorneys to follow this line of defense.

The prosecutors tried to turn the fact that Victoria's pregnancy came about through artificial insemination against Lex.

The turning point was when one of Victoria's confidantes broke down on the stand with the realization that Victoria had lied to her. They were using excerpts from Victoria's diary to bolster their case. The prosecutor convinced the judge that since the diary was never meant to be read by anyone, there would be no reason for Victoria to write anything but the truth. Irene Jacobs was reading from Victoria's diary when she stopped. When the prosecutors told her to continue, she flipped through the pages and checked the date again.

"This can't be right." She said in a puzzled voice. "I mean, I remember Victoria telling me about it, but…" Her voice trailed off. "The date's wrong."

The prosecutor froze. "What do you mean the date's wrong?" The tone gave no doubt that there must be something wrong with the witness.

"Well, I checked my own schedule, so I know when I talked to Victoria." She was high society and doubtless had a social secretary. "Either the date in the diary is wrong or she lied to me about when it happened." She said unhappily.

Lex's face stayed calm, but attorneys on both sides were squabbling to the judge. The consequence was that everything that came directly from Victoria was thrown out as not reliable.

The prosecution rested shortly thereafter. Clark had no idea how it would turn out.

The jury was out for over a week. Even though Lex's lawyers kept saying that the longer they stayed out the better it was for Lex, Clark didn't stop worrying. The fact that he was in court to try to get custody of Lex's children as well, was draining on him.

Almost three months to the day after Lex first walked into a courtroom, the verdict came back -- not guilty. Clark slipped out of the courtroom knowing that it would take hours for Lex to be discharged. He called Lex's head of security to reassure himself that Lex's security forces would be adequately represented when Lex was released. Clark, however, decided that it might be necessary for Superman to make an appearance. After all, Lex Luthor was one of the most prominent figures of Metropolis, even if he seldom made a public appearance.

~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~~~*CK*~~~~*LL*~~

Clark stood on the roof of the justice building, his cape wafting in the breeze, waiting for Lex to be released. He wanted to draw attention to himself, because if everyone was watching him then he could be watching the crowd. And if he was watching the crowd, he could see if Lex should be the target of an assassination attempt.

He heard the click of the rifle being readied before he saw the shooter. It was a woman, not the man he expected. It didn't matter. Superman stopped her. Letha Delaine, perhaps the premier assassin in the world.

Before he could deliver her into police custody, her jaw clenched. Clark heard a pop and her body stiffened. She'd crushed a gelatin capsule between her the back teeth in her jaw that held a lethal dose of something. Her face froze in the rectos of death. If he'd checked with his x-ray vision, he might have seen it and been able to stop her. She died taking the secret of who wanted Lex dead with her.

They made it back to Lex's penthouse safely. The next battle was to get the children away from Lionel. Clark had never seen Lex look so grim.

In the months since the first accusation, Clark had learned a lot about Lex and the way he conducted his business. The cold businessman was the face he showed to the world but was nowhere in evidence when he was with his family.

Lex might skate close to the edge in business, but he never destroyed anything without reason. Owners that had given themselves golden parachutes at the expense of the company were stripped of their enrichment. Lex usually sued, claiming they stole assets that belonged to the company. Lex most often won.

Bad managers were canned. Crooked directors were prosecuted. And executives were expected to actually do their jobs. Lex listened and watched when he took over a company. Usually he was able to turn around an under- achieving company. If he couldn't, he tried to do what he could. Workers, when it was possible, were relocated. Lex built his company on the little people, the ones who believed him when he said he would help. He was the enemy of the capitalist who took what he could and moved on. Lex hid this face from the world.

When he went to get back his family, it was a fight that no one thought he could win at first. But Lex showed the judge that he knew what was best for his children.

When Lex demonstrated to the judge that he knew the children's schedule when they lived with him, knew Jon's favorite toys and food, it started to sway the judge. There was testimony that Jon had friends who he played with on a regular basis and he was not an isolated child.

The judge kept pushing, though, and Lex named off Jon's doctor and the last time Jon had gone to see him while Jon was still with his family. Keeping records made it easier, but still it was something Lex had to do. Clark thought the final blow to Lionel was when Lex demonstrated that he could competently change a diaper. In court, it was on a doll, but considering the judge’s reaction it might as well have been a child.

Clark was thankful that family court was sealed so no reporters were allowed, although he was admitted as a close friend. Clark was very glad that the judge had ordered the children to be at the courthouse even though they were not admitted into the courtroom. Lex had feared that Lionel would spirit the children out of the country rather than return them to him.

When Jonathan was escorted into the courtroom, Lex was afraid that his son had forgotten who he was. It had been months since their last meeting and Lex hadn't even been able to say good-by.

Lex couldn't see the boy well, he was conveniently shorter then the tables the attorneys sat at. Jonathan had always been a bundle of energy; the boy that stood so placidly at the caseworkers side acted very little like the rambunctious three-year-old that Lex remembered.

When they came to stand in front of Lex, he squatted down to look at the hesitant child that was his son. "Jonny?" Lex questioned, gently. He was sure that Jonathan remembered him but there was little reaction from the boy. Jonathan held tightly onto the woman's hand and the fingers on his other hand crept into his mouth. The woman slapped the fingers and pulled them out of his mouth. Lex glared at her. "Don't ever touch my son again."

"Daddy?" Jon said. Lex gathered him up in his arms. He didn't know what his father had done to the child to make him so timid. Lex wrapped Jon up in his arms and stood up, holding him tightly. "Daddy!!!" Jonathan said more happily.

Clark took the bear he had brought to Jon out of his pocket and passed it to the boy. A worn ear went into Jon's mouth and he began to chew on it as he had done months ago when he first got it. Jon's eyes never left his father as he chewed.

The caseworker that brought in Reginald stood holding the child. Martha stepped up to take him. Clark kept his eyes on Lionel. As Lionel's lawyers packed up to leave the courtroom, Clark saw an expression on Lionel's face that he'd never seen before. Clark didn't know what it meant, but he didn't think it boded anything good.

Lex was