Author: Hergerbabe
Title: Destiny
X-over: Xena, Warrior Princess
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Clark and Lex share a destiny
Challenge: 10000 words in 10 days (actual word count 10445), answering (kinda): What if there was some reason other than love or lust for the boys' relationship, some mystical force bringing them together. What the force is and why it exists is up to you but how do they cope when they find out they truly were destined to be together? (Jezebel the Temptress)
Disclaimer: No, they don't belong to me, and no, I'm not making any money from this
Feedback address: hergerbabe@yahoo.co.uk
NOTE Part of the Clex Fest at http://www.kardasi.com/Lexclusive/Clex-Fest/
Additional notes: NO following of canon, complete mess made of Greek pantheon ;), ***dreams/memories***
BETA: Christine

DESTINY

"Enough!" The shout cut through the chaotic uproar. Lysander flinched and straightened in his chair. "The decision is final, Lysander and Calil are guilty of conspiracy and treason against the Throne of Olympus," Zeus continued. "Lysander, God of Tactical Warfare, Calil, God of Compassion, stand for your judgement."

Lysander glanced at his husband, who looked terrified, and smiled softly, attempting reassurance. In their shackles of Hephaestian metal, he couldn't communicate mentally with the younger God and he refused to give Zeus the satisfaction of looking weak in front of the pantheon. Even if he did ache to comfort his lover.

Calil met Lysander's eyes and smiled back, trying to be strong even though his heart was breaking. They'd only been married a short time and they were going to be separated, the charges brought against them were solely for that purpose. Why, he just didn't understand.

"You will be stripped of your Godhoods and sent to Hades. There you will be reborn as mortals, cursed to continuous reincarnation, forever alone, knowing that a part of you is missing. You will never meet again. Lysander, you will be reborn on Earth, Calil, you will be reborn." Zeus paused for dramatic effect.

He was loving every moment of this. From the outside, this looked like sheer pettiness against a couple who were, he freely admitted, truly in love with each other. Only he knew, however, how their relationship could bring an end to his reign.

"On Krypton."

Lysander had felt a brief moment of hope at the thought that maybe there would be a chance of finding each other again as mortals, but to be reborn in a never ending cycle on separate planets. he swallowed hard and turned to his husband. He met the despairing green gaze of the younger God and forced a smile.

"You are my soul, Calil, we will find each other again, I swear it," he said quietly, but firmly. He only wished he could really believe it.

Not yet stripped of his Godhood, wave after wave of sympathy and compassion from the majority of the Pantheon slammed energy into Calil. "I will find you," he swore, putting every bit of power and strength he had into the promise before he collapsed.

"Calil!" Lysander started towards him, only to be dragged back. Furious, he turned on the one who dared and stopped in shock. "Father?"

"Leave him," Ares said quietly.

"But I."

"Leave him, son, there's nothing you can do," Ares leaned in, "You will find him again, I know it, just let it be for now," he whispered, glancing up at his father with a glare. He knew Zeus was doing this, had engineered this, but how or why, Ares had yet to find out.

Closing his eyes against the tears that threatened, Lysander nodded, forcing himself back under control. He watched unflinchingly, meeting Calil's eyes as he was dragged away.

Mutely, Calil reached out towards his husband as he felt his heart and soul shatter. "I'll always love you," he whispered.

@>*~

Lex sucked in a breath, shock and pain making him blink until his eyes met the oddly familiar green gaze staring down at him with such concern it made him ache. Water dripping from the stranger's hair onto his face finally drew his attention to the fact that he was soaked and freezing.

Reluctantly, he broke the strange locked gaze they'd shared since he'd started breathing again.

Clark was astounded. From the moment this man had opened his eyes, somehow, he'd known that he knew him. He had a weird flash of what seemed like memory, of a man with the same blue-silver eyes staring at him with such pain, such heartache, of reaching out to him, unable to close the gap.

It almost hurt when the pale man beneath him looked away. "I found you," he whispered, without even knowing why.

"What?" Lex asked, startled.

"Um, nothing, are you okay?" Clark asked quickly, covering his uncertainty.

Lex laughed, "Oh sure, I just died, I'm peachy." he paused in confusion, "Wait, you're okay. I could have sworn I hit you!" The young man looked away, a slight flush darkening his cheeks.

"No," Clark said quietly, "If you'd hit me, we'd both be dead, wouldn't we?"

The boy was lying, Lex knew it instinctively. "You never were any good at lying," he muttered, then frowned, how did he know that?

"Wh-what?" Clark stuttered in shock. Did this stranger know him somehow? Maybe the same way Clark felt, the vague memory attached to those eyes.

"I, uh," Lex couldn't explain why he'd said that, he didn't know why he'd said that. "Look I'm really cold, and I just died, I really don't know what I'm saying right now."

"Okay," Clark accepted the explanation with relief, he wasn't sure he could handle anything else weird today. It was one thing knowing you were a freak, quite another to discover that you could be hit by a car and survive, *and* breathe under water. He looked up. "Stay here a sec."

"Not going anywhere, believe me," Lex sighed. Oddly, the boy looked extremely relieved.

Clark smiled briefly and hurried up the bank, waving to stop the approaching car. "Mr. Brown."

"Clark, what happened?"

"There was an accident, can you get some help?" Clark asked anxiously.

"Of course, there's some blankets in the back, grab them and I'll be right back."

"Thanks, and call my parents if you can," Clark said, hastily grabbing the blankets. He wasn't cold, but the stranger had been shivering and he had this almost desperate urge to get back in the bald man's company.

He ran back down the bank to where the strange, pale man was waiting for him, those silvery eyes watching his every move. Clark shivered a little under the gaze.

Lex watched the boy. How could he be fine? How could he be *alive*? Lex knew he'd hit him, and he knew the boy was lying, but how could that be possible?

"Thanks," he said as the boy handed him a blanket. He tugged it round his shoulders, trying not to shiver. "I'm Lex, by the way."

"Clark," the boy replied, wrapping the other blanket over his head.

Lex looked at him in surprise, "What about you?"

"I'm fine," Clark said quietly.

"You can at least share my blanket," Lex said, realising straight away that any protest over the extra blanket would be met with stubborn resistance. Clark's heart had always been too big. Lex blinked. What?

Clark hesitated, but remembering that sharing body heat was a good way to stay warm he nodded, moving under Lex's arm and the edge of the blanket a little shyly. After all, his Mom always said he was a furnace and Clark didn't want Lex to get ill. He'd never been good at taking care of himself. Clark paused in thought, confused. How did he *know* that?

"How are you so warm?" Lex asked quietly, "You're always so warm."

"What?!" Clark exclaimed.

Lex frowned. Something weird was going on, and not just the fact that Clark had survived being hit by a car at sixty miles an hour. "I, okay this is going to sound strange, but have we met before?"

"I don't think so," Clark replied quietly, even though he'd been wondering the same thing, "I think I'd remember meeting a."

"A bald twenty something?" Lex asked self mockingly.

"Actually, I was going to say." Clark stopped in embarrassment, realising that he'd been going to say gorgeous.

"What?" Lex asked curiously.

"Never mind," Clark said quietly.

Lex couldn't help smiling. Always so shy, it was a wonder they'd ever got together. His eyes almost popped out of his head at that thought. Together? There was no way Lex would have ever forgotten such a beautiful boy, even drugged up to his eyeballs. Besides, Clark was too young and too innocent to have ever been in a situation where Lex could have met him.

"Clark!"

Clark looked up, smiling in relief to see his father and the emergency services. His father jogged down the bank as Clark got up and was enveloped in a tight hug.

"Clark, thank God. I heard there was an accident, are you okay?"

"Yeah Dad, I'm fine, a car went off the bridge," Clark replied, pulling back to glance over at Lex, who looked a little lost.

"And who's the maniac who was driving?" Jonathan asked angrily.

"That would be me," Lex replied with a rueful smile. He held out a hand, "Lex Luthor."

Jonathan glared at the hand, then the young man, "Maybe you should use your money to learn to drive and not put kids at risk."

Lex stiffened and Clark felt an urge to leap to his defence. "It wasn't his fault, Dad, there was wire in the road."

Lex stared at Clark in surprise, how many times had he defended him in the past? Lex couldn't even remember, and he wasn't even sure he wanted to know why he knew that he had.

"Home, Clark," Jonathan said firmly, "Your mother's worried."

Clark stared at Lex, he didn't want to leave, not again, he wanted. no, this was too weird. Clark turned abruptly and walked away with his father before he gave in to the urge to pull Lex into his arms.

Lex stared after him, unconscionably hurt and not having a clue why. It *shouldn't* have been heart wrenching to watch the young man walk away, but it was. Only the tiny glance Clark gave him, eyes full of confused pain, gave him any kind of relief as the truck pulled away.

@>*~

"Lysander nearly got himself killed today."

Ares sighed, "Again? Gods, he's been getting more and more reckless with every lifetime, but this one is especially bad."

"'Res."

"I suppose I can understand though." Ares continued.

"'Res," Joxer tried again.

"He's alone and doesn't understand why he feels so empty, I'd be worse if I lost you," Ares said quietly almost to himself.

Shaking his head, Joxer went to stand in front of his husband. "*Ares!*"

Ares blinked in surprise, it was a rare thing for Joxer to raise his voice, "What?"

"He's not alone anymore," Joxer said quietly.

"Pardon me?" Ares asked in confusion.

"He's not alone anymore," Joxer repeated with a tiny smile.

Ares stared at the slim form of his husband, who obviously was barely containing a shit-eating grin. "Calil?"

Joxer nodded, finally letting himself smile as widely as he wanted. Ares leapt to his feet and grabbed him, swinging him round before hugging him till he was breathless.

"Calil is on Earth?" Ares said wonderingly, "But, how?"

"I don't know, I didn't realise until just now, they just met up," Joxer said happily, snuggling into Ares' arms.

"Is he, is he okay?" Ares asked quietly.

"Yeah, a healthy young Kryptonian, who somehow is on Earth," Joxer replied.

"Wait a minute, there's no way he could be on Earth without Cupid and Strife knowing," Ares said with a frown.

"Now, Ares," Joxer started, recognising the look.

"Strife! Cupid! Get your asses in here, *now*!" Ares yelled.

Two flashes lit the room.

"Dad?"

"Unc? What's going on?" Strife asked, shocked at the tone he hadn't heard for a good two hundred years.

"We'd like to know how long Calil has been on Earth and when you were planning on telling us?" Ares asked in a deceptively pleasant voice.

"He'd like to know," Joxer added quietly, raising an eyebrow at the glare he received from his husband.

Strife paled and Cupid wrapped his arms round him defensively. "We couldn't tell you."

"You couldn't tell me, *us*?!" Ares roared, "That is our son down there, suffering with every life that passes and you couldn't tell us things had changed?"

"Hey, our son suffered too," Strife snapped, "And no we couldn't tell you, because you'd have interfered. And if you had, you'd have drawn attention to him. Grandfather doesn't know and we'd like it to remain that way. Besides, they found each other again."

Ares sat back heavily, "Calil said they would, I don't think Lysander ever believed it."

"He did," Joxer whispered, "In his heart he did."

Ares smiled gently at his romantic husband, "He took after you in that respect."

Joxer snorted, "Oh please, you're a big softie under the brash War God personality."

"Joxer!" Ares gasped, horrified at being called a softie in front of his son and nephew.

Strife giggled and Cupid grinned.

"C'mon, Dad, you were killing me with the heart sickness before you and Jox got together," Cupid snickered. Strife giggled louder.

"I'll thank you to shut the fuck up," Ares snapped, "Both of you!" He glared threateningly at Strife.

"Ooops," Strife snorted, somehow managing to stifle his laughter.

"What are we going to do?" Joxer asked quietly. The other three became serious straight away.

"I don't know," Cupid said quietly, "But I don't think Lysander's soul will survive if he loses Calil a second time, he's already started on the path to darkness. Look at the life he was born into this time, his 'father'." Cupid shuddered.

"Don't call that excuse for a human his father," Joxer growled. Cupid grimaced apologetically. "Anyway, Calil isn't doing much better, he's practically a wraith, each lifetime he loses more of his self worth."

Strife sniffed quietly, Calil was his only child and watching the once bright, big hearted young God try to fill his emptiness by helping others had been painful. Cupid hugged him again, kissing his cheek gently.

"They remember each other already," Cupid commented. As Love God, he'd felt the recognition between them immediately. "But I'm not sure if Lysander will accept it."

"He will," Joxer said confidently, "I'm just worried about keeping it from Zeus, he will try and spilt them apart again if he finds out."

"Yes," Cupid agreed, "But why? I've never understood. Nobody believed they were plotting the downfall of Olympus and I'm certain Grandfather didn't either. Why was it so important that they be separated?"

"I don't know, but I have a feeling that the sooner we get them together, the better off we'll all be," Ares said quietly.

Two thousand years and Zeus still hadn't matured, still reigned over the Gods and the universe with a jealous and often ridiculously childish iron hand. Take the current state of the world, the wars were petty and of no long term benefit. Terrorism was rife, something Ares detested. All he could do was follow orders.

"Do you think we should visit them?" Strife asked, desperate to have an excuse to see his son in person after such a long time.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Joxer said with a shake of his head. "Maybe we could get some help though, there are not many who still support Zeus."

"What kind of help?" Ares asked with a thoughtful frown.

Strife and Cupid moved closer while Joxer explained his plan.

@>*~

***Lysander strode quickly through the Halls of War, he was late for the festivities and he could just imagine the look he was going to get from his fathers. Like he'd meant to be late, after all, it was on Calil's behalf and he didn't want to miss the opportunity to watch the younger God dance.

Lysander sighed, shaking his head at himself. No matter how he tried, he couldn't get his cousin out of his head; the deep green eyes, shy smile. For Zeus' sake, he remembered the boy as a tiny Godling nestling in the arms of Strife and Cupid. Even then his eyes had been so full of light.

When had things changed? Okay so there had been a few years, well twenty, during his training, where he hadn't really seen his cousin. The younger God had really changed in that time and Lysander had barely recognised him, except for the eyes. Eyes he'd fallen head first into, and Gods, he really shouldn't be so pathetically in love. He was a War God, damn it.

But then, his father was *The* War God and he was a slush puppy when it came to Lysander's other father.

Pushing open the doors, Lysander paused as all eyes turned towards him. Tilting his head up, he sniffed and walked confidently into the room to take his seat next to his dad.

Glancing down the table to where Calil was sitting, he met his young cousin's eyes with a soft smile. Calil smiled shyly and quickly ducked his head, a light flush appearing on his cheeks. As he turned back, Lysander caught Strife's eye briefly and his uncle winked at him. Sitting back with a small frown of confusion, Lysander pretended to be absorbed in the proceedings.

He wasn't interested in all the pomp and ceremony of the Olympian court, the only reason he'd come was to watch Calil receive his official Godhood. Finally of age, and what was Lysander going to do about it? Nothing of course. He'd regained friendship with his cousin and he wasn't willing to lose that.

Despite his brash self-confidence and fifty years advantage over his cousin, Lysander just couldn't bring himself to find out if Calil returned any of his feelings. After all Cupid was his father and it was bound to get back to Calil if Lysander asked his brother's advice.

Lysander sighed heavily, resting his chin on one hand as he picked at his ambrosia with the other.

Finally all the boring stuff was over and the dancing started. Lysander refused several offers before finally being forced onto the floor by his great aunt Dite, who wouldn't take no for an answer. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Calil dancing with Harmony, and tried not to be jealous of his big sister.

"When are you going to make an honest God of my youngest grandson then?"

Lysander blinked down at Dite, "I beg your pardon?"

"Calil. Are you ever going to tell him how you feel?" she asked.

Sighing, Lysander shook his head, "I wish, Aunt Dite, just once you'd keep your nose out of other Gods' hearts."

"Young man, it's my job. Who got your fathers together, hmm? If it wasn't for me, Joxer would be long dead and Arry would be a shadow."

"Aunt Dite, there's nothing to tell, so just leave it please," Lysander begged softly.

She snorted in a most unladylike manner, "You should at least congratulate him, shouldn't you?"

"I suppose," Lysander agreed. He looked round the hall, surprised when he couldn't see Calil. "Where is he?"

"How am I supposed to know?" Dite snapped, "Go and find him and for God's sake if you won't accept my advice, stop pining over the boy. You're giving me wrinkles."

Lysander raised an eyebrow, but turned to go and look for his cousin. Knowing Calil, he'd hate the ceremony too, especially being the centre of attention. Lysander headed for the garden with a tiny smile.

As he'd suspected, he spotted Calil almost immediately, and the sight took his breath away. Calil was looking skyward, the moon lit up his face making him look ethereal. Lysander had to take a moment to compose himself.***

@>*~

***Calil stared up at the moon with a sigh. Ridiculous to be jealous of his Grandmother, but how could he help it? She was gorgeous and he was. well nothing that Lysander would notice, that was for sure.

His older cousin treated him like a friend, a close one sure, but still *just* a friend. How could he *not* know how Calil felt about him? Daddy Strife had told him to just be honest, but how could he?

Lysander would just laugh at him, or flatten him, maybe even pity. no! That would be the worst. What could a War God and a Love God possibly have in common?

Snorting at himself again, Calil reminded himself of his own parents, and his Grandfather's relationship with Joxer. Pretty good arguments for success. But Lysander would never be interested in him, so why fret?

In the twenty years of Lysander's training, Calil had never felt so alone, he was the youngest God by far and Lysander had been his best friend growing up, he didn't really have any other friends. Once his training had been complete and he'd received his Godhood, Lysander had become his friend again, but Calil had still felt lonely.

Considering his background, Calil was almost embarrassed that it had taken him so long to realise that he was in love with his cousin. Ten years was a long time to be best friends with the one you loved.

Now it was his turn. His training hadn't been as intensive as Lysander's and hadn't taken up all his time, considering that in some ways his Godhood was more ingrained than Lysander's. And he was thankful for that, it meant he hadn't had to go through another long period without his cousin.

Now they were both over the age considered full adulthood among Gods. One hundred years felt like an awfully long time to have been alive, and yet still he felt like a child sometimes.

Sighing quietly, Calil didn't realise he wasn't alone until a throat was cleared behind him. Startled, Calil swung round, breath catching in his throat at the sight of Lysander, partly shadowed under a tree, but with his silver-blue eyes and pale skin reflecting the moonlight. So beautiful.***

@>*~

Lex woke with a gasp. Swallowing hard, he tried not to remember the light that had been in his cousin's eyes when he's turned to face him.

No! For fuck's sake, this was stupid, Calil wasn't real, it was just a dream. Clark was just some kid he'd met. but the eyes. Lex shivered.

"Stop it, Alexander," he muttered to himself, "He's just a pretty boy, that's all." Even as he tried to deny it, his heart protested. With a sigh of frustration, Lex forced himself out of bed and into the bathroom.

He had work to do, unfortunately. His father wouldn't give a damn that he'd died the day before, if he was alive and conscious then he had to work. He would *not* think about Clark.

@>*~

Waking with a start, Clark almost cried when he realised he was in his room, alone. That was. that had to have been the most vivid and strange dream he'd ever had.

Lysander was Lex, he just knew it, but why did it feel so real? Surely it was just some bizarre dream thanks to everything that had happened the previous day. Meeting Lex had somehow eclipsed the fact that he was alien. A *freaking* alien!

Nothing explained why his dream had felt more like a memory. God, how much more weirdness did he have to deal with?

Clark tried to put it out of his mind as he speeded through his chores and then got ready for school. It was almost Homecoming, and he was so not looking forward to it. At least with his freaky strength he wouldn't have to worry about being hazed.

@>*~

Lex threw his epée at the wall in a fit of pique. God damn it, would nothing get his mind off Clark?

Clark blinked at the sword so precariously close to his head, heart beating like the clappers even with his new found knowledge that nothing could hurt him.

"Clark!" Lex exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

"Sure," Clark replied swallowing hard, "What's a head wound between friends?"

"Friends?" Lex asked softly.

"Aren't we?" Clark replied with another question.

Lex somehow managed to bury his disappointment, "Yes, yes we are. Your friendship is extremely important to me, Clark."

"Then you won't mind me returning the truck," Clark said hesitantly, he didn't want Lex to be insulted.

Lex bit his lip, "You didn't like it?"

"Oh I loved it, I just, I can't accept it, Lex, it's too much," Clark whispered, somehow knowing that Lex would understand but still be hurt.

"I could get you something."

"And my father would make me return it," Clark interrupted quietly.

Lex stiffened a little, so far Clark had been the only one to greet him with any kind of positive reaction, and frankly, Lex wasn't surprised that Clark's father was hostile towards him considering his reputation.

"Ah," he sighed. He stared at the younger God. man! Shaking his head, Lex turned away slightly, missing the hurt in Clark's eyes. He had to stop this, and stop it *now*, before he did something stupid, like, "Maybe something your father can't make you return?"

Clark blinked away the hurt at Lex turning away to look up in surprise. "What?"

"Nothing," Lex said hurriedly. This was so. why was this so familiar? "Why don't you let me give you the tour?"

"Oh, yeah, that'd be great," Clark smiled in relief. To his horror, he'd found himself about to ask Lex for a kiss. And wouldn't that go down well, *not*!

@>*~

***Lysander gasped quietly at the light in Calil's eyes as his cousin turned to face him. The younger God smiled shyly.

"Thought I might find you out here," Lysander commented quietly.

"Too many people," Calil said as a reply. Lysander knew him well enough that he'd understand.

Nodding, Lysander moved to stand next to Calil. "Yeah, it's all a little overwhelming, isn't it?"

"You found it overwhelming?" Calil asked in surprise. He couldn't imagine anything making his cousin feel that way.

"Of course I did," Lysander replied with a smile.

"I bet you didn't run away though," Calil sighed.

Lysander nudged Calil gently, "You didn't run away, it's just not your thing." Hesitantly, he wrapped an arm round Calil's broad shoulders and hugged him.

Calil sighed and lay his head against the top of Lysander's. "Not really, no."

"I didn't get you anything, I'm sorry," Lysander said quietly.

"You being here is enough," Calil replied earnestly.

Smiling, Lysander twisted his head slightly and kissed Calil's cheek. It was only supposed to be friendly. Just a friendly kiss on the cheek, no harm in that, surely? Except Calil felt so warm, his skin was so soft, Lysander couldn't help moving his lips to feel.

Calil gasped and pulled away.

"Calil? Oh, I'm sorry, I just." Lysander stuttered.***

@>*~

***Lysander's lips touched his face. They burned against his skin, moving teasingly, maddeningly. And Gods, it was too much.

With a hurt gasp, Calil wrenched himself away, barely hearing Lysander's apologies.

"You mustn't." Calil started, tears pricking his eyes, "You can't. just." He couldn't finish, couldn't tell Lysander that he couldn't take such touches when they were only meant in friendship.

It didn't matter anyway, Lysander was gone and now he knew.

What was he going to do?***

@>*~

He couldn't stop touching his mouth. Lex was sure Sullivan had noticed, but luckily the man valued his skin too much to comment.

Surely he shouldn't be able to remember a touch from a dream. You didn't feel things physically in dreams, it just *didn't* happen. And yet he couldn't get the feel of Clark's cheek from his lips. Calil! God damn it, Calil was a dream and *not* Clark.

He gave up trying to work and drove home, trying to concentrate on the road and barely succeeding.

As he drove along the dark road that lead to his driveway, Lex was suddenly aware of a strange light. Peering into the darkness, he tried to make it out as it got closer. The light suddenly seemed to fly right at him and Lex screeched to a halt.

Heart pounding, he got out of the car, needing air. God, what was that? Glancing around, Lex could see no evidence of any light, or any vehicle that it might have been.

"Fuck!" he swore, viciously kicking a tyre. He paced for a moment, until a tiny noise caught his attention.

With a frown, Lex grabbed his flashlight from the car and headed in the direction of the noise. What he saw as he came to a small clearing in the corn, at once made him gasp in horror and awe.

Clark was tied to a cross, a red 'S' spray painted onto his half naked body. Dear God, he was so beautiful. Lex shook himself as Clark blinked at him. He also looked terrible, ill and weak.

"Lex?" Clark croaked in relief. "Help me."

Nodding, unable to speak, Lex hurried to untie his friend. "God, Clark, who *did* this?" he asked, fury building against the protagonists of this horror.

"Just, get me down, please," Clark whispered against the pain of the meteor rock. Once a hand was free, he swiped at the necklace, managing to get it away from him. Strength returned immediately and he dropped to his knees to take a long breath.

"Clark?" Lex crouched next to him, unable to quite help wrapping arms round him.

Clark sighed and leaned into his friend, needing the comfort. Lex turned his head and kissed Clark's cheek.

They both froze with the touch.

"No," Clark whispered, shaking his head. It couldn't be real, surely? The dream he'd had last night, it couldn't.

"I'm so sorry," Lex mumbled, backing away hurriedly, horrified by his lack of control. He'd just wanted so much to feel Clark's cheek beneath his lips again. And yet here he was being refused again, pushed away. He should have known.

Clark started to try and reassure Lex, wondering if the older man had shared the dream, could possibly know what was going on. Wanted to tell him that he'd wanted the touch, both times. But once again the other man had fled.

With a sigh, Clark gathered his clothes and ran home. He hoped the next dream would give him an answer as to whether Lysander, *Lex*, felt the same way.

@>*~

***Lysander avoided Calil, feeling like a coward, feeling bad because he'd heard from others that Calil was upset about not seeing him. But how could he face his cousin right now? Maybe in a while when his heart had got over the rejection.

Lysander smiled at himself in the mirror, a sickly kind of smile that stretched his face meaninglessly. How was his heart ever going to get over Calil?

This was ridiculous. He was a War God, nothing was supposed to get to him, especially not love, despite his fathers' example. He would face this, and face it without flinching.

With that in mind, Lysander forced himself to seek his cousin out. Concentrating on the unmistakable signature energy of the younger God, Lysander flashed down to Earth, hiding himself momentarily, so he could watch Calil work.

The young God was at a trial, some youth had been caught stealing, not the best situation to be in, in a town that poor. Calil had his work cut out for him to save the boy's life. But it seemed to be working.

Lysander smiled, Calil's heart would break if he failed, but he had faith that the new God wouldn't. He approached Calil quietly, not wanting to startle him, and sat down.

Calil glanced at him, looking surprised at first, but then beaming at him brightly. Lysander smiled back and gestured for him to continue. Calil nodded and turned his attention back to the trial.

When the boy's life was finally safe, Calil sighed and shifted to face him.

"What's so important about a vagrant's life, Calil?" Lysander asked quietly.

Calil frowned at him, "All mortal's lives are important 'Sander, if only because they are so short. Besides, this one will have an important granddaughter."

"Ah," Lysander nodded, feeling slightly euphoric that Calil had used his nickname from their childhood.

"You, you've forgiven me then?" Calil asked quietly.

Lysander frowned in confusion, "Forgiven *you*? Calil, I kissed you inappropriately."***

@>*~

***Calil blinked at Lysander's words. The sight of his cousin had filled him with joy and trepidation despite the seriousness of the trial. He hoped that Lysander was coming to make peace and put it all behind them.

But maybe, just maybe. "I wanted you to," he whispered.

Lysander stared at him and for a second, Calil was worried he'd overstepped the mark. Then a smile lit his cousin's face.

"Calil?" he whispered, "You wanted me to."

"Kiss me," Calil said, partly in confirmation and partly in a demand that he had no idea where he'd got the nerve for.

"Oh," Lysander said quietly. He leaned forward and Calil closed his eyes as lips gently brushed over his.

With a quiet sigh, Calil pressed closer, parting his lips under Lysander's invitingly. His cousin responded, probing his mouth gently with his tongue, wrapping it round Calil's briefly before pulling away.

Calil's breath hitched. "Gods, Lysander," he whispered.***

@>*~

He wasn't going to follow a stupid dream. Dreams led you nowhere, or so his father had always impressed on him. And besides, there was no way Clark felt the same way, so it was stupid to consider going to see him.

Lex sighed, his feet were apparently in disagreement with him and already propelling him out of the door. Well, after all, it simply wouldn't do for a Luthor to hide away from anyone.

Lex snorted at himself, oh yes, great excuse. Maybe he could pretend that he didn't desperately want to see Clark that way. Besides, he had an excuse to give Clark too, the necklace he'd found where the boy had dropped it.

He drove speedily to the Kent farm, grateful to whomever was watching out for him that neither of Clark's parents seemed to be around. He made his way to the barn, for some reason certain that he'd find Clark there.

Walking hesitantly up the steps to the loft, he spotted Clark looking through his telescope.

"See anything interesting?" Lex asked.

Clark jumped a mile. He'd been so intent on trying to get the castle into focus that he hadn't heard anyone approaching.

"Lex!" he exclaimed happily. Thank God! He'd thought he'd blown all chances of friendship with the older man, even if he did want more than that. "What are you doing here?"

Lex smiled at the response his presence got. "I came to return something."

"Oh?" Clark asked in confusion.

Lex held out a small box, it was what he really wanted to give to Clark, but the necklace was inside it.

"Return?" Clark frowned, "But that's not."

"No, but what's inside is, I want you to have the box anyway," Lex interrupted him.

"Okay, thanks," Clark said with a smile, taking the proffered box and peeking inside. He slammed it shut again as nausea hit him and he dropped to his knees.

"Clark?" Lex gasped in concern, hurrying over to Clark's side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Clark whispered. He looked at Lex, who was hovering. "You've forgiven me then?"

"Forgiven you?" Lex exclaimed, "I kissed you inappropriately." He stopped suddenly. No, this couldn't be happening. It just couldn't.

Clark blinked, those words. the same words from the dream. Suddenly breathless, Clark wondered, hoped, that his reply would get the same response.

"I wanted you to," he whispered.

Lex fell onto his ass and scrambled backwards. "What. what the hell is going on?"

"Lex?" Clark frowned, trying to hide the hurt.

"Damn it, I told you he'd mess it up!"

Clark and Lex looked round in shock, the voices came from right next to them but there was no one there.

"And I told you he'd not be so easy to manipulate."

"Are you implying that *my* son is, Dad?"

"Will you all just shut up? You're the ones who ruined it by opening your big mouths!"

"Joxer!"

Lex swallowed hard, he knew those voices. those voices. "Father?" he whispered, "Dad?"

Four different coloured flashes lit the barn and four men appeared.

A slim brown haired man looked down at Lex and smiled gently. "Lysander."

"Dad," Lex gasped. He remembered, he remembered everything! Standing, Lex rushed into his father's open arms to receive the first loving hug he'd had in millennia.

Clark stared before the black haired, pale man with crystal blue eyes edging towards him caught his attention. His jaw trembled as tears pricked his eyes. "Daddy Strife?"

Strife beamed at his son, "Baby!"

Clark launched himself into his father's arms, joined quickly by his other father in a crushing hug.

"Calil, we've missed you so much," Cupid whispered, pretending that none of them were crying.

"Dads, oh Gods, it worked, it worked!" Clark pulled himself away and stared at Lex, who was currently enveloped in his two fathers' embrace. "'Sander?"

Lex forced back his tears and pulled away from his parents, "I missed you so much, Calil."

Clark stumbled forward, reaching for his lover, tears pouring down his face. Lex grabbed him and held him tightly, gently kissing the tears from his skin. Clark reached up and pulled him into a heart stopping kiss, lips parting immediately so their tongues could entwine.

Joxer smiled happily, leaning against his husband, who smiled down at him. Cupid and Strife joined them. The plan had just about worked, and hopefully their appearance here hadn't alerted Zeus to anything unusual. It shouldn't have done as Cupid had engineered a little distraction for the elder God in the form of a very beautiful young popstar.

"What in the sam heck is going on here?!" Jonathan exclaimed in horror from the top of the steps. He'd got back from town and come to find his son, only to find him kissing *Lex Luthor* while four strangers smiled on. "Martha!" he yelled.

Lex yanked himself back, but Clark grabbed him so he couldn't get far.

"'Sander, stay, please," Clark begged.

"But your father." Lex started.

"Will have to understand," Clark said insistently.

"Understand what, Clark?" Martha asked quietly, ascending the stairs. She noted the defensive stance of the four strangers and decided to ignore them temporarily in favour of finding out why her son was embracing Lex Luthor.

"My name isn't Clark, Mom, I remember now," Clark said quietly with a rueful smile.

"Remember what, honey? Where you came from?" Martha asked gently, trying not to feel worried.

"Sort of, yes," Clark said with a nod. "Why don't you and Dad sit down and we'll try to explain."

"Are you sure that's wise, Calil?" Ares asked in concern.

"It's okay, Dad, they're good people," Cupid answered for his son.

Jonathan raised an eyebrow at the blond man, partly wondering why he called the dark man 'Dad', surely he wasn't old enough?

Lex snorted and tried to cover it with a cough when Clark raised an eyebrow at him.

"Calil?" Martha asked.

"That would be me," Clark said quietly, "Calil, son of Cupid and Strife, God of Compassion, husband to Lysander, son of Ares and Joxer, God of Tactical Warfare."

"Who would be.?" Jonathan started to ask a little apprehensively.

"Me," Lex stated.

"Just great," Jonathan sighed.

"You disapprove of my son?" Ares asked dangerously.

Jonathan looked up in annoyance, "And who might you be?"

"Ares, God of War," Ares replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"God!" Jonathan snorted.

There was a blur and Jonathan blinked. The dark man claiming to be a God was almost on top of him, with Clark just in front of him, one hand on his chest.

"Grandfather, please," Clark said quietly.

"Father," Lex interjected, "Calil loves his mortal parents, please don't hurt them just because they don't understand."

With a sigh, Ares nodded and backed away. Then he frowned at his grandson. "Calil, you are extraordinarily strong, even for a Kryptonian."

"Yeah, I know, I was just thinking that," Clark mused.

"Wait, you know where you're from?" Martha said suddenly.

"Mom, I was a God, I knew most places in the universe. When I was banished from Olympus I was reborn on Krypton," Clark sighed. He moved back over to Lex, sighing in relief when his lover hugged him tightly.

"I'm never letting you go again, Calil, don't worry," Lex whispered.

"Our sons were banished, for no good reason," Cupid started to explain, "And condemned to be reborn continuously on separate planets, forever alone."

"Oh Clark," Martha whispered, tears springing to her eyes.

"It's okay, Mom," Clark said quietly, "I found him again, like I swore I would."

Jonathan frowned and then stood up, "I do not accept this." He glared at the four strangers, "How do I know you're not just Kryptonians coming to take my son away from me, brainwashing him with this nonsense?"

"Dad," Clark started.

"Listen to me, mortal, and listen good," Ares snapped, "If we were Kryptonians, we would have just taken him, and we wouldn't need Lysander to do it. As it happens we are all in danger every moment we waste trying to explain this to you."

He turned to his grandson, "Calil, the old goat will not hesitate to use your mortal parents against you, you know that."

Clark nodded, "Yeah. You'd better go for now, we'll try and work things out here."

Cupid and Strife hugged their son tightly while Ares and Joxer pulled Lex into their shared embrace.

"Love you," Joxer whispered, "Never forget, no matter what your mortal father told you, love is the only way."

"Yeah, Dad, I remember," Lex smiled weakly, kissing his father's cheek.

The four Gods disappeared in bright flashes of light, leaving one very stunned Jonathan Kent staring into space.

With a quiet sigh, Clark wrapped one arm round his lover, unwilling to break contact with him after two thousand years apart. Lex had no objections and leaned into the younger man's strength with a soul deep happiness even Jonathan Kent's glare couldn't tarnish.

"Come on, Mom, Dad, let's go indoors and we can talk," Clark suggested.

Martha nodded and pulled her husband to his feet, following her son back to the house.

@>*~

Clark could barely take his eyes off his lover, he couldn't quite believe he'd found him again. The chances had been beyond remote and yet somehow, someway he'd been sent to Earth and found Lysander, Lex, whatever.

"So Zeus had something personal against you two?" Jonathan asked quietly.

"I presume so, there was no other reason for our banishment," Lex replied, "We were both new to our official titles, Calil especially, newly married; hardly prime candidates for planning the overthrow of the throne."

"Were you?" Jonathan asked.

"Were we what?" Lex asked in confusion.

"Planning to overthrow the throne?" Jonathan clarified.

"No!" Clark exclaimed, "Dad, how can you ask that? I was God of Compassion for goodness' sake."

"And he was God of Tactical Warfare," Jonathan pointed out, ignoring the kick to his shin from his wife.

"I didn't have the power to overthrow Zeus, and I certainly didn't plan to. The only plan we had was to start a family of our own," Lex smiled fondly at Clark.

"Well, maybe that's it," Martha said suddenly.

"Pardon me?" Lex blinked at her.

"Well, if that's the only thing you'd planned, the only thing that was going to change, maybe that's what Zeus wanted to stop," she explained.

"Oh Gods," Lex gasped, "You know, love, she could be right."

"But, why would us having a child be such a bad thing?" Clark frowned in distress.

"The Fates would know," Lex said thoughtfully.

Clark shuddered, "Oh no, no way, 'Sander, we are *not* going to see *them*!"

"Calil." Lex started.

"Would you please not call each other by those names, it gives me the creeps," Jonathan interjected.

"Dad, please, he is Lysander and I'm Calil, you have to accept that, we have Gods' souls, that's who we are, even in these bodies," Clark sighed.

"It's true," Lex said quietly, "He still has the same eyes." Lex looked up at his lover and reached out to cup his cheek, drawing him into a soft kiss. They both ignored the choking noise Jonathan made.

"Gods, I missed you. Every life I lived, I was so empty," Lex whispered.

"I know," Clark whispered back, "I was the same way." He sighed, pulling Lex into his arms tightly. "I'm not losing you again, Lysander, I *can't*."

"Then we have to go to The Fates, love," Lex said quietly.

Clark winced, "Oh man."

"What's so bad about that?" Martha asked quietly.

"They scare the crap out of me," Clark sighed. "And they never make any sense. 'Sander can't Grandfather go instead of us?"

Lex rolled his eyes with a small laugh. Calil had been terrified of The Fates since childhood and he'd accidentally zapped himself to their cave. No one knew what had happened, but Calil had been jumpy for weeks afterwards.

"Baby, you're a big boy now, you don't have to be scared anymore," Lex said quietly, stroking Clark's hair.

Clark snorted, leaning into the touch, "Yeah, easy to say when you haven't been stuck in their cave with no means of escape, listening to their endless, nonsensical ramblings."

"Okay, okay," Lex sighed, "We can ask Father if he'll go."

"Thank you," Clark sighed in relief. Ever the hungry teenager, in body if not in mind anymore, Clark reached for the pie his mother had laid out for them, consuming a third piece quickly, urging Lex to finish his first all the while.

"What are you going to do in the meantime?" Martha asked quietly.

Lex met Clark's eyes and smiled, "We're going to catch up."

"Oh no, no you don't, Clark is staying right here. He's still our son and he's still fifteen," Jonathan objected quickly.

"Dad, I'm over two thousand years old, I remember one hundred and five years as a God, I remember every single life I spent on Krypton, aching with emptiness and never knowing why, never even knowing I'd lost the love of my life," Clark started, tears springing to his eyes, "You can't expect me to just let him go, even just for a little bit, please."

Lex stood and wrapped his arms round his husband tightly, glaring at Jonathan, and Clark buried his face in his neck, crying quietly.

"It's okay, love, it's okay, I know, and I'll never let you go," Lex whispered.

"Let them go," Martha whispered to her husband, "I can't watch my son in that much pain."

With an aggrieved sigh, Jonathan finally nodded, "Fine, go."

Clark smiled through his tears, lifting his head from Lex's shoulder. "Thanks, Mom, Dad," he whispered.

Lex took his hand and they headed for the car, driving quickly to the castle.

@>*~

Silently and without letting go of each other for a second, they walked to Lex's bedroom.

They didn't need to talk, even though they'd been apart for so long. It was as if no time had passed, that they'd never been separated; each one knew exactly what the other was thinking and feeling just by looking in the others' eyes.

Lex smiled gently at his husband, who still managed to flush shyly as they stripped their clothes off. "As beautiful as ever, love," Lex whispered, slowly running his hands over the strong chest of his lover.

"'Sander," Clark breathed, arching into the touch. His skin seemed to come alive, tingling as if it had missed Lex's touch as much as Clark had missed Lex.

Lex moved into Clark's embrace, wrapping his arms round the taller man's neck to pull him as close as possible. Clark gasped quietly and nuzzled Lex's ear, inhaling deeply before pressing a kiss to soft, warm skin.

He moaned at the taste and feel; it was so good, so good to finally feel Lex in his arms again, to sate his senses on the man he loved. Hands sliding slowly over hairless skin, Clark revelled in texture and the quiet strength of his husband's body.

Hard and aching, but in no hurry, Lex simply enjoyed the exploration; Clark had always been exceptionally tactile. Lips joined hands, tongue flickering over his skin to taste and tease slowly.

Lex groaned quietly and rocked his hips slowly against Clark, adding to the tease by the slow slide of skin against his cock and the feel of Clark's hard length pressed against his hip.

Lifting his head finally, reluctantly, Clark stared down at his husband with a happy smile. He leaned down and pressed his lips to Lex's, parting them quickly so their tongues could meet and entwine. Slowly, deeply, they kissed, exploring the familiar, yet slightly different taste and feel of each other's mouths.

Soon though, it wasn't enough any more, Clark felt an emptiness gnawing at him and he carefully started walking them backwards to the bed. Lex smiled into the kiss, remembering how long it had taken for Clark to have the confidence to direct even a small part of their lovemaking.

His lover nipped gently at his lip and Lex pulled back. "What do you need?" he asked softly.

"You," Clark replied, "I need you." He pulled Lex onto the bed and on top of him. Just the feel of his lover's weight on his body was amazing, evoking so many memories and a deep urgent desire to feel Lex inside him.

Their bodies molded together, moving synchronously as Lex bent his head to claim Clark's mouth again. His lover's hands roamed erratically, strong grip clasping at his shoulders, hips, ass, encouraging the sinuous rocking they'd unconsciously established.

"Gods, I wish I could still prepare you with a thought," Lex muttered against Clark's lips.

"I don't," Clark replied with a smile, "I want to feel all of it."

Lex grinned and reached over to his bedside table for lube. He shifted so he could see his husband and urged Clark's legs apart. Gently, Lex stroked slick fingers over his lover's ass, teasing the larger man.

Clark writhed and moaned, pushing his hips up in an attempt to deepen the contact. "'Sander," he whispered, "Please, it's been too long to tease, please!"

"I love it when you beg," Lex growled, pushing a finger inside his lover.

Clark gasped, moving against him beautifully. Soft, tight heat grasped at his finger, making his cock jump in anticipation. Lex slid another finger into Clark's pliant body and slowly pushed deeper, stretching his husband and reaching for his prostate.

"Yes!" Clark gasped, arching into the pleasure that shot through his body.

"Please, please," he whimpered quietly, knowing his begging would enflame his lover and Gods, he needed more, needed to reconnect with his husband.

"Shh," Lex whispered soothingly, "I'm here."

"Not enough," Clark said with a pleading edge to his tone, "'Sander you know you can't hurt me."

Lex stroked lube liberally over his dick and repositioned himself on top of his husband. His cock slid satisfyingly between Clark's cheeks and he nudged at the entrance to his lover's body.

Eyes fluttering closed at the intensity, he pushed inside Clark. It was overwhelming and Lex had to stop once he'd buried himself completely, just to catch his breath and hold his emotions in check.

Clark stared up breathlessly and reached out to touch Lex's face gently, wiping away the single tear that had escaped Lex's silvery eyes. "Love you," he whispered. Wrapping his legs around his lover's slim hips, Clark clasped Lex tightly to him.

Lex dropped his head, pressing his forehead to Clark's so he could lose himself in his husband's beautiful eyes, those deep pools of clear green that he'd fallen into and never emerged from all those millennia ago.

Withdrawing slowly from grasping heat, Lex groaned quietly, before plunging back into Clark's tight passage.

"Oh," Clark groaned. He'd missed this, he'd felt the loss of this connection throughout every lifetime they'd been apart, even if he hadn't consciously known it.

Lex moved inside him, against him, delighting and fulfilling his senses; the slick slide of cock filling and stretching him, skin against skin, eyes locked, hot breath against his lips. It was perfect and Clark swore he was never going to lose his husband again.

Clark licked the scar on his lip and Lex lost control. "Love you, love you so much," he groaned, moving in earnest now, thrusting hard in and out of Clark, finally fulfilling their desperate need for completion, their craving for each other and reunion. "Never letting you go, never."

"Never," Clark confirmed, rocking into every thrust, needing to feel, loving the urgency. His entire body tingled and tightened as their hands clasped together, gripping in affirmation of their vow.

The pressure of Lex's stomach on his cock, his husband's cock inside him, rubbing his prostate. Clark moaned and let go, coming hard over their bellies.

"Oh Gods," Lex whispered. Clark's ass clamped down around his cock, pulling his climax from his body as he plunged deeply one last time. Nuzzling briefly against his lover's nose, Lex buried his face in Clark's neck, drawing in deep breaths.

Clark held tight, running his hands up and down Lex's back slowly.

"What are we going to do, 'Sander?" Clark asked quietly.

Sighing, Lex shrugged. "Hope. Trust in our fathers. Forewarned is forearmed; at least this time we know Zeus will come for us."

"I have something to tell you," Clark whispered, a little uncertainly.

Worried by his husband's tone, Lex raised his head, "What? What's wrong?"

"I was already pregnant at the trial."

"What?!" Lex exclaimed in shock and no little anger. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I didn't know," Clark started.

"How could you know now then?" Lex snapped, pulling out of his husband and rolling over.

Clark flinched. "Hera told me, just before I was sent for rebirth."

"You could have stopped it," Lex groaned, "You at least could have stayed alive, dear Gods, Calil!"

"No," Clark shook his head, "I couldn't have lived without you, you know that. Besides, Hera told me not to say anything."

"And now our child is dead!" Lex pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut against the tears forming.

"'Sander," Clark sighed, raising himself up on one elbow, "That's what I'm trying to tell you. Hera told me not to say anything because our child's soul would remain with me through each rebirth."

"Hades would never allow that," Lex gasped, opening his eyes again.

"He would for Hera," Clark whispered with a half shrug.

"So. you're."

"Still pregnant?" Clark nodded, "Yeah, sort of."

Lex heaved a sigh of relief and pulled himself together. "This makes it even more imperative that we find out why Zeus split us up and prevent it from happening again," Lex said vehemently.

"I know," Clark sighed, "What if. what if it is our baby?"

Lex stared sorrowfully up into his husband's terrified eyes and grimaced, "We fight."

Clark nodded and lay back down, snuggling up to his husband, taking comfort in the warm embrace.

@>*~

Cold, hard chains had replaced warm arms when Clark woke up. He opened his eyes quickly in panic, heart stuttering painfully in fear as he realised he was chained down to a table. Managing to move his head, Clark realised Lex was in the same predicament.

"You're awake," Lex breathed in relief.

"What's going on?" Clark asked.

"I don't know, love," Lex sighed worriedly, "Do you think you can break the chains?"

"Maybe," Clark replied, testing the links carefully.

"Well, hello boys."

Lex grimaced angrily, "Zeus!"

"Indeed," Zeus replied with a grin. He moved over to the tables so that both men could see him. "You know, I'm extremely disappointed. In you, in your fathers."  He tsked loudly, "I don't know how Cupid and Strife hid your presence from me for so long, Calil, but did you really think I wouldn't know when you two found each other again.

"You're not omnipotent, you know," Lex snapped.

"Not yet," Zeus smirked, "But I'm almost there, the universe is under my rule, everyone who prays to God, Allah, whatever, their power goes to *me*. I have almost complete control and I will not let *anything* get in my way. Especially not you and your child."

Lex strained against his chains angrily, "You touch Calil."

"Now my boy, you should know that you're in no position to bargain," Zeus chuckled. "Enough of this, I was far too lenient with you last time, it's the void for you both. Ah, ah," he shook his head and waggled his finger at Clark who'd started to struggle, "Hephaestian metal, young man."

"You forget," Clark grinned as he felt the chains give, "We're not Gods anymore, and I'm not a normal Kryptonian."

Zeus' eyes widened and he backed off as the chains snapped and Clark sat up. "No matter," he said, gathering himself, "You are still mortal."

Clark superspeeded out of the way of a lightning bolt and ran fast, right up to his grandfather, smacking him hard. Zeus flew backwards slamming into the wall.

He laughed loudly, "Is that all you've got?"

"Calil, be careful," Lex shouted.

Raising his hand again, a bolt started to crackle and Zeus smirked. As Clark ran out of the way, Zeus twisted suddenly and blasted Lex, who was still lying chained and helpless.

"*No*!" Clark screamed. Hot, red anger blinded him and heat zapped out from them, hitting Zeus full force. Following immediately behind the strange rays, Clark grabbed his chains and wrapped them round Zeus before the elder God could recover.

"Grandfather!" Calil roared, "Help me!"

As flashes lit the room, Clark rushed to Lex's side, painful tears starting to prickle behind his eyes.

"'Sander," he whispered, grief tearing at his heart.

"Ow," Lex shifted with a pained groan, "Would someone mind telling me why I'm still alive?"

"'Sander?!" Clark squeaked in utter shock. He ripped the chains from his husband's body and gathered the singed man into his arms.

"Gently, Calil," Lex whispered with a wince, but nonetheless wrapped his arms tightly round his husband.

"Oh thank Gaia, you're okay," Joxer gasped, still worried despite the evidence of Lex's well being. "I don't understand though, you should be dead."

"Don't!" Clark shuddered.

"Everybody okay?" Ares asked as he gagged his father with tremendous satisfaction.

"Yeah," Lex said quietly.

"I thought my batch of Golden Apple pie might come in handy."

Ares blinked, "Mother?"

"Of course, dear." Hera appeared in front of them. "You should know by now, your mother knows everything."

Ares grinned, "Thank you."

Clark let go of Lex briefly to hug his great Grandmother. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Anything for you, sweetheart," Hera whispered back to her favourite grandchild. She detached herself to go and see to Lex, healing the scorching quickly. She patted his cheek gently and smiled. "Now then, I do believe we have much to do, especially as technically, you two are no longer married."

Clark blinked in horror, "What?!"

"You died, darling, it negates a marital contract," Hera said gently, "But we'll soon fix that."

"Thank the Gods," Lex muttered.

Epilogue

Jonathan pulled at his collar uncomfortably and fidgeted; much to Martha's annoyance.

"Jon, would you quit fidgeting," she hissed, "It's not that big a deal."

"No, of course not," Jonathan snorted, "Clark's a God, Lex is a God, Clark's pregnant and they're getting married, not a big deal at all."

"Clark has never been normal, it's not that much of a step up from him being an alien with superpowers for goodness' sake," Martha tutted in annoyance.

"Oh, but let us not forget the fact that *we* are now immortal," Jonathan continued sarcastically.

"Yes, but Jonathan, it means we'll always be here for our son and his children," Martha sighed.

Jonathan blinked, "Oh. Yeah."

"Oh, yeah," Martha whispered sarcastically. After a moment of silence, she turned to her husband again, "I wonder how Lionel Luthor took the news."

"Not very well from what I heard, although I'm not sure how much they told him," Jonathan chuckled with quiet relish.

"Not much." Strife plonked himself down next to the Kents, smiling at them. After all, they'd looked after his baby exceptionally well. "Just enough to make him realise Lysander was more powerful than he could ever hope to be. He threw quite the temper tantrum."

"I'll bet," Jonathan laughed.

"It's good to see both of you up here, Calil will be happy you came," Strife commented.

"How could we not?" Martha asked, "He's our son too."

"Of course," Strife beamed, "Oh, excuse me, time for me to join Cupie." Getting up, he walked to his husband, standing next to him in front of the altar, ready to give Clark away, again.

Hera presided behind her altar, her new wall hanging of bound and gagged Zeus making her extremely happy, as they waited for the two grooms to approach.

Clark smiled at Lex, oddly nervous despite having been through it before. Lex smiled reassuringly and took his lover's hand as they took their positions.

"Who stands for Calil?" Hera asked.

"Cupid, God of Passionate Love," Cupid said quietly.

"Strife, God of Mischief," Strife added, giggling loudly.

"Who stands for Lysander?"

"Ares, God of War," Ares said proudly.

"Joxer, God of Mind," Joxer sighed happily.

"Calil, God of Compassion, in the sight of your fathers, do you swear love and loyalty, for all time, to Lysander?"

"I do," Clark whispered.

"Lysander, God of Tactical Warfare, in the sight of your fathers, do you swear love and loyalty, for all time, to Calil?"

"I do," Lex said firmly, squeezing Clark's hand.

Hera smiled broadly, "I declare Lysander and Calil, bound for eternity." she paused and winked, "Time to kiss boys."

Lex chuckled and leaned up to gently possess his husband's lips. Clark kissed back avidly before pulling away at his father's chuckle.

"Strife!" Cupid elbowed his spouse, "I was enjoying that!"

"Perv." Strife giggled unrepentantly.

Hera shook her head and sighed. "Now then, Lysander, you make sure Calil takes it easy until that precious baby is born."

They both nodded seriously. Martha had been right, it was their child that Zeus had been threatened by. All those years ago, when Clark had been trapped with The Fates, Zeus had overheard some of their prophecies and misinterpreted them, thinking that the child posed a threat to his reign. Luckily, Hera had also overheard and put into motion a chain of events that had led to their happy ending. She wasn't lying when she said she knew everything.

the end