Title: What Could Be Part II or Clarkmas
Author: SC182
E-mail: supercaptain182@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The way things could have been. A Lex-mas Coda
Disclaimer: The characters are owned by DC Comics and the WB. I am only borrowing them with no intention of monetary gain.
*I can't resist, so please indulge me for a moment.*

All it had taken was a split second for the white furred end of the Santa hat to slide over his eyes, to effectively blind him and distract Clark from noticing his sudden fall down a long rabbit hole full of enough colors and shifting shapes to make Alice nauseous.

Then, there was darkness.

As soon as Clark realized he was no longer falling he opened to eyes only to shut them against the bright assault of warm yellow light. Trapped this time in his own self-imposed darkness, Clark began to wonder if Jor-el had become bored again and decided to suck him back into the cave wall for some more father-son bonding time. Clark cringed and shivered where he lay.

A soft warm touch descended on his cheek. "You okay?" He knew that voice. He knew that voice just as sure as he knew his own. Lex.

"Lex?" Clark opened his eyes to stare at his best friend turned not- so much his best friend anymore. The glare he'd tried to muster was quelled once Clark realized how close Lex was to him. Lex was on his side, resting above, his hand still idylly stroking Clark's cheek. The feeling was nice, comforting and soft—gentle enough to make Clark forget about Lex's shady experiments or Jor-el's unfunny sense of humor. So nice. So gentle. Of course, the moment couldn't end with Clark and Lex lazing about wrapped up in each other's arms.

"Don't touch me," Clark barked and began to sit up only finding he couldn't. His eyes took on a sudden shiftiness that Lex earlier realized meant he was in for one interesting day. "So, it's going be one of those days?" Not a really a question, more of a moment of resignation. Lex rolled back over to his side of the bed and watch Clark struggle to sit up. At least he could smile, because it wasn't everyday that your lover had to break dance on his back in order to sit up.

Lex sighed after a few minutes of unsuccessful attempts, he finally offered a hand. "Would you like some help, my darling?" Clark paused with eyes bulging wide and mouth hanging open. Was Lex batting his lashes at him? Clark began to struggle again, this time finding he could gradually overcome the burden of his middle by rolling up from his elbows.

Clark finally made it to his feet. At this point he was steady enough to feel ready to demand that Lex release him. That's when he saw it and he wondered if he'd swallowed a pumpkin or perhaps if Lex was truly experimenting on him. Clark whirled around, feet nearly tripping him and trying very hard to look incensed. "What did you do to me?"

Lex threw his head back and actually rolled his eyes. He mouthed something that Clark would not dare repeat on fear that his mother would surprise him with a bar of meteor rock laced soap. "Clark, you were there, remember?" Lex slid out of bed and approached Clark like a hunter approaching an agitated animal. The comparison wasn't far off as Clark was really acting like a grizzly bear with a thorn in its butt this morning. "As I recall, you were the one who ripped my clothes off and insisted that we not use protection--"

"Lex!" That brought Lex's story to a close and suddenly one and one made three, or at least Clark hoped three and not multiples of any number greater than one. The order of his thoughts crashed into a steaming trainwreck. When had he decided to play house with Lex Luthor?

Lex watched from the safety of his side of the bed as Clark inflated and deflated varying on his fluctuating levels of anger and sudden bouts of shyness, if the redness of his cheeks were any indication. There it was. That look, the one of pure shock. Lex was enjoying this too much. "You got me pregnant!" Clark hissed in a strained whisper. He looked down at his hands for a second, his left hand in particular. "Where's my ring?" If someone were going to play with his head, could they at least realize he wouldn't be preggers without a ring on his finger. Afterall, he was raised in Smallville where nice girls, and apparently alien boys, didn't give up the milk for free when there was someone around capable of buying the cow. And there was no doubt in Clark's mind that Lex could buy a lot of cows.

Lex stepped forward, bringing his front against the tight swell of Clark's belly. Fingers danced over the edge of the collar on Clark's t-shirt, before slipping in and removing a shiny chain with a glittering ring with a enormous gem stone hanging confidently. "You always keep it close to your heart."

Clark gazed into Lex's eyes, marveling at the shade of blue and gray. "I do?" His anger was melting into something else, something which was capable of making his bones feel as equally relaxed and gelatinous.

"You do," Lex stayed close, concern marring his features as Clark's early morning hysteria didn't seem to be wearing off. He offered up a smile, instead of a smirk, going for content rather than sexy, and continued to search Clark's face for answers." I know—I know this and well, everything these past few months have been adjustment, but I know that no matter the outcome of today, no matter what your parents say or how they react, we'll walk away from it together." Lex fingered the necklace, before easing his sure fingers over the soft blossoms of Clark's lips and the heated patches of his cheeks. "We have a destiny."

Clark nodded absently, the sincerity of Lex's words penetrated his shield of Luthor doubt and suddenly he really hoped Lex would kiss him. That mysterious glint that always perplexed Clark when he used to spend his afternoons in the comfort of Lex's office took the time to show up and Clark for the first time felt what a kiss really should be like.

He opened his mouth wider, inviting Lex in to conquer and command. All the while, Lex's hands never stranded from their positions on Clark's sides, gently circling and soothing, they held them together like a drowning man hangs on to a life preserver.

Lex pulled away partially. A small gap between their lips allowed him to speak, "It's not everyday that your best friend becomes your lover and prepares to bear your first child together."

Wow. Was it possible for them to just move on, leave the lies and distrust behind to create something warm and beautiful. "Only in Smallville," Clark smiled.

"Got it in one." Their fingers entwined, the contact further pushed back everything Clark seemed to have remember happening before he woke up: Christmas, Lana, talking down a Santa without hope, his dad running for Senator. All gone and nearly purged from his mind. Here and now, in this space—wherever or whenever it might be, Clark knew he was happy. Lex made him happy and he seemed to make Lex happy. Knowing this—seeing this had given Clark the most security he'd managed to feel since his parents had finally told him. Since, the day when he'd ultimately became tied to Lex forever and always.

Lex sensed the shift in Clark's focus and began his mission to remedy it. His hands moved up to Clark's shoulders, then gently trailed down Clark's slack arms to entwine their hands. Lex brought their entwined hands up between them. He held Clark's watery gaze as he rested a soft kiss over their braided fingers. "Come on--" Clark followed Lex from the bedroom out into the hall. The surroundings were vaguely familiar, a memory of long ago flitted around in his brain never quite staying long enough for Clark to catch his bearings.

They stopped before an unremarkable door. Clark trained his eyes to see beyond the wood, yet stopped, a frown spread across his face as he realized he couldn't see through it. "I knew you'd be tempted to investigate, so I made a small investment?" Lex smirked, hand poised to reveal the room beyond the door.

"A lead door?" Lex nodded. It would be so easy to be angry and suspicious, but Clark couldn't muster any other emotion except curiosity as he waited for Lex to open the door.

The door cracked open a few inches. "You'll see why in just a moment." It was like walking into a catalogue, a specialty catalogue, except the room looked ready to be occupied and not wholly lifeless.

The room was beautiful. A mixture of classical and modern—science geek that is, stars covered the ceiling, while classic dark wood baby furniture was arranged tastefully around the room. All the pieces were radiating out from the center piece, a stunningly smooth dark wood crib covered with a gauzy white veil. Clark was breathless.

"This is…perfect." Clark kissed Lex. If this turned out not to be real, he could blame it on hormones, but he wouldn't. He couldn't.

Lex pulled the veiling back to exposed a sleek mobile of hanging stars. Music began waffing through the room. "We're not perfect," Lex hesitated, "But we will be when it comes to raising our child."

Lex stared down into the crib frozen, his expression wistful and light, one that Clark doubted he'd ever seen before. There was a peace on the face of this older version of Lex. The air shifted behind Clark, making him aware of another presence before he was given the opportunity to see it.

"This is my gift to you my son." A voice floated into his ear as a gentle hand landed on his shoulder. "A gift I hope you use wisely."

Clark stared into the bright eyes of his biological mother. His dealings with her as of yet had led him to be less cautious than when dealing with Jor-el. "Is this destiny?" If it was, this time he wouldn't fight it. Just give in and go with it. It seemed that his life and Lex, not to mention the life of the child growing inside of him, would be better "Destiny is never perfect, Kal-el," Lara embraced her son, "Yet, knowing your heart is far more important."

He could have this. It was just his call whether he could truly allow himself to have it or not. What Could Be Part III