Lex gazed at Clark with interest and asked, "Have you ever even been drunk before now?"

Grinning broadly, Clark made a wide gesture with his arm and answered, shaking his head, "Yes."

"Well. That's informative," Lex murmured, trying not to grin in response. Damn hard to do when Clark was beaming up at him from the ground. Bending over, Lex held out a hand, which Clark took, but used to pull him down, instead of himself up.

Sprawled across the all too-inviting body, Lex pushed up on his elbows which, unfortunately, put their groins in intimate contact through jeans and slacks. Clark hadn't released his hand and was, in fact, staring at their joined hands with something akin to surprise. Half-smiling, Lex asked, "See something different than usual?"

Nodding seriously, Clark answered, "Yeah. They fit."

Lex had realized that on more than one occasion, though his thoughts had revolved around himself and Clark as a whole, not their hands. Tugging his appendage away, Lex rolled off his friend and sat up. "Your parents are going to be seriously ticked, you do know that, right?"

Beaming again, Clark shook his head and replied, "Only if they find out."

With a snort, Lex questioned, "How do you propose they not find out when you can't even walk? And how the hell did you get in this state anyhow?"

Sighing deeply, Clark didn't answer, his eyes flickering to the sky above them.

The unspoken answer was a young woman with brown hair and dark eyes that Lex had the occasional urge to hire a hitman for. Not because she was in the way, which was a definite change of pace, but because she hurt Clark with every little cutting remark that was completely unintentional. At least, Lex was truly hoping that it was unintentional. "So? What happened this time?"

"I kissed her. I mean, really, really kissed her."

"And this is a bad thing?" Lex prompted gently.

Frowning earnestly, Clark said, "Didn't used to think so. Don't want it to be. I love her, Lex, always have."

As usual, the statement gave Lex heartburn and he grimaced to himself. "I know, Clark, so what was the problem?"

"Nothing. It's not really about Lana. It's about the world. It's so wrong, Lex. I don't wanna do it, you know? The world I mean."

God he hated drunks. Hated trying to make sense of them even more. Rubbing at his eyes, Lex took a second, then asked more specifically, "If nothing was the matter, then why are you drunk and flat on your back, on my doorstep, at almost two in the morning?"

Earnest green-blue eyes turned to Lex and Clark answered, "I love Lana."

One more time and twist the knife this time, please, Clark. Gritting his teeth, Lex repeated, "So what's the problem?"

"I told you. The world."

And suddenly, Clark sounded so miserable that Lex wanted to pull Clark into his arms and tell him that everything would be all right. He looked so young and vulnerable that it just about killed Lex that he couldn't do anything except sigh and offer, "Come inside. You can sleep it off here."

"Really? You'd let me?" Clark asked hopefully. "I don't think my Dad would like it if I showed up at home like this."

"Really," Lex assured him, trying to keep the irony out of his voice.

Getting onto his knees for leverage, Lex grasped Clark's forearms and pulled, hard. Clark did, eventually, follow, but fuck he was heavy. By the time they got upright, Lex felt like he'd been working out with free-weights for an hour.

Walking his friend up the stairs to a spare bedroom proved more trouble than it was worth. The second they neared Lex's bedroom, Clark unerringly headed for it. Lex tried to steer them elsewhere, but to no avail.

Clark grinned and exclaimed, "Wanna see your room without Victoria in it. Do you know how much of a bitch she is?"

"Yes, Clark, I do," Lex replied, not bothering to stifle his laugh. He was pretty sure that was the first time he'd heard Clark swear, let alone curse out an actual person. "But we need to get you into bed."

"Good idea."

Before Lex could protest, Clark pulled away from him and fell forward onto the bed. Once there, Clark didn't even move to make sure that he could breathe. Mildly alarmed, knowing how easy it was to suffocate while intoxicated, Lex instantly reached over and turned Clark's head. His fingers lingered, gently massaging the temples for a moment.

"Mmm...feels good."

Smiling, Lex informed him, "You're going to have the mother of all hangovers tomorrow, Clark."

"Doan care."

Still smiling, Lex replied practically, "You will when you wake up. Don't go to sleep, you need to drink some water."

"Uh huh."

Shaking his head with dark amusement, Lex got off the bed and walked to the bathroom, filling a glass of water and returning within a minute. When he got back, however, Clark was stretched comfortably over the bed, head on the pillows as though it was his own bed, and sound asleep. Shrugging, Lex drank the water and set it on the night stand table. This was exactly what he needed, the night his wedding had been canceled: a heartbroken and drunk best friend. Perfect.

He started tugging off Clark's shoes and socks. That done, he sat on the bed and unbuttoned the flannel, pulling it aside and, after much moving around of Clark's heavy body, trying not to notice the muscles that seemed to have sprung up overnight, got the shirt off. Tossing it to the floor, Lex yawned and was actually glad that Helen was gone so he wouldn't have to explain all of this to her.

Leaning on his side, Lex stared at the mystery that was his best friend. It was such a bitch that he'd wanted Clark for almost two years now and couldn't do a damn thing about it. For the first time in his life, well, since his mother had died, Lex had scruples and they screamed at him if he even fantasized about Clark, though that happened often enough anyhow.

Fingers trailing over a muscled arm, Lex shifted closer and kissed Clark's forehead. It was as close to the other that he'd ever be able to get, and he knew it. Sighing, Lex looked down at Clark's chest and frowned. Why was the t-shirt bumpy? Alarmed that Clark had somehow hurt himself, Lex sat up and tugged the shirt free, holding it up.

Lex inhaled so fast that he nearly choked on his tongue at the massive burn on his friend's chest. He stared in shock. What the fuck had caused it, and why wasn't Clark in the hospital, or even treated with some homeopathic remedy known only to organic growing farm-people? There was no way that Martha would have let her son...

Secrets, Lex realized abruptly, putting the shirt back down. Clark was keeping them from his parents now and that couldn't be good, not by any stretch of the imagination. "Oh, Clark. What's going on?"

Knowing that the comatose younger man wasn't awake to answer, had actually allowed Lex to ask the question. Over the last few months, Lex had stopped asking Clark any questions, at least to his face. The obsessive need to find out what made Clark tick, however, was in full steam ahead mode and Lex's fingers traced the design seared into Clark's flesh through the t-shirt. Something important was either happening right now, or about to happen.

There was no way that Lex was going to miss it.

Yawning, Lex felt the emotional toll of the day slam into him all at once and flopped back down on the bed beside Clark. Time enough to drag the truth from Clark in the morning.

* * * *

Clark was more comfortable than he'd ever remembered being and had no intention of moving, despite the heavy weight holding him down. A familiar scent teased the edge of his memory, causing him to breathe deeply and enjoy his surroundings.

Wait.

Back up.

Surroundings that definitely weren't his bedroom.

Light stabbed into his brain the moment his eyes opened and Clark groaned, shutting them instantly and turning his face into the pillow. Pain. Major damn pain all through his head. Whatever the weight on him was, shifted when he did and then was gone altogether.

"Hangover?"

Lex? Oh Christ. Moaning, Clark chanced moving his head to plead, "Quiet. Please."

Lex laughed softly and said, "I told you to stay awake to drink water."

Clark just moaned again and pulled the pillow over his head.

A warm hand settled on his back and, through the blessed muffling of the pillow, Lex said, "I'll get something to fix your head. Don't go anywhere."

Right. Where was he going to go? He could hardly think, let alone move.

* * * *

Lex grinned at the sight of Clark hiding under the pillow, though it was really wrong of him, he knew, and started towards the door.

"Oh God, Lex! The wedding!" Clark suddenly gasped, sitting straight up, then moaning and holding his head.

Affection and worry battled for dominance in Lex as he looked at his best friend, so worried for him even through what looked like a killer hangover. He walked back to the bed and gripped Clark's shoulder, saying, "It's been canceled, Clark, you don't have to worry. You just need to get back to sleep, okay?"

"What? When?"

Seeing that Clark wasn't going to rest until he got an explanation, Lex sighed. "A couple of hours before you came over, actually. Helen broke it off."

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Clark, I'll…deal with it later," Lex answered. "Right now, I just want for you to get back into bed and rest, okay?"

Reluctant, Clark nodded and rolled back into bed, moaning softly. Lex grinned briefly as he pulled the covers back over him, his hands lingering a little in the job, but not too much. He'd just gotten everything in place when Clark jerked upright again and their heads knocked together. "Ow! Fuck! Clark, what did you do that for?"

"What time is it?"

Frowning at the panicked tone of voice, Lex looked at his watch and answered, "About eight thirty, why?"

Clark relaxed only a little before saying, "I have to go!"

"Why? What's going on, Clark?" Lex demanded.

Pausing in the act of getting out of the bed, Clark looked at him for a long moment then replied, "I can't tell you."

"It has to do with that burn on your chest, doesn't it?"

Shocked silence as Clark just stared at Lex.

Holding his hands out, trying to keep his friend calm, Lex continued, "Your parents don't know about it, whatever it is, because there's no way that your mother would let you out of the house without that being treated and bandaged."

If anything, the panic in Clark's face grew and he hopped nimbly off the bed despite the hangover, backing away from Lex with, "I can't tell you, Lex, can't tell anyone. If I do…"

"What, Clark? What's going to happen?" Lex questioned gently.

Shaking his head stubbornly, Clark insisted, "I can't tell you!"

"You have to trust someone, Clark, please, please trust me. I can protect you, I will protect you. Always. No matter what."

Clark didn't start talking, but he stopped backing away.

Taking that as a good sign, Lex asked, "What are you so afraid of? I've never seen you this scared, so it has to be something big. And you've never kept secrets from your parents before that I know of, so it has to be something bad, too. Just tell me what it is and we'll figure out a solution together."

Miserable, Clark answered, "I don't know what it is, Lex! It's a spaceship and it's in our storm cellar and it says that if I don't go with it at noon, then everyone I love will be hurt! I want to just destroy the thing, and I know I can if I use the green meteor rock, but I don't know if that'll help or make things worse! What if I turn into some kind of monster at noon and it's supposed to keep me in check?"

Lex blinked in surprise at the revelations, but it wasn't that a big shock. He'd suspected that Clark was a mutant, not an alien, but it wasn't much of a stretch. Mentally shaking himself, Lex stated, "You're not going to turn into a monster, Clark, end of story. I don't care if you are an alien."

Hope shone like a beacon on Clark's face as he asked, "You don't?"

Smiling, Lex shook his head. "I don't. It doesn't matter. What matters is getting that ship somewhere that it can't do anyone, any harm. That includes you, your parents, and everyone else in Smallville. Now…"

A knock at the door interrupted them and Lex practically hissed in displeasure, even as he strode to answer the door. Opening it, he glared at the young woman and demanded, "What?"

"I'm terribly sorry to disturb you, Mr. Luthor, but Dr. Bryce is here and would like to see you. She said that it's important."

Lex glanced back at Clark, his jaw clenching at the thought of leaving him like this. Looking back at the servant, he ordered, "Tell her I'll be down in five minutes."

Without waiting for an answer, Lex closed the door in the woman's face and walked back to Clark, who was subtly shifting from foot to foot as though just waiting for a chance to take off. "I'm going to see what she wants, then I'll be right back and we'll finish this discussion. I want you to promise me that you'll be here when I come back, Clark. That you won't take off and do something on your own, because I already have an idea of what we can do to fix this."

Obviously conflicted, Clark hesitated.

"Promise me, Clark. I've accepted the evasions and half-truths until now because I understand how important keeping your secret was. But you have to trust me now, I will protect you and your family," Lex vowed quietly.

Swallowing heavily, Clark nodded slowly and answered, "I'll be here."

"Promise me."

"I promise, Lex. I won't go anywhere until we figure this out."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lex smiled and said, "Good. Why don't you lie down? You're still looking a little green."

Clark flashed him a pained grin. "Probably because the room's still spinning."

"That would do it. Go on back to bed," Lex urged, still smiling. He watched as Clark did so, curling under the covers and thought, wistfully, about how much he wanted Clark there under different circumstances. Shaking the thought from his head, he walked to the door, stopping only because Clark called his name. Turning back, he saw Clark looked at him with a vulnerable expression and asked, "Clark?"

Clark answered, "Thanks, Lex. For everything. I shouldn't have dumped all this on you, but I couldn't trust anyone else."

Sober, Lex assured him, "I'm glad you did, Clark. It, well, it means a lot to me."

The smile on Clark's face warmed Lex all the way through and he began to understand that doing for others really was doing for oneself as well. He echoed the smile without thinking, resisted the urge to go right back and join Clark in the bed, and left the room.

Outside, Lex took a second to change gears, knowing that he would have to mentally gird his loins for the coming conversation. This was not going to be a fun confrontation. Once he had the proper outlook, Lex strode down the hall, then downstairs into the office, where he knew she would be waiting.

* * * *

Even though his head was throbbing, even though the room was still not being all room-like and staying in one place, Clark couldn't help but get up and follow Lex downstairs. It didn't matter what Lex said, if Helen had dumped him, then he was an emotional wreck just waiting for the right intersection to crash. Clark was going to be there for him if it killed him. Which if felt like it just might.

Burping, Clark gagged and took a few seconds to get his rebellious stomach under control, then kept going. He slid along the wall for support, forcing his feet to go one in front of the other until he reached the office. The doors were open, so he just leaned against the wall and listened.

"What do you mean, no?" Helen demanded.

"Just what I said," Lex answered. "I think you made the right decision last night, for both of us, no matter how much it hurt. I think that you should stick with your first instinct and stay as far from me as possible."

There was a pause, then, in a softer voice, Helen said, "I was angry, Lex, and I wasn't thinking at all. I do love you, and I want us to be together as husband and wife."

"I ah, I don't think…Helen, stop."

"Lex, this is us. I know about your little obsession with Clark, remember? And I know that you want this, I'm good for you Lex, you've said so yourself."

Obsession? That was…new. Surprised, Clark peeked around the corner, then wished that he hadn't as he witnessed the full-blown lip-lock Helen and Lex were involved in. He pulled back quickly, shaking at the emotions roiling through him, which were literally making him sick.

"Helen! I said, stop!"

"What is wrong with you? Last night you were practically begging me to stay and now you don't want me back?"

"There's nothing wrong with me."

Uh oh. That was Lex's 'don't fuck with me' tone and Clark wasn't surprised when Helen backed down. Not a lot of people went up against it and came out unscathed.

"Lex, the wedding is in less than four hours. No one even knows that we had a fight. As most couples do, I might add."

"The wedding is canceled. I was about to have everyone called."

"Don't. Lex, let's just do it. Let's get married, and go on our honeymoon, and be a family, like you've always wanted, but have never had."

Clark moved forward, angry at the low blow, but caught himself. How dare she say that to Lex!?

Steady, Lex replied, "I have a family, thank you very much."

Furious now, Helen snapped, "Who, the Kents? Please. They put up with you because Clark has a puppy-dog crush on you. You don't honestly think that Martha and Jonathan want anything to do with you as a person, do you? And if they found out about that shrine you built about them, around Clark, then they'd make damn sure you never saw him again!"

"Are you threatening me?"

As though realizing that she'd lost before even setting foot in the castle, Helen replied, "Just stating a fact, Lex. The Kents don't like you, let alone trust you. And if they caught wind of what you were up to…well…I think there are stalker laws even in Kansas, aren't there?"

Unexpectedly, Lex laughed, and it was an easy, carefree sound. "Helen, my love, I want you to go back to my father and tell him that it doesn't matter what he does. Although using you was a brilliant card to play. Clark and the Kents are under my protection, whether they like me or not. If he thinks that I've been twiddling my thumbs at the plant these last few months, meekly doing his bidding, then he is sadly mistaken. As are you. Now get out and don't come back."

"You're making a mistake, Lex."

"No, I'm rectifying one. I should have known that there was a serpent in my bed a long time ago."

The sound of a slap echoed through the air and Clark took that as a sign that Helen was about to storm off. He sped back to the bedroom, then kept going because the nausea he'd been fighting overcame him at the extreme motion. He was on the floor, heaving his guts into the toilet when strong hands settled at the base of his spine and started rubbing.

Spitting, trying to get the nasty taste out of his mouth, Clark panted and rested his forehead on the cool porcelain. "Oh God. Kill me, please."

A warm chuckle echoed from behind and Lex observed, "You'll feel better once you're done throwing up. Trust me."

His stomach decided to put those words to the test and Clark threw up again, the bile and alcohol leaving him the worst way possible.

Lex reached past him and flushed the toilet, then returned to rubbing Clark's back. "Better?"

"Bite me."

"Guess not."

Groaning, Clark asked, "Helen?"

"Gone."

"You okay?"

"Fine."

"Bull."

"I will be," Lex amended, squeezing Clark's shoulder.

The soothing motion of Lex's hands on his back actually did feel good and Clark sighed deeply, again resting his forehead on the seat. "I'm never drinking again."

"That's what we all say," Lex assured him ironically. "You've just got to find out your tolerance levels. Well, unless your physiology just can't take it, which I guess is possible. I wonder if…"

"Lex, please, dying here," Clark begged.

Chuckling again, Lex apologized, "Sorry, Clark, that's the scientist in me. C'mon, let's get you back to bed, if you think you can manage it. I have things to do if we're going to make sure nothing happens come noon."

Moving as slow and careful as Clark knew how, he got to his feet, with Lex's help. An eternity later, Clark collapsed onto the bed and groaned, curling up into a ball.

Lex tugged the blankets into place around him, his hand brushing over Clark's hair, and said, "I'm going to call your parents and let them know that you're mostly among the living. And tell them what's going on with the ship. Do you want me to have them come here? I'm sure your father would be happy to finish what the alcohol started."

Groaning again, Clark answered, "I guess. Lex, what're you going to do?"

"I'm going to have the ship moved to a secure facility nowhere near here," Lex answered. "Transportation is on the way to your parents' farm right now, so I really shouldn't delay calling them."

With a nod, Clark agreed, "Go on. I'll be okay."

Lex pulled out his cell and Clark wasn't surprised to find his number on speed-dial, wouldn't have been, even without Helen's revelations.

"Mr. Kent? Yes, actually, he's right here. Apparently he went on a bit of a drinking binge last night and he's suffering the hangover right now. Yes, yes it's bad," Lex assured him.

Clark grimaced at Lex's grin.

"Actually, that's not the main reason that I'm calling you. No, the wedding's been canceled. Look, Mr. Kent, we don't have a lot of time here, so please just listen to what I'm saying. A truck is going to show up on your doorstep in about fifteen minutes. You need to put the ship on the truck so I can get it to a secure facility, away from Clark, before noon. Yes. I know. But it threatened all of you, if Clark didn't go with it at noon today."

A wince surfaced on Clark's face when his father's shout was audible even from the bed.

"What the hell was he thinking about not to tell us?"

"Mr. Kent? Mr. Kent!" Lex shouted into the phone. After a brief pause, he continued, "Thank you. I think it's best that you come over here as soon as the ship is on the truck. We'll figure out what to do next then. Yes. All right. We'll see you in about an hour."

Breathing a sigh of relief when Lex hung up, Clark asked, "Pretty bad?"

Lex snorted. "I think you're lucky that your mother doesn't believe in corporal punishment, or you wouldn't be able to sit down for a month."

* * * *

Clark had thought that they were on their way to the office, but instead, Lex brought him down the hall away from the room. Frowning, he asked, "Where are we going?"

They stopped outside a closed door and Lex turned to him with, "I did stop investigating you officially, Clark. But…and you have to understand. You were a mystery and I never could pass one up. I hope my showing you all this doesn't, well, make you think any less of me. If it does, then I certainly understand and once we make sure that you and your family is safe, you'll never have to see me again."

When Lex reached for the door, keys in hand, Clark stopped him by intercepting the hand, gripping it lightly. Lex gave him a questioning look and Clark answered, "It's enough that you told me about it, Lex. I don't need to see it."

"Are you sure? Because I don't want any more secrets between us," Lex stated.

Which spiked up Clark's sense of guilt for having eavesdropped earlier. "Absolutely. And, um, just so you know, about that whole honesty thing, I kind of, might have overheard your conversation with Helen."

Lex was obviously surprised. "You did?"

Flushing, Clark nodded and admitted, "I thought, uh, that you might need some help with her. Didn't want you to face her alone, just in case, so I followed and listened in."

For a few seconds, Lex was clearly stymied, mouth open with no words coming out. Finally, he said, "I suppose, given the way my past lovers have acted, it wasn't a bad idea. Still, if you heard, then you know…"

"Obsessed? Yeah," Clark confirmed.

Wary now, Lex asked, "And?"

Clark shrugged in understanding. "We've all got our obsessions."

Understanding lit Lex's eyes and he murmured, "Lana."

With a faint grin, Clark offered, "Welcome to Stalkers Anonymous. My name is Clark, and I'll be your host."

Lex laughed at the dry delivery and said, "C'mon. Let's go face your parents. They should be here by now."

"Great. Oh, and Lex?"

"Yeah, Clark?"

"I wouldn't show the room to my folks."

"Do you really think I have a death wish?"

* * * *

The Kents were about as unhappy as Lex had ever seen them; tense and worried adding to the distrust and fear already present. They'd had a long, low talk with Clark, who had looked more and more miserable by the second, and were now facing Lex like an executioner. Given their past interaction with Lionel, he couldn't really blame them, but it still hurt that they would equate him with his father after everything he'd done for them.

Putting that aside, keeping in mind just how much of that fear was for Clark, Lex stated, "You don't have to worry about Clark. His safety is my number one priority. From the ship, my father, and the world at large. Until he's able to protect himself, I hope you'll let me help you in keeping him safe."

It must have been the right thing to say, because Martha and Jonathan exchanged a look, and relaxed a little.

"Thank you, Lex, we appreciate everything that you're doing for Clark," Martha said at last.

Lex smiled faintly and glanced at Clark. "He's my best friend. I'll do whatever's necessary to protect him."

Clark grinned at him, flushing a little, and said, "You're only friend you mean. You just like that I let you beat me at pool."

"Oh, you let me beat you, is that it?"

"Heck yeah."

"Boys," Jonathan interrupted.

Snickering softly, Clark looked at his father and said, "I think we should take Lex up on his offer to leave Smallville for the day. In the opposite direction of the ship. It's only two hours until noon and I don't want to be anywhere near it. And I don't want either of you anywhere near it. Or Lex. Oh shit! Lana! Lex, what about Lana?"

Ignoring the twinge inside at Clark's sudden and complete remembrance of the girl, Lex smiled and said, "I'm sure she'll be fine, Clark. But if it makes you feel better, call her. Tell her the wedding's off and mention that you and your parents are going to be helping me handle things."

Clark calmed down at that and nodded. "Good idea."

"I don't like running away like this. I've never run from my problems before, and I don't want to start now," Jonathan stated.

A little surprised that he hadn't heard any complaints in that direction before now, Lex replied, "You're not running, Mr. Kent, you're taking precautions. We don't know what this thing will do. It could go after you and Mrs. Kent in an effort to get to Clark. I think it's best for everyone, if the two of you went to Metropolis for the rest of the weekend."

Sharply, Jonathan demanded, "What about Clark?"

"Dad! God, after all this you still don't trust Lex?" Clark exclaimed angrily.

"Of course we trust him, Clark," Martha jumped in, glaring at both her men. "We're just worried, is all."

"Clark will be with me. We're just going to drive around all day, take a road trip. Better not to give it a stationary target in case my security can't hold it," Lex explained.

Looking unhappy with the outcome, Jonathan warned, "I'm trusting my son to you, Lex."

Lex nodded seriously and replied, "I know, sir."

A few more seconds of looking Lex in the eye, then the older man agreed, "All right."

Relieved, Lex informed them, "You can take whatever car you like from the garage. A suite at the Metropolis Seasons Downtown will be waiting for you and the expenses are all taken care of. Enjoy yourselves, as much as you can. Think of it like a mini-vacation."

Jonathan's lips twitched reluctantly into a smile and he looked at Martha. "I know you've always wanted to go there."

She smiled brightly and answered, "I have. Oh, Lex, we didn't bring any clothing!"

"Don't worry about it. Charge what you need to the room," Lex assured them.

Looking faintly ill at the prospect of all the expense that Lex was footing for them, Jonathan took it mostly in stride and held out his hand. "Thanks, Lex. We really appreciate everything you're doing for us."

Lex took it immediately and replied, "It's my pleasure, Mr. Kent, I assure you."

From Lex, Jonathan looked pointedly at Clark, ordering, "I don't want any more secrets, Clark. If something goes wrong, you are to call us immediately. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Am I understood?"

Ducking his head a little, Clark nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good." Without another word, Jonathan pulled his son into a hard, but fast embrace. "Take care, and look after Lex, son."

Smiling as brightly as his mother just had, Clark glanced at Lex and answered, "I will!"

Martha hugged Clark a lot longer, and then they were both gone, escorted to the garage by one of the servants. Lex held up a hand to Clark as he pulled out his cell and arranged the suite for the Kents. Then he offered the phone to Clark and prompted, "Call Lana."

Nodding, Clark took the phone and flushed, grinning shyly at Lex as he walked a short distance away for privacy.

With a sigh, Lex went to his desk and flipped on his computer, checking for any urgent emails that might be there. There weren't, which he expected since everyone had known that he would be getting married and then going on his honeymoon, but it gave him something to do. It was certainly better than listening to the one-sided, syrupy sweet conversation between Clark and Lana. Even knowing that it was sheer jealousy fueling the irritation, Lex couldn't help but stab his fingers on the keys while he waited for it to end.

"Lex?"

Finally. Forcing a smile, Lex took the phone back asked, "How'd it go?"

"Well, she's confused, but said that she'll see me tomorrow. And she offered her condolences for the breakup, too," Clark answered.

Shutting down the computer, Lex put it in its case and stood. "I'll have to thank her. So, Clark, ready for your first road trip?"

Clark grinned broadly. "Definitely! Hey, it's too bad we couldn't take my dad's Harley. Now that would've been cool!"

"Only until the constant vibrations made your balls ache and your ass hurt, not to mention the backache from sitting up all the damn time," Lex countered, grinning back at him. "Trust me. A road trip in a Porsche is way better."

"You sure know how to be a killjoy, Lex," Clark informed him, eyes rolling.

Grinning, Lex quipped, "This from someone whose idea of a good time is watching the sky."

"Are we going, or are we just going to stand here and insult each other?"

With a smirk, Lex motioned for Clark to precede him. "After you."