Broken. That was how Lex looked standing and staring at the headstone. Clark waited by a tree several hundred yards away, holding an umbrella for when Lex finally realized that it was raining. There had only been a few people at Pam's funeral, which was sad in his mind, but at least the person she'd loved most had been there. That counted the most, Clark was sure.

He watched as Lex exchanged a few words with the priest and the other people present. Lex moved as though it were painful to do so. Maybe it was. From what little Lex had told him, Pam had been like a mother to him and that was someone Clark didn't want to think about losing. After a few more minutes, the others left and it was just Lex, alone, staring at the new headstone while the dirt was shoveled onto the still open grave.

With all the death in Smallville, Clark hadn't been to very many funerals. He was unsure of himself in this arena, unsure what exactly he should do for Lex. Finally, deciding that he couldn't bear another moment of seeing Lex in so much pain, he strode across the muddy grass until he reached his friend's side and brought the umbrella over the man crouched at the headstone.

Lex looked up at him in surprise, a strange expression to see on the other man, and asked, "Clark? What are you doing here?"

"I didn't want you to be alone," Clark answered simply.

For a long time, Lex didn't seem to know how to reply. Then he shrugged with a faint smile and looked back at the headstone. "I always wanted to hate her, but I couldn't ever really manage it, you know."

"I'm glad."

Glancing at him sharply, Lex demanded, "Why?"

Clark hesitated before explaining, "Because if you had, you wouldn't be the you who's my friend now."

With a frown, Lex pondered his words, then sighed and ran a hand over his head, wiping away the rain water that remained. "What I don't understand is why someone like Pam dies from such a horrible disease, while my father, who is a disease, remains hale and healthy. It's not fucking fair."

Clark crouched down beside him and put a steadying arm around his waist. "No, it's not."

Turning his head so that their eyes met, Lex questioned tiredly, "Why are you here, Clark? Really."

Though he knew it wasn't the answer Lex wanted, it was the truth, so Clark said, "Because you need someone right now. And because I want that someone to be me."

"Why?"

"Because I love you."

"But, why Clark? After everything I've done, all the insanity that is my life, how I and my father have hurt your family, why do you even care? You should write me off as a bad investment."

Lightly gripping the back of Lex's neck, Clark pulled him close and rested their foreheads together. He knew that Lex was lashing out, trying to push him away. "It's okay to hurt, Lex. It's okay not to be perfect. Please, let me be here for you?"

Lex swallowed heavily and his eyes closed, tears leaking out to mix with the rain on his face. Then he shifted, dropping forward onto his knees in the mud and bringing Clark with him. Clark lost his hold on the umbrella because Lex was suddenly wrapped around him and shaking. A hollow feeling broke open inside as he felt Lex's grief like a physical thing. His arms twined around the slender shoulders and his hand cupped the back of Lex's bare head.

There were no words that he could offer, Clark knew, so he stayed silent. When his own mother had been on death's door, nothing that anyone had said had made him feel a bit better. And Pam might not have been Lex's mother in blood, but she was close enough.

He wasn't sure how long they knelt in the rain, clinging silently to each other while Lex shook with barely voiced sobs. The grudging and bitterly released tears were probably the hardest thing for Lex, Clark knew. For all that, it seemed forever before the shudders stopped. Then, naturally, a chill from the rain set in and Lex started shivering. Clark slowly got to his feet, pulling Lex up with him.

Putting his arm back around Lex's waist, he snagged the umbrella and turned them towards the waiting car. Clark didn't like the pallor creeping onto Lex's skin and he asked the driver to make a speedy return to the manor and to crank the heat. Inside the back of the limo, thankfully, was a long coat that Lex had left behind. Once he got Lex settled, he brushed a kiss over Lex's forehead and whispered, "I'll follow in the truck."

Lex nodded, but his gaze was distant and he didn't really answer. Just as Clark was backing out, Lex blurted, "I love you, too."

Startled by the words, Clark lost his footing and fell backwards onto the pavement.

"Shit! Clark, are you okay?" Lex demanded, rushing to the door.

Clark stared up at him in wonder and thought that it should be wrong for him to feel such happiness in the face of Lex's grief. He'd never really hoped that his feelings might be returned, but he had just had to let Lex know that he wasn't alone.

"Clark? Did you hurt yourself?"

Shaking his head, Clark hesitated then asked, "Do you really?"

Lex nodded and said, "Since the first time I saw you bending over me just after having given me CPR. For a second, I thought I was dead and you were an angel. Corny and stupid, I know, but I knew, knew that you were it for me. Everything that we've been through, all the shit and suspicion, and lies, and secrets, they all just confirm that we belong together."

Wary, Clark protested, "But you don't even know..."

"And I don't have to," Lex interrupted sharply. "I want to, Clark, believe me, do I ever. And it's not in my nature to leave a puzzle alone, especially when someone I care about is involved. But I swear to you, I'll never ask you again, not until you tell me it's okay."

Until he said it was okay. Clark had to grin at the unconscious arrogance that epitomized Lex Luthor. And that was okay because it was such an integral part of the other man. Finally feeling the cold pavement beneath his soaked pants, Clark stood and leaned into the car, taking hold of Lex's shirt and pulling him close.

Their lips touched and it was more than enough to warm him all the way to his soul. It was wet and deep and Lex seemed to be devouring him, desperate to trace out the contours of his teeth, tongue, and tonsils. Clark was only too happy to return the favor, so their tongues got in the way several times.

Lex broke away, panting as he rested their foreheads together again. "I never meant to tell you, you know. I was going to protect you from myself, but..."

"But?"

"But you make my life complete," Lex finished heavily, the confession pried out of him like a tooth with a string: with extreme pain.

It hurt, knowing that Lex didn't want to love him, but Clark knew that was because Lex had been betrayed by everyone at one point or another. Even Clark had been on that list a couple of times, unwitting as it had been. Their friendship had come through it in the end and that was really all that mattered. Cupping Lex's face with both hands, Clark vowed, "I won't betray you ever again, Lex, by omission or fact."

A wry, nearly desperate smile surfaced and Lex replied, "Let's start with no betrayals for a month and see how it goes."

After tenderly kissing the lips so close, Clark nodded. "Deal."

Lex stared at him for a long time and Clark felt no inclination to move, despite being half in and half out of the limo. He could happily stare into the deep blue pools forever. Reluctantly, Lex broke the eye contact and murmured, "Let's get back to the castle where we can continue this conversation somewhere more comfortable."

"Only if it's in your bed," Clark replied softly.

Shock flared in Lex's eyes. "Excuse me?"

Clark grinned and answered, "Get your mind out of the gutter, Lex. You're exhausted and drenched. I'm drenched and cold. Snuggling in a warm bed while we talk is all that's on the menu."

A rueful chuckle rumbled through Lex as he said, "I was wondering what happened to the puritan Kent streak."

Clark stole another kiss and observed, "He's about to die an unlamented death."

They both froze at the unthinking words and Clark held his breath as he mentally cursed himself into oblivion.

Lex relaxed subtly and managed a shaky smile. "I'd prefer you not use the word death in regards to yourself in any fashion, kidding or not."

Sighing in relief, Clark agreed, "I won't. See you at the castle?"

"Yes," Lex replied. He looked like he was going to say something else, then closed his mouth again and sat back down as he murmured again, "Yes."

Clark back the rest of the way out of the limo, without falling this time, and closed the door softly, but firmly. He knocked on the passenger's side window and signaled the driver that it was okay to leave.

As he walked back to the truck, Clark mused on the unexpected development. He didn't kid himself that things would be smooth between them, but he was positive it would be worth the trouble. Just friendship with Lex was worth the trouble, never mind something as incredible as love.

Lex's life wasn't the only one that was completed by their being together, not by a long shot.