A/ Thank you to my wonderful beta and I apologise for not replying to review, but at the moment I can barely manage to write. I am doing my best hugs to all.
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"So when do we go?" Lex asked as he looked around.
Clark turned to him. "You're not going."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not." Kal replied.
Bruce stepped forward to get everyone's attention before a huge argument broke out. "Lex, you're pregnant and not only that but there's Connor. He needs you."
"Fine." Lex snapped he knew that he couldn't truly go. He felt so helpless; he might lose both Kryptonian's and Bruce who had become one of his closest friends.
The door opened and in walked Connor, the teenager looked around. "So when are you going?"
"Now." Clark answered and smiled at him. He wished that the young man didn't feel so afraid of him and that he could be the other father that he needed.
"You're all going?" Conner's gaze shot to Lex, his face full of fear.
"No, not all of us I'm staying. I can't go because of not only this little one." He patted his stomach, "but there's also you. I can't leave you."
Conner rushed into his arms and held him tightly. "I'm so glad."
"Easy there, I need to breath." Lex chuckled as his son released him, but his face slightly red from embarrassment.
"Let's go." Bruce turned and walked towards the door.
"We'll be back as soon as we can" Clark smiled sadly at them. He, and the others would do the best to come back, but they would do everything to make sure this Earth was safe.
"They'll be okay dad." There was a pause. "I wished he hadn't made me so afraid of them. I want to get closer to them, either or both, but something holds me back."
Lex could kill his doppelganger for doing this Kal and Clark were both good men. "Well, when they get back we can work on it. They can also help you with your abilities." He sighed deeply and looked around. This was the last place he wanted to wait. "Let's go and visit your grandparents."
The smile on Conner's face showed him that it was definitely the right decision.
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Kal looked around at his world. It was once a beautiful place, but now it was just ruins. He still couldn't believe how he had been fooled by this world's Lex Luthor.
"I'm sorry for what had happened. If I'd stayed maybe I could've helped." Clark felt sick all this destruction and death.
"You did what you had to and that was get them back to your world. The only thing that matters now is keeping this from happening to any other universe. I'm the only one left who has the knowledge to be able to travel between worlds. If it comes to it, you two have to make sure that no one gets it, which means you might have to kill me." Kal could see that Clark was about to argue.
"We'll do what we have to; even if that means we all remain here." Bruce knew that this technology was too powerful for anyone to have. They were lucky that it was a decent Kryptonian that had designed it. "Where do we go now?"
"The lab, it's that building." Kal pointed to one of the few buildings that remained intact. It proved that the invaders knew what had been in there. It also meant that they would have a welcoming party as soon as they walked in.
"I guess with their hearing that splitting up is going to be a waste of time." Bruce muttered he hated the fact that he was the only one without abilities. He did have some green Kryptonite on him. They were housed in lead until needed.
"Let's get in there and destroy everything." Clark wanted this over, and to hopefully go back home.
The three men walked towards the building, ready for the fight that was about to begin.
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"They're going to be fine." Martha placed her hand on Lex's shoulder. Things had changed so much since Conner came into their lives and it was for the better. She was looked forward to the baby being born, they're family was growing.
"What if I lose them both?"
"What if you don't? They both love you Lex."
"I know I love them both too." He couldn't help but laugh. "This would have been a fantasy for a teenage me."
"Please stop there." Martha joked, "Clark is my son. Drink your tea."
"Yes ma'am."
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"Get Kal into the machine no matter what it takes." The General ordered. "We'll have all the information we need once we do that. Once that has happened all the infinite universes will be ours." If it wasn't for this machine that they had stolen from another race they had conquered this plan wouldn't have worked. He was also glad that there were so many volunteers to go into the machine as well. He didn't really want to force any of his people, he would but it was easier his way.
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Clark heard Kal shout for him, he'd been slammed through the building wall by some of the invaders and the battle had continued out there. It was clear that they had wanted to keep the two Kryptonian's away from each other. Just then he heard some kind of machine had started up.
"This can't be good." He muttered to himself.
"Clark, go." Batman called out as he stabbed one with a green Kryptonite knife.
Clark managed to get away before it affected him too much. As he ran into the building he noticed that Kal was contained in one part of a machine, and one of the General's men in an identical one.
"He's connecting us; they'll know everything I do if they join." Kal yelled out, he used the fact that they couldn't get to him. If they tried he would've been able to escape. If he couldn't be freed there was only one other thing that could be done.
There were many Kryptonian's surrounding him, but obviously none around the volunteer.
Clark glanced over at his doppelganger and nodded, there was only one thing left to do that might work. The machine started to light up, as soon as he saw that he ran over to the man who stood alone and pushed him out of the way. Just then the light hit him, he could hear Kal's scream join his own.
Bruce ran in and watched as the General yell out in anger. He followed the man's gaze and watched as Kal and Clark collapse still surrounded by the blue light. As soon as it finished he rushed to Clark's side. He didn't understand why the attack had stopped. Whatever the machine did was the reason why they attacked, without it they seemed lost. From their attitudes no one else had done this, maybe they hadn't come across other Kryptonian's or races that had abilities that matched their own. He glanced over to Kal, but there was no movement.
"Bruce." Clark mumbled.
"Clark, are you okay?"
"I…" The young man opened his eyes and looked around, his eyes widened with fear.
"What is it?"
"I know this place." Clark whispered fearfully.
"Of course…"
"No, I mean I have memories of this place before now. I remember looking into here before coming for help. I managed to escape from them and jump universes for help. The longing to see Lex and Conner again is so strong; I never thought I would see them again." Clark paused and looked over at his friend. "What the fuck is going on?"
Bruce rushed over to Kal and felt for a pulse. "He's dead." He looked over and noticed the General watch them. It was clear he had hoped that any helpful information would be dropped. "Clark, we need to get out of here now. Grab me…" With that the world rushed past him. As soon as they stopped the world still spun around him.
Clark grabbed hold of their devices and pressed the buttons on both. Just as they vanished they could hear voices shout behind them. It had been good for them that the General still treated them as they were less powerful. They reacted a little slowly to Clark and Kal, which was their big mistake.
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Lex, Conner, Martha and Jonathan looked up as the door opened. They had all come back to the mansion to wait.
"Clark." Martha whispered her hand against her mouth. She had been so afraid that this was the time that she would lose him. "Kal?"
"He's…." Clark's voiced faded away.
"He's dead." Lex replied as he tried to hold back the tears. He was glad to see that Clark and Bruce were alive, but a man he had loved was gone.
"Physically, yes he is dead." Bruce answered and watched as all heads swivelled to him.
Blue-silver eyes narrowed at the man dressed in rubber. "What do you mean physically?"
Bruce turned to look at Clark and indicated for him to carry on.
"They had a machine there, it joins to people mentally. If I didn't have any abilities it would've probably killed me. I heard Kal call for me, when I got there he was in one part of this machine surrounded by the General and his men. There was a volunteer in the other part. I didn't know what it was for, but it seemed that the only thing to do was to take this man's place. When I awoke I had all Kal's memories and feelings. I mean there are some things that come to mind and it wouldn't be something I, uhhh Clark, would think off. I guess because we are technically the same person we merged into one. Lex, you can ask me anything and I will answer."
"So you and Kal are one person, there aren't two of you in there." Lex indicated towards Clark's head.
Green eyes sparkled as he laughed. "No, there's just one of me in here. It's just a new me, I guess."
"I, I need some time alone." Lex turned and walked out.
Clark went to follow him, but his father reached out and stopped him. "You need to give him some time. Remember he loved you both for different reasons and now the two of you are one person. It's going to take some time for him to get use to the idea; it will take us all time."
"You don't see me differently, do you Dad?"
"No, but you will have changed and as you said you think differently than before. We'll get through this. Everyone changes as they grow older, yours has just happened slightly differently than normal."
"I've always been different." Clark laughed as he hugged his parents, glad to know that they would be there for him. He always worried that one day his abilities would be too much for them, but so far so good.
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An hour later Clark went to look for Lex, he needed to see and talk to the older man. He understood how hard it had to be.
"Lex?" Clark watched as Lex played with one of the pool balls. He pushed it so it rolled around the green felt table.
"This is weird even for us."
"I know, I…I don't know what to say to make you feel better."
"I don't think there is anything." Lex turned. "I loved you both so much. I don't know this new you, even though it's both of you. I guess the only we can do is for me, for us, to get to know the new you. Don't pretend to be old Clark or Kal. Let's start and try to be friends."
"That sounds like a plan." He walked forward and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm the new Clark Kent, I'm an alien from a destroyed planet called Krypton."
"Hi Clark, I'm Lex Luthor, thank you for being honest. I'm a pregnant meteor mutant." The two men laughed, it was still tinged with sadness as they were mourning the two men, in theory, that had died.
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Lex held the little girl in his arms; they had named her Martha, not only for Clark's mother, but also Bruce's. He had become family to them and was one of the little girls' godfather.
Clark walked over and kissed them both. It had taken everyone a while to get use to the new Clark and there had been a lot of arguments. It was difficult for everyone to watch as he did something more Kal, than Clark. He had started to hate the words 'Clark wouldn't have done that'. Once that hurdle had been overcome, things had become easier. Lex had fallen in love with the new him and to make things even better, Conner had started to let him in. They still had some way to go, but Clark could walk into a room, and talk to the teenager without him wanting to run away.
Lex watched as his son joined them; soon Martha and Jonathan would be over. He had the family he had always dreamt off. It was the life he always wanted. The dark whole in him, the one that wanted to reach out and hurt those who hurt him was finally filled. He still had his moments but knowing the Kent's he turned it into something good. The person who had helped most was Bruce; he truly understood what it was like to have those thoughts. Clark had started to train his abilities more; he wanted to do the same in Metropolis as Batman did in Gotham. One day the world would really know that aliens were among us, and they were extremely gorgeous and dangerous to ones libido.
The End.