"Congratulations!" Clark beams down at the new mother. "It's a boy!" Very gently, he lifts the colt and places the newborn baby before his mother. The momma whickers softly and then begins to bath her child. Beaming but knowing they need time alone without human, or alien, intervention, Clark stands and takes a couple of steps back. He pauses to dust his pants off not because he's concerned about the blood and hay sticking to his jeans but because he knows Lex is near and always crinkles his nose at him in distaste whenever Clark's spent time in the barn.

"That was amazing."

Clark whips around in surprise. He hadn't realized Lex had come so close. This is the furthest into any of the stalls he's ever come, and the radiant smile on his face and shimmering in his blue eyes makes it seem like he doesn't even smell the odors over which he usually complains endlessly. Clark shifts his gaze left and right, uncertain how to respond.

"You are amazing," Lex adds, coming closer still.

Clark's beaming smile transforms into a somewhat silly, self-depreciating grin. "She did most of the work," he says, glancing back to where the mother is still cleaning her baby.

"I am many things, Clark, but not a fool." There's no anger in Lex's voice, though, as he continues to advance on his boyfriend. "You just saved that mother and child." He cups his face in his hands, for once heedless of the barn's aromas. "You are amazing," he repeats and touches his lips to his.

Clark knows who the truly amazing one is. He's constantly amazed by Lex, by the things he does, the way he fights his father, the maneuvers he takes to be able to spend time alone with him . . . He's constantly amazed just by the fact that, of all the people in the world he could love, he chooses to love him. Still, he doesn't voice any of this. He doesn't dare argue with Lex and spoil the mood or let their voice rise to upset the horses. Besides, he'd be a fool himself to waste this moment, so he simply wraps his arms around Lex, pulling him closer, and revels in the sweet taste of his love's kiss that melts away all the night's cold and vanquishes the toiling turmoil of the last several hours. Victory never tasted so sweet!

The End