fandomcorner | Fic: Against All Odds (8/8)

Title: Against All Odds
Authors:

hils and

lexalicious70
Paring: Clark/Lex with hints of Clark/Rod and Clark/Rod/Lex
Spoilers: None
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sequel to Highway to Hell and So Long Sylvia. In the aftermath of the alien encounter Lex receives some startling news
WARNING: MPREG!

Previous parts here

Clark rushed over to the bed and shook Lex roughly by the shoulder.

"Lex! Lex, you need to wake up!"

Lex simply let out a small murmur and continued to sleep.

"It's the drugs! " Clark yelled to Rod.

"I'll call his doctor!" Rod ran from the room.

Clark patted Lex's cheek, even though he knew it was pointless. If he'd slept through his waters breaking, there was nothing that was going to wake him up.

Rod came back in. "His doctor is on the way. He said if Lex's water broke then the baby is ready to come, and he can do the c-section here. Uh, guess I better clean this up." Rod grabbed his gun case with one hand and started to put the parts back into it.

Clark couldn't breathe. This was really happening. The baby was coming and Lex was unconscious. He'd never felt more alone. "Please, Lex." He croaked as the tears rolled down his cheeks. "You have to wake up, Lex. I need you."

"Mmmnhh." Lex mumbled, and his eyes fluttered open slowly. "Clark? Wha . . . " He blinked. "I'm all wet . . . ? What's . . . " Lex's eyes suddenly flew open wide and both his hands went to his belly. "Ah!"

Clark took one of Lex's hand's in his, holding it gently at Lex gripped tightly. "It's ok, Lex. The baby is coming and the doctor is on his way."

"Now? Clark it's too soon! I'm only in my eighth month! Ahh!" He doubled over and squeezed his eyes shut as his belly tightened visibly.

Rod came back into the room and looked down at Lex. "You're awake! But you're screaming. Not good. Uh . . . " He looked at Clark. "What now?"

Lex reached out and gripped Rod's good hand as he screamed again. "Oh, God!"

"Ow, God!" Rod echoed, looking down at Lex's hand. "Easy!"

Although the grip on his hand was bruising, Rod didn't make Lex let go. "Just hang in there, buddy. The doc will be here real soon."

"Too soon . . . " Lex gasped, and Clark sat on his other side.

"We don't know that for sure, Lex. I mean . . . Brainiac came for the baby too, so maybe it is time."

"Ahhh!" As Lex screamed again, Clark was starting to wish the drugs had kept him out of it for a bit longer. He hated seeing his lover in pain like this.

"Easy, easy . . . .” Rod watched as Lex's belly tightened, and knew the contractions had to be painful. "Uh . . . hey! Try that breathing thing! What's it called . . . . “Rod wracked his brain. “What are those furry animals with the long necks?" He snapped his fingers. "Llamas!"

"Lamaze, Rod!" Lex panted. "It's called LAMAZE."

Rod kicked himself. Well, he'd been close. "Right! Try that! Come on, Lex, breathe with me."

"How . . . we never . . . took the classes . . . owwww, it hurts . . ." Lex groped for Clark's hand as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'm here Lex," Clark said as he took hold of Lex's hand again. "I know we didn't take any classes but you need to breathe, okay? Slow and deep. You can do this."

Every nightmare Lex had ever had about some bizarre alien birth began to rush through his mind, and he struggled for control. He took a deep, ragged breath, and then exhaled it in stages.

Rod smiled and squeezed Lex's hand. "Hey, there you go . . . that's good, Lex. Just hang on."

He hissed in pain and gripped tighter on Rod and Clark's hands. "Oh, Jesus!"

There was a knock on the door, and Rod jumped up. "That's the doctor! I'll get it!" He pried Lex's hand from his and ran from the room.

"Clark," Lex gasped, feeling cold and empty without Rod there as well. "Promise me...if anything goes wrong..."

"Don't say that. Don't say that Lex, just hang on. Everything's going to be fine, okay?" Clark reached out stroked Lex's bare scalp.

Lex locked eyes with him. "...I'm scared."

"I know. So am I. But I'm here . . . I'm here, Lex." He massaged Lex's slim hand. Rod came running in with the doctor a moment later, who assessed the situation with a small smile. "Well . . . looks like we’re about to have a baby. Clark, sit him up, please, and remove his shirt."

"Come on, Lex." Clark said as he eased him into a sitting position and started to undo the buttons of his shirt.

Lex clenched his teeth together and ground out another cry between them. Dr. Alan glanced over at him as he prepared a large needle. "Sit still, Lex. I'm going to inject this into your spine so I can take the child caesarean."

"Yikes." Rod's eyes widened when he saw the needle.

Clark's eyes matched Rod's. "What does that do?"

"It's an epidural, son. It will block all feeling below the waist so I can cut into the body and remove the baby. Without it, the pain and the shock would kill them both."

Dr. Alan leaned Lex forward gently and ran a hand over his smooth, lightly freckled back. "Deep breath, Lex." Without hesitation, he plunged the needle into Lex's spine and injected the fluid. Lex cried out in pain and then squeezed his eyes shut as his whole spine seemed to grow warm and liquid.

Clark held his hand as the doctor eased Lex back down. "How are you feeling?"

Lex blinked. "Odd . . . almost heavy."

Dr. Alan nodded. "In a moment, you won't be able to feel a thing below your waist. You're still having contractions, but you won't be able to feel them." He took a kit of sterilized instruments from his bag.

Clark tried not to react as he saw the variety of cutting instruments. He knew this had to happen but he wasn't sure he could stand watching Lex cut open.

Dr. Alan picked up the sheet that covered Lex and hung one end on a hook near the window. The other end he handed to Rod. "Here, take this and go over there." He waved Rod away toward the other end of the room. Understanding, Rod pulled the sheet across Lex's waist, blocking the doctor from Clark's view.

"You might feel a bit of a tugging sensation, Lex. Just relax and focus on Clark's face, all right?" The doctor's voice drifted out from behind the curtain.

Clark brushed his hand over Lex's cheek. "Look at me, okay Lex?”

"Clark," Lex muttered, and his gaze tipped upward to meet his young lover's eyes. He smiled weakly. "Such amazing eyes . . . always meant to tell you that. So bright . . . never seen anything like them."

Clark leaned down and kissed him. "I love you."

"Love you too, Clark. Always have, since that day on the bridge." Lex flinched as there was a sharp tugging sensation just above his groin. "Your lips on mine . . . never wanted anything else since that day."

"Me too," Clark whispered. "You were right when you said we had a destiny."

Rod, who had a pretty powerful constitution, was watching the doctor slice into Lex's belly. A part of him couldn't believe this was happening in his house, but the other part of him became warmed, and then excited, when the doc lifted a baby boy from Lex's belly and suctioned his nose and mouth clean. He tapped the soles of the baby's feet, and it gave a sudden loud cry.

Clark gasped. "Our baby! Lex, do you hear it?"

Lex, affected by the painkiller, could only give Clark a dreamy smile. "Our baby," He sighed.

Dr. Alan cut the cord and cleaned the baby off before wrapping him in a blanket and presenting him to Clark. "Your son."

Clark stared, awestruck at the small life he was holding in his arms. A life that he had helped to create. "Oh, Lex, he's perfect."

Lex looked at the baby. In his dreams, the child had often changed its appearance depending on his mood; sometimes he was pink and perfect, and sometimes he was an alien deformation, but Lex could never have imagined, even in his wildest dreams, the perfect, dark-haired baby that lay in Clark’s arms

"Our son," he muttered.

Clark pressed a kiss to the top of Lex's head and then a very soft kiss to the baby's crown. "You did wonderfully, Lex."

Rod craned his neck to look at the baby; he didn't want to crowd his friends during what was obviously a very intimate moment.

"It's ok, Rod," Lex said softly. "You can come closer."

"Are you sure?" Rod hunted up a thumbtack from the dresser and pinned the sheet to the wall so the doc could stitch Lex up without Clark having to see before going to sit on the edge of the bed. He reached out and gently touched the baby's head. "Wow. He's really cute . . . what are you going to name him?"

Clark looked at Lex. They'd discussed a few names but had never come to a final decision about it.

Lex glanced over at Rod. "If not for you, I don't think any of us would be standing here. You're an incredibly brave human being." He smiled. "I think our son's name should remind us of that." He reached over and squeezed Rod's hand. "What do you think of the name Christopher Rodney?"

Rodney's eyes widened. "You want to name the baby after me?"

"If Clark agrees?" Lex looked up at his lover.

Clark nodded. "I think it's perfect."

"Oh. Oh, man . . . " Rod bit his lower lip and looked away, ashamed of the sudden tears in his eyes. "I'm--I don't know what to say, fellas."

Clark handed the baby to Lex and eased himself up off the bed and pulled Rod into his arms. "You don't have to say anything. You're part of our family now."

"Whoa." Rod chuckled, but the tears in his eyes overflowed to spill down his cheeks. "I didn't think I'd ever have a family . . . at least not any that would want me." He wiped his eyes and hugged Clark with his good arm.

"All done here," Dr. Alan said, and removed the sheet.

"How are you feeling?" Clark asked Lex, who was still gazing at baby Christopher with awe and wonder.

"For now, thanks to the drugs, I feel very little." Lex smiled, and Rod chuckled.

"Yeah, and you look it."

Dr. Alan cleaned his instruments. "Enjoy it while you can, Lex." He handed Clark a sheaf of papers. "Here's the information on how to care for him. Let him rest for today, but tomorrow he should try and get on his feet, all right? The cut is horizontal and just under the belly; it's to reduce the visibility of the scar."

Clark skimmed over the documents and nodded. "Do you want to sleep, Lex?"

"Mmmh." Lex's eyes were already closing.

Rod grinned. "I think that's a yes." He reached over and touched the baby's head. "It's a good thing we got the nursery done early, huh?"

Dr. Alan finished packing up. "Everything looks fine here, Clark . . . call me if you have any questions, all right son?"

Clark nodded, his eyes wide as everything suddenly hit him hard. He was a father. Everything was going to be different now. "I...uh...yeah...all right."

His eyes rolled back and he hit the floor in a dead faint

"Clark!" Rod rushed to his side and went down on both knees. He looked up at the doctor helplessly and then put his good hand out to keep Lex from trying to stand.

Dr. Alan knelt down. "I think he's fainted." He pulled some smelling salts from his bag and uncapped them. When he waved them under Clark's nose, Clark coughed and groaned, trying to push them away.

"Uhhh...wha...what happened?"

"You fainted," Rod said, and Lex peered over the side of the bed. "Clark, are you all right?"

"Yeah," Clark groaned as he attempted to sit up. "I fainted? Sorry."

"Don't be. It's perfectly normal for new fathers to become overwhelmed in the delivery room." Dr. Alan helped him sit up.

Rod crouched down beside him and petted his arm. "Don't worry, pal. We won't tell anyone."

"Are you sure you're all right?" Lex asked, and Clark glanced over. "Yeah Lex I'm fine . . .just lie still." He allowed Rod and Dr. Alan to lead him over to the bed, where he sat down.

The baby began to cry, and Rod looked over. "Sounds like the little guy is hungry." He glanced at Lex's chest and then reddened. "Um. We bought some formula just in case there's no . . . uh . . . "

Lex glanced down at his chest. "Well, I have to say that's a relief."

"Everything's in the kitchen, Roddy." Clark said, and Rod gave him an amused, affectionate smile at the diminutive before going off to make Chris's first bottle.

Clark took a couple of deep breaths, grateful that his vision was no longer swimming. "You want me to take him so you can sleep for a while?"

"Sure, daddy." Lex said softly, his eyes warm as he offered the baby to Clark.

"Thanks, daddy," Clark replied with a gentle smile as he carefully took Chris from Lex. "I love you. Both of you."

"Love you too, Clark. Always." Lex yawned as his eyes closed, and he was asleep a few moments later. Rod came in with the bottle, his nose wrinkled. "Phew! This stuff stinks!"

Clark grinned. "I don't think this little guy will mind."

Rod handed the bottle over as he watched the doctor depart. Satisfied that Clark was over his faint, he went about tidying up the room a little, and then carefully adjusted Lex's pillows with his good hand.

"Are you hungry?" Clark whispered to the gurgling baby in his arms before offering him the bottle. He smiled as Chris drank hungrily. "Looks like you've got my appetite at least."

Rod sat down as his arm began to ache. With the crisis passed, he began to think about his own future, which was now in serious doubt.

Clark bit his lip, hating the way Rod sat slumped in his seat as though all the life had been drained out of him. "Rod, it'll be okay. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but these things have a way of working out, you'll see. Lex and I won't let anything else happen to you, I promise."

"Thanks, kid." Rod sighed and rubbed his forehead with one hand.

Clark glanced down and saw that Chris had finished his bottle. "Rod...would you like to hold him?"

Rod looked up and then glanced down at his sling. "Uh, well . . . do you think it's okay? I could hold him in my left arm, I think."

"It'll be fine, Rod," Clark said with a nod and moved over to join him. "Chris, this is your Uncle Rod." He carefully eased the gurgling baby into Rod's good arm.

"Uncle?" Rod couldn't help but smile.

Clark smiled. "You're the closest thing either of us has to a brother and that makes you perfect uncle material."

"Wow." Rod smiled down at the baby. "I've never been anyone's . . . . anything. Thanks, Clark."

The baby yawned in Rod's arm and drifted off to sleep. "See? He likes you," Clark said. "He trusts you in the same way Lex and I do."

Rod grinned. "He's a sweet little guy." He hesitated, and then glanced up. "I . . . I guess you and Lex will be leaving here soon."

Clark froze. He and Lex had been so settled here that they hadn't even talked about what they were going to do after the baby was born. "I...I don't know, Rod."

"I just want you to know that if you need to, you can stay here for as long as you want. But if you decide to go, I'll understand. After all . . . " He looked over at Lex. "Lex is Lex, he's a billionaire, right? He can't live in a cop's--an ex cop's--backyard shack forever."

In his heart Clark knew Rod was right, but the idea of leaving Rod after everything they'd been through hurt. A lot.

"You know you'll be welcome to visit whenever you want. Either at the mansion or at the farm."

Rod nodded. "Thanks." His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat hard. "I will."

Clark wrapped an arm around Rod's shoulder and held him close as his shoulders started to shake. "It's okay, Rod. It's okay."

Rod held the baby close and leaned his forehead on Clark's broad shoulder. "I'm s-sorry, Clark . . . I shouldn't . . . "

"It's okay, Rod," Clark hushed gently. "It's only me here. Just let it out."

Rod cried until his tears were spent and then he raised his head to mop his face with his shirtsleeve. "You guys . . . I'll, uh . . . I'll really miss you."

"I promise we'll see you as often as we can. We'll miss you too," Clark couldn't stop his own tears from falling as the reality of their situation began to him. He pressed a kiss to Rod's forehead.

"Hey," Lex mumbled behind them sleepily. "I fall asleep for a few hours and you two get together without me?"

Clark chuckled. "Lex, you've only been asleep for about thirty minutes. Even I don't move that fast."

"Mmmhmm." Lex squirmed into a sitting position, wincing as he did so. "Ohh. I think the drugs are wearing off." He took a close look at the tearstains on Rod's face. "Everything all right?"

Clark moved over to the bed and helped Lex up before sitting down beside him. "Rod and I were just talking...about what's going to happen now."

Lex paused. "Rod . . . you know that we'll have to be leaving soon."

Rod nodded. "I know."

"I've told him he can visit us whenever he wants," Clark interjected.

"Of course you can," Lex smiled.

"I'll have plenty of free time to visit, that's for sure." Rod said softly, and then gave Lex a watery smile. "I'm not a cop anymore, Lex. Turns out that Brainiac jobbed me pretty good, and my shoulder will never heal all the way."

Lex nodded. This was something he'd been thinking about ever since he'd found out the severity of Rod's injury, but he'd been prevented from talking about it by the unexpected birth of his child. "Rod, I have a proposition for you. The fact that you even have this injury proves the lengths you are willing to go to in order to keep me and my family safe. How would you like a job on my security team as my new bodyguard?"

Rod stared at his friend. "Bodyguard? Lex . . . you mean it?"

"Absolutely. I can't think of anyone more suitable for the job. There is one condition though..."

"Condition?"

"Well, you will need to be close to me at all times so that would require you living at the mansion with me and Clark. If that's acceptable to you then the job if yours with immediate effect. Whatever salary the police had you on, you can double it."

Rod grinned widely. "Lex, I . . . I don't know what to say. I mean . . . I'd be honoured. And I swear I'll do my best to keep you safe. All of you."

"I trust you, Rod." Lex said with a smile. It was the first time he'd seen Rod happy since they got back from the hospital. Clark pulled Lex into his arms and kissed him deeply. "I love you, you wonderful man."

Lex returned the kiss, cupping Clark's face in both hands. "I love you too, Clark."

Rod gazed at them longingly, wondering if he would ever have the sort of love that Clark and Lex shared.

Clark smiled and then turned to Rod. His expression suddenly grew serious, and he tugged Rod close. "Come here," he said softly, and kissed Rod deeply on the mouth.

"Mmmnn!" Rod's eyes widened at the kiss, and this time he remembered to kiss back. Clark's lips were very full and very soft. He pulled away at last and blushed hard. "Wow. I, uh . . . I love you too, Clark." He smiled and looked down at Chris. "I love all you guys."

"We love you too," Lex said with a smile.

Rod smiled and huddled close to his new family, his adopted nephew nestled in his good arm. "So," He smiled at Clark and Lex. "I guess this means I'm invited to the wedding too, huh?"

"Absolutely," Lex said. "I have no idea when, or if, they'll legalise gay marriage in Kansas, but when they day comes, consider yourself best man."

"I don't think I've ever been the best anything," Rod chuckled, and then grinned over at Lex. "But it's definitely a date, boss."

Lex returned the smile and then yawned. "Mmm...guess I needed more than thirty minutes sleep."

Rod passed the baby to Clark and stood up to tuck Lex back in. "Get some rest, pal."

Clark glanced down at the slumbering baby and smiled. "Guess we should introduce you to your new crib, huh?"

Rod smiled and glanced over his shoulder. "That's right, little man has a new crib! Uh huh, uh huh!" Rod rapped, bopping his head and poking Clark playfully as he strode past and vanished into the kitchen. A moment later, the theme from Cops began to play, with Rod singing along boisterously. Clark looked over at Lex, who was sleeping peacefully, and then down at the baby as he chuckled and shook his head. He touched his son's smooth, perfect cheek.

"Welcome to the family, son."

THE END

lexalicious70 and I would like to thank everyone for reading and commenting. We had a lot of fun writing this and it's nice to see you all enjoyed it too. This might be the end of the fic but it's not necessarily the end of the story ;)

We're also beyond thrilled at the fanart that has been reduced to go with this fic!

These two were made by the fabulous

herohunter.