Title: I Want a Stegosaurus for Christmas
Author: Peach
Email:Peach1250@yahoo.com
Rating: Adults only
Challenge: CLFF 20 Pets
Notes: For the 20th CLFF challenge I took back a bunny that I had
posted at the LJ bunny community.
Summary: Connor asks for a special pet, Papa Lex sees no reason to
say no.



Superman hovered in the air above the yard. Lex had established a
get away home on the island where he had once been shipwrecked. It
was summer on the island, and Lex had decided the family should
spend the holidays there, away from the snow and cold.

Martha was on the veranda, staying out of the sun. Lex was standing
at the railing, barefoot, in low-slung white pants, no shirt and his
skin gleaming from the oil he'd spread over it. He watched with a
big grin on his face as Connor ran along in the edge of the surf.

It was a beautiful domestic scene, except for one thing – the baby
dinosaur that was moving on wobbly legs behind their son.

Superman crossed his arms and frowned. "Luthor, what have you done
now?"

Martha giggled, Lex snorted and Connor turned to look at his super
father.

"Uh oh, Daddy is pissed!"

Superman swung around to look at his son and the frown softened only
slightly. "Connor, you know you aren't supposed to talk like that."

"Clark, get out of the suit and come have a drink with us."

Superman touched down on the sand and glared at Lex. "What is that?"

"Clark, I know you don't keep up on science as I do, what with
following that Lane bitch around…"

"Lex…" Clark's voice held a warning.

Martha coughed. Lex swallowed the rest of his drink and turned to
enter the house. Connor took advantage of the grown-ups distraction
to pick up his pet and zoom to the other side of the island.

Superman started up the steps and his mother's voice stopped him.

"You should change, Clark. Talk to him as his husband, not the super
hero."

"Mom, it's so…"

"Do you think he enjoys that you fly off every time Lois yells?"

"No."

"He is giving your child what he wants. He has the money to do that."

"I don't want Connor spoiled."

"Had we the means, we would have given you just about anything you
asked for. Connor has your powers, his pet can't hurt him. They were
having a good time and you stomped all over that."

"I'm frustrated!"

"With your family, or with your job? I never thought I'd say this to
you, of all people, but you're being as ass."

Before Clark could come up with an answer his mother rose from the
chair and took off down the beach. He stood there, shaking with
anger.

How dare they? Didn't they understand that he had obligations? He
launched himself into the air and flew toward the moon. He landed
there and spent several minutes kicking rocks around. The
communication device in his ear didn't need an atmosphere to carry
the sound.

"Superman, what are you doing up there?" Batman's voice was flat, no
emotion to give away what he was thinking.

Superman once more rose in flight, this time heading toward The
Watchtower. As he strode the corridors he ignored the looks and
giggles. He reached the control room, stepped inside, and then
glared at Batman.

"Did you need something?"

"Just wondering why you asked us to cover for you but you're kicking
rocks around the moon instead of on an island eating your mother's
cooking, playing with your son or making love to your husband."

"Stay out of it!"

"Boys need their fathers. I should know."

"I'm there when he needs me."

"Are you? I seem to recall you ducking out on his birthday party."

"Lois was in trouble!"

"Her car broke down. And your last anniversary dinner with Lex?"

"Lois had been kidnapped!"

"After staking out a drug lord you told her to stay away from."

Superman dropped into a chair. Batman shook his head slowly. For a
reasonably intelligent alien, Clark could be very dense. After
several long minutes he looked up at Batman.

"I don't know what to do, Bruce."

"You start by keeping your promises to them. You follow that up with
ignoring Lois unless she is about to have her throat slit and, by
the way, if you were my husband that would have already happened to
her. When you ask for down time you take it."

"Bruce, he made Connor a stegosaurus!"

Batman turned his back, his shoulders started to shake.

"Are you laughing at me? You bastard, you're laughing at me."

"He…he made a dinosaur? Oh god, he hasn't acted out that badly in
years."

"It's not funny, Bruce."

"Clark, I know Lex. He built in every safeguard possible. He would
never risk Connor or Martha. You on the other hand…"

Clark gave Bruce the one finger salute, which set Bruce off again.
He was gasping for breath when Diana entered the room.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be on an island with
your family."

"Agagggggg." Superman jumped up and flew from the room.

"Was it something I said?" Diana asked Bruce. Bruce fell off his
chair laughing at her. "Bruce, are you okay? I've never seen you
laugh like this."

"Lex is acting out as only a Luthor could and Clark is pouting."

"Well, if it makes you laugh, then I hope Lex keeps on doing
whatever he's doing."

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Superman headed toward the fortress. As he touched down the hologram
came on.

"Kal-El, should you not be with your family? Is this not the holiday
season?"

"Not you, too."

"I do not understand."

"Lex cloned a dinosaur for Connor."

"Yes, I know."

"What do you mean, you know?"

"I helped your mate create a pet for your son."

"Why on earth would you do such a thing?"

"All children should have pets. It is a way to teach them caring,
responsibility."

"Pets are kittens, puppies, and gold fish – not prehistoric
creatures."

"You do not need to worry. We have engineered the animal so that it
will grow no bigger than a horse. We determined that it will reach
this size within a year. As Connor has your strength, he will be
able to deal with the animal easily. And you can transport him to
the enclosure that Lex Luthor had erected for him on the estate."

"You're my AI." Even as he said that Superman realized he sounded
like a pouting child.

"I have been programmed to protect and obey you. The programming
extends to your mate and offspring. Your mate asked for my help, I
gave that."

"Doesn't anyone understand what I'm trying to say?"

"My son, you are distraught. This is not the reaction I expected. On
Krypton we would have given you many pets. When Lex Luthor asked
this of me, I saw that as an opportunity to gift your child."

"None of you get it!"

Superman flew from the fortress, this time not stopping until he
reached Mars. He paced, he ran, he kicked around a few more rocks.
The good thing about Mars was he couldn't hear what was happening on
Earth.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Lex held Conner as he sobbed softly. "Hush, baby."

"But, Papa, he isn't here and he promised."

"I know."

Martha watched as Lex tried to comfort his son. She shook her head
and backed slowly away. She wondered how Jonathan would feel if he
were alive to see that scene. He would never have believed that Lex
would be the one who was always there, for every crisis, every hurt.
While their son was off saving the world while neglecting his family.

Lex had just tucked Connor into bed and settled the blanket in
place, when he felt the breeze of his husband's arrival. Lex lifted
his arm to wave Clark away.

He turned and brushed past Clark to enter their room.

Clark stood in the doorway, dressed again as himself, watching as
Lex went about his evening routine. He turned down the bed, put his
watch on the bedside table and then reached for the sleep pants that
were kept next to the bed.

"Lex…"

"Look, Clark, you can get as pissed at me as you want. You can storm
out, pout, throw things even, but the next time our son cries
himself to sleep because you broke your word to him – Mercy will
get the kryptonite bullets back."

Lex stripped and pulled on the pants, crawled into bed, pulled up
the sheet and turned off the light. Clark stood for a long time and
then went in to sit next to Connor. He dozed off in the chair.

In the next room, Martha sent up a prayer that the boys would work
this out. In the enclosure out behind the house, Barney slept
peacefully, unaware that his birth had created so much havoc.

~^~^~^~^~^~^

Connor woke early the next morning. He looked over to see his dad
sleeping in the chair by his bed. Even though Clark had less need
for sleep than humans, he still got tired. The last month had been
very stressful and Superman had been called on to help in several
natural disasters. The argument with Lex hadn't helped either.
Connor could see actual shadows under his dad's eyes, a rare
happening.

Connor scooted off the end of his bed and ran into the bathroom.
When he finished he went to find his papa.

Martha and Lex were doing their kitchen dance as Clark referred to
it. Over the years, Martha had begun to teach her son-in-law her
kitchen secrets. They had it down to a science and moved gracefully
around each other as they worked on breakfast.

"Daddy is sleeping in my room."

"I know." Lex told him while pouring the egg batter into a skillet.

"Connor, will you get the juice from the fridge for me?" Martha
asked, as she flipped another pancake on the griddle.

Connor walked over, removed the pitcher and placed it on the table.
Without being asked, he began to set the table. Lex turned and
smiled at his son. "Connor, you should go out and make sure Barney
has plenty of food, but don't stay too long."

"Yes, Papa."

Lex watched as his son ran out the door. "He is the most important
thing in my life. I just want him to be happy."

Martha leaned over and kissed Lex's cheek. "I know that, sweetie. So
does Clark, deep down."

"I'm so furious with him."

"I know that too." Martha chuckled.

They completed cooking the meal in silence. The last platter had
just gone on the table when a sleepy looking Clark padded softly
into the room. He kissed his mother's cheek and gave his husband a
sheepish look.

"I screwed up. I know that. It was pointed out to me by everyone I
saw yesterday."

Before he could continue, Connor ran in the door and launched
himself at his dad.

"I missed you last night."

Lex watched as his son forgave his other father once more for
letting him down. He swallowed around the lump in his throat.

"Let's have breakfast."

Lex followed Martha's lead and they sat down at the table. Clark
carried Connor over and put him in his chair. There was silence as
the platters were passed with Connor putting almost as much on his
plate as his dad did.

"Clark, son, are you going to spend the day with us?"

"I promised I would."

"Yes, sweetie, you did. I was just making sure plans hadn't changed."

"They haven't. The League can cover for me."

When breakfast was finished, Martha shooed all three of her boys out
of the house. She watched through the window as they made their way
to the pen where Barney was munching on some milk mixed with baby
cereal that Connor had made for him earlier.

The animal looked up and turned to lumber toward Connor. The two had
bonded in the short time that Barney had been in the world. Connor
climbed through the slats of the fence and knelt next to the animal.
As he spoke softly to Barney, he rubbed what was obviously the right
spot on the back of the neck.

Lex smiled as he watched. Clark was startled when a strong hand
grasped his. He drew in a shaky breath as Lex squeezed gently. In
the house Martha sighed with relief. When they wandered off down the
beach she knew they would work it out.

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^

Superman hovered over the back portion of the estate where Barney
lived. As the AI said he had grown to horse size, if your horse was
a Clydesdale, that is. Connor was sitting between the rows of spines
as the creature moved slowly toward where Lex was standing.

Even with dinosaur shit on his suit, Lex managed to look dignified.
Mercy was glaring at him from the other side of the corral. She was
splattered with crap as well and looking homicidal about it.

"Luthor, how did he manage to do that?"

"He ate something that didn't agree with him. How was I to know that
dinosaurs practice projectile defecation?"

"This is probably one of the reasons they are extinct, did that ever
occur to you?"

"Their elimination methods would not have caused them to die off.
After all, they had a nice unblemished world to live in, plenty of
room to spread out."

"I'm going to take a shower." Mercy announced before stomping off
toward her cottage.

"You stink, Luthor."

"Papa, Barney is sorry. He didn't mean to do that.

"Connor, I know he didn't. I'm not angry. Remember that time you got
so sick? You didn't mean to puke on my laptop anymore than Barney
meant to do this. It's okay. We'll check out a sample and find out
what he ate so we can make sure he doesn't get into it again."

Connor looked up at his dad. "Daddy, please don't be mad."

Superman's demeanor changed abruptly. He landed next to his
son. "Baby, I'm not mad at you. I love you."

"Don't be mad at Papa, either."

"Okay, baby. I'll get this mess cleaned up. You get Barney in his
house and see if he will sleep. Papa will do his magic in the lab."

Conner smiled as he bent to speak to Barney. Not only had Lex and
the AI decreased the animal's size they had increased his brain
size. He had roughly the same intelligence level as a Dalmatian.
Clark watched until they entered the barn. He then turned his heat
vision on the splatters of dino shit.

Lex waited until he had finished.

"I trust there is enough on your suit for testing?"

"I'm sure there is."

"I'm not carrying you with that on you. I don't want my suit to
smell like that."

"I can walk."

The two men walked side by side. Lex entered the lab, stripped and
dropped all but one piece of clothing into a large green bag. He
smiled at his husband, wiggled his ass as he headed for the shower
room.

"Gonna come wash my back, big boy?"

Clark growled and used his super speed to strip down and have the
shower running when Lex reached the room. The washing didn't take
long, but the loving…ah, that is a story for another day.

The end.