AN: Thank you friends for sharing this journey with me.

The Three of Us

More than a year later…

"It's a holiday," Clark's voice complained as he cradled the mobile phone in one hand while pacing around the kitchen like a pregnant woman. "I'm at the farm…I can do the research after my day off. Lois? Lois?"

She looked at Clark's face staring down at the mobile phone through the steam from her coffee as she took a sip. "Dead battery?"

"Yes." He was feeling his pockets. "And I seem to have misplaced my charger."

"Trust me, the charger for that model would not fit into your pockets," she quipped before a forkful of pancakes slathered in maple syrup disappeared into her mouth.

"I'll see if I have any available," Martha, who was finished with her eggs and toast, volunteered.

"Don't bother, Martha. Somehow…I don't think there's any available compatible model left besides his."

Clark finally sat down. "You're making fun of my phone. Again."

Martha shook her head as the older woman rose up from the chair once more to retrieve the coffee pot. "Want some more pancakes, dear?"

"Yes, please," she added a smile before turning to Clark once more as he fiddled with the phone, as if poking it would restore its power. Not from him, at least. "The late nineteen nineties called and they want that...relic back."

"As long as it remains useful…I'm happy with it. Though Lois will kill me…"

"Your girlfriend is making you work on Christmas?" she teased. But deep inside she was happy that her friend was able to recover from what happened more than a year prior. "Alright...give me that…" She snatched the drained phone from him but was careful not to crush the thing in her grip. Inspecting the old model, she smirked at the faded number pad. "Excuse me…" She hid her hands and the phone under the table.

There was a spark and a crackling sound that soon disappeared. She ignored Clark's reprimanding stare as she handed the now fully charged cellular phone back.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs Kent," Bruce's voice interrupted as Clark's mother brought out another plate of pancakes. She grimaced at the sound of his voice. Surely he witnessed what she did and he would not let that pass.

"Thank you, Bruce. Have a seat," Bruce took the one opposite her. "What would you like?"

He looked from her to the food on the table. "I'll just have coffee."

Martha poured him a cup before making another excuse to leave for the kitchen.

She stood up, reached out and stabbed two pancakes from the serving platter with her fork and dumped it on his plate before doing the same with a piece of sausage before sliding a sunny side up egg on the side. "It's Christmas. Live a little," she chided, before adding with a naughty gleam in her eyes. "You'll surely burn all the calories later anyway."

He gave her a mock scowl before turning to Clark who was busy texting. "By the way, I thought we made it clear. No use of certain powers unless very, very called for."

"Trust me. It is called for." She looked at Clark. "He was talking to his girlfriend when-"

"It was about work," Clark interrupted, not taking his eyes from his phone.

"Whatever. If it happened to you while you are talking to that underwearmodel, I will only be glad to help, just the same…" She gave him a knowing look before turning to Clark again. "Are you done with that?" When he nodded, she snatched the phone away again and placed it far from him. She held out her hand in Bruce's direction.

With a grunt, he reached inside his jacket pocket and handed over his cellular phone. She placed it next to Clark's and what polar opposites the gadgets seemed to be.

"I don't want your…girlfriends ruining one of the very few times I have both your undivided attention," she smirked.

"What about yours?" Clark asked.

"Bruce confiscated it, remember?" She had the error of bringing it to a meeting more than a week ago.

"Oh right…" Clark's fork pounced on the egg on his plate. "To break you and Steve up."

"That is not the reason," Bruce replied in his trademark baritone.

"There's nothing to break up." It was true but she glared at Bruce's direction anyway.

"Really? I thought he was getting a little chummy with you," Clark teased. "What about the other one? The very rich guy, about as rich as Bruce?"

She expelled a sigh laced with frustration, remembering one of the many ardent suitors who was almost up to her non meta-human standards. Well…nearly. "He is being investigated by the IRS."

Then she had an awareness as both her and Clark looked suspiciously at Bruce who was nonchalantly sipping on his coffee.

"No comment."

She tapped her fingers on the table. If she ever began a relationship, she should better make it a secret…if that was ever possible from these two anyway. "I'll let that pass since it's a holiday. Let's just have breakfast, shall we?"

She returned her attention to the stack of pancakes that were halfway consumed. As she enjoyed her country breakfast in silence her eyes observed, every now and then, the two males who were having a light hearted talk about J'onn's extended vacation to mingle with humankind that later turned into exchanging inputs on how to upgrade the watchtower defence systems.

She shook her head. The purpose of this regular meet up was to act like normal people, in the normal world…and not to discuss work related topics. The three of them came to an agreement of meeting at least once a month at a place that was more detached from their usual work surroundings to recapture the friendship that was once almost lost.

She eyed the two differing personalities as Bruce, who ironically seemed to be enjoying his breakfast, was immaculately attired as always. Still very handsome, she had to mentally note…much to her own chagrin.

Clark, on the other hand, was dressed down to a shirt and jeans. Though the dark hair and blue eyes could easily pass them off as…relatives. She smiled when Clark let out a laugh. It was very comforting to see him smile that way again.

And deep inside, she was contented and happy with the thought that, after more than a year, things were almost back to the way they were.

"Excuse me, are you both done talking?" The two looked at her. Clark seemed guilty, Bruce was, as always, indifferent. She retrieved a paper bag by her side. "I have something to give…"

"I thought gift giving would be after lunch?" Clark asked, suddenly worried.

"You haven't wrapped yours, have you?"

"There's no point wrapping gifts unless you wrap it in lead," Bruce added.

"So you did not wrap yours as well…" she accused. Martha was trying to hide her mirth when the older lady appeared to fill her half empty cup. "Thank you," she smiled before returning her attention to the two.

She stood up, pulled out a blue box and a dark grey box. Unceremoniously, she placed the colour coordinated cases and spoiled the surprise. "That's perfume," she told Clark then turned to Bruce. "And that's perfume as well."

"Thank you."

Bruce smirked. "It's one way of saying she does not like the way we smell."

"And you're welcome too, Bruce. And thank you in advance for the gift certificates," it was her turn to look smug. "The combinations to your vault would have sufficed."

"Very well…" He knew the relevance of her remark. He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a pen. On a napkin, he scribbled a set of combinations before showing them first to her, then to Clark. Clark promptly incinerated the paper afterwards.

"Though I'll be changing that at regular intervals, just in case anyone of you…"

"Change sides?" she asked.

"Cross the line?" Clark added.

"Go to the dark side?" She was hiding her mirth. "Very Darth Vader."

"I know ri-"

"Seriously," Bruce groaned.

Clark's face sobered. She could feel him lightly kicking her under the table. "Well…what happens if it is the two of you?"

"You have a countermeasure for me," Bruce answered, looking slightly concerned at her.

"But not for me."

Clark sipped on his coffee. "That's where it gets a little…tricky. You know how I fare against magic…"

"Only too well," she remarked.

Seconds passed in silence while they all seemed to be thinking of that particular point in their lives. She could sense that it was Bruce who seemed the most uncomfortable at the recollection, despite the passive façade he was projecting.

"Since we're being serious here…I have another gift for the two of you. Though this, you have to share." She placed a cloth wrapped object on the table. "My father's gift to me…that now I entrust to both of you." She remembered the last time she visited her parents. It was her one condition, that if she was to truly accept her powers, her heritage, there must be a way to stop her if she gets too powerful.

She carefully lifted the cloth to reveal a dagger, the light reflecting on the sharp blade. She handled the weapon and immediately it glowed a fiery orange as it was engulfed by magical fire. She positioned the sharpest point on her forefinger and made a small cut. Her skin did not offer much resistance like it used to with other metals.

She wiped the blood on the cloth. "It is like what he said it would be." She replaced the dagger as the two men sat in quiet seriousness. "Now…who gets to keep it?"

"You take it," Clark immediately answered, referring to Bruce.

Bruce lifted the parcel and moved it to his side of the table.

"Though I have to remind you, it's just a weapon. Who wields it will matter more." She sat on her chair once more and continued with her coffee nonchalantly as if it was not about her death she was talking about while the two men sat in silence.

"Wally is fast but I am not so sure if he is fast enough to do it right. John's ring…we all know that does not quite work…" She was referring to the one training exercise when she was able to smash through John's defences with her fists. "J'onn would not be able to hold the dagger without conquering his own fears first."

She looked thoughtfully at Clark.

"How about Bruce?"

She turned her gaze to the man across her. "I mean no disrespect but…" she let her voice trail. It was the truth. Even if he was that skilled, if she ever went the other way, he might not stand a chance against her. "I can sense your movements even at a distance." Before he could even reach her, she would probably be at his neck already.

She returned her eyes to her trusted friend. Clark was looking at the cloth with an amount of concern.

"It has to be you," Bruce mentioned the unspoken words they all knew all along.

"When the time…if ever," she corrected herself before reaching out to touch his hand. "If ever it happens, you must think of the greater good, Kal. I would want you to. And don't worry…" She smiled and gave his hand a light squeeze. "I'd do the same for you."

"As if that's supposed to help," Clark sighed. She knew there was a little uncertainty if he could ever do it.

She removed her hand and held it in front of him. With a resigned expression Clark took her hand, accepting the handshake, the symbolic recognition of the pact that they had just made.

"If you both turn…"

Clark looked from her to the other man beside him. The serious face was replaced by a grin as the Kryptonian reached out and tapped his friend on the shoulder for good measure. "Then you have your work cut out for you."

The line of discussion might be a tad depressing, but Bruce's attempt at hiding a helpless expression was somewhat humorous. She secretly handed Clark a party favour under the table.

"What a nice way to spend Christmas…talking to your two very best friends…" She looked at the two for more emphasis. "And discussing how to off each other," she sighed before letting out a laugh.

Bruce was trying hard not to be amused.

"Don't burden yourself with something that's a little remote from happening, Bruce." Clark poured his friend another cup of coffee. "Cheer up, it's Christmas."

She poured more syrup on his pancakes. "And you're only grouchy…"

"Three hundred sixty four days a year," they all said together as she and Clark blew gently at the whistle paper blowouts directed at Bruce. "Merry Christmas!"