Chapter Thirty-Nine:

A/N: Sorry for missing last week with this chapter. It was for personal reasons as to why I couldn't make the scheduled update. I'm really sorry.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Bruce sits on the edge of the bed, eyes closed, and taking deep breaths. It's nearly suppertime the day after he had gone to talk to Dick. He hasn't talked to the beta since and is wondering what Dick is up to right now. His headache has also come back and his body is sore all over. Every limb hurts to move and his breasts are the worse. The shirt pressing against his chest irritates them. Bruce sighs, wishing the Tylenol that he had taken earlier would kick in soon.

There is knock on the bedroom door and when prompted, Clark walks in with a small smile. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

Bruce shrugs. "As okay as I can get with a broken bond." Clark frowns and sits down next to him. "When did you get here?"

"Early this morning. Alfred told me you were resting but then hours started to go by…" Clark trails off, placing a hand on Bruce's back. "Are you in a lot of pain?"

"I don't feel well." Clark's eyebrows furrow but Bruce ignores it. "We are going to have a family dinner tonight with your parents and Kara. Conner is coming too." Bruce shakes his head, looking at his lap. "Everyone is going to be there but Dick."

Clark rubs his back soothingly. "I'm sure he'll be there at the next one. And it's not like you told him what was going on; that my parents and Kara and Barbara are staying for the week."

"I know." Bruce shifts, grimacing a little at his painful body. "It just hurts."

Clark's eyes roam over his entire body, frown deepening. "Bruce, when my bond with Lois broke… I don't know if it's a Kryptonian thing or a mate thing versus a child parent bond, but when mine and Lois' bond broke it didn't hurt this much." Bruce rolls his eyes, already knowing what is coming. "Don't get me wrong, it did hurt, emotionally mostly, and there were a couple of physical reactions, but nothing like this."

Bruce sighs and gets up off the bed. "Clark you forget that I'm pregnant. I'm also having symptoms of that. Of course my reactions to the bond breaking is going to be amplified. I'm dealing with other stuff too."

"Bruce-"

"Clark, Leslie hasn't called which means she hasn't found anything. That means everything is fine."

"She said it could take a while."

Bruce takes a hold of Clark's hand and drags him up off the bed. "I'm fine. Clark if I really thought our daughter was in danger, I wouldn't be so nonchalant about it. I don't want to lose her anymore than you do."

"I know," Clark says, bowing his head. "I'm sorry. I just worry."

"I know you do, but you've got to stop." When Clark doesn't respond, Bruce sighs. "Look, I'm sure I'll feel a little better by tonight. I just need some distractions, like your family and some food in my stomach."

Clark's eyes move to meet his. "Okay." Bruce smiles at him reassuringly and Clark smiles back. "Will you come out now? Barbara and Kara are wondering where you are."

With another sigh, Bruce says, "Yeah, okay. I'll come out of hiding." Clark smiles at him and turns to lead the way.

Everyone is in the lounge by the time Bruce and Clark make it downstairs. Even Kon has arrived who is currently sitting on the armrest of the couch, next to Tim. Tim sees Bruce and Clark walk into the room and turns the them. "Bruce!"

All eyes turn to them and Bruce swallows, feeling Martha and Jonathan's gaze on him. He approaches the two, feeling self-conscious in his button up shirt that does nothing to hide his baby bump. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent, I'm sorry for being MIA the last two days. It was nothing against you, I was just… I wasn't feeling all that well."

"Is the baby okay?" Martha asks, her voice hinting at the notion of mistrust.

"The baby is fine," Bruce reassures, placing a hand on his stomach. "It's just normal pregnancy stuff." Martha's mouth thins but she says nothing else. Bruce resists the urge to squirm, feeling as if he is being judged by the two farmers.

Clark steps up beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Do you want something to drink?"

Bruce looks around the room, noticing everyone is holding flutes of champagne except for Tim, Conner, and Damian who are holding glasses of sparkling water. He says nothing about Jason technically not being old enough yet to drink alcohol. "Water, please. Not the sparkling water but just plain water." Clark nods and walks out of the room in the direction of the kitchen.

Martha and Jonathan get up out of their seats. "Please excuse us, Bruce." They both walk out of the room, following Clark. Bruce lets out a deep sigh, forcing himself to relax. Clark had said he talked to them so everything is fine. They aren't judging him. Bruce swallows, feeling his stomach flip.

"Bruce, are you okay?" Tim asks, looking at him in concern.

"I'm fine," he immediately replies with. There's no reason to have his children start worrying about him as well. Bruce looks around the room, no one looking convinced. His stomach flips again. He really needs that water. "I'll be right back."

Bruce leaves the room, feeling hot all over with everyone's gazes on his back. He pulls at the collar of his shirt. He's getting a bit lightheaded. "Clark," he says as he approaches the kitchen but then stops, hearing hushed voices coming from the room. He leans against the wall, out of eyesight of who is there. He shouldn't eavesdrop but his curiosity has been piqued and he can't help himself. It's a habit after all.

Bruce hears a sigh come from Clark, heavy and tired. "I thought we cleared all this up already?"

"We haven't cleared anything up Son," Jonathan begins. "You told us how it was now but you didn't explain anything."

"Of course I did. You two just didn't listen." Bruce can hear the frustration in Clark's voice. "Or accept it. One or the other."

"We've called Lois, Clark," Martha says, matter of factly.

"What?" Clark sounds shocked. "Why would you do that?"

Bruce peaks around the corner of the door frame. He sees Clark's head twitch in his direction, indicating Clark knows he is there. Martha answers Clark's question. "Because we wanted to talk to her, Clark. How do you think she is feeling right now, having to get a divorce from you and then you running off to Bruce?"

Clark rolls his eyes. "She and I have already had a very long conversation about this whole thing. I am not going to rehash it with you two. Lois and I are good, okay? We've come to an understanding and we're still going to be friends."

Martha cups Clark's cheek, frowning. "But Sweetheart, I don't understand how you could have let Bruce do this to you two. I thought you wanted a family with her?" Clark backs up, letting Martha's hand fall away. "She was perfect and would have been a wonderful mother. What happened to all of that?"

"None of this is his fault, Ma." Clark says, throwing a hand up in frustration. "I did it all. I'm the one who cheated. I'm the one who got him pregnant."

"But he's the one with that persona of his. The-the," Martha snaps her fingers, trying to find the right word, "playboy that he pretends to be. The one that seduces everyone. He did it to you too."

"And do you really think I would fall for that Ma?" Clark shakes his head. "You know Bruce isn't really like that."

"What?" Jonathan inputs. "A Bond Breaker?" Bruce flinches and Clark's eyes dart to the doorway. Being called a bond breaker is the worse thing anyone could be called. It's basically calling you the scum of the Earth, someone despicable and broken. Hearing it used to describe him hurts in more ways than one, and Bruce swallows thickly. "As far as I can tell, he is." Jonathan continues, unaware that Bruce can hear every word.

Clark's mouth is hanging open in shock. "I can't believe you just accused him of being that. Bruce isn't the reason why Lois and I broke our bond. I did that all myself. I'm the Bond Breaker."

Martha gasps and Jonathan shakes his head. Martha cups both sides of her son's face. "Don't you ever call yourself such a horrible thing. You are not a Bond Breaker Clark."

Once again, Clark backs up out of her grasp. "And neither is Bruce. Why can't you two just accept that it's over between Lois and I, and that I'm trying to make it work with Bruce now?"

"Clark-"

Bruce can't stand to hear anymore. His heart is hurting by having been called a Bond Breaker, knowing that it is true. He's lost his bond with Dick and deserves such a title. He steps into the kitchen, successfully cutting Martha off. "Hey, what's taking so long with that water?"

When Clark looks at him, his eyes are filled with sympathy. "It's coming." Clark turns away and grabs a glass, filling it with water. He hands it over to Bruce and Bruce takes it gratefully, sipping at it. Martha and Jonathan exchange looks and walk out of the room, Jonathan patting one of Clark's shoulders. Clark lets out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry Bruce." Bruce sits down on one of the stools to the island, resting his head in one hand. "Hey, what my parents said about you, it isn't true."

Bruce nods, not meeting Clark's eyes. "Yeah," he whispers, sad and disbelieving.

"Are you coming back out?"

"I'll be right there," he tells the alpha. Clark gives him a sympathetic smile and then leaves.

He's not sure how long he sits in the kitchen, nursing his water, but eventually it's long enough for someone to come and check on him. Alfred walks into the room, followed by Tim and Jason. "Is everything alright Master Bruce?"

Bruce rubs his forehead. He wants to go lie back down so his head can stop feeling so fuzzy. "Everything is fine."

"Everything doesn't look fine." Tim sits down next to him, rubbing at Bruce's back. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Bruce nods, looking up at his son and butler. "I'm fine. I really wish people would stop asking me that."

Both Tim's and Alfred's lips thin but they don't say anything more. Jason begins speaking before anyone else can. "Am I the only one who is feeling awkward around Mr. and Mrs. Kent?" Tim shakes his head. "What the hell is their problem?"

"Their problem is with me," Bruce says before thinking about who exactly he is talking to. When Bruce looks up, he can see the anger already in Jason's eyes.

"What the fuck does that mean?" the alpha demands.

Bruce sighs, dragging a hand down his face. He doesn't bother answering but then Tim says lowly, "I would actually like to know as well."

Rolling his eyes, Bruce finally answers. "The worse of it was that they called me a Bond Breaker."

The room goes silent and all three men stare at him wide-eyed. Bruce counts down to the explosion, making it to exactly zero by the time Jason opens his mouth. "They what?" he yells. "Who the fuck do they think they are? Their son isn't exactly as innocent in this whole bond issue either."

"That's the thing Jason. They called me that because they think it's my fault Clark and Lois' bond broke."

He can practically see the fumes coming out of Jason's ears. "Well then they need to be set straight."

Jason starts his journey out of the kitchen when Alfred stops him. "Master Jason, I really don't think yelling at the Kents is such a good idea."

"But-"

"I agree with Alfred," Bruce interrupts, getting up off the stool. "We don't want a confrontation between you and them."

"Why the hell not?" Jason asks, angry. "They called you a fucking Bond Breaker Bruce! They need to know-"

"Clark already settled it with them. They know it was him and not me."

"But do they believe him?" Tim asks, looking off into the distance, lost in thought.

"Look," Bruce hands the glass that he was drinking from to Alfred and the beta places it in the sink. "I just want to get through this supper with them and deal with all their reservations later when I'm feeling better."

"Then you will be happy to know that supper is almost ready, Master Bruce," Alfred says, checking the oven.

"Good." He rubs his stomach. The room has started to spin. "Can one of you tell Clark I went to lie down for a minute."

"Yeah," Tim says, frowning at him in concern.

Bruce nods once and then goes back to his bedroom, lying down on his bed. He's there no longer than ten minutes before there is a knock on the door. With an annoyed sigh, he sits up slowly, praying the room doesn't start to sway again. He allows the person in and when Clark enters, the alpha walks up to the bed but doesn't sit. Instead, he kneels in front of Bruce. "Are you okay?"

Bruce groans. "I don't think you all understand how tired I am of hearing that question." Clark is smiling at him in apology and Bruce rolls his eyes at the alpha's stupid adorable grin. "I'll be fine for supper. It's going to be awkward but I'm used to dealing with awkward things."

"Well," Clark places a hand on Bruce's knee. "Ma and Pa are pretty strict on the manners at the dinner table so they'll probably be on their best behavior."

"Oh then this will be really interesting to see how it plays out considering my boys have zero manners despite Alfred trying to teach them."

Clark chuckles. "I'm sure everything will be alright." Bruce says nothing to this, not having the same faith as Clark. Clark pats his knee. "Come on. I didn't just come in here to check in on you. Supper is ready." Bruce gets up off the bed and follows Clark down to the dining room.

Everyone is seated and Bruce takes his usual place at the head of the table, Clark coming to sit at his left while his parents sit on Bruce's right. As Alfred goes about serving the food, Barbara's voice travels over all the others. "So where's Dick?" Jason, Tim, and Damian fall silent and Bruce stares at Barbara while Clark looks at him warily.

Martha, Jonathan, Conner, and Kara's eyes are on him, waiting for a reply. "He's in Blüdhaven right now."

Barbara's eyebrows furrow. "But this is an important family dinner."

Damian tsks from beside Jason. "Grayson is no longer family." His eyes are narrowed dangerously and he stabs a carrot with his fork viciously.

All the Kents except Clark looks at the child. Martha looks over at Bruce. "What does he mean by that?"

"He means," Clark says, stepping in. "Dick had some more important business to attend to in Blüdhaven."

"And it couldn't have been postponed?" Jonathan asks.

"It was already scheduled before you guys came up. It couldn't be switched to another day," Clark explains.

Jonathan huffs a humorless laugh. "What was so important that it couldn't have been changed to a different date?"

"Nightwing business," Bruce says.

"But what does Damian mean when he says Dick is no longer family?" Martha asks.

Bruce doesn't know what to tell them but he opens his mouth anyway, hoping something not to incriminating comes out. Clark, however, beats him too it. "Dick and Damian got into an argument earlier so Damian is just saying that out of anger. He doesn't actually mean it." Damian's eyes narrow at Clark and Bruce gives the kid a warning look to keep his mouth shut. Martha and Jonathan look from Clark to Damian and back, confusion clearly written on their faces.

Suddenly, Barbara blurts out, "He did what? Jeez, no wonder Bruce looks terrible if Dick broke their bond." The beta is looking down at her phone in disbelief, glancing up every few seconds at Tim who also has his phone out.

Martha and Jonathan's eyes are back on Bruce and he can feel his whole body heating up again. "That…" he trails off, not sure how to explain himself. He was just caught in the lie and the Kents are looking at him judgmentally. "It's…"

"Oh my Rao," Kara says from her seat beside Barbara. Her face is contorted in anger as she, too, looks at her phone. Finally, Bruce understands what is going on. They all are texting each other. "He can't get away with that!"

"Kara," Clark starts. "Bruce and I have already talked to him."

"But the baby!" Kara stands, slamming her hands down on the table. Plates and silverware rattle loudly. "He hurt her!"

"Kara-"

"Yeah, I was pretty mad too," Kon says, sitting next to Tim.

"How many people have you told, Tim?" Jason asks the omega.

Tim shrugs. "Just the family."

"You shouldn't have told anyone," Jason says, his own anger rising. "No one needed to know except the seven of us."

"So what? I can't discuss my family problems with my mate now?"

"Mate?" Martha echos Tim. "Conner is your mate?"

"What is this all about?" Jonathan asks, directing his question to the clone.

"I…" Kon trails off, looking as if he is at a complete loss.

"You are too young for a mate, Conner," Martha continues, looking horrified. "You two haven't shared heats have you?"

"That's none of your business," Jason snaps back.

"Hey," Kara floats off the ground and Bruce isn't sure if she even realizes it. "I thought we were talking about Dick and what he did to my cousin and his baby."

"Yeah, I think that's a bit more important than who you're having sex with Tim," Barbara adds.

"Barbara please," Martha says, covering her mouth with a napkin. "Don't use such language at the dinner table."

"See Clark, this is exactly what your mother and I were talking about. Bruce is a Bond Breaker. He broke the bond between you and Lois, and now with his own son. What's to stop the same thing from happening to your daughter?"

"That won't happen," Clark counters. "And he didn't break any of those bonds. I've told you this already with mine and Lois'." Clark is sounding angry and frustrated.

Bruce just watches the chaos in front of him, listening to the arguing and the accusations flying all around the table. He wants to crawl away and back to his bedroom where he can be alone and in silence. He doesn't want to be around all this noise that is making him feel sick and making his headache worse. "Please stop," he whispers but no one hears him, not even Clark.

Bruce locks eyes with Alfred and understanding immediately dawns on the older beta. Alfred clears his throat loudly. "That is enough!" The room goes silent abruptly, Kara landing back down onto the floor. "That will be enough of the arguing at this dinner table or else I will pack up all this food and the lot of you can go hungry. Do you understand?" No one meets the beta's eyes but everyone nods, even the Kents. "Good. Now everyone please enjoy your meals. I will be in the kitchen if you need me." He turns but stops halfway to the door to the kitchen. Twisting half his body to face the table again, he says, "I don't want to hear a single peep of an argument coming out of any of your mouths." The butler looks pointedly at Bruce's children. Then, with his head held high, he turns back around and leaves.

Bruce slumps in his chair, everyone starting to eat quietly and awkwardly. Sighing, he picks up his own silverware and forces himself to eat some food.

A/N: Thanks for reading!