Clark Kent walked into the mansion and right to the pool table. Where Lex Luthor wasn't. "Lex?"

That's odd. Why would Lex invite him over and then not be around? Well, he would probably be here soon enough.

"Ah, Clark, how nice of you to be here tonight."

Eep. Clark froze. Lionel Luthor. Slowly turning around, Clark had the sudden urge to swallow his tongue. There was Lionel, sans shirt and drinking bottled water. "Mr. Luthor," Clark greeted. Don't look down. Focus on his forehead. Don't think about shoulders, chest... oh, hell. "Is Lex around?" Because if he isn't, would you mind if I got on my knees... no! Bad thoughts! Bad!

Clark Kent's stare did not go unnoticed by the elder Luthor. Interesting. But why exactly was he staring? Time to find out. "Oh, didn't Lex call you?" A slight twist that gave Clark a full view of his profile, a long drink from the bottle, a lick of the lips. "I'm afraid he was called to Metropolis last minute to attend to an... affair."

Very bad thoughts! "No, sir, he didn't call." Clark was suddenly very thankful that he chose to wear his tee shirt untucked. Or else he would have some explaining to do. Or else Lionel would find yet another reason to smirk at him. "It must have been very important business."

Clark still couldn't meet Lionel's eyes, or he would have noticed Lionel taking in the young man's obvious discomfort. Oh, yes, the boy wanted him. But should he take him now, or try to enjoy this a bit? "He didn't say," Lionel smirked.

"Well, then I guess I should get going." Must get home. Quickly. Need time alone in loft.

Oh, no, my boy, you aren't getting off that easy. If I'm lucky, we'll both be getting off. Lionel held the water bottle by his hip. "Well, now, no need to run off just yet. Have you eaten?"

"Er..." Yes. Say yes. Say yes. "Not yet, actually."

"Is there something I can offer you? I hate to see have come up all this way for nothing."

Clark's mouth worked to form words. He knew that he should leave. But, he was hungry. "Oh... OK, sure, something to eat sounds great."

Five minutes later found them in the kitchen with Lionel Luthor making him a sandwich. This just seems wrong on so many levels, Clark mused to himself. He wondered if Lionel had ever made food for his own son. Given what he knew of Lionel, he sincerely doubted it.

The two made small talk, how was school? How was his mother? Of course he would want to know about her. That was probably what this was all about! Lionel just wanted to get in good with his mother. Damn it, how could he be so stupid?

And then Lionel put his hand on Clark's knee. "Son, if there's anything you ever need from me, please don't hesitate to ask."

Clark actually choked on a bite of sandwich. Lionel pounded him on the back as he struggled to continue breathing. "Are you all right?" the older man asked.

"Um, yes?" was all Clark could squeak out. It was getting very hard to think with Lionel's hands on his shoulders. More importantly, Lionel's massaging hands on his shoulders.

"Are you going to make it?" Lionel couldn't mask the amusement in his voice.

"I think I'll... be, um, I'll be... you know, all right." Damn, the man smelled good. Why, oh, why couldn't he have put on a shirt? At least Clark could pretend that this wasn't oddly sexual if Lionel was fully clothed.

Clark suddenly felt like he had to get out of the room. Immediately. Yet he was somehow glued to the chair.

Lionel stood behind him, rubbing his back. "You seem a little nervous. Is something bothering you?"

Yes, I want to be totally naked with you. I think I might be gay. "I want-" Oh crap, said that out loud.

Lionel slid his hand on Clark's chin, urging the boy to turn his head to face him. He leaned in close. "What is it you want, Clark?"

"I want..."

"Dad, are you in here?"

The two quickly pulled away from each other as Lex walked in, coat on and brief case under one arm. "What's going on?" He looked from his father to his friend. Why did the two look so guilty? God damn it. Not again, Dad.

Clark attacked the remaining half of sandwich with a vengeance, anything to keep from having to talk to Lex. Lionel sat at the other side of the table. "Your friend Clark was just visiting with me," he explained.

"Really," Lex said disbelievingly. "Clark, what are you doing here?"

Clark looked up from the sandwich. "You invited me here, remember?"

Lex frowned. "No I didn't. I have to go up to Metropolis tonight."

Clark's stomach knotted. But Lionel said... "Oh, I must have misunderstood. I thought you invited me up here tonight."

Biting the inside of his mouth, Lex shot a glare at his father. "Yeah, Clark, you must have misunderstood."

Lionel just had his chin in his hand, smiling enigmatically at his son. "Well, the least I could do was feed the boy."

"I bet," Lex said dryly. "Clark if you're almost done, why don't I give you a ride home?" When I get back, we're having a little talk about my father.

Carmella wanted to harm someone. And she was not a violent person. Oh, no. After... letting herself back into Lionel's house, she spied the interaction in the kitchen between her employer and the nasty little farm boy. He would have to go.

But how to get him out of her way? She didn't want to kill him... not really, anyway. But she had to think of something, or else she was going to lose the love of her life to this child.

"You look like a woman in need of some assistance," a voice purred at her.

"Who's there?" Carmella gasped, looking around but seeing no one.

"Er... I'm your fairy Godmother?"

Carmella rolled her eyes. "Even I don't believe in fairies," she said huffily. "If you want a Fitzpatrick that believes in fairies, talk to my father in Belle Reeve."

"Even one that could get you what you want?"

"Who are you?"

"That's not really important. I've come to grant you a wish, Carmella. But be careful not to waste it. And be careful how you word your wish."

Carmella had read enough stories to know that wishing could be dangerous business. So, how to word this to make sure she got what she wanted?

Unfortunately for Carmella, she didn't think very long before blurting out, "I wish Lex Luthor would fall for that farm boy and take him far away from Lionel." That sounded so much better in my head...

"Consider it done."

"Wait! Who are you?"

Somewhere in his little corner of the universe, a magickal being giggled with glee. He was going to have so much fun with this one. Especially after what they had done to him. "As you mortals like to say, pay back is a bitch."

TBC