Hey, guys!

So, this is really just for fun since not every idea I have can't be put directly into Parenting 331. xD This is an au where Lionel found Clark, tested on him, and Lex found him after Lionel died. There's a larger age gap between Lex and Clark, and Lex is Clark's dad. There will be scattered spoilers for Parenting 331 around the one-shots though.

These also won't be linear, so one chapter could happen when Clark is 18 and another when he's five. (Clark is 8 years old in this first one.)

I hope you enjoy!


The Puppy

Clark popped the question at dinnertime.

"Hey, Daddy?"

Lex looked up from his steak and smiled at Clark. "Yeah, bubba?" He said. "What's up?"

Clark cleared his throat, then looked back down at the macaroni and cheese and steak on his plate. Lex frowned when he realized that Clark had hardly touched his food.

"I was talking with Brad earlier," he began. "Well… sort of. He doesn't really like me much. I was kinda just listening while he talked to Damien."

Lex nodded as he listened. It broke his heart that Clark was having such a rough school year. None of the kids really seemed to like him, mostly because of the reputation surrounding his family. Lex knew that kids could be cruel, but Clark had basically been alienated in the first week. There were only a few weeks left though, then Lex would look into different schools.

"Then what happened? Tell me what happened, kiddo," Lex encouraged. Sometimes Clark still had trouble with truly expressing himself with words. Sometimes he would just ramble about nothing as the original topic got away from him, and other times he would just stay silent.

"He told Damien that his parents got him a puppy," Clark said.

Lex inhaled deeply. He knew exactly where this was going…

"Can we get a puppy, Daddy?"

Clark's eyes were so big, even bigger than normal, which only enhanced their otherworldly blue. If it was anything else, Lex would cave, but a dog? He wasn't sure…

"Clark," he began, then sighed. "I don't think that's a good idea, bubba. You have school during the day, and I have work. We're too busy for a puppy."

Clark's shoulder's sank and he looked back down at his plate. "Oh…"

Lex reached over and placed his hand on Clark's shoulder. "I'm sorry, bubba," he said.

Clark nodded, but didn't speak again for the rest of the night.


Lex sat in his office and typed away at an important email.

The workday had been long, but it had also been pretty laid back as well. The reports from different sites all came back good, the phone calls had gone over well, and he just had a few emails left before he could be done for the day.

He smiled and looked up as the door opened without a single knock. Clark had never knocked on the door to Lex's office. Lex had taught him to knock on other doors before entering, but the door to Lex's office was always open to his son.

"Hey, bubba," Lex said, then looked at the time. Normally Clark would be working on his homework. "Need help with your homework?"

Clark shook his head. "I finished it already," he said softly.

Lex closed his laptop. Clark seemed pretty nervous. "Is something wrong?" He asked.

Clark shook his head again. "Um… I made a presentation," he whispered.

Lex smiled in amusement. He had been teaching Clark about presentations and speeches for awhile, but Clark hadn't tried to make his own before.

"Okay, let's see it," Lex said.

Clark cleared his throat, then put the first piece of paper in front of Lex. Lex had the feeling that Clark had wanted to use some sort of stand, but didn't know where to find one.

"Why we should get a dog," Clark began, then added quickly. "By Clark Luthor."

Lex leaned back. This was gonna be interesting.

"Dogs are really good companions and are really fun," he said. "They're also really cute.

"I'm eight years old now and I'm responsible enough to take care of a puppy. I keep my room clean!"

Okay, Lex had to give him that. Clark did keep his room clean, but was he responsible enough to take care of a puppy?

"I'm only at school for a few hours and I get my homework done fast," Clark continued. "And when I'm staying with Aunt Martha and Uncle Jonathan I can bring the puppy and it can help on the farm! We can get a farming breed!"

"Hmmm…" Lex said "I don't know, Clark…"

"Just… Think about it, Daddy?"

Lex sighed. "Okay," he said. "I'll think about it."


Lex couldn't sleep that night. Instead, his mind was on Clark.

Clark had given a few good points, and the fact that he had made a presentation warmed Lex's heart.

But a dog…

Dogs took a lot of work and time. Maybe Clark was ready for it, but maybe he wasn't. Lex wasn't sure it was a good idea to risk it.

Plus he would have to talk to the Kents, though he already knew they wouldn't have a problem with a dog on the farm every once in a while.

And Lex would be at home most of the time when Clark was at work.

Clark had never really asked for anything. Of course, he would make a wishlist around Christmas, and every once in a while he would ask for takeout, but it wasn't the same. It was almost a milestone for him.

He was also very dedicated to this idea. In the time between their dinner conversation and that afternoon, Clark had written a presentation with a few convincing points. Maybe that was on Lex though, because he had been Clark's teacher for that one…

There was another point that Clark hadn't brought up, but Lex knew. Clark was lonely.

Sure, he had Lex, Martha and Jonathan, and their neighbor Lana Lang, but no one at school liked him and he was still too shy to introduce himself to kids at the park. A puppy wasn't a human companion, but it was still a good one.

Lex sighed. At least he knew what he would be doing tomorrow.


When Lex picked up Clark from school the next afternoon, the backseat was full of shopping bags.

"How was school?" Lex asked.

Clark shrugged as he climbed into the passenger seat and curled into a ball. It didn't take a rocket scientist to understand that it hadn't been a good school day.

Lex reached over and ruffled Clark's fluffy hair. "I know how to turn that frown upside down," he said.

"I'm not hungry…" Clark said softly. Normally, on bad days, Lex would take Clark to get ice cream after a bad school day, so it made sense to Lex that Clark would immediately assume that's where they were going.

"We're not getting ice cream," Lex said. "Just trust me, bubba."

The ride was silent, no matter how many times Lex tried to start a conversation. But it was okay. Lex had the feeling it would be worth it.

When he pulled into the animal shelter, Clark sat up. "Daddy?"

"Yes?" Lex asked, though he couldn't contain his smile.

"Are we getting a puppy?" He asked excitedly.

Lex nodded. "I guess you convinced me with that presentation of yours," he said.

Clark grinned, and as soon as they were out of the car, he threw his arms around Lex. "Thank you, Daddy."

Lex gave Clark a tight squeeze, then they walked into the shelter.

Lex walked around with Clark as they looked at all of the dogs. So far, none of them had been right.

Suddenly, Clark gasped. "That one," he said.

The puppy was beautiful. A brown and white border collie with darker brown stripes down her back and eyes that were almost as blue as Clark's.

Lex watched as Clark held and petted the puppy. He watched as the two of them bonded. Just seeing the two of them together made Lex realize that he would walk the dog every day if it meant he got to see Clark smile like that.

"Does she have a name?" Lex asked Clark.

Clark looked down at the dog in his arms, then smiled. "Lara."

Lex grinned. "Well, it's time for Lara to come home," he said.

Clark smiled and put on the collar that Lex had bought for her. A few minutes later, they were leaving the shelter and driving back home.

"Thank you," Clark spoke up after a few moments of silence.

Lex smiled, then reached over and ruffled Clark's hair. "You're welcome, bubba," he said, then added. "I love you."

Clark smiled up at him. "I love you too."


So! There you go! The first one-shot! I hope you enjoyed! Please follow, fave, and review! I would love to know what you thought!

Thanks for reading! Love y'all!