Chapter Twenty Two
One Week Later…
"Clark!" the loud voice called out surprising the kryptonian causing his head to bang against one of the barn's rafters, "Sorry" Chloe apologized while she watched him fly back down to the ground rubbing the back of his head, "For a guy who has superhearing you really suck at listening." She stated before handing him the reusable bags which were filled with party supplies
"I've been telling him that for years." Kara said entering the barn carrying a large table and several chairs, "Where should I put these?"
He walks over to take a few chairs off her hands and begins walking outside, "Dad wants them near the grill. There should be enough chairs for the adults at this table and enough for Maggie's friends."
"I still can't believe the little one is turning eight years old. It seems like only yesterday she trying to draw on the walls and hiding in the loft with Shelby." Kara smiles to herself while setting the table down while Clark arranged the chairs, "Pretty soon she'll be a teenager."
"Sneaking out of the house to meet a boy." Chloe added walking around the kryptonian cousins when she noticed the annoyed look on Clark's face, "She is your daughter Clark. Maybe the loft will be her fortress of solitude like it was for you."
"In that case we're going to need a serious intervention then." Kara joked and the two shared a quick laugh at Clark's expense.
He gave them a mocking laugh when he went to answer his phone and seemed to smile when he realized that it was Lois, "How are things on the home front?" he greets oblivious to the looks shared by his cousin and friend.
"I'm hearing a lot of chatter but John hasn't made an appearance yet. You're safe in Smallville for the time being." Lois replied while fiddling her with nails as she casually engaged her partner in conversation, "How's the party planning so far?"
"My dad is busy distracting Maggie while we get everything ready." He walks back into the barn where he grabs a few lights and begins floating back up to the rafters, "Are you still coming?" he asks while keeping the phone pressed between his ear and shoulder allowing his hands the freedom to finish the rest of the decorations.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world." She smiles with her eyes trained on the already wrapped present, "You think she'll like what I got her?"
"Are you kidding? Maggie would love a pet rock if she knew it was from you." He stops and lets his hand hold the phone when he hears the sound of a car approaching, "Listen Lo. I've got to go and finish the rest of the preparations but don't forget that the party starts at five." He hovers back down to the ground and walks out to see the familiar sports car parked in the driveway.
"Got it." she makes a note of it on a post it which she sticks to her computer, "I'll see you soon." They hang up simultaneously each with a smile on their face.
"Lex" Clark exclaimed with surprise in his tone, "I thought you were busy working on the campaign." He watches his friend pull a neatly wrapped and rather large present from the backseat.
"You didn't think I would miss my own goddaughter's birthday." Lex responds handing off the present to Clark, "The campaign trail will still be there tomorrow."
Clark was about to turn around to put the present with the rest when he noticed a dark haired boy dressed in a suit appear at Lex's side.
"W-Who's this little guy?"
Lex looked down at the child and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "This is my son Liam."
Clark immediately tried to mask his surprise as looked at Lex then at Liam and put on a fake smile despite the thoughts the crowded his mind at the idea that his friend had a child that was kept hidden not only form him but from the world.
"Happy Birthday to You!" the crowd finished their song while gathered around the now eight year old Maggie who gave them the cutest smile before blowing out her candles causing everyone to cheer and applaud while Chloe snapped photos.
Martha went to pull the cake from the table to remove the candles and cut the cake which was passed around and scarfed down by the kids while the adults took their time, "Clark" she calls out to her son who looks away from Lois to acknowledge her call, "Could you get me some more plates from the kitchen." He nods and hands Lois his cake then kisses her cheek before walking towards the house.
"You have a lovely home Mrs. Kent."
"Thank you Lois." Martha replied with her usual warm smile, "I try my best to make this place feel like home to everyone that comes through my door." Her smile seemed to grow bigger when she the children run off after Shelby, "You know when Clark came home four years ago I could tell that something had happened to him in DC and now that I've met you in person I can see why you had such a profound affect on him."
Lois didn't know how to respond but didn't have to because Clark decided to appear at her side in that moment with a large smile and a stack of plates, "I can't believe the turnout for this thing." He looks back at Lois to explain, "Last year was smaller."
A tug on his shirt caused him to look down to see Maggie staring up at him, "When can we open presents?" he smiles at the question and the fact that there was chocolate frosting on her cheek.
"Soon" he replies while wiping away the frosting and gives her a kiss on the forehead when he notices Liam standing up in the loft isolated from the other kids, "Why don't you go see if Liam wants to play?"
"Do I have to?" she whines.
Clark gave her a look and she immediately walk off towards the loft, "Looks like Liam's made a new friend." Lex stated walking towards them while watching their children interact in the loft.
"You have a fine boy there Lex." Martha said with a smile as she took the empty plate from him and placed it off to the side, "I can imagine he'll be quite the lady-killer when he gets older."
"Well I hope not." Lex replied with a small laugh when he noticed Lois giving him a look, "Can I help you with something Ms. Lane?"
She shook her head and went off to enjoy the rest of the party, "She's quite the handful." He takes a sip from the red plastic cup oblivious to the look that crossed Clark's face.
"Lois is an acquired taste." Clark replied and immediately regretted it when he noticed the look his mother gave him and began to clear his throat nervously, "I should probably go and check on…something." He adjusts his glasses and walks off.
Lex looked up towards the loft to see Maggie showing Liam around and turned back to see Martha giving him a look, "How are things on the farm? I assume it's been difficult without Clark around."
"Thankfully we have Kara to pick up the slack." She noticed his gaze drift off once again, "I hope you don't mind my intrusion but who is his mother?"
"Someone I thought I loved very deeply." Was his only response before he walked away with his thoughts.
Meanwhile…
Maggie sat on the couch watching Liam walk around her private space, "How come you didn't tell me that Lex Luthor was your father?" she asked suddenly.
"I didn't think it mattered." He turns back around with his hands hidden behind his back, "I saved you from those-"
"You did not save me" she cut him off jumping up from the couch, "I had the situation handled until you decided to show up."
He couldn't help but laugh, "You were cornered by those idiots and if it wasn't for me then you would've had to explain to daddy what happened to your pretty little face."
Maggie clenched her fist in anger, "Its no wonder you don't have any friends. You're a jerk." She stomped on his toe and stormed off, 'that's the last time I ever try to be nice Liam Luthor.'
After everyone was finished with dessert they all gathered around waiting for the birthday girl to open her gifts when suddenly a feeling of weakness swept over Clark, one that he was all too familiar with and immediately took a step away from the crowd to talk to Kara who had also started feeling the affects of the kryptonite.
"Get everyone inside the house. Now!" she nods and rushes over to whisper something to Martha and Jonathan who make an excuse to get everyone inside of the house including Maggie who looked at her father and his kryptonian cousin with concern but he just gave her a reassuring nod and smile.
The kryptonians looked at each other then looked around for the source of the kryptonite, "He's nearby" Kara said suddenly after her superhearing picked up on the mechanical heartbeat, "You can't go up against him alone this time Kal."
"I'm not alone." He replied cryptically, "I need you to keep everyone safe and don't let Maggie out of your sight." He sped off before Kara could say anything else but felt a presence behind her.
She turned around and was immediately sent flying straight into the barn where she crashed through the wood doors, "Where is he?" John demanded as he stepped towards them unaware that people had heard the noise and that someone was watching the scene from the window.
"Go to hell."
He advances towards her but is blasted back by a powerful beam of heat vision, "Its Superman!" someone from inside the house exclaims at the sight of the superhero showing up in their small town.
"I was hoping to have a little fun first but looks like you showed up early this time." Corben says shaking off the pain in his shoulder.
"I'm punctual." Superman replies before using his super speed and strength combined to send John sliding across the dusty road, "I won't let you hurt innocent people." He gets closer despite the kryptonite, "Especially if one of those innocents is my daughter." He says in a low tone so no one could hear what was said between hero and villain.
"What gives you the right to choose which one of us is innocent or guilty? You swoop in all high and mighty like your better than us, I've got news for your Superman." John says the name with such hatred and anger that it would've normally shook someone but not Clark, "Your not a god."
"I never said I was."
John lets out a small chuckle, "Yet you act like one. Interfering with our lives and disrupting the natural order of things." The kryptonite and adrenaline seemed to fuel his anger and used his robotic arm to send the man of steel on bended knee, "My sister was suppose to graduate from college and do something with her life but she's dead, all because you saved a bus filled with scum."
"I'm sorry."
The words halted John from crushing the kryptonian's face into the dirt, "What did you say?"
"I said I was sorry. I know what its like to lose someone you care about but your sister would never want you to do this. The meteor rock is poisoning your mind; I can help you if you let me."
When Superman first offered to help him he just laughed it off now the cloud had lifted and he contemplated accepting the offer at least for a little while until the door to the house burst open.
"Maggie!" Lois and Martha's voices caused panic as Clark turned around to see Maggie standing on the front porch, "Go back inside!" the kryptonian bellowed to the frightened child but she didn't listen and just ran towards them.
When John finally took notice of the child running towards him the kryptonite haze had swept over him, "How rude of me. I forgot to wish the birthday girl a Happy Birthday."
He said before kicking Superman to the ground causing several ribs to crack by the impact.
Kara tried to intervene but she was knocked aside, "Corben!" Superman's voice called out stopping the man in his tracks, "It didn't have to be this way. I only wanted to help."
Everything happened so fast the he didn't have time to reach when Superman threw a small cylinder which released an electromagnetic pulse rendering all technology within his body to shut down.
Once the kryptonite exposure had faded away Kara rushed to pick the unconscious child in her arms and gave Superman a look of comfort as everyone rushed out including Lex who gave the hero a deadly cold gaze as he went to his goddaughter's side to make sure she was okay.
TBC
This chapter was very hard to right but something just clicked towards the end and I think I did okay although Maggie's birthday was ruined but that's what you get for living in Smallville, nothing ever goes right there lol.
The scene at the end with Lex giving Superman that look is basically the start of the Lex vs. Superman dynamic and that will actually be explained later on but I'd like to hear your thoughts.
What did you guys think of Maggie's interaction with Liam?
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