Relative Peace

+++++++++++

"Mrs. Weasley… There's a billionaire in your garden."

The redhead never looked up from her dinner preparations even though the voice of the young man took her by surprise. He was expected, but later. Not that any child of hers (born of her womb, or adopted by her heart as he had been) would be pushed out of the house at any hour.

"And he looks like he's trying to get a telephone signal."

"Be a dear, Harry, and let him know he'll need to be at least a hundred yards from the house… And why are you so formal today, love?"

He was sheepishly ducking his head as she finally looked up. "Sorry, Mum," he stammered out, unusual for him. "It's been a day."

"Hmmm…"

She stared at him for a long moment before asking quietly. "Problems with Severus?"

He flushed. "Not problems exactly."

Turning away, Harry seized upon the opportunity to change the subject. He missed the knowing look she gave his back as he focused his attentions outside. "He's walking away, watching his signal… Must have figured out that the house was blocking him."

There was a pause as he turned back, arms crossing protectively over his middle in a self-hug, as he asked with genuine befuddlement, "What is Lex Luthor doing in your garden?"

"He's not in my garden, dear… He's walking down the lane."

Molly Weasley could do innocent with the best of them. After all, her troublemaking sons had come by the talent for disarming charm rather naturally. A large, loving grin broke across her face as she wiped her hands and moved to stand next to Harry.

Together, they watched the wiry young man, afternoon sun glinting off his bald pate, stroll distractedly down the grass and dirt of the lane in his Seville Row suit and Gucci loafers. He didn't seem to even realize he was out of place. Perhaps he'd simply become used to the overwhelming fact of his life.

"He's my nephew."

"What?"

Harry was as startled by the answer as he was the delayed response. His neck twisted, he felt the sorrow on Molly's face as deeply as if he'd felt it himself.

"Lillian Evelyn Prewett… my baby sister. After my brothers died during the first war against Him," they both knew without naming to whom she referred though it did irritate Harry that people still hesitated to name the dead man, "they arranged a marriage for Lillian. She ran away… Married a Muggle."

"Lex Luthor, one of the richest men on the planet, is your nephew?"

Harry was still in shock. It was his only excuse for the rather rude reference to the Weasleys' near perpetual impecunious state.

"Hmmm…"

Her noise was neither agreement nor dissent. Harry watched as Luthor gave up his search for a decent cell connection and began to walk back to the house. His face was tired, defeated. It ached to see that dejection.

"He's a squib."

Molly smiled at Harry, laying a hand gently on his shoulder. "We know, dear. But, you should realize, family is always welcome here. His father's dead. We're all he has left."

Harry flinched, remembering a day that the man under discussion had given him the best advice of his life. A day that had led to his happiness. He remembered all too well the look of longing as Luthor had stared in a coffee shop window at a vibrant teenager, all dark hair and flashing eyes, white smile, and farmboy strength.

The door swung open as Lex finally reached the house, stepping inside the threshold only to hesitate. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were expecting company."

It was directed at Molly, but Harry never hesitated. "I'm not exactly considered company around here."

Molly's bustling actions disrupted the hesitation. She practically forced them both into seats at the table, setting a bowl of peas to be snapped in front of Harry and slipping a bottle into Lex' hands. "Now, boys, you're both family."

"I didn't realize you were a relation of the Weasleys, Mr. Potter."

Lex' voice was cool and formal. Harry could see in his eyes the emotion behind the words. Insecurity, the fear of being displaced from a hearth he'd only just begun to feel accepted beside.

"Informally adopted," Harry disabused the defensiveness with a shrug and glanced away, letting Lex feel as if he held the field. It was easy to be gracious when he had everything he'd ever wanted in his life - love, family.

"Hmmm," was Lex' simple response as he sipped at the butterbeer. A minute curl of the lip was the only betrayer to what was clearly too sweet a beverage on an adult palate.

"Did you reach your friend, dear?"

Lex only barely managed to respond to the question. He shook his head slightly, face closing off. "No… but it doesn't matter."

Harry sighed before standing and bussing Molly on the cheek. "Set another place for dinner, Molly. I'll be back."

She quelled him with a glance. "I always set a place for your spouse, dear. Even when he doesn't use it."

"Not for my sake," Harry added in a whisper. There was no way they could disturb the morose sulk that Lex had dropped into so easily, but he was trying to be subtle. "Just set another - for his."

He inclined his head in Lex' direction and slipped out the door.

+++++++++++

Harry had long since completed his apprenticeship. Luckily, full status as a Professor came with some benefits. The use of a time limited Time Turner was one he was abusing at the moment.

But, then again, he'd expected to find Clark Kent in the magically dead zone in which he'd first met Lex Luthor. How anyone willingly lived in a place where meteors had scoured the natural power from the land, he didn't know. Fortunately, once he'd cleared its boundaries, he was a little faster at his search.

Not that speed had increased his accuracy.

Harry was searching Lex Luthor's penthouse home for some clue as to the whereabouts of a half-remembered youth when he felt the air pressure shift. In the next moment, he was dangling in the air, throat held closed by a fisted grip.

"What have you done with Lex?"

The growled question came from someone who could only have been the subject of his search. Harry's eyes bulged and not only from the lack of oxygen. Clark Kent had grown up very nicely. Harry's gaze drifted down, seeing what was hidden by the shabby, drab, and ill-fitting suit.

Very nicely, indeed. He was married, not dead, after all.

Apparently correctly assuming that the lack of response came from a lack of air, Harry was dropped to the carpet. He gasped, regaining his breath and discreetly palming the end of his wand from its concealed place in his Muggle clothing.

"I remember you," the man continued, looming over Harry's body. "You were in Smallville." The threat became clear as Clark's face darkened even further. "If you've hurt him…. I will make you regret it."

Harry couldn't help it, he started to chuckle. It became a slightly crusty laugh as he winced at the pain in his throat. And here he thought he was the only one to majorly balls-up a relationship.

Clark's feelings were clear, even though he restricted himself to a grunt. Harry felt the hand twist into the back of his jacket, wrist just brushing his dark hair where it drifted across his neck.

It was enough of a contact for what he intended.

Activating the portkey, Harry waited for the nauseating pull. He knew Kent felt it too when the man made a wordless noise of protest and tried to shake loose of Harry. But he couldn't… the magic already had hold.

+++++++++++

"Harry!"

There were multiple concerned calls when the pair of black-haired men literally dropped into existence on the Weasley kitchen floor. Only one pierced the mania as the speaker rushed to their side.

"Oh, God, Clark…" Frantic hands checked for non-existent, impossible injury. "Are you alright?"

"Lex?"

The redheads could only stare in fascination as the man so easily named by their new relation shrugged off his reassuring pats to cup his smooth face. The desperation, the sheer astonishment, was written on each of their features.

"It's really you? You're alive?"

Harry was helped to his feet and stepped away to the chastising grasp of his spouse. The Weasleys, stunned to see this level of emotion displayed by their new cousin, stared. Harry couldn't have gotten them more engrossed if he'd popped in with a big screen, high definition telly and all the trimmings.

"Of course. I tried to call you."

"Your helicopter… It disappeared."

"I was looking for my mother's family."

More than a few of the Weasley sons flinched at the bone creaking hug that wrapped Lex in the next instant. Their absolute hush allowed them to hear every word even as the participants under observation dropped their voices.

"I thought you were dead, Lex…."

"Clark, I…."

"No."

There were nudges and quietly gestured bets being made as the new arrival pulled back only to stare fiercely into Lex's face. The clear odds were on Lex. Squib or not, he'd made quite the impression in a very short while. Harry, however, kept his backing behind the younger man. Love conquered. He squeezed the arms that had yet to let him go lightly, only to receive the faintest of pressure against his head that bespoke a disguised kiss.

"Clark, I'm sorry."

Lex' apology was brushed aside as Clark kneeled up, pulling Lex once more into his arms.

"I thought you were dead… and I realized… that you were gone and I'd never gotten the chance to tell you how I felt."

For a group of mostly stereotypical men, there were eyes beginning to strain with emotion. They'd survived war and attrition of their ranks. The desperation that came with suspected or confirmed death was all too real for them.

"I know you're my friend, Clark. I believe it."

"Then believe that I love you… as more than a friend… and always will."

Their heads swiveled in unison to watch Lex's reaction. His shock was clear, the elation following shortly on its heels.

"Clark?"

But the dark-haired young man had chosen to make his appeal in a more physical fashion. Lex responded rapidly to the soul-searing kiss. That the love Clark felt was returned wholeheartedly could not be doubted.

"If you boys have that worked out, dinner is ready."

Molly's voice cut through the moment. She dispersed her gawking sons with a wave. Everyone bustled into action, setting the last dishes on the table and taking their usual seats.

Clark, for the first time, took in the fact that there were people in the room other than Lex. "Uh… Where are we? Who?"

Lex took pity on the reoccurrence of stumbling uncertainty. "This is my aunt's house, Clark. Clark, meet Molly Weasley. Aunt, this is Clark…"

"The love of your life, I know, dear," she interrupted, hands impatiently planted on her hips. "Now you boys wash up, dinner's on the table."

Finis

Return to Lakhesis