Chapter Text
It was somewhat reckless of Lily, yet here she was, traveling to meet her pen pal for the very first time in her life.
It was pure recklessness on her part: finally deciding to go to the United States to meet that friend of hers, especially in the middle of the cracks spreading through her marriage.
She knew she had been foolish to marry James so young. Now, with him sinking deeper and deeper into the war, digging himself into a hole with no escape, he had become controlling within their relationship. And it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Especially because of the endless discussions about heirs. It was always about her fertility. She had visited St. Mungo's countless times, only to hear the same answer over and over again: there was nothing wrong with her. Which meant the problem could only be James.
James was infertile - but he refused to believe it, even when the signs were obvious. Lily had to admit, bitterly, that Petunia had always been right. Once again, she had been a fool. Damn wizarding society, valuing blood more than the lives of witches and wizards themselves.
If she had known marriage would become her prison, she never would have accepted James's proposal.
Damn it, their last argument had been over something as simple as attending her own parents' funeral.
Hadn't she married for this exact reason? To avoid losing her family? And yet she still found herself alone, trapped.
Another fight. Another wound. In the end, it resulted in Lily packing her things, exchanging a few galleons for dollars, and leaving for the United States without a shred of regret.
But a part of her - the part that had always longed to be heard - whispered that this was right. That her friend, the one she had exchanged letters, secrets, and dreams with for years, was what her magic and soul had always yearned for.
She knew it the instant she met those blue eyes across the crowded airport.
She didn't know if it was normal. She didn't know if it was allowed... but it didn't matter.
Her heart skipped with every passing second as she felt her magic creeping out toward Clark, almost pleading for him.
It was so wrong - and yet so right. Her magic wrapped around him as though he were her lifeline.
And Clark? Ah, Clark.
He laughed. A soft, charming laugh that made Lily stare at him and smile foolishly in return.
The look he gave her with those beautiful blue eyes said everything: affection, kindness, and a quiet love she already recognized from their late-night calls, but now it pulsed there before her. Real. Sincere.
Her magic caressed Clark as though he were a part of her.
Then Lily walked forward. Then she ran, dropping her suitcase onto the floor and throwing herself into the American's arms. She laughed.
Her laughter was pure, bright, relieved. There was no awkwardness between them, only happiness and satisfaction at reuniting with the friend she had known since they were eight years old.
"Lily..." Clark whispered against her neck with a smile. "I still can't believe you're finally here."
"Believe it, because here I am." She smiled, and it felt so freeing. With James, she had felt like a bird trapped inside a cage. With Clark, it was different.
Her magic clung to him as if it never wanted to let go. It felt complete. She had never known she needed Clark until she was in his arms.
"I could've imagined a million different scenarios... but none of them would've been better than this." Clark pulled back slightly, his face lightly flushed, a shy smile tugging at his lips. His eyes still held that endless sweetness as he looked at her.
Lily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"Oh, Clark, don't do this to me." She teased, lightly hitting his shoulder, which only made him laugh. "My arrival was supposed to be a surprise! But I rushed things..."
"Hey, it's okay. It's normal to forget things. And honestly? That's lucky for me." He bent down and picked up her suitcase from the ground.
"Lucky? Clark, I forgot to book a hotel room! Now I'll have to scramble to find one at the last minute." Lily sighed, but before she could think twice, her hands had already intertwined with his, as though they had always belonged there.
"Ah, my Sunshine..." Hearing the nickname in person made her blush even harder. It wasn't Clark's voice through letters or phone calls anymore; it was really him. Her heart raced.
"That's lucky for me." Clark smiled sideways at her. "Because now you're going to be the guest of honor at my parents' house, red."
Lily knew.
She knew that, in that very moment, she was hopelessly lost.
But she didn't want to find a way out. Not now.
She wanted to remain lost beside Clark.
Her sweet, beloved Clark.
********
*********
The stars shone brightly across the sky, with a light that belonged only to them. With a soft smile, Lily searched for the constellation she knew so well.
Orion's Belt.
There was one thing about the Black family that she genuinely liked: their tradition of naming descendants after stars. A faint smile touched her lips when her eyes found the first star of the belt, Alnitak. Her gaze drifted down toward Orion's knee, and there, to the left of Saiph, she found it - the Great Dog, the brightest star in the night sky.
Sirius.
Lily smiled softly and clutched the blanket wrapped around her against the autumn chill. Ironically enough, despite the strong wind, Clark insisted it was the warmest night they had had since the beginning of the season.
Lily, however, would say that simply looking at him was warm enough already.
But she would keep that to herself.
If she smiled like a fool while watching him carry over a small box filled with letters, revealing something so intimate and precious, she would never admit it aloud.
She would let her Clark figure out her foolish, dying thoughts on his own.
With another dreamy smile, she looked back up at the stars. Lily didn't entirely agree that the barn was the best place for stargazing, but according to Clark, it was warmer there - and he was right. Certainly better than sitting atop a hill at eight in the evening beneath the cold autumn wind.
Only three days had passed.
Three days since she arrived in the United States, in Kansas, with Clark... her Clark.
Her magic had become even more intertwined with him. Lily couldn't explain it, but she constantly found herself wondering what Clark had done to her.
Why couldn't she stay away from him?
Not even five minutes without his presence?
Her magic cried out for Clark, and it tormented her from the inside out. Yet over the past three days, that torment had somehow become her favorite feeling.
Was it selfish?
Maybe.
But Lily thanked the heavens every day for the fact that Krypton no longer existed and that Clark had been sent to Earth.
If it had never happened...
Ugh. Even imagining it sent an unpleasant shiver down her spine.
"Red..." His voice pulled her back. His blue eyes stared at her with concern. Ah, damn it. She loved him far too much. "I told you to bring another coat."
Lily laughed softly, shaking her head as she pulled the blanket higher beneath her chin.
"Maybe I'm just enjoying having someone so attentive taking care of me," she murmured teasingly. "After all, weren't you the one who said it wouldn't be that cold tonight?"
Clark sighed, though he couldn't hide his smile. He moved closer, wrapping a broad arm around her and warming her more effectively. Since her arrival, it had become so natural - or perhaps not natural at all - for the two of them to behave less and less like ordinary friends.
And Lily adored that dangerous feeling.
It was like playing with gasoline and fire.
Deep down, she desperately wanted to burn.
"Well then, what do we have here?" Lily smiled as she looked at the box Clark had placed beside her. It contained every letter she had ever sent him, all carefully preserved over the years. Little things like that only made her realize how perfect Clark truly was.
"I was thinking..." Clark began. "Maybe we could reread every letter together now that you're here."
Lily's eyes widened in surprise as she turned toward him. What exactly was he trying to do to her? Her gaze drifted briefly to his strong hands, to the effortless movement of his toned arms...
Ah, Lily needed to focus.
She couldn't lose herself in such foolish thoughts. But Clark wasn't helping at all. Did he realize what he was doing to her?
With a silly smile, she shifted just enough to face him properly. Outside the barn, the only sounds were the chirping crickets and the occasional bark of a distant dog.
"If that's the case," she replied, "then I'll read yours too."
And with a movement Clark instantly recognized as magic, Lily pulled a perfectly organized stack of letters from the inner pocket of her robe. Letters that were among her most precious treasures.
"Perfect, Sunshine. That way I'll get to hear your beautiful voice reading mine." The dimple that appeared every time Clark smiled sent Lily spiraling into helpless thoughts. Without even realizing it, she reached up and touched his cheek.
Clark blinked in surprise at first, but then smiled like an excited puppy greeting someone beloved. Lily blinked too, and the sight of his smile made her giggle softly when Clark leaned closer toward her.
"Ah, my Lily..." he murmured. "You drive every part of me insane. And I just want to treasure every moment I can with you."
It was wrong.
She knew it.
And yet she still allowed herself to smile.
When had she and Clark started flirting so openly?
Ah, right.
The nicknames.
Years, centuries, millennia could pass, and Lily would still adore every affectionate nickname Clark had given her: Lily, Sunshine, Red.
She loved the sparkle in Clark's eyes, the affection overflowing every time he said them. She felt loved.
She loved Clark.
She simply hadn't recognized it before. But now she did.
Maybe it was time for her to come up with a better nickname for him too. Clarkie or Mr. Kentuck simply couldn't compare to the ones he gave her, though honestly, it didn't matter.
Just being near Clark was enough.
Her magic still clung to him like an anchor, and that alone answered every question about her feelings.
With a sincere smile, Lily picked up the first letter. Clark mirrored the gesture, though unlike her, he immediately began reading aloud.
"'Hello Clark, my name is Lili-'"
The ridiculous imitation, delivered in a squeaky voice more fitting for a cartoon mouse, was interrupted instantly by an offended Lily.
"Hey! My voice did not sound like that, Clark."
"Of course not. But I think it fits pretty well considering you were eight years old." He laughed even after receiving a light smack on the shoulder. "Okay, okay, Lily, I'll skip my turn."
Lily smiled as she grabbed her own stack of letters. Instead of reading the first one she touched, she carefully searched until she found the exact one she wanted.
"Well, I'm not going to imitate your ten-year-old voice, Clark."
"Oh, how cruel. You break my heart, Red." In response, Lily simply rolled her eyes, though a foolish smile remained on her lips.
"'Lily, what did you think of the fish? First of all, happy birthday!'" Lily paused and gave Clark a questioning look, making him raise an eyebrow in return. "You know, to this day I still wonder how you managed to send me a goldfish for my tenth birthday."
"I'll admit it was complicated. After a lot of international calls - and my dad insisting he just wanted to see me smile - we finally found a pet shop willing to make it happen." Clark ran a hand through his hair, and Lily followed the motion with a helpless smile. Dear God, he had no idea what he did to her.
"That was the best birthday gift I'd ever received."
"I know, Sunshine."
At some point that night, Lily completely lost track of time. The only light still on was the one glowing from the Kent house; Clark's parents were probably already asleep. The clock had long passed nine in the evening.
But she didn't care.
What truly mattered was watching Clark react to the letters. Especially the Hogwarts ones.
And then they reached the letters about James.
Lily's heart sank when Clark fell silent, reading carefully. Those letters spoke about the engagement, then the wedding... and finally how her life had become a gilded cage.
"Clarkie..." her voice came out hesitant.
"Lilian."
Lily blinked.
It was the first time he had called her that.
And she hated it.
She hated hearing her full name from Clark's lips. She preferred the nicknames. The nicknames he had created just for her.
Why was she suddenly so nervous?
Damn it... had she ruined everything?
"Why..." Clark asked quietly, "did you marry James?"
"I-I..." Lily's voice faltered. She didn't know how to answer. Saying she married for love would be a lie. But claiming she loved James felt equally wrong.
The truth was painfully simple: she cared about James as a friend. But some friendships were never meant to become relationships.
Clark, on the other hand...
Clark was different.
"I love him..." she whispered, though the lie was painfully obvious. Anyone paying attention would understand that the love in her heart wasn't for James Potter.
It was for Clark Kent.
"Lily... do you really love him?" Clark's blue eyes burned as he stared at her. "He treats you like you belong to him. I would never treat you that way. You're perfect. The most beautiful woman I've ever had the privilege of knowing - the girl I exchanged letters with for half my childhood."
A heavy silence settled between them. Clark hesitated before continuing.
"If we had lived closer to each other... would you still be with James?"
The answer should have been yes.
But saying it felt wrong.
Even imagining it left bitterness on her tongue.
"Tell me, my Lily..." Clark whispered softly. "Would you still choose him if you had known I was nearby? If you had known I loved you?"
Lily didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Clark understood anyway. Perhaps that was why he lowered his gaze.
In response, she pressed her lips gently against his.
With a soft smile, she whispered:
"I'll fix this, my Clarkie. I'll fix everything. I promise."
This time, Clark was the one who kissed her again.
A slow kiss, full of promises - and a desperate hunger hidden beneath the tenderness.
She had only been in the United States for three days.
Three days in Kansas, on the Kent farm.
Three days to realize that Clark had always been the right person.
Her magic and her heart had chosen him long ago.
She had simply taken too long to notice.
And so she gave herself to him there in that barn, without regret or hesitation. The autumn cold no longer mattered when two warm bodies stayed pressed together beneath the blankets.
The next morning, if Clark's parents noticed how tired they both looked - or the fact that Lily was wearing one of Clark's sweaters - they said nothing.
Lily smiled, grateful for the silence.
She was excited for every future moment beside the Kent family.
She only needed to return to London, end her marriage... and then she would come back to Clark's arms as quickly as possible.
Everything would work out.
At least, that was what she believed.