Short summary : Chloe gives Clark a present soon after they become friends and it changes the course of his life ... until, one day, the present gets broken and Clark finds his life taking an unexpected, but long overdue, walk down destiny lane.

This is my tribute to all things Superman. It is based in the Smallville Universe but there are plenty of tributes and references to Lois&Clark, the movies and the comics.

This story is complete. I will be updating on a daily basis (hopefully) until it's done.

Prologue

"Clark, I've got something for you." Chloe spoke tentatively and shyly. "I made it."

"Chloe, you didn't need to do that," replied Clark.

"I wanted to. You've been so kind to me since I moved here. You've become my best friend in only two weeks so imagine how good our friendship will be in ten more years." Chloe looked away in embarrassment. "Here," she reached into her pocket and pulled out a friendship bracelet. "I want you to have this. I wove it all together myself." She smiled in a self-conscious way. "The ... those blue rocks, I found them out in the woods last week. I thought it would look good, match your eyes, so I chipped off some small bits and threaded them through." She gave a little giggle to finish.

"Chloe, it's lovely. You've no idea how much I appreciate this. You've become a good friend to me in the two weeks since you arrived. I had a quiet life here on the farm and you've brought me adventure. I'll always cherish this." He held it up and looked at it. The small blue crystals reflected the sunlight coming through the open barn doors. He pushed his shirt back from his wrist a little and slipped the band over his hand. A slight tingle went up his arm and then disappeared.

He looked back up and Chloe. "Best Friends Forever?"

She nodded, "BFF's."

Age 14:

Clark heard the screeching wheels before he noticed the car skidding all over the bridge. He jumped down from the railings and started running. The Porsche took a final, wild turn and then drove straight through the metal railings and off the side of the bridge. Clark ran over to the gap and saw the car disappearing under the water. He quickly took off his jacket and then dived in. Swimming down and down he was grateful that the river was fairly shallow at that point. His lungs began to burn but he kept searching for the door handle. Eventually, after feeling around for what seemed like hours, his hand latched on and he pulled up. Whoever was inside must have been pushing on the door at the same time as it opened quite easily. Someone pushed past him and headed up for the surface. Clark tried to do the same but his lungs were completely on fire now. His arms didn't move when his brain ordered them too, his legs kicked weakly and his vision started to go black.

Clark came too, suddenly, on the bank at the edge of the river. Someone was shouting at him. "Come on, don't die on me." His vision cleared and he was shocked to see a young man with no hair leant over him trying to bring him round. "Oh, thank God, you're alright," he sighed in relief and sank back onto the ground.

Twenty minutes later he and his rescuer were wrapped in a red blankets to keep warm.

"Clark!" Clark heard his father's voice and turned to look. Jonathan ran down the slope to Clark. "Son, are you alright?"

"I'm ok," he replied.

"Who's the manic who was driving that car?" Jonathan Kent looked around sternly.

"That would be me." A hand was offered for Jonathan to shake. "Lex Luthor."

"Jonathan Kent," came the reply as Clark's father shook off his coat to offer it to Clark. "This is my son."

"Thanks for saving my life." Lex looked down at Clark.

"Thanks for the same. I lost consciousness under there," Clark admitted and worriedly glanced up at his father.

"You've got quite an extraordinary boy there, Mr Kent. He jumped in to save me and it nearly cost him his own life. If there's any way I can repay you." Lex said seriously.

"Drive slower," came the blunt reply.

Age 16:

"Mom, these are awful."

"Now, Clark, don't complain. You need to wear them now. Getting that glass in your eye during the jewellery store robbery has scarred your corneas." Martha Kent spoke softly but sternly to her son.

"But, they look so dorky," Clark complained.

"Clark, they suit you, now just accept it. You need glasses."

Age 17:

"Lex, how could you?" Clark stormed into the mansion.

"Clark, thanks for calling ahead as a courtesy. It's nice that you always inform me when you are about to storm in here," Lex replied sarcastically.

"Lex," Clark glared at his former best friend. Our friendship will be the stuff of legend. Clark still remembered those words but they meant nothing to him now.

"Ok Clark, I'll take the bait. How could I what?" Lex did a dramatic open-armed shrug.

"Those people; Meteor infected. I know they are disturbed but they need help, not incarceration and experimentation."

"I know you are obsessed with these meteors Clark. Heck, every article you publish in that School Rag you run is about another dangerous meteor freak. Why would you want to protect them?"

"Because they are still people and they can be helped, but I doubt the things you are doing to them in 33.1 are going to reform them."

"33.1? I have no idea what you are talking about Clark."

"Of course you don't Lex. You never do." Clark scowled at the bald billionaire, turned and strode back out of the mansion.

Age 18:

"Clark, are you sure. The Torch has been your baby for years?" Chloe looked at him in surprise.

"Yes Chloe. I need to take a back seat for this final year if I want to take the Football more seriously. This is my last chance." Clark tried to explain his need to be successful at Football just this once. "I've played on the team for years but just on the sidelines. I took my Journalism more seriously, and I will continue to do so at Met U, but I just want to put Football first for one year to show that, if I wanted to, this could have been my choice. I want to be starting Quarterback, just for my final year. Besides, Journalism will be with me the rest of my life."

"Ok, Clark, I'll take over from you." She paused. "But you're still on staff right?" she queried.

"Sure, nothing can stop me writing." He grinned.

Age 22:

Clark's mind was not on the path in front.

"Congratulations Mr Kent. I always knew you'd end up here." Perry White held out his hand to Clark. Clark reached and took it.

"Thank you Mr White," Clark replied.

"No, thank you, Clark. That time I spent in Smallville chasing ridiculous stories," Perry paused and laughed. "You really helped me get back on track. And I knew then, when I read your work in The Torch. You've the makings of a fantastic reporter. Although ... there is some serious competition here at the Daily Planet. Can't wait to see what you make of Mad Dog Lane."

Mad Dog Lane. That didn't sound good.

No, his mind was definitely not on where he was walking otherwise he would have noticed that he had walked into a dark alleyway. The mid morning sun did not reach into the alley and it was all in shadow. He hung his head, sighed at his absentmindedness and turned round to get back to the main street.

His path was blocked.

Two young men stood in his way. Clark read their expressions in a second. They think I'm a soft touch; the suit: the geeky glasses. Guess they don't realise I was a Quarterback in High School.

They both attacked at once and Clark found it difficult to keep in control. Eventually they got the idea and ran off. Clark felt relieved, tense, proud, overwhelmed. As the blood pounding in his ears began to fade he noticed many items scattered around the ground. They sparkled, they were blue.

"No!" Clark shouted. One of the lads must have grabbed at his wrist and his present from Chloe - his BFF band - had snapped, sending all the miniature blue beads scattered all over the alley. He managed to collect them up and put them in his pocket but his heart felt heavy. He knew he would never wear that band again.

Chapter 1

"So, when do you start?" asked his dad.

"Two days," replied Clark. "Enough time for me to finish the back fence, Dad."

"You know I am really proud of you, Son." Jonathan stopped trying to un-tighten the wheel nut and looked sincerely at Clark.

Clark smiled bashfully. "I know Dad, thanks."

Clark had made it home in time for lunch with his Mom and Dad. Afterwards he went up to his room and emptied the blue beads into a little box on his bedside table and then changed into work clothes. His father had set off out into the field this morning but the tractor had stalled out in the middle of the back field. Jonathan and Clark were now trying to fix it. The heat of the afternoon sun was baking them both and Clark had already removed his top.

"Pass me that hammer, Dad," said Clark. "I can see something bent all out of shape under the hood, let me see if I can tap it back." Jonathan passed it over and Clark adjusted the hammer in his grip till it felt comfy. Turning back under the hood he positioned the hammer and gently tapped the misshapen piece of metal. It didn't move. "Guess I was too gentle," he murmured. Putting a bit more force into the next shot his eyes widened in disbelief when the hammer went straight through the engine.

"What? What was that, Clark?" asked his father striding to look round under the hood.

"I," Clark stared, "I guess it was fragile." He looked up into his father's face in confusion.

Jonathan replied, "I guess so." His face was questioning the situation though. "Pass me back the tools, we can't do any more now, I'll have to go to town to get a replacement part."

Clark started passing things over to his father when he suddenly felt hot. His heart began pounding and his vision began to blur. He rested forwards onto the tractor and removed his glasses. Rubbing his eyes he felt a strange prickling. When he put his glasses back on and opened his eyes everything looked different. He tried to focus on the tractor but it was if he was seeing through it. He blinked hard and shook his head. He felt like he was losing consciousness.

"Clark?" came his father's voice in concern.

"Dad, I ... aaaargh." A loud ringing in his ears caused him to cry out in pain. He put his hands up to his ears to tried and cut out the sound but it made no difference. He dropped to his knees. The sound intensified and his vision swam even more. He felt blackness overtake him and he fell the rest of the way to the ground.

He came too inside on the couch. His mom was pressing a cold flannel to his forehead.

"Clark, honey, you're awake." She smiled at him. "I think you got too hot in the sun."

"Mom, I don't know what happened. My vision went strange then I heard the most piercing noise. It was like ... " Clark trailed off his explanation as his hearing picked up a sound.

"Damn it man, hold that pole straight. I want to get this fence repaired before dark. Come on Trip, Sarah's been on at me to fix the back yard fence for too long now."

"Mom," Clark frowned. "I can hear Ben Hubbard."

Martha stood up and looked round. "Where? I don't see him. Is he at the back door?"

"No Mom, I can hear him at his house. He's mending his fence with Trip."

"But, Clark, that's five miles away," Martha said incredulously.

Clark levered himself up off the couch and walked into the kitchen. Resting his palms on the kitchen worktop he focussed. "I can hear something else, too; a dripping sound."

"Oh, is the tap on?" Martha rushed to the sink. "Huh!" she said when she didn't find any drips.

"No, I think it's the tap in the bathroom."

"How on earth can you hear the bathroom tap dripping?" his mom asked.

Glancing back down at the table he noticed his glasses. Mom must have put them on the table, I guess Dad carried me in. He reached forward and picked them up. Putting them on, he squinted and frowned. That's not right. He turned to look at a message pinned to the front of the fridge. He couldn't read it. Taking the glasses back off he found the words become clearer. Staring at the fridge in confusion he frowned again and then suddenly felt the tingling in his eyes once more. Blinking and shaking his head he looked back up at the fridge and could see straight through the door.

"Mom, did you bake a pie this morning 'cause I can see it in the fridge."

Martha walked over to Clark and looked at him earnestly. "Clark, what is going on?"

"I can see through the fridge door, I could describe everything to you." Clark turned to look at his mother and the vision seemed to shut off.

Just at that point Jonathan walked in through the back door.

"Son, you're up. I'm glad it was just a little overheating or I would have been calling the doctor soon."

"I don't think I'm overheating, Dad. I think I'm developing some meteor abilities." Clark felt his heart pounding and saw his hands shaking in terror. Every person in Smallville ever affected by those green rocks went psychotic. Clark didn't want to lose his mind.

Jonathan looked at Martha. "I don't know if it's possible for you to get meteor abilities," he said to Clark even though he continued to look at Martha. She smiled a sad smile at Jonathan then turned away.

"It's time, Son." Jonathan looked away from Martha and stared straight into his grown son's eyes.

"Time for what?"

"The truth." Clark frowned. "I want you to take a look at something. It's in the barn." Jonathan wandered out and Clark followed. When they reached the area of the barn that had always been Clark's den Jonathan reached behind the old sofa and pulled out a rag. He opened out the rag to reveal a smooth metal oblong with black symbol etched around it. He turned to Clark. "I think it's from your parents. Your ... real parents."

Clark knew he was adopted but had never considered that his adopted parents knew who his birth parents were. "What's it say?" he asked, quite curious.

"I've tried to decipher it for years but it's not written in any language known to man." Jonathan spoke carefully.

"What do you mean?" Clark frowned.

"Your real parents weren't exactly from around ... here."

"Where are they from?" Clark asked in a mock light-hearted voice. Jonathan turned to look at the telescope which had occupied pride of place in Clark's den for years. "What're you trying to tell me, Dad, that I'm from another planet? That's why you don't think I could gain meteor abilities?" Clark half laughed. "I suppose you stashed my spaceship in the attic." His smile dropped when he didn't get a funny response from his father.

"Actually it's in the Storm Cellar."

Clark shot up out of the couch. "What!"

"Come on, I'll show you." Jonathan set off back down the steps and Clark followed close behind. "I think you've had these abilities for a while. Your mother and I noticed something strange start to happen to you years ago. You ..." he stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned to look at Clark. "You picked up the kitchen table ... with one hand. And one afternoon, playing baseball in the back yard, you threw the ball. It ended up in the far field. I was shocked but you just said 'I'm sorry, Dad, I'll go get it.' And you did ... at super speed." Jonathan turned and continued walking to the Storm Cellar. "I thought I was going to have to tell you then but ... it stopped. I don't know why. I don't think you ever realised what you did and it never happened again."

"When was this, Dad?" Clark asked.

"Around the time Chloe moved here and became your friend." They had reached the Storm Cellar and Clark's father opened the door. They both descended slowly. At the bottom, in the corner, was a pile of rubbish. Clark realised that it had always been there but he'd never bothered to wonder what it was. Jonathan reached out a hand and grabbed the large dirty sheet then pulled.

"This is how you came into our world, Son." Clark backed away. It was really there, a spaceship. "It was the day of the meteor shower."

"This is a joke, right?" Clark pleaded with his father to take it all back. He was normal, he had a normal life, a normal family and a promising but normal career ahead of him. How could he have arrived here in a spaceship. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"

"We wanted to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" Clark shouted. How could his whole life be a complete lie? He felt like a fraud. He felt betrayed. He felt more distant from his parents than he ever thought possible. Even knowing he was adopted he had still felt like he was 'their' child. Now that had been ripped away from him. He wasn't even a 'child' of this planet. "You should have told me," he stated to his father then ran up the cellar steps and off down the road.

It only took a few seconds for Clark to realise that he was running fast; faster than ever before. In fact he had just passed the end of the road leading to the Hubbard farm already. Seconds later he found himself in the centre of Smallville. He came to a sudden stop and realised where he had run to. The Talon and his BFF: Chloe. She warmly invited him in and offered to let him stay on the couch when he admitted the he'd had a massive blow-out with his folks. Chloe was stunned at that. Clark never argued with his parents. It must have been some tremendous disagreement for Clark not to want to go back.

Sometime during the course of the evening Clark relaxed, forgot the gigantic revelations of the afternoon and then remembered to tell Chloe about his new job.

"I start in two days. It's going to be great. I can't wait to break big news stories in Metropolis." He found himself smiling.

"Congratulations, Clark. I always knew you'd make it. If things had been different, though, I'm sure it could have been me getting that job." Chloe grinned at him. Clark knew that she had once harboured a desire to work at the Daily Planet but she'd found herself drawn towards creative writing once at Uni and loved telling stories now even more than she had loved writing facts back in High School.

"Oh, I should call Lois, my cousin. She works at the Planet. I'll get her to show you round. You could have a built-in friend already there."

"Lois?" Clark queried. "Didn't she come to visit you once?"

"No." Chloe tskd. "She was meant to visit but Lucy ran off and so her and the General ditched me to go bring back the wild child." Chloe pulled out her phone and tapped in some numbers. "Besides, Lois thinks Smallville is the most backwater village that ever existed. And that's without ever even stepping foot in this direction." Lifting the phone to her ear Chloe lent back into the sofa.

"Lois! Hey Cuz," she said.

"Chlo!" Clark heard the scream through the ear piece. Now was that because Lois had screamed loud or because his new super-hearing had kicked in?

Chloe and Lois talked about random family stuff for ages. Clark tried to switch off his hearing but he couldn't seem too. He got up from his chair and went to make himself a drink. He nearly dropped the cup he had been filling when he overheard a comment from Lois about wearing a Thong on the most inappropriate of days.

"Clark?" Chloe held the phone away from her ear. "Are you ok?"

"Sure, Chloe. Just being clumsy," he took a deep breath. This is just too weird, even for Smallville, he thought. Chloe returned to her conversation with her cousin.

"So, my friend just got a job at the Planet. He starts in two days. How about you show him the ropes, Lo?"

"Oh, Cuz. I'm sorry but my job is not to babysit rookies. Besides I've got a new project. I'm searching for a mystery man. Can't be distracted by a 'green' reporter from Smallville while searching for the stud who I caught a glimpse of this morning."

"Lois! What are you talking about?" asked Chloe.

"Chlo, I've never experienced anything like it before." Lois' voice dipped so low that Clark knew it was his super-hearing allowing him to hear the conversation. He willed himself to stop listening but it wouldn't switch off. "I was on my way to copy when I saw the most luscious tight ass disappearing down the stairwell. I chased after it but all I caught a glimpse of was the back of his head." Lois sighed. "I've never felt this way about an ass before. Something about the way the material skimmed over ..." she coughed. "Chloe, do you believe in 'love at first sight'? Oh and I haven't even seen his face yet. Boy am I tapped in the head. Er, just ignore me Chloe. Mad Lois rambling on. Anyway, I don't have time to be a babysitter. You'll just have to tell Mr Smallville that he's on his own, no stabilisers. And I gotta go now, talk to you again soon."

Chloe put her phone down and Clark came to sit back down. "What is it Chlo ... e? You're frowning." Clark was glad he'd caught himself then, he'd nearly called her Chlo just after listening in on one conversation between cousins.

"Lois ... er," Chloe shook her head. "She was being ... well ... like Lois, I guess." She looked up at Clark and smiled. "Anyway, she said she be happy to show you the ropes."

Clark raised an eyebrow. He had most definitely heard different.

"Clark?" Chloe frowned up at him. "Where are your glasses?"

Review please ... Chapter 2 tomorrow