Lana slowly opened her eyes and let out a small groan as sunlight streamed through the large bedroom window and brightened up the space around her. She stretched as she rolled over and sighed when she found the other side of the bed empty. She always felt a slight twinge of disappointment when she didn't wake up next to him, but it never lasted long, she knew that he always had a good reason, the life of a hero. She stared at the empty pillow a few moments before her trance was interrupted buy the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. She rolled back over to see a small figure standing in the door way. She yawned as she sat up and threw her legs over the side of the bed. "Hey you," she greeted softly.
"Good morning momma." A young boy stepped into the room with a guilty look on his face.
"What's wrong baby?" Lana inquired.
The boy looked down at the floor and put his hands behind his back, "Nothing," he replied nervously.
Lana pondered a moment and a small smile crept across her face, "Come here," she stretched out her arms and wiggled her fingers. Without looking up the boy walked over to the bed and stopped in front of her, Lana cradled his cheek in her hand. "Hmm I wonder, how did you sleep last night?" She asked as she hoisted him up onto the bed.
"Fine," The boy hesitantly replied
"Oh really?" She chuckled.
"Ye-yes," The boy tried to speak as he failed to fight back a yawn.
Lana put her finger under his chin and tilted his head up to look him in the eyes. "Somehow I don't think you're being entirely truthful," she moved her other hand to rest on his shoulder as he closed his eyes and leaned into her. "You stayed up again didn't you?"
The boy let out a weary, "I'm sorry."
Lana sighed, "what am I going to do with you?" She stood up, turned to the boy and kissed the top of his head. "Ok," she stated as she reached for his hand, suddenly excited the boy jumped up and placed his small hand in hers, the two walked across the room to the window. The boy rested his arms on the window sill and Lana got down on her knees to reach his level, "Show me where he went this time," She whispered in his ear.
"That way!" The boy exclaimed as he pressed his finger against the glass.
"Yeah?" Lana asked through her smile. "You saw him?"
"No, just heard him. You know how fast he is momma, no way I could see him in the dark."
"Yes I know, but I also know how perceptive you are my little man," She kissed the boy's cheek repeatedly making him laugh. She stood up, wrapped her arms around him and let out a playful growl. The boy laughed harder as she hoisted him up onto her hip. "You wanna get some sleep? You can keep me company," She chuckled.
"Not really," The boy complained. "I'm hungry."
Lana sighed. "Fine, but I'm making you some real food!"
"What do you mean?" The boy inquired.
Lana laughed. "Please, don't think I don't know about you waking up before us and getting into the sweets cabinet. I still don't know how you do that, as sharp as mine and your dad's hearing is."
"I'm just real good at sneaking!" The boy exclaimed.
"That doesn't make it ok," Lana stated with a serious look on her face.
The boy buried his face in her shoulder, again he replied with a muffled, "I'm sorry."
"Hush," Lana replied as she lifted his head again and wiped the sleep from his eyes, "You know I can't stay upset with you." She kissed his cheek and they both smiled as she carried him down the stairs and into the kitchen. She sat him on one of the bar stools and began to gather the ingredients for the family favorite, blueberry pan cakes. As Lana cooked the two talked and laughed, after several minutes the boy perked up and looked outside.
"You ok?" Lana asked concerned, but a second later a rush of air could be heard coming over the house followed by a resounding thud out front. She knew that sound all too well, a large smile stretched across her face.
"He's home he's home!" The boy exclaimed and ran to the door, Lana followed.
(Minutes earlier.)
Clark hovered silently, high above his new home, at least it still felt new to him sometimes. He had lived here for a few years now, but after spending most of his life on the farm living anywhere else was hard to get used to. Still it felt good to move on with his life knowing that he had left the Kent family legacy in good hands. Now it was time for him to start a new legacy, in a new place, with the people he loved. These thoughts ran through his head every time he came home and they always made him stop and take a moment to appreciate everything he'd gained. He was grateful for those moments. He took in a deep breath as he emerged from his thoughts and surveyed the land one more time. Then he flew down and over the roof of the house and stopped mid air, allowing himself to fall to the earth landing in the front yard. As he straightened himself up he heard the front door swing open and his son came running to greet him.
"Dad!" He cried happily.
"Evan!" Clark called back.
Evan beamed as he ran and jumped into his father's arms, Clark caught him and spun him around in the air. "Hey little man!" Clark exclaimed as he hugged his son.
"Daddy where did you go last night?"
Clark gave him a confused look. "How do you know I went somewhere?" It dawned on him, "You stayed up again."
"I was trying to see you fly! I had to stay up so I wouldn't miss it!" Evan replied.
Clark set the boy on the ground and crouched in front of him. "Son you know how important sleep is," He paused a moment as he realized how much he sounded like Jonathan, it made him smile."How many times are we going to have to talk about this? You need sleep so you can function each day, it keeps you strong. Just because I sometimes have to go out at night doesn't mean that you don't have to go to bed."
"I know," Evan admitted. "Its just so cool what you do. It makes me wanna be a hero, like you. It makes me wanna draw and play and make up stories. I can't help it."
Clark smiled, "I know how big that brain of yours is, and how imaginative you can be. I love that about you, still you won't be able to use that great mind if you can't stay awake through the day, ok?"
Evan sighed, "Ok daddy."
Clark placed a hand on the boy's shoulder,"I'll make you a deal, I'll do my best to be more quiet from now on, if you promise to do your best to listen to your mother and go to bed on time." He glanced over Evan's shoulder at Lana, she was standing at the top step leaning against the post. Their eyes met and she smiled and winked at him. His eyes turned back to his son, "Can you do that for me? For your sake and mine," He chuckled.
"I can, could you maybe just do me one favor though?" The boy pleaded.
"Sure buddy what is it?"
"Can I see your suit? Please! Please!"
Clark laughed, "Sure." He loosened his tie and undid his top button. "It's not like you haven't seen it before." He pulled his collar down to reveal the blue material underneath and part of the red and yellow crest on his chest.
"I know it's just so cool!" Evan exclaimed. "When I grow up and become a super hero I want one just like it!"
"Hmm how bout I make you another deal then. You promise to listen to your mother, and maybe I'll ask her to make you one." He smiled.
"No way really? That'd be awesome!" Evan exclaimed as he embraced Clark again.
Clark returned the hug and held his son close, moments like this just added to the reminders of how great his life was. As Evan pulled away Clark stood up and walked towards the house. Evan passed him and raced back to his mothers side, he grabbed onto her leg and hugged it tightly. "Thanks momma!" He exclaimed, then pulled the door open and ran back inside.
"For what?" Lana tried to ask, but the door had already shut.
Clark reached the porch and climbed the first few stairs, he stopped and looked up at his wife and smiled. "Sounds like he's been busy."
"When is he not?" Lana chuckled as she looked down at her husband.
"Sorry about that. I'll try to be more quiet next time," Clark replied remorsefully.
Lana bent down slightly and planted a gentle kiss on him, "It's not all your fault," she sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "He's always had a hyperactive imagination. He may not have gotten his muscles from you, but his mind is definitely Kryptonian." She turned around and Clark followed her into the house.
"Hey don't be so quick to write him off, just because he can't lift a truck or run at the speed of sound yet doesn't mean he won't be able to when he's older. With two super powered parents there's no telling what he'll be able to accomplish," Clark stated playfully.
"Oh I would never underestimate him you know that," Lana retorted, "He is your son after all."
Clark put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "He's your son too." They kissed again and Lana went back to work on breakfast. Clark sat his bag on the kitchen counter and looked over at his boy sitting on the living room couch. He walked over and sat down beside him looking at the mess of crayons and paper sprawled out on the coffee table in front of them. Most of the pages were covered with pictures of a man, who Clark assumed was himself, saving people and fighting monsters. Evan was hard at work on a new scene. Clark leaned in and snuck a peak at the young boys latest creation. Once again superman was the main subject but this time there was another hero with him. A smaller person who's costume was identical to his in all ways but one, the symbol on their chest wasn't the crest of the house of El. Clark recognized it as the Kryptonian equivalent of the letter E. Not remembering having taught Evan Krypton's alphabet he inquired, "Evan where did you learn that symbol?"
"In a book I found, in the closet, I think you wrote it."
Clark recalled the box he kept containing several things from his earlier life in Smallville, including his journal.
"There's some really neat stuff in that book, all these pictures."
"Their called symbols Evan," Clark corrected, "We discussed that."
"Right, sorry, Symbols, like the ones you taught me."
"That's right buddy, like I said in your lesson, those symbols are parts of the Kryptonian language."
"K-kr-krytinan-" The boy seemed flustered by the word, "I still can't say that one, but I'll practice."
"I know you will little man, you'll get there," Clark replied.
"Daddy can we look at that book some more? Can you teach me some more symbols? I wanna learn all I can about where you come from."
Clark beamed with pride, "We can learn more about krypton later Evan, right now we need to work on some human lessons like listening to your parents and asking permission, you think we can do that?"
"Yeah I think we can do that," Evan smiled
"Good," Clark replied
"Come on boys time to eat!" Lana called from the kitchen.
"I'll race you daddy!" Evan challenged as he ran for the table
Clark chuckled and stood up, as he reached the table Evan climbed up into his seat. Clark pushed his chair in for him before taking his own seat.
"I win!" Evan exclaimed
Lana brought them their plates and helped Evan cut his pancakes into pieces. Once that was done she walked around to clarks chair, came up behind him, wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, "Running a little slow this morning are we?"
"I let him win," Clark joked as he took a bite of his food.
"You always do,"she kissed his cheek before moving to retrieve her own plate and joining them at the table.
