Clark chuckled. He couldn't help it. It was funny watching his mom fuss over young Lois. If she felt like Lois was her daughter before, she really felt like it now. His mom hadn't even batted an eyelash at the news, but with all the strange things that had happened over the years, who could blame her? She had insisted on running out that very night and buying Lois the stuff she needed and wanted. Which was an hour drive, since it had been so late.

What had caused him to chuckle was nail polish. His mom had gotten pink, sparkly nail polish for kids. She wanted to paint Lois' finger nails. Lois had been a real sport up to then. She obviously had taken an instant liking to his mom like most people did, including her older self. His mom had a motherly charm that affected people of all ages. It also didn't hurt that Lois was lacking a mother figure in her life. She had suffered through the shopping, the hugs and kisses, the smiley face pancakes at breakfast, but she had drawn the line at the nail polish. That was a girly stigma that could last a few weeks if one didn't know about nail polish remover, but his mom had convinced her to paint her toe nails. Lois was hobbling into the kitchen now with cotton stuffed between her toes, as the polish was still drying.

"Clark," his mom said, "I wish I could stay and help, but I have to go out of town for a couple of days, and I can't cancel it. I hate my job sometimes."

"It's okay, Mom. Is Lois going with you?"

"I won't have time to babysit, honey."

"Not that one. Although when you think about it, you'd end up babysitting either way."

"Clark, be nice. She wanted to, but we decided it was best she handled things around the office."

"You don't think she'd come around here, do you?"

"It's hard to tell with her, but I doubt it. She'll be too busy. I have to go or I'll miss the bus. Bye, you two. I love you. Behave yourselves."

"Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Mrs. Kent." After she left, Lois added, "Your mom's nice. What happened to you?"

"Aren't girls your age supposed to go off and play with dolls or something?"

"There are no dolls."

"Mom tried to buy you some."

"And I didn't want any. Dolls are for sissies. I got power ranger action figures instead."

"Go play with them then."

"I already did."

"What am I going to do with you, while I work on the situation?"

"You could take me with you."

"Don't count on it. I—"

The air became filled with the sound of an impatient door bell and knocking. That was Lois' calling card.

Clark went to the door and then changed his mind about opening it. It wouldn't be good for Lois to see her younger self. He waited quietly for her to give up, but she didn't. She began kicking the door with her shoe and shouting, "I know you're in there, Smallville."

Clark opened the door a crack but placed his foot against it and said, "You're going to tear up the door. What do you want?"

"I have a nice surprise for you out in my car. I would've just left it at the door, but a thing like this requires delicacy or people could end up in shock."

"I don't have time for your games. Mom already left."

"I know, and I need to be getting to the office, but I have a delivery to make first. It belongs to you. Look, I don't want to be out here all day. I am tired, and it's your fault I was up all night dealing with nightmares. No wonder you have an Elmer Fudd nightlight. Never go anywhere without it!"

"I don't have nightmares anymore. It's just a habit to have it on, but what does this have to do with anything? While we're on the subject of people's childhood sleeping patterns, at least I could stay in a bed for more than 30 minutes without falling out."

"Hey, could I help it if I kept having dreams about falling, and that was only when I slept in a new place. Who told you that anyway? Was it Lucy?"

Little Lois had come to see all the commotion and find out who was at the door. Clark was now struggling to keep them both at bay. It was fast becoming a nightmare, only he could never make up a thing like this in the deepest, darkest corners of his mind. One Lois was definitely all he could handle, if handling Lois was even possible.

"Who is it?" Little Lois wanted to know.

"Is there a little girl in there with you, Smallville?"

"Please go away. It's for your own good."

"Fine," Lois said, and he heard her steps going down the porch.

Clark shut the door. That was easier than he thought it would be. It was almost too easy.

"How come you wouldn't let me see who it was, and why did she go away?"

"You're too young to understand."

"I hate when grown-ups say that. If it was me at the door wanting in…"

Clark suddenly became interested in what she was saying. You'd what?"

"You're too old to understand."

"This is important, Lois. What would you do?"

She smiled. "I guess I'll tell you, since it's so important to you. If I saw that someone wouldn't let me in, I'd just find another way in. I'm a good climber."

Before Clark could respond to this information, big Lois was coming down the stairs.

"You should always lock your windows even on the second floor. Burglars know all about ladders and climb—" she froze at the sight of the little girl.

"I can explain," Clark said. "Actually I can't explain but—".

"What's going on in this freaky town now?" the older Lois said, cutting him off.