A/N: A little less dark this time, for those who may not have liked the last chapter so much. . . oh, but keep in mind that Lucy is about 30 years old at this point in time and as such, everyone else is older, too. Just saying. Nothing altogether too crucial. Just, one minor point that I expect will be brought up. . . R&R, please!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nothing, I say!


Lucy awoke in her bed and felt the sun wash over her. Smiling, she stretched out her arms and reached for her husband on the other side of the bed, to meet with nothing.

She frowned. Doctor or not, usually she was up long before he was. Sunlight did that sort of thing to her. Vaguely she turned her senses outward in search for him- only to be greeted by the smell of breakfast. Mmm, pancakes. . . she thought as her lips stretched upwards more, her eyes fluttering closed in a moment of peace. Then she shot up in bed. Pancakes? Chris failed everytime he made pancakes- surely she should have woken up to a fire alarm before now if he were cooking pancakes. Besides, Lucy could tell that these were blueberry pancakes. . .

Which meant her father was here.

She showered and dressed herself in a matter of seconds before walking out to the kitchen.

Clark greeted his daughter before even turning around. "Hi, sweetheart. How are you?" Lois and Chris turned to greet her next, all smiling, though there seemed to be something guarded in her mother's tone.

"Hi," Lucy drew out the word, instantly suspicious. "What's going on here? I didn't know we were going to all do breakfast today."

"Oh, well your father's schedule was actually clear for once this morning and we called in to Jimmy and said the three of us were going to be late." Clark set down four plates stacked with his famous blueberry pancakes.

"Actually, Clark, I've gotta head into the office a little early today, so I'll be taking my breakfast to go, if you please," Chris spoke up, grabbing a plate from his father-in-law's hand, not without sharing a significant glance with him. He already knew why his in-laws were there to talk, and he knew it was something his wife should decide on her own. He didn't want to interrupt the flow of their conversation, and so he was graciously ducking out.

Clark nodded. "See you, then."

"Bye honey," Lucy piped up, buttering her pancakes- stopping only a moment to share a kiss with her husband before he walked out the door.

Lois examined her daughter during the exchange while pretending not to. These last five months had been extremely trying for her, what with her suicidal incident and dealing with not being able to have a child. Between all of them, they had kept close tabs on her- Lois practically taking care of her that week after they'd learned the truth, taking a week off from work. Luckily, ever since Jimmy Olsen became the new editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet a year or so ago, Lois had been pretty much allowed to do what she wanted.

Jimmy's promotion had been a surprise, too- Lois had been the first candidate for the job after Perry's unexpected death- doctors had ordered him to take some time off, due to his blood pressure issues, and he listened. For about a week. Perry White couldn't handle being separated from his paper for any longer than that. He went against all medical advice, but lasted a good six months longer.

He'd always said that if he was going to die, he wanted to die at the Planet. And he did. Perry White died jsut as he'd wanted, of cardiac arrest after yelling at some incompetent reporters, right at his desk.

After all of the mourning, and with corporate jumping down their throats to find a suitable replacement- everyone's names were being thrown out. Even Richard White had been suggested for the position- but he declined, comfortable with his own family back in England now. Faced with the reality of the situation, however, Lois realized that she had her dream job as an investigative reporter and respectfully declined. Clark had been highly reccommended, too- but he wouldn't dare take on any more responsibility. Perry White would roll in his grave if he knew Superman, of all people, ruined his newspaper just because he couldn't keep up with it all. So both reccommended Jimmy for the job- and he'd been great thus far. Turns out, Perry had really been grooming the kid for that sort of job since the beginning.

And now, since Lucy had taken over as chief photographer and photojournalist the past few years- following in her Uncle Jimmy's footsteps- it was easy for them all to watch over her in this difficult time for her. Jimmy, of course, knew the truth, and had been more than understanding throughout it all. Knowing what they had in mind today, he was sure to give them plenty of time to deal with this new decision.

Lois shook her head to clear it and return to the matter at hand. They had all just began to eat when she finally decided to speak up, chancing a look at her husband before proceeding. "Listen, Lucy, I know these last five months have been extremely difficult on you, and your father and I were just talking about-"

Lucy laughed aloud, putting her fork down on her plate and forcing herself to swallow before she choked on her food. Not that that would have done anything, but still. "I knew there was an ulterior motive. Look, I'm fine now. Really. You know that. I'm back to work- and I love what I do. It's all right now."

"But. . ." Lois prodded, sensing there was more.

Lucy brought her gaze down to her plate and began to cut her food into pieces slowly. "But I don't know anymore."

Clark frowned. "What do you mean you don't know?"

She sighed, taking a sip of freshly squeezed orange juice- courtesy of her father, of course- before answering. "It's just. . . don't tell Chris this, but. . . I feel like I don't have a purpose. I love everything and everyone in my life, no doubt there. It's just. . . is that all? Is this all I'll ever be. . . Nevermind. It's not a big deal."

Lois and Clark exchanged a careful glance. "You know sweetheart, that's not all there is to you. You're so much more than a wife, or a photographer. There's still more you could do."

Lucy met her father's gaze a moment before it dawned on her what he was saying. "Wait, you mean," she shot a glance towards her mother, who just stared at her knowingly. As if on cue, some cries were heard in the distance, causing both father and daughter to listen before deducing that the police were handling it.

"You know I can't answer every call, Lucy."

"B-but," she struggled for words, the enormity of it striking her. Sure, she'd figured one day that she or Jason would have to take up the Superman mantle, but so soon- she was only twenty-eight years old! Yeah, so her dad was much younger when he'd started, but he was the only one he had to worry about, besides some friends at work and his mother. Lucy had Chris, had her parents, and Jason and his family- it was too many variables. And besides, it always seemed too dangerous to suggest that Superman even had a family- that it would raise questions.

Clark raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "Look, I'm not saying you have to or anything like that. It was just a suggestion. I've been where you are now, Lucy. I've tried to fight it, to live without using my powers, but it's always been hard for me. Plus it gives me another purpose, an outlet of sorts. I'm just saying it might be good for you. Therapeudic, even."

"You've helped before. Maybe you just start small, help in little ways," her mother spoke up.

Lucy thought a moment. Despite her shock, it surprisingly seemed. . . right. It had always felt good to help out her dad in the past, even though no one was looking. And she did enjoy using her powers. "I guess. . . I'll have to think about it, maybe discuss it with Chris. I'd have to take up a disguise or something."

Clark smiled and shifted the glasses on his face. "You could always suddenly be afflicted with really bad eyesight, like your old man."

Lucy smiled condescendingly. "No offense Dad, but I don't think you're the best person to take advice from on the notion of subtlety."

"What's not subtle about my disguise?"

"You're flashy suit is a far cry from subtle. And your work personality is pretty ostentatious too. Takes a lot of acting. Besides, we want to differentiate from Clark Kent's daughter and Superman's. It would be obvious if we shared the same disguise. Jason's one thing, but me? Come on," she chided.

Clark frowned teasingly. His disguise was a long running joke in the family, despite the fact that even Jason had taken up the glasses disguise in order to not be associated with Superman. They looked way too much alike. "What, you don't like my glasses?"

"Mmm, they serve their purpose, I suppose," Lucy joked. Her mother laughed as Clark scowled good-naturedly. "Maybe Mom could help me come up with the disguise more."

"Way ahead of you, honey. You could wear colored contacts, maybe get bangs and plaster them back when you're in your superhero mode, hair dye, hair extensions, maybe a mask. . ."

"Why do you think your mom's better at coming up with disguises than me?"

"Clark, I've been an investigative reporter since long before you were Superman."

"Yeah, and guess whose long-standing disguise has lasted the longest. You almost always get caught, Lois."

"Well then, aren't we lucky that your nerdiness hasn't gotten in the way of saving me?"

Lucy laughed at her parents and continued to eat her breakfast, relishing the taste of blueberries in her mouth. As they finished up their meal and headed out the door, Lucy mulled over the idea. Hmm, superhero. I suppose it wouldn't be so terrible.