When you spend so much time saving the world, it can be easy to forget how stressful more mundane activities could be. Or at least how stressful they could be for Mattie.

"This is hopeless." she groaned as she discarded another potential wedding gown. "Everything in this town is either boring or Supergirl related."

"Is that really so bad?" Sylvia asked. "Your husband-to-be is Supergirl's agent after all."

"Yeah. And I'm going to be seeing Supergirl everywhere. No offense, Linda."

"None taken." Linda said. "But if you really want a Supergirl-free wedding you might want to look for a different maid-of-honor."

"Just count yourself lucky I forgave you for blowing up my apartment."

"That was Satan Girl."

"Supergirl, Satan Girl. Who can keep track of all of you?"

Linda shook her head. Mattie was trying to treat Linda the same way she did before finding out her secret identity, but she still had some lingering anger and resentment at Linda's not being normal.

"Linda," Mattie asked, "any chance you can fly us out to some other city so we can find a better dress?"

"I can't fly that high or fast when holding a normal person. It would kill them."

"What's wrong with a conservative dress?" Sylvia asked. "A wedding is a spiritual event."

"And to be honest I doubt Cutter would care." Linda added. "Conservative would mesh better with the 'mature businessman' persona he's trying to put on."

"You're one to talk." Mattie teased. "Going out every day in that skimpy outfit."

"I'd wear something much less revealing at my wedding."

"Speaking of which," Sylvia said, "have you considered trying one of those new online dating sites? Mrs. Birche was telling me how her daughter found her fiancee on one."

"I'm not ready to date again, Mom." Linda quickly changed the subject. "Did you know that the men's store has bow ties with the symbols of a whole bunch of heroes. There's Green Lantern ties, Flash ties..."

Mattie shook her head. "This town has turned into a freaking comics convention." She wagged her finger at Linda. "This is all your fault. We used to be a nice little town-"

"With a serial killing satanic cult and a demon infestation." Linda finished.

"True." Mattie agreed.

"I still think it would be good for you to start dating again." Sylvia said. "You're not getting any younger."

"Mommmmm." Linda groaned. "You just had a baby yourself. And you're already set on being a grandmother?"

"I'm just thinking of you dear."

"Mrs. Danvers," Mattie said, "it hasn't been that long since Dick Malverne passed away, and Linda's been so busy since then she hasn't had time to really mourn. You can give her a little more time before you start playing matchmaker again."

"I suppose." Sylvia conceded. "But don't wait too long. It's not such a big town, after all."

"I'd better get going." Linda said suddenly. "Gotta get ready for that meeting with the mayor."

"Oh." Sylvia said. "Good luck then."

Linda hugged Mattie. "Sorry I couldn't be any more help."

"Don't worry about it." Mattie assured her. "I'll just order a dress from a catalog and get it fitted here."

"See ya." Linda said as she ran out.

"Something's really bothering her." Sylvia said.

"She is under a lot of stress." Mattie shrugged. "And like I said, she hasn't gotten over Dick yet."

"She's always under stress." Sylvia observed. "This is different. She hasn't been the same since Kara went back to her own time. I wonder if..."

"You know there wasn't anything like that." Mattie assured her. "Superheroes just have problems they can't really share with us normal people."

Sylvia sighed. "If she can't confide in her mother, who can she confide in?"

Supergirl hovered far above Leesburg, where she couldn't hear anything short of a large explosion below. The sky was a good place to get away from it all.

In truth she had been ready to date again when she came back to Leesburg after her battle with Lillith. The only reason she had hesitated when the alternate Superman confessed his feelings to her was that she knew she was going to die in Kara's place.

How could she explain to her parents that she was already married, or that they were grandparents? How could she tell them that they'd never see their granddaughter?

She had lived a fairy tale. No relationship in this world could ever be as simple or as pure as what she had lost.

Besides, the Spectre had yanked her from her fairy tale without even giving her time to say goodbye, let alone file for divorce. She was still married, and the last thing she would do would be to cheat on Superman.

"Penny for em?"

In a world full of superheroes even the sky wasn't as quiet as it seemed.

There he was. All six-foot four of red blooded American hero, wrapped in a flowing red cape. It was the first time she had seen him since coming back from the other world. For a second the differences in appearance between her husband and the man she had always thought of as a big brother threw her off.

"Clark. It's good to see you again."

"You too, Linda." She had almost forgotten the boyish smile this Superman had. Her husband could never have pulled off the same smile.

His smile faded as she pulled away from the hug he tried to give her. They always hugged when they met for reasons other than to fight supervillains.

"Is something wrong?"

'Nothing.' she thought. 'We just got married in another timeline and had a kid. But here we're just friends and you're already married to Lois and I'm afraid if I say anything it'll ruin the relationship we have right now.'

"Just lost in thought."

"Sometimes I fly into space to have room to think." Superman said sagely. "With my hearing the sky doesn't cut it. But we've got to come down to Earth sometime."

Supergirl looked down at her town. "Shall we return to Earth, then?"

Cutter Sharp paced nervously around the mayor's office.

"I swear, Mr. Sharp," the mayor said, "if you're playing me-"

"I'm not!" Cutter said. "I swear, this is the real deal."

"It had better be. If we endorse a fake Supergirl we can kiss both of our careers goodbye."

"No. She's definitely the real deal." Cutter assured him.

"I'll believe it when I see...it..."

The mayor's jaw dropped as two caped figures flew through his window and landed in front of his desk.

He had met Supergirl before when she was in her previous, more impressive form. But being in Superman's presence was something else entirely. His height and build were impressive, but that wasn't what made him seem larger than life. The way Superman carried himself, the aura he projected, was enough to make everyone around him sure that they were in the presence of a titan.

This titan extended his hand. "Thank you for agreeing to see us, Mr. Mayor. I know that with the president's anti-metahuman stance associating with superheroes can be a risky move politically."

The mayor took Superman's hand. "Yes...well...there are still some superheroes it isn't a risk to associate with."

The mayor massaged his hand after Superman let go. "Now, let's get down to business."

"Very well." Superman agreed.

The mayor pointed at Supergirl. "You say you're the same Supergirl from before."

"That's right." Supergirl said.

"Even though you look and sound completely different."

"Yes."

"If that's true, then prove it. Tell me something only the real Supergirl would know."

"How would that prove anything?" Supergirl asked. "We only met a couple of times, and Cutter was there each time."

"True enough." the mayor agreed. "So how would you explain your current appearance?"

"A result of the battle where I supposedly 'died.'"

"You'll forgive me for being skeptical." the mayor said dryly.

"I'm afraid all we can offer is our word." Superman said. "I knew Supergirl well. When I said she was 'like a beloved cousin to me' at her memorial service, I meant it. I would never, ever try to pass someone else off as her. I don't just believe that she is the same person who has been my friend for years. I know it."

Supergirl turned her head and rubbed a tear out of her eye. "Thank you." she whispered.

The mayor smiled. "I guess that's all I can ask for. Your word goes a long way, Superman." He turned to Supergirl.

"Welcome back to Leesburg, Supergirl."

"Thank you, sir. It's good to be back." She stepped forward to shake his hand.

"Note to self." the mayor said, grimacing, "don't shake hands with superheroes again. Yeah. The Vulcan hand sign'll be much less painful."

But his good cheer returned quickly. "Now we're going to have to welcome you back in style?"

"Style?"

"A welcome back parade. The last one was a big success, and with Superman participating this time-"

Supergirl threw up her hands in an embarrassed gesture. "I don't think Superman can spare the time to-"

"I can make make the time." Superman said. "I don't normally do this sort of thing, but the transition would go more smoothly if I'm seen with you in public."

"But-" Supergirl began.

"Splendid!" the mayor exclaimed. "In two days we'll throw the biggest parade this town's ever seen!"

"I look forward to it." Superman turned to Cutter. "May I have a word, Mr. Sharp?"

"S-sure." Cutter said, taken aback. He followed Superman out of the door to the mayor's office.

"What was that about?" the mayor asked.

Supergirl shook her head but smiled slightly. "Just be glad you're not Cutter Sharp right now."

Superman walked Cutter to a broom closet. "This will give us a chance to speak privately."

"I'm grateful for the interview," Cutter said nervously as Superman closed the door, "but I'm not a reporter anymore."

"This isn't an interview." Superman folded his arms across his chest and looked down at Cutter.

"You heard what I said in the mayor's office."

"Y-yeah. She's like your cousin."

"And you are now in charge of her image."

"Well, yeah. I was before. It worked out then."

"And I want to keep it that way." Superman leaned forward slightly. "I don't want to hear about any funny business. Everything has to be on the up and up. Understand?"

"Y-yes, sir, S-superman, sir." Cutter stammered.

At that moment Supergirl opened the closet door.

"We'd better get going. Cutter needs time to change his underwear."

"Very well." Superman patted Cutter on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over. "Good luck, Mr. Sharp."

Cutter had to sit down and wipe the sweat from his forehead as he watched the caped figures walk away.

"So that's Superman."

"I'm flattered by the 'big brother' routine," Supergirl said to Superman, "but Cutter's a good guy. He'd have fit in at the Daily Planet if he hadn't given up journalism."

"I'm sure he is. But I think it doesn't hurt to remind him of the importance of his position."

Once outside they flew back into the sky.

"Look, Clark," Supergirl said, "you really don't have to do all this."

"Just think of it as me paying you back for all the times you saved my secret identity."

"You mean the time Mae pretended to be you so Superman could rescue Clark after Engine City?"

"That too." Superman said. "But also all the times you covered for me with Steel and Superboy. That really made things easier for me."

"Ok." At least those times she either got her fellow 'Team Superman' members off of his back or off the trail of his secret identity happened after she and Mae had merged.

"Is that what's bothering you, that you didn't get back together with Mae?"

"That might be part of it." At the very least she'd likely have been able to think through her choices better if she had the mind and inner strength of an angel.

"And the rest of it?"

"Look," she said, "I'm not ready to talk yet."

"I see." Superman sounded disappointed. "If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

There was a burst of wind as Superman disappeared, leaving Supergirl in the town where she was adored by the public, where her friends and family lived, and yet where she was utterly alone.

Practically the whole town came out for the parade. School let out early and most businesses were closed. The main street was full of cheering people.

It was true that the procession and the few floats were largely recycled from the previous parade Leesburg had thrown for Supergirl, with the main difference being that the word 'back' was added to the welcome signs. It was the best a small municipality could manage on two days notice.

But the citizens of Leesburg didn't care. Not only did they have their heroine back, but for a brief afternoon they were graced by Superman's presence as well.

Fred Danvers was one of the policemen marching at the front of the procession, a show of cooperation between the police force and Supergirl. His wife, Sylvia, stood in the crowd, pointing out their daughter to their baby, Wally. Mattie and Cutter had a better position to watch the parade, one provided by the mayor.

"It's hard to believe that's really our Linda up there," Mattie said as Supergirl and Superman passed by where they were sitting, "chilling with Superman."

Cutter took a sip of his soda. "It didn't really sink in that she was so close with Superman until he took me aside and warned me not to mess with her. That was scarier than the supervillain attacks I've lived through."

Mattie looked down at her own diet soda. "How is she supposed to have any time for us, then?"

"What do you mean?" Cutter asked.

"That's her world now." Mattie explained. "Flying, saving the planet, hanging out with Superman. What place do we have in that kind of life?"

"I manage her brand,so there's that."

"And where does that leave me?"

Cutter put his arm around his fiancee. "As long as Supergirl stays in Leesburg she'll make time for her old friends."

Mattie smiled as she took his hand. "When did you turn into such an optimist?"

"The day you said 'yes.'"

Crowds were cheering her. Her name was everywhere. A whole town was proclaiming its love for her.

Supergirl was in hell.

It was the third such parade she had had thrown in her honor. The first had also been in Leesburg. Then too she had pretended to smile and enjoy herself because of her inability at the time to find the missing angel Comet. The second was the only one she had actually enjoyed.

Then, too, she flew beside Superman, arm in arm with the man she would later marry. Now they were about twenty feet apart, but she could not help but be reminded about better days.

As the parade rounded a corner Superman moved closer so he could whisper to her.

"When I told Ma and Pa about this parade they wanted me to invite you to a picnic in Smallville. They say they haven't seen you in months."

"I don't know." Supergirl responded. If it was a picnic Clark would likely be there as well, and she didn't think she could stand an entire meal together. "Is it even appropriate? It was Mae they raised, not me."

"They asked me to invite Linda, not Mae."

There was a roar behind them. They turned to see two cars flying at the crowd.

'Thank god,' Supergirl thought as she caught one of the cars, 'someone trying to kill me. At least that I know how to deal with.'

Superman had caught the other car. Thankfully both were empty. But with the crowd assembled to watch the parade there was nowhere to set the vehicles down.

That distraction gave their attacker the chance he needed. A large mass of purple leapt into the air and grabbed Superman, who screamed in pain and dropped the car he had been holding.

Supergirl reacted quickly, catching the car with her telekinetic power before it could land on any bystanders below. She took one car in each hand at set them down on a nearby roof.

The crowd was panicking. Their screams filled the air as they fled in every direction with no care for the stragglers who were being knocked down and run over.

It was a disaster. A supervillain attack in front of the entire population of Leesburg. Not since Grodd's mass mind control during the Final Night had the town seen such chaos.

And the one responsible for it all was draining Superman's power.

Supergirl recognized the Parasite. She had fought him once in Paris. He would have killed her then, except her angelic powers were beyond his ability to safely absorb. Now she was just as vulnerable to him as anyone else.

Superman heard the cries of the crowd and mustered all of his strength. He flew out of Leesburg as fast as he still could and crashed himself and Parasite into the forest just outside of town.

'Good, Clark,' Supergirl thought as she flew after them, 'get him away from the people so we can really go at him.'

She flew over a long stretch of fallen trees before reaching them. Superman was breathing heavily and struggling to rise off of one knee, while the Parasite got up easily and laughed.

'Damn. He's already absorbed too much of Superman's strength.' she realized.

Parasite was too dangerous to fight hand to hand. But Supergirl had other tricks up her sleeve. She hit him with the most powerful telekinetic blast she could muster. Parasite yelped in pain and was blown back by the force of her attack.

He flew back so far that Supergirl lost sight of him in the trees. 'That was stupid.' she thought. 'I should have blasted him up and kept juggling him.'

She stepped farther into the forest to find him. With any luck he hadn't absorbed enough power to stay conscious after a fully powered telekinetic blast. Even Superman would be hurt by that.

Luck was not on her side.

She heard a loud crunching noise and turned to see a large tree trunk flying in her direction at extremely high speeds. It struck her in the torso so hard that she was knocked through several other trees before landing painfully in the dirt.

"Hehe. Too easy."

Supergirl had no chance to rise before the Parasite grabbed the back of her head. "Time to see how powerful this fake Supergirl really is."

She struggled, but every second she grew weaker and he grew stronger, in addition to the strength he had already taken from Superman. She screamed as her muscles began to lose mass, filling every part of her body with pain.

And then suddenly the Parasite was screaming in pain along with her. He dropped her and began flailing in all directions.

Supergirl was barely conscious, but she managed to turn her head to see what was happening to the Parasite. He eyes widened in shock.

The Parasite's arm was on fire, and it was spreading across the rest of his body, burning him alive.

"But...I...how?" she muttered. Fire should have only been more energy for the Parasite to absorb.

But this fire was killing him. He fell down next to her.

"Not...not fair" he complained softly. "Was told...you were...different..."

"No..." Supergirl tried to summon another telekinetic blast to smother the flames, but she didn't have the strength for even a weak burst of tk. There was nothing she could do to save the Parasite.

A pair of strong arms lifted her off of the ground. Superman had recovered enough of his strength to reenter the fight. She felt him draw in his breath, and then heard the extreme winds as he exhaled.

The resulting gale knocked over many more trees. As weak as she was, if she had still been on the ground the wind would have killed her. But it succeeded in blowing out the fire that was consuming the Parasite.

"Are you all right?" Superman asked.

"I'll live." she assured him.

Superman landed and examined the Parasite's body. "I thought I watched him die in Metropolis."

"Is he dead this time?"

"No. It was close though. Just what happened?" he asked.

When she had been an angel absorbing her powers had nearly killed the Parasite. But she had forever split with the angel part of herself. There was nothing divine left in her.

So what had happened to the Parasite this time?

"I have no idea."

Frank Thomas adjusted his tie before he stepped into his bosses office. His boss raised a finger to indicate that he should wait while he finished his phone call.

"Yes, your excellency. I will reconsider your request for greater military aid. I must go now. Good bye."

He hung up the phone and shook his head. "They win a revolution against an aging and weak dictator and they think they're god. What do you have to report?"

"The Parasite failed. Both Superman and Supergirl survived."

"The Supergirl imposter." his boss said angrily.

"Yes, sir. The imposter." Frank corrected himself.

"No matter." his boss turned his attention to a set of files on his desk.

"Sir, you aren't upset? You kept the Parasite secure for a special occasion since his last fight with Superman."

"I never intended for the Parasite to kill either of them. That was merely the opening salvo."

Frank's boss banged his hand on the desk. "The people of Leesburg have to learn the lesson most of the country has internalized with my help. Relying on the help of these so-called superheroes, especially children masquerading as Supergirl, will do them more harm than good."

He leaned forward, a vain twitching on his bald head. "They need to learn that they can only rely on real saviors like Lex Luthor!"

Frank nodded. "Yes sir, Mr. President."

N

Next Time: The return of Xenon