But no...he remembered her passionate speech about Superman. It had been entirely for his benefit, of course. But, still...she did not view him as a god. She understood his motives; his purpose. She viewed him as a normal - well, somewhat normal man trying to set an example.

'Either way,' Clark decided, 'I'll keep my opinions open about her. At least she's trustworthy. A lesser woman would be running to Perry with the big scoop.'

He was jolted out of his thoughts when Emily stood up, taking her plate to the sink.

"So, about this New Krypton article..I can tell Perry that we couldn't contact Superman if you want?" Emily said, returning to the table, coffee in hand.

"You know as well as I do that Perry White doesn't take no for an answer. But I appreciate the sentiment." Clark said gratefully, smiling to let her know it was okay.

"Well, we don't have to ask any personal questions, anyway." Emily insisted. Clark was about to respond, when he heard a cry for help.

"Excuse me.." He said quickly, before spinning into a blur and shooting out through the open balcony door. Emily saw his work suit discarded on his seat, folded neatly, and the glasses clattered on the table.

'Whoa..that was fast.' Emily thought to herself in amazement, before standing up to wash the dishes, awaiting his return.

\S/ \S/

When Clark had returned, Emily was in the loungeroom. The television had showed Superman helping a family held hostage in Wisconsin, and out of curiousity, her eyes had been glued to the screen.

This universe was taking some getting used to. Emily was used to death and destruction; her family had been killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Emily would have died, too, if she had not misplaced her passport. She would have been on the hijacked plane with them. If only Superman had existed then, in that place and time. So much would have been different.

She would have a life to return to, for one. Not simply the existence she had come to know of as her life. But, finally, she had a chance for a fresh start..who knows..maybe in this life, she still had a family?

Emily had turned the television off milliseconds before Clark walked in. He was once again in his work suit.

"Ready for work?" He questioned, adjusting his tie slightly. Emily nodded, and she stood up, slinging her handbag over her shoulder. They once again hailed a cab together, and took the long journey through Metropolis mid-morning traffic, discussing their new article on the way.

\S/ \S/

Clark and Emily entered the bullpen at twenty past nine, and barely had time to get to their desks before they were called upon.

"You two! My office!" Perry called out, before withdrawing his head from the gap between his office doors. Clark and Emily exchanged a look, before setting their things down and heading towards Perry's office.

"Okay, what do you have for me?" Perry questioned, leaning back in his chair and gesturing for the two to sit down. There was only one seat in front of Perry's desk, and Clark, ever the gentleman, pulled it out for Emily.

Emily shot him a smile, and said a soft "thanks, Clark."

"Superman gave us an interview yesterday, Chief. All we have to do is type it out and write the feature article on the day's events." Emily was the one to answer. On the Cab journey over, Clark had suggested an interview of Superman, and a small overview of the New Krypton incident to accompany it.

"Great! I'll get it put in tonight's edition! Another Superman exclusive! I expect it on my desk no later that 4:30. Now get to it!" Perry waved them off, looking pleased.

"Sure thing, C-chief." Clark answered, and the two left to get to work.

Two hours later found them sitting at their desks, surrounded by munchies and empty foam cups that were once filled with coffee. Emily's overcoat lay discarded on the back of her seat, and she sat next to Clark, outlining the main points of the feature article, while he wrote up the interview segment.

"Would you rather I focused more on the city's destruction opposed to the crystal technology?" She questioned softly, so only he could hear. He stopped typing, and looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I don't want to lie to the public..but if you could just leave it down to the fact that it was Kryptonian technology that built the landmass? It's kind of embarrasing to think I left the Fortress unlocked and vulnerable to people like Lex." He responded in the same hushed tone.

"Yeah of course, that's fine." Emily nodded in agreement,and they both set to writing their articles.

"Hey CK! Hi Emily!" Jimmy's excited tone rung out from behind the pair.

"Jimmy, hey. How are you?" Clark questioned politely. With a glance to the computer screen, emily saw that Clark's article was already completed.

'Oh, to have super-speed when a deadline is due..' Emily thought wryly, before turning her attention back to Clark and Jimmy's conversation.

"So what are you doing for Christmas Emily?" Jimmy directed at her, leaning against the edge of Clark's desk.

"Well..probably just hanging out in my apartment." She answered honestly, almost cringing at the look of sympathy Jimmy shot her.

"You don't have Christmas plans? Didn't Lois invite you to her house for Christmas dinner? She invited Mr and Mrs White, myself, and I think she was going to ask you and Clark to come as well.." Jimmy trailed off, wondering if he'd said too much.