Dawn walked through the magic shop in a somewhat joyous mood depending on if she can pull tonight off. She walked over and saw a cute boy sitting down at the table. She sees him in a black silk shirt. "Can we help you?"

"I'm still trying to figure out the last person that said that." The boy replied.

Dawn looked at him. He must have had Anya as help. "Really why?"

The boy looked at her. "I don't think you want to know."

"Try me." Dawn replied.

"Well she came over and talked about being dressed as an angel, and she was talking about playing a game called shiver me timbers later. And when she saw me looking at you she said maybe I should ask if you wanted to play because her boyfriend said it would be really fun to play."

Dawn's cheeks lit up a bright shade of red. "Dear god, I'm killing Anya." She looked to the boy. "Anya is… quirky. No timbers, not now, likely not ever."

"Figured as much. You seem too nice."

Dawn glared at him. "I am not the nice type. I'm even planning on sneaking out with my friend Janice tonight."

"Of course you are." The boy replied.

"I am" Dawn replied.

He nodded. "Oh I'm sure. So what's your name Ms. Sneak Out?"

"Dawn, and you are?"

"Alex"

Dawn looked at him and smiled. "Well Alex, if you don't think I'm the type why don't you join me tonight."

The boy let out a smile. "It's a date."

Dawn smiled she'll call Justin see if they can arrange a girl for Alex she's sure of it.


Christine looked at Justin and well this honestly couldn't go worse for the two of them. Alex barely looked at her and had his hands all over Dawn to Justin's chagrin.

Justin glared at the new kid putting his jacket on Dawn. You know earlier tonight he was thinking of becoming a sire. Now he can barely think straight outside of killing the kid that's taking Dawn from him.

Christine looked at him with a smile. "Things not going to plan."

Justin shook his head. "Not at the moment."

Christine turned her focus back to the seemingly couple. "Well give it some time. You'll have a spritz of Dawn and I'll have piece of Kansas farmboy."


Later that night the slayer was moving on the warpath. When she used the old round robin it was an exercise used just to save the world...mostly. Dawn is just being a stupid child with a death wish. She walked with two Englishmen behind her. Her ever faithful watcher Giles and the bleached blond vampire Spike.

Buffy looked at the two. "Will you two hurry up." She can't believe this. "You guys have gotten flabby since I've died."

Spike looked at her. "Well we're not the ones chasing down the Niblet like a maniac." Buffy will likely traumatize Dawn for life if there's no demons tonight.

Giles looked at Spike. "As much as I hate to admit it Spike's right. We're not going to be any good for her if we're exhausted."

Buffy looked at them about to make her point when something caught her eye. Something very weird, even by Sunnydale standards. She watched as a man came down wearing patriotic red and blue tights with a cape on his back and an S on the chest of it. She turned to Giles and Spike and saw them both dumbfounded. She watched him land and did the first thing that came to her. She laughed at him.

Giles quietly swallowed he knew there was something important they missed over the Summer they forgot to tell Buffy about Superman. "Buffy, I don't think that's the best idea."

Buffy looked at her watcher. "Oh please what's he going to do attack me with his little red booties?"

The man's eyes rose.

Spike let out a quiet gulp. "Seriously pet not a good idea."

Buffy just pointed at him don't get her wrong he's cute but look at him he looks ridiculous. "Oh my god, is that what I think it is?"

Giles rolled his eyes. "Buffy!"

Buffy shakes her head she said still laughing. "No, I want to know who thought it would be a good idea to wear underwear on the outside."

Superman looked at her. "My mother made me this…" Yeah that's not going to win the argument with the blond girl.

At that point Buffy lost the little control she had left and doubled over, the fact that she's still on her feet baffled her. Spike rolled his eyes and got closer to her and slowly whispered into her ear. Buffy stopped laughing as Spike told her about the big apocalypse she missed while she was dead.

Buffy turned to the vampire almost numb. "A planet… what do you mean a planet... he lifted a…. I mean the whole planet… I just… don't you think you should have told me about that sooner! A guy that can throw entire planets back into space… that's something you could have mentioned about when I was... away."

Buffy turned to him almost nervous. She hopes she didn't burn any bridges. "So about earlier?"

"You have your opinion, you're entitled to it." Superman assured her, besides he's not a fan of the underwear either. They're uncomfortable "Even if you look ridiculous in that top"

"Hey!" Buffy countered upset. She loved her white top.

Superman looked at them and pulled out a picture as the three took a defensive stance. "I was just wondering if any of you had seen this teenager."

Buffy looked at the boy. "Oh wow it's like a miniature you. But no haven't seen him."

Superman turned to the English men. "How about the two of you?"

Spike looked at the picture. "No, don't recognize the boy."

Giles looked at it. "I do, he was at the magic shop earlier today."

Superman let out a smile in relief he's finally found him. "Thank you"

Buffy looked at him. "Do you need help?"

Superman shook his head. "No, he's dangerous as he is right now, he can take out the three of you with his pinky."

Buffy looked at him. "Hey! Wait a minute, look, about earlier."

Superman could only smile. "Don't worry about it. Besides if I was going to attack anyone it would be the Billy Idol wanna be."

Spike's eyes rose as Superman took off. "Hey, what did I do?"

Buffy just watched in awe as a man flew. "Wow, I mean… wow."

Spike looked at her. "He's not that impressive, he wears lifts, come on slayer, got a Niblet to save."


Dawn sat back in the truck with Alex. This night played out nothing like she thought it would. Justin was nice but she found herself more drawn to the new guy. It was like a mix of Spike with his temper and Xander's goofiness. She smiled looking at him.

Alex looked at her with a smile. He just thought she was another girl to manipulate until he got fed up and left, he's did it before. He listened to her talk about her sister and how crazy she drives her.

Dawn looked at him and saw the jacket still on her. "You want this back?"

Alex shook his head. "Nah. Cold doesn't really bother me."

Dawn simply smiled amused. "What are you, Superman?"

Alex looked at her and laughed. "No, just on my brother's side."

After a couple minutes in an awkward silence he leaned in for a kiss. Dawn chickens out at the last second and looks down at the radio. "Hey, does this work?" She turns on the radio. Nothing.

Alex looked at her. "You gotta turn the ignition."

He turns the key in the ignition, activating the electrical system. The radio flares to life. Something achingly romantic plays, like Johnny and Santo's "Sleep Walk".

Dawn smiled. "I love this one."

Alex looked at her. "Another thing we have in common." Alex gently strokes her hair, traces his fingers down her neck. Dawn leans in surprised at the warmth in his touch. "You're shaking."

"It's... cold." Dawn replied.

Alex moved closer. "Do you want to go?"

Dawn shook her head. "No, I just... you know, what do you expect"

"Shhh." He puts a finger to her lips, gently traces them. "I just... want to do this..." He leans in and kisses her softly. It's an electric moment. Dawn sighs, melting into him as the tender kiss goes on and on...

Dawn came up for breath dazed. "Shiver me timbers."

"What?" Alex asked.

Dawn shook her head. "Uh, nothing, just... wow."

Alex looked at her surprised as it sunk in. "Oh my God. That was your first."

"Wha -no!" Dawn tried to defend herself.

Alex shook his head and laughed in disbelief. "It was! That was your first kiss."

Dawn denied it, he can't know. "I've been kissed before. I kiss all the time. Not that I'm a kiss slut, but, you know, I'm just saying with the lips and the pressing together and stuff - hey, expert here.

Alex stares at her with a wry grin. Dawn cracks. "Okay, it was my first kiss, all
right! I know, I suck! My lips are dry and my tongue's all horrible and sticky and I'm pretty sure I drooled so just tell me how awful it was and-"

Alex kisses her softly, cutting her off. "It was mine too and as far as I'm concerned it was perfect."

Dawn melts under his lips. Kissage, round two.


Alex smiled and his hands started drifting for second until Dawn smacked it away. He looked at her almost regretful. "Sorry, it's just… aw, you suck."

"Hey!" Dawn complained.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Not you." He put his hand out. "Do you trust me?"

Dawn smiled and took it. "Yes" Before she could react they were outside and Justin and Zack each were draining Janice through her neck while Christine held her wrist to her teeth draining the life out of her and letting out a moan from the taste.

"Let her go!" Alex ordered but in a moment all three were off her and on the floor about ten feet away. Alex looked at Janice. "Are you alright?"

"They bit me! Those jerks bit me!" Janice shouted.

"Like you weren't begging for it." Zach countered as the vampires got to their feet.

Alex looked at the three. "You ruined something big for me. And believe me you don't want to cross me right now. Walk away… dead things."

Zack glared at him and just walked up not flinching once and started poking him. "Oh please you're like 15 what are you going to…"

Alex just put his hand up and snatched him by the throat. Alex smiled a smile that freaked Zack out as he slugged him with an uppercut with such force that Zack just disappeared.

Justin looked around but didn't see a trace of his friend. If he'd killed Zack there would be dust. "Where'd he go… where the hell did he go?"

"Orbit" Alex answered bluntly as Dawn's eyes widened. "He went into Orbit at Mach 5." He looked at Justin and Catherine as Janice fainted. "Now we can do this the easy way or…" All the cars at make out lane open showing another eight vamps.

Justin and Catherine smile. "What were our choices again?"


Spike walked down and saw Dawn, well they found her, she has a bit of the boys scent so this should be interesting. "This a private game, or can anyone have a go?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "Oh joy, big brother's here."

Spike looked up as Superman flew down and Buffy came out.

Superman looked at the facts. Girl wearing his jacket. The ring on his finger, yeah this isn't rocket science. "Conner, were you parking, parking with a girl."

The red k drugged Conner Kent let out a smile. "Well I didn't know she surrounds herself with dead people… Clark."

"Living dead." Justin replied.

Clark, Buffy, Conner, Dawn, Spike, and Giles all turn and reply. "Shut up."

Buffy turned to Dawn. Her little sister is growing up. This is going to be a pain in the ass. "So you were parking with a boy you just met."

Dawn glared at her. "I'm not the only one in my family to be reckless with a vampire."

Buffy looked at her sister. "That was different and you know it."

Conner had his own smile as he turned to Clark. "Besides Mr. Hero, when you were my age didn't your dad find Alicia, in her panties, in your bed, the day you met her."

Clark's eyes simply rose as he clenched his fist. How effective was the Smallville high rumor mill? "No when I was your age I mostly just slept because I was 1."

Dawn turned to him intrigued. There's something she never thought they'd have in common. "You're 1."

Connor shrugged. "I'm big for my age." He turned back to Clark. "But since we're sharing secrets, ladies and gentlemen boys and girls children of all ages I present to you Superman AKA Clark Kent, raised and currently living in the Kent Farm in Smallville Kansas, employed by the Daily Planet."

Clark looked at him. "If you want to tell my secret Conner do it, I don't care. But I'm not letting you leave here with that ring on. You know what it does to us."

Conner simply traced his finger through it. "Yeah, it makes me feel better. After you took the last thing from me to take."

Clark looked at him. "I didn't take anything from you... and you know I would have stopped it if I knew…"

One of the vampires looked at the two. "Excuse me!"

Clark and Conner turn around and instantly vaporize the vampire with four blasts of heat vision.

Conner looked at Clark. "Why are you even here Clark?"

Clark looked at him like it should have been obvious. "Because I'm your big brother, and you're in trouble Conner. And when you're twenty and I'm forty five I'll still be your big brother and I'll still be there when you get in trouble."

Conner clenched his fists ready to come to blows with him.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry but did anyone come here just for the sake of making out." A young couple awkwardly raises their hands. "Aw that's sweet. You run." The couple takes off. She points at a vampire. "You scream!"

Conner tackles Clark to the ground and unloads on him with a flurry of punches. To his surprise Clark doesn't even defend himself. "Fight back!" He punches him so hard blood pours from Clark's mouth.

Clark watches a vampire rush Buffy but Buffy easily stakes it, guess he found the slayer. So it's not Jor El crazy talk. He watched her move and even phoning in a fight it's still a hell of a fight. He watches Giles fight two and dusts one with heat vision making it a fair fight.

Conner kept punching eventually making a hole with his swings. "Fight back damn it." He threw Superman against a car and made a fist with his other hand. Clark took the opportunity to catch his fist. He pushed Connor's hand back and the ring practically exploded on a car door. A red flash coursed through Conner's eyes for a moment… and then he went back to punching Clark.

Spike looked at the scene after dusting the vampires. "Wasn't exactly a Brady moment was it."

Buffy ran up to him. But a heat vision blast at her feet from Conner stopped her.

"Stay out of this!" Conner warned.

It did however distract the younger kryptonian and give Clark the time to push Conner off him off. Clark ran in a blur and got Conner in a choke hold.

Buffy looked at the man of steel. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to take him to who he's really mad at. I'll be back to see you in an hour or two." Clark replied as he flew into the sky dragging Conner with him.

Dawn looked at the sky with a smile her first kiss had come from a teenage Superman.


Clark cleared the western coast and quickly returned to Smallville. He dropped Conner in a cemetery and quickly landed next to him. Conner got up and looked at the grave with disgust. He ran up and saw the grave belonging to Lutessa 'Lena' Luthor and punched the top corner of it clean off as he breaks the tombstone piece by piece and shouts in fury. "How dare you leave me! You send me away and then you go and die and leave me here alone!" Conner finally starts breaking down with tears crumbling next to the pieces of Tess' tombstone. "Please come back! I need you! Please come back!"

Clark pulled him into a hug. "It wasn't your fault Conner. It's Ok to be angry at her for leaving you like that."

"She was nearly killed by Lionel because he couldn't find me. She sacrificed herself to protect me from Lex." Conner replied. Nice words but just words.

Clark shook his head. "Tess made her choice Conner. She chose to confront Lex alone and no one could have talked her out of it. She was a hero. Always remember that and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise." Conner let out a small smile before he disappeared in a blur. "Conner?"

Clark turned around and saw Conner plant a new tombstone in. His eyes heated up as he made a new headstone for her.

Conner backed up looking at his work. "So, too poor should we have Ollie make a new one."

Clark shook his head. "No, it looks great."

"Sop sucking up." Conner replied.

"No, it really does." Clark replied looking at the new tombstone. 'Tess Mercer: Beloved Sister, She saved the world.'

"We'll get proof that Lex did it. I promise." Clark replied.


Giles heard a knock on the door and quickly opened it seeing Superman and Conner as he called him earlier. He held the door open for them. "I take it you have questions about the creatures you saw earlier?"

Clark shook his head and came in with Conner, the younger going into the kitchen. "Not really, vampires, Buffy's the slayer, my father gave me a crash course on demons so I wasn't foolish enough to send a vampire to jail."

Giles nodded. "Oh, then the question becomes why are you here?"

Clark looked at him. "Conner said a lot about me when the ring was on."

Buffy walked in hearing that. "Don't worry, your secret stays with us, Clark."

Clark simply nodded. "Thank you."


Dawn looked in and saw them talking from the kitchen. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"Buffy agreed not tot tell the world Clark's secret." Conner informed her. "Super hearing"

Dawn nodded. "Oh, so, is it Alex, or Conner?"

"Both honestly" Conner replied. "That red ring it lets out the worst parts of me all of Lex's parts. But the most of the time I prefer Conner, Conner Kent."

"Dawn Summers" The girl replied. "So, how are you only 1?"

Conner let out an empty laugh. "This body none of it's real, none of it's mine. I'm not real, I'm just a deformed clone of Lex, but thankfully with some of Clark so I wouldn't die in a week, or turn into a murdering bastard like he is." If Clark didn't swear they'd get Lex he'd lobotomize Luthor where they stood.

Dawn looks at him. "I'm eighteen months I'm older then you." She stuck her tongue out at him."

Conner pointed at her, "Yeah, by like six months. How is that by the way?"

Dawn looked at him. "Well a lot like you actually. A bunch of people made me out of green energy and bits of Buffy."

Conner smiled at that. "Never would have had that much in common."

Dawn smiled and took his hand. "World's full of surprises."

Conner looked at her. "Are you in trouble with your sister?"

Dawn shook her head almost like she was disappointed. "No, she'll just pass it off on Giles whom doesn't actually have a way to punish me."

"Lucky you..." Was all Conner could get out before round three started.


Clark looked into the kitchen. "They're at it again."

Buffy looked into the kitchen to see the make out session. "It's not often Dawn finds someone that speaks to her on her level."

Giles nodded if they hadn't sneaked out all night he'd be thrilled Dawn found someone she could open up to."Still, we can't ignore this kind of behavior. Something has to be done before it spins out of control."

Buffy nodded. "You're right… I'm glad you're here to sort it out. Don't be too hard on her, okay?"

Buffy went to go upstairs but Clark's arm grabbed her. "And you are Dawn's sister, the words would have much more impact coming from you."

Buffy looked at Clark pleadingly. "Oh come on, I don't know how to be tough disciplinarian gal. Can't you do it? I hear people listen to Superman."

Clark looked at her. "Well if this stays between us no… I've never done this before it was always Tess and Emil that ran discipline. But now Tess is gone and Emil has buried himself in his work out of grief so it falls on me and I have no idea what I'm doing. So believe me, you can't do any worse then me."

Buffy looked at him and saw Giles took the moment to leave. "Alright, let's try to be grown ups. Scary thought."


Clark and Buffy walk in and Buffy lets out a whistle as Dawn and Conner break apart.

Conner looks at his brother. "Let me guess you're not angry at me just disappointed."

Clark rose an eye to that. "Yeah I'm disappointed. I was worried when you left. I was angry when you didn't check in. And I was blindingly furious when you disappeared for a month and a string of bank robberies showed up from Kansas to California leaving a coookie crumb trail for Lex."

"It was the red kryptonite." Conner pointed out.

Clark looked at him. "Which you chose to put on. Why didn't you just come to me Conner."

"Because I couldn't." The kryptonian teen replied. "You've been burying yourself in work since Lois left and don't even act like it's not true. Every time the world became too much you hid behind that S."

Clark frowned. He did this when Lois disappeared before. When she left him he just did the same thing. He just didn't how badly it affected Conner to have him shut him out. "I'm sorry, I should have seen it coming. But what you did was still wrong."

Conner looked at him. "What are you going to do ground me?"

"Yeah" Clark answered easily enough realizing he has to cut down on his time as Supoerman, he spent three hours playing umpire in a little league game before Conner ran off, anything to avoid returning to Clark Kent outside of the Daily Planet. "For the next two weeks when you're not at school or watchtower you'll be on the farm doing chores… without your powers."

Conner smiled. "And if I ignore that."

"I'll call Zee." Clark warned. And that would be two full weeks without his powers at all time. "Also from four to six you will have hand to hand lessons in watchtower with Diana."

"Fair enough." Conner replied.

"Let's make it Bruce for training since you seem so calm about it." Clark decided.

"Oh, come on." Conner groaned and shouted. Now it felt like he was being punished.


Dawn looked at her sister. "This the part where you tell me you're not angry, just disappointed?"

Buffy nodded. "Pretty much. Except I'm quite pissed off at you for lying to me and trying to stay out all night in Sunnydale."

"You're the one who wanted me to live remember." Dawn pointed out. Is it bad that she's actually a little happy Buffy is coming down on her.

"Don't go there." Buffy warned. She wanted her to live not deliberately risk throwing her life away for an up all night adventure on the hellmouth.

Buffy looked at her. "The punishment for Conner seems pretty good for you. The next two weeks during the day where it's sunny out you are either here, school, at the magic box helping Giles, or learning how to fight with me."

Dawn let out a quiet gulp. "OK, it's not like I didn't watch you for years and learn a thing or two."

"And at night you're patrolling with me and Spike. I can't stop you from acting like an idiot. But I can make sure you can at least take care of yourself." Buffy finished.

Dawn looked at her she's grounded, from Buffy, she never saw this coming. "Can I see Conner again?"

Clark took a moment those two are going to be a handful. "That's up to Buffy."

Buffy looked at them after the Summer she's had. Dawn could use a friend besides at her age she was just meeting Angel and smooching as her sister pointed out. "It's OK with me."

Clark nodded. "It's fine with me just not till they serve their time."

Buffy nodded in agreement. "Yeah do the time then you can see each other.

Buffy and Dawn see the Kents out, unknown to Clark and Buffy the younger couple had slipped each others email addresses as well.


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: This is hell!

I thought it would be nice to have Buffy lecture me but everything still hurts from earlier today. Buffy and Spike put me through the ringer. To think there was a time I wanted Spike to throw me down to the ground. Add to the fun Giles had me catalogue newt eyes and multiple scales and eyes balls. He's a ludite and a sadist all at the same time. Anyway hope to see you soon in two weeks I already miss you. But glad you can't see me sore and slimey.

Dawn


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: Why are there no unsend buttons!

Seriously what kind of internet connection in Kansas doesn't allow for an unsend button. Ignore that part about Spike throwing me to the ground or suffer the wrath of a slayer and two witches.

Dawn


To: Keygirl 15

From: Sboy3411

Subject: Re: This is hell!

No shame liking someone older. I kidnapped Clark's then fiancé last year which is a story you don't get to hear yet. You think you've got it bad. Buffy will pull her punches because you're her sister. I think Bruce enjoys the fact that I heal. Not to mention I still have chores when Bruce is done torturing me for the day. Counting the days to see you again.

Conner


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: Fiance?

Superman has a fiancé? It's that Amazon girl isn't it. And thank god for Willow for encrypted emails.

Dawn


To: Keygirl 15

From: Sboy3411

Subject: Re: Fiance?

Don't forget Chloe from this end. And no it's not Wonder Woman it was a human. They tried to get married and it fell through thanks to the apocalypse last year. They went on their honeymoon anyway but something horrible happened during it and she gave him the same the world needs you more blah blah blah speech she did before. She's now dating her boss' nephew in Cairo. And he's a broken art of a sad human being.


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: Re: Re: Fiance?

Tough break but at least she didn't say we could always be friends. Reminds me of Buffy's last boyfriend GI Jackass. At least this girl wasn't going. 'You should have come grieve to me about your dying family.' If I knew where he was going I would have had Angel kick his ass again. Clark's invulnerable he'll bounce back. Hope to talk to you again soon.

Dawn


To: Keygirl 15

From: Sboy3411

Subject: I got beat by a girl.

Coming to the ending days of my punishment. They had Superman's sidekick, and I use that word loosely since Clark won't let me patrol, go against Batman's sidekick. Would have been nice if they told me Babs was an Olympic level gymnast. I actually had bruises after the blue kryptonite came off. How's it going on your end.


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: Re:I got beat by a girl.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: Re:I got beat by a girl.

Seriously though girls are tougher then boys where I'm from so I'm used to it. Just keep at it and you'll be able to beat Clark in a fight. Also on this end it's going great. I dusted my first vampire. Admittedly I got the lungs twice first but Buffy missed too and dust is still dust. Buffy's training me and pushing me further and stronger each day. Giles seems almost in glee when she comes down on me. I'm going to kill him... or maybe torture him by child proofing his cell phone. Keep up training Conner even Superman can't be everywhere at once and it will be that much quicker to next week.

Dawn


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: What the %*&$

That's the only words I can use to describe the past couple days. I meant to email you earlier this week but my hand to god on my mother's grave I broke into song about how you'll be mine before I could hit the send button and me breaking into song ends up was just a minor thing in the grand scheme of things. Willow was a smug bitch, ends up Buffy wasn't in hell, she went up to heaven, they pulled her out of heaven. I've been numbed by that for the past three days. All of Buffy's clashing emotions were because she was in paradise and we took her out of it. And what bugs me the most, I don't feel guilty about it. I'm glad they pulled my sister out of heaven. So what does that make me?

Could you write back ASAP


To: Keygirl 15

From: Sboy3411

Subject: Re: What the #%

I would superspeed there right now if Bruce wasn't watching me with a blue handcuff strapped to my wrist. But I'll tell you what it makes you. It makes you someone who loves your sister very much and didn't want to lose her yet. I lost Tess and if there was a way to bring her back. I would. It just makes you human and I think I know of someone who can help Buffy. If you're interested. Please write back ASAP


To: Sboy3411

From: Keygirl 15

Subject: Re: Re: What the %*&$

I'm desperate. Please do it.


Buffy sat at her window watching the lights go out and still feeling numb. She let out a sigh. "Dawn told Conner, Conner told you."

Clark simply nodded looking at her room in Superman gear. "Can I come in."

"It's a free country." Buffy replied but opened the window.

Clark flew into the room.

Buffy looked at him. "You know there's nothing you can do to help me right?"

"I can listen. I can be a neutral third ear." Clark offered.

Buffy shook her head. "It just felt like it was my time. I was at peace when I was gone and maybe you were supposed to replace me… god I don't even know what I'm saying anymore."

"It's alright." Clark assured her.

Buffy shook her head. "It's really not. I appreciate it you coming out but you don't know what it's like." She went for the door.

Clark looked at her. "You're surrounded by this bright light, and you don't know how or even why but you know, you just know everything's going to be alright."

Buffy stopped in her tracks and frowned. "Yeah, how did you know? Wait, did you die?"

"Three times" Clark answered her.

Buffy looked at him upset. "That was my thing, stop stealing my things! First saving the world now this!"

Clark looked at her. "OK, sorry."

Buffy looked at him. "Does this feeling of nothing ever go away?"

Clark nodded. "I was gone only... you know for a couple minutes. I still felt it for a week. But it will get better, the next time I didn't even want to go because I knew the world needed me more."

Buffy looked at him. "I was gone for a lot longer. I miss it so much."

Clark simply nodded knowing the feeling he misses it too, especially talking to his dad. Just not as much as he used to. "It will get better, you just gotta give it some time. Besides, I know you really want to be here."

Buffy simply tilted her head. "And how do you know that?"

"Because even if you phoned it in. You still ran to save Dawn." Clark responded.

Buffy looked at him a bit before giving a small trace of something that might have been a genuine smile. "Do you have like a phone number I can call? You're like the Dr Phil of slayers, I could use an unbiased ear."

Clark smiled and wrote down two phone numbers. "Home, work is there anything else I can do tonight?"

Buffy shook her head. "No you've done enough. Thank you."

Buffy smiled watching him fly out the window. "So cool" World would probably have to end for her to do something like that.


Conner came downstairs and saw Clark walking into the house with a smile. "So, how did it go."

Clark moved in a blur switching to a red shirt and jeans. "She's been through a lot, it's not going to be an overnight fix, but I think she'll be OK eventually."

Conner watched Clark go upstairs as his phone's text went off.

Keygirl 15: What did your brother say to my sister?

Sboy3411: I don't know why?

Keygirl 15: It's like she's a bit happy which is much more then she's been recently, so thanks for asking him to talk to her.

Sboy3411: Same here I haven't seen Clark so happy in months. So, how are you doing?

Keygirl 15: Much better now that Buffy seems to be doing better. I'm counting down till Friday so I can see you in person again.

Sboy3411: Like wise, so any crazy ideas for when I get there.

Keygirl 15: Just one.

Sboy3411: Oh yeah what's that?

Conner took a drink as Dawn replied.

Keygirl 15: I want to hook your brother up with my sister.

Conner spit up quite the impressive fountain of soda that actually went through the ceiling. Huh, he does have Superbreath.

"Conner are you OK down here."

Conner quickly looked around. "Ah yeah wrong pipe I'll fix the ceiling in the morning.

Sboy3411: Are you insane?

Keygirl 15: Think about it. They've made each other happy. Buffy is just happier when her boyfriends are super powered and can handle themselves. Also Buffy knows how important it is to have a life outside of your calling and not to be buried by it. They'd be good together assuming she's not a rebound.

Sboy3411: I just don't know Dawn.

Keygirl 15: Why not?

Sboy3411: As far as Clark is concerned Lois was his destiny and fate. Which for the record is stupid and idiotic considering one of our powers is to change destiny. So why not his own?

Keygirl 15: See, all the reason to get him away from thinking of the ex.

Sboy3411: What makes you think those two would even work?

Keygirl 15: How could you think they wouldn't? Big destinies, champions that have saved the world. But both of them need lives outside of being a super hero I think they'd be good for each other. Buffy knows how important it is to have a life outside of the cape. It's probably why she survived for five years when a slayer's life expectancy is 2 months to two years. I think they'd be good for each other.

Sboy3411: And if they're too good for each other what happens to us?

Keygirl 15: We become the Brady Bunch, look at the way the oldest kids looked at each other in later years and tell me nothing happened. So are you in or out?

Conner looked at his phone with a smile at Dawn's. At the end of the day he wants Clark to be happy if that has changed from Lois so be it. He went back to phone and responded.

Sboy3411: "OK, I'm in Marcia."


Author Notes

Thanks for the reviews last chapter.