Author's Note: Sorry so short. Having issues at work, but I'm trying to keep at it. Thanks for reading.

Morning

The morning dawned bright and clear. The sun's rays woke up Chloe from her fitful sleep. She opened her tired eyes and dragged herself to the shower. She had been plagued all night with bad dreams of the past. Standing under the spray of hot water the memories came flooding back.

"Oh shoot," Chloe whispered. "Clark!" she yelled, "Can you get me some more shampoo? We ran out."

Clark opened the door to the bathroom and handed a bottle of shampoo through the shower curtain.

Chloe widened her eyes, "Wow! That was fast. Did you go to the store to get that?" Clark smiled and nodded. "I'm impressed Clark. Thanks!"

Chloe had given up her apartment above the Talon and had moved in with Clark at the farm. They were happy and in love. Months had passed by and Clark was able to push thoughts of his training to the back of his mind and focus on the farm. Chloe was busy at the Planet and enjoyed her daily "run" to Metropolis in the arms of her hero.

Both were getting ready for the day when there was a knock at the door. Clark pulled open the inner door to review Lionel Luthor standing there. There was no sly smile or neat appearance. He appeared to be rather disheveled and stared straight ahead. Chloe came up behind Clark and took a deep breath when she saw who it was.

Clark started, "What do you want Lionel?" But Lionel didn't answer. Clark opened up the screen door between them and revealed the problem. Lionel's eyes were completely white.

Lionel turned his head towards Clark and said, "Kal-El, you have waited long enough. It is time for your training. You have destroyed those you released from the phantom zone. There is nothing to stop you. You have until sunset tomorrow to come to your fortress. I will have to take matters into my own hands if you do not comply."

Before Clark could argue with him, Lionel collapsed to the floor and his eyes returned to normal. Chloe knelt down beside him as Lionel was able to gasp out, "What...Where am I?" before he passed out.

Chloe looked up at Clark with tears in here eyes, "You need to take him home Clark." Chloe stood back up as Clark leaned over, picked Lionel up, and disappeared from her sight.

Chloe's mind reeled as she considered what Lionel had said. She knew very little about the training Jor-El wanted Clark to do. Clark had refused to discuss the topic. She knew she had interrupted it once before, and she knew it was met with dire consequences. Clark had told her that he wasn't going to do it, that Jor-El had no power over him.

Before she could consider anything more, Clark reappeared before her. He pulled her into a hug and refused to let go. He whispered into her hair, "I won't go Chlo. I won't leave you."

Chloe pushed herself out of his arms and looked into his eyes, "You have to go Clark. This is your destiny. You heard him, he threatened you...you have to go. I will wait for you Clark. I would wait forever for you. I'm not going anywhere."

Clark let a tear slip down his cheek and he pulled Chloe back into a hug, "I love you forever and always Chlo."

Chloe was snapped back into the present as she felt a drip of soap get into her eyes. She had been standing there needlessly soaping up her hair for ten minutes. Chloe snorted and shook her head to clear the memories. The rest of her morning routine went by quickly as she anticipated Clark's arrival.

His timing as impeccable as ever, the doorbell rang as Chloe was walking down the stairs. Chloe smiled as she opened the door to reveal the Clark she remembered in jeans and a plaid shirt. "Good morning Clark. Come on in. You want any breakfast?"

Clark walked over the threshold and pulled Chloe into a tight hug. He said, "I am just so happy to see you again. I feel like I'm dreaming every time I see your smiling face." Clark let Chloe go and took a quick step away. "I was thinking we'd go out for breakfast. I know this great place close to here that I think you'd like. They have great coffee."

Chloe grinned, "I can definitely use some good coffee. Let me grab my sweater." Chloe turned around to get her sweater from the hall closet and slipped it on. She felt a breeze on her face and looked up to see Superman standing before her. "Well, that was...interesting. I wish I could change that quick. I bet you get a lot of free coffee in that suit."

Clark lifted his eyebrow, "This isn't for the coffee. It helps with flying. Loose clothing tends to get damaged in transit if I have to make any quick maneuvers."

Chloe broke a full smile, "Oh awesome! I loved flying last night. Let's go." Chloe quickly walked to the back door and passed into the back yard. Before she could turn around, Clark had scooped her up into his arms and rose up into the sky. "You know Clark, I could get used to this."

Clark's expression suddenly got serious, "Thank you for agreeing to talk Chloe. You've avoided me for long enough now. Thank you for taking such good care of Jason. I don't think he could have gotten through this without you."

"No Clark. He would have gotten through just fine. He is a strong little boy, and I don't mean physically. I know it helps him to have family around though. I wish he could know your mom. She must be dying to meet him."

Clark frowned, "I haven't told her yet. I don't want her to know and never get to meet him. I'll tell her eventually. I just want to make sure she'll get to meet him someday when I do tell her."

Chloe looked into Clark's eyes, "I know it seems so hard right now. But it'll get better. We'll figure out a way to bring Richard around, and then we can tell Jason."

Clark smirked and raised his eyebrows, "We, huh?"

Chloe laughed and playfully punched his shoulder, "Of course you big dope. I said I'd be there for Jason, and if that means helping you then so be it."

Clark smiled lovingly at her as he hugged her tighter and built up speed.