Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville, any dialogue used from previous episodes, or any songs used in this story.

A/N: Tuesday again... You guys know what that means! :P

This chapter is, I believe, the longest one. It's about 11 and a half pages or so on MS Word. And there's a lot going on... so without further adieu, here's Chapter 10! 8-)

NEW A/N: EDITED 10/24/17 - Hope you still enjoy and please still let me know what you think! :)

Chapter 10

May 18, 2005

Smallville

The meteors were falling everywhere. One giant meteor crashed into the Kent Farmhouse with Martha and Jonathan inside being held hostage by Jason Teague. Another landed directly into the Smallville High School sign. It was literally raining fire. People were looking up in awe and fright. The roads were packed. People were now out of their cars and running away. In the midst of the crowd was a little boy going in the opposite direction. He was looking for his toy truck.

His father was calling out for him, "Henry! Henry!"

He was fighting the crowd to try and find his son.

Finally, the little boy found his red and blue truck and looked up. There was a meteor headed straight for him. Suddenly, a red and blue blur intercepted him and protected him from the meteor. That blur was none other than Clark Kent. He picked the little boy up.

The boy noticed, "You're not my daddy."

"Henry!" the boy's father called out and saw Clark holding him.

"Daddy!" the little boy smiled as Clark handed the little boy off to his father.

He could only thank Clark gratefully, "Thank you."

"Go… Go!" Clark told him as the man continued to thank him.

He super sped off as the meteors continued to rain down on the small town. Finally, Clark walked into the chamber once again. He placed the final stone in its place. Each stone lit up simultaneously: red, yellow, and blue – the colors of the House of El. A second later, they solidified into one clear crystal formed into a pentagon.

Outside of the chamber, Chloe and Lex entered the caves. Chloe made a sarcastic remark as they walked in, "Why do I get the feeling we're not in this cave for cover?"

"You know as well as I do," Lex threw her to the side, "It's the epicenter!"

"Of what?!" Chloe yelled.

"Come on, Chloe!" Lex turned around to face her again. He was getting sick and tired of her pretending to not know anything, "You're the town purveyor of all things unexplained. You know damn well about this cave and the stones."

"Lex, what's wrong with you?" Chloe asked.

"If you didn't break into my library, you know who did," Lex seethed and once again grabbed Chloe harshly by the shoulders. He shook her, "Who are you trying to protect?!"

"No one," Chloe said. She was keeping her mouth shut.

"Is it Clark?" Lex got a wild look in his eye.

"Clark?," Chloe asked like he was out of his mind, "Of course not! What does Clark have to do with any of this?"

"You tell me," Lex replied smugly, "You know Clark a lot longer than I have. In fact, you might know him better than anyone."

"You're right, Lex, I do," Chloe replied with a tilt of her head, "And the Clark Kent I know would be the last person to go super thief on your library for some stupid piece of rock."

Back in the secret room, the crystal began to rise out of its resting spot in front of Clark. It caused a bright yellow light that caught Lex and Chloe's attention.

Lex started walking towards it, "What is that?"

Chloe knew it must have something to do with Clark. She ran up to Lex and pushed him harshly into the wall, "Lex, be careful, it might be dangerous!"

Lex was knocked to the ground while Chloe went on to see what was going on for herself. She saw Clark's silhouette right in the middle of it and widened her eyes. Her hair blew back from the small wind caused by whatever it was Clark was doing in the room.

Clark continued to watch the crystal rise in the air. It was calling to him. He reached out and grabbed it. As he did, he let out a cry of pain as it emitted that familiar high pitched screeching sound.

Lex got up and saw the light.

Clark and Chloe were engulfed in the light. The next thing Clark knew, he was standing in the snow in the middle of the Arctic. He had absolutely no idea how he got there. The crystal must have transported him.

~L&C~

On the other side of town, Lois pulled Chloe's red VW bug off the side of the road and got out. She climbed up a steep hill and ended up crawling on her knees. She looked at all the damage the meteor shower had caused from the ground. Looking out at the town that had been her home for the past year, tears welled up in her eyes. Her only hope was that everyone she cared about was all right and that her future self and Clark were back safe and sound in the future.

~L&C~

In the Arctic, Clark watched the crystal float out of his hand. It seemed to point in a certain direction. He grabbed it and threw it as far as he could into the white abyss…

~L&C~

May 18, 2012

Kent Farm

"A meteor?" Clark immediately got worried.

"Yeah, Bruce spotted it on his computer and figured out that it would crash today. We were all hoping that you guys would reappear today so you could help," Bart told him, "We've got a backup plan in case you didn't show. Thank goodness we don't have to go with that."

"Bart, you run Lois to Watchtower and I'll fly over there with the twins," Clark ordered.

"Oh yeah, they're so cute," Bart got off topic, "… What'd you name them?"

"Allen!" Lois yelled, "Watchtower. Now. We'll fill everyone in after this crisis is averted."

"Right," Bart nodded.

Lois handed John to Clark and hopped in Bart's arms. He took off to Watchtower. Clark watched them go and smiled down at his children before looking up and taking to the sky. He followed them from above.

Bart skidded into Watchtower and set Lois down. Everyone jumped up at the sight of Lois.

Jimmy was the first to embrace her in a hug, "Lois! You're back!"

"Hey, Jimbo," Lois smiled and came out of the hug to give one to Chloe and then Oliver.

"Where's CK?" Jimmy asked.

"He's…" Lois started, but Clark came up behind her and answered for her.

"Right here."

"The twins," Chloe noticed them as Clark handed Lois their children.

"Yes, we're all very glad to see you two back safe and sound. And the twins are beautiful, but there is a world crisis out there," Bruce stood up, "I'm sure Bart already told you that there is a meteor headed towards Earth."

"Do we know its origin?" Clark got right down to business.

"It's another chunk of Krypton," J'onn supplied.

"If it's from Krypton, then I can't get near it," Clark was confused and looked extremely worried at the imminent danger.

"The radiation isn't too severe, Kal-El," J'onn assured him, "You should be fine in a lead suit."

"So, am I just supposed to fly up there and push it back in the other direction?" Clark furrowed his brows. There was a hint of incredulousness in his voice.

"No, I'll be helping you," Bruce said.

"No offense, Bruce but… how?" Clark asked.

"I've been working on my rocket. I've modified it so it will emit a magnetic field allowing me to push it back into space," Bruce explained, "If you hadn't shown up, Kara, J'onn, and I would've been the only ones to push it back and it might have not been enough."

"Kara, you're going up there too?" Clark turned to his cousin.

"I've already got the lead suit," Kara held it up with a smile.

"You guys better hurry up," Chloe said, "It's approaching pretty damn fast."

Kara picked up Clark's lead suit and threw it at him. He caught it and put it on at super speed. She already had hers on by the time he put on his.

"We'll meet you up there," J'onn told Bruce and nodded to the sky. Kara, Clark, and J'onn took to the sky.

He looked to the two Kryptonians, "You two ready?"

"So are we just gonna push it?" Clark asked.

"Basically we're going to redirect its trajectory so it'll float back out into space," Kara replied.

"And then hopefully it will fall into an orbit and remain there," J'onn finished.

"Sounds good," Clark nodded and turned around to see Bruce come flying up in his rocket. He gave them a thumbs-up and they all continued to fly out into space to push the meteor out of its course to hit Earth.

May 18, 2005

Somewhere in the Arctic

The crystal that Clark threw continued onward into the white abyss and plummeted straight down into the deep snow. Clark watched from afar as the small crystal created enormous crystals forming together into an ice fortress. After it seemed that the fortress was done building itself, Clark trudged his way through the snow to get to it.

He walked inside and looked around in awe at the construction. It looked like ice, but it was crystal. Clark went down some steps and walked up to what appeared to be the main console of the fortress. A crystal floated itself in front of Clark. Figuring he should grab it, he did just that.

It started to glow and he heard his father's voice.

"Kal-El, you have traveled far. One journey has ended. A new journey is about to begin… Welcome home, my son."

~L&C~

Meanwhile, back in Smallville, Lois drove back to the Kent farm to see if everything was all right. She got out of the car as Shelby ran up to her with a bark.

"Shelby."

She ran through a crater and saw the wreck that was once the farmhouse. Running inside, she saw that it didn't look any better.

"Oh my God."

"Martha!" she heard Jonathan yelling in search for his wife. He was desperately trying to find her under all of the debris, "Martha! Sweetheart!… Martha!"

"Mr. Kent," Lois ran up to him. She maneuvered herself through what was left of the house, "Are you okay? Mrs. Kent! Clark! Kent! Lane! John! Lara!"

Jonathan fell over and Lois helped him up, "Lane and Kent went back to the future with their twins and Clark wasn't even here. He's all right… Martha!"

"Mrs. Kent!" Lois helped Jonathan dig through everything to try and find her. Sparks from the wires were popping out all around them. Everything was a mess. Lois dug through debris by where the living room would've been. She saw Martha's hand.

"Here! She's here!"

Jonathan ran over to where Lois was calling from and helped her move everything from off of Martha. She was under a china cabinet, "Sweetheart, I'm gonna get you outta here. It's gonna be okay.

"Easy. Easy," Jonathan and Lois gently turned her head. She had a huge gash on her forehead.

Lois couldn't help but notice, "She's barely breathing."

"She's-She's gonna be fine," Jonathan said.

"Okay," Lois breathed.

He brushed a hair out of her face, "We're gonna get you outta here."

"Okay," Lois breathed again.

Jonathan looked back up at Lois with tears forming in his eyes. His voice cracked, "Can you help me get her outta here?"

Lois nodded. She was a little scared for them. All the while she couldn't help but think that Kent and Lane were wrong from what Clark overheard. It wasn't Jonathan that got hurt, it was Martha.

Jonathan gently lifted Martha's head up on to his shoulder gently whispering, "Come on… Come on."

~L&C~

Back in the Arctic, Chloe awoke in the middle of the snow, "Clark?... Clark?!"

She got up and saw the fortress. Never in her life had she seen anything like that.

~L&C~

Inside the fortress, Clark continued to hold on to the crystal and started a conversation with Jor-El, "I thought Krypton was destroyed!"

"It was," Jor-El started, "But here in your Fortress of Solitude, the geography of our planet has been replicated for your training."

Clark turned around. This must be the place that Kent was talking about – the place he had to return to, but Jor-El didn't say anything about sunset, "I know there's a lot I can learn from you, but I have to get home. That's where I'm needed."

"The meteor shower is only the precursor," Jor-El started to warn him, "A dark force from Krypton has been awakened, Kal-El and it sights a set on Earth."

Clark looked down at the crystal in his hand and looked back up. He made a decision, "What do you want me to do?"

A swirling vortex appeared around Clark flooded with many images. Some images looked like people falling from the ground quaking underneath them. There was a red sun, Kryptonian symbols, and various other images.

Jor-El's voice came from it, "You must do as I tell you and study with diligence. For that is the only way to save this planet."

While Clark was looking all around him and studying everything his eyes fell upon, Chloe was making her way into the fortress.

She finally entered, huddling her arms together for warmth. She looked around at all the crystals in amazement. Then she saw Clark standing in some sort of swirling vortex with a light shining on him. His arms were stretched out on either side of him and he was looking straight up. What was he doing in there?

Out of nowhere, there was a slight crack to the vortex as a bone-chilling wind started blowing around her. It blasted her with cold. In seconds, she was blue. Frost started forming on her eyebrows, hair, and eyelashes. She was on her knees and curled up to try and keep warm.

Her only chance was to get Clark's attention, but all she could manage was a whisper.

"Clark."

"Clark, I know you can hear me. Help," Chloe whispered. The images around him were interrupted with the image of Chloe on the ground.

"Clark, please help me."

That was enough for him. His friend needed his help. As soon as he saw that, the images around him ceased and he broke free from the vortex. He was a little disoriented, but he composed himself and ran over to Chloe.

"Chloe!"

"Kal-El, you must continue your education," Jor-El stated, "You cannot stop."

Clark was huddled around Chloe trying to warm her up. He yelled up to his father, "She's my friend! She needs help!"

"Your destiny is far greater than saving one human life," Jor-El told him.

"No! I won't let her die!" Clark yelled stubbornly. He put her head into his chest and looked down at her. She wasn't warming up. The cold was too much for her human body.

"Each time you let human-learned emotions guide you, you put the fate of the entire planet at risk," Jor-El said, "That is your weakness, Kal-El."

"Please, I'm begging you," Clark pleaded.

"Very well," Jor-El conceded, "Under one condition. You must return to me before the yellow sun sets."

This was what Kent was talking about. He had to make sure he'd return. His dad's life depended on it.

"I'll be back. I promise."

"Do not fail, Kal-El," Jor-El warned him, "For the consequences will be grave."

Clark already knew what that consequence was and he was not going to let it happen.

"You have my word."

"Hey," Chloe grabbed his attention. She was shivering like crazy, "I think it's time you switched into Super Clark mode now."

"Super Clark?" Clark asked. Why would she call him that?

"I know you run faster than a speeding bullet, Clark," Chloe finally admitted. She was still shivering, "Take me along for the ride."

There was no point in denying it now. He picked Chloe up.

She whispered, "Go, Clark."

He did just that and super-sped out of the fortress causing it to temporarily go dark.

Clark got her to a hospital in the Yukon in no time flat. The nurse handed Chloe the call button in case she needed anything.

"Thank you," Chloe thanked the nurse.

The nurse passed Clark. He was leaning against the wall by the doorway with his arms folded. He didn't know what to make of this epiphany. How long had she known about him? At least it explained her comments to him lately.

Chloe smirked and broke the awkward silence, "I wonder who's more freaked out right now. Me, knowing that I'm in a hospital where they get their medicine via dogsled. Or you, finally finding out I know your secret."

"How long have you known?" Clark still had his arms folded across his chest.

"I guess I've always had my suspicions. The quick exits, the miraculous recoveries, the lame excuses," Chloe replied and then continued with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "But I think when I saw you catch a car like it was a beach ball… That kinda confirmed everything."

He unfolded his arms and walked over to the window, "Why didn't you say anything?"

She shrugged, "I figured if you wanted to tell me you were part of the super powered persuasion, you would when you were ready. On your terms, not on mine."

Clark was still facing the window, "You're a good friend, Chloe."

"Obviously, not good enough," Chloe remarked.

"There were so many times I wanted to tell you," Clark shook his head.

"Clark, I don't blame you," Chloe assured him, "Loose lips sink ships and God knows I've sunk my share of flotillas… What about Lana? Does she know?"

Clark turned around and shook his head.

"No."

"Does Lois?" Chloe asked.

Clark sighed and shook his head once again, "No."

"Well I want you to know that I will never be the iceberg to your Titanic. And your secret will never ever leave my lips, no matter what," Chloe vowed.

"I appreciate that," Clark gave her a small smile.

She returned it, "There's still a few blind spots though. Like, how did we get being from the Kawatchee cave to the North Pole? And uh, what was really going on in that forty story igloo?"

Clark walked to her bedside and took a seat in the chair, "Well, Chloe, there's a lot of things about me that even I don't understand."

Chloe simply nodded when he paused and looked back up when he proceeded.

"The meteor rocks… They didn't make me who I am."

"So you're saying you were born this way?" Chloe was confused.

That provided him with the best opening. He leaned forward and finally told Chloe the truth, "I wasn't born anywhere near Smallville… In fact, I wasn't born anywhere near this galaxy."

"O-kay," Chloe was a little uncomfortable. She sat up a bit, "Okay, so that would then make you like an…?"

She couldn't finish her sentence, but Clark knew she meant "alien."

"Yeah," Clark confirmed.

"U-Uh," Chloe couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her best friend was from another planet, "But you-you look so…"

"Human?" Clark provided. Chloe was still in a state of shock. Clark had to assure her, "I'm still the same person."

"Clark, I… I think you're so amazing," Chloe smiled, "You save people's lives and take zero credit for it. To me you're more than just a hero. You're a superhero."

"Chloe," Clark shook his head. He didn't deserve that title.

"No, I'm serious, Clark," Chloe swore, "If more humans were like you, the world would be a better place."

They both smiled. Chloe knew the truth about him and she only looked at him differently for a moment. It was going to take some getting used to, but he knew all would be well in the end. An image on the TV screen caught their eye. It was broadcasting the meteor shower in Smallville.

Clark got up and turned the volume up. The news report started.

"What scientists are describing as an incredibly rare astronomical event, Smallville, Kansas was hit by the second meteor shower in sixteen years. Killing twenty three people and injuring scores of others."

The farmhouse appeared on the screen while the newscaster reported "killing twenty three people" and Clark's eyes widened. His first instinct was to super speed back to the farm and see what he could do to help, but Kent's warning about his father echoed in his mind. He knew his chance to save his dad was to not go back to the farmhouse, but to return to the Fortress and make a deal with Jor-El.

Chloe urged him to go. He nodded and super sped off. The wind from his departure blew her fruit cup. She grabbed it before it fell off her tray with a "Whoa."

Clark super sped into his Fortress of Solitude to be greeted by Jor-El's voice.

"Kal-El, you have returned."

"The only reason I'm here right now is because my future self told me to!" Kent admitted as he yelled up into the crystal structure.

"Your future self?" Jor-El was confused.

"They've gone back to the future now, but for the past two months, Lois, my family and I have been living with my future self and Lois' future self," Clark explained, "He told me that when the time was right, I would have to return before sundown and make a deal with you."

"Having the knowledge of the future is very dangerous, Kal-El," Jor-El cautioned him.

"I need to save my father!" Clark yelled, "I need to save Jonathan Kent!"

"To my knowledge, Jonathan Kent is not in any danger," Jor-El told him.

Clark looked down. Did he somehow already save his dad without knowing? Maybe he had to go back to the fortress in the original timeline, but since he was forewarned, maybe he didn't need to anymore. Jor-El was right. Knowing the future was dangerous.

"Kal-El, you must continue your training," Jor-El started once again.

"Can I make a deal with you?!" Clark asked almost pleadingly.

"What is it that you request, my son?" Jor-El asked.

"I've done what you said, I returned to the Fortress before sunset," Clark yelled up, "If I promise I'll come back after I help my family will you tell me what I have to do to help this planet and then allow me to go back to my family?"

There was a pregnant pause. Finally, Clark heard his biological father's disembodied voice.

"Very well… but I must do something first."

"What?!" Clark yelled up.

"You have knowledge of the future. This is not a factor I have taken into account for your destiny. It is too dangerous," Jor-El replied, "I must erase yours and your friends and family's memories of the future."

"What?!" Clark's eyes widened. He didn't want to lose the memory of his future children or the fact that he would be married to Lois. Those memories were too precious.

"You can't do that!"

"I have no choice, Kal-El," Jor-El said, "It is your choice. Either you allow me to do this one thing or you must stay here and complete your training and not see your family and friends for years to come."

"But I need to see if my parents and Lois are all right!" Clark argued.

"Then allow me to do this, Kal-El and I will let you return to your family. It is your decision," Jor-El replied.

Clark looked down. If he had faith, he knew that one day he and Lois would be together. He had to see if they were all right. If that meant he'd have to forget about Kent and Lane's visit, then so be it. Valuable time was being wasted. They could all be hurt or worse.

Shaking his head with his eyes closed, he reached a decision, "All right, Jor-El! As long as I can check on my family!"

"As you wish, my son," Jor-El replied.

Clark could practically see his father nod in response. Jor-El had a heart after all.

There was a flash of a bright white light and as soon as it disappeared, Clark super sped off to Smallville as the Fortress went dark once again.

May 18, 2012

Space

"All right, you ready to do this?" Clark turned to Kara while they continued to fly toward the giant meteor.

"As ready as I can be," Kara answered.

The meteor was coming up fast. Bruce fired up his magnetic modification on his rocket. It started pushing the meteor backwards. At the same time, J'onn, Clark, and Kara began pushing on it. Slowly but surely, they were making process.

"I can start to feel the radiation coming through the suit!" Clark yelled. The green glow of the kryptonite was shining on his face. The radiation wasn't affecting Kara as much because she was pushing at a spot on the meteor that didn't have exposed kryptonite.

"We're almost done, Kal-El," J'onn assured him, "You will be fine."

They continued to push with all of their might. As they pushed, Clark's helmet cracked under the pressure. Unfortunately that caused more kryptonite to be exposed to his bare skin. He lost his grip on the meteor and began to float back wincing in pain.

"Kal-El!" Kara yelled for him.

TBC

Woo! What a chapter, huh?

I wonder what you guys are more excited for... the new Smallville on the 29th or Chapter 11 next Tuesday. LOL! :P I'm kinda glad that none of you know where I live… from that evil cliffhanger.

Believe it or not, all that is left of this story is Chapter 11 and the Epilogue, and then you guys will have a bit of a dry spell from me for a little while, at least until I finish Cause & Effect and I have no idea when that will be... but I know, or at least I hope, you guys will stick around. :) I'm currently on page 25 of Cause & Effect, I don't get a ton of time to work on it because of studying for classes/homework, etc, but I will, don't worry.

Until next time...

Clois Forever! :D

NEW A/N: EDITED 10/24/17 - Still hope you guys like this story and if you get a chance, let me know what you think. :)