It was a bright Saturday morning, outside at least. Lois sat on the barstool in the kitchen, her head resting on one hand, while the other hand felt the wedding ring that hung on a chain around her neck. Clark was making pancakes.

"Soak my pancakes in rum," Lois told him. "No, forget the pancakes. Just give me the rum."

He shot her a look, "I don't think so."

"Kindergarten is driving me to drink. I'm at the brink of insanity and I'm not really 5."

"That's a fact I'm well aware of, but your body is, therefore you cannot drink without detrimental consequences. Just think how low your tolerance level would be."

"You're such a…a," Lois searched for the appropriate insult, "an adult!"

He placed her pancakes in front of her. "One of us has to be responsible. That person isn't you, and I'm not referring to your childlike appearance, you were irresponsible before that."

She took a heavy sigh before picking up her fork. He took the barstool next to her. He gently smoothed her hair. "I know you're worried, but don't be. It hasn't even been a full week yet. I'm going to spend all day and all night looking for answers. I think she's hiding behind magic and that's making it tough, but I promise the task isn't impossible. Who knows? Maybe she gave it a time stipulation."

He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. She patted his knee for trying to cheer her up and then they ate their pancakes.

Lois tried hard to be more cheerful. She helped him carry the dirty dishes to the sink. "I can't wash them. The sink's too high for me. I guess there are some advantages to my young age after all."

He rolled his eyes. Before he could reply, the door bell rang.

"If that's Ms. Lambert, I swear," Lois said as she followed Clark to the door. She put her wedding ring back under her shirt. Both were surprised to find Carter and his mother.

The woman didn't wait for an invitation but came in. "I found your address on the internet and tracked you down," she said.

"Stalker," Lois said to Clark.

"I thought we should arrange a little play-date," Carter's mother continued, apparently not noticing what Lois had said.

"Play-date for whom?" Lois said wryly.

Clark would have loved to have a good reply for Lois, but he happened to agree with her. Carter's mother wasn't dressed like a mother should be dressed. She definitely had her sights set out for him.

"Well, normally one sets up an appointment first over the phone," Clark said politely, but he took a step back.

Carter's mother took a step forward, but it was seemingly to talk to Lois. "Why don't you show Carter to your bedroom and you two can play with your toys."

"The toys in my bedroom are not exactly age-appropriate," Lois responded frankly.

Clark let out a strangled cough.

"Well, go hang out in her bedroom, Carter," his mother said. "You can use your imagination."

"That's not necessary," Clark said. "Stay out here and play."

"Do you want to get a snack?" Lois asked. "Help yourself."

Carter stood there for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. He was getting 3 different directions from 3 different people. He decided to follow Lois' directions and get a snack.

Clark was alarmed when Lois went into their bedroom because that left him and Carter's mother alone, but she came back out in the nick of time. Carter's mother had him cornered.

Lois had gotten one of her bras and was waving it around. "Look, Daddy. Jeremy left his bra when he spent the night with you last night."

"I just remembered. Carter has an appointment," Carter's mother said suddenly. She hurried into the kitchen and retrieved Carter. He was dragged back out of the apartment with a cookie still in hand.

"And that, Smallville," she said, wiping her hands together after she shut the door behind them, "is how it's done."

"Thank you," Clark said, collapsing onto a chair with relief. "You could have thought of something better than that, but thank you."

She shook her head at him. "I'm going to have to teach you how to fend off women."

After taking a breather, he changed into his Superman costume. "I'm going to—" he began, but he stopped.

"121 Grimwald Rd. Help! ~Z" read the purplish pink sparkling letters. "Do you see that?" he said, pointing to the message that was suspended in midair. It was gone almost as soon as it had appeared.

"Come on. Let's check out the address."

"We are not checking out anything. You are staying here."

She put her hands on her hips. "If you leave me here, I'll find a way to get there on my own. If I have to grab a pillow and car keys, I will."

He shut his eyes briefly and then opened them. "I guess it is better than letting you out of my eyesight. Who knows what kind of trouble she's in and what kind of trouble you could get into?"

He scooped her up and they went to find out what had happened to Zatanna.

TBC