RETURN

Bruce examined the three resting bodies in the Manor in silence; he didn't speak a word after much interrogation of Isabel about what had happened. He felt both disappointment and pity for the young adult; she made a pact with the devil and played with the balance of life and death, which would never end well.

He looked at the peaceful expression on Lois, and touched her cheek. Like the dark-haired vampire on the next bed, she was stone cold and pale, with her chest not even moving to breathe. They had been unconscious for 3 hours; Bruce sighed and turned to gaze at the confused girl hugging her knees against the cave wall.

Terry refused to talk to her as once again, she shut him out of the plan and faced Luthor alone. She raised her head and stared into his eyes with her tear-filled eyes.

Bruce's heart broke when she croaked, "Uncle Bruce...What should I do?" Tears slid down her cheeks as she continued, "I know I should have rejected Luthor's offer and asked Terry for help. I know I shouldn't have brought Mum back...now she's not alive or dead. Luthor is strong again. Terry won't speak to me..."

Bruce knelt down and placed a comforting head on her head, promising, "You'll get through this. You need to tell Clark. He needs to know."

She bit her lip anxiously and nodded hesitantly. He patted her head and walked to the Batcomputer, pressing the button to contact Superman. Within seconds, Superman in his black and white costume appeared.

He caught sight of his distraught daughter, asking surprisedly, "Isabel, what's going on?" Isabel hid her face in her hands and muttered, "I'm...sorry..."

At that moment, Superman noticed the body on one of the beds and was petrified. The image of his late wife looking perfectly healthy kept him rooted to the spot; Superman looked to Bruce for answers. "Wha...t is this? This can't be...no, it can't be Lois."

Bruce laid a hand on his comrade and broke the news to him. It seemed like hours till Superman mustered the strength to speak; he asked, "I don't understand...is she really Lois?"

Bruce stated, "According to the tests, the three of them are still under the effects of the Luthor's anaesthetic. It would take probably another hour before they wake. I am not sure whether she would still have the memories before she passed away. She has been transformed into a follower of the Dracula clan. Sunlight is detrimental to her cells She also needs human blood to sustain her body functions." Superman stroked his wife's cheek and felt nostalgia rush over him; miraculously, she began to stir.

Clark couldn't breathe as his wife's violet eyes stared at him; his eyes began to overflow with tears. She opened her parched lips and touched her throat, croaking, "Thirs...ty..."

Clark looked to Bruce with a confused expression; Bruce handed her a bag of artificial blood that was usually kept in his medical cabinet. Her eyes shone with a red glow as she snatched the bag and dug her fangs into the plastic, spilling some of the blood on her white robe.

Isabel couldn't see anymore of this; she couldn't believe that she had turned her mother into a monster because she only thought of her selfish needs. Clark's mouth remained wide open as he saw his wife gulping down the red liquid, while Bruce stared calmly at the other two starting to wake up. Bruce threw another blood bag to the pale boy, as he sat up.

La-Ra looked around the cave and found his disheveled leader in the corner, asking, "My Lady, what's going on?" Lois too turned her head towards the girl on the ground after her nourishment.

Suddenly, Lois stammered, "Is...isabel? Honey? Is it you?" Isabel raised her head and Lois rushed to her daughter in an alarming speed, embracing her. Isabel remained motionless, shocked that Lois remembered her.

After a few seconds, Isabel buried her face into her mother's shoulder and sobbed, "I missed you! I am sorry for being so selfish to bring you back. But I missed you so much! Mum, I'm sorry!"

Lois stroked her daughter's hair and comforted soothingly, "Still a little crybaby! I'm happy that I'm back. I would give anything to see my baby again."

"But..."

"I know, honey... I feel that my body has changed a lot from what it's used to be. But that's nothing as long as I get to be with my baby girl again!" Isabel tried her best to calm herself, but tears streamed down her face and she clung to her mother as tightly as she could.

Vladimir cleared his throat and asked, "Can anyone tell me what's going on? Where is that son of a bitch, Luthor?" Bruce led Vladimir and La-Ra out of the Batcave to let the Kent family have their reunion in private.

Superman edged nervously towards the embracing couple, asking, "Lois? Do you still remember me?"

The ex-reporter laughed and joked, "How can I ever forget, Clark? Do you still remember me? I hope you didn't forget me and hook up with that Lana Lang."

He shook his head immediately, stating seriously, "I would never, Lois!" Superman was relieved that the woman he loved hadn't changed at all even after this ordeal.

She suddenly fixed Clark with an intense stare, questioning, "Smallville, have you been taking good care of our daughter?"

Superman glanced at the girl, whose face is still hidden in Lois's chest, replied slowly, "Isabel refused to talk to me for nearly 2 months now after Connor...passed away."

Isabel turned her head to glare at the sanctimonious idiot, growling, "There is nothing to talk about." Isabel wiped the tears from her face and pushed herself up from the ground; Lois sighed as it pained her to see the strained relationship between her two loved ones.

She flashed a small smile at Lois, saying, "I am really happy that you're back, Mum. You two probably need to catch up. So I will leave you now." With that, she left without a second glance at Superman.

Superman stared sadly at the ground, wondering where it had all gone wrong. Lois stared up at her

husband's face and demanded, "Tell me everything, Clark. What happened when I was gone?"

Isabel ran a hand through her hair and sighed; with her mother back, she could fulfil her deepest desire of having a complete family. However, the fact behind Connor's death haunted her and made it impossible for her to be around her father. She was so deep in thought that she bumped into a solid object. "Ow!" The slightly older boy with light grey hair yelled indignantly. "You're still here?"

Vladimir nodded and stated, "I will stay till sunset when my people awaken." Isabel ignored him and started to walk away.

So he grabbed her shoulders and said determinedly, "Thank you for saving me."

She said sympathetically, "I am sorry for your father."

He retracted his hands from her shoulders and nodded sadly, stating, "I knew from the start that Luthor wouldn't keep his promise, but as the leader of my people, I took a risk to keep them safe. That would be what my father would do, I'm sure. You would understand. From what La-Ra told me, we are quite similar."

"I think you should stop hitting on her. She's taken, idiot." a very pregnant Helena said behind him.

Isabel rushed forward to hug her with slight difficulty due to her bulging belly. "Hi, Isabel. I just talked to Terry."

Isabel frowned at the mention of Terry; that fight they had was not a pretty sight, noting, "I thought you don't talk to men apart from Bruce."

She grinned mischievously and joked, "Terry is a guy? Really? But on a serious note, you should go talk to him upstairs. Let me handle this pale vampire." Isabel walked up the stairs heavy-heartedly, not looking forward to another talk with Terry.

As she walked into the room, Terry turned around, saying, "Helen...oh it's you."

Isabel walked closer to the clearly angry boyfriend with his hands crossed against his chest. "Is your mum alright?" he asked stiffly. She nodded and there was minutes of silence.

Suddenly, Terry sighed and stated, "If you still refuse to apologise, I have nothing to say to you."

She asked incredulously, "Apologise for what? For not endangering your life?"

Terry glared at her and shouted exasperatedly, "Why don't you get it? We're a team! We work together!"

She raised her voice to say, "What? Was I supposed to let you down to the Lab and let Luthor butcher you in front of me to make me give him my blood? Is that what you want?"

"Why can't you trust my strength? I could have helped you!"

"Your life is way more important than mine to be put in danger! You're too important!" Isabel broke down in tears as she screamed her confession.

Then she turned to leave; Terry grabbed her wrist and said softly, "Was that true?"

She said between sobs, "Yes...you happy now?" He turned her around and kissed her passionately, which surprised her.

Terry broke the kiss and said seriously, "Promise me, Isabel. Don't be so reckless next time. I feel the same way about you. I put your life before mine. I am your boyfriend; I want you to depend on me more!" Terry wrapped his arms protectively around the girl, refusing to let go.

There was a knock on the door and they heard Lois Lane clearing her throat, with Clark standing behind her at the door. Isabel's heart skipped a beat, as her eyes took in the image of her mother who passed away when she was only six. Terry still had his arm around her shoulder, and proceeded to extend his hand to shake Lois's hand.

She raised her eyebrows at him, said jokingly, "I am not done with you, Mcginnis. You won't get my approval that easily." He opened his mouth to argue, but decided not to irritate Metropolis's best reporter.

Lois turned to her daughter, eyes beaming with pride as she began, "Isabel, your father told me everything that you've done. I am so proud. A singer and a superhero. And now, the protector of New Krypton. I never thought I could be able to witness your success."

Isabel's eyes started to brim with tears; she still remembered visiting her mother's grave every Mother's day, feeling lost as ever. Isabel wiped the tears furiously from her face, refusing to look helpless in front of her mother. Lois beckoned towards her upset little girl and tilted her chin gently to face her.

She caught sight of her wedding ring hanging on Isabel's necklace and touched the modest silver ring, promising, "Isabel, I will never leave you again. Your father told me about the Zod incident and why you rejected him. Isabel, I want nothing more than for us to be a family again. I know a lot has happened when I was gone, but honey, you're the most precious thing to me and Clark. Can we start again as a family? Move back home with us?" Isabel jumped into her mother's bosom and nodded.

Luthor flexed his arm muscles as he examined himself in the mirror; the serum had returned him to his youthful form. His skin was smooth, and his limp was gone. He grinned; he was back.

He thought about his plans and felt slightly guilty for once in his lifetime. He would destroy the Super Family by crushing their dream. He thought back to how he was saved by Supergirl. Could he do it after her bringing him back to life?

Luthor smirked at himself in the reflection and stared determinedly at the mirror. Who was he kidding? He had no remorse.

Luthor~ Enjoy your pathetic little dream as much as you can, Isabel. I have so much planned for you and your father.