Chapter 50 [Smallville Regional Airport—An Hour Later]

[A/N: Any dialogue in "" is translated from French.]

Lana leaned over in the chair's worn padding. She forced herself to breathe deeply. She grimaced at the burning feeling in her stomach. Her skin endured a series of shocks playing hop scotch on it. She kept her hand buried in her pocket. How do people deal with this? She sulked. My aunts are going to think I'm pathetic.

Around her, Lex, Dave, Jasmine and Martin talked amongst themselves. Their eyes wandered up to the clock every so often. Then, much as kids might be watching out the window for the overbearing grandparent to arrive, their attention turned toward the dark landing strip outside.

I'm back to being that fairy princess again. I'm the commodity everyone wants to use, Lana groused to herself.

Stop that, Louise chided. She appeared next to her great niece while offering the latter a very pointed look. Aunt Clarise and Heloise are not here for that! They want to help you, Dear. Everyone does. We all want you to see your potential. You have a tremendous gift.

Easy for you to say. Lana sighed. It hurts.

Only because you haven't figured out how to manage it. Think of it like a horse. Do you want to try and break it? Or would you rather be friends and figure out how to make each other happy? Think of how Winter is. You two have more in common than you think, Louise advised.

Lana moped. I know. I'm sorry I didn't get back to see her again. I was telling Clark earlier that I let her down. She's alone up there.

She knows you care, Lana. You did what you could. Sometimes that's all we can do, Louise noted. She hugged the younger woman's shoulders. Look at what you're doing here for everyone. You more than play your part. Let the others help you. For so long, Nell held you back. Let us, your family, be here for you. Let Clark and his family be here.

Mr. and Mrs. Kent are great. I care about them too. I just want to fit in like you're saying, Aunt Louise, Lana expressed.

Then accept your place and hold up your end. You can do it, Lana. Once you figure out your magic, you'll be considerable. Just be patient with yourself. We have faith in you, Louise concluded before vanishing again.

Glad she sees something. Lana held her hand up to the light. She noted the scar's faint glow. For a brief instant, she could see tiny sparks jumping across her fingertips almost like fireflies in the summer night….

…tiny beacons to good or evil depending on her own intent….

How can I measure up to such a gift? How can I practice? It's not like I have a spell book or something, she wondered to herself.

We can make it up as we go along? Clark offered. He sat down in the chair Louise had just vacated. In his hands, he had a pair of Styrofoam cups. "I went to the concession stand. I had to bribe the guy to get the mini marshmallows. Figured you could use them and the extra whipped cream." He held one out to her.

She chuckled. Here I am feeling down and Clark's thinking of me. "Thanks." She sipped on the chocolate ambrosia allowing its warmth to soothe her jangled nerves. Is this what you go through with your abilities, Clark?

He shrugged. Some times. We all have to practice, Lana. It's like walking and talking. We had to learn them. Not only do we have to learn to use these skills, we also have to figure out how much to use. Seeing her confusion, he pressed on, With my strength, I can toss a tractor or twist a steel beam. I don't have to do that with your hand though. I grip just enough for you to feel my fingers but not enough to hurt you.

Right amount of skill for the job, she surmised.

Right. See? You've got this. We can help you, he insisted echoing Louise's earlier sentiments. You aren't so different from me. This is why I used to keep secrets and not let you in. I deal with these feelings too. I'm so glad though you know now. I can share with you. He gulped again from his cocoa inadvertently allowing a bit of cream onto his nose.

She rolled her eyes and wiped the offending matter from his face. Just keep it in your cup. I think we're beyond the wearing our food stage. She grinned at him and squeezed his hand. Thanks, Clark.

Don't mention it. Remember you are never alone, he assured her.

She nodded. I appreciate that. Once again it makes me realize what you were going through. I want to be there for you too.

I know you do, he noted. Just then his ear perked to the air. "I think the plane's coming in." He stood and glanced toward the window.

In the darkness, the small business jet's lights came into view against the stars. While at first indistinguishable from their surroundings, they grew bigger and more refined. Then the plane's silver hull reflected the facility's lighting as its wheels hit the ground and gracefully braked to a halt.

"Wonder which approach we're going to get?" Lex queried to Dave.

"Modest opulence," the latter noted. Seeing Lana quirk her eyebrow, he continued, "You have a billionaire and a nun traveling together. They'll probably split the difference. No three piece band or anything there."

Billionaire? Our family has money? Why didn't Nell tell me that? Lana frowned. She saw the airport employees rushing a set of stairs toward the door and secure it there. And how can two sisters be so different?

The airplane door opened allowing two female figures to descend the stairs guardedly in turn.

They're here. Lana felt the butterflies bouncing around in her stomach. I hope Aunt Louise is right. I hope they're here to help and not try to control me.

It's a balance. Hopefully we can get them, my folks and Jor-El to all play nice, Clark indicated telepathically.

We can hope so, Lana declared. Admittedly she felt on pins and needles at that moment. Let's head for the door. I want to be there when they walk in. She took his hand. Be there with me?

Try and stop me. He gladly took her hand in his. Let's meet them together.

Together! She felt her heart lighten from his companionship.

The two travelers walked through the tarmac door and into the reception area. They looked about expectantly at those waiting to receive them. The slightly shorter of the duo adjusted her cassock and head covering. Strangely though, she did not wear a cross around her neck. The taller traveler straightened her blazer eradicating the flight's wrinkles from the cloth.

"It has not changed very much," the nun presumed. "Even with everything that has happened."

"Some pay the price, Sister," the businesswoman noted. She turned to Lex. "Bon soir, Alexandre." She extended her hand out.

Lex shook it firmly. "Bienvenue, Heloise." Despite his own anxiety over their being there, he forced a smirk onto his face. "Trip go okay?"

"The flight from Canada was long. I would have preferred to go direct," Heloise insisted albeit cryptically.

"Appearances and all that, Heloise," Dave cut in. "I'm glad you and the good sister are here."

"Dubois, you do stir things up. Why am I not surprised to find you in the midst of this?" the nun supposed sarcastically.

"Before last weekend, my wife and I weren't involved at all. Lex brought the kids up on a field trip. We accidentally ran into each other at a café. The rest is history, Sister Clarise," Dave clarified. "You haven't changed either."

"The benefits of immortality, I fear." Clarise could almost feel Lana's energies jumping out at her. "And that is my niece. Non?"

"That's her," Dave noted while switching to English. "Lana, this is your great aunt many times removed, Sister Clarise Thibidoux. Sister Clarise, Lana Lang. The dark haired young man beside her is Clark Kent."

For some reason, Clark felt anxious as he extended his hand toward the nun. "It's an honor."

"And for me as well, Mr. Kent. Oui. I know of you—the one who fell from the heavens in a barrage of fire. We shall speak at length, I assure you. I am grateful by His Grace that you watch over Lana as you have," Clarise replied evenly as they shook hands.

"Thanks…I think. I just do my best, Sister," Clark concurred hesitantly.

"I can't believe you came all this way, Aunt Clarise. It's a pleasure," Lana expressed. "Do you mind a hug?" As with Clark, her enhanced empathy picked up on a unique…if not empty…aura in the newcomer.

"Of course," Clarise agreed. She embraced the younger woman affectionately. Even as they did that, she could feel the other's telepathic probing. She leaned close and whispered, "I am different as you are, my Dear. It is all right."

Lana jerked back. Could she know?

"Oui." Clarise's eyes glinted canary yellow at them both. "As I said, it is all right." She motioned toward Heloise. "And this is your Great Grandmother many times removed, Heloise Gregoire."

"Great Grandmother?" Lana stared at the woman in the business suit approaching her. Seeing that the latter visitor appeared to be no more than in her mid-forties at most in age, she had a hard time believing that statement. "Aunt Clarise, are you…?"

"C 'est moi, Lana," Heloise affirmed with a firm smile. "You have the gift." She considered the glowing scar. "And the mark, I fear as well." She exhaled deeply. "It is something we shall discuss once your aunt and I are settled."

Lana clearly picked up on the sadness and dread in her ancestor. "Am I damned then?"

"No! Of course not! What you are represents a choice. You have the gift. What you do with it will define you." Heloise pointed to Dave. "Take him. He was cursed. Darkness festers in him. However he chooses to fight it. Within him is a demon. He will not let it assert permanent control…even if it takes control from time to time. Even your consort here, he has chosen you and his Earth path rather than the alien one. Such battles have been witnessed within our family over the centuries. But enough of that for now." She turned to Clark. "It is a pleasure, Mr. Kent, to finally meet."

"You know me?" Clark queried while taken aback. As he could from Lana, he clearly felt the same type of energy within Heloise.

"By reputation. I have kept an eye on this town. When looking in on my niece, you are never far from her side. It is all right. I know your intentions are honorable," Heloise assured him as they shook hands. "As Sister Clarise has said, we shall speak further on such matters. I do have some advice for you as well, Mr. Kent."

"For me?" Clark gulped.

"Yes. But this is not the time," Heloise declared while giving him a brief firm look. "Now I believe I know most of the others here." She walked over to Jasmine. "Princess, it is a pleasure to see you once again."

"As it is for me, Madame Gregoire," Jasmine replied evenly as they bowed to each other in due reverence. "This is Martin Littleclaw. He is…"

"Oui. I know," Heloise concurred. She sized up the shaman both with her eyes and senses. She could feel his power and emotions. "Monsieur Littleclaw." She extended her hand politely allowing them all to see her own scar.

"Ms. Gregoire, thank you. Forgive me. I do not speak French," Martin replied politely as they shook hands. As with Dave, he clearly felt her power. Can I trust her? He glanced over toward Clarise. Unlike Clark and Lana, he recognized the nun's empty empathetic signature. Another night creature to go with his demon? What madness is this?

Don' be sassin' 'er, Boy! the Child's grating voice snarled at him from thin air.

Martin turned toward Dave. He saw that the latter was engrossed in conversation with Sister Clarise. However he still felt that something watched him. His eyes scanned the room further….

…until he found a dark shadow floating in the corner; its eyes glowing bright crimson at him.

Na' a threat to ya'll o' o'hers! Ah ain't the pro'lem. Tha's ya, DUM'ASS! the Image chastised before melting away into the shadows once more.

Martin backed away defensively. He stifled the urge to go for his own amulets to deal with the dark creature….

…a fact more emphasized by Heloise shaking her head at him from across the room….

"Martin, it's okay," Lana insisted. "Don't start anything."

"Lana, that thing just threatened me!" Martin argued pointedly.

"I heard him too. He was pointing out that your attitude is the problem not him." Lana sighed. "Nobody's saying just buy into what they're saying. We hear what they have to say. Then I can decide what to do. I do need help. Okay?" She shrugged and headed back toward Clark.

"Is he okay? What was that about?" Clark wondered.

"Martin has his doubts about our visitors…all of them. Apparently Mr. Dubois' alter ego overheard him and told him off. That who the gravel voice we just heard was. It never gets any easier. Does it?" she explained.

"No it doesn't. Wish it didn't cause such headaches," Clark complained.

"For you and me both." Seeing the others getting ready to leave, she tugged him gently so as to follow in their wake.

Even in welcomes, tensions could rise easily it seemed….