Chapter 122 [Talon]
Lana wiped the counter down. She checked the pastry arrangement behind the glass. Her nose took in the freshly brewing coffee's scent. She put the morning till in the register. Her eyes drank in Dawn's shades across the morning sky. The chilled air moved toward Spring's promise. A glance at her watch hinted at opening time twenty minutes away.
Her new reality, however, would take some adjustment. She wasn't complaining, mind you. She loved having Clark's attention. Commitment warmed her heart. She knew Martha and Jonathan accepted her. Given Sam's needs to find housing in town, she might need to think of moving to the farm.
At least that way, she could practice with her abilities.
Clark, at least, had that. She liked wiping the tables down at super speed. She dealt with the dishes in the back in much the same way. She found that her emotions could induce a "heat vision" fit. For some reason, she found herself being able to see through things. She heard and felt things as if they were right there. In truth, she discovered they were miles away. Yeah I'm going to need practice.
We all do, Boss. Miranda waved. She unlocked the door and walked in. Then she secured the door again. "Some day yesterday."
"It sure was. Lex can throw a wedding. He should rent his backyard out. Bet he'd make a killing." Lana came out from behind the counter. "So how's everything else? When were you planning to go to Wichita?"
"Jas and I are going on Wednesday. It's kind of nerve wracking. She's great. I can't say enough things about her as a person and what she can do. You know? It's kind of like the deal with Uncle Dave. It's great to be accepted for who I am. That means a lot." Miranda sighed. She ran her hands across her forehead. "Just like your new status as an alien. To me, it doesn't matter. You're still you. It hasn't broken your love of pink or for plaid." She smirked.
"Rub it in, Miri." Lana rolled her eyes. "Seriously though thanks. Clark and I have one thing going for us. Jor-El not to mention Mr. and Mrs. Kent all accept our engagement. They want to work with us. At least Mr. and Mrs. Kent are used to dealing with Clark's learning curve. I'll have mine too."
"You're handling it better than a lot of us have. Look at everything you've discovered just in the last month alone! And now, you're here at work, going to school and just hanging out at a wedding like everything's normal. That takes work." Miranda took her coat off. She headed for the back. "Just be patient with yourself!"
"I'm trying!" Lana called back to her.
"And nobody does it like you." Miranda tied her apron on in the back. "At least you're accepted. I'm not. Oh well. We don't need to go back to her father's palace or anything." She shook her head. "I just wish she didn't have to choose her life or me."
"I chose being Kryptonian over an Earth Time cover girl. It has its good and bad." Lana smiled. "I gained a family officially on Friday. You have your aunt and uncle. You have Jasmine. You have friends. You have a place to stay at the mansion. So Jasmine will get a job? She's not the spoiled harem girl anyway."
"She's definitely not that. I'm glad things have worked out as they have. At least I have my best friend and sister?" Miranda glanced at Lana. She wasn't about to share her unrequited feelings from years earlier.
"Are you kidding? Of course!" Lana embraced her. "I'll be there to bug you so much, you'll be sick of me."
"Just don't start dressing in plaid every day please. Although if Clark starts dressing in pink, that would be funny." Miranda smirked. "Last night was something else. Even upstairs, I felt the vibes coming from the mansion. Wow."
"I know. I woke up at 2 AM. I hope that stalker and those ghosts didn't show up again. Peter and Gwen don't need that!" Lana heard the door unlocking.
"Hi, Guys! What a morning! Sorry. We're going to the med center to check on Harry. It's been quite the day already. And it's only 7." Lex held the door open for the newlyweds.
"I was going to open up anyway. No problem. What's wrong?" Lana looked over Lex's face. Then he saw the others' crestfallen expression. "Don't tell me…about 2 this morning?"
"Yeah. The Rider wanted to ruin our wedding night." Peter shook his head. "He and that ghost coven showed up at the mansion. I was getting into costume. Then the door somehow got stuck on its own."
"Good thing it did! I didn't want you facing them again!" Gwen grabbed onto his arm.
Miranda coughed. "Daddy told me Uncle Dave used to pull that on Auntie Cybelle and him back in Rowenshire. He locked you in that room. You weren't getting out and those creeps weren't getting in either." She set up two pieces of gingerbread. "Cappuccino and Dandy?" She raised an eyebrow. "Yeah that's what I felt."
"Your uncle, Jasmine and that warrior woman from yesterday went out to face them. Dr. Richards sent the Thing with them. They dealt with the ghosts. But…" Gwen started. "I need that gingerbread and the Dandy. Thanks."
'But what?" Lana shook her head. "I know something like seismic happened but…"
"The scene from my nightmare except it was the Puritan this time instead of its brother." Miranda smacked the counter. "Just tell me that Jasmine's okay." She swore under her breath in Japanese.
"She's fine. She wanted you to know that." Peter shook his head. "When your uncle's dark side said we were under his protection, he meant it. Whatever brought the Rider back increased its power last night. I have seen Ben go up against monsters and other dimensional stuff. I haven't seen like that before. Your uncle's super dark demon had him on edge."
"The Destroyer. At least Jas knew about it beforehand. So did Xena…your warrior woman. That's her name. The Child lets go in a situation like that. I imagine if you don't fight beside or against him, the Destroyer would put anyone on edge." Miranda frowned. "Poor Uncle Dave. He had to choose again!"
"But it keeps getting better. After the Destroyer drove the Rider off, he changed back to the Child persona. Jasmine said he and that Grace lady were about to go at it again. Then they and we in the house heard this Voice. A pillar of fire shot down from the sky and hit her. When it burned itself out, she was a normal girl. From what Professor Dubois says, she's back to the way she was before the Coven took her back in the day." Lex exhaled. "Looks like you have another relative, Miranda. Your aunt's with her right now. Your uncle's sleeping it off. Jasmine's praying in her room."
"Auntie Grace as a little girl again. Wow." Miranda shook her head. "That's a big one. The Child's cheering and all teary in a good way over that. I'm sure." She smiled.
"I saw her with your aunt and Professor Dubois. Grace was terrified of everything. She didn't want to leave your uncle's side." Gwen took her drink. "Thanks. Hopefully that'll work out. Meantime we're meeting everyone at the med center to check on Harry."
"Any word on him?" Lana set the gingerbread on a nearby table.
"Doctors say he'll need to be transferred to a better facility. He's suffered a complete breakdown. I just wish he hadn't seen his father's arrest like that." Lex frowned. "I've been in contact with the Ravencroft Facility outside of New York. They'll get Harry better. We'll make sure of it."
"Aunt May doesn't want to fly back tomorrow," Peter lamented.
"Then she doesn't have to. I can pay the change fees if she wants to be around this week. We'll move her to the mansion. That way you all can be together. You can talk about the interview and Gwen's teaching. She can see Metro for herself. You all can make decisions as a family." Lex sipped on his coffee. "I'll be driving your uncle in tomorrow, Miranda. He wants to see my Mom."
"That's cool. Like you said, Mr. Luthor, she and he were super close. Wish I could've met her and my Great Grandma Dubois." Lament sagged Miranda's tone.
"You would've liked Ms. Janet, my nickname for her. She was a lot like your aunt, Peter. I remember having my own corner in her house. Mom and she would be talking at the table. I read my books." Lex smiled. "She had the best cookies and shortbread! Your Mom met her once, Lana. Clark's parents did meet her."
"I'll definitely need to ask them. Well I hope that Mr. Osborn's okay." Miranda took the gingerbread from the microwave. "I'll bring these out. We're here if folks want coffee or sandwiches."
"We'll be arranging that for them. Their flight's at 4:30 back to New York. Mrs. Watson and Mary Jane already asked to stay for Harry. Your aunt, Peter, is staying with them." Lex motioned to the table. "Let's eat. Then we can get over to the medical center."
Lana brought out the gingerbread and refilled Lex's coffee. Despite the weekend's good vibes, issues remained as well.
Hopefully that week would be better….