Jonathan watched through the window as his dad and Jordan worked on tackling. His brother had expressed concern that he might tackle a player too hard during the excitement of a game, and his dad was showing Jordan how to hold back on the strength.

He shouldn't have felt jealous that they weren't including him. It was for his own safety that they weren't, but he couldn't help how he was feeling. Was this how Jordan had felt until they moved to Smallville? On the outside looking in? No wonder he'd had so many problems.

His mom was typing furiously in her new home office, and he followed the sound.

He had to ask, "How do you do it, Mom?"

"Be a journalist? Four years of college and a whole lot of trial and error," she said, looking up from the screen.

"No. Be the normal one in the shadow of someone greater than you."

"Ouch," she said with a grin to show him he hadn't really hurt her feelings. She rolled back in her chair, sensing a long conversation coming.

"You know what I mean. He has all these amazing powers and does these incredible things like saving the world."

"And I type stories for a dying profession?"

He nodded. He wouldn't have put it so bluntly, but that was about the size of it.

"I won't lie. It's not always easy. There was a time when we were dating that I wished I could be like him. You can help people in such a tangible way when you have super powers, and I imagined what it must be like to be invincible, the confidence that gives to do more, to be more is tempting."

She understood. "Exactly."

"And the worst part is being left behind. When he has to go save the world and I can't do anything to help him, it's pure torture."

"So how did you overcome the envy?"

"I realized he doesn't have it so easy either. Can you imagine how hard it is to be the only one like you? That's not as true anymore, but it was then. And to know that even with all these super abilities, you still can't save everyone. Powers come with their own burdens as well. It may seem exciting to you, but that's only because you don't have them."

"Thanks for reminding me."

"Your dad does do incredible things, and it may seem like it's not at much personal cost, but that's not true. He lives in fear of exposure, not just putting his true identity at risk that allows him a sense of normalcy but putting his family at risk. And the fights he has aren't always easier; they're just bigger. He puts his life on the line the same as an officer of the law would because his enemies know of his vulnerabilities, the whole world knows Superman could die when exposed to kryptonite."

He'd almost forgotten. "I hadn't thought about all that."

"Who would at your age? And I'm not saying these things to scare you. Only to help you understand. It hurt your father incredibly when you told him that he couldn't relate to what you were going through. He'd never tell you that, but I am."

"I know." He hadn't meant to hurt him. He was hurting his own self and knowing his father was Superman was still hard to take. If he'd grown up with the knowledge, it might be different, but there was still a lot he was getting used to.

"You don't think your father had everyday teen problems? He went through trying to fit in with his peers, breakups, finding his independence."

He felt properly chastised and hung his head.

She stood up and went over to him. "You're still trying to reconcile the public image of your father with your dad, and that's okay. Superman is a larger-than-life hero. He's so super that every other hero with power is coined a superhero in his honor. He wears a ridiculous costume, he's from another planet, and he has a fortress in the middle of the Arctic. The things he goes up against is the stuff you would think you could only find in comics or video games."

She was voicing his inner thoughts so well that he wondered why he hadn't come to her from the start.

"But don't forget that underneath all that he's as human as you or me. This planet is the only home he has ever known. He grew up in middle America, in this very town, and he can help you navigate it if you'll only let him."

"I guess."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "He loves you, you're his son, and just because he's had to spend more time with Jordan that isn't going to lessen that. And the fact they share powers isn't going to lessen the bond you two share either."

She hugged him, and he soaked up comfort from it.

"You want to know how I deal with being normal?" she asked when they'd parted. "I don't let myself live in his shadow. I am the best Lois Lane out there. You need to be the best Jonathan Kent you can be. And support your brother. He needs you now more than ever even if it might not seem like it. Be a part of his journey, not a bystander. Love is the binding glue that holds us all together no matter what we bring to the table."

"Forget what I said earlier, Mom. You're the greatest. In fact, you're pretty abnormal if you think about it, to actually choose this life."

She laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The front door opened. Jordan and his dad came in laughing and dirtier than when they'd set out. A few moments ago that would have stoked his jealousy, but being benched more than he was used to this season didn't mean he had to sit out in other areas of his life. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Dad totally took down a tree when he was showing me the right force to use in a tackle."

"I did not. That tree was dead. The first ice storm that came along and it would have toppled on its own."

His mom went to check out the damage, and Jordan was already heading upstairs for a shower.

"Dad?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think we could talk about Eliza?"

His dad heard what he didn't say that he was acknowledging there was still things he could teach him. "You bet."

The End