Title: Here From There

Chapter Completed: December 22, 2002

Anna leaned her head against the headrest, staring out the window. Through the tinted glass the golden fields were a dingy grey as the limousine drove past, but she did not care. She was not focussing on the scenery, her mind was drifting. Drifting back to when this all started for her. It was a couple of months ago when she walked into her father's office.

"Daddy," she walked in, "Are you ready for lunch?" She stopped short noticing the pale look on his face, his hand still on the receiver, "What's wrong?" she rushed around to his side of the desk.

"N…nothing," he relied, clearing his throat as he sat back on his chair.

She knelt down to make eye contact, "Don't lie to me," she held his hand, "What was the call?" She prepared herself for the worst. The worst news had always come to her here, in this office.

He patted her hand, giving that patented fatherly smile, "Don't worry yourself about it."

Getting the daughter glare in return.

Sighing he continued, "That was Mr. Luthor. It seems my name had come up, it's time I repaid him," he began wringing his hands, his eyes glazed over in worry.

"But…we don't have that kind of money," she sat back on her heels. She knew all about the five million her father had Borrowed from LuthorCorp when he was employed there, and for what cause. But if only that were it a simple matter of monetary repayment.

Her father actually snorted out a laugh at that, "He doesn't want the money."

Her face lit up with a gleam of hope, she rose to her feet, relaxing now and waiting for him to continue.

"Seems that he needs a personal assistant, after his accident," there was no need to go into detail as to what accident, all of Metropolis knew about the tycoons sudden blindness. But her father trailed off catching a smile on his daughter's face, "Oh no! Get that idea out of your head."

She laughed now, "Oh come on dad. It'll be easy. Just help him around, make appointments, run errands," She shrugged. There was a glimmer in her eyes. Then she knew it as an opportunity to help. How hard cough it be? The man had been blinded. And she could finally make it up to her father but repaying his only debt. But now she saw it as naiveté.

Her father was firm with his objections. Luthor was still the same man he had always been. The family had made the mistake before of trusting him. He was uncomfortable, to say the least, with his only daughter being at the mercy of a man like that. But she wouldn't have it, she wouldn't listen. She had made up her mind, she was doing to do this. But now oh how she wished that her father had succeeded, especially feeling Lionel's hand on her knee. The possessive spread of his fingers across her thigh.

They had pulled up to a farmhouse. In all honesty Anna hadn't noticed, she was lost in memory, lost in avoidance, just plain lost. And of course have would have no idea where they had stopped anyway, even if she had been paying attention.

Lionel squeezed her knee to gain her attention, "Go tell Martha Kent I'm here." He released her, her signal to go.

Slowly she did as told, climbing out of the back of the limousine. She squinted at the bright sun, the tinting was really deceiving, and looked around at the small farm and matching house. She had no clue where she was, feeling completely out of place but at the same time oddly safe. The whole town had that out of place but safe feel to it. She walked up to the homey door, making an unsure knock on it, it was just so quiet and peaceful here. The name rolled around her head. Kent. She was almost sure she had heard it before.

A moment in thought and the door opened, without question revealing the slightly familiar smiling face.

"Anna," Clark beamed. Being the newest edition to Smallville he remembered her. It also helped that she was cute.

It took a little thought before Anna replied, "Clark." She remembered now, one of the teens that Lex had shown her to at that coffee house, and gave a smile.

HE stood there smiling and staring at her until Jonathan Kent walked by the door.

"Who is it son?" he questioned, then noticing the young woman at the door added, "Aren't you going to invite your new friend in?"

Clark stepped to the side, voicelessly asking her in, "Dad this is Anna Clarkson," the wide smile still on his face.

"Jonathan Kent," he wiped his hands on a rag before offering one to her to shake.

Anna accepted the handshake with a "Nice to meet you Mr. Kent." While shaking his hand she searched his eyes, it had become habit in the last few years especially when dealing with older men, she found something that surprised and made her smile; actual kindness and welcoming without a trace of wanting anything.

"I'm actually here for Martha Kent. Mr. Luthor is here," she motioned toward the car outside.

The mere mention of the name made Jonathan's eyes cloud and a grumble to escape from her mouth. Seems that the Luthors were not a popular group anywhere.

"Anna's his new assistant," Clark rolled forward on the balls of his feet, then back on his heels.

"I'll go tell Martha to hurry," he nodded, giving a knowing look to Clark, "Why don't you offer out guest something," as he went in search of his wife.

Again Clark smiled and stared at her, rocking on his feet and his hands shoved in his pockets. His eyes glistening, and his manner much like a boy with a school yard crush.

"So," Anna made an attempt to fill the silence that had settled. Sure she could have enjoyed the starring contest and clumsy flirting flirting with the farm-boy in regular circumstances. But even though he was blind, she could feel Linoel's eyes burrowing into her back – making her even more uneasy.

"So?" Clark mirrored, "So, can I get you anything?" his voice and eyes all hopeful.

She looked back at the waiting car, "no thanks," she smiled politely.

"Okay," Martha Kent came bustling into the front hall, making sure she had everything in order. IT could suggest a chicken with its head cut off, only slightly more calculating. "Hi," she stopped in front of Anna, "Martha Kent," she smiled.

"Anna Clarkson," she introduced herself with a polite smile and nod, "Nice to meet you Mrs. Kent."

Martha laughed, "Oh please call me Martha," giving the girl a friendly pat on the arm, "I mean we'll be working together and seeing each other so often now. No reason to be so formal then," she too had the bright, warm, friendly smile.

Anan imagined that this would be what her mother would be like now. She smiled and agreed.

"Alright then," Martha seemed to share a moment with the young woman before turning to her husband. "I'll try to be home for dinner," she planted a soft kiss.

Jonathan nodded, cold to his wife's choice in employer.

She continued the routine, "Have a good day at school," kissing her son on the forehead.

Clark scrunched away in embarrassment, wanting to stay cool in front of Anna, "okay mom."

Martha smiled, shaking her head and whispering, "Boys" to Anna making her giggled. IT was amazing how only a few minutes here, in a happy little home, could make her feel so normal like everything was perfect and she fit in.

"Well, we'd better get going," with that one statement Martha had shattered the illusion and brought everything down again. Internally Anna was on a never-ending roller coaster, constant ups and downs. There was no way that she would be able to go back to her normal after her time here.

Martha gave another wave of goodbyes before starting out to the car.

"It was nice meeting you," Anna smiled at Jonathan, "and seeing you again Clark," she smiled and nodded in a way that made him blush as she left.

"Bye. Maybe I'll see you around," Clark rushed to the door to watch her leave.

Jonathan laughed to himself at his son while sipping his morning coffee. He turned toward the wall clock, "Better get a move on son, you don't wanna be late -," he turned to where his son was but now was just an open door, "for school," he finished to himself, shaking his head and closing the door.

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A/N: Apologies for this chapter taking so long…but my friend just had her baby and that took up a lot of time. Which of course I was happy to lose! Congratulations to her!