Chapter 2

Growing Pains

A Smallville story by Xica

Disclaimer: All the usuals apply. All I own is my poor Smallville infested brain and the characters that are created from it.

This chapter is a bit talky, but I'm trying to set some things up. I started writing this in order to make a lovely Chlark story of course, but also because I wanted something that more or less included most of the characters in the SV universe. I read lots of fic that are Chlark, but never mention Pete or Lana. Or Chlex,  that includes Clark, but usually forgets everyone else. I'm not against stories like that (hell, I love most of them!) but I always wonder what happens to everyone else. So if I'm not focusing on your faves right now, take heart I'll get back to them soon.

Late the afternoon Mari stood in the Kent kitchen, up to her elbows in bread dough. Ever since she had been "relocated" to Smallville Martha Kent had taken it upon herself to be Mari's surrogate mother. In the recent months Martha had noticed a change in the young girl, a sort of anxiousness in the girl's eyes that she just couldn't ignore.

"That's good Mari. I think you can stop kneading it now…Mari?…I said you could stop now".

"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Mrs. Kent. I just spaced out for a while", Mari said, pulling her hands from the dough ball and placing it into a bowl. "So what next?"

Trying hard to suppress the frown she felt forming Martha reached into the cabinet and pulled down two large mugs. "Well for now we take a little breather while the dough rises. Why don't we have a cup of tea?"

Mari nodded and took the mug Martha handed her, and they took a seat at the kitchen table.

"So, uh anything new going on?" Martha asked tentatively.

Mari paused, "No, not really. Just school and all that".

"Well Clark mentioned that you joined the "Torch".

"Oh yeah, well that's been great. I've written a few little 'slice of life' things, but really I just do behind the scenes stuff. Layout and stuff".

"Oh" Martha nodded.

"It's been great though. Watching Chloe freak out over deadlines and Clark literally cowering in her wake is more entertaining than I thought it could be".

Martha chuckled at the image sprung into her head. Martha had had her reservations about Clark becoming serious with Chloe so quickly, but time had proven her initial worries invalid. Underneath her inquisitive exterior Chloe had a heart of gold, and it was obvious to her that the young woman was truly taken with her son.

"I'm really glad they worked it out, ya know? They were both so scared, but I knew it would all work out" Mari said matter-of-factly, "I think at first Clark was kinda mad at me for butting in, but they were just torturing each other. I couldn't ignore that".

"Well I'm just glad that you and Clark have gotten close again" Martha said honestly.

"Me too. It's funny to look at all the pictures and stuff from when we were little. You would never have thought we would have just dropped out each other's lives".

At that Martha shifted uncomfortably. Over the years the entire family had had to sever ties in the hopes of keeping Clark's abilities a secret. The incident in the woods had been a close call, and had the children been any older, it would have been almost impossible to keep the questions from arising.

"Mom! I'm home!"

The voice pulled Martha from her thoughts. "We're in here honey!" Martha called out, emphasizing the 'we're' so that Clark didn't zip in on super-speed or something equally unexplainable.

"Hey Mom, Mari. What's up?"

"Your mother is teaching me how to make bread", Mari said as her cell phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw that the caller ID screen read "Met Home", shorthand for her parent's home in Metropolis. Mari gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to curse out loud. Whenever her parents called it always ended in her becoming extremely pissed off. "Would you guys excuse me for a moment?" she said hastily and bolted for the living room.

"I hope nothing's wrong" Martha said, her voice echoing motherly concern.

"I'm sure it's nothing" Clark said reaching into the refrigerator for a snack. "Mari's just dramatic".

"Clark, you two are friends right?"

"Yeah mom, you know that". Clark said confused.

"Well have you noticed anything unusual going on recently? There just seems to be something different about her, like she's hiding something".

Crap. Clark was never good at lying to his parents, but there was no way he could tell his mother why Mari was acting strange.

"Well she's dating this guy and they're just trying to keep it quiet. She's just a little stressed out".

Not backing down, Martha asked "Well why would she want to keep it a secret Clark?"

"Well, uh. Well you know how it is mom. They just run in different crowds and you know how people gossip. They just wouldn't understand" Clark said quickly.

"Well how much do you know about him?"

"Mom, he's a good guy, I promise. You know I wouldn't let anyone hurt my friends".

From the other side of the wall Mari smiled at Clark's defense of her. Sometimes she wondered if Clark wasn't just tolerating her because of her friendship with Chloe. Suddenly she came up with an idea to show Clark how much she appreciated him.

            Mari bounded back into the kitchen with a smile on her face.

            "Is everything alright honey?" Martha asked.

            "Everything's great Mrs. Kent. Hey Clark, how would you feel about a weekend in Metropolis?"

                                                            **********************

"You're *ouch* coming here?" Chloe asked excitedly.

"Yeah, Mari's parents want her to go to some benefit thing tomorrow night and she invited me along for the trip".

"That's  *ouch* great! Hey, could you cool it with the pins! I'm bleeding here! So when are you guys getting here?"

"Well at first Mari was going to call Lex and ask him to send the helicopter, but she wants to surprise  him so we're driving instead".

"Oka,y okay, it fits. Yes, just let me down from here" Chloe yelled to someone.

"Chloe?"

"Sorry about that Clark. I'm getting fitted for my bridesmaid dress and since I couldn't come to the other fittings the seamstress is punishing me by making me a human pin cushion!" Chloe growled.

"So what's your schedule like?" Clark asked, stuffing a pair of jeans into his duffel bag.

"Well we've got family bonding/rehearsal dinner crap tonight, and then a 'ladies-only' breakfast tomorrow morning. The wedding starts at three, and then the reception starts around five or so".

"Busy girl", Clark said.

"Yeah well don't get any ideas about not coming anyway. Are you staying with the Wesley's?"

"Yeah".

"Good".

"Why is that a good thing?"

"Well Clark, the Wesley's condo is about a block and a half away from the hotel I'm staying in".

"Oh really? Clark said, suddenly very interested.

"I thought you'd like that. I might have to start arranging an alibi or two" Chloe said slyly.

Clark pondered that statement with a smile until he heard the doorbell ring. "Hey Chloe I think Mari's here. I'd better get going".

"The sooner the better.

Clark and Chloe said their good-byes and Clark hustled down the stairs. As he entered the family room he found his father sitting on the couch, his mouth set in a firm line. He'd received permission from his mother for the trip, but that, like everything else, was pending approval from Jonathan Kent.

"I hear you're going to Metropolis son"

Clark sighed heavily, "Dad, it's just for two days".

"Clark you know how your mother and I feel about you spending so much time away from the farm".

"I know dad, but Mari has to go and she wanted some company".

"And this wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Chloe is in Metropolis too would it?" Jonathan said knowingly.

Unable to restrain himself Clark blushed a deep crimson. "Dad…"

"Clark, don't bother. I know you're a young man and you want to do different things, but you need to be careful"

"Dad!"

"Now Clark just hear me out"

"Jonathan!" Martha said admonishingly walking into the room with Mari trailing behind her, "I thought we agreed no third degree".

"Martha, I'm just telling Clark that he needs to be careful. Metropolis and Smallville are about as different as it gets".

"If it makes you feel any better Mr. Kent, we're staying with my parents. And they can be pretty strict". Jonathan nodded at that, but he wasn't entirely convinced. The last time Clark went to Metropolis the  trouble with Phelan had soon followed.

"Dad, I promise. Everything will be fine".

Jonathan's eyes scanned the two pairs of teenage eyes staring at him expectantly and had to resist a chuckle. However one quick look at Martha's stern expression sobered him up quickly.

"Okay okay, I give in".

Clark's frown was immediately replaced with a wide smile. "Thanks, dad!" he said excitedly, picking up his bag.

"Honey, I packed you kids some snacks and lemonade for the trip. I don't want you two stopping anywhere, it'll be dark soon".

"Thanks mom" Clark said, taking the small cooler from his mother and kissing her on the cheek. "I'll call as soon as I get there".

"And Mari, be sure to tell your mother I said hello. I missed her the last time  I was in Metropolis".

"No problem" Mari replied.

"Ready?" Clark asked.

"Yup" she replied cheerfully, shaking her car keys. As they exited the house Clark stopped suddenly. Sitting in his driveway was not the old Volvo she usually drove, in its place was a medium sized metallic SUV, glistening in the late afternoon sunlight. A quick scan of the bumper told him that the car was a LEXUS.

"I suppose I don't need to ask where the new wheels came from" Clark said quietly, so his parents didn't hear.

Mari smiled indulgently, "It's just a little loaner Clark. I couldn't very well take my grandmothers car. How would she get around all by herself?" she asked, batting her eyelashes in mock innocence.

"Yeah Mari, you're a saint" Clark said sarcastically as he climbed in and sank into the cushy leather.

"Where on earth does a girl that young get a car like that?" Jonathan wondered out loud.

Martha said nothing, but she definitely had an idea.