Xander knelt, placing flowers on two forgotten graves. He wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do considering the fact that he knew the graves were empty, but it was the best he could manage.

Surprising a small shudder when he looked at the third, smaller grave Xander shook of his doubts and began to walk, leaving the empty resting places of Clark Kent, Lois Kent, and Joel Kent, behind him.

Xander had come to Metropolis before Gotham for a number of reasons, the biggest being his fear of the Bat. If there was one man that would take him down on principle alone if he wasn't up to some kind of standard, it would be the ninety something man up north.

The second reason was that he finally got to see the City of Tomorrow with his own eyes, and not through the memories of his father. If this didn't help connect him with the legacy he was going to carry on, nothing would.

Luthor Tower was still the largest building in the city by a good ten stories, having been expanded on over the past fifty years. It would just figure that whoever had taken over the company after Lex had died would be just as concerned about power as the last owner.

Walking away from the gleaming tower Xander attempted to shrug of a feeling of unease. Alexander Luthor was dead, so why did seeing the building fill him with dread?

Using his new super speed, Xander raced through the back allies of the city towards the place that he considered the true heart of the city, The Daily Planet. When he arrived he wasn't disappointed either. Using his enhanced vision he could see that the entire building had been gutted at some point, and been modernized, with only the outside staying the same, down to the large globe on the roof.

In fact Xander was having such a good time playing tourist and looking up, that he bumped into someone coming out of the building for lunch.

"Sorry!" exclaimed Xander as he moved to help the older man up.

"Its no problem, I use to do the same thing when I was your age," said the man. "Just curious though, what about the old girl attracted someone who feels like he should be out practicing for his next football game?"

Xander silently cursed himself for forgetting how much more solid he was now as he said, "I'm a bit of a Superman history buff, and according to people on the net, this is the place that first reported on him."

"Well in that case I have a real treat for you," said the man as he started to walk back into the building while gesturing for Xander to follow.

Inside the lobby were blown up news articles, depicting the largest stories the paper had covered. Xanders eyes were immediately drawn to a headline that read NEVER TOO HOT FOR SUPERMAN, followed by a picture of Superman floating down, carrying a small girl in his arms with a burning building behind him.

"I just had it made," said the man. "In the fifties the old editor had everything with Superman and the other heroes put into storage to avoid coming under the suspicion of being communist."

"And the new editor is just now putting it back up? Wait a minute, you said 'I just had it made,' are you saying that you are the new editor?" asked Xander at a speed that was just under Willow babble.

"Yeah I'm the new EIC of the Planet, just got the job last week. To answer your first question though we lost a lot of old articles in a fire thirty years ago. The only reason that I was able to have that made is because my dad kept the original," said the man.

"He kept it for fifty years? He must have been a big Superman fan to do that," said Xander with a grin.

"He was more than a fan if you believe some of his stories, but that isn't why he kept it," said the man with a broad smile. "Its common practice for a photographer to keep a clipping of the first article that shows their picture."

Taking an unnecessary look at the blown up article again, Xander turned around and said, "Your dad was James Olson?"

"Yep, Clark Olson, nice to meet you," said Clark putting out his hand.

"Joel Clarkson, really nice to meet you," said Xander sticking out his own hand and using the name he had decided on if he had met people outside of his costume while on the trip.

Clark looked like he was about to say more, when his beeper went off. "Sorry, got to run. Stop by again some time and I'll have someone give you a tour, if I'm too busy," said Clark as he went into the building.

Xander smiled as he made his way back outside, just as the snow began to fall again. It was nice to know Jimmy had found someone, and that his son was doing so well.

Once again running through the back allies Xander made his way to his final stop here in Metropolis. Slowing down as the ally opened into a park, Xander continued at a lazy stroll towards his goal.

Thirty minutes, and two attempted muggings, later Xander stood in front of the world famous Superman statue. Some how this seemed the right place to make the promise he was going to make on the graves.

"Don't worry dad, I'll keep them safe for you," said Xander while looking into the face of the statue. Then looking around to make sure that no one could see him Xander changed into his Superman costume then flew up towards the sky, up past the storm clouds, and away towards New York. He still had one more stop to make before going to Gotham.

After less than a minute of flying, Xander began his decent into the Big Apple, or the Middle Sister depending on who you asked. Smiling that there was only one man anywhere close to where Xander wanted to be, he increased his speed to just under the speed of sound, so no one would see him.

Looking around Xander quickly changed back into normal clothes. Quickly replacing broken glass, polishing until it looked like new, and using his heat vision to darken the engraving, Xander stopped when he heard someone coming.

"It's in better condition than I expected," said the young man holding a sketch pad.

"I guess the city must still keep it in good condition in gratitude," said Xander as he took a small candle out of his pocket. "Got a light, I left the matches at home."

Giving Xander a small box of matches the young man sat down on a bench and took out a pencil. Xander lit the candle and closed the lantern, causing a faint green glow to come from it.

"I didn't know it was meant to do that. I bet it would be even better at night," said the young man as he began to sketch the statue.

"Yeah, I bet it would," said Xander as he once again read the inscription at the bottom of the statue. It was six words that were part of an old oath, but still true today. They simply stated for the world to hear 'Evil Things Can Not Stand The Light.'

"Thanks for the match," said Xander as the handed back the box. The man simply grunted his thanks, concentrating on getting the shadows just right in his drawing.

Waking into the bushes Xander changed once again into his Superman costume, and flew off toward Gotham, leaving Kyle Rayner to finish his drawing.