"Clark, honey you've been up here all night, is everything okay?" Martha asked as she came up the stairs to the loft, Clark looked up from his seat in front of the couch.

"Yeah...fine, mom, do you ever wonder what life would be like...if I don't know things were different?"

"Different how?" Martha asked setting the plate she had been carrying with her in front of him

"If you had children before me, if you hadn't been in town that day..."

"Clark, life is full of what if's and if only's but you can't go around your entire life wondering what would be different. You can't change the past, only your future. Clark you're future hasn't been decided yet, you're only fifteen."

"It scares me at times, thinking that at any moment someone could come here, knowing about me and take me away from you guys."

"We'd never let it happen Clark, I hope you know that."

"What if you don't have a choice?"

"What's wrong Clark?"

"Something weird happen today."

"Such as?"

"Remember that field trip my sixth period class was going on?"

"You mean the one with the really mean teacher you hate?" She asked smiling.

"Yeah, well...I found his son standing on the edge of the bridge, ready to jump, he was holding some meteor rock in his hand, I tried to pull him back when he slipped, I reached out and grabbed him, then...mom we got hit by lightening."

"My god are you all right?"

"I don't know, it was weird I touched him and it hurt, but not like Meteor rock hurt, like it burned when I touched the burning part of his jacket. I suddenly felt weak and tired."

"Have you tried to do anything...super?"

"Um, well my x-ray vision is gone, at least I think it is, and my super speed is definitely gone, and my super strength is bye bye too."

"Wow...that sucks," whispered Martha.

"Mom your profanity," Martha grinned as she sat down beside her sweet boy.

"How do you feel about this?"

"I don't know, at first it really scared me, but right now...it's looking better, I'm normal."

"Clark, you've never been normal and no matter how hard you try you will never be normal," Martha grinned.

"Golly thanks Mom."

"Sorry honey, I'm serious now, you know what my suggestion is?"

"What?"

"Enjoy it. You've always wanted to be normal, play basketball, take advantage of it, go wrestle with your brothers and not fear that you'll hurt them."

"Wow, having a meeting without me?" Jonathan said smiling, "what's up?"

"Clark's powers are no longer with him."

"Oh boy, what happened?" Clark quickly retold the story.

"Well, you always wanted to be normal."

"I know...you don't feel different about me now do you?" Jonathan looked at his son and felt his heart jump, he reached out and rubbed his son's back.

"Clark! You're our son. Whether you can bench press the tractor or not," she whispered. She realized he was probably felt overwhelmed with everything that was happening to him.

"What do I do now?"

"Well, life isn't easy for anybody, whether you're normal or super. But you're still Clark Kent. You were raised a certain way and that's never gonna change. Sure, your abilities were part of you, but they didn't define you," explained Jonathan.

"Look on the bright side, Clark. You don't have to hide anymore. Try to have some fun," spoke Martha.

"Well..."

"Why don't we leave you alone for awhile, I assume you're going back to school tomorrow?" Clark nodded slowly.

"Right now I could really use getting back to normal."

"We'll be inside, try to get some rest," Martha pressed a kiss to his forehead and joined her husband as they headed out of the barn, leaving Clark to his thoughts.

Martha sighed as she sat on the couch, feet up on the table, reading a book, Katie sat on the floor playing with one of her Leap Frog books and trying to read along with it. Jonathan was outside working when the phone rang.

"Hello, Oh hi Pete...are you...yes we'll be right there, thank you for calling," Martha hung up the phone, "Kate go get your coat sweetie and meet me out on the porch, we're going out, okay?" she nodded and hurried to get her jacket.

"Jonathan," Martha called as she hurried outside, her husband looked up from where he was perched on the barn roof.

"What's wrong?"

"Pete just called, Clark's been taken to the hospital," within moments Jonathan was on the ground hurrying towards her. Katie had come outside and waited when her daddy came and got her.

"What's wrong?" She asked quietly.

"Nothing baby," Martha lied, hoping she wouldn't frighten the child.

"How much longer is it going to hurt like this?" Clark grimaced as the doctor finished binding his sore ribs.

"Oh, you'll be fine in a couple weeks," explained Dr. Benson.

"A couple weeks?" Clark asked in complete worry.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," stated Dr. Benson. Martha and Jonathan hurried into the room, Katie in their arms.

"Clark," she quickly came over and hugged him. Jonathan looked at their son with worry.

"Easy on the ribs, Mom," he grimaced again. She pulled away and looked at him.

"Sorry honey," Jonathan looked up at the doctor.

"How's he doing Dr. Benson?" Jonathan asked, still holding Katie in his arms.

"Well, nothing seems to be broken. We could get an x-ray just to be safe," Jonathan looked at his wife who didn't look too sure.

"Um, I think we'll just take him on home,"

"It's your choice, but I want to see him back again in a week."

"Thanks, Doc," whispered Clark as he groaned and slowly stood up.

"Clark?" Katie held her arms out to him.

"Sorry half-pint, right now I don't think holding you would be very comfortable," she pouted slightly but Jonathan smiled.

"Hey, you've still go me. Help him get dressed and we'll get the paperwork," Martha nodded and handed Clark his shirt.

"What happened?" She asked gently.

"Eric just flipped out. It was kind of scary."

"I wish you hadn't gotten in his way," stated Martha as she helped her son walk towards the door.

"I don't know what it is. Even though Eric has my abilities, I still think of them as my responsibility," explained Clark.

"Even so, you're human now sweetheart, and doing some things is dangerous."

"I played basketball today mom," he said gently. She stopped and looked at him, and sighed.

"Clark, I'm sorry if we ever protected you and stopped you from having a life. That wasn't our intention, we didn't want to stop you from enjoying your childhood, we just wanted to make sure you had one," Clark could see the tears welling in her eyes.

"I know mom, I don't blame you."

Jonathan sighed as he saw Clark standing by the window, grasping his side slightly.

"I stopped by to see Eric's parents this morning," he spoke gently.

"How are they?" Clark asked

"They're scared, Clark."

"Were you ever scared of me?" Jonathan looked at him for a moment, judging his words.

"Well, you threw a few temper tantrums when you were little. We had some holes in the walls, but... nah. You were a good kid, Clark," Jonathan said squeezing his shoulder.

"I don't think Eric's a bad kid."

"Neither do I. He's just a teenager who's in way over his head. That's all."

"You know, when this first happened, I was kind of freaked out. Now I'm kind of enjoying it. I played basketball for the first time without worrying if I'd hurt anyone. I can be around Lana without her necklace making me feel sick," he pointed to his ribs and smiled, "Even this is better than being around the meteor rocks any day of the week."

"Dad, do you ever feel like I've complicated our lives?"

"I've watched and heard about how destructive Eric has gotten, and it makes me realize just how special you are."

"Eric didn't get my two strongest gifts," Jonathan cocked an eyebrow.

"What's that?"

"You and mom," Jonathan smiled.