From the ashes

Clark walked slowly towards the grave of his mother. Darkness had slowly started to descend on Smallville. As Clark approached his mother's resting place, he saw a figure kneeling in front of her grave. He was an old guy probably in his late 60s early 70s.

"Hello?" asked Clark curiously.

"Hello Clark." Said the man slowly rising, and turning to face him.

Clark then recognized that it was the same guy he had seen that morning standing by a tree in the distance. A man who everyone thought was dead. A man he used to know and fear. Lionel Luthor.

"Mr. Luthor… What are you doing here?" asked Clark surprised.

Lionel chuckled. "Mr. Luthor? … I must be really getting too old then. I came to pay my respects to your mother Clark, plus I wanted to see and talk to you."

"I… everyone thinks you're dead. Even Lex!" said Clark still not sure how to react to Lionel's presence.

"Well I'm glad they think so. That's what I want them to believe Clark. But come, I have much to tell you. Sit with me here for a moment Clark."

Lionel walked with effort, but still with a pride and dignity, that were always central to his character. He sat at a bench near Martha's grave and Clark joined him hesitantly. He didn't know if he could trust Lionel or what to expect from him, but his age made him seem more harmless.

"You probably know this first hand Clark, but I want to say it… Your mother was a very special woman… Such kindness, such class, such strength and such dignity, are very rare in a woman. Our mother was all that and more." He paused for a while and drifted off for a while. "You know… when your father died and she was thinking of selling the farm, it was one of the few times I contacted someone in Smallville. I offered to help her keep the farm financially. She turned me down of course -not that I had any delusions that she would accept my offer- but I just felt like I had to do it. And she was always so considerate… even when she was turning you down, she tried to make it as easy for you as possible… Amazing woman…"

"I know who my mother was Lionel." Said Clark who wasn't exactly thrilled by hearing a man like Lionel talk about his mother.

"Back to first names? Heh… I guess you didn't appreciate me talking about your mother eh?" said Lionel with a crooked smile.

"You guess right… Now tell me what you want Lionel…" said Clark who was not in the best of moods to be humoring people who once upon a time tried to harm him.

"There's no need to get all ruffled up Clark…" said Lionel calmly.

"Look Lionel, I'm not in the best of moods lately… so…" said Clark before he got interrupted by Lionel.

"Something to do with the divorce? Or is it the ever radiant miss Lang that has got you in such a mood?"

Clark was shocked, he tried hard to resist the urge of grabbing Lionel and forcing him to come clean on where he got the information about him. "How do you know this stuff about me?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Clark… please do not consider me your enemy… In fact I did my best to help you and your mother over the years…" said Lionel defensively afraid of what Clark might do if he lost his temper.

"Helped me and my mother? What the hell are you talking about?" asked Clark irritated.

"How did you get the job on the daily planet? Have you wondered why they called you back for an interview after they had rejected you at first?"

Clark froze. "How did… I… I thought Chloe put in a good word for me."

"Oh that she did… But do you really think that the word of Chloe Sullivan holds that much weight? I was the one who arranged it. And why do you think Lex could not buy the daily planet up till now? I was the major share holder of the Daily planet. Not directly of course, since the many shares in my possession are listed into several different organizations across the globe. Your rise in status in the Daily Planet… your promotions… Now don't get me wrong… it's not that you didn't deserve it… but if we had waited for that to happen through the proper channels… let's just say your mother wouldn't have that beautiful house you bought her during the last years of her life. She also wouldn't have The Talon to take care of." Concluded Lionel with a sad smile.

Clark was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to think or say. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"Come on Clark… I can of course show you all the papers and mail that have passed from my hands over the years, but you are a smart kid… you know I'm telling the truth."

Clark remained thoughtful. Lionel obviously knew a lot about him, that under normal circumstances he shouldn't have. It was obvious that he was telling the truth… about most of it anyway. "Ok… Let's say I believe you… Why then? Why did you go through all this trouble for me?"

"I know about you Clark…" said Lionel smiling.

Clark looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean?"

Lionel just smiled. "Wooosh…" he said as he did with his hand a flying upwards move.

To be continued…