An hour or two later, armed with a dream catcher, and fed with fry-bread with honey and hot tea, Clark and Chloe headed back to the pick-up truck. Neither of them said much, both lost in their own thoughts. The children had vanished, leaving no trace, and the dogs had all retreated to the long shadows of the scattered trees. It was Clark that finally broke the silence when they reached the truck.
"Why didn't you tell me about the dreams you were having, Chloe?" He asked quietly, and Chloe glared at him across the hood of the truck.
"Why? Well, Clark, how about we start from the beginning, since we're going to be telling stories." Chloe hugged the dream catcher close. "When were you going to tell me about my part in your little Native American legend?"
"I wasn't sure if it was you." Clark replied, and then realizing how that sounded, and seeing the frown that deepened on Chloe's face, he held out his hands and shook his head. "I mean, I wasn't sure until recently."
"How recently?" Chloe asked, gritting her teeth. "I mean, we haven't been through enough together these last few weeks? I'm not ready for another Kryptonian adventure, Clark. I'm still recouping from the last one."
Clark walked around the truck, and pulled her into his embrace, just holding her. "I've known about Naman and Segeeth for a long time and I knew there was a human woman who was the mate of Naman. But I was never sure who that person was supposed to be. I've had the bracelet for years and I never even thought about it until yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Chloe looked up at him. "Yesterday, when?"
"Right before Pete came over. I was working on cleaning up the barn loft when I found the bracelet again." Clark told her, watching her face as she worked out the events in her mind.
"I left campus around 5:30, I wonder if my ghostly visitation had anything to do with your finding the bracelet when you did." Chloe pulled away from Clark slightly, looking up at him. "Did you touch it?"
"No, don't think so." Clark thought a moment. "No. I opened the box, looked at it, closed the box and put it down." He gave her a squeeze and walked back to the driver's side of the truck. "Let's get back to town." Clark paused, and Chloe looked over at him, to see what he was looking at. The little girl, Livvie, had appeared, her dark eyes watching Clark and Chloe impassively and absolutely silently.
"Here." She walked over to Chloe and handed her a smooth white pebble. "It's a worry stone. Mama says that if you hold it in your hand when you are worried, it will make you feel better." Livvie took a step back, and then reached into her pocket again. "And this," an oblong stone, flat and smooth on one side and domed on the other, flashing color at Clark and Chloe in the afternoon sun. "This is for Naman. Grandma says you will know what to do with it."
Solemnly, Livvie marched up to Clark and handed him the stone. Her little head barely came up to his hip, but she moved with all the grace and deliberation of an older woman.
"Thank you, Livvie." Clark squatted so he could meet her at eye level. "I'll keep this forever."
Livvie grinned again, revealing her missing tooth. "No, silly. It's not yours forever. You will know what to do." She put a small, brown hand on his cheek. "Naman?"
"Yes?" Clark looked into her eyes. "What is it?"
"Your questions will be answered when hers are." Livvie looked over at Chloe again. "Grandma's dream catcher will keep the bad dreams away. I have one. But, Mama told me that spirits talk to us in dreams. So, I put mine away. I want the spirits to tell me things. Maybe you should listen to them, too." She giggled and covered her mouth with her hand. "Goodbye, Naman. Goodbye, lady." Livvie spun around and then skipped off in the direction of another small house just off the main road.
Chloe looked down at her pebble. Without realizing it, she had been rubbing it with her thumb since Livvie had given it to her. And she did feel a little better.
Krypton again. Chloe looked around her. She was in a preparation room, the ice blue gown from every other dream was spread across a large and sumptuous looking bed. Moving to the dressing table, Chloe could see the jewelry laid out waiting to be put on. She picked up the necklace first, her fingers closing around the smooth, round, glowing beads set in intervals around the white metal chain. The pendant, a teardrop shaped stone, was set in the same metal as the chain, the cone shaped setting also home to a deep blue stone. Setting the necklace down, Chloe reached for the bracelets. Large and cuff-style, each had a glowing oval crystal at the center, Chloe recognized them from previous dreams. They had capped the sleeve where it met her wrist and spilled over to the tops of her thumbs. Even though they seemed heavy, they weighed almost nothing.
"You are past the age of dedication.." A familiar male voice from behind made Chloe jump, afraid that she was not dressed. She looked down and saw that she was clothed in a flowing white gown, fastened at the shoulders.
The man laughed, "Fear not, Chloe. Your modesty is preserved." Jor-El appeared from the doorway. "Your parents should be here for these events, but," He smiled and held out his hands to her. She glided across the room and took them, allowing him to smile down into her face. "These are special circumstances."
"Why am I dreaming all of this? What is happening?" Chloe asked, and Jor-El released her hands.
"When you and the crystal were separated, Chloe, two pieces broke off. One is in the possession of Kal-El, along with the original crystal." Jor-El told her. "The other piece is still inside you. The bridge in time that was created when you brought the crystal and key together still exists. Inside you."
"So, I'll come here when I sleep?" Chloe asked, and Jor-El nodded. "So,why am I playing dress up, then? What are those doors that Lara has brought me to? What is going on?"
Jor-El nodded. "You have a right to know." He led her to a large window seat and sat down. "I will tell you everything…."
"Hey, we're home." Clark said, gently touching her shoulder. "Pete called during the drive back, said he wanted us to meet him at the Talon, said he needed to talk." He smiled at Chloe and she felt herself jerk awake.
"Clark.." She blinked. "Did I say anything?"
"No, except a snore or two." Clark kissed her nose. "Beyond that, you were out cold. You really haven't been sleeping well, have you?"
"I haven't. But I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight. Maybe that's all I need is some rest." Chloe said, remembering Jor-El's promise. "Maybe a good nights sleep will help me find the answers."
Clark and Chloe found Pete sitting alone in the Talon, staring down into an oversized cup of coffee. Usually alert and engaged with his surroundings, Pete seemed very down, and more than a little lost in his own thoughts.
"He looks like he lost his best friend.." Clark muttered, and Chloe nodded, both of them instantly concerned.
"Or he's afraid he's going to lose his best friend." Chloe finished, and they walked over to the table and sat down. Pete didn't move at all, he just kept staring into the depths of his cup, as if he could read his future there.
"Pete?" Clark looked at his old friend, and touched him on the shoulder. Pete looked up, and nodded.
"Hey, Clark, Chloe." He picked up his cup and put it back down without drinking. "You find what you needed at the reservation?"
"A good start, but I'm worried about you now. Why do you look like you've just gotten the worst news in the world?" Chloe asked gently, and Pete glared at her.
"Chloe, mind your business." He snapped, and Chloe recoiled, surprised at his harshness. Pete groaned, and shook his head. "Look, sorry, okay, Chloe? I've got some stuff to tell you both, and I'm having a hard time doing it. You can't rush me, or ask me questions until I'm done." Clark and Chloe glanced at each other, and then back at Pete.
"Whatever it is, we're here for you, Pete." Clark said, and Pete nodded.
"I know man," Taking a deep breath in, Pete shuddered. "Okay. I have to say all of this, and get it said, so don't interrupt." Pete looked at Chloe. "Chloe?"
Chloe make a gesture of locking her lips and sat forward, leaning on her elbows.
"When your Dad died, Clark, we were away, with my dad. He'd taken us on vacation for the first time since he and Moms split. While we were there, in Hawaii, Dad dropped a bomb. He's getting married again." Pete looked down into his coffee. "The wedding is this weekend."
"Wow, Pete, I…" Chloe slapped her hands over her mouth, and Pete smiled reluctantly.
"I wanted to tell you guys, because I had no idea about Mr. Kent passing until I got your e-mail, Chloe. But I've been so caught up with my own family crap that I dropped the ball for you, Clark. I wasn't there for you, and I totally get it if you are mad at me."
"Pete." Clark put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Not being at my dad's funeral doesn't mean you dropped the ball. Don't beat yourself up over it, really."
"Yeah, Pete." Chloe said, sliding her hand across the table to cover the hand Pete had rested next to his cup. "I think this is all just part of growing up. We can't be together like this all the time anymore. And that's okay. You were with Clark in your thoughts, right?"
"Yeah, sure." Pete said, sniffling a little. "All part of growing up to miss the funeral of one of the people who had such a big influence on you back in the day." He looked up at Clark. "I'm so sorry, man."
"I know." Clark smiled weakly. "And Dad knew. He wouldn't want you to feel badly about missing his funeral, either."
Pete looked back into his coffee. "You think?"
"I know so." Chloe smiled. "Mr. Kent was never one for looking back with regret, Pete. He always had his eye on the future, and the people he loved."
Clark smiled at Chloe, glad of that image of his father. Chloe always knew exactly the right thing to say. "So," Clark cleared his throat. "When is the wedding?"
"Tomorrow, at Dad's house. You both can come, but I don't recommend it." Pete laughed, shaking his head. "Hell, I don't even want to be there."
Chloe smiled. "We'll be there. Won't we, Clark?"
Clark grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Thank, guys. Really." Pete said, smiling. "I really didn't think I was going to make it through this week."
Chloe eyed the clothes in Lois' closet, ready to pounce on something. Most of Lois' dresses would be too long for her, Chloe thought, but then settled on a soft indigo blue dress she'd never seen Lois wear before. It was simple, with a low enough neckline to be sexy and still not cause a scandal, a plunging back and a shaped skirt that just grazed Chloe's ankles. She laid it out on the bed, and went back into the closet for shoes, finding a pair in exactly the right shade. Lois had to have bought this for something special, Chloe thought, and then, hearing her cousin clear her throat, poked her head out of the closet with a sheepish grin.
"I got invited to a wedding at the last minute, Lois. I hope you don't mind." Chloe gestured with the shoes, and Lois put her hands on her hips, grinning, one eyebrow cocked over her eyes.
"I bought that dress for you – you don't have anything dressy, and Bruce, " She blushed a little. "Said that there might be a big formal party coming up that we would all be invited to soon." Lois walked to her dresser and rummaged through her jewelry box. "Here, these were Grandmothers. I got them when Mom died, but I realized you don't have anything of hers do you?"
Chloe took the earrings and looked down at them. She remembered them well, how they glistened with hints of blue and purple against Grandmother Sullivan's white hair. Rainbow moonstones, brought back from the Pacific when Grandfather had fought in World War II – an engagement present. It was a romantic story that never failed to make Lois, Chloe and Lucy sigh with pleasure when they heard it. The earrings were soft domes, topped by oval iolites all set in white gold, reminding Chloe suddenly of the Kryptonian jewelry in her dream.
"I can't wear them." Lois said gently. "They get lost in my hair, and I'm not much for stuff like that. Lucy got her pearls, and I have her other things. I keep forgetting to give those to you, and I have some other things of hers in storage, for when you are really out on your own."
Chloe wiped her eyes. "Gosh Lois, it's not my birthday. I can't believe it, Grandmother Sullivan's earrings." She closed her hand around her grandmother's earrings and smiled. "It's been so hard not having Dad around." Then, remembering, "Did you say "Bruce" told you about a fancy event coming up?"
"Shut up, you." Lois grinned again. "Some fancy fundraiser for a foundation he belongs to. I told him I'd go, but only if you and Clark were there. He said that's how he planned it anyway. I had no excuse, and I couldn't say no."
Chloe is surrounded by girls, of all ages. Some are very young, barely old enough to be included in the company, others, appearing to be thirteen. All are dressed similarly, in elaborate gowns of pale shades. One of them, a tall platinum blonde, with eyes as blue as forget –me-nots, is pacing, her long strides barely hampered by the skirts of her green gown. Chloe smiles at her and the girl smiles back, lifting her skirts just enough to keep her feet clear of the gown's hem.
"I'm Kara." The girl says, plopping down on a cushioned bench next to Chloe. "Kara Zor-El." She smoothes her skirt and grimaces. "I can't wait for this to be over, so I can go back to Argo City. But we all have to go through it."
"Go through what?" Chloe asks, and Kara looks at her, surprised.
"The Dedication. I thought you looked a little too old for this." Kara's blue eyes narrow. "You're not from here, are you?"
"What gave me away? The fact that I'm three feet shorter than everyone else?" Chloe smiled, and Kara giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. The other girls glare over in their direction, shaking their elaborately coiffed heads.
"Well," Kara looked around, lowering her voice. "I don't know how prepared you are, but our mothers and future mothers-in-law will come with other women and bring us to the chamber of Dedication. It's a big deal if you care about getting married. Some of these kids are too little. It's a business arrangement between their families."
"And you older girls?" Chloe asked, forgetting for a moment that she too, was in the room waiting for her own Dedication. "Are any of you here for love?"
"Love?" Kara giggled again. "No. There are not many who marry here for Love. The middle class does, the poor." She peered over Chloe's head. "Oh, there's Aunt Lara!"
She waved, and Lara appeared, smiling and scented with that sweet and familiar fragrance.
"Are you ready, Chloe?" Lara held out her hand. "You look beautiful, Kara."
Kara had risen when her aunt approached and curtseyed deeply. "Thank you, Aunt Lara." She rose and did a turn. "Mother said the green was appropriate."
"You are as green as a first solstice sky, darling." Lara smiled, brushing Kara's forehead with a kiss. "We'll see you tonight."
"Farewell, Chloe." Kara waved, and Chloe felt herself being led to the door, where the familiar clutch of jewel tone gowned women waited to escort her down the long hallway to the tall doors that would open into the Chamber of Dedication.