Alright, time for the next chapter. Enjoy!

We brought the kid with us to Mount Justice. She didn't technically have clearance but we didn't know what to do with her. We could return her to the authorities but she probably didn't have a family to go to. Clones don't tend to have those things. Aqualad suggested that we contact Batman to figure out what to do with her. For some reason, I didn't want to do that just yet. The little tike seemed to have taken a shine to me. She just wasn't ready to let me go yet. Whenever someone suggested it she would start clinging to me again. If the subject was dropped then she would relax and start to wander around. I never realized how annoying it was to have a child hang on to your leg for dear life.

The team decided that she needed more time. So they helpfully decided to make food, buy toys, and try to teach her new tricks. It was like they had adopted a new puppy. Except for this puppy was a human-Kryptonian clone who had the body and mind of a five-year-old. She would need a family sometime. A real mommy and daddy. We couldn't keep her. It was best not to get too attached.

"So, Martha, what is your favorite food?" M'gann asked her.

The little rascal looked up at her and smiled. She proclaimed. "Chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup. Topped with chocolate jimmies!"

"Wow, that's a lot of chocolate." Wally remarked.

"Yup." She chimed in happily. "Pa says that I'm allowed to eat that on my birthday or Thanksgiving. He says that it's bad for me." She wagged her finger. "But ma says that if I am a good girl and real quiet then I can have some. I just can't tell daddy."

"Well, then I guess we won't tell daddy." M'gann responded.

"YAY!" She cheered.

M'gann asked her. "So, how do we make ice cream?"

Martha gave her a puzzled look. "You don't know?"

"No, I don't."

The little girl laughed. "You don't make ice cream. You buy it!"

"On it!" Wally cried before racing off. Once he returned they started putting the pieces together to eat ice cream the way our guest liked it. The girl laughed and cheered as they used their powers in front of her. She did not shrink away or show any sign of fear. Like she did when I first met her or when the guards pointed weapons at her. She was a completely different girl. She was happy. She looked like a normal five-year-old. At least as much I could tell. I am not the best judge of that kind of stuff.

It was Kaldur'ahm who pulled me out of that wonderful moment. He asked me. "Who is this child?"

I faced him. "Not sure. The door said 'Martha Kent' but that's all I've got. I think that she is a clone. Bred to replace Supergirl. But I don't know for sure."

"Hmm . . . I wonder if this is true. She seems . . . well adjusted . . . for a clone. She talks about a Mommy and a Daddy. Which a clone does not have."

I looked at her and I thought of Superman. How I cloned using some of his DNA. He was the closest thing that I had to a father. Yet, he did not accept me. It would be the same for Supergirl. She would not accept this clone. So why does she believe that she has a Mommy and a Daddy? Had they perfected a method to copy memories as well? It was very confusing.

"True. A clone does not have a family. They are alone and will always be alone."

"Conner . . ." He started.

"No, it's fine. I've accepted that Superman doesn't want anything to do with me. I can live without him. I just hope that this little guy doesn't have to live with that reality. If she really is Supergirl's clone then she doesn't have a family, Her memories are a lie. She is alone."

He shook his head. "No, she has you."

Kaldur'ahm was right. Martha did have a family: Me. I wasn't her dad but I fill the role if I had to. Teach her how to grow up and use her powers. I would help her become a hero if she wanted to be. Whatever she wanted to do I would help her do it. We were family.

I started to play with the little tike. I chased her around until she became exhausted. Once she was asleep I began to search for books on parenting. I thought maybe they would have advice on how to start being a father. I couldn't contain my enthusiasm. I was not alone.

Then it was all ruined.

Batman came in to review the mission and to assign a new one. He took one look at our guest and asked, "What is she doing here?"

Robin chimed in. "Her name is Martha Kent. We know . . ."

Batman cut him off. "I know who she is. That's not what I was asking. I was asking why have you brought her here?"

"She has nowhere to go. She's a clone. Like me." I said defiantly.

"She's not a clone. She's a five-year-old child." He narrowed his eyes. "Hmm . . .That explains his erratic behavior. He's been circling Metropolis since last night. Hasn't stopped for a second. He must be looking for her."

Yet again Batman left out who he was talking about. He just assumed that we knew. Like were mind readers or something. I hated that. The irony that this time even Robin had no idea what he was going on about.

"Who are you talking about Batman?"

He looked at Robin like he should have known the answer. I thought for a second that he was going to tell us, but then he decided that he did not want to play Mr. Nice Guy. He was going to leave us in the dark. We were all idiots in his eyes. Finally, he said: "Superboy, take her home to Metropolis."

I had it with him. "Why me?"

"Because you can take a hit."

"What kind of messed up logic is that?" Wally demanded.

Batman shot him a dirty look. "She must be returned to Metropolis before he loses his mind. Now, I could call him to let him know but he is not answering him comms. The man tends to go insane when his family is missing. He will tear up Metropolis looking for her. The only reason why he hasn't so far is that being he is being nice." He paused for effect. "That won't last for much longer. Send her back now!"

Kaldur'ahm chimed in. "If she has a family then we are in agreement. The child should go back. But who do we give her back to? And why must be only Superboy?"

Batman seemed to be losing his patience. Clearly, we were missing the obvious. I had a sinking feeling that I knew what he was about to say. "Because this is a personal matter. You are not to interfere. Superboy will take her home and give her back to her father. Then he can calm the hell down. And trust me you want him to calm down. You do not want to see an angry Boy Scout."

And there it was: It all made sense. She wasn't a clone. She had something that I didn't have: Our father's love. How I envied her at that moment. Why couldn't she be like me? Why was her life so easy? I hated her so much that it hurt.

I ordered. "Let's go brat." Before dragging her off.

So now Superboy knows who her father is. Now he has to deal with Superman again. What will happen next? You'll have to wait until next chapter to find out.