Sakura-El is not in the best of moods. Depression (and anger) hover over her like a cloud. Because, how dare he? How dare that man to insult her intelligence, pose as a stranger and enter her home, get her hopes up only to dash them—

And then have the nerve to ask her for help.

Rage burns bright and hot in her belly. She wants to destroy something, anything but the only thing that stops her is a knock on the door. It draws her back into herself and the half semblance of sanity that she maintains.

Sakura moves to the door and throws it open. For some reason she expects Superman to be there again and she comes prepared with a snarl on her lips that falls away once she recognizes who is at the door. Sakura's mouth drops open and delight dances in her eyes.

"Kon! You're back." Sakura looks over Kon's shoulder. "Is Kara with you?" Kon shakes his head and holds his arms open, and Sakura draws him into a hug.

"No, Mother. Kara didn't think it would be wise to come back just yet given the circumstances. I came as soon as I could." Sakura, held tightly and securely in her son's arms struggles not to cry. If Kal were with them he would scold her for her behavior and then afterward would take her somewhere private so that she could shed her tears in peace. "How are you doing?"

Sakura chuckles mirthlessly, "I should be asking you that."

"He wasn't my husband."

"But he was your father." Kon falls silent and looks away giving Sakura all the answer she needs.

"Do you think he would want…me to continue his work?"

Sakura smiles benevolently. "Thinking of taking over the world?"

"Kara and I could do it if you wanted." Sakura is well aware that those are Kara's words coming out of Kon's mouth. Kon isn't the rule the world type. She doesn't begrudge him that, but it did exasperate Kal quite a bit.

"I want you and Kara to live the lives that you want. Not the lives that Kal and I did. Kara fits in with the Red Lanterns. Let her stay there. Although, I wouldn't mind a visit. But enough about that," Sakura draws Kon deeper inside her apartment and into the kitchen. "Are you hungry?"

The look on Kon's face says a thousand words.

Sakura, as the wife of Kal-El, had learned a valuable lesson early on in her marriage. Her husband had a very healthy appetite. So she is well aware that any food prepared for his son would not be wasted.

Sakura watches Kon with a smile on her face as he decimates his food. Conversation flows naturally during their meal.

"How did you make it back to Earth?"

"Bleez brought me."

"Oh? And has she destroyed her tormentors yet?"

"She told me if you asked that then in turn to say, have you?" Sakura laughs uproariously before dropping the subject. "Why are you in this place? Dad-El had numerous places you could stay instead of here."

Sakura nods although slightly exasperated that Kon still insists upon calling Kal, Dad-El. She could never get the boy to explain his reasoning behind it, but a part of her suspects that it is just for general amusement. "Yes there were many grand places that I had access to Kon, but all they did was make me feel lonely. I don't need much. A bed and a roof over my head are all I need to be alright." Kon doesn't look the least bit happy with her response. Although she 's not surprised by this, so she changes the subject. "Are you staying?"

"For a little while," Kon says before reaching into his pocket and sliding a crumpled envelope across the table to Sakura. Sakura looks down at it puzzled.

"What's this Kon?"

Kon doesn't immediately answer. He looks uncomfortable and in more than a little pain. Without thought, Sakura reaches out and lays her hand on top of his and squeezes tightly.

"Whatever it is, Kon the House of El can conquer it."

"Unless it's Batman." White hot rage surges through Sakura at the words. The day Kal died at the hands of the Bat and her being powerless to stop it makes her want to drop everything and hunt him down until he was dead, dead, dead. Sakura-El hates Batman, and she would never let go of her oath. She cannot keep her promise to Kal. She will not rest until he is dead. "I'm sorry Mother. I shouldn't have said that."

Sakura takes a few deep, steadying breaths. "No, you shouldn't have." Kon opens his mouth again, but Sakura holds up a single hand forestalling his words. "Kal is dead. Our reign has passed. Now, how do you plan to survive on Earth if you're staying? They leave me alone because they believe I was coerced into a marriage with Kal. You, on the other hand, they believe acted of your free will. I have no desire to start a war over your freedom." But I will if I have to goes unspoken.

"You should read the letter." Kon rises to his feet. "I'll go get settled in my room, and we'll talk later if that's okay?" Sakura waves him off and reaches for the envelope and tears it open. A gasp tears from Sakura's throat as she reads the few words scribbled on the page.

If you're reading this Beautiful, I'm dead.

In the event of this, I've prepared a safety net for you, for our family. You're the fucking Queen of the world, and I won't allow the bastards of this world to take away everything from you.

So I need you to go to the Fortress. This letter falls into your hands at Kon's discretion. If he feels that you have been mistreated in any form or fashion, it is probable that protocol 625.12 has been activated. It is essential that you go and deactivate it else the whole world will be destroyed.

Kal

Sakura stares at the contents of the letter for several long moments. Protocol 625.12. That can't be a coincidence. That is the day that she married Kal. June 25th, 2012.

Sakura doesn't believe for a second that if she doesn't go to the Fortress, the world will be destroyed. That is pure manipulation tactics on Kal's part. Sakura's lips quirk upward. She loves Kal so very much. A pang goes through her heart, but Sakura shakes it off mostly because she's ecstatic to have some form of communication with her husband. She will preserve the letter so that she can have it always but before that she has more important things to do.

She bounds to her feet and goes looking for Kon. She finds him sitting on his bed looking like he was waiting patiently for his execution. Sakura, too excited to take note, plunges ahead with her request for her son.

"Kon, honey, I need you to take me to the Fortress."

A sheepish look crosses Kon's face before he says, "I can't."

Sakura narrows her eyes.