In the end, Sakura doesn't have to come up with any plan to see Clark Kent again. He comes to her.

Sakura watches as Krypto lifts his head and turns to the door, cluing Sakura in as to a visitor. Sakura waits, and eventually, there is a knock at the door. She isn't expecting visitors, so her mind immediately jumps to Kon, but her son has a key, so there would be no need for him to knock. Krypto doesn't move, which clues her in that whoever is at her door is friendly. He remains perched on her sofa as if he owns it. He is a huge dog, but Krypto manages to leave a little room for her to come back and snuggle into him. With no heat in her voice, she says to Krypto, "I should make you move."

Krypto gives her a look that says: You can try.

Sakura snorts and opens the door, surprised to see Clark Kent before her. The filter in Sakura's brain shorts out, so she asks bluntly, "What are you doing here?"

He blushes, and Sakura is amazed. She has never seen that face blush before. Kal didn't understand embarrassment, and yet now it is a thing that Sakura suddenly finds appealing.

"I wanted to…talk." Sakura waits for a moment before stepping to the side and allowing him to enter. Clark moves inside cautiously as if she will try to attack him if he shows her his back. It irritates her, and the very thing he expects her to do she wants to do.

She closes the door, walks deeper inside, and takes her spot next to Krypto, who looks unimpressed by Clark's arrival.

"Krypto?" He sounds a bit incredulous, and Sakura wonders why. It isn't like Krypto's existence is new to him. "What are you doing here? Come here." Clark reaches for the dog, and Krypto growls, startling the man.

Sakura sighs and sits down next to the dog. "For goodness sakes! He's not taking you, Krypto. He's just asking for a greeting. You're my dog."

"He's my dog." Clark counters, and Sakura snorts.

"Tell him that."

Clark turns and looks at Krypto, who doesn't seem inclined to move. Well, he does shift his position so that his head is lying in Sakura's lap. A glance at Sakura's face shows her amusement. Clark doesn't share the sentiment.

As Clark watches Krypto with Sakura, it further cements just how much he has lost. The only member of the League that he is on somewhat good terms with is Batman, and that is saying a lot.

Lois isn't exactly happy with his return. His cover story for his disappearance is that he had been captured by Kal-El while trying to get a story. The Dictator didn't kill him because, for some reason, he wanted him alive. Lois hadn't felt he should have tried to get a scoop on his own. He is apparently not ready for such behavior. She sympathized with him as much as Lois could, but…there is a distance between them that hadn't been there before it all began.

Although, the primary problem Lois has with him is that a lot of people assume that the only reason she had been allowed to write articles about the Dictator is that she knew Clark had been captured. The rumor is that the Dictator had been using Clark against her and had been using the man as a threat to keep her articles about him from being too harsh. Why anyone thought that at all is ridiculous. From what he learned the only soft spot Kal had was for his wife.

So he has lost the League. He's lost Lois.

Krypto's defection is a crippling blow. To see him sitting with Sakura-El as if he belonged to her instead of him—

Clark is tempted to walk out. He would have if there weren't a noise at the door. Krypto jumps up and begins to bark.

"Hush, Krypto. You know the neighbors don't want me here as it is. Don't give them cause to throw me out."

Clark frowns, and Krypto quiets.

"Mother?" Clark watches as Sakura glances at him before straightening her spine.

"I'm in here, Kon."

When Clark sees who has joined them, he stiffens. The boy looks back and forth between them and says, "Is now not a good time?"

"It's always a good time for my only son." Kon's lips quirk slightly before glancing at Clark quizzically.

"This isn't a date, is it? Because that would be awkward."

Clark feels himself blushing again and wants a paper bag to hide his head. He watches Sakura grin. "It most certainly is. Mr. Kent was just about to take me out to dinner."

Clark blinks and is certain he looks just as stunned as the boy. Sakura smiles wickedly. Clark, although embarrassed, thinks it is cute.

"Kon, this is Mr. Kent. Clark this is my son, Kon."

Clark clears his throat and rises to his feet his eyes darting back and forth between the two before he extends a hand to Kon. The boy takes it and shakes his hand. It is a good firm handshake, but Clark can't help but notice how Sakura beams in pride.

"If you'll give me a moment to talk to my son Clark we can be on our way." Krypto whines, and Sakura says, "Oh hush you. We'll cuddle when I come back." Krypto's tail begins to wag at the appeasement. Sakura leads Kon off to a room in the back, and he is ashamed to say he eavesdrops on the conversation.

:::

"You've lost your mind, haven't you? Dad-El's death has driven you off the deep end." Sakura raises a brow. "Mother! He's a reporter. Do you honestly think he's going to keep the fact that I'm here a secret?"

"Kon, I'm going to have to ask you to trust me." Kon looks at her dubiously.

"I don't want you hurt—and is this really a date?"

"Would it be that odd if it is?"

Unhesitatingly Kon says, "Yes." Sakura scowls. "I know how much you loved Dad-El. I was there. I saw the two of you together. Love like that…" Kon trails off for a while before he shakes his head. Sakura eyes soften, and she moves to hug her son.

Yes, a love like that isn't something you get over easy. But this is different—if Kal were telling the truth. They were the same man. She just has to give it a chance.

They both did.

"I'm alright Kon. You don't have to worry about me."
"Someone has to."

"Krypto worries enough for all three of us."

Kon snorts. "I doubt that but go enjoy your date with the weird reporter, but if he hurts you in any way, I'm telling Kara."

Sakura laughs even though that is a substantial threat. "I can take care of myself, Kon."

He still looks like he doesn't believe her, but he says, "Go change. You can't leave on a date looking like a hobo."

Sakura looks down at her sweatpants and t-shirt indignant. "I don't look that bad!"

Kon doesn't reply which is worse than saying something.