As Clark pulled up outside El Casa, the restaurant Lois and Jonathan had chosen for tonight, he found himself wondering where the time had gone. It seemed like just the other day that he and Lois had learned that Lois was pregnant, and then Jonathan had entered the world. Clark still remembered holding his son, the immediate connection he'd felt, he'd often wondered if this was how Jor El had felt when he had been born. And now his son had graduated and would soon be heading off to university. Time truly had flown.

He parked the car, and opened the door and got out, he then moved to his wife's side of the car and opened the door for her. "Thanks, Mister Kent." Lois said.

"You're more than welcome Missus Kent." Clark replied.

"Eurgh, do you two have to do that now?" Jonathan asked.

"Do what?" Lois asked innocently, Clark smirked.

Jonathan shook his head and pushed the door open, it clattered slightly as it hit the wall. Clark saw his son grimace, and he waved a hand. It was alright, nobody would think it odd, his son was well built after all. They entered the restaurant and one of the staff came forward. "Can I help you?"

Jonathan spoke. "Yes, we've got a reservation for eight, under the name Kent."

The lady scanned the document before her and said. "Ah perfect, please come this way."

They followed the lady and sat down at the table, it was a big one. He'd forgotten how big the tables in El Casa were, something about being here always made him forget that. That would be something he'd bring up with J'onn next time he saw him. Menus were put down before them, and the waitress stood before them. "Would you like anything to drink?"

"I'd like a glass of wine please. The Malbec please." Lois said.

"I'll have a glass of water." Clark said. Alcohol didn't affect him, but he'd never quite gotten used to the taste of it.

"I'll have a glass of coke please." Jonathan said. The waitress made a note of their drinks order.

"And can we have a jug of water for the table as well please. Still." Clark said quickly.

The waitress made a note of that and nodded before heading off. Once she was gone, Lois spoke. "So, how does it feel to have graduated, Jon?"

Jonathan said nothing for a moment and then replied. "It's weird, I don't feel that different, but I also feel as if there's a weight off my shoulders. Like this big thing has finally gone and I don't have to worry about it anymore. Is that weird?"

"Not at all sweetie. It's perfectly normal." Lois said.

"Yeah?" Jonathan asked in the same voice he always asked a question in when he wasn't sure.

"Yes." Clark said. "I remember when I graduated I was relieved. I mean I enjoyed school and I was to be leaving, but at the same time, it was a relief. I wouldn't have to get up so early anymore, and I wouldn't have to worry about homework, or football practice." He did miss playing football though, there never was enough time. "And yes, I was a little worried about what the future held. But Ma and Pa were there to make sure I didn't worry too much, and your mother was always there as well, to keep me in line."

He flashed a grin at Lois, who snorted. "Oh yes, I remember that day." She turned to look at their son. "On the day he graduated, your father forgot to get his hat, and had to race back to the farm, only to learn he'd forgotten something else as well. He kept flitting back and forth between Smallville High and the farm that eventually, we had to call Ollie and get him to just bring everything in his car."

Jonathan laughed. "Wow, why were you so nervous, dad?"

Clark laughed. "I don't know, I was young and a bit stupid. I was also quite clumsy as well."

"You still are." Lois said.

Jonathan snorted. The waitress brought their drinks for them and then walked away. "What about you Mum, what were you like when you graduated?"

Lois took a sip of her wine, put her glass down and said. "Oh, I was even worse than your dad, I nearly missed my own graduation."

"What? Really? Why?!" Jonathan exclaimed.

At that moment Jonathan's stomach grumbled and Clark smiled. "Let's order some food first, then we can talk more about how your mother nearly didn't graduate." Lois kicked him under the table, and he smiled lovingly at her.

The waitress came. "We'd like to order please." Clark said. The waitress nodded and Clark continued. "I'll have the chicken with rice please." He'd always had a fondness for that, ever since he'd met Francisco Ramon all those years ago, he wondered what his old friend was doing now, he'd been quite for a fair few years. He'd need to check the Watchtower.

"I'll have the prawn, please." Lois said.

"I'll have the paella." Jonathan said.

"Of course." The waitress said noting down their orders before walking away.

"So, you nearly missed your own graduation?" Jonathan asked. "Really?"

Lois blushed. "Yes, the general had just returned from Afghanistan and well I'd been waiting to see him, so I stayed, and then he started giving me a lecture about something, you know how he gets. Then by the time he finished, I looked at the clock and realised my graduation started in five minutes."

Jonathan was staring at Lois open mouthed in surprise. "How did you get there in time?"

"Well the general wouldn't drop me off, and Lucy was nowhere to be found. So, I walked out and phoned your dad." Lois replied.

"Ah." Jonathan replied. "That makes sense."

There was a brief silence then as they all took sips from their drinks. Clark kept an eye on his son, making sure there was nothing unusual happening, ever since Jonathan had been born, Clark had been worried that something would happen to his son, that the mixing of human and kryptonian DNA would damage his boy somehow. So, far nothing had happened to that end. One could never be too sure though. Once the silence had stretched on for long enough, Clark spoke. "So, this party you're going to tonight, who else is going?" He'd heard about the parties at the school, some of them sounded absolutely outrageous and definitely something Bruce would indulge in. And whilst Jonathan had never indulged in any of those sort of shenanigans, there was always something at the back of Clark's mind that wanted to know the company going.

"Well, Jaime's going, as is Roy, Tim's going to be there later, he said he had to do something for Bruce first. Wally's going to be there and Caitlin as well." Jonathan replied.

"And will there be alcohol there?" Clark asked.

"Clark." Lois said.

"No, there's not going to be any alcohol there, it's on the school's grounds Dad. The school would only serve alcohol if you were over twenty-one and since nobody there is, there won't be any. At the party, afterwards, there will be, but as I'm not going to that one, there's no worries." Jonathan replied easily, though Clark could see the tension in his son's shoulders.

"Okay." Clark replied simply, there was no need to bring up the reason for why his son wasn't going to that other party. They all knew why he wasn't, and as much as it pained Clark to see his son upset, he thought Jonathan was handling it quite well.

The food was served and silence fell over them once more as they started eating. Apart from the odd groan of satisfaction, nothing else was said. The chicken really had been cooked well. It was almost as good as Mama Ramon's, though of course nothing could compete with that. He really did need to get in touch with Cisco again. Eventually, after what seemed some time, Jonathan put his fork and spoon down and sighed with contentment. "That was the most amazing meal I've ever had at a restaurant."

"I agree." Lois said as she put her fork and knife down. "How about you, Smallville?"

Clark finished the last piece of chicken on his plate and put his fork and knife down, then answered. "I agree completely." He looked at his watch and asked Jonathan. "What time does your party start?"

Jonathan looked at his watch and cursed slightly. "Sorry… it starts in ten minutes and they won't let any stragglers in. Sorry, do you mind if I go now?"

Clark looked at Lois and his wife replied. "No, of course not sweetie, go have a fun night, give either myself or your dad a call when the party ends and we'll come and pick you up."

"Okay thanks." Jonathan replied, he moved to the door, opened it and then walked out. A few moments later there was a whirring noise and Clark knew his son had gone.

The waitress came and took their plates away, returned and asked if they'd like some desert. Clark looked at Lois and she him, before they both said. "Could we get the chocolate mousse please."

The waitress smiled. "Of course."

Once she was gone, Lois nudged him and asked. "What's up Smallville, you've got that same look on your face as you do when the plumbing goes a bit haywire."

Clark didn't know what to say, Lois was right, there was something bothering him, but he wasn't sure what. "I'm not sure. It's just, you'd think Bruce would tell us he'd be attending the graduation ceremony today. After all, he always says he only attends things when something's about to happen."

Lois nodded. "True though giving Jonathan the trophy named after his father is a pretty big thing. After all, he almost refused the school's request to name the trophy after Mister Wayne. Maybe that's why he came. Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise?"

Clark snorted. "Bruce and surprises? Those are two words that don't go together. No, I think there's something more here. If he's asked Tim to go and help him with something on his graduation night, then there must be something serious up." Just as he said that, both his and Lois's phones binged. Clark opened up his phone and read the message.

Something's come up, meet me at Wayne Manor.

Clark shut his phone and looked at Lois. "Did you get the same message?"

"Yes, I wonder what's happened?" Lois replied.

"We should probably go now." Clark said, Lois nodded, so he asked for the waitress to come over and said. "We've got to go, so could we cancel the chocolate mousse please?"

"Of course." The waitress replied. As if on cue, she brought the bill as well. Of course, Bruce owns this place. Clark checked the bill then handed over his credit card, paid, got up and then linked arms with Lois and left the restaurant. They got into the car, Clark started it, checked the mirrors and then drove off.

"Honey, could you let Jonathan know we might be a bit late?" Clark asked whilst keeping an eye on the road.

"Already done so." Lois replied. "So, what do you think Bruce wants to see us about?"

Clark didn't reply immediately, he was too focused on the road, but once they were out of the headwires and the main roads he said. "I'm not sure, but it's got to be something big."

Lois hummed, and as they got to Wayne Manor, Clark saw Diana's jaguar, Arthur's Honda and another car he didn't recognise. "Must be very big." Lois said.

They got out of the car and made their way toward the manor, the door opened before they got there, and they found Alfred waiting for them. "They're in the sitting room Mister and Missus Lane."

"Thanks Alfred." Clark said, holding Lois's hand he walked to the sitting room, where they found Bruce standing next to the fire, Diana sat near the window, and Arthur standing admiring a portrait.

"What did you want to see us about, Bruce?" Lois asked.

Bruce turned around and grimly replied. "Something very important."