Chapter 3: Explanations and Trouble on the Horizon

Clark and company arrived at possibly the most expensive hotel in Metropolis. It was a palace, shooting into the sky and if the apartments they were going to were half as nice as the foyer he would be stunned. Walking past a massive fountain in the center of a lounge-like area they entered the clear elevators which lifted them up to the penthouse floor.

Upon entry to the apartments, Clark was shocked; he had never lived or planned to live in such elegance. Though the others seemed perfectly content and at ease, so following their lead into the living space and taking a seat.

Mara sat on the plush sofa with Lara and Anna on one side, and Jordan on the other. Clark in the chair adjacent to the sofa and Bruce stood next to the mantle above the fireplace.

Bruce sighed, "So Clark which would you like first: the Mara story, Anna's or why I am here in general?"

"Well I am on quite a rollercoaster ride as is, let's start with Mara."

Mara smiled, took a breath and began, "Well, Bruce and I, since I met him have been conducting some research, with the whole reason that I am younger than you, yet we both arrived at Earth during a close span of time. Our hypothesis is that first off, Kryptonian women do not carry on a nine month term and in fact it might actual be quite smaller at approximately five months. So that could put us at several months apart, even though you were sent as an infant as well, but here is the icing on the cake. The meteor shower which brought you to earth and brought me as well circled around the sun once before intersecting Earth's path again and landing me in China."

"After running some blood tests and age tests we found how old I am and how old you should have been when you left, with Bruce's super computer system," flashing a smile in Bruce's direction.

Clark was still a bit confused, "But how did you meet Bruce to begin with."

"Well while I was in China, I knew I was an orphan and began to look into my records and any records relating to family members, who were few and far between, and many weren't even family, but names they had given to me. In the U.S. you might consider Doe, or Smith to be of such names. Then I met Bruce in quite a compromising situation," both she and Bruce sharing a secret smile.

"Which is neither here nor there, so no need to elaborate on that," Bruce said still smiling at Mara.

Clark looked back and forth, "Mara?"

Taking another deep breath and facing Clark, she continued, "Yes, that's how I met Bruce…." though she was cut off by Clark who was getting a little perturbed.

"You never said exactly how you met."

"Oh Clark, look I am here now and that's all that matters so let me continue," and with that Mara continued, "So after I met Bruce, he brought me back to the States to help me find my family…"

Bruce cut her off with, "Little did I know she was the 'Man of Steel's' little sister."

"At the time I had been a little under the weather from kryptonite exposure back when Bruce had first found me. Well, while recovering my health in the infamous Wayne Mansion lets just say my x-ray vision got the better of me and I found out who Bruce was and he intern told me that I must be your sister," she finished with a brilliant smile.

"Then how did you come across Anna here," Clark asked still a bit puzzled.

"Oh, well after Bruce and I had a lovely weekend at Wayne Mansion. I left…"

"Without a good-bye," Bruce cut in seeming just a bit aggravated.

"So I left and found your mother…"

"But she didn't mention you when I got back."

"If people would stop cutting me off with these questions I will be able to explain, just give me a minute," she finished quite exasperated.

Jordan who had been quite silent until now said, "Everyone should always listen to Mommy, 'cause if you don't she gets very upset," finishing with a nod of his head, and a look that spoke volumes. Clark let out a small chuckle as did Bruce, but once they caught Mara's fuming face they quickly quieted down.

"As I was saying, I went to Kansas and met Martha, but when I arrived there was a woman and her infant. They had come seeking shelter, and from what I could understand, this woman, Lana Lang, was once a friend of yours. She was also very sick, and not long after I arrived she passed leaving the tiny infant, Anna Lang in your mother's care. Your mother loved Anna, and had realized who I was and knew that I'd be able to protect Anna from her father. Hence I took Anna into my own care and have raised her as if she were my own."

Bruce cut in, earning a glare from Mara, "Now while this was all taking place in Smallville, I was searching for Mara. And I soon found her in the residence of your mother."

"Your mother, Clark, understood that she may have been able to hide her son's secret, but could she hide another man's child, a man all know would have hunted Anna down, to have her in his care. So after Bruce had convinced me to go with him, one night I kissed Martha's head as she slept and with that she forgot all that had burdened her, with regard to Anna and me."

"Wow that's one hell of a story," said in utter amazement, starring at his sister, and with that the 'Man of Steel' stood up and picked Mara up and gave her a hug which would have crushed the bones of most humans.

Mara had tears in her eyes when Clark set her back down and kissed his cheek. Then she gathered up the rugrats up for bed.

Bruce glanced at the retreating figure of Mara and then at Clark, and whispered, "Now to get down to business…"