Author's Notes: You all are fantastic! I forgot to thank you all for pointing out "fowl." It's all Barbara's fault, but that's okay because I'd still name a street after her. This story would be nothing without her super-betaing powers. And when you get the chance, I highly encourage feedback. Highly! Okay, so um... without further ado...

Chapter 4

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes

"You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you… even in the face of our deaths… the richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I've learned, everything I feel… all this, and more… I bequeath you, my son. You will carry me inside of you all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, and see my life through your own eyes as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father, and the father, the son. This is all I… all I can send you, Kal-El."

A bright white light snapped him away from unconsciousness, waking Kal up with a start. Sweat fell from his forehead and he wiped it away, his mind confused, and his heart beating wildly. As soon as his thoughts cleared, his dream slowly faded away. He turned to one side and when he realized they were still in the air, his stomach churned disapprovingly.

"Kal, you're awake." The sound of Lois's voice calmed him almost immediately.

Then he thought about how high they were. "Are we there yet?" he gulped, wiping his clammy hands on his pants. He avoided looking through the window at all costs.

"It won't be long," Richard answered, turning his head around to see his passenger and noticing the nervous look in his countenance. "Are you all right?"

"I don't know," Kal admits. "I think I'm afraid of heights."

Lois's mouth dropped as Richard almost lost control of the plane. He muttered a hasty apology before getting the plane back on track.

Kal breathed deeply.

After making a few impromptu calls after their discovery, or lack thereof, in Clark's apartment, Perry insisted that Richard fly her to Clark's hometown with the seaplane. Realistically, it was the right and fastest way to go but emotionally, it wasn't fair to Richard for having to be thrown in her and Superman's company all the time.

"Okay, so I'm not afraid of heights?" Kal restated, swallowing hard as he took a quick glance out the window. The feeling of acrophobia settled uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach.

"Don't worry about it," Lois said, finally finding her voice. "We're almost there."

"Good," Kal said simply and held tightly on the arm rests. Almost there seemed too far away for him.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a stranger walked around the busy streets of London in a robotic kind of way. His sense was attuned to all that was around him. His mind was processing every sight, sound and scrap of knowledge he could get in touch with. He paid no attention to anyone in his way as he continued to roam. To learn. And in the darkest side of his mind, to destroy.

"I can't believe I'm in Smallville of all places."

"I can't believe that I'm here with him and with you in Smallville," Richard said with no more enthusiasm as she did. "Have you tried calling his cell again?"

"It keeps going straight to his automated voicemail," Lois answered, taking a quick glance over her shoulder as Superman, or Kal, hurriedly stepped out of the seaplane and onto solid ground. He moved as far away from the plane as soon as they landed and Lois felt pity for him. He was the world's greatest hero and he was afraid of heights. Some things just couldn't be explained.

Soon after, Kal joined them. "Could we drive back to Metropolis?" The glossy puppy-dog look in his eyes caught her off guard. He looked so incredibly innocent.

"I'll think about it."

Kal sighed. Her answer would have to do for now.

"So where are we going to go first?" Kal asked, hoping to forget about the eventual upcoming flight back to Metropolis. He looked around the area and noticed the lake for the very first time. He had an aching suspicion that he'd been here before but he couldn't recollect any visual images in his mind.

"I tried calling his house, but no one picked up," Richard said.

"Maybe his parents aren't there," Kal guessed.

"Maybe," Lois nodded. "But we're going there anyway."

When a cab picked them up and dropped them off to the car rental station, Kal had the sudden burning desire to know more about Smallville, Kansas. While Lois tried to keep up with his rapid fire questions that she had to admit reminded her of herself sometimes, Richard tried to share as much information he could remember after Googling the town on the internet before they left the city.

"I think we're here," Richard said, turning on a dirt road driveway with a sign above that said Kent Farm.

"How quaint," Lois described.

"It doesn't look that bad," Richard commented as the car slowed to a stop right in front of the porch.

When Richard and Lois stepped out of the car, Kal remained buckled in the back seat, staring at the house, his gaze frozen at the sight of it. He felt he recognized the place but he didn't understand why. Even the voices calling out to him couldn't move his attention astray until he heard a bark coming out of the barn.

Kal turned and saw the golden mutt run up to the passenger door, barking at him.

A little ways off, Lois looked concerned. "Kal, be careful. He might have rabies or something."

Kal ignored her though, and he continued to look at the beautiful dog that stopped barking shortly after he finally arrived. The animal sat, wagging his tail as if waiting for him to give him a treat or something.

"Hi, there," Kal said to the dog.

Woof!

Kal smiled and then finally stepped out of the vehicle. The dog jumped excitedly to its feet before standing on its two back legs. Kal grabbed his paws and laughed. "You're a pretty cool dog," he said, letting his one hand brush through his golden mane. Kal kneeled down so he could take a better look at the dog when he noticed a name on his collar. "Shelby?"

Woof! Woof!

"Is that your name?"

Woof!

"That's a nice name," Kal replied to the dog's bark with a smile.

"He likes you," Lois said as she slowly walked up behind him. Shelby's attention immediately drifted to the woman, and as soon as Shelby caught her scent, he was quickly to her side and barked approvingly before letting himself brush against her legs with affection. While Shelby looked like he was having fun, Lois simply looked agitated and uncomfortable. "Whoa. No way there, doggie. I've already got a son. Leave me alone!" Then she sneezed.

Kal chuckled. "He seems to like you, too."

Richard rolled his eyes at the display. Richard liked it better when Superman was just a superhero that could fly, but seeing him all human and casual easily brought out a little jealousy. Not only did he have the human race's respect, but the animal kingdom's, too.

The three walked up the steps of the porch and stopped right in front of the closed door. "Will you leave me alone?" Lois glared at Shelby, but Shelby simply looked back unaffected by her temper.

"Just take it easy with him, Lois," Richard said.

"I think he just likes you," Kal said, then added, "Dogs usually have good instincts when it comes to people."

"Then maybe you should have him," Lois shot back. She crossed her arms and waited anxiously for someone to open the door so she could get away from the mutt who seemed intent to follow her everywhere. She sneezed again. "God! I forgot I had these allergies."

"Well, at least I know that some of Jason's allergies came from you," Richard said he immediately apologized for that after he saw the flash of hurt that crossed her eyes. Then he looked away, ashamed. They both knew it was over between them, and mentioning Jason's fragile nature wasn't a good way to start the healing process.

"Am I in the middle of something?" Kal interrupted kindly.

"No, don't worry. It's nothing. Jason has allergies, and some of them are pretty severe," Lois explained.

"Oh." Kal still didn't understand the sudden bout of tension that appeared out of nowhere.

When nobody answered the door, Lois removed a couple of hair pins from her hair, shoved the two men aside, and began picking the locked door.

Kal's eyes widen. "What are you doing?"

"Knitting a sweater," she quipped. "What do you think I'm doing?"

"Isn't that trespassing?"

Lois grinned, his words reminding her of their son.

"Don't bother," Richard said to him. "You'll never stop her now that she's halfway there."

"Hey, we didn't fly all the way out here only to stop because no one answered the door." She puffed as the lock continued to give her trouble. "Could you guys give me some space?" then she muttered softly, "Way to pick a time to lose your powers, Superman."

"What did you say?" Kal's head started back to her, not hearing her words but knowing she had said something.

Lois blinked. "Nothing. I'm just talking to myself."

Kal nodded as he paced around the floor boards. His hand traced the fence that surrounded the front porch, his mind thinking one thing while his actions did another. After wrapping his hand around the rail, he felt something beneath his fingertips. He removed the small metallic-like object and realized it was a key.

"Uh, Lois."

Lois turned to him in frustration. "What?"

Kal held the key up to her. "Try this." He tossed it to her as she reluctantly gave up her trespassing skills for the more old-fashioned way of entering a home. Using the key. When it turned, Kal sent her a warm smile.

Behind them, Richard was impressed. He wondered briefly if it was a stroke of luck, or just plain coincidence.

When they went inside, Lois quickly closed the front door to keep Shelby outside. As a triumphant look graced her features, it was all for naught when Shelby came running from the back of the house never occurring to Lois that maybe there was a dog entrance somewhere else.

She sighed, sneezed and then looked at Shelby with antagonizing eyes. "What do you want from me?" His bark was the only response, and for the life of her, she couldn't understand what it meant.

"Hey, check this out," Richard said by the fireplace. He held a photo of a familiar face with thick glasses and a smile that wasn't so goofy.

To be continued…