Last Dance

Metropolis– 1:53 AM

Streamers of gold and silver crisscrossed the ceiling as confetti continued to rain down on everyone. Spotlights danced over the assembled crowd as the celebrity DJ played. Morgan Edge's latest endeavor was a huge success. It was a hell of a party and people would be talking about it for weeks. Clark would remember that last glance from Karen over her shoulder as she walked away. It seemed to say so many things other than what she had said, good-bye.

New York – Two Days earlier

Karen felt her heart beating wildly in her chest as she stared at the computer screen. CERN had done it, created a portal. The article said it was still highly experimental, but just from the few details she gleaned it sounded like just what she was looking for, a way home. It almost didn't seem real to her and each time she looked away from the screen she expected the story to be gone when she looked back. But it didn't disappear it was real. She thought of calling Helena, but stop herself. She didn't want to get her friend's hopes up only to see them crushed again. No she would check this all out personally before she told her.

Home. It was a word that conjured up so many things in her mind. People and places she'd begun to think she would never see again. The life she'd built in this world had always been based on one simple premise, do whatever it takes to get back home. Now it seemed within her reach. She should have been overjoyed, but another online article kept tamping down her enthusiasm. Morgan Edge was having a gala in two days to launch the newest media arm of his corporation. It was a cross platform event and all the stars of his vast media holdings were scheduled to be present. One name stood out to her, Clark Kent.

He would hate it, she thought. She could almost picture him sticking to the edges of the party, suffering through it because corporate demanded his presence. Would he have a date, she wondered? Would he be alone, putting on a brave face so others wouldn't notice he didn't have anyone with him? Or had he moved on to someone else?

This last thought shouldn't have annoyed her, but it did. Karen told herself he was better off without her, but that didn't make the idea of him with someone else any easier to take. It suddenly hit her that if these developments at CERN were what she thought, she would never see him again. Her excitement of a few moments ago waned. It seemed nothing could be simple anymore. Karen felt pulled in two directions and there was no easy answers.

He probably doesn't even want to see me, she thought. After she'd stood him up he'd probably given up on her for good. Maybe that was for the best for both of them. It seemed she hurt him no matter what she did, even without trying. At that moment she didn't feel like a world famous head of a huge corporation, but the twenty two year old young woman that she was. Emotions, choices, obligations, there were so many and they seemed determined to pull her apart at the seams.

The hardest part was she still wanted to see him, even if it was just once more. She couldn't seem to let it go.

Gotham

Damian had been following Helena all day. She seemed to be aimlessly wandering all over the city, stopping in one store after another. By the time she went into Victoria's Secret, Damian was really starting to hate her. God, what is it with women and shopping, he wondered? Why do they need a whole store for that? Why was she in that store anyway? He didn't even want to think what she was doing or worse buying in there.

He was sure she didn't know he was tailing her, but he would have sworn she was screwing with him like she did know. The hour and a half trying on shoes had been so mind numbing he almost gave up. Just pick a pair lady and move on. No, she couldn't do that, could she? She had to try on twenty different ones and in all the various stupid colors they came in. To make matters worse she didn't even buy any.

Okay, there she is finally coming out of the store. Oh, God, she bought something! Gross. This is the worst stakeout I've ever been on. I swear she's fucking with me, that's the only answer. But how could she when she doesn't even know I'm here? Still sure feels like she's fucking with me. Just keep track of her, see where she goes. Information on your opponent is vital Batman's always preaching.

I feel like just going down there and knocking her to the curb and telling her to get the hell out of Gotham, but I'm supposed to be a good guy and good guy's don't do that they keep reminding me. Oh, she's going into her hotel. Great she's probably going to try on all the crap she bought today. God, this is the shittiest stakeout ever! I hate this girl!

Metropolis –11:45 PM

Clark stood against one of the walls and sipped his punch as he watched his coworkers enjoy the party. He hadn't really felt like coming to this, but the word from corporate had come down that everyone was to be there. The word mandatory wasn't used, but it didn't take a genius to figure out it was implied.

He didn't have a date.

It seemed everyone else did, even Jimmy, but Clark was alone. His ego was still a little bruised from his last attempt, so the thought of asking someone new held little interest at the moment.

The idea of being part of Morgan Edge's latest venture into blurring the line between news and entertainment wasn't sitting well with Clark. A twenty-four hour network filled with what Edge described as 'opinion makers' yet he managed to never once mention reporters. That was by design, as Clark knew since reporting involved facts, while giving your opinions didn't always have to meet those standards. Opinion makers always had an ominous sound to it, Clark thought. It suggested not just giving the facts and letting people decide on their own, but telling them what and how they should think about a certain subject. Whether it was from the right or the left didn't matter, it was still a clear shaping of the news to fit a certain worldview and agenda.

Perhaps that's why newspapers were dying, he wondered. How could telling the readers about corporate corruption compete against pictures of some princess topless? Gossip and opinion were much easier to sell than complicated investigative reporting. At one time the media was considered the forth estate, the advocate of the people, but now it was a moneymaker. In the world of Twitter everything was reduced to 140 characters, there was no second paragraph to give more detail.

Clark smiled and returned the greetings of some of his coworkers. He chatted a bit about the new developments with some of the outside media covering the event but mostly he was watching the clock trying to figure out just how soon he could leave. For the most part he kept his opinions neutral, as this was a corporate function and Morgan Edge did pay his salary. You don't piss on the boss's new baby, at least not right in front of him. Wow, that was a horrible analogy, Clark thought, good thing you're a reporter not a poet.

He could hear the subject of Superman come up from different locations around the party. Clark realized a while ago that he was part of the gossip and opinion world. People loved to speculate about him like any other celebrity. It was one of the reasons he'd been so hesitant to step into the spotlight. He couldn't stop people from gossiping, but he could limit the fodder they could use. What he was trying to do had nothing to do with any of that.

A better world.

He'd said that at the press conference. He hadn't planned on saying, but now it seemed to have stuck. Superman had been dubbed the Man of Tomorrow fighting for a Better World. By implication the Justice League had been lumped into it with him. He might not want the spotlight, but it seemed determined to find him. He guessed it was better than some of the things that had been said about him before, alien, freak, menace, and threat.

It would have been nice having a date though. Clark didn't miss the subtle looks in everyone's eyes when they saw he was alone. They probably expected it. It was just a momentary thing, but he could almost hear them think, aw, that's too bad he couldn't get a date. Hell, Lois had tried setting him up with her sister, so that should tell him everything he needed to know. He wondered what they'd say if he told them Karen Starr had stood him up only a week ago.

They wouldn't believe him, of course. Why should they? He was just as confused about her as he'd ever been. He might be invulnerable, but that still hurt. As he looked around at his coworkers and their dates, it wasn't really envy he felt. If push came to shove, Clark was pretty sure he could have gotten a date for this, but would that really be fair to whomever he asked? Part of him was saying to let Karen go, she'd made her wishes perfectly clear by not showing up, but another part felt like something was unfinished between them.

It must be something about Kryptonian women, he thought, cause he'd never been this confused with anyone else.

So he was here alone. For now that was probably for the best. He would suffer through the judging looks and the offers of setting him up with a friend. Apparently women that were great conversationalists and had great senses of humor were what everyone considered Clark's type. Those did seem like qualities you'd want in a date, he would admit, although Steve's suggested about fixing him up with a gal that had her own car felt more like a dig than anything else.

It was almost midnight and Morgan Edge would be speaking at the top of the hour. This was so he could dominate two news cycles and for dramatic effect launch the network at midnight. He might not be interested in actual news, but he did know how to promote. The speech would be short, so Clark figured he could slip out when it was done. There would be champagne and cheers, confetti and streamers, so he wouldn't be missed. He'd let those with dates enjoy the party without him.

Gotham

Helena had spotted Damian as she left the hotel. Did that little prick really think he could tail me without me knowing, she wondered? God, having Talia as his mother must have turned him into a stalker. Well screw him, my dad was Batman too. Even better my mother was Catwoman and if anyone knew how to screw with little punks she did. Boy that didn't come out right, Helena thought.

I was Robin before he was. Sure, different worlds, but if that little snot thinks he's going to get one over on me, he's got another thing coming. He wants to follow me? Okay, let's see what do little boys love to do? Shopping? Absolutely not, so let's start there. Gotham has lots and lots of high-end stores just waiting. Let's see how he likes shoe shopping and then taking it from there. Follow me will you? Well, let's just fuck with little Damian for a while, Helena thought with a smug smile.

New York – One Day ago

Karen had gotten herself an invitation to tour the CERN project. They had even graciously faxed over some of the plans for its design. As it was a multinational project, large companies like Karen's had been assisting in the development, so this helped get her access. She'd been pouring over the designs all morning and it looked very promising. All the details weren't there, but from what she could extrapolate it seemed exactly what she'd been looking for. She had to be sure before she contacted Helena. Karen's tour was in four days, so she would be able to see it all with her own eyes and know whether it was what they needed or not.

Four days seemed like a lifetime.

Glancing down at the plans she went over them one more time. She was almost certain this was the way home. Six months ago she could have walked away from everything on this world and never looked back. Things had changed. She may have screwed everything up, but she at least owed him a good-bye. He may have already thought it was good-bye concerning her, but she wanted him to hear it from her lips, as she looked him in the eye. If she didn't, she knew she would regret it the rest of her life.

Gotham

Selina was enjoying herself immensely. Watching young Robin tailing this Helena chick was too funny for words. The little bastard must be squirming in his tights watching her go from store to store. Selina had to admit she liked the young woman's style. She obviously knew Robin was following her, but instead of confronting him she was fucking with him. Selina couldn't have thought of anything better herself. Whoever this Helena was, someone taught her how to have fun.

Metropolis –12:12 A.M.

Morgan Edge had finished his speech to great fanfare. Much like a convention speech balloons, confetti and streamers showering down from the ceiling followed it. The cameras were turned off and the party got underway for real. As if on cue the celebrity DJ came to life and everyone moved towards the dance floor. This was his cue. Clark set his glass of punch down and started for the exit, hoping no one would notice. He was about fifteen feet away when he stopped.

Karen was standing in the doorway.

What was she doing here? She looked amazing in a stylish cream dress with a black jacket over it, but he still wasn't sure what was going on. When she saw him, she smiled and took a small step towards him. She seemed nervous, maybe a little afraid, but she took another step and then another until she was standing in front of him. He could feel almost every eye watching, or it might have just been his imagination. Then again, they probably weren't looking at him so it was a possibility.

"Hi." She tentatively said.

"Hi,' he replied. "What-What are you doing here, Karen?"

"Well, um, it's just that, well, um, I sort of owe you a date,' she awkwardly offered.

"A date?' He replied skeptically.

"That's right, a date,' she said. "I said I would, so, well, um, here I am."

"You're a little late."

"Too late?" She asked.

"For that date, yeah,' he replied.

"I know, I'm sorry,' she said. "Couldn't we try again, now?

"I don't know, Karen,' Clark said. "This, I don't know what we're doing anymore. It's too hard."

"No, it's not,' she replied. "Would you like to dance?"

"What?"

"I'm asking you to dance, Clark. Please?"

"All right.

He gently took her arm and ushered her out onto the dance floor. They moved into each other's arms to start dancing. He knew everyone was watching them, but in the moment he really didn't care. She was here, now and in his arms. That seemed like enough for now.

One dance effortlessly became another and another. It was at the end of a particularly romantic slow song that Karen tilted her head up and kissed him. He returned it, looking into her eyes. There were tears in them.

"Karen?"

"Thanks for the date, Clark,' she whispered.

"What's going on?"

"I'm leaving."

"When? Where?" He asked.

"Soon and some place …. Far away,' she said. "I don't think I'll ever be back."

"What is this all about, Karen?"

"I wanted to say good-bye in person, Clark and to tell you I'm sorry,' she whispered. "I should go. Good-bye."

He stood there as she pulled from his arms and moved towards the exit. For just a moment she glanced back over her shoulder at him. There was tear in her eye and unspoken words on her lips. In the next moment she was gone, He didn't follow her with his vision. Streamers and confetti continued to fall as the party went on.