Skyler opened his eyes slowly. For a second, he didn't remember where he was at but seeing his Kryptonian grandfather standing over the bed brought it rushing back. Then he noticed there was a tube over his mouth, helping him breathe.

"Thank goodness you're awake," Kara sighed with relief.

Skyler pulled the tube away from his mouth.

"Be careful," Jor-El warned. "You need the air. It may be safe not to have it for a little while, but if you feel lightheaded or find it hard to breathe, put it back over your mouth."

Skyler did feel like there wasn't enough air. It made his head hurt, so he put the tube back over his mouth.

Kara looked at Jor-El. "Do you think Noel's going to have trouble breathing too?"

Jor-El shook his head. "She shouldn't. She's young and adaptable. Skyler was suffering from emotional stress at the time, coupled with the fact that he's been breathing on Earth for 6 years. Don't forget he's half Kryptonian but the other half of his genes come from Earth."

"He'll be okay though?"

He shot her a look that said 'does it matter when the world's getting ready to blow up', but he just said, "He has the oxygen to breathe."

Lara came into the room with Noel and Kal-El. Noel was fussy. "See look. There's your brother. He's all better." She laughed a little as she said to Kal-El. "I guess I should tell you there's your son."

Noel still remained fussy. "Mama," she whimpered.

"Did you hear that?" Kara asked excitedly.

"Hear what?" Lara and Jor-El asked simultaneously.

"I heard it," Skyler said, removing his oxygen. "She said her first word."

"It sounded like babble to me, but then it's not Kryptonese obviously," Jor-El said.

"She said the earth word for mother," Kara explained. "the equivalent for lala. Lois is going to be pleased. Skyler's first word was dada or lele." The smile on her face disappeared and it was clear to everyone why.

They were all thinking the same thing. Lois would never know.

Kara held Noel closer, hoping to comfort the baby who wouldn't get to see her mama again.

It was Lara who broke the silence that had settled in the room. "I keep hoping Kal-El will say his first word. I'd like to know what it is."

"I think Martha told me that his first word was Lara," Kara answered for her.

Lara's eyes lit up with happiness but also took on a wet appearance. She whispered 'Lara, Lara' softly to her son, hoping he would say it, but Kal-El just smiled at her.

There was a commotion in the next room and they all went to see who it was.

"Daddy!" Skyler shouted and he ran to see him, leaving his oxygen behind.

Clark was clearly happy to see Skyler, Noel, and Kara were unharmed. Noel was slightly pacified to see her dad, but she still wanted her mom. Clark glanced uncomfortably at his biological parents and the baby version of himself. He knew when and where he was, but he didn't know the why. Kara explained about the cult.

"There's only one thing to do then," Clark said. "We have to find them and get the portal to Earth opened back up."

"That's easier said than done," Kara said, "and according to Jor-El's calculations, we have an hour if that."

"It's our only way to get back to Earth. We have no choice but to try."

"Is Mommy okay?" Skyler asked, just remembering his father's presence could mean his mother's death.

"She's fine. I left her making phone calls."

Skyler sighed with relief. He may not get to see her again, but at least she was okay.

Clark said hello to his parents in Kryptonese and then they launched into a long response.

He looked at Kara and shrugged. "Tell them I think I caught Kal-El in all that, but while I can read and write it pretty well, my speaking and listening skills are lacking."

Kara translated and Jor-El brought him a device like Skyler had.

"You were making plans?" Jor-El asked.

"Kara and I are going to find the people that brought us here and take their portal technology."

Jor-El gave a nod of approval. "It's a long shot but a chance worth taking."

"Maybe you'd like something to eat?" Lara asked.

"No thanks. You can fix the kids something. Skyler eats just about anything hamburgers, piz--" he stopped, realizing he had been naming earth foods. "Whatever you have."

Lara was a little sad to see that he was only Kryptonian by birth. The rest of him was all earth. However in a way, she was happy he didn't remember or identify with his home planet. He wouldn't miss what he couldn't remember and that included his birth parents. Kara wasn't so lucky. Jor-El hadn't seemed surprised that Clark was fully from earth in culture, language, and even family. He had even predicted it. The information of Krypton that he was sending to Earth for Kal-El was in English. Jor-El had been to earth and dealt with its culture as a young man, before they met, so he was prepared.

"Be careful not to run into your young self Kara or your parents, particularly your father. You don't need further complications at this point."

"We'll be careful," both Clark and Kara assured Jor-El. Clark made sure to tell his children he loved them before he left. Skyler knew it was because it could be the last they saw of each other.

Skyler was left alone with his grandparents and his baby dad and sister. It was a little uncomfortable. Lara put the babies down and said, "I'll get us something to eat."

Skyler wanted to be with his dad, but he had to try and get them home and would be facing bad guys. He couldn't identify the food his naola fixed and he couldn't bring himself to try it. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, so he moved the food around on his plate to look like he had eaten some. There was a sudden earthquake, putting a stop to the meal anyway.

"Quick, Lara! Put Kal-El in the spaceship."

She scooped Kal-El up and Jor-El took Noel. Lara set him in it with a blanket. Jor-El went over to the controls, ready to fire the ship at a moment's notice. Skyler was really struggling to breathe now. Jor-El pat him comfortingly on the shoulder.

"I suppose young Kara knows it's time to get in the ship," Jor-El said. "The earthquakes should be plenty of warning for her."

There was another more violent earthquake, knocking Skyler to the floor. Jor-El helped him up. Skyler couldn't believe how hard the floor was. He wasn't used to it hurting. He had forgotten he wouldn't have powers here on Krypton.

His dad and Kara came through the door, running as fast as they could. His dad was out of breath, which was a strange sound. He had a remote-like device in his hand and when he pushed a button, it opened up a portal. They had found the cult and taken it without them even realizing it was gone.

"Time to go," his dad said.

"Here," Lara said, giving Skyler the ball he had been playing with. "Something to remember Krypton by."

Skyler hugged her in return. Then his dad ushered him through the portal. Kara followed with Noel.

"You can come with us, you know," Clark said.

"We really can't," Jor-El said. "We didn't get away the first time around. This is our destiny. Not only that but by trying to save ourselves, we may send your young self prematurely. Who knows what all could happen? You and Kara are all the Kryptonians earth needs. Our place is here. Don't worry about being dragged back here. That device is strange. There is only one copy of it in any given second. If you destroy it, it's no longer usable and it's the only one of its kind."

Clark nodded. He was sad for them, but he knew they were right and what kind of life would they have? They wouldn't get to raise their son and if he put them in the past, he wouldn't be raised by his earth parents, 2 people he loved dearly, and who he wouldn't want to be replaced. Who knew what else would change? His parents were probably doing the right thing by choosing to stay and not saving other Kryptonians, who could abuse their powers. His parents dying was a tragedy but a tragedy that made him into the person he was, Clark Kent of Earth, not Kal-El of Krypton.

Jor- El, Lara, and baby Kal-El were left alone once more. The portal was gone. Another violent earthquake came and this one felt like the world was about to be torn in two.

"Now, Lara!"

She shut the door to the ship and she could have sworn she heard Kal-El say, "Lara." She threw a kiss at the ship, as Jor-El launched it toward space. Jor-El pulled her close to him and they both watched it leave.

"Kids make everything worth it, don't they?" Lara asked. "They're a fresh start, the future."

"Yes, and I think our son and grandchildren will make earth a better place. Perhaps give that world a better fate. I love you, Lara."

"I love you, Jor-El."

They clung tighter to each other, knowing the end had come.

---

"Oh, thank God!" Lois cried, running up to them and hugging and kissing them. "Those were some of the scariest few seconds of my life. I thought I'd lost you all permanently."

"I'm sorry," Clark apologized, as he crushed the device into a fine powder. "I tried to time it for when I left, but if I cut it too close, they'd see me."

"Where were you?"

"It's a long story," Kara said and then checked her watch. "Wait a minute. Don't you two have to catch a plane at 5?"

"Yeah, so?" Lois asked, still occupied with hugging her children.

"With the difference in time zones that puts you--"

"Needing to catch the plane in a couple of minute," Clark completed the sentence. "If we miss this, we'll have to stay in France longer." He picked her up, so they could fly off.

"I love you, Mommy," Skyler said.

"I love you too, sweetie."

"Mama," Noel said.

Lois looked excited. "Did she say--"

Skyler and Kara nodded. Lois wanted to take Noel.

"Fawn over her ability to speak later," Clark said, opening a window.

"You're just jealous. If she'd said dada, you'd be fawning over her."

He just smiled in reply, as they flew out the window.

"Call Mrs. Kent and tell her you're alright!" Lois called, before they got too high.

Skyler felt the ball that was in his pocket and looked at a map of the stars that was painted onto the school wall. It made him think of his grandparents. "Where's Krypton?" he asked Kara.

She pointed to a place on the map and said with a hint of sadness, "It used to be right there." Then she pointed to a big, empty place. "Scientists say this is nothing. There's no planets, no stars, no mass, and if you travel in space, it's like there's a big wall to keep you from flying into it. I believe that's where people go when they die. It's where heaven is. Where we'll all be and where there is no end."

Skyler smiled to know his grandparents weren't gone forever and that he'd get to see them again. He didn't fully understand what death was, but he could understand going home. If you thought about it, everyone was an alien because planets weren't a permanent home. "See you later, Naola," he whispered and he gripped the ball tighter.

TBC