Wow, you're still here reading my story! Thank you for the reviews and encouragement. Since you asked so nicely here's the next chapter. I hope you like it!

Stars and Water

Chapter 10

Kate and Maria headed back to the main road and drove to the Metropolis airport, returned the van and then rented a small car at another counter. Exhausted and worried about going home they decided to stay at a hotel near the airport under Kate's maiden name.

"Do you really think he's going to come after us?" asked Maria, trying to relax in a strange bed after a very strange night.

"Well the guard saw you and we didn't plan on that. It was probably Simmons; he's on a low carb diet. I know he took a brownie but he probably only ate a bite." answered Kate, shaking her head. "I have a back up plan but I had hoped we wouldn't have to use it."

Maria stared at her, "You do? What is it?"

Kate wearily gestured to Maria to come see as she flipped open her laptop. "This is what Lex Luthor will wake up to in the morning." She pressed play and Maria read the message and watched the video, stunned.

"Well that should take care of the problem." Maria said quietly, looking at her mother with new eyes. She really hadn't thought she had it in her.

Kate nodded, exhaustion showing in her face and the droop of her shoulders. Now that it was over she felt like she was too tired to think anymore, much less talk. "Let's go to bed Maria, we need to try to get some sleep."

The next day Maria was up early and went looking for Clark. She found him walking in the Kent apple orchard. He seemed preoccupied and didn't notice her approach until she was almost next to him. "Hey, Maria." he said quietly, his eyes filled with apprehension.

"Clark, we need to talk about last night" she said.

Clark felt sick. Here it comes, he thought, the questions, the accusations, the lies. After all he had gone through with Lana he just didn't have the stomach for it. He turned his face away from her, staring at the ground. The last glimpse Maria got of his face as he turned was heart breaking. He looked so miserable and Maria couldn't stand to see him feeling that way. She walked right up to him and took his chin in her hand and gently turned his face to hers, gazing earnestly into his eyes.

"Clark, last night I saw you do things that were amazing. You saved my life! I also saw how you looked at me afterwards. I came by to let you know your secret is safe with me. Believe me, after what I saw in Lex's lab I know what can happen to someone who is different and how cruel the world can be. I would never tell anyone about you. I just wanted to be sure you knew that, okay?"

Clark nodded, "Thank you Maria. That means a lot to me." He looked into her eyes like he was trying to read her soul. "It doesn't scare you." He said finally "The things you saw me do. You aren't looking at me like I'm some kind of freak."

"Clark, even though you're meteor infected I'm not scared of you. I haven't known you long but I know you are the sweetest, most selfless guy I've ever met. How could I be scared of you? You make me feel safe. I trust you." Maria smiled up at him "It's not your abilities that define you; it's what you choose to do with them."

"You sound just like my Dad" Clark said wistfully, "I wish you could have met him, he would have liked you." It was true, Clark thought, his Dad would have liked this girl. She was strong and brave and compassionate. She'd been willing to put herself in front of a bullet to save his life. It felt wrong to allow her to believe he was meteor infected. The fact that she was so open and accepting of him made him want to open up more. It seemed pointless to lie since she had already seen him use all of his powers. She wouldn't be in any more danger than she was already, he thought. He wanted her to know him as he truly was. Even if it meant she rejected him, at least he could be honest. He was so sick of lying to the people he cared about.

Maria wondered why Clark looked so sad now. Hadn't he believed her when she'd told him she wouldn't tell anyone his secret? She had expected him to be able to relax and be happy again but now he seemed even more miserable, if that was possible. She gently squeezed his hand, trying to radiate love and encouragement through her touch.

Clark swallowed hard and clenched his jaw. He kept his gaze locked with Maria's as he said "There is something I want to tell you but it will probably scare you and it will change how you feel about me. I want you to know that however you react is okay." Clark swallowed hard, "I'll understand, I just…I want you to know the truth about me."

Maria put her hand to his cheek and slid it up to tug a lock of hair on his forehead. "You worry too much Clark, I can handle it." She grinned at him and Clark smiled doubtfully at her.

He cleared his throat nervously and said so softly she could barely hear him, "Maria, I'm not meteor infected. I have these abilities because I'm not human. I'm from another planet."

Maria felt the heat rise up in her face as her anger flashed. "That's ridiculous! If you don't want to tell me about yourself that's okay but don't lie to me."

Clark was taken aback, He hadn't thought of what to do if she didn't believe him. It wasn't like he had his spaceship to show her. "It's the truth Maria." He said quickly "I'm from a planet called Krypton and I was sent to earth when I was a baby. My parents were protecting me; they sent me to earth just before my planet was destroyed. I came with the first meteor shower and the Kents adopted me."

Maria just stared, how could this be possible? "Clark you don't look like anything other than a very handsome farm boy. I'll admit you have some strange abilities and you're more beautiful than the average guy but you sure don't look…" and she ran out of words as another thought struck her.

"You mean I don't look like an alien?" Clark said a little bitterly, "Believe me I've tried all my life to be like everyone else but I'm not"

"Ummm, you aren't in …um someone else's body or skin or… something …are you?" Maria couldn't help it, she stepped back a step and looked at him apprehensively.

"No Maria." Clark felt like he'd been stabbed when she stepped away. "This is all me. This is who I am."

Maria couldn't believe what she was hearing. Obviously Clark was serious, the pain in his voice was real and it was clearly hard for him to talk about this but, honestly, Clark Kent an alien? She looked into his eyes and saw the deep sadness there. Her doubts wavered. What if it was true? Why would he lie about something like this? Maria moved closer again.

"You said your planet was destroyed? What about your parents, all the other people?" She asked quietly, beginning to believe him in spite of herself.

He noticed and appreciated the fact that she called them "people".

"As far as I know I'm the last survivor" Clark said, and the look in his eyes was so desolate as he gazed into hers that she felt tears forming in her own eyes in response. She thought of what it must be like to be so alone. She looked at him speechless as she fully accepted what he had told her and let it sink in.

He wasn't human, didn't belong on this planet. There was life on other planets? Her mind was in a whirl as she felt her entire concept of reality shift. How many other planets?

"Maria?" Clark said "Are you okay? You look like you're going to pass out." He was concerned by her dazed expression. She was really pale and she swayed a little. Clark got ready to catch her.

Maria narrowed her thoughts down from an entire universe full of aliens to the one standing in front of her, the one who looked like he was waiting for the executioner's axe.

"I um," she cleared her throat and tried again "I'll be okay." She managed to get out. She smiled weakly up at him and picked up his hand, then looked down at it, studying it like she'd never seen it before as she stroked it gently.

She thought about the power he had and what he could do with his hands. She thought of his gentleness and self restraint and what he chose not to do with his hands. Maria moved closer to him and put his hand up to her cheek, turning her face into it and kissing his palm. Then she looked up into his eyes. "I love you Clark Kent." she said simply. "Wherever you're from I'm so glad you're here with me now."