Chapter 6

Coast City…

Andrea checks her watch for like the thousandth time. Even though this was her idea she finds herself deeply unsure whether it is a good idea. Then again the only alternative is to change her mind and tell Clark he can't spend time with their daughter and she's not going to do that. "Where's your coat, Mia?" she asks her daughter.

"Por qué?"

"Because we're going out."

"Por qué?"

"Because we're spending the day with Mamá's friend, Clark."

"Por qué?"

Andrea eyes her daughter with narrowing eyelids. "Deja de ser inteligente, jovencita," she warns her daughter.

"Por qué?"

"Lord, give me strength," Andrea mutters if this is what Mia is going to be like all day.

The knocking on the door indicates that time is up. He's here.

Clark and Andrea watch on as Mia plays in the park as they sit on a bench together.

"She looks happy," Clark comments.

"Hmm. Won't last. One thing you'll learn about 4-year-olds is that they have short attention spans."

"That might apply to 24-year-olds," Clark mutters.

Andrea gives him a queer look.

"Lets just say I'm not sure she grows out of it."

"Oh. Wonderful," Andrea mutters, just imagining that. "How are things for you?" she asks. "Last week, I never got a chance to ask you about what Oliver Queen did."

"And he never asked me either first," Clark complains a little.

"You know him," the brunette realises.

"Ah, yeah. There's this whole team of us as matter of fact."

"Huh. That's…something," she remarks. "I had to retire from any night time activities once I discovered I was pregnant," she explains about her former life as a vigilante.

Clark looks at her unsure what to feel exactly at that news. "I get what Oliver is trying to do," he says. "He's trying to turn round public opinion before it gets out of hand."

"Like slapping some legislation on you?" Andrea brings up what is in real danger of happening.

"There's certainly that."

"Are you worried about it?"

"Of course but…I won't let it stop me. I can't. I've made a choice to use my gifts to help people and believe you me it's been some journey for me to get to this point."

"Maybe one day you can tell me all about it," she suggests, almost shyly.

"One day I will," he says back because he'll have to tell her everything one day. She needs to know what he is and therefore what their daughter is.

"So, Mia's really going to develop powers one day?"

"Yes. Though I don't know exactly when."

"Perhaps you could ask her because it would be useful to know. Otherwise it could be anywhere. At school or when I leave her with the babysitter."

"I'll add it to the list."

"List? What list?"

"Of things I would like to know from Mia."

"So, you still not completely trusting her?"

"I know she's holding back the whole truth."

Andrea snorts lightly. "I can't imagine where she picked that up from."

"Huh?"

"I was meaning both of us. We aren't exactly poster childs for being open and honest are we, Clark?"

He sighs. "No." He leans forward and rests his arms on his thighs. "Has it just been the two of you all this time?"

"More or less."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, Clark. My life may not be glamorous but it's happy. Mia is all I need."

"Still, I meant what I said last week. Any way I can help I will."

"We'll see Clark. Maybe once we feel our way into this we can discuss that," she errs on the side of caution.

"Ok."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Has it just been you all alone since we last met?"

"Um…" he hesitates to say.

"Too personal?" she quickly realises it might be.

"No. Not at all. I just…don't have a good track record with relationships."

"Don't wish to relive it?"

"Parts of it, no." Especially with how it all ended with Lana. "There's someone currently…we're close but not quite officially together together, if you know what I mean."

"You wish to be though."

"Yes," he admits. "But regardless I promise I won't shirk my responsibilities to Mia. I'll find a way to fit everything in."

Andrea nods but remains silent. She guesses she shouldn't be surprised Clark has someone in his life and absolutely not is that a slight stab of jealousy.

"Mamá! Mamá!" the 4-year-old bounds up to her mother.

"Yes, my Angel?"

Andrea then smiles widely as Mia babbles a whole story of her 'adventures' in the park which is quite some fiction for a little girl.

Clark is impressed by Mia's imagination. Then again was he any different? He didn't have many friends growing up. Many a time he resorted to his own imagination to keep himself entertained. He also finds himself regretting just how many times he has already missed out on days like this. Never again though. He swears.

Metropolis…

Mia leans back in a chair at the Watchtower, looking at all the monitors and deciding if there is anything that needs her help. She is also here to continue her search for the psycho bitch. She must admit it had been harder than anticipated. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to ensure there was no trail to find as it comes to this person. The likely suspect behind that being the bitch's equally psycho father.

Mia guesses she might just have to look into him but had actually wanted to avoid that. She knows enough about him to know he is a powerful and influential figure. If she directly goes after him history may go complete FUBAR.

Whoosh!

"Hola Señorita!"

Mia is on her feet in an instant finding herself face to face (well hooded face with sunglasses) with… "Flash?"

"Who?" the young speedster dressed in his red hooded top and pants asks confused. "Sorry Chica you must have me confused with someone else. Name's Impulse and yes, I am completely free to take you out to dinner tonight."

Mia stares at him and blinks. "Wow, so, you've always been like this," she remarks.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," she dismisses it with a shake of her head.

"Wait a second. I know you. You're the new one. Flying lady, right?"

"Flying lady?" Mia questions, frowning hard.

"You related to Big Blue?" he asks, pointing vaguely at the 'S' on her chest.

"Yes. We're related. I'm another cousin of his."

"Cool, cool."

"Are you looking for someone?"

"Use to be able to just call in when Watchtower had, you know, Watchtower. Been a bit harder since she vanished."

"You need help with something," Mia figures out.

"No," Impulse says too quickly.

Mia gives him a sceptical look.

"Ok. Yes."

"Well, I may be the 'new one' but I've got some free time if you're willing to trust me," she offers. Why? Why not?

The scarlet clad speedster paces back and forth in a blur. "Well, see, thing is been trying to establish myself up in Central City."

"Yeah."

"And I thought it was just a routine bank robbery. Go in, knock some heads together and leave the losers for the police."

"Didn't go so well," Mia assumes.

Impulse stops pacing and makes a face. "No. There was a pair of them, armed with these crazy guns that shot fire and ice."

Mia's brow furrows. That sounds familiar. "Was one of them wearing a parka?"

"Yes! You know them?"

"Captain Cold and Heat Wave."

"Ooh, awesome names by the way. Look, I'll give them credit. Tougher than I thought they would be…"

"And you came here looking for some help," Mia gets why he is here.

"Like I said it was so much easier when this place was being manned," he says sadly at the fact Chloe-licious is gone.

"Early days," the woman from the future says as an aside.

"Huh?"

Mia smiles slightly. "Nothing important. Look F-Impulse," she corrects herself. "I'm happy to help. Like I said I've got time."

Impulse perks up. "Cool. Cool. Always up for a team-up with a such a super-cute hottie such as yourself," he says with a wink.

"Uh huh," she replies blandly, still wrapping her head around the fact that the man she knows 20 years from now is still, almost, exactly the same. Does he ever grow up? "So shall we go to Central City then?"

"Yep. Will be there in a flash! Try and keep up!" he taunts her as he zips away.

Mia rolls her eyes. "Oh my God, he still says that," she mutters in Spanish in disbelief as she flies off after him, instantly starting to regret this.

Coast City…

"Now I see where Mia gets her healthy appetite from," Andrea finds herself teasing as the small family sit down in a café for lunch. She's referring, naturally, to the fact Clark does have a large appetite and orders large portions and Mia eats adult-sized portions despite her relatively small size.

"I would have thought you would have a robust metabolism yourself," Clark playfully retorts. After all Andrea's body must need a lot of energy to fuel her superpowers.

"Maybe…but then I wouldn't get to poke fun at ya, Kent."

"What did I ever do to you?"

Andrea arches an eyebrow. What did he do to her? "Well for starters she's sitting right there," she says in reference to their daughter as she reaches over and wipes some food from Mia's chin.

"I recall there being two of us involved in that," Clark retorts.

"Perhaps but honestly I'm just glad Mia has a hearty appetite now. She was really quite sickly when she born."

"She was?" Clark asks, a deep frown of concern forming on his brow.

"Yeah."

"But she got better?"

"Eventually. Though she still suffers from allergies and a mild case of asthma."

"I haven't seen…the other Mia suffer from anything like that."

"So, it's a phase?" Andrea asks, hopeful.

"Must be."

"I'm glad," the brunette says genuinely. No parent ever wants to see their child sick.

Central City…

"So, what makes you think Captain Cold and Heat Wave will make an appearance?" Mia asks Impulse as the two stand on a rooftop in the Missouri city.

"I happen to have a 'friend' in the CCPD who informed me that in preparation for the opening of a new bank an armoured truck will be delivering a huge sum of money in today."

"Ah. It would be a very tempting target for those two."

"You know them?"

"In a way. It's complicated. I know Cold is the brains of these things generally and that he's very clever. If you've met them before my bet is that he's planned for you showing up."

"Well, it's lucky I brought you along then isn't it," he says back in a flirty manner.

Mia tries her best not to encourage his advances. "I'm better hanging back. Let them focus on you…"

"And keep you as a surprise," Impulse finishes. "Good plan."

"I may not be all that old but this isn't my first rodeo."

"Yeah, well, I'll go with any plan that avoids me being frozen again. Last time it felt like I was running in slow motion when I got hit," he says grumpily.

Mia looks at him curiously. "You…don't know," she realises.

"Know?"

"About the effect cold has on you."

"Qué?"

Mia cannot believe she is having to teach him this when it was his older self that taught her. "Cold and speed are opposites to each other. Speed is determined by how fast molecules move. Extreme cold slows down the rate at which molecules vibrate which in your case negates your speed. Or in other words; don't get hit by the cold gun."

"Got it."

"So, when is the truck supposed to arrive and where?"

"It'll enter the city limits across that bridge," Bart points at the bridge below them. "And it should be any second now."

BOOM!

The sound of an explosion from far across the city.

"What the hell?!" Impulse exclaims.

"You stay here. I'll check it out," Mia determines.

"But…"

"Remember what I said. Cold is clever. He might figure it'll be impossible for even you to be in two places at once."

"Oh. It's a diversion," the scarlet speedster gets.

"Perhaps. Or perhaps it's real. Either way I'll check it out. I'll be back as soon as I can," Mia says as she takes to the air and flies as rapidly as she can across the city.

That leaves Bart behind, totally not admiring the cutie's butt but completely focussing on the task at hand. Seriously, he is. That's how he totally notices it when the armoured truck is ambushed by the road being iced up, causing it to crash. In a flash he's off the rooftop and making his way down. He finds not just Captain Cold and Heat Wave but a half dozen lackies. "You know I've always wanted to know where bad guys get their lackies from? Is there like a secret recruiting agency or something?"

The two leaders of the group spin round. "Well, if it isn't Speedy Gonzales," Cold comments.

"Flattered by the comparison, compadre. Now why don't you do us both a favour and surrender."

"Why don't you just burn!" Heat Wave sneers as he aims his fire gun at the speedster and fires. Captain Cold joins in as Impulse dodges the blasts which involves him running up the side of the buildings.

The scarlet speedster lands back down on the street only to get blasted by the cold gun.

The parka wearing villain turns to his henchmen. "What are you standing around for?! Get the truck!" he orders. "We'll deal with the speedy little cockroach."

"Now that one I'm taking personally," Impulse says as he gets back to his feet with a groan and trying not to let his teeth chatter.

"What you should be taking personally, my scarlet clad friend, is that the government sees you as little better than us. You should be on our side!" Cold argues.

"Ok, let me think about that for about a microsecond," Impulse says in mocking tones, pretending to look at his watch. "Bzzt! Time's up. Our survey says! Parkas are so last season! Sorry guys. So close! Better luck next time!"

"Talking is a waste of time," the gruff voice of Heat Wave declares as he tries to fry the cocky speedster once again.

Impulse dodges right only to be met with an ice-cold blast of freezing energy which coats half his body in ice and sticks him to the ground.

"Should have taken up my offer, kid," Cold says as he and Heat Wave aim and just as they are pressing the triggers a figure in black blurs up behind them, grabs their arms and points the nozzles of their guns directly at each other.

The mix of fire and ice reacts badly, creating a shockwave that sends both villains flying in opposite directions, landing on the ground hard.

Mia smirks. "Thanks, Impulse. You were the perfect distraction," she jokes.

Impulse shivers. "L-little help," he requests, his teeth chattering.

The time traveller zips over and shatters Impulse's icy prison with a strong punch.

Impulse staggers forward, free of his icy prison. "T-thanks."

"Try vibrating. That'll warm you up," she advises him.

Impulse closes his eyes and his body outline blurs as he vibrates himself which does the trick. "Oh hey that's kinda cool!" he remarks as he checks himself.

Mia gives him a look at the use of the word 'cool'.

"Yeah. I really shouldn't have said that," Impulse accepts.

"Shall we stop the lackies before they drive off with the truck or do you have some other lame puns first?"

"This one is on me," Impulse says as he zips into action and in seconds is taking down the hired help.

A little while later the two heroes watch on as the two main villains are shoved into the back of a police van.

"Sayonara Losers!" Impulse just has to rub it in.

"This ain't over, kid. We'll be meeting again," Cold vows vengeance on Impulse.

"And again and again and again and again," Mia mutters under her breath, knowing just how much an integral part Captain Cold will become in Flash's Rogues Gallery.

"I'll be sure to keep a space in my busy schedule," Impulse sarcastically retorts to the parks wearing villain. "Well, that was fun," he cheerily remarks to Mia.

"Hmm," she replies non-committedly.

"So, what happened on your end? You know with the explosion?"

"It was nothing. Just a distraction like we thought."

"Ok then, so big win all round. We should go celebrate. Together," he tries and hits on her.

"Sorry but no," she tries and shoots him down gently. Also, EEEWWW!

"Too early in the day?"

Mia shakes her head. "Sorry, Impulse. It's not personal, believe me but I can't give what you're looking for."

Struck out again. Same old story. "Ok, then. How about as friends?"

Mia looks at him a tad sceptical. "Friends?"

Impulse holds his hands up. "Friends only. Swearsies!"

Mia thinks on it for a moment. Why not? It's not like she has anyone besides her Papá for company is it. "Ok."

"Yes!"

"But friends only. You try something, I break something," she warns him.

"Hey, I'm a man of my word," he insists.

"Yes. You are," Mia accepts from her knowledge of his older self. "Well, I'm sorta new around here so where do we go?"

"I know this great little place south of the border."

"Lead the way."

Impulse gives her a little salute and zips off with his trail of golden lightning as Mia takes to the air and flies after him.

Coast City…

It is starting to get dark by the time Clark, Andrea and Mia's day comes to an end. The little girl is utterly zonked out, being carried by her father, her head resting on his shoulder. The three are just returning to Andrea's apartment block and stop at the bottom of the stairs.

"You're good with her," Andrea has to say as she gently brushes some of her daughter's hair to the side. Watching him interact with their daughter during the day she has to say that Clark's like a natural father. Is it wrong she finds that sexy?

"Well, she's hardly any trouble is she," he says back.

"Oh, she has her moments, trust me," the brunette contradicts that idea.

"Are we up to trusting each other yet?" he finds himself asking a serious point because what happened in Metropolis the first time they met was the opposite of trust.

"I'm letting you hold the most precious thing I have in all the world, Clark," Andrea responds.

"Oh. Then I guess the issue is on my end."

"Not entirely but…we're only barely getting to start to know each other aren't we."

"Yeah. I guess we are," he accepts. Though so far he has to say he likes what he has learned about her.

"One thing I learned since the first time we met is that sometimes things take time. It took time for my heart to heal after I lost my mother."

"Believe me I know. I've only just accepted my need to move forward after losing my dad."

Nearly 5 years ago the two had shared a connection and understanding of each other's pain and loss. It seems they still have that connection. They stand there gazing at each other.

"Oh! Hello!"

The moment is broken by the arrival of a chirpy blond.

"Penny," Andrea acknowledges her.

"Andi. You going to make some introductions?" Penny asks, eying up the gorgeous man present.

"Of course," the brunette says in too high a voice. "Clark, this is my neighbour and part-time babysitter Penny Teller. Penny this is Clark Kent."

"It's very nice to meet you, Penny," Clark greets her warmly, manging to offer a hand while juggling Mia.

Penny takes the hand and gives it a firm shake. "Nice to meet you too."

"Clark, why don't you take Mia up to my apartment. I'll be there in a minute," Andrea requests.

"No problem," he says.

"Be good for Clark, sweetie," Andrea says to her half-asleep daughter who replies in a sleep heavy voice, "No problemo, Mamá."

Clark sniggers, recalling how the adult Mia told him she would say that to annoy Andrea. He can see her actually roll her eyes. He heads up the stairs.

Andrea puts her hands on her hips and turns to her friend, only to find her clearly ogling Clark's butt. "Seriously?!"

"What?!" the blond asks innocently.

"That's my daughter's father."

"And I can see why. Wow," she says, flabbergasted at just how hot that guy was. "He can be my baby daddy any time," she remarks, her mind wandering to imagining just how great that would be.

Andrea huffs and tries not to recognise that tiny split second of jealousy that struck her there.

Penny is not oblivious to the look she is getting. Awful strong reaction for a supposed 'one-night stand'. She gets the feeling she doesn't know the full picture. "So, is this a weekly thing now? You and him?"

"I just wanted him to spend time with Mia. That's all."

"Really?"

"Yes. We're working up to telling her the truth about Clark."

"Wow, I didn't realise your date last week went that well."

"Wasn't a date," Andrea grinds out.

"Yeah and Denial is a river in Egypt."

"Ay Dios mio!" Andrea exclaims as she heads up the stairs, leaving a smirking, smug looking Penny behind.

Two flights up Clark is waiting outside Andrea's apartment, a half-asleep little girl in his arms. Today was wonderful. Just watching and learning new things about his daughter. He's absolutely certain he already loves her.

"I promise you, Mia. I'm going to always be here for you from now on," he whispers to her before kissing the top of her head.

Mia murmurs something incoherent in Spanish which makes him smile as she cuddles into him which makes smile more.

His phone then vibrates in his pocket. He reaches in and fishes it out while still holding Mia with his other hand. Clark frowns slightly. It's a message from Lois asking where he is and if they can spend time together.

The tall alien sighs. He wants to make this work with Lois but he can't shirk his responsibilities as a father. He's going to have to do what he's been putting off. He's going to have to tell Lois about Mia so she can understand why he can't spend as much time with her as he may want to. Though, clearly that's a conversation that needs to be had face to face. For now he'll text back a vague apology that he's taking care of some personal business and that he'll see her at the Planet tomorrow.

Not long after that Andrea arrives. "I have got to get onto the landlord about fixing that damn elevator," she complains bitterly before stopping at the sight of her daughter cuddled into Clark. It's so adorable she can't help but smile.

"Everything alright?" Clark asks her.

"Hmm. What?"

"With your neighbour," he clarifies.

"Oh. Yes. Everything's fine. Just let me get the door open," she says as she tries and finds her key before opening the door and shepherding Clark inside. "Just lay her on the couch," she instructs him about Mia.

Clark does so, gently brushing some hair away from her face as he does so. This Mia's hair is much longer than her adult self. He reluctantly pulls himself away as he realises the day is coming to its end. "I should go. I have work tomorrow," he tells Andrea.

Andrea nods as she walks with him out the door into the hallway.

"So, thank you for allowing me to spend time with the two of you," he says gratefully.

"I should thank you for allowing her to hassle you into an early grave instead of me," she quips.

Clark chuckles lightly.

"So…uh…we should do this again," the brunette puts forward, now being the one actively trying to keep Clark in her and Mia's lives.

"Of course. I'm willing to do this at any pace you want Andrea but maybe at some point we should try and formalise an arrangement."

Andrea nods. "Maybe," she concedes. "But lets just takes this a step at a time, Clark, shall we?"

"Sure."

"So next weekend?"

"Unless something comes up at work that shouldn't be a problem," he readily agrees.

"You have my number, right?"

"And you have mine."

"So, we can work out the details a bit later in the week?"

"Andrea, you have to know I'm not going to argue much as long as I can get to see Mia."

"You know if I was a less scrupulous person I just might take advantage of you over that."

"I may be a polite farmboy at heart but I'm not a pushover either, Andrea," he feels a need to point out. Yes, he's willing to be accommodating over access to his daughter but even he has his limits. "Thought you would remember that."

"I remember everything of our time together, Clark," she says, her voice carrying quite a bit of emotion

"So do I," he says with the same emotive tone.

It feels like both have so much more to say to each other but nothing comes beyond polite farewells. Though for as long as they are in each other's lives there's always another day.

Author's Note: More filler along with a little side adventure for Mia. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews.