Chapter 13

"So, I was thinking of inviting your mother to come to Smallville next week for Thanksgiving," Clark is saying to the grown-up, future version of his daughter.

"Uh huh. You should," she says back and she's not just saying this because of some deep-rooted desire to see her parents get together. Of course, she totally is saying it for that very reason.

"You as well," he adds.

"Say what?!" she cries.

"You can't keep avoiding her forever. She's your mother," he argues.

"We had this talk. I just can't."

"And I sympathise with how you feel but I believe if you just let yourself meet her you'll feel better afterwards."

"I'm not buying what you're selling and is this really the time for this conversation?"

"I've tried numerous times before. Every time I try you run off," he accuses her.

"So, you waited until I literally can't move because I'm holding up this bridge to raise it?! I don't know if that is cunning or just downright emotional manipulation."

It's all Clark can do not to roll his eyes which would be a bad idea as he's currently busy welding this bridge back in place. He and Mia had responded to a truck crashing into an overpass on the Interstate near Metropolis and barely got here before the whole thing came crashing down. "Think about this. One day you'll have to go back to your own time where your mother is no longer around. Therefore, if there is anything you want to say to her, your only chance is to do so while you are here. Personally, if it was myself and my dad, I would grab the opportunity."

The half-Kryptonian frowns as she hovers there, holding up the deck of the bridge. Seeking out her father was not a difficult decision because she had never met him. Never known him. Never had a chance to form that bond so there really hadn't been the pain of grief and loss but with her mother…it had been so painful to lose her. Almost unbearable. And now her father was asking her to reopen that wound. To meet her mother and then, in a way, to lose her all over again. However, there is so much she would love to say to her mother. Namely just to tell her how much she loves her.

"There. Done," Clark announces as he finishes his welding job. "That should hold it until they can repair it fully," he believes.

"Finally!" Mia cheers as she floats away a little bit. "I'll remind you, I'm not quite as strong as you are. That was starting to get heavy," she complains, rubbing her shoulders.

"Look, I can't make you come to Thanksgiving but will you at least think about it? Please?" he pleads with her.

"Multa!" she huffs.

"Thank you."

Coast City…

"With the debate on the Vigilante Registration Act now entering the final days, a vote is expected perhaps shortly after Thanksgiving, the lead Senator in opposition to the Act spoke on the floor of the Senate today. Senator Martha Kent reiterated her several objections. One; that the revealing of their real names is tantamount to compelled speech in violation of the 1st Amendment. Two; Forced registration is tantamount to internment and violates both the 4th and 5th Amendments. Three; Monitoring of 'vigilantes' without warrant violates the 4th Amendment. Four; Indefinite imprisonment with trial for those who refuse to register in clear violation of the 6th Amendment. To effectively treat US Citizens as if they enemy combatants and five; the Act violates the very principal of Haebus Corpus upon which our legal system is based…"

Andrea mutes the news as she answers the phone. As much as she has had a growing interest in the debate over the VRA, this is a call she wants to answer. "Hi Clark."

"Andi. How are you?"

"Good."

"Really?"

"Still a little strange to no longer have my powers," she confesses, "but I'm fine, honest."

"And Mia?"

"Oh, she's her usual bundle of joy," the brunette drawls which elicits a chuckle from the other end of the phone.

Speaking of said 'bundle of joy'…

"Is that Mister Clark?! Can I speak to him? Can I? Can I? Can I?" the dark-haired little girl repeatedly asks, bouncing up and down on her toes.

Andrea sighs but relents, knowing she won't get peace until she does. "Someone wants to talk to you," she informs Clark before handing the phone down.

"Hello Mister Clark!" the 4-year-old almost yells down the phone.

"Indoor voice," her mother chastises her.

"Hello Mia," he says, amusement clear in his tone.

While those two talk there is a knock on the door and Andrea wanders over to open it, since it looks likely her daughter will be talking Clark's ear off for awhile. "Oh, hello, Penny," she greets her blond friend and gestures for her to enter.

"Not a bad time, I hope?" Penny asks back.

Andrea shakes her head. "No."

Upon seeing Penny, Mia stops mid-sentence and squeals in happiness, "Aunt Penny!", before dashing over.

"Indoor voice," Andrea repeats her chastisement of her daughter.

"Hey you!" the blond greets the little girl with a great big smile. Mia's innocent enthusiasm was just infectious.

Andrea sighs as she retrieves the abandoned phone. "Sorry 'bout that. It seems 'Aunt Penny' is above 'Mister Clark'," she explains to the possibly confused man on the other end about what just happened.

"I'm sure I'll live," Clark drawls.

"So, what has you calling?"

"I was wondering if you had any plans for Thanksgiving?"

"Nothing special, why?"

"Well, my mom is tied up in Washington with the VRA debate so it's just me and Mia and I was wondering…if…you and Mia would like to join us?"

"Oh," Andrea says, blinking, not expecting that. "Um…" she says, as she walks across the living area and speaks softly so Penny can't hear. "What about the two Mias, meeting? You were against that before," she reminds him.

"True…but it should be fine. After all I met my future self awhile back and the universe is still here."

"You…live the weirdest life," is all the brunette can think of to say about that. Though her mind is filled with questions about that.

"You have no idea. But obviously as clever as Mia is, I don't think she would understand so we can just tell her that adult Mia is my cousin. It's what I've been telling everyone else."

"Ok."

"So, what do you say? Want to come?"

"You cooking?"

"Yes. I'm not my mom but I get by…and Mia can cook."

"She can?" Andrea asks, clearly interested in learning something about her own daughter.

"Yes. Said she got some tips from her 2nd cousin or something."

"She's met my relatives?!" she asks in raised tones before catching herself and remembering she has company.

"So she says."

"Uh…wow. Ok."

"You sound surprised?"

"It's just that I'm not that close to them. Haven't seen them in years. They all live down in Mexico."

"As I think I've mentioned she tends to not tell the whole truth so I can't give you a full explanation. Here's an idea; come to Thanksgiving and you can interrogate her yourself if you want."

"Tempting," Andrea says with a smile which earns a laugh down the line.

"Please, come. I would like you to spend Thanksgiving with me," Clark says, his voice tinted with real emotion.

"But what about that woman you liked? You not spending it with her?"

"She…has her own plans with her own family. It just wasn't a goer," he sorta lies. Lois may be spending time with her family for all he knows but she definitely must have her own plans for the Holiday. As for why he hasn't told Andrea the truth yet…even Clark can't give you an answer. "So?" he asks again.

When the alternative is to spend it alone, just her and Mia, Andrea gives in. "We'll come."

"Great!"

"So how we doing this?" she asks as they discuss the practicalities of her and Mia getting to Kansas.

During all this Penny has been dividing her attention between the little girl and watching her friend on the phone. Particularly, the expression adorning the brunette's face. It's the smile. Sure, Penny has seen Andrea smile before but this one is different. It's soft, almost not there yet speaks volumes all at the same time. It speaks of attraction. Or in other words; her friend has the hots for Clark Kent.

"You want to say goodbye to Clark, sweetheart?" Andrea asks as she and Clark finish their talk.

Mia rushes back over to her mother and takes the phone, almost yelling down it her goodbyes.

"Indoor voice, Mia," Andrea chastises her daughter for a 3rd time with increasing exasperation in her tone which earns a snort of amusement from the blond visitor. She gives her neighbour the eye before asking the obvious question. "So, what brings you here?"

"Well, actually it was a favour for the guys…"

Andrea mutters under her breath. Penny may be able to tolerate those weirdos but she can't.

"Just hear me out," the blond requests.

The brunette throws her hands up in the air and capitulates to the request.

"Look, they're just being nice."

"Right," Andrea scoffs. "Like the Jewish one? I think I know what sort of nice he desires."

"Yeah," Penny has to concede that Howard isn't exactly subtle. "But this is just an invite to Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, you told me yourself, how it's just you and Mia usually."

Andrea actually smiles at the fact she has the perfect excuse to say no. "Well, I'm afraid you're too late. Clark invited me to spend Thanksgiving with him."

"Oh, really," Penny says in intrigued tones.

"It's nothing like you're thinking," the Latino woman claims.

"Girl, you are so in denial."

"About?"

"Your feelings. You're hot for Clark Kent. Admit it."

"Why? Because I spend a lot of time with him. You know that's for Mia's sake."

Oh boy, is she stubborn, Penny thinks to herself about her friend. "So, I guess, I'll just tell the guys you've politely declined."

"There's no need to include the word 'politely'," Andrea dead-pans.

Penny laughs. When she first started to get to know Andrea she wasn't sure the woman had a sense of humour but as time passed she realised that it was there, hidden away. Andrea is just a very enclosed person and it takes awhile to get through her barriers. Luckily, Penny has always had her unique ways to get through those sorts of walls. "Well, I guess I'll just have to endure Thanksgiving alone then," she laments.

"If you're trying to guilt me, you're wasting your time, Penny," Andrea warns her. "Remember, I'm a mother. We develop a very thick skin to that trick."

"I'll let you off the hook on one condition."

Andrea looks wary. "What condition?"

"When you get back you tell me everything."

The Latino rolls her eyes. "There's nothing to tell," she insists.

She says that a lot, yet, for some reason, Penny doesn't quite believe her. "Sure there isn't."

"He's with someone else."

"And?"

"And what?"

"That doesn't bother you?"

"No. Why should it? I've never even met the woman."

Denial. Total and complete denial but Penny can see she isn't going to break her friend out of her delusion today. "Well, I need to get going. Bye, Mia, sweetie."

"Bye Aunt Penny!" comes the overly loud reply.

"Indoor voice!" Andrea says in utter exasperation and almost total defeat.

Penny chuckles as she closes the door behind her and makes her way up a flight of stairs and turns right. Upon opening the door she finds the 4 guys playing Dungeons and Dragons.

"So, what did she say?" Leonard asks upon seeing the return of the vivacious blond.

"She's spending Thanksgiving with Mia's father."

"Say what?" Howard asks, dumbfounded.

Raj leans in and whispers in his ear.

"I heard what she said!" Howard snaps at his Indian friend.

"I think he was meaning more along the lines of this is the first time Penny's made mention of Mia's father and he was surprised," Leonard elaborates.

"Oh, he's totally dreamy. I would have him as my baby daddy like that," she says, snapping her fingers.

"You've seen him?" Leonard asks…and that is totally not feelings of inadequacy and jealousy he is currently experiencing. Nope. Not at all.

"Just the once but I get from Andi he has nearly weekly visits to see Mia. I also get from her that she totally wants to hook back up with him but is in complete denial of her feelings."

"Well, not everyone is in touch with their feelings as you are."

"That's not the only thing she is in touch with," Sheldon drawls before adding, "Bazinga!"

"Yeah, that only works when what you say is actually funny," Penny tells him snarkily.

"Or makes sense," Howard tags on.

"As fascinating as it is to gossip on Penny's friend's lovelife," Sheldon drawls sarcastically, "how about we get back to the game, hmm?"

"Yeah, those dice don't throw themselves," Penny drawls, while wondering if she could ask Andi if she could come along with her instead.

Smallville…

"Aw, good doggie!" Mia praises Shelby as she sits up in the barn loft as the Golden Retriever plants himself down next to her. She scratches his head gently.

"Funny. Your 4-year-old self was saying the same thing when you and your mother were here last month," Clark remarks as he walks up the stairs.

"If I was more cynical I would think you were implying something there," the time-traveller says, giving her father a critical look.

"Me? The 'Boyscout'? Implying something? Heaven forfend!"

Mia rolls her eyes in a manner very reminiscent of her mother. "I'm starting to think that 'Boyscout' moniker is an utter bullshit act you put on."

Clark frowns slightly. "Are you ok?" he asks her, since, to him, she seems in quite a sullen mood.

"I'm fine," she replies in that classic tone that says she's totally not fine. "Shouldn't you be going to pick Mamá up?" she asks in another classic trope of changing subjects.

"I'll be going shortly but before I do I just want to make sure you'll be here when I get back," he says, unable to shake the concern she'll disappear off, just like last time Andi and her younger self were here.

Mia's face tightens up slightly. She found she was experiencing deep trepidation in regards to the idea of seeing her mother for the first time since she lost her. What does she say? What does she do? Then again it was a chance to see her mother. To speak to her mother. It's been so long. She strokes Shelby's fur. Finally she says, "I do what to see her. Don't know what I'll say."

"Hello?" Clark suggests.

Mia laughs. "Yeah. Yeah. I could do that."

Clark is not so obtuse to other people's feelings (despite what some others who shall remain nameless might say) that he can't see how difficult this is for his grown-up offspring. "Like I said before, Mia, I think you'll be better for it."

"Well, if that turns out not to be true, I'll know who to blame won't I."

Clark rolls his eyes. Taking jabs that everything is his fault is her go-to insult. "You know, sometimes, like right now, I can see far too much of your mother in you," he laments. "Shelby, you make sure she stays put until I get back," he says to the dog as he really needs to get going.

"Get back from where?"

Clark spins round faster than a speeding bullet at that voice. His eyes go wide at seeing the older woman standing there. What is she doing here?! She's not supposed to be here. Especially since he still hasn't told her everything that has been going on lately. God, he is in so much trouble. Seeing that the woman standing there is getting impatient Clark manages to blurt out a word that is going to make this Thanksgiving very, very, very interesting. "Mom?!"

Author's Note: Hmm, those 4 guys seem kinda familiar. Can't imagine why Andrea doesn't like them. With Clark and Lois no more I needed someone else to unexpectedly drop in for Thanksgiving and who better than the mother Clark has been avoiding telling about what has been going on for 3 months. Maybe he should start that digging of his own grave now? Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews.