Life went on for everyone. For the Lane-Kents and for the Mercer-Reynolds!
A baby was indeed a huge benefit for Dr. Tess Mercer-Reynolds, renowned child- and youth psychologist and her husband Professor Henry Reynolds, professor of applied science at the Star Labs branch in Boston. And little Jonathan was such a happy ray of sunshine that brought a lot of action into their lives.
Despite their tight schedules and long working hours, Tess and Henry did everything to get a good work-life balance to spend time with their son. They also received help from their housemaid, Chuz from Columbia, and later from their German Au-Pair Marie, who lived with them for a year when he was seven. Jonathan's sudden appearance was a surprise. But every relative saw how happy he made his parents, so he was welcomed with open arms, wherever he went…
The Kents meanwhile had to deal with the loss of a child. But they decided to not to fall in despair and be strong. Jordan needed them and he was a medical miracle. The very first human-kryptonian hybrid ever born. Lois and Clark attended therapy sessions to deal with Jonathan's death and got a lot of support from Martha, Sam, Lana and all their other friends.
Jor-El in Clark's fortress advised to make regular checks when Lois gets pregnant again. Jordan might be born as human and might unlikely ever have powers. But it didn't mean that his heritage could affect him. When Lois got pregnant again 18 months after Jordan's birth, they soon mentioned that it was right to be careful. The death of Jonathan still in mind, the regular checkups at the fortress prevent another death birth. Natalie was born 6 weeks premature and spend a while in an incubator. But she soon turned out to be a fighter, determined to live.
Already in early years, both families realized that their kids were very quick witted, quirky little kids who learned faster than others. Knowing it could have to do with his heritage, Clark and Lois were not surprised. While Jonathan's adoptive parents were both positively surprised and astonished by the way how fast Jonathan learns and decided early to sign him up in a private school for gifted kids.
Jordan's constant anxiety and his shyness were not unmentioned. But after everything they know and considering that maybe Jonathan's early death and their heritage have to do with it, let Clark take a closer look on him than he would have if Jonathan was still with them. Realizing more and more that it might not be a human thing, that was going on with Jordan.
Jonathan meanwhile was mentioned to have this kind and open nature and an extraordinary urge for truth, justice, freedom, and a lot of other good things. At early age, everyone mentioned that he had a talent for languages. At age five, Jonathan was able to speak fluent Spanish with the Columbian housemaid. And at age seven, he learned to speak German with his Au-Pair.
Jordan learned quick, too. As Clark and Lois focused more on their kids, after losing one at birth, they guessed early that the kids might have inherited Kryptonian intelligence. So did Natalie, who loved to learn languages. Some of Jordan's traits, Natalie got, too, let Clark realize that Jordan was not just crazy. They were just Kryptonian. Clark feared the thought of a psychologist or tests. Even those at the fortress. But with Natalie being as nervous as Jordan, it was evident that they couldn't deny it any longer: The kids are more Kryptonian than they thought!
An obvious 'Kryptonian' trait 7-years-old Jonathan once showed while playing football with his dad…
Professor Reynolds was normally not that type of person, you can convince for a sporty activity. But he couldn't withstand when Jonathan asked him to play with him on this hot and very sunny Sunday afternoon.
Of course, Jonathan loved to play football. The boy was top fit, sporty, and athletic. When he and his dad where in the garden and threw the football to each other, watched by his mom who sat on the terrace, nobody dared to believe what happens. When Jonathan threw the ball so fast, that either his father, nor his mother could see it and the ball shoot straight threw the rope of the tire-swing, his parents installed just a few weeks ago.
The ball tore the rope apart, flew over two neighboring gardens and crashed through the kitchen window of the next house. Jonathan and his parents first didn't mention it. They just wondered how Jonathan was able to do that…
When they moved with the kids back to the farm (6 and 4 years old at that time) they wanted to have a quieter live. Jordan and Natalie sometimes still feel so out of place sometimes and there were a lot of moments, there were discussions about being human or being alien.
Ever since Clark revealed his secret to Jordan and Natalie (9 and 7 years old at that time) there were moments not even the regular flights he took them on, or the visits at the fortress couldn't solve. Just Clark was glad that the reveal went like he wanted: smooth, peaceful and private. He will never forget his kids' bright faces when he put off his glasses and start to float in front of them. The weirdness followed later.
The arrest of Ally Allston, when Jonathan and Jordan were 10, was a big story and without doubt, one of Lois' biggest successes. Lois was grateful, that Natalie was able to convince her aunt Lucy to stay with them at the farm and tell Lois the full story, so Lois could collect enough evidence to force the authorities to investigate her. But the Kents had other issues to deal with…
Clark caught Jordan on the lawn behind the house one evening. Glaring into the dark night and watching the stars.
"Do we belong here?" 10 years old Jordan asked his father when he laid down next to him to join him.
"Of course! This is our home!" Clark said.
"But holo-grandpa says, our true home is Krypton!" Jordan responds.
"He is an A.I., he does think different about it! But this is the only place we belong! This planet is our home! Mine, yours, Natalies…" Clark told and looked up into the sky again. "I used to do this often when I was your age. I watched the stars, and asked myself, which one of these dots is the one I come from. And at some point I realized that I am here because this is my home! The place where I belong!"
"Do you know which one of those stars is Rao?" Jordan asked for the sun of Krypton.
"Rao is a very weak star. Unfortunately, you can't see it from Earth. But you see that tiny star there, right next to the Big Wagon?" Clark pointed on mentioned star.
"Ehm… the reddish one?"
"Yes! Rao is a red sun! It remembers me a bit on it, and I feel better when I watch it I feel good!"
"I like it, too!" Jordan smiled again and took his father's hand with his right hand. With his left hand he reached out for something, as if he expected to hold someone's hand. "But I don't get off this feeling as if someone is missing…"
Jonathan meanwhile, laid in the grass in their garden in Boston and looked up at the dark sky. For some reason he reached out his right hand, expecting to hold someone's hand. It was if someone somewhere in the world was expecting to hold his hand. His worried parents came out to comfort him.
"What are you thinking, Johnny?" his mother asked.
"I am not your patient!" Jonathan moaned.
"I know. But you are my son! I am worried about you!" Tess said. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just watching the stars!"
"Which stars?" his father asked confused, before he got a weak punch by his wife's elbow to cut him off.
Due to the light pollution, it was absolutely impossible to see any stars. The sky was pitch black and no star was visible, despite it was clear. His parents joined him and pretended to see the stars, too.
They guessed it was because of his dreams to fly. Ever since the boy could think, he was a fan of Superman. Talking with his friends endlessly about Superman and his powers. And often wondering how it is to fly. Or he was just daydreaming again. They never made a secret about how Jonathan got to them and that he was adopted. And despite Jonathan knew that he was exactly where he belonged, and loved his parents idolatrously, there was sometimes that urge to know who he was.
"Do you like a certain one?" his mother asked to cheer her son up.
"I like the little reddish one right next to the Big Wagon!" Jonathan said.
"Ehm…" Tess was confused.
The couple was not aware that Jonathan was indeed able to see the stars. He had very good eyes… and was indeed able to see the stars…
As a scientist at Star-Labs, Jonathan's adoptive father worked with metahumans and had a lot of interesting stories to tell. As being Superman, Clark had a lot of interesting stories to tell his kids.
"Really, you met Beast Boy?" Jonathan asked his father astonished one evening during dinner.
"Yes! And because I know that you are a fan of him, I asked him for an autograph." His father said with a smile and handed Jonathan the photo of a young man with green hair…
"I love Beast Boy! Can I meet him, too?"
In Smallville, at the same time, a similar conversation…
"Really, you met Plastic Man?" Jordan asked.
"Yes, I did! I know you are a fan, and I wanted to ask him for an autograph for you. But you know that nobody knows about you and your sister and I would have never been able to explain him for who it was! Sorry, son!"
Jordan was offended. "I love Plastic Man! Can I meet him, too and ask by myself?"
Discussions like those became more frequent…
11-years old Jonathan had from time to time moments he really asked himself who he truly was. There were a lot of times, he asked his parents. Both had no answers. There were a lot of questions.
Jonathan was happy: He had great and lovely parents, many friends, a bright future ahead and a lot of privileges. But sometimes it felt like something was wrong. That something was missing. A part of him. Then there were moments he looked up on the sky…
He was wondered sometimes about why he felt so attracted to the sky. Was it because he was such a huge fan of Superman and his ability to fly? He loves to fly! He was always very excited when he flies with a plane. His parents once said, with his enthusiasm for flying he could become a pilot. A nice thought. But it didn't explain Jonathan's weird feelings…
A friend from school, whom he once told that he was adopted, guessed that it had to do with his heritage. And he had an idea…
"I saw a commercial… it's one of those companies that offer DNA-tests to find relatives." Jonathan's friend said.
"I know those kits! But they are expensive!"
"My dad bought one for my mom's birthday. But she never used it! She called it a useless present! I ask her if you can have it!"
The next day, Jonathan's friend brought him the DNA-test kit to school. After school, they went to Jonathan's house together. His parents were still at work and the housemaid was in the Supermarket. Together the boys read the manual, took the sample, and filled out the forms.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" his friend asked.
"I just want to know where I come from! Who knows, maybe I am a latino?"
"Will you tell your parents?"
"After the result maybe… I don't want to offend them! I just want to know where I may come from! What should go wrong?" Jonathan said unaware of the consequences. "The worst this test shows would be if I am Russian!"
Jonathan had no clue!
Jonathan used his best 'adult-handwriting' and imitated his father's signature on the form before the boys brought it to the mailbox…
Jonathan had no clue what his act will cause. That he had no clue what disaster awaits him and his family when the sample of his DNA reaches the lab…
In Smallville, Jordan and Natalie saw the commercial for this company, too with their grandma Martha.
"If your father wouldn't know that he is not from this planet, he would probably make this test, too! But kids, never ever buy one of those! You could bust yourself or your father." Martha explained before she turned off the TV. She didn't tell the kids that their mom was investigating this company, as they have some suspicious practices and were not one-hundred percent serious.
Jonathan's adoptive parents meanwhile, realized that their son needed an encouragement. He was brooding too much in the last few days. Knowing how much the boy loves to travel (he already visited 10 different countries in his young live) they called him to the living room, the day after he send the DNA-test to the lab.
"Johnny, we have a surprise for you!" his father said.
"You will love it!" his mother added.
"What is it?" the boy asked.
"We make a trip to Metropolis!" his father said.
With big eyes Jonathan looked on his parents.
"Metropolis?!"
"Metropolis!" his father confirmed. "I have to go there for a conference. But I thought about staying over the weekend and look around a little bit with you and your mom…"
Suddenly Jonathan was full of joy. "Metropolis. The city of tomorrow. Home of Superman… A dream comes true… Wow… Do you think we will see Superman? When are we going? When we depart..."
"Thursday evening!" his mother said. "You have no school on Friday, due to the teachers-conference! We will pick you up after school and go directly to the airport!"
Happily, Jonathan hugged his parents.
What either Jonathan, or anyone else knew, was that the test-kit with Jonathan's sample was on the way to the lab... and will cause more than just an alarm in the system…