It has been two weeks since Superman returned. It was late May. Nearly one year since Superman was supposedly killed at the hands of Doomsday. Lois sits in the bathroom of her apartment. She was getting herself ready for a date with Clark.
There was a knock at the door. Lois went to answer it. She opens the door and sees Clark. His hair now cut short, looking like the farm boy she knew and loved.
"Ready to go Lois?" Clark asks.
"With you? Always." Lois says.
The two head off for their date.
Lex Luthor sits in his office at LexCorp. He has a stack of recent issues of the Daily Planet on his desk. Superman Lives, Superman Soars Again the headlines read.
Superboy enters his office.
"You failed again." Lex says.
"I'm sorry." Superboy says.
"Sorry won't cut it this time." Lex says.
"What do you mean?" Superboy asks.
"I mean with Superman around, there really isn't much need for a Superboy. Prepare for decommission." Lex says.
Lois and Clark sit in a booth at Pfiffer's down town. They both look over the menu.
"I'm thinking about the shrimp tonight." Lois says.
Clark doesn't respond.
"You okay?" Lois asks.
Clark continues to look at his menu.
"Smallville! You look like you're about to burn a hole through your menu." Lois says.
"Huh, oh sorry Lois, I'm still just getting used to everything." Clark says.
"A lot's changed, hasn't it?" Lois asks.
"More than I'd expect." Clark says.
"Well, where do you want to start?" Lois asks.
"I don't even know. Let's start with… the Justice League." Clark says.
"To be honest, I don't know much about them. They only pop up sporadically and never all together." Lois says.
"And Steel?" Clark asks.
"Steel is a good man; I can vouch for him." Lois says.
"Do you know who he really is?" Clark asks.
"I do, John Henry Irons." Lois says.
"And Superboy?" Clark asks next.
"That one I'm unsure of, he has the LexCorp connection so…
"Ready to order, the waitress asks as she approaches the table.
"I'll have the shrimp with the rice." Lois says.
"And for you sir?" She asks Clark.
"I'll have the… pasta primavera." Clark says, having not really decided what he wanted.
The waitress heads off.
"Have you talked to Perry about me returning?" Clark asks.
"I figured I'd leave that up to you." Lois says.
Clark sighs.
"You came back from the dead, I don't think Perry White should be much of a challenge." Lois says.
Clark smiles. Lois had missed his smile. She puts her hand on his hand.
"I missed you." Lois says.
"I missed you too." Clark says.
"With everything that was going on, I hadn't asked, how did your mom take the news?" Lois asks.
"Well…" Clark begins.
Two weeks earlier
Following the defeat of Cyborg Superman, the crowd looks on at Clark. A little girl approaches him and he comforts her. The Justice League looks on as well. Clark smiles and waves at the Metropolis News Five camera. He then flies off.
"There you have it folks. Superman appears to be back." Angela Chen reports.
Martha watches on from Smallville. She can't believe it. Could it really be true this time? If it wasn't, she doesn't know if she could handle it. The front door opens. She assumes its Lana rushing over to tell her the news.
"Ma!" A voice yells out. It's the voice of her son. It's Clark.
Martha rushes to see him.
"Clark!" She belts out in joy; she runs to him and puts her arms around him.
"Its me Ma, it's really me." Clark says.
"I knew you were still out there." Martha says.
She takes a step back and looks at him. He stands there in his black solar suit with his long hair. She reaches up to touch his hair.
"Your hair hasn't been that long since you were twelve." Martha says.
Clark just smiles.
"It's good to see you." Clark says.
"I prayed every night for your safe return." Martha says.
"I'm back, and Pa helped me get here." Clark says.
"Oh?!" Martha reacts.
"I saw him Ma. I saw dad. He sends his love." Clark says.
"Him returning you to me was just one more miracle he pulled off." Martha says.
The front door opens.
"Martha did you see-" Lana says as she enters the Kent's home.
She pauses when she sees him.
"Clark." She says, choked up.
"It's me Lana, really." Clark says.
"Your mother always had faith you'd return. Even when no one else did." Lana says.
"How, how did you stay so strong Ma?" Clark asks.
"Because I love you." Martha says.
"Now you two stay here and catch up, I think I have some pie." Martha says as she heads to the kitchen.
Clark and Lana stand there. A sense of awkwardness starts to fill the air.
The television replays the nights events. Cameras show Lois hugging Superman.
"I'm seeing someone now." Lana says.
"That's great Lana. Who is he?" Clark says.
"His name is Kyle. He's a firefighter." Lana says.
"Awesome." Clark says, a little relieved with the whole situation.
"Here's the pie." Martha says.
"Before we take a bite, I'd like to say a prayer. Dear lord, thank you for returning my son to me. By your grace he is here today and I am truly grateful. Amen." Martha says.
"Amen." Clark and Lana respond in unison.
The three sit and eat their pie.
Back in the restaurant, Lois listens on.
"I'm glad Martha has you." Lois says.
"We have each other." Clark says.
The two finish their dinner and head off for a night down town. Clark specifically wanted to head down to Fifth Street. It was so different now. The phone booth was gone, half the buildings were gone. Construction on new buildings was under way. But everything looked so modern, not the classic architecture the street was known for. The two continue walking the streets on Metropolis. They end up near LexCorp.
"Hey Smallville." Lois says.
"Yeah?" Clark asks.
"Before Doomsday, you bought me a very sexy winter parka. Where were you planning on taking me?" Lois asks.
"Oh I-
Suddenly glass shatters on the top floor of LexCorp. A body falls to the ground with a thud. People on the street scream on in horror. Lois and Clark rush over.
