Protector Plus
Chapter 14
4 YEARS LATER EPILOGUE
Lana's Fashions
Lana's empire (she hates that word !) has grown beyond her dreams. It could have grown bigger and faster if she hadn't kept a little pressure on the brakes.
Japan: her design center in Tokyo is strong; it has attracted the top young talent being graduated from universities all over the country. She has added 2 boutiques in other cities, with requests for more. She resists.
Australia: When talking with her executive team (Clark, Chloe, Oliver) they decided that the next expansion on that side of the Pacific should be here. They were right! She has a design center in Sydney and boutiques in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Fashions are flying out the door. There are regular shopping excursions scheduled from both the north and south New Zealand islands!
S. Korea and the Philippines are clamoring for her fashions, they might be next.
Leadership: Lana tries to visit each design center twice a year, and hold annual leadership conferences for top level staff. She continues to attract the crem de la crem of the fashion world. She has top notch managers at all design centers.
Fortunately, the C/K express helps her and Clark keep in touch and their relationship strong. He does, however, need to exercise caution so that there are not too many dots to connect, or bread crumbs to follow.
RELATIONSHIPS
Clark and Lana do what they can to keep in touch with Eddie/Jamie, Kensi/Marty, and Chloe/Oliver. The latter is the easiest, obviously. For the others they have, so far, managed to coordinate 1 vacation a year with one of Lana's business visits. It helps that Laana's business can pay for the lodging (Oliver helps some, he insists) and CK/SM can transport in a pinch. What a crazy life. They love it.
JUSTICE LEAGUE
Clark and Oliver are the mainstays of the JL. The organization provides back-up for its members; and can put together large teams for major operations. Coverage for vacation time is a major attraction, especially for members with a family.
There has been an intermittent push to get Batman to join. But Bruce is such a loner, and has made some non-friends in the JL, so the campaign doesn't have much steam. We shall see.
CHILDREN
Clark and Lana have discussed this topic several times. They both realize that they reconnected relatively later in life than optimal child bearing age. While pregnancy is something Lana is wistful about, they both know that with their lifestyle as it is, going that route would be problematic. They have discussed adoption, but they cannot see their way clear to do that either. So, unless an opportunity, and a real need, drops into their lap (not impossible with S/M's activities) they will continue to love and cherish each other.
AND THEY DO, LOVE AND CHERISH EACH OTHER!
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It's been sung that love is better the 2nd time around. Clark and Lana wouldn't go that far. But it certainly is sweet! Their one regret is that they kind of gave up on each other way back when. Their one piece of advice to college graduates would be DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS OR ON ONE ANOTHER!
Second chances do occur! Rarely.
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POST SCRIPT
Superman is in Vietnam for 3 days. There were torrential rains, flooding, destroyed structures and looting. He has worked with the military, police and relief agencies to ameliorate the damage and human suffering. The rains have stopped and the flood waters are receding. The area where he is last working has settled down. All the aid workers have pulled out, he is making a final sweep to make sure there are no stragglers who need attention.
He sweeps the area with his x-ray vision and all is clear. Then some movement catches his eye. He sees a small child, no a baby floating down he stream on a small mat of reeds. He wades out into the stream and picks up the mat and the baby. It is a girl; she cannot be more than 2 months of age. She is wrapped in a filthy purple cloth, no bigger than a bath towel. She doesn't have the strength to cry, only faint whimpers. Clark's heart breaks. A tear trickles down his cheek.
"I've got you, baby girl. You are safe with me." Is he really saying that?
He activates his x-ray vision and does 2 360's; nobody is around. He spots a small spring, a trickle of clear water feeding the larger stream. He goes over and lays his precious bundle down; he rinses the dirty purple cloth again and again. Until it is as clean as it will get. Using his strength, he wrings the cloth as close to dry as he can, then wraps the baby girl up and takes to the skies.
He protects her with his cape; he flies low and slow over the Pacific. Over land he must rise; he stays away from populated areas. Finally, he reaches Metropolis and their penthouse. He has alerted Lana to his arrival; she has unlocked the balcony sliding doors. He glides in and stands in the middle of their LR.
He stares at Lana, she stares back.
"Lana-
"Clark-
His wife sees he bundle in his arms. She points, mouth open. She is speechless.
"Lana, she was going to die!"
"Clark, we can't-
"We have to, love."
He walks toward her, his arms outstretched holding his precious bundle.
When he reaches Lana, her arms reach out and take the tiny girl. Lana is sobbing now, uncontrollably. "Clark," she chokes out. "Did God give us a baby?"
"Yes, my love. He did!"
She clutches the baby girl to her chest and sobs.
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FINE
TBC in 'An Marie Kent'