The morning was cool, the sky clear, and the sun still shy over Smallville. Clark parked the truck in front of his house, the engine still vibrating under the hood. He grabbed his phone and called Alicia.
The tone rang for a few seconds until her voice answered.
"Hi, Clark."
She sounded happy, but the tired tone betrayed a sleepless night.
"You called me yesterday. What did you want to talk about?"
On the other end, a brief silence. Her voice came out soft, hesitant.
"I… wanted to talk to Diana."
Clark stayed calm, eyes fixed on the horizon.
'So that's it. Alicia just wants to get closer. She likes me but decided to try through those around me.'
"Alicia, if you want to talk to Diana, you can come here to the house."
There was a faint laugh, almost relieved.
"Thank you, Clark."
"Well, I have to go. I'm heading to Mom's, we'll talk later. But take care of Chloe."
"I promise I'll take care of her."
His finger ended the call. Clark dropped the phone on the seat beside him and turned the key.
VRUUUUM
The truck came back to life, its deep growl spreading along the road.
Kent Farm
The fields stretched in uniform green. Jonathan stood near the barn, talking with John Halloway, Mark Simmons, and Ben Carter. The men's laughter mixed with the sound of hooves and dragged wood.
Jonathan raised a hand in a wide wave when he saw his son arrive. Clark replied with a nod but didn't stop.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The smell of fresh bread and herbs filled the air. Martha was in the living room, hands on her hips, her belly now clearly rounded under the dress.
Clark approached slowly. A firm hug, a kiss on her forehead.
His heart quickened as he noticed something different.
TUM-TUM
With super hearing, the sound doubled. Two rhythms, distinct yet harmonious: hers and the baby's.
Clark knelt, pressing his ear against her rounded belly. The feeling was strange, intimate, almost sacred.
'Two hearts. She doesn't know yet, but I can already feel it. Life growing.'
Martha blinked, surprised, confusion flickering in her eyes. She touched her son's head and pulled him up, firm, as if to protect him from something invisible.
"Clark… did something happen to you, my son?"
Her gaze was full of concern, her voice low, as if fearing the answer.
Silence lingered after her question. Clark felt the weight of her voice pierce his defenses, as if his mother had touched something he was trying to hide even from himself.
'Ever since I reincarnated, I've always been sovereign, always had the upper hand. But now I've lost Jor-El, and for the first time, I felt I wasn't strong enough.'
He inhaled slowly, meeting his mother's eyes.
"I'm worried I'm not strong enough to protect the people I love."
Martha pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Welcome to my world, Clark."
He frowned slightly, confused, not understanding at first.
"I've always been afraid of not being strong enough to protect you. And now I'm afraid for your brother who hasn't even been born yet."
Clark relaxed slightly in her arms, his voice lower, but steady.
"You will protect him. Just like Dad does. And the brother who's still coming."
Martha stepped back enough to look him in the eyes.
"You don't have to do everything alone. You can count on me and Jonathan. We're a family, and you can always come home when something happens."
The warmth of her words sank deep, softening his rigidity.
"Thank you, Mom."
Her smile glowed for an instant before turning curious.
"And how's school?"
Clark took a slow breath, eyes shifting away.
'What am I supposed to say? I almost never go to school. I'm not going today either.'
"It's fine, same as always."
Martha's eyes narrowed. She caught the vagueness, the weight of a disguised lie. She held his arm and made him sit at the table.
"Clark, school is important. Education shapes the young. It's not just about books or grades, but about discipline, connection, and preparation for the future. You need to be present — not just survive the battles you fight. You need to build a path like any young man your age."
Clark stayed silent, eyes fixed on the wooden table.
'I should've read my mother's mind.'
Martha leaned a bit closer, trying to catch his face.
"Clark, did you hear what I said?"
He raised his eyes slowly. "I did, Mom."
'Even though I live through battles bigger than any classroom, I can't tell her that.'
Martha sighed, sliding her hand across the table until it met his. "I just want you to have choices. Life is made of them."
Clark squeezed her fingers lightly, drawing calm from her touch.
He stood up slowly, her words still echoing in his mind. He could fly to school in seconds. He could cross time with his own speed. He could already begin building his fortress in the Arctic. But he did none of that.
'Today I'll choose the more human path.'
He grabbed the keys. Martha appeared in the doorway with a glass of water and a simple bundle of bread and fruit. Her eyes searched his as if to confirm her son was still there.
"Take this. I don't want you going all morning without eating."
Clark gave a small smile and took the bundle. "Thanks, Mom."
Martha stepped closer, her hand resting on his sleeve, unhurried. "You don't have to prove anything to me or anyone. Just show up, learn, and come back home. The rest, we'll handle together."
'She always knows where it hurts.'
Clark lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers for a moment. "Promise."
"And if the world falls apart, you call me. Your father and I know how to listen." Her hand rose to his face, thumb brushing his cheekbone — that old gesture that never lost its power.
'Being normal for a few miles won't kill me.'
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too. And be proud of the simple things — they're what sustain the extraordinary."
He drew a deep breath and opened the door. Morning light washed over the hallway. Outside, the fields moved with the rhythm of work, tires marking the dirt, voices carrying from afar.
Clark walked to the truck, set the lunch on the passenger seat, and turned the key.
VRUUUM
The engine vibrated. He shifted gears and drove up the dirt road at a calm pace. Each meter delayed his arrival, but the steady wheel in his hands kept the day in its proper place.
At school, the halls were still full of quick steps and young voices. Alicia lingered near the entrance, waiting for Chloe, but her sharp eyes caught something unexpected.
Across the corridor, Jason and Lana were talking in low tones.
"Lana, you've been different lately… distant."
She turned away, clutching the books to her chest.
"I'm fine, Jason. You're overreacting."
Jason insisted, taking half a step closer. "No, I'm not. I can tell when something changes between us."
Alicia stayed still, hidden behind the nearby pillar. Her heart sped up.
'What kind of talk is that? That's not what an assistant coach should be having with a student.'
Lana drew a deep breath, voice steady to end the topic. "I need to go in, or I'll be late for class."
Jason hesitated, then gave in. "Alright. We'll finish this later."
He walked off first, footsteps echoing down the corridor. Lana took a few more seconds before heading the other way.
Alicia pressed her lips, her mind already spinning possibilities.
'So that's it… Lana Lang and Jason Teague. Chloe would love this story. A lovely romance between a student and the assistant football coach.'
She smiled faintly, pleased with her discovery, already thinking how to use the information.
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