Clark hesitated and came to a stop.
He looked up toward the stairs with a complicated expression, his eyes filled with uncertainty. His mother was still in the middle of giving birth. If he left now, he would not be there for her when she needed him most.
At a moment when family was supposed to stay together, supporting and encouraging each other, could he really walk away?
Compared to the companionship of loved ones, what truly mattered more? The responsibility of saving the world, or the powers that allowed him to do so?
And in the end, what did gaining or losing those powers even mean to him?
Clark's expression shifted again and again until Jonathan stepped forward and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Clark, we need to go."
"Okay."
Clark forced a small smile and looked at his father. "Don't worry, Dad. Mom will be fine."
Meeting Jonathan's eyes, Clark finally made his decision and followed him toward the hospital room.
Outside the delivery ward, Adrian and Clark waited in silence, their expressions serious as faint cries echoed through the corridor.
Clark looked nervous, but there was also anticipation in his eyes. Adrian, on the other hand, was quietly wondering what the arrival of a new child would mean for their family.
Jonathan was the most restless of them all. He paced back and forth nonstop, his anxiety written all over his face.
Martha's mother had already gone in to assist the doctors, leaving Jonathan alone with his thoughts.
After what felt like an eternity, Adrian's enhanced hearing finally picked up the sound of a loud, healthy cry.
A baby.
Both Adrian and Clark released long breaths at the same time.
Not long after, they were allowed into the room.
Martha lay weakly in the hospital bed, smiling tiredly at Jonathan. "It's a girl. The doctor told me."
"A girl…" Jonathan knelt beside her, holding her hand and kissing it gently. "You did amazing, Martha."
She smiled softly. "I'm just happy. There's nothing more meaningful than bringing a child into the world."
Jonathan looked at her lovingly. "Have you thought of a name?"
Martha hesitated for a moment. "Not yet. Something like this deserves thought. Maybe we should let Adrian and Clark help decide."
"How about Rachel?" Adrian said casually.
Martha and Jonathan exchanged glances.
Martha smiled first. "I like it. I had a close friend in college named Rachel. She was bright and cheerful. If I had stayed in Metropolis, we might have worked together at a law firm."
Jonathan chuckled quietly. "Rachel Kent… yeah, that sounds right."
"Maybe she'll grow up to be someone amazing," Martha said.
---
Kent Farm.
It was the day Martha was coming home.
Adrian and Clark woke up early to clean the house. The crib was ready, toys were arranged, and everything a newborn might need had been carefully placed in the room.
Jonathan had already gone to pick Martha up, leaving just the two of them behind.
An hour later, the sound of a car pulled into the driveway.
Martha stepped out holding the baby, while Jonathan carried the bags.
"Can I hold her?" Adrian asked.
"Of course." Martha carefully handed Rachel to him. "She's very calm. She doesn't even cry with strangers."
"I'm not a stranger," Adrian said with a faint smirk. "I'm her brother."
Rachel lay quietly in his arms, her skin unusually fair, her hair tinted a strange soft purple, and a small red mark resting on her forehead.
Adrian gently tapped her cheek.
Rachel waved her tiny hands in protest and made soft noises.
Even without fully understanding what he was sensing, Adrian could feel there was something different about her.
He carried her into the house.
Clark was hanging a picture frame on the wall. Normally, he would have pressed the nail in with a finger, but now he was using a hammer, hitting it carefully.
Bang.
The hammer slipped and struck his finger.
Clark dropped it immediately, clutching his hand as blood began to drip onto the floor.
Jonathan rushed over. "Clark!"
He grabbed Clark's hand and stared at the wound. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Clark said quietly. "I'm just normal now."
"Normal?" Jonathan frowned. "You've never been normal."
"Jor-El took my powers," Clark said calmly. "And honestly, being normal isn't so bad."
He looked down at his injured hand. "All my life, I've had to hold back. I couldn't play sports properly, couldn't live freely. Now I can finally live like everyone else."
Jonathan sighed. "But you'll get hurt. You're not used to this kind of life."
"I know. But you won't love me any less."
Jonathan shook his head. "Never. But your abilities also come with responsibility. You were always special, Clark."
Adrian stepped forward, still holding Rachel.
"Power isn't something someone gives you," Adrian said flatly. "It's something that's part of you. If your will is strong enough, no one can truly take it away."
Clark understood what he meant, but he stayed silent.
He reached for Rachel. "Can I hold her?"
Adrian handed her over.
Clark smiled as he looked at his little sister. "Her hair is beautiful. And her eyes."
Rachel reached out and grabbed Clark's bleeding finger.
A warm sensation spread through his hand.
Clark stared in shock.
The wound was gone.
---