Family Love

By Jen Miller

"Well, this is the best resume I have seen so far..." Perry was
saying when Jimmy flew into his office.

"Perry, there's something goin' on outside. Lois is fighting with
Colin for the last jelly doughnut and I thought..." he stopped
when he realized that Perry was talking to someone. She turned to
face him.

"Jimmy, meet Grey. Grey, this is Jimmy. He works here at the
Planet, mostly at nominal things," he said in playful tone.

"I'm sorry to be so rude, but I thought it was important. Glad to
meet you, Grey." She stood to shake his hand and he finally got a
good look at her. What he saw took his breath away. She was a
thin, lean, blond, with deep blue eyes. Her hair fell just onto
her shoulders and accented her perfectly shaped face. He didn't
realize he was staring until she grabbed his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Jimmy."

"Jimmy, I think we've found our summer help," Perry said more to
Grey than to Jimmy.

"Then I have the job," she said, maybe a bit too eagerly.

"Yes," Perry said. "You are the most qualified and we do need the
extra help until Clark comes back..."

"He'll be back any day now," Jimmy cut in fiercely. "He's only
away on a family emergency."

"We need the extra help until Clark comes back," Perry said,
staring so deeply into Jimmy's eyes that he had to turn away. He
knew that's Clark's sudden absence was a soft spot to Jimmy.
Clark had been like a brother to Jimmy.

An uncomfortable silence came over the room.

"Clark's not here?" Grey asked, trying to break the silence.

"He had a family emergency," Jimmy said softly. "We don't know
when he'll be back."

"Oh. I guess I shouldn't mention him around Lois..."

"It's better you don't say anything about it," Perry said in a
low voice because she was lurking right outside the door with
half a jelly doughnut in her hands and the other half on her
dress. "Aw, Jeez." Then more loudly, "Honey, what's wrong?"

Lois came storming through the door. "I clearly had my hand on
the last jelly doughnut and the Colin tried to rip it out of my
hands. I don't know what came over me. I just... I don't know,"
she said softly.

"It's okay. Would you like to get home to put on some clean
clothes?" The concern in Perry's voice made her laugh.

"I'm okay, really. I just have to wash it off with a little
water. What I really do want, though is a jelly doughnut."

"I think this could be a decent first errand for me," Grey
interjected. Lois gave her a quizzical look then soon
understood.

"You must be the hired help for the summer."

"Yes, I am. And I'll be happy to get a jelly doughnut for you.
Which bakery would you like me to get one from?"

Lois smiled and said to Perry, "I like her already. There's
Johnson's Bakery about two blocks from here. If you don't
mind..."

"Of course not. I'm the scrub around here and I expect these
kinds of jobs."

"Now, look," Perry said to Grey, "there are no scrubs here. We're
all one big happy family. You just have to get through the 'trail
period.'"

"Trial period?" Grey asked uncertainly.

"Yeah," Lois said. "It's the time when most summer help quits.
They just can't stand the pressure of working for the most
important paper in the world. Isn't that right, Jimmy?"

"Huh?" He had been staring at Grey's back again, and Lois had
known it. He shot Lois a glance that read a sarcastic 'Ha. Ha.
Very funny.'

"The trial period isn't that hard," Jimmy said kindly to Grey.
"Oh. You don't have to look nice in here," he said, looking at
her khaki pants and white blouse. "All of us non- reporters just
run around, so we can wear what we want.

"I'm liking this job already," Grey said to everyone.

"We'll see..." Lois said skeptically.

"I'll go get the doughnut now," Grey said with a smile.

As she walked off, Lois caught Jimmy looking at her.

"You like her, Jimmy?" she asked.

"Who me? Nooooo." He replied.

Lois and Perry exchange 'yeah right' glances.

"Come on, you two. Back to work." Lois and Jimmy were about to
exit Perry's office just as Grey came back with the doughnut.

"Well, that was fast," Lois said, a bit shocked. Grey just
smiled. "Jimmy, show Grey around the office and you can take her
on your jobs to get her situated."

"Sure," he said with a smile. They walked out. All Perry could
give a little laugh.

"What's so funny?" Lois demanded.

"Well, they just remind me of when you met Clark. He fell head
over heels for you." Perry continued to chuckle as Lois silently
walked out. She didn't want Perry to see the pained expression on
her face. Any time anyone said a thing about Clark, she just
wanted to crawl into a little hole, away from everyone else. She
hurt so much inside, yet couldn't show it.

Reluctantly, she returned to her desk with a jelly doughnut and
picked up a file that Jimmy had gotten for her from Star Labs.
She was digging up anything and everything on Superman because
she was doing a series of reports on his history, life, etc. She
figured that Perry had given this to her because it was easy to
do and might help her deal with Superman's disappearance. By
doing this, Perry had unknowingly cut off her escape route. She
usually dove into her work to forget about troubles, but this
time her work was her trouble. She sighed and started reading
about the history of Krypton. She knew it all. Clark had told her
all about it, but she had to look busy. She was reading about the
destruction of Krypton when she was interrupted by Jimmy's
voice.

"And I guess that's it. Well, what do you think of the Daily
Planet office," he said, grinning at Grey.

"Well, as I told you, I've been here before, but you make it seem
much more interesting than I could ever imagine." Lois had to
roll her eyes. Before they got any more obvious with their
flirting, she gave Grey her first real news job.

"Grey, could you run down to Star Labs and get all they have on
Kryptonite?"

"Sure. Oh, wait. I need a press pass, and mine isn't finished
being made yet.."

"Since it's your first job," Jimmy interrupted, "I'll come down
with you. You get the files, and I'll make sure they give them to
you."

"Okay, let's go," Grey said. As the two bounded off, Lois
returned to her file. The hours slowly crept by. She wished she
could be covering all the crime that had started in the city
since Superman's disappearance, and had asked Perry if she could,
but he refused. She didn't have the mental stability to fight
him.

When she was almost done with her article of Kryptonian history
that she had complied from old information drawn from the globe
and new information about New Krypton from Zara and Ching, Perry
called her into his office.

"Lois, honey, what's wrong?" Perry asked with concern.

"Why would anything be wrong?" Lois responded in her
I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about voice.

"Something's wrong, and you can't lie to me about it. You've
moping around here ever since Clark left. You've lost your spunk.
Is there something else going on rather than just a 'family
emergency'?"

"Of course not! Clark wouldn't lie," Lois said, trying to act
shocked.

"Listen, Lois. Go home. Call Clark and get some rest. Heck. Take
tomorrow off."

"Perry, I couldn't. I have to work, and..."

"Lois. I'm ordering you to take the day off tomorrow. You can
work from home. Your next piece isn't due for another three
days." Again, she didn't feel like arguing. Actually, a day off
did sound nice. She wouldn't have to worry about breaking down in
the office.

"You're right, Perry. See ya tomorrow." He was obviously stunned
at her response. She didn't even put up a fight. She really did
need some time off.

Lois walked to her desk to gather her things, and saw Jimmy and
Grey together yet again. They had been inseparable all morning.
He claimed he was getting her "settled in," but he had never done
this with any other new person before. Lois just happened to hear
Jimmy asking Grey to dinner.

"Well, what do you say?" he asked with a dashing smile.

"If we leave as soon as we both get off, yeah, because I have
some stuff to do later on."

"Great! I'll see you, well, in about an hour."

"Great." They were just staring at each other until Jimmy was
called into Perry's office. Lois smiled at their budding romance,
but then the smile turned into a frown. It just reminded her of
Clark and how much she loved him. She briskly walked into the
elevator just before the tears started to fall.

***

After Lois came home from work, she threw herself into a heap
onto her bed and cried. She missed him so much. It had already
been two months, but none of the pain of Clark's absence had even
dulled the slightest bit. *What am I going to do?* She opened her
eyes and she saw the bear that Clark had won her in Smallville so
long ago. She grabbed it and squeezed it tight. After about an
hour of crying, she changed into sweat pants and a tee shirt,
then sat on her balcony. It was just starting to get dark, and
the stars were beginning to shine. Lois sat there, hugging her
legs to her, until she could see Clark's star. The tears started
to flow again. The same questions started running through her
mind. *When will he be back? Will he ever be back? Is he even
alive?* She covered her face in her hands and sobbed into them.

When the night chill started to get to her after about an hour,
she went inside and put on a warm flannel. It seemed cold for a
May night. She aimlessly walked around her kitchen, looking for
something to eat, not that she was hungry, but because she needed
something to do. When she found nothing, she decided to go on a
walk.

The night was crisp and she breathed in the fresh air and felt
rejuvenated. She roamed aimlessly around Metropolis, thinking
about anything and everything, mostly Clark. Even though her eyes
were brimming with tears, she never let them fall. *I've got to
stay strong.*

She turned down a dark alley and heard something swooshing in the
air. *It can't be. He wouldn't be back so soon. And what is he
doing here?* She hid behind a dumpster, not knowing what it was.
She was about to give up, thinking that it was just her
overcharged senses, when she saw something coming down from the
sky. What she saw shocked her. Grey floated down, easily landed
on the ground, and started walking nonchalantly towards the
street. Lois was dumbfounded. She couldn't say anything. When she
finally came out of her paralyzed state, Grey was gone. Lois went
out of the alley and tired to find Grey, but she was nowhere in
sight. In an utterly confused state, Lois walked back to her
apartment.

That night, she couldn't sleep. She almost called the Kents
numerous times, but decided that it was way too late, even for
Kansas time, and she wouldn't want to say anything until she
fully understood what was going on. All night, the same questions
kept running through her mind: Is she from Krypton? What is she
doing here? Is she from Lord Nor? What is it with newsroom girls
having super powers?

Finally, at about 5am, Lois fell into a restless sleep. When the
alarm sounded one hour later, Lois dragged herself up into a
sitting position. *Was it a dream?* She realized it wasn't
because it was too clearly stamped in her mind. She was about to
get ready for work when she realized that Perry had given her the
day off. *I need to confront her* Lois thought. She had to make
up some excuse to get to the office or to get Grey to her
apartment. Lois was about to go back to sleep when it hit her.
*Well, I can't execute this little plan until later.* She set her
alarm for 7:30am and went back to sleep.

***

"Daily Planet," Jimmy said as he picked up the phone.

"Hi, Jimmy. It's Lois."

"Hey, Lois. What's up?"

"Could you get Grey to run to Star Labs and get me anything
they've got on Superman's powers," Lois said, "and then I need
her to drop them off by my apartment."

"Lois, do you want me to do it? She's just starting and..."

"It'll be good experience for her," Lois cut in.

"Whatever you say, Lois. I'll tell her," Jimmy replied.

"Thanks, Jimmy." With that, Lois hung up the phone and smiled as
she went to change out of her pajamas.

***

About twenty minutes later, there was a knock on Lois' door.

"Hey, Grey. Come on in," she said as she opened the door.

"Here's everything they had," Grey said as she placed two boxes
full of papers on Lois' coffee table.

"Wow. That was fast. They must have really been cooperative,"
Lois said with a hint of mockery in her voice.

"Uh, yeah. They were very nice," Grey said. Lois noticed that
Grey couldn't look her in the eye. Lois went to pick up the box.

"And these are heavy, too. I can barely pick them up. You carried
it with ease," Lois said, staring directly at the younger girl.
She just stared at the floor.

"I do lift some weights," Grey said in a hopeful tone.

"How much? Couple cars? I know you could probably handle that,
being from another planet and all..."

A look of fear spread across Grey's face. "How did you...I can't
believe...this is amazing...I don't..."

"I saw you last night, Grey. You landed in an alley," Lois
offered. "I just happened to have seen you." They stood for a
moment in uncomfortable silence.

"May I sit down?" Grey asked shakily.

"Sure. I guess you have some talking to do."

They both sat down, and Grey hung her head.

"I was going to tell," she said softly. *Just like Clark was
going to when I accidentally found out* Lois thought to herself.
"The reason I got a job at the Planet was because of you," she
continued. "I knew that Clark was Superman, and I figured you
knew, too."

"How did you know?" Lois asked, sounding surprised.

"On a school trip, we came to the Planet just to look around.
Must have been about three years ago. Even though I love
journalism dearly, I got a little bored. We were talking to that
gossip columnist, Cat. By the way, what happened to her?"

"You know what? I really don't know," Lois said in a puzzled
voice.

"Anyway," Grey said, turning back to the topic at hand, "I was
bored and I started reading people’s life signs. First Perry,
then you. When I got to Clark, it was odd the way he was
responding. His signs were nothing like anyone else's, but it was
familiar. There were like mine. About a minute later, I heard
someone calling for help, and then Clark made some kind of
excuse. He bolted out of the Planet. Later that night, I saw that
Superman had helped catch some robbers. I just put it all
together."

"I wish I could have done the same," Lois mumbled.

"Well, you couldn't read his life signs," Grey said with a
smile.

"Same life signs. Then you must be from New Krypton," Lois
mumbled almost to herself.

"Not exactly. Before I say anymore, I think we should tell
Clark's parents about this because I feel they can help me and
answer some questions."

"I'll call them and tell them we're on our way."

"Lois, could you tell them what you know about me so far?" Grey
asked.

"Sure," Lois said comfortingly as she got up to call the Kents.
She dialed and got Martha. Lois calmly explained what had
happened and what Grey had told her. After the shock wore off,
Martha told them to come right away.

"I'll call the Planet and say that we're working on a story, and
that you won't be in for the rest of the day."

"Thanks, Lois." After Lois finished talking to Perry, they were
set to leave.

"All right, let's go." Lois said. After checking to see that no
one was looking, Grey picked up Lois and headed for Smallville.
As they flew, Lois remembered the numerous times she had flown
with Clark and realized how much she missed it. *I guess that
goes right along with missing Clark,* Lois painfully thought.
Grey was quiet for the trip. Lois didn't say anything because she
knew Grey was probably lost in thought and still surprised that
she had to go through all this with Lois before she expected to.

Martha was waiting for them when they landed. Lois went and
hugged Martha while Grey hung back. Martha noticed the shyness
and gestured for Grey to come over.

"Welcome to Kansas." Martha said and gave Grey a hug, which was
gratefully returned. Lois went over to Jonathan and gave him a
hug.

"How you holding up?" she asked him.

"As best I can," he responded with a smile. They all walked into
the farmhouse. Lois was surprised to see a full breakfast laid
out on the kitchen table."

"Did you eat yet, Lois? I would ask you the same, Grey, but I
know you don't necessarily have to eat. Am I right?"

"Yeah, but I still like to," Grey answered with a smile.

"I didn't eat much this morning," Lois said.

"I know it's 10am in Metropolis, but it's still breakfast time
here, so I hope you haven't eaten," Martha said.

"Don't talk them to death. Let's just eat!" Jonathan said to the
group.

"Is it okay if I answer your questions after we eat?" Grey
asked.

"Of course. For now, eat up," Martha said kindly.

As they ate, Lois talked about what was going on at the Daily
Planet, and they talked about Clark. Grey just silently observed
and envied the closeness they all had.

As soon as Martha and Jonathan had finished cleaning up the
dishes, they all moved into the living room, waiting for Grey to
tell them the whole story of her existence.

"Well, here goes," Grey said, looking around at the kind people
with her. Taking a deep breath, she began.

"I am not from New Krypton as you all might think. When the
original planet Krypton was about to explode, Laura and Jor-El,
as you know, set Clark in a ship and sent him off to earth. Well,
there wasn't just one ship sent out. There were two. You see,
Kal-El was not an only child. I am his sister." Everyone mouths
dropped open, yet Grey continued. "I am, or was, eight years
older than Clark. I remember what happened," she said in a shaky
voice, close to crying, but she continued on. "My parents didn't
want to send me to New Krypton. They figured I had a better
chance by coming to earth. Clark and I were supposed to land
together, and I was to look over him, take care of him. We
weren’t supposed to be separated. I knew about the powers we
would both get, and I was to help him deal with them. It
obviously didn't work that way. As you can see, Clark is much
older than me, about 10 years, I think. When we were sent from
Krypton, we were put in a state of suspended animation. It was
only supposed to be temporary until we reached earth. He made it
fine without a hitch. For some reason, I don't know what, my ship
had trouble and I got caught in space for seventeen years. Since
my ship had gone off course, I landed in a field out in near the
border of New Troy on July 19, 1977. When I didn't see Kal- El's
ship by my side, I assumed that he didn't make it or had landed
somewhere else. I gathered whatever my parents had put into the
ship, then buried the ship as I had been instructed to. When I
was older, I destroyed it. At the time, I was just semi-strong,
but strong enough to put it fifteen feet under. You see, I knew
what was going to happen. Since I wasn't with Clark, I couldn't
tell him. I assume that it took him time to develop his powers?"
Martha just nodded. "Well, I went into the nearest town and got a
newspaper and discovered that I was seventeen years late. I
didn't know what to do. My job was to raise Kal-El, but now I
didn't know if he was even alive. I went to the Metropolis
Orphanage with all my possessions. I was so confused. It was
almost definite that my whole family was dead. Everything my
parents had told me about earth's social life was just history.
Our original destination was in Kansas, but I was too confused
and shocked to think to go there. I needed to go somewhere close.
As soon as I got to the orphanage, I didn't really get the chance
to get to Kansas. For the rest of my life, I researched newspaper
articles to see if there was any sign of Kal-El's existence. For
a while I though that bat guy in Gotham City was him, but he
wasn't. Other than that, I found nothing. When I began to fly, I
did go to Kansas and looked in town archives near where we were
supposed to land, but found nothing. No mystery children, no
super powers. Nothing. I was about to give up when Superman
appeared. Then I discovered it was Clark. I came to work at the
Daily Planet to see if I could get the guts to tell him, but then
this whole Lord Nor thing came up and ruined everything." She
looked around the room for everyone's reactions. They were all
dumbfounded. "I know I should have said something sooner, but I
was scared." They just kept staring at her.

"I never..." Martha sputtered.

"I don't believe..." Lois mumbled.

"I...this just...I can't..." Jonathan muttered. They all tried to
speak to Grey, give some sort of reaction, but they were too
numbed by shock to do anything. After about a minute, Martha
moved over to where Grey was sitting and hugged her.

"I know that was hard, and you didn't have any reason to be
scared. This must be so hard. You've been through so much, and
thank you for telling us." As she hugged Martha, tears rolled
down Grey's face.

"I've had to keep this inside for so long, and I had no one to
tell. This is the first time I've been able to let it all out,"
Grey said in a shaky voice.

Lois, too, started to cry as she thought of Clark, and how it had
been the same for him. Lois knew what it was like to be a loner,
but she had never lived through as much as this young woman had
to. They all sat in a loving silence as they thought over what
was just said, and trying to make sense of it. While doing this,
new questions sprung up in their minds. *This is going to be a
long day,* Jonathan thought while observing the emotional women
in his house.

When everyone had collected themselves, Grey resituated herself
and prepared to answer questions.

"I know there's so much more you would like to know, especially
with what has happened with New Krypton, and I don't know where
to start, so just ask away."

"You know about Zara and Ching, right?" Lois asked.

"I faintly remember Ching, but I do remember Zara because of the
betrothal ceremony. They, too, were babies when Krypton perished.
I wasn't sure if she had survived, but I guess she has."

"They came back to get Clark to rule over New Krypton. Why didn't
they come to get you? Did they not know about you?" Lois asked,
her reporter instincts kicking in.

"They definitely knew about me. I was supposed to be her
sister-in-law. When Clark and I were sent to Earth, I guess
everyone on New Krypton assumed that we had died. My hypothesis
is that Zara and Ching had come to Earth because they had heard
about Superman while observing this planet. They knew it was
Kal-El. The only thing was that they didn't hear anything about a
super girl. There's nothing in any records about me because I
kept my secret well hidden, only helping when I could. I didn't
do anything like Clark did. They probably assumed that I died,
and if they searched for me, they would search for a much older
woman, not a nineteen year old girl. When I heard about Zara and
Ching's appearance, it was too late. Clark had already left. I
didn't know what to do. Clark clearly wasn't fit to rule New
Krypton. It's not that he couldn't be a leader, but Kryptonians
have a totally different world and society. It will be hard for
him to adjust to their lifestyles and even harder to rule people.
I'm assuming that the High Council will actually detest him
because his parents really distrusted their ancestors by sending
us away. He doesn't even know the language. My parents taught me
English and Spanish when I was a little girl, because they knew
that I would one day be sent to Earth, searching for a place to
fit in. I also knew of his engagement to Lois. I knew he had a
life here with people who cared. He had so much to lose. I, on
the other hand, am still looking for a place on earth. I have had
trouble adjusting to earth life. Humans are so compassionate, yet
can be violent at the same time. Kryptonians don't really love,
and are, I guess you could say, monotone with their feelings. I
have learned to love and have feelings, but it's been hard. I
don't really prefer any one culture, but I was used to Kryptonian
lifestyle."

"It must have been so hard adjusting," Lois commented.

"Yes it was. I really didn't have any friends, even in the
orphanage, but recently, I have opened up a little and fit more
into society. I never felt better than when I started working at
the Planet. They were so open and friendly. I never had friends
until now."

"Why did you come to the Planet in the first place?" Lois asked,
her curiosity peaked.

"To find you. I knew you were engaged to Clark and most likely
knew who he was, and I assumed you knew Clark's parents really
well." Jonathan nodded in agreement.

"We are very close," Martha said kindly.

"I somehow needed to have someone who could help me."

"Help you do what?" Lois asked.

"Contact Clark and take over his position as ruler of New Krypton
so he can return home." Again, they were dumbfounded. Finally,
some hope that Clark could come home, but it seemed to impossible
to actually happen. "I also wanted to know if you had some of
Clark's things from the ship."

"Yes, of course. Whatever you need," Martha said. "Come on. It's
in here." They followed Martha in the master bedroom. She bent
down and pulled a chest from under the bed.

"This is everything that was in his ship." She opened the chest
and moved aside so Grey could look closer.

"Here's his blanket. I had one just the same, but his emblem's
missing," Grey said with a puzzled look on her face.

"I used it on his first Superman costume." Grey nodded and
continued to look through the chest, becoming more frustrated as
she went along. Sensing this, Martha asked, "What's wrong?"

"Well, my parents realized that we could have been split up when
traveling to Earth, and didn't want Clark to know about me if I
had died. My job was to search him out if we got separated. If we
got split up, they didn't want whoever found him to know about
me, so I wouldn't be searched for. They put a globe which was a
map of Krypton in his ship, and it would give out different
information if I touched it or he did."

"Oh, how could we have overlooked that?" Jonathan asked. "It's in
the Fortress of Solitude. It's a tree house, actually. Clark used
to go there to be alone and practice his powers. I'll show you
where it is." They all followed Jonathan out of the farmhouse and
into the woods. When they got there, Grey flew up and retrieved
the small box that held the globe.

"If I remember, all I have to do is touch this, right?"

"That's the way it worked for Clark," Martha informed her.

Grey opened the box and touched the globe. Immediately, an image
of Jor-El and Laura appeared. Grey's eyes misted over when she
saw her long deceased parents.

"Ah, Grey, my little one. I assume you made it to earth and have
found Kal-El. Hopefully, you landed together. Now, take good care
of him. He needs someone to guide him and tell him what's going
to happen. Without you, his life will be confusing and
frustrating." Jonathan squeezed Martha's shoulder because
Jor-El's predictions had come true. Clark had been through so
much growing up, and could have used Grey's guidance.

"Grey," the image of Laura said, "one day, if the New Krypton
plan works, Kryptonians might come to Earth to find you. You must
take over at New Krypton if they ask. We know that it would be
traditionally Kal-El that would rule with his betrothed one, but
he has no idea about Kryptonian culture and would not be a
suitable leader. We didn't betroth you for a reason. We knew
that, if the New Krypton colony survives, and if you survive,
they will search for you. If you were betrothed, then you
couldn't rule. Now you can. I know you will be a good leader."
The world around Laura and Jor-El shook. Jor-El took Laura by the
shoulders.

"It is time," Jor-El said to his wife.

"I wish she could see me," Laura said.

"She will, in time," Jor-El said to the now weeping Laura.

"Remember, little one, that we love you," Jor-El said. "Even
though Kryptonian's don't show many feelings, don't doubt that we
didn't love you. Good bye, little one. We will always be with
you." With that, the image disappeared. As soon as they were
gone, Grey collapsed. Lois, Martha, and Jonathan rushed by her
side.

"I...love you, too...mom and...dad," Grey said in between heavy
sobs. Martha held Grey close to her, but didn't say anything
because there were no words that could comfort Grey's grief at
the moment. Lois hugged Grey from behind, knowing that Grey was
finally grieving over the death of her parents and needed to feel
that she was there for her.

"Clark was always emotionally drained after contact with the
globe," Martha said in a shaky voice because she, too, was
crying.

"They told...me that...would...happen," Grey said, looking at
Martha through teary eyes.

"This has obviously been harder on you," Lois whispered into
Grey's ear. "Let's get you home and into a bed so you can rest."
Grey nodded, thankful for the outpouring of love around her.

"I have...lost them," Grey said as Jonathan lifted her, "but I
have...gained...you." With that, she fell asleep.

***

After the Kents had settled Grey in Clark's bed, they joined Lois
in the living room.

"This is just so much to handle at once," Lois said.

"It must have been so hard on her, being all alone without the
ones she loved. She was so young," Martha said, her eyes tearing
up. Jonathan put his arm around her and gave her shoulder a
supportive squeeze. "Even though I just met her, I feel so close
to her because she went through many of the things Clark did."

"I know," Lois said. "They both went through a lot."

"The question is," Jonathan said, interrupting the women’s'
sentimental feelings, "what are we going to do next? She brought
up some good points as to why she should rule on New Krypton. Her
parents even told her that she was to do it."

"I bet they didn't expect her to arrive seventeen years late,
though," Lois offered.

"Yes," Martha said, "but she does know the way of the
Kryptonians. It's hard to believe a world where people are
basically emotionless. I know that world must have been hard for
Clark to adjust to."

"How in the world are we going to get her to New Krypton?"
Jonathan pondered aloud.

"It's not like we can just say 'Hey, Zara, we got someone here
who would like to talk to you," Lois said, then her eyes went
wide. Jonathan and Martha looked at each other. They knew that
look. Lois had an idea.

"What's your idea, honey?" Martha asked.

"Well, Grey is Kryptonian, right?" The Kents nodded. "And I told
you about Clark contacting me telepathically that one night,
right?" They nodded again. "Do you think Grey could talk to them?
I mean telepathically. She should be able to. If he can contact
me, a human, I'm sure he could talk to another Kryptonian." Lois'
eyes shined with excitement.

"Has Clark said anything since?" Martha asked tenderly.

"No," the shine went away from Lois' eyes, but it returned almost
as soon as it had went. "But that doesn't mean that they can't
talk. And even if..." Lois' voice started to shake, "Clark
somehow got killed, she could still talk to someone else." The
Kents looked at each other. Lois certainly did have a good plan.

"Well, it's probably not going to happen tonight," Jonathan said.
"The contact with the globe took so much out of her. It never
affected Clark that much, but he never grieved like that."

"She should sleep for a long time." Martha glanced at her watch.
"My, it's 1 o'clock. How about some lunch. Then, after that, I
think we should cook a nice big dinner in case Grey wakes up."

"Ah, home cooking," Jonathan and Lois both said at the same time.
They all chucked. It was a bit of relief in a now tense and
emotional time.

***

Grey promptly woke up at 6pm just as Martha was putting dinner on
the table.

"How do you feel?" Martha asked as she saw the younger girl walk
into the room.

"Okay. Still a little sleepy, but I'm always like that when I
wake up," Grey responded.

"We cooked a nice big country dinner," Lois said. "I'm glad you
woke up in time."

"So am I," Grey said with a smile. They all chowed down on fried
chicken, apple dumplings, homemade applesauce, mashed potatoes,
and anything else Martha and Lois had decided to make. They
finished the perfect meal with hefty piece of homemade apple
pie.

"Well," Jonathan said as he pushed his plate away, signaling that
he was done, "that was delicious, thanks to our two wonderful
cooks."

"Martha did most of it..." Lois began to say.

"But Lois helped with everything," Martha cut in.

"It was fantastic," Grey said, "and because it was so good and
must have taken a long time to make, I'll do the dishes."

"Honey, you don't have to do that..." Martha said.

"Has Clark ever done the dishes?" Grey cut in.

"Yes. But why?" Martha asked with a confused look on her face.

"I'll do my best imitation," Grey said with a smile. She started
whirling around the room in superspeed and was done the dished in
two minutes.

"That was the best impression I've ever seen!" Lois exclaimed.

"I try," Grey replied. She joined everyone at the table. "So did
you guys scheme away while I was sleeping?"

"Yes, and we have a plan," Lois said seriously.

"Can you still communicate telepathically?" Martha asked, leaning
close to Grey.

"Yes, of course. I still hear people talking."

"Really?" the Kents and Lois asked at once.

"Yes, but I really don't pay any attention to it. It's just like
when I lived on Krypton, part of the lifestyle. The telepathic
ties of Kryptonians are very strong. It's just like background
noise. It's really the only way that I knew the New Krypton
settlement had succeeded. I could never really hear what they
were saying, though. It's like trying to pick up on conversations
in a stadium. There are just so many people. My name would have
to be called for me to really listen."

"This is good," Lois said, starting to get excited. "What we
thought is that you might communicate with Clark or Zara or
Ching."

"I could try, but I would have to say something that would catch
their attention. I'm sure many people are trying to contact Clark
telepathically. It happens sometimes. You just learn to live with
it and block out everything but certain people's 'voices.' I'm
sure it's been hard for Clark to adjust."

"Well, I know how you could call his attention," Martha said,
smiling. "Just call him by his earth name. Clark."

"I'm sure no one else calls him that on New Krypton," Jonathan
added.

"Of course you are right," Grey said smiling.

"We were just worried that you might be too exhausted to
communicate with them," Lois said.

"It's not an exhausting thing. It's just as easy as talking to
you, although I might have to concentrate to get Clark's
attention. I should be fine, though," Grey said, hope shining in
her eyes. "I guess the best time to start is now."

Grey closed her eyes and started to concentrate. Martha held on
to Jonathan and Lois' hands because so much was riding on this.

<Clark. Clark, can you hear me?> They all looked at Grey
intently, hoping to get some answer. Lois' eyes started to water
when Grey didn't get an answer immediately. <Clark. Clark. Come
on, Clark.>

Far away on New Krypton, Kal-El was reading over reports,
translated into English, about recent protests to his taking the
throne when he heard someone calling him, not Kal- El, but Clark.
<Who are you? How do you know my name?>

"I got him!" Grey exclaimed. They all cried out in joy. <Clark,
I'm here in Smallville with your parents and Lois.>

<What have you done with them?> he asked sternly, becoming
concerned.

"He wants to know what I've done with you," Grey said laughing.

"He always did care," Martha said.

<I haven't done anything with them. They are helping me to find
you and to get you home.>

<I don't understand.> Clark 'said.' His concern became relief
that they were all alive and well.

<It's a long story, but to put it shortly, I am your older
sister. We were both sent from Krypton by our parents, Laura and
Jor-El. You made it to earth safely, but I got somehow delayed
for seventeen years. We were in suspended animation when sent
from Krypton. I should be eight years older than you, but because
of the delay, I’m ten years younger than you.>

<What? I don't believe this. A sister?>

<Yes. You can ask Zara about me.>

"What's going on now?" Lois asked.

"I just told him who I was and my story in a nutshell. He's
shocked, naturally. I told him to ask Zara about it.

<Zara!> Clark called.

<What is it, Kal-El?> she asked.

<Did I have a sister?>

<Why, yes you did. We assumed she died.>

<Zara, I'm not dead,> Grey thought to her.

<GREY! You're alive!> Zara exclaimed.

<Alive and well. I assume that you tried to find me.>

<Of course we did, but we couldn't find you.>

<Did you look for a woman in her 30’s here on earth?> Grey
asked.

<Yes. That's the age you should be.>

<Zara,> Grey said, <my ship got delayed somewhere in space for
seventeen years and am actually only nineteen.>

<Oh, my gosh. I don't believe this,> Zara said.

<Neither can I,> Clark said.

"I just talked to Zara," Grey told the Kents and Lois. "She is
also shocked."

"I think she would be," Lois said.

<Zara, my parents sent a globe in the ship with Clark, and I have
connected with it...>

<You contacted the globe?> Clark asked.

<Yes. Your parents showed it to me. It gave a different message
to me, Clark. Anyway, in it they said that if the New Krypton
settlement was to survive, that Kal-El and I would be sought out
to rule over the new planet.>

<Yes, that all happened,> Zara said.

<In it they also said that I would be the ruler, and not Kal-El
because of my years on New Krypton.>

<Of course you are better suited, but we thought you were dead,>
Zara said.

"I just told Zara about my parents wanting me to rule over New
Krypton," Grey told the tense people waiting in the farmhouse.

<Acting on my parent's word, I am willing to come to New Krypton
to take over as ruler,> Grey said.

<Of course, Grey. I don't think the high council would mind,>
Zara said.

<They sure haven't taken too well to my taking over,> Clark said.
<They hate me. We can get nothing done.>

<What has become of the Civil War?> Grey asked, already becoming
the leader she was meant to be.

<We have won most of the battles since Kal-El has joined us, but
I think this is far from over,> Zara said.

<I am willing to take on the challenge,> Grey said seriously.

<I am sure that we will win. Things will be easier when a native
Kryptonian, someone who knows this society, takes over,> Clark
said.

<I'm sure you have tried your best,> Grey said. <Zara, arrange
for a ship to come to earth to get me. Also, I want the papers
drawn up for an annulment of your marriage to Kal-El.>

<Yes, Grey,> Zara said obediently. <We will leave as soon as this
news has been made public and talked over with the high council.
I will make sure they agree to you becoming leader.>

<Bring Kal-El with you,> Grey said.

<Am I allowed to go home?> Clark asked.

<I am ordering you home,> Grey said, smiling.

"What are you smiling about?" Lois asked, hoping it would be good
news.

"As the future ruler of New Krypton, I ordered Clark to come
home!" Lois and Martha started crying with joy.

"He's coming home!" they both cried. Jonathan hugged Martha, then
Lois.

<Grey,> Clark said.

"What is it?" Lois asked again, noticing that Grey had snapped
back into concentration.

"It's Clark."

<Grey, could you relay some messages to my parents and Lois?>

<Of course.>

"He wants me to relay some messages. Hold on," Grey said to
everyone.

<Tell them all that I miss them very much, and I can't wait to
get home.>

"He missed you all and can't wait to get home."

<And tell my mom, that if she feels like it, to have a meal ready
for me because I really miss earth food.>

"Martha, he wants you to have a meal ready for him because he
missed earth food."

"Of course I will," Martha said through tears of joy.

<She said she will,> Grey relayed to Clark.

<Tell Lois,> he said tenderly, <that I love her.>

"Lois, he say that he loves you," Grey said to Lois.

"Tell him that I love him too, and I never lost faith in him,"
Lois happily said through tears of her own.

Grey relayed the message and said goodbye. She turned to the
overjoyed people around them.

"They should be here at the house tomorrow night with Clark and
annulment papers for me to sign," Grey told them.

"I can't wait!" Lois said. She was so happy to finally have her
Clark back. All the pain, all the suffering would soon be over.
In her rejoicing, she had forgotten about Grey actually leaving.
"But Grey, you'll be leaving," Lois said softly.

"It must be done. It is my destiny," Grey said, looking right at
Lois.

"Won't you miss Earth and us and..." Martha asked gently.

"Yes, of course," Grey cut in, "but this isn't where I belong.
This planet is so different than home. I'll just have to adjust
again, but it won't be as hard as it was before. I would like to
return to the Planet, though, to explain everything. I wouldn't
mind the world knowing about it." Grey smiled. "Gee, I wonder who
I'll give the exclusive to?"

"You better not wonder," Lois said, and gave Grey a hug. "Thank
you so much."

As the two younger women embraced, Martha whispered to Jonathan,
"They have so much in common."

"I think we all do," Jonathan whispered back.

***

"I don't believe it," Perry said as he leaned across his desk.

"It's true," Lois said to him.

"See?" Grey said. She stood and floated across the room. People
from the newsroom started to stare at her.

"What is it with newsroom girls turning into aliens?" Perry said,
but with a smile. "I'm sure we get the exclusive on this,
right?"

"Of course. I did seek out Lois in the first place because of her
friendliness with Superman. I think she deserved the story," Grey
said.

"I've already got it finished. I sent it to the Planet this
morning," Lois said to Perry.

"Now, uh, when will you be leaving. I'm assuming I won't get a
two weeks' notice," Perry said jokingly.

"Tonight," Lois and Grey both replied.

"Where will Superman be returning to?" Perry asked.

"We're not telling," Lois said, smiling at Grey. "Superman
requested that there not be much media there. Of course, I'll be
there to cover the story, but he wanted to keep this out of the
limelight. He will, though, have a press conference in Metropolis
the next day. He wanted to know if he could hold it here."

"Of course! Anything he wants!"

"Thanks, Perry," Grey said.

"Grey," he said in his fatherly tone that he often used with
Lois, "thanks. If this little thing didn't pop up, and you
weren’t going to become the leader of another planet, you would
have made a great reporter here."

"Thanks, Perry," Grey said with a smile. Grey and Lois exited
Perry's office with everyone staring at them.

"The story's on file," Lois said to all of them. A few thank
you's were shouted, and everyone rushed for the nearest computer.
Grey and Lois walked to Lois' desk. "There's really nothing to do
here. What do you say we go to..."

"Grey, I..." Jimmy said as he came over. "Oh, sorry. I didn't
mean to interrupt," he said softly.

"It's okay, Jimmy. I was just...uh...going to get some Clark
bars," Lois said and hurried to the vending machine.

"Come on, Jimmy," Grey said. Let's go on a walk. I don't want to
force Lois to keep making excuses to stay away from her desk."
They walked out of the newsroom and out onto the Metropolis
streets. "This way," Grey said as she led Jimmy down a back
alley.

"There's nothing this way," Jimmy said. "It's just a dead end."

"Hmm. You've got to remember, Jimmy, you're dealing with someone
from another planet," she said with a smile.

"Oh, yeah," he said sadly.

"Come on." She went over to him, scooped him into her arms, and
shot skyward.

"Wow!" Jimmy exclaimed as they were over the city. "Where we
going?"

"You'll find out," Grey said with a wink. In about ten minutes,
they landed on a deserted beach in California. "Now," Grey said
as she put Jimmy on the sand, "we can talk about this." The both
sat down on the warm sand.

"I read the article and, well, I was shocked," Jimmy said.

"I guess you would be. It shocked Lois when she found out, too,"
Grey said.

"It must have been so hard for you to leave your family and
friends. You lost so many people you love."

"And I'm going to lose more when I leave here," Grey said,
looking at Jimmy. "I don't know if I'll be totally able to go
back to Kryptonian ways with no emotion after what I have
experienced here, especially since I've come to the Planet. First
there was you, helping me so much, and you obviously cared about
me."

"Yeah. We did have a great date," he said, taking her hand.

"Yeah. It was great. In a way, I don't want to leave, but I have
to. It's what my parents wanted me to do."

"It sounds so much like what Superman had to do."

"Well," Grey said, laughing, "I am his sister. I guess we should
be alike."

"I guess so." They sat in a comfortable silence. "I'll miss you,
Grey. Even though it's only been a couple of days, I'll miss
you."

"I'll miss you, too, Jimmy." They looked into each other's eyes
and shared a tender kiss. As their lips parted, Grey said, "We
better get back."

"Yeah," Jimmy said sadly.

"But not till after a little flying," Grey said, flashing a
smile.

***

Grey was bombarded with questions the rest of the day. Lois had
already returned to her apartment to get ready for leaving.
Later, Grey and Jimmy strolled the short distance to Lois'
apartment hand in hand.

"I guess this is goodbye," Grey said, turning to Jimmy.

"Yeah. I won't forget you."

"I won't forget, either. When this whole war is over, maybe I'll
stop here."

"Yeah," Jimmy said softly.

"Thanks. For everything," Grey said, a tear running down her
cheek. He kissed her softly.

"Bye," he said and walked down the street. He turned and looked
back with tears in his eyes. She was there, looking at him.
Finally, he turned the corner and was gone. Grey made her way up
the stairs and to Lois' apartment. Lois opened the door before
she had a chance to knock and gave Grey a hug.

"I saw the whole thing," she said. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about. I let it happen, and I
shouldn't have."

"Sometimes, there's nothing you can do." Lois pulled away and
smiled. She closed the door to the apartment.

"They should be getting here in about a half hour. We should be
leaving," Grey said, drying her eyes.

"Yes," Lois smiled. "I feel ashamed, but I'm excited."

"You shouldn't be. You're fiance is returning!"

"But you're leaving," Lois said quietly.

"Come on, Lois. Let's go," Grey said, smiling, erasing all of
Lois' negative feeling. "We don't have much time." Lois grabbed
her backpack that had a change of clothes. Grey picked her up and
flew out to Smallville.

***

Lois, Grey and the Kents were anxiously waiting in the farmhouse
kitchen.

"I guess you'll be leaving us soon," Martha said to Grey. She
nodded a yes. "I would just like to tell you that we are so
grateful. Thank you for letting our boy come home, and ..."
Martha was cut off by a bright light through the window.

"They're in Shuster's Field," Grey said.

"How do you..." Lois started to ask, but realized that Grey could
talk telepathically. They all left the farmhouse and hurried to
the field. When they came upon the open land, they saw a
spherical spaceship that hadn't yet been open.

"Before I go back, I'd like to say thanks. For everything," Grey
said to the Kents and Lois. They all hugged her at once and told
her how they would miss her. "As soon as that door opens, I am a
Kryptonian, and I won't show any emotion anymore, so don't get
scared or anything. It's just how I have to be, okay?" Her tears
mixed with Martha and Lois' upon the ground. They heard a hissing
noise. Immediately, Grey ended the embrace and wiped off her
face. "Bye," she whispered. She stood tall and approached the
ship with the Kents and Lois close behind.

The door opened and out stepped Ching and Zara.

"Hello, Grey," Zara said. She was speaking so that the Kents and
Lois could understand what was going on.

"Hello, Zara. It's been a long time," Grey said in a monotone
voice. "Has the high council approved my becoming the leader of
New Krypton?"

"Yes, unanimously. The official ceremony will take place in New
Krypton although you are officially the ruler of New Krypton."

"Yes. Bring the annulment papers to me," Grey said flatly. "You
have brought Kal-El with you as I ordered?"

"Of course. He's just changing into earth clothes," Zara said as
Ching brought out a scroll and what looked like an ink pad along
with a cloth. Grey took the ink pad from Ching and put her finger
in, signing the scroll that Ching held.

"Your betrothal is now null and void. You are free to marry as
you wish," Grey said and caught the small glance that Zara threw
to Ching.

"Thank you," Zara said. As soon as that was said, Clark appeared
from the door wearing a charcoal gray suit.

"Kal-El, so we finally meet," Grey said flatly, but broke into a
smile.

"I guess you're my big sister," he said to her.

"Well, technically, but not anymore," Grey said.

"Thank you so much," he went over and hugged his sister.

"You're welcome. It was what our parents wanted." Grey pulled
back. "I think there's some people who want to see you," she
said, motioning to Lois and the Kents.

"Yes," he said, smiling in their direction.

"We must be going," Zara said to Grey.

"Well, goodbye everyone," Grey said in a monotone voice, but
smiled. With that, they returned to the ship and flew off into
space.

"Oh, Clark," Martha said sobbingly and ran to Clark.

"Hi, mom. I've missed you," he said, hugging her with all his
strength since he didn't have any of his powers restored yet.
Jonathan came up and hugged the both. "You, too, dad. It's been
too long. So much has happened. I'm so glad to be back," Clark
said, tears running down his own cheeks. They embraced for a long
time. Lois silently watched, her heart filled with love for her
future family.

"There's someone else to see you," Martha said, letting go of her
son. Jonathan understood and let go too. Clark turned to Lois.
When their eyes met, she ran to him. He held onto her tightly.

"I never, ever want to lose you again," Clark said, letting his
tears fall onto her hair.

"Don't worry. I’ll always be here for you," Lois said, sobbing
into his chest.

***

After a week in Smallville full of love and wedding plans, Lois
and Clark returned to the Planet.

"Welcome back, Kent. How's everything at home?" Perry asked.

"Fine. Just fine," Clark said and smiled at Lois who was on his
arm. "We actually came to ask you a really big favor."

"Uh, oh. What's up now?" Perry asked with concern in his eyes.

"Don't look so grim, chief," Lois said. "We just need some time
off."

"What? You've both been gone for so long that..." Perry started
to rampage.

"For a wedding and honeymoon," Lois cut in.

"Oh," Perry said, smiling. "Of course. Why didn't you say so?" he
asked jokingly. "Take all the time you want."

"Thanks, Perry," Clark said and went over to his desk as Lois
went to hers. Clark started to get his desk back in order when
Jimmy passed by.

"Hey, CK. Glad you're back," he said.

"Great to be back," Clark said, smiling. "Oh! I have something
for you that Superman asked me to give to you." He reached into
his pocket and pulled out a letter and handed it to Jimmy.

"What's this?" he asked, eyeing the letter suspiciously.

"Well, he was talking telepathically to Grey, and she relayed a
letter for him to give you," Clark said. Jimmy took the letter
and immediately went to the conference room to read it, throwing
a 'thank you' back to Clark. Clark looked to Lois and smiled and
she smiled back, not only at Jimmy and Grey's long distance love,
but at the wonderful things to come.

THE END