Rating: T (Teen--some language)

Notes: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. All other characters are mine. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .


Chapter 1 [Luthor Castle—Smallville: Monday before Thanksgiving]

Lex sat reviewing the latest quarterly projections for LexCorp wondering if the figures would rebound. With the news concerning the Far Eastern holdings not looking good, investors had backed off of buying the stocks. We’d better hope for something better coming up. He rubbed his chin and glanced at the calendar mindfully. That is if we make it through the quarter.

“So grim, Lex,” Chloe remarked as she entered the room with two coffees in tow. “For you.”

“That’s what I like,” he concurred while accepting one of the cups. “Better. Thanks.”

“Hey, it’s my pleasure,” she indicated. “Haven’t seen much of Clark, Lana or the other guys lately. What’s going on?”

“They’re probably off training on the other side,” he guessed while drinking from his cup. “D-Day’s coming.”

She looked toward the calendar and furrowed her brow. “You mean when Mr. Creepy….?”

“Yeah. Then,” he replied while getting up and walking over to her. “Chloe, Dave’s planning to take his family to a safe place before he and the cackling horror show up. I wish you would go with them.”

“No dice, Luthor,” she declined firmly. “I stay here with you and the others. End of discussion.”

“You don’t get it. He’ll kill you. These creeps blinded Clark and Lana without a second thought. We’re not even a footnote to them.”

“I’m afraid, Lex, but my place is with you and the others,” she confirmed. “Please don’t start an argument over it.”

He sighed, knowing it would do little good to keep arguing with her like that. “Fine. I had to try. Just keep your head down.”

“And lose the story? Surely not,” she teased him.

He shook his head while looking upon his mother’s portrait. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself! Hearing the phone ring, he answered it, “Lex Luthor.”

“Lex, it’s Martha Kent. How are you?” she inquired.

“Not bad, Mrs. Kent. How’s everything at the farm?” he assured her.

“Just getting the last of the supplies for dinner as we discussed,” she reported. “Any chance of closing the Talon on Thursday so we can have dinner?”

“Consider it done. By the way, with everyone coming, would you mind if we have dinner here? I’ll have the staff get the dining room ready. If you need anything cooked in the kitchen, just let me know,” he offered.

“That would be great. Now, I won’t have to worry about the house. You’re a lifesaver,” she expressed.

“Just being a good friend, Mrs. Kent. You take care. Let me know if you need anything,” he agreed.

“I will. Talk to you soon,” she agreed before hanging up.

“You see, Lex? Everything’s running like clockwork,” Chloe reassured him.

“For now,” he relented ever so slightly while taking another moody sip from his cup. “For now.”




Chapter 2
[Cowache Caves]

Fresh off a practice session with their counterparts in the other universe, Clark and Lana inspected the cave walls, looking for harbingers or signs of the battle to come.

“There has to be something,” he supposed.

“Jor-El won’t tell us until he wants us to know,” she countered.

Or use your other resources. The glowing spirit appeared in front of them. Not a bad strategy, my children. However, you already have gleaned all you can from the walls. Recall, the story you heard of Isobel on the other side.

[“What specifically?”] she asked. [“It was a long story.”]

Our ancestor’s death at her hands in addition to the confrontation between our cloaked foe and the Protector’s counterpart. You have already encountered both on the last full moon. Your lack of experience cost you a setback. Jor-El shone a lit hand on the wall revealing their version of the lit symbols. Go and speak to your ancestor, Lana. You too, Kal-El. She will provide the answers you are looking for. With that, he disappeared.

“Guess we go speak to her?” he inquired.

“No time like the present,” she agreed anxiously before they sped off into town.


****

[Heloise’s Hotel Room—five minutes later]

The super teens stopped in front of Heloise’s door having made their usual good time into town.

“I guess we knock and hope she’s in?” he inquired anxiously.

“No time like the present,” she concurred nervously while rapping on the door.

The door swung open on its own. “No need to be nervous of me. Please come in,” the occupant’s voice assured them.

“Uh, thanks,” Lana expressed while looking around. “Jor-El mentioned that we should come and see you for advice, I guess.”

“For that you stop by and not for anything else?” The newly appointed priestess stepped into view. “Shame, Child. I am still your great-grandmother. I would not harm you.”

“Sorry, Ms. Gregoire. Therese left quite the impression,” he apologized.

“As I told you before, Clark, caution is a worthy ally. However, one shouldn’t be paralyzed by it either,” Heloise pointed out. “Please take a seat. I was about to pour some coffee. It’s a French roast fresh from Paris this morning.”

“That’d be great. Thanks,” Lana agreed with a smile. “For what it’s worth, it’s great that you’ll be here when it happens.”

“As if I’d be anywhere else?” the older woman supposed as she served their coffee. “Milk and sugar for both, correct?”

“Oui. Merci,” her granddaughter replied politely.

“Il n’y a pas de quoi, mon fleur,” Heloise told her with a smile. “Tres bien, Lana!” Then she shifted back to English for Clark’s benefit. “Your French is improving! That comes from your interactions with me. What have you learned from your interaction with Therese, Le Homme Mysterie and Le Destroyer?”

“The Destroyer is the darker manifestation of the Protector. He shouldn’t hurt us,” Clark presumed.

“Do not underestimate its darkness. When we face our enemies again, it will be at the darkest of dark and on the anniversary. The Protector will have to change to deal with the wizard. I shall have to deal with my sister,” Heloise foretold. “You learned some of the story on the other side. Be open to new facets. Remember, we are in another universe whose own story is unfolding as it will.” She sipped on a cup of coffee and nodded. “I’ll have to remember to tell François that this is excellent.”

“Think he’d be open to selling some beans to us?” Lana asked. “Sorry, I don’t mean to get off the subject but this is great coffee. Maybe we can help each other.”

“I’ll speak with him. Trust me; he will be pleased,” her great-grandmother advised. “Back to the matter at hand, however, what have your sessions taught you on the other side?”

“To be more alert for one thing,” he noted.

“To use our senses and telepathy,” Lana added. “And to fight as a unit not just one on one.”

“Excellent. I have seen your progress in addition to that of your young friends. You all could use more polish but if we all work hard, we shall get there,” Heloise noted. Seeing their surprise, she continued, “Pardon moi? You should do all of the work and not me? Non! That is why I have not been here as much. I too have been training with the priestesses to prepare for my role both during and after this battle.” She smiled. “I should talk with Miranda and Jasmine at some point.” She cleared her throat. “Now tell me if you have any plans for your American feast. I forget what it’s called….”

“Thanksgiving.” Lana nodded. “Mom’s working with Lex to make a feast. You haven’t been invited?”

She shrugged. “Alexandre has never felt secure around me and for good reason. I will be spending the day with Deirdre and Cybelle.”

“Hang on,” he told her while getting on his cell phone.

“Clark, what’s up?” Lex asked.

“Hey, Lex. Sorry to bother you. How’s that dinner going with Mom?”

“We’ve got all the arrangements done. All we need to do is cook the food on Wednesday night and Thursday. My staff’s going to work with your mother on it. Why? What’s up?” the billionaire inquired.

“Mind if we bring Ms. Gregoire with us?  She’ll be in town and she has helped us,” he requested.

“I didn’t think she was going to be here. If she is, of course! Let me speak to her,” Lex agreed.

“Alexandre, I am sorry. I did not mean….” The older woman hedged.

“No need to apologize, Heloise. It is I who should apologize for not inviting you. Please join us for dinner on Thursday if you’re in town. 4 PM at the mansion,” Lex invited.

“I would be delighted. I shall see you them. Au revoir!” she accepted before handing the phone back to Clark.

“All set?” Clark asked.

“Thanks for catching that, Clark. Since we’re all in this together, we might as well all celebrate together. You and Lana listen to what she has to say. Got it? Talk to you later,” Lex concluded before hanging up.

“Thanks for letting us invite you,” Lana told the older woman.

“No, Lana. Thank you. It is nice to be appreciated.” Heloise retrieved the coffee pot and refreshed their cups. “There we are. Now let’s get caught up on everything…..”

And for a while, they all talked about various and sundry things, enjoying their drinks and the company even as they learned more about each other.




Chapter 3 [Kent Farm]

Even as the super teens talked with Heloise, Jonathan finished stacking the hay bales by himself. With the kids in town and Martha planning the big feast, he managed to do it albeit in much longer a time frame than if Clark and Lana were around. I’ve been spoiled by those two! Makes you appreciate what you’ve got. He wiped his brow off and took a drink from his water bottle.

Despite the chill in the air, the work still built up a sweat.

Then he heard a clanging of metal on metal inside of the barn. “What the?” He walked around the side toward the front entrance.


****

Meanwhile, Miranda stood in the center of the Loft with a blindfold tied around her eyes and her kitana raised in ready position. Just as Jor-El had sought to teach Clark and Lana about the use of their senses, she and Jasmine had been taking turns trying to sneak attack the other in this state.

Overhead, Jasmine crouched on the flying carpet, choosing a moment with which to strike. She waited for the point that she thought the other girl was most vulnerable and swooped in.

Picking up on the movement with her ears and telepathy, Miranda brought her kitana up and parried the scimitar’s stroke.

Again and again, Jasmine tried the dive bomb approach.

Again and again, Miranda defended herself from it; her blade anticipating the other’s.

“What are you two doing?” Jonathan demanded.

“Training, Mr. Kent,” Miranda explained. “We can’t always trust our eyes.”

“So we’ve taken turns trying to sneak up on the other,” Jasmine noted while bringing her carpet down to the floor. “Are we scaring the cows?”

“No. Sorry. I was concerned,” he apologized. “How’s that training going?”

“It’s great actually. We’re all learning how to fight and function as a team. Maybe we might not be as strong or fast as Clark or Lana but we can help as well,” Jasmine explained.

“From what I’ve seen of you, you don’t have to convince me…either of you. Look, I’m glad you’re not taking any of this for granted. How are the others dealing with it?” he inquired.

“Samantha and Alicia haven’t had as much practice as the rest of us. Pete’s working with them to get their confidence up, I guess,” Miranda noted while sheathing her scimitar. “With the Talon closed on Thursday, we were all going to do a training session that morning together before dinner.”

“As long as you all clean up beforehand, I don’t see why not.” He nodded, feeling glad that there was a plan in place this time. “Meantime, when you’re done, can I get a hand downstairs?”

“Be right there,” Miranda agreed. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Absolutely. Be ready,” Jasmine agreed before taking off on her carpet and using the overcast to cover her flight back to Lex’s place.

“Show off,” she muttered in admiration before heading down to help Mr. Kent with his stuff.

After all, one needed to maintain a balance in all things…..




Chapter 4 [Wednesday afternoon—Kent Farm]

After a busy half of a shift, Lana rushed back from the Talon in order to help Martha with the preparations for the next day’s dinner. Fortunately, Lex had volunteered to put Sam and Alicia both up and offer double time for helping out at the café.

“Mom? Are you here?” she asked while rushing in the door and taking off her shoes.

“It’s okay, Lana. Catch your breath. How did your day go?” the older woman wondered.

“Busier than usual. People were wrapping up their shopping and needed a break, I guess,” the teenager presumed while washing her hands. “Have those veggies ready for me?” She set the cutting board in place and took out a serrated knife and a potato peeler.

“Potatoes are in the bowl next to you. Carrots and celery are next to them,” Martha explained.

“Okay. Give me a minute,” Lana agreed while setting to work. Going at super speed, she quickly peeled and diced the potatoes. Then she did the same with the carrots and celery, remembering to put them into separate bowls. “What’s next?”

The older woman turned and stared in amazement at her daughter-in-law before remembering that the latter had the same super speed as Clark. “Can you get the apples?”

“Core, peel and dice, right?”

“Right. It’s okay just to slice them instead of dicing,” Martha assured her. “Remember the way we made our pies for the fair?”

“Okay. I figured we could get ahead. Then you could have a break,” Lana declared before super slicing the apples and dropping them into a big bowl of their own.

“Maybe we could get the peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers out of the refrigerator? We can slice them for the salad. We won’t make it until tomorrow morning but it would be nice to get a jump on things,” Martha requested.

Lana found the three required veggies and washed them off in the sink. Then she whirred through the prep work again at super speed. “How’s that?”

“You are a wonder, Lana.” Martha put down the knife she was working with before washing her hands. Then she hugged the younger woman. “Thank you for being you. You’ve made a difference in Clark’s life. Besides you’re never afraid to carry your weight around here. You’ve got a lot going on and well, it’s great to see how you’ve grown.”

“Thanks, Mom.” She blushed. “I just want to fit in. You and Dad have been great since Clark and I got married, letting us balance everything.”

The two women hugged, feeling the mutual acceptance and love between themselves.


****


[Barn]

Jonathan and Clark had toiled most of the day out in the back fields mowing and baling the last of the hay before winter’s arrival. Given that their wives occupied themselves in the kitchen, they figured to get the outside chores done. Then they could enjoy the next day around the table with only a few light daily chores to keep the animals going.

“Miranda and Jasmine have practiced quite a bit upstairs,” Jonathan reported. “How are you and Lana doing?”

“Okay. We talk to Jor-El about things and then Professor Dubois takes us over to our friends’ place through the portal, I guess. We get to work out there against computerized simulations,” Clark explained. “It’s pretty scary stuff.”

“They’re not trying to get you both hurt, are they?”

Clark sighed. “Dad, if those simulations are correct, we’re really going to have our hands full. The ghost blinded Lana and me and that was out of spite. She can kill us. So can that cloaked guy that you all keep talking about.”

“I thought you and Lana ran into it on the other side,” the farmer presumed.

“Never saw it but we heard all about it,” Clark noted as he hefted a bale up onto the truck. “Believe me; I’m scared. I know I shouldn’t admit it but I am.”

“You’ve got a lot to lose, Son,” Jonathan told him. “That’s why you’re scared. I have news for you. We’re all scared. Even Professor Dubois’ scared and he’s been facing those two for thirty years or more. The key, Son, is to keep your focus and force yourself through it.”

“Stand up to our fears,” the younger man realized.

“Don’t be foolhardy. Just think before you act when you’re dealing with this threat. All right? We want you both back in one piece,” the older man requested.

“We will, Dad. We will,” Clark agreed. “Guess we should finish this?”

“Unless you’ve got something else going on?” the farmer asked.

“Nope. Spending time with my Dad is the important thing right now.”

Jonathan smirked at him. “Don’t change, Clark. Let’s get this done. Then we can check on your mother and Lana.” He tossed a bale into the back of the old pickup and got into doing his share of that task.




Chapter 5 [Next Day--Thanksgiving]
[Apartment over the Talon]

Dave finished dressing in his blue button down shirt and beige slacks. After combing his hair, he managed to relax. After leading the kids through an all morning workout, he definitely had built up an appetite for food, company and especially family time. “Looking good.”

“Glad to hear it,” April commented while watching him from the bed where she had finished changing the twins. “We’re almost ready to go here.”

“Sounds great. Babies’ first Turkey day. Yum!” he expressed while leaning over their kids. “Who’s the baby? Who’s the baby?”

Colin and Peggy both laughed at their father’s funny faces.

She let him have a few extra minutes, knowing that the fledgling bond was doing all three a lot of good. If only things could stay this peaceful!

Three minutes later, Dave picked up the carrier with the twins and stepped into the front room where Angie and Cassie waited for him. “Your aunt’s getting some last minute things. Maybe you might help her?”

“Thanks, Dave, but I’m fine. Let’s get going,” April noted while joining them. After they had all put on their coats, they headed out toward the car.

“Next stop’s Lex’s place,” Dave told the others as they took off.


****