So sorry for being late! We've just finalized plans to be moving out of state, so getting ready to put the house up for sale, planning a yard sale, saying goodbye to family members -- and an ear infection on top of all that -- has left me dreadfully behind. Please know that even though I haven't replied to your feedback yet, it means a LOT to me, so thank you!

Also, big thanks to groobie for helping me out with some wording near the end of this chapter, and of course to KenJ and Morgana, as well, for their fabulous beta-ing job!

Doctors Irons, Faulkner, and Hamilton are owned by DC, not me; and the robot idea is also DC's, so that didn't originate from me either, though I take full advantage of it here (this is where finally getting to read through all the comics gets me ).

Oh, and to make sure this is the longest A/N I've ever left, I swear I didn't realize the reference to the Vorlon/Shadows questions in this chapter until just now!! I guess there are far worse things than Babylon 5 to stick with you subconsciously!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you all enjoy -- this was one of my favorite chapters to write!

Oh goodness, I hope that things are calming down for you and your infection is healed. Thanks for posting, and we do understand RL comes first.

What a beautiful chapter!


Yes! They understand him! Scientists who are more likely to understand equations and data understand Clark. Maybe because they spend so much time as Doctor?





James, Jonathan and Martha all on the same page! Knowing Clark has to make this decision, has to verbalize what he wants to make it work.

Clark is BACK! Yay!!

Wonderful, beautiful chapter! Looking forward to the next installment, whenever RL allows.

Wonderful. We all know what happened on the roof now.

But ... what thought processes led Lois from 'this conversation' to 'handing her notice in'? And we all still want to know more about the press conference, and how does it affect Lois ... and ...

More. Don't be late next time. In fact I think you should purposefully by early. Really early!

Wow. This was so worth the wait. I can definitely see Clark espousing the philosophy given at the end. (And how interesting to contrast his views about Superman being his imperfect part with what the general population would think.)

Feel better soon and I hope the move goes smoothly.

Victoria wrote You know, if you were to post the rest of the story now, all at once, that would be one less thing you would have to be thinking about during your move. To paraphrase a song from Man of La Mancha, I'm only thinking of you! All jokes aside, though, as eager as I am to read more, I will certainly understand if RL gets in the way of your planned posting schedule.

Joy,
Lynn

Wow...

What an amazing chapter. Clark coming to understand himself. Know who he is. Know what he wants.

I loved every part of it. The conversation with the doctors. The conversation with James. Martha and Jonathan--and all that they are as parents. And finally finding out what happened on the rooftop.


I am blown away by the honesty in this paragraph .


James-Is-Awesome. Completely. How he walked that line--of being Clark's friend, of being Clark's ally. But also, by pushing Clark...just when he needs to be pushed the most.


Such a huge statement for Clark to admit. He's been through so much, lost himself as 'Clark', and now has found safety in the 'disguise' he lost himself to. Big...the implications of these last few months.


Big pat on the back to Clark here--he put Lois in her place, stood his ground, and most importantly, put himself finally first.


Powerful. Beautiful put, and so sadly true. Loved this!


It's so inspiring when someone knows what is right, what is true, and takes that leap--goes for it and chooses, maybe not the easiest path, but the right path that they need to take. 'Inspiration' at it's best .

Completely wonderful!
Laura

Hope you are feeling better--and good luck with the move. We moved across two states to a new home last year (with two little kiddos, with two cats ). Lots of work. Thinking about you .

What a wonderful chapter! James' insightful "Who do you want to be?" and his mother telling Clark that he already knows. Great stuff! Gives me chills! And we finally see some Clark's feelings in that rooftop conversation. Love Lois admitted her weaknesses to Clark.

Now I'm dying to see how you pull off the next chapter with Clark and Superman together.

Joan

Read this in dribs and drabs throughout the day on my phone. So, I apologize for the shorter than usual feedback.

How is that that you can make me cry even during the hopeful, more heartwarming chapters?

"Who do you want to be?" Chilling. Every Clark in every universe has probably asked himself that question - especially as a teen when his powers were manifesting. Will he be Clark? Will he be Superman? Will he be a force for good? Will he use his powers for evil? Will he never use them at all?

I'm glad we got to see more of what transpired on the roof. And I'm glad they hashed out a few more things between them. Clark needed that, to fully convince himself that it's okay to go back to being Clark.

Glad all is well with you. Good luck with the move. We moved 5 times in the first 2.5 years we were married (including to a new state), so I understand how busy and stressful it can be.

Thanks for posting during this hard and trying time. Good luck on your move.

It's so great that James and the Kents make Clark choose what's best for him! He's always doing what's best for everyone else; it's about time he consider what HE wants out of life. Not even Lois let's Clark choose what's best for himself; she always makes this decision for him. I don't know how many people will believe that Clark and his family has been allowing Superman to use Clark's identity (wondering how he's going to spin that story), but the robot will have be just enough different so that criminals think twice about using Clark's friends as Superman bait. I wouldn't be surprised if they tested Clark once or twice or thrice (or more) just to make sure. Does the robot Superman fly or just the hologram?

So, Clark didn't tell Lois what he's about to do. Fitting, since she didn't tell him that she was about to out him. Will she and Perry think that this slap to their faces (and the DPs) will make them even? Won't Lois being "wrong" about Clark tarnish her reputation as a reporter, Perry's reputation as her editor, and the DPs reputation for publishing said article? Or is he going to say that they were in on the switcheroo the entire time?

Interesting that Lois excuses her actions by believing it would be better that she outed Clark before Trask could. I don't see how that was better when Clark wasn't in on the whole revelation. Perhaps it is the knowing that she wasn't any better than Trask that made Lois force her hand in writing her resignation.

Emotional journey, but I haven't expected any less since reading your first story. What twists do you have for us during these last few parts, I wonder.

Whoa. A-K, you still rock!

I'm blown away by your ability and facility with the present tense in this story. I wasn't sure that anyone could maintain the tension throughout the entire tale with all the points of view you were using, but you're doing it masterfully. And your thought bunnies are still on point and still move the dramatic story forward, even when you show the characters being pulled out of focus by them.

For example, this:


tells us what James' mindset is while showing us Clark's whirl of confusion about himself. And the discussion between Superman and Lois on the roof of the Planet was, without a doubt, one of the most painful things anyone has ever inflicted on her. But it was, for this tale, totally and completely necessary to vocalize her pain and explain it to Clark's satisfaction. She had to get it out of her head so he could help her carry the weight of her guilt and so he could show her how to lay it aside once and for all. After all, it's no less than she's done for him. Wonderfully presented, wonderfully handled.

I'm sorry that we're so close to the end, because reading this story has been a highlight for me each week. Yet I'm glad, too, because these two people need to be released to be themselves again. Lois must be the Planet's top investigative reporter. Clark must be her companion and best friend and protector. Superman must have a place to go and a person to be while he's not saving the world, and he's finally figuring out that he can't be Superman 24/7/365 without paying a terrible price, one that would eventually bankrupt and then destroy him.

They're so close, yet so far away! Look how far they've come, separately and together, yet look at how much farther they must go! You've opened their minds and hearts to us, A-K, and you've done it so well that we don't realize it unless we lift the hood and trace the circuitry down to the power source. This is a beautiful tale, beautifully told, and I can't wait to see it win a Kerth in the spring.

Oh, thanks for the shoutout!

The pain Clark feels at the chance being offer to him is heartbreaking - knowing how much he wants it, needs it, and yet still too vulnerable to opening himself up to the possibility, to the very real chance that he'll be hurt again in a way he won't be able to recover from.


Clark has been taken from him. He can't choose to stop being Superman. He's being given "choices", but there's really only one choice to make, needs to make, has such a hard time admitting he wants to make.


Sure, "Magic's Greatest Secrets Revealed" seems like a show you want to watch, but then afterwards, as you watch other magic shows and automatically see what you're not supposed to notice, you start to wish you hadn't been spoiled, that magic still exists.


I really like that she doesn't accept this out - she's willing to own up to her mistakes.

Sniff, sniff...so beautiful!

This chapter was one of the best written. You made an interesting twist with this exposition of Clark double identity. I wished we had more and a more balanced approach of people's perception and reaction to the news.

Waiting impatiently for the last parts.
I hope you are feeling better and your moving out is not too complicated!

Wow, such an overwhelming response! At the risk of sounding just a bit too mushy, I just want to say that it's a joy to have so many people still reading, long after I thought I'd have scared everybody away! You have all made a stressful year have so many good points, reading your feedback and getting to see the story afresh through your eyes! Thanks so much for your encouragement, for being willing to go on this what-if journey with me, and for your patience when I miss my posting dates! You're all the best!

Such great praise, Supesfan! It's been a painful, LONG journey, but I'm glad it's been worthwhile!

Thanks, cuidadora! This chapter was one of my absolute favorites, especially the conversation between Clark and his parents. They do understand him and know that he needs to choose this himself.

Didn't quite make 'early,' KathareneKent. I'm delighted to see so many questions, though; I'm always afraid of tying things up too early and having no one interested in the last chapters.

Thanks, Lynn! I hope the move goes smoothly too -- we just have to wait for our house here to sell! Clark's thoughts at the end of this chapter came unexpectedly, but once he thought them, I found them perfect. (I do love when the characters do all the work of thinking through things themselves.)

James. Ahh, what to say about James that I haven't already? I just really love him; he's been maybe my favorite thing about this story. He is so honest, isn't he, LMA? Your last paragraph about the inspiration in someone knowing what's right and going for it...absolutely beautiful. You said in one sentence what I've had to take an entire story to try to say!

Ooh, nice, scifiJoan -- always a compliment when I hear that my writing gave chills to someone! Hope the next chapter doesn't disappoint!

No problem, DC; any feedback is good! Yes, the 'who do you want to be' question probably is one of the most important for any Superman/Clark! I think I've addressed it in pretty much every single one of my L&C stories, so I know it's important to me! Moving is stressful, so I'm glad I haven't had to move nearly as much as you!!

You're right, Virginia - Clark and his family and friends will probably never be entirely safe again. Nothing will be able to go back to exactly as it was. Bad things happened, and there are consequences, one of the reasons Clark wasn't sure he wanted to risk it, but in the end, I think CLARK KENT is worth it. A few more twists to come, but hopefully only good ones.

What a delight to read your feedback, Terry Leatherwood! This was such a scary story to sit down and write, and terrifying to post, but your feedback has made it all worth it! I'm so glad the suspense works even with this very experimental writing style! Love how you phrased that about Lois getting her guilt out of her head so Clark could help her lay it aside, how they are each helping the other do what they themselves were helped to do (wow, that was a confusing sentence; you said it so much better! ). I'm sorry to reach the end, too, mainly because I want to make sure I do justice to everything here, but like you, I want to see them happy. We'll see how much can go back to the way we know and want things to be! Thank you so much for your support and your belief -- we'll see about the Kerth!

You know better than anyone, groobie, that I really thought this story would show how harsh and merciless the world can be to uncovered secrets, even incidentally, but it has turned out to have undertones of how the world will also try to help some secrets stay covered -- and that was more of a surprise to me than any of you! So true about his choices!

Well, Annalina, at one point groobie wanted to write a spin-off story about Cat and her reaction to Superman's secret being revealed, that would have had a lot more to do with the people's reaction to this news -- you'll have to ask her to see if she'll write it. Unfortunately, I could only tackle a story of this magnitude if I kept it strictly compressed to this small group of people at the center of it all. Anything more would have been too overwhelming! And I'm glad this chapter turned out so well -- it was my favorite to write!

Thank you, everyone!!!

Ha! Funny she'd mention that, isn't it? I saw the whole story in my head, but there's no way I'm putting it side by side with yours. It would pale in comparison!

I understand it would have been a lot to tackle.
Maybe Groobie you'll feel like it at some point. ;-)
I really loved the story because we don't see often in fics those sides of Lois and Clark's characters. I am thinking about this mature "James" who doesn't act like a kid but like a man with initiative. Or pushing Lois to reveal the secret because she's hurt and mad.

Clark: "They are not old stories, Lois, just new angles" (1x03)