Conner dropped his head and sobbed miserably. What was he supposed to do? How could he handle this? He couldn't bring a man back from the dead. He couldn't inflict more pain on those who thought him so perfect. They were better off without him. They didn't need him. They'd be just fine.

Conner's eyes flashed to the hand, then back to her eyes. He couldn't touch her. If he did, he'd lose it. Not waiting for a command from his brain, his hands lifted to hers. He took the delicate hand in both of his.

<<Damn! She still feels wonderful!>

He could feel the electricity the moment he touched her. Did she feel it? Or was it just wishful thinking? He looked back up at her and was stunned by what he saw.

"Hi, Grandma. Yo, Grandpa." He smiled and gave Jonathan a high five.

<<Grandma? Grandpa?>>

Before Conner could roll that over twice, Lois was speaking from the podium.

"Not anymore," he yelled out at the stars. "I can't be him again."

<<You will always be him.>>

It would be incredibly more painful to walk away from her now that he'd come this far.

And this wasn't far at all. They'd done nothing more than talk.

<<And already she's thrown you a lifeline in the form of her touch.>>

And still, SQD, you've managed to keep little Master Lane's name secret up until the last minute, even though I think we all had a pretty good idea what it was...all except for lunkheaded Clark, that is.

Okay, I confess! I had no clue whose son it was until Clark Jr called Jonathan 'Grandpa'.

Lois smiled brightly and glanced toward her table again. "Tonight I'm pleased to present a very special speaker. He came to me a few weeks ago and asked if he could say a few words tonight. I was unsure if he was ready for this, but he was quick to remind me that it was time for him to publicly thank his hero for making such a sacrifice for his father."

Conner froze, stunned by her words. What had she just said?

"Ladies and gentlemen, this year's speaker is Clark Kent, Jr."

Breathe! Breathe dammit! Conner was seeing spots dancing before his eyes and his ears were ringing.

"It was my dream that he would someday return to us, to the world and the city he loved so dearly… But he sacrificed his life here for the sake of a friend. By leaving to uphold the integrity of Clark Kent, Superman proved beyond reason, that a real friend is one to be cherished."

Lois smiled brightly and glanced toward her table again. "Tonight I'm pleased to present a very special speaker. He came to me a few weeks ago and asked if he could say a few words tonight. I was unsure if he was ready for this, but he was quick to remind me that it was time for him to publicly thank his hero for making such a sacrifice for his father."

Conner froze, stunned by her words. What had she just said?

"Ladies and gentlemen, this year's speaker is Clark Kent, Jr."

He was sure if he didn't keep doing that, his dad would slip back into the sad mood he'd been in earlier and the few times he'd seen him before. Tonight he'd managed to make this larger than life man smile -- a real smile, which had brought a twinkle to his eyes. He'd much rather see that sparkle than the dull expression that had been there previously.

Clark had to drop his gaze to the table for a moment. It appeared his son was as much like Lois as he could get. Reminding him of them becoming friends was something she'd definitely do. Finally he looked back up at the boy. "You're right. Friends do things together all the time."

Clark Jr. smiled up at his father, receiving a smile in return.

Lois had watched the entire exchange in silence. This was a moment she never imagined she'd see. Through all the long years, she'd prayed things could have been different. And she'd always ached for Clark, dying without ever knowing his son existed. She'd kept the man alive for her son. Not a day had ever gone by that he was not mentioned in their home. The younger Clark had prayed every night, from the time he was old enough to speak, that his father was taken care of. Clark had been part of his son's life in every way he could have been but the most important one.

Now it seemed that could change. Though she wanted nothing more in her whole being, she was also scared to death. Clark himself had warned her that he had a long way to go to come back home. Could she and Clark Jr. and his folks be the support he needed to heal? It certainly appeared the process had begun. Father and son were smiling at each other. And she could feel the admiration pass between them. She was almost certain that one small touch from the boy would tumble the rest of Clark's defenses.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this year's speaker is Clark Kent, Jr."

Even before Lois, wouln't Clark jr., being a well-mannered boy, introduce himself because he knows - via Conner's letter - that Conner didn't know his name?

Instead of asking, he waved his hand around the room. "This is really some event."

"Gets bigger every year." The boy beamed even brighter, happy to show off his mother's organizational skills. He was about to say something else when a voice caught his attention.