"With all due respect, Ms. Lane, you don't know me nor Clark. So I'm going to politely ask you to back off." With that being said, I walked off into the old barn.

Later On...

I lay on a pile of hay looking up at the ceiling lost in thought. I didn't even twitch as the barn door opened up, nor did I bat an eyelash as Clark lay down beside me. We remained silent and just stared up at the ceiling in a stifling silence.

"Clark, what do you want?" I asked unable to deal with the stifling silence any longer. He hesitated for a moment before collecting his thoughts and looking at me with his dark blue eyes.

"Why are you so reluctant to be a hero?" I opened my mouth to protest, but Clark beat me to it, "And don't get defensive because I really do want to know what happened to the brave and adventurous Rachel I grew up with." Clark asked seriously, looking me in the eyes. After I brooded for several moments and getting nowhere with my staring contest with him, I sighed in defeat. Reluctantly, I recounted the story about that night when I decided to help that woman in the alley. Clark nodded in understanding and he took my petite hand in his larger, more calloused hand.

"Why did you let that one moment bother you?" Clark asked confusedly and I stared at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"The Rachel Santos I remember never cared about what other people thought of her, and she didn't care about what people thought of her actions," Clark stated calmly, "so why did it bother you so much?" I thought for a moment trying to remember that night, but I shrugged after awhile of thinking.

"I don't know," I whispered nervously. Clark pulled me closer to him, resting his chin on my head as I laid on his chest facing the ceiling.

"I don't know what you were thinking about or experiencing at the time because I wasn't there, but what I do know is that you can't let your past stop you from being what you were meant to be," Clark murmured beside my ear and I fought the shudder that wanted to be released.

I snorted, "You think I was meant to be a superhero?" I asked in disbelief and he chuckled slightly.

"All those times you stood up for not only me, but also people you didn't even know, I always believed that you'd be a super hero one day," Clark said softly, "not the ones who wear tight mini skirts and capes, but a defender and protector of the innocent."

"Thanks, Clark," I said with a smile and I couldn't help the blush that spread across my face as he tightened his grip a bit.

"You're welcome, and we should probably go help my mom with dinner otherwise she'll think we were up to our old schemes again," Clark said with a hint of disappointment. I laughed.

A Few Hours Later...

"So, Rachel, how're your brothers doing?" Mrs. Kent asked curiously and I shrugged.

"Roberto and his wife are doing fine, and he's been managing art shows around the country for the past two years, Jake's busy with military work, and Pedro's helping me run my restaurant in Metropolis," I explained and she nodded.

"Jake always did want to join the army, and I still remember you and Pedro going on and on about running your own business together," Mrs. Kent said with a hint of nostalgia in her voice and I chuckled.

I said with a smile. I picked up a few plates to wash them in the sink. "Yeah, those were the good old days."

"Uh uh, what have I told you about washing the dishes in this house? It's my job and mine alone," Mrs. Kent stated sternly and I laughed nervously.

"I'm a grown woman, Mrs. Kent, I can wash the dishes every once in awhile," I protested sheepishly, and she put her hands on her hips giving me her famous look. The look that states that you can't ever win an argument against her.

"Go help Clark clean up the table," Mrs. Kent commanded sternly and I scurried away from her in mock fear. He snickered as I avoided eye contact with his mother, and I stuck my tongue out at him. Suddenly, the TV screen started buzzing loudly and the lights in the house turned off, plunging all three of us in a state of darkness.

"That's strange, I checked the fuse box this morning and everything was fine," Mrs. Kent mumbled in confusion. Me and Clark shared a disturbed look. Suddenly, the TV lit up and static filled the screen followed by a loud, piercing wail. For several tense moments the TV continued wailing with the static, but then bold and black words appeared on the screen one by one with a deep voice repeating the same message. The voice was clear and commanding.

"You are not alone." The voice repeated calmly. A staticky face appeared across the screen moving side to side as it spoke.

"My name is General Zog. I am from a world far from yours. I have journeyed across an ocean of stars to reach you. For some time, your world has sheltered two of my citizens from me," General Zog explained monotonously and I couldn't help shivering at the sound of his voice.

"I request that you return these individuals to to my custody. For reasons unknown, they have chosen to keep their existence from you. They will have made efforts to blend in with you. They will look you, but they are not one of you. To those of you who may know of their location, the fate of your planet rests in your hands. To Kal-El and Zaria-An I say this, surrender within 24 hours, or watch this world suffer the consequences." General Zog demanded coldly before the screen turned off and leaving the room in silence. Then one of the overhead lightbulbs shattered, and Mrs. Kent cried out in shock dropping her bowl of apples on the floor.