Clark was expecting Martha to come over for their usual Sunday get-to-together, but she was early.

"You made good time," he commented.

"Ben's grandson came over and helped with the chores."

"I'm glad you allow someone to help you with the farm," he said, giving her a hug hello.

"I suppose I should have called to made sure you'd be home. Where is everyone?"

"Lois took the girls and her father for ice cream. They'll be back any minute."

"You didn't go with them?" she asked as they moved away from the door to sit in the living room.

"It was less a treat for them and more a treat for me from my very considerate wife," he said with a wry grin.

"Oh, I see. It's going that bad, is it?"

"Lois' father is not an easy man to live with."

"But you knew that."

His mother was always so perceptive. "There is more to it. Lara has super-strength now."

"I'm not surprised. She has half your DNA after all. I expect Ella is not far behind and then watch out."

Watch out indeed. Ella liked to talk. She'd spill the beans to her grandfather in the first week. Maybe even the first day. "How did you do it?" he asked.

"How did I do what?"

"Keep my secret. Have me keep my secret through childhood. You and dad didn't withdraw from the world. I remember relatives and friends coming over all the time and you let me go out to school. How could you be sure it would stay a secret?"

"We couldn't. I know that's not what you want to hear. We just had to hope and trust and cover when an issue did come along. It's the same with any parent really. You do your best to protect your kids, and that's all you can do. And earn a few gray hairs along the way."

"I'm sure I gave you plenty of those," he said with a chuckle.

"And I wouldn't have had it any other way."

His family burst through the door with their usual bustling activity. Ella was running circles around everyone, weaving and bobbing between legs and talking a million miles a minute, Lara was telling Ella to stop with no results, Sam was complaining about something or other the neighbors did, and Lois was trying to direct the chaos.

Clark helped by scooping Ella up and moving her around as if she were flying. She squealed with delight. Lara spotted her grandmother and ran over to her, who gave he an extra comforting hug.

Martha jumped to her own rescue. "Sam, I'm so glad we'll have a chance to visit this time."

He forgot his complaint and shook her hand, actually smiling.

His mom could have charmed the socks off of a dictator. It's just a shame that wasn't one of his abilities as well. She certainly proved she could charm them off a five-star general.

While he started on supper, Martha and Sam sat in the living room discussing grandchildren and even the minefield of the latest happenings in Washington. Though she was no longer a senator, she still kept up on political news.

Ella said the blessing at the table. She was still so proud of herself for learning the short mealtime prayer. " Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. May this food by you be blessed. Amen."

Everyone echoed the amen.

"So, Lois, I read your latest article on Superman," Sam announced before he'd even taken his first bite.

Clark rubbed his temple. He could sworn he felt a headache coming on even though he never got headaches. He'd rather they go back to the relatively safe topic of politics. Or religion. Anything but Superman.

"I'm disappointed in you," he went on. "I thought of all people you would look at his rescue yesterday objectively."

Sam produced said paper out of his pocket and slapped the newspaper down in disgust. He was probably the last person on the planet who still read the Planet in its print form. but Clark couldn't deny producing said article hadn't made it more dramatic. "You worship the man. He can do no wrong in your eyes."

"I wouldn't say that," Lois said, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she gave a quick glance at Clark.

"I would," Sam argued.

"You can't deny what he does is good," Lois said, getting more serious. "I've lost count how many times he's saved my life."

Lara had stopped eating. This was making her uncomfortable now that she knew the secret.

"And I find that strange," Sam said. "Why you? There are dozens of reporters in this city maybe even hundreds."

"I'm hardly the only one he saves."

Sam zeroed in on him. "What about you? Aren't you jealous there's a superhero who flies around with your wife in his arms?"

"I'm thankful, especially when she happens to be falling. She gets unfairly targeted because of all the stories she writes on him. Criminals figure she must have a connection to him."

"See? That's what I mean," he said, redirecting his attention back to Lois. "Why do you keep writing articles about him? Whatever happened to that Green Arrow guy? You used to write about him a lot and at least he was an American and not an alien."

"Because he works in Star City now. Metropolis' hero is Superman. Like it or not."

Sam looked at Martha. "You agree with me, don't you? Superman is a menace to public safety and law and order."

She dabbed the corner of her lips with her napkin. "I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree. Where you see anarchy, I see a man trying to establish order and uphold the law. I would hate to see what this city would look like without a protector like him. And as for his citizenship, I find him more patriotic than many natural-born citizens. And who doesn't have a background that doesn't begin elsewhere in our country? A small minority. It is the coming together of so many peoples that has enriched us, and I think we are richer with a hero like Superman watching out for us wherever he may be from originally."

Clark felt like applauding to her rousing speech. Even more so when Sam finally agreed to disagree.

He looked over at Lara. At least she was eating now though slowly.

He had to find a way to make peace in the family. Maybe he couldn't reveal his secret to Sam without causing trouble, but maybe he could have Superman pay a visit to him. Perhaps Superman wouldn't seem like such a public enemy to him if he met him in person.