And then, he's gone.

"Uh huh." Lana Lang was cautious in her response, and it helped that she had just bitten off another generous portion of her strawberry muffin.

"But I just don't know anymore, Lana," Clark continued. "I've been wandering for years, trying to find my place in this world, and I just can't. I'm no superman, I'm just a Kansas farmboy."

"So, what do you want me to say?" Lana asked, swallowing the muffin. "Do you want me to tell you to ignore your gifts and come back to Smallville, or to stick it out in Metropolis and see what happens?"

"It was so easy in Smallville. Helping people. But here, it's such a big place. Trying to keep it subtle . . . it's not working."

"Clark, I'm not going to lie to you. You don't belong in Smallville anymore."

"But – "

Lana raised a hand to silence Clark. "Let me finish. None of us belong in Smallville anymore. You, me, Pete, Chloe. It was nice while we were there, but there's nothing there for us to move on to. Unless you really want to be a farmer your whole life."

Clark sighed, staring past Lana, but still taking note of her red hair. It brought back memories of high school -- their first date, the first kiss, the night he shared his secret, the day both realized that they could never work out. "Maybe I do," he whispered.

Lana shook her head. "No you don't. And nothing against your dad, but even he knew that you wouldn't grow up to take over the Kent Farm. He was the first to see your potential."

"It's not hard to see potential in a super powered alien," Clark rebutted.

"I'm not talking about that, silly. You're brilliant, Clark. You needed to move away from Smallville and get out in the world, establish your own identity. Your little world tour after college was probably the best thing you could have done."

"I can't shake the feeling that this isn't where I'm supposed to be."

"Then why haven't you left?"

Clark just stared at his plate full of crumbs. He had no answer, and Lana knew it.

"It's the reporter thing, isn't it? You're still trying to break in."

"I figure that's the best place to find out what's going on in the world. And it creates the perfect alibi," Clark replied.

"And what have you done to get a job?"

"I've had a few interviews . . . well, scheduled interviews . . . "

"Oh, Clark."

"I can't help it. Something always seemed to come up."

"For every interview?"

"Okay, maybe it was just the one."

It was Lana's turn to sigh. "Clark, I think your problem is your inability to balance your life. You can't be a superhero 24/7, but you're not just a normal person."

"I know," Clark said sheepishly.

"And sometimes," Lana continued, "you have to take action instead of waiting for life to present you with opportunities. You're good at doing that when you're playing superhero, but not Clark Kent." She looked down at her watch. "Look, I gotta head back to Smallville. But it was good to see you again, Clark."

"Thanks for coming, Lana. I guess I sorta needed that kick in the ass that only you can give me."

Lana smiled. "I'm sure you'll find someone else soon enough that can do that." She leaned over to pick up her purse and started rummaging through it.

"Don't bother," Clark said, pulling cash from his pocket. "Breakfast is on me."

"Clark, I–"

"I got it, Lana. Now, quit arguing. You have to get back home, and I have to go find a decent spot on the sidewalk to stand."

Lana looked at Clark with a puzzled look on her face.

"Lex's new space plane, the Constitution," Clark explained. "It's supposed to be flying over Metropolis today before hitting orbit. He claims it's part of Metropolis' bicentennial celebration."

"Oh, that's right," Lana said, standing up. "The billionaire showing off his new toy."

"He's been doing it for years," Clark replied.

"Well, you never know. Maybe you'll get your story out of that."

Clark chuckled as he stood up. "I don't know. A space plane flying over a city is hardly anything special. And it's not like Lex is even going to be onboard."

"You never know," Lana replied, walking to Clark. "Take care."

Clark embraced his former love. "You too, Lana. And maybe you'll listen to your own advice someday," he added with a smile.

"I know. Smallville's not for me, either."

Of course, most of the reporters in Metropolis knew that Lex Luthor had been wanting to get Lois Lane as his own for years. Even Lois did not delude herself into thinking this was anything but another attempt by Lex to impress her. However, she was not one to turn down any opportunities for a story. Fortunately, she was able to get Perry White to get a photographer included on the invitation.

As a result, Jimmy Olsen was the only other passenger on the plane that was not employed by Lexcorp. He had quickly abandoned his seat as soon as the pilot had given the okay. Ever since that moment, Lois had heard very little other than the clicking and beeping coming from his digital camera.

"You really think that we'll be traveling into space on these things in five years?" Jimmy asked, excited in between clicks.

"More like the rich and famous will still be using it as a novelty," Lois replied. "But it all depends on how well Lex thinks his pockets will be lined by such a project." She looked down and scribbled another comment into her Blackberry.

Jimmy sat back down in front of Lois, and took a deep breath. "All these pictures, and we haven't even gotten into space yet."

"I'd be surprised if that was even on the plan," Lois muttered under her breath. Louder, she continued, "Those pictures of yours are probably great, but I doubt you'll be getting any front page exposure."

Jimmy smiled. "No, but I'm sure I'll be getting my own pictoral on the website. And that's where all of the traffic is at."

Lois chuckled. "Perhaps, but I'll stick with the ink – "

Just then, the entire plane lurched, causing Lois and Jimmy to fall sideways in their seats.

"What was that?" Jimmy asked.

Lois stood up, walking to the cockpit. "Pilot?"

But soon enough, that moment ended, and we came back down to Earth. And it was then, as I was staring in her eyes that I realized that we were friends, but nothing more. She knew it too, and I'm hoping that she realized it the same time I did.

"Look, up in the sky!" someone shouted, pointing out.

Along with all of the other residents of the city, Clark looked up as the Constitution flew through the sky, barely grazing the tops of the skyscrapers.

He smiled, and followed the spacecraft with his eyes as it flew overhead. But his smile quickly faded as he saw it jerk a bit.

And then, the Constitution started falling from the sky.

The people in the streets started panicking. Some shouted and pointed at the plane, while others started running for cover.

Clark looked around. No one was paying any attention to him. Why should they? In his blue shirt and jeans covered by a red jacket, Clark Kent looked like any other citizen of Metropolis watching a disaster unfold.

In a flash, he jumped up and started flying straight for the underside of the Constitution. By the time he had gotten to the space plane, it had already clipped its wing on one building and was barreling straight for another skyscraper. Clark lifted up on it and changed its flight course to soar over the top of the building.

"Lois! You'll never believe this!" Jimmy exclaimed, looking out the window. "I swear I just saw a man fly up under us."

"That's crazy, Jimmy," Lois replied.

"C'mon, Lois, you should know better," Jimmy countered as he tried to angle his camera to get any shot of their savior.

Underneath, Clark gripped the plane harder and took control of its flight. Looking down, he could see the large open field of Centennial Park just a mile away. Using his great strength and a little of his own flying ability, he was able to slow the plane's descent until it landed gently in the park.

However, the front end hit the ground hard enough to trigger the emergency sequence, and one panel of the Constitution opened up to reveal the emergency exit.

Lois quickly jumped off of the space plane. "Hold it right there, buster!" she shouted as she started running towards the man in the red coat who had saved her.

Clark turned his head, and met Lois' eyes from a distance. For a brief instant, something came over him, but he could not be sure what exactly that feeling was.

But he was immediately jarred back to reality when a mad rush of people started mobbing him. Glancing around and seeing nothing but a sea of people, Clark did the only thing he could do.

He jumped up and flew away.

"Wait!" Lois cried, reaching up in the air. "I don't even know your name," she whispered.

"This was the scene in Metropolis' Centennial Park this afternoon as the space plane Constitution made an unexpected landing on its maiden flight. In what was sure to be a devastating crash, onlookers reported seeing a man fly up and grab the plane and guide it to safety. Surprisingly, no one was able to get a look at the mysterious person who saved the plane, other than the red blur that he - or possibly she - left behind as they took off before anyone could reach the plane."

Jonathan Kent flipped the television off and looked over at his wife, Martha.

"Do you think – ?" Martha asked.

"He has been in Metropolis for the past few months," Jonathan replied. "And if the entire city could see this plane going down, there's no way he would let it just happen." He stood up and starting walking to the back door.

"Where are you going?"

"To the barn. I figure that the day we have long feared has finally come, and I want to be ready." Jonathan grabbed his coat and a flashlight, and opened the door. "I think it is time for Clark to face his destiny."

He walked out to the barn, gazing up at the night sky, wondering which star was the one that his boy had come from. As he entered the barn, he turned the flashlight on. Before he could get more than two steps into the barn, he heard a creak up in the loft.

"Who's there?" he asked quickly, as he spun around and pointed the flashlight upward. He could see that something was up there, but it was very still. He carefully walked up the stairs to the loft. With each new step, the light revealed a little more. When the light revealed a red coat, Jonathan let out a sigh of relief. He quickened his step and flicked the switch at the top of the stairs.

"Clark, you had me worried."

Clark was sitting on the couch in the middle of the loft, his elbows rested on his knees, and his fists by his temples.

"They all wanted a piece of me, Dad."

"Son?"

"I saved the plane, no problem. But, all those people, rushing, grabbing." He looked up. "It was crazy."

Jonathan walked over and took a seat next to his son. "That's people for you. Wanting to touch the next big thing. Their newest celebrity."

"I don't know how I'm supposed to do it anymore," Clark continued. "I can't be Clark Kent and save the world. But I don't want to choose one or the other."

"Son, I know you've been trying to find your place in the world since you left here. Hell, you've been trying ever since your powers started developing. Now, your mother and I did our best to raise you to be the man that you've become. But now, I think it's time to realize that your destiny is greater than your mother and I could have expected."

"I don't want to be a savior. I just want to be me."

Jonathan was silent for a moment, and then looked over to his son. He smiled. "I think you can do both."

"Damn it," he muttered. "I did it again." Gently, he floated back down to the bed and pulled the covers off of him.

Clark looked at the clock radio sitting on his nightstand. Exactly eight a.m.

As he walked downstairs, he could smell the bacon cooking already. Sitting on the table was a box with his name on it.

"I worked on it all night," Martha said, still looking down at the breakfast on the stove.

Clark walked to the table and pulled the lid off of the box. The first thing he could see was a large stylized red "S" on a shield of yellow. He grabbed it and lifted the entire object out of the box. It was blue outfit, complete with chest emblem, red trucks and boots, yellow belt, and of course, a red cape.

In a split second, there was a gust in the kitchen causing paper to fly, pots to rattle, and Mrs. Kent's hair to fly up. She turned around and saw Clark standing in front of her, in his full uniform. He walked out of the kitchen to the back porch.

"You look good," Jonathan commented, as he sipped coffee in his rocking chair on the porch.

"Thanks, dad," Clark replied, walking into the yard.

"But, what will you do on your downtime?" Martha asked, stepping onto the porch. "How will you be Clark Kent?"

"If I slick back my hair, and put a pair of glasses on . . . " Clark said.

"No, really," Martha insisted.

"Actually, he was practicing last night. And the way he changes his posture and voice, even I would be hard pressed to wonder if they were the same person," Jonathan interjected. "But I can't help but wonder what the big ‘S' is."

"It was supposed to be his family emblem on Krypton," Martha replied, playfully slapping Jonathan on the shoulder.

"I know that part, but what will everyone else think?"

"Easy," Clark replied, turning around to face his parents. "They'll just think that I'm Superman!"