MOTHER KNOWS BEST...
5/16/04 12:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyPart seven,not much more to go now!
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May 2005
Strangely, Clark didn’t feel like dying after Mark left. It wasn’t a big dramatic breakup; there was no violence, no accusations, no drama at all really. It was more like a drifting apart, a steady separation that went on and on till one day, there was nothing holding them together. True, that didn’t make it any less sad; there were tears from both of them when they finally admitted it was over. Then it was just Clark, and one other person who also knew the Secret. As slow as the process of revealing his secret to Mark had been, the unraveling of their relationship followed the same pace, a slow dance of deconstruction. At the end, they were still friends, because another thing Clark learned from Whitney was how to be friends, no matter what. He and Mark could meet and have lunch and laugh with no outward sign of unease, even though all their interactions were shot through with the knowledge that Mark knew, and hadn’t been able to handle it.
When Clark had brought Mark to meet his parents, he’d made it clear that the person he was going to be with had to know who and what he was. He needed to be able to protect those he loved, and that was impossible unless those he were protecting knew that they were being kept safe, and why. His parents surprised him by agreeing with him, and they’d talked long into the night. Clark felt closer to them than he’d had since he was in high school. He loved his parents so much, and his heart swelled as he realized just how much they loved him.
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June 2005
Martha wasn’t surprised at all to get the call about the breakup from Clark. She thought back to when they had visited and how happy the two looked. Martha had been so pleased to see Clark and Jonathan talking so freely together. It was wonderful that he’d accepted Mark so readily and she hoped that the next person Clark brought to meet them would receive as warm a reception, because she’d known they wouldn’t see Mark again. As lovely as it had been for Clark to have Mark meet his friends and see the town where he grew up, it was that very act of opening up which dealt the deathblow to the relationship. There was no doubt in her mind that he would never let the secret out, but it was obvious to her Mark didn’t have the strength to deal with the reality of it day by day. She knew through Pete it took a special person to carry that burden, to live with it and not come to resent having to carry it. For Mark, it became too much. She could understand, God, it was hard for them sometimes and they’d had twenty years to deal with it. Martha had a thought she kept strictly to herself. She felt there was one person who could deal with Clark’s secret and even be able to protect him, be someone for Clark to lean on, but that was long ago and not a likely possibility now. Thank God, at least she could look out for her baby, be there when he needed her, and… maybe the best way to look out for her son was to take matters into her own hands.
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Letter to Lex Luthor
Dear Lex,
Though I know it’s been quite a while, I’m hoping that you remember us with as much fondness as we remember you. Of course, you may not feel any fondness at all when you realize I’m writing to ask for a favor. Clark wants to stay in Metropolis during the summer break from M.U.,, and I hope that you might be able to keep an eye on him, and convince him to please not stay where he plans to. (It is beyond frightening!) I know it’s the first time I’ve contacted you in almost two years (!) but I couldn’t think of anyone else whom I’d trust with my son! I hope that you’ll get in touch with us soon, but if not, believe me, I’ll understand.
With deepest regards,
Martha Kent
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June 2005
The knock on the screen door startled Martha. She’d been taking advantage of a little free time; Jonathan was in town with Clark, buying a few things that he needed. And she was indulging in a crossword and some quiet. ‘God knows,’ she thought to herself as she got up to answer the door,
‘ I’m thrilled to have my boy back home again, but, goodness, what a change…’ She was
stunned to see Lex standing on her doorstep. When he’d never responded to her letter, she assumed he’d been offended and figured that she wasn’t going to hear from him.
“ Lex! My goodness! What a surprise!” She pulled open the screen door and drew him inside .He looked a little shy, and a little pleased at her obvious pleasure at seeing him.
“Mrs. Kent. It’s been a long time.” He extended his hand to her and she used it to pull him into a hug. She had to smile when his cheeks flushed faintly pink for a moment. She moved back into the kitchen and Lex followed her. When she turned to motion him to sit she caught a look of …happiness? ..on his face It was gone so quickly that she wasn’t sure what she really saw there, but Martha was going to go with her impression. In fact, she was about to leap out into space with this and trust that someone was going to catch her!
“ Lex, as truly glad as I am to see you, I’m wondering what brings you back to us?”
He took a moment to enjoy the warmth of her words and responded thoughtfully.
“Mrs. Kent, I did get your letter and I apologize for not getting in touch with you right away. I’ve been out of the country on business, and I only recently had any free time. I think *you* know what a precious commodity that is!” she smiled at him and brought him a glass of iced tea.
“Of course, I understand. I was a little worried that I’d overstepped…”
“No, no, not at all, I’m more than happy to help,” Lex cut in “ Now, I’ve done some thinking about your problem, and I think I have an excellent solution. I have an apartment near Metropolis central that I’d be more than happy to have Clark use, if you and Mr. Kent agree…”
Martha looked steadily at Lex, “You mean the penthouse…that would be more than generous of you.”
“ Well, no actually, but I ’m sure that Clark would prefer his own place, don’t you? You really don’t have to worry about him, I have a housekeeper there who spent a lot of time with me as a teenager. I think if she survived me, she can handle Clark. Plus, even though she knows me, she’s strangely loyal to me. I’m sure she’d keep …track for us.” He smiled, a real smile playing over his lips as he looked at Martha; his eyes sparkled as he enjoyed their conspiracy. Martha smiled back, but sighed inwardly. This was going to take longer than she thought. Possibly *much* longer than she thought.
*******************************************************************************
May 2005
Strangely, Clark didn’t feel like dying after Mark left. It wasn’t a big dramatic breakup; there was no violence, no accusations, no drama at all really. It was more like a drifting apart, a steady separation that went on and on till one day, there was nothing holding them together. True, that didn’t make it any less sad; there were tears from both of them when they finally admitted it was over. Then it was just Clark, and one other person who also knew the Secret. As slow as the process of revealing his secret to Mark had been, the unraveling of their relationship followed the same pace, a slow dance of deconstruction. At the end, they were still friends, because another thing Clark learned from Whitney was how to be friends, no matter what. He and Mark could meet and have lunch and laugh with no outward sign of unease, even though all their interactions were shot through with the knowledge that Mark knew, and hadn’t been able to handle it.
When Clark had brought Mark to meet his parents, he’d made it clear that the person he was going to be with had to know who and what he was. He needed to be able to protect those he loved, and that was impossible unless those he were protecting knew that they were being kept safe, and why. His parents surprised him by agreeing with him, and they’d talked long into the night. Clark felt closer to them than he’d had since he was in high school. He loved his parents so much, and his heart swelled as he realized just how much they loved him.
****************************************************************************
June 2005
Martha wasn’t surprised at all to get the call about the breakup from Clark. She thought back to when they had visited and how happy the two looked. Martha had been so pleased to see Clark and Jonathan talking so freely together. It was wonderful that he’d accepted Mark so readily and she hoped that the next person Clark brought to meet them would receive as warm a reception, because she’d known they wouldn’t see Mark again. As lovely as it had been for Clark to have Mark meet his friends and see the town where he grew up, it was that very act of opening up which dealt the deathblow to the relationship. There was no doubt in her mind that he would never let the secret out, but it was obvious to her Mark didn’t have the strength to deal with the reality of it day by day. She knew through Pete it took a special person to carry that burden, to live with it and not come to resent having to carry it. For Mark, it became too much. She could understand, God, it was hard for them sometimes and they’d had twenty years to deal with it. Martha had a thought she kept strictly to herself. She felt there was one person who could deal with Clark’s secret and even be able to protect him, be someone for Clark to lean on, but that was long ago and not a likely possibility now. Thank God, at least she could look out for her baby, be there when he needed her, and… maybe the best way to look out for her son was to take matters into her own hands.
******************************************************************************
Letter to Lex Luthor
Dear Lex,
Though I know it’s been quite a while, I’m hoping that you remember us with as much fondness as we remember you. Of course, you may not feel any fondness at all when you realize I’m writing to ask for a favor. Clark wants to stay in Metropolis during the summer break from M.U.,, and I hope that you might be able to keep an eye on him, and convince him to please not stay where he plans to. (It is beyond frightening!) I know it’s the first time I’ve contacted you in almost two years (!) but I couldn’t think of anyone else whom I’d trust with my son! I hope that you’ll get in touch with us soon, but if not, believe me, I’ll understand.
With deepest regards,
Martha Kent
****************************************************************************
June 2005
The knock on the screen door startled Martha. She’d been taking advantage of a little free time; Jonathan was in town with Clark, buying a few things that he needed. And she was indulging in a crossword and some quiet. ‘God knows,’ she thought to herself as she got up to answer the door,
‘ I’m thrilled to have my boy back home again, but, goodness, what a change…’ She was
stunned to see Lex standing on her doorstep. When he’d never responded to her letter, she assumed he’d been offended and figured that she wasn’t going to hear from him.
“ Lex! My goodness! What a surprise!” She pulled open the screen door and drew him inside .He looked a little shy, and a little pleased at her obvious pleasure at seeing him.
“Mrs. Kent. It’s been a long time.” He extended his hand to her and she used it to pull him into a hug. She had to smile when his cheeks flushed faintly pink for a moment. She moved back into the kitchen and Lex followed her. When she turned to motion him to sit she caught a look of …happiness? ..on his face It was gone so quickly that she wasn’t sure what she really saw there, but Martha was going to go with her impression. In fact, she was about to leap out into space with this and trust that someone was going to catch her!
“ Lex, as truly glad as I am to see you, I’m wondering what brings you back to us?”
He took a moment to enjoy the warmth of her words and responded thoughtfully.
“Mrs. Kent, I did get your letter and I apologize for not getting in touch with you right away. I’ve been out of the country on business, and I only recently had any free time. I think *you* know what a precious commodity that is!” she smiled at him and brought him a glass of iced tea.
“Of course, I understand. I was a little worried that I’d overstepped…”
“No, no, not at all, I’m more than happy to help,” Lex cut in “ Now, I’ve done some thinking about your problem, and I think I have an excellent solution. I have an apartment near Metropolis central that I’d be more than happy to have Clark use, if you and Mr. Kent agree…”
Martha looked steadily at Lex, “You mean the penthouse…that would be more than generous of you.”
“ Well, no actually, but I ’m sure that Clark would prefer his own place, don’t you? You really don’t have to worry about him, I have a housekeeper there who spent a lot of time with me as a teenager. I think if she survived me, she can handle Clark. Plus, even though she knows me, she’s strangely loyal to me. I’m sure she’d keep …track for us.” He smiled, a real smile playing over his lips as he looked at Martha; his eyes sparkled as he enjoyed their conspiracy. Martha smiled back, but sighed inwardly. This was going to take longer than she thought. Possibly *much* longer than she thought.