His world exploded before his birth. Propelled by a futuristic craft powered by a science beyond mans comprehension he arrived on a our world as a baby. Raised as a human by loving, caring parents who instilled in him the difference between right and wrong, he derives his powers from our yellow sun that give him enormous and unheard of abilities ! His massive strength and incomprehensible powers are matched only by the great and true heart that beats within his chest ! He is one of the most powerful champions for truth, justice , and the American way that has ever lived ! A man from the stars ever seeking to make the Earth his home, and to protect that home from evils no one else would have a glimmer of hope against ! He is the man of steel, the man of tomorrow...he is..

I'm comin' home ! Part III

Fathers day...

Superman #21

By Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

The Kent family farm house in Smallville, Kansas. Gathered around the dinner table are Clark Kent, His wife Lois Kent. Jonathan and Martha Kent, as well as Pete and Lana Ross, the Kents closest friends here in Smallville.

"Here's the mashed potatoes , Clark" Pete hands the bowl of mashed over to Clark on the other side of the table.

"Thanks , Pete." answers Clark as he spoons out the mashed potatoes to his wifes, as well as his own plate.

"So how's things going here in Smallville with you two? I mean since you left politics, I know you've tried your hands in a few things, Pete. But what are you finally settling down to?"

"To be honest, Clark. I've decided to get back to my roots."

"You're reopening your parents farm?" Lois asks, incredulous as everyone eats.

"No, Lois, but not far from the truth." Lana answers, "We're going into business as a farmers help organization agency. Not as a lender, but as a helping hand to the farmers in the area who need loans and other help with equipment and such. "

"Wow, Pete, that's great." Jonathan excitedly answers, "Smallville could use a group like that."

Clark chews a piece of roast beef before speaking. "It's great to be back home for fathers day, Pa. I'm glad Ma thought of inviting us all here." he turns towards Pete and Lana, while Lana helps the couples three year old boy eat. "And I'm glad you two decided to spend the day with us. You two are family you know."

Lana smiles "I know big brother, we both think of you as family too. Heck, we've all been through a ton of stuff over the years."

"Yep, we sure have Lana." Clark agrees as he chews another mouthful of roast beef.

Lois lurches a little as Clark turns toward her "You okay Lois?"

"Y-yes. The baby is kicking again, that's all Clark."

Clark smiles and the smile circulates all around the table as dinner continues.

Minutes later... Out on the porch, Clark sits on big swing overlooking the farmland , as Lana pushes through the screen door, which closes with a squeak of hinges and springs.. She looks out at the late sunset, and the stars steadily brightening over head.

"Nice night, Clark."

"Sit down, Lana. " Clark beckons with a smile.

She sidles up next to him, as he puts his arm around her shoulder and she drops her head lazily on his shoulder.

"It's so beautiful here. I'll never get used to the big city nights. All the ambient lights steal the stars from the city sky at night. That's why I come back home as much as possible." He speaks nonchalantly.

"It must be easy for you to just fly above it all, isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it is, but I seldom do. There's always some crisis or other. Tonight I swore I'd leave to myself and family, no matter the danger. Short of Braniac or something similar."

"Well, Clark, I think the world can get away without bothering you for one night. There are a lot of other heroes out there, you know?"

He smiles and hugs her. "I do know , and with Gold'n around in Metropolis, well, I have a little less to worry about, it seems lately."

"Is she a... Good hero? I guess those are the words I'm fishing for." She twists her face as she thinks.

"Yes, she's actually really good. Surprisingly so, actually. She's a very good student, and her powers are formidable. "

"You sound proud of her."

"I guess I am. She reminds me of myself a little."

"How so?"

"Well, she grew up on a farm, and she's now trying to make it in the big city and..." He trails off, and suddenly turns towards Lana. "She's alone, on fathers day. Like she has been for months now on different holidays. What am I? A complete idiot?"

"Clark? What are you doing?" Lana stands as Clark had done an instant before .

"That poor girl. I never even thought to ask what she's been doing all this time. Tell the others I'll be back in a little while."

Without another word, he spins around, and in a flash, Clark Kent is gone, replaced by Superman, who instantly streaks away eastward, and disappears into the gathering darkness.

"How could I have been so stupid? That poor girl, she's all alone in Metropolis. I mean, I don't know what , or if she has any friends in Metropolis, but if she doesn't, she's all alone. And has been for months . I've been so caught up in Lois' pregnancy, and the battle with Ares warriors* that I never thought of her own personal condition. That changes tonight."

*See our last 5 issues

He arrives at Metropolis, and begins to immediately use his telescopic vision to search for Gold'n.

A moment passes then , floating in the air, in the darkness above the city, he almost silently mouths one word

"There."

And with that, he's gone, streaking down to the rooftops so far below him. Coming up short at a particular familiar rooftop. The Daily Planets familiar globe stands above her head, as she sits on the edge of the building, her legs dangling into space. She smiles immediately when she sees him.

"Superman! Hi! I didn't think you'd be out tonight."

"Hello Gold'n. How are you tonight?"

"I'm good. Are you okay? You look, I dunno, kinda... weird?"

"Not weird, concerned. Come with me, we're going somewhere to talk."

"He streaks away, and she follows, wondering a little nervously what this is all about. A moment later, they land in Hobbs Bay, and enter a small pub, that sounds loud and raucous from the outside. A big man smiles as he sees Superman walk through the door.

"Sooperman! My favrit! How is ya, buddy?"

Superman clasps the big mans hand and smiles warmly. "I'm fine, Bibbo. I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, this is Gold'n. Gold'n, meet Bibbo Bibowski. One of the best friends a super hero can have."

Gold'n takes the big mans offered hand, as he smiles warmly at her.

"Geeze Soops, she seems kinda young fer ya, if ya don't mind my sayin'. "

"That's okay , Bibbo. She's a heroine in training, and I'm her mentor."

"Gotcha big guy. You want somthin' ta eat? "

"I'm good , Bibbo, but bring Gold'n whatever she wants."

A minute later, Superman and Gold'n are seated in the back of the pub, as a big, juicy hamburger and fries is brought, and placed in front of the girl.

"Are you sure that's all you want, Gold'n?"

"Mmm-hhhmm." She nods. "This is a good hamburger."

"Bibbo has a good cook back there. The food here is generally very good. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about something."

She stops eating and stares at him.

"What did I do wrong? I'm s-sorry for whatever it was."

"Relax, Gold'n. You did nothing wrong. I wanted to talk to you about your family."

She looks down and doesn't meet his gaze any longer. "I- I don't want to talk about this. I really don't, Superman."

"I know Gold'n, but we're going to have to."

"Why?" she looks up at him then. "Why do we have to? That life is over. They chased me away I ain't never gon' back there again."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I think you should go back there, I think we both should, and talk to your parents. They have to realize the mistake they made, that you are their daughter, and that you deserve to have a home."

"B-but Superman, I already do. Here in Metropolis."

"Perhaps. I know you're happy here, but family is the most important thing a person can have. You have to have roots, you have to remember where you're from and to be true to it. Was your father cruel and brutal to you earlier in your life? Or was it just after he thought you were an alien?"

"D-daddy loved me. Mommy too. He was kinda stern to me, but he did love me, and him and mommy were always the best to me. They were good parents, they really were."

"Then why won't you go back and try talking to them? I'll help you. It's fathers day, Gold'n. You must be thinking about him, about them both."

She twists a french fry around in a puddle of ketchup, looking down again. "I do, all of the time. I miss them., sometimes when I'm alone." She looks up then, and continues talking, "But not when we're fighting bad guys. Then I feel good, like I'm doing the most important thing in the world."

"You are doing good, Gold'n, but this is more important. You have to at least try. They deserve that much."

She finishes her burger in silence, and then looks up to him, her eyes slightly wet. "You want to go now?"

He smiles warmly, "Yes, lets go pay a visit to your parents."

They streak away from Metropolis, Superman following Gold'n's lead. Soon, they're both over Iowa, as the glowing young girl angels groundward, Superman tight behind her. They both alight to a ramshackle farmhouses front lawn.

"This is it?" He asks

"Yes. This is home." Gold'n answers, not looking him in the eye.

"This isn't what I expected." He thinks to himself. "It's rundown, and definitely has seen better times, at least from the outside. I'm beginning to wonder if this was a good idea, or if maybe I should've just left Gold'n alone about her parents."

'You wanna knock?" Gold'n asks Superman sheepishly.

"Yes, come on. It's time your parents got their little girl back."

Superman knocks on the door, with authority, as a gaunt, bespeckled man in a pair of bib overalls answers the door. "Hello, what kin ah do fer you?" His eyes widen when he recognizes Superman, and then they widen even more as he sees the young girl standing behind the man of steel. She smiles sheepishly as she pushes past Superman, then says.

"Hi Daddy."

Suddenly he reaches back into his house and grabs a shotgun. "I tol' you never ta show yer face 'round here agin' you alien thing. You killed mah lil' girl, an took her form. Ah seen 'Body Snatchers' too, ya know." He shoves the shotgun in Gold'ns chest, and fires !

BOOM !

" Gold'n NO!!!" Superman shouts as the girl falls backward to the ground. Superman catches her as she stumbles backwards. He turns angrily towards her father and suddenly the rifle glows bright red in the farmers hand.

"AAAIIEEE!" The old man screams as the gun melts, burning both his hands.

Superman grabs him by the collar and swings him outside onto the ground, hard !

"You shot your own daughter, you old fool ! This is your child ! Wake up ! Something happened to her, but it is her!"

Gold'n shakily rises from the ground, more shocked by what her father did, then hurt by the shotgun blast.

Then a round, greying woman suddenly runs out the door of the farmhouse from inside,

roused by he shotgun blast.

"Jedediah!" Then after a pause she looks at Superman and then Gold'n. "Susie! Is that you girl? It can't be! My little girl has come home."

"S-she ain't yer little girl, Molly, I dun tol' you that already." The older man grunts as he gets off the dirt ground, gingerly holding his blistering hands.

"Yes she is." Superman forcefully growls. "This IS your daughter. Something happened to her and she gained great powers because of it, but this is your little girl."

The woman hugs Gold'n tightly as the young girl begins to sob. "Oh Mamma, I missed you so much these past few months."

"Me too, baby. My little girl." She kisses Gold'ns forehead and hugs her again.

"Git away from that thing, Molly. That taint our little girl. That thing killed her and took her body, or somethin' like that."

"No Sir," Superman again reiterates, "That is your daughter, the same as she always was, only she now has abilities which she's used to help and protect the world since gaining them. She's a heroine, now. She has powers greater then normal man, and she's made the correct choices on how to use them. And, I'm proud of her for what she's accomplished in such a short time."

"That ain't mah daughter, you alien. Figgers you would say it is. Alla you aliens stick together." He turns, and walks towards his front door, gingerly rubbing his hands as he painfully pulls the screen door open and enters. "Now ah want you both ta git offa mah property, or ahm comin' back wit' mah other shotgun."

The door slams behind him, leaving the three of them on the dirt patch lawn.

"I-I'm sorry about Jedediah, Superman. He's a stubborn old fool." Molly speaks shamefully. "When he ran Suzie off months ago, we were both scared of what she became. But I started watching the news , and realized that it was my little girl helping you. He would never admit it, but he was watching, too. He's convinced that this is some kind of monster in our little girls

body, but a part of him knows the truth, at least I think it does. He's just so dang proud and stubborn." The woman shakes her head, as she hugs her daughter. As she does, Gold'ns glow dies down to nothing, and the girls hair changes from bright blonde to black.

"Mommy. It's so good to see you again." she hugs her mother back as tears begin to run down her cheeks.

"You too baby girl, you too." then the older woman turns back towards Superman, and speaks again. "Superman, please watch over my baby for me."

"I will, ma'am, I promise. But I have to tell you, she's grown into quite a powerful young woman, who can take care of herself just fine, believe me. You have nothing to worry about where she's concerned."

The woman smiles, and then hugs her daughter one last time. "Go Suzie, go back with Superman. Call me when you can, and let me know where I can call you. Don't worry about your father. Eventually , he'll stop this foolishness and come 'round. I know he misses his little girl, too."

"Goodbye, mommy." Gold'n says as she hugs her mother one more time.

"Bye baby." Her mother answers as she returns the hug."Good bye Superman, and thank you fer bringin' my little girl home to me."

"My pleasure, ma'am."

Gold'ns glow returns, as her hair again turns bright blonde, and the two heroes return to the sky, this time with Superman in the lead.

After several moments of silence, Gold'n asks him "Where are we going?"

"We have to make a stop at a friends house . Just follow me."

A moment later they land in a familiar farmhouse, in Smallville, as Superman knocks on the door. A bemused Lois answers the door.

"Superman? What are you doing here?"

"Lois, this is a friend of mine, perhaps you've heard of her."

"Of course I have, Gold'n, right? It's a pleasure to meet you." She extends her hand and shakes the girls hand.

Behind Lois, Jonathan and Martha walk up to Lois' back and smile warmly, they know what's coming

"Hello Mr and Mrs Kent, it's been a while, Would you be willing to do me a favor? Could you watch after Gold'n tonight? She needs some down home hospitality, as well as some friends."

"Of course , Superman, we'd be happy to." Jonathan answers as he opens the door and begins to usher the girl in.

She turns towards Superman, "I d-don't know , Superman. I don't know these people. Why would they take me in? "

"Because they're all my friends, and there's another friend of mine who should be here too, Lois' husband, Clark. They're all nice people, and right now you need some friends to be with, at least for tonight. Trust me. I have to get back to Metropolis, I have something personal I have to attend too, but stay here tonight, and relax."

"Oh right", she says, "Fathers day. You must have to get back to your dad."

He nods, and smiles, watching as his father smiles over Gold'n's shoulder at his son.

"I'll see you tomorrow in Metropolis, okay?"

"Okay." She answers, smiling back at him.

He turns, and rises into the night sky, then he rockets away, disappearing instantly.

"Come inside, child." Martha Kent places her hand on Gold'n's shoulder, ushering the child into her home.

Gold'n stops, and turns towards Martha. "Why are you taking me in like this? You don't know me at all."

"Honey," Martha begins, "You're a friend of Supermans, and he's family around these parts, so that means you're going to be treated like family here, too."

Inside, Clark is seated at the kitchen table with Lana and Pete Ross, just opening a box of pie.

"Clark, you must know Gold'n, Supermans young friend?"Martha asks.

"Yes I do, but by reputation only, hello Gold'n. Clark takes her hand and smiles warmly."

"H-hi." she answers , shyly.

"Clark just got back from town." Lana announces, "And he brought this great Pie with him from the Montgomery's. "

"Hello Gold'n how are you?" Lana asks , as she pulls out a chair next to her, offering it to Gold'n to sit in, which she does.

"Welcome to the family, Gold'n." Clark offers as he hands her a piece of pie, which Gold'n takes with a warm smile.

And the gathered and extended family begin to talk and do the things that families do, long into the night...

Next: Crossing Over.

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