Disclaimer: I don't own Superman or Smallville.

Where did this come from? What was the inspiration?

After watching the Crisis event in the Arrowverse I have had this idea in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do. I watched Smallville for 10 years. When Clark was in his first year of highschool, so was I. When Clark graduated in season 4, I was getting ready to graduate. Even when the show was at it's worst (season 6 and 7) I was still there to watch it. So I was excited to see Tom and Erica come back as Lois and Clark.

Let me just say this, in isolation, the scene is not bad. It is a nice scene. But I can't look at this scene in isolation. I have a big problem with this scene.

In the early seasons of Smallville, Clark would have absolutely given up his powers. For the longest time all he wanted was to have a normal life. There was even a couple of times when he had that chance. And each time he was forced to learn the hard way that he can't. There is a part of Clark that makes it impossible for him to have a normal life. He can't stop being a hero. He will put himself in harms way, without hesitation to help someone in need. It was instilled in him by Martha and Jonathan Kent to do what was right and help others.

Clark's journey throughout the show was about learning to accept his powers, his heritage, and his calling to be the hero that the world needs. Season's 8-10 ( my favorite seasons) is when he started working at the Daily Planet and using his abilities to help people in a way that he had never done before. He started developing his alter ego. He wasn't concerned about how to live a normal life, but how can I be a better hero. The hero that I can and am supposed to be.

I have seen people say that crisis was the ending that Clark deserved. He deserved a happy ending. That is not wrong, he does deserve a happy ending. But, since when has being a hero ever been about what you want or deserve? And it is not like he never got to be happy, he had Lois. They were on their way to be married.

Watching Crisis felt like taking Clark's whole journey throughout Smallville and taking a dump on it. I did not watch 10 seasons of a show for this to be how it ends. I did not invest 10 years of my life following Clark's journey for this.

So, this fic is my big middle finger to the Arrowverse for what they did with Smallville in Crisis.

Chapter 1

Clark opened his eyes as if it was for the first time. The light was blinding and it took a moment for him to gather himself. As he looked around he saw that he was in the fortress. But that was not possible. How did he get here? He had given up his powers years ago, so why was he here?

He sat up and got to his feet. Looking around he noticed he was wearing his blue t-shirt and red jacket combo, something he hadn't done for a long time. Just then a voice caught his attention.

"Kal-El, my son. You are awake. How are you feeling?"

When Clark looked over he found himself staring at a figure from his past. Someone he had long thought dead.

"Lionel?" His eyes were wide at this point. His brain was racing to try make sense of the situation. "Wha..what is going on?"

"I brought you here from the hospital. I feared it may have been too late to save you after you were pronounced dead." Clark watched as the man before him looked as if even he didn't know what was happening. "Just now, there was a...disturbance in the fabric of space-time. I have not yet determined the cause."

"Wait, did you say dead?" Just then something occurred to Clark. A memory from his youth. "Wait a minute, I remember this. It was after Brainiac's ship landed. I had lost my powers and was shot."

A sudden realization occurred to Clark, and it was making him feel nauseous. "I think I know what this is. I'm in the past. I'm in my younger body. You are Jor-El, in Lionel's body."

"Indeed, I am. You say you know what is happening? What do you mean you are in the past. Why are you here?"

"The last thing I remember, there were these strange people who showed up on the farm and...oh god. They were right. The mulit-verse did end. They were right and I..I could have stopped it. I could have done something if I hadn't given up my powers." Clark took a step back as if he was losing his balance. "What have I done? Everyone, I couldn't protect them."

Jor-El was listening intently, taking in his every word, processing every bit of information to sort out what it all means. " I see. Fate, it seems, is giving you a second chance, my son."

Clark suddenly realized something else, something he needed to do at the moment. "The missile. Chloe. I have to go."

There was no more time to dwell on his present situation. A missile was headed for Smallville and he had to stop it. "Yes, there is much that needs to be done. This will have to be put on hold for now. There are people who need you, son. But first, it is time I return what is rightfully yours."

Jor-El, still in Lionel's body, approached Clark and wrapped his arms around him. They began to glow as Clark's powers were once again restored to him. This time, he thought, he would not make the same mistake again.

Clark used his super-speed to catch up to the missile. For a moment, he couldn't help but remember how exhilarating it feels to move so fast. Something he hadn't felt in years. He sped over to the missile and lept onto it, digging into it's side. After climbing up to the top of the missile, he tore off a panel before removing the explosive material from it. Flinging it into space, it exploded, sending Clark falling to Earth.

Before he was able to hit the ground, he managed to slow himself enough that he was floating in mid air. He couldn't help but smile at having regained his ability to fly. He took off like a rocket toward Smallville.

He landed outside the farm, no other place felt like home the way this place did. Walking through, the door he was greeted by his parents. Stopping dead in his tracks he caught sight of a disbelieving Jonathan. In all the excitement, Clark had not thought about the fact that his dad was still alive at this point.

"Clark?" Jonathan said. Martha ran up and hugged her son, in tears that he was alright and home with them.

"Da-dad? Uh…" Try as he might, he couldn't form a sentence at the moment. All he could do, was cry at seeing his dad right there in front of him; alive.

"Clark, are you alright? What happened?" Martha was able to pull herself away long enough to ask.

Clark tried to think of what to say. How should he explain this? Should he tell them everything? That he was from the future? "I...I uh. I guess Jor-El isn't done with me yet."

Just then, the Kents heard the door open, and Clark realized who it was. "Give me a minute."

Walking into the living room, he was greeted by Lana. She had come over, the last time this happened. Lana broke down in tears and ran up to Clark, hugging him.

"Clark? I don't understand. How are you…? I saw you die. The doctors…"

"Lana...I know you have a lot of questions. But, this has been a very emotional day, for everyone. Why don't you come by the loft later. There are some things we need to talk about."

Lana looked at him confused, what did they have to talk about? Was he finally going to open up to her? Was he going to explain all this? Reluctantly she agreed, "Of course, I'm sure you want to spend some time with your parents right now. I'll come by later. "

After she left, Clark turned to see his parents staring at him confused. They asked him what that was all about. "Wait, Clark. You are not thinking about telling your secret are you?" Jonathan asked him with look of worry on his face.

"What, no. No I'm not. I am going to break up with her." Clark told them. He could see them looking at him like they had never seen him before.

"You're going to break up with Lana?' Martha asked. "After all that time you spent wanted to be with her? What happened?"

Clark tried to think of what to say. He still wasn't sure if telling them about being from the future was a good idea right now. He was opting to play it safe for now. "Let's just say that almost dying made me re-examine a lot of things. One thing that I have realized is that Lana is not the one for me. I haven't been able to admit it before but, all we do is cause each other pain. I think it would be better for both of us to move on."

Both Martha and Jonathan were thrown for a loop once again that day. They of course were able to see how toxic Clark and Lana's relationship has always been. But to hear it coming from his mouth, was this really their son?

"Are you sure about this? I mean have you really thought this through." Martha asked.

"Yeah mom, I know this is the right thing to do. There is someone out there for me. " Clark thought of Lois in that moment. "It's just not Lana."

The next night, after everything had died down Lana came over as agreed. She was feeling anxious about what Clark might have to tell her. She might finally get answers to all the questions she has had up until now.

"Clark," she called from the stairway. "I'm here."

"Hey, Lana." He couldn't even fake a smile right now. He knew he was about to break her heart, again. He wasn't looking forward to it, but it needed to be done now rather than later. "Come on up.

"Sorry about all the craziness lately." He had been rehearsing what he was going to say all day. He wanted to let her down gently, but right now he was having trouble starting.

Lana stood there, staring at him, waiting. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're okay Clark. You said that there was something we needed to talk about."

"Yeah, we do. " Clark started pacing back and forth. Lana could see how anxious he was so she walked up to him and took his hand, trying to comfort him. He stopped pacing and looked down to see his hand in her's. To Lana's surprise, he backed away.

"Look, Lana. You know they say that when you die, your life flashed before your eyes. You re-examine things that you have done. Decisions that you have made. Well, I can say that I have been doing some re-examining. "

Taking a deep breath, he continued. " Ever since high school, we have been doing this back and forth. We are good one minute and the next we are back to hurting each other."

"I am not saying that it is any one person's fault," he added quickly before she could say anything. "Truth is we both have had a hand in this."

"Clark," Lana started. She could tell from the tone in his voice that she wasn't liking where this conversation was heading. "I don't understand. What is this?"

"Lana, what I'm saying is...I think we need to end this. For good this time." There, he finally said it. Clark was starting to feel a sense of relief. Like this is something he had needed to say for a long time but never got the chance too.

"What," Lana couldn't help but exclaim. "Clark, you can't be serious? After all this..after everything you want to just end it." She started to feel the tears come now.

"Lana I'm sorry."

"Don't," she told him. She wasn't able to hold back the tears now. "I don't want to hear I'm sorry."

Wiping the tears from her eyes she continued. "Clark, if you want to end it then fine. It['s over. But this is the last time. You hear."

"This is for the best. For both of us."

"So, that's it then." Lana turned to walk down the stairs. "You know, I thought that maybe, you would finally open up and tell me what you have been keeping from me all this time. I have tried to be as patient as I can be. Whatever it is you are hiding, I hope it's worth it." She then walked away and left in tears, getting in her car and driving away.

Clark sat down at his desk, exhaling like he was finally able to breathe. " That was a lie you know. If she was really patient she shouldn't have pushed you for so long."

Clark looked up at the sound of her voice. She was here, Lois Lane. "Lois."

"The one and only Smallville," she said with a smile as big as his. " Seen your icey dad lately?"

His smile suddenly faded when she said that. What was going on? Did she know? "What do you mean?" He asked, playing dumb.

"Oh come on Clark. You mentioned something about some strangers on the farm, the world was ending? Ring any bells?"

Clark's eyes widened at the realization, this was HIS Lois. She must have been brought back with him. He should probably be asking why, but he really couldn't bring himself to care. "Lois, it's you."

"Bingo, Superman." Before she could get out another word Clark had her in his arms. She wrapped her's around him, holding each other like a life line. "Don't think won't be talking about this Smallville."

"I love you Lois," he said with a chuckle.

"I love you too." She told thim.