DISCLAIMER :: This fanfiction is based on Superman from DC Comics. All rights reserved. Art by CWBlaine on Deviant Art.
Author's note: Perhaps it is the start of a new collaborative universe or a standalone project for myself. I don't know, yet.

(( Chapter Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP7zpdwo3Xo ))

Once back in the car, I sat for a moment to think. A large portion of my psyche couldn't believe that Dr. Voss had agreed to the task with so little convincing. At least, from my perspective it didn't seem like much convincing. Beyond that, my world seemed to be changing in so many ways. If I had been told a month ago that in a short amount of time I would no longer be male, physically regressed back to seventeen, would discover mind-blowing abilities in myself, consort with a literal god, be on the verge of losing a job I hated anyway, and was contemplating some kind of altruistic endeavor that could put my family at risk, there would be discussions about the merits of psychotherapy. The truth is stranger than fiction.

After taking in a weighted breath, a text was submitted to the family group chat. Hannah suggested we start one when she got her first phone at fourteen. We added Madison just last year. Eventually, Olivia will be added as well but it's too soon. My text was to announce a family meeting at the dining table once I arrived at home. Setting my phone in the alcove built into the car, I started on my way home. At this hour, I was well aware it would be a long drive. The sun was setting, casting orange and yellow light across the landscape. Rush hour was still going strong.

Finally at home, I pulled into the garage. Thankfully, Laura's SUV was present. At the door to the mud room, I took in a deep breath to prepare myself for what was about to transpire. Afterward, a simple message that I had arrived was sent to the group chat. I opened the door and stepped into the house. The corridor was rather short and I emerged into the open floorplan that was our kitchen and dining room. I leaned against a chair and waited for whomever would actually arrive. Given my relationship with the family of late, I only expected Laura and Madison to show.

Over the course of the next few minutes, everyone settled themselves at the table, even Hannah and Olivia. I tried not to show my surprise. The faces of my family were rather blank and unreadable. Laura seemed tired from work. Hannah hadn't yet put down her phone. Madison just kept looking at everyone else. Olivia seemed to want to be anywhere but here. After a moment, I cleared my throat.

"Thanks, everybody." I began. "I really appreciate you all being here." I let out a sigh. "It's no mystery that things have changed in the house. Ever since this thing happened to me – to us – there has been a lot of silence. Not many of us have said much to one another. There again, things are still changing somewhat and maybe I just can't hear you speaking to one another. Let's address the elephant in the room."

I took another deep breath. "I have not been the best husband or father to any of you for a long time." All of them stopped and looked at me with widened eyes. "Since my layoff at the Chicago Tribune, I've all but disappeared. I've gone to work, come home, spoken a few words, and then gone to bed. The light has gone from my heart. My only concern has been your comfort and happiness. I've even failed at that." Tears built up in my eyes.

My eyes turned to my wife. "Laura, you've deserved better. You have deserved a partner against the world and I was wrapped up in my own. I retreated into my shell and almost forgot you existed. I thought if I just put my head down, helped around the house, and made sure the mortgage was paid it would be enough. I was wrong." My wife's eyes misted up as I spoke.

My eyes moved to my eldest. "Hannah, I couldn't find the right words to say to you for the longest time. I don't know your friends anymore. I don't know if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend or what. All I know is my little girl is about to graduate high school and move on to bigger things while I still hold onto the ten year old I built pillow forts with on the weekends." Tears were now running down my cheeks.

My eyes moved to the middle child. "Madison... I'm so glad we've been able to actually connect, recently. I'm sorry it didn't happen sooner, sweetheart."

Finally, my gaze landed on the youngest. "Olivia... baby... you have needed a father for far too long. All I did was try to placate you with stuffed dolls as the only way to let you know I was thinking about you. You have needed bedtime stories of epic proportions. You've needed more hugs and tea parties. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you, sweetheart."

My focus returned to the group as a whole. "I'm about to do something brave... or stupid... or both. Only Madison really knows what I'm capable of now and even then at a basic level. Larry Lang stopped by today."

"Larry was here?" Laura asked.

"Not as such. Her name is Lauren, now. She's like me. She told me her family basically fell apart after all this. Rather quickly, too."

Laura nodded. "Alana and I have been talking."

It was my turn to nod. "I thought you might. Honestly, I don't want that to happen to this family, but Madison is the only one that's really spoken to me in almost three weeks. Besides, it goes deeper than maybe any of you realize."

"What's deeper than your dad basically becoming your sister in minutes right before your eyes?" Hannah finally spoke. Her words had bite to them.

"You guys have been seeing what's going on with ICE recently?" Laura and the teenagers nodded. Olivia looked confused. "That's going to start happening to people like me. Larry – I mean, Lauren – has sources that show Orivox Enterprises is going to mobilize their mercenaries, American Vanguard Solutions, against people affected by the same thing that changed me. That, coupled with the fact Larry is now a 20 year old young woman named Lauren, is what destroyed his family. There's nothing saying they're going after family members, but they might in order to get to people with powers."

"What are you gonna do that's stupid, Daddy?" Olivia eventually spoke.

I took a deep breath. "I'm... gonna do a superhero... thing."

"You're right. That is stupid." Hannah quipped.

"No, it isn't! You haven't seen what Dad can do!" Madison defended me.

"I don't really care, Madison! And, if you hadn't noticed," Hannah pointed at me, "that isn't Dad! Not anymore!"

"Hannah!" Laura gasped. I merely hung my head.

"What, Mom?! Use your eyes! That's not my dad and it's definitely not your husband!"

"Young lady–" Laura started to scold her.

"She's got a point, Laura." I sighed before I looked sullenly at my eldest daughter. "Your feelings are valid, Hannah. I've been feeling rather similarly for a while now." My gaze turned to Laura. "You kicked me out of our room the night after this all happened. First, I was on the couch and then I moved into the spare room. We've barely spoken."

Laura nearly huffed. "I'm just going through things, Chris."

"As am I, Laura, but even a blind person can see that our relationship just isn't going to work, anymore. We can't lie to ourselves about that. I love you more than anything, but it would be a bad look for both of us to try to continue like nothing happened." My eyes landed on each child as I spoke. "What good will it do trying to pretend to be your father when I look about a year younger than Hannah but almost like her twin? More than a few people have mistaken me for her in the last three weeks. I battle it every day, but the mirror is winning."

Hannah slumped in her chair. "This family is fucked."

"Hannah! Language!" Laura and I chorused.

Madison, desperate to change the subject, spoke up. "So... you're gonna wear tights and a cape, huh?"

I slapped my face with my palm. "I'm gonna pass on the concept of tights. I don't know, yet, what the uniform I'm going to wear will look like. I spoke with an advanced materials researcher today. Just now. That's where I was today."

"What can you do?" Olivia jumped into the conversation.

"Basically everything Superman can do." I informed her. "Flying, all the eye things, the breath, the strength, and I'm bulletproof."

"So, that girl at the mall? That was you?" Hannah finally straightened back up.

I firmly nodded. "Yes, it was me. That's why I thought a uniform might be a good idea. Can't stop dangerous people and risk a wardrobe malfunction."

"It was kinda dumb to do that in broad daylight." Hannah chided.

"Your mother thought the same."

All the girls turned to Laura. "You knew?!"

Laura held up her hands. "Not really. I was just helping with the wardrobe in the first place."

"Don't be hard on your mother, girls. She's dealing with all this just like you all are." I tried to deescalate. "The biggest problem with the thought of doing the 'Caped Crusader' thing is that it could endanger all of you. That's the last thing I want. I don't know what I'd do if any of you were harmed because of me."

"That's why superheroes have secret identities." Madison stated plainly.

"Exactly. Mine has to be ironclad to keep all of you safe." I sighed. "It might mean I have to go the same route that Lauren did: fake her own death and/or disappearance."

"Larry's not dead, though. Not that we know. No funeral or anything." Laura questioned.

"That's what I thought, too. Larry – I mean, Lauren – has something in the works. I don't know what it is, yet. I wanted to get a sense of how all of you might feel about all of this. Sounds like the general idea is that I'm simultaneously stupid and not really a member of this family anymore." I hung my head again as the tears returned.

"Honey..." Laura began to gently protest.

"I'm not deaf, Laura. I even have super hearing, remember? I've heard everything that's been said."

Hannah groaned. "I'm not trying to be a dick, okay? I just feel like my dad's already dead. Ever since you changed, I've been hit pretty hard. I don't know what you are right now but I don't want you to not be a part of my life."

Madison nodded. "Yea, it's pretty weird calling you 'Dad' when you look like my big sister, but I wanted to keep acknowledging who you are inside. You're still the big dork that's cool to geek out with me sometimes."

"My daddy's not dead, but you don't look like him anymore. You look like a stranger I'm related to." Olivia observed.

Laura stood and approached me, putting her arms comfortingly over my shoulders. "You're not stupid, Christopher. You are a part of this family. We just don't know what part. We'll have to figure that out. It'll take time." She took a deep breath. "I personally think your idea to help others shows your heart is in the right place."

"Stupid..." Hannah began, then smirked. "...but noble. It's kinda right up your alley."

"You've always been my hero, Daddy." Olivia stated plainly.

My heart melted and the tears came easily.

"You know how I feel, Dad. I've been pretty excited about this the whole time."

I gave them a weak, teary smile. "Thanks, you guys."

My phone emitted a tone that signaled a text message and vibrated in my pocket. I fished it out, unlocked the screen, and read the message. My blood ran cold. Without a second thought, I spun out of Laura's comforting gesture and the world slowed to a crawl. I ran out the sliding door to the deck and jumped. At the apex of the leap, I willed myself into flight and to travel as fast as I possibly could. There were several sonic booms that clapped behind me. The wind whipped through my hair and clothes. It was cold enough to freeze the fresh tears on my face from moments ago.

'Christopher, your father is having a heart attack. I called 9-1-1 but I don't know if they'll be here in time. Prepare for the worst, honey.' The text from my mother had read.

Knowing that if I went east far enough to hit Lake Michigan, I could follow the coastline all the way to Sheboygan. I wouldn't have to go all the way into town, though. The family farm was on the south end of the city. There was no time to note how suburban developments had swallowed a lot of old family farms. I still have yet to figure out how to land properly because I slammed into the wheat field, rolled, and even skidded. The world remained in slow motion as I ran toward the house. It only returned to normal when my feet landed on the front porch of the house. I knew the door was unlocked, so I let myself in.

"Mom?! Dad?!" I called out, not even considering they wouldn't recognize my voice.

The house was arranged like any other mid-century ranch-style house. The family room no child was to ever enter was on the other side of a half wall to my right. Before me was the main hallway with family photos through the years. Beyond the family room on the right was the kitchen. To the left was the actual living room. My mother emerged from around the corner. The tears returned.

"Hannah?" She asked, causing more tears.

"It's Christopher, Mom. Where's dad?"

"Christopher? How did you get here? It's two hours drive from Arlington Heights and I just sent you the text."

"Doesn't matter right now, Mom! Where's dad?!"

She pointed down the other hallway. "In the bedroom. We were –"

The world slowed once more as I started running toward her, then around the corner to my parents' bedroom. My father was sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his chest and breathing laboredly. When the world returned to normal speed, he looked up at me.

"Hannah?" He struggled to ask.

"I don't have time to explain, Dad. It's me, Christopher. Trust me on that." The world adopted the blue hue around me and I could see all of my father's insides. Unpleasant to be sure, but it had purpose. It took me a second to really decipher what I was looking at, but I found his heart. I could hear his weak pulse but I couldn't decipher what I was seeing other than the fact his pacemaker wasn't doing its job very well. Blinking quickly, I looked up at him when the world returned to normal vision. "Let me take you to the hospital."

My mother entered the room behind me. "I've already called the ambulance."

"You said you didn't think they'd be here in time!"

"I still don't, but what can we do?"

"Quite a lot, actually." I swooped in and gently took hold of my father. Once I had a hold of him, I maneuvered through the house. Once outside through the front door, I took to the air.

Holding tightly to my father, it dawned on me he was the first person to fly in my arms. The closest hospital I knew to take him to was Aurora Medical Center. It appeared as if they'd made some upgrades in the past few years, but the Emergency Department was in the same place. Carrying precious cargo, it was incredibly important to figure out how to land correctly. I did everything I could think of to slow myself down enough to gently touch down on the sidewalk near the doors. I stumbled a little, but at least nobody was hurt. Running at normal speed, I entered the doors with him and went straight for a wheelchair.

"Heart attack!" I yelled as I wheeled him into the waiting room.

"What's the patient's name?" The woman from registration asked me as the triage nurses jumped into action.

"Jonas Kent." I responded, watching helplessly.

"Birthdate?" Came the voice of the woman from registration.

"February 29, 1956." I turned my gaze toward the registration woman. "Is he gonna be okay?"

"We're going to do everything we can to help him. What's your relation, sweetie?"

"I'm his kid."

Her eyes became as big as dinner plates. "I've heard of having kids late, but your case takes the cake, honey. He was, what, in his forties when you were born?"

Not wishing to answer that particular question, I turned around and made my way out the door. Once clear of prying eyes, I took to the skies again and headed back to the farmstead. Once again, I landed less than gracefully. Dusting myself off, I found my mom standing on the porch with worry written on her face. As I strode up, her hand shot to her mouth.

"Where's my husband?" She exclaimed.

"I got him to the hospital. The triage nurses are handling it." I informed her as the first wail of the ambulance sirens could be heard.

She looked me up and down. "You moved like the wind. You got here in two minutes from Illinois. What is going on?"

I motioned to my body with my hands. "May I present the aforementioned brat casing, Mom. All quarter-Jewish of it. Remember the 'nonsense' about people with powers?" She nodded. "It's not nonsense, Mom. I can do a lot of things. I panicked when I read your text. Emotion pushed me to limits I'd never even tested before. I flew here as fast as I could."

"You can fly?"

"Yes, Mom, I can fly. Landing is the hard part, but I got Dad to the emergency room without hurting him."

She took a few tentative steps toward me, giving me a look I couldn't decipher. She reached out and cupped my face in her hands. After a moment, she smiled broadly. "There's my Christopher. It's right there in your eyes." She pulled me toward her and embraced me against her chest. "Thank you for coming to help your father, honey."

"Of course, Mom." For the first time in years, I wrapped my arms around and embraced my mother. Full of emotions, the waterworks were fully operational.

"We're going to have to make up a story for you. It's gotten big, but Sheboygan is still a small town. You probably went to school with the EMTs about to come here. Maybe even their parents."

I spoke through sobs. "I don't care, Mom. I'm just glad I could be here for Dad. I did tell the lady at registration that I was his kid, though."

She tapped my back to reassure me. "You let me take care of it, then."