Rose-

I didn't sleep well that night, tossing and turning for hours in the bed. After numerous messages and missed calls from Clark, I eventually powered down my phone, but as morning neared, I was beginning to feel guilty. I knew Clark really hadn't done anything wrong, but he ran out on my birthday-- my birthday! And if he was willing to skip out on that, what else would he be willing to ditch? Christmas morning? Our children's school recitals? The scenarios that played out in my head seemed endless and at the moment I was too overwhelmed with pain and hormones to be reasoned with.

Suddenly I was struck with a bout of nausea, and like most mornings, I soon found myself bent over the toilet. I laid back down for another hour afterwards but when I couldn't fall back asleep, I wandered out into the living room of Bruce's lake house. I made myself a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, sat down on the couch and flipped on the television. It didn't take me long to figure out they were talking about Clark.

"Maybe he's not some sort of devil or Jesus character. Maybe he's just a guy trying to do the right thing."

"We're talking about a being whose very existence challenges our own sense of priority in the universe. If you go back to Darwin and evolution, you find out we're not special on this Earth. And now we've just learned, that we're not even special in the entire universe because there is Superman. There he is, an alien among us. We're not alone. "

"So what are we talking about then? Are you, as a United State Senator, personally comfortable saying to a grieving parent, 'Superman could've saved your child, but on principle we didn't want him to act'."

"I'm not saying he shouldn't act. I'm saying he shouldn't act unilaterally. Must there be a Superman?"

"Ungrateful bitch," I muttered at the TV as I shut it down.

I might not of been happy with Clark at the moment, but that didn't mean I was stupid enough to ignore all the good Superman had done in the world.

I got up from my seat, placed my cereal bowl in the sink and went on a search to find Bruce. I checked his room and found that his bed had been made, but his car was still out front so that could only leave one place. As I walked back into the living room, I headed over to the bookcase and pulled the secret lever hidden behind a hollow book on the shelf. A few gears could be heard cranking and suddenly the fireplace to my right pulled back and an elevator pushed forward in it's place.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Bruce called as I stepped off the elevator.

"Aren't you supposed to be out looking for bad guys and sucking the fun out of everything?"

Bruce spun around in his chair- shooting me a dirty look. "I do not suck the fun out of everything," he said.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," I chuckled.

As I traipsed past him and glanced up at the cave's main frame, I picked up some papers Bruce had laying around.

"What are you doing?" Bruce asked as he pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"Just looking," I replied sweetly. I knew it really drove him nuts when I touched his 'things'.

"Don't you have something better to do?" he questioned. "Like eat away the pain of your broken heart? There's some Ben and Jerry's in the freezer upstairs," he informed me.

"Oh my god, Bruce. You're such a dill hole," I glared at him. "Besides, I left him. He should be the one drowning his sorrows in a carton of ice cream, not me."

"Does he even know you left him?"

"Well, I would think it was obvious when I didn't come home last night," I replied. "Although, I am surprised he hasn't come looking for me," I admitted.

"I might have had a little something to do with that," Bruce replied. "I've been playing around with different frequencies and I think I've found a way to emit a transmission that blocks his hearing," he explained.

"Wait- what?" I knew my jaw was hanging open in disbelief.

"Your not really going to make me repeat myself, are you?"

"No," I shook my head. "But I'm not sure if I should be mad at you or grateful," I replied.

"So are you still looking for that Blue Russian guy or whatever?" I asked as I skimmed over the papers still in my hands.

"It's the 'White Portuguese'," Bruce huffed. "And yes. What you're holding there is very important," he explained. "It's every call made from Anatoli Knyazev's phone. There are two mentions of business with the 'White Portuguese' and the phone is still transmitting data to the personal residence of Alexander Luthor."

"Alexander Luthor-" I repeated the name. "Wait, you mean Lex? You think Lex Luthor is the 'White Portuguese'?" I asked.

"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "But I'm going to find out."

I paced back and forth for a minute, twirling a strand of my hair as I pieced it all together.

"I think I might be able to help you."

***

I walked into the front lobby of the Dailey Planet about an hour later. With each passing level, my heart pounded in my chest as I neared the top floor. As the elevator came to a screeching halt, the doors slid open and Clark's head shot up in my direction. Something told me he had done that every time the elevator opened this morning.

I watched as he stood up and sighed in relief at the sight of me. As he stalked towards me, I could feel my fists clench and unclench and my jaw grinding in determination. His presence was overwhelming and I knew that the moment I laid eyes on him my heart would want to forgive him.

"I was so worried about you," he breathed as he bear hugged me to his chest. "I knew you were upset, but I never thought you wouldn't come home last night," he frowned.

When I didn't say anything, he continued.

"I was thinking maybe tonight we could go out again-"

"Clark, stop," I demanded.

I swallowed hard as my throat tightened and tears threatened to fall.

"I need some time," I whispered as I looked away from him. "It hurt last night when you left me. Really hurt. And sometimes, when that happens, something inside just-- shuts off."

"Rosie, please," he begged. "I- I'm sorry," he croaked. "I made a mistake-"

I opened my mouth to say something, but as he suddenly got that far away look, we both knew what was about to happen.

"Damn it," he cursed as he looked away from me. "I've gotta go."

"So go," I huffed as I folded my arms across my chest. "No body's stopping you," I told him. "Not anymore."

A look of pain flashed across his face before he took off.

"Kent, I want to talk to you," Perry bellowed from his office. "Kent!"

When Clark didn't answer, Perry got up from his desk and stood in the doorway.

"Where does he go?" Perry asked me. "Seriously where does he go?"

I sniffled as I looked at Perry and shrugged in response. "Clicks his heels three times and goes back to Kansas I suppose."

***
"The 'White Portuguese' is not a man," I told Bruce. "It's a ship."

"A ship?" he asked. "Are you sure?"

"Trust me, I'm sure," I replied.

I shuddered in my seat on the subway as I headed back to Gotham. It had been a very eventful day from breaking up with Clark, to quitting my job at the Daily Planet and then begging Lex Luthor to give me a job. It was the later that had caused me to shudder...

"Well, well, well- Miss Montgomery, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Lex asked as his secretary led me in to his office.

"Um- well," I floundered not knowing exactly what to say, "I guess I was hoping that your offer still stood," I replied, flashing him a nervous smile.

His lips curled back in a playful smirk as he stood and came around to the front of his desk.

"And which offer was that?"

"Rose?" Bruce's voice called over my cellular. "Rose?"

"Uh- yeah. I'm here," I told him as I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "And you were wrong about the Portuguese carrying a dirty bomb," I added. "It's not a bomb it's a weapon, or rather a rock."

"A rock?" Bruce repeated the word as though I had gone crazy. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Trust me, when I say it does," I said. "And I'll explain everything when I get home."

I hung up and my gaze drifted out over the horizon. As Metropolis retreated further into the background, Gotham City came into view. Only forty miles separated the two cities but they couldn't have been more different. While Gotham was crawling with criminals, Metropolis, due partly to Superman, was relatively quiet and peaceful. But I had a feeling that whatever Lex was planning would change the great city forever.

Some people just want to see the world burn.

Alfred's words echoed in my head and my thoughts turned back to the events that had happened in Lex's office.

"A job, Mr. Luthor. I'm here for work, nothing else."

"It's fitting isn't it? That on the same day you break up with your boyfriend and quit your job at the Planet, you turn to me," he smirked.

"How- how could you possibly know that?" I asked as I took a step back.

What was I getting myself into here?

"When Superman and General Zod destroyed this city- I single handedly returned it to it's former glory," Lex gloated. "Metropolis is my city. I have eyes and ear everywhere," he said. "And nothing happens without my knowledge."

"Then I guess it's a good thing I just moved back to Gotham, huh?" I joked as I gulped nervously.

Lex's face deadpanned as he looked at me and I got the impression he wasn't amused with my joke.

"Go, Miss Montgomery. Out to the front desk. You start work immediately."

The train was approaching my stop, so I gathered up my things and headed over to the doors. As I exited the station, I smiled when I saw Alfred at the curb waiting for me. It was nice to know someone cared enough about me to wait, but deep down I wished it was Clark instead.

"Tell me some more about this rock," Bruce insisted as we sat down to the dinner table.

"Well, it's a mineral actually-"

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I could trust Bruce with the rest of the knowledge I'd learned. Lately he seemed pretty hell-bent on destroying Superman and if either Lex or him got their hands on what was inside that ship, I feared they would do just that.

"Rose?" Bruce gently prodded me. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath and hoped like hell I was making the right decision by trusting him. "It's a mineral capable of weakening Kryptonian cells," I sighed. "The first sample turned up in the Indian Ocean three months ago and now it's aboard the 'White Portuguese' being delivered to Lex Luthor."

"Who I am going to steal it from," Bruce said.

"To destroy it?"

"To keep it out of Luthor's hands," he replied, but for some reason that answer left me feeling uneasy.

"Bruce-"

"Master Wayne," Alfred interrupted as he entered the room. "It's the UK Maritime Trade Operations," he announced as he handed him the phone.

Bruce looked uncertain as he took the phone. "Hello? Yes, this is he."

My eyebrows knitted together as I wondered what they could possibly want.

"Yes, I am his next of kin," Bruce replied. From the tone of his voice I could tell whatever it was, it wasn't good. "Oh-- I see." His face fell as he looked at me. "I'll let her know. Thank you."

***
It was raining that morning. But then again doesn't it always rain at funerals?

"It means our loved ones have been accepted into Heaven," Alfred said as he tried to comfort me- but I wasn't so sure I believed in that stuff anymore.

Whenever someone is taken from your life, it always feels like a piece of you has died along with them. Now multiply that feeling by three. It's a pretty depressing thought to realize you have no body left in the world. In fact, I found it pretty damn amazing that I was even standing here at all. But here I was, a blubbering mess of snot and tears watching as they lowered my brother's casket into the ground. This was my new reality now.

"Eternal God, let your presence rest upon us as we give thanks for the life of Liam Montgomery. Although his time here was short, we thank you for the life which you gave him. In the midst of this loss, may the memory of Liam live strong among us. Help us to find the courage to face life's changes as we go on from here, and give to those, who most deeply feel this loss, the comfort of your presence. Amen."

As the reverend finished his prayer, a few people tossed a rose on top of the casket before paying their respects. I felt like a zombie as I stood wedged between Bruce and Alfred, and the people who did come forward blurred together. Finally, the last few people exited the cemetery and Alfred grabbed hold of my arm to help guide me towards the car. I lifted my gaze before getting in and my eyes landed on someone standing off in the distance- immediately I recognized the figure

"Do you want me to get rid of him?" Bruce asked as he looked at who I was fixated on.

I hesitated for a moment and Bruce must have took that as a yes. As he began stalking over to where Clark stood, I called out for him, but he ignored my pleas.

"Why are you even here?" I could hear Bruce's angry voice. "Where were you three days ago?"

"She said she needed time-" I could see Clark's eyes flick over to me.

"I'm pretty sure that was before she found out her brother had died," Bruce spat. "You broke her heart and at the time when she needed you the most, you couldn't even bother to show up. Meanwhile I've been left picking up the pieces. I don't ever want to see your face around here again. She doesn't want you anymore and she deserves someone so much better."

As Bruce walked back over to the car I could see the mixed emotions on Clark's face. Parts of what Bruce had said were true, but some were not, and right now I just wanted to run over to Clark, jump into his arms, and have him whisk me away.

"Come now, Miss Montgomery," Alfred said as he gently pulled me into the car. "We best be getting home now."

I ripped my arm from Alfred's grip.

"Miss Montgomery-"

Why wasn't Clark coming for me?

"Rose, get in the car."

Bruce's voice was stern, and in the split second that I tore my gaze away from Clark, he had disappeared. I quietly got into the car and the moment the door closed beside me, a flood of tears was unleashed.

Aside from the noise of my sobbing, the ride home was rather silent. Bruce drove the three of us to Alfred's cottage where he insisted that I stay for the night. As soon as we got there, I went and laid down on the bed in the guest bedroom and cried myself to sleep.

A few hours later, a gentle knock awoke me before Bruce walked in.

"I don't think you should work for Luthor anymore," Bruce advised as he sat down next to me. "That guy is up to something, and I don't want you to get caught in the cross hairs."

"Yeah, that's a great idea," I replied sarcastically. "Only I quit my job at the Dailey Planet and bills gotta get paid somehow. I guess I could go work the corner-"

I stopped abruptly as Bruce laid an envelope down next to me.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Just open it," he replied.

I lifted the flap slowly and pulled out what appeared to be some sort of check. As I flipped it over my eyes nearly bugged out of my skull.

"It's the rest of your inheritance," Bruce explained. "Your parents had a trust fund created in case anything ever happened to them. You got a portion of it when you graduated and then when you turned thirty you were to get the rest."

I looked down at the check in my hands and counted the zeros. There was enough money here for me to live comfortably and never have to work again a day in my life.

"I received word that the 'White Portuguese' made land fall tonight. I need to go get that shipment before it get's into Lex's hands."

I wrapped my arms tightly around Bruce's neck before telling him to be careful. "I love you," I said, "And I can't afford to loose you too."

With a smile, he hugged me back before disappearing out the door. I decided that I'd had enough crying for one day so I made my way out to where Alfred was and sat down. He must have been afraid that if he talked to me I would retreat back into my bedroom and although it was uncharacteristically quiet, I had to admit it was nice to just sit and not be alone.

We had been watching an old 'I Love Lucy' rerun when suddenly there was a loud explosion behind us. My body jumped as my head shot around and there clad in red and blue stood a formidable looking Superman standing in the doorway. I stood up almost immediately, as did Alfred, and before I knew it, I was gravitating towards his direction.

"I guess if you're going to bust down my bloody door every time you come looking for her," Alfred barked, "I'm going to have to invest in some reinforced steel."

*A/N- So..make up sex anyone? LOL*