Reunion

Merry Christmas


Jonathan Kent looked over at his wife noting the tension in the
way she sat, he reached over and gently took her hand. "Nervous
sweetheart?"


"I know it's silly Jonathan but I'm afraid. What if Bo hates us
for leaving him behind?"


"Martha you're right it is silly and I'm just as afraid as you are. I
keep tellin myself it'll be okay, if he had a problem with us he would've
said so on the phone. Even if he didn't Jesse would 've told us if Bo
were mad at us, I guess we'll know soon enough for sure."


Martha nodded "Yes, yes we will, you know I just can't believe what
Jesse said about JD. All these years he's ignored Bo and I know there's
something Jesse's not saying. There must be, why else would Jesse not
even tell Bo that JD is his uncle too?"

"I don't know sweetheart but since JD and Lulu are away until after
Christmas how about we wait until then to talk to Bo about JD. As you
said there must be something Jesse's not saying and I'd be willing to
bet it's not going to be good, so let's just enjoy the next few days
before dealing with that problem. We'll introduce Clark to the rest of
the family and get to know our other son, then we can deal with any
problems, agreed?"

"Agreed."

Twenty minutes later they were pulling into the drive of the Duke farm.
As they came up to the house they saw Jesse come out of the door, but
they saw nobody else. Taking a deep breath they opened the doors and
stepped out of the truck. "Jeremy, Helen it's so good to see ya" Jesse
said as he enveloped first Martha and then Jonathan in a hug. "Boy you
are a sight, I didn't think I'd ever see ya again and this must be Clark,"
and he quickly gave Clark a hug as well. Pulling back he introduced
himself, "Howdy Clark, I'm yer Uncle Jesse, welcome to the family."

"Um, Jesse where's Bo, he didn't change his mind about meeting us did
he?" Jonathan asked.

"What, oh no Jer...sorry Jonathan, that'll take some getting used to.
He ain't changed his mind, I reckon he's just a mite nervous though.
From the looks of ya'll I'm guessing he ain't the only one."

"Yeah, I guess we're both nervous, now you're sure he understands
why we left him behind? He's okay about having a brother?"

"Yeah he's fine, in fact he's looking forward to meeting Clark here. So
what do ya say we go inside, I made a batch of crawdad bisque and got a
peach pie for dessert." As they came inside the first thing they saw
was a young lady in the kitchen setting the table for lunch.

"You must be Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Helen, and Clark, hi I'm Daisy it's
nice to meet you finally." As she spoke Daisy gave each a quick hug and
then taking Martha's arm led them towards the living room.

Luke saw a pretty redhead step through the doorway with Daisy, followed
by a young boy who must be Bo's brother Clark. His jaw dropped when he
got his first good look at his Uncle Jeremy, he looked so much like Bo
they could'be been twins. Remembering his manners he closed his mouth
and extended his hand, "Hi, I'm Luke and you must be Bo's folks. It's
good to meet ya."

"It's nice to meet you too Luke and Daisy." Martha paused, looking
around the room wondering where Bo was. Maybe Jesse was wrong, maybe
he didn't want to see them. Before she could ask anything she heard a
door open and a young man with thick blond hair and beautiful blue eyes
stepped into the room. Stepping forward Martha reached a hand towards
Bo's face, "Bo? Oh my baby I thought I'd never see you again," and before
Bo could react Martha had thrown her arms around him. Instinctivly his
arms came around her, "Mom? I...God it's good to see you in person."
Drawing away after a moment Bo noticed an older version of himself standing
behind Martha. "Dad? Guess we know where I got my looks from huh?"
holding out his hand towards his father Bo was surprised and pleased
when he was pulled forward into a hug. As Martha joined Bo and Jonathan
in a hug those watching couldn't help being touched by the beauty of the
moment. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as a family was reunited
after so many years apart, findly they broke apart and Bo saw Clark
hanging back. Approaching the young man, his little brother for the
first time Bo saw a touch of fear in Clark's eyes. Wanting to put his
brother at ease Bo reached out a hand, "You must be Clark." As Clark
nodded Bo continued,"Hi, I'm your brother Bo," and with that he quickly
embraced Clark in a welcoming hug.

"Well why don't we get their things out of the truck Luke. Soon as
we get your things put in the spare room we can set down and have some
lunch." Jesse suggested and soon they were all sitting at the table.
Bowing heads and clasping hands they waited for Jesse to speak, "Dear
Lord we thank you for this food on our table and loved ones to share
it with. Thank you for the safe return of Jeremy and Helen to the Duke
family who bring with them a new member of the family, their son Clark.
Lord bless all those here today and keep us in your loving hands. Amen."
After a chorus of "amens" they all began to eat. It was a lively table
in the Duke kitchen that day, except for a few awkward moments it soon
felt as though Jonathan, Martha and Clark had always been there. After
lunch Luke and Daisy volunteered to clean up, so the others excused
themselves and went into the living room. Jonathan and Martha tooks
seats on the couch while Jesse sat in his favorite chair and Bo and Clark
took the remaining chairs.

"I just can't get over how much you look like you dad Bo," Martha said
with a smile. "Are you happy Bo?"

"Yes ma'am, I've had a good life here with Uncle Jesse and Daisy and
Luke. I wish we could've all been together but I understood why we
couldn't be. Speaking of that how come that contract got lifted, not
that I ain't real glad it did."

Jonathan took a deep breath before starting, knowing they were going to
be angry. "Well son we just found out a short time ago ourselves, but
that contract was lifted a year after we went into hiding."


"What! Well why weren't you told? How could they keep something like
that from you?" Jesse and Bo spoke at the same time both shocked at
the news.

"We're not real clear about that ourselves, all we know is it somehow
slipped through the cracks and we could've been here or had Bo with us.
We were both pretty mad when we first heard the news, but if we'd been
here we wouldn't have Clark and we love him too. So we've come to the
conclusion that life has a way of working out the way that is best for
everyone in the long run."

Thinking of Luke, Bo could only now in agreement as his father finished
speaking. As the afternoon wore on they continued to catch up on each
other's lives. Jesse and the boys told Jonathan and Martha about the
deal Jesse had made with the government and about the boys' probation.
Jonathan and Martha filled them in on life in Smallville, telling them
about the meteor shower and finding Clark. Leaving out the information
about Clark's alien origins and special abilities for the time being.


Over the course of the next few days everybody was kept busy preparing
for Christmas and gradually learning more about each other's lives.
Christmas morning dawned cold and clear, after chores and a hearty
breakfast they went into the living room to exchange gifts. After the
gifts were opened Martha and Daisy prepared the turkey for the oven.
As the day went on and the air filled with the sights, sounds and smells
of Christmas Bo looked around at his family with love in his eyes. After
Halloween he had been miserable and so had Luke. There had been times
he had wondered if life would ever be good again. Then he found out
the truth about why his parents left him and life began to get better
again. It wasn't long after that when his father called and told them
about the contract being lifted. Now here they all were together again,
it was the best Christmas of his life and he was sure Uncle Jesse and
his folks felt the same way. As he kept watching, Luke came to stand
beside him, "You okay Bo?"

"Yeah," Bo answered swallowing around the lump in his throat, "just
thinking about how good life is. There for a while I never thought it
would be good again, sure am glad I was wrong about that." Bo looked
again at his folks and his new brother, saw the joy on their faces and
on Uncle Jesse's face and he knew in his heart that they would understand
about him and Luke. "Luke I think we should tell them tommorrow, after
getting to know them I'm sure they'll understand. Do you think that
would be okay?"

"Yes Bo I think we can do that." Luke replied with a smile.

Before anything else could be said Jesse called for their attention.
"This has been the best Christmas we've ever had. We've been blessed
this year with the return of our lost sheep and the passing of some
difficult times. Usually at this time I would tell the story of Jesus'
birth. Jer...I mean Jonathan would you do us the honor of telling the
story?"

Jonathan took the Bible Jesse handed him, holding it with reverence.
"I don't know if Jesse ever told you this Bo but it was our father who
began this tradition, when we were little it was the highlight of Christmas
day. In fact he read the story from this very Bible and Jesse it would
be my honor to tell the story. And it came to pass in those days that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should
be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. ...To be
taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child. And so it
was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and
wrapped him in swaddling clothes, laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country
shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel
said unto them. Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a
sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying
in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and saying. Glory to God in the highest and
on earth peace, good will toward men." As Jonathan finished the Christmas
story Bo began to sing "Silent Night, Holy Night..." he was soon joined
by the rest of his family all of them especially aware of all the blessing
of God this very merry Christmas.