When Irene had called her mother for a recipe she did not expect to be scolded by her repeatedly. Though in reality she should have expected it, but all she could do now was listen. She knew that if she even dared to interrupt her she would only get more in trouble. It didn't matter how old she was, that would never stop her mother from scolding her like she was a child.

"Si mami estoy bien." She repeated again trying her best not to sound annoyed. Of course she loved her mother, and even while she was being scolded she was glad to be talking to her.

"Irene you need to be more careful." Her mother insisted, and she couldn't held but feel terrible for worrying her mother. She knew that her mother suffered not being able to be with them now, and knowing that Irene kept getting herself into trouble only gave her more reasons to suffer.

She ended up speaking to her mother for over an hour, promising to visit her in Mexico soon. She would have to talk to Angel tomorrow and hope that he would be willing to take Mia too. Once they said their goodbyes Irene found herself feeling a little sad about their whole situations. It had been years since they had been working on their mother's citizenship but they had still to find any hope in such a slow process.

"She was worried." His voice startled her as she turned around to meet Clark's eyes. He had just stepped through the balcony doors and was still in his suit. There was a serious expression on his face that was so unlike him, but she figured that he had to be exhausted as he had spent most of the evening out being Superman.

"Of course she was worried." Irene replied as she turned back to the stove pouring herself some hot water to make some coffee.

He remained silent for a moment. "I've been thinking... about us."

Irene set the kettle back in the stove before turning around to face Clark. His expression was serious and she didn't really know what to expect. He could want to talk about anything, but she knew that whatever was going to come next was not good. "No good conversation between a couple starts with those words."

"Irene you could have died. You and Jimmy almost died and it was because of me. Because of your involvement with Superman."

"What are you trying to say?" Irene questioned though she knew exactly what this was all about and what he intended to do. Clearly he continued to blame himself over what happened, and although Irene could understand his worries she found that in this case there was no one to blame but Corben.

"Its selfish of me to keep you close when it means that you could get hurt. I've put you in danger too many times."

"Clark what happened with Corben, that had nothing to do with you. But even if it did you don't think I know that being involved with Superman comes with a certain danger?" She asked, because if she was afraid of what her involvement with Superman would bring then what happened with Zod would have had her keeping her distance. Corben was nothing compared to Zod, and she wasn't planning on going anywhere. "I know that Superman is going to make enemies, that there's going to be people that want to hurt you. That might want to hurt me. I know and I'm here."

"If something were to happen to you I could never forgive myself. I don't know what I would become."

"I love you Clark Kent. And I know you're worried, how can you not be?"  Irene continued refusing to let him be the one to give up on what they were just starting. "But I'm safer by your side. If it hadn't been for you Corben would have killed Jimmy and I. We're a team Clark."

He remained silent for a moment taking in her words, and as his silence stretched on Irene almost feared that her words had not convinced him. "You're right, we are a team."

"Of course I'm right." She replied casually, though in truth she was relieved by his words.

"Is it too much to ask that you don't get yourself into too much trouble anymore?"

"Yes." She replied honestly, causing him to chuckle. It wasn't like she enjoyed putting herself in dangerous situations, but she also didn't fear doing what was necessary for a good story. "But I do promise to be more careful."

"You're upset now." He noted as he stepped closer to her, and he was right an irrational part of her was upset that he intended to break up with her. She was aware that he intended to to dit because he loved her and wanted to protect her but that didn't make it hurt any less.

"Of course I'm upset you just tried to break up with me." Irene immediately replied trying to keep her voice even and not seem too affected. "It makes me feel like you don't want me anymore."

He stepped toward her again wrapping his arms around her, but she currently did not feel comfort from his touch. "Do you want me to show you how much I want you?"

"No." She said as he placed her hand on his chest pushing him away. "Just let me be upset at you a little longer."

Clark only seemed amused by the gesture as he nodded, taking a step back and giving her some space. "Alright, later then."

"Anyway, my brother wants to have a family diner tomorrow. And you're invited." Irene began, not knowing if Clark would finding it weird to be included in family events so soon. Sure he had already met her brother and Mia, but it had been as her coworker and friend. And even though they had made it clear how much they loved one another, the truth was they had only been together fir a short period of time. Too many they might have been moving too fast. "That is if you would like to go."

"I would love to go." He assured her, and as he attempted to reach for her she pushed his hand away. Irene intended to be true to her word and allow herself to feel upset for a little while longer.

"Good." She said quickly as she took her coffee and took a seat on the couch. "I also wanted to talk to you about Lex Luther. He should be our next story."

"As much as I loved working with you, I would like to work on a story of my own." He admitted and this was something that she could not be upset about. She knew that ambition of wanting to write something on her own without having to rely on another name. He wanted his own front page story and she found that she supported him wanting to work on his own.

"Really? Do you have a story in mind?" Irene questioned as he took as seat beside her. A slight smile appeared on his lips as while he leaned back.

"Maybe."

Irene rolled her eyes at his attempt to play coy. "So, now we're keeping secrets from each other?"

"It's about The Batman." He quickly relented as he took in her expression for her approval.

"You're writing about Batman?" Irene questioned in disbelief, mostly because she didn't even know if there was a story to write to begin with.

The Batman had been around since she was seventeen, he was nothing new or exciting. Sure, the man behind that mask seemed to have given up on the city he once fought to protect but that was already public knowledge. The Bathman was not the man he once before since the Joker killed one of his Robins.

"You don't think it's a good idea?"

"If you have a gut feeling about this, then I suggest you follow it." She replied, knowing how terrible it felt to be discouraged. And from experience she found that following one's instinct was the best way to find a good story.

If Clark believed that there was a story worth looking into about Gotham's Dark Knight then she was not going to be the one to discourage him from it.

A/N: Had a bit of writers block for this chapter even though I already have the next one written out. I'll probably be publishing the next chapter tomorrow.