Hey everyone! I just posted the first chapter of the sequel to this story, "Raising a Mutant." While it continues in this world, the story takes a slightly different form, and centers around the adoption of another child into the Kent home—Lex Luthor (who Smallville fans often write as a protagonist).

The chapters are all snapshots, vignettes. Because it is so different from "Raising an Alien," I may still add more chapters onto this story if requested.

Summary

A 13-year-old boy's father is arrested for child abuse shortly after his mother's death, and a new family takes him in. (Begins after rescue; no violence in story)

Snippet from chapter 1

Jonathan recognized the look Martha wore on her face as she entered the house. It was the look that meant she'd made up her mind about something, and he wasn't going to like it.

In the chaos of Clark's last few weeks of kindergarten—there always seemed to be so much more to do than they had time for, with the little guy running around—they'd let the registration tags on the truck expire. Martha had gotten a fix-it ticket for the tags, and she'd gone down to the police station to clear it up. Jonathan hadn't expected to see her return with that face.

"What's on your mind, sweetie?" he asked.

Martha stared at him intently. "There was a boy at the station whose father had just been arrested. His mother passed away, and he doesn't have any other family. They're looking for foster parents. Probably adoptive parents, depending on the outcome of the trial."

"You're thinking of taking him in."

"Well, we've been waiting for a placement. His social worker offered it to us."

"That's great news!" Jonathan smiled. She didn't smile back, and Jonathan realized there must be a catch. "What's wrong?"