What's up with Clark: Clark is looking forward to his first Christmas with Lana, but he receives an urgent phone call from Chloe. She says he needs to meet her at the Daily Planet offices right away.

What's up with Chloe: Chloe is in charge of the paper's Toys for Tots program, but she must deliver all the packages before Christmas morning. She recruits Clark because he is fast. He reluctantly agrees, but he doesn't realize how much of a responsibility he has until Chloe shows him all the gifts he must deliver.

What's up with Santa Claus: A young boy catches Clark delivering presents and tells Clark that he's not Santa. Clark insists that he is a "new and improved" Santa... until he sees the real Santa standing on the edge of a nearby roof. Clark decides to accompany Santa and asks him why he wants to jump. Santa cynically replies that "the spirit of Christmas is dead" and that there is no good left in the world. Clark tells him about the Toys for Tots program, and Santa's spirits are lifted. However, Santa still falls off the roof because he's drunk. Luckily, Clark is there to save him. Santa later visits Chloe and offers to help her with delivering presents. Chloe is skeptical, but then he disappears instantly - and so do the gifts.

What's up with Lex: In a dark alley in Granville, Lex meets up with Griff, who either has information on Jonathan Kent - or can make up rumors about him - that could ruin Kent's chances for a senate seat. Lex tells Griff that he will think about it for 24 hours. When Lex returns to his car, he is attacked. He's mugged and then shot. He falls to the ground and then wakes up to a pregnant Lana and a boisterous young boy named Alex. Apparently he is married with children. When he does to the bathroom to regroup, he sees his now deceased mother. She says this is the life he can have if he makes the right decision. Throughout his dream life with Lana, he keeps repeating that he has never been this happy in his entire life.

What's up with Lionel: When Lionel hears that his son could possibly be paralyzed from the chest down because of the shooting incident, he demands that the doctors perform a risky surgery that could either kill Lex or allow him to walk again. When the doctors at the Smallville hospital balk at Lionel's request, he moves Lex to the hospital in Metropolis. He does not want his son to be a cripple.

What's up with Lana: In Lex's vision of his possible future, Lana is very happy to be with Lex. After all, Lex was honored by Senator Jonathan Kent as Humantarian of the Year. He also is a wonderful and caring father and husband. However, all the love and care in the world cannot save Lana from dying shortly after giving birth to their new little girl. Lex pleads for assistance from his estranged father, but Lionel refuses. Meanwhile, Lex asks his mother if this really is the happiness that she promises him if he chooses the correct path. She tells him no matter what the end result, it's a life filled with love.

Time is up: Lex is not too happy that his father volunteered him for such a dangerous surgical procedure. Nonetheless, Lex can walk again. Despite Lex's visions while in surgery, he decides to take Griff's help. Lex proclaims that money and power are the secrets to happiness. With those things, he continues, you can secure anything else you want.