I plan for this to be a series of one shot's in the "I'm Coming Home" universe. These stories will make a lot more sense if you read that first. They wont necessarily be in chronological order and I make no promises about when or how often I will post here. If a story idea comes to me I will post it. To that end, if you have an idea you'd like to share, please do so. I may or may not use it but if I do I'll credit you in my Author's Note.
This first story takes place the day after Maggie and the kids return from Gotham.
A note about story consistency: I realized about halfway through writing this chapter that Maggie's brother Alberto would be a Rodas not a Sawyer. Rather than go back and change my previous story, "I'm Coming Home", I decided to stick with the name Sawyer. Just consider it a part of this AU.
Enjoy!
Oops, almost forgot, I don't own Supergirl, wish I did! I'm not making any money off of this story.
Alex awoke in an unfamiliar room with a warm body pressed against her back and an arm holding her firmly around the waist. She tensed and sucked in a breath her fight or flight response kicking in. Then she smelled it, a scent so familiar, a scent that grounded and calmed her instantly. Maggie's scent surrounded her in a way it hadn't in over a year. Then the events of the previous day came back to her and she realized that the room wasn't completely unfamiliar. It had just been a very long time since she'd awoken in Maggie's bedroom.
About that time, she felt Maggie's arm tighten briefly around her waist as Maggie rubbed her nose against the back of Alex's neck. Tears formed in Alex's eyes, how many mornings had started just like that before their break up. Oh how she'd missed it.
"Mornin' babe," Maggie mumbled against Alex's neck still half asleep. Then Alex felt her body tense, "Alex?"
In her tone Alex heard such joy and more than a little fear. She understood immediately. How many times in the past year had she had a dream just like this only to wake up to a very different reality?
"Good morning my love," Alex replied, rolling over to stare into the wondering eyes of her once-again fiancé.
"Yesterday really happened. It wasn't a dream?" Maggie asked.
"Oh it was a dream alright," Alex grinned at her, "a dream come true. In fact, a year's worth of dreams come true."
Maggie wrinkled her nose at Alex's corniness then decided to go with it. "Can we agree to wake up like this everyday for the rest of our lives?" she asked seriously.
"Works for me Sawyer." Alex leaned in and kissed her deeply. "As long as that is part of our waking up ritual."
"You drive a tough bargain Danvers but okay," Maggie replied, dimples out in force. Then she groaned, "We've got a ton of stuff to do. We have to start looking for a place big enough for all five of us. The twins need to be enrolled in school, although I guess we need to figure out where we're going to live first. The same with day care for Bertie."
"Yeah, I'm going to have to ask J'onn for a couple of weeks off."
"What are you going to tell him the time is for? I mean are you going to tell him we're back together and about the kids?"
"Eventually, but I really think I should tell Kara first. I wouldn't have made it through the past year without her. I owe it to her to tell her what's going on as soon as possible. I'm supposed to meet her for breakfast in an hour. I think I'm going to tell her then and after that I'd like to bring her here to meet her niece and nephews if that's okay with you. I mean, if you don't think it will be too much to soon for the kids?" Alex cast a concerned look in the direction of the spare bedroom where the kids were sleeping.
"I think the kids will love their Aunt Kara. All kids seem to, whether they know she's Supergirl or not. I'm more concerned about how Kara's going to take the news of our getting back together and my suddenly having three kids. Kara is almost as protective of you as you are of her. She's not going to literally throw me off the planet for everything I put you through is she?"
Alex laughed, "No I think you'll be safe. I told Kara I was going to fight for you when you returned from Gotham. She may be surprised at how quickly we got back together and I'm sure the instant family will floor her but she'll be happy for both of us. She loves you too you know, like a second big sister."
Maggie's eyes filmed over with tears. "I feel the same way about her. One of the hardest things about our break up was it felt like I was losing my family for the second time. Not just Kara but your Mom and J'onn were like parents and Winn and James were like annoying brothers. If I hadn't been able to reconnect with Berto and meet Lexie I don't think I'd have made it through this last year."
Alex looked heartbroken for her. "I'm so sorry Maggie. I never wanted you to be cut off from everyone like that."
Maggie squeezed Alex's hand. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I was the one who decide we should break up. You were willing to sacrifice your dream of being a mom for us to stay together."
Their conversation was interrupted by soft a knock at the door. "Aunt Maggie, Aunt Alex are you awake," Jessie whispered, not wanting to wake them if they weren't up yet.
"We're awake sweet girl, you can come in," Maggie responded. Smiling at Jessie and her brother as they tentatively poked their heads around the door.
The two came into the room and stood shyly by the bed until Alex patted the space beside her and said, "Well come on".
That was all the invitation the twins needed and they bounded up on to the bed. Maggie and Alex shifted away from each other so Matt and Jessie could snuggle in between them.
Alex smiled happily at them then said, "Hang on a second, wait right here," and jumped out of the bed and hurried out of the room. She returned shortly carrying a sleepy Bertie and hopped back into bed. "There, now the whole family is here," she announced with a beatific smile. Glancing over at Maggie she saw tears in her eyes and knew how happy she was that Alex felt that way.
"What are going to do today," Matt wanted to know.
"Aunt Alex is meeting her sister Kara for breakfast in a bit and then she thought you might like to meet her," Maggie responded.
"Would you guys be okay with that?" Alex looked and sounded a little worried.
"Did she know our Mommy too," Jessie wanted to know.
"Well she has met her but she didn't grow up with her like I did. My parents adopted Kara when she was thirteen and your mom and her family moved away shortly after that. She did come with me once when I visited you guys. You were still just babies like Bertie here so you wouldn't remember it but I'll bet she remembers you two."
"I want to meet her," Matt declared. "She's your sister and she knew Mommy and Daddy, even if it was just a little."
"Do you think she'll like us," Jessie asked timidly. Even at the age of eight, Jessie had experienced the rejection that comes with being transgendered and so was much more cautious then her twin brother about meeting new people.
"She's going to love you!" Alex answered firmly intuitively understanding the source of Jessie's concern and knowing without a doubt that her sister would indeed love these children regardless of Jessie's circumstances. Having spent her teenage years as an alien on a strange planet Kara had always sympathized with the different and disenfranchised.
Alex had arrived at the diner before Kara and ordered coffee for both of them, telling the waitress she'd wait to order her breakfast until her sister arrived. Now she was sitting sipping her coffee and nervously drumming her fingers on the table. She had told Maggie that Kara would be happy they were back together and she believed that but she was a little worried that Kara might think they were moving too fast, especially since there were children involved.
The thought of Maggie and the children calmed her and made her smile, which was what she was doing when Kara walked into the diner a minute later. As Kara approached the table she got up and gave her tight hug.
Kara returned the hug and gave Alex a quizzical look. "What's up with you?" she asked with just a touch of suspicion.
"What do you mean?" Alex replied trying and failing to pull of a nonchalance she definitely was not feeling.
"I mean, as I was walking up to the diner I could hear your heart beating a mile a minute and your fingers drumming on the table then for no apparent reason your heartbeat slowed and the finger drumming ceased and you look like…" here she hesitated looking closely at Alex.
Alex blushed deeply and looked away from Kara. Kara gasped, "I know that look! That's the love ray look. You look like you've been shot by a love ray. Maggie's back!" It was a declaration not a question. "And from the look on your face things went well. Congratulations Alex! Tell me all about it, well maybe not every detail. Please keep it G-rated, we are in a public place after all." The grin on Kara's face matched Alex's.
"It went so well," Alex gushed in a way Kara had only ever seen her do when Maggie was involved. "It went better than I ever expected. At least that's how I feel. I hope you feel the same way. It's really important to me that you're happy for me Kara."
"Of course I'm happy for you Alex. Why wouldn't I be?" Kara looked confused by what Alex had just said.
Alex's nervousness returned, "It's kind of a long story but the upshot is that Maggie didn't return alone."
Now Kara looked really confused. "What do you mean she didn't return alone. You mean she's involved with another woman. What are you saying Alex? Are you going to be part of some kind of polyamorous relationship? Cause I can't believe you're okay with that! You can do better…"
The look on Kara's face was a mix of confusion, alarm, and growing anger, no doubt toward Maggie. Alex knew she had to clear things up before Kara went looking for Maggie intent on relocating her to the moon. "No, no, no, you misunderstood or I wasn't clear. It's not another woman, I would never and neither would Maggie for that matter."
"Then, what, I don't understand?" Kara looked calmer but still confused.
"It's kids, Maggie has three kids."
Kara looked dumfounded. "She what? How? I thought she was the one who couldn't see herself as a Mom."
"Like I said, it's kind of a long story."
"I've got all day," Kara replied sitting back with an air of one who wanted the whole story and who wasn't going to leave until she got it.
"Right, so you know Maggie took a temporary position with Gotham PD to help them set up their own Science Division…" Alex began. She went on to explain about Maggie reconnecting with her brother while she was in Gotham and getting to meet and spend time with his family. She explained how gradually she came to understand that her aversion to having children was a result of how her parents raised her and that watching Berto and his wife with their children showed her it didn't have to be that way. She told Kara about how Maggie had planned to cut her stay in Gotham short and come back to National City to try to get Alex to take her back when Berto and his wife had both died unexpectedly on the same day, Berto in a traffic accident and his wife while giving birth to their second son.
"Oh how sad, those poor kids and poor Maggie just when she'd gotten her brother back to lose him like that!" Kara dabbed at her eyes with her napkin.
"I know," Alex agreed, tears in her own eyes. "The last time Maggie saw her brother he mentioned that he had a big favor to ask her. Maggie thinks he was going to ask her to be the children's guardian should something happen to both he and his wife. The day they died, his lawyer found her at the hospital and told her they had already changed their wills making it so. Anyway, she spent the next six months dealing with funerals, and grieving children and a newborn baby."
"I can't imagine how hard it must have been. Why didn't she call you? You would have gone to help her." Kara looked mystified by this.
"I would have and Maggie knew that but she didn't want me to think that the only reason she reached out to me was to get my help with the kids. She wanted me to know, when she came back to National City and asked me to take her back that it was because she loved me and wanted to raise the children together, not have me raise them while she went off and pursued her career."
"That sound like Maggie."
Alex shot her a wry grin, "It does, doesn't it. And she was right. As much as I hate to admitted it. If she had called me back then I would have gone but I would have always wondered if we'd have gotten back together if she didn't have the children. It would have tainted our relationship."
"Well then I'm happy for you Alex. Although it must be hard jumping into the middle of a family with three kids you've never met."
"Yeah, about that," Alex said slowly. "Remember when I said it was a long story?"
Kara nodded and said "Yes."
"It's not quite finished yet." Taking a deep breath Alex prepared to tell her sister the most remarkable part of the story. "You see, I have actually met the kids before, well the twins, not the baby. In fact, you met them once too about seven years ago. Of course they were just babies then so they won't remember you but I'm sure you'll remember them, I mean you'll remember meeting them, seven years isn't that long ago. They've grown a lot so you probably won't recognize them but I'm sure you'll remember meeting them. Actually not only have I met them but I'm related to them." Alex was babbling and she knew it.
She paused to take a breath and gather her thoughts and Kara took the opportunity to break in. "You're related to them?" She asked incredulously. "How is that even possible? And when exactly did I meet them? Alex, you're not making a lot of sense here."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. Let me explain." Alex reached across the table and gave Kara's hand a squeeze, silently asking for patience while simultaneously grounding herself in her sister's steadying presence. "Do you remember my cousin Lexie Gray? She and her family left Midvale not long after you came to live with us."
"You mean the one who looked like your twin? The one who just died unexpectedly? I remember you were upset you couldn't go to the funeral because we were dealing with those Martian Bounty hunters looking for J'onn and his father."
"Yeah, that's her. Do you remember coming with me to visit her and her family about 7 years ago."
"Sure, they had the most adorable twin boys and her husband, Bert I think, he seemed like a really nice guy. Didn't he die to? I mean everything from back then is a little fuzzy because of the injury I sustained but I seem to remember something about them both dying. Those poor kids losing both their parents. I know how hard that is. What do they have to do with Maggie and her niece and nephews?" Kara's expression showed her confusion.
"Kara, Lexie's husband Bert, Bert Sawyer, was Maggie's little brother Alberto. She always called him Berto when we were together and she hadn't seen him since he was about ten so she didn't even know he was married so we never put it together that her brother was married to my cousin."
"Wow, just wow, that's just incredible. I mean what are the odds. Oh Rao, poor Maggie must have had a heart attack the first time she met Lexie!"
"Fortunately, Bert showed her a picture of his family before they met in person but it was still really hard on her at first. She said once got to know Lexie it got easier because Lexie and I have different personalities."
Suddenly Kara started then reached across the table to grab Alex's hand with a big smile on her face. "Wait a minute, Alex, do you know what this means?" Alex just looked at her perplexed by the sudden change in her demeanor. "Alex, this means you and Maggie will be raising children that you are both related to by blood. Bert is Maggie's brother and Lexie looked like your identical twin do the kids resemble either of you?"
Alex couldn't keep the smile off her face. "I maybe biased but I think I can see both of us in them, Matt and Jessica, the twins have Maggie's and Bert's hair color and skin tones but their eyes are hazel like mine and Lexie's. Bertie's just the opposite auburn hair, light skin and beautiful brown eyes."
Kara had to smile at the way Alex lit up when she spoke about the children. It was clear she had already fallen in love with them. She knew most people who knew badass DEO Agent Alex Danvers would never suspect what a kind and loving heart lay beneath her battle hardened exterior.
As she was thinking this something occurred to Kara and her expression morphed to one of confusion. "Wait a second, Lexie and Bert had identical twin boys but you just said the twins names were Matt and Jessica?" It was clearly a question.
Alex bit her lip and paused before answering. She knew Kara was open minded about things like sexual orientation but they had never actually talked about people who were transgendered. She didn't know what she'd do if Kara rejected Jessie. She loved Kara more than just about anyone in the universe but, as new as everything was with Maggie and the children, they were already her world. She couldn't imagine living without them.
Kara, saw the worry and fear flash across Alex's face as all of this ran through her mind. Giving her hand a squeeze she simply said "Alex?" It was a question and an assurance of her love for her sister all in one.
Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She decided to trust her sister, there was really no other choice. "Jessie is transgendered. She was born Joseph but at a very young age it became apparent she thought of herself as a girl. When she was three Lexie and Bert decided to let her try living as a girl she's been Jessica ever since."
"You were afraid to tell me that," Kara said, not an accusation just a simple statement of fact.
"Well we've never talked about anything like that. I mean I know you don't have a problem with homosexuality but there are folks who accept homosexuality who don't accept people who are transgendered."
"That's true," Kara replied giving a blank stare that made Alex's stomach clench with fear. "Let me be perfectly clear Alex. I am not one of them." She emphasized each word then had to laugh at the expression on her sister's face.
"You were messing with me! That was you messing with me!" Alex sputtered at Kara.
"Serves you right for thinking something like that would matter to me." Kara mock glared at her sister.
She was surprised when she saw tears form in Alex's eyes and her sister came around the table pulled her out of her chair and gave her a bear hug that would have broken ribs if she'd been human. "Thank you Kara. I love you so much," Alex whispered in her ear.
Kara returned the hug and whispered back, "I love you too Alex. I'm so happy for you."
Alex released Kara from their hug and sat back down quickly dabbing her eyes with her napkin. "So, if you're finished eating your breakfast how'd you like to go meet my family," she asked with the biggest, goofiest smile Kara had ever seen on her face.
"Can't wait," she replied returning Alex's goofy grin with one of her own.
"Oh and you have to promise not to throw Maggie off the planet. She was worried you might be upset about her breaking up with me. I told her she'd be safe so no putting her in orbit without the benefit of a spaceship."
"You're always spoiling all my fun," Kara put on her best pout before busting out laughing.
Thirty minutes later they they were walking into Maggie's apartment building.
"Isn't this where Maggie lived before she went to Gotham?" Kara asked.
"Yeah, she sublet it for the year she was gone. I don't think she planned on having three kids with her when she returned."
"Are all five of you going to live here? Are you moving in right away?" Kara was curious not unsupportive of Alex and Maggie moving so quickly. She knew Alex had always planned on getting back together with Maggie and she knew Maggie had only left because she thought she was doing the right thing for Alex. The two of them belonged together. It had been obvious to her as soon as Alex had confessed her feelings for Maggie back when she'd come out to Kara.
"I do plan to move in right away but we plan to start looking for a bigger place immediately so, hopefully, the five of us living in Maggie's old apartment will be temporary, very temporary."
As they arrived at Maggie's door Alex suddenly hesitated and Kara could hear her heart rate increase. "What's the matter?"
Alex didn't bother to ask how Kara knew something was bothering her. She'd gotten used to Kara monitoring her heart rate. It was endearing, when it wasn't annoying. Besides she could do the same thing with Kara and her "crinkle". "It's nothing, I'm fine." Kara just looked at her. "Fine," she huffed, "I just really want this to go well. The most important people in my life are about to meet and I just…"
"It'll be fine Alex. I'm going to love the kids and all kids love Supergirl."
"What, no, you can't tell them you're Supergirl!" Alex was clearly shocked at the suggestion.
"I can and I will," Kara replied stubbornly. "First of all I will not have you start your relationship with these kids with a lie. The twins are old enough to understand it's a secret they have to keep. Second, if they spend time with both Kara and Supergirl they'll figure it out on their own. People almost always do, especially kids. And third, I want to be the "cool aunt" and who's cooler than Aunty Supergirl?"
Alex wrapped her arms around Kara and gave her a tight hug. "Thanks Kara." She knew the first reason her sister gave her for telling the kids she was Supergirl was the real one and she appreciated Kara's willingness to expose her secret for the sake of her own relationship with these children who were still strangers to her.
"Your welcome, besides, technically they're already family. They're our cousins and they're going to be your children."
Alex couldn't hide her smile at that thought. "I should probably talk to Maggie about it first though."
"Good point. Okay, I'll wait on the big Supergirl reveal until I get the okay from you and Maggie."
That settled Alex pushed open the door knocking on it at the same time and saying, "We're here, anybody home?"
Matt and Jessie came running into the living room then stopped short when they saw that Alex wasn't alone. "Come here, guys," Alex said waving them over. "This is my sister. Remember I told you I was going to bring her by to meet you."
Kara pushed her glasses up her nose, something Alex knew she did when she was nervous. Apparently, Supergirl wasn't as confident about meeting these kids as she had let on. "Hi, I'm Kara," she said giving them a big smile. "You must be Matt and Jessie. Alex was telling me all about you."
By this time Maggie had come in carrying Bertie in her arms. "Hi Kara," she said quietly, clearly nervous about how Kara might react to her presence.
Kara walked over to her and without a word took Bertie from her arms. "You, sweet boy, must be Bertie." She handed Bertie to Alex, "Do you mind?"
Alex took Bertie and with a note of warning in her tone said "Kara."
Kara walked back over to a visibly nervous Maggie, wrapped her arms around her and said. "Don't worry, no trips to outer space today. I know you were just trying to do what you thought was best for Alex.." She let go of Maggie and put her hands on her shoulders, "but if you pull another stupid stunt like that all bets are off!"
This time Maggie pulled Kara into a hug. "I missed you little Danvers, a lot."
"Same here Maggie."
She walked back over to Alex and took Bertie back from her. Now if you don't mind I'm going to get to know my future niece and nephews. Alex has something she wants to talk to you about." With that she turned to Matt and Jessie and said, "Wanna show me your room?"
"Sure," said Matt.
At the same time Jessie said, "okay.
As they walked away, Maggie and Alex heard Jessie asking Kara if she'd really met their parents like Alex had said.
"I sure did, in fact, I met you guys too. Of course, you were just babies then so you wouldn't remember." Any further conversation was lost as they entered the twins' room and Kara pulled the door closed to give Alex and Maggie some privacy.
Maggie turned to Alex with a worried expression on her face. "What's up? Is something wrong?" Seeing Kara again seemed to have gone well but if Alex needed to talk to her maybe that was just for show so as not to upset the children.
Alex took Maggie's hand and gave it a squeeze, smiling at her to ease her worries. "Nothing's wrong. Kara wants to tell the twins that she's Supergirl and I said I wanted to talk to you about it first."
"Wow, so soon. They're pretty young, what if they slip up and tell someone there Aunty Kara is Supergirl." Maggie was taken aback by how quickly Kara was willing to let a couple of small children in on her secret.
"Kara thinks they are old enough to understand that it's a secret. I agree with that. I'm more concerned that it might be dangerous for them if they know," Alex replied her concern evident in her expression.
"I suppose it could be but on the other hand. If they know she's Supergirl and they get in trouble they know they just need to call for her and she'd come help them. Why is she even considering this?" Maggie wanted to know.
"She doesn't want us to have to lie to them. She said she didn't want me to start my relationship with them with a lie,"Alex replied, tearing up a bit just thinking how Kara seemed to understand how important Matt and Jessie were to her.
"Wow," Maggie said again. "Your sister really is one of the kindest people I know."
"I know," Alex agreed. "So what do you think?"
"I think Kara has a point. You shouldn't start off your relationship with the twins with a lie."
"Alright then, let's get them out here and tell them their Aunty Kara is Supergirl."
Before they even had a chance to call Kara and the children back into the room the door to the twins room opened and the four of them came back out into the living room.
"Spy much," Alex accused when Kara was standing beside her. Kara just stuck her tongue out at her sister. "So do you want to tell them or shall I?" Alex asked.
"I think Maggie should. They know her better so they'll be more likely to believe her."
"Tell us what?" the twins asked in unison, looking from their Aunt Maggie back to Kara and Alex and back again.
Maggie gave Kara a grateful look. She really wanted to be the one to tell the twins the news but didn't feel like it was her place. "Come over here guys," she said, gesturing to the twins to come stand next to her. They did so and she put a hand on each of their shoulders. "You guys understand what a secret is right?"
"Duh.," Matt said looking a bit insulted that Maggie might think he didn't understand something as basic as a secret. "It's something you know but you can't tell anybody."
"That's right. Okay, this is really important guys. Kara here has a really big secret and she said I can share it with you because we're all family but it is very important that you never tell anyone, no matter how tempting it is. You can't tell your friends at school. You can't tell some one who's bragging to one up them. Nothing like that. If you don't think you can promise not to tell this secret say so now and I just wont tell you." Maggie's expression was grave. She wanted to be sure they knew how serious she was.
"We can do it Maggie. We've kept secrets before," Jessie said and all the adults knew that she was thinking about times when she had to keep the fact that she was transgendered a secret.
"Yes, you have, haven't you baby girl." Maggie leaned down and placed a kiss on Jessie's forehead. "Well all right then, here goes. Kara is Supergirl."
Matt and Jessie's mouths dropped open and they stared at Kara like she had suddenly sprouted a third eye in the middle of her forehead. "Wow, really!"
Kara simply replied, "Yup."
"That is so cool," Jessie replied.
"Can you take us flying sometime?" Matt asked?
"Sure!" Kara responded enthusiastically.
"No!" Maggie and Alex said at the same time.
Three devastating pouts were aimed there way. "All three of you can just put those pouts away. This is not open for debate." Maggie was in full mom mode, laying down the law.
"We'll see," Kara replied winking at the twins, who couldn't suppress a giggle.
"Are you really Supergirl?" Matt asked. "I mean you just look like a normal girl to me."
Kara plopped down cross-legged on the floor and motioned for the twins to each take a seat on one of her knees. "That's how I keep people from finding out I'm Supergirl." Kara explained. "I dress like a normal girl, I have a regular job. I live in a regular apartment. But I promise you I'm really Supergirl. Look around."
Very slowly and gently so as not to startle the twins Kara had risen from the floor and was floating about two feet off the ground.
"Oh wow! That is so cool" Matt said.
"Go higher!" Jessie asked.
"Kara!" Alex glared at her sister.
"What, were just hovering, no flying involved." She winked at the twins again and again they couldn't suppress there giggles.
Alex turned surprised at the sound of Maggie chuckling. "She's got you there Danvers."
And with that Alex joined in the laughter. "Fine, hovering is okay. As long as you keep it inside where no one can see you."
The twins hurrahed and Kara spun the three of them in a circle, which lead to more laughter all around, especially when she put the twins down and they promptly fell over, too dizzy to stand up.