Title: And So Romance Ensues
Author: InBetweens
Rating: T
Author's Note: A HUGE thank you to Shipitlikeasteamboat for taking the time to beta read this story. You've been an incredible help with these installments and everything else. :-D This installment in the And So It Goes series is the first multi chapter fic. I've almost finished this installment at this time. So I should be able to post every two weeks or so.
Plot: Third installment into the "And So It Goes" Series. Begins three months after Kara's visit to National City and follows the progression of Cat and Kara's relationship and how they begin to fit more securely in each other's lives.

Part 1 of 4

Kara Zorel had been through unspeakable horrors in her short life. She'd watched her home planet and all its inhabitants, including her parents and aunts and uncles; explode into nothing but fire and debris. She'd been forced to watch as the adoptive parents that had taken in her and Kal perish in a freak accident when she could have saved them.

Through those two horrors she had been able to remain intact, keep the light side of herself from diminishing. She could still smile and be happy even as she worked herself down to the bone—even for a Kryptonian—and supported her and Kal to the best of her ability. She had to be, she was raising Kal to be a good man, a man that their parents could be proud of, a man that would not use his powers for selfish reasons, but for the betterment of the world.

Then after having one of the most emotionally charged arguments with Kal that she'd ever had, she'd been shot, kidnapped, and tortured for three long months.

The light that she had been able to keep burning steadily—not brightly, but constant—was gone. With one deep breathe and hours of screams, the light in her eyes faded and it became hard to smile. It became hard to do just about anything. Even knowing her responsibility to Kal and to keep him safe and protected, didn't offer her the strength it once did. She had been broken. They broke her.

It took weeks for her to recognize reality from the induced hallucinations they'd caused her while she was captive. It took months for her to even want to move from the bed she'd been given in Wayne Manor. Movement had meant pain in those days, and she was so tired of the pain.

Kal was her saving grace. He kept her lucid and made sure she ate and when she was finally able, he made sure she spent time in the sun.

The sun helped heal most of her body. It took almost a full year before she gained back all the weight that she'd lost while in the DEO's 'care'. Yet she still held the scars from their barbaric treatment of her along her shoulders, lower back, and thighs. Some scars, even for Kryptonian's, didn't heal.

The physical scars were light now, white strips and gauges that would always be a part of her. It was the emotional scars that were the most noticeable. Kara's ability to blend in as she had before was gone. She couldn't be touched. The idea of being touched or touching anyone sent her into throws of panic sometimes so bad she passed out. She spent nearly six months recovering in Wayne Manor where she was isolated and only had to ever interact with people she had become familiar with.

Testing out her ability to be surrounded by people, people she didn't know, people that could hurt her could be part of the DEO waiting to get her, which could take her again! The possibilities had caused her to pass out cold in the middle of a grocery store with Alfred. Bruce helped her find ways to get past the fear. Meditation, concentration, and learning how to physically defend herself should anyone try to take her again helped alleviate a lot of her stressors.

The process was long and hard and truly hard fought for her, being able to just hug Kal had been an accomplishment. Being able to stand in the middle of a room full of people had been an accomplishment. There were millions of small accomplishments that she was forced to make, to achieve, in her goal to finding who she was before and merging that person with who she was now.

So, the fact that she found herself standing in the middle of a large hotel suite cradling a crying infant in her arms, was a miracle.

Kara stared down at the red face and felt helpless to do anything for the child. She'd held Kal as a baby, but that was before. The fact that she had a small bundle of warm weight pressed against her chest and arms was…was…

Her vision wasn't closing in on her. Her pulse was steady, and the only nerves she was feeling was anxiousness over making the baby stop crying.

Kara had come to visit Cat and take her out to dinner. She was in town for another two days while looking at spaces for the new Metropolis CatCo office. They'd already had breakfast on Monday, lunch on Wednesday with Clark, and now they were all going to dinner. Clark had gone to the bathroom and Jonathan had a phone call that he needed to take, which left Kara alone with baby Carter, as Cat hadn't arrived from her last meeting yet.

Jonathan, the sweet man that he was, didn't realize that Kara wasn't comfortable holding a baby. After all, to Jonathan, Kara was the one that helped Cat give birth to their son in a rather dramatic fashion. Why wouldn't she be able to hold the baby while he was crying so Jonathan could take his incredibly important phone call?

"Shhh…shhh…it's okay. Your daddy's going to be right back. And your mommy will be here soon. Shh…." Kara bounced Carter gently as he continued to cry.

Kara looked nervously down the hallway for either a sign of Clark or Jonathan. With neither male present she was the only option for Carter and she felt like she was failing the longer he cried. Kara had been wonderful with Clark as an infant. She'd been able to stop his tears almost as soon as he was put in her arms. But Carter didn't know her, and wasn't familiar with her and wasn't as comfortable with her as Clark had been.

Kara, with extra care, moved Carter from one position to another, always careful of his head. Now, Carter's stomach was resting against her chest and shoulder and his eyes were able to look out at the room around her as she continued to bounce him slowly and rocked from one side to the other.

Carter hiccupped through his sobs and mewled in a way only babies can as he began to calm down. He sniffled and let out a few more impatient noises but he rested his cheek against Kara's shoulder and stared at her neck and the small pieces of hair that hung out from the updo she'd put it in.

Kara closed her eyes and silently said a small prayer to Rao for helping her calm the upset infant.

"There we go. See…everything is okay. No need for tears." Kara promised as she walked around a bit, cognizant of how she continued to sway this way and that to help keep Carter calm and occupied. "I understand though. Being in a new place is scary. There are all these new sounds and smells. New accents and shadows that play across the walls. It can be scary to be in a new place. But don't you worry. You have your mommy and your daddy with you and they will do anything for you."

Behind Kara, who found herself further ensconced in the hotel suite, now facing the large glass windows overlooking the city, Clark Kent Zorel watched as Cat Grant stared in awe at the woman holding her son. He didn't say anything. Not yet. He didn't want to ruin the moment. There was something in Cat's eyes that told him that she needed this time to just stare, unseen and unnoticed by her quarry. He might only be 15 but he could recognize an important moment when he saw one.

It seemed Clark wasn't the only one to notice the moment either, because Jonathan stood at the other side of the hallway looking at Cat who was staring at Kara and Carter, with the softest of expressions upon his face. He too stood silent and watched for a moment, wondering what was passing through Cat's mind for her to be staring at Kara with such awe.

Jonathan, seeing Kara about to turn around and knowing Cat would attack rather than accept the embarrassment of being caught staring, cleared his throat loudly enough for Cat to hear.

Blinking, Cat turned to her ex-husband, the carefree light in her eyes dimming as her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned out into a tight purse. She was caught, and she knew it, and the embarrassment she felt over being caught was about to be unleashed towards her husband when suddenly from behind her Clark made a bunch of noise by rushing into the room, practically stomping his feet.

"Ready to go!" He announced, "Oh, hi Miss Grant!" He greeted with a wide smile. His boyish charm had only gotten more pronounced since the last time Cat had seen him two days ago.

"Oh…!" Kara blinked and spun around to see that Cathryn had arrived. "Cathryn., hi…" Her smile blossomed across her face as swiftly as October wind swept through the fallen leaves.

Cat found herself smiling back, even though she wanted to throttle her all-knowing ex-husband. "Clark…" Cat nodded to the boy as he made his way, much quieter now, to stand by Kara.

"Kara…" Cat's voice softened as she made her way closer to her guests. She put her hand on Carter's head, feeling the soft fuzz of his hair beneath her palm as she saw that her son was fast asleep resting on Kara's shoulder.

Cat heard Carter's screeches from down the hallway. She'd been rushing to get into the door to get to him; sure that Jonathan was doing something wrong, when suddenly the cries had stopped. She'd been fumbling with her suite key when Carter hiccupped and calmed down enough that she couldn't hear him through the door anymore. By the time she'd found the blasted key card and opened the door, Kara was already in the main living room of the suite silhouetted by the shinning lights of the Metropolis skyline behind her. That sight alone was one to stop Cat cold. But what warmed her and kept her from moving even an inch more was the sight of Carter's blanket draped over Kara's arm and the small outline of Carter's round head resting on Kara's shoulder as she spoke to him.

The words themselves made Cat's heart ache for the young woman. She wanted to make all of her fears go away and soothe away any pain left over from her horrific experiences. Because how could a woman who'd gone through so much still have the care and gentleness in her to cradle her son like he was the most precious thing in the world and assuage his fears? How? How could a woman who'd been touched by the true evils in the world be so sweet and kind and so breathtakingly beautiful?

"Hello, my sweet boy." Cat whispered as she placed a soft kiss to the top of Carter's head where it rested against Kara's shoulder. The sudden mixture of Kara's perfume and Carter's natural smell made her blink rapidly in surprise. The two scents mingled well together. "Do you want me to take him?" Cat asked, wondering how Kara was handling holding Carter so well when Cat still hadn't been able to touch Kara's arm without the woman jumping and pulling away.

Kara looked almost sad to have her time end with Carter. "If you want to, yes."

"Kara?" Cat ducked her head down so she could catch Kara's downcast eyes. "Do you still want to hold him?"

Kara nodded, only slightly, barely enough to even see it.

"Okay then. You hold him while I go change and get ready. I'll be fifteen, twenty minutes at the most."

Kara smiled in answer and nodded her head, this time more assuredly than before. "We'll be here." Kara included Clark by looking to the boy before she peered through the bottom of her eyes at the baby she held.

"Great, thank you. If for any reason you need to put him down or can't hold him anymore, Jonathan will take him, or you can put him in his basinet."

"Understood." Kara's smile was a bit stiffer, the woman easily recognizing Cat's uncertainty about leaving Carter with her when she couldn't handle other human contact. "We'll be fine." Kara promised.

"Yeah, she's held lots of babies before. Me and Alex and…well I guess just me and Alex." He added in, trying to help prove that Kara was capable of holding Carter.

"I'm sorry…" for insinuating anything otherwise, was left unsaid. "…for running late. I promise I won't be much longer." Cat stepped away from Kara and Carter slowly, a part of her remiss that she had to leave them at all. The only reason she turned away from them at all was so she could get herself to move away so she could get ready and come back to the charming sight of her son in her best friend's arms.

The thought that Kara was her best friend nearly stopped Cat in her tracks. But instead she just smiled at the truth of the thought and went to get ready for dinner. In the past three months Cat had made it a point to speak with Kara at least three times a week. More often than not she called her four or five times a week, but sometimes things were stressful and they resorted to email for a few days and calls when they could.

They were both very busy and powerful women in their own rights, but Cat wanted to talk to Kara. Cat wanted to hear about Kara's day—as much of it as she was allowed—and she wanted to hear about Clark and how he was doing in school. The boy was ready to graduate high school this year and he was only fifteen. Cat spoke about Carter and about Jonathan and CatCo. She even talked about her past and what she wanted for the future, both for her company but also for herself and for Carter.

Cat looked forward to her calls with Kara, but she looked forward to seeing her even more. Cat had made certain that she arrived fifteen minutes early for each of her scheduled meetings with Kara. This meant she still arrived after Kara as the woman—Cat had come to realize—was notorious for being early. She was only in Metropolis for a week and her schedule was full of meetings with investors and benefactors and possible clients and employees, but she made time for Kara. She fit in a quick breakfast here, a long lunch there, and now she was fitting in dinner. Kara and Clark were preferential company to the others Cat could have been dinning with this evening. Hell, maybe even Johnathan was preferable.

-.-.-.-.-

Clark helped Kara take a seat, propping up a pillow behind her so she was more comfortable while holding Carter as Jonathan took a seat in the armchair next to the couch the two Zorel's occupied.

This was only the third time that he had spoken with Kara in person, the other times they'd spoken had been over the phone and had been mostly business related or focused primarily on Cat and Carter. It was how his life revolved these days, work and his son and ex-wife, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He was sure he'd need more soon, but at the moment having things the way they were was working just fine.

"So, Clark, how's school? Cat tells me you're a senior and graduating early."

"Yeah, it's been going well. It's not like the classes are all that hard."

"Clark…" Kara scolded immediately.

"Well, it's true. I wanted to skip ahead to college. I feel like I have the knowledge needed to pass my GED, but Kara thought I should experience my senior year. And I mean, it's been fun. I'm on the mathleetes and I made student council and have gotten involved in a few clubs. So that's been fun. I've also been taking college courses during my free time and through the school, so I should actually be able to skip my first year there thanks to the credits I'll graduate with."

"Wow, sounds like you're really busy." Jonathan had to pretend to be fascinated by the idea that Clark was smart enough to skip high school all together if he'd been allowed to. Why does he have to pretend?

"I could be doing more, but Kara thought I should take it easy." Clark admitted, feeling at ease with Jonathan. He didn't have to hide his displeasure at having to make himself do things slower than he actually could, pretend that he wasn't as smart as he actually was. "Still, I've been making friends and it also helped give me time to look at colleges."

"You're looking to go away?"

Kara shifted uncomfortably at the subject turn. Clark and Jonathan didn't even mind her movement, thinking it had to do with adjusting Carter.

"I've been looking at schools all over the country." He didn't mention the schools he'd looked at outside the country. He knew that was pushing it too far. It was enough that Kara was even considering letting him go away to school. Especially with the DEO still out there and just waiting and biding their time.

"What about my alma mater , Nation City University?" Jonathan found it was easy to smile while talking to the young man. He was polite and well educated and far less intimidating to talk to then Kara Zorel, even while she held his son.

"I'd looked at NCU, but was more interested in SNCU, they have a political program there that's only rivaled at ivy league schools."

"Ivy league, you say that as if you wouldn't want to try to go there?" Jonathan knew for a fact that Kara was well off enough to send the young man to any college he wanted. Hell, Jonathan was one of the staunch believers that Clark was the illegitimate love child of Bruce Wayne and Bruce Wayne could afford to send his kid to whatever college they wanted fifty times over.

"I'm not sure if I do yet or not. I already know I'm smart. I don't want to be competing with other people who think they're smarter than me. I'd rather go to a well-established school and learn and meet friends than meet advisories."

Jonathan nodded; he couldn't see anything wrong with the boy's logic. After all, he was just a boy. Intelligent beyond belief, but still just a boy. A boy that helped save his son's life.

"Well, I wish you luck. I'm sure Kara was hoping you'd be looking at Metropolis University or Columbia, right?" Jonathan asked, trying to pull Kara into the conversation. He wondered sometimes how Cat and Kara could be on the phone for hours with each other when he could hardly get either woman to talk to him for more than twenty minutes at a time.

"Yes, that was my hope. However, Clark and I have discussed his desire to study elsewhere." Kara had already devised several ways that should he wish to leave Metropolis to study elsewhere, she would be following him. She would not leave him defenseless while the DEO could still come after them, especially when one of them was alone.

"Yeah, Kara plans to move to the city I choose if I decide to go away." Clark stated, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

"Oh, well that's great. There are dozens of Wayne Corp headquarters stationed around the United States after all."

"Yes, so it would make it easier for me to transfer when the time comes, if….the time comes."

"Who's transferring?" Cat asked as she walked back into the main sitting room, her hands busy as she put in her last earing.

"I am. Upon Clark's decision of which college he will be attending."

"Ah, yes. We've spoken about that before." They had also spoken about how Clark would need to come into his own and that going away to school might not be such a bad thing. But Cat hadn't pushed, especially when Kara had gotten insulted and ended their conversation almost immediately. Cat hadn't realized that it wasn't just being insulted, but actual fear. Kara feared for Clark in a way that Cat could finally understand as she had a child who she feared for. But Kara, Kara who'd been through so much, had far more fears than Cat had realized; even though she should have.

"Yes, we have." Kara enjoyed their talks more than she could say. She had someone whom she could confide in outside of those she had known for years. This new friendship with Cat was only in the beginning stages, but it was bright and wonderful and made her feel giddy.

"Have you narrowed down your list any further?" Cat asked as she sat on the arm of the armchair Jonathan was seated in, putting herself that much closer to the Zorel's who took up the love seat.

"Not yet."

"That's alright, you still have time."

"Another month and a half before early admissions."

"See, like I said, plenty of time." Cat ruffled Clark's hair and the boy grinned and ducked his head down low away from the intrusive hand. "How's Carter doing?"

"Still sound asleep." Kara assured, taking a moment to stare at the sleeping bundle resting against her. He was so tiny and small. Kara had seen him when he was first born so she knew how much he had grown since then, but he was still so fragile and new. New to everything and everyone, and that newness, that innocence drew Kara to it like air to a flame. She was consumed by it and never wanted to let it go.

"Why don't you help me put him in his carrier and we can get going?" Cat stood and waited for Kara to stand and follow her.

The way Kara moved slowly made it obvious she did not wish to stir the slumbering infant in her arms. Somehow, with great difficulty and yet great ease, Kara stood and followed after Cat without waking Carter.

"He's been good since he quieted down. You're right. He likes to be able to look around him and see the world. The moment I put him on my shoulder he calmed down." Cat had told her time and time again that Carter liked being held on her shoulder so his eyes could peer out around them and see everything. Kara hadn't understood such an affinity for a human child but found Cat was right. Whether it truly meant Carter liked seeing what was around him, or he simply liked being held upright, she wasn't sure. But she'd allow Cat her own ideas; after all, this was her son.

"And you didn't believe me…" Cat jokingly accused.

"I had no evidence to deny you were incorrect, either."

Cat rolled her eyes, "Which in laymen's terms means you didn't believe me without the evidence."

"Perhaps…" Kara smirked, meeting Cat's eyes and holding her stare for a moment. "It's nice to have these conversations in person."

"I agree." Cat felt a pang in her chest; they couldn't have these conversations in person more because she lived across the country. In a year, maybe a little more, Cat would be moving bases from National City to Metropolis. That's when she'd be breaking ground with her new CatCo headquarters. Until then she and Kara were stuck having these stolen moments together when one of them was visiting every three or so months. It shouldn't bother her as much as it did. If Kara were just a friend seeing her every three months would be enough. But it wasn't. A part of Cat thought that seeing Kara everyday wouldn't be enough. Not for her insatiable appetite for the younger woman's company.

Kara gently put Carter into the carrier that Cat had led them to. She missed the warmth of Carter's weight against her almost immediately, but said nothing. Instead she watched as Cat clicked the locks of Carter's seatbelt into place. He stirred a little but didn't do much more than blink a few times, snuggle into his new location, and close his eyes once more.

"Thank you." Kara whispered, feeling her words get caught in her throat.

"For what?" Cat asked, looking up from where she was adjusting some of the safety harness to fit better.

"For trusting me with your son."

"Kara…" Cat stood to her full height and stepped closer to Kara.

Cat didn't reach out and touch the other woman, although she wanted to. She merely stood close to her, any contact between them was initiated by Kara, and although Cat longed to have the permission to touch Kara whenever and however she wanted, she didn't have that permission. She hoped one day she would. That one day they'd migrate past this incredibly long and deep friendship into something more. But they were both too entrenched in their own worlds to do much more than what they were now. But now was okay too. Now they were creating the foundation for their relationship to grow and if it grew to encompass romance, then so be it.

"Kara, you are an amazing woman. Amazing! To be able to get through what you have and be as amazing as you are seems impossible. But you, you are possible, you are real and kind and infuriatingly smart. You were also gentle and loving with my son. The son you saved the day he was born by being there and pushing past your phobia to help me. And I am…Kara, I am so eternally grateful for you. For what you did that night and for the role you're playing in my life now as my friend. You, of all people, never need to thank me for trusting you with my son. There isn't anyone else—besides myself and maybe Jonathan, on a good day—that I trust him with more."

"I…" Kara didn't know what to say. Even knowing how difficult it was for her to be around other people, to touch them and be touched, Cat trusted her. Granted, that night in the cabin Cat had no choice. She'd been forced to put her faith and trust in Kara, that she could help her, could save both her and her baby. But now, free of will Cat was still deciding to put her faith in Kara, to put the life of her son in Kara's hands above all others. That knowledge, that Cat trusted her with the most precious thing in her life, meant everything to Kara. It made her feel…elated.

Kara brought her hand up and cupped it around Cat's forearm, keeping the woman as close as she was. Her hand tingled from where she touched Cat but it wasn't the fiery type that kept her from wanting to touch anyone else. It was soft and warm and made her feel like she could fly.

"Kara, Miss Grant, are you two ready yet? I'm starving!" Clark called from the other room.

The spell between the two women was broken and they stepped away from each other with a quick snap. Cat looking to make sure Carter was still asleep and Kara to look towards the room Clark was calling from, as if he could feel her glare from here.

"Sorry about that. Growing boys need a lot of food."

Cat snickered, "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

With nothing else to say the two women separated. Cat went to prepare Carter's baby bag while Kara went to scold Clark for shouting in a home that wasn't his, and just shouting in general.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Thank you again for dinner Kara, you didn't have to treat us." Jonathan thanked her, for the fifth time, as they stood in the lobby of the hotel Jonathan and Cat were staying at.

Dinner had been a lovely affair where all four spoke and got to know each other better. Cat was certain that Clark would make a wonderful reporter or lawyer. He was still of the mindset that he wanted to work in politics and his affinity for social justice made Cat think he'd swing the journalistic way in the end. But only time would tell, and in the meantime she was happy to help invigorate the young man towards topics of mutual interest.

"It was my pleasure. You can treat the next time you're in town." Kara promised, watching Jonathan quickly grab onto that possibility with both hands.

"Yes. You can count on that." Jonathan looked to Clark with a fond smile, "Clark…" he extended his hand and shook the young man's hand firmly. "…it was a pleasure to see you again."

"Thank you, Mr. McCaffrey, it was a pleasure to spend the evening with you."

Jonathan laughed softly, "A man after his guardian's heart." He couldn't help but compare their similar mannerisms and colloquialisms to each other.

"Take care." Jonathan turned and left for the elevator, carrying the baby carrier with his son. Carter was happily chewing on a toy he'd been given and kicking his feet about watching the adults as silent as a baby could be.

With Jonathan making a quick exit that left Cat alone with the two Zorel's.

Cat didn't want the evening to end. She knew, that after tonight she wouldn't see Kara in person for another several weeks. This was their 'goodbye' dinner, as it were. And goodbye was the last thing she wanted to say to Kara, or Clark.

"I'm going to wait in the car." Clark spoke up, stepping forward to give Cat a hug. "It was great to see you again Miss Grant. Hopefully next time Kara goes to National City I'll be coming with her and we can talk about lying to get a story."

"Yes, I look forward to it. It was so good to see you." Cat squeezed Clark tight around the shoulders in a hug. The young man was as tall as she was and only going to get taller if Kara's 5'11 height said anything.

Once Clark was gone, it left Kara and Cat alone, standing in the middle of the immaculate front lobby of Cat's hotel.

"It was so good to see you, too, Kara." Cat smiled, finding she didn't want the evening to end. Not if it meant that she had to go back to National City and wait several weeks before she could be in the same room as Kara once again.

"I find that I do not want to say goodnight." Kara admitted, looking down at her hands as she rubbed them together nervously. "I do not want to say goodbye."

"Well, there are no goodbyes with us." Cat promised, feeling the need to reassure the young woman that all would be well when they did inevitably have to say goodbye. "Not really. I do call you every day." Cat joked, even though it was true. They spoke nearly every day. Kara had become Cat's most trusted friend and ally. There wasn't anything she wouldn't tell Kara. Well, maybe there were a few things she wouldn't tell Kara but she only did that out of fear for their blooming friendship. She'd rather have Kara's friendship than anything more…romantically inclined.

"Yes, you do. I enjoy those calls." Kara smiled softly, looking at Cat through her lashes.

"As do I." Cat sighed as she itched to pull Kara in to a hug, but knew better.

"You'll call first thing when you land?" Kara asked, knowing that she could not prolong their stay anymore.

"Of course. First thing." Cat promised.

"Well, then. Goodnight Cathryn. Have a safe trip home." Kara reached out and squeezed Cat's hand gently before she pulled back just as quickly and turned to leave.

"Goodnight, Kara." Cat whispered to Kara's retreating back, watching the woman walk away until she couldn't see her any longer.

Cat made her way up to her suite, sure that Jonathan was going to have a grand 'ol time teasing her some more about her crush and tonight she was in a good enough mood to let him

End Part One