First time Rex Stewart saw Mareena Curry, he tought she was just a beatiful, curious and innocent kid, one whith an amazing power, But nothing that could impress someone who fight side by side with superman, in a daily basis. Slowly she won his admiration, after all she abandoned her life as princess of Atlantis to join the Justice League. Besides that, she was a great warrior, very strong, very kind, wise, and of course, very gorgeous.

And without him realizing it the admiration grew to something more, something stronger, Something that make him want to fight by her side, to see her all the time, to protect her. He never felt that way, that was a strange feeling for him, and he was scared. He was a warrior, he had been in countless battles, he even went to Thanagar just to fight the Gordanians, and he was sure that nothing made him so terrified.

And thats why that last mission disturbed him so much... Seeing his lord version, Seeing her lord version, and knowing that in that universe they were MARRIED, shook him so much. He knew it was just an alternative universe, he knew it was not them, But knowing about their lords version love status made him reflect about them in their universe.

Did he really want to move foward with her? And her, would be willing to move foward with him? Damm it! He didn't even know what they really had after all. They surely were more than just coworkers, maybe even more than just certainly flirted with each other all the time. After all, she always wanted to touch him, and hug him, even in public, like she did in that mission in apokolipse and again in the metrotower . Besides that he always used his flyings skills as an excuse to carry her in his arms, just to smell her delightful scent and to contemplate her beauty. The signs were definitely there, But is this enough?

And then, He remembered of his parents, and all the trouble they had because of their relashionship. His mother used to tell him the complicated situation they have to deal with when they were, for a brief period of time, no longer a couple But were still coworkers. And he definitely did not want to deal with the same situation with Mareena. Oh Shit! He was in a though situation! And for a moment he regreted encouraging her to join the league, life sure would be easier if they did not work together.

And when Rex was almost sure he didn't want to move foward with her, he remembered that occasion when superman's power were out of control. When supes lazer vison strucked Marina, he was angry, more angry than in any point of his life, he wanted to KILL Superman. And after remembering of that, he perceived why he was angry. And he was angry because he was afraid. He was afraid that something could happen to his precious Mareena, that something in the world could hurt her. He was terrified by the realization that he could not protect her from everything. And then, he understood that nothing would stop him to protect her, to be with her, maybe even love her.

And in that moment Rex decided, he wanted to move foward with Mareena. But he did not know how to say that to her, after all he was just an old hawk and she was a beautiful princess. And then he realized that, maybe, lady Aquagirl was right, for such a tough warrior he was really kind of a coward.