Sitting behind her desk Sam tapped the nail of her index finger against the screen of her phone while she stared down at the gray and gold stock card Lena had just placed on her desk. Though it seemed as if her focus was on the invitation her mind was actually somewhere else all together. While she should have been thinking about the conversation she'd just had with her CEO, Sam was replaying the conversation she'd just had with one of her best friends. A conversation that centered around a certain redhead secret agent and how Lena couldn't say Alex's name without Sam smiling a little.
It had been a long time since Sam had felt anything for anyone. Her focus had always been Ruby first, and that meant making sure they had a comfortable, stable life. Relationships had always taken a back seat if they got a seat at all on Sam's sometimes rough ride through life. But her life was stable now, she had an amazing job, Ruby was older, and not including everything she was still working on when it came to finding out she was an alien, things were good in Sam's life. So it was natural to feel like now was a good time for something new.
Alex was amazing. She was smart, funny, tough but sweet. She was wonderful with Ruby. And she was incredibly beautiful. Their first date had been a huge success and they had made plans for a second. So why was Sam hesitating in calling her now?
She could practically hear Lena in her ear. "Suck it up, Arias. Call the woman." Sam snorted softly and told her best friend's imaginary voice to, "Shut it, Luthor. I'll call her in a second!"
Taking a deep breath Sam picked up her phone so the lock screen would recognize her face and then felt a smile tug at her lips. Her home screen picture was of Ruby wearing Alex's leather jacket, and Alex wearing Ruby's hoodie with the hood up. If she weren't falling for all of Alex's other attributes she'd fall for the woman simply based on how much she loved her kid. Tapping the contacts icon she highlighted Alex's name and then hit the little green call button. Her smile faulted a little when the first thing she heard wasn't Alex's voice but heavy panting. "Alex?"
A heartbeat of a second passed before she heard, "Sam?"
"Hi." Sam said as she sat forward in her chair a little. "Are you alright?"
"Fine." Alex replied. "Hold on a sec." There was a strange shuffling sound followed by an odd whirring sound, and then something that sounded like backing into metal trash cans. Then a heavy huff of a sigh and Alex's voice. "Hi Sam. What's up?"
Sam blinked. "Bad time?"
"Nope." Alex replied, her voice suddenly sounding rather cheerful .
"Ok." Sam replied with a bit of an uneasy chuckle. She took a moment to get her cool back and then said, "I know we've already made plans for a second date but how would you feel about a kind of in between date."
"An in between date?" Alex replied with a chuckle.
"So apparently there's this charity gala in Coast City hosted by Ferris Air." Sam began to explain as she picked up the invitation. "Lena and I have been invited and since L-Corp and CatCo both have business ties to Ferris Air we kind of have to go. Lena's taking Kara and I was kind of hoping maybe you'd agree to be my date?"
"Coast City huh?" Alex replied.
Sam nodded as if Alex could see her. "Lena's going to foot the bill as far as travel and hotel since it's a business expense. She even got excited by the idea of getting a shareable suite but I told her you probably wouldn't want to be that close to her and Kara in a hotel room."
That got the kind of deep warm laugh from Alex that made Sam's heart flutter like some stupid love sick teenager.
"It would only be for a night." Sam continued. "We'd fly the morning of and fly back the next afternoon."
Before Sam could continue Alex cut in and said, "I'd love to go with you."
Sam blinked in surprise and then smiled a huge smile. "We can talk details at game night."
"Sounds good." Alex said as she smiled like idiot. It was really rather embarrassing the way the sound of Sam's voice made her smile. "I'll see you Friday night at Kara's."
After saying goodbye Alex ended the call and put her phone back into the pocket of her cargo pants. It wouldn't hit her until later that she'd just agreed to an overnight trip with Sam, or that she would have to find something suitable to wear to a big fancy gala. Right now the only thing on her mind was getting to see Sam again and getting to see Sam in something suitable for a big fancy gala. When she finally turned her attention to the gray skinned horned alien she held down by pressing a combat boot into his chest and aiming her gun at his head she frowned as one of those pennies dropped. "Fuck. What am I gonna wear?"
"My god, Sam." Lena gasped when her friend came out of the dressing room. "That looks amazing on you."
Sam looked down at the white tailored to fit just right tuxedo pants and black silk blouse she had on. "You think so?"
"Put on the jacket." Lena said as her personal seamstress handed Sam the matching white fitted tuxedo jacket. Once Sam had the jacket on and a single button done up she nodded firmly. "It's perfect."
Sam stepped in front of the triple mirror to have a look at herself. She had to admit it did look good on her. With the heels she had on it really accentuated her long legs, and the cut of the jacket outlined her figure perfectly. She liked putting on a fancy dress and getting all glammed up once in awhile, but there was just something about wearing a suit sometimes that made her feel incredible.
Lena smirked as she asked, "Are you sure you want me to book separate rooms for you and Alex?"
"Lena." Sam said with a warning in her tone. "We've only been on one date. Neither one of us want to rush anything."
"What rush?" Lena asked. "You've known each other awhile now."
Sam gave her friend an 'are you kidding me' look as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you seriously giving me a hard time about the pace of my relationship? How long did you and Kara take to wake up and admit your feelings for each other?"
"To long." Lena admitted. "Which is what I want you to avoid. If Alex is what you want don't waste a single moment in making that happen."
Kara's phone buzzed beside her, stopping her as she slipped on a pair of midnight blue heels. Picking it up she smiled when she saw it was a text from Lena. "Lena says your dress should be black with white accents."
Alex blinked as she turned from the selection of dresses she'd picked out already. "What? Why?"
"She and Sam are at her favorite local designer's loft." Kara answered with a shrug. "I'm guessing she's trying to coordinate your looks."
With a quite huff Alex said, "Lena Luthor isn't the boss of me. I'm not the Danvers sister she has whipped."
"I'm not whipped!" Kara protested with a pout.
Alex laughed. "If you're not whipped why have all the dresses you've tried on been blue?"
"I happen to look good in blue." Kara argued.
Alex flicked her wrist and made a cracking sound. Kara threw a shoe at her sister, which Alex dodged easily before grabbing a black dress from her selection and disappearing into the dressing room. Kara smirked when she noticed.
"I'm really glad things seem to be going well with you and Sam." Kara said as she went back to trying on shoes. "It's nice to see you smile like that again."
"Smile like what?" Alex asked from behind the curtain.
Kara smiled as she said, "Like you're happy, like you're in love, like you're excited by the possibilities."
Catching her reflection in the mirror Alex caught sight of that smile. She was excited by the possibilities. As much as starting something with Sam scared her it was a good kind of scared. It was the kind of scared that let her know the payout of taking this risk would be amazing. It was the kind of scared that told her that she wanted there to be something special and meaningful because the fear came from maybe not getting what she wanted.
"You're ok with me and Sam dating aren't you, Kara?" Alex asked as she stepped out to get another dress.
"Of course I am." Kara replied. She'd slipped into the dressing room beside her sister's. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Alex sighed softly. "Because if it goes sideways things will get a little weird."
"Maybe at first." Kara's voice admitted. "But if things didn't work out, and I have no reason to think they won't, you and Sam will make sure it doesn't stay awkward or weird. You'll find a way to remain friends the way James and I did because I know you both love me, Ruby, and our friends."
When her baby sister stepped out of the dressing room Alex blinked. Kara was wearing a dark blue sequins evening gown with a high slit and it took Alex aback. It was hard for her to see Kara as the grown woman, the beautiful, elegant, confident grown woman she'd grown into. Though Alex was happy for Kara, happy that she'd found love and happiness with Lena, she ached for her dopey and awkward kid sister sometimes.
Kara frowned at the way Alex was looking at her. "What? You don't like it?"
"No." Alex said, hurrying to reassure her sister. "I mean, not no I don't like it, I do like it, it's just," She smiled softly. "You look amazing Kara."
Kara smiled warmly, relaxing at her sister's sincere compliment.
"Lena better realize how damn lucky she is to have you." Alex said firmly.
Kara walked over to hug her sister. "Sam's pretty lucky too."
The morning of the gala a black town car pulls into Sam's driveway. She meets the driver at the door and smiles her thanks as he takes her bags to put them in the trunk. Ruby would be staying at Lena's with Eliza and Andrew so she just had to make sure the house was settled before leaving. When they pulled up in front of Alex's building a short time later she felt her nerves kicking in. Asking Alex to go with her on an overnight trip seemed like a big step even if they weren't planning on anything intimate happening just yet. Traveling away from home with someone was huge, you got to see sides of them that they might not be ready to share with you just yet. You were spending time with them without the safety net of running home with a lame excuse about the babysitter.
"Hey." Alex said as she slipped into the car beside Sam.
Sam smiled while trying to drown the fluttering in her stomach. "Hi." Holding out a paper cup from Noonan's once Alex was settled she said, "I really appreciate this Alex."
Alex accepted the coffee gratefully. "I couldn't let you got stag to this thing any more than I could let you suffer being a third wheel with my sugar coated sister and her girlfriend. Those two are going to give the city diabetes." Sam laughed softly and Alex's smile grew. She liked the sound of Sam's laugh, and she liked being the one who caused it. "Besides, I'll always jump at the chance to spend time with you."
That made Sam blush.
The private plane with the L-Corp L on the tail was new. Stepping on board Sam smiled at the pilot who greeted them. "Good morning, Jay. New toy?"
The ginger haired man smiled. "Good morning Ms. Arias, and yes. This here is Ferris Air's newest 800 Series business jet. Second off the line and a dream to fly."
"Well it certainly looks like it'll be a comfortable flight." Sam said as she took in the passenger compartment. There was seating for six with two pairs of chairs facing each other with small tables between them, and two chairs that could recline. There was a small attendant galley and bathroom in the back, and a tv against the far wall.
After the pilot excused himself Sam and Alex made their way towards the four seats that were facing each other. It wasn't the first time Alex had been on a private plane but she was still pretty impressed. "Sometimes I forget Lena's a Luthor. Then I step onto a plane that's not even supposed to debut until next Spring and it hits me, oh yeah my sister's girlfriend is freaking loaded."
Sam laughed as she settled into one of the seats. "You know she'd take that as a complement. The part about forgetting she's a Luthor."
"I know." Alex said as she settled across from Sam. "How did we manage to beat them here?"
"Lena waits until the last moment to get on anything that flies." Sam said and then gave Alex a look that said, anything except Kara.
"Not funny!" Alex huffed.
Sam laughed. "I didn't say anything!"
"You were thinking it!" Alex huffed back.
"Thinking what?" Kara asked as she and Lena finally joined them.
Sam smirked. "About Lena's favorite way to fly."
Kara blushed and Lena laughed.
The flight between National City and Coast City would take just under two hours so the two couples settled in with mimosas and breakfasts picked up from Whole Foods by Colbie, Lena's personal flight attendant. They talked and laughed just like they would anytime the four of them were together. Sam and Alex would take turns stealing glances at the other and smiling softly. They could sense the subtle shift, the difference between four friends hanging out to two couples hanging out, and whenever they were caught looking by Kara or Lena they'd blush and look away quickly.
The hotel Lena booked them into was right on the water and each of their rooms had an incredible view. Lena and Kara would be sharing a suite, while Sam and Alex had their own rooms. Of course no one told Lena not to get adjoining rooms, just seperate rooms. Sam just shook her head as she dropped her garment bag on the bed and suitcase on the floor. Pulling out her phone she sent a text to Ruby to let her daughter know they'd gotten to the hotel safe and sound and then started putting her things away. She'd just manage to finish when Lena knocked on the door announcing they were spending the afternoon at the spa.
Body wraps and massages were followed by manicures, pedicures, and facials. More than once Alex found herself staring at Sam in her white fluffy robe. Sam was all legs and Alex could not stop her mind from drifting to images of running her hands up Sam's caves, over her knees, and then along her thighs, or the way it would feel to have one of those legs glide over her hips and wrap around her waist.
"Alex?" Kara called out.
Alex jumped a little and looked at her sister with wide eyes. "What?"
"Are you ok?" Kara asked with concern. "You're all flushed. Is the smell of the polish to strong?"
Alex blinked as she cleared her head and then shook it. "No, no, I'm fine, it's fine."
Sam watched Alex sink into her chair as far as she could with her toenails being painted. She caught Alex watching her as she'd moved from her own pedicure chair to the nail station. Ducking her head so Alex couldn't see her and be even further embarrassed she smirked. Alex wasn't the only one wondering what it would feel like to run hands over warm skin.
After they were finished at the spa they went their separate ways to finish getting ready for the evening. When they were ready to head out they would meet up in Lena and Kara's suite. Sam was the first to arrive wearing her fitted white tux that hugged all the right curves, and accented all of the right points of her figure. Her dark mahogany colored hair was down and curled into long loose spirals. She smiled warmly at Lena who wore a beautiful silver lace square neck gown, her black hair swept up in a lace braided bun with a few curled stands left down to frame her face. Then she laughed at Kara who was staring at her in awe. Kara had gone with the dark blue sequins dress with the slit and wore her hair down and completely straight.
"Wow." Kara finally said. "Sam, you look amazing. I wanna be you when I grow up."
"Thank you." Sam said with a warm smile and amused chuckle. "The two of you look great."
When Alex arrived it was Sam who was knocked breathless. Alex's dress was a 20s inspired black sequins dress that fell to her knees but looked longer because of the flapper inspired fringe that made her look like she'd just stepped out of the Great Gatsby. Her short red hair was done in finger waves and even her makeup seemed to follow the theme. When Sam was able to breath again she smiled a huge rapturous smile as she walked over to Alex. "You're beautiful."
Alex blushed, dimming the effect of glamor she was going for by nervously rubbing the back of her neck. Stepping into the suite and seeing Sam in her suit had sent her already buzzing arousal into hyperdrive. Sam, standing there in those please-dear-god-fuck-me heels, and fuck-shes-a-top-i'll-be-her-bottom white tux, had hit Alex like slamming into the most stunningly beautiful wall she'd ever seen. "You're a dream."
"A good one I hope." Sam said softly.
"One I wouldn't mind never waking from." Alex replied with a bright smile as they drifted closer together. In her heels Sam was slightly taller than Alex and she found that she didn't mind it at all, in fact she kind of liked it.
The gala was being held at the Coast City Museum of Women's History and would have guests from all over the world. A line of limos and other luxury cars stretched for blocks. For Coast CIty the annual Ferris gala was the main event of the year so the red carpet was crowded with reporters and photographers. CatCo, The Daily Planet, The Gotham Gazette, The Central City Citizen, The Star City Sentinel, were all there, not to mention Channel 52, and various other news and television outlets. A variety of questions were hurled at the two couples as they walked the red carpet, pausing from time to time to allow for pictures. Some were as mundane as who are you wearing, what's CatCo magazine's next cover, and what's L-Corp's next big project. Some were the obligatory questions about Supergirl given their ties to CatCo and National City. Some were aimed at Lena about Kara. A few were thrown at Sam about L-Corp and her resent returned, and about her health. Several asked who Alex was, and it was those that made Sam smile and draw the woman closer.
Alex was more than glad when they were finished with that particular nightmare.
"Sorry about that." Sam said softly as they made their way into the main hall.
"Do you have to do that often?" Alex asked.
Sam shook her head. "Not really. Lena's the face of the company, she's the one everyone wants to see."
"You both did wonderfully." Lena said proudly. "You two make a very striking couple. You'll be the talk of the social pages in the morning."
They made their way over to Lena's table and then mingled a little bit before dinner. Lena wanted to seek out Carol and introduce everyone. Like Lena, Carol Ferris was a young woman thrown into the hailstorm of running her family's company. She wanted Sam to meet her because L-Corp and Ferris Air did a lot of business together. She wanted Kara to meet her because she was hoping Kara could do a story on her. And she wanted Alex to meet her because Carol didn't just run her company from behind a desk. She could often be reached in the cockpit of one of her planes, and she figured Alex and Carol might hit it off in that respect.
They were in the middle of a conversation with a lovely woman named Etta, a friend of a friend of Clark's, after Carol had excused herself when Kara slightly stiffened. Lena noticed but couldn't respond right away. As soon as the four were alone Lena asked what was wrong but before Kara had a chance to say anything it was to late.
"Lena, I thought that was you." A voice called out as a beautiful statuesque woman with red hair approached them.
It wasn't the woman who'd spoken Lena's name that had everyone stunned but the woman on her arm.
Alex couldn't believe it. "Maggie."
Maggie smiled weakly. "Hiya Danvers. Little Danvers. Little Luthor. Sam."
"Oh." The redhead said softly. "I take it you're all acquainted already?"
"Yeah." Maggie said with a nod.
Lena stepped in, smiling at the tall woman. "It's good to see you again, Kate." She shook the woman's hand in greeting and then proceeded to introduce everyone. "Kara and Alex Danvers; Samantha Arias. Kate Kane."
"A pleasure." Kate said as she eyed Alex as if she knew who she was.
Sam slipped her hand into Alex's. Wither she was offering comfort or staking a claim however she wasn't quite sure. The last thing Sam had expected tonight was to come face to face with Alex's ex. The woman who'd broken the heart of one of the strongest women Sam had ever met. Sam suddenly felt a mix of emotion, uncertainty and anger and fear, which she tried to hide behind a charming smile as she nodded and said, "Yes, I am Lena's CFO." And, "I did see mention of a proposal from Kane Industries. I look forward to giving it my full attention as soon as it reaches me."
Alex was doing her best not stare at Maggie. A few years back Kara had talked her into doing this ice bucket challenge thing for charity, where Kara had dumped a bucket of ice water on her from the terrace at their mother's house. The painful shock of that cold icy water hitting her was just how she felt now seeing Maggie standing there in front of her after all this time. When she felt Sam's hand slip into her own Alex finally tore her gaze from Maggie to look into Sam's eyes. Eyes that reminded Alex of warm chocolate and suddenly that's all she felt was the warmth of Sam looking at her and smiling. She returned that smile and tightened her hand around Sam's.
"With Lena's vision I knew L-Corp was the right company to partner with on this project." Kate was saying when Sam returned her focus to the group. "Plus there's the bonus of annoying my cousin Bruce by working with a Luthor."
"Oh that's right." Lena said as she rubbed her thumb against Kara's hand to ease the tension in the blonde when Kate said her name that way. "You're cousin is Bruce Wayne. He and Lex were often rivals."
"Which may cloud his view on you, Lena." Kate said with a soft sigh. "Unfair as that maybe."
Lena shrugged it off. "I'm use to it and honestly after everything I've done if someone can't see the difference between me and L-Corp and Lex and Luthor Corp, screw them."
Kate laughed. "That a girl." She gave Lena a bright smile as she continued, "Thankfully the only rivalry there's ever been between you and I has been on the tennis court and with the ladies."
"Well, I would be more than happy to once again hand you your lovely ass on the tennis court, Kate." Lena replied, smiling charmingly. "But as fair as the ladies are concerned," Lena turned to look at Kara, her eyes bright with just how much she loved the blonde. "Even if I weren't already happily involved with the most beautiful woman here," She turned to look at Maggie and her expression hardened and her protectiveness shown through. "I would have no interest whatsoever in Ms. Sawyer."
"Ouch Little Luthor." Maggie replied.
"Lena." Alex said softly and shook her head. There was no need for anyone to protect her or be mean to Maggie. The breakup wasn't anyone's fault, they simply didn't want the same things in life. If there was blame to be had, then they should lay it at Alex's feet. She's the one who gave in to the euphoria following the Daxamite invasion and asked Maggie to marry her before they really had a chance to get to know each other, to get to know what they'd wanted in their lives.
Thankfully the conversation was interrupted by the announcement of dinner. They said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. As they made their way to their table Sam whispered, "Are you alright?"
Alex flashed her a smile and kissed her cheek. "I'm good, Sam."
Sam smiled and nodded. "Ok."
Dinner was followed by speeches and then drinks and dancing. Alex used a break in the dancing to use the restroom while Sam got them a couple of drinks to take back to the table. Sam was a pretty good dancer and Alex couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so much while trying not to step on Sam's feet. She had a huge smile on her face as she came out of the restroom but that smile faulted little when she ran into Maggie. "Oh, sorry."
"No problem, Danvers." Maggie said with another weak smile. There was a long moment of awkwardness between them before Maggie said, "So, you and Sam huh?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah, me and Sam, it's new."
Maggie nodded. "Seems like you two really like each other."
"We do." Alex smiled, but again that smile faulted. Maggie nodded her head to acknowledge what she'd said but there was a look on her face, in her eyes, that didn't set well with Alex. She knew Maggie well enough to know that she wanted to say something so Alex said, "What?"
"It's not my place to say anything." Maggie said. "It's just that, damn Danvers, I don't want to see you get hurt again."
"Why would I get hurt?" Alex asked.
Maggie sighed and went for it like she always did. "Are you with Sam because you want to be with Sam or are you with Sam because of Ruby?"
Alex's face shifted between hurt and anger in half a second. "My being with Sam has nothing to do with Ruby." How could Maggie even think that? Think that the only reason she would be with someone, anyone, was because of their kid? "You've been out of the loop since you ran to Gotham so let me update you. Sam and Kara are cousins, which means I can have Ruby in my life even if I weren't dating her mother. I can't believe you would actually think that of me, Maggie." There was hurt in Alex's voice but that was soon replaced with a certainty that surprised even herself. "I think Sam is amazing. She's strong, smart, brave, and funny. She's survived hell and yet she's still one of the kindest, most caring people I've ever known. I'm with Sam because I think her smile is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and her laugh makes me happy, and because I love the way she teases Kara. I'm with Sam because I feel excited by the idea of getting to know her, and explore this thing between us. I'm with Sam because of Sam."
"Wow, Alex, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" Maggie began.
"Alex?" Sam called out.
Alex turned her head to see Sam standing at the end of the hall. She smiled at her and Sam began walking towards her. "Hey you."
"Is everything alright?" Sam asked as she came to stand beside Alex.
Maggie smiled, an actual smile this time. "Yeah, Sam. Everything's fine. I should go find Kate." She turned to leave and then paused and said, "I'm really happy for you two."
Once they were alone in the hallway Sam reached for Alex and kissed her hard.
Alex was taken off guard by the kiss at first but quickly melted into it. When it ended she chuckled softly and said, "Wow, what was that for?"
"I heard what you said." Sam admitted. "I wasn't eavesdropping, I promise. Kara said that the best way to ride out sensory overload is to focus on one familiar sound."
Alex smiled at that. "My voice?"
Sam nodded.
Knowing Sam had used the sound of her voice to help when her super hearing was overwhelming her made Alex feel warm inside. Then she felt panic. "Sam." She said as she looked into Sam's eyes. "You know what I said is true don't you? About Ruby? You never thought that did you?"
"Not once." Sam reassured. "You're not the type of person to use someone like that Alex."
Alex relaxed. She sighed softly and leaned into Sam. Sam smiled and wrapped her arms around Alex's wasit. Alex reached up and wrapped her arms around Sam's neck. They stood there just holding each other for a long time before Alex said, "Do you want to get out of here?" She looked into Sam's eyes and a herd of wild butterflies let loose in her stomach. "Maybe go back to the hotel and open the adjoining door between our rooms?"
Sam's smile was blinding and her laugh full of promise. "I'd love too."