Belated Happy Thanksgiving!

XXXX

"Just a little longer." Lena ventures onward, her pace slower than normal, not only due to the terrain but because she's lacking sleep.

The better part of her night, through the early morning really, had been spent researching what common birds could be seen in the area aside from seagulls. Her eyes are weary after hours of flipping back and forth from the computer screen and then back to the books she'd managed to retrieve from the beach house library.

Filled with the eagerness to share these new facts with her friend she absorbed the information like a sponge.

She's promised Kara her help, that she will prioritize Kara, so she's giving this her undivided attention. It's a task, one she gladly volunteered for, that she'll see through without any complaint. She can't remember a time she ungrudgingly exerted so much effort, even now as she finds herself trekking in the woods behind the Luthor's beach property in search of some wildlife she can introduce Kara to.

After realizing her friend needs to actually see the wildlife and not just pictures and drawings off the pages of books, she decided a little exploration is necessary. Thankfully the caretaker knew of a clearing behind the beach that's filled with wildlife.

She's assured there's no predators so she set up an itinerary, rifled through her closet for her most comfortable jeans and shirt, and filled a backpack with provisions for the day.

If anyone else could see their eyes would undoubtedly be bulging out of their sockets. Lena isn't an outdoorsy girl but she's promised Kara a learning experience and wants this to be memorable for the girl but it turns out Kara is even less of an outdoors person than her.

"Forgive me," Kara balances her footing, having just stepped onto a dip on the ground she hadn't noticed. "I seem to be slowing us down." the blonde keeps tripping as she peers over at something new every second.

"Nothing to forgive." Lena finds Kara's clumsiness all too adorable.

"I am usually more composed it is just that," she seems too uncoordinated in her movements but she doesn't care. "There is color and life." she thinks of Krypton, the metal, the white, everything so clean, precise, and angular. It was all so synthetic. While she's seen Earth's cities on the television and knows they are familiar to the concept of a technological municipality, on Earth there are still forests and jungles and animals. There's brown and green and everything in between. "So very different from what I am used to seeing."

"I brought you out here for this very reason."

"To see me trip?" Kara's eyes narrow in playful accusation. Lena laughs, loud and earnest, a sound the Kryptonian realizes she hasn't heard. She's heard a throaty chuckle and seen a fond smile or a mischievous grin, but never a full laugh. "Everything is beautiful here." she remarks, more about the sound of Lena's laugh than anything really.

"Beautiful indeed." Lena's eyes sparkle like emeralds as she looks upon her honey blonde companion.

Kara blushes, cheeks reddening, under the intensity of Lena's gaze. She's too focused on maintaining eye contact that she misses her step. Her foot slips as she tries to climb over a root and she finds herself falling over.

She reaches out toward a tree, hoping the bark can help her maintain her balance, but momentum has a tight grip she cannot break.

Kara falls but instead of the cold hard ground there's warmth and softness. A pair of arms encircle around her torso, Lena's hand on her waist, another on back as her face is pressed against Lena's chest. Kara can hear her heart, thumping wildly. It occurs to the Kryptonian that this is out of concern for her wellbeing.

"Oh Rao." she murmurs in utter embarrassment.

"Are you alright?" Lena pulls back, inspecting every surface of Kara's body with her eyes for any injury. She receives a nod from the girl who's slowly pulling away. "Are you sure?" it's not the time for modesty.

"I am sorry."

"You apologize too much." Lena shakes her head. "Even when there's absolutely no reason for it."

Kara's bright blues look behind her. She'd been so sure she grabbed the tree. She finds the rind damaged and she's reminded of the warnings about her strength. Unlike the red sun from Krypton, the rays from this yellow sun give her immense power.

"I could have hurt you." she continues to look toward the tree, noticing the lines her fingers had sliced around the bark as she fell.

"You didn't." the brunette assures. Kara turns to face Lena and for a second she can almost see the same marks around that silky alabaster skin. She wants to run because the last thing she wants is to hurt her friend. But there's a hand around hers, anchoring her. If what happened to the tree is evidence of her strength then she knows she can easily break from Lena's hold. "You won't." and Lena's absolutely certain of this, somehow.

"But I…" she tries to look back but Lena's hand is on her cheek, holding her steady yet again.

"You won't." Lena repeats. "I'm an excellent judge of character remember?" she reminds to reassure her friend. "Now," they still have things to do and she'll be damned if a little slip up, pun not intended, ruins her plans. "We've got things to see don't we?"

Kara peers into those green eyes and can't help but nod her head. With her hand safely secured around Kara's, Lena leads the way.

It isn't long until they reach the clearing and Kara gasps. Everything is green from the grass to the moss to the leaves of the tall trees. Hints of brown peek through as branches and trunks make their presence known. Everything is so different, so organic, full of life.

Lena observes her friend, notes how her cheeks flush pink with excitement, how her eyes brighten and sparkle with so much fascination.

"This is amazing." Kara states breathlessly.

Reluctantly, Lena releases her hold on Kara's hand. The action causes the honey blonde girl to look back at her friend. She nods her head, gesturing for Kara to look about the clearing. The Kryptonian remains still, hesitant.

"I'm just going to set up here so feel free to look around." she informs. "I'll be right here."

She pulls out a red and white checker patterned picnic blanket, sets in on the ground, as she begins to set up their little picnic area by a huge tree. Her eyes drift from her task to Kara every now and again, making sure her friend hasn't wandered off.

After finishing her task Lena ventures toward her friend who's hunched over, peering at some bug crawling on the bark of this majestic tree.

"What is this called?"

"Caterpillar." she's certain, thankfully. Lena's senses she'll have to hit more books. "But look up there." her index finger points toward the middle of a branch. "A little birds nest." it isn't too high up.

"What type of bird do you think resides there?" Kara asks, a bit disappointed that it is vacant at the moment but before her friend can reply they're interrupted by a sound.

"I guess it's feeding time." Lena remarks after Kara places her hand on her stomach. "Good thing I brought some snacks. I hope you don't have an allergy." brows furrow in concern as she takes her seat, realizing she hadn't thought about this particular circumstance when she had food prepared.

"Allergy?" Kara repeats with that cute little accent of hers.

"Negative reaction to food." they are about a mile away from the beach house if anything happens. "Some people break out in hives, rashes, and the more severe cases go through anaphylactic shock and their windpipes close up." Kara frowns as she sits beside the taller girl.

"I do not think I have an allergy to food."

"Well, what sandwiches have you had?" she questions as she takes provisions from her bag.

"I do not believe I have had sandwiches." brows furrow as she thinks back to her meals at the Danvers house. "We mostly feast on the take out." she remarks. "Pizza and Chinese food." bright blues glimmer as she thinks of the white boxes inside the refrigerator that the Danvers stock for her alien metabolism. "I do like noodles."

"What about a hamburger?"

"The bread with meat patty and cheese in between?" Kara recalls eating this particular delicacy. "Yes. It was delicious."

"A sandwich is basically like a hamburger but the ingredient in the middle isn't usually as filling as a burger patty." the blonde nods her head. "All I have are some fruits and sandwiches: we have turkey, ham, peanut butter." Lena didn't want anything to heavy for her to carry or for them to consume. "Next time I'll bring a better selection of food."

"You do not have to." Lena's already done so much.

"I want to." green eyes meet blue, stern and unwavering. "Just enjoy yourself, Kara." she advises. "You're already busy with learning about all of this." her hands wave about, motioning toward their entire space. "Let me worry about these trivial things."

"But…."

"Consider it a thank you for you spending time with me."

"I should be thanking…" she cuts herself off when those green orbs narrow. Another lesson she's learning is that it's pointless to argue with Lena when she has that look in her eyes. "You do not have to entice me to spend time with you." Kara ducks her head down, bright blues hidden behind her bangs. "I will gladly do it no matter what the circumstances." she opens her mouth slowly, willing her truth to be spoken. "You have been so helpful already and I do not think I can ever repay your hospitality."

"You don't have to." Lena assures. "We're friends and friends help each other."

"Where I am from," she begins. "Friendships were usually encouraged if there is a beneficial balance." at school on Krypton, she had been taught the act of reciprocity. "It was said to be advantageous for the group."

"It sounds systematic but believe it or not, that's how some friendships are." it's really similar. "Friendships in the business world often include favors."

"I feel as though I am benefitting more out of this friendship than you." Lena's exerting so much effort to help her and all she's doing is absorbing from the older girl's knowledge like some kind of parasite. "If there is anything you wish for me to do, then please tell me."

"Kara," Lena hands her some food and Kara graciously accepts. "Would you spend time with me even if I weren't helping you?"

"Of course!" the blonde declares with no hesitation as she opens her sandwich bag. "I would enjoy your company regardless." because Lena is funny, bright, warm, and inviting unlike the majority of things she's encountered since landing on this planet. "We have only known each other for a few days but I have grown quite fond of you."

"That's how I feel about you. I enjoy just being here with you, talking with you, spending time with you." the raven haired girl remarks as she takes a bite of her sandwich. Kara does the same, eyes lighting up as her taste buds revel in the taste of peanut butter and strawberry jelly. "Trust me when I say you aren't taking advantage. If anything, I'm monopolizing your time." the blonde's lower lip juts outward yet again. Lena decides that the logical approach isn't enough. "Honestly, meeting you and spending time with you has been the highlight of my summer so please, don't feel as though you aren't doing your part." honesty seems to work with Kara. "And I'd be greatly offended if you continue to think so little of yourself. " she reprimands the shorter girl gently. Kara wishes to offer a reply but she sees a something from the corner of her vision. She turns and sees a bird with a red throat and green wings buzzing about. "I believe that's a ruby throated hummingbird." the dark haired girl's glad she can put her knowledge to use.

Kara gasps as she watches the bird lurch and capture the insect she was looking at just a few minutes ago. She watches as the bird then zooms upward to its nest and hears chirping.

"It flaps its wings so quickly." Kara remarks in utter fascination.

"I don't suppose you know how birds feed their young?" she receives a small shake of the head. "They regurgitate their food and feed their babies by depositing it directly into their mouth." baby blues are trained on the hummingbirds and she watches as the mother bird does just that for her three chicks.

"Because they cannot obtain for their own food." Kara surmises.

"They'll need to learn how to fly before they can hunt." she informs her curious friend. "The mother protects them while they grow and when they can fly on their own, she'll teach them where all the good places to find food are, make certain they can fend for themselves before she chases them out of her nest." it's a common practice amongst animals. "I suppose it's a biological instinct parents posses." bitterness seeps through, replacing the warmth placed there by Kara. "Some parents anyway."

"Unlike your parents you mean?" the honey blonde girl asks and her eyes widen after realizing she's probably offended her friend. "I am sorry…" Lena shakes her head. "I do not wish to cause intrude on your privacy it is just you look unhappy and I am concerned." Kara pouts.

"It's alright." she assures. After all, Kara's displayed enough vulnerability around her, it's only fair. "You're quite insightful." it's not intrusive because she knows Kara's asking because she cares. "I think sometimes for humans, things like ego and pride take precedence and they'd rather see their children fail than surpass them." she notes. "Sometimes they just really don't care."

"My…" Kara senses Lena doesn't wish to speak further. Respecting the raven haired girl's privacy, she decides to share another aspect of herself. She hesitates to call them her parents because this implies a relationship with a loving foundation. While the Danvers family has been accepting she knows her place. She is not one of them. They remind her of this every time they peer into her physiology. She's a project that's been passed onto them. "The Danvers to do not have much time to spend with me." Kara swallows as heat burns the back of her eyeballs. "Jeremiah and Eliza are preoccupied with their jobs and Alex," she watches as Lena's perfect brow arches upward. "Their daughter is busy with personal activities." she doesn't blame Alex, not expecting her to put her life on hold for a stranger that's forced her way through their life, disrupting their family dynamic.

"And now you're left to your own devices." she watches Kara's forehead creases in apparent confusion, much like a child trying to piece a puzzle. "It means you have to take care of yourself."

"I do not wish to be a burden." not more than she already is. "I am grateful they have taken me in after my cousin charged them with my care." Kara purses her lips, not wishing to speak ill of her human benefactors. Green depths urge her to continue, deciding to question Kara about her familial relations another time. There's ground being broken here, she can tell from the way Kara's eyes darken with grief. She dares not disrupt Kara's moment. "Sometimes," she finds herself saying as absorbs the encouragement Lena's giving off in waves. "Being with them," is too great of a reminder of the world she's lost. "When they look at Alex I am reminded of my own parents and how they..." her voice cracks, too burdened with the weight of her emotions. "They…" she hears her mother in Jeremiah's nurturing words and feels her father in Eliza's comforting touches.

"They're gone." Lena finishes the words that cement Kara's reality.

Perhaps birds of a feather really do flock together, Lena thinks. Two orphans cast aside by their adoptive families one out of chagrin and the other out of indifference.

Lena doesn't think twice about encircling her arms around Kara once more and drawing her into what she hopes is a comforting embrace. The raven haired beauty is unaccustomed to relaying consolations and wishes there's something more she can do than hold Kara and keep her from breaking.

She's lost so much, her parents, her way of life, ripped away from her. Now she's stuck in a place she doesn't know with people who only remind her of the family she misses.

"I apologize." she wipes the tears still streaming down her cheeks, the ferocity of her actions leaving her skin red. "We came here to learn and now I am distraught." she's angry with herself for displaying weakness not because Lena's a stranger but because she should be grateful she's alive.

Her entire race had dwindled down to a handful yet here she is, crying about what she's lost instead of making sure her parents efforts would not have been made in vain.

Hands at her side, fists balled in frustration, she weeps. First it had been because of her grief over her loss now it is for her anger over her failures.

"I don't know about you but I definitely learned something new today." Lena begins and Kara feels warmth on her face. The taller girl has stepped into her space once more, hands cupping her cheeks, as those green depths pierce through her blue fortress. "Don't belittle your emotions Kara." she advises, gently, as she brushes the tears from the blonde's cheeks. "You're allowed to feel things."

"I should not be focused on my losses. I should be trying to move forward, not regressing." Kara berates herself as she leans her head on Lena's shoulder.

"Grief is a process." Lena acknowledges. "Perhaps right now, you're stuck thinking about what you've lost but one day you'll move past this and focus instead about what you could gain." she runs her hand through Kara's hair, her fingers traversing through the rich blonde locks.

"What if I cannot?" Kara whispers, small and uncertain.

"You already started." the blonde pulls away, just enough to look at those green eyes, but not enough to leave the taller girl's hold. Lena chuckles at the puzzled look on the younger girl's features. "You have." Kara's eyes narrow in disbelief. "You've ventured out into the unknown, Kara." she begins. "And you're eager to learn, to absorb information." Kara's displayed such resilience and Lena knows that she'll only continue to grow stronger. "Baby steps." but it is still progress.

"Thank you Lena." Kara doesn't know what she's done to deserve such a devoted friend.

"You don't have to thank me for stating the obvious." she brushes Kara's bangs back and is rewarded with a slight smile. "And Kara," baby blues focus on her. "You don't have to hide how you feel, at least not with me." there's enough secrets in her life. "Never with me." Lena all but practically demands, leaving no room for argument.

Resolve floods her entire being. This stranger with eyes colored like she's never seen is the source of her newfound strength. And while Lena asks nothing of her, Kara vows she'll be there for whatever the raven haired girl needs.

"Only if you promise to the same for me."

XXXX

Not going to lie, I'm a little disappointed that Alex and Maggie are together now. Totally was rooting for Lena to sneak her way in there...

Oh well.

Again, nothing against Maggie. I just really thought it'd be a better story line because of the conflict and would guarantee Lena more screen time.

Anyway, what do you all think so far?