Hey Everyone, I am so sorry for the delay with this chapter, everything had been hetic and horrible- but anyway I'm back!
Thank you to those who are reading and to those who left me a review, please keep doing so as it really does inspire me to keep going knowing their are readers who are hopefully enjoy my work out there!
In this chapter we see things from Alex's POV, we learn a little more about the Danvers sister and how they came to be and we see a bit more of Maggie interacting with both Alex and Kara, hope you enjoy please let me know your thoughts on this chapter :)
I apologize for any mistakes in this chapter, I have no beta and cannot always see the mistakes straight away or know that they are there to be honest at times, so sorry if you find any...
Warnings: References of past extreme physical and emotional child abuse.
Trigger Warning: Talk of extreme child abuse.
Chapter Four: You're Home.
Alex breathed heavily after hearing Maggie head back down the stairs again. Clutching Kara a little closer into her chest, she rested her cheek against her little sister's head that was still hidden in the crook her neck. She continued to run one hand gently up and down Kara's spine in long strokes as she rocked her, still trying to soothe her and calm her from her earlier nightmare.
While doing so she found her mind wandering back to Maggie, and the look of horror she had seen on her face at the sight of the scars on her little sister's back.
She knew that look- it was the same look she herself had the first time she saw the extent of what Kara had been through. It was the same look the doctors had, the same look her mother had, the same look any person with a small amount of compassion had.
It was a look, however, that she hadn't wanted to see from Maggie so soon- or if honest, at all until she had gotten to know the new girl in town better.
She liked Maggie.
She may have only met her a few days ago, but still, in the time they had spent together so far, she had enjoyed getting to know her. Alex found that she got on with Maggie well- when she wasn't trying to throw her into a locker that is.
She wanted to get to know Maggie better. To become friends with her, to see if she was trustworthy enough before Kara's past was brought to light like it had just been. It wasn't that Alex was ashamed of Kara and her family- it was more she wanted to protect Kara.
Kara had been through a lot in her fourteen years of life so far, and not everybody in her life had been trustworthy. A lot of people had used the things that had happened to Kara in the past against her- such as the schoolyard bullies.
Maggie was new to town.
She didn't know the lives that the people in Midvale had lead- that Alex, Eliza and Kara had lead.
Alex liked that.
Selfishly she liked that she was a mystery to Maggie just like Maggie was herself was a mystery to everyone in town. She liked that Maggie couldn't give her a knowing look and judge her and her family like the rest of the town could, and how a lot of them did daily.
Maggie couldn't join in with their thoughts and whispers when they saw her, and her mom, and Kara walk into town to get their shopping for the week, or anywhere else they needed to go. The looks of pity from those who tried to understand Kara's shyness and how she would always cling to Alex's hand out of fear when approached by anyone she was unsure of. The whispers about Kara and how much bringing her into their home had changed things for the Danvers family. The tuts and disapproving looks they would receive when Kara became overwhelmed easily in the first few weeks when they took her out.
It happened less often now, but still at times when it did happen, not all people were understanding.
As Alex tried to get her thoughts in order she could feel that her little sisters trembling was beginning to lessen. Gently, she pried Kara away from her neck and created a small amount of distance between them, so she could see her sisters face.
She didn't pull away completely as she knew that Kara needed the contact and closeness right now, but she wanted to be able to talk to Kara properly.
Smiling reassuringly, Alex cupped Kara's cheek in her hand and used her thumb to wipe away the tear streaks and the remaining wetness from underneath Kara's eyes. Noticing that Kara was squinting slightly, she removed her hand to reach behind her on the bedside cabinet for Kara's new pair of glasses.
"That was a pretty bad one huh?" Alex commented, while slipping the glasses into place, moving to take Kara's one hand in her own softly after noticing that her little sister was playing with the hem of her T-shirt. It was a nervous habit of Kara's, playing with objects, her glasses, her clothes- anything really to avoid making direct eye contact.
She did it when nervous or scared- usually when she was worried about being told off for something.
Kara only nodded in response, still looking down at her hand that was now being held in Alex's own.
Giving Kara's hand a squeeze, Alex lifted her other hand up again to rest it at the base of the blonde girl's back, "It's okay," Alex promised, "you're not in trouble. You don't need to be afraid with me or Mom," she continued gently. "We won't ever be mad at you for having a nightmare, or for getting scared about anything at all, you know that, right?" Alex asked.
Again, Kara only nodded in response, continuing to look down at her hands and beginning to play with the jewellery on Alex's hand that was holding her own.
"Can you tell me what you were dreaming about?" Alex asked gently, ducking her head down to try and catch Kara's gaze with her own.
Kara swallowed thickly, glancing up to meet Alex's eyes before looking down again nervously, "T-t-the Morgan's," she began in a whisper, a shudder making its way down her spine at the name, "they c-c-came for me, he was mad at me w-wanted ttto hurt me and hurt y-you and Eliza," Kara continued to explain. "I c-couldn't stop h-him," she finished shamefully.
Alex sighed sadly, squeezing the hand she was holding while rubbing circles on Kara's back, "You're okay, you're safe, me and Mom are too," Alex assured her quickly. "It was nightmare Kar. You're safe now and that is not going to happen- ever," she promised, "they can't come near you, or us- they can't hurt you anymore," Alex promised further, pulling Kara back into her body as her little sister's lip trembled.
The Morgan's were Kara's most recent foster family before she came to live with Alex and Eliza.
Most recent and probably one of the worst she had been in- that was only by speculation that Alex thought that though.
Kara had been in four homes before coming to the Danvers.
Only one of which was what could be considered anywhere even remotely close to a 'good' home. Even that one wasn't safe- but at least in that home she wasn't hurt- at least not physically. They did plenty to hurt her emotionally but did nothing to her that left a mark on her body.
Alex wasn't lying when she said Kara had been through a lot.
She had.
She had been through far too much for a person her age.
She had been through far too much for a person period.
She had scars both physical and mental, left to her by the families she had been with before coming to stay with Alex and her mother.
First there was the family of drunks- the Smiths. A couple who on the outside looked to be caring, but behind closed doors, when the wine bottles were cracked open, turned into completely different people.
They were the ones who beat her so badly one night that the continuous knocks to her head had caused optic nerve damage so bad that it resulted in Kara's partial blindness. They were the reason that Kara now had to wear glasses. They were the reason she flinched if a person was to hold a hand out too close to her face, in fear of being stuck.
Kara had lived with the Smiths for eight months before she was removed from their 'care', and that only happened because they had got so drunk one night that a neighbour had heard the noise from within and called the police.
Kara had been taken to hospital where Jeremiah Danvers- Alex's father- had treated her.
It was during her stay in hospital under her father's care that Alex had first met Kara.
She had been on work experience with her father and had quickly found herself forming a close bond with the blonde girl who was trying so hard to stay positive even though it was clear to anyone who saw her that she was terrified. Alex had helped her pick out what frames to choose from the ones social services were willing to pay for. She had helped Kara keep up with her school work while she was in hospital recovering. Even after her work experience had ended Alex had kept going back to the hospital to visit Kara, until she was deemed fit enough to leave and sent to her next home.
Jeremiah had been the one to broach the subject one evening, Alex had listened in while sitting on the stairs as her father had spoken to her mother about Kara and what she had been through. She had listened as her father proudly told her mother about the way in which Alex had interacted with Kara and how he said it always saddened him that they were unable to give Alex a sibling. Jeremiah had asked how Eliza would feel about fostering the girl he had told her about, and after a discussion Alex had been overjoyed when she heard her mother agree that when her father returned from his month-long work trip coming up that they would look into the possibilities of doing so.
The month had seemed to drag on forever for Alex who had not even tried to hide the fact that she had heard her parents' conversation, making it well known that she knew they were going to look into fostering a child- fostering Kara- and extending their family. Giving Alex the younger sister she had always wanted from a young age.
During that time though, Kara had moved in with her second foster family.
The second family Kara stayed with was a family that Alex had now labelled: The Superstitious Wack-jobs after hearing about them from the social worker and small details Kara had discussed with her.
They were a family named the Parry's, that had two daughters already who were both older than Kara. One didn't live with them anymore and from what Kara had told Alex about them, she never met her. The other one was a year younger than Alex herself, and caused Kara a lot of trouble in her time there. Rosaline would blame Kara for anything she did wrong, so that Kara would receive a punishment instead of herself.
The punishments were not anything like what Kara had received from the Smiths, nor were the reasons given as to why she was receiving them.
The Parry's never physically hurt Kara, they did however leave her with emotional scars that still to this day bring on panic attacks if she feels too closed in.
Their form of punishment was to lock Kara in a small closet. A closet that was dark and barely had room to move in. All she would have with her was a bottle of water if they remembered to give her one.
So no, they did not harm her physically like the others- but they did neglect her, and they did still abuse her.
Kara was with the Parry's for six months, she was removed after a surprise visit by a social worker checking up on the placement. When the social worker had come Kara had been locked in the closet, and when they let her out she was in full blown panic mode which made it clear to the social worker this was the first time this had happened.
She was removed right away and placed into her next home shortly afterwards.
It was during the time Kara had spent with the Parry's that Alex and her family had gone through troubles of their own. Jeremiah had been away for work, he had been meant to return after one month- in the end he never returned like he was meant to. While traveling home to his family the plane he was on had a fault- there were no survivors.
Eliza had not coped well- and Alex had been hit hard as well.
They both had struggled, and it took them both a long time to come to terms with losing Jeremiah so suddenly. In the midst of all the grief their plans to extend their family- to foster Kara- had been the last thing on their minds.
After Kara had been removed from the Parry's she was sent to a third family.
A family Alex had quickly labelled: The Religious Nut-jobs after hearing from the social worker and in part from Kara about her time with them. They were a couple who had no other children named the Stevens.
The Stevens family believed that children should be seen and not heard- this belief was what brought on Kara's stutter due to the time she spent with them making her fearful of talking unless she was asked a direct question.
They also believed the biblical saying of: if you spare the rod you spoil the child.
Of course, their version of the rod was anything that could cause pain. Belts, yard sticks, chains, rope. You name it- they probably used it. They are half to blame for the patchwork of skin Kara owns on her back, thighs and buttocks now. Punishments or 'lessons' as they called it, were just another name for the abuse the Kara received at their hands.
Kara was with them the longest of all her homes- mainly due to her fear of talking to anyone about what was happening or talking at all due to the 'lessons' she had learnt about how children should stay quiet. She stayed with the Stevens for just over a year and it was only after a particularly bad beating, that caused her to pass out in public the next day resulting in her being rushed into hospital, that she was removed from the home.
Eliza had been on shift when Kara was admitted to the hospital, an old lady had found her face down on the sidewalk bleeding badly from her back. Eliza had no luck in getting her to talk, Kara had been too afraid to speak and only cried silently as Eliza had treated her.
Alex had decided to visit her mother at the hospital that day. She had been waiting for Eliza to finish so they could have dinner together and when her mother had been running late she had gone to search for her wondering if there had been an emergency that caused a hold up.
When she found her mother with Kara she had remembered the girl instantly.
It had shocked her how different Kara was from the first time they had met.
It had shocked her how fearful Kara seemed to hold eye contact, how she was terrified to talk.
It broke her heart to see the girl who had been fighting so hard to stay positive, beaten down and afraid like she was in that moment. Alex didn't even know Kara that well, they had only spent just over two weeks getting to know each other when she had met the younger girl a year and a half ago- but still, she found herself drawn to Kara.
Seeing Kara again reminded her of the excitement she had felt when her mother and father had discussed the possibilities of fostering her after her father had witnessed how quickly they formed a bond when Kara had been brought in after her time with the Smiths. She found herself wanting to protect her and she had been able to tell that her mother felt for Kara as well- even more so after Alex revealed that she was the same Kara that her father had spoken about before his trip.
The same Kara they had spoken about looking into the possibilities of fostering.
It was then that Alex made the suggestion to Eliza that they should apply to foster Kara- just like they had planed to before Jeremiah had left and then never returned.
After a long discussion Eliza had agreed and started the process, knowing that it was something that Jeremiah would have wanted if he had still been with them. He would have agreed with Alex when she had said it wasn't fair to let Kara go back into the system again when they could give her a safe and loving home.
All in all, the process took five weeks for the Danvers to be granted permission to foster Kara.
Eliza's connections at the hospital had helped speed the process along but still there were a lot of steps to undergo, and due to the still recent family trauma of losing Jeremiah both Eliza and Alex had to be psychologically reviewed. It made Alex laugh that they had to be reviewed, she wondered how the people who had been fostering Kara before had been reviewed and passed. She wondered if the families she had been sent to that were meant to be safe had been checked and reviewed.
In the time it took for the application to go through Kara had been moved into her fourth home, where she had stayed for four weeks after she had been deemed fit enough to be discharged from hospital.
She had been sent to live with the Morgan's.
The Morgan's were a family that should have never been allowed to foster children.
None of the families Kara had been with should have ever been allowed to foster children- but this family, from the small amount Alex had been able to get Kara to tell her of them- they were monsters.
The Morgan's were a family that consisted of a drugged up deluded mother, a dirtbag sleezy son the same age as Alex herself, and a drug dealing maniac father.
Alex still doesn't know the full extent of what happened to Kara during her stay with the Morgan's, as Kara rarely talks about them. Every time Alex and Eliza try to ask her she clams up or becomes fearful bringing on a panic attack- the therapist they had been sending her to has the same problem as well.
Kara can talk about the other families when she is feeling secure enough, but the Morgan's are usually a no-go area. Alex has learnt to not ask questions about them unless Kara instigates a conversation herself- and she rarely does.
Whatever it is that Kara saw and suffered while with the Morgan's had traumatised her too much.
That trauma leaks into her dreams and gives her nightmares. When she wakes up terrified, screaming and crying Alex tells her repeatedly that she is safe now, and that it was just a dream- but honestly Alex can't be sure it was just a dream.
She doesn't know for sure, for all she knew it could be a memory of something that happened.
"L-Lexie p-please do-nt make m-me g-go bac-k," Kara begged through the tears that had started running faster again, causing Alex to snap out of her thoughts.
She frowned, holding Kara closely as the girl began to tremble violently in her arms again, "I've got you, I've got you Kara," Alex soothed, berating herself for prompting Kara to talk about her dream.
"You're safe now and I promise you will never go back there again, you're going to stay with me and Mom for as long as you want to," Alex promised, speaking the words into Kara's hair with kisses in-between. "You're home now Kara- you're home, and you're safe, I promise."
Alex sighed as she descended the stairs, she could see Maggie's bag was still on the floor in her living room but couldn't yet see Maggie. She had been sure after seeing the look of shock on her face that Maggie would have left after seeing what she saw on Kara's back.
Thankfully she hadn't from the looks of it- but now that left Alex with another problem.
Now she had to try and explain to Maggie what she had seen without giving her Kara's life story.
She had meant what she had told Maggie before, some of the questions that she had been asking were not Alex's to answer. For too long Kara had people dictate to her and control her life for her.
Alex and her Mom refused to do so.
They wanted to help her, to guide her, to give her the love and time she needed to heal. The did not want to control her, they didn't want to force her into situations that she did not feel ready for.
They did not want to take choices out of her hands that were Kara's to make.
Telling people the extent of what she had been through- telling Maggie- that was Kara's choice. Alex was not going to take that away from her- even if Maggie had seen the scaring on her back. She would tell Maggie the bare minimum needed, so that Maggie could understand the scars are from a previous home- not from her time with here with the Danvers.
She knew Kara would be a few minutes longer before coming down stairs, Kara would want to wash her face, so it didn't look as though she had been crying. She would want to get changed and round up her sketching pads and sketching pencils that Alex had brought for her as a moving in present when she first came to live with them six months ago.
Kara was a keen sketcher- though she did have sight problems she didn't let that stop her. She enjoyed sketching and found it relaxing.
Alex had found that when she was worked up or had been having a rough night plagued with nightmares, that taking her new little sister to the beach, so she could sketch would always help her relax. Sometimes enough to talk to her about what she was dreaming about, sometimes only just enough to make the tension leave her shoulders for a few days.
Either way- it always helped.
Alex had suggested they do so today after Kara had calmed, and she had managed to get the girl stuttering nervously in reply to a few more questions. Alex had decided she wasn't going to push Kara- it got them nowhere- instead she would try and help Kara relax.
Seeing as Maggie was still here, it would also give her a chance to show Maggie the beach, as the new kid at school had told her today that she had yet to visit the beach.
Alex herself was a big lover of the beach.
She loved surfing, rocking climbing, any beach games. She liked to build sand castles with Kara or read next to her as the younger girl sketched. She liked to take a morning run on the beach. Really, she just loved the beach and given the chance would happily sleep there under the starry nights sky if warm enough.
She knew she was lucky with where they lived, being so close to the beach. They literally only had to step outside the garden, walk down the road and there it was. Alex had spent years getting to know the beach just outside her house. She knew all the best spots for whatever she wanted to do.
Today they would want a quiet spot. Kara would need the quiet to unwind. Alex knew the best place to go, she knew all the quiet and harder to reach area near the coves.
Those were Kara's favourite.
She would disappear into the coves on her own to sketch, then come out later on much more relaxed. When Alex took her there she would set up a base, a short walking distance from the cove, and make sure her little sister had her phone with her before telling her it was okay to go if she wanted to.
She hoped Maggie would be open to coming with them today. That way Kara could relax and put herself back together and Alex could attempt to at least partially explain to Maggie what she had seen without ruining her little sisters trust in her.
Making her way into the kitchen Alex stopped in the doorway upon seeing Maggie sat at the kitchen table, playing on her phone. "Hey," Alex greeted from the doorway, "have you eaten?" Alex asked further, taking a step into the room.
"No, I wanted to wait for you guys- I put the pizzas in your top oven," Maggie said, looking up from her phone to smile gently at Alex for a moment before her expression turned more serious. "Is Kara okay?" she asked carefully.
Alex took a deep breath before making her way over to the table and taking a seat next to Maggie, "No," she answered truthfully, "she's pretty shaken up- but she will be. There's somewhere I usually take her- it helps her calm down," she continued. "Did you want to join us?" Alex asked.
"Are you sure?" Maggie asked uncertainly. "I mean, you said its somewhere you take her to help her calm down- will she be able to with me there?" she continued in concern.
Could this girl be any sweeter!
She barely knows us, and she cares so much already. Kara needs more people like Maggie in her life.
I need someone like her.
Smiling Alex nodded, "It's fine- I already asked her and she is happy for you to come too. To be honest usually Kara needs a bit of alone time when we're there, so you can keep me company," Alex replied with a small smile, looking away as a blush crept up onto her cheeks as she realised the implications of what she had just said.
"Long as you're sure," Maggie said after a moment, standing from the chair she had been sat in.
Nodding Alex stood herself moving to the top oven and turning it off before carefully taking the pizza's out. She opened one of the three boxes and held a hand in front of the pizza to check it was still hot. Happy that it wouldn't need to be microwaved to ensure it was still warm when they got to the area of the beach they would be heading to she then closed the lid to the box again.
After, Alex walked to the other side of the kitchen, opening a small pantry and taking a backpack out that had insulting padding in it knowing from experience it would keep the food warmer. As she moved back over to where the pizza boxes were, Alex found herself smiling as she could hear Kara running down the stairs, for someone so small she sure could make a lot of noise.
Alex placed the pizzas into the backpack before turning back to Maggie, finding her looking up in confusion, probably wondering what the noise was.
Chuckling at the girl's expression, Alex swung the backpack over her one shoulder carefully, "That was Kara coming down the stairs," she explained.
Moments later Kara entered the room quietly, looking at them both in confusion as they turned to look at her, before quickly looking to the ground and fiddling with the sleeve of her hoodie.
Noticing the nervous habit from her little sister Alex made her way over to the younger girl, looking down to meet her gaze before carefully slipping an around her waist in a side hug, causing Kara to look back up at her.
"Ready to go?" Alex asked quietly.
Kara nodded in response, moving to shift her glasses back up the bridge of her nose afterwards as they had fallen down due to the movement.
"Okay, just let me lock up," Alex said further, moving to untangle her arm from Kara's waist. While doing so she noticed that Kara had her messenger bag with her, "Hey Kar, do you mind grabbing some drinks from the fridge and carrying them in your bag?" Alex asked.
Kara nodded in response, moving to make her way over to the fridge as Alex turned to Maggie, "Water okay? Or we have juice- I think?" Alex asked.
"Waters fine- thank you," Maggie responded, "can I help with carrying anything?"
Alex was about to say no, when she remembered that Maggie may not want to sit on the sand like she and Kara were used to doing, "There's a blanket on the back of the couch we take sometimes. If you want to grab that we can use it to sit on," Alex said as she made her back into the living room, walking through into the hallway towards front door.
Locking the front door quickly and pocketing the keys so they could lock the back-kitchen door on their way out, Alex then made her way into the living room to see Maggie had just finished folding up the blanket and was holding it to her chest while picking up her bag from the floor.
Alex found herself forgetting to breath for a second as Maggie looked up to meet her eyes and smiled softly at her, her smile really was beautiful.
It's the dimples- it must be.
As they made their way into the kitchen where Kara was waiting for them, Alex looked to her sister with a raised eyebrow noticing her messenger bag did not seem to be looking full enough to hold three drinks, "Did you remember to grab yourself a drink Kar?" she asked gently.
She didn't want to call Kara out too obviously while Maggie was here, but she knew Kara hadn't.
The reason why she hadn't, was because Alex had forgot to tell her it was okay. Kara would only ever take food and drinks once she had been assured it was okay to do so.
Alex and Eliza were constantly having to remind her it was okay for her to do so, she didn't need permission if she wanted a drink as long as it wasn't alcohol and she didn't need permission to eat- but still Kara was nervous to do so without confirmation it was okay beforehand.
It was one of the things they were still working with her on from her time in the different homes she had been in. They had yet to find out which family were the cause for this behaviour.
Alex smiled sadly as Kara's eyes snapped up to her own for a moment searchingly before she moved to the fridge. Alex kept eye contact, giving her little sister an encouraging nod as she looked back towards her before grasping a small carton of apple juice- noticeably the smallest drink in the fridge- before closing the fridge door and placing the carton into her bag.
"Come on, let's go show Maggie the best spot on the beach," Alex said walking up to Kara and taking her hand in her own, she smiled softly as she felt Kara clutch her hand, knowing it was her way of saying thank you without words and her way of looking for comfort.
Alex couldn't help the laughter the bubbled in her chest as her mind went back once again to the moment Maggie had slipped on the pebbles leading down to the beach and landed on her ass with a surprised yelp less than one hour ago.
"Oh my god!" Maggie exclaimed to the left of her, "It really wasn't that funny, I can't believe you are still laughing about it," she grumbled lightly, with a playful shake of the head.
Actually, it was that funny.
The thing Alex had found most funny was the look of complete and utter surprise on Maggie's face as she looked up at both Kara and Alex who had turned to look at her wondering what the noise was about. It wouldn't have been as funny if Maggie herself hadn't told Kara to take it steady in concern after seeing the younger girl wobble slightly just moments before.
The thing that made the moment so memorable to Alex though was the laugh the situation had brought out of Kara. It was a laugh she didn't hear often from her little sister.
It showed that despite her quietness and her clinginess, Kara was starting to feel a bit more relaxed in Maggie's presence than she had been when she first walked into the kitchen earlier. Kara didn't feel relaxed and comfortable around a lot of people, and those she did it had taken a long time for her to warm up to.
Seeing her relaxed enough to be laying on the ground in front of them, happily sketching away right now was amazing. For Kara to be putting herself in this position was a really big deal.
The trust she was showing not only to Maggie, but to Alex herself too, was completely off the charts- especially considering they barely knew Maggie. Kara was trusting Alex's judgment on Maggie and her decision to include her in their outing. She was trusting in Alex to keep her safe- like she had promised her she would.
Alex could tell Kara was still being a little bit cautious, she was facing Maggie, glancing at her every now and again, and she was laying close to Alex still, her one arm leaning against Alex's own leg keeping a constant contact as she drew in her sketch pad.
The pizza's they had brought with them had been quickly demolished- most of which by Kara who had blushed slowing down when Maggie commented on how she ate like she had been starved for a week. The comment made Alex cringe slightly and lean over to rub her hand down Kara's arm absentmindedly which quickly stopped Maggie's light teasing.
Alex had made a mental note that maybe it would be an idea to talk to Maggie a little bit about Kara's past sooner rather than later. Not the full extent, as that was Kara's story to tell- but enough for Maggie to understand the way in which Kara acted sometimes.
She would do so later, when Kara was not within ear shot.
To be honest she was surprised Kara was still with them. She had expected her little sister to head off to the small cove around to the side of the rocks that she liked to sit in sketching at times on her own. That's what she was used to Kara doing, wanting her alone time to get her thoughts together and work on a sketch, but with Alex close by for if she needed her.
The fact that hadn't been the case today concerned Alex slightly.
She was unsure if the nightmare from before had shaken Kara up even more than what Alex herself had first thought, making her younger sister want to stay closer than she usually would on the beach. Or it could just simply be that she felt more at ease than she had done in previous days, and didn't need the space to collect her thoughts like she usually did.
"Whatcha drawing little Danvers?" Maggie asked suddenly, her voice breaking through Alex's thoughts as the smaller girl leaned forwards slightly to address her little sister.
Kara stopped sketching and looked up quickly at the name.
A look of confusion on her face making a small crinkle appear between her eyebrows that caused Alex to smile. She always found Kara adorable when she had that expression of the little crinkle that was currently present.
What she found more adorable though was the way Maggie had just referred to her as 'little Danvers'.
Kara tiled her head to the side, "I-I'm t-tech-ni-nically not a D-Danvers y-y-yet," Kara said quietly, glancing to Alex as she slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"Oh," Maggie began sheepishly, "sorry, I just assumed," she continued ruffling her own hair as she scratched the back of her neck, "I guess Kara Danvers just kind of suits you," Maggie finished with a shrug.
Alex stayed quiet, watching the interaction with interest, she watched as Kara looked down at the blanket, picking at it slightly.
Looking back up again Kara bit her lip softly, "I-It's Zorel," Kara offered, "m-my n-name, Kara Zorel," she continued in explanation.
Alex's eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn't expected Kara to give her second name to Maggie, Kara hardly ever corrected people when they didn't say her right name. She hardly ever spoke of her parents to anyone- not even Eliza.
Alex was the only person Kara would talk to about her parents, giving Maggie her family name, for Kara, was a big deal.
Maggie nodded taking in the information, "Kara Zorel is a pretty cool name," she offered with a smile, "though I'm still gunna call you little Danvers- 'cos I plan on calling your sister Danvers, as I know it annoys her from that huffing sound she makes when I say it," Maggie continued with a chuckle as she heard Alex huff in response to her statement.
"I do not, make a huffing sound," Alex grumbled, her response making Maggie laugh and Kara smile as she glanced at her, "Kara! Back me up, I do not huff right? Right?" she continued, rolling her eyes as Kara only looked to the side, shrugging in response, "You're meant to be on my side," Alex joked, ruffling Kara's hair fondly so her sister knew she was only playing.
Kara could easily become afraid if she thought someone was angry with her.
Playful banter such as they were engaging in now had gone wrong in the past and left Kara in a panic, so it was important to make sure Kara knew she really wasn't angry at all. Eye contact, and light physical contact were always the best way to assure Kara. So after ruffling her sister's hair, Alex met the younger girl's eyes and smiled softly at her.
Her smile become wider as Kara leaned into her side resting her head against Alex's shoulder.
She could hear Maggie laughing and as she glanced up she raised an eyebrow, "I'd rather huff than yelp like an old lady," Alex joked, returning the friendly banter.
She smiled in victory as Maggie stopped laughing in shock, her smile only growing more as Kara laughed beside her, hiding her face against Alex's shoulder as she did so to quieten the sound.
"Touché Danvers," Maggie said chuckling herself.
