A heavy hand knocked three times on the crimson door of the two-story house. It opened to a smiling Maggie Sawyer, clad in sweat pants and a loose zip up hoodie.
"J'onn!" she pulled him into the house, giving him a side hug, "What's got you in the neighborhood?"
He smiled politely down at her, "I had a few things for Alex to sign, just some things about projects she is working on. I'll be in and out in a…jiffy. Is that how Kara says it?"
Maggie chuckled and led him further into the house, "Yeah, that's right."
"How are you liking living in the suburbs?" he asked, taking in the sights of the mostly unpacked house. Pictures were strewn across the walls, decorations were mostly in place and there were very few boxes in sight.
"It's super quiet; reminds me of Nebraska."
"Is that a good thing, or no? I've never been to Nebraska."
"I can't decide yet. It's nice not hearing the constant sirens and cars honking, but sometimes, I can hear myself thinking too loudly…you know?"
He nodded as they entered the kitchen.
Alex, - who was sitting at the table, feeding Abigail in her high chair – looked up from her task and a smile broke out on her face at the sight of the Martian, "J'onn!" her eyes flitted to her fiancee momentarily, "Mags, take over, will ya?" She jumped up and threw her arms around the alien, who hugged the smaller woman back.
"Alex, it's good to see you."
"What are you doing here? I didn't think I'd see you till next week for the meeting with L-Corp."
"I just had some paperwork…" he pulled the folded packet from his back pocket, "just a couple of things to sign."
She deflated slightly and took a step back from her boss, "Oh, right." She looked around for a pen.
Abigail, suddenly not wanting to eat anything anymore, started to cry.
The detective already had the baby out of her seat and was halfway down the hall before the cries turned into shrieks.
"It's nap time." Alex explained, after taking a quick look at her watch
The room grew silent as Maggie made it to the bedroom upstairs.
Before it could get too awkward, Alex cleared her throat and looked down at the papers, "So, I need to sign something?"
J'onn nodded and unfolded the packet; producing a pen from his pocket. Alex sat at the table and started to read over the fine print.
"Just routine transfer of duties and security clearance…for Vasquez…you know. And one is for the go ahead on a couple of projects." He fumbled with the explanation.
"Huh…" she mused aloud, "Did Pam institute a new protocol for transfer of duty? Because I don't remember signing one of these when I broke my leg last year and was off for three weeks." She looked back up at the alien, who was trying not to make eye contact with her, "Um…well." He muttered.
"J'onn, is everything alright?" she asked, trying to gauge the situation
He sighed, and took the papers from her hands, "I'm sorry for lying. I didn't come out here to have you do paperwork." he mumbled
This was a whole new side to her boss she'd never seen before. He was shy and hesitant for the first time ever.
Something clicked in her head and she smiled softly at her space-dad, "J'onn…would you like to stay for dinner?"
He finally turned his eyes upon her and smirked, "I couldn't impose."
"I'd really like to catch up. It's been since…I don't even know I guess. There was game night, and then I guess we haven't had anyone over since… Hey, we can make it a family dinner. I'll invite Kara and Mom. We'll make a night of it."
His eyes widened, "Well, I couldn't impose on your family."
"You are family, J'onn. And I can't believe it's been two months since I've seen you."
xxx
xxx
Dinner went quite well. Kara was eager to get there when she found out Eliza was cooking. Maggie set the table while Alex and J'onn stood in the corner of the dining room, each holding a drink and sipping slowly as they spoke quietly. As dinner started and went on, Alex felt her heart filling with love and adoration for the man sitting on the other side of the table. Being so caught up with the baby and Maggie and moving, she'd almost forgotten how much she missed him. He'd become like a father to her, and the job had become her whole life. Her heart ached slightly at thinking how lonely he must have been over the last few months. And how much courage it took to just show up with fake paperwork.
As everyone spoke animatedly with each other, she took a moment and placed her hand atop his.
His eyes drifted towards their hands and he smiled, looking up at her.
I'm so happy you're here. She thought, knowing he could hear.
She didn't need mind reading capabilities to hear his response. His smile and soft eyes told her everything.
xxx
xxx
Dinner finally ended, and Eliza made her way to the kitchen to start cleaning up, "Kara!" she called as she walked to the other room, "Clear the table please."
The super rolled her eyes, but complied, "Yes, Eliza."
Maggie, who held a wide awake seven-month old in her arms, turned to her fiancee, "Can you take her a while? I'm gonna help your mom."
Alex took the baby and turned to J'onn, "Would you like to go talk in the living room?"
He nodded, grabbed both of their drinks and they met in the other room. He sat down on the end of the couch, and instead of sitting in the chair like he thought she would, Alex sat right next to him, holding a squirming Abigail in her lap.
The baby planted her feet on Alex's thighs and hung on tightly to her mother's hands that were held slightly above her head.
Abigail blabbered quietly, her tongue drooling as she moved around.
Alex looked over at her boss with a smile, "How is work, really?
He sighs, "Schott is driving me up a wall." He groans, "Vasquez is doing her best, but she's still got a lot to learn. Your sister is her normal, sunny self. Miss Luthor has been spending a great deal more time at the DEO as of late. I often find her and Kara giggling in the halls or Lena tweaking Kara's suit."
The agent rolled her eyes, "I know, it's so sickly sweet. Like…I'm happy for my sister, but jeez. Keep it in your pants."
J'onn nodded in agreement.
The agent looked up at her boss with a soft smile, "I'm glad you came over. I've missed you a lot."
"And you as well Alex."
Abigail suddenly dropped to her butt in Alex's lap and sighed, leaning back to rest against her mother's chest.
"She's getting tired." The agent mused as they both watch the baby's eyes start to droop. Alex shifted the baby to lie in her arms.
They talked quietly for quite awhile as Abigail fought sleep. When she finally let sleep take over her tiny body, Alex turned to the Martian, "would you like to hold her?"
A huge smile broke out over his face, "I would love to."
With all the grace of an experienced mother, Alex shifted her daughter into J'onn's arms with ease. He stared down at the baby with a soft smile and they sat in the quiet for a while.
He looked from the baby to Alex with a smile, "Alex, I am very proud of you. You have grown so much in the last few years. And I think you will make an amazing mother. And wife…someday."
She sighed and looked towards the kitchen door where Maggie happened to walk past, a towel and casserole dish in her hands, "I'm working on it."
J'onn grabbed the throw from behind his head on the couch and gently wrapped the baby up in it.
"J'onn?" she started
"Yes, Alex?"
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
He turned his curious eyes on her.
"Maggie and I have been talking lately. Um, neither of us have dads that are, well…dads. And we want Abigail to have as much family as possible, and so we were wondering if you'd like to take the place of her…grandfather."
His eyes widened, and Alex could see a glint of hope in them.
"Are you serious?"
She nodded with a half-smile, but he could see her jaw wobble a bit as the emotions grew, "I only ask because…well…I see you as a father figure in my life, and Kara's. You have been so wonderful training me and teaching me all these years. You've looked after me, cared for me, and I would like if you'd do that for her as well." She gestured towards the sleeping baby in his arms.
He took a deep breath and tried to control his emotions, "Alex, I would be honored to be in her life in that capacity."
A bright smile upturned Alex's lips.
A throat cleared and they both turned to see Maggie standing in the doorway, "J'onn, it was great having you here tonight."
"Thank you for letting me stay, even though my reasons for coming here in the first place were less than honest."
Maggie smiled and did that head tilt thing she always did, "J'onn, you're always welcome here, no matter if there's a reason or not."
Alex's eyes lit up with an idea, "Let's make one. How about dinner, here or at Kara's, once a week? A uh, family dinner."
He nodded with a smile, "I would like that very much."