Kara glides through her window landing softly she exclaims, "Crap, I almost kissed Cat." Pacing the room, she replays it over in her mind, until suddenly she realizes the other woman's eyes were closed! Cat was anticipating the kiss. "Rao, I've messed everything up," she laments. As her phone vibrate in her pocket she debates on whether to check it or not. Before she can decide a second message comes through, curious, she unlocks the phone and to see that there are two messages from Cat.
CGrant: Good night, Kara.
CGrant: Looking forward to dinner ;-)
Kara exhales, not even realizing that she was holding her breath. She rereads the messages again. Is it really possible that Cat isn't angry with her for running off. Relieved, she sets the phone down and removes her jacket and shoes before walking into the kitchen for a glass of water. She returns to stare at the phone on the table considering how to respond. Finally, she picks up the phone and types quickly.
Across town, Cat is sitting on the balcony outside of her bedroom drinking scotch. After Kara bolted away, she needed a stiff drink to calm herself down. At first she was furious, then disappointed that Kara didn't feel the same, after replaying the near kiss in her head a few times, she is now certain that Kara wanted to kiss her. Which means that she ran because she either wasn't ready or wasn't sure that Cat wanted to be kissed. Considering how the evening went, the casual touches and tension that they both could barely ignore, Cat decided to play it cool and send the messages, even including an emoji for Kara's sake.
But now on her second glass of scotch, Cat is just staring at her phone willing the girl to reply. Finally, the phone lights up with a message.
Kara: Good night Cat, see you Saturday at 7 ;-)
Cat reads the message, then sets the phone down. Tucking her feet underneath her, content in the knowledge that she and Kara may finally be on the same page, she then picks up her glass, taking a moment to savor the aged liquor before taking another sip.
"What's going on with you and Detective Sawyer?" Kara blurts out the next morning, hoping to delay confessing to her sister that Cat Grant knows that she is Supergirl.
"We're friends and we hang out sometimes," Alex replies.
"Come on Alex, I saw you two playing pool before I came over and it looked like you two were flirting," Kara points out.
Alex covers her mouth with her hand to hide her smirk, because that's exactly what they were doing. To buy herself sometime, she walks across the room. Something is really different about Kara's apartment, it's really clean and organized.
"Um, why is your apartment so clean?" Alex asks hoping to distract her sister, she's not ready to unpack what's going on between her and Sawyer just yet.
"Oh, I'm having a friend over for dinner tomorrow night," Kara answers as she finishes her breakfast.
Then she notices the stack of books on the island. "Cookbooks? Are you cooking for this friend?" Alex inquires curiously.
"Um," Kara mutters anxiously.
Alex gives her a stern glare until Kara begins to ramble about how Cat was so nice to her and Kara wanted to do something nice in return so she offered to cook her dinner.
"You are cooking dinner for Cat Grant? Here?" Alex asks concerned that her sister has lost her damn mind.
"Yes, we're friends now. Friends who have dinner together," Kara replies excitedly as she rinses out her cereal bowl.
Alex pauses to consider this new development. She knows there is more to this, but obviously Kara isn't ready to talk about it.
"Okay, so what are you going to cook?" Alex asks supportively from the bedroom doorway as Kara picks out what she's going to wear to work.
"I was going to make Mom's chicken parmesan, but Cat doesn't eat anything breaded or fried..." Kara replies.
"Well, that eliminates half of your diet," Alex jokes and heads back into the kitchen to get her phone.
"Funny, now help me figure out something to make. And what if we could make it together tonight, just to make sure it's good," Kara counters entering the kitchen a few minutes later.
"Okay, well tell me what are a few of her go to meals and also foods that she won't eat?" Alex asks as she sits down and begins making a list as Kara talks.
Alex looks over the lists carefully before shuffling through the stack of cookbooks. Finding the one she wants, she flips it open and quickly scans the index until she finds what she's looking for.
"Okay, here's what you're going to make," she says showing Kara the recipe.
"Alex, I can't make that," Kara replies worriedly looking at the photo.
"Yes, you can," Alex counters, as she begins scratching out a grocery list for her sister.
Kara turns in the city council story even though it's not due until next week and she leaves on time. Glancing at the clock as she leaves to make sure that she has enough time to stop at the grocery store before Alex gets to her apartment.
Her phone buzzing again brings a smile to her face. She and Cat have been texting back and forth all day. First it was to set up a schedule for the interview, then it evolved into an open commentary. Each sharing brief messages outlining their victories and frustrations as the day progressed. Kara sits back down to read the latest.
CGrant: Has it always taken this long to pick Carter up at school?
Kara: Yes, but usually you're busy dictating to me the next day's schedule ;-)
CGrant: Valid point. How's your day going?
Kara: Just wrapping things up and am about to leave on time!
CGrant: Plans tonight?
Kara: Yes, Alex is coming over :-)
Kara waits a moment to see if Cat replies, but then realizes that Carter has probably arrived by now, so she slips the phone into her purse and gathers her things to leave.
Waiting at the elevator, Kara overhears a heated exchange in James' office, recognizing both voices, she quickly steps back down the hallway to remain out of sight.
"You don't assign stories to my people, all assignments are cleared through me!" Snapper roars.
"As CEO of this company, you report to me," James reminds him loudly. "In fact, as CEO everyone reports to me, so I can assign anyone to anything that I choose," he adds sharply.
Snapper weighs his options a moment. He didn't think Olsen had it in him to stand up for himself. Previously, the editor has been able to push him around. "Danvers isn't ready for something like this. She'll choke and it will be on you, not me," he says harshly before turning to leave.
Kara quickly turns around to dart into the stairwell to avoid Snapper's exit. She waits until she hears him enter the elevator, then she heads into James' office.
"Hey, is there a problem with my assignment?" She asks as James looks up at her.
"No, not at all. Have you set up your interview?" He asks casually, setting his pen aside.
"Yes, I'm meeting with Cat next week," Kara replies confidently.
"Cat, huh?" James remarks with a smile. "That's new."
"She's no longer my boss," Kara points out.
"Yeah, right," James agrees before picking the pen up to resume marking proofs.
"He's wrong you know. I may not know everything that I need to know about writing investigative stories, but this profile piece will be excellent. I won't let you down," she adds.
"Kara, I know that. I wouldn't have assigned it to you if I didn't think you could do it," James answers giving her another smile before turning back to the proofs.
"James?" Kara inquires moving closer to his desk. "Uh, why did you assign me to this? Was it to get back at Snapper?"
James sighs and sets the pen down again, before standing up and coming around the desk.
"Kara, the board suggested that a profile piece on Cat's new book would settle down the speculation about her leaving and it would help CATCO stocks to level out. I assigned it to you, because you know her best and I know that you will do a great job. Yes, I could have picked any of our other reporters, but they will only scratch the surface," he explains.
Pleased with his response, Kara beams a smile at him before saying good night.
"Oh and pissing off Snapper was just a bonus," he adds with a laugh.
"They aren't that hard to make," Alex says as she surveys the meal that Kara prepared for them.
"Maybe, but it's one less thing for me to screw up," Kara points out.
"True, but this looks really good. Sorry that I was late, I know that you wanted us to cook this together," Alex offers apologetically.
"You were right, it's not that difficult to make a stir fry and it's the perfect combination of what we both like to eat," Kara replies smiling as she hands Alex a plate.
They both grab chopsticks and head into the living room to eat and watch tv.
"You're going to let her eat at the table tomorrow night, right?" Alex asks.
"Yes Alex," Kara groans dramatically.
"I just don't want you to mess this up. This date seems important to you," Alex remarks.
Kara huffs as she chews quickly. "This isn't a date," she spits out finally.
"Well, it is a friend date though," Alex replies nudging her. "And speaking of that, what are you going to wear?"
"Jeans and a sweater or something nice. We're not going out, so I'm sure she'll be casual too," Kara remarks suddenly worried that she's only seen Cat dress down a few times.
"Does Cat Grant even own jeans?" Alex quips.
"Yes, of course she does. She wore jeans to lunch the other day and they looked really nice on her," Kara adds.
"Oh, so you were checking her out?" Alex teases again, laughing loudly.
"Alex! Stop!" Kara says blushing thoroughly and looking away.
"Wait, Kara I'm sorry. I was just kidding around," Alex says as she realizes that maybe she's taken it too far, when Kara stops eating and sets her plate down and crosses her arms angrily.
Alex sets her own plate down and leans over closer to her sister and places her hand on the crossed arms. "Kara, tell me what's really going on. It's okay, whatever is going on is okay," Alex says reaching up a hand to lift her sisters chin up.
"I almost kissed her last night Alex," Kara blurts out anxiously.
"Wow, how... I mean what..." Alex stammers a moment, "Tell me what happened," she says finally reaching up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Kara's ear before sliding an arm around her and pulling her close.
Kara sits up straighter and takes a deep breath, then she begins to tell Alex everything that's been going on between her and Cat, even confessing that she flew over to Cat's the night before and revealed that she's Supergirl.
To her credit, Alex didn't react to this news, instead she filed it away to be addressed later.
"See, I thought that there was something more going on," Alex says before moving back to her seat at the table, relieved that Kara is finally opening up to her.
"I thought it was all in my head but last night she wanted us to kiss and I just panicked and literally flew out the window like an idiot," Kara exclaims in frustration. "But then she sent me this," she adds showing Alex the two messages from the night before.
"She understands that you weren't ready last night," Alex points out.
"You think so?" Kara asks.
"I really do," Alex answers. "And now I think that this dinner tomorrow is kind of a big deal," Alex replies.
Kara nods yes. "Maybe you'll help me pick out something to wear?"
"Of course," Alex responds thoughtfully.
"Didn't think that I'd see you tonight Danvers," Maggie says when Alex walks up to her later that night and hands her a beer.
"I was looking for you," Alex replies nervously. If her sister has the courage to confront her feelings for Cat Grant, Alex has decided that she should do the same.
"Everything all right?" Maggie asks noticing the Alex appears a little keyed up.
"Yeah, I was just thinking..." Alex pauses and takes a nervous sip of her beer.
Maggie smiles patiently encouraging her to continue.
"Just thinking that I like it when we, uh, you know banter," Alex stammers.
"I think you mean when we flirt," Maggie teases.
"Flirt," Alex repeats as a small nervous smile twitches the corners of her mouth.
"You like flirting with me," Maggie confirms flashing her dimples.
Alex nods and takes a breath. "Uh, are we just playing or is there a reason that you flirt with me. I mean, I've noticed that you flirt with others... so I understand if it's just..."
Maggie sets her beer on the table and steps in close to Alex and kisses her.
Alex stands still a moment with her eyes closed.
Unsure what to do next and afraid that she read the situation wrong, Maggie begins to take a step back.
Alex sets her own beer down before she reaches out and grabs Maggie face and pulls her back for another kiss. Maggie slips her hands on Alex's waist and the kiss deepens with the additional body contact.
"Wow," Alex exclaims as the kiss ends.
"I think that clears things up," Maggie quips, her whole body vibrating after that kiss.
"Maybe we should get out of here," Alex replies thickly.
"My bike is right outside," Maggie answers as she grabs her jacket off the chair with one hand and grabs Alex's elbow with the other.
After Alex left, Kara texted Cat good night and to her surprise, Cat texted back teasing her about going to bed early, which led to an exchange of fun and slightly flirty messages ending around midnight.
Now it's morning and Kara is standing at her easel covered in paint. Restless and unable to sleep, she ended up painting most of the night. She finished the piece that Cat called exquisite and now she's considering whether she should give it to her or would that be weird. Heading over to the sink she scrubs her hands and cleans out her brushes. Just as she is finishing up her phone buzzes with an incoming text message.
ALEX: Hey, do you need anything? Are you freaking out yet?
KARA: I'm fine, I've been painting.
ALEX: I'm coming over with donuts in an hour.
KARA: What happened?
ALEX: It's good. I'll tell you when I get there.
Kara stares at the phone. Alex brings donuts for two reasons. To apologize and to celebrate. As far as Kara knows, there is nothing for Alex to apologize for, so it must mean she is celebrating something.
By the time Alex arrives with the donuts, Kara has cleaned up her paints and herself. And is drinking coffee on the couch going through her Netflix queue.
"Trying to clear out all the reality shows so she'll think you're more cultured?" Alex teases as she sets the box of donuts down on the table.
"Please tell me that there are crullers in this box?" Kara asks excitedly.
"I got the last two and you can have both of them," Alex answers as she pours herself a cup of coffee.
"What have you done?" Kara murmurs through a mouthful of cruller.
Alex sets her coffee and two plates down, before she sits beside Kara on the couch. Nervously, she places both of her hands on her knees and takes a deep breath.
"You know how yesterday you called me out about flirting with Maggie," Alex begins eyeing Kara carefully.
Kara nods brushing crumbs off her face and picking up her coffee to wash down the first cruller.
"When I left last night, I went to the bar to confront Maggie about it," Alex says breathlessly.
"Oh Rao! Alex, what happened?" Kara gushes excitedly forgetting the box of donuts in front of her.
"She kissed me and then I kissed her and then we went back to her place on her bike and made out like teenagers," Alex blurts out.
Kara squeals loudly and throws her arms around her sister. "I'm so proud of you! How do you feel?" She asks.
"I feel great. You know, I guess that I didn't realize what was really going on between us, until you pointed it out. I mean, I knew that I liked her, of course, but I didn't know that I liked, liked her," Alex stammers unable to stop smiling like an idiot.
Kara picks up her coffee again and takes a sip, not taking her eyes off of her sister.
After a few minutes, Alex picks up a plate and carefully chooses a cream filled donut, one of the few that Kara doesn't really like. Although let's be honest, the girl will eat anything sweet.
"Start from the beginning and tell me everything," Kara prompts as she tucks her legs up under her and waits for her sister to talk.
A/N: One last chapter to this. Thank you for reading...