Kara was very slow to rouse. By the time she had shaken sleepily out of her coma the plane had all but emptied out.
Lena led the way and was overjoyed that Kara had drowsily reached to join their hands.
The pregnant woman from earlier was waiting at the exit ramp and came out the moment she saw Lena. "Thanks again for trading seats with me, you made this trip start out a lot better than I could've hoped."
"It was nothing."
The woman smirked and pointed at Kara to get her attention. "This one is a keeper, trust me cause I know my share of assholes."
"Oh, we're not…." Kara stammered and glanced at their joined hands.
"Have a happy holiday you two!" The lady wrapped her arms around them both and gave them a squeeze, her stomach was in the way but she managed it anyways.
"I was wondering why you were riding coach with me." Kara said as she waved one last time to the lady. "You're too sweet, Lena."
"Just for some people." Lena said as she tried to decipher Kara's expression
Kara pulled away and self-consciously averted her gaze. "Sorry for koala bearing you on the plane, I've been trying to break the habit but if I get too comfortable I get all… sorry."
The thought that Kara was "too comfortable" around her made it a hurt a little less that her prof had pulled away. "You don't have to worry about it, I fell asleep for most the way as well."
"Really?" Kara questioned dubiously.
"Of course." No, no she hadn't. Lena had been very awake and both cursing and loving her predicament. "Where are you heading now, my driver wouldn't mind bringing you to wherever you needed to be."
"I don't want to be a bother, my sister was going to come pick me up but I think she's a bit busy with my parents at the moment."
"It wouldn't be a bother, let's call it my thanks for teaching such an interesting class."
…...
Alex texted that the family was going to have dinner at the restaurant connected to the hotel they were all staying at. Lena took one look and assured Kara that she was heading the same way and wasn't it important to ride-share so we could all work to save the planet?
Kara caved and kept profusely thanking Lena even as the driver held open her side of the door.
"A limo, when did you get this classy, little sis?" Alex came out from the hotel awning and practically tackled Kara with a hug.
"Alex Danvers I presumed."
"You're the fabled star pupil from Kara's class?" Alex held out her hand for a shake and gripped hard when Lena tried to pull away. "Didn't think you'll be chauffeuring Kara to us."
Lena's smile was trained, showing none of her discomfort from Alex's hold. "I had the pleasure of bumping into Dr. Danvers on the flight over; it seemed to be the considerate thing to do."
"I bet." Alex released Lena, a bit impressed that the other woman didn't flinch. "Well Kara, let's get you inside before the folks come out."
"Too late, here we are!" Jeremiah scooped Kara up and spun around once before noticing Lena. "Whose this giving you the pretty woman treatment."
"Dad!"
"Jeremiah, you just compared our daughter to a sex worker." Eliza was a step behind, coming forth to wrap Kara in a hug of her own.
"Whatever floats her boat!"
"I'll be on my way then." Lena felt a little out of place, she hadn't been welcomed like that since she lost both Lex and her father. Mother was the sort to stand at arm's length, her hand more likely clutched around a dry martini than around Lena's lanky form.
"Nonsense, you'll let us treat you to dinner seeing how you brought Kara to us safe and sound."
Eliza was persuasive as she was intimidating. Lena found herself waving her driver off for the night.
…
"So how long have you guys been together?"
"Oh my god, dad, please." Kara dropped her face into her hands.
"Hey there's no shame in being bisexual, your mother and I are okay with any men or women in your life as long as they treat you right."
Kara bent closer, forehead now against the linen table.
"Sit up, sweetie; I can't hear what you're saying." Eliza instructed over her open menu.
"She said that this is her student from her advanced Neuropsychology course." Alex supplied as she rubbed a hand up and down Kara's back.
"How taboo, living it up I see."
"Dad!"
"Okay, alright, I'll stop teasing; I know you aren't a rule breaker." Jeremiah turned his focus on Lena, his cheerful demeanor suddenly thoughtful and assessing. "Though I'm sure you're interested in getting her to try."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Lena waved their waiter over and asked for her favourite bottle of red. "This will go well with most of their steak selections."
"We'll have to test that out." Eliza closed her own menu and asked for their waiter to stay as she made a choice for both herself and Jeremiah.
Kara stayed buried in her menu.
Alex ordered for both her sister and her.
When the waiter left with their table's menus, Kara's face was redder than the wine poured into her glass.
…...
"I'm so sorry my parents are so weird."
"No, it's refreshing, they were lovely."
They were waiting in the lobby for the taxi Lena had called for, it had gotten quite late in the evening.
"Still, I can't believe dad said that stuff."
"They care a lot about you." Lena grinned conspiratorially toward Kara when she noticed Alex hovering at the elevators back to their suites. "I'm more worried about your sister, she seems ready to give me the shovel talk and yet she was the one that shuffled your parents upstairs and told you to escort me to my ride."
"Hahaha, yeah, I don't even know what to say about that." Kara walked forward to open the car door for Lena the moment the taxi pulled up. "Have a good night Lena."
"And you," Lena placed her fingertips lightly on the back of Kara's hand, "I had a great time meeting your parents, I really like them."
"I-They really liked you too, I can tell." Kara's face seemed permanently red after the teasing and wine.
Lena doesn't move into the taxi and Kara doesn't return into the hotel. They were standing still in this moment.
Lena was glad she had her heels on; she has just a bit of height on Kara when the other woman was in a pair of flats. The slight height difference allowed Lena to watch a snowflake descend and fall just right on Kara's lashes.
Kara reached to remove her glasses and blinked up at the dark grey skies. Her smile began small but it gleefully grew across her face.
To think that snowfall had brought out such an expression, Lena found her professor to be just surreal, too precious for this world. Lena moved without conscious action, just wanting to touch and be part of Kara's joy. Lena brushed away the snowflake and allowed the back of fingers to drift down Kara's incredibly soft skin.
"Lady you're letting all the heat outta my car, if you twos wants to continue this there's a hotel behind you."
