DISCLAIMER: Characters in this story remain the property of DC Comics, Inc. Movie copyrights and trademarks are owned by Alexander & Ilya Salkind, Warner Bros. Pictures, and TriStar Pictures. The story contained herein is meant only for personal enjoyment and no money is being made from the story. No infringement is intended. I offer this fan fiction as a tribute to the creative teams involved in the actual production of both the movie and comic. However, I reserve the right to any original characters I create for the purpose of fan fiction story telling.

The Proposal

Months passed and seasons changed within Kara's life. She saw the spring that gave birth to lovely flower blossoms and bright green leaves on trees that came to full bloom during the summer. Then she experienced the dreary Fall weather that turned the tree leaves brown and cluttered their small backyard with leaves and branches at the end of its life. As the Winter season approached, Ethan marveled at how much his life had changed during the time that Kara had become a permanent fixture in it.

He was a changed man because of her. His desire to make sure that she was cared for and never wanting taught him the value of saving his money instead of spending it on vices like he used to. In all the time they had been together, he never once let her spend on anything they needed. No matter how hard it was for him to finance their needs. Somehow he always managed to provide. Maybe it was because Kara had no desire for things like the other women he knew. Maybe it was because she was really satisfied with what he could provide.

But there was still something missing. The promise he made to honor the Kryptonian traditions in their set up was really beginning to get to him. He wanted more from her but was afraid of what she would do if he pressured her. She was not the kind of girl one took lightly and played with. The more he learned about her and their ways, the more he realized he had to do right by her if he wanted to have more of her.

As they prepared breakfast that morning, he found himself staring at her more intently while she prepared the coffee and he set the table. Had she blossomed overnight? She would be graduating from Midvale School that Summer. Maybe the timing was just right? He was almost sure that he had another visit to Clark in order.

She set the coffee pot on the table and sat down next to him. He watched her eat. Was now the right time?

"Don't be crazy Ethan. Everything has to be just perfect when you do this." he told himself while he took a sip of his coffee.

Kara looked his way and smiled, offering him a plate of scrambled eggs. "Deep thoughts?"

"Just thoughts of you." he lightly ran his finger on her cheek before he took the plate.

***********

"Linda! Wait up!" Lucy hollered in the dorm hall as she tried to catch up with her friend. They had both just returned to the school after the week-end.

"Did you see the announcement?" she asked while Linda unlocked their room.

"What announcement?" Linda pushed the door open and let Lucy go in first since she had more bags on hand.

"The Christmas Dance. It's in 2 weeks. Then we have the rest of December off until fir first week of January for the holidays."

"I don't know how to dance." she told Lucy while changing into more comfortable clothes.

"You don't know how? Doesn't Ethan ever take you out dancing? Wait a minute, you danced at your debut and you were fine." Lucy reminded her.

"I looked like a headless chicken. Don't deny it. I saw the video." Linda replied cringing at the memory of her odd dance routine during her party. The guests were kind enough not to laugh at her.

"Well, you have to forget that and get ready. We are going to a ball. So you better tell Ethan to clear that Friday night and rent a tux. Tell him Jimmy is waiting for his call. They can get a 2 for one rental at this place Jimmy knows. Mom says she can help us pick out a dress for you since she assumes we will be shopping together." Lucy continued as she crashed onto her bed to rest.

"I wish I did not have to bother your mom every time." Linda was really embarrassed that Mrs. Lane was always being drafted into caring for her.

"Hey, don't let mom hear you talking that way. You are the daughter she never had and the sister I wish I had. In other words, you are family. An honorary Lane."

**********

The Christmas Ball would be the perfect time for Ethan to set his plans into action. But he was not going to talk to Clark until he was sure that he could pull it off by then. First he needed to find the perfect accessory for Linda to wear. He knew exactly what he wanted to get for her but somehow the jewelry shops at the mall could not provide his vision.

As luck would have it, his job took him into the Midvale Park for some tree pruning for the cold months. Working near the Midvale pond, a glimmering stone caught his eye. It was an odd but nice shape for a silver gemstone that was stuck within the bark of a tree he was cutting down. He had a hell of time trying to pry it out of the tree bark, none of his cutting equipment seemed to be able to free the stone. Everything was worth the effort when finally pried out and the saw the whole stone out in the light.

"Perfect." he smiled as he held it up against the light. It shimmered so brightly that it made his eyes hurt. He slipped it into his tool-bag pocket for safekeeping.

He pulled his truck up at the the mall on the way home. Back at Stylus Jeweler's he asked to see the best ring settings they had for special occasions. Finding one setting he liked in particular, he produced the stone from his pocket and laid it on the glass counter.

"Can you turn this into that in 2 weeks?" he asked.

**********

"Every time you ask me to meet you without letting Kara know I get nervous." Kal-El told Ethan. They were having lunch at Popeye's on Ethan's invitation.

"Why so?" he asked between bites.

"The last time we met like this you asked for permission to take care of Kara for me. You moved her into the house, became her room mate and her boyfriend at the same time. I think I know what comes next."

"So then you know what I am thinking?"

"I think so. I always thought Lois and I would do it first but I don't mind Kara ending up with you if that is what you both want. You've been through a lot together." he replied before taking a sip of his soda.

"I haven't done a shabby job have I?" Ethan asked.

"You've done a great job.I don't think she would have gotten over her grief without you there. She seems to take strength from knowing you are there for her. I just wish that Kara was not so pigeon holed into this relationship. I mean, she still has her life ahead of her. She can still go to college and experience more of life. As far as I am concerned, it is too soon. But then the final decision is Kara's"

"So you would rather I don't propose to your cousin?" he had hoped the conversation would not turn out this way.

"No. Go ahead and propose. It is her decision. Just, let me talk to her before you do it okay?" If Kara was going to go and get engaged, Kal-El was going to make sure that she knew what she was getting into.

"That's fine with me." Ethan assured him. He dunked the fried chicken into the gravy and took a big bite.

"When do you plan to do this?"

"Next week at the Christmas Ball."

**********

"Kal-El, open up. " Kara knocked on the window to Kal-El's apartment. Since Kal-El had limited the use of her powers to non flying emergencies, the only chance she had to improve her flying ability was when he asked her to come to his apartment. Kal-El dealt with all emergency situations that required flying because he was afraid that the recklessness he observed during her battle with Selena would hurt an innocent. He was just being cautious he told her. Eventually, she would fly side by side with him in battle again. She floated for a few minutes before he finally came an opened the window so she could glide in.

"I know I am late but Dean has been giving me hell at the restaurant ever since Supergirl dropped him into the pool at my party. Plus, I have that dance committee volunteer thing that Lucy signed us for. I don't seem to have much time these days."

"We always knew he was a jerk. I am glad to know you have other social activities though. Keep it up kid." Kal-El answered motioning for her to take a seat on the couch. He turned off the tv set in order to have absolute quiet.

"So, why do you need me here?"

"I picked these up for you today. You might want to read it over and decide on your future." he pointed to the college information packets on the coffee table.

"College applications? You mean I am not yet done studying?" She wondered how many years humans actually spent on their educational process. In Argo City, she would have been considered an Elder apprentice by now. One of the most learned people in the city.

"You just turned 18 Kara. You have at least 4 more years of college to go before you can stop." Kal-el explained.

"4 more years???"

"That is how long it takes to become specialized in a field of study on Earth. I studied Journalism for 4 years. Do you know what you want to be?" This was the talk that he had promised Ethan he would have with Kara. Obviously, it was not a conversation to convince her to get married.

"I don't know Kal-El. What more can I be?" she wondered aloud while she scanned the pamphlets.

"Whatever and whoever you want to be Kara. There are no limitations for anybody on this planet. Take those home with you. Read it, study it. Ask me, Lois, Lucy, or anybody if you have any questions."

"I am sure Ethan will help me sort this out."

"Let's not let Ethan know about this just yet. You may want to surprise him." Kal-El advised her.

**********

The school gym was converted into a Winter Wonderland for what turned out to be a Black and White ball as all the women paraded in their black gowns and the men showed off their white suits.

Ethan seemed extra nervous that night. He fidgeted each time Linda rested her head upon his chest when they slow danced. He tried to hold her away from his body each time she got too close to him. She wondered if she had offended him in some way. He seemed preoccupied and anxious.

"Are you really popping the question tonight ?" Jimmy wanted to know while they got drinks for the girls at the refreshments table.

"Yep. There's no better time than tonight." Ethan replied nervously.

"So why do you look like you are about to take a test that you forgot to study for?"

"I am just afraid she might say no."

"She has never said no to you Ethan. She said yes to moving in with you, without the perks, she said yes to getting a car... Wait a minute, are you just proposing for the perks?"

"You have got to be kidding me Jimmy. You should know by now that it never figures into our relationship. I have held out this long for her, I can hold out some more."

"So what makes you think she might say no?"

"I saw some college application forms in the car. She's got other plans." he explained in a worried tone.

"Well, Lucy is going off to college too. So it is only logical that Linda would probably do the same."

"I don't want to lose her man."

"You don't know that for sure." Jimmy handed him the punch cup he had ladled out for Linda.

**********

They joined Lucy and Jimmy for a midnight beach walk after the ball. Linda recognized the beach as the one where she flew Ethan to the first time she was on Earth. He got knocked out in the bump car that he had sought safety in after Selena used him as bait for Supergirl in the carnival. She landed them on this very beach because it looked so safe and serene to her. It was the same feeling she was having at the moment. The night was just perfect.

As they walked hand in hand along the shoreline, they started talking about their future. What they saw their lives like in 5 years and all those things that young people in love dream about. He told her that his plans all depended upon her own. That he felt that their lives were permanently intertwined now and they would be together for life.

"Kara, I need to know you will always be in my life. No more flying off and leaving me a broken man." he told her as the waves lapped at their toes. Their clothes were already wet from sitting in the path of the waves.

She got a different kind of warmth from hearing him call her by her birth name. It reminded her of she really was and that in their relationship, names did not matter. "I'll always be with you Ethan. I am not leaving you anymore." she assured him.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I love you too much to leave you ever again." she answered. She lay her head on his shoulder and yawned.

There was silence between then for a while. Each one of them seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.

"Kara?"

"Humm?"

**********

Lucy and Jimmy were walking towards them with a torch lamp in hand. They saw Ethan stand up and then get down on one knee.

"Oh my God! Jimmy! Is he! Will he?" Lucy could not find a way to finish her sentences in her excitement.

'Yep. He's been planning it for weeks."

**********

"What are you doing Ethan?" Kara had seen scenes like this in the movies and on television shows before but she never imagined being involved in one herself.

"Kara, I know that we've been so happy together that it scares me. I have proven myself to you. I have kept my word each time I made a promise to you. You always tell me how happy I make you. I have never been happier and so content in my life as well. We make a good team. Somehow I know that we are meant to be together for the rest of our lives. After everything we have been through, we deserve nothing less. The thought that I might lose you... So I was thinking, why don't we make it official? Let's be together forever, bound by the laws of God and man." he got down on one knee and immediately sunk into the wet sand. He had to stop to balance himself on the slippery surface. He was going to get this right even if it drowned him.

"Are you under a spell again?" she joked nervously referring to the time when he kept proposing marriage to her while he was under the love spell that Selena had cast. He told her then that a simple gardener could make a rich girl very happy. If he only knew how happy he made her by just being with her. Now, he was proposing again. Was it something she had to take seriously?

"I'm not kidding Kara. I'd marry you under Kryptonian Law except I don't know anybody who can do the ceremony. Kal-El hasn't the faintest idea of what to do for such a ceremony. That's how serious I am about this."

He reached into his breast pocket and produced a small velvety soft box. Opening it before her he asked "Kara Zor-El, will you marry me?"

Kara looked at the ring and then at Ethan. The expression on her face betrayed what was going on in her mind. What just happened? Was he really proposing to her? Was this what she wanted in her life? Or did she want more? What was the right answer?

Somewhere along the shoreline Lucy's screams of excitement could be heard.