Kara opened the front door and saw Mon-El standing there. She could chance a guess as to why he was here, but she'd rather not.

"Mon-El."

"Can we talk?"

Kara looked behind her. With it being the first thing in the morning and Lena and Siobhan inside, it wasn't exactly the best place to talk with her betrothed.

"Outside," he said, as if sensing Kara's trepidation. Or maybe he'd meant outside to begin with. She turned back to him. "Okay."

They walked in front of the stable, where Wrangler poked his head out. Kara picked up a bucketful of carrots and fed him a few.

"I don't remember this being here," Mon-El said, eyes looking over the stable. "I mean, I remember some men laying groundwork, but..."

"That's because I built it...for her." She looked at him. The statement had come out matter-of-factly, and his eyes relayed hurt.

"Oh," he said, sticking his hands into his pockets. He looked so small somehow, like the little boy he used to be. "Look, Kara, I don't wanna go to trial."

"I don't either."

He nodded toward a large tree stump a little ways away. "Can we sit?"

Kara put the bucket down and looked toward the stump. They walked to it and sat awkwardly.

Mon-El raked his hands through his hair, looking to the green at his left as he did. "Remember when we'd go swingin' through the trees like little monkeys?"

Kara chuckled. "Yeah, try as you did, you were never able to beat me when we raced. And your pants would always fall down at some point."

Mon-El smirked. "I hated suspenders." He rubbed at a shoulder as if to feel for the material. "I still do, but there's nothin' I can do 'bout it." He turned to her, pointing a finger at her nose. "Ya never would have beat me had I been wearin' the thangs."

Kara grinned. "You say that now."

"And then there were the times we'd go to the candy or cakes shop, and you'd hog all the treats by hidin' extra in yer pockets."

"Hey," Kara giggled. "You and Lena didn't need as much. I was more active, so I burned more energy."

"Yeah..." Mon-El's lighthearted expression changed as quickly as it came. It was now somber, and the atmosphere changed with it. "How'd it come to this?"

Kara looked to her knees, using her hands to rub at them. She wasn't sure what she could tell him but the truth. "I guess it'd be easy to say Lena is the reason." She meekly pushed her spectacles back up on her face and turned to him, staring him in the eyes. "But it ain't true. I never let ya get close. Not in the way you would have liked. Your ma said I pulled ya along, and she's right that I did. I knew how ya felt about me, but I liked havin' in ya my life. And there was so much I knew I had to abide by, including marryin' ya. I didn't want to lose you or hurt you by sayin' I didn't feel the same." She paused when seeing the dejected emotion building in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mon-El."

She directed her gaze to the ground, but she could still feel his gaze weighing on her.

"Do ya think you could have grown to love me?"

Kara's grip on her knees tightened.

Their attention averted to horse hooves sounding nearby. They looked up to see Winn moving off a strong breed. He was dressed nicely, as usual, and had flowers in his hand. He waved in their direction before heading to the front door.

Kara laughed. "He's here to see Siobhan."

"At least someone's fighting for what they want," Mon-El said. He'd stood, and his voice suddenly sounded bitter.

"Mon-El..."

He walked away and departed without looking back.

IIII

Siobhan stared at the flowers in her hand above the sketchpad in her lap. She sighed as Winn studied the room. "You shouldn't have," she said. And she couldn't mean that any more than did she did. She didn't know much about Winn. She knew a little about his family life, but that was it. She also knew he was interested in her, but she wasn't yet ready to push him away. He was the only one giving her the attention she deserved, and there was a kindness to him. He was also quite humorous when he wanted to be. Certainly better than other men she'd been with.

"I heard about your fall," he said, looking to her and quickly taking a seat in the chair near her bed. "I wanted to make you feel better."

"Thank you." Siobhan rubbed at an area under her arm. It was sore, and she'd began drawing again to take her mind off of the pain there and in her right leg. "But a pair of crutches that are actually comfortable would make me feel much better."

Winn looked to the crutches leaning against her bedpost. "You get around with those?" He stood and moved to grasp a hold of them. "Civil War crutches, huh?" He ran his hands along the tips. "Now that you mention it, they could add some cushion to the top of these, or something." He looked up at her in wonderment. "Why do you need to move around at all, though? Don't you have Lena and Kara helping you? You shouldn't be putting pressure on your legs."

"It's just one leg." Siobhan shrugged. "And it's better than letting someone handle my chamber pot for me." She raised her eyebrows in an explanatory manner.

"Oh." Winn stated, looking a little uncomfortable. "We all have to...do that. Nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Winn," Siobhan chided. It may be nothing to be embarrassed about under usual circumstances, but she couldn't very well have Lena tending to the task if she expected to be alluring in any way to the woman while Kara was still around. And having Kara do it would actually be mortifying.

"Sorry," Winn said. "I can make these more comfortable for you." He placed the crutches under his arms, briefly trying them out. "I always was somewhat of a fixer. I like building on creations and making them better. I can get on improving these now, if you like."

Siobhan straightened her back against the headboard, watching Winn pretend to have trouble using the crutches. He was trying to make her laugh, but a smile would have to suffice for now. "Thank you, Winn."

IIII

Lena observed Kara as they sat beside each other on one of the couches in the living area. The woman was watching her read a book. "So you're meeting with your parents today? Will Alex be there?"

Kara sighed, tapping her fingers on the couch. "Yeah."

"Do you intend to tell them about us? I don't mean the stuff about us living together, which they surely know about, but everything else."

"Walter said I'll need to, didn't he? But I don't think this is the time for it. It hasn't been two full weeks for us yet, and I want to think about thangs a little more. Don't mean Alex won't open her big mouth, though."

Lena could see that Kara was stressed, and it was the last thing she wanted for her. "Come here," she said.

"What for?"

"I need a reason?"

"Just askin.'"

Lena smiled. "Read with me." She turned the book Kara's way. "It's poetry and similar works, by Henry David Thoreau. From what I can make of his writings, he seemed to be like us."

Kara scooted closer. "How's that?"

"Well..." Lena's smile turned into a wide grin. "It appears he was an anarchist. All the rules and things we have in this town? He surely would have rebelled against them. And there are phrases that lead me to believe he fancied men."

Kara's eyes went big. "What? Let me see!"

Lena laughed. "Here, look at this passage." She pointed to it. "My friend is the apology for my life. In him are the spaces which my orbit traverses. [...] For the most part I find that in another man and myself the key note is not the same - so that there are no perfect chords in our gamuts. But if we do not chord by whole tones, nevertheless his sharps are sometimes my flats, and so we play some very difficult pieces together, though the sameness at last fatigues the ear. We never rest on a full natural note - but I sacrifice my naturalness and he his. We play no tune though - only chromatic strains - or trill upon the same note till our ears ache." She turned to another passage. "And this one, where he describes marriage to be 'little better than the marriage of beasts.' He labels women 'an army of nonproducers.' He also argues that 'any nobleness begins at once to refine a man's features, any meanness or sensuality to imbrute them.'" She looked up at Kara, who appeared engrossed in the words. "Of course, there's no way to be certain. Perhaps he simply wasn't keen on sex."

Kara shook her head. "No, this man is a deviant if I ever heard of one."

"Kara!" Lena chuckled, pushing the woman against the shoulder. "We really need to get away from that term."

"Why? It's what we're called."

"Because." Lena lifted the blonde's chin, staring her in the eyes. "The way I feel for you isn't deviant... At all."

She felt Kara recoil and look down. "Kara?"

Kara looked up at her, eyes narrowing as if she was trying to figure her out. "I just wonder about you, that's all."

"In what way?"

The blonde looked away again.

"Kara, what is it? Tell me."

IIII

Siobhan and Winn jumped when Lena burst through the door. Siobhan had seen her angry before, but the brunette was seething now.

"Winn, out!" the woman said.

Winn didn't give her any reason to argue. He picked up the crutches, offered Siobhan an apologetic glance, and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"How dare you?!" Lena charged. "You told Kara that I can offer her my body, but that I'll never be able to love her?!"

"I didn't say that you can't love her!" Siobhan yelled.

This was unexpected; she'd thought Kara wouldn't dare voice these concerns. Just how strong was her bond with Lena?

"I only said that your heart won't fully be hers. And can you blame me? After what happened between us?"

"You aren't Kara!" Lena moved to her, glare unrelenting. "That is the difference."

"A difference that makes no sense. Why her and not me?"

Lena placed a hand on her forehead, as if trying to steady the raging thoughts that must be flowing through her mind. "We discussed this already. In the living area, remember?"

Siobhan threw her sketchpad down. "But I still don't understand." That wasn't entirely true. Lena had explained it to her well enough to get a basic understanding, but it still lacked the logic compared to their four years together as adults. "Kara's a friend you grew up with, in part at least. You loved her as a child. You didn't see her for eighteen years. You showed up out of the blue in the hometown you shared with her. And now you're in love with her?"

Lena moved to snatch up the sketchpad. "You know there's more to it than that."

"Do I?"

Lena dusted off the sketchpad and placed it on the desk. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Siobhan, but I won't have you messing up things with me and Kara. From now on, Kara will no longer be tending to your needs. A maid will be here day and night, effective immediately. I will still help when I can, but I think it's best that I don't spend as much time with you either. It seems to only stifle your healing process. And I don't mean your leg." She looked the woman over. "Once you're better, you should move. Or leave Breighville."

Lena headed for the door and opened it; Siobhan watched in dread.

"I'm sorry, Siobhan." Lena looked back at her. "I truly am."

Lena exited the room, and Siobhan felt her heart constrict. She'd never anticipated this much pain. Never.

IIII

By noon, Kara and Alex glared at each other from across the kitchen table. Jeremiah and Eliza watched them curiously.

"What's gotten into you two?" Jeremiah asked, passing the bowl of mashed potatoes to Eliza beside him.

"This don't have anythang to do with the rumors going around about Lena, does it?" Eliza queried, pouring gravy on the potatoes.

"She's causin' trouble for our family," Alex said, eyes never leaving Kara's.

Kara bit into a chicken drumstick. "It ain't her fault the town is as dumb as a bunch of rocks and thinks she's foolin' around with Clarence."

"No... I suspect she's foolin' around with someone else," Alex mumbled, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh shut up!"

"Close yer mouth when you eat!" Alex yelled back.

"Goodness," Eliza breathed, placing a hand to her heart as she looked between the two women. "You two haven't fought like this since you were children. Alex, I know Kara being Lena's friend can make folks look unfavorably on Kara, but it's been that way since they were little. And you've always liked Lena too."

"That was before..."

"Before what, dear?"

Kara challenged her with simply a look, daring her to say more, but also pleading with her not to.

Jeremiah studied his family, folding his arms across his chest in his typical fashion when being analytical. "Alex?"

"I just mean that Lena is being selfish, is all," Alex decided on. "On top of the Clarence stuff, Kara's livin' with her now to get away from Mon-El. It makes her seem uncommitted to her marriage contract."

"Now that is a good point," Jeremiah said, his gaze moving from Alex to his other daughter. "Kara?"

Kara wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand. "Mon-El and I are havin'...issues. And what Lena and I do is none of her business. Lena's not seein' Clarence anyhow."

"Not anymore," Alex quipped.

"You should worry about yerself," Kara suggested, picking up another drumstick.

"I have a family to think about. A reputation!" Alex argued.

"So you keep sayin.'"

"Our lives mean so little to you?"

Kara put her food down, pinning her sister with a look she hoped conveyed her sincerity. "No, they don't... I just -"

"- Excuse me," Alex's voice rose. She stood and threw down her napkin. "I can't stand ta sit here and be so complicit." She glared at Kara one last time before marching away.

Jeremiah turned to Kara. "Now I don't know what's goin' on with you and your sister. But you know you can talk to us about anythang, don't you?"

"Jeremiah's right," Eliza agreed. "I know word spreads fast in town, but it would have been better to hear about your problems with Mon-El, livin' with Lena, and the rumor regardin' Clarence from you instead."

Kara looked to her parents apologetically. "I know. I'm sorry."

"So you understand that you can talk to us about what's botherin' ya?" Jeremiah pressed. His piercing brown eyes seemed to be searching for something in Kara's.

"I do," she said.

If only she believed it.

IIII

Alex walked into the saloon, ignoring the stares and immediately spotting Sara behind the bar.

Sara grinned. "Alex."

"I wanna talk to ya...about people like you."

Ten minutes later, Alex stood in Lar and Rhea's back room. They were off attending to some business, and Sara had pointed to this area to discuss. Sara made loving women seem natural, like there was nothing to it. She didn't know if the blonde was aware of the fact that Kara was just like her, but she needed to know.

"And Kara? How long have ya known?" she asked.

Sara had been leaning against the wall. She moved off of it. "Wait... This is all about Kara?"

"Yes, why?"

Sara's devilish grin returned. "I thought it was about you."

"What?"

"You favor women too."

"I don't!"

"You do. See these pants I have on?" Sara pointed to them. "I had them made so that they would fit snug instead of loose. You haven't been able to keep your eyes above my waist."

"That's a lie!" Alex made a face of disgust. How could this woman possibly think that she was like her? So unholy?

"Which part? The pants or your contradictory gaze?"

Alex raised her chin. "It was a mistake comin' here. You're as corrupt as Lena, I see that now. And I will see to it that Kara is not pulled any further into your webs." She made her way toward the door, but a hand grasped hers.

She didn't have any time to think before Sara was kissing her, lips softer than anything she'd ever felt. She pushed at the woman hard. "You scoundrel," she spat on the floor, wiping at her mouth in an instant. "Rogue! Rake! Cad!"

Sara laughed. "Those are all names for a man."

"You're actin' like one."

"Am I?"

Alex moved close, her fists balling uncontrollably. "You're a vile, vile woman." She pushed past the smirking blonde and out the door.

IIII

Kara headed for the overseer building just as Ms. Merriam did. She was at a loss for what business Ms. Merriam had there, but the woman stopped upon seeing her.

"Kara? Anythang wrong?" the older woman queried. "You seem pressed."

"I could the say the same about you." Kara stared ahead. Her destination point was just across the road, but here they stood on a boardwalk.

"I'm just headed to speak with Ms. Luthor about somethin.'"

"Same."

"Is it about the rumor?"

Kara looked to her. "Partly."

"Your sister's takin' this a little too far," Ms. Merriam whispered. "I spoke with Ms. Luthor myself the other day. The girl ain't foolin' with that man - Clarence." She shook her head. "I've been tryin' to set the thangs right with my ladies and others. Lena can be troublesome, but she's not a whore."

"Thank you for that, Ms. Merriam." And despite her grimace at the word whore, she was thankful. There was no getting around the fact that word had even reached her parents, but if the talk had gotten out of hand to the point of threatening Lena's position in town, Ms. Merriam would know about it and wouldn't be able to stop herself from commenting on it. "But Alex isn't responsible in any way for spreadin' the rumor. She just supports it."

"All the same." The older woman shrugged. "Well, I'll let you handle your business first," she said, nodding toward the overseer building.

"Thanks again," Kara called out, jetting ahead. It was odd seeing Ms. Merriam — Ms. Ethel Merriam — be seemingly supportive of Lena. Kara kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; it was an expression Lena had explained to her, and it seemed fitting now, but she supposed she should count her blessings.

She said hi to James before entering, and all eyes immediately landed on her.

"Um...Kara?" Winn questioned, raising his hand as if in grade school. "What happened the other day isn't going to happen today, is it?"

Maggie pointed a finger at him. "Shush, short stuff."

Sam laughed.

Lena stood and beckoned Kara over.

Kara tried to head down the hall to the stairs, but Lena grabbed her by the hand. "No, not there again." The brunette pulled her to the door at Winn's right and closed it before taking her down the short corridor that led to an open area.

Kara looked around. The room was dark and dank. She didn't like it, which was likely why Lena had chosen it. Things couldn't go like they went last time. How much did Winn even know anyhow?

"This is the interrogation room," Lena explained. "Alex came here once. She made the same face you're making now."

Kara scrunched her nose. "Who could blame her?"

"So," Lena said, moving to stand in front of her. "You're stopping by because?"

Before she could stare the woman in the eyes, a soft hand landed on her arm. Reflexively, she looked upon the brunette's face. Light green eyes stared back at her.

"Is it about Alex?"

Kara felt embarrassed to admit it.

"She's wrong, Kara. Just like Siobhan."

"Not about the problems we're goin to face," Kara noted.

"Do you believe in us?" Lena grasped her other arm and pulled her closer. "Do you?"

"You weren't there when I was at my folks' house earlier. The rumor about you and Clarence? Us livin' together? They hated seeing how angry Alex and I are with each other. I didn't tell them about us, and neither did Alex, but still." She yanked away from the brunette, but insistent hands held on. Kara felt tears prickling behind her eyes, but she held them at bay. How many times was she going to cry in front of Lena? She couldn't keep showing such weakness.

"I know your parents. I'm sure they were just upset because you two are so close and I'm in harm's way. And Alex... She's upset in her own way too, and I don't mean with you. She's upset with herself because she's in a marriage with Jonathan - a man she doesn't love - and here we are going after happiness. She must be wondering where her own happiness lies. And as for what's going on between the two of you, I understand it, but you take it too far when you pull me in to prove a point. If you ever use me the way you did in that office again, ever touch and kiss me like that again, I will strip you down to your last stitch and make love to you regardless of the setting." Her green eyes burned with fire. "You are gorgeous, alluring and true, Kara. And I'm not sure how much more of your teasing I can take. Even when it's not teasing, the result is the same. So if you aren't ready to go any further physically, don't touch me like you do. I don't know if that's what you had planned today, but I felt I should warn you."

Lena let go of her, but didn't move away. She took Kara's hand and placed it a little above her breasts. Kara blushed, and even more so when feeling the erratic heartbeat.

"That's what you do to me," Lena said. "It's a good thing, but also quite unnerving."

Before Kara could reply, Lena stepped back and her eyes focused on Kara's mouth.

The brunette's words about taking off her clothes bombarded her mind with titillating imagery. She still didn't know much about sex, especially between women, but that didn't stop her from imaging herself flush against Lena in ways she knew to be erotic. She should step away, given Lena's warning, but she found herself frozen in place.

Lena's eyes flitted back up to hers.

She allowed her gaze to fall away from the woman's probing eyes, to the full mouth and finally to the neck and prominent breasts. It wasn't like they'd done anything here in this room, and yet it was like that even though they hadn't kissed or done otherwise.

"If there's any business you'd like to worry yourself with this evening, the maid will care for Siobhan tonight. So you should be free," Lena said.

"And you?"

"I'll try to take some time for myself."

Lena turned away from her and walked out of the room.

IIII

Lena sat behind her desk alone. Since there wasn't much to do and she welcomed the quiet, the others had left with her permission. She pushed the papers away from her and leaned back in her chair. She truly wasn't the right person for the job. She was the biggest hypocrite by far — lusting after a woman and acting on that lust, all the while telling or implying that others shouldn't do the same or similar. In the past, fear had consumed her because of what she was. It hadn't been right. And it wasn't right today, consuming Kara the way it did.

Kara had challenged her sister, but Lena didn't know if the blonde could continue to do so. Earlier, she had nearly scolded Kara about not believing in their union, and now she was the one having doubts.

A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts. She remembered that she'd allowed James to leave as well, which probably hadn't been the smartest choice, given her occupation. She walked to the door and opened it.

There stood Jonathan Williams. What business did he have with her? His dark hair blew in the wind as he towered inches above her.

"Alex told me everythang," he said, moving past her and closing the door. "As the man of the house, I felt I should explain where she's comin' from."

Lena wanted to scoff. What was it with men and their need to assert dominance? He had a strange walk that somewhat detracted from whatever intimidating effect he might have had. "That's not necessary," she said.

"And I wanted to talk about you."

Lena looked up at him. Talk about her? Meaning as separate from Kara?

He wasn't a bad-looking man, but there was a hardness to his face and it lacked warmth. Lena knew that he could also be unfriendly and uncaring. She remembered what she'd been told about him by Kara, the way he seemed around Alex, and the way he'd acted toward James at the gathering. She took a step back.

"We could remedy your situation."

"My situation?"

"Your unconventional sexual interests." He stepped closer. "With the lack of God and discipline in your life, it's only natural that you would stray and become confused. I can help turn ya right."

Lena felt fear bloom in her chest. Was he proposing what it sounded like he was proposing? He was a married man. Not only that, he was talking about solving a supposed sin by committing another one. She reasoned that it probably shouldn't come as a surprise to her. The man had spent his time with another woman instead of Alex at the gathering, shaming Alex in some respects.

She looked around the room. She needed to get out of here, but she was drawing a blank on an exit. She always exited via the front door and he was blocking it.

"I assure you I am not without discipline," she said.

"But you are without a man. Have ya ever been with one before?"

Lena nearly chuckled. "I have. Didn't like it."

"Maybe he wasn't the right one." He moved close, placing his hand on her face. "You are so very attractive, Lena. With the right man, you could discover that you have no interest in women at all."

"Not possible." She slapped his hand away. He didn't move. So she moved around him. She backed toward the front door, only now just remembering the exit in the back and the side exit via the jail cell. "I will never be interested in men, Jonathan. I would say you should go home to Alex, but she doesn't deserve the way you treat her."

His eyes appeared to turn dark then. She'd had no reason to be scared of Jonathan before, but now she most certainly did.

"Is that so?"

"It is."

He started for her and Lena grasped the doorknob. She would escape before she would fall prey to a man forcing himself on her. She thought of Anna Davies and what it must have been like for the girl. Jonathan was too young to be the man who'd raped Anna, but that didn't make him any less threatening.

"You treacherous bitch!"

"Pardon me?"

"Harlot! If only you weren't the way you are, with your tainted soul callin' out to me, I wouldn't be here." The frown that had formed on his forehead deepened. "If rebuking you in the name of the Lord is what it will take to free this town, I'll have ta do just that."

"Are you out of your mind? What are you saying?"

"I'll tell everyone of your blasphemous, slattern nature. Hell, I'll throw a social just for it. This Friday."

"You wouldn't. It would harm Alex and your son by extension."

"You staying in this town is the bigger harm. And there are ways to ruin you without lettin' everyone know of your sexual predilections."

He reached for her before she could react fast enough, his hand going to the collar of her dress and ripping at it. Buttons fell to the floor. Imagery of Kara delicately loosening her buttons contrasted with what was happening now. "I said no!" She jerked away from him, and twisted the doorknob, stumbling backwards outside. Jonathan moved with her.

"The Devil in is you, woman. And I will reveal it." He brushed past her.

"You don't have a clue what you're talking about!" she yelled after him. "I've had it with trying to prove myself to this town. You want to ruin me so badly on Friday? I won't give you the chance!"

She suddenly saw townspeople looking her way, as if she'd gone mad. In a way she had. But knowing them, they might also be looking because they'd just witnessed her alone with a man. That is, if they were aware that the others had left.

"Lena, you okay, child?"

Lena turned toward the voice to see Ms. Merriam, who quickly ushered her back inside and closed the door. "What was this about ruinin' ya?"

"Nothing," she said without thinking. "I mean...something. Jonathan wants to run the Devil out of me."

"Say what now?" Ms. Merriam touched a hand to her collar. "What went on in here? Did he do this to ya?"

Lena chuckled bitterly. Tears began to form in her eyes, and she covered her mouth with a hand out of the sheer horror.

"Come here, child." Ms. Merriam moved to her and wrapped large, welcoming arms around her. "You're safe now."

Lena sank into the woman, the sobs wracking her body. "He might have taken me forcefully had there been no way out."

"Some men are wicked, even here in Breighville. His mother shoulda taught him better. Or his wife."

Lena shook her head. "It's not Alex's fault. They were engaged since childhood."

"I see what you mean. But still...you should tell Alex about this or Kara."

"No, I can't tell Kara. She'd have a fit." Lena's grip on the woman tightened. "He threatened to expose me as having the Devil in me. Says he's going to tell the entire town." She moved back to stare at her. "If that happens, and the town believes him, then what about Kara? And others who've been associating with me? They'd all be at risk."

"That ain't gonna happen." Ms. Merriam moved some strands out of her face. "If I say otherwise, who do you think the town's gonna believe? Me or him?"

Ms. Merriam had a point, but maybe it was time to put a stop to all of the threats of exposure. Maybe Jonathan's threats were just the out that she and Kara needed. "I think I'm done trying to prove myself to this town."

"You said somethin' like that outside. What are you thinkin'?"

She moved away from Ms. Merriam, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Like a game of chess, the pieces presented themselves to her instantly. She knew what she had to do.

"Lena?"

"Everything will be fine, Ms. Merriam. Now I just need to have a message delivered to Kara."

Half an hour later, she looked over the ball gown she'd acquired from London years ago. It was still in mint condition. For this town, it was far too provocative with its low-cut bodice and the way it would cling to her breasts and expose more than it hid. It was a scandalous dress indeed, but if she was going through with what she had planned, she might as well enjoy herself and her time with Kara.

The dress was flattering on her. The white silk complemented her pale skin and the swept skirt made her waist appear tiny. Red ribbons trailed along the bustled back, and the folded petticoat would sway when she moved.

It was nearing four o'clock. And seeing as she needed to make time before it any got any later, she didn't have the luxury of giving as much attention to her hair as she would like. Swiftly and efficiently, she pinned up her dark tresses and brushed them back. She created her usual bun, but let wisps of hair hang at either side of her ear. She picked up two red ribbons and wove them into her bun, delighted by the way they matched the ribbons on her dress.

She stared in the mirror and froze. She looked like herself, but in some ways she didn't. She'd gone easy on the makeup except for minor dramatic eye application. Kara seemed to prefer her with little or no makeup on.

She put on her white silk gloves and looked in the mirror once more. There would be consequences to what she was going to do, but she wasn't going to back out now.

IIII

Kara stared worriedly at the Gand Brew & Stew business. She shouldn't be here. Not only was it getting late, but being here without an excuse making it clear that she wasn't here to drink or disregard other town rules could spell trouble. People from town would see her here and spread rumors, which she certainly didn't needed any more of. The fact that these people were here themselves could easily be explained away by them saying they heard the rumors from someone else.

Lena had left a message for her, asking her to dress up and to wait outside. Kara had dressed in one of her church suits. And the message had been short and to the point, just like the message Lena had left for her the first day the brunette had arrived back in town. Only this time Kara felt significantly more dread. Why would Lena want to meet here? Was it to talk to Mon-El's parents? Engage socially? What had changed since she'd last seen Lena earlier in the day? She looked around at the spacious area ahead. There was one road in the center of a lot of green. All she had to do in order to be free of this town was walk in the direction leading farther out. She could leave with Lena. But then what about her folks and Alex? And what of other towns just like this one?

Against the occasional neigh of her black stallion behind her, she could hear men talking inside. She also heard a few women laughing. How free those people must feel, she thought. But she wasn't one of them, and would never be.

An enclosed wagon with a male driver pulled up beside her. Lena stepped out, careful not to dirty her gown.

"Lena?"

Kara was floored. She could see that the dress was expensive, but what need any woman would have to don clothing like that in this town wasn't as clear.

"Kara," Lena said, looking her over before heading to the door. "Glad you came. And that you dressed for the occasion."

Kara quickly moved to the door to open it for her. All heads turned their way as they entered. And with Lena dressed like that, Kara couldn't blame them.

"Hello, everyone!" Lena nearly belted. "I'm here with my dear friend, Kara, who's been looking after me as I battle syphilis."

Gasps immediately followed.

Syphilis was one of the few diseases Kara had learned of. Many a traveler had it. It was mainly a sexual disease, and there was plenty of documentation on it. It was highly stigmatizing, as it was seen to indicate one's lack of morality, such as a person without righteous self-control or a man having taken a prostitute. As such, someone afflicted with the disease would usually symbolize sexual deviancy. Kara knew that its origin wasn't clear, but that it produced many different symptoms and made diagnosis difficult. An infected person would develop a painless ulcer, which typically appeared on the genitals. This would soon disappear and be followed by a latency time frame. Secondary stage symptoms would appear at some point. One could be afflicted with rashes, ulcers, pustules that would disfigure the person, swollen glands and foul-smelling discharge. Others were asymptomatic, at least for a time.

Kara couldn't imagine why Lena would want anyone to think she had the disease, especially given the implications, but she wasn't keen to let this stand.

"That's why I'm unmarried, you see," Lena went on. "Funny thing is...I got it from my husband, who's been dead for sometime." She looked from patron to patron. "Don't worry, though, you can't get it unless you bed me."

Kara grabbed Lena by the arm as people continued to murmur and look at the two like they were infected with the plague. "What are ya doin?" she whispered through gritted teeth. "You wanna ruin yer reputation or somethin'?"

Lena's eyes blazed into hers. "That exactly what I want to do, Kara. Trust me." She looked ahead to Sara. "Bartender! Where are your employers?" She approached the woman swiftly, Kara steadily following.

"Wow," Sara laughed. She leaned on the counter with a smirk. Her eyes drifted from appraising Lena to looking at Kara for answers.

"I don't know what's goin' on," Kara said.

"What's all the racket out here?" Lar's voice boomed as he came from the back area, Rhea beside him. "Ms. Luthor?" His eyes landed upon Lena and he moved to stand in front of her.

"Ah, Mr. Gand," Lena said, leaning back against the counter. "I just came to let your lovely patrons know that I have syphilis and that's why I'm unmarried. They've heard all about how my husband, who's now dead, gave it to me. And how Kara here is helping with my symptoms."

Lar stared at Lena hard and long. "You think you're clever, don't you?"

"You bitch!" Rhea charged. "We both know that's not why you're unmarried or living in sin."

"Oh?" Lena arched an eyebrow. "It seems everyone else here thinks otherwise."

Lar and Rhea looked to their guests. A number of them seemed terrified. Women had paused in men's laps, and all eyes were on them.

"And if you don't allow Kara and I time in that side room of yours, I'm guessing they are going to feel even more uneasy once I tell them all about the symptoms and the ways the disease is contracted."

Lar and Rhea continued to glare at Lena, but Lena's glare was just as powerful. Lar bowed his head, as if relenting, much to Rhea's chagrin.

"Come on, Kara." Lena pulled the blonde to the side room she'd discovered upon her first visit here.

"This isn't the last of this," Rhea called after her.

Lena stopped and looked back at the woman. "I don't doubt it." She turned to address the rest of the room. "I'm still overseer, mind you. I just need to look over an agreement I have with your bosses. I should be out of your hairs shortly." Her eyes staggered to the man at the piano. "Get around to playing something, will you?"

Lena pulled Kara into the room and closed the door behind them. Kara looked at her as though her brain had turned to mush.

"What?" Lena asked, taking off her gloves and tossing them on a counter.

"What was that?"

"Kara, what are the type of people the so-called good folks in a town like Breighville shun?"

Kara pushed her spectacles back up on her face. "Those who don't follow the rules or are just immoral. Especially sexual deviants, drunkards, and those afflicted with stigmatizing diseases."

"Sexual diseases like syphilis," Lena clarified.

"You want everyone to think you have syphilis? Why?"

"Weren't you listening? If I have syphilis and men know it, it explains why I'm unmarried. If I got it from my husband, it at least speaks to me not having been sexually promiscuous. It still paints my husband in a bad light, but many men blame women for infecting the man. So some might think that my husband bedded a prostitute, but the woman will still mainly be to blame. And as for me, while they won't look at me kindly either, they'll feel some sympathy for a husband who would do this to his wife. They may very well be ignorant to whether you can contract it by tending to me, but I was clear that it can't be contracted unless bedding the person. News of this will spread through the town quickly."

"But you don't have syphilis, and you've never been married?"

Lena laughed. "Correct."

Kara observed the brunette as the woman moved in front of her and gave her a clear view of her curves. Lena always was stunning. Her angular face and haunting green eyes never failed to gain men's attention, and it hadn't failed this evening either. Her figure was one that men obsessed over.

She felt her heart speed up and her palms grow sweaty as she continued to stare.

The sophisticated gown hugged Lena's breasts, allowing for the majority of her cleavage to be on display. A twist pattern rested in the neckline, with only minimal coverage. Her hair was well-done and her shoes adorned silk. She either intended to impress men, or Kara herself. Kara settled on the latter.

"But we already have a plan," she said. "Won't what you did make thangs worse?"

"What I did will make it so that the two of us living together looks less suspicious. It will make it so that no one can come in threatening to have us shunned. Unless, of course, they want to reveal our sexual attraction to each other. But with the way people feel about women's capability of being sexually intimate with one another, it may just be that syphilis, even if considered in a sympathetic light, is thought to be the worse deal. In fact, I'm betting on it," Lena sighed. "The only difference is that your family won't be shamed or run out of town. People will mainly focus on me and staying clear of me. Maintaining my overseer job might be a challenge, but I think it'll be fine."

"Lena..."

Lena stepped to her. "Are you not the one who talked about getting things under our control?"

Kara faltered. A rhythmic sound started up, and she looked toward the door. She couldn't quite describe it — the melody filling and moving through her like a ghost seeking a temporary home — but she knew what she was hearing. She thought of how her birth mother would hum to her when she was a child. "Is that...music?"

"It is." Lena moved closer to her, staring at her with sad eyes and grabbing her by the hand. She knew Lena hated the fact that she hadn't been exposed to music. "Dance with me?"

Dancing was another thing Kara had missed out on, but Lena guided her every step. They danced a little until sunset and left.

IIII

"As you know, the rules don't apply to the saloon," Lena said, entering Kara's property in the woods with Kara moving behind her. "So even knowing that we couldn't have made it back in town before nightfall, that we left just before sunset shouldn't be much of problem. They'll talk about it and how I was dressed, no doubt, but what's any of that compared to syphilis?" She chuckled. "Walter is going to be so upset."

Kara walked to the lamp at the side of the room and lit it. After eating a little at the saloon, they'd rode back on Kara's stallion, Lena having bid the wagon driver a good day once paying him.

"My," Lena said, taking in the area. It now had chairs, a rug, and a couch. She noticed a door at the back and one to the side. "One's a bedroom, I take it?" She turned to Kara, her gaze intrusive.

Kara felt hot. It wasn't easy to think clearly with Lena looking the way she did in that gown, or when remembering what happened last time they were here and how tightly Lena had held onto her tonight during their ride over. She wasn't sure why Lena had overlooked the bedroom the first time. The second time they'd been caught up in each other. "Yeah," she said.

Lena moved to look out the window a few feet ahead, slowly slipping out of her shoes. "Our special tree looked brilliant under the moonlight when we rode past it."

Kara stared. It was more than just Lena's dress. Being alone with Lena — no Siobhan, no nothing — and remembering Lena's kisses and touches in the dusty old office was distracting.

Lena sat down in the chair beneath the window and propped her legs up on a stool a little ahead. Her bustle raised, and layers of the gown slid to the side of her legs. Kara took in a deep breath.

"Should we discuss somethin'?" Kara asked.

"We should." Lena folded her hands in her lap. Her head was bowed.

She couldn't look any more like an angel if she tried, Kara thought. A provocative-looking angel, but an angel regardless. Kara could smell her usual lily scent perfume.

"I've been thinking that any chance we have to be together, we should take advantage of," Lena said softly.

"I have too." Kara walked to her and knelt before her. She took Lena's gloved hands into her own. Not being able to feel the brunette's bare skin was an annoyance. She thought about ripping the gloves off. "But what you did today... Are you sure it was the right thing to do?"

"It felt right in moment." Lena laughed softly. She leaned forward to place a hand to Kara's cheek. Her bosom was close to spilling over the edge. Kara was half-disappointed it didn't.

"I..." Kara stood, letting go of Lena's hand and walking to sit on the rug in the middle of the floor. "I think you're brave. Not only because of what you did tonight, but because of how you stand up for Hazel."

Kara saw a look of disappointment flash across Lena's face. Had Lena wanted her to stay close?

"Defending a child isn't bravery," Lena said. "It's just right." She smiled wide. "I love that little girl."

"I know that you do."

Kara listened as Lena talked about Hazel with much delight. Her mouth pulled into a grin multiple times. Her hands flailed dramatically with each story of Hazel's development. Her skin glimmered under the incoming moonlight. With the way she was dressed, Kara thought about dancing with her again.

Lena started to become uncomfortable with the unabashed gazing; Kara could tell. She'd smiled Kara's way, shyly or perhaps nervously, as if they hadn't talked many times before. Her stunt today would result in much trouble in the future, maybe the most trouble the town had received in years.

Kara suddenly wished she'd declined the offer to join her tonight. She didn't want to see Lena hurt. But it was likely that Lena would have gone through with it even if she hadn't come.

"I guess I'm rambling," Lena said.

"No, I'm listenin.'" Kara sat up straighter. "Any progress with the investigation?" Kara knew that it was a difficult subject for anyone, but especially for Lena since it was her father the town suspected.

"It would appear that no one knows a thing about what happened to Anna, except for the rumors. It might be best if I go to the town she's said to be living in, and see if I can talk to her."

"Is that wise?" Kara queried. "She might not want to be contacted. She clearly wanted a free life. If rumors about what happened to her start up there, then she's no longer free from her past."

"I'm not sure anyone can ever truly be free after having something like that happen to them." Lena looked down. She appeared sad, agitated about something. Kara thought to inquire about it, but the woman's lips suddenly pulled into a smile.

"I like talking to you like this," Lena said.

"Me too."

Lena was staring at her intently, as if she was only just now seeing the true her. Kara felt the need to order the woman to tell her what she was thinking.

But a part of her felt that she already knew. She'd run away from Lena so many times. Doing so now was pointless. What felt right was a few feet away from her. Lena had always been able to get under her skin and move her. The woman would probably never know how much, unless she showed her.

Kara stood. "What you said about strippin' me down, did you mean it?"

Lena's eyes widened and a blush the same color as her ribbons tainted her cheeks. "I did."

Kara watched her rise.

"But only if you disregard my warning," Lena said.

Kara stumbled when attempting to take a step closer. It would be easier if Lena wasn't looking at her as though she wanted to devour her. "I'm anxious," she admitted," finally able to take that step to draw them closer. "But I want this."

"Why now?" Lena asked, stepping closer as well. "I understand when you needed time, but..."

"I think I needed more time than I even knew. But I'm ready now. The waitin,' I see no need for it. Not anymore."

Lena took the last step between them. Kara felt her pulse quicken. She leaned forward and placed her head against Lena's. Lena's hands gripped her arms.

A moan rose from Kara's throat as the brunette's fingers dug deeper into her biceps and she continued to rest her head against hers. Lena's cleavage was staring back at her, and she felt no need to look away. Her fingers curled into her palms.

"Kiss me, Kara. I need to... Just once."

Lena pressed into her. The brunette's mouth was so close that she could feel the warm breath. Lena's dress brushed against her thighs.

She'd been fooling herself. She'd wanted Lena since the day the woman came back to town; she just hadn't known it yet. "The bedroom," she said, grabbing Lena by the hand and then the lamp before leading them into the modest bedroom with the medium-sized bed. "It's the good kind of bed," Kara clarified, placing the lamp down on a dresser as her eyes focused on the mattress.

But Lena wasn't looking at the mattress. She was looking at her. Lena's eyes held hers. The green in them seemed to call to her and ask the deepest of questions. "I trust you," Kara confirmed, thinking back to their passionate time in her cabin. She trusted Lena as much as Lena trusted her, and the realization threatened to sink her to her knees. They may very well regret this moment later on, but not now. Now was no time for regrets or retreats.

"You won't hate me? If we go through with this?" Lena asked.

Kara moved to her, staring into her vulnerable eyes, then at her quivering mouth. She'd never hate Lena. She hadn't hated her in eighteen years. "No." She covered her mouth with hers.