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.

Meet Ethan Logan

As the front door closed, Kali, who had been sitting at the top of the stairs, listening to her parents conversation, ran back to the room and took her place on the bed. Her eyes shut as tightly as she could while she tried to process everything she had just heard. How could her father have turned out to be such a mean man? Why was he asking her to stop protecting the people that her grandparents told her they, the members of the House Of El, were born to protect? What was wrong with what they were destined to do? Her mother had been doing it for a long time now, why was it now a problem for her parents? Would he force her to give her powers up too? Well, that simply would not do. She just would not allow him to do such a thing to her, and she knew her mother would not do it either.

****

The door to her sanctuary slid open as she flicked a hidden lightswitch on the backwall of her clothes closet. Kara needed time to be alone with her thoughts. The bedroom was not the best place for her to do that right now with Kali sleeping soundly on the bed. This was the place she often ran to when she felt the pressures of her double life beginning to bear down upon her. If anybody had told her long before she met Ethan that she would be leading the life of a hero and an ordinary human being at the same time, she would have told that person what a crazy idea that was. Now that she was living it though, she wondered if she had made the right decision in getting married so early. It was really just something she did because it felt right at the time. After everything Ethan had been through to save her, marrying him seemed to be the right kind of payback. She did love him with all her heart and being, but now it seemed like they had both rushed into the decision. Lust and libido ruled over logic perhaps?

Who knew that being married would have become such a herculean task for her? Was it this difficult for all married people? Or just those married to aliens from destroyed planets? Was Kal-El having the same problems now that he too was married to Lois? Having the child was totally out of the equation. Who would have been able to predict that Ethan would ask her for more than she was willing to surrender either?

How much was she willing to give up for him? Did she really have it within her to turn her back on her heritage? Where was Kal-El when she needed him? Why was he doing this to her? Was he right? Did she really willingly endanger herself? Would she be willing to see Kali hurt in the process of fulfilling this legacy? Was she forcing an enormous responsibility upon her daughter ? When would the self-sacrifice on the part of the House Of El ever end? Would they always have to endanger their own lives for the sake of mankind? When did their responsibility to the legacy end and their personal commitments to their relationships begin?

These were the thoughts running through Kara's mind as she perused the memories of her life on earth as captured within the various pictures and souveniers that she had collected over the years. Ethan insisted on this room being built for her when they renovated the house. It was a project he undertook with Kal-El because they obviously could not hire contractors for such a delicate task.

"When did everything change between us Ethan? What should I do?" she whispered as she picked up the recent portrait that Jimmy took of them at the party. Ethan had his body turned away from her in it. He did not look happy at all. She fought back the tears as she remembered how angry he was that day. She should have seen the signs that their marriage was in trouble but she chose to ignore it. Hoping it would resolve itself like all the other problems they had faced in the past.

****

Through her half closed eyes, she saw her mother disappear into the closet. What was behind the wall? Her curiosity getting the better of her, Kali slowly got out of bed and headed for the now closed closet door.

"Mommy, where are you?" she heard Kali's muffled voice beyond the walls of the room.

"I'm in here Kali. Open the closet and float up a bit inside. There is a light switch near the ceiling, flick it and the door will open for you." she instructed.

She wiped away her tears as she heard the pressurized door opening. She had made up her mind the day that Ethan left them that Kali would never see her crying. Whether Kali knew it or not, she was the only thing holding her mother together at that point in time.

"Wow! What room is this mommy?" Kali rushed over to the rack that held her mother's Supergirl suits. "I want one mommy!"

"It's a game to her." Kara sadly realized as Kali grabbed a cape and ran around the room, holding it behind her. It was obvious to her that Kali still did not fully grasp the responsibility of being a Supergril.

"You will wear those suits when you get older Kali. In the meantime, just enjoy learning to use your powers. There is no rush for you."

She lept lightly onto her mother's lap and settled in as Kara wrapped her arms around Kali's waist. They used the cape as a blanket to snuggle under as they sat together.

"Mommy..."

"Yes sweetie?"

"Does daddy hate us?"

She choked on her own breath at the question. What would ever drive Kali to ask such a question?

"Don't be silly Kali. Daddy loves us both very much."

"That's not true mommy. I heard him."

"Heard him say what?"

"Mommy, why doesn't he want us to be Supergirls?"

So that was it. Kali had heard everything. She should have known that Kali's super hearing would have become active the same time as all her other powers. She should have been more careful. Maybe warned Ethan and took him out of the house to talk to him.

"Mommy?"

"It isn't that he doesn't want us to be Supergirls Kali. He is just worried that we could get hurt. There are some people out there who do not like us. They want to hurt us so they can continue to do the bad things that we stop them from doing. Daddy just doesn't want to see us being hurt because he cannot protect us the way that we can protect him."

"Why doesn't he talk to grandfather and gradnmother? They can explain it to him like they did me."

"It isn't that simple Kali. Your daddy isn't like us. He is a full blooded human he does not understand about our powers and responsibilities as well as we do. That we were born to protect all of those which have a life. Be it animal or human Kali, we protect them equally."

"So Daddy does not want us to protect him or the animals or mankind? That is mean!"

"He isn't being mean Kali. You are just too young to understand what is going on right now." How could she explain that he was being protective of them and nothing more? That is what was making Ethan angry, the fact that he remained powerless to protect them from certain dangers that his world posed to the people he loved the most.

"Kali, are you sure you want to be a Supergirl like me? You don't have to be if you don't want to." She was going to give her daughter the choice that was not given to her.

"I want to be a Supergirl mommy. Grandmother says that I can do plenty of good things. I can continue to protect the world when you and uncle Kal-El get too old to do it. Mommy, this is who we are. I understand it. I am not an ordinary child. I understand and accept that."

"Okay. Just remember, you can stop being a Supergirl anytime you want to." she would leave that door open for her. This was a legacy she could turn her back on if she wanted to. Only Kara really had a sort of payback attached to the legacy and she was willing to fulfill that. But her daughter, she should be free of the legacy if she wishes to be. Just as Ethan wanted.

"Mommy, promise me something?"

"Promise you what Kali?"

"Promise me we won't ever stop being Supergirls? I want to protect the planet. I want to be just like you and Uncle Kal-El."

"I can't promise you that Kali."

"Why not mommy?"

"Well, your father is asking me for something else."

"Daddy is selfish! I don't like him anymore!"

"Karalinda Lee Logan! You will stop talking about your father that way!" she warned her. "No matter how bad it sounds to you, he has only our best interest at heart! Do not ever forget that!"

"He has only our best interest at heart."

Her own words resonated within her thoughts. She needed to talk to somebody who could understand what she was going through. Who would know what she could best do in the situation. She needed her parents.

****

Lucy was half awake when she showed up at Linda's door around midnight. Linda had suddenly called her over and Jimmy was kind enough to drop her off even though he had just gotten hom from work and looked like he was ready to fall into bed. They were living together in her apartment until she became comfortable enough with the idea of being married to him. Lucy was a new aged woman who did not believe that marriage was necessary in order to share your life with the man of your dreams. Seeing what her best friend was currently going through was not helping to change her mind regarding her opinion of marriage either.

"This better be good Linda. I was already dreaming of my first job at the Daily Planet when you woke me. You are lucky Jimmy came home otherwise I do not know how I would have gotten here. You know I cannot drive half asleep."

"I really, really apologize for doing this to you Lucy. But you are the only one I can leave with Kali on short notice without her throwing a temper tantrum. I need to go to Heritage Island for a few hours."

"Is something wrong?" Lucy's voice suddenly filled with concern. It was never good for either Kal-El or Kara to need to go to their respective little Kyrptons on Earth. That always meant a big problem brewing.

"No. Nothing is wrong. I just need to talk to my parents right now. There is a decision I have to make and I cannot make it without hearing their opinion first." She was leading Lucy up to the master's bedroom.

"Shouldn't we take her to her room?" Lucy knew Kali was too heavy for her to lift. "She has to learn to sleep in her own room." she continued in a whisper.

"Kali can stay here tonight. Just sleep with her and explain to her that I left for a while in case she wakes , if she says anything negative about her dad, just ignore her alright?" Linda walked over to the window and opened it. "I should be back in a few hours."

"What did Ethan do this time? " Lucy was pretty much fed up with what she perceived to be his temper tantrum and wished he would just get over it already. She had no idea of the real gravity of the situation that Linda and Ethan's relationship was facing. The silence between them was enough for Lucy to understand that Linda troubled and needed space right now.

"We'll be here Linda. Just... be careful out there alright? Don't get distracted while flying." she somehow still could not shake the thought that some evil force from the past was hovering around her friend, who smiled at her before flying off into the chilly fall night. Lucy hurriedly closed the window after her to preserve the warmth in the room.

****

Kal-El screwed on the last piece of the puzzle that would help the newly built motor function the way it was designed to. All he needed now was Ethan's car to mount it into.

"Ethan will now be a real member of the House Of El father." he smiled as he spoke to the disembodied voice once again.

"Ethan will forever be human no matter what you or Kara do. No amount of technology or magick will change that. You will soon see what kind of folly you have created Kal-El."

"Can't you be supportive for just once father? If you can't be a part of the solution, then please, I beg of you father, do not make the problem any worse." Kal-El threw down the greasy rug he was holding and went to lie down on a slab of ice for a while. He had been working non-stop for the past 3 days and needed to clear his thoughts. How could he get Ethan to lend him his car?

****

The island emerged like a whale amidst the darkness of the sea. It welcomed Kara into its loving embrace, seemingly responsive to the mixed emotions she had within her at the time. Everything came to life as she walked through the halls of the dome towards the hall of records where the computer bearing her parents images was housed. The holographic images came to life as the sensors picked up on her entry into the room.

"What is troubling you my child? Our sensors indicate a hieghtened sense of sadness, worry, and indecision within you." Alura asked.

"Mother, I don't know who to turn to. I need advise. I am at a point in my life when I am being forced to choose between who I am and who Ethan wants me to be." she did her best to control her emotions as she took a seat infront of the image console.

"He wants you to complete the humanization process?" Alura seemed to be expecting the situation.

"Yes mother. But I do not know if I can, or if I should. I know Kal-El did it before...."

"Kal-El did it once before for all the wrong reasons. He was being selfish at the time and chose to stop honoring the memory of his people in the name of his heart. That is something that we had hoped we had prepared you to decide about when the time came. However, we did not expect it to come this soon."

"Tell me what to do mother."

"Nobody can tell you what to do Kara. This is one time when you must follow the dictates of your heart. Listen to it. What does it tell you to do? There is no wrong or right answer this time my child. Do what you believe will be best for you and Kali. For your family."

"My heart tells me to be selfish. But I was raised better than that. The council had told me that the Kryptonian blood will continue to run within the veins of my children and our duty would be to honor that great past from which we all came from."

"Will that decision make you happy my child?"

"My sense of duty transcends personal happiness mother. I cannot willingly surrender our family legacy in the name of love.I can never lose sight of who I truly am and what my role is in this world. Kal-El has trained me well, just as you said he would. He helped me understand how much normalcy I can have in my life by human terms. I cannot and should not expect anything more. Having Kali, this family, it was an added bonus.A reward if you will." the sadness in her eyes was evident. She was saying what she knew would make her parents happy to hear, even though it was tearing her up inside to sacrifice her relationship with the only man she would ever love.

"Duties aside Kara, you cannot sacrifice your personal happiness in the name of our family legacy. Nobody could and would expect you to make such a sacrifice."

"It is a sacrifice I am willing to make mother. It is the only way I know to keep the memory of Argo City and Krypton alive. I just wish Ethan would understand that. " the frustration in her voice clued in her mother to the difficulties her daughter was experiencing.

"Do you understand why Ethan is asking you to make such a supreme sacrifice? Surely his opinions were shaped by some things in his life."

"Mother, we cannot carry on a conversation without arguing. That is why he moved out of the house. He refuses to discuss anything with me unless I am in total agreement with him." It suddenly occured to her that Zor-El had not made an appearance yet. "Is something wrong with father's hologram?"

"He is here. Listening to you. He asks that you get some sleep for now and allow us to help you in the morning. The sleep will help you clear your thoughts."

****

Ethan was sleeping on the sofa bed when the now familiar voice of his father in law pierced his subconsicious. The voice was probing, looking for clues as to why he had a sudden change of attitude towards his wife's family history. Surely the answers lay somewhere within the deep recesses of his mind. Among the memories he wanted to forget or keep hidden from the prying eyes of the world.

"You must remember Ethan. Remember where you came from. Remember why you fell in love with Kara..." Zorl-El's voice seemed to be instructing him.

"I don't want to remember. It hurts too much. Don't make me!" he was pleading loudly as he slept.

Suddenly he was ten years old again. He was sitting on a swing in the school playground during recess. The principal came over to him with a grim look on his face. This was the day he learned that his parents had died in a firey car crash while on their way to a school reunion in Smallville. He saw himself running away from the principal. He kicked the school security guard in the shin and swung himself out of the school gate. He was running at top speed now. Out of breath by the time he got home, the scene before him changed as he entered the hallway. It was now after his parents funeral.

His uncles and aunts were in a conclave inside the house while he sat on the steps of the porch, waiting for his fate to be decided. Who was he going to live with? Did any of them really want him to come live with them? The next thing he knew, he was packed up and leaving the only home he ever knew to live with his uncle, his mother's brother.

Ethan saw his life pass in review from that point. Now he was remembering and seeing how he had been tolerated by his relatives but not really loved nor welcomed into their family. They never wanted him to live for a long time with any of them. They treated him like a nuisance who needed to be put up with until some other relative came and took him away at the request of his previous caretaker. He was always an outsider looking in and getting by on their pity. He never really had a home after his parents died. Nobody really cared about him.

He was a teenager now. Running around with the wrong crowd while in high school saw him land in jail a few times. He had done it all. Petty theft left him with a juvy record that luckily, remained sealed and was eventually erased. He learned to drink around the same time too. So oftentimes he would be passed out in the street or sleeing in his own vomit at a friend's house. Ethan was not really a bad kid. He was just looking for acceptance. A place to call home. People who loved him instead of just tolerating him.

After coming out of Juvenile Hall at the end of one of his exploits, his relatives chose to disown him. They had enough of him and no longer wished to be bothered with trying to raise him. They were convicned he would never become an upright young man who could be an asset to society. They even took up a pool to see how long it would take before he landed in juvy again. Later on, they decided to turn over what was left of his parents gardening business to him and told him to grow up. Without anybody to lean on for support, guidance, or understanding, that was exactly what he was forced to do. But the rebel within him did not really take his job seriously. If nobody wanted to help or love him, then he did not want them either.

Then he came to the day that change his life. Linda's eyes staring at him as he was held captive inside the tractor basket. He would never forget the way he felt that day. The way her sea blue eyes calmed him down and reassured him. The love that it held for him when they shared that moment in the Wurlitzer. The pain it held when she left him all those times not because she wanted to, but because she belonged to a different world back then.

"Please, I do not want to remember any more. Stop it Zor-El!"

"Remember why you love my daughter Ethan. Do not destroy the special relationship that the two of you have. Being a family has nothing to do with heritage or legacies. You have to see, you have to understand. Yours is the most special family on this planet. Do not forsake what has been entrusted to you by the forces of the universe." he forced him to remember more than he was willing to recall.

Kara had turned his life around. Her love forced him to grow up in ways his relatives never realized he could. He wanted her to be proud of him, and proud of him she was. She loved him without condition. Even though he could never measure up to how special she was, she never let him feel anything other than that he was the most important part of her life. She gave him the sense of security and love that he longed for ever since his parents died. She provided him with a family that never shunned him nor made him feel merely tolerated. She had given him a new lease on life and yet there he was, willing to throw away everything she offered him. What a fool he was!

Kara loved him. He was always her priority. He just refused to share her with the world because he was afraid she would run out of love to give him. Now, with Kali around and her heightened duties as Supergirl, he feared that she was just tolerating him. That he had lost his place in her life because all her activities would make her tire of him. That is why he wanted her to stop being the special person that she was. He refused to accept that she had a heart that could love everyone equally. But that he was always that one special person whom she would love the most. He was her life just as she was his. She loved him with an intensity that he always tried to equal. She loved him more than her own life. She would do anything he asked of her to prove it. Why did he not realize that sooner? Why did he want to test her loyalty? Why did he want to push their love to its limits? Recalling everything they had been through, he realized how their love was the one constant thing in their lives that would never waver or change.

He sprang from bed drenched in sweat from fighting the memories Zor-El had forced him to relive. "What have I done? God! What have I done?"

Holding his head in his hands, he began sobbing like a man who had just realized that his family had died all over again. Through his closed eyes, he saw the eyes of Kara, the innocence and warmth that he loved to see within her doe like eyes was replaced with hatred and anger. A look that he had placed there because of his selfishness.

"Is it too late?" he asked Zorl-El.

"Nothing is ever too late my son."