PART 14

They walked side by side in comfortable silence.

Lena looked at Kara with a small smile on her face and Kara smiled back.

They were both thinking the same thing; this was perfect. It couldn't have been any better.

Lena tentatively brushed the back of her hand with Kara's until the blonde took hold of her hand and laced their fingers together as they walked along.

This place was like their safe haven. No one could get to them here. There was no press, no photographers, no awkward questions and harassing interviews. It was just the two of them.

The trail was wide enough for a car to ride through, even though no one ever did and it circled the lake completely before going back in among the trees and the shelter of the forest.

The sun was beating down on them through the trees and the birds were chirping happily as they took flight into the clear blue sky.

Kara glanced at Lena.

"So, you were here before you came to National City." She said, remembering that Lena had told her that.

Lena nodded, her contented smile still in place.

"I was."

"Did you live here?"

"No. I just...after everything with Lex, I wanted a place to get away before the press came after me, and here seemed like as good a place as any. Gave me time to think about my future, plan my next move, that sort of thing."

Kara nodded in agreement as she looked at their surroundings.

"I bet you didn't want to leave."

"I didn't, but I knew that I had to take back my family's company before some other villain got their hands on it."

Kara smiled at the brunette.

"And you renamed it L Corp."

"I had to. I couldn't work under Luthor Corp, it sounded so...cold and detached."

"Plus, y'know, it could stand for Luthor or Lena." Kara added.

Lena smiled at Kara's ability to pick up on things that most people would have missed.

"Exactly."

They fell into silence again as they came out of the trees and were in full view of the lake.

Kara stopped, staring at it.

It was like something someone paints. You couldn't believe that something this beautiful existed for real.

Lena squeezed Kara's hand and smiled lovingly at her.

"What if...what if we could stay here?" Lena said softly.

Kara closed her eyes. She had known that this would come and she had been thinking about her answer.

She turned around, still holding Lena's hand and looked into hopeful green eyes.

"I would love nothing more than to stay in this wonderful place with you, Lena, but I made a promise to National City and it's people. I have to go back."

Lena's gaze dropped and she nodded her head.

"I understand."

Kara bit her lip, feeling guilty and released Lena's hand to place her own hands on the Luthor's shoulders.

"Hey, I love you. You know that, right?"

Lena nodded but still didn't look up at Kara.

"Lena, we can't just leave everybody behind. No matter how much we want to."

Finally, Lena looked up at the blonde.

"Why do you feel that you owe them so much?"

Kara frowned slightly.

"I don't owe them but someone's gotta step up to save them when they're in trouble."

"And why does it have to be you?" Lena questioned.

Kara shrugged and dropped her hands from Lena's shoulders.

"If not me, then who?"

Lena shook her head.

"You know, Kara, I feel like taking some time by myself for a little while. I'll see you back at the cabin."

"No, Lena, come on-"

"Please, Kara." Lena said, her tone firm.

Kara stared at her for a long while.

This wasn't what she wanted. She hadn't meant to upset Lena, she had only wanted to tell her the truth but it seemed that Lena didn't want to face reality, and what with all they had been through, could anyone blame her?

Eventually, Kara nodded and stepped back from her.

"Ok. Take all the time you need."

Lena then turned her back on her and headed for the lake while Kara turned and headed back down the trail to the cabin...

Lena sat by the lake, looking out across the water and thinking things through.

Her and Kara could be happy here. They wouldn't have to worry about anything or anyone.

Why did Kara care so much about people that were so quick to judge when she did something wrong?

Lena thought of Cadmus and her mother. Going back to National City would mean walking back into all of that and Lena wasn't sure if she could face that or not.

She wanted Kara to be happy but she didn't want to watch as Kara placed herself as a second option in people's lives while they continued to rely on her for every little thing.

She brushed her dark hair back and sighed.

Well, Kara couldn't leave the people but she could.

Lena nodded to herself. She was staying here.

She was fed up of people judging her for everything she did; for blaming her for every evil thing that went wrong in the city just because her last name was Luthor.

That really wasn't her fault now, was it?

But still, they looked at her when a new threat occurred as though she must have something to do with it. They speculated and surmised rather than letting her explain or answer their questions.

Since the news broke about her and Kara, that was the only time the people wanted an answer from her and that was only so they could judge her and call her things and possibly make Kara the butt of all their ill meant jokes.

People could be so cruel and Lena wasn't sure that she could go back to a place that had caused her so much hurt.

Maybe Kara could overlook all that but Lena couldn't...

Kara entered the cabin and looked around.

This was meant to be a week where they could just enjoy each other's company. They shouldn't have fought.

Kara sat down on the couch and grabbed a pillow, hugging it as she thought about everything that they'd said to each other.

Lena wanted to stay here. Kara knew she had to go home.

National City needed Supergirl and without Supergirl, Cadmus could take over everything and not even the DEO would be able to stop them.

Kara let out a breath and rested her head back against the couch.

When would Kara get to live her life? When could she make a choice based on her own happiness rather than the good of everyone else?

She frowned slightly.

It should be so simple; she loved Lena more than anyone she had ever come across in her entire life.

Lena was offering her a life where they wouldn't be judged or called upon when it all went to hell. They wouldn't have to think about anything. This was perfect, she knew it was.

Kara suddenly sat up. She wanted this. She wanted this life. She wanted Lena and God help anyone who tried to take that from her.

Smiling, she stood and ran from the cabin, back onto the trail and down to the lake where Lena was still sat.

"Lena!"

Lena glanced over her shoulder and looked at Kara.

"I wanna stay here with you!" Kara called.

Lena's lips split into a huge grin and she got to her feet.

"You mean it?!" She called back.

Kara nodded and then jogged down the hill towards her.

Lena caught her and held her tightly.

Kara pulled back and gave her girlfriend a deep kiss.

"I love you, Lena Luthor, and I don't care where it is, I wanna be with you."

Lena kissed her back and Kara closed her eyes as Lena tangled her hands into soft blonde hair.

"Maybe we should go back to the cabin." Kara murmured as Lena deepened the kiss.

"Why? There's no one here."

Kara grinned as they both laid down on the grass...

Back at the cabin, after their little session by the lake, Kara stretched and rolled over to Kiss Lena's lips gently.

Lena smiled and pulled Kara into her arms as she hovered above her on the bed.

"How do you do that?" Kara asked, her voice heavy with sleep.

"Do what?" Lena asked.

"Come to life like that."

Lena pouted a little.

"My girlfriend needs attention. I thought that would be as good a reason as any to wake up."

Kara laughed.

"Do you know how cheesy that sounds?"

"You love it." Lena muttered as she pressed an open mouthed kiss to Kara's pulse point.

Kara's back arched and she let out a small moan.

"That-that's true, I do."

Lena grinned as she continued turning Kara into a puddle.

Kara glanced at the window and her eyes widened.

"Lena..."

"What?" Lena asked, turning, following Kara's gaze to the window.

Her own eyes widened and she grabbed the sheet, holding it to herself and sitting up in front of Kara to shield her.

"How the hell did they know we were here?" Lena hissed as she glared at the photographer who was now running away from the cabin.

"He's gone." Lena muttered.

Kara closed her eyes and bowed her head.

"Do you think he got anything?"

Lena nodded.

There was no point in lying to Kara to make her feel better. They would hear about it sooner or later.

"Yeah...I think he got what he came for."

Kara let out a breath and rested her chin on Lena's shoulder.

"It doesn't matter where we go...they'll never leave us alone, will they?"

Lena realized that Kara was right. This would never be over.

"No...they won't."

Lena reached around and held Kara's hand.

The blonde sighed.

"We have to go back, don't we?"

Lena nodded.

"Yeah..."

Kara turned Lena around to face her.

"Lena' I'm so sorry. I don't know how they found out."

Lena's head came up, eyes going wide with rage.

"I do."

She then stood and grabbed her clothes, slipping them on quickly.

Kara watched her with a confused frown.

"What are you going to do?"

"See to the problem." Lena growled.

"Lena, who did this?"

"It doesn't matter. I can handle it."

Kara licked her lips and raked her hair back.

"You can't shut me out, Lena, I want to help."

Lena pulled on her top and turned around to look at Kara.

"Well this time you can't, ok?"

Lena closed her eyes at her spiteful tone and she watched as Kara looked away, visibly hurt.

She knelt on the bed, stroking Kara's cheek and making her look up.

"Kara, I'm sorry, but I know who's behind this...and I want to sort it, for both of us."

Kara nodded her head in understanding.

"I know..."

"But you're still upset with me." Lena realized and she brushed a strand of Kara's hair back with her free hand.

"I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. It's not you I'm angry with. I just...I want us to be happy and it's like...it's like no one can leave us alone, do you understand?" She asked softly, her mouth forming a kind smile.

Kara's lips twitched but it was only a small smile.

Lena gave her a gentle kiss.

"Get dressed. Looks like we're going home."

Kara nodded and Lena started packing, leaving Kara to get ready to go home.

Author's Note- So who is Lena going home to confront? Stay tuned! x