Chapter 14: All Good Things

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate this," Lena said sincerely, looking down at the list of names that Koran had provided.

For all Lena's worry about invading the other woman's privacy, Koran had been surprisingly nonchalant about the request. Apparently aliens with psychic abilities were not a rarity. If anything, she had been grateful for Lena's honesty, even if she thought it was a tactical error. Koran had lectured her on not giving up the element of surprise in the future.

"It is a small repayment for all that you are doing for us," Koran replied dismissively. "I made sure to give you only the most qualified and trustworthy, but if for some reason none meet with your approval, let me know, and I will provide you with new candidates."

"I'm sure that won't be necessary." Lena smiled at the woman. "I'll want to arrange meetings so Kara and I can meet with each of them, of course, but I'm sure one of them will be suitable. I trust your judgement."

"I do not think that Kara Danvers shares your opinion."

"Kara doesn't know you very well," Lena hedged.

"Yet she does not like me," Koran stated matter of factly. If she was at all bothered by this fact, Lena couldn't tell it from her placid expression.

"Kara's just very protective," Lena offered by way of explanation.

The woman looked at Lena with a quiet intensity that made her shift in her seat. "May I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course," Lena answered after a brief hesitation. Talking about herself wasn't something she was used to, or comfortable with. "I'd like to think we are on the way to becoming friends. Ask away."

"Kara Danvers is obviously very important to you." Lena nodded her head, even though she took the question to be rhetorical. Given how often Lena was sure she had mentioned Kara to Koran in the course of their work, it was hardly a stretch to conclude Kara meant a lot to her. "But you are not mated?" Koran asked bluntly.

Lena's eyes widened in alarm. Had she misread the situation with Koran entirely? While she admired Koran, and was looking forward to building a friendship, she didn't harbor any romantic feelings for the woman.

"Uh, no, no I'm not. We're not," Lena stuttered out.

Koran nodded, satisfied. "That explains her hostility. The courtship can be a volatile time. Once she has cemented her claim she will settle. I only hope that it does not cause problems."

"There's no courtship," Lena blurted, flustered. "We're just friends."

For the first time since meeting her, Koran looked shocked. "Truly?" Lena nodded. Koran shook her head. "Humans are a strange species. I apologize if I have offended you. I meant no disrespect. I simply wished to clarify. Courtships can be an unpredictable time, emotions run high until the mating bond is completed. Given Kara Danvers attachment to you, and the child, I was concerned her possessiveness may prove difficult in securing a caretaker. However, if, as you say, you are just friends, it should not be a problem."

Koran seemed satisfied with her conclusion, but Lena wasn't as confident. Lena didn't think Kara would sabotage her attempt to hire a nanny, but her enthusiasm at the prospect had always been somewhat lacking. Lena was curious about one thing though.

"What made you think Kara and I were...courting," Lena stumbled over the antiquated term.

"It is obvious," Koran said, surprised. "Her posturing when we met had all the signs of one either newly mated, and still insecure in their bond, or one still in the process of securing their preferred mate. Obviously it is different with humans."

"Obviously," Lena said thoughtfully, her mind wandering to possibilities she had long since closed the door on. Was it possible that Kara had been jealous? Or had she just let her protective streak where Ali was concerned get the better of her? Lena wasn't sure, but she couldn't deny the small flutter of hope she felt spring to life in her chest.

"What did you find out," Kara demanded.

Alex didn't even glance up from her work station. "It's been thirty minutes," Alex answered.

"And?"

"And these things take time."

"We may not have time," Kara complained. She spun on her heel, cape twirling out in a billow behind her, and started to pace. "There is no telling what Lillian may be up to. The sooner we can find out where she is, and what she's doing, the better. We never should have let her just slip away after the invasion." Kara smacked her fist into her palm. "What were we thinking? We should have made it a priority to capture her. She attempted a mass genocide!"

"It is a priority. Just like rebuilding a city in ruins is a priority," Alex reminded her sister. "For better or worse, CADMUS has been mostly quiet since the attack. The reality, is that moves her down the list. We'll get her, Kara. It may just take a little time."

"Why am I the only one taking this seriously?" Kara complained.

Alex stopped working and spun in her chair to look at Kara. "We are taking it seriously. Do you think we don't want to find where CADMUS is hiding out? Do you think that I'm not desperate to find out what happened to Dad? I promise you that we are taking this seriously, Kara."

"I'm sorry," Kara said, walking over and placing a hand on Alex's shoulder and squeezing it in apology. "I know you're doing everything you can." Kara blew out a frustrated breath. "It's just nerve wracking knowing that she is out there, and that she now has Ali on her radar."

Kara shook her head. "Lena thinks she understands what her mother is capable of, but she doesn't, Alex. She didn't see the lengths Lillian is willing to go to when she wants something badly enough."

Kara's mind flashed back to when Lillian held her and Mon-El in cages. How she shot Mon-el without flinching, not an iota of remorse for the pain she was causing. There was something she wanted, and she didn't care who was hurt in the process. Kara didn't know what Lillian may want with Ali, but whatever it was, it was important enough to draw her out of hiding. That worried Kara.

"We will find her," Alex promised. "Besides, between you, me, and Maggie, do you really think we will let anything happen to the kid? We'll keep her safe, Kara."

Kara nodded. "Keep me posted?"

"You'll be the first to know."

Kara sat on the sofa in Lena's office, holding Ali on her lap. Kara's nerves were still on edge, as despite their best efforts, Lillian had remained elusive. To compound matters, Lena was determined to go ahead with the hiring of a nanny, insisting that she couldn't put her life on hold for some formless threat that may never materialize.

The only thing that gave Kara even the barest peace of mind, was that all of Lena's nanny candidates had been screened by J'onn. That didn't mean they couldn't have figured out some way to deceive him, but it did cut down on the odds of them secretly being out to cause Ali or Lena harm.

"So, what do you think? Any preferences?" Lena asked, entering the office and closing the door. They had just finished the third and final interview, and Lena had walked the woman to the elevator.

Kara shrugged, letting Ali play with her fingers. "They all seemed fine," she responded unenthusiastically.

Lena sighed, and joined Kara and Ali on the sofa. "Kara, I know you're not the biggest fan of this idea, but I can't continue to put my life on hold. Especially not because of my mother. She is likely to lurk in the shadows for years. She's extremely adept at it."

"I know," Kara admitted reluctantly. "Maybe I could take a leave of absence?" she suggested a little desperately. "Just for a few months. Then, if Lillian doesn't make any moves, we can-"

"Kara," Lena cut her off gently. "We've talked about this. You don't have to like it, but I've made my decision." Kara dipped her head, shoulders slumped. Lena reached over and placed a hand on her knee, drawing Kara's gaze to hers. "I would like your input though. There is no one's opinion I trust more when it comes to Ali."

Kara blew out a breath. "I'm sorry I've been so difficult about this. I don't mean to be." Kara hugged the baby tighter to her chest. "I just can't help but worry. It's hard to think about turning her over to someone else while all this is happening."

"I understand that, Kara. I do," Lena said earnestly. "But if I put my life on hold every time my mother made vaguely threatening comments to me, I wouldn't get anything done. Or leave my apartment. I won't live like that.

I know you think I'm taking this lightly, but I'm not. Ali will be well protected, and anytime you, or I, aren't with her, she will have constant security. If anything, keeping her at the apartment will probably be safer. Much less opportunity for one of my mother's many henchman to make a move.

I won't let anything happen to her," Lena promised.

"I know you won't." Kara shook her head. "I'm being silly." Kara collected her thoughts. "I really liked the second woman, Amaeri. She's Haldorian so her enhanced strength will come in handy, and Ali really seemed to like her purple hair."

Lena smiled, nodding slightly. "I liked her as well. Koran spoke very highly of her. Before coming to Earth, she also served in her people's defense force, so those skills could also come in handy."

Kara frowned slightly at the mention of Koran. She still wasn't as much a fan of the woman as Lena. However, Kara couldn't fault her candidates for the job. All had been skilled, competent, and any one of them would have made good caretakers for Ali. Kara grudgingly conceded that Lena may be right about her after all.

"Do we have a nanny?" Kara asked, part of her dreading the answer, but knowing what was likely coming.

Lena nodded. "I think we do."

"You'll call if anything comes up? Anything at all? I can be here in under ten minutes."

"Kara, leave the poor woman alone. She assured us she would call if needed," Lena scolded, grabbing Kara's arm and trying to drag her out the door. Kara refused to budge. Lena had been trying unsuccessfully for the last ten minutes to get Kara to leave the apartment.

It was the first day they would be leaving Ali alone with someone who, frankly, was a complete stranger. Kara crossed her arms, refusing to budge until the got the answer she was looking for.

Amaeri nodded. "I promise I will call. Do not worry, I will take care of your young one. It can be hard to leave them for the first time." Amaeri smiled fondly at Ali and tickled her lightly under the chin. Kara tried her best not to feel betrayed when Ali gave her a laugh in return.

"You have my cell number? And my office?" Kara dug into her pocket, looking for her notepad. "You know what, let me give you my sister's number as well. Sometimes work can get a little...hectic, and she's the only one that can get in touch with me. Oh, I should give you Maggie's too, just in case."

Lena snatched the pad out of her hand before Kara had a chance to scribble Alex's number, and shoved it into her purse, safely out of Kara's reach. "I apologize for her," Lena said to Amaeri. "We're going. You have my number if you need it. Which I'm sure you won't, because everything will be fine," Lena told Kara.

Kara started to protest, but Lena looked at her pointedly. "Say good-bye to Ali, and let's go. We're going to be late."

Kara pouted, but obeyed Lena's instruction. She knew she was probably being a little bit dramatic, but just a tad. Kara leaned forward, and kissed Ali on the cheek, barely resisting the urge to grab her out of Amaeri's arms and declare that she would stay home with her for the day.

Lena seemed to read her thoughts, and grabbed Kara's hand firmly, pulling Kara out the door before she could act on her impulse. Releasing her hand, Lena pushed her down the hallway toward the elevator, making sure she was safely clear of the doorway before turning back to say her own goodbye to Ali.

Once the door was closed, Lena turned to look at Kara with a raised eyebrow.

"I was just being thorough," Kara defended herself immediately.

"Right. If I had let you, you probably would have tried to give her Eliza's fax number, just in case cell service was mysteriously down."

"I didn't even think to give her Eliza's number!" Kara cried, alarmed at her oversight. She started back toward the apartment door, but was stopped by Lena placing a hand firmly on her chest.

"She'll be fine," Lena stressed. "Amaeri has both of our numbers, cell, and office. If anything comes up, she'll call us." Lena nodded her head towards the suit clad man standing impassively by the elevator. "Besides, they would have to get past Shaun first, and he takes his job very seriously."

Kara didn't doubt it. When she had scanned him earlier, she had located no less than three guns, four knives, and two flashbangs. Even Alex would have been impressed.

"I know. I'm sorry, I know I'm being ridiculous. I just can't help but worry," Kara apologized.

"You're not being ridiculous. You're concerned. I think it's sweet," Lena said with a soft smile. Lena looped her arm through Kara's and started walking toward the elevator. "However, just because I think it's sweet, doesn't mean that gives you permission to stop by the apartment in an hour because you 'forgot' something you need for work."

Kara looked at Lena, her expression a perfect mask of perfect innocence. "I wouldn't do that!"

"Uh, huh," Lena said, obviously not buying it. "What was it going to be? Your laptop?"

"My favorite pen," Kara grumbled, feeling exposed.

"A pen? Really, Kara?" Lena shook her head in disbelief. Arriving at the elevator, Lena gave a silent nod to Shaun, and boarded the car, hitting the button for the lobby. The doors slid shut, cocooning them in privacy.

"Eliza gave it to me my first Christmas on Earth. It's very special to me," Kara insisted, crossing her arms. Kara tipped her glasses down, and looked casually toward the penthouse.

"Nevertheless, if you really did leave it behind, you'll have to manage without it today." Lena reached over and pushed Kara's glasses up her nose. "Also, there will be no flybys, or scanning, or eavesdropping with super hearing."

"Lena! You can't ask that," Kara protested.

"I can, and I am," Lena replied calmly. "Ali will be fine."

"Three flybys," Kara bargained.

Lena laughed, shaking her head. "One."

"But-"

"One," Lena repeated firmly. "You have two other jobs that require your attention. Let Amaeri, and Shaun, and building security, do theirs."

Kara huffed. "Fine. But I also get to listen in once an hour. It will give me peace of mind, and allow me to focus better on work."

Lena looked at her consideringly, before nodding her head. "Deal."

If Lena recognized that what she was about to do was perhaps more than a little hypocritical, she didn't let that stop her. Luthors were known for bending the rules when it suited them. Launching her secure VPN she quickly typed in the access codes, and waited impatiently for it to connect. In moments she was calmed by the sight of Ali, curled up on her stomach, and sleeping peacefully.

Lena let out a sigh of relief she hadn't been aware of holding. She had scolded Kara for worrying, but she would be lying if a shadow of anxiety hadn't been lurking in her own mind as well. She wasn't quite as unconcerned about her mother was as she wanted Kara to believe.

Lena didn't believe that her mother would make a move against Ali directly. It really wasn't her style. In the past, when she had abducted Lena, she had a distinct end goal. Access to Lex's vaults. The whole balcony incident had been more an accident than anything. Lillian's goal has been to keep her plan secret, not harm Lena. Even if Lillian suspected that Ali was her biological child, Lena could see no reason for her mother to want her.

Lena traced her finger lightly over the image on the screen.

If she were being completely honest, it wasn't just worry about her mother that had her wanting to check in on Ali. Lena had never considered herself particularly maternal, still didn't in fact, but she couldn't deny that part of her simply missed having Ali around.

More than once over the course of the morning Lena had found her mind wandering to Ali. How she was adapting to being left with a new person. Did she miss Lena at all, or was one person the same as any other? People spoke of the bond between mother and child, but Lena had no idea how to gauge such a thing, having never experienced it herself.

Allowing herself another few moments to indulge, Lena hesitated over the disconnect button, before choosing to minimize the window instead. What Kara didn't know, wouldn't hurt her.

"Kara, I think we need to talk."

Kara froze, stopping mid chew. Never, in the history of the universe, had that statement ever preceded anything good. Kara suspected she knew what was coming; had been dreading it for weeks.

It had been two weeks since Amaeri started watching Ali. Two weeks without so much as a peep from Lillian. Two weeks of relative calm and peace. Having full-time help with Ali had allowed Lena to catch up at work, and create a much needed sense of balance. The routine they had established and changed, but it was also more settled.

Barring Supergirl emergencies, both Lena and Kara were typically able to be home at a decent hour, and spend a few hours with Ali before she had to go to bed. The addition of solid food had helped sate her hunger, and she was getting closer and closer to sleeping through the night.

Kara was sure she was just days away from finally crawling.

Kara swallowed the bite of food that had lodged itself in her suddenly tight throat.

"Talk?" she asked Lena nervously.

"It's not bad," Lena assured her with a smile. Kara managed a weak smile in return. Somehow she doubted that. Lena dropped her eyes to her plate, the pair were sharing a late dinner, and fiddled absently with her fork.

"Things with Amaeri are working out pretty well aren't they?" Lena asked, confirming Kara's worst fears.

Kara cleared her throat. "Yeah, um, sure. She's been great. Ali seems to really like her."

Lena licked her lips. "She does. Everything else has been quiet too." Everything else, being code for Lillian. Kara hadn't dropped her vigilance, but Lena's elusive mother hadn't shown so much as a pinky finger in public. Lena took no news as good news, but Kara was less reassured. Was Lillian truly uninterested, or was she waiting in the shadows, biding her time for the perfect moment to make her move? Kara wasn't sure, but she prefered to err on the side of caution.

"It has," Kara confirmed, nodding her head. "And you've been able to catch up at work. Things are running smoothly. We've really found our rhythm," Kara joked. Maybe if she could convince Lena things were going perfectly, she wouldn't feel compelled to change them.

"We have," Lena agreed. "I can't tell you how much your help has meant to me. I quite literally, wouldn't have been able to do any of this without you." Kara smiled, though she sensed a "but" was coming.

"However-" Close enough. "- I feel like I am finally in a place where I think I can handle this without your help." Kara knew she had failed to hide her hurt when Lena rushed to explain. "That didn't come out right! I'm not kicking you out, I'm..You've been such a huge help, and I know you've put your life on hold over the last few months, and I just don't want to impose on you any longer. This was always supposed to be just until I got my bearings, and now I feel like I'm just being selfish, and taking advantage, by keeping you here longer."

"I don't mind. I adore Ali, and don't resent even one moment I spend taking care of her," Kara said honestly.

"I know that," Lena assured Kara. "You are one of the most selfless people I've ever met. Which is why I know if I don't force this, you will continue to put your life on hold to help me with her. That's not fair to you."

Kara wanted to argue. To explain to Lena that she wasn't being selfless at all. Spending time with Ali, and Lena, was not an act of self sacrifice for Kara. If anything, she felt like she was getting more out of the arrangement than she was putting in. Kara didn't feel like her life was being put on hold at all. Just the opposite. For the first time since coming to Earth, her life finally felt complete. She felt like she was part of a family again.

It wasn't that the Danvers hadn't tried to make her feel included. They had. However, the fact that she was an alien, that she wasn't human, had colored everything. Her powers, and keeping them hidden, had been at the core of their family dynamic. Even with Alex, it was a constant element of their relationship. With Lena, and Ali, she felt like she could just be herself. Lena would mention it, but usually in asking how her day was. It wasn't central to their dynamic.

How could she explain that to Lena? Like Lena had said; this arrangement was always meant to be temporary. As much as Kara felt at home with them, they had never been hers to claim.

"Is this weekend okay?" Kara asked, her voice a little watery. She refused to cry about this. At least not in front of Lena.

Lena nodded. "There's no rush," Lena promised with a smile. "I'm honestly not kicking you out."

"I know," Kara responded, and she did. She didn't sense any impatience to be rid of her on Lena's part. It was the one small bright spot. Kara poked lethargically at the food still on her plate. Her appetite had evaporated. Kara pushed the plate away. "I'm actually not feeling that well. I think I'm going to call it a night."

Lena looked at her in concern. "Are you sure? It's barely after 8. Do you want me to call Alex?"

Kara shook her head, warmed by Lena's concern, even as she felt the need for some time alone. "It's nothing serious. Just tired," Kara explained, with a wan smile. "Thank you for dinner, it was great." If Kara's nearly full plate belied that statement, Lena was too polite to point it out.

Lena continued to look at her, obviously worried, as Kara made her exit. Kara felt badly about leaving so abruptly, but she wasn't sure how long she was going to be able to hold herself together. Her emotions felt dangerously close to the surface, and she need a little time to gather herself. She didn't want to make Lena feel guilty if she broke down in front of her. It wasn't Lena's fault. It was Kara's. Alex had warned her, but she had let herself forget this wasn't for forever.

"Thanks for covering for me," Kara told Amaeri gratefully. Kara dropped her armload of supplies on the tarp she had spread over Ali's nursery floor.

"Of course," Amaeri said with a smile. She stood in the doorway holding Ali securely as she observed Kara. "Ms. Luthor was vexed that her connection was not functioning, but when she called to confirm everything was okay, I believe I put her worry to rest. I do not think she will come home herself to investigate."

Kara knew all about Lena's habit of tapping into the camera feed in Ali's nursery. When Kara had complained about how hard it had been for her to keep her promise not to check in on Ali, Lena had cracked under the guilt, and spilled the truth. While Kara had been slightly annoyed, it had worked out for her in the end, since Lena had conceded that one or two check-ins, if she happened to be in the area, wouldn't be too out of line.

However, Lena's habit of checking in was a serious wrinkle in Kara's current surprise. Today being Friday, she only had this afternoon to get her task accomplished before she moved back to her apartment tomorrow. Kara had been doing her best to put that looming deadline out of her mind, but it was racing up on her faster than Barry Allen. Unable to avoid the reality any longer, Kara had to come up a plan.

That plan had involved getting Winn to jam Lena's VPN, and getting Amaeri to cover for her so Lena didn't rush home to make sure everything was really okay. Despite her initial reluctance, Kara had to admit the woman was wonderful with Ali, and they had struck up a tentative friendship.

"Thanks again. I moved Ali's crib into my room, because this is probably going to take me most of the day." Even if Amaeri knew about Kara's super speed, which she didn't, it really wouldn't be much help on a project like this. Super speed was great for blunt force, but not so great when fine motor control was needed.

"We will leave you to it," Amaeri said, backing out of the room. Kara surveyed her supplies, trying to figure out where she wanted to start. She had a rough sketch of what she wanted the mural to look like, but she never drew up to details of a plan when she painted, preferring to just go where the paint led her. However, she also didn't usually paint under a time constraint.

Kara had just popped the lid off the last of her paint cans when her phone started vibrating in her pocket. Digging it out, she smiled reflexively when she saw Lena's name and number on the screen.

"Hey, what's up?" Kara asked. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. At least, I think so." Lena sounded agitated. "I tried to log into the nursery cameras, since it's almost time for Ali's nap, but the VPN wouldn't connect. I called Amaeri, and she assures me that everything is fine. I was just wondering, if you had time, and didn't mind, if you could swing by the apartment just to make sure?"

Before Kara could say yes, Lena continued talking. "It's not that I don't trust her. I do. I wouldn't be able to leave Ali with her if I didn't, but I would feel better if you could confirm that everything is in fact, okay. I really hate to ask this of you, I'm probably just being silly. You know what, never-"

"Lena," Kara interrupted with a laugh. "It looks like I'm moving out not a moment too soon, my habit of rambling seems to be rubbing off on you. To answer your original question, yes, I will be happy to swing by the apartment and make sure everything is really okay."

"You're sure you don't mind?" Lena asked.

"I'm positive. Give me a few minutes, and I will let you know what I find out." Kara ended the call, and put her phone back in her pocket. She could tell Lena was worried, so she felt a tiny bit guilty about making her wait, but Kara didn't want to get back to her suspiciously fast. She had told Lena she was working at CatCo all day. Kara applied a quick coat of primer to the wall where Ali's crib usually was. Once she was finished, she sent Lena a text assuring her that everything was fine, and not to worry.

Kara grinned happily when Lena replied with a heart, and a simple 'You're the best!' Stowing her phone once again, Kara examined the wall critically, hands on hips, and head tilted to the side. Finally making up her mind, she dipped a brush in her tin of red paint, and got to work.

"Why do my eyes have to be closed?" Lena asked with a laugh, letting Kara lead her down the hallway by the hand. The hand wasn't strictly necessary, but Lena wasn't going to fight Kara on it.

"Because it's a surprise. Obviously. Have you never gotten a surprise before?" Kara joked.

"Not that I can recall, no," Lena answered honestly, earning a shocked gasp from Kara. "At least, not a good one."

"This is definitely a good one," Kara promised.

"Where are we going?" Lena questioned, playing along. Given that they were walking down the hallway, there weren't that many options.

"You'll see in a second," Kara chided. "So impatient."

"It's a character flaw," Lena admitted drolly.

"Okay, here we are," Kara said, drawing Lena to a stop. Lena heard a door click, and then Kara was grabbing her hand again, and drawing her forward. The scent of powder, and that smell that was unique to babies hit Lena's nose. Ali's nursery.

"Open up," Kara instructed, sounding slightly nervous to Lena's ears.

Lena blinked her eyes open, relieved to have use of all her senses once again. It took her a moment to realize what she was seeing, but when it finally registered, she gasped.

"Oh my god, Kara, it's gorgeous." There, spread out on wall in a blaze of brilliant color, was a mural. It was a solar system, but not one with which Lena was familiar. The large red star that anchored one corner of the image could only be Rao. Over the last few weeks, Lena had slowly been asking Kara questions about her home world. She was curious, but hadn't wanted to press Kara, or make her uncomfortable.

From Rao, flowed a number of planets, the two largest almost certainly Krypton and Daxam. The galactic scene blended almost seamlessly into a landscape. Soaring architecture, the likes of which Lena had never seen, and animals that looked both vaguely familiar, yet unquestionably alien.

"You're not mad?" Kara worried. Lena tore her eyes away from the mural to look at Kara in disbelief.

"Why on earth would I be mad? It's amazing," Lena gestured toward the wall. "Isn't it," Lena asked Ali, who Kara was holding in one arm. Ali let out a loud shriek, and kicked her legs enthusiastically. "See, Ali thinks so too. It's unanimous."

Kara shrugged. "I did kind of paint a huge wall without asking you first."

Lena waved her hand dismissively. "You know I wanted to liven the nursery up. I just couldn't decide what to do." Lena turned back to the wall, spreading her arms wide. "This. This I never could have imagined." Lena stepped forward, bringing her finger to the wall, hesitating and looking back to Kara for confirmation it was dry before trailing her fingers lightly over the surface.

"I take it this is Rao, and Krypton, and Daxam?" Lena looked over her shoulder again, and saw Kara nod.

"I wanted her to experience a small piece of home, however limited it may be." Kara stepped forward, coming to a stop beside Lena, looking at the mural with a touch of melancholy. "I don't know that much about Daxam. I was only a kid when I left, and most of what I heard...wasn't complimentary. Unfortunately, the data that Mon-el left only included medical information, and nothing on their culture.

The Fortress had a few data entries though, so I was able to reconstruct a little bit of the architecture. The rest is mostly from Krypton, which, I know she doesn't technically have a tie to, but...it was as close as I could get."

Lena grasped Kara's forearm, squeezing it gently. "It's amazing, and I'm sure she'll love it. Just like I'm sure she will love you telling her stories about Rao, and Daxam, and Krypton."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Kara sighed, a sound of relief. "I'm glad you like it," Kara admitted with a grin.

"I love it," Lena corrected.

Lena looked at the wall again, taking in the whole expanse. Lena did love it. It was obvious that Kara had poured her heart and soul into the mural. It wasn't merely a painting, it was a piece of Kara. A piece Lena would cherish always.