On Friday morning, Kara had another session with Lizzie. They talked about Kara's time with Melissa, and Lizzie was happy to see Kara embracing her role as mentor and friend. Lizzie herself had plans to talk with Melissa later in the day – Kara's request had convinced her to find time to work with the young woman. And knowing how invested Kara was in Melissa's progress, Lizzie was eager to do what she could to keep the younger woman safe.

The two women also talked about Kara's conversation with James. Kara was hurt by James's dismissal of their relationship, and by his lack of trust in her judgment. When pressed, Kara admitted that this was not the first time James had lost faith in her. She recalled that he had once called Superman to rescue her, rather than trusting Kara to handle it herself. "I know he's trying to protect me, but he needs to accept that I'm a grown woman and can make my own choices." She shook her head. "I don't know how I thought there could be something between us, if he can't treat me like an equal."

Lizzie nodded. However, the woman felt obligated to point out the obvious: What Kara had with Cat was something special. "Isn't it better the way things worked out?" she asked, smiling.

Kara smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I guess it is."

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While Kara was talking to Lizzie, James had decided to take matters into his own hands. He knocked on Cat Grant's door early that morning. Seeing him, the media mogul stiffened, and then leveled her gaze at the photographer. "May I help you?" she asked politely, though the look in her eyes made it obvious that she was not inclined to be particularly helpful.

James entered the office and closed the door. "Ms. Grant," he began, "I wanted to talk with you about Kara."

Cat knew exactly where this was heading, but she wasn't about to encourage him. She removed her glasses, and glared. "What about her?"

She's not going to make this easy for me, James thought. He sighed, and continued, "Kara talked with me yesterday. She said that she… you're dating?"

"Well, I don't see how that's any of your business. But yes, we are." She kept her glare focused on James, as if daring him to continue this conversation.

"Ms. Grant… Kara is so young, and very naïve. She sees the best in everyone. I don't think she understands what's really going on here. I just don't want to see her get hurt."

Cat stood up, and slowly crept toward James, like a feline on the prowl. She made her way across the office, stopping directly in front of him. In a low, dangerous voice, she demanded, "And what, exactly, is going on here, James?"

James sighed. "Ms. Grant, anyone can see how beautiful and amazing Kara is, and I can understand the temptation. But you take pride in doing the right thing. You can't allow this to happen. She thinks she has a future with you, and that's not fair to her."

"I see," Cat said, her voice deadly.

"I'm just trying to look out for Kara. She doesn't deserve this."

Cat stared for another minute. Finally, she asked softly, "Are you finished?"

James nodded.

"Good," Cat said, in a quiet voice filled with barely controlled fury. "Then Get. Out."

James stood there for another moment, before beginning to speak. "Ms. Grant–"

Cat's control finally snapped. "Now!" she yelled. James turned and left.

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When Kara arrived at her desk, she saw Winn signaling her desperately. "Watch out, Kara. Ms. Grant has already threatened to fire three people this morning. She's on the warpath." Kara was surprised to hear that. When she had left the house that morning – after a rather unconventional morning workout – Cat had been in an outstanding mood. She wondered what had happened to set the woman off.

"Kiera!"

Kara lifted the latte in her hand. "I guess I'll see for myself." She entered the office.

"Shut the door," Cat said quietly.

Kara frowned, and then turned to shut the door.

"James came to see me this morning," Cat continued, her quiet voice filled with fury. "He asked me to break up with you."

"He… what?" Kara asked incredulously.

"He doesn't want to see you get hurt. He thinks you see a future with me, and that's not fair to you." Cat's face was carefully devoid of any emotion.

"He… I… A future… is not fair to me?"

"Do you, Kara?"

"Um… do I what?" Kara was thoroughly overwhelmed. The world was moving too fast for her right now.

"Do you see a future with me?" Cat finally looked at her, and Kara could see that it was not just anger in her eyes. Cat was hurt, and scared.

"Cat, of course I see a future with you. I don't want to be with anyone else. I just want to be part of your life – yours and Carter's."

"Kara, you're so much younger than me. We are at different stages in life. This relationship can't possibly work in the long term."

Kara forced herself to ignore her rising panic. She thought about the fear that she'd seen on Cat's face. Cat wouldn't be afraid if she didn't still want this to work. "Cat, I don't care about the age difference, or what stage of life I'm in. I'm not even human, so nothing about this relationship is typical. I care about how I feel about you. I love you, and I don't want to be with anyone else. I'm yours, for as long as you'll have me."

Cat looked at her, and Kara could see the emotions swimming in her eyes. "Kara…" she began, worried that Kara wasn't seeing things clearly.

Kara beckoned with her hand. "Cat, come with me."

Cat looked at her quizzically, but followed Kara to the balcony. When they had turned the corner, she found herself tucked into Kara's arms. Suddenly, she was being lifted off the ground. "Kara, what–"

Her question was cut off by Kara's lips. As they ascended, Kara kissed her gently and thoroughly. In surprise, Cat looped her arms around Kara's neck, and responded automatically to the kiss.

Eventually, Kara pulled away slightly, only to rest her forehead against Cat's, her lips within inches of Cat's own. "Cat, that's how I feel about you. That's real. That's what matters to me. I love you, and nothing is going to change that. Nothing."

Cat looked into her eyes, and saw the love and determination in them. She cursed herself for second-guessing what she knew they had between them. She initiated a long, passionate kiss of her own, and Kara eagerly responded.

When they finally came up for air, Cat looked down at National City, which was spread far below. "Did you really have to bring me all the way up here to tell me that?"

Kara smiled. "It got your attention, didn't it?" She brushed a lock of hair out of Cat's eyes. "I thought we needed a few minutes alone. I wanted you to listen to me."

Cat smiled. "I love you, Kara."

"I love you too, Cat," Kara said, grinning widely.

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Late that afternoon, Kara was shocked to see Lucy step off the elevator at CatCo. As she stood up to greet her friend, Kara noticed that Lucy looked focused and angry. "Lucy?" she said in greeting. "Are you okay?"

Lucy shook her head and kept walking. "I'm here to see James. Don't get in my way."

"O… okay?"

Lucy stepped into James's office and slammed the door.

"Um," James said. "Lucy. Hi."

She stepped forward and smacked James on the chest. "How DARE you! Who the hell do you think you are, telling Cat what to do?" Alex had filled her in briefly, after talking with Kara earlier in the day. She was furious.

James sighed. "Lucy, I was just trying to look out for Kara."

"Look out for Kara." Lucy repeated. She stared at him, hardly believing what she was hearing. "Look out for Kara? Where the hell have you been for the last three weeks? NOW you try to help her?"

"For the last three… Lucy, what are you talking about? Kara and I had a disagreement, and we talked it over yesterday. We're okay."

"You still think this is all about you," Lucy said, shaking her head. "James, have you seen Kara lately? Have you seen Supergirl?"

"No, I, uh… Kara said she was sick from the Kryptonite for a week or so, and then everything was back to normal, right?"

"You really have no idea. James, while you were off sulking because of whatever awful things Kara said to you about me, she nearly died. Twice. One of those was an attempt to take her own life." James stared at Lucy in shock, his eyes wide. "And you know who was there for her, while you weren't? Alex, and Cat Grant. That's it. And whatever she said about me, I deserved it, because I was awful to her too. If it hadn't been for Alex and Cat, she'd be gone right now."

"Lucy, what did she–"

Lucy held up her hand. "Don't bother. I'm only telling you enough to make you understand. If you want more details, you'll have to ask Kara. If she'll even talk to you."

James closed his eyes and nodded sadly.

"So back off, James. Don't think you know what's going on here, and don't you dare judge Cat for what's happened." Her voice softened. "What the two of them have… James, it's what I hoped we would have one day. It's real."

She turned and opened the door. "I mean it. Stay away from them." She slammed the door shut and walked out.

Twenty minutes later, James arrived at Kara's desk. "Kara, would it be possible for me to talk with you and Ms. Grant? Together?"

Kara glared at him. "Haven't you done enough talking already?"

"Please, Kara. Give me a chance."

Kara glanced at Cat, who was already standing up. She had been about to come out of her office and throw James out of the building. How dare he even try to talk to Kara right now? She was surprised to see Kara and James stepping into her office. She leveled her fiercest glare at James. "This," she said dangerously, "had better be good."

"I came to apologize," James said. Neither woman spoke, so he continued. "I thought I knew what was going on. I thought I knew a lot of things, and clearly I was wrong. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what I said."

Cat simply continued to glare at him. Kara nodded in acknowledgement. "You were wrong, James," she said quietly. "I hope you realize that."

James nodded. "I'll leave you two alone. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive me." He left the room.