Ava had her hands around the mug of hot chocolate. She was looking at Eliza as she took a drink of her coffee. "She is going to wake up, isn't she?" Ava questioned. She sounded so young, so innocent, so child-like.
Eliza let a puff of air escape between her lips. She didn't know the answer, but she didn't want to put anymore doubt into Ava's young mind. "I'm sure Maggie won't give up easily," Eliza answered. "She has too much to lose. Too much good to come back for," Eliza said. "Alex, Emmi and Jellybean and she's just found you."
"Yeah and I almost got her killed," Ava exhaled, feeling terrible for what she'd caused to happen. "She moved in front of that bullet. That was supposed to hit me," Ava welled up with tears. "It's all my fault, Eliza," Ava swallowed a lump in her throat. "It's all my fault that she's in this situation and Alex….Alex has been so nice to me. I don't even know how she can look at me right now."
Eliza held her hand out across the table and Ava put her hand into Eliza's, Eliza squeezing Ava's hand tightly in comfort. "Ava, blaming yourself for what happened isn't going to do you any good," Eliza told her. "And as stupid an idea as it was, Alex knows it was not your intention to get your sister shot," Eliza told her. "It was a horrific accident dear, and getting mad at you, yelling, whatever, isn't going to magically change anything," Eliza told her. Ava pursed her lips, looking downwards. "All that matters is that Maggie recovers from this." Eliza loved Maggie like she was her own daughter and was desperately hoping that Maggie would recover. She knew how much it would destroy Alex if she lost Maggie and she'd hate to lose Maggie too.
"Yeah, I guess you are right," Ava looked back up to Eliza, a hopeful smile on her face. "Everyone is saying that Maggie is so strong and tough and that she'll can fight this."
"She is," Eliza had to agree. "And she's gotten through the surgery. There's no reason why she won't wake up." Eliza said, Ava giving a little smile.
"I just hope I haven't ruined everything," Ava spoke quietly. "I'd understand if Maggie wanted me out of her life after what I did, but I….I want to stay with her and Alex."
"Look, she is your family and she will never turn her back on you," Eliza said. She knew the hurt that Maggie felt at being thrown out by her parents, and she knew that Maggie wouldn't ever do that to anyone, that she wouldn't ever wish it or bring it upon her little sister, especially considering she'd already been through it once. "You might have to put up with the mad side of Maggie for a while, but I promise you, Ava, you will always have a home with Maggie and Alex." Eliza knew they'd never throw her out onto the streets, so she knew she'd be okay in promising that to Ava, but she understood Ava's worry that Maggie might be annoyed at her for what happened.
Ava pursed her lips, giving a little nod. "The mad side of Maggie," Ava repeated. "How bad is that, exactly?" Ava wondered. She knew Maggie was well within her rights to be mad at her, both for not listening to her and following them to the warehouse, and for causing Maggie to get shot.
"Let's not have you worrying about that," Eliza shook her head before she glanced at her watch. "We'll give them about 10 minutes or so then we'll get you across to see your sister," Eliza said, picking up her coffee cup and taking a drink. "Sound okay?" Eliza questioned.
"Hmm." Ava nodded, her lips pursed, mixed feelings in the pit of her stomach for going to see Maggie.
The doctor put the chart into the holder at the end of Maggie's bed before leaving the room after having done the necessary checks on Maggie. Emmi was sitting on the bed, cuddling into Maggie's right side. She was shot on her left, the area still very tender and sore, so Alex made sure to keep Emmi away from it. Apart from the wound that was still healing, Maggie had woken up perfectly fine. She was sore and believe it or not, tired, but the main thing was that she was okay. Maggie had been getting checked over since waking up, so Alex and Maggie were only now finally getting the chance to talk. "So, I don't even get to have a few days at home in Midvale?" Alex questioned. "You had to go get yourself shot? Like, really babe, if you were missing me that much you should have just called and asked me to come home." Alex joked.
Maggie chuckled lightly before wincing, her hand going down to her wound. "Thought it would be more fun this way."
"Seriously though," Alex shook her head. "Maggie, I….I don't know how I would have coped if you'd -"
"Hey, no," Maggie was playing with one of Emmi's braids as she spoke. "We are not going to think about that," Maggie shook her head lightly, looking into her wife's eyes. Maggie still looked so pale, but Alex figured she'd just need a few days to get back to 100 per cent. She pursed her lips before she cleared her throat. "How's Ava?" Maggie murmured quietly.
"She feels awful for what happened," Alex told her, knowing just how bad Ava felt. "She's with my Mum at the canteen right now. I should probably go tell them you've woken up."
"Later," Maggie said. "I just want to see you and Emmi right now," Maggie spoke quietly, still playing with Emmi's braid. Alex watched her wife, seeing her suck in her bottom lip. "Do you know if Eileen and Tina were captured?" Maggie asked, moving the subject on from Ava as quickly as she started it.
Alex nodded her head. "They've been taken out to Camp 17." Alex said, and Maggie widened her eyes.
"Well I can't say I'm sorry," Maggie murmured. "And at least that's going to be the end of this mess now," Maggie added. "And we can enjoy being a family. The three of us and little Jellybean." Maggie smiled down at Emmi.
Emmi looked a little confused as she looked to her mother. "And Auntie Ava and Peanut?" Emmi questioned.
Maggie bit her lip, glancing at Alex before looking back down to Emmi. "Sure." Maggie spoke softly but Alex could pick up on her uncertainty. Alex was well aware that Maggie had the right to be angry at Ava over what happened.
"Maggie she -"
"Alex," Maggie shook her head, cutting Alex off. Alex twisted her lip, knowing Maggie didn't want to bring this up in front of Emmi. "So, Emmi," Maggie looked down to her daughter. "How was Midvale?" Maggie questioned.
"It was fun, but I missed you too much," Emmi told her. "I won't go away again without you." Emmi said, cuddling into Maggie. She placed her hand onto her stomach but was careful to not to touch near where Maggie's wound was.
"Good because Mama doesn't want you going anywhere without her again," Maggie told her. "You or Mummy," Maggie said. "Or little Jellybean."
"Mama, did you hear us when we were talking to you?" Emmi wondered.
"Uh, no sweetie," Maggie shook her head. "Mama was in a very, very, deep sleep."
"Oh," Emmi pursed her lips. "Well do you want to hear about my time in Midvale?" Emmi questioned as she carefully sat herself up on the bed, reaching over to the bedside unit and lifting up the shell.
"I'd love too." Maggie answered her with a smile.
"This is only one of the shells I got you. The rest are at home." Emmi said handing the shell to Maggie.
Maggie took it in her hand and ran her thumb over it, the shell almost love heart shaped, pink speckles all over it. "Well that is a pretty shell." Maggie looked to Emmi with a smile.
"Okay Emmi," Alex stood up from the chair. "You tell Mama all about Midvale and I'm going to go tell Auntie Ava and Grandma that she's woken up, okay?" Alex said, and Emmi nodded as she looked up to her.
"Okay." Emmi smiled up at her.
Alex ruffled the top of Emmi's hair before looking to Maggie. "I'll be back soon," Alex said, leaning down and placing a kiss on her wife's lips. Maggie smiled into the kiss, it deepening a little. "I love you, Maggie Danvers." Alex murmured placing another kiss on her lips. She felt a huge relief that her wife was going to be okay. There was still the recovery to get through, but that was going to be manageable.
"I love you too." Maggie replied, the couple sharing yet another kiss.
"Stop kissing," Emmi giggled, her hand going onto Alex's cheek, like she was pushing her away. "Go get Ava and Grandma." Emmi instructed her mother. Alex looked to Emmi and raised her eyebrows, before looking to Maggie, both of them grinning cheekily. They shared one more kiss before Alex left the room to get Ava and Eliza, and to let Emmi tell Maggie all about her time in Midvale.
After chatting with Maggie for a bit, Eliza excused herself. She knew Ava wanted to talk to Maggie about what happened, that she wanted to apologise, so she left her to have some time alone with her sister. Maggie was staring at Ava, like she knew she was wanting to say something, so she kept quiet, just waiting till Ava spoke. "Maggie, I am so sorry," Ava said, feeling her eyes glossing over. "That bullet should have hit me and you…." Ava trailed off.
"I could have died, Ava," Maggie pushed herself up further in the bed, trying to get comfier. She winced as she aggravated her gun shot wound. "Worse yet, you could have died. You and your baby," Maggie spoke with anger in her voice. "What the hell were you thinking?" Maggie raised her voice a little.
"I guess I wasn't," Ava shrugged. "I just wanted to help you keep Emmi safe."
"That is not your job," Maggie retorted. "Your utter stupidity and lack of respect for what you'd been told led to me almost losing my life. Led to Emmi and Jellybean not having their Mama, and Alex," Maggie felt herself getting emotional even at the thought of it. "You almost left Alex without her wife." Maggie's tone was harsh. She was angry with Ava and she had every right to be.
Ava bowed her head. "It wasn't my intention. You are doing so much for me and I -"
"Enough with that," Maggie barked. "I want to help you. I want you to live with us. I want you in my life and by me helping you out, it doesn't mean you owe me or Alex anything," Maggie informed her. "We are acting as your guardians, so you are expected to listen to us and respect what we say," Maggie scolded. "Do you understand?"
"Yes." Ava nodded sheepishly.
"If me or Alex ever tell you that you are not to do something you don't do it. What we say goes," Maggie said. "Understand?" Maggie questioned this again because she wanted to make sure that Ava knew Maggie was being serious. There'd be no messing around and doing as she pleased. She could live with Maggie and Alex for as long as she wanted, but she needed to respect them, and for her sake and safety, there'd be rules.
"I do," Ava nodded again. "I promise that I'll respect you and Alex," Ava told her, Maggie picking up on the sincerity in her little sister's voice. "And I am forever going to be sorry for what I did. For what I caused to happen," Ava said. "And I….I am thankful to you. I mean, you took a bullet for me, Maggie." Ava was stunned at what had happened. Maggie had only known her a few weeks and she'd risked her life for her.
"You are my kid sister," Maggie replied. "In that moment, I…I felt something. I needed to protect you. I…." Maggie shrugged lightly. "I don't know if it's because I'm a mother or that you are my blood relative," Maggie said, playing with a loose thread on the bed sheet. "But I just needed to protect you and your baby."
Ava felt herself welling her up. Maggie was willing to risk her life to save Ava's, even when Ava was there after disobeying Maggie and after only knowing her a few weeks. She felt so lucky to have found her. To have her in her life. She felt lucky for her unborn baby too. This baby was going to be so lucky to have both Maggie and Alex there for it. "Thank you and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
Maggie smiled weakly. "It's okay. But no more DEO mission for you, okay?"
"Oh don't worry," Ava shook her head. "I won't be trying to help with those again any time soon." Ava said, and Maggie gave a little chuckle before she opened her arms out. Ava stood up from the chair and leaned down over the bed, sharing a hug with her sister.
Being at the hospital all morning was proving to be a lot for Emmi to take. Even though Maggie was okay, hospitals were still genuinely not very nice places to be so Eliza had taken Emmi away for a while, saying she'd get her some lunch and take her to the playpark for a little bit. Kara had arrived at the hospital and was with Alex at the canteen. "So, you brought Maggie another bonsai tree?" Alex questioned, staring to the plant as it was on the table.
"Well she's not really into flowers, but she is into bonsai trees, so yeah," Kara nodded. "It makes perfect sense."
"But like, you have seen our house, right?" Alex questioned. "I think she has enough bonsai trees all around the house already." Alex murmured, and Kara gave a little chuckle.
"Well one more won't hurt." Kara noted.
Alex exhaled lightly as she picked up her water and took a drink. "So," Alex looked back to her sister as she ate her lunch. "Is there anything you want to talk to me about?" Alex questioned. She knew something was bothering Kara lately. She hadn't been herself. She'd been more snappy than usual. She'd distanced herself. She didn't come around to the house as much.
"Uh," Kara rubbed the back of her head. "How are you coping?" Kara questioned. "It must be so hard with Maggie being shot and you are 5 months pregnant. Are you looking after yourself okay?" Kara said, Alex staring at her for a moment.
"You know I am not talking about that," Alex shook her head lightly. "Kara, are you okay?"
"Me?" Kara questioned. "I'm worried for Maggie but I -"
"Kara," Alex's voice raised a little as she tilted her head ever so slightly. Kara exhaled lightly, looking downwards. "Is it something to do with James?" Alex questioned. She was pretty sure it wasn't. She knew her sister missed James like crazy, but this wasn't about that, but she wanted to give Kara the chance to open up to her. She wanted Kara to tell her what was bothering her herself.
"Not really," Kara shook her head as she looked back up to her sister. "Alex, I…I'm okay. I don't…there's nothing…." Kara pursed her lips as she pushed at her glasses. "Now isn't the time. We should be concentrating on Maggie getting better."
"Maggie is going to be fine," Alex felt relived as she said the words. "She's got through the surgery, she's woken up without any complications," Alex reminded her sister. "Kara, please. Talk to me."
"I uh…I don't know what you are talking about." Kara cleared her throat.
"Yes you do because you just said now isn't the time," Alex told her. "But now is the perfect time. We are having some lunch and can have a nice chat about it." Alex said.
"Don't you want to get back to Maggie?" Kara questioned.
"Ava is with Maggie," Alex said, her eyes on Kara's face. She saw the look on her face change when she said her name. "You know, she's just a kid, Kara," Alex said. She could see for some unknown reason that Kara didn't want to talk to her about it, but Alex couldn't have her sister and her wife's sister not getting along. They were both family and Alex wanted everyone to be happy. She wanted all her family to get along. "And she is nice."
"I…" Kara exhaled lightly as she gave a shrug. "I guess I just feel like I'm not needed now Ava is around."
"Don't be so ridiculous," Alex replied. "Why would you ever think that?"
"She's just always hanging out with you guys." Kara sighed lightly.
"Well she lives us," Alex retorted. "And she's new here and when she makes solid friendships she'll probably always be out with her friends," Alex said. "You can't seriously be jealous of a 16-year-old?" Alex questioned. Before Kara had the chance to answer, Alex spoke again. "You are a grown woman, Kara. You are almost 30 for crying out loud," Alex's voice squeaked a little as spoke. "She's just been kicked out of her home. She's over a thousand miles away from her friends and all she's ever known and is practically living with strangers," Alex reminded her sister. "Don't you think she needs a little bit more attention right now?"
Kara bit her lip as she rubbed the back of her head. "Well, when you put it like that," Kara exhaled. "I just don't know where my place is anymore," Kara spoke quietly, not quite making eye contact with her sister. "It was me and you. The Danvers sisters," Kara smiled weakly. "Then Maggie came into your life and I had to share a bit of you and then Emmi and you are having Jellybean and now Ava and she's having a baby and I feel like I keep moving further and further away from being needed by you."
"Kara," Alex shook her head lightly. "I've told you, I am always, always, going to need my little sister. You are my family. You are up there in importance in my life with Maggie and my daughters," Alex told her, one of her hands going onto her bump. "Ava is a great kid and I don't think of her as Maggie's kid-sister. She's family. She's my kid-sister, but you are always, always going to be the most important sister. You are so special to me, Kara," Alex told her, leaning forward and taking Kara's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "And Emmi absolutely adores you. She looks up to you so much. And well, maybe Supergirl too, but she loves hanging out with her Auntie K. You let her stay up late and feed her too much candy and you watch all the Disney stuff with her and you race her down the double slide at the playpark," Alex said, Kara giving a little laugh. "You are not ever, ever, going to not be needed in my life," Alex said. "Ava isn't going to replace you. You think anyone could ever replace Kara Danvers?" Alex questioned, rubbing her thumb over her hand. "Please don't feel threatened by Ava. I really think you two would get along so well if you just gave her a chance."
"I guess it's not fair taking my insecurities out on her," Kara exhaled lightly. "And she does seem like a nice girl," Kara noted. "I'll make more of an effort with her, I promise," Kara said, and Alex gave her sister a smile. "I guess I also feel like you don't have as much time for me anymore," Kara spoke honestly. "I was always okay with that. You had your family and you are allowed to have your own life, Rao knows you deserve that," Kara told her. "But I had James then and now I….I get so lonely without him. You are busy with Maggie and Emmi and I'm in my loft….just me."
Alex pursed her lips. "Our door is always open for you, Kara," Alex told her. "And I know that life has been busy for me, especially lately, but if you ever need me, just call and I'll do my best to be there for you." Alex told her. She knew it would still be hard for Kara. That she'd still be getting used to James not being around.
"Yeah, I know you would." Kara lifted her glasses up a little as she removed tears from her cheeks.
"Come here," Alex spoke softly as she let go of her sister's hand and stood up, walking around to her as opened her arms out. Kara stood up and walked into the hug. Alex rubbed her sister's back comfortingly. "Come over to the house tonight, yeah?" Alex told her.
"You are just inviting me because Eliza is here, and you've already spent the last 3 days with her." Kara said, and Alex gave a little chuckle as she pulled back from the hug. Kara knew there was only so much Eliza that Alex could deal with at a time.
"Maybe," Alex murmured. "But hey, it shows that I still need you." Alex said, and Kara gave her a smile before they once again shared a hug, Kara careful not to hug her sister too tightly.
Thoughts? :)