Maggie woke up to a smell she hadn't smelt in years. Maggie looked over to see Zack and Alex asleep so Maggie slowly crept out of bed and into the kitchen.
"Morning mom," Maggie said causing Stacy to turn around with a fright.
"I'm sorry mom I didn't mean to frighten you." Maggie said moving next to her mom.
Stacy took a few deep breaths, "it's okay sweetie I guess I'm still getting use to the idea of having people around."
Maggie looked to the stove and smile, "are you making-."
Stacy smiled, "your favorite Banana Bread French Toast. At least I hope you still like it, it's been so long I'm not exactly sure anymore." Stacy ducked her head and turned towards the stove.
Maggie fiddled with her fingers, "when I first moved to Gotham I tried to make it over and over again but they never came out right. It's like I was missing an ingredient."
"Well maybe one day I could teach you how to make it."
"Yea I'd like that. Thanks mom."
"Now go sit the first batch is almost ready." Maggie did as she was told. Stacy brought two mugs of coffee then two plates full of French toast to the table.
"I was hoping you and I could have breakfast before I make some more for the rest of the family. Is that okay with you."
"Yea, honestly I was hoping that I would get to spend a bit more with you before we go back home."
Stacy reached out for Maggie's hand, "Maggie that means more than you know. So tell me about your life."
"Okay well I you probably know I got a full ride to UCLA where I double majored in criminal justice and forensic biology. From there I got accepted into the police academy at Gotham. I graduated top of my class there and worked as a cop for about six months on the streets there. It was um… hard to say the least. I saw a lot of things and the system was corrupted but I managed. I got promoted to detective, the youngest in Gotham's history actually. Then I got an offer for National City's Science Division and I couldn't say no."
"Maggie you have done so amazing for yourself. I wish nonna could be here to see you florish, she would be so proud of you."
Tears flooded Maggie's eyes, "you think?"
Stacy cupped Maggie's cheek, "I know so sweetheart. I actually have something to give you from her." Stacy got up and went to her suitcase and came back with a letter in her hand.
"Nonna gave this to me the day she passed. She told me to give it to you when you turned eighteen." Stacy handed the letter over and Maggie held it as if it were her most prized possession. Maggie wanted to open it right away but she put it next to her plate.
"You don't want to open it?" Stacy asked.
"I do, trust me I really do but Alex taught me the moments like these are precious and we shouldn't take them for granted. I want to spend time with you before this place turns into a mad house. So what are you looking forward to the most in National City?" Maggie asked continuing their conversation.
"Well I'm not really sure. I guess maybe um being able to be my own person. To finally be me without John telling me what I can and cannot do. It may sound stupid but I want to be able to go for a walk without having to ask for permission. I want to be able to order my own food without John ordering for me. I want to be free." Stacy finished without realizing that there were tears falling down her face. Maggie moved to her mom's side and hugged her.
"Mom you will be able to do all that and more I promise. Maybe on your walks you could bring Gertie with you?"
Stacy looked at Maggie confused, "who is Gertie?"
"Well Gertie is the dog that Alex and I are surprising Zack with when we get home."
"You're getting a dog!" Stacy asked excitedly.
"Yea we've been talking about it for a while and we think that, that is the next step."
"I've always wanted a dog but when Zack came into the picture we held off. Having a puppy and a child at once seemed a bit extreme especially with our jobs."
"I can only imagine, I was a stay-at-home mom with you and you were a handful."
"Hey! I wasn't that bad."
Stacy looks at Maggie with a stern motherly look, "is it only me who remembers yelling your name every night before supper because you were too busy playing outside. And a certain someone would always come home dirty."
"Oh okay fine but I was having fun. There's nothing wrong with fun."
"To a certain point Maggie. There is a way to have fun without needing to do laundry every week."
"Okay I admit since Zack I hate that I have to do laundry more. I see your point I'm sorry."
"Being a mother changes your prospective on life."
The mood shifts, "when I look at Zack.. I feel… so much love.. and um can't help but wonder… why dad kicked me out… How could his love for some nonexistent god be more than his own child?"
Maggie wiped the tears from her face.
"Maggie I wish I could give you an answer I really do. I'm so sorry. He was such an awful man I wish he showed that side of him before I married him. He did only one thing right."
"And what was that?"
"He allowed me to give birth to you and I wouldn't trade you for the world." Stacy got up and came back in seconds with a scrapbook in hand. She handed Maggie the scrapbook.
"When I looked you up at the library I kept all the things I could find in this book and hid in in the library. I brought it home the other day to add more sheets. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I never, I mean never stopped loving you."
Maggie wiped more tears as she looked through the pages. Maggie got to one paged and laughed, "how did you find this picture?"
It was a picture of Maggie with her legs crossed at Alex's waste kissing Alex in the middle of the pride parade.
"I got one of the high school kids to show me how to use the internet. It was really difficult to learn but I'm glad I did."
Alex walks in with a sleepy Zack, "Maggie babe are you okay?" Alex asked seeing Maggie and Stacy with tear stained and red puffy eyes.
Maggie looks up with a wide smile, "yea Alex I'm perfect." She says then looks to her mom with the same smile. Alex looks between the two and smiles knowing something good happened that Maggie will tell her later.
"Mama?" Zack asks for Maggie holding his hands out for Maggie.
"Come here my sweet boy." Maggie said grabbing Zack and sitting next to her mom.
"Can you say good morning grandma?" Maggie asked.
Zack looks to Stacy, holds out his hand for hers. He kisses her hand, "good morning grandma."
"Well aren't you a gentleman."
Zack smiles with pride, "moms say be nice and make people smile. You have a nice smile grandma."
Stacy smiles even brighter, "thank you Zack. Alex please sit, I want to make you breakfast."
"Oh you don't need to do that Stacy."
"Please I insist it's the least I can do. Plus you can try Maggie's favorite breakfast."
"Babe nothing beats her Banana Bread French Toast trust me." Maggie said pulling out the chair next to her. Alex sat down then leaned over to kiss Maggie.
"Ew." Zack said trying to push their faces apart.
"But Zack you love our kisses why can't we kiss each other."
"They only for me." Everyone laughed. Stacy brought over the next batch. Erin joined the table after smelling the French toast.
"Oh my god this is so good," Alex said stuffing her face.
"Babe slow down or your going to choke."
Stacy laughed, "Alex there will be plenty more in the time to come. So what is the plan for today?"
"Can I play with grandma?" Zack asked his moms.
"How about we all take a trip to the special place?" Stacy looked at Maggie who then whispered the place in her hear.
"Oh Maggie that is a perfect idea." Stacy whispers it to Erin who lights up at the suggestion as well.
"So I'm not allowed to know." Alex pouted.
Maggie smirks, "nope but trust me you'll love this."
Everyone got dressed as soon as breakfast was over and headed out to the car.
"So the drive is about an hour and change just to give you a baseline on how far we are babe." Maggie said as she pulled out the driveway. Alex sat next to Zack who was playing with his batman action figure. Alex grew antsy as they got closer and closer. Erin, Stacy and Maggie talked the whole way there. Maggie checked up on Alex every once and a while, knowing Alex would have control issues with not knowing where they were.
"Babe we'll be there in 5 minutes okay." Maggie reassured Alex. Alex looked out the window anxiously until she sees a rocket. Alex's eyes were glued to the statue. Maggie looked through the rear view mirror and smirked at Alex's face.
"Is that where we're going Mags?" Alex points to the museum.
"Yup it's the strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum."
Zack lights up at the name and Alex looks out the window excitedly. As they walk into the building Alex is overcome with emotion. She's known about this place ever since her dad pointed out every single museum in the country but with so much on her mind she didn't think to come here. Jeremiah would tell her all about the aircrafts that the museum would restore. He told Alex stories of him traveling to the museum when he was younger to help with the restoration of the more difficult aircrafts. Maggie got them tickets for a tour of the facility to start with. The tour takes them through the various exhibits like the black hole exhibit, where Alex whispers corrections to the tour guides facts in Maggie's ear. They pass through the Astronaut and Martian Bomber Plant exhibits in no time. The last leg of the tour before transitioning to the children's section was the Aircraft collection.
"Maggie this is amazing!" Alex says loudly.
"I knew you'd like it," Maggie kisses Alex's cheek.
"Did you know I could probably pilot more than half of these planes right now?"
Maggie looked at Alex surprised, "we're married and you didn't tell me that you can fly a plane."
The tour of the aircrafts begins, "I got my pilots license right out of high school as a way to feel closer to my dad. Then when I got to the DEO it came in handy. I haven't flown in a few years." Alex says as they arrive to an aircraft called the B-25 "Mitchell."
Alex remembers her dad talking about his restoration of this plane and how difficult it was. The museum had a tradition that after each aircraft was restored, there would be a ceremony and a picture of all the volunteers that help. This picture would be placed in the section where the aircraft sat. Alex ignored the tour moving on and stood in front of the picture.
Alex gasped putting her hand in front of her mouth.
"Alex what's wrong," Maggie said immediately going to Alex's side.
Alex pointed to the picture where her dad stood, "Maggie that's my dad. Jeremiah use to come here."
Coincidentally the head engineer was walking by them and caught Alex's words. He froze and looked to Alex, "I'm sorry to interrupt but do you mean Jeremiah Danvers?"
Alex nodded, "I'm Alex Danvers his daughter."
"Well I'll be damned the last time I saw a picture of you, you were still in your stroller." The engineer laughed. The saw the puzzled looks and explained, "we worked on this aircraft when you were about three years old I believe. It was the last time he volunteered here. If he wasn't working on the remodel he was busy showing pictures of you to all the other volunteers. You know what why don't you all come with me I have a few people I would like to introduce you too."
As they walked Alex held onto Maggie's hand for dear life, "is this real?"
"Yes Alex this is real. You get to see another part of your dad. The dad you remembered. This is a good thing."
Erin, Stacy and Zack talked away behind the couple still amazed by all the information that has been given to them.
The engineer, Greg, takes them to a employees only section and straight to the director of the facility. The walk straight in and the engineer guy says, "Felix you aren't going to believe who I found touring the aircrafts." He points to Alex, "this is Alex Danvers Jeremiahs daughter."
Felix looks at her with shock and happiness. He gets up and engulfs her in a hug.
"It is truly an honor to meet you Alex. Your father was an amazing man and did wonders for this museum. Heck he help build most of the older models we have here."
"I remember him talking about some of his projects here but especially the B-25 Mitchell. He called it his pride-in-joy."
The two men laugh, "he was the only one to understand the blueprints to it. He directed a group of 5 workers to assist in and they restored it in record time." Felix walks to his bookshelf and grabs a picture and hands it to Alex.
"This was taken just after you were born I believe. We needed his help on a part for one of the planes but he refused to leave your side so we flew to… where was it…. Something with an M I think… umm… Oh Midvale. We flew to Midvale and he fixed it from there. You were an adorable baby Alex." Alex blushed. Felix looked to the rest of the group, "who did you bring with you?"
"This is my wife Maggie, her mother Stacy, her aunt Erin, and our son Zack."
Felix and Greg beam, "you have a wonderful family Alex. Any chance you've got your pilots license?" Felix asked.
"Yea why?"
"Well we have an air show coming up in a few weeks and we are in desperate need of another pilot for the SR-71A Blackbird. If you would be interested we would love to have you join us."
Alex looked stunned. She turned to Maggie who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Would that be okay with you Mags?" Alex asks not wanting to make the decision on her own.
"I get to see my hot wife in a pilot suit flying a plane. Hell yeah I'm in." Everyone laughs and Alex says, "well I guess we have our answer." She holds her hand out to shake Greg and Felix's hands, "it would be an honor."
"We'll get the paper work squared away no problem and send you all the information you need to know. It's good having another Danvers at the facility, your father truly was a great man."
"Mama I wanna play!" Zack says bored from all the talking and not understanding.
"Have you been to the children's section yet?"
"No that was actually our next stop."
"We apologize for keeping you and your family. It was a pleasure to meet you all and hope you'll come to the airshow next month. Alex we'll keep in touch."
They said their good-byes and headed to the children's section.
"Small world," Erin said breaking the silence.
"It really is. I cannot believe I didn't link his stories to this place. I mean what are the odds."
"I don't mean to be rude but what happened to your father?" Stacy curiously asked.
Alex scowled, "the man I knew to be my father is gone." Alex said with a cold tone. She hoped they would never have to find out truly what happened to him.
"I'm sorry for your loss Alex it seems he touched a lot of people." Thankfully they arrived and Zack caught all their attention by screaming with happiness. There were so many stations for children of all ages.
Zack ran from station to station but especially loved the Bernouilli Blower, which focused on airflow and pressure on various objects. Every time an object would float in the air Zack would laugh.
"Fly!" He would say clapping his hands. Alex would put another object in and would get the same response. Eventually Zack tired out and nestled himself on Maggie's hip falling asleep in minutes. Alex noticed how tired Erin and Stacy were as well and whispered to Maggie, "Mags I think we should head home."
Maggie saw what Alex saw, "I think you're right babe. At least we know we'll be back next month yea?" Maggie kissed Alex then they headed out. Alex and Maggie took the front while the other three slept in the back the whole way home. Alex rubbed her thumb across Maggie's knuckles.
Maggie looks to Alex, "I told my mom about Gertie."
"So you finally agree to the name."
"Only because I get to pick out which one we get, that is the deal yes?"
"Of course babe." Alex kisses Maggie's knuckles then looks to the back seat, "do you think your mom is going to be okay?"
"I think she has a tough road ahead of her but she's got us and if I've learned anything, having the right people who love you and support you and heal any old wounds."
"You ready to go back?"
"Honestly yes, this vacation wasn't exactly relaxing. Insightful and necessary yes but I wish we could have just one vacation that could be stress free."
"One day, we'll have that one day. Do you ever imagine what life will be like for us when we're old and retired?"
Alex laughs, "yea I see us as the cool grandmas who smoke weed and travel."
Maggie cracks up, "seriously Danvers."
"What weed scientifically has no dangerous side effects and a great relaxer, come on you've tried it, right?"
Maggie shook her head, "wait seriously, you never tried weed?"
"I'm guessing by that you have."
"Yea I have. The first year at the DEO I'd smoke on my days off so I could relax after J'onn kicking my ass well before I got pregnant."
"Were you not drug tested?"
"Only during recruitment. I've never heard of a DEO agent get drug tested and now that it's legal in National City who knows."
"Oh my god Alex am I going to wake up one night to you smoking a joint because you couldn't sleep."
Alex smirks, "you never know."
Maggie looks at Alex with her "are you serious looks."
"I'm kidding Mags we have a kid for god sakes. I'd never smoke around the house. I haven't smoked in years."
"Well who knows it sounds like it could be fun."
"Damn I thought I'd need to convince you more."
"Ride or Die babe."
"God I love you Maggie Sawyer."
"Love you too Alex Danvers."
"Oh my god you two lovebirds are ridiculous," Erin mumbled her eyes still closed.