Maggie, Alex and the girls were a few days into their holiday. They'd booked a trip to go snorkelling at the end of the week, but they'd so far just been relaxing by the pool or beach. Emmi was currently at the bottom of the swimming pool, retrieving the three coloured diving sticks that Alex had thrown in for her to collect. Hayden was spinning around as she was in a dinosaur swim ring and Alex was siting on the edge of the pool, her legs dangling in the water as she watched her girls. Hayden grinning widely as she span round and round in the water. "She's making me dizzy just looking at her." Maggie walked over from being at the restroom. She sat down next to her wife, slipping her legs into the water.
"She's not stopped spinning since you left." Alex said.
Maggie smiled, seeing Hayden was having fun. "Well she's having a good time."
"Hmm," Alex nodded. "I hope she's not the only one having a good time."
"No chance," Maggie responded. "This vacation has been great so far," Maggie smiled as she turned her head to look at her wife. "And we are going snorkelling in a couple days' time," Maggie couldn't wait to see Emmi's face when she saw all the fish and hopefully, turtles. Emmi loved sea animals and snorkelling and Maggie loved seeing her daughter so excited and seeing her little face light up. "Ems is going to love it and it'll be Hayden's first time and she'll love it too."
"She'll probably scare all the fish away with her overly excited squeals." Alex mumbled, and Maggie chuckled, glancing to her daughter who'd stopped spinning herself in the water and was now just floating there, looking very relaxed.
"Well it's possible." Maggie murmured.
Alex looked downward as she felt a hand touch her knee. Emmi's head popped up from under the water as she rested her arm over Alex's legs, so she could keep afloat, the water being too deep for her to stand in. "Got them," Emmi lifted her other hand out of the water, the three dive sticks in her hand. "Can you throw them further this time?" Emmi wondered as Alex took the dive sticks in her hand. "I'm going to try to get them all and get back and stay under the water the whole time," Emmi said. "You think I could do it?" Emmi glanced over to Maggie.
"I think you'll give it a good go." Maggie answered.
"Okay, throw them far, Mum." Emmi said, readjusting her goggles on her face.
Alex threw the yellow dive stick first, then the orange one a little further, then lastly, the purple one the furthest. "This is just going to be a practice one then the next time you should time me and see how quick I can get them, okay?"
"Sure," Alex nodded her head lightly. Emmi took a deep breath before she went under the water and swam off to collect the dive sticks. "As much as I love National City and my job, I….I'm loving being here," Alex leaned into her wife a little more, bringing her head down so it was on Maggie's shoulder. "We have no worries. We are having fun with our kids," Alex pointed out. "Relaxing, taking it easy," Alex added. "This week is going so quick and before we know it, we are going to be back in the city and Ems will be in 5th grade. Can you believe it? We are going to have a 5th grader." Alex squeaked, her voice getting all high.
"Well they gotta grow up." Maggie shrugged.
"And little Jelly is going to preschool," Alex said. "Before we know it, they are going to be off at college then getting married and making us grandmothers."
Maggie chuckled. "I think you are getting a little ahead of yourself, babe," Maggie put her hand on Alex's thigh. "That's a long way off yet."
Alex exhaled lightly. "I don't know. The years go quick these days."
"True," Maggie nodded lightly. "Well I guess that's why we just make the most of the time we have now, right?" Maggie looked at Hayden who's started spinning herself around in the water again. "Time with them is precious."
"It is that," Alex pursed her lips, her hand going up to the pendant she wore around her neck for Carter. She glanced at Maggie, seeing she was doing the same with the C pendant she wore. "Maggie, I know I said I -"
"Ooh," Emmi's head popped up, once again leaning herself against Alex's legs. "I made it."
"Yeah, that was good. They were pretty far out." Alex smiled down at her daughter as she handed the dive sticks to Maggie.
"I'm going to drink some of my water then we can do it again and time me this time." Emmi said as she put her hands on the end of the swimming pool and pushed herself out, running over to their sun loungers and picking up her bottle of water from the table.
"What were you going to say?" Maggie wondered.
"Uh, nothing," Alex shook her head. "Let's just enjoy this vacation with our kids," Alex glanced at Hayden who was kicking her legs, making her way back over to her mums. Maggie pursed her lips as she stared at her wife. She thought she was going to say something about them adding to their family or not, but she respected that this was not the time to talk about it. "You having fun, sweetie?" Alex questioned.
"Uh-huh," Hayden nodded. "But can I come out of here?"
"Not if you want to stay in this pool," Maggie answered. "You can take it off in the kiddie pool though." Maggie said. The water in the kiddie pool wasn't deep at all, Hayden able to stand in the pool, the water coming up around her waist.
Hayden scowled, not liking the answer. "Aww c'mon you are having in there anyways," Alex said, reaching forward and pulling Hayden's dinosaur ring closer to her before spinning her around, Hayden giggling in response. "How about you throw these for Emmi to collect then help Mama and I count to see how long she takes?"
"Yeah cos I can throw far and count to lots and lots of numbers." Hayden said as she reached out for the dive sticks, Maggie handing them to her just as Emmi came back over to them, jumping into the water with a splash. Hayden threw each of the sticks out as far as she could before telling Emmi to go fetch, like she would with Trudi.
"Remember to count." Emmi looked to Alex and Maggie who nodded their heads, Emmi taking a deep breath before swimming off under the water to collect the dive sticks, Hayden counting out loud as Maggie and Alex also kept count to see how long it took Emmi to collect all three dive sticks and get back to them.
Jeremiah sat down on the chair, smiling as he picked up the receiver. "Twice in one week," Jeremiah was still smiling as he looked at Kara through the glass. "Do I deserve this?"
Kara pursed her lips. "What did you mean?" Kara questioned. "When you said you did what you had to do to protect your family?"
"Kind of self-explanatory, no?" Jeremiah responded.
Kara exhaled lightly, the pair of them staring at each other in silence for a moment. "Is it the truth though?" Kara questioned. "And what was it? Was Lilian threatening us? Our safety if you didn't comply with her?"
Jeremiah sniggered. "She always wants to take you prisoner, doesn't she?" Jeremiah said. "Me doing something or not doing something for her isn't going to change that."
Kara pursed her lips as she looked downwards for a moment, before looking back to Jeremiah. "So, Alex and Eliza?" Kara questioned. "I know you'd do anything to protect them."
"So, say I did do it to keep them safe," Jeremiah said. "What difference is it going to make?" Jeremiah asked. "I'm still going to be in here for the rest of my life."
"Well, I don't know," Kara shrugged. "Maybe not. Maybe if they know this was forced on you. This wasn't something you willingly did. Maybe you'd get an appeal and get let out."
Jeremiah laughed. "Unless you are going to power me out of here there's no getting out." Jeremiah told her.
"I wouldn't count on me right now," Kara murmured. "My powers are out of whack because of the pregnancy." Kara said it before she even realised she had. She watched as Jeremiah's eyes widened, looking very surprised at the news.
"Well that's great," Jeremiah was very interested to hear about this. "Congratulations. Do tell me more."
"Uh," Kara rubbed the back of her head. "There's not much more to say," Kara shrugged. "Eh….it's twins and I'm dude in December."
"Well that really is fantastic," Jeremiah said. "I…I guess I'm just sad that I'm missing out on all this. You are having kids, Alex has kids," Jeremiah put on a sad face, knowing the more sorry he could make Kara feel for him the better. "They should have their Grandpa with them."
"I know," Kara nodded lightly. "I wish so much things had turned out differently."
"Well maybe they'll listen to Supergirl," Jeremiah told her. "Maybe there is a way you can help get me out of here." Jeremiah sounded hopeful. He'd had enough of living in prison. He would tell Kara what she wanted to hear if it meant a chance at freedom.
"I don't know what I could do," Kara replied. She wished so much she could help him. She wanted to believe he was still capable of being a good guy and doing the right thing. "This is something out of my control."
Jeremiah looked disappointed. "You hold a lot of power in this city, Kara," Jeremiah reminded her. "Maybe there is something you could do for me," Jeremiah said. "After all, you have come to see me, so it must mean something, right?"
"Oh I uhm…." Kara bit her lips as she readjusted her glasses. "I mean, what can I do?" Kara questioned. "I uh….I just wanted to see you were okay."
"Well, I can hardly be okay in this place, can I?" Jeremiah questioned.
"You know what I mean." Kara retorted.
"Clearly I don't," Jeremiah replied. "Maybe I need my wife and my girls and my grandkids," Jeremiah said, giving Kara a pleading look. "C'mon Kara, surely there's something you can do."
"I…." Kara let a puff of air escape between her lips.
"For Alex." Jeremiah knew using Alex to get to Kara would help. It would make her feel guilty.
"I really don't know how to tell you this, but Alex doesn't want to see you," Kara responded. "She uh…not after what you did."
Jeremiah sniggered. "If I have the chance to talk to her. The chance to let her see why I did what I did then I'm sure she'll understand."
"I…" Kara shook her head. "I don't know what you expect me to be able to do." Kara swallowed nervously. She wasn't sure if Jeremiah was being honest or not. Was there actually a reason or was he only saying this to try to get Kara to help him. She couldn't be sure and a big part of her wanted to believe that Jeremiah was being honest and truthful with her. She wanted more than anything for him to be telling her the truth.
"Whatever you can," Jeremiah replied. "Get me out of this place, Kara," Jeremiah told her. "I want you to help get me out of here." Jeremiah stared hard into Kara's eyes, Kara looking back at Jeremiah as she gulped nervously, not knowing what the right thing to do was because her head was telling her one thing but her heart another.
"Cheese," Hayden and Emmi had big grins on their faces as Maggie took their picture, standing on the beach, the sun setting in the background. "Mummy you come in too," Hayden insisted. Alex walked over to her girls, her arm wrapping around Emmi as Hayden wrapped her arms around Alex's legs, hugging against her. Alex put her other hand on Hayden's back, the three of them looking to the camera and smiling as Maggie clicked some pictures of her girls. "Hey, you mister," Hayden ran over to a man that was passing them. He stopped walking and looked down to her, his wife also stopping, smiling down at Hayden. "You take a picture of me and my mummies and my sister please." Hayden clasped her hands together and batted her eyelashes for good measure.
"Uh sure." The man looked to Maggie who handed him the camera.
"Sorry." Maggie glanced down at her daughter who gave a cheeky giggle as she ran back to Alex and Emmi.
"Oh it's not a problem," The man said. "You need family vacation pictures."
Maggie gave him a smile before walking over to join her family, the man taking a few different snaps of them. "Thank you mister man." Hayden grinned at him as he handed the camera back to Maggie.
"No problem. Enjoy your night." The man smiled before continuing his beach walk with his wife.
"Since when did she start asking strangers things?" Alex gestured down to Hayden who was now burying her own feet with the sand.
Maggie shrugged. "I dunno but they're good photos." Maggie eyes were on the screen on the camera, looking at the photos the man had taken.
"Are we going to get dinner soon?" Emmi questioned. "I'm hungry." Emmi's hand was rubbing her stomach as she spoke.
"Yeah," Alex answered. "What do you fancy tonight?"
"Can we go to the Japanese place?" Emmi questioned. "It was so good." Emmi said. They'd already been to a Japanese restaurant during their stay and everyone had loved it.
"Well we were there last night," Maggie reminded her daughter. "How about we go somewhere different tonight?" Maggie suggested.
"Oh." Emmi pouted sadly.
"We can go to the Japanese place again on our last night," Maggie offered. "Huh, how does that sound?"
"Yeah," Emmi smiled at the suggestion. "Uh….maybe we could go for Italian tonight? Get some pizza?"
"Oooh yeah." Alex answered, liking the sound of some pizza.
"Pizza, pizza, pizza." Everyone looked down to Hayden, who was sitting on the sand, her legs below the knee hidden by sand.
Maggie laughed lightly at her daughter. "Looks like Jelly is keen."
"Yeah," Hayden pushed herself up, the sand falling from her as she stood to her feet. "And garlic bread."
"Sounds like dinner is all planned out," Alex said as Hayden took her hand, the four of them walking off the beach. "We best go find a nice pizza restaurant, huh?"
"There lots up here." Hayden pointed towards the town, plenty restaurants to choose from.
"Yeah," Maggie answered before looking to her wife. "Oh, I can't believe we are half way through the vacation already," Maggie was quite sad about this. She was having a great time and didn't want it to end any time soon. "I don't want to go home."
"I know," Alex exhaled lightly. "But we are just going to keep having a great time and I guess we do have to go back to our reality at one point, right?" Alex said, her eyes on Maggie as they walked down the street to look for a pizza restaurant.
"At least it's now a stress free, easy, happy reality." Maggie said, and Alex gave a nod in agreement.
"Took a while for us to get that back, huh?" Alex mumbled, not speaking too loudly because she didn't want Emmi to hear. She was walking a little in front, looking out for a pizza restaurant, but Alex knew much Emmi worried about them, so she'd rather she didn't hear the conversation even thought it was nothing bad. She didn't want Emmi picking them up wrong and having that moment of worry.
"All that matters is that we got there," Maggie answered. "And we get to look forward to our future with our kids and Trudi."
"Yes," Alex twisted her lip as they stopped outside of a restaurant, Emmi already asking the host for a table of 4. "And it is going to be amazing."
"Hmm, very much." Maggie leaned up and placed a soft kiss on Alex's lips before they were shown to their table, so they could eat some dinner.
Kara was sitting on the couch at home, her hand on her stomach, lightly rubbing over her bump as she ate from a selection of doughnuts, cinnamon buns, cupcakes and brownies. "What's happened?" Neil questioned as he walked into the living room, home from his shift at the hospital.
Kara stared up at him as she swallowed a mouthful of the chocolate cupcake she was eating. "Who says something has?"
"Well this is crisis zone junk food level," Neil pointed to all the treats on the coffee table before kneeling down in front of her, taking the cupcake from her and putting it on the coffee table. Kara opened her mouth to talk, but Neil spoke again. "And it's not the babies making you do this so the truth, please." Neil spoke softly, his hand going onto her knees.
Kara pursed her lips as she stared at her husband for a moment. "I uh…I went to see Jeremiah again today."
"Okay," Neil exhaled lightly. "So what's he said to reduce you to this?"
"He wants me to help get him out." Kara knew she may as well just go ahead and say it.
"What?" Neil sounded shocked. "Is he being serious?"
"Deadly," Kara nodded her head. "I uh…I don't know what I am supposed to do." Kara gave a little shrug as she looked like she was going to cry.
"You mean you are thinking about it?" Neil questioned, feeling confused.
"I…I know he's done some terrible, awful things but I…" Kara paused for a moment. "He was a good man."
"Yeah, he was," Neil replied. "Hun I think that man is gone."
"Then why did you tell me to go talk to him?" Kara retorted.
"Because I thought you just wanted to do that. Just talk to him, see he was okay," Neil sighed as he stood up. "I didn't think you'd decide to break him out. Kara, you can't do that." Neil sounded worried she was about to do something stupid or reckless.
"So you don't think people are capable of changing?" Kara questioned as she stood up from the arm chair. "Of deserving a second chance?" Kara wondered. "You think he's beyond saving?" Kara watched as Neil paced a little.
"I don't know him," Neil shrugged. "But from what I've been told, hun," Neil stopped moving and looking to his wife. "He's too far gone. He's not the same man anymore."
Kara took a deep breath. "But how do we really know that?" Kara questioned. "He's been in prison for 5 years. We don't know what he's like now. Not really."
"Well you've been to see him twice now," Neil reminded her. "Do you think he's changed? Has prison made him a reformed character?"
"I don't know," Kara shrugged. "Maybe. He uh…he's seems…I…." Kara bit her lip. She didn't know what to think. "I would like to think he was being honest with me in showing remorse and he said that he did what he had to do to protect his family. To protect Alex and Eliza so maybe there's more to it than…." Kara trailed off, shrugging. "I want to believe in him."
Neil saw on Kara's face how much she wanted it. How much she wanted Jeremiah to be being honest with her. How much she hoped he'd changed and that she could save him. That she could help him get out of prison and have a decent life again. "I love how much you want to see the good in everyone," Neil spoke softly as he stepped over to his wife, his hands going onto her arms. "And if you believe in him then I'll support you in whatever you chose but I urge to not take this lightly and really think about it," Neil said. He knew Kara had a mind of her own and would ultimately do what she wanted but he at least wanted her to really consider things before making a choice. "Can you do that? For Alex too. Think about her and Emmi. Sweet little Emmi. What does Jeremiah getting out mean for her?"
Kara pursed her lips, nodding her head as she thought about what Neil had said. "It doesn't need to change anything for Emmi."
Neil rubbed the back of his head. "He killed her birth parents," Neil said, not that Kara needed reminding of this. "What if she finds out? How will that make her feel? What will it do to her relationship with Alex and Eliza and you?" Neil questioned. "Even Maggie for keeping it from her."
"She's not going to find that out," Kara sighed. "Or you know, she will probably ask about it one day anyways. She's getting older. She's bound to be curious and she can only remember so much of what happened," Kara reminded him. "If it was me I know I'd want to know everything I could."
"And you think her finding out that not only was it Alex's father who murdered her parents but that her Auntie helped get him out of prison?" Neil questioned. "And everyone was keeping it from her?"
"So, when you said you'd support the choice I made, you didn't mean that?" Kara asked. "Because it is clearly sounding like you think this is a bad idea."
"I'm just trying to make sure you know understand this from every perspective." Neil told her.
"Okay but it's not just as simple as what this would mean for Alex or Emmi or Eliza," Kara retorted. "What about me and what I want?"
"Yeah that matters too," Neil assured her. "Of course what you want matters but hun, I'm just saying that this is something huge and not to make the choice lightly," Neil reminded her. "And, well….why now?" Neil asked. "Why not 18 months ago or 3 years ago or right when it first happened?"
Kara bit her lip as she looked like she was considering Neil's question for a moment. "I dunno…..maybe it's because I'm becoming a parent, I….." Kara put her hand on her stomach as she stopped talking. "I haven't even had these babies yet and I couldn't imagine being apart them," Kara admitted. "So, maybe Jeremiah deserves a chance to be reunited with us. To no longer be apart from his family."
"Yeah, maybe," Neil didn't sound so sure, but he wanted to believe in Kara and if Kara thought he was deserving then maybe he was. "Just…don't make any hasty choices and maybe," Neil rubbed the back of his head. "Maybe wait until Alex gets back from Hawaii and talk this over with her. See what she's got to say and weigh out what's best to do."
"I know exactly what she'll say already," Kara mumbled. "But I uh…I'll think more about it for sure," Kara said, Neil giving her a smile. "Uhm….I'm going to go for a bath." Kara told her husband as she walked out of the living room and made her way up the stairs, her thoughts staying on Jeremiah and if she should help him or not.
Maggie rubbed her tired eyes as she shuffled her feet back down from the bathroom to the bed. It was still pretty dark in the room, but as she went to get back into the bed, she could see she was no longer laying there where she'd left her assumed sleeping wife just moments before. She scratched the back of her head as she glanced over to the balcony. The curtains were shut over it, but she could very subtly see the curtain slightly swaying, indicating that the balcony door was open, and the slight breeze was responsible for making the curtain move. She walked across and slipped behind the curtain and went out onto the balcony, Alex leaning down, her arms resting on the top of the railing. "Did I wake you when I got up to use the bathroom?" Maggie questioned, seeing Alex jump a little, clearly startled by her voice.
"No," Alex turned her head to look at her wife. "I was already awake. I have been for hours," Alex yawned as she spoke, an indication of how tired she was. "I had a dream…..a nightmare." Alex bit her lip as Maggie walked closer to her, knowing she meant it was one about either Carter or Stacey.
"You haven't had one of them in a while," Maggie spoke softly as she put her hand onto Alex's arm, rubbing it comfortingly. "Uh, was it…." Maggie paused. She wanted to ask Alex if it was about Carter or Stacey but both subjects were difficult for Alex, so she didn't want to push her.
"Carter," Alex told her, knowing what she wanted to ask. "It started off with his birth as normal but then he was….he was a toddler. He was here with us playing in the sand with his sisters."
Maggie rubbed Alex's arm for a moment. "This would have been our first vacation with him." Maggie knew Alex was aware of this as she spoke, but it was probably the reason why Alex had dreamed about him. Imagining what it would be like with their son also with them.
"I thought we were over the firsts, but I guess…..well, we are now, I think, right?" Alex questioned.
"Uhm," Maggie bit her lip as she thought about it for a moment. They'd had the big anniversaries. The first Thanksgiving. The first Christmas and New Year. The first anniversary of that awful day. "I think so," Maggie spoke quietly. Alex nodded her head lightly, her lip twisting. "Sweetie, this morning when we were by the pool and you were going to say something," Maggie paused or a moment. "Was it about -"
"I just feel so unsure about what I want," Alex spoke over Maggie, once again knowing what she was going to ask. "I love our family as it is, but I….I can't make this part of my life perfect." Alex admitted how she was feeling.
"You don't think our girls are perfect?" Maggie questioned.
"Of course they are," Alex replied. "I mean for me," Alex put her hand onto her chest. "You know my whole life has been about being perfect," Alex said. "In school, as a sister, a daughter," Alex swallowed a lump in her throat. "I know I am not the perfect wife and I can't control alcohol and I can't carry a baby properly and I feel….I….I don't know how to explain it, but I….I feel…." Alex shook her head as she looked downwards, averting her gaze from her wife.
"You are perfect to me." Maggie assured her as she put her and onto Alex's chin, gently making her look back at her.
"You think being an alcoholic is perfect?" Alex questioned. "You think shutting you out when you were grieving too was me being perfect? You think going into preterm labour once and then having a stillborn is being perfect?" Alex started rattling things off. "I'm stubborn and I make dumb choices and I -"
"And you are sweet and kind and the most caring, considerate person I know," Maggie interrupted her wife's rant. "You are the most amazing mum to our kids and you are funny, and you know how to make me feel better and you always, always, brighten up my day," Maggie told her. "You are perfect to me, Alex. Even the imperfections because they are what makes you you and you, sweetie, are perfect," Maggie took a hold of Alex's hands, squeezing them gently. "And you are strong. You are sober, and you can deal with it. I know you can because I believe in you," Maggie rubbed Alex's hands with her thumbs. Alex pursed her lips as she felt herself welling up. "And as for the pregnancy thing, both times, it wasn't your fault. You can't control a pregnancy and they'll happen how it's meant too," Maggie spoke softly. "Hayden is my perfect little version of you. She's strong because of you. She just….she just couldn't wait to meet her amazing, wonderful Mummy so she decided to come just that little bit earlier," Maggie pointed out. "You made us the most perfect little girl. She's got no fear and she's funny and she's sweet and she's cheeky and she's just….she's awesome. You did that. She's perfect and that's on you."
Alex took a deep breath, Maggie smiling as she saw one appearing on Alex's face. "She is pretty great." Alex murmured.
"Hmm," Maggie nodded. "And if you wanted to try again, then…." Maggie paused. "If you want to try for a better pregnancy experience then we can talk about expanding our family in that way." Maggie already thought they'd discussed this and that the talk would come in the New Year. She knew Alex wasn't sure if she wanted to adopt or try to be pregnant again or decide not to have anymore kids at all. She knew it was something Alex was still figuring out herself.
Alex exhaled lightly. "What about what you want?" Alex wondered. "It's important that you are honest with me and not just saying we can try again because of what I want."
Maggie bit her lip. She looked away from Alex for a moment before she looked back into her eyes. "If we didn't have anymore kids, I'd be okay with that," Maggie told her honestly. "But if we were to adopt or if you wanted to carry our child then I'd be on board with that too," Maggie told her. "Either way, I'd be happy."
Alex stared at her wife for a moment before she gave a little nod. "So what about, if I suggested right now that we could expand our family by adding another dog?" Alex asked. "I'm content with the girls. I think it's always going to sadden me that I couldn't make pregnancy a perfect part of my life but maybe it's just not supposed to be," Alex let a puff of air escape between her lips. "We have two wonderful girls and maybe Trudi needs a little buddy."
Maggie gave a little nod as she smiled at her wife's suggestion. "That sounds good to me." Maggie said, before leaning up and placing a soft kiss on her wife's lips. Alex smiled into the kiss, letting it deepen as she wrapped her arms around her wife, pulling her against her as they continued to kiss.
Thanks for the reviews. :)
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