You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Kara felt a soft, warm wet tongue licking her fingers as she burrowed deeper into her blankets. She had slept through the night without human company, the first time since coming home a little more than two weeks ago. She rolled over to face her puppy, pulling her hand away from Ozma and smiled, "Good morning, Princess Ozma."
The white puppy's eyes seemed to light up and her tail started to wag as she licked Kara's face and sniffed her all over. When she was satisfied that Kara was okay, she hopped off the bed and moved towards the door. "Okay baby, let me get a sweater and I'll take you out." With her power levels non-existent and the temperature dropping outside as autumn started to come to Midvale, Kara was trying to avoid any situation that would make her sick. She opened her door and silently made her way downstairs, letting Ozma out into the backyard. She shivered a little at the cold and Ozma finished her business and made her way back to her mistress. They entered the house, Kara made sure her puppy was fed and had water and then made a pot of coffee and made herself a cup of hot chocolate, then sat down on the couch and turned on the news. Ozma finished her breakfast, looked around for her mistress and upon seeing her, hopped up onto the couch, settling into the crook of Kara's knees.
Upstairs, Alex could hear Kara moving around, but Kelly's hand rested on hers pleading with her to let Kara fend for herself. She kissed Kelly's hand and forced herself to stay in bed, allowing herself to believe in her sister.. Eliza was in her own room willing herself to do the same thing Alex and Kelly were doing in their room. Finally, the smell of coffee drew everyone from their rooms and downstairs, where they found Kara watching the news and taking notes. Ozma looked up, approving of the new company and returning her head to Kara's knees.
"Seems as if someone takes their job very seriously." Alex smiled at the puppy, then held up a treat. Ozma looked to the treat and then up at Kara.
"Go ahead, Ozma, get your good girl bone." Kara smiled, scratching her behind the ear. The puppy walked eagerly up to Alex for her treat. Alex bent down and gave Ozma her treat and a scratch then watched the puppy return to Kara to eat her biscuit and get back on the couch.
They heard a knock on the door and then in walked Ruby from across the street, Ozma raised her head sniffed and her tail started to wag.
Sam sat staring at her computer, normally she had no problem getting into work mode, but this morning her mind was stuck on a comment that had slipped from Kara's mouth the day before. Finally, she lifted her cell off the desk and dialed Lois's number.
"Lois Lane," Lois answered without looking at her caller ID.
"Hey, Lois, it's Sam, Samantha Arias," Sam spoke, nervous about what she was about to ask.
"Sam, is Kara okay? What's going on?" Lois asked, a slight panic in her voice.
"Kara's fine, Lois. I need a favor, I hate to ask, but I need to speak with Clark," Sam sputtered into the phone.
"Sam, is everything okay?" Lois was smiling into the phone.
"Kara misses flying, I want to take her, I need lessons and I was hoping…"Sam sputtered again.
"You want Clark to teach you?" Lois asked.
"Yes." Sam gasped.
"Give me a minute, Sam," Lois put her finger over the phone and walked into the living room. "Clark, it's Sam Arias, she needs some help." Lois handed him the phone and walked away.
"Sam, hello," Clark swallowed. "What can I do for you?"
"Hey, Clark, I need you to give me some flying lessons. Kara is missing flying and we don't know how long before her powers are back." Sam rushed out.
"Ok, yes, I'll teach you, we'll start tonight. Wear something dark." Clark agreed, he would do anything to get off the couch in the living room.
"Breakfast is ready," Eliza called out from the kitchen.
Everybody stood and headed for the table, including Ozma. As they made it to the table, Kara turned to Ozma, "Ozma, sit. Stay." Kara spoke so softly, but Ozma followed instructions and Kara tossed her a small piece of bacon. After her treat, she curled up under Kara's chair and closed her eyes.
"Damn, she's a smart dog," Alex commented, as the puppy looked up and met her eyes.
Everyone dug into breakfast, including Kara. And while she didn't out eat Alex or Ruby, her appetite was making a comeback.
"Feeling better, Kara?" Kelly asked.
"I slept last night, no nightmares, no panic attacks, my appetite is still coming back, but I miss my powers and these stitches itch, bad." Kara smiled, then continued, "and this cast is a pain."
The cast should be off in two weeks Kara, unless your cells start healing faster," Eliza spoke up. "Your healing, hearing and enhanced vision should be the first of your powers to come back. Just like when you came to live with us."
"How long on flying?" Kara asked.
"Remember how much trouble you had after seeing your cousin on TV?" Alex asked, "flight will probably be the last of your powers to come back."
Kara frowned and she crinkled her brow. "I miss flying," she whispered.
"We know, Kara," Ruby smiled. "We can wait on my training 'til you feel better."
"No, Rubes, I made a promise, and Auntie A can help, we just have to work late in the day." Kara smiled. Then she frowned, "I wish it had never come to this, then I could have been there for you and your mom when your powers started to develop."
Kelly saw the opening she was looking for, and she bit her lip and patted Alex's hand, working up the nerve to ask. Then as Alex squeezed her fingers, Kelly asked, "Kara, what do you think caused all this?"
Kara looked up at Kelly, "Secrets."
"Why do you say that, Kara?" Kelly followed up.
"Lena hated secrets," She answered, thinking, "if I hadn't kept mine for so long, none of us would be where we are right now."
"Why did you keep it, Kara, why didn't you tell her before?" Kelly spoke softly.
Kara thought for a minute, "I was selfish, I wanted Lena to just know Kara. She never really liked Supergirl. I'm not sure how to explain it." She paused for an instant, as Alex helped her mom clear the table.
Kara thought for a few minutes, then Eliza interrupted, suggesting they move out onto the porch. Kelly nodded and so did Kara, who looked to Ozma, who's ears perked and she headed to the door. The four women, Ruby and Ozma made their way out onto the porch. Kara sat on the swing as Kelly, Alex and Eliza took the chairs. Ozma and Ruby made their way into the yard and were playing.
"It's kind of weird, Kelly. When I'm Supergirl, it's like I am a different person, I am more confident, I'm not hiding anything. Kara is more an extension of who I really am." She bit her lower lip. "I know when people meet me as Kara, they think I'm a reporter, a nerd, kind of a wimp."
"So which one are you?" Kelly smiled.
"I'm Kara, shy, nerdy. I was supposed to be a scientist on Krypton. I hide who I am because people don't see me when I'm Kara Danvers. I can come and go and people don't miss me, I blend in. That's what Jeremiah wanted, for me to blend in, to protect Eliza and Alex." Kara looked down at her hands, fumbling with her fingers. "When I became Supergirl, I realized that protecting my friends and family is not about them knowing my identity, it's about bad people becoming aware of their knowledge."
"What do you mean, Kara?" Kelly frowned, she had a feeling she knew where this was going.
"Bad people can use my friends against me. Do you have any idea what I would do to protect Alex or Eliza? Do you know what I would do to protect you?" Kara asked. She looked from face to face. "When Lena found out who I was, she asked me to steal Lex's journals from government storage, and I did it without a thought." Kara searched for her glasses on her face, remembering they weren't there and stared out over the lake. "If I would do that, why would I hesitate to do anything else?"
Then Kelly had a thought, something Kara needed to think about, "Why did you tell Sam and Ruby?"
A slow smile came to Kara's face. "They were safe." She looked at the confused look on Alex's face, "not like that Alex. They were a safe place for me. It was somewhere I could go when I needed to get away from the world." She smiled at all the memories flashing through her head, "Sam and Ruby never called me Supergirl after I told them who I really was, like you and Eliza. Ruby is so curious too when I started telling her about Krypton, it helped me to remember home."
"You have the Fortress?" Alex looked hesitant to mention that word to Kara.
"I'm not going to shatter when you say the word, Alex." She smiled at her sister, "The Fortress isn't Krypton, it's not home. Do you remember what my parents' home looked like when I was under the Black Mercy, Alex?"
Alex shuddered, then remembered, "Yes, it was all warm colors, homey." Then it dawned on her, "the fortress isn't like that at all, it's cold, almost surgical."
"It's not home, it's a pale reminder of a dead planet Alex. Kal never knew Krypton, there was no basis for his memories." Kara smiled. "Sam and Ruby, their condo is warm, it has colors. Don't laugh, but Sam never changes anything, it was always the same."
Alex laughed, so did Eliza. "Kara's room has been the same since she came to live with us."
"At first I was going to let Alex know I was visiting, but I got selfish. Sam, she was so scared of not being accepted by us, because of Reign. She was so ashamed." Kara frowned, "she still has bad dreams because of it."
"I didn't know that," Alex frowned.
"She won't say anything to anyone, because she still thinks we hold it against her," Kara smiled. "None of us do, even mother. Well, now she doesn't, but Sam, I think she will always carry that guilt."
"Kara, you said you got selfish. What did you mean?" Kelly asked.
"Rubes, she accepted me, no questions asked, she wanted to know about home, questions I could answer and no one else could, not even the wonderful and amazing Auntie A." Kara giggled as Alex cringed, "but with Sam, it was the closest relation I've had to anyone other than Alex and Lena. Even Lucy and Nia, they are friends, but with Sam, it was just different." Kara watched Ruby and Ozma playing, "She was there when no one else was."
Alex stood up and walked over and sat down next to Kara, "My memories?"
"Not just that, Alex, a little, yes. Lena was always busy, and then you. I couldn't talk to you, you didn't remember anything." Kara was silent again, she didn't want to hurt Alex, but she knew to heal, she had to get this out. "I never want to lose you again. You are why I came out as Supergirl, you inspire me every day, you really are my hero, Alex."
Alex pulled Kara into a hug and just held her for a few minutes. Something in the air must have changed because little Princess Ozma was suddenly sitting at her mistress's feet. She jumped up and burrowed between the sisters, not to push Alex away, but to support them both.
"Damn, that's a smart dog." Kelly smiled.
National City, Andrea Roja's Condo
Lena rolled over and opened her eyes. She rubbed them and had to shake her head. She was on the right side of the bed, but the view was all wrong. She rolled over the other way, and there she was, Andrea. They weren't under the covers and she was still dressed in the same linen pants and t-shirt she was wearing last night. Lena was still fully dressed as well, and she released a breath. They had talked all night, and she felt like she had taken the first step towards rebuilding her relationship with Andrea.
Andrea's eyes fluttered open, "Morning, Lena."
"Hi, Andi, thank you for last night." Lena smiled, "thank you for agreeing to stand by me."
"Lena, we don't have to rush anything, your health is the most important thing, and I know you still care for Kara." Andrea smiled, even though it hurt to admit it. "We will take as long as you need."
Lena smiled, "Thank you. How about some lunch, my treat."
"That sounds amazing." Andrea smiled. 'Little steps' she thought to herself, 'even if it never happens, at least I got my friend back.'
Midvale
"Kelly?" Kara asked.
"What is it, Kara?" A question from Kelly.
"Would you like to join me and Ozma on her walk?" Kara smiled, "Maybe continue our conversation?"
Kelly smiled, a mixture of pride and joy, finally feeling like she was helping. "Yes, of course. Let me grab a sweater."
Ten minutes later Kelly and Kara were making their way down the shoreline, slowly, but Kara seemed to be more energized. The natural light was helping a lot more than Lena had predicted. Although Kelly thought the lack of stress had a bit to do with it as well.
"Thank you, Kelly, thanks for this morning." Kara smiled as Ozma walked beside her. "Thank you for the puppy too."
"She's amazing, Kar." Kelly noticed a smile on Kara's face at the use of Alex's nickname.
"She is, she will be a wonderful support dog for me." Kara smiled, squatting down and scratching Ozma's head, "Is that the right spot, girl?" Ozma's wagging tail must have meant yes because Kara's smile grew that much brighter.
"She will help with your fears, Kara," Kelly said, nervous about this part of the conversation.
"You know you are really good at this, Kels." Kara smiled, "you led me right where you wanted."
Kelly laughed, "You've read my papers, haven't you?"
"You're my sister's girlfriend, I'm kind of overprotective of Alex," Kara giggled. "There's a bench that mom and Alex built just on the other side of that clearing, we can sit for a bit."
"Are you okay, getting tired?" Kelly asked.
"Just a little, but it's good for me, I need this, I need to be me again," Kara smiled.
They reached the bench and Kelly rubbed her hand over the wood, especially Alex's initials carved into the wood. "This is beautiful." She smiled.
"Mom and Alex built it one weekend while I was away at school, they were bored and needed a project, and this spot was where Alex caught her first fish with Jeremiah." Kara frowned, "She doesn't come here anymore."
"Alex won't talk about Jeremiah with me." Kelly frowned.
Kara patted Kelly's hand, "She won't talk about it with anyone, I think his betrayal at the end hurts more than she lets on."
"Maybe someday, huh Kar?" Kelly smiled weakly, "Now, back to the responsibilities of Princess Ozma."
"She's supposed to help me in anxiety-filled situations, right?" Kara smiled.
"I'm going to stop you from reading my papers, Kar." Kelly laughed. "Her job is to identify to you and to people around you when you are panicky or anxious about a situation."
"So, when I'm scared or worried?" Kara clarified.
"Right, so if you are feeling alone or isolated, she will react and help you calm down, or help people around you identify that you are scared or upset."
"How does she know?" Kara asked curiosity piqued.
"According to scientists, they react to smell and hormones." Kelly explained, "I'm not an expert on this part, but she reacted to Alex and her worry about you in a positive way when we first saw her. Then there was her reaction when we brought her out to you. She knew exactly who to go to, who needed her."
"So am I hers, or is she mine?" Kara smiled, rubbing the puppy and the three of them settled onto the bench.
"I like to think it's a little of both. I have a lot of patients who have emotional support animals, and it is almost always as if they belong to one another." Kelly smiled, "I had an older lab, Beretta, when I first got home. She's what I needed then."
"What happened to her?" Kara asked, not so sure she wanted to know.
"She was almost 10 when I rescued her, or when she rescued me. She passed away about a year before I met Alex," Kelly said, looking away to dry a tear.
Kara patted Kelly's hand and Ozma whimpered and licked at her face. This caused Kelly to smile, sadly at first, but then she started to laugh. "Like I said before, she's a smart dog."
"You and Alex should get a pet. She's a cat person, but I imagine a dog wouldn't bother her too much," Kara suggested. "Alex isn't going to stay here when you go back to National City, is she?"
"Kara, we aren't going to leave you, but.." Kelly explained, "We both have jobs we have to get back to eventually."
"No, that's not what I meant, Kels, I meant-what I meant is that…" Kara was tongue tied, "you two are good for one another, I don't want…"
"You don't want to be what, Kar?" Kelly leaned down, trying to get Kara to look at her, "you don't want to be the reason we aren't together?"
Kara nodded, feeling foolish, she didn't want Alex to give up something else because of her. "Kelly, she has taken care of me since we were in high school, I can't keep being the reason she doesn't have her own life."
"Kara, I don't know if you realize that she puts just as much importance on your support as you put on hers. She doesn't give up things because of you." Kelly took a breath to calm down, "Family is so important to you two, anyone who is allowed to see how you and Alex are, anyone who is allowed into your family, it means the world to us."
Kara looked to Kelly, trying to understand.
Kelly continued, "Alex and I haven't been together that long, we are still learning who we are when we are together. What I am learning is that Alex wants family, not just to be a mom, she craves having all of us around." Kelly looked up, she laughed just a bit, "She needs to know, just like you, that her family will always be there for her, and all of us; Me, Lucy, Sam, Ruby...everyone that has been here, you two are what bond all of us together."
Kara smiled, and wrapped her arms around Kelly, "Thank you, Kels. Thanks for taking care of my Alex."
"Don't you dare tell her I told you this, Kara Danvers." Kelly smiled, laughing at herself.
"Doctor to patient confidentiality." Kara laughed.
They laughed together for a few minutes and then as they settled down Kara asked, "Do you think everyone is disappointed in me, Kelly?"
Kelly heard the question, but she also heard what Kara wasn't saying. "Kara, honey, you didn't fail us, you didn't fail anyone."
Kara looked down, then lifted her head and looked across the lake, "I failed the whole world, I gave up, and if Alex and Brainy hadn't found me, Lena…" she trailed off.
Ozma was pushing her way under Kara's arm, trying to get to her face, to calm her down. Kelly put her hand on top of Kara's. "You didn't fail Lena. You didn't fail anyone, Kara, you did what you always do, you chose to believe the best in everyone."
"But I was wrong, Supergirl isn't supposed to be wrong, she's supposed to do the right thing, every time, every single time." Kara buried her face into Ozma fur.
This was Kelly's fear, her worry, Kara's confidence in herself was gone, she didn't trust her own feelings, she had fears, just like anyone, but Kara feared failure, especially failing her friends and family more than anything else. While they all thought that Kara's anguish had come just from being alone and trapped, Lena had taken away her faith in herself, Lena had tapped into Kara's fear of failure, and that, more than anything else, was hurting her friend. 'How do I help her get past this,' Kelly thought to herself.
"Kara, why did you want Sam to help Lena?" Kelly asked.
"Lena was-is my friend, and she wouldn't take care of herself." Kara answered, "Sam always does the right thing, I believed in Sam, I knew she would help me take care of Lena."
"And why did you let Ruby fly the night you got hurt?" Kelly continued.
"Because I promised her I would help her learn, because it was the only way she would get confident in her abilities." Kara answered.
"Yet, she made a mistake, and you are still going to teach her." Kelly smiled.
"We all make-we all make mistakes," Kara looked into Kelly's eyes.
"We all make mistakes, Kara, and we learn from those mistakes and move forward. Lena chose to believe you betrayed her, she chose to trap you, she chose her own path. You chose to believe in her, because that's what a hero does," Kelly paused as she pointed at Kara's heart. "A hero accepts everyone's imperfections, and does her best to make the world a better place."
"But my mistakes…"Kara was stopped, as Kelly held up her hand.
"Are lessons that you learn from Kara. The world is still spinning, the sun still shines, and this world is a better place because you, Kara Danvers, are still a part of it." Kelly smiled warmly.
Kara looked up, scratching her puppy on the head, staring across the lake. Kelly sat beside her, wrapped her arm over Kara's shoulder and they sat there for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company and watching the water. "Thank you, Kels," Kara whispered and she leaned her head onto Kelly's shoulder. Kelly smiled as they sat and enjoyed the sun and the silence.
Lena and Andrea had just finished getting coffee and tea ready when they heard a knock on the door. Lena approached, noticing that she was less hesitant this time than the last.
Lena Luthor opened the door, and smiled as she greeted Harley with a hug and an apology. "I'm so sorry, Harley, it's been a rough week."
"I have to commend you, Lena, taking care of such a situation when you are so upset, I'm impressed," Harely smiled.
"Work has a tendency to help me focus." Lena tried to smile, but Harley could see through it.
"That's an understatement," Andrea said coming into the room from the study.
Lena turned and stuck her tongue out at Andrea, who returned the gesture as she grabbed her tablet, earbuds and her latte. She settled onto the couch, popped in her earbuds and opened a book. "You ladies have fun," she smiled as she clicked play on her music and started reading.
"Well, I guess that is our cue to head into the study," Lena smiled at Harley.
"Very well, shall we." Harley laughed as she and Lena moved into the study.
They settled into the same spots as before and Harley noticed that the act that Lena had put on at the door wasn't an act at all, she was much more relaxed.
"Lena?" Harley asked, "what changed?"
"Hmm," Lena looked confused."
"You have only really dealt with me twice, what has changed that has you so much more relaxed." Harley smiled, she thought she knew the answer, but wasn't sure.
"Andi and I, we are trying to fix things, our friendship, I mean," Lena answered.
"And this is important to you?" Harley asked.
"It wasn't." Lena was thinking hard, "Two, no, three people have reminded me over the past week, that betrayal isn't a badge of honor, holding on to it is bad for me."
"Oh really," Harley smirked, "I would assume Andi is one."
Lena smiled, really smiled, "Andi is a dear friend, probably my oldest friend, and I allowed myself to cut her out of my life without ever finding out her side of our story. The second is someone I met through work, someone who is a bit like me, but has learned about betrayal the hard way, and let it shape her thoughts for a long time."
Harley looked at Lena, then asked the dreaded question, "and the third?"
Lena took a deep breath, poking her tongue into her cheek, trying to form the answer in her head before she spoke. "The last one is a friend, well hopefully still a friend, that I failed. I failed to understand her feelings in a situation that I felt was a betrayal." She paused for just a moment, "we are trying, both of us, but I think maybe my failure may have taken us to a point where we can't fix things."
"Do you know how she feels about this situation?" Harley asked.
"She's a huge believer in people, if I know her, she has already forgiven me. I just have to figure out why I couldn't forgive her," Lena looked away.
"Seems like you have taken a few really good steps over the last week Lena, and I notice you have gained a little weight." Harley smiled, "your cheeks are fuller, and the circles under your eyes aren't as pronounced."
"So, Lena, you have friends on your side, what about your homework, did you find out anything about your mother?" Harley smoothly changed the subject.
"They helped with that too." Lena laughed, "I really seem to have finally found a family."
"And what did you find out, Lena?" Harley asked.
"My mother was-would have been-I'm like her, a scientist." Lena smiled slightly, "she was working on a cure, a cure for cancer."
"Just like you?" Harley smiled, "I did a little research."
"My friends helped me find out where she lived, where she went to school, that she worked for my company." Lena laughed, "so many parallels."
"So you are just like her, Lena?" Harley wondered, guiding the conversation.
Lena thought hard for a moment, then answered, "No!"
"Any memory I have of my mother is happy, except for the last day I saw her, the day I failed her." Lena's eyes watered, "the day she drowned."
"So she didn't leave you on purpose, Lena?" Harley whispered.
"No, it was an accident." Lena breath caught, "We found the coroner's report, it was a terrible accident, her ankle got entangled in some trash on the bottom of the lake. She struggled so hard, her ankle was broken, she tried to get back to me, she didn't leave me on purpose."
"Lena?" Harley asked.
"I blamed her for so long, and it wasn't her or me, it was just a terrible accident," Lena tried to control herself, but couldn't, she started to cry and Harley stood to get Andrea. "She needs you for a few minutes."
Andrea entered the study, sitting down beside Lena and gathered her into her arms, patting her back. Lena continued to cry, mourning a loss, that as a child she couldn't understand, as a Luthor she wasn't allowed to process. Now the tears flowed freely as Lena Luthor, the daughter, could finally forgive the mother she thought had abandoned her.
Twenty minutes later, Andrea came out of the study, "She's ready, Dr. Quinn."
"It's Harley, Andrea, just Harley." She patted the woman's shoulder, "Thank you, thank you for being here for her."
"Harley, I will be here every time, anytime she needs me." Andrea tried to smile, but couldn't.
"She knows that, Andrea." Harley smiled one more time and re-entered the study.
"Hi, Lena, are you ready to continue, or feel like stopping for the day?" Harley asked
"We can continue." Lena said, wiping her face. "Sorry."
"Nonsense, you never mourned her death Lena, you needed to let some of that grief go," Harley explained.
Lena's phone suddenly buzzed, scaring her. She took a breath, "Sorry."
"Go ahead, Lena, it might be work," Harley shook her head as she pulled out her phone and texted Ivy rather quickly while Lena checked her phone.
She looked up when Lena started to laugh.
"Not work, I assume?" Harley looked over her glasses.
Lena turned the phone to show an adorable white puppy running across the yard and tripping rolling to a stop. She noticed another alert on her regular chat with Kara, and realized that this one had come to a group Kara named 'Family.'
Checking the other message rather quickly, she saw Kara's message.
Kara; 'Chess tonight, please?'
Lena; 'Yes, please. Everything okay?'
Kara; 'Everything is good, 10:30 okay?'
Lena; '10:30, who's the dog?'
Kara; 'Gift from Kelly, meet Princess Ozma.'
Lena; 'Very cute, in session with Harley.'
Kara; 'Oh, sorry, will email the link to the game.'
Lena; 'Thanks, Kara, for everything.'
Kara; ':)'
"Sorry Harley, a friend of mine got a puppy and wanted to show her off." Lena apologized.
"To a group called 'Family,' Lena?" Harley questioned.
"Yeah, she's the one that never gives up." Lena smiled slightly.
"You know, a pet is an excellent idea, Lena, it would help identify anxiety and help you with emotional release." Harley stated, "What do you think? I can recommend a few breeders."
"I'm not really a dog person," Lena shuddered.
"A cat, a bit distant, but still very helpful for emotional response." Harley suggested.
"I will give it some thought," Lena considered.
The rest of the session was productive, more discussions about Lena's mother and a study of Lillian that ended with Lena swearing in Gaelic. At the end Harley reminded Lena that at their next session they would be discussing the three remaining letters.
Lena took a deep breath, "That soon, huh?"
"We need to discuss them while they are still fresh in your mind, Lena." Harley smiled, "now if you will excuse me, Ivy is arriving in about an hour."
"We should do lunch one day this week," Lena smiled.
"I will ask Ivy. Thanks, Lena." Harley turned off her professional demeanor, and relaxed visibly.
She showed Harley to the door, and turned to Andi, "She thinks I should get a pet."
"Oh really," Andrea was shocked.
"A dog?" Lena screwed her nose up.
"What's wrong with a dog?" Andrea asked.
"They drool, and they shed." Lena answered.
"They also help you relax, exercise and some breeds are really good at managing anxiety," Andrea spoke in their defense.
"Someone had a dog, I see." Lena smiled.
"Yes, I had a German Shepherd, Dumpling, for years," Andrea smiled back.
"Dumpling?" Lena laughed.
"Her name was really long, and she looked like a dumpling. So, just be quiet." Andrea laughed, "I'll call some breeders."
"I didn't say yes." Lena stopped laughing.
"Yet," Andrea's smile grew.
Alex and Kelly came down stairs, dressed casually. "Mom?" Alex called out as she hit the last step.
"In the den. What ya need honey?" Eliza called back, causing Ozma to hop off the couch to investigate all the noise.
"We are headed out, you need something while we are out?" Alex called as she squatted down to pet Ozma, who was satisfied with the attention and turned and headed back to Kara.
"No, everything is good, you two have a good time." Eliza said as she walked into the kitchen. Kara followed behind her, along with Ruby and Ozma.
"What about dinner?" Kelly asked. "What are y'all eating?"
"Momma is bringing the stuff to make her famous fajitas," Ruby smiled.
"No fair, she's making fajitas," Alex whined. "Her fajitas are amazing."
"Then you can order fajitas at the restaurant. We need a date night, and your mom deserves some time with the girls." Kelly smiled, kissing Alex on the cheek.
"Fine, but you two," she pointed to Kara and Ruby, "better leave some." She and Kelly smiled and headed to the front door. They almost made it to the door, when both stopped and backtracked. They both hugged Kara, then headed back to the front. They were met by Sam as they headed out.
"You two have fun," she smiled as she passed them.
"Traitor," Alex muttered under her breath, forgetting for a moment that Sam could hear that.
"No fajitas for you, Agent Danvers," Sam smiled as she spoke.
"Oh damn, forgot you could hear me, Sam," Alex laughed. Then she and Kelly climbed into Alex's car to head into town.
Kara perked up as soon as Sam walked through the door. "Ready to cook sweetheart?"
Eliza's jaw dropped, "Kara cooks?"
"Yes, I've been teaching her for about a year and a half," Sam smiled.
"Really, so Sam's not cooking, Kara is, and Alex doesn't know that Kara's can cook," Eliza clarified.
Kara smiled, "Alex teases me about not being able to cook, so I kind of didn't tell her."
"She can't cook except for the grill Kara, you have nothing to be ashamed of," Eliza laughed. "Let's see what you've got."
"How about some music, instead of the news." Ruby asked as she entered the Den to turn off the TV.
"National City has a new hero," the reporter read from the teleprompter as a video of Astra played on the screen. "She wears the crest of our hometown Supergirl, and today she stopped an accident on the South Bay Bridge and stopped a fire on the north side of town. Seems like Supergirl wanted to make sure we were still safe without her here. Thank you, Supergirl."
Ruby was smiling as she shut off the TV. She started her music player and she watched as her mom and Kara stood side by side in the kitchen. The music had an immediate effect as Kara relaxed and started swaying in the kitchen, matching the beat of the music.
Eliza was watching as well, seeing Kara relaxed in the kitchen brought a huge smile to her face as they chopped vegetables and prepped everything. The next thing she knew the kitchen smelled of peppers and onions and a wonderful mix of herbs and spices. Then the chicken was added and Eliza and Ruby watched as Sam stood back, smiling and letting Kara finish up the meal. Kara seemed to be so much more relaxed as she danced around the kitchen, heating the tortillas and gathering up all the topping for the meal. She set the dishes at the bar and looked at everyone.
"What?" Kara asked, smiling and dancing around.
"Nothing baby, it's so refreshing seeing you like this." Eliza choked out.
Kara smiled, "I like cooking, and I really like being home. But nobody tell Alex."
Dinner was served, and Kara waited, watching nervously as Eliza took her first bite.
"Oh my god Kara, this is amazing." Eliza grinned, "This is wonderful, what else can you make?"
"A little of everything, Sami has been teaching me basics, but I am trying new recipes all the time," Kara smiled, encouraged by Eliza's reaction.
"Well from now on we can split the cooking. Deal?" Eliza laughed.
"Deal." Kara responded.
"These are better than mom's, Kara." Ruby smiled, inhaling her second fajita.
"Traitor," Sam whispered. 'They are better than mine,' she thought to herself.
Midvale, La Cocina Mexican Grill
"I'll have the chicken fajitas, please. And a water with lemon," Alex smiled at the waiter.
Kelly smiled behind her menu, "And I'll have the number 7 combo please, with water."
Alex glanced quickly at her menu, "you couldn't stand to admit that you wanted chicken fajitas too?"
Kelly got up from her chair and decided to sit on the same bench as Alex, "We haven't had this enough lately."
"I know honey, I'm so…" Alex started.
Kelly pressed her lips to Alex, and pulled back, watching her girlfriend blush all the way to the tips of her ears. "Not because of Kara honey, we both need to slow down. You are doing something so brave by stepping back from the field, I think it's my turn too."
Alex tilted her head, confused, "What are you thinking?"
Kelly smiled, "I think it's time to start my own practice Alex, to step away from the corporate world, the military, everything. I became a doctor to help people and I can't do that working for Obsidian." She stopped a minute, and saw a slow smile growing on Alex's face. "I've got enough socked away to get by till my practice gets established."
"You mean we could both have normal hours, and free weekends." Alex smiled.
"Yes," Kelly's smile started to grow too, "we could be that sickening couple that people see on Grey's Anatomy." She felt Alex's hand grab hers and squeeze.
"Is that what you want? This isn't about Kara?" Alex asked, holding her breath.
"This is about us, and family and maybe later, starting our own." Kelly breathed out as Alex let herself relax.
They were still kissing when the waiter brought their water and chips.
National City, Lena's Condo
It was 10:25 when Lena got the email from Kara with the link. Her nerves finally relaxed as she clicked the link…
The visuals were stunning, the background on the page was stunning. It was a planetscape, it reminded her of something she had seen before. Then she noticed a chat box in the lower corner.
Lena; 'Hey Kara, where did you find this site?'
Kara; 'Find it?'
Lena; 'Oh my god, you built this, didn't you?'
Kara; 'Yes, pretty badass right?'
Lena; 'I've seen the background before?'
Kara; 'It's Krypton, it's the painting that was in my bedroom. You are the first person to see this, other than Ruby and Sam.'
Lena felt a slight twinge of jealousy reading those words, but shrugged it off; 'Thank you.'
Kara; 'White or Black?'
Lena; 'White'
The board suddenly appeared on the screen. Lena was amazed as the game set itself up. The artwork was amazing, the colors, the graphics, there was even music.
Lena; 'Kara, this is amazing. You should market.'
Kara; 'What if nobody else likes it.'
Lena closed her eyes as she could almost hear the sadness, the lack of self-confidence in her friends words. She started to type 'I'm sorry' but knew that it would do no good. She was responsible for this, maybe she could fix it just a little. While she thought she made her first move.
Kara made hers as well; 'Sorry Lena, wasn't trying to make you mad, what are you thinking?'
Lena smiled as she made her next move; 'Not mad, thinking. What are you using to play?'
Kara studied the board and made a bold move, one Lena didn't see coming; 'I'm on my tablet, so I teach Sami as we play.'
Lena was shocked, 'WAIT, WE ARE PLAYING ON TWO DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEMS AT THE SAME TIME?'
Kara; 'Yes. Isn't that the point of these little games?'
Lena; '...'
Kara; 'Did I break something?'
Lena; 'How many lines?'
Kara; '2,534,362?'
Lena; 'Per operating system?'
Kara; 'IOS is a little smaller, why?'
Lena, making a move first, although she probably just sacrificed the piece; 'By yourself?'
Kara; 'Not all by myself, I was teaching Ruby a little and Lucy helped.'
Lena watched as Kara made her next move, she predicted that within ten moves Kara would win if she didn't do something drastic, but right now her mind was jumbled, so she made an empty move; 'Can I see the code?'
Kara looked at Sam, who nodded; 'Sam says yes, I can give you programming access, but it won't save changes until I see them.'
Lena; 'I don't want to make changes, I want to market it.'
Kara; 'Really?'
Lena; 'This is amazing Kara, I know you aren't working, this would help, it will give you some income.
Kara; 'That would be nice. Can Sami help?'
Lena; 'Yes, you can be an outside contractor, L Corp will be marketing.'
Lena resigned on her next move, she wouldn't be able to concentrate anyway, and she had to ask Kara something else.
Kara; 'You know you had 8 moves left before you crashed and burned?'
Lena; 'Rematch later, okay. I need to tell you something.'
Kara swallowed and gripped Sam's hand; 'What's going on?'
Lena; 'The letter I wrote you, last week…'
Kara; 'Yeah?'
Lena; 'Harley wants to discuss next week, I called you Supergirl. I'm sorry, I didn't know she was going to read them.'
Kara; 'You're asking permission to tell her?'
Lena held her head in shame as she typed; 'Yes, sorry.'
Kara; 'You can't tell her.'
Lena's eyes popped open, what was she going to do?
Kara; 'Reschedule your appointment for 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, and have her meet you here, at Sami's house.'
Lena; '?'
Kara: 'You can't tell her, but I can.'
Lena; 'Are you sure?'
Kara; 'We are still friends Lena, if this helps you heal, then I will be there for you, promise.'
Lena; 'Friends?'
Kara; 'It's why I asked Aunt Astra to watch over you, take care Lena. Don't mess up my code.'
The chat box closed as Kara disconnected. "Thank you, Kara." Lena smiled.
Andrea looked over Lena's shoulder, "That was a fast game?"
Lena smiled, "She said she was going to tell Harley. We have to go to Midvale next Tuesday."
Andrea looked stunned, "What is she going to do when she finds out I know?"
Lena responded with a smile, "She's going to ask you how, and then wonder why I never figured it out."
"Well we have a meeting tomorrow after work," Andrea looked at Lena with a smirk on her face. Then she held up her phone, on the screen was a gorgeous Belgian Malinois.
"It's a dog, why are we meeting her?" Lena asked.
"This is Champion Merlin's Morgana Le Fae, a 3 year old Belgian Malinois, and she is retiring from show, so you are meeting her to see if you have the right temperament for her." Andrea laughed.
"Morgana Le Fae? Are you saying I'm a witch?" Lena laughed.
"Only when you try really hard, Lena K." Andrea laughed.
Andrea spent the rest of the evening listening to code management from Lena as she looked over Kara's chess game.
Shortly after the game ended, Kara closed her tablet and stepped outside to let Ozma out one more time. She shivered in the cold and Sam removed her sweater and wrapped it around her shoulders. Kara relished the warmth from Sam's sweater, it was so strange to be able to feel what having a Kryptonian around was really like. Ozma was coming back in and Kara walked Sam to the door as her little shadow followed them.
Sam squatted down and scratched Ozma on the head, "Keep an eye on her tonight Princess Ozma." Then she stood and wrapped her arms around Kara, hugging her tight. "Night sweetheart."
"Night Sami, thanks for letting me cook." Kara smiled and hugged Sam back.
Sam headed back to her house, smiling to herself and saw Alex and Kelly coming up the road. She waited at her door, and saw them greet Kara, then headed to the backyard. Clark was there waiting to start her first lesson.
Across the street, Alex shot to the refrigerator and pulled out the leftovers. Heating them up and giving the food a quick taste as Kara headed upstairs.
"Oh my god, that is so good." Alex purred over the chicken.
Kara smiled to herself as she made her way to her room. She changed into her pajamas and curled up onto her bed, wrapping up in her blanket and Sam's sweater. Ozma was watching two figures take off into the sky, then she jumped up on the bed, curled up and started licking Kara's hand, until they both fell asleep.
