"The best relationships in our lives are the best not because they have been the happiest ones, they are that way because they have stayed strong through the most tormentful of storms."
― Pandora Poikilos, Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out
Once again, everyone had gathered on the porch, Kara and Sam were on the swing with Ozi sitting between them. Alura, Alex, and Astra had taken places in the chairs, while Eliza was in her rocker. Nia and Ruby were sitting on pillows, talking amongst themselves.
The conversation flowed easily from one subject to the next, until the subject of the Lex Bots came up.
"Mother?" Kara asked, sensing the tension.
"I'm sorry, Kara, but that woman…," Alura waved her arms.
"Is under my protection, mother. I understand that you disagree, but it was my decision and my choice," Kara said, raising her head proudly.
"Does your family understand what that means? Does your champion?" Alura snapped, looking directly at her daughter and sweeping her hand from person to person "do they, Kara Zor-El?"
Kara gripped Sam's hand as she looked at Eliza and Alex, swallowing hard as her eyes fell, unable to face her family. "No," she whispered.
"What my daughter failed to tell you is that if Lena Luthor commits a crime or dies while under her protection, her life is forfeit," Alura explained, catching Kara in her gaze.
"What?" Alex jumped up from her chair, "Kara, what were you thinking?"
"Kara? Why?" Nia asked.
"After what she did, Kara? Are you sure?" Eliza asked.
Sam's hand tightened on Kara's, "Sweetheart, is that what you meant to do?"
Suddenly they were all talking at once, and Kara drew away, into the corner of the swing, twisting her hands and hanging her head.
"Enough!" Astra yelled. "Stop it, all of you."
Everyone stopped talking and turned to face Astra.
Astra stood at her full height, looking first at Kara, a soft smile on her face, then she turned to Ruby and asked quietly, "don't you and Kara need to take Ozma for a walk, Little Warrior?"
"Yes, General," Ruby said as she stood and moved towards Kara, shooting daggers from her eyes towards everyone, "come on, Kara, let's go."
Taking Ruby's hand, Kara made her way across the porch without lifting her head. It didn't rise again until she and Ruby entered the woods, Ozi leading the way.
Sam watched guiltily as Kara walked across the yard, her eyes never leaving the blonde until she disappeared into the forest. She then turned and looked at Astra and the rest of Kara's family on the porch.
"Why was that necessary, Alura?" Astra hissed at her sister, "Kara is not on trial, by Rao, the girl is your daughter."
"Her family has a right to know what it means under Kryptonian law for Kara to take on this role." Then Alura spat, "does that woman understand what this means?"
"Lena knows and she understands what the law means," Astra responded. "She is no happier about the situation than the people sitting here, but she has accepted Kara's decision."
"Like it was ever her decision. Kara invoked Kryptonian law. That woman wouldn't understand the importance of duty and family…", Alura was interrupted again.
Astra's temper was rising, and she stepped forward, her words dripping with acid, "duty and family. You may understand duty Alura Zor-El, but you do not understand family. Your child took in a lost soul and made her part of her family, even as badly as Lena Luthor hurt her, she put family first. She did the same for me, she put family first when…"
"I killed Astra. Even though Astra was guilty, she would not let her go without Astra knowing she was still family, still loved," Alex interrupted. "But this is so much more. Lena almost killed her; Kara was not…"
"Not what Alex?" Kelly interjected as she stepped through the back door. "Kara did what she had to do to help herself heal. Lena Luthor is her family, as far as she is concerned, none of us has a right to say otherwise. Kara would have done the same thing for any person sitting on this porch."
Sam nodded, feeling even more guilty now, she looked out at the lake, tempted to check on Kara and Ruby, but resisting. "Lena will take this seriously?"
"I believe she will," Astra answered, smiling as Sam. "I'm sure a conversation with Kara's champion will convince her even more so."
"I won't hurt Lena," Sam said quietly.
"Samantha, your words carry weight to both of them, they listen to you because Lena respects you and Kara loves you," Astra said solemnly.
Samantha was speechless but nodded and looked off into the woods again.
Kelly checked the porch, looking at who was missing and nodded at Sam. Ruby and Ozi would take care of Kara while the argument on the porch was settled. Then she stepped past Alex and settled herself on the swing beside her friend.
"Now Alura, who tries her case if something happens to Kara's charge?" Astra asked sarcastically.
"As Krypton's last Adjudicator," Alura answered, fear showing in her eyes. She whispered, "I do."
"So, tell me sister, which is more important, duty or family?" Astra asked.
Eliza, who had been sitting quietly, looked up at Alura, waiting patiently for the answer.
Alura looked down at the porch, then lifted her eyes and met Eliza's eyes, "I would step away from my duty and support our daughter any way that I could."
Astra's retort stopped on the tip of her tongue, she looked at her sister, shocked.
"I lost her once. I almost lost her a second time. I think it is time for Argo to elect a new leader, I think it is time for-for family to come first," Alura spoke quietly, making a decision that she should have reached weeks ago when Kara first needed her.
Nia had seen the same look on her mother's face when she explained the importance of her powers, "Alura, do you mean what you are saying? You would step away from Argo, to be here, for Kara."
"She won't forgive herself unless you are certain of this Alura," Kelly stated, "you have to be sure."
Alura looked at each face in front of her, ashamed of herself, "Kara deserves no less. I have always put duty before her."
"Alura?" Eliza asked as she placed her hand in the tall woman's.
"I never should have left, perhaps if I had been here…" Alura stopped, leaving the statement hanging.
"Do not go there Alura, you will drive yourself crazy," Kelly interjected. "No one knows what would have happened if any of us had been there. Lena wasn't herself; she may not have hesitated to hurt someone other than Kara."
Alex's eyes opened wide as she looked to Kelly with an unspoken question passing between them. Kelly's eyes answered back without words, 'Later.'
Alex nodded and turned back to the conversation. "I hate to be the one that asks, but how does Kara's protection of Lena end?"
"Kara must release Lena from her vow, or with either her death or Lena's, by natural causes," Astra sighed.
"Well we all know that Kara is not going to revoke the protection, so we will all have to make sure that Lena behaves," Eliza smiled. "Someone should go get the girls," she continued as she stood and made her way to the stairs. "And someone should apologize when we get back," she stated, looking directly at Alura, who hung her head.
Kara was quiet as she and Ruby made their way through the woods, so quiet that Ruby was starting to worry.
"Kara?" Ruby whispered.
The blonde smiled sadly but still didn't say anything as they made their way towards Alex's bench.
As they sat on the bench, Ozi hopped up between them, forcing her head under Kara's hand, Ruby tried again, "Kara?"
"I'm sorry Rubes, I wasn't trying to upset everyone, but I couldn't let mother hurt Lena," Kara responded sadly.
"Aunt Lena won't let anything happen to you, Kara." Ruby smiled, "I think everyone just overreacted to how they found out."
"I haven't really given it any thought since it happened, with everything else that has happened. Mother is obviously angry with me and Auntie A is never going to forgive Lena, not that I expect her too." Kara paused, "I should have talked to your mom though, making her my champion, that wasn't fair to her."
"Slide over Ozi," Ruby said as she shifted closer to Kara. The puppy bounced into Kara's lap as Ruby spoke, "Kara, momma isn't going to let anything happen to you, ever."
Kara looked at Ruby, her crinkle showing as Ruby's words rolled around in her head. "What does that mean?"
Ruby thought quickly, "You are her favorite person, her best friend…"
The answer seemed to satisfy Kara a bit, and she turned her eyes out towards the water, 'What if there was something more to it than just that,' she thought to herself. "Thank you, Rubes," Kara said as she leaned her head onto Ruby's, "thanks for being my hero today."
Ruby beamed at the statement and closed her eyes and relished her time with Kara.
The two of them sat and watched the water as they rubbed Ozi. Then the dog's ears perked up and both women spoke.
"Hey, mom," from Kara.
"Hey, Eliza," from Ruby.
"That's cheating ladies." Eliza smiled as she stepped over to the back of the bench and rested her chin on Kara's head and pulled Ruby closer. "Are you two ready to go back?"
Kara slid over, pulling Eliza onto the bench so that she and Ozi were in the middle, "Can we wait just a bit? Please?"
Eliza smiled as she sat down resting her arm over Kara's shoulder and resting her hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Kara?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell everyone. It was important to me that Lena be protected. Mother would have killed her or taken her to Argo and prosecuted her. I…" Kara paused, taking a deep breath, "I couldn't let that happen."
"Kara, baby." Eliza spoke as she looked over the water, "You have always protected everyone, especially your family. You hid your powers, your potential for years, then you came out as Supergirl, why?"
"Alex was in trouble; I couldn't lose her." Kara blurted out.
"Sam and Ruby?" Eliza questioned.
"Reign wasn't her fault, and who couldn't fall in love with Ruby," Kara said, turning her head to smile at Ruby.
"And all the others, your friends and family?" Eliza questioned, turning her head to look directly into her daughter's blue eyes.
"A very special woman taught me to always protect my family and…," Kara stopped. "Oh!"
"You are doing exactly what you always do, as Kara or as Supergirl, you are protecting the people closest to you." Eliza smiled, "you never needed that cape to be a hero, baby."
Kara sighed and leaned into Eliza's shoulder and tugged Ruby closer. Ozi settled in her lap and the four of them looked out over the lake, enjoying the view and each other's silent company.
Thirty minutes later the four of them emerged from the woods. Kara was walking with her head up and grinned as she scanned the porch. Then they locked on Sam who turned at that moment and as hazel met blue, Kara's grin spread even further as she smiled brightly. Sam saw the smile and relaxed, certain that everything between them was okay. Then she heard a whisper on the wind, "we are fine, Sami."
Ruby and Astra smiled as they heard the whisper. Alura frowned, ashamed that she had caused even a tiny doubt in the mind of her daughter's champion.
Kara stepped onto the porch and was wrapped in a hug by Alex, "Kara, I'm so sorr…"
"Stop Alex, don't." Kara put her hand up. Then she took Alex's hand and looked at all the people on the porch. "None of you owe me an apology. I should have explained what it meant for me to place Lena under my protection." Then she looked over at Kelly and saw the slight nod as Kelly smiled, showing pride in her patient.
"Kara…," Alura spoke.
"No mother, no apologies from you either. I am asking a lot of all of you to set aside your anger with Lena. I'm angry with her as well, but…" Kara looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath, "I can't hold onto that anger and be the person you have all taught me to be."
Everyone was quiet, it was the first time she had admitted anything resembling anger with Lena, and they realized that Kara would never forget what had happened, but in order to heal she had to find a way to move past the Fortress and go forward with her life.
Kara turned to her sister and smiled and winked, "Now I need you all to do me a favor, can you allow me to have a few minutes with my mother and aunt, alone?"
Alex nodded understanding that Kara was up to something and motioned everyone to enter the house. "We will be in the kitchen, Kar."
Sam was the last, and stopped as Kara gripped her hand, "Not you champion, this isn't just a family discussion, I need you by my side."
Surprised, Sam turned to look at Astra and Alura, who nodded permission. "It is my honor, Kara Zor-El," she said in stilted Kryptonese.
Kara smiled, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed Sam's forehead. In Kryptonese she stated, "Honor upon your house, Samantha Arias Zod, thank you for standing by my side."
Sam shivered at the words, and the feel of Kara's lips on her skin, then she responded, "Always. Kara Danvers Zor-El."
The four women made their way down the stairs into the yard, Astra and Alura looking at the women in front of them then at each other, smiling slightly at one another.
Once in the middle of the yard, Kara stopped Sam and smiled, then proceeded to step about two feet away and sat, cross-legged in the yard, motioning Sam down. Astra and Alura followed Kara's lead and formed a small diamond, matching the points of Earth's compass.
"As the head of the El family here on Earth, I Kara Zor-El invoke the rules of Council," Kara stated in English.
"I Astra In-Ze, with respect to the House of El, invoke the rules of Council, at the request of Kara Zor-El," Astra smiled at her niece.
"I Samantha Arias Zod, with respect to the House of El, invoke the rules of Council, at the request of Kara Zor-El," Sam looked to Astra, making sure she got the words right.
"I Alura Zor-El, head of my house and Governor of Argo, accept this Council, at the request of my daughter, Kara Zor-El." Alura smiled a bit confused by Kara's actions, then continued in Kryptonese, "Council is open."
"Thank you, mother, for Sam's sake can we please speak English." Kara smiled. Her mother nodded and Kara continued, "I am invoking this council in order to make a change to the vow of protection over Lena Luthor."
Alura looked at her daughter, suspicion in her eyes, "What is the change?"
"Before we move forward, I, Kara Zor-El ask that the Ambassador of Argo recognize this council as the ruling body for all Kryptonians on Earth," the blonde asked politely.
Alura frowned, "Kara, what is the meaning of this?"
Kara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she was about to play politics with her mother, and she wasn't sure if she would win. "By Kryptonian Law, the council needs to be made up of three families."
"High-born families, Kara Zor-El," Alura countered.
"Be that as it may, on Earth, there are only three surviving families, El, Zod and In-Ze, therefore, citing Kryptonian law, there is no need for the council to be made up of only High-born. The Ambassador must also recognize that she is not truly high-born and married above her station," Kara swallowed, the last remark bitter on her tongue.
Her mother took an angry breath and began to speak, "I concede that the council is correct, by Kryptonian law, this council is legal. Tread lightly, daughter."
"Ambassador Zor-El, you are speaking to Earth's chief Adjudicator and the Head of the House of El, you will show respect," Astra spoke with the authority of her rank, keeping her eyes on her sister instead of smiling at her niece.
"Forgive my outburst, Adjudicator," Alura said through clenched teeth.
"Ambassador, you are forgiven," Kara smiled. "Do you recognize this body as it stands?"
"I do, as the Governor of Argo and Ambassador to Earth, I recognize the formation of Earth's Kryptonian council." Alura conceded.
"Then by Kryptonian law and my duty as a protector of Earth, be it known that Lena Luthor is now under the protection of Krypton's ruling body on Earth. Going forward she may only be tried by a unanimous vote of this sitting council," Kara spoke to Astra and to Sam, who both nodded. "Lena Luthor's offenses are pardoned as is my right as Chief Adjudicator of Earth. Going forward, any and all future offenses must be brought before my office. They will be investigated by the House of Zod, and if deemed appropriate, punishment will be carried out by the House of In-Ze."
Alura stood, turned her back, and looked to the sky, 'Rao give me strength,' she thought to herself. Turning back to her daughter, Alura smiled, "I agree to this council's ruling, but I have one amendment."
"Proceed, Ambassador," Kara smiled back.
"Lena Luthor will never be allowed to visit my city," Alura requested.
Kara grinned, "Agreed."
Alura sat back down, "Argo would request the naming of an Ambassador."
Kara looked at Sam and smiled. An unspoken agreement passed between them. "Ruby Patricia Arias, of the House of Zod. She is sixteen Kryptonian cycles old, therefore, she is allowed to hold the office of a minor colony."
Sam smiled proudly, knowing she would never hear the end of this from her daughter. 'Oh Rao, what did I just agree to.'
"Argo agrees to this appointment, and as Ambassador to Earth, I will, with this council's permission train her," Alura nodded.
"Thank you, Alura," Sam interjected.
"This council accepts the honor you have placed upon us Ambassador," Kara spoke regally.
"May I speak freely before the council?" Alura asked, watching as each head nodded. "I was prepared to leave Argo, to come here to Earth, to be with my daughter."
"Mother no, I couldn't ask you to do that, we both have our duties, and yours is Argo," Kara interrupted.
"Kara, I was never really there for you as a mother, but seeing you here, right now, I have never been prouder. Not of you as a hero of Earth, not as the youngest ever chosen for the Science Guild, not as Kara Zor-El," Alura sniffled, holding back tears, "I am proud of you as a mother should be of her daughter. You are my greatest accomplishment, and you have proven that here today. I will be returning to Argo in a few Earth weeks, but when I return it will be solely as the Ambassador to Earth."
Kara sat up proudly, as her champion and her aunt smiled at her. "Thank you, mother. Is Argo ready for that?"
"They are, I have held the position for too long as it is. Ambassador sounds so much better to me," Alura laughed. "Plus, it will allow me to visit my family here on Earth more often."
"This council is now adjourned," Kara spoke as she stood. Astra and Sam stood as well as Kara hugged her mother, "Are you angry with me, Mother?"
"Angry, no. Surprised, very. Where did you learn this?" Alura asked as she hugged her daughter back.
"I had a good teacher. I did watch what you did, you are a better mother than you believe," Kara said as she backed out of her mother's arms. "Thank you."
Alura beamed then looked to her sister, "Astra, I overstepped today, I allowed my emotions to cloud my judgment,"
"We have far to travel Alura, perhaps I will visit Argo after Kara is healed if I am permitted," Astra frowned.
"My last act as Governor and Chief Adjudicator of Argo will be to pardon your crimes, Astra," Alura promised. "I have much to learn from you about honor and standing up for what you believe."
"If you will excuse us, I need to discuss a few things with my champion," Kara said, smiling at Sam.
"Of course," The two women answered as they turned and moved towards the porch.
As Astra and Alura reached the steps, Sam turned to Kara, "What the hell just happened?"
"Uhm," Kara sputtered, "I just created a Kryptonian colony in order to not have all of you worried about me because of Lena."
"How did you? Where did you learn? That was so impressive," Sam asked as her thoughts jumped all over the place.
"I learned by watching my mother and Lena. But mostly I learned from you, watching you when you talk to Ruby, or handle a problem for work, even when you just talk to people in general." Kara smiled shyly.
Sam was speechless, completely surprised by the answer. Her mouth was moving, but she couldn't form a coherent thought.
"Sami, you still in there?" Kara asked, waving her hand in front of Sam's face.
Sam snapped out of her stupor and smiled at Kara, "you really think that?"
Kara's head tilted, "Sami, you are amazing, you always have been. You fought Reign alone, you raised Ruby alone." Then she took Sam's hands in hers, lacing her fingers through the brunette's. She stood on her toes, and lowered her voice to a husky whisper, "but I'm telling you, right now, you'll always have me, as long as you want me in your life, I'm here."
Sam closed her eyes and felt movement as Kara shifted closer to her face in the self-imposed darkness. The blonde looked longingly at the pale pink lips but at the last moment, unsure of herself, her lips pressed onto Sam's cheek, just a breath away from her mouth. 'Just a turn of my head, that's all it would take,' Sam thought to herself. She held her breath and concentrated on the woman directly in front of her. She felt the lips leave her cheek and shuddered as Kara nuzzled into her neck and exhaled a shaky breath of her own. Sam's own voice almost failed her as they hugged. "Who's going to tell Ruby that she is now the Ambassador to Argo?" Kara whispered in her ear.
Words continued to fail Sam when they heard Ruby exclaim, "I'm now the what?"
Minutes later Kara and Sam entered through the back door and were immediately bombarded with questions.
"Kara, did you really, what were you thinking, why?" Alex asked, talking over everyone else.
"I did it for all of you so that you wouldn't worry so much about me while Lena is under my protection. I'm so used to being Supergirl, that sometimes I forget how much of a team we all are," Kara responded. "And before any of you ask, it had to be Ruby, she is the only Earthborn Kryptonian the proper age to take on this position." Blue eyes locked onto Ruby as the young lady stood straighter and smiled brightly.
"Wait a minute, you took advantage of a barely known Kryptonian law to form a colony here on Earth to keep us from worrying about you?" Alex asked.
"You were all so angry with me, I didn't know what else to do, I was trying to fix this," Kara stuttered.
Alex pulled Kara into a hug, "Kara, we aren't angry, we are all very, very proud."
Kara found herself surrounded by everyone, except Sam.
Sam stood back, watching as Kara became the center of attention. Her thoughts were jumbled, had Kara wanted to kiss her? Was she overthinking? She and Kara had been so close for so long, was she seeing something that wasn't there?
Across the room, Astra saw the conflict in Sam's eyes. She stepped away from her Little One and approached the house champion. Taking Samantha's hand, she led her out onto the porch and spoke quietly, "Samantha, child, breathe."
Lifting her hands up, Sam rubbed her face, trying to wipe away the confusion and doubt. Kara had wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to kiss Kara. "I'm so confused, Astra." Sam hissed through her fingers.
"Samantha, she cares for you. She is probably just as confused, if not more than you are." Astra took the woman's hands and moved them down to her sides.
"I know Astra, but she was with Lena, well not really, but something held her back from following through with Lena," Sam turned away, looking over the water. "What if-if I'm not who she wants."
Astra took a breath and stepped beside Sam and wrapped an arm over her shoulder, "what if you were the reason she didn't commit to Lena, Samantha?"
Astra released the woman and stepped back into the house, leaving a very surprised Kryptonian champion standing on the porch.
Inside the house, the crowd around Kara started to disperse, and the blue-eyed woman glanced out the door and saw her champion staring out over the water. She focused her hearing, smiling as Sam's strong heartbeat came into focus. Feeling a breeze through the door, she grabbed her new jacket off the back of the couch and slid it on as she stepped through the door. Silently she made her way to Sam's side, feeling the woman tense, then relax as she leaned her head on her shoulder.
"How do you do that, sweetheart?" Sam asked, shaken.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Kara closed her eyes, listening as Sam's voice and calm nature washed over her.
"How do you sneak up on me?" Sam laughed a little.
Kara thought for a moment, "It's too scientific to explain, I bet Ruby can do the same thing."
"I don't understand," Sam said, a confused look on her face.
Kara stood up, taking her head off of Sam's shoulder, "We, oh Rao, we are like pack animals, we recognize threats. It's why Alex can sneak up on me if I'm not listening for her. You don't see me as a threat, so I can be sneaky with you." Then it was Kara's turn to look over the water, "it's why Lena could get away with what she did, she was part of my family, I didn't see her as a threat."
"Is that why you accepted me, even though I did what I did as Reign?" Sam asked, matching Kara's gaze over the water.
"Sami, it wasn't like that, you accepted me as family after Reign, part of you wanted to push me away but you didn't, you let me in, and I just stayed," Kara looked over and smiled over the collar of her coat, her blue eyes shining.
Sam's phone picked that moment to ring, and Kara saw a picture of herself on Sam's lock screen. She smiled as she began to step across the porch, out of earshot, but paused as long fingers wrapped themselves around the sleeve of her coat. Her eyes shot up and a bright smile met her gaze as Sam answered the phone, "Hello, Lena."
"Sam, I'm so sorry for interrupting you during your move, but I need you to come into the office tomorrow morning, I know you are supposed to be off this week, but this is important," Kara heard Lena whine through the phone and almost laughed at the look on Sam's face.
"Are you going to be in at your usual time?" Sam asked politely.
"Yes, about seven, does that mean you will come?" Lena's smile came through the speaker.
"I'll be there, I have a message from Earth's Kryptonian Adjudicator to deliver, and then we can have breakfast, but I have an important meeting with a contractor at lunchtime, so I have to be home by 11:30," Sam answered smiling at Kara and mouthing, 'Ice-Cream' in the blonde's direction.
"Earth's Kryptonian Adjudicator, why, did I do something?" Lena panicked.
Kara bit back a laugh and tried to look sternly at Sam as she heard the brunette respond, "the message is from Kara, and it's about the protection vow, she created a Kryptonian Council here on Earth to protect you. If it's okay, I will bring the Ambassador of Earth with me?"
"Astra or Superman?" Lena questioned.
"Ruby," Sam smiled as she heard Lena sputter. "We will be there around seven, see you in the morning, Lena."
As the call disconnected Kara and Sam burst out laughing, and Sam felt the weight of the almost-kiss lift a bit. "Kara, can I take you flying?" Sam asked quickly before the courage left her.
"Now?" Kara responded, the smile on her face growing.
"I know you miss it, and I've been practicing, I promise I won't…" she stopped as Kara's finger covered her lips.
"I would love to. Do you want a ponytail tie? I need a heavier pair of shoes." Kara dashed into the house. As she was running up the stairs, she yelled down, "Sami's taking me flying."
The whole room turned to look at a blushing Samantha Arias standing in the doorway. Sam shrugged her shoulders as she caught Astra nodding in her direction.
Kara came down the stairs a few minutes later wearing her biker boots and was zipping her jacket up over another of Sam's shirts she had borrowed. Sam cocked her head and Kara smiled and shrugged her shoulders, not even pretending to feel guilty.
Everyone stepped outside as Sam and Kara made their way into the yard.
"How do we do this?" Sam asked. Her question was answered as Kara stepped up and wrapped her slender arms around Sam's neck.
"Now put your hands on my waist, and let's go," Kara grinned.
Looking up, Sam placed her hands gently around Kara's waist and relaxed, feeling her feet leave the ground as Kara's boots rested gently on the toes of her tennis shoes. After floating up about twenty feet, Kara whispered in her ear, "Let's go!" Then they were gone.
As everyone headed towards the house, Kelly hung back, moving towards the table at the waterfront. Alex had been talking to Ruby on the porch and looked down towards her girlfriend. "Rubes, we'll be up in a bit, tell Eliza that we will order out tonight, my treat, okay?"
"No problem, Auntie A," Ruby answered as she headed into the house.
Alex made her way down to the table and saw Kelly sitting, staring out at the lake, tears streaming down her face. "Kelly, honey, what's wrong?"
"Do you both do this all the time? Do you always put everyone else before yourselves?" Kelly asked as she cried.
"What? Me and Kara?" Alex asked, clearly confused.
"Yes, do you realize that is the first time she has admitted anger with Lena. And you bury your emotions to support her," Kelly looked up at Alex, "I hate that woman for what she did to her, and at the same time I want to see her get well."
"Kelly? Honey, I'm sorry I got you mixed up in this." Alex wasn't sure what to say.
"Not you, Alex, I'm not looking for an apology, I wish you had arrested her, thrown her in jail, done anything. We couldn't for Kara's sake, but damn it, that woman deserved it," Kelly growled as she wiped her eyes.
"Honey, why didn't you say something? I didn't realize you felt like this" Alex sat down beside her girlfriend, a look of confusion on her face.
"Because I'm her doctor and your girlfriend, you two came first, it's my job," Kelly dropped her head to the table.
Alex quickly gathered Kelly into her arms, "Kelly, honey, we are in this together, please, don't hold it in."
"You don't understand, I've always been the one to hold back, with James, when I was in the military, it's always been who I am, then I met you and you are so strong and caring," Kelly paused, "I was scared to show weakness, afraid I would lose you, would lose this new family."
Alex sat shocked, speechless. "Kelly, I was always looking at you to lead me. I've never had good luck at relationships, and then you fell into my life, and I've been scared of losing you every day since."
The two women sat and looked at each other, "Alex, I love you and I want a life with you. We both have to get better about talking to the other about everything."
"So is it just Lena, or is there anything else?" Alex asked warily.
"Do you really want us to live together? To raise a child together?" Kelly responded, a question with a question.
"Yes, and yes," Alex smiled confidently as she drew the woman in closer.
'I'm going to marry you one day, Alexandra Danvers,' Kelly was thinking to herself as she curled into Alex's hug.
In the skies above National City, a blonde and a brunette were speeding towards a farm north of the city. Kara was hanging from Sam's arms, her own spread wide as she smiled and felt the sunshine down on her face. Sam's smile couldn't have been larger as she admired the woman she had fallen in love with.
"Where are we going?" Kara whispered.
"A little place I found, after-after Patricia kicked me out," Sam answered back.
Kara lowered her arms and gripped Sam's hands with her own, causing the woman above her to smile.
Several minutes later, they landed in a small clearing, and Kara was taken aback by the beauty of everything. "Oh Sami, this is amazing."
"I found it completely by accident and spent the first night here after I told Patricia I was pregnant with Ruby. It's a natural hot spring, and it was cold that first night, but this place kept me warm."
"Can I?" Kara asked.
"I own the farm sweetheart; you are more than welcome to test the waters." Sam laughed as she pulled her own shoes off.
Kara slid her boots off, and moved towards the edge of the water, she sat on a stone and lowered her feet into the hot waters, her eyes fluttering shut as the heat flowed through her feet and up her legs. "Oh Rao, that feels so good."
Sam's breath shuddered at the look on Kara's face and she started to second guess herself. Then she watched as Kara stood up and looked over her shoulder.
"Sami don't tell Eliza, but Alex and I used to swim in the lake all the time when it was dark. We found a little cove and Alex and her friends would let me join them," Then Kara pulled off her jeans, jacket, and sweatshirt and waded into the waters, swimming slowly towards the rocks on the other side.
Sam's eyes grew in size as she watched her supposedly innocent best friend strip down to her bra and panties and swim across the hot springs. Kara's body was quickly returning to normal and Sam couldn't help but stare at the toned abs and arms of the blonde. 'By Rao, what have I gotten myself into tonight.'
She started to slide out of her clothes and noticed an increase in Kara's breathing and heartbeat. Emboldened, she slowly entered the water, disappointed that she couldn't feel the warm temperatures the way Kara could. Kara had swum to the other side of the small pool and was sitting on a small rock outcropping. Sam was headed towards Kara when she noticed that she was sinking.
"Sami, it's like floating, you have to concentrate," Kara encouraged.
Sam concentrated and felt her body rise in the water, moving forward and reaching Kara. "Thank you, sweetheart." She pulled herself up beside Kara and the two women sat there, relaxing. Sam spoke again after a few minutes, "So after my incident with Reign, I took over the farm. I rent it out, but the property on this side is not part of the lease. I researched the springs and according to legend, the waters have healing properties."
Kara smiled, "we had a place like this on Krypton, only the waters glowed red. It had something to do with the minerals in the rocks. They were known for the same thing."
"I thought you would think it silly," Sam said shyly.
Leaning her head onto Sam's shoulder, "Sami, why would you think that? That's why you brought me here, isn't it?"
"No-no, I brought you here because you needed to fly, and this place is special to me and Ruby. It's one of the few things I've never shared with you," Sam answered.
Kara's looked up, "thank you, thank you for sharing."
The two women sat silently as their hands found each one another's under the water.
Back at home in Midvale
Everyone had gathered around the table as Alex and Kelly arrived with dinner. Astra, Alura, and Ruby all looked up as Ruby announced, "they're home."
There was no thump as they all watched Sam gently land in the yard holding a very sleepy looking Kara in her arms, "sorry, we went and visited my old home and then stopped in National City for dinner at Noonan's. She started to doze off halfway here and I slowed down to let her rest."
"Take her up and tuck her in, then you can join us for dinner," Eliza smiled.
"Where's her jacket?" Alex asked. "Isn't she cold?"
"Well that's the thing, I took her to a hot spring and it apparently jump-started her invulnerability," Sam blushed, Kara's jacket resting on her arm.
"A hot spring?" Alura asked, "like the lakes on Krypton?"
"Yes ma'am, she said something about that," Sam answered. "I'm going to take her to bed, I'll be right down."
As they moved through the house, Kara saw the food on the table, "we should have everyone for dinner next weekend, Sami."
"Sunday?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, that would be good, not Lena though, just our family. My mother may kill her if she is here." Kara yawned.
"Okay, we will work on that tomorrow." Sam smiled. She floated up the stairs and got Kara settled on her bed.
"Good night, sweetheart," Sam smiled.
"Night Sami, thank you, I had fun tonight," Kara smiled as her eyes closed.
"Me too, sweetheart," Sam smiled down. She listened as Kara breathing evened out and her heart rate slowed, then she leaned down and kissed the lovely blonde on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, Kara."
A small smile found its way to Kara's face as she rolled over and Sam left the room.
Sam came down the stairs to a table full of people staring at her.
"Did you have fun, mom?" Ruby smiled.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, we did," Sam answered. "It was really nice," She smiled as she sat down beside her daughter and helped herself to some food. "Kara wants to have everyone for dinner next Sunday."
"Everybody?" Alex grimaced; the unasked question obvious to everyone.
"Not Lena, A," Sam answered. "Just family."
Everyone relaxed at that statement and finished their dinner.
"Wait a second, if that many people are coming, who's going to cook?" Alex asked, "that's a lot of people."
Ruby smiled, "That's easy Auntie A, Kara will!"