"Kara!" Lena woke screaming, sitting straight up in bed, her back dripping in a cold sweat.
As soon as she heard the scream rip through the chill of the cool night air, Kara sat up too, startled awake. Had she not been a nearly-immortal Kryptonian, the hero would have likely dropped dead from a heart attack right then and there. As it stood, she was Kryptonian, so her fight or flight instincts kicked in, she scanned the room for threats, and her arms instantly wrapped around her partner, holding her against her chest as she kissed the top of Lena's head. She was beyond relieved to quickly realize that it had just been a nightmare that had woken her.
"It's okay, Lena," Kara whispered, stroking Lena's hair back and rocking her slowly. "I'm right here, baby. It was just a dream. I'm right here."
But Lena was sobbing, frantically cleaning to Kara, and burying her face in the woman's shoulder.
"Lee… Lee, baby, what happened?" the hero pressed, continuing to rock her partner carefully.
"We were… We were at the school… getting ready to bring Alura home… and there… there were gunshots," Lena sobbed.
Kara felt her breath hitch at the thought of this scenario, but before she could speak, Lena continued.
"They shot Alura, Kara," Lena wailed. "You went to grab her, and they shot you point-blank in the head."
Kara wasn't sure how Alura's powers would develop, but she was definitely sure that she was bullet-proof, so she almost – almost – let out a soft laugh of relief at the content of the dream. Thankfully, there was no way that was going to happen. As scary as it was to think about, she knew the only thing that could ever take her out was Kryptonite.
"That's not gonna happen," Kara whispered. "It was just a dream, baby. I'm right here."
"I want to check on Alura," Lena whimpered, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands.
"Lena… I'm sure she's fine. She—"
"I need to see her."
Kara's heart swelled at this display of caring and affection for her daughter. We really are family, the hero thought, warmed by Lena's devotion to Alura.
"Alright. Dry your eyes. I don't want her to wake up and see you crying, okay? She'll freak out."
Lena nodded, sniffled, and allowed Kara to gently wipe her tears away before sliding out of the bed. Kara followed her to Alura's room where the two, of course, found her sleeping soundly. Her mouth hung slightly open as she snored softly, and Kara couldn't help but smile at the sight.
Lena was tempted to go kiss the girl's forehead, just to feel that she was real and that this wasn't the dream, but Kara gently tugged at her arm and pulled her back to the bedroom.
"Bedtime," Kara said softly, helping her lover under the covers.
Vigorously, Lena shook her head and said, "No. I'm not sleeping. I don't want to see that again."
"Baby," the blonde sighed. "You've gotta sleep. We're both got to—"
"No. You sleep. I'm just going to read for a while."
With another soft sigh, Kara shook her head and sat back up in the bed, flicking on the light as she glanced at the clock: 2:42 AM.
"If you're up, I'm up."
"Kara, no. I—"
"Hey, guess what!"
"W-What?" Lena asked hesitantly, tilting her head.
Leaning in close to the woman's ear, Kara whispered excitedly, "We're going to Disney World!"
Finally, Lena smiled at this and nodded her head.
"So, how are we going to tell the kid?" the hero asked.
"I dunno. That's a good question. It should be special, though."
"Maybe we just don't tell her where we're going until we're at the airport," Kara chuckled.
"Yeah, right," Lena laughed. "Like she'd let us drive that far without driving us crazy wanting to know where we're going. We'd spoil the surprise just to keep ourselves sane."
"Alright… So… maybe some kind of announcement?"
"Wait, I know! What about Mickey ears? Let's go on the website and order matching Mickey ears! We'll have them shipped to the house, wrap them up with a note, and have her open them!"
"Wow, Lee, that's an awesome idea!" Kara cried, a little louder than she should have, her excitement getting the best of her. "Now… We just have to pick the right ears."
With that, Lena leaned over and grabbed her laptop from beside the bed and opened it, navigating to the website.
After about fifteen minutes or so, pouring over the overwhelming number of options, they finally found what they hadn't known they were looking for.
"Rainbow!" Kara cried, pointing at the screen and bouncing in place.
"Shh," Lena laughed, lifting her finger to Kara's lips to quiet her. "You're right, though. These are perfect. Black sequin Minnie ears with a rainbow bow! She's gonna love all the colors. And you're super gay, so obviously they'll fit you perfectly too!"
"Hey!" the hero pouted. "I'm not super gay."
Hearing the words coming out of her own mouth, Kara couldn't help but laugh at the unintentional pun. She really was 'super' gay.
"Alright, maybe," Kara corrected herself with a grin, kissing Lena's cheek. "But you loved how gay I was last night."
Lena laughed at this and caught Kara's lips, agreeing, "You're right. I did love it. So… maybe you should do it again… you know… just to make sure you really are super gay."
Smirking at the invitation, Kara leaned over and shut the light off before pushing the sheets down and crawling between Lena's legs as she hastily put the laptop away.
~!~!~
"So, how'd it go? You look like you got laid," Alex asked her sister over lunch the next day, knowing that she'd asked about their vacation the night before.
"Soooo well!" Kara cried, clapping her hands. "And hey… shut up about that! That's none of your business! Anyway, she wants to go! AND we figured out how we're going to tell Alura!"
"Okay, stud-muffin," Alex laughed. "So how are you gonna tell her?"
"We're gonna get Mickey ears. Well, Minnie ears. With rainbow bows! And put a little note in there and have her open them!"
"Oh, my God. That's adorable! Do I get a pair?"
"Of course you do. You're as gay as me!"
"Hey!" Alex laughed, playfully shoving her sister. "I am nowhere near as gay as you. You're super gay."
"Hush your mouth! Why does everyone say that?"
"Say what?"
"That's I'm 'super' gay!"
"Because you are, dummy!"
Rolling her eyes, Kara took several more bites of her food before replying, "Whatever. Anyway, we ordered them this morning and they should be here next week. Will you come over to tell Alura with us?"
"I dunno, hun… I think maybe that should be a you and Lena thing."
"What? Why? It's your vacation too."
"Yeah, but… You're co-parenting now, and it's adorable. I don't want to get in the way of that."
"You're not getting in the way. You're her aunt. You should be there too. You're a huge part of her life, Alex."
Wearing a warm, affectionate smile, Alex nodded her head and agreed, "Alright. Let me know when they come in."
"I will! I can't wait!"
"I know. You're the most impatient person I know!"
"Hey!" Kara pouted. "That's not true."
"Who do you know who is more impatient than you, then?"
"Alura," Kara laughed, shaking her head.
"She gets it from you, you dweeb."
"Maybe," the hero chuckled, taking the final bite of her meal.
When her watched buzzed on her wrist, she sighed.
"I gotta go, Alex. They need me."
"Be careful, Kara."
With a nod, the Kryptonian walked over to her sister, kissed the top of her head, and said, "I will. I love you, Alex. Can you pick Alura up from school, just in case?"
"Of course."
With that said, Kara bolted for the bathroom of the restaurant, careful to go quickly but without using super speed.
She spent the next four hours saving lives and finished just in time to be home for dinner.
"Mom!" Alura cried, rushing her mother and throwing her arms around the woman's waist. "Where were you?"
"Top secret government business, I'm afraid."
"But Mooommm," Alura whined, tugging at her mother's shirt. "Tell meee."
"Ladies!" Alex called out from the kitchen. "Time to eat!"
Kara grinned, lifted her daughter into her arms, earning a squeal in return, and carried her into the dining room where Alex served them their meal.
"Thanks for picking the kid up, Alex," the hero said, after taking several large bites of spaghetti.
"Any time! You know I love—"
"Hey!" Alura shouted. "I'm not a kid!"
The two women laughed and shook their heads.
"Yeah, yeah," Alex chuckled. "Of course you're not."
Scowling as she finished her dinner, Alura, surprisingly, remained silent.
Once they were done their meal, Kara rose from the table, collecting the three plates and sets of silverware to bring to the kitchen.
Before making her way there, the hero announced, "Alright, Little Miss. Bedtime."
"What? Why? I just had dinner! Don't I get to—"
"You can read for the next half hour after brushing your teeth, but that's it. Then, lights out."
"Can Auntie Alex at least read to me for a while?"
Kara looked to Alex for the answer, and Alex looked at her for the same.
"Up to you, Mama," Alex told them with a smile. "I don't mind."
"Alura," Kara sighed. "You're old enough to read on your own. Too old for bedtime stories."
"But what about If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?" Alura whined. "It's my favorite!"
"Alura, come on. That's for little kids."
With a grin, Alura teased, "Just kidding. Can she read me Chronicles of Narnia?"
With another sigh, Kara rolled her eyes and huffed, "Alright. But I want you to read a chapter on your own tomorrow. You need to practice your reading comprehension for school."
"Do not! I've been doing great in school!"
"Alright, alright. Fair enough. I still want you reading on your own tomorrow, though."
"Alex, will you read to me?" Alura asked, bouncing in her seat.
"Absolutely, darling. Anything for my favorite niece!" Alex exclaimed.
"I'm your only niece, you dork!" Alura laughed, jumping up and running over to her aunt to wrap her in a tight vice-like embrace.
"I love you, sweetheart," the girl's aunt told her, stroking her hair. "Go do your teeth and I'll be in in a little bit."
Without so much as a nod, Alura took off running for the bathroom.
As soon as she was gone, Kara scolded her sister, "You spoil her. She's rotten."
"My niece?! No way!" Alex laughed with a grin.
"You're too much," the hero sighed.
During a brief pause, Alex's expression faded into one of stoic seriousness as she gazed at her sister.
"What?" Kara asked, tilting her head and looking confused.
"Kara…"
"Yeah?"
"Kar… When you came to Midvale… I was so fucking jealous of you."
"What?" Kara gaped, attempting to blink away her confusion.
"I was jealous. Unbelievably so. You had all these… powers. You were so… amazing. You had everything. And I was so… normal… but not even normal at the same time."
"Alex… What are you talking about?"
Beginning to look concerned, the hero sat back down at the table and watched her sister's expression as it grew more and more into that of worry and concern.
"I was normal in the sense of being powerless and anything but special. But I wasn't normal in that… I… I liked girls and got bullied and everyone at school hated me. I just wanted to be like you. And for a little bit, I even hated you, Kara… I hated that you had so much that I didn't. I was walking in your shadow."
"Alex… I—"
"But then we got to know each other, and I realized… We would never be blood, but you would always, always be my sister… and there was no one in the entire galaxy I'd ever want to take your place. I learned to love how amazing you are. And then I slowly… only through your unconditional love and support… learned to accept myself for who I am. And now, I'm confident in myself and in my job and in my love for my family. And then… then you gave me this beautiful, beautiful, fiery little niece, and even though you started your own family, you kept me close and never left me out or forgot about me. And I honestly… I couldn't love you more."
"Alex… Alex, I'm… I'm so sorry that you felt that way, and I—"
"You made me who I am. You empowered me to build myself into the woman I wanted to be. Me. And I can't thank you enough for that. I can't thank you enough for including me in your life and all the things you do for me and our wonderful family."
"Hey. Don't do that," Kara sighed. "You didn't need me to reach your full potential. You had it in you all along, and I always knew that. I never doubted you for a second, and I am so, so proud of you. And so, so proud to be your—"
"I love you," Alex blurted, rushing to her sister and throwing her arms around the woman's torso. "I love you so much. I don't want to lose you…"
"Alex. Honey. Where is this coming from?"
"Honestly, Kar… Every time you come home late… I worry you're not coming home. I can't lose you. I just can't. I'm so proud of who you are and what you do and how you've chosen to become Supergirl. But I get so scared, Kara. I get scared of losing you and Alura."
"It's gonna be okay," Kara assured her. "I'm going to be okay. I promise."
"You know you can't promise that, Kar."
"Yes, I can. I'm always careful. I know I need to come home to my girls."
With a weak nod, Alex sighed, "Thank you. Please, continue to be careful. We need you. I need you." Then, after a long pause, Alex divulged, "I'm scared that Lena doesn't like me."
"Oh, my God," Kara laughed. "Are you serious? She adores you. You know that, Alex."
"But—"
"No, really. She loves you. And Alura."
"And you, Kar."
"I hope so…"
"You hope so? You've been dating forever, and she says it all the time."
"What if she says no? What if she says she doesn't want to marry me, or that it's too soon?"
"Sweetheart," Alex said softly, giving her sister a warm, encouraging smile. "She's going to say yes. I guarantee it."
"I don't want to pick out the ring without her," Kara confessed. "But I don't want to propose without one."
"Give her your mother's ring."
"Really? You think—"
"Your mother would be so proud of you, Kara. She would love Lena and want you to be happy."
"So… I propose with my mother's ring, and then let her know she can pick one out when we get back from the trip?"
Alex nodded with a grin and said, "I know, I know. I'm a genius and my ideas are always perfect."
Rolling her eyes, Kara shoved her sister's shoulder and mumbled, "Go read to the kid."
Still wearing a grin, Alex nodded and headed for her niece's bedroom.