Conversations on a Balcony

45

A/N: Translations

/Ieiu/: Mom

/shisir/: Damn


It was late Friday night and Kara was sitting on the living room balcony, reading a book as she waited for Cat to get home from a dinner meeting with some investors from overseas.

She looked up and then frowned, setting the book aside as Carter wandered out into the lamplight and sat beside her on the couch, eyes red-rimmed and swollen. "Anna and I broke up," he stated and then blew out a long breath as he leaned against her.

"/:shisir/," Kara said softly as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed gently. "I'm so sorry. What can I do?"

The young man shrugged and shook his head. "Nothing... but thanks," he replied. "We made the decision together. She was torn up over the long-distance thing and I don't want to hold her back. She got into freakin' Juilliard and she needs to go and concentrate on that. She deserves it. She worked so hard."

Kara just smiled at her eighteen-year-old stepson, completely impressed by his maturity and understanding, even in the face of his hurt. "You're an amazing man," she said softly. "I'm so proud of you."

Carter looked down and smiled. "Don't think too highly of me. I'm still thinking about going to her house and begging her to not go." His smile fell then. "It hurts, /:ieiu/."

"I know, Honey. Losing someone you love hurts like hell. Does your Mom know yet?" Kara said, knowing Cat would be sad. She loved Anna as much as herself and Carter did.

Carter shrugged. "I texted her. She'll see it when she gets out of her meeting."

Kara smiled as her super hearing picked up a familiar heartbeat nearby. "She's home."

"I saw your message, Honey," Cat said as she stepped out onto the balcony, shedding her purse, heels and jacket, and dropped onto the couch to snuggle up to her wife and child. "I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"

"Yeah," Carter sighed as he accepted the hug from his mother. "I will be." He got up then. "I just need some time alone to think. Goodnight, Mom, /:ieiu/." He kissed each of them on the top of the head and went back inside.

"Night, Honey," Cat replied for both of them.

"I feel so bad for them both. I think they do really care about each other," Kara said as she ran her fingers through the older woman's hair. "You doing ok? You look tired, Babe."

"I am," Cat replied softly. "It's been an epically long day plus, this thing with Carter and Anna just has me thinking about how, in a few months' time, my baby is going to be going away to Harvard."

"He wants to study bioengineering like Alex. Harvard is a great place to do it."

"But does he have to go to school at what I'm pretty sure is the absolute FURTHEST institution away from National City?" the older woman groused.

"Cat," Kara chuckled softly. "You know this is right for him. He's worked his ass off for this."

"I know," Cat sighed. "Sorry, I'm just tired and cranky. One of the guys at dinner kept trying to make a pass at me and I had to be a bitch. Asshole."

"Bedtime for nerds then?" the younger woman asked. "Or should I throw the guy into a volcano for you?"

"Definitely bed, volcano… maybe later," her wife chuckled as she dragged herself to her feet and held out her hand. "C'mon, Beautiful."

And Kara followed willingly.