Conversations on a Balcony

66


"I'd like to get a real tree this year," Kara said as she took a sip of her coffee to wash down her third sticky bun. It was a cool sixty degrees on Cat's private balcony outside her office and a light breeze added to an authentic December feel.

"Sure," Cat replied amiably. "As long as you vacuum up all the fallen pine needles." Kara nodded her agreement. "Every day," Cat added.

Kara blinked. "Every day? Isn't that slight overkill, Babe?" Cat just lifted an eyebrow and the hero sighed. "Every day. Got it." She took a breath then. "Hey, can I..." She paused a moment and shook her head. "Never mind."

Cat's hand reached across the table to squeeze her forearm. "What?" she asked softly, sensing her wife's discomfort.

"I know you have amazing decorations for the tree but... can I... I have a box of stuff I made when I was a kid and I'd really like to put some of them on there, but... they're not fancy like yours."

"Ours," Cat corrected with a smile as her eyes softened. "Sweetheart, if you made them, I'd be thrilled to use them."

Kara chuckled softly and pushed her glasses higher up on her nose. "You should probably look at them before you say that."

"Kara," Cat chuckled. "Your artwork is amazing so I'm sure they're amazing too, but it doesn't matter. You made them and they're special to you, therefore we should use them." She paused then and tilted her head. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner, Sweetheart? We could have used them on the tree before."

"Well... I didn't really think about it much up until recently." The younger woman stopped and looked into her coffee cup. "They're... I made them as reminders of Krypton to put on the tree at Eliza's."

It suddenly all made sense to Cat. Kara was still grieving the disappearance of Krypton's light from the night sky. "Then you know what?" she said with a smile. "Let's put them front and center on the tree this year."

Kara grinned happily.

"But you still have to vacuum the pine needles every day," her wife teased. "Marlene has enough to do with Christmas preparations."

Kara's grin widened. "Deal."