Kara spent the next several days pondering ways to address her feelings with Lena but still hadn't decided anything by the next Friday, the day Lena was supposed to be picking Alura up from school.

It was on her mind for most of the morning. At least until Nia arrived at work late with coffee.

"Oh, my goodness," the hero breathed. "Thank you so much. I needed this."

"Anything for my idol," Nia teased, winking at Kara as she leaned over her desk to give Kara the coffee.

Just as Nia was touching Kara's hand – her fingertips lingering longer than necessary – to pass her the cup of steaming liquid, Kara's head jerked up at the soft sound of someone clearing their throat beside them.

"Lena!" Kara gaped, eyes wide.

"I, um…" the woman tried, clearing her throat again. "I just wanted… I- I was…"

That was when the blonde noticed what Lena was holding: a large, gorgeous bouquet of flowers.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," Lena said quickly, nodding at Nia. "Sorry. I'll go."

But as Lena moved to drop the flowers on the reporter's desk, Kara grabbed her hand and said, "Lena, wait."

It was obvious to all of them in that moment that Lena was devastated, no doubt getting the impression that the two were an item, judging by Nia's lingering touch and their shared smiles. All the teacher could do was to bite her lip and shake her head.

"Lena—" Kara tried desperately, her heart racing with panic.

"It's fine. Sorry," Lena interrupted, gently tossing the flowers onto Kara's desk before turning her back as she tugged her hand from the hero's grip.

"Fuck," Kara breathed, collapsing in her chair and letting her head slam on the desk.

Sucking in a deep breath and looking just as disappointed as Lena had, Nia urged her friend, "Go after her, Kara."

Looking up in shock, the hero stared at Nia in disbelief.

"Nia…" she tried. "I'm…"

"Don't. It's okay. From everything you've told me about her, she's the love of your life. You should go after her. Really. You know I care for you, Kara, but more than I want to be with you—" Nia choked up then, forcing the next words out "—I want you to be happy. Go. Now."

"Thank you for understanding," Kara sighed, rising from her seat.

"Go!" Nia yelped, turning to see Lena pressing the elevator button.

Kara wasted no more time as she bolted for the elevator, throwing herself in front of the doors as they opened.

"We should talk," Kara said firmly, holding her hand out to keep the doors from closing as she continued to face her former partner.

"You don't need to explain. And… I don't… I don't want to know. It's none of my business. You deserve to be happy, whoever that's with."

Heart breaking as she saw a lone tear fall down Lena's cheek, Kara instinctively pulled Lena into the elevator.

As soon as the door shut, Kara took a deep, steadying breath, then advanced on the woman, pinning her against the wall and crashing their lips together with an intense passion neither of them had shared in a long, long time. Shocked at first, Lena didn't kiss back. Then, when the blonde's hands tangled in her hair, holding their lips together, she melted into the hero's arms and moved her lips in time with Kara's.

When the elevator surged downward, the two fell apart, but not far, as Kara was bracing herself against the wall that Lena was still leaning against.

Stroking Lena's cheek, Kara whispered, "You don't need to be jealous, Lee. She's my friend. She's pretty, she's into me, and we work together, but I want you. That's all there is to it."

Eyes wide, Lena asked, "You mean it?"

"Of course," the hero assured her with a smile.

"You're sure?"

"Lena," Kara chuckled. "Yes." When the woman said nothing, staring at her in shock, the Kryptonian added, "The flowers are beautiful. Thank you. You made my day, Lena."

Tears flooding over, Lena wrapped her arms around her former partner and hugged her tightly, not letting go, even when the elevator doors opened.

"Come on," the hero urged her gently. "Let's get something to eat. I need a snack, and we need to talk."

"But you're working, and I—"

"Come on," Kara repeated, holding Lena's hand and she led her out of the building.

~!~!~

"Kara—" Lena protested, upon being tugged into a nearby café.

"Sit with me," the hero invited her, not letting go of her hand.

Biting her lip again, Lena sat down across from her former partner and found herself looking deeply into Kara's bright blue eyes.

"Lena," the reporter said softly. "I need to say some things."

"I—"

"No. Please. Let me talk." When Lena nodded, Kara continued, "I love you. I have loved you, I do love you, and I will love you until the day my life ends."

"But you can't—"

"Lena. Please. Let me finish," Kara sighed, squeezing the woman's hand. "I love you. Nothing will ever change that. And… I want to be with you. The only reason I shut down was because I thought you'd given up on me. On us. I didn't realize that you were just taking your time until it seemed like it was too late. I don't want to lose you now, Lena. So… if you're interested in trying us again… I want that still."

"Are you sure?" Lena pressed, looking as anxious as she felt.

Kara nodded, saying, "Absolutely sure." When Lena was silent, the hero continued, "Do you want to try this?"

"I'm scared…" Lena whispered, lowering her head.

Her expression betraying her sorrow, the blonde squeezed Lena's hand again as she replied, "I would never try to hurt you, Lena. I know that I did hurt you, but I can promise you on my mother's grave that I never intended it to happen that way."

"You've never talked about your mother," the teacher commented, lifting her head to look Kara in the eyes.

Taking in a deep, steadying breath, Kara confessed, "It's painful. And before I couldn't really tell you that she was… well… you know. So I avoided the topic all together."

"Can we spend some time alone tonight?" Lena asked gently, after a moment of hesitation. "I feel like there's a lot to say that maybe we shouldn't talk about in the middle of a café."

Laughing lightly, the Kryptonian nodded her head and answered, "Of course. I'll ask Alex to watch the kid?"

"I'd love to make you dinner."

"Sounds great. I miss your cooking…" When Lena smiled, Kara added, "I miss everything about you."

"I miss you too, Kara."

The hero returned her smile and lifted Lena's hand, kissing the woman's knuckles gracefully, making her blush.

"I like that," the blonde told her.

"Like what?"

"When your cheeks get all red."

"They're not—" Lena tried, reaching up to feel her cheeks nearly steaming from how hot they were. "Okay, whatever. Anyway. You should get back to work."

"True. True," Kara sighed. "I don't wanna though."

"Go on," the brunette gently pressed. "I'll see you tonight."

Nodding, Kara rose from her seat, still holding Lena's hand, and asked, "May I kiss your cheek? Please?"

As soon as Lena said, "Yes," without missing a beat, the hero's lips were on the woman's warm, red cheek.

"I love you, Lena," Kara whispered, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind Lena's ear.

"I l-love you t-too," Lena stammered back, feeling as though she might faint.

It was a lot all at once, but it was all good things, so Lena steadied herself and walked the reporter back to her office.

~!~!~

The day dragged on, until the two were finally alone together. Even though they'd kissed passionately in the elevator that morning, the two were too shy and careful to greet each other with a kiss.

"Come in," Lena said with a small smile, upon opening the door and gesturing the hero inside.

There was no doubt that Kara was nervous. Being alone with Lena after the discussion they'd had that morning made the air between them heavy and tense with electricity.

"Good to see you," Kara said softly, returning her host's smile.

The statement was genuine, but they both knew Kara was being extra polite and reserved, not knowing where the boundaries were just yet. There was so much more she wanted to say, but blurting it all out immediately upon being invited in was not the way to get it out on the table.

"You too," Lena returned. "Dinner's ready. Come sit."

With a curt nod, Kara said, "Thank you," and followed the woman into her dining room, where the steaming, delicious looking dinner was on the table waiting to be served to individual plates.

Once the two were seated and Kara had taken a bite of the food, she closed her eyes and groaned, "Oh, Rao. So good."

Lena nearly dropped her fork as she stared at the hero at her table. This was the first time Kara had ever mentioned the Kryptonian god.

"Sorry," Kara mumbled, eyes snapping open as she realized what she'd said.

"No, it's… It's okay, Kara."

Letting out a sigh of relief, the Kryptonian bit her lip and watched Lena's facial expression soften as the woman surprised her by taking her hand.

"So… Tell me about you," Lena offered shyly.

"What?"

"Tell me something I don't know about you. Who you really are."

"You mean… about Supergirl."

"No," the teacher corrected. "About where you came from. About who you are. Supergirl isn't who you are, Kara. She's just a part of you."

"Oh!" Kara cried. "Oh. Well…. Um… My real name is Kara Zor-El. I came from the planet Krypton."

"Kara Zor-El. That's pretty," Lena told her with a soft smile. "How'd you end up here?"

"Ah… Well, that's another story. I was sent to Earth to protect my younger cousin, actually. You know him as Superman, but I know him as Kal-El."

Trying not to sound shocked, Lena asked, "So… You're… older than Superman?"

"Sort of," Kara chuckled. "Anyway. My pod got knocked off course… I ended up in the Phantom Zone, suspended in time, until I escaped, then finally managed to make it to Earth. So… science science science, Kal-El grew up, and I didn't. He was an adult by the time I reached Earth. I was 13 when I arrived, so I was placed with the Danvers family and I grew up with them. Mom and Dad are Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers, and my sister is Alexandra Danvers."

"Ah," Lena said, understanding. "That's how you and Alex are so close without being related."

"Yep. Known her since we were kids, raised as sisters, never let that go."

"I really love that about you, you know. That you have such a fantastic relationship with your sister."

"I love it too," the hero agreed. "Her and Alura are my world."

"So… Your adoptive parents are passed?"

"Jeremiah, yes. Eliza, no. We see her sometimes. She lives in Midvale, so it's hard for her and Alex to get away. But I fly over every now and then to say hi and help out."

Kara could tell immediately that Lena was uncomfortable with the fact that she had a mother that Lena had never met.

"Why—"

"You would've asked more questions about my growing up, Lena, and I couldn't put Eliza in a situation to lie to you. She would have, for me. But I'd done enough lying. I didn't want her in on it."

"You told me your parents were dead."

"They are. My biological ones. My mom… she… um…"

Feeling an intense wave of shock and horror crashing over her, Kara found her heart clenching as hot tears poured freely onto her cheeks.

"Kara," Lena whispered, taking her hand. "It's okay. We don't have to talk about it if it's—"

"No. I want you to know. There was… a crisis… anti-matter… and the city of Argo fell…" the hero gulped. "It was the last of Krypton. I lost my mother when I lost my home." Rubbing her eyes as she choked down sobs, Kara added, "I've lost a lot, Lena. I've lost a lot."

"Oh, honey," the brunette sighed, pushing her chair out and kneeling next to Kara by the table, taking both of her hands. "I had no idea. I'm so sorry."

"My mom… my home… my aunt… everything."

"Not Alura. Not Alex. Not me," Lena pointed out.

Nodding quickly, Kara essentially melted off the chair and into Lena's arms, finally allowing herself to cry fully.

"Don't leave me again," she sobbed. "I can't lose you too. I can't. I can't."

"You won't. Kara, you won't. I—"

"I'll tell you anything. Everything. Always. Forever. Just… please. Please, don't leave me again."

"Kara, I'm sorry," Lena croaked, hugging the sobbing woman in her arms. "I'm so sorry. I won't leave. I won't leave."

"How do you know?" Kara whined. "What if I—"

But Lena's fingers were pressed against her lips to silence her before she could finish. Then, in a flash, the brunette was reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small velvet box.

"Kara," Lena whispered. "I know this is crazy, and I know we said we were going to take it slow, but I can't anymore. I can't take it slow. I know what I want, and it's you." Then, taking in a deep breath, she opened the box, displaying the ring, and continued, "Kara Zor-El… Will you be mine, forever and always? Will you be my wife?"

Thinking she was about to expel the contents of the lovely dinner she'd just eaten, Kara covered her mouth in shock.

"Kar?" Lena pressed, when the woman stayed silent and started to sway. "Don't pass out on me…"

"I… I…"

"Are you okay? I'm an idiot… I shouldn't have asked… It was too fast. I'm sorry. I—"

"No! No, it wasn't. I mean… Yes. Yes, I'll marry you!"

Lena hugged her partner tightly, kissing the top of her head and saying, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For saying yes. For giving me another chance. For being mine. For not… For not moving on without me."

"I tried," Kara confessed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I told myself I had to. You weren't giving me anything to work with, and after so long I thought you'd given up, so I had to, too. But here we are…"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Kara. I—"

"I never wanted to move on. I just…"

"No, I understand," Lena interrupted. "I just… need you not to leave me. I realized very quickly, when you pulled away, that I couldn't live without you, and that there was no point waiting and putting off the inevitable. At that point… I knew I had to ask. So… I bought the ring."

"I'm glad you did," the hero told her. "I'm glad you want to be mine always."

Lena nodded enthusiastically in agreement with this statement, having decided, permanently and for sure, that she was going nowhere. There was no point holding back any longer. There was no point building trust. It was there. Kara had earned it. So now it was Lena's turn to earn forgiveness.

Carefully, Kara finally rose to her feet and sat back down in the chair, suggesting, "We should finish dinner. Sorry I'm a mess."

"It's okay, sweetheart. You're my mess," Lena told her with a smile. "Always."

Kara nodded, kissed Lena's cheek, and the two finished their meal sharing stolen glances and subtle smiles throughout.