"Feeling better?" Kara asked when she went to the kitchen the next morning and saw that her daughter was already up and finishing breakfast.
"Yes." Alex said taking the empty dish to the sink.
"Good." Kara said hugging her. "But we need to talk about why you need to stop with your idea."
"But it could help you." Alex protested.
"Just listen to me." Kara said. "Like the anklet hurt you, there are things that can hurt me."
"Kryptonite?" The teenager guessed.
"Yes. But there are different varieties. Green weakens me and red gets rid of my inhibitions."
"That's why you threw Ms Grant off a building?"
"Did Ms Grant tell you that?"
"No. I found the video on the web."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I assumed you'd talk when ready." Alex said.
"While green Kryptonite can hurt, red kryptonite can make me hurt others. And that scares me a lot more than green Kryptonite. The ring that I am worried about would make act in a similar way as red Kryptonite does. That's why if I ever wear the ring you have to stay away from me."
"I would be away from you. I can do the ring thing from the end of a football pitch."
"Alex, I know you are trying to help, but there would be consequences to removing the ring and you'd be in danger if I kept wearing. So promise me you will stay away."
"Fine."
"I mean it Alex, I need you to promise."
"I promise."
"Good. Now you should get to school."
-00-
"You look stressed." The adult Alex said as Kara entered her bedroom with Chewie.
"Do you know what the kids have been up to?" Kara asked as Chewie ran over to the bed and jumped up.
"From you expression I assume I don't want to." Alex replied.
"Training Alex to use her telepathy to remove the Lantern ring from my hand." Kara went on.
"That's actually pretty smart." Alex commented before seeing Kara's annoyed expression and adding. "But not suitable for kids."
"After all the times I have told Alex not to use her powers for rescuing people until she is older and this is what she has been doing. And Kara and MJ are just as guilty."
"She's worried about you. She just wants you to be safe." Alex pointed out stroking Chewie who was trying to find his favourite position.
"I get that, but I don't need her help. I have a plan."
"What plan?" Alex asked confused.
"It doesn't matter." Kara said looking guilty.
"What plan?" Alex pressed.
"Lena pointed out that the ring would be unlikely to instantaneously take control, so I could use the time to solar flare."
"Are you insane?" Alex asked.
"What? It is a good plan."
"It is a stupid plan. Besides if you have enough time to solar flare you could just take the ring off. Solar flaring is not the way to go." Alex said, not concealing her disdain for the plan.
"Why?"
"You said people were meant to die when they take the ring off." Alex said.
"Which is another reason Alex should not remove it from me. How would she get over the guilt of killing me?" Kara argued.
"Let's put Alex's plan to one side for a moment." The adult Alex said, trying to sound calm. "The stories of people dying are based on normal people, not a Kryptonian with access to the sun. There is a good chance that if you still have your powers you will recover. Think of everything else you have come back from. But you solar flare first, taking it off will kill you. I can't believe you are being so stupid. You need to learn from the kids. As this they are engaging their brains." She then paused before asking. "When were you going to share this plan?"
"When Wildcat had trained me enough that you wouldn't beat me to death in training."
"I can't believe you could be so stupid." Alex said. "The way to defeat the ring is hope. Focus on that." She added as Kara's phone rang.
"I've got to go." Kara said.
-00-
As Alex lay in bed looking out of the window she saw the lights in Kara's apartment turn on. Confused she checked her watch before getting out of bed, quickly followed by Chewie.
When she got down stairs she saw her mother napping on the couch. Not wanting to wake her she scribbled a note before slowly making her way over to Kara's apartment.
Entering the apartment she didn't see anyone, but Chewie immediately ran to the teenage Alex's bedroom door and used his head to push it open before disappearing inside.
"Alex you in there?" The adult Alex called as she knocked on the teenager's door.
"If I say no will you go back home?" The teenager eventually called back.
"No." The adult said. Moments later the door opened all the way and she saw her niece on the other side. Chewie by her feet.
"What are you doing back?" The adult asked. "I thought you had chess club?"
"Didn't feel like."
"Did something happen at school?"
"No."
"Are you upset about what your mom said this morning?" Alex guessed.
"I don't see why I can't help."
"Come sit down." Alex said feeling the strain of walking round. "What reasons did your mom give for not supporting your plan?"
"She said the ring would make her angry and dangerous and she didn't want me anywhere near it. But I wouldn't be, I can use my powers from a football field away."
"While that is impressive, your mom can fly the length of a football field in under a second so that distance wouldn't protect you." Alex said.
"So I need to increase my range?" The teenager questioned.
"There's another problem." Alex said. "According to stories taking the ring off will do a lot of damage to the wearer, so if you remove it, you'll be the one hurting your mom, she doesn't want you dealing with that guilt."
"I haven't stopped Martin being bullied, you, MJ and Kara got kidnapped and I couldn't help. And there is nothing I can do to help mom." The teenager said frustrated. "I hate being useless."
"You aren't useless."
"Yes I am and mom doesn't trust me."
"Of course she trusts you."
"She doesn't want me to use my powers."
"That's not to do with trusting you. She wants to protect you."
"Your mom loves being Supergirl, but it has cost her a lot. Once you come out as a hero, your life will change and you can never go back. You need to be sure."
"Fine, but my powers could be used to keep me safe." The teenager argued.
"Which is why she is helping you learn to control them." The adult Alex said. "But there is a big difference between using your powers for self defence and using them to protect others or face down dangerous people. Your mom wants you to be safe and to have a normal teenage experience."
"And what is that?"
"I have no idea." The adult Alex confessed. "All I know is no one is normal." She paused again before adding. "A lot of the stories about the rings sound fanciful to me. But if they are true, the ring your mom is scared of has a natural weakness and that's hope. So if you give your mom a reason to be hopeful then you will be helping."
-00-
As Kara entered her apartment and she saw her daughter asleep on the couch, hugging her sister, she whispered.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." Her sister whispered back.
"Why is she asleep?"
"She has been working really hard at improving her telekinesis, I assume it has taken it's toll on her."
"Why isn't she at chess club?"
"She didn't feel like it. She was upset after you said she couldn't help you." Alex explained. When she saw Kara sigh she asked. "Do you remember how you felt when you were told you couldn't use powers?" Alex asked.
"Yes."
"Including to help people?"
"Yes."
"And you chose to disobey mom anyway?" Alex pressed.
"Yes."
"Then you know how Alex feels now."
-00-
"Mom?" The teenage Alex asked confused when she woke up and saw her mother looking down at her.
"Hi." Kara smiled back at her.
"Where's Alex?" The teenager asked.
"She went home. Are you hungry?"
"I guess." She said sitting up.
"How about we go out? You can choose the restaurant."
"Any restaurant?"
"As long as I can afford it."
"Even a salad bar."
"If that is what you want." Kara said trying not to pull a face.
"Where's Chewie?"
"Alex took him. We'll pick him up on the way back." Kara explained, before instructing. "Go get your coat." As the teenager went to her room Kara picked up her bag and waited. Moments later the teenager reappeared and Kara asked.
"So where to?"
"Vital Root." Alex said as they stepped out of the apartment.
"Vital what?" Kara asked fearing the worse.
"Vital root. It is on Central. They have burgers and pizza."
"They do?" Kara asked.
"They do."
"Okay, then." Kara said as they stepped out of the elevator.
As they walked towards the restaurant Kara said. "I want to clarify some of the things I said this morning." She then looked over at Alex to make sure her daughter was listening before saying. "I'm proud that you want to help. But now isn't the time. Ignoring the fact you still don't have full control of your powers it is too dangerous and -"
"Once I am out I can't go back and there is a high price to pay. Alex told me." The teenager said. "She also said taking the ring off you could hurt you. Why didn't you mention that?"
"I didn't want to scare you." Kara said. When her daughter didn't respond they walked in silence for awhile before Kara asked. "You still want to help Martin right?"
"Of course."
"Well, I still think friendship is the way to go. So what do think to me asking Martin and his uncle out to dinner with us?"
"I think if you asked Martin it would freak him out, it be better to ask his uncle."
"You know what I mean." Kara said.
"What happens if Supergirl is needed during dinner?"
"I'll step out to take a call." Kara replied. "So what do you say?"
"I don't think it will work, but okay."
"Have a little faith." Kara said moments before Alex came to a stop.
"We're here." Alex said.
"This is a vegan restaurant." Kara said reading the sign.
"Yes. But they have vegan pizzas and vegan burgers." The teenager said.