I don't own these characters; DC does.
A/N: sexy shower scene somewhere in here.
2: In Order
Morning came and things got a little tricky. Alex and Lena dressed for work and found Kara in the living room, eating a bagel on the sofa and watching the news. She was dressed like she was ready to go be Cat Grant's assistant again. Had a month passed like she assumed, that would not be so farfetched, even though she had been a fledgling reporter when she left, but from the long expression on her face, it dawned on her that it would be ridiculous to stroll into the office like everything was fine now. Alex's heart broke once more.
"So, what happened to Kara Danvers?" Kara asked in a low voice.
Lena squeezed Alex's hand as Alex pulled her into the living room. Alex sat down next to Kara and put a hand on her knee while Lena stayed next to her. Blue eyes watched her, wide and haunted. Kara needed something.
"I told everyone you were surprised to find you had a living relative out of the country and you went to visit them," Alex said.
Kara nodded and when she spoke, she sounded as haunted as she looked. "That's good. I just took some emergency days off. I didn't think about explaining why I needed them. I was just so excited that I could see my mom and everybody. I didn't think about it."
Alex pulled Kara close. "I'm sure you didn't. You just wanted to go and get to know your people again." She could not fault Kara for that, even if it hurt and made her feel less than. "But, I had your back. I used to do this sort of thing for a living, after all."
"The best lie should always be close to the truth. It seemed like the best idea and it would explain you being gone for longer than planned," Lena said.
Alex had thought that much through. What she had not planned on was Kara never getting in touch with her to give her an idea how to proceed from there. "After a month, when you didn't come back and you didn't send word, I told people I lost contact with you."
Kara blinked. "So, they think I'm a missing person?"
"Yeah, I thought it would work in case you came back and wanted to continue being Kara Danvers." After a year, that had seemed unlikely, but Alex had to have some faith. Beyond that, she would never be able to live with herself if Kara came back and wanted to hold onto parts of her human life. Alex preserved what she could to protect Kara as best she could.
Kara nodded, but her nose wrinkled up. "I do…" She did not sound totally sure. "So, I could go into work?"
"You can try. It has been a year," Alex replied. She was not sure how Cat would welcome Kara, even if Kara had a tale of woe.
"Cat Grant is back, so that might work in your favor," Lena said. She did not have the focus to run a media empire and Cat had grown bored very easily with her job for the president. Lena, being a fair woman, sold Cat Co. back to Cat for the same price. Cat was hardly gracious about it, but that was Cat Grant.
"What would I say about where I've been for a year?" Kara asked.
"The living relative was a scam and you've been fighting for your life to try to get back," Alex replied.
Kara gawked at her. "Been thinking about this?"
Alex chuckled. "Well, like I said, I did this for a living, but also I hoped you'd come back and I knew you'd need a cover story. So, basically a woman posing as a long lost relative lured you overseas and cut off your communication with us and stole your passport in an attempt to extort money out of you."
"Why would she think I have money? I was barely a reporter when I left."
"Mistaken identity. She thought you had money from an inheritance. Anyway, don't focus on that. It was a long fight, but here you are. Don't try to fill in too many details. Make it emotional. People are reluctant to question someone who's gone through an emotional ordeal, especially when it's fresh."
Kara nodded, but her face did not relax. There was something more there. Kara glanced at the television, a wrinkle forming between her eyebrows. Alex could practically see the gears in her head turning and feel the dark cloud covering Kara's soul.
"How long have you been watching the news?" Alex asked.
Kara shrugged. The nonchalance was not a good sign. "Has J'onn been Supergirl since I left?"
Alex winced and Lena jumped in. "Kara, you have to understand, it's been a year. J'onn didn't have time to be Supergirl for a year."
Kara frowned. "So, Supergirl's MIA."
"We managed to talk Superman into saying you were handling an alien situation off-planet, but he hasn't been great at keeping that up." Alex snorted. "He never fails to disappoint." One day, she would punch him in his perfect face, broken hand be damned. How hard was it just to be there for Kara? He always made it seem like some great burden. No, don't think about him. Kara's back and starting to realize she can't just pick up and be Kara Danvers again. Be there for her.
"So, has nobody been protecting National City?" Kara asked.
"Not exactly. We can talk more about that. I've got a security meeting to lead," Alex said. Again, she wanted to protect and preserve as much of Kara as she could. She could not just let Supergirl's work vanish, but that would take more time than they had to explain right now.
Lena stood up. "And you can't be late for that." Dating the boss was never an excuse for her and she would never do anything to skimp on Lena's safety. "So, yes, let's go." Lena looked at Kara. "You could sunbathe on the balcony to get to full power to pass the day."
"There's a pool," Alex said, hoping that would entice Kara to stay in. Of course, Kara did not know where her costume was to go and be Supergirl. There was always a chance she would just go out as she was or try to go to Cat Co. with no real game plan.
"Cool." Kara shrugged, but her face was still troubled and her eyes were like a storm. She would not bother with the balcony or the pool. It was obvious.
-8-8-8-8-
Alex went to Lena's office, wanting to go to lunch after a long, drawn out meeting. But, Lena would be safe and they could both breathe easy. It would be nice to sit down for lunch, like they tended to do, and just talk, especially after so much had happened. She did not even get to the door. Jess stopped her.
"She's not in there," Jess said, eyes focused on her computer, probably updating Lena's schedule if she was not in her office.
Alex arched an eyebrow. "Then where is she?" Anxiety and anger spiked in her at the same time, twisting her stomach and ripping at her muscles. Lena was supposed to let her know where she was whenever possible for safety purposes. Plus, they had a standing lunch date as girlfriends. Why would Lena leave her hanging like this? Kara. That was the only logical reason unless she was kidnapped and Jess would not be this calm if Lena was kidnapped.
Jess glanced at a notepad by her mouse and blinked. "Oh. Home." Her brow furrowed and she gawked at Alex for a long moment, like it clicked in her mind and she could not piece things together. "Why would she be home if you're here?"
Definitely Kara. "Thank you."
Alex made her way home, having to take public transportation because Lena took the car. On her way, she checked her phone. No call or text from Lena or Kara. Of course. This happened a lot faster than I imagined. Well, she could get it out of the way. This week was shaping up to have extreme emotional whiplash and she was barely on day two. Not even twenty-four hours, really.
Entering the penthouse, Alex found Lena and Kara on the couch and one hurt quickly replaced another. Kara's face was flushed and her eyes red. She was upset and she had not called Alex. For all of her "I came back for you," the moment things got rough, she ran to Lena. What the hell? It would have been kinder to yank Alex's guts out and fed them to rabid dogs. She was to be left behind on two fronts eventually. Don't worry about that. Worry about Kara. She's the one who lost her entire life.
"What happened?" Alex asked as she rushed over and sat down.
Kara sniffled and threw herself on Alex. "I went to work!" She sobbed.
Alex shook her head as she embraced Kara, holding Kara to her chest. "Work?" What work? Kara did not have work.
Lena sighed and clasped her hands together. "She went to Cat Co. It didn't go well." The moment the sentence was done, she frowned, like she had a bad taste in her mouth. Of course Kara would try something like that.
"What happened?" Alex asked again as she rubbed Kara's back. She felt like an asshole for being upset and jealous, as if she was the only one going through things.
Lena blew out a long breath and scratched her forehead. "It didn't go as she expected. Cat wasn't understanding. She was pretty cold and told Kara to go burn her next bridge."
"What? Why the hell would she say that?" Alex frowned and then remembered who they spoke of. "Is this some Supergirl bullshit?" Cat always swore Kara was Supergirl, no matter the amount of evidence that disproved that.
Kara nodded and coughed as she continued to cry. "She thinks Supergirl abandoned the city. She wouldn't listen, so she wouldn't hire me back." Her breath hitched in her chest and she hiccuped.
"I could go talk to her," Alex said. Surely, Cat would listen to reason and if she did not, Alex would make her.
Kara laughed, sounding like a sob, and pulled away to wipe her face. "I don't need you to go punch Cat, Alex. I just don't know what this means. I don't have a home and a job. I walked into Cat Co. like a ghost. It was like I died, like Kara Danvers didn't exist. What can I do about it? Kara Danvers has nothing. I have nothing."
"That's not true!" Alex jumped up and practically glared at her sister. "You're not defined by your job or your apartment! I lost those things, too, and I'm still me because I had good people around me to help me piece myself back together. You have those same people." Their friends helped keep her together once she allowed them to do so.
"And your sister," Lena said, motioning to Alex.
Alex smiled and nodded. "Your friends and family are still here. Those other things are replaceable."
Kara threw her hands up. "I had that as Kara Zor-El and still lost her!" They probably would never know the pain of being rejected by a people who they had carried on in their hearts. Alex wished she could take that agony onto herself and spare Kara, who had been through enough in life.
Lena clicked her tongue against her teeth and wagged her finger at Kara. "You didn't have your sister with you as Kara Zor-El."
Lena spoke as if she knew Alex was cut to the bone by not being contacted about this existential crisis. Some nice words would not mend that wound. Kara had healed a gaping hole in her last night, but they opened a new one this afternoon. She had been left out by her sister and the woman she loved. She was extra to them, not worth bringing in. Maybe she should have an existential crisis when she had a spare moment.
Kara blew out a breath and fell back against the couch cushions. The couch moved a little from the force, but she did not seem to notice. Her nose did its little wrinkle and her face scrunched up. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest.
"Supergirl got replaced, too." Kara pouted.
"Huh?" Alex asked.
"Supergirl was replaced, just like Kara Danvers. I'm like a broken toy. Thrown away." Kara sniffled and rubbed her eye so hard with the heel of her hand, she might pop her eyeball.
Alex knew how all of that felt after Kara left and she quit the DEO. Who was she without the DEO and without a sister to protect? She was nothing. Alex Danvers was a weapon without a wielder. She took Kara's hand and held it with both of hers. "Kara, I know how all of this feels."
Wet blue eyes looked up at her. "Really?"
Alex kneeled down and put her hands on Kara's knees. "So much of who I am has been tied up into looking after you. When you left, you took me with you. I had already lost Maggie and then J'onn quit and you left. Alex was Maggie's girlfriend, J'onn's protégé, but most importantly, Alex was Kara's big sister and protector. All of those things fell away and then I even gave up Alex the DEO agent. Almost every piece to the Alex puzzle was gone. I had nothing left. I didn't know how to be. So, I've been here. I've even done the crying on the couch bit."
Kara sniffled as tears slid down her puffy, red face. "What did you do?"
"Well, it started with J'onn coming into my apartment, forcing me to take a shower and going out into the sun. We walked in the park, every single day. Then, Vasquez dragged me to the gym every other day. Lucy took me to the firing range. Once I got my mind together, I went to check on Lena and we had lunch. It started out as little steps. Take little steps. What's a little thing you want to do right now to help you feel grounded?" Alex asked.
Kara took a deep breath and slowly released it. "Can we go to the beach? I miss that."
Alex glanced at Lena, who smiled. Alex smiled, too. "Yes, we can go to the beach. Lena and I need to change, though."
"Okay." Kara nodded.
The couple retreated to their bedroom. Alex took off her suit jacket, but Lena did not move, standing by the door. Lena watched her as she went to collect beach gear. She stopped moving since Lena seemed like she had something to get off her chest.
"What?" Alex asked.
"So, we're not going to talk about this?" Lena countered with an arched eyebrow.
"Talk about what? How you disappeared without even sending me a text message? How I know you rushed out of the office with barely a word to Jess because she didn't even smirk at me when she said you went home? She was actually surprised when she told me and realized I was standing in front of her, but you were home? Is that what you want to talk about? Or the fact that my sister, who has been missing in action for a damn year, obviously called you over her identity crisis and shut me out yet again? You wanna talk about those things?" Alex glared at Lena. Calm down. Lena's been holding you together. But, that did nothing to quash her hurt, her pain, or mend that wound in her. She was going to lose Lena and she had an exact moment to mark when it happened. She would rather have her ribs split open and watch someone literally rip her heart out.
Lena held up her hands. "My apologizes, love. Kara called me in a panic, which made me panic. I didn't think. Then, when I finally realized what I was doing, I wanted to handle it myself because you've gone through enough."
Alex scoffed and folded her hands across her chest. "Oh, so this was all to save me?" Such bullshit. She could never compare to Kara and now she could never compare to Lena.
Lena did not back down. "Yes, you've been through enough, but I know you'll throw yourself full force into taking care of Kara again, if only to save one of you and you fully believe Kara is the one to save. I see you falling right back into that. I'm not going to watch you drown."
Alex did not give an inch either. "What about you falling right back into your old habits? You have to be around her all the time."
Lena squinted at her like she was out of her mind. "I answered one panicked call."
"And didn't call or text me to tell me. I wasn't worth the effort."
Lena scowled and invaded Alex's space, staring her down, eyes ablaze. Alex almost gulped, but caught herself. It was rare she was on the receiving end of this look and they were not in bed.
"Never say that," Lena said in a hard, deliberate tone. "You are worth every effort. You are my heart and my soul. I wouldn't have made it without you, so I'm not going to let you spiral down and throw yourself on your sword. We have to talk about this, but first we have to go to the beach. When we come back, we'll talk. Also, are you going to tell Kara about Supergirl's replacement?"
That was a lot to digest and Alex had a bit of whiplash going from the bossy tone to the curious one of the last question. It made her only focus on the last question. Everything else seemed like a foregone conclusion. "Of course. When we get back." It would give her a chance to figure out what she and Kara would do next.
"Okay." Lena took a deep breath and smiled. She was so beautiful when she genuinely smiled. "Then, let's go have a fun day at the beach with your sister."
"And your best friend." Alex was not sure why she said that. To show Lena had as much right to Kara's time as she did or that Lena had just as much to unpack as she did?
Lena stared into her eyes. "Yes, my best friend."
Alex knew that was meant to be a reassurance, but it felt like doom. Lena had a relationship with Kara. They had something special, something deep before Kara vanished for the year. Added to that, Kara was something special. Alex had never been able to compete. She did not see why that would change now, even with the year between them.
They grabbed items for the beach, packing things away in a big tote bag, put on their bathing suits under casual clothes, and went back out to Kara. If Kara was fully charged by the sun, she heard the conversation, but she did not say anything. Instead, she smiled at both of them and linked their arms with her in the middle as Lena arranged for their ride. A helicopter flew them to Midvale, the beach Kara wanted to see. A car took them to the actual beach. The second they reached the sand, Lena rented Alex a surfboard.
"You know I love to see you show off," Lena said with a smirk as Alex took charge of the surfboard.
Alex chuckled. "You're just trying to get on my good side." It worked. She liked showing off to Lena.
Kara's eyes went back and forth between them. "You got her surfing again?" The question ended with a chirp.
Lena put her arm around Alex's waist. "Yeah. Once she found out it's one of the many things about her that make me drool, she's been all over it. Surfing, wearing suits, sciencing the hell out of things that don't even need sciencing, and shooting guns for absolutely no reason. So hot." She fanned herself. "She cuts her steak with a scalpel and I don't know how to act."
That was true. Lena went ga-ga over her abilities, but those would pale once Kara got her footing. Alex could not hold a candle to Supergirl.
Kara giggled. "You're both so cute."
Alex could not say anything to that. They stripped and secured their clothing in their bags. For a moment, Alex gawked at her girlfriend in her emerald green bikini. Lena noticed and winked at her.
"Wanna help a pale lass out and lotion me?" Lena asked as she pulled her sunscreen from the bag.
Alex grinned. "I think we all know the answer to that."
Touching Lena to massage sunscreen into her smooth, ivory skin was a good way to forget her troubles. Her hands glided over Lena from memory, intimately familiar with each bit of her. If she were a braver soul, she would remind Lena just how well she knew her body, but she did not want to chance Lena moaning and catching the attention of other people. Lena's moan was just for her. But, still, she could evoke what she was capable of in little ways. She put a little pressure on Lena's inner thigh, making Lena's eyes go wide. It was a sweet spot.
"Don't. I'll return your surfboard," Lena said.
Alex chuckled. "No, you won't." Lena wanted to see her surfing.
Lena frowned. "Okay, maybe not. But, remember who you have to go home with and sleep next to. Do you really want to take that chance?"
"Well, now you're making me want to."
Lena laughed and it was magical. Her eyes sparkled, like they did only for Alex, and usually when they had a geeky science thing going on. She ran her fingers through Alex's hair as Alex finished with her legs. Alex purred at the touch and Lena smiled at her. Alex's heart thumped, both weak and strong at the same time.
"Lemme do you now, so you get to show off for me," Lena said. "You better give me a really good show."
Alex nodded her promise and enjoyed Lena rubbing sunscreen on her. Lena was a little bolder than Alex and dragged her hands up high as she worked on Alex's legs. Fingers curling just under Alex's bikini bottoms. The same happened when she did Alex's abdomen.
"You're going to get us arrested," Alex said.
"Maybe I want to spend a night with you in a cell," Lena replied and she gave Alex a light slap on her ass.
Lena sent Alex on her way with a goofy, proud smile on her face. Alex got in the water, feeling pretty good about herself. The little display with Lena empowered for a moment, but only for a moment.
Lena and Kara sat close enough for their feet to get wet. They spoke, but Alex could not hear the topic. She wanted to not be paranoid. This was her sister and the woman she loved, who loved her. She wanted to be happy. She had her sister back and she was displaying her top notch skills to her lover. You just don't know how to be happy. Life had taught her that. Eventually, everything would come crashing down on her. It always did.
"I should just concentrate on the waves," Alex said. Oh, I have to get back into the habit of not talking to myself out loud. She had to be careful what she said or Kara would hear her. She focused on surfing. Every now and then, she sought Lena on the shore, wanting to see if she was watching. Half the time, Lena was engaged with Kara. Alex's stomach dropped, but she kept on surfing.
Kara moved on to making sandcastles while Lena swam out to Alex's board. Lena could be part mermaid. She was a better swimmer than Alex. Too bad she could not surf. Alex sat on her board as Lena grabbed on.
"How are you doing, love?" Lena asked.
Alex shook her head and sniffed, wiping her hair back. "She needs you more than me."
Lena pushed the board. "She does not! You're both falling apart and you're the only ones who can truly put each other back together. You know that." She scowled. "Wait, or do you mean to push me to her to prop her up as you fall?"
Alex sighed and covered her face with her hands. "I don't even know." She did not know what she was doing anymore. This was everything she could ever want, but also too much at the same time. It was like the beginning of the end.
Lena touched her calf and sort of pinched her. It was not meant to hurt, but to get her attention. "Alex, sweetheart, I love you. You know I don't throw those words around lightly." That was not a lie. Love had a weight for Lena. It meant something, connections, affections, intimacy, and family because she had not experienced those things in high quantity in her life. "So, please stop worrying. We're all right."
Alex nodded, even though she did not feel all right. It still felt like there was a void in her, shredding itself to open wider and wider. She had to keep together, if only for Kara. Really? You just spent a year discovering who you are without Kara and now you're going to use her as an excuse to not fall apart? Pathetic.
"Talk to me, Alex," Lena said with wide, shimmering eyes.
Alex blew out a breath, shoulders dropping from the weight she placed on herself. "I can't believe how quickly I'm falling back into old habits. She hasn't even been back twenty-four hours and I'm ready to jump in front of a bus for her, even if the bus isn't going to hit her."
Lena offered her a smile for her troubles. "Old habits die hard, but you know she doesn't want you to do that. She doesn't want to burden you."
Alex glanced at Kara, who was very focused on her castle. "She said that?"
Lena nodded. "It's why she called me after going to work. She thinks she's put enough on you, hurt you enough."
Something settled inside of Alex. "She's not a burden. She's my baby sister."
"I know that, but you should talk to her about that. Reestablish your connection. Until then, since we're in Midvale, we should go see your mother."
"You're right. She'll be happy Kara's back." Her mother had been as hurt as the rest of them with Kara's absence. It was personal affront and shortcoming, even though they understood why she left. They just never understood why she never came back. Each of them felt a special brand of horrible, but for her mother, it was so much worse. Kara's absence packed on this notion that she was a terrible parent.
"Kara's where she belongs." Lena moved to touch Alex. "And you are, too."
That sounded true. Lena crooked her finger, beckoning Alex to her. Alex had no choice but to obey and Lena rewarded her with a soft kiss. She smiled as Lena pulled away.
"You are right where you're meant to be," Lena said.
They both went back to shore to watch Kara try to build a sand castle with no tools. They had to help just because this was pitiful. Of course, it turned into an engineering project with Lena on the case. Kara tried to get back control by making it an art project. Alex supervised. In the end, it was a pile of sand. Sometimes, even geniuses could not get it together, apparently. They looked at each other and decided not to speak of the monstrosity before them. With luck, the sea would do them a favor and destroy it before anyone else noticed.
"So, Lena said we should go see Mom since we're here," Alex said, inching away from the so-called sandcastle.
Kara's eyes brightened and she clasped her hands together. "Yes! We have to. I have to explain it all!"
And so they gathered their things and went home once Alex returned her surfboard. Her mother was thankfully home. She smiled her greeting to Alex and Lena and then her face lit up.
"Kara!" Her mother sounded both relieved and like a kid on Christmas morning. She grabbed Kara into a hug, rocking Kara back and forth like a child, right there on the front porch. "My goodness, my goodness, my goodness." It was not surprising her mother cried.
"Eliza…" Kara sighed, definitely relieved. Her body went limp and she hung on Eliza, letting Eliza hold her up.
Her mother sobbed and clutched onto Kara for quite a while. They did not say anything, letting her get it all out. When she stopped crying, she released Kara and wiped her face. She managed a bright smile for all of them.
"Come in, all of you!" Her mother waved them all into the house.
They hurried inside. Her mother paced, wringing her hands. Her mother took a simple glance at Kara and let out a hysterical laugh. Alex understood.
"Why?" her mother managed to ask.
Kara chuckled as she ran her hand through her hair and a blush stained her cheeks. She gave her usual pout and it was a sight for sore eyes. "So, this is embarrassing. I thought I was only gone for a month."
"This is a story, isn't it?" her mother asked.
"I guess." Kara wrinkled her nose.
"We should order food," Alex said.
Kara gave an eager nod. "And wash away the beach." She wiggled. "I forgot all the places sand likes to stick to."
Lena wrapped her arms around Alex's limb. "I agree with that."
Her mother handled the food while they went to clean up from the beach, shouldering their beach bags. They all went to the main bathroom and stood by the door. Well, this would not do.
"Kara, you use this one. Alex and I will take the one in Eliza's room," Lena said.
"We will?" Alex's voice cracked. Surely Lena could not be up to what it seemed like. Her mother and sister were in the house!
Lena smirked. "Yes, we will." She tugged Alex away and Alex almost dropped their bag.
It would not be the first time Lena and Alex showered together, but it sent a clear message. Lena was with Alex and it was supposed to squish her insecurity. Of course, it did not work. Lena was just prolonging the inevitable. Of course, you are, too, since you don't want to talk about anything. Not talking about it won't make it go away.
They walked through the neat and tidy master bedroom to the en-suite bathroom. It was a full sized bathroom and the shower would easily fit them comfortably. She started the water while Lena pulled their clothes out of their bag. And then she pinned Alex with her gaze, like Medusa without the snakes.
"Babe?" Alex said.
"Strip," Lena replied.
"Well, yeah." Alex had no problem stripping off her bikini.
Lena slid out of her swimsuit as well and then pressed her body to Alex's before they even got into the running shower. Alex hissed at the contact, loving the feel as always. Lena fit against her just like she fit with her mentally. They were like two puzzle pieces that clicked in so many ways.
"I want you to remember how well we go together," Lena said and she kissed Alex.
Alex kissed her back, enjoying her sweet taste. "Just me?"
Lena smiled. "We have to talk about that, but maybe after you fuck me in the shower."
Alex laughed. It would not be the first time they were intimate in her childhood home. They might never be forgiven for Christmas, even though they had been the only ones in the house when that started. So, Alex yanked Lena into the shower and got right to business, kissing Lena with all of the passion she felt. Her lips and tongue slid against Lena's mouth with the care and ease as always. She made it a point to always make sure Lena understood she was both precious and sexy as hell.
Lena moaned into her mouth as the hot spray rained down on them. Lena wrapped her arms around Alex, clinging to her. She liked when Alex took command, once confessing that the idea of Director Danvers integrating her was a fantasy. Alex had to learn about taking charge during sex, as this was very out of her wheelhouse. Or it was once upon a time. After a few months of practice, she thought she was at least mediocre. Lena seemed to appreciate her effort.
"You want it?" Alex asked, nipping Lena's chin and then kissing it as she slid a thigh in between Lena's legs.
Lena whimpered. "Yes, please."
Alex dragged her teeth down Lena's neck as she palmed Lena's breast. She gave a squeeze and Lena cried out, bucking against Alex's leg. Alex hissed at the feel of her wet skin. This had to be quick, though, so she could not revel in it the way she liked.
Lena's breath hitched as Alex eased her hand between them. Lena adjusted her stance to make space and Alex wasted no time caressing Lena. Lena mewed and clutched onto Alex like a lifeline. The nails digging into her shoulders pinched her skin, but etched love on her heart and turned the pain into pleasure. She kneaded Lena's breast and flicked a pink nipple, which strained for attention. A whine escaped Lena.
"Listen to you, wanting me," Alex said before peppering Lena's pale neck with kisses. Even with water pouring down on them and the salt of the ocean, Lena's natural taste was just under it and Alex would never be able to get enough.
"Please, baby. Just do it. Please," Lena begged.
Typically, Alex would tease her and ask plenty of nonsense questions. Sometimes, she even dared to try dirty talk, but they did not have the time. She slid into Lena, one and then two fingers. It never failed to feel like she was coming home, like she belonged inside of Lena. I don't want to lose this or any part of you. I want you forever.
Alex kept her teeth on Lena's neck and pumped her fingers with the heel of her hand pressed against Lena's clit. She could feel every ripple as Lena's body welcomed her, drew her in, and accepted her. Lena's warmth spread through her, lighting up her soul, and filling her with joy. Lena moved with her, hooked her leg around Alex's hip, taking Alex's fingers deeper.
Lena clutched her shoulders tighter and the bite of her blunt nails sent ecstasy shooting down Alex's nerves. Her fingers kept pace, though, only willing to give Lena everything she desired. Lena let out a breathy moan before her breath hitched. She fluttered around Alex's fingers, embracing her with love. And, then Lena slumped against her, trusting her to keep Lena up. Alex smiled and kissed Lena's neck as she eased her fingers out.
"Feeling good?" Alex asked.
"I love you so much," Lena replied with a purr as she gathered herself enough to stand up on her own.
Alex chuckled. "I love you, too."
Lena took a few seconds to catch her breath and then kissed Alex on the mouth. The shower spray rained down on the both of them as Alex put her hands through Lena's hair. They pulled away and did not say anything as they began washing each other. It was an old dance. They often bathed together to relax.
"You want me to wash your hair?" Alex asked as she finished with Lena's beautiful body.
"Please. It always feels so good when you do it," Lena replied.
Alex kissed her shoulder. "I like doing it."
Lena smiled at her and her heart thumped. She grabbed her mom's shampoo and got to work. Lena sighed and melted under her touch. For some reason, tears stung her eyes. I don't want to lose this. Lose her. She would do everything in her power to keep Lena, but it was Lena's decision, not hers.
Hair washed, bodies cleaned, they stepped out of the shower and dried each other. They got dressed and Alex took their bag in her hand. She thought they were going back downstairs, but Lena yanked her into her old room the second they got to the door.
"Babe, what are you doing? We need to get downstairs," Alex said.
"Sit with me," Lena replied as she sat on Alex's old bed. "We need to talk."
Alex's stomach dropped. She's going to break up with me already? After what we did in the shower? That did not sound like Lena, but the world was weird now.
"That look on your face right now is exactly why we have to talk," Lena said, pointing to the mirror across from them.
Alex did not move. "Look on my face?"
"You look like your world is about to be destroyed."
Tears stung Alex's eyes. "Yeah. Because you're my world."
Lena took her hand and held it in both of hers. "Sweet, but you have more than me, especially with Kara back. That's good, but I want you to understand we're not on shaky ground like you seem to think unless you put us there."
"Huh?" None of what Lena was saying made sense.
"We have to talk about us and the fear I can see in your eyes. You don't have to be scared." Lena patted her arms.
Alex swallowed and licked her lips before she dared speak. "I know you love her. You loved her first and then she was gone and she didn't know."
Lena frowned. There was disappointment in her eyes and Alex hated that she put it there. But, it made sense. She was a disappointment, after all. It was about time for Lena to learn that.
"And now you think I'm considering this my second chance with her and you were a consolation prize for me," Lena said.
Alex winced. "You can read me so well. But, this is your second chance. I know you love Kara."
"I do love Kara."
Alex had not expected it, but hearing Lena admit aloud was like being shot in the gut. "Oh," was all she could manage. She was shocked she even got that much out. Everything inside of her collapsed in on itself. She would crawl into the appropriate hole as soon as possible.
"Alex, you love Kara, too."
What did that have to do with anything? "She's my sister. Of course I love her."
Lena smiled. "She's my best friend. Of course I love her. You have to remember no one before Kara treated me the way she did. She has a special place in my heart, but you are my heart."
The wheels in Alex's head ground to a halt. She would not be surprised if smoke came out of her ears. "Lena, Kara is a near-god on Earth."
"Uh-huh."
"You could be with a near-god if you just talked to her."
Lena smiled. "But, I want to be with her sister."
That did not make any sense. "Why?"
"Because I love you, as I keep telling you. Babe, you know that I know better than anyone what it's like to have a great sibling, so I knew how you'd take Kara's return. And, I know how inferior you think you are and how you're always trying to prove you're good enough, too. But, you don't have to prove anything to me. You're not inferior. You're amazing. So amazing that you're going to be the person to give National City their Supergirl back."
Somehow, the words made no sense and made all the sense at the same time. "I'm going to get Supergirl back?"
"Of course." Lena said it like it was a foregone conclusion. "Who else is going to pick Kara up just the right way? We can all get the pieces together, but you're the one that's going to arrange them the right way. You're going to do that because you're a good big sister and good person. You've been here through so much with me. I'm not ready to throw that away."
Alex sniffled. She could not believe this. Lena was too smart for this. "You're picking me over a near-god?"
"I'm picking you for the same reason I've been with you — you're Alex. You're you and you're wonderful and you've always been that for me. I know it's hard for you to accept, but you're you and you're great. And I'm a genius with five PhDs, so you might want to listen to me."
Alex laughed. "Not modest at all."
"But, you love that about me." Lena stared into her eyes for a long moment and leaned into her. "Babe, I know you question yourself, but believe me, you're incredible. And you know I can and will go down a list as to why you're great. Turns me on."
Alex scoffed. "You know I'm pretty smart, too."
Lena rolled her eyes. "Clearly not as smart as I am. And, I know what I want." Lena kissed her and it turned a light back on in Alex.
Lena loved her and she loved Lena. They had been through so much together. They had assured each other that things would get better when the Kara-shaped holes in their lives were still festering. They had cried and held each other. They had laughed together and found so much common ground. There were so many late nights, talking sciences and philosophy that at some point changed into discussing the future. Their future. They were together. They wanted each other. This was not something to surrender, to anyone, not even Kara.
She kissed back and Lena pulled away to smile at her. Lena caressed her cheek. "There's my precious, strong, brilliant Alex. My fearless Alex. Yes, you get scared, but you always press on. Ready to press on?"
Alex took her first easy breath in the past day. "Yes, I am." She felt like herself for the first time, maybe the actual first time. It was like all the bits that once made up Alex that had never been able to touch were now together.
"Then let's go enjoy your family reunion."
Alex nodded. "You're crazy, you know?" No one with any real sense would pick her over Kara.
Lena laughed. "No, I just know what I want. Again, I do love Kara, but you also love Kara. That doesn't mean she can or will come between us."
"Understood."
"Good. Let's go." Lena patted her knee before standing up.
Alex followed her out. The second they hit the ground floor, Kara was on them. She grabbed them into a hug and that was when the realization hit. Kara heard everything! Damn, I forgot about the super-hearing already!
"You two are so cute! I'm happy everything worked out!" Kara grinned at them. Her eyes had that enthusiastic sparkle that had been for far too long from their lives.
"Kara…" Alex was not sure what she wanted to say, but she caught Lena smiling and decided it was fine. Kara was happy for them. It did not matter what she heard. "Thanks."
Kara stood up a little taller. "Come on. Eliza kept all of the menus for all the fast food places I like. We already ordered Thai and Chinese. I think I want a sub, but I don't want to be the only one eating sandwiches, too. What do you want?"
They all went to the living room to find Eliza with a mountain of menus. They joined her on the floor and tried to figure out what they wanted. Kara wanted everything and they wanted to give it to her.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: the end.