A/N: Thank you for the comments
Chloe: Thanks!
"Hello Kara." An old man in priest robes greeted as he sat next to her in the temple.
"Wel-Or?" Kara asked half recognising him.
"You remember me?"
"Of course I do." Kara said. "I'm surprised you remember me though."
"The lost daughter of Krypton? Everyone knows you. But I also remember you. I remember back then you came to temple willingly for festivals, and once you gave me the praise that of all the priests I gave the least boring lectures." He smiled recalling the memory. "You never shied away from the truth." He paused again. "But I also remember it was a struggle to get you here for normal services. Yet, everyday for the last two weeks you have come and sat in silence. A practice I do not remember you following before."
"I grew up." Kara pointed out.
"And your faith changed." Wel-Or said. "I remember you would always approach the services as if they were celebrations. But for this last two weeks it is as if you have been rehearsing funeral rites. Which makes me wonder why are you here? To reconnect with Rao? To search for answers?"
"A little of both."
"And have you found answers?"
"No."
"Then you are asking the wrong question." The priest said. "Why are you really here?"
"I was trapped in the Phantom Zone. When I was there my mind created a hallucination of my father. I was so sure he was real, for weeks he was with me, guiding me, then … then things turned bad. I thought if I came here I could say goodbye to him and make peace with him."
"But you are afraid?"
"Yes."
"What is it you fear."
"I don't know."
"Kara your father died a long time ago. He died a hero and I have no doubt he would be proud of who you had become. I have no doubt that if he was sitting right here he would listen to everything you had to say to him."
"But he isn't here."
"But Rao is. Rao connects us all." Wel-Or said. "My advice, for what it is worth is when I have gone picture your father sitting where I am now and say what you need to say."
"Out loud? Here?"
"You are alone. I will ensure no one comes in. You never know voicing your thoughts may lead you to answers." With that he stood and walked to the entrance. Kara waited until he was gone before looking at where he had been sitting and picturing her father sitting there.
"I'm sorry." She said before looking round feeling self conscious. Content she was the only one there she went on.
"I could not be the daughter you'd hoped I be. I have tried so hard to be who you wanted me to be and I have failed at every turn. But now I am not even sure what you wanted me to be." She paused.
"There were times I resented you. I resented you for putting me in that pod and then I resented you when I found about about the Medusa virus. How could you create such a weapon? You talked to me of peace but prepared for genocide. I understand duty, but I will never understand Medusa. I wanted so many times to ask you about it in the Phantom Zone, but I was so afraid of the answer I didn't. Perhaps that was for the best, the answer would have been skewed by me anyway." She paused again. "You were so broken in the Phantom Zone. But was that me? Have I ruined your memory? Or was that what you were really like? And if it was does that change who I am? I'm sorry, I'm not making any sense. I'm rambling. I wanted to make things right, because no matter how many times I resented what happened or I was angry with you, I have always loved you and I don't want to let you down." She said tears streaming down her face. "And you helped me keep it together in the Phantom Zone and that has to mean something. Doesn't it?"
Hearing footsteps Wel-Or headed to the door where he saw Alura watching her daughter.
"Leave her." Wel-Or said squeezing Alura's shoulder.
"But she is in pain."
"She is, but she is saying what she needs to say. Don't interrupt her."
-00-
As Kara and Alura walked through some ruins a few days later Alura turned to her daughter and said. "Kara you are welcome to stay here forever. This is your home and you will always have family here. But I sense you don't want to be here. Or rather the reason you are here is because you are running away."
"I came here to reconcile with father and to find peace."
"Have you achieved that?"
"No. Not exactly." Kara said. "When I was in the Phantom Zone, father kept me company, but he also told me to kill Alex and J'onn."
"That wasn't your father." Alura reminded her.
"I know. It was me, well my mind. That makes it worse. I told me to kill Alex and I tried, I nearly succeeded. What does that say about me?"
"You believe what happened makes you a bad person?" Alura asked.
"How else should I interpret it?"
"Kara, you were exposed to terrifying visions and hallucinations. You were living in isolation. And you were attacked by the phantoms. It is amazing you had any control over anything when Alex found you." Alura argued. "What I do know is you have and have always had the kindest and most pure heart I have ever known. You seek peace regardless of the price you personally have to pay. You refuse to kill even to your own detriment. When you see something is wrong you don't accept it, you fight for change. You will always be good. And I also know your father would be so proud of the woman you have become. As am I." Alura said. "But the Phantom Zone has left you with many demons. What happened with you father is one example, but there were others and the place to battle what was left isn't here. You are also a fighter and that is why it is time for you to return to Earth."
-00-
As Kara reached the door she started to reach for the handle, only to stop herself. Hearing laughter from inside she paused raised her arm once more then turned and walked back down the corridor only to come face to face with Lena.
"Kara?" The former CEO asked surprised.
"Lena?" Kara asked equally surprised.
"You're back." Lena said.
"Yes."
"Why aren't you going in? It looked like you were trying to remember how to use a door."
"I was trying to figure out if I belonged in there." Kara confessed.
"You have a sister who loves you and friends who'd do anything for you." Lena pointed out. "If you feel you don't belong there is no hope for me."
"You belong in there just as much as I do." Kara said before asking. "How are you?"
"Okay, I think." Lena said.
"What's been happening?"
"Kelly said I should be careful about dropping bombshells on you that might make you doubt if this is real."
"I'm okay I can take whatever you've got to say."
"Even Big Belly Burgers going broke?"
"What?" Kara asked eyes wide.
"Sorry, no. It's fine. Kelly also suggested humour." Lena said.
"That's not funny." Kara pointed out.
"Noted." Lena said.
"So what is it you need to tell me?"
"Lex was taken to court. I testified against him, I trapped him into giving a full confession, but somehow he managed to get the jury to side with him and he got off free. He is walking round like a messiah."
"That is actually really believable." Kara said.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for what Lex-" Lena started only for Kara to hug her.
"You aren't your brother. You aren't responsible for anything that he does." Kara said. "Besides I should be thanking you, you helped get me home."
"Alex did the heavy lifting." Lena shrugged. "I really am glad you are back."
"So am I." Kara said finally pulling away from the hug.
"Yet you are standing in a badly lit corridor, rather than going through the door to your friends." Lena pointed out.
"So are you." Kara pointed out.
"So we go in together?" Lena suggested.
"Together." Kara nodded turning back to the door.
"Good. Because I forgot to bring the wine and I should really take something." Lena said.
-00-
"Lena. Hi." J'onn greeted as they entered the Tower.
"J'onn. I bring a gift." She said moving out of the way allowing J'onn to see Kara.
"Kara!" He smiled before hugging her. Pulling back he asked. "How are you?"
"Getting there."
"Does Alex know you are back?"
"Not yet. Isn't she here?"
"She'll be here soon." J'onn said before hugging Kara again.
"I didn't say this before. But thank you for coming to get me. I'm sorry for what you had to go through."
"There was no way we were leaving you there." J'onn said squeezing her tightly before pulling away. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go get something."
"Sure." Kara said before stepping towards Nia who hugged her.
"Welcome home."
"Thanks." Kara said. "And thanks for keeping the city safe."
Pulling away she looked at Brainy and asked. "Is something wrong?"
"My ocular pathways are malfunctioning."
"Are you crying?" Lena asked.
"I don't cry." Brainy said as Kara hugged him.
"I missed you too." Kara said before finally pulling away. "So what's been happening?"
"Not much." Nia said. "But I did cover for you with Andrea. She thinks you are hunting down a story with Cat."
"Thanks. Wait, what story?"
"I'll email it to you." Nia said before asking. "Are you hungry? Because we have so much food." She added pointing to two tables. Including one set off to one side with all food still boxed.
"What's that?" Kara asked.
"That's the Kara zone. Alex was convinced you'd be back soon, so every time we meet she makes sure that there is food waiting for you." Nia explained.
"Who ate the food when I didn't show?"
"Did you come up 32nd?" Nia asked. When Kara nodded Nia added. "We donated it to that homeless couple."
"So I shouldn't eat it?"
"Kara it was bought for you." Lena pointed out. "There will be plenty of other food to donate."
Before Kara could respond J'onn flew in through the window carrying Eliza. The moment she was standing Eliza rushed to her daughter and hugged her.
"That's quite a hug." Kara said squeezing Eliza just as tightly.
"How are you?" Eliza asked.
"I'm ready for that talk." Kara replied, still clinging to her foster mother. "Perhaps this weekend?"
"Whenever works for you." Eliza said finally releasing her before staring at her, looking for signs of distress.
"Sorry we're late." Kelly called as she and Alex walked through the door.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Alex asked when she saw her mother. But when she saw who was standing behind her she thrust the bag she was carrying into Kelly's arms and ran to her sister.
"I've missed you so much." Kara said hugging her.
"Me too. When did you get back?" Alex asked.
"An hour ago. I'm sorry I was away so long."
"I'm just glad you're home." Alex replied before asking. "Are you home?"
"Yes." Kara assured her.
Finally releasing her big sister Kara walked over to Kelly and hugged her.
"Welcome home." Kelly said.
"Thanks and thank you for looking after Alex." Kara said to Kelly.
"Always."
-00-
"You okay?" Alex asked joining her sister on the balcony a couple of hours later where she was looking out over the city.
"I'm not recovered, but I'm okay."
"Well you owe me so many sister nights." Alex said.
"And I plan on repaying." Kara smiled.
"So how was Argo?"
"It was," Kara started only to pause before going on. "It was what I needed it to be. I laid some ghosts to rest."
"And the nightmares?"
"Still having them."
"In that case first sisters' night is tonight and I'm staying over. Then tomorrow I will make the famous Danvers' Blueberry pancakes for breakfast."
"You don't need to."
"I want to." Alex said.
"What about Kelly?"
"Won't like your movie choices."
"You know what I mean."
"She knows more than anyone that you need support and If I'm happy, Kelly is happy. She'll be fine with me staying at yours." Alex said.
"You two okay?" Eliza asked stepping onto the balcony.
"We are." Alex said.
"I'm going to stay with J'onn tonight." Eliza said. "But tomorrow we'll have that talk." She added before pulling both daughters in for a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Once Eliza had left Alex turned to Kara and asked. "You want to go or stay?"
"Let's go." Kara said before having another glance at the city. As she did so she asked.
"Is this really real?" Kara asked.
"It is. I promise." Alex said.
-The End
A/N: Thanks to raihanchia for the prompting.