Fall gave way to winter, which gave way to spring and summer. Kara had tried to get Percy to come visit her during their Christmas break at the farmhouse in Kansas, but Percy's job was keeping him busy.

Kara had never quite managed to get out of Percy what it was that he was doing, all he ever told her was that his job kept odd hours, and often meant he was spending most of the night working. She could always tell when he'd had a particularly bad night, because he would have even more pronounced circles under his eyes, and he was even more exhausted than usual, which was truly saying something.

A few weeks previously, they had officially ended their first year of schooling, normally a cause for celebration, but for her and Percy, it was a rather somber affair. Kara would be returning to Kansas for the summer, and while it was true that she would be able to return to Metropolis in a matter of minutes, for the sake of her cover she couldn't simply be appearing in the city for no good reason. To make it worse, Percy had admitted that his work was going to be picking up in rapidity, and he'd be even busier since he was no longer constrained by classwork and school hours.

It ultimately meant that, for the first time in seven months, they would be spending significant time away from each other.

It was not a prospect that Kara had relished. Made even worse by the words Martha had made before their parting at Thanksgiving. For months, the advice had been rattling around in her head, and she became increasingly more aware of exactly the sort of attention that Percy attracted.

Kara was not jealous by nature, at least she had never thought so, but she couldn't help the flash of anger and strange possessiveness that coursed through her every time she caught someone staring at Percy. Eyeing him up and down, as though he were a lamb ripe for the slaughter. This new hyper-sensitivity of her best friend's attractiveness was made only worse by her own mounting realizations that Martha had been right.

She was hopelessly infatuated with Percy Jackson.

And it was killing her.

It was killing her because she had absolutely no idea what to do with that information. No idea how she would need to deal with it. She'd had her share of crushes over the years, she could remember the giddy butterflies she would get on Krypton, whenever a particularly attractive boy would glance her way, and she'd had the fleeting thoughts of fancy of some of her fellow league members as well. But those thoughts and feelings might as well have been a drop of water in the sea when compared to how she felt when she looked at Percy.

She was nigh on indestructible, nearly unkillable. She could throw a car into the sun, could take be hit with a nuclear warhead and walk away with nary a scratch, but she never felt safer than when she was with Percy. There was just an aura he possessed, a calming presence that made her feel warm, safe, protected. He made her smile, laugh, brightened her dark days, and took joy in her every success. They could talk about everything, and absolutely nothing, and Kara would treasure every moment of it.

He was passionate, and caring. He went out of his way to make the lives of those around him better, and was as kind as could be whenever possible.

He was a good man.

But that was also the problem. Percy Jackson was not a man, at least, not human.

Her cousin had been correct, of that she was certain. Now that she was aware of it, the signs became increasingly obvious. He hardly noticed the light jabs she sent his way as though he didn't even feel them, even though her pokes could be hard enough to dent a tractor trailer. He could run on hours with minimal or no sleep. He was able to sense danger almost even quicker than she could. Pulling her out of the way of cars blowing through red lights, or catching a falling object with an inhuman show of dexterity and agility.

Percy was not human, and it was concerning to her. She hated herself for it, hated that she allowed the thoughts to dare to intrude on her happiness, but she couldn't stop them all the same. She couldn't stop the lingering notion, hanging like a thread in the corner of her mind as she fell asleep at night, that maybe Clark had a point. Maybe Percy wasn't who he said he was. Maybe Clark was right to be paranoid.

But Kara always stifled those thoughts viciously, if Percy had wanted to hurt her, he would have. And he'd had plenty of opportunities. If Percy had any ill intentions against her, she would have discovered them, he wouldn't have been able to lie to her like that, not without her knowing. She felt certain in these thoughts, and they gave her peace, because she knew that Percy lied to her. Knew that Percy did hide things from her, but they were not worrisome things. He lied about his family, he lied about his past, he lied about his work. But Kara could forgive that, not only because she did the same, but because he never lied about his care for her. Never lied about his worry or for his support for her.

Percy never lied about his friendship with her.

And that gave her peace. That gave her hope. It was this knowledge that allowed her to chase the damning thoughts from her mind. That knowledge that kept her safe from the terrible feelings those thoughts provided.

She checked her watch and she swore, she knew that she'd be late for dinner but her fight in the city had taken longer than she'd anticipated. A new formation of the Royal Flush Gang had gotten their hands on imported weaponry and they were powerful enough to give even the likes of her a hard time.

It was even worse because this was one of the few weekends that she was allowed to be in the city as her alter-ego, and as per usual, she was running late. She approached the small diner that she told Percy she'd meet him at, and was about to descend down when she paused, Percy's voice floating up to her. He was speaking to someone.

A woman.

Kara's heart clenched and her stomach became painfully uncomfortable, but she didn't descend, down. She was far too intrigued, because there was something oddly familiar about the woman's voice, but Kara couldn't place where she'd heard it. Using her enhanced vision, she stared down through the ceiling and watched as a woman, dark black hair pulled up in a tight bun and dressed professionally, sat across from Percy, deep in conversation.

"…You need to be more careful; I don't know how much longer I can keep you off their radar. People are starting to ask questions."

"I have been careful!" Percy stressed, "I haven't done anything which would show up on their radar, how could they know about me?"

"I have no idea," The woman said, shaking her head somewhat, "But you have the attention of some very high-profile members. They've been asking uncomfortable questions and I can only chase them away for so long."

Percy slumped in his seat, a slightly haunted expression on his face,

"They aren't going to leave me alone, are they?" He asked dejectedly,

"No, I don't believe they will." She said, "They can be stubborn, a trait you share in common,"

"Pot meet kettle," Percy snorted,

"Touché," The woman admitted, a smile gracing her lips, sighing, the woman reached across the table and gripped Percy's hand in hers, and Kara felt her heart clench more painfully still, but she still did not descend.

"Percy, I promise, nothing ill will come of you, not while I am here." She promised, "You have my word."

"I've heard that before," Percy said bitterly,

"I understand your reticence Percy," The woman said calmly, but with a definitive edge to her voice, "But I assure you, they will not do anything to you, not unless they wish to provoke my ire."

It must have been the pure heat in the woman's voice, because Percy actually smiled,

"Thank you," He said, "That's-that's a comfort. I don't want to be dragged into whatever it is you do."

"And you won't." The woman said definitively, "And think nothing of it, this is what family does. At least, that is what family here does."

A relieved breath left Kara at the words, and she felt rather shameful that the revelation that Percy did not, in fact, have an intimate relationship with the strange woman. She should have been happy that Percy had someone in his life to bring him joy, but the thought of Percy in the arms of another just left her bitter, and angry.

"But you still should be more careful, don't think I didn't see you favoring your left side." The woman said sternly, "You're running yourself ragged. You need to take a break, trust me. You keep up this pace, and you'll be hurt even more, or worse."

What did that mean? Kara wondered. What was Percy doing, and why was it sounding so dangerous? Was that what he was doing at his job? Was it illegal? Was it far worse than she had been worrying about?

Percy didn't bother responding to that, changed the subject uncomfortably.

The pair were silent for a few moments, and it was clear that Percy wasn't going to respond to that particular request, and the woman sighed.

"Have you thought about my suggestion? To see my friend?"

Percy was silent for a moment, before he shrugged, "Yeah,"

He didn't say anything more, and Kara could all but hear the mounting agitation of the woman,

"And?" She asked expectantly,

"I don't know," Percy said with a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair,

"I just…what if I say something, slip up and mention something I shouldn't?"

"She's one of my people." The woman stressed, "She wouldn't even bat an eye."

Percy didn't say anything, and the woman let out another sigh,

"Just think about it Percy, I really think therapy would help, and Dinah is good, really good. She's helped a lot of us through things before. Just think about it, please? You of all people should know that there is no shame in asking for help."

"I'll-I'll think about it, okay?" Percy asked, his voice somewhat heavy and horse.

"You should probably be going soon," Percy said, checking his phone on the table, "Linda texted me, she's running late and knowing her, she'll be here soon."

"I think I'll wait, actually." The woman said, adjusting the glasses on her face, "I should like to meet thins Linda. You've spoken enough of her, and you've already met her family, I think it's time she meets me,"

Percy groaned, "Not you too," He rubbed at his temples, "I catch enough shit from Kent about her, you going to join him?"

"You deserve happiness, Percy," The woman said solidly, "If she makes you happy, then I am happy, but I wish to meet her all the same."

"You aren't backing down from this, are you?" Percy sighed, "Fine, fine. Mind watching the table? I need to go to the bathroom."

"Perfectly fine, Percy, I'll answer some emails in the meantime,"

Percy snorted, "Hard to believe you of all people are answering messages,"

And he departed from the booth before the woman could reply to his parting shot. Seeing her opportunity to meet someone who was obviously important to Percy, Kara quickly descended to the ground, and in a whirl, she was dressed as her other self. Pulling out a pocket mirror, she double checked that her hair and glasses were in place, and when she was satisfied, she strode into the diner. She made a minor show of looking for where Percy had been, before striding over to the dark-haired woman.

"Excuse me," She said, tapping the woman on the shoulder, "I'm looking for my friend Percy and I think those are-" The words died on her throat as the woman turned around, and Kara came face-to-face with Diana Prince, better known to the world as Wonder Woman.

"Kara?" The woman hissed,

"Diana?" Kara hissed back, dashing around the table to slide into the space Percy had previously been sitting in. "What are you doing here,"

"I could ask you the same thing," Diana asked, looking her friend's cousin up and down, "Please tell me you aren't Percy's Linda?"

"I am," Kara said, shifting uncomfortably, "Wait-no," She shook her head, clearing it, "How do you know Percy? I heard you say you were family?"

"You were spying on us?" Diana asked, arcing a finely manicured brow,

"Don't try and change the subject," Kara hissed, "How do you know Percy, what is he?"

"That is not my story to tell," Diana said hotly, "And it's rather hypocritical of you to be trying to pry into his life when you yourself, hide who you truly are."

Kara sat back in the booth, heat rising to her cheeks. Diana was quite right, Kara had absolutely no room to talk, prying into Percy's life as she was, when she too was keeping vital secrets from her best friend.

Her emotions must have shown on her face, because Diana reached out and wrested a calming hand on her wrist.

"I did not mean to harm you." She said softly, "I just-you need to know, I will not divulge Percy's secret to you. I will however, say that Percy's reasons for not telling you are just, as yours are from keeping your true nature from him. But Percy's past…it is not pleasant, it haunts him, consumes him utterly, and he will need you. Needs you now. The months since you have been in his life have returned to him a life I thought I'd never see in him. I have no doubts that Percy will one day divulge his life to you, but until such a time, I beseech you, leave him be. Allow him to be at peace with you. It will be hard, but if you care for him, truly and deeply care for him, then please grant me this wish."

It was utterly bizarre, seeing the normally so composed princess of the Amazon's, pleading as she was.

Kara gulped, but ultimately, she nodded her head, "I promise."

The words came out heavy, and dry. And she barely even registered the words leaving her mouth.

Diana's face relaxed considerably, and Kara was even more interested in understanding what exactly her relationship with Percy was, for her to be so devoted to him as to beg Kara not to go digging too deeply.

"Thank you," She breathed, before receiving a beep from her communicator, one sounding from Kara's as well,

"Don't," Diana said, waving Kara off as she dug through her clutch for it, "I will handle it, it's just a summons to meet the newest protege, apparently Barry has his own ward now," She grinned conspiratorially at Kara, "Apparently the boys are worried about us outnumbering them."

Kara shared a giggle with the older woman, and she stood up, "Give Percy my condolences for not saying goodbye, and Kara,"

The jovial smile on Diana's face disappeared, and was replaced by the cold-blooded warrior that she was,

"If you hurt my cousin, not even Kal-El, will be able to protect you from me." And without another word, she spun on her heel and disappeared from the diner.

Kara sat in the small stall, feeling slightly stunned. She had never been threatened so brazenly by one of her colleagues before. Had she just been given a shovel talk? Had Diana really just threatened her for hurting Percy? And what was Percy doing that Diana was so worried about that he would be hurt? And there was still the rumbling question of what exactly Percy was, and how he was supposedly related to Diana. There were so many questions, and the longer Kara sat there, the harder it became not to immediately set upon Percy, and press him for all of the details that would satiate her curiosity.

She heard the door to the men's bathroom open, and the smell of sea-spray, and ocean water filled her nose and she saw him. Upon seeing him, upon seeing the way his face lit up in a bright smile at seeing her, and upon seeing the way his eyes seemed to sparkle with happiness, Kara promptly forgot all of her questions.

She was patient, and she could wait.

AN: So…Percy met Kara's family, and now Kara meets Percy's…family? I don't know, but I like having Percy and Diana having a healthy familial relationship. It's a good dynamic and one that I enjoyed writing here. I did my best to make this scene believable and I think I managed it. Kara is getting closer to finding out the truth, and has come to some personal revelations about her own feelings. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and I can't wait for you to see what I have planned. As always, shoutout to Double0Sxvxn for being an awesome Beta and dealing with my bullshit and as always if you enjoyed this but haven't checked out my other work, give them a try you never know you might find something else you like. I'm also on discord now, where I and a bunch of other writers hang out, chat and brainstorm ideas, you just have to copy the link that's in my profile bio if you want to come and hang out with us. Stay safe, stay healthy and have an awesome week

All My Love,

LilDB