Kara wrapped her arms around Lena, closed her eyes and tried to avoid lifting the other woman off the floor in her joy. When they broke the kiss she half-expected Lena to change her mind, but Lena's head came to rest against her shoulder and she relaxed.

Lena wanted to tell Kara that she would give her one chance, but she knew that if she let Kara back into her life they would each be making compromises, having to forgive each other for mistakes and figuring out not only how to be in a relationship but also how to be parents together. She wanted to be with Kara. She wanted to tell her that she loved her, but she didn't want to rush into this.

"One step at a time," she finally whispered.

"Huh?"

"Clean slate, taking it slow and making sure this can work," Lena explained, finally pulling away so that she could look Kara in the eyes.

"Whatever you want."

Lena smiled, "I actually liked your suggestions - dates and game nights. Trying the whole normal relationship thing..."

Kara bit her lip, "what about... I mean, do we tell people we're dating? Or will it be a secret? I don't mind either way, but if we're out in public and..."

"Let's take it one date at a time, we had plenty of meals together before without too much speculation, and when we're ready we'll let Nia write it. You can tell Alex if you want and I'll deal with Lex when the time comes."

Kara smiled, "we could ask mom to babysit for the game night, I can drop Jora off in Midvale or bring her here, and we can take Jora with us for lunch dates. I'm sure the gang will be happy to babysit too, or we could get dinners delivered here or at my place?"

Lena put a hand on Kara's arm, "we'll figure it out. There's just one more thing."

"What's that?"

"I want to date you, Kara. Not Supergirl. It would look odd if I started having lunches in public with Supergirl and I know you might have days where you have to fly off in an emergency, but..."

"You don't want Supergirl flying here to see you, or meeting you for a walk in the park. I understand. Alex will probably tell me the same thing, worrying that my identity could get out."

Lena smiled and leaned in for another kiss.

Their first date was at the restaurant where they'd first shared a meal together, after Alex cancelled on Kara and Lena decided to trust her. Kara had worried that Lena would say they were supposed to be having a fresh start, but instead Lena made a joke about all the appetisers she'd eaten that day and whether she should call ahead to warn the chef that Kara was coming back.

After that, their dates ranged from coffee shops to walks in the park and even a few movie nights. There were a few stares when they were out together, but as they avoided any PDA's they never made the headlines. Sometimes Kara wished Lena would let her fly them somewhere with a little more privacy, but she knew that even flying herself somewhere to get a present for Lena might set back all the progress they'd made together. They even had a shared calendar now, showing when she was working as a superhero so Lena would know when she was free for an impromptu date.

"Don't forget the bag on the sofa," Lena called through to Kara as she finished changing Jora.

"I've got everything she needs at my place," Kara assured her.

Jora was going to be staying the night at Kara's place so they could hold a game night at Lena's, with Ruby babysitting. Lena had been a little nervous at first, even though Sam had assured her Ruby had started babysitting her neighbours kids, but she was also looking forward to seeing everyone. Since she'd returned to Earth she'd had a few phone calls with Lois, giving her someone to discuss raising a Kryptonian-Human child with and also someone she could talk to about dating a superhero. When Kara had asked if she could invite Alura for the game night, Lena had suggested inviting Lois and Clark too. J'onn was going to monitor things from the DEO for them all, freeing up Nia, Brainy and Alex to join them. Luckily Lena's apartment was large enough to accommodate everyone.

Kara had brought over some of her games, not realising that Lena had already ordered most of them online and the kitchen was stocked for their guests.

"It's going to be fine," Kara had time to give her one last reassuring hug before their first guest knocked on the door.

"What if I run out of ice, I..."

Kara laughed, "Clark and I can handle it."

Lena headed for the door, checking her hair and putting a smile on her face.

Nia and Brainy were the first to arrive, followed by Sam who talked Lena into changing out of her dress and into something a little less LCorp-style. Lena wanted everything to be perfect so she'd automatically gone for her more formal work clothes. Kara knew if she'd suggested Lena change, her words wouldn't be taken the way she meant so she'd hoped Sam would come and persuade her that she'd be more comfortable dressed the way everyone else would be.

Lois and Clark arrived just as she came back, followed nearly ten minutes later by Alex and Alura. As the host Lena was allowed to choose the first game and she picked ones which would allow them to work in teams of three.

Lois was very competitive. Sam and Lena, who were on her team, were silently envious of Alex and Alura who were with Clark.

After about half an hour, when Lena was opening another bottle of wine for her guests, the doorbell rang. Kara offered to answer it while Lena finished pouring the wine, her back the door. The room suddenly went silent after Kara opened the door. Lena turned around, puzzled.

Lex stood in the doorway, grinning, "you only invite Kara's family to game nights?"

"What are you doing here, Lex?" Lena asked.

"Mother mentioned that you were having a little gathering and I was curious to see who you'd invited," Lex sauntered into the room, waving at the guests. "I thought perhaps Andrea or Jack might have come, but these all seem to be Kara's friends."

"We're Lena's friends too," Sam corrected him.

Lena smiled at her, then turned to Lex, "well, now you've seen and you can report back to her."

"Aren't you going to invite me to stay?"

"You want to join our games night?"

"There are nine of you, I can help make it an even ten so you can pair up to play."

"You hate socialising, and this is not a crowd of people you would choose to spend time with so why are you really here?"

Lex moved closer, lowering his voice despite knowing that at least three of those in the room could hear him, "I told you, I've changed. I guess dying and re-shaping the world has given me a new perspective, a chance to realise what is really important to me. Everything I've done has been for our family and with the Luthor name restored I can focus on being a better brother."

Lena wondered whether this was really her brother. Could he be some kind of alien shapeshifter, or a clone, or robot Lex had created to fool her again?

Kara came up to Lena, placing a reassuring hand over hers, "it's your game night."

"Plus if he upsets anyone we can make him leave," Sam folded her arms and glared at Lex, not caring that he was technically her boss.

"Any objections?" Kara asked the others, to give Lena a little more time.

The others shook their heads, Clark and Alura the last to do so.

"Excellent," Lex rubbed his hands together, "what are we playing?"

Once everyone had gone home, Kara helped Lena to tidy up.

"I think that went well," Lena told her, "despite our unexpected guest."

"I was a little worried," Kara admitted. "but he behaved himself."

Lex stayed for two hours, much longer than Lena would have guessed. He'd been paired up with Lois, Lena suspected she'd switched with Clark after seeing her husband read his piece of paper, and the reporter had kept him distracted most of the evening with questions.

"Every time he tried to ask your mother questions about Argo, Lois gave him a vague answer and managed to get him on a another topic. I'm so glad the Daily Planet never sent her to interview me."

Kara smiled, "she isn't easily intimidated."

"I'm probably going to have to run a sweep for bugs in the morning, I wouldn't put it past him to try and leave something here. Not that I have any secrets now, except..."

Their arms brushed as they both reached for a discarded glass and Lena smiled as she looked at Kara, reminding her of the one secret she was still keeping from Lex. They abandoned the glass as Kara turned her hand to touch Lena's. She pulled her close and kissed her.

"I love you," Kara whispered.

"I love you too."

It was the first time Lena had said it since they started secretly dating again. They'd been so careful around everyone else, trying to pass off their dates as just friends meeting for coffee or going for walks. At first only Alex knew the truth, and she'd been sworn to secrecy. Then Kara had let it slip to Alura, so Lena agreed she could tell Eliza. Somehow Lois figured it out when talking to Lena, so they'd had to tell Clark. Eventually Lena gave in, a few days ago she told Kara she could tell J'onn, Nia and Brainy while she told Sam.

Lena sighed.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking about how I have to tell Lex and Lillian about us."

Kara smiled, realising that Lena thought everything was going well between them, "is there anything I can do to help?"

"Do you think I could borrow a couple of those Truth Seekers?" Lena was only half-joking and she gave Kara a weak smile.

"You know, if you're not ready to tell them you don't have to rush it."

Lena shook her head, "it's not that. I'm just tired of keeping us a secret. I'd like to hold your hand in public, kiss you as soon as I see you when we meet up or say goodbye, all the little things we're missing out on."

"It's your decision," Kara reminded her.

Lena nodded. She had a lot to think about.