Kryptonian Nights 2

By Deanlu

Supergirl is the property of DC Comics and the CW. I am just using them for entertainment purposes. I'm exploring the many faces of love.

Heroes & Children

National City at Christmas time was a sight to behold. The main thorough fares were decorated in greenery and red velvet ribbon. Banners announced the Christmas season on each light pole. Businesses store fronts were decorated in the colors and sounds of Christmas as they tried to squeeze the last few dollars out from the many citizens and visitors. There had been an influx of immigrants both earth bound and alien in the recent year, but things seemed pretty peaceful for the most part. Kara Danvers stepped out into the crisp, night air from the small mom and pop Italian restaurant that she had met James, Maggie, Winn, John, and Alex at for an evening of laughter, food, and fun. The others had already left. Kara being last because she had wanted the recipe for the grilled polenta with spinach and robiola cheese she had that night. "Merry Christmas Giovanni!" the reporter said one last time and walked down the sidewalk to an alleyway where she quickly changed into her super suit. She made a quick circuit through the city until she heard the sounds of giggling and laughter. She dipped lower hovering above National cities celebration of everything winter.

"Duck!" Yelled a small child as a snowball came flying past a friend. A young girl laughed in joy and threw a snowball back at her friend.

"You missed!" She yelled excitedly. Children were building snow forts and creating snow angels. Kara was fascinated watching the children. Their youthful exuberance bringing a warmth to her heart and soul that usually wasn't there. While no snow fell in National City, the temperature was enough to keep snow there if it did fall. So the city in a fit of ingenuity and tourism dollars had engaged a business to donate money to create an ice rink and snow play areas. Kara had watched the last several days as great mounds of snow were made and an ice rink had been set up. City fathers had just prayed the weather would hold. They didn't want to have spent all this money only to have a flood of water.

"Look out!" A child yelled as a snowball slammed into Supergirl. Kara hadn't been watching her height above the celebration. She had slowly been descending without realizing. All the children and their parents below her suddenly went quiet. Then a loud laugh erupted from Kara's mouth. Supergirl grabbed a pile of snow forming the perfect snowball and threw it back at the young man who hit her. Suddenly pandemonium broke free as children began pelting Supergirl with snowballs. Supergirl gave as good as she got using her super speed and freeze breath to form small walls of protection for both sides to hide behind.

"Whoo hooo!"

"I gotcha Supergirl!"

"Yeah!"

"Best Christmas celebration ever!" Children's voices rang out into the night.

Then it happened quite unexpectedly. Supergirl used a bit of super speed to go around her wall and bombard the other side when she hit a bit of ice. Kara suddenly felt herself fly up into the air and fall flat on her back with an 'OOofff'.

"Yeah, get her!" Children yelled and soon Supergirl was covered in an avalanche of children. Kara couldn't stop laughing. Soon enough parents came to her rescue. Supergirl took the hand of a teenager to be helped gently levitated off the ground and over to the skating rink. Using only her ability to fly and levitate she moved around the rink skating with the other people. Soon a small child reached out a hand to her.

"Can we skate together Supergirl?" The young child asked nervously. Supergirl nodded taking her hand and moved around the rink slowly in deference to the young child's abilities.

"What's your name?" Kara asked maneuvering them around the rink.

"Lena." The young child responded softly still a little nervous.

"Wow! My best friend's name is Lena. You have a great name." Kara said merrily. "How old are you?"

"I'm nine years old. I go to Willow Park Science and Math School. I want to be an engineer one day." Lena responded smiling up enthusiastically at Supergirl. Lena waved and pointed at Supergirl with a big grin as they passed her dad took pictures on his phone and her mom gave two thumbs up.

"I bet you will be the best one ever. " Supergirl said smiling down at the young child. The child face beamed with joy. She then got a puzzled look and glanced up at Supergirl while concentrating on staying on her feet.

"Supergirl, why are you here? Don't you have someone to catch?" Lena asked. Kara loved the child's inquisitiveness.

"Can I tell you a secret Lena?" Kara asked. When she saw Lena nod, Kara brought them to a stop in front of Lena's parents. "Sometimes even super heroes need to have fun so they remember what joy and love looks like. All that love goes right in here," Supergirl said pointing to her heart, "and it gives us heroes the strength we need when we think we might fail." Several kids gathered around Supergirl and Lena listening intently to the words that were being spoken.

"You will never fail Supergirl! I will always love you!" Little Lena said firmly.

"Yeah, we love you Supergirl." Dozens of childrens and parents voices echoed across the ice as children reached in hugging their heroine. Kara smiled holding back tears completely overwhelmed by the moment. Just for a moment the burdens of Supergirl shift and become lighter, easier to bear.

"I love you all too." Supergirl said hugging them back. "She then gently rose and levitated off the ground as the children backed away. Merry Christmas Everyone." She yelled jubilantly and flew off.

Kara arrived home minutes later. She changed her clothes, made a cup of hot chocolate, and went to bed the warmth of love carrying her into dreams of happiness. Morning arrived to the sound of her front door opening, the smell of coffee wafting into her bedroom. Alex heartbeat made her smile as she came down the hall to see John and Alex sitting drinking coffee.

"Hey, what's up?" Kara said as John handed her a cup of coffee smiling down at her. It was rare that John came with Alex. It normally meant trouble.

"Kara, where did you go after dinner last night?" John asked. Kara stared for a while trying to discern where the intent of the question was going.

"Hmmmm, I did a patrol and then stopped by the Winter Carnival. Why?" Kara asked as she opened the box of donuts and discovered a dozen crullers. "Hey, Alex why the crullers?" Alex smiled at her sister and slapped a Tribune Paper down on the countertop in front of Kara.

SUPERGIRL SAYS LOVE AND JOY MAKE HERO'S POWERFUL!

A picture of Supergirl kneeling in front of a young Lena surrounded by children is under the headline. Several articles fall below on Supergirls night at the winter carnival and what she said to children. Alex reaches forward and opens the paper to two pages of photos with captions. The smile that crosses Kara's face is like the suns rise at dawn. Then Alex turns the page again and her sister's mouth drops open. The faces of firemen/women, soldiers, policemen/women, paramedics, nurses, doctors, fathers, and mothers grace the page with children hugging them saying 'We love you'." Then Alex turns to the editorials. Supergirl reminds us Hero's give all by Edward Flannery. A Heroine's Love by Cat Grant. It's followed by Letter after Letter to the Editor from the average people singing her praises and the praises of the heroes of National City.

"But...I…" Kara's words get caught in her throat as a tear slides down her cheek. John and Alex come around and embrace her.

"Well done Kara! Well done Supergirl!" John and Alex warmly burr as they hug her.