Kryptonian Nights
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.
**Note the National Gallery of Art currently has the Cezanne Exhibition going on along with other exhibitions.The exhibition is curated by John Elderfield, chief curator emeritus of painting and sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, with Mary Morton, curator and head of the department of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art, and Xavier Rey, director of the Musées de Marseille. While these are notable people I am changing the names for the story. If you haven't seen the exhibition I highly suggest going! If you can't go in person take the online tour.
Carter Grant
Kara entered the National Gallery of Art. She was on vacation. Hero vacation. Ordered by Alex and Jonn. Both of them worried about how hard she had been working in both her jobs. They believed she was stretched too thin. Also with Mon-El returning to the future. It just seemed the right time. Several of her stories had gained recognition as of late from redeeming Livewire and her heroic efforts to save the Earth, to the multiple write ups on LCorp and their efforts that had finally stopped Reign. Kara still gave Lena the recognition she deserved even if Lena thought there was an ulterior motive behind it. Kara understood that Lena couldn't trust her now so she had settled on friendship allowing James and Lena to move forward even as Kara and Lena learned to navigate the new ground before them. She had over reacted to the Kryptonite. She knew that after reflective contemplation. She had told Lena that and that she would work to earn her trust back. She also came clean about being Supergirl. Lena had known, but like secrets it had been hers to tell as Lena had told Alex. So they were at an impasse for now.
Snapper sent her to Washington D.C. to cover the Cezanne Portraits at the Gallery. The young reporter felt that it was probably Ms. Grant more than Snapper Carr, but Snapper had been nicer to her as of late. Kara had spent time wandering through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial before heading to the gallery. She loved the location that had been chosen for it because it was shaded and felt safe to her. She had wandered for several hours in the early morning through it. At times sitting and thinking upon a quotation, one of the statues, or one of the murals. It was earthy and the tang of freshly fallen rain from the morning scented the air while she had walked around.
Now though, she had a meeting with the director of the exhibition. Jerald Eisenberg and Martha Gold walked around the exhibit explaining how the exhibition had come together, the different nuances of certain paintings, how several of the paintings had never been exhibited in the United States, Cezanne rarely painted people he did not know, instead painted them as part of his ongoing experimentation as he searched for a pictorial language to capture his intense perceptions of the world.
"What was Cezanne's goal in his painting?" Kara asked as she moved around the painting she was looking at allowing the light to change her perceptions.
"He wanted to make impressionism something solid and lasting to be viewed in art museums." Martha responded as she watched the young reporter take in the portrait. Ms. Danvers had an eye for art. Martha noticed she didn't rush to make judgements, but spent time with the work examining and feeling it.
"What was his major accomplishment?" Kara asked as they moved to the next painting. Jerald answered next as he came around pointing out certain spots in the painting.
"He wanted to combine classical rules of realism with a modern sense of feeling. He didn't think he had succeeded in his work. Artists that came after him though have drawn inspiration from his works. They believe he did succeed." Jerald spoke almost reverently. They continued around the exhibition. Kara had noticed a tall young man, perhaps around eighteen years of age that had been following and listening to them as they went. He had brown hair lightened throughout by the sun, pale face, and blueish green eyes. Pert lips gave a memory of hesitant smiles and shy bashful had stayed on the periphery of her eyesight almost looking like he wanted to interrupt, but holding himself back from it. There was something familiar about him, but Kara couldn't quite place it. As the tour ended the young reporter said her goodbyes to Jerald and Martha. Kara wandered out of the the exhibit and toward the Sculpture garden. She could see from the corner of her eye the young man trailing her. Kara wandered up to Tony Smith's Wandering Rocks sculpture and stopped admiring the work. The young man came within feet now watching the young reporter.
"You've grown up Carter Grant." Kara assert firmly as she turned toward the young Grant. "You've been following me most of my tour of the museum. You could have come up and said something." Carter smiled and then laughed as he was engulfed by the young reporter in a fierce hug which he returned in measure.
"Kara Danvers I have missed you." Carter whispered fiercely as he hugged the young hero. Tears fell from Kara's eyes as a sweet joy entered her heart. "Mom's just not the same without you. I'm not the same without you." They soon broke apart as Kara reached her hand up and ruffled his hair.
"Hey!" Carter squawked with a chuckle. Kara took a good measured look at the young man. He had grown into his body. He had a mild rugged look, muscular in nature, but not overt that you would think he was an Athlete. His eyes held a sharp intellect measuring another person, but kindly giving them the benefit of the doubt. Kara would like to think she had a hand in some of that, but she knew she hadn't. This was Cat's doing. He was a well put together young man and any woman would be lucky to hold him one day. Carter wrapped his arm around Kara waist and they began to walk and talk.
"So how have you been? I saw the trouble with National City and hoped you were safe. You never stopped writing through it all. Short articles, long articles, and even the funny daily observances. You published through it all." Carter saiid with enthusiasm as they walked through the garden meandering toward the Pavilion Cafe. "Have you seen mom yet? God, she misses you so much." Kara chuckled as she listened to the young man.
"No, I haven't seen your mom yet. She's probably way to busy anyway." Kara laughed.
"Nope! She would clear her day in a second if she knew you were here." Carter asserted even as he hugged the young woman he had missed from his life so much. "You mean more to us than you will ever know." Kara smiled up at the young man even as her eyes misted over. Thunder rumbled in the distance announcing another round of afternoon storms.
"Carter I was just a assistant. Nothing more." Kara insisted as she was suddenly pulled to a stop. Carter came around to face her while putting his hand below her chin to raise her face.
"Just an assistant. Kara for years you organized not only moms professional, but also her personal life. I would like to think that all the time you spent with me was done out of love, not being the assistant to Cat Grant. You made moms and my life so much better. I can't tell you the difference of you being in it and not being in it. You were and are still amazing." Carter insisted firmly. It was then he saw the shadows in the young reporters eyes. The pain and grief she hid just below the surface. Kara moved out of Carters grip and turned them to walk again. She fumbled with her glasses a little before speaking.
"I would like to think you would have been fine with or without me. Thank you though for the words of love. They are much appreciated." Kara said even as Carter pulled open the door. They ordered two pizzas and a couple glasses of red wine. They sat at a table away from the rest of the people and ate in comfortable silence. "So tell me what the great Carter Grant has been up to." Carter smiled and began telling Kara how he had graduated early from High School with not only his diploma, but also his associate degree. He was currently attending Georgetown University to obtain dual degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics. He was building robotics and voice activated computers off to the side. His mom had an entire section of the house converted into a lab for him. As Carter spoke the ache for her friendship with Lena was pulled fully into her mind, but she viciously attempted to stuff it down.
"What? What is it?" Carter asked questioningly. Kara smiled shaking her head.
"Nothing, it's nothing Carter. Can you give me a minute? I need to run to the restroom and then we will continue our discussion." Kara rose to go to the restroom when he grabbed her hand. She looked back to beseeching eyes.
"Please, don't run. It's been so long and you are a sight for sore eyes. Promise you won't run away." Kara nodded and he gently let her hand go. He watched as she entered the restroom. He quickly pulled his phone from his pocket texting the one person he knew who could make whatever was wrong right or maybe mend it. He worked quickly glancing up every once in a while as he typed. Once he got confirmation he shoved his phone in his pocket. Kara returned a few minutes after. They continued to talk with Carter asking about Alex and Winn. Time passed and rain fell around them. Kara glanced at her watch and shook her head.
"I need to go Carter." Kara said rising even as Carter followed her.
"Let me accompany you. I know your on vacation and don't have to be anywhere. I'm on break and don't have anywhere to go. Let me walk with you." The young, nerdy boy showed through smiling at her. Kara was about to refuse when Carter made his last effort. "Anyway, I have the umbrella!" Carter replied eyes gleaming in victory as he popped open the umbrella. Kara looked at the umbrella, then at Carter, and then down at the ground shaking her head and chuckling.
"You damn Grants. Always one step ahead aren't you." Kara said looking up as her eyes went wide to a figure behind Carter. Carter knew exactly what had caught the young reporters eye. He had made sure she would arrive in time.
"I learned from the best." Carter responded as he turned allowing Cat Grant to fully see Kara Danvers. Kara's heart sped out of control for a moment until suddenly there within her personal space was Cat Grant...Cat.
"I have missed you so much Kara." Cat whispered taking in the shadows and pain that Carter had spoke of to her on the phone. She wrapped her former assistant into a firm hug even as Carter hung nearby covering Kara with an umbrella. Tears leaked from the young heroines eyes as a piece of home returned to her heart fitting snugly into place. Cat broke the hug looking up at the young woman while running her fingers over the plain of her face. "We have much to talk about. For now though you are coming home with me and Carter." Kara opened her mouth to argue only to be cut off. "No arguments. You are coming home. You are coming home Kara." Kara Zor-El Danvers felt her heart heal just a little in that moment. "Come on, the car is waiting." Cat Grant whispered after giving the young reporter a soft peck on the cheek. Carter wrapped his arm around Kara on one side and Cat on the other as they escorted her back to the waiting town car. Later that evening after she found her items had been delivered from the hotel to the Grants house and a warm meal full of laughter consumed, Cat and Kara sat on the patio enjoying a bottle of wine as Cat finally got the hero to pour out her heart. Even later that night as Kara laid naked next to Cat in bed sleeping soundly Cat grabbed her phone and texted Alex.
"She will be staying here for the foreseeable future. Carter and I are taking care of her. I will be returning. Please keep that quiet. I plan to take back my company and correct some grievous wrongs against Kara." Cat sent to Alex. Moments later a return message signalled in to the media mogul and press secretary.
"Is she safe? Is she okay?" Cat took a picture of her naked lover in bed and sent it back.
"Does that answer your question?" Cat sent as she shut the phone off and curled back into her lover.
"I love you Kara Zor-El Danvers. I will make this right for you. Your family will heal and you will heal. I promise." Cat Grant whispered breath passed over the young Kryptonian as Carter laid in his bed thinking that the arrival of Kara Danvers heralded a change they all needed desperately. His family was coming back together. Rao help anyone who attempted to break them apart.