Kryptonian Nights 37

Deanlu

Supergirl is the property of DC comics and the CW. I am borrowing the characters for a little fun and storytelling. What is love?

Respect Earned

"Then we are adjourned ladies and gentlemen. I will see you in four weeks at the next board meeting. Thank you all for your input and advice." The LCorp board meeting had run long. Too long Lena thought to CEO rubbed her brow as the board members walked out. The new alien security system would protect the planet forcing people to enter at the designated space station above instead of just crash landing on the planet below. It would prevent some of the major issues like World Killers, General Zod, and that damn bounty hunter four months ago who had come for Supergirls head. It would be up and running in association with the United Nations manned by multiple personnel from around the world. Alien's could come to earth, but they needed to register and enter the proper way. Lena shook her head remembering the argument with Kara over this last night. Kara had been supportive of the whole thing up until a month ago. In fact, she had brought the idea up to Lena two years ago after a particularly nasty experience with an alien race which had required her to work with her brother Lex.

"Yeah, trust me she had said." It had turned into a entre fiasco, but they had ultimately won. Kara had agreed with some of the things Lex had stated about the need to protect the planet, but not the way in which it should be done. It had almost cost them their son though. Lena ran her hand over her abdomen as she thought of those late nights after she had delivered two months early. It had been hard on her and Kara almost breaking them. Ultimately, it had brought them closer. Mainly because neither wanted a world without the other. Lena knew that was the crux of the argument now. Kara was worried about their children and the thousands of aliens on the planet. The way the shield worked kept everything out, but it also kept everything in the atmosphere. Should there be another need for Supergirl to toss something into space or go into space she would have to get permission within seconds. Some of those controlling the shield did not trust Supergirl. So there were great questions on whether they would open the shield in an emergency or even keep it open until Supergirl got back inside.

"Faith, isn't that what you told me Kara. We have to have faith and hope for the best." Lena thought as she looked out the window noticing only now that darkness had descended on National City. "Damn!" She was late again. This would not be good especially after the harsh words she had with Kara last night.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your thoughts Ms. Luthor. I just wanted to take a minute with you if you would." Lena turned to find her biggest headache on the board standing near the door. Mr. Aarons, her personal demon and battering ram of questions.

"Yes, Mr. Aarons. How can I help you?" Lena inquired as she motioned the older gentleman to a chair near her. He moved slowly toward her in deference to his age. He was eighty-nine years old. While no longer spry of body, his mind was as sharp as a tack and had battled Lena more than once about the direction she has taken the company. While not one of Lex's cronies he had made it clear that he didn't think she was up to the task when she took over twelve years ago. His battles with her over each step she had taken had educated her in the way to battle the minefield of a major corporations board for what she wanted, it had also exhausted her on more than one occasion. In fact, Kara had observed one night as they were playing with their two children that it was very similar to when Supergirl battled her enemies. It was all about tactics and strategy, but it still left you exhausted even when you won. And there was always another battle on another day.

"I wanted to say I was wrong Lena." Mr Aarons stated as he looked at her from the chair he sat on.

"What? What do you mean you were wrong?" Lena already building up for another fight over what they had discussed in the board meeting. This would be just like him to come at her after the board had dismissed.

"No, no. Not on what we discussed in the meeting." Mr Aaron's held his hands up placatingly. "I was wrong years ago about you not being up to the task of running LCorp. I was wrong to think taking this company in a new direction would not be profitable, but also rewarding. I was wrong to think you were not strong enough, intelligent enough, or even hard enough when it was needed to make this company a major leader. My wife, Mrs. Aarons...Elizabeth, God rest her soul." He looked down for a minute and Lena could tell he had pulled a memory forward of the woman. She waited patiently. "Sorry, she told me I was a fool. I came home upset you had taken over LCorp. She told me that women were stronger than men and would sacrifice a great deal to succeed if their heart was into it. I had scoffed at her and told her she didn't know what she was talking about. I spent a week on the couch for that Mrs. Luthor! Which only made me angrier at you." Mr. Aarons chuckled even as Lena smirked happy she had been the cause of him on the couch for a week. Mr. Aaron's hand came up pointing out the smirk and laughed some more."There, just like her you are in ways. She taught me a lot about being a good man, though I would bet you would disagree with me."

"Perhaps, a little Mr. Aarons. You, however, taught me a lot about being a CEO." Lena replied as he smiled at her softly.

"You know, it was never that you were a woman or a Luthor. It was always about what this job does to people who want it badly. I watched it rob the humanity from your father and then your brother. I didn't want you to lose yours." Mr. Aaron indicated toward the picture of Lena Luthor which hung on the wall next to her father, Lionel's picture. Lex's was appropriately absent from the wall to no longer stare out as a glaring deficiency. Mr. Aarons stood with much effort and Lena rose in respect for him. "You definitely have what it takes to take LCorp to the height of not just a global economy, but a universe economy. Thank you Mrs. Luthor. You have earned my respect and admiration even if you don't need it." To say Lena was shocked for a change would be an understatement. So much so that it showed on her face. She caught herself soon enough and schooled her face quickly as she could.

"Thank you Mr. Aaron's. I appreciate your sentiment. While your right I don't need it. I will accept it most wholeheartedly." Lena shook his hand as Mr. Aaron's smiled more brightly.

"Now don't expect me to go easy on you next month when we meet again. I wouldn't want you going soft." Mr. Aaron's indicated as he ambled toward the conference room door.

"No we couldn't have that at all." Lena said with an amused chuckle. She watched as he turned toward her.

"One last thing Mrs. Luthor. Treasure that family of yours and protect it diligently. You never know what you have until it's gone. Then it's too late to get it back." Mr. Aarons stated as he looked at Lena. Lena wanted to ask him if he missed her terribly and it must have shown in her face. "Every second of every minute of every hour Ms. Luthor. It's like being robbed of your breath and being forced to live on as a shell of yourself. Don't you ever let them think you don't love them." Mr Aarons turned and ambled down the hallway home. Lena turned away wiping the tears that ran down her cheek. She quickly pulled her cellphone from the side pocket of the blazer to read one message from Kara. She opened it.

Lena, come home soon. We are waiting. Ukiem, Kara.

"Jess, head on home. I'm grabbing my purse and heading out. Also don't come in before ten tomorrow. Cancel anything I have for tomorrow too. I'll be in on Wednesday. I need some time with my family." Jess nodded as she wrote down what Lena had said. Lena grabbed her purse and coat. Her driver was waiting at the curb by the time the elevator had arrived at the first floor. Marcus opened the door quickly helping the CEO inside.

"That's it my little one." Kara whispered as she fed her daughter a bottle. She still wasn't feeling back to normal even though it had been two months now since she delivered their little Annabel Eliza Luthor. She needed to let Alex and Lena know she wasn't feeling well. Maybe that was why she had barked at Lena last night. She felt her son Alexander Jonzz Luthor curl tighter into her on the couch. She ran her fingers through his dark brunette locks as he settled back to sleep. Now two years old going on three, he was definitely a handful. Kara looked up toward the door as she heard a key turn in the lock heralding her wife's arrival. She had missed dinner, bath time, and tv time with them, but Kara knew it couldn't be helped.

"Hey," came Lena's greeting as she hung her coat, removed her shoes and placed her purse on the side table near the door. "How are our angels?" Lena asked as she leaned over the couch and gave Kara a soft warm kiss. They hovered together for a few minutes allowing their love for each other to realign themselves. "Sorry." Lena whispered as Kara nodded.

"I'm sorry too. You are the most important person in my life besides these two. I love you." Kara quietly spoke back even as her hand that had been carding through her sons hair now found and latched on to Lena's. "Help me put these two terrors to bed so we can cuddle?" Lena nodded releasing Kara and coming around to pick up their son. She hugged him tightly as she took him to his bed and tucked him in. Lena caressed her fingers along his cheek even as she kissed him goodnight. One last look and she moved down the hallway to their bedroom. Lena removed the trappings of the CEO of LCorp throwing on a pair of silky boxer shorts with spiderman on them, Kara's National City University t-shirt, and a pair of soft fuzzy socks. She moved to the restroom to remove her makeup and contacts. She dried her face and grabbed her blackrimmed glasses and moved back to the livingroom stopping briefly by the nursery to wake her wife who fell asleep rocking Annabel. Lena helped her lay her in the crib. Once done they moved back to the living room. Lena sat down on the couch first as Kara brought a glass of wine for her wife and a cup of tea for herself.

"I love you. I'm sorry we argued. I'm not sure why your against this now, but it is not worth arguing about. We will just have to agree to disagree." Lena whispered as she set her glass on the end table next to her and hugged Kara tighter.

" I don't think I so much as disagree as I was in a bad mood because I wasn't feeling well." Kara hesitated a little and then began again. "I haven't been feeling well since the birth. I'm not sure what it is exactly. I think maybe it's some baby blues and there might be something wrong inside of me. I need to have Alex check." Lena hugged her tighter scolding herself for not noticing her wifes problems.

"I think some sun lamps would help a few hours each day. I think we need to take some time together too. I love my babies, but I love you passionately. I don't want us to drift apart like before." Lena whispered into her loves ear. The before being when Kara had revealed she was Supergirl and it had broke their friendship for a time. A year's time to be exact. A year of dark, ugly events that wound up with Kara saving her and dying for a whole month. It had shook Lena badly and brought them back together.

"El Mayarah. Stronger together." Kara whispered even as she melted further into her wife's embrace.

"Always." Lena whispered back to her love.