A few weeks later, Kara was flipping through wedding magazines with Alex as they sat in the penthouse. Lena was on her way home from work and while their original plans had included Kelly, the psychologist had come down with a nasty flu and insisted that Alex get out of the apartment to try and avoid getting sick. Alex only agreed to do so once she made sure the house was stocked with medicine and enough food to help Kelly feel better. And that is how the federal agent found herself with a bridal magazine in her lap while Kara sat upside down on the couch, her feet dangling over the top of the couch and her head hanging off the edge.

"You have got to make a decision Kara, you get married in like 8 months." Kara groaned and let the magazine gently fall on her face. The hero had yet to pull the trigger on wearing a suit or a dress and she had begged her sister to help her with the decision.

"But what if I look stupid in what I pick?" Alex rolled her eyes at her sister's theatrics.

"Kara, you are going to look like a technical knockout even if you show up in jeans and a t-shirt." Kara's face lit up an Alex realized her mistake. "No Kara, you can't wear that to get married." The discussion was interrupted by Lena coming in the penthouse, "what can't Kara wear to the wedding?"

"Your bride, my baby sister, seems to think wearing jeans to her own wedding is appropriate." Lena looked at Kara, who was still upside down and the blonde flashed her a bright smile. "I see. Well darling, you know I've joked that you could show up to the wedding wearing nothing and I would be quite pleased to still marry you, but I think something more formal might suit you better." Lena knelt down so that she was near Kara's head and quickly offered her fiancé a kiss.

"Gross, don't say shit like that about my sister and then Spiderman kiss her in front of me." Lena laughed and kissed Kara again before standing back up.

"In all seriousness love, wear what makes you comfortable. Personally I think you'd cut quite a figure in a well-tailored suit, but maybe you would prefer a dress." Alex covered her ears with her hands and pretended to ignore the CEO's comments.

"Christ, I get it you think my sister is hot, but I am sitting three feet from her so I am going to pretend that you aren't talking about what kind of figure she can cut in any type of clothing." Lena rolled her eyes and ignored Alex, instead tapping Kara's foot that hung off the couch.

"Did you ask her yet?" Kara shook her head no and Lena offered her an understand smile before pointing to Alex, "well that should change."

"Ask me what?" Alex looked confused and Kara glared at Lena, but to her credit the CEO didn't falter as she locked eyes with her fiancé. "Kara, I would give you the world if you asked for it, but this is one thing you have to do for yourself." Kara quickly sat up so she was no longer hanging off the couch and she reached out for Lena's hand.

"I don't want to have something at our wedding that is going to make you sad." Lena smiled and kissed the inside of Kara's wrist, "do you plan on being at our wedding?"

"Of course."

"Then darling, nothing else that happens that day could possibly make me sad." Kara nodded and even though Lena went to leave to give the sisters privacy, Kara wouldn't let go of Lena's hand. Kara turned to face her sister who was super confused, but very touched at Lena's handling of Kara's fears.

"Alex, I want you to be my maid of honor. And the only reason I didn't ask sooner and why Lena was pushing me was because I felt bad having someone when she didn't. And I would have made sure you had a special job for the wedding, but I just don't want Lena to feel alone on a day that is supposed to be happy. And…" Lena leaned forward and stopped Kara's rambling the quickest way she knew how: with a quick kiss.

"Darling, you are rambling and you are starting to cry and I hate seeing you cry. Just relax, ok? I will be at my wedding, so as long as I leave with you holding my hand as my wife, I don't need anyone standing behind me." Lena pulled away, this time walking away from the living room and going to change her clothes in the bedroom. Kara watched Lena leave and then turned back to Alex who seemed a little teary eyed, but was smiling.

"Sorry I rambled. I really do want you to be my maid of honor. If you want to that is?" Alex rolled her eyes before hugging her sister. "You're kidding right? Of course I want to be your maid of honor Kara." Alex let her sister go and while the hero was smiling, Alex knew that behind her joy was some significant amount of pain or she wouldn't have started crying.

"Kara. Talk to me, why the sad tears when this is something happy?" Kara crushed tears away and nodded toward the bedroom.

"Lena won't have anyone. I have you and Eliza to be my maid of honor and even walk me down the aisle if that is what we decide to do, but Lena doesn't have that Alex. She has the friends she made since knowing me and she has my family, but she doesn't have someone that she would want to stand up for her on her wedding day and I don't want her to feel that emptiness." Alex nodded her understanding. Kara was always hypersensitive to other people, but this was always magnified when it came to Lena and issues surrounding family. Alex thought for a second and stood up from the couch.

"Lena, you can come back in now." Alex bellowed over her shoulder and Lena did in fact return to the room.

"I take it that you two talked?" Alex nodded, "we did and I am very happy to be Kara's maid of honor." Lena tapped Kara's gently on the shoulder as if to say I told you so. Alex however, was not done talking.

"But of course, Kara being Kara is very concerned over you not having someone to stand up for you at the wedding."

"Alex, I told Kara and I will tell you. I don't need anyone in that role because the only thing I truly need from that day is to marry Kara and celebrate with the people who I love."

Alex nodded, Lena and Kara were exhausting when they did this: each of them trying to be strong and noble, not realizing that they were making things far more complicated than need be.

"Well, too bad. You may not need anyone in that role, but you have someone." Alex crossed her arms in front of her and Lena mirrored her. "I do?"

"Yep, you got me." Lena looked confused and for her part, so did Kara.

"You are Kara's maid of honor. You are impressive Alex, but even you can't be two people at the same time."

"That is where you are wrong. I will stand behind Kara most of the ceremony, but then switch to behind you when you do your part of the vows and rings. It honestly is not that hard." Lena's face softened and her arms fell at her sides, both surprised and touched at Alex's insistence that this was no big deal. Kara lunched herself into her sister's arms and was not paying attention to how hard she was hugging Alex. Lena quickly put a hand on Kara's shoulder.

"Baby, too tight. Alex needs to breathe." Kara quickly released her sister and stepped back so she stood next to Lena.

"Alex, honestly. You do not have to do this. I will be ok and Kara deserves to have you in that role and you have more than earned the right to have that moment with her."

"And what about what you have earned?" Lena opened her mouth to answer only to realize, she didn't have a good response. Alex continued, "listen, I will gladly admit that I was not your biggest fan when we first met and I was not anywhere close to happy when you two got together, but you did what no one before you has ever done: you showed up for my sister when it fucking counted. You showed me and everyone else watching that you were not your family. You weren't drunk on power or money. You showed me, through your actions, that you were literally just trying to live your life in a way that got you out of your family's shadow. And perhaps mostly importantly, you punched me square in the face when I said something fucked up about Kara." Kara smirked at the last point Alex made, because, if for no other reason, it was her favorite memory involving Alex and Lena.

Lena smiled ever so slightly at the comment. "I am still sorry about that by the way."

Alex shook her head, "I'm not. I was being a brat, big time, and I popped off, saying shit about you and Kara. I deserved what you handed me that day and while it hurt like bitch in the moment, I finally saw the real Lena Luthor, not the girl I had built up in my head as this evil genius. You defended the woman you love even though it meant taking a healthy dose of my hate speech. And just so you know, in that moment, when you had me by my collar against the wall, tears rolling down your face, I saw the real you and I understood instantly why Kara loved you. You became my family that day at the DEO, whether you like it or not, so for the love of all that is good in this world, just let me do this for you. Please?"

Kara wasn't exactly sure who was crying harder, Alex or Lena. Everyone in that room remembered the day Alex was talking about, however, Kara never actually knew what Alex had said to Lena that caused her fiancé to give her sister a black eye. Lena always insisted that it was just something the two women had to get out of their systems so Alex and Lena could move on and maybe one day tolerate each other. Kara made a mental note to push Lena for details later, but she looked at Lena who seemed to be weighing her options.

"I never had anyone love me the way you love Kara. Even before Lex became the person you know him as, he was never like you Alex. Lex never had a firm grasp of honor and integrity and he certainly did not have a solid idea of what love looked like. I had to learn all those things on my own, that is until Kara flew into my office…on a bus." Lena smirked, knowing Kara was likely beet red at the mention of her sorry excuse for a cover up. "She turned up in my life and all of a sudden I had someone willing to help me learn that I had honor and integrity, they weren't things I needed to acquire. Then I met you and I was so sure that no matter what, you and I were never going to get along because we were simply too different. But you know what? I think that whether or not we like it, you and I are remarkably the same. So if this is what you want, I think I would be very proud to have you stand up for me at my wedding. So long as Kara is alright with sharing you for that portion of the wedding." Lena looked over to Kara who seemed to be vibrating she was so excited.

"Of course you can share Alex." Lena turned back to Alex, "then it would appear you are pulling double duty at this wedding Agent Danvers." Alex smiled and sat back down on the other couch. "Good. Now if you could convince my sister to pick an outfit we would really be in business." Lena joined Kara on the other couch and the three of them talked for a while about the wedding. When things had quieted down Kara reached over and gently took Lena's hand.

"So with this decision made, does that mean you'll finally tell me what actually happened the day you punched Alex?" Lena smiled and Alex looked shocked, "wait? You don't know what happened?"

Kara shook her head, "All I know was the little bit of what you told me when you two came back from the DEO. Lena refused to ever tell me what happened outside of you two finally having it out with each other. I assumed it was just you guys calling each other names and maybe you said something mean so Lena hit you." Alex looked at Lena and the CEO seemed proud almost.

"You never told her."

"I didn't. You asked me not to and aside from giving you my word, I knew it would likely just make Kara angry at you for a while. I kept my word." Alex had to give Lena that much.

"I think she can handle it now." Lena looked at Alex for confirmation and the agent nodded. Lena settled in and set the scene for what happened the day she gave Alexandra Danvers a black eye.

Lena and Kara were on their way back from dinner, choosing to go to Kara loft since it was closer to the restaurant. Kara had insisted they watch a movie and since Lena was hardly ever home, her entertainment center was lacking, so they were better off at Kara's anyway. As they rode up the elevator Kara had her fingers laced with Lena's and they both stole their fair share of kisses as they exited the lift and made their way towards Kara's door. As they rounded the corner Kara stole another kiss, a kiss that was only cut short because Lena saw something out of the corner of her eye that made her head turn. Kara followed Lena's gaze and paled slightly at the sight of her sister standing in front of her door with her arms crossed in front of her. Kara's knee jerk response was to grab Lena, pull her close to her and gently push her behind her body as a means of protection. This small movement caused Alex more surprise than seeing the couple kissing moments earlier. Alex opened the door and pointed inside.

"Inside, now, both of you." Kara pulled Lena with her and gently guided her inside, keeping herself between her sister and her girlfriend. Once the door was shut and locked, Alex's calm demeanor disappeared.

"What the hell Kara?"

"Alex let me explain."

"Explain what? You were kissing her Kara. Now I don't know about you, but I only kiss the people I date, so either she is way more than your friend or you really have boundary issues."

"Alex, we are dating. I was gonna tell you when we had movie night later this week. It's not a bad thing Alex, you of all people should be able to make peace with this."

"You think I'm pissed because you are dating a woman. For God sake Kara, I could care less what gender your partner is, you could marry whoever you want and I would send out the announcements."

"So, then what is the problem Alex?"

"She is a Luthor, Kara! What part of that is so hard for you to get through your head. I can count on one hand the members of her family who can be trusted." Kara looked at Lena who was holding things together, but Kara knew that Alex had touched on the spot that Lena struggled with the most. Kara leaned close to her and whispered "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for me Kara!"

"Well someone has to, you are being ridiculous."

"I am trying to protect you, Kara."

"No. You are letting other people's judgement cloud your own. For fuck sake Alex, Lena has helped us, literally helped us save the world, so what is the fucking problem." Alex shot Kara a warning glance and Kara braced herself for this to get far uglier than it already was at this moment.

"She knows Alex. She knows who I am." Alex clenched her fists tightly at her sides and took steps closer to where the couple stood.

"Well, that's just great isn't Kara. Jesus, it is called a secret identity for a reason. Why the hell would you tell her of all people?"

"Why wouldn't I tell her? She has a right to know Alex."

"She is a LUTHOR, Kara. It's kind of brilliant, she found a way to get to Super in a way her brother never could. Must be a lot easier to attack someone if they are asleep next to you." Kara could feel herself get more angry and she was about to step into Alex's space when Lena put her hand on her arm and pulled her back.

"It's ok Kara." Kara shook her head, "no it isn't. You don't have to put up with this. She is being an ass and you shouldn't have to put up with this." Lena cradled Kara's face in her hands and smiled, refusing to cry in this situation. "But I will. I will put up with it."

"Why?" Lena smiled, "because I love you Kara. That is reason enough to withstand all the ridicule in the world. Even from someone who you love so profoundly." Alex was floored and truthfully pissed. She wanted Lena to fight back so she could find something to pin on the younger woman: something real and tangible to hate her for. Instead, all she was met with was a tearful CEO who had just called off her sister, telling her that she would take whatever Alex was dishing out because she loved her. Alex watched as Lena stepped out from behind Kara and instead stood in front of her, effectively shield the hero from her sister.

"My sister doesn't need your protection Luthor. She is fucking bullet proof."

"Good thing. You just yelled about her secret identity loud enough to alert the block so well done there." Alex realized that Lena had a point. In her anger, Alex had made a rather large mistake that he had to hope didn't cost them later.

"And if you intend on continuing to throw this fit, then let me make it easy for you. I am right here. You clearly have things you want to say to me, say them. To me. Not to Kara. If you want your pound of flesh then come get it, but do not go through Kara to get to me. I won't stand for that."

"You think this little stunt is gonna impress me? You standing up for her, protecting her from me? I'm her sister, I am the one who protects her from people like you." Lena nodded, "and yet, here we are. And no I don't think this will impress you. I don't think anything I do will impress you because you have made up your mind that I will disappoint you so you are going to make damn sure I do. But, be that as it may, I won't let you take your anger for me out on Kara. If you want to yell at me and throw my family name around like a weapon, fine, but be an honorable enough person to face me yourself. Do not use Kara as your shield, I won't allow it."

"You won't allow it?"

"That is what I said." Alex put her hands on her hips and paced in front of Lena, the CEO never moving from her spot.

"So what, you think that standing up to me is gonna impress her. Gonna win my sister's heart by being her hero. You're really going to let me throw my very worst at you just so that Kara doesn't have to hear it." Alex paused in front of Lena and waited for a response.

"I have been called a great many things, most of them worse than what you just called me and I have been called those things by better people than you Agent Danvers. You do not scare me. So, either speak your peace and get out or admit that maybe things aren't always as they seem and that perhaps it is you who is wrong." Alex looked at Kara who was still standing behind Lena and she saw a pained expression on her sister's face and Alex did not want to be the one who admitted she was wrong, because she was so sure she knew what Lena was up to.

"Bring her to the DEO at 9am. If you want your chance to prove yourself to me, you'll get it." Alex stormed out of the loft without getting a response. Truth be told, Alex expected neither Kara nor Lena to arrive at the DEO the next morning and yet the couple was sitting in Alex's lab when she arrived at 8:45. Alex turned to Kara, "you are going to go train with the hand to hand combat team."

"I'm not leaving you alone with her Alex. Not after yesterday." Lena put her hand on Kara's shoulder again and Alex was amazed, though she would never admit it at the time, at how fast Kara's muscles relaxed just at the slightest touch from Lena.

"It's ok Kara. I can handle myself."

Kara turned to Lena, "you don't have to do this. Whatever it is she has planned, it won't be a fair fight and you do not have to prove yourself to me."

Lena kissed Kara's hand and smiled, "I know darling, but if there is any hope in Alex and I ever being able to stand each other, I have to do this. The only way out, is through." Kara nodded, offered Lena a quick kiss and began to leave the room. She paused in front of her sister, "I would tell you not to hurt her, but you already have. Instead, let me say this: if you ever loved me at all, you'll listen to her when she speaks and maybe you'll see that I do not have to pick between the two of you. I can love you both." Kara's tone was steady and low and if Alex didn't know any better she would say that what Kara said as she left was not so much a warning, but a promise. Alex knew in her heart, in that moment, if she made Kara pick between her and Lena, there was no question that Kara would follow the last Luthor standing to the ends of the earth. When Kara was gone, Alex turned to Lena and handed her a pair of work out clothes.

"Change and then meet me outside." Lena looked at Alex with a questioning glance. "You want to defend your family name, defend my sister's honor? Here is your chance." Alex left the room and Lena knew better than to argue. She changed into the clothes and met Alex outside the door and was eventually led to a training room not unlike the one that Alex usually trained Kara in, minus the Kryptonite lamps. Alex tossed Lena a pair of boxing gloves.

"Put those on." Lena instead let them fall to her feet.

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"I mean I am not going to fight you so you can run away claiming that a Luthor hit you and therefore cannot be trusted."

"Just put them on." Lena didn't move and Alex was sick of being made to look like the bad guy in this situation. If this was what Lena wanted, fine. Alex took a solid swing at Lena and was more than surprised when the young woman ducked and avoided the punch.

"I will block your punches Alex, but I am not throwing any." Alex continued to swing and jab at Lena, only ever being met with air or with the younger woman deflecting the punch.

"You think you are too good to fight me? You think that this is what is gonna impress Kara? You not picking up any weapon, making me the bad guy?"

"You are doing a fine job making yourself the bad guy." Another round of blocked punches and Alex was growing more angry.

"I am trying to protect her. She trusts people too easily, even when they don't deserve it."

"No argument on that front. I never said I deserved her love Alex, but I have earned her trust, just as she has earned mine."

"Oh please, what did she even do to earn your trust? She share stories from home? You two compare sad orphan stories about losing your homes and family? She tell you all about the nightmares she has? Huh, she tell you about not feeling lovable because she was just this freak from space who…" To her credit, Lena tolerated a lot before she snapped and finally snapped, throwing the hardest punch she could and hitting Alex right below her right eye. Alex didn't see it coming and before she could react, Lena had her by her shirt collar and had her pressed up against the wall of the room.

"If you ever call her a freak again, I will make sure you walk funny for the rest of your life. If you want to come for me, then come for me, but I will ruin what is left of your life if you come for her. You have no idea what she has been through. And yeah, we both lost our families Alex, but her's fucking blew up and she WATCHED it happen. She was a kid and she watched everyone she ever knew and loved blow up along with the only home she ever knew. I may have had a rough go, but at least I never had to learn the customs of a new world, control powers I didn't understand and try so desperately to find my place in a world that was not built for me. Just because she isn't like you doesn't mean she's a freak and even if it did mean that, I am not much better because I LOVE her Alex. I love her and I don't give a shit if you hate me or not, but she will. She loves you and looks up to you in a way I will never know personally. My brother abandoned me and chose his anger and fear over his love for me. If you are half as smart as Kara claims you are, you won't make the same mistake." Lena had tears streaming down her face and Alex caught a glimpse of the CEO's eyes as she made her point. Alex saw the tears: the frustration, sadness and pain that Alex had brought to the surface. More than that, Alex saw what Kara was talking about: she and Lena weren't as different as Alex wanted them to be.

Lena unclenched her fists and let Alex go, walking away from her and back to the center of the room. "I believe we are done here Agent Danvers." Lena was surprised when Alex nodded and picked up the extra set of gloves that Lena refused to put on earlier.

"I don't actually believe those things I said Lena. I don't think Kara is a freak or any of that. I just…"

"Wanted to make me mad? Well, it worked didn't it?"

"Yeah it did. But for what it is worth, I'm sorry. You have to know I love Kara and I just…I am not always the best decision maker when it comes to protecting her."

"The great Alexandra Danvers admitting she was wrong. How the mighty have fallen."

"I guess I deserved that."

"I guess you did." Lena turned to Alex, "for what it is worth, I won't be telling Kara what you said."

"Why not? You had a reason to hit me back, you were defending her."

"Exactly and do you know how her heart would break if she knew what I was defending her over? She already feels out of place on this planet Alex, hearing that her sister ever said anything to confirm that, even if you didn't truly mean it would do more harm than good. So, take it as a gift that I won't tell her the details of how you came to deserve the black eye you already have forming." Alex took out her phone and used the reverse camera to confirm that she did in fact have an intense bruise forming where Lena hit her.

When Lena finished the story she and Alex had smiles on their faces, while Kara seemed confused.

"So, wait. Alex never apologized to you." Lena shook her head. "She didn't need to dearest. After that morning, she made an effort to get to know me and she backed off of you enough to see that you were happy with me and that you weren't being tricked somehow. And in Alex's world, me getting that one good punch in and then telling her off, well, it told her more than she ever needed to know about how honest my feelings were for you."

Kara was still confused, "how on earth does you punching Alex, show her that you love me?"

"Love, think about it. You love Alex, right?"

"Of course, she is my sister."

"And you value her opinion and want her to be proud of you and your work right?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"Darling, when I punched Alex for stepping out of line in talking about you, I showed her where my loyalties lied. I wasn't going to let her anger and self-righteous bullshit cloud my love for you. I love you so profoundly that I was willing to risk our relationship by punching the person you love most in this world. If I had let her comments go, she never would've trusted that I meant it when I said I loved you. I had to risk it all to show Alex that I was dead serious and was not going anywhere." Kara suddenly understood and she offered Lena quick kiss which caused Alex to pretend to gag.

"Gross, we get it, you love each other and Lena has a mean right hook. Now if you will both excuse me, I am going to go home to my girlfriend and tell her she will be sitting next to mom at the wedding so gear up for questions about when we will get married." Alex stood up to leave and leaned over the couch to kiss Kara on the top of her head.

"Love you little sister."

"I know." Alex smiled as she put on her coat and before she totally walked away she quickly did the same thing to Lena, "love you too weirdo."

"I bet you say that to all the girls who punch you in the face." Alex flipped Lena off as she headed toward the door and Lena had to admit, she was glad that Alex Danvers loved her and Kara enough to support them both at their wedding. And all it took was a right hook to the face.