Roughly a week before the wedding was set to happen, both Lena and Kara were in Midvale, setting up for their rehearsal dinner. The game plan was to separate the wedding and this party by a few days at least, in the hopes of thwarting any attempts to sabotage the nuptials. Eliza was glad to host the party and if anything was overjoyed that Kara had wanted to have the party at her 'childhood' home. It wouldn't be a massive party, much like the wedding it was kept small for lots of reasons. Kara watched as the band they hired for the evening set up, while Lena and Eliza strung lights in the backyard to make it feel more intimate. That of course was part of the allure of having the party at home: it already felt cozy and warm because it was exactly that and had been since Kara and Alex were children. Eliza had initially offered to cook for the party, but Lena wouldn't hear of it. Her mother in law was an amazing cook, but cooking for that many people and allowing your house to be the location was asking too much from one woman. Lena hired a catering company to prepare the food and the deal was Alex and Kelly would pick it up on their way to the party, again with the hope that not having the name Luthor on anything would help to hide the party from prying eyes.

Once things were set up and the couple were dressed and ready, Kara continued to monitor the band outside when deep down she was using her powers to monitor the perimeter of the property. Lena stayed inside, helping Eliza with last minute details to insure the house looked beautiful and organized. Alex and Kelly, thankfully arrived first, giving everyone the distraction of setting up the food and somehow, once there were guests all three women settled down and fell into a comfortable balance of greeting people, making small talk and making sure things ran smoothly. When Jess and Winn showed up, about 10 minutes after each other, they managed to convince Kara and Lena respectively to stop managing the party and start enjoying it more. Both women had failed to realize that after so long of gala dinners and boring functions for Lena and Kara's jobs, this was one party they didn't have to perform at and it was perhaps the only party where everyone in attendance was welcome and not just invited for the sake of tradition or to cover bases. This shift made both women finally enjoy their own party more and it felt much more relaxed once they did. At one point during the party, Kara was speaking with Alex over by the table with all the alcohol when Lena came over and interrupted the discussion between the sisters.

"I have a surprise for you." Lena cupped her hands gently over Kara' glasses and the hero laughed. "Lena, I literally can see through almost anything, including your hands."

"True, but you have your glasses on and you love me so I am hoping you will actually work on not being able to see what I intend to show you." Kara sighed and laughed, "fine, ok, no powers, but then can you show me whatever it is? Is it a present? We said no presents Lena and I actually listened this time and didn't get you anything." Kara felt herself get turned around and before Lena could pull her hands away Kara heard the unmistakable booming voice about 3 feet from her, "Keira, I trained you better than that."

Kara's eyes shot open and there was Cat Grant in all her glory, standing in her backyard with a rather amused smirk on her face. Kara quickly scooped up Cat in a hug, surprising both Cat and Lena, who never thought she would see that day when Cat Grant hugged anybody. Of course, Lena gently set her hand on Kara's shoulder after a few seconds, "darling, humans need air." Kara quickly loosened her grip and pulled back from Cat, fixing her glasses like she did when she was Cat's assistant. "Right, sorry, got over excited. You didn't respond to the invitation so we just assumed you were out of town or were busy."

"So busy that I would miss my favorite assistant marrying the infamous heiress to a business dynasty who just happened to buy my company? Please Kiera, you know me far better than that." Lena rolled her eyes harder than she meant to and Cat caught it, because of course she did.

"Now now, Lena, are you rolling your eyes because I called you an heiress or because of what I called your bushing bride?"

"The fact that I am an heiress is indisputable so that certainly isn't it, but you know Kara's name. I KNOW you know it. So why after all this time do you insist on calling her the wrong name?" Lena felt strong arms pull her backwards and she soon was pressed into Kara's body and the hero gently held her there and offered her a kiss on her cheek.

"Lena, its ok. You don't have to defend my honor to Ms. Grant. It's a bit of an inside joke at this point." Cat watched the exchange with fascination: she wasn't surprised that Lena would so readily defend Kara, even from a joke, but she was surprised at how quickly Lena relaxed simply because Kara touched her. In that moment, Cat Grant realized that she had missed a lot of changes in the time she had been gone.

"You bride is correct Ms. Luthor. I've known Kara's name since I hired her, but I mispronounced it one day on accident, she never corrected me, I am guessing out of fear, and so I kept doing it. Eventually she learned how to stand up for herself, even against someone as powerful as me. So, if anything, whatever confidence she had when she asked you out on a date for the first time, I personally take full credit for and since it led to this moment here, you are welcome." Lena had to smile a little, because Cat wasn't wrong and Kara seemed so glad to have her old boss in attendance it made the subtle jabs and jokes seem like they were meant as covert declarations of love from a woman the world never would've pegged as sentimental. Lena offered Kara a quick kiss and pointed towards where Eliza and Alex were standing, "I will leave you two to catch up and I am going to see if your sister and Eliza need any help with setting up the food."

Kara eventually turned back to face Cat, after she had watched Lena walk away and Cat Grant had a smirk across her face. "You watched every single step she took when she walked away from you. Either you like watching her ass as she walks or you are more hopeless in love with her than I had suspected."

"Can't it be both?" Kara smiled and fidgeted with her glasses and tried to hide her deep blush.

"Well, I had of course seen the Instagram posts and the tabloid covers with your relationship details, but those rags never get anything right. So, your invitation was a pleasant confirmation that you are very serious about your relationship with Lena."

"I would've married her about a week into knowing her if Earth customs would've allowed it."

"Clearly she hasn't taken you to Vegas yet, because they not only allow it, they bank on it. Waiting for the right moment though is more romantic and if there is one thing I know about you, it's that your brain is full of hopeless romance. Thank god you found a rather attractive outlet for all that sappy goodness." Kara said nothing, but did blush harder and Cat had to smile and shake her head.

"Before you permanently turn beet red, I should tell you, I read the article you wrote about the Holocaust survivor." Kara stopped moving and waited for Cat to give her an idea of if she was proud of the work or if it didn't pass muster.

"I heard the whispers of nominating you for awards and you even got mentioned on a few day time talk shows. I'm sure you have heard all of this already and I am even willing to bet that your modesty has kept you from believing most of the nice things people are saying about you. Well, quit that for a moment and listen. It was good work Kara, damn good work. The interview was stunning and heartbreaking and you handled it well. The article afterwards was outside your usual comfort zone and it showed in a really good way. It was angry, sad and honest and to be frank, it was probably one of the finest pieces of journalism I have ever read in my time in this business. So, do us all a favor and please accept the compliments you have been getting, you deserve them." Kara was a little stunned: Cat had praised her work before, but never like this.

"Thank you Ms. Grant, but I…"

"No. Don't tell me it was nothing or whatever it is you say when someone praises you. It was something Kara, truly something. And on a personal note, I am sorry that I never knew how much losing your parents still hurt you. Even though this story isn't your whole story, I could tell how sincere you were about the pain of missing them and for that…well I wish I could've done more to help you when I was around. Though it does seem you have more than enough support around you in my absence." Cat nodded behind Kara and when Kara looked, she say what Cat saw, she saw Eliza, Alex and Lena laughing at a something a neighbor who had joined them for the evening had said. In the middle of laughing, Lena caught Kara's gaze and she nodded her head, silently asking if Kara was ok and Kara smiled and offered a short nod back. Kara turned back to Cat who seemed rather pleased with herself.

"If anyone deserves a happy life, Kara, it's you. If the littlest Luthor can offer you that life, then I pity the poor souls who would dare to stand in your way."

"She isn't just a Luthor."

Cat waved her hand dismissively, "yes, yes, she isn't her family, proved herself, blah blah. I know you love her Kara and it is painfully clear how very much she loves you or she wouldn't have tried so hard to get ahold of me. While my marriage record is nothing to brag about, I have learned one thing in my time and it's this: when you and the person you love complement each other, a natural balance blooms in the relationship. Someone is always the voice of reason, or the bad cop or whatever it is. You and Lena are yin and yang personified and it is my biased belief that this will serve you well in your marriage. Also, it takes a special person to see through all the walls someone puts up when they have been hurt by the world."

"Lena has gotten so much better about letting me in when she's hurting."

"It isn't just Lena that has to learn when to let someone in: you need to learn it too Kara. Lena is not the only one in your marriage who has been hurt by the world and lost things and people who were once precious to her. You have this sunny disposition, but you guard yourself just as readily as she does, so thank whatever god you wish that you found each other because I think you are both the only people who could look at the other person and see them as they are: with all the broken pieces of their heart and all the good intentions holding them together. You and Lena Luthor might just save each other and I can't think of a more deserving person of that type of love than you."

Kara smiled and offered Cat one more, gentle, hug. "Thank you, Cat."

"Don't get used to this sappy version of me. Emotions are exhausting and I won't always be on hand to pour my heart out for you. Consider this a wedding gift." Kara smiled and nodded. Before Kara could speak again, Cat pointed behind her, "you might want to go join your wife. It would appear someone isn't in Kansas anymore." Kara looked over her shoulder and saw what Cat saw, which was her cousin and Lois walking through the yard, slowly making their way toward Lena. Kara wasn't nervous per say, but she didn't want to leave Lena to deal with her cousin alone. Superman took the longest of anyone to come around to Lena being with Kara and, though he made some strides in this, Kara knew that he still was not convinced this wasn't a long con on Lena's part. Kara arrived at Lena's side just as her cousin stepped before her.

"Mr. Kent, glad to see you were able to join us." Lena smiled through gritted teeth and Kara hated it when she did that. It was what Lena did at business meetings or when she was truly miserable, but had to put on a brave face. Lena knew better than start a fight with the man of steel, not because he would win, but because Kara would be forced to make a choice of defending Lena's honor or fighting her last living relative. Both Lena and Clark knew the decision would end in Lena's favor, but Lena refused to ever be the reason that Kara had to make it.

"Thank you for inviting us. The yard looks lovely. And you look stunning Lena, as do you Kara." Lois offered pleasantries in the hopes that if they spoke fast enough she could stop her husband from perhaps saying something he'd end up regretting.

Kara pulled Lena gently, but firmly, back so she was flush against her body and she kept her hand across her stomach in a defensive pose that no one misunderstood. She was protecting Lena and it was in everyone's best interest to not test her right now.

"We are very glad you could join us. I know you can't join is for the wedding so we are really glad you could both make it tonight." Lena responded with a more genuine smile to Lois.

Kara looked at her cousin and tried to at least be civil, "we are very glad you are helping cover for me for the wedding so hopefully tonight gives you both a chance to celebrate with us." Lois elbowed her husband gently in the stomach to signal he needed to say something and to watch it.

"Of course. Happy to help the day of and everything looks beautiful here tonight. I hope you two have a lovely evening. We brought our wedding gift with us tonight and Eliza let us keep it in the house, so it's there whenever you guys are packing up."

"Thank you, that is so nice of you to have brought something. We will be sure to pack it up when we head home tomorrow. You guys arrived just in time, we were just about to start dinner, so grab a seat." Lois pulled her husband quickly behind her, mostly to stop him from ruining the mostly ok exchange with a stupid comment. Kara watched them leave and snuggled Lena closer to her.

"You know, next time you could just make out with me in front of your cousin: mark your territory that way." Kara frowned at the joke. "You aren't my territory Lena." Lena turned in Kara's arms and smiled, "I didn't mean it like that love. I know you don't see me like that. But whenever your cousin comes around, you get very grabby and possessive of me and I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty hot."

Kara smiled and seemed to perk up, "really?"

"Really. Cuz you hold me perfectly still and I know nothing bad is gonna happen to me when you hold me like that. And sometimes if he gets sassy you get all defensive and it's a very big turn on." Lena offered Kara a kiss before pulling back slightly.

"He should be nicer to you."

"Kara, he isn't mean to me."

"That is not the same as him being kind and you know it."

"You're right, but darling listen to me. I know he is your cousin and the last son of Krypton, but you know something? I don't care. I care about him because he is your family, but I don't need anyone's blessing or permission to love you. Ok? I didn't need Alex's permission and I sure as hell do not need Clark Kent's." Kara smiled and blushed, looking away as she did. Lena gently held her head in place and kissed again, this time softer.

"I love you. Ok? Now let's go eat dinner so I can dance with my blushing bride." Once they all got settled, dinner went pleasantly enough, Eliza thanked their friends and neighbors for joining them for the party and explained that they would lay out dessert soon, in the mean time to enjoy the music. Kara had lost track of Lena at some point, but could hear her fiancé's heartbeat so she knew she was fine and not far away so she assumed she was in the house. Alex soon joined Kara and handed her a drink before noticing that Kara seemed fidgety.

"What's up with you, you look almost uncomfortable?" Kara shrugged her shoulders, "I haven't seen Lena in a while, since dinner really and I'm worried." Alex caught a glimpse of something behind Kara and once she looked closer she smiled and turned her sister around to face in the same direction. "Found her."

Kara turned to see Lena talking to the members of the band. She had changed into a different dress and her hair was down: no ponytail, no braids, no bun. Kara always loved when she did that and it was when Lena looked like this that Kara really felt like she was being "her Lena" and not the Lena Luthor that the world assumed they knew. Kara watched as Lena sat at the keyboard piano that was set up next to the other instruments and she was more than a little surprised: Lena playing in front of a crowd was rare, in fact Kara couldn't tell you a time it had ever happened…before now that is. Lena nodded to the guitar player who played chords that led her in on the piano. Kara was already in a bit of shock when another band member moved the microphone in front of the keyboard, close enough to pick up Lena's voice.

There's a home by the wide Avonmore

That would sweep o'er the broad open sea A

nd wide rivers where the waves wash ashore

Whilst bulrushes they wave to the breeze

Where the green ivy clings round the door

And the birds sweetly sing on each tree

O me darling they're tuning they're notes

Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí

One eve as I happened to stray

By the lands that were bordering mine

O a young girl I saw on my way

And she left me to languish and pine,

A slave of the charm and the mien

And the silver-toned voice of the dame,

To see her I sped over the glen,

Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí

Lena managed to make direct eye contact with Kara in that moment and from her spot next to Kara, all Alex could think of was that if this wasn't their rehearsal dinner party, this moment would've been the moment she would tell the world that she knew for certain that Lena Luthor loved no person more than Kara Danvers. Alex watched as Kara seemed to mindlessly walk closer to where Lena was playing, choosing to stop maybe 6 feet from the piano. And it was there she listened to the rest of the song.

Like a sick man that longs for the dawn

I do long for the light of her smile

And I pray for my own cailin ban

While I'm waiting for her by the stile

O I'd climb all the hills of this land

And I'd swim all the depths of the sea

To get one touch from her lily-white hand

Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí

I have toiled sore those years of my life

Through storm, through sunshine and rain

And I surely would venture my life

For to shield her one moment from pain

For she being my comfort in life

O my comfort and joy she may be.

She's my own, she is my promised wife

And for Ireland I won't tell her name

Kara was a mess, Alex could see that even from the spot she was standing, but what was even more apparent, was the thin margin by which Lena was holding herself together in a valiant effort to finish her performance. Her voice shook a bit, but nothing anyone noticed because everyone at the party was too blown away by the gesture, the music, the song itself and the odd perfection of it in capturing the relationship they had all come to celebrate. Lena's hands hit the keys more gently as the song ended and her voice climbed a register and Alex would never admit to another soul that she shed a tear or two as she listened.

O but when I will call her my own

And it's married we both then will be

Like the king and the queen on their throne

We'll be living in sweet unity

O it's then I'll have a home of my own

And I'll rear up a nice family

O it's then that her name will be known

Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí

And for Ireland I won't tell her name

Is ar Éirinn ní neosfainn cé hí

Lena played the song out and was met instantly with applause and whistling. She didn't hear it long because Kara closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around her fiancé and pulled her close to her, offering her a gentle kiss, but one where Kara showed zero sign of pulling away first. Lena eventually tasted salt in that kiss and she gently pulled away, knowing full well it meant Kara was crying. She leaned her forehead against Kara's and for all the tears, the hero never looked as happy as she did in that moment with Lena.

"Good tears?"

"Really good tears Lena. That was really beautiful…just…thank you."

"You are most welcome my love." Kara beamed and showered Lena with kisses and proud smiles as friends of their's offered Lena passing compliments and praise. Alex watched the couple from afar, but was soon joined by Cat Grant.

"Lex would roll over in his grave if he knew that all it took for a Luthor to best a Super was singing an Irish folk song to them." Alex on instinct looked around them and Cat waved her off, "oh please, Agent Danvers give me a little credit, no one born of this earth can hear what I just said to you."

"For what it's worth, Lena has never been interested in harnessing Kara's power, she was always, to my knowledge, after Kara's heart. Maybe that's where her brother failed."

"That is how most villains fail Agent Danvers. They are always chasing the thing they believe will last forever. They believe that thing to be power, but in my experience they are wrong in that quest. No matter who you are, power cannot and does not last forever."

Alex quirked an eyebrow at Cat, "and you, the Cat Grant, believe that love lasts forever?" Cat finished her drink and pointed at Kara and Lena as they slow danced. Lena was laughing at something Kara had whispered to her and Kara interrupted the laugh with a brief kiss.

"I believe that kind of love will last forever. Even I, with all my faults and divorces, still believe in love Agent Danvers and when someone like Kara meets someone like Lena…well, that's the stuff they write poetry about." Alex wasn't sure if this was Cat talking, or Cat on her 6th drink talking, but she wasn't wrong in any case. Her thoughts and their conversation were cut short when Clark came over and stood in front of Alex.

"Lois and I should get going soon and I don't want to bother Kara. Will you let her know we had to duck out and to just touch base with me before the wedding?" Alex responded fast, knowing the hero would leave without hearing her answer.

"You've left her behind on this property enough in her life don't you think? This time you had better at least say goodbye." The rather imposing man seemed to be taken down effectively by Alex's words and Cat was surprised.

"I didn't abandon her Alex, I said goodbye to her last time."

"Yes, you did. Forever, as it were. You left a human equivalent of a child with strangers, on a planet she didn't understand, with powers she could not control and expected her to just hang out because you were busy. You were all she had left Clark. You were literally the only people left of your whole world. The last daughter and son of Krypton. She watched her world blow up and everyone she loved went up in fucking smoke and when she found you, you left her, alone, with strangers. Like she was an inconvenience. Now you have the fucking nerve to disapprove of her marriage. You've got balls, I'll give you that much." Alex wasn't exactly sure why she felt the need to have this fight now, but she wanted to have it. Mostly because deep down, she didn't want Kara to have to have it.

"I would have put her danger if I took her with me."

"And now? What are you protecting her from now with your judgement of her bride?"

"Alex, you know what her family has done, just as I do. They love you until they don't and then they will kill their own to get a chance to kill you. Kara might be blind to it now, but eventually the lust will fade and she will find herself married to a…"

"Watch yourself Mr. Kent. Let's all remember that you aren't the only person here tonight with very good hearing. Wouldn't want you to regret your words." Cat cautioned the Man of Steel and he stopped himself and swallowed whatever he was about to call Lena. Cat gestured behind the hero in front of her and forced him to turn. He watched Kara and Lena telling something to Kelly and Winn and Kara looked excited about whatever it was and Lena…well Lena was just looking at Kara while she excitedly talked.

"The woman you were about to malign looks at your cousin as though she hung the moon for her. I've married the type of people you are afraid of Mr. Kent. Those hungry for power, something pretty to look at and take to bed, but in the end when those things change and go away, so do they. And while those people exist, believe me when I say this: if I ever met a person with half the integrity of Lena Luthor, maybe I would still be married to them. Being afraid of something you do not understand is no excuse for hatred, I would think in your time on this planet you would have learned that by now."

"I know you think very highly of my cousin Ms. Grant, but with all due respect…"

"That's right Mr. Kent, I think VERY highly of your cousin and if I was pushed to admit it, I might even acknowledge that I love her, very much. I also think very highly of Lena Luthor. A woman who when faced with losing direct contact with your cousin, bought her my company, just so she would have a job and so Lena would not lose the first kind soul to show her what friendship could look like. They fell in love Mr. Kent, the Romeo and Juliet of National City as it were, only difference is they are both alive and if you leave your cynicism behind you for just a moment you might see that your cousin, despite all the darkness the world has handed her, has found a mate who brought sunlight back into her life. And hero or no hero, you would be remembered as the villain of this story if you chose to try and disrupt that. I would make damn sure of that." Clark didn't have a comeback for that, mostly because he knew it was true.

"I should go say goodnight to Kara." Clark took a few steps before Cat called him back, "Mr. Kent, one more thing." Clark turned to Cat who gently tapped her own cheek with her finger. "We'll keep it between us that I saw some very human tears in your eyes when Lena sang. Maybe your heart isn't as hardened as you wish it were. Goodnight, Mr. Kent." Clark walked away and Alex saw him offer Kara a hug goodbye and make the most awkward small talk with Lena ever, while Kara said goodnight to Lois.

"That was impressive." Alex had to hand it to Cat Grant, the woman was as scary with Alex without the weapons training.

"I have my moments Agent Danvers. Now, I believe I should call my driver and head home, so if you will excuse me, I will say goodnight to the blushing brides and make my exit." Alex watched as Cat bid Kara and Lena goodnight before somehow gracefully, though not at all soberly, made her way to her town car.

The song is called Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí (For Ireland I'd Not Tell Her Name) by Cherish the Ladies.