"Kara, we have a problem," Alex told her, when she returned to the DEO with lunch for Lena.
"What is it?"
Alex motioned to a computer screen and nodded to an agent across the room to play the news feed. There was a very clear video of Supergirl saving Lena just before the explosion. Kara couldn't see what the problem was. She looked over to Alex, puzzled. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Alex closed her eyes.
"Keep watching."
A headline flashed on the screen, "SUPERGIRL AND LENA LUTHOR DATING?"
"What?"
"Oh shoot, has Lena seen this?"
"No, she's been holed up in the lab with Winn."
"Why would they..."
Alex gestured to the screen, "really Kara? You don't see anything different in the way you carry her and look at her? How about when you land on the roof and can't keep your hands off her, or kiss her goodbye?"
"I didn't kiss her," Kara corrected her.
"Well it sure looks like something is going on," Alex shook her head.
"I just hugged her. I was relieved she was safe."
"And how do you think Lex is going to react to this? They do get the news in prison, and you know someone will tell him - especially when the lead story involved his sister and Supergirl."
"Nothing happened!"
"I hope Lena can convince her brother about that."
Kara tried to change the subject, "have you discovered who planted the bomb yet?"
"We're still working on it."
"Oaky, after I've had lunch with Lena I'll..."
"You're staying right here until I can get someone on this story. We need to work up a press release denying everything, otherwise you'll get mobbed with questions."
"But..."
"You said you didn't kiss her, right? Well that's someplace to start. If there's no photo, we can use that."
Kara frowned, "just because we didn't kiss then and there..."
"Lena Luthor isn't dating Supergirl. We shouldn't need to mention that she's dating Kara Danvers either. That's for you and Lena to decide when to share it."
Kara frowned, "I don't like lying."
"It isn't lying, exactly. You haven't been on dates with Lena while in your Supergirl role, so you've only dated her as Kara and because the rest of the world doesn't know Supergirl's real identity and we want to keep it that way this is what is best for everyone."
Kara shook her head, but didn't argue. She went to find Lena, leaving Alex to her work.
Kara was very subdued while they ate. Lena was distracted with the project she had been working on, but tried to make conversation. Halfway through the fries her phone rang.
"Oh it's Lex, he must have heard the news," she said.
"No!" Kara grabbed for the phone trying to stop Lena from answering it.
"Kara! What are you doing?" Lena reached for her phone but Kara wouldn't give it back.
"There's a news story, they have pictures from the rescue and they're implying that you're dating Supergirl. Lex must have seen it."
Kara spoke in such a rush that it took Lena a moment to process what she had said. The young Luthor frowned and held out her hand for the phone, giving Kara a look to let her know she wanted it back. Reluctantly Kara handed it over.
"Ignoring Lex will make him think that it's true," Lena told her, before answering the call. "Hi Lex, yes I've just been told about the story but I'm so busy I haven't had time to see the details."
With her super-hearing Kara was able to hear Lex's side of the conversation. She sat forward on her seat, moving closer to Lena in case she needed her support. At first Lex sounded bossy, telling her to get it corrected, then he complained about her looking so friendly with Supergirl in the photos and videos posted online.
"Supergirl saved me after someone put a bomb in my home. I'm more concerned with finding out who and why, so it doesn't happen again," Lena told him.
Lex reassured her that of course, he was glad she was okay and that if he heard anything he would let her know. Lena managed to end the conversation without having to deny that she was dating Supergirl, impressing Kara.
"I'm just glad Jamie wasn't in the apartment," Lena said. "I don't want to find out just how invulnerable he is."
"He is pretty strong, and he's fast..."
"But he's also safest if no-one knows those things. You saw how quickly there were reporters there today. How many photos got posted online?"
"A lot, but that's because Supergirl and Lena Luthor stories sell papers."
"And this rumour is only going to make things harder. I can't stay with you tonight, it's too dangerous for you and Jamie. "
"Lena.."
"No. What if someone works out who you are. They're going to be watching both of us even closer now."
"So? What if I'm tired of hiding? What if I want us to tell everyone the truth?"
Lena stared at her as if she had lost her mind. Kara didn't care. Keeping her secret had cost her so many times over the years, she had lost Lena once before because of it, she had lost her son, she just wanted everything to be out in the open.
"Lex would kill us all," Lena finally told her, after a several moments silence, "and if he didn't, you... if everyone knew they'd be..."
"Maybe at first it would be awkward, but we could be together," Kara reached for Lena's hand. "Walk down the street hand-in-hand whether I'm wearing my Supergirl outfit or dressed just as Kara."
For a moment Lena allowed herself to imagine that scenario. Her hand turned over so her palm touched Kara's and she smiled. Then reality came crashing back and she pulled away.
"It's too..."
"If you say dangerous..."
"Risky. Ridiculous. Lex..."
"If he tries anything we'll lock him up in the Fortress using advanced Kryptonian tech and..."
"And what if he has Kryptonite? What if he disappears using his connections and you can't find him?"
"It's my life, it should be my choice. I'm not a child anymore..."
"But Jamie is. I won't let you risk his life..."
"I would never..."
Lena stood up, intending to tell Kara that she couldn't do this anymore. That they would have to break up, but something held her back from saying the words out loud. Kara could read them on her face anyway. The blonde looked disappointed.
"I..." Lena tried to think of something to say, to explain it to Kara.
"I thought you were different, but you're just like everyone else telling me to keep hiding who I am."
Lena shook her head, "it's your choice Kara."
"But...?"
"There will be consequences. Other peoples lives will be affected."
"And us, our relationship?"
"Well my life is already one big media circus," Lena walked towards her. "has been since I was adopted."
"And?"
Lena reached out to hold Kara's hands, "it might be nice to have someone at my side, helping me deal with it all."
"Really?" Kara smiled hopefully.
"Yes."
Kara kissed her then. Pulling her close, wrapping her arms around Lena and hovering just off the ground from the happiness she felt.
"We need to find a way to keep Jamie safe though," Lena whispered, resting her head on Kara's shoulder when the kiss ended. "If he reacts to Kryptonite I want to create something to protect him."
"Okay. How long will that take?"
Lena smiled, "I've been chatting to Brainy since we first met and I found out Jamie had your powers. We couldn't work together in person in a lab, but if Alex will let me have some space maybe we can figure something out. It might takes weeks, or it could takes months."
"You're both so clever, I know you can do it."
"Until then..."
"I'll keep my secret. For Jamie."
"That means keeping us a secret too," Lena told her. "We can be together in here, like this, but once we're outside I can only be friends with Kara."
Kara frowned, "but..."
"I'll come here every evening for a few hours and at the weekend. You can still visit me for lunch at the office when you've got time. Then when it's finished, we can be together properly."
"You'll move in with me?"
"Is that your way of asking me?" Lena teased her.
"I don't want to wait any longer than we have to. When you've created whatever it is that can keep Jamie safe, I want to pick up where we left off all those years ago. I want to live together, to share everything, to..."
Lena placed a finger against Kara's lips before she could offer something that required time to think about, "I don't want to rush and make a mess of things, lets just say we'll move in together for now. Once the project is complete."
Kara frowned but nodded, "Okay."
Lena kissed her again, "and until then..."
"Yes?"
Lena placed her lips closed to Kara's ear so only the Kryptonian could hear her, "we'll have to find a more private room around here, one without DEO surveillance."
Her body, pressed up against Kara's, let the blonde know exactly what she meant.
It took Lena and Brainy two months to create something that could protect both Jamie and Kara. They worked as many hours as they could spare after their day jobs and Lena insisted on testing it several times before she was satisfied. With Alex's approval, they injected Jamie and Kara with the nanobots which would lie dormant until exposed to Kryptonite then work to remove any trace of it. Jamie required a lower dose than Kara, his reaction to the rocks was less severe, and fresh nanobots would have to be given to them once a year. She had also created a suit for him, similar to Kara's in that it could appear quickly, but it would also provide him with a hood and face shield to protect him in case he was in danger.
The day after they received their first dose of nanites, she moved in with Kara and Jamie. Since her previous home had been destroyed, Lena hadn't bothered purchasing a lot of things which was good because Kara's home wasn't very big. She'd been renting a place near L-Corp, but had been so busy that she hadn't spent a lot of time there and she was looking forward to living with her girlfriend and their son. Eliza and Alex knew about their plans, leaving her with one more person to tell.
Kara was at CatCo, Jamie was at the DEO and she had taken the day off work to unpack. Instead of doing that, Lena sat on the couch and took out her cellphone.
"Hey Lex, it's only me."
"Lena, this is a surprise."
"I thought I'd let you know, before you hear it from anyone else, I'm dating Kara Danvers."
"The reporter at CatCo, that's not a good idea."
"Why?"
"She's Supergirl."
"I know."
There was a moment of stunned silence from Lex, "then why...?"
"I've known for years, Lex. She's a good person and we love each other. Please don't do anything to ruin this for me."
"You're making a mistake."
"No, I'm not. This is what I want. If you try to hurt her, or our son... I don't want us to be enemies Lex, but I will protect them."
"You can't trust Kryptonians, Lena."
"No, you didn't trust Superman. Kara is different."
There was silence, and when Lena looked at her phone she realised her brother had ended the call.