Chapter 13
Kara has loved getting to see her parents, Argo City, and old friends, but most of all she's enjoyed just getting to relax. She loves her new job as Editor-In-Chief and hadn't needed to spend as much time as Supergirl but with the new aliens showing up, patrols have taken up a lot of time. Between her busy schedule and Lena being her normal workaholic self as CEO and helping them out, they haven't spent much time together and she has loved the last three weeks of just getting to be with Lena. With the extra patrols, it had been a while since she got to hold Lena as she fell asleep and wake up next to her and enjoy morning cuddles, which were her favorite because a sleepy Lena was extra warm and cuddly. The couple has gotten to enjoy personal time, just getting to hang out and relax, content even to sit in silence doing their own thing simply because they were with each other.
While she has enjoyed her time visiting Argo, she also can't wait to get back, not only to see Alex and all her friends again but because she can't wait for their one-year anniversary. Deep down she knows Lena will say yes but her heart still skips a beat in nerves and excitement over her plans. She doesn't want to do some over-the-top proposal, knowing Lena would prefer something more personal, but she wants to do it somewhere special and just doesn't know where.
After three weeks of getting to be together with no other responsibilities, Lena doesn't want to fall right back into work but also does want to get started on converting DNA to an embryo in her private lab. She's also excited to get home and see Ruby's finals and excited and nervous for Eliza's visit and the plan she has for their anniversary, even if she doesn't quite know how she's going to propose yet, even if she already has the speech worked out.
They packed up their stuff and made their way back to the clearing where they parked J'onn's car. Alura and Zor-El both accompanied them, helping carry their bags, and seeing them off. Kara hugs each of her parents before arranging the bags in the trunk, allowing Lena time to say goodbye too. Kara comes back, fitting in one last group hug before wrapping her arm around Lena's waist.
"Bye Ukr, Jeju", Kara says, smiling sadly at her parents.
"We'll find a way to keep in touch better, inah", Alura says.
"I'll go work on it right now", Zor-El jokes.
"And I can work from the Earth side", Lena says, squeezing Kara, "and we'll come back to visit again soon".
Kara smiles at her and hugs her parents one last time before opening Lena's door for her.
"Thank you, darling", Lena says, kissing her cheek as she slides into the car.
"Of course", Kara says, carefully closing the door and making her way around the hood. She slides in the car and turns to Lena, "You ready?".
"Let's go", Lena says, smiling, thinking more about the future ahead of them than the next couple of days as they fly home.
Kara backs the car up and waves to her parents before flying out of Argo City.
Alex borrows a DEO car and heads to her apartment to pack a bag to take with her to Sam's. She washes the sheets and cleans up so her place will be ready for Eliza to stay before heading to pick up Ruby from her last practice of the regular season. She throws her duffel in the back and pulls out of the parking lot, excited to get to spend several days with Sam and Ruby and not feel like she's overstepping.
She parks close to the field and gets out to watch the last few minutes of Ruby's practice.
The coach blows her whistle and the team huddles to end practice, the girls excited for their shot in the tournament.
Ruby heads over, lugging both backpacks, to where Alex is standing against the fence. "Where's your bike?", the teenager asks.
"At the DEO", Alex answers, opening the back door for Ruby to throw her stuff in, "I love my bike but it doesn't have very good cargo space".
"True", Ruby says, turning to hug Alex now that her hands are free, "How long are you staying?".
"A week at least", Alex answers, smiling at the thought, "through your tournament and until my mom heads back to Midvale".
"I'm glad Eliza gets to come", Ruby says, "and not just because it means you have to stay with us".
"You want me to stay over more?", Alex asks as they climb into their seats.
"Yeah", Ruby shrugs, "I know mom likes having you there, and… I do too".
Alex smiles, reaching over to squeeze Ruby's arm as she pulls out, "Good cause I like being there". Ruby turns, smiling bashfully at Alex as they head home.
Alex pulls up beside Sam's car in the driveway and grabs their bags out of the back, handing Ruby hers before heading inside.
"I'm going to shower", Ruby calls, as she stops to hug Sam and then hurries for the stairs.
Alex laughs as she heads on into the kitchen to find Sam.
"Well ok then", Sam laughs as Ruby takes off. "Hey you", she says, smiling at Alex who drops her bag at the bottom of the stairs.
"Hey", Alex says, coming over to kiss her.
"You ready for a week of Arias craziness?", Sam asks, leaning into Alex as she keeps stirring.
"Absolutely", Alex hums against the side of Sam's head, her arms around her waist.
"I'm glad you're here", Sam says, craning her neck so their lips meet again, "kind of like a trial run", she thinks aloud.
"What?", Alex says, pulling back a little.
"I mean… not… uh I just mean like… you've stayed over but not for this long and…", Sam tries to explain, but Alex cuts her off with a kiss.
"Relax", Alex says, "I love being here no matter what craziness is going on and according to Ruby, you like when I'm here", she teases, kissing her again, "she even half admitted that she does too".
"Oh come on Alex", Sam sighs, "You know she loves you".
"Yes I do", Alex says, "It's just… I'm not the occasional babysitter anymore and like even though she stayed with me for a while it wasn't like this. I mean it's always weird to think about your mom dating even if it is someone you like especially if they move in and are around all the time and then your mom pays more attention to them and…".
Sam cuts her off, "Hey. You are not just some fling that I'm dating and living with because I'm lonely or want to get away from my kid and you aren't taking my time away from Ruby and you're there for her, which means more to me than you know".
Alex sighs, the worry draining from her shoulders, "I know. I just don't ever want to come between you two because you've been through so much together and you have this amazing bond, more than just mother and daughter and I don't want to be that step-parent that comes between that".
Sam lays the spoon down and turns to wrap both arms around Alex, "That is why I love you. You will never be that step-parent, you mean way too much to her and me to ever be seen as anything less than her other mom".
Alex's gaze shoots up to Sam, "Mom?", she squeaks out.
"I mean if that's what you want", Sam says, suddenly nervous.
Alex just nods, tears starting to form, "She never has to call me anything other than Alex but if you want me to get papers and adopt her and she's ok with it… yes, absolutely yes".
Sam pulls her close, running a hand through her short hair, the other gripping the back of her jacket, and kisses her. Alex kisses back with fervor and holds Sam's waist, pulling their entire bodies together.
"I love you", they breathe out at the same time as they break the kiss and place their foreheads together, smiling at each other.
"What's wrong?", Sam asks, concerned when Alex makes a weird face.
"What's that smell?", Alex says, her nose twitching.
Sam's eyes go wide as she pulls back from the embrace, grabs a potholder, and opens the oven, pulling out burnt texas toast. "I forgot about it", she says, biting her lip after setting it down on the counter.
Alex steps over to inspect the blackened bread, "Yeah, maybe next time use a timer".
Sam swats her with the potholder, "I had a timer that went off right before you walked in the door and then I got all distracted", she says waving her hand at Alex.
Alex smirks and steps closer, "So I'm distracting", she says sultrily.
"Very", Sam admits, kissing her again, before turning back to the stove, "now stop before I burn the sauce too".
"Well we can't have that can we?", Alex says, sliding her hands around Sam's hips.
Sam takes a deep breath, a shiver running up her spine, "there's a salad in the fridge, grab it please", she says, fighting to keep her voice even.
"Yes ma'am", Alex says, against the side of Sam's neck before kissing her pulse point and pulling away.
Sam groans and Alex laughs as they easily work around each other to get dinner on the table just as Ruby comes down.
As soon as they enter the galaxy, Kara feels her powers returning as her cells soak up the sun's energy. She pilots the car down before driving and parking it back in his garage.
Feeling the energy coursing through her she grabs their bags, flying them to the balcony first before coming back and getting Lena. The couple carries their stuff inside, happy to be home and Kara dramatically falls onto the couch.
Lena sets the bags she was carrying in the bedroom and comes to sit beside Kara. "I'm really glad we got to take this time off and relax but I'm really happy to be home", Lena admits, laying her head on Kara's shoulder.
Kara reaches her arm around Lena, pulling her into her side, placing a kiss on top of her head, and says, "It's nice to visit them but I'm glad we're home too".
Lena shifts her head, connecting their lips, and pours her love and hope for the future into the kiss.
They kiss and cuddle, enjoying being back home, until Kara's stomach rumbles.
"I guess your metabolism restarted when your powers did", Lena says, chuckling.
"Guess so", Kara says, kissing her again, "What do you want for dinner?".
"Just go pick up something darling", Lena says, "your choice. I should check in with Sam now that we're back".
"Ok I'll be back soon", Kara says, pecking Lena's lips again.
"Fly safe. Love you", Lena says.
"I will. Love you", Kara says, pushing off the balcony.
Lena watches her take off before rushing to her office for her phone and calling Sam.
"Hey, Lena", Sam cheers, "You guys make it back ok?".
"Yeah we did", Lena says, smiling to herself, "Thanks for handling things here".
"No problem", Sam says, "L-Corp is fine and Eliza is in the air with a car waiting to take her to Alex's apartment".
Lena's smile grows, "Thank you Sammy and tell Alex thanks, too".
"She's right here actually", Sam says, "and I think she was more than happy to give her apartment for the week since it gave her an excuse to crash here".
Lena can hear Alex groan through the phone and laughs, "Well, thank her anyway".
"No problem, Luthor", Alex says, "just hurry up and propose so I can tell embarrassing stories as a toast".
"As long as they're all about Kara or else I may just tell Sam the story of the night we drank that bottle of Macallan", Lena says, laughing when she hears a scuffle on the other end of the line and apparently Alex wins.
She can hear Sam in the background shouting for her phone back and the story of that night as Alex runs away, shouting into the phone, "you swore never to tell that story". Sam's longer legs must have given her a chance to catch up and she takes the phone back, holding it above Alex's head. Lena can hear Alex saying, "Not fair, you're tall".
Sam switches to speaker phone, telling Lena she'll talk to her later, and hangs up.
Lena laughs and goes to fix drinks for when Kara gets back with the food any minute now.
After hanging up with Lena, Sam pulls the phone down, tucking it into her pocket while mockingly kissing Alex which only teases her further.
"Not fair", the agent mutters, crossing her arms.
Sam kisses the pout away, "you want to come cuddle on the couch again, or are you gonna stay here and pout".
Alex huffs and Ruby comes out of her room, "What are you two doing?".
"Aunt Lena threatened to tell a drunk Alex story and now she's pouting", Sam says.
Ruby laughs, "So that's where Kara learned it".
"They always say the student becomes the master", Sam jokes. Alex makes a face, glaring at them. "Just admit it, everyone knows Kara's pout is lethal to everyone, except maybe Lena".
"Oh please", Alex says, finally dropping her arms, "we all know Luthor is whipped and will do anything when Kara pouts".
"Except that she is incredibly stubborn and if it's something she really doesn't want to do, she won't", Sam says.
"Fair", Alex mutters and heads to the couch.
"Sorry, what was that?", Sam says, cupping her ear, "did you just admit I was right?".
Ruby laughs from the top of the stairs and Alex crosses her arms again.
Sam looks at her daughter, "You done with homework?". Ruby nods and Sam continues, "Do you have the stuff done for tomorrow and Wednesday that you're going to miss?".
"Not completely but I have all weekend", Ruby says.
Sam nods, "You wanna watch TV with us?".
"Sure", the teenager answers, following her mom back to the living room.
"Maybe we can get grumpy Alex to stop pouting", Sam says laughing as she sits beside Alex, wrapping her arms around her. Ruby goes to her other side and wraps her arms around her too, making an Alex sandwich until the stoic agent cracks a smile.
After the easiest and comfiest flight of her life, Eliza is greeted on the tarmac by Frank, Lena's driver. When she slides into the car and powers her phone on she also sees a very formal text from Lena. "Eliza, Thank you for coming on such short notice. I hope the flight went well. I know Kara will see you at Ruby's game so perhaps we could lead her to think that's the main reason behind your visit. I hope you'll join me for lunch tomorrow. I have reservations and can have Frank pick you up again tomorrow at noon if you'd like. — Lena"
Eliza smiles at her phone and quickly responds, "I'd love to join you for lunch and a ride would be appreciated, thank you".
Eliza leans back looking out the window, smiling to herself, thinking about what Lena could possibly want to talk to her about alone, just the two of them.