Chapter 1
"Hey, Kara, you here?", Lena calls out as she hangs her purse and coat, "Darling?".
Kara slides in her socks around the corner. "Hey, welcome home, baby", Kara smiles widely, leaning in to kiss Lena. "How was your day?", she asks before walking back into the kitchen to look for food.
"Fine, just the normal annoying board members. Although, R&D has this new project they've introduced and I really wanted to lock myself in the lab all day but this is more important", Lena replies, following Kara into the kitchen. "What are you looking for?", Lena asks, seeing Kara with a stack of food in one arm and the other buried in the fridge.
"Something not healthy", Kara grunts.
"Did you already eat the leftovers?", Lena offers, fixing herself a glass of water.
"For lunch", Kara replies, the stack in her hand wobbling precariously.
"It's only two", Lena says, her eyebrow raised.
"Yeah…", Kara draws out and at Lena's look, groans. "It was two hours ago, Lee", she whines.
"How about we grab some potstickers on our way to Dr. Hester's", Lena offers.
"Really?", Kara's face lights up.
"Sure, darling", Lena says, pecking Kara's cheek, "You put all that back while I change, and then we'll go".
"Deal", Kara smiles, kissing Lena.
"Be back soon", Lena says, heading to the bedroom to change.
—
Once everything calmed down and Lex and Nyxly were dealt with, Lena and Kara finally started therapy. They attended the first two sessions together and then signed up for back-to-back sessions so that they could be there for each other easily. They'd been going for several weeks and both felt like they'd made some serious progress.
Kara has slowly let go of some of the guilt and fear from when Krypton exploded as well as the guilt from anything related to her time as Supergirl, like the people she hasn't saved and the time she and Lena spent fighting after her secret was revealed.
Lena has learned to stop boxing up her emotions as well as get over her fear of being vulnerable and worked through the trauma of her mom's death and her adoption and subsequent mistreatment. She trusted Kara and wasn't afraid to open up to her but was still weary of showing any kind of emotion outside of her penthouse when she was alone. Lillian's training was still deeply ingrained; show no weakness, no emotion.
—
After putting the food back, Kara headed to the bedroom. "Hey, Lee", she calls out, knocking on the doorframe, "You ready?".
"Almost", Lena says, coming out of the closet, buttoning up the front of her shirt, "You?".
"Yeah", Kara responds, walking up to Lena. "You ok?", she asks, putting her hands on Lena's shoulders. She knows that even after all the work she has put in, Lena still doesn't really like opening up or bringing up all the trauma she has gone through.
Lena looks up at her and shrugs, her eyes watering. Kara tilts her head, with a worried, pleading look, trying to get Lena to admit what is wrong. "I'm ok, I promise. I just don't like thinking, or talking, about all this", Lena sighs.
"Hey, you've come this far, Lena", Kara soothes her, pulling her in for a tight hug. "You're doing great and think about how much better you've been feeling. You haven't had a nightmare in weeks now", Kara whispers into Lena's hair, hands rubbing up and down her back.
Lena sniffs and gathers herself, pulling out of the hug, "Thanks, Kar".
"You feel better now?", Kara asks her thumbs rubbing circles on Lena's hands.
"Yeah", Lena nods, giving Kara a smile, "You ready to go?".
"I am but you may want to finish putting your shirt on", Kara says, smirking and pointing at Lena's chest.
"What you don't think Dr. Hester would enjoy this", Lena smirks, puffing her chest out.
"Considering she has a husband, probably not", Kara says. "I do, though", she adds smirking.
Lena blushes and smiles, "You only dated men before me, Sam got pregnant by a guy, I like both", Lena starts to list off.
"Hey, hey. Stop that. We're all bi and in happy relationships, just like Dr. Hester", Kara says. "I may have been with men before but I'm in love with you. I haven't had that before", she adds, smiling and staring at Lena with pure adoration.
Lena smiles, stepping back into Kara's arms, their entire fronts pressed together, "Well good because I'm in love with you too".
Kara smiles, before sliding a hand up to Lena's jaw and pulling her in for a slow, loving kiss.
Lena sighs into it before pulling back, "Ok ready? We've got to go now or we'll be late".
"No, you are not putting this on me", Kara shakes her head, sliding her hands to the front of Lena's shirt, doing up the last few buttons.
Lena feels a blush spreading across her chest and watches Kara, who has her lips pressed together, tongue poking out the corner, in concentration. As soon as the last button is done, Kara looks up, meeting Lena's gaze, as she smoothes the shirt down. "Now you're ready", she says.
Lena smiles and kisses Kara, "Thank you, darling. Let's go".
They head out to the car, Lena handing Kara the keys to the Audi that she kept in the garage for when she didn't want to call her driver.
"You sure?", Kara asks, excited to get to drive but worried about her girlfriend. Lena doesn't like giving up control and definitely not when driving her fancy sports car that she upgraded herself.
"Yeah I can't focus right now", Lena admits, "Plus you just look so cute when you're excited to get to drive", she adds, pecking Kara's cheek.
Kara smiles, feeling Lena's lips on her cheek, and opens the passenger door for her before going around to the driver's side.
Once she has pulled the car out onto the road, she reaches over, laying a hand on Lena's leg, thumb drawing circles on her thigh. "Are you going first this week or me?", Kara asks as they get closer.
"Me, if we're still switching off", Lena answers, typing away on her phone.
"Ok well, we're here", Kara says, turning the car off. Lena finally looks up from her phone and out the window, seeing the office building Dr. Hester's office is in.
"Right, well let's go then", Lena says, sliding her phone into her purse and opening the door. Rising out of the car, Lena takes a deep breath before sliding her hand into Kara's. Together the women walk towards the building, Kara opening the door for them, and check-in with the receptionist.
—
"Hey, kiddo", Alex says, ruffling Ruby's hair.
"Hey, Alex", Ruby greets, wrapping her free arm around Alex.
"Good to go? Got everything?", Alex asks, as they walk out to the parking lot.
"Cool! You brought the Ducati", Ruby cheers, seeing Alex's bike parked in front of them.
"Yeah, just don't tell your mom", Alex says, pulling the helmets out and handing one to Ruby, trading it for her soccer bag. They both climb on the bike, Alex making sure Ruby has a tight grip around her waist before easing out into traffic.
—
After their appointments, Kara and Lena always head home to relax, cuddle, and talk through everything they've just unpacked.
"What do you want to eat, darling?", Lena asks as soon as they walk through the door, wanting to put off the conversation for as long as possible.
Kara takes her purse and coat, hanging them and then her own, before turning back to Lena, who has already escaped to the kitchen.
"We don't have anything I can fix quickly here", Lena reports, her head in the fridge.
Kara walks up behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist and using the other to close the fridge door. "Lee, baby come here", Kara says, turning Lena around, "You know I won't make you talk about anything you don't want to but it might be a good idea to process it all rather than push it away again". Lena can't respond as tears spring up in her eyes. Kara sees the tears and feels her heart break in her chest. "Hey, baby. It's ok. Let it out", she says, pulling Lena into her chest as her body is wracked with sobs.
Although she doesn't like the circumstances that bring them to this position, Kara can't help but love how perfectly Lena fits into her arms. Even with heels on, the Luthor is still quite a bit shorter and the height difference always causes Kara to marvel at the feeling of having Lena safe in her arms, head tucked under her chin. Kara has always been soothed by the heartbeats of the people she loves and has learned that Lena is too. Whenever she is feeling down or scared, whether it be something bad that happened or she just woke up from a nightmare, all Kara has to do is pull her into her arms and hold Lena's head against her chest.
Lena's sobs eventually quiet into small sniffles and she pulls back trying to gather herself and wipe her tears. Kara grabs her wrist stopping her, and places her own hands on Lena's jaw, her thumbs stroking the high cheekbones. "Hey, no Luthor mask. It's just me", Kara says, "Do you want to talk about it?".
Lena takes a moment to think and eventually looks up at Kara, "I do but not yet. I need time to think. Let's eat first, and then we can talk unless you want to talk about your session now".
"It was good. More of just me learning to release the guilt especially since a lot of Krypton's people survived. Learning to release the fear and loneliness of being trapped for 24 years and then again recently. Learning how to live without my secret identity and fear…", Kara's voice cracks, "the fear of people getting to you, hurting you, because of it".
"Oh, darling", she says, pulling Kara in for a hug. Kara buries her face in Lena's neck, inhaling her scent. "I'm right here and I'm safe", Lena reassures her, the thumb rubbing soothing circles on the nape of Kara's neck, "You being your full self does not put me in any more danger than I was already in. In fact, I feel safer knowing that I have you, not to save me, but to stand by me, to love me. El mayarah".
Kara sighs, into Lena's neck, placing a small kiss there before pulling back, "El mayarah, always".
"Now food, because I'm sure you're hungry", Lena says, "How about Thai?".
"Deal", Kara says, smiling, "I love you, Lena".
"I love you too Kara, always", Lena responds, kissing Kara. Even through the tears, the emotions, the fears they are both trying to work through, they know that they will always have each other. The kiss isn't hurried, but slow, deep, loving, passionate, and comforting.
—
By the time they get back home, Sam's car is already in the driveway. "Crap", Alex mutters.
"Uh oh", Ruby says, "Mom's already here".
"Just act normal and go straight upstairs to shower while we get dinner ready", Alex says, pulling Ruby's bag out and handing it to her before taking the food.
"Deal", Ruby says, opening the front door.
"Hey guys", Sam calls from the kitchen, "You get the food?".
"Right here", Alex answers, setting the food on the counter and wrapping her arms around Sam, "Hey babe".
"Hi", Sam says, turning to kiss Alex. "How'd practice go?", Sam turns to ask Ruby who was hanging her soccer bag in the closet.
"Good. We got to scrimmage", Ruby answers, already heading upstairs. "I gotta shower", she calls over her shoulder.
"Be fast", Sam yells after her, before turning back to Alex. "She sure got out of here quick", she says with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I don't know", Alex says, headed to fix drinks, "Maybe she just really wants to hurry to eat".
"Or she has a secret", Sam says, "and you have one too".
"W…What? No, I… psh", Alex stutters, looking at Sam. "How'd you know?", Alex says, her shoulders dropping.
"That you picked her up on your bike", Sam finishes, "I saw it when you got home, and I know it's not the first time, too".
"You're not mad?", Alex asks, approaching Sam.
"I trust you. I know you won't let anything happen to her", Sam says, turning and wrapping her arms around her.
Alex just smiles before stepping closer, wrapping her own arms around her girlfriend. "Never", she says, before leaning in and kissing her.
They get lost in the kiss and in each other, not even realizing when Ruby returns. "You guys want to eat food or just each other's faces", Ruby says, sitting down at the table with her own food and drink, a smirk on her face. The women spring apart, their faces red, and turn toward the teenager.
"Right food", Sam says, turning toward the cabinet and pulling out two plates, handing one to Alex.
Alex sets the plate down, letting Sam fix her own first while she pours their drinks, setting them on the table before fixing her own plate.
—
After dinner, Lena and Kara change into comfy clothes and settle on the couch. Kara is laid out with Lena on top of her, her head on Kara's chest, and their legs tangled together. Lena is drawing patterns on Kara's hip where her shirt rode up, listening to her heartbeat, while Kara combs her fingers through her hair.
"We talked about my mom", Lena says, breaking the silence. Kara doesn't stop her movements or respond, not wanting to break the moment or stop Lena from opening up. "There is still a lot of Luthor trauma but Dr. Hester seems to think it is rooted in the fear from that day", Lena pauses. "That day is what the phantom showed me. I just stood there and watched as my mother drowned", Lena cries, "and I never got over being that scared little girl standing on the shore and it gave Lillian the perfect opportunity".
"Shh", Kara calms her before she goes into a panic attack thinking about Lillian's manipulations, "That was not your fault. Your mother's death was not your fault, it was just a tragic accident. A horrible thing you had to go through so young and Lillian used that traumatic experience against you".
Kara continues to soothe her until Lena calms down, "I haven't even been to Ireland since Lionel took me to Luthor Mansion".
Kara looks surprised at this revelation, "You never went looking?".
Lena shakes her head, "No. When I found Lex's journal about her I wanted to but I didn't think I was strong enough to handle seeing where I could have grown up, where we could have been together, where we could have been happy", Lena admits, "but now… I'd like to show you. I have memories of a little cottage with a fireplace that we would sit in front of and read, a pond out back, and a garden. I was born in County Wicklow and lived there until I was four. I don't have many memories, but I remember being happy. That was the last time I was happy", Lena finishes before the tears start falling again. "I want you to see it, I want to show it to you", she says through tears.
"Then we'll go", Kara says, "We can take a couple of days off and I can fly us over and we can just go. You can show me everything and maybe learn more about your mother too".
Lena lays her head back on Kara's chest. "Thank you", she sniffles. "For doing this for me but mainly for making me happy again".
"All I want is to see you happy", Kara says, as they settle back in, content just to hold each other.
—
After the three of them have cleaned up dinner, Sam settles onto the couch, "You got homework, Rubes?".
"Not tonight, I did it before practice", Ruby answers, sitting down beside her mom.
"It's Friday, you want to do a movie night", Sam asks, wrapping an arm around her daughter's shoulders and pulling her in close.
"Oh can we make a pillow nest", Ruby asks excitedly.
"Ughhhh", Alex groans as she sits on the other side of Ruby, "You've been hanging out with Kara too much".
"The only time we did it was when you all went on your first date", Ruby defends herself before turning back to her mom, "Can we?".
"Sure", Sam says, laughing at Alex's facial expression, "go gather pillows and blankets and I'll find a sheet".
Alex sits on the couch and watches them put the nest together while sipping her drink.
"You know you're not allowed in the nest if you don't help build the nest", Ruby says, before going for another load of pillows.
"Yeah, no cuddles if you don't help", Sam says, biting her lip and dragging her nails up Alex's thigh, causing her to choke on her drink.
"Sure, I'll help", Alex says quickly, sitting her drink down and kneeling next to the sheet ready to stuff the pillows and blankets into it.
Sam smiles at Alex's reaction and pulls the blankets and pillows off the couch to add.
Ruby reenters with an armful and a shocked look on her face at Alex helping but drops it at her mom's wink.
"That should be good", Sam says, flipping the nest over in front of the couch and laying out the extra blankets on top of it.
"Looks like it", Alex says, grabbing her glass and sitting on the nest with her back against the couch.
"Looks awesome", Ruby says, wrapping a blanket around herself and laying down on the nest.
Sam grabs the remote and sits down between Ruby and Alex. "You want to pick Rubes", she says, holding the controller out to her.
While Ruby scrolls through Netflix, Sam leans into Alex's side. "You helped", she whispers into Alex's ear, enjoying the shiver that goes down her spine, "You know what that means". Alex just hums in response and Sam continues, "Won't you lay down here with me", she says, coyly.
Ruby picks a movie and starts it. Sam lays on her back beside her daughter, wrapping one arm around her but looking at Alex. Sam raises an eyebrow and Alex gives in, sliding next to her. Sam wraps her other arm around Alex, who throws a leg over Sam's and cuddles into her side, under the blanket.
Laying here, cuddled up with Sam and Ruby, Alex has to admit that maybe pillow nests aren't so bad.
AN: So happy to be back, classes just started up and I'm going to stick with the Monday/Thursday posting schedule. Thank you so much for reading.
