So many people called her Miss Luthor, that Lena rarely heard her own name. Lex had always expected his employees to call him Mr Luthor, the newspapers used her surname to remind everyone who her family were. Lena could count on one hand the number of people who actually called her Lena. Even then, the way they said her name let her know that they were adding the 'Luthor' part silently in their minds. Kara was different.

"Hey, Lena, I brought lunch," Kara would say, cajoling her into taking a break and eating something. Or "you can do it Lena, I believe in you," to encourage her with her magic.

There was also the emphasis on her name, when it was the only word being spoken, when she exasperated Kara by being stubborn. Those moments never lasted long, she would always soften and Kara would always forgive.

She treasured the moments alone, laughing with Kara and hearing her name spoken with more love than she'd ever felt from the Luthors. Even if Kara only said it as a friend, she needed to hear it. She tried to be careful how she spoke Kara's name in return, not wanting to reveal her own feelings.

The worst time had been Kara's return from the Phantom Zone, when she was so exhausted and Lena's name had been spoken with such tenderness and a fear that she wasn't really there. Lena had held her tight, whispering Kara's name over and over, promising her that she was real and Kara was home.

After that, when Kara was still recovering, she'd seek confirmation that Lena was real through little physical interactions - a brush of the back of her hand against Lena's, her fingers reaching out to touch Lena's arm. Each time she spoke Lena's name and Lena would smile, wanting to re-affirm that she was back, that it would all be okay.

Then came the night when they were alone in Kara's apartment. She could tell there was something Kara wanted to say, she'd barely used Lena's name all evening and Lena was hoping to hear it again. They were snuggled up on the couch, the film credits rolling on the tv, Lena's head resting against Kara's shoulder.

"Lena... I..."

Kara seemed to be struggling to get the words out as Lena lifted her head to look up at her, so Lena put her head back on Kara's shoulder and waited.

"Lena, I think I'm in love with you."

Lena had never expected Kara to utter those words to her. She didn't move for a moment, letting them echo in her mind, savouring the sound of them.

"I love you, Kara," she told her, finally sitting up to face her.

"You do?"

Lena nodded, "I have for a while, but I didn't think you..."

"Can I kiss you?"

Lena nodded, "could you just do something first?"

"Oh no, is it my breath? I knew I shouldn't have eaten..."

"Kara," Lena reach out to put a finger over her lips, "can you just say my name, before you kiss me?"

Kara looked a little surprised, but did as she'd asked, speaking Lena's name like a promise for a kiss.