Chapter 18
After sending Kara home with Lena, Alex takes a deep breath and heads to her office, resigned at the thought of all the paperwork waiting for her. She finishes her report of the fight pretty quickly, explaining how Supergirl had no choice but to end it and moves on to the forms she has to fill out for the city to report the damage and the fees needed for repairs.
Knowing Lena helps pay for these damages caused by Kara, Alex uses this excuse to text Sam, "How much funding is left in the Fixing Kara's Destruction Fund?".
"I saw the news and then heard Lena take off", Sam replies, "There's plenty to cover whatever happened today. How is she?".
"Fine", Alex answers, "No powers but she's home with Lena so…".
"Ah", Sam says, "So she's really fine ;)".
"Eww no stop. That's my sister", Alex replies, "She wasn't hurt too bad and her powers should come back soon".
"That's good", Sam texts, "How are you?".
"Fine", Alex responds, knowing what Sam is hinting at. While she has let go of some of the guilt and overprotectiveness she feels for Kara, it still hurts to see her go down, especially like she did today.
"Alex", Sam texts, "It wasn't your fault and she's ok".
"Yeah I know", Alex responds.
"I know you were gonna head back to your apartment after work today but do you maybe wanna just grab some clothes and come over for dinner?", Sam asks.
A smile spreads across Alex's face and a warmth spreads in her chest. She had planned to stay at her place again tonight but the chance of being able to take comfort in the warmth of the Arias house is too good to pass up. "That sounds really nice", she answers, not caring that it may look like they're moving too fast.
"Good :)", Sam replies, "Ruby's riding the bus home and I don't know when I'll make it so let yourself in whenever and I'll bring dinner on my way".
"Don't worry about grabbing something, I'll talk to Ruby and we can fix something", Alex texts.
"Alright", Sam answers, "I'll see you later then 3".
"See you later 3", Alex replies and lays her phone down beside turning it to her lock screen which shows a picture they took after Ruby's championship. Ruby holding up the medal hanging around her neck, Sam behind her, hands on her daughter's shoulders, matching smiles on their faces. Alex smiles and uses the feeling as motivation to hurry up and get this paperwork done.
While Kara naps on the balcony soaking up the sun, Lena pulls out her laptop and manages to get some work done, reading through reports and paperwork, scrolling with one hand while the other cards through Kara's hair beside her. She attempted to answer emails but that required two hands and a sick Kara is a clingier Kara. If Lena's hand stops, Kara would let out a sad whimper and wiggle around until Lena's hand resumes its movement, so she stuck to reading through R&D's reports and other proposals.
Hours later, a coughing fit wakes Kara up and Lena sets her laptop aside to pat her back. "How are you feeling, darling?", Lena asks, once Kara catches her breath.
"Ok", Kara croaks out.
Lena leans over to kiss her forehead and slides off the lounge chair. "How about some soup?", she asks, "It'll help your throat".
Kara nods and shifts to follow her. She props herself up on a stool at the bar and watches as Lena works, a tired but loving smile on her face.
Lena turns from the stove, feeling Kara's eyes on her and a smile lifts the corner of her mouth. She rounds the edge of the counter to stand beside Kara and lifts the back of her hand to her forehead. "I don't think you have a fever so that's good", she says and Kara nods leaning into her hand. Lena leans closer and tucks Kara head under her chin. While she doesn't like seeing her girlfriend sick, she can't help but smile at the easy affection and in disbelief that this is her life right now. If someone had told her six years ago that she was taking care of a sick Kryptonian, she'd have asked if they were crazy and then if it was Lex's fault. Some days she still wakes up wrapped in Kara's warm embrace and wonders how she got lucky enough to have this.
The pot starts rocking on the stove and breaks Lena out of her thoughts and she leaves a kiss on Kara's head before going to dish up the soup.
Alex finished her paperwork quickly with the motivation of going over to Sam's and decided to work out to pass the time until she can head home.
Now she's on her way home for a quick shower before packing another duffel and heading to Sam's. She left her bike at the DEO and borrowed an SUV and a generic duffel with the new DEO logo on it to get her stuff to Sam's.
She parks the SUV in the driveway beside where Sam usually parks and lets herself into the house.
"Hey mom", she hears Ruby call from upstairs as she hangs her keys and jacket on the rack next to the front door.
"Not mom, Alex", she calls back as she heads up the stairs to drop off her stuff.
Ruby opens her door and Alex can see the mess of homework all over her bed. "Hey, Alex. Decided to come back", Ruby teases.
"Yeah", Alex laughs, "just couldn't stay away". She drops the duffel just inside the door of the master bedroom and turns back to Ruby who crashes into her with a hug.
"Glad you're back", the teen murmurs into her neck.
Alex brings her hands up to Ruby's shoulders and holds her tight. "Me too, Rubes", she says, before pulling back. "Now what do you want for dinner", she asks, "Your mom should be home soon and said to go ahead and start fixing whatever we want".
She heads to the kitchen with the teenager under her arm and the smile never leaves her face from the time her and Ruby work side by side to when she rolls off Sam and pulls her close as they fall asleep.
"I've got a couple of meetings this morning, but I'll be back with lunch soon, I promise", Lena says, leaning over the back of the couch to kiss Kara's feverish forehead.
"Potstickers", Kara rasps out trying to avoid another coughing fit.
"If that's what you want", Lena says, soothingly brushing the hair off her forehead, "I'm also going to call Dr Hester and reschedule for tomorrow. Even if you get your powers back by then and feel fine, you should take a few days".
"Can we talk about that later?", Kara asks.
"What's wrong?", Lena asks, concerned.
"Nothing", Kara stops talking to cough, "I just… do we still need to go every other week?".
"I've kind of been thinking about it too", Lena says, "Neither of us are having nightmares anymore and while you going down yesterday didn't make me feel great, I didn't have a panic attack and was able to get to you".
Kara smiles, proud of Lena for overcoming that issue, "I promise I'll start having Alex call you as soon as she can if I go down and I'll call you as soon as I wake up if you're not already there".
"I hope I never get that call but deal", Lena says, smoothing Kara's hair back and leaving another kiss on her forehead, "You relax here, and I'll be back with potstickers soon. I love you".
"I'll be ok. Love you too", Kara says, leaning into Lena's hand.
No matter how many of these asinine meetings Lena sits through, she never gets used to how boring and useless they are. Even with Lex and Lillian both gone, some of these board members can't let go of the old direction of the company. They point out statistics and figures that are manipulated to look like the weapons development did more than any of Lena's current projects.
After 20 minutes of Branson and Sullivan, trying to convince her that Lex's weapons and off book projects were better for the company, Lena was done.
"I understand that you two have been on the board since my father ran this company, but he's gone and I'm in charge now. Lionel is dead and Lex is a convicted felon having broken almost every law in existence and he is gone. You two may give up these inane ideas that L-Corp will ever turn back to any program that was active under any previous CEO's or you can take a rather generous severance and leave. Your choice. You have 24 hours starting now to inform Ms. Huang of your decision. Goodbye".
Lena sits, crossing one leg over the other, thankful she chose to wear her favorite power suit and dark lipstick knowing that this was her first meeting of the day, looking every bit the powerful, terrifying, businesswoman she was.
Both men stand in silence as if coming up with a retort, but Lena doesn't break or show any emotion beyond raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and giving the door a fleeting glance. Branson and Sullivan take the hint and leave, and Lena hears Jess wish them a good day as they slip onto the elevator.
"Finally", Jess exhales as she shuts the door to Lena's office behind her, "I can't believe you lasted as long as you did under their frankly stupid ideas".
"Thank you, Jess", Lena says, pinching the bridge of her nose and letting the tension out of her shoulders, "What's next".
"The R&D team says they have a new iteration ready for testing and need your sign off, so you're needed in the labs in 30 minutes", Jess reports. "There are a few emails and documents that need your attention and I have flagged them for you to do at home when you're ready. I've also put in the order for lunch for you to take home and Frank will be waiting out front as soon as you're done in the labs".
"What would I do without you, Jess", Lena sighs.
"I'm sure you'd be fine, Ms. Luthor", Jess says, blushing.
"Actually, I probably would've gone as mad as Lex", Lena laughs, "Thank you, Jess, and if Branson or Sullivan give you an issue or don't take the severance, contact L-Corp lawyers to try to persuade them".
"Of course. I'll remind you when to head to the lab", she says and ducks out of Lena's office.
Lena stretches, turning to the floor to ceiling windows behind her, and takes a minute to think. She knows the company is doing better than it has under any other CEO and not just for her conscience. L-Corp is still turning profits even with donations of devices to government agencies, mainly the DEO, and hospitals, both public and the ones she's founded. They are developing green energy, cleaning the atmosphere, helping humans and aliens alike, donating to many charities, including the Lena Luthor Foundation, and still turning a profit that most board members are ecstatic about. Since she rebranded the company, the second time, after Crisis, they haven't had a stagnate or negative quarter.
Lena sighs looking out the window, half expecting Kara to land on the balcony when Sam crashing through the door interrupts her thoughts.
"You're firing Branson and Sullivan?!", she asks.
"They have an option to take a package, yes", Lena says, calmly, turning to face her best friend and CFO.
"Finally", Sam says, "They are taking it right?".
"It would be stupid not to but if they don't, I will have the lawyers find something to force them out", Lena says, leaning forward on her desk.
"Hallelujah", Sam says, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of Lena's desk, "I mean they probably would've died soon anyway or be smited but still at least they're gone now. They were the last from Lex's board, right?".
"The last blind followers of his, yes", Lena says, "A few others are still on mine, but they were never privy to his off books inventions and deals, and I trust them for now".
"Ms. Luthor", Jess pokes her head in, "the lab is ready for you".
"Thank you, Jess", Lena says, sliding her laptop and folders in her bag and heads out, "I'll see you tomorrow".
Jess and Sam wave bye and Lena is excited to check out the lab's new ideas and get home to Kara.
After seeing what the lab is working on and how close they are to being ready for market, and of course, adding in a few ideas of her own, Lena slides into the backseat of the car and Frank pulls out. She answers a couple of the quicker emails on her phone until Frank is stopping in front of her building and she thanks him, taking the food and heads upstairs to Kara.
She hands her coat and purse and sets the food on the coffee table before walking out to the balcony where Kara is asleep, sprawled across the chair.
She smoothes the blonde curls back, pressing her lips to the bared forehead and pulls back to watch as sleepy blue eyes blink open.
"Hi", Kara croaks out, her voice hoarse.
"Hey darling", Lena says, "I have to say kind of like being able to surprise you when I get home, no superhearing to give me away". Kara chuckles but it quickly devolves into coughs. "I have potstickers. You want to eat inside or out here".
"Inside", Kara rasps and Lena helps her up, leading her inside to lay back on the couch.
"You know I didn't think the in sickness part of the vows would apply to me but a solarflared Kryptonian immune system sucks", Lena laughs as she hands Kara the potstickers.
"Speaking of vows", Kara starts, nervously, "How are we going to do that?".
"Well, a wedding", Lena says laughing.
"Yeah, but I mean, isn't there like a lot of planning, like picking a date and a place and oh!", Kara sits up clapping her hands excitedly, "cake. We have to test the cake too".
"I feel like I should be concerned that you're more excited for the cake than anything else, but I'm not surprised", Lena says, setting her plate down, "Yes we have to do all of that, and yes you can be in charge of the cake".
"Yay", Kara says, clapping her hands again, "So what do we do?".
"I've never done this before", Lena says.
"Me neither", Kara says.
"I know we have bracelets but are there any Kryptonian rituals you want to do", Lena asks, looking over at Kara who, despite being sick, has a potsticker in each hand and one in her mouth, nearly vibrating in excitement.
"I don't know", Kara shrugs, swallowing the potsticker, "I'll maybe wear a kryptonian tunic instead of a dress and maybe J'onn can do the kryptonian vows too".
Lena smiles at Kara who blushes and turns back to the food, "That sounds great, darling, and I have no problem with J'onn officiating. You'll just have to teach me the Kryptonese for it".
"Deal", Kara says leaning into Lena.
"Oh", Lena says, "I should also tell you I called Dr Hester and canceled the appointment for tomorrow and just told her we wanted to switch to once a month, if that's what you still want".
"Yeah", Kara nods, "I feel like… we're good… at least I am, and your heartbeat hasn't woken me".
"Relax darling", Lena says, laying a hand on Kara's, "I agree. Neither of us have had an anxiety or panic attack in weeks and while seeing you go down scared me, I didn't feel overwhelmed, and we have a plan for communication if anything like that happens again".
"I'll try not to do that again but if it happens, you don't have to worry", Kara says, wrapping an arm around Lena. "I agree with the once a month for now but maybe we can even back it up a little more too. I mean, I'm happy and both jobs are good, this is really good", she says, waving a hand between them, "We're getting married, both want the same things, and I know this was never couples counseling, but it was so that we didn't self-sabotage but I for one would never do anything to jeopardize this…".
"Kara", Lena interrupts and stops Kara's ranting reasoning. Kara clamps her mouth shut and looks nervously at Lena, her hands stilled by Lena's. "Calm down, darling", Lena says, carefully, "I completely agree".
Kara's nerves melt and she locks onto the loving glint in Lena's green eyes as a happy smile turns up the corners of her mouth. "Yeah?", she breathes out.
"Yeah", Lena says, squeezing Kara's hands, "We've worked through our past trauma and as long as we keep talking to each other about everything we'll be fine. Communication, right?". At Kara's eager agreeing nod, Lena continues, "We're getting married, and we both want the same things. I understand your motivation for being Supergirl and I am here for you when you solarflare or just need help. You understand by motivation for making L-Corp good again and my workaholic tendencies and you're always there to pull me back when I need it. We both want the same things for our future, happiness and a family. We can do this".
"We can do this", Kara echoes.
Lena leans in to kiss her but only catches Kara's cheek and pulls back with a hurt look.
"Sorry", Kara says, looking like a kicked puppy, "We did want the same thing there I swear but the whole sickness and health thing… I don't want you to get whatever I have".
Lena chuckles at the sad look on Kara's face and feels her heart expand at how loved Kara makes her feel even at small moments like this. She leans closer again, one hand moving to cup Kara's cheek, "And I love you for that but it's just a cold and my immune system is much better than yours... and nothing is going to stop me from kissing you right now", and with that she pulls Kara to her and presses their lips together.
Kara hesitates for a moment but quickly relents under the firm, loving pressure of Lena's lips on hers.
Lena pulls back, and watches as Kara's eyes flicker open, dazed as she refocuses on Lena's face, "I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you".
"Always", Kara replies, and this time it's Lena melting into her as Kara pulls her closer.