The Girl of Steel and the Silver Speedster Ch. 13
Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowlings and Supergirl the CW. I own nothing and I don't make any money from this story.
Chapter 13: If No Pain, then No Love Part 1
_o0o_
She didn't want to do this.
She knew it would have to be done from the moment he left. But the necessity of it didn't make it any less foreboding. Alex had volunteered to do it. Citing that as a doctor she had been trained in how to deliver bad news to friends and family.
But Kara wouldn't hear it. She wanted to be there for her friend when she learned that the guy she was developing feelings for had left this reality.
So here she was, flying towards her best friend's penthouse, trying to picture in her head the reaction she was going to get so she could prepare for it.
Slowing down as she got closer, she approached the balcony at a gentle hover. She peaks through the glass, trying to spot Lena, and is surprised.
Maybe she already knows what happened. Kara speculated as she spotted Lena, passed out on her couch in her living room. A tumbler and two bottles of scotch on the table in front of her. One bottle half empty, the other all empty.
Opening the balcony door (unlocked, because who other than Kara enters a fortieth-floor penthouse via the balcony) and approached Lena's prone form.
Kara had seen this before, only a few days ago in fact. She knew of Lena's problems with alcohol. She had once confessed to Kara that Lionel had the same problem with a bottle. It was a source of shame and indignation for the Luthor family. And in an effort to keep Lena from turning out like her father, Lillian had read Lena the 'riot act' several times, before she was even old enough to drink.
Such was Lillian's vindictive streak.
Kara knew that Lena managed her drinking very well. Just enough in public to appear sophisticated and nonchalant, but not enough to end up drunk in public. But in times of great stress or emotional upheaval (like being accused of poisoning children or a man she had a crush on traveling to another dimension), Lena tended to overindulge.
Moving in front of the sofa she got a proper look at her friend. Passed out on her ten-grand sofa wearing a very bagging sweater and a pair of loose-fitting drawstring shorts. Lena's comfort clothes as Kara surmised. Clothes kept purely for their soft fluffiness, and nobody but family and your closest friends were ever allowed to see you wearing.
Kara had a few of those.
Lena looked content. Her face soft and relaxed in that way only sleep can bring. In that moment, Kara decided to put this conversation off until tomorrow and let her friend get some much-needed sleep. Unfortunately, Lena chose then to open her eyes. Probably sensing that she was no longer alone.
Her gaze instantly fixed on Kara who immediately tried to think of an explanation as to why she was standing in Lena's home, uninvited while she was sleeping. Thankfully, she was saved before she had to.
"Harry's gone, isn't he?" Lena croaked from her alcohol parched throat.
Kara relaxed some, realizing she was right. Lena already knew. So, she nodded her head and muttered a quiet "Yeah."
Lena just blinked at her momentarily before letting out a bone deep sigh and reluctantly pushed herself upright on the couch. Lena rubbed her eyes while blindly gesturing to the now vacated couch cushion. Kara got the message and took the offered seat while silently waiting for Lena to finish waking up.
"I figured. I had hoped to see him one more time before he left."
"You don't seem surprised?" Kara asked.
Lena turned to look at her. "He came to see me last night. He told me he had done what he was sent here to do. And he would have to leave soon."
That was a load off Kara's mind. Harry did get to say 'goodbye' to Lena before he left. Though, with the casualness that Lena said it with, Kara wondered how often Harry had been paying nighttime visits to Lena. Harry must have been lying when he pretended there wasn't anything between the two of them. Something must have been going on for Lena to be this broken up over him leaving, right?
That thought brought some unknown ache-y feeling to her chest that made Kara want to ask the question. But her status with Lena was still unclear at best. And though they still needed to have that discussion, she didn't think now was the right time to hash it out.
"Harry told me you guys found Mon-El. How does it feel to have him back?"
Kara saw the segue as the change of subject it was. She would've gladly indulged Lena if she had chosen another topic (literally any other topic). But she had to ask about Mon-El. I guess I can't avoid talking about this forever.
Sensing Kara's hesitation Lena grew concerned. "What's wrong? You got the man you love and spent months mourning, back. Why aren't you glowing like a lovesick lunatic right now?"
Kara bit her lip and paused to buy herself some time to think. The situation was so enormously complicated. He wasn't trying to get back to her, but he was still happy to see her. He was with someone else, but he still wore her necklace. Then there was the biggest issue of all.
"He's married to another woman." Kara cringed as Lena stared at her flatly. Kara couldn't believe she just blurted that out. I guess I was more desperate to talk about this than I realized.'
As if sensing her thoughts, Lena looked at the remaining half-empty bottle of whiskey before declaring, "I don't have enough booze for this conversation."
_o0o_
The next morning saw a very hung-over Lena walking into the DEO. With her darkest sunglasses on her face and her most stylish pair of flats on her feet. She did not have the coordination, or the inclination, for heels today.
She and Kara had planned to get together for lunch so that they could continue the discussion they had started last night. Lena needed that time anyway, not only to sober up but to figure out how to deal with the elephant in the room.
Speak of the pachyderm. Lena lowered her shades when she spotted Mon-El making his way from the opposite side of the room towards Alex, J'onn and Winn. Following right behind him, Lena heard the sound of grunts and something colliding with metal over the speakers. The words "My car!" were distinguishable in the background noise.
Kara must be fighting something. Knowing that if J'onn wasn't flying out to help then the Kryptonian could handle whatever it was. Ignoring the acknowledging nod from Alex, she instead turned to scrutinize the Daxamite in the room.
Kara hadn't told her how long Mon-El had been gone. Harry didn't go into details either. But aside from the beard, he didn't look too different from the last time she had seen him. So, the time gap couldn't be enormous.
But apparently long enough to get over Kara, fall for someone else and get married.
Lena never really understood what it was that Kara saw in him anyway. He was a perpetual man-child who Kara had to apologize for on more than one occasion.
Then again, I suppose I'm not one to talk. She saw the good in me when even I didn't. Maybe there is something more to him as well.
Lena doubted that thought, but she wasn't going to dismiss it either. But for right now she had more important things to think about.
"She's on her own. Supergirl, identify the threat so we can help you fight it?" J'onn asked.
"Whatever it is, it fell out of deep orbit, and it is mad." Winn not so helpfully informed them.
"So, it's alien?" J'onn inquired.
"Well, it's definitely not NASA." Was Winn's sarcastic answer. He was so lucky that J'onn was his boss. Anybody else would have reprimanded him. Or at least head slapped him.
"Is it Zarnian?" Alex inquired.
"Or hellgrammite?" Winn threw out instead.
Lena didn't contribute. She just waited for Kara to finish punching whatever it was and answer.
"Dominator." Kara answered in a huff over the comms. "These guys are so last year."
Lena smiled in amusement and shared a look with Alex.
"Is Kara, okay?" Mon-El questioned.
Alex looked at him like she couldn't believe he asked that. "She's fine. She's Supergirl." She answered as she walked past him and laid her hand on Lena's elbow before guiding her away from Mon-El, J'onn and everybody else.
"Kara is not okay. I just didn't want him to know that." Alex whispered to her as soon as they were out of earshot.
"I figured. She told me about the wife last night. That would be why I have a bottle of Ménage A Trois red wine in my purse." Lena admitted.
"Oh, thank god." Alex said before she smiled at Lena. "I just put in an order for takeout with a big batch of pot-stickers. Let me grab my stuff and we'll meet at Kara's apartment."
_o0o_
Hours later saw the three of them parked on Kara's couch, with the Kryptonian in the middle. Alex was silently leaning on the armrest as she watched her sister. Lena was leaning on the other armrest as she finished the last of the mu shoo pork and they were all nursing a glass of wine.
Lena only taking small sips, given she was still hungover from the previous night.
Kara had been venting her frustrations at Mon-El from the instant they arrived at her apartment. It was a testament to how distracted Kara was that she didn't even notice as Lena ate the last potsticker.
"So, Mon-El just showed up like nothing was wrong?" Kara asked, irate.
Alex tried to be gentle with her response. Not wanting to make Kara feel worse. "I think he was just trying to make things seem…normal." Her attempt didn't work.
"Normal? The man I love, and thought was dead is alive." Kara said incredulously as if she felt the need to underscore that for Alex. "And every night I would make up all these scenarios about how I would see him again and now he's actually here but guess what. He's married." Kara finished with a disheartened huff. Until she noticed the strained smile on her sister's face and realized her mistake.
"Sorry I shouldn't be complaining. I know you're still dealing with the pain of Maggie." Kara said as she patted Alex on the knee in an offering of support. Another thought occurred to her as she turned to see the downtrodden look on Lena's face. "And losing Harry."
Lena didn't say anything as Kara patted her on the knee as well. Not wanting to add her family drama to the already far too depressing atmosphere in the room. Alex took that as her cue. "Mm-hmm, yup. And on that note, I'm going to refill my wine glass. Lena, do you want me to refresh that?"
Alex kept her eyes on Lena long enough to see her shake her head before getting off the couch and head for the wine bottle. But as she pours more wine into her glass, she spots something on Kara's countertop.
"Hey, what's this?" Alex asks, holding up a wedding invite. Kara seemed ambivalent to it, and Alex was just about to dismiss it until she noticed the names on the card.
"Barry Allen. Wait, the Flash Barry Allen?"
Now Alex had Lena's undivided attention. But Kara's answer was flippant. "The one and only."
"Oh, when is it." Alex asked, intrigued by the idea of a superhero wedding.
"Tomorrow." Kara moaned, sadness returning to her tone at the reminder that a friend was having a better love life than her.
"Well why aren't you packing?" Lena asked. Just as intrigued as Alex, and shocked that Kara wasn't halfway out the door already.
"Do I look like the kind of person who is in the mood to go to a wedding?" Kara snarked at them both. "Besides, I'm not the only one on that invitation."
The ginger and the brunette nodded at her point. And they were back on the depressing topic of their love lives or lack thereof.
"You're right." Alex agreed as she made her way back to the couch and took a seat. "This is not a time for us to go out. Or have any fun. This is our time to wallow and put on breakup weight."
"Speak for yourself Alex. I refuse to put on weight for any guy." Lena held up her wine glass. "But I don't have a problem getting drunk over one."
Alex pointed a finger at Lena to acknowledge her point. Kara, however, completely missed this interaction. She had zoned out as soon as Alex started agreeing with her. Because her sister had given her an idea.
"No."
"I was just kidding. I know you are incapable of putting on weight. A fact I totally resent." Alex started before she was once again interrupted by Kara.
"No, I mean: No. We are not going to wallow." Alex and Lena watched as Kara got off the couch and proceeded to retrieve something from her dresser. "We are going to get ourselves out of this funk. And off of this couch. We are going to get our mojo back." Kara declared with a flourish as she moved to stand in front of them.
"Wait. What are we doing?" A confused Alex asked, Lena just as lost.
Kara holds up the dimensional extrapolator, presses a button and opens a portal. "We're going to that wedding."
Lena looked at Alex to gauge her reaction before looking back at Kara. "Kara, I'm happy to see that you're 'getting your mojo back.' But I think you might be jumping the gun a little."
The determination on Kara's face cracks as she tilts her head in confusion. Lena decided to elaborate. "Not only do you still need to pack before going to a wedding, but Alex is in her sweats and you're in your pajamas."
Looking down at herself, Kara remembers she is in her comfy clothes. Lena and Alex both smile at the embarrassed flush on Kara's cheeks.
"Good point. We should definitely pack a change of clothes before we visit other earths." Kara nodded before closing the portal.
"Well, I appreciate the thought Kara, but that invitation says plus one. Not two." Lena sadly pointed out. Knowing she wouldn't be able to go.
Kara, however, wasn't deterred. "So what? I'll talk to Barry. If one person couldn't make it that leaves a spot open for you. And even if you can't attend the wedding, you can still attend the dinner tonight."
Kara plopped back down on the couch, threw her arm around Lena's shoulder and pulled her in close. She hoped proximity would make it harder for Lena to say no. "Come on Lena, you can hand the L-Corp reigns over to Sam for a few days."
"And wedding crashing aside, you can't say the idea of visiting another earth doesn't intrigue you." Alex piled on, seemingly on board with the idea of dragging Lena along. Probably so that there would be at least one person there that she knew.
Lena opened her mouth to protest but hesitated. Sensing weakness, Kara pounced. "We promised we wouldn't keep any more secrets from each other. This is a chance for you to meet my friends that even Alex hasn't met. Please, for me?" As she spoke that last sentence Kara batted her big blue eyes and gave an exaggerated pout with her lips. Reminding Lena why some of her CatCo coworkers called her 'Puppy Danvers.'
Lena gave up the ghost and smiled. "Okay. Okay. Let's get packed. We're going to a wedding."
Alex laughed as Kara threw her hands in the air and hopped off the couch to get her suitcase.
_o0o_
Kara used her superspeed and changed and had her bag packed in the blink of an eye. Alex didn't have to pack at all. She kept a to go bag at Kara's apartment on the occasion they needed to make some quick travel plans. It was originally meant for DEO or alien related situations, but Alex was prepared for a wedding as well. Such was her sister's awesomeness.
Lena was the only one who had to visit her apartment to get what she needed. Fortunately, despite being very fashion forward, Lena was not a high maintenance woman. Everything she needed fit into two average size suitcases. A half hour later and they were ready to go.
It could have been twenty minutes, but Kara and Alex had to discourage Lena's second thoughts. They assured her that it wasn't terribly inconvenient that she wasn't invited and that all of her friends on earth-1 were going to love meeting her.
Though Lena put up a good fight, Kara's excitement was contagious. And Alex was looking forward to finally meeting the group of heroes her sister had told her so much about.
Alex and Lena carried the bags, Kara carried the two of them, and one quick jump through a shimmering portal and they were in Central City on Earth-1. Kara flew them straight to Star Labs, where they arrived just in time to see the Waverider fly overhead before turning invisible.
I am so getting a look at that before we leave. Lena promised herself.
Alex and Lena were both amazed by Star Labs. Despite having a giant hole in the roof, it was still an impressive facility. They both would have loved to tour the particle accelerator, but they barely got in the door before the bride to be, a lovely dark-skinned woman named Iris, and a blonde woman in glasses named Felicity grabbed them and ushered them to a local salon for an afternoon of pampering and girl talk.
"Iris you are literally glowing." Felicity complimented as she handed said woman a flute of champagne. Iris smiled in appreciation, of her words and the refreshments.
"Wait. It's pregnant women who glow. Bride's blush." A Dr. Caitlin Snow corrected her words from her seat in a chair to the left of Iris. Felicity and Lena both laughed as Iris confirmed that she was all for 'blushing' but not quite ready for 'glowing' just yet.
"Oh, it doesn't get better than this ladies." Felicity declared as she offered her hand to the attendant who began working on her cuticles.
"Here, here." Lena agreed from her spot-on Iris's right. "I think we all needed a little time away from all of the drama back home."
"And Lena we are thrilled you and Alex could come. It is so great to finally meet you. After everything Kara has told us, it is nice to finally put a name with the face." Iris spoke. Felicity hummed her agreement around a sip of champagne, apparently just as eager to make new friends as Kara was.
"But I still can't help wondering what happened to Mon-El?" Caitlin queried.
Lena grew a little tense, as Kara tried to laugh it off. "You know what, it's a long story, but um-oh." Kara was saved by the sight of smoke rising from the motorized tool the girl was using to buff Kara's nails.
Kara stumbled through some lame excuse about taking a lot of keratin as the others in the know shared anxious looks. Listening to such a poor lie, Lena wondered how she hadn't known Kara was Supergirl.
Seeing Kara struggle, Iris skillfully steered the conversation to the only other woman in the room currently in a long-term relationship.
"So, Felicity, you and Oliver? Are you guys next to walk down the aisle?" Iris prompted.
Felicity however, just looked put upon. "Maybe when the cities no longer under attack, and he's no longer under inditement, and he finally spends enough time around his son who is still mourning the loss of his mother." Felicity spoke in one breath. Much to Lena's amazement. Wondering what exactly the story was there.
"So, any day now." Caitlin joked, bring back the happy mood from the morose turn it had almost taken.
"Any day now." Felicity acknowledged.
"Well cheers to Iris for your big day." Caitlin offered as she raised a glass.
They all held up their glasses and toasted the blushing bride.
Lena could safely say, she liked them all immediately.
_o0o_
Hours later saw them all inside a coffee shop called Jitters. Where Alex and Lena got to meet the rest of the superheroes.
Iris introduced them to her father detective Joe West, and her stepmother DA Cecile West. A cop and a prosecutor. Obviously those two met at work.
A gruff man everyone called Mick was parked in front of the buffet table and it didn't look like he planned on leaving before the night was over. Lena wondered if he was actually a hero, or if he was some party crasher here for the free food.
The groom, Barry Allen, was a tall handsome man with the biggest and warmest smile Alex or Lena had ever seen on anybody. Except maybe Kara. It was easy to see why the two of them became fast friends.
No pun intended.
But the real surprise of the night was when Felicity introduced them to her boyfriend, Oliver Queen. Lena's mouth went dry at the sight of him in a well fitted suit that barely contained the steel cables he called arms. And for the first time since her coming out, Alex lamented being gay, because here was a man who made her consider switching teams.
Unfortunately for the two bachelorettes he was clearly besotted with Felicity. The way his eyes kept returning to her every few seconds and held her close with a gentle hand on her hip. Yeah, there was no hope for either Alex or Lena.
Felicity, you are a lucky woman. Lena thought to herself as Alex begged off. Something about needing a drink. Lena thought she meant water until she noticed Alex making her way to the open bar. That makes more sense.
Lena watched, amused, as Alex poured herself a shot and threw it back. She was more amused when a blonde they had yet to be introduced to sidled up next to her. They exchanged a few words before they started exchanging shots. Clearly, they got along.
Lena hoped Alex didn't get too drunk and say anything about aliens and other universes. They hadn't met everybody at the party yet. And from her own experience, Lena knew it was possible to be friends with a superhero and not know they were a superhero. Not wanting to out Kara or her friends she promised herself to be careful about what she said to whom.
Feeling a little out of place with no one to talk to, Lena scanned the room looking for Kara. But was unable to spot her. She was just considering visiting the buffet table and taking her chances with Mick when a kind voice spoke from behind her.
"Forgive me, but you seem a little lost. Is everything alright?"
Lena turned to see an elderly gentleman with a concerned look on his face approached her.
"Yes, everything is fine. I just feel a little out of place. I'm technically gate crashing, and with the exceptions of Kara and Alex I don't really know anybody here." Lena awkwardly explained. But rather than look offended at her confession, the gentleman smiled instead.
"AHH, so you're from another earth. Well let me welcome you to ours." With a genial smile on his face, he held out his hand for hers. "Dr. Martin Stein, at your service."
"Lena Luthor at yours." Lena smiled back as she placed her hand in his. And it was a heady feeling to introduce herself and not see others cringe at her last name. The more time she spent here the more Lena liked this earth.
"So, tell me doctor, are you an MD or a Ph.D. Because I've learned it could go either way with this crowd." Lena inquired to Stein's amusement.
"Ph.D. Physicist to be precise. And what about yourself." Intrigued by the young woman from another earth.
"Graduated summa cum laude from MIT with various degrees. Couldn't go for a Ph.D in any of them I'm afraid as taking control of my family's company took precedence." Lena admitted without an ounce of embarrassment. She regretted not being able to add those titles to her already impressive list of credentials but knew it didn't really matter. She didn't need a piece of paper to tell her she was smart enough to stand with men like the one in front of her. If he, or anybody, thought any less of her because she didn't have an advanced degree then screw them.
"Impressive. And I must say I'm a little jealous. Having the opportunity to travel to another earth in the multiverse, must be quite the experience." Professor Stein prompted, his passion for the subject apparent.
Lena found his enthusiasm infectious. "It was. Though I find myself curious as to what exactly we were traveling through. It wasn't really like stepping out of a room on our earth and into a room on this earth. It wasn't that instantaneous. There was a tunnel of light and energy that I'm curious about. Was it some other dimension like the Speed Force or the Phantom Zone? Or is there some form of distance between worlds that are supposed to occupy the same space?"
"It sounds a great deal as though you are contemplating Einstein's question about how light travels through space."
"How can something with no mass pass through nothing?" Lena clarified to Stein's enjoyment.
"Yes, exactly. What a joy to be comprehended by someone so young." Lena decided to ignore that last part. She knew Stein didn't mean it as a subtle insult. Not like many of the members of the L-Corp board. And she really was starting to have a good time. "If you don't mind, I would like to ask a few of the other guests to join us? I know they would find this conversation fascinating."
Lena indicated her approval and Stein quickly flagged down a dour looking man with glasses called Harrison and a young woman with black hair who Stein introduced as his daughter. She was just starting to realize what a diverse group of people made up the various teams of superheroes. More importantly, she was starting to enjoy herself.
_o0o_
Barry Allen could not be happier than he was right now. He looked great in his tux, he was surrounded by family and friends, and tomorrow he got to marry the woman he had been in love with since he was old enough to know what love was.
And everything was going great with the wedding. The chapel was ready, the caterer hadn't called with any last-minute emergencies. They just needed one thing and they would be all set. And he knew just where to go to get it.
He spotted her standing on the second-floor balcony that overlooked the room. "Hey." He said in greeting.
"Hey." She fired back with a smile that seemed a little strained to him. "This is really nice. Thanks for having us."
Barry smiled a little more genuinely in return. "Of course. Actually, I wanted to ask you for a favor." But before he could, something else caught his eye. "Your sister seems to be tipping the elbow pretty heavy."
Kara followed Barry's eyes to see Alex and Sara Lance throwing back shots of Scotch like they were at a keg party (or a really great wedding). But Kara wasn't concerned. "Oh, that's fine. Nobody can drink Alex under the table. She's just had a rough go of it lately."
Kara's tone made it clear that Alex wasn't the only one who had it rough. It was obvious from the moment they arrived that something had her down. The fact that she hadn't shown up with Mon-El was telling. Barry decided to take the opening Kara had provided to offer his friend some help.
"She's not alone. I noticed you don't have your plus one."
Kara tried to laugh it off. "I am plus zero lately.
Barry is saddened by her admission, so in an effort to help his friend, he decided to get to the bottom of this. "What happened with Mon-El?"
Again, Kara tried to make a joke of it. "What didn't happen? Saved the world."
"I did that, three times." Barry tried to relate.
"Time traveled." She admitted a little gloomier.
Barry just shrugged his shoulders with a smirk. "Been there. A lot."
"He's married to someone else." Kara finally confessed with a frown on her face.
That comment stopped Barry Allen cold. He squinted in contemplation. He tried a few times to open his mouth and make some comment, but just closed it again. Meanwhile, Kara watched him with a passive expression on her face hoping he would at least make a joke that might lighten her mood.
Finally, he shook his head before reluctantly admitting, "Yeah, I got nothing for that. I'm sorry."
Kara merely shook her head at her friends' words. "Well, it's my own fault. I keep forgetting that my life should only be about Supergirl. Life keeps finding a way to remind me."
Barry didn't like the sound of that one bit. "I finally got Oliver to admit that it's okay to have love in his life. Now I've got to convince you too?"
"Barry its different for you guys. your human." Kara glumly spoke back.
"And your what?" Barry thought about that question before backtracking. "Other than an alien. I mean, you know."
"Alone." Kara lets out a light scoff in exasperation. Before trying to change the subject. "Any way what was the favor you wanted to ask me?"
Barry smiles as he suddenly remembers why he came up here. "The last adventure that we had together. I learned about a very cool, non-superpowered ability that you have. And I was wondering if you might mind breaking it out?"
Remembering the incident with the Music Meister, Kara had some understanding where he was going with this. Kara broke out into a smile that reached all the way up her cheeks.
_o0o_
"And you say that this Phantom Zone is a world of substance, but time doesn't pass there?" Lena nodded in answer to Dr. Stein's question.
Martin, as he had insisted that she call him, had known as soon as she said she came with Kara and Alex that she had to come from a different Earth. Realizing that he was already 'in the know' about the various superpowered beings in their midst, she didn't have a problem being honest with him.
In the last half hour that they had been talking they had moved on from the possible space between worlds and had been discussing their own unique experiences. She had originally assumed that he was like her. Somebody with a high IQ that the heroes on this Earth went to when they needed help. Imagine her surprise to learn that not only is he a superhero himself (half of one anyway) but that he travels around in a time ship.
Time travel. That was a topic she would love to sink her teeth into. Obviously, she was really enjoying this conversation. "It sounds a great deal like the vanishing point in the time stream. I wonder if the two are connected?"
"Not necessarily. It's possible that this Phantom Zone, terrible name by the way, is just another world in the multiverse." This comment came from another member of their little meeting of the minds.
Dr. Harrison Wells was a difficult man to get along with. Lena had seen dozens of men like him. Dazzling in the fields of mathematics and science, but totally lost in the subject of human interaction. They couldn't always understand the nuances of human behavior, so they acted as if it wasn't important. Mostly to spare their own egos.
Ignoring his prickly personality, the man is brilliant. And like many before him, Lena was willing to put up with his rudeness if it meant she could keep picking his brain.
"I mean just because all the worlds we've been too or heard of have been governed by the same mathematical laws as our own, doesn't mean they all are." He continued in the same pompous tone.
"That true. The multiverse is an ever-expanding realm of possibilities. There is no way that we have even scratched the surface of all the different worlds in it." Lily Stein, Martin's daughter and a scientist in her own right, contributed to the conversation.
"What a fascinating concept. A universe governed by laws of physics totally counter-intuitive to our own. I wonder what that would look like." Martin mused to the scientists in the room.
Their conversation was brought to an abrupt end by the clinking of a glass. Turning, they all saw detective Joe West, Iris's father, trying to draw the eyes of the entire room.
"Can I have everyone's attention for a second?" Joe asked as champagne flutes were passed around to everyone. "So, the old man has a few words to say. What could I possibly say that everyone in this room doesn't already know? How they're special. And kind. Brave. But we all know that. So I'm gonna talk to you about somebody you might not know. Me." That comment got a few chuckles from the various party guests.
"For the longest time, I've been happy just to be dad to these two. Then Wally comes along," here he pointed to a handsome young man in the crowd. "Then watching them face what they have in the last few years. With grace and trust and love. So much love. And to see two people who love like that, and you want it too."
He held out his hand towards a woman in the crowd. Lena remembered she had been introduced as Cecile. And she looked surprised that she was being invited 'on stage,' as it were. Though she seemed a little embarrassed to suddenly be in the spotlight, she certainly seemed happy when she stood closer to Joe, and he put his arm around her.
"Barry, Iris, I just wanted to say 'thank you' for showing me how to love again. For showing me that love is the most important thing we have. I love you guys." Joe finished with a small sniffle.
And he wasn't the only one. There wasn't a single person in the room who wasn't affected in some way by Joe's words. Martin had his arms around his wife and daughter. Felicity was leaning back into and looking up at Oliver who was staring down at her like they were completely alone in the room. Though he tried to hide it, even Mick looked a little misty eyed from his place at the buffet table. And Alex…
Lena stopped and looked around. Where was Alex?
She thought about it briefly before assuming she was visiting the lady's room or something along those lines. Never occurred to her that the redhead would be outside, currently joined at the lips with the captain of the Waverider. Neither of whom would be seen again by anybody until the next morning at the wedding.
Lena was brought back to the here and now by the feeling of a friendly shoulder bump.
"Hey." Kara greeted her in a surprisingly chipper voice.
"Hey." Lena echoed back. Her own mood just as light as Kara's had become.
"I hate to cut this short dad, but your grandson's sitter has to be home soon." Lily prompted.
"Oh, yes. Of course. Lena, it has been an absolute delight speaking with you, but I'm afraid my family and I must bid you adieu."
"Of course. It's been lovely chatting with you." Lena said in farewell as the Stein family left to gather their things before heading home.
"As much as I hate to walk away from a conversation with someone who is actually competent, Francisco and I are on usher duty tomorrow, so we had better call it a night as well. I look forward to continuing this conversation tomorrow Miss Luthor." As Wells moved off to grab Cisco, Lena mulled over that 'competent' comment before shaking it off.
That's probably as close to complimenting some one else as he has ever gotten.
That was about the time that Kara shuffled closer and again nudged Lena's shoulder with her own. Looking at Lena with her usual sunny smile, Kara spoke, "Somebody seems to be the life of the party."
Lena lightly blushed at her words. Not sure what to say at first. She had forgotten what it was like 'not' to be ostracized for being a Luthor.
"You fit in pretty well with other heroes." Kara continued.
Lena bit her bottom lip for a moment. Flattered by the comparison, but not agreeing with it. "I'm no hero. But I'm happy to help anyone I can." Lena smiles at Kara as she unknowingly quoted Harry.
Kara merely smiles at her words.
They are both startled out of their conversation by the shout of, "Oliver, I don't wanna marry you!"
Every eye in the room moved to the source of the cried words to see Felicity with both hands over her mouth, and a look of pure shock that she had spoken so loudly. They were forced to watch as Felicity looked helplessly at Oliver before walking away from him without another word.
And Oliver, with more composure than Lena thought she would have in a situation like that, let none of his obviously tumultuous feelings show on his face as he bowed his head. After more time than it should have taken them, everybody finally realized they were staring at a man who had just been publicly humiliated, and they all looked away and pretended they hadn't just seen what they had.
Oliver took a few seconds to gather himself before he turned and left from the opposite exit as Felicity. The party started to break up after that. Not only because it was getting late and they had a wedding tomorrow morning, but everyone could feel that the mood of the night had been thoroughly soured.
Lena and Kara were both dreading the return to their hotel room. Seeing as they were sharing it with Felicity.
_o0o_
The next day saw Kara and Lena standing outside the church, waiting for the third member of their little party. Kara was pacing back and forth in her pink embellished dress while tapping her purse against her hand fretfully.
They couldn't find Alex at the party last night, and she didn't show up at their hotel this morning. Lena had to keep reminding Kara that Alex was trained in multiple martial arts and could take care of herself. Anybody unlucky enough to try and hurt her would regret it.
But as more time ticked by, they both grew more concerned. Finally, with less than half an hour before the start of the ceremony, the wayward red head came striding up the sidewalk towards them.
"Well look what the cat dragged in." Kara couldn't help but comment. Her frustration and worry having sharpened the point of her words a little more than she probably intended.
"It's bright out here. Why is it so bright? Don't they have clouds on this earth?" Alex asked in dismay, before Kara or Lena could ask where she had been. Both were so relieved to see that she was alright they didn't immediately register her appearance.
The dark sunglasses were to be expected. As was the wincing at the sound of cars driving by. There was no way Alex could throw back as many shots as she did last night and not be hungover. What surprised them was the fact her hair was still disheveled. Like she had only given a token effort but hadn't really combed it.
"Where have you been? Why didn't you come back to Joe's?" Kara tried to get answers from her sister.
"I was out." Alex supplied, unhelpfully.
"Out? Out doing what?" Kara asked incredulously. She was about as much chance of Kara letting Alex get away with an answer like that as Eliza.
"Jogging." Kara looks at Alex in disbelief. She could not believe that Alex was going with Jogging. "Fully clothed. Why?" Kara was further confused by Alex's need to add that. She had never known Alex to go jogging without being 'fully clothed.'
She decided to chock that up to the hangover and ignore it. "Well, you had me so worried. You can't just disappear on another earth."
"I didn't do anything that I wouldn't have done on our earth. Per se." Alex tacked on when Kara continued to look at her skeptically. Is she still drunk?
Fortunately, they were interrupted by the arrival of Sara Lance, sporting a blue dress that looked stunning on her in Alex's opinion. The only thing Alex found more stunning than the dress itself was the view provided by the plunging neckline.
Oh, this is so not helping right now. Alex thought as she tried to come up with something to say.
"Hey Kara. And…" Sara paused in greeting Lena standing next to Kara. She realized that while she had seen the lovely woman last night, they had never actually been introduced. Rather than make things more awkward, and ask for an introduction, Sara opted instead to greet Alex.
Which wasn't a much better idea.
"Ah…Al-…lix?" Sara tried to grope for her name, having trouble remembering through the scotch and sex fueled haze that was her memories of last night.
Alex's smile was all teeth as she fidgeted on the spot. Trying to play it cool so neither her sister, or Lena, found out she had had a drunken one night stand. That worked for all of three seconds.
"Yeah, …um." Alex paused for another moment thinking frantically.
Sara didn't help the situation as she realized Alex couldn't remember her name either, and pointed at herself. "Sara. That's me. I'm Sara."
Alex tried to laugh it off, "Oh yeah, Sara. I knew that. That's so funny."
Alex's fake laugh was the last straw for Lena as she muttered an amused 'oh god,' under her breadth and turned away to hide the smile on her face. She managed to put together that they were witnessing an uncomfortable meeting following a one-night stand.
It was like watching a train wreck. Lena wanted to look away and give Alex some measure of privacy, but she couldn't resist looking over her shoulder to see what would happen next.
Kara was still standing by, watching the proceedings with confused disbelief. Though, not wanting to be rude, she tried to smile as she watched Alex smile a little too big and try a little too hard to play nice with Sara. "How are you. How are you? It's lovely. Lovely. A perfect day for a wedding, isn't it? So how are you?"
Sara just nodded at her. "Yeah, it is. I'm a little hungover but I'll survive. How are you? How's your butt?"
Lena's hand flew to her mouth to try and muffle the snort she couldn't quite keep behind her clenched teeth. Apparently, Sara didn't have the same inclination to hide their activities that Alex did. Still, I can't believe she asked that.
Seeing the sudden grimace on Alex's face, Sara realized that she probably needed to clarify that question, less it be misconstrued. "I just heard you fall out of bed this morning and it sounded like it hurt."
In Alex's opinion, that didn't make things much better. She puckered her lips as she tried to think of a way to salvage the situation before concluding that there really was no point. "Yeah, a little."
"Anyway, I'll see you guys inside." And like that, the blonde headed up the steps and into the church. Leaving the blushing Alex alone with her sister, who was grinning in amusement having finally caught on to the situation, and Lena whose shoulders were shaking with the effort to hold in her laughter.
Kara decided that enough was enough. "You…"
"It was not what it sounded like." Alex tried, futilely.
"…didn't?" And that was all it took for the flood gates to open.
"I did," Alex said as her eyes moved back to where Sara had entered the church. "I did. Like twice, I think. Three times. Oh god do you know what I did?"
"Not the specifics." Kara managed to say through her giggles as Lena finally couldn't contain it anymore, started laughing. Kara words the straw that broke the camel's back.
Alex wasn't done though. "I had a one-night stand. Kara its horrible. Its terrible. Its like such a guy thing to do. I am a horrible, terrible… guy."
Kara and Lena decided that they had probably had enough amusement at Alex's expense and tried to reassure her. "No. Come on. You are a healthy, single, lady and you just had a really great time at a wedding. There is nothing wrong with that."
"Yeah Alex, relax. You're not the first woman to get laid at a wedding and you certainly won't be the last." Lena added.
Alex still looked skeptical. "I didn't do anything wrong?"
"Not at all." Lena spoke while shaking her head in the negative.
"And besides Sara's awesome. Except for the fact that she's an assassin." Kara understood too late that she should have stopped speaking after the word 'awesome.'
Alex and Lena both looked at her in disbelief before she put her hands on their shoulders and steered them towards the church.
_o0o_
Inside the church, everything was getting underway. A professional looking woman with a clipboard showed them to their seats. Caterers were making the rounds with glasses of champagne. And they spotted Barry standing just away from the alter, nervously adjusting his tuxedo. Remembering the request he made last night, Kara handed her purse to Alex and made her way to Barry.
Watching her sister move towards the groom, Alex and Lena took their seats and waited for the festivities to begin. Alex knew it wouldn't be more than a few minutes. Even with her rush to sneak out of Sara's bed this morning, she had still arrived far later than she should have. Most of the guests were already seated when they arrived. Only a few stragglers like herself were still trickling in.
Lena, in a green scalloped trim dress, looked entirely at peace sitting next to her. Alex wasn't so comfortable. Her hangover had her pulse pounding in her ears, and even inside the church the lights were still way too bright. But Alex wasn't going to allow her splitting, throbbing, skull cracking headache to ruin this happy occasion.
But it was an enormous relief when the band started playing a gentle tune on various string instruments. Barry took his place at the altar, with Oliver right next to him as his best man. Both looking very dapper in their tuxes. Felicity and Caitlin looking splendid in their pink bridesmaids' gowns. And Kara…
Alex paused when she spotted Kara standing with the musicians. She was a little surprised when her sister started singing 'Running Home to You' as the wedding got underway.
"I didn't know Kara could sing?" Lena whispered as she leaned into Alex's ear. Alex was saved from having to answer by the sound of the double doors opening, and all eyes in the room moved to see the bride enter the room. Everyone stood as Joe began escorting Iris down the aisle.
Iris was a vision in her white Tresor Gown. Her hair was done up with a few curls falling artfully around her face. A pearl earring and necklace set, lent to her by Cecile, added a few sparkling touches to her appearance. Her eyes fixed firmly on the altar where her soon to be husband stood smiling.
Alex and Lena both watched, mesmerized like everybody else, as they passed them on their walk. Alex noticed that even though he was smiling in joy, Joe also looked as though he were fighting not to cry. Alex wondered if that was what Jeremiah would look like if he had the opportunity to escort her down the aisle at her own wedding. That thought only bothered her for a brief moment before she let it float away as she saw Iris hand her bouquet to Caitlin before she took her place in front of the minister.
Joe whispered something to Barry that had the groom smiling before he took his own place in the front row next to Cecile and Kara finished her song.
"Everyone, please be seated." The minister said before he began the ceremony. "Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to be presiding over the wedding of Barry Allen, and Iris West. Although I do not know them well, I know this is a good match. How do I know that? Well, because of you. Because of all of you. Looking out at their friends and their family, seeing the joy on all of your faces. How happy you are for them. Tells me everything I need to know. It tells me that these two people deserve to be together. They deserve to be happy and fulfilled. And they deserve a long life together. And now to the standard housekeeping. Does anybody have just cause as to why these two should not be married? Speak now or forever hold your peace."
The entire room was silent. Out of nowhere, twin rays of light struck the minister's chest and vaporized him in an instant. Somebody in the crowd screamed as every eye swung to the back of the room where the beams came from. Every hero in the room stood up at the sight of dozens of men wearing black masks crowded into the room, all of them pointing guns at the guests.
All of them appeared to be soldiers, sporting the same black and red uniforms. Except for the three in front. Two of them wore customized suits with hoods instead of helmets. One carried a sword and the other a bow with a quiver full of arrows on his back. But the most shocking was the caped woman floating above the heads of all of them. Given that she was flying, and the heat beams that killed the minister had to come from her position, Alex knew that she had to be Kryptonian.
"Peace is overrated." A distorted voice that had to come from the woman, spoke to the room.
"You have got to be kidding me." Iris muttered in horror.
"Nazis?" Oliver distractedly muttered as his gaze swept around the room.
"I hate Nazis." Barry, Oliver and Kara all chorused.
_o0o_
Well, that feels like the best place to leave the story for now. Sorry it wasn't posted last month like it should have been, but a death in the family threw off my writing schedule.
I'm posting this now (before both of my betas have even had a chance to finish looking it over) because I just saw the post on Tumblr where the cast lamented their last day of shooting. I know the last few episodes still have to air, but seeing this feels like the era has already come to an end. I just wanted to post this to say goodbye. Melissa, Chyler, Katie and everybody else, we will miss you all dearly. It has been a joy to watch you all and we (the fans) will look back on this show with fond memories and a special place in our hearts.
Farewell Supergirl.
One final note to my readers. I just want to say I hope you guys and gals enjoyed the chapter, but I especially hope you liked the part about Sara and Alex meeting at the church. I wasn't sure if I should include that part but I couldn't resist. I don't remember if it was when Sara asked "How's your butt?" or the look on Kara's face when Alex asked her "do you know what I did." and she answered "not the specifics." But at some point during that scene I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair. I hope I wrote it well enough that that a few of you at least smiled while you read it.
I big thank you to my betas, and I will have Part 2 posted as soon as possible. Good morning, good afternoon and good night.