Chapter 25

"You'll have your powers back before the gala right?", Lena asks, as she stretches out on the couch.

Kara's crinkle appears as she makes a guilty face, "When is it?".

Lena tilts her head, "New Years Eve. I've had one every year since taking over L-Corp".

"Oh yeah I should be good by then", Kara says, smiling, "Our first one as wives".

Lena smiles widely, "Good because I called the place on seventh and they're making your suit".

"So how's the planning?", Kara asks.

"Jess is covering most of it and Sam is helping out but I want everything to be perfect", Lena says.

"It will be", Kara says, pulling Lena's feet into her lap, "you'll make everything perfect".

"Yeah I hope so", Lena says, nearly moaning as Kara works the cramp out of her foot.


"How long until Eliza gets here", Lena shouts from the bedroom.

"I don't know", Kara sniffles as she tries to yell back.

"Oh right", Lena says, coming down the stairs, "I forgot, no hearing".

Kara pouts as Lena walks up to her. "You were pretty happy a few nights ago that I didn't have powers", Kara says, tilting her head to show the remnants of a massive hickey on her neck.

Lena smirks proudly at the bruise. "Yeah well that was before you came down with whatever this is", Lena says, as she kisses Kara's forehead.

"I get that I'm not immune without powers but really. One agent sneezes and all the sudden I'm under quarantine", Kara whines.

"Normally you're immune under the yellow sun so your body hasn't created the white blood cells needed to fight a simple infection and its just a cold, not Ebola. You're not under quarantine", Lena says, pausing to think, "Do you even have white blood cells?".

"Ask Alex", Kara shrugs, "Haven't you tested my blood before?".

"Not against human diseases", Lena says, getting lost in her thoughts, "Maybe we should vaccinate you, just in case".

"Needles?", Kara asks, her eyebrows shooting up and body nearly shaking.

"Relax, darling", Lena says, "If you wouldn't solarflare, we wouldn't have to but I'm sure I can come up with something so you can avoid needles, even though they don't pierce your skin anyway". Lena leaves another kiss on Kara's forehead in reassurance as the doorbell rings, "That must be Eliza".

Kara tries to stand to go greet her adoptive mother but Lena pushes her back down and goes to answer the door.

"Eliza", Lena greets opening the door, "Come on in".

"Lena, sweetheart", Eliza replies, setting her bags down and wrapping her arms around Lena, who freezes for a second before settling into the contact. Turning to a sniffling Kara curled up on the couch, Eliza frowns before letting out a small chuckle, "So that's why I wasn't tracked all the way here".

"Hey mom", Kara whines, standing from the couch, careful to keep the blanket around her shoulders.

"What did you do this time?", Eliza asks, coming over to inspect Kara.

"Alex already checked me over", Kara says, leaning into her mother's hug, "I'm fine. I promise".

"Just a large alien that wouldn't go down", Lena adds, "Nothing a little sun on the balcony won't fix".

"See I'm fine", Kara says, but she's undermined by a sneeze, "kind of".

"I'll fix you soup tomorrow", Eliza says, pushing Kara back onto the couch, "Let me put my stuff up and we can talk some more".

"I'll help you with that", Lena offers moving to Eliza's bag, abandoned in the entryway.

Eliza grabs Lena hand, leading her back to the couch beside Kara and forces her to sit, "Relax, I can handle a couple bags. I'll be back in a second".

By the time she returns, Kara has turned around and is curled up with her head in Lena's lap, asleep. Lena runs her finger through the blond curls as Eliza curls up in the other chair.

"I guess dinner will have to wait until she wakes up", Eliza chuckles.

"Well, she would be rather disappointed if we ate without her", Lena jokes.

"Please", Eliza waves, "her sixth sense for food is her main superpower".

"Very true", Lena says, looking back down at her wife curled up in her lap.


"Come on slowpokes", Alex yells up the stairs.

"I'm coming", Ruby yells back and Alex hears fast footsteps coming down the hall.

"Babe?", Alex yells but doesn't get a response. She sighs, shaking her head, and heads up to the bedroom. "Sam", Alex says, as she pokes her head in the room, only to hear a frustrated noise come from the closet. Alex goes to investigate and is met with Sam, standing in her bra and panties, a far cry from her previously almost ready state that Alex last saw, surrounded by clothes, on hangars, on the floor, draped across shelves, "What happened here?".

"I can't find anything too wear", Sam complains, turning to Alex, throwing another sweater on the floor.

"What happened to the sweater you had on earlier", Alex says, soothingly, "You looked great in it". Sam shrugs, dropping another top and Alex wraps her arms around her, "What's wrong?".

"Nothing, I'm being neurotic", Sam sighs, leaning into Alex.

"You're not neurotic, you're just nervous", Alex says, rubbing circles on Sam's back, "but you have nothing to worry about. It's just our friends and family".

"That's the problem", Sam mumbles into Alex's shoulder.

"I know it's hard", Alex says, kissing the side of Sam's head, "It was just you and Ruby for a long time and you made it special for her but now you have us…and I know its hard to let people in but we're here for you whenever you're ready". Sam sighs, the tension in her shoulders dissipating as she leans heavily into Alex. "Plus Grandma Eliza will be disappointed if her favorite daughter and granddaughter don't come", Alex laughs.

"God when did that start", Sam huffs laughing.

"I don't know but they both had tears the first time Ruby said it", Alex says, kissing Sam's head again.

Sam pulls back just enough to look Alex in the eye before leaning into kiss her, "Thanks".

"No problem", Alex says, kissing her back, "Now normally I wouldn't condone the putting clothes on but we've got to go cause I have sweet potatoes and mom will kill me if they aren't there".

"Fine", Sam laughs, shoving Alex shoulder, "I should wear the green one?".

"Yeah", Alex nods, smirking, "You looked hot in it".

"That's not gonna help us get out of this closet on time", Sam laughs, trying to push Alex out.

"Hey I didn't come out the first time until 27. I'm usually a little late to the party", Alex says, pulling Sam in for another kiss.

"We're going to be late for this party if you don't let me get dressed and then your mom is going to kill you and Lena is going to kill me while your sister blushes after Lena teases about what we were doing in here", Sam argues, finally succeeding in getting the top over her head.

"Fine", Alex says, "You win. I'm loading up the car".

"Aww look at you all domestic", Sam yells after her, poking her head out of the closet to see Alex flipping her off as she leaves the room.


Lena is rushing around trying to get everything perfect before everyone arrives while Eliza sets up the food and Kara whines for cuddles.

"Sorry I'm ruining Christmas", Kara sniffles.

"You're not ruining anything", Lena says, "All of our family understands, and Christmas is going to be great even if we had to actually cook the food instead of using your heatvision". Kara keeps pouting on the couch until Lena comes over and sits beside her. "Hopefully your powers come back soon because a sick Kara is a whiny Kara", she teases.

"Ha ha make fun of the sick", Kara mocks before having a sneezing fit.

Lena kisses the side of her head and pulls her closer, "Why don't you give me this blanket and go soak up some sun before everyone gets here".

Kara tries to put up a fight defending the comfy blanket but an eyebrow from Lena has her conceding and Lena quickly hides the blanket in the closet just as the doorbell rings.

"That's probably your sister", Lena says, pushing a still grumbling Kara towards the door.

"Woah, you look like someone stole your potstickers", Alex jokes as Kara steps aside to let them in.

"Lena took my blanket", Kara grumbles, looking like a kicked puppy.

"Well it's a ratty old blanket and its Christmas so you can't spend it curled up on the couch", Lena says, coming over to hug everyone.

"Your powers haven't come back?", Alex asks.

"It's only been three days", Kara says, taking some of the boxes and carrying them to the tree.

"You've been sitting on the balcony?", Alex asks, going into protective big sister mode.

"Yes Alex", Kara says, "and it's just a cold".

"Leave her alone Alex", Eliza chides as she comes to welcome them, "Her powers will come back when they come back, until then let's just enjoy Christmas". The door bell rings again and Lena goes to greet Nia and Brainy.


Once everyone arrives they settle around the table, Eliza and J'onn at either end with Lena, Kara, Nia, and Brainy down one side and Alex, Ruby, and Sam on the other. Eliza brings the turkey in and J'onn carves it. They all pass the dishes around and the food goes a lot farther without Kara's kryptonian metabolism. Eliza says a few words about them all being able to get together and Lena and Sam both tear up when Eliza welcomes them and Ruby to their first Danvers Christmas.

Sam leans to hug her daughter, hiding her tears, and Alex wraps an arm around both of them.

Lena leans into Kara, kissing her cheek as Kara's arm comes up around her shoulders. Thankfully, their side of the table was a little more squished together and Kara leaves her arm around Lena until she has to pass the broccoli.

"Why would you make me touch that?", she whines, her nose crinkling in disgust, once she realizes what was in the dish.

"Oh please", Lena says, placing her hand on Kara's thigh, "You only had to touch the bowl and I promise not to make you eat it".

"Fine", Kara relents, her smile coming back, much to the amusement of her sister, who she distinctly hears mutter whipped.

"You're not a good whisperer, Alex", Kara says, shooting a glare across the table, "Don't act like you aren't the same for Sam".

Lena looks over at Kara confused, while Sam tries to hide her laugh by taking a bite.

"Did your powers come back, geez", Alex complains.

"Girls", Eliza warns, fondly.

"Sorry mom", Kara relents.

"Yeah sorry mom", Alex repeats, looking guilty.


J'onn is the first to leave, saying he should check in at the DEO.

Nia and Brainy quickly follow but Lena pulls Brainy into the kitchen while Nia says goodbye.

"Any chance you could stop by L-Corp this week?", she asks, hands fidgeting as her nerves get the best of her.

"Of course", Brainy answers, "what's wrong?".

"Nothing, nothing", Lena says, quickly, "I just wanted your opinion on a personal project".

"Ok", Brainy says, unsurely.

"It's nothing bad", Lena says, hurriedly, "I just wanted a second opinion before I move to the next phase and you're the only one I trust, not only intellectually but I trust you to be discreet". Brainy nods, shaking her hand. "Just give me a call whenever you're on your way", Lena says, pulling him in for a surprising hug, "Thank you".

"Of course, Lena", Brainy says, hugging her back just as Nia comes in.

Lena says goodbye to the young reporter and it's just the small immediate family left.


Nearly two hours later, Eliza says good night first and takes her leave, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hugging them all before going upstairs. Sam, Alex, and Ruby help clean up a little before leaving as well.

"Can you believe this", Sam asks Lena.

"Believe what?", Lena asks, turning to her friend. She had noticed Sam was unusually quiet and glued to Alex's side more than usual.

"All of this", Sam says, vaguely gesturing, "The people, the party, just everything".

Lena gives a small laugh, "I'm used to the people and the party but the warm feeling. The mansion was always dark and cold no matter how many fake decorations and people Mother tried to fill it with".

Sam puts the to-go plate down and hugs Lena, "It was always just me and Ruby and I tried ya know but I could never give her this". Lena nods in understanding as Sam continues, "I might've had a small freakout earlier and Alex just took it in stride and knew just what I needed to hear".

"We got damn lucky didn't we", Lena says with a wet laugh.

"Yeah, we did", Sam says, turning to look at the sisters and Ruby throwing balls of wrapping paper at each other.


Eventually the trio has to head home, and Kara helps carry their stuff to the car only to come back to Lena pacing across the living room.

"Hey", Kara says, gently, pulling Lena into a tight embrace, "What's wrong?".

"Nothing", Lena says, still fidgeting in Kara's hold.

Kara pulls her head against her chest, resting her chin on Lena's hair and rocks them back and forth, "Talk to me".

Lena sighs, "I may have one more present for you".

"Well, why are you so nervous about that", Kara asks, pulling back from the embrace, and wide smile on her face.

"I just have to show you", Lena says, and she grabs Kara's hand and pulls her to the bedroom. She pushes her to sit on the edge of the bed and says, "Just sit right there and no peeking". Kara obediently closes her eyes and Lena heads to the lead lined safe in the closet to pull out the small box wrapped in lead wrapping paper.

"I suppose this was overkill since you don't have your powers but here, open it", Lena says, returning to Kara's side and perching on the edge on the bed, thrusting the bod into her hands.

Kara carefully removes the paper, very different from her usual tear it off style, feeling nervous because of the expression on Lena's face. She removes the last of the wrapping and the lid and ruffles through the tissue paper to pull out a small item...

A little blue and red onesie with her golden crest on it.


AN: It felt weird writing Christmas at Thanksgiving but that's where we are in the story.

I've got a few more chapters planned out for this part when I get the time and motivation to write. We're nearing the end of the semester and projects and finals are stressful and take up a lot of time.

Thank you all for reading and happy holidays.