This has been the hardest duo to write, but here we are. I know it might get confusing calling Lena 'Kieran' but that's her name for the sake of the story. Kara might be a *smidge* out of character in this, mostly more confident and not so eager to be something humans can relate to. She's still going to be Kara but just... different? And I would like to mention that I haven't seen Supergirl since S3... lol.

The song is The House that Built Me by Miranda Lambert.

Several pencils scratched out and wrote formulas to her right, and a cup of coffee stirred itself to her left. In the center of it all, Kieran read a well-worn copy of Alice in Wonderland. It was an older copy from the 1940s, and she'd purchased it from a small bookstore during one of her trips to Sweden. With Lionel dead, Lex in prison, and Lillian on the run, Kieran was upholding the Luthor name. And by that, Kieran meant she singlehandedly destroyed the family name until all that remained was altruism and goodwill. As she got older, Kieran had taken 'Lena Luthor, the mysterious daughter from Lionel's past' and turned her into a household name for good. Naturally, Lillian and Lex hated her for it. Lionel did too at first, but then he realized she was bringing in more money by being compassionate instead of arrogant. Lionel became an ally during her later-teens, but cancer had a cruel way of tearing through a family and leaving nothing but ruins in its wake.

Lex's obsession with Superman turned him into a vindictive prick who would have decimated a city if it meant being the person responsible for bringing down the Man of Steel. Lillian supported her son and all his irresponsible inventions. Lillian once gave Lex ten million dollars to build a robot meant to be 'Superman's greatest threat.' Kieran watched from her dorm as the robot took one hit and short-circuited on live television. Lex was furious, and Kieran was indifferent. Lillian hated Kieran for not supporting Lex, but that was as far as it went. She would never admit they lied about where Kieran came from. It would've put too much scrutiny on the family. So, Kieran played her part in public, but when she was in private, she locked herself in her room and played music loud enough to drown out Lex's tantrums.

Kieran didn't know why Lex was so angry in the first place. It was obvious Clark Kent was Superman. A pair of glasses didn't change a person's face to the point they weren't recognizable. Kieran paused when she noticed one of her formulas gave her the answer she was looking for. She sent the paper with the formula written on it over to her bulletin board and watched the equation come to life. Kieran sighed when the solution still left her with more questions than answers. Creating a device to potentially send her into different realms took a lot longer than she anticipated, but Kieran wasn't going to stop. It didn't matter if it took her another twelve years. She was going to find her family.

An alarm went off, and Kieran puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. She saved her place in her book and grabbed her coffee. The pencils went to their box, and the coffee stirrer went into the trash. She placed her thumb on the control panel near the door, and the alarm shut off. The door opened, leading out to her office, and she slipped on her heels. The lead door closed behind her, blending in with the wall as if it wasn't there, and Kieran sat down just as Supergirl landed on her balcony. It was fun pretending not knowing Kara Danvers and Kara Zor-El were two different people. She liked seeing what kind of lies and excuses Kara could come up with to explain where Kara Danvers was or where Supergirl was. Kieran wasn't angry. Why would she be? She was many things, but a hypocrite, she was not.

"Good morning, Supergirl. To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked.

Supergirl's eyes were firmly trained on where Kieran had just exited, but the frustration on her face told her she couldn't see through the lead. Kieran sipped her coffee and waited. The last thing she wanted was anyone other than herself getting into that room. Well, except Sam. Sam was the only person who knew the truth.

"I was coming to check on you after what happened."

"You mean when Lex sent men to kill me?" Kieran shrugged one shoulder. "It stops becoming a thing after the fifth time," she said.

"Still." Supergirl glanced again at the door, then back at Kieran. "No one should have to go through this with their family," she said.

"The Luthor's are not my family," Kieran said sharply. "And I told you that."

A hint of Kara Danvers showed as Supergirl apologized. Kieran waved her off and gestured to the mountain of paperwork on her desk. How long was she in her private office? Kieran shook her head and returned her attention to Supergirl.

"If that's all, Supergirl. I have work to do."

"Right, of course."

Supergirl gave a tight smile and turned toward the balcony. Kieran pretended not to notice the one last lingering look at the wall.

Sam knocked on the door and poked her head into the office.

"Hey, boo."

"I told you to stop calling me that," Kieran said distractedly.

"You said to stop calling you babe. I said boo."

"How about you just stop calling me things in general?"

Sam grinned and closed the door behind her. She carried Kieran's lunch to the table and sat down.

"I brought you some of those vegan cookies you like and a kale burger with extra jalapenos."

Kieran finally looked up at that, and Sam smirked triumphantly.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing," Sam laughed. "I know you need extra TLC today is all."

"Oh. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Kieran put down her pen and removed her hair from its ponytail. She scratched at her scalp and kicked off her heels, softly padding her way to the couch next to Sam.

"I forgot how long your hair is when it's up like that," Sam said.

"My mother had long hair."

"Which one?"

"Both," Kieran snorted.

Sam grinned and passed Kieran her burger. She took out a chicken sandwich for herself and said, "Oh, so you know that mommy-daughter tea was this morning, right?"

"I remember. How was it?"

"Ruby spilled green tea all over Ms. Harrison's dress."

"Ms. Harrison was the one who made those comments about you being a single mother, right?"

"Don't act like you didn't research every last thing about her after I told you what she said."

Kieran gave nothing away as she ate her burger. Sam shook her head and took a bite of her sandwich.

"Supergirl stopped by today," Kieran said once she swallowed.

"Oh? What for?"

"Those men last night."

"Did she give you her usual 'family shouldn't treat family like this' speech?"

Kieran winked and tugged on her ear, their signal for when Supergirl was in hearing range.

"She tried, but I reminded her the Luthor's aren't my family."

"Right. One of the joys of being adopted," Sam teased.

"Especially when your brother's idea of fun is mass genocide," Kieran muttered. In a louder voice, she added, "But I do appreciate her checking on me. It's nice to know the Girl of Steel doesn't hold the same grudge that her cousin does against anyone with the last name Luthor."

Sam faked a gag, and Kieran smacked her on the shoulder.

"When are you going to grow up?"

"The day you admit you eat meat in the privacy of your home."

"I ate a steak one time!"

"And I will never let you forget it."

Kieran huffed and said, "I liked you better when you hated me."

"I never hated you," Sam scoffed. "I was jealous of you. You were so damn smart for someone who couldn't even drink until our senior year."

"Legally," Kieran corrected. "I've been drinking since I was-

Kieran stopped. She put her sandwich back on the table and wiped her hands with a napkin. Her first time drinking was with Isabella for her birthday. She wanted Kieran to have her first drinking experience with people she trusted. They spent the entire evening trying different types of mead with Emmett. Ruby couldn't drink with them, but she liked watching them get drunker and drunker as the night went on. Regina found them passed out in the stables the morning after and threw a bucket of cold water on them.

"Hey, where'd you just go?" Sam asked softly.

"Where I always go," she whispered to Sam.

"You need me to leave?"

"No, no. I'm okay. It's just one of those days, I guess."

Kieran picked back up her sandwich, and Sam let the conversation end. They ate the rest of their lunch in silence. When Kieran's phone went off ten minutes later, she quickly turned it off. She glanced at the plant growing in the corner of her office, more alive than it was when she first bought it, and she smiled.

Happy birthday, sister.

Kieran fell sideways into Sam's body and closed her eyes. Sam wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. Sam was the only person who got away with casual affection. Though that might have more to do with the fact Kieran and Sam dated for six months, but the point was, Kieran felt more comfortable in Sam's arms than anyone else currently in her life.

Kieran felt eyes on her from across the street, higher than any average spy, and she blindly reached for her phone. She pressed a few buttons, and a thin layer of lead fell over her windows. It took her a minute to get the density right, but she figured it out. Kieran was confident Supergirl could no longer see in her office unless Kieran wanted her to. She adjusted her position until her head was in Sam's lap. Sam ran her fingers through Kieran's hair and sat there with her in silence.

"I think Lena and Sam are dating."

Alex had a mouthful of salad at that moment and started choking. Kara winced apologetically. Alex managed to swallow her food and held up her finger. She drank some water, and once she wasn't on the verge of dying, she glared at Kara.

"What have I told you about spying on Lena?"

"I wasn't- I was concerned."

"Lena's been the target of assassination attempts since she took over L-Corp. I doubt this one affected her any differently."

"That doesn't mean I can't be worried! What if one of these days I'm too slow?"

"Lena can take care of herself," Alex sighed. "We've seen that plenty of times."

"But Alex-

"Kara, I'm serious. Lena is already annoyed with how much we've been poking into her life. You're lucky she even still talks to you after that shit you pulled."

"She had kryptonite," Kara argued.

"You let James get in your head about someone you swore up and down wasn't like her family. You accused her of being like Lex, and she reacted in kind."

"Since when do you defend Lena?"

"I admit I had an issue with her namesake, but she's proven she isn't like them."

"Then why does she have a hidden lead door in her office?"

"What?"

"There is a lead door in her office. I saw her come out of it this morning."

Alex pursed her lips and said, "I can't tell if your issue with Lena is because she might be hiding something or because she might be dating Sam."

Kara shifted in her seat.

"What is it about Lena that gets you so out of whack?"

"I don't know what that means."

Alex leaned back and crossed her arms.

"It means that whenever the topic Lena comes up, you get weird. Like you can't decide between trusting her or hating her. Don't even get me started on how you describe how much you want-

"Okay!" Kara exclaimed. "I get it."

"Do you?"

"Yes, okay? I like Lena in a non-platonic way."

"No shit."

"Alex," Kara whined. "This is serious."

"Not really, considering everyone knows, and that brings me back to the original point of this entire conversation. Sam and Lena aren't dating."

"How do you know?"

Alex cocked an eyebrow and said, "Sam has been dating Jess for the last three weeks."

"Wait, what?"

"Honestly, Kara, do you pay attention to anything other than Lena when you fly by L-Corp every thirty minutes?"

"I do not-

"Yes, you do. We all know your route by heart."

Kara sunk in her seat and pouted.

"That still doesn't explain how you know Sam and Jess are dating," she grumbled.

"Because Kelly and I went on a date with them two nights ago."

"What!"

Alex rolled her eyes and went back to her salad.

Kieran walked barefoot through her penthouse in a pair of oversized sweatpants and one of Sam's hoodies. She knew her best friend was out on another date, so she would be alone for the evening. Kieran turned on her record player and twirled on the spot as the music started to play.

I know they say you can't go home again

I just had to come back one last time

Ma'am, I know you don't know me from Adam

But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Kieran placed her hand on the wall near her windows, and she watched lazily as the lead slipped over her windows.

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom

Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar

And I bet you didn't know that under live oak

My favorite dog is buried in the yard

Kieran grabbed a bottle of wine from her cooler and placed it on the island. A wine opener went about uncorking the bottle while a wine glass slid from the hooks down to the counter.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it

This brokenness inside me might start healing

Out here it's like I'm someone else

I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in I swear I'll leave

Won't take nothing but a memory

From the house that built me

Kieran sighed as the wine poured itself. She grabbed the glass once it was filled. The wine bottle followed her in the air, and Kieran directed it to the coffee table.

Momma cut out pictures of houses for years

From better homes and garden magazine

Plans were drawn and concrete poured

And nail by nail and board by board

Daddy gave life to momma's dream

Kieran tucked her feet under her legs and stared at the wall. Several pictures, images Kieran painted during her artist days, took up the entire wall. Some were of Emmett, Isabella, and a few of Ruby and Regina. There was only one picture of her birth mother, and Kieran sipped at her wine.

You leave home, you move on

And you do the best you can

I got lost in this 'ole world

And forgot who I am

Kieran threw her glass at the wall. Streaks of red bled into the images, and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. She brought her knees to her chest and cried.

Kara floated near the penthouse. She couldn't see inside, but the music was playing loud enough that she could hear the words. Kara frowned. She flew up into the sky until she was high above the atmosphere. Kara took in deep breaths and let the world continue to turn beneath her. Ever since she got to Earth, she'd been living up to a reputation that wasn't hers.

Kara wasn't Clark, and Clark wasn't Kara.

She didn't owe anyone on Earth a single thing, but she chose to save Alex that night. Kara put on the suit, put herself in danger every single day, and protected the people she loved because she was able to do it. It had nothing to do with wanting to keep humanity safe or whatever bullshit Clark came up with. Kara pinched the bridge of her nose. She fought herself every morning not to let National City go up in flames. Kara wanted to see how far humanity would go to keep itself going. What would humans act like when they've been pushed to their limit? Could they do what her parents did and create something to attack one specific group of people? They'd already done it with slavery – the holocaust. It wasn't unheard of for them.

Would humans be willing to give up their material things to save themselves from collapse? Or would they turn on one another? Who would go first? The poor or the rich? What would the Man of Steel do? Would he drop down between the fighting and give them the speech of all speeches?

Kara scowled. The symbol on her chest meant more to her than it did to Kal-El. He didn't care enough about his culture to participate in the rituals, the festivals, and the ceremonies. He wore their family crest like a costume. He demanded the unification of a group of species that would rather tear itself apart than come together. Kara blew out a frustrated breath and closed her eyes. She focused on the sound of the ocean hitting the shore. Kara exhaled and dropped from the sky. The weightlessness, as temporary as it was, was a relief. When she got back to the city, J'onn was waiting on her.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"Your thoughts are rather loud, even when you're up there," he said softly.

"What happened to you staying out of my head?"

J'onn chuckled and said, "Kara, I'm not condemning you. I told Alex a long time ago the comparisons to Clark would backfire in the future."

"My sister assumes Clark and I have a good relationship."

"You haven't given her a reason to assume otherwise."

Kara nodded and glanced out over the city.

"I'm tired of being compared to him, J'onn."

"What's brought this on?"

Kara chewed on her lip and said, "Lena was listening to a song tonight, and the lyrics hit a little too hard. I think I've forgotten who I am."

J'onn cocked his head as he studied her, and he asked, "Would you like Winn to make adjustments to your suit?"

"I think so, yes."

"You know your cousin will have an issue with it."

"Let him." Kara thought about the words Clark said to Jeremiah when he dropped her with the Danvers, and she added loud enough for J'onn to hear, "I am not his keeper."

Winn blinked away his sleep as he shuffled into the DEO. Kara handed him a rough outline of a new suit, and his eyes widened. Brainy rolled over in his chair and stared at the image. Brainy didn't say anything, but approval was written all over his face. Kara hadn't told Alex or Nia yet, but she knew they would be okay with it once Kara explained why she altered it.

"This is what you want? You sure?" Winn asked.

"I am."

Winn scratched at his jaw and shrugged.

"I can have it finished in like six hours. I should have some of this color left over."

"Thank you, Winn."

Winn nodded and disappeared into his lab. Brainy smiled at her.

"I think this version of you is much better," he said.

"Speaking from experience?"

"No. As your friend."

Sam didn't knock as she entered the office. Kieran wasn't fazed, and she glanced up when her best friend stuck her phone in her face. Kieran stared at the image until it sparked recognition, and she bit her lip.

"I told her when we first met that I'm only trying to make a name for myself away from my family." Kieran leaned back in her seat and stared out of the window. She smiled and added, "And it seems Kara Zor-El has finally decided to make an appearance."