Clark crouched low and shot forward, only to meet Kara head-on. Kara tackled him face-down into a Kryptonian-sized crater, and she pinned him with her elbow to his throat. For years, Kara held back against her cousin, but with the threat of him hurting anyone, she used her full strength to restrain him. Clark fought against her grip, but Kara refused to budge. When he realized that wouldn't work, Clark's eyes turned red. Kara flipped him over and slid her arm around his neck, moving backward as she did. Her actions forced Clark to bend back with her, and Kara huffed.
"Enough, Kal-El," she said. "I will not allow you to hurt anyone with your actions."
"Release me!"
"Not until you vow not to harm anyone."
Clark struggled under Kara's grip, and Clark's suit stretched from the position. Kara tightened her arm.
"Vow it, or I will end this for us both," she warned.
Alex and J'onn frowned at the comment, but Kara shook her head to show she didn't intend to kill him. Clark slammed his fist into the ground.
"I vow not to harm anyone," he gritted out.
Kara released him, and Clark pushed her off. Kara floated into an upright position and hovered, watching him warily. Her cousin got to his feet. His anger was palpable, and he clenched his fists. His eyes went to Alex.
"And you're just going to let her leave?"
"I'm not letting her do anything." Alex shrugged. "I spent too much of her life trying to police her choices, and Kara's an adult. She's more than capable of deciding what's best for herself. Am I happy she's leaving to another universe? No. Am I happy that she's going after something she wants? Yes. Do I think this is a good idea? I don't know yet, but I trust Kara and her judgment."
"You can't expect me to believe Eliza is okay with this too!"
"Eliza helped convince me," Alex said. "This is Kara's journey, not ours."
"How can you both be okay with her going to a different universe with a Luthor?"
Kieran shook the ice from her arms and said, "I'm not a Luthor."
"Just because you changed your name doesn't make you any less of a monster," Clark argued.
"Oh, I never said I wasn't a monster," Kieran drawled. "I just said I'm not a Luthor."
"You're not helping your case," Alex said. Kieran held up her hands, and Alex shook her head. "Look, Clark. What's the point in Kara staying? In this universe, no one trusts her anymore. That stupid fight you initiated cost her everything. People are afraid of her, and Kara's a liability. She can't even fly under her crest because you selfishly ripped it from her after your pride was busted."
'This is her home!"
"No, it's not," Alex argued. "Kara's told us multiple times that her home is wherever she feels loved and protected. That's not here."
"Then she can leave the city."
"You're kidding," Alex said flatly. "That was your actual response?"
"Damn, dude. You're a piece of work." All eyes went to Bella, and she extinguished her flames. "I didn't find out about you until a few years ago, and I thought you were this Man of Integrity. But you're just an alien with a God complex. Kara's coming with us, and that's the end of it. I have no desire to watch my sister pine any longer."
"I don't pine," Kieran argued.
"Yes, you do," Emmett and Bella said.
"But it's fine. Bella does it too," Emmett added.
"I have never-" Rosalie arched an eyebrow, and Bella cleared her throat. "Look, Supes. You have to be the bigger man here because I have no doubt my sister is waiting for the opportunity to knock you on your ass."
"There's a line," Alex said. "I've been itching to shove Kryptonite up his ass for years. The only reason I didn't was that Kara would be mad."
"And because it's morally reprehensible," Kelly said, elbowing Alex gently.
"Speak for yourself."
Kelly sighed and said, "We're a work in progress."
Alex made a crude gesture at Clark, and Nia giggled under her breath. Kara, however, had not taken her eyes off of Clark.
"Why don't you want me to go?" Kara asked. "I thought you'd jump at the chance to be the only Kryptonian on this Earth again. You wouldn't have to compete with me anymore."
"There was never a competition between us."
"Didn't she beat your ass in front of the whole city like a month ago?" Bella pointed out.
Clark glowered, and Kieran nudged Bella. Kara sighed and lowered herself to Clark's eye level. She put her hand on his chest, right where their House symbol rested, and she looked him in the eyes.
"We have held each other to impossible standards since we met. I needed you to be my last connection to home, and you wanted me to stop reminding you of what you didn't experience. And we forgot who we are as individuals beyond Krypton. I do not hate you, despite all that has happened. I love you still as my blood, and I am sorry that I could never be what you wanted. I am sorry you were never what I needed. Fate changed our lives in unexplainable ways, and we now have to deal with the consequences." Kara dropped her hand and touched down on the floor. "After everything that we have been through, I hope that you have enough kindness left in your heart to grant me this final thing. So, if you love me at all, and if I mean anything to you, let me go," she said.
A tense silence fell in the room, and with every second that passed, Kara felt like Clark would continue to object. Instead, he shrugged and headed toward the exit.
"Do what you want."
Kara said nothing as Clark bypassed her. His indifference hurt as much as it did the first time, and her shoulders slumped. It was a dismissal by her cousin, and Kara hung her head.
"Oh, and by the way." Kara turned around, and Clark rose into the air. "As of now, I am terminating my relationship with the DEO," he said. "I will not provide services to the city lest the threat involves the entire world."
"What about the people who live here? You'll be putting their lives at risk!"
"You're the one leaving," he said. "So which one of us is actually putting innocent lives at risk?"
Clark left with those final words, and Kara poised herself to fly after him. But J'onn stopped her and shook his head.
"The last time you two took your argument to the skies, you leveled sixteen blocks," he said gently.
"How am I supposed to leave knowing he won't help you?"
Kieran's face fell in the background, and Alex stepped forward.
"You're not staying because you're cousin's a dick. Nia's not dead, Brainy's head will heal, and Winn will continue to be a pain in my ass regardless of whether he's in a wheelchair. J'onn and I have agents willing to rebuild the DEO and the city. We're not going to be a liability because you're gone. I'm not letting you do that self-sacrificial shit. You deserve to find your path, and if it ends up being a bust, you can come back. If, and only if, that happens, we'll welcome you with open arms."
"But-
"We'll be fine, Kara," Nia said, putting her hand on Brainy's shoulder. "I still have my powers, and I can make this work. I had a great teacher, remember?"
"Yeah, and this will be good for you. I'll have fun designing a new suit for you," Winn said, giving Kara a genuine smile. "But only if you hate it wherever you're going."
"Which she won't," Brainy added. "It doesn't take a twelfth-level intellect to know that."
Kara's vision blurred, and J'onn turned her to face him.
"You've spent your entire life doing what everyone else wanted, even when you chose to save this city. Your purpose is not defined by the city limits, and you'll never know if something will work out if you don't take that chance. I promise that if we need you, we will call for you. But I am ordering you to go and discover what makes you happy, Kara. Not by my standards, or Eliza's, or Alex's."
Kara fell into J'onn's arms. He kissed the side of her head and rubbed her back. She muttered something into his shirt, and J'onn smiled.
"I'll miss you too," he chuckled.
"Hey, can you pass the love?" Nia laughed. "I want my hug before you leave too!"
Kara broke free and went to Nia. She swung her around a few times and gently touched the side of her face.
"You're going to be alright," Kara said softly. "This town is lucky to have you."
"Ditto." Nia glanced at Kieran, then whispered in Kara's ear, "You better treat her right."
"I will," Kara said, blushing.
"My turn!" Winn exclaimed, holding out his arms.
Kara bent down and hugged him, and Winn hid his face in her neck.
"You're my best friend," she murmured.
Winn patted Kara on the back and wiped at his face, pulling away. Brainy didn't hug her, but he squeezed her arm and tapped the side of his head. Kara took that to mean things would work out, so Kara smiled to show she understood. Kara moved to Kelly, who whispered something in her ear that only J'onn could hear. Kara blushed and nodded with a soft smile. Lastly, she stepped up to Alex, who folded her arms.
"What? No hug?"
Alex shook her head no, and Kara pouted.
"Give me a hug." Alex's lip trembled, and Kara's tears grew intensity. "Come on, Alex. Hug me," she repeated, her voice cracking.
Alex dropped her arms and fell into Kara, tangling her fists into Kara's shirt. Everyone politely looked down or away, letting the sisters have their moment. Kieran reached over and grabbed Bella's hand, intertwining their fingers. Kara pulled away from Alex. She kissed her forehead, and Kieran felt like a jerk.
"She would have gone with you regardless," J'onn said under his breath, standing beside her. "They were bound to go their separate ways at some point."
"But why does it feel like this is all my fault?"
"Did you choose to come here?"
"No, but I'm the one who worked so hard on going home."
"Well, why wouldn't you go home? That's not something you could've avoided."
"I just feel like I'm why she's lost…so much."
"Clark's actions were his to make," J'onn said. "And Kara's allowed to respond however she desires."
Kieran gave up the argument when Bella squeezed her hand meaningfully, and she sighed. J'onn smiled and patted her on the shoulder.
"I think it's time to get you guys back," he said. "I'm not sure how time works here and there, but I'd hate to mess up your timeline."
"Yeah, who knows what the town's like without Mom there?" Bella joked.
"On that note," Regina said, "We should leave."
Emmett nodded to himself before going over to pick up Kara's things. Regina pressed the watch to open the portal, and Kara said one last goodbye to Alex before turning to see Emmett with her things.
"Oh, thank you," she said.
"No biggie. You ready to go?" Emmett asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Cool. I'll see you guys there."
Emmett went through the portal first, and Emma cleared her throat.
"I should go with him to make sure things are alright," she said.
"Please do. I love my son, but I have no idea where that portal opened."
"It should open where we left," Bella said.
"Not always," Brainy pointed out. "It could open where the strongest source of energy is."
"Crap," Emma sighed, following Emmett into the portal.
Rosalie slipped in behind Emma, and Bella saluted at the others.
"It was nice meeting you guys," she said. "Remember what I said, Alex."
"Yeah, your advice is too extreme even for me."
"Just saying. A little bloodshed never hurt anyone."
Bella winked and headed into the portal after her girlfriend. Regina waited for Kara and Kieran. Kara came over to Kieran and held out her hand, smiling.
"I'm sure I'll get along somehow. Everything's going to be alright," Kara said cheekily.
Regina and Kieran stared at Kara in disbelief, and Nia burst into laughter. Alex pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"Did you just make a Snow White joke?" Kieran asked flatly.
Kara's smile faltered as she said, "Technically, it was a quote. But I see now how it was a mistake."
"Already starting on the wrong foot, dear," Regina drawled. "Now come along. I am unsure how long this will remain open."
"I'm tempted to leave her behind," Kieran grumbled.
Kieran walked with her mother into the portal, and Kara groaned. She waved one last time at her family before rushing after the duo. The portal closed seconds after, and Winn sighed.
"Now what?" he asked.
"We rebuild and move forward," Alex said.
Red yelped as a portal opened in the living room. Jess picked up Ruby from the floor, and Belle stayed where she was. The room drifted into silence as the rest of the Storybrooke crew came in. Kara rushed in last, and Ruby squealed.
"Supergirl!"
"Hi, kid!" Kara greeted. "Hi, Jess."
"Supergirl," Jess said wryly. "I see you've managed to piss off Kieran in less time than I imagined."
"How did you-
"Considering I've worked for her for nearly a decade, I have to pick up on these things," Jess said.
"In my defense-
"Nope," Kieran said. "No defense capable of excusing that."
"What did she do?" Red asked.
"She made a Snow White joke!"
"Yikes."
"Wow. You're starting on the wrong foot," Bella said.
"Shouldn't I get some kind of leeway since you guys didn't exist to me before two months ago?"
"You didn't exist to us either," Bella argued. "I think we've adjusted well enough."
"Don't act like you're not itching to ask her to fly you around town," Rosalie said.
"Hey, whose side are you on?"
"I'm always on yours, but you and I both know Kara deserves some kind of flexibility? Emmett gave me six months."
"Rosalie has a point," Emmett said. He held up his hands when Kieran and Bella glared at him. "Seriously, this is big news. Think about me being a vampire," he added. "You guys had to make peace with that."
"I'm on Emmett's side," Red responded.
"Okay, enough," Regina said. "This argument will be never-ending, and I'm not interested in it resulting in another fight. Kara does have a point. She knows us as something different than what we are, just like we know things about her that might not be true. This is her chance to get to know us, and this is our chance to get to know her. Deal?"
"Fine," Bella said.
"Thank you," Kara sighed in relief.
Regina hummed noncommittedly and closed the portal. The former Queen noticed the audience in her living room, and she cocked her head.
"Belle? I thought you were in Agrabah with Tinkerbell."
"We got back yesterday," Belle said.
"Fair enough. Speaking of returning, Emma, could you please go to the station and check on Killian and Charlie?" she asked.
"Yeah, no problem. I need to grab my uniform anyway-
"Absolutely not," Regina argued. "You're on desk duty until next week."
"Regina-
"Desk. Duty," Regina gritted out.
Emma groaned and said, "Yeah, I hear you, Madam Mayor."
"I'll go with you," Belle said. "I need to apply for a restraining order."
"Against Gaston?" Red asked.
Belle smiled awkwardly and said, "He hasn't taken the break-up well. It's more out of a precaution."
"Do you want me to-
"No," Belle interrupted. "I got it. I promise."
"Okay…"
Belle nodded at Regina and the others before following Emma out of the home. Red pouted at the door, a whimper caught in the back of her throat, and Bella whistled lowly.
"Pup's got it bad," she said.
"Shut up," Red hissed.
Bella stuck out her tongue, and Red growled in warning. Bella immediately surrendered, knowing that she was pushing it a little. Red sat down on the couch with her arms folded, and Ruby scrambled off Jess' lap to sit with her. Bella shared a look with Kieran, who shrugged and silently said she was staying out of it. Rosalie, Emmett, and Kara turned in unison as Tinkerbell exited the bathroom. She froze when she saw them, and then her eyes went to Emmett. She blushed, and Emmett's eyes widened.
"Hey," Emmett greeted. "I'm Emmett."
"Tink," she said.
"Cool." Emmett swallowed and then added quickly, "I'm a vampire."
Bella and Red turned to Emmett, confused, and Rosalie pursed her lips to hide her smile. Kieran hid her face behind her hair, and Kara gave her a weird look.
"Vampires are real?" Tinkerbell asked.
"You say that like it's not weird that fairies exist," Emmett pointed out.
"That's fair. You just don't look like one. I mean, the red eyes could be contacts."
"Is that going to bother you?" he asked.
"No," Tinkerbell said. "I've seen my fair share of monsters, and you don't look like any of them."
Emmett grinned boyishly, and Bella narrowed her eyes at her brother. She stepped in front of him.
"Why are you acting strange?" she asked.
"I'm not!"
"Yes, you are. Who just announces that?"
"Vampires do it sometimes when they find their mate," Rosalie said flatly.
"Mate?" Tinkerbell repeated, coming further into the room. "What's a… Lena?"
Kieran grimaced as Tinkerbell spotted her, and she waved.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Um, I live here," Kieran said slowly.
"In a completely different universe than the one I met you in?"
"Yes?"
"Right, and is this why you ran out on me in the middle of the night without a word? You left me in that hotel alone!"
"Hotel?" Kara repeated.
"Middle of the night?" Emmett asked.
Kieran cringed as that information dropped like a bomb. Bella opened her mouth, but Rosalie clamped a hand over it and whispered something in her ear. Regina blinked once, twice, and then she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You have thirty seconds to explain how you know my daughter."
"D-daughter?" Tinkerbell stammered, tearing her eyes away from Kieran. "She's your daughter?"
"Can we get back to the whole you two sleeping together?" Red asked.
"We never did anything. We might've if someone hadn't panicked," Tinkerbell said.
"I did not panic," Kieran exclaimed. "I got food poisoning from that awful diner you took me to!"
"And made a miraculous recovery for our meeting the next morning?"
"I was high on antibiotics," Kieran deadpanned.
"No more, please. I have had my fill of drama for the next twenty-four hours," Regina said tiredly. "You two figure it out since Red has decided to spill family secrets."
"I didn't spill any secrets," Red said defensively. "I just told them the general storyline."
"Regardless, I'm going to sleep. Kara, you're on the couch until I can re-arrange the rooms."
"Yes, ma'am."
Regina waved and made her way upstairs. The room fell into awkward silence. Rosalie dropped her hand, and Bella glared at her girlfriend.
"What? It was for your own good."
Bella rolled her eyes, and Emmett scratched the back of his head.
"Um, is this going to be a thing between you two?" he asked Kieran and Tinkerbell.
"Hell no," Tinkerbell said.
"Not in the least," Kieran sighed. "That was a long time ago."
"So Emmett's mate dated our sister?" Bella said.
"It was one dinner, not a date," Kieran whined.
"How dare you? What is Kara supposed to think of you now?" Bella teased.
"Kara wasn't even a factor in my life back then." Kieran grimaced and turned to Kara, "No offense, darling," she added.
"None taken. I dated your security guard for like a week, so."
"Wait, which one?"
"Sierra," Kara and Jess said.
"You knew?"
"It was my job to know, and you never asked," Jess said.
"Hey, can someone explain what a mate is now?" Tinkerbell asked.
"That is up to you and Emmett," Rosalie answered. "As for me, my mate and girlfriend is that creature right there."
"Um, rude?" Bella scoffed.
"Um, accurate?" Rosalie mocked.
"It's almost like they were never gone," Red sighed.
"Okay, and so what is the family dynamic here?" Tinkerbell asked Rosalie.
"Those are Regina's spawns from the deepest pits of Hell," Rosalie said, pointing out Emmett, Kieran, and Bella. "And then Red is their cousin. Take that how you will."
"I feel like I should be insulted," Red mused. "But you're probably right."
"And I don't think they're that bad," Kara said.
Rosalie gave Kara a pitying smile. "Oh, you poor thing. I can assure you that these three will make you wish you stayed in your universe."
"We are not that bad!" Kieran exclaimed. Emmett and Bella looked at her with matching expressions, and Kieran rolled her eyes. "In theory, we aren't," she added.
Red suddenly burst into laughter, and all eyes went to her. She waved off the concern and kissed the top of Ruby's head as she stood.
"You guys realize you're all mated to or attracted to blondes?"
Kieran looked at Kara, Bella looked at Rosalie, and Emmett glanced at Tinkerbell. They all groaned in unison, and then Bella face-palmed.
"And Momma likes Emma. God, it must be genetic."
"It's not the worst thing we inherited," Emmett muttered.
Red started laughing again until Tinkerbell folded her arms and said, "You're laughing a bit too hard for someone in love with Belle, who is also blonde."
Red stopped laughing and glared at the fairy. Kara leaned over and whispered to Emmett, asking if Belle was the Belle from Beauty and the Beast. He nodded, and Kara made an 'o' shape with her mouth.
"Hey, hey!" Bella laughed. "A family that dates blondes together stays together!"
"Sam's a brunette," Kieran pointed out.
"Okay, but Sam, Jess, and Ruby are the better versions of this family."
Kieran and Emmett shrugged in agreement. Bella continued, "Oh, I just realized that Red Riding Hood falling in love with Belle is just Beauty and the Beast in reverse."
"I'm going back to the diner," Red grumbled.
Kara's stomach made itself known, and Kieran's smile was affectionate.
"Guess we're all going to the diner," she said. "And while we walk there, we can hear all about Red's crush on our resident Beauty."
"Ruby and I are going to stay here," Jess said. "Someone needs a nap."
"It's me," Ruby said solemnly.
"Sleep well," Bella said. "When I get back, I'll finish teaching you poker."
"Please don't," Jess sighed.
"No promises."
Rosalie tugged Bella toward the door. Bella grinned and kissed her on the cheek as they left. Emmett gestured for Tinkerbell to go first, and Red followed the two of them outside. She dry-heaved behind their backs, and Ruby giggled. Kara turned to Kieran and scratched the back of her head.
"Are you guys always like that?" she asked.
"Sometimes, but we have light moments too. Not backing out on me yet, are you?"
"No, no," Kara laughed. "It was just a lot to take in at once."
"You'll get used to it," Jess said, picking up Ruby. "They do love one another at the end of the day."
"What she said," Kieran added, waving as Jess went upstairs with Ruby.
"I believe you."
Bella poked her head back in and said, "Come on! Tiana works at the diner now, and her shift ends in ten minutes."
"Wait, Tiana? As in –
"Yes, Supergirl," Bella said exasperatedly. "This is a town full of fairytale creatures, remember?"
"Just how many are actually here?"
"Oh, honey." Kieran led her to the door and patted her arm. "You have no fucking idea," she said.