A/N: So as to why I haven't been updating either Lost or Alien v2...I had applied to a rather big promotion at my job...which I ended up not getting in the end. To make a long story short...I had anxiety over the interviews and then the wait on hearing back lol. So I really couldn't focus on writing.

Anyways there'll be a small reference to something that happened in Chapter 65 Swap. Also I'm a bit too into my own headcanons so unfortunately the events of JL vs the Fatal Five won't be canon to my storyline. Just too many established plot points I can't make work. All I can do is try to adapt some of it if possible.

"Would you at least please reconsider?"

Shayera let out an exasperated sigh at Superman's plea. She stopped in the hallway before placing her hands on her hips and turned her head as she frowned at the Kryptonian, "If I wanted to be a babysitter I would just stay home with my kids."

Clark offered her a small smile, "It's not babysitting Shayera. You said yourself that you were a military instructor on Thanagar. You would be perfect for the job. You're my first choice for this."

"My answer is still no," she replied as she brushed past him and continued down the hallway of the Metro Tower. "Nothing you say or do will change my mind Clark. I used to be an instructor."

"Considering how bad your deep space mission went, I thought you would have wanted a way to practice a bit more," Clark casually mentioned as he followed behind her. "I mean you were on maternity leave for over fours years and then you just abruptly rejoined without even so much as a workout session."

Shayera immediately stopped in her tracks as she turned and glared at Clark, "What do you mean by that?"

Clark just shrugged, "All things considered it wouldn't be unheard of for even you to be a bit rusty after such a long gap in time like that. Captain Atom did say you seemed to have gone a bit soft as well."

Shayera scowled as she turned fully around, "Rusty? Softy? Just because I had kids doesn't mean I can't fight like I used to. Who in the hell does Captain Atom think he is that he can make an assessment on my fighting capabilities?"

"Captain Atom wasn't the only person to make that observation. In fact-" Clark cut himself off when the Thanagarian quickly swung her mace and it stopped only millimeters away from his chin. The Kryptonian quickly held his hands up, "No one is saying you can't fight. Just you need a little practice to get back into the swing of things. That's all Shayera."

Shayera narrowed her eyes as she didn't move her mace in the slightest, "No one and I mean no one questions my fighting capabilities. Do I make myself clear?"

Clark lightly nodded as he swallowed, "Perfectly."

Shayera kept her glare planted on Clark as she finally lowered her mace. Perhaps she had been a bit sloppy on that deep space mission. Even she had to admit that was some of the worst fighting she had done in years. It wasn't like her fighting style had changed. Her weapon of choice hadn't changed. Nothing had changed save for her mentality. Shayera knew her first priority anymore wasn't fighting or looking for a fight like it used to be. She was more concerned over the day-to-day happenings with Emma and Rex. Even then her second priority was John. For the first time in Shayera's life, fighting had taken a backseat to everything else.

Shayera also recalled Bruce's statement to her over four years ago that she needed to step it up as a leader within the Justice League once she returned to active duty. Training a rookie was the last thing Shayera wanted to do but she also knew this was something expected of the Founders. John had trained Kara, Wally trained Static, and both J'onn and Bruce split Miss Martian's training. The only three that hadn't done any sort of training was herself, Clark, and Diana. Though Shayera and Diana already had an agreement in place for when Rex was older. Diana was going to be the one to train him once Shayera taught him the basics and he officially joined the Justice League.

Shayera let out a sigh as her shoulders slumped slightly, "Why didn't you ask John? Why did it have to be me?"

"Because John isn't what she needs. She needs someone that is tough and who can put some backbone into her," Clark then paused before continuing. "I also think you can sympathize with her Shayera. She needs someone like you to train her. Besides, you're used to dealing with a Green Lantern on a daily basis."

"Just because I'm married to a Green Lantern doesn't mean I'm qualified to train one," Shayera countered as she raised an eyebrow. "You do realize that right?"

"We both know that's not true. Shayera would you please consider doing this?" He asked her once more with a small smile. "I promise you won't regret it.

The Thanagarian threw her head back as she let out a frustrated groan, "Fine."

Jessica Cruz fidgeted in the gym as she looked around. All of this was a mistake. It shouldn't have been her to be chosen as a Green Lantern little over a year ago. She shouldn't have been able to get through Katma's training. Her biggest mistake now was joining the Justice League as a reserve member. None of this should have happened to her. She didn't know why any of this happened to her. She just wanted to be a regular person. She wasn't a hero and she didn't want to be one.

Jessica nearly jumped a foot in the air as the door suddenly slid open. She immediately whirled around to see Superman and Shayera walking into the room. She instantly noticed the frown planted on the Thanagarian's face as she narrowed her eyes slightly at her. Jessica lightly gulped as she took a step away from the two and looked down.

Clark lightly smiled as he strode up to the young Lantern and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch slightly, "I'm glad you stayed. I can guarantee you that you're making the right choice."

Jessica let out a soft sigh as she refused to take her gaze off of the floor, "I don't know Superman. This...this is all too much. I can't do this. I'm not a hero. Not like you guys."

"You can do this. You need some confidence in yourself," Superman then turned towards Shayera and gestured towards her. "Jessica this is Shayera. She agreed to train you. You'll be able to learn a lot from her."

Jessica moved away slightly from Superman as she rubbed her arm nervously, "I know who she is. I don't think this is a good idea."

"Why not?" Shayera cuttingly asked her as she placed her hands on her hips. "I'm not good enough to train you or something?"

Jessica looked up at Shayera for a split second before immediately looking back to the floor, "No offense, you're a great hero and all but I'm just not comfortable with being trained by a Thanagarian."

"Offense taken," Shayera retorted as she then glared at Superman. "This is why I knew this wasn't going to work. She doesn't want me to train her. Ask John to do it. He's the Green Lantern, not me."

Jessica immediately looked up, "John as in John Stewart? I've heard stories about him. He's one of the greatest Green Lanterns alive right now."

Shayera raised an eyebrow at Superman, "See? She'll work better with John. She at least respects him."

Superman shook his head, "My mind is made up already. Shayera you're going to train her and Jessica you need to give Shayera a chance. She's not a bad person."

"I know she isn't. It's just," Jessica paused and sighed. "I saw how aggressive Thanagarians can be first hand when they invaded. I know how aggressive Hawkgirl is. I'm not like her."

"Don't call me Hawkgirl," Shayera warned her.

Jessica lightly jumped at her tone and nodded, "Sorry I won't. Um why can't I be trained by John Stewart? He's a Green Lantern after all and she's not."

"Shayera knows how to deal with Green Lanterns," Superman smirked. "She's married to one after all."

Jessica's eyes widened as she looked over to Shayera, "You're married to a Green Lantern?"

"Goddammit Clark," Shayera mumbled under her breath before speaking up. "Yes I am. I know how Green Lanterns fight and all of that. I know enough about that damn Corps that I could probably train a rookie GL myself at this point."

"I thought Kyle Rayner was a playboy though," Jessica tilted her head slightly. "Or at least that's what Katma said."

Shayera snorted back a laugh, "You think I married Rayner? Please I'd never degrade myself that low."

"Guy Gardner?" She then asked.

"That egotistical asshole?" Shayera rhetorically asked. "Not in a million years. I'd marry the scum of the galaxy before becoming desperate enough to marry him of all people."

"I'm confused then," Jessica stated. "So I'm guessing you're married to a GL not in Sector 2814 then right?"

Shayera raised an eyebrow as she gave her an incredulous look, "And what gives you that assumption? You left out one of the GLs for this sector."

"I heard John Stewart got married and that the Guardians were angry and that..." Jessica's voice trailed off before she lightly gasped. "That was you. You're the one John Stewart married who the Guardians don't approve of."

The Thanagarian rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "The one and only. Your stupid Guardians didn't like it and sent him on a three month long GL assignment when they found out. They were lucky John had talked me out of flying a javelin all the way to Oa to beat the shit out of them. All because they didn't like it that he married a Thanagarian. Of course Rayner had to open his damn mouth in front of the wrong person."

"It's not like we would have let you do that either way Shayera," Superman said to her before turning his attention back to Jessica. "As you can see Shayera knows full well how Green Lanterns behave and fight. Don't get me wrong, John is a great person but I don't think he can help you with your confidence issue. I think you'll find that Shayera will be more relatable and that you two will be able to work together. Plus Shayera needs a little practice to get back into the swing of things herself."

"I do not!" She argued.

Jessica gave the Kryptonian a confused look, "Why would she need practice? She seems plenty aggressive to me."

Superman lightly smirked at Jessica, "Don't let her tough act fool you. She's been on maternity leave for over four years and has gone a bit soft."

"You actually have kids?" Jessica asked her.

Shayera rolled her eyes, "That is what maternity leave means after all. It just so happen that I was about to come back after having my first kid but wound up pregnant again. Anyway, that doesn't matter, either I'm training you or I'm not. Make up your mind kid."

At that Jessica lightly frowned, "I'm not a kid. I'm an adult."

Shayera paused as she noticed the shift in her attitude, "You don't act like one."

Jessica's frown deepened, "I do too act like an adult."

"Could have fooled me," Shayera lightly smirked. "My daughter is three and she acts tougher than you."

"I...I can be tough," Jessica insisted though her tone faltered.

Shayera's smirk widened, "Prove it then."

Jessica swallowed as she looked down at her ring and then at Shayera, "Right now?"

"No next week," Shayera sarcastically replied. "Of course now."

"But you just have that mace. This hardly seems fair."

Superman lightly smiled as he nodded, "I'll leave you two alone. You have this handled right Shayera?"

"I can easily handle this," she assured him as she waved him off. "Go leap a tall building or feed some cows."

"But this isn't fair. I have a power ring and she doesn't," Jessica stated as Superman began to walk out of the room. "Superman wait!"

Superman paused in the doorway as he glanced at her and smirked, "Don't underestimate her Jessica. Just because you have a power ring doesn't mean you can defeat her."

Jessica found herself gulping as Superman left the room. She quickly averted her gaze and looked at the floor, "I don't want to hurt you by accident."

"You're not going to, trust me kid," Shayera said to her.

Jessica looked up at her with a light frown, "Stop calling me that. I hate being called a kid."

"Make me," she retorted in a challenging tone.

Jessica glanced down at her power ring and then back up at the Thanagarian standing across from her. She would be lying if she said she wasn't intimidated by Shayera. The Thanagarian had already went into a fighting stance with her mace. Jessica presumed she had the upper hand as she possessed a power ring. She figured Shayera was relying on intimidation and that she wouldn't be able to counter the power of her ring.

Jessica took a deep breath as she steadied herself before she shot an energy blast at Shayera. Predictably Shayera easily dodged the beam as she flew out of the way. Jessica created a bubble construct around herself as Shayera quickly flew at her. For a moment the young Green Lantern was somewhat confident that she could fend off the Thanagarian. That confidence was very short lived as she noticed that her bubble construct was beginning to crack after each hit.

Jessica tried to concentrate and restore the construct but Shayera's swings were causing more damage faster than she could repair. Less than thirty seconds later the construct shattered and Jessica was thrown back into the wall behind her. Before she could even move she felt Shayera had grabbed her right arm and pinned her left arm against Jessica's throat.

"So let's see how well you can fight," Shayera quietly said to her. "Tell me how you would get out of this type of situation?"

"Make a construct and attack you from behind?"

"Wrong, that's obvious and your opponent would immediately notice that. Headbutt me or break my hold."

"Um isn't that counter intuitive? We're supposed to fight with our rings."

Shayera shook her head, "That's the problem with half of you Green Lanterns. You're too reliant on that ring. You're more than that ring."

"But I'm just an ordinary human. I don't have any special powers or anything. The ring is what allows me to fight. It also protects me."

"No it doesn't," Shayera sighed as she let go of her. "Without you there wouldn't be a Green Lantern. The ring is simply a tool that channels your willpower. That's where the ring draws its power from."

"Actually the ring draws it power from the Central Power Battery on Oa," Jessica pointed out.

Shayera sighed once more as she shook her head, "I didn't mean as in the literal power source."

Jessica raised an eyebrow, "You're not very good with analogies then."

"You take things too literally," Shayera responded with an eyeroll. She then held her hand out to her, "Handover that ring."

Jessica gave her an unsure look, "Why?"

"I want to make a point to you. I'll give it back don't worry," she assured her.

Jessica looked at the power ring and hesitated before she slipped it off and handed it over to Shayera, "I don't get what you think you can prove."

"Green Lantern power rings are based on the concentration of the user's willpower," she stated as she slipped the power ring on before smirking. "Or as I like to call it stubbornness."

"I somehow doubt that," Jessica tilted her head. "The ring would be absolutely useless to you. Only a Green Lantern can wield it not just anyone. If anyone could just use a power ring than everyone could be a Green Lantern."

"Anyone with enough willpower can use these rings."

Jessica lightly shook her head, "I'm sorry but I disagree. You would never be able to use a power ring."

Shayera's smirk turned into a sly one, "You wanna make a bet on that?"

"And you talked her into this how exactly?" John asked Superman as they walked side-by-side down the hallway.

Clark lightly shrugged with a shrewd smirk, "A little reverse psychology and manipulation."

John raised an eyebrow, "Never would have expected something like that from you of all people. I'm surprised you were even able to get that to work on her. Though I would have been fine training Jessica myself. I wouldn't have minded."

"I know you wouldn't have," Clark replied. "Shayera honestly is a bit rusty from her time off. She could use the training sessions with Jessica to get back to where she was. Plus I think they'll both be surprised. Her and Jessica are more alike than they think."

"Kyle said Jessica is very timid and has a lot of self-esteem issues. I mean Shayera had a slight confidence issue herself when she first rejoined the League but it was nothing like how Jessica is from what I've heard."

"There's more to it than just that. Jessica has a lot of personal issues she has to work through. Shayera is the perfect person for her to work with. Plus I think Jessica would benefit from hanging around a person like Shayera. She could learn to gain some of Shayera's snarky traits. That and she doesn't know how to fight without her power ring. If anything Shayera can easily teach her some self-defense moves so she can at least protect herself.

John shrugged, "Good point, it's not all about having a power ring. I know a lot of the recent Green Lanterns have become too dependent on it. Hell even some of the veteran Lanterns forget they don't need the ring in order to be the person the ring saw within us."

Clark lightly smirked, "Sounds like you're speaking from experience."

John likewise smirked, "Old habits die hard. I use the ring so much I get dependent on it. I just so happen to have a Thanagarian wife who likes to remind me that I'm more than just this ring."

"Which is another reason why I chose Shayera to train her."

Jessica stood next to Shayera with her mouth slightly agape. She stared at the hole in the wall before she glanced at the Thanagarian, "I never knew a non-Green Lantern could actually make a power ring work."

Shayera in turn pridefully smirked, "A handy, little trick I learned how to do by accident. Of course I had to practice a little bit in order to cause more damage. I just so happen to have a husband who doesn't mind sharing his power ring for me to play with when I'm bored."

"That's incredible that you learned how to do that. What else can you do?"

"I can't make constructs like you Lanterns or make myself fly by using just the power ring itself. In the worst case scenario that John was incapacitated and I was stripped of my mace, I could grab his power ring and at least shoot an energy beam at my enemy. Which brings me to my point," Shayera took the ring off and held it out to Jessica. "I can make a power ring work but I'm no Green Lantern in the least. It takes a special person to be recruited as a Green Lantern. That's the difference."

Jessica sighed as she took the power ring and put it back on, "I don't see what's so special about me. I'm not like the other Green Lanterns. They're brave and I'm not."

"You know that series Harry Potter?" Shayera asked her.

"Yeah I read all of the books and watched all of the movies," Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"That one kid in Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom, that's pretty much you. You're braver and tougher than you think."

"Now that's a more proper analogy that makes sense," Jessica stated before sighing. "But it doesn't apply to me. I'm not like a movie hero or something. I'm just a regular person thrown into this whole mess. I never wanted to be a Green Lantern. I didn't ask for this ring."

"A lot of times life likes to throw things at us that we didn't necessarily ask for or even want."

Jessica sighed again as she looked down, "I know that's true. One day I was a regular person and next thing I know I have this power ring and I'm expected to be some kind of superhero."

Shayera paused before she spoke, "It could be worse."

Jessica lightly frowned as she looked up at Shayera, "How could it be any worse? This power ring ruined my life."

Shayera leaned her back against the wall and stood next to Jessica, "You could have the whole world turn against you. One day you're a superhero and the next you're public enemy number one. The people who once respected you would now rather see your head on a spike. Then there's losing the only family you ever had and knowing it was your entire fault."

"I lost my friends in order to get this ring," Jessica quietly said as she looked at the power ring with some contempt. "If I had this ring before then I could have saved them. Instead it had to choose me after they were already killed. It's not fair. Why was I the one chosen to live? Why did they have to die in order for me to live?"

"Because destiny can be a bitch sometimes," Shayera replied with a wry smile. "I had to choose to sacrifice my homeworld in order to allow the Earth to live. In order for me to have even the smallest chance of the life I desired I had to choose to let millions of Thanagarians die instead. For a long time, I thought I made a mistake. I thought I'd never get the life I wanted because of what I had done. Not only had I let Thanagar fall but I had also allowed the Earth to suffer under the hands of the Thanagarians for weeks. Not only did the Justice League suffer but the people of Earth did as well because of what I allowed to happen."

Jessica glanced over to her, "But you obviously got the life you wanted in the end. Everything turned out great for you. You're married with two kids."

Shayera rolled her eyes and shook her head, "On the outside everything appears great. There's still plenty of people on Earth who despise me and they always will. I'll never be able to change that. Besides that it took me years to gain back the trust that the others had in me. What I'm trying to ultimately get at here is that the guilt you'll have is never going to go away. Trust me on that one. The only thing you can do is not let it control you."

Jessica silently stared at the floor for a few moments before looking back over to Shayera, "How do you not let it control you?"

Shayera shrugged, "I have two kids that keep me occupied enough. Before I had them I just had to remind myself that I was making a positive difference in people's lives. It's my job to protect people who can't protect themselves. If I wasn't there to protect them than who else would be?"

"Another superhero?" Jessica offered.

Shayera let out an exasperated sigh, "You are too literal for your own good."

Jessica raised an eyebrow, "Katma said that means I'm practical and think logically. She made it out like that was a good thing."

Shayera rolled her eyes as she muttered, "Of course Katma would say that."

"Do you not like her?"

"Look Katma and John had a little fling when he was first recruited and she still likes to flirt with him," Shayera frowned. "Besides that Thanagarians and Korugarans don't get along. So no I don't particularly care for her."

Jessica scratched the back of her head awkwardly, "Right sorry, I'll try not to bring her up again. Just she's the one that trained me as a Green Lantern."

"I guess some things never change. Though it could have been worse, you could have had Kilowog instead," Shayera stated with a smirk.

Jessica lightly chuckled, "I've seen him train new recruits. I don't know how any of them make it honestly and I thought Katma was tough. Kilowog is on a whole different level."

"Don't get too relieved. You still have to make it through my training. I used to be a military instructor on Thanagar. I left plenty of raw military recruits bruised and battered. Don't think I'll be going easy on you at all just because you're a human."

"I'm sure you won't Hawk...um I mean Shayera."

"Good you learned your first lesson of not calling me Hawkgirl," Shayera then placed a hand on Jessica's shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll be a good Green Lantern."

Jessica tilted her head slightly, "How do you know that?"

"Gut feeling," Shayera shrugged. "I was never one to believe in destiny until a few years ago but if the whole universe is already pre-determined than you were destined to be a Green Lantern and those power rings don't make mistakes when choosing people Jessica."

"So I guess I just have to find for myself whatever the ring saw in me. Easier said than done but I guess it's not impossible. Especially if I have an as tough as nails Thanagarian giving me guidance and combat training."

"It's easily attainable with the right mentality. I just need a small favor from you."

Jessica raised an eyebrow, "What would that be?"

"Could you not mention the whole me using John's power ring in front of anyone on Oa?" Shayera asked. "The Guardians were pissed enough that he married me. If they found out he lets me use his power ring...well I don't see things going too smoothly."

Jessica nodded and lightly smiled, "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Good," Shayera smirked. "I think you and I are going to get along."