Author: Ashley

Title: Contractually Yours

Rating: M - Mature

Part: 24/?

Pairing: Mon-El and Kara Danvers (Zor-El)

Word Count: 3,802

Summary: Long ago, the Daxamites chased the Kryptonians off of their shared world. They were forced to live on a nearby moon. That Kryptonian moon is now running out of resources, while the Daxamites' planet is becoming a wasteland. The Royal Families have decided to come together in a truce to help everyone live better lives; a truce made with a signed contract involving their children; a contract that the children have no say in. Arranged Marriage Karamel AU.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supergirl, DC Comics or anything related to such things. The ideas, dialogue and plot points of this AU were inspired by the show, but they are my own. Plagiarism isn't nice. Please don't steal my ideas.

A/N: Hi all,

HAPPY NEAR YEAR!

Well, well, well. Two years later and y'all are still here? I'm impressed at the dedication, especially considering that I'm apparently absolutely awful at posting regular updates. I'm sorry, but I was just so used to one-shots and two-parters before this fic that's really taken on a life of it's own.

But anyways, as of today, this fic is officially two years old (well, for YOU - it's a LOT older for me), and we're not even halfway through! I don't know if that's comforting or ridiculous, but either way, here's another chapter for you guys. Thanks for sticking around.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Uncomfortably Welcome

Day One Hundred and Two (Continued)

Dinner was filled with chatter and laughs. Very unlike the usual dinners at the Palace with Mon-El's own parents. Kara's family was very interested in what each of them had to say. They'd asked him a lot of questions about his life, the things he liked, and how it was to live on Daxam. They listened when he talked; they provided no attitude or criticism. They just listened to what he had to say. He was torn between feeling so welcomed and feeling entirely uncomfortable.

"So," Alura started with a smirk on her face. "I can't help but notice that you two seem closer than you were when we last saw you…when you were choosing your courtship rings. Things are going well?"

"Mom…" Kara muttered as she shoved the last bite of her dessert in her mouth.

"I'm just wondering," Alura grinned before her face grew serious. "I know you don't appreciate what we've done with this contract in regards to both of your futures…but if you're getting along and enjoying each other's company, we're glad that it's brought you two together," she ended with a shrug.

Mon-El watched Kara's face shift uncomfortably, showing how awkward the comments were making her feel and he decided to step in.

"Your High…" he paused before correcting himself, "Alura…nothing is going on," he assured her. "We've just been living together for a while now," he looked at Kara, "and I think proximity has helped us understand each other better now than we did at the beginning." He looked back to Alura. "That's it."

Alura nodded, but Kara could tell that she didn't believe a word he was saying. "If you insist," she smiled at them both as she slid her empty dessert plate away enough to lean her elbows on the table.

"Well ladies, I think this might be it," Zor-El cut in sadly and Mon-El sighed quietly with relief for not having to further explain whatever this was with Kara to them both. "I think it's time for goodbye," he continued, "for tonight at least."

Kara frowned. "I guess it is getting late," she sighed and she felt Mon-El's hand land on her knee, patting her gently, and it made a nervous shiver run through her. His hand was so warm. She knew it was only in comfort and that he was barely touching her, but she felt it throughout her entire body. Her hand covered his as she watched her dad pull out his communication device to call another car.

"I can call our driver?" Mon-El suggested suddenly. "Surely he can drop you two off at the hotel before taking us back to the Palace."

"That would be lovely, Mon-El," Alura smiled. "Thank you."

Kara squeezed his hand under the table. Why didn't she think of that? She looked up at him and he had an almost relieved smile pass over his face as her mother agreed to his suggestion.

Her father signalled to a waitress for their bill and Mon-El used his unoccupied hand to call Rhys.

They didn't have to wait long; the four of them standing in silence near the restaurant doors until Rhys arrived. Kara stared at the car. They wouldn't all fit in the backseat. Someone would have to sit in the front with Rhys. She looked at Mon-El. She thought that she might have to tell him to sit in the front, but when their eyes connected, she got the feeling that he was more worried that she was going to call the front seat, abandoning him and leaving him trapped between both of her parents.

Before she could say anything, Zor-El reached for the handle of the front door. "I'll sit up front," he announced as he easily made the decision for them. She heard Mon-El's literal sigh of relief beside her.

Rhys had already hopped out of the car and run around to open the door for Alura. "Your Highness, good evening," he greeted and she nodded at him.

"Rhys, is it?" she asked, having heard Mon-El making the call earlier, and the man nodded. "Thank you for picking us up," she paused, her hand landing on his shoulder. "And for driving my daughter around safely these past few months."

He nodded at her as she climbed into the car. "You have a wonderful daughter; very kind and respectful." He looked at Kara who blushed lightly. "It's been my honour."

Mon-El led Kara to the other side of the car with a smile, and opened the door for her. "I'll squeeze in the middle," she whispered as she winked at him knowingly.

"I appreciate it," he sighed as she stroked his cheek gently while grinning at him, knowing that they were out of view of her parents for a moment. She slid into the car next to her mother and he followed.

You would think that the Daxamites, being a Royal Family and all, would have a car that was a little larger. Then again…they were a family of three and Kara doubted that they would ever really travel anywhere altogether at once…but either way, she was crammed between her mother and her future husband, sitting rigidly in her seat as she tried not to lean the way her body was instinctively telling her to go.

Toward Mon-El.

Her mother shifted in her seat and Kara jumped slightly, enough to move out of the way and further to her left, her mother's nudging having startled her. Alura smiled silently at her in thanks for the extra room she'd provided by moving, and she leaned her elbow against the door to look out the window.

That's when Kara noticed how far to the left she'd actually moved. Her thigh was flush with Mon-El's; knee to hip, not a centimetre of space separating them. She felt the heat of his body immediately. She watched his hand that sat on his own knee; fingers tapping, almost twitching as he tried to keep it on his knee. She watched the muscles in his hand and had to stop herself from laughing out loud at his inability to keep still.

Why was he so nervous?

For Mon-El, it was instinctual. Touching. Especially a beautiful woman. His hands just wanted to reach out and touch wherever she would let him, but with Kara…with her parents in the same car, her mother sitting in clear view…he was twitching from trying so hard to keep his hands to himself.

He saw her looking at him out of the corner of his eye and he cleared his throat quietly. He could feel her thigh pressed into his; the warmth of her body radiating seemingly throughout the entirety of his own. His other hand was gripping the door handle dangerously tight.

What was this girl doing to him?

Then her hand was suddenly on top of his; palm resting gently as she covered it. His eyes shot to her mother who was looking out the window of the car, watching what little scenery existed outside go by. His eyes fell on Kara and she was smiling at him. She jutted her chin out in the direction of his hand and he looked down, watching himself as he flipped his hand over underneath hers, their fingers settling into place between each other's easily. He didn't move their hands from his knee, but he squeezed her hand in his hold. He felt her shift next to him, almost as if coming closer to his body, if that was even possible.

The car was quiet; Kara's parents seemingly tired and ready to get back to their hotel, but Kara and Mon-El were buzzing with energy as they sat in silence; hands laced together tightly for the first time in full view of people they knew; important people who meant the world to Kara.

Her grip on his hand was soft, but firm; gently keeping him linked to her while also showing that she had every intention of continuing to hold his hand, even if her father were to turn around, or her mother to look their way. It brought a smile to his face; one that he couldn't suppress. But he wasn't some teenage boy with a crush. He shouldn't be smiling like this (soft!), so he looked out the window to hide it from view.

Eventually, when Rhys pulled up in front of the hotel, Zor-El broke the silence in the car. "Well, this is us, kids," he said without turning around. He opened his door and stepped out, beating Rhys to the back door this time as he helped Alura up and out of the car with ease.

When Mon-El didn't make a move, Kara tapped his shoulder with the hand that wasn't linked to his. "Get out so we can say goodbye," she told him.

"Oh," his eyes widened as he let her hand go. "Oh, okay. Uhm," he hummed as he opened the door and proceeded to get out and hold his hand out for Kara again. She stepped out of the car and walked around to the front of it to give her dad a hug. Mon-El followed behind her slightly, his hands shoved into his pockets. Zor-El held out his hand for Mon-El to shake as Kara moved farther away to hug her mother.

Mon-El nodded at Zor-El as he stepped toward him. "Perhaps we'll see you tomorrow?" the man asked him.

Mon-El nodded again. "I'm sure Kara would love to see you again when you come by. I know she's missed you a lot since coming here. I'm sure it was a difficult adjustment. My parents are…well, not like you two at all," he shrugged with an awkward chuckle.

He turned to look at Kara who was chatting quietly with her mother. Zor-El placed a hand on his shoulder. "She looks happy," he stated, nodding at Kara. "That's all we want for her. That's all we've ever wanted for her."

He looked over at her. Was she happy? Actually happy?

Then Kara was pulling away from her mother and waving at him, signalling for him to walk over and join them both. Zor-El's hand dropped from Mon-El's shoulder and he nudged the boy in the direction of the girls, while he moved over to have a quick chat with Rhys.

Alura held out her arms and Mon-El furrowed his eyebrows as he moved closer to her confusedly. When he was within her reaching distance, she grabbed him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pulling him into a hug. He nearly fell into her, his eyes wide and concerned and Kara struggled to stifle a laugh. His eyes connected with hers over her mother's shoulder and she nodded at him, her arms gesturing that he should hug her back.

He hesitantly moved to wrap his arms around her form. He couldn't even remember the last time his own mother hugged him. Just as he was relaxing into the woman's hold, she pulled away, her hands grasping onto his biceps.

"I'm so glad that you joined us tonight, Mon-El. It was lovely getting to know you and I'm sure we'll see you tomorrow when we meet with your parents."

Mon-El nodded in agreement before his eyes widened again. "Oh, if we could maybe pretend that we didn't do all this though…" his hands twisted nervously between them. "I'd appreciate it. I'm sure it wouldn't go over well with them."

Alura nodded knowingly. "It's our secret."

"Have a good night, Mom," Kara spoke up from behind her.

"You, too," she replied. "Both of you."

She pulled away and walked toward her husband who waved back at them. Kara and Mon-El watched them go into the hotel before turning to each other. Kara grinned silently as she hooked her arm into the crook of his and led him back to the car where Rhys was waiting patiently for them.

"Thanks for this, Rhys," Kara said as she got back into the car.

"Anything for you, Miss Kara," he smiled. "Back to the Palace?"

"Yes, Rhys," Mon-El interjected as he climbed in the other side of the car. "Thank you."

When they were both settled in the back seat in their usual spots, Rhys slid the privacy screen up before the couple even thought about it, and began to drive. Kara moved to buckle her belt, but first, Mon-El reached over and took hold of her legs at the knees. He pulled them to drape them over his left leg so that they dangled between the two of his, her body turning into him. He had his right hand rested on her thigh, his left hand sliding behind her to rest at her hip. Her eyes met his and she grinned, a laugh beginning to bubble out of her.

"You were so nervous," she laughed as she wrapped an arm around his back, her other hand moving onto his abdomen as they faced each other.

"I was!" he exclaimed before sighing loudly. "I've never met a girl's parents before…never mind actually having dinner with them and having real conversations and stuff."

She grinned wider. "You were intimidated?"

"Well, yeah," he agreed. "Your parents are like…actual parents."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "What does that mean?"

He faced forward, his hands tightening their grip on her body. "I don't remember my mom hugging me."

"What?" she asked, her voice rising an octave in surprise. He shrugged in response as he continued to stare at the screen that separated them from Rhys. "She never hugged you?" She asked before she paused and pictured his mother in her mind. Of course she never hugged him. One look at her permanently scowling face could tell you that. "I mean…even when you were a kid?"

"Not that I can remember…"

"She must have at some point," Kara shook her head in disbelief of his statements. "I mean, no offence, but why bother having a kid if you're not going to love them; if you're not going to take care of them? Especially if you're married to someone…" she smiled softly, a dreamy look taking over her face. "If you love that person and make a baby that's essentially half of each of you coming together…"

"You have a very positive view of the world, Kara."

She shrugged. "I'm a pretty positive person most of the time. I can't help it."

"Well, your parents might have decided to have a child because they wanted one to love, and then they got lucky enough and had you, so how could they not love you?"

She felt her heart jump in her chest. Did he actually feel that way? It didn't sound like he was being sarcastic. He actually sounded kind of sad; envious.

"My parents needed an heir…the same way they want an heir with this contract. They want me to continue our lineage. They know what I'm like. They knew that I would never settle down and do that if it weren't for this contract. Why not save our people, save our home, and also get a bonus heir out of it all?" He paused. "My dad was kind, but over the years…" he shrugged. "He spoke up less and less. Clearly my mother's influence on him. She didn't want a child for love. I guess not everyone chooses that."

She was watching him. He could feel her eyes on him as he continued to stare at the opaque privacy screen in front of them. He didn't know if he should look back at her or just try to change the topic of conversation. He finally decided to turn his head and his eyes widened when they landed on her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing the tears lining her sparkling blue eyes. "Did I hurt your feelings?" he asked as he crinkled his eyebrows, trying to figure out what he might have said to offend her.

She shook her head as she reached up to slide her hand against his cheek. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" he asked, still confused.

"That your parents treat you like that; like you don't matter to them."

"It's fine, Kara," he said as he tried to turn back and face forward, but her hand stayed pressed to his cheek, forcing him to keep his gaze locked on hers.

"It's not fine," she said quietly. "You do matter," she emphasized. "I know that they're your parents and that you live with them and stuff, but please don't let them get to you. One day you'll get out of there." She stroked her thumb along his stubble before her hand dropped from his face entirely. She leaned into him, her cheek pressed against his shoulder.

"Well, the contract says we have to live in the Palace with them…"

Kara shrugged. "Well, when I leave, and they find you a new fiancée, and sign a new contract, just negotiate that as one of the terms…that you and this new girl get to choose where you'll live."

He instinctively tightened his grip on her body at the mention of her leaving and being replaced with a "new girl."

He knew it was coming.

So they were kissing and having dinner with her parents and cuddling in the backseat of a car. Her desires about this contract hadn't changed. She had every intention of leaving the Palace in two hundred and sixty-three days.

Exactly two hundred and sixty-three days.

He knew when all this ended. He hadn't planned to keep track. Just somewhere along the way, his brain had started to do it.

He decided to end the conversation there. He'd had enough talk about his parents for the night, and thinking about the end of all this while she was sitting in his arms gave him a twisting feeling in his stomach.

"I'm done talking about this, Kara," he told her.

He felt her nod against his chest, and he moved to wrap his arms tighter around her, shifting his body more comfortably against hers.

The drive back to the Palace felt short; entirely too short for him. Kara had fallen asleep in his arms, snoring softly against him, and bringing a smile to his face.

When he'd fallen for this girl, he couldn't really say.

Probably right at the beginning.

She just knew so much about him now. She knew him better than any other woman he'd physically gone farther with. He didn't know how he could feel this deeply about a person after such a short time without even seeing her naked.

Well…except that one time that they never speak of. Ever.

He couldn't help but think back and grin at the memory. She was beautiful, but this was different. She was beautiful on the outside, obviously, but she was beautiful on the inside in a way he'd never seen in a woman before. It must be the Kryptonian in her, but the way she'd looked at him with tears in her eyes over how his mother treated him? Why should she care? They weren't her parents; she had amazing parents. But still, she felt sorry for him in a way that wasn't condescending. It didn't make him feel less than, even though he knew now that he was so much less than her because he still had so much left to learn about being a good person.

It made him feel…loved.

And that was scary.

He was feeling loved and he was confused as to why he felt like this was exactly what he had always wanted. Then she was sitting in his arms telling him about his potential life after she leaves and how he'd move on to someone else.

Could he do this with someone else? Would it be the same? Kryptonian or not, he didn't think anyone was like Kara. How could this ever be the same?

He ran a hand through her hair, pushing away the strands that looked to be tickling her face as she slept. He carefully reached over to press a button to remove the privacy screen separating them from Rhys.

"My Prince," he greeted before hushing himself, noticing Kara's sleeping face in the rear-view mirror.

"Can you ask Mira to come to the door and let us in without my parents seeing us again? I don't want to wake her."

"Certainly," he nodded.

"And…" he paused. "I know you don't refer to Kara by her title. You know, you don't really have to call me Prince all the time. I don't mind you calling me Mon-El," he smiled sheepishly.

Rhys looked at him funny before smiling. "Of course…Mon-El…" he said softly, testing out the name on his tongue. "I'll call her now, before we reach the front gate." He watched him push a button on a screen in front of him and then he was talking through a device in his ear. After a few short words, Rhys ended the call and looked at Mon-El through the rear-view mirror again. "Mon-El?" he started and he looked up at the man. "Mira said your parents are already in their quarters, but she'll see that you get in without their noticing."

"Thank you, Rhys," he smiled.

When they pulled up in front of the Palace, Mira had opened the front door before they'd even left the car. Mon-El scooped Kara into his arms after Rhys opened the car door for them. She shifted slightly, letting out a small groan at the change in positioning before he began to move into the Palace and quietly up the stairs with her in his arms.

He silently made his way to their bedrooms, the lights off as he shuffled into her room. He looked down at her tiny bed before looking out of the doorway into his own room. He felt bad about dropping her on that sad excuse for a mattress, so he went back into his own room and tucked her into his bed. He could put up with her crappy mattress for another night.

He looked down at her face; she'd slept through all the movement with ease. She must have been tired because it wasn't even all that late. He grinned at her as she settled into his mattress, a small smile on her face, before it occurred to him that he wasn't allowed to get used to this; this woman sleeping in his arms, in his bed. She was going to leave him and he'd have to readjust.

He moved into her bedroom and grabbed the first set of pajamas he'd seen, placing them on the table beside the bed for if she woke up later and wanted to be more comfortable. Then he prepared himself for bed and slipped under her covers alone.

A/N: Sending love to all of you this holiday weekend! Hoping this short chapter helped boost your mood if you needed it.

Twitter: _ashleymaria_
Twitter Tag for Sneak Peeks, etc.: #ContractuallyYours