As you can see, I manipulated the timeline to fit the story. Next, we finally see how Lena's family came to be.
Lena scrunched her face and blocked the sudden sunlight with her arm. She groaned and rolled over, blindly searching for her phone. There was a minor breakout at the DEO, and Kara didn't get home until two. Lena had the unfortunate pleasure of being woken up by a Kryptonian-koala bear that smelled like smoke and ran thirty degrees hotter than the average human. But she wasn't going to complain. Kara was home, and that was enough for Lena to flip on the artificial sun lamp and hide under the covers. Frustrated she couldn't find her phone, Lena opened her eyes and paused. It was way too sunny for six in the morning, and she also somehow ended up on Kara's side of the bed. Lena scrambled to her nightstand and picked up her phone.
"Fuck!"
Lena stumbled out of bed, her feet tangling in the sheets, but she remained upright and sprinted to the bathroom. Strong arms wrapped around her waist mid-stride, and she squealed as she was lifted into the air.
"Kara!"
"Good morning, my beautiful wife."
"This might actually be the day I divorce your insufferable ass."
"You would never give me the satisfaction of being right."
"I made that agreement under duress!"
"You were three drinks in at our wedding. I doubt that counts."
"Kara, you are this close to sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future." Lena squirmed, but it was a fruitless endeavor. She gave up and went limp in Kara's arms. Kara slipped one hand under her thighs and twisted her around until Lena rested bridal style against Kara's chest. "And honestly, you might be an alien, but I know you were not raised as some kind of neanderthal," she said. "Diana raised you better than that."
Kara laughed and said, "I love how you skipped over my actual parents and the Danvers."
"One, Alura and Jor-El were absent parents until the day they put you in the pod. And two, Jeremiah passed when you were younger, and your relationship with Eliza has never been perfect. You told me both of those things when we were dating."
"Just wanted to see if you listen to me."
"I swear to Rao, if you do not put me down this instant, I will burn your Hello Kitty onesie."
"Wow. You're mad at me."
"And the prize goes to the Kryptonian for pointing out the obvious."
Kara put Lena on the ground and reached behind her, opening the bathroom door and purposely encroaching into Lena's personal space. Her lips brushed against Lena's ear in the process, and she asked, "What about now?"
"Opening the bathroom door isn't going to change anything. You …."
Lena's words trailed off as Kara turned her around. Her jaw hung open as she took in the state of their bathroom. Rose petals covered the sink, floor, and tub. And the bathwater was still warm with the steam rising from the surface. The room smelled like jasmine, and Lena's anger melted away. Kara put her hands on Lena's hips and kissed Lena's shoulder in apology.
"Still mad at me?"
"In theory, yes. What is all of this? It's not our anniversary yet."
"But it is this week, and you have been exceptionally patient with me these last four years. I hope to spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love and care about you. Thankfully, we have good friends who have no problem stepping in when the time calls for it. Sam flew in with Ruby for the rest of the week and booted you from the office until next Monday. Jess and Teo promise to keep you informed of anything that needs your immediate attention. But as of this moment, you are all mine. We have an appointment at one p.m., so our morning will be cut short. In summary, I will shower you in love and affection for the foreseeable future, and you are not going to L-Corp for the rest of this week. And I know I've said it before, but it's still so cool you re-named the building. And also that I'm still annoyed that I couldn't be at the ceremony."
"You're rambling, darling."
"My point remains. No CEO Lena this week. Just Lena Zor-El and her charmingly, handsome wife who loves the Hello Kitty onesie and asks that it remains un-burned."
Lena snorted and leaned back into Kara's arms.
"No one anticipated you being zapped into an alternate dimension for two days. Plus, the ceremony was boring."
"Lena, you almost died."
"I'm like those shark movies. I'm never going away no matter how many times people try to kill me."
"Are you comparing your life to a Sharknado?"
"You got the analogy, didn't you? And the DEO was there in their fancy vests and cool guns. They wouldn't have let me die in public."
"Have you been talking to Harley like, at all?"
"It still blows my mind that you think talking to a woman who shot up a bar three days ago is my best chance at having better mental health."
"One, it was a neo-Nazi hideout-
"Which she didn't know about until after the fact but continue."
"Come on, Harley is good at what she does. Why do you think Poison Ivy stopped targeting gas stations?"
"Didn't she kidnap and torture the CEO of a natural gas organization yesterday?"
"Progress comes in small doses." Kara cleared her throat and added, "Speaking of the DEO, are you still logged into their servers?"
"You say logged in as if I'm a consultant. I broke in for the sole purpose of spying on your missions, seeing as I can hardly expect Alex to call if something happens to you," Lena scoffed. "But yes, why do you ask?"
"I may need your help on Friday, and you're the best at getting in and out of places without being seen." Kara bent down and pressed soft kisses against Lena's neck. "Alex will come around," she murmured.
"Alex is never going to like me. I could be pregnant with your child, and she would still glower at me from across the room. Hell, I could name the baby after her, and she would always believe I am one step closer to finally being the Luthor that takes down a Super."
"Hey," Kara turned Lena around and cupped her cheeks. "I have no desire to name our aos after Alex. Yes, I love her, and I always will. But I committed myself to you before Rao and God and people who would kill me if I broke your heart. That means your happiness is my priority. I'm sorry I haven't stepped in when her words and actions have made you second-guess yourself or our relationship. I should have never let it get to this point, but I will never let you be in that position again. Ever. Okay?"
"Okay, let's back up a little bit. My irritation with Alex aside, she is not in any position to force me to leave you. I can be angry with her and in love with you. Those are not mutually exclusive emotions. Last night, while you were out, I thought a lot about our relationship from all angles. And while I would have loved to come out sooner and see you defend me more with your sister and others, I'm not mad. A little hurt, but not mad. Our marriage is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I love you, pup, and that will never change." Lena draped her arms on Kara's shoulders and played with the hairs at the nape of her neck. "Though I'm curious to know how long you've been thinking about baby names," she said.
Kara took the subject change for what it was and smiled, putting her hands on Lena's waist. "Only late at night when the world is quiet, and you're lying on my chest. I think about waking up to our child on my chest with you lying next to me with this sleepy grin on your face as aos recites the periodic table." Lena playfully smacked Kara on the cheek, and Kara caught her hand, kissing the tip of her fingers. She moved her free hand under Lena's shirt and rubbed her stomach. "I think five is a pretty lucky number, you know."
"It is. We should get a head start, don't you think?"
Lena giggled as Kara picked her up and shut the door behind them.
Two hours later, Lena entered the kitchen and paused as she looked Kara up and down. Her brain short-circuited, and she chased the train of thought running rampant in her mind. Kara reclined against the wall, hands in pockets, and watched Lena closely. Without her glasses, Kara's eyes were sparkling, hidden with an emotion Lena still hadn't figured out yet.
"You okay?" she asked.
Lena cleared her throat and said, "Your color scheme is an interesting choice."
"Do you want me to change?"
God, no. Lena bit her bottom lip to keep that particular comment inside and said, "You can tell me where we're going instead."
"I will once we get in the car. Frank is waiting for us."
Lena sighed and grabbed her purse. Then she frowned and asked, "Wait, we're going together?"
"Yes. Unless you want me to arrive after you."
"No! I mean, no," Lena said. "I just – why?"
"Why what?"
"You always go before me," Lena pointed out, confused.
"Not anymore."
Lena's heart nearly leaped from her chest, and Kara held out her hand, and she smiled. Lena's been married to Kara long enough to know that it wasn't a test. There was no right or wrong answer, just a silent declaration of love and forgotten promises overflowing between them. So, Lena did what she always did. She threw caution to the wind and jumped, knowing Kara would always catch her.
Cat looked up when the office went quiet, and that's when she knew her guests had arrived. She opened the drawer and removed the box that came to her office early that morning. She stood and brushed down her dress, sitting on the edge with the gift on her lap. And though Cat prided herself on maintaining a professional façade, she admittedly never accounted for seeing Kara with Lena in person. As she watched them make their way to her office, things clicked into place like a long-forgotten puzzle, and Cat knew that Kara and Lena were more than her next cover story. Lena's form-fitting gold dress was complemented with a beige coat that screamed wealthy. Kara, on the other hand, was the epitome of handsome. She wore a khaki suit, white shirt, gold tie, and a pair of gold and white loafers, which would look tacky on anyone else. They were carved from the same stone, two sides of the same coin, and practically made to complete the other. They carried power, and that was without the alien DNA coursing through Kara's veins. Where Kara was subtle, masculine in some ways, and feminine in others, Lena was bold. She commanded the attention of everyone around her, and she was vibrant in all the ways Kara wasn't. And it worked.
It worked.
Eyes followed the couple to Cat's office, two people exceptionally more invested than the others, and Kara opened the door for Lena. Instead of closing it, Kara left the door open, and it went unnoticed by Lena. Cat arched her eyebrow, but Kara smiled and gestured for her to wait. She remained by the door, leaning on the frame, and Lena clicked her tongue. She rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder.
"Why do you insist on doing that? Close the door."
"Fifteen seconds. You're losing your touch."
Lena flicked her wrist in annoyance as she approached the desk, and Kara closed the door with a soft chuckle. Cat got comfortable, eager to watch their dynamic in action. Kara removed Lena's jacket from her shoulders and hung it on the hook before doing the same to her blazer. Lena stared as Kara flexed while unbuttoning her sleeves and rolled them to her elbow, revealing a bracelet that matched the one Lena cradled protectively to her chest. Kara joined them by the desk, and Lena plucked a piece of lint from Kara's arm. Cat then cocked her head as Lena moved to adjust Kara's shirt collar. Her movements were jerky, nervous, but Kara put a hand on her lower back and smiled as if she were the only one in the room. And for Kara's sake, Lena might as well have been. Their actions and reactions were absent-minded, subconscious, and you would never believe they once spent months on end without seeing one another. Cat glanced around her office, and it seemed everyone was as captivated as Cat.
"Why are we here?" Lena asked.
"For an interview, Miss Luthor. I would like to get a head start on your article."
"Oh. And call me Lena if you refuse to call me by my actual last name."
"Seeing as you have two, I admit I am confused on which one to use."
"Walsh is fine," Lena said dryly.
Kara scoffed under her breath and looked away. Lena winked at Cat and sat down, crossing her legs. Kara held out her hand, and Cat passed over the box before going back to her seat behind her desk. Kara put the box in her pocket and sat down next to Lena, throwing her arm around Lena's shoulders. Lena subconsciously shifted closer to Kara's embrace. Cat put on her glasses and reached over, pressing the button to make the windows opaque. Kara gave her a questioning look, and Cat took out her recorder from her drawer.
"They were gawking like birds. Tell me what to record and what to pretend I didn't hear."
"Give me about ten minutes to get through the sensitive stuff, and then you can record," Kara said.
Cat waved in agreement, and Kara Danvers became Kara Zor-El with a subtle shift. Cat was impressed with how Kara became such a dominating presence with a turn of her head. Lena kissed the underside of Kara's jaw, hidden from everyone but Cat, and just like that, Kara was human once again. She smiled sweetly down at Lena and shut Cat out of their little bubble without a second thought.
"You know the basics about me, but contrary to what some have been told," Kara started, "my cousin was not the first to find me. Before my parents sent me away, I spent several years believing them to be honorable, good people. But they had their secrets, did terrible things in the name of Krypton, and I struggled to forgive them for their actions against our people for quite some time. The sole reason for placing me in that pod was to follow Superman to Earth and raise him under Kryptonian law and culture. My pod was hit during the explosion, and I was knocked off course into the Phantom Zone, which is as terrifying as it sounds. For years, I was in darkness. I was alone, and I relived the death of my family, my people, and my planet every minute of my stasis. And then I remember bright flashes of light, and something hard crashed into my pod. It was the greatest and worst thing to ever happen to me. I spiraled through space, lost and confused, and I remember finally seeing Earth through my window. But after that, I recall falling into the ocean."
Kara laid her forehead on Lena's and closed her eyes, sighing. Cat watched Kara fall apart and put herself back together with every word.
"That was when I met Diana," she said. "I woke up somewhere I cannot tell you about, but it was a safe place. Diana told me my pod crashed a couple of miles from her home, and she pulled me out. She knew the language I spoke and asked me all kinds of questions. Diana looked at me with so much sadness. I was the last of my kind in a general sense. Like yes, my cousin is Kryptonian by birth, but he is more human than anything. I had never felt so alone before that moment. I was sent to watch over my cousin. And he grew up without me. You all know him as Superman, but he was nothing but a tiny infant with fat cheeks when I first and last saw him. Years passed, and now, he's a stranger. That is why we have our disagreements. I love him, but I lived for more than a decade on Krypton. The memories of the people and culture are not things I can throw away because I'm somewhere new. He did not, and does not, understand that, and I grew tired of explaining it to him."
"So, how did you end up here? Or, rather, where you grew up?" Cat asked.
Kara grunted and lifted her head, saying, "Diana made a conscious decision to tell Kal-El about me in hopes of bringing us together. It worked for about two weeks, and then he took me to Midvale. Kal-El had become more and more annoyed by my presence. His life was perfect before me, and I don't think he wanted to be reminded of his parent's sacrifice. I became a threat to his norm with the more mistakes I made, and he felt I'd be better off somewhere else."
"Tell me about that."
"Ah, well. I met the Danvers family, and it was interesting, to say the least. Jeremiah, the father, was happy to have me around. He was the one who gave me my glasses and helped me get a handle on my strength. Eliza, his wife, was… she was wary of me. I think it had more to do with the fact I was an unknown factor living with her family, and it took her a minute to be comfortable with having me around. She was never mean, but she wasn't as open with me as Jeremiah had been. Alex," Kara paused and frowned, "treated me like I didn't exist. At school, I was her weird, adopted sister. People laughed at me because I said the wrong words or stuttered through my sentences. I heard them every day at lunch teasing me. But Alex never…said anything. She sat there and laughed with them, and it got to the point I just wanted to disappear. I called Kal-El, and he never answered. So I called Diana. She came and visited me. I wanted to go back with her, and she told me I couldn't come with her. I found out later on that she made a promise to Kal-El that she wouldn't interfere. But back then, it felt like no one wanted me. And then I met Kenny."
Cat watched Kara's smile grow ten sizes, and Lena's face reflected nothing but sad affection.
"Kenny was my almost," Kara laughed, rubbing her face. "He was killed by our Sheriff over drugs of all things. Alex had been taken hostage during all of that. Despite everyone telling me to stop using my powers, I had to use them that evening. Alex was in danger, and I couldn't let her die. Not like Kenny. Anyway, Kenny was the one person outside of Alex who knew about me and never said anything. He was my best friend, and as I said, he was my almost. But that situation with Kenny was kind of the steppingstone. Maybe a week later, I remember waiting outside on Alex to go home. This guy, Kyle, approached me with his friends. I had hit puberty, so some of the boys started asking me out. I turned them down because none of them were attractive, and they all smelled like sweat. It was weird. But Kyle didn't take my rejection well. I had gotten used to the teasing, but he wouldn't let up. He kept going and going until there was this awful crunching sound. I opened my eyes, and Alex was reigning punch after punch on Kyle's face. I pulled her off, but it was clear his nose was broken. As was his jaw, and she knocked out a few of his teeth. That was the moment we became sisters. I also think that Alex recognized I wasn't a threat or a nuisance. I was a kid who lost everything, and Alex became my rock. We were stronger than ever, and then Jeremiah died. That's when things got rough. Alex started acting out, and Eliza started working more and more. I was alone for a good portion of the time, and it felt like we'd taken ten steps forward, two steps backward."
Kara stood and moved to the opposite side of the room.
"Alex graduated before me. She went to college, and I was in my senior year. I didn't talk to her that entire year. Not even on the holidays or my birthday. She was gone, and I wasn't going to chase her. I graduated high school alone. Eliza never showed up because she had a project to finish, and Alex was hungover. It took a few months for me to look at either of them without feeling hate. It was – I went to therapy for a lot of this. Anyway, I went to Stanhope for a little while, but ultimately, I ended up at NCU. Alex was doing her thing, and I was doing my thing. I was a nanny, interned at Midvale Newspaper during the summer, and even worked at Noonan's. I did what I wanted, and then Diana re-entered my life. She told me about the promise and how she made a mistake in honoring it. Her way of asking for forgiveness was to ask me to come with her and a select group of people to Ireland for an artifact recovery mission. I was to be her assistant, and I said yes without hesitation. In hindsight, I should've remembered I was in college, but Diana helped me arrange to complete my degree online. I didn't tell Alex and Eliza where I was, technically. I told them I would be hard to contact at times because of an assignment, but we weren't in the space where we were okay yet. So, I went to Ireland without telling anyone. You know the rest."
"Do you hate your cousin?"
"No," Kara said. "I – while Kal-El's reasoning and methods were questionable, I concede that had it not been for him, I would not be the person I am today. I mean," Kara glanced at Lena and smiled, "when he took me to the Danvers, my life changed. Sure, we had and have our challenges, but I owe them for many things. Had the Danvers not allowed me to make mistakes, break things, and set things on fire, I would not be here right now. Had they not made their mistakes, I would not have learned how to be strong when I was the only person in the room. I would be scared to hold babies, open doors, and listen to the world without feeling like my head was about to explode. I would not be able to wrap my arms around my wife at night. I would not be able to grab her hand in the movies or when we walk down the street, and I would never know what it felt like to kiss her for no reason other than she looked beautiful that morning. Kal-El makes me angry at times, and I loathe his self-righteousness, but he gave me something I would have spent the rest of my life searching for. Lena is my Krypton, and Kal-El returned it to me without even-
Kara stopped and titled her head toward the balcony. She frowned and reached up to her shirt, then paused.
"Lee-
"Go," Lena said. "I'll wait until you come back."
"And if you take too long, she can take my private stairs to the garage," Cat said.
"Thank you."
Kara kissed Lena's forehead and was gone from the room. When Cat and Lena were alone, Lena propped her head on the couch.
"I thought you were recording this."
"Did I not tell you earlier that I am a professional? Plus, nothing she said is important to the article. I just wanted to know."
Lena rolled her eyes and asked, "What are you putting in the article?"
"Seeing as your wife was supposed to be the one writing it, it's a love story."
"How original."
"No, you misunderstand. It's not going to be one filled with romance and adventure, but one that will tackle the reality of your relationship. You're a Luthor, even if you're not. She's a Super, even if she's the complete opposite of her cousin. You're a powerhouse in your own right, and she's the Girl of Steel. I will be writing about that from our interactions today and in general."
"I know this was my idea, but please do not make me regret picking you for this."
"Your relationship is safe with me, Lena. Despite how I act, Kara means something to me. She is a friend, and I would never disrespect her by disrespecting you. I think she truly loves you if her wax poetic about your first meeting was any indication."
Lena narrowed her eyes and asked, "What did she tell you?"
"She said, and I quote, 'I was there as an assistant, nothing more and nothing less. But my first night there, I couldn't sleep. I snuck out of the tent to walk around the woods. I just wanted to find somewhere quiet to layout and look at the stars. The camp was so loud. I found this little cliff area maybe half a mile away, and there she was.' Then her eyes went all glassy and disgustingly romantic. She told me you were sitting on the edge, looking at the stars, and she saw something catch in the light. She told me you'd been crying and that she walked right up to you and asked what was wrong. You apparently broke down and told her all about Lex-
"Hold on," Lena exclaimed. "That is not what happened!"
"No?"
"That lying- I was not crying when she got there," Lena huffed. "I started crying because Kara asked me if being a Luthor was as hard as it sounded."
Cat grimaced, and Lena laughed.
"My point exactly. I was so upset by the comment that I started crying and blabbed about my brother and Superman. I was angry and annoyed, but I was also sad. It was a lot of emotions for me to feel at the time, and this blonde idiot comes up and sets me off."
"So, you two falling asleep together…."
"Okay, yes, that happened. Kara felt so guilty that she blurted out that she was Superman's cousin to me in a panic, and I laughed. I thought it was cute, but I also was emotionally raw and would've fallen in love with anyone had they been there that night."
"No, you wouldn't have."
Lena's eyes were mischievous, but she didn't counter Cat's claims.
"For the record, I always sleep after I cry, and she was too scared to go back by herself. Though, if she were here, she'd say she wasn't scared. It was too dark, and then I'd say she can see in the dark."
Cat snorted and covered her nose, waving off Lena's amusement.
"Dare I ask what else my darling wife said?" Lena drawled.
"She said she loved you first-
"Like hell," Lena scoffed. "I said it first. We were in Carlingford, and I told her I loved her when she ran headfirst into the wall because she tripped over her shoes."
"That sounds more believable."
"Damned fool. I swear sometimes –
Lena cut herself off with a laugh and smiled at the ceiling.
"I love her so much," she said. "That it hurts to think about for too long."
"Why?"
Lena sighed and stood, facing Cat with her arms folded.
"I was in love with Kara for longer than when I said it. I've been in love with her since she insensitively asked if having Luthor for my last name was as hard as it sounded. Everything about my life has been chaotic and confusing, and it's been one dogfight after the other simply because of who my father ended up being. And then here comes this clumsy, goofy, and sometimes stubborn woman with eyes that remind me of the Mediterranean Sea. This woman – this infuriatingly loyal, honest, and patient woman, has been nothing but kind and caring throughout our entire marriage. Yes, we fight, but we promised a long time ago that we would never go to bed angry with one another. Even if we stay up until three in the morning trying to work things out. That is what I want your article to emphasize, and that is what I will talk about the most. I will tell the world that Supergirl is an incredible nut case who wears cartoon onesies and watches Disney movies with full permission to sing whenever she wants. She's so sweet because she eats donuts, pancakes, and bear claws for breakfast. My wife is – everything good in this world, and everything bright and beautiful. When this comes out, people will wonder how someone like her could ever be with someone like me, but Kara truly is the love of my life. I love her as a human and as an alien. I love her as an assistant who could be a better reporter if her boss let her. And I love her as a superhero trying to make a name for herself outside of her obstinate, bullheaded cousin. My life has not been the same since I met her. I know superheroes on a first-name basis, and they love me for who I am. My pseudo-father is as emotionally stunted as I am, but he tries and works hard to be what I need when I need him. That's something the Luthor family never did. They never tried. They made me feel like I didn't matter. But Bruce motivates me, uplifts me, and makes me feel safe.
"And then I have this incredible mother-in-law who likes to pretend she's Kara's aunt even though everyone knows she sees Kara as her daughter. She's the one who calls me late at night when Kara gets hurt or if I'm stuck in Metropolis with no one to call in National City to see if my wife is alive. Diana's the one that taught me love is not sunshine and chocolates. It's rainy days and burnt apple pies that make your apartment stink for hours. It's staring at the news day in and day out, praying to every God in existence that the punch your wife just took won't be her last. That's what love is for us. But when Diana and Bruce can't show up, when I'm alone in the dark, I have two best friends who have seen Kara and me at our worst selves and still love us. I have a goddaughter who thinks I hung the moon in the sky just because I exist, and I have this protégé who needs me. But not like I need Kara or my father, but the kind of need that comes with no boundaries. The kind of need where she collapsed into tears after her friends turned their backs on her because she fell in love with someone they hated, and all she needed was for me to hold her. I have a family I'm proud of because of her. My life is amazing, and I can't believe that it's mine. So when you write this article, don't hold back. Tell the world that I'm so happy that I feel it in my bones. Tell them that I want to have children with Kara and raise them to see the world as it is and as it could be. Tell them that I would rather die before I ever hurt Kara. Tell everyone that I would never want to live in a world where she and I aren't us. I'm only half-finished when she's not around."
Cat blinked in surprise in the silence. Lena blushed from her outburst, and Cat allowed her to sit down on the couch to collect herself. She'd revealed so much in her spontaneous declarations. Bruce Wayne, the Batman, was her pseudo-father. Diana, Wonder Woman, was her mother-in-law/aunt. And the protégé would take a bit of time to figure out. But if it was in the same vein, Cat assumed it was a young superhero who was recently ousted from the Teen Titans over a relationship she shared with a former villain. Cat chewed on the end of her glasses and mulled over what had fallen into her lap. She was right about everything. They weren't going to be a cover story. They were going to be the topic of the century simply because they loved one another enough to share it with everyone else.