She found the large window and stood looking out over the city, hoping that this would help calm her down, but it did the opposite. Lena was now sobbing audibly and tears kept running down her face in rapid succession, endangering her perfect make-up.

"Jeez, get a grip on yourself Luthor!" she hissed at herself. "What's wrong with you?"

"There is nothing wrong with you, Lena!" said a gentle voice from behind her. "Absolutely nothing"

Kara had come to check on her and Lena wanted to run but at the same time stay and be comforted by her friend. She turned to face Kara who, like always when she talked to Lena, had a smile on her face. But this time it was not the usual bright smile but a more subdued, understanding smile.

"I'm sorry", Kara said, looking Lena directly in the eyes.

"What?" she replied in surprise. "Kara, what could you possibly be sorry for?"

Kara shifted around slightly before answering, "Well, I should have known that everyone approaching you all at once might be a bit too much for you. But I didn't stop them cause I thought it was so sweet how they all went right to you to give you their presents and …"

Lena's eyes widened in wonder and she quickly stepped towards her friend and shyly grasped one of Kara's hands. Immediately, the reporter stopped her rambling and looked up at Lena.

"Kara", she said softly with tears still slowly rolling down her cheeks now and then. "You are too sweet! You all are!"

Tears were flowing more freely again now but Lena didn't care anymore and just continued speaking, holding her friend's hand and never breaking eye contact.

"It's been the most perfect, fairy-tale Christmas that I couldn't even have imagined in my wildest dreams. I'm just so overwhelmed by all your love and kindness. I…", Lena gulped, sobbing. "I've never felt like this before and it's wonderful but also terrifying because I don't know how to act or what to do and…", she faltered again and didn't continue right away because she was crying harder now.

Kara moved forward and embraced her friend, her own eyes leaking tears of sadness for her friend's pain as well as happiness for being able to share this moment with Lena and for giving her the kind of Christmas she'd dreamed of. For a while the two women stood there and Kara was rubbing soothing circles on the Luthor's back as Lena allowed herself to let her emotions out for the first time in her life. Then Kara gently whispered, "Lena, hey, everything is going to be fine. There is nothing you need to worry about here. Just be yourself, ok? We're all different but we're still a family."

At her friend's words, Lena squeezed Kara harder and then pulled back slightly to look at her.

"How do you always know what to say to make me feel better, Kara?" she said with a watery smile and then added, "I mean, I know you're Supergirl and all but mindreading is not one of your super powers, is it?"

Kara chuckled and said, "No, it's not but you're my best friend and I know that you always worry that you're going to do something wrong when you're in a situation that you don't know. But, seriously, Lena, you are part of the family, if you want that, and this means that you can be yourself and this will always, always be more than enough!"

Overcome with emotion again, Lena embraced Kara and hugged her so tightly that even the girl of steel let out an involuntary yelp but then laughed, "Careful there Miss Luthor."

Lena actually laughed out loud as she pulled back, "Really, Kara? I couldn't even hug you too tightly no matter how much I tried. But you're a good actress, I give you that!"

Kara gave a mock bow and then said, holding out her hand to Lena, "So, you ready to go back and unwrap your presents?"

Lena heaved a sigh, fear bubbling in her chest again but as she looked into Kara's eyes and took her hand, she felt she was going to be fine. She decided that she could finally risk letting the others see at least a part of her true self.

To be continued…