Christmas music filled Lena's apartment—courtesy of Sam's daughter, Ruby—as she busied herself with decorating her traditional Christmas cookies. Well, she was attempting to make it a tradition—her batch last year had been a miserable failure, but this year's was looking much better already. Nothing that a healthy glob of icing couldn't hide, in any case.

Ruby was putting a few paper cranes on her tree. She and Kara had gone out to buy it only the day before, and Lena was grateful for the blonde's strong muscles when the time came to haul the humungous pine into her living room—it was far too tall for the elevator, and God forbid she bend it or cut it. It was eight flights of stairs, with Kara cursing all the way as pine needles found their way into their clothes, their hair, even their socks.

"So?" Sam prodded, sneaking a rogue cookie crumb. "Tell me about it"

Lena rolled her eyes. "His name was William Clarke—don't bother remembering it."

Sam giggled wickedly. "I love hearing about bad dates; it makes me feel so much better. What happened?"

Lena concentrated on piping Andrea's name on a cookie—bright red icing on white. "He had an air collection."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me right," Lena said, scowling at a badly looped 'a' and mad she couldn't fix it. "He collects air. He has all these mason jars, right? And they're labeled. With important dates in history—the march on Washington, the day the Mets won the World Series."

"OK," Sam pondered, picking another cookie crumb off the baking sheet. "Was he at least at these events?"

Lena shook her head, grabbing another cookie—one that didn't look so wonky—and getting started on Kara's name, being very careful with the strokes of her piping bag. "No," she hissed. "Whenever something important happens, he just goes outside, opens a jar, scoops up some air, caps it and labels it. Honestly."

Sam leaned over the table, eyeing Kara's cookie curiously. "I really don't see why you don't just get with your friend Kara."

Lena sighed. "This again, Sam? I told you, Kara's my friend."

"But if you could be more? Wouldn't you want to?"

Lena concentrated on finishing off Kara's name and looked back, satisfied with the result. "No," she finally responded. "No, she's..."

"She's... what?"

"She's a mess," Lena admitted with a laugh. Sam cocked a brow.

"Then why are you making a cookie for her?"

Lena eyed the finished cookie fondly. "She's a nice mess."

Page Break

New Year's was looking to be absolutely miserable, but in the end, Lena had to admit it was made considerably less miserable by Kara's company. They had gone to a big bash hosted by CatCo, complete with streamers, silly hats, twinkle lights, and most importantly, an open bar. The band was playing a jaunty tune, and Lena had enough alcohol in her system to dance with Kara—she was even managing to keep up.

"Listen, I want to thank you for taking me out tonight," she said as Kara dipped her enthusiastically. "I really needed it."

Kara brought her back up with a laugh. "Forget it. Next year, if neither of us is with somebody, you've got a date."

"You've got yourself a deal, Danvers."

The music slowed then, and Kara twirled Lena close. They froze in place for a second, judging the moment and the music—both felt... too heavy. Kara gingerly let go of their entwined fingers.

"Want to get some air?"

Lena nodded. "Yes, please."

They wound through the crowd and out to the beautiful balcony on the top floor of the CatCo building, with a stunning view of National City's glittering lights. Revelers were scattered around the balcony, and Kara found them a little space at the railing overlooking the financial district.

Lena looked over to the city, deep in thought. "Do you think the fact that we're friends is keeping us from finding someone?"

Kara laughed a little, but when Lena turned to her, her gaze seemed... hopeful. "Yes," Kara whispered, and Lena couldn't tell whether she was being sarcastic or not. "I think we should stop being friends. Let's go home right now and make love all night long."

Lena felt herself flush; her body instinctively leaned closer to Kara's. She stopped herself. "You don't mean that—you know you don't."

Kara opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly the excited voices of the crowd descended upon them.

"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six!"

Kara gave her a sheepish smile; Lena shrugged. "Three! Two! One!"

Everyone around them kissed. With an awkward shrug, Lena let herself lean over and give Kara a chaste peck on the lips. They both froze upon contact, and Lena could practically hear the cogs turning into Kara's head; the blonde's hand twitched upwards, as if she were stopping it from coming to rest upon Lena's waist.

They broke apart, looking slightly uncomfortable. "Happy New Year, Lena."

"Happy New Year, Kara."

Lena walked hurriedly, making Sam scurry in her heels to keep up with her. They were late, and Lena detested being late. Her one consolation was that Kara was not exactly the most punctual human being in the world.

"Where is this place?" Sam huffed behind her.

"Just up another block. Hurry up."

Sam groaned audibly. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

Lena turned a glare to her friend. "Look-I'm really happy you are. Thank God that whole shitshow with the estranged wife is over. You deserve this. Plus, Kara's one of my best friends, and you're one of my best friends. If by some chance you two hit it off tonight, we could all still be friends instead of drifting apart the way you do when you get involved with someone who doesn't know your friends."

Sam looked offended. "You and I haven't drifted apart since I started seeing John."

Lena rolled her eyes. "If John had ever actually left his wife and I had actually met him, I am positive you and I would drift apart."

"But he didn't." Sam said sadly.

"Of course he didn't. We always told you."

Sam nodded. "You're right—you were right, I knew you were right."

"I hate that I let you talk me into this," Alex hissed as they rushed to cross a street. "You know I've finally gotten to a point in my life where I'm comfortable with the fact that it's just me and my work. I've made my peace with it."

She leveled Kara with a glare. "If she's so great, why aren't you taking her out?"

"This again?" Kara huffed, annoyed. They were late, and if there was one thing Lena hated more than anything was people who were late. This was already shaping up to be not the best impression. "How many times do I have to tell you, we're just friends."

"Are you saying you don't find her attractive?"

"No, I told you she was attractive."

"But you also said she had a good personality."

Kara threw her hands in the air. "She does! God, Alex, why are you being so difficult?"

Alex shook her head vehemently, wagging a finger in Kara's face as they practically ran up the block. "When someone's not attractive, the go-to is to say they've got a good personality."

"Look. If you had asked me what she looked like and I said she got a good personality, that's a way of skirting around her looks," Kara said, scowling at the unpleasant realization that it was a shitty thing to say. "But just because I happen to mention she has a good personality it could be either. She could be not that attractive with a good personality, or attractive with a good personality."

They just made it to the restaurant; Kara's hand was already on the door when Alex held her arm back. "And which one is she?"

Kara rolled her eyes. "Attractive."

The four sat a table that was too small for that number at the trendy place Lena had picked, all clashing elbows and bumping feet. Everyone was silent besides the occasional clinking of their glasses or the apologetic 'sorry' over colliding body parts.

Kara wanted to crawl out of her skin.

"So, Sam," she tried with a smile. "Where are you from?"

"Metropolis. You?"

"Midvale."

"Huh. Never been."

"It's... nice."

"I'm sure it is."

Kara glanced at Lena with a look that said help me. Lena shrugged delicately, sending a discreet glare towards Alex that said you help me. Next to Kara, Alex fiddled with a napkin, looking utterly bored. Kara wanted to whack her upside the head.

They all stared at their menus in awkward silent for an eternity.

"So..." Kara tried again, swirling her rapidly disappearing drink in the glass. "What are we going to order?"

Alex and Sam just shrugged. Lena piped in. "I think I'm going with the sea bass."

Kara nudged her sister. "Alex, Lena's just... a great orderer. It's not just that she always picks the best thing on the menu, she manages to order it in such a way that not even the chef could know how good it could really be."

Lena shot Kara a look, Alex shifted uncomfortably in her seat, bumping into Kara's elbow. "I think restaurants are... overrated."

"I agree," Sam suddenly piped in. "I agree. I prefer outdoor activities—I'm already stuck inside all week, why would I want to spend my weekend paying for overpriced food in a stuffy place full of people?"

Alex suddenly leaned over with a smile. "Exactly! And I work in a lab all day—trust me, I know just how dirty these plates are."

"Labs!" Kara interjected. "Alex, Lena worked in labs... before. Right, Lena?"

Lena looked like she wanted to sink into the floor. "Uh, yes. That was years ago, before I went into business. I'm CFO at my brother's company now."

Alex nodded, disinterested. "Ah, cool."

Sam patted Lena's arm with a laugh. "Before the corporate ladder, Lena was a lab rat. We worked in the same lab for a while, but while she worked overtime, I went to roller derby with my friends."

Alex laughed. "Roller derby! That was totally me in college! I went a little when I first got to National City!"

"No way!" Sam tittered excitedly. "I was in the Worldkillers; which..."

"The Livewires," Alex interjected.

Lena and Kara exchanged surprised looks. Alex and Sam chattered over their entire meal—neither Kara not Lena were really able to get a word in edgewise.

"Well," Kara finally said once they had settled the bill, interrupting whatever it was that Alex and Sam were now bonding over. "That was a great meal, I'm stuffed. How about a walk?"

They all walked in tandem down the avenue, huddled together to fight the cold. A few blocks down, Sam abruptly pulled Lena back to look at some shoes at a store window while Kara and Alex kept on walking ahead.

"Lena..."

"So," Lena cleared her throat. "Do you like her?"

Sam grimaced a little. "Kara? Yeah, she's nice. But... how do you feel about Alex?"

Lena furrowed her brows. "She... she seems okay, I couldn't really get a sense-"

Sam interrupted her with a wave. "Do you think you'd go out with her?"

"I don't know. I mean-"

"Because I feel very comfortable with her."

Lena smacked her lips lightly, leaning on the storefront with a sigh. "You want to go out with Alex."

Sam bit her lip. "Would it be okay with you?"

Lena nodded. "Uh, sure, sure. I'm just worried about Kara. She's very sensitive, you know, she's going through a rough period, so maybe don't... reject her right away? Be... tactful about it?"

Sam shook her head. "Oh no, I wouldn't. I understand, totally, don't worry about it. I can be tactful."

Up ahead, Kara and Alex pretended to look at a bookstore. Kara watched a small spider spin a web down a shelf from the inside; Alex was doing a poor job of pretending she wasn't stealing glances at Sam from where they stood.

"So..." she began shyly. "If you don't think you're going to call Sam, do you mind if I call her?"

Kara blinked. "Well, no, no. Not at all." A beat passed, and she sucked air through her teeth. "But... maybe tonight you shouldn't. Lena's very vulnerable. I mean, by all means, call Sam, just, y'know, maybe wait a week?"

"Of course! Fine, fine, no problem, I wasn't even thinking about tonight."

The other girls joined them after a few moments, and the four walked along a couple of blocks in silence.

"Well," Alex suddenly broke it. "I don't feel like walking anymore. I think I'll get a cab. Taxi!" She waved one down, and suddenly Sam jumped to take her arm.

"I'll go with you."

"Great!" Alex smiled as they both rushed into the cab without as much as a goodbye.

Lena and Kara stood at the curb, astonished.

"That went well," Kara said with a long-suffering sigh. "Ice-cream?"

Lena laughed. "Coffee."

"Frozen yogurt. My treat."

"Fine."

Lena put her hands on her waist, brows furrowed in deep displeasure as her eyes scanned the staggering variety of crap stocked at Sharper Image.

"I knew we were never going to find anything here. We should have just gone to the plant store—plants are great house-warming gifts."

Kara laughed. "I still say Sam and Alex could really use that helmet with the beer straws. And it had a fan, too!"

Lena eyed the aforementioned item with clear disgust, not amused by its existence in the slightest. Kara's attention was diverted by something else.

"Oh! Here it is! The perfect thing. Lena, come look, everyone needs one of these!"

Lena turned to look at had Kara so excited. The blonde rushed to a karaoke machine, turning it on and flipping through the cassettes. She picked one and excitedly shoved it into the slot. A familiar beat filled the store, and Lena held back a laugh as Kara began to sing giddily.

"Jitterbug! Jitterbug! Jitterbug!"

Kara beckoned her with a crooked finger as she sang, and Lena shook her head in the negative, trying her hardest not to dissolve into a puddle of laughter.

"You put the boom boom into my heart—ooh, ooh

You send my soul sky high when your lovin' starts

Jitterbug into my brain—yeah, yeah

Goes a bang-bang-bang 'til my feet do the same!"

Lena looked over—a few shoppers looked at Kara as she swayed to the tune, still beckoning her over and wagging her brows. It was fun to watch Kara make a fool out of herself—but Lena could never resist her for long. She stepped up into Kara's space, sharing the machine's little microphone as she joined in.

"Wake me up before you go-go

Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo

Wake me up before you go-go

I don't want to miss it when you hit that high!"

They danced, they twirled around the chord of the microphone, swaying and hopping and acting silly. Kara's smile was beaming.

"So wake me up before you go-go

'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo

Wake me up before you go-go

Take me dancing tonight

I want to hit that high—yeah, yeah!"

Kara suddenly froze, dropping the microphone to the floor with a stricken look. Lena tripped over the chord, confused as the music continued and Kara... didn't.

"What's the matter?" She asked, fiddling with the buttons on the machine to make the backing music stop and failing. "It's my voice, isn't it? You hate my voice. I have a terrible voice, I know. Jack hated it. Every time I would sing something, he would say 'please don't sing,' and I..."

Kara held onto Lena's sleeve, grabbing it with a swift movement that stopped Lena in her tracks.

"It's Kare."

Lena whirled in place. "What?"

"It's Kate. She's right over there. She's coming right at me."

Wham's backing vocals continued awkwardly with no one singing along to them, and Lena spotted a couple coming straight at them—at short-haired woman with a timid smile, hand-in-hand with another attractive woman in a sharp pantsuit.

"Hey, Kara," Kate spoke, not acknowledging Lena right away. "How are you?"

Kara swallowed, visibly and loudly, looking shell-shocked. "Fine, fine."

Kate motioned to the woman next to her. "This is Sophie Moore. Kara Danvers."

"Sophie." Kara muttered in a whine.

They shook hands—Lena was worried she'd have to lift Kara's arm for her. It was unbearably awkward. Kara seemed to remember her presence at the last second.

"Oh, Lena Luthor, this is Lena Luthor. Kate Kane and... Sophie."

Lena offered a tight smile. "Hi."

Kate replied in kind. "Nice to meet you." She gave Kara an apologetic glance. "Well, see you around, Kara."

"Yeah," Kara said flatly. "Bye, Kate. Bye, Sophie."

Another tight smile, and the couple moved on. Lena slammed her fist on the karaoke machine; it spat out the cassette and somewhere an employee reprimanded her. She ignored them, turning to Kara, who looked like she was about to faint.

"Kara? You okay?"

Kara nodded weakly. "I'm perfect." Her lips quivered. "She looked weird, she looked very weird, didn't you think she looked weird?"

Lena grimaced. "I don't know, I've never seen her before."

Kara nodded a bit more forcefully, biting at her lip. "Trust me, she looked weird. It's the haircut. Doesn't frame her face right, didn't you think? I thought so, didn't you?"

Lena held onto her arm. "Kara..."

The blonde shook her off, stepping out in a hurry.

"It had to happen at some point," Kara said at the plant store. Lena was just thankful to hear her talking again—the entire walk there she had been utterly silent, with a haunted look in her eyes. "I mean, I'm fine. In a city of about eight million people, you're bound to walk into your ex-wife sometime. So, it happened. And now I'm fine."

Lena stepped away for a moment to pay, only to return and find Kara staring blankly into a rosebush. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Kara tugged at one of the leaves. "I'm great. It was like a catharsis, you know? I feel like I looked death in the face and shook its hand. And now I feel fine. No, I feel great. Yeah, no. I really feel okay."

Sam and Alex's new, cluttered apartment was filled with furniture and a thick layer of tension. It had been rolling off Kara in waves when she and Lena arrived with their gift plant, but it was also coming off the new couple as they argued over some wagon wheel coffee table Alex insisted they had.

Kara had been distracted, perusing their books as she lounged on one of their still-wrapped chairs. Lena tried to distract them by commenting on the great shade of beige of their living room wall.

"I works for me," Alex said of the table. "It says home. It works."

Sam put her hands on her girlfriend's shoulders, a placating gesture. "Alright, just... We'll let Lena and Kara decide." She turned towards Kara. "Kara, what do you think?"

Kara reacted slowly, but eventually looked over to the table with clear disinterested. She regarded it for a second. "It's nice."

Alex pumped her fist triumphantly. "It's nice! There you go, case closed."

"Nuh-uh. Kara has no taste. Lena, what do you think?"

Lena looked it over. It really was atrocious. She crinkled her nose in distaste. Sam smiled; Alex looked crestfallen.

"See?"

"What's so awful about it?"

"Honey," Sam began, exasperated. "It is so goddamn awful I can't even begin to explain what is so awful about it."

"I don't object to any of your things..." Alex muttered dejectedly.

"Baby, if we had an extra room, you could put it in there with all of your things including those bar stools and I would never, ever have to see it-"

"You don't like my barstools!" Alex interjected, stricken. She turned to Kara for help. "Kara?" Silence. "Help me out! Someone has to be on my side here!"

Sam held her face tenderly. "I am on your side! I'm just trying to help you develop a good taste."

Alex's brows furrowed. "I have good taste!"

"Honey, good taste is like a sense of humor—everyone thinks they have it, when in reality..."

Kara suddenly stood up, knocking the chair back. All three looked at her, startled as she paced nervously around the room.

"It starts out like this, you know?" She gestured vaguely at the clutter surrounding them. "We started out like this, Kate and I. We had empty walls. We hung things, we looked at swatches of paint—how many goddamn shades of white even are there? And then you know what happens? Six years later you wind up at a Sharper Image, singing 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' in front of Sophie!"

Lena stepped closer, holding onto Kara's sleeve. "Kara," she warned in a low tone. "I know you're very upset, but maybe now is not a great time to talk about this."

Kara waved her off, yanking her sleeve. "What's wrong with right now? It's the perfect time to talk about this. I just want them to see," she motioned towards Sam and Alex, looking increasingly agitated. "I just want them to see the truth of what this becomes. Everything's fine, everybody's in love, everybody's happy—and before you know it, you're screaming at each other over who owns the fucking stereo!"

She marched over to the coffee table, picking up a rogue plate. "One day, you two will be fighting over this goddamn plate. Mark my words." She was shouting now, the anger making her fists open and close at her sides. "I mean it, I mean it, Alex. Put your name in your books, and do it now while you're unpacking, because you know what? Someday soon you won't remember whose is whose. Believe it or not, someday you will be fighting over who gets custody of this coffee table, this shitty, awful, fucking stupid wagon wheel table!"

Alex looked bewildered. "You said you liked it!"

"I was being nice!" Kara roared as she slammed the door on her way out.

Lena looked at Alex and Sam with an apologetic grimace as she rushed to follow. "She just ran into Kate."

Sam looked intently at Alex. "I want you to know, honey—I will never want that coffee table."

Lena found Kara pacing on the stoop of the apartment. She leveled her with a glare before saying anything. Kara was already waving her off.

"I know, I know, I know, believe me, I know. I shouldn't have done that."

Lena pinched the bridge of her nose, heaving a sigh. "Kara, you have to find a way of not expressing every feeling you have the moment you have it."

Kara scowled. "Really?"

"Yes. There is a time and a place."

Kara threw her hands up in the air. "Great. That's just great. I'll be sure to attend Lena Luthor's next lecture on social tact."

Lena crossed her arms defensively. "You don't have to get angry about it—not with me."

"I think I'm entitled to a little anger when Ms. I'm-A-Fucking-Robot is telling me how to live my life!"

Lena's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Kara. You're about to cross a line."

Kara kicked a step, hands fisted at her sides. "So what, Lena? Is that the end of the world? Crossing a line?" She pointed at Lena aggressively, her finger jabbing the other woman's chest. "You know what your problem is? You stand too fucking far behind the line. I don't even think you can see the goddamn line from where you're standing."

Lena stepped forward, challenging. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing bothers you! Ever! You never get upset—I've never seen you get upset over anything at all!"

"Kara, don't be ridiculous."

"What?" Kara challenged, her tone mocking. "You never get upset about Jack. I never see it build up inside you. How is that possible? How? Don't you experience any loss—was there never any heartbreak for you?"

Lena grabbed at Kara's finger, yanking it away from her chest. "I've experienced my loss. I had my mourning period, and now I'm over it. I've processed my heartbreak, and you should do the same."

Kara looked incredulous. "What mourning period, Lena? You spent an hour at a department store. You left with a new fancy coat and some perfume and heartbreak was fucking off out the window!"

Lena's lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't have to take this from you, Kara, I really don't." She began walking away. Kara followed.

"If you're so over Jack, why haven't you been seeing anyone?"

"I see people."

Kara rushed in front of her, stopping Lena in her tracks. "See people? Let me ask you something, Lena—have you slept with a single person since you broke up with Jack? A single one?"

Lena gritted her teeth. "What the fuck does that have to do with anything? Will that prove I'm over him—fucking somebody? Kara, you're eventually going to have to move back to Midvale because you've slept with every damn woman in National City, and I don't see that turning Kate into a distant memory to you. Besides, I'll make love to someone when I'm good and ready—not the way you do it, fucking your way through your phone-book like you're out for revenge!"

There was a charged pause. Kara's shoulders seemed to relax. "Are you done now?"

Lena nodded, tired. "Yes."

"Great. Can I ask you something, then?"

"Yes."

"Do snapping turtles really snap? Is there an audible snap? Is it more of a click? How hard do they bite again? Do they..."

"Kara."

Lena brought a finger to Kara's lips, stopping her wavering voice before the rambling got out of control. Kara's eyes brimmed with tears, and she looked lost. Lena hugged her.