Chapter 5 - Beyond The Stars (Part 1)

At the Danvers house, Lena was sitting beside Kara as the two of them were curled up on the couch while Alex was on the armchair next to them. Lena couldn't remember of a time in which her life felt so good and so normal. Probably because her life had never felt so good and so normal before. But even though she was happier than she had ever been, there was still a feeling of sadness and nostalgia in her heart as every time she witnessed Kara and Alex interacting with each other in that way that showed how much they cared about each other, how much they supported and loved each other. At this very moment, Lena found herself missing the brother she had lost to madness. Which was something that happened more than she wanted to admit it. She swallowed thickly, hoping she wouldn't break in tears in front of Kara's family.

"Dinner's ready, girls." Eliza said, interrupting Lena's train of thoughts, and for that she was grateful.

Alex grinned and in one swoop movement, she hopped off the couch and rushed towards the dining room.

Kara spun her head to look at Lena."You ready?" She smiled.

"To have a real family dinner? That's what I've always wished for."

Kara smiled as she rose from the couch and put an arm out to Lena, helping her to get to her feet.

With their hands linked, they walked into the dining room, earning happy smiles and fond looks from Eliza and Alex.

For the first time in her life at a family dinner, Lena didn't have to control every single thing she said. Although she was still being careful that Kara's family didn't find out that she was a Luthor, and Kara was okay to keep this under wrap if that could make Lena more comfortable with them. She also didn't mention that she knew Kara's secret, because Kara had asked her not to say anything, mainly because she was convinced that Alex would totally freak out if she learned that Lena knew Kara was alien, even more so, if Alex ever found out that Lena was a Luthor. But all of these things didn't stop Lena from feeling as though she belonged to a family for the first time in her life. A family that seemed to care genuinely about her. A family that seemed to see her truly for who she was, even though there were a lot of stuff they didn't know about her. She felt as if she was part of a family that seemed to accept her without conditions, and for however long it may last, Lena was willing to savor every second of it.

At the end of the dinner and as it was late, Eliza suggested that Lena stayed over, and Alex agreed quickly to sleep in the guest bedroom.

"Welcome to my world." Kara said in a sing-song voice as they stepped inside the bedroom.

Lena browsed the place that felt warm and safe. Being in this room made her understand even better why Kara loved so much going back to her family home every time she had an occasion to do so. It was something that made them different from each other. Ever since she was able to do that, Lena was doing her best to avoid going back to the Luthor mansion. Somehow, even the boarding schools she went to years ago felt safer than the place she hated the most in the world.

As often, thinking about her family caused Lena's look to harden without her even realizing it. Her stance stiffened as well.

Sensing and seeing the change in Lena's mood, Kara stepped closer to her and softly put her hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Instantly, Lena relaxed at the contact of Kara's hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and meet Kara's deep blue eyes that stared at her with love. Which was enough to get rid of all the tension that had accumulated in her body for the past minutes.

She smiled, wanting to reassure Kara, and also feeling better about everything when she realized that the wonderful woman beside her was her girlfriend."Yeah. I'm more than okay. It's a... it's a beautiful place." she said, browsing around the room once again.

Kara smiled back and pressed a loving kiss to Lena's cheek before strolling in the room to pull a drawer open. She searched something in it and took out a pastel blue shorts and a white cotton t-shirt before stepping closer to Lena again. "That should fit you." She smiled, handing Lena the pajama.

"Thanks, darling." Lena smiled.

"I take Alex's bed tonight. You can sleep in mine." Kara said, pointing at one of the two beds of the room.

Lena glanced at the bed. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept on a such tiny bed. It was probably before she got adopted by the Luthors. Her heart ached when she thought about her birth mother for a short while, although she didn't remember much of the woman who had raised and loved for the first fourth years of her life. The only thing she remembered clearly was that she had been loved.

"You sure you are okay?" Kara asked with concern, taking Lena out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, don't worry." Lena replied with a reassuring smile. "Thank you for inviting me over. I really like being here."

Kara smiled and leaned in to connect their lips in a sweet kiss that caused Lena's conflicting emotions to melt away.

A while later, when Lena came back in the bedroom after using the bathroom, Kara was already tucked under the sheets in Alex's bed. At that moment, Lena wanted nothing more than to join her and sleeping curled to her body.

Trying to chase away all thoughts about sharing a bed with Kara from her mind, Lena stepped closer to Kara's bed and slithered under the cottons sheets that were soft and warm. Which made her feel as if Kara's arms were wrapped around her. She felt safe, and smiled at this feeling before turning on her side and facing her girlfriend who was gazing at her from the other bed of the room.

"Goodnight, my beautiful princess." Kara beamed in the dim light.

"Goodnight, my darling." Lena smiled.

During the night, Kara awoke from her sleep when some unusual sounds made their way into her ears. First, she heard a fast breathing, and then a strong heartbeat that pounded hard. She could also pick up some incoherent sentences being mumbled very quietly. Kara's eyes fluttered open, and her brow furrowed.

"Kara," she heard being spoken weakly.

It was Lena's voice, and Kara's heart leapt in panic in her chest. Using her x-ray vision without even realizing it, she spotted Lena lying on the bed. She seemed deeply asleep, but she looked far from being peaceful. A thin layer of sweat covered her forehead, her body was twitching and the look that was on her face made her seem as though she was terrified and in pain. Kara had had enough nightmares in her life to recognize that one had made its way into Lena's sleep. She jumped off the bed and rushed to Lena's side.

"Kara," Lena repeated in her sleep. Her body jerked.

Kara sat on the bed, and placed both of her hands on Lena's shoulders. "Wake up, my love." she said, shaking her shoulders slightly.

Lena whimpered, but didn't seem willing to wake up.

"Wake up, Lena, please. It's just a nightmare. Wake up." Kara said, caressing Lena's cheeks but nothing that she was trying seemed to wake her girlfriend up.

Hoping that a change of light in the room could make Lena rouse from her slumber, Kara switched on the light and took one of Lena's hand in hers. "Lena." she said, stroking Lena's hand with her thumb.

"Kara," Lena sobbed in her sleep as her entire body shook.

Obviously, Lena's nightmare was about her, and that fact was enough to increase Kara's anxiety at the distressed state of the woman she loved.

Kara put her hand to Lena's cheek and caressed it fondly. "Lena, wake up. I love you."

For the first time since she was trying to wake Lena up, Kara felt her girlfriend's body relaxing. Lena didn't look in pain anymore, but her body was still shaking.

Deciding to try something else, Kara slowly leaned in and brushed her nose against Lena's before pressing softly her lips to hers.

Lena barely responded to the kiss, but Kara could feel her girlfriend calming down at this contact. Kara caressed Lena's cheeks and she started kissing her deeper until she felt Lena bringing her hands to her wrists and holding them firmly.

Relieved, Kara pulled away as Lena's eyes blinked open. She brushed softly her cheeks, waiting for Lena to say something.

"Kara," Lena whispered. "You okay?" she said as if she couldn't quite believe it, stroking Kara's wrists that she was holding as if she was afraid of letting go. As if she seemed afraid that Kara might disappear.

"I should be the one asking you that. You scared me for a moment." Kara replied, taking both of Lena's hands in hers and kissing them.

Lena sat up. "I'm sorry. I thought you were... I thought he'd killed you." she said shakily before breaking in tears.

Kara furrowed her brow, not understanding what Lena was talking about, but from the tears that poured from her girlfriend's eyes, Kara knew that it wasn't the right moment to ask any question.

Kara softly put her arms around Lena, and quickly pulled her into an embrace that she hoped would soothe her. "It's okay, I'm fine. Everything is alright." she said, rubbing slow circles over Lena's back. "I love you, my beautiful princess." She kissed Lena's temple and smelled the fresh scent of her shampoo as she kept holding her close.

Lena's sobs calmed down rather fast at the appeasing contact of Kara's body close to hers, and the feeling of her girlfriend's protective arms around her mingled with that scent of cinnamon that she loved so much. She was safe, she knew it. Most importantly, Kara was safe too, and that was all that mattered to Lena as this very moment.

After a while, Kara and Lena were lying on Kara's bed, still holding each other close. The size of the bed didn't leave much choices anyway, and they were both grateful for that. For some reasons that they didn't quite grasp, they felt the need to be close to each other even more than ever.

"Lex killed you." Lena said after a long silence.

"What?" Kara spoke, taken aback by this declaration.

"In my nightmare," Lena clarified. "He shot you with a kryptonite blast."

"Kryptonite?"

"The only substance that can kill a Kryptonian. Lex is close to figuring out how to make it. He's planning on using it to take down your cousin."

Kara shivered at this declaration.

Lena swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry."

Kara ran slowly a hand through Lena's hair. "This is not your fault."

"I feel like it is."

"It's not." Kara kissed softly Lena's forehead.

"I'm working on making a kryptonite shield. Now, I have even more reasons than before to get that working." Lena said, staring at Kara.

Kara slid her hand up to Lena's cheek. "You should not have to carry that much weight on your shoulders, Lena. You are not responsible for your brother's actions."

Tears welled up into Lena's eyes. "I haven't been able to bring him back to the side of good."

Kara caressed Lena's cheek. "He's the one choosing what he's doing. You aren't to blame for that."

"That's not what the rest of the world think."

"You can't do anything for that either, unfortunately. But you can start thinking, or more accurately... You can realize that you're not responsible for what's happening between your brother and my cousin, and that nothing of what Lex is doing is your fault." Kara said, thumbing away the one tear that had rolled down on Lena's cheek.

"I just don't understand," Lena shuddered.

"What?" Kara caressed slowly Lena's back.

"Why he's become like this. How is that possible for someone to change so much? I adored him when I was kid, we were so close, but then, without me knowing why... He started to change. Seeing you so close with Alex tonight, that made me miss him, the brother I lost, not what he's become." Lena swallowed thickly as she fought to keep her tears at bay. "When I got adopted by the Luthors, he's the one who made me feel most welcome in the family. He even taught me how to play chess, and I quickly became better than him. Rather than making him angry, that made him laugh. He made me proud to be a Luthor for a while. Then, his friendship with Clark got destroyed and he started declaring war on Superman, terrorizing countless of people at the same time."

Kara tensed at these words, and furrowed her brow as she nibbled at her lips.

Lena smiled slightly and kissed Kara's cheek. "I know that Clark Kent is Superman, and I won't tell anyone. I promise. I'm good at keeping secrets."

"I know. I trust you." Kara kissed Lena on the lips. "How did you figure out?"

"That was pretty obvious." Lena let out a quick chuckle.

"My girlfriend is a genius. I love that." Kara smiled, pulling Lena in a long kiss.

Lena rested her head on Kara's chest and listened to the sound of her heartbeat as Kara put her arms around her and held her with love.

"I'm scared, Kara." Lena said shakily.

Kara rubbed softly Lena's back and kissed the top of her head. "Of what?"

"If Lex finds out about you... Perhaps, he already knows. He could come after you as well. Maybe our relationship could put you in danger even more."

"You're not trying to tell me that we should stay away from each other to keep me safe, aren't you?" Kara said, a sharp pain making its way in her heart at the thought of having to stay away from Lena.

"No. But I'm worried about you. I'm scared for you."

Kara sighed relieved and stroked softly Lena's arm. "You don't have to. I'm tough. I can handle whatever happens."

Lena let out a soft chuckle. "I don't doubt it."

"We're gonna be okay, Lena." Kara said, feeling as if no matter what could happen, nothing could ever break the bond that united them.

Lena didn't answer at that, but she smiled as she tightened her grip on Kara.

They stayed in silence after that, waiting for sleep to gain them as they were tangled into each other's arms in the dim light of the bedroom.

Kara's eyes were closed, but she still held Lena as tight as before. She focused on the sounds of Lena's breathing and heartbeat. Both were too fast to indicate that Lena was serene. Her body was stiff as well, and that was enough for Kara to know that something was preoccupying her girlfriend.

She opened her eyes, finding Lena lying on her back as she stared at the ceiling. Her brow was furrowed, and her eyes were full of worries.

Kara put a hand to Lena's cheek. "What's going on?" she asked softly.

"Nothing," Lena replied, turning her head to Kara and giving her a smile.

But Kara could see right through Lena's smile and the tone of her voice to feel what her girlfriend meant. "You're worried about something."

"How do you know?" Lena give her a small smile.

Kara brushed softly Lena's cheek with the tip of her fingers. "I know you. Your body feels a bit stiff in my arms. Your brow is furrowed. Your eyes, even though they are the most beautiful I've ever gazed into don't have the sparkles they usually have and seem clouded with worries. Also, your breathing and your heartbeat are too fast to make me believe that you're okay."

Lena quirked an eyebrow. "You can hear my heartbeat?"

"Super-hearing as its perks sometimes." Kara smiled. "You have a very beautiful heartbeat."

Lena let out an amused laugh. "That's the first time I get a compliment like that."

Kara joined Lena into her laughter before their lips joined in a deep loving kiss.

Kara leaned softly her forehead against Lena's for a couple of seconds before pulling slightly away to look into her hypnotizing green eyes. "I'm right though? You are worried."

"Yeah," Lena sighed. "I'm rather pessimistic in a general manner. So, I can't help but being worried for you, and the danger being with me could bring upon you."

"Because of your brother?"

"Because of everything."

Kara slid her hand into Lena's and entwined their fingers. "It's gonna be all right."

Lena smiled slightly. "I wish I were as hopeful as you."

Kara brought Lena's hand to her lips and kissed softly her knuckles. "Luckily for you, I have enough hope for the both of us."

Lena let out a chuckle. "Heroes are always so full of hope."

"I'm no hero." Kara stated in a neutral tone.

Lena draped an arm around Kara's shoulders. "You are to me."

Kara smiled slightly and kissed softly Lena's lips as she wrapped her arms around her and felt that she was more relaxed than previously.

Kara smiled, bringing a hand to Lena's cheek. "Now, I'm sure that you are all right."

"Yeah, but I don't think I'd be able to get any sleep tonight."

Kara stayed silent for a couple of seconds until she smiled, "How do you feel about stargazing?"

Lena lifted an eyebrow. "That's not really something I take the time to do."

"I always do it when I have something weighing on my heart. That always clears my mind and makes me feel better."

"We can do that," Lena smiled.

"How do you feel about doing that from the roof?"

"Will you fly us there?"

"If you want," Kara chuckled.

Lena beamed. "Fly us, Supergirl."

"What?" Kara furrowed her brow.

"If you do decide to use your powers to save the world one day. I think Supergirl is the name you should take." Lena said, sitting up.

"I'll think about it." Kara smiled.

Kara used her super-speed to open the window and came back to pick Lena up. "You ready?" she asked, securing her girlfriend between her arms.

Lena smiled and nodded her approval.

Delicately, Kara flew them to the rooftop of the house and laid Lena down gently before sitting close beside her.

Lena looked up at the stars, and smiled as she thought about how much she was lucky to have Kara in her life. She spun her head to Kara, and swallowed thickly when she felt some tears making their way into her eyes as she felt hit out of nowhere by all the love she felt for someone she only knew since a couple of weeks.

"Lena?" Kara said, awestruck at the way Lena was looking at her.

Overwhelmed by her feelings, Lena put a hand to Kara's cheek. "I love you. I'm in love with you." She smiled at how easy it had been to say it. "It's the first time I say something like that. I've never felt it before either."

Kara's face lit up. She leaned her cheek into Lena's palm as some tears made their way out of her eyes.

"I love you, so much." Lena beamed, sweeping Kara's tears away with gentleness.

"I love you too." Kara leaned in and rested her forehead against Lena's until their noses brushed together and their lips joined in the softest kiss they had ever shared while a blanket of twinkling stars watched over them.