Kara could hear the loud thump of her heart without enhancing her powers. The possibility of creating a Kryptonian baby was present at the time Gabrielle mixed Cat's and Kara's eggs via high alien technology. Although, when Olivia was born, the results were a straightforward declaration that the newborn was human.
"She's human." Kara hoped, reminiscing about the chaos she envisioned when she acquired her powers. "We've run… test."
"Yes, but we never eliminated the option." Alex's voice dropped as some nurses walked past them. "She does have Kryptonian blood in her." Kara's eyes widened, her cardigan suddenly felt very scratchy. "She might look like a little Cat Grant, but she came out of you."
Kara tilted her head, lost in her sister words. "Olive heard Cat's voice, I am certain."
"We can do some test now." Kara squinted her eyes at her sister.
"What do you mean?"
"Ask her something," Alex pointed to the door behind her. "And see if she can hear you." Alex's eyes widened. "Unless she is listening to us speaking right now."
"Oh, Rao," Kara said, bringing her thumb to her lips. The Kryptonian hooked her arm around Alex's arm and slowly pushed her into a supply closet adjacent to Cat's room. She removed her glasses, and the sight calmed her instantly. Olive was laughing hysterically at something her mother was saying.
Alex opened the palm of her hand when she saw her sister expression changed. Kara placed her glasses on her sister's hands, and with a quick turn of her head, she blocked all the noises, but her wife's and daughter's voice.
"Now you add the word, mommy." Olivia chuckled.
"Let's see." Cat placed her hand on her chin, thinking. Ollie laughed, waiting patiently for the word. "Hairy," Cat said with a smirk.
At the sound of this, Olive shook her head with laughter. "Mr. Knows walked to the pond to wash his hairy…" Olivia took a deep breath, her eyes focused on a specific object in the room. "Nose!" She said, laughing louder.
Cat watched her daughter in amazement. "Mr. Nose," Cat alleged astonished by why her daughter picked that word.
"Mr. Knows walked to the pond to wash his hairy nose!" Olivia repeated, and Cat laughed along.
Kara didn't want to interrupt, just in case, her daughter was controlling her super hearing. She chuckled at the beautiful sight before she cleared her throat. Kara glanced at Alex and then back to the room. "She doesn't look like she's listening. Olive?" Kara called, shrugging her shoulders at her sister. "Can you come over here, please?"
Olivia kept laughing at the sentence. Kara called her twice, but it was as if her daughter wasn't aware of the power.
"Maybe, she can control it," Alex said, passing Kara her glasses.
"This is not something that comes with a manual," Kara said, putting her glasses on. "Imagine a four—year—old listening to everything, every sound, every conversation, simultaneously."
"I'd be scared," Alex said, placing her hand on Kara's.
"It requires time and a lot of control."
"Olivia is brilliant. Maybe she figured it out by herself."
Kara rubbed her forehead. "I would've loved to help her, you know like you helped me."
Alex embraced her sister. "Don't worry. We can run some test tomorrow." Kara nodded, smiling softly at her sister and started by the idea of a little Kryptonian.
Alex opened the door, just to find Maggie walking in front of it. Maggie stopped, turned, and faced them. "Oh, the Danvers's sisters coming out of the closet." Maggie beamed widely to her lover. "Where have I seen that before?"
"It's a supplies room," Alex said, walking over Maggie and placing a tender kiss on her lips.
"It's still a closet," Kara said nonchalantly. "It's still a closet."
Maggie's eyes changed, noticing Kara sudden look. She pressed her hand on Kara's forearm affectionately. "How's Cat?"
"She lost her memories," Carter said, standing next to them.
Kara looked down. She couldn't explain why she felt so limited with her family in front of her. Kara didn't want to face Maggie's puzzled look, or her sisters melancholically face. Moreover, she didn't want to look at Carter's face.
The silence fell heavy on them, Maggie didn't ask any questions, and Carter quickly pulled Kara into a tight hug. The tall boy's heart was loud against Kara's ear. She wrapped her arms around him, ignoring her shoulder wound.
"We're here for you, Kara," Maggie said, stroking Kara's back.
Kara nodded against Carter's chest, she wiped her tears and sneered gently at them.
"Cat—she—she can't know I am—you know. At least not for now, it would be better if she figures it out by herself, again." She scratched her neck. "I need your help; fill her in all you can about Olive. She can't know her mother just met her."
"Of course, we'll help, Kara," Carter said.
"I… I will get Olive, and as soon as she leaves, you can come in, okay, kid?"
Kara turned. She cleaned her wet cheeks, arranged her glasses and walked back into the room.
Cat instantly raised her gaze towards her former assistant. The smile she granted Kara provoked hundreds of butterflies to spread across Kara's stomach.
Cat was tranquil, at ease and in her comfort zone.
"Momma. Mommy invented a new game!" Olivia said, clapping. "It's hilarious."
Kara sat on Cat's bed. "Okay, I want to hear everything about it."
"Okay, so we form a sentence. Mommy says one word, and I add another one until the sentence is funny." Olivia said, rushing her words.
"Prepare yourself," Cat said smirking at Kara. "Mr. Knows walked to the pond to wash his hairy nose." Kara laughed at her wife enunciating a pun.
"Mr. Nose, momma!" Olivia said, tapping her nose.
"Was that a pun? You are clever." Kara started tickling her daughter's belly. "Is that another superpower?"
"No, momma stop," Olivia said in between laughs. Kara stopped when her daughter couldn't breathe and placed a kiss on her forehead. "That was funny," Olive said breathing hard. "I can wait to tell Aunt Alex and Aunt Maggie and Ter, and Uncle Winn, and—
"Everybody?" Kara said with her eyes wide open.
"Yes! We all need to play."
Kara giggled. "Okay, we'll explain mommy's new awesome game to them."
Olivia smiled, and Kara quickly looked at Cat. Her wife was laughing, enjoying Kara's and her daughter's conversation.
Cat took a deep breath. She couldn't deny how endearing was observing her former assistant with Ollie.
Ollie, who was also Kara's.
Her daughter, who shares the same profiled nose as the millennial.
Cat was dumbfounded. When will she able to address Kara as what she was?
"I'm afraid it's late. Mommy needs to rest, and you have a sleepover to attend." Cat heard Kara's voice. She blinked, leaving her thoughts behind.
"Okay!" Olive said nodding. "We can play tomorrow, mommy."
"We will, beautiful Ollie."
For a second, Cat didn't think of her cold feet. The cheap bed sheets covering her body was not of importance. She observed her daughter's green eyes, her long eyelashes, her perfect nose and her plump cheeks.
Ollie noticed her mother staring. The four—year—old perceived the look her mother was giving her.
Ollie knew its meaning.
So, she crawled over to her mother, placed a wet kiss on her cheek and with care and lots of love, she slid the side of her index finger over her mommy's nose.
The gesture made Cat overflow with love.
"I love you, too, Ollie." The words escaped Cat's mouth rapidly. She blinked the tears away, changing her gaze toward the millennial and then back to her daughter.
The confession wasn't a lie. The feeling was new, instant but very real.
Cat pulled Ollie towards her, pecking her forehead. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow, beautiful. You have fun, okay?"
Olivia nodded. "Goodnight, mommy."
"Goodnight, Ollie."
Kara stretched her arms, and Olivia jumped in them. "Goodnight, darling. Remember to brush your teeth." Kara said warningly.
"And Mr. Knows," Olivia said using the same tone her mother used.
"Yes, he'll brush too." Kara stood and kissed her daughter's cheek. "I'll make sure he does."
"Bye mommy," Ollie said, waving.
"Bye!" Cat smiled and waved back.
Kara turned, smiling at Cat and leaving the room. Alex and Maggie smiled quickly at Olivia. The four—year—old jumped into Alex's arms, extending her tiny hand toward Kara's face.
Kara quickly closed the distance.
Olive slid her finger carefully on her mother's nose. Kara shut her eyes and snaked her arms around Alex and Olivia. "I love you more, with all my heart. Do you know that?"
"Are you talking to Olivia or me?" Alex asked. "Because I love you too, with all my heart."
"She was talking to me, Aunt Alex!" Olivia said giggling.
"Hmm," Alex said tilting her head. "Well, she's hugging us both so maybe you're right."
Kara nodded quickly. "I love you too, Alex. With all my heart."
Alex kissed her sister's head, lovingly. It was all Kara needed, her family. She just needed her wife. She required Cat.
"Okay, baby girl. I'll see you tomorrow." She said her goodbyes and watched Alex and Maggie walk away with her daughter.
"Can you wait here? I would like to tell her." Kara spoke softly.
Carter nodded.
She walked back inside the room. "Hey," Kara smiled closing the door, leaning against her unharmed shoulder. "Thank you. You did excellent with Olive."
"No need of thanking me, Kiera. She's incredibly amazing." Cat said, smiling back at the millennial.
"I—um, Carter is outside. He wants to see you." Cat's smiled vanished, bringing a fearful, nervous face. Kara noted this and searched for a way to make her wife feel tranquil. After all, Kara felt like Cat trusted her. The look her wife provided her hours ago, was replaced by what Kara knew was the comfort.
She wished she could be brave enough to listen to her wife's heartbeat.
"Okay," Kara spoke. "He's about this tall," She said placing her hand a foot away from her head. "He's a little muscular," Kara said making quotation marks in the air. Cat couldn't help but smile. "And, I know, you'll freak out when you see his hair. You did a couple of years ago."
"Please tell me he is not portraying a George Washington look? He'll be bullied."
"No," Kara laughed. "Buzzcut." Cat reminded silent, probably imaging her eighteen—year old son. "His voice is deeper, of course, and he doesn't have any facial hair," Kara said, finishing her wife's mental picture. "He's handsome."
"I'm ready," Cat said smiling at the millennial. "Let him in."
Kara nodded walking out. Once outside, she saw Gabrielle coming her way and Carter walking into her wife's room.
The ride home was silent. Cat looked at her shoes and the beautiful material of her dress pants. She gazed at her bare hands. There were a few more wrinkles on top of them. Cat was sure she'd find some more once she's brave enough to see her reflection in a mirror.
She didn't want to open the small plastic bag with her gold watch, earrings, and jewelry the hospital removed to attend her. Cat didn't know if she was ready to wear what she knew was in the bag.
Her black coat felt terrific under her skin. She quickly twisted her right wrist, reaching the velvet tag in it and reading the brand name written in gold cursive fonts.
Her eyes changed toward the window. Five years didn't affect how National City looked. Her driver passed Noonan's, the small park with her name, and the prestige of CatCo plaza.
She wondered how far they were driving, how remote from downtown. She glanced at Kara. The millennial was staring out the window with a brown paper bag clasped against her hands.
The sight reminded her of countless time when she took her assistant to a meeting, or to run some errands with her. It didn't look as if she was driving home.
A place she didn't know its location. Cat rubbed her forehead with her hands. The thought of going to a house without Carter made her nervous, but the glee of toys, stuffed animals and the possibility of drawings on her fridge calmed her.
Cat wasn't used to mixed emotions.
She craved control.
The car stopped in the lobby. She recognized the area, the revolving doors, and the luxury. It was her penthouse. Cat sighed in to relieve, and Kara noticed, shaking her head playfully.
Cat shrugged her shoulders and followed the millennial out of the van and into the bright lobby. The loud tap of Cat heels hammered the polished floor. She noticed Kara had a Prada bag in her hands. The look didn't match the millennials clothes, but it didn't match the brand Cat saw earlier inside her coat.
Kara noticed the look her wife was giving to the expensive bag. They stopped in front of the elevator, and Kara handed her the bag. "You wore a Prada blouse this morning." Cat nodded quickly feeling content with her choices after five years.
Cat took a deep breath, watching how Kara retrieved the key from her coat and placed it on the top button. "Are you bringing me here so that I could feel comfortable with my surroundings?" Cat asked when Kara twisted the key and pressed the penthouse button.
"Oh," Kara said understanding her wife's question. "No, we live here." Kara knew this answer would please Cat.
Cat didn't speak again. The elevator reached the top floor and spread the doors open. Cat smiled. The area was the same, and very clean. Despite having a four—year—old.
The furniture was not black anymore. The dark colors were replaced with whites couches and colorful cushions. The walls were adorned with paintings of landscapes Cat's never believes they could exist. The luxury was visible in every corner. From the exquisite paintings adorning her walls to the wooden and carpeted floor.
She didn't notice that Kara was holding the door of the elevator open for her until the box beeped. The millennial smiled, encouraging Cat to walk into her home.
"It's beautiful," Cat said, admiring every piece of decoration in her house.
She left her purse on one of the tables next to the entrance. She lifted her foot, one at a time to remove her shoes. The heels were long forgotten in the carpet as she made her way toward the hall.
The walls were adorned with picture frames. Cat glanced at them, paying no interest in any of them. The stretched her hand, hoping the switch of the light was there. She let out a deep breath when she found the switch, quickly turning it off and making the frames disappear into the darkness.
Kara observed from afar. She wanted to give Cat her space.
Cat walked straight to the red door in the hall. Kara removed her glasses, disappearing the walls until she saw her wife.
The room was the same, or so Cat thought. The bed was replaced by a bigger one, with a different headboard. She found an additional dresser next to hers and what it looked like a more substantial walking closet.
She saw that her creams and lotions on her dresser were still there, but they weren't alone anymore. Some other products belonged to the millennial.
Cat raised her gaze, ready to see her reflection in the full mirror that rested on top of the double dressers. Her hair was blonder and wavy. And a little longer. Her eyes were the same. Hopefully, they didn't look tired in the morning. She touched the new wrinkles, sliding her finger smoothly on top of them. They weren't as bad as she thought.
Her cheeks were round, and her jawline was still strong and elegant. She looked different, but she didn't note like she missed five years. Somehow, she seemed younger. As if… she was… happy.
"I am certain that you didn't ask for my opinion," Kara said, fiddling with her glasses, but keeping eye contact. "But, you look beautiful. Even more now."
Cat removed her eyes from the reflection of the millennial in the mirror.
"Should I get used to this new version of you, Kiera?"
Kara lowered her head and walked into the room with a simple smile. "Which one," Kara asked. "The one when I can speak to you about anything I want, or me complimenting you?"
"I'm guessing, both," Cat said, facing the millennial.
Kara smiled, walking closer to Cat. "Your dresser is the right one. Mine is left." Cat took a deep breath and nodded. She opened the first drawer of the right dresser and found a blue Supergirl shirt in it.
"If I recall, you said the right dresser belonged to me," Cat asked grabbing the blue shirt and unfolding it. The shirt was two sizes bigger, and the crest was bright and palpable.
"Yeah." Kara chuckled. "That's yours."
Cat shrugged, placing the shirt in the drawer. "Probably looks good on me then." She said walking to the bathroom.
Kara nodded quickly, reminiscing her wife with nothing but the oversized blue shirt covering her curves. Kara looked at her wife, walking away and cleared her throat.
She followed Cat into the bathroom, leaning her body against the doorframe.
Cat rolled her eyes when she found a blue adult toothbrush with Supergirl's logo on it. "Apparently, I am very fond of the hero." She grabbed the toothbrush and inspected the wood material.
Kara walked into the room, chuckling and standing behind her wife. She placed a hand unconsciously on Cat's left hip and grabbed the toothbrush with her right hand. "That one is mine." Cat released the toothbrush and looked at Kara's hand through the mirror.
Kara noticed the puzzled look her wife gave her. She removed her hand from her hip. "We follow the same rule from the dresser; your night products are on the right, including your red toothbrush and mine is on the left. She smiled pointing at the blue toothbrush. "Same is with the bed, you sleep on the right side, and I sleep on the left side."
Cat took a deep breath nodding slowly. "Speaking of how we sleep," She began saying. "I think is better if I sleep by myself." Kara smile vanished. "Just until I feel comfortable around you." She stopped herself, thinking of a way to rephrase the sentence. "Just, until I fully understand how this works." She said, slowly, as if she was taking into consideration the millennial's feelings. "Just until," She tried again. "I assimilate that we're…" Cat composed herself. "Married." She glanced at Kara's ringless hand and then back at her face.
Kara nodded and left the bathroom. Cat followed, afraid she didn't rephrase the sentence correctly. She saw the younger woman entering the walking closet and talking a few bed sheets, pillowcases, and blankets. She then walked to the bed and grabbed the left pillow.
"I hope you can understand," Cat said, taking a deep breath.
Kara stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around. "You can't call me by my name, of course, you need time to realize I'm your wife. Don't worry, I understand." Kara cleaned her wet cheeks. "I'll be in the guestroom; your medicines are in the kitchen."
The door of the elevator beeped twice. Kara turned around adjusting the sounds. She listened to the gears and the cables pulling up the bulky case. She walked to the front of the guest room, placing her hand on the door.
Kara squinted her eyes and lowered the rim of her glasses to see past the door. She saw Cat walking out of the room; she was barefoot, wearing baggy gray sweatpants, and Kara's loose white shirt. Kara took a deep breath. She wanted to get out of the room and hug her and tell her how lovely she looked.
It was easy to appreciate her wife clothe even with her x-ray vision.
There was something, to this day, which made Kara's hands tingle at the sight of her wife every time she changed clothing. Kara fell in love with the dresses, the tight skirts, the high heels, the button—downs, the blouses and even the blazers her wife use for work.
She couldn't disagree that her wife, looking authoritative and elegant was one of Kara's favorite's looks. Nevertheless, seeing Cat dress down, in sweatpants, a loose white shirt, Kara's shirt, made her stomach twist with butterflies.
Cat slowly removed the hairband that held her hair high on her head. Golden hair fell gradually on her shoulders. She touched the bandage and strolled to the elevator, waiting for it to reach the destination.
Kara didn't hear the shower or the bathtub. This meant her wife wasn't going to sleep anytime sooner. Kara guessed she decided to eat something, that the elevator was bringing food.
At the thought of that, Kara's stomach growled. She didn't have any breakfast, and it was almost midnight. Maybe the lack of calories was prolonging her body to mend itself. Her shoulder kept throbbing.
The elevator beeped twice one again. The doors slid open showing a silver cart in it. Kara was right, Cat order something from the service downstairs.
Cat pulled the cart and removed the white cloth from the bucket.
Kara's heart ran fast, as she noticed the bottle inside the cold bucket. Cat didn't order any food. Kara's gaze instantly moved to the left, in the direction of the kitchen. She saw the closed bag of pills sitting on top of the counter. Her wife didn't take any medications.
Cat didn't even open the bag.
Kara closed her eyes. She turned around placing her back against the door. Her body slid down until Kara's arms rounded her knees. She understood how her wife felt if she recurred to alcohol. Kara felt powerless for the first time in years.
Cat didn't drink anymore; she decided that it wasn't what she required. She replaced the whiskey for candy, she drank sporadically, but never in excess.
A glass of wine in dinner here and there was boundless for Cat. She understood the substantial drinking was more of a stress reliever. Her life was different. Kara didn't stress her, Olivia reassured her. Cat applied those rules a long time ago. States that are forgotten, just like the last five years of her life.
Kara turned again. She watched her wife walk into the kitchen. She opened a cabinet, looking for a glass. Kara was thankful they never moved the contents of the cupboard through the years. This would make Cat more relaxed in her home, despite how she felt earlier about the dresser, the toothbrush of the bed.
Cat picked the glass cup, walked to the elevator, pushed the cart back in and pressed a button. The elevator beeped twice and resumed its way downwards. Kara turned her entire body. She again reminded against the door. She removed her glasses and placed her hands on her face, rubbing her fingers over her eyes, cheeks, and jawline.
She heard Cat sliding the door of the balcony open, the soft drag against the tiles, positioning the chair not far from the door, creating a perfect view of parallel buildings and lights in front of her.
Cat felt contented. She closed her eyes, appreciating the moderate breeze. Cat thought about what month it was. It didn't feel hot, tropical, or too cold, so she quickly eliminated summer time. She took a deep breath, perceiving everything around her. She decided that it was a month in between August and October.
Cat stretched her fingers as if she was palping the breeze. She was sure that it was October.
Satisfied with her observations, Cat poured an inch in the glass cup and placed the bottle on the table next to her. Cat swirled the brown liquid, moving her wrist in circles. She stared at it for a couple of seconds, before she gulped the entire thing.
The liquid burnt her throat. The flavor surprised her, but the effects were more than she projected. Her headache seemed to hurt less instantly.
Kara turned in the room, thinking of what should she do. She opened the door, ran as a blur to their closet, reached behind Cat's blazers and pulled Supergirl outfit from their secret compartment. In a second, she was out of the window.
Kara took a deep breath, she rounded the penthouse, noticing her wife pouring more whiskey into the glass. She gulped at how delicate Cat looked. She wondered if by the end of the day her wife would feel better.
"How are you feeling?" Kara said, loud and confident.
Cat raised her gaze over the railing. She ogled red boots, followed by toned legs, a red short skirt, trailed by blue fabrics and a diamond symbol with the letter S in it. Cat smiled when she found blonde hair, a perfect smile directed towards her and a flowing cape behind the hero.
"Supergirl," Cat said, standing. She smiled and raised her whiskey glass at the hero flying above her. "Let me begin by saying thank you, for saving me." Cat took a deep breath, followed by a small gulp of whiskey. "I've wondered how many times I've repeated those words." Cat tilted her head. "I hope you never get tired of saving me." Cat smiled. "And, of course, tired of me saying thank you."
Kara smiled and floated down toward the balcony. She kept a reasonable distance, in case Cat was feeling uncomfortable around her.
"I will always save you," Supergirl said placing her hands on her waist. She took a step closer, looked at the whiskey in her wife's hands and reminded quietly for a couple of seconds. "Per your doctor's specifications, you shouldn't be drinking." Kara knew she probably went too far, but she was ready to confront the outcome.
Cat looked at the glass in between her fingers and then back at Supergirl. "What else did you hear?" Cat said rolling her eyes. "Besides that, I shouldn't be drinking?" Kara was surprised with the response. Cat didn't have any inhibitions in front of Supergirl.
"Everything," Kara said, softly. Cat nodded and lowered her head. "I needed to make sure you were okay." Kara held her hands with each other, but her gaze was forward, to her wife. After a few seconds, she decided to take a step back, giving herself and Cat some space.
"Needed," Cat said, walking past the hero with the bottle in hand. It wasn't a question. Cat repeated the word, acknowledging the significance with ease.
Kara closed her eyes at her wife's scent crossing her way. The soft touches of lavender and vanilla, coming from her wife's perfume made Cat's unique fragrance more noticeable.
Cat placed the bottle on the wide railing, refilling her glass and taking a sip. After two minutes of silence, Kara walked over Cat and stood next to her. "I couldn't find a single bottle of whiskey or scotch in the house. My bottles are filled with M & M's." Cat said, not looking at Supergirl. The tone changed, the atmosphere too, and if Kara were ready to listen to her wife's heartbeat, she'd know it altered also.
"You—you don't drink anymore," Kara said. "At least not like this."
"Would you mind sharing the reason why?" Cat said her tone with splashes of annoyance.
"Well, you drink when you're under stress," Kara said taking a deep breath. "Your wife and daughter control those now, thus, you don't need it." Kara looked at her wife's face. Her clear expression was always terrifying. This was the highest she saw her wife walls today. The largest she has seen them in what it felt like forever.
"Consequently, you came here to remind me that this," Cat answered, drinking the rest of the liquid. "It's not an activity I frequent?"
"I came here to accompany you." Kara said swiftly.
"What if I'm longing to be alone?" Cat said, pouring more whiskey into the cup.
Kara turned toward her wife. Cat kept her gaze fixed in the city, trying to preserve her rigid posture. She took a deep breath, gripping the cup when she noticed Supergirl closing the distance in between them.
Kara placed a strand of hair behind her wife's ear. "I know you don't want to be alone." She replied gently.
Cat heart speed, her mind tried to decipher what was the cause. Cat needed to understand what was the meaning of Supergirl's proximity. She required to know what type of friendship they have, and more importantly, how comfortable they were with each other.
"Well," Cat said after a long gulp of more whiskey, controlling the topic as she pleased. "Let me get you a drink." She turned around, leaving Supergirl behind and entering the kitchen.
Kara turned, staying put. She placed her elbows on the railing and watched her wife swayed her hips inside their house.
Cat came back with glass in hand, she placed the cup on the railing, poured an inch of whiskey in it and handed it over to Supergirl.
Kara took the cup, staring at the brown liquid for a second before she met green eyes. "What?" Kara said when she noticed her wife's curious eyes.
"Supergirl is here, on my balcony. The reporter in me is dying to ask a million of questions. Questions, that I probably asked, since we are—
"Best friends," Kara said with a smile.
"Right." Cat said, feeling a little at ease with the hero's smile.
"Come on." Supergirl said, placing the cup on the railing, facing Cat. Her wife stared at her furrowing her brows. "Ask away." Cat chuckled, and Kara's stomach felt warm instantly. She fought the urge to move forward and press their lips together. "I don't want anything to happen to the reporter in you, Mrs. Grant." She said, moving her hands for emphasis. This caused Cat to laugh, and Kara almost let herself listen to her wife's heartbeat.
Kara was frightened. Fearful she couldn't control herself if the heartbeat were the one she craved to listen. Kara laughed, admiring her wife's beautiful face.
She felt constricted and somehow shy. This reminded her the first time she told Cat she was beautiful. Cat was laughing at something silly Kara said about potstickers. She wanted to tell Cat how lovely she was. On the other hand, Kara was enjoying her wife's natural self, and she didn't want to jeopardize it.
"Let's see," Cat began saying. "Do you sleep?"
"Do you sleep?" Supergirl said, smiling. "That's the first thing you'll ask?" Cat smiled, rolling her eyes. "You will skip my identity, to ask about how many hours does my body requires of sleep?"
Cat sipped her whiskey, turning around toward the city. "I've figured since we know each other's for so long, I know that answer already," Cat shrugged feeling better with the help of the alcohol. "Am I, right?"
"Yes, you are," Kara said. "You're brilliant, of course, you discovered who I am."
Cat stared at Supergirl for a second. She noticed the difference in the person standing next to her. The image of what she remembered matched Supergirl's description nonetheless, but how the young woman complimenting her, was innovative and riveting.
"Meaning that you do disguise with us," Cat said. "I imagine you have a job, a husband, and a family."
"Yes, I do have a job," Kara said, turning around, matching her wife's position. "And a family," She shook her head. "No husband, though."
Cat decided to give Supergirl some space. She didn't like when guests asked about personal questions. Maybe Supergirl was a little like her. "So how many hours do you sleep?" Cat asked nonchalantly.
"I don't know? I love sleeping," Kara said smiling again. "I don't need to, the sun, from this earth, gives me my powers. But sleeping makes me feel human. It's out of habit, and I love it, of course."
"Is that something you desire, humanity?" Supergirl was quiet for a second before she shook her head no.
"That's all I wanted, years ago, now, I can't imagine myself as a normal person. I love helping people. If I could go back in time, I'll do it all over again."
Cat nodded quickly, fixing her eyes back to the front. She looked at the whiskey but didn't drink from it. "Going back in time sounds like a terrific idea." Cat tilted her head and took a sip from her glass.
"I'll be easier, I promise." Supergirl said placing her hand on top of Cat's.
Kara noticed the comfort and how her wife didn't flinch at the touch. She struggled to find the correct words. She has been trying to put her wife at ease all day long. Still, Cat was feeling stressed and drinking whiskey.
"I imagined my future countless time." Cat spoke softly. Kara watched retrieving her hand, casually. "I was aware that Carter was going to grow up and leave to pursue any dream he wanted. I was not going to hold him down.
"I envisioned a dull life. Eventually, CatCo popularity was going to be replaced by a millennial newspaper with an indie name.
"By then I would have doubled my money. Carter would have had enough for whoever he chooses to marry. It was going to be enough for both." Cat looked at Supergirl. "Adam."
Kara nodded while listening quietly.
"I'd move to one of the houses of the beach. Wake up every morning to have breakfast at a local café. I even named the employees," Cat smiled sympathetically. "The names were something simple, nothing like those names new parents are combining and that no one can spell."
Kara smiled at her wife's antics.
"Laura or Frank would serve me. They would prepare my regular and deliver it to the same table in the back, away from the windows and prying eyes.
"They'd bring me a warmed croissant, a tad of butter and coffee." Kara smiled at her wife, favorite breakfast. "The coffee would be black since I'd probably write an article about the dangers of using soy as a dairy substitute.
"I would bring a book with me, the same book I've read multiples times and knew by heart. I imagined myself, writing notes, describing the characters and changing them for my amusement. They would have them new personalities, traits.
"Laura or Frank would not walk over my table again. They wouldn't offer the local newspaper or replenish my coffee.
"I'd go home after ten in the morning, leaving a good tip on the table. Then I would tend the garden. A simple garden, without bushes, roses or shrubs."
Cat placed the cup on the railing, removing her hair from her face and putting it back behind her ear. Kara listened, stunned by Cat's story.
"I'll tend some herbs, like basil, and cilantro." Cat tilted her head, bringing her hands to cover her bare forearms. Kara noticed her wife was cold. The temperature dropped, but that was something Kara was almost oblivious.
In a blink of an eye, Kara disappeared inside the house, she went straight to the guest room, grabbed the blanket sitting on top of the bed and appeared next to Cat.
Cat didn't almost notice Supergirl was missing for less than a second, but her smile was grateful when the young hero, placed the blanket around her shoulders.
"Please," Supergirl said. "Continue."
Cat smiled, softly and resumed her story. "I'd use the garden herbs, to prepare the salad I would eat at lunchtime." Cat locked the blanket around her, feeling warm and comfortable. "After lunch, I would rewrite the chapter of the book I read in the café. I would entertain myself rephrasing the sentences and marking the writing style and mistakes with a red pen just to keep me sane.
"Once I finish, I'd print my work and place it over the corrections of the day before. I prepared myself to think that the papers weren't high enough and if I weren't still hungry, I'd double check the pages, criticizing my work and rewriting the chapter all over again.
"After that," Cat paused, drinking a little more from her cup. "I'd do some exercise, maybe spinning, or yoga. Perhaps go to the town and walk around. I'd observe the people, remembering the differences in clothing, lifestyle, and behavior, due to the warm weather and lack of traffic.
"Before sunset, I'd walk back to the house. I would cross the main door, dropping my shoes on the terrace, and grabbing a jacket from the closet.
"I would sit in front of the beach so that I could stare at the high bone fire made of bricks and some expensive materials.
"The sun would set, the fire would warm me, and if I were in a good mood, I'd go back inside, and get a glass of wine. The fermented fruits would accompany me along with the stars.
"I'd order some food." Cat smiled, replenishing the liquid in her cup. "There's this place, a small, bricked shop in town. They make the best spinach and mushroom pizza I've ever had."
Kara smiled, loving the way her wife's face smiled at the mention of greasy food.
"I'd convinced myself that buying the house of the beach was because of location and luxuries; to admit later that it was because of the pizza place.
"I'd have that for dinner and eat the leftover's later." Cat stopped talking, blinking quickly and covering her body a little more with the blanket. "I wouldn't normally go for greasy food," She said, regaining her posture. "Especially because I'd be ten or fifteen years older, and I'd have to change my schedule, and do spinning or yoga instead of walking in town, or rewriting the book.
"Nevertheless," Cat said, looking at Supergirl. "The fresh basil, the organic spinach, the fresh tomato sauce and delicious cheese, would be there, at night as a reminder."
Kara's eyes filled slowly with tears. "It was a reminder of the life I've planned. It was a reminder that no matter what life I prepared for myself, monotonous or dull, at the end of the night the simple things in life," Cat said, shifting her green eyes from Supergirl. "Like cheap pizza would make me feel calm. They would be rewarding, empowering, a vivid reminder that everything was going to be okay. I'd just have to focus on one day at a time."
Kara's tears rushed down her eyes. All of this, made her feel weak. Listening to her wife sharing this words with her… for the first time, deepened the love she felt for her.
"I'm sorry," Cat said, sipping her glass. "I probably bored you to death."
Kara blinked quickly, "You—you never shared that story with me before." Kara said, moving closer to her wife. "I mean—we normally talk about things, you know, we are… friends."
"That's what they told me today." Cat said nodding. "Even though that sound beautifully depressing and peaceful somehow. I prepared myself to be alone. I prepared myself for my future," Cat voice broke. The sudden change made Kara want to hold her and never let go. "Just to wake up today, five years later. This is not what I've prepared myself. It's not what I've planned."
"You're scared," Supergirl whispered.
"Don't get me wrong. I love Ollie with all my heart." Cat smiled, cleaning her cheeks with the blanket. "It was instant love."
"She's beautiful," Supergirl said, smiling softly.
Cat nodded. "I wouldn't want to wake up without this feeling. I wouldn't change Ollie."
"I understand." Supergirl said. "I understand… this… you, Cat."
"Now I'm married and oblivious to my previous life. I'm not only scared, Supergirl, but I am also beyond terrified."
They were both silents for a second. It was never awkward; it wasn't forced or fake. It was needed. Kara recollected her thought and turned to her wife.
"Well, if it makes you feel better, you have a lot of people who care about you," Supergirl said moving a little closer to Cat. "You see Adam almost every month. Carter comes down from Central City every weekend, and, a millennial newspaper hasn't replaced CatCo with an indie name." Cat laughed at this. "I don't think it'll ever be replaced. Carter won't allow it."
Cat smiled, placing the glass of whiskey to the side. "I have to admit that I am very fond of that."
"Most importantly, you have Olive." Cat turned toward the hero. There was something familiar in the way Supergirl mentioned her daughter name. "She's the best of you." Cat smiled at the thought of her daughter.
"She's amazing. I am counting the minutes until I see her again." Cat fixed her eyes on the front again. "She likes you very much, have you met her?"
"I did once, it was what started her obsession," Supergirl said smiling. "Which I find very cute, and I am beyond honored."
"She's passionate about the things she likes."
"Yes, she is like her mother, after all." Supergirl smiled, tapping the railing with her hands. "You know," She said, almost nervous. "I'm glad we had this moment. I'm always happy when we talk. I understand why you're scared, but, I am certain that you'll pass through this. You have a family now, they love you very much," Supergirl faced Cat, her hand softly placed on her arm under the blanket. "And your wife." She said slowly. "Kara loves you with all her heart. I've witnessed that love plenty of times."
"Is this a superpower I was oblivious? Do you always know what to say?" Supergirl removed her hand from Cat's arm and took a couple of steps back.
"No, I just know you," Supergirl said. "You haven't changed through the years."
"Some things change, Supergirl." Cat turned to see the hero prepare to fly away. "Apparently, I'm afraid of heights."
Supergirl laughed. "You are." She lifted her leg, instantly floating in the air. "Don't be fearful to accept that your future it's unlike of what you have prearranged. I will always be here for you." Supergirl bowed, pointing in the direction of the house. "We'll always be here for you."
"Thank you." Cat said pleased.
"Goodnight, Cat."
Cat bit the inside of her cheek. She observed the hero fly away from their penthouse. She hugged herself under the blanket and strolled inside. The glass of whiskey was long forgotten.
She rested the blanket on the couch, enjoying how warm the carpet fell under her bare feet. She turned, finding the place hollow. There was no sound. She couldn't even detect if the white noise was uplifting her or infuriating her.
She strolled to the kitchen, observing at the brown bag on top of the counter. She decided to open the cabinets again to get a glass of water, the pain was indeed gone, but her head started to whirl deliberately.
Cat chugged the rest of the cup, walking outside quickly to grab the bottle and the untouched cup of Supergirl. She poured the bottle down the sink and emptied the glasses.
She took a deep breath. She wasn't this person, after all, she couldn't hide behind alcohol.
Cat drank some more water and walked back to the hall, in the direction of the guest room. She had not thanked Kara for all that she did today. She didn't acknowledge her for Ollie, or for all the years she couldn't remember. She wasn't impartial with the millennial.
Cat stopped in front of Kara's room. She placed her hand in there, feeling anxious about what she should say, and how. This troubled Cat since her mind always worked fast and steady.
She knocked on the door…once… twice… three times. Her heart speed, she wondered if Kara would forgive her. Cat thought about how she would feel if this happened to Kara and not her. How would she feel if the person you were married to forget everything about you?
She needed to apologize.
She couldn't believe that it took her so long to accept that Kara was her wife. But it was, she was her wife, and there was nothing she could do. She was Ollie's mother. She was grateful for that.
Cat knocked on the door one more time, but no one answered.
"Kie—
Cat took a deep breath and placed her head down.
"Kara?" She said slowly. "Are you awake?" She said a little louder.
She wanted to open the door, but she decided it was probably too much.
"I'm sorry." She said walking away when Kara never opened the door. She passed through the dark hall, blocking the frames and rushing over to the kitchen. She needed water.
Cat stared at the brown paper bag, deciding that she needed more water and food.
She grabbed the cup again to sip more water when she heard a knock on the glass. She saw Supergirl floating in front of it. Cat smiled, walking over and sliding the door open.
In a blur, Supergirl disappeared and appeared again in front of Cat's eyes. She landed on the floor and smiled widely.
"Go in. It'll get cold." Supergirl smiled, pointing at Cat.
Cat turned, recognizing the brown pizza box sitting on her countertop next to the brown bag. Cat's heart pounded hard. She slowly walked to the kitchen, enjoying the aroma the pizza was providing.
"Goodnight, Cat."
She lifted the top, to find a mushroom and spinach pizza covered in mozzarella cheese. She didn't know what she was feeling. Her emotions were jumbled.
Cat pushed the top back and found a note taped to the box.
It's rewarding, empowering, a vivid reminder that everything will be okay. One day at a time, Cat.
—Supergirl
The feeling overwhelmed her as she took a bite of her favorite pizza. She moaned slowly at the flavor. Maybe this wasn't going to be hard after all.
She smiled, cleaning the unknown tears her eyes spontaneously shed. She replenished the glass of water and took the pizza box back to her room.
In a blur, Kara flew inside the window, changed her clothes and walked out of the guestroom. She passed the dark hall and walked to the couch. Kara grabbed the blanket her wife was using earlier and placed the material softly on her face. She sniffed slowly. Lavender and vanilla were plaster in it along with her wife's scent.
She went back to her room, wrapped her body in the blanket and fell asleep.
She was going to help her wife remember her, one day at a time.