Cat wasn't different from humans. Yes, she was unique in many ways. Characteristics as remarkable, centered and incredibly bright described her persona and identity easily. Nonetheless, these individualities didn't make her any less ordinary.
She dreamed or so she believed; even though her brain defied her in many ways. A part of her mind expunged vital memories. Moreover, the rest was working to perfection, creating vague images of possible recollections, or visions.
Therefore, Cat tried to remember every little detail, exploiting her other functional parts of her brain.
She blinked. Her daughter was sleeping on her front next to her. Kara wasn't in the room. She couldn't recall how long she's been remembering the images, but it was informal for her to decipher it has been a while according to how tense her muscles felt due to immobility.
She closed her eyes one more time, memorizing the images, visualizing the colors and the light.
Her expensive gold watch adorned her left wrist, followed by an astonishing wedding ring. She tried to remember the exact way her fingers moved over the warm and stiff fabric. Cat could feel the texture of the sturdy and delicate material. Her fingers ghost over a well-formed bicep before passing the shoulder too soon abandon the material and touch silky skin.
Cat gulped followed by a slow breath.
Her fingernails scratched soft skin as the neck turned to the side, provoking a familiar sensation in her stomach. She couldn't see who she was touching. She couldn't see the way the stranger reacted to her touches. Moreover, she knew they were useful as she felt a fast pulse underneath her tender touch.
She blinked once again, feeling a little uncomfortable for feeling the way she was feeling next to her asleep daughter.
It surprised her how intimate the touch was.
She could feel how her heart speed and the moment her skin vibrated when a hand slid on her lower back and pushed her insanely close to the stranger's body.
Cat decided to stop replaying the images in her head, uncertain if they were going to disappear. She did it one last time, seeking the silhouette and trying to see past the dark colors; but the images were something uncontrollable, her brain provided them spontaneously. She was grateful she could still remember them.
She turned toward Ollie, and then back at the ceiling. She seized the brilliant colors of the room and the red cape covering her daughter and her midsection. The sight was captivating and astonishing. She stared, observing Ollie's breathing patterns. She memorized them, counting how many seconds it took her daughter to fill small lungs with air. The sight was enough to vanish her worries about the vague images she thought she dreamed.
She pressed a loving kiss to Ollie's forehead, pulled the red cape tighter around her and sneaked out of the room. It was time to feed Mr. Knows, and for her daily doses of caffeine.
She walked straight to the drawer she knew the stickers would be. She smiled at how comfortable and careless she found the recent activity. It filled her with happiness.
Cat raised her brows spontaneously when she found a note on top of the counter, next to a coffee thermos, a mug, and her cell phone.
Coffee is fresh, I promise.
Your passcode is 2998,
You dislike the ID touch
Carter will arrive around noon.
On Sundays, you sleep this late.
See you soon.
K
Cat quickly grabbed her phone looking at the time. She rolled her eyes when she noticed it was ten o' five. She wasted her morning sleeping.
Cat read Kara's note one more time.
"I do not dislike the ID touch," Cat smirked. "I think is an effortless way to steal your information." She said opening the drawer and placing two banana's stickers on her wrist. "I hate it, Kara."
Without a doubt in Kara's coffee, she poured it into the mug, grabbed her phone and walked in the direction of her daughter's room.
She stopped abruptly in front of Ollie's door. She looked at her left hand with the two stickers and the mug. Her morning was different. She was different. Her routines changed unpredictably.
It took her a second to decide if she was going to proceed inside the room. Cat saw through her peripherals many frames on the wall. They were inevitable exposed, and suddenly she became very curious. Cat was aware of the changes, so before she made any rational decision, she sipped hot coffee, and with her mouthful, she turned and faced a frame.
Just one.
She gulped the liquid, blinking analyzing the picture.
The colors of the picture were prominent and clear, making Cat observations methods to shift impromptu. The number of objects inside a frame never dumbfounded Cat before. Her eyes couldn't decide what she wanted to analyze first.
Despite the full colors of the picture and the contents, Cat smiled warmly, stepping a little forward to the frame.
The bright lights of the Ferris Wheel adorned the background of the picture, along with carnival lights and multicolored balloons. The orange and purple colors of the sunset were incredibly stunning, but in her opinion, nothing was brighter and gorgeous than Kara's smile.
She bit her lip, a habit when she was thinking too hard and needed to ease her thoughts. She never thought a picture of her and Kara would provoke such delight.
Kara's chucks were covered in thick brown mud. Her long—toned legs had splashes of dried mud nearly touching her white short shorts. Indistinctively, Cat took a step closer, reading the velvet t-shirt.
Midvale High School
Cat smiled, noting how tight her legs were wrapped around Kara's waist as the millennial held her on a piggyback ride. Kara was holding black stilettos in one hand while carrying an orange elephant on the other side.
She took another step closer, noticing her mud free pants and feet. The picture was inviting and beautiful. She took a moment to glance at the stuffed animal and then back to herself. Her arms circled Kara's neck, and her face was tilted to the side as if she was whispering something incredibly funny to the young woman.
Her hair was up in a messy bun, an explicit representation of a sweltering day; nevertheless, her features were soft and vibrant. There was something incredibly unique about the picture. Her mind couldn't decipher if it were the carnival lights adorning the background, the beautiful sunset, the multicolored balloons, her favorite daughter's toy, Kara's stunning smile or how much of herself she was in the picture.
The sight was indescribable. Cat's eyes ghost over Kara's features as she sipped her coffee and stared at everything in the picture.
She looked incredibly content.
Cat took a deep breath, sipping more coffee and remembering the stickers on her wrist. She glanced at the picture one more time, before she walked into the room, slid Mr. Knows curtain and placed the stickers on his white teeth.
"Morning." She whispered to the stuffed animal. "I didn't know we had so much in common." Cat smiled at him. "We're are both brats that can't walk in mud." Her smile was wide on her face. Never in her future, she planned to say good morning to her daughter's favorite toy, yet along a monolog. "I thought you would love the mud, you know being an elephant, living in Africa," Cat said, glancing at the mural and the scenery she's never seen before. "Or wherever this is." She smiled, poking the nose of Mr. Knows. "We are lucky to have her."
Cat's smiled vanished as she sipped her coffee and closed Mr. Knows curtain. She turned around, taking a deep breath.
She missed Kara.
Everything around her made sense when Kara was around, and this was the first time she was alone with the latest changes. It surprised Cat how intrigued and enthusiast she felt about her surroundings.
She looked at the time of her phone, placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead and walked out of the room. Cat sipped more coffee, unpinning the frame from the wall and taking the picture frame with her.
She passed the kitchen in the direction of her office. Once there she imitated Kara's actions the day before. She opened the curtains, placed the frame on her desk and sat on her chair. This time she ignored the TVs. It was Sunday after all. The media was almost nonexistent.
With a click on the space bar, the computer was on and running. She grabbed a pair of glasses from next to her laptop and pressed enter. CatCo main page popped up, creating bubbles after bubbles of notes and emails. Cat rolled her eyes, clicking two buttons and disappearing the busy, unfamiliar content.
She grinned beautifully.
Cat smiled at the cover. She laid back in the chair feeling her insides warm and secure. Cat didn't open the magazine. The only word on the cover beside her brand name was Supergirls.
Cat hesitated. Her emotions were susceptible before the hero. She traced her finger over Supergirl's bicep; thinking of the texture and fabric of the Super Suit.
She opted that denial was most significant for this occasion. "I'm losing my mind." She whispered as she placed the magazine next to her computer. She switched her gaze from the frame to the magazine. Her insides felt sincere at the sight of Kara's spectacular smile.
"That's momma." Cat tensed her muscles alarmed at her unknown daughter's voice next to her. She furrowed her brows looking at the magazine, taking into consideration what her daughter just said and then to Ollie. "Good morning, mommy." Ollie dragged her words, rubbing her eyes and stretching her hands toward her mother.
"Good morning baby," Cat said, picking Ollie up and taking a deep breath. "You're awake."
"It's daylight, mommy. Mr. Knows finished eating." Ollie mumbled, pressing her sleepy face on Cat's chest. "Are you working on the red folder?"
Cat was quiet for a second before she gazed at the computer and saw a red folder in the corner of her screen. How drastic was this folder? "No, not now darling."
"Okay then, I'll stay," Ollie said excitedly and felt more awake. "You're looking at momma?" She asked, and Cat froze for a second. Ollie rubbed her eyes one more time, shifting her body in her mother's lap. Cat observed intrigued as her daughter grabbed the frame securely.
Cat's lungs expulsed air in comfort. "Yes, darling." She followed her daughter's gaze and then shifted her eyes toward the magazine, unsure still if Ollie was talking about Kara or Supergirl.
"It's our favorite picture, mommy," Ollie said enthusiastically. "Momma, and mommy and Mr. Knows." She said pointing each on the glass. "He was a baby here."
Cat embraced her daughter tighter. Her innocence was beyond beautiful. "I know, he doesn't even have his bow tie," Cat said lovingly.
"Silly," Ollie said chuckling one more time before going in deep thought. "Do you think his brother's miss him?"
Cat was careful with her answers. Was her daughter referring to the other stuffed animals from the carnival? "What do you think?" Cat asked back, diverting the question.
"I think they miss him," She nodded. "Just a bit…like on holidays and birthdays," Ollie said gazing at her mother's eyes. Cat lost herself in a perfect shade of green. "But they're okay, with other families that make them happy."
"Correct, darling." Cat grinned placing a strand of golden hair behind her daughter's ear. "Have I told you that you are beautiful?" Ollie bobbed. "And that you are incredibly smart?" Ollie nodded her head rapidly. "And that your heart is kind and remarkable?" Ollie giggled while she nodded. "I'm afraid you do not hear it enough."
"Mommy, you tell me all the time!" Ollie alleged laughing.
"What if," Cat began saying. "I print it in a formal CatCo letter? You would receive my compliments in person and engraved in a paper." Ollie laughed hysterically. "I could deliver the envelope every day until you're eighteen."
Ollie opened her eyes wide. "Eighteen?"
"Yes," Cat said grabbing her phone and placing it on her ear. "I can have this arranged in less than a minute. Excuse me, darling." Ollie laughed and grabbed her mother's phone from her hand.
"Mommy, you can't call Dianna," Ollie said pleased.
Cat leered at the name of her assistant. Did she call her by correct name? "When I hired Dianna," She said, waiting for a fault in her daughter's eyes. Gladly she didn't find any. "She promised to help me with important matters, like delivering a letter to my daughter until she is eighteen."
"Mommy! Eighteen it's a lot of years." Ollie placed the frame on top of the magazine and grabbed her mother's hands. She started counting with her fingers. Once she ran out of fingers in her hand, she used Cat's to calculate the remain years.
"Your brother it's eighteen." Cat alleged furrowing her brows.
"And that it's a lot," Ollie confirmed.
"Then, how old do you think I am?" Cat began saying. "Because if we want to count, we'll have to get Aunt Alex's, Aunt Maggie's, Carter's, Momma's, Dianna's, Mr. Knows and Frank's fingers."
"Who is Frank, mommy?" Ollie said puzzled.
"The messenger that'll deliver you the letters," Cat said placing her hand on her chin.
Ollie laughed loudly, shaking her head. "Mommy, that's almost a hundredth!"
"Are you implying that I'm a hundredth years old?" Cat teased.
"No!" Ollie said laughing. "You're silly." She smiled, taking deep breaths. Cat broke character and laughed along with her daughter.
Ollie was beyond amazing.
Cat stared, gazing at similar eyes and gold hair. She was enamored of her daughter's laugh and hypnotized by her beauty and cleverness. She could see Kara's caring side, the tender, and carefree spirit. She felt the comfort and how beautiful Kara's nose fit her daughter's face.
Olivia noticed the look in her mother's eyes. She smiled, and for the second time, she slid her index finger tenderly on Cat's nose.
"I love you so much more!" Cat said placing multiples kisses on Ollie's cheek. Her heart overflowed with love. "I'm still sending those letters." Ollie laughed circling her arms around her mother's neck as she lifted her up.
Cat stopped her tracks, looking down at the frame on top of the magazine. The structure covered the face of the hero, and Cat stretched her hand sliding the picture down until she could see Supergirl's face.
Cat's shoulders were stiff, as she slid the frame up to cover everything but Supergirl's eyes. Someone once told her the eyes were the soul of a heart. "Are you hungry beautiful?" She said, removing the picture and staring at Supergirl's nose and then at her daughter's.
"Can you make my favorite pancakes?" Ollie asked happily.
"Of course, I can!" Cat said, placing another kiss on her daughter's cheek, walking out of her office with her wife's face on her mind.
Cat blocked the stress this latest information brought. She was thrilled and scared simultaneously, nonetheless, she composed herself in front of her daughter while diverting apparent thoughts drenched with insecurities. Cat opted to replace them momentarily with happiness and the spur of the moment.
"I'll get Mr. Knows, mommy," Ollie said as soon as her mother entered the kitchen. Cat smiled placing her on the floor. She listened to Ollie's barefoot flapping on the kitchen tiles until they disappeared in the carpet later.
She came back with Mr. Knows in her arms and Cat helped her get up the high chair on the island countertop.
Cat turned, walking and opening the fridge, looking at everything in it. She needed time. Her mind worked quickly to what her daughter's favorite pancakes should have. She thought of banana's and then her chest felt a lot lighter when she heard the elevator beep.
"Oh, isn't my favorite ladies?" Kara appeared behind sliding metallic doors. Cat watched as Kara smiled widely towards her.
The sensation was new. Moreover, it was prominent every time Cat decided to minimize her feelings towards Kara. Cat's emotions were so unclear and vibrant. It was easy for her to describe them. She fought them not because she didn't want to accept them but because she was scared.
Cat sneered back, provoking a soft smile from Kara. She's been staring at her wife's mouth all morning. Nonetheless, she missed the real comfort this brought when Kara was around.
"Good morning, baby girl," Kara said, jogging towards Olive. She placed the paper bags of groceries on the countertop and kissed her daughter on her forehead. "Good morning, Mr. Knows." She greeted him, flicking his trunk with her index finger. Kara stopped for a second, placing both of her hands on her waist, and smiling. "Good morning, Mrs. Grant."
Cat rolled her eyes, at the tone Kara used. Professional, dry and clean. "Are you a vivid reminder of my age? That name will always make me feel old." Cat turned, opening the cabinet, surprisingly she found the pancake mix. "Guess it never gets old." She said, looking at Mr. Knows. "Are you going to defend me? Or are you going to betray me like these two?" Cat opened her eyes wider, waiting for Mr. Knows response.
Ollie laughed, while Kara switched her gaze to her wife and daughter.
"Oh, young lady you are in trouble!" Kara said, moving closer to Olive.
Olive giggled. "You are in trouble too, momma. You called her Mrs. Grant." Olivia tried to defend herself. Kara needed to act quickly. She needed an excuse for why she didn't kiss her wife on the lips or why she wasn't affectionate. Hopefully, Olive didn't notice.
Cat smiled and placed her hand on her waist, waiting for a response. She was nervous, unsure of how this was going to end.
"She did, and she'll pay for it later," Cat said, breaking the tension in the kitchen. Kara nodded her head, thanking her wife. "And for you, we can extend that until your twenty-first birthday." Ollie laughed, placing her hands on her cheeks.
"Twenty-first!" She giggled and hopped down the chair running to her room.
"Twenty-first?" Kara said, emulating her daughter's voice. She beamed to Cat and started unpacking the groceries bag. "I know what's not going to happen until her twenty-first birthday." Kara nodded, passing the bananas to her wife.
"Oh?" Cat smirked, mixing the flour with milk. Knowing what Kara was thinking. "Something tells me that you are not talking about alcohol, but boys?"
"Yes, she's too precious, and I won't let anyone hurt her." Kara shrugged. "Besides, boys can be so mean!" She turned around to the stuffed animal. "No, offense, buddy."
"Who says she's going to end up with a boy? I am sure she'll take care of herself."
"I honestly am happier if she dates a girl." Kara finished unpacking the groceries and stood next to her wife, sticking her finger in the pancake batter. "Girls can be weird, too. Every time Carter goes out on a date, I feel like I want to be two tables down," She said, grabbing the paper bag and placing it in front of her face imitating a restaurant menu. "And see how interested she is."
Cat laughed, staring at perfect blue eyes. "I didn't know Kara Danvers was an overprotective mother." Kara lowered her head, playing with her fingers before she smiled widely at her wife. Cat knew she was in for a ride when butterflies speeded inside her stomach.
Her heart ran. The raw emotion took her off guard. She couldn't recollect when was the last time she felt such immense feelings for another person. Her thoughts were further than the five years of memories that she lost. They traveled long and hard for a quick second, just to verify when was the last time Cat Grant had butterflies in her stomach due to real emotions. Her feelings weren't to be compared with anxiety or the thrill she felt when she saw Ollie a couple of days ago.
Her life was different, and she didn't know how to process it.
"Darling," Kara called her softly, breaking her personal space. "Are you okay?" Kara whispered, and Cat breathed into flowers and fruits. Kara's scent was stronger due to such feelings.
She smiled softly, controlling how her body was reacting. "I'm okay, I—I'll probably need my meds." Kara looked at her and Cat knew that her wife didn't believe her. "I'm okay. It caught me off guard. I promise you that I'm okay."
Before Kara could ask what caught her wife off guard, Olivia came back into the room with papers and color pencils in her hand.
Cat composed herself, walking away from Kara and helping Ollie back in the chair. She nodded at the papers Ollie had and laughed.
"What do you have there?" Kara asked standing over her daughter. Olive had twenty—one square on the paper, and she was writing the numbers inside. "You have them all?" Kara quickly counted smiling at her.
"Yes," Olive started counting out loud white Cat pulled the pan out of one of the cabinets and waited for the stove to be warm. "They're all here." She turned the paper to her mother. "Help me paint the years I have now." Kara grabbed a blue pencil and started filling one of the top four boxes on the top of the paper. "Thank you, momma."
Cat turned, watching Ollie and Kara drawing on the paper. Her heart couldn't feel any better; she only needed her son next to them.
The elevator beeped, right on time. Carter appeared through sliding doors, and Cat's eyes watered instantly.
"Something's burning." He said, and Cat quickly removed the pan from the heat.
"Ter!" Olivia said happily. "Momma, give Ter the red one."
Cat observed how he smiled, happily to Ollie. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever." He said.
"Yesterday." Olivia chuckled, giving him the red pencil.
"Exactly, forever." He placed his bag on the floor, kissed Olivia's head and grabbed the red pencil. "Afternoon, mom." He smiled walking over to Cat. She hugged him tight, placing her head on his shoulders and sliding her hands over his back. "How are you feeling?" He asked, smiling down at his mother.
"Better than ever." She wiped her tears, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Carter gazed at her with a soft smile on his face. He could genuinely see what his mother was telling him was the truth.
"Hey," He touched Kara's shoulders.
Kara turned, hugging him. "Hey kid, can you stop growing? You are making us look like midgets."
"Speak for yourself," Cat said, putting some batter in the pan.
"Um, I'm taller than you, darling," Kara replied.
"Well, I'm smarter." Cat joked.
Carter laughed and shrugged. "She has a point, Kara."
"Incredible," Kara said smiling.
"So," Carter began coloring in the paper. "What am I coloring here?"
"Right, what am I coloring here?" Kara asked her daughter.
"This will be how long Frank will have a job with mommy," Olivia said pointing the squares that weren't painted. Cat turned, placing the second pancake on a plate. "Seventeen. Frank will work with mommy for seventeen years." Cat insides felt warm with love. "This means that Frank can't do this job, mommy. It's a lot of years. Frank will retire, in ten years."
Cat smiled, walking around with her daughter. "Assuming ten years is the retirement option for a messenger, why can't Frank work for me that long? I've had employees that are still working with me." Ollie smiled, shaking her head.
"Who is Frank? And what can I do so I retire in ten years?" Carter asked, and Kara pushed him playfully.
"This morning, I was telling Ollie how amazing, beautiful and clever she is. She responded that I tell her all the time." Cat stroked her daughter's cheek and went back to finish the pancakes. "Then I decided that I could tell her how amazing she is every day, but I can also send her a CatCo official letter, so she doesn't forget."
Ollie explained. "But Frank will deliver the letter to me every day until I'm twenty—one!"
"What?" Kara asked shocked. "Only twenty—one?"
"We could go higher, four years more and it's even," Cat added.
"That sound like a great idea," Carter said pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I can call Dianna right now."
Olivia laughed. "No, no."
"See, we all agree."
Ollie giggled. "You are all silly." She dragged the last word as much as she could and smiled.
"Go and wash your hands so that you can eat," Kara said to Ollie. "Take Mr. Knows with you."
"Okay, momma." Carter helped her, and they both went away.
"You are doing excellent," Kara said, standing close to Cat.
Cat shook her head. "With Ollie, yes. With her favorite pancakes? Not so good." She said passing Kara Ollie's plate. "Can you help me?" Kara took a step closer and nodded.
The fruits and flowers scent was strong adjacents to Cat. She could smell the millennials shampoo and what she thought was laundry detergent from her clothes. Cat worked quickly describing the new smells. Her heart speeds a little with the young woman's proximity.
Kara grabbed two bananas from the side and Cat stared when she saw the wedding ring on her finger. "You did the pancakes perfectly." Kara grabbed the bananas and peeled them. "Don't throw away the peel, that's Mr. Knows food." Cat nodded stiffly, as she noticed Kara was moving to stand behind her.
Kara grabbed a small knife and cut the banana in half. "You'll cut these here," She said over Cat's shoulder. "And put the banana up like a trunk." Cat closed her eyes when she felt Kara's front pressed on her back. "And then the eyes, and the ears." She didn't open her eyes until the butterflies stopped spreading their wings inside her stomach.
Kara moved back to her previous position, smiling at how beautiful the pancake looked, oblivious at how she was making her wife feel.
"Beautiful, thank you." Cat gulped, watching Ollie enter the room.
"Yay!" The four— year—old said when her brother helped her up the chair. Cat placed a plate of the peels in front of Mr. Knows, and they ate happily.
The afternoon was filled with the laughter of how Frank would deliver over six thousand letters. Cat felt comfortable. Her family was around her. She didn't think of alcohol, not even once. Everything around her felt like home.
And she was glad of the future she created.
She was incredibly thankful for her family.
Consequently, she was terrified of what she knew she would face tonight.
Cat sat in front of the computer. She couldn't remember how long she's been sliding her finger over the mouse pad. She googled information about Supergirl. Cat wanted to know how important the red folder might be. Thus, she continued grazing the small arrow over the red envelope continuously.
She decided to stop for a second. She grabbed her phone texting Kara who left thirty minutes ago to fix something in the gallery. Apparently, Kara had a close connection with Supergirl. She smiled, shaking her head.
I need to speak with Supergirl.
She tapped send and then clicked the red folder. A black screen popped up with four boxes in the middle. It was protected by a sort type of passcode or password.
Cat tried the four numbers of her cellphone, she used her birth year and month, but nothing happened.
Maybe Kara knew.
Once again, she pushed the stress to the side. She stood and walked out of her office. She found Carter and Ollie still asleep on the couch. She smiled at the sight and then looked down at her own body. It was eight o clock, and she was even wearing her pajamas.
Cat walked to her room. The bed was neatly made, unused. The curtains open slightly to bring the right amount of light into the room. She saw her reflection in the mirror, and for the first time, she didn't think of her future.
This future provided her joy.
There was no point in living in the past.
Cat strut out of the bath, feeling fresh and relaxed. She wore a long sleeve shirt with sweatpants. She didn't understand where the word comfortable began in her outfit, but she was enjoying everything about it. It was perfect.
She combed her hair, carefully around her stitches. She remembered Kara's voice the other night. Reminder her that her belongings were on the left side of the dresser.
Cat grabbed lotions and creams filled with her new favorite scent. A combination of fruits and flowers never suited someone else better than her wife. Everything about the delicacy of the lotions and the aroma was Kara.
She slid the first drawer open. She found two pairs of glasses, identical to the one Kara was wearing. She smiled, placing one pair in her sweatpants pockets.
"Mom?" Carter said knocking on the door.
"Come in." Cat replied walking toward him. "I miss your hair." She said making him smile. "You look handsome of course."
"Ollie is still asleep. I passed her on the bed. The lights are on and everything." He said, sitting on the bed.
"Thank you, darling." She said sitting next to him.
He moved closer to his mother, lifting her hair and checking the stitches. "They look good and not infected."
"That's always a good sign." Cat joked.
"I am happy that you seem well. You seem yourself." He said, smiling.
"I'd say it's been a bizarre couple of days. It took me a while to realize that everything around me was exactly how it needed to be."
"My mother is the queen of stubbornness."
"Why would I hide it, then?" She said smiling.
"How do you feel around Kara?" He asked. "I can see there's not a problem with Ollie."
"Mmm, I don't understand multiple things. Nonetheless, Kara is a joy to be around. She makes me feel secure."
"Yeah, she has that ability."
She looked around the room. Her son was next to her, having a normal conversation. Nothing changed, besides his exterior. She still had the bright, handsome, sarcastic and unique boy. She was more than happy that they could yet talk about stuff. Essential and irrelevant things were always crucial for a mother and son relationship.
She treasured this moment.
"I think I like her." She was quiet for an at least two seconds. "I do… like her, a lot." She said rolling her eyes. "Oh, how old am I, fifteen?"
Carter laughed. "I never saw that coming."
"I'm afraid there's no uncomplicated way of me telling you this, darling." Cater expression changed. "There is a possibility that I might be a lesbian."
Carter opened his eyes wider. "If it makes you feel any better, I am not surprised."
"I don't recall having this conversation with you. It seemed appropriate." She said placing her hand on his knee. "Which remind me of unprotected sex and its consequences."
"Mom," Carter said using the same tone from five— years— ago. "I know, I know."
"This is not about getting a girl pregnant, it's about diseases too," Cat emphasized, amused at how uncomfortable this topic was. "Are you protecting yourself?" She asked in a severe tone.
"Yeah, yes. I know, we had this conversation. Plenty of times before."
"I don't recall." She said smiling.
"Fine." He said smiling. "Only if you tell me what made you realize you were a lesbian."
Cat laughed. "I don't recall."
"Hello, Mrs. Grant," Supergirl said smiling down.
"I see that Kara did a wonderful job seeking you out for the night," Cat said placing the book down on her lap. She smiled, softly, looking at the hero from the top of her glasses. "Noticing the circumstances, apparently, we do this regularly," Cat said, moving her index finger back and forth between the two of them.
"I am flattered. Did you just put your favorite book down for me?" Supergirl smirked, landing softly on the balcony. "It does happen often."
"I believe I still have manners, Supergirl," Cat said, shrugging a single shoulder.
Cat looked at the cover and then back at the hero. "We're are indeed best," Cat said tilting her head. "Friends."
"Is it hard to understand?" Supergirl squinted her eyes, playfully.
"Is it?" Cat said nonchalantly. "I'm finding it very boring and poignant."
"Yes, you have read it multiple times. Top three I'd say." Cat stopped any thought for a second. Her eyes ran up and down discretely through the young woman's body.
"It's not hard to understand." She said waving. "You know me very well, and apparently, I know you very well indeed."
"Is that so?" Supergirl said, folding her arms.
"Try me."
"Are you interviewing me?" Supergirl smiled moving closer to Cat.
"No," Cat replied, using her observation methods more effectively with every single stare. "Would that be a problem?"
"Never," Supergirl said, placing a chair in front of her wife. Cat observed how the hero put her hands on her lap. The memories of specific shapes around her fingers and fingernails were something Cat never thought compare before.
"Well, apparently, you love cheese pizza and Chinese," Cat said warmly.
"You googled me?" Supergirl crossed her arms, providing a clear view of her arms to Cat.
"Seemed like the right thing to do; taking into consideration the loss of my memories and our friendship." Cat nodded. "Plus, it's my area of expertise. I am fond of comparing public facts with the ones I save on my laptop."
"I think that is a reasonable excuse." Supergirl rolled her eyes. "You more than anyone should know not to trust other media."
Cat noted how the crinkle on Supergirl's face formed. The topic affected her somehow. "Will you say that pepperoni pizza and Thai are your favorites?"
"No," She replied placing her hands back on her lap. "I'm saying that media can't be trusted."
"Come on. Now you'll hurt my feelings, Supergirl." Cat teased, and the tone made Supergirl relax a little.
"You know what I'm trying to say, Cat." She replied with a smile.
"Oh, I do. What I don't understand is why Opal City is printing articles, after articles, about a topic that seems unimportant?"
"They're trying to break the harmony National City has." Supergirl's crinkle came back in place, and Cat noted the body language and how stiff her shoulders were.
"Or, they are trying to break the bond you have with CatCo."
"Or with the city," Supergirl said shaking her head, emphasizing the topic again.
Cat observed her for a second or two. She noticed how she gulped and breathed. The images were fascinating and new to her. Everything was so clear in front of her that it was daunting. Her expectations were always high when experiencing new things. Nevertheless, the images in front of her were something she didn't know how fast she was going to get used to it. Eventually, she was going to, but for the moment she just tried to study everything she could from the young woman in front of her.
"Thus, if I ask you why I was the only one you flew to National City's hospital three days ago, you'll response will be that the media can't be trusted?" Cat's voice was sharp and direct. Hoping she could push her enough to hear was she wanted to hear all along. "Don't twist my words, I am grateful. I just need to understand the media I will deal with." Her voice was more soothing, caring. She didn't want to make the hero fly away. After all, it was one of the possibilities.
Supergirl shifted in her seat. Cat observed how she held her fingers with each other. Her breathing changed so the atmosphere.
Cat looked down and then removed her glasses. "My daughter…She came to my office today, and she asked me if I was working on the contents of the red folder." Supergirl's brow furrowed. Cat knew this was new for her. "I tried to open the folder, but a password protected it. Still is."
"I'm sure your… wife will help with— whatever it's in there." Cat stared at the hero. She wanted to roll her eyes dramatically. What was holding the hero? Why wasn't she honest?
Cat stared at blue eyes, brighter than the color she saw a couple of hours ago. The sunny smile was replaced with worry.
She missed it.
"I am still learning as much as I can from my daughter," Cat closed the book moving closer to Supergirl, creating a comfortable atmosphere. "I didn't know what the correct response was, but when I told her that I wasn't working on the red folder, she smiled, happy that she could stay longer with me in the office." Cat tilted her head.
Supergirl was quiet for a second. "I've never heard anything about this, Cat."
"I can see that you haven't, Supergirl." Cat said searching for the hero's eyes.
Supergirl looked around, waiting for the outcome of this conversation. What was in the red folder? Was Kara's identity in trouble? Was someone from Opal City rewriting the story?
"Why just me?" Cat forced the question one more time. She couldn't shake the idea. She needed the uncut version. She unquestionably knew the answer to this question. Consequently, she needed to hear it out loud. A vivid certification that the media was right and she needed to prove them wrong.
"I—you don't understand, Cat." Supergirl said standing up. Imagining the headlines or what was next. She wanted to fly to Opal City and destroy the computers and everything that was against her. "Clearly whatever it's in that folder is important."
Cat saw how the topic affected the hero, again. Supergirl's shoulders were stiff, stressed; blue eyes were away from Cat, but it was enough to read the hero. Apparently, this was a new hidden talent Cat discovered.
"I need to know the reason behind all of this if I want to sweep the cheap media away," Cat said, putting the closed book away and following the hero. It saddens Cat that the hero struggled in front of her.
She walked, hugging her body from the cold breeze, feeling the need to be closer.
"It's not what it looks. I saved more people that day." Supergirl pleaded, her voice low and lost.
"They have a source and more than one type of proof." Cat said, her tone a little strong and heavy. She was going to help. "I won't be able to help you or do something if I can't remember specifically why the gossip started. I don't think I feel the need to apologize for something I can't remember," she said. "Supergirl."
Supergirl walked closer to the railing, and Cat followed slowly. She took a deep breath, placing both of her hands on her neck. "Rao, we haven't argued in ages." Supergirl said, looking at the sky.
Cat felt the real persona behind the cape. Her fingers tingled with excitement. Her heart deceived her emotions. "We are not arguing," She began saying. "We are discussing a topic…chatting."
Cat placed an arm on Supergirl's shoulder and like perfect synch Kara quickly turned feeling warmer closer to her wife. Her blue eyes were watery, her cheeks red and flustered. Cat could see everything clearly. The resemblance was only noticeable to those who were willing to see. Those who knew how much Kara meant for them.
"Do you trust me?" She whispered. A tear escaped Supergirl's eye as she nodded. "Close your eyes, Supergirl." Cat said, moving closer to her. She smelled the natural flower fragrance and the fruity lotion sitting on her left side of her dresser. Smiling, she pulled the pair of glasses out of her pocket and slowly placed them on Supergirl's face.
Kara released a breath. Her shoulders released tension. Her heart slowed down. She opened her eyes and found her wife frowning.
"I think I am fond of the glasses." Cat said, placing her hand on her chin.
Kara laughed, cleaning her teary eyes from under her glasses.
"What was it this time?" Kara said enjoying the scent of her wife close to her. Cat proximity made her heart flutter.
"Multiple things, but I'll have to say we can blame it on your nose. A mother knows best." Kara laughed fiddling her glasses. Cat looked at her up and down. Her heart beat with emotion, the red boots, toned legs and that crest on her chest. The sentiments were new, jumbled and everywhere.
"I had to wait a couple of days. I'm sorry for not telling you before. I was going to, today. I think I was hoping you found out one more time."
"You didn't trust me." Cat said, and Kara understood it wasn't a question.
"No, it's not that dear." Kara said grabbing her wife's hands in hers. "Imagine if I'd tell you right away from the hospital. I was trying to make you feel at ease."
Cat reminded quietly. "Do you have a specific way of saving me? Was something broken and unusual that cause this pattern? Something slipped, and they started this gossip?"
Kara released Cat's hand swiftly. "I am very responsible when it comes to saving you. Nevertheless, I can't control my feelings for you when you're in danger. I can't seem to react quickly. I get distracted, lost in the thought that I will lose you." Cat looked at blue eyes through rims. "We spoke about this. You told me to make sure that you weren't dying and then save the rest." Kara's tears fell from her eyes. "I did that, you know. I scanned your body and went to save some other citizens." Kara took a deep breath. "I didn't know you were bleeding, so once I knew, I forgot about the rest and went to save me… wife."
Cat closed her eyes at the mention of the word. More butterflies spread her wings in her stomach. She had to take deep breaths, controlling the emotions and how genuinely she was reacting to Kara's words.
"Kara," Cat muttered, and Kara quickly noted the tone. "This will expose your identity. They're digging, waiting for you to make a flaw."
"I won't let that happen."
"I think this is out of your control." Cat took a couple of steps back; Kara's scent was affecting her troubled mind. "Do you know what this implies?" Kara closed her eyes, waiting for the topic. "That there might be new threats toward me, provoking you to choose between me and the city." Cat slid a hand through her hair. "You're practically immortal, and I'm aging faster."
"The only immortal thing here is this topic, Cat." Kara shook her head. "Can we not talk about this again? Look at what we have. Why is it hard to understand?"
"Because you are meant for better."
"Olive makes me better." Kara replied quickly. "Olivia, which is your daughter, a hundredth percent yours thanks to my alien body." Cat gulped, her heart drummed against her chest. "This life, Cat." She walked closer to her wife. "This is more than I could've ever asked. I love everything about it. Please let me show you that we deserve this."
Cat gulped, shaking her head. "You don't have to show me, Kara. I've seen all that you do for me. The way you take care of me is a clear representation of love. Every single corner of this house validates your feelings."
"Then why is so hard for you to understand that we are happy?"
"I haven't questioned that, Kara. I want you to be able to live a long full life. I don't want to drag you down. I might be able to control the media. Moreover, I would never jeopardize your identity and everything you have created. I can't do that to you, or to our daughter."
"I think it's a little late for you to tell me that. I've never been happier than with you, Carter and Olive." Kara said, raising her tone and walking closer to her wife. "You know this will happen to whoever I decided to be? I chose you."
Cat tears fell from her eyes. Kara's proximity was endearing and protective. She couldn't decipher if it were because of the crest or the suit. Moreover, the feeling calmed her instantly; as if her presence made everything better. "Can we have this argument on a different occasion under different circumstances?"
"I thought this wasn't an argument, but a discussion." Kara whispers, stroking Cat's tears softly from her face.
"Why me?" Cat began saying. "Why did you pick me? Why Kara Danvers married Cat Grant?" Kara's eyes were full of love when Cat used her name instead of Supergirl's. "And please don't use any adjectives to describe how wonderful I am."
Kara smiled widely, overpowering the stiff and tense body of her wife. Cat let the sight filled her with new emotions. She missed the contagious smile. "I married Cat Grant because of who I am around her." Kara smiled softly, looking down at her wife. "We relied on each other's until it was inevitable."
Cat nodded, composing herself and smiling back at the hero with glasses. "Thank you for not telling me in the hospital."
Kara laughs, nodding and fiddling with her glasses. "You're welcome."
"Subsequently, I married Kara Danvers?"
"You also married Supergirl."
Cat smiled, enjoying Kara scent. "What was I whispering to you in the carnival pictures. The day you won Mr. Knows."
Kara fiddled her glasses. "You saw the picture?" Cat smiled. "Wait, how do you know you didn't win it?"
"Because I know there is no way I could win one of those carnival games."
Kara chuckled. "It was our fifth date. We went to visit my mother. You saw how excited I was, so you took me there instead of the restaurant. Everything was muddy because there was a storm the day before." Cat smiled at the story. "We asked this lady to take a picture of us and right before she was going to take it you said in a serious tone. 'If you drop me just to have a memorable picture I will publish your identity in my next issue.' It made me laugh so hard."
"Well," Cat chuckled. "I guess I feel strongly about mud." She gazed at blue eyes. "I would never do that, you know?"
Kara nodded. "I know, beautiful."
Suddenly, Cat wasn't bothered by the cold breeze. The silence grew in between them as she stared at gorgeous blue eyes. Her breathing rhythm changed, and Cat knew there was no point in controlling it. She demolished her walls and her influential persona in front of the hero.
She smiled, taking in consideration that her wife could hear every single minuscule sound inside her body. Her throat felt dry, the idea was out there, crystal clear and it couldn't imply any more realistic and vivid.
"You're my wife." Cat mumbled.
Kara smiled, catching her wife's words. The sound of Cat's voice was serene, comfortable, and for what it felt like forever, Kara blocked every noise around her and focused on her wife heartbeat.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the constant, tranquil tone mixed with excitement.
Cat remembered the images from this morning.
She tried to remember the exact way her fingers moved over the warm black fabric.
Cat placed her hand on sturdy fabric, feeling the material under her skin as she traced perfect biceps. Her hand missed the expensive gold watch, but the outlines of the material were the same image she couldn't remove from her mind.
She went further.
Her fingernails scratched soft skin as the neck turned to the side, provoking a familiar sensation in her stomach.
She noticed Kara's bland face and how she was making the hero feel with a simple touch. Cat loved she could perceive the way Kara reacted at her soft contact. Moreover, she treasured they were beneficial as she detected a fast pulse underneath her delicate touch.
It surprised her how intimate the touch was. She could feel how her heart speed and the moment her skin vibrated when Kara's hand slid on her lower back and pushed her exceptionally close.
Kara opened her eyes and smiled at her wife.
"I missed it." She whispered looking at her wife's lips.
Cat gulped. "Our proximity?" Cat whispered, studying Kara's face.
"Your heartbeat." Kara smiled wide, pushing Cat closer to her body.
Cat chuckled, "Right, superpowers."
Kara nodded smiling wide. "I missed you too." She said, staring at green eyes.
Cat shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere, Kara."
"I know." Kara whispered, moving closer to Cat's lips. "Can… can I kiss you?"
Cat gulped, staying still and nodding slowly.
Kara beamed, moving closer to close the distance when she heard the door of the balcony slid open and saw a four—year—old, holding an orange elephant by its tail.
"Mommy, momma, I had a bad dream." She said, walking toward Kara and stretching her hands for her to pick her up.
Cat felt a blood rush through her body as she saw her wife wearing her super suit and glasses while carrying her daughter back to her bed.