Normal had never been a word that suited Lena or Kara, not by a long shot. They were destined for far greater things than being ordinary. And after years of fighting it off, they finally embraced it and both stopped trying to have normal lives and welcomed the chaos; after all, being under the House of El and growing as a Luthor could only guarantee one thing… that normality was simply not it for them. And now, not being normal meant that they were finally happy.
Lena knew this, because if she had kept on trying to have a normal life, she would have never asked Kara Zor-El to move in with her so both could raise their daughter, Lera Zor-El Luthor. The wonderful clone Cadmus had tried to weaponize to take down the Super and that was now one of the mightiest heroes on Earth-38.
Of course, not being normal on the eye of the public still had some downsides, as they would always be the target of the media, and that week was no exception.
"In just a few days, the crème of the crème will gather for a special anniversary. The guest list includes Gotham's billionaire Bruce Wayne and many other celebrities that had RSVP for this once in a lifetime charity dinner with the motive of Lena Luthor's adopted child's birthday. That's right, young heir of L-Corp, Lera Luthor will be celebrating her birthday in a grand fashion. And behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly, the Queen of Media, Cat Grant has been personally running the details for such an occasion. Don't miss out on all the details in our exclusive, tonight at eigh-"
Lena Luthor turned off the screen on her computer and pushed it across her desk at L-Corp. She sighed as a soft night breeze sneaked into her office. A smile filled her features as two figures walked in.
"Evening, Miss Luthor" Supergirl smirked endearingly.
"Oh my, to what do I owe the pleasure of such a visit?" she stood up walking towards them.
"Just making sure you are well, ma'am" Lera played along.
"For the fourth night this week?" she raised a brow "people would grow suspicions if not for the technology around my building cloaking your entrances"
"Well, if you could put your research aside at nights we most definitely wouldn't have to break into your office to take you home" Kara retorted.
Lena laughed breaking the charade to hug the kryptonian tightly "I'm sorry, love. Work has been overwhelming"
Supergirl answered the gesture cuddling her "I will carry you out that balcony again if you don't take a break right now" she let go still holding her hands.
"You've already flew me out of that window three nights in a row. When I fall asleep in this couch it kind of means I was not done with work. My security guards are growing wary of how I enter the building through the main gate but never seem to exit it"
"Too bad, I can't sleep calmly if you aren't there; it's reassuring to have you next to me so I know you are safe"
"It's true, mom" Lera shrugged her shoulders "Plus, she starts to stress-bake and our kitchen can't take much more of that. So, are you joining us? Because we all really need to sleep a bit for tomorrow's photo shoot and the press conference"
"I know, sweetie" Lena said apologetically "I'm sorry we are making such a circus out of your birthday" the CEO started "but the excuse of the media thinking you are adopted is really helping collect funds for the orphanage. And since Bruce has adopted his sons, the alliance between Wayne Industries and L-Corp has gotten stronger; we are going to help a lot of kids"
"It's fine mom, I'm glad we are doing it. Besides, the gala is being celebrated the day Supergirl pulled me out of the pod, but I consider my anniversary to be the day of my 'adoption dinner'"
"And that day we'll do whatever you want. All your friends can come over for a slumber party, Stephanie and Tim included, if Bruce lets them out off the hook for one night"
"Yeah, and Barry already said Wally and Connor will make the dimensional jump"
"That's great!" Lera smiled brightly but something was kept concealed behind her eyes, a little spark that hid an unspoken request. Both parents could read that much, but none could figure out what was left unsaid.
A beeping sound cut short the chat as Lena turned around "The simulation ran a successful scenario"
"Which project?" Lera approached seeing the 3D blueprints projected in the middle of the room.
"Space suit" she answered "The one that can generate its own oxygen, or at least try to turn CO2 back into breathable air"
"Can I test it when it's ready? I mean, I am half human, I don't think I can breathe in outer space and if that were the case, I can easily fly back to earth. I am a prime candidate"
"As tempting as that might be, I think I rather test it on a pool, but when it hits production you can be the first to try it, as long as your mom goes with you…and your uncle Clark…and J'onn, and maybe-"
"Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence, there" Kara folded her arms in mocked indignation "anyways, that prototype can wait until tomorrow"
"Supergirl, come in" she heard Alex's voice in her earpiece.
"What's the status?"
"We have a rough alien causing trouble, mind giving us a hand?"
"Send the coordinates" she asked.
"And kiddo" Alex added "you are running today's mission. Let's see in action what you've learned from your internship at the DEO"
"I'll make you proud, Aunt"
"I'm already proud" she said earnestly "Kara, that means you are taking orders from your kid, she'll call the shots and you'll take the shots"
Lera straighten her back with a sly smile looking at her mother.
"Try to bring me back in one piece, Inah"
"Looks like you are the ones that will be late tonight" Lena teased.
"Don't pretend like you weren't going to stay here anyways"
"I'm wounded" she arched a perfect dark brow "go already, Lera has a debut to make, you can tell me all about it at dinner, or breakfast, depending when you are done"
"We still have to talk about your crazy schedules" Kara pointed.
"You save the world out there; I try to fix it from here"
Kara sighed approaching her to wrap her arms around her one more time "Love you, Lee"
"Love you too" she whispered into her hair "see you at home, promise"
"Goodnight, mom" Lera embraced her as well.
"Night, sweetie. Now go save the world" she kissed the top of her head before watching them disappear through the balcony. Then she turned around ready for round two.
Lena opened her eyes finding herself on her apartment, she didn't recall how she got there, which meant…
"Not again" she grunted under her breath about to curse.
"Yeah, you fell asleep, on your chair no less, which leads me to believe you weren't planning on passing out" Kara walked by fixing her hero uniform before sitting next to her "Lena, I'm serious, you need to rest"
"I didn't built an empire by having a curfew"
"I'm aware, but when you built it you were on your own, right now you have others depending on you too, ok? And I'm not saying you have to quit or anything, I'm just suggesting making an adjustment"
Lena rubbed her eyes exhaling heavily, she knew Kara had a point, but at the same time, Lena's way of helping the world was through her lab "How did last night go?"
"Why don't you ask Lera? She has been dying to tell you"
Lena's face lit up recalling that her daughter had leaded her first mission "Breakfast ready?"
"Well, Lera inherited my impatient cooking habit, so, if you want to make an appearance before she burns down the place…"
"Ok, ok. A quick shower first and then I'm going" she chuckled pushing the covers aside.
Lera turned the twelfth pancake over ready to make more mix.
"Are we feeding an army?" Lena spoke startling her.
"Mom! You are awake" she abandoned the oven rushing to her at high speed, barely managing to control her strength when she hugged her "It was amazing, it was not only a rough alien, it was a whole organization that tried to take down the city's power grid to infiltrate weapons, so we assessed the situation, used x-ray vision and then we broke in, but they had a whole warehouse full of kryptonite"
"Do I really want to hear the rest of the story?" Lena frowned concerned.
"But since I am only half kryptonian I had enough strength to fly in, knock down the pillars collapsing the ceiling, which was made out of lead!"
"You basically stored away the kryptonite in a huge lead box?"
"Exactly! After that it was easy to defeat the gang with mom's help"
Lena was quite impressed by her performance "You are really lucky she was with you, Kara. I don't see how you could have solved that one otherwise"
"Probably with a lot of backup and yelling from Alex"
"What did Alex said, sweetie?" she asked knowing how important it was for her the approval of the older Danvers now that she was showing her the ropes of the DEO.
"She was pleased, although the structural damage of the property will certainly duck me some points"
"Pleased? Alex was bragging to the whole squadron about Lera's success, calling them out for being strategically outmatched by a one year old"
"It's not a fair comparison since I was engineered and filled with warfare Intel, plus your genetics"
"You had the tools, but how you applied them is completely your merit"
And then the pan burst into flames as the forgotten pancake was turned into ashes.
"My bad" Lera rushed to turn it off.
"I've got it" Kara blew her icy breath calming the flames.
Lena smiled fondly at the two, not in a million years would she had thought her life would turn so great. But something lingered at the back of her head, an obscure thought she couldn't quite place, anger or fear perhaps. Something that told her she didn't deserve to have such happiness, because if so many victims of the Luthor's last name had been decimated, what gave her the right to feel such bliss? She pushed the dark thought aside as always and reassured herself everything was alright.
"Ok, let's eat quickly" Kara hurried them "Cat Grant will be waiting us for the photo-shoot and I don't want to be late"
"It still amazes me she volunteered to plan the party" Lena commented.
"Volunteered? She basically took over the project"
"I can't complain, she's been running it smoothly, although she's getting such a satisfaction of treating you as an assistant again"
"I think she enjoys knowing she's bossing Supergirl around" Kara slouched.
"I know the feeling" Lena teased.
"Careful, your Luthor genes are showing" Kara replied mockingly as well.
"Hey, Mom" Lera interrupted.
"Yes?" both turned around
Lera chuckled "Fair enough, Kryptonian mom"
"Yes, Inah?"
"Can I stay in base today?"
"No missions?"
"Aunt Alex is showing me the security system of the prison, someday I'll have to escort criminals there myself, I thought to have a field trip to see the process"
"Well, in our line of work it's more likely you will have to take them back to the DEO rather than a normal jail"
Lera was about to refute, but bit her lower lip holding her tongue, maybe Kara let that go unnoticed, but Lena saw right through.
"Besides they are moving people this week, it will be a bit chaotic, you are far better just accessing through the net. I can take you next month"
"No need!" she rushed to say "I'll just watch the live feed from the cameras"
"Ok, then"
Lena gazed upon her daughter until their eyes met, fierce emeralds questioning softer ones. Lera uncomfortably shifted her gaze avoiding a confrontation.
"Anyways, we should hurry to the photo shoot" Kara said shoving a mouthful of pancakes.
"Right"
"Let me quickly put some civil clothes over and we can leave" the Super said, it was a nice change of pace to be able to wear her uniform openly around the apartment. No one ever dropped unannounced in that building, security was adequate and since all the windows were polarized and her entranced were cloaked by L-Corp's technology, she could simply be both her identities at once. Even better, she could be her true self, the core of her persona, Kara Zor-El.
"Ok, love. Remember that Cat will choose your outfit, so put something easy to change"
"Got it" she leaned into the bar landing a kiss on Lena's forehead "I brewed some coffee, espresso"
"My hero" Lena replied.
"Give me two minutes and we can go"
"I'll time you" Lena smirked.
As soon as both Luthors were alone, a weird atmosphere settled, Lera seemed oddly uncomfortable.
"I-um, I'll go get my glasses" Lera excused herself.
"Is something bothering you, sweetie?"
"No. Not at all. Just…a little overwhelmed with everything about my birthday" Lera said, her tone honest, but her eyes seemed to conceal something else behind them. Maybe so, the half kryptonian could fool Supergirl, but Lena grew up with the Luthors, reading those micro-expressions.
It was not that Lera was lying, worst, she was giving an interpretation of the truth and if Lera really wanted any of her mothers to know, she would openly say it, so it was clear, she was keeping a secret of her own. Considering the Danvers-Luthor's past, it was so ironically fitting that their kid would too.
"Ok, sweetie. It won't be as overwhelming in just a couple of days. If you need to slow down or take a break from being a public figure as a Luthor or a Super you can tell us"
"I know, mom" she nodded honestly easing up again.
"Good"
Kara dashed back in styling her hair into a ponytail "Ready?"
Cat Grant looked them up and down trying to decide the best angle possible as the three women stood before her.
"I'm thinking having the jewel of the crown in front and both powerful woman behind, like guiding the new light of tomorrow, the heir of the empire" she recited positioning Lera at the front center.
"I don't get it" an assistant mumbled to the photographer "If the kid is the Luthor's adopted child why is the reporter here?"
"Miss Grant insisted" the photographer answered coolly, going through the settings of his camera.
"But what does she has to do? She's a no one, maybe a few published pieces that have caused controversy, but she's not front cover material. At best she has given good publicity to L-Corp"
Little could they tell that their private conversation was easily overheard by the kryptonians and by the looks they were giving while gazing in that direction it was easy to tell it was an upsetting topic.
"Kara?" Lena mumbled "everything alright?"
She cleared her throat forcing a smile "Yeah, perfect. But, um? Why don't we try a shot in which I am not there? I mean, the cover is to sponsor Lera's birthday and L-Corp's partnership with Wayne Industries to promote the fundraiser for the orphanage, I really have nothing to do with any of that"
Both Luthors were going to refute rather passionately, but Cat Grant simply raised a hand and tilted her head "No. Not going to do that, Kira" she used the name to annoy her a bit, get her out of her head "You are here because you too are her mother and even if the rest of the world won't acknowledge that yet, I know it, and I am a mother too and I understand the need of being there for my kids. You have every right to be in this place with them, so, take all that self-pity and under-appreciation and save it for therapy, because that won't do here. Believe me, in the future you will want to have memories of being involved in their uprising and even though you have plenty of photos as your hero persona, you will rarely have any with just Lera Luthor" she finished looking her steadily in the eye knowing she had gone through her shell.
Kara offered a softer gesture being moved by her words "Thank you Miss Grant" she looked behind her to where the gossip continued "it won't make it any more understandable to the eye of the public, though"
"Oh, it will, since you made a huge donation to the cause, becoming the guest of honor to the evening" Cat added matter-of-factly leaving the three of them aback.
"Um, what?"
"Well, a big check was sent on your behalf to support the orphanage. Which fits greatly to the narrative of the reported that sympathizes with the cause because she too lost her biological parents at a young age and was adopted into a new family" she folded her arms neatly before herself with a challenging look.
"You donated on my behalf?"
"I simply sent all the bonuses you earned as my assistant and transferred them into a cause I thought you would approve of"
"Miss Grant, I don't know what to say"
"Say you'll smile in the next picture" she asked lightening the mood "plus, when the truth comes to light in some years it will be a delight to see all the theorist trying to pinpoint all the clues that were so obvious and still they somehow missed"
Kara finally cracked a smile nodding vigorously.
"When the truth comes to light?" Lena repeated with an eyebrow arched up looking at the Media Queen with intrigue and somewhat defiance.
"Please, you can't hide this forever" she motioned to the three of them "plus, we are not exactly being discrete by hiding in plain sight, so, give it less than a decade when Lera's features become more of a clear giveaway"
"Comforting thought, being exposed by the similarities"
"I didn't say you would be exposed" Cat pointed with a sly smile "I'm calling the scoop by the way. When you decide it's time to reveal it. Share it with the rest of the world"
"That can't happen, so many would be at risk if we did"
"Just saying it as I see it" Cat smirked "I call for the first interview" she turned around going to the photographer "ok, let's take it from the top"
"When we decide to share it?" Lena repeated looking at the two of them.
"For now, let's try to survive the week" Kara chuckled.
"Agreed" Lera said shrugging her shoulders.
"Ok, ladies, show time!" Cat shouted.
Author's Note:I have been sitting on this idea for a while now, so might as well put this first chapter out and see how it goes now that the hundred episode will be out. I really hope that if this episode is going to be a re-write, Kara can get to Lena and fix everything! Wishful thinking really...
Thanks for your support with this series of fics! You are all AWESOME!