"What are you eating?" Elle asked when she entered the kitchen and saw Kara eating a salad for breakfast.
"It's a salad. Do you want one?" Adam asked.
"No." Elle said looking at salad with distain. Looking back at Kara she asked. "Why are you eating it?"
"I wanted one." Kara said, even though the concept still seemed foreign.
"Because of the baby?"
"Probably." Kara said.
"It's weird." Elle commented as she sat up at the table.
"Sure you don't want a fresh leafy salad?" Adam offered again.
"I'm not sick." Elle responded. "I want waffles."
"Of course you do." Adam said.
"So what do you want to do today?" Kara asked.
"Can we go to the funfair today?"
"Of course." Kara said.
"I meant all of us." Elle said looking at Adam.
"I'm sorry, I've got to work." Adam said.
"But it is only on today." Elle complained. "We always go."
"Sorry." Adam said. "But next time there's one in town we'll all go. I promise."
"We can still go." Kara said.
"No, it's okay." Elle said disappointed, not even smiling when Adam gave her a plate of waffles. As Kara and Adam exchanged looks Elle finally looked up and said.
"So I've thought of some new names."
"Not invaders this time?" Adam asked confused by the change of subject.
"No."
"And no Kryptonian warlords?" Kara asked.
"No."
"Okay then, let's hear it." Adam said.
"Kurt, David, Harry, Sam, Jerry, John, Victor, Billy, Max, Jason." Elle listed, not seeing any obvious negative reaction she went in for the kill. "Then my personal favourites, Damien, Chucky Jack and Freddy."
"Did Alex put you up to this?" Adam asked.
"No."
"Lena?" He guessed.
"No."
"How have you even heard of Freddy Krueger?" Adam asked.
"The internet."
"Well I think you've just lost your internet privileges." Adam said.
"You said I could choose a name."
"I also said we were trusting you. That includes trusting you not to name him after a serial killer."
"What's a serial killer?" Elle asked.
"Half the people on your list." Adam said.
"So I can't choose a name?" Elle asked opening her eyes wide.
"Are you hoping that I will say I will take you to the funfair if you change your mind?" Adam asked.
"No." Elle said, but as Adam stared at her she lowered her head and said. "Maybe."
-00-
"Hey you." Lena said as Kara and Elle entered her office.
"Lena!" Elle said happily, but lacking her normal enthusiasm..
"Thank you for taking her." Kara said.
"Of course." Lena smiled as Kara hugged Elle.
"Sorry I have to run off. I'll make it up to you. Be good for Lena." Having kissed her goodbye Kara quickly changed and flew from the window.
"She'll be okay." Lena assured Elle as she approached the child.
"I know." Elle said, her voice flat.
"So what do you want to do today?"
"Can you teach me to ne..negoimate?"
"Negotiate?" Lena guessed.
"Yes." Elle agreed.
"What are you trying to negotiate?"
"Time with mom and dad. I thought I could use the name."
"The name?" Lena asked.
"Come up with bad baby names until they agreed." Elle said.
"I think that's blackmail not negotiation." Lena corrected.
"What's the difference?"
"One is legal, the other isn't." Lena said before clarifying. "A proper negotiation makes both parties think they've won. Blackmail only leaves one party feeling good."
"But they would have spent time with me, isn't that a win? Or don't they want to spend time with me?" Elle asked sadly.
"Of course they want to spend time with you." Lena said quickly feeling she was out of her depth.
"But they're not."
"Your dad has to work." Lena said. "And the city needs your mom."
"I know." Elle said. "But is this what it is going to be like afterwards?"
"After what?"
"The baby."
"You are not looking forward to having a baby brother?"
"No. Mom and dad will have even less time to spend with me."
"But you'll have a baby brother who'll want to spend all his time with you."
"Maybe." Elle said.
"Out of interest what names did you suggest?" Lena asked.
"Kurt, David, Harry, Sam, Jerry, John, Victor, Billy, Max, Jason, Damien, Chucky Jack and Freddy."
"No wonder your mom looked stressed. But nice choices for blackmail." Lena said. "Although I'm surprised your dad hasn't blamed me."
"He has, Alex as well."
"Do you want to know the key to a good negotiation?" Lena asked.
"Yes."
"Communication. You need to tell your parents how you feel."
"I guess." Elle said.
"In the meantime I heard there is a pretty good funfair in town. Now I know you don't want to go if your parents aren't there, but I was hoping that maybe you'd go with me, because I've never been to one."
"Ever?" Elle asked.
"My mother did not believe in fun." Lena pointed out.
"Let's go." Elle said taking Lena's hand.
-00-
"Hey." Adam greeted as he entered Lena's office later that night.
"Hi." Lena whispered before pointing to the couch where Elle was fast asleep.
"She okay?" Adam asked as Lena led him from the room.
"Fine, just a little tired. I think we went on every ride she was allowed on at least once."
"Thanks for taking her." Adam said.
"As always it was pleasure. I know it's not my place to say anything, but she's feeling a little neglected."
"I know." Adam said. "But we're not sure what to do. She's getting stressed and that's making Kara stressed."
"I told her to talk to you."
"Thanks." Adam said.
"Maybe when Kara has given up Supergirl duties she can spend more time with Elle and they can keep each other de-stressed?" Lena suggested.
"Let's hope so. I guess we'll find out soon. As soon as the current disaster is over she's handing over to J'onn. Anyway I should get Elle home. Thanks again for everything."
"My pleasure." Lena said as Adam entered the office and went to the couch.
"Dad?" Elle asked sleepily as she felt herself being lifted up.
"Right here. Let's get you home." He said kissing her head before carrying her out of the office.
"Dad?" She asked barely awake.
"Yeah."
"I've been thinking about names."
"Yeah?"
"No more blackmail." She said before falling to sleep.
-TBC...
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.