Two close updates so make sure you read the last chapter.

Lena was perfectly punctual, Kara recognized her heart beat before she even boarded Cat's elevator and she fidgeted nervously with her glasses again. Cat stuck her head out the glass door and winked, it was exactly six twenty nine.

"She coming?" Kara nodded. Everyone else in the office left between five and five thirty, it was always just Cat and herself left after six. "I've never seen you so nervous, you like her." Cat smiled wryly.

"What? No I mean yes- I mean….Ms. Grant!" Kara couldn't help the whine that escaped her. She really didn't want to be teased and Lena was getting very close to their floor. "Relax Kara, she just wants to get to know you. She likes you, she thinks your funny and smart and she has done nothing but sing your praises anytime we talk." Kara felt the blood rush to her cheeks and sighed. Just because Lena Luthor enjoyed her company and working with her didn't mean she reciprocated her crush.

She was about to tell Cat so when the lift door dinged open, and Lena walked out in a fancy black dress that hung elegantly to her trim figure. Kara stared at her open mouthed until Cat tossed a pen at her head.

"Uh, Lena, hi." She wanted to slap her own forehead at the awkward greeting. "You look nice, beautiful even, gorgeous really…" Cat cleared her throat and shot Kara a knowing look. "I didn't, well should I go home and change…." Kara glanced down at her own tan slacks and blazer. She looked professional, no matter what Cat had to say about her poor taste in clothes, but she was definitely not up to par with what Lena was wearing. She would stand out if the woman was taking her to some ridiculous expensive reservation only restaurant.

"No Kara, your perfect the way you are. I had a working engagement that required formal wear and didn't want to be late." Lena smiled charmingly. "I had wanted to cook but…I thought maybe we could go to this place I heard about, it's….not very fancy but it has good food I hear, my secretary swore by it."

"As long as I won't embarrass you." Cat growled and turned her attention to a startled Lena. Her eyes practically dared the brunette to get her response wrong. For all the criticism Cat gave Kara she was positively fierce if someone hurt her feelings, ironic since she did so herself quiet often without really meaning too, she just hoped Kara knew she cared about her despite her criticisms.

"Kara you could shove chopsticks up both your nostrils and I would still find you positively endearing. You can't embarrass me, love. I might even join you."

Kara coughed at the image of Lena putting chop sticks up her nose. "I won't do that, I promise." She laughed, feeling a bit more at ease now. "At least not tonight." Lena smiled and Kara felt her heart do a little flip and flop. She was totally smitten with the woman and there wasn't anything she could do about. Still, even if it didn't come to anything she was enjoying the feeling, she had never liked anyone. Not even on Krypton.

"Have fun. Don't stay out too late, Kara, early morning you know." Cat called out heading toward her office and waving at them carelessly from over her shoulder. The glass door closed behind her and the two bemused women watched her scoop up a handful of M&Ms before going to sit back at her desk.

"Sometimes she sounds more like your mother than your boss." Lena commented lightly.

Kara's heart squeezed suddenly. She had been so nervous of the upcoming dinner with Lena that she had allowed herself to shelve her personal drama. It all came back on her with the word and she swallowed thickly.

"Kara?" Lena placed a hand on the girls shoulder. "Are you alright, did I say something?"

"No, no it's fine. Just family stuff." She sniffled and grabbed a tissue to dab at her eyes, she didn't want her mascara running and she didn't want to ruin dinner by crying.

"Perhaps you can tell me about it over dinner? Maybe I can help." Lena led her toward the elevator, Cats private one. The blonde glanced back but Cat waved her hand at her through the glass wall without even looking up, as if she knew Kara would seek her approval before getting on the express lift.

"Its alright, I don't want to bother you with my own stuff."

Lena surprised her by pulling her into her embrace as they waited for the elevator to open, she had to remember to allow herself to be moved she was so startled. "Honey that's what friends are for. Besides maybe talking about it with me will help. I have loads of family drama." She allowed Kara to pull away and smiled.

The blonde pulled away and stepped into the waiting elevator with the C.E.O. She took a moment to think about it, to think about whether she was willing to share part of herself with more than just Alex and realized maybe she was. Lena was right, if anyone could understand how painful family issues could be it was her, being the odd, likely only sane Luthor, could not have been easy.

"Thanks, Lena."

~K~

Lena hadn't lied. The restaurant wasn't anything fancy, in fact Kara often ordered their pot stickers as take out when she and Alex had sleepovers. They recognized her on sight and she blushed at the immediate rant of Chinese that followed. She knew Wong was yelling for more food to be cooked, he loved Kara she was his absolute favorite customer because she just ate so much. He always made sure he had her food fresh and hot and he never let her leave until she was full. She didn't think she wanted to eat so much in front of Lena though.

"I take it you visit here often?" Lena glanced at her with a raised eyebrow as the owner himself made his way over to them with a huge smile on his face.

"Kara! You come to eat in, you sit in family booth, I insist!" He grinned and ushered them to the table reserved for family only. Kara idly wondered why every Chinese place she had ever been in had a family only booth, she was usually invited to sit at those too she just didn't visit their restaurants as often as she did Wong's. "Come, come you sit here, you and your date." Kara blushed but neither woman said otherwise. "You food be right out. Hot and fresh I see to it myself." Just like that he was rushing back into the kitchen. Kara found herself blushing hotly under Lena's amused gaze.

"So….your practically family." She laughed.

"I just eat here a lot, me and my sister."

"Yes, well Jess did tell me it was the best Chinese food in town." Kara nodded in agreement. "Perhaps you will be willing to take me to your other favorite places sometime?"

"I-uh, yes I will…"

"It seems we have a few minutes to ourselves, he said he was cooking our food…."

Kara grimaced. "I can go tell him you want to order something, otherwise he is likely to come back with all my favorites."

Lena smiled pleasantly. "Then maybe I'll know what you like and can surprise you with lunch one day. It's fine. I'll eat anything Chinese."

Kara willed herself not to blush, she liked the idea of Lena surprising her with lunch at the office. It felt like something a girlfriend would do though, or Alex.

"I would like that." Kara told her sincerely.

Lena smiled brightly, Kara nearly groaned. She loved when Lena smiled. It lit up her entire face and made her eyes look just slightly less sad. Kara didn't know why Lena always looked a little sad all the time but she was pleased she was able to bring the busy C.E.O at least a little bit of joy.

"I'll be right back," Lena told her, "just going to the restroom before they bring out the food." Kara watched her walk off and swore that the woman added an extra sway to her hips as she walked off.

Kara stared after the brunette even after she had disappeared behind the swinging doors. She had to pull her attention away because she didn't want to be caught still staring when Lena came back out.

She nearly fell out of the chair when her eyes landed on the blonde from the gala sitting in Lena's vacated seat. She hadn't even heard her approach.

"You!" Europa smiled without any humor.

"So did you use the codes?" She asked, straight forward.

"Yes. And we figured out about myriad. And I also found out stuff about my family I wish I hadn't thanks to you." Kara growled. She knew she wasn't being fair, she couldn't blame the blonde for what Astra and Alura had done. But the blonde was the only person there.

"Family?" Europa stared at her blankly for a moment before realization flashed in her eyes. "Oh…my Rao. No….please tell me it's not what I think?" Kara wanted to lash out at her but it was very evident whatever she thought Kara had found out was causing her genuine stress. And the regret and pain reflected in her blue eyes would have been hard to fake.

"I found out General Astra was my mother." She confirmed, choking back emotions she wasn't about to share with a stranger. She fiddled with the forks on the table and was surprised when warm hands reached out and clasped hers tightly.

"A message? From Alura?"

Kara nodded. "To Astra. It didn't make sense. And then it did."

Europa flinched, that was not how Kara was supposed to find out, if she was ever to find out. And she couldn't imagine the pain the girl was in, finding out she was raised by her aunt and unable to find answers for the questions Europa knew would be burning in her heart.

"I am so sorry. That was not my intention…we just wanted to help, we….we don't agree with Non, he doesn't care about casualties any longer. But if I had known there was a message such as that…. I would have found another way."

Kara tried to take her hand back and glared at the blonde when she wouldn't release it. "Then I would just go on with my life not knowing she was my mother the whole time? Not knowing my whole life was a lie!? I cant- I dont-" She stopped talking and tilted her head down. She didn't know whether to be angry or just sad. She felt so helpless.

"Why did she give me up? She was around all the time….I don't understand."

"Kara I-"

"Oh hello." Both women glanced up sharply as Lena announced her arrival. A smile was firmly fixed to her face but even Europa could tell it was forced. The light brown eyes were fixed on their hands, where she was still clutching Kara's hands, and when she brought those eyes up to meet Europa's she didn't look too pleased.

The blonde let go immediately, she wondered about their relationship but she didn't want to anger the business woman and put any more pressure on her love's daughter. The girl was already having a hard time and she hadn't even been able to really explain anything in the short time Lena had been gone, they had gotten off track.

"Are you a friend of Kara's?" Lena asked pointedly as the Kryptonian moved to stand. She only spoke when it was clear Kara wasn't going to.

"I'm a friend of her Aunt's." That got a reaction from the girl. "She just asked that I stop in and check on her." Europa had a vague image of Astra murdering her when next she saw her but she desperately wanted Kara to know Astra wasn't aligned with Non, that she had Kara's best interests in mind.

"Astra?" She nodded but Kara's frown only deepened. "Non said…..he said she was dead. That they killed her because she looked like mom…."

Lena stayed silent as she watched to two beautiful women stare at each other in shock. She was acutely aware she had no idea what was going on and she could only imagine this was part of the reason Kara had been frowning that morning and spacing out.

"Dead?" Europa asked slowly, not really expecting Kara to confirm that was indeed what the bastard had said. "No. Kara she- Rao," Lena raised an eyebrow at the curse, it wasn't one she had heard before and she knew quite a lot of languages. "Astra is going to kill me, then Non I swear. She isn't dead Kara. I helped her look for you for years before she gave up. She only just discovered you were alive….she saw you on…." She trailed off, she had been covertly spying on the girl so she knew her new friend wasn't privy to her second life.

"But she didn't-" Kara's eyes widened and she gazed up at Europa with a mix of awe and sorrow. "I heard her singing….our lullaby….." She sniffled and wiped at her eyes again with a napkin.

"I'm sorry I've upset you so much," she glanced toward Lena, who was being patient and quiet even though she knew the woman was itching to ask so many questions, and likely dying to comfort the woman opposite them. "And I'm sorry I interrupted your date. I'll speak with her, Kara. She's afraid you'll hate her, blame her for the…." She didn't know what Kara called the destruction of their planet. What her story was for her dead family.

"Fire….please ask her. I want to see her. I….just want to see her. I want answers." Europa nodded and turned to leave. She nodded uncomfortably to Lena and tried to block out the sounds of her comforting Kara as she left. She had not meant to upset her, she felt like a heel. But at least she had been able to rectify Non's treachery. And perhaps maybe she could even get Astra to speak with her daughter.

~L~

Lena had climbed into Kara's booth instead of her own and wrapped her arms around the girls shoulders. "Some of the family drama you were telling me about?" She asked her gently when her silent tears stopped.

Kara nodded. "I just found out my aunt was actually my mother. And now I know she is alive. That she didn't die with…..everyone else."

"I'm sorry, it sounds overwhelming. If you would rather not have dinner I would understand." Lena pulled away but Kara grasped the sleeve of her shirt unconsciously.

"No….please j could use a little bit of normalcy and a good friend. Besides Wong is bringing the food out right now." Lena glanced up and was surprised to see the man was indeed now coming out of the kitchen, he was followed by at least two other waiters, one was holding more food and one had the drinks they hadn't even ordered yet. She turned back to Kara and laughed at the cheeky look on her face.

"Alright. If your sure?"

Kara nodded and Lena made her way back to her side just before they set the plates out. "I never say no to Mr. Wong's pot stickers." The man in question beamed proudly and they all shared a laugh as Kara's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly in agreement.

"Dig in ladies!"