A/N: Hello, thank you so much for the nice feedback on the last chapter! So, after reading your reviews (they were all so sweet and thoughtful, you made my day!) I decided to go back and edit/re-add some scenes I had considered but originally cut. In doing so, this prompt has actually turned it a wildly long four part saga - I hope that's cool with you all! Unfortunately, the bad news is that Part 3 might come a little later than I had first planned, due to a scene I'm reworking.

To the wonderful guest that reviewed (and submitted this prompt) - Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you've liked it so far, and I hope you continue to do so. As for the rest, you'll see pretty soon ;) Thanks again!

Keep voting on the poll if you haven't already!

Prompt: Kara and Alex somehow time-travel to Krypton and Alex meets Kara's parents. Together the four of them have to figure out a way to get Alex and Kara back to their time before Krypton explodes.

Time Travel - Part 2

"There's got to be a way to fix it," Alex said as they went on to their second hour of examining the device.

"I know I've seen this before," Zor-El said.

Kara perked up, smirking smugly at Alex. "I told you!"

"Yeah, well, you're right sometimes. It happens," Alex said with a loving eye roll.

Kara bumped her sister with her shoulder. For the first time ever she didn't have to worry about controlling her strength. On Krypton, she was normal, she was perfectly in tune. It felt nice, less scary, not to constantly be under the pressure to remember to withhold. It was relaxing to shed the fear that she might accidently hurt people she loved.

"Alex!" she exclaimed after her revelation.

The brunette looked at her sister with a raised brow. "Yeah?"

"I just realized that I can finally hug you without holding back," Kara said as she tackled Alex into a hug on the couch and squeezed her sister tightly so that their cheeks were pressing together.

Alex wrinkled her nose but hugged Kara back, embracing her sister firmly and feeling warmth spread through her body. Alex wasn't sure she'd ever seen Kara happier than she'd been today. It simultaneously made Alex's heart swell with jubilance and crack with sadness for her sister, because regardless of whether or not they were successful in fixing the time machine, Kara was going to lose her parents, her home, her whole planet for the second time in her twenty four years of conscious life.

So Alex hugged her sister a little tighter and refused to pull away until Kara did so first.

A few moments passed before Kara gave Alex a final squeeze. "I love you," Alex whispered in Kara's ear as she pulled back.

"You too," Kara had said, and she was beaming. She stood up and plopped beside her dad. "Anything new?" she asked, nodding toward the time traveling object in his hand.

"It's definitely Kryptonian," he answered. "And it's ancient. I know a place at the university that has a specialized robotic collection of information regarding ancient devices involved in time travel. Up until this point, it was all believed to be myth."

"Is it open now?" Alura asked, looking hopeful.

He nodded. "It doesn't close on weekdays. I'll go now."

"We can all go!" Kara said.

Zor-El shook his head. "Staying in the apartment will reduce the risk of upsetting the timeline. I'll go alone, it shouldn't be too long, I'll be back by two this morning."

Kara sunk back against the couch, agreeing with her dad's logic but abhorring it anyway. She wanted to have her family together for as long as possible before being forced to say goodbye again. With a tight hug and quick bye, Zor-El was out the door and heading to the university.

"I'm going to try something, if that's okay," Alex said, picking up the device after she received nods of affirmation. The other two women stood up to follow her. "You two could stay here if you'd like," Alex said with a meaningful look, knowing how much Kara would later appreciate having time alone with her mother. "I'll really just be fiddling around with the parts to see if I can get this thing glowing again."

Both women smiled gratefully at Alex before showing her to a small office and returning to the living area to talk and enjoy being together. Kara didn't know how much she could share about the future, wasn't sure what might matter or what was entirely insignificant and harmless to say.

"Alex is amazing," Kara said, "She's always had my back and she's been right by my side the whole time, I really couldn't have done anything without her."

Alura smiled. "She seems like a lovely person."

Kara nodded vigorously. "She is. She's incredible. She's so brave and smart and fun. We spend a lot of time together, she keeps me grounded, she protects me, even when I don't think I need it." Kara continued to gush about Alex to Alura, the blonde had always wanted her mother to meet Alex and now that they had this brief sliver of a moment, she wanted her mom to know as much as she could. She wanted her mom to love Alex.

Kara bit her tongue when it came to talking about Kal-El and the delay in her own arrival on Earth, but then, she opened her mouth again.

"Mom?" she said and Alura looked up, urging her daughter continue.

"I have to tell you something, but you have to promise you won't let this change the plan that's already in place for me and Kal-El."

Alura nodded and leaned forward, sensing her daughter's nervousness and clasping her daughter's hands in her own. "I promise you."

"Mom, I messed up, I failed you," Kara said, gently pulling her hand away from Alura and rubbing her forehead with a sigh. The older woman waited patiently for Kara to continue. "Maybe I shouldn't tell you this, but I feel like I have to, I just need to know that you wouldn't- that you wouldn't be mad or disappointed in me. When Krypton exploded, it… it knocked my pod off course into the Phantom Zone, I was stuck there in stasis for twenty four years. By the time I got to Earth, Kal-El was already all grown up, he was there when I landed." Tears brimmed in Kara's eyes as she continued, her words growing faster. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't do what you wanted me to… I do my best now and we talk all the time. He turned out better than fine, I just wish I could have been there. I wish I hadn't let you- let you down and I-"

Alura stood up and Kara thought she might be walking away, Kara's heart lurched in her chest, but then Alura crossed the short distance between the two couches and sat so close to Kara that their shoulders touched, she pulled the blonde against her. "Kara, love, what happened was beyond your control. I wouldn't blame you for an instant." Kara sniffled and nodded and let her head fall against her mother's shoulder. Alura stroked her daughter's hair. "I don't want you to think for a moment that I'm not proud of you. It's so important that you know you have never let me down, okay? I'm so proud of everything you've done and everything you'll do, I believe in you, my daughter."

"Okay," Kara nodded tearfully. "Thank you," she said and curled against her mother, wishing she had her superhearing so she could listen to her mom's heartbeat and commit it to memory. "I love you," Kara whispered softly.

Alura continued to run her fingers over Kara's hair. "I love you, too, sweet girl."

They sat like that for a few more moment, soaking in the feeling of togetherness and trying to ignore the impending goodbye. After a few minutes Kara straightened up slowly. "Am I sleeping right now? You know, like, the younger me?"

Alura nodded. "You should be."

"Can I go see me?" Kara asked, twisting her fingers together against her Super Suit. "I won't wake myself up or anything, that could mess with the whole timeline, but I just want to…" she trailed off with a shrug.

With a smile, Alura nodded again and stood up with Kara. "Of course. Go," she said, gently patting Kara's back.

The blonde took a step toward her bedroom, the route she would know like the back of her hand for the rest of her life, before turning around and giving her mom a tight hug. When they finished, Kara smiled and made her way down the hall, Alura watched her with moist, shiny eyes, until she disappeared from sight.

Kara stepped through the doorway to her bedroom. It was almost exactly as she remembered, a little messier, a little smaller maybe, but it was hers and it was perfect. She knew that room, could navigate it in the dark without the slightest hesitation. She knew the drawer that was filled with pictures of her and her friends and her family; she knew the place on her bookshelf that held her favorite novels, could name each one; she knew where the paint collection sat underneath her bed and which colors she was always running low on.

The room was dimly lit by starlight that shone through the window and scattered particles across the white walls and the white bed. Everything was so white and innocent, and then Kara saw herself, at twelve years old, sprawled beneath the covers, curling into a pillow, sleeping in the same position Kara did today.

There were a few books stacked on the floor at the foot of her bed, some for school and some for fun; and she remembered that she'd considered not putting those books away, because what was the point if her whole planet was going to explode? What did it matter if a few books didn't make it back to their home on the shelf?

Kara also remembered, that just a few hours before she'd left Krypton, she'd returned to her room and tucked her books back into their individual places; deciding that just because she was losing her home, didn't mean anything else deserved the same.

Each memory leading up to those final moments on her planet were burned into her mind. She shoved them away as she took a seat beside her younger self.

It was strange, to see herself so young and small. She felt oddly affectionate and detached simultaneously, almost as though she were looking at a different person—maybe a little sister or cousin, but at the same time, it was her and she knew it was her.

Kara reached out and stroked her younger self's hair, carefully, gently as though not to wake her. The blonde was overcome with emotion, she knew how much she would have been struggling back then, knew how scared she felt and how brave she had tried to act. There she was, a small, innocent creature barely in double digits, about to head out into the infinite universe, lost and orphaned.

"I'm sorry," Kara whispered through tears. "I'm sorry you have to do this, but you're going to be okay. Even when it doesn't feel like it, you'll be okay. You will. I promise, you will."

/

There was a knock on the office doorframe and Alex turned around to see Alura hovering in the threshold.

"Hello, Mrs. Zor-El" Alex said with a smile, putting the object down and turning to face Alura.

"Please, call me Alura," she said, earning a nod from Alex. "Here, sit down." The older woman led Alex to a couch where they sat down. "I wanted to thank you for everything you've done for my daughter."

"It's been my pleasure, truly" Alex said. "Kara means everything to me. I'm lucky to know her."

Alura smiled, it was inexplicable how comforting it was to know that her daughter was protected on Earth, that her daughter wasn't alone, she'd found a family. "She's lucky to have you."

Alex shrugged and felt blush reddening her cheeks. "Sometimes I wish there was more I could do for her, I try my best but some nights, especially in the beginning, I never felt like I was enough."

"Well, I assure you, whatever you've done, you've done it well and you've done it right. You sound like my Kara, always too hard on yourselves." Alura put an arm on Alex's shoulder. "I can't imagine what it must have been like to take Kara in and to care for her after all the trauma she'd been through and all the new powers and sensations of Earth. I will never be able to express how much I appreciate what your family has done, I am forever grateful."

Alex saw tears forming in Alura's eyes, and felt them pricking in her own. "What you did, sending Kara away, was brave. I know when she first arrived, she was hurting so deeply, but you gave her a chance at life and she leapt on it. She became a hero," Alex said and she was so proud of her sister. "She changed my life and she changed my whole world, she changed Earth. It's a better place because your daughter is there, because she decided to take an unbearable tragedy and turn it into an opportunity to do good, and I'm not even surprised, because that's what Kara does, that's who she is. So, thank you for all that you've done for her and for me, too, I couldn't have asked for a better sister. It's an honor to meet you, after all the great things I've heard from Kara. I never thought I'd have the chance, but I'm so thankful that I do."

"It's an honor to meet you, too. Kara loves talking about you," Alura said with a smile, "She's proud of you; proud to have you as a sister. She was bragging about you, it's apparent that she loves you very much."

"I would die for her," Alex said, without hesitating on a single word. "She means everything to me. I would risk my life to save hers in a heartbeat. I love her so much."

Alura glanced at Alex, looking at her for a long moment before tugging the younger woman into a firm hug. Alex let out a soft 'oh' before she reciprocated the action.

"I know we've only just met and I wish we could meet under better circumstances and get to know each other well, but since we lack the luxury, I want you to know that I would have loved you if I'd had the pleasure of knowing you, because I love you now, even in these short few hours, I can tell that you're a good person, made for good things. When you get back to Earth—and we will get you back, don't worry for a moment—would you please give your parents my sincerest thank you. I know it's not enough, but I'm afraid it's all I have to give."

Alex shook her head. "It's enough, it's more than enough. My family loves Kara so much, they would have loved you, too. I love you, too," Alex said, time was dwindling and she refused to filter her feelings.

"Your parents, may I ask their names?"

"Of course. My mother is Eliza Danvers, she's a bioengineer, like me; my dad was Jerimiah Danvers, he was a scientist."

"He's gone now?"

Alex nodded, then paused. "For years we thought he had died in a plane crash, a while after Kara arrived. But recently, things have come up and we're not sure anymore," Alex said, unaware of why she was mentioning it. "He might even be alive."

"I hope he is," Alura said, taking Alex's hand into her own. "Thank you, again, for everything you've done for Kara, for accepting her into your life and family. I'm glad she has a sister and I'm grateful that it's you."

Alex smiled, hugging Alura as they both stood up. "Kara's really special, I think since coming to Earth, both her life and mine are better because we have each other. We're a team. So, you're welcome, but I owe thanks to you, as well."

"Will you promise me one thing?" Alura asked and Alex nodded.

"Please keep your eye on Kara. I know she's a… well, she's a superhero now, and she's very capable, but it makes me feel better to know someone's looking out for her and you've done such a wonderful job already I just…"

Alex gave Alura's hand a reassuring squeeze as the older woman trailed off. Alex looked Alura in the eyes. "You have my word."

/

"Hey," Alex said quietly from the doorway to Kara's bedroom, leaning up against the frame with her arms crossed across her chest.

Kara looked up to see her sister and was glad her own tears had fled and dried. Light from the stars was glowing around her, catching in her blonde hair and illuminating her body against the darkness.

"Hey," Kara repeated.

"So, this is it?" Alex said, looking around the area. "This is where little Kara grew up?"

The blonde nodded. "For the first part of my life." The lack of a smile worried Alex.

"You okay?" she softly asked, approaching Kara and running a hand over her hair before giving her shoulder a warm squeeze.

Kara nodded, giving a soft 'yeah' as she did so. Alex nudged Kara until they she slid over and they were sharing the chair.

"What are you doing?" Kara asked tiredly, softly.

"I wanted to come see you," Alex said, then gestured to the bed. "Both of you," she added with raised brows, tugging a small smile from Kara.

"You're twelve here, right?"

Kara nodded again.

"God, you were so cute, what happened?" Alex teased and was overwhelmingly glad when Kara let out an offended 'hey' and quiet laugh, elbowing her sister gently.

"I'm only kidding," Alex said and held up her hands in surrender, grinning. "You're still cute, most of the time, when you're not acting like a crazy weirdo."

Kara rolled her eyes and Alex put an arm around her shoulder. They fell into silence and Alex tried not to think about how small and young and helpless Kara looked at twelve years old, just days away from her planet dying. Instead, the brunette thought about how close little Kara was, to starting her journey toward Earth and toward Alex, even though the agent hadn't even been born yet.

From a distance, they heard the front door opening. Both girls stood up, as Kara put the chair back and left the room, Alex lingered behind for a moment. She knelt so she would have been eye to eye with Kara, had the young blonde been awake. "You stay tough, okay, little Kara? I'll be waiting for you on the other side, just hang on; you don't have to be afraid, I'll be there for you."

With that, she stole one last look and made her way out of the bedroom.

"Where's dad?" Alex heard Kara asked her mother, where she stood in front of the entrance into the apartment.

"It's past three in the morning and he still isn't back yet," Alura said, "I was checking to see if he was coming down the hall, but he's not."

Kara felt worry bundle in her stomach. "He's only a little over an hour late, maybe he got caught up at the university, looking for the information."

Alura shook her head. "The university is close, you know that. Giving himself two hours was a generous allotment of time."

"Maybe he's still working on it? The collection could be big," Kara tried, but if it's robotic he shouldn't even need to wait to get his information, the logical part of Kara's mind finished.

Silence fell over the trio. Alura twisted her fingers together, ran her thumb over her hand, pushing harder and harder, over and over again. Minutes clicked by, they moved to the living area. Alura was sitting. More minutes passed, Kara took a seat. Time dragged by, Alex joined them. The air was still, clocks ticked and echoed through the room.

Kara fidgeted with her suit, smoothed her hair, tried to keep her hands still.

Alura didn't move, just kept breathing. In and out, in and out.

Alex fought the urge to pace.

There was a knock on the door.

Zor-El stumbled through the entrance.

"Dad!" Kara cheered and stood up, smiling.

She looked him over; her smile fell.