Earth: 21st Century - 2018
Once they reached the DEO Astra did her best not to smile as she looked around. In her time they were currently in the midst of turning this whole block into Legion HQ. It was a bit strange seeing the building bustling with life and activity. When she'd come across the building it was an empty lifless shell, long since abandoned. As she was escorted up from the underground parking and into the upper levels of the building she couldn't help but comment on the change of local since her last stay with the DEO. "I must say this is an improvement over your last base of operations. That underground hole was a little Gothamy for my taste, complete with bats."
"A bat bit me once." Kara said without thinking. She was still a bit shell shocked over this whole thing. Astra was a live. Astra was alive and leading the Legion. She created the Legion! Her aunt had created a force for good in her name. Or so Imra was trying to convince them. Kara turned her head to look at Imra and wondered what it was between her and Astra. A flicker of jealousy fluttered in her stomach before quickly fading away. "Or at least it tried."
Astra had smiled at Kara's comment while Alex had shot her sister a look that said do not engage. Astra could only imagine what the human agent was feeling and thinking right now. The last time Astra had been in this place and time she had been a threat to not only Alex's world but to her sister. On top of that seeing Astra must have stirred up whatever emotions had come from her killing her. She wanted to say something to the young soldier but she wasn't really sure what that would be just yet.
As they passed through the command center J'onn called out, "Ms. Luthor."
Astra watched as a raven haired woman with familiar green eyes looked up from her work. Those were the same green eyes she had seen in the girl who would be Kara's daughter. The woman's pale face held a nearly perfect mask of professionalism. Except for the twitch of her eyes upon seeing Astra, and the slight flutter back and forth between looking at her and looking at Kara. The woman was concerned for Kara, so much so that Astra watched her body tense as if she would pounce like an attacking cat to protect Kara. Astra failed not to smile though she did manage to keep it a small smile.
"Lena." J'onn spoke again. "Brainiac 5 has requested your aid in repairing his ship."
That got a genuine smile from Lena as she turned her focus from Astra to J'onn. "Querl is here?"
The way the young woman said Brainy's name, with genuine like and excitement to see him, gained her another approval notch with Astra. Brainy wasn't always the easiest being to get along with. Being his friend could sometimes be an acquired taste.
J'onn nodded. "Agent Vasquez will take you to the landing site when you're ready."
Lena simply nodded and then returned her attention to Kara and by extension Astra. Lena had a million questions on the tip of her tongue, but they would have to wait. Vasquez appeared at her side as if J'onn had instantly summoned her just by saying her name. Lena shared a long look with Kara, wanting to make sure her girlfriend was alright. When Kara gave her a soft smile in response she nodded ever so slightly and then left with Vasquez.
J'onn, Alex, and Kara continued on to a conference room with Astra and Imra. They took up seats around the table and for several long moments they all just stared at each other. Finally Astra spoke up, "I suppose I should start by explaining how I am still alive."
"That would be helpful." Alex snarked.
Astra did not react to the girl's attitude. Alex was entitled to an attitude right now. Instead Astra simply began her tale. Every once in awhile Imra would interject, letting them all know that Astra had saved her and her sister's life, and making sure that Astra's deeds weren't undercut in any way.
"We knew coming here would be a risk for Astra." Imra said, her gentle voice taking on a firmness none of them remembered from the last time she'd been here. "So if you won't believe us then perhaps, Director J'onzz you'll believe yourself."
Astra quirked an eyebrow as she watched Imra pull out a data disk which she laid on the table. She blinked, surprised, as a message from a much older J'onn J'onzz began to play, reassuring his younger self that Astra could be trusted and that she was in fact a friend and ally.
"How do we know that's even real?" Alex asked skeptically.
"It is real, Alex." J'onn said as the message ended and he looked across the table at Astra.
"I don't expect you to trust or even like me, J'onn." Astra reassured the Martian. "For you it's only been a few years since our fight. The friendship you and I will have someday took a lot of work building trust in one another." She shifted her gaze from him to Imra and then back again. "To be honest with you I wasn't even aware Imra had that."
"I am the one who encouraged you to come here, Tia, to reconnect with your niece and to meet your daughter." Imra said softly. "I was not about to let you walk into danger to do so."
Alex was about to say something snide but Kara cut her off. "How do you know about Sam?"
Astra turned her attention to her niece and smiled. "I can't really explain without giving away hints about the future, but what I can say is that it came from someone I trust, someone I found really rather remarkable."
"How long have you known?" Kara asked next.
"A few weeks." Astra answered. She could see the hurt and confusion in Kara's eyes. "Coming here wasn't an easy decision for me, Kara. Like I said on the ship, I was ashamed. I was ashamed of what I tried to do here, what I had let myself become, of everything I did that turned me away from the people I loved, the people who mattered most to me. I allowed myself to get so twisted up inside that I drove Alura away, and I lost you." She paused for a moment before her voice could betray her feelings. "For the longest time I didn't believe I deserved to be in your life. You, my little one, are so pure of heart, that I knew deep down despite everything, in time, you would forgive me." She shook her head as she continued, "And I don't deserve your forgiveness." She sighed softly and gave Imra a look that said not to say a word. Imra was always the first to jump to her defense, even if the attack were coming from Astra herself.
"What changed your mind about coming here?" Kara asked gently.
"Partly, Imra." Astra answered. "She and Preya seem to think I'm worth having around, and apparently believe there is no limit on second chances." She paused to smile at the young woman beside her before once again looking across the table at Kara. "There was also something that happened a few weeks ago, again I can not give details, but it made me realize I couldn't continue to allow you all to think I was dead, that Agent Danvers had killed me." Astra turned her focus to the redhead, finally finding a few words she hoped would hold meaning. "You were protecting your mentor, a man you consider a father, your actions were honorable and just, Agent Danvers. You also love and adore Kara and despite your actions being just, I am Kara's aunt, and I could not allow your actions to continue haunting you. I could not continue to let you think you had hurt Kara by stopping me."
Alex wasn't sure what to say to that.
J'onn spoke up instead. He could not read a Kryptonian's mind, but he could read a person in other ways. For now, he wasn't seeing Astra as a threat. "How long do you plan on being here?"
"I'm not sure." Astra answered honestly. "Not permanently for certain. My life is back in the 31st with my Legionnaires."
"Then we'll keep this personal visit off the books." J'onn said as he stood. He looked down at their one time foe and warned, "Do not make me regret not arresting you on sight."
Astra watched as J'onn left the room and as Alex bolted to her feet to follow him. She was absolutely sure the redhead was trailing after him, asking if this was a good idea, asking if he'd lost his mind. Should they really just be letting Astra, a superpowered terrorist, roam around freely after everything she'd done? Could they, should they, truly believe her and the story she's told them? Astra knew it would take time to gain people's trust and to build and rebuild positive relationships. It would be hard work, she knew that, and she was up for it.
An awkward silence fell. Kara was looking at Astra with a mix of emotion that she felt was seconds away from overwhelming her. Astra was trying hard to hold any hope she wanted to feel at bay. She would not push Kara, she would not expect anything from her. When Kara stood up, Astra stood as well, and if it weren't for her enhanced sight she would have missed Kara closing the distance between them in superspeed. Astra's eyes flew open wide with shock when she felt Kara wrap her in a hug. Her body went stiff for a moment, unsure of what she was experiencing, but then slowly Astra brought her arms up to return the embrace. She sighed softly, her breath fluttering Kara's long blonde hair, and closed her eyes against the burning of tears. The last time she had held Kara in her arms like this had been on Krypton.
"I can see you again." Kara said softly into Astra's ear, her voice quivering with emotion. "When I look into your eyes, I can see you again, I can see my Aunt Astra again."
Astra choked back a sob. "I am so sorry, little one. I am so very sorry for everything."
They remained in their tight embrace, holding each other as if they were both afraid that if they let go one or the other would disappear, until Kara's phone dingged with a text message alert. She would have ignored it but it was the ding she had especially for Andrew's nanny. Pulling out of her aunt's arms slowly she reached up to wipe tears from her face as she said, "I have to get that. It's about my son." She smiled a bright smile while wiping away the rest of her tears. "I have a son now."
"Of course." Astra replied as she took a step back. She loved the look in Kara's eyes, the way she lit up as she told her about her son.
Kara picked up her phone and read the message. "I need to go. Andrew's nanny has an appointment this afternoon. I need to get home."
"Go, little one, go home to Dru." Astra said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You know about Andrew?" Kara's eyes widened and so did her smile. Then she brightened even more. "Come with me? I want to know more, I want to know everything."
"I would like that." Astra agreed.
Imra was beaming, happy tears welling in her own eyes. "I'll head back to the ship."
"Are you sure you don't need to stick close for whatever emergency backup plan to save me from my past you and the boys have concocked?" Astra asked teasingly.
Imra simply smirked. She didn't need to be right beside Astra to use their rings to send them home. "No. I'm sure Kara can be trusted to keep you safe."
Kara wasn't sure how she felt about Imra and Astra. Grateful? Imra had given her aunt purpose, had helped to reawaken the good in her. Jealous? It was pretty clear they had a close relationship. It didn't slip past Kara that Imra called Astra aunt. Happy? Imra and her sister loved Astra, and had given Astra someone to love in return. Astra hadn't been alone. Angry? Why couldn't she have been the one to do that for her aunt?
"You're welcome to join us, Imra." Kara said politely.
Imra smiled. "Thank you, but this is your time with Astra. Besides, Brainy doesn't have the best social skills and I fear his lack of such skills will only be made worse by his crush on Lena."
"I knew it!" Kara huffed.
After Kara changed into her normal clothes and Astra into something a little more time appropriate they made their way to Lena's penthouse. There was something different about Kara, Astra noticed, and she had a feeling it had everything to do with Lena Luthor and her infant son. Astra smiled as she watched Kara's face light up as soon as she laid eyes on the dark haired little boy, and she took notice of the way he lit up at the sight of Kara. Of she knew that at some point Kara and Lena marry and have another child, but to see Kara, to see the love in her eyes, it made it so much more real. Kara was happy, she had found or was in the process of, finding her home again.
Once they were alone Kara walked over to Astra with Andrew on her hip and the biggest, brightest smile. "Aunt Astra, I'd like you to meet the newest son of El. Dru-El, this is your great aunt, Astra In-Ze."
Astra chuckled as she offered her hand to the boy only to have him reach for her. She was more than a little surprised. She looked at Kara who beamed at her and nodded. She took the boy from his adoptive mother and swallowed hard before laughing again. "Well, if you seeing me on the ship hadn't created a paradox this certainly has."
"What do you mean?" Kara asked.
"The moment you saw me alive a totally new timeline was created." Astra answered honestly. "It's another reason I struggled with coming here. Honestly this has all been incredibly selfish on my part. You knowing I'm alive, it's set into motion a whole new path for the future to take."
"Well." Kara said after thinking about what her aunt was saying. "I'm glad you're here so I guess I'm a little selfish too."
They talked for a long time. Well, Kara did most of the talking. Astra had to be mindful of what she said. She'd already caused a change to the timeline, she didn't want to do more damage. She liked the way Kara looked when she spoke of Lena. It was pretty evident that she loved the woman a great deal. "Ms. Luthor sounds a vast improvement over your last romantic encounter."
Kara went to reply but then stopped short and tilted her head to the side as she blinked once. "Before Lena I dated Mon-El."
"Yes." Astra replied. "I know. A Daxamite, Kara, really?"
Kara blinked again and then narrowed her eyes at Astra. "Wait, isn't Mon-El married to Imra? Do you not like him?"
Astra chuckled. "I'm teasing, Kara. Though, to be honest, at first I did not like him, and knowing he dated you only made it worse. It took me time to get past his Daxam-ness."
They talked until Lena came home. She was surprised to see Astra sitting on her living room couch, but only a little. Mon-El had filled her in as best he could, and she knew how much this all had to mean to Kara so she wanted to be supportive. After excusing herself to clean up and change she joined the two Kryptonians and her son.
"I'm not sure how long the repairs will take." Lena said to Astra while cuddling Andrew. "The parts and materials we need will be hard to come by."
"I have faith in the people working on the problem." Astra replied warmly.
Kara listened as Lena and Astra talked about the ship, and working with Brainy and soon her soft sighs were not so soft huffs.
Lena chuckled as she looked over at her girlfriend. She spoke in Kryptonese as they often did when alone in their home with just their son. "Green is not your color, beloved."
Kara crinkled her nose in a very adorable way.
Astra's eyes went wide. "Ms. Luthor, you speak Kryptonese?"
"Please call me Lena." Lena replied and then nodded. "And yes, I've been learning it for awhile now. I know my accent is horrible but…"
"It's better than Kal's." Kara cut in.
"It really isn't bad at all for a human." Astra said just as a wave of sadness washed over her. "You haven't learned Kryptonese just from Kara have you?"
Lena shook her head. "I've learning mostly from the Alura AI. How could you tell?"
"My sister had a particular way of saying certain sound combinations." Astra explained as fondness and love swirled with sadness, grief, longing and regret. "Our mother could always tell us apart because mothers can just do that, but our father, sometimes even he struggled when we would pretend to be the other. So he'd come up with a little phrase he would make us say so he could tell who was who because of the way Alura said some of the words." Astra paused, her mind traveling back in time, her heart contracting painfully in her chest at the memories. "My little gem, and my little star, do tell Papa which ones you are."
Kara escorted Astra back to the ship not long after. Astra was feeling incredibly overwhelmed, as was Kara for that matter. They both needed time to process and they knew that, but it didn't make letting go when they embraced goodnight any easier. "I promise I'm not going anywhere little one."
"I wish I had your spy beacon to give back to you." Kara said as she pulled out of the hug. "But I gave it to Sam before she left in case she needed me."
Her reunion with Kara had gone far better than Astra has expect, not that she should have ever doubted it. What would it be like to meet her own child for the first time since the night she'd been born and stolen from her arms? "I'm right here, little one. All you have to do is call out my name and I'll be there."
Kara smiled brightly. "Same goes for me." Throwing her arms around her aunt one more time Kara said, "I love you, Aunt Astra. I am so happy you're not dead."
Astra laughed as she returned the hug. "So am I, little one. I love you, Kara."