More Than A Memory (10 PM)
"Oh you shoulda seen her face! It was priceless!" They all laughed while refilling fancy crystal glasses with either champagne, wine or martinelli's on Lena's nicely spacious U shaped couch setup. Sam traded Lucy bowls so she could feast on some homemade chex mix while she handed over the butter garlic and cheese drizzled popcorn then the salt shaker too. Alex was sharing something better than snacks even though some of the delicious pops were being thrown at her face. "Oh come on Kar! I mean I had to get rid of it just to keep you from destroying everything in your path to go hide in the bedroom.." Alex laughed holding up a pillow watching as the pieces fell into her lap instead which she reached out for one of the disposable bowls setting down smiling when what was aimed at her fell into it. "Can you throw some of the mix next? Oh...and the peanuts."
"I will melt your face.." Kara grumbled huffing feeling something smack the side of her head lightly but hard enough. Her ceruleans glanced down with her jaw dropping. "That's a…"
"I have to thank the Aunt that spoils me for getting me the whole new line of nerf. Hehe ammo included." Ruby snickered clicking the bar back to prepare her next round. "Now whooooo next."
"Hey Kar." Sam whistled pointing to the left slightly with Kara pointing to the right. Lucy and Maggie were munching on chex mix when the detective heard the pop and then a round hitting her head too. Sawyer narrowed her eyes slowly turning her head seeing her niece smirking pulling back the bar on the top of the toy which shifted to the next round.
"Ohhhh kid...this means war."
"Only if you can catch.." Ruby felt two taps at her sides quirking an eyebrow looking from left to right seeing both her mom and aunt holding up guns smiling. "Hmmm…" She glanced down at the floor where both foam bullets fell.
"Alright. If this is gonna go down, you three gotta dull down some. Fair?" Lucy announced after chewing up a rye piece standing up. The kryptonians nodded. "Now...who has something to even the odds here." Both Lena and Alex pointed at each other and Danvers motioned her future sis in law to follow. When they came back they had tossed bracelets to the three of them whom nodded and put them on. They all heard a giggle from the crib in the corner and clapping dropping their jaws as little Rose was hovering above the bed. "Wha…"
"Little One?" Kara spoke softly but firm enough hearing more giggles but watching her daughter lowered back down. "Are we hungry or are we.." Pop. She flung her head to the side where her niece held up her nerf gun clicking the cocker of the gun back releasing it as it turned the wheel to load the next round. She looked at the crib hearing the clapping. "This is called ganging up." She mumbled with Lena now clapping. Kara turned her gaze on her girlfriend watching Sam throw her a gun too but this one was much bigger. She widened her eyes.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Hand it over Little Luthor." Me wants...me liiiiikes!" Alex was practically salivating at the lips as she started walking to the woman whom tossed her the toy. "Oooooo it has…" Lena didn't even try to keep it handing it over to a drooling Director still glaring at her.
"The name Danvers."
"It's got a ringtone that I can't delete at the moment sorry. Ooooooo so pretty."
"Catch!" Ruby tossed two dart belts Danvers way but Maggie caught them.
"Hey! That's my ammo." Alex glared with her ex giving her a set of signature dimples as she saw another gun thrown their way which the detective gladly accepted. "Share."
"That's what she said." Sawyer snickered getting a couple of quieter chuckles. She was about to hand the second belt over until she saw what came apart. "Oooooo it has a detachable tripod.."
"Screw that! It's got ooooo I love dis one." Alex was still salivating. "Figured out how to load it yet?"
"Hold on. I'm still wiping my own mouth Danvers." Maggie retorted pointing to where the scope was and where the belt loaded. Their gazes met. "What?"
"I can has?" Alex pointed to the other belt the woman had yet to give up to her. Maggie gave it up and she squealed catching a few interesting gazes their direction. They had both easily become too oblivious to everything else too wrapped up in their new toys. It was a good thing too as Lena patted Lucy's arm motioning for her to follow. Meanwhile Sam and Kara were plotting hidey spots while Ruby smiled stepping away seeing the Evader model snatching the still sealed box up along with two smaller boxes of clips running to the other room to assemble her new light up toy.
"Daaaaaang this Vulcan is fancy." Sawyer whistled.
"Dude Mags...three darts per second." Alex smiled like a kid in a candy store. "Did I already mention I'm in love?"
"We've carried on a professional relationship but I am already thinking to myself my precioooouuuus…"
Lane now understood why the two gun ho idiots were drooling. She certainly was when their new boss introduced her to another of the nerf family. Her eyes were all over every little bit of the Elite series. This Rhino was a stud. Lena had a second one too as both were loading up the dual drums after they'd put their tripods on the bottom of each of their guns. They secured them to the sides of the arsenal then nodded as they came side to side just as Ruby snuck over with a fully assembled Modulus smiling when she flicked the lights off. "Hey!"
"Hey! She needs the lights...oh. That works." Kara noticed the glowing stars above her daughter's crib seeing a small red glow over the bed and a noise cancellation pair on Rose's head poking her head up at exactly the wrong time. Suddenly music came on and without even realizing it the whole room became an absolute war zone.
"CANNON FODDER!" Several yelled with round after round fired all over the spacious living room.
"Hold! Hold! HOLD!" Lena yelled standing up suddenly with arms up. Everyone ceased fire for a moment. "Let's get the glasses and bottles away where they won't be broken thank you." Lucy and Ruby helped keeping their toys hidden from other views. Granted their critical hits had attracted attention when they caught sight of something glowing. "Wait...wait like two more minutes alright? Ya know some help from the rest of you trigger happy people would be nice." No one moved which had both the young Arias and Major laughing.
"Some people are born this way." Lane countered.
"What..trigger happy?" Ruby asked.
"No hmm hmm locked and loaded." Lucy snickered with a couple people sighing shaking their heads. "Just say..in'.." Lane saw Sawyer smirking blowing on the end of the barrel for show. "See if I load any…" Ruby slapped a hand over her mouth before Lucy could continue her words.
"Bad enough I heard the thumping of the headboard slapping the wall with my two moms okay?" Sam and Alex blushed profusely. "Hey! Aren't we at war?" Ruby smiled and dove back to her hiding spot with Lena and Lucy rolling to their own after running back over with the war recommencing. "FIRE!" Everyone was grateful even little Rose's hearing had been dulled. The little one didn't need to hear every bit of firing and profanity flying everywhere..
"Boss?" He lifted his head up with his mask on turning it to look behind him. The man gulped and slowly trudged into the laboratory slowly. "I know you um...wanted to know when um.."
"It's called speaking. Bark." He had no time for this idiot's ridiculous attempts at sentences sighing setting down the tweezers slipping the test tube back into the tray with the others. He snatched up a long corkscrew twisted instrument spinning around holding it up. "Bark." The man's eyes had gone as wide as saucers.
"You uh….it's almost.." He pointed to the clock swallowing down his fear or least trying to.
"Get." He snarled with the pest jumping running out. He set the tool down walking over to the door shutting it securing the locks. "Well….hmmmm...perhaps I can take a break for a moment." He reached over retrieving his phone removing the back to pop the battery out and sim card setting them down on a tray removing his gloves putting on a new pair snatching up a charged new battery and formatted sim card slipping them into the device securing the back again turning it on.
While he waited for it to load up he attached two micro chipped strips of tape over the back setting it down going to pour himself a glass of a liquor that once he and his dear little sister had snuck out of the house on a New Years Eve to drink attempting to avoid the wrath of Mother. It was almost fitting he was about to drink it again. He had hoped she would have received his gift by now. Who knew. He could hope though. One alerted bing and he grabbed both the bottle and tumbler walking to his table slipping onto the stool getting comfortable once more.
He discarded yet another set of gloves into the container that when dropped in would melt away all remnants of residue on them from his hands along with all fingerprints as well. He then removed the mask from his face setting it carefully down typing in his four codes with the stylus unlocking his phone going to the number keypad. He took a sip from his glass smacking his lips at the wonderful taste waiting for the line to pick up placing the device on speaker grumbling at what came up. He'd forgotten how many security features he'd put on his devices.
"You are wishing to call Luthor, Lena. Is this correct?" He sighed. Technology these days.
"Yes you pathetic robot. Call." He took another sip listening for the dial tone to come up and when it did his evil grin grew as his dangerous kryptonite green colored eyes gleamed..
"We're not worthy...weeeee're not worthy.." Both Sam and Kara were bowing down to Lena and Lucy whom were high fiving laughing.
"They had the Elite Rhino. We only had the Vulcans." Alex grumbled while Maggie was trying her best to sneak off with one of theirs. "Hey!"
"Hold it right there." Ruby had her gun right at the back of her aunt's head. Sawyer let go and put her hands behind her head. "I thought so."
"That is called Arias owned 2.0." Kara stated only to hear her sister snicker.
"Now here I thought Miss SuperCorp owned your ass Kar."
"Well does that mean I can just take back what I got from Lance for you then?" Alex glared with Kara smiling only for her big sister to tackle her. "Hey! I'm injured!"
"Last time I checked the only thing bruised was your ego."
"Boom! Oh this is too fun." Maggie laughed tugging on a gummy worm holding out the bag for others. Ruby accepted no longer standing with an aim plopping down to take some. Lena snatched up her phone not recognizing the number snapping her fingers grateful that her girlfriend knew what she was looking for.
"This is Officer Kieran, how may I help you." Kara tossed her the case and she slid her phone into it flicking the device to speaker. "Hello?" Everyone went silent all gathered around her not expecting what sounded like someone's deranged lunatic laugh on the other end. Lena had a baaaaaad feeling about this and the more and more she listened she felt cold shivers run down her spine.
"Now now dear sister. Here I was calling to make sure you got the ninety six bottle of Le Bleuke I got you. Did you?" Lena was grateful she wasn't holding her phone or she would have dropped it by now. Her entire frame was shaking when she sat back down with hands reaching out but she brushed them off. "Did you?"
"What address did you send it to." Trying to remain calm and collected was growing far more difficult with the passing seconds.
"Certainly not to Luthor Corp. Not happy about the name adjustment you made."
"I had to. No one would have taken me seriously if I had…"
"If someone doesn't listen, you handle them the same way Mother and I have taught you to. You shouldn't have to change for the feeble minded Sister." His whistling the way he did when they were kids were making her even more nervous. "Tell your...Big Brother if you received the gift or no."
"No." Lena brushed away the touches of comfort again standing up snatching up the device even in her shaking hands.
"See now was that so hard? I just wanted to get you a little something that you should know all too well. You remember right? The first time we snuck out to celebrate the new year? The first drink you ever had?" Lena put her head back willing herself not to start crying.
"I remember Lex." His whistling had her bringing her head back down opening her eyes again. "I'm sorry."
"You know we don't use names. Ever."
"I remember. I didn't get it."
"Then allow me to send it to your office at that media company you own now. It will be late and I'm sure you aren't there tonight. I'm sure you are where that sickening symbol of false hope is. Am I right?"
"I won't be intimidated by you Alexander." Lena snarled.
"I said no names. See, now what happens next is your own fault dear Sister. You do know the rules. I suggest you choose the face, being that you will only be given one, that you will keep from an agony worse than death. I will allot you one life to save. One. If that one life is anything that isn't of this Earth, I will collect them all. Chose wisely. Oh and Sister….Happy New Years..."
The line went dead the phone dropped harshly to the floor but no one's eyes were on the device. They were all on her. Alex jumped up and ran across the room to her duffel bag snatching up the small case running back over popping the clips off flicking on the tank securing the chamber to her belt pulling Lena back to her and placing the oxygen mask over her face.
"Breathe. I need you to breathe Lena." She spoke as soft as she could motioning for Lucy to grab her kit and nodding to Maggie to grab gloves. "Deep breaths. There you go." Alex pulled the woman down to one of the sofa sections sitting beside her looking over at Ruby. "Grab Rose." The teen nodded jumping up rushing over to the crib. She looked at her girlfriend. "I need you to text both Susan and Amelia. They are out to dinner tonight and I'd rather not interrupt their date but…" Arias waved her off.
"Please. I mean if you were asking me to interrupt Nia and Brainy then I'd…" All eyes looked at her confused. "None of you knew?"
"One natural disaster at a time Mom." Ruby stated holding little Rose. Her mother looked at her. "I do have ultra mega Super hearing remember?" She shook her head thinking about it. "I've become a Super Saiyan I swear.." She really wondered now.
"I'll text both coup….all four of them right now." Sam got down on her knees in front of her sister where Kara had as well. "We will not let him touch you Lena."
"Hey.." Maggie sat on the other side of the woman taking one of her hands. "He's gonna be handled Lena. I promise you. Don't let him be what rings in a New Year. I mean shit, you have a whole room full of badass women here." Everyone including Lena held up their hand motioning payment. "Oh shi….shaking out my life savings. I know I know.."
"Excuse me." Kara scooped up her girlfriend cradling her against her to walk into the other room sitting her down on the bed. "I know that call you just had hurt more than words ever could Lee. I know right now you just want to hide away from the World. I'm tempted to take you to the fortress and just have us ring in the new year just us but…"
"You do realize your sister is probably gonna barge in here because you took me off her tank right?" Her girlfriend groaned rubbing her face with her hands. "I wasn't sure you'd want to face that wrath right now."
"No. No I wouldn't. But...but Lee…Lena I am here. Our lives our family are here. Cherish that. Cherish what is around us. No matter what happens, we are together. I...I forgot something at my place but...I don't want to leave right now." Kara knelt down in front of her again looking up into emotion filled emeralds after taking her hands into her own. "Know that um...when I can...there is something I didn't get to give you during Christmas. But Lena, you have always given me a world outside of the suit the cape."
Kara took a steady deep breath continuing. "You saw me as someone everyone else seemed to think forty different ways to be cautious and protective with. You saw me as the one person I have tried to be since I was told to hide whom I was. You saw me as just Kara Danvers. No one really had. I mean my sister did but she was also forced to sacrifice her hopes and dreams for her alien sister's safety. Everyone that had found out before became forever branded with a target on their backs. Granted you have your own already but...I just didn't want to add that to yours. I tried so hard to do right by you always. I tried and when...Reign...and…"
She put her head down ashamed shaking it slowly. "I failed to be there. I ran off and abandoned everyone for a false hope. I would have left everything that made me feel human to go be...alien and...I shouldn't have done that." Kara looked back up back into the eyes she loved with everything in her. "Now with you, I don't have to be Supergirl. With you I can be not only Kara Danvers still but...you've made me feel complete as Kara Zor-El. I know it won't be long before the ball drops and I have to get this out before I ramble on any further.."
Lena chuckled trying to sink into everything that was before her that she realized now was on only one knee. Her own thoughts came to a halt with the position her best friend had chosen. She flung her eyes into the warm tides of pure incredible unbridled love. All she'd ever wanted and thought she could never have was all right there before her on one bent knee.
"Kar.." A soft hand touched her lips and she nodded letting her continue.
"Lena, my beautiful Kieran...you are the sun that strengthens me love. You are the stars that light the way glistening all your wonder to bring me hope and most of all...peace. You have always been that piece of me that I thought I'd never have to complete myself with. You've seen me for so long as a Danvers. You gave me normalcy in the clash of fierce titans. You provide me a world that has not been taken from me and I promise you now, it never will."
Both were aware of the heads in the doorway watching but to them it was just the two of them. Lena gasped and watched as the woman she loved took her hands back blew a gust of freeze breath into her own palm then released her heat vision in a way she'd never witnessed before. It wasn't until she saw exactly what Kara had created with careful precision when her hand opened up and revealed the most beautiful of ice sculptures that her eyes widened.
"Kara.." She couldn't fathom words at the moment. Too many emotions were colliding with one another.
"We've always been like yin and yang in a sense haven't we. We've always been two different cultures yet so very much the same too. Rao gave me the greatest gift when he sent me to you. Rao blessed our lives with the birth of our daughter. Rao, give me strength now." Kara blew a slight gust on the ring she created to keep it cold enough after careful inscription and the etching of a sun and moon surrounded by celtic woven knots like stars. Runes of her planet littered the band and just as Lena had made for Kara, Kara was now showing her the kryptonian's own design meant for her. "Lee...Lena be the sun that helps me rise in the morning to face a brand new day with you. Be that moon that fills my nights with all your majestic light to carry me off to the dreams we weave together. Be the stars that guide me back to you by every ounce of the love we have for one another."
She didn't know when the tears had begun to drench her face but she couldn't find the will to care too caught in this very special moment that she had hoped to beat her to. Now wrapped in this precious world all thanks to one beautiful blonde angel that walked through her doors on that one destined day, she embraced what was coming knowing exactly what would be the next words spoken. "I in yours as you are in mine. Our worlds align and our paths woven as one. Walk with me, in Rao's blessing my beautiful Lena Diana Kieran. Will you be mine Lee? Will you be my wife?"
"Oh Kar…" Lena felt the cold over her finger only to feel a powerful gust of wind which brought not something cold but warm and she put a hand to her face covering her lips watching as the metal slid perfectly over where it was meant to sit. "Yes. Yes Kara. Oh yes...yes yes!"
"Really?" Kara smiled like Lena had hung the sun moon and stars all for her. "Really? Oh Lee...Lena.." Now she was crying and let go of the perfect fitted ring that she'd thank Ruby later for retrieving for her. Lena was nodding and Kara embraced her pulling her up so excited she had started floating off the ground taking her love with her whom gasped then giggled. They kissed like they'd always been destined to and the room erupted with cheers. They smiled continuing to kiss like it was the oxygen they needed to breathe.
"Smooth Rubes." Sam smiled patting her daughter on the shoulder seeing the open box she was holding.
"I wasn't going to let them kick off the new year without a little blessing." Ruby smiled back holding up another container and everyone's eyes slid from her second hand to the couple. Then a sudden squeal of delight and rambled words brought the sun blonde angel smiling flashing what was on her ring finger now. "You can bet Aunt Lena will beat her to the vows now."
"I'll place a wager on that." Maggie smiled with a couple of them chuckling.
"Is there anything you two don't bet on?" Sam asked curious laughing.
"That Little D…" Sawyer began.
"That Little Luth…" Danvers tried to say.
"...would say it first." Both women said at the same time which had them all laughing including the two currently up in the air holding on to one another.
"Hey guys! Guys it's midnight!" Ruby announced and they all cheered. She rushed over and picked up the little one she'd put back in her crib. "Happy new year little Rose."
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They all yelled with couples embracing in a heartfelt kiss. Troubles could wait. Celebrations were in order now...