Hey all! Hopefully you like this one. If any of you would want to help me immensely by taking part in my research survey for my thesis (ten minutes) which concerns a childhood satisfaction, attitudes about life, and adult desire to parent, I would be so grateful! I can only have participants over 18, but as long as you're over 18, with children or without, I could really use your help!
(remove the spaces before surveymonkey and after the first slash Link: www . surveymonkey/ r/Desire_To_Parent_Survey

Sorry for the confusion! This one is set the day after the Alex freak out episode!

"Alice!"

The voice causes Alex's gaze to harden as her face changes from her Kara-caused smile, to a cold mask.

"Jasmine." The annoyance in Alex's voice has Kara shifting in her seat

The woman comes to a stop at Alex's side. The coat of urgency permeating the air around them -along with Alex's sudden change of mood- has Kara mumbling out a half-hearted greeting, eyes skirting between the duo in less than subtle confusion.

"Ah, the sister!" The woman smiles, "I'm Rose, Maggie's told me a lot about you."

"She has?" Kara replies, nearly missing the tightening of Alex's fists in her own confusion

Before Rose can reply, Alex shoots Kara a glare with a forceful "Why don't you go get us some more coffee."

"Would you like-" Kara begins to offer before being cut off

"Nothing for her. She won't be here long." The glare Alex shoots the woman has Kara hesitating before deciding to go and keep a close watch on the table

As Kara retreats, Rose's eyes harden and she settles roughly in the seat beside Alex.

"What do you want?"

"You have some nerve."

The anger in Rose's voice has Alex on the defensive.

This is different.

This isn't just jealousy.

At Alex's lack of response, Rose continues.

"You hurt her." Her eyes ice over as she remembers the pain coating Maggie's face the day before, "You hurt her and you know she's been hurt before. You know what Liz did to her."

Alex forces her eyes not to betray the sinking in her stomach.

"Insensitive. Workaholic. Borderline sociopathic." Rose lists, eyes never veering, "That's what Liz said. You know she won't forget that. God, the things she's gone through, the things you people-"

"I didn't mean to hurt her."

"I don't care what you meant to do, I care what you did." Ice. "You say you love her." A breath. "You say you love her but you pull this."

"I've already talked to Mag-"

"And now you're going to talk to me."

"What do you want me to say, Rose? I hate myself, is that what you want to hear? I hate myself for what I did to her. I won't make that mistake again."

Silence roams through the air.

"You were supposed to be different."

Alex stays silent as Rose's eyes meet the table.

"You were supposed to treat her right."

"I-" The words die on her throat, eyes caught in the heartbroken blonde's gaze.

She remembers that look in her own.

"I was going to be okay, I was trying to be okay." Rose explains, "I was going to let you be, you know? I saw how happy you made her, I thought you were worthy. But, you're not. You hurt her and you ran. You- you left her to fucking crumble."

"I know."

"She may have forgiven you -she's too forgiving. Maggie-" Rose's voice takes on a soft tone as the name leaves her lips, "Maggie wants to see the best in people. God, she still sees the good in me and that's a feat."

Small twin smiles curve the edges of both women's mouths.

"I know your type. You'll hurt her, she'll forgive, the cycle will go on and on until she's staying at the precinct overnight, until she's so done with fighting she doesn't want to go home, until she's losing her cool and needs a shoulder to lean on."

"I won't."

"I want to believe you." A shaky breath. "I do. I want her happy, even if I can't be the one to do it."

Alex tightens her jaw as she swallows her emotions in an effort to maintain her external calm.

"What can I say?"

"Honestly?" Rose's blank stare bores into her eyes, "Nothing. You'll hurt her, I'll pick up the pieces. The cycle will restart, and you will be gone. Moved on to the next best thing, leaving behind the best thing that could have ever happened to you."

"I would never do that."

"Really?" Bitter sarcasm shines through, "Spoiler alert: you already tried."

"Look," Rose sighs as she stands from the chair, "Next time you hurt her, I won't be so kind."

"Is that a threat?"

"Of course not, Agent Danvers, it's a promise."

"What was that about?" Kara's rushed words go unheard as Alex watches that blonde walk away. Heart sinking in her chest, Alex vows once again to protect Maggie at all cost.

Even if she must protect her from herself.