"Cute kid." A woman commented as Elle ran off into the distance to collect the ball.

"She is." Alex agreed, immediately tensing and looking for a potential escape route.

"Yours?"

"No." Alex said before realizing if the woman was just being friendly that response might involve the police being called. So added, "she's my niece."

"I've always wanted kids." The woman said. "I've just never found the right woman to share that dream with."

"Well I hope you get your dream some day." Alex said feeling uncomfortable and hoping that Elle would be back soon. Seeing Elle had stopped to talk to another kid Alex said. "If you'll excuse me we have places to be." With that she hurried away from the stranger.

"You get lost?" Alex asked when she reached Elle.

"Sorry, but you looked busy and mom said I shouldn't interrupt."

"Well today I am all yours and you can interrupt as much as you want." Alex said glancing back to make sure the woman had gone.

"Can I play on the swings now?" Elle asked.

"Sure. Want me to push."

"No. I'm five." Elle said shaking her head before running off to the swings.

As Alex sat on a bench a woman came and sat next to her. For a minute Alex thought she was watching her and was about to move when the woman suddenly shouted at child on the swing next to Elle's.

"Not so high." She then turned and apologised to Alex. "Sorry I didn't' mean to startle you, or deafen you."

"It's fine." Alex said.

"I still get nervous watching him. They are so fragile."

"Your first?" Alex guessed.

"No. Not mine at all. My brother's. I'm just the cheap babysitter. And you?"

"She's my niece." Alex said starting to feel paranoid about the attention Elle was getting.

"In a way it is nice that I get to hand him back and not deal with the tantrums, but it's not the same is it?"

"I guess not." Alex replied feeling uncomfortable. "But speaking of handing them back. That's what I need to do with this one." She said standing.

"See you around." The woman said.

"Sure." Alex said before marching off to collect Elle.

-00-

"Do I get wings yet?" Elle asked as she and Alex made it to a doughnut shop.

"Wings?" Alex questioned confused. "Like chicken wings? I thought you wanted a doughnut?"

"I do. I don't want chicken wings. I was talking about wings silly."

"What are you talking about?" Alex asked.

"Wings. I don't know if they are plane wings or fairy wings. They must be fairy wings like fairy god mothers, because they help."

"You feeling okay?" Alex asked wondering if Elle had somehow hit her head.

"I'm fine. Just want my wings."

"Why are you getting wings? Do you have a school play coming up?" Alex asked trying to remember what Kara had said.

"No."

"Then why are you getting wings?"

"So I can be your proper wingman."

"Wingman?" Alex asked turning to face her niece. "Why do you think you are a wingman?"

"Lena and mom." Elle said.

"What exactly did your mom and Lena say?" Alex asked trying to remain calm in front of Elle.

"That you needed a wingman and Lena said I was perfect for the job. Then she said it meant that I looked after and helped you so I agreed. But it doesn't seem like we are doing anything so do I need the wings first?"

"You don't need wings." Alex said while picturing the ways she could murder Kara and Lena. "You always help me."

-00-

"What's going on?" Kara asked as she flew into her old apartment surprised to see Alex there with Adam. "Alex? Why are you here?"

"Shall we start with child exploitation?" Adam asked.

"What are you talking about?" Kara questioned.

"Using Elle to try to set me up on a date." Alex said, her mood worse than Adam's.

"What were you thinking?" Adam jumped in. "She's a five year old kid."

"Elle just wants Alex to be happy. So do I." Kara said. "Elle got to spend time with Alex, which she loves. So what's the problem?"

"Invasion of personal space. Lack of respect of boundaries. Do I need to go on?" Alex asked. "And what exactly did you tell the people you were trying to set me up with?"

"Nothing. Apart from you were awesome and you wanted a family."

"That would explain the random comments I was getting." Alex said. "I can not believe you would do this."

"Alex, I'm worried about you." Kara said.

"What were you thinking?" Alex asked ignoring Kara's last comment.

"That I want you to be happy."

"It's my life Kara. If I want to be alone that is my choice. Maybe I'm not ready to move on."

"But-"

"No buts. Apart from one. Butt out of my life." With that she stormed out of the apartment.

"Alex." Kara called but she was already gone.

"Where are you going?" Adam asked noticing Kara move to the door.

"After Alex."

"Right now she needs space and we need to talk. I am so mad right now. I mean did I imagine the conversation with you where we agreed you would not interfere in Alex's love life?"

"Firstly, we didn't agree. You dictated. Secondly Alex has no love life."

"Even if I accepted both of those as justifiable, which I don't. You used your own daughter. What were you thinking?"

"You use Elle as a shield against Alex." Kara pointed out.

"Because I know Alex would never hurt Elle." Adam argued. "You invited complete strangers to interact with her."

"Alex was there, she was completely safe. Plus I vetted them first. Lena's PI did background checks."

"Ignoring how nuts that sounds, at no stage in this scheming did you stop and think that maybe Alex didn't want this?"

"Even if she won't accept it, deep down she wants to be happy." Kara said.

"If happy was what you were aiming for you are really off target. Right now is angry, upset, betrayed and homicidal." He then sighed. "I have to go put Elle to bed. I'll see you later." With that he left Kara alone.

-00-

"Am I in trouble?" Elle asked as she got into bed.

"No. Why do you think you are in trouble?" Adam asked.

"Because Alex got upset when we were out and then you and mom went off somewhere."

"You are not in trouble." Adam said.

"Are you in trouble?"

"No. Why would I be in trouble?"

"Because Alex always looks at you like Ms Prentice looks at Dean when he is in trouble."

"That's because sometimes I tease Alex and she gets grumpy. But tonight I promise you I am not in trouble with Alex." Adam said.

"Is mommy in trouble?"

"She is." Adam said not wanting to lie.

"Is it my fault for telling Alex about the wings?"

"No. It's not your fault." Adam said.

"Then why is Alex mad at her?"

"Your mom likes to help people, but sometimes she does it in the wrong way."

"Will Alex forgive her?"

"She will. I am sure she'll be round for dinner tomorrow night."

"Really?" Elle asked.

"Really, but not if you don't go to bed."

"Okay." She said reluctantly.

"Good girl." He said kissing her head.

-00-

Once Kara had checked in on Elle she went down stairs to face Adam who silently watched as she entered the room and sat down before saying.

"I'm sorry. I just want Alex to be happy."

"I know and I love you for it, but you need to learn boundaries. And you can't use Elle like that."

"I know, but she's a good judge if character. And Alex would never date anyone who didn't like Elle, so she was just speeding up the process. Plus I was there watching."

"Do not tell Alex that." Adam warned.

"So am I forgiven?" Kara asked hopefully.

"I'll think about it." He said causing Kara to hug him and say.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a yes." Adam complained.

"Kinda was." Kara said before sitting up and reaching for her phone.

"What are you doing? That had better not be a dating app." Adam said.

"No. I'm just checking in on Alex."

-00-

As Alex reached her empty apartment she took out her phone and scrolled through the address book until she found a familiar name. She then typed a simple message.

"I miss you."

As her thumb went to the send button she hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and pressing down on the phone. She then sat and waited, and waited for a response. When none came she put the phone down and picked up a cushion, which she hugged.

As time ticked by she regretted more and more sending the text message and started to consider asking Winn to some how remove it from existence. As she lost all hope her phone buzzed and she immediately reached for it, only to find a grovelling text from Kara. Sighing she texted back her forgiveness before putting the phone down again and curling up on the couch.

When her phone rang she assumed it was Kara and almost didn't answer. But then she saw the caller display and her stomach started flipping. For a few rings she debated ignoring and pretending she had never sent that text. But then hope took hold and she reached for the phone and answered.

-TBC..

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.