YEAR 1779

LOCATION: PENNSYLVANIA

Kara walked down the long spiral staircase, her hands lightly gliding over the banister. She was wearing a light yellow-lilac dress that narrowed at her waist due to the corset that she was wearing. Kara had quickly learned that women of Earth where not allowed to wear anything besides dresses, and that they were expected to act more graceful, loving, and fragile, but most of all women had to be subordinate unlike the men around her. The idea enraged Kara, the treatment of women on this planet was abhorrent, and the treatment of different races was even more repulsive. However, Kara had to constantly remind herself that this was a Level 7 world, and she had hopes they would change for the better.

Things were already changing in the town she lived in. The Patriots had finally managed to conquer Philadelphia and had been living in the town for a few days, and would definitely stay longer to defend it from recapture from the King's Men. Kara had quickly learned that as a woman she would be unable to hold any property, find a suitable home, or be accepted into society as a single independent woman. Therefore, she had pretended to be an orphan, which would not be far from the truth since it has been twenty-nine years since she left Krypton, and it was likely her parents had already passed on. She was adopted by a sweet couple, and given a place to sleep, and a place on their dining table. Kara knew she would have restart her life again in a few years due to be her inability to age, but that didn't stop her from enjoying the life she had craved for herself right now.

The family she had been taking refugee with was invited to the Mayor's Dinner to celebrate the expulsion of the Loyalist from the town. This was the reason Kara was wearing a more lavish dress, she had to look representable for the dinner, and as her adoptive mother said 'maybe to catch the eye of a patriot soldier'. Kara scoffed at the notion, but her adoptive mother just smiled with a knowing look, as if she had the power to predict the future and she knew her soulmate was going to be at this dinner.

"Oh my dear Kara, you look wonderful in that gown, did I not tell her so, Jeremiah," her adoptive mother's voiced echoed through the home when Kara stepped in the parlor room. Her adoptive mother rushed over to her, and cupped her cheeks as she continued gush, "Such a beauty, no man will be able to resist you darling. I believe we should prepare for some wedding bells," she moved to re-curl some of the ringlets that had gotten loose from the bun.

"Elizabeth, you are too kind," Kara said, "however, I do doubt that any man will take interest in me."

"Elizabeth is most right, dear," Jeremiah interrupted, "I can almost hear the church bells ringing for your wedding," Kara blushed at the thought of her imaginary marriage. She knew she would never find a suitable mate on this planet, but she always wished that one day she would be married on Krypton, however one day seemed to be hundreds of years in the future, but the idea still set butterflies lose in her stomach.

Jeremiah approached both her and Elizabeth, "No need to be embarrassed dear, we are all meant to get married," he entwined his into Elizabeth's. Kara admired the love between these two, they were almost forty years old, and based off the average Earthling's life span, and they did not have many years left. It made moments like this more memorable to Kara, "Let us hurry, we would not wish to be late to the Mayor's gathering, it would be an insult."

Kara grabbed a shawl from the table, and they all moved outside to settle in the horse drawn carriage they had reserved this morning. Earthlings had barely advanced in the thirty years since she had been marooned on this planet, and Kara knew that until electricity and power were discovered, nothing would change about their way of life.

She sighed, she had barely come to terms with her fate a few years ago, but the dulling pain occasionally came back to haunt her. The loneliness was the most incapacitating, having no one of like mind to share her dreams, wishes, desires, excitement, stories, and histories with tortured her the most. She may have craved herself a place in this time, but she was round peg in a square hole, and she would never truly belong.

They chatted on their way to the Mayor's Mansion on the far side of town. It was beautiful home, slightly isolated from the rest of the town. It was rumored to have eight bedrooms alone, and the courtyard alone was twice the size of her adoptive parent's home. The Mayor lived a lavish lifestyle, and helped fund the Patriots campaign against the Loyalist if he was ensured to keep the same position after the fighting was over.

When they stopped in front of the mansion, she realized that the rumors hardly did it any justice. It looked grander than it was described to be, and the courtyard had an enormous pond in the center, where she observed many couple chatting. Every inch of the yard was groomed to perfection, and it looked like every possible colored plant was flowering from the ground.

A servant extended their arms towards her, and she was helped off the carriage, followed by Elizabeth being helped down by Jeremiah.

"It's magnificent, it is not dear?" Jeremiah asked her, while grinning.

"It truly is," Kara responded. Well, Krypton was more advanced than this mansion. Krypton has tall buildings, skyscrapers, and structures that Earthlings could not even begin to comprehend. Building made of nothing but glass that stood tall in the never-ending skylines. Flying transportation vehicles, and transit tracks that stretched across the ground and air. But for Kara Danvers, adopted daughter to Jeremiah and Elizabeth Danvers, this was breathtaking, and she needed to play the part.

Kara walked behind Jeremiah and Elizabeth as they approached the entrance of the mansion. She was greeted by a servant, handing her a glass of champagne, it was a type of alcohol that Earthlings had just discovered, so clearly the Mayor had spared no expense. She politely took the glass, and took a small sip. She had learned rather quickly that alcohol did not affect her due to her increased metabolism. It was main reason why Kara was forced to face the reality of her aloneness, she couldn't drown her sorrows away in alcohol.

The mansion was breathtaking inside as well, every surface had candles burning, creating an illuminating atmosphere despite the darkness outside. The foyer itself was grand, with a chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, each podium on the chandelier lit with more candles. Momentarily, Kara was lost in the beauty of the candles as they reflected off the stain-glass windows.

Kara was jolted out of her thoughts by Elizabeth who led her to the main room. The entire room was void of furniture, instead there were four long tables placed horizontally, and one singular table was vertically placed relative to the others and slightly elevated. She assumed that the Mayor's family, and the commanding soldiers would be sitting on that platform table, while the citizens of the town, and the remaining soldiers sat on the lower tables.

She walked towards the tables when Elizabeth and Jeremiah began conversing with their neighbors, Diane and John. She was admiring the setup, three different plates, different varieties and amounts of utensils, three different drinking cups, and neatly folded napkin in the center. This is how she imagined Daxam Royalty ate their meals when she was little, but it seemed like a norm in this world. It was an extravagant and extremely unnecessary set up to simply eat food, but if one had money this seemed like an apt way to flaunt ones fortune.

She swiftly walked across the lower tables, glancing at the name settings to find hers and her adoptive parents. She finally crossed her name at the third table, Kara Danvers, written elegantly in ink. She picked up the card and ran her fingers across the letters, the name screamed at her, reminding her that Kara Zor-El was dead and buried, and she had done that to herself. She gulped down the remaining champagne in her glass as the thoughts that had been dormant for years began to emerge.

She glanced at the name card to the right of her, as her seat was the last one on the table. She expected the names to be Elizabeth or Jeremiah Danvers, but instead it was Captain Michael Matthews. Perplexed that her adoptive parents were not going to sit next to her, she started to look at the other name cards on the table in frenzy, ignoring the rather odd looks people gave her. With each card that didn't have her parents name her paranoia increased.

She finally exhaled when finally found their cards. Her parents weren't going to be seated next to her, but rather across from her. Kara began to relax, breathing out deeper breathes as she tried to calm down. The panic that had bubbled in her before had fizzled out. Kara hardly knew anyone in town since she barely began living here six months ago. She hadn't been able to keep, or even find, any friends. Sitting alone at the table while everyone mingled in merriment had frightened her.

"Kara, dear, come over here," Elizabeth beckoned.

Kara smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles off her gown and walked over to Elizabeth. She was talking to a young man, who she noticed was wearing a cornflower blue outfit indicating that he was solider in the Continental Army. His arms were crossed behind his back, as he continued to chat with Elizabeth. He had dark long hair that was neatly wrapped in a bow, Kara had learned that this was a fashion trend in the world.

"Kara, this is Captain Michael Matthews, he is to be quartered at Diane and John's home," Elizabeth said, her voice ringing with joy.

A gasp escaped Kara when she turned to look at the Captain. She was stunned at the face she was greeted with. A face that she would never have thought to see again. Kara noticed that his expression reflected hers as well: confusion and disbelief. He narrowed his eyes at her, as if trying to ascertain if this was a dream or reality.

His face frequented her dreams, although she would never admit that out loud. The thought of him often cajoled her when she was in a crying stupor about her harsh reality. Although she hadn't seen him in the last thirty years, the fact that she knew he existed reminded her that although she was alone, someone else was alone with her. But to find him in this small town in Pennsylvania was more just than a coincidence.

"Captain Matthews, this is my daughter, Kara Danvers," his eyebrow quirked up at Elizabeth's statement, the word daughter probably caused this reaction. His face shifted from his initial confusion to merriment, with a smile tugging at his lips. Kara was still dumbfounded at this entire situation, internally questioning Rao's decision of letting them find each other again.

She didn't even realize that he had grabbed her hand and raised it up. Kara just let him follow through with his ministration as she continued to stare at him in a daze. He bowed at her and his lips gently brushed across the top of her hand, his eyes never leaving hers. He finally stopped skimming and placed a kiss on her hand, and that sensation finally jolted her out of her trance. He chuckled at her when Kara snapped her hand back. Kara looked at Elizabeth, but whatever she was planning on asking was stifled when Kara saw the beaming smile that ranged across Elizabeth's entire face. Kara could practically hear the church bells ringing in Elizabeth's mind right now.

"I shall leave the two of you to chat," Elizabeth said, giving Kara a pointed look, "Now where did Jeremiah go?" she stepped closer to Kara and whispered to her, "Woo him," before she scurried off. Kara blushed at Elizabeth's lack of embarrassment and quickly looked away from him while she drowned in her own. She heard him chuckle next to her, of course he heard what Elizabeth had said, enhanced hearing and all.

"Kara Danvers, huh? Kryptoni—."

She hushed him quickly, grabbing his hand as she led him away from the crowd to find a more secluded place. However, the party was crawling with people and finding an isolated room was out of the question. Forgoing all societal expectations and norms she dragged him into the nearest bathroom.

"I don't know about Krypton Kara Zor-El, but this would be such a scandalous act on this planet," he grinned, finding humor in this awkward situation, "I think we will be married by the end of night if anyone finds us locked in the room together. Which I guess wouldn't be that bad, your mother seems to love the idea," he winked at her causing her to get even more frustrated.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed at him. Kara was still not sure whether she was happy or upset that he was here. Kara had an inkling as to why he was here based on his outfit, but she wanted more clear answers from him, "And why are you dressed like a solider?"

"Because I am solider in the Continental Army," he bemused, "I think the rumors of Krypton's intelligence are just rumors. Seeing all these silly questions you are asking."

Kara scoffed. He was a solider for the Patriots? That just didn't make any sense, "So I am too believe that a Daxamite is fighting on the side that is seeking freedom against the King? This is not a question of intelligence, but rather a question of if you think me a fool? I am to believe that you are fighting against Royalty?"

The light smile that had adorned him from since he had kissed her hand had finally faltered. An icy glare was now etched across instead, and his eyes pierced hers. Her breathe was caught in her throat as all emotion drained for his face leaving it devoid. Something about how his face contorted and the way his jaw clenched made her realize that she hit a nerve, "Do not presume to know who I am Kara Zor-El," he gritted out, his intense gaze never weakening causing a shiver to run up her spine and goosebumps to trail across her exposed arms.

She waited for him to continue, to defend himself, to explain his actions, but he remained silent, "I'm sorry," she managed to squeak out. He finally dropped his eyes, looking at the floor as if he was trying to compose himself again. Kara realized how out of line she was. She hardly knew the man before her, and hadn't seen him in almost thirty years, and she didn't mean to cause tension with the only person who had a connection to her home.

All she wanted was the smile to return to his face, that goofy crooked smile that held a certain boyish charm to it, "So you are staying with the Lane's?" she whispered, her question pierced through the hostile environment that ebbed in the room, but she hoped her little enquiry would at least lighten the atmosphere a little.

He just nodded, still not meeting her gaze, "How long?" she asked, "The Lanes are very sweet people but they will drive you insane," she hoped her statement would return his smile. But his eyes remained downcast, so Kara tried again, "They once had a conversation about their cow Bessy for an hour, and I had to politely sip my tea while they gushed over their proud Bessy, and the gallon of milk she had produced that morning," Kara cheerfully said.

It as a complete over-exaggeration of that conversation, but she saw the corner of his lip began to tug upwards, "And when they talk about their golden chicken and the eggs she lays you may want to super speed off to the nearest guillotine."

A smile flickered across his face, and deep chuckle reverberate through the room, "A guillotine?" he snorted, "I feel like I should change my sleeping assignments for the remainder of my stay."

Remainder of my stay. An odd sensation bubbled in Kara, one she wished she could quell. How long was he staying? True, she was confused and then upset when she had first seen him, but for the last two minutes she finally felt like herself. She talked to someone freely, and although she upset him deeply, finding a kinship with him would not be the worst thing in the world. She grinned at the thought her of new potential friendship.

"How long?" she repeated her previous question.

"A fortnight," he responded, he was once again mirroring her expression, or at least she hoped he was, "I am an intelligence officer for the army, I don't settle down in one place nor do I like too. I follow the bread crumbs. My enhanced hearing helps a lot," he said cheekily while he tapped his ear, "But this fortnight will be even better with your company Kara Zor-El."

"It's Kara Danvers now."

"Right, forgot about that."

"And it's Michael Matthews? Nice new name."

"It's also a very common name. Although I am jealous that you only needed to alter your last name," even though he was smiling, she could see the sadness in his eyes, sadness that she often felt herself. Adapting to this new world was one thing, but changing their identities was another.

"Well your name isn't the only thing you altered," she gave a pointed look at him, but he remained puzzled, "Your hair, it's longer," she scrunched her nose.

"Ah yes, apparently long hair on men is a style in this century, had to grow it out to blend in better," he explained, "Although I prefer my hair short and groomed. I can only hope that this hideous trend will fall out sooner rather than later. On Daxam, trends were constantly changing. A benefit though is that women do seem to adore the length. I have been called dreamy, handsome, and gorgeous," he smirked as he basked in his own compliments.

Kara rolled her eyes," Well I prefer it short, highlights your face better," Kara did not mean to blurt that out, and quickly covered her mouth as if it would take her words back.

"Do you now?" he teased her, one eyebrow raised, quietly mocking her. Kara blushed, mentally yelling at herself for not filtering her thoughts. It was just an innocent observation that was going to be taken out of context, and if embarrassment could kill, Kara would be lying on the floor dead right now. Regaining some of her confidence, Kara shoved him away hoping that would remove that stupid, but adorable grin he had.

"Hey now," he placed his hands up in mock surrender, "no need to be a Grata."

A brief silence engulfed the room as they stared at each other, but then was quickly filled up with their joint laughter. The word was used as an insult before, but now it made her giggle and her heart swell. She had an inside joke with someone, on a planet where she still had not made a friend, she found a strange companionship with someone who should have been her sworn enemy.

"Have you even seen a Grata before Mon-El, I mean Michael," she corrected herself quickly.

"No, call me Mon-El. In private, call me Mon-El, out there Michael is fine. But here, when it is just the two of us, it's Mon-El," he pleaded, and she could see a glimmer of desperation in his eyes. She nodded her head immediately in agreement, understanding the meaning behind his wish. He just wanted to be called by his name, his true name, and if Kara couldn't be empathetic to that, then no one else could.

"Okay, yes. So Mon-El, have you even seen a Grata before, because if you had I do doubt you would call me one?"

"I have, in the Brym Forest on Daxam. Almost lost my leg trying to get close to observe it. Explorers are little too curious for their own good," he mused.

"On Krypton we have been trying to tame them, though it is hard when they are fifty times the size of us. But it has been so many years, I wonder if they finally managed to accomplish that feat."

"Daxam was trying as well…" his voice trailed off. Kara was hoping for a light conversation about their home worlds, she hadn't expected it to turn so depressing so fast.

"New rule," she said cheerfully, "only happy memories and thoughts about Daxam and Krypton. No sad, dreary thoughts – just happy ones."

"You have yourself a deal Kara," he outstretched his arm to seal this new promise. She expected him to a least think about her new rules, but he seemed just a keen to keep the sad memories at bay.

Kara extended her arm to shake his, but before she could even touch his hand, a knock on the door busted the bubble they had been living in for last ten minutes.

Kara looked at Mon-El in complete panic, not exactly knowing how to get out this room without bringing dishonor to the family that had been kind enough to shelter her, feed her, and adopt her. However, Mon-El didn't even look like he cared, not even alarmed that they could caught in a very compromising position. He gripped the door handle to open it before Kara could protest. There was only thought that was running through her mind, they were going to be married by the day's end.

Dread drowned Kara and she closed her eyes not wanting to face the backlash that was definitely going to happen, but she heard no gasp to indicate that they were caught red-handed. She opened one eye to peek at who was at the door and was greeted by a little girl, Anna. She was a little girl Kara often noticed at the town's square when she went shopping. Anna peered at them both, bewilderment glazed over her eyes. Kara had avoided a catastrophe, well if Kara made sure this little girl didn't blurt this out to anyone else.

"Anna, honey, let me explain –."

"Are your helping him," she pointed at Mon-El, "Like father helps mother?"

She was as innocent as her statement. Kara refused to look at Mon-El, because she knew he probably had the biggest smirk on his face right now.

Before Kara could say anything to clear up the confusion, Mon-El spoke, "Yes Anna, just like father helps mother," Kara was stunned that Mon-El was going to go along with this lie. He just winked at her, and looked back towards Anna.

"Okay," Anna responded, accepting that as the truth easily.

Mon-El pulled Kara out of the bathroom, as Anna entered it. He continued to drag her around the corner and then they halted before a window. Kara was fuming, while he tried to contain his laughter.

"Michael," she hissed, they now had an audience, "what if Anna tells someone?"

"Nothing will happen Kara, I promise," Mon-El tried to assure her, "She probably will not be able to recount this story to anyone."

"But –."

"Kara, please stop worrying. Please," he implored, "She is little girl, she doesn't know what she saw, and I highly doubt she is going to repeat that to anyone else. By the time she leaves the room, this will all be a distant memory for her."

"Okay," she hesitantly agreed, "But if she tells anyone, and I have to marry you, I will murder you in your sleep and become the town's spinster!" Mon-El cowered slightly at her warning, but he too busy looking around at their surroundings to recognize the full extent of her threat, "Michael are you listening –."

"We can't freely talk about our homes with this audience, or even anywhere in public," he stated. Kara nodded in agreement, even though she was confused by the tonal shift of their conversation. Of course they would have to talk in private, but how many opportunities of privacy will they be privileged to within the next fortnight?

Mon-El stared at her, as if he was trying to silently communicate, he tapped his ears as if it was a signal Kara was supposed to understand. He then covered his mouth as if was coughing, but with her enhanced hearing she picked up the words he was mumbling and figured out what he was trying indicate, "We can talk about it publically if we use different words. Say Knoxville instead of Krypton, and I'll say Durham instead of Daxam. No one will question actual towns that exist in this world. And if other words or name can't blend into this environment just substitute it with another more appropriate word."

Kara nodded in excitement. It was going to be challenge but she liked the idea of this game, it enticed her. They just walked around the mansion with Kara's hand wrapped around Mon-El's arm, only conversing with themselves. Talking about their home worlds, hearing stories, learning new things. Kara told Mon-El about her to trip to Ozata Canyon on Krypton, where she was so lost in the beauty of the scenery before her, that she tripped over rock and broke her arm. She was taken to the nearest Medic Center and her entire trip was ruined. Mon-El had chuckled as she recounted the story, but full-on cackled when she told him that this happened only two year prior to her departure to Earth, meaning she was a twenty-six year old grown woman.

Kara talked about the skies on the Krypton, the mixture of different red hues, and the breath taking sunsets when the red-sun clashed against the violet clouds. She talked about her family, her first mission off Krypton, her very first transportation accident. With every tale she narrated, the less she felt abandoned, lost, and alone.

Mon-El just listened to her stories, occasionally adding a comment, but mostly just smiled. When Kara asked if he wanted to share a story, he would say that today was her day, tomorrow he will drown her in his stories. The thought fluttered her heart. She had many more days to spend with him, to fill this void she had been feeling, and she going to be milk every moment she could have him to the fullest.

They finally settled into the dining area, which conveniently had Mon-El sitting next to her. Maybe Rao noticed her loneliness and set him here to help quench that feeling. She silently thanked Rao as they continued to chat. Kara was delighted that the alias of Knoxville allowed the conversation to flow smoothly without questioning glances being shot at her.

It wasn't long before her mouth was running dry due to her talking so much. Kara sipped some water as Mon-El talked another solider. Elizabeth and Jeremiah finally came to sit down since the dinner was about to commence. Elizabeth looked between her and Mon-El, and Kara knew exactly what was running through her head. While Mon-El was conversing with another solider seated next to him, his arm was resting against the back of her chair. Elizabeth winked at Kara, causing her to choke on the water. She tried to catch her breath, but when she felt a hand rubbing her back even her cough got stuck in her throat. She turned to see a very concerned Mon-El asking her if she was okay. She nodded her head, but he continued to rub his hand against her back. She looked up to see Jeremiah and Elizabeth speaking to each other in hushed tones, occasionally glancing at her and Mon-El.

As much as she was delighted to spend Mon-El's remaining days with him, it was going to be torture returning home to her adoptive parents arranging her nuptials that were never going to happen.

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! It is un-betaed so please ignore any typos or problems. I will post an edited version later.

So where do you think the story will go next?