YEAR 1902

LOCATION: GREECE

Kara giggled as the ballroom before her spun across her eyes, she was getting a little dizzy but the burst of laughter kept pouring out. She saw other couples staring at her as she was spun around. Most of the stares were made up of smiles, finding humor in her antics or just being happy for her, while others looked disgusted and grimaced as they saw her act like a 'peasant'. However, Kara couldn't care less, she was happy and the social norms be damned. Living through 150 years of different societal expectation had made her numb, she wasn't going to conform anymore, and it was time for Earthlings to catch up.

"Barry," Kara giggled, "as much as I love doing this, I am getting a little dizzy!"

Barry smiled, "Sorry, Kara," he stopped twirling her in the middle of the ballroom, and settled his hand on her waist while the other gripped her other hand in mid-air. They assumed the normal dancing position, and swayed and boxed their movements slightly off key with the song. The official, more formal dance of the evening had not yet commenced, and they were merely just fooling around on the empty ballroom floor. Well, not completely empty, there were other couples, younger couples, swaying to the music as well.

"Is your Father watching us?" Kara questioned him, trying to gauge whether the old brute was looking down at them from his lofty preach on the second floor, but she didn't want to draw suspicion on them. Barry's father was already doubtful of her relationship with his son, and she definitely didn't want to add more fuel to the fire by looking directly at the man. It was bad enough that he often stared at Kara with contempt, but consciously staring the man down would further increase his distaste for her.

"Let me see," Barry started moving in rhythm with the music so he was now positioned to look at his father. Barry could stare all he wanted at his Father, and that wouldn't draw in too much suspicion, hopefully, "Yes, Father is looking directly at us. He still doesn't believe that we are together," he sighed.

"Kiss my cheek," Kara said bluntly.

"What?"

"Kiss my cheek," she repeated, "I'm going to lean in and you are going to accidentally kiss my cheek, and then kiss it again like you meant to do it, okay?"

"Kara, I can't do that. The others –."

"The others be damned! We need to send a message to your Father, and he is looking directly at us. We can't miss this opportunity. So you are going to kiss me dammit," Barry's eyes bulged as he heard Kara curse. It wasn't the first time he heard her use foul language, but in public, and in public where anyone can tell his Father, he didn't expect that. Kara meant business, and he was going to have to kiss.

Kara giggled, and playfully pushed him. Barry joined in and laughed while he pulled himself towards her and she leaned in and he placed an 'accidental' kiss on her cheek, and then another more lingering one, as their bodies were pushed flush against one another. Kara pretended to blush, and tried to look embarrassed, like an innocent maiden whose virtue had just been stolen.

"I think it might have worked," Barry murmured in her ear. He once again swayed them so Kara was now facing his Father.

Kara quickly glanced up at his perch and saw him huff and turn away, like he was swallowing a bitter pill. Kara knew they weren't even remotely close to convincing Barry's father of their romantic relationship, but this was definitely a step in the right direction.

The deep baritone harmony began to slow down, and the airy music of the flutes and strings began playing over the other instruments. Barry and Kara only swayed now, and didn't even attempt the formal dance of perfect boxed movements. As the music flowed through her, Kara pondered about how she even ended up in this position. Dancing about the middle of enormous ballroom, with all the elites of society looking at her and silently judging her every move. This was a situation Kara would have never thought herself to ever be in when she landed in this country.

Kara had decided to go to Greece, thinking she needed a change of scenery after living in war infested American for too long. And her choice of escape was influenced by her sudden interest in Greek mythology. Kara had long given up being an explorer, what was the point? If she was to ever return to her home planet, she wouldn't recognize it. She couldn't even begin to comprehend the changes that would have occurred on Krypton in all this time. What hold did Krypton even have on her anymore? A loyalty that had slowly began to dissipate every year she stayed on Earth. There were times when Kara questioned whether she ever wanted to return. The reasons why she would have returned were gone. No one she cared about, no one she loved was alive anymore. Over the past century, Earth had somewhat become her home, willingly or not.

Exploration was the last thing on her mind. Maybe she could send them a message to let them know she was alive, but besides that, she no longer coveted to get off this planet as soon as possible. No longer did she want to learn about different cultures, peoples, and lifestyles to expand Krypton's database but rather she wanted to quench her own desire for knowledge. And the desire for knowledge had to lead her here. She wanted to see the Greek Parthenon, Acropolis, the temple of Zeus, Athena, Apollo and Hephaestus and much more. Greece was just the first stop on her list, and by some weird twist of fate she had gotten trapped into the lives of people who inhabited this small country.

Bartholomew Allen was the son of one the richest men in Greece, but when she had meet him, he was just an unofficial tour guide she didn't ask for. She first meet him at the Acropolis in Athens, were he was quite literally giving out free tour guides to random people who walked in and out of the main city square, not caring whether they were actually interested or not. Kara was his latest victim, and he was chewing her ear off with a quick history lesson about Acropolis. At first, Kara was irritated by his motor mouth, and inability to take a hint, but when she stopped and actually listened to him she learned that he was spewing interesting and helpful information. Kara enlisted him as her official tour guide, asking if he wanted to explore Greece with her, and he happily obliged saying he was already going to visit some major historical sites for his university classes already. It was an unlikely comradery that turned into a pleasant friendship.

On the last day of their sightseeing trip, Barry and Kara had visited a local bar and wished to celebrate their newfound friendship together by getting drunk. Unbeknownst to Barry, Kara was unable to get drunk, but she played the part well and downed drink after drink just like Barry did. The night carried on, and they reminisced over their favorite memories, reliving the past in merriment rather than being sad they were going to leave each other. The night was filled with tales, of how Barry was yelled at for touching artifacts in the Greek Parthenon, or how Kara had accidentally fell over board when they sailed to the Island of Delos.

With each story, Barry proceeded to get more and more drunk. It was quite a sight to behold, as Kara had never seen Barry slurs his words, his eyes were bleary and hazy, and he couldn't properly sit on his stool, and periodically would slip down, and one time even fell on the floor.

The night was coming to a close when Barry spilled his guts in his inebriated cloud. He had meet a girl in his university that he was hopelessly in love with, and wished to one day marry her. But his stooge of a Father wouldn't allow it, claiming that she would bring dishonor to the Allen family name. So he had been forced to break apart from her, but he had been secretly been staying in contact. The more he ranted, the more ideas sprung in his head. Like he wished he could shove his father down a well, or that he wanted to elope, or even thought he could portal jump into another universe and marry her. But then he settled upon a whole new idea, bring a girl that seemed to be perfect, but then she would slowly turn out to be a horrible person who would be disgrace to their family and his Father would see that wealth didn't mean anything.

Kara was enthralled by his love story, and although Barry was making plans in his intoxicated state, Kara was still rational enough to see their merits.

The following morning, Kara told Barry of the plan, saying that she was going to be that girl, the girl who seemed flawless and perfect, but with each passing day would become more rude and spiteful and tarnish their family name. And when his Father saw how horrible she was, he might agree to Barry's love choice. The plan was a longshot, but he had not options left, either marry the girl of his Father's choosing, or hope that this scheme would work.

When she arrived at the mansion like home, she was in awe. Everything, and quite literally everything was made out of marble and lined with gold. Massive pillars, like the ones present in every famous Greek structure, stood tall and proud in the house. A beautiful chandelier was in the grand ball room that reminded her of the one she saw in the Mayor's home in Philadelphia, and she enraptured by the beauty of the chandelier and the sweet memories that resurfaced when she saw it. The ballroom had a high domed ceiling, where it once again lined with gold and had beautiful paintings intertwined in the marble. But quickly the mansion lost its wonder when she was introduced to its owner. Henry Allen was a hotheaded, senile, rude, and overall ass. He would constantly make belligerent comments at Barry, and even insult him in front of servants, and family without remorse. Barry was too docile and complacent to even respond to the hateful speech his Father spewed at him.

But seeing Kara and Barry together? That made him somewhat happy, he rejoiced that Barry had found himself a 'suitable match'. Their plan had started without a hitch. With each passing day Kara said more passive-aggressive things, make snide comments, and acted brash, but Henry Allen seemed unfazed by it, like he could see through the entire façade. At the end of month, Henry Allen had announced Barry and Kara's engagement and their wedding date was planned. The plan had blown up in their faces, completely. They scrambled to make a new one: get married and then Kara would run away, and then who would marry a divorced man? It was definitely worse than their previous idea, but this was all they had left. Kara knew that if she left before the wedding, Henry Allen would have a replacement bride in seconds, but if she left after – well, then the story would be completely different. If she left after, then his true lady love, who he would not name despite Kara's persistent so she could have deniability, could swoop in and marry him. Who would marry a divorced man?

But just as Barry's father was able to see behind Kara's charade of being uncharacteristically rude, he was being to pick up on the lack of love Barry and Kara emitted, therefore forcing them to play up their fake romance.

Once the sham was over, she wouldn't feel sorrowful that she had left her new friends and family behind. Rather, she was going to rejoice and remember the good memories she shared with them, just like Mon-El did. Just like Mon-El did…it might have taken her a while to fathom how delightful it was making connections, and having attachments. Sometimes it is better to have someone for a little a while, than no one at all, and Mon-El had taught her that.

The music faded away, and more people moved onto the ballroom floor and paired themselves off. The gala was officially starting, and the formal dance kicked off the evening. All the couples that paired off where now standing a foot away from each, eagerly waiting for a melody to flow into the ballroom to signal that the official dance was commencing.

Kara released herself from Barry and took a step back, and they stood in the same position as all the couples, and smiled at each other. A steady beat started, and Kara curtsied and Barry bowed before he outstretched his arm, his palm facing up. Kara gingerly placed her hand in his, and he leaned down to kiss it. She noticed many ladies around her blush at that gesture, but Barry didn't invoke the same feelings that they would warrant her cheeks turning red. She fondly remembered another similar kiss on her hand that she now longed for. At that time she was foolish to snap her hand back, perplexed by the situation before her, but now she wished she would have let him kiss her hand, perhaps his lips would have lingered on her skin, and that would have made the memory a little sweeter.

"How gentlemen of you Barry," Kara mused as she moved back into his embrace, "your Father would be so proud," she teased.

"Nothing could ever make him proud," Barry replied. His eyes downcast. Kara only meant to tease him, and not upset him.

"Sorry Barry. Forget I mentioned him. Just concentrate on not stepping on my toes, please," Barry laughed. They had spent the last week practicing since Kara had no idea how perform this dance. Fortunately, Barry was just as bad as a dancer as Kara was and stepped on her toes frequently but thankfully, Kara was invincible and it ended up hurting Barry more than her sometimes.

"I shall try my best. I cannot guarantee it Kara."

Barry pulled her out into a twirl, and she was passed onto the next individual on the ballroom floor. Barry was now dancing with a brunette, and she was dancing with a very old man. He had smirk on his face and Kara knew disgusting thoughts were going through his head. His leery mustache and ghastly stare made her feel uncomfortable. Kara tried to keep more distance between them, but his arms pulled her closer. Despite Kara being stronger, she couldn't show him her strength without drawing attention.

"You are a beauty," the old man sneered. Kara turned her head away as he started to lean in closer. This filthy pig, Kara thought. His hand at her waist began to wander a little lower, and Kara snapped her head back. It finally neared her rear, and she gasped while he grinned when he roughly grabbed it. I'll show this pig. She fluttered her eyes at him, and gave him a sultry smile as she leaned in. Momentarily in shock that Kara was actually reciprocating his advances he stopped moving. Kara took that moment and stomped on his toes adding some strength that was granted to her by the yellow sun on that stomp. He let out a shrill shriek and crouched over in pain. At the same time, all the couples were switching partners again and Kara just scurried off to the next person in line while she watched the disgusting old man limp off the ballroom floor.

Laughter ebbed out of her and she barely registered the person she was now dancing with.

"The man had it coming Kara," all her muscles froze. A melodic voice drowning all of her senses. Kara looked up to see a pair of beautiful steel-gray eyes looking at her.

He is alive. He is alive. He is alive.

No other thought was passing through her mind. He was alive and he was in front of her. He was smiling down at her as he moved both of their bodies to the flow of song because Kara had seemingly lost all control of hers.

What should she say? She wanted to call him out for being a reckless idiot and endangering his life again. But she also wanted to hug him in a bone crushing hug until she had her fill. She wanted laugh, she wanted cry, and she wanted to yell. Despite desiring wanting to do so much, she was in too much shock and disbelief to give her body any commands to do so.

"Oh Kara," he laughed and then he twirled her away. Before she could register what happened she was in the arms of another man. She allowed herself to be pushed and pulled by him, but her gaze remained on Mon-El. He was alive. He in front her. He was talking to her. And she didn't say anything. She didn't do anything. She watched him dance with a brunette haired girl, and saw both of them laugh and her blush. A strange feeling sparked in Kara. The fact that she was blushing at him, probably because he said something funny, and that she was rubbing her hands down his arm infuriated her. How dare she? But before her emotions fueled her to do something reckless, she once again changed partners and so did he.

Like before, she just went through the motions of the dance, and didn't even reply to the small talk some of the men tried to initiate with her. Her eyes were on one person, and one person only. As she made her way across the ballroom floor with different partners, her eyes never wavered from. Kara knew, that he knew she was looking at him, but he wouldn't even glance at her. He just continued to sweet talk the ladies and kept ignoring her. How dare he?

The dance was taking forever to complete, and was testing Kara's patience. An impulsive need ignited in her, she just wanted to waltz off the ballroom floor and drag Mon-El with her, but when saw that she was one more partner change away from Barry, she quelled that desire. As soon as the dance would end she planned on talking to Mon-El and probably hit him for acting like a fool. The man she was dancing with twirled her into Barry's arms, and she was greeted with a very cheery Barry. More happy than she had left him. Normally, Kara would question the sudden change, but right now her mind was preoccupied with something – someone – more important.

The music began to fade away and all the couple stepped away from each, and the ballroom was filled with a thunderous applause. Others began to flood the ballroom floor and praised the couples that were dancing. The crowd limited Kara's vision, and now she couldn't find him. Her eyes were trained on him this entire time, and now it seemed like he vanished.

"Barry, I'll back in a moment," Kara hastily said as her eyes scoured for his familiar face. She didn't wait for him to respond knowing that he would probably protest her leaving because his Father would not like them being separated at the gala. They had an image to uphold, but Kara didn't have time for this farce right now.

She weaved herself among the crowd, growing more irked and frustrated the longer it took to find him. She had seen him, right? This wasn't a dream. Oh Rao, she had dreamt of seeing him before, but this time it felt different. This time it felt tangible. He was there, and she was sure of it. She had felt his hands on her waist, she had heard his voice in her ear, and she had felt her heart flutter at his laughter. He was here and she had seen him, she kept repeating to herself.

But every second that passed the more she believed that it was a dream, an illusion her mind conjured up to lull her into a false security and then swiftly pull it away from her grasp. But she desperately wanted to prove her mind wrong, and her heart right. She had felt her heart pulse in joy at seeing him, and it continued to beat rapidly in hopes of seeing him again. But why couldn't she find him. Where was he? And why wouldn't he come after her after the dance was finished? She slowly made her way to the edge of the ballroom, hoping to get a better vantage and scan the crowd.

"Looking for me," he whispered in her ear. Kara could practically feel his breath on her neck, and she felt herself getting lightheaded, his hot breath and voice was intoxicating.

She turned to see him grinning like a buffoon, and glazed with happiness, "Found me yet?" he smirked.

"Mon-El," she murmured. The disbelief that was settling in before was fading. She timidly outstretched her arm to him, and placed it over his chest. Flesh. Hard, real, and tangible flesh. She began to giggle like she was tipsy, "You're real."

He chuckled, "Last time I checked," he placed his hand over the one she held to his chest and gripped it tight, "and you're real as well."

"Last time I checked," she repeated.

Silence fell over them. All the things she wanted to ask him were forgotten. All the questions, all the emotions she felt dissipated. Just looking at him, taking him in was enough. They stood there, with her hand on his chest, and his hand over hers, drinking in each other in. If anyone caught them, all hell would break loose.

"Kara!"

They jumped apart, "Kara, I found you. Father was looking for you," Barry approached them both.

"Where did you go off to?" Barry asked. He finally saw Mon-El, "Oh, hello. I'm Bartholomew Allen."

"Michael Matth –." Mon-El couldn't continue when he saw Barry wrap his arm around Kara's waist and tug her closer. He glared at his hand, a look of shock adorned him. He snapped his face to Kara's, and it looked like he wanted to ask a million questions but the environment wasn't right for that, "Right. Sorry, um. Michael Matthews," he stuttered out. Barry outstretched his other arm, and Mon-El reluctantly shook it.

Kara wanted to tell Mon-El the truth. This meant nothing, it was a façade, a charade, a game. But it wasn't her secret to tell. But if he would just look at her, she hoped she could silently communicate to him that this wasn't real, and that there was more behind this, but he kept avoiding her eyes.

"Michael," a feminine voice called out.

The voice belonged to a beautiful woman and she came to stop beside Mon-El and handed him a glass of wine and kept one for herself. She stared at Barry and Kara, although her gaze lingered more on Barry. However, Kara wasn't jealous. Barry wasn't even hers to begin with.

"Sorry, right. This is Iris West," he pointed at her, "My lovely partner for the evening."

This time it was Kara's turn to be stunned. Partner. With Barry it was all fake, but Mon-El actually had a partner. And he looked envious when Barry had pulled her close. Hypocrite.

Kara forcefully smiled at her, "Pleasure to meet you," she said curtly.

Awkwardness took over the atmosphere. No one knew what to do, what to say. The nice sweetness that was between Kara and Mon-El was long dispelled, and a hostile atmosphere had taken hold.

"Are you enjoying the Gala," Barry asked. Of course it would be Barry who was going to try and diffuse the tension.

"It is lovely," Iris responded, "And the dancing was breathtaking."

"I am glad you loved it."

"Of course. I cannot wait for another round."

"Knowing my Father, it will commence soon."

"Really? That is wonderful. Perhaps I can start the dance with you?" she turned to Kara as if to seek permission, but Kara didn't answer her question, and Iris took the hint and continued her conversation with Barry while Kara and Mon-El deliberately ignored one another.

Mon-El would often throw a glance at Barry's hand that rested upon Kara's waist hoping that the next time he looked there the hand would disappear. Mon-El couldn't stand it, and the fact that Kara just let Barry hold her like that riled him. He was invidious of that hand, and bitter that Kara had someone in her life who she was this comfortable with. Someone besides him.

"Bartholomew!" someone bellowed towards them. Kara knew that voice all too well. It was Barry's Father.

All four of them turned to him, "Were did you run off too? You should be helping, entertaining guests!"

"Father, I was just—."

"I don't need an excuse, my boy. I need you to act! We have very important people present, and they need to meet all the Allens. Do you understand boy? And you girl" he pointed at Kara with his cane, "You need to be there with him at all times. No wandering. If you are too part of this family, you need to understand and follow all the rules!"

His Father huffed and was ready to leave them, when he noticed Mon-El and Iris. He stopped dead in his tracks, and he actually looked embarrassed and was turning red. If only Kara had a photographic camera with her, she would love to capture this moment.

"Oh my dear," he stammered, "I did not see you here. Ambassador, I am honored that you decided to join us for the evening. We thought you declined the invitation." The old man didn't know what to do with himself. He kept fidgeting, his arms moving sporadically at his side. Unsure if he should outstretch his arm to shake his, or keep it down, and with every passing second it looked he grew more nervous and Kara tried to suppress her giggle. She definitely wished she had a photographic camera with her now. However, the giggle died down rather quickly when she realized what Henry had said.

Ambassador. How in Rao's good name did Mon-El manage to become an ambassador? Kara needed to sit down with him and have a serious talk on how he had managed to be part of the army, not once but twice, and actually have a high rank, and become a sea pirate, and now an ambassador! What did the man do to get this positions? He didn't look a day above 25. Truthfully, they were both 28 by Krypton and Daxam's standards. But how did he get into this high ranking position when he looked like a young unexperienced boy.

"And who might this be?" the old brute asked.

"Iris West, my beautiful partner for the evening," he introduced her and emphasized the word partner, more than likely to get another rise out of Kara, and he was successful. Kara was getting more annoyed by the second. Which only caused Mon-El to smirk and Kara's blood to boil even further. Was Mon-El trying to rub it in her face? Try to make her upset, or angry, or jealous?

"If you are honored by my presence, you should thank Miss West here. She convinced me to attend, otherwise I would not be here sir," he continued.

"Of course. Thank you my dear," although he thanked her, Kara could hear the strain in his voice, "It seems as though you have meet my son, Bartholomew Allen, and his lovely fiancé, Kara."

Oh Rao, this was getting worse by the second. Mon-El looked incensed, and hurt like Kara had just scorned him in front of everyone. His eyes flashed towards her, and she could physically feel all accusations and questions he was throwing at her, one after another, and she felt herself cower away. This is how you turn an awful situation worse. Mon-El was gripping his wine glass so tight that Kara thought he was going to lose control and shatter it. Rao, he was really mad.

"I must attend to other guest, but I insist we meet in my private office to talk some more," Henry asked.

"Of course," Mon-El spoke through his clenched jaw. Henry Allen looked pleased with himself and walked away.

"Fiancé, huh," Mon-El whispered so only Kara could hear it with her enhanced hearing, "that's wonderful." The words were dripping with sarcasm.

"Please excuse me," Mon-El spoke louder. He didn't wait for a response and walked off. Kara trailed after him, ignoring Barry's calls.

"Mon-, uff. Michael! Please wait," Kara called after him, but he continued to walk away. Kara barely managed to catch up to him. She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards, "Let me explain. Whatever you are thinking, it's not that. It's literally the quite opposite."

"Right. So you aren't engaged to another."

"I am, but –"

"You aren't about to be married."

"Yes, but no –"

"So what I am thinking it absolutely true –"

"Would you just listen to me!? It's not like you aren't here with someone else."

He scoffed, "Here with someone else. Kara, Iris works at the Swedish Embassy. She is my secretary! She was really excited by the Gala invitation so I told her I would go so she could come along. That's it! She is very nice friend, but that is all. But you? You are engaged. Engaged! As in to be married. I think that it significantly different!"

"Mon-El, please. Please just believe me. It's not what you think, okay? This marriage. It's not real."

"Right," he said sardonically.

"Stop acting so pigheaded! I'm telling you the truth. And why are so upset if I was going to get married? Huh? What difference does it make to you?"

Kara thought he would bring up their kiss. That short yet sweet kiss. Perhaps it meant more to him, and just maybe it had meant more for Kara as well. She hoped that he would bring it up. For the last forty years, she began to question the validity of the kiss. Did it happen? Was it a dream? A nightmare? Did she just conjure it up? Every year that passed, the more she doubted it. But if he brought it up right now, it would make it real. It would make whatever they had felt in that moment real. The desperation and desires real.

"Does it matter why?"

"Of course it does!" Bring up the kiss, dammit!

"Stop yelling!"

"I wouldn't have to yell if you weren't acting all stubborn and rude and…and entitled!" For the love Rao Mon-El, bring up the goddamn kiss!

"I'm stubborn? Kara do you even hear yourself? You quite literally chased me down to convince me that your engagement isn't 'real', and I'm the stubborn one?"

"Are we really going to have a conversation about who is more stubborn?" How have we not talked about the kiss yet? "Need I remind you that your willful stubborn ego placed you at death's door, and then you happily returned there for a second time?"

"Kara, I thought we were over this?" he pinched his nose.

"Over this!?" she yelled as loudly as she could in a hushed voice, "We haven't even started this! A letter on my door doesn't mean this conversation is done with! I almost watched you die and you want to brush it under the rug. Not happening! We are going to talk about your reckless behavior." And then we kissed you royal buffoon, talk about it!

"No, we aren't taking about that. Right now we are going to talk about your impending marriage. For Rao's sake, you literally put your hand on my chest and gazed into my eyes like a love-struck maiden while you had a fianc –" Kara covered his mouth. That was too loud. Granted nobody was around them, but if someone had walked by the rumor mill would start to churn.

"Not so loud!" she hissed. She lowered her hand from his mouth, and ssh'ed him when it looked like was going speak again. He grimaced as she dragged him down a corridor. Kara kept looking back to make sure no one was following them, the evening had already turned out horribly, but knowing her fate – it could get worse. All she had to do was a find a private room where she could talk to openly, and maybe even smack him a couple times because of the sheer foolery he exhibit throughout the entire evening. She opened the door to a broom closet thinking it would be the best place to have the exchange from prying eyes. However, when she opened the room all she could do was shriek. This time Mon-El had to cover her mouth.

In the closet, there was a shirtless Barry and a semi-dressed Iris kissing each other against the wall. They both jumped apart from Kara's loud scream. Iris took cover behind Barry as she tried to pull the bodice of her dress up, but it wouldn't stay up because the ties were completely undone on the back. Barry was blushing, and his lips were completely swollen.

"Hi," Barry said meekly.

Kara close the door unable to look at this scene before them. She was taking in deep breathes to calm herself her down. She hoped to Rao that Barry and Iris would continue to dress themselves and not resume whatever activates they started in the broom closet.

"So…." Mon-El started. He cleared his throat, "The marriage…engagement…"

"I told you it's not what it seems. I am, ummm, I'm Barry's decoy? I guess. I am basically his cover so he can go out and meet his lady love secretly because his Father would never approve of him marrying a lower class girl. Apparently his lady love is your secretary. And hopefully they are both getting dressed and not doing something reckless still!" she yelled the last part so Barry and Iris could hear her. She heard some more shuffling behind the door.

"Lower class? Kara you don't have wealth either."

Kara looked insulted, "I have accumulated money over the years…..but that really isn't the true reason." Kara had finally managed to squeeze the truth behind his Father's disdain for his lady love only a few weeks ago.

Mon-El was confused, "Then what is it?" Kara stared at him and waited for the light bulb to go off in his head, "Oh! Oh..."

"Yes, oh," Henry Allen's problem stemmed more from skin tone than bank account. It didn't take a genius to figure it out.

"Now I know why Iris was insistent that we should attend this Gala together, her lover was at this event," he pondered.

"Yes, it makes more sense now." She wondered if Barry knew that Iris was attending, she wondered if they talked about this at one of their midnight rendezvous and just forgot to clue in the one person that was actually in their corner about their plan, which went horribly awry.

"Did I just become the unofficial fourth member of this secret 'Barry Iris Alliance'," he scratched the back on his neck, and Kara nodded her head.

"Welcome to the secret society."

Barry and Iris emerged from the broom closet, and thankfully they were full dressed.

"Sorry," Barry chortled out, "I…we. Us. What you saw… Iris and I. Me and Iris. And KARA," he suddenly remembered his fiancé, "what you saw –."

"I got it Barry," Kara helped her struggling fiancée, "I will explain it to him"

She convinced Barry that Mon-El wasn't going to blab to anyone, and Iris jumped in as well to defend her boss, and Barry finally relented. Barry and Iris returned to the Gala where going to tell Henry Allen that Kara had gotten sick and wasn't going to be unable to attend the rest of the event so Mon-El and Kara could remain behind. The evening had been an emotional ride, starting off wonderfully, then gone disastrously wrong, and now it took another pleasant turn. Kara's head was spinning from the swift changes the night had caused. Now she had another task, explain everything to Mon-El – the question was, where does she start?

"Why do I feel dirty about this?" a shiver ran through him.

"Trust me, it fades away when you learn how much they love each other," Kara grinned at him, "Come on, and let me explain everything to you. You are going to be our new partner in crime for the next several months!" Kara tugged him further into the hallway.

"This isn't what I signed up for," he grumbled, "I do have an actual job, you know? I don't have time for these shenanigans."

"Thank you for reminding me. We need to add your job to the list."

"What list?"

"Of what we need to talk about. Number one being your tendency to embrace death so happily," he sighed, "You are not avoiding that discussion Mon-El. And then we are going to talk about your position as an Ambassador. How did you manage to that?"

"With a lot of hard work," he spoke seriously, "and I would like to keep that position, and getting caught in a Romeo and Juliet love affair isn't exactly going to help me Kara."

"Oh come on, it's for love," she expected him to say something positive about love but he remained mute, "you know what they say?"

"What?"

"If you help someone else find their love, then your love will you."

"Really?"

"Mhmmm."

"So if I help Barry and Iris, then I am going to find my special someone as well," Kara nodded vigorously at Mon-El's understanding of the saying. Mon-El pulled Kara back, and she was flush against his body and his arm weaved around her waist, a place he so desperately wanted to be once he saw Barry claim it, "What if I already found my special someone, then what?" his eyes were hooded as he looked down at her, and Kara thought he someone managed to pull her closer to him even though their bodies were already as physically close as possible.

"What then Kara," he asked again when Kara couldn't formulate any words.

She was lost in the bliss on his touch on her, remembering his body like the night he kissed her…but instead of death and desperation, she felt light and warm inside. His forehead brushed against hers, and she felt his nose brush against her, setting her skin on fire.

"Kara," he softly said, "what then?"

"Who…who did you find," she managed to stammer out, although she didn't want to find out the answer. She closed her eyes, thinking that would somehow lessen the blow of whatever name he uttered. She felt numb allover, and heart crushed against the weight of his stare. Trepidation filled the air as Mon-El prolonged the moment, like he was contemplating whether he should say the name of not, whether he should say the truth or not.

"No one," Kara's eyes widened at his response. He tricked her, and he was smirking, "I was just wondering if you had an answer to that, and you didn't. So I am fairly certain that helping them isn't going to help me if you don't even have an answer for that loophole."

She shoved him roughly away, not liking how he toyed with her emotions. Emotions she didn't even have a grasp on herself, and he played them like a fiddle, "Well it would be the nice thing to do. You know for your sweet secretary…And for me," she added after a pause, hoping that would entice him to help.

"Fine," he relented, "only for you. But my work comes first, okay?"

"Of course," she saluted him while giggling.

"Kara, you know I am not in the army anymore, right?" he bemused. Kara wrapped her arms around his and they continued to walk down the hallway, this time side by side.

"So you are really going through with this wedding? Or is the engagement going to be broken off at some point," Kara could have sworn she detected a hint of worry and nervousness in his voice.

"Marriage," she solemnly said, "Who's going to remarry a divorced man?" Well, that was what she and Barry were hoping for.

"Right…"

"It's not real, Mon-El. None of this real."

"I know, but it's just hard to swallow." Kara understood exactly what he meant. It was hard for her to swallow Iris and Mon-El together, she couldn't even imagine how Mon-El felt in regards to this farce that she was playing with Barry. Kara didn't know where her green-eyed monster came from, but if Mon-El was feeling the same, then he too was jealous? This should mean more, but he was so willing to forget the kiss, perhaps Kara was imagining the envious tone in his voice to better fulfill her fantasies. Mon-El wasn't jealous, he was just…concerned?

Kara brushed aside her own imagination and steered the conversation elsewhere, "Oh for my wedding you should be my maid of honor!"

"Kara….," he groaned.

"I was just joking," her laughter filled the hallway. The evening had started off so badly, but now it was finally getting better. She had Mon-El; Mon-El and her, they were together again. The next few months were going to be entertaining with them helping Barry and Iris. She had a sneaky new partner in crime, and maybe she wanted something more than just a partner, but she was happy to settle with that title for now.

hope you guys liked ... like i really hope you guys liked it cause i am super nervous about this chapter... like i think this is worst chapter of this entire story...

I am going on vaca for the next week, and wont be back till the 29th, so i might update the night a come back, or the next day. Chapter Six is literally the chapter i think everyone is looking forward to, and I wanted to upload it before i left on vaca, but due to the clusterfuck of Chapter 5 it got delayed. So ... yup.

Chapter Six awaits all of you! :))