Ch. 6: For the Love of You

It was Christmas morning all across the country. At the Danvers' winter wonderland of a home the four girls all gathered around the dining room table for morning breakfast.

"Did you sleep okay, Maggie," Eliza asked once they were all seated.

Maggie looked over at Alex and smiled.

"I did thank you. It was good."

"A little too good," Kara said with a smirk.

Alex smirked back, "You didn't have to listen."

"Please, like I could ever shut off my hearing."

Alex just laughed and Maggie smiled. "There's one upside to being human."

"There are plenty of upsides," said Kara, "You just don't think so." Kara's phone rang and she smiled at who the caller was, "It's Clark," she said, "Eliza do you mind?"

"Go," said her foster mom, "Wish the Kent's a Merry Christmas for us."

Kara got up from the table and walked outside without a jacket. It was so freeing being at home and having Maggie in on her secret. Out here she could be herself down to the cold not bothering her.

"Hey cuz," she said, "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you too," Clark replied, "How's the snow?"

"Absolutely perfect."

"Same here. Nothing like snow on a Kansas farm where you could see for miles."

"That's great. And your parents, how are they?"

"They're good. They really miss you."

"I miss them too. I'll have to drop in on them some time."

"They would like that."

Both Clark and Kara could hear Lois in the background.

"Guess that's my queue. You know Lois, she hates surprises. She wishes she could have my x-ray vision so she could peek inside the presents."

"Yeah I used to do that when I was a kid. I don't recommend it. It always leads to trouble."

"Don't I know it. Love you, Kara."

"Love you too, Kal."

Back inside the house, Maggie was standing near the window watching the snow fall while Alex was helping Eliza clean up, Eliza wouldn't have it with Maggie helping so Kara decided to hang out with Maggie after returning inside.

"You're different with her," Eliza said to Alex, "You're glowing."

"Mom, I'm not pregnant."

"No I'm not talking about that. The way you are with Maggie is unlike the way I've seen you act with anyone. This new normal of yours, it suits you Alex."

Alex smiled, "Thanks. And you like her, right mom?"

"I do. Alex, what's this really about?"

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that, there's something."

Alex shook her head. It was just like her mother to know that something was up, that there was something that she wanted to say but couldn't bring herself to do so.

"This is the first serious relationship I've ever had with anyone but especially a woman. And I know it seems childish given that fact but I really like her mom, more than like her and I think she feels the same way. I just want you and Kara to be okay with it."

"Of course we are, sweetheart. We love you so much and all we've ever wanted is to find happiness for yourself. You've done so much for this family, Alex more than I've ever asked of you. We're glad you and Maggie found each other and if you see this relationship as something that could become something more than all the more to trust in that and trust in the relationship you have with her. Come on and help me take these dishes to the kitchen.

Alex looked over at Maggie as she stood next to her sister by the tree. She wondered if there would ever come a time when she would get tired of seeing Maggie in the mornings. They had only started to sleep together a week ago and for Alex the experience was still so new having never slept with a woman before.

For Maggie the experience was slightly different given that Alex wasn't her first but she did find such joy of being able to help Alex experience it for the first time.

No, Alex thought, she would never get tired of watching Maggie. What she felt was real and Alex hoped to be in it for as long as possible.

Maggie could feel Alex's eyes on her so she turned and smiled. Alex smiled back.

"Kara," Eliza said breaking their moment, "do you mind setting a fire," and with that she and Alex disappeared into the kitchen.

Maggie watched as Kara used her heat vision on the new longs that had been added.

"You know," said Maggie, "I've seen you use your powers on rogue aliens and in fights but to use them for a regular human task when all we would need is a lighter, I have to say is pretty cool."

"Thanks. The first time I did this Eliza was afraid I would blow up the house. She was familiar with my powers because of Clark but I think it still scared her a bit once she had an actual Kryptonian under her roof."

"Did you?"

"Almost, but I did use my freeze breath to put it out. That ended up turning the fireplace into a block of ice."

"Jeremiah thought it would be better if we let it thaw out rather than me using my heat vision to warm it up."

"You must have a lot of those interesting Krypton girl meets Earth stories."

"Interesting is definitely the right word. My first Christmas here Alex convinced me to use my x-ray vision to see through the presents."

"Oh no. So did you?"

"Of course I did. I was thirteen and I wanted Alex to like me. She tried to act all surprised but Alex can't keep a secret."

"I don't know, she does work for the DEO so she's pretty good at keeping her composure and she did keep yours pretty well."

"Yeah that's one at least. Maggie, I have to ask, you honestly didn't know?"

"About you: I had my suspicions but an idea like that seemed too good to be true. It felt like wishful thinking whereas believing you and Alex had a thing for each other seemed more realistic."

"Well sometimes wishes come true."

Maggie smiled, "I guess they do. So tell me the rest of the story, Kara. You said Alex couldn't keep a secret."

"Oh no she can't, at least when it comes to the two of us. Her job yes but that day she rated me out. Told Eliza and Jeremiah it was my idea."

"Of course mom knew it was my idea," Alex said coming with a tray of hot chocolates.

"Marshmallows and cinnamon," Kara asked.

"Yes, just the way you like it," said Alex.

They all took a mug and Alex settled in on the couch with Maggie, Kara sat in front of the tree and Eliza took the single love seat.

"The House of El can't seem to lie, at least Clark and Kara can't and then the only thing they are good at keeping a secret are their identities."

"He was with us for Christmas that year, him and his parents. It was the Kent's who suggested they use a lead based coating on the wrapping paper so I couldn't see through them."

"Of course I was pissed since Kara couldn't even look through mine the next year."

"And every year after that," Kara said with a gleaming smile.

"Speaking of presents," said Eliza, "Do you girls want to get started?"

Alex and Kara looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

What was it about the Christmas season that made adults feel like children understanding Christmas for the first time? Was it the bringing of snow, the decorations and holiday lights, the chill in the air? The presents were a nice touch but never the fullness of the year because as the old saying went, happiness couldn't be bought form a store. Maybe it was all of the above plus the people that you got to share the magic with.

"Hang on one second before we start," Kara said as she stood up, super sped to her room to get her wireless speaker and then messed with her phone.

"Oh no," Alex said as she shook her head.

"Oh no what," Maggie asked.

"Wait for it."

Within seconds the NSYNC 'Home for the Christmas' album that they had released in 1998 began blaring from Kara's phone.

"Why do you do this to me," Alex asked.

"You tortured me for years, it's only fair," said Kara.

Alex turned to Maggie, "Every Christmas since she first got introduced to them it's always the same Christmas music."

Maggie laughed, "Don't worry Danvers, I've got younger cousins, I get it. We can hate on NSYNC together."

Alex leaned back into Maggie's chest. "Thanks, Sawyer."

"Anytime, babe."

Kara and Eliza both smiled at the couple. It was nice for them to see Alex so happy. This was all they'd ever wanted for her and while things may get complicated and confusing and busy with work, it was good to see a sense of normalcy within the madness of their lives.

Eliza nodded to her daughter and little by little Kara began handing out the presents under the tree.

Later during the day after their morning festivities and their lunch, Kara was upstairs talking to Winn and James who were getting their laughs watching Mon-El try and ski. James had always been a natural and had some laughs when Winn couldn't get his own footing right on the ski's but he was slightly better than Mon-El however he'd been given the benefit of the doubt since, like Krypton, there was no snow on Daxum.

Downstairs, Eliza had been talking to Maggie when Alex came inside from taking out the trash.

"Hey," Alex said to them.

"Hey you," Maggie replied.

Alex placed her chin on Maggie's shoulder, "Mom, mind if I steal her for a minute?"

Eliza smiled, "She's all yours."

Alex smiled back and took Maggie by the hand leading them to the coat closet.

Once they were bundled up the two walked out and sat on the porch swing in the backyard, Alex wrapping a thick blanket around them.

The couple was content in sitting in silence as they watched the snow continue to dance in an elegant grace as it fell to the ground and into the ocean, both warmed by the layers of clothing, jackets, blankets, and each other.

"It's beautiful," Maggie said breaking the stillness.

"You're beautiful," Alex said looking at Maggie and not so much at the snow.

Maggie smiled but continued with her thought, "It must have been growing up here, a nice quaint town, the ocean nearby."

"It has its moments."

Maggie turned her head at the sultry tone Alex too.

"Thank you, Alex."

"What for?"

"You know what for. This is one of the best Christmas's I've had in a long time and I owe it all to you."

"Even with the alien side of my family?

"Especially with the alien side of your family." Maggie looked deep into her girlfriend's eyes knowing she had her full attention, "I love you Alex, all of you."

The two of them froze as they both took in Maggie's confession.

"Did you just…"

Maggie took a deep breath, "I did…yeah. And I know, I know it's too early to even use that word and I don't really use it but Alex, I mean it. I've never been surer of anything in my life. And I know I've had my fair share of relationships and I know this is still new for you and…"

"Sawyer," Alex interrupted."Stop talking. It's not too early. I was going over the same thing in my head and I wanted to say something."

"You were?"

"Yes. How could I not feel the same way, but like you said this is still new to me so the only thing I wasn't sure about was who was supposed to say it first.

Maggie smiled, feeling relief that her profession hadn't stirred up any awkwardness or pulled Alex away.

"So you're saying you love me, right?"

Maggie smiled bringing her back to when Alex had said something similar the night she'd shown up at her place with pizza and later kissed her.

"Of course," Maggie said once again.

Alex brought Maggie's chin up, the two of them looking longingly into each other's eyes.

"Good, because I love you too, Maggie," Alex said as she reached down.

Their lips met; soft as the white snow that swirled across the landscape. They savored each other sincerely, allowing the love they felt to flow into them and keep out the afternoon chill, allowing the world to drift like the waves on the sea.

~END~