Chapter Seventeen - Midvale

Lena and Kara had already decided to use the new portal watch that Lena had designed to get to Midvale. After much prompting from Kara, Lena had designed a watch that functioned as both a portal opener and one that signalled Kara. Lena had insisted on a redesign for the watch that made it look exactly like an exclusive version of the L-Corp smart watch to throw people off what it really was and Kara had readily agreed.

They each packed a bag for the five or so days they would be away and then a bag full of Christmas presents. Lena had lead lined the bag that she had put Kara's present in and told her if she so much as caught her looking at the present that she would use the excuse they had concocted it's Cat's office and would withhold kisses. Kara had promised that she would not with a pout and a quick girl scout promise that made Lena roll her eyes and remind Kara that she had never been a girl scout. Kara had replied with the fact that villains called her an overgrown girl scout all the time and didn't that count?

As they stepped out of the portal onto Eliza's front garden there was a yell of excitement as Eliza raced off the porch to greet them.

"Kara! Lena! I'm so happy that you're here!"

"Hi Eliza." Kara grinned as she hugged her adoptive mother. "How's everything?"

"Oh just fine." She grinned at Kara before letting her go and turning to pull Lena into a tight hug too. Lena, who had just extended her hand to shake Eliza's was a little shocked but quickly (albeit slightly awkwardly) patted Eliza on the back. "How are you, Lena? Is this one treating you ok?" she asked as she pulled back.

"Always." Lena replied with all sincerity as she glanced back at Kara.

Lena honestly couldn't tell you exactly what happened over the next few hours as it all happened in a bit of a blur. She knew that she and Kara had been put in the guest bedroom as Alex, Kelly and Esme were to share the larger room that was Alex and Kara's childhood room. They had chatted over lunch and had a walk around the town where there had stopped for drinks (hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and marshmallows for Kara, coffee with a little bit of cream and one sugar for Eliza and black coffee for herself) before they were back in the Danver's house preparing dinner. Now they were heading upstairs to get ready for bed. She quickly worked through her bathroom routine and made her way into the bedroom so Kara could take her turn in the bathroom. She had just changed into her pyjamas (well one of her favourite lounging shirts of Kara's that always seemed to smell of Kara no matter how often she was the one to wear them) when Kara stepped into the room.

She took one look at Lena in her shirt and in two strides she had Lena wrapped in her arms and was deeply kissing her. Lena responded earnestly. She had missed this closeness all day as they had kept to holding hands and small pecks around Midvale, the press was everywhere after all. "I've missed that today." Kara sighed against Lena's lips as they broke apart.

"Me too." Lena replied, content to stay in Kara's arms.

"We could always portal back to ours and come back first thing before Eliza even knows we're gone." Kara's voice had dropped to a husky almost whisper and Lena shivered at the implication.

"Darling, as much as I would really enjoy that, it's only a few days and Eliza misses having you around ..."

"Fiiiine." Kara pretended to pout but Lena just gave her a quick soft kiss and moved to get into bed. Kara used her super speed to change and was in bed before Lena, pulling her into her arms, both sighing in contentment.

The next morning, Lena woke up alone for the first time in many weeks. She had stretched and moved to turn over to face Kara and snuggle into her warmth when she realised that she wasn't there. The bed was still warm though. She opened her eyes, blinking against the sunlight filtering through the curtains as she surveyed the room, confirming that Kara was definitely not there. As she yawned she realised she could smell coffee and bacon so in the interest of saving Eliza's kitchen from the kitchen hazard that was Kara Danvers she slipped from the bed, taking a moment to pull on shorts and left the room to find her girlfriend. As she walked into the kitchen she smiled to see Eliza cooking up some bacon as Kara was stood near the coffee machine filling up three mugs. Kara turned to smile at Lena as she walked into the kitchen.

"Morning love." Kara greeted softly, walking over to her with a cup of coffee for her and a soft kiss.

"Morning darling," She wrapped her arms around Kara's shoulders and whispered softly so Eliza wouldn't hear here. "I missed you when I woke up."

Kara squeezed the one arm she had around her waist a little tighter. "I missed staying with you." Kara whispered back. They separated and Kara passed Lena the cup of coffee. "Here you go, I know how you are without your coffee."

"Thanks."

"Good morning Lena, I'm making pancakes and bacon! Can I interest you in any?" Eliza asked as she smiled at the affection between the two.

"That sounds great, thanks Eliza."

"Here you can have the first portion before Kara gets started with her appetite in case she doesn't leave any."

"Hey!" Kara called out indignantly but both Eliza and Lena ignored her protest, Lena grabbed her hand and they walked over to Eliza who dropped a plate in front of Lena with a smile who sat on the chair at the breakfast to eat.

"I had a call from Alex about half an hour ago, she was just loading up J'onn's car so they won't be too long, I'd eat up if I were the both of you."

"Ah yes, soon my adorable little niece will arrive and we can show her all the great things about a Danvers family Christmas as well as showing you Lena."

"Well that and you and Alex tend to get ... competitive around the holidays." Eliza smirked as she slid some more pancakes from the pan and on a plate over to Kara.

"Competitive?" Lena asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It's all Alex!" Kara said with her hands raised. "She always thinks she's the best at any game and I just have to show her she's wrong."

"So all the recent game nights we've had where you've told me that we have to 'crush Alex and Kelly' at whatever game we were playing is ... Alex's competitiveness?" Lena queried.

"Yes." Kara stated as Eliza started laughing.

"Try to set a good example for Esme?" Eliza begged, "I don't want a repeat of when you girls were in your late teens."

"Why what happened?" Lena asked.

"Alex decided the game was going to be Pictionary but Kara threw her pen when she lost ... right through the living room window."

"It was an accident, Alex was trying to annoy me by not guessing a perfectly good drawing of a giraffe all because I had no idea what a stethoscope was."

Lena was giggling at the thought of a younger Kara being mortified at having broken the window by throwing a pen through it. They all settled in to eat and after they had washed up Kara and Lena took turns to use the shower and get dressed.

When Lena made her way down after she had pulled on some clothes she could hear Eliza greeting Alex, Kelly and Esme outside along with Kara so she headed outside to greet them as well. She had no sooner stepped outside than she saw Esme grin at her and start running towards her.

"Auntie Lena! Auntie Lena! Santa is going to come visit me here!" she squealed as she jumped up for Lena to catch her in a big hug.

"I know, are you excited?" she asked.

Esme replied by nodding enthusiastically. Lena turned her attention to greet Alex and Kelly and they all walked inside, with Alex grumbling about the latest squabble between agents at the new DEO.

The next few days passed in a blur of tree decorating, baking and general Christmas magic, leaving Lena feeling both happy and inexplicably exhausted.