NEXT CHAPTER! (she says 30 minutes later). Expected to have to write more but not so much.
Keep in mind the next chapter will begin the shift of the story revolving around Wonder Woman and all those in that immediate circle.
"…visit it someday with our own eyes?" Little Kara looked at her cousin then at the little planet, unsure of how to answer her.
"I-"
"Kara!" The little girls screeched when Zor-El entered the room with a long stride. "You know this room is off limits to you."
"Father," the older Kara whined.
"Do not 'Father' me." He stopped in his tracks and noticed the hologram of Earth. "Kara…" His voiced softened and he pulled his daughter into his arms. "My little Kara. Oh, you are far too much like me." He pulled away from his daughter but kept his hands on her shoulders. "Let us go. Your mother is looking for you." He turned his attention to Kara In-Ze, which made her squeak and try to hid behind her cousin. "You too, tiny one."
"Yes, Lord Zor-El," she whispered out. Her breath tickled at the back of Kara's neck. Zorl-El smiled at his giggling daughter and then at his giggling niece. He took them both by the hand and led them out of the secret room. The rest of the day was spent laughing and playing together. Kara Zor-El kept by her father's side as he tinkered with a miniature pod designed to survive longtime space travel. Kara In-Ze stayed close to her mother Astra while she and Alura discussed something about the planet and its sun. She wouldn't be able to tell you what they spoke about, only the timber of her mother's voice.
Soon, the day had reached its end and it was time for Astra and Kara to go home. The cousins hugged tightly, knowing it would be the last time they would see each other face to face for a number of years.
"I will see you soon, K-Kara."
The older Kara smiled inter her cousin's hair then nodded. "I look forward to it. May Rao be with you." She released her and they both took ahold of their mothers' hands.
"May Rao be with you."
Five years and sixty days later, Krypton died.
Thursday, May 24th, 2012…
Kate groaned at the flashing notification on her phone. She had an appointment with the bank the next day to talk about how the book selling business was going. Thankfully, she was making a profit but it was just enough to pay her bills and maybe go out to dinner once and a while; there's only so long you can live off an inheritance. It was a good thing she didn't have a cable bill to worry about and she rarely used her car. The bike she mostly used as Batwoman was covered by Batman but she didn't have to mention that to the bank.
The bell dinged loudly when the door to the store swung open. "Welcome to The Book Nook. Let me know if I can help in anyway," Katherine said without looking up from her computer screen.
"Guess what I bought?" Kate's fingers froze over her keyboard at the sing-song voice.
"I fear the worse." Stephanie smacked her in the arm with a newspaper.
"Oh, shut-up. Now close your eyes."
"I'm not-"
"Close your eyes!" Kate let out a muffled groan and crossed her arms as she complied with Stephanie's command. "Put your hand out." She put her right hand out, which was given something heavy and covered in what felt like velvet. "Open your eyes." Kate opened her right eye and then her left to see a black velveteen bag in her hand tied shut with a burgundy string; inside of it seemed to be some misshapen object. "Open it." She shifted the bag to her left hand and opened the string with her right then reached in the bag to pull out a snow globe. "Bette told me about your grandmother buying snow globes for your birthday, which I'm well aware isn't until July. But with mom and me heading to National City during your birthday, I thought I'd give your gift early."
Kate blinked at the Supergirl inside the globe posed as if she was just about to take off from the ground. She was constructed rather beautifully from red glass and standing on the very symbol that donned her chest. The bottom of the globe was made from cut glass that resembled frosted crystals. The frost touched the bottom edge of the clear globe, hiding any possible seams between it and the base. She shook it slightly and snickered at the plastic snow falling on Supergirl.
"There's a music box in it too." Kate turned the snow globe over to see a golden knob on the bottom. "You have to turn it three times." She did as Stephanie instructed and the tinkling of music, which resembled something between a Jon Williams and a Jerry Goldsmith score, came out. It made her smile.
"Thank you, Stephanie. It's beautiful. Where'd you get it?"
"Bette and I were talking about presents for you and we got on the topic of snow globes. We wanted to get you something unique you couldn't buy on Amazon. Then she mentioned this girl named Elisabeth who she thought could help. It kind of surprised me how short it took her to make it. It was her idea, Elisabeth, to put a music box in it. Do you like it?"
"Stephanie, I…" Kate got out of her seat and walked briskly around the counter to pull her young friend into a tight hug.
"Kate," she groaned out. "The snow globe is digging into my back." Kate let her go with a laugh before she brushed the tears away. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
"No, no. These are happy tears. Thank you, Stephanie. You and Bette gave me a wonderful gift."
"Oh, this is from me. Bette has something else up her sleeve."
"I fear the worse." They laughed at Kate's word.
"I'd love to stay longer. But I promised my mom I'd have dinner with her. I do plan on treating you to lunch or dinner before I go."
"Sounds good."
"Where you're gonna put that?" Stephanie said as she walked backwards to the store's entrance.
"I have an idea."
***F***
"I have something for you. I noticed it wasn't in your shelves and thought you might like it." Linda handed Katherine the book in her hands. It's a thin paperback of a thing with a well-worn green cover; the complete collection of Shakespearean sonnets. "I was perusing through your poetry section and all I could find was Walt Whitman and Sappho. You really need to widen your range of books, love." Kate took a short, deliberate breath.
"I-I will keep that in mind."
"Good," said Linda with a smile. "I even circled my favorite one, or at least the first one I ever memorized."
"Quote it to me." Linda's eyebrows flicked up in surprised by Kate's outburst.
"You sure?" Kate nodded, so Linda cleared her throat before speaking. When she started off, her voice was low and raspy.
"My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun,
coral is far more red than her lips red.
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun,
if hair be wires black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked red and white
yet no such roses see I in her cheeks.
And in some perfume is there more delight
than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound.
I grant I never saw a goddess go,
my mistress when she walks reads on the ground.
And yet by Heaven I think my love is rare,
as any she belied with false compare."
Linda, who with each phrase leaned in closer and closer to Kate, pulled back from the counter with a crooked smile that ended with a wink. "I'm not one for quoting poetry to people. Consider yourself one of the few." Kate blinked a few times and nodded. Linda's smile stretched into a full grin as she tapped a short cadence on the counter. "Did you see the card?"
"Yes, I loved it." Kate took another breath when her voice cracked; tears welled up behind her eyes but she sniffed to keep them back. The look in Linda's eyes flashed that familiar softness for a moment but disappeared just as quickly.
Linda suddenly leaned over the counter and grabbed the back of Kate's head to pull her towards herself. She gave her a long and intense kiss on the forehead, as if she would never see her again, and let go. Kate watched her as she walked brusquely to the exit. When she opened the door, she paused for a moment then halfway turned back to Kate. "Oh, and Katherine…"
Kate snapped out of her shocked daze and focused on her. "What is it?"
Linda tilted her head slightly to the right and smiled softly at the ginger. "I love you, too." And just like that, she gave her a wink and left the shop.
***F***
Kate took the stairs one thoughtful step at a time until she reached the top. Once she entered the apartment, about a third smaller than her old one, she took a moment to make a decision. She smiled when she saw it, the perfect spot for the snow globe. With a deep breath, she placed it gently in the middle of her fireplace's mantle. Her fingers kissed across the glass before she pulled them away.
"Goodbye, Kara. I loved you, too."