DISCLAIMERS/NOTES
1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.
2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.
3. Just a reminder: the Supergirl in this story is not Kara Zor-El, but the post-Crisis Matrix with an altered backstory. For more information, see Disclaimers/Notes for the first chapter.
BELONGING
As the coffin was slowly lowered into the grave, the only sound was those gathered trying not to burst into tears. Many failed, and sobbed openly. Mary's girlfriend was one of them.
She looked at Mae with nothing but concern. The shapeshifter was, like everyone, dressed in black. It broke Mary's heart to see her lover in such pain; Mae had lost the man who was like a second father to her. Her own eyes welling up, Mary glanced back at the stele at the head of the grave.
Jonathan Kent would be missed.
Mary felt terrible. She and Mae had been together more than eighteen months now, and over that time the heroine grew to love the Kents. It was not hard: Jonathan and Martha were two of the kindest, most loving people Mary ever knew. But then, what else would you expect from the people who raised Superman?
Taking in her surroundings, Mary sighed. Closest to the grave were, of course, Martha and Clark. It was still surreal to see the Man of Steel being so... Human. Mary's chest clenched at the sight of Superman utterly broken. The world's greatest hero was still a man - a man who had lost his father. Clark held Martha close, both in tears. Lois stood a foot away, in floods herself.
Around them were various residents of Smallville, there to say goodbye. Some Mary knew, most she did not. Conner, Lana, Pete... Mary almost blushed: that was it. She felt bad for not knowing enough about Mae's friends and family. Especially as Supergirl got on great with all the various Marvels. Truth be told, Mary felt rather out of place. She wondered if she had any right being here. She was here mainly as Mae's partner. Though she always got on very well with the Kents, Mary obviously spent most of her time just with Mae. Even Lois was more a part of the family than Mary. Granted, the reporter was Superman's - Clark's - wife, but still. Mary almost felt like an intruder.
An audible sob from the blonde woman next to her brought Mary out of her musings, and reminded her why she was there: to support and comfort the woman she loved. The Kents took Mae in when she arrived on Earth, and later when she left Luthor - the idea of that vile man being with her darling made Mary sick - and was almost considered the little cousin of the Last Son of Krypton. Jonathan's death left Mae crushed.
Mary noticed her girlfriend was alternating her gaze between the grave and the Kents. Clark seemed to sense it too, for he looked up and reached out. Mae briefly turned to Mary, who simply squeezed her hand in assurance and nodded. As Mae went over to the Kents, Mary knew the shapeshifter needed to be with them right now. With... her family.
Two hours later, and everyone was in the Kent home for the wake. Mary stayed back as her lover mingled with various people, including a long talk with Lois. Feelings of unease crept back into Mary. Again she felt like an interloper. And she felt terrible for feeling terrible. But once more she began to think she did not have the right to be here. If she considered herself part of this family - which she did not - she was the junior member of it. She...
"Thank you for coming, my dear." Mary turned her head to see Martha, pure sadness in her eyes. "It means alot that you're here."
Mary looked down. "I'm so sorry, Martha," she said. "Jonathan was... was a wonderful man."
"Thank you." Martha took Mary's hand in hers. "He loved you, you know. We both do... did." She briefly closed her eyes at what she said. "We could never thank you enough for making our Mae so happy." Mary blushed: eventhough this was not the first time she was hearing this, it still gave her butterflies. About a year ago, during a visit to the Kent farm, the elderly couple had spoken to Mary while Mae was tending to Comet in the barn. They told her how happy she made the shapeshifter; how they were worried that after what happened with Luthor, Mae would never be able to move on and love again. Jonathan and Martha said how joyful and alive Mae became after they got together. Mary felt both humbled and proud... and still did. She was deeply in love with Supergirl - her utmost concern was making her happy.
"I'm just honoured you let me into your lives - your home," Mary said sincerely.
"The honour was ours, my dear girl," said Martha. "Jonathan never told you... how much you being with Mae meant to him." At Mary's slight frown, she continued. "When Mae moved in with Luthor, we were devastated. Jonathan thought he had failed... failed at raising her right. And when she came back, completely heartbroken... he still blamed himself. He blamed himself for... not protecting her, and thought, in his failure, he'd... robbed Mae of trusting and feeling love again."
Mary felt her eyes water.
"But then she found you," Martha said wistfully. "And you fixed everything. You fixed Jonathan. Seeing the love you and Mae share... relieved him of all the doubt and feelings of letting Mae down. I can never thank you enough for that, Mary." The elderly woman's eyes were brimming with tears. "You are welcome here anytime. Mae loves you so much... and so do we. All of us."
Mary was speechless. Clearly sensing so, Martha simply gave the young woman a hug. All Mary's feelings of intrusion evaporated away as they held eachother.
"I hope I'm not interrupting." They separated to see Mae standing there. Mary's heart sank at how broken she still looked.
"No, love," assured Martha. "We were just having a little chat, weren't we?" Mary simply nodded. "If you'll excuse me, then." With a final pat of Mary's hand, Martha turned to Mae and gave her a reassuring stroke of the arm. Once the elderly woman was gone, Mary and Mae drifted close together, Mae taking Mary's hands in hers.
"Thank you for being here," she breathed. "I couldn't do this without you. Just knowing you're here... "
A tear trickled down Mary's cheek. "I'll always be here for you," she promised. "I love you, Mae. So much." She then enveloped the shapeshifter in a deep embrace as she realised something. She did belong with this family. Because she belonged with Mae...