I woke up some time later. I could feel Barry's arm on my bare stomach. I rolled over to face him. He slowly came to and smiled at me. I smiled back at him as I heard his steady and strong heartbeat. He pulled me closer and I laid my head on his bare chest. I took in a breath and I could smell him. He smelled like a combination of burnt ozone from the lightning circulating his body and crisp clean rain. It made me feel like I was up in the sky just after a storm, which was the best time to be there. "I love you Kara."

"I love you Barry."

He gently ran his hand through small sections of my hair, and it made me shiver. He chuckled softly. "Something wrong?" He asked. I stretched before snuggling closer to him and closing my eyes. "Mmmmmm, no. I like it when you play with my hair." Barry took in a large breath and released it slowly.

He stopped and placed his hand on my arm. "I'm surprised that we haven't been interrupted yet." Barry stated. "Goin' to jinx it." I stated groggily. Someone knocked on the door.

"Too late."

We laid there for a couple seconds and the person knocked again. We groaned and I rolled over. "You get it." I grumbled tiredly. "Why?"

"'Cause you jinxed it."

Barry huffed before sitting up and throwing off the blankets roughly. "Don't throw a temper. It's your fault." I looked over to him as he pulled on some clothes. I rubbed my eyes as Barry casually walked away. I got up and started to pull on my clothes. I was just about to pull on my shirt when I heard a gasp and something drop to the floor.

I jumped around to face the noise. Alex stood near the wall, her hands still in the position of holding the now dropped coffee, her pale face, eyes wide, and mouth open. The sun peaked through my curtains and it reflected off the tears in her eyes. Her glossy brown eyes jumped from scar to scar, and I felt more vulnerable after each second passed.

"Wh-what, Kara- I- You-" She stuttered. Her words were slow, like she didn't want to believe what she saw.

Barry came jogging a second later. He looked down to the spilled coffee before looking to Alex's frozen form. My eyes jumped from Alex's to Barry's nervously. Barry glanced over to me before his eyes locked on my scars too. The few seconds that they both stared at me felt like an eternity. Like I was on display. My throat started to close as I could feel them judging.

I stood there silently, involuntarily letting them soak up all the scars and burns, and my head started to spin. They'd never not see this. Hell, I see it every time I look in the mirror, but I also have to feel the pain that was awarded with each and every scar, no matter the size. I wanted the Earth to open and swallow me whole; away from their prying eyes. The few seconds of their staring finally ended and Barry tried to break away from his gape. "I'll, uh, clean this up."

Alex snapped out of her trance after Barry spoke. "Yeah, umm, I'll-I'll help you." Neither of them met my eyes. I felt disgusted with myself and offended by their hypercritical eyes.

I rushed off to my bathroom and locked the door. I leaned over my sink and stared into my own eyes, which were filling with tears. I clenched my jaw as it seemed that every scar seemed to be highlighted on my skin. I looked down to my torso and felt sick.

I pulled down the mirror and flipped it so I couldn't see my reflection. I sat down in my bathtub and let the coolness of the tub soothe the burning from my embarrassment. After last night, I thought I was okay with all my scars, but seeing both people I loved dearly stare at me in that way; eyes filled with a concoction of anger, fear, concern, and even judgment, and not saying anything, it hurt me deeply. I could hear Alex and Barry talking softly.

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the rim. There was no escaping from this embarrassment. It was absolute. Utter humiliation. Torture. This moment would be seared into my mind along with all the other painful and embarrassing moments. Forever. Ready to pop up and torment me again when I'm ever in a quiet moment.

There was a small knock on my door and I heard the doorknob rattle. "Kara, let me in, please." I heard Alex speak in a soft voice.

I didn't move. "Kara, babe." Barry tried after a few seconds. "Kara, please." Alex tried again. I let out a deep breath, but I stayed in my spot. "Whatever is going on through your head right now, just stop. Whatever way you are blaming yourself, stop. You are not to blame for any of this. Please open this door for us." Alex whispered.

I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut. "You can't do it all, Kara. You can't be strong for everyone all the time. Not even yourself. Some days are better, some days are worse. It's the way life is. I know it isn't fair, life never is. Anyone can just give up and pull themselves away. It's the easiest thing to do. But this isn't how you are. I've seen you face insurmountable odds and come out strong. You've pulled two Earths together for God's Sake! You've gone head to head with Shade multiple times and survived!" I could feel Alex trying to be optimistic. The smallest smile made its way on my face.

"I know that it's hard for you. But you are allowed to put away your brave face and break down. It's okay. You can hug someone who loves you, you can cry, you can get angry, be mad."

She paused. "But you can't give up on yourself, you can't give up. Being strong, being brave, being a hero. It isn't about taking on the world and surviving with a smile on your face. It's running through the battlefield, depending on whoever you can, and doing the best you can. We all believe in you."

She sighed. "So, please, baby girl, come out of there. I'm done talking to a door." She tried to joke. I contemplated for a few more seconds before slowly getting up and unlocking the door. The door opened slowly. Alex stood there, with a huge watery smile and tears running down her cheeks.

Barry stood behind her, with a few tears as well. "Thank you." Alex pulled me close to her. Despite the heaviness in my stomach, I felt safe. I nestled my head into the crook of her neck and sunk into the warmth of her loving hug, appreciative of the simple gesture. It made my future seem a little less bleak.

She led me away from the bathroom and to the couch. Barry sat on one side of me, and Alex on the other. Having them so close, all feeling of judgement from them left my mind.

Barry had his arm wrapped around my shoulders, and Alex had her hand on my arm. We all sat in silence until I broke it. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Kara."

I shook my head. "No, not really. I shouldn't have flipped out like that. I should've told you two about it."

Alex smiled sadly. "A heads up would've been nice." She teased. We all giggled and laughed for a few seconds, before the atmosphere turned back to seriousness. I pulled away from them and stood up. I traced the half circle that was dashed into my skin from teeth. "The bite from the Cruid." I traced a thin scar down my arm. "A blade from an Arigonian." I pointed to a circle near my ribs. "A bullet from alien hunters."

"Wait, humans hunted you too?" Barry asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I was an enemy pretty much to both sides. Aliens hated me, regular humans hated me. There was no third side to the fighting, so I made my own. That's where Oliver and the others came from. It also helped that I knew you."

"Damn."

I went through a few more before Alex stopped me. "Kara, you don't need to do this. I know that this must be bringing up more painful memories from Terram Two."

"Yeah, it is. But no matter where I go, I'll always have to remember them." Barry stood up and held my cheek in his hand. "They will stay with you forever, but that doesn't mean that you have to be ashamed or embarrassed of them. You're beautiful." He smiled at me before planting a small kiss.

I turned back to Alex. "So why did you come here? Is there something wrong?" I asked. She shook her head. "No, it's just that you are usually up by now and do a comm check with the DEO. I thought that you must've slept in so I was going to bring you coffee. But it seems you were up-" She trailed off. Barry and I blushed and Alex immediately caught on. "Oh. Oh! Okay. I'll uh, be heading back to the DEO." She stated awkwardly.

I grabbed her in a quick hug. "Thank you, Alex."

"Anytime Kara. I told you, I'll always be there for you."

"And I will be there for you. I love you."

"I love you too." She left my apartment.

They next day, Barry and I were cuddling on the couch and watching Funny Face when my phone began to ring.

I sighed and grabbed my phone. "Hello?" Supergirl, it's Winn. Where are you? "My apartment. Why is something wrong?" Yes, Superman needs your help. I sat up quickly. "With what? Who? Where is he?" We don't know, we only got a distress signal a few minutes ago. He's in Metropolis. "Okay, I'll be there soon."

I placed my phone down. "What's wrong?" Barry asked. "Kal's in trouble. I have to go help him." I stated and started to get dressed in my suit. "Okay, let's get ready." I stopped. "You're not going."

Barry gave me a hurt and confused look. "Um, yes I am, Kara." I shook my head. "No, I don't need you hurt. Kal only calls if he needs serious help."

"Oh, am I not serious help?" He asked and crossed his arms. I cringed. "No, that- that's not what I meant, Barry. I mean that when he calls me, it means that he needs another Kryptonian to help him out. I'm sorry."

"Kara, the last time that you went to help out your cousin, you came back half conscious. Doomsday nearly killed you and Clark."

"I've been through more since then Barry. I'm stronger, faster; I can handle it."

"But your weaknesses are the same, Kara. Kryptonite can kill you just the same. It doesn't matter if your stronger or faster. It can kill you, poison you, make you vulnerable."

"I know that Kryptonite can still harm me, but I have more weaknesses now, Barry. And I can't expose them." His eyebrows pulled together. "What are you talking about?"

"You, Barry Allen! You are my weakness! I can't afford to have you hurt, or killed. You aren't invincible."

Barry took a step toward me. "Damn it Kara, neither are you! I saw you lying in a coma for 5 months, then I thought you were dead for 3 years! I can't go through losing you again without having any part of it. I need to be there. I won't let anything happen to you." His voice cracked. "Please."

I looked into his green eyes. They were begging me to not go alone. I sighed. "Okay. Hurry up, we spent too much time arguing." I stated and finished pulling out my suit.

In a second, Barry had his suit on. His hand flew up to his ear. "Cisco?" He waited for a moment as Cisco talked to him through the com. His shoulders dropped. "Damn it." He whispered.

"Oliver needs help. He's pinned down with the others outside Opal City."

"It looks like we have to split up." I stated somberly. He looked at me carefully. "I'm sorry, Kara. I didn't mean it." He apologized. "I didn't either. Just come back safely, Scarlet Speedster." I gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "You too, Girl of Steel." He raced out of my apartment and I flew out of my window.

I took off to Metropolis. As I started to approach the skyline, I was half expecting it to look destroyed, like last time. But nothing seemed wrong. I raced off to Kal's apartment.

I landed down and I found Kal and Lois sitting on their couch. He saw me in the corner of his eye. He immediately jumped up and opened the door to the patio, where I landed.

"Kara? What's wrong?" Kal asked. "What do you mean? I was told that you put out a distress signal."

He shook his head. "No, Metropolis has been quiet for the past few weeks. Everything is fine." He scrunched his eyebrows together. "Are you okay?" I thought back to how Winn acted.

He never called me Supergirl on the comms. And what a coincidence that Barry was called away to a different city. It's a trap. "No." My eyes widened and I took off to the skies. Kal was left standing on the patio, more confused than ever.

It's short and I'm late on updating, and I'm so sorry. But these last few days have been hectic. I finally found some time to post it, even though it's about 12:20 am. Man, I'm tired. But anyway, we're one step closer to the end! I can't believe it. I want to give a quick shoutout to Bobpandas for recommending writing a scene in which Alex sees Kara's scars. At first I was going to have only Alex there, but I wanted Barry to also be there to support Kara and Alex as all three of them finally get to talk a bit more about how Kara is coping and a teeny bit more insight on Terram Two. Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you in the next one! ~Raya Kor-El