"Sorry I'm late." Lena said when she met Kara for lunch.
"No problem. Besides, the number of times I was late-"
"Or just forgot." Lena chipped in.
"Or forgot." Kara smiled. "I can't complain."
"Indeed. So nervous?"
"About what?"
"Isn't today Alex's first day at school?"
"Yes it is. And I am, kind of. I mean she has started several schools on multiple planets so she is used to it and unlike before she has backup."
"You mean Kara and MJ? They seem to be getting on well." Lena commented.
"Yes they do. Which is stressing Alex out. She is convinced they are up to something."
"By Alex I assume to mean your sister rather than your daughter?
"Yes."
"Are you sure you don't want to rename one of them?" Lena asked.
"We're good thank you."
"So is it just the school thing that's weighing on your mind?"
"Who said anything is weighing on my mind?"
"The frown is a giveaway." Lena said. "But I am sure Alex will be okay."
"I know."
"But?"
"I'm worried about Alex?"
"Earth High School will be an adjustment, but you survived." Lena pointed out.
"Yeah, no. I meant the grown up Alex."
"What's happened now?"
"Remember I said that there had been a bounty hunter after us?"
"While skirting over several important details, such as why? Yes I remember."
"Well the details I was not sharing, I was not sharing to protect Alex."
"Sister Alex?" Lena asked.
"Yes."
"Oh god? Was it Lex who hired him...or her...or it?" Lena asked jumping to conclusions.
"Him and no. Not Lex. But it was an alien whose brother had been killed by Alex. He hired the bounty hunter to kill me out of revenge."
"I can see why you don't want Alex to know."
"Only that alien got detained by the DEO yesterday and told her everything. And we talked and I told her I forgave her but..."
"It's Alex and she hasn't forgiven herself?" Lena guessed.
"And I think she is avoiding me. I mean she left for work before five this morning. She is already dealing with so much, I don't want this to be the final straw that actually breaks her."
"Do you want me to talk her? Or I can take the kids if you want another crack at it?"
"I may take you up on that." Kara said as Lena's phone buzzed.
"Sorry, it is my assistant. There's a problem, I need to go."
"Of course."
-00-
"How was school?" Kara asked as the children returned home later that next day.
"You taught me the wrong language." Alex said miserably as she hugged her mother.
"Wrong language?" Kara asked.
"She was lacking a bit of slang." The teenage Kara said. "There were a couple of misunderstandings."
"Nothing major though." MJ said.
"You'll get used to it." Kara assured her daughter. "Did everything else go okay?"
"It was kind of fun I guess."
"High school?" Her mother asked, her voice full of doubt.
"Yes." Alex replied.
"Is mom back yet?" MJ asked.
"No." The older Kara said.
"So takeaway?" MJ guessed.
"Sounds like the best plan. Unless you want me to cook?" The older Kara offered.
"No." All three teenagers said in unison.
"You never used to complain about my cooking." She said to her daughter.
"Yeah, but then I didn't know any better. Now I do. But I love you anyway." She said hugging her mother again.
"I'll go pick it up." The teenage Kara said.
"Can I go too?" Her cousin asked, wanting to get out of a further interrogation about school.
"Okay." The adult Kara said kissing her head.
Once the two teenage daughters had gone Kara turned to MJ and asked.
"How is she getting on?"
"Are you asking me to be your spy?" MJ asked.
"No. Not exactly. I just remember how hard it was when I first got to Earth and had to deal with school."
"But you didn't have me and Kara looking out for you."
"That is true. But I am still going to worry."
"She's fine. More information will cost you."
"Cost me? Cost me what?" Kara asked surprised.
"We can come up with a suitable plan. Maybe involving intel."
"Has Lena being teaching you how to negotiate?" Kara asked.
"You can't afford the answer to that."
"So what intel are you after?"
"Why have we always been banned from using VR contacts?"
"Well after Jeremiah, your grandfather, died, Alex was really upset. Kelly was working on a programme to help people through their grief, which involved VR. Alex tried it, but got stuck inside the simulation. It turned out the technology was being used for nefarious purposes. After they were both less trusting about VR."
"You think she'll change her mind about it?"
"I think if there is a chance it will put you or Kara in danger there is no chance of your mom changing her mind."
"That's what I thought." MJ said miserably.
"MJ, you could have just asked." Kara said. "You didn't have to jump to extortion."
"But it is more fun that way." MJ shrugged before looking at his aunt and saying. "She's fine. She listened to us when we said don't stand out so it is all good."
-00-
"Are you avoiding your mom?" The teenage Kara asked her cousin as they walked to the restaurant.
"Not exactly." The teenage Alex said.
"So yes then." Kara pointed out. "How come?"
"Every time I have started a new school mom has interrogated me in the evening and then she has got really stressed about minor things. I was trying to avoid that."
"I am pretty sure your mom is going to worry about you regardless of what you do or don't say." Kara pointed out.
"I know." Alex sighed.
"Does she have anything to worry about?" Kara asked.
"Like what?"
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking."
"My powers are playing up." Alex confessed.
"In what way?"
"It's like I'm getting stronger or faster. Like earlier I went to get a book out of my locker and then the book was in my hand, but I don't remember reaching into the locker. So I must have moved really fast or something."
"Hold up." Kara said coming to a stop before pulling Alex off to one side. She then pointed to a can on the floor.
"Try moving the can into the bin by thinking about it."
For a moment Alex stared at the can, then she frowned at the can. But no matter what she did, the can stayed on the ground.
"So no telekinesis then." Kara commented.
"I think my body just takes over." Alex said. "What if it does that and I break something or someone?"
"You should talk to your mom. According to my mom your mom's powers caused loads of damage when they were growing up."
"Did Eliza get mad?"
"No."
"Will your mom get mad with me?"
"Why would she be mad with you?"
"If I broke something? Like a plate or a cup or a door."
"She won't be mad. I mean MJ and I do all the time and she doesn't get that mad with us and we don't even have an excuse." Kara assured her. "Anything else bothering you?"
"Did something happen between mom and aunt Alex yesterday?"
"Not that I know of why?"
"We were thrown out of the house so they could talk and then your mom had left for work before we had got up this morning and she is working late."
"She does that a lot." Kara told her.
-00-
"So do you want to tell me what is bothering you?" Kara asked her daughter that evening as they walked along the river front.
"My powers. I think they are getting stronger and harder to control."
"Did something happen?" Kara asked frowning.
"Not exactly, I just feel like I am not in control."
"J'onn taught me a breathing exercise. It may help." Kara said.
"Isn't breathing something you just do?" Alex asked.
"This is a special technique to help focus the mind." Kara explained.
"Okay." Alex said clearly skeptical.
"The hardest time will be when you lose your temper or you get upset. Unfortunately your emotions drive your powers." Kara said.
"So be a robot?" Alex asked.
"No. But you can learn to channel your emotions. You are going to have to think more than other people do when they act."
"So breathe and think more?" Alex asked, not impressed with the advice.
"Don't look at me like that." Kara said. "It is good advice."
"Sure." Alex said. "Did you and aunt Alex fight?"
"No. Why?"
"She wanted us out of the house yesterday so you could talk and then she didn't make it home for dinner." Alex pointed out.
"Alex has always worked hard." Kara said.
"What happened?" Her daughter pressed.
"Your aunt sometimes assumes too much responsibility and no matter how much you tell her it's not her fault, she doesn't always listen."
"What does she think she did?"
"That doesn't matter right now. But I promise you that we are fine. Okay?"
"Okay." Her daughter said.
"Good. Now let's pick up some dinner for your aunt and head back."
-00-
"Hi." Alex said as the pair returned home.
"Hey, we got you dinner." Kara said holding out the bag.
"You didn't need to."
"So you've eaten?" Kara asked.
"Not exactly." Alex said.
"Then, there you go." Kara said passing her the Big Belly Burgers bag.
"Thanks."
"I'm going to bed." The younger Alex said wanting to give them space.
"Night." Kara said hugging her. "And stop worrying."
"Did something happen at school?" The adult Alex asked once the teenager had gone.
"No."
"Then what is she worried about?"
"She thought we'd had a fight." Kara explained. "I told her we hadn't and she had nothing to worry about, but she is still worrying. So am I. Why are you avoiding me?"
"Because of what I did. I wanted to figure out how to start making it right."
"I told you I don't hold you responsible." Kara said. "For eighteen years I have been trying to do things without my sister and that was so hard. I've only just got you back, I don't want to lose you again." She added before hugging her sister.
"I just want to make it right." Alex repeated.
"Well you can start my not avoiding me and follow up by leaving it in the past."