"Is that guy hitting on aunt Kara?" The teenage Kara asked when he noticed a man talking to his aunt at the counter of NooNan's.
"Who is hitting mom?" The teenage Alex asked looking round worried.
"Not hitting, hitting on." Kara said.
"Like Tom was doing to you after class yesterday." MJ added.
"What?" The teenage Alex asked confused.
"Sounds like you are as oblivious to these things as your mother." The adult Alex said as her sister returned to the table.
"So when's the date?" The teenage Kara asked.
"What date?" The adult Kara asked confused.
"The date with that guy." The teenager said nodding back to the counter where the guy in question was collecting his coffee.
"What are you talking about?" The adult Kara asked confused. "I don't know him."
"Is this an act?" MJ asked his mother.
"No." His mother said.
"What are you guys talking about?" The adult Kara repeated.
"They said he was hitting on you." Her daughter said.
"We were just talking." The adult Kara said.
"You may have been." Her teenage namesake countered as the man walked past and said.
"See you later."
"Later?" MJ asked once he was gone.
"It's an expression." The adult Kara said. "He was not hitting on me."
"He so was." Her teenage namesake countered.
"Being nice to someone is not the same as hitting on them." Kara pointed out.
"So you think he is nice?" Her niece asked.
"You three are impossible." Kara countered.
"What did I do?" Her sister asked.
"Encouraged them." Kara pointed out.
"All I did was teach them to be observant."
"Don't worry, we'll teach our skills to Alex as well." MJ said.
"On that note, I need to go to CatCo." Kara said standing. "I'll see you at the DEO in an hour." She said to her sister before kissing her daughter goodbye.
-00-
"Here you go." Supergirl said as she dropped off another prisoner at the DEO that afternoon.
"Isn't that your third today?" The Agent taking delivery asked.
"Fourth." Supergirl smiled.
"The Director thought you might like these." They said handing her a box of doughnuts.
"Where is Alex? I mean the Director."
"Meeting in DC."
"Has something happened?" Supergirl asked.
"Yes ma'am. But I'm not sure I can say." He said looking uncomfortable.
"I've got this." A familiar voice said from behind Supergirl.
"Vasquez?" Supergirl asked turning. "You still work here? How did I not know that?"
"I'm normally based at the desert facility." Vasquez said leading Supergirl into the briefing room. "I'm so glad you are back and okay."
"So am I. How are you?"
"I'm good thank you." Vasquez said.
"Your frown says differently." Supergirl pointed out.
"You should sit down." Vasquez said.
"Is Alex okay?" Kara asked getting worried.
"She's fine. But earlier today we got a transmission from Brainy and Nia."
"Are they okay?" Supergirl asked frowning.
"Yes, but they sent us some bad news. Apparently Mongul is speeding up his timeframe. The armada is likely to be here sometime in the next couple of months. Alex got called to DC to brief them on our new plans."
"Are we going to be ready?"
"We don't have much choice." Vasquez pointed out. "But the next few weeks are going to be tough. We think he will increase the small attacks to wear us down before the full fleet arrives."
"Why the change?"
"According to rumours he heard that his Lieutenant was beaten by someone wearing the crest." She said pointing to the House of El crest on Supergirl's chest.
"This is because of me?" Supergirl asked.
"No, this is because he is insane. Besides if you hadn't have come back Alex would be dead." Vasquez pointed out before adding. "Originally we thought he would have started the invasion much sooner than this so it is not as bad as it seems."
"I guess." Supergirl said.
"We've been planning for this. Alex has every based covered." Vasquez assured her.
"Yet she was called to DC." Supergirl pointed out.
"That's standard." Vasquez said. "She should get the last hyper loop back tonight. She asked me to ask you to make sure no fires started and that you would know what that meant."
"If you speak to her tell her everything will be fine." Supergirl said before flying off.
-00-
Finding no one at her apartment Kara went to Alex's house opposite where her daughter and niece were sitting in the kitchen doing their homework.
"Hi guys." Kara greeted.
"Hi mom." The teenage Alex said hugging her mother.
"Where's MJ?" Kara asked.
"Still at school." The teenage Kara replied.
"Detention?" Kara asked.
"No practice."
"So how come you are doing your homework?" Kara questioned.
"So we can go out." Alex said.
"Out where?"
"MJ's game."
"What game?" Kara asked confused.
"MJ is playing basketball tonight."
"He is? Did I know that?" Kara asked confused.
"No." The teenage Kara replied.
"Does your mom know?" The adult Kara asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"She has just told us that there was a huge alien armada heading our way and she is in charge of stopping it. Talking about a basketball game didn't seem right."
"See that's why your mom didn't want to tell you." Kara said. "She wants you to keep having normal lives and caring about basketball and everything else."
"I know, but she already feels guilty about everything that happened when she didn't make my game, we didn't want her to go through that again."
"So you lied?"
"Withheld information." The teenager said. "And seeing mom isn't here it was the right thing to do."
"What time is the game?" Kara asked.
"Six thirty."
"Okay, well you take Alex and I will meet you there." She said leaving the house.
-00-
"What are you doing here?" Alex asked as Supergirl landed in front of her.
"You are needed in National City."
"The kids?" Alex asked paling.
"They're fine. But there is something important happening tonight which you need to be there for. So I'm here to take you." She said grabbing hold of Alex and taking off.
Alex started to ask questions, but the wind resistance made it impossible, so she chose to wait until they landed.
When Kara finally landed Alex took a couple of shaky steps trying to feel grounded.
"You okay?" Kara asked.
"Have you got faster?" Alex asked. "That felt faster. And colder."
"I think it is just you got older." Kara said. "Stay there." She added disappearing briefly before coming back dressed as Kara.
"Okay. Let's go." Kara said.
"Why are we at the school? Has one of them got into trouble?" Alex asked as she tried to warm up.
"No. Will you relax?" Kara said leading Alex through the school to the gym.
"Mom! You made it." The teenage Kara said surprised.
"Yes." Alex said before looking at Kara and asking. "What I have I made it to?"
"It's MJ's first game."
"Why didn't he tell me?" Alex asked.
"He didn't want to distract you from saving the world." The teenage Kara explained.
"You and your brother are the most important things. Everything I do is to keep you safe, so please don't hide things." Alex said pulling her daughter in for a hug.
-00-
"I'm sorry, you were right." The older Kara said later that evening when it was just her and her sister still awake.
"I'm glad they know." Alex assured her. "Thanks for making sure I got there."
"Any time. If it helps having you own personal taxi service I can take you to and from all your DC meetings."
"I appreciate that, but I prefer my transport to have sides and be insulated." Alex smiled.
"Vasquez told me why you had to go to DC. I'm sorry."
"For what?" Alex asked confused.
"Making Mongul accelerate his plans."
"You didn't." Alex said. "Plus I am alive thanks to you so I'm not going to complain." She pointed out. "But the next few weeks are going to be tough. We are predicting attacks almost everyday."
"Which means we aren't going to be round very much." Kara said, guilt written over her face.
"What's wrong?" Her sister asked.
"I'm worried about Alex."
"Has something happened?"
"No, but she seems to be worrying more. She has always been reserved and that's great. But I'm worried that she is missing out on things. I mean she hasn't joined any clubs, she worried about me non-stop and half the time I think she is parenting me not the other way round, when she should be out there with people her own age. She never really had friends, well not close ones. She quickly learned how hard it was to say goodbye and kept a distance."
"She seems close to Kara and MJ." Alex pointed out.
"She is." Kara agreed. "Maybe I could get Alex and MJ to help."
"Help with what?"
"Loosening up and having fun."
"That idea will end in tears, probably for you and me." Alex said.
"I just want her to have fun."
"I don't think you can force someone to become fun loving. And she will always worry about you. I mean you are irreplaceable." Alex argued.
"What if I am half replaceable?" Kara asked suddenly getting an idea.
"What?" Alex asked.
"I have had an awesome idea. I need to check some things out. Back later." Kara said rushing out of the room, returning a few seconds later and hugging her confused sister. "Thank you." She said before leaving again. A minute later she returned and Alex asked.
"Finally remembered everything is shut at eleven at night?"
"You could have reminded me." Kara pointed out.
"You didn't give me much chance." Alex pointed out. "So are you going to share this awesome idea?"
"No. Your kids have an uncanny ability to eavesdrop." Kara said.
"That's true." Alex agreed.
"I'm going to get Alex and go home." Kara said heading upstairs only to return a few minutes later empty handed.
"You seem to be missing Alex." The adult Alex pointed out.
"She's fast asleep. Can I leave her here?"
"Of course." Alex said. "You can both stay here whenever you want."