"Lena? Hi!" Kara greeted as she walked to the entrance of the apartment block and saw her friend.
"Hi Kara."
"What are you doing here?"
"I have tickets for the big tech expo today, I was wondering if you wanted to go." Lena explained holding the door open for her friend. As she did so she saw the contents of Kara's grocery bags and said.
"You know that isn't for humans?"
"Hmm?" Kara asked.
"The dog food. It's for dogs not children."
"It's for Chewie."
"Who?" Lena asked.
"Alex's dog."
"Alex bought a dog?" Lena asked as they stepped into the elevator.
"No I did, as a present."
"Did Alex know you were going to do that?"
"No. It was a surprise so she'd have something to worry about other than me."
"You may go for the puppy pout, but I am not sure a dog could just replace you." Lena said.
"Maybe, but he can also help teach responsibility and offer a bit of companionship when I'm not there."
"Okay, I thought by now it'd be clear, but it isn't, which Alex did you buy it for?" As they got out of the elevator.
"My Alex." Kara clarified. "Why, do you think Alex wants one too?"
"I did not say that." Lena pointed out as Kara opened the front door.
"Hi Lena." The teenage Alex said from the floor where she was playing with the dog. "Have you come to see Chewie?"
"I have only just learnt about Chewie." Lena said. "I was actually hoping to borrow your mother."
"Okay." Alex said as she kept playing with Chewie.
"Don't you think you agreed to that a little too quickly?" Kara asked.
"You are the one who wanted to be replaced." Lena pointed out.
-00-
"I assume from your less than impressed expression as we were going round humans still lag most aliens when it comes to technology." Lena guessed as they walked down the long corridor to the exit.
"No, not exactly, well kind of. Other species tend to be more advanced. But technology isn't the be all and end all." Kara said. "Human spirit is far stronger than normal."
"Do you miss the advanced tech?"
"No." Kara said without needing to think.
"That was a very fast answer." Lena pointed out.
"Krypton was far more advanced than Earth, yet that technology ripped the planet apart."
"But Krypton was an extreme." Lena said. "Surely some of the planets you have been on had a better blend of technology and common sense." Lena said before adding. "No offence to Kryptonians."
"It's not the technology that makes a good place, it is the people." Kara countered.
"Surely you met some good people out there." Lena said.
"Some, but no one like who I have here. Besides being on the run meant I couldn't exactly open up to people."
"That must have been incredibly lonely."
"I had Alex."
"Not for the first few years." Lena pointed out before noticing Kara's expression. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to bring up bad memories."
"It's okay. I was just remembering my first year out there."
"That bad?"
"It wasn't easy." Kara confirmed. "I was actually really envious of you."
"Me? Why?"
"When you were hurt you shut yourself off and you managed to cope so well with it. I know it was hard and lonely for you, but you always seemed to use it to help focus you and to drive you. For me I just felt lonely and sometimes it was hard to find any motivation."
"That's because I allowed myself to be driven by anger." Lena said. "And I had a lot to be angry about. To be fair so did you, but you never let yourself get controlled by it."
"I know I caused some of that anger, and I'm sorry. But I really am happy we are friends again." Kara said.
"So am I." Lena smiled. "And back then I will concede I may not have been completely reasonable. Although in my defence I am a Luthor and by Luthor standards I was very reasonable. Although I should probably avoid using the Luthor benchmark for anything."
"Do you see them anymore?" Kara asked. "I mean Lillian and Lex."
"No. They have a way of twisting and manipulating. I did think about seeing Lex and gloating about the fact you had returned, but I am sure he would turn it round on me. So I will keep a healthy separation."
"You don't need them." Kara reminded her.
"I know. It took me a long time to fully realise that, but I do know." Lena replied as they left the convention centre. "And I also appreciate how good a friend you were back then."
"You were there for me too." Kara pointed out. "Although I could never work out if you feeding me kale was out of concern or revenge."
"Just because it is green doesn't mean it can hurt you." Lena smiled.
"That's not been my experience." Kara countered as she glanced at her watch. "That was fun. But I have to go."
"Worried about Alex?" Lena guessed.
"Always, but actually I have to go to Metropolis."
"You are finally seeing your cousin?" Lena asked.
"That's the plan." Kara said. "I'll see you later."
-00-
As Clark opened his front door and saw who was waiting on the other side he paused before finally smiling.
"Kara!" Clark greeted pulling her in for a hug.
"Hey Kal." She said hugging him back.
"I was starting to think you were avoiding me." He said.
"What? Me? Why?"
"So you were avoiding me?" He asked.
"Yes, no, I mean maybe a little. I felt so guilty about what happened to you."
"You felt guilty?" Clark asked.
"Well yes, I wasn't here."
"Because of Lex." Clark reminded her. "I thought you were avoiding me because you were disappointed in me." Clark confessed.
"Why?"
"For giving up the cape."
"You've given plenty to this planet." Kara reminded him. "And family has to come first."
"So you are not here to change my mind?"
"No. But I am here to warn you."
"Warn me about what?"
"Mongul will be here soon. When he found out someone wearing the family crest beat his Lieutenant he stepped up his plans. We don't know when exactly he will be here, but he may come after you, well Superman, so stay low. And I know this is an impossible task, but you need to get Lois to keep a low profile too."
"I will." Clark said before asking. "Are you fighting him?"
"Yes."
"Kara, I know that you may have beaten me when we fought during the Daxamite invasion, but don't underestimate Mongul."
"I won't."
"What you may not know is my fight with him wasn't fair."
"Mongul cheating doesn't surprise me."
"Technically it wasn't him, it was us. He fought a lot of heroes before me. He took on the Earth's finest. He beat them, but he was injured. By the time I fought him he was considerably weaker. And I still didn't win. This time he will probably be at full strength." Clark explained, worry etched in his face.
"Don't worry, Alex has ensured I have had the best training. At least she tells me it is the best, I am pretty sure he just hates me."
"He?"
"Ted Grant."
"Wildcat?" Clark asked.
"You've heard of him?"
"Yeah, he's a big deal. He helped Bruce a lot. I didn't know he was still around."
"He's the chief instructor at the DEO and my personal tormentor." Kara said.
"Make sure you listen to him." Clark said.
"I'm not sure he would let me ignore him." Kara smiled. "I'll be okay, just stay low." She added as her phone rang.
"Hi Alex, what's wrong? … I'll be right there." She then hung up and said. "Sorry I have to go."
-00-
"Sorry to call you back, but we are getting overrun." Alex said as Supergirl entered the DEO.
"No problem, where do you need me?"
"We have attacks all round the south of the city. Most are by Earth based aliens. But we have picked up a scout ship. In case it is one of the Lieutenants I need you to check it out once it has landed."
"Okay." Supergirl agree.d
"But I need you to be honest about your limits." Alex said. "You solar flaring is not going to help anyone."
"Okay." Supergirl said.
"I mean it." Alex repeated not trusting her sister.
"I'll let you know if it gets too much. Just have doughnuts on standby." Supergirl replied.
"Not sure about the doughnuts, but I will have the lamps ready." Alex replied.
"Please tell me you have made that bed more comfortable."
"Don't push yourself too hard and you won't need to worry about it." Alex replied.
"That's a no then." Kara grumbled as she flew off.
-00-
As the three children sat doing their homework the teenage Kara asked her cousin, can you grab me a water bottle.
"Sure." Alex said distractedly before reaching her arm out towards the farside of the kitchen, moments before the water bottle flew into her arms. Seemingly oblivious she held the water bottle out to Kara, who along with her brother sat in shock. When Kara didn't take the bottle Alex looked up and asked. "What?"
"You didn't move." MJ said.
"Sure I did. That's how I got the water."
"No. You stayed still. The water moved to you." MJ explained.
"It can't have done, Kara already made me take that test."
"Apparently that was a false negative." Kara said. "That water definitely moved to you."
"Do it again." MJ said.
"Do what? I didn't do anything." Alex said confused.
"Try moving that toy with your mind." MJ said pointing to one of Chewie's toys.
"See, nothing happened." Alex said after a minute.
"Maybe you are thinking too hard." Kara suggested. "Read this." She said pointing to the text book.
"Okay." Alex said as she started reading.
"Now pass me the toy."
Suddenly the toy flew across the room.
"That is so cool." MJ said as Chewie started barking and jumping at the floating toy.
-00-
"Here you go." Supergirl said dumping an unconscious alien on the DEO floor.
"That was quick." Alex commented.
"I guess the training is paying off." Supergirl said.
"How are you doing?" Alex asked.
"I'm fine. Where do you need me next?" Kara asked.
"Are you sure you-"
"Alex, I'm fine." Supergirl said.
"Okay, we need help at the Blue Diamond."
"The what?" Supergirl asked.
"The tallest building in the city." Alex pointed out.
"Why is it called Blu- Not the point. I'm on it." She said turning. "Oh before that, here you go." She said passing on a gem stone.
As she landed in front of the agents by the Blue Diamond building, one of them ran to her and said.
"I'm glad you are here, we have a problem."
"What?"
"There is a bomb at the base, we don't have time to evac." They said as an explosion ripped through the bottom of the building. Seeing it was about to collapse Supergirl immediately flew to the building and supported the corner, holding it in place.