"You are still in the land of living." Cat said when she saw Supergirl on her balcony.
"You doubted it?" Supergirl asked.
"I knew you would be okay. I wasn't sure if you would be back." Cat said before carefully looking at the caped hero. "You inspired people to fight. People who don't even remember you, you inspired." Cat said. "You coaxed two washed out heroes out of retirement. You beat Mongul and stopped an invasion. Yet you don't look like you are celebrating victory."
"I don't feel like I won. I mean I know I beat Mongul, but it feels like that cost me a piece of myself."
"Because you lost yourself to rage?" Cat asked.
"Yes."
"You brought yourself back. You regained control." Cat reminded her.
"I nearly didn't." Supergirl said.
"But you did. That is important. What made you lose control?"
"Does it matter? The point is I did."
"And you are worried you will again?" Cat guessed.
"More like terrified. What if I wake up from a dream and lash out like that?"
"Is that what happened out there?"
"Kind of. I was made to see things and when I broke free, I just kind of lost it. And now, I keep seeing those images, especially when I sleep and I am worried that I will wake up and do something stupid."
"Have you found an outlet?"
"No. I feel like I need to do more than punch cars."
"Punching cars sounds like a PR disaster." Cat frowned.
"I used to use old wrecks in an abandoned warehouse." Supergirl explained. "And it helped, but this time feels different."
"Probably because it is not just anger, but fear as well."
"And you can't control fear." Supergirl said.
"No, but that doesn't normally stop you facing it head on." Cat reminded her. "You may not be able to control fear, but you can overcome it. Walk through it and come out stronger on the other side."
"But how do you know which direction to walk?" Supergirl asked.
"I think I am going to need specifics." Cat said.
"For most of my time when I wasn't on Earth I was running from a bounty hunter. Although he is no longer a threat Mongul said others would be after me, probably the ultimate bounty hunter."
"And you believed him?"
"I don't know. I mean he has plenty of reason to lie, but it is not that far fetched."
"And if this bounty hunter is after you what will you do?"
"I don't know." Supergirl sighed. "I just want Alex to be safe."
"If you stay, you face him on your own terms with a team behind you. If you leave you will always be running."
"I know. And I don't want to return to that life. It was so hard on Alex. But then things haven't exactly been easy on her since I brought her to Earth."
"You could give up the cape and walk away." Cat said. "You don't owe the world anything. Hiding on Earth, maybe this bounty hunter won't find you, but if he does you will still have help."
"I am trying to encourage Alex to stay true to herself. What does it say about me if I turn off part of me?"
"That you would do anything to protect your daughter. Have you asked Alex what she wants?" Cat asked.
"No."
"Perhaps that is where you should start." Cat said before adding. "It has always felt to me that you have been running from your past rather than running to your future. Maybe it is time you focus on the future."
-00-
As the teenage Alex entered her cousin's house she saw her aunt at the table working on a laptop.
"Sorry should I go?" She asked as Chewie ran over to her.
"Hey Alex." The older Alex greeted as she turned. "Flying solo this afternoon?"
"I can't fly." The teenager said confused as she lifted Chewie up.
"It's an expression, it means doing things alone." Her aunt explained.
"Oh, right, yeah. Kara and MJ have club stuff. I didn't mean to disturb you."
"You didn't. You saved me from spreadsheets." Alex said moving to a cupboard and taking out a box of biscuits, which she offered her niece.
"Thanks." The teenager said taking a biscuit, which Chewie then tried to eat.
Sensing something was wrong the older Alex said. "I need a break, so why don't we take Chewie for a walk?"
"Don't you have to work?"
"Well if I am to maintain my sanity, I need a break." The adult Alex said grabbing her jacket.
-00-
"You doing okay?" The adult Alex asked her niece as they walked Chewie.
"Yeah."
"How are you getting on with your powers?"
"Okay I guess. The practice with Eliza and Alura helped. But it is still hard."
"It is still making you tired?" The adult Alex guessed.
"Yeah."
"Just make sure you don't push it too hard, no matter how much encouragement your cousins give you." The adult Alex said only to be met by silence causing her to ask. "Want to tell me what's going on?"
"What's wrong with mom?"
"What do you mean?" The adult Alex asked frowning.
"She seems really stressed. And Alura left really quickly. Has something happened?"
"The truth is, even though your mom stopped Mongul, the fight isn't completely over and she is trying to figure out what to do."
"But you are helping her?"
"I will always help her." Alex assured her.
"Should she be working? She was really injured a few days ago."
"Now she has powers, she's okay. But we need to make sure she doesn't overdo it."
"And take better care of herself, like eating kale and giving up doughnuts." The teenager added.
"I'm not sure that is achievable." The adult Alex smiled.
"But we can try." The teenager pressed.
"Your mom is pretty stubborn. What I do know is your mom is worried that you don't have enough fun."
"I have fun."
"That's what I said. She disagreed."
"Is this going to end up with another fun fair?" The teenager asked.
"No. But I have an idea, but I need your help."
"Sure, what?"
"I need you to help me win a bet."
"A bet?"
"Yeah, a bet I have with your mom."
"What's the prize?"
"Pride."
"Doesn't sound worth it."
"It will be." Alex promised her. "And it will be good for her. Plus you will learn the greatest power in your arsenal."
-00-
"Hey." Kara said entering her sister's house. "Sorry I'm late, my lead showed up late."
"Everything okay?" The adult Alex asked.
"Yeah, I have just fallen behind with my CatCo work recently." Kara said before asking. "Where are the kids?"
"Gaming upstairs." Alex explained as Eliza cut her a piece of pie.
"On a school night? Are you going soft?" Kara asked amused as she started eating the pie Eliza brought her.
"They had all done their homework and I think Alex needed a distraction."
"Why? What's happened? Is she okay?" Kara asked forgetting about the pie.
"She is worried about you." The adult Alex said to her sister.
"Why?" Kara asked looking from Alex to Eliza.
"Because you are stressed. Plus Alura disappeared really quickly, so she is guessed something is up."
"I should have talked to her." Kara said sighing. "Why am I so bad at this?"
"Bad at what?" Eliza asked.
"Parenting."
"Kara you are bad at many things, parenting isn't one of them." Alex assured her.
"Thanks. Wait what am I bad at?"
"You want the list?" Alex asked. "I think there is a paper copy in the drawer."
"There is?" Kara asked frowning.
"Don't tease your sister." Eliza said to her eldest.
"There's no list?" Kara asked.
"I'm messing with you." Alex replied as the herd of teenagers thumped downstairs.
"Mom, you're back." The teenage Alex said before hugging her mother.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Kara promised her. "You okay?"
"Yes." The teenager said yawning.
"Have you been practicing your powers?"
"Maybe a little."
"Let's get you home." The older Kara said.