"We were starting to think you weren't coming." The adult Alex said when her sister and niece approached the car the following evening.
"Why are we driving?" Kara asked.
"Because it is across town and not all of us can fly." Alex pointed out.
"But if you want to fly me, I'm good with that." MJ said.
"No." His mother said sternly.
"So unfair." MJ muttered.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about your flight to Midvale." The adult Kara said.
"What flight to Midvale?" The adult Alex asked.
"Next time we go to Midvale I am flying MJ." Kara said.
"Why?" Her sister asked.
"Payment." MJ said.
"You know, I'm not going to ask any more questions." Alex said getting in the car.
-00-
As the kids ran off to a ride and Alex went off to buy ice cream Kara looked up at the sky, taking in the stars and trying not to see danger in every dot. As she looked she suddenly felt something hit her. Turning she saw a man, who had just rebounded off her, on the ground.
"I am so sorry." The man apologised from the floor. "Kara?"
"Steve?" She asked confused as she helped him up.
"Hi. I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going."
"You were the one on the floor." Kara said feeling guilty.
"Please don't mention that to Martin. Part of me hopes he still idolises me. Him finding out I was knocked over from walking into someone might ruin the illusion."
"Your secret is safe with me." Kara smiled.
"Thank you."
"Are you here by yourself?" Kara asked not seeing Martin anywhere.
"Wow, you have a very sad impression of me." He commented.
"I meant you seem to be without Martin."
"He saw Alex, your daughter rather than your sister who he seems terrified of, and ran off with her." He explained before adding. "So I have to ask, what's with the names?"
"The names?"
"Two Karas and two Alexes. Why and doesn't it get confusing?"
"Sometimes." Kara agreed without giving any more information.
"You okay? Don't take this the wrong way, but you seem a little tired."
"It's been a busy couple of days." Kara said. "I just need more sugar." She added as Alex approached holding some ice cream.
"Hi Steve." Alex said surprised to see him.
"Hi." He smiled.
"Sorry did you want an ice cream?" Alex asked as she passed a tub to her sister.
"No. I'm fine thanks. Anyway I'll leave you to it."
"Are you here by yourself?" Alex asked.
"Good to see that impression runs in the family." Steve commented, confusing Alex.
"You are welcome to go round with us." Kara said. "Looks like we have been abandoned by our kids as well."
-00-
"Hi mum." The teenage Alex said approaching Kara later.
"Hey. Where are the others?" Kara asked looking round.
"On the Screamer ride."
"You didn't want to go on it?" Kara asked.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Quit worrying about me. As long as you are having fun I'm happy." Kara said.
"You aren't just saying that so you can eat Wool Candy and ice cream?"
"I think you mean Cotton Candy." Kara said. "And no, I just want you to have fun."
"Where's Alex?" The teen asked not seeing her aunt.
"Competing with Steve in the shooting game." Kara explained. "I'm fine. Go." She added as someone carrying a huge soft toy approached.
"Here you go." Steve said passing Kara the toy. As he did so he saw the teenager and said. "Oh hi Alex. Sorry did you want that instead?"
"No thanks I'm good." She replied before looking at her mother who said.
"Go."
"Fine." The teen said walking off.
"Everything okay?" Steve asked.
"Yes, just trying to persuade her to have fun." Kara replied before looking at the large toy in her arms. As she did so she asked, not trying to hide her surprise. "You won?"
"I appreciate the surprise in your voice." He said.
"Sorry." Kara said. "Did Alex win as well?"
"No. And I would not like to be the manager of the shooting range right now."
"I'm sure Alex won't do anything. Although there was that time in high school … you know what, I'm just going to drag Alex away." She said passing the toy back to Steve.
-00-
"I can't believe it is so rigged." The adult Alex complained as Kara brought her back to where Steve was waiting.
"Deep down you are expecting it to be rigged." Kara pointed out. "And remember we are here to have fun, not to get ulcers and not to embarrass the kids."
"I walked away didn't I?"
"Technically I dragged you away, but sure we'll say you walked." Kara said as Alex glared at her, then at Steve and the large stuffed toy.
"Here." He said passing the toy back to Kara.
"You sure you don't want it?" Kara asked.
"Not really my thing." He confessed, before saying in a stage whisper. "Plus if you are holding it your sister might stop glaring at me."
"I like your optimism." Kara smiled.
"Also, I need a favour."
"Sure." Kara said.
"Saturday's match starts at 10 over at Prescott High. The thing is my shift doesn't finish until nine, and it will cut it a bit close getting Martin there. Can you take him?"
"Of course." Kara said.
"You are a lifesaver. And as a thank you, you mentioned that you didn't really know any of the other parents, so if you are interested I have booked a restaurant for afterwards. At least four parents and their kids are coming. There is a place for you and Alex if you'd like."
"That be great. Thanks." Kara smiled as the four teens approached, both boys looking a little pale.
"You guys okay?" Alex asked.
"MJ and Martin just figured out hot dogs before rides are a mistake." The teenage Kara said unsympathetically.
"I'm fine." MJ said hoping the world would stop spinning.
"Let's get you home." Steve said to Martin who was not pretending to be okay. Steve then looked at Kara and said. "See you Saturday." He then walked away with Martin.
"So fireworks?" Kara asked looking back at her family.
"Fireworks." Her sister agreed as they started to walk towards a good vantage point.
"Why are you holding a giant toy?" The teenage Kara asked her aunt.
"Steve won it on the shooting gallery and gave it to me."
"Did you win one too?" Kara asked her mother.
"No." Alex said still annoyed. "The sights were crooked."
"I can't believe you are still such a sore loser." Her sister teased.
"I'm not a sore loser. I just don't like to be cheated."
"Uh huh." Kara said. "So what do you call the sulks you threw at school when I did better than you at Calculus?"
"Seeing you covered far more advanced stuff before you came to Earth, you were cheating, just like you did in gym."
"You used your powers in gym?" Her daughter asked.
"Only because Alex was being so competitive in history." Kara protested.
"You started it." Her sister countered.
"How did I start it?" Kara asked.
"You kept getting me the blame for everything."
"Not everything."
"You being bad at history, my fault. You burning a hole in the wall, my fault."
"You did sneak up on me." Kara reminded her.
"You going out flying, my fault."
"Wait, you went out flying? But you say I can't use telekinesis outside?" The teenage Alex asked.
"I was younger than you are. By the time I was your age I had stopped." Kara said.
"So what bad things did mom do when she was our age?" The teenage Kara asked.
"If you want any of these doughnuts, don't answer that question." The adult Alex threatened her sister.
"We'll talk later." Kara said to her niece.
"Are we going to talk too?" The teenage Alex asked her aunt.
"You bet." The adult Alex said.
"You have nothing on me." Kara said.
"Then you have nothing to worry about." Her sister said offering her a doughnut. "I am glad you have made peace with Chestnut Hill."
"You wouldn't." Kara said.
"I would." Alex grinned as all the children felt lost and decided to back away and do their own thing.
"No you won't. I'll just call Eliza and tell her you are bullying me." Kara replied.
"I can't believe you are still using that threat." Alex complained.
"Well it still works." Kara shrugged as the first firework lit up the sky.
"I can't believe how much you love these." Alex commented as she saw her sister's face light up. "I still remember what you were like on your first fourth of July."
"You taught me they were nothing to be scared of." Kara said leaning against her sister while still holding the large soft toy.
Hearing laughter from nearby she glanced to the side and saw the three teens joking round at a distance where their mother's couldn't embarrass them. Seeing her daughter look so happy Kara couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked hearing her sister sniff.
"Nothing." Kara said wiping the tears away.
"You're crying." Alex pointed out turning to face her.
"I'm fine."
"Alex is safe and even if Fels' relatives turn up we won't let them get to her. You know that none can beat the Danvers."
"I know." Kara said. "It's not that."
"Then what?"
"It's just for so long I never thought it would be like this. You know, being back here, having a place to call home, Alex feeling like she belonged somewhere."
"You will both always have a home here." Alex reminded her. "No matter what happens you are stuck with me. And no matter how much I have let you down in the past, I will always come for you." She added hugging her.
-00-
"Do you dislike my office? Is that why you never turn up in person?" Stagg said as he stared at the monitor on his wall.
"I don't like people." Tycho said from the monitor. "Besides it is harder to connect us if no one sees us together."
"Regardless of you living like a hermit, the DEO is not letting it go. I told you we had tied up too many loose ends."
"That can work in our favour."
"How?"
"They will be so focused on an organisation in National City, that doesn't exist, they will miss what we are doing in Metropolis."
"Are we sure Metropolis is where we want to focus?" Stagg asked.
"We have been operating there for five years and no one has noticed. Besides Superman has started to make appearances there again now."
"Isn't that more of a reason not to operate there?"
"On the contrary, I have plenty of tests for Superman that I need to conduct." Tycho said. "Plus we have a patsy ready and waiting."
"You still plan on framing Lex Luthor?"
"Some are already blaming him for Sloane Syndicate. A bit more of a push and the world will believe he is behind what is about to happen."
"As long as I keep getting the metas I don't care." Stagg said.
"You've got your quota every month since this started."
"Which is why I am still doing business with you." Stagg said. "But what about the FBI? Selling out our inside men may have framed Joiner, but it left us exposed. Aptil is still looking into my businesses and I have no way to influence him."
"It is time Aptil had an accident."
"Tell me you are not thinking of another Smart car disaster?" Stagg asked.
"No. Like you I need protect my smart tech industries. Besides Danvers is already seeing more connections than I had hoped."
"So what's your plan?"
"Aptil is due to report in DC in three days. He will be taking the hyperloop. I hear it is still a very dangerous technology. Some believe it is an accident waiting to happen. And if an accident with fatalities were to happen that accident is projected to wipe 70% off the share price. A perfect time to buy. Within two years, with the correct PR and investment, the share price will be ten times what is today. What we lost on Sloane Syndicate will be made back with interest."
"And the investigation? What if Aptil's replacement is just as bad?"
"Agent Kendell, a very bright Agent, will be recommended to take over the investigation. He will help find evidence pointing to Lex Luthor."
"What about Danvers?"
"No. I need her alive."
"That's a change in philosophy." Stagg said. "Recently she and her family have been at the top of your hit list."
"Well now I think she can be useful."
"You'll never control her."
"I know. But I can use her to get to Supergirl."
"I still don't get your obsession with Kryptonians. Even if you succeed in controlling them, there are only two on this planet. Where's the profit?"
"If I have one or two god like creatures doing whatever I want, who will stand against me?"
"I can't fault your commitment." Stagg commented. "But you are insane."
"Do you know what the difference is between being a genius and being crazy?"
"Enlighten me."
"The same as the difference between bravery and stupidity. Timing." Tycho said. "And my time is now."
"Just keep getting me the metas and I'll buy into whatever it is you are smoking." Stagg said.
The End (for now)
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoyed it.