A/N: Thanks for the reviews
Guest - Thanks. I hope to once again update daily.
When Kara woke the next morning she saw her sister's sleeping bag was empty. Looking at her watch she saw how early it was and wondered where her sister was. Poking her head out of the tent she saw no one there and started to get concerned. Quickly getting dressed she left the tent and used her hearing to try and pinpoint her sister. Locking onto her heartbeat she flew over to a small clearing where Alex was doing press ups.
"I thought we scrapped the boot camp thing?" Kara greeted.
"What are you doing here?" Alex asked.
"I was worried about you."
"I'm fine. I just wanted to get a workout in."
"It's five am." Kara pointed out.
"This way it doesn't get in the way of whatever we do today." Alex said as she stopped doing press-ups and instead sat on the ground.
"Which is what?" Kara asked.
"Listening to the kids complain." Alex said. "Maybe we should just go home."
"Or we could stay and have fun?" Kara suggested.
"Pretty sure the kids think that is impossible." Alex said. "Kara wants to be with Diz and MJ wants to be with his video games."
"And what do you want?"
"To not feel like I am loosing them."
"You aren't." Kara said wondering if something else had happened for her sister to feel so lost.
-00-
"So what's the plan?" The older Kara asked as they ate breakfast as a group.
"Back to the lake." MJ said. "And swimming. Or Alex and I are. Kara will just sit on the side and be grumpy."
"Why?" the older Kara asked.
"Because she's grumpy and-" MJ started, earning a thump form his sister.
"MJ, leave it." His mother said.
"Seeing Alex is here, can we explore the caves?" MJ asked.
"I don't know." The older Alex said.
"Why not, there will be two of us and Alex is basically invincible. Please?"
"If your aunt agrees." The older Alex said.
"Sweet." MJ said.
"She hasn't actually agreed yet." The older Alex pointed out.
"But she will, cos Alex can unleash the pout if needed." MJ said.
"Seeing you need to not push your leg too hard. Why don't you go to the lake with them? Kara and I can collect the wood." The older Kara said to her sister.
"You sure?" The adult Alex asked.
"Absolutely." Kara smiled.
-00-
"So want to tell me what's going on?" The older Kara asked her niece once the others had gone.
"What do you mean?"
"Before I left for Argo, you and your mom were arguing slightly less, but things have seemed a little tense since I got here."
"It's not my fault." The teen said. Seeing her aunt's expression she added. "It really isn't this time. She was fine one minute and then turned back into a normal moody self."
"When MJ was away in Metropolis?" The older Kara asked.
"I guess."
"Maybe she missed him and it's your last year before college." Kara reminded her. "Maybe she realised how much she will miss you."
"So she just snaps at me?" The teen asked.
"You know your mom, sometimes she shuts herself off to protect herself. Go easy on her."
"Doesn't that go both ways?"
"Yes it does and she's trying. I mean breakfast was kinda relaxed wasn't it?"
"I guess." The teen agreed. After a moment she blurted "She's not sleeping."
"How do you mean?"
"All week she has been up late, and getting up at four. One morning I made the mistake of going after her and got my head bit off. Something isn't right, but she'll keep lying about it."
"I'll talk to her." The older Kara said
-00-
"So Kara is worried about you." The older Kara said as she joined her sister in the clearing early the next morning. "And so am I."
"I'm fine."
"It's four am and you are doing pull ups on a tree." Kara pointed out.
"It helps me relax and you said I needed a break."
"No offence, this is not taking a break. This is just weird."
"It's no different from going to the gym and not all of us have the benefit of Kryptonian DNA." Alex pointed out.
"Maybe, but most people don't go to the gym at four am. Most people are in bed at that time." Kara said. "Which brings us back to the why are you doing pull ups from a tree at 4am?"
"I'm just trying to take my mind off things."
"What type of things?" Kara asked.
"Everything. I guess being here with no distractions allowed me to think about how much I have screwed up recently."
"You've not screwed up."
"Did you not listen to the kids yesterday?"
"Your heart was in the right place. But seeing it is our last morning here and we are both up, why don't we do something fun?"
"Like?"
"What about a scavenger hunt?" Kara asked. "The ones Jeremiah set up were epic."
"Not sure the kids will go for it?"
"Of course they will, they are just as competitive as you." Kara pointed out. "And I have a great prize to offer them."
-00-
"Where have you been?" MJ asked when the two adults returned to the campsite three hours later.
"Planning today's entertainment." The older Kara said getting groans from the kids.
"Less of that." Kara said. "We are doing a team scavenger hunt. Your mom and I against you guys."
"What's a scavenger hunt?" The teenage Alex asked.
"What does the winning team get?" MJ asked ignoring his cousin's question.
"They choose dinner." Kara said. "I can fly anywhere to get it."
"Sweet. But no powers during the hunt." MJ said to his aunt.
"That's true for everyone." The older Alex said before handing her daughter a list. "Seeing you need to teach Alex what to do we'll give you a head start."
-00-
"What took you guys so long?" The older Alex asked as the kids and Chewie arrived back at the campsite that evening.
"You've finished?" MJ asked slightly breathless.
"An hour ago." Alex said.
"How?" Her daughter asked.
"Your aunt and I used to do these all the time." Alex shrugged.
"Where is mom?" The teenage Alex asked.
"Gone to get dinner. She'll be back soon."
"What are we having?" MJ asked hopefully.
"Well seeing you lost it's my choice so you better get fishing."
"You just said aunt Kara was getting dinner." MJ said.
"For us." Alex said.
"That is so unfair." MJ complained as Kara landed carrying multiple bags and boxes.
"Why do you three look so miserable?" Kara asked. "I got all your favourites."
"Mom said we had to get our own food."
"She was teasing." Kara assured him as she put the boxes down.
"How come I get into trouble for teasing Kara, but it is fine for you to tease me?" MJ asked his mother.
"Life is unfair." Alex shrugged as MJ started to eat.
-00-
As Alex pulled into the drive the next day, the engine hadn't even stopped when the backdoors opened and her kids jumped out exclaiming.
"Civilisation at last."
By the time Alex had got out of the car her two kids had disappeared into the house causing her to call while shaking her head.
"I'll get the bags then."
"Why don't you help your aunt." The adult Kara said to her daughter. "I'll drop our bags off see you in a minute."
"Sure." The teenage Alex said as her mother walked across the road.
"Thanks." The older Alex said passing her niece some bags. As they carried them into the house the older Alex asked. "You okay? You were quiet on the way back and unlike your cousins you weren't glued to your phone."
"I'm fine." The teen said before asking. "Where so you want these?"
"Put them in the kitchen, I'll deal with them later." Alex said as MJ charged down the stairs. See his cousin holding multiple bags he asked.
"What are you doing?"
"Unpacking the car." The teen said.
"Why? Actually no time, we need to go." MJ said taking the bags off his cousin and dumping them on the floor.
"Where?" Both Alexes ask.
"To see the guys. The movie starts soon. We'll see you later." He said to his mum before rushing out of the house with the teenage Alex.
-00-
"Where did everyone go?" The older Kara asked when she entered Alex's house a short time later.
"Kara went to see Diz and MJ and Alex went to see some school friends."
"But I was only gone two minutes."
"Only takes them thirty seconds to clear the house." Alex reminded her.
"Is it safe out there?"
"Don't worry they have DEO escorts." Alex said. "And like you said they need some fun."
"So it is just us tonight?" Kara asked.
"Yes."
"So pizza and movies?"
"Sure." Alex said.
"Or, we could have pizza and talk?" Kara suggested.
"About what?"
"Your dreams, well nightmares and the fact they aren't getting better and despite doing a crazy amount of physical activity over the last week you still aren't sleeping well."
"When did you get so perceptive?"
"It's my job. So why don't I order the pizza and you get ready to talk. And seeing the kids aren't here, you have no excuse."
"Argo made you really bossy." Alex complained as Kara placed the order.
-00-
"I'm all for eating." Kara said picking up another slice of pizza. "But at some stage you need to talk."
"I thought you might have forgotten." Alex said.
"Forgotten that I am worried about you. No chance. So what's wrong?"
"I just feel like I have failed with everything. Tycho is still out there somewhere, or the people behind him are. There is an army of spiders somewhere. Lobo got away and is stressing you out.
"None of that is your fault." Kara reminded her.
"Then there's the kids. They are growing up so fast and I don't know how to help them any more. I thought camping would be a way for us to bond. But they spent the whole week complaining."
"Well it did sound like boot camp."
"I wanted them to learn new skills to make sure they'd be safe."
"I get that, but they are teenagers not DEO recruits." Kara reminded her. "Even you knew how to have fun when you were a teen, kind of anyway."
"And that's the other thing. Kara and Diz. I didn't do the whole high school relationship thing. I don't know how fast is normal, but it looks way too fast. But if I say anything Kara storms off and shuts herself off from me."
"What about MJ's stay with James and Clark?" Kara asked looking for a positive. "It sounded like he enjoyed it."
"MJ loved every second." Alex said sounding frustrated.
"So what's the problem?"
"Remember that huge man crush Winn had on Superman?" Alex asked.
"Hard to forget."
"MJ is even worse."
"Why is everyone gets obsessed by Superman and not me?"
"What are you talking about, you had your own cult remember?"
"Don't remind me." Kara said.
"I thought things would start to get easier, but it just feels so much harder." Alex said.
"The important thing is you aren't doing it alone." Kara reminded her as a breaking news story took over the TV screen.
"That's me. I'll be back soon."