"Can't sleep?" Alex asked as she walked into the lounge where her daughter was watching TV later that night.
"No."
"You okay?" Alex asked sitting on the couch next to her.
"Sure."
"Want to talk about what happened with Diz?"
"No."
"I know it is hard, but it gets easier." Alex said hugging her.
"When? Because right now it sucks."
"It'll take time." Alex said. "But I could have him disappear."
"He's not the bad guy."
"Okay, well let me know if you change your mind." Seeing her daughter's expressing she added. "I'm joking."
"Uh huh."
"So how is college life?"
"Break up aside, good. In fact the break up helped as I just concentrated on my classes."
"Don't work too hard." Alex said.
"You feeling okay?" Her daughter asked.
"Funny." Alex replied. "So what's on the cards tomorrow?"
"Nothing much."
"In that case can you spend some time with your brother?"
"Sure. Why?"
"I think he is missing you."
"I could tell from the way he ran out of the house when I got here."
"Well he has a girlfriend who trumps everyone. But he's been really distant recently, with me anyway."
"I'll talk to him." The teenage Kara said.
"Thank you." Alex said before pulling her daughter in for another hug and adding. "I have missed you so much."
00
When the adult Kara returned home from another Supergirl save the next morning she saw her daughter lying on the couch stroking Chewie.
"Morning." Kara called.
"Hi mom." The teenager said sitting up as Chewie jumped off her searching for food.
"What are you doing here?" Kara asked.
"It's the weekend, no school." The teen pointed out.
"I meant I thought you'd be hanging out with Kara and MJ." Kara said to her daughter.
"No, Kara is talking to MJ." The teen said.
"So just us then?"
"Yes."
"Well in that case, let's make the most of it." Kara said.
"How?"
"Well there are hundreds of places you haven't seen yet. We could go see some of them."
"What about Chewie?"
"We can leave him with your aunt."
"Do you have time?"
"Of course I have time." Kara said. "You are doing World History right? Including the fall of the Roman Empire, so why don't we go see some Roman sites?"
00
"Where have you been?" The older Alex asked when her sister and niece returned later that day.
"Field trip." Kara said as Chewie ran over to the teenage Alex.
"To where?"
"Italy." Kara explained.
"For pizza and ice cream?" The teenage Kara guessed.
"No, although we did have that. But it was a history trip." The older Kara said before passing her sister a bag. "Have some coffee beans."
"Thanks." Alex said before asking. "So why a field trip?"
"To help Alex with her history classes." The older Kara said.
"Wow, I feel like you really let us down. We never got to go on field trips like that with you." The teenage Kara said to her mother.
"We were about to get some food." The older Alex said ignoring her daughter. "Want to join us?"
"You guys don't want us there." The older Kara said. "You should catch up."
"We have all afternoon." The teenage Kara said.
"I thought you were hanging out with MJ?" Her aunt said confused.
"MJ decided he had better things to do than hang out with me." The teenage Kara said standing and looking at her cousin. "Want to come with me to get takeout?"
"Sure." The teenage Alex said putting a leash on Chewie.
"You sure you are okay with us staying?" Kara asked her sister once the teens had gone.
"I am sure Kara has had enough of me by now." Alex said.
"I doubt it. So where is MJ?"
"Out with Jess."
"Any signs of being able to meet her?"
"Nope." Alex said, her frustration obvious.
"So are you any closer to knowing what the fight was about?"
"No." Alex confirmed. "MJ barely says anything."
"What's with the frown?" Kara asked.
"I'm worried about the kids. I mean MJ and Kara were always really close and yet he has said all of ten words to her."
"Because he is spending time with his girlfriend." Kara said. "Remember how you got?"
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"Well when you started dating Maggie you kinda ditched me."
"You were dating Mon-El." Alex protested before conceding. "Although I guess I did skip out on your birthday. But MJ is too young to fall that hard for someone. At least I hope he is too young to fall that hard. Now I have a whole different headache." Alex said rubbing her temples.
"How is Kara doing?" Her sister asked.
"She is ... sad." Alex replied.
"Has she talked about Diz?"
"Not exactly. Just that it wasn't Diz's fault. But it sucks."
"Is Diz still alive?"
"I've not done anything if that is what you mean." Alex said.
"It was." Kara confirmed.
"I don't even know when it happened." Alex replied sadly. "I feel like I have let both kids down."
"You haven't." Kara said hugging her sister.
"So did you guys have fun in Italy?" Alex asked after a few moments.
"Well I did. Alex seemed a little quiet." Kara sighed. "I wish she wasn't so stressed."
"Is it just school?"
"That's what she says, but she shouldn't be this stressed by school. I mean not even you were this bad."
"True, but the thing she normally stresses about is you. Have you done anything?"
"No. Well there was the chemical incident. And there have been more attacks. But other than that no. Has MJ said anything?" Kara asked.
"No. But then again he barely speaks." Her sister said. "At least Alex is studying. There are worse ways for her to take out stress."
"I guess." Kara agreed. "Do you think I'm neglecting her?"
"What. No. Why would you think that?"
"Every time I suggest we do something she asks whether I have time."
"Kara you have a history of pushing yourself to hard, maybe she wants to make sure you aren't doing that."
"Then how do I persuade her I'm fine?"
"I don't know, hang out with her more. Not inhale chemicals. Not getting beaten up by aliens."
"Neither of those were my fault." Kara protested.
-00-
"Thanks for flying me back here." The teenage Kara said when they landed near campus.
"Of course." Her aunt smiled. "You going to be okay?"
"I think so."
"Good, well if you need anything let me know. I can be here in no time."
"I will." The teen said.
"It'll get better." Kara said. "But if you start grief baking, call."
"No grief baking." The teen replied before pointing out. "I'm a student, I can't afford to bake."
"Good point." Her aunt smiled. "I should go. I'll see you soon."
"Before you go, how's mom doing?"
"Fine, why?"
"She seemed stressed."
"Well she misses you and she is worried about MJ."
"How bad is he?"
"To be honest I don't know, I barely see him anymore. But the lack of communication and sneaking out is stressing your mom out."
"I bet she never thought he'd be the problem child." The teen commented.
"You are probably right." The older Kara smiled. "I'll keep an eye on them so don't worry." She added before hugging her and saying. "Take care."
00
"She's back safely." Kara said entering her sister's house.
"Thanks." Her sister said looking over to her.
"Where are the others?"
"Alex is walking Chewie and MJ is out and in," she paused to check the time, 'ten minutes, he is grounded. In answer to your next question, the ice cream is in the freezer."
"That is why you are my favourite sister." Kara grinned disappearing to get the ice cream.
"How was she?" Alex asked when Kara sat down next to her and handed her a tub.
"Okay, but she's worried about you."
"So you told her I was fine?" Alex asked.
"I told her you were worried about MJ and she thought that was really funny."
"I bet." Alex said.
"But she seemed okay. Although she didn't give me any more information about Diz."
"Did you ask?" Alex questioned.
"No. You told me not to."
"Like you ever listen to me." Alex countered.
"I do, especially if food is involved."
"More like only if food is involved."
"Bribes help." Kara agreed. "So what are you going to do about MJ?"
"I don't know. I can't help but feel it is my fault. Maybe I neglected him too much last year, I mean with everything that happened to Kara, she took most of my focus."