A/N: Thanks for the reviews.
Baratta jennifer - Thank you.
"Did Matt survive the flight?" Alex asked her mother when Kara flew back into the apartment a few days later.
"Yes, and unlike some he didn't complain."
"He's still sucking up." Alex shrugged.
"How are you doing?" Kara asked her daughter.
"Fine."
"It's okay to not be fine." Kara reminded her.
"Can we go train?" Alex asked seemingly changing subjects.
"You sure you want to?" Kara asked.
"Yes."
"Okay then. Do you want desert or your aunt's house of horrors."
"The training room isn't that bad." Alex said.
"Because it is worse."
"I think you are exaggerating. Let's do the room."
"Sure you are ready for that?" Kara asked.
"Got to start sometime."
"Okay, but if you change your mind let me know."
00
As Alex fought off the energy strikes from the robot in the training room she lost focus and was hit in the mid drift. As she felt a dull pain in the spot Indomitable's spike had stabbed her, she momentarily froze as she had a flashback. Feeling something on her shoulders she looked up and saw her mother in front of her, her eyes full of concern.
"I'm okay." The teen said.
"You sure?" Kara asked.
"Yes." Alex said getting to her feet.
"Okay." Kara said. "But don't push yourself too hard."
"I won't." Alex said taking a deep breath before briefly looking down at her stomach. A glance that was seen by Kara.
"Okay. I'll start it up again." Kara said. "Shout if you want me to end it."
"Okay." Alex said looking at the robot and taking a breath before the simulation started and it started firing again. As Alex once again got hit she fell to the ground and froze.
"Alex?" Kara asked rushing over.
"Sorry. I -"
"You don't need to apologise." Kara said hugging her. "Why don't we call it day?"
"No. Not yet." Alex said quickly. But then her tone softened slightly and she asked. "But can we do a different exercise. Maybe the one we used to do together?"
"Of course we can." Kara smiled. "This is all about you. Let me just select the program." Kara said going to the panel. After a few taps she asked. "Ready?"
"Yes." The teen said. Nodding Kara started the simulation and took her place next to Alex.
For the next few minutes, supported by her mother Alex gained confidence and focus and the pair worked their way through the levels until all of a sudden the difficultly maxed out. Fearing for Alex, Kara used her body to shield her from the various laser blasts before using her heat vision on the panel and ending the simulation.
"You okay?" Kara asked her daughter.
"Yeah, what happened?"
"I don't know. The programme must have a bug." Kara said. "Or I have really upset your aunt."
"She's going to be mad when she sees the panel." The teen said looking at the smouldering remains as they heard a bang behind them.
"You are looking rusty." A familiar voice said.
"What do you want?" Kara asked turning.
"Is that anyway to greet Earth's saviour?" Lobo smiled before stamping on his cigar.
"Where have you been?"
"I may be immortal, but that blast did some damage." Lobo said. "I have been recuperating with the Earth Fishies. But I am back now."
"Why are you here?" Kara asked.
"Can't I see my bride?" He grinned.
"Don't you have a fine to pay?" Alex asked.
"Huh?" Lobo responded.
"You were meant to protect me. You didn't."
"Yer look fine to me. Besides I saved your mom."
"We should consult Frax." Alex said.
"I used to like yer. Now I want to croak you."
"Shame you signed a contract to ban that." Alex shrugged.
"Why are you really here?" Kara asked stepping in-between the pair.
"Catch up. Thought we could do marital things." Lobo smiled.
"Gross." Alex commented.
"So whatya say?" Lobo said to Kara. "Yer owe me."
"How?"
"I saved Earth."
"You helped save Earth because I made you." Kara corrected. "But your job was to protect Alex. Do you have any idea what happened to her?"
"No. Looks fine. Actually no she doesn't." Lobo said looking at the teen. "She looks like she needs a drink." He said offering her his hip flask.
"It's time for you to go." Kara said standing between Lobo and Alex.
"Only if yer come with me."
"No." Kara said.
"Fine, but I'll be back."
00
"He knows how to get under my skin and I let him." Kara said pacing in front of her sister later that evening.
"You didn't exactly let him." Her sister pointed out.
"Didn't I? Feels like I did."
"How's Alex?"
"Calmer than me. But she didn't exactly help. I swear she enjoys winding Lobo up."
"Maybe that is a good sign." Alex said. "How did she get on with the training?"
"Better than I thought she would. But not great. I just wish she'd talk to me about what she is feeling."
"Have you tried talking to her about what you're feeling?" Alex asked.
"What I'm feeling?" Kara parroted.
"Maybe she is still trying to emulate you."
"Me?"
"Kara, every time I ask how you are, you say fine. And you clearly aren't. Alex is following your example."
"Maybe you are right." Kara said before changing subjects and asking. "If Lobo survived could Indomitable have done?"
"He turned into a nuke and exploded." Alex reminded her.
"Any news on what's happening to the babies?"
"Not yet. For now we are looking after them, but that isn't exactly a long term option. But right now we can't figure out if they are okay or dangerous or even have normal brain function. And the DEO isn't exactly full of paediatricians."
"So what's the plan?"
"Monitor and do our best to make sure they are comfortable." Alex said, the statement causing Kara to fall silent for a minute before asking.
"Have you heard back from Lucy?"
"Yes. But nothing much to report. General Lane confirmed he met with Tawnok who did mark pages."
"Why didn't Lane follow through?"
"Two reasons. Firstly, he didn't trust Tawnok."
"Or any Kryptonian." Kara added. "And the second?"
"Tawnok knew he had the journals. Knowledge of the journals was limited to Lane, the President and who gave them to Lane. The fact Tawnok knew made him suspicious."
"Has he said where he got them from?"
"No. Still clinging to the signed order from over two decades ago." Alex said.
00
"You know I could take you to Arizona?" Kara said to her daughter the next evening.
"I have to work." The teen pointed out. "Besides Matt went as he had work." She reminded her mother before asking. "Where's Steve?"
"Working nights." Kara explained. "So I'm all yours tonight. I thought we could talk. Or I could talk and you could listen."
"Okay." The teen said, not sure where the conversation was leading.
"When Indomitable exploded I thought I was going to die." Kara said causing her daughter to look at her. "I thought I'd never see you again. And that scared me more than anything. I had so many regrets in that moment. Including how I failed you."
"You've not failed me."
"Yes I have. You deserve so much more than I have been able to give you. For that I am really sorry."
"Are you sick or dying?" Alex asked.
"What?" Kara asked. "Why would you think that?"
"You are talking about regret and failing and-"
"Alex, I'm not sick and I'm not dying." Kara said hugging her. "But like you I'm not okay. I'm sorry you don't feel like you can talk about it. That's on me."
"No it's not." The teen argued. "I'm the failure. After I had been stabbed and they injected Red K into me I was so scared of hurting anyone. I knew my necklace would stop me using half my powers but not the other half, but I also knew if I maxed out my powers I'd pass out and for a while and not be a threat. So I gave it everything I could. I went all out, but I still couldn't do anything."
"That's not true." Kara said. "According to your aunt you managed to lift the roof enough to let your watch signals escape. That allowed Alex to find and rescue all of you. Of course what you did left you completely unprotected and was insanely dangerous. But whilst what you did was completely reckless and could have put you in so much danger, I understand why you did it. And at the end the day what you did saved everyone."
"Then why do I feel like this?"
"This?" Kara asked pulling away so she could look at her daughter.
"A failure and a fraud."
"You are neither of those." Kara said.
"Aren't I? I have all these powers but couldn't protect my friends. I should have kept them safe, but I didn't. I should have done more."
"You did all you could. But I know what you mean."
"You do?"
"Yes. Because I feel the same."
"Why? You saved the planet."
"It was just the City." Kara pointed out. "But there was so much destruction. For the last year Indomitable has been pointing out I wasn't good enough and in a way he is right. If I was I would have stopped him long before he went nuclear and a long time before he hurt you. What happened to you and the others is on me, but I am so proud of what you did." She then paused and said. "I would trade all my powers to take your pain away, but it doesn't work like that, it will take time."
"Is your pain getting better?" The teen asked.
"No." Kara said causing her daughter to hug her. "But we will both be okay."
"What about the pain I caused?" Alex asked.
"What pain?" Kara asked confused.
"At Thanksgiving when I said I would have been better if I never came to Earth with you and I would have been better on Dakran and Kryptonians don't have-"
"Alex, you were upset."
"I said I wished you weren't my mother. Which I really didn't mean."
"I know." Kara said. "The first time I was on Red-K I told Alex we weren't sisters and that was the nicest thing I said to her."
"But it wasn't just what I said. It was when I said it. You were going through so much and -"
"So were you." Kara reminded her.
"Not as much as you." The teen said. "I'm sorry, I have never fully appreciated all you do." She added making Kara wonder how the conversation had once again turned into Alex trying to comfort Kara rather than the other way round.
"At the end of the day regardless of what you say or do and no matter how you appreciate me or not I love you so much." Kara said. "And I am so proud of you."