"What are you doing?" The younger Kara asked her aunt the following morning when she saw her standing confused in the kitchen.
"I was going to make breakfast, but couldn't figure out how to use the oven. This is has more controls than the ship I came here in."
"It makes it easier. Kind of." The teenager said. "What are you trying to cook?"
"Umm. To be honest I got as far as looking at the oven. I'll just have cereal. That's probably safer for everyone."
"Okay. You need help with the coffee maker?" The teenager asked pointing to small device.
"That's the coffee maker?" Kara asked.
"I'll make you one." The teenager said taking pity on her aunt.
"Thanks."
"Does coffee actually work on you?" The teenager asked.
"No. I just like it." The older Kara said before asking. "So how are you getting on with everything?"
"Everything?" The teenager asked as she took a cup out of a cupboard.
"You've been through a lot." The older Kara said. "And you mentioned you argue with Alex a lot."
"Three years ago we were a normal family. Well obviously we weren't, but who actually has a normal family? We were as abnormal as every other family out there. Then there was the accident and everything changed. And I don't just mean there being less of us. Mom changed. I get that she is lonely and scared, but she's different. She's secretive, she works all the time and no matter what I do I feel like I am letting her down."
"Firstly, I am sure that's not true." Kara said. "Secondly everything your mom does is to protect you and keep you safe."
"Maybe, but it cuts her off from us."
"Have you told her that?"
"Tried and failed. It resulted in a lecture." The teenager said passing the coffee to her aunt.
"Well Alex got loads of those growing up, she probably wants to pass on the knowledge." Kara smiled. "Seriously though, Alex has always been so strong. After Jeremiah died, well went missing, we all ended up depending on Alex.. It put her under so much pressure, I think she just wants to avoid putting you or MJ in that position."
"But she doesn't have to do it alone. We can help. We want to help."
"I know. But your mom is kind of stubborn." Kara reminded her.
"Maybe you could help change her?" The teenager suggested hopefully.
"I think you are underestimating her stubbornness." Kara smiled. "But while I am here I will do all I can."
"Thank you." The teenager said hugging her aunt.
"Everything okay?" The subject of their conversation asked walking into the kitchen with Eliza.
"No." The older Kara said as her namesake released her and went back to the coffee maker. "When did kitchen appliances become so complex?"
"You have been on Earth for, what, three days and you are only noticing that now?" Alex asked.
"Well apparently I don't need to use them, my favourite niece is well trained." Kara said. "Thank you for the coffee. I'm going to grab a shower." She added as she left the kitchen, avoiding looking at her foster mother.
-00-
"Where's Kara?" Eliza asked a few hours later.
"Which one?" Alex question.
"I meant your sister, but now you come to mention it the house is unusually quiet, so your one as well."
"The kids have gone into town. And Kara is asleep on the couch." Alex said. "Has she said anything yet?"
"No." Eliza said just as they heard whimpering from the lounge.
"Alex...no...I'm sorry." Kara cried in her sleep, only making Alex feel more guilty.
Moving so she stood behind the couch so would have some level of shield if Kara accidentally used her heat vision Alex tried to wake her sister.
Sitting up, tears running down her face, Kara looked round trying to figure out where she was. "Alex?" She called out still half asleep.
"It's okay." Alex said moving to her side and hugging her. "You're safe. I'm right here."
"Alex?" Kara asked seemingly waking up.
"I'm right here." Alex repeated. "You were having a nightmare."
"Sorry." Kara apologised.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Alex asked.
"No. I think I'm going to get some air." Kara said leaving the house leaving Alex feeling helpless and guilty.
-00-
As Kara sat on the beach she stared at the small object in her hand, feeling her hope slip away. She was pulled from her thoughts by a familiar voice asking.
"What's that?"
"Hey guys." The older Kara asked looking round to see her niece and nephew.
"Is it a key to your spaceship?" MJ asked hopefully.
"No." The older Kara said putting the object back in her pocket. "You seem rather obsessed with my ship."
"Well yeah." MJ said. "Do you want to show it to me?"
"I think we should get back to the house. It is probably lunch time." Kara said standing.
"You are good at dodging questions." Her niece pointed out.
"I learned from your mom." Kara replied. "Where have you guys been?"
"Just into town." MJ shrugged.
"Any more details to go with that?" Kara asked.
"No." Both kids said.
"Now who is dodging?" The older Kara said.
"Outright denial isn't dodging." Her niece pointed out.
"I stand corrected." Kara said as they reached the house.
"Are you okay?" Alex greeted as they entered the house.
"Shouldn't we be?" MJ asked confused.
"Not sure she was talking to us." The younger Kara said. "We'll leave you to it." She added leading MJ out of the kitchen.
"Well?" Alex asked her sister.
"I'm fine." Kara assured her.
"I'm so sorry for what I said when you got here." Alex said. "I didn't mean it, and I want you to know that I-"
"Alex-" Kara cut in only to be interrupted by her niece shouting through.
"Mom."
"Please don't shout." Alex called back.
"An even older car than yours has just driven up." Her daughter said coming into the room.
Suddenly the older Kara ran out of the house in blur confusing everyone.
Seeing the two people walk up the drive Kara ran down the drive, barely acknowledging the man and instead heading straight to the girl who she engulfed in a teary hug.
"J'onn?" Alex asked stepping out of the house and seeing her former mentor and friend.
"Alex." He smiled before hugging her.
"Who is that?" Alex asked nodding at the girl with Kara.
"Let's give them some space, I'll tell you inside." He said before hugging Eliza.
As J'onn entered the lounge Alex explained.
"These are my children Kara and MJ."
"Nice to meet you." J'onn smiled. "I think you were two the last time I saw you." He commented to Kara as MJ asked.
"You're the Martian?"
"Yes." J'onn confirmed.
"And you can shape shift?"
"I can." He confirmed.
"Can you-" MJ started only for Alex to say.
"Let's leave the interrogation." She then looked at J'onn and asked. "Who was that and where have you been?"
"I thought we were stopping the interrogation." The younger Kara muttered.
Smiling at the teenager J'onn looked back at Alex and explained. "As you know I left to search for Kara. It took a long time, but eventually I found her on a small planet far from, well, everywhere. She was in trouble and needed time to sort things out."
"Cryptic much?" The teenage Kara said causing Alex to stare at her.
"I don't know much and even if I did the story is Kara's to tell. But the important thing is she asked me to take Alex." J'onn said.
"You are taking mom?" MJ asked looking upset.
"No." J'onn shook his head. "Alex, her daughter."
"Man you guys are unoriginal when it comes to names." The younger Kara muttered.
"That is her daughter?" Eliza asked.
"She is." J'onn confirmed. "We agreed to meet at Midvale. I took Alex and came here as fast as we could, but my ship was obviously slower than Kara's."
"Your ship?" MJ asked.
"My car." J'onn explained.
"That's a space ship?" MJ asked.
"It is." J'onn said.
"Can I see?"
"Sure." J'onn smiled as Alex said.
"Later."
"How old is she?" MJ asked.
"In Earth years, I'd say fourteen." J'onn said.
"As in closer to thirteen or fifteen?" MJ pressed.
"I don't know."
"Just assume you are still the runt." His sister said as Eliza asked J'onn.
"And the father?"
"I don't know. When I found them it was just Kara and Alex, and on the journey over Alex didn't talk about any one apart from Kara."
TBC...