"What's wrong?" Alex asked as Kara entered the house and flopped on the couch next to her sister.
"Last night after you left I got a lecture from Alex."
"I don't want to criticise your parenting, but isn't it meant to be you giving the lecture?" Her sister asked amused.
"Alex hasn't got that memo. The worst part is, she was right."
"About what?"
"Shutting you out. I was trying to protect you, but Alex made me realise I may have done the opposite. And that by not talking it's made it worse for you."
"You have a really smart kid." Alex said.
"When I realised I was stranded on the other side of the galaxy and you probably weren't going to find me anytime soon, I started to write letters to you. I thought when you found me we could go through them together. And although they got lost along time ago when I got back I wanted to go through everything I could remember. But you were so broken. And I knew if I talked you would keep asking questions and you'd figure out why the bounty hunter was after me and I didn't want to put that on your doorstep. But Alex pointed out that you are probably thinking the worse case scenario and that would be making you more stressed."
"Alex is definitely a genius." Alex said. "But it isn't just that I worry about why you aren't sharing. It's also that I miss it. Kara, you are my sister and I will always love you. I have so many memories of you sharing all your thoughts and fears and dreams and memories."
"That's the other problem. I spent so much time sharing when we were growing up that you never got a chance." Kara said. "I thought when I got this second chance I could correct that."
"Kara, I didn't share because you stopped me. I chose not to share. I preferred listening to you. I still do." She said hugging her sister.
"It wasn't as bad as you are imagining. Hiding who I was on Earth actually came in handy. Also for years he didn't know about Alex and wasn't looking for a mother and child. It helped keep us safe. And yes there were a couple of bad planets, but most were okay. The worst part by far was the loneliness and not having you there to help me."
"And yet, since you've got back you have stopped me doing that." Alex pointed out.
"I was worried about you." Kara said. "And I guess I got used to you not being there and having to do things myself."
"You don't have to anymore." Alex reminded her.
"There were some nights when I felt so overwhelmed. When I found I was pregnant I felt so lost and alone. I had no idea what I was going to do. I think it was that moment when I suddenly understood exactly how much you had done for me because not having you to talk to about it I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it."
"I'm sorry we didn't find you." Alex said hugging her tighter. "You are not alone anymore."
"I know." Kara said.
"So how exactly did you survive, I mean what did you for money?" Alex asked.
"You would never believe me." Kara said.
"Try me."
"After I realised I had to get back to Earth by myself, I managed to hitch a ride to another planet. My first night there I was so hungry. I was wondering round, not entirely sure what I was doing and then I smelt doughnuts."
"Doughnuts?" Alex asked.
"Yes doughnuts." Kara said.
"Was this like some sort of nasal hallucination?" Alex asked.
"No it was real. I followed my nose and there was a small stall selling them, but just the plain type. I mean they didn't call them doughnuts – they were called graths. But the smell was identical. But like I said they only had the plain type. So I made a suggestion of dipping them into sugar, or the sugar equivalent. That earned me a doughnut. Those sugar snacks sold so well the owner gave me a job."
"I'm sorry, you were hired to make food?" Alex asked.
"Yes, but not for long, he soon realised I couldn't cook, but I could consult. For three months I was the chief taste tester and consultant for him. I helped him create jam doughnuts and put icing on them. It was the best job ever. Once I had enough money, I got a ride to a new planet and got a step closer to home. Not every planet appreciated the joy of junk food, but there were enough out there to keep me going."
"So Supergirl the saviour of Earth is the bringer of diabetes to multiple planets?" Alex asked. "You might not want to mention that to Cat, it might ruin the PR." She teased.
"Maybe." Kara agreed. "But like I said, it wasn't all bad being stuck out there. Along the way I met some great people."
"But bad things did happen?" Alex asked.
"Just like they would on any planet." Kara said. "But there were times I never thought I'd make it back here. The thing that kept me going the most was Alex. I didn't want to let her down. So everyday I tried to make things better for her and prayed that one day we might make it to Earth."
"And you did."
"Sometimes I think this is all a dream and I am going to wake up somewhere strange, still on the run." Kara said.
"I promise you that this is real." Alex assured her.
"I know, but I am still scared. Scared of letting Alex down. I still have nightmares where she-" Kara started only to stop as she recalled those nightmares.
"It's okay." Alex said. "You are both safe and it's not just you looking after Alex now, she has all of us well."
"I know. But I am so scared something is going to happen to her."
"I know." Alex said, all too aware of those thoughts.
-00-
"It's been a while since you have stood on my balcony looking so lost." Cat said.
"It helps that I haven't been on Earth for many years." Supergirl pointed out.
"True." Cat agreed. "So what has you so troubled?"
"The alien who put my cousin in a coma-"
"Mongul?" Cat checked.
"Yes, Mongul. He's -"
"A warlord who wants to enslave the Earth. Or he did until he loss to your cousin." Cat cut in. Her knowledge causing Supergirl to smile wryly.
"Well he didn't take his loss very well and for the last few years has been plotting his revenge on Earth. He has a fleet and an army. When he isn't plotting revenge he runs a fight club, like Roulette, but on a galactic scale. Fighters who make a habit of not dying are recruited into his army. They are strong and know how to win. But the most loyal of those he has been experimenting on to give them powers. You've seen Mongul, he is as powerful as my cousin. What sets him apart though is his complete disrespect for life. I can't defeat him alone. Even with the DEO and J'onn we won't be strong enough. I need help, but I don't know who to ask. The people I want to help are so jaded by life they won't help. I don't know how to make them see that there is hope."
"That's easy. Go out and do your thing. Go back to being the beacon of hope." Cat said. "Show them what you stand for and that good can overcome anything and they will come back."
"You make it sound easy."
"It won't be, but I am sure you can make it happen Just take it one day at a time. Be true to yourself and you will shine hope into the darkness." She let her words sink in before saying. "But there is something else bothering you isn't there? Something more personal? Your daughter maybe?"
"How did you know?" Supergirl asked surprised.
"Because I am a mother too." Cat said.
"She inherited some of my powers, including invulnerability. Despite that I managed to make her sick through stress."
"By being Supergirl?"
"No. From something that happened before we came to Earth. I tried to protect her from it, but she figured some of it out and let her imagination do the rest. All I want is for her to be safe, but I ended up making her sick."
"No matter how hard you try you won't be able to protect her from everything. But from what I saw your daughter seemed intelligent and perceptive."
"Scarily so at times." Supergirl agreed.
"So, like her mother I am sure she will find a way to be okay."
"Maybe, but I don't know how to protect her and shield her from everything."
"That's good. Because you shouldn't. The important thing is to let her to things her way. You don't want her to copy you, you want her to be better than you. To do that she has to find her own way, see the world for what it is and make her own mistakes. All you can do is guide and be there when those mistakes happen."