"You skipped training." Grant said when Supergirl entered the training room a couple of hours later.
"I was busy trying to protect people." She said looking at her daughter, unable to hide her concern.
"You also missed tacos." Grant said glancing from the teenage Alex to Supergirl and back. "Tip for you two." Grant said walking past Supergirl. "If you don't want people to know there is a connection, she needs to learn not to fight like you do. She has all your bad habits. Don't worry, 'moms' the word." With that he left the gym and Kara immediately went and hugged her daughter.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yes." The teenager said taking comfort from the hug.
"But?" Supergirl asked pulling away.
"Why can't people here know who I am?" The teenage Alex asked. "I mean the DEO are good guys right?"
"They are, but things can change. And if they do your connection to me would put you in danger." Kara explained.
"But the DEO are good guys." The teenager pressed. "Or if they aren't why do you work with them?"
"A long time ago, some one bad took charge and tried to find out who I was. The only way to protect everyone I cared about was for your aunt to have her memories of me being Supergirl removed."
"Removed how?" Her niece asked.
"J'onn." Kara explained. "The point is it was dangerous and it was a really bad time that I never want to go through again.
"Are there any trigger words to cause forgetfulness?" MJ asked. "Like if we wanted her to forget we had done something bad."
"Just don't do anything bad." His aunt pointed out.
"Would you prefer pre-emptive grounding?" The adult Alex asked from the back of the room, from where she had heard the conversation.
"We've not done anything wrong." MJ said.
-00-
"You okay?" Kara asked her daughter that evening as the younger Alex was lying in bed stroking Chewie.
"Just a little tired."
"I'm not surprised." Kara said sitting on the side of the bed. "I know I said I don't want you to use your powers. But I know there are times when you have no choice, like today. And I am so proud of how you protected Kara."
"I was scared. I thought I was getting better at using my powers. But I didn't feel like I was in control." The teenager confessed.
"It will get easier." Kara said hugging her. "But even after years of practice, it is easy to loose control."
"Like you did with Mongul?"
"Yes." Kara said. "And that wasn't the first time. Emotions drive our powers and sometimes that gives us strength, but other times it makes things harder. But you did so well today." She added before looking at Chewie and saying while stroking him. "You both did."
"Kara got hurt." Her daughter reminded her.
"She is okay thanks to you."
"Can you stay here until I fall to sleep?" The teenager asked.
"I'm not going anywhere." Kara said lying down next to her daughter.
-00-
Hearing a noise in the early hours the adult Alex sprung out of bed and followed the noise. Eventually she ended up in the lounge where her two kids were on the couch watching TV.
"What's going on?" Alex asked.
"Sorry, we didn't want to wake you." The teenage Kara said. "We couldn't sleep." She explained as Alex moved over to the couch.
"You should have woken me." Alex said sitting in-between her two kids. "I'm sorry about today."
"It wasn't your fault." MJ said.
"You were attacked because of me." Alex said.
"You can buy our forgiveness." MJ said leaning against his mother.
"No doubt." Alex said wrapping an arm round him.
"And seeing Alex has got a necklace and a dog I think you owe us big time." MJ added. "Especially as my birthday is coming up."
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten." Alex assured him before noticing the programme on in the background.
"Should you be watching this?"
"We've seen worse." MJ said as he started to fall to sleep.
"You okay?" The teenage Kara asked from her other side.
"It's not your job to worry about me." Alex said as she wrapped her other arm round her daughter.
"Someone has to." The teenage Kara said leaning in for the hug before adding. "We're okay."
"And the truth?" Alex pressed.
"I'm fine."
"You are holding Mr Snugglebug." Alex pointed out. "Plus it is fine, to not be fine. In fact some would say it was normal to not be fine. Healthy in fact."
"Is this a do as monkey says not as monkey does thing?" Kara asked.
"Kind of." Alex said. "I'm serious though, don't bury your feelings, it will only make it worse."
"If it hadn't been for Alex, I would have been taken. I hated feeling helpless and useless." The teenager eventually said.
"I'm sorry." Alex said squeezing her tightly.
"Can I keep doing self defence with Wildcat?"
"You want to train with Wildcat?" Alex asked.
"Shouldn't I?"
"I don't know. Normally people aren't that enthusiastic."
"So can I?"
"I don't know. I'll talk to him." Alex said. "But regardless, you are right, you need to learn to defend yourself."
-00-
"Are you cooking?" The teenage Alex said entering the kitchen the next morning.
"I am. Blueberry pancakes." Her mother confirmed.
"Why?"
"Because out of everything I can cook, they are your favourite."
"They are the only thing you can cook." The teenager pointed out.
"My Frengl was good." Kara argued.
"No. Not really." Her daughter countered.
"You always said you liked it."
"I felt bad telling you I didn't."
"Do you like my pancakes?"
"They're my favourite of all your cooking." The teenager replied before seeing her mother's frown and reassuring her. "I love you pancakes."
"You sure? We can go out." Kara offered.
"I like your pancakes." The teenager repeated. "But why are you really cooking pancakes?"
"You had a rough day yesterday and I wanted you to feel better."
"You could have just given me a hug."
"You are getting that anyway." Kara said putting the plate on the table and hugging her daughter. "How are you really doing?"
"I'm okay." The teenager said before adding. "A little tired."
"Take it easy today." Kara said.
"What's going to happen today? Are we hiding again or going to school?"
"School, but you need to stick with your cousins." Kara said.
"I'm on protection detail?" Alex asked enthusiastically.
"More like cousin duty."
-00-
"Morning." Kara called as she and her daughter entered her sister's house.
"Hey!" Someone called from the kitchen. As the pair followed the sound they saw two teenagers packing their school bags.
"How are you two doing?" Kara asked when she saw them.
"Okay." The teenage Kara replied.
"And the face?" Kara asked pointing to the bruising.
"It's fine."
"Doesn't look it." MJ commented earning a slap to his arm from his sister. "Oww, that's my bad arm."
"My bad." His sister said unsympathetically.
"Where's your mom?" The older Kara interrupted.
"Getting ready." The teenage Kara said picking up her bag before looking for phone. Then muttering when she realised she no longer had it.
"You know the rules?" The adult Alex asked jogging down the stairs.
"Straight to school. Straight back from school. No phones, email or anything modern." Her daughter listed.
"There will be extra security round the school. Any problems go to them." Alex added.
"Any thing else?" MJ asked.
"Just remember that I love you." She said hugging both children.
"New phones will help with that message." MJ pointed out before leaving the house.
"You look bad." Kara said to her sister once the kids had left.
"Have you looked in the mirror?" Alex countered.
"Decided it was best not to." Kara said. "Didn't get much sleep last night."
"Same here. The kids couldn't sleep." Alex explained.
"Alex had nightmares." Kara said.
"Hopefully they can help each other through it." Alex replied.
"And you?" Kara asked.
"Me what?"
"You have a slightly homicidal look on your face."
"I joined the DEO to protect them, but what happened yesterday was because of my work." Alex said pacing. "I can't stop thinking about what would have happened if you hadn't got to MJ. And what were they going to do with Kara?"
"We will figure it out together." Kara assured her. "The important thing is they are safe and we are going to keep them that way."