I don't own these characters; DC/the CW does.
A/N: This chapter features ideas from readers Samesin and meereslicht.
7: Bread
Alex could not believe how eye opening a little weekend cruise could be. Maybe it was the change of scenery or the change in routine that opened her eyes. Whatever it was, Alex was grateful for it, because it helped take her relationship with Kara and Lena to another level. It helped not only set her at ease with being with both of them, but finally drove home that she was not just an extra piece to their relationship.
Not only was she not an addition, but they were all as much a trio as they were three couples. They spent the entire time curled up together in their cabin, leaving only for meals. Saturday they allegedly docked somewhere, but Alex was not sure when that happened or where. Alex only used her room for showering. Being together like that was nothing short of perfection.
Returning to the penthouse was like returning home, which Alex needed. Her bond-mate and girlfriend deserved to hear her revelation. "It's good to be home."
Kara spun around, dropping her bag and Lena's bag. Lena gawked, mouth slightly open. Alex smiled, even though her stomach trembled a little. She doubted they would reject her, but she did not want them to press her about truly acting like the penthouse was home. She needed to go at her pace.
Kara spoke and did not make a big deal about it. "It really is, right?"
Alex smiled even more and put her bag in her room. She would unpack later. She returned to the common area to find Lena already on her laptop, gripping the sleeves of her lounge shirt. Kara was nowhere to be seen. Alex stepped over to Lena's side, standing at the counter in the kitchen.
"Working on anything I can help with?" Alex asked.
"No, just catching up on emails," Lena replied.
Alex nodded. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown, huh?"
Lena sighed. "Tell me about it."
Alex kissed the side of Lena's head and then put on tea to help them all unwind more for the day. Kara came out in pajamas just as the tea finished. She grabbed a box of cookies to go with the tea. Kara then had her own emails to check, so Alex kept herself busy with her own work. Tea was poured, cookies shared, and work was done.
Eventually, they retired to bed in Kara and Lena's bed. Everything was normal until in the morning when it was still dark. Lena woke up suddenly and climbed over Alex to get lost in the bathroom. Kara shot up.
"She's vomiting," Kara said.
Alex frowned. "Sick, you think?"
Kara nodded. They waited for Lena to come back to bed. She tried to crawl over Alex again, but did not make it, collapsing halfway onto Alex. Alex wrapped her arms around Lena to ease her back into her space. She brushed Lena's hair out of her face, trying to see what Lena looked like, but it was too dark.
"How do you feel, babe?" Kara asked as she snuggled up behind Lena.
"I'm okay." Lena's voice was weak.
Alex's hand immediately went to Lena's forehead. "You feel warm. Do you have a thermometer?"
Lena groaned, burying her face deeper into her pillow. "I'm fine."
"I'll be the judge of that." Alex got up and went to grab her little black bag, well the spare one she kept there anyway. She returned ready to work, turning on the bedroom light.
"Oh, are we playing doctor?" Lena grinned, her cheeks flushed, but her face was paler than usual.
Kara winced and held Lena still as Alex examined her. Lena squirmed and wiggled, but did not seem interested in actually stopping Alex, despite how very non-sexual this was. Things went smoothly. Lena had a dopey smile on her face the whole time and a glassy look in her eyes. She was not well.
"Lena, you have a pretty high fever. We're going to have to call you out from work," Alex said.
Lena groaned. "No, there's so much to do." Now, she tried to get up. Kara stopped her and laid down with her. Lena made a noise, but did not seem to try to get back up. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, but then she opened them wide. "Gotta go to work!"
Kara held her closer. "It's not even time for work. It's not even time for the sun."
Lena made a quiet noise. "Oh."
Kara turned her attention back to Alex. "What's wrong with her?"
"Three possibilities. First one, pre-heat sickness. Do you usually get that, Lena?" Alex inquired. It was highly probable since Lena's heat was expected in a week.
Lena shook her head and rubbed her face. Her mouth moved, but no words came for a long moment. "Never regularly and not since dating Kara." She tried to sit up again for some reason. Kara still had her.
"So, probably not that. Could be a bug or food poisoning because you ate that shrimp after we told you it was sitting out too long." Alex would bet on the latter.
"Worth it." Lena buried her head in her pillow. She had eaten a shrimp cocktail on the cruise, but it had sat out most of the day as they were too busy having sex. She claimed it tasted fine when she ate it, but even Kara looked on in horror and Kara would eat almost anything.
Kara kissed the top of her head. "So, she'll be okay?"
"Yes. Do you want me to stay with her?" Alex was the doctor, after all.
Kara shook her head. "You should go in, so there's no rumors about you being out together. Miss Grant should get why I'm not coming today and if she doesn't, I'll start looking for new employment."
Alex laughed. "I'll text you the basics of what you should do and call to check in whenever I can without being too annoying." And just like that things were settled.
Alex put back her little black bag and then got about an hour's more sleep before she had to go for her morning run. After that, she went about her usual morning routine, but alone. Kara kept Lena in bed, but Lena got up to throw up once more as Alex left the room.
It was a little weird to move about the penthouse on her own, but she did not dwell on it. Not quite home yet, despite how she felt not even twelve hours ago, but she would get there. It did not matter right now anyway.
Alex dressed for work, kissed both Kara and Lena farewell, even though Lena was asleep again, and went to have a normal day at work. Kara texted throughout the morning, giving updates. Alex appreciated it, and it kept her from rushing home to check on Lena. Instead, she spent lunch with Vasquez at the Vietnamese restaurant they liked.
"I heard Lena's out today. Is she okay?" Vasquez asked as they sat down at their table in the back with their food in hand.
Alex waved the question off. "She's sick. Most likely food poisoning." Kara had not given her any indication through their texts and calls that Lena had gotten worse. There was more vomiting and complaints of stomach pains before Lena fell back to sleep, but nothing more.
Vasquez nodded. "And you're not being her primary physician?"
Alex chuckled. "Virtually." She held up her phone. "Kara's there physically."
"To avoid rumors?"
"Trying our best, but I haven't been successful at that around L-Corp." Alex shook her head. She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed.
"To be fair, you weren't very successful at it at the DEO either, but you cared a lot less," Vasquez replied.
Alex swallowed her food. "I don't think it was as in my face as it is here. And, I guess I could deal with being considered J'onn's pet more than Lena's pet."
"Well, one isn't sexual, so probably easier to deal with." Vasquez slurped up some of her noodles.
Alex blew out a breath. "True. I didn't really care about these until it got sexual. Now, I have to watch what I do and say to avoid ruining Lena's reputation or having people think I'd do something like that to Kara." That was the biggest insult. She would never intentionally harm Kara, ever, and it was terrible for people to think so little of her that they could see her hurting Kara.
"Well, the people spreading the rumors don't really think about your relationship with Kara, unless it makes the rumor juicier."
"That's true, but it's such a pain. People are awful. And they don't tell you that as a kid. You think as you get older and mature, people will do the same with you, but it turns out, no. People always suck."
Vasquez nodded. "I had two girlfriends once." She ate more of her beef and noodles.
Alex blinked, not expecting that. "Yeah?"
"Yeah, back in college. It wasn't a good relationship. The little I know of yours, things seem way better."
"Maybe because we're older, more mature. We know what we want." Alex ate more of her sandwich. "Don't try this shit with Lucy, though." Lucy would chew Vasquez like gum, blow her up like a bubble, and then pop her.
Vasquez sucked her teeth. "I have no intention of dying. Besides, I love Lucy with all my heart, so there's no way I'd be able to give another woman the same amount of attention."
Alex would have thought the same once she bonded with Kara, but she could see herself loving Lena with the same fieriness. "We never really talk about how things are with you and Lucy. I know she makes you happy."
"She does." A small smile settled on Vasquez's face as she ate more noodles. "I feel blessed to have her. I'm going at her pace, so I don't know if we'll get married or even exchange marks. She wants to build her career and I'm happy to support that. She's always there for me, though."
Alex smiled. "She's blessed to have you. I hope she takes care of you the same way you do with her. You're a good person, Vas."
"I just want to keep good people in my life." Vasquez smiled.
Alex nodded. "Me, too." She would do her best to be there for Vasquez. She would also do her best to be there for Kara and Lena.
-8-8-8-8-
Kara was not surprised by how easy her day was going. Miss Grant understood she could not come into work to care for Lena. Lena recognized she was sick, especially after throwing up three times that morning, so she just wanted to sleep. As long as Alex was informed on what was happening, with regular pictures and texts, she was good. It also showed that Kara followed her directions and allowed her to relax. Kara was appreciative to have directions, from a trained doctor no less, so she did not stress as much as she would have if she had been on her own.
A little before one in the afternoon, Kara poked her head in the room and was surprised to find Lena awake. The few times Kara had seen Lena sick, she learned that Lena was a very good patient. Lena liked to sleep when she got sick, understanding it was her body's way of telling her she needed to slow down and rest. When Kara first experienced that, she was surprised. She expected sick-Lena to be like sick-Alex, who liked to pretend everything was fine until otherwise was proved.
"You okay?" Kara asked, stepping into the room.
Lena nodded. The color was still gone from her face, but not quite like this morning. "The sleep helped. I feel better, but I know I'm not a hundred percent."
"Hungry?"
Lena shook her head. "No, and even if I was, I'm not sure I'd be able to hold it down. I really don't want to throw up again. Throwing up is the worst."
Kara nodded. She had thrown up, not just on Earth, but back on Krypton, enough to know that Lena was right in her feelings. "Are you working?" She pointed to the notebook in Lena's hand.
"No, just busy work for me to stay occupied until I can fall asleep again."
Kara joined her on the bed. "What kind of busywork?" She tried to see what Lena wrote, but the notebook was tilted in a way that kept it hidden.
"Notes for my heat."
Kara's mouth twisted up. "Your heat now comes with notes?" Was she now expected to study for her bond-mate's heats? I would, though. She would learn each and every thing forwards, backwards, and sideways… and Alex would still somehow be better. Wait, do I think Alex is a better lover than I am? She had never pondered it and would not get the chance at the moment as Lena pressed on.
Lena smiled. "Yes, because both you and Alex need speeches and presentations for some things."
Kara arched an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure we both know where the clitoris is." She was more than confident she and Alex's combined forces could satisfy Lena through her heat.
Lena's laugh was weak, but still beautiful. "No doubts about that. It's more like I know you're going to withdraw, thinking I want Alex's knot more than anything else."
Kara winced. She had not thought about it, but it would have entered her mind now that she considered Alex might be a better lover than she was. Alex was definitely better equipped to handle Lena's heat. Without even thinking about it, she might take a step back. It was possible that she would let Alex handle all of the penetrative sex. After all, Lena really liked Alex's knot and Alex's knot during Lena's heat was the thing to start all of this.
"Um… can I just deny the charges right now?" Kara asked with a wide, awkward grin.
"I know you, Kara, which is why I'm doing this now. I don't want you to worry."
"I'm not worried. And it's okay if you want Alex's knot more." Kara shrugged. She would never deny Lena her pleasure. She also would not mind if Alex was a better lover than she was for Lena. They were still both her bond-mates.
A tired smile settled on Lena's face. "There's a reason I've never had pre-heat sickness since dating you and I realized it after Alex asked about it. Despite the fact that, yes, I enjoy Alex's knot, I enjoy a closeness with you, especially during my heat. You give me everything I need, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. You know how to pamper me just right. You know when and how to hold me. You know just the right thing to say to me. You know how to make me feel secure, and not because you're Supergirl. I feel secure in our relationship and that's important to me. That's why you've always been enough."
Kara nodded as her insides melted, but did not quite buy into everything Lena said. "Well, I can cuddle you while Alex gives you the knot you crave."
Lena tried to give her a stern look, but it was a little weak because she was out of it. "It's not just about your cuddling me, love. It's your presence, your touch, your words, your everything. So, I need you to be active in my heat, okay?"
Kara could only nod again. "Got it." Then she pouted. "Alex has notes, too, right?" She was not about to put up with teasing from her bond-mate because she was the only one who needed instructions for this next step.
"Yes, Alex has notes. This is her first time being with me in my heat with us not being weird about it. I want to make sure she's comfortable. I also want her to see that it's okay to talk about in case she wants me there for her rut."
Kara scoffed. "In case?" What is wrong with them? Why do they always act like one is going to reject the other? She had to work on them believing in each other like they believed in her. Yeah, so maybe don't worry if Alex is a better lover than you. Lena hasn't pushed you away in favor of Alex in bed yet.
"I don't want to assume."
Kara shook her head. "It's not an assumption, but I'll leave you to act like it is. You should know by now that Alex thinks the world of you."
Lena stared her down. "You think I don't know that? Sometimes, I'm crushed by the idea of what both of you will do for me. But, I still don't want to assume she'll want me there for her rut. It might be too early in our relationship for her."
Kara nodded. She did not know as much about heats and ruts as she should. She knew how to take care of her particular bond-mates through those things, but that was really it. Ruts and heats seemed to be a different level of intimacy, but also not at all considering sometimes people got friends to help them through it and it did not disturb the friendship.
"I don't think I'll ever truly get this heat and rut stuff," Kara said, which was why it was good for Lena and Alex to have each other.
"You're good with us and that's what counts, my love. We appreciate you every heat and rut, I promise." Lena struggled to smile and Kara kissed her forehead. She tried to pull away. "Don't. I'm sick. I know you can smell it."
Kara scoffed. "You really think I care about that? I just want you to feel better." She kissed Lena's head again. Yes, she could smell Lena's sickness and it was not pleasant, but it was not foul either. "I love you so much, Lena."
"I know. I never doubt that, actually."
"That's good. So, you want to talk to us together about your heat?"
"If you don't mind. Besides, I'd like to finish this before speaking to either of you about it." Lena tapped her pen to her notepad.
"That makes sense. Are you hungry?" She just wanted to keep checking. "Alex left a list of meals and snacks that should be good for you." Alex would be happy to hear Lena's appetite was back.
Lena made a sour face. "This is really not the way I imagined playing doctor."
"You imagined playing doctor?" Kara arched an eyebrow.
"What's the point of dating a doctor if you can't have the most basic fantasy about her?" Lena grinned.
Kara chuckled. "You know I don't get it, but I don't begrudge you your fantasies. So, food?"
Lena shook her head. "Not yet. Can you check back in about twenty minutes?"
Kara kissed the side of Lena's head and left her to make her notes. She texted Alex. She's awake and seems much better. Didn't throw up or anything, but doesn't want to eat yet. Alex's response was almost instantly. That's good. Don't force her to eat. Let her appetite come back on its own. See if she wants some tea, though.
Kara turned right back around and went back to the room. "Hey, how about some tea?"
Lena looked up. "Oh, tea might be fine. My stomach feels a little twisted, but the tea might stay."
"Tea coming up."
Kara made tea and a slice of dry toast, just in case Lena was hungry by now. She carried the beverage and food to the bed, leaving it on the nightstand and leaving Lena to her notes. Kara reported that to Alex and then went to sit on the couch to catch up on some of her own work. Ten minutes later, she could tell Lena was asleep again, but went to check anyway.
Lena was curled into her pillow, her notes on the nightstand next to an empty plate and tea mug. This was definitely picture worthy. Photo snapped and sent to Alex, Kara leaned down and kissed Lena's forehead. Lena sort of purred in her sleep. Kara smiled and then collected Lena's dishes.
She washed the dishes and then went back to the couch. She checked the time. Alex would be home in a couple of hours. She went to her studio, just needing to get some art done for some reason. She had done some since the shift in her relationship with Alex, but the emotions were starting to fill her up and she wanted to pour them out for her bond-mates. She lost herself in her art, listening out for Lena just in case.
-8-8-8-8-
Lena woke up to Alex feeling her forehead. For a moment, she smiled at the touch, but then remembered Alex did this because Lena was actually ill. Lena groaned and Alex smiled at her. Kara stepped over, as if needing to see Lena herself.
"How do you feel?" Alex asked.
Lena took a deep breath and took internal stock of herself. "I feel a lot better." She might actually be able to get out of bed. This morning that had been a pipe dream, unless the urge to vomit came up.
"You think you could eat something?" Alex asked.
"Nothing heavy, no." Lena rubbed her stomach. "I am hungry, though." She was surprised she had been able to hold down the toast from earlier, but it seemed to work out.
"More tea and toast?" Kara offered.
"Please. With butter this time."
"You want us to stay in here with you or do you want to be by yourself?" Alex asked.
Lena could use the company. "Just for a little while. I think I'm gonna go back to sleep in a little while." Sleep had done her well throughout the day.
Kara and Alex both nodded. They left the room for a little while. Lena grabbed her heat notes, not sure if she finished them. There was probably more to add, but she still had a few days before her heat. It was a good thing she was forced to slow down and consider her heat, though. She got caught up in being with both Kara and Alex that she forgot who she was with. They would both step back and let the other take the lead, thinking the other knew better or could do better, and wait for instructions, but worry if they were doing right.
Kara came in with more tea and toast. Alex was behind her with a tray with sandwiches on it. Oh, they were going to eat with her. Nice. Alex set up the tray, which had a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches and two bottles of water. The tray was over Lena and Kara put her tea and toast down in front of her. Alex took one grilled cheese and then eased the rest over to Kara.
"Feel free to take one if you think you could keep it down," Kara said to Lena, referring to the sandwiches.
Lena nodded. "Are these homemade or from that place you both secretly go to when I'm trying to make you eat healthy?"
"That's not important," Alex replied. Kara was too busy shoving a sandwich in her mouth. It looked like it also had bacon in it.
Lena smirked at them, but did not say anything. She focused on her toast, two slices, the perfect tan with butter and jam. She took a bite. It was delicious. Maybe made a little better with Kara and Alex on each side of her, their bare arms pressed against hers.
"How have your days been?" Lena asked before taking a nibble of the toast. Her stomach actually rumbled, waiting for something apparently.
"Missing you both and worried about you," Alex answered.
"Aw, look at you being sweet," Lena replied.
Alex smiled. "Kara did a great job keeping me in the loop, but I was still worried."
Kara perked up a little. "I did some artwork. I'll show you both when I'm done."
"Nice! It's been a while since you've actually done your own art. Proud of you." Alex grinned. "I had lunch with Vas and learned more about her. It was nice."
"That's good. I'm glad you have her as a friend." Kara nodded and then ate more of her sandwich. Then, her eyes lit up, like she just remembered something. "Lena was busy, too. Well, for the couple of hours she was awake."
Alex turned to Lena. "What did you do?"
Lena sipped her tea. "So, I've been thinking about my heat. I just wanted to talk to you both about things. I already told Kara, I need her to be active in my heat. I also need you to be active during my heat. I don't want either of you to take a backseat to the other. We've been a good team in bed and I need us to stay that way."
Alex glanced away. "Are you sure? I mean… Kara's your bond-mate. She always takes care of your heat."
"Yes, she does, but now you're here and I want you to take care of my heat, too," Lena replied.
"Besides, you know she wants your knot," Kara said the thing Lena really did not want to say, but she was grateful Kara said it. Alex's cheeks flushed, as if this was news to her, but she was more than aware.
Lena took another sip of her tea and moved on before Alex got real bashful or Kara said something else. "Anyway, I want both of you during my heat, not one with the other just being there."
"We'll do our best," Alex promised and Kara nodded, unable to say anything now because her mouth was full. They certainly would because that was who they were.
"Also, I don't know if this will come up, but I feel like it will. I'm probably going to be begging for a mark, for teeth. Please, don't," Lena said.
"I know," Kara replied, starting in on another sandwich.
Alex blew out a breath. "I'll do my best. I know you kinda addle me a little when you're pumping out pheromones, so Kara, stop me if I don't look like I'm listening."
Kara nodded. "I will. The pheromones don't affect me the same way, but when she whines for teeth…" She groaned.
"Kara used to try to give me what I asked for, but without the alpha pheromones to mix and there's just something that lets me know it won't stick, it just makes me sad, so I need you both not to give in, even though I know you want to spoil me," Lena explained for Alex.
Alex gave an intense look. "Got it."
"Oh, what if Alex's alpha pheromones and my bite change things?" Kara asked.
Lena had considered that. "Let's put a pin in that and try it later on. I don't want to experiment much with this being my first heat with all of us together. You know you don't want to deal with sad-me during a heat." They had experience with that and it was awful for both of them. And considering she had dealt with sad-Alex during her rut, Lena did not want any part of that.
"Okay, no teeth." There was a strong bob of Kara's head and then she finished off her second sandwich.
Lena sighed. "Good." She could already see her begging for someone to bite her, especially with Alex pumping out alpha pheromones, smelling like a snack. She hoped they kept their control better than she imagined she would. Her heat with both of them. She was wet just thinking about it and from the way both Danvers looked at her, she was not doing a good job at hiding it.
"It's okay, babe." Kara leaned over and nuzzled her, not kissing her due to the crumbs around her mouth.
"Yeah, tell us what else you want us to do," Alex said.
Lena smiled a little. "Okay. I know you both will take good care of me, but don't let me whine my way out of basic necessities, like eating."
Kara ducked her head. "I'm sorry you just always look so abandoned when I stop to make you eat!"
Alex chuckled. "I can handle it."
"How can you be so sure?" Lena asked.
"No way in hell you can be worse than Maggie." Then, Alex yelped and flushed, like she had done something wrong.
Lena rubbed her bicep. "It's okay. You can talk about Maggie with us. We know she exists. We know about your relationship with her and what she meant to you."
Alex nodded and sucked her lips into her mouth for a second. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, like she was getting ready for something so serious. "Once we got comfortable together, Maggie really let loose during her heat, just full on wanting as much pampering as possible and she'd use any and everything possible to get me to give in to her, even when I was trying to feed her."
"Okay." Lena had not considered Alex had so much experience with heats, but, yes, as long as Alex did not try to shrink away, she would probably be fine.
"Anything else in your notes?" Kara asked. Her third sandwich was gone. One final one remained, but she did not make a move on it. Alex was barely through her first one.
"Yes. It's okay for you two to touch each other. You don't have to pay me all the attention," Lena said.
Kara scoffed. "It's your heat."
"You get all the attention," Alex added.
"If you get tired, but you want to see us touch each other, we can do that." Kara pointed to herself and then Alex, who nodded.
"I also want to have my heat in this bed," Lena said.
With a sigh, Alex scratched the back of her head. "I figured as much, so I'm ready for that."
Lena let loose a relieved breath. "Good. I think I'm mostly concerned about both of you being present. Again, I really want you both to be active, not letting the other do more."
"Um… do you still want me to… um… I mean, you have Alex's real deal now," Kara said.
Lena frowned. "Of course I want you to. I just said I want you both to be active." She could only hope this was not the mess she could see Kara and Alex making it. She did not think these were big asks.
Kara pursed her lips. "How do we decide which one goes?" She pointed between her and Alex. "Do we take turns?" She winced. "That sounded bad, didn't it?"
"It's not as bad as it sounds, but still." Lena's frown deepened. "I actually don't know. I didn't think about that." She was not sure how that would work. She was not sure what she would be in the mood for during her heat.
"Don't worry about it. You've been sick. We can figure it out before your heat," Alex said.
Lena nodded. She finished her toast and drank most of her tea. She laid down and let her Danvers snuggle her. Sleep came easy. She never finished the list.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: the moment of truth.