Chapter 20
Kara, as always, wakes with the sun, and thankfully she had the great idea to stash a couple protein bars, read: three boxes of them, so that her stomach wouldn't growl and wake Lena. She stays in bed, careful not to jostle the now large bump, letting Lena sleep while she admires her wife.
Kara remembers the moment before she felt that yellow sunbomb, just when she was about to lose the thing that gave her strength to fight, hope. Kara remembers that night, putting on a strong face for everyone as they hugged and welcomed her back. She remembers how it felt when Lena finally stepped up and she was able to sink into the hug. She remembers getting her dad settled at the Tower and her first thought of what to do now that she's back was to get potstickers and be with Lena. She remembers finding Lena in the lab, as always, and flying her home, remembers the way she always fits perfectly in her arms, head tucked into Kara's neck. Kara remembers after the food and part of the movie, both of them so exhausted, Lena's head dropping onto Kara's shoulder, asking if she wanted to stay. She remembers Lena agreeing, calling her darling and heading to the bathroom. Kara remembers the next bit as more of an out of body experience. She knows she cleaned up, put the dishes away, changed into her pajamas and waited for Lena. She remembers thinking how lucky she is to be the one that gets to see Lena without her armor but she doesn't remember what happened between then and Lena's lips on hers. She remembers the feeling, better than anything she'd ever felt, on Krypton or Earth, the perfect softness of Lena pressed against her, the mint from her toothpaste, before her brain finally kicked in and set off on a level 5 ramble. She remembers Lena's laugh, her teasing, her pulling Kara back in to prove she wants her just as badly. Best of all she remembers falling asleep with Lena tucked into her side, her head over Kara's heart, not unlike they are now, just with their son between them, and Kara knows it's ok to hope because she's holding everything she ever dreamed of.
Kara finally notices the tears tracking down her cheeks and sniffs as she uses the sleeve of her shirt to dry them. The slight movement causes Lena to stir, her brows furrowing as her hand grips at Kara's shirt to pull closer. Kara shushes, her hand running through Lena's silken hair as she presses her lips to her forehead.
"Kara", Lena says, her voice scratchy and deep with sleep, still trying to get closer to Kara with the bump in the way.
"Shhh it's ok", Kara says, "go back to sleep".
Lena yawns, giving up on getting closer as she cracks open one eye, looking up at Kara, "Nah it's ok. I'm up now".
"Well in that case", Kara starts, pressing their foreheads together, "Happy Anniversary".
Lena smiles into the kiss, "Happy Anniversary, darling".
They lay there a little longer curled up together, trading lazy kisses until Lena pushes off Kara's chest, carefully swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, with a grumbling, "can't wait until he's done using my bladder as a soccer ball".
Kara smiles, watching Lena waddle to the bathroom, before hurrying to the kitchen to start the surprise. With Lena so close to her due date they agreed nothing crazy but that doesn't mean Kara isn't going to spoil her girl rotten. She knows Lena will go ahead and do her full morning routine, so she quickly takes her a mug of tea so that she won't come out until Kara is done with the surprise. She flies to Dublin to pick up Lena's favorite scones, Paris for crepes, and stops at the florist for some plumerias. She gets back just as Lena is coming out of the bathroom, quickly cutting the stems and sliding the flowers into a vase and putting the food on plates just as Lena comes around the corner.
"Happy Anniversary", Kara says again, kissing Lena as she takes her hand and guides her towards the chair in the living room, knowing it's the most comfortable seat on Lena's back, before sprinting to the kitchen for the plates and flowers.
She carefully sets the flowers on the end table and plate on the arm of the chair as she slides herself and a pillow behind Lena before setting the plate in their laps.
Lena turns to look at Kara's hopeful smile, mirroring it before kissing her again, "they're beautiful, you're beautiful, I love you, thank you".
Kara blushes, returning the kiss, "Always. I know you don't really feel like doing much so I figured I'd bring your favorites to you".
Lena thanks her again with another kiss before they dig in.
The rest of the day is calm. There is a lot of reading, cuddling, Lena's favorite food for lunch, and chess matches, which Kara totally 'lets' Lena win. Apparently, pregnancy brain isn't a thing when you're a genius.
The calm continues until 5pm when Lena pushes Kara to the bedroom with instructions to wear her black suit with a black shirt underneath. Kara is confused but learned early on not to question a pregnant Lena. She waits patiently, making sure her hair is staying slicked back before curling down her back, fiddling with the buttons when Lena steps out of the closet in a bright red dress, not as low cut as she'd normally wear, but just enough to tease, cinched at the sides to accentuate her waist even with the baby bump, before flowing down to her mid-calf. She even has on the black Louboutins with red soles, looking every bit the gala attending CEO she is, even nearly 9 months pregnant.
"Rao", Kara breathes out, dropping down to sit on the bed as Lena steps closer, bending over to wrap the bright red matching tie around Kara's neck.
"I thought we'd have a nice night out", Lena says, carefully sliding the knot to the base of Kara's throat before folding the collar and smoothing out the lapels. Kara nods, silently, as she continues, "I have reservations at L'Artusi for 6".
"How'd you get reservations there? It's like a 6 month waiting list", Kara asks.
"I knew I'd be pretty far along but just like you knew all of my favorites and spoiled me all day, I knew I'd want to spoil you too, and I knew you wouldn't expect it because you'd be too busy making sure I was comfortable but I promise baby boy and I will be just fine watching you eat all you can at a restaurant I know you've been dying to try", Lena explains, kissing Kara quickly to not smudge her lipstick, "Happy Anniversary".
Kara grins, wrapping her arms around Lena's waist, "You're the best".
"Let's go so we don't miss our reservation. I told the chef to expect you so we don't want to let that extra homemade pasta go to waste", Lena says, sliding her hand down Kara's arms to lace their fingers together as they head out the door and down to the car where Frank is waiting.
They have a fantastic meal, Lena laughing at all of kara's noises of appreciation. "Rao, Lena this is better than Eliza's", Kara says, after taking her first bite of lasagna before her eyes go wide, "Don't tell her I said that".
"I won't, darling, promise", Lena laughs.
After a lot of thank yous to the chef, Lena pulls a groaning Kara out of the restaurant.
"I didn't think you got full", Lena says.
"I didn't think so either", Kara says, leaning into Lena's side to kiss her cheek, "that was amazing. Thank you, Zhao".
"Always", Lena says, as they continue down the street.
"Do you want to go home?", Kara asks.
"I kind of don't want today to end", Lena admits.
Kara smiles, "Good cause I have another surprise if you feel up to it".
"What is it?", Lena asks.
"If I tell you it won't be a surprise", Kara says.
"Ok, ok", Lena relents, "where to?".
"First home", Kara says, sweeping her off her feet and flying them home.
She set Lena down in the living room with instructions to dress warm and comfy before zipping away. Lena smiles as she heads to the bedroom, dropping her heels in the closet, before shrugging out of her dress and into leggings, a long sleeve t-shirt and wool socks before pulling on Kara's sweatpants and NCU hoodie, thankfully it's big enough on her to go around the bump, even if it's a little tight. She heads out to the living room just as Kara touches down, still in her black suit.
"Let me change and then we can go", Kara says, stepping close, "I guess I'll be wearing your hoodie since you've got mine". Lena pulls her in by the tie and kisses her deeply, both of them melting into it quickly.
"Hurry", Lena says, after the pull apart, catching their breath.
Kara grins and is barely gone a second before she reappears in Lena's MIT hoodie and L-corp sweatpants. "Ready?", she asks.
"Always", Lena answers and wraps her arms around Kara's neck as she scoops her up again.
Kara flies slowly out to the lookout she took Lena to a few months ago and Lena gasps when she sees the set up. Kara has laid out a tarp piled high with pillows and blankets. She even has a thermos of hot coco.
"This is perfect", Lena whispers, kissing the underside of Kara's jaw as she floats them down.
"Glad you like it", Kara whispers back, gently setting her down on the pillows she's arranged to hopefully give Lena the perfect amount of support so her back doesn't bother her.
They spend the next hour talking, watching the light disappear and the stars start to show. They cuddle close as they share the thermos, curled up in the warm blankets. Lena starts to nod off, her head pillowed on Kara's chest, the perfect ending to the perfect day, as she falls asleep.
AN: I know it's short but I wanted to end it there at the end of their anniversary rather than break up this next section I have planned.