Chapter 22
A few minutes later, Alex returns with Eliza, Sam, and Ruby in tow. Kara carefully slides out of her position, cuddled with her wife and son and greets them all, receiving big hugs from everyone before they quietly approach the bed.
"They're both out for now but I'm sure he'll be hungry again soon", Kara whispers.
"He's beautiful, Kara", Eliza says, wrapping an arm around the new mom's waist, "congratulations".
"He's so little", Ruby says, leaning closer.
"You were that little, or smaller", Sam says, from her spot leaned into Alex's side.
"Really?", Ruby asks, amazed.
"You were just under 8 lbs", Sam says, "long though, 22 inches when the nurse finally got you to stretch out".
Alex smiles at the story, as Ruby tucks into Sam's other side, and kisses the side of Sam's head as she imagines another baby.
Kara pulls some seats over so they can sit down, and it doesn't take long before Liam starts to wiggle. Kara quickly takes him, hoping to let Lena sleep but she has a death grip on the baby that even Kara's gentle coaxing can't beat.
"No hey", Lena mumbles as she wakes up and pulls him close, fighting off Kara's hold.
Kara kisses her forehead, and whispers, "Shhh Zhao, it's just me, it's ok. I was going to let everyone see him and let you sleep".
Lena seems to wake up a little more and realizes everyone else is there relinquishing the baby.
"How are you feeling?", Sam asks her as Kara passes the baby to Eliza.
"Alright", Lena says, with a shrug, "it wasn't as bad as I built it up in my head to be".
"That's fair and only what, 4 hours?", Sam teases, "that's gotta be a record".
"Well, my water broke early this morning, but I knew contractions were still sporadic and they didn't get consistently every 5-7 minutes until the end of the game. Besides I couldn't miss that awesome assist at the end", Lena says, holding out a fist to Ruby who bumps it bashfully.
"I can't imagine sitting in those freezing bleachers in labor", Alex laughs.
"Well to be fair I was on like 8 pillows with blankets and had a personal space heater", Lena teases, pulling Kara closer.
Eliza finally looks up from cooing at her grandson who has his blue eyes locked on her. At the break in conversation, she finally asks, "So what's his name?".
Alex grins, proudly, getting a weird look from Sam, when she squeezes her hand, but everyone else is watching the new parents.
"Well, we wanted L to carry on the initials since he will be Luthor-Danvers and for his name to mean something to both of us, people who were a big part of our lives", Kara starts.
"So, we agreed on Liam Alexander Luthor-Danvers, Lee-El", Lena finishes as Kara drops a kiss on her head.
Eliza tears up and they all turn to Alex who is grinning broadly with tears in her eyes. "It's perfect", Eliza says, kissing his forehead before passing him to his namesake aunt.
Alex holds him for a second, kissing his head as well before turning to Sam. "Me?, she asks.
"I got to hold him a bit earlier", Alex shrugs passing him on.
Sam tears up looking between the baby and Lena, pride for her best friend shining in the tears.
"He's the perfect mix between you two", Sam says, "watch out you're not gonna be able to say no".
"We also wanted to ask you guys, Alex and Sam, and Ruby of course", Lena starts, "if, Rao forbid, something was to happen to us, if you all would take care of him".
That only starts up the waterworks again as Sam stands from her place between Ruby and Alex to cradle Liam in one arm as she pulls Lena into her.
"I am so god damn proud of you", she says, "I swear, if something happens you know I would love this kid like my own but look at you, happy, letting others in, having a wife, a kid, the family you never allowed yourself to hope for. I'm so happy for you", Sam finishes, pulling back and wiping the tears from her face. "You want him back now?", she asks.
"No, it's ok. I'm sure I'll have plenty of hangry sleepless nights with him. Let Ruby have a turn while he's still content", Lena says. The teen's eyes go wide as she silently points to herself. "Yeah you", Lena laughs as Sam walks over to her daughter and hands him over.
Ruby cradles him close in amazement, holding him carefully.
Kara slides back in next to Lena who rubs a hand between Kara's tense shoulder blades, getting her to relax from her ready to spring into action posture if Liam cries.
"I know you're the one that will probably hear him first, but you will have to let me do some night feedings", Lena teases her.
Kara pouts, "Only if you're rested enough".
"No new parent is rested", Lena counters, "and even if you don't need as much sleep, still let me do some".
"Fine", Kara relents, holding out her pinky, "promise".
Lena links their pinkies before leaning up kissing Kara.
Eventually Liam does get fussy and Kara springs into action, telling a worried Ruby it's not her fault, he's probably just hungry and Lena, careful not to flash anyone, undoes the other side and slides him into place where he quickly latches on, which Lena only barely grimaces at.
"Just wait til he has teeth", Sam teases.
"He's literally hours old Samatha", Lena teases, "let me enjoy this first".
He finishes quickly, and Kara burps him again before everyone passes him around again to say bye and the new family settles in for the night.
The first night is a tough one. Kara feels bad waking Lena every time Liam wakes but without any milk pre-pumped she has too. Liam luckily latches quickly, and they settle in for the next couple of hours.
"He's not hungry or wet, what's wrong?", Kara says.
"I don't know, Kar, just call Alex", Lena says half asleep.
"Oh, good idea", Kara says, scrambling for her phone to call her sister.
"Yeah", Alex's scratchy voice answers.
"I don't know what's wrong", Kara says worriedly, "He's fed, changed, and he should be tired right? But he won't go back to sleep".
"What?", Alex says, still groggy, "Kara slow down, what's wrong?".
"That's what I'm asking you", Kara shouts over Liam's unhappy whimpers.
"Ok so not hungry, not wet…", Alex says.
"Ruby was always gassy after eating", Sam says in the background.
"Yeah, try laying him down on his back and move his legs around", Alex says, "if that doesn't work, lay him down your forearm on his stomach and burp him that way".
"Ok, ok, on his back and move his legs or on his stomach on my arm", Kara repeats, "Thanks guys".
"Good luck", Alex says, before hanging up.
Lena wakes not to Liam's whimpers but Kara's singing. She rolls over, following Kara's voice and nearly jumps out of bed when she spots her floating about 5 feet off the ground, with Liam laying on her chest.
"What are you doing?", Lena asks in a harsh whisper.
"He likes it", Kara pouts.
"And what if he rolls off", Lena asks.
"He can't roll yet", Kara says, "besides I'd catch him".
"I'd prefer if our son remained on the earth for a little while longer before going on flights with Jeju", Lena says, fear and adrenaline still coursing through her.
Kara realizes how scared she was to wake up to that and carefully sets down and walks over to the bed. "Ok, no more flying with the baby", Kara says, kissing her forehead, "I promise".
"Thank you", Lena sighs, sliding back under the covers, and patting the space beside her. "At least he's sleeping", she says, reaching over to brush the dark hair back.
"And he's so cute doing it. Just like his mommy", she says, kissing his forehead right where Lena's fingers were. "You should try to get some sleep too", Kara adds, turning to kiss Lena's forehead where it is leaned against her shoulder.
"You need sleep too", Lena says, her eyes barely staying open.
"Alien remember", Kara chuckles, "I will but you need it more especially since I can't do night feedings yet".
"Remind me to get the pump for tomorrow", Lena says, "we can store as much of the extra as we can right now so you can feed him too".
"I'll grab it tomorrow", Kara says, "now get some sleep".
"Yes ma'am", Lena teases, nuzzling into Kara's side, wrapping an arm around her back and resting the other on Liam's blanket.
"Hey, I'm sorry to call again but I'm not sure he's really getting enough you know", Lena says. "He only makes it an hour and a half before he's up again. How do I measure how much he's getting? I tried feeding him more after burping but he won't latch back, he just falls asleep".
"He's not gonna starve and you can measure anytime you use pumped milk", Alex says, "The first couple of nights are always hard. Try to get some sleep between feedings as much as you can".
"Ok, ok", Lena says, calming herself down, trying to not wake Kara, "thanks".
"No problem", Alex says, "we'll come visit again later, give you both a break".
Finally, morning comes and Kara heads out to get some sun, food, and pick up another package of diapers and wipes and the pump. By the time she makes it back, everyone has gathered in the lab and Liam is asleep in Nia's arms, with Brainy looking fondly over her shoulder. J'onn is standing by smiling like a proud space dad and Sam, Alex, and Ruby are sharing the bench again. Eliza is perched on the edge of the bed talking to Lena.
"I hope I have enough for everyone", Kara teases, setting up the three bags of food on the table before putting the diaper bag next to the bed as she kisses Lena hello.
"He's so cute!", Nia quietly squeals, "Congrats you guys".
"Thank you", Kara says, smiling at her.
"Congratulations", J'onn says, putting his hand on Kara's shoulder before heading for the food.
"He is an intelligent child", Brainy remarks, looking up from playing follow the green finger with Liam.
"Thanks, Brainy", Kara says, chuckling.
Everyone continues to pass the baby around, getting their food whenever they aren't holding him.
Kara grabs a bagel for Lena before settling in beside her. As she watches their family pass around their child, she can't help but smile, and minutes later when Lena's head drops against her shoulder, she presses that smile into her hairline and nods off with her.
When Kara comes to, Alex is still there with the doctor, talking in hushed tones on the other side of the room. Kara waves as much as she can without waking Lena and Alex nods to the doc and carries Liam over.
"What's wrong?", Kara hisses as soon as her sister is close.
"Nothing, promise", Alex says, "everything is fine. I know Lena was worried but he's already gaining weight and he's perfectly healthy".
"Oh ok. When was Lena worried?", she asks, looking down at her wife still peacefully asleep against her shoulder, hand clutching at Kara's t-shirt.
"She called last night", Alex says, "wow you must've been really tired to have not heard her".
"It was a rough night", Kara says, "the sun I got this morning helped but it's kind of… fluorescent down here so not much energy".
"Right well you'll be able to go home tonight", Alex says, "that will help get him into a routine and hopefully help you both calm down and get some real sleep in between feedings".
"Thanks, Al", Kara says, reaching her free arm out for a hug.
"No problem", Alex says, hugging back before passing Liam to the outstretched arm, "I promised Ruby movie night and takeout, whatever she wants, in celebration so I better get home".
"Tell her congratulations again", Kara says, waving Liam's little hand, "say bye Aunt Alex".
Alex tears up hearing it for the first time. "Bye bye buddy", she says, before entering the elevator, "oh and don't be surprised if mom is there. Bye see ya".
"Al.. Alex", Kara starts as the doors close on Alex's smirk "She's sneaky, your aunt, yes, she is", Kara coos at a smiling Liam, who is figuring out his lungs and screeches. "Shhh don't wake mommy, she needs her rest after you kept us up all night, hungry boy. You're going to have Jeju's appetite, aren't you?".
"Let's hope not", Lena says, yawning and stretching as she reaches for Liam, "we'll have to supplement him".
"We'll figure it out", Kara says, "El mayarah".
Lena smiles, leaning up to kiss her cheek but Kara turns crashing their lips together. "El mayarah", Lena says, after they separate, looking down at Liam.
"What's got you thinking so hard?", Kara asks.
"I just can't believe it", Lena says.
"Believe what?", Kara says.
"That this is my life", Lena says, "after everything that's happened since I was four, after everything between us, I just… I'm so glad we made it… it feels like a dream… one I never wanna wake up from".
"It's real", Kara says, kissing her forehead and raising Liam up look at Lena, "we're all here together, we have a family".
"We always had a family", Lena says, "all of our friends, your sister and Sam, even the two of us we were always our own little family, now we just have someone to carry it on".
Kara nods, leaving their heads against each other as they watch their son watch them before he's sidetracked by his hands.
"Alex said we could go home today", Kara says, "the doctor checked him out and everything is great. And she told me to tell you he's eating plenty, don't stress over it".
"Oh, that's good", Lena says, and at Kara's face, continues, blushing, "I may have called last night. He was up every hour and a half, and I couldn't tell how much he was getting".
"See you're such a good mom", Kara teases.
"Yeah, yeah", Lena says, smiling, "ready to bust of here".
"Let's go home", Kara smiles.
"Home", Lena echoes, tears in both of their eyes.