Chapter 15
AN: Sorry it's been so long, I promise I'm ready to write out the rest of it now, and will be on a normal schedule at least until holidays/finals/etc. Longer explanation at the bottom.
Lena wakes slowly, trying to stretch out her back when Kara's arms pull her back in with a small whine. Lena rolls over to face Kara, reaching out her hand to brush an errant curl back behind Kara's ear before kissing away the crinkle between her eyebrows. Thinking back to last night, Lena feels regret over her reaction and relief that Kara never lets her go to bed upset. Lena kisses Kara's forehead one more time, whispering, "I love you", before scooching down and tucking her head under Kara's chin, her ear against her chest, trying to get as close as possible around the now noticeable baby bump.
She lays there, unable to fall back asleep and can only think about the outcomes of Kara stepping down even further from her Supergirl duties. Sure, she'd be safer, and Lena won't lie and say that she felt some measure of relief take the place of the constant worry, but would Kara eventually regret it? Or would something big come up and Kara's out of practice and gets hurt? Other than CatCo, she'd be around more, no late night patrols or days on end searching for that week's villain, but would she feel trapped?
Lena is so lost in the what ifs, that she completely misses Kara waking up.
"What are you thinking so hard about?", Kara asks, kissing Lena's head to soothe her after the slight scare.
"Nothing", Lena says, moving her head back to look up at Kara.
"Last night?", Kara asks.
Lena doesn't answer, swallowing hard and looking away.
"I'm not going to regret it, or resent you or the little one for pulling me away", Kara says, caressing Lena's stomach, "but deep down you know that and it's not your real reason".
"I…", Lena starts, "I don't want you to feel trapped".
Kara gets a sad look in her eyes and Lena feels tears gathering in hers as she looks away again.
"Oh Lena", Kara says, tilting Lena's chin back up, "You know me so well and you're so thoughtful and caring to know that being trapped was my biggest fear but baby, I promise you do not make me feel trapped". Kara tilts her forehead against Lena's and continues, "I won't say I'm completely over that fear but nothing about you or our life together or our kids or our future will ever make me feel trapped. In fact it's the opposite, Lena you make me feel free. You made me feel safe enough to come out from behind the glasses, to fall in love, to have a chance to pass on my culture. After Kal left me with the Danvers, I had failed my mission to look after him, my parents last wish. I had all this knowledge of a culture, a whole language that was going to die with me. Then I met you… you've learned Kryptonian, you know most of our customs, we had Kryptonian rites at our wedding and now this baby… believe me, Lena, you have done nothing but help push me forward, make me a better hero, friend, sister, wife and soon mother. I want to step back, for the baby, for you, and for myself. We proved over the last almost year, National City doesn't really need Supergirl anymore. Alex and her agents, J'onn, Brainy, Nia, they've got it covered". Kara uses her thumb to wipe the tears tracing their way across Lena's face towards the pillow, "I love you and I love this baby so much I can barely understand it myself… I promise, we're gonna be just fine for many years to come". Lena nods slightly, the corner of her lips lifting, and Kara cracks a grin, "Besides, part of those wedding rites was no divorce and I'm not gonna be the first Kryptonian to break it so I guess I'm stuck with you".
Lena chuckles and separates their foreheads to connect their lips. "And I'm stuck with you", she says, "I love you but what did you mean it was?".
Kara's eyebrows crinkle again, "Huh?".
"You said being trapped was your biggest fear?", Lena says.
"Oh", Kara chuckles, "yeah it's not anymore. I mean I'd pretty well worked through it with Dr Hester but then I was captured and they threatened you and the baby I didn't even know existed but I do now and I swear to Rao if anyone comes at either of you…", Kara takes a deep breath, "honestly I don't know what I'd do but it won't be pretty". Lena outright laughs at the angry face Kara has in that moment. "I'm serious", Kara says, "Full on Overgirl on all their asses".
Lena just laughs harder at the sight of Kara cursing with her brows furrowed, blonde curls mussed from sleep, blue eyes dark in anger at just the thought of someone hurting them.
Kara's anger melts into a pout as she pulls Lena back in, "Quit laughing. I can be scary".
"Oh I know you can, darling, but maybe let's avoid turning into the evil Earth-X doppelganger", Lena suggests, kissing the tip of Kara's crinkled nose.
"Fine", Kara relents, leaning in for a real kiss, "I love you".
"I love you too", Lena says, "big conversation for first thing in the morning", she adds as she snuggles back into Kara's chest. Kara hums in agreement just as her stomach growls. "And apparently, it's breakfast time".
"Stupid stomach ruining cuddles", Kara mutters.
"Come on", Lena says sitting up, "Let's feed you and the little one and then we can cuddle until we have to go".
"We get to find out today right?", Kara asks, sitting up and practically vibrating the whole bed.
"As long as we can get a clear ultrasound image", Lena replies, sliding out of the bed.
"Yayyy", Kara cheers, sweeping Lena off her feet and floating them in the middle of the room.
"Come on dork", Lena says, kissing Kara's through her laughter, "to the kitchen".
Alex groans, flinging out a hand trying to stop the alarm clock.
"Turn it off", Sam mumbles, pulling the pillow out from under Alex's head and over her own.
"Hey", Alex says as the alarm clock is finally silenced, "that's mine". She tries pulling it off Sam's head but the brunette has a tight hold on it, so Alex just slides her own head under the pillow with Sam. "Good morning", she says, kissing Sam who just opens one eye to scowl at her before feigning sleep. "Come on, you're not the one who was running tests on the weird accelerant until 3 in the morning", Alex says, trying to get Sam to at least acknowledge that she's awake.
"You know I don't go to bed until you come home", Sam mutters.
"And I love you for that even if I wish you would go on to bed when you're so tired", Alex says, "I know much you've been doing trying to not let Lena overwork herself".
Sam hums, pursing her lips in a silent request for a kiss which Alex gladly gives.
"Are you guys seriously making out under the pillow", Ruby asks as she knocks on the doorframe.
Both women sit up, throwing the pillow at each other, and nearly cracking heads. Alex's face is completely red but Sam gathers enough wits to respond, "Just getting away from the annoying alarm clock".
"Sure", Rubby drawls, "Ma are you still good to take me today? I know you got in late".
Alex grins, "Yeah, of course kiddo".
"Cool", Ruby says, heading back around the corner, "You've got 20 minutes before we have to go so no more sucking face", she yells as she heads down the hall.
Both women look at each other, smiling, and Alex leans in anyway.
"You're still not used to it are you?", Sam asks.
"Hell no", Alex says, "I honestly don't think I ever will be".
Sam just grins, happy that this is their life now, and kisses her again before going down to help Ruby with breakfast. When Alex tries to pull her back she tsks and says, "You heard her, 20 minutes. Chop chop".
"You've got everything?", Alex asks as they pull into the parking lot.
"Yep", Ruby responds, already pulling her soccer bag out of the saddlebag of Alex's bike.
"First practice of the year today", Alex says, "You ready?".
"Hell yeah", Ruby cheers, giving Alex a high-five.
"That's my girl", Alex says, pulling Ruby close, "Mom or I will be here to pick you up at 5". Ruby nods. "Alright, go get 'em", Alex says, kissing the top of Ruby's head, "Love you".
"Love you too", Ruby says back, already running up to the building.
Alex stands there a minute watching her meet up with friends out front and head inside until her phone breaks her trance.
"Danvers", she answers, "Great, I'll be in in 10".
She gives one last look at the building before shoving her helmet on and taking off.
The past few weeks haven't been that different for the Danvers-Arias family. Alex and Sam switch off days picking up or dropping off Ruby, homemade dinner whenever someone is home before 6, takeout picked up on the way home by the last person every other night, movie nights curled around each other on the couch, and sleeping in on Saturdays. Life is great and Alex feels even more secure in her role now that Ruby is legally hers. Even after the way her last few relationships and especially engagement have gone, she still hopes maybe Sam and her make it legal as well, and maybe another little one now that Lena figured out how to.
Alex is pulled out of her thoughts by Brainy beckoning her over to the computers. She shakes her head and gets to work.
"Hey Alex", Kara says as she enters the lab, "can we make this quick?".
"Sure", Alex says, turning to the computer, "The compound used as the accelerant is something out of another system, Brainy is tracking down which one. So far, we don't know the effects other than it behaves like oxygen and fueled the fire. I tested your samples and it didn't affect you other than on a surface level. We don't know how it was able to eat through your suit and epidermis but your super healing or something stopped it from going any deeper or giving you severe burns". Alex reaches out and unwraps Kara's arm where the skin is just slightly pink but healing rapidly. "See, perfectly fine. In fact, I would say 100% by tonight", she says, turning and throwing the wrap in the biohazard bin.
"That's it?", Kara asks, brows furrowed.
"Yep", Alex says, "As soon as we know more we'll let you know but you're fine, you can tell Lena to stop worrying it's not good for the baby".
"Ok", Kara says, a smile lifting the corner of her mouth, "Thanks sis".
"No problem", Alex says, shutting down the computer, "Now where were you rushing off to?".
"Oh shoot", Kara says, grabbing Alex's wrist to look at her watch. "OB I gotta go. Bye thanks", she shouts as she takes off, the echo of her voice and paper floating to the floor the only evidence she was there.
"Lee you ready?", Kara asks as she steps through the balcony door.
"What'd Alex say", Lena asks as she slides the bookmark in place and stand from the chair.
"They don't know exactly what it is, something alien, but it doesn't hurt me", Kara says, holding out her arm, "See fine". After letting Lena thoroughly inspect the spot where the burn was, Kara uses her other hand to pull her close. "I promise, I'm ok", Kara says, ducking down to kiss her, while sliding her other hand to the baby bump, "You ready to figure what the little one is".
Lena nods quickly before reconnecting their lips, "Let's go".
Kara kisses her again before sweeping out her knees and floating back out the door.
They head to Lena's personal lab where the OB is waiting.
"Hello ladies", the doctor greets warmly, "Are you two ready?".
Both women wear matching smiles as Kara helps Lena up into the chair.
"Wonderful", the doctor says, washing her hands in the sink before turning back to them, "We'll just do a simple blood draw and then get on with the ultrasound and hopefully be able to tell you the gender".
Both women nod as the doctor preps the needle and Kara flinches more than Lena. "Hey look at me", Lena says, pulling Kara's eyes away from her elbow, "I'm ok".
"It doesn't hurt?", Kara asks.
"Not really", Lena shrugs as the doctor pulls the needle out and presses a cotton ball to the mark.
Kara takes over for the doc, holding the cotton ball until she comes back with tape and puts it in place.
"Now to make sure I'm right, you all don't want to know immediately, I'm writing it on a card, correct?", the doctor asks as she pulls the doppler over.
"Yes that's correct", Lena answers as she pulls her shirt up over her stomach. Kara nods along and watches as the doctor gives the normal 'it's cold' warning and then Lena's hand tenses in hers. The heartbeat fills the room and Lena inhales sharply as she makes out the shape of their baby. Both women have tears in their eyes and Kara raises their interlocked hands to kiss the back of Lena's.
"Everything looks great and now for the fun part", the doc announces, "turn away if you don't want to know".
Both women turn to each other, Kara leaning down to connect their foreheads, "You ready?", Kara asks, "last guess?".
"Just healthy", Lena says.
"Come on", Kara whines, "guess".
"I don't like to guess", Lena says.
"Lee, gut feeling, come on", Kara says.
"Fine", Lena huffs, still smiling widely, "boy. You?".
"Boy", Kara says, "I don't know how we're going to do it but…".
Lena leans up to kiss her before the sound of the doctor coming back breaks the moment.
"Well ladies, everything looks great", the doctor says, sealing the envelope, "Mom and baby are healthy, you can check the blood test yourself if you'd like. Heartbeat sounds great and plenty of movement for this stage of development. Here's the result and I'll see you back here in two weeks. Congratulations".
Kara takes the envelope but Lena snatches it with a 'no peeking yet', before turning to the doctor and profusely thanking her.
"As soon as we get home, I promise", Lena says, using the napkin to wipe her stomach before fixing her shirt.
Kara dutifully throws the napkin away before scooping up Lena and carrying her out.
They touch down on the balcony in no time, Kara hurrying them through to the couch, setting Lena down before sitting opposite of her, leg bouncing as she makes grabby hands for the envelope.
"Are you ready?", Lena teases.
"Rao, Lee, come on, give me it, please", Kara says.
"Ok, ok", Lena says, handing it over, her heart pounding in anticipation.
Kara carefully opens the envelope, gently unfolding it, removing the card, looking at Lena one last time before flipping it open. "No matter what, happy and healthy", she says.
"Happy and healthy", Lena repeats some of the tension dissipating.
Kara opens the card and grins, tears immediately falling.
"What is it?", Lena asks, her voice thick and her own tears threatening to fall.
Kara looks up at her, "It's a …"
AN: I know I know. I'm sorry. (read: not sorry) I do however promise that I already have the next chapter written so no worries about me ghosting you all again on this cliffhanger no less. I got bogged down in the details of finishing this up finally decided that while there may be some massive time jumps I'll make sure it's clear and you all follow my crazy train of thought. I've got a lot planned but they're small events that I have now figured out the timeline for and am ready to flesh out. I don't know how much longer the story will be but I will be back on a normal posting schedule now until the holidays, where it might get a little messed up but I will be back in January.