"How are you feeling?" The older Alex asked her niece the next day as she entered the apartment.
"I'm fine. I feel normal." The younger Alex said before adding. "Mom isn't here, she's gone to get breakfast with Steve."
"Okay, tell her, actually it doesn't matter, I'll catch her later." The older Alex asked before looking at her niece and asking. "You sure you are okay."
"Yes, but I have started to remember what happened."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Why do you think they did it? Was it to get to mom?" The younger Alex asked, instead of answering her aunt's question.
"I don't know, probably. But I will figure it out."
"Could mom still be in danger?"
"You both could. That whole attack was targeted at you." Her aunt reminded her.
"To get to mom." The younger Alex said.
"Probably." Her aunt conceded. "But that means they'll come after you again. So you need to be careful."
"I will."
"Good. I hear you are going to Argo."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Mom needs a break, she'll get that on Argo. Do you think it is a bad idea?"
"No, I think it is a great idea. Your mom needs time away from Earth. But are you really okay with it?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you are made to feel like an outsider."
"I can ignore them and it is what mom needs."
"Okay, but all your mom really needs is to know you are okay." Her aunt said.
"Alex?"
"Yes."
"Thank you for keeping that device from mom."
"You know about that?" Her aunt asked.
"Kara said mom was shouting pretty loudly." The younger Alex said. "I know what mom said, but she didn't mean it. And I really am grateful you stopped her."
"If it had been the only way, I wouldn't have." Her aunt point out.
"I know. And Alex, thanks for saving me."
"That was more mom and Lena and in fact you, than me."
"That's not what they said."
"But Alex, ever beam into a fight like that without me knowing and you will regret me saving you." The older Alex said just as Matt walked into the kitchen.
"I think I came at a bad time. I'll go." He said as he retreated back into the bedroom.
00
"When do you guys head back to Arizona?" Steve asked as he put a bowl of chips on the table later that day.
"Tomorrow." Matt said as he held Alex's hand.
"Sure you don't want me to fly you?" Kara asked.
"I have my car." Jane said.
"I could fly that as well." Kara pointed out.
"Aren't you meant to be resting?" The younger Alex asked.
"I'm fine, but J'onn could do it instead." Kara pointed out.
"Alex, Kara." Frax said suddenly appearing in front of them.
"Frax? Are you okay?" Kara asked.
"No. I'm sorry."
"For?" Kara asked.
"My parents will be here imminently."
"I should go then. Something tells me they won't like me being here." Steve said standing.
"Stay." Alex said before Kara could say anything just as Alex's grandparents appeared in the kitchen. For a moment they looked round before seeing their grandchild.
"Alex. You are recovered." Her grandmother greeted.
"Yes."
"We are relieved to hear that." The woman said as Alex's grandfather looked round the apartment, paying more attention to the others. On seeing Steve he hit a button on his wrist and said something in a language Kara didn't understand. However Alex immediately jumped in, in English.
"Steve and Martin are family. If you want me as part of your family you have to accept all of my family."
"Are we the only ones who should be accepting?" Her grandfather asked.
"Don't." Alex's grandmother said, but her grandfather went on. "We gave you the grohyl. Yet you have not used it. You have spurned your heritage."
"No I haven't." Alex argued. "Frax has told me about it and its significance."
"And you still haven't used it.
"I can't. Not until you accept me." Alex said. "You never talk to me." Alex countered. "When you are ready to accept me for who I am I want to use the grohyl with you. Until then I won't use it."
As her grandfather turned off the translator again he started to talk to his wife and son in an animated fashion only to be interrupted by Matt, who started speaking in their language as the others looked on confused.
"Don't." Alex warned taking his hand. But he ignored her and kept speaking in the alien tongue to her grandparents.
When he finally stopped speaking her grandmother said in English.
"We didn't know you spoke Dakranian."
"Alex has been learning. It is important to her, so I have tried to learn it too." Matt said before Alex jumped in.
"Frax has been teaching me, to help me understand Dakran more." Alex explained.
"We have also been trying to learn the ways of Earth and Krypton." The woman said. "But there is much to learn and it will take time. While we do, we will misstep, but not out of malice."
"We are all still learning." Kara jumped in hoping to defuse the situation. "Why don't we have a meal together and start today again?"
"Can't wait 'til the attention turns to you." Jane whispered to Matt.
-00-
"Any news on that alien or meta, whatever it was?" The older Alex asked as she approached Vasquez.
"No."
"Any plan for stopping it?"
"No. All we have is a normal ant's dislikes that include coffee grounds."
"So NooNan's is safe? That's something." Alex said.
"How's Alex?"
"Seems okay, physically she is fine, but I am not sure she has fully dealt with what happened."
"And your sister?"
"She quit."
"CatCo? Earth?"
"Supergirl. She says she is done and I can't blame her."
"Neither can I, but is she sure?" Vasquez asked.
"Boss, you need to see this." Ruby called to Alex who immediately followed her to the control room.
"The alien or meta ant showed up again, only there is someone dealing with it." Ruby explained as they walked.
"Someone?" Alex asked.
"No idea who." Ruby said pointing to the screen that showed a humanoid dressed in armour fighting the alien. "He, or she, looks pretty powerful."
"Too powerful. You think it is staged?" Alex asked. "I mean that alien caused our team and Supergirl and the Flash huge problems. I mean it didn't even flinch when Supergirl hit it, but now it looks tame."
"I don't know." Ruby said. "But J'onn is on route, he'll be there before our team." She added as the armoured humanoid landed another blow and the giant ant fell to the ground. Content the ant was down the figure climbed on a motorbike and rode off.
"Track him." Alex said.
"On i-" Vasquez said before the figure disappeared. "What the-"
"Transporter?" Alex guessed.
"Then why use a bike? Could be a cloak."
"Find him." Alex said walking off.
00
"Kara." Cat said when the woman entered her office. "How's Alex?"
"Back to normal."
"I think resilience runs in the family." Cat commented.
"I know you are busy, and I won't take up much of your time, but I want you to hear this from me."
"You're quitting the cape?" Cat guessed.
"How did you know?" Kara asked.
"Because you look different. Broken."
"Alex could have died. She was in so much pain."
"But she is okay now."
"Until the next attack. I refuse to risk her life anymore." Kara said. "Besides, I'm not who I was."
"You referring to your rampage with Lobo?" Cat asked. "I heard you were drugged."
"What I did after Lobo showed up was in part due to the drug. But I still chose to join him. Everything I did was on me. The people hated me before and now they have reason to fear me. But more importantly I am not going to let Alex pay the price."
"What has Alex, your one, said?"
"I've not told her."
"Hmm." Cat said before asking. "And your sister?"
"That she couldn't blame me."
"Kara, you owe nothing to anyone. And you need to do what is right for you. But before you decide what comes next, heal."
00
"Hiding from the grandparents?" The younger Kara asked her cousin when she saw Alex and Matt later that day.
"No, not exactly. But kind of." The younger Alex said dropping down on the couch in the den.
"How'd they take you?" MJ asked Matt.
"What's not to like?" He shrugged.
"You mean they haven't figured out you are dating." MJ countered before looking at Alex and saying. "It's a good thing your finance isn't here." The comment causing Alex to throw a cushion at her cousin, hitting him on the nose.
"Hey, not all of us have powers." He said rubbing his nose.
"Remember that next time you speak." Alex warned.
"So have you made any decisions about a future in superheroing?" Jane asked. "I mean I think I have figured out a way not to cook you now."
"I appreciate that, but I don't think it is for me. Plus apart from keeping MJ in line my powers aren't that great. Especially compared to mom. It's not like I can fly." Alex pointed out.
"Yeah you can." Jane said.
"No I can't." Alex countered.
"Yes. You can." Jane argued.
"Pretty sure I'd know if I could."
"That's part of the problem." Jane said.
"I'm lost." Alex said.
"You can fly." Jane repeated.
"No I can't."
"Yes, you can, you just need to change your frame of reference."
"What?" Alex asked lost.
"Oh, I get it. She's right." Matt commented.
"You've seen it too." Jane said looking at MJ and Kara. "Well experienced it."
"What are you-" Kara started to say before realising what Jane was talking about. "But that was only for a short distance."
"Because you moved away from Alex, but Alex wouldn't move away from herself, obviously."
"What are you talking about?" Alex asked.
"Don't tell her, I'm enjoying not being the dumbest in the room." MJ said.
"Back in Arizona you flew Matt and I to safety. If you put the bubble round you, you could fly you." Jane said to Alex, ignoring MJ.
"That used all my energy." Alex reminded her.
"But now you have the suit." Jane said.
"Plus, you have been working on controlling your powers." Matt said.
"I think you guys have too much faith in my powers." Alex shrugged before yawning.
"You okay?" The younger Kara asked.
"I'm fine. Guess I got used to not doing anything." Alex said.
"Why don't we watch a movie so you can take it easy?"
"I need to walk Chewie." Alex said.
"We'll do that." MJ said standing and helping Mel get up. "We'll get snacks as well."