A/N: To help ease any April Fools' Day pranks you may have fallen for. I'll still post on my normal day (Wednesday) too.

Chapter Four

Kara's POV

Entering the circular room, Lena and I stood in the center. "Kara Zor-El, Lena Luthor, we of The Council have made our decision." It was my turn to grab Lena's hand. "We have chosen to grant your request."

A wave of relief washed over me and I pulled Lena into my arms. Instinctively, Lena did the same. "Thank Rao." Tears streamed down my face. Stepping back, I looked around the room. "Thank you all." I wiped my face. "This means the world to me."

"Thank you, all of you, for this opportunity," the brunette sighed. Tension leaving her body.

"On two conditions. The kryptonite is used here. Once we know your cells have changed, you must endure green kryptonite for sixty seconds. So you will understand how painful it is."

My stomach rolled at the thought. "Sir-," I began to argue but Lena spoke.

"I accept your terms," she nodded. "I want to understand the pain Kara has been through. I want to know what my brother could put her through." Lena paused, pursuing her lips. "And what my mother has put her through."

"We will begin tomorrow." The man's attention moved towards me. "Alura told us you carry sun capsules in times of emergency."

"Y-yes. In my cape pocket." I totally forgot about those. I've been so worried about Lena the past week and a half.

"We can use that to charge Lena's cells and make her susceptible to green kryptonite."

"I will be ready whenever you are."

"We will have Alura take you to Zor-El's lab when we are ready to begin. Until then, you are dismissed."

After giving our thanks, Lena and I went to the plant sanctuary. Sitting in the gardens, we enjoyed the peaceful silence. "Something is on your mind," Lena spoke softly. "I know that frown."

"The kryptonite will be painful." Needing something to do with my hands, I fisted them in my dress. "I never wanted you to feel that kind of pain."

"Or pain in general," she added. Placing a hand on my back, Lena continued. "I know. But if that's what I need to do to live, I'll do it. I want to know what that pain feels like." Wrapping her arm around me, Lena pulled me closer. "Thank you, Kara."

Biting my lip, I gave in. Relaxing into the younger woman, I relished in her warmth. "I missed this," I murmured.

"Me too," she sighed. "I'm glad you got a second chance with your mother. I wish I could see mine one more time."

"Your birth mother?"

"Yes. She died when I was four. I watched her drown and did nothing to help save her."

"Lena," I placed a hand on the woman's knee. "You were four years old." Realizing what I did, I murmured an apology and pulled my hand away. We're not close like that anymore. I can't touch her like I used to.

"Don't be." Gently, Lena rested her cheek on the top of my head.

Xxx

Arriving at my father's lab, anxiety and excitement threatened to overwhelm me. Lena will live but it's going to be a long road ahead. I'm not looking forward to her being near green kryptonite for any amount of time. That sixty seconds will feel like an eternity.

Taking my hand, Lena pulled me from my thoughts. "I've got this. As long as you're by my side, I can do anything." Gently, she ran her thumb over my knuckles. "Thank you for being here with me," she smiled.

"Always." I squeezed the woman's hand.

"Promise?" She grinned, knowing how this went.

"Promise," I chuckled. Her eyes have changed. She's looking at me the way she used to. Before I told her who I really was. Maybe we can get back what we had.

"Maybe your mother will let me poke around this lab once I'm better," Lena grinned hopefully.

"She likes you," Kara smiled. "If you ask nicely, she'll probably agree."

"With your supervision of course," Lena smirked playfully.

"Always the scientist." I nudged the woman's shoulder gently. How can I fall more in love with you?

"Once the other council members arrive, we can begin." Mother joined us, my super suit draped over her arm. "I had this cleaned for you."

"Thank you. The capsules are in my cape." Unzipping the secret pocket, I retrieved the two pill shaped objects.

"Once we're home, can I please redesign your suit?" Lena pouted. "Please?"

How can I say no to that pout? "As long as you give me pants," I laughed.

"I want to do a full body scan to compare after you've come in contact with the platinum kryptonite." Mother pulled up Lena's previous scans. "That way we can see for certain that the cancer is gone."

"I would like to see it gone," Lena laid on the table as Mother started the scan.

Once it was over, the three of us huddled around the results. "It's grown," Mother pursed her lips. "I'm glad The Council agreed to this. For both of your sakes."

"Shall we begin?" All six members entered the small lab.

"Yes," Lena nodded. Sitting on the exam table, she helped place the necessary leads. Laying back, the younger woman met my gaze. "El mayarah."

My heart swelled. She's teaching herself Kryptonese. "Stronger together," I smiled. Taking Lena's hand, I turned towards The Council. "Can I be in the same room for the platinum kryptonite?"

"Yes." His eyes fell on our hands before moving back. "I will place the kryptonite in Lena's hand. It should take effect instantly. Then you will use one of the sun capsules. Once you're both charged, and Lena is ready, she will open the led lined case that holds the green Kryptonite."

"Alright." Lena took a deep breath. "I'm ready."

Nodding, the councilman opened a box and pulled out a shining silver stone. The jagged edges gleamed in the lights as he held it out to Lena. "All you have to do is take it."

When the stone touched Lena's hand, streaks of silver moved across her skin. Exactly how green kryptonite spreads across mine. She gasped as her cells began to change. Squeezing my hand, Lena trembled. "It feels like electricity in my veins."

"I believe in you. I'm right here," I whispered.

The silver veins started to fade. When they were gone, Lena placed the kryptonite back in its box. "I feel like I've been hit by lightning," she breathed.

I helped run the second scan. My stomach flipped as we waited for results. The tumor had shrunk by half. "Hopefully a dose of sunshine will knock the rest out." Holding a capsule, I smiled. "Ready for a taste of home?"

"One step closer." Lena watched as I dropped the capsule. She winced when brightness enveloped the room. As it faded, the brunette looked over herself. "I feel like I've drank ten espressos in one go," Lena laughed. "You feel like this all the time?"

"Not all the time," I chuckled. "You'll get used to it."

We waited ten minutes before running a new scan. "It worked," I cheered. Turning to Lena, I wrapped the shorter woman in a strong embrace. "The cancer is gone!"

"You did it, Kara." Tears glistened in bright green eyes. Cupping my face, Lena sniffled. "You saved me." She's holding something back. What is it?

"And now for the second condition." Another council member placed a second briefcase on the exam table. "Once we are out of the room, you may open the case and your time will begin."

"I'm staying with her."

"Kara, you can't," Lena began to argue. "It's green kryptonite. You'll be in pain."

"You will be too." I placed my hand on the case. "I want to help you through this. I had Alex and the rest of our friends when I dealt with it. We're doing this together, right?"

"I know that look," Lena smirked. "Nothing is going to change your mind. And with that dose of sunshine, nothing can take you out of this room."

"Originally, she was supposed to do this part alone. However, the bond between you both tells me nothing will change your mind. Time starts when the kryptonite starts to affect her. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir." Once we were alone, I took Lena's hand. "Are you ready? Kryptonite feels like nails ripping through your veins. The next sixty seconds are going to be excruciating."

"I am." Holding my gaze, Lena reached for the case. Flipping up each latch, she took a shaky breath before opening the case. Green streaks webbed across pale skin and she began to scream. Giving into the pain, her knees buckled.

"I've got you." I held Lena close as the timer ticked down. "We're almost there." I petted Lena's hair. "Breathe. Forty more seconds."

"Kara…" Lena's grip tightened as she pressed her face into my shoulder. "It…"

"You've got this, Lena." I nuzzled the top of her head. "I love you," I whispered.

The timer sounded and I slammed the case shut. "It's done. You're going to be okay." Sweeping Lena into my arms, I placed her on the table.

She clung to me. "Kara, I…"

"Shhh. Hey," I wiped damp hair from her forehead. "You're good. You're okay. One sun capsule and you'll feel better." Tossing the capsule, the burst of sun warmed and recharged us both.

Relaxing, Lena rubbed her face. "That was terrible." Watery eyes met mine. "I understand now. I will upgrade your suit to have built in armor and only make kryptonite if you ask me to do so."

"Deal." Leaning forward, I pressed my forehead against Lena's.

Xxx

Over the next few days, we updated everyone on Earth about what happened. Some had their trepidations about Lena being a super now. She agreed to train with me at the D.E.O. when she wasn't running L-Corp or helping us when needed. The final scan showed zero traces of cancer anywhere in Lena's body.

I chuckled seeing Lena poking around my father's lab. "You are having far too much fun right now."

"Do you blame me?" Flipping through a book, the brunette continued reading. "I only have a limited time to learn as much as possible before we go home."

"We can come back." I sat on the table, letting my legs dangle. "You're going to be alive for quite a while. As long as we have a portal or a ship, we can always visit."

Lena's head popped up. "We can?"

"I'm sure we could," I shrugged. "Mother has said she'd love to have us back whenever we could get away."

"We." The word hung between us. Closing the book, Lena placed it back on the shelf. "I heard what you said."

"W-What I said?" I began to panic. Crap! Super hearing. "I…don't…"

"Kara," the businesswoman smirked.

Sighing, I let my head hang. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize for how you feel." Placing her hands on my shoulders, Lena continued. "Look at me?" Doing as asked, I met bright green eyes. "I care for you. The time we've spent here, away from everything, has put things in perspective. Talking to your mother has too. I don't know what the near future will hold for us. But, I can see myself loving you in the same way." Biting her lip, Lena chose her words. "I believe I started to feel that way before everything happened with James," she paused. "Oh, God…"

"I know the two of you are involved," I looked away.

"We're not," she sighed. "When he started getting involved with Lockwood, we began to fight over everything. I traded information to make his Guardian charges go away. He wasn't pleased that I got involved and didn't tell him."

"I wondered how the charges got dropped so easily." I need to know. "Did you love him?" My voice was a whisper. If it wasn't for super hearing, I'm certain Lena wouldn't have heard me.

"No. I care for him but looking back on our relationship, it wasn't love. There were some foundational issues to begin with. I think…" Her voice trailed. "I think on some level I was using him. Not intentionally."

"What do you mean?"

"The feelings I felt for you scared me. They were new and I had never felt that way about a woman before. I was scared of losing my best friend if something went wrong," she laughed bitterly. "Something always goes wrong when I'm involved."

"I disagree," I smiled. "On some level, I did the same thing with Mon-El."

"We've had one hell of a journey. Now, I'm basically Kryptonian. Learning the language," Lena stopped when she noticed how flushed I became. "Apparently someone enjoys that fact," she teased.

"I can't help it!" Leaning forward, I hid my face. "It's…really attractive when you speak Kryptonian," I grinned sheepishly.

"You could just say it's sexy." Mischief gleamed in Lena's eyes.

I may pay for that factoid one day. "If you decide to act on those feelings one day, I'll be here. I know I need to regain your trust and that's not an easy thing to do. If it's even possible. Either way, you'll still have me as a best friend," I paused. "If you want that."

"I do want that," Lena smiled. "I think you're the only one I'd give a second chance to." Tucking a curl behind my ear, gentle fingers traced my jaw. Glancing to my lips, the younger woman battled herself. "I climbed for you, you know." My brow creased. "Well, I climbed for Kara. When you saved me and the chemicals. I climbed because I wanted to see Kara again. I wanted to see her face one last time."

"Oh…" My eyes drifted to pale lips as I bit my own.

"Ladies," Mother called from the opening door. The action caused Lena to step back. Looking between us, Mother smirked knowingly. "Sorry for the interruption." Wrapping us each in a hug, she said her goodbyes. "You are always welcome here. Be safe and keep in touch."

"We will," Lena and I answered.

Opening the portal, Lena took my hand in hers. "Together?"

"Together."