DAY NINE
Lena woke up with pleasant kisses all over her back and shoulders. She thought she was still dreaming but the smooth touches and the soft hum were very real. If the day before it had felt like a burning touch, this morning it felt like a cool breeze on chilly skin.
"Hum, I could stay like this all day."
Kara giggled lovingly behind her. Her arms snaked around her stomach. One of her legs tangled in between Lena's. "Didn't know you had this type of patience, Miss Luthor."
Lena giggled too and squeezed the forearms on her stomach before turning around. She put her own arms around Kara's neck. Their bodies met in a grateful embrace, eager to find each other back. "There's much more things you have to learn about me, darling."
"I can't wait to do just that, then." Kara grinned.
They kissed slowly and lovingly, enjoying the presence of the other. The sun was already up and crawling through the curtains, enveloping the bedroom in a rich orange glow. Lena had never felt this calm before. Never. Not with anyone, not even Kara. Because she never had the chance to see and feel Kara like this. Her hair was everywhere – Lena thought momentarily that she shouldn't look better –, blond locks were tangled and knotted, sprawled out on the cushions like a lion's mane. Her blue eyes were so soft and gentle under this light, so warm. Her skin looked almost magical with the sun kissing it. Sparkling, even, like sand under a sunset. And her touch, God, her touch was everything.
Kara had been cautious all along the previous night, even if Lena was protected by the Platinum Kryptonite around her neck. She had made sure not to hurt her or to force her into anything she wasn't comfortable with. She had whispered sweet nothings in Lena's ears. Praises. Compliments. Love. And she had touched her everywhere she could, gracing every cell in her body with the most tender touch Lena had ever felt. It had made her feel treasured. Worshiped.
"I'm going to make breakfast." Kara said, punctuating her words with a kiss on Lena's jaw. "You stay here and enjoy some more sleep."
Lena watched her shuffle out of bed, bare from head to toe, and didn't feel the need to sleep more than she had. "Hum, no, I'll just take a shower and meet you downstairs."
Kara nodded, putting Lena's robe on like it was the most natural thing for them to just share their space and their breakfast and their bed. It had become normal, eventually during the week, but it was still pretty new. And not like this. Lena fell against the cushions with her arms widespread as she listened to Kara going downstairs. Her mind hadn't caught up on the last events in her life just yet. It all felt surreal, as if she had been under the influence of a black mercy. Lena tried not to overthink it too much. Not to dwell about all the changes that were supposed to happen but it was part of her personality. She needed to plan and, for now, she couldn't plan, which was slowly raising panic within her. They had to plan what they were going to tell Liz, and they had to make so many decisions concerning each of their lives. Were they going to move to National City permanently? Would Liz accept that? Wasn't it too many changes too soon? And what about her job? Even if she had put her projects on stand-by, she couldn't give up on her life in Ireland entirely. Thinking about it, it wasn't like they had a real life there though. Lena was known by another name and Liz hated going to school there. They had no friends, no family in Ireland. Except her mom's old house and all the souls living in it. Lena sighed heavily. She hated overthinking.
With a huff, she stood up from the bed and didn't bother covering herself to cross the hall to the bathroom. Under the cool water, memories of the night kept swirling in her mind. She had never been loved like this before. A strange mix of feelings was cursing through her body. Tranquility. Belonging. Pride. Affection. Excitement. Desire. Every word was flashing in her mind with a striking image of Kara. Kara's gentle hands on her. Kara's deep caring eyes. Kara's love words caressing her ears. It all felt familiar and unknown at the same time. Lena didn't know what it was but she sure didn't want to let it go. A huge smile spread across her face. She was happy. For the first time in a very long time.
Two hands grabbed at her waist. Lena startled in a sharp gasp. Her heart stopped for a millisecond.
"It's me. Sorry." Kara chuckled a bit but didn't move.
Lena inhaled and relaxed. You would think that spending her life planning for threats would have helped Lena anticipate everything, but she never got accustomed to being abducted or hit by surprise. She shoved Kara momentarily away by the shoulder, the blonde's laugh erupting in the shower. What a lovely little daft cow.
"I hate you sometimes." Lena hissed but pressed her soppy body further against Kara anyway.
Kara chuckled once more and caressed Lena's sides with her thumbs. Her hands glided against the wet skin of Lena's stomach before she made a choice. Her right one grabbed at Lena's left hip while the left one slid upward to envelop Lena's breast lovingly and massage it. Their bodies pressed together. The brunette melted in her arms, her worries already vanishing.
"I heard the water run and couldn't resist." Kara whispered against her cheek.
"Hum, we'll never leave this house." Lena mumbled but couldn't resist Kara's sweet assault on her neck. Her eyes didn't want to stay open. She tilted her head on the side to give Kara space.
"I think I can live with that." Kara whispered back. She nipped at the skin just between Lena's neck and her shoulder, a place she had marked multiple times during the night. Lena inhaled sharply and grabbed at the hand on her breast in a smack sound. Her fingers intertwined with Kara's and she eased her grip to accompany her touch.
"We-We have matters to-to take care of."
Lena could sense Kara's lips spread into a smile on her skin at her vain attempt. Kara's breasts were pressed tightly against her back. Their hips were grinding against each other in a sensual rhythm. It was captivating. So captivating that Lena felt lightheaded.
"You're not very convincing, right now."
Kara's hand left her hip to grab at the breast still untouched and it almost felt like too much already. Kara's natural forwardness in intimacy was making her weak in the knees and wet everywhere else. Lena had never given up that much control to any partner before. But this was Kara, and Kara was special. Much more than that, in fact.
"Fu- I love this side of you." Lena exhaled in between moans. Her other hand met Kara's in her ministrations. They were working together in a fiery dance. Moans and deep inhales and exhales formed fog around them on the shower's glass walls. Time seemed to stand still, hanging on a rope, balancing in the middle of Lena's underbelly, tickling her insides, waiting to be delivered to plunge into the boiling magma of her desire.
Kara's kisses stopped as she took a step on the side, her hips still attached to Lena's, as she rose a hand to Lena's chin to guide her into a languorous kiss. Desire climbed quickly between them as their tongues licked into open mouths and teeth bit into plumped red lips. In one swift motion, Lena's back hit the cold glass wall of the shower as Kara carried her effortlessly. Their hips met in an unexpected collision and they both groaned loudly.
"We need a strap-on." Kara grumbled in her neck absentmindedly.
Lena's mind made a literal pause and she leaned her head away to look at Kara with astonishment but blazing desire in her now-glowing-yellow eyes. Kara stopped too to look at her. Her face morphed from fear to cheekiness.
"What?" She smirked. "You have things to learn about me too." She pushed on her hips to make her point, moaning loudly herself at the contact.
Lena snorted and pulled on her neck to kiss her deeply. A lovely and sexy daft cow, indeed. Her lovely and sexy daft cow.
As they were making love in the shower, Kara's burning eyes staring up at her from between her legs, Lena couldn't agree more. She wanted to test everything with Kara. She wanted to risk it all, no matter where their choices would bring them. As long as they stayed together.
A real shower and two cups of tea later, they were both sitting at the kitchen table, eating an apple for Lena, and pouring syrup on scones for Kara. Lena watched her with delight. Kara was wearing a borrowed shirt and the same pants as the day before but her face was glowing with something so natural. She was smiling brightly, speaking quickly but softly and there was this glint in her eyes. Happiness. Love. And she was overflowing her plate with syrup without a care in the world, humming to some Top50 song. Lena wondered how she had gotten so smitten over these small facts but she totally was. Even Kara's love for sugar looked adorable to her.
"So, what do we tell Liz?"
Lena took a sip of her tea and shrugged. "That her mothers have finally decided to put their shit together?"
"Lee!"
Lena's head sank between her shoulders under Kara's chastising stare. "What? It's true."
"Yeah, well we can't tell her that."
Lena snorted but sobered up quickly as Kara didn't seem to be in the mood to joke about this apparently. "No, I think it's best to test the waters, see what she thinks. I've never been in a relationship since she was born so I don't know how she'll react. But it's you. I don't see why it would bother her."
Liz and Kara had already formed a bond. It wasn't as if Lena was trying to introduce a perfect stranger in their lives.
"Because she wouldn't have you for herself. Children tend to feel jealous when a parent enters a new relationship."
Lena frowned. "How do you know that?"
"I've read it." Kara simply replied.
Lena squinted her eyes skeptically. "You've read it? Where? When?"
"Oh, hum." Kara rubbed at her neck without meeting Lena's eyes. "I bought a book or two to, you know, make sure I was doing everything right."
"And you had the time to read them in only a week?"
"I'm a fast reader." Kara grinned.
Lena huffed but smiled too. Kara wanted to do her best as a freshly discovered parent and that warmed her more than she would admit. She took a bite of the red apple in her hand and put her chin on her hand. "You know," She swallowed her mouth. "She adores you. I don't think she'll be jealous or protective. She knows you and she's older now, she doesn't need me that much anymore."
Kara's shoulders sagged as her cutlery clacked on her plate. "I just don't want her to reject me all of a sudden because she doesn't accept us. She's known you her entire life. I'd understand if she had her preferences."
Lena softened at that and she leaned over to grab Kara's hand affectionately. "I'm sure she'll understand. She loves you. She loves both of us individually. You're not a stranger to her, you're her mommy." She squeezed her hand tighter. "And, between you and me, I'm sure she prefers you, you're Supergirl!" She whispered, falsely wonderstruck.
Kara chuckled, shaking her head but squeezed Lena's hand back. Her smile was getting bigger in the minute. They were going to make it work. Lena was sure of it.
They used Lex's old watch to travel back to the Tower. They could have used it the day before, Kara had remarked but Lena had pulverized Kara's comment with a devastating charming smile and a gentle kiss full of promises. A night alone was good too. Lena had the right to use any excuse possible to accomplish just that, right?
When Brainy spotted them from his place on the benchtop in the lab, his smile was radiant. Nia squealed on the side, just seeing them walk hand in hand.
"Hey, lovebirds! How was your night in Ireland?"
Lena and Kara shared a knowing smile. "Uneventful." The brunette replied.
Brainy rounded the benchtop, his hands behind his back, his smile large and confident. He leaned slightly towards them and whispered, "Statistics say otherwise. But it's fine."
Lena shoved him lightly but couldn't help her cheeks from reddening. "Did you find anything while we were gone?"
Brainy shook his head and turned around to grab at a remote on the benchtop. "Nothing." He pushed a button and the screen on the wall lighted up to show graphisms and the world's map. "We searched for the Other's energetic signature using Liz's signature or even yours, since he's supposed to be magical, but it led nowhere."
Lena stepped in next to him and looked at the screen, a finger on her chin. "If you can't find him, it can only mean two things." She turned around, looking at Kara. "He may not have the same energetic signature as Liz."
"Or he's not born yet." Nia said.
"Or he's not been activated yet. He may not have powers yet. Which would explain the lack of energy." Lena added.
All four of them frowned. If it was the case, it meant that they couldn't be sure when the battle was supposed to happen. And they couldn't trace him, which meant they couldn't look him up and find his weaknesses. This was all just a full circle.
"What about the other Lena? Did you find her universe?" Kara asked, leaning on the benchtop with her arms crossed.
Brainy shook his head dismissively. "Finding dimensions is not that easy. I don't need to explain it to you. The computers here aren't efficient enough. We need the techs in the satellite."
"Victor won't agree to it." Kara rejected the idea immediately. "It's too dangerous for the space-time continuum."
"He could accept if he didn't know why we need them. We just want to find her universe, not to join her." Nia shrugged.
Kara chuckled bitterly. "I won't lie to him and to the league just so we can trace back the crazy woman who abducted Lena seven years ago. They have reasons not to agree. It's not just a matter of doing justice."
"But if we tell Victor it's a matter of life and death and that we'll explain later, I'm sure he'll let us…"
"I said no, Nia." Kara interrupted her firmly. Nia threw her arms in the air in frustration.
"So what? We let her do this to others too?" She replied heatedly, her eyes brightening with unshed tears.
Lena scrunched up her face and shared a look with Kara. Until now, Nia had never expressed her feelings towards what had happened to Lena. Although she was usually taking injustices more personally than them all, she had only stayed neutral all along their research. Now that she knew who was behind Lena's abduction, now that she knew what had really happened, she wanted to fight. And it was all over her face and demeanor.
"Nia," Lena said, approaching her to take her hands. "I know you're furious, and believe me, I am too. But we can't risk the space-time continuum more than she did. Kara is right. It's too dangerous. It could alter our reality."
Nia shook her head, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "It's not fair." She mumbled.
Lena swallowed down the lump in her throat and took her in her arms tightly. "I know, I know."
On the other side of the room, Brainy and Kara were watching them, powerless. They had enemies they couldn't find. A monster to fight who was supposedly not born yet. A crazy futuristic clone who wanted to dictate the lives of others just because she was suffering. And they could not find them. It was maddening. The only thing they could do was wait.
"Hey, I printed the pictures we took in the caves and put them on the wooden board like you asked." Nia said as she jump-walked in Kara's living room in her Dreamer attire. She had found some of her joy back but Lena could hear in her tone that she was still agitated. Nia was a woman of action after all. She didn't like to stand still and wait.
"Thanks, Nia." Lena replied without rising her head from the paper world map spread in front of her.
"Any chance here?"
"Not yet."
They stayed in silence for a moment, Nia hovering around Lena. Finally, Lena gave up on using magic to find the Other and released her pendulum in the middle of the map. With a heavy sigh, she looked up at Nia who was fidgeting with her fingers, seemingly very shy. Nia was not shy. She was extravagant, and confident, and forward. She never beat around the bush. Lena observed her. She was dancing from foot to foot. She had something to say, apparently, but didn't know how to do so.
"Nia, are you alright?"
The superhero looked up, surprised. Lena could see the guilt through her mask and she sighed again. She opened her arms wide.
"Come here."
Lena wasn't the type to hug or to give reassurances. It was the contrary, actually. But Nia was like a little sister to her. They had face so many struggles together and they continued to do so. And even if after seven years, Nia had grown up and become a confident woman, Lena still could see how her innocence and idealism were intact. She wanted to work for a better world. That was who she was. And Lena admired her for it.
"I'm sorry for earlier, I overreacted." Nia said against her shoulder.
Lena pulled away but grabbed at her shoulders, then, cupped her cheeks affectionately. "You have nothing to be sorry for, love. I appreciate how you want to defend my honor and protect other women from suffering too."
Nia looked down, not really convinced. "It's horrible, what she did to you. I can't bear imagining the same thing happening to other women. But Kara is right, it's too risky."
Lena smiled softly. She knew that, deep down, Nia was mature enough to see the consequences.
"This whole situation is shitty but I can promise you I'll find her. I want to find her back and make her take responsibility for what she did. We just can't do it now."
Nia nodded, resigned. Lena pulled her in another hug, then leaned away and smirked.
"If you talk about this to Alex, I'll have to murder you though."
Nia snorted then pushed her away. "Thanks, it's always a pleasure, Luthor."
Kara walked in at that moment, with Liz's hand in hers on one side and a bag of takeouts on the other. Nia crouched down and opened her arms wide, encouraging Liz to run to her. The girl squealed as Nia kissed her cheeks repeatedly with exaggerated smacking sounds.
"Hey, little one, did you make your mom buy all the restaurant?"
"Almost. We got potstickers!" Liz exclaimed, making the adults laugh.
"No way!" Nia replied. "Let's hope you can at least try one."
Kara laughed as she pulled out containers after containers from the bag. She gave the poke bowl to Lena who smiled up at her and the noodles to Brainy who didn't wait for them to start. Nia accepted her share of potstickers with a quiet thank you, still tensed around Kara.
"So, any news since I left?" Kara said, leaning in her chair with her chopsticks and box of potstickers in hand.
"Nope." Brainy said through his mouth.
"Do we know when Alex and Kelly will arrive?" She asked then.
"They're supposed to finish visiting Esme's new school by 2 p.m." Lena replied.
"Why is Esme changing school?" Liz asked, making all eyes turn on her.
Kara looked at Lena, alarmed. She didn't know what to say. They all knew why Esme was changing school. First, because she didn't feel safe anymore in her old school. And second, because Kelly and Alex felt better to drive her to school instead of Esme taking the bus, so they were searching for a school closer to their house.
Esme had endured a lot of bullying during the previous school year, but it all started when Kara's identity got revealed. Since everybody knew her aunt had used her status to speak about aliens, Esme, by extension, wasn't welcomed in her group of friends anymore. Kara wanted to intervene at first, to appease tensions, but Alex and Kelly asked her not to. It would only add fuel to the fire and Esme would be harassed more in retaliation. They discussed with the school though, asked the teachers to take care of it but they couldn't be everywhere and when some of Esme's bullies got detention, the others would take revenge on her and it was only escalading. So, Esme was changing school, for the better. It was about time. It didn't stop Kara to think it was her fault, or that it still could happen in her new school either. Esme shouldn't be the one to adapt in the situation. She wasn't the problem. The others were. But Kara couldn't really reform the whole society.
Nia cleared her throat, since nobody seemed ready to explain the situation to Liz. "Some children aren't really kind to her at school and Aunt Alex and Aunt Kelly think it'd be better for her to be closer to their house so she's changing school."
Liz played with the noodles in her plate, her face scrunched up in concentration, thinking about what Nia had said. Kara smiled softly because it was definitely Lena's face.
"You don't like your noodles, sweetheart?" Lena asked her, sensing something was wrong.
Liz just shrugged and looked at her. "Can I change school too when we go back home?"
If the room was quiet before, silence felt even heavier now. Lena looked at Kara helplessly, then to Nia and Brainy. All three were just stunned, mouth agape. Nia suddenly stood up and took Brainy's elbow.
"We're going to see if the scan found something." She said before rushing out of the room with a stammering Brainy behind her. The elevator doors shut close and it seemed to startle Kara out of her trance.
"I'll let you both-"
"No!" Lena said too quickly, startling Liz and Kara in the process. "Sorry." She smiled. "I mean you can stay. Your place is with us." She grabbed at Liz's hand on the table.
Kara softened and smiled affectionately before sitting back down. She turned her eyes on Liz who was scowling at her plate in a funny manner.
"Why do you want to change school, kir ehl?" She asked her. Liz's frown only deepened and, for a second, Kara berated herself for using Kryptonese. "Sorry, little star." She corrected.
Liz shrugged then looked at Lena, as if her mother knew the answer already, which actually was the case, before looking away.
"You're thinking about the boy in the park?" Lena asked gently, reaching under Liz's chin to make her look at her.
The little girl nodded timidly. Lena sighed and leaned over to pull Liz in her lap. She shared a knowing look with Kara. The blond remembered the story behind the boy in the park. Liz had a fight with him, then she got overwhelmed and provoked a mishap. It was just that, a mishap. She didn't want to hurt him or anybody for the matter. She was just a child learning to use her powers.
"I don't want to see him at school." Liz mumbled against her mother's chest.
Kara frowned and looked at Lena. Her eyes were showing how deep in thought she was, searching endlessly for a way to reassure their daughter.
"He's at your school?" Kara asked to be sure. Liz nodded. "Is it the only reason you don't want to go back?"
The silence stretched on, both women waited for Liz to give an answer. Kara watched her hesitate, her eyes traveling from Kara to space, to ceiling then back at her. Kara sighed and stood up to round the table and crouched down next to Lena's chair. The brunette's frown was deepening by the minute, Liz's silence only indicating an answer they both didn't like.
"You can tell us if something is going on at school. We won't be mad." Kara said softly. She put a warm hand on Lena's which was already holding Liz's little fingers.
The little girl's face scrunched up, her lips pinching in a last attempt at keeping her sobs at bay, before she broke down loudly. Lena looked at Kara with wide eyes and enveloped Liz tighter against her chest. The little girl gripped at Lena's shirt in a tight fist. Lena was struggling to keep her own tears at bay. Her water-filled eyes were saying so many things. My poor baby. I had no idea. I'm gonna fucking burn that school. The blonde gave her a sad look and rubbed at their daughter's back with sorrow. It was heartbreaking to see her like that. Her little fists started to flicker before a deep, purple glow enveloped them. Lena gestured for Kara to stand up. The blonde moved behind her as Lena enveloped them all in a protection charm, forming a blue bubble around them. Liz's demonstration of powers only stopped there, though. Only her sadness kept pouring out of her purple eyes. Nothing more. Kara could have been proud of her for it if she wasn't too worried about her.
After some time, Liz calmed down and explained everything. Other girls didn't want to play with her because she was too weird. Kara and Lena understood that her intelligence was making her look strange to other children so they kept her away. And then, when she started to develop her powers, they said she was a freak and hit her or treat her miserably every time she was approaching. Lena explained that even if Ireland - and the world in general - had gotten accustomed to aliens, in the countryside, especially in small villages such as Newfoundland, it was still uncommon to find aliens because it was full of bigotry. The mayor had a no tolerance on witchcraft and didn't particularly like having aliens in his village. The teachers at Liz's school weren't a huge help either. Since Liz was mostly the only child with powers, she was supposed to adapt, not the other way around. Kara wanted to burn that foolish school too now.
"Why didn't you tell me they were mean to you?" Lena asked gently, forming soothing circle on her daughter's thighs. Liz was now sitting on the table, her feet dangling from each side of Lena's lap, her hands fidgeting in front of her. The girl just shrugged and mumbled something only Kara could hear. The blonde hissed and sighed before leaning towards Liz to put a finger under her chin and raising her head. She had quickly understood that Lena was doing it so that Liz didn't close up on herself, since she was a shy child already.
"I think you can do better than that. Your mom needs to hear this too." She softly chastised. Liz sighed, her little shoulders sagging in defeat.
"I said, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you more."
Her small voice shattered at the end and she looked back down at the moment she had pronounced her words, too scared to face Lena's gaze. More. Which meant Liz already knew Lena was constantly worried about her and didn't want to add on that.
Kara watched surprise cross Lena's face before impatience took control of her features.
"Liz, look at me."
The girl shook her head stubbornly. On the side, Snowflake meowed aggressively towards them. Lena stared him down before sighing in frustration.
"Liz, please. You're not in trouble, I just want you to look at me when we talk."
Slowly, the little girl's eyes rose to meet her mother's. Lena smiled softly. Kara leaned forward to caress the girl's cheek proudly. "Here you go." She whispered.
"You know you can tell me anything. It's my job to worry about you and to protect you." Lena grabbed at Kara's hand on her shoulder. "We'll always be there for you."
Liz's face started to crumple again. "But you're always worried about me since my powers arrived. I don't want you to."
"Oh, love." Lena's voice broke with emotion as she took her daughter back on her lap. A lone tear escaped her eye. Kara leaned forward to put her chin on Lena's shoulder, watching Liz cuddle in her mother as her arms enveloped them both.
"Already a superhero." She whispered brokenly.
Lena's head fell against hers in a sort of agreement. When Liz looked up, sadness disappeared from her face. She sniffled ungracefully, watching them as if she was seeing them for the first time.
"Your mom is right. You don't have to protect us. We're good. You have to tell us when something's wrong. We can't help you otherwise." Kara explained, her throat bobbing against Lena's shoulder.
Liz nodded, lost in her thoughts. Kara smiled softly and brushed a lock of dark hair away from her face. "You have time to be a superhero." She bopped at her nose affectionately, making Liz smile lightly.
"I want to be like you when I'll be a grown up." Liz said suddenly, with renew energy.
Lena chuckled and kissed her cheek. "You have time for that."
"Yes, and it's not as fun as it looks. I promise you you're better at school." Kara added, circling back to their discussion.
Liz frowned again and, for a second, Kara feared she was going to cry again but the girl only looked up with excitement.
"Can I go to school here? With Esme?" She said jumping on Lena's lap excitedly. Lena groaned and tried to calm her down.
"Okay, okay. You can't be with Esme, she's older than you, love. She's not in the same grade."
Liz was momentarily saddened before her face brightened again. "You didn't say no. It means I can go to school here and train more with Mommy and become Superlittlegirl!" She said, pausing like Kara with her hands on her hips.
Kara laughed loudly, caught between amusement and astonishment. It was too good to be true. They had feared Liz's reaction but they shouldn't have. Lena glared at her, though, because her reaction got Liz more agitated so Kara sobered up and took Liz in her arms.
"You can't be Supergirl. You're already Liz Walsh Danvers and that's even cooler." She said. Liz pouted, playing with her necklace.
"I don't want to go back. I want to stay with you." She whined, leaning her head on her mommy's shoulder.
Kara's heart skipped a beat. She looked on the side to see Lena, mouth agape, watching them. The brunette, then, stood up and crossed her arms. She approached tentatively. Kara recognized the businesswoman in her, ready to negotiate.
"You don't want your toys or your room? Or the swings in the garden?" Lena asked skeptically to her daughter.
"You can bring them here." Liz shrugged. She kept playing with Kara's necklace without caring about the silent discussion that was going on between her parents.
Kara's eyes looked earnestly to Lena. If it was what Liz wanted, why couldn't they give it to her? It was all her wishes coming true. Lena seemed torn though, and Kara understood why. She had a whole life in Ireland. A house, a job, friends probably too. She couldn't give up on everything just because Liz had decided it was a fun thing to do today. Tomorrow might be different.
She turned her head back on Liz and shuffled her lightly. "We'll think about that, okay?" She put her back on her chair. "First, you have to finish your lunch."
Liz's face lighted up as she saw the noodles remaining in her plate and she eagerly ate in silence. Both women looked at her, astonished. Children were a lesson in emotional management. From tears to angry words to affection seeking to pure expression of joy. They were always living everything wholly and with spontaneity. It was unsettling.
Without thinking, Kara circled her arms around Lena lovingly. The brunette melted in the embrace, both captured in their daughter's excitement for food. Liz was eating, babbling to herself, too caught in her imaginary world to realize she was observed. Kara felt Lena smiled against her cheek.
"Sometimes I forget she's this young." The brunette whispered with wonder in her voice.
"She's very mature and so eloquent." Kara agreed quietly.
Lena squeezed the hands on her belly then turned around to meet Kara's eyes, the blonde's arms falling on her hips. "I think we have her benediction." She smiled.
Kara tilted her head. "You think so?" Her eyes immediately fell on Lena's lips. Lena nodded shyly, her fingers playing with Kara's hair on her nape. Kara squeezed tighter. She shot a glance at Liz who was watching them but her face wasn't showing anything special. Her heart was calm in her ribcage. Kara looked back at Lena and shrugged, throwing every reservation through the window, before closing the gap between them. It was just a small purposeful kiss. When they pulled away, Liz applauded them joyfully. They laughed and kissed once again for show.
"Ew, gross!"
They turned around to see Esme, Alex and Kelly exiting the elevator, the teenager sporting a disgusted face while the two adults looked amused.
"Did you have to do this in front of children?" Esme asked, affronted.
"They're free to do whatever they want, Es." Alex chastised.
"That's still gross." Esme replied, crossing the room to fall on the couch, her phone already in hands.
"And not exactly everything they want." Kelly added, wincing.
Lena snorted and pulled away immediately, circling the table to take her bowl to the trash. "Did you guys have a good visit?"
"Great!" Alex said with irony. "Esme hates the school, we need to find another one."
"What? Why?" Kara frowned, looking at Esme for an answer but only got a nonchalant shrug.
"We don't really know." Kelly whispered to her. "She's been like this all day."
"I see." Kara said but she didn't really see any reason for Esme's mood, in fact. "Did you try to talk to her?"
It was a loose question to ask Kelly, because of course, the woman would try and talk to her daughter to appease any tension or reassure her if needed. It was Kelly, after all.
"We did. She's close herself off every time." Alex said with a sigh.
They all looked at the teenager, worried. Esme was a ball of sunshine, always ready to help, to play, to practice or to talk. She enjoyed every little bit of life. It wasn't like her to be closed off and moody.
"Is it a teenager thing? Like hormones and all that stuff?"
Lena chuckled on the side. "I think it's easier than that."
Alex and Kelly looked at her hopefully. The brunette stopped next to them and leaned forward conspiratorially.
"I think it's a love matter." She whispered.
Both women pulled away in synchronized ooh and aah. Then Alex's face turned red.
"I swear, if somebody's hurt her feelings, I'm going to-"
Kelly stopped her there. "You're not doing anything, mama bear. We don't know yet. But Lena may be right."
"I'll talk to her later if you want me to. Maybe she'll open up to me." Lena proposed with a side shrug.
Kelly grabbed her by the shoulders and squeezed. "You're an angel. Can you convince her to go to that school? We don't have any other option."
Lena chuckled. "I'll try."
"Before you go talk to her, can you brief us on what you discovered?" Alex chipped in, always professional.
"Yes!" Lena turned around towards Kara's wall of clues and investigation. "So, to be short, we don't have anything on the Other or about the other Lena. The computers here aren't efficient enough. And," She stepped to grab at a picture on the wall. "We took these pictures in the caves. I still have to study the drawings and the symbols."
She showed the picture of some of the drawings in the Fingal's caves to Alex and Kelly. Alex looked up, nodding.
"You said you didn't find the Other, did you try the pendulum?" She asked.
Lena seemed surprised at first by the question, since Alex wasn't known to like witchcraft. Kara knew her sister had warmed up to it though. The pendulum was one of the most popular tools in witchcraft. It was often used in TV shows and movies. They had seen Lena use it before to find Esme or Nia's neighbor's cat.
"I tried." Lena replied bitterly. "It points either to Liz or to Kara."
"To me?" The blonde said surprised.
"Kryptonian energy." Lena shrugged. "Or maybe it's biased by my thoughts."
"Why would it be?" Kelly frowned.
"Because I'm always thinking about you two." Lena said, gesturing towards Kara. The blonde cooed and hugged a disgruntled Lena sideways.
"Isn't she cute?" Kara said in a fawning voice.
"God, Esme's right. You're disgusting when you're in love." Alex said with a scrunched-up face but they all knew it was for show.
"Oh, don't play the grumpy one! You love that too." Kelly said while holding her close, peppering kisses all over Alex's cheek.
Alex laughed, giving up on her pretense. "Fine, fine! I love all of you. Can we go back to work now?"
"Oooh, group hug!" Nia shouted from the elevator and, seconds later, they were all squeezed together in a close circle.
"I hate all of you." Lena's muffled voice said.
"No, you don't." Nia sung back.
"Especially you." Lena replied.
"No, it's a lie." Brainy said matter-of-factly.
"Argh!"
"You're all just gross!" Esme exclaimed from the other side of the room.
Liz made her way in the middle of the circle to talk to her mother. "Mom, you always say we're not supposed to lie. Lies are for bad people."
They all laughed at Lena's expanse, knowing the brunette was exaggerating her frustration. When they pulled away, they all shared happy affectionate smiles. Life was difficult, especially at the moment with all the struggles waiting for them, but they were all glad to be together in this. Sometimes a hug was all it needed.
Lena found Esme in the gym, hitting a bag as if it had personally insulted her. She watched her from the door for a couple of minutes. She had to admit Esme's fighting skills were impressive. The girl was only twelve but could fight an adult easily. The proud daughter of Alex and Kelly. Lena remembered the topic had come up when Esme had been abducted by Lex and Nyxly, all these years ago. They had decided Esme needed to know how to defend herself, if it was not for fighting crime, at least to be able to struggle against potential enemies. Her mothers' enemies, to be clear. Because Alex and Kelly knew their life wasn't easy. They were fighting criminals and Esme was an easy target to get to them. A way to attack them and even destroy them. They wanted their daughter to be confident enough in her powers and fighting skills to defend herself when they weren't around. And from what Lena was seeing, Esme was really into it.
"Did it offend you?" Lena called out from the door.
Esme didn't startle, nor she looked at her. She knew Lena was here, Lena remarked. A smirk grew on her face. The proud daughter of Sentinel and Guardian, indeed. The girl kept throwing punches and kicks to the punching bag. The message was clear. Lena wasn't welcome and Esme didn't want to talk. But Lena knew better.
"What's their name?" She asked, advancing in the room with her arms crossed.
Her forwardness had the effect of stopping Esme right in her movements. The girl looked at her godmother in the corner of her eyes then huffed and started hitting the bag again.
"So, what? You disappear for seven years and now you want to take your role back? I don't need you."
It hurt. Lena could admit that much. But she knew Esme enough to know it was a defensive mechanism. Lena had pushed the right button and it got a reaction out of her goddaughter.
"You're right. It's fair. I've been absent." Lena turned around the bag and grabbed at it to help Esme hit it. "But I'm very observant and I know now that this," She motioned to Esme's face in a flourish. "Isn't you."
Esme scowled and hit the bag harder, as if to contradict Lena. "How can you be so sure? I'm not the lost little girl you used to know anymore."
Lena pushed the bag away at the same time Esme threw a punch and grabbed at her fist just in time to avoid it hitting her face.
"I know." She insisted, pulling Esme to her. "I'm sorry I wasn't there." She forced her into a hug. "And I missed you too."
Esme struggled at first, then her arms fell on the side, defeated. "I hate you."
Lena chuckled. "Yeah, whatever you want to believe, love."
Esme buried her face in Lena's collar and finally put her arms around her godmother. It was a long-awaited hug. Lena smiled down at her, glad she had succeeded in piercing Esme's little armor. She knew she had a lot to make up for.
At first, she had thought Esme had not been really resentful towards her and her absence so she had let her be, not wanting to make a fuss around the twelve-year-old, but she had been wrong. Esme was well surrounded, it was a certainty, but she had missed her. Lena had a special bond with her, formed during the lone nights when Alex, Kelly and all the team were on the front while Esme and her had stayed in the Tower playing card games and watching musicals. Esme used to rely a lot on Lena and the brunette realized it must have been a huge change for her when she had disappeared. If Lena wanted to absolve some of her past mistakes, it was starting here.
"So, do you want to tell me what's wrong with that school?" Lena tried in a singing voice.
Esme groaned against her but pushed away. She had sweat pearling on her forehead. She went toward the bench in a corner to take a towel and press it against her face. She sat down then in a sigh and untied her fingerless gloves to throw them on her sports bag. Lena took it as her clue to approach. She sat down next to her at a reasonable distance. She waited patiently for Esme to talk, not wanting to overwhelm her more than necessary.
"I don't really want to change school." Esme said after a while in a very small voice. Again, not usual.
Lena frowned. "I thought it wasn't going well in your actual school."
"It's not but…" The girl threw a shy glance to Lena before looking down, picking at her nails. "Not everyone there is mean."
A huge affectionate smile grew on Lena's lips. She had been right. And it was the most charming thing to observe. Esme having her first crush. She had missed a lot but she was glad to be there for that.
"You don't want to leave your friends." Lena said, understanding.
Esme shook her head. "I don't have many friends. Only two. Julia a-and Arthur. They're aliens too."
Lena thought for a second that Esme's stammer was revealing more than the girl intended to. She didn't push on the matter though.
"Are they bullied too?" She asked softly. She hoped it wasn't too straightforward.
Esme nodded slowly. "Julia is Thanagarian. She has huge, beautiful wings but she can't control them really well and she loses feathers everywhere. She had big muscles too, like a Roman warrior so the others keep calling her Julian."
Lena winced, convinced the girl was going to keep hang-ups just from this nickname. "What about Arthur?"
"He's an Aellan, he's got scales and actually looks like a lizard so you know what they're calling him."
Esme sighed then and Lena passed an arm around her shoulder to comfort her. She had her own turn at bullying when she was in boarding school but thankfully, Andrea had been there to defend her and show her how to scare the other kids enough not to be bothered anymore. It was astonishing though to discover that such hatred could still plague the youngest hearts.
"I'm sure they will be fine without you. You still can see them from time to time. And call them."
Esme huffed and groaned. "It's not just that. I take the bus with Julia every morning so that the others don't pull her feathers off. She's going to be alone. Art's father drives him to school so he can't take the bus with her. I know nothing will change for them at school, I just don't want her to get hurt in the bus." She finished with a pout, a light blush on her cheeks.
Lena smiled again. It was so obvious Esme felt a bit more than friendship for her best friend but she didn't know if the girl was even aware of that. And it was a new territory for Lena. Liz was still too young for that sort of problems, and thank God or whoever, because Lena wasn't sure she could deal with that above everything else.
"Why didn't you tell all this to your moms? I'm sure they can find a solution."
"They won't understand." Esme grumbled.
Lena frowned again. "Why?"
"Because they're not like us."
Esme's little voice was heartbreaking. Lena brought her to her, as she suddenly felt furious against the parents of the children who succeeded in making Esme doubt her own parents. Alex and Kelly had only been supportive, showing that Esme was free to express herself in any way she judged it appropriate. Those children had no right to make her doubt that.
"I'm not an alien and I understand." Lena remarked. Esme pulled away to look at her. She then squinted her eyes.
"You're a witch. It's not the same."
"Well, I didn't know who I was until I was like 27 so…"
Esme snorted. "It must have been harsh."
"You've no idea." Lena cleared her throat then. "So, can you promise me you'll talk to them? They're worried about you. It's not like you to shut off and be grumpy all day."
Esme looked at the floor, guilty. "I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean the things I told you earlier. I don't know why but sometimes, it's just easier to say mean things than to tell the truth."
And how Lena knew that. She cupped her goddaughter's face and caressed her cheek with her thumb. She smiled at her as Esme avoided her gaze.
"You should talk to your moms about that too. Next time, it's better to say you're not ready to talk instead of being mean. You know they'll understand."
Esme shrugged but closed the gap between them and hugged Lena tight. "I really missed you, Aunt Lena."
Lena squeezed her tight too. "Me too, Es."
"I promise I'll talk to Mom and Mama. Maybe they'll help me find a solution for Julia." Esme said with a small freshly spreading smile.
"Here you go. Look at that! How beautiful you are with a smile!" Lena cooed, pinching her cheek teasingly. Esme giggled, chasing her hand away.
Lena observed her put her things in her bags and change her shirt. She was glad they discussed. She felt better knowing Esme didn't just morphed into a teenage monster. She had just been worried but didn't know how to express it. Now, she knew she could count on her mothers and family to help her. That was when Lena got an illumination. What a fool she had been. She stood up abruptly. Esme looked at her, puzzled.
"You know what? I think you just gave me an idea." Lena said.
Lena's travel to Ireland was supposed to be quick. No one was aware she was there. She just wanted to check something. While speaking with Esme, she had realized that she still could count on her mother to help her. They didn't know anything about the Other, but Lena had the intuition that her mother's research wasn't only gathered in her spell book. She wanted to check her old journals. The ones she had read years ago, when she had needed to be closer to her. The ones in which Elizabeth was explaining at length her relationship with Lionel. Lena thought she could find some answers. If not about the prophecy, maybe she could find something about Jason. About Lionel's role with the purifiers. She had the gut feeling that everything was linked.
She found her mother's journals in a chest in her bedroom. Quickly, she turned the pages to find the date she knew her father had left and broke her mother's heart. The trace of tear drops on the pages were agonizing. Lena tried to stay pragmatic and swallowed the lump in her throat. Her mother had suffered so much. She kept explaining how Lionel was unfair, how she couldn't understand his decision. She didn't know why he wanted the child but not her.
Lena had never really focused on that specific part but it all made sense now. Lionel was only interested in her mother because she was a Walsh. Because she was the heiress of a long bloodline of witches. Lena sighed and shut the journal close angrily. Jason was right. She was not a product of love. Everything was about manipulation and interest with the Luthors. Lionel wanted powers. Lena wondered if he also wanted a child with her mother because of the prophecy. It couldn't be otherwise. It was obvious. Why bother with a child – which was born out of marriage – if it were not out of greed?
She needed more details. She had the intuition that it went deeper than that. But her mother's journals were no use. She was only complaining about her broken heart and it was depressing. Lena hated Lionel for what he did to her. She would never contact him willingly. However, there was still one person who could know what he had been up to. Only Lillian could tell her.
Lena went in her office and dusted her mother's old Ouija board to prepare for the summon of her adoptive mother's ghost. Closing her eyes, she thought about the irony of not being able to summon her birth mother, the one person she wanted the most to see, but being able to summon everyone else. As she heard the shift in the air, the energy cracking around her, she opened her eyes, sighing. From relief or disappointment, she wasn't sure.
"What a surprise!" Lillian exclaimed when she spotted Lena.
Lena smiled against her will. "I know. We don't summon the dead ones like we give a phone call, you know."
"I do. I know I'm not the one you wish to see the most." Lillian smiled softly. "How have you been? You look good."
"Thanks, I…" Lena didn't expect the compliment leaving her mother's mouth. But she would be caught dead before she would admit it to her. "I'm good." She looked at herself, thinking Lillian would never have accepted her outfit in another life – jeans and a tank top – but it had to do for now. Lillian couldn't do anything about it anymore.
"I see that. You're glowing. It's a rare sight. Far from when you were working sixty hours a week."
Lena felt her cheeks blush a bit, as an admission for her happy state of mind thanks to Kara and their friends.
"I gave up the Foundation. I live in Ireland now. And…" She crossed her arms, forcing herself to keep her eyes on her mother. "I have a daughter."
Lillian didn't seem too surprised about what Lena was telling her. "Good. You're married then."
"I… Not exactly." Lena winced. She expected to be chastised.
Lillian chuckled. "You never did anything by the book." She shook her head, sobering up. "But I'm sure you're a good mother." She nodded to herself. "I know so. I can see you. You're better than me." She whispered.
Lena tilted her head, fixing her piercing gaze to the ghostly one of her mother's. This admission was new too. Lillian never admitted being wrong or less than perfect. Death seemed to be a peaceful place for her mother.
"Well, it's not really hard." Lena cleared her throat, taking a few steps, arms crossed. Her whole body was tensed. After all these years, Lillian could still have that effect on her. "But I can admit you were more protective than I thought." She looked at her shoes sheepishly. "You know about the prophecy, don't you?"
For the first time since she appeared, Lillian looked stunned. She closed her mouth quickly though, straightening up her long spine to take back her aristocratic stature.
"Your father knew about it first." She admitted. "He was obsessed with it. He wanted to use the Unique as propaganda for new types of hero. He was convinced he could isolate the cells with the markers of her powers and recreate them to inject them into humans and make them super." She sighed, then looked at Lena with something close to regret in her eyes. Lena couldn't believe that, though. Lillian never regretted anything. Ever. "He was also sure you were the Unique. I even suspected that he slept with your mother only to have you."
The dots connected with each other in Lena's brain. "That's why you didn't want me to know I was a witch."
Lillian nodded. "As long as he thought you didn't have powers, you were safe."
"My daughter is the Unique." Lena revealed.
For the second time, Lillian was surprised. Lena heard a low How?, as if Lillian couldn't fathom that the whole prophecy was true in the first place.
"She's 6 but already very powerful." Lena kept the details about Liz's Kryptonian origin out of her explanation voluntarily. Lillian didn't need to know that to help her. "Do you know anything about the other half of the prophecy? About the Other?"
"The being she's supposed to fight?" Lena nodded. Her mother rubbed at her chin thoughtfully, pacing - floating, really – the parqueted floor like she used to do in her office in the Luthor manor after long days of analyzing and researching. Lena thought for a moment to ask how she could move when Jack had been unable to do a single step but she gave up on it quickly. Time was not for resolving witchcraft enigmas.
"I'm wondering if…" Lillian turned around hastily towards Lena. "When I died, what happened to Cadmus?"
Lena rolled her eyes. "What do you think?" She replied wryly.
"No! I'm asking because there was an experiment your father did that I couldn't get rid of. A little boy."
Lena's eyes opened wide. All her senses spiked on high alerts. Lillian had all her attention.
"You're talking about Conor, Lex's attempts at cloning Superman, right?"
"No. I'm speaking of a boy your father made from scratch with his cells and an alien's cells to form a unique being." Lillian explained. "After you mother died and you revealed to be human, Lionel targeted his research on finding the Other. He met this group-"
"The Salem's Purifiers?" Lena asked.
"Yes." Lillian scrunched up her face. "Through them, he met witches. Very powerful ones. They convinced him that the Other could be created, just like the Unique could exist through natural birth. With them, he realized his dream. Bringing a superpowered human to life. He just died before the process was over."
"And you kept this… Specimen in a chamber until you died?" Lena asked skeptically. The scowl on her face could deter the bravest man.
"I didn't have the choice. I discovered everything after Lionel died. He couldn't hide it anymore. I had to clean all his mess. It was one of them."
"I'm sure he left tons of unfinished business." Lena replied sarcastically. "But you kept it anyway. You could've cancelled the research, or whatever they were doing with that creature, and throw it all away."
Lillian shook her head, lips pinched. Her mother had never seemed so torn, Lena thought. "He deserved better. He could be helpful. I thought I could raise him to be a good man and use his powers for the good. To change the world."
Lena snorted loudly. Her frustration was wearing thin. "Like you raised Lex to be good?"
Lillian seemed offended. "I wanted to give him a chance!"
"And where is he now?"
Lillian made a pause. "What year is it?"
Lena frowned. "2028."
"He was supposed to be born in 2024."
The calculation was easy. "It means he's 4 at the moment." Lena said out loud. "But we can't find him. He's untraceable."
Lillian nodded, her finger back on her chin. "He must be on Apokolips."
"What?!"
"Your father had everything planned. The witches wanted the Other to be trained next to Darkseid's sons. To be ready for the big battle." Lillian explained. She had the guts to look guilty.
"Fucking great! How do I find him now?" Lena cried out to the ceiling.
"You can't."
Lena pinched her nose, frustrated. This whole mess had no end. She could travel the world, hide as much as she liked, but the Luthors' mistakes would always catch up on her.
"Jason Baxter tried to kill me, by the way." Lillian seemed to choke with the name but Lena didn't stop to let her swallow it. "Thank you for telling me I had a half-brother. Do you have anything else hidden in a closet or that's it and I can hope to live a peaceful life now?"
Lillian shook her head slowly, dumbfounded. "Not that I know of. But I wouldn't be surprised if your father had other bastards all over the globe."
Lena stopped pacing to look at her with boredom. "Seriously? Do I count as a bastard too?"
"Sorry." Lillian said and Lena almost choked too, because it was the very first time she had heard Lillian say that very word. "I don't mean it like that. You're a Luthor. You know that. I raised you like my daughter." She looked at Lena with a glimpse of affection in her eyes. "You are my daughter."
Lena looked at her shoes again, suddenly very shy while receiving her mother's affection. A smirk spread her lips to hide it though. "Wow! It took you seven years and a trip to Hell to tell me you're sorry and that I'm your daughter in the same sentence." She said playfully, even though the resentment was there. Lillian had left so many scars on her brain, but Lena was proud to be out of it now. She could recognize that Lillian hadn't done everything right, but she hadn't done everything wrong either.
"And I'll regret that for eternity but that's my burden." Lillian smiled softly, sadly.
Lena watched her while she could, trying to remember every line of her face, to memorize the sound of her voice. She missed her sometimes, but she would never admit it aloud. Her relationship with Lillian was something she knew she could never fix. It was too late.
Her mother's ghostly figure started to flicker. Lillian's smile spread wider. "It's time." She said.
Lena nodded and approached. She smiled up at her too. Her mother made a move to caress her cheek but they both knew she couldn't. Lena was sure that if tears were a possibility after death, Lillian would be crying. Her eyes seemed to be glistening though. Just like her own.
"I love you, Lena. Good luck with the Other. Take care of you and your daughter. Say sorry for me to Kara."
And with that, her mother's ghost was gone, replaced by silence and coldness. Lena looked at the ceiling, trying to keep the tears at bay. She sniffled loudly. Well, now they had some answers, even if it wasn't the one she had expected. What a mess. Kara and the team would be horrified. Once again, they were facing a Luthor as an enemy.
She rushed out of her bedroom, stopping by the living room to take Liz's photo album before walking out of the house, locking the door. She closed her eyes and focused to travel back to the Tower. She still had someone to visit but she needed Lex's watch to do that.
When Lena planted herself in front of Jason's cell, her arms crossed, her face serious, her half-brother just laughed. Loud. Like a maniac. He would look like Lex if he hadn't that much hair and that many muscles. He looked in shape, not at all phased by his situation. The cells in the satellite weren't anything close to prison cells. It looked mostly like a glass box, with a bed, a table, two chairs – as if the prisoners ever got visitors – and bathrooms hidden in a corner. Their meals were passed through a hatch and they could ask for books or magazines once a week – if they stayed that long. Jason was actually playing chess at the table when she arrived. Was it a genetic trait? She wondered. She quickly remarked he was doing it wrong though. The pieces were not at their right places. The bishops had been exchanged for the rooks and the white queen was on a black square.
Once Jason stopped laughing at her, Lena pointed at the table. "Mind if I join you?"
Her half-brother looked surprise for a second before he accepted, his eyes focused on every one of her movements as she entered the cell, unlocking the door with the general pass she had stolen from the observatory. Jason didn't have any shackles on, since nobody was supposed to enter his cell in the first place. Lena knew her friends were going to be mad at her for it. She might even be forced away from the satellite for some time, but she wanted to see him at least once.
"You've placed the pieces wrong." She said as she replaced them correctly on the board. Jason watched her do with rapt attention, his eyes analyzing. He stayed silent though, probably wondering what she wanted from him.
"Once it's settled, the whites always go first. Go ahead." She motioned towards his side of the board. Jason looked at her, puzzled, then slowly took the pawn in front of his left bishop and pushed it two squares up. Lena smiled at him, then pushed her own pawn one square up.
There was a pause. Jason didn't seem to know what he wanted to do. He crossed his bare arms across his chest. His biceps were so prominent that he couldn't really cross them entirely. He shot a look, carefully raising another pawn with two fingers. He was scared to shuffle the pieces, Lena noticed and she smirked. An elephant in a museum.
"What are you doing here?" Jason asked eventually.
Lena tilted her head, her smirk spreading wider. She made one of her bishops to cross the board and take a first pawn just in front of his queen. She leaned back against her chair then looked at him with an unfaltering gaze.
"I'm teaching you how to play chess." She replied smartly.
Jason smiled, that evil Luthor smile, and shook his head before taking a knight and capturing Lena's bishop. She had done it on purpose.
"I know how to play."
"Of course, you're a Luthor. It's in your genes." She said without hesitation.
He inhaled sharply at the name and shot her a glare. Lena played her next move innocently. She looked at him, smug and proud. He couldn't do anything here. She had powers. She could take him down in seconds and he knew it. She had the better hand.
"So, you came to test me?"
Lena balanced her head from right to left. "Not exactly. I want a truce."
Jason snorted then took one of her pawns. "What? Are you telling me you're not a witch anymore?"
"I am a witch." Lena said. "But I am also your sister."
Jason sized her up and down. Lena never faltered under his stare. Then he smiled mischievously again.
"Poor little princess! You feel so lonely that you come tail between your legs begging the brother who tried to kill you for affection. That's pathetic!" He spit.
It was Lena's turn to laugh hard now. She brushed away an imagined tear. "I'm not begging, you fool." She said, chuckling lightly. "I don't need you. I already have a family. A daughter. Friends. And by the way, you're not the first brother who tried to kill me. It's old fashioned by now, darling." She laughed some more to make her point, her voice so posh Lillian would be proud.
"I don't want your sympathy. I'm not a charity case you can fix just so you can sleep at night!" Jason replied angrily, his eyes burning with pride.
"No, you're right." Lena concealed. She played with the queen in her hand then put it gently back on the board. "I don't know about you, but I'm tired of these old circles, though."
Jason's eyes flashed with curiosity. He looked at the board and realized she had won. He huffed in defeat, crossing his arms awkwardly and leaning away from the board.
"So, what? You're going to come here everyday and play chess with me in the hopes that I'll become friendly at one point?"
He was full of sarcasm but Lena could see right through it. It was her own personality playing in front of her. Closed-off. Scarred. Hurt. Lacking love since a very young age. Eaten up by revenge and rage. She had more things in common with Jason than she thought. But he was lacking the education she had. The habit of hiding her feelings, of wearing a mask. He wasn't as skilled at this as she was.
"I will. Maybe not everyday but at least once a week." She said, standing up. She walked to the door elegantly but turned around just before opening the door. "Think about it, would you? It's not like you have anything better to do here, anyway."
Jason huffed but didn't budge from his chair. She unlocked the door with her pass then crossed it and locked it back up. Walking away, she realized it had gone better than she had expected. Jason hadn't tried to fight her or to steal her pass to escape. Even if he seemed reluctant, she couldn't shake the feeling he needed her just a little bit, though. Otherwise, he would have been more hostile.
When she turned the corner of the cell block, Kara was waiting for her, arms crossed, betrayal all over her face. Lena looked down, guilty. It had to happen.
"Had a good time?" Kara asked sarcastically.
"I can explain!"
"Explain what, Lee? He's dangerous. You could've told me at least!"
Kara was right. She should have warned somebody, just to be safe but she acted on impulse, as always. As an individual electron, not caring about the others.
"I know, I'm sorry, I…"
"Never mind." Kara interrupted her. She seemed preoccupied. "We'll talk later. Sam is waiting for you in the Tower with Liz. I have an emergency. I'll see you later." She kissed her on the cheek and rushed the way back in a flash.
Lena looked at the empty space, dumbfounded. Had Kara even been there?
Sam's visit wasn't planned. Lena wouldn't say she was afraid of the reason behind Sam's visit but she wasn't totally relaxed about it either, for multiple reasons. One, Sam always warned when she wanted to visit because she knew Lena was busy, even more so since she came back to National City. Two, it was the end of afternoon, which meant it wasn't just to have lunch and catch up or discuss the Foundation's matters, which meant Sam was there to tell her something important. And three, well, seeing Sam pace the Tower's living room was close to alarming.
"Hey, it's good to see you." Lena said walking out of the portal she had activated with the watch.
Sam turned towards her hastily and smiled but it looked contrite. They hugged quickly before Lena walked to the fridge to retrieve two water bottles. She gave one to Sam as they sat at the kitchen table. Sam looked absentmindedly at the newspaper still on the table, with the big caption stating Lena Luthor's come back – What we know.
"You're quite the celebrity here." Sam remarked with an easy smile.
Lena shrugged. "It has its perks."
"Like being abducted because everybody knows your address?"
Lena's lips frowned and she sighed. "Is your visit about scolding me for being stupid and not listening to Kara?"
"No." Sam chuckled. "Even if you were stupid and I'd have preferred your stubborn ass not being abducted by witch's hunters."
Lena watched her take a sip of water, their eyes never parting. Sam kept a knowing smile on her face, sensing the secrecy was slowly making Lena crazy. Lena looked at her suspiciously, her eyes squinted as if she could read her friend better like that.
"What is it, Sam?"
"The investors want you back in."
Lena huffed then chuckled humorlessly. "What do you mean? I'm already managing from afar."
"They want you to take your place as CEO back."
"Why? It's been seven years. You're good at it, you should stay!"
Sam shook her head, her eyes serious. "My job was never supposed to be CEO. I'm good with numbers, not with employees and all this shit, you know that. I do an okay job but your name's on the building. Your place is at the top, Lena. Nobody can do it like you do."
Lena scowled and crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Those old rats, they were all so arrogant when I first took the lead and now, they want me back."
"They saw you in the news. Your celebrity could help us win investments."
"The Foundation is doing great. It doesn't need money. I know it since I still look at it. They only want me for the image. To keep up appearances."
Sam winced, and Lena knew she had been right. "It sure doesn't help to see you on the news, with Liz and Kara, but knowing you have nothing to do with the Foundation anymore, at least on the paper. It looks like you've given up on the cause. Maxwell Lord gave the board a proposition to buy the Foundation over because he thought you didn't want anything to do with it."
"What?" Lena shrieked out, leaning on the table hastily. "Why am I learning this only now?"
Sam snorted. "Why do you think?" She said, rising her voice too. "You're there but not really. We deal with problems everyday without you knowing it."
Lena crossed her arms back in a defensive manner. She looked away stubbornly. She knew Sam was right. Keeping her distances was only for her to stay safe until she knew who wanted to hurt her. Now that her face was all over the news, paparazzi were following her every time she was spotted in the city. Kara didn't even want her to go to groceries anymore. The Foundation had been created to help children in the first place. Of course, there were different branches still linked to the old activities of L-Corp but the main purpose was to help children. Alien and human, alike. To find their family back, to have whatever they needed to go to school, to have a roof above their heads and people to take of them if they were orphans. It was a cause Lena wore close to heart. Having been adopted this young by the Luthors had made her realize not every child had that chance. She wanted to make a difference. But she didn't know if she was ready to take her place back either. It meant moving back to National City permanently. It meant working six days a week, endless hours, no social life. It meant giving up on Liz and spending less time with her. It meant slowing down her research on the prophecy and the Other, and the other Lena. She didn't know if she wanted that.
"I'll think about it." Lena finally sighed, looking into Sam's hopeful eyes. Her friend cheered with her fists up excitedly. Deep down, they both knew if Lena wanted to say no, she would have said it. Any other answer was close to a yes.
"When do you come back?"
Lena chuckled. "Soon enough. We'll see. I have to talk about it with Kara and see what we want to do, Liz included. I can't just up and leave Ireland. I'm not the only one to decide."
Sam nodded, a huge smile on her face. "So, it's going well with Kara?" She asked cheekily.
Lena laughed. "Better than you and Andrea, I heard."
"Argh." Sam chuckled a bit. "Did she say anything?"
"Oh, you know," Lena smiled widely, motioning around the room with her hand. "Only that you wanted a child and that she was freaking out."
Sam snorted loudly, taking a sip of her water, shaking her head disbelievingly. She closed her water bottle and looked at Lena with fondness in her eyes. Lena recognized in there the love she had only seen destined to Ruby. She was glad for the honesty in their friendship. Sam was never too ashamed or shy to share her life with her or to talk about what she wanted for herself.
"I know it sounds ridiculous. We're almost forty. But I love her and I think she would be a great mom. She just needs to put it in her head."
"She's lacking confidence in that department, though. She lost her mom very young."
"I know!" Sam agreed rapidly, having heard the argument already. "You lost your mom too and you're doing an amazing job with Liz. I didn't have my mom when I got Ruby and it didn't stop me from doing whatever I could for her."
"Andy is…" Lena sighed. "I don't like to talk behind her back. You're both my friends and I don't think it's ridiculous for you to have a child now, as long as you want them. Because I'm sure you'll love them with all your heart." She smiled to Sam, leaning on the table with her arms crossed. "I think Andy has given up on that dream a long time ago. When we were in boarding school, she once told me she was sure to be cursed because nobody seemed to love her enough since her mom had died."
Sam scrunched up her face. "I know what you mean. She has almost as much trust issues as you have."
Lena shoved her away playfully. "I'm getting better!" She exclaimed.
"I know! And so does she. I just…" Sam sighed. "We don't have much time, you know. If she doesn't want a baby now, I'll understand. But she can't give me an answer. And I keep waiting. But we can't wait endlessly."
Lena chuckled, taking Sam's hand. "You know, not giving an answer is sometimes an answer enough."
Sam tilted her head, intrigued.
"She wants you. She loves you, I can tell that much. Just talk to her. Break her walls. Andy's a softy at heart. She'll come around."
Sam smiled softly. "Thank you." She squeezed Lena's hand. "You're both softies actually."
"Hey!" Lena said, taking her hand back, falsely offended. They laughed together, until Liz came rushing out of her room.
"Mom!" The girl ran in her mother's arms.
"Oh, my sweet baby! I missed you so much!" Lena cooed, kissing her cheeks and neck repeatedly, making Liz squirm in her arms. "Did you have fun with Aunt Sam?"
"So much!" The girl said, looking at her godmother who winked at her.
"We did a sandcastle with kinetic sand." Sam explained. Liz nodded eagerly. "And Liz showed me all of Kara's paintings."
"Mommy said I could talk to Aunt Sam about Krypton." Liz said immediately to reassure Lena, who smiled affectionately at her.
"And we had a wonderful sleepover with Aunt Andy. We watched the Incredibles and ate tons of candies."
"Aunt Andy did my nails!" Liz said while shoving her hands in Lena's face who laughed before taking the little hands in hers to see better.
Liz's nails were colored like a rainbow with glitters every two fingers. Lena smiled at her and kissed her little fingers covered with markers colors. She looked at Sam who was smiling too, her eyes sparkling with affection and so much love for her goddaughter.
"Liz also told us she could hear our hearts beating now." Sam said proudly.
Lena looked down at Liz who was fidgeting with her fingers. "She does. I didn't know you liked to brag about your powers, young lady." She said teasingly but felt relieved to know Liz was at ease enough with her powers to talk about them now. Kara did miracles.
"She got it from her mommy." Sam said cheekily with her tongue out.
"What did I do?" Kara asked as she flew in through the balcony.
"Taught our daughter how to brag about her powers." Lena said with a huge smile.
Kara laughed and took Liz in her arms. She flexed her bicep, her suit glued to her skin, and Liz imitated her. "I don't know what you're talking about." Kara grinned while looking to Lena.
Sam laughed and stood up to take Liz back. "Don't corrupt her. This is my job."
"Alright!" Kara stepped back, hands raised. "You're right. You're better suited. At least we'll have someone to blame when she'll put her room on fire."
Sam laughed. "No, not me. That would be Lena and her weird experiments."
"Hey!"
They all laughed as Liz scrunched up her face, not understanding the conversation. She turned around in Sam's arms and grabbed at her collar.
"Aunt Sam, can you stay for dinner?" She asked, all pouted lips and glistening eyes.
Sam looked around, Kara and Lena nodding happily. "We're going to Alex's but you can come and bring Andy." Lena answered.
"Okay, only if we make chocolate cake with sprinkles on it for dessert."
Liz gasped then turned to look at her mothers, asking for permission with the same pout. Kara laughed and Lena snorted, crossing her arms.
"I think that's settled." The brunette said. "The kitchen's yours."
Sam nodded and started talking in Liz's ear, making her giggle as they walked to the kitchen. Lena felt Kara's hand glide in hers and looked at her.
"Can we talk?"
Lena swallowed the new lump in her throat. They were good, she kept repeating in her head. They just had some things to discuss. It was natural for couples to discuss things. They were good.
"Yes, I just have to change, if it's okay?"
Kara nodded and let go of her hand to walk towards the balcony. Lena watched her do, her suit taking the light, giving Kara a majestic aura. They were okay. Kara wasn't mad at her. They were okay. They had to discuss a lot of things, especially Lena going behind Kara's back to Ireland or Lena going behind Kara's back to see Jason. But they were okay. Kara wasn't mad at her.
When Lena walked on the Tower's balcony, Kara was peering down at the city, sitting on the railing with such ease that Lena was sure she was actually floating.
"There's a thing with us and balconies, uh?"
Lena had to admit it helped putting her at ease, knowing Kara was ready to talk to her with that calm knowing tone. She wasn't mad and that was a good thing. Lena could do with that.
"Well, wherever you go, there's a balcony." She remarked cheekily. Kara chuckled, agreeing. "And wherever you go, I go." Lena added, closing the distance between them, chuckling at her own poor pick-up line. She circled her arms around Kara's waist and hugged her sideways. Kara giggled and leaned against her, pulling out an arm to embrace Lena.
"Careful, Miss Luthor. Another line like this and I'll think you're in love."
Lena snorted. "I admit I might have a crush on Supergirl."
Kara giggled and turned aside, kissing her cheek. "I hope it's more than a crush."
"Definitely, darling. Definitely."
They let the last remnants of sun crawl on their skins, waiting for the star to set. The orange glow was making Kara's skin sparkle, her hair freely flowing with the wind. A Renaissance painting. Freshly out of Andrei Kovalev's gallery. Lena thought that beautiful was not even close to describe Kara's look. Mesmerizing, maybe. Captivating. God-like. Marvelous. Mythical.
They could hear the ruffle of the city below them. From here, the coast and its lazy waves looked relaxing. The balcony was offering a great view of the city and it struck Lena suddenly, as her sight blur in her observation of the Lena Luthor Foundation building, how all the struggles she had to pass in her life lead to that particular point. Where she was on the Tower balcony. With the love of her life. Where everything could change.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Kara asked as she flew above the railing to put foot on the balcony.
Lena met Kara's eyes then licked her lips in consideration. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk about it. She just didn't want Kara to judge her decision. She had visited Jason because she thought it could still be salvaged. Their relationship. Jason's soul. She didn't want to give up on him just because their father made him what he was like today. She still had hope. And it was all thanks to Kara. But she wasn't sure that the superhero would agree with that. Kara tended to protect her more than she deserved to be.
"I… It went well, considering… you know, his hatred towards me and all I represent."
Kara winced then pulled her closer, listening. Caring. Lena suddenly realized it was Kara she was speaking too. She didn't need to be afraid of being judged. Kara was the one who taught her that it wasn't vain to invest in people. She should understand.
"I want to see him more often." She said tentatively. "I know it can be dangerous," She added quickly to wipe out any potential contradiction from Kara. "But I think he deserves better. He's just like me, except he got the wrong side of the Luthor upbringing. There's still hope. I'm sure I can convince him I'm not that bad."
Kara's eyes were observing her closely. Lena felt momentarily shy under them, like a little child who was daring to ask permission for the first time. Kara then pulled her all the way against her and embraced her fully. They stayed like that for a while, not moving, not speaking, just breathing against each other. Sam and Liz's giggled could be heard from the kitchen. Kara's hand was forming circles on her lower back and Lena felt all the way relaxed thanks to it.
Then, Kara cleared her throat and the stress of a probable first confrontation between them resurfaced in Lena. She didn't want to fight with Kara. They were so happy until now.
"I'll support you." Kara said simply in a single breath. "Just… He's not meeting Liz. It's out of question."
Lena leaned away and met her eyes. Kara's face was serious and unyielding. Lena nodded slowly then licked her lips again.
"Of course. I agree. He's too dangerous."
"Good. And I want every interaction to be monitored through cameras."
Lena frowned, her question visible in her eyes.
"He tried to kill you, Lee." Kara emphasized her words by cupping Lena's cheeks. "I understand why you want to try and save him but I still need to know you're protected. I know you have powers but I'll feel better knowing someone will be there with you, even if it's just through a camera."
Lena nodded again. "Okay. That's fair." She took a breath. "Thank you."
Kara shook her head in disbelief then pulled her in a soft kiss. "You don't have to thank me for supporting you."
"I kind of have to."
"Nope. From now on, you'll have to get used to being listened to and cared for."
Lena chuckled lovingly. Kara's words had effect on her heart she wasn't sure she wanted to admit just yet. "Oh, that's what this whole relationship thing is going to be? I thought it was about who have the biggest secret and how long you succeed at keeping it."
Kara took an exaggerating surprised face. "You've been misled this whole time! We need to fix that!"
Lena giggled then buried her face in Kara's shoulder. She tried to find the courage to discuss the others topics they had to address with Kara before the moment was over and they had to go back inside.
"Sam wants me to take the lead back on the foundation."
"Hum, and what do you want?"
Lena shrugged. She had thought about it. More than that, actually. She had thought about what she wanted so much that she was sure the words were engraved in her brain.
"I want game nights every week. I want to help Brainy on his new projects. And go shopping and learn how to fight with Nia and Alex. I want to see Sam and Andrea regularly. I want to see Esme and Ambrose grow up. Be a part of their lives. And Kelly give birth to this little boy. I want to know your parents more and maybe reconcile with Clark. Make amends for Lex's mistakes. But what I want the most is…" She sighed, not sure how Kara would take it. "I want to stay with you. But I want…" She saw Kara's face fall. It was time for the big leap. "You, Liz and I in Ireland."
Lena wanted her friends back in her life. She wanted to be part of game nights and help with the little decisions, such as the colors of Brainy's office or Alex's new bike or Esme's new haircut. She wanted all that and she wanted even more for Liz. But, even if all their friends and family were here – Kara's family, technically -, Lena's only safe place was Ireland. Her family had helped her reconnect with her roots. She couldn't give up on the house or on her mother's legacy. And she wanted Liz to grow up in this house too. She wanted her to know stories about the ancestors who lived there. And Kara seemed more at peace there too, away from all the scuffle of the city. It could be good for the three of them, Lena was sure of it. She just hoped Kara saw it too.
Kara leaned away to look at her, as if to make sure Lena was serious. She frowned then looked at the sky above them.
"All my life is here." She said, not looking down.
"I know." Lena mumbled, disappointed.
"But I also fly really, really fast." Kara added. Lena looked up and saw her smiling from ear to ear.
"Is that a yes?"
Kara shrugged with one shoulder. "Let me think about it a bit more but…" She shrugged again. "I mean I can fly here to the office every day. And we can teleport for game nights or every other events. You can manage the Foundation from afar and visit once or twice a week so that you still can keep your actual job."
In the seconds it took her to think, Kara had already planned everything. Lena knew she should rejoice but a detail was missing. Her smile fell. "I don't know what we'll do about Liz's school."
Kara's infamous crinkle made its comeback. "We'll think about something. I could fly her to school here before going to work."
"Or she could be homeschooled."
Kara's lips formed a straight line. "I don't think it's a good idea, she's already so shy. She needs to see other children."
"Yeah, you're right. I just want her to feel safe."
Kara took her back in her arms and rubbed at her back reassuringly. Lena buried her head in her neck.
"We'll find a solution. Don't worry. At least she'll keep her room and her space. It won't be big changes."
"I hope she'll be okay with it."
"She will. I'm sure of it. National City is too dangerous for her anyway, with all the people knowing who you are and where you live. Ireland is a better choice."
Lena smiled up at her then buried herself back in Kara's arms contentedly. She was already seeing all the birthdays celebrated in the garden, and the game nights in her small kitchen, and the move-in of Kara's boxes of books. She was already seeing Liz growing up under the light of this amazing woman, of the most caring and kind mother her daughter deserved. Lena could see it all written for them. And her decision was made then. She would take her place back as CEO of the Foundation. She would raise Liz next to Kara, training her to be the toughest warrior she could be. And they would fight. Together. Until the end. Whatever it had planned for them.
"I have something else I need to tell you." She said reluctantly. She leaned back to watch Kara in the eyes. "I talked to my mother."
"Eliza-"
"Lillian." Lena interrupted.
Kara's face scrunched up. "Why? What did she have to say?"
"She knew about the prophecy. About the Other. About everything."
"Okay." Kara squeezed her tight. "What is it? Why do you look so freaked out suddenly?"
Lena pinched her lips, swallowed with difficulty. She couldn't ignore it any longer than she already had.
"The Other is another of my half-brother." She said quickly, her voice wavering. "He's my father's experiment." She looked up to meet Kara's eyes. "He's just 4 and being trained on Apokolips while we're speaking."
Kara's eyes traveled on her face, as if to make sure Lena was serious. Then, her eyes bulged out of their sockets.
"We're screwed." She whispered, terrified.
Lena winced. Now, they just had to tell the others and hoped for the better. The countdown had just started.
Eliza and Alura were shoulder to shoulder on Alex's couch, turning pages after pages slowly in the big pink album, cooing from time to time on baby pictures of Liz as Lena was giving explanations or anecdotes about the photos, laughing at her daughter's chocolate face. Zor-El and J'onn were looking too above the heads of the two grandmas with huge loving smiles on their faces. Zor-El was often sharing knowing glances with his daughter, saying with a cheeky grin how Liz was absolutely her daughter.
Kara couldn't erase the smile from her face. She liked this evening too much. It was all about toothy smiles and glistening eyes. She loved it. Everybody had reunited at Alex and Kelly's house, enjoying a time of peace after the week they got. Nia was running after Ambrose, who was himself running after the girls who were playing soccer in the garden with Kal, trying with some difficulties to catch the ball. Brainy and Kelly were cutting vegetables in the kitchen as Sam and Andrea were talking to them, enjoying their wine. Even Dick and Barbara had made it, at first really shy and closed-off but Lena had introduced them to their friends and they were part of the group now, encouraging the girls to catch Kal.
Yes, it was a lovely evening. And Lena… Lena was just extraordinary. Not in a witch way. Not even in the way her outfit was hugging her figure with elegance or how her hair was glowing in the natural light of the house's living room. She just belonged in Kara's family. She fitted so well in Eliza and Alura's discussion. She was charming them all, with batted eyelashes and raw anecdotes of Liz's first years of childhood. Kara was watching her tell stories after stories with passion and so much love for their daughter that she didn't even realize everybody was laughing except her. Lena stopped, frowning at her then arching an eyebrow. She leaned to whisper in her ear seductively.
"You're not very subtle."
Kara smiled down with a blush. She took a sip of her beer and shrugged. She mouthed an I love you and watched as Lena blushed in turn. The brunette then turned back to Eliza and Alura to answer their question about a specific photo.
"Oh! She was three on this one. It was the phase when she wanted to be dressed only in green, to match the grass in the garden and hide so that she could catch sight of the squirrels in the trees. She spent afternoons crawling in the grass slowly and waiting. I didn't know a three-year-old could be that patient."
Eliza laughed with her hand on her mouth, shaking her head and looking at Kara as if she could imagine her do the same thing.
"Kara did this too!" Alura exclaimed. The glint in her eyes made Kara's heart swell with love. "Do you remember, Zor?"
Kara saw her father smiled down at his wife and nodded. "She wore pink for weeks, to match the flowers close to the temple because she wanted to see the firvaldurs."
Her parents looked at her with fondness. Kara just shrugged. "I still try to catch sight of butterflies here too, you know. I just don't need to wear pink anymore. I'm faster than them." She grinned.
"Smartass." Alex coughed next to her and Kara shoved her playfully.
"It's sad we don't have any pictures of you anymore." Alura said, seemingly disappointed and nostalgic about their past life.
Zor-El put a comforting hand on her shoulder and she took it. "We have plenty of memories. And we are alive to tell them. Under Rao's light."
"Under Rao's light." Alura repeated, smiling at Kara.
"I have some pictures at home of Kara when she arrived to live with us. I can bring them next time." Eliza said, shrugging lightly.
Alura and Zor-El looked thankful for her. "That would be amazing." Alura said, squeezing Eliza's hand between hers.
Kara looked at the two mother figures of her life were finally in the same place. Her heart was so full at the moment, she couldn't even fathom how lucky she was. She felt Lena's cold fingers in hers and smiled at her.
"How much time would you need to go take this photo album and come back?" Lena asked in her ear with a playful arched eyebrow.
Kara raised her eyebrows and thought for a second, scrunching her nose up. "Without counting birds' traffic?" Lena chuckled, nodding. "Just long enough for you to tell another story about Liz." Kara grinned.
"Then go, Supergirl." Lena kissed her cheek. Kara blushed darkly under her parents' gaze and stood up.
"I'm going to Midvale to take that album." She said to Eliza. "Can I have your keys?"
Eliza smiled up at her and gave her the keys willingly. Kara rushed out, not even turning as Alex shouted that she was started the timer on her watch. She threw a thumb up and took off. In seconds, she had crossed the state and was in front of Eliza's house.
The house was as she remembered it and she felt a bit nostalgic of her years with the Danvers, helping Eliza bake or going fishing with Jeremiah. Bantering with Alex. She found the album in the shelves next to the TV and took the one next to it too. As she walked through the house and watched the picture frames, she realized that it was memories she wanted to create with Liz and Lena. She wanted to go camping with them and show them how the world was beautiful. She wanted to teach Liz how to swim and how to row a boat and build a tent. She wanted all this and more. She wanted to see Lena pregnant when she would be ready and watch another little them running around behind Liz, imitating her every move. She wanted so much more.
But Kara couldn't help thinking that it could all be shortened by the threats they were facing. It was infuriating. Not being able to do anything. As she locked the door up, she thought about her discussion with her friends and family earlier. She took off in the sky, breaking the sound barrier, her face tense. They had arrived a bit earlier than the other guests to explain to Kelly and Alex and Nia and Brainy what Lena had discovered through Lillian. They had all assured they would help them and Liz face whatever they had to but they had all agreed there was nothing else they could do beside wait for the Other to show up. Alex had showed interests in training Liz alongside Esme, as she was already giving the twelve-year-old weekly practice but Lena was still reluctant. Liz was only six. Kara could only agree. It wasn't a life for a child. Being trained, knowing how to fight, always being ready for conflict. It wasn't supposed to go that way. She didn't want that life for Liz and she understood now why Lena had hidden that many years. Liz was better away from the Superhero life. But now, they couldn't do otherwise. Liz had been chosen. It was her fate. And it was terrible.
Kara eased down in the garden, in the middle of the soccer game. Liz groaned and chastised her.
"Mommy, you're blocking us!" She exclaimed, shoving her away.
Kara raised her hands defensively. "Sorry, I didn't know I was interrupting something." She said.
Kal chuckled and winked at her before taking off again with the ball. Kara watched them for a moment, the two albums under her arm.
"Seven minutes and forty-three seconds. It's five minutes too late. What happened? It was the geese again?"
Kara snorted and turned to meet her sister's playful expression. "No, I stopped to take your baby pictures too."
Alex gaped at her and tried to grab at the album but, of course, Kara was quicker and she started to run across the garden.
"Give me that album! Kara!" Alex kept shouting, Kara giggling hysterically. She stopped then, as she noticed Nia recording them.
"What? It's for prosperity. The world needs to know Supergirl and Sentinal are just silly goofballs."
Alex gaped again and rushed to Nia who laughed and shot her with a small blast of dream energy, hitting her squarely in the shoulder. Alex stopped, looked at her shoulder, then looked slowly back to Nia. The woman wasn't grinning proudly anymore.
"You're so screwed, Aunt Nia." Esme exclaimed next to Kara. The blonde snorted and took this opportunity to walk inside as Alex was distracted and gave Kelly the Alex's album.
"You'll show Esme later." She winked at her before taking her place back next to Lena and circling her shoulder with an arm. She gave the other album to Eliza who placed it next to them on the couch.
"What took you so long?" Lena asked with an arched brow. Kara bit her lip shyly. She didn't want to express her worry and ruin their evening so she just shrugged.
"I was just thinking. About us. And Liz."
Lena's eyes flashed with worry and understanding. Without saying a word, she grabbed at Kara's hand and intertwined their fingers.
"We're going to be okay." She whispered earnestly. "We're in this together."
"Together." Kara agreed.
They looked away as Alura cooed over Kara's teenage years. Lena leaned her head on Kara's shoulder.
"El mayarah." Kara heard her whisper.
Alura and Zor-El's heads whipped towards her with fondness in their eyes and so much pride. Kara's eyes were glistening just like her mother's were. She fixed her gaze in hers and repeated their house's motto.
"El mayarah." She said, squeezing Lena close. She kissed the crown of her head and grabbed at Kelly's hand who had taken Alex's place on the arm of the chair.
They were all in this together. For better or for worse. Liz was already so loved, it could only go well. And if it didn't, they would do everything in their power to fight until the end. She knew it. Kara knew it. She could feel it to her core. They were together. Moving forward. Growing. It was the only thing that mattered to her.
A/N: This is the end of what I call part one in my head. Next, we'll be two chapters about origins. (Of whom, of what, you'll see ;) ) And then, we'll bring the battles up!
As always, thanks for reading and keeping up with this story for that long. It's always a pleasure to read your reactions so don't hesitate to tell me what you thought.
Any reaction to Sam x Andrea? Any thoughts about Liz's reaction to Lena and Kara?
Thanks guys, see you next time!
Take care!
PS: You can follow me on Twitter: MGoemaere27