Archive of Our Own

Three weeks after William's funeral

Kara was at her own apartment. She was listening to the news while preparing the flowers for her sister's wedding. She was happy for them. Alex and Kelly had been through a lot in the past two years with the rest of them and they deserved at least this one day where they could be happy without the burdens of the world on their shoulders. Especially with Esme in the family. She loved that little girl and she deserved all of her moms attention. She really wanted to be truly happy for them but somehow she was feeling... unwell. Not because of her sister's seemingly perfect life. She felt like something was missing. Picking the flowers she caught the sound of the reporter on TV.

Firefighters are at a loss at what to do with a cat trapped inside the branches of National City's oldest tree, which extends higher than firefighters can reach right now.

This was it. Kara's eyes flickered with a glimpse of hope as she sighed in relief. There are some things she could help with. She grabbed her glasses and turned around to whoosh out of the building as the reporter's voice grabbed her attention again and she turned back.

Hold on a moment. It appears local business leaders have banded together, to create a rope and pulley system, and they're getting  Howls, the British Shorthair down right now.

Kara put her glasses back on. She was disappointed. She was also proud of the people. They came together stronger than ever and fixed problems they would've screamed "HELP" for weeks ago. It was a nice change and it was a very good thing that they haven't relied on her being there for them 24/7 but at the same time it was like something got ripped away from her. Something meaningful. For the past six years being Supergirl became her identity. The hero-self of her was the closest she ever got to living as Kara Zor-El from Krypton. And by being the hero she was she felt close not only to her parents and her home but to her cousin too. She sighed and picked up the remote to turn off the TV.

At that moment her phone rang. An unknown number popped up on the screen. She picked the phone up confused and put it to her ear.

"Hello?" she asked with clear confusion. Who on earth would call her at that time? She had her friends' and family members' number saved and she didn't work for CatCo anymore. A familiar voice started to talk on the other side.

"Do you know who I despise, Ker-rah? I despise people." Cat Grant's voice filled the kryptonian's ears and she felt extreme confusion and happiness at the same time. Cat Grant was the one who sent her on her way and gave her millions of great advice as Kara and as Supergirl. Heck that woman created Supergirl as a hero. "All of them. I really do."

"Ms. Grant?" she asked in disbelief shaking her head even tho the woman on the other side couldn't possibly see it.

"People are not only destructive, selfish, they're just so stupid." Kara chuckled and tried to open her mouth.

"Ms. Grant do you, uh-"

"No, no, uh-uh, ee." she interrupted making strange noises in the way only her old friend could. "I'm speaking."

"Yup." Kara shut up immediately, perfectly agreeing with her.

"Do you know that 50% of the coral reefs are gone? Dead. All because of stupid human behavior. You want to know what's corroding the coral, Ker-rah? Sunscreen. Fourteen thousand tons of it. And that is such a dilemma."

"I had no idea there was so much sunblock in the ocean. That's terrible."

"I really don't have any time to educate you right now, Ker-rah. As we speak there is a gorgeous sea turtle being strangled by a large, abandoned ghost net, and I have to go rescue her with my bare hands, and--" she stopped for a second with a gasp. "Oh! Edgardo! Edgardo! Afilla mi chucillo!" she yelled in a terrible accent. "Por favor!" she added and a muffled male voice answered in the background. "Gracias. Gracias." she got her voice back down as she continued to talk to Kara. "Edgardo. I love Edgardo. He's my favorite divemaster. I've been trying to learn Espanol for him but... sigh it's not going very well." Cat Grant made exactly a zero amount of sense to Kara but she listened as she spoke.

"Where are you?" she finally asked in disbelief.

"Nuqui, Colombia, the Pacific Coast. But you know, Ker-rah, I cannot stand here I'm sorry and chitchat. I am burning up. I am wearing a wetsuit. I need to get in the water."

"Ms. Grant, wait. Wait!" Kara stopped her before she hung up on her. "Was there a reason you called me?"

"Well Ker-rah. Yes. CatCo was for sale so I bought it." she answered and Kara heard on her voice, the woman was smiling.

"You... You bought back CatCo?" she asked cause she couldn't believe it. To be honest she could never fully understand Cat Grant. 

"Yes I did. Everything became clear. I'm a reporter. And there's no tool more powerful to change than the press. So you and I, we're going to sound the alarm. And, together, we are only going to report on what's essential. Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. I am hiring you as my new editor-in-chief. And the contracts are in your inbox, and I'll be home in two weeks. Okay. Okay. I gotta go. Adios! Edgardo! Edgardo, I'm ready!" she yelled out and put the phone down while Kara tried to say something.

"Ms. Grant that's-" she started but the woman already hung up. "Hello? Hello?" as she realized her heartbeat became faster and she had to take multiple deep breaths to process what she just learned. Cat Grant was back and she wanted to make her boss at CatCo. At the start that was all she ever wanted. Then Supergirl came along and she had to put her ambitions aside. Now she could go back and finish what she had started but Kara felt suddenly the whole world lying on her shoulders. Would she be able to do this again? Be a hero and a reporter at the same time? As far as she knew Cat Grant didn't know she was Supergirl. She had her suspicions but she cleared it up. It was a big thing. She wanted it and yet she felt like she shouldn't do it. She couldn't have it all. Either be Supergirl or be a reporter. The two never mixed.

By the time night came she was deep into her thoughts sitting at the table in the middle of her apartment surrounded by beautiful flowers for the big day. She wasn't nearly done with them. Suddenly the door opened and her sister stepped inside.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late. The caterer broke her arms, so we had to find a replacement at the last minute and... the arrangements. Kara." she looked at the table with the half finished bouquets. "The flowers aren't done. You realize that the wedding is in the morning, right? Like, as in tomorrow?" she used her hands to underline her sentence. 

"Yes, I will super speed. They will get done, I promise." Kara stopped her seeing Alex's shocked expression. Then she took a deep breath and grabbed two flowers. Alex crossed her arms.

"Okay. What's going on?" she asked. Alex always knew how to read her sister. There were no secrets between the two. They shared a bond stronger what blood could ever create. Kara was perfectly transparent to her sister.

"Uh, well, Cat Grant called me. Um, she bought CatCo back from Andrea."

"You're kidding?" Alex let her arms fall and looked at Kara in disbelief.

"Nope. And she offered me a job." she finally looked up at her sister. "As... editor-in-chief." Alex looked shocked and excited at the same time as she lifted her hands up.

"Kara, that's your dream job. I mean I'm so excited for you."

"I'm not gonna take it." she said immediately without any thinking. She was thinking enough and she didn't want her sister to get herself hyped up about this too much. She stood up from her seat. "I'm not taking it." she said again starting to walk towards the living room.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait." Alex stepped after her looking confused. "What? What? What am I missing here?"

"Ever since we defeated Lex and Nixly and started the work of empowering people..." she turned around and sat down on her couch. "I've been amazed at how you and all of our friends are flourishing. You guys are living your dreams" she sighed with a longing for all that her friends and family had. "Somehow I feel..." she started but struggled to get the words right. "Deflated" she said at last but this one word couldn't possibly say all the emotions steering inside of her. 

"Accept Cat's offer." Alex stepped to her and sat down right beside her sister to give her the closure she needed. She knew Kara Danvers better than anyone in this world but sometimes she was hard to understand. And even then Alex managed to get in her head and straighten out her thoughts and feelings. "Maybe that'll give you a sense of purpose." at this Kara stood up.

"Alex, I quit CatCo because my attention was split. I was never able to really do my best because I was always sneaking off to be Supergirl, and that hasn't changed." she sounded somewhat annoyed at her sister, thinking she didn't understand her. "If anything, it's gonna be worse because I will have much more responsibility now."

"Your responsibilities as Supergirl have changed" Alex pointed out. "Because you're no longer shouldering that burden of protecting the planet on your own. Maybe there's a world where you can do both."

"Doing both will always require me to lie about who I am and where I'm going" she sat back down. She acted like a tiger in a cage and she really felt like one at that moment. Trapped between two worlds where in one she was Supergirl, the hero of the world that the people didn't really need anymore and in the other she was Kara Danvers who was deeply afraid to live her life. "Who am I now? I mean, what am I supposed to do? For six years I couldn't get a normal relationship even with people like me! And I messed up my friendships and I just... I can't do this all over again. Not anymore, Alex but as much as I wish, I can never have it all!" she looked at her sister with tears blurring her view.

„Kara!" Alex grabbed her sisters face between her hands so she would look her in the eyes. „I don't know the answers to these questions. I wish I did. But these are things you have to figure out. But I will be right beside you the whole time and punch everyone in the face who comes up against us" she held Kara's hands in hers and squeezed them a little. „El mayarah. And you can have it all. Especially now."

„How can you be so sure?"

„Because I know you. Nothing can stop you if you make up your mind about something."

"What would I do without you?" Kara asked sniffing. She pulled one of her hands away and got rid of the tears running down her cheeks while leaning into her sister's lap on a pillow she had pulled there.

"I know, but you are gonna find out quick if you don't get these flower arrangements done stat."

"Oh, scary!" Kara chuckled.

The day of the wedding

Everything was perfect. The place was filled with beautiful decorations. Kara stayed up for long to finish those freaking flowers and she was proud of herself. After Alex left she'd been thinking about her life. Mostly the past two years of it. A lot of things happened that she had never expected and a lot of feelings came up she never even knew about.

As she was getting ready for the big day with her stepmother, Esme ran in happily. Her niece was someone she saw herself in but with the chance to have a better way of growing up. Not needing to hide herself behind a pair of glasses.

"Did Grandpa J'onn do that?" she asked. The martian used his mind powers to draw on the sky for the wedding just moments before and Kara saw it from the window. She turned around.

"Yes he did! Isn't it so cool?" the little girl chuckled that made both her and her mom also laugh. Then she saw motion coming from the doorway to the other room and Alex stepped out fully dressed for her big day. She was wearing a white suit with high heels. Their mother put her hand on her own chest as she looked at her daughter proudly.

"Oh, Alexandra, you are a most radiant bride" she sad smiling while they both stepped closer to the lucky woman.

"Thanks, Mom."

"I know I made mistakes as a mother..." she started looking at Kara and then back to Alex. "But you have already parented with more wisdom than I ever had. I am so, so proud of you."

Alex started to tear up and stepped to her mother to hug her, holding her close. They had their problems in the past. It wasn't easy when she was a teenager and after that she had to hide where she worked and she also had to put up with a lot of things coming from her mother but eventually they found their peace with each other. They opened up and finally found closure.

"I love you."

Kara just looked at them with a huge smile. She was proud of the both of them. The moment was over as soon as Esme decided to step into the picture in the cutest way possible.

"Guys, I want hugs, too" she demanded.

"Me too!" Kara added stepping closer laughing.

"Come here" Alex smiled at her daughter as she hugged her.

"So do I!" Kara laughed.

"Of course." Her sister then embraced her too saying she loved her.

"You are so beautiful" Kara smiled looking once again up and down at her big sis.

"You are" their mother agreed. "My girls."

Meanwhile at the other side of a door James was waiting on her sister. Kelly was also getting ready for the big day putting on the dress she picked out. As she stepped out of the room James had to gasp in shock of how beautiful his little sister was.

"You look radiant."

"Oh, come on" Kelly said playing with the skirt of the dress.

"No, no, no. I'm serious" he said standing up from his seat. "My baby sister has grown up to be such a woman of grace. Alex and Esme are so lucky to have you."

"Okay, you're gonna make me cry" Kelly smiled at her brother.

"Dad would be so proud of you."

"Dad would be so proud of you too" Kelly answered with her voice quivering from all the emotions that came at her at once. James saw that she was struggling a little so he stepped to her to give her a hug.

"Okay, alright. Come on" he let her go and Kelly laughed as he picked up a small, black box. "I got something for you. As you know, not all heroes wear capes" he said giving the box to Kelly. "It's a signal watch, upgraded by Alex, so we can watch each other's backs any time we need to. Just, small caveat. Don't tell Mom I gave that to you 'cause if you do, she would make us portal in for dinner every single night, and I can't take the tacos" they were both laughing by the end. 

"I love you" Kelly said with all the confidence the whole world had so her brother could feel she had meant it. 

"I love you too, kiddo" he smiled at her with a very proud look on his face.

Nia was waiting alone in the middle of the grass. She was anxious. The guests were coming and going all in pairs and she couldn't think about anything else, just how lonely she had felt in the past three weeks. It wasn't the same without Brainy and thinking he was dead by then... well not technically cause his death didn't actually happen for at least a thousand years, but still. She was alone and she missed him very much. She felt it every day but in a wedding it started to became unbearable and she even thought about leaving the whole thing. But she didn't want to let Alex and Kelly down by doing that. She almost had decided on leaving when a familiar voice caught her ears and she turned towards the source immediately.

"Excuse me, miss? You don't happen to have a plus-one to this event, do you?" Brainy asked with a smile on his face. He was as green and alive as ever and in a very good suit.

"What are you doing here?" Nia asked looking at him in disbelief. For a second she thought it was a dream. She fell asleep somewhere at the wedding and it was all her head playing with her. "What about the-?" she tried to ask but Brainy finished the sentence before her.

"Space-time continuum? The Big Brain?" he stepped closer. "Yes, yes, these are valid concerns. Logical concerns" he looked Nia in the eyes. "Sprock logic. I love you, Nia" he confessed. Brainy was a twelfth level intellect from the 31st century. He was a 99% logical person who despised everything beyond that. And yet that one percent of him wished for nothing more than to go back to the 21st century to be with the woman he loved so deeply. He loved Nia so much that he was willing to risk the fate of the world only to have a chance for a happy life with her. He grabbed her hand. "I love you more than I've ever loved anything. I've devoted my entire life to the pursuit of protecting people. But when I returned to the future, I realized that the pursuit felt hollow. The most important thing to me is devoting myself to you."

Nia still couldn't believe that Brainy was standing right in front of her saying all these things. She thought him dead and now there he was. And she was still concerned.

"But what about the future?" she struggled to say the words. "What if us being together does destroy the future?" she asked.

"That's the thing about the future. It hasn't been written yet." It was a thing he realized after a couple days back in the 31st century. That future he came from changed over and over again every time they came back to do something. Things were different. Things changed and maybe. Just maybe there was a slight chance that him staying there would change things in a way that they wont have to worry about anything. And he was willing to take that risk. He was an alien and a hero but beside Nia he also learned to be human just enough to care about himself and not only about the fate of the world. And that realization made him feel less torn between what he wanted and what was right. He deserved to be happy too.

The ceremony had begun with Kara and Winn singing on the small stage right beside the place where the two brides were supposed to go. Their voices were beautiful together. Slowly, Alex and J'onn showed up. It was obvious that he would be the one to give Alex away. Since Jeremiah disappeared, he was the person who took up the role of the father in both girls lives and especially for the past six years he did become a part of the family. He was proud of Alex and when she asked him to give her away he almost cried... well he did but just after the woman left. Now he was tearing up again as he walked her down the aisle. Alex stepped to her place and J'onn stood beside her. He was in the middle because he was also the one who took up the part of the priest.

Then Esme showed up right after them with a small basked of flower petals in her light pink dress and sprinkled the way with them with a huge smile on her face. She was the cutest addition to the wedding and everyone knew it. Alex smiled at her daughter and she smiled back, than she ran next to her grandmother and sat on her place.

Slowly Kelly have arrived arm in arm with James. Their father not being with them anymore it was his place to give her away and he was more than happy to do it. Kelly was holding back tears as she was walking towards her soon-to-be wife who was looking at her like she just came down from the heavens. She felt like a goddess and she felt happy. Happier than ever. She was afraid of being in a relationship. Than afraid of being engaged. Her past haunted her for so long but now she could finally believe that there was a happy future ahead of her. With Alex and Esme and both their families. 

She stopped to give a kiss on her brother's cheek and she gave him her bouquet, then she stepped up beside Alex and J'onn. She looked at her bride and smiled the biggest smile ever in the universe.

As Kara and Winn finished the song they gave each other a hug and everyone started clapping. Then they hurried to their seats and looked at their friends who were just about to tie their lives together.

"Wow. Just wow" J'onn started. "I have been waiting for this moment for..." he stopped to think a little. "a long, long time, ever since I met Alex and Kelly. Now I know you're wondering how I would know this would happen. I can assure you, I did not read their minds." everyone laughed at this, but they soon became silent so he could continue. "I didn't have to. It was obvious. I've known Alex for quite some time. And whilst I've always known her to be smart, and dutiful..." his voice broke a little as he was fighting with his emotions. "Resourceful, and a total badass." he started blinking a bit more rapidly as the two brides laughed. Both of them also trying to fight their feelings off. It was hard because nobody saw J'onn J'onnz emotional. Ever. "I have always thought that there was something... missing. Kelly is Alex's missing puzzle piece. They complement each other. In each other's company, they find balance. And that balance... at a foundational level... is love. And now I'd like to step back and allow Kelly and Alex to say exactly how they feel."

J'onn's speech was a beautiful one. Everyone could feel it in their hearts. It reached the people right in front of him and even those in their seats. Especially the ones sitting in the front row. As Kara listened to it she couldn't help but think of a name. Someone who completed her just the way J'onn described Kelly for Alex. They were not two halves but two, who could always protect each other, count on each other and pull each other back from the verge of a cliff. Her eyes ventured to her left where right beside James there was Lena. She was looking at the pair and Kara couldn't help but think that her best friend was the exact person J'onn just described but for her. She looked back at her sister and Kelly as they started their vows.

"Alex..." Kelly started. "You have been my person and my rock and my voice of reason. And occasionally, my beloved agent of chaos." she laughed as tears fell down her cheeks and Alex too couldn't help but fight with her own wish to cry from happiness.

"Yeah." she nodded agreeing on the last words.

"Over the last two years," Kelly continued. "I wish I could say that I always knew it was you, but I didn't know until recently. When you came home, and you found me distraught and heartbroken, and you didn't try to fix me. You didn't try to put me back together again. You were just there to hold me. And that's when I knew beyond any doubt, that I couldn't live another day without you. So I vow to be that person for you. Someone who is there for you if you need me. I vow to hold space for you, for our love, for our family, and for our future." she finished her voice trembling the whole time. But she could get the words out in a way she knew she was understood.

"I spent so long living this inauthentic life that I forgot who I was. It took a long time to figure out myself, but it was never really, truly me... until I found you. You are my truth, Kelly. And you and Esme... have created a life for me that I not only never dreamt would be possible three years ago. So I promise to show you the love that you've shown me. And I promise to always, always acknowledge the abundance in our lives and to never take it for granted. Never take you for granted, as I'm yours, always." as she finished, from the corner of her eyes she could see her mom and her sister hugging each other and she smiled to herself. She was happy to have the family she had and she was lucky that the woman in front of her chose her and became a part of that family.

"I now pronounce you wife and wife" J'onn said the words. "You may kiss the bride." he smiled as the two women embraced and with a not-so-final kiss, sealing the ceremony. The people stood up shrieking happily for them and clapping.

After the ceremony the people started to drink and eat and just have fun. Alex and Kelly gave a small speech thanking everyone who came. Esme ended the speech yelling "We're married!" and her moms laughed as she ran to her aunt and Nia. Kara picked her up as she looked at her sister and sister-in-law. 

"All these birdhouses are so pretty" Alex said looking at the gifts. "Who made them?"

"We did! Me and Aunt Kara!" Esme said proudly in her aunt's arms.

"We've been working on it as a surprise" Kara chimed in with a smile.

"It's a lovebird theme!"

"Oh, thank you, my baby bird." Kelly smirked at her daughter. She couldn't stop smiling and so did Alex.

In one of the tents Winn and J'onn were standing side by side looking at Alex and Kelly from afar.

"It's amazing to see Alex so buoyant. God, you remember how she used to terrify me?" he asked and both of them laughed at the memories.

"Her death stare while interrogating prisoners at the DEO."

"The endless foot chases, the amounts of glass on the floor at the DEO." he pulled his hand in front of him like he was touching the floor. 

"You know, hopefully the new one will be a beacon of peace, not violence."

"It will be." Winn spoiled it smiling. "At least that's what, uh, yours and M'gann's son tells us." he pat his old friend on the shoulders as he took his leave. "Papa bear!"

"My son?" he looked after him not believing his ears. 

Esme ran beside him holding a birdhouse.

"Uncle Jimmy, Uncle Jimmy, I made you a special birdhouse, just for you." she put it on the table as she climbed up on the chair and sat down in front of her uncle. He chuckled as he picked the wooden house up and looked at it.

"I knew you were some kind of an artist. This is amazing, thank you."

"You really like it?" she asked smiling.

"Anyone who doesn't like a hand-painted birdhouse, they don't have a heart, okay?" he asked and she nodded. "And I have a gift for you. Your grandfather had a camera just like this." he stood up and kneel before the little girl. "And he gave it to me. And I figured I would continue the tradition." he said giving the camera to Esme.

"I love it. And I love you."

"I love you, too. Now let's show you how to take a real picture."

Next to their table sat Lena with Sam. Ruby was gone saying she'd like to find Alex to catch up with her. She had a great relationship with that woman when Sam had a hard time being Reign and she missed her so when the invites came Sam thought she was being even more excited about the wedding than the two brides.

"It was a great ceremony" Sam smiled as she took a sip from her drink. "When will I get the invite to yours?" she asked and both of them laughed.

"Come on, Sam. You know I'm not seeing anyone right now."

"Really?" Sam seemed surprised which confused Lena. "I mean sorry for assuming anything, but for the past few weeks since we've been catching up you couldn't stop talking about..." she nodded towards the crowd and Lena looked at the direction. Her eyes immediately caught Kara. "So I thought, you know. According to the amount of time the two of you had spent together you might as well be dating."

"Oh my god, Sam! You think that Kara and I are...?" she asked turning back, but Sam tilted her head and gave her a you-gotta-be-kidding-me look. Lena's face turned serious. "No. We are just... friends. That's all" she answered but the word 'friend' came harder than ever. For the past year she was trying to redeem herself in every way possible just so that she could prove Kara that she wasn't a lost cause. She had to admit, the second Kara got sent to the Phantom Zone she felt like a part of her had been ripped out of her chest and when she came back the pieces her heart fell to started to slowly rebuild themselves.

"Lie to yourself, Honey. But I saw how you were looking at her while she was up at that stage" she said drinking the last sips of her drink. Lena opened her mouth to say something but the two brides showed up with Sam's daughter.

"Hey, Lena! Do you have a minute?" Alex asked. She looked at Sam, than stood up. She loved Sam but this conversation made her feelings stir up inside of her and she couldn't be happier for the resque the two women just offered her.

"Of course. I'll be right back" she smiled at Ruby who was way bigger than the last time they've met years ago. She was growing up fast. It's already been three years. She walked out of the tent with her friends and Alex went arm in arm with her. It was good the two of them wanted to talk 'cause she needed something to get her mind off of what Sam just said. She became confused and scared of the thought of ever standing in front of Kara with something like this. She was her best friend. She didn't want to ruin that and she didn't even know what she felt about it. She needed time and a good distraction. "So I have to say, this is the best wedding I've ever been to" she said looking at the pair with a big smile.

"It kind of is, isn't it?" Alex asked. 

"It's 'cause we have friends that love us, friends that are like family" Kelly said and she could talk in ways that if she said the sky was green and unicorns existed, everyone would believe it. But after the last five years of her life, Lena wasn't really sure if unicorns didn't actually exist. "Which brings us to what we wanted to discuss with you" she continued.

"I know. You want to adopt me, right?" Lena asked jokingly, stopping in front of them and the three of them laughed at this.

"Well, it's something like that, but, um, in reverse." Alex explained and she looked at Kelly for a little support. "We would, um, we would really love for you to be Esme's godmother." Lena was in a bit of a shock hearing the news but it created a warm feeling in her chest that radiated through her veins and eventually her whole body. Her being a part of the family at this level was something she could never even dream of. Even if Kara and Alex proved it to her on several occasions that she was not like her ex-family, it was still unthinkable for her as a Luthor to be a part of the Super-Danvers family.

"I mean... I was just really happy being the really cool aunt but yes! Yes, of course!" she accepted immediately, hugging the two women. She loved Esme and she loved the little girl's family and she was over the moon happy that they wanted to make her being a part of this official.

"I love you." Kelly said hugging her back and Alex also reassured her with a "We love you." while also giving her a warm hug.

"You guys..."

The dancing and drinking continued as everyone were having fun. Brainy clearly had the time of his life showing off his 31st century dance moves and Esme also danced until her legs couldn't take it anymore. Winn showed Kara some moves that they both tried out but they were laughing so hard that they had a hard time getting it right. The two picked up James after they were too tired of dancing and went for a walk, just the three of them. They had a lot of catching up to do. Winn spent the last three years in the future and James has been absent doing his thing while Kara, as usual was all over the news being Supergirl.

"Oh and Mxy sends his regards from the 5th Dimension. He pops by the Legion now and then."

"Ha!" Kara rolled her eyes. At first she hated the imp but after his second showing up he became somewhat a friend and then he managed to get close to her heart while they fought with Nyxly.

"For the wedding, actually he said that he's going to give Alex and Kelly one free wish..."

"No way!" she interrupted, but Winn finished his sentence anyways.

"Worth forty dollars or less." James laughed at that sitting down at a table on one side of Kara, while Winn sat on the other side.

"Oh, my god."

"I miss you guys. I miss the three of us together" James said smiling at the two.

"The O.G. Super Friends" Kara laughed and she looked proud of the first two people who she had started everything with.

"Yeah" Winn agreed laughing. They were the first three people who were in with this whole Supergirl thing that wasn't her sister and it was a really nice thing having Winn and James in the beginning. Kara really missed working with them.

"Remember that room in CatCo where we used to hide away from Ms. Grant so she didn't know what we we're doing?" James asked.

"Yes, with the drywall." Kara said still remembering everything about that room.

"I learned about the multiverse in that room, guys." Winn defended the room immediately.

"So did we."

"I did, too. Yeah." James nodded. 

"Man, I was Cat Grant's I.T. guy, can you believe? And then you two walk in and suddenly change everything. There I was, fighting bad guys and making some super suits." Winn became a bit nostalgic and the others joined.

"You make a good suit." Kara agreed. She loved the super suits Winn created. 

"Thank you. What I'm saying is that... I mean look at us. We've come so far since then."

"I figured out what  I really wanted in life" James smiled and he was happy with his choices.

"Hey, guys, come on. You're missing out." Lena yelled to them. "Come on!" 

"Oh yeah, this is a great song." Kara stood up and as the boys left she wanted to follow them, but her phone started to ring. As she saw the number, she shook her head with a faint smile and picked it up. "Ms. Grant."

"Ker-rah, hello. Are you in the hospital? Are you in traction?"

"What? No."

"Well, you haven't signed your contract so what other explanation can there be?"

"Yeah about that I'm-" she started but Cat Grant, as she always does, stopped her mid sentence.

"Oh, no. No, no, no. Don't tell me you're stuck."

"Yes, I-" she wanted to say but she got interrupted once again which was so Ms. Grant but also a little bit frustrating.

"Well, Ker-rah, even environmental crusaders take a day off. Perhaps that's why you're having another personal crisis. Because you never take a break" as usual she was mostly right. Kara never let herself take a break and just enjoy life. She was also scared that if she let's herself have everything or just a part of what she want's she will lose it or mess it up in a couple weeks if not days.

"No, no, it's not that. It's... I don't know how to explain."

"Well, you're a grown-up now, Ker-rah. Use your words. Happy face, sad face. Get in touch with your feelings. Give it a whirl."

"I guess I just never felt whole. I have... I have different sides to myself. Kind of like two different people," she tried to explain not knowing that Cat Grant saw right through her from likely day one of being Supergirl. "but the two parts of me just... They don't really go together. Actually, I'm at my sister's wedding right now, and her life is just blooming. She's fully at home with who she is, and what she stands for, and it's amazing. You can feel it." she looked at her sister's direction with longing in her eyes and voice. Her too wanted that life for herself. "I just feel-"

"Bifurcated?" Cat finished instead.

"Yes." she agreed.

"Inauthentic?"

"Well, yeah."

"You know, it reminds me of a quote from an old English lord. "Secrecy is the badge of fraud." And he should know, by the way, because he used to feed his hunting dogs these little baby foxes for lunch. He was a monster. But nevertheless, there is no mystery here."

"What do you mean?"

"That it doesn't take Freud to see that you have a secret and it's obstructing your life. And it's not serving you anymore, so screw it."

"Not that simple, Ms. Grant. You can't understand. I don't..."

"Oh. You're Supergirl. La-di-da." Ms. Grant had enough of walking on eggshells in this converstation.

"You... You knew?" Kara asked in shock.

"Please, those spectacles disguised you as much as a pair of Groucho Marx glasses, and you should've just added the bushy eyebrows and the moustache. Well I heard your speech here, in Colombia. Well... "Supergirl's" speech. And "Supergirl" told the people that they should become empowered and that they should take care of themselves. And I'm wondering why that message doesn't apply to toi?"

"You have a good point." Kara admitted with tears filling up her eyes.

"Oh, Ker-rah, I always have a point. Now, let's take a look at everything that Supergirl and Kara Danvers have accomplished separately. And then let's imagine what you could do if you became one integrated, authentic being."

"I don't know if I'm ready."

"Ker-rah, you need to stop making excuses, and you need to decide what your course will be. Now there is important work to be done, and I hope you'll join me. But more than that, I hope that you will choose to become your full self, because that would really be something to see. And it would be interesting because this is boring. You can have it all. It's right in front of you. You just have to reach for it."

"Thank you, Ms. Grant." Kara exhaled in disbelief that it was once again, Cat Grant herself who put her in her place. "I really needed to hear that."

"I believe in you. I always have."

At the wedding while Kara was talking on the phone the others continued the party and the time came for the women to gather around, so one of them could catch the bride's bouquet and "become the new bride-to-be". 

"Here we go!" Kelly stood on the stage with her back towards the crowd while her wife stood next to her.

"One, two, go!" Alex yelled so everyone could hear it and Kelly threw the flowers towards their friends. It was going to land somewhere in the middle but a blue line grabbed it and pulled it to Nia.

"I got it!" she laughed.

"Heeey!" Winn clapped on the side with J'onn and Brainy. 

"That bouquet looks good on you, even if it did involve a little cheating!" J'onn shouted.

"I prefer to call it initiative." Nia disagreed.

"Looks like you're next, Brainy." Winn said and the green guy looked at him and Nia with a little anxiousness. He did not believe something like this could happen to him at any point in his life.

"Oh, yes. By my calculations, there's a 100% chance Nia and I will be getting married." he looked at his girlfriend with and excited smile and she looked back at him.

Lena enjoyed the whole party but she couldn't get Kara out of her head. Sam's words were swirling inside her and they were loud. Very loud. It was absurd at first. Even if she had feelings there was a very small chance that Kara had too and for some reason it made her heart ache. She couldn't see her best friend anywhere so she went to look for her. She found her where she last saw her. At the table where she was talking to Winn and James about an hour ago. She looked troubled and that scared Lena. She got a smile on her own face thinking that might cheer Kara up.

"Hey, you."

"Hey." Kara looked at her but she wasn't half as enthusiastic as she was before.

"Where'd you go? You missed all the fun. Nia caught the bouquet." she broke the news as she sat down to her. "Hey, did you fly away to resque some people? No rest? Even on your sister's wedding day?" her smile slowly disappeared as she got no answer. Kara didn't even look at her. She leaned a bit closer and touched her hand to bring Kara's attention to her. She knew her too well not to see that there was something up with her. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked and her friend finally answered.

"I'm supposed to be the strongest person on earth, but I think I'm actually the weakest." she finally looked up to her and her eyes said it all. She was lost and scared and all Lena wanted was to hold her and reassure her that everything will be just fine.

"What are you talking about?"

"Ms. Grant..." she sighed and she looked like the whole world rested on her shoulders again. "My glasses..." her voice broke as she looked away. "I give speeches inspiring people to live their best lives. But she's right. I'm too afraid to live my own."

"No, that's not true, Kara." she disagreed. She never met anyone like Kara before. Someone so brave and selfless. She was human... well, kryptonian to be fair, but still she was one of them, too. She made mistakes and she was lost a couple times but she always found a way back to herself. 

"It is." she interrupted. "My entire life, I've hid behind these glasses. It's gotten in the way of every job I've ever had, everything I've ever wanted to do. Ever relationship, every friendship..." she gestured towards her. Lena hesitated a little before saying anything. Deep inside she again had a hard time with the word "friend" and for so long she thought it was because of her trust issues but with Sam it was never this hard to call her that.

"Maybe we did have a bit of a bumpy road." she said finally with a faint smile and Kara nodded in agreement.

"I think hiding who I am is the reason I couldn't pass the courage Gauntlet. I created Supergirl that night because the thought of saving my sister as myself was too terrifying."

"Look you've had your entire life, people telling you who you're supposed to be and that if you didn't hide your true self then the people would get hurt. I mean, it's tough to move beyond those type of core wounds." she tried her best to make Kara feel better and she believed in everything she have told her. They were similar, the only difference being that she already started to live her life like she wanted but Kara didn't. "When Lillian told me she basically programmed the magic out of me as a child, I felt devastated. But I was devastated because I realized I didn't have a chance to grow up to be the person I was supposed to be. And I think it's the same for you." Kara listened to her. She didn't interrupt her and even though she looked a little skeptic, Lena continued. She stood up from the table and Kara followed. "For me, it was always about protecting the Luthor name." they started walking. "You know, I went from trying to make that name stand for something good to try to be my true mother's daughter. My life was always framed by someone else. It wasn't until Lillian told me the truth that I realized I haven't been living my own life. And finally, now I am." she smiled at Kara. She stopped walking and she stood in front of her. "And it feels amazing." 

"I don't even know what that would feel like for me. Connecting with someone as my whole self. To not be afraid to just be who I am." she admitted. She wanted to be Kara Zor'El to someone. Not just Supergirl or Kara Danvers. The only people she could be her true self with were her family and now Lena but even with them she had to balance her life between Kara Danvers and Supergirl. She could never truly be the last daughter of krypton who's just trying to live her life on Earth. And she desperately wanted that.

"It sound like it could be empowering" Lena said. She was hopeful that Kara will be able to cross her own boundaries and finally leave her comfort zone and she was willing to push her just as she did when she found out she was a witch. 

"But what if I let myself just be who I am and someone get's hurt?" she asked and it was heartbreaking for Lena to see that her best friend even in a situation like this would rather choose to suffer in silence than to accidentally endanger them.

"You can't always be our savior, Kara" she answered. "You shine your light and inspire others to shine theirs. Your words, not mine. If somebody does come, if they try to mess with this family, then we will take them on together." her smile widened. "El mayarah."

Hearing the words of her old house, of her old family and from the person's mouth who was more important to her than anything, Kara couldn't take it anymore and broke down in tears. She took her glasses off and tried to wipe the tears away but she was unsuccessful in pushing her feelings down.

"Hey, hey. It's okay." Lena stepped closer and held both her arms. Kara looked at her with teary eyes.

"Of all the friends I have ever had, you have pushed me the most, challenged me the most." she said and Lena pulled her into a tight hug, squeezing her to let her know she's there and she'll always be there for her. Always.

"You've made me a better person." she hesitated for a second. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat. She wanted to let all her feelings take over her and tell Kara everything that's been going on inside of her. The realization came as a train, rushing through Lena's whole body. "Thank you." she said at last but the words meant something else. Something deeper and she could only hope that Kara understood them.

As they finally broke the hug and stepped away from each other, they both had to take a deep breath and wipe their tears. Just in time, Nia shouted to them.

"Kara, Lena, come on!"

"You okay?" Lena asked Kara as she started to walk away from her. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." she put her glasses back on as she looked after Lena and her sister with Kelly as they were leaving. Then she looked at Lena again and took a deep breath, taking her glasses off once again never to put them back.

One week after Kelly and Alex got back from the honeymoon the Super Friends arranged a game night to celebrate the two of them. By that time Kara told the world she was Supergirl and accepted Cat Grant's offer as her editor-in-chief at CatCo. She has also invited Sam and Ruby so they could spend the day with them. Even though they haven't really been in touch the woman was an important friend to her and so she wanted to catch up and she knew how close Alex was with her daughter.

"Okay, okay! Don't worry!" 

"Wait, wait!" Kara shouted while pouring her drink. "I think I got it! I got it!" she turned around and jumped to the table. To Our Next Adventure!"

"No. It's The Adventures of Tintin." J'onn gestured the words and everyone laughed at him.

"In Kara's defense, that was bad." Alex said to her father figure.

"Maybe I just said that because the last six years with all of you have been the greatest adventure I ever could have imagined. And I just can't wait for the next one." 

"Well, if you think getting sappy on us is going to let us go any easier on you, then you've got another thing coming, so" her sister threatened her. "Cheers to that, girl!"

"Okay! Team switch!" Brainy stood up. "I wanna be with J'onn now."

"Lena!" Kara looked at her with a huge smile. "You're with me."

"Sure thing" came the answer with a smirk that she could only describe as "The Lena Luthor smirk". Kara stood up which meant she wanted to start the new round and the others let her.

"Aaand... go!" Sam turned the clock and Kara picked up the first card. She twirled around and hit her foot.

"Cinderella!" Lena shouted. Kara picked up the next one and simply gestured towards herself. "Supergirl."

"I can't believe I'm in freaking activity." she shook her head and picked up the next card. They had thirty seconds and by the end they managed to get eleven points in total. "Top that!" She sat down next to Lena giving her a high five while looking at her sister and picked up her glass.

"Oh come on! It's easy with your... perfect game night partner." Alex shook her head laughing and took a sip from her wine. The words reached Kara in a way she never thought they would. Something clicked inside her as she looked at Lena. A converstation from a bit more than five years ago. Her thoughts ventured deeper and deeper as the game went on.

By the time night came, Brainy and Nia already left and the kids passed out on the couch. J'onn and Alex were at the table talking, while Kelly, Sam and Lena stayed around the table sitting on the floor. Kara poured herself another drink looking at her friends. Her eyes stopped on Lena for a second, then she slid behind the curtain that separated her room from the living room. She wanted to think a little without people around but she didn't want to leave or make her friends leave. She opened the window and sat on the ledge, hanging one of her legs outside while pulling her other knee up. She was watching the city.

She wasn't really looking. Her mind flew away to distant places back in time. Even though the city was beautiful, she was looking into her past. The last six but mostly five years of her life. Kara was looking for something that could deny the realization that came over her a couple hours ago. Since then she couldn't get Lena out of her head and couldn't help but to look at her. And she was... beautiful. She started to watch herself around that woman and she realized that everytime Lena smiled she had to smile too. Every laugh of her's created a warm feeling in her chest and every time she managed to make a perfect guess on her sloppy activity skills, she felt proud and happy. And looking back, it was always like this. Not only the past one year but since they've known each other. The first time they've met she almost forgot her own name and Lena was the reason the idea of being a reporter came to her mind. Until that point she couldn't imagine if she could even pull that off but Lena Luthor of all people gave her just enough confidence. She couldn't help but laugh at herself because that moment. That was the "Wha-pow" Winn had been talking about.

And the not-so-little things she did just to make her happy. The time she found her office filled with flowers to the ceiling only, because she wrote a good article. And Lena bought the whole company 'cause it was important to her. She even admitted it when Andrea took over. The small meetings. The way she was always there for her when she needed it. And the heartbreak they both felt when Lena realized she was lying to her for years.

She thought it only hurt because she have never had a friend as close as Lena but now she realized the ache in her chest for a whole year was not because of a lost friend. They were friends, yes but Lena was never just a friend to her and losing her was in fact the largest regret of her life. How could she not see it for so long? Even Mxy knew.

What now? She asked herself. She could either keep her feelings a secret from Lena in order to keep her as a friend but that would most likely bring them down on the same path when she didn't tell her she was Supergirl. Maybe a bit less bloody path but still. But what if she says anything and Lena doesn't feel the same? That would ruin everything between them. As far as she was concerned Lena only dated men up until that point but Alex wouldn't have realized who she was if it wasn't for Maggie to begin with.

„Kara? Is everything okay?" the voice came from the other side of the room. Kara didn't realize Lena came in. She was buried deep in her thoughts and couldn't see or hear the outside world. She picked her head up and looked straight in her direction. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at her. She always knew Lena was a beautiful woman but now that she had finally realized her feelings and looked at her with a new perspective, she finally, actually saw her. This was the first time she realized how stunning she was especially since she let her hair stay a bit curly. She must've got it from her mother and it looked great on her. And those pale green eyes filled with worry. All she wanted was for those eyes to look at her with the same longing she had felt inside.

Kara's eyes filled with tears and her heart ached from the thought that it might never happen. It was too hard to look at her friend, so she turned towards the window once again and took a sip from her wine.

"I'm fine. I just needed a little fresh air" she answered trying to sound normal, but Lena knew her too well to be fooled by this. They always looked each other in the eye when they talked so Kara turning away was more than suspicious and the slight trembling in her voice betrayed her. Lena sighed and stepped to the window. She sat down next to Kara and put her hand on her pulled up knee.

"Don't lie to me. I know this look" she tried to look Kara in the eyes but she refused to look at her and it scared the hell out of Lena. For the past week her mind was filled with the woman. At first she was in denial about her feelings and she wasn't completely sure about them yet. But since Sam called her out at the wedding, she'd been thinking. And it became obvious that she always had something for the kryptonian. She promised herself when she moved to National City that she would keep her distance from people and yet Kara Danvers managed to get behind her walls in just a couple of days. "Something is bothering you. I can tell" Kara still didn't look at her. "Please, Kara. I'm your friend" the words cut deeper inside her as she would've liked to admit. Friend. She started to hate this word with every inch of her body. Just as she said it, Kara finally looked at her. A flash of anger clouded her eyes and then... pain. Pain so deep that Lena thought she fell into an abyss of torture just by looking in the blue eyes.

"That's the problem" Kara whispered leaving confusion inside Lena. The kryptonian looked at her knee where she touched her and pulled her leg away, putting it down inside while her other leg was still outside the window. "Friend..." she laughed but it wasn't sincere. She saw the fear in Lena's eyes as she pulled her gaze at her again.

"I don't understand" Lena forced herself to say something and she struggled to keep her voice calm and even. Kara sighed and shook her head looking down, and then up at her again. Tears filling her eyes as she was looking at her missing piece.

"You... you are my perfect game night partner. That's something... no. Someone, I wouldn't even let myself dream of" she started as she looked at Lena. The mix of fear and confusion made her want to just shut up and run away but a small glimpse of hope she saw in her eyes gave her a type of courage she didn't even knew she had. Kara made her decision. She wanted it all. She already got Supergirl and the job of her dreams. Now it was time for the thing that never seemed to work out. Maybe this time it could be different. Maybe now she could have it all. She had to look away from her to be able to form the words. "Someone who... knows me to my core. Someone I could be my truest self with" she sighed and had to look up so her tears wouldn't fall. "The longer I think about it, the clearer it becomes" she continued. "Losing you was my greatest regret. Not sacrificing Mon-el or anything like that. When it was the world or Mon-el even though the choice was hard I could make it. It was as clear as... this view" she gestured towards the city. "I always thought, I could be this perfect hero, but when it comes to you I almost poisoned the whole city just so I could save you" Kara could finally make herself look at the woman in front of her again. "It's you, Lena. It's always been you and I was a blind idiot that I didn't see it before."

Lena, at first didn't even knew what to say. She had to process everything she just heard. She didn't want to believe it. It was too good to be true if the words really meant what she thought they did. It sounded like the confession she had never expected but deep down she always wished for. She didn't even realize how long the silence pulled between them. She only snapped out of the shock she got into when Kara tried to get up.

"And now I made a fool out of myse..." she tried to say but Lena reached towards her. She grabbed Kara's shirt and pulled her back, closer than ever before.

"Just shut up already" Lena whispered and pressed her lips against her's. She felt the kryptonian stiffen in one second only to feel her kissing back in the next one. Her heart skipped a beat from the feeling it stirred up inside her. Like she found an oasis in the middle of a desert. It was the first time in years that both of them felt truly, undoubtedly at home. Suddenly everything clicked into place and from that second they both believed that everything will be okay.

The two of them went back out to the others and the four people they've left in the living room looked at them with an all knowing grin. They didn't say anything to them, but Sam turned towards Alex.

"You owe me twenty bucks" she said with a victorious smile.

"Oh, shut up!" she "yelled" in a low voice not to wake the kids up while throwing a pillow at the woman.