26. Christmas Eve

Kara woke first on Christmas Eve morning, at five-fifteen on the nose.  She was glad because it gave her the chance to sneak off into the shower and take care of herself.  Sleeping with Lena had been absolutely divine, but her body had other ideas. There was something about the way the CEO smelled that made Kara’s body misbehave in all sorts of ways.  She got off embarrassingly quickly to thoughts of her newest girlfriend, but it was OK because it let her out of the shower faster. After she’d knotted and cleaned up, she headed downstairs to make coffee and plan for breakfast.

At about six o’clock, Kara heard Lena’s heartbeat quickening a bit, so she zipped upstairs to sneak some cuddles in.  “Good morning, beautiful,” she whispered in the brunette's ear, wrapping her arms around her from behind. She kissed the back of Lena’s neck and breathed her in.  The ‘shower’ had definitely helped, but there was still really only one way to fully quell the fire her belly, and she didn't have permission for that yet. It was a little maddening.  “Mmm, why do you smell so amazing?”  She buried her nose in Lena's neck and then kissed her repeatedly.

Lena hummed, “I'm not sure, I haven't even showered yet.”

“Don't,” the reporter told her.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Don’t take a shower.  Skip it.”

“Kara!”  the CEO protested.  

“Seriously.”

“Kara, I am not skipping my shower.  I wouldn’t feel right all day.”

“Spoil sport.”

“Weirdo.”

“Is it such a crime that I like the way you smell?”

“I guess not,” Lena chuckled.  “That doesn’t mean I want to go running around without a shower.”

“Fine.  Be that way.  Come on, let’s go downstairs, where we won’t disturb anyone.”

“OK, but I need to use the restroom and brush my teeth first.”

“Boy, you’re high maintenance,” Kara teased.

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” Lena laughed.  “After that, I plan on brushing my hair.”

Kara giggled at hearing Lena speak so colloquially.  She loved that playful side of the CEO. It was one of the reporter’s favorite things about her.  “Wow, seriously? What did I get myself into?”

Lena laughed and crawled out of bed.  “God only knows.” She pulled her baby blue silk robe around herself and headed for the bathroom.  “I'll meet you downstairs, OK?”

“OK.”  The blonde headed down to the kitchen and made Lena a cup of coffee with cream, just the way she liked it, so when she came down, it would be ready for her.  

“You’re the best,” the CEO told her with a kiss.

“Mmm, you taste like cinnamon!  No, you’re the best,” Kara pulled Lena into her lap.  “I really enjoyed getting to hold you last night. I still don’t want to let go.”

Lena grinned.  “Don’t.” She leaned down and gave Kara a nice long kiss.

“Mmm, this week, while the kids are with Eliza, you and I are going to spend some good alone time together.”

“The girls are staying with Eliza for the whole week?” Lena asked.  

“Yeah, I didn't tell you?”

Lena shook her head.  “No, I don’t believe so.”

“OK, well, yeah, they’re staying until after New Year’s.  They always stay with their grandma over Christmas vacation.”

Lena bit her lip, looking a little apprehensive.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“I just…  I’m not sure if I’m going to be ready to have sex yet, and I’m just wondering if you’re going to be expecting that from me, or what.  I mean, I might, but I just don’t know.”

The Kryptonian looked the CEO dead in the eyes.  “Lena, I want you when you’re a hundred-and-ten percent ready, and not before.”

Lena rolled her eyes.  “There’s no such thing as a hundred-and-ten percent.”

“In Desire, there is,” Kara insisted.

“If you say so, darling.”

“Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?  Is my anatomy bothering you?”

“No, it’s not that...  I guess… I’ve just become more cautious with age.  Part of me really wants to be with you, but another part of me is still really scared, so I want to wait for that part to go away.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kara agreed.  “I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’ll help you learn to trust that I won’t hurt you.”

“I’m not afraid that you’ll hurt me,” Lena told her.  “I’m just afraid because it’s something so big and new.  Everything is just so surreal still. I want to feel a little less like the new girl, I suppose.  I want to know that this is real, and not some little fantasy that I’m having because I’m off in a coma somewhere, from one of my brother’s attacks.  The only real thing you can do is give me the time I need.”

“OK, sweetheart, I can do that.”

Lena smiled adoringly at her.  “I like it when you call me that.”

“Yeah?”  They kissed.  “Are you my sweetheart?”  They kissed again.

“Mm-hmm.”  Another kiss.

“My sweet girl?” Two more kisses.

“Yep,” Lena giggled.

“My baby.”  Kiss.

Lena hummed in pleasure.

“My good girl.”

“Yes,” the CEO breathed.

“You know, I really like seeing you without makeup.  You’re such an incredible natural beauty.” Kara caressed Lena’s face, and the brunette leaned into her touch.

“Thanks,” the CEO grinned.  “I was just thinking how cool it is to see you without your glasses and having your hair down.  It’s like seeing two worlds at once.”

They spent a few more minutes kissing before Kara heard stirring from her mother-in-law’s room.  “Eliza is waking up. You’d better sit on an actual seat for now.”

The brunette pouted openly.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”  She sucked that pouty lip right between her teeth but didn’t bite down.  Instead, she tasted the full width of that lip with her tongue, loving the gasp it elicited.

“Naughty,” Lena accused with a smack on to Kara’s arm.  

The reporter smirked.  “Sorry. You just taste so good.”

The brunette couldn’t help but smile back at her.  “One last kiss?”

“Oh, it will never be the last,” Kara assured her, kissing her deeply.  “I love you too much to let that happen.”

The brunette raised her brow and bit her lip.  “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Lena touched her forehead to Kara’s.  “I love you too.”

Kara couldn’t help herself.  She kissed her girlfriend a few more times, getting lost in the sensations, until Eliza snuck in and cleared her throat.  She didn’t look angry, exactly, but she didn’t look happy either. “Oh!” the reporter exclaimed. “Sorry! Good morning, Eliza.”

“Good morning, girls,” Dr. Danvers replied, getting herself some coffee.  “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thanks,” Lena answered.  She moved off of Kara’s lap and into a seat of her own at the breakfast table.

Kara just nodded.  “You?”

“I’m getting too old for ice skating, so I’m a little sore and stiff, but mostly I slept fine,” she smirked.

“You’re a good sport,” the reporter told her.  “Best grandma ever, for sure.”

Eliza chuckled.  “That’s doubtful.”

“Oh, I believe it,” Lena told her.  “You only have to see how the kids act around you to see that it’s true.”

Eliza gave her a grateful look.  “Thank you, dear.” She looked around.  “Are we the only ones up?”

“So far, yes,” Kara answered.  “But I was thinking about getting breakfast started, so we can wake people up.  

“Sounds good.”  

“I’m gonna go jump in the shower, if you two don’t mind?  Before everyone else gets up and wants in the bathroom.”

Kara pouted.  She really didn’t want Lena to take a shower.

Lena rolled her eyes.  She wasn’t having it.

“You’re welcome to use my shower, dear,” Eliza told her.  “It’s much better than the one upstairs.”

The CEO grinned slyly.  “Why, thank you.”

“That was rather nice of you,” Kara told her mother-in-law, once Lena was upstairs getting her clothes and things.

The eldest Danvers shrugged noncommittally.

They decided what they would make for breakfast, got everything ready, and were just about to make the first round of wake-up calls upstairs when Kara smelled something… off - pain of some sort.  Pretty bad pain, if she could smell it over the food. She zipped through the house, trying to figure out who it was. Maggie. The poor detective was curled up in the fetal position in the bed, holding her stomach and shaking a little.  “Oh, honey,” Kara zipped over to her. “Do you have cramps, sweetheart?”

Maggie just nodded.

“OK, I’ll see what Eliza has for pain relievers.  She zoomed around looking in the bathroom cabinets, but there wasn’t anything upstairs.  Of course, there probably wouldn’t be, with the kids’ room right next door. Duh. She ran downstairs and asked Eliza.

“In the cabinet in my bathroom.”

Oh.  The bathroom where Lena was currently taking a shower.  The temptation was strong to use her X-ray vision to see if her girlfriend was done in there, but she resisted.  What if she was done, but she was still naked? Kara couldn’t handle that right now. She knocked on the door.

“Yes?” Lena cracked the door and hid behind it.

“Um,” Kara said stupidly,  “Um, Maggie has cramps. I need to get her some pain medicine.”

“OK,” Lena closed the door and rustled through the cabinet.  “Here we go,” Lena opened the door, and stuck her hand out with a bottle of Excedrin.  “Give her this. It’s the same thing as in Mydol.”

“Thanks, baby girl.”  She swooshed upstairs with a glass of water and poured out a couple of tablets.  “Here, baby,” she gave the medicine and water to Maggie, who took them gratefully, then she curled around the detective's back and put her hand on her lower belly.  

The Latina pressed back into her, seeking warmth.  “Thanks, Kara,” her voice trembled through gritted teeth.

After a few minutes, Lena came upstairs, cleaned and lightly made up.  “Oh, darling, are you going to be OK?” she asked Maggie.

The detective nodded almost imperceptibly.

Alex had already started to wake up from all the commotion, so Lena climbed in beside her, kissing her cheek.  “Good morning, Alex” she whispered.

The redhead tugged her down into a cuddle.  “Five more minutes.”

The CEO giggled.

“Breakfast is ready and waiting downstairs,” Kara spoke softly.  She could hear the kids tiptoeing down the stairs already.

“Kay,” was all Alex responded.

The four of them just laid there for a while, Kara holding Maggie, and Alex holding Lena, until Maggie started stretching and acting like she wanted to get up.

“Are you gonna be OK, now, honey bunny?”  Kara kissed her forehead.

The detective nodded.  “I need coffee.”

“Coffee’s ready and waiting for you downstairs,” the blonde informed her.  “Unless you need me to bring it up here to you.”

Maggie shook her head.  “No, I can go downstairs.”

Kara shook her wife.  “Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.”

“Is there actual eggs and bacon, or are you just saying that?” Alex mumbled sleepily.

“The eggs are in the French toast,” Kara told her.  “And I suppose I can scrounge up some bacon too, if you really need it.”

“It’s fine.  French toast sounds good.”

Kara and Lena crawled out of the bed, so Maggie and Alex could get up, then they all headed downstairs where the twins and Eliza were already eating at the dining table.

“Good morning, ladies,” Eliza smiled now that she’d had her coffee.

“Morning,” Alex and Maggie answered, kissing her on the cheek before heading to the kitchen.

“Thanks for leaving us some coffee, you guys!” the redhead complained at the now-empty pot.

“You’re a big girl,” Eliza commented.  “Make some more.”

Alex grumbled the whole time she prepped the new pot of coffee, while Maggie just sat at the breakfast table and put her head down.  Taking pity, Kara came up behind her and started rubbing her lower back, knowing that was one of the places her cramps radiated.

“Poor thing,”  Lena stroked her hair and kissed the back of her head.  Maggie reached for the CEO’s hand and put it under her cheek, effectively trapping her girlfriend, so Lena just sat down and stroked her hair some more.

“What’s wrong with Maggie?” Jessie demanded worriedly from the dining room table.  It was the first either of the twins had spoken this morning.

“She has cramps,” Alex spoke gently.  “She took some medicine, now she just needs some coffee, and she’ll be fine.”

Jessie didn’t respond.  She just went back to eating her breakfast.  Jamie had yet to make a peep.

When the coffee was done, Kara pulled the French toast out of the oven and divvied out slices to her wife and girlfriends before taking some for herself.  She put the rest back in the oven to stay warm, and joined her family in the dining room. Silence prevailed at the table, and Kara wondered if she should try to break it, but between Alex’s PMS grumpiness, Maggie’s cramps, Eliza’s irritation with their polyamory, and the kids’ trauma at the prospect of being Alphas , she felt like she owed it to everyone to just keep quiet.  She looked across from her at Lena, who wordlessly conveyed that she was thinking roughly the same thing.

After the twins were done eating, they took care of their dishes and went back upstairs, without a word.

“You could probably talk to them now,” Eliza told her.

“Oh, I talked to them last night,” Kara informed them

“You did?”

“Mm-hmm,”  she told them about her late-night tales of Krypton.

“Aww, I wanna hear bedtime stories about Krypton,” Maggie whined, still playful even in her pain.

“Do you really?” Kara asked brightly.

The detective nodded.

“Me too,” Lena added.

“I would love that!”   She beamed, making everyone else around her do the same.  She had always wanted to pass down her knowledge of all things Kryptonian, the only audience she’d ever really had were the Danvers, and even that was mostly Alex.  Her wife knew how desperately she wanted to share the culture of her world, and that’s why she was so happy to bear Kara’s children in the first place. Then, with time, they realized how impractical it would be to teach a couple of earth children stories of another world that no one knew about.  The kids would want to talk about what they learned, and that just couldn't happen. Now, however, they were plenty old enough to learn and keep the secrets of their heritage, and now she had Maggie and Lena to teach as well! It was so exciting!

“I love you all so much! ”

Lena perked up.  “What’s that?”

“She said, ‘I love you all so much,’” Alex translated.

“Say it again,” Lena demanded excitedly.

Kara repeated the Kryptonian phrase, and the CEO tried her hand at it.  She botched it all to hell at first, but Kara helped her, until she got it.  After that, Maggie wanted to try. It helped that they both already were at least bilingual.  Maggie already spoke Spanish, and actually, Kara wasn’t sure how many other languages Lena spoke.  She was only certain of French and Japanese.

“What about when it’s just one person saying ‘I love you’ to just one other person?” Maggie asked.

“I love you,” Kara told her.  She helped them learn to pronounce the words correctly.  It made her so happy to hear her native tongue being spoken, even if it was heavily influenced by American accents.  They would get it soon enough. Alex was a pro, and Eliza was still fairly fluent, so they could help too. How exciting!  “You guys don’t know how happy you’re making me right now!” She clapped her hands in glee.

Alex smiled indulgently at her.  “I’m glad you’re happy, Angel.”  She gave her wife a tender kiss.  

“It’s such a beautiful language,” Lena observed.  “I’m excited to learn it.”

“Just wait until you have to learn to write it, then say that,” Alex chuckled.  “It’s a bit complicated.”

Lena was practically vibrating in her seat from happiness.  “If you can do it, I can.”

“Touché.”

“We should clean up,” Eliza told them.  “Then we can learn all you want about Krypton.”

“I can do most of it,” Kara said.  “I’m already showered and dressed, and I know you guys probably want to do the same.”

“I could definitely use a nice hot shower,” Maggie pouted a little - something Kara hadn’t seen before.  It was adorable. How did she get such beautiful women? She couldn’t reach the detective to kiss her, but that was probably for the best right now, since Eliza already had to see her with Lena this morning.

“I can help clean up too,” Lena offered.  “I’ve taken my shower.”

“Thanks.”  Kara beamed at her.

The five of them piled all the dishes by the sink for Kara and Lena to take care of, and Eliza, Alex and Maggie all went to get ready for the day.  When the dishes were done, Kara and Lena went upstairs. The Kryptonian peeked in at Alex and Maggie in the shower. They were leaning against one another, half-cuddling, half-lazily washing each other.  She chuckled to herself. They were so cute. She sat down on the bed and started to make out with her girlfriend.

“You make me so happy,” Kara husked, then translated in English.

Lena just grinned and kissed her some more.  “I love you, Kara,”

The Kryptonian teared up a little, “Great Rao, you have no idea how badly I want to make love to you right now.”

“Not yet,” Lena caressed her cheek.  “Soon.”

Kara pulled Lena back into a deep, emotional kiss, and far too soon, Alex and Maggie wandered back in.

“You look like you feel a lot better,” Kara observed.

Alex nodded.

“Much,” Maggie responded.

“I’m glad.”  She gave them each a kiss, then announced, “I’m gonna check on the kids.” She headed next door to the twins’ room and knocked.  At first, there was no answer, so she knocked again. Eventually, she heard a slow rustling, and soft footsteps, and the door opened just a crack.

“Hi, Mama,” Jessie greeted her softly.

“Hi, baby,” Kara spoke just as softly.  “Can I come in for a minute?”

“Yeah,” her daughter stepped back, opening the door the rest of the way.

She sat down on the bed next to Jamie and beckoned Jessie to her other side.  “How are you girls feeling?”

The twins frowned.  “Mama , we’re embarrassed,” Jessie informed her.

“What for?”  She wrapped an arm around each of them.

“About being Alphas.  Everyone knows.”

“Yeah, everyone here does know, but that’s nothing to be embarrassed about.  For one thing, everyone knew about me way before they knew about you. And for another thing, we really don’t know if you’re going to be Alphas, or what.  You could still be Betas or Omegas, or just plain human in this regard.  We don’t know. You’re the first Kryptonian-human hybrids any of us have ever known.  There’s a lot we still don’t understand. Honestly, we’re not even sure how we made babies in the first place, since your mom and I are from two different planets.”

“Can we go do those tests today?” Jessie asked.

“Baby, it’s Christmas Eve.  We’re not going to the lab today.  Maybe on Monday, OK?”

“OK,” the twins said resignedly.

“Hey,” she said, squeezing them.  “Remember that everyone here loves you very much, and they don’t care whether you’re a little different, or not.  They know about me, and it doesn’t bother them one bit, right? So why would it bother them if it were you?  Hmm?  You don’t need to worry about being an outcast around here. Everyone here knows the sting of rejection, in some way, shape or form.  These are the last people you should ever feel ashamed around. These are the people that love you the most in the world. Don’t you know that?”

“OK, Mama,” the girls leaned against her and just cuddled for a minute.  

“Does Uncle Winn know?” Jamie wondered.

“No, actually, he doesn’t know about that part of us.  He doesn’t know I’m your Mama.  Neither do Uncle James or Aunt Lucy.”

“I don’t want to tell them.”

“Me either.”

“You don’t have to tell them anything you don’t want them to know, OK?  I won’t tell them either.”

“Thanks.”  They sat quietly for another minute.

“You guys want to learn some Kryptonese?”

“Yeah!” the girls cheered.

She taught them the same two phrases that she'd taught the others.

“I love you, Mama,” they each told her.

“I love you so much, my little ones! ” she exclaimed tearfully, then translated for them.  They snuggled some more for a while. Then, “Maggie and Lena want to learn about Krypton too.  If you come downstairs, I'll tell you all some more stories.”

The twins finally smiled.  “OK.”

Kara lead her girls downstairs, where everyone else was waiting for them, and she spent the next several hours telling stories and answering questions about Krypton, and teaching new Kryptonese phrases.  It was the most satisfying time she'd ever had on earth, sitting around with the most amazing people on the planet, regaling them of her home world while they listened, entranced. It was everything she'd ever dreamed of, and more.

After lunch, they all decided it was time to get up and move around, so they got their coats and went for a walk.  By now, the twins had loosened up, and Jessie was chattering away, like always, and holding Maggie’s hand while they walked.  It took a huge load off of Kara’s shoulders. Her kids never failed to surprise her in the best of ways. They were so sweet, and she never wanted to hurt them.  She was glad they had seemed to recover so easily. The battle was far from over - they still had yet to find out what sub-sex the girls would be - but they would win it, no matter what.  Together.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

That evening, Eliza’s friend Maureen Kavanaugh was having a “family” get together, to which, Dr. Danvers and the whole gang were invited to attend.  Lena was again very nervous. “Do they even know I’m coming? I mean, what if I cross the threshold, and they want to stone me to death?”

“It’s fine,” Eliza assured her.  “They’re not those kind of people.  They’d use their shotguns.”

The CEO’s eyes widened.

“Mom!” Alex huffed.  “She doesn’t know you’re joking!  Lena, don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen to you.  Either everyone will be cool, or we’ll come back here and forget about them.  I’ll be damned, if anyone hurts you.”

Lena’s heart melted at Alex Danvers, knight in shining armor, defender of the infamous Lena Luthor.  She really wanted to kiss the redhead, but not as much as she wanted to stay in Eliza’s good graces. She tried to convey her gratefulness through her smile instead.  “How many people are going to be there?”

Eliza ticked off on her fingers, “Maureen, her husband Dan, Dan’s mom and dad, Maureen’s brother and his partner, Maureen’s two boys, their wives, and the three grandkids.”

“That’s it?”  Lena was quite relieved.  She’d expected much more than that.

“That’s it, as far as I know,” Dr. Danvers confirmed.  “Although, I should point out, I did not inform them of your relationships, and I’d really appreciate not having to have that discussion tonight, if you don’t mind.”

Kara pouted.  She had barely let go of Lena all day, and now she was going to have to.

“It’s fine,” the CEO assured her.  “Maggie and I are good together.”

“Agreed,” the detective spoke up.

“What’s wrong, Kara?  You don’t want to spend time with me?” Alex gave a pout of her own.

“Of course I want to spend time with you!” the blonde exclaimed.  “Don’t even go there!” This time, she did let go of Lena. She got up and sat on Alex’s lap, kissing her over and over again.  “I love you so much, Alex, don’t be like that.”

Eliza rolled her eyes at them.

Alex soaked up the Kryptonian’s kisses.  Lena would have never guessed that the redhead could get her feelings hurt so easily, but apparently, that time of the month made the poor woman a little crazy.  It happened.

Jessie saw the vacated spot next to her as an opportunity.  She hopped up off the floor and snuggled into Lena’s arms.

“Hi, sweetie,” she kissed the girl on the head.  “Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah,” she answered, melting further into the CEO.

“I’m glad,” Lena said with a squeeze.  “I’d hate for you to not have a good Christmas this year.  You’re such a good girl.”

Jessie grinned and nuzzled Lena’s shoulder.  “You’re such a good girl,” she giggled, poking her in the arm.

“Thanks,” the brunette snickered.   She lightly tickled the kid’s side, making her giggle again.  “You think Santa’s gonna give me a good present this year?”

The little blonde shook her head, looking cynical.

Lena pouted.  “Why not?”

“Because Santa gives dumb presents.  It’s always something lame, like a jack-in-the-box, or a floppy dolly, or a wooden train that does nothing.  I don’t think he has the internet up there at the North Pole.

Alex and Kara laughed at that.

“Maybe you should put that in the suggestion box,” Maggie told her.

“Yeah,” Jessie scoffed.  “I would, if I could find it.”

“Silly thing.   I love you so much , little one.”

The preteen grinned that thousand-watt Danvers grin that always turned Lena into a puddle of goo.  “I love you too, Lena!”

Kara and Alex grinned proudly at them, making Lena’s heart soar.

“Alright, is everyone ready to go?” Eliza checked.

They all answered in the affirmative.

“Let’s go!”

They all piled in the minivan, and headed over to the Kavanaugh’s.  Not only did the family not stone her, but apparently, they were all huggers, like the Danvers, so Lena got hugs from a room full of strangers, and she wasn’t quite sure how to feel.  She’d been so prepared for negativity, it almost felt like whiplash to be treated so lovingly. She grabbed hold of Maggie’s hand to ground herself, and the detective grinned knowingly at her.

Eliza and Kara handed over the food they’d brought, and Dan poured them all shots of peppermint schnapps.  It reminded Lena of her boarding school days, when fun flavored liqueur was all the rage. They took their shots, and he poured them another round with a grin.  Apparently, they would be getting buzzed tonight. The schnapps burned pleasantly in her stomach, and she was suddenly quite hungry. She wandered over to the snack table and snagged a few veggies to nibble on.

Maggie followed her.  “You OK?”

“Yes, thank you,” Lena kissed her cheek.  “You?”

“Peachy.”

“Is that code for something?”

Maggie cocked her head to the side.  “Huh?”

“Sarcasm?”

“No, I’m great.  Any party where I get to drink is a good one.”

Lena chuckled.  “Alright, then.”

Maureen’s grandkids were a three-year-old boy, a two-year-old girl, and a six-month-old baby boy.  The twins were, of course, all over them. Apparently, these kids knew them because they ran right up to them, asking to be picked up, and when the girls kissed them, they squealed with delight.  Lena had never seen the girls look so happy. No wonder Jessie wanted a baby so badly!

The adults all ate and drank, and took turns telling stories, plenty entertained just watching the kids play together, as they all enjoyed one another's company.  Overall, Lena was quite glad she came tonight, and on this trip in general. It was doing her heart wonders, especially hearing all the kids laughing. That was a special kind of delight to her.

By the end of the night, Alex, Maggie, and Lena were feeling a little giggly, and they were thankful that Kara was the one driving.  They headed out with more hugs than they could count, under orders to come back and visit soon. Promising they’d do their best, they leaned against one another as they walked back out to the Danvers’ minivan.

“Did everyone have fun?” Eliza asked, on the drive back.

“Yeah!” the twins cheered.

“Yes, you’re friends are delightful people,” Lena answered.

“They’re more like family than anything,” Dr. Danvers told her.

“I see that.”

They drove home in sleepy, but amicable silence.  When they got there, Eliza went straight to bed, and after they’d had their showers, the twins begged Kara to sing them Christmas carols to get to sleep, leaving Lena with Alex and Maggie all leaned against one another in drowsy bliss on the couch.

“All we gotta do now is get the presents from the storage facility, and we’ll be all set,” Alex informed them.

“Why do you guys put your stuff in storage?” Maggie wanted to know.

“Because the kids get into everything, otherwise,” Alex responded.

“Why not just put everything in the attic?”

“That’s the first place they’d look.  Those kids can get into anywhere, or anything.  They help each other, if something’s too high, or they get really creative. They’re just too damn curious for their own good.  I’m really glad they’re good girls because they’d put Catwoman to shame if they ever put their minds to thievery. ”

Lena and Maggie chuckled, then started yawning.

“Hey, now, don’t start that,” the redhead complained, succumbing to her own yawn.

“Sorry,” they mumbled.

“Can we go to bed?” Maggie wondered.  “I mean, you don’t really need us to help you with the presents, do you?  We’ve got ours here with us… Hey, you don’t think the kids peeked at what me and Lena got them, do you?”

“We’ll see how surprised they act in the morning.  You guys can go to bed, if you want. I don’t care.”

“Thank God.”  The detective kissed her, and the CEO followed suit.

“Goodnight,” they all said, and hand-in-hand, Maggie and Lena headed upstairs.

“Come on, let’s take the bed, since they’re gonna be up half the night,” the Latina suggested.

“Alright.”  

They both changed for bed, and a hungry look grew in Maggie’s eyes.  “God, you look so sexy in your little booty shorts and tank. Can we make out for a little while before we got to sleep?”

“Absolutely,” Lena grinned and crawled into bed with her girlfriend.  When their lips met, there was more of a thrill in Lena’s heart than even yesterday when they’d done this.  It was exactly the kind of thing she needed to help her feel more comfortable towards having sex with her girlfriends.  More longing. More connecting. More feeling like home.

Maggie stroked her back under her camisole, giving her goosebumps and making her sigh.  The Latina never touched the waistband of her shorts though, assuring her that she wouldn’t be touched any more than what she wanted.  Lame as she felt in not being ready for sex yet, she still needed these assurances. She hoped no one resented her for making them wait.  So far, no one was really complaining, so she’d try to relax about it. She didn’t know how long they made out, but eventually, they both succumbed to slumber, snuggling in one another’s arms.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Alex awoke to the sensation of being kissed by her wife.  She blinked her eyes open. “Hi, Angel.”

“Hi, baby girl,” Kara spoke softly.  “You ready to go get presents?”

“Yeah.”  Alex sat up on the couch and rubbed her eyes with a yawn.  When she looked at the clock, she raised her brow, “It took that long for the girls to fall asleep?  I thought for sure they’d be out as soon as their heads hit the pillow, with the way they were running around after the babies all night.”

“Yeah, well, I guess they got themselves a little over-excited,” Kara replied.  “I had to sing them, like, ten songs.”

“Geez,” Alex chuckled.  “Little stinkers.”

“Yeah, well, at least they were trying this time.”

“True.  Welp, I’m ready to go, if you are,” the redhead told her.

“OK,” Kara took her hand, and they headed out to the storage facility.  They had to drive all the way across town to get there because it was the only facility open twenty-four hours, with no restrictions, but it was worth it to see the mystified looks on the kids’ faces every year, trying to figure out where they kept hiding the Christmas presents.

They got there, got the presents, headed home, put the gifts under the tree, and snuck out to make out in the Porsche, as per Kara’s request.  Alex was pretty miffed that she had to be on her period because she really wanted to have sex, but she didn't want to risk making a mess in the brand new hundred-thousand dollar car, so she would take what she could get.  They could always fuck in one of Lena’s cars later. When Kara couldn't take anymore stimulation, they went inside and snuggled on the couch under a big fluffy blanket. Not long later, they fell asleep, standing guard over the presents until morning.