Supergirl/Arrow ~ Midvale

***

Kara drove J'onn's car through the mountains, rarely passing other cars on the highway. She kept glancing over at Alex from time to time, but her sister wasn't speaking a word, instead opting to watch the scenery change.

When Kara saw the trees coming up, she finally managed some kind of a smile. "Welcome home," she said.

Alex just watched the sign for Midvale pass as Kara drove on.

***

Eliza was waiting for them when Kara pulled into the long driveway. Alex stepped out of the car, and Eliza smiled sympathetically, giving her a hug when she walked up. "Hey, honey," she whispered.

Alex didn't say a word, instead heading right into the house. Kara took their bags, locking the car behind her as she walked up to Eliza. She hugged her adoptive mother, happy to be home, then followed Alex inside.

***

Kara curled up on the porch outside, staring into the dark sky, then pulled out her phone and tapped out a message.

It only took a few seconds for Oliver to respond.

Kara smiled fondly, putting her phone back in her lap, then heard Eliza speak from behind her. "You still out here?"

"Yeah," Kara confirmed.

"I made coffee in case this turns into a teary all-nighter," Eliza smiled, walking to sit next to her, handing her a mug of coffee.

"You don't have to stay up," Kara told her.

"Well, this is in the mom fine print," Eliza shrugged. "When your child's in agony, you show up regardless the hour."

Kara couldn't help but chuckle, remembering when Oliver and Slade had said something along those lines about a month ago. "I figured it would be nice to get her away from everything for a couple of days."

"This is going to be hard no matter what," Eliza told her. "But at least here she can lean into it. Better than letting her pretend she's fine."

Kara blinked, looking at her. "You're worried about me?"

"I think I worry about you more than Alex," Eliza admitted. "Losing Maggie is going to be excruciating, but at least Alex didn't close herself off. And I know you have Oliver now, but I still can't help but worry."

"I'm not doing that anymore," Kara shook her head.

"I know," Eliza nodded. "You have the most wide open heart in the world for other people. But when you felt weak, you punished yourself for it. You've had an awful year – "

"And Oliver has helped me feel a lot better," Kara told her. "I promise. I had my opportunity to be a mess, but I told myself too many people depend on me."

"That is a great excuse," Eliza gave her a look.

Kara snorted. "I accepted the fact that I'm not human, and that if I was going to do the things I have to do, I was going to walk away from certain vulnerabilities."

"You've thought a lot about this," Eliza noted.

"Yeah, it was a long time coming," Kara nodded. "Then Cadmus happened, and I didn't have Mon-El to lean on. But I had Oliver. And in a way, I think that's what made me better. Oliver has had even rougher years than I have had, and sometimes, he pushes those he cares about away as well. He knew what I was going through, and he helped me through it." She sighed, looking down into her coffee. "I'm happy with him," she confessed, smiling fondly. "I'm really happy with him."

Eliza tilted her head. "You certainly seem like you are," she noted, smiling when Kara blushed and tried to hide it by taking a drink of coffee. "Even though you live on different Earths? You're alien, he's human? You think this will work in the long run?"

"I wouldn't give him up for anything," Kara looked at her. "I know I shut myself down after Mon-El, but at least I tried to live my life. Now that I've had this with Oliver . . . " She shook her head. "I can't see myself living without him."

"Till death do you part, hmm?" Eliza raised an eyebrow.

Kara blushed redder again, but her simple nodding made Eliza smile more.

***

Kara walked into their old bedroom, seeing Alex reclining on her bed, still drinking alcohol. "Brought you this," Kara held up a mug of coffee. "You could make it Irish."

"What's the point of all this?" Alex asked blankly.

Kara sighed, sitting down at the end of Alex's bed. "We need to sleep," she answered. "We always slept well here."

"So we'll stay for, like, three days, and Mom will cook tons of food, and I'll gain, like, five pounds, and then walk back into an empty apartment?" Alex asked bitterly, raising her glass to drink again.

Kara bit her lip, looking down. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked. "It might help."

Alex looked at her incredulously, then scoffed. "You don't get to do that."

"What?" Kara frowned.

"You don't get to shut down for months after Mon-El goes without talking to then these unknowns from another universe jump over, and suddenly you're right as rain, and then you sit here and tell me to talk," Alex answered bluntly.

"It get better," Kara told her.

"Yeah?" Alex raised an eyebrow, sitting up. "Are better? You said we need sleep. That mean even with Oliver, you can't?"

"OK," Kara abruptly stood up. "You are edging on mean drunk, and I only signed up for sad drunk."

"Oh, that's right," Alex said sarcastically. "I forgot. It's whatever Kara says that goes, right? I mean, screw everybody else. Kara knows best."

"You know what?" Kara narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry that I was trying to do something nice for you."

"No, sorry I broke the imaginary rules for a weekend I didn't ask for," Alex retorted.

"Then I'm not gonna try to help you anymore," Kara spun on her heel and went to her bed, trying to fight back the tears in her eyes.

"Good!" Alex spat.

"Great!" Kara countered, pushing back the covers and climbing into bed, reaching up to turn her light off.

***

Kara was outside fiddling with the telescope the next morning, a cup of coffee clutched tightly in her hand. She had slept better the night before, but it was far from her best. She still slept better when she was with Oliver.