AN: And, with this chapter, we have reached the end of my hiatus induced fic writing binge. Everyone that has taken the time to read, and respond, to this (or any other stories), thank you.

Chapter 6

"You're seriously not going to tell me," Maggie complained, settling beside Alex on the sofa. She took a grateful sip of her coffee, careful not to spill any of the precious liquid.

"Maggie, leave the poor girl alone," Dee scolded her daughter, before Alex could respond. Alex smiled into her coffee mug, and Maggie scowled.

"It was a private conversation," Alex responded.

"She's my Grandmother!" Maggie cried.

The fact that Alex wouldn't tell her what she and her Gram had discussed the night before, was driving her slightly crazy. Alex hadn't been upset, not that Maggie had expected her to be, so she knew it wasn't anything bad, but in some ways, that was even worse. Maggie's mom was definitely her mother's daughter, so the list of possible topics was almost endless. The fact that every time she brought it up, Alex would just smile at her enigmatically, was not helping matters.

Alex patted her on the knee. Maggie wasn't sure if the gesture was meant to be comforting, or patronizing; she suspected the latter. "I just don't see why you won't tell me," Maggie grumbled.

"Because you're so cute when you pout," Alex teased.

"I'm not cute!" Maggie protested.

"You should have seen her when she was little. One little pout, or dimpled grin, and her father would turn to putty," Dee confided.

"I can believe it," Alex admitted, giving Maggie a soft smile. Some of the ire she felt building at the two of them picking on her started to fade. "Which reminds me, Dee, I still haven't seen those baby pictures." All sense of goodwill gone, Maggie scowled at her girlfriend.

"I think I liked it better when you were nervous, and freaked out, about meeting my parents. This..." Maggie pointed back and forth between the two of them, and shook her head.

"I wasn't that nervous," Alex hastened to explain to Dee, shaking her head in denial. "I was just...I mean, it's a big step, and I didn't want to…"

Maggie snorted. "Right. Not nervous."

"It's okay sweetie," Dee said reassuringly, reaching over to pat Alex's hand. "You should have seen Larry the first time he met my Mom. I thought he was going to pass out from dehydration he was sweating so much." She shot Maggie a teasing look. "You'll see. Maggie takes after her father in some ways."

"Please," Maggie scoffed. "I'm a detective. I think I can handle meeting someone's parent without freaking out," Maggie boasted. Alex simply looked at her, one eyebrow raised slight, as if silently reminding her that Alex wasn't exactly a lab worker like they had told Maggie's parents. Truthfully, the idea of finally meeting Eliza, sent a frisson up her spine. On paper, and by reputation, Alex's mom was just as, if not more than, intimidating than her daughter. And somehow, Maggie doubted she? would possess the adorable awkwardness that Maggie found so endearing in Alex.

"I'll be fine," Maggie insisted.

"Mmmhmm." Dee turned to Alex. "You will have to remember to tell me how that goes, Alex. Do you girls have any plans to go visit soon?"

Alex spluttered slightly on the sip of coffee she had just taken. "No, not soon, no" Alex replied with a cough. "Mom usually comes to the city for Thanksgiving though." Alex gave Maggie a sideways glance. The two of them had not really discussed what they were planning to do for the holiday, and it was only a few weeks away.

Maggie typically volunteered to work holidays, since none of her previous relationships had ever come close to the holidays with family stage. Alex hadn't mentioned anything about Thanksgiving, so Maggie hadn't made arrangements to take the day off.

"Well, I'm scheduled to work that day, so I guess we'll have to wait a little longer to find out," Maggie said lightly, but she didn't miss the look of disappointment that flashed through Alex's eyes.

Dee looked back and forth between the two. "What were your plans for the day?" Dee asked, trying to change the subject, having picked up on the thread of tension that hadn't been there before.

Maggie shrugged, and looked at Alex. "No real plans." Maggie had plans for later, which her mother knew, but Maggie wanted it to be a surprise for Alex. "Figured we would stick around here, and help you and Dad clean up."

Dee shook her head, dismissing the offer. "You don't have to that. This is your vacation, you should relax and enjoy yourselves."

Maggie looked at her mother incredulously. "Where was this consideration yesterday when you had me peeling 30 pounds of potatoes? Or the day before, when we were traipsing all over the farm?"

"That was different," Dee responded, though Maggie didn't see how. "Besides, I seem to recall you managed to enjoy yourse-"

"And on that note, I am going to go see if Dad needs any help." Maggie stood up from the couch, and looked down at Alex. "Did you want to come with, or stay here with Ma?" In truth Maggie wanted a few minutes alone with her Dad, but she couldn't just ditch Alex without it looking a little suspicious.

Alex looked to Dee, silently asking if she minded her hanging around. "That would be nice. I can finally show you those baby pictures without any interference from this one," Dee responded, nodding at Maggie.

Maggie groaned. "Can you at least promise not to show her anything past junior high?"

"No. Now go," Dee commanded, shooing Maggie toward the door.

"I'm starting to remember why I have never brought anyone home before," Maggie called back over her shoulder as she exited the room. She only hoped that her mom would have the decency to skip the series of pictures of her when she had come down with chickenpox in the sixth grade. Her hopes were not high.

Maggie found her father in the barn, halfway up a 20 foot ladder, taking down the strings of lights that were criss crossing the barn. Maggie walked over and stood on the bottom rung.

"You know Ma would kill you if she found out you were up on that ladder with no one spotting you. 'What if you fall Larry? How would anyone know?'," Maggie joked, doing a fair impression of her mother.

Her dad looked down at her, hands full of lights. "I trust you won't be telling her. Or I may have to tell her about some of the mishaps you have had on the job, but apparently neglected to tell her about."

Maggie looked at her father, puzzled. "How could you possibly know about those? I know I didn't tell anyone back- Alex," Maggie huffed, realization dawning. Seriously, what in the world kind of conversations was her girlfriend having with her family? Maggie didn't like this, she didn't like it one bit. The warm glow of contentment that was spreading through her chest, belied her protest.

"Why didn't you tell us?" her father asked. Though not as adept at it as her mother, her father was no stranger to the guilt trip.

Maggie shifted from one foot to the other, feeling like she had when she was 16 and got caught sneaking back onto the farm at 2 AM. "I don't know," she replied with a shrug. "I know how much you and Ma worry. Everything turned out okay, so what was the point in telling you about it after the fact."

"Maggie, look at me," her father said sternly. Maggie reluctantly raised her eyes, and met her father's gaze. Instead of the scolding look she was expecting, all she saw was worry. "Your mother and I are going to worry. There's no way around that. You hiding when you're hurt isn't going to stop that." Her dad shook his head. "Your mother would be very upset if she found out you were keeping things from her."

"You're not going to tell her are you?" Maggie asked, slightly panicked.

"No," her dad replied. "As you said, there isn't much point now." He pointed a finger at her. "But in the future…"

"I will, I promise."

Larry gathered the light string into one hand, and made his way down the ladder. Feet firmly on the ground, he handed the bundle of lights to Maggie, and moved the ladder to the next section of the barn.

"Though, if you left Alex alone with your mother, it may be moot." Maggie groaned. Her father made a very valid point.

"Well, when I did that, I didn't realize Alex was spilling my secrets to everyone." Maggie eyed her father suspiciously. "What else did you guys talk about?"

Larry shook his head, and started climbing the ladder. "That's between her and me."

"Not you too," Maggie complained.

"Me too?"

"Gram pulled her aside last night, and she won't tell me what they talked about."

Larry laughed. "Well, she's still here, so it couldn't have been too bad."

"Yeah, well…."

"It's a rite of passage for everyone to have a one-on-one with your grandmother at some point. At least it's out of the way."

"That doesn't make me feel better at all."

"Sorry, Magpie."

Maggie looked at her father in genuine alarm. "You didn't tell Alex that was my nickname growing up did you?" The last thing she needed was her girlfriend having even more ammunition to tease her with.

"I don't believe it came up," her dad responded, and Maggie sighed in relief. "Though, I can't guarantee your mother, or grandmother, haven't let it slip." Larry looked down, and chuckled at his daughter's distress. "What on earth possessed you to leave Alex alone with your mother?"

Maggie groaned, and closed her eyes. "I wanted to make sure everything was set for tonight. I figured it would look a little suspicious if I made Alex go stand in the corner so we could have a private chat. I'm beginning to think I made the wrong choice."

Larry laughed. "Your mother loves you, she won't humiliate you. At least not too much."

"Gee, thanks Dad. You really inspire confidence."

"It's one of the perks of the job. But to answer your question, yes, everything is set up and ready. I just need to get the overnight bag."

Maggie nodded, her anxiety and uncertainty, spiking. After the confrontation with her dad, and the conversation that had followed with Alex, Maggie had felt the need to do something special for her girlfriend. It was obvious that Alex was missing her father, and Maggie had wanted to do something, however small, to allow her to feel closer to him.

She remembered Alex mentioning that she and her dad used to stargaze, and while Nebraska didn't have a lot of things, one thing it did have in abundance, was wide open sky with tons of stars. So, when Maggie's parents had announced that they had to go into Lincoln for supplies, Maggie had slipped her father a list of things she needed to set up the surprise for Alex. A tent, a few sleeping bags, a couple pairs of binoculars, and Maggie had everything she needed.

Now that the day was upon her, she was starting to doubt herself. Would Alex appreciate the gesture, or would she think it was stupid? Maggie found it easy to show Alex that she cared in the little ways; she always made time to sit and listen if Alex had a bad day, or a good one; she would draw her a bath, or give her a massage, if the physical toll of the job was particularly demanding; she knew how she took her coffee, and her favorite take-out orders. But all of those things were minor, and while she knew Alex appreciated them, appreciated that someone cared enough to do those things for her, they were easy for Maggie to shrug off.

The little gestures were easy to attribute to just being a half-decent girlfriend, or human; they were dismissable. Big, grand gestures, were harder to explain away. To do the big thing, was to open herself up to rejection, or ridicule. Not that she thought Alex would laugh at her; she didn't. But if Alex thought it was a stupid idea, Maggie knew she would still feel the sting.

There was still time to back out, but Maggie realized that even if it was scary as hell, she didn't want to. Alex asked for very little, expected less, and she deserved someone that would take the time to show her how much she was valued, how special she was. Maggie's only regret was that it had taken her this long to actually do it.

"Thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it. You set everything up where I asked?" Maggie asked, rubbing her hands in an unconscious gesture of nerves. Maggie had chosen a location at the far edge of the property. It was well away from any man made structures, ensuring both a lack of ambient light pollution, and privacy. She had also wanted to find a spot that was cut back enough to ensure a good view.

"Everything is exactly as requested," her Dad reassured. "And Maggie? Good luck."

Maggie laughed, shaking her head. "It's not like I'm proposing," she joked, trying to downplay just how much tonight going well meant to her.

"I know...Just...Good luck," her Dad replied with a smile.

"Thanks, Dad." Maggie looked around the barn, seeing that her Dad was working on the last string of lights. "Do you need my help with anything out here, or…?"

"I'm fine. You go on." Her Dad grinned at her teasingly. "Maybe if you hurry you can get back to the house before your Ma reveals every embarrassing incident from your childhood."

"Are you sure you know where we're going?" Alex questioned, as she stumbled after Maggie in the dark. Maggie held firm to Alex's hand, and kept walking, sweeping the flashlight across the ground in front of them to ensure they didn't trip.

"Yes," Maggie huffed. "Have some faith."

"I do," Alex hastened to assure her. "I just didn't think this was what you had in mind when you asked if I wanted to go for a walk." Knowing that they would be leaving in the morning, Maggie and Alex had decided to spend the day with Maggie's parents. After they had eaten dinner, and the sky had finally grown black, Maggie had asked Alex if she wanted to go for a walk around the property. Alex had given her a slightly puzzled look, but agreed. Flashlight in hand, they had set off.

Maggie was beginning to wonder if maybe she should have suggested an ATV ride instead. She had thought the starlit stroll would be romantic, but it was turning out to be more an exercise in not falling and breaking her neck. The ground was uneven, and while there were clear paths, they had to cut through a few sections of trees, and she had to be careful not to trip over a stump, or fall into a hole. It was too late to turn back now though, they were almost there, so Maggie gritted her teeth and pressed on.

Luckily, it was only another few minutes before they broke out of the last copse of trees, and entered the clearing. That's when Maggie's nerves really set it. Up until this point, she could have turned around, and pretended that they really had just been going for a walk. As they approached the small, makeshift campsite, she knew that time had passed.

She knew the moment Alex spotted the small tent, illuminated by the soft glow of two electric lanterns, because she stumbled and came to a stop.

"Come on," Maggie urged, tugging her forward and continuing toward their destination. Maggie glanced at Alex, but it was hard to make out her expression in the dark when the only illumination was the backlight of her flashlight.

"You said you had never been camping, and I know this isn't exactly camping, but I thought, while we're here, if you wanted to, we could have a grown up version of a backyard camp out." They reached the tent, and Maggie glanced at Alex again, better able to see her expression in the light provided by the lanterns.

Alex just stood, silent, and unmoving, save for her eyes which were darting around, trying to take the whole scene in. Maggie felt her nervousness spike.

"We don't have to though. If you don't want." Maggie looked around at the scene she had set, and started to feel like an idiot for ever having thought this was a good idea. Why on earth did she think that Alex would want to spend the night in a tiny tent, sleeping on the ground, in the middle of tree farm, in Nebraska on the cusp of winter?

"You know what? This was a stupid idea. We can head back." Maggie, tugged on Alex, but the other woman refused to budge. Maggie just wished she would move, or say something; the silence was starting to kill her.

"Maggie?" Alex finally spoke, her voice catching slightly.

"Yeah?" Maggie responded nervously.

"Thank you. I love it." Alex turned so that she could look Maggie in the eye. Even in the dim light, Maggie could see that Alex's eyes were wet with a sheen of unshed tears.

"Yeah?" Maggie replied hopefully, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Of course." Alex tipped her head. "Did you think I wouldn't?"

Maggie shrugged, mildly embarrassed. "I don't know. It seemed like a good idea, but then the more I thought about it, the more I started to wonder if it was...too cheesy?"

Alex reached out, and adjusted Maggie's hair, a habit she had developed, and one Maggie always found comfort in. "You're an idiot," Alex told her fondly. Alex looked around once again. "Now, show me what you have planned for me."

Maggie started slightly, and released Alex's hand. "Oh. Right." She panned her flashlight, and stopped on a small cooler. "Well, it wouldn't be camping without beer, and hotdogs cooked on sticks."

Alex grimaced. "Sounds...sanitary."

"You have to get a little dirt in your food, or it's just not camping," Maggie insisted.

"Right. Of course," Alex replied with a nod. "Proceed."

Maggie moved her flashlight to land on the small fire pit, bracketed by two camp chairs. "Camp chairs, because no one wants to sit in the dirt. And the finest in Nebraskan fire containment, an old tire rim."

"Very nice," Alex teased.

"I spared no expense," Maggie quipped, leaning over to kiss Alex on the cheek. "Oh! I almost forgot." She swung the flashlight quickly, directing the beam to the small two person tent. "Our accommodations for the evening. Complete with foam sleeping pad, and a double sleeping bag," Maggie informed her with a hopeful smile.

"Truly a five-star experience," Alex teased.

"Well, technically, it's a few billion," Maggie corrected, looking up.

"Okay, that was bad."

"But you loved it anyway."

Alex sighed, entwined her fingers with Maggie's, and tipped her head until it was resting against the detectives. "But I loved it anyway."

Maggie turned her head, and kissed Alex on the cheek again. "I had Ma pack our sweats. Why don't you change into something a bit warmer, and I'll get the fire going. There should be some blankets in there too."

Maggie got to work starting the fire, and by the time Alex had emerged from the tent, she had a small blaze going steadily. Alex joined her, and wrapped her arm around Maggie's back, snuggling against her side.

"So, good surprise?" Maggie asked, still a little unsure.

"Great surprise," Alex responded immediately. "How did you manage to pull all this off?"

"My Dad, mostly," Maggie confessed. "I had him pick up the stuff I needed when he and Ma went into Lincoln the other day." Maggie still had one more element of the evening to reveal, but even given Alex's positive reaction so far, she was still nervous. "Do you think you can watch the fire, and keep the tree farm from burning down, while I change?"

Alex laughed. "I think I can manage, yes. Go."

Maggie ducked into the tent, and quickly stripped off her pants, changing into a pair of fleecy sweats. She dug to the bottom of her bag, and retrieved the two pairs of binoculars she had asked her Dad to leave for her. Exiting the tent she walked back to the fire to find Alex sitting in one of the camp chairs, staring intently into the flames.

Maggie stopped beside Alex, and rested lightly against her side, being careful not to put weight on the arm of the chair and sending Alex toppling to the ground. She stroked her fingers through Alex's hair, and tried to push down the last of her nerves.

"So, I was thinking," Maggie began nervously, "I remember you telling me that you and your Dad used to sit out and look at the stars. That he taught you all the constellations, and you would compete to see who could find things with your telescopes the fastest. And well, I don't really know anything about astronomy, and I couldn't find a telescope, but I did some research, and binoculars are supposed to be pretty good for novices. The wide field of view is really good for tracking, and you can still find some of the bigger Messier objects. And I just thought, if you wanted, you could teach me." Maggie shrugged, well aware she was rambling, but not being able to stop, because Alex still wasn't saying anything. "And that maybe, while it doesn't get your Dad any closer, maybe you would feel a little closer to him."

Alex stood up so abruptly that Maggie staggered back in surprise. Before she had time to panic that Alex was about to storm off, because this was obviously the worst idea ever, Alex was crushing her in a tight hug. Alex buried her face in the crook of Maggie's neck.

"You okay?" Maggie whispered, brushing the hair back from Alex's ear. Alex nodded silently into her neck. Maggie rubbed soothing circles across Alex's back, content to stand here for as long as Alex needed.

Alex loosened her grip, and pulled back, a few moments later. Maggie saw her wipe surreptitiously at her eyes, but didn't say anything.

Alex cleared her throat. "And you call me a nerd?" Alex asked.

Maggie could tell she didn't want to draw attention to her emotional reaction, so she went along with the deflection. "Yeah, well," she replied with a shrug. "I do know how to research things. I am a Detective."

Alex leaned forward and gave Maggie a lingering kiss. "You are also a very sweet girlfriend." Maggie blushed, glad for the cover of darkness. "Thank you."

So Maggie grabbed the blankets, and spread one on the ground a fair distance from the fire, so the light wouldn't interfere. They cuddled up under the other one, and Alex spent the evening showing her the Pleiades, and telling her the story of the Seven Sisters; pointing out Cassiopeia, and exploring the rich field of stars in the Double Cluster found nearby; and just laying back, and trying to count the number of falling stars they could see when the Northern Taurids decided to put on a show.

And when it got too cold to lay on the ground any longer, they retreated to the campfire, and Maggie insisted that Alex had to have a S'more. And when Alex's hands started to burrow under the layers of Maggie's clothes to find warm skin, they retreated to the tent.

"What's on your mind," Maggie asked, tenderly wiping some sweaty tendrils of hair off of Alex's face, and leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. Alex was cuddled into her side, tracing idle circles on Maggie's rapidly cooling chest.

There had been something different in their lovemaking. Alex had been almost desperate in her need to keep Maggie close. Every time Maggie would attempt to make her way down Alex's body, she would be pulled back up. She had finally stopped trying, and had settled onto Alex, content to exchange kisses if that's all Alex wanted.

It hadn't been, and Alex eventually relented, letting Maggie provide the relief that they had both badly needed after what seemed like hours of buildup. Now, in the afterglow, it was clear to Maggie that whatever had driven Alex's neediness, was still weighing on her mind.

Alex shook her head softly. "Nothing. It's not…."

"Alex," Maggie cut in before she could finish. "How many times do I have to tell you that what you think is important, that what you want is important, that you're important."

"Apparently a few more," Alex mumbled, chastened.

Maggie squeezed her tighter, the closest she could come to a proper hug in their current position. "Now what's running through that big brain of yours?"

"I don't want to ruin it," Alex said softly, turning her face into Maggie's shoulder.

"Ruin what?"

"This. Tonight. Us." Alex answered, though it wasn't really an explanation. At least not one that Maggie understood. She frowned, perplexed; she couldn't imagine anything that Alex would have to say that would ruin her current state of euphoria, let alone their entire relationship.

"You gotta give me more to go on Al," Maggie prompted her softly.

"I just...This whole week, has been...I've never felt so….It's been amazing," Alex finally concluded.

"That sounds like a good thing, babe. Why would that ruin anything?"

"It's just getting...harder...for me to...I'm just so tired of ..."

"Tired of what Alex?" Maggie asked gently, prompting her girlfriend to continue.

"I'm just so tired of not telling you how I really feel about you," Alex confessed quietly. "I feel like I've felt like this for ages, and it's just getting harder and harder to keep it to myself." Alex met her gaze, the raw emotion easy for Maggie to see, even in the soft light of the moon. "I just...I love you so much, Maggie..."

"Oh, Alex," Maggie breathed out quietly. How was it that this woman, this amazingly fierce, yet at the same time fragile and vulnerable woman, kept finding the courage to put Maggie to shame. Maggie had been telling herself for months that it was too soon to tell Alex how she really felt, but she had to wonder if the real reason wasn't that she had been afraid of rejection. And here was Alex, once again laying her heart bare at Maggie's feet. Maggie felt such a strong, confusing, mix of self-recrimination and awe.

She felt Alex start to pull away, and instinct had her tightening her grasp, holding the now struggling Alex in place.

"Let me go, Maggie," Alex practically growled. Maggie realized that Alex had misinterpreted the breathy utterance of her name, and following silence. And who could blame her really, considering their history with Alex's confessions to Maggie.

"Not gonna happen," Maggie insisted, fighting to maintain her grip on the still struggling woman. Maggie knew if she really wanted to, Alex could escape, and do a significant amount of damage in the process. "What kind of girlfriend would I be if I let the woman I love run out into the cold Nebraska night bare assed naked," Maggie joked.

"Maggie, I said let me….wait...What?" Alex asked hopefully, and finally stopped struggling.

Maggie smiled at her, eyes bright even in the darkness. "I said what kind of girlfriend…"

"No," Alex insisted, shaking her head.

"I love you," Maggie whispered. She connected their lips in a soft, lingering kiss, letting it speak to the sincerity of her words. "I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I was...I guess I was just being a coward, and I'm sorry."

"What were you afraid of?" Alex asked softly.

Maggie gave a short laugh. "Who knows? Being rejected, being told thanks, but no thanks." Maggie paused, knowing that while fear of rejection was part of it, it wasn't all of it. Just the opposite in fact. "Fear that you would feel….obligated..I guess." Maggie shook her head. "You have spent so much of your life putting other people, and other people's wants and feelings first. I just didn't want you to feel trapped," Maggie confessed weakly. "This is all still so new to you Alex…"

"Maggie," Alex sighed, shaking her head. "Is the fact I have never done this before constantly going to be an issue for us? I may have not been with a woman before you Maggie, but you act like I lived like a hermit. I didn't. I may not have enjoyed it much, but I did my fair share of dating in college. I know what it feels like to date the wrong person. To be with the wrong person."

"Yeah but Alex, that was always with men," Maggie protested softly.

Alex let out an aggrieved huff of breath. "Yes, I'm aware. I'm not with you because you're a woman Maggie...I mean, yes, the fact that you are a woman is an important part of why I'm with you, but it's not the most important part.

I'm with you because you are amazing, and strong, and you make me laugh. You're loyal, and caring, and I feel like I can finally be myself, my true self, with someone. I don't feel like I have to hide parts of who I am with you Maggie. You get me. You make me feel safe enough to actually be me.

That's why I'm with you Maggie." Alex paused. "Well that and the fact that you are amazing in bed," Alex joked, breaking the emotional charge that had built up.

Maggie chuckled. "Good to know where your priorities are."

Alex shrugged, unrepentant, and snuggled back into Maggie's side. "A girl has needs, Sawyer."

"For which I am eternally grateful," Maggie replied, wrapping her arms tightly around Alex's back, and kissing her on the top of the head. "I'm sorry it took me so long," Maggie said apologetically.

"It's okay," Alex reassured her. "I'm used to beating you by now."

"Ma, you have to let me go, I can't breathe," Maggie gasped, only half joking. She had received her share of bone crushing hugs from Kara, and her Ma was giving the Girl of Steel a run for her money.

"I'm just going to miss you so much," her Ma cried, keeping Maggie pressed tightly to her chest. Maggie patted her back soothingly, and tried to pull away. She managed about a centimeter.

"I know, Ma. I promise, I won't wait so long to visit next time," Maggie reassured her Ma.

"You better not," Dee scolded, releasing her grip enough for Maggie to finally pull back. "I already got Alex to tell me if you "forget" to call home on a regular basis." Maggie dropped her mouth open in shock. Her mother gave her knowing look. "What? Did you think I didn't know? Mothers know these things Maggie." Maggie had the good grace to look ashamed, and dropped her eyes. "I also informed Alex that she better not think she was getting out of regular calls either."

"Ma, Alex is really busy. She might not always have time to-" Maggie cut off, seeing her Ma's stern look. "I'll make sure she finds the time."

Dee reached out and patted her daughter's cheek. "See that you do, sweetie." Maggie took it for the warning it was.

Maggie glanced around quickly, and seeing that Alex was preoccupied saying goodbye to Larry, and giving Gertie one more vigorous belly rub, Maggie leaned in close to her mother.

"So, you are going to keep the kitten inside like we talked about right?" she whispered, not wanting Alex to overhear. "I'm going to talk to a friend about coming to pick him up when I get back home."

As much as Maggie would have loved to take the kitten with them today, there was simply no way to arrange all the shots that would be needed to get the animal cleared to board the plane. So she had to go with plan B.

"I will," Dee promised. She looked at her daughter skeptically. "I still don't know what kind of friend agrees to come all the way to Nebraska to pick up a kitten."

"Don't worry Ma. I have connections. I got it covered."

"You have connections? Since when do you have connections?"

"And you'll make the pies?" Maggie asked, ignoring the question.

"Yes," Dee huffed. "Though I still don't see what kind of person can eat that many Chocolate Pecan pies."

"You'll see," Maggie replied with a smirk. Her Ma was going to kill her when Supergirl showed up, all bouncing excitement and blinding smiles, to pick up the tiny kitten and return it, and the pies, safely to National City.

After another round of hugs, and more than a few tears from Dee, Alex and Maggie were in the car and headed toward Lincoln. Maggie reached over the console and grabbed Alex's hand, needing the physical connection in that moment. She would never admit it to her Ma, but leaving Nebraska had left her a little emotional.

"You okay?" Alex asked, rubbing her thumb over the back of Maggie's hand.

Maggie nodded, eyes on the road ahead. "I am. I just...didn't expect leaving to…hit me like this."

"It's your home Maggie, of course you're sad to leave."

Maggie shook her head. She wasn't denying the fact that she was sad; she was. But this wasn't home. Not anymore. Home was National City. Maggie glanced sideways, and saw Alex looking at her in concern. Home, she was starting to realize, was the woman sitting beside her.

At some point this weekend, she realized that something in her had shifted. She still wasn't ready to commit to forever, at least, not yet, but in her mind "maybe" had become "someday". And maybe it was time she beat Alex to a relationship milestone, and brought up the idea of them moving in together.

"I am," Maggie admitted. "But, this isn't home anymore, and hasn't been for awhile. I just...I don't want to wait so long next time."

"Then we won't," Alex reassured her. "I know you will find this hard to believe, but I actually really enjoyed spending time with your family."

"Well, they all seemed to really like you too," Maggie told her. "Not that I can blame them. I have incredible taste."

"Such modesty," Alex laughed, shaking her head. "But really, if you want to come back a few times a year, we will. Besides, your Gram promised to tell me all sorts of stories about her little Magpie the next time I came to visit."