Author's Note: This chapter brings the story to what I hope is a satisfying conclusion. I never imagined, when I started writing this that it would turn into a novella, but here we are some 40,000+ words later. I want to thank everyone who's stuck around for the ride. I hope you think it's worth it, and I appreciate every comment I've gotten along the way.

For those who are interested in the Kryptonian used in the story, there is a full translation guide at the end of this chapter. The language is Doyle Kryptonian (the language being used on the show). You can find a reference for it at which also has information on other versions of the language. The "You make me see light" idiom is entirely my own, though it didn't originate in this story.

Chapter Text

(One Year Later)

"Cat."

Cat looked up from the layouts she was working on to see Alex standing in the doorway of her office, with a slightly nervous Eve standing behind her. She immediately dropped the layouts on her desk and stood up.

"Close the door please, Eve," Cat said as she waved Alex into the office.

"Of course, Ms. Grant," Eve said, pulling the glass door too.

"Where's Kara?" Cat asked as she sat down on one of the sofas.

Alex dropped down on the other sofa. "I convinced her that she should take Maggie shopping with her for your present."

"How did you do that?" Cat asked.

"I just said something about Maggie having the most experience in buying girlfriends anniversary presents, and let Kara's panic do the rest," Alex said, grinning.

"No, I meant, how did you convince Maggie to go shopping?"

"That's more details about my sex life than you really need," Alex said.

Cat laughed and shook her head. "You know the curiosity is going to kill me."

"Well, you've got what, six more lives at this point?" Alex said.

Cat rolled her eyes. "Careful, Agent Danvers. Any more Cat puns, and I'll be sure to let Maggie know you're the reason she has to pull a double shift the night of the Bare Naked Ladies concert she's been looking forward too for months."

Alex's eyes got as big as dinner plates, and she held up her hands in submission. "Truce?" she begged.

"Only if you have it," Cat said.

Alex smiled as she reached into her pocket, pulled out a small ring box and opened it.

"Oh," Cat said. "It's beautiful."

"A perfect copy of the piece you had sent over," Alex said. "We replaced the gems with Sunstones, and the ring is made of an alloy of depleted promethium, titanium and vanadium, which is strong enough that she could beat on this for hours, and not make a dent."

"Hopefully we won't have to test that," Cat said.

"Hopefully." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a second box. "I made a small addition," she said as she held out the second box.

Cat took it and opened it. "A locket?" she asked.

"Made of the same material," Alex said. "Open it."

Cat picked up the locket and opened it. One side was a polished mirror, but the other side had some kind of three-pronged clamp. It took her just a moment to realize what the clamp was for. She picked up the engagement ring and slotted it into place.

"El Mayarah," Alex said.

Cat watched in wonder as an image of her, Kara, and Carter appeared in the surface of the mirror.

"This is beautiful," Cat said.

"I thought that Kara would want to keep the ring with her, even when she's Supergirl, and this way, she can."

"Thank you," Cat said.

"You should also thank Winn." Alex said. "He got the voice recognition lock and the holoprojector working."

"I'll keep that in mind," Cat said. "How is Winn doing these days?"

"Pretty good," Alex said. "I think Kara's finally forgiven him and James for the whole Guardian/Mr. Terrific thing now that James and Curtis are actually official DEO agents. She might even start speaking to them again someday."

Cat smiled and shook her head. True to her prediction, things with James hadn't worked out. If she was being honest, she wasn't sure how much of that was Curtis, and how much of that was James. She'd hired Curtis to replace Winn, and because she felt a stab of sympathy for the man who was still trying to put his life back together after his husband had died in the Glades Earthquake in Starling City. When Guardian and Mr. Terrific had appeared a few weeks later, connecting the dots hadn't been that hard.

Kara, on the hadn't taken it well at all. Especially when James and Curtis had jumped onboard the 'Lena is evil' train when Lillian had framed her for helping Metallo escape. When things threatened to boil over in the office, Cat had called James into her office, and encouraged him to take the buyout package, and he'd had the good sense to agree.

Cat was pretty sure J'onn had brought them on as DEO agents because fighting or not, he knew Kara would be devastated if James got killed while playing superhero while dressed up like rejects from some CW action show.

"Are they still wearing those ridiculous suits?" Cat asked.

"Oh, it's worse than that. Once J'onn got a good look at it, he had Winn make Guardian style suits for all of us. He did make Curtis get rid of that ridiculous mask though."

"When did Kara find out about that?" Cat asked.

"About two weeks ago," Alex said.

"Well, that would explain this month's ice cream bill," Cat said. It would also explain one of the more athletic nights they'd had recently, because angry Kara almost always equaled horny Kara. A fact which meant that on the infrequent occasions when they did fight, the makeup sex was fantastic.

Alex laughed, blissfully unaware of what Cat was thinking. "Consider yourself lucky. I spent two nights on the couch because Maggie didn't get to arrest their dumb asses after we found out who they were."

Cat shook her head. "I'd have made you stay there a week, at least."

"What can I say? I'm irresistible," Alex said.

"And apparently bullet proof in your new suit," Cat said.

"The armor *is* nice, but I'm more excited about the T-Spheres."

"T-Spheres?" Cat asked.

"Yeah. Curtis came up with them back when he and James were still running around as Guardian and Mr. Terrific. There's little drones about the size of a baseball. All kinds of built in tech, including a taser, and a small explosive charge."

"Well, if it gets you excited, it was either going to explode or have dimples," Cat said.

"Hey, I like guns, too!" Alex said.

"And motorcycles," Cat replied.

"Says the woman with six," Alex shot back.

Cat shrugged. "Your sister likes me in leather."

Alex closed her eyes and scrunched up her face. "To much information," she whined.

"Oh, please. I would have thought after a year with Maggie, you'd have figured out that Kara and I do more than braid each other's hair."

"I try not to think about it," Alex said. She opened her eyes and held out her hand, taking the ring back from Cat and returning it to the box. "You going to ask her at the anniversary dinner?"

"No," Cat said. "I've always thought public proposals were vaguely creepy."

"You know, I hadn't even thought of that," Alex said.

"Why? Are you thinking of proposing?" Cat asked. "Because if you have some tacky double wedding in mind-"

"Yes to the proposing," Alex said. "No to the double wedding. Honestly, I was going to wait until you and Kara were married to pop the question, but I accidently caught Maggie ring shopping online, and I kind of want to be the one who asks."

"Do you have a ring picked out?"

"No," Alex said a little hopelessly. "I mean, this is Maggie, so she'd probably love the kind that comes attached to a grenade, but I was hoping for something a little more classy. The thing is, I probably know more about how to run a multibillion dollar media conglomerate than I do about picking out jewelry. I thought about asking the jeweler who sent over the models for your and Kara's rings, but somehow, I doubt they're in my price range."

"Would you be offended if I offered to get you a discount?" Cat asked.

"Are you kidding?' Alex asked. "I'm a government employee. Making unreasonable demands for a discount is chapter one in the training manual."

Cat laughed at that. "Let me make a couple of calls," she said. "I own two fashion magazines and the bestselling bridal magazine on the market. I'm pretty sure I can swing a discount from a jeweler or five." She leaned forward, reaching across the coffee table and catching Alex's hand in her own, squeezing it tightly. "And Alex…"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you," Cat said. "For helping with the ring, for accepting me into your family… For everything."

"Hey, it's not every day I get to celebrate the anniversary of Clark Kent getting that smug look slapped off his stupid face," Alex said, grinning. She gave Cat's hand a squeeze in return. "Seriously, Cat, you're family," Alex said. "It might have taken us a little longer to find you and Carter, that doesn't mean we love you any less."

Cat gave Alex a mock glare. "If you make me cry in front of my minions, I'm not letting you have Australia when we take over the world."

"I keep telling you to install curtains," Alex said.

"I'm starting to think that would be a good idea," Cat said.

"Why haven't you?" Alex asked.

"I hate feeding the rumor mill," Cat said. "They already assume I'm violating your sister every time we step out onto the balcony."

"And for my own sanity, I'm going to leave before you tell me those rumors aren't completely false," Alex said.

"Of course they are," Cat said. "That's what Kara's office is for."

Cat smiled. Alex's shriek of horror was worth whatever the rumor she'd just started.

Cat stood on the balcony outside of her office, admiring her handiwork. The bouquet of chocolate dipped strawberries and heart shaped pineapple pieces from edible arrangements was set neatly in place. A bottle of Kara's favorite Sparkling Blackberry Wine was breathing on one corner of her desk.

All that was missing was a certain Kryptonian, but that was easy to solve. She picked up her phone and sent Kara a text, asking Kara to come see her. She waited a second for Kara to say she was on her way before muting the phone and slipping it into her pocket.

Cat took a deep breath to steady her nerves as she double checked that the ring was in her pocket. She's been through this four times before, but she'd always been on the receiving end of the proposal. This was the first time she'd ever been the one asking, and it was a lot more nerve wracking.

Nerve wracking was a good description for the entire year. The nasty custody battle with Carter's dad. The entire fight with Cadmus. Finding out Jeremiah Danvers had been cooperating with them as a way to ensure his family's safety. Leslie getting a pardon in exchange for helping take down Hank Henshaw. Kara and James' friendship imploding when she found out James and his boyfriend were Guardian and Mr. Terrific. Morgan Edge and Intergang, and now the World Killers.

So much trouble. So much danger. Kara's near miss during her fight with Reign was enough to make Cat realize that waiting any longer was stupid. A year ago, she'd been worried about Kara outliving her. Three weeks ago, she'd been worried about outliving Kara.

She turned around at the sound of the door opening and smiled as Kara stepped out onto the balcony.

"Hey," Kara said, a smile spreading across her face. "What's all this?"

"You didn't think I was going to let our anniversary slip past without celebrating, did you?" Cat asked.

"But that's tomorrow," Kara said, coming into the room.

"Tomorrow is the anniversary of your first kiss," Cat said, standing up. She reached out and took Kara's hands in hers. "Today is the anniversary of the first time you told me you loved me. Even if I didn't understand what you were saying at the time."

Kara's cheeks turned bright red as she gave an awkward little shrug. "I was terrified," she said. "I mean, I'd just found out that my crush liked me back."

"You didn't seem terrified when you tried to kiss me," Cat said.

"Yeah," Kara said as she slipped her arms around Cat and pulled them together. "That's all Supergirl. You get scared, you do something immediately, so you don't have time to freeze."

Cat leaned into the kiss that followed Kara's words, squeezing her tightly as she opened her mouth and moaning as she felt Kara's tongue slip between her lips. Kissing Kara had been wonderful from the first time, but after a year's worth of practice, Kara knew just how to make her knees go week, and without really intending too, Cat lost herself in the kiss. For long, endless moments her entire world were lips and tongues and hands and arms and the absolute comfort of safety and home she felt whenever Kara held her.

She finally broke the kiss because she knew if she didn't, she was going to be in danger of breaking their 'no sex on the balcony' rule. Again. She took a moment to center herself before she looked up, only to meet Kara's eyes and have her breath taken away all over again by the way Kara was looking at her.

"/ .zhao w rrip/" Cat whispered.

"/ .zhao vahdhah w rrip/" Kara replied softly.

They exchanged the same words, 'I love you' and 'I love you too', in English often enough, but there was something about the / kryptahniuo/ words spoken softly between them, only ever uttered in private felt more real to Cat. They'd spent long, quiet nights curled up together, with Kara teaching her the language. Sometimes Carter had joined them. Sometimes, Alura's holograph had been with them through the video conferencing system Cat had installed in the den just for that purpose. It had been a long process, and hard work, but the look on Kara's face every time Cat spoke to her in her native language was worth every moment of it.

This time, the exchange earned her another kiss. This one was soft and quick, though not what anyone would call chaste.

"You know we don't need some date on the Calendar to have a special night," Kara said.

"Every night with you is special, /i zhor/," Cat said.

Kara grinned at her. "I love it when you call me that," she said.

"It's true," she said. "You're my heart. You and Carter."

"/ .nahn rrip w khap i zahdh/" Kara said, and Cat translated the words almost instantly. 'You are my home.'

"For as long as you want me to be," Cat said.

"/ .uldif/" Kara said, and Cat smiled a little at the simple word, and the meaning behind it. Forever.

"Careful there," Cat said. "I might take you up on that."

"Please do," Kara said, kissing Cat lightly again.

"I think I will," Cat said, feeling it. This was the moment. She stepped back, smiling as she saw a slightly puzzled look on Kara's face. A look which changed to shock as Cat knelt down. She slipped her hand into her pocked, and pulled out the small, lead lined velvet bag, and turned it over, letting the ring Alex had delivered fall into her hand, then tucked the bag back into her pocket before reaching out and taking Kara's left hand in her own as she held up the engagement ring.

"/ .nahn rrip w khap i zhor , eh ,kahrah,zor,ehl, .pahskilahres w khap ni :divi .:zhao w rrip .:zhao zhindif w rrip .ta uvrreoshu w khap/" she said. Words she's spent hours translating and rehearsing, to make sure she got them right. Got them perfect. 'You are my heart, Kara Zor-El. You make me see light. I love you. I will always love you. Will you marry me?' The translation echoing in her head.

Kara nodded, tears starting to well up in her eyes. "/!zhi/" she said. /!uvrreoshu veun w rrip/" 'Yes! Of course I'll marry you.'

Cat slipped the ring onto Kara's hand, and smiled for a moment at the beauty of it. A platinum colored band set with three round cut stones. A diamond in the center, with a deep blue sapphire on either side.

Kara pulled Cat to her feet, and Cat didn't waste any time. She stepped into Kara's arms and kissed her soundly as she imagined their future and hoped for forever.

The End.

Translated from the Kryptonian:

From Chapter 8

.zhindahzh khuhp w voiehd im ;zuhne non w udolkhehdia gahv shahrrehth im
Literal: I dreamed of this but was afraid of allowing hope.
Semantic: I dreamed of this, but I was afraid to let myself hope for it.

.:zhao w rraop
I love you (romantically).

.:zhaoes zhindif w rraop
I have always loved you (romantically).

From Chapter 10

.sozhaoowahshes
Please don't cry.

.nahn w khap i zhor
You are my heart.

:zhao w rraop
I love you (romantically).

:zhaoes zhindif w rraop
I have always loved you (romantically).

.pahskiles rrip w khap ni :divi
Literal: You show me light.
Semantic: Does not translate. In story, Kara translates this as 'You make me see light', which is the closest semantic translation possible, but lacks the cultural context to truly give it meaning. Kryptonians believe that Rao is the source of light, the source of hope, of joy, of peace and kindness and love and all that is good. 'To see light' is a metaphore for looking at the world and experiencing joy in the small wonders that fill it. To say that someone 'makes you see light' means that their presence makes your life better, and imspires you to find joy in living in the world and to take the time see all the beauty it in.

.zhindahzh khuhp w voiehd im ;zuhne non w udolkhehdia gahv shahrrehth im
Literal: I dreamed of this but was afraid of allowing hope.
Semantic: I dreamed of this, but I was afraid to let myself hope for it.

Chapter 14

.non jolum
I was wrong.

.sokao:zhalishodh w khuhp
Please forgive me.

.:zhalishes rraop
I forgive you.

.pahskiles w :divi ,kahl,ehl,
Literal: (She) shows light (to me)
Semantic: Does not translate. Kara would translates this as 'She make me see light', which is the closest semantic translation possible, but lacks the cultural context to truly give it meaning. Kryptonians believe that Rao is the source of light, the source of hope, of joy, of peace and kindness and love and all that is good. 'To see light' is a metaphore for looking at the world and experiencing joy in the small wonders that fill it. To say that someone 'makes you see light' means that their presence makes your life better, and imspires you to find joy in living in the world and to take the time see all the beauty it in.

.:zhaoodh khuhp w zhehd
I love her.

.sem uvrreoshu khuhp w zhehd
I want to marry her.

Chapter 15

.pahskiles w :divi ,kahl,ehl,
Literal: (She) shows light (to me)
Semantic: Does not translate. Kara would translates this as 'She make me see light', which is the closest semantic translation possible, but lacks the cultural context to truly give it meaning. Kryptonians believe that Rao is the source of light, the source of hope, of joy, of peace and kindness and love and all that is good. 'To see light' is a metaphore for looking at the world and experiencing joy in the small wonders that fill it. To say that someone 'makes you see light' means that their presence makes your life better, and imspires you to find joy in living in the world and to take the time see all the beauty it in.

.:zhaoodh khuhp w zhehd
I love her.

.sem uvrreoshu khuhp w zhehd
I want to marry her.

Chapter 18

.zhao w rrip
I love you.

.zhao vahdhah w rrip
I love you too.

kryptahniuo
Kryptonian (language)

i zhor
My Heart

.nahn rrip w khap i zahdh
You are my home.

.uldif
Forever.

.nahn rrip w khap i zhor , eh ,kahrah,zor,ehl,
You are my heart, Kara Zor-El.

.pahskilahres w khap ni :divi
You make me see light.

.:zhao w rrip
I love you.

.:zhao zhindif w rrip
I will always love you.

.ta uvrreoshu w khap
Will you marry me?

!zhi
Yes!

!uvrreoshu veun w rrip
Of course I'll marry you!