Author's note : There it is ! The final chapter ! Finally ! It seems that I can't wrap up things quickly so enjoy this extra long chapter. See you at the end of it for a proper farewell to you, dear readers, and this story.
Kara was anxiously waiting for the L Corp elevator to reach Lena's floor. She may have done that ride countless times, she still felt intimidated by the big elevator cabin and the insane amount of floors every time.
She wondered how Lena will greet her, after all the ghosting from Kara's part. When Kara found out about the tempered recording, she had tried to call Lena right away, but it rang and rang until she reached Lena's voice mail. That didn't surprised Kara, it made sense, she knew she had some explaining and apologizing to do.
When she exited the elevator, she spotted Jess at her desk per usual. Kara took a deep breath and clutched the donuts box she had brought with her a little harder before she walked toward Lena's assistant.
-"Hi Jess !" Kara greeted, smiling.
-"Hello Ms Danvers" Jess replied coldly, her eyes never leaving her computer screen.
Kara was a little taken aback by Jess cold demeanor. The girl used to like her a lot, always happy to see her. But it seemed that Jess was even more loyal to her boss than Kara thought. She wasn't going to forgive Kara so easily for hurting Lena, no matter how unintentional it was.
-"Is Lena here ?" Kara asked, hopefully. She was afraid Jess would say that Lena didn't want to see her at all but she had to try.
-"No. She's away on vacation."
-"Oh" Kara let out in surprise. She haven't known Lena for long but Lena and vacation in the same sentence felt antinomic somehow. "Do you know when she will come back ?"
-"She didn't say" Jess kept giving Kara short replies and haven't glanced at the blonde once yet.
-"Did she, hum, left a number so we can reach her or something ?" Kara asked, the worry clear in her voice now. Maybe she had taken too long to figure things out and Lena didn't want anything to do with her anymore.
-"Yes" Jess answered truthfully, making Kara's eyes lit up instantly.
-"Oh great !" Kara couldn't help herself to say enthusiastically.
-"But it's not for you" Jess added curtly. Kara's smile fell in a second. "Professional emergencies only" Jess spoke again, but this time it was clear in her tone that she felt a little sorry for Kara.
-"Well" Kara uttered, not really knowing what to say. Apologising to Jess wouldn't make any sense, she wasn't the one Kara had let down and the secretary had been kind enough to answer Kara as best as she could with the information Lena had left her.
-"Thanks anyway" Kara finally came out with and turned to leave.
-"Wait" Jess said suddenly, making Kara stop in her tracks.
Maybe Jess took pity on me at least and is going to help me contact Lena after all, Kara thought and her heart sped up at the prospect.
-"Those" Jess enunciated slowly, pointing at the box still in Kara's hands, "stay with me".
Right. The donuts. What else could have it been ?
-"Of course !" Kara replied instantly, giving Jess an embarrassed smile as she turned quickly and deposited the box on Jess' desk reverently.
-"Enjoy !" Kara threw over her shoulder at Jess, as she pressed the elevator's button.
-"Will do !" Jess replied as the elevator doors opened and Kara disappeared from her line of sight.
Jess opened the box Kara had left her and chose a donut with chocolate icing. She took a bite and couldn't prevent the moan that escaped her lips.
As she feasted on her donut, Jess realized how much she had missed this since her boss' break up. Kara used to bring Jess her guilty pleasure every time the Krypton CEO brought lunch for Lena. Of course, Jess missed seeing her boss happy the most but she couldn't deny that Kara's thoughtful gestures was something Jess had gotten used to and was now yearning for again. No matter what happened between the two CEO, Jess hoped that Kara's visit today meant the later was on her way to mend things. No one deserved to be happy more than her boss, Jess was well placed to know that.
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
Back to square one.
Kara stood on the sidewalk, contemplating what her next step would be. Obviously Lena didn't want to be disturbed, Kara deduced. She had left Jess a number in case an emergency regarding L Corp arise but she must have let someone else know about her plan for all the non professional stuff. And since Lena's mother is anything but trustworthy as Kara had learned the hard way, that left only one other person :
Veronica.
As much as Kara wanted to stay as far away as possible from Lena's eccentric best friend, she didn't have much choice. So she took a deep breath and called Veronica. This has to work Kara prayed silently.
-"Yes ?" Veronica picked up after three ringtones.
-"Hey Veronica, it's Kara."
-"Who ?" Veronica asked. She was so bad at remembering names. That's why she always gave people nicknames.
-"It's Kara" the blonde repeated, thinking veronica hadn't heard her correctly the first time.
-"Keira ?" Veronica said. "I don't know any Keira."
-"It's Ka... Nevermind" Kara changed tactics. Her name clearly didn't ring any bell to Veronica.
-"Lena's friend" she clarified.
-"Sorry Girl" Veronica replied laughing. "I'm Lena's friend. Try harder next time !"
-"Wait !" Kara shouted on the phone afraid that her last chance to contact Lena would disappear with Veronica hanging up on her. "I'm Kara" she tried again desperately when she thought back of something that could help veronica remember her. This might work Kara said to herself. After all, she couldn't wipe this memory from her brain herself even if she wanted to. "I'm... Supergirl bra ?" Kara mumbled hopefully.
-"Oh ! App Girl !" Veronica exclaimed. "How have you been Girl ?"
-"Hum, okay thank y..." Kara answered before Veronica interrupted her suddenly.
-"Wait. Didn't you dump Lena like a piece of trash at the award ceremony ?" Veronica inquired even if by the tone of her voice Kara could tell that Veronica recalled the scene perfectly. "I'm sure that according to the best friend code I'm not allowed to talk to you" Veronica added reproachfully.
-"That's the thing !" Kara intervened before Veronica could cut the conversation short. "I'm trying to fix this mess and I thought that, maybe, you could help me?" Kara pleaded.
-"I don't know, that's sound like a lot of work" Veronica complained.
-"I'm sure it will be easier than to dress me up for a date" Kara snapped back in her head. How could her only chance at mending things depends solely on that crazy woman ?
-"Ha ! That's for sure !" Veronica said between laughs.
Wait, did I say that out loud ? Kara wondered as she chastised herself internally for being so reckless. Now Veronica won't help her for sure.
-"Ok, this was a good one and I'm feeling generous today so I'm going to help you" Veronica spoke again.
-"Thank you ! Kara exclaimed joyfully. "Where are you ? I'll join you right away."
-"Okay. I'm..." Veronica started to reply but she had taken a cab to get here so she couldn't tell where she was exactly in the city.
-"Excuse me sir, where am I exactly ?" Kara heard Veronica ask trough the phone.
-"At the art opening of the great Paul..." a man answered before Veronica interrupted him rudely.
-"I know that, you moron ! I mean what part of town, what street !" she went on.
-"Why don't you look outside by yourself instead of bothering me ?" the man said back angrily.
-"Fine, I will go myself so you can keep staring boringly at this painting hanging upside down like your brain !" Veronica responded and exited the art opening.
After a few seconds of rustle, Veronica was back on the phone :
-"Hey App Girl ?"
-"Yes ?"
-"I'm at the corner of the 6th and the 24th" Veronica told Kara.
-"Got it !"
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
-"I knew it ! That woman is worst than cancer !" Veronica exclaimed angrily. She never liked Lillian and this new low blow from her part just proved to Veronica she definitely never will.
-"So what's your plan exactly ?" she asked Kara who was sitting next to her on a street bench.
-"Well, since Lena doesn't pick up the phone and Jess won't contact her unless there's a work emergency" Kara explained, "I thought that... maybe... if you call her, she would answer ? she finished, looking expectantly at Veronica.
-"I'm sorry, Jess ?" Veronica asked back.
-"Lena's personal assistant ?" Kara provided, her shoulders sagging. How could she make this woman focus once and for all on the matter at hand ?
-"Oh, yeah the Asian girl !" Veronica simply said, glad to have been able to remember someone so quickly.
-"So ? What do you think ?" Kara insisted. "You call her and hand the phone to me ?" she added, almost pleadingly.
-"Hum... I don't think that would work" Veronica answered, scrunching her nose. "She would hang up before you even got the chance to say her name fully" she went on, honestly.
-"Lena would never do that" Kara dismissed with an uneasy laugh.
-"Uh, yeah she would" Veronica asserted again.
-"How can you be so sure ?"
-"Because it's what I would do."
-"I'm not really sure that qualifies as a good reasoning in this situation" Kara said.
-"What do you mean ?"
-"Well, you're not really alike you and Lena" Kara stated the obvious.
-"Of course not !" Veronica gladly admitted. "But she's my best friend so I know her best."
Kara sighed, defeated. She really thought this would work. If she couldn't talk to Lena there was no way she would set everything right.
-"Hey, don't worry, we'll figure this out" Veronica tried to cheer the blonde up. Kara looked back at Veronica and gave her a side smile to let her know she appreciated the effort but Kara couldn't hide her deception.
-"Wow" Veronica said suddenly. "Now I get why Lena couldn't be mad at you. How do you do that with your face ?"
-"Do what ?" Kara inquired, totally clueless.
-"You look like a puppy but... human" Veronica tried to explain. "Like, you've just been ditched on the side of the road and you're begging me to take you with me in my car with your eyes" she extrapolated, leaving Kara totally confused. "It's fascinating."
-"So you're not going to help me ? Kara asked a little desperately.
-"I will do better than that !" Veronica exclaimed cheerfully like she had the best idea ever. "I'm going to call Lena, ask her what her exact location is, and then..." she paused for dramatic effect, "you can join her over there and apologize in person. What do you think ?"
-"Hum...it could work ?" Kara mused, deep in thought.
-"Of course it will !" Veronica replied enthusiastically. "No way she won't forgive you if you do your puppy eyes to her" she added, smiling at her own brilliant plan. "Or maybe they don't work on command ?"
-"Just... call her, please" Kara pleaded. She won't survive to Veronica explaining her weird human-puppy theory for only one minute more.
-"On it !" Veronica said as she retrieved her phone from her purse. She selected Lena in her contacts and put the phone to her ear. Kara watched Veronica anxiously.
-"Hey Bestie !" Veronica said cheerfully on the phone and winked at Kara to show her that she got this which didn't reassured Kara at all.
-"Hi !" Lena answered, glad that her friend was calling to check on her.
-"How's the retreat going ?" Veronica asked. "Doing yoga on the grass among black-headed sheep ?"
-"Oh my God that's so cliché !" Lena responded, laughing.
-"But true, am I right ?
-"Let's say you're not entirely wrong" Lena admitted.
-"Hey, I was thinking of sending you a little something to keep you busy over there, what's you direction again ?" Veronica inquired in the most casual way she could muster.
-"If it's to send me a dildo like the last time I was on vacation it's a hard no" Lena stated sternly. Veronica burst out laughing, making Kara jump.
-"Oh come on ! It was so funny !" Veronica defended herself, still laughing. "I would have loved to see Lillian face though, I'm sure it have been epic."
-"Thank God she never saw it" Lena replied, sighing in relief like it hadn't happened years ago when she was still a teenager. "I had the good sense of opening your package in my room" she recalled. "I had to spent the rest of the holidays hiding it in the hotel suite after that, hoping she would never find it tough."
-"I promise it's not a dildo this time" Veronica assured Lena. Then, she glanced at Kara who was twisting her hands in her lap, her right leg bouncing up and down nervously, and added, smiling : "It's way better than that."
-"OK" Lena relented. "Ready to write it down ?"
After Veronica had carefully wrote the direction down on a piece of paper Kara had handed to her, she wished her best friend a good night and hung up.
Good night ? Kara wondered to herself. Weird. Then she looked at the direction Veronica had written down and didn't recognize the zip code.
-"Where is it exactly ? Kara asked Veronica, confused.
-"Oh that's in Ireland sweetie" Veronica replied like it was the most obvious and usual thing in the world.
-"Wh-what ?"
-"Good luck app Girl !"
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
-"So ? How did it go ?" Winn asked Kara eagerly as soon as she came back to the office.
-"She wasn't there" Kara replied as she walked toward her desk. "She's actually on vacation."
-"Oh, really ? That's... rare for Lena Luthor" Winn mused. "Let me guess, the Hamptons ?"
-"No, Ireland."
-"Wow, that's far" Winn let out, surprised. "Do you know when she will be back ?"
-"No, but it doesn't matter because I decided to fly over there to see her" Kara answered truthfully.
-"Wait, what ?" Winn exclaimed. He suddenly noticed that Kara had came back with a large sport bag and hadn't removed it from her shoulder since she arrived.
-"I just came here to grab my passport and then I'll take a cab to catch my flight" Kara explained to Winn, her decision made.
-"Have you been to Europe before at least ?"
-"Winn, it's Ireland. They speak English there, I'll be fine."
-"I don't know, with their accent it might as well be French" Winn mumbled back. "Wouldn't be better for you to wait for Lena to come back ?"
-"What if she doesn't come back within a month ? Have you thought about that Winn ?" Kara asked her best friend rhetorically. "What I'm supposed to do ? Show up just like that and apologize when I've known for weeks that it wasn't her fault at all and that I didn't say anything to her all this time ?" Kara finished, resolute. It was the best course of action and she wasn't letting anyone tell her otherwise.
Winn never witnessed Kara make a decision that big without consulting with him or Alex first. It seemed so out of character for Kara that Winn couldn't help but worry. He wanted to ask Kara is she was sure of herself but at the same time Kara was finally doing something on her own and very confidently for the first time in a long time. He didn't want to ruin her resolve with his doubts.
Plus, the last time Kara was so sure about something and insisted until Winn gave in was when she invented the Krypton App. And Winn has always liked Lena. She is a really nice and smart person when you get to know her. He wasn't blind and he knew that she made Kara happy too, so he decided to be a good best friend.
-"OK, you have a point" Winn finally said. Kara seemed relieved that he wasn't trying to stop her. She was already second guessing herself, she didn't need anyone giving her a reason to chicken out.
Suddenly, Winn engulfed Kara in a strong hug.
-"Good luck" Winn said and meant it. "I'm sure she would forgive you."
-"Thanks Winn."
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
The ten hours flight was okay. Kara agreed to a few selfies but she took her plane at 8pm so she spent most of the trip sleeping. She even got a seat next to the window so she could admire the city's lights as the plane was ascending.
Of course Lena's mansion was in a quiet countryside, somewhere in the middle of nowhere so Kara had to take a bus at the airport to the closest city and then, nothing. She had to do the rest by foot. At least one hour walk according to the GPS on her phone.
She could have rented a car but Kara never took a driver license test. She didn't see the need in that, living in a big city like National City with public transportation and cabs everywhere. Plus, even if she did own a driving license, everyone was driving on the wrong side of the road here and knowing herself, she would crash after only 5 minutes of driving.
She adjusted her sports bag on her shoulder and started walking on the side of the road. The sky was grey and the air was a little chilly but the long walk would warm her and she could contemplate the beautiful landscape that lay before her.
After 20 minutes of walking, it started raining and Kara's cardigan which was already struggling to keep her warm became useless pretty fast.
Maybe she didn't think this whole thing through after all.
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
Erin was glad that Lena was here again. It had been so long since the last time the young woman had stayed in the family mansion. When Lena had discovered the place after opening her late father's will, she had decided to keep it. She put Erin, her biological mother's housemaid and friend in charge of watching over and maintaining the mansion. In exchange, Erin would live in the outbuilding, specially renovated for the occasion, for free and receive a more than comfortable salary.
Erin had been so relieved when Lena had offered that arrangement. She had always lived in this remote part of the country and worked in this particular mansion for so long now that she didn't knew what she would have done with her life otherwise.
Lena had arrived three days ago at the mansion and Erin couldn't be more delighted. She had been there when Lena's mother had given birth and unfortunately, had died in the process. Erin had taken care of baby Lena in her first weeks of life until Lionel Luthor had came to sign a bunch of paper and bring Lena back to America, so Erin considered Lena as if she was her own daughter.
Erin told Lena today that she was going to the village to buy some groceries and asked the CEO if she needed anything. After Lena assured her that she didn't want anything, Erin got in her red pick-up and left.
When she was halfway to the village it started raining hard. Erin just shrugged. She already had her raincoat on and as always in Ireland, the downpour will soon be replaced by beautiful sunny spells. The locals use to say that the weather here is as changeable as a woman's mood.
As she continued driving, Erin spotted someone walking on the left side of the road. As she got closer, she noticed it was a young woman and that she was completely drenched. Erin wondered where this woman was going on foot in this godforsaken area, everyone here had a vehicle unless...
Erin hit the brakes right after she had passed the woman. Even if the pouring rain made it more difficult to see clearly, she was sure she recognized this woman's face from her magazines. With Lena living on the other side of the ocean, Erin made a habit of buying magazines which mentioned in one form or another Lena. That's why she had bought Forbes for the first time months ago. She was so proud of Lena. She had also read all that came after between Lena and that other CEO, Kara something.
Plus, this road only led to a pair of farms beside the mansion and Erin knew everyone who worked and lived there. That couldn't be a coincidence. So Erin put her pick-up into reverse and moved back until she stopped at the young woman's height.
-"You okay there ? Where are you going ? Erin asked after rolling down the passenger window.
-"Hi, I'm uh, going to a mansion, somewhere at the end of this road ?" Kara replied, squinting to see the driver's face despite all the rain drops on her glasses.
-"Oh I know which mansion you're talking about. I just left there actually" Erin told Kara. Yes, after looking more thoroughly at the young woman and hearing her American accent, Erin was now sure that she was speaking to Lena's magazines sweetheart. Or ex-sweetheart.
-"Really ?" Kara said hopefully. At least she was on the right path it seemed.
-"You're only halfway there and you're going to catch a cold all wet like that" Erin said, sighting. "Get in, I will drive you" she finished, unlocking her pick-up doors.
-"Oh, really ? Thank you !" Kara thanked Erin, throwing her sports bag in the back of the pick-up and got in.
-"Name's Erin by the way" the Irish woman said, turning her pick-up around.
-"Kara."
While they drove in silence, Erin took pity of the poor girl shivering next to her so she turned the heat up even if with her rain coat on she will be too hot soon. Erin sensed that the girl wanted to ask her something but didn't know how to proceed so Erin waited patiently. After a few minutes, Kara finally spoke :
-"Earlier you said that you came from the mansion..." Kara started hesitantly, approaching her freezing hands to the aeration grid.
-"Yes" Erin confirmed. "I work here."
-"Hum, do you know if...there's someone else, hum, there at the moment ?
-"You want to know if Miss Lena will be at the mansion when we arrive there" Erin guessed, smiling.
-"How did you..."
-"It's Europe here not the ass end of nowhere" Erin answered laughing. "We got the news and I have a friend who won't shut up about your app saving her life.
-"Of course, sorry" Kara apologized. Her recent access to celebrity was something she was still trying to get used to.
-"To answer your question, she's at the mansion. Not expecting you though."
-"Yeah I know" Kara admitted, sighting. "I'm trying this whole improvisation thing for the first time but since I landed here I'm starting to realize how unprepared I am."
-"Well, that's life kiddo, you're never really prepared for it."
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
Lena was comfortable in the mansion's living room, reading a good book on her couch with a warm blanket draped loosely on her lap when she heard the front door open.
-"Erin ?" she inquired and saw that it was indeed her maid making her way in.
-"You're back already ? Lena asked confused. "I thought you were going to the grocery store ?"
-"I was Miss Lena but then I found something, or rather, someone on the road who wants to see you" Erin explained. "And since it was raining a lot and the poor thing was drenched from head to toes I thought it best to end her misery and bring her here already."
-"Someone ?" Lena wondered out loud. Who could it be ?
-"Tall, blonde, American ?" Erin provided.
Kara ? Lena deduced immediately but chastised herself as soon as the thought entered her mind. That's not possible. They haven't talked since the award ceremony and nobody beside Jess and Veronica knew that she was staying here.
-Name's Kara ?" Erin added and smiled when she saw Lena jump out of the couch like she's been electrocuted.
-"She's here ?" Lena asked, staring at the front door as if she could see through it.
-"Yes, that's what I just said Miss Lena" Erin replied patiently, smiling. "The poor girl is freezing outside in my car Miss, should I let her in ?"
-"Yes, of course" Lena said, finally snapping out of her stupor but Erin made no move toward the front door. She just eyed Lena with an eyebrow raised questioningly.
-"What ?" Lena asked.
-"I just thought that maybe you would want to change before I let the Miss in" Erin informed Lena, eyeing her again.
Lena took a quick look at her fluffy socks, her over-used sweatpants and her birth mother's old wool jacket. She didn't have to look at a mirror to know that her hair were a mess since she didn't brush them this morning after she woke up.
-"I'm just..." Lena said to her maid, pointing at the staircase before darting to her room on the first floor of the mansion to change. Erin just laughed lightly.
A minute later, Lena was back in jeans and a sweater, her hair tied in a messy bun.
-"I'm ready" she told Erin, glancing at the front door and playing anxiously with the hem of her sleeves.
Erin opened the front door and motioned at Kara to join her. Kara exited the red pick-up, put her sports bag back on her shoulder and walked the short distance between the car and the front porch.
-"Sorry for the wait" Erin apologized. "Miss Lena will see you now."
-"Thanks" Kara answered, hugging herself to protect herself from the cold and to prevent her hands to fidgeting with her glasses.
Erin opened the door and kept it open to let Kara in. Lena couldn't believe her own eyes. Kara was here.
-"Hi" Kara said shyly to... the coat stand. With the temperature difference between the outside and the warm mansion, Kara's glasses had misted up for a few seconds and she had of course, picked the wrong shadow she could perceive, to greet.
-"I'm here" Lena clarified and couldn't stop the amused smile that graced her lips.
Erin wasn't so considerate of their guest feelings and snorted loudly, then pressed her hand to her mouth to suppress her laughter and failed.
But Kara didn't seem to mind. As soon as the fog had dissipated from her glasses, her focus lay solely on Lena.
-"Hi" Kara said again, looking directly at Lena this time.
-"Hi" Lena replied, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Kara was really here, standing in front of her.
Erin considered staying a little while to see how all of this would play out, the conversation promised to be quite interesting. However, if Erin didn't go to the grocery store soon, there wouldn't be much to eat for dinner and she had the feeling that there would be one more person at the table this evening.
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
The front door closing behind Erin brook the two CEO back to reality. They didn't know how long they've been standing there, staring at each other not knowing what to say.
-"Maybe you want to dry yourself" Lena finally spoke.
-"Yes, that would be great" Kara replied hastily.
While Kara dried herself and changed in the bathroom on the first floor, Lena fixed them two cups of tea that she set on the coffee table, in front of the couch, and waited for Kara.
A few minutes later, Kara was back in clean clothes. They were still too light for the current weather but the mansion was warm enough.
-"Thanks for the tea" Kara said and sat down on the velvet reading chair, next to the couch Lena was already seated on.
-"You didn't bring anything warmer than cardigans ?" Lena asked, noticing that Kara had gotten back in the same outfit, only replacing the wet clothes with similar items in style but of different color : a shirt, kakis and a cardigan.
-"No" Kara admitted sheepishly. "It isn't supposed to be spring here too anyway ?"
-"Yes, but here spring means chilly and rainy mostly."
Silence fell over the room again. Kara fidgeted with her glasses, trying to find the best way to explain herself to Lena and apologize. Kara spent the whole trip thinking about this moment and now that she was finally here, in front of Lena, she didn't know where to begin.
Lena brought her cup of tea to her lips and inhaled it. It was too hot to drink yet so she put the cup down again. Kara didn't seem like she was going to speak soon and Lena couldn't stand the quiet tension anymore.
-"I can't believe you travelled all the way here" Lena suddenly broke the silence.
-"I tried to call you but since you didn't respond and I couldn't wait to speak to you, I decided to come" Kara answered, relieved that Lena broke the ice first and was apparently willing to talk to her.
Lena remembered Kara's call. When her phone had rang that day and she had seen it was Kara calling, Lena had almost answered immediately. Then she had thought that maybe Kara was calling her to tell her that she was done with her professionally too, that she was the worst or something like that so she had decided to wait and listen to the voicemail instead but Kara never left one.
-"I was in the shower" Lena lied. "And since you didn't left any voicemail I thought it wasn't that important."
-"You don't have to explain yourself" Kara replied quickly. "I didn't answer you for days before the award ceremony and after... Let's say I deserved it and I'm not mad."
-"And now you're here" Lena stated. She picked her cup of tea again to keep her hands busy. "Why ?"
-"Because now I know Lillian had set me up" Kara told the truth. "She came to me that night and she made me believe that everything we had was a lie" Kara continued. She glanced at Lena. She didn't seem surprised or angry, just weary.
-"She told me that you pretended to be with me to win the press and the public favor so as to save your company after your brother's trial" Kara kept going. "That you offered to work on a joint project with me to benefit from my ideas and my company growing popularity to restore L Corp image."
-"And you believed her ?" Lena asked even if she already knew the answer.
-"I'm sorry but she played perfectly on my insecurities" Kara confessed. "She just had to instil the doubt in my mind and then I did all of the work by myself like the idiot I am."
-"The more I thought about Lillian's theory, the more things added up" Kara admitted. "How you answered to my job advertisement, how it was you that came up with the fake relationship idea in the first place and of course how someone like you would fall for someone who can't handle herself at a damn photoshoot?" Kara finished angrily, leaning forward on her seat and hiding her face in her hands in embarrassment. She was still so mad at herself for falling right into Lillian's trap.
-"You should have come to me" Lena said but there wasn't one shred of reproach in her voice.
-"That was my first thought too" Kara agreed. "To what end though ?" she then asked rhetorically. "I would have come to you and you would have told me the truth, that all of what Lillian said was made up but doing that you would have accidentally strengthened your mother's story because that's what people that are caught do. They deny and they lie" Kara explained the reasoning she had at the time.
-"I was lost so I did the only logical thing that came to mind" Kara continued after a pause. "I asked for advice to my family and friends and they..."
-"All turned their backs on me because that's what you do to a Luthor" Lena finished for her. "Isn't it funny that my mother and I share the same last name but people always believe her over me ?" Lena added, laughing hollowly.
-"I'm sorry I believed Lillian and that not once it occurred to me that your mother could have invented all of it" Kara quickly apologized again. "Because what kind of mother would do that to their own child ? I knew your relationship with her was strained but that was basically all I knew. You never speak about her. I couldn't have known she would be capable of such cruelty towards you."
-"What made you change your mind then ?" Lena genuinely asked. Usually, when she was involved in anything and things didn't turn out as expected, people didn't bother to look for the truth, it was easier for them to blame everything on the Luthor. Of course Kara was different. Kara had always been different.
-"You" Kara admitted in a heartbeat, looking straight at Lena. "I was wrong before, speaking to you was the right thing to do. Well, speaking isn't the right word because I didn't exactly said anything back and it wasn't really what you said but more how you said it" Kara ranted but judging by the creasing brow on Lena's face, what Kara was saying wasn't making much sense.
-"That night at the gala" Kara clarified, "I knew you weren't lying. I don't know how, but I knew. And since my logical mind couldn't trust a simple hunch, intuition or whatever people call that, I had to find proof, but he moment I found it I came here" Kara explained, smiling uncomfortably, still ashamed at herself for taking so much time to discover the truth and apologize to Lena.
-"Once I found out, I had to came here as soon as possible because..." Kara exhaled loudly. "Lena, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me and if you'll have me, I want to give us another try."
In that moment, Lena could have asked Kara what was the proof that she had found exactly, how Kara retrieved it, but Lena realized she couldn't care less. For the first time in her life, someone was choosing her. Kara had believed her, had searched for the truth and crossed an entire ocean to tell Lena in person that she was sorry and she still wanted her.
It was a weird feeling for Lena, to finally hear everything she had always wanted someone to tell her, especially Kara, and still feel uneasy. Lena had the sensation that she was dragging Kara down with her somehow. Love shouldn't be that hard. Kara shouldn't have to work so much to justify her relationship with Lena to everybody else. So before giving her answer to Kara, Lena had to make sure Kara was aware of what exactly she was getting herself into.
-"Kara, if we give ourselves a second chance you have to know that this incident with my mother won't be the last" Lena warned Kara.
-"Yeah I know" Kara replied, smiling brightly. "Never believe anything Lillian says, trust you always, I learned my lesson well."
-"I'm serious Kara" Lena said, her face growing very serious. "My mother won't stop there. The media won't stop either. Remember what you said the first time we met ? That I wasn't responsible for my family's mistakes ?
-"I still think that."
-"But you're the only one" Lena added, sighting. "My mother will always make me pay for my father infidelity and the media will always make me pay for my father and my brother mistakes with the Law. All of them decided to take me down since I took over the family company and they will stop at nothing until they manage to destroy me." Lena took a deep breath and continued. "You have to understand that you can't pick me without my baggage and all the mess that comes with it. We're a package deal, sorry."
-"I can take it" Kara replied instantly.
-"Really ?" Lena inquired, raising an eyebrow at Kara.
-"Yes. All of it" Kara assured Lena, her eyes never leaving Lena's.
-"You, who panics every time someone ask a question too private for your liking in an interview ? You, who hates mediatic events and run away as soon as things get too hard ?" Lena reminded Kara and then quickly sipped at her tea to avoid looking at Kara anymore. Lena knew her words would hurt Kara but Lena needed to say them. She needed to know if Kara really understood what it meant to date a Luthor, to date her, and if Kara was ready to face it all.
Kara took each of Lena's words like punches in her stomach. She clenches her jaw as she feels her heart start to race and her breath become labored. This is exactly what Lena wants Kara reasoned. She wants Kara to get overwhelmed, to panic and run away, proving therefore that Lena is right about her.
So Kara remained seated, hiding her clenched fists in her pockets to not show Lena her internal struggle and said nothing. She started counting to five in her head to calm herself and fight the urge to get up and leave.
Not so long ago, Kara would have left. But this time was different. This time, she had a reason to stay and fight. Someone worth it and, as always since Kara met Lena, the latter didn't realize that she was that person. That she deserved to be fought for so she was trying to scare Kara away. That's okay Kara thought internally. She had enough faith for both of them.
-"If someone had told me two years ago that I would invent a revolutionary app that would be used by billions of people, I wouldn't have believed them" Kara said, voice unwavering. To Lena, she had never looked so calm and collected.
-"If I had been told that I would be in a fake relationship then a real one with the most beautiful and smart woman of this planet, I wouldn't have believed it" Kara went on, smiling absentmindedly and gazing into space like she was recalling some fond memory.
-"And yet, I did it" Kara stated, chuckling as if she still didn't believe it. "Because you see, learning, it's what I love most. I'm good at it. The thing is, there's no book or science to teach you life. The better way to learn about life, is to live it" Kara continued then paused to look at Lena again.
-"So yes, I hate mediatic outings, I abhor that I have to do small talk with old snobs because I need their money to produce my ideas and I loathe above it all that the press keep saying those nasty things about you" Kara admitted.
-"But you know what ?" Kara said as she went to seat next to Lena on the couch. "I've done all that and I survived. I learned. So now that I know what your mother is capable of, I will be more careful. I won't believe anything until you explain to me what's going on" Kara continued, taking Lena's hands in hers.
-"And I won't buy champagne to celebrate anything anymore because turns out, I don't like it" Kara added, earning a laugh from Lena.
-"You learned quite a lot indeed" Lena observed, smiling. She stroked Kara's knuckles gently with her thumb.
-"And I don't forget anyth..." Kara started to brag but was cut short by Lena's lips on her.
SC~SC~SC~SC~SC
One Year Later.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning. Lena was enjoying her breakfast on the balcony of her penthouse, letting the sunrays and the fresh morning air graze her skin.
As she was scrolling the news on her phone, she reflected on the past year. So much had happened. Now LCorp numbers were more than good, Kara had moved in with her a few months ago and Lillian was in jail where she belongs, after Lena had finally summoned up the courage to leak anonymously her mother's tax files in the press.
This is how it feels when one has it all ? Lena thoughts smiling to herself. She was truly happy for the first time in a long time and it felt really good.
As she continued to scroll absentmindedly on her phone, Lena stumbled upon a picture of her and Kara from last night, when they were dining at one of their favorite restaurant. The article was titled "The proposal !" and in the picture, Kara was showing Lena a little black objet and Lena was beaming, her hands joined in front of her face in a overjoyed gesture.
The thing was, Lena recalled this scene perfectly and there wasn't any marriage proposal involved, she was sure of it. What Kara had showed her last night and which looked like a black jewellery box, was instead a finished new prototype. Lena had been very moved by the sight of it at the time because Kara and she had been struggling with its design and mechanism for weeks and Kara had finally found how to make it work.
It was this moment that Kara chose to wake up at last and join Lena on the balcony.
-"Mornin' " Kara said, bowl in hand and mouth already full of cereals.
-"Good morning darling" Lena replied, taking a sip of her coffee. "Have you seen this ?" she then asked Kara, showing her the article.
-"Oh, that's interesting" Kara observed.
-"We could be eating a sandwich on a bench and they would find it interesting enough to put it on page six" Lena complained.
-"What's your answer then ?" Kara inquired, stacking up toasts on her plate like she was famished.
-"To what ?" Lena asked confused.
-"The article" Kara clarified. "They don't say what your answer was in there" she continued, motioning to Lena's phone with a half eaten toast.
-"Are you... serious ?"
-"It's just, the last time we played along with the medias little fantasy it ended pretty well I think, so... why not try my luck again ? Kara said, smiling broadly at Lena.
Lena, totally dumbstruck, glanced at Kara still in her pyjamas, then at herself with her robe. It wasn't the most romantic scenario ever but looking back at how their relationship started, Lena agreed with Kara's leap of faith. It's wasn't perfect or utterly romantic but it was them. So much like them.
-"Yes !" Lena exclaimed as she threw herself at Kara.
THE END
Author's note : Bravo ! You finished my longest chapter (and fic) so far. Thank you so much to all of you who stuck around and kept reading, commenting and dropping kudos on this story even if it took me 2 years and a half to complete it (sorry) and if some updates were separated by several months (again, very sorry).
I don't have any fic project in store at the moment, so you won't see me around here for a while but, feel free to follow me on Tumblr or Twitter (same username for both) to keep in touch :)