The next morning was peaceful and slow. It was another taste of the domestic life that Lena so secretly craved. She, Sam and Ruby sat around the table like a proper and normal family, all three of them eating a casual breakfast. It wasn't anything fancy or complex. Not for the first time did Lena find herself wishing that she could stay like this forever. Everything was so quiet and normal and obvious. No lies, no secrecy, no death or deception or destruction or despair. Just a quiet little slice of life.

"Well, if you didn't want to go home, you could always just move in with us," Ruby offered with a hopeful smile.

"Ruby!" Sam chided with a laugh.

"What? Don't you want her to stay?" Ruby threw her mother a knowing look, which made her look somewhat flustered.

"Of course I do," she muttered. "But Lena has people she needs to get back to."

"They can wait," Lena replied with an amused smile. Even though Lena had only just found out that Sam had been harboring secret romantic feelings for her, she could already see all the little signs that Sam had been mentioning. Then, when Ruby had thrown Sam that knowing look, Lena couldn't help but wonder if Ruby didn't know too. When she had offered Lena the chance to sleep in the same bed as Sam, had she been acting as some kind of wingman? Lena couldn't know for sure, but it didn't seem too far-fetched of an idea anymore.

Seeing how uncomfortable and embarrassed Sam looked, though, Lena decided to be merciful and put things on a more playful path.

"Maybe I'll just run away to another country and change my name instead," she joked.

"Oh! You could run away to Europe!" Ruby said, sounding enchanted.

"Maybe Ireland, or England!" Lena suggested, playing along with Ruby.

"Would you still keep in the pattern of having a name that started with "L"?" Ruby asked. "Because I think "Lucy" is a pretty name!"

"Well, I was thinking of something a little more different than another "L" name," Lena admitted. "But "Lucy" has its charms."

"Well, then choose a name that rhymes with "Lena"!" Ruby suggested.

"Hmmmm, still a bit too predictable, don't you think?" Lena pretended to consider Ruby's suggestion.

"Yeah, and while you're at it, you can dye your hair blonde and change your wardrobe up a bit, maybe start wearing a bit of pink!" Sam finally joined in the conversation, looking at ease once again.

"Oh, god no!" now it was Lena's turn to look aghast. She wasn't exactly fond of the color pink. But that, of course, was exactly why Sam had suggested it, and she and Ruby both laughed heartily at Lena's vehemence against the color.

"At least no one would recognize you," Sam tried to reason through her laughter. "The Great Lena Luthor in pink? Yeah right!"

Lena tried to pretend to be annoyed, but she couldn't stop an amused smile of her own. Yeah. She could start wearing pink. And then perhaps she could pretend to be a simpering little airhead with a lot of money in her pocket, flirting around with some of the other European elites. Or maybe she could open up a science lab somewhere and fall in love with a pretty little fellow scientist there. That would be a laugh.

But once the laughter was finished, a more serious atmosphere returned to the table. Although the idea of moving into the Arias house permanently was like a dream to Lena, she knew that it was an impossible one as well. Maybe she and Sam both had the power to make this dream a reality, but Lena knew that, in her heart of hearts, she wouldn't truly be satisfied with such a life. As much as she loved the Ariases and as much as she envied their simple, open, honest, nondramatic life, Lena knew that it could never be hers. Not because she was a Luthor or because she "didn't deserve it", but because it was just not in her nature. A small part of Lena liked being in charge, and a small part of her liked all the action and adventure. She liked being a hero and saving the day and she liked knowing that she was helping to change the world.

There was a small but unchangeable part of Lena that, way down deep inside, wanted to get back to the frontlines and the headlines. That side of her would never be content with the mundane life of an average American citizen. She was not destined for such a plain and simple life, she was destined for a revolutionary and wild one. She could feel it in her heart that even if she could just snap her fingers, fix everything, and obtain that idyllic dream life, it wouldn't fulfill her completely. Her truest self, her happiest self, was out doing good things for the world in very big ways. She had to go back, so she could attempt to find that life again.

And the true Lena Luthor never, ever backed down from a fight. She still wanted to put this issue to rest, not just because it was the good, right or healthy thing to do, but because she did not like to leave scores unsettled. She really did want to confront Kara, and that would not happen if she chose to disappear now. If she really wanted to find a resolution, for worse or for better, and get out of this weird and dreamlike limbo, then she had to go back home. She had to go back and speak to Kara directly. So she would. And she would not rest until this issue had been put to bed!

"But do you think you could stick around long enough to take Ruby to school with me?" Sam asked with a playfully pleading look.

"Is this your way of furthering your fantasies about us being a couple?" Lena teased right back, muttering this statement into Sam's ear so that Ruby wouldn't hear it. Sam felt her heart jump in her chest, both from the statement and from feeling Lena's breath on her ear.

"No!" she pulled back defensively, but Lena could see how visibly flustered Sam was and she laughed.

"What?" Ruby may not have heard Lena, but she heard Sam, and was surprised to see how nervous she looked, while Lena was laughing.

"Nothing, dear," both of the other women said in unison, one looking amused while the other tried to regain her composure.

"Lena has agreed to help me take you to school today," Sam said, clearing her throat and trying to look collected.

"Oh, awesome!" Ruby grinned and Lena felt her heart melt. "But will you be going home afterwards?" she asked next, and Lena's face fell a little.

"Yes," she admitted. "As soon as you're dropped off, Sam's going to bring me back here and I'm going to go home."

"Do you think you're ready?" Ruby asked next, and there was nothing but sincerity as she asked this question. She was still incredibly curious to know what was wrong with Lena (all Sam had said was that she and Supergirl and all the others were fighting) but she didn't dare ask directly.

"I don't know," Lena confessed, smiling sadly. Though she still didn't know how much she felt comfortable sharing with Ruby, she knew that Ruby was a smart kid and she did not want to lie to the girl or try to sugarcoat the matter. "Your mother has been a great source of help and wisdom, but I still am a little bit nervous," the Luthor continued to admit, turning to meet Sam's eyes. Sam gave her a small supportive smile.

"Well, I don't know exactly what happened," Ruby hinted, but before her mother could chastise her for being so direct, she continued to speak. "But from what I understand, you and your friends are all fighting right now. I just wanted to let you know that I sort of know how that feels. When mom first started showing signs of having superpowers, I tried to tell some of my closer friends, but they didn't believe me. They called me a liar. And then after mom had to go to you for help, I had no one to talk to at all. It was really lonely, so I can only imagine how you must be feeling."

There was a sincerity in Ruby's eyes and voice that made Lena tremble, both with worry and affection. She was worried in case Ruby was catching on to the full extent of the issue at hand, but she was touched because Ruby was being so open and honest with her, and with no reservations at all. Lena was unused to such complete and utter faith, and it still made her feel almost giddy whenever someone trusted her enough to be vulnerable with her, as Ruby was doing right now.

"And in regard to Lex, I sort of know what that must feel like too," Ruby continued. "I know what it feels like to have an evil family member," she said. But then she was quick to correct herself. "I mean, I know mom was never bad, but I know how it feels, to worry about someone you love, falling victim to something evil."

Lena had to blink back a few tears while Sam, herself, looked away in shame. In her opinion, one of the worst things about her time with Reign had been knowing how deeply it was hurting Ruby. More than herself and more than the rest of the world, Sam had feared for Ruby. It couldn't have been easy on the girl, to have her mother practically vanish from her life and then to have it be said that her mother was sick with something very dangerous that required her to be locked up in a cage like a lab rat in some secret location and forbidden from seeing her own child. Even though Ruby had had support from Lena and the Danvers, it still was not the same as having her mother, or having friends her own age. All of Ruby's confidantes during Sam's battle with Reign had all been adults, no other children were there to comfort her. It was just these mysterious older people whom she had only just met that year. Ruby was more wise to pain and loneliness than some people gave her credit for.

"I know it wasn't all quite the same, but I know what it feels like to be that lonely, and to be kicked out of a friend group. I know what it feels like to worry about someone you love and to wonder who you can trust, if you can trust at all," the girl continued quietly. Lena was finally no longer able to hold back the tears, weeping softly as Ruby continued to comfort her. It was one thing to have Sam comfort her, but to have Ruby do it made Lena's heart break and mend at the same time. She hated to hear how miserable and scared Ruby had been for that year, but to see how Ruby was able to use that experience to help comfort others, especially someone like Lena, made Lena feel so touched. Ruby viewed Lena as an aunt, but the two hadn't spoken in nearly a year, yet Ruby was still so quick to self-disclose to Lena, nothing short of entirely open and honest. Lena would always value the trust of a loved one over nearly anything else, and that feeling extended to Ruby.

Unable to find the proper words to express her gratitude and honor that Ruby was so willing to be so open with her, Lena only made a small gesture with her arms that Ruby understood at once. She wasted no time in embracing Lena as tightly as she could, and in a matter of seconds, Sam had joined in the group hug too. Lena continued to weep quietly as she felt two pairs of loving arms encase her trembling body. She had never felt so safe or supported before. It was a huge burden off of her shoulders to realize that there were still people out there who loved her, and who genuinely trusted her. It made her feel human. Trust was what linked her to humanity, and that was why she had loved Kara Danvers so much in the past, because Kara trusted her unconditionally and unfailingly. When Lena found out the secret, she didn't just learn Kara's true identity, but also the true amount of trust she felt towards the Luthor. That had been what had hurt the most. But with the Ariases here now, some of that humanity was slowly returning to Lena, and she felt hopeful for the first time in quite a while.

Eventually, though, the hug had to come to an end.

"Finish getting ready for school," Sam finally instructed, voice sounding fragile, like she was about to cry. Ruby didn't even respond verbally, choosing instead to nod once before darting back towards her room. Lena, meanwhile, was still sniffling.

"She is something, isn't she?" Sam asked with a wet laugh as she and Lena watched Ruby retreat to her room.

"She is," Lena nodded with her own teary laugh, sniffling yet again. "She is a miracle."

But after a few minutes, the trio managed to calm themselves down and when Ruby came out of her room again, her eyes were dry.

"I'm ready," she said proudly to the two women waiting for her in the kitchen.

"So am I," Sam grinned, standing up from the table to grab her car keys. She and Ruby both turned to Lena.

"So am I," she said and they smiled as she stood up as well, joining them out the door and into the car.

A few minutes into the drive over to school, Ruby managed to snag her mother's phone out of her purse. Since Sam's Bluetooth was on and hooked up to the car, Ruby wasted no time in opening Spotify and playing a song.

"I stay out too late! Got nothing in my brain! At least that's what people say!" Taylor Swift's voice began to blast out of the speakers.

"Gah! Ruby! What did you do?" Sam demanded, jumping a little, having not expected that song to suddenly start blasting out of her speakers.

"Turned on a happy song to help Lena cheer up?" Ruby asked with a cheeky little grin as Sam glared at her through the rearview mirror.

"It's a bit dated, don't you think?" Lena teased, also looking at Ruby through the rearview mirror, but with more mirth than Sam.

"Well then try this!" Ruby quickly switched the song.

"This hit, that ice cold, Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold!" now it was Bruno Mars' turn to serenade the Arias family car.

"This is just as dated!" Sam frowned. "This came out the same year as the other song!"

"Tough crowd," Ruby clicked her tongue, then she switched the playlist up again.

First came a guitar, then came-

"Come on over in my direction. So thankful for that, it's such a blessin', yeah!"

"Ah!" Sam's eyes lit up while both Ruby and Lena looked at her like she was crazy.

"Mom!" Ruby muttered embarrassedly.

"I can't believe you like this song," Lena agreed.

"What?" Sam asked innocently. "At least it isn't "Baby","

"Oh, god," Lena rolled her eyes with a sigh.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that Luthors don't listen to pop trash," Sam smirked.

"Mom, no one listens to Justin Bieber," Ruby muttered with a judgmental frown.

"No one?" Sam asked. "Not one single person on the entire planet?"

"Ugh," came the reply, then it was followed by another song-switch.

"Oppan Gangnam Style..."

"Ok, now this is outdated!"

After Ruby scrolled through several other funny and upbeat songs (including things like "All-Star", "Best Day of My Life", "Party in the USA", "Call Me Maybe" and "Royals") the Arias car finally reached Ruby's school.

"Thank god," Sam joked as she reclaimed her phone from Ruby.

"Don't worry, we can continue after school," Ruby snickered as she hopped from the car.

"Well, have a good day," Sam couldn't stop a genuine smile as her daughter turned around one last time for a farewell kiss.

"Goodbye, Lena!" Ruby waved as she embraced her mother through the car's window.

"Goodbye, Ruby," Lena smiled tenderly at the girl, waving. Then, once Ruby finally pulled her head back out of the car, her mother rolled up the window. She gave them one last farewell wave before turning around to enter the school. Both Lena and Sam watched her go until she was inside the building and out of their sights.

"Sorry about that," Sam sighed with tired amusement as she dove Lena back to her place.

"What are you talking about? I thought it was quite cute," Lena replied with a grin. "I mean, true, maybe none of those songs are really my thing..."

"Yeah, they aren't really mine either," Sam winced.

"What about "Despacito"?" the Luthor reminded, quirking an eyebrow.

"Well, yes, but that's just one exception to the rule," Sam muttered embarrassedly, hunching over the wheel and looking away from Lena.

"Sure it is," Lena snickered.

"Well then, Ms. High-and-Mighty, what kind of trash do you indulge in?" Sam pouted. "Or does a cultured Luthor such as yourself only listen to classical music?" she added, sticking her tongue out at Lena.

"No, that was my self-absorbed, self-righteous brother, Mr. High-and-Mighty," Lena scowled. "He didn't listen to classical music because he enjoyed it, he listed to it because it was the "cultured" thing to do. And God forbid a high-class gentleman such as himself listen to anything less than the works of musical gods and geniuses like Beethoven, Bach and Mozart!"

"I can tell you aren't a fan of classical," Sam laughed as Lena got more and more annoyed. As serious as her spat with Lex was, in times like these, the more childish side of their relationship became evident. On top of arguing about aliens, Kryptonite, the Supers, power and control, Lex and Lena argued about musical taste. It was a comically benign and small fight compared to their usual quarrels. But it added a tiny level of humanity to them. The Luthors weren't gods 24/7. Even they had their off-days and their little, petty moments.

"No, I do," Lena corrected. "I do like classical, but unlike Lex, I listen to it because I actually like it, not because I want to gain credibility and validation because I can brag that I listen to all of that older stuff," Lena sounded quite haughty herself as she said this, even raising her chin as though the fact that she listened to classical music "for real" made her more deserving of credibility than Lex. It was all Sam could do not to laugh. She wondered, briefly, what Luthor fights had been like before Lex became a warlord overlord and before Lena became an ice queen of a CEO. Did they get into the petty "he/she started it!" fights like other siblings did?

"We, like any other household, listened to variety of music," Lena began. "Of course, classical was always the norm just because of the social status and credibility of that genre. But we did listen to other things like pop, rock, jazz, swing, rap, hip hop, and pretty much anything else you can think of. I, especially, took into the punk scene when I was in my teenage years..." Lena paused as a dry smile spread across her face.

"What?!" Sam cried. "No way! You were that Emo Goth Teen?!"

"Yes I was," Lena admitted, wry smile growing even wider.

"No way!" Sam repeated, genuinely incapable of envisioning Lena outside of her well-kept, well-pressed suits and hairstyles. She was always so clean and cut and clear and refined. Had there really been a time when she was into grungy and dark things?

"Yes way," Lena promised over Sam's disbelieving laughter.

"You see, I may be a Luthor, but I am still also only human," she began. "And like all humans, I had my fair share of family fights. Then, when I hit my late teenager years, my Goth Phase arrived. And boy did I go hard! I mean, I wasn't a total punk, but I still really did try to look the part as best as I could. My hair was in a much shaggier cut than it is now. I wore all the Halloween-esque makeup, you know, the white foundation mixed with the black eye makeup and lipstick and nail pain. And of course, I had a lot of leather clothing and jewelry, all of it studded with silver spikes and chains and whatnot. But if I wasn't wearing my leather pants and jacket, I was likely in some sort of Victorian-inspired dress, lacy corset and all. And then of course there was all the fishnets, both for leggings and gloves. And heck, sometimes I painted little black tears at the corners of my eyes!" the Luthor added, gesturing to the place on her face where she drew the tears.

"That is too funny," Sam shook her head, entire body shaking with mirth at the mental image of a Gothed up Lena.

"And I had the personality and musical tastes too," Lena continued, laughing a little bit herself. "I listened to stuff like Panic! At the Disco, My Chemical Romance, Fallout Boy, and then some other, more indie and underground groups. It was a lot of punk and metal and rock and all the heavy electronic stuff that normal parents abhorred. It was a very dark, coarse, gritty and grungy aesthetic," Lena paused to smile at the memory.

"But I didn't just enjoy those sorts of things, I even participated in them myself sometimes," she continued. "When I was old enough, I managed to DJ a few times for a bar not too far off of my college campus! I would go all Gothed up and just rock out, wearing the stereotypically large black headphones with the skulls painted on the sides," Lena paused to mime holding the giant headphones over her ears.

"A Luthor as a DJ! No way!" Sam snorted.

"Well, to be fair, I did pay the owners of the bar a pretty penny in order to be allowed," Lena admitted. "It wasn't talent alone that got me in. I wasn't totally above using my Luthor name and status and wallet every once in a while. But, god, was it fun! I tore up the clubs!"

Lena looked so smug and satisfied that Sam lost it once again, laughing so hard she was worried she would crash the car. It was just too impossible and too hilarious to try and envision Lena as a punk, and a proud one at that, and it was even funnier to imagine her rocking out as a club DJ, genuinely taking pride in that sort of activity. It was just so different from the Lena that sat with her now. That Old Lena had been "emo", but the one who sat with Sam now was anything but. She was wearing a casual sweater and slacks. This Lena was not the Lena of deathly makeup or vicious jewelry. This Lena was the dorky, nerdy, shy, sweet woman who was a big mush on the inside.

"What made you stop?" the Arias finally asked once she managed to catch her breath and stop laughing for a second.

"Lex," Lena replied, and that was all it took for the very last of Sam's laughter to die instantly. Awkward silence filled the car.

"I mean, I did start to leave that scene even before Lex took the plunge, but it was only after he became a supervillain that I was forced to leave every last little bit of my old self behind," Lena amended. "I had quit all the makeup and jewelry before Lex went on his war against Superman, but some old things like the leather and black, brooding aesthetic remained. All the dark clothing never changed."

"You don't say?" despite herself, Sam couldn't stop a laugh, reminded of their earlier talk that day about Lena and her mostly-black wardrobe.

"But then Lex went insane. He got himself arrested and, with him in jail and our father dead, there was no one left to take LuthorCorp. Except for me. And I didn't even want to! Not originally, at least..." Lena said slowly, sadly.

"Well, then what changed your mind?" Sam asked. Although she was somewhat surprised to hear that Lena had not wanted LuthorCorp originally, she could take a few guesses at what might've driven Lena away at first. But then why would she choose to take it anyway?

"Lex," Lena laughed dryly. "What else?"

"But he was in jail," Sam frowned.

"But his supporters weren't," Lena replied. "When no one stepped forward to claim LuthorCorp, all sorts of people came in trying to take over it. Some of them were friends of Lex. That was when I finally stepped up, and made my claim to the company. I couldn't just stand idly by and let Lex take the company back. I had to stop him somehow, so I blew him and all of his goons out of the water and I took it over and renamed it L-Corp and it has been under my control ever since."

There was a touch of pride in Lena's voice as she said this, though Sam could hear the regret and longing in her voice as well. Clearly, being the CEO of L-Corp had not been Lena's first choice as a job. And now Sam couldn't help but wonder what Lena might've done instead. If the issue about who was going to inherit L-Corp never existed, what would Lena have done instead? Would she have stayed as a DJ? Would she have continued to rock out in the musical world? Would she have still moved onto science and business, just under a different company? Would she have chosen something entirely different, like acting or modeling? None of them would ever know.

"But yes, back in the day, I did listen to my fair share of trash," Lena concluded, a smile returning to her face. As cringeworthy as her grunge-days had been, she still looked upon them fondly, because those had been one of the few times where she had been totally free, unbound and unbothered by anyone or anything. She wasn't Luthor. She wasn't even Lena. She just Was. She was the music, she was the rock, she was the clubs and the parties and the bars. She was a rebel and a fighter and a survivor. Maybe those last traits still existed within her now, but under a very different label. It just wasn't the same as those good old days, those more carefree times... The rest of the short drive home was spent in near perfect silence, except for a few times, when Sam could hear Lena tapping her leg and humming what sounded suspiciously like a Fallout Boy song.

Once the pair got back to the Arias home, though, farewells replaced the humming.

"Thank you again, so much," Lena murmured as she held Sam tightly.

"No, thank you," Sam murmured back, hugging Lena just as fiercely. "And promise me you'll visit again some time, ok?"

"Of course," Lena replied. "But it may not be for a while. I have some unfinished business back... back home," she forced herself to call National City her home. Because it was. She was going to take Sam's advice and not give up on it just yet. She was going to keep calling it her home. She was not going to be scared away from it so easily. Lex had already taken so much else from her in the past, continuously forcing her to run and move on and leave her own path behind. Now it was time for the tables to turn. She wasn't going to retreat any longer. National City was still her home, whether she (or it) liked it or not. She wasn't going to be run out of town unless it was by her own choice.

"I'm proud of you," Sam whispered in Lena's ear, feeling the strength and courage radiating off of her in waves.

"I hope you can stay that way," Lena admitted, just a bit of doubt entering her voice again. It was easy for her to stand here now and say that she would face Kara, ready and unafraid, but would she really be able to keep so much courage and composure once that moment of truth finally came? There were so many chances for her to slip up, or chicken out, or forget. There were so many chances for her to totally botch her discussion with Kara and there were so many chances for her to forget everything she and Sam had talked about in a moment of weakness or anger. Lena really did want to make this thing work. She really did want to fix everything as best as she could. But it wasn't going to be easy. What if she made it worse?

"I will always be proud of you," Sam promised. "I have never met a stronger woman, no, person, in my whole life. Even if you mess up a thousand times, the fact that you're still willing to go back covers all of that."

"Then you clearly haven't yourself or Ruby," Lena joked, but she could feel tears of gratitude sting her eyes.

"We are on your level," Sam agreed. "But no one has gone higher than that... yet... But who knows? Maybe you'll set a new bar soon."

"For the bravest person in National City?" Lena asked with a wet laugh.

"No," Sam replied as she finally pulled away from Lena to look her evenly in the eyes. "For the bravest person in the world."

For a second, only silence reigned between the pair as they continued to stare deeply into one another's eyes. Lena could see longing in Sam's eyes and she knew that Sam still desperately wished that Lena would just drop everything and stay with her forever. But at the same time, Lena saw resignation and understanding in Sam's eyes as well. Sam knew that her dreams, at least as they stood now, were impossible. Neither of them would be content if Lena did choose to just run away with Sam at that very instant. Both of them wanted to see this thing through to the very end and, in order for that to happen, Lena had to go. And as long as Lena was willing to go back to National City, to home, and try and set things right, then there was still a chance that she and Kara would manage to reconcile and move forward in life, together, and without Sam. But it was a sacrifice Sam was willing to make.

On the flipside, Sam saw all of that fear and longing and uncertainty in Lena's eyes. She saw Lena's nervousness, her worry, her distrust. Just like Reign, Sam could see it all. But unlike Reign, Sam only applauded Lena for having the strength to fight through all of it and go back to the woman and the city and the company and the home that she loved. Lena was headed home to reclaim her throne, Sam could see it in the way she held herself. It was going to be a very intense fight, but Lena wasn't going to back down. She was a fighter, after all, and a survivor. Kara was a very lucky girl to have managed to win the heart of someone like Lena. Sam hoped that Kara would realize this and not take it for granted.

But at the same time, Sam's thoughts went out to Kara as well, hoping that Lena would find the gentleness and compassion within herself to be willing to see the story from Kara's side. And she also hoped that whatever demons Kara was harboring would one day leave her in peace. She deserved a happy life just as much as any of them did. Sam could only hope that Kara would find it. And her humanity. And, for worse or for better, Sam hoped that she would find it in Lena. And that Lena would find it in her. They both deserved it, and a happy ending, and each other. They needed each other, just like Reign had said, but in order for them to reach that unity, they both needed to listen to the other first. Sam had confidence that they could do it, that they could make it work, but it wasn't going to be easy.

"Good luck," Sam said at last, giving Lena one last hug.

"Same to you," Lena replied meaningfully. Maybe Sam wasn't headed off to reclaim a kingdom or a legacy, but she was going to be fighting wars and dragons all of her own, and Lena wanted Sam to feel just as prepared as she did.

"Let's just hope I don't forget all of this the second I get back into National City," Lena added as she finally began walking towards her own car.

"Fingers crossed," Sam promised and Lena mimicked the gesture.

Sam continued to stand on the sidewalk and watch Lena as she drove away, away from Metropolis and back to National City. Away from her and back to Kara. Her heart felt heavy and light at the same time. Lena, meanwhile, had since turned on the radio. "Payphone" was the first song that came on. Its chorus was painfully fitting for her situation at the moment. She allowed it to play for a few seconds, though, because she wanted to see Sam one last time. While Sam continued to stand there the sidewalk and watch Lena, Lena peered into her rearview mirror and watched Sam until the woman was finally out of sight.

Once Lena was well and truly gone, Sam heaved a sad and lonely sigh before going back inside to get ready to go to work. It was going to be a long drive over to her building now that Lena was no longer with her to keep her company.

Meanwhile, Lena continued to drive on back to her own L-Corp location. It was a long drive, and it was very lonely. She was leaving behind Sam, and a world of peace and quiet and safety. She had gone to Sam for an escape, and now that escape was finally coming to an end. She was now going back to Kara, and a world of turmoil, drama and betrayal. At the present, though, she was still stuck in that awkward place in the middle, halfway between Metropolis and National City. It was a very lonely and confusing place to be, and it was a very long drive before she finally managed to get home again.

AN: Finally! The end! Sorry this got so long! I didn't mean for it to! There was just so much to say! Sorry to disappoint anyone who had hoped I'd write a confrontation scene in this fic, but like I've said before, I just have no clue how I would write that, so once again, we're leaving it on a cliffhanger. Will Lena finally talk to Kara? Or will she forget herself again as soon as she crosses the National City line? That's up for you guys to decide!

Also, if this chapter seemed strange or silly, it was because of all the Katie McGrath references I was shoving into it, including a reference to her role as Lucy Westenra in Dracula and her role as Harriet in Freakdog/Red Mist (which was Goth/Emo Katie). And it was a bit of my own joke headcanons surrounding Lena's past during Lex's descent into madness.

But either way, hope you all liked this fic, and thank you to everyone who stuck with it, I'm finally out!