Kara landed gently on Lena's balcony. The doors were shut and inside most of the lights were out, but Kara could see Lena curled up in one of the armchairs looking at her iPad, a cup of tea on the coffee table. Kara smiled. It had been weeks since she'd seen Lena, and just looking at her made her feel better. She didn't know how this was going to go, if they'd just end up in tears, or if they'd somehow break through. Even though Kara had put the ball in Lena's court, she knew that Lena was never going to budge. She needed the reassurance that Kara was always on her side, no matter what. And despite everything, Kara cared too much to leave Lena on her own.

Kara tapped on the glass. Lena looked up and saw her, her eyes widening. Kara gave a small smile and waved. Lena put her iPad down and came over to the windows. She slid the large glass door open. "Is something wrong?"

Kara opened her mouth, but had no idea what she wanted to say. She'd played this moment out dozens of times in her mind, but now she was really here, she froze. "I - no. I just - I…"

"Because you're not in uniform, you're wearing sweatpants and it looks like you haven't brushed your hair for days. Also your breath smells like beer."

"I - Jeremiah died. The funeral was a few days ago. My friend Kate Kane from Gotham is in town. We had dinner. Take-out. Potstickers. Kate brought beers she's trialling for her bar. She's hanging out with Alex now. I really wanted to see you." All the words came out at once. Kara remembered to breathe.

Lena took a moment to take all this in. "You'd better come in. It's cold out."

"I don't really feel it," Kara said, stepping inside all the same. Lena closed the door behind her. They stood awkwardly by the windows.

"Jeremiah was your adoptive father, correct? Alex's father?"

Kara nodded.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Lena said.

"Thank-you," Kara breathed. They stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments.

"You can sit down," Lena said breaking the silence. "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Water?"

"Water is fine," Kara said, sitting on the large white couch while Lena went and got her a glass of water. "Thank-you."

"Why are you here, Kara?" Lena asked, handing Kara the glass and sitting at the opposite end of the couch, pulling her legs up. "I didn't think you'd come back after what you said last time."

"I stand by that," Kara said. "I will stop you if I think you're going to hurt anyone, yourself included. But I'd stop anyone. Alex, J'onn, Nia, Brainy… I'm afraid of losing you completely Lena, and it's been eating away at me. I thought I was hurting because of Jeremiah's death, and I was, I still am, but I realised it was worse because you weren't there. I couldn't come to see you. And I - this sounds petty and stupid, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. And I'm fine," Lena mumbled, and Kara realised just how pathetic the statement sounded. No wonder Kate called her out on it.

"Everything with Luthor Corp, and Obsidian, and Lex…"

Lena scoffed. "Oh, I know Lex is going to betray me. But that's the thing, Kara. I know it's going to happen. So I can steel myself against it."

"He's going to use you. Let you take the fall."

Lena shrugged. "Then let me fall. Because I don't know how much longer I can fight."

Kara put the glass down and shuffled closer to Lena. "I am not going to let you take the heat for something that is not your fault."

"It comes with the name. It's always my fault."

"I believe that when it comes down to it, you will do the right thing, Lena."

"Why are you here, Kara? Really? Because I don't want some pep-talk. I'm tired and so over all of this."

Kara forced herself to look at Lena. "Because I really like you," she swallowed. "I always have. A lot. I have tried ignoring it, tried pretending I was happy with us just being friends. Being best friends. But I - it's more than that, Lena. I don't think it would hurt this much if it wasn't. And I - I think that's why it hurts you so much too."

"You lied to me for years, all the while knowing I had issues with that. I thought you were on my side, but you lied about your very identity," Lena snapped.

"And I now know there was never a good time for me to tell you about my being Supergirl."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really. It's a long and kind of weird story. But I will always be sorry you found out the way you did."

"Does your friend Kate from Gotham know?" Lena muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Yes," Kara said, deciding not to lie.

"That would be right."

"It's not like that."

"Kate Kane from Gotham gets to know and - wait. How do you know Kate Kane? Kate Kane as in the Crows Security Kanes?"

Kara nodded. "How do you know them?

Lena looked around, pieces falling into place. "Oh please. Luthor Corp has had multiple contracts with Hamilton Dynamics. You learn the family dynamics. Aren't they related to the Waynes too?"

"They're cousins," Kara said.

"And how would someone like you know someone like Kate? She wouldn't exactly be moving in your circles."

"Oh, you know. Mutual friends."

"Oh my gosh."

"What?"

"Kate Kane is Batwoman?"

"What? Nooo…. yes, but please Lena you can't tell anyone."

"Who would I tell? Lex already knows, doesn't he?"

"He was at the Vanishing Point with us."

Lena sighed. "So as usual, I'm the last to know. That's how you got the Batwoman exclusive for Catco the other week. Kate called you specifically."

"We chatted over FaceTime. Worked out what to say. It was actually super casual."

"Anyone else I should know about?" Lena asked bitterly.

"Their secrets aren't mine to tell."

"Lex doesn't think much of Sara Lance," Lena said. "She's the only one he'll mention by her real name, but it sounds like he's got soap in his mouth when he says it."

"Somehow, I don't think Sara would care. I'd like you to meet her one day. She's pretty much the bravest, most bad-ass person I know. And Kate too."

"I don't think your superfriends would think much of me," Lena said, leaning back against the couch.

"They'd think more of you than you know," Kara said, noticing that Lena was softening.

"I'm afraid, Kara," Lena said quietly, looking down at the seat of the couch. "And I am very alone."

"No, you're not alone," Kara said, quickly closing the gap between herself and Lena, taking Lena's hand. Lena didn't pull away.

"I am, and I have to be. I have to do the next part alone. I can't let Lex use you against me. If he thinks we're on the outs with each other, you're less of a concern. I don't know what his end goal is. He only lets me know the smallest details. I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"Lena…"

"You should go," Lena said, jumping to her feet. "I have to be alone, then no one else gets hurt for my sake."

"Lena, I - "

"I'm going to need you, Kara. All of you. When this is over, whatever this is… I don't know where I'll be or what it'll look like, but I'm going to need you. All of you. But you - you especially."

Kara stood up and took Lena's hands. "Please try to stay safe," Kara said. "And I'll be there. When you need me. Because I am on your side, Lena. Even when we disagree or fight. I am always on your side."

"I know," Lena breathed. "Go."

Kara let go of Lena's hands and walked over to the windows.

"Kara?"

Kara turned back.

"I really am sorry about your father. I know exactly how that feels, estranged relationship and all."

Kara looked at Lena, desperate to walk the few steps over to her, to wrap her arms around her and hold her tightly. To press her lips to Lena's. "Thank-you. I'll see you round."

Lena nodded, and Kara let herself out.

Within a minute, Kara was back at her apartment, where she could hear Alex and Kate watching TV.

"Is it ok that I find him super attractive in this scene? Does that make me a bad lesbian?"

"It makes you a human person with working vision. That is pretty much the most objectively hot scene ever."

"So powerful."

"The way he opens those doors and totally pulls off the girliest necklace of all time? So powerful. Plus there's the music, that super-cool if slightly cheesy backlighting, the ruggedness of it all - "

"Kara!"

"Oh, hi Kara!"

Kara dragged her feet as she walked over to the couch and plopped down between Kate and Alex.

"Everything ok?" Alex asked, moving across to give Kara a little more space.

Kara leant against Alex's shoulder. "I hate that I can't help her. And - I'm so sorry Kate. She kind of figured out you were Batwoman."

Kate shrugged. "Lena's smart. And with Lex as her brother? I'm kinda surprised she hadn't already. Or that he hasn't been a total ass and just outed us all. But is she ok?"

"I don't know. She's determined to see through whatever this is that Lex is doing. She doesn't want any of us to be used against her. But she's going to need us, and I think she already does but…" Kara shrugged. "I just don't know what to do."

"Sounds like a problem you can't punch your way out of," Alex said, wrapping her arm around Kara.

"I hate those problems," Kara mumbled. "And I - I think I kind of came out to Lena? But she either didn't realise or ignored it or… I'm not even sure."

"Oh, Kara," Alex said, hugging Kara tighter.

"Kara, that is brilliant. Even if she didn't get it."

"What if she ignored it on purpose? Because she didn't want to make things weird?"

"Things are already weird with you two," Alex said, giving Kara a kiss on the head.

"What if she doesn't feel the same way?" Kara said, panic rising.

"Yeah, there's pretty much no way that's the case," Alex said.

"Didn't she build a massive statue of you?" Kate asked.

"Yes," Kara said.

"And she said she still needs you?" Alex asked.

"Yes."

"Kara, Lena's always been more of an actions-as-affirmation person than words-as-affirmation. Remember that time she filled your office with flowers? Or created the suit to save you from Kryptonite poisoning in basically no time?"

"Her brother might be the world's biggest jerk, but she sounds pretty great, Kara. Everything you told us about her in the Vanishing Point? She's worth fighting for, regardless."

Kara nodded. "I'm not giving up on her."

"Then I won't either," Alex said.

"Thank-you," Kara said, holding onto Alex's arms. "And Kate? If you didn't eat all my ice-cream, I think I'd like some now."

Kate chuckled and pushed herself to her feet. "One tub of whatever's left coming right up."