Seven weeks of silence.

Forty-nine days of emptiness.

Seven runs, with no Game Nights.

Seven Sister's Nights cancelled.

Seven weeks, that none of them could find her.

Eighty attempts to reach her by GPS.

They were left, with silence..

Over fifty-thousand text messages had been sent to her. Her voicemail box was so full no more could be left in it.

The first and last few minutes before those forty-nine begun, her greatest light had walked away, sentencing her to a darkness without any escape and that internal light completely left her eyes. The strength to push herself up off the ground, faded and with it so did all of what she believed in. It was the first time in ten years, when she finally made it back to her place, that the box in the back of the closet was touched. It was hidden in a secret panel behind one of the shelves she removed, after clearing to do so. Once she set it down carefully, she put the shelf back where it went, putting everything else back in its proper place. The locked box went in the suitcase and she made the last of necessary calls.

Since her dedication and fierce loyalty to the business she worked for, she had been awarded keys and codes, which she used to get into the building. She placed her sick and vacation time forms on the new Boss' desk with a request to not be reached until a week before she was to return. She left a check at the landlady's desk, requested everything off but necessary power for appliances and whatnot. She tossed out the indoor plants in the property trash bins and wiped down everything before she left. A day later was attempt number twenty to reach her, met with her voicemail, which she didn't listen to until two days after. By the time she had, her inbox had been sent to a separate device, untraceable at that. She couldn't answer calls, but she didn't want to. Instead she removed the battery and chip in her phone, leaving it off and tossing it in the ocean, on her way out of town in an Uber. Before leaving, she notified the post office to send all her mail to the address approved by her as family on file with her thanks, explaining she would be overseas for a few months.

After reaching her destination on day four, she checked in and lightly flirted with the girls at the desk, then headed to the suite she had booked for more than a week. They had been very accommodating to her needs and she had given them an emergency contact name and number should anything happen. Better to be safe than sorry and informed them she might be in and out for a few days here and there. Everything had already been paid for so there wasn't any need to worry. She also left extensive tips to who kept her quarters clean and requested some more of the soaps she took a liking to, for the jacuzzi jet tub she was rather happy to have.

Her thoughts continued to pile on and without realizing how much she had marked herself, the pain brought on waves of nausea so there went that continuance. The object went back into the box on day six, still caked with some crimson and it was tossed in the safe in her room. As much as she had wanted to test out the pool and spa, her self inflicted wounds wouldn't allow it. She made sure to keep long sleeves or jackets on around the public, not ashamed of what she did but not really wanting anyone to call the cops in fear for her life. Day seven required a few purchases of the medical kind to keep from infections.

By the time the eighth day rolled around she had gotten a feel for the town and spent more time at restaurants talking to the staff in light yet understanding conversation. On day ten, she paid in cash for items at a well known computer store, Best Buy and a couple other choice businesses. At day twelve, she had built the devices she needed, finished fitting together the proper wires and tested out what she had made with her well over a six-hundred range IQ scaled brain. People had never known just how damn smart she was, which she preferred to keep it that way.

With more purchases than she expected and a cheap hotel room she had paid for, she went over the ten medical books she needed to, preparing for everything necessary in case of certain injuries that could be more brutal if she fell wrong. Day fourteen and with a secluded area she had set up camp in, she set it all up including the five cameras properly aimed. It was day fifteen, when the real trial began and with everything accomplished, it left her hurting far worse than she expected from the fall, which took her three hours to wake up from sobbing from the pain. This resulted in a hospital trip on day seventeen and a brief stay for two days to pop bones back in place. She didn't think she had every screamed that loud in all her life.

On day twenty, limping with crutches and a few more bandages, wraps and one ankle brace, she had gone back to a few other shops, bought more electronics and computer components which she had to have delivered due to her injuries, explaining to the clerks and owner she had been in a bad car wreck but luckily the impact hadn't been too bad. built herself a two-hundred and one game loaded system far passed anything the most brilliant of video games and game consoles making brains could possibly hope to conjure up.

When she had reached day twenty-three, she removed the chips in the system she had built to house all the voicemail messages, text messages and online ones, bringing them to the post office, first class sending all three memory cards to ship them, the three game systems she had built from scratch and two happy birthday cards filled with cash and cruise tickets for the mother and daughter to enjoy all expenses paid for by her. It was the least she could do, especially after everything the two had endured because of her genetics and background.

Day twenty-five was now marked on the calendar she had bought and with it the final touches on the one hour video were done. All time stamps had been altered, every possible trace of it disrupted. By the time it reached devices everywhere, she would have already silenced the voices she had began to hate. With the steadiest of hands, a week prior to the editing, she had performed the procedure and implanted the two chips where she needed to, making it impossible for any Martian or Telepath to read her thoughts. One quick surgical process and the tempo of her own heartbeat had been changed. No one would hear her, feel her, see her or sense her in any way anymore.

Day twenty-seven had been a little side trip to a local art store, cursing the empty shelves but luckily there was a Michaels near by. She bought a few giant sketch books, drawing pencils, oil paints, softer lead colored pencils and about thirty other things to work on what she wanted to. By the time day thirty came, she had rolled up the drawings, had the paintings framed by the wonderful geniuses at Michaels, and created her own art books, wrapping everything she had done and brought them to the post office to be shipped to five addresses on a specific date.

She was walking a little better at day thirty-two, still on crutches but took every opportunity to enjoy an arts and crafts fair, new foods she had never tried before, went to a bar and did karaoke and a rather interesting adult arcade called Dave and Busters. From day thirty-four to day thirty-eight, she chose to be lazy and enjoyed the jacuzzi tub more than she had before, soaking in epson salt to help with her sore body. She might have spoiled herself a little more than usual for a few days and bought a couple plug in video games she enjoyed and could royally kick everyone's ass with if she chose to. Tetris and Pac Man were her entertainment, that along with deliveries of pizza and Chinese food.

Checking out at the desk on day forty-six, leaving them birthday gifts and a few restaurant gift cards, she thanked the ladies at the front who complimented her on her fashionably yet sexy shorter dark red and auburn colored hair while staring into her beautiful eyes of honey brown. With that exit, she never looked back, already having sent her old clothes and precious items back home, to where only one could sign for them. With her new phone, new number, new license and a used car, she drove to her chosen destination, in her awesome Maui Jim much more tinted shades. She had hoped the caring, loving, supportive woman would unlock the door, open it and let her walk in with open arms for her. She wasn't sure what to expect, nor did she back down.

At the forty-eighth day, she sent the email out, when at a local library, to five media news networks and waited for when the feeding frenzy would start. Eleven hours later, all networks in the states, in eighty other countries in over three-thousand languages, signed and translated what had been given up without any regret of doing so. She had sent off just two personal emails, along with a separate video each, waited until they were done and changed the password deleting the fake IP address with it. Not even the emails could be traced by the best of the most gifted hackers in the world.

Her body still hurt, but it was a pain she was sure wouldn't leave anytime soon, though some of it had lessened and now she was using a cane. There wasn't any reversing what she had done, uncaring to and knowing no one else would know how. She had made sure what was now permanently attached to her brain couldn't be removed without a lethal procedure nor would anyone know she had implanted them anyway. The last thing she mailed, on day forty-seven, was to one person and one only. It was the last shred of who she used to be, sacrificing it the minute she had it sent two day shipping with no return address.

On the highway now, she turned on the radio and zeroed in on a news station, awaiting what she knew was coming, turning it up.

"To everyone in National City, the State of California, the United States and all over the world, I thank you for every bit of faith you've had in me, as I have in all of you now more than ever. I lost my entire world at twelve, left to suffer alone in silence for two decades and found a new world on this planet I call my home more than my first on Krypton. I can never thank you enough for everything you have done to make me feel welcome and loved, especially to my human family who I love with all of me as if they were kryptonian. That love extends to our friends, who we call family too, that I wish it hadn't come to this.

On my planet Krypton, we didn't have a yellow sun but a red one. I had no powers there, I was normal I wasn't some freak or fraud as some have called me here. I didn't have to lie to those in my heart and swore to keep safe, even from me as well as care for always. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I promise you this, that heroes don't need capes. They don't always need powers. They can be any of you, if you look inside yourselves.

In my hand, is something to give me peace, but as I said, respect this choice I make. As I load these two tubes into what you see in my hand, I will tell you a blessing of my people, an offering of my world and Rao our Kryptonian God.

'You have been the sun of our lives.

Our prayers will be the sun that lights your way on the journey home.

We will remember you in every dawn.

And await the night we join you in the sky.

Rao's will be done.'

El Mayarah. It means 'Stronger Together' and I know without a doubt, this will help you now. That is something sacred to my House. The House of El. I have never taken the time to mourn the loss of my kryptonian family and friends. I haven't let myself cry for others in my heart who I pray walk in the Light of Rao peacefully with their physical bodies gone from us. I wish I could go on, but I can't. Rao forgive me and keep everyone safe, as I let that part of me walk with you forever. Forgive me Mother on Argo. Forgive me, my only Sister. Forgive me Earth Mother. Forgive me most to my greatest Sun I lost by my own doing and cowardliness. Forgive this one personal request I wish for. Rao's..will be..ohhh that..hot. Cold...Rao's will be done."

* * "This came to us anonymously sent, no doubt by the Girl of Steel herself. There is no way to describe the terror that gripped us, at watching Supergirl fall out of the sky upon injecting something into her veins. Has Earth's Mightiest Champion left us for good? Our prayers are with you Supergirl, wherever you are out there, sent to your Rao to keep you safe. This is Megan Lumiras signing off from the Daily Planet." * *

She rolled up the stone drive to park in front of the house, listening to the worried shouting at no doubt the television or radio announcement, since the windows were all open to let the ocean breeze in. She didn't even bother to unpack anything in the back of her used sky blue focus, or even shut the door, removing the cane from the passenger seat when she had stepped out of the car. She let a few tears fall freely while working her way towards the entry, preparing herself for what's to come when the dark navy blue door opened and who she needed at that moment walked out in one of her comfortable long light-grey shaws, opening her arms with no judgement whatsoever. This is what she needed and without a moment to spare, she closed the distance and let that strong embrace fill every part of her mind, body and soul.

"Let's get you inside hmm?" She nodded, taking a few steps forward with her cane, but it was removed and an offered aid took its place. They entered the beautiful house together and once inside, she let herself be led to where both knew she needed to be most. "Have you eaten?"

"Not really. Not really hungry right now." The older woman let silence keep them a little longer, until she was finally on the floral cushioned bench, set down with ease as a kiss was given to the top of her head. She removed her sunglasses, trying to get used to the brightness once more. The view began to calm her and before long a tall glass was handed to her, not with hot tea but fresh made peach lemonade.

"You always loved it out here." She let herself be observed, then felt the movement with a comforting arm on her back. A hand ran up and down it and she wanted this contact, so happy to feel it completely. "I had to change the lights you two put up, but I found little lantern ones that seemed to fit just right." The hand never stopped, even as the woman sipped her own lemonade. "Do you remember what I said to you last year?"

"Sorta." She drank what had been given, loving the taste even more now, especially when the ice hit her tongue.

"It's part of the Mom code. When your child's in agony, you show up regardless the hour."

"I'm sorry for just dropping in like this." She put her head down, feeling bad for the intrusion.

"That's another part of the Mom job. Sometimes you just need a change in your daily routine and what better way than to help a daughter I see so much sadness in." Slowly, those warm blues were now on her face and a light chuckle made her turn her own head and face who did nothing but smile. "You changed your hair I see." The hand that had been on her back moved to her head and drug fingers through her shorter auburn hair with dark red shades, lightly fluffing it which made her smile too. "Contacts?" She forgot about those.

"Hang on." She reached into the side pocket of her light denim jeans, taking out the little white case, opening it and bringing her fingers to her left eye first, removing the colored contact to put it in the solution. She then did the same to the right and once done, shut the case and handed it over. When she looked up, blue met blue of two different tones. The understanding mother took it and placed it on the little table beside the bench. The hand that had been in her hair came down and wrapped around her side. The invitation was given and she scooted closer to let this amazing being hold her however she wished.

"The video frightened me honey." Those five words shivered and with them she slightly trembled. "Judging by the cane, something tells me this happened much earlier. When was it made?" There was no fooling this woman and she had no reason to keep any secrets here.

"On the twentieth." She said quietly.

"So fifteen days, give or take." This place, this person and this warmth, it was all she really needed. "Your sister had called me when you hadn't shown up at her place, or yours or the DEO. She couldn't reach you. J'onn couldn't reach you. I couldn't reach you. Your friend Nia was trying to find you with her powers." She listened with eyes shut and no struggle against everything told to her. "I called Maggie and Lucy, who hadn't heard from you either. They were terrified something bad had happened to you. We all were and no one knew anything. You really scared us all sweetheart."

"I know. I'm sorry." She had tried not to cry, but there they were, the tears that seemed to run like rivers right down her face. "I'm so sorry.."

"It's alright. I'm here. You're safe. I've got you. I've got you." Kara really began to believe that she didn't even deserve Eliza's love, her support or to be one of her Earth mother's daughters. That's when the phone rang and somehow she already knew who it was that was calling Eliza. "I won't answer it, if you don't want me to."

"Please...please tell her..I'm.." The one who held her nodded, taking the cell phone out from the pocket of her shaw. The wonderful mother took the call, but never let her second daughter go, even when she answered the first one's attempt to get a hold of her.

"Hi sweetie."

"Mom? Mom I...oh God Mom. I'm sorry. I failed her. I failed Kar and I failed you and I don't know what to do or how to find her. I don't know what she did to herself and J'onn is looking for her everywhere. I...can't find her! DAMMIT! I can't...I..Mom..where is my sister.."

"Where are you Alex." The sniffles, the sobbing was killing her, but she let those noises inflict her soul with the pain she truly felt she deserved.

"I'm ten minutes from your house. I...I need you to help me Mom. I don't know..I'm such a horrible sister! I didn't check on her! I didn't know anything was wrong! I was hoping..wha? Whose car is in my normal spot? Do you have company? Oh God! You aren't having a date over or..am I intruding? Mom I need to know. I will go..wait a minute. Are those suit..cases.."

"Alexandra, I want you to listen and listen well. There will be no yelling, no name calling, no tantrums of any kind. The door is unlocked. We're out on the bench. Turn off your phone and come inside." Both of them heard heavy footsteps, not even turning when who was breathing heavy, still crying and gasping all at once, came around and dropped to her knees in front of them.

"Kara. Oh thank God. Oh thank you. Thank you." She felt even stronger arms wrap around her and without any effort, lift her up and sit down so she was in Alex's lap and safe in her sister's arms. "You scared me so bad sis. Ohhhh..thank God you're okay. Rao thank you. Mom thank you." She felt those tears drop onto her face, letting her own run down once more. She stayed curled in the protective embrace, feeling herself begin to drift from exhaustion and injury, giving into what called for her and letting it wrap her up and cover her completely, with a peaceful warmth all its own..

She stood over who was fast asleep, no doubt in need of it by the looks of it. Hell, Alex hadn't slept very well in a while either. She wasn't even sure the last time she had gotten more than five hours of sleep, since the disappearance of her sister. Regardless, even though she knew she was alive now, restlessness had a tight grip on her. There was a war waging on inside of her and the internal struggle beckoned so many questions without enough answers to soothe her. Relief that Kara was alive filled some of the void, but the pain became her own as if she had swallowed every bit of it down. Her stomach turned and turned and took every ounce of concentration to push that nausea aside.

Quiet enough footsteps, revealed the careful approach yet just within earshot. One glance over and her mother proved how good she was at being one step if not two ahead of her most of the time now. The stomach pills were handed over, the mint iced tea too and she took it with a gentle smile. One motion of the head and she reluctantly stepped away, but not before leaning over and kissing her sister on the side of her head, whispering I love you and leaving her side of now.

The two walked down the hall and out onto the observation style deck, which she noticed the slight change in the furniture, chuckling and shaking her head when her mom closed the slide door but left the glass one open. Her eyes met the plastic tubs of their old camping stuff, glancing over to Eliza who had taken up one of the swivel rockers under the awning. She studied the sun shade, the mechanics of it and all, impressed at who had come up with such a clever design.

"You remember Bill Collison right?" She took up the other chair, turning it to face her mother.

"That I do. How's Billy doing?"

"He's got two teenagers keeping him busy now." Alex's eyes grew a tad larger at the news. "His oldest son came up with a whole line of retractable horizontal and vertical awnings. They sold some of their designs to a few bigwig companies and Bill seems to be pretty happy with his son's business smarts. They owed me an umbrella or two so Jeff and him came over to do measurements. Low and behold I had something fancy out here three days later." She whistled, obviously quite impressed by the craftsmanship.

"How did you know I wanted my campin' stuff?" Eliza's lips curled upward more while sipping her peach lemonade.

"When she wanted to be closer to the house, you two used to pitch a smaller tent out here. I might have called Jeff to pull the old bins out of the back shed and carry them up here for me, while you were passed out in the rocking chair from looking after your sister.

"Sneaky." Her smile faltered, then and there, setting the glass down letting her head sag just enough to warrant the guilt she felt from the whole ordeal. "She sent me an email earlier this morning, which I had already been on my way out here anyway. Call it a hunch or some sisterly instinct. I didn't get it until I had service and by the time I did I was an hour away from this place. It took me about thirty minutes to pull my shit together Mom. I knew that something bad had happened and the minute I heard it on the radio...Mom..I thought.."

"You hadn't been ready to call Bill's boys over to throw your TVs out into the ocean. I wouldn't want to pollute our beautiful waters out here though." Eliza had a good point. "You were saying you got something from your Sister?" She didn't want to, she really didn't but without fighting the inevitable, Alex reached into the side pocket of her black cargo pants, handing over her phone.

"Are you sure?"

"I need to know how to help her Alex." She took her mother's hand, that now held the phone, their gazes meeting solid and then she let go. 'Time to face this head on Danvers.'

"Code is her Earth Birthday." Alex tried to speak firmly, failing at doing so as her mother's eyebrow came up at that. "I changed it the night after my memories came back, so I would never forget that day again. So I'd...never forget..her again." She shut her eyes, putting her head down, ready to start crying again. She had done a decent job at lasting an hour or so, until her mom asked where to look. One instruction and already the sniffling was heard from her phone:

* * * Recording

A familiar blonde, dressed in what looked like one of her mother's shaws in the lightest of purples and blues, showed up in front of the camera, with the most incredible view before the sun had risen fully. The colors of the sky were shades nearly fluorescent amongst the blanketed clouds brushing over a canvas so breathtaking that even Kara who was sitting on the rocks had turned to gaze at what the camera caught. The waters reflected those beautiful hues with no ounce of blues in the softest of tides. When she turned back to look directly at the lens of what appeared to be a camcorder and not a phone's capture, her smile was a calm one, just like her body that seemed rather relaxed. The scratches and bruises weren't hidden, nor was the wrapped bandage around her neck. She shut her eyes taking a few deep breaths until they were just as calm as the expression on her face:

"Hey Sis. I chose this place because it was one of the first road trips we took together. You remember Elephant Rock right? I do. I remember the three days we spent here and when you took me out to surf in these waters away from home. Even when I struggled, I couldn't stay up and I was ready to quit, you kept trying to teach me. After a while I sat on the shore and watched you surf. You've always loved it and you are so darn good at it. Then the next day, after a fun night of roasting marshmallows and you telling me about your childhood and me teaching you some kryptonese, you had me out in the water again. You never once gave up on me and for just a few minutes, with you out there, I surfed with my Big Sister.

You have been my rock since I came here. You hated keeping secrets from me and I know sometimes you still feel like you need to, to protect me. I know when you find out what I did, you are gonna be angry at me. You are gonna hate me. You may never want to speak to me again. I didn't do this to punish you Sis. I did it because...this is my own punishment.

What no one knows, is when I was fighting the other me, I figured out I couldn't beat her. I just gave up and I knew I was probably gonna die. All I kept thinking about was that finally everyone would be free. I feel like I took over your life and ruined your dreams of who you had always wanted to be, when my cousin decided to dump me at your door. You lost your father because of my stupid powers and the minute I decided to become Supergirl the sacrifices you made nearly got you killed more than once. Because of my powers Rick kidnapped you and I almost wasn't there in time to save you. Maggie was the one, the angel that rescued you. I made it worse.

You want to be a mom, but because of who I am you aren't getting to do that. I'm not saying the DEO is bad but how much is too much Lexy? Stop. Stop, if not for me than for yourself. You almost lost everything with that blasted Mind Wipe. You were fractured and that was because of me too.

I love you Alex. You are always and forever the Big Sister I never thought I was worthy to have but was blessed when you became my world. Your Mom became mine too. You were told to protect me and that isn't something I want you to have to do, with me as Supergirl anymore.

If you are wondering why I look a little worse for wear, is because I made this on September 7th. On August 20th is when I actually made the video that I will be sending on the 24th of this month. I have already planned everything out. I'm better at it than most people know, even when I'm a clutz and a ditz. On the 25th I will be sending you this too. Only two people will get these personal messages from me. I don't want you to think this is your fault Alex. It's not Sis. I take responsibility and I hope one day you will forgive me. If for whatever reason you never want to see me again, then thank you Alex Danvers. With you, I could live and not be lost to the darkness of a dead planet. Rao, protect my Big Sis, my wonderful Earth Mom and give Alex that blessing to be the amazing mom I know she will be. Rao's will be done. You are and have always been the wings, I now give to you.

By the way, sorry for the rambling. Don't cry and just know Rao is with you now more than ever."

The wind picked up and what had been covering Kara was slightly lifted by the gust. More of her injuries were showing, as was the use of a cane to walk over to the camera. There were deep, closed but visible gashes that looked like self-inflicted cuts. The blonde walked over and turned off the camera, leaving a static grey then nothing but black on the screen..

* * * End of Recording

The device was set down, slid over and forgotten for a few minutes, with Eliza unsure of just what to do after watching the video on her daughter's phone. She knew it was only a matter of time before she broke down, but that need to stay strong for both her daughters became her first and only focus. Alex's fight was gone, surrendering to the floodgates of now no longer buried emotions when the tears started to pour down her face with no intention of stopping anytime soon.

'I should have been there!'

'Who broke her spirit like this?'

'I failed her. I..failed..her. I failed!'

'Her secret, it did this didn't it?'

'I shouldn't have agreed to that stupid wipe!'

'Was it me that destroyed her?'

'Was it Lex?'

'Oh God. was it..Lena?'

'It was Lena! It all makes sense now!'

'She was there, when I was gone.'

'She was my sister's sun!'

'I used to be her sun.'

'Everyone failed her. We ALL failed her.'

'We all killed her. It was all of us.'

'Did Supergirl kill my sister?'

'Did...did...did Kara..want..to die…?'

It was the last thought, that final question that tore Alex apart inside most of all, even as her thrashing and tear ridden sister tried to fight off the nightmares. She had made it to her side, but in the midst of trying to hold her, the first of so many little scars became visible to her eyes. Kara had hurt herself on purpose and even in Alex's safe and strong arms, she wasn't able to take this beautiful soul's pain away. She pulled her closer, now laying on the bed rocking her even when she rolled on her other side for Alex to be the big spoon like she always was. Every word she whispered was a promise she would NEVER break again.

"I love you Sis. I'm right here and I'm never going away again. I'll keep you safe. I'll help you heal. We're in this together. You and me. You never needed any suit or cape to be a hero Kara. You're my biggest hero of all. You saved me. Let me save you. No. I WILL save you. El Mayarah Kir Aoe. You and me sis. Stronger Together...always."

Eliza made it into their old room, standing in the doorway as she watched them settle and drift off much more peacefully now. The cries they had heard were gone, cast away by the arms of who could protect Kara most of all. She held both her's and Alex's phones, stepping back to return to the deck and make a few calls. In her heart of hearts, somehow she knew this had changed her oldest daughter's path. Their paths, as usual, were woven together in much more different light. As Alex promised to rid Kara of her darkness, Eliza prayed that she could do the same for her. The world didn't need her daughters to carry it anymore. She would make certain of that, by doing what she does best.

The first call made was to another daughter she hadn't spoken to very much, but knew if this one conversation could help fix things and bring some form of healing, it was well worth a shot. Eliza sat back down in the chair she had occupied before, pressing on the speaker button. Here goes nothing, talking into her device to issue the command.

"Call...Maggie Sawyer.."