Kara left Catco around 11:30 and stopped to grab lunch for her and Lena on the way over to her office. She made her way into the building and smiled when she saw Tom, one of the security guards.
"Hey Tom!" Kara said excitedly.
"Kara, it's so good to see you," Tom said as he smiled back. The two had gotten to know each other well with how often Kara used to go into L-Corp over the years.
"How is the family doing?" Kara asked.
"They are doing very good, thank you for asking. Are you here to see Lena?" Tom asked with a smile.
"Yes, I brought some lunch by for us," Kara said holding up the bag in her other hand.
"Alright go ahead up. Hey Kara, don't be a stranger around here," Tom said as he let Kara by.
"I won't. It was really good to see you Tom," Kara said as she waved and made her way towards the elevator. She got on and pushed the button for Lena's office. She suddenly started to feel nervous the closer she got to Lena's floor. The doors opened, and she made her way off just as Lena was coming around the corner. She smiled when she saw Kara.
"Hey, thanks for grabbing the food," Lena said as she opened her office door and motioned for Kara to follow her inside.
"You're welcome," Kara said as she followed Lena into the office and set the food down on the table as she sat on the couch. "Hopefully you weren't too busy with work today," Kara said as she started to pull out food and hand Lena hers.
"I had a few meetings come up this morning, but the rest of my day was pretty calm," Lena said as she started to open up her food.
"That's good. I just turned in one of the stories I have been working on for a few weeks," Kara said as she took a bite of food.
"That's exciting. I am looking forward to reading it," Lena said as Kara smiled.
"You don't have to," Kara replied shyly.
"I know but I want to," Lena said as she smiled at Kara.
The two spent the next hour eating and chatting before Kara got a call from the DEO. She hung up the phone and was getting ready to leave when she thought of something.
"Hey so we are having game night tonight if you want to come. If you are busy don't worry," Kara said as Lena thought for a moment before speaking.
"That sounds fun actually. What time?" Lena asked.
"8 at Alex and Maggie's place. Sam is coming. We invited Ruby, but she already had a sleepover planned," Kara said as Lena nodded her head.
"Alright sounds good, I will see you later," Lena said as Kara nodded her head and made her way out of the office.
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Lena and Sam showed up together at Alex and Maggie's apartment a little after 8. Maggie opened the door and let both of them in.
"Hey good to see both of you," Maggie said as she shut the door and made her way back into the kitchen. Can I get either of you something to drink?" Maggie asked.
"Red wine would be good, thank you," Lena said as Sam nodded her head in agreement. Maggie went to pour the glasses as Alex came around the corner.
"Hey Sam. Hey Lena. Good to see both of you," Alex said as she came over and hugged both of them.
"Thanks for having us over," Sam said as she grabbed the glass of wine that Maggie put in front of her.
"Of course, Nia and Brainy should be here soon," Alex said as she went over to grab a drink.
J'onn came over and Lena immediately got up from her chair and hugged him.
"I missed you," he said as he hugged Lena back.
"I missed you too," Lena replied. The two had formed a tight bond and Lena missed the conversations she used to have with J'onn when she had left.
Lena pulled back from the hug and excused herself to go over and join Kara on the couch.
"Hey, I am really glad you showed up," Kara said as Lena took a sip from her wine.
"I am too. I missed game night," Lena said as Kara smiled slightly.
"I know, I haven't had any competition since you left," Kara said.
"Hey, I heard that," Maggie yelled over as Kara and Lena laughed.
"But really it's nice having the whole family together again," Kara said as Lena's heart swelled. Kara always made her feel like she was a part of the group and she was glad that with everything that had happened that feeling still remained.
"I know what you mean," Lena said as she looked around the room. Surrounded by all the people that made her feel safe and loved she suddenly began to feel overwhelmed. She quickly got up and made her way over towards the bedroom. Kara sensed something was going on and got up to follow her.
"Hey, talk to me," Kara said as she closed the bedroom door and grabbed Lena's hand.
"Sorry I just really missed everybody. I guess I didn't realize it until I saw all of you together," Lena said as she took a deep breath.
"I know that every single person in this room missed you. Some more than others," Kara said with a smile as Lena smirked.
"Partners for games?" Lena asked as she looked at Kara.
"Always. We are going to destroy everyone. If you ask me Maggie has won too many times in a row. She needs to be humbled," Kara said as Lena laughed.
"Well I guess it is up to us then," Lena said as Kara smiled. They both stood there for a few seconds before Kara made her way back towards the door and opened it as the two went out to the main room. Kara saw that Brainy and Nia had arrived as she made her way back toward the kitchen.
"Don't do anything in our apartment," Alex said with a grin as Kara hit her on the shoulder.
"Alex," Kara said with an annoyed voice. "We were just talking," Kara said as Alex looked back at her.
"I know, just saying," Alex said back as Kara laughed and made her way over to greet everyone else. They all talked for a few minutes before starting the first game.
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It was hours later when game night finally wrapped up leaving only Lena and Kara left at Alex and Maggie's place. Sam had left earlier to go pick up Ruby who wasn't feeling well from her sleepover. The two had come together but Lena didn't want to leave yet so she told Sam to go and that she would figure out a way to get home.
"Hey, I had a lot of fun tonight, thanks again for the invitation," Lena said as she sat on the couch next to Maggie. Alex and Kara were on the other couch across from them.
"I am really glad you came. Although I am not happy to see my winning streak ended by you two," Maggie said with a smirk as everyone laughed.
"Yeah I am with Maggie. I forgot how unfair it was to pair you two together for game night. You make too good of a team," Alex said.
"We do make a good team don't we," Kara said as she looked up and caught a small smile on Lena's face. Kara felt a flutter that she hadn't felt in a long time. The feeling she used to get when she looked at Lena. She felt her cheeks growing warm and hoped Lena wouldn't notice.
"Alright I should probably head out," Lena said as she stood up and put her wine glass over in the sink.
"You know I was thinking of going to," Kara said as she watched Alex and Maggie share a glance before getting up as well. They all said goodbye and headed out the door making their way downstairs and outside.
"I was going to come have my driver come pick me up, but it is such a nice night out," Lena said as she looked over towards Kara.
"Why don't I walk you back to your place," Kara suggested as Lena smiled.
"Sounds good. You know I was really nervous to come over tonight," Lena said as Kara looked over at her. "I guess I was worried things wouldn't be like they used to but being in that room with everyone just felt right. It felt like old times," Lena said.
"It did. Do you remember the first time you came to game night?" Kara asked as Lena smiled.
"Yes. I remember I was scared. It's funny a room full of businessmen in a board meeting wouldn't scare me but the thought of meeting the two of them did. I still didn't know Alex and Maggie that well and I just wanted them to like me and do you remember what you said?" Lena asked as Kara nodded her head.
"I said that they would have to be crazy not to like you. That I liked you and because of that they would like you to," Kara responded.
"I was still scared but knowing you were there made me feel safe. You have always made me feel safe. Even when we first met there was just something about you," Lena said as she stopped in front of her building and turned towards Kara.
"I'm glad I made you feel that way. I always knew how amazing you were, and I just wanted you to know it as well. To know you had no reason to be afraid of what people would think about you," Kara said.
"You always knew me better than anyone, maybe even better than I knew myself. I would invite you up, but we are taking this slow right?" Lena said as she bit her lip and it took everything in Kara's power to not give in and go up to Lena's apartment.
"Right. I should get going anyways I have a busy day tomorrow," Kara replied. "We can hug though, I mean friends do that," Kara suggested as Lena laughed and the two embraced each other in a hug. Kara held on for a few extra seconds not wanting to let go. She pulled back and smiled as she watched Lena turn around and make her way inside before turning around and walking back towards her place.
Lena shut her apartment door behind her and leaned against the wall. Part of her wished Kara had come up with her, but she also knew that she couldn't screw this up again. She knew what Kara and her both needed was time. When Kara had hugged her though it felt so right. She had missed her touch so much. She never knew how much she craved it until it was gone. She remembered the first time Kara had wrapped her up in her arms and how safe and loved she had felt. It was the reason why it made her decision to leave so hard. Knowing she would never get to feel that again was unbearable. She knew she couldn't lose Kara again, knew she probably wouldn't survive that. A ding from her phone pulled her from her thoughts as she looked down and smiled seeing a message from Kara.
Kara: Hey I am home.
Lena: Good. Thank you for inviting me tonight, I had a lot of fun.
Kara: I am really glad you came. How about we do dinner tomorrow night?
Lena: Dinner sounds perfect. Does 7 work for you?
Kara: Sounds great! Goodnight Lena. I will see you tomorrow.
Lena smiled as she put her phone down next to her bed and made her way into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
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Across town Kara closed the door to her apartment and immediately dialed Alex on her phone. She waited 2 rings before hearing a voice.
"Yes Kara," Alex said as she heard Maggie laughing in the background.
"Hey, can you put me on speakerphone. I need advice," Kara said as she heard Maggie's voice on the line.
"I am surprised you aren't with Lena right now with the way you two were looking at each other all night," Maggie said.
"I almost went up to her apartment with her," Kara replied.
"I mean I was just joking but what happened?" Maggie asked.
"Well I walked Lena back to her apartment and we were talking the whole way. I guess reminiscing about the past. Anyways so we got to her apartment and we are standing there, and she said that she would invite me up to her apartment but that we were supposed to take things slow. But she sort of said it as a question or at least I thought it was a question. Maybe she just meant it as a statement…" Kara rambled.
"Kara take a deep breath," Alex said as Maggie chuckled in the background.
"Sorry. So anyways I told her that yeah, I should probably get going because I was busy tomorrow. I hugged her before she left though, and I think maybe the hug lasted a few seconds longer than a normal one. I pulled back though and said bye and she went upstairs. I just texted her though and made plans for dinner tomorrow night," Kara said.
"Wow this is a lot to process," Maggie said jokingly as Alex hit on the shoulder.
"Maggie I am serious. I need help," Kara whined.
"Alright Little Danvers I am sorry no more joking. Look it sounds to me like Lena wanted you to come up to her apartment but probably also was worried about rushing things," Maggie responded.
"Yeah I am with Maggie on this one. Kara, I think it's really good that you and Lena are working things out, but I just want you to be careful okay," Alex said.
"I know. I am scared of things falling apart again but Alex I don't want to wonder what would have happened if I didn't try," Kara responded.
"I know Kara. Look enjoy dinner tomorrow night with her and see where things go. I think maybe you should voice your concerns with Lena. There is a good chance she is feeling the same way," Alex suggested.
"Yeah I know we need to talk. Alright I am going to go to bed but thank you. Both of you," Kara said as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're welcome Little Danvers, get some rest," Maggie responded.
"I love you Kara," Alex said.
"Love both of you. Goodnight," Kara said as she hung up phone. She got ready for bed and a few minutes later got under the sheets. She closed her eyes and went to bed that night thinking of Lena.