The Future

Seven: Alura

Lena laid on the couch, her head on a pillow in Kara's lap as the superhero ran gentle fingers through raven hair. The Wizard of Oz was on, the first movie of their musical marathon. Lena stared up at Kara, watching her adorable reaction to her favorite movie. Kara glanced down, smiling widely when she found Lena watching her.

"You're not even watching the movie." She laughed.

"You expect me to be watching a movie while you're being that cute?" Lena asked.

"You're in my lap right now, and I'm watching the movie." Kara teased.

"Which is great, because you're cute when you aren't paying attention."

"You're cute all the time."

"That's debatable." Lena groaned, covering her face with her hands.

"Oh, shut up!" Kara laughed, pulling Lena's hands down gently. "You're adorable."

"No, you," Lena replied, poking her tongue out at her girlfriend.

"Don't start a no you battle you can't win," Kara warned, raising her eyebrows.

"You're right. I'm not very good at being childish." Lena chuckled, sitting up.

"I'm way better at that." Kara agreed, lifting her arm so that Lena could scoot closer, the brunette cuddling against Kara's chest to watch movie after movie until they both fell asleep on the couch during Funny Face, arms and legs tangled together.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kara woke alone on the couch to the sound of Lena humming in the kitchen and the smell of fresh coffee and bacon. She sat up to see Lena, in an oversized old tee-shirt with a huge House of El crest on the back, along with a pair of shorts so short you couldn't even see them under the shirt. She was humming "Somewhere Over the Rainbow as she cooked, pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Kara smiled, standing up to make her way over to Lena, wrapping her arms around the brunette's waist. Lena laughed as Kara peppered the side of her face and neck with light kisses.

"Good morning." Lena murmured, leaning into her girlfriend. "Today's the day."

"We could just hide here all weekend, and not pop the bubble," Kara muttered.

"I believe you'd be leaving me every half hour to fight another rogue alien, or stop a bank robbery." Lena pointed out.

"Don't remind me." Kara groaned, burying her face in Lena's neck.

"Go sit down and pour me a cup of coffee. You're going to make me burn your breakfast." Lena laughed, placing a kiss on the side of Kara's head.

"One kiss." Kara insisted, lifting her head.

"One." Lena agreed, placing a lingering kiss on her hero's lips.

"You have exactly three minutes before I require another." Kara teased.

"You have two before I do," Lena replied, flipping a pancake.

"We're going to see my mom today." Kara sighed. "We're actually going to talk to her."

"So, just to verify, we're using a Kryptonian crystal used to store knowledge from your planet that you repurposed while you were on a city protected by a forcefield, and you talk to your mom via hologram." Lena sat a full plate in front of Kara, then another, smaller plate, in front of the seat next to hers.

"Yes. And Brainy, he's Koluan, a race of half AI, half 'organic life forms' (his words) is going to make your hologram, so Mom can see you." Kara added.

"Can Brainy explain all the technology to me?" Lena asked excitedly, her smile infectious.

"Yes, love." Kara laughed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kara stood by Alex, practically bouncing with excitement. She never thought she'd be able to introduce her partner to her mother. Lena was talking to Brainy, taking notes of everything he said. It was adorable how immersed she was in the science of it, rattling off hypotheticals and nodding along to Brainy's explanations.

"Earth to Kara," Alex chimed, waving her hand in front of her sister's face. "I asked if you were excited, but that's obvious."

"I'm gonna explode, Alex. I get to show Lena my culture, my language, and my mom." Kara smiled so wide, it looked like her face was going to split open.

"Kara, it's time," Lena called, nodding towards the room where her mother's old AI lived. Kara looked at Alex, then supersped both her and Lena into the next room.

"Erosh bem, Jeju," Kara announced, Lena, watching in awe as the two spoke. [Hello, Mom.]

"Kar?" Lena asked, after a long conversation in one of the few languages she didn't understand.

"Right. Jeju, ehngiuo?" Kara asked. "I want to introduce someone." [English]

"This is Lena?" Alura asked.

"Yeah. Lena, this is my mom, Alura. Jeju means mother, by the way." Kara explained, her stomach in knots as Lena scanned the hologram.

"It's an honor to meet you." Lena smiled. Kara covered her mouth with her hands, resting her forehead against Lena's temple.

"Likewise. Kara, you look like you're going to burst." Alura joked.

"I am." Kara laughed, tears welling in her eyes.

"Inah, what is wrong?" Alura looked concerned. [daughter] Her English was rusty and she had never spoken to a native speaker or to Kara in languages other than Kryptonian.

"No, I'm happy, is all. Nothing's wrong." Kara shook her head as Lena wrapped her arms around her waist.

"I am, too." Alura smiled fondly.

"Oh, babe," Lena laughed, attempting to keep her own tears at bay. "Don't cry or I will."

"Sorry. Jeju, Lena is a scientist and a doctor. An imokhahm." Kara explained. "Jeju is a member of the high council. She's kind of a lawyer, judge, and ruler. Krypton was an oligarchy, and so is Argo."

"Kara has told me much about you." Alura smiled. "I am so glad she's found someone who makes her so happy."

"Me, too." Lena nodded. "She's told me about Argo. It sounds beautiful."

"It is. I will send pictures to your crystal, Kara. The sunset was beautiful last night." Alura seemed to relax as the conversation moved on from their emotions.

"That sounds amazing. J'onn is calling, Jeju. I'll be right back." Kara announced, pointing to her ear, then placing a kiss on Lena's lips.

"I may have scheduled that," Lena announced as soon as Kara was out of the room.

"Scheduled Kara's departure?" Alura asked.

"I asked J'onn to pull her out for a moment so that I could ask you a question. On Earth, it's custom to ask the father of your partner before you propose." Lena explained. "I was hoping to ask your permission."

"I apologize, I'm not very good at English figures of speech. Propose what?" Alura asked.

"I want to ask Kara to be my wife. I know it's very soon, and we've only been together for two months, but I've known her for three years-" Lena rambled on, anxiety tying her stomach in knots.

"Of course you have my permission. We only reconnected two and a half months ago, and after her adoptive Earth family, she mentioned you first. She loves you." Alura smiled.

"Oh, thank God, that was the most nerve-wracking thing I've ever done. I never need to skydive." Lena gasped.

"What is skydiving?"