SteelCorp

Chapter 17

Four months have past since the bomb incident and the Ultra-Link copies were successfully launched and well received by the public. The repairs to the damage have been completed and things have been going better than ever for Lena and Thalia’s relationship. It is now October with Lena’s birthday fast approaching. Thalia is currently on her way to Lena’s office to join her for lunch and invite her to Copper Canyon to meet her parents.
    “Hi Jess, how was your morning?” Asks Thalia smiling brightly at the young assistant.
    Looking up from her computer with a smile of her own, Jess answers. “Good afternoon Agent McGrath. It was pleasant as usual. Miss Luthor informed me to send you straight in when you arrived.”
    “Thanks Jess. Also, how many times do I have to tell you, call me Thalia.” Replies Thalia as she walks to the large double doors leading to Lena’s office.
    With a light chuckle, Jess responds. “You know that’s never going to happen Agent.”
    Thalia knocks lightly on the door to let Lena know she is there just in case she is with someone. 
    “Come in!” Comes Lena’s muffled voice from the other side of the door.
    Thalia quickly straightens her black leather jacket and enters the office. “Hi babe, how’s your morning? Oh, hi Kara, you doing an interview or something?”
    “Hello Thalia, no interview, Kara was just reminding me about game night tonight.” Says Lena with a bright smile as she gets up from her desk to give Thalia a quick peck on the lips and a hug.
    Fidgeting slightly in her seat, Kara speaks up. “I’m going to go now and I’ll see you both at game night.”
    Once Kara was gone, Thalia pulls a box of Lena’s favourite danishes from her bag with a big smile. “Look what I got for you. You’re favourite danishes.”
    “Alright, what did you do?” Questions Lena quirking a brow and looking very unamused.
    Blinking in mock confusion, Thalia replies. “What do you mean ‘what did I do?’ I didn’t do anything. Am I suddenly not allowed to buy my girlfriend her favourite pastries when I feel like it?”
    “Thalia love, we’ve been dating for four months now. You always buy me those danishes when you have done or are about to do something that you think is going to upset me.” Says Lena, crossing her arms, lips twisting into a displeased pout.
    Rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly, Thalia responds. “Okay you got me. The reason I came over today was because I want you to come with me to Copper Canyon this weekend to meet my parents. You know, officially, as my girlfriend.”
    “You want me to what?! Thalia are you serious right now? You know parents don’t like me, hell not many people like me.” Says Lena freaking out and pacing back and forth in front of her desk.
    Holding out the box of pastries as Lena grabs one and begins eating it, Thalia replies. “Lena, baby, it’s okay. You’ve already met my parents as my best friend, so we know they already love you. Now we are just telling them that we are dating.”
    “Yeah but them liking me as your best friend is completely different from them liking me as your girlfriend.” Responds Lena grabbing another danish and continuing to pace.
    Putting down the box and gently guiding the shorter woman to the couch, Thalia begins to rub soothing circles between her shoulders. “Hey it’s going to be okay. I understand that your relationship with your parents is quite brutal and has affected you deeply, but I guarantee that mine will absolutely love you. I mean compared to my ex; you are an absolute saint. Plus, grandma Molly will be there to smack my dad upside the head if he tries to give you any trouble.”
    “Heh, I like her. Your grandmother is rather intense but also really nice.” Says Lena with a small chuckle, finally beginning to relax a little bit.
    Chuckling as well, Thalia replies. “I thought that might help. So, what do you say? Would you like to come meet my parents this weekend?”
    “I think I can manage that. Well, as long as you’re with me, I feel like I can do just about anything.” Says Lena leaning over to give Thalia a gentle but passionate kiss.
    Thalia doesn’t hesitate to return the kiss with a wide smile. After a few minutes, Thalia pulls back her cheeks flushed and looks at Lena with a matching blush and tussled hair. “I hate to cut this short, but I do have to get back to work.”
    “Awe already? Fine, I’ll see you at game night tonight then.” Replies Lena pouting and grabbing another danish.
    Getting up and grabbing her bag off the floor, Thalia gives Lena a quick kiss on the cheek and then makes her way to the door. “Yes, I will see you at game night tonight. We are so going to kick butt at charades.”
    “Not likely. Kara told me earlier that couples can’t be teams this time.” States Lena, clearly irked by the new rule.
    Smirking, Thalia replies. “At least I’ll get to see you completely dominate at Monopoly. That’s always my favourite part of game night.”
    “It’s mine too. Now you need to get your nice butt in gear and get back to work before you get in trouble for being late again.” Responds Lena giving Thalia a light smack on the behind.
    Jumping, Thalia let’s out a startled yelp. “Eep! Hey not fair!”
    Lena simply laughs as she dodges Thalia’s attempt at revenge. Giving her a final kiss on the cheek, Thalia returns to work.
    Arriving at Kara’s apartment for game night and laden down with drinks and snacks, Lena and Thalia are stuck standing in the hallway unable to knock. Luckily, they don’t have to wait long thanks to Kara’s super hearing.
   “Yay! You guys are finally here! Oh, my Rao you brought pot stickers!” Exclaims Kara excitedly throwing open the door and wrapping her friends in a near bone crushing hug.
    Gasping for breath Lena taps Kara on the back. “Can’t…breathe.”
    “Oops sorry! Come in, you can put the food on the counter in the kitchen.” Says Kara releasing her friends.
    Grateful to be able to breathe again, Lena and Thalia drop their bags of food in the kitchen before joining the others around the coffee table in the living room.
    “Alright what are we playing first?” Asks James from his spot on the couch next to Alex and Maggie.
    Taking a sip of her beer, Maggie answers. “Charades obviously. We always start with charades; it’s become a game night tradition.”
    “That’s true it has. Alright let’s pick teams and remember, no couples!” Says Winn excitedly from the floor.
    Before anyone has a chance to claim a teammate, Thalia cuts in. “Oh! And no Danvers sisters!”
    “Awe man. We were so going to crush you all.” Groans Alex slouching further into her seat.
    Everyone laughs at that. Once the teams are picked, game night is officially under way. Several rounds later, the game ends in a tie between SuperCorp and SteelGuardian much to Alex and Winn’s dismay. Maggie and Lyra on the other hand simply enjoyed watching their partners get absolutely crushed while devouring two and a half pizzas between them.
     “Normally I’d say this calls for a tie breaker, but I’m too hungry to go another round.” Complains Kara clutching her stomach with an exaggerated groan.
    Everyone bursts out laughing at Kara’s dramatics. Thalia decides that would be a good time to take a break and eat something. “Yes, food sounds great right about now. Is there anything you would like me to grab for you Lena?”
    “I’ll just have a slice of pizza, thanks Thalia.” Answers Lena with a grateful smile that earns a few teasing ‘awes’ from the group causing both women to blush.
    Thalia wastes no time in escaping to the kitchen while everyone continues to tease Lena. She listens to their friends talk about how the big bad CEO of L-Corp has gone soft for a girl. An alien girl that also happens to be a super hero on top of that.
    “Alright knock it off guys! Seriously, Lena and I have been together for four months and you still can’t let it go? We aren’t some mushy gushy new couple anymore so grow up already.” Says Thalia returning to the living room with two plates, one loaded with pizza, burritos, and meatballs, the other a slice of pizza for Lena.
    Deciding to take advantage of the situation and have some fun payback, Lena jumps up from the couch throwing her arms around Thalia’s neck with a fake pout. “Thalia! Help they are being mean to me!”
    “They are doing what? Nobody is mean to my precious Lena and gets away with it! I will make them all pay!” Exclaims Thalia playing along with Lena’s game.
    Catching on and feigning being scared, Winn quickly scrambles away from the group pulling Lyra with him. “Oh no! She’s coming for us, run for your lives!”
    Thalia then proceeds to pretend to chase him around the apartment earning rousing roars of laughter and cheers from the group. Once everyone settles down again, Maggie pulls out the Monopoly board to several groans of dismay. Nobody enjoys playing Monopoly ever since they discovered that Lena is unbeatable.
    After a few rounds of getting thoroughly trounced by Lena, the friends decided to call it a night. After saying their goodbyes, Thalia and Lena decided to go for a walk at the park near by.
    “It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?” Says Lena as she clings tightly onto Thalia’s arm. Clearly tipsy from all the wine she drank earlier.
    Thalia chuckles. “It really is. Although at the risk of sounding cliché, it’s nowhere near as lovely as you are.”
    “Pfft! That was really cliché, but also really nice. You’re a sap you know that?” Snickers Lena moving closer to Thalia so she can rest her head on her shoulder.
    Gasping in mock offense, Thalia replies. “Moi? Why I never! If I’m a sap, then you’re gushy nerd.”
    Both women stop walking and just stare at each other for a moment before suddenly bursting out with laughter.
    After wandering around the park for a while, Thalia decides to call Antonio to have him take Lena back to her penthouse.
    Once there, and after saying goodnight, Thalia tries to leave when Lena stops her. “You’re leaving already? You just got here.”
    “Oh, um…yeah. I uh…I have somethings I need to take care of before the weekend. I may have procrastinated I bit too much and now it’s really piled up.” Says Thalia fidgeting nervously and trying not to avoid making eye contact with Lena.
    Arching a brow and seeming unconvinced but not wanting to start an argument, Lena replies. “Alright then, I’ll see you Friday after work then.”
    Thalia gives Lena a quick kiss goodnight before almost rushing out of the building. She didn’t want Lena to know what she was really up to. She knew that if stayed any longer she would accidentally let it slip that she was planning something really special for her birthday which just so happened to be that weekend.