613. Chapter 613

He’s become so attuned to all his earth children now that he feels her pain the moment they reenter the earth’s atmosphere.

Maggie’s emotions feel different, to him, than Alex’s or even Winn’s or James’s.

Hers still feel newer, to him.

But they’re so strong he almost jumps, almost worries that a white Martian has somehow found a way into his ship – their ship, their ship, their ship, he reminds himself, still staring at his father like he can’t believe he’s there, because good god, he truly can’t – because Maggie’s emotions are all rage and pain and deep, deep emptiness.

Emptiness that is only filled by her own steeliness, and by that of the woman he instinctively knows is holding her hand, holding her entire body.

“Father,” he says gravely as soon as they land. “I want to acclimate you to this world. I want to share minds. I want all the things I’ve longed for, these hundreds of years I thought you were gone. But I have… I have a young woman I need to attend to.”

His father raises his eyebrows and even Kara tilts her head.

“My son, I was under the impression that you and that white Martian rebel commander – “

“Yes, yes. No, Father, that isn’t what I meant. Kara… Kara and her sister, Alex, have become… like adoptive daughters to me. And Alex is getting married, to this wonderful human woman, and she… words are clumsy, Father. May I show you?”

His father nods and Kara lowers her eyes as J’onn touches his fingers to his father’s temple.

It’s only a moment later that M'yrnn opens his eyes wide and nods eagerly at J’onn.

“You must go to this young woman. She’s in need of… of a father.”

J’onn smiles hesitantly and gently puts his hand on his father’s. Something he never thought he’d do again.

He fights not to break down.

There will be time for all that.

Later, later. Later.

“And I’m in need of mine. After all these years, Father… Maggie is a private woman, but I think she would understand… would you accompany me? Kara can walk with you if Maggie doesn’t want new company – “

“Of course, J’onn.”

Kara nods grave assent to their plan, but soon her nod becomes a pout.

“No, Kara.”

She pouts harder.

J’onn heaves a heavy sigh and switches seats with her, letting her take the steering wheel.

M'yrnn laughs and laughs and laughs, relieved if not utterly confused, as Kara cranks up a song about hitting babies and steps on the gas.

Their moods are significantly more somber, however, by the time they reach Maggie’s apartment door.

They hear sobbing, and J’onn’s heartstrings tug.

He knocks gently.

“Alex? Maggie?”

There’s a rustling, the sound of a body running into something that sounds like a couch, and the door slams open.

Alex throws herself into J’onn’s arms, reaching around him to tug her sister in, too.

“You’re home, you’re safe,” she murmurs to both of them as the sound of muffled sniffling comes from over her shoulder.

“And you… brought a friend?” Alex asks.

J’onn straightens and steps back, still holding Alex’s hand.

“Alex, this… this is my father, M'yrnn. Father – “

“Alex Danvers,” M'yrnn smiles. “And where is your lovely wife?”

“Not yet, Father,” J’onn murmurs and Alex blushes.

“I’m so happy for you, J’onn,” Maggie gives him her best smile as she approaches from behind Alex. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” she tells his father, stepping back warmly to let them all into the apartment.

But her eyes are red and the shoulder of Alex’s soft v-neck is stained with tears.

J’onn takes her hand.

“Maggie, we didn’t come here for you to meet my father. I brought him because… well, because frankly I can’t bear to part from him right now. Like if he’s out of my sight, it won’t be real.”

Four sets of hands reach for J’onn, to reassure him, and his heart glows softly.

“But we came here because I… I sensed your pain. And I sensed why, and Maggie, I am sorry. I am so terribly sorry.”

Maggie bites her bottom lip as Alex holds her hand and presses her forehead into her temple. She shakes her head.

“J’onn, you just went home in the first time in centuries. You just visited the graveyard of your people, risking your life for people who slaughtered your own. You just found your father, J’onn, you don’t have to worry about – “

“Nonsense,” J’onn interrupts gently. “Family supports each other, Maggie. We can support each other. If you’ll have us.”

Maggie’s throat is too tight to speak, so she nods. Alex kisses Maggie’s mouth and J’onn’s cheek and holds both Maggie’s and Kara’s hands.

M'yrnn clears his throat.

“My dear, forgive me: I know we’ve only just met, but to explain the situation to me, my son shared some memories of who you are, how you came into his family. And might I say? You would make a fine Green Martian. Brave and valiant and somehow unfailingly… kind. Despite what this world of walls and war and… strange music… has done to you. It is an honor to come out of such long, terrible isolation and be greeted with such a… a granddaughter.”

Alex and J’onn are the first to cry, and Kara and Maggie tease them so intently, but so gently, that they start crying, too.

“You’re home now, Father. You’re safe. I promise. And so are you, Maggie,” J’onn assures them through their laughter, through their tears.

And for the first time in centuries and decades, respectively, M'yrnn and Maggie start to believe it.