616. Chapter 616

Alex panics and vomits and rings her hands and does all the things she always does before she sees Eliza.

Kara comforts her.

Maggie comforts her.

Winn comforts her.

James comforts her.

J’onn comforts her.

But then Eliza shows up and she makes all these cheesy party activities with Winn and James – “sorry, Alex, the lady asked and she makes amazing lasagna, were we supposed to say no?” – and Kara, and Alex is overwhelmed, because she and Eliza might have their… differences… but the fact that Eliza is throwing herself into this party with the same gusto as she throws herself into Channukah and Valentine’s Day and Halloween is… is one of the most moving things Alex has ever experienced.

But she knows it’s hard.

For Maggie.

Maggie won’t say it. Of course she won’t.

But she watches her eyes clench in pain as Alex watches Maggie watch Eliza putter around the kitchen, completely taking over the apartment, making the girls lasagna and insisting that they do nothing but set the table because this is their day, this is their celebration, this is the start of a beautiful chapter of their life.

“I love you,” she murmurs into Maggie’s ear, slipping her arms around her waist from behind and kissing her neck, her temple, her cheek, her lips.

She surprises herself by not feeling like she shouldn’t kiss the woman she loves in front of her mother.

She surprises herself by feeling giddy when Eliza glances up from her food preparation to see Maggie melting into her arms, and Eliza smiles instead of raises an appraising eyebrow, sighs happily instead of irritably.

“You know, I never much thought of marriage for you, Alex. Oh, not because I didn’t think anyone would want you. It was never that. But I was never sure you’d be interested, and I also… I was convinced no one would ever deserve you.”

She says it casually, as Maggie helps her set the table.

She says it more to Maggie than to Alex, and Maggie flushes.

“I try my best, Dr. Danvers – “

“Oh, no dear, you misunderstand me. I meant… I never thought anyone would deserve Alex, that she might never find her match. Until she met you.”

Alex’s heart jolts and Maggie’s twists six different ways at once.

“But I suppose life is full of the unexpected. I never expected to raise a Kryptonian girl, but suddenly there Kara was, my second daughter. And now, a third,” Eliza says, her hands finding Maggie’s, now.

“I’m sorry about what Alex has told me. About your parents. No child deserves such horrific treatment. No grown woman, either. And I know I can’t replace anyone in your heart, and I’m not trying to, Maggie, but… thank you. For taking care of my Alexandra, and for… for giving me another daughter.”

By the time Winn and James tiptoe through the door, hoping for leftovers, they find Eliza on the couch, an arm around both of her human daughters, both sleeping, both with tear-stained faces but soft, loved smiles still curved on their lips.

She looks up and nods the boys toward the refrigerator, and they raid it like Kara and Alex used to when they were children.

Eliza kisses Maggie’s forehead, then Alex’s, as James and Winn quietly sink to the floor in front of the couch with heaping plates of lasagna and a bottle of beer each and grateful, somewhat bashful smiles on their faces.

And it may not be Midvale, but Rao, Eliza sure does feel at home.