Chapter Text
Lena is nervous the whole time Kara’s flying them to Star City, hoping that this is a good idea and not one that will only trigger painful memories. It’s a big risk, but she knows she has to do this, has to replace those memories by changing the ending. She reminds herself that Kara had agreed to the trip and had actually looked excited about it.
They spend the days exploring Star City properly this time round, and the nights doing exactly the same things they did on those three magical days. They don’t say it out loud, but each feels immense relief to find that they still feel that same intense connection towards each other. Everything feels as magical as it did before - perhaps even more so, knowing that they were given a second chance and very nearly lost each other forever.
On the third night, Lena tells Kara she has a surprise for her. When the blindfold comes off, Kara finds that they are in Star City’s aquarium after hours - the jellyfish exhibit. Lena explains that she’s pulled strings to enter after hours, and the staff have left the lights on specially for them. The neon lights change, and the jellyfish glow mystically. Kara is entranced, recalls that she had told Lena all those years ago that she had always wanted to visit the aquarium after hours, and that her favourite sea creature is jellyfishes.
Lena embraces her tightly from the back.
“You remembered,” Kara whispers, her intense emotions soothed by the fluid motions of the jellies.
“When your soulmate tells you what she likes, you tend to remember,” Lena replies wryly.
Kara smiles, turns around to gaze at Lena and finds herself drowning in a sea of green.
Lena’s face grows serious. She picks up both of Kara’s hands, and holds them. “Kara, there’s one more thing I haven’t told you, that the letters don’t cover. The last part of the story - the part before we found each other again.”
Kara kisses Lena’s hand - the back of her hand, then her palm. “Tell me.”
“During the darkest days of conversion therapy when even my best friend Sam couldn’t cheer me up, I thought of our time together, and that was always enough to remind me that I cannot denounce my identity because it’s what led me to you, and it’s what gave me those three magical days together with you.
Later on, when I was struggling hard to build my family business back up again after Lex ruined it, there were a lot of hard times too. But I got through each of them by telling myself that I wanted to be someone - so that I could begin to be good enough for you. And when I became the youngest self-made billionaire, I started to feel confident enough to try to look for you again. I had no idea how, since I didn’t even have your last name. But around that time, you came out to the world as Supergirl. I knew it was you, because of what you told me about Krypton, but I had no way of finding out your real identity.
After a lot of thinking, I decided to take the leap and move to National City. I knew that you may not even remember me, and if you did you probably never wanted to talk to me or see me again, but - I can’t explain it - there was just this powerful urge within me telling me to screw the odds and just give it a try. Maybe it was all the regret of not keeping in touch with you that made me do it. But, Kara, I’m so glad I did. I’m sorry it caused you so much pain, and I swear, if you will let me, I will spend every day for the rest of my life making it up to you.
After I came to National City, I meant to call in a favour from Cat Grant, and try to find out who Supergirl is. But before I managed to, you walked into my office. I’m so sorry - I think my brain short-circuited when I saw you and I just decided for some absurd reason to pretend not to remember you. You walked back into my life, Kara, just like that, and I took it as a sign from the universe to take this second chance, and make the best of it. No matter how big the obstacles.”
Kara wipes away Lena’s tears with a feather-light touch. Lena does the same for her.
“You don’t have to apologise, or make up for what you did five years ago, anymore. We can’t have a real relationship if you do that. After reading your letters I understood perfectly why you did it. I was still mad and hurt for a while, but finally, I understood why and I had closure. You had to be strong for us, because we would have been miserable with a long-distance relationship, and we both weren’t ready. Now, I understand that we needed that distance and time to be ready for each other. But Lena - you need to know, you’ve always been more than good enough for me. It was love at first sight for me, too, and the person I fell in love with was you, not some overachieving CEO - although I am immensely proud of what you have achieved. I will spend every day of my life convincing you that you are enough. I love you, Lena Luthor.” Lena has never been kissed so tenderly by anyone else, and in this moment, she remembers how it feels like. Kara makes all the stars appear when before, there was only endless black sky.
“I love you, Kara Danvers.”
They admire the jellyfish for a while more, and then walk back to the same hotel suite where so many things happened, hand in hand.
They begin kissing in the elevator, and when they reach their floor, Kara wordlessly carries Lena up onto her hips with one arm and opens the door to the suite with the other. Lena’s legs automatically wrap around Kara as she nibbles hungrily at Kara’s lips, making her moan.
Kara takes off her clothes in super-speed, then starts on Lena’s clothes when she gives her consent.
“What do you say we act out that particular chapter in your fanfiction about us?” Lena’s eyes sparkle mischievously. Kara gasps with shock. “You found it? Oh, Rao .” Her face turns deep red.
Lena kisses her on the forehead. “It was a beautiful story, and now...I’m going to give you that happy ending you’ve always deserved.”
“Really? Well, we’d better start immediately. Make up for all that lost time.” She pushes Lena down onto the bed with a devilish grin.