Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Kara Danvers was a cub reporter under Snapper Carr. She had graduated almost two years ago from being assistant to Cat Grant, to being a reporter. It was something she’d strived for, for close to five years. The only real difference in working for CatCo Worldwide Media was that Cat Grant was no longer the media mogul. No, now it was… Andrea Rojas. Kara let out a sigh at the very thought of Andrea’s name.

Andrea Rojas was a person very dear to her. Well, okay, so maybe that was an understatement. They had been dating nearly a month now. Now that Leviathan wasn’t an issue between Supergirl and Andrea, well, things had opened up. Feelings were revealed, and dates had been scheduled, showed up, and now they were dating. Steadily. It was an awesome feeling, being able to be wholly herself with another person. Kara was always so happy every time she thought of it.

Kara supposed she should thank Lena Luthor for all of this happiness. After all, if they hadn’t fallen out (Kara’s fault, she knew) and left Lena to discover Andrea’s double life on her own, Kara wouldn’t be able to date Andrea, wouldn’t have a person to know her whole self. Kara was grateful to Lena, even if they hadn’t spoken in a month now.

And Kara knew that she was the one to blame for that, largely. If not wholly…. Kara was the one who had lied. Kara was the one who had kept that super secret, Kara's world crumbled around her and she was left unable to pick up the pieces as Lena built up her walls around her and closed the door on everyone who had loved her; left Kara helpless to fix the friendship and had kept Lena officially closed off from everyone she had loved.

Lena wanted space, the words that she’d spewed, full of venom, were still there in screaming colour in Kara’s mind. Kara was certain nothing could be fixed about this situation, that it was out of Kara’s control. The damage had been done. Lena just … never wanted to see Kara again. Now, whilst it’d been nearly a month, Kara was still respecting that wish, however hard it might be. It didn’t stop the grief she felt at losing her best friend,she sort of figured nothing would. It was much less difficult now that she had Andrea.

Andrae, her girlfriend. The words bring her back to the present. Her girlfriend had just left Kara’s cubicle with a long kiss to the hero’s lips. So now Kara was back to work on her latest article; a few more paragraphs and she’d be done for the day. She was very relieved about that. It had been a long day. She’d been hurt. Lena had requested a different reporter to come for an interview when L-Corp released a new invention. Kara could remember it, she also wished it was her who was left speechless as Lena rambled on excitedly every time she had an idea.

Kara missed that. A lot. Missed her best friend. More than she cared to admit. The feelings she had felt had been similar to when Mon-El left; though that didn’t quite make sense to her.

She turned when the elevator doors opened, surprised when she saw a kid enter the floor. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen, at first glance. A second revealed that maybe she was younger than that. Dark brown hair, with blonde highlights. And a shockingly familiar pair of eyes. Clearing her throat, Kara made a move to go over to her.

Only to have the stranger run right up to her and throw herself into Kara’s arms. “Whoa, hey there. What’s up?” Kara asked, confusion lacing her voice as she gently pat the kid’s head.

“You’re really here— I’m really here,” the child muttered, holding on tighter. “I’ve been trying to get back to the right time for what seems like two whole days. Lost some time, probably, but I’ll have enough to do my best— I’ll get you back to Mom, Jeju. Promise!” It was definitely a ramble that could have rivaled one of her own.

Kara blinked as she registered the honorific she’d been called. “I’m sorry, what?” She was a reporter, a writer. She should have more words than that. And yet here she was, lost for words beyond anything she’d ever been. “You need to come with me, okay?” She said and before the kid could even respond, she led the kid away from the office.

“I’m trying to explain, y’know. You’re always like this.” The teenager complained, sighing as if she was used to Kara’s antics. And Kara was fairly certain that she would know if someone was supposed to call her Jeju. It was, after all, a word in Kryptonese. It held a special meaning for her people. It was an honorific that showed that you had a respectful relationship with your Mother.

Kara blinked again, holding back an onslaught of tears that the memories brought her. Years of spending time in the botany and science guilds, years of learning how to work on these things. She had always loved it so much, spending time with her Jeju. Then there were times she spent with her Ukr, Zor-El.

Ukr, of course, being the term of respect for a father. Kara had had a good relationship with both of her parents. She missed them more than she could say —- It was not often she got to go to Argo City and visit her mother, and Zor-El had passed in the destruction of Krypton—- another thing she regretted. She had never spent enough time with her Ukr, always more with her Jeju.

Kara snapped back to the present as the words sunk in. A child was there, in CatCo, in front of the whole world, calling Kara, her Jeju. Kara froze at the mere idea of it, her knees buckling at the idea she could be a Jeju and not even know it. But that was absurd. She would know if she’d produced a child.

Right?

Considering it would have had to involve her, she would’ve had to be pregnant. She would’ve known if she was pregnant.. Right?

Kara led the child away from the crowded office and up a flight of stairs without a word. She couldn’t formulate a single word. Too lost in her own thoughts about what could possibly be happening here.

When they reached the roof, Kara turned around and faced the brunette again.

“Okay. I need that explanation now.” Kara said firmly. “You’ve got my full attention.” The Kryptonian promised sincerely. Was this a ploy to scare her? A way to capture Kara? Had someone found out Kara Danvers was Supergirl? Who had leaked the big secret?

Lena flashed inside her mind, but she immediately pushed that down. That would never happen, at least… Kara hoped not.

She fixed the strange kid with a level glare.

The teenager began to pace back and forth, reminding Kara once more of herself. She cringed, and started explaining. “I’m from the future,” The girl said as calmly as she could. “Your relationship with my mother is in danger, because of one of your exes.” She seemed to be reciting a proper speech.

“You…. You’re from the future? That’s what you’re going with?” Okay, so Kara had not expected that one. Maybe she should have gone somewhere with seats, so she could sit down.

“Who’s the other mother?” Kara asked next, raising her eyebrows. “It’s not, like, some girl I met on the streets and decided to steal DNA from, right?” She pressed when the futuristic child (her child?) seemed reluctant to answer.

“No! You love my mother. Very much.” She promised.

“What’s your name?” Kara wanted to know. She just had to poke enough holes in this story, and the truth would come out.

“Eleanor Alura… redacted. You can call me Ellie.” Ellie stated, a smirk playing on her lips as she left out her last name. Kara sighed.

“Okay, Ellie. I’ll bite. What else can you tell me?” Kara crossed her arms over her chest.

“Um, let’s see… You and my mom are the future's power couple,”’ Eleanor offered and when Kara scoffed, she went on to say: “I’m serious. Nia said so. And then so did CatCo.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m turning fifteen next June.” Eleanor answered quickly.

Kara paused. Debated whether or not she really wanted to know the answer to the question. “And how were you conceived?” She asked at last. “Because I have trouble believing I used some guy to impregnate me just for another woman’s sake.”

“You didn’t and neither did mom.” Eleanor confirmed. “I was made in Krypton’s matrix. Well, I guess now it’d be the Argo City one.” She added easily.

“You know a lot about Krypton and Argo to be human. Are you Kryptonian?” Kara figured it was better to ask than to assume.

“I’m a hybrid. Kryptonian and human.” Ellie smiled. “You and mom were so excited when Uzheiu suggested you use the matrix to have me. You would have gone to adoption if not for her.”

“You’ve met — Who’s your Uzheiu?” Kara challenged, raising an eyebrow in question.

“Alura In-Ze. But Eliza Danvers is my grandma too, I call her Nana though. I was named after her.” Ellie said proudly.

“Okay, wow. This is a lot. Like, a lot of information all at one time.” Kara couldn’t stand up much longer, so she decided to sit on the ground of the rooftop.

Eleanor moved to sit beside her. “I’m sorry. I just want you to believe me.” She sighed, looking down at her feet as they flopped back and forth.

“I bet.” Kara muttered. “Ok,” she said louder. “Let’s say I do believe you. What do I need to do for you to go, well, back to the future?” she tilted her head sideways, glancing at Eleanor. “Is there something stopping your mom and me right now? Or in the future?” She guessed.

“Someone went back in time,” Ellie seemed to be choosing her next words very carefully. “Your ex, as it were. All because he doesn’t want to see you with someone else — my mom.” she paused. Deep breath in, exhale out. “And so he’s back here, ready to woo you so you won’t marry my mom.”

“Wait.” Kara’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline as she held up a hand in protest. “I’ve only been together with Andrea for a month — is she your mom? Is Rojas your last name too?” Kara demanded.

“No.” Ellie admitted. “Not a Danvers-Rojas.” She looked down. “You need to look at me really closely, Jeju.” Kara was still flinching every time Ellie spoke that word, but she soldiered on. “Who do I look like?”

Kara was still flabbergasted that she and Andy would not end up together. Granted, it’d only been a month, but she really liked Andrea— who else would learn her secret and love her nonetheless? Kara was definitely unsure. “Um,” she gave Eleanor a very serious look over.

Smaller than Kara by a few feet (but that could only be because of their age difference, Kara conceded). But with the same blonde streaks in her hair. Dark hair. One blue eye, and one green.

It hit her then. The answer was glaringly obvious, but Kara hadn’t wanted to admit it. Kara didn’t think it was even an option after all their fighting, but looking into this child’s — Ellie’s eyes…. Kara knew there was only one option as to who the other parent could be.

Oh. Oh no.

Lena Luthor.