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Yesterday was Kara and Lena’s tenth anniversary, and they decided to spend it together as a family - The Luthor Family Unit, as they’re called. The unit consisted of Lena and Kara of course, and their two kids - Brandy, age 5, and Rhys, age 1.
It was one of those days that people wish would last forever. Family days. Kids running around causing chaos, in each other’s arms. All the pain they’ve ever gone through leading to the imperfectly perfect moment.
Rhys was learning to walk, and Brandy loved to help. Kara and Lena sat on the living room floor, 6 feet apart. Brandy ran between them, hugging them hard every time, while Rhys tried to take his first few connected steps. By now, Lena was used to her kid’s death-grip like hugs. At home, Lena is the only one with no Kryptonian DNA and they both struggled to help their kids learn to control their strength and so far… well it’s an ongoing process.
Eventually, Rhys got frustrated and sat his small body in their La-Z-Boy, mentally exhausted. Brandy went and sat next to him. She put her forehead on his and said, “It’s okay, you’ll get it soon, Rhys.”
Kara got up, superspeeding to take a picture. She was faster than them, still. For now. After the photo success, she helped Lena to her feet. They stayed in an embrace, watching their children.
“We’re obsessed with our kids. That’s all we do these days,” Kara noted.
Lena laughed, “We’re old.” That’s when Rhys turned around and slid off of the La-Z-Boy, using the seat to stand up. She shared a look with Kara, and they nonverbally decided Lena would be the one to speak up. “B, help your brother please. That chair is old and wonky.” Brady nods.
Kara turned to Lena, “It’s probably time we get rid of it, anyway.”
Lena shook her head, “It’s doing great, honestly.”
As if the moment was planned, three things happened at once, Rhys took his first steps, Brandy screamed, and tore the armrests right off the chair. What followed was Rhys walking to Lena, thrilled about the commotion around him. He knocked Lena right over. Kara caught her, of course, laughing. Brandy hugged her brother, “I knew you could do it!”
Lena laughed, “Stop X-Raying me, babe, I’m fine. One day I’m going to be too old for that. But not yet.”
Kara nodded, “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. They’ll be better at controlling their powers by then. Hopefully. And… if you're good. It’s present time.”
Lena nodded, “Let’s meet back here with our gifts.” She picked up Rhys and ducked out. In a flash, Kara was back with a giant wrapped box. Lena walked in moments later with a small jewelry box. In some ways, Lena was traditional and Kara had an idea of what she’d get - Lena had followed the traditional wedding gifts every other year of their marriage. For their first, it was custom stationery, etc.
Lena joked, “I knew you’d wear it no matter what so it’s something really ugly on purpose!”
“Dammit. I got you something dumb,” Kara pouted.
Lena was quick to reply, “Shut up, I love everything about you.”
“Loser,” Kara smiled. She took the box Lena was handing her and opened it. It was a ring, with an engraving. Their kids' initials.
“It’s obviously not tin. But it’s--” Kara quieted her with a kiss. Lena took the ring and stacked it on top of Kara’s current wedding ring.
“It’s beautiful,” Kara added, admiring the ring.
“Thanks, I found it yesterday,” Oh, Lena’s got jokes. “I’ll tell you more about it later.” They both hugged. For a while.
Broken up by Brandy’s, “Mamma, Mamma, Mamma, Mamma, a present. Can I open it, can I open it?”
“You’ll have to ask Mommy,” Kara responded.
Lena nodded, “Go ahead, baby.”
Brandy tore at the wrapping paper, revealing a new La-Z-Boy box.
Kara beamed at Lena, “Great timing, huh?”
And since that moment, Kara has noticed her wife pretending to be happier than she is. And she can’t stop thinking about it.
Yesterday had been a perfect day until that moment, and now Kara can’t stop thinking about if she’d fucked up. Could she have a do-over?
When Kara and Lena moved in together, things went pretty smoothly. It was an exciting, new experience. Neither woman was particularly inclined to be controlling about the space, and each on the same page. They planned on staying for the long run. Maybe there was more tech involved than Kara was used to, but she liked it nonetheless. Kara’s apartment was already huge by normal standards, but the three bedrooms made for a lot of space. It reminded her of Krypton. In a welcoming way. The entire apartment had plenty of hidden, extra safety measures, of course. Filling it was both difficult, but incredibly easy. Keep Lena’s mattress, but use Kara’s bed frame. Aside from clothes and other personal belongings, they kept a few other things - namely, Kara’s silverware/dining set, and Lena’s La-Z-Boy. As for most of the rest - in all honesty, they hired a designer, who did a beautiful job.
That was what seemed like a lifetime ago. Lena was still mostly working on the L-Corp re-brand and Kara was new at reporting. They’d gotten married, effectively causing Kara to become one of society’s billionaires. She’d always understood the concept, but dating, then marrying one was completely different. It was never verbalized by her or Lena, or anyone around her for that matter, but she was secretly one of the most powerful people on the planet, at least. She was reluctant to think about this as a reality for a while, but she’d take on anything that meant getting to build a life with Lena. Lena felt the same way.
A lot of their daily life felt very public - yes, these days they had a good amount of control over the media, but they both had that effect on the room. You know, the effect where you might not know anyone but they all know your name and think they know everything about you. Everyone is always aware of where you are, and watching. Scared to approach, or overly friendly to a stranger. Supergirl was used to it, but Kara Danvers was not. Lena Luthor grew up with it, so the change from hostility to overly friendly was almost welcomed. At some point, they became “The Luthors” and neither woman rejected becoming an item. Yes, they’re their own people, etc, but they were proud of their relationship, and the marriage they’d built. So they stopped correcting people about it. Kara didn’t really like hyphenated names that much anyway. On Krypton she didn't have much choice.
Kara never took her role as a journalist lightly, and that’s something Lena adored about her. They both understood what it was like to be in positions where their small decisions had big repercussions. The things they did, and said had a big impact. Everything seemed like a big deal, and in some ways, it was.
Long story short, both women were very happy building a life together. Suddenly, it was time. It happened one day, and after years of research and a year of trying, Lena was pregnant. Kara’s daily routine turned from running out of the CatCo office to the DEO to running home and caring for Lena. It was a ritual they both welcomed and enjoyed.
They had decided to wait until the next morning to open the chair. Kara wasn’t offended, and Lena was grateful. The kids were happy to move on to their next activity.
Kara took Brandy to school, and when she got home, she found Lena in the living room, in her new La-Z-Boy, in the old one’s spot. The old one in the corner, the big box collapsed, both ready to be discarded.
Lena smiles at her. “We love it, babe. Thank you.”
Well, that’s certainly a change in emotions. In her shock, Kara blurts out, “then why are you so sad?”
Kara nudges Lena to scoot over and they share the seat. Lena buries her head in Kara, giving a muffled, “It’s stupid.”
“I know, you got me a really perfect gift and I got something stupid that you could have gotten yourself, and I’ve been beating myself up over it all day and I’m so sorry--” Lena squeezes Kara’s hand, effectively stopping the rant.
“It’s not that. Are you serious, Kara? You think I care about a gift?”
“...No?”
“I told you it’s stupid.” Finally, Lena looks up at Kara, “I have more than I’ve ever wanted, I’m the wealthiest woman in the world, and I’m sad about a stupid chair.”
Kara stayed quiet, ready to listen.
Lena continues, “You were right. It’s a bad chair. Every chair is a better chair than that one. if you touch the armrests the wrong way, they fall off. It hasn’t reclined in years. Someone was bound to get hurt because of that bad chair. It should have never come with me from my old apartment. But I can’t stop thinking about how it’s witnessed all those tears nobody ever saw me cry. It’s like, the comfort I turned to my whole life, before I had you. I know it’s time. I know it’s a bad chair, but it’s been with me for so long. I’m just sad to see it go. That’s all.”
Kara understands, “We can fix it up, and take it to a pawn shop later, then. It’ll have a new life.”
Lena nods, content with the idea.