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Despite everything, somehow Lena Luthor and Alex Danvers have ended up secretly married. Well, Lena says that it’s ‘secretly’ but Alex insists that it’s just private information. Either way, somehow Kara doesn’t know. They’re pretty sure.
There’s never been a reason to bring it up, and nobody’s ever asked. They often wonder if anyone has even considered them together at all. Probably not, right? With all the ‘Kara and Lena are dating’ jokes.
Lena is physically affectionate with her close friends, and nobody, even Kara thinks about it when she sometimes stands in Alex’s personal space. Of course, she’s got her persona at work, and she mostly has lunch with Kara, anyway.
Sometimes, when Lena’s at the DEO, everyone’s still not over the whole “Super and Luthor” thing, so she’s able to sneak a few glances, a few touches in. Again, nobody notices or thinks anything of it. It’s just Alex leading Lena into a room.
Sometimes, it’s late nights in the lab together.
That’s actually how they ended up falling in love. They built a partnership. They loved working together and then slowly, layer by layer, they opened up to each other. They were both on the same page that it felt too personal, and they felt too protective of each other to tell anyone.
So they didn’t. The rules were simple. They’d answer truthfully, but not go out of their way to announce it. They were both more than fine with acting professionally at work, when their paths did cross. Once, when Lena got hurt, Alex handled herself very well, and Kara wrote it off as Alex doing her a favor.
At first, when Kara found out that they had each other’s full names as their contacts in their phone, she thought it was odd, but she was happy to find out that Alex and Lena were at least getting along. But by then, Alex was Lena’s emergency contact.
Of course, they didn't mean to end up secretly married. They got married out of convenience.
Most of the key moments happened in the lab.
It’s stupid really. The way they both reached for the same thing and accidentally held hands. They both tried to laugh it off but then ended up in each other’s personal space. Then Lena admits that she doesn’t want to be anywhere else, and that Alex is her person. She’s embarrassed, because of Kara. They’re both terrified, because of Kara. They have a long talk that night, about how they have to be okay seeing each other, if they break up.
The promise they make to each other gets out of hand. Clearly. The marriage conversation comes up after a year of secretly dating. They both want more, but don’t want to ruin everything. They both insist that they don’t NEED anything from each other, but they’ve built a beautiful relationship. Lena doesn't really want to get married until Alex pleads with her, “You don’t get it, you’re my family and if anything happens, I want you to be involved. I respect you and not wanting to be property and all that, but logistically, the future we want involves marriage. You can keep your money separate, obviously. I’ll sign whatever. I don’t want to marry you for that.”
Lena replies that she always imagined a more romantic proposal. A few months later, she and Alex had access to each other’s bank accounts. Oh, and they’d gotten legally married. They didn’t wear wedding rings, but gave each other jewelry instead. Alex got Lena a ring, and Lena wears it on her left hand, middle finger. Lena gave Alex a ring that her birth mother left behind for her. She’d always planned on wearing it once she was big enough, but plans changed. After a good cry, Alex put it on and never took it off. Sometimes, it digs into her skin, like when she’s at work, but it’s nothing that gloves and medical tape can’t fix.
For the time being, it works for them. It’s more than enough for them to know, and them to be the only people to know. It’s not like marriage or wedding rings are ever for anyone else, anyway.
Alex was able to hide the fact that her legal last name was changed to Luthor, and then all of those worst-case scenario situations they’d imagined had gone. If either woman was ever gravely injured, they were covered. Lena admitted that she was wrong. The relationship they’d built was a marriage. A good one.
But the secrecy was eating at them every day. Alex kept her old apartment, but spent most of her time living at Lena’s place. They’d show up to events together, yet nobody would even think about it. They‘d just ask why Kara wasn’t there.
It never threatened Alex, and Lena loved that about her. It was just funny, honestly. All in all, they found what worked for them, and they were in love. Neither woman liked PDA that much and they never felt the need to do things because they felt it was expected of them. Okay, maybe they’d gone out of their way to hide some mail addressed to “Alexandra Luthor” a few times, but that was because they didn’t want to have the worst reveal ever.
Everything was working out perfectly, until one day it wasn’t. How were they going to tell their friends that they’d lied to them for so long? Maybe not direct lies, but lies nonetheless. Alex had always told Kara everything, and suddenly she didn’t. Lena’s biggest fear was causing a rift between the sisters. She’d never forgive herself for it.
They had a long talk, one night. Was their plan to really just live together, married, and have kids and just hope nobody brings it up? The last thing they wanted to do was isolate themselves from their family. They had to tell Kara, and everyone. Because it was November, and they wanted to enjoy the holidays with the Danvers family. Properly. As spouses. Maybe even host.
They’d eventually get their wish, but first, there’s the day everything blew up.
Alex was in the hospital, in surgery. Eliza, Kara, Maggie, and Lena were all sitting in the waiting room for hours. Kara and Lena sat next to each other, comforting each other, while Maggie and Eliza were sitting on opposite sides of the best friends. At first, Lena was weirded out by Maggie being there, but she quickly became grateful for Alex to have people who care so much for her.
They all stand up, and Lena knows they’re getting good news by the way the doctor walks up to them, but the relief is quickly replaced with shock and embarrassment when the doctor starts with “Family of Alexandra Luthor?”
Wide eyed, and amused, Maggie shakes her head, distancing herself from Eliza, Kara, and Lena.“How’s she doing?” Maggie is the only person who can speak.
The doctor goes on about Alex’s surgery, and the next steps. Lena is able to follow easily, mentally noting everything, and planning for the recovery and care in her head. Maggie leaves, after Lena promises to text her with updates. Maggie leaves, more amused than anything. Not the outcome she was expecting, and she’s not disturbed. But she can’t stop thinking about it. Alexandra Luthor. The way Kara and Eliza both didn’t seem to know? What a mess. She’s glad she ducked out.
Lena’s mortified when the doctor asks if Eliza and Kara are family or not. She answers truthfully. “Eliza is her mother, Kara is her sister, and I’m her wife.” Kara’s a mess, and when Lena tries to catch her eyes, she looks away. She’s in an embrace with Eliza.
Kara ignores Lena, and looks to the doctor and flatly asks, “Can I see her now?” The doctor looks to Lena for permission, and Kara’s blood boils.
“We’re all her family, whatever she wants.” Lena responds, and Kara is about to take off for the room when Eliza holds her back.
“Honey, let’s give them a moment,” Eliza says, really meaning “let's give Lena a chance to tell Alex what happened”. Hurt, Kara concedes.
Lena nods silently at Eliza, thanking her, and heads for Alex’s room.
As she walks in, she bursts into tears. The sight of Aex in a hospital bed is the worst thing in the world. She hates it. Alex smiles at her, but sees the dismay immediately, “Oh, honey. I’m okay.”
Lena shakes her head, and in their hug, Alex can feel it. “It’s not that. I’m so sorry”
Alex kisses Lena, then pulls back, “What happened?”
Lena thinks for a second. “They know. Your name-” Lena gets lost in emotions.
Alex wipes some tears away, “My last name is Luthor. I’m Mrs. Luthor, and you’re at the hospital because your idiot wife got hurt”
“I’m so sorry.”
“No, no, babe this is why I’m your wife. Because I don’t want to do anything, including waking up from surgery, without you.”
Lena starts crying again, “You didn’t see Kara’s face. I hurt her. We hurt her and it’s all my fault.”
Alex pulls Lena closer, “Everything will be okay. I love you. I’m never going to regret changing my name or marrying you. Loving you. You are my favorite best friend.”
Lena smiled, not pulling away. “Should I go get them?”
Alex nods.
Lena leaves for a moment, then Eliza and Kara enter. Lena stands by the door as Kara and Eliza sit at the edge of Alex’s bed.
Alex won’t let her get away with it, and reaches her hand towards Lena, who crosses the room to take it. Alex looks at Lena, “I did not get married to you and change my name to yours for you to feel awkward in the corner.”
Lena laughs, and turns to Kara, who studies them. It’s been a while since anyone in the room had been so overwhelmed. Kara was angry, hurt, and frankly, confused.
Alex looked at her, desperately. Kara spoke up first. “So, I have a few questions.”
Well, it’s better than storming off completely, right?
Alex could feel Lena relax in a way she’d never relaxed before. They both took a breath and suddenly everything became clear to them. They’d been happy before, but had no idea how good it would feel with the truth coming out. It would take hard conversations and adjusting, of course, but the number two stressor in Lena’s life (besides number one, Alex’s safety) was a rift between Alex and Kara. It felt like the hardest part was already over. Alex knew what was going on in her head, and squeezed her hand.
They had a lot to talk about, but everything was going to be okay.