Archive of Our Own

The church is festively decorated, but no guests are present. The priest stands before the altar, and in front of him, Kara and Mike gaze lovingly at each other.

The priest begins to speak: “And do you, Kara Danvers, take Mike Matthews to be your husband in the holy state of matrimony? Do you promise to love him, to comfort him, to honor him, and to be faithful to him, in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, as long as you both live?”

“Yes,” Kara answers without hesitation. Then she slips the ring onto Mike’s finger and smiles at him. Suddenly, he lets out a grunt, and blood immediately forms at the corner of his mouth. He collapses, and Kara sees Lena standing behind him, holding a 12-inch-long, blood-soaked knife.

“Mike! Oh my God, Mike! Mike!” Kara cries desperately and tries to bend down to help him.

“I saved you,” Lena says confidently.

Kara straightens up and cries out in despair, "I loved him!"

Lena stares at her, stunned: "You can't be serious."

Kara looks defiantly at Lena, then at the knife pointed at her. With a single movement, she thrusts herself onto the knife and impales herself.

"Kara!" Lena screams in horror.

Lena jolted awake in her bed, breathing heavily from the nightmare. It took her a moment to get her bearings. A glance at the clock revealed it was the middle of the night. Lena knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep and got up. After a long shower, she sat on her living room sofa in the coziest sweater she owned, which had originally belonged to Kara. Her legs were tucked under her, and she held a hot cup of tea. She stared, almost in a trance, at the flames of her artificial fireplace and sighed heavily.

Today was going to be a difficult day for Lena. Her best friend, whom she was hopelessly in love with, was marrying an idiot today, and she was pregnant with his child. As a good friend, she should be happy for her. In reality, she just felt sick. Part of her wanted to tell Kara the truth about her feelings, but the other part tried to convince her that she could be happy with Mike, especially since they were going to be parents.

So Lena had to admit to herself that it was already too late. Hastily and frustrated, she wiped the tears from her face.

Kara was in the DEO training room, hammering away at the training dummies with her human-like strength, enhanced by the kryptonite lamps. She was nervous because she was getting married this afternoon and needed a distraction. She had the day off from CatCo, but she was hoping for at least one Supergirl emergency to help pass the time.

Her cell phone rang. She took it out of her pocket, saw it was Alex, and answered: "Shouldn't you be arranging flowers at the church?"

"Yes, I should," Alex's voice came through the phone. "I'm at L-Corp in Lena's lab instead, and I need your help." Kara took off at supersonic speed, so fast that everyone on the street could only see a blurry trail, and she didn't have to worry about being recognized since she wasn't wearing her suit.

"Where are you?" Kara asked as soon as she arrived at the lab, still on her phone.

"I'm in the vault. Hurry. I'm about to run out of air."

Kara went to the keypad and saw that the code had already been entered. It was strange that the door was locked. Kara tried the handle first, but it broke off.

"What's taking so long?" Alex could be heard asking from behind the heavy vault door.

"The handle broke. Just a minute." Kara dropped the handle to the floor, grabbed the massive steel door, ripped it off its hinges, and set it aside.

Alex came out of the room, breathing heavily. "Thank you so much, Kara."

"You're welcome. Could you please explain what you were looking for in Lena's vault at 11:00 a.m.?" Kara asked as she took off her glasses, put the steel door back in place, and secured it to the hinges with her heat vision.

“I asked Lena to keep the rings safe. Now she asked me to pick them up myself. Lena said something urgent had come up at work. And as your responsible maid of honor, I naturally came as quickly as possible, and then… the door closed.” Alex looked around, puzzled, as she showed Kara the ring box.

“Now you’re free again, I’d better go,” Kara said quietly, already turning towards the door.

“She won’t come,” Alex said, and Kara stopped. “Lena won’t come to your wedding. You should talk to her.”

Kara turned to her sister, looking desperate and sad. “What am I supposed to tell her, Alex?”

Alex pretended to think about it: “How about telling the truth? That you’re Supergirl and that you love her. Or that you’re only marrying Mon-El so Rhea won’t launch a Daxamite invasion.”

Kara folded her hands defensively. "I'm having Mon-El's child."

"That's no reason to get married. Especially if you don't love the person."

"I like him."

"But you don't love him. You two just argue all the time. Do you really want to spend your whole life with him, pining after your best friend the whole time?"

"Alex, I can't tell Lena the truth. I have to protect her."

"Oh, you're doing a great job of that," Alex said sarcastically.

Kara threw her hands up in frustration: "Alex, do you think this is easy for me?"

"I think it's easier than getting hurt. You don't hesitate to run into a burning building or throw yourself in front of a bullet because nothing can penetrate your iron skin. But you're too cowardly to tell Lena the truth and risk your heart," Alex said.

Kara tried to keep her voice calm: “Giving up Lena was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, Alex. Lying to her every day to keep her safe is unbearable. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know me as well as I thought.” Then Kara turned back to the door and ran out of the lab at her super speed.

When the Kryptonian stopped in an empty alley, she changed into her Supergirl suit and took to the skies. Racing was good for letting off steam, but flying was even better. Kara had no immediate destination until she suddenly found herself in Midvale. She landed on the porch of the Danvers house and sat down on the wooden bench.

After a few minutes, Eliza came out of the house. "Hi, sweetie. I thought Mr. J'onzz was picking me up for the wedding in a few hours?"

Kara ignored the question. "How did you know Jeremiah was the one? How did you know he felt the same way?"

"I think when you're young, like you were, like we were... nothing's that simple." Her adoptive mother sat down on the bench as well. "I know this is a really important day for you, Kara."

Kara looked down at her restless hands. “You know, I keep wondering… if all the things I told myself… that the truth about me would be too much for Lena, that she’d be in danger if she knew my secret. What if I only made up all those excuses because I was afraid?”

Eliza smiled at her. “Then you’d be just like the rest of us.”

“What do you mean?” Kara asked, surprised, and looked up.

“Jeremiah and I almost didn’t get married. I ended it after a year. We had a terrible fight, and I thought I’d never see him again. You know, we came from such different worlds. Our families, our paths in life… everything was against us.”

“So why did you get back together?”

“Because I… I couldn’t stop thinking about him.”

“Mon-El would be the safe option. Especially since we’re expecting a child together. He could be a good husband and father… eventually. And Lena would be safe.”

“But would you be happy too?” Kara had no answer to that. “All I can tell you, Kara, is that if I hadn’t seized this opportunity, I would have lost everything that ever meant anything to me.”

Kara was sitting in the bride's preparation room at the church. She should have been putting on her wedding dress. Instead, she sat there writing something on a notepad. She was so engrossed in the letter she was writing that she didn't notice Lena standing in the doorway, watching her.

"Kara," the blonde finally looked up. Lena entered the room and approached Kara: "I can't let you go through with this... not until you know everything."

"Lena, I really need to talk to you too." Kara jumped up and walked toward the CEO. "I haven't been honest with you. I'm..."

Lena interrupted her: "Kara, it's okay. You don't have to explain anything. I already know, that's why I'm here."

"You know?" the Kryptonian asked, confused.

"Kara, I can't let you marry Mike. Not until you have all the facts."

"Lena..."

"No, Kara, please let me finish," Lena said sternly. “First, there’s always a way out. If Rhea thinks she can let her people take over Earth, I can drive her out. Please trust me. An invasion attempt will fail.”

“What? How?”

“Lex Kryptonite Atomizer. I can modify it so that it releases lead into the atmosphere instead. I know your child will be half Daxamite, but Brainy, Winn, and I are already working on a solution.”

Kara felt completely taken aback. The fact that Lena was suddenly fully in on it and even working with Winn and Brainiac was hard to grasp.

“And second.” Lena took a deep breath. “Kara, I love you. God, I’ve been in love with you for so long.” Kara stepped close to Lena and put her hands around her waist. “If you feel the same way, please don’t marry Mon-El. I know it’s selfish of me, but you belong to me. We should…” Kara pulled Lena close and kissed her. Lena gently cupped Kara’s face and returned the kiss.

Nothing could have prepared Kara for the feeling of Lena’s lips on hers. It felt like she was floating. All her senses were focused on Lena. There was only the two of them. Space and time seemed to cease to matter. As Lena pulled away to catch her breath, Kara became aware of the situation again and knew now that she had made the right decision. She just had to tell Lena.

“I thought my affection for Mon-El would be enough. But I can’t ignore the truth any longer. I love you, Lena.”

The two women heard voices outside.

“Lee, I’m not going to marry him. Listen, I don’t have time for explanations right now. I’ll meet at 5:00 p.m. in your office.”

Footsteps approached.

“You have to go. I’ll be there… I promise.” Lena nodded, kissed Kara again, and then slipped out the back door. On the other side of the room, someone Kara hadn’t expected entered.

Mon-El sits in a large room, the opposite wall of which is filled with a huge projection. It's the ultrasound image of Kara's baby. As he watches silently, the baby's heart beats steadily. After a moment, the baby begins to stir, and as its face moves, the baby's eyes suddenly light up white… Mon-El awakens from his nightmare. He looks over and notices that Kara is already up.

He goes through the apartment to find her and finds her in the kitchen, where she is preparing breakfast. "How did you sleep?" he asks sleepily, putting his arms around Kara from behind and placing his hands on her stomach.

"Like a baby," Kara grins.

"Me too. But I don't know if I can wait. How about we just run away?"

"That would be a huge waste of all that food." Kara smiles at him.

"Okay, it's an important day, and it should be perfect."

"I know. I just have a few things to do. I have to meet Alex, so I should get ready." Kara gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you at church."

Mon-El stood by the window on the spaceship's bridge. His mother approached him. "A busy day with the crew?"

"I wanted to coordinate a few things before the wedding."

Rhea snorted. "Or could it be that you're avoiding the fact that you have no one to be with today and nothing to do?"

"Well, Mother, you've seen through me. I'm a little nervous."

"Remember when you were a little boy, I used to take you to the throne room?"

A small smile played across Mon-El's face. "I used to act like I controlled everything, like I could just manipulate my subjects like toys... pull the strings and make people do what I wanted. But I guess it's all out of my control, isn't it?"

"I certainly hope I taught you better."

“You know, Mother, ever since I’ve been with Kara, I wake up every morning wondering, ‘Will she finally see who I really am today?’ What if she doesn’t show up? Honestly, I don’t know what my life will be like without her.”

Rhea placed a hand on her son’s shoulder. “What would you be willing to do to make sure Kara is standing next to you at the altar this afternoon?”

“Anything,” Mon-El said without hesitation.

“Then she will be… I promise you.” With that, Rhea turned and left as Mon-El’s cell phone rang.

“It’s my wedding day. Whatever it is, it can wait… Is something wrong?” he barked into the phone. Then he listened for a moment. “I’ll be right there.”

Mon-El entered the crypt beneath the church. Dr. Langston, Kara's doctor, was already waiting for him.

"Dr. Langston... is this about Kara? Is she all right?"

"Oh, that's a bit ambiguous, after what you did to her."

Mon-El moved closer to the doctor. "In a few minutes, I'll be exchanging rings right above you. What was so urgent that it couldn't wait?"

"Believe me, Mon-El. I don't want anything coming between you and your beautiful bride... for example, the truth about her condition."

"I hope for your sake that I don't understand you correctly."

"Consider it hazard pay for the dangerous... not to mention unethical... position you've put me in for months."

"And today is the day you hold the greatest position of power." The Daxamite shook his head angrily.

"Transfer two million dollars to this account, or Ms. Danvers will find out everything." Dr. Langston held out a small card.

Mon-El ignored this and placed his index finger threateningly on the doctor's chest: "I won't be blackmailed."

"Oh, I think so. No one sinks as low as you unless driven by desperation. Faking a pregnancy, falsifying tests and ultrasounds. Considering what you've kept from her, I wouldn't advise you to test her love."

"I won't let you take her from me!" Mon-El seized Dr. Langston in a rage and repeatedly punched him in the face. After the last blow, the blackmailer staggered backward, fell, and struck the back of his head on the edge of one of the stone coffins. A pool of blood quickly formed.

Mon-El stared in shock for a moment at the unconscious, perhaps even dead, man before he began to move again. He slid the massive stone lid of the coffin aside, concealed the doctor's body inside, and closed it again. Then he hurried to his dressing room and frantically washed the blood from his hands.

There was a knock at the door. "I'll be right there!" he shouted, pulling on his jacket to hide the large bloodstain on his white shirt. Then he went to open the door: "Is it time?"

Alex stood before him: "It was 10 minutes ago. Kara isn't here, and nobody knows where she is."

Lena took a sip of her coffee and registered a hint of almond flavor, but she didn't think anything of it. Until, a few seconds later, her esophagus burned and her throat constricted. Then her vision blurred. Lena could still feel strong, familiar arms encircling her, and then a strong wind. Lena's vision kept going black, but in a brief moment of clarity, she saw Kara, looking worried, flying with her through the sky.

"Lena?" Jess's voice pulled Lena from her reverie. A memory of a dream, but had it really been a dream? She had been poisoned that day, in fact. And Kara was right next to her.

"Lena, if your mind is elsewhere, we can go over the lab results tomorrow," her assistant said again.

"Yes, I'm sorry, Jess, I am indeed a bit distracted today. We'll continue tomorrow," the CEO said, looking visibly exhausted.

"Will you be going to the wedding?"

“Why shouldn’t I? Kara’s my best friend.” Lena asked innocently. She hadn’t actually planned to leave.

“Lena, I know you, very well indeed. I sense that something’s troubling you. Would you like to talk about it?” Jess asked gently.

Lena sighed heavily: “It’s just… if there were something you had to leave behind to move on with your life, and you’d tried everything fair and honest, and nothing had worked… is it really wrong to break the rules just once?”

“Well, what would dispel these doubts?”

“The truth.”

A knowing smile played on Jess’s lips: “…unresolved questions? What’s stopping Lena Luthor from getting the answers she needs?”

“Jess, sometimes it’s just not that simple…” At that moment, Lena’s cell phone rang. “Sorry, I have to take it.” Your assistant nodded and left the office. As soon as the door closed, Lena answered the call: “Hi Alex.” "Lena, hey, I just wanted to remind you to bring the rings. It would be a disaster if they were missing from the wedding today." Oh damn, Lena had actually forgotten that she kept the rings safe in her personal safe. But now an idea came to her, a plan quickly formed in her strategic mind.

"I'm sorry, Alex, something important came up at L-Corp. I don't think I'll have time. Could you please pick up the rings? They're in my lab safe in the basement. The head of security will let you in. The code for the safe is 5272." Lena couldn't help but smile.

Alex seemed visibly stressed: "Okay, I'll be right there. But Lena, please try to make it to the wedding. It would mean a lot to Kara."

Lena narrowed her eyes: "I know." Then the call ended. Lena informed her security team and then hurried down to her private lab in the basement. She quickly strode to the cabinet containing her inventions, grabbed the portable scattering field that blocked Kryptonians' vision, and then ran into her secure booth opposite the vault door. Inside the booth, experiments could be safely observed behind mirrored security glass. Lena installed the scattering field and then waited for Alex to arrive.

After only a few minutes, Alex came into the lab, went to the vault, and entered the security code into the keypad. Then, the newcomer with the metal handle opened the heavy metal door a crack, just wide enough for the agent to slip through. Lena hadn't told Alex exactly where the ring box was located in this relatively large vault, so the older Danvers sister would be distracted enough by her search to notice Lena creeping up and sliding the vault door shut. From the inside, it could only be reopened with a secret lever, and as long as no one entered the lock code from the outside, no new sequence could be entered to open it.

Lena knew there was ventilation in the vault, so Alex wouldn't suffocate, but the prisoner didn't know that. If her plan worked, she would call for quick, uncomplicated help. Lena's cell phone rang, and the CEO was glad he'd already silenced it. She didn't answer, of course, but quickly slipped back into her hiding place. Lena heard Alex muttering curses in the vault, telling Lena to answer the call. Then Alex gave up trying to reach Lena, because the CEO heard her calling her sister. Lena remained completely silent; she just wanted to observe and hope for answers. After a few seconds, Kara entered the vault.

"Where are you?" Kara asked, still on her cell phone.

"I'm in the vault. Hurry. I'm about to run out of air."

Lena watched as Kara examined the keypad, then snapped off the handle, and finally lifted the entire heavy door from its hinges. The brunette had to suppress a sound of appreciative appreciation at the display of power.

Alex came out of the room, breathing heavily. "Thank you so much, Kara."

"You're welcome. Could you please explain what you were looking for in Lena's safe at 11:00 in the morning?" Kara asked as she took off her glasses, put the steel door back in place, and secured it to the hinges with her heat vision.

"I asked Lena to keep the rings safe. Well, she asked me to come and get them myself. Lena said something urgent came up at work. And as your responsible maid of honor, I naturally came here as quickly as possible, and then... the door closed." Alex looked around, confused, as she showed Kara the ring box.

"Now you're free again, I'd better go," Kara said quietly, already turning towards the door, giving Lena a better view of her face. For some reason, she looked tormented.

"She won't come," Alex said, and Kara stopped. "Lena won't be coming to your wedding. You should talk to her."

Kara turned back to her sister, her voice filled with despair and sadness. "What am I supposed to tell her, Alex?"

Alex pretended to think about it: "How about telling the truth for once? That you're Supergirl and that you love her. Or that you're only marrying Mon-El so Rhea won't launch a Daxamite invasion." Lena's eyes widened in horror.

Kara crossed her hands defensively. "I'm having Mon-El's child."

"That's no reason for a wedding. Especially if you don't love the person."

"I like him."

"But you don't love him. You two are always fighting. Do you really want to spend your whole life with him, pining after your best friend the whole time?"

"Alex, I can't tell Lena the truth. I have to protect her."

“Oh, you’re doing really well at that,” Alex said sarcastically.

Kara threw her hands up in frustration, and Lena flinched. “Alex, do you think this is easy for me?”

“I think it’s easier than getting hurt. You don’t hesitate to run into a burning building or throw yourself in front of a bullet because nothing can penetrate your iron skin. But telling Lena the truth and risking your heart—you’re too cowardly for that,” Alex said.

Lena could see Kara trying to keep her voice steady. “Giving up on Lena was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, Alex. Lying to her every day to keep her out of danger is unbearable. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know me as well as I thought.” Then Kara turned back to the door and ran out of the lab at her super speed. Alex sighed heavily and shook her head. Then she, too, quickly left the room.

Lena sat in her hiding place for a while longer, trying to process what she had just seen. She had just learned three important facts.

First, her suspicion had indeed been confirmed. Kara was Supergirl. Part of Lena was hurt that Kara hadn't wanted to tell her, and another part was afraid that she hadn't because she was a Luthor. But Lena pushed these thoughts aside. There were more pressing matters.

Second, Rhea was blackmailing Kara with a Daxamite invasion if she didn't marry her son Mike, also known as Mon-El. Lena's mind was racing. She already had an idea of ​​how Rhea planned to do it. After all, they had worked together on the transmatter portal until Lena discovered the truth about her new business partner. The Irishwoman finally emerged from the secure booth and sat down at her desk in the lab. She quickly jotted down the many ideas that came to mind for combating the Daxamites on the papers in front of her. She could use a weapon belonging to her brother to release lead into the atmosphere. This idea was very promising, because it would banish all Daxamites from Earth, as they couldn't survive here.

Then Lena remembered Kara and the baby. But that was a problem for later, since she still had a few months until the birth. Lena put down her pen and closed her eyes briefly. The last fact came back to her.

Thirdly, Kara was also in love with Lena. Lena had long since given up hope that her best friend would reciprocate her feelings. But now the resolve grew within her to fight for the woman she loved. She wouldn't allow Kara to enter into this forced marriage.

With renewed determination, she picked up her pen again and continued working on her plan. She would need help and knew two bright minds she could bring on board.

Kara was sitting in the bride's preparation room at the church. She should have been putting on her wedding dress. Instead, she sat there writing something on a notepad. She was so engrossed in the letter she was writing that she didn't notice Lena standing in the doorway, watching her.

"Kara," the blonde finally looked up. Lena entered the room and approached Kara: "I can't let you go through with this... not until you know everything."

"Lena, I really need to talk to you too." Kara jumped up and walked toward the CEO. "I haven't been honest with you. I'm..."

Lena interrupted her: "Kara, it's okay. You don't have to explain anything. I already know, that's why I'm here."

"You know?" the Kryptonian asked, confused.

"Kara, I can't let you marry Mike. Not until you have all the facts."

"Lena..."

"No, Kara, please let me finish," Lena said sternly. “First, there’s always a way out. If Rhea thinks she can let her people take over Earth, I can drive her out. Please trust me. An invasion attempt will fail.”

“What? How?”

“Lex Kryptonite Atomizer. I can modify it so that it releases lead into the atmosphere instead. I know your child will be half Daxamite, but Brainy, Winn, and I are already working on a solution.”

Kara felt completely taken aback. The fact that Lena was suddenly fully in on it and even working with Winn and Brainiac was hard to grasp.

“And second.” Lena took a deep breath. “Kara, I love you. God, I’ve been in love with you for so long.” Kara stepped close to Lena and put her hands around her waist. “If you feel the same way, please don’t marry Mon-El. I know it’s selfish of me, but you belong to me. We should…” Kara pulled Lena close and kissed her. Lena gently cupped Kara’s face and returned the kiss.

Nothing could have prepared Kara for the feeling of Lena’s lips on hers. It felt like she was floating. All her senses were focused on Lena. There was only the two of them. Space and time seemed to cease to matter. As Lena pulled away to catch her breath, Kara became aware of the situation again and knew now that she had made the right decision. She just had to tell Lena.

“I thought my affection for Mon-El would be enough. But I can’t ignore the truth any longer. I love you, Lena.”

The two women heard voices outside.

“Lee, I’m not going to marry him. Listen, I don’t have time for explanations right now. We’ll see each other at 5:00 p.m. in your office.”

Footsteps approached.

“You have to go. I’ll be here… I promise.” Lena nodded, kissed Kara again, and then slipped out the back door. On the other side of the room, someone Kara hadn’t expected entered.

Kara’s expression darkened as Rhea strode across the room. “Mrs. Danvers…” Rhea grinned slyly. “…shouldn’t you already be in your wedding dress? The ceremony begins in a few moments.” Rhea glanced at the handwritten note on the table and picked it up before Kara could grasp it. “Dear Mon-El, I’m so sorry, but I can’t marry you.” The queen looked sternly at Kara: “That will destroy my son.”

“Rhea, I’m sorry, but it’s none of your business.”

“Yes, of course, this is also my business. I can’t let you call off the wedding.”

“Things have changed, and it wouldn’t be fair to Mon-El to pretend they haven’t.” Rhea studied Kara intently, and then it seemed to dawn on her: “This is about your friend. Lena has finally figured out who you are.” Rhea smiled and then circled Kara. “I’ve been watching you both ever since you met my son, and Lena has been getting closer and closer to the shocking truth about you, Supergirl. What a shock it must have been for her to realize that her best friend had maintained the deception for so long, right under her intelligent nose.”

“I only wanted to protect her.” Kara crossed her arms. “And I won’t let you blackmail me anymore, Rhea.”

The queen chuckled softly. “Do you think the two of you could stop me and then be together? Even you, a heroine, have a weakness. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you two feel more than friendship. Please remember, Lena Luthor is still human. A mortal, very fragile being. What if the young CEO were to suddenly have a fatal accident?”

“No. You wouldn’t dare,” Kara said, her voice thick with anger.

“Would you bet on it… on Lena’s life? I give you my word, Ms. Danvers, if you break your promise to my son, or if I find out that you told anyone about this conversation, I will kill Lena Luthor.”

Kara lowered her gaze, and Rhea took this as a surrender. "Smart decision. You'd better hurry up and get changed. As I said, the ceremony starts in a few minutes."

With these words, Rhea crumpled the letter, stuffed it in her pocket, and left the room with a triumphant smile. Kara was still standing rooted to the spot in the middle of the room. She didn't know how much time had passed, and certainly not what she should do now. Then she saw Mon-El hurry past the still-open door in the hallway without noticing her. He looked annoyed, and Kara couldn't help but follow him.

To her great surprise, her fiancé went down the stairs that led to the burial chamber and the church. Quietly and cautiously, Supergirl followed him. Mon-El entered the main room with the stone sarcophagi and began talking to Kara's doctor. Kara was confused as to what Dr. Langston was doing there. So she hid in the shadows of the corridor and listened to their conversation.

"Dr. Langston... is this about Kara? Is she all right?"

"Oh, that's a bit ambiguous, after what you did to her."

"In a few minutes, I'll be exchanging rings right above you. What was so urgent that it couldn't wait?"

"Believe me, Mon-El. I don't want anything coming between you and your beautiful bride... for example, the truth about her condition."

Kara gasped and hastily clapped her hand over her mouth.

"I hope for your sake that I don't understand you correctly."

"Consider it hazard pay for the dangerous... not to mention unethical... position you've put me in for months."

"And today is the day you hold the greatest position of power."

"Transfer $2 million to this account, or Ms. Danvers will find out everything." Kara used her X-ray vision and saw Dr. Langston hand him a small card.

Mon-El ignored this and placed a threatening finger on the doctor's chest: "I won't be blackmailed."

"Oh, I think so. No one sinks as low as you unless driven by desperation. Faking a pregnancy, falsifying tests and ultrasounds. Considering what you've kept from her, I wouldn't advise you to test her love."

Kara placed a hand on her stomach, tears stinging her eyes. This couldn't be happening. Kara wasn't pregnant at all. Mon-El had faked it all. How stupid and naive she had been.

"I won't let you take her from me!" Mon-El seized Dr. Langston in a rage and repeatedly punched him in the face. After the last blow, the blackmailer staggered backward, fell, and hit his head on the edge of one of the stone coffins. A pool of blood quickly formed.

Kara watched in horror as her fiancé hid the doctor's body in one of the stone sarcophagi and then slipped back out of the crypt. Kara had retreated further into the corridor so Mon-El wouldn't see her as he headed for the stairs. Then Kara went into the crypt, freed Dr. Langston, and was relieved to find he still had a pulse. Even though he was involved in the plot, she wouldn't wish him dead. She grabbed the man over her shoulder and hurried to her dressing room. Then, at super speed, she donned her Supergirl suit and flew out the window with the still unconscious doctor, heading towards the hospital. Once there, Supergirl dropped the injured man off at the emergency room and then got a pregnancy test.

Lena sat on her office sofa, nervously fidgeting with one leg. Her eyes darted to the clock every few seconds. A nagging feeling in her gut, a sense that something had happened, forced her to stand up. Kara wouldn't be late. At least not without letting her know. Lena felt nauseous. What if she had actually gotten married? The CEO hurried to the elevator, forcing himself not to jump to conclusions. The church was several minutes from L-Corp. As soon as she was out of the building, Lena started running, swallowing down the rising panic.

The guests seemed restless due to the delay, standing in the aisles and whispering to each other. Mon-El walked down the center aisle with Alex at her side, trying not to show any sign of distress.

"No, she's just disappeared. She's not answering her phone. I'm sorry, Mon-El, I don't know what to say, but I'm sure there's an explanation."

They had arrived, and Mon-El turned to the priest waiting there: "Father, did Kara say anything to you, anything that might indicate..."

"Be patient, Mike. Give her some more time. Wedding day jitters are perfectly normal."

The Daxamit looked around, over the guests, toward the open door behind which Kara should be. He tried to smile, as most of the people in the room were watching him. After a while, he whispered, "She's not coming." Then his gaze flickered to his mother, who sat completely relaxed in the front row, smiling calmly at him.

Then the processional music began. Mon-El looked back towards the door and beheld Kara in all her splendor. She looked so beautiful in her dress that Daxamit gasped with admiration and, above all, relief, and a genuine, broad smile appeared on his face.

Kara returned to her dressing room through the window. She hurried to the door and locked it. Then she collapsed onto the sofa. Tears welled up in her eyes again. The pregnancy test at the hospital had been negative, as expected. She still couldn't believe it. Of course, she didn't have a baby bump yet, not even the slightest bulge, but she also didn't know what a pregnancy would be like for a Kryptonian under the yellow sun. She had developed morning sickness, which Mon-El had apparently caused with the supposed vitamins in her juice. The thought that he had essentially poisoned her made her nauseous. And yet, she had to get out of there now and marry this monster.

Kara couldn't risk anything happening to Lena. Because she would always protect her at all costs. And this time, the cost of safety was marrying this creep.

The blonde got up and, in less than two minutes, had changed from her super suit to her wedding dress, applied her makeup, and tied her hair up in an elegant bun. She looked at herself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror and tried to smile. She felt her face aching. The smile didn't reach her eyes, but it would have to do. Kara grabbed the bridal bouquet and headed out the door. Then she nodded to the person in charge of the music, and he started the familiar melody.

Kara took another deep breath and stepped out of the open double doors. She looked at Mon-El and saw him breathe a sigh of relief. Then she started walking down the aisle. Every step felt like walking on hot coals. All eyes were on her, and it felt like Judgment Day, and Kara was on her way to hell. When she reached the end, she handed Alex the bridal bouquet and avoided her worried and questioning gaze. Of course, her sister noticed that something was wrong.

Kara stood facing Mon-El, and she didn't resist when he took her hands in his. Then the priest began his sermon. Kara heard only a rushing sound as she felt herself falling into a deep emptiness. Only when the bride heard her name called could she focus on the here and now.

"Do you, Mike Matthews, take Kara Danvers to be your wife in the holy state of matrimony? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor her, and be faithful to her, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, for as long as you both live?"

"Yes, I do!" Mon-El answered confidently and without hesitation. Kara took the ring from Alex and slipped it onto Mon-El's finger. Her hands trembled with anger and disgust, but the groom didn't seem to notice.

"And do you, Kara Danvers, take Mike Matthews to be your husband in the holy state of matrimony? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor him, and be faithful to him, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, for as long as you both live?"

Kara's throat tightened. And then she saw Lena. The brunette stood by the door on the other side, their eyes met, the world around them seemed to slow down, and Lena looked so hurt and horrified that it shattered Kara's heart into a thousand pieces. She had been standing there, about to marry Mon-El to protect Lena. But right now, she was the one hurting the woman who loved her. Kara couldn't do that. She couldn't do that to Lena.

Kara composed herself, looked back at Mon-El, and leaned forward to whisper something in his ear: "I know about the fake pregnancy." Then Kara straightened up, pleased by the horrified, pale face.

Then Kara tore her hands free and raised her voice, loud and clear: "No, I don't want to!"

Supergirl could hear the guests gasp in surprise or catch their breath. Kara hiked up her dress and headed for the exit. As she hurried past, she glanced one last time at her sister and could have sworn she winked. As Kara ran down the hall, she had to restrain herself, trying not to exceed a human speed. Lena was gone, but Kara had no doubt she could catch her. Kara burst through the double doors into the vestibule, Lena was gone there too. Next came the large church door leading outside, and Kara stopped on the landing. Lena had already gone all the way down the stairs, and Kara could hear her crying.

"LEE!" Supergirl cried desperately, at which point Lena stopped and turned to face her. Kara practically leaped down the stairs. She landed gracefully, despite her high heels, in front of Lena and smiled apologetically.

"Oh, Lena, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't marry him."

Lena sniffed again and looked into Kara's eyes: "But you broke your promise. You were supposed to meet me at my office at 5 p.m. I waited, but you didn't come. And then I find you here at the altar..."

"Rhea threatened to kill you if I didn't marry her son. But I couldn't. By Rao, Lena, I will protect you no matter what." Kara cupped Lena's face and gently wiped away her tears with her thumbs. "I chose you. Lena, I will always choose you. And no threat will ever be able to tear us apart again." Then Kara kissed Lena, and they both melted in the kiss. It was a kiss of connection and promises, so gentle and genuine. Finally, they broke apart as the church doors opened.

“Let’s get out of here,” Lena said, taking Kara’s hand. Together they ran from the grounds to the street.

“What now?” Kara asked.

Lena thought for a moment, then looked lovingly at Kara: “I know this is completely crazy, but… the registry office is only four blocks away, and you’re already in a beautiful wedding dress…” The CEO grinned sheepishly: “…Kara, darling, will you marry me?”

Overjoyed, Kara kissed and hugged the brunette, and Lena lifted off the ground. “Yes, yes, always yes. I will marry you, Lee.” Supergirl put Lena down, and the two women ran off again, their hands still tied.

The couple was in luck, as there was still an opening at 6:30 p.m. They quickly texted their confidants to come to the registry office discreetly and unobtrusively. Lena contacted Jess and Sam, who would, of course, bring Ruby. Kara wanted Alex, Eliza, J'onn, Winn, and James with her. One by one, the guests arrived in the waiting area. None of them seemed surprised by the situation, on the contrary, they were all delighted.

When the registrar called the group into the room, Eliza held her adopted daughter back. "I have another present for you, Kara. When you visited me at lunchtime today, I thought you might find this useful." Eliza handed Kara a long, flat box. Supergirl carefully opened the lid and found two gold bracelets inside. Both were engraved with the crest of their Kryptonian house, one with blue accents and the other with green. “Jeremiah made them years ago, for the moment when you find the right person to spend your life with.”

Kara hugged her adoptive mother, overcome with emotion. “Thank you, Eliza. Would you please walk me down the aisle?”

“Of course, my dear.” Eliza linked arms with Kara, and they went into the room together.

Kara's first meeting with Mon-El the next day was more than awkward.

"Where were you all night?" he asked rudely from the sofa.

"That's none of your business anymore," Kara replied and went into her bedroom.

"You didn't have to leave me standing in the church. We could have talked about it. That was really embarrassing and humiliating," he said, now playing the offended victim.

Kara ignored her ex. She got a suitcase and started packing her most important things.

Mon-El was now standing behind her: "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm packing my things."

"Oh, come on, baby, let's talk about it." Mon-El wrapped his arms around Kara from behind, but she easily wriggled out of the embrace and pushed him away.

"If it wasn't clear enough for you yet: it's over, Mon-El. I'm leaving you."

"As if you'd ever find anyone else to be with. We're a perfect match, sweetie. You'll regret this."

With super speed, Kara packed two suitcases and several bags. Then she grabbed the moving boxes that were still outside and felt them too. She then loaded all the boxes and bags into the van that was waiting downstairs. When she had finished packing, she turned back to Mon-El.

"I've transferred the lease for the apartment to you, I'm not coming back."

"Yes, you will. I'll wait until you realize your mistake."

Kara just shook her head in frustration: "Goodbye, Mon-El."

For the next few weeks, Kara was on high alert and never let Lena out of her sight. She had found two bombs, one in her office and one in her car, and had intercepted four bullets. Since Kara had moved in with her wife, they couldn't get to her at home either.

After five weeks, the sky darkened around noon as hundreds of Daxamite spaceships hovered over the city. Before a single Daxamite could set foot on Earth, the couple activated the modified weapon from Lex's safe in Lena's office, releasing lead particles into the Earth's atmosphere. The invasion was thus stopped before it could truly begin. Rhea and Mon-El also had to leave Earth in haste. This finally allowed Lena and Kara to breathe a sigh of relief. The constant danger was over.

They could finally enjoy their time together. Kara didn't regret for a second that she had chosen Lena.