Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Call Me Kara

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 54:

Jeremiah stood in the doorway of his granddaughter’s bedroom, watching his son in law holding her.

He was singing to her. Jeremiah had heard Barry and Kara sing together, voices in perfect harmony, like they were in life. He didn’t recognize the song, only that is was soft, quiet, slow and talked about love.

Barry for his part, didn’t realize Jeremiah was there. When he held his daughter the world faded away.

“You miss mommy,don’t you?” Barry asked, his song over. “You are stuck with boring Daddy tonight, but I can keep you entertained. I have no doubt Mommy will be flying over quite a bit and watching across the street or overhead because she doesn’t think I can handle this on my own. She is worried about you. She is always worried about you. You know why? Because we both love you so much and when you love someone that much, worry is part of the deal.”

Lexie smiled at her father and moved her head side to side, then reaching out for his face. Barry tilted his head down so she could touch his cheek.

“It’s going to be okay. Nothing and no one is ever going to hurt you, I swear. No matter what, Daddy is always going to protect you and Mommy.”

“I don’t think she will ever doubt that. I won’t either.” Jeremiah told him, walking into the room.

“Didn’t hear you there. Want to hold her? I can get her…”

“My granddaughter doesn’t need a bracelet. I tried to put glasses on Kara and seeing who she is now, I think those glasses did more harm than good. I wanted her to fit in after she saved a mother and child from death. I told her the world already had a hero. I never should have done that. I wanted to keep her hidden, as much as Kara probably wants to keep Lexie hidden now. But I can see I was wrong. I should have kept her hidden but I also should have helped her embrace her powers. I won’t make… we won’t make that mistake this time. One thing I will never be scared of is my granddaughter.” Jeremiah took the girl from her Daddy’s arms and began rocking her, while walking into the living room where Joe and Henry sat watching a ball game. Barry and Jeremiah sat next to each other on the couch, the baby between them.

“She is going to snore like Kara.” Barry told them. “She already has that nasally deep breathing. It’s cute right now. When she gets older, maybe not so much.”

“Kara snores?” Henry asked, a smile on his face at the most powerful woman in the galaxy doing something so… imperfect.

“You’re surprised? If she laughs hard, she snorts.” Jeremiah reminded him.

“Lexie’s eyes squint a bit when she smiles sometimes as well. She is going to be Kara’s twin.” Barry admitted.

“I think she has your eyes.” Joe told him.

“No I think she definitely has Kara’s eyes. Ask Wonder Woman.” Jeremiah argued, bringing silence to the room.

“Oh, c’mon guys, she lasered a woman who hit her mother. Yeah, we were all scared but you gotta admit now that we know she is okay, that is going to be a great story to tell her one day. The first bad guy she ever fought was when she was three months old and it was with a half naked immortal Amazon.”

All three of the men began laughing, Henry rubbing his forehead. The stories they would be able to tell but who would believe them?

“Speaking of the half naked Amazon…” Joe started…” is it just me or is that woman unnaturally hot? I mean maybe its like one of her metahuman gifts? Unreasonably hot. She’s been staying here all week Bar, what do you think?”

“I think I prefer blondes.” he answered quickly and truthfully.

“Yeah so do I.” Jeremiah agreed. “But yeah, she is unnaturally hot. Its crazy right?”

“It’s not her beauty. She somehow pulls off an armored miniskirt and makes it look intimidating. She has this aura about her, this fierceness even when dressed in normal everyday clothes, kind of like she can kill you with a look. It’s amazing.” Henry added. All three looked at him.

“Okay, I admit she is incredibly hot too. So what were the ladies doing tonight?” Henry asked, hoping to change the subject.

Barry shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea. I think Kara had an elegant dinner planned, followed up by strippers but when I suggested it wasn’t a good idea, the strippers anyway, she went into panic mode. Diana gave her an idea and she set something up after dinner but I don’t know what it is.”

“At least there are no strippers involved.” Jeremiah admitted. “She has seen one too many movies with bachelor parties in them. Alex hates bowling and Kara wouldn’t do a repeat anyway. I’m sure we will hear about it tomorrow. It can’t go too late, the wedding is at 1 meaning they will probably need to be up at dawn. A bride takes a while to get ready. Two brides? It’s going to take hours. Plus Eliza will have to have an IV hooked up to keep her hydrated due to the tears she is going to shed.”

“I could imagine she would be emotional. I’m glad Kara isn’t pregnant because she would be a mess. What about you Daddy? You aren’t going to be emotional?” the Flash asked his father in law.

“I saw her grow up in photos taken through a rifle scope. I’m going to be a blubbering mess. So the ceremony sounds… different.”

“No kidding. Alex is breaking her no sword rule for one day I guess.”

Joe looked at Barry, confused. “Why would Alex not use swords? She uses everything else.”

“She killed Kara’s aunt with a sword and while she was mind controlled, almost killed Kara with the same sword.” Barry explained. Joe turned up his beer and chugged it down, then walked to the kitchen for another.

“I really like his coping mechanism when dealing with strange information.” Jeremiah admitted. “Uh oh, diaper change. Here you go, Dad.”

Barry took his smiling daughter in his arms. She definitely needed a diaper the smell wasn’t a warning the smile on her face was. This girl was going to hate to be potty trained.

“C’mon baby girl. Lets get you cleaned up and bathed, then put to sleep. Maybe for more than a few hours? What? Oh you want to sleep in bed with me tonight? Mommy wouldn’t like that. She worries about rolling over on you. What? Mommy isn’t here and what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her? You definitely bring up a good point. I bet we can sneak it in, but there is no way Mommy is going to stay at Aunt Caitlin’s all night with Aunt Alex, no matter what she says. Maybe if we fall deep asleep she won’t be mean and make us separate.”

The three fathers watched a smiling Barry walk out, not being bothered by changing a diaper at all.

“I should have known he would be the best.” Henry admitted. “You wouldn’t think he had just been a father for three months.”

“He had to survive Eliza’s one week baby bootcamp.” Jeremiah reminded the men. “She should open a business teaching first time parents what to do. She definitely has no problem telling them what to do. But yeah, he is pretty good at this father thing. I never doubted he would be. But you two have to talk to him about something.”

Henry and Joe leaned forward, taken by the sudden serious tone Jeremiah had.

“Harry is going to encourage him. Harry isn’t a bad guy and he is a great friend to Barry, but…”

“But?” Joe prodded.

Jeremiah looked towards the hall and could hear Barry still talking to Lexie in her nursery.

“What Barry did, going around the world in two and a half minutes, he thinks he can go faster and he can. But I don’t know if either of you realize how fast he would have to go to hit light speed and what could possibly happen. I am not positive how this Speedforce works and despite his mastery at controlling it, I’m not sure if Barry does either. I won’t bother to tell you that it is impossible to reach the speed of light because we know where Barry is concerned that word impossible doesn’t apply. I would imagine that this same force that keeps his body from burning up and his clothes for that matter, would keep him physically safe. Maybe. Lets look at it from a physical standpoint alone. Speedforce or not, when an object, a giant meteorite or a feather hits the speed of light its mass increases to the point that it is called infinite mass and cannot be any harder. He plans to use this to hit something, anything and not only destroy it but wipe it out of existence. To shatter it into molecules.”

“And thats bad?” Joe asked, trying to wrap his head around this.

“When something hits the Earth with infinite mass it ushers in extinction level events. Of course that is directly into the ground. Hitting something standing may not do that. He could however reach infinite mass and if he does he may not be able to come back. He could very well use this Speedforce to bring himself to infinite mass but at what point can he not come back? At what point does he stop controlling the Speedforce, channeling it and simply becomes it?”

Neither men had any idea. Neither liked to think about it.

“Do either of you know how fast he would have to run to reach the speed of light?”

Both men shook their heads.

“An object moving at the speed of light could circle the globe 7.5 times a second. In other words he would have to circle the globe running at 1.07 billion kilometers a second. Before you can think of the answer to two plus two he would circle the globe.”

“Thats not… he has his limits… right?” Henry asked, looking at Joe, his worry reflected in his friend’s face.

“I don’t know. I thought he might, but this Speedforce has no laws that we know of. If it weren’t for speedsters, physicists wouldn’t even think to look for it. But moving that fast, if it didn’t burn him up, could rip the Earth apart, possibly open a black hole, who knows? With the Speedforce protecting him it is possible that wouldn’t happen but I guarantee that even if it does protect him from breaking apart, something is going to happen. His body will be harder than any meteor, his speed… I am afraid if nothing else he will become part of the force he is channeling. He has talked about becoming the Speedforce but I don’t think he really has an idea.”

“But Harry thinks it will be okay?” Joe asked. He never had exactly trusted Harry but knew the man meant Barry no harm.

“Harry thinks so but he really doesn’t know. He may have theories but Barry is going to be the one to suffer if he is wrong. Barry can’t do it. I mean he can but he shouldn’t. We don’t know what could happen to him. He could be frozen, to dense for his body to handle and die, or be absorbed into this mystery force. It’s not worth the risk. Nothing is worth the risk. Talk to him, remind him what he could lose, what Kara and Lexie could lose. I know he wants to get faster, always faster, but there has to be a stopping point. He has to have a limit he sets on himself.”

“Yeah, but c’mon, what are the chances he can actually hit the speed of light?” Joe asks, trying to laugh but unable.

“He can steal kinetic energy, he can share kinetic energy like he did to make Kara fly faster. Who knows his limits? He could potentially steal the kinetic energy of every moving object on Earth and then, yeah he could probably make it. He can’t guys. We can’t lose him, his family and friends can’t lose him and his wife and daughter really can’t lose him.”

“Why does he want to go that fast? What would be the benefit? He is fast enough already to beat everyone out there. If they can fly he has teammates to take care of that too, especially your daughter.”

Jeremiah took a deep breath. “Barry told you about the fight they had when they rescued me from Cadmus. Did he mention anything about Doomsday?”

Both men shook their head.

“Barry killed a small prototype. If that beast was ever made, ever taken to its true potential, nothing short of complete vaporization could destroy it. Thats why. The thing was made to kill Superman. Meaning it was designed to kill Kryptonians including Kara. I told you I was forced to develop monsters to kill Clark if I wanted Kara to live. I did the job too well and I suspect Barry has more nightmares than I do about the monster we called Doomsday. I think he has convinced himself that if a creature like that ever walks the Earth the only way to destroy it could potentially kill him as well.”

The three men sat silent, looking at each other then down the hall where Barry had begun singing to his daughter once again.

“That can’t happen guys. He can’t reach light speed. I’m working everyday on a different way to defeat something like that and I will figure it out but he can’t even practice, not that fast. The three of us, we have to convince him it’s not worth it.”

While the three men pondered the most important man in their lives fate, the women of the Justice League and the women of the Central City PD in addition to Eliza, were dining in an elegant setting, a five star restaurant Kara had rented for the night. The staff was present serving the women with five course meal. Kara chewed on one of Caitlin’s energy bars that still tasted horrible but the pretty setting of food on each new plate that came out was not enough for her to even bother. Kara wanted three cheeseburgers. She was also the director of the entire event, making sure everything was perfect and didn’t have time to eat.

Standing by the door she was surprised when it opened once again, thinking all the guests were here. So of course Oliver Queen walked in. Kara stopped him before he was seen.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m the maid of honor. Shouldn’t I be here?”

“No! Women only!” she whispered harshly.

“But… I’m the maid of honor.”

“And if you want to wear a dress tomorrow afternoon, you may come in. If you want to hold on to your manly pride I would suggest you shoo. Now. Females only.”

“Fine. As long as I am here we need to talk about business for a second.”

Kara looked around, pleased to see everything was perfect, everyone was smiling and happy. Alex was smiling, Nyssa was smiling, for the moment everything was fine.

“Okay, what? Make it quick.”

“Have you relaxed enough about Lexie that you plan to come back to the gallery next week?”

“Have I… yes, but why? Is there something going on?”

“Yes, you need more paintings. A lot more, plus you have four families coming in for portraits. I scheduled them Monday through Thursday in the mornings, so you can paint in the afternoon.”

“I have… how did that happen? Do I know them?”

‘Nope. Word has gotten out. $6000 for two and $8000 for the other two, larger sizes and all. Plus,like I said, we need more paintings. You need to get whatever muse you have in gear and start painting.”

“Oliver, I have 32 paintings in the gallery.” Kara reminded him.

“No, you have 22, I sold 10 this week. $62,000 dollars.”

Kara froze for a moment, thinking her super hearing must be failing her.

“Ten paintings for $62,000. My painting aren’t priced that high. How is that possible? How did you sell ten paintings? Thats impossible. I haven’t sold that many since I opened. Eight total and that has been… you know nothing about art!”

“No, I don’t, but I know about rich people. Your prices were ridiculously low, especially for your talent. The people who buy art want one of two things, a famous artist or an unknown artist. They like to think they have discovered a new artist and are in on the ground floor. You were selling most of your pieces for $1000. No self respecting billionaire is going to spend that. So I jumped the prices to $10,000, I sold one, she told a friend and so on and so on. I sold one for $15,000 and she couldn’t grab it fast enough. You are an up and coming artist who is about to break into the big time. At least that is what I told them and now its true. This was in one week. The word is going to get out this weekend and all of them are going to be bragging about the new artist they discovered right here in Central City and you are going to have double the business next week while the other people with money to burn are going to try and one up their friends. Its what rich people do. I spent most of my life rich. This is exactly how my mother and Thea thought. Thea still thinks like that. You owe me $3100 by the way. 5%, remember?”

“You get 10%. Seriously? I can’t believe you pulled this off!”

“You have a lot of talent, I have a great smile and great body and I know how rich women think. How can we fail? Now enjoy the party and please be at work on Monday. I realize you are an artist now and artists are free spirits and eccentric but you are in demand. We strike while its hot and you are no longer up and coming but established and prices double. Oh, and you should think about someone handling the books. I have no idea how to do that. I told you I wasn’t much of a CEO.”

Oliver left, leaving a shocked artist, who had to quickly focus on the event she had planned. The dinner was only one part but an important part. After dessert was served, Kara walked into the middle of the room and gently tapped her wine glass with her spoon. She hated speaking in public, ironic considering the press conferences she had to handle for Ray, but this was important, so she could pull it off. Kara asked the staff to leave and used her X Ray vision to make sure they were gone. She also spied Oliver in full gear on top of the roof and shook her head.

“Attention everyone. I hope you all have enjoyed dinner. I wanted to say a few words and I promise not to babble.”

The room laughed, knowing Kara could not possibly not babble.

“First of all, I would like to say a few words about Alex. My sister, the one who changed my life and has saved my life quite a few times. A lot of people who know our whole history probably think our friend J’onn taught Alex how to fight. The truth is, I did. At least she learned because of me. She knew how to fight long before he got a hold of her.

Most of you, if not all, know that Eliza and Jeremiah adopted me when I was 13. My family had died in an explosion. Eliza and Jeremiah took me in, loved me, made me theirs and gave me something I had never had before. They gave me a sister. I had been an only child and despite the grief I was feeling, the idea of having a sister excited me. The idea of having a sister didn’t exactly excite her.”

Alex smiled at her, thinking of those first months.

“I shared a room with her and she put up with it, despite my strangeness. It was a new place, a place I knew no one. I had to learn a lot and despite her annoyance at my appearance in her life she was there, teaching me, making me feel wanted whether she wanted me to or not. I looked up to her from the start. She was smart and strong and had patience with me, showing me my new town, getting me to the right classes in school. From the start of my second life she was there and she was my hero.”

Alex wiped a tear from her eye, remembering those days, teaching the strange blonde alien English and trying to learn her language. Talking her out from under tables when the popcorn maker or the vacuum cleaner came on. Hiding in the bathroom with her on their first plane trip, while Kara told her she could grab all three of them, kick the door open and fly them out. Seeing the look of shame on her face the first time she broke a toilet, and the second… and the third.

“One night, a thunder storm was practically on top of our home and I freaked out. I really did. I had just left my house when the explosion happened that killed my parents. I heard it, and still to this day have nightmares about it at times. That night, the thunder was directly overhead, so loud I thought another explosion was happening, one coming for me this time. Alex… she held me all night and used both our hands to cover my ears. I know I… she protected me even then. It was then that she learned to fight. She didn’t have a choice because of who she was. Up until that point, I was still the stranger in the small town where everyone knew each other. I got picked on a lot. I’m not sure if Alex remembers what he said but I do. This kid called me a name the next day that I had been called many times. I was used to the name calling and jokes at my expense. It didn’t matter to me at that point, it was just part of my new life.

But that day, Alex, all 80 lbs of her, beat the guy up. She was like a force of nature, hitting a boy who was twice her size, over and over again, not just winning but everyone in the school knew not to mess with her or me that day. I got still got picked on but it stopped quickly whenever anyone saw her walking the halls towards me. Stalking would be a better term. She lost friends over this and never let me know it bothered her. She learned to fight because of me, for me. She fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself. She made me feel worth something because at the point in my life I was feeling pretty useless. Eliza, Alex and Jeremiah all did, but Alex was my protector.

I’m sure since all the officers know who I am, and considering what happened when all the metas attacked this Earth, you have all figured out that we aren’t from around here.”

All the officers laughed, having had this discussion many times and though Barry never said, they knew Kara had come from another universe.

“Before I came here, Alex had already saved my life so many times I couldn’t count. When I was in trouble, Alex, no superpowers, fought for me. She made me feel safe. I was attacked and Barry saved me, he brought me here and no one I left behind knew if I was alive or dead. I convinced myself that they would be better off without me. They would move on and I wouldn’t bring anymore danger to their lives. Despite this, Alex walked through hell, never stopped fighting, took a huge risk and found me. She risked everything, not for the first time, to get to me.

That’s just how Alex is. When she loves, she loves with everything she has. There is nothing, no danger she won’t face for the ones she loves. Alex fights for love. You already know this, Nyssa but this is the woman you are marrying. I can’t give the speech I’ve always wanted to give. The one where I say if you hurt her I will hurt you because I know you are the same way. You love with everything you have in you as well. I can’t tell you how happy our family is that you found each other. Not even universes could keep you apart. You have already walked into hell by her side and always will. You are everything I have always wished for her.”

Kara moved towards a teary eyed Alex and a smiling Nyssa and hugged them both.

Then Alex cringed. Sara stood up.

“I would like to say a few words, if it is okay with you, Alex?”

Alex nodded and sat back in her chair, wondering what this was about and prepared for heavy drinking.

“Those who don’t know me, my name is Sara. I’m Lieutenant Lance’s daughter. Alex and I are, I guess we could be called Frenimies? I’m not sure if that is an actual word, but we did get off to a rough start. I like to think we are closer now, at least we fight well by each other’s side and in the end thats what matters most to me. I won’t be able to follow up what Kara just did, but I know one thing about Nyssa and Alex. They both saved my life, Nyssa over ten years ago and Alex less than a year ago. I have known Alex long enough in the past year to know that she is fierce, a warrior who never backs down despite the odds. Nyssa… Nyssa is the most honorable, loving person I have ever known. When Nyssa says something, she means it. She never has to give her word because everyone knows when she says something thats it. Nyssa never lies. Like Kara said, when Nyssa loves, she loves with everything she has in her. Congratulations to two women who deserve each other in the best way.”

A round of applause and Kara began to get nervous. This was the moment she had planned for strippers that now she admitted would have been a bad idea. Barry had a point. Not exactly the tone she wanted to set. Diana’s idea could blow up in her face as well, but she was 5000 years old, so Kara would go with it.

“Okay everyone, we have the party portion of the evening to get to. There are limos outside, pile into one you like and we are going to the next location. Alex, you and Nyssa get into the first limo. You need to change. You both do.”

Kara changed quickly into her uniform and flew out the back, wanting to make one small stop before the cars got to the location in fifteen minutes. Flying into her backyard, she used her key to get in the back sliding door quietly. The lights were off despite only being 9 PM and she supposed the grandfathers had left. The blonde knew they had been planning on staying late and watching some sort of sporting event so was a bit surprised. Still she heard two heartbeats she knew as well as her own. Walking quietly into their bedroom, she stood by the door, looking at Barry, sitting with his shirt off, back leaned against the headboard, with a sleeping Lexie on his chest. Barry was asleep as well, his arms wrapped around their daughter. Kara wanted Lexie to sleep with them when she first brought the girl home but had read it was a good idea for her to get used to sleeping alone in a bed early. She was also concerned about rolling over on her, or scaring her if she had a nightmare. It wasn’t an issue since neither her nor Barry had nightmares any longer. As long as they slept together the nightmares stayed away.

Now Barry had taken advantage of her absence and broken one of the rules.

But they looked adorable. She moved into the living room, grabbed the camera and took a photo of the two, then walked closer to the bed. She kissed Lexie on the back of her head and kissed Barry on the forehead.

“By the way, I know you aren’t asleep.” she whispered. “I know how you breathe when you sleep and how you breathe when you are pretending to be asleep. I know everything about you Barry Allen. I’ll let you two get away with it tonight. See you in the morning. I love you.”

Kara rubbed Charlie’s back and let him lick her cheek then went to the backyard to fly off. Barry opened his eyes and looked at Lexie, who was still asleep.

“I told you we would get busted. We can’t get anything by Mommy. Thanks for the warning, Charlie.”

Charlie closed his eyes and went back to sleep at the foot of the bed. Where Lexie was, he was. It was just a fact of life.

The long line of limos stopped at a large warehouse, the same warehouse Barry’s bachelor video game party had been held. Thea opened up the door and the group of twenty-three women, most police officers, glad they had their guns on them in this neighborhood, walked in.

In the middle of the dark warehouse was a blue mat, resembling the training mat at S.T.A.R. Alex and Nyssa stepped inside, Alex in her suit and Nyssa in her League of Assassin’s gear. Most of the women, Felicity, Caitlin, Eliza and the Alex’s co workers sat in the circle of chairs surrounding the mat. Thea, Sara, and Kendra disappeared into the darkness in the back.

Alex and Nyssa were led to the center of the mat by Donna, who refused to say what this was all about. Alex hoped they didn’t expect Nyssa and her to fight each other. She would hate to be accused of spousal abuse the night before her wedding. Zatanna magicked herself a leather recliner and sat back, enjoying the wide eyed look of the police officers.

The modulated voice of the Predator brought silence to the room. The fearsome blue hooded avenger of justice walked onto the mat.

“Thank you all for coming. Nyssa and Alex, you are probably wondering why you are here. You are going to officially join your lives together tomorrow afternoon. Tonight we will see how well you fight together.”

The White Canary, Speedy and Hawkwoman walked out of the darkness behind Kara, fully suited, only Kendra’s wings not present.

“Will the other Maid of Honor approach the mat?”

The Green Arrow stepped out next to the women.

“The rules are simple. No bows, no swords, no shots to Nyssa’s face or Alex’s mouth since it isn’t covered by her super helmet. Alex… no guns. Nothing that will kill someone, at least that a normal person could use to kill someone. Kali sticks, tonfas and bo staffs are battle continues until either Nyssa and Alex are the only ones left on the mat or one of them is thrown off. Any questions, losers, I mean Alex and Nyssa?”

“No little sis. Bring it on.” Alex told her.

“Most of the weapons you barred are the ones I rely on to kill people.” Nyssa complained.

“Exactly.” Kara agreed. “Thats why they are banned. Ladies…”

“And me.” Oliver corrected.

“Like I said, ladies attack.”

What followed would be talked about among the women of Central City PD for years to come. The female officers had never seen such a display of speed and power, metal sticks, tonfas, hand to hand combat, leg kicks, fist strikes and grappling that lasted ten minutes, Nyssa and Alex, back to back in the middle, fighting off all comers. The ones on the outside had the advantage in striking but no one was moving the two women. They all took shots, Thea making the mistake of hitting Alex’s very hard helmet and cracking her hand, holding it long enough for Nyssa to grab hold and shoulder toss her off the mat.

Kara did her best, her hood flying off but still swinging, even jumping on Alex’s shoulders with her legs as she did at the DEO once. Instead of flipping her over this time, Alex turned and threw. Kara hit the concrete floor, the wind knocked out of her.

“Never try to use the same move against me, little sis.” Alex smirked.

“Call me the Predator… Rao, that hurt.” she mumbled, rolling over and turning her new bracelet off.

The fight continued until the only remaining were the Green Arrow, Nyssa and Alex.

“Just give up before you are embarrassed in front of the warriors of Central PD. If you continue this, no one will be intimidated by the Green Arrow any longer.”

“That attitude hasn’t helped me live this long, Nyssa.”

“No, blind luck and fate’s sense of humor has let you live this long.”

The two women spread out Alex behind him and Nyssa in front, all three welding Kali sticks. Nyssa was not happy about this, Oliver was a master at these weapons.

Alex and Nyssa attacked at once, Oliver twisting and turning, setting the pace. Nyssa would pay thousands for a sword or bow in her hand at the moment. Alex switched, a stick in one hand and tonfa covering the other arm and the pace changed. Nyssa jumped, Oliver catching her and rolling her over, not seeing Alex sweep to the ground, taking his legs and striking his ankle, Nyssa followed from the other side, landing a foot to the side of his knee, the same one Roy Harper tore the tendons of a few years before. Oliver bent down, long enough for Alex to grab his head and roll him over. He rolled with it, stood up at the end of the mat in time to see Nyssa jumping over Alex, landing a foot into his chest, sending him sprawling off the mat.

The crowd, especially the female officers, roared, seeing the famous Green Arrow, the man who killed Damian Darhk, knocked off the mat. Oliver stood up and bowed then applauded the two women, walking towards his sister and blue clad protege.

“So is that it? Can we go home? Because I am exhausted.” a sweaty Alex asked, taking off her helmet.

“Thats it for you Alex.” Kara told her. “We aren’t done with Nyssa. Ladies…”

“And me.”

“Ladies,” Kara continued, ignoring Oliver, “many of you don’t know much about Nyssa other than she is Alex’s girlfriend who buys her Porsches and million dollar town homes, and a really awesome wardrobe that is not completely black now. Nyssa is regarded by many in this world as a living legend. I can’t go into details but she is one of the most skilled and feared warriors in the world. She does have an equal though. One woman she has fought before, one woman equal to her skill by her own admission. I present to you, Tatsu Yamashiro, known by her friends and enemies simply as Katana.”

Out of the shadows,Tatsu entered the arena, clad in a black bodysuit with what appeared to be thin armor over her shoulders and chest. Covering her forehead down to her nose, she wore a white mask, a red sun at the top. She had on knee high high red boots and red gloves but it was the blade in her hand that caught everyone’s attention, particularly Zatanna, Donna and Diana. All three woman approached her carefully, taking in the blade.

“What is it called?” Zatanna whispered.

“You know.” Tatsu told her.

“This is the Soul Taker?”

“It is. Would you like to hold it?”

“Goddess no!” Zatanna stepped back, while Diana and Donna stared at the blade. Zatanna moved towards her chair, her eyes never leaving the blade.

Nodding to the two Amazons, Tatsu walked around the mat, placed Soul Taker in its scabbard and hugged Oliver.

“I’ve missed you.” he told his friend and the woman he owed his life to. They reminded each other of a difficult time in both their lives but throughout it, they were by each other’s side. Oliver, Tatsu and… Maseo. She also made him think of Akio, the innocent boy, her son, they had all failed to protect. They had their revenge but they never got justice. She was one of the few mentors Oliver had who was still alive.

“Did Oliver just voluntarily hug her?” Alex whispered.

“They have a history. An intense one, full of pain, blood, friendship, grief and love.” Kara told her sister, fighting back tears. Three people knew most of Oliver’s past including the five years that turned him into the man was now. Only Kara and Felicity knew everything and the blonde had always felt Tatsu had the most tragic history and yet she kept going, kept living, kept fighting.

Tatsu held the scabbard out to Oliver who bowed his head and took it, keeping it safe, keeping the soul of her husband and his friend safe, while she battled without it.

Tatsu stepped onto the mat and bowed towards Nyssa who did the same. Kara walked up with two katana, the blades blunted and handed one to both women.

“Blunted blades, please don’t poke each other in the eyes, since you are both important people in the wedding tomorrow and I will not have my sister’s wedding ruined by a bloody sword fight. I would imagine you are both determined to fight until one of you passes out but we have to sleep tonight, You will have ten minutes or until one of you yields, like thats going to happen. Okay, you got ten minutes, have fun.”

Nyssa and Tatsu smiled at each other and began. What followed was even more impressive than the vigilante queen of the hill match earlier. Eliza and Caitlin watched the light show because that was what it was. No one could keep track of the path of blades, as fast as they were moving but all saw the sparks with every strike. Diana and Donna sat back impressed, while Zatanna kept an eye on the sword in Oliver’s hand, filled with the souls of those whose lives it had taken.

“Time!” Kara yelled, as both Tatsu and Nyssa stopped mid swing, their blades near each other’s neck.

“You are so much fun.” Nyssa admitted to a grinning Tatsu.

“Congratulations on your marriage. May it be happy, long and blessed with many children.”

Tatsu left, leaving an open mouthed Nyssa, going to Oliver who handed her blade back to her. The party broke up and the limos began a trek to the guests homes, Tatsu staying with Oliver and Felicity. Nyssa went with Eliza to her and Alex’s town home, where the woman would help her prepare in the morning, saving Alex from dealing with a blubbering mess of a mother and instead dealing with a tearful, sunny blonde sister.

Alex, Kara and Caitlin walked into Caitlin’s apartment at ten, according to Kara’s plan, right on time. They could shower, relax and still get plenty of sleep before being at location of the wedding, a place Barry had taken Kara once shortly after she had arrived here, a cliff looking out over the city, surrounded by natural beauty. It had been Barry and Kara’s private spot but they had their home and could fly and run anywhere. It would belong to Alex and Nyssa now.

Once the three had showered and settled down, Alex on one end of the couch, Caitlin on the other and as usual, Kara laid out with her head on Caitlin’s lap and feet in Alex’s lap, wearing her favorite puppy dog pajamas.

“I should go check on Barry and…”

“No you aren’t. You are sleeping with me tonight so I can make sure you stay in bed.” Alex told her.

“Aren’t you sore enough? You know you are going to kick me and wake yourself up. I am so sore even with the bracelet turned off. So did you have fun?” Kara asked, a bit nervously. Alex grinned at her.

“I had a blast. You do know me well, sister. I’m just glad there were no strippers involved.”

“Yeah… that would have been a disaster. Diana is staying with Donna and Zatanna tonight. I think her and Donna have been bonding a bit this week. I hope. But that means Barry is alone with Lexie and Charlie, she didn’t have her bracelet on earlier…”

“She doesn’t need it and they will be fine. Relax.” Caitlin ordered. “I mean if you can get anymore relaxed.” she added noting Kara’s habit of stretching out on the couch no matter who is on it.

“I’ve never spent the night away from them.”

“I haven’t spent the night away from Nyssa in a long time either but I’m not freaking out.”

“Nyssa doesn’t shoot lasers from her eyes. Fine then, tell me a story, Alex.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “We aren’t kids anymore, Kara.” Seeing the puppy dog eyes threatening to make an appearance, she gave in quickly though. “Fine, what story would you like to hear?”

Kara shrugged her shoulders. “It’s either tell me a story or rub my feet. Both would be great.”

“I know what story I want to hear.” Caitlin told her. “Tell us what happened the night after you met Nyssa. After training that morning, when you met her at S.T.A.R. that night.”

Alex smiled at the thought, the first night she began a path she could not stop and didn’t want to.

She had left Caitlin in the control room and walked the halls, finally entering Ray’s lab since he wasn’t there. She wasn’t sure where the woman wanted to meet so decided she would wait there and see if the ninja could track her down. Nyssa’s voice scared the hell out of her from behind. She had already been in the room.

“So have you figured it out yet?”

“You’re quiet.” Alex admitted, trying to ignore the way Nyssa’s eyes roamed freely over her. “What was I supposed to have figured out?”

“Have you figured out what you are fighting for?”

Alex swallowed, trying to ignore the woman’s body, clad in black satin pants, high black stiletto boots and a simple white top, her dark, long hair flowing freely over her shoulders and framing her exotic face.

“I haven’t had a lot of time. I watched a guy run through walls without breaking them and two geniuses figure out more about my sister’s powers and how to keep her safer and stronger in five minutes than I ever did in twelve years. I’m in a new universe, its been a long couple of days, I am overjoyed at having Kara back, and I am really unsure of my place in her life right now. I won’t leave her but I’m scared that maybe she doesn’t need me.”

“She doesn’t need you.” Nyssa told her, causing Alex to flinch. “But she wants you. That is more important than needing you. You already know what you are fighting for and it is not your sister. I would normally tell you to figure out what it is and hold onto it, don’t tell anyone. It is yours and yours alone but I want to know yours. If I am out of place please tell me so.”

“No, it’s not that. I just don’t understand what you want me to say. You tell me I’m not fighting for my sister but I do, I have, ever since she came into my life.”

Nyssa walked closer to Alex, uncomfortably close, but surprisingly Alex wasn’t uncomfortable at all despite the lack of personal space. She was actually pleasantly warm.

“What do you fight for? You obviously have a different history than the average person.”

“On your Earth, did you ever hear of the League of Assassins?”

“No… no, I am pretty sure I would have… of course I fought aliens, not ninjas.”

“Aliens? Like your sister?”

“No definitely not like my sister. They were big mostly, had strange powers, fast and strong but they were not as pretty or pure as my sister. They all had one thing in common though. They wanted to kill her, make her suffer.”

“And you fought them, defeated them?”

“I had help but yeah, I did. I led a team of agents and we took our hits, our losses, but yeah, I guess I did.”

“And you have no powers of your own besides your human body? Amazing. As I was saying, on this Earth there was an ancient sect of warriors, assassins, led by Ra’s Al Ghul. The title has been passed down through the centuries but the leader always lives a long life thanks to bathing in waters of the Lazarus Pit. The Lazarus Pit has the ability to grant immortality, even bring the dead back to life. My father was Ra’s Al Ghul. I was his only daughter, at least I think so. I was the one in the palace, the one who was trained from birth to be a killer. Not a warrior but a killer. I trained, fought and defeated the most dangerous fighters in the world. I killed my first opponent when I was twelve. He was 37 and had been a League member since he was 16. I took his head.”

“Wow.” Alex said, not sure what else to say.

“My history is… complicated. As I am sure you have figured out, Sara and Laurel Lance and Oliver Queen have played prominent roles in recent years, both good and bad. I won’t tell you the details tonight except a bit about my father. My father was not a good person. He was barely a person. He had a code he lived by, a twisted way of seeing the world and everyone and thing around him were pawns he moved for his own agenda. He was cold, emotionless and had no empathy of any kind. I never knew my mother, I doubt she lived long after I was born. He wanted a child, boy, girl, it didn’t matter. He wanted a boy to succeed him or a girl to marry off and give him an heir, a way his bloodline could continue. Had I ever been killed in one of my battles he would simply have taken another woman and had a child to replace me. I know this because he reminded me of it before many of my more difficult duels.”

“Thats uh… wow. That had to be incredibly hard.”

“I didn’t know that. It was the way life was for me. I didn’t know other people had families filled with love, warmth. I didn’t know about Holidays and birthday celebrations with gifts and cake. But a part of me wanted love. Even though I had never felt it or known it, I wanted it. The most natural place to find it was my father. I needed his love but didn’t know that it was impossible for him to love. He had lost his soul long ago. So rather than love him, I feared him, but I still hoped. Every fight I won, I looked for any indication, any sign that he was at least proud. Instead he seemed to be mildly surprised that I survived and walked away without a word.

So that is what I fight for Alex. I fight for love, the love I never had, the love I have desperately wanted and the love I hope to have one day. I fight because I believe if I can just keep fighting, just keep winning, at the end of my journey, I will find someone who can love me the way I want to be loved.”

“Thats… I don’t know, I guess. I’ve never really thought about it. I began to fight when Kara entered my life. I had never slapped someone much less hit them until she began to be picked on at school. They had no right to treat her the way they did. She had lost everything and I couldn’t take it. She annoyed the hell out of me when she first arrived but she was so… scared. She took this abuse at school to the point I almost wished I hadn’t taught her English so she wouldn’t understand the things they said to her, called her. The teachers wouldn’t do anything, my parents complained but the administration didn’t want to start a bullying investigation over the new kid. They chalked it up to the new girl being oversensitive. So since no one else would fight at that place, I had to. She couldn’t because she wouldn’t, she was gentle and I wanted her to stay that way. Also if she hit a kid she would have crushed his skull. So I learned to fight. She was never popular, neither of us were after a while but she was never openly picked on again. We were both ignored but it didn’t matter because we had each other.”

“You fought for her because no one else would.”

“Yeah.”

“Why do you keep fighting now? Sara told me about your journey to this universe. You had been attacked in your home, attacked by a group of freaks, leather bound ninjas as you would say, another one who wielded fire and another who fired some sort of light beams from his arms, wrapped in one of Oliver Queen’s ridiculous arrows and you still jumped into a glowing hole not entirely sure what would happen to you when you arrived.”

“Yeah, I guess I did. I didn’t really think about it. I just knew I had to get to her and the only way I could do it was to go in. When I got there I would fight to stay and if I died, I died.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to lose anyone else. I had lost my dad, my mother and I had grown apart, I had no personal life to lose. Kara and my mother were all I had left. My dad died when I was 15. We were close. He was a great man and my mom and I used to be close but I was torn. I wanted to resent Kara because of the attention my Mom gave her but I couldn’t because Kara never asked for it. Instead I resented my mother. I know now why she did what she did but we still had those years we lost. She made mistakes, she admitted that too me and I didn’t handle things in the healthiest manner either. I couldn’t lose anyone else I love.”

“So you fight for love as well. To hold onto the love you have.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“And the love you hope to have? Do you ever see yourself falling in love, Alex?”

“I’ve never been in love, not the way you mean. I’ve never came close. Even in my darkest times I knew Kara loved me and that was what I held on to.”

“No special boys in your life?” Nyssa asked with a knowing grin.

“Since Caitlin Snow figured out I was gay five minutes after knowing me, probably based on the way I was looking at you, I am sure you know there have never been any boys in my life.”

“I guessed as much. So we fight for the same things, we fight for love. It should be easy for us to train together.”

“Yeah I guess so. It should be interesting.” Alex admitted, a part of her wanting to get to Kara’s apartment and another part really enjoying how close she and this beautiful, exotic woman stood together.

“What will you do tonight?”

“Wait for Kara to get back from eating a cow and go to her apartment… just be with her. Just watch her breathe and make sure she isn’t like she has been in my nightmares, bloody… dead. Its all I have wanted for a long time.”

“All you have wanted?” Nyssa asked, eyebrow raised. “Let me take you out tomorrow night. I don’t know this city well. We can discover it together.”

“Uh…” Alex shook her head, remembering why she was here. She needed to talk to Kara about her mother, convince her to go back, to at least get Eliza. “I’m not… I’m not here… I mean I have a lot going on and maybe we should just stick to training. I really appreciate what you are doing for her, for both of them and… I guess? It wouldn’t kill me to find out more about the city. Just so you understand, I’m not really looking for anything. I have a lot going on, I need to yell at Kara for not letting me know she was alive, I… just one night won’t kill us I suppose. It just can’t be… I can’t be serious… I wouldn’t even know how. So long as it is…”

“Casual?” Nyssa asked, smiling, knowing she had her.

“Yeah, casual. We can do casual.”

“Then meet me at the park tomorrow at 6 PM. We can do casual as you say.”

Nyssa leaned forward, they were only inches apart and Alex closed her eyes, felt her lips close to hers and then they were gone before they touched. She slowly opened her eyes and Nyssa was gone.

“Wow, so yeah, casual. No problem, nothing serious, just… casual.”

“Alex?” Kara’s voice brought her back from the memory of the first real conversation with the woman she would come to marry.

“What?”

“Tell us the story. I want to hear about it.”

“Oh, uh, not much to tell. We introduced ourselves and then had sex all over Ray’s lab.”

Both women’s eyes opened wide then Kara threw a pillow into Alex’s face. “You are such a liar. Let’s get some sleep. We are getting ready here, then meeting everyone at the spot. Barry has made it really nice. It took him like a whole five minutes which is like 24 hours for the rest of the human race. Why don’t you and Caitlin share a bed so you don’t kick me and wake yourself up Alex?”

“Because you won’t get any sleep hovering over your home, watching Barry and Lexie sleep. I bet your dog and Lexie are in the same bed as Barry. So I think I will put a bell on your toe in case you sneak off and sleep right next to you. I’ll even let you cuddle.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

The next morning at dawn, at Nyssa and Alex’s town home, Nyssa sat on the floor in her meditation room, legs crossed, back straight and palms on her thighs, in a completely peaceful state of mind.

“Nyssa?”

She took a breath, drawn out of her peace.

“Yes Eliza?”

“Would you like me to make breakfast?”

“No thank you. I am meditating. I will eat a light breakfast when I am done.”

“Oh… the bed was really comfortable. I have to find out what kind of mattress that is. I’m not sure if Jeremiah could take such a soft mattress with his back but he will have to deal with it. So… can I meditate too?”

Another deep breath released. “I suppose so.”

Eliza sat next to Nyssa, crossed her legs and placed her palms up, then down, copying Nyssa’s position. Nyssa tried to focus, to return to her transitional state. Enjoying the quiet, she relaxed and began her breathing exercises. The quiet lasted thirty seconds.

“Nyssa?”

“Yes?”

“Am I doing this right? Because it seems kind of boring. Should I be chanting or rocking back and forth? Anything?”

“No, just sit as still as possible and clear your mind.”

“I’m a scientist Nyssa, My mind is never clear.”

“Try.”

“Okay.”

Another thirty two seconds passed in silence.

“We should start getting ready. How long does this meditation thing last? Could I save time and drink my coffee while I am doing it? If I shouldn’t thats fine but we really need to start getting you ready. The veil is complicated, and its going to take quite a few pins. So take all the time that you need as long as it isn’t more than five minutes, okay? I can stay and meditate with you or would you rather I get a light breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, do you like scrambled or fried? I don’t really do poached.”

Nyssa opened her eyes and took in her soon to be mother in law.

“Are you certain you are not Kara’s biological mother?”

Eliza smiled and then frowned. “I’ll get breakfast started. Just don’t lose track of time when you clear your mind. Nevermind. I will come get you when it is ready. Isn’t this exciting? I’m excited so I know you are. Okay, breakfast!”

Nyssa tried to close her eyes and breathe deeply, then gave up. At this point it was useless. Besides her mind was across town in Caitlin Snow’s apartment.

At S.T.A.R. labs a very sleepy Cisco and the Justice League males who had woken early prepared for the arrival of their Earth 3 friends. The portal opened and Kal El and J’onn walked through together, followed by Lucy and Lois Lane.

“Hello everyone. It’s good to be back.” Kal El greeted them, decked out in his familiar suit, the one Central City PD now referred to as the fish scale suit. “We were hoping Diana may have been able to join us but she has been out of contact…” Kal El stopped talking when Diana and Donna walked into the room.

“What took you boys so long?” Wonder Woman asked.

“How did you get here? Did Cisco… did you open an earlier portal?” J’onn asked Vibe who shook his head.

“Please J’onn, don’t insult me. You didn’t really think I would rely on someone else to get me what I want, did you? I’m offended. Unfortunately you won’t be able to use the portal I have established. Its on Themyscira. No little boys allowed. Or big strong Supermen either.”

Both men shook their heads and greeted the others, Lucy hugging Diana, having feared the worst when she hadn’t been in contact in a week and her searches going nowhere and Lois politely, glad the woman was actually wearing jeans and a t shirt, even if the jeans looked painted on.

A teary eyed Kara began pinning her sister’s veil as soon as Alex had woken, while she was still trying to adjust to the daylight. Kara, like Eliza, was full of energy.

“Are you ready for this?” she asked Alex.

“Of course. It’s not like its anything new. I mean it is, but we have been living together so long it won’t be an adjustment.”

Kara laughed, ending in a snort, of course.

“What? What is that?”

“What is what?” she asked innocently.

“You laughed. You don’t believe me?”

“Of course I believe you. Barry and I practically lived together here also. I’m sure your experience will be different than mine.”

“What do you mean different? What is going to change?”

“Nothing! I mean… its just different being married. I guess when you are married, things start to bug you a bit more. You stop thinking all the time about how much you love your spouse and start noting things you used to ignore. For instance, leaving shoes on the floor, spread out wherever they land seems cute when you are living together. When you are married and you realize if you don’t put a stop to it, it is going to last forever, you begin thinking of ways to make it stop.”

“Barry leaves his shoes wherever they land?”

‘Of course not. He’s a neat freak. I leave my shoes wherever they land. But you also notice other little quirks they have. Leaving shower towels on the floor, leaving cereal bowls with milk in them in the sink without rinsing them. Not cleaning a knife after you spread peanut butter on a hot dog. Thinks like that.”

“Those are all yours, aren’t they?”

“Yep, and he bugs me about them constantly. I’m trying to be a great mother and a successful artist and he complains about tripping over my shoes. He has super speed, how can he still trip over my shoes, right? Anyway I’m an artist and artists are free spirits. Shoes have to lie where they fall. Thats just the way it goes. Having a trophy wife is not problem free. Nyssa will find this out. You are as much a slob as I am. Probably a bigger slob. “

“I am not and she doesn’t complain about anything I do.”

“Not yet.” Kara mumbled. Alex ignored her.

Three hours later, Kara, Alex and Caitlin got out of a Hummer to find a large tent had been set up with a path leading to the cliffs edge. In front of the cliff stood Tatsu, surrounded by Alex and Nyssa’s family, friends and co workers. Alex wished Nyssa had family as close as hers was but they had the same family now and Alex was very grateful to Oliver Queen that Nyssa’s father could not be here today or any other day. Kara was dressed in a blue long opened back dress, waving at Barry, who was holding their daughter, Charlie’s head sticking out of the diaper bag. She wouldn’t allow her best friend besides Caitlin to miss this day. He had promised to stay quiet. Alex smiled at her niece and scowled at the dog but took it in stride. She never had any doubt that Charlie would be here. She was slightly surprised Kara hadn’t brought him to the fight in Vietnam, mask and all.

Alex and Nyssa had agreed on matching white Olympic style dresses, long veils weaved into both their hair and flowing down the backs, sandals rather than heels. Both had shear scarves covering the bottom halves of their faces. The two met inside the tent where they would walk out together. The rings they would share were identical, one they had both worn for months.

“Are you ready?” Alex asked her fiancee nervously.

“I’ve been ready my entire life. I’m a bit annoyed actually that you made me wait so long.”

Alex laughed then remembered Kara’s words about small annoyances. “Sorry?”

“Already forgiven. It took you a while but at least you found me. You look breathtaking.”

Alex agreed, thinking of something romantic to say, something to portray how she felt about Nyssa’s appearance.

“After this ceremony I am going to take you somewhere and wreck you.”

Alex never was much for poetry.

Outside, Oliver, clad in a black suit, tie and jacket with a simple white buttoned shirt, stood across from Kara.

“I thought you were wearing ceremonial dress? See what I have on? Ceremonial, sort of. You are wearing Armani.”

“I tried. Nyssa took a look at me, said I reminded her of her last disastrous marriage ceremony, told me to buy a suit and stand here looking pretty. I don’t think she meant it as a compliment. I think I look pretty.”

“Your hair does look nice but seriously would it kill you to shave once a year, or maybe when you do, shave your whole face?”

“And this is why Felicity and I remain happily unmarried.”

“Kara, have you brought the sock? I need it now.” Tatsu told her, surprising Kara. The woman was so quiet you could forget she was there. She wore a traditional red Japanese kimono, two dragons printed, one on each side. On her back was her katana, the one that fascinated Diana and Donna and scared the hell out of Zatanna.

“A sock?”

“Yes, a sock of Oliver’s to burn?”

Kara panicked, wondering if one of Nyssa’s outrageous demands was actually legitimate. The blonde looked at Oliver.

“Give me your sock!”

“No! I’m giving you a sock. You should have gotten one way before this. Its too late now. We go with what we have.”

“We can’t Oliver. I need a sock and you know this.” Tatsu told him.

“I’m not giving you my sock. I only have two on me and need both.”

“Should we postpone the wedding until a sock can be found?” Katana asked.

“No! Barry! Give Charlie to Ray and bring me Lexie then run to Oliver’s place and grab one of his socks!”

Barry looked at Oliver then his friend and glared. Both started snickering.

“You guys aren’t funny. We have one minute. Mom, Dad! Sit! No you sit, Mom. Dad, go get them!”

Jeremiah nodded at his bossy daughter and walked into the tent. Both women were smiling. He kissed them both on the forehead and stood between them so both could hook their arms with his. No wedding music played but the crowd quieted as the three walked out, following the red carpeted path to the edge of the cliff where Tatsu stood. Barry handed Kara a katana and Thea did the same for Oliver.

Alex and Nyssa reached the end, pulled off the scarves covering their faces and Jeremiah kissed both on the cheek, then stepped away to hold Eliza.

“Kara Allen, Oliver Queen, you are here as witnesses to the love these two share.

“I am.” both responded.

“They are two souls, bound to one another?”

“They are.” both responded again.

“Nyssa, Alex, I understand you have rings you wish to wear as symbols of your love. Exchange them now.” Tatsu ordered. Both women did as instructed, Eliza holding her breath to keep from sobbing and gripping Jeremiah’s hand tightly. Jeremiah was lost in the moment and the past, thinking of Alex’s childhood, her first steps, sleeping on his chest the same way Lexie slept on Barry’s chest the night before. Kara couldn’t think about any of that right now, solely focused on making sure everything was perfect. She would be shot again to have this happen for Alex. Barry, her child and now Alex’s happiness made all the pain worth it.

After the two women with shaking hands placed the rings on each other’s finger, they turned back to Tatsu who looked at Kara and Oliver. Both held the swords out, Kara to Alex and Oliver to Nyssa. Even Oliver was a bit emotional, thinking of everything he and Nyssa had been through and survived together. If she could find this happiness after all she had been through in life, perhaps everyone had a chance. Nyssa had certainly beaten the odds.

“Place your swords over mine.” Tatsu held her blade in front, Alex and Nyssa’s resting on hers.

“Marriage is the most sacred bond in the spiritual and physical world. Two souls uniting as one, forever, in life and death. Your enemies are now her enemies, your family her family and your friends her friends. Neither of you have separate lives any longer, you have one life, together. In life and death, you will be together always, loving each other no matter the challenges, nothing can ever come between you. Do you both accept this solemn vow?”

“We do.” they answered.

“Let these katana be a remembrance, a sign of your strength, beauty and love. May they ever go to battle side by side. You are now bound to each other by the oath of matrimony and I declare you wives for all to witness. Go forth and love, Nyssa and Alexandra Zorel.”

The two star crossed and dimensionally crossed lovers kissed gently to the applause of all, the officers of Central PD who had been able to attend, the band of warriors and family that called itself the Justice League, even Lexie smiled, not knowing what was happening but recognizing it was of great importance. Kara and Alex hugged tightly, Kara wearing her bracelet so she could hold Alex as closely as possible. Oliver opened his arms and Nyssa smirked then did something she would have sworn years earlier she would never do, hugging the man for the first time. J’onn watched in his human form, seeing the whole family reunited, remembering his lost family and being grateful that there was some justice in this world. Sometimes people did get what they deserved.