Those Three Words
“Always remember that
"YOU ARE LOVED EVERY DAY."
Not only on Valentine's Day.”
― Verliza Gajeles
Two Days till Valentines
The oak door swung open and Lucy entered a dark room. Her eyes adjusted slowly, and she smiled as her ears heard the distinct Irish lilt of Lena Arias-Luthor from across the room.
“In the corner, Lucy, over here!” Lena called out, waving as her friend and chief legal counsel looked towards her.
A smile came to the red lips of the dark-haired, well-dressed woman as she made her way across the room and took an empty seat at the table. ”Where’s Sam?” she asked as she placed her bag under her chair.
“Bringing our fourth. They should be here in a few minutes,” Lena answered with a smile.
Behind Lucy, over the bar, Supergirl flashed on the screen, and she turned, gripping the table so hard her knuckles were white. Lena noticed and smirked as another puzzle piece clicked into place.
“Supergirl was seen over Naples today, battling a group of superpowered monsters. The Girl of Steel won of course, but as you can see from the following footage, the aliens did get in a couple of shots on National City’s favorite daughter,” the reporter stated in a boring monologue that caused Lucy’s face to redden.
“Lucy, darling, you are going to break the table if you keep worrying about Kara like that, she can take care of herself,” Lena whispered, placing a palm softly over Lucy’s taunt fist.
“I can’t even call her right now, because she is working with a DEO team,” Lucy let the information slip before she even realized what she was saying. She turned and looked at Lena, her mouth open in shock. “Oh God, Alex is going to kill me.”
Shaking her head, and taking a sip of her red wine, “Relax Luce, I figured it out weeks ago, you just confirmed it by your reaction to the news. And Alex and Maggie are almost as bad at hiding things as you and Kar.” She let out a short giggle, “Does she know how much you worry?” Lena was listening but noticed the arrival of her wife and Maggie Sawyer.
“Normally, no. I’m allowed behind the curtain, so I know what is going on, but this time is different because she is working with Al and her troops out of the country,” Lucy admitted as her head fell and rested in her palms.
She looked up, as a glass of amber liquid was placed on the table in front of her. She smiled into the light brown eyes of the newly arrived Maggie Sawyer. “You saw the news, I take it?”
Lucy nodded, wrapping nervous fingers around the cut crystal glass, looking at the diamond on Maggie’s left ring finger and then catching Lena and Sam kissing out of the corner of her eye. “I haven’t even told her those three little words yet.”
Three sets of eyes pinned Lucy to her spot at the table.
Maggie sat heavily, “has she said it to you?” Then she took a sip of her whiskey,
“Of course she has, it’s Kara. She loves everyone,” Lucy answered, hiding her eyes from the three women and swirling the liquid around in her tumbler.
Maggie looked directly at Lucy, “Hey, Lane! Look at me?” Lucy’s green eyes rose from the table, and she found herself trapped in Maggie’s gaze, “Last year she helped me plan Valentine’s day for Alex, because it meant so much to my fiance”
“Kara told me about that, she absolutely glowed while telling me how adamant you were against it and how well it went,” Lucy smiled, wondering where this was going.
“I know what you’re thinking Lane,” Maggie smirked. “So, at the end of the evening, Alex asked me if it was all my idea, and in a fit of honesty, I told her it was all on Kara, and she explained to me why those three words are so important to Kara.”
Lena, Sam, and Lucy all sat up straighter in their chairs, ears perked and eyes on Maggie.
“Those three words are reserved for family, you only hear them if she is scared of losing you. She cares about everyone, but her love is special, and she doesn’t give it away easily,” Maggie explained. “The first time she said it to me, Alex was quiet for hours, she was so shocked.”
“I remember when she said it to Lena, just last month. It brought tears to her eyes,” Sam smiled at her wife, “you face timed after you met her at that restaurant.”
“I’m a Luthor,” Lena growled. “I never cry.” A slow smile found its way to her lips, then she looked into Sam’s soft brown eyes and admitted, “unless my best friend says those three words”
“You never cry when I say them,” Sam teased, “although I have seen that chin quiver when Ruby says them.” She placed her hand gently on Lena’s face and pulled her close, kissing her gently on the lips, listening as a soft sigh escaped her wife’s mouth.
Lena blushed, pulling Sam back quickly for one more quick peck drawing groans from Maggie and Lucy. “Kara believes in me so much, and she is so wonderful, and she is the reason I was so sure about hiring you.”
Lucy looked confused, “what do you mean?”
Lena got a very serious look on her face, “you make one of the brightest stars in the universe shine even brighter. Anyone with that superpower, I had to give you a chance, and I haven’t regretted it yet.” She noticed a small crease of confusion on Lucy’s face, and asked, “have you ever noticed how Kara tells you, Lucy?”
Lucy looked Lena in the eyes, “she always says is low, so that nobody else can hear it.”
“You think she doesn’t mean it, that you are just another person in her extended family, but that’s not true, is it, Maggie?” Lena cut her eyes at the police officer.
“Ahhhh, somebody picked that up huh?” Maggie laughed, “she only whispers those three words to one other person. Her Alex.”
Lucy was totally confused, “I don’t understand.”
Sam just laughed, “everyone thinks Kara is oblivious. Oh my God, Lucy. She wants the whole world to know who is in her family, but Alex keeps her grounded, like gravity, and you--you are her whole world.”
Lucy sat there staring at her friend, a shocked, opened mouthed expression on her face. Then a large smile came to her face and she reached under her chair quickly and retrieved her phone. Pulling up Kara’s information from her favorites, she typed, ‘please tell me you’ll be home soon.’ Then she set the phone down on the table and picked up her drink. As the liquid struck her tongue her phone buzzed and she turned it over, smiling brightly at Kara’s message, ‘be home on Sunday. You okay?”
‘I’m fine, Sunshine. See you Sunday. Be careful.’ Lucy typed.
‘I will. Miss you.’ Kara responded. ‘Got to go, debrief.’
‘Miss you too, Sunshine, Sunday can’t come soon enough.’ Lucy sighed as she typed the last words.
*******************
One Day till Valentine’s Day
Lucy unlocked the door of Kara’s apartment and found herself greeted by the little calico ball of fluff that she had named Destiny five months before. Bending down, she lifted the kitten into her arms, whispering into her fur, “momma will be home on Sunday, and you and I are going to have a surprise for her.” Still holding the cat, she made her way to the bedroom, setting her onto the bed, and reaching into Kara’s top drawer for a t-shirt. She got undressed and slid the shirt over her head, and pulled down the sheets and blanket, pulling Kara’s pillow close and with Destiny at her head, felt sleep overwhelm her.
Beep, beep, beep, beep…
Lucy rolled over and clicked off the alarm on her phone, rolling onto her back and smiling up at the whirling ceiling fan. She picked up the phone and dialed a number she had stored but never called.
“Lois Lane, where’s the story?” a husky female voice answered.
“Hi sis, recognize my voice?” Lucy asked, her voice barely rising above a whisper.
Lois gasped, “Lucy?” Then she asked harshly, “what do you want?”
Lucy sighed, this was going to be harder than she thought, she snapped slightly as she responded, “good morning to you too, Lois.” She took a deep breath, releasing it slowly, “sorry--is Clark there?”
“Yes, why?” Lois replied tersely.
“I need to tell you two something, and I need one of mom’s old recipes. Please?” Lucy practically begged.
Lois heard the pleading in Lucy’s voice and her next response was more measured, less defensive, “hold on, Lucy, let me hunt him down.”
“Thank you, Lois,” Lucy smiled, then she thought about what she was doing and swallowed hard.
“Hello, Lucy? What can I do for you?” Clark Kent asked, his voice calm, sounding more like the hero he was than the reporter whose glasses he hid behind.
“Can you put me on speaker? Please?” Lucy asked politely.
“What’s going on, Lucy?” Lois asked, impatience causing her to sound angry.
“Calm down, Lois,” Clark drawled, “go ahead, Lucy.”
Lucy blew out a deep sigh, “The--the um--I called to tell you…” Lucy closed her eyes and took a breath, trying to release it slowly.
“Are you pregnant? I thought you and James broke up?” Lois interrupted, “what the hell is going on?”
“I’m dating Kara!” Lucy yelled over Lois’s outburst. “We’ve been dating since Halloween, and I asked her not to tell you two, and now I realize something, and I need mom’s recipe and you are really my only family that would care…” Lucy stopped to breathe, holding it in as she nervously awaited Lois’s reaction.
Clark chuckled lightly, “Is that why she has been avoiding my phone calls and only texting?” He laughed a little louder, “does she make you happy, Lucy?”
Lucy sat, shocked by her brother-in-law’s reaction, “oh yes, she is amazing. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“You do know, she’s a big girl, she doesn’t need my permission,” Clark teased. “And after how things ended with you and Jimmy, I can understand you wanting to keep it quiet.”
“Thank you,” Lucy whispered, “is Lois still there?”
“She’s getting the recipe you are looking for.” Clark laughed.
“How does she know which one I want?” Lucy asked, clearly confused.
“Mom’s potstickers, it’s for Kara for Rao’s sake,” Lois laughed. “I’m sending it to your email.” Lucy could practically hear the smile on Lois’s face.
“Thank you, Lois. Maybe we could do lunch, sometime?” Lucy asked hesitantly.
“You and Kara fly in any time, we can meet at that pizza place mom used to take us to,” Lois answered, her voice full of promise.
“I’d like that,” Lucy smiled. “Now I have to go teach myself to make potstickers. Bye, you two.”
“Bye, Luce.” Lose and Clark answered together.
*******************
Mom’s Potstickers
Ingredients
Filling:
- 1 pound ground pork
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- ½ cup finely chopped green onions
- 3 tablespoons very finely minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ cups finely chopped green cabbage
Dough:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup hot water, about 130 -150 F (55-65 C)
Dipping Sauce:
- ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
- ¼ cup soy sauce
For Frying:
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying, or as needed - divided
- 8 tablespoons water for steaming, divided
Directions
Instructions Checklist
- Step 1
- Place ground pork, green onions, garlic, ginger, 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon soy sauce, sesame oil, and cayenne in a mixing bowl. Top with chopped green cabbage. Mix with a fork until thoroughly combined. Tamp down lightly; cover with plastic. Refrigerate until chilled, about an hour.
- Step 2
- Place flour and kosher salt in a mixing bowl. Slowly pour in hot water. Stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a shaggy dough. Flour your hands and transfer dough to a work surface. Knead dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough seems too sticky, sprinkle with a bit more flour, about 3 to 5 minutes. Wrap dough ball in plastic, and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
- Step 3
- When the dough has rested, divide it into 4 equal pieces. Cover 3 pieces with a dishcloth while you work on the first piece. Roll into a small log about the thickness of a thumb, about 3/4 inch. Divide each log into 6 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a thin 3 1/2-inch circle on a lightly floured surface to form the potsticker wrappers. Repeat with the remaining dough pieces.
- Step 4
- Lightly moisten the edges of a wrapper with your wet finger. Place a small scoop of the ground pork mixture onto the center of a wrapper. Fold up the 2 sides and pinch together in the center. Pinch together the remaining edges, forming "pleats" along one side. Tap the potsticker on the work surface to slightly flatten the bottom; form a slight curve in it so it stands upright in the pan. Transfer to a well-floured plate. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
- Step 5
- Mix together seasoned rice vinegar and soy sauce in a small mixing bowl for the dipping sauce.
- Step 6
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place about 6 or 7 potstickers in the hot oil, flat side down. Cook until bottoms are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drizzle in water and quickly cover the pan; steam for 3 minutes. Uncover; reduce heat to medium. Continue cooking until water evaporates and bottoms are browned and crunchy, 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer to a warm serving dish. Repeat with remaining potstickers. Serve with dipping sauce.
*******************
Lucy spent the rest of the day mastering the recipe, going so far as to invite Lena, Sam, and Ruby over to try them. Finally, after filling everyone up, including the kitten, the recipe was deemed worthy. She made heart-shaped cookies, extra for Ruby, decorated them, and hid them from x-ray vision, Her phone buzzed, and a huge smile came to her lips as she read Kara’s message, ‘Home soon, miss you bunches. Flying in with the troops, yours, Kara.’
‘Miss you too, can’t wait to see you,’ Lucy quickly responded.
The day ended with Lucy in bed, Destiny curled in her lap, as she read herself to sleep.
*********************
The next morning Lucy woke up to a freak winter thunderstorm. She spent the day relaxing on the couch, watching movies or reading, waiting for Kara to get home. She checked the bedroom window for the fourth time in the last hour to make certain it was unlocked and settled onto the couch. She woke with a start as Kara’s fingers gently caressed her cheek.
Kara leaned in for a kiss, smiling as Lucy pulled her closer, pressing their lips together tightly. As they pulled apart, Lucy found herself breathing heavy, “H-hey, Sunshine, when did you get back?”
“About an hour ago and I flew straight here as soon as the plane landed,” Kara smirked, “I just couldn’t resist kissing my beautiful girlfriend before I climbed in the shower.”
Lucy blushed, and smiled at the lovely hero in front of her, “I’ll get you some food, and then we can pick out a movie and just relax for the night. How’s that sound, Supergirl?”
“Sounds perfect,” Kara smiled, “I’ll be out in just a bit.”
Lucy waited till the water started in the bathroom, and estimated she had about thirty-five minutes before Kara was out, so she quickly started cooking. With two pans she was well ahead of schedule and was taking out the last of the potstickers as she heard the water stop.
Kara padded out of the bathroom, wearing loose sweats and a DEO t-shirt that was about two sizes too big, her hair still damp, her blue eyes shining and her nose sniffing at the air. “I smell potstickers, did you…” She stopped as she saw Lucy turn from the stove, holding two plates of fresh warm food in her hands. Kara stopped, “you made potstickers, for me?”
“Have I told you recently you are my favorite person?” Lucy laughed, then bit her lip in a fit of insecurity, “it’s my mom’s recipe.”
Kara was by her side in an instant, taking the plates and setting them on the counter, quickly scooping one up and popping it in her mouth. “Oh, Rao! Lucy,” Kara sighed, “these are amazing.” Then she scooped the smaller woman up and kissed her lightly, pulling back and resting their foreheads together. Softly, so that no one else could hear them, Kara whispered, “I love you.”
Lucy closed her eyes, her lip quivering and eyes watering, “oh Kara, Sunshine,” She pulled her head away from her girlfriend’s and took her cheeks in both hands. “I haven’t said this, I’ve been a coward, so scared that I would lose you, but now I know--I know exactly how I feel and I’m not scared anymore.”
Kara reached up to pull Lucy’s hands away, “Lucy, honey, are you…”
Shaking her head, Lucy put her hands back on Kara’s cheeks, “please, let me hold my whole world in my hands as I say this?” Kara relaxed, her eyes wide, her breath coming in small gasps. “I love you too, Kara Zor-el.”