Back to the Right Future

“Slow down kiddo, my heimlich is a little rusty.” Alex says looking at Lura in mild disgust as the younger woman continues to scarf down her burger in just a few bites. She has Big Belly sauce running down her hands and chin as her cheeks balloon with unchewed food. Kara, however, finds the sight adorable and an image of a chipmunk, storing nuts for the winter, comes to mind. Honestly though she’s just impressed that someone else at the table can finally keep up with her.  

Lura seems to either not hear Alex’s remark or chooses to ignore it as she grabs a fistful of fries, dunks them in her chocolate & strawberry milkshake, and then stuffs them into her already empty mouth. The sight makes Alex’s jaw drop in absolute disgust but gives Kara the brilliant idea to do the same.

Lena watches the youngest Luthor seated to her left with a mixture of genuine concern and unbridled curiosity. She wonders how different the younger woman’s adolescence was from her own, as such a lack of proper table etiquette would be considered barbaric and unbecoming for a Luthor...at least according to Lillian. Then she remembers what the girl had told them earlier in the lab, that Lillian had died when she was just twelve years old. That would have meant that Lena was only nineteen or so when she passed. Don’t get her wrong, Lillian was anything but a terrific mother but the thought still stings at the loss the young girl suffered at such a young age. 

It’s not until she hears her name being called that she realizes that she had gotten lost in her own thoughts. Lura is looking directly at Lena with a sense of concern that the older Luthor has only ever seen on Kara’s face. 

“Lura, can I ask you something?” Lena says suddenly as the younger woman removes her hand from Lena’s arm, unaware it was even here to begin with. Lura wipes the remaining food from her face with a napkin before continuing.

“Sure.” 

Lena’s not sure what she wants to ask her because she has so many questions but she settles on the most recent one that crossed her mind.

“What was it like when Lillian died?”

Lura just tilts her head to the side, slightly confused at the seemingly random question.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean were you sad? Were we sad? Was she-, did she-” Lena’s having trouble formulating her thoughts but the younger Luthor seems to understand regardless.

“Yes. I was. You were...sad, I think? I mean I know she wasn’t the greatest mom, especially to you but to me she was...well, she was kinda great.” Lura admits with a look of shame or almost guilt. 

Lena takes a moment to process what the youngest Luthor just said. 

“Wait, so she treated you like Dudley and Lena like Harry?” Alex asks incredulously. “Jeez that woman really is a Grade A cu--”

“--it wasn’t like that.” Lura says cutting the older Danvers off. 

“Really? Because you just said--”

“--It’s different! She wasn’t, it wasn’t…” She says exasperatedly before releasing a deep sigh and continuing. Lena is rapt with attention as the younger woman tries to explain.

“I was so young.” She sounds so small when she says it. She turns to Lena before continuing. “You always protected me from her. You were always making sure that nothing and no one would ever harm me, including Lillian. You’d never left my side and you would always take the brunt of the confrontations and arguments so much so that the little time alone I had with her she was just...kind. I think she was just tired. Tired of arguing, of distancing herself from us. But I think she was just really tired of being alone. She finally realized that we were the only family she had left and I was still so young, still impressionable. You were too old. You’d experienced too much of her shadows to ever believe in her light and she knew it. But with me…she still had a chance to have someone love her back. And I did.”

Lura didn’t realize she was crying until Lena reached forward and wiped away an errant tear with the stroke of her thumb. 

“I’m sorry.” Lura says when Lena pulls her hand away. “I’m sorry that she wasn’t kind to you and was to me. I wish I could change it.”

Lena just shakes her head and wipes at her own eyes managing to keep her unshed tears at bay. “Don’t be. You shouldn’t feel guilty that she loved you. I’m just glad both of us didn’t have to suffer her neglect.” 

Lura smiles brilliantly at the older Luthor as she wipes away her remaining tears. “You’ve said that before.”

“I have?” 

“Mhmm. Quite a few times actually.” 

“Well apparently you need some reminding.” Lena says as she hands Lura a tissue from her purse. The youngest Luthor accepts the tissue with a chuckle.

“Thank you.”

“What are sisters for?” Lena says with a smile.

Alex notices Lura’s brow twitch at the words of affection. Specifically right after the word “sisters”. She likens it to the way someone would subconsciously respond in conversation to hearing something unsavory or incorrect. It’s so miniscule that Alex doesn’t think Lena or Kara notice it. But then again Lena is checking her eyeliner in a small mirror and Kara is too busy blowing her nose into a tissue she took from Lena. She’s curious. She’s about to ask Lura a question when Kara beats her to it.

“Hey Lura?”

“Hmm?” Lura says as she steals a couple more fries from Lena’s plate. 

“If you don’t mind me asking, what happened once Lillian passed away? If you were only twelve, who took care of you?” Kara asks and glances towards Lena, as if she not only already knows the answer to the question but also just wants to hear the young woman confirm it.

“You guys, obviously.” Lura says so matter of factly. She continues to munch on everyone else’s food, including Kara’s which is something few have dared to do. 

“You guys?” Alex asks as if catching her in a lie. Lura freezes mid air with the sweet-potato fry she stole from Alex’s plate hovering just in front of her mouth. Her eyes widened slightly, realizing her mistake. 

“What?” 

“What do you mean you guys ?” Alex asks squinting at the girl.

She slipped up but this is still fixable. She knows better than to outright backtrack and swallow her words so she reaffirms them instead.

“I mean you guys .” She says as she looks around the booth at all three of them. 

Kara looks at her as if she’s trying to solve a calculus problem in her head. Alex looks at her with a mixture of confusion and growing distrust. And Lena just looks lost. She tosses the fry back onto Alex’s plate, finally losing what little appetite she has left, before explaining. 

“When Lillian died you were all there for me. You guys took care of me and made sure I felt supported-” She says looking at Kara. “-and safe” looking at Alex. “-and loved.” She says looking directly at Lena. Lena’s throat constricts and she knows that Lura is telling the truth because there is no doubt in her mind that she would do the same thing for this girl despite only knowing her for a couple of hours. 

“But how is that possible? We hadn’t even met Lena until four years ago.” Alex says trying to make sense of everything. 

“Yeah in this reality.” Lura says tired of having to not only remind Alex but also of keeping up false pretenses.

“So in your reality we had already met and we were all, um...close?” Kara asks leaning forward, elbow now on the table and hand scratching the back of her neck. She quickly glances to Lena who quickly reverts her eyes away from where she had been staring at the blonde and back to the younger Luthor, awaiting her reply. 

“Yes.” Lura affirms with a nod. “You guys have been best friends for as long as I can remember.” She says looking between Lena and Kara. It’s not a lie. She just doesn’t mention that they’re best friends who happen to be married to each other . “And unfortunately you and Alex are a package deal so…” She says the last part looking at Kara and shrugging. Kara smiles at the comment and looks over to her sister who scoffs in response, crossing her arms.

“Sounds like we’re practically family .” Alex says with an edge. As if daring the younger woman to protest the truth of something Alex only has a sinking suspicion about. She’s surprised when the youngest Luthor doesn’t acquiesce but rather affirms her suspicion.

“We are.” She says so resolutely that Alex is a little taken aback. Her suspicion about the youngest Luthor’s true identity only grows. But she knows she needs to lean into the situation and let everything play out a bit more before she can outright accuse the girl of lying and pretending to be someone she’s not. Especially with literally no evidence or proof, just an intuitive hunch.  And she’s pretty sure Kara and Lena are already too smitten with the young woman to actually listen to her voice of reason. Besides, anything Alex would say the girl could easily excuse away with the “I’m from a different reality” line so she lets it go...for now.

“Why do you think we get along so well?” Lura says trying to break the tension of the moment as well as derailing Alex’s train of thought.

“Is that what you think we’re doing? Getting along?” Alex says amusedly. 

“You know you love me.” The moment Lura says it Alex can feel it. She knows it’s true. That whoever this girl really is and wherever the fuck she is really from...she does love her. And that kind of pisses her off and warms her heart at the same time. 

“Besides, where do you think I get my snark from? These two?!” She says looking at Alex but pointing between Kara and Lena. “Please. They’ve got as much bite as a new born baby.”

Alex smirks at the remark while Kara says “Hey!” offendedly. 

“That’s not true at all. I don’t care what reality you’re from I’ve put more ornery, sexist board members in their proper place than Marie Kondo.”

“Yeah she has!” Kara confirms before adding, “Not to mention babies suckle pretty freaking hard!” All three women look at the blonde in both confusion and amusement.

“What?” Lura asks, trying to suppress a laugh.

“I’m just saying! It’s not like I’ve--I mean I wouldn’t know personally or anything-” Lena eyebrows raise in amusement as Kara fumbles through her explanation, flushed. 

“I’ve heard that sometimes breastfeeding is painful because babies can suckle too hard once they’ve latched on, so maybe think about that the next time you try to insult someone and compare them to a baby.” 

All three women try their best to suppress a laugh but aren’t able to and they all chuckle at the blonde’s fumbling, yet passionate, rationale. Kara ends up chuckling as well before half-heartedly telling everyone to “shut up, you know what I’m saying.” 

Suddenly Alex checks her watch and says “We should probably get going soon. I doubt they’ve extended visitation hours at max. just because it’s a holiday.” 

The other women agree as they also notice the restaurant picking up in business (as Big Belly Burger is now an alien owned and operated business that caters to all beings on Earthly holidays and closing for only intergalactically recognized holidays). So the four women collect their trash and walk over to the trashcans to dispose of it and return their trays. After throwing everything away Lena makes her way over to the cash register with their lunch ticket in hand. 

“Hey, what are you doing?” Kara calls out to the oldest Luthor, walking to catch up to her.

“Paying for our food?” Lena responds as if it should be obvious. Kara takes the ticket from her hand before replying, “Nuh uh, no way.” 

“Kara it’s fine--”

“--No, I’ll pay. It was my idea to come here anyway, remember?”

“Hey here’s an idea.” They hear Alex say as the other two women make their way over to them. “How about we let Gizmo the gremlin pay for lunch?” Alex says pointing her thumb over her shoulder at the youngest woman. 

“Sure no problem, what’s the total? A thousand rand?” Lura says as she reaches into her jacket and pulls out her wallet. 

The three women look at the girl with furrowed brows.

“Rand?”

“Yeah you know, currency?” Lura says as she rifles through her wallet. 

“Okay Lena, looks like you’re footing the bill.” Alex says as she slides her hands into her front pockets.

“Alex!” Kara says indignantly. 

“Thank you.” Lena says as she snatches the bill from Kara’s hand and speed walks to the register, paying the bill. Kara runs up to her about to argue but Lena cuts her off before she can.

“Kara, I insist. I know that you’re more than happy and willing to pay but need I remind you that it was my... sister,  who ate a majority of the food and clearly she can’t pay, not that I would ever let her, so please. I’m paying, I insist.” Lena says with no room to argue.

Kara’s shoulders slump in acquiescence as she mulls over Lena’s words. Hmmm .

“She really did eat a lot, huh?” Kara asks as she crosses her arms and glances back at the younger Luthor. 

“Yeah.” Lena says in agreement as she gets her receipt. “Just as much, if not more than you.” Lena says as if she’s formulating a hypothesis in her head. “It’s almost as if she’s--” Lena cuts herself off with the shake of her head.

“Almost as if she’s what?” Kara asks, wanting Lena to say what she herself is thinking.

Lena inhales deeply and looks over to Lura only to find the younger woman already staring at her. The younger Luthor gives Lena a small, almost hesitant, smile and Lena releases her breath looking back at Kara.

“Nothing, it’s stupid. Forget I said anything.”

Kara looks as if she wants to say more but doesn’t. Lena has noticed her do this quite a bit in the past few months that they have spent time alone together since “making amends”. It seems like every time they’re together Kara has something more to say, something she stops herself from saying, and Lena thinks it’s because Kara is afraid that whatever it is will push her away. She wishes more than anything that Kara trusted her and felt comfortable enough to say whatever was on her mind but she knows it’s a slow process to rebuild the relationship they once had. Not only to rebuild it but to make it better because even though they both agreed to trust each other and be honest with one another...it still seems like there’s something, something big, that neither of them have the courage to say. 

The two women look at each other as if they’re sharing the same thought but quickly turn their attention to the youngest Luthor who has now approached them. 

“You guys ready?” Lura says with a smile.

They look at each other once more before nodding and following the girl towards the exit and out the restaurant.

“So how exactly are we getting there?” Lura asks walking with Alex, slightly ahead of Kara and Lena who hang back, walking step in step.

“My driver George will take us. He’s waiting outside my building, it’s just two blocks over.”

“Cool.” 

As they turn the corner they see a homeless alien sleeping on the sidewalk curled up in a ball trying to stay warm. Kara is about to reach in her back pocket before she sees Lura break off from the group and walk up to her. They stop and watch as Lura takes off her leather jacket and holds it between her thighs while she then removes her hoody and gently lays it over the sleeping woman’s form. She shrugs her jacket back on and takes out her wallet placing a crisp one hundred dollar bill gently into the woman’s curled up fist. They watch in awe at the act of kindness and swell with pride knowing that at least one of them in their “practical family” had raised her right. She jogs back to the group before continuing to cross the street as if nothing happened. 

“Nice move, kid.” Alex says as she squeezes the girl once on her shoulder. “Also couldn’t help but notice that was a hundred dollar bill, you know...U.S. currency?”

Lura looks at Alex with a brilliant smile and says, “Yeah, I know. I just didn’t wanna pay for lunch.” She finishes with a wink as Alex shakes her head and huffs out a laugh. Kara and Lena share a look, smiling at the younger woman’s antics. If they happen to have inched closer together on their walk towards Lena’s building neither of them mentions it. 

:::

“How’s downtown looking?” J’onn asks over the comms to Nia and Kelly.

“It’s quiet.” Kelly answers.

“Good.” J’onn replies.

“More like boring.” J’onn hears Nia say.

“Rude.”

“Obviously present company excluded! You know I love doing patrols with you, I just wish there was a little bit more action so I can expend some of this built up dream energy.”

“Yeah well I would rather be bored than in over our heads in a hostile situation. And if you really want to put your energy to use you could wash my car.”

“Uggh, you sound just like Alex. She’s been rubbing off on you too much.” It’s out of her mouth before she can stop it. J’onn clears his throat over the comms and tries his best to ignore what Nia just said. Kelly on the other hand has a shit-eating grin on her face as she winks at Nia and says “You’re damn right she has.” 

Nia bursts out in laughter before saying “Uggh, so not what I meant but good for you dude.”

J’onn is thankfully saved from having to listen to anymore of the girls’ conversation by an outburst by Brainy.

“Remarkable!” Brainy exclaims as he jumps from his seat, tablet in hand and rushes over to J’onn.

“What is it? Is there trouble?” Nia asks over comms.

Brainy steps up onto his tippy toes and leans into J’onn’s shoulder, speaking directly into the Martian’s earpiece.

“Not to fret my delicate honey badger, the streets lay sleeping under your dutiful and commanding watch. I’ve just made a discovery of which pertains to the intruder that fell through Kara’s ceiling like a fat man through termite-ridden floorboards--”

“--Oh that’s great! But I think duty calls--” J’onn and Brainy hear police sirens in the background and say their quick goodbyes before the women chase the action. J’onn stays vigilant on comms ready for a response should they need it. 

“What did you find?” J’onn asks, gently creating space between himself and the Coluan. 

“I analyzed the energetic residue of the intruder’s portal as you asked and found that the singlet Higgs particles were used in conjunction with only single Z Boson particulates as opposed to pair W Boson particles!” He says as if J’onn is supposed to be on the same page as him. 

“...Meaning?”

“Said intruder lied. She didn’t jump through a portal from another dimension in an alternate reality because there was no pair W Boson particles present. Only when there is a pair of W Boson particles present in tandem with the Higgs singlet can someone jump through both time and space , or realities in this instance, because the W Boson particles account for spatial dimensions. But we did find a single Z Boson particle in tandem with the Higgs singlet which as I’m sure you know accounts for time and time only.” 

“So… you’re saying she’s not from an alternate dimension or reality but rather--”

“--a different time within this reality!”

“She’s a time traveller.” J’onn says more to himself than anything.

“Correct! I’m just not sure when in time. There’s a 97.5% chance that she’s from the future, some time in the future, and only a 2.5% chance that she’s from some time in the past. And I’m usually not a betting man but I think it’s safe to place all your chips on black and ride the future wave of victory all the way to the temporal bank and laugh in the face of the house of the past.” He finishes with a maniacal laugh. J’onn just sighs and pats his friend on the shoulder.

“Good work, Brainy.”

“Shall I inform the others?”

“No, don’t worry about it. Just keep an eye on Nia and Kelly and I’ll let Alex know what you’ve found.”

:::

They’re walking down the c-wing corridor of National City’s Maximum Penitentiary Facility. Alex was able to pull her law enforcement weight and get permission to speak with Lillian Luthor unescorted, at their own risk. Alex assured the correctional officer that she was carrying should the need arise, which made Lura flinch at the thought. 

They come to a stop outside the visitation cell taking a moment to collect themselves before entering. 

“Remember, don’t play into her games. You’re in control. We go in, get the information, and get out.” Alex says to Lena.

“Alex, I’m perfectly aware of how to handle my manipulative mother, thank you very much.” Lena says with a slight bite.

“Right, sorry. You got this.”

“Are you going to be okay?” Kara says to Lura, grabbing the younger woman’s hand. 

“Oh yeah, I’m fine.” Lura says with a small smile. 

“You sure? I just know how hard it can be to see someone again after--”

“--I’ll be fine.” She says as she squeezes Kara’s hand reassuring the older woman. “It was years ago and I’ve made peace with her passing. She knew how much I loved her, down to the last moment, and that’s all I could have asked for.” She finishes as her eyes rest on Lena’s. The older Luthor can’t help but notice the remorse in the younger’s eyes and out of instinct grabs her free hand and squeezes it in comfortingly. 

“Ready?” Alex asks, breaking the moment.

The three women nod as they signal to the guard watching on the cameras to unlock the door. They make their way inside and see Lillian Luthor, clad in orange, handcuffed to the desk and facing the opposite direction. 

“Lena, this is a welcomed surprise.” Lillian says without turning to look at her daughter.

Lena thinks she hears sincerity in the eldest Luthor’s voice but chooses to ignore it. She remains silent and moves to walk around the desk to face Lillian, Kara and Alex flanking her sides. A look of surprise passes over Lillian’s face before returning to her typical stoic expression. Lura remains by the entrance choosing to stay out of Lillian’s line of vision. 

“Did I say welcomed?” She looks the Danvers sisters up and down before returning her gaze to her daughter. “I meant unwelcomed .” 

“Mother, always a pleasure.” Lena says as she takes the open seat in front of Lillian.

Lillian looks back up at the other visitors and says, “Can’t visit your dear old mother without bringing your attack dogs? Tsk, tsk, tsk. I thought we’ve moved past this, Lena. Besides the obvious fact that I can’t hurt you.” She says as she pulls against the cuffs chaining her to the desk before continuing, “I would never hurt you.” Lena opens her mouth to say something but Lillian cuts her off before she can, “anymore...than I already have, that is.” She says the last part with what Lena thinks is actual, honest to God, guilt and shame. Don’t play into her games!

“I need something from you.” Lena says getting to the point.

“So it’s not a familial ‘happy holidays’ visit then?”

“Absolutely not. You should know me better than that by now, Mother. After all, am I not the reason you’re even in here?” Lena asks with a challenge.

“The only reason I am in here is because of my own abhorrent actions.” Lena’s eyes flicker with surprise as Lillian stares down at her handcuffs. She looks back up to meet Lena’s gaze and says, “Don’t you ever forget that and don’t you dare tell yourself any different.” But it’s not said threateningly or in a menacing tone, it’s said in a more imploring one. One that Lura knows means that Lillian doesn’t want Lena to harbor an iota of guilt for the fact that the only family she has left will die within these walls, on a cold steel cot, without a single soul to share in their warmth.

Lena seems to be speechless at the moment so Lillian moves the conversation along.

“So what is it that you need?”

Lena takes a breath and sits a little taller then says, “The location of Lex’s secret lair.”

Lillian furrows her eyebrows at her daughter in confusion before she bursts out laughing. Lena and the Danvers sister’s eyes widen in surprise, never ever in their life having heard Lillian laugh. They find it terrifying but Lura just smiles with adoration at the laugh she’s missed since she was twelve. Kara and Alex look at each other and shrug as Lillian tries to calm down and collect herself.

“What are you talking about? His lair was raided and burnt to the ground after the DEO collapsed.” She lets out a little breathlessly, still recovering from her fit of laughter. 

“Not that one.”

Lillian looks confused for a moment before seeming to recollect something.

“Oh, you mean the one he mentioned in his journal? It never made it to the construction phase.”

“Don’t lie to me. I think it’s the least you can do, to be honest with me.” Lena warns her.

“I am being honest with you. Last he had mentioned it was still in planning and nothing more than a roughly drafted blue print on a piece of paper.”

“You’re lying!” Lena says in a raised voice.

“I’m not.” Lillian assures her firmly.

“Yes you are!” Lena shouts as she pushes her chair back and stands, hands on the desk, leaning forward and towering over Lillian. Kara reaches forwards and grabs onto Lena’s arm gently coaxing her to calm down.

“Lena.”

The raven-haired scientist ignores the blonde’s cajoling and demands, “Where is it? I know you know!”

Lena refuses to back down but Lillian looks genuinely confused and unable to help. Lura steps in to try and calm down the heated Luthor. She steps to the side of Lena, keeping herself turned away from Lillian.

“Hey, it’s okay. Calm down.” Lura says in such a gentle tone that it has an immediate effect on Lena. She looks at the concerned piercing blue eyes of the younger brunette and takes a deep breath, collecting her thoughts and emotions. Lillian just stares at the back of this mysterious visitor’s head and the undeniable power she holds over her daughter. She wants to say something, to tell this stranger to take her hands off of her daughter but every thought vanishes from her mind when the stranger turns to face her. She gasps at the sight in front of her. 

It’s Lena, only it’s not. She looks almost identical to Lena when she was around nineteen years old but there are slight differences. The main one being that her eyes are a piercing shade of cerulean blue as opposed to a vibrant jade green. Her hair is also lighter, still dark, but not quite raven. And her features are slightly more rounded. Where Lena’s features are sharp and one might think Lena to have a “resting bitch face”, this young woman would have what could only be defined as a “resting sweetheart face”...if that makes sense? Either way, Lillian is certain that this young woman shares DNA with her estranged daughter. 

“Who are you?” Lillian asks almost reverently. 

Lura takes a deep breath as if preparing to defend herself so Alex cuts in before she has the chance to answer.

“She’s your other daughter, asshole.” 

“Alex!” Kara admonishes her sister.

“She’s chained to the table Kara, what is she going to do?”

“My other daughter?” Lillian says in utter disbelief.

“It’s a long story but my name is Lura.” Lura admits before she tells Lillian the real reason they’re there. “I can’t really explain much but we’re here because I need your help. I needed Lena to help me to get to you.” Lura bends down onto one knee beside the desk and reaches up to grab Lillian’s hands within her own. “Something terrible has happened and it’s all Lex’s undoing. I need to find his lair because I need to find a piece of technology and destroy it before it gets into the wrong hands. I know you don’t know me yet and I can’t expect you to trust me but I am begging you, please, tell us where it is.” She says as she squeezes Lillian’s hands a little tighter as she feels her fists begin to unclench in her grasp. 

It frightens Lillian how much she unequivocally trusts this stranger wearing her daughter’s face. She thinks the others feel the same way as they clearly trusted her enough to bring her here. 

“I’m sorry but I truly don’t know anything more about it. He only ever mentioned it as a passing thought and never brought it up again. He never told me if he actually completed it and he certainly didn’t tell me where it was.” 

“Okay, I believe you.” Lura says as she stands and removes her hands from Lillian’s. 

“You can’t be serious?” Alex says incredulously. 

“Alex, I agree with Lura. I think Lillian’s telling the truth.” Lena says.

“Well there must be something! A clue, anything.” Alex says as she starts to pace.

“I couldn’t decipher anything in the journals, I tried everything.” Lena says as she runs a hand over her face.

“Did he mention anything else to you, any possible hints as to where he might want to build it?” Alex says as she stops pacing and looks at Lillian for answers.

She contemplates for a moment before she says, “Nothing that comes to mind. He mentioned wanting to build it and then muttered something in Greek about finally getting his time to sit upon the throne. You know how he would ramble to himself after everything started, just like your father.” She directs that last part to Lena. 

“Wait, what?” Lena says.

“What?”

“What did he say in Greek? Something about a throne?” Lena presses.

“I don’t remember the exact wording but loosely translated he said something like, ‘and soon my time will come to sit upon my platinum throne and cast judgment, imposing my will’. Typical Lexisms if you ask me.” 

“Lena, do you know what that means?” Kara asks as she places her hand on her best friend’s lower back. Lena’s mind is racing too fast for her to register Kara’s warm touch and she has an eureka moment.

“Mount Olympus!”

‘What?” Alex asks.

“He said in Greek ‘sit upon my platinum throne to cast judgment and impose my will’. Who sat on a platinum throne, imposing his will on mortals by casting judgment with fistfuls of lightning?!” Lena asks excitedly.

“Zeus!” Kara answers.

“His lair is on, or inside, Mount Olympus! It has to be.”

“Uggh, the ego on this Mr. Clean-looking asshole is unbelievable.” Alex says as she pinches the bridge of her nose. 

“Good job m--” *cough* Lura cuts herself off with a choking cough. Alex rounds on her and pats her back as the girl’s coughs die down. 

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” She says as she swats Alex away. She takes a breath and collects herself before she carefully says, “Good job, Lena!” 

Lena preens at the positive reinforcement while Lillian hardens her gaze at the youngest woman. I could have sworn she was about to say something else . 

 Alex’s cellphone suddenly rings and upon seeing that it’s J’onn she excuses herself and walks outside the cell.

“J’onn, hey, is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. Brainy just found out something rather interesting about our friend Lura Luthor.”

Alex glances back at the ajar cell door and sees the remaining women talking to Lillian, ensuring her privacy. 

“What did you find?” She says in a quieter tone.

“I’ll spare you the details but basically Lura lied. She’s not from another reality, she’s from another time. More specifically she’s from the future.”

Alex clenches her jaw as her face flushes with anger. “I knew it.” She grits through her teeth. “I knew she was lying but I wasn’t sure what about.”

“One more thing, Alex. When we were in Kara’s apartment and Lura first appeared...I couldn’t read her mind. I tried, just to make sure she was telling the truth, but I couldn’t hear anything. I brushed it off as a possible effect of jumping realities. I’m not sure of the true extent of my powers especially in regards to beings of other worlds and alternate realities. But now I’m sure that’s simply not the case.” 

Alex blows out a breath and runs her hand down her face, contemplating what to do next. 

“How should we handle this?”

“Don’t say anything.”

“What?” 

“If she lied about where she came from she might be lying about who she is and what she really wants. And if she really is a Luthor, we have to be careful. Make her trust you. You can’t let her think that something’s wrong. Help her and see if you can find out anything more than what she was already willing to give away.”

Alex sighs knowing that J’onn is right. “You’re right.”

“And Alex?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t let her out of your sight.”

Alex scoffs, “Wasn’t planning on it.” 

She says goodbye and hangs up her phone. She takes a few deep breaths and collects herself before walking back into the visitation cell. 

“Everything okay?” She hears Kara ask.

Alex nods and adds, “Yeah, just Kelly, wondering how everything’s going.” She plays it off, no one the wiser. “You guys ready to go?”

Kara, Lena, and Lura look at each other before nodding. Kara politely nods at Lillian before making her way out the cell. Lena nods as well but adds a very formal, “mother” before she departs. Lillian looks back at her daughter’s retreating form with a sense of longing and regret etched across her face. Lena stops at the door and turns around to look at Lura.

"You coming?" She asks.

“Yeah, just give me a second?” Lura asks and Lena gives her a small smile before stepping out of the cell.

Lillian looks at the remaining young woman standing by her side.

“Is there something else you wanted, Lura?”

Lura only smiles down at the eldest Luthor as she says, “Yeah one more thing.” She then does the unthinkable and wraps Lillian Luthor in the warmest most comforting hug that Lillian has ever experienced in her entire life. She can’t even remember an instance when Lionel hugged her as warmly, and that’s saying a lot since her handcuffs are restraining her from reciprocating the gesture. She holds her for what feels like a lifetime, a lifetime that’s much too short, in Lillian’s opinion. 

Sensing Lillian is on the verge of tears, Lura pulls back and looks Lillian directly in the eyes and says “Happy Thanksgiving.” 

Lillian can’t help it, she has a moment of weakness, and lets a tear fall. Lura quickly wipes it away with her left hand while her right hand grabs onto Lillian’s closed fists once more. Lura leans into Lillian’s space once more and whispers in her ear, “Se agapo, giagia.” She kisses Lillian on the temple before hastily standing to full height and exiting the cell. Lillian is still trying to process what the younger woman had just done and said. It takes a moment to recall her understanding of Greek and then it hits her square in the chest, like an arrow from cupid’s bow, as the younger woman’s words finally register. I love you, grandmother . 

As Lura walks out of the cell, Kara gives her an odd look that the other two don’t seem to register. Lura knows Kara heard everything she said, she’s just thankful that her mom doesn’t understand Greek...at least not this mom. 

“Everything okay?” Kara asks her as they make their way towards the penitentiary exit.

“Perfect.” Lura says with a smile.

It takes Lillian a few minutes to process the day’s events before she registers that there is a foreign object sitting in her right hand. She turns the small object over in her hand unsure of what it is but certain of who gave it to her. Her granddaughter.

She leans forward and quickly slips the object into her bra so as to keep it from being confiscated by a C.O. Her timing is impeccable as a guard enters the room and unlocks her cuffs from the table before escorting her to her cell. She will have to figure out what it is and how to work it later tonight after they call lights out. 

:::

“So what’s next?” Alex asks as they’re seated in the back of the limousine on their way back to Lena’s. 

“Well, we can take my private jet but it will have to wait until at least Saturday afternoon I’m afraid. I’ve given Margaux, my pilot, the week off and typically that would include weekends but I’m sure she won’t mind working on Saturday once she’s back in town. Especially if I give her an appreciative bonus.” 

“I could just fly us there.” Kara says without thinking and immediately the three older women’s hearts sink to their stomach. Lena stares at Kara with wide eyes while Alex glares at her, her eyes boring a hole into the side of Kara’s skull. You idiot .

Kara just remains frozen as if she short-circuited her own brain. Lura looks at the three of them amused. The three older women turn their gaze back to Lura, internally trying to assess if Lura knows “in her world” that Kara is Kryptonian. Of course they would keep up the pretense of Kara being a normal, inextraordinary human being and she thinks she should as it might be fun to watch them try to keep this a secret. After all, she always heard hilarious stories of her mom coming up with the most ridiculous excuses to cover for her Supergirl disappearances. So she decides to play dumb and maybe have a bit of fun with the younger versions of her parents and aunt.

“Fly us there?” She asks, pretending to be confused. She tries so hard not to laugh at the complete deer-in-the-headlights look Kara has perfected. 

Lena manages to come to her rescue, not for the first time.

“Haha, Kara, very funny. But you failed your first pilot class I signed you up for and refused to return. Remember, darling?” Lena improvises smoothly. Lura’s impressed but then again she was never unimpressed by her mother’s intellect and ability to improvise in any given situation. 

“Right! Haha, you know me? Just trying to be funny. Because I was joking about flying us there, on a plane , even though I failed out of pilot school.” 

“Pilot class.” Alex corrects her out of the side of her mouth.

“Pilot class !” Kara enunciates a little too enthusiastically as she adjusts her glasses. 

Lura just nods her head and bites the inside of her cheek trying her damndest not to laugh.

“I see.” She says as Alex watches her carefully.

“So, um, since we can’t really do anything at the moment what do you guys want to do? I mean, with Lura. I mean like, where is she going to sleep? Where are you going to sleep?” Kara rambles trying to change the subject. 

At that Lura raises her eyebrows unsure. She honestly hadn’t really planned it all out. She was so caught up in her plans to get here and find her mom that she really hadn’t put much thought into where she would actually stay during her time here. She knows where she wants to stay, more than anything in the world, if only to make up for lost time...but she’s afraid to vocalize it. Good thing she doesn’t have to.

“With me.” Lena says resolutely. The younger Luthor looks at Lena and hesitantly asks, “Are you sure?” 

“Of course I’m sure.” Lena says matter-of-factly.

“I don’t want to be a bother.” Lura says twisting her hands together in her lap. Lena senses the younger woman’s insecurity so she reassures her, “I would love it if you came and stayed with me, Lura.” 

And that settles it, Lura is staying with Lena. But Alex remembers that she can’t let Lura out of her sight so before she can think better of it she exclaims, “slumber party!”

Kara gasps in excitement as Lura and Lena turn to Alex surprised at the redhead’s exclamation. Lena never would have imagined Alex suggesting such a thing. Kara sure, it’s almost a given, in fact she’s surprised the blonde hadn’t already suggested it...but Alex ? This is new. 

“Caaaan weeeeee?!” Kara practically squeals before remembering herself and her still mending relationship with Lena. “I mean, um, we don’t have to, it’s only if you guys want to--but I get it if you don’t, it’s, it’s a silly idea. We, we probably shouldn’t.” She finishes sheepishly looking down at her shoes.

Lura looks to Lena and says with a smile, “What do you think?”

Lena smiles at the younger woman, a mutual understanding in their eyes. She turns to Kara’s bowed head and says with what she hopes is enthusiasm in her voice, “Sounds fun.” Kara’s head snaps up and she is unable to control herself as she launches herself at the Luthors. She wraps them both in a tight embrace, an arm around each of them. They laugh as they reciprocate the hug as best as they can. 

Alex smacks Kara’s ass making the blonde release her hold on the two of them. 

“There’s not going to be a slumber party if you suffocate them, dingus.” 

“Right, sorry.” Kara says as she blushes. And if Alex and Lura notice the red on both Kara and Lena’s face, they keep their observation to themselves.

:::

Somewhere in the space between dimensions: 

William awakes in what he can only describe as a void of space. It’s dark and empty, there is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see.

“Hello?” Is anyone there?” He shouts. 

“Where the hell am I?” He asks himself.

Suddenly there’s a puff of smoke swirling in front of him and as the smoke dissipates he sees a staff, that looks as if it’s made of platinum, standing before him. At the top of the staff is a brilliantly glowing fuchsia gemstone, held in place by elaborately bended platinum. 

“What the fuck?” 

“Go on, pick it up.” A hauntingly delicate voice says from somewhere in the depths. William jumps at the sound and desperately looks around searching for whoever or whatever said that. 

“I’m afraid you can’t see me, William. I’m unfortunately uncorporeal at the moment.” 

William closes his eyes and shakes his head. “This isn’t real. I’m dreaming. I just had a few too many pints at the pub and I passed out absolutely knackered. This isn’t real.” He says trying to reason with himself.

“Oh it’s quite real, silly boy. If it wasn’t, could I do this?” The feminine voice says before William is screaming as he drops to his knees, paralyzed, an excruciating pain overtaking his body. 

“What have you done to me? Stop! Please stop!” He begs.

“I can understand your hesitance but sometimes we all just need a good push .” The voice says as William’s body glides across the floor towards the staff. He continues to scream in pain as he has no control over his own body. 

“Go on, take it .” The voice says as once again William’s body moves at the disembodied voice’s command, hand reaching forward to grab the staff. Once William grabs the staff a bright light is emitted from the gemstone at the top of the staff, enshrouding William. It feels as if every cell in his body is vibrating at an intense frequency, the pain is almost unbearable. He grits his teeth and tries to hold on, hoping and praying that the pain will be over soon. And thankfully it is.

The relief is immediate and it takes William a moment to realize that he not only feels fine but he actually feels incredible. Powerful, even. As he stands he looks down at his body as sees that, where once was his clothes, is now an imposing suit of platinum armour. He looks over his body and over his arms as his hand, not holding the staff, reaches up to touch his face. He feels a sheathing covering his neck and most of his cheeks, extending up the back of his head all the way across the top of his head stopping at his forehead, leaving only a T-shape portion of his face uncovered. 

“So, how does it feel?” He hears the voice say much louder than before and much closer...as if it’s coming from within his own head. 

“What have you done to me?”

“Nothing that wasn’t already destined to be.” The voice says inside his ears. 

“What is this? What do you want me to do?”

The haunting voice cackles inside his mind before it says, “It’s not about what I want you to do, it’s about what I want us to do.” The voice says before the staff is lifted off the ground and brought down with incredible force causing another beam of light to emit from the gemstone, this time flashing directly into William’s eyes. The beam stops and the transformation is complete.

With eyes glowing fuchsia, William, the once mediocre reporter, is now Nemesis: The Greek “Mythological” God of Retribution. 

:::

As soon as the lights of her cell go out Lillian reaches into her bra and takes out the mysterious object Lura had placed in her hand. She sits up on her cot and turns over the object, studying it closely. It’s a matte black, metallic object about the size of a half-dollar coin and about three times as thick. As she turns it over a few times she notices what appears to be a cut out of a button along the edge of the coin-shaped device. It’s smooth and flat to the touch but she can see the tiny square outline of it and she uses her thumbnail to push it in. As soon as she pushes it in, a hologram appears from the center of the top surface of the device. 

She jumps startled at the light and holds it to her chest as she scurries to throw the blanket over her head to cover the light and not alert the guards. She slowly pulls the device away from her chest and looks down to see a hologram of what appears to a menu. Confused, she tries to press one of the selections on the holographic menu but her fingers have no purchase. Of course, it’s a hologram, think! She suddenly gets the correct idea and very quietly whispers into the device, the first words she reads.

“Visits Together.” She says quietly as the holographic menu screen changes into what appears to be a video. 

In the video she sees herself, in her prison attire, playing chess with what looks like a ten year old Lena. Lillian stares at the video in both wonderment and confusion until she hears her daughter’s voice.

“Lura, if you beat your grandmother at chess, Jeju convinced me you can have extra ice cream before dinner.” Lena says from behind the camera. (The device seems to be user intuitive as it plays the audio at the same volume Lillian spoke in). 

The little girl gasps before looking directly above the camera at her mother. “Really?!”

“Yup. That being said, Mother?” Lena calls out to the eldest Luthor.

Lillian turns her head to look at her daughter, the happiest Lillian’s ever seen herself look on camera, or in the mirror for that matter. 

“Yes, dear?”

“Don’t let her win.” Lena says with amusement in her voice. 

“Heyyy.” Lura says with a pout. 

Lillian laughs at her beautiful granddaughter before turning back to the camera and says, “Wouldn’t dream of it sweetheart.” Before she turns back to her granddaughter and winks, making the young girl giggle as if they just shared a secret. Lillian’s heart bursts at the sight and she covers her mouth, stifling a soft laugh and releasing a few joyful tears. 

That’s how she spends the rest of her night. With the blanket thrown over her head, like a child reading a good book past their bedtime, trying not to get caught. Going through the various videos, photos, and sweet remembrances of her time spent with her family.