#also shoutout to my wife for teaching me how to make espresso even though i don't drink coffee

[kj-yikes]

17. Family

(on ao3 here)

Kara's eyes open blearily to see the beginnings of the morning sun's rays shining through their bedroom window. Running a hand through her hair, she rolls over and sees that her wife is still asleep, clutching her pillow and feet touching Kara's. Kara smiles and watches Lena's steady breathing. Years of waking up next to Lena, and it's still the most beautiful sight in the world to Kara.

Smiling, Kara slowly extricates herself from the bed, careful not to wake Lena, and opens the bedroom door. She stretches, yawns. Crossing the kitchen, she opens a cabinet and grabs two glasses. From behind the closed door down the hall, she hears rustling and a muffled voice. Smiling, she sets the cups down on the counter and crosses the kitchen to open the bedroom door.

"Yeyu!" a small voice calls. Her three-year-old daughter sits up in her bed, surrounded by stuffies she had so carefully arranged before bed last night. Kara's heart swells with affection the way it always does when she looks at her daughter, her little miracle.

Years ago, Kara had given up on ever having a family of her own. As Supergirl, she thought she had sacrificed a quiet, domestic life, because how could she have a partner who was willing to always have their life in danger? How could she take care of a child when she was busy saving the city?

The dance between friendship and something more with Lena had lasted years, and on Kara's side, part of the reason she never acted on her feelings was the fear that one day, Lena would decide it was too much, that while she could love Kara Danvers, she wouldn't be able to love Kara Zor-El, who flies off at a moment's notice to save the day.

But Lena had stayed anyway. Lena loved every part of her. Lena wanted a life with her. Lena wanted it all with her, and a couple of years ago, when Kara had whispered her greatest secret desire to her wife one night laying in bed entwined in one another, Lena whispered that she wanted it too, and she worked tirelessly to make it happen.

Their daughter, Kieran, a perfect blend of both of them, was born a year later. It had been some of the best months of Kara's life, watching their little miracle grow inside of the love of her life. Thirteen-year-old Kara, who crash landed on Earth and was heartbroken to discover that her mission, to raise little Kal-El, was moot, would never believe the life that she has now.

"Good morning, iskah," Kara says in Kryptonian as she places a kiss on her unruly, dark curls, mussed from the night's sleep. "Ready to get up? It's a little early, but I won't tell Mama if you don't." The girl's bright blue eyes light up as she grins and moves to clamber out of bed, carrying her favorite stuffed elephant and her blanket dragging the floor as she runs out of the room.

"Shh, don't wake Mama yet, okay? Do you want to help me make coffee?" Dark brown curls bounce as Kieran nods enthusiastically. Kara preps the beans and puts them in the grinder, then lifts Kieran up to sit beside the espresso machine. Her little legs dangle and kick the counter.

"Okay, do you want to press the bellow? Make sure all the grounds are out?" Kara guides her tiny hand to the bellow and helps her pump it a few times, until Kara can hear that all the grounds have cleared. She slides the portafilter out and tamps it before sliding it back into place into the machine.

"Do you want to hit the button?" Kieran nods enthusiastically and reaches around the machine to press the flashing button. "Perfect, baby. You make the best coffee." The smile Kieran gives her is the splitting image of Lena's, and it makes her heart clench.

"Can I have coffee?"

Kara laughs. Kieran has been asking for coffee for the past few weeks, and every time Kara gives her a sip, she hates it. Even at three years old, Kieran is strong willed and curious, always wanting to try new things and explore and experiment. Kara thinks she knows where Kieran gets it from.

"How about I give you a sip of mine when I'm done making it, and we make you some chocolate milk too?" Kieran squeals in delight, little feet kicking the cabinets. Kara pulls out the milk and chocolate syrup and lets Kieran squeeze a little syrup into a sippy cup.

Kara finishes making the coffee for herself and Lena, letting Kieran drop a few ice cubes into each glass. "Let's go bring Mama her coffee and wake her up."

Having been let loose from the cabinet, Kieran races to the bedroom door and stands on her tippy-toes to open it. She scrambles up onto the bed as Lena stirs, Kara following close behind with the two cups of coffee.

Lena's brow furrows briefly as an elbow accidentally lands in her stomach. Kara is always amazed that Lena, her sweet, grumpy wife who sometimes can't form a coherent sentence before her morning cup of coffee, always manages a smile and words of affection for her daughter no matter how early in the morning it is or how little coffee she's had. She smiles affectionately as she watches her daughter squirm until she's burrowed in Lena's arms.

"Mmm, good morning, darling. It's a little early for you to be up on a weekend." Kara grins guitily.

"Sorry, sweetheart. She was already awake."

"We made you coffee!" Kieran exclaims.

"Oh, good, thank you iskah. Because you know if your Mama doesn't get her coffee in the morning, she's a monster." Lena raises her arms and growls before digging her fingertips into Kieran's stomach. As the girl's laughter echoes throughout the room, Kara climbs into bed and hands Lena her coffee. Lena smiles at her gratefully and leans forward for a quick kiss.

Kara adores slow, sleepy mornings like this with her little family. Her heart swells with gratitude as she wraps an arm around her wife and her daughter settles between them.

Kara once thought that her purpose in life, the reason she survived the destruction of Krypton, was to be a hero and save Earth. Now, though, she's found other meaning in life too. She finds it in these quiet moments and in the way her daughter smiles up at her and in the way she discovers with Lena how to be the kinds of parents that honor their pasts and their daughter. Teaching her daughter to be brave, strong, cunning, and kind like her mothers, and holding and remembering the stories of Krypton. That seems like just as good of a purpose in life as being Supergirl, and she's so grateful she's able to have it all.