292Alright, so I took a nosedive off a prompts and ended up in this pool of fluff about Supercorp adopting a toddler.
You can thank Kevlarknight94 for getting me all worked up on headcanons and also for helping me come up with the name!
This ended up way longer and more expository than I intended so be warned!
There will be more of these!
Lena doesn't think she has ever been more nervous in her life.
And she's been married to Supergirl for three years, so that's saying something.
She smooths her blouse for what feels like the thousandth time, hands shaky and nerves rattling. She forces herself to take a deep breath.
In.
Hold it.
Out.
In.
Hold it-
Her phone ringing in her purse shatters any sense of calm she was building, and she nearly jumps out of her chair. She glances around the waiting room nervously, relieved when she sees that she's still alone. Kara's face is smiling up at her from her phone screen and she swipes to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey, so don't be mad."
"Kara, what did you do?" She tries to keep the whine out of her voice, but she doubts she succeeds.
"It's not my fault! Really! I just-" Theres the sound of a scuffle and Lena resists the urge to groan, this exactly what she feared.
"Let me guess, Supergirl was needed somewhere."
"There was a malfunction at the DEO and a rogue alien escaped, but I swear I'll have it wrapped up soon."
"Kara! We're supposed to be adopting a child!" and she knows it isn't Kara's fault, but she's just so on edge, because this is a huge thing and she's freaking out, and Kara was supposed to be here and Kara was going to be the calm one and -
"I'll just reschedule!" She blurts.
"Don't do that! It took us weeks to get this appointment! Just get started without me and I promise I'll be there- HEY! STOP PUNCHING ME! I AM TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION!"
A man in a suit walks in the room and Lena's heart rate sky rockets.
"Kara, they're calling me back."
"You'll be fine I promise, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Right."
"1-4-3."
"1-4-3."
She tries to hide the fact that her hands are shaking as she slips her phone back into her purse and turns to face the gentleman.
"Mrs. Luthor-Danvers?" She nods and he continues, sticking out his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Dr. Egrett."
"Pleasure." She returns, exchanging a firm handshake.
"It was my impression that your wife would be here?"
"That was her on the phone, actually. She's a bit tied up at work, I think Supergirl's out saving the day and you know, the presses don't stop for anything. She should be here soon, though."
"Right, well should we go ahead and get started? The children are all in the common room." He leads her into his office, bright windows all pointing towards a giant room.
"Children?"
"Well, Mrs. Luthor-Danvers, you are here to adopt a child, are you not?"
"Yes, but- I just thought there would be questions or paperwork . . ."
The elderly gentleman laughs gently.
"I've read over your rather . . . extensive file. It's clear you and your wife are more than ready for the responsibility of a child, excellent financial situation, Cynthia tells me the house visit went well . . . All that's left is to see you around the children."
Her apprehension must show on her face because he laughs again.
"Oh dear, you look as nervous as I was when my husband and I did this twenty years ago. You're going to be fine."
She smiles softly and feels a little bit of her anxiety melt away. God, she wishes Kara were here.
"So, this is the toddler, pre-shool group; I thought we might start with them first."
"You're just going to set me loose out there?"
"Well, we usually find that's best, for the first time at least. The children are used to having volunteers, and so they don't get too suspicious. Or attached."
The words are like a weight in her stomach, because she's been the little orphan girl - trying not to think about the family she doesn't have.
"Right."
"Are you ready? You're welcome to leave your purse in my office."
She sets her purse down and smoothes her blouse again.
"As ready as I'll ever be." He opens the outside door, and she pauses. "You'll send Kara out as soon as she get here?"
"Of course."
He smiles, and closes the door and then she's alone, and holy shit she did not think this through.
She scans the room, taking in the different groups of children. There are a handful of adults watching over them and stopping them if they get too rowdy but for the most part letting them play. The children are scattered all over, involved in various group activities . . .
Except for one little girl sitting in the corner, curled up in a giant arm chair. She's small, no older than two or three, with brown hair and bright blue eyes. She's a holding a book that's no doubt too advanced for her to actually read, but the pictures are bright, and Lena suspects that's what's drawn her to pick it up. She's the only child in the whole place that isn't screeching or laughing, or chattering with friends; and while she doesn't look sad, Lena feels her heart break all the same.
She steps over, taking in the chess table in front of the girl's chair, and the stack of giant legos scattered around it.
"May I sit here?" She asks softly, gesturing to the chair opposite.
The little girl doesn't say anything, but she nods slowly and watches carefully as Lena sits before returning to her book.
They sit like that for a long while, Lena slowly starting to move the chess pieces around as she keeps one eye on the girl across from her.
She's halfway through her second game when she feels a gentle tug on her pants leg.
The little girl is standing there, watching her.
She sits back, slowly; and she feels sort of like she's trying not to startle a wild animal.
Only this animal is climbing up into the chair with her and she freezes, unsure exactly of what she's supposed to do. The child settles in her lap and opens her book back up.
"Did you want me to read-" the little girl startles at the sound of Lena's voice, and gives her a guarded look.
"Sorry," She whispers softly. "I won't talk."
The little girl watches her for a moment before turning back to her book.
Lena's heart is pounding in her chest, and her palms are sweaty, and god, she wishes Kara were here, because Kara would know what to do; and she certainly wouldn't just sit here frozen.
It takes a good fifteen minutes, but she slowly relaxes, reading over the little girl's shoulder. The book is about Supergirl, of all things, saving the world with some Kryptonian dog named Krypto. She wonders where they got that idea.
Where there even dogs on Krypton? She makes a mental note to ask Kara later.
She isn't sure how long they sit like that, she loses track after the third time flipping slowly through the book.
They don't talk, just sit in silence, occasionally the girl pointing to a picture or a word.
Lena finds herself wondering if she knows what they mean, or if she just thinks they're pretty. Before she can figure out a way to determine if the little girl actually understands the letters written on the page without actually asking if she understands; one of the caretakers stands in the center of the room and claps her hands.
The little girl jumps again, and Lena moves a hand to her shoulder, hoping it's comforting and doesn't just make things worse.
"Alright, kids! It's dinner time, everybody line up to go wash your hands!"
The little girl hops down to the floor and starts to walk away only to stop and turn back to Lena. She still doesn't say anything, just smiles, holding her book tightly to her chest.
It's a heartbreaking sight, really.
Lena smiles back and offers a small wave, waiting until the children have filed out before making her way back to the door of Dr. Engrett's office.
Kara is there just inside the door, standing at the window, and she feels herself relax just a little bit. Her wife may be bullet proof, but it's always a welcome sight to see her in one piece - especially after a fight.
"Hey." Kara's smile is soft.
"Hey, did you get everything . . . " She glances to the desk where Dr. Engrett is pouring through a medical journal and pretending not to listen to their conversation. "Taken care of?"
"Yeah, yeah, Supergirl saved the day - of course - and I got what I needed for my article."
"Did you just get back?"
"Like . . ." Kara's eyes dart to her watch. "Forty-five minutes ago?"
"You've been watching me from the window this whole time?!"
Geez, so much for Kara coming to rescue her.
"What?! You were bonding, I didn't want to interrupt."
Lena wrings her hands nervously before Kara catches them, squeezing them gently.
"I don't if I would call it bonding, we sat in silence for an hour. It was like a Luthor family dinner."
"Actually," Dr. Engrett looks up from his journal. "Lexington hasn't really spoken to anyone since she arrived. That's the most she's interacted with, well; anyone, really."
Lena's heart catches in her throat.
"What did you say her name was?"
"Lexington. Her teachers have taken to calling her Lexi for short and she seems to be responding well."
Lexi.
Lex.
The similarity makes her stomach churn.
"Aww!" Kara squeals beside her. "Lexi! I always wanted to name my daughter after Alex! It must be a sign!"
It still amazes her, how even after all these years she and Kara can see completely different sides of the same coin.
"Next time, it would be nice to have you both out there, see how she interacts with you as unit. Mrs. Luthor-Danvers, you've already established a bit of a rapport so I think it would do best for you to introduce the other Mrs. to Lexi to see how she reacts."
He studies them over the top of his glasses.
"If that seems like something you're interested in pursuing."
She looks at Kara and sees all the confirmation she needs.
"Yes. Most definitely."
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