Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jonathan turned up the radio just a little bit, humming absentmindedly to whatever song was playing. He was in a really good mood. After two years of dating Candice, of keeping it from her, his dad had finally let him tell her the secret. In all honesty, he had been terrified of how she would react, if she would hate him for keeping it from her. On the agonizing four-hour drive to Topeka his mind had run over countless scenarios where she cursed him out and broke his heart. On the contrary she had taken it surprisingly well, first she had laughed as if it was a joke, and in retrospect it did kind of sound like a joke. Then she saw his expression and was stunned into silence for a full two minutes. Finally, she kissed him and said she didn't give a damn and he could have freaking blue skin for all she cared. They talked about the rules of the secret about all the weird things that had happened since finding out and so on for about an hour before he finally pulled himself away from her and headed home.

He was pulled from his bliss by flashing red and blue lights and indistinct talking. He scanned the scene taking in the bridge that was closed, and what looked like both scared and angry people. There was a tapping on the car window and Jon turned his head to face an officer with an arrogant look.

"Excuse me officer, is everything okay?" he asked, remembering his manners.

"Yeah, bridge is closed" that was all the information he gave before he started to turn.

" But, um, this is the only way home."

"Sorry man, no can do, better get comfortable. You might be here for a while." and then he fully turned and walked away. Flabbergasted Jon turned to his phone about to text his parents about what was going on. Then he overheard that same officer talking to one of his coworkers.

"So where do you think this little alien ran off to." Alien? Now that stopped him in his tracks.

"Whoever they are, they gave third degree burns to two men, and need to be brought in." Despite his better instincts Jon climbed out of the car and began discreetly walking away, locking the car and cursing it as it beeped. The noise had alerted an officer to him, and the man began walking over.

"Going somewhere?" Shit, he had to think fast.

"Yeah, just to see the lay of the land in case this takes a while." The man scanned him for a moment before nodding and motioning for him to go on. Jon continued down the street, and he was sure he was way in over his head and probably should have called someone with more expertise than himself by now. Nevertheless, he went on twisting through streets and around people, not really sure what he was looking for. Once again, against his better judgement, and in favor of his gut, Jon turned down into a dark little alleyway. Every step he took seemed to echo off the brick walls as he scanned the alley seeing nothing but an old dumpster. He was about to turn around and head back to his car when out of the corner of his eye he saw the dumpster move just a smidge, and he quietly, cautiously walked towards it, turning around the dumpster he pushed it and heard a soft whimper. He turned his head to see a small girl, couldn't be more than thirteen years old, huddled up against the wall clutching her knees to her chest, she must have been trying to appear small, he decided. As he slowly approached, the girl said nothing and scooched backwards until she hit the corner of the alleyway.

"Hey, hey, I'm not going to hurt you." he reassured, taking a small step towards her and giving a small smile. "What's your name?" he asked, trying to sound as gentle as possible.

"K-Kara" the girl uttered, and he had to strain his ears just to hear her.

"Hi kara-" he started, but she cut him off.

"I didn't mean to hurt those men, I swear, they just kept coming closer, and closer, and I just, I" The more she talked the more she talked the more Kara seemed to work herself up.
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"Hey, hey, hey, it's okay, you're okay." He soothed. Kara took a deep shuddering breath and cautiously took the hand Jon offered her, letting him pull her to her feet. He took in her appearance, there were tear tracks on her face and she looked close to breaking down. Her eyes were deep and untrusting, and her frame was shaking, from what he couldn't tell. He looked at her outfit, she was wearing a loose white bottom and top. It was then that he noticed the emblem on her top, the same one that his dad wore. The symbol of the House of El, she must have caught him staring. for her hands rushed to cover the symbol and the wariness in her eyes deepened.

"Where did you get that top?" he asked, not really knowing what to expect as an answer. She seemed to hesitate, cautious to reveal what was clearly important information to her.

"You can trust me" he assured, not knowing if his words sounded completely empty or not, it must not have for she said,

"It is my family's symbol." she said as if she knew that he wasn't actually interested in the top but in the symbol it bore. Jon sucked in a sharp breath and Kara recoiled a bit. It was then that his phone began to ring, and his dad's name popped up on the screen, Kara stepped back, and Jon gave her a smile before looking at the time and realizing he was supposed to be home thirty minutes ago.

"Jon!" Clark called as soon as Jon picked up the phone. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, dad I'm fine" he answered "the bridge was closed" he explained sensing his dad's next question."

"Why didn't you call?" his dad asked.

"I ran into a situation." he replied not sure how else to describe what had just happened.

"What kind of situation?" his dad asked, noticing the tone in which he said it. Jon took a deep breath and started to explain. When he finished Clark had no words for a moment. "Where are you?" he asked as soon as he regained his voice "I'll be right there."

"The bridge just of millers' lane" Jon clicked and hung up turning back to Kara. "My dad's going to be here soon and he'll know what to do okay?" Kara nodded and Jon nodded back at her, astonished at how fast the last hour had gone by. It took five minutes until Clark turned into the alleyway that Jon and Kara had been silently standing in, neither one of them too sure what to say. "Dad" Jon exclaimed, relived that Clark was finally here, and sincerely hoping that he would have more knowledge on this subject.

"Hi Kara" was all he said, revealing that he, in fact, did not know more than Jon. Kara said nothing. Clark scanned her until his eyes fell on the symbol she wore. He seemed to be lost for a moment before he gathered himself and turned to the two of them. "Kara, can you tell me what you're doing here?" he was gentle with his words, careful not to frighten her more. Kara looked to Jon and then to Clark before she began talking.

"Um, I was sent here by my parents."

"From where?" Clark asked. Once again, she hesitated, but as if in defeat she explained further.

"Krypton." Clark and Jonathan shared a look before turning back to Kara.

"I also come from Krypton." Clark explained. This seemed to soothe Kara a bit and she perked up.

"What is your name." She asked.

"Kal-El" the comfort that had previously shown on her face vanished in an instant and was replaced with what could only be identified as anger.

"Impossible, you lie!" she exclaimed.

"I do not, I swear." he said looking confused.

"Kal-El is just a baby!" this threw the two men even further into confusion. "I saw him leave the planet."

"Kara," Jon began, not really sure why he was asking this question. "When were you supposed to arrive on earth?"

"1978" she said, as if this was common knowledge.

"Kara, that was forty-five years ago." Jon explained.

"Impossible, unless..."

"Unless what?" Clark asked"

"Unless my pod got knocked of course and into a region of the galaxy where time doesn't pass..."

"That must be what happened." Clark concluded.

"No!" Kara practically shouted. "No this can't be happening; this wasn't part of the plan." Once again, she looked close to tears.

"Kara," Clark started, " I know someone who can help, but you have to trust me okay?" Kara looked deep into his eyes still shell-shocked and finally nodded. "First let me deal with the police and then we will head there" He explained before he superspeed out of there. It came as quite the shock to all the officers and civilians when superman arrived in the sky explaining that the alien was in DOD custody, and no one should know about this. Though he didn't say it, Jon heard the 'or else' undertones in his father's speech. When he arrived back in the alleyway, he instructed Jon to go home and explain to the others who home for family dinner what was going on. Jon nodded and watched as his father took Kara's hand and shot into the sky with a bang.

Chapter Text

Despite not completely trusting him, Kara clung to Kal like her life depended upon it. A few thousand feet into the air her life would have depended upon it when she was on krypton, but here much to her chagrin she could fly as well. At least that's what her mother had told her. When they touched the ground, Kara nearly kissed the ice floor. Instead, she opted for looking around, taking in the ice walls and the kryptonian technology that brought a smile to her face.

"Kara?" Kal's voice snapped her back to the reality that she was not on Krypton, that she was not at home. Reluctantly she turned to face her cousin unsure of who this mysterious helper he kept referencing. There was a noise, a machine powering up and a shimmery hologram popped up.

"Kal, my son." Clark turned to face his mother, and it seemed that Kara did the same.

"Aunt Lara" Kara's voice was one of wonder as she took in the holographic form of her aunt.

"So, it's true." Clark cut in, "she is my cousin" Lara nodded. “Why didn’t you or dad tell me about her?” He exclaimed in disbelief that he had once again been kept in the dark about a family member.

“We assumed her dead.” Was the only explanation that Lara gave, which satisfied neither living kryptonian but they moved past it nonetheless.

“Why did you think I was dead, Aunt Lara?” Kara asked, shocked. In response to her question Lara waved her hand and a holographic version of the solar system appeared. Two dots appeared on the map and Kara and Clark moved closer to the diagram.

“When Kal’s pod took off from Krypton,” Lara began to explain as the dot that they assumed represented Clark’s pod moved across the fake solar system and landed on earth. “Everything went according to plan.” The second dot began to move, but unlike the first it did not go smoothly. “When Kara’s pod took off, Krypton’s destruction sent a shock wave that knocked her pod off course and into the phantom zone.” The diagram disappeared and Clark blinked the image out of his mind.

“Why does she not remember that though?” He asked.

“The pods were designed to keep the two of you asleep until you reached earth.” Clark nodded and turned to Kara whose eyes were fixated on the spot where the holographic Krypton had disappeared. He took a deep breath before he began to speak.

“Look, Kara, I know that this was not how your plan was supposed to work, but one thing hasn’t changed. You are still my family.” though it might not have sounded sincere to Kara, Clark meant every word that he said. Kara only nodded; she turned back to the holographic form of her aunt.

“Did-did anyone else make it off? Mother? Father?” Kara sounded beyond desperate, and Clark felt very bad for her.

“No Kara, the explosion wiped out everything and ever-”

“Thank you, mother.” Clark cut her off when he saw Kara’s expression. With a woosh she disappeared. He could tell that Kara was lost in despair at his mother's words and he kneeled down and turned her to face him. “Hey, I know that this is scary, but everything is going to be fine, okay?” Kara shook her head and blinked rapidly to fight the tears she could feel coming. “Come home with me, everything will be alright.” Clark knew he sounded lame repeatedly saying that things would be fine without any other words of comfort, but he didn’t know what to say.

“Okay.” Kara’s voice was low and thick with emotion. Clark extended his hand and Kara took it and allowed herself to be blasted off into the sky and towards what she assumed was a farm.

Chapter Text

The wind that had brushed Kara’s skin and blew her hair back suddenly stopped as they landed, startling Kara back to reality. Despite this, it didn’t feel real; it couldn’t be real, right? But alas, it was; her home was gone, her friends and family were dead, and she was completely and utterly alone. No, not alone, she reminded herself. She had Ka-Clark, but even if he had promised her they were family, it didn’t help the loneliness eating away at her.

The house was cute, a lovely little farm surrounded by wheat fields. If the situation were any different, Kara would have appreciated the serenity of this place. She had always loved the peace of the farmland out in the west as opposed to the bustling city of Argo that she lived in. Forcefully, Kara pulled herself away from thoughts of her lost home and back to the reality she now had to face. When she looked up at her cousin, he was watching her with apprehension. She understood his worry; hell, she was worried. She was a thirteen-year-old girl who had just found out that her entire planet was gone.

“Kara,” Clark’s voice was soft when he called out to her. She looked up, and he motioned for her to follow him into the house. She compelled her legs to follow her brain’s orders and walked behind him. There was a click of a key inserting itself into a lock and then a slight groan of the door unlocking before she stood inside.

Inside, she stood before a table of people who all snapped their focus to her the second she walked in the door. Feeling quite awkward, Kara found interest in the floor instead of the many stares she was receiving. “Dad, is that her?” The question came from a floppy-haired boy who sat next to the boy she knew from the alleyway. Beside him, a woman with mid-length brown hair stood up from her chair and turned to face them. She looked to an older man on her right. He was dressed in camo and looked her up and down as if he was assessing her, which he maybe was.

“Everybody,” Clark announced. “This is Kara, my cousin.” Shock seemed to settle in, and they all remained silent, still staring at Kara. Finally breaking the developing tension, Lois walked forward toward Clark and Kara.

“Hi Kara, I’m Lois,” Her voice was so warm that Kara felt welcomed and wanted. “This is my father, Sam Lane,” Sam nodded to Kara, and she met his eyes in return.

“I’m Clark’s wife. These are our sons,” she motioned to the boys. “You already met Jon,” He gave her a warm smile, which she tried and failed to reciprocate. “And this is my other son, Jordan.” He gave her a small wave.

Jon spoke up as if sensing her discomfort at receiving all the questioning stares. “Um. . . if you want, I can show you the shower if you want to wash off?”

“Y-yeah, that would be nice.” Kara hesitantly accepted his offer, and Clark smiled at the bond he already saw forming. “But I don’t have anything to wear.” Kara bashfully admitted.

“Oh, you can use some of my old stuff.” Lois offered. Now, with a weak smile, Kara nodded and followed Jon up the stairs and around the corner toward the bathroom.

“Jordan, why don’t you join them? I need to talk with your mom and grandad.” Jordan seemed hesitant to accept this offer but relented and went up where his brother had just led Kara. Once the kids were up the stairs (though they all were sure Jordan would be listening in), the adults gathered around the table.

“So what do we know about her?” Sam was the first to ask. He and Lois turned their heads to face Clark.

“According to my mother, she’s my cousin who was sent to watch over me when we went to Earth.”

“Well, obviously, that didn’t work out.” Lois pointed out.

“Mother said that they watched her pod be knocked into the phantom zone. That the pod kept her in suspended animation until she somehow got here.”

“Wow. That’s a lot.” Lois stated in shock. Clark nodded in agreement.

“Well, no one’s ever escaped the phantom zone before, which means we’re in new territory. Along with that, we don’t know her full biology, and we should run tests as soon as possible.” Sam was down to business as usual, but Clark was having none of it.

“No, we’re not going to do that.” He shut down immediately. “She’s a thirteen-year-old girl who just found out everything and everyone she’s ever loved is gone. What she needs is to adjust to her new surroundings and start to feel more comfortable with Earth and with us.” Clark was adamant on this point. He remembered Tal’s stories about what happened to him, and while Kara’s situation was very different from that, tests and further alienation were still not what she needed.

“So, she’s going to stay with you guys?” Sam asked, looking between the couple.

“Yes.”

“Yes.” Clark smiled at his wife when they said the same thing simultaneously. Sam only nodded. He could tell that this was a point that Clark and Lois found non-negotiable. Just then, two sets of footsteps alerted them to the boys coming down the stairs.

“So, Kara is in the shower, and I told her there was a box of your old clothes in the hall closet,” Jon announced as they descended the stairs. Clark smiled gratefully, and Lois nodded.

“So what’s going to happen next?” Jordan asked.

“She’s going to stay with us,” Clark stated matter of factly. The boys nodded. It was already late; the past thirty minutes had exhausted them all. Sam bid farewell to the Kents and left to go home, promising that he would be back to help later.

“Where’s she going to sleep?” Jordan queried.

“She can have my room?” Jon suggested.

“Thank you, that would be great.” Clark took Jon up on his offer. “We’ll set up an air mattress in Jordan’s room for you tonight, and then we’ll move the bed and get Kara her own tomorrow.” The boys nodded and went to grab the air mattress from the closet. Clark walked over to Lois and pulled her in for a hug.

“I love you, babe.” He whispered, “Thank you for being so amazing with having all of this thrust upon us.”

“Of course. She’s family, and family sticks together.”