Chapter Text
The group was supposed to stay on Argo for only two weeks, but Maggie and Sam have had the best time on this new planet. This was Maggie's first time off-world, and she couldn’t get enough of all the new things she was experiencing. She has barely been outside of Nebraska and National City, so coming to Argo has exposed the girl to a world of colours, smells, tastes, and sights. Getting to see so many new things, things that they are unable to experience on Earth, Kara and Alex decided to tack on three more weeks to their trip.
In their fourth week on Argo, Maggie has had a hard time falling asleep. Her stuffed elephant Fluffy, seemed to have disappeared from their bedroom. Alex suspects that the girl had taken it to the fire show they went to farther in the city and left it somewhere she doesn't remember. Kara's night light could only comfort the girl so much. Maggie wakes up for the third morning in a row in a fit. Grumpy for most of the day, but she tries not to make it anyone else's problem. Alura has suggested a little outing, mainly for the little girl with an attitude she can't seem to kick herself.
“How about we go and look at the shops a little farther out?” Alura says as she puts on her last shoe, adjusting the collar of her shirt. “I would like to try a different recipe for lunch, and one of the ingredients is a bit scarce in this area, so if you don't mind the walk.” She looks at them expectantly.
She remembers when Kara was little, grumpy as ever all the time, if she didn't have the time to expel that energy, going on a walk or run, or even just talking the neighbours' ears off would always do the trick and have her settled for the rest of the day.
The group agrees to the outing, Kara looking at her mom with a knowing smirk,and Alura returns her with a wink. The rest of them quickly got dressed in their standard casual attire. Both Sam and Maggie brought clothes that would have lasted them a month, but they rarely actually wore what they brought. They have fallen in love with the planet's customary attire, Maggie loving the softness of the fabric and the breathable airiness it holds the most. Sam has grown to love the simplicity of the patterns and the rougher option of the fabric.
Once they are all dressed, Maggie is the first to run out the door. Sam rolls her eyes at the girl sprinting to the sidewalk. She then softly jogs to catch up to her. Alura smiles happily at the two. Alura has missed her daughter, over forty years of not knowing if sending her off into the unknown was the best option. Seeing her grown up, trying her best to keep a whole planet safe, gives the woman peace of mind that almost brings her to tears at the sight of them all. Alura loves seeing her daughter with her family, loves seeing the affectionate kisses she gives Lena, the slight shoves she gives her sister Alex, the love-filled giggles tossed Maggie's way and the bombing of affection she shares with Samantha.
Samantha, Alura wasn't sure how to feel about her, in the sense of how she fit into Alura's world. Alura wanted to give everyone what they deserved, and more. Lena gets to talk her ear off about math and science, and Kara gets a maternal shoulder to cry on. Alex gets wisdom filled conversation as well as her personal fix of alien rum, and now Maggie gets a soft place to run to when she wants to be levelled out. Those are all things Alura is willing to give to each girl. It's because she wants to, but also because she knows it is something they each need and long for.
Samantha is a wild card. Alura is sort of sure what the girls needs, call it mother's intuition. But each of the other girls have come to her , it's only right that Samantha have the realisation on her own time, whether that be today, or months from now, Alura is fine with waiting. She wants to see each of these girls happy. But that doesn't mean that the anticipation of the needed conversation with the taller woman is any less anxiety-inducing for either party.
Once they make it to the outdoor market they all break off from there. Samantha, Alura, and Maggie are together while the others go on a scavenger hunt searching for the item Alura described to them in detail. Alura knows they will meet back with her about an hour later without the item in hand, which won't be too much of a problem. She knows both her older daughters, Kara and Alex, are inept when it comes to anything other than Earth doughnuts and French toast.
Alura walks behind both girls, watching them look around the market, seeing so many colourful and new items.
“Look Sammy,” Maggie drags the taller girl to one of the market stalls that seems to be selling toys, more so on the educational side. They peruse around and Maggie picks out a cute colouring book that has some numbers and letters to learn targeted towards four-year-olds. It's all in Kryptonese so it's a win on keeping the girl entertained and a great way to educate her slowly to the language.
They all walk around some more, Alura picking up some more books for different age groups to donate to the city's orphanage. They were about to check out when they hear Maggie squeal.
Alura's brows furrow in confusion, her stance a bit on guard, thinking something has happened to the girl. Before either woman can come running to the girl's rescue, she comes back to them sprinting with a small plush dragon-esque stuffed animal.
“Look 'Lura!” Maggie shoves the stuffy in Alura's face, “It's the colour of the Dek-Erra at home!” The girl provides them both with a splitting smile, a smile they haven't seen her wear in what seems like ages.
“It's beautiful, sweetheart. Are we going to pay for it?” Alura questions the girl, setting the rest of the items on the counter. The person checking them out has a small smile on his face, not directed at anyone in particular, while he types away at the items, counting up the price of them all.
Maggie shakes her head in affirmative with a serious look on her face as if that was an unnecessary question. She puts it on the table for the man to scan, and she grabs it back as soon as she sees him scan it.
“Alright Bun, how about you put it in the bag and we can take it out when we get back. You don't want to lose it, do you?”
The shorter girl holds it to her face, appreciating the softness and then shoves it in the bag they were provided.
The three of them walk off, walking back to the food area to find the rest of the girls. Maggie is a couple of feet ahead, they let her walk on. They can hear her humming to herself, fascinated with the new things around her, and they think this bout of independence will further uplift her mood.
A couple of minutes into their venture to the food section, Alura shifts her focus to Samantha. She can sense some tension in the woman, her shoulders seem rigid, her brows scrunch, lip downturned just a bit to be noticeable if you're looking close enough. Alura is looking close enough. Since Samantha has been with her, she has slowly exited the shell she has been trapped in, but there are layers that still need to be peeled back, and with time, she knows Samantha will get there.
Alura isn't privy to all of the things that happened on Earth recently that sparked this impromptu trip. But the woman perceives enough that right now, Samantha needs someone by her side. She knows that Samantha has the best support system she could ever dream of, but adding to it would never hurts.
Alura gently grabs the girl's hand, which knocks the taller girl from her thoughts.
“You ok over there? Seem to be a bit in your own head?” Alura questions, still holding onto the girl's hand, she says nothing about what seems to be an unconscious squeeze of her knuckles.
Sam lets out a soft sigh, her teeth nibbling at her lower lip. Alura can sense the girl's increased anxiety, and she tries to rid it. She playfully swings their arms back and forth, softly shoving her off balance, which makes the taller woman giggle and huff in annoyance.
Alura shows her a smile, and Samantha gives her one in return.
“You know, I am very happy that Kara decided to bring you two along this time.” Alura squeezes the warm hand.
Samantha hums, “A lot has happened these past couple months, I don’t know how much you uh-,” She kicks a passing rock, trying to muster up the courage to go on about her personal life, “I don't know what they told you, if anything, but a shit ton has happend these past couple months.”
Alura can see her underlying stress. Before they move on, she notices the rest of the girls in the distance, she ushers Maggie to catch up to them while she and Samantha sit and talk for a while near one of the food stalls.
Samantha's nerves seems to heighten, so Alura puts a gentle but firm hand on the girl's knee.
“It's quite alright, dear, I just thought we should talk is all, is that alright?” Alura questions, hoping that Samantha is at the very least open to talking one-on-one. Alura has been waiting for a moment like this to fully gauge the girl. Usually important and/or private conversations, Alura would rather have in the comfort of her own home or at least in a more private, secluded area. She can tell that Samantha is one of the few who would rather be out in an open area so she doesn't feel ambushed or boxed in.
Samantha nods her head, letting out a soft sigh. Alura can’t tell if its of relief or exasperation.
Alura sits there for a couple of seconds, giving the taller woman time to open up. After a bit, she could tell that Samantha wasn't so she opens up herself. She gives her knee one last pat and puts her hands in her own lap, looking up towards the sky, observing the clouds.
“It's been a while since I lost my husband,” She can hear the slight inhale of Samantha's breath, but she moves on. “I think about him almost every day. I still keep some of his clothes, hoping the smell would stay, but it’s slowly fading.”
Alura sighs, “We never took many pictures, we never thought there was a purpose to them, so naive of us to think we would all continue to live together, to live long . That's one of my many regrets, I have not one picture of him, or Kara. His image is fading in my mind just like the scent of his clothes.”
Samantha isn't sure what to say. She rests her hand on the woman now, and they both smile at each other, pain evident on each of their faces. “I'm so sorry Alura-” She shorter woman waves her off.
Alura turns to take Samantha's hands in hers, looking at her directly now. “Thank you, but I didn't say that for pity. I said that to say this,” She pushes a lock of hair behind Samantha's ear, earning more of the woman's attention.
“Family is the most important thing to me. I would do anything for Kara. I sent her into the unknown with just a sliver of hope in my heart. She came back to me, and for that, I thank Rao every day. She has brought Alex and Lena, both fiery in their own ways, and my heart swells every time I look at each of them.”
Alura squeezes Samantha's hands as she watches her eyes swell with tears. “Now, you and Maggie are here, I get to watch you all laugh, play, cry, sleep, live, and that creates this ache in my heart I will never want to wish away.”
Samantha's tears start to fall, she can’t look at Alura any longer, so now her face is down turned. Alura gently takes the girl's cheeks and softly wipes away the tears.
“I need you to know that I loved you before they even uttered a word about you to me. I don’t know everything, and I'm not asking you to divulge that with me. I just need you to hear it from me. I am here for you, I love you, no matter what, forever and always, Samantha. As long as you will have me, ok?”
A sob escaped the taller girl and Alura quickly takes her into her arms.
“It’s ok darling, I've got you, I've got you.” Hugging her tight, rubbing her back, whispering words of encouragement.
They stay like this for a while, and once the tears dry, they gather their bearings and get up to regroup. Before they reach the rest of them, Alura grabs the girl one last time, kissing her on her forehead.
“I am whoever you want me to be, whoever you
need
me to be, and more.”
It's Samanta who grabs the woman's hand as they walk closer to the group. She has a megawatt smile on her face and nobody questions her as to continues to walk side by side with Alura.
A mother she thought she'd never have the gift of experiencing.