Chapter Eleven: As Promised

"When did you get home?" Alex asked as she and Sam stepped through the threshold into Kara's apartment.

Alex wrapped her arms around her sister who stood uneasy against her cane.

"We landed a few hours ago. I just came back here to get cleaned up. I need to go find Lena while I still have the courage in my heart."

"Come. Let's sit down for a second", Sam said with a sad smile.

They walked into the living room and took a seat.

"Kar, Lena read your letter", Alex said quickly, hoping to spare Kara pain.

"What? But how?"

Sam moved closer to Kara and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Her assistant told her about the letter and she requested a copy. We were together when she received it."

"How did she react? Was she angry? Was she swayed at all?"

Sam shook her head.

"We stepped into the other room to give her some privacy. She was quiet and then she left without saying another word to us. I tried calling and texting her, but she just said that she needed some time to get her life in order. I'm not sure what that means. We haven't heard from her since. She never came back to the apartment. I have no idea where she stayed last night."

"Shit. I knew that letter was a mistake. I really hoped my words would get through to her. I know I was an idiot, but I never imagined she would run like this. Do you think she went back to Ireland?"

"I don't know. Text her", Sam suggested.

"I have texted her and she just ignores me. If she isn't giving you information, I fear I won't have much more success."

"What did you say in your letter?" Alex asked tenderly, and without a hint of accusation.

"I told her what happened. I told her I was sorry that it took me so long to explain. I confessed that I loved her and begged her to forgive me. There shouldn't have been anything overtly offensive, unless she decided my explanation wasn't enough."

"Maybe she was just overwhelmed by it all. She has probably spent so much time angry at you that it was hard to hear that this really wasn't your fault. I mean, you should have told her sooner, but the accident wasn't in your control", Sam said wrapping an arm around Kara.

"I really thought I'd be able to tell her face to face. Do you think she's at her office here?"

"I don't know. Give it a try. We can head back to the apartment and see if she makes an appearance. She has the keys to let herself in. I'll send her another text."

"Christmas Eve is in two days. I really hoped that we would finally be together, but this all seems so hopeless."

"Stay strong and have some faith Kara", Alex said caressing Kara's hair and smiling. "Lena's heart will guide her back to you someday."

***

When Kara awoke Christmas Eve morning, her hip ached, but not as much as her heart. She and Sam had tried every form of communication with Lena but they received no response. Kara felt hollow. She knew that her heartbreak was one-hundred percent her own fault, and she would have to live with the consequences for the rest of her days.

Alex had extended the usual Christmas Eve party invitation to Kara. Her sister was more excited than ever because she was going to introduce Sam to all of their friends and family. Kara wasn't in the mood to celebrate. All she wanted to do was listen to sad Christmas music and pretend to work in her darkened office.

"Winter Song", by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson played softly in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1KDkSCXJIR4CJaVUK9qP7O?si=HzYrcxTOTAKkALV9ewFjWA

She looked over at the clock and chuckled.

"Why is it that whenever I check the time, it's always eleven-thirty? Fuck. What am I doing here?"

She sat back and watched the snow falling outside. It amazed Kara how something so beautiful could make her so sad. She used to love to watch the snow falling, but now it reminded her of Lena and her heart broke. She wondered how destiny could push them together the way it had and then pull them apart so violently.

"Who am I kidding? Destiny had nothing to do with this. This was all my own fault. Destiny wanted us together and I went and fucked it all up. She deserved so much better than I gave her."

Kara opened a new search window and brought up a picture of Lena. She touched the screen with her fingertips and outlined Lena's face gently as tears flowed down her cheeks like raindrops.

"Fuck. Fuck this fucking holiday. Fuck this day entirely. I just can't. Now I understand why bears hibernate. I'm just going to start sleeping through Christmas."

Kara was startled when her cellphone vibrated violently on the desk. She picked it up and saw it was Cat calling.

"Hey Cat", Kara said with fake cheer.

"Why aren't you here? What are you still doing at the office?"

"I have a ton of work to do Cat. Besides, I'm not really feeling the Christmas sprit."

"Listen, she will call. Just give her time. Whatever it is she's dealing with is probably a lot more complex than any of us could understand. You gave her a lot in that letter and she didn't get the benefit of staring into your eyes and seeing your sincerity. Give her time."

"We met on Christmas Eve. Did you know that? We met and it was perfect. We made love on Christmas Eve. It was the greatest night of my life. This is just a hard night for me."

"All the more reason to get your ass over to Alex's and be surrounded by the people you love and the people who love you. Come on. Close up shop and get over here."

Kara smiled a little. She adored Cat. She hadn't realized how much she missed her until she saw her again. Being without Lena for another Christmas Eve broke her heart, but it was nice to have Cat back in town.

"Okay. Let me get everything shut down here and I will be on my way shortly."

"Kara, please be careful."

"I will."

"You're precious cargo. Get here in one piece."

"I will, I promise."

"Okay. See you soon."

"Thanks Cat. I needed something to pull me out of this funk. I love you for staying. Thank you."

"No thanks are necessary. Come on. I'm starting to feel again, and you know how much I hate that."

The call disconnected before Kara could say another word. She just smiled and shook her head. She turned around to grab her bag and banged her knee hard.

"Fucking fuck fuck!"

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

Kara froze for a moment. She shook her head in disbelief. She had heard Lena's voice in her head a thousand times since they first met. She was sure she was just hallucinating again. She wanted so desperately to see her that she was sure she was slipping into full-on madness.

Every nerve in her body fired off as she turned around slowly to see if the voice was real or in her head.

"Hallelujah", by Tori Kelly played in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3wWinz94TSPWe6CgTaSK6x?si=eFDz2TyaTLmNpHTZktI_sA

Lena stood in the doorway holding a small wrapped box. She was dressed in warm winter clothes and her eyes sparkled. She smiled so sweetly, Kara thought her heart might explode from wanting.

"Hi Kara."

"Hi Lena", Kara said trying to hold back her tears.

"I'm sorry to show up like this unannounced. I just got back an hour ago and came straight from the airport."

"Back from where?" Kara asked.

Lena took a few steps into the office. She moved closer to Kara.

"Ireland."

"But you were here. Alex and Sam said you came to the apartment."

"I did", Lena said with her most charming smile.

"I don't understand."

"There were some things I needed to take care of."

"Why did you come back?"

Lena moved quickly to the desk and placed the box in front of Kara.

"To give you your Christmas present."

"You flew all the way back here to give me a present? I'm so sorry. I have nothing for you."

Lena beamed. Kara had imagined their next meeting a few hundred times, but she never imagined Lena would be smiling so much. She moved a hand to her arm and pinched herself, but it wasn't a dream.

"That's okay. Open it."

Kara untied the bow and removed the lid from the box. Sitting below the lid was a small post-it note that read 'I owe you one dance, Love Kara.'

"Do you remember that?" Lena asked.

Kara picked up the note and stared at it. Her face dropped.

"I do."

"I came to collect. You owe me a dance."

"I knew when I made that promise that I would never be able to dance with you. I can't stand on my own for more than a few seconds at a time. If you read my letter, you know that this condition isn't going away, Lena."

"I did read your letter and I want to dance with you."

"I will need my cane and that's not romantic."

"I will support you", Lena said putting a hand out to Kara.

Kara's eyes welled up with tears.

"Lena, I'm broken. I'm irreparable. You deserve so much better than this."

"Dance with me."

Kara struggled to stand up. Lena moved to her side and supported her. She helped her to the center of the room and wrapped her arms around her tightly. The minute Lena wrapped her arms around her body, Kara felt lighter. She felt more stable. Her pain drifted away. Their faces were only inches apart. Lena began to gently sway back and forth.

Kara couldn't help but smile, but she was still feeling uneasy.

"Play Cry To Me", Kara said loudly.

"Cry To Me", by Solomon Burke played in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1tYk5zABu6h8CMP1cSea56?si=aajErO7MQ3yWV6TxD7FEKw

Lena smiled sweetly. She pulled Kara closer and swayed a little more.

"I remember this song. This is the song I wanted to dance to."

"Lena, I don't understand why you came here and then went home so quickly."

"Ireland isn't my home. My home is right here."

"But why did you leave?"

"I came here because I needed to decide if I wanted to be engaged."

Kara looked over at Lena's hand and saw an engagement ring.

"Well, I guess you made your decision. Did you come here to break the news to me in person? That was kind of you", Kara said flatly.

"I came back home because I decided I did want to be engaged."

"I'm confused, Lena."

"I came here initially because I didn't know if I wanted to marry Lana. On paper, she seemed like the perfect fit, but you were always in my thoughts and in my heart. When I got here, I read your letter and suddenly, everything was clear. The moment I read your words, I knew what I had to do. I caught the next flight to Ireland, found Lana and told her that I couldn't marry her."

"Are you serious?" Kara asked holding on tighter..

"Dead serious."

"How did she take it?"

"When she and I first got together, I told her that I loved someone who broke my heart. She knew that I was still in love with you. She said she was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I needed to fly back to Ireland to get that post-it and to tell Lana I couldn't marry her in person. She deserved my honesty and she deserved to know the truth. We parted on good terms, considering."

Kara placed her hands on Lena's chest and began to weep. She smiled effortlessly as she stared into Lena's piercing green eyes.

"I needed to get my affairs in order and get back here. I agree with you. Living isn't living if I'm not by your side."

Kara pressed her tear-soaked cheek against Lena's and smiled.

"Why are you wearing an engagement ring?"

"Oh, you didn't see your other present."

Lena leaned over and grabbed the box from the desk. She handed it to Kara and moved her hands to her waist to support her. Kara looked inside the box where the post-it had been. Seated in the center of the larger box was a small ring box. Kara began to weep harder when she realized what it was. Lena smiled sweetly.

Kara opened the ring box, and laying there on a pillow of silk, was the same beautiful engagement ring that Lena wore.

Lena grinned. Now her eyes were filled tears as well.

"I thought to myself, we really should have matching rings. We've spent so much time apart, I want the rest of our lives to be tied together into one, walking side by side. I know we have a lot to learn about each other, but I am willing to wait as long as you need to. I know you will need time. I just want to be with you."

Kara was so touched, she could barely breathe.

"Kara, all I know is that I want to spend the rest of my life hearing your voice and breathing the same air. I want to kiss your lips and caress you cheeks every night before I sleep. If you will marry me, all of this, all of this pain, all of this angst we have felt will disappear. You are the woman of my dreams. You are my destiny. I have no doubt in my mind or my heart that we were meant to be together. Even when I started dating Lana, I never fully committed because I believed that some day I would be with you. You're so quiet. Please say something."

Lena moved her hand to Kara's cheek and held her tight with the other arm,

"Hallelujah", by Tori Kelly played in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3wWinz94TSPWe6CgTaSK6x?si=qvZWqjJ1SOupVhJ_Y2K6HQ

"Why is this song playing again? This should be on shuffle", Kara said distracted.

"This song is beautiful. It's kind of fitting, don't you think?"

"Lena, I'm sorry. I'm just so overwhelmed, I can barely breathe. I was so sad. Every single part of me felt like I was dying when I lost you. Every part of me ached and bled not hearing your voice or seeing your smile. I just can't believe this. I can't believe you're really here."

"I'm here, my love. So, will you marry me?"

Kara smiled and wept uncontrollably. She moved both hands to Lena's cheeks and kissed her passionately. Lena wrapped her arms around Kara tighter and kissed her back with all of the fire and love in her heart.

Kara pulled back and grinned.

"Sorry. That means yes. God yes. Please marry me. I don't ever want to lose you again. You are my world. I would marry you tomorrow, but I'm happy to wait too."

Lena laughed and squeezed Kara tighter. She grabbed the ring box from Kara and pulled out the ring. Kara stretched out her ring finger and Lena slipped the ring onto her finger effortlessly. Kara shook. Lena took her hand and kissed it tenderly.

"Kara, you're my world."

Lena pulled back and looked down at Kara's leg.

"Kara, I just noticed how strong you're standing on your leg. Are you okay? Are you in pain?"

"It's you. You give me strength. You take away all of my pain."

"Kara, I will never leave your side again. I will always be here to give you strength, and I will stand by you as you continue to heal. No matter what challenges we face, we will face them together.

"I was just scared. You deserve so much more than I can give you."

"I deserve to be happy. The only person in this world that makes me truly happy is you. Just you. You are all I want and all I need to live a happy life. I need my brilliant engineer with the beautiful mind to share my life. That is what I really deserve."

The bells of the church rang. Kara and Lena looked over just as the clock struck midnight.

Kara caressed Lena's cheek and smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Lena. Thank you for coming home to me."

"Merry Christmas Kara. Thank you for answering the phone that night I was stuck in the elevator. You saved my life that night and you changed my life forever."

Kara pulled Lena closer and pressed her lips to Lena's eyes, her cheeks, and her lips. Normally, Kara's hip would have been throbbing uncontrollably, but Lena's support and Kara's joy were all the painkiller she needed.

***

Alex's living room was alive with the Christmas spirit as everyone opened their presents. Cheerful music played in the background and the glow of the white Christmas lights and burning candles created a magical ambiance.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You", by Mariah Carey played in the background.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0bYg9bo50gSsH3LtXe2SQn?si=Iop9tI8pS6uDWlNnKKFvkQ

Alex and Cat were the only two who didn't open presents or enjoy a glass of champagne. They both checked their phones frantically. They were both concerned about Kara.

"Should I call her? She was supposed to leave an hour ago", Alex said pacing in a tight circle.

"Normally, I would say no, but now you're in my head. I'll call her", Cat said pulling out her cell. She hit Kara's number and clicked speakerphone.

Suddenly, they heard a phone ringing. Cat and Alex looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. They followed the sound of the ringing to the front door.

Alex opened the door and found Kara and Lena wrapped in each other's arms kissing like two women who had waited an eternity to be together.

"Holy Shit!" Alex exclaimed at the top of her lungs.

Cat stood back and beamed. Her smile said "Yeah, I did that."

Lena and Kara let go and turned to Alex and Cat.

"Oh, thank you Jesus. This really is a Christmas miracle", Alex said waving the two lovebirds inside.

Cat stepped forward and smiled.

"You must be Lena. It's nice to see the two of you finally found your way to each other. Kara just needed a swift kick to the head to see the light."

Lena wrapped her arms around Cat's neck and hugged her tight. Cat stood stiff and confused. She wasn't used to being hugged. She accepted hugs from Kara, but she also knew her for the majority of her adult life.

"Thank you for giving her the kick in the head she needed. I can't thank you enough", Lena said pulling back.

"Come on you two. Let's get you inside. I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to meet you, Lena. There's food and presents. Come in. Let's get you a drink", Alex said full of excitement.

Kara and Lena followed Alex inside. They heard a loud squeal and suddenly, Sam ran towards them at breakneck speed. She threw her arms around both of them and squeezed tight.

"It's about time you two. It's so strange seeing you both in the same place at the same time. God, I love this. Come on, everyone is opening presents."

"Rocking Around The Christmas Tree", by Brenda Lee played loudly through the bustling apartment.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4ZTBpdern3fFh8wz88q4La?si=gpI2sCkqSxqEw8hyRQ7FFA

Kara led Lena around the apartment and introduced her to their friends and family. Everyone rejoiced at the news of their engagement. The lights sparkled and the champagne flowed as Alex led a toast to true, albeit delayed, love.

As promised, Lena stood behind Kara and held her tight, giving her all of the support and love she could ever need. Snow continued to blanket Metropolis as the Danvers girls raised their glasses and celebrated the women who had stolen their hearts.