Work Text:
Kara landed at the location and searched carefully. There’d been a big pulse of some kind and it had definitely been alien, at least as far as Winn could tell.
It didn't take long to find the source. She saw a figure curled protectively on the warehouse floor and a smoking device next to them. She could hear two heartbeats. Kara approached carefully her eyes on the figure.
“Astra,” a small voice muttered.
There was a groan and the figure lifted their head blinking against the light. Kara realised it was a teenage girl with black hair and blue eyes and an oddly familiar jawline. Her eyes widened when she saw Kara and her mouth moved a few times though no sound came out. The second smaller figure pushed her aside scrambling out from her protective embrace. The second figure was a small boy of about six with blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked at the dark haired girl and then turned spotting Kara.
“Jeju!” he yelled jumping up and and running into her legs with surprising strength.
Kara’s mind shorted out.
“Supergirl what’s happening?” J’onn asked from her earpiece.
Kara cautiously put her hand down to touch the boy’s hair as she looked at the teenage girl. The girl gave her an apologetic look.
“Hi Jeju,” she said. “So there’s been a small accident.”
Alex was looking at Astra very closely. In particular Astra’s jacket. Astra noticed and smiled.
“I won it,” she said smugly.
“How?” Alex asked with narrowed eyes.
“Poker.”
“Did you cheat?” Alex asked.
“Not with my powers,” Astra said smirking.
“Jeju can we go see Mummy?” Jack asked.
There was a sudden silence as they all looked at the young boy.
“M-Mummy?” Kara asked.
Astra looked both very amused then somewhat horrified.
“Jack it’s probably best we don’t do that,” Astra said quickly. “She doesn’t know who we are.”
Jack looked at Astra sadly the edge of a pout showing.
“But I wanna hug past Mummy and tell her I love her. She said she was sad until she had us and I wanna make her happy.”
Kara’s heart was melting as she looked at her future son.
“Okay definitely your son,” Alex said with a smile.
“Jack if we interact with Mummy too much it might alter the future,” Astra said gently. “So we gotta make sure she doesn’t know about us yet okay.”
Jack looked sad but he nodded. Then his face lit up as he had a new idea and he looked at Kara again.
“Do you think we could make her cookies and leave them for her all sneaky? Just so she knows someone is thinking of her. She always likes when we bake for her. Can we Jeju? Please!”
“I really hope that means you can bake in the future,” Alex said smiling at Kara. “Otherwise I feel very sorry for your future wife.”
Kara glared at her sister as Astra snickered.
“I can bake,” Kara protested.
“In the future maybe,” Alex said looking at Astra who nodded.
“She can bake, mostly muffins and simple biscuits but there is definitely tasty, sugary, baked goods. I think Mum taught her,” Astra said.
Alex nodded seeming satisfied. Kara turned back to Jack who was holding her cape and giving her a pleading look.
“Maybe instead you could pick a few out at a shop and they can be very sneakily delivered to her by someone else so then she still gets cookies but we don’t affect the time line,” J’onn said giving Jack a smile.
Jack sighed and his lip came out in a proper pout. Kara was starting to feel sympathy for everyone she used her own pout against. Jack’s was damn near irresistible and she could see the affect it was having on J’onn.
“Can I put in a note?” he asked.
“As long as it doesn’t say anything that might affect the future then yes,” J’onn said.
Jack seemed to accept that and looked at Kara.
“Can I have a hug Jeju?”
She smiled and swept him up into her arms holding him tight.
“Of course you can.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You can always get a hug from me.”
Jack smiled and hugged her tighter. Winn happened to walk in then.
“Okay so I- Aw cute," he said.
Kara smiled at him. Winn looked at Astra.
“So how come he doesn’t call me Uncle Winn?” he asked.
Astra gave him a pained look. Winn’s eyes widened.
“You’re not dead,” Astra said quickly. “You’re just far away, but you’re very happy there so like…”
Winn nodded accepting that.
“Right well I can fix the portal,” Winn said turning to look at J’onn and Alex. “Well I am fixing the portal. I think the issue is overheating, I’ve got it cooling but I don’t want to break anything by doing it too fast so it’ll be a few hours just for it to all cool down and then I can put it back together.”
“Great so…” Alex looked at Astra and Jack. “What are we going to do with you two?”
“Feeding us would be good. We got Jeju’s appetite,” Astra said.
Jack perked up at the prospect of food.
“Well there’s a whole cafeteria here so Alex can you make sure they get food while I uh-” Astra gave Kara a look and shook her head. Kara sighed. “I can’t leave you alone can I?”
“You are strictly forbidden from leaving us alone in the DEO in any time period. Mum’s rules,” Astra said.
Kara sighed again rubbing her face.
“I guess I’m uh, I can’t really call in sick can I so I’ll just-”
“You can take us to Catco,” Astra said rolling her eyes. “We do know how to behave and it’s not like Jack can lift a photocopier yet.”
Kara frowned at the photocopier comment then she looked at Jack and realised that meant he probably had other powers.
“Jack has superspeed doesn’t he?” Kara said with a sigh.
“Yep, nearly took out Mum’s knees when it came in,” Astra said with a smile. “Also superhearing.”
Kara looked at her daughter worried.
“Okay so if I take them to work what story are we going with?” Kara asked looking at Alex.
“Wrong question,” Astra said standing up and turning to her brother.
She looked at Jack. He straightened up with a giggle. She put her hands on her hips and looked at him.
“What happened here?” Astra asked in a mock serious tone.
Jack gave her a very convincing innocent look.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Why are you at Catco?”
Jack smiled.
“I’m here with Kara and my big sister Astra. We were…” He thought for a second his forehead forming a little crinkle.
“Car accident,” Astra whispered.
Jack’s eyes lit up.
“Our car got hit and our parents had to go to hospital because Mummy’s hand got hurt. So we are spending today with Kara while the doctors make her better and the car gets fixed.”
Astra gave Jack a high five. Kara looked at her daughter confused. Astra shrugged.
“Part of being good at hiding our powers involves coming up with plausible explanations on the spot. We got a lot of PR training and Mum plays the what happened here game with us to get us to find ways to explain things. Kieran once gave a convincing argument to a physicist about heat vision actually being a ray of sun reflecting off his glasses.”
“So you were deliberately taught to make up stories and lie to people?” Kara asked not entirely sure how she felt about her children being taught to lie on the spot.
“Mhmm,” Astra said with a smile. “Mum said it’s because you’re a terrible liar and she didn’t want us to have the same issue.”
“I am not!” Kara protested.
Winn, Alex, and J’onn laughed. Astra looked at her very seriously.
“Oh that’s okay I flew here… on, on a bus,” she said.
Kara groaned covering her face with her hand. Astra snickered as Jack laughed.
Kara headed into Catco with Astra and Jack following. She got a few looks but no one said anything. She relaxed a little. Then suddenly Jack’s head whipped around and he ran off. Astra swore and took off after him followed by Kara. She and Astra at least kept to a human speed.
Kara's heart came to a crashing stop as she watched Jack wrap his arms around Lena’s legs and grin up at her.
“Mummy!” he said.
Lena looked bewildered for a second then she laughed. Astra thankfully hadn’t experienced the same heart attack and quickly grabbed her brother.
“No Jack that’s not Mummy. She just looks like her.” Astra pulled back a pouting Jack and gave Lena an apologetic smile. “Sorry uh… Sorry Miss Luthor.”
Astra seemed to be struggling as she stared at Lena’s face. Lena laughed again and waved a hand.
“It’s fine,” she said smiling at the somewhat stunned Astra then the grinning Jack.
Kara quickly made her way over.
“Sorry Lena you kinda look like his Mum,” she said a little breathlessly.
Lena smiled at her and Kara felt a strange butterfly feeling in her stomach that sent her heart racing and made her face heat.
“It’s okay Kara. I don’t mind.”
She smiled at Jack who beamed back clearly pleased with himself despite the firm grip his sister was keeping on his shoulders. Lena crouched down to be closer to Jack’s eye level.
“I’m Lena, who are you?” she asked.
Before he could answer Kara jumped in.
“Oh sorry these are my cousin’s kids. Lena Luthor meet Astra and Jack Danvers. Members of the extended Danvers clan. They’re just passing through, there was an issue with their car and so I’m helping their parents out by keeping an eye on them while it’s fixed.”
Lena smiled at them and rose.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” she said.
Astra held out a hand smiling. Lena shook it.
“It’s uh… this is a bit surreal,” Astra said. “But it’s nice to meet you too.”
Lena laughed.
“Because Luthor?” she asked.
“Uh no that’s not a… thing for us,” Astra said a little awkwardly. “You’re uh… you do some amazing work. Like you’ve saved the world during the Daxamite invasion with Supergirl, revolutionised the world of solar energy, and you took L Corp from a nosedive stock price to it’s previous numbers in just twelve months. All before the age of thirty and that’s not even beginning to look at your philanthropic work. You’re just all around an incredible woman.”
Lena’s face transformed into shock for a second then she was smiling at Astra.
“Well thank you. I- Thank you.”
Lena was floundering slightly and Astra’s smile got a tiny bit wider. Jack decided to interrupt.
“Can I have a hug?” he asked looking determinedly at Lena.
She was clearly surprised again but nodded and held out her hands.
“Of course,” she said.
Jack looked very pleased as he let Lena pick him up. Lena let out a surprised breath her eyes widening a little at his weight. But then Jack was in her arms and he held her tightly with a level of affection that Lena hadn’t been expecting. Kara saw Lena’s eyes flutter closed for a moment as she hugged Jack back just as tightly.
Something in Kara’s heart seemed to tighten and release with a new tension. Jack pulled back a little and looked at Lena with a serious expression.
“I love you,” he said firmly and kissed her cheek.
Kara watched every one of Lena’s walls come crashing down in the face of Jack's earnest affection and she smiled at him. A real, honest smile that threatened to turn Kara into a puddle.
“I love you too,” Lena said.
Jack hugged her again and Lena met Kara’s eyes giving her a look that was somehow confused, overwhelmed, and elated at the same time.
“He’s adorable,” she whispered.
Kara laughed awkwardly and nodded unable to speak as she smiled back. Then James approached.
“Hey there,” he said smiling at them all.
Kara barely spared him a glance but Astra moved very quickly to block his approach to Lena.
“Hi I’m Astra it’s great to meet you Mr Olsen,” she said enthusiastically.
James seemed surprised but he smiled holding out a hand. Astra quickly shook it enthusiastically then looked over her shoulder at Kara. She spoke in a very quiet whisper.
“Are they dating?”
Kara blinked then nodded and Astra made a worried face but James had already moved to greet Lena.
“Hello,” he said a hand going to her waist.
Lena smiled at him turning Jack still in her arms. Kara watched almost in slow motion as James leaned over to kiss Lena’s cheek only to find himself blocked by a small hand and Jack glaring at him.
James blinked in surprise then laughed. He gave Jack a warm smile. Jack was unmoved his glare staying in place.
“Hi there, and who are you?” James asked.
“Oh this is Jack Danvers, Kara’s cousin, or cousin’s child,” Lena said smiling.
James gave Kara a look then he looked at Astra. She gave him an apologetic smile.
“Oh great! More of the famous Danvers clan. It’s nice to meet you Jack,” he said turning back to Jack.
Jack was still eyeing him warily as he held Lena almost possessively. Kara gulped.
“Hello,” Jack said still holding Lena.
“Jack this is my boyfriend James Olsen,” Lena said.
Jack didn’t take his eyes off James.
“Not for long,” Jack said.
There was a second of silence then Astra and Lena burst out laughing.
“Trying to steal me from my boyfriend are you?” Lena asked Jack.
Jack shook his head.
“You should date girls,” he said.
Lena’s eyes widened slightly and she seemed to struggle her eyes flicking to Kara for a second.
“Uh, I’ll certainly take that under advisement,” she said still seeming to struggle with the words.
Jack seemed happy with this and Astra was still laughing quietly. Kara gave Lena what she hoped was an apologetic and not a hopeful look. Lena looked back smiling.
James cleared his throat an amused smile on his face.
“Well I’m sorry Jack but according to Eve Miss Luthor has a meeting she needs to go to.”
Lena sighed and nodded.
“Thank you James. Sorry Jack I have to give you back to Kara but it was lovely meeting you.”
Jack smiled at her and gave her another kiss on the cheek before wriggling down.
“Have a good day Miss Luthor,” he said brightly.
She smiled and nodded at him then smiled at Astra.
“It was lovely to meet you as well Astra. I hope we have a chance to talk another time.”
Astra smiled back.
“Oh I’m sure we will, one day,” Astra said.
Lena gave James a smile and then Kara. She also gave Kara’s arm a squeeze as she passed. Kara tried not to let on how fast her heart was pounding as she watched Lena leave.
“Wow,” Astra said laughing. “Kieran is never gonna believe this.”
Kara spun back to her then a smug Jack.
“What did we say?” she asked glaring at her youngest.
Jack crossed his arms and the pout appeared. A pout she was now certain he got from her.
“I wanted to hug Mummy,” he said.
“Mummy?” James asked.
Kara felt a blush creeping up her face as she looked at him.
“Astra and Jack are from the future I’m trying to get them back but Winn needs a little time to fix the device and we didn’t really want children at the DEO.”
James nodded and gave Jack a smile as he crouched down to his level.
“Sorry buddy I didn’t know she was your Mummy in the future,” he said.
Jack considered him for a moment then gave him a smile.
“It’s okay Uncle James. I forgive you.”
“Thank y-”
“But don’t do it again,” Jack said glaring up at James and pointing a finger threateningly.
James smiled and nodded holding up his hands in surrender.
“Message received Mummy is off limits.”
Jack seemed satisfied and Astra seemed to be very entertained. Kara sighed. James gave her a look.
“So… I take it-”
“Just… don’t ask,” she said pleadingly.
James smiled and gave her a nod.
“Okay I’ll let you go back to what you were doing.”
Kara nodded and continued to her office holding Jack’s hand. Once there she watched as Jack looked around then up at Astra. She lowered her glasses.
“Second draw on the left.”
Jack raced around her desk and jumped into her chair pulling open the draw to find her snack pile.
“Only one,” Kara said firmly as he pulled out a chocolate bar.
“Each?” Astra asked hopefully.
Kara sighed and nodded. Astra grinned at her and joined her brother at the snack draw taking out a chocolate for herself. Kara smiled and joined them. She lifted Jack out of her seat and then sat down with him in her lap.
He reached into the draw again. Before she could say anything he held out a chocolate to her.
“Jeju have one too,” he said.
Astra sat in a chair and laughed quietly to herself.
“What’s so funny?” Kara asked.
“You are like… so useless around Mum it’s really funny,” Astra said still laughing.
Kara glared at her daughter but it just made Astra laugh louder.
“How do you even get together?” Astra asked.
Kara gave her a look and threw up her hands.
“You tell me,” she said.
Astra opened her mouth then closed it and shook her head.
“Best not, I might not exist if I do.”
Kara sighed.
Kara knew the moment Lena returned to Catco and so apparently did Astra. Their heads turned at the same time immediately getting Jack’s attention. Kara couldn’t help noticing the subtle easing of Astra’s shoulders as Lena came into view.
Lena was on the phone and for a moment Kara looked at Jack watching the boy tensing but he didn’t move so she returned to her article. Jack of course ran right to Lena the moment her call ended and held out his hands.
“Hug please,” he said.
Lena beamed at the boy and lifted him with an exaggerated groan.
“I think you’ve grown since this morning,” she said.
Jack laughed and shook his head.
“I just ate.”
“Oh well that would explain it. Do you eat as much as Kara does?” Lena teased.
Jack shook his head again.
“Not yet, my tummy is too small.” He looked down at his stomach and sighed sadly. “But one day I will.”
Lena laughed again smiling quite happily at Jack. Kara was having a hard time breathing as she looked at the woman she would one day apparently have five children with. She was really starting to notice how pretty Lena was and it was likely a problem.
“You okay Jeju?” Astra asked giving her a concerned look.
“Just having a moment,” Kara said.
“Okay well I’m going to stop Jack from matchmaking us out of existence,” Astra said getting up.
Kara, reminded of the situation, quickly followed her. Lena smiled as they approached.
“Did someone escape?” Lena asked.
“Sorry Lena,” Kara said. “I did tell him you were very busy.”
Kara glared at her son who gave her a smug look from his place snuggled in Lena’s arms. Lena smiled and looked back at Jack.
“That’s okay I don’t mind being disturbed by such a sweet young gentleman.”
Jack preened a little. Kara heard a far off crash and Astra looked at her. Kara quickly pretended to look at her phone.
“Shoot I have to-” she looked around.
“It’s okay I can look after Jack while you take that,” Astra said.
Kara sighed looking at her daughter.
“You’re thirteen I’m pretty sure I can’t leave you unattended.”
Astra gave her a look clearly showing her disagreement.
“I can stay with them if you want,” Lena said.
Kara really wanted to refuse.
“Go on, we’ll be fine with Miss Luthor while you do that,” Astra said. in a whisper she added “I’ll make sure Jack doesn’t accidentally remove us from existence."
Kara nodded and gave Lena a grateful look.
“Thank you,” she said then hurried away.
Thankfully it was a fairly easy if slow job. She carefully ripped open the cars and pulled the people out carefully putting them on the sidewalk for the paramedics telling them exactly where the broken bones were and then flew back.
She double checked her appearance in the mirror then went to find her future wife and children.
They were in Lena’s office. Astra was sitting on the couch eating a chocolate bar while Jack sat by the coffee table drawing something with what were probably very expensive pens in multiple colours. Lena was on the phone sitting beside Jack. She smiled in greeting as she listened to the other person talking about supply chain issues.
Kara nodded to Astra and looked at Jack. He hesitated looking at her pleadingly. She gave him a firm look then sighed and nodded picking up his picture. Lena’s call ended.
“Hi Kara,” she said smiling up at her.
“Hey Lena, sorry about that I’ll just get these two out of your hair.”
Lena laughed and shook her head getting up.
“They’re no trouble really. Astra and I had a lovely chat about quantum entanglement of all things. She’s a very intelligent young woman.”
Astra smiled. Kara nodded and looked at Lena again.
“They uh, got their mother’s brains.”
Lena smiled back and Kara had a moment looking at Lena she looked so relaxed and happy it was a bit startling. Lena’s smile grew a little.
“You okay there Kara?” Lena asked clearly amused.
Kara nodded quickly and then closed her eyes shaking her head a little.
“Yes sorry my head is a bit-” She waved her hand and then her phone rang. She gave Lena another apologetic look. “Sorry.”
Lena laughed as Kara quickly answered it.
“Hey Kara,” Winn said. “You can bring the kids back we’re almost done.”
“Okay great,” she said. “We’ll be there soon.”
She looked back at Astra and Jack.
“Okay it looks like things are all fixed now so it’s time to get you back to your parents.”
They both got up and Jack turned to look at Lena.
“Last hug?” he asked.
Lena nodded and immediately picked him up holding him close. Kara didn’t miss the way Lena closed her eyes and breathed in for a second as she held him. Like she was trying to imprint the moment in her mind. She pulled back and looked at Jack with a bright smile.
“It was lovely to meet you Jack. I hope we meet again sometime in the future. “
Jack nodded.
“We will, promise.”
Lena beamed at him and then put him down. Astra took a step towards her nervously. Lena smiled at her.
“Did you want a hug too?” Lena asked.
Astra gave her a look then nodded. Lena opened her arms and Astra stepped easily into the embrace.
“We’ll see you again someday,” Astra said quietly.
Lena nodded as Astra pulled back. She gave Lena a final smile then took her brother’s hand and they headed for the door Jack holding his picture and looking back.
“I love you,” he said.
Lena smiled and waved.
“I love you too.”
Kara sighed and looked at Lena.
“I’m sorry they-”
“Kara,” Lena gently cut her off. “I happen to like children so… there's no need to apologise.”
Kara nodded.
“Enough to have five?” Kara asked with a nervous smile.
Lena laughed.
“I think I’d be pushing my body a bit far to have five children,” she said. Her face softened. “But if they were all like Astra and Jack then…” She shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind five.”
Kara blushed a little and looked away.
“I should um… I’ll see you later.”
“See you,” Lena said softly.
Kara left and joined her children by the elevators. Her mind was running in several different directions and all of them involved Lena.
“Jeju hug?” Jack asked quietly.
Kara smiled at him and nodded picking him up and hugging him tight for a moment.
“Jeju not be sad either,” Jack said.
Kara smiled and hugged him tighter.
“How can I be sad when I know I’ve got you in the future?”
Jack smiled seeming rather proud of himself.
“We get Mummy’s cookies on the way?”
Kara sighed and nodded.
Two hours later Kara landed on Lena’s balcony at Catco and hesitated. She looked at the box in her hands and knocked softly on the open door. Lena spun around surprised then gave her a confused smile.
“Supergirl, please come in.”
Kara stepped in feeling a little awkward.
“How can I help you?” Lena asked.
Kara gave her a nervous smile.
“I have a special delivery for you from a very determined little boy called Jack.”
Lena laughed and accepted the blue cardboard box with a smile.
“I believe there’s also a picture inside.”
Lena quickly opened the box seeing the four pink macaroons and a piece of slightly crumpled paper tucked inside. Lena immediately took it out and looked at the picture. Kara watched everything in Lena melt again as she looked at the drawing of a robot with various parts labelled. Astra had written the labels for him but Kara knew each of them.
Extra big arms to hug everyone.
A smile to show it’s gonna be okay.
Super soft blankets to wrap people in.
Tasty snacks hidden in a draw.
Lena sank into her chair looking at the picture and the note down the bottom.
I was very happy to meet you today. I hope you weren’t sad today because we were there.
Jack had signed it below in his clumsy letters and then Astra had as well.
Kara watched tears roll down Lena’s face.
“They wouldn’t happen to be from the future would they?” she asked.
Kara hesitated then nodded.
“Yeah…”
She fidgeted with her cape.
“They’re my children aren’t they.”
Kara considered lying but nodded again.
“Yes, sorry we tried to… well we didn’t want to disturb the timeline too much so we uh… yeah.”
Lena nodded in understanding as more tears rolled down her face.
“Am I dead?” she asked quietly.
Kara sucked in a shocked breath and Lena looked at her again. She seemed to take it as confirmation as she closed her eyes.
“No!” Kara said quickly moving forwards then stopping herself before she hugged Lena. “No I believe you are very much alive and well.”
Lena sniffed holding back a few tears and nodded.
“Thank you. Sorry I- he was well very intense about telling me he loved me. And well Astra didn’t really take her eyes off me so I-”
Lena grabbed a tissue from the box on her desk and dabbed at her eyes.
“Oh I think that’s just Jack. And Astra well… I don’t know what Astra’s deal was but apparently your face looks different somehow so it was a bit surreal for her. Apparently you look pretty badass in the future.”
Lena nodded smiling as she looked back at the picture.
“Why uh… why were they with Kara all day?” she asked.
Kara gulped.
“Uh she… they know her and feel safe with her but it was less likely telling her anything would disturb the timeline.”
Lena nodded sadly.
“And she’s not a Luthor.”
“That wasn’t- They-”
Lena gave her a look.
“Kara consented to having her memories of their visit removed, you did not,” she said gently.
“You’re going to remove her memories of it?” Lena asked seeming somewhat saddened.
“Yes, otherwise they might… well the future might not be what we all want.”
Lena nodded biting her lip.
“Thank you, I’ll be sure not to mention it to her.”
Kara nodded and turned to leave. She stopped and turned back.
“You’re a- you’re an amazing mother and your children love you very much. I just- I wanted you to know that.”
Lena nodded again. Kara could see the walls in place again. The walls Lena had for Supergirl.
“Thank you,” she said politely.
Then her eyes went to the picture again and they seemed to melt away. For her children Lena had no walls. Kara mumbled a goodbye and left before she cried too.
That night as Lena slept J’onn came and with a whispered apology shifted the events of the day just a little so that Lena would only remember them as a dream. He found the picture next to Lena’s bed. It was carefully folded on top of a book of Irish myths and folk tales for children. He carefully picked it up and then after a moment’s hesitation hid it in a different book of Irish myths for her to find one day in the future.
Jack raced over to Lena the moment she arrived home. He jumped flinging himself into her arms and it was only her well honed reflexes that prevented her from dropping him.
“Hello Jack,” she said smiling at her very excited son.
“Mama do you have my picture?” he asked.
“Which picture?” she asked smiling.
“The one I did for you when you didn’t have a scar,” he said.
Lena opened her mouth to say she didn’t know what he was talking about then she remembered. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
“Did you have an adventure today?” she asked.
Jack nodded.
“Now I’m older than Kal by like a whole day.”
“Hey!” Kal said glaring at his brother.
Lena laughed and kissed Jack’s cheek again.
“Well you’re still my youngest even if you did time travel.”
She looked at Astra who was watching her nervously.
“Hi Mum,” Astra said quietly.
“Hello Astra,” Lena said smiling at her.
Lena tilted her head to one side and Astra followed her and Jack into her office. Lena turned to her bookshelf and ran her hand along the spines until she found the one she was looking for. It was a physics text about teleportation.
“This was left for me in a different book but you kids liked to read it and I thought it might get lost. So…”
She opened the book and took out a faded and somewhat crumpled piece of paper. She put the book back and unfolded the paper to show Jack. He grinned excitedly recognising his drawing.
“Did I help?” he asked looking up at her hopefully.
Lena smiled and knelt down.
“Yes Jack you did. I was very happy that day, because of you, and your sister.”
She looked at Astra who gave her another nervous smile.
“Was there something you wanted to say Astra?”
Astra nodded.
“You- you were really nice. And…”
Astra hesitated for a moment and Lena wondered just what her daughter had seen in her past self. But then the look was gone and Astra was giving her an exaggerated look of confusion.
“How did you two ever get together? Jeju had like no idea how to win you over and you were desperately trying to like Uncle James and it was just a disaster. She could barely talk in front of you let alone charm you.”
Lena laughed.
“You can thank your Aunt Nia and a little wager involving your cousin Jon for that… and then I got pregnant with you and your brother because she didn’t read some instructions properly. It was all a bit of a mess but we got there in the end.”