Chapter Text
Katherine Grant Senior could not care less for the holidays. However, Kara's friend, Eliza loves hosting Thanksgiving so that's where Cat and Kara find themselves this year along with Kara's adoptive parents Kristin and Alek Lang. And now that everyone at the festivities knows Kara's secrets, it's no surprise or concern how much she consumes at mealtime and the amount of snacks she sneaks throughout the day as everyone cooks. Cat swats at her several times to no avail, and Eliza hides Cat's booze in the freezer until they all sit down to eat. Eliza's husband, Jeremiah, isn't present, visiting his parents with their young daughter this year instead.
Kristin observes with a keen eye, noting something different in her daughter and best friend. There's a lightness amongst them and she's positive it's not just because Kara finally told her she's Kryptonian. She knows Kara's kind care not for gender but good matches either politically or genetically and that she leans more toward women but then Kristin seems to have a tickling feeling in her memory of Cat being on the cover of some LGBTQIA+ magazine. She's not quite sure about that memory though. She had noted over the years their companionship ebb and flow like the waves on a shore slowly but surely crafting the coastline to its desired shape. Something significant has changed.
Kara ends up bugging Eliza too much which led to the scientist flinging a small spoonful of mashed potatoes at the hero's face. A face which doesn't dodge the attack as one might expect it to, the potatoes landing on target expertly. Kara stands there for several moments, eyes closed, a tongue peeking out after a moment to lap up what's dripped low enough for her to grab.
Cat sighs, lowers the heat setting on her burner and takes the cloth off her shoulder as she approaches the blonde. “Honestly, Kara. Supper will be ready when it's ready, you know this is a long process. Why don't you go find something to watch on TV with your dad?” Cat speaks in an unusually soft and caring tone as she carefully removes the mashed potatoes from Kara's face. Kara's eyes finally open and the absolute adoration in them floors Kristin like a gut punch.
“Okay,” Kara concedes with a small smile, her manic energy at the prospect of wonderful food yet to eat subsiding at last. She turns and heads toward the living room.
“And stop swiping food!” Cat adds, Kara raising a hand with her thumb up as she walks away. Cat shakes her head and heads back to the stove.
Eliza and Kristin both watch Cat and then catch each other's eye. Eliza's mouths a 'woah' and Kristin smirks before signing 'finally'. Eliza giggles and returns to setting the table. Cat glances back briefly but ignores the women.
The turkey is finally finished cooking along with the rest of the sides and desserts cooling in the fridge or warming in the off oven. Kara takes it upon herself to get everyone's drinks or to top them off since she doesn't cook and takes her seat beside Cat. Eliza's at one end of the table, Kristin at the other and Alek across from Kara and Cat.
As Danvers tradition dictates they all go around the table sharing what they're grateful for this year.
"I'm grateful to get a pass dealing with my in-laws this year," Eliza laughs out, cheers abound.
“I'm grateful to such wonderful friends in my daughter's life,” Alek says gruffly, immediately taking a sip of his drink as though embarrassed. Kara aww's at him.
“I'm grateful for my new job helping the unemployed and less able get back on their feet,” Kristen says.
“I'm grateful for this dumbass for bringing me snacks and food when I need it most,” Cat says lightheartedly, earning herself a soft poke in the shoulder from her right.
Kara takes the time everyone's chuckling to stand and truly take the room. She clears her throat, eyes flitting anywhere but the faces around her. “I..uh...” she sighs. “I'm grateful for Cat. I'm grateful to have met her in college and become her friend, to be considered a close confidant, to...be her person as it were. And I'm even more grateful that she cares for me the way I care for her,” she finishes, eyes looking intently at Cat to avoid saying stronger words in front of everyone else. They hadn't identified their relationship just yet, whether or not they were dating or girlfriends, or were okay with admitting to others they were in love, so Kara kept it vague but meaningful.
“Yeah, and what's new?”
The sound of a record scratch bounces around Kara's head as everyone turns their gaze to her adoptive father, Alek, who is calmly sipping his drink while perusing the dishes laid out. He pauses, frowning. “What?” he asks, looking around.
“How did...we didn't even know until super recently,” Kara splutters.
Alek shakes his head. “Nah, you two knew long ago. It was just recently you got through whatever muck you feared and told the other, clearly blind all these years to the way the other was around you. Classic slow burn pining,” he explains. The smirk on his face doesn't last long as a spoonful of mashed potatoes flies at his face and he blinks in stunned silence. Slowly he turns his head to his wife. “Really, Kristin?"
Kristin groans. “Of course, the one person who wants nothing to do with or think about his daughter being romantic figured it out before myself. Ugh, you're so frustrating sometimes Alek.”
“Ah but you love me all the same,” he says, leaning over to grab her hand and kiss her knuckles. She smiles fondly back.
Simultaneously, all three younger woman fake gag, quite use to interrupting the couple as such, but they all had a soft smile on their face, a dreamy look in their eyes imagining their futures. Kara feels Cat squeeze her hand as she pulls her back down to sit and Kara turns her smile toward her and nods. Eliza pulls out her phone under the table and sends a quick message off to Jeremiah.
The rest of the meal is spent enjoying the spoils of the chefs best work and catching up with old friends and hearing new stories for some, Kara languishing over the embarrassing ones of her youthful alien incidents. Full bellies later and goodbyes and hugs given, they all head out. Kara offers to fly Cat back to her apartment but she's not quite ready to tackle that fear yet so they take a cab. As Cat changes into comfier clothes, Kara has fallen asleep on the couch clutching a rogue stuffed animal she must have found somewhere and Cat can't help but smile.
She's about to join her girlfriend on the couch for a nap when her phone buzzes from her purse on the counter. Walking over to see who messaged her, Cat nearly drops the phone in shock.
'I'll see you for Christmas, Kitty! --Mummy Dearest'