Kara paces from one side of the room to the other, her hands moving restlessly from her glasses down to the hem of her shirt - and back again.

“Calm down, Kara,” Lucy attempts in a soothing voice.

“Calm? I’m calm.” The words are proven to be a lie when another tug on the hem of her shirt results in a loud tearing sound.

Alex lets out a heavy sigh.

Kara winces, but doesn’t look up. “I’ll go change.”

As soon as Kara’s gone from sight, Alex clutches her stomach. “I think I’m going to be sick. Am I allowed to have a drink?”

Even before she’s finished asking, she knows the answer.

“No. You know how you get around your mother when you drink.” Lucy reaches up and rubs at her forehead. Now, if they could get Eliza drunk…

“She’s here!” Kara blurts out as she rushes back out from the bedroom and makes a beeline for the door.

Lucy reaches over to squeeze Alex’s hand just before Kara opens the door.

They can get through this.

*

Kara pushes her fork around her empty plate. She’d been keeping her mouth full in an attempt to avoid speaking, but now she’s finished eating before everyone else.

A quick glance to both her sides reveals Alex and Lucy have hardly eaten anything. Alex is just slightly frowning, a furrow forming between her eyebrows and her lips just slightly downturned.

In contrast, Lucy’s poker face is in place; to nearly everyone else she might seem stony or cold. Kara and Alex know better.

They both know Lucy very well.

Kara fights the urge to reach out to both. This won’t go that badly.

Right?

“Eliza,” she starts. No more words come.

She sends a frantic look Alex’s way.

Alex’s face twists. “Mom–”

“Eliza,” Lucy smartly cuts in. Alex’s tense shoulders ease just slightly. “There’s something we’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”

Eliza sets her fork and knife down, her attention focusing solely on Lucy. “Oh?”

“Yes. You were really supportive when Alex told you about us, but there’s something else. Kara was going through some difficulties, and so we made ourselves available to her.”

“Oh yes, of course. I was so glad you could both help her.” Eliza gives Lucy a full smile.

Lucy internally braces herself. “Well, something happened. We asked Kara to move in, but not for the reasons you’ve probably heard.” Though Lucy has faced down many difficult opponents, she pauses.

It’s not that she’ll be devastated if Eliza reacts badly. She’s dealt with difficult family her entire life. Eliza’s potential disapproval doesn’t mean much to Lucy. But…she’d been drawn to Alex and Kara because of their strong bond. She’d fallen in love with them for that and more. She hesitates, because she knows the women she loves will be irreparably hurt if Eliza disapproves.

She reaches out for Kara’s hand, silently wishing she could reach Alex’s too. When Kara automatically accepts hers and reaches for Alex’s, Lucy smiles. No matter what happens, they’ll get through this.

“Eliza, we’re in a relationship. I love both of your daughters, and they love me. And each other.”

There’s silence.

“Excuse me?”

“Mom–” Alex is cut off almost before she can even start.

“Don’t say anything!” Eliza almost hisses. She takes a breath and shakes her head. “This makes no sense. I must have misunderstood.”

Alex’s stomach twists and turns, and she feels just like a little girl again. This tone is different from the everyday disappointment she’s used to hearing, and more like the worst times she’d gotten in trouble for messing up in watching out for Kara.

Kara’s hand squeezes hers almost at the same time as a careful foot nudges at her ankle. She looks up.

Lucy is low in her seat from the stretch, her eyes warm and kind.