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The room buzzes with laughter and conversation and Kara smiles proudly at how relaxed and happy everyone around her looks. Everything came together perfectly: the food, the board games, the drinks, and now all they're doing is waiting for to watch the apple drop on live television.
They're still about 3 hours off from midnight, and as Kara casts her eyes around her apartment for a corner to tuck herself into, she sees Lena seated at her kitchen island, simply observing everyone else.
Kara feels a pang of melancholy as she sees Lena sip slowly at her wine, eyes cast over with doubt. Deciding to do something about it, she heads over in Lena's direction, plopping herself down on the seat right beside Lena and turning to face her.
"Hey, you doing alright, Lena?"
Lena smiles sadly in an attempt to reassure Kara that everything is alright but Kara can see right through it and her forehead simply crinkles even further with worry.
"Lena, be honest with me. I want you to have fun, and if you're worrying about something I'd really like to know what it is so I can try to help," Kara murmurs softly, reaching out to hold Lena's free hand between both of her own.
"I've never been to a proper party before," Lena admits quietly, voice wavering with nervousness and worry.
"I mean, as a Luthor the closest we got to parties were events and conventions we were invited to, but those were so far off from the parties you throw. And sure I've been to game nights but even then they were only a couple of your friends. I don't even know half the people here."
And Lena is right. Kara had invited her friends and family and even some coworkers and agents from the DEO. And, while Kara knew everyone to some extent, she knew Lena probably wasn't even acquainted with the majority of them.
"Hey, it's alright. I'll be by your side the entire night, I promise. You want me to go introduce some people to you? Or you wanna stay here?"
Lena silently answers, shifting in her seat and tucking herself further into her own body, and Kara simply settles further into the chair, content to remain by Lena's side for the rest of the night.
Kara giggles loudly, almost slipping off her seat in the process. She accidentally leaves a handprint in the marble of the island countertop when she rights herself, but no one else notices, and it only causes her and Lena to laugh even harder.
Lena is struggling to breathe properly when she sits back up, and Kara wouldn't be able to figure out what she were saying if she didn't have her superhearing, but as it is, she hears Lena murmur out a gentle, "You're such an idiot. My idiot but still."
It takes Kara a moment to process Lena's words, but when they settle in, Kara stops giggling and clasps both of Lena's hands in hers, suddenly completely sober.
"You mean it?"
Lena is too startled to even try and deflect the question and simply nods.
Kara simply stares at Lena, and, after a moment of silence, Lena speaks up again.
"Are you blushing, Kara?"
Mortified, Kara immediately lets go of Lena's hand and looks away from her scrutinizing gaze.
"What? Nooo... it's just the wine!" Kara laughs nervously, fidgeting with her wine glass. In contrast to the dark purple liquid in Lena's glass, hers is electric blue.
Lena narrows her eyes suspiciously for another long moment before leaning back again, shrugging it off and taking Kara's excuse.
"I guess alien biology isn't that different from human biology then," she remarks, and Kara nods along agreeably, eager to switch topics.
"Oh, stop it, Lena. I might be smart but you've literally invented the cure for cancer! I can't beat that!" Kara retorts, her wine glass long empty after being refilled multiple times.
"This is the sixth time you've complimented me tonight, darling," Lena murmurs, but the bright flush high on her cheeks and the way she's looking at Kara suggests that it's not a complaint at all.
"And? You deserve allll the compliments in the world," Kara emphasizes, spreading her arms out to signify the extent of compliments Lena should be receiving.
Lena averts her eyes, trying to hide how flustered she is behind her wine glass.
Kara simply grins and continues.
"Plus, you mean so much to me, Lena. I mean, have you ever thought about what our lives would be like if we never met? How much worse they would be?"
That causes both of them to sober up a bit, and Kara begins thinking.
Even though she had lost Krypton, somehow, now that she's thinking about it, she doesn't regret how she came to Earth. Somehow meeting Lena outweighs everything else she's suffered through, and, before she can think any deeper about what that means, she notices Lena stiffen in front of her.
"Really?"
Kara blinks once, twice, and registers the question.
"Did I say that out loud?"
Lena nods stiffly, before repeating her question.
"But, really? You mean that?"
Kara feels her forehead crinkling up again as she thinks about the question harder, making sure she knows what she's saying this time.
"I... yeah I think I do. I love my family and I miss them so much, but I don't think I would be able to give you up either."
Lena nods, realization blooming across her face.
"I feel the same way."
Lena's eyes are misted over, but her expression is unreadable, and before Kara can ask more about it, Alex is calling everyone to the couch to turn on the TV. When Kara glances at the time, she notices they're right on time, 11:58, and, as she's watching the time, the numbers flash and change into 11:59.
Forgetting all about their conversation, Kara drags Lena over to the couch hurriedly, but, because of how crowded the couch is, she isn't able to do anything other than pull Lena onto her lap so they can both still see the TV.
Everyone starts counting down as the timer starts on the small screen and Kara chants along, clasping her hand with Lena's once they reach 1 and welcome in the new year.
After several rounds of celebratory drinks together, everyone begins packing up to go home, leaving in groups and pairs and leaving Kara and Lena cleaning up together as the clock ticks towards 1AM.
When Kara flops down on the couch for a break once she's finally cleared all the drinks away and dealt with any trash around the apartment, Lena joins her after a moment, sitting down beside Kara and sighing as she leans back into the cushion.
After a moment of awkward silence, Kara turns to face Lena, crossing her legs on the couch as she does so.
"What you said earlier, did you mean it, too?" she asks cautiously, fidgeting with her hands.
Lena freezes in place, stiffening and drawing her shoulders up.
"I mean... you don't have to answer if you don't want to or anything but what I meant was I probably wouldn't trade anything for you and I just wanted to know if you felt the same way—"
"I meant it. I mean it the same way, too," Lena interrupts.
She breathes in deeply, nerves causing her voice to tremble as she continues to explain.
"I wouldn't give you up for anything either. Growing up as a Luthor was horrible, but if I had never been adopted by them, I never would have met you. I think that even if I had been happy with my mother, it wouldn't make up for not having you."
Kara nods quietly.
"I'd have to agree. I would love to have Krypton back, but I don't think it would make up for not meeting you. And... I know I said that being Supergirl was the last of my secrets but I lied... just a little bit," Kara confesses.
A flash of surprise and disappointment crosses Lena's face, but before Lena can shut down and close herself off, Kara rambles on, hurriedly rushing to explain.
"I love you. Like I'm in love with you. I didn't... I think it's always been there and I just didn't realize it but now that I have, I know I wouldn't give you up for anything," she finishes, nervously fiddling with her hands.
After several minutes of silence, Kara dares to look up at Lena. Lena's expression is shocked for a moment as she looks at Kara, but as Kara opens her mouth to apologize, Lena's expression morphs into one of pure adoration.
"Oh, Kara. I love you, too. I felt this pull to you the first day we met and when it wouldn't go away, I eventually figured it out. The only thing I'm sorry about is how long it took us to figure it out." Lena smiles softly, scooting closer to Kara and lacing their fingers together.
Kara glances at the clock dangling from her wall and considers Lena sitting before her, cheeks still flushed, eyes shining, and so so beautiful.
"I know it's almost 1 hour into the new year, but, Lena Luthor, would you like to be my New Year's kiss?"
Lena smiles even wider and leans forward, and they both end up laughing into the curve of the other's mouth.
When Lena finally pulls back, she squeezes Kara's hand once before smiling again.
"Happy New Year, Kara."
Kara smiles right back.
"Happy New Year, Lena."