#a teensy hint of angst is like a touch of salt in a dessert

[natalievoncatte]

Another piercing wail cut through Lena’s skull and almost sent her reeling to the floor. Her teeth ached from grinding and her hands stung from the process of boiling bottles. Yet, she steadfastly refused to hand off this duty to someone else. When she and Kara decided to try for a child, Lena began grooming Sam to take her place as CEO and created a researcher emeritus position for her in the advanced projects department. That was taken care of.

What she hadn’t anticipated was the weeks without sleep. Little Jeremiah had a set of lungs on him, and the slightest provocation set him wailing. Kara had offered to leave CatCo and take care of him full time, but Lena insisted they care for their son equally, no matter how chivalrous and selfless Kara wanted to be.

It was more than that. Lena was never going to be a stay at home mom, but she would be damned if she was going to be an absentee mother. She’d be there for every school concert, every field trip, every precious moment and she’d bury him in love.

She just had to get through this first.

He didn’t need a fresh diaper. He’d been fed and burped. He didn’t seem to be tired. He just kept wailing. Lena was at her wit’s end, tears welling in her eyes. She was about to call Alex and beg for help when she heard the door close and Kara calling her name.

“You’re supposed to be at work,” Lena protested, as Kara stormed into the kitchen.

Her wife was on a mission. Kara didn’t ask any patronizing questions- she knew Lena was doing her damndest to be the world’s greatest mom. She simply swept behind the kitchen island and wrapped mother and son in a gentle hug, surrounding their son in the presence of his parents.

Kara closed her eyes, gently rested her chin on the top of Lena’s head, and tucked them both into a hug. Lena knew what was coming next and let it sweep over her. The low rumble in Kara’s chest quivered in her bones as her wife began to purr.

The effect was instantaneous. Jeremiah’s cries softened and turned into soft gurgling sounds as he squirmed in Lena’s arms slightly and relaxed, the tension easing out of his tiny muscles.

“Hold onto him.”

Kara scooped them both up with ease, cradling Lena on her arms as she had so many times before, and she was once again reminded that being held by Kara Danvers was like being held by a castle. Kara bore them both gently into the bedroom and lowered Lena to the bed, then kicked off her shoes and joined them, the deep vibrations still emanating from her chest.

“You’re supposed to be at work for another two hours.��

“Not until you’ve had a nap,” said Kara. “I’ll take him and then I can go back when you wake up. I can tell you’re exhausted, zhao.”

“Can we just stay like this a little longer?” Lena whispered.

Kara pressed a soft kiss to Lena’s forehead and smiled against her skin.