Moira should have known her decisions had consequences.

But, she didn't regret them at all. She was just sad she wasn't allowed to say anything else. That she couldn't hug her brother one more time before she was taken. She should have used her free time to say she loved him. To say she didn't blame him, that everything she did was because she wanted a future for him. She didn't have one, she had no idea what she could ever do. But her brother Gai was her everything. If it meant he was safe and she wasn't, so be it.

~8~

There was turbulence when Moira woke up. She had been sleeping, tucked in a corner where neither of the guards could see her but knew she was there. The time had been lonely. She had no friends, she didn't talk to anyone. She wasn't allowed too. But that didn't stop the woman in the cell next to her. The woman felt pity for her, knew this wasn't a place for a girl like Moira. She knew she shouldn't be there with them. She knew the girl wasn't like either of them.

Moira slowly stood, watching the lights flickering in and off, worried. Something was happening, something was making the guards panic. It wasn't until everything shook as if crashing against a rough material and everything stopped when she realized something was indeed wrong.

The lights went out for a moment, the emergency system lit up, glowing against the walls in red. There was a beep before the cell in front of her opened and the yelling began. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears, pressing herself against the wall, trying to remain quiet and hidden.

"Moira?" The woman ran inside her cell, looking at the girl hiding in the shadows in worry. "Sweetie. We must leave now"

"W-what?" Moira stuttered, her voice cracking slightly as it was the first time in a while since she spoke. "Astra?"

Astra walked closer, gently grabbing the young girl's arms, pulling her away from the shadows, "We have no time. Everyone's running. Non and I were waiting for you"

Moira shook her head, "What's going on?"

"We crashed" Astra answered, starting to lead the short brunette fourteen year old away from her cell, making sure no one was following them. "We don't know what's exactly going on, but we have our chance to live again"

Moira felt confused and overwhelmed as she let Astra drag her around the hallways for the next fifteen minutes as they hid and waited for guards to run past.

~8~

The first thing Moira felt when they left the fortress was warmth, closing tightly her eyes, using a hand to cover them from the intensity of the light. The second she felt was some kind of strength she hadn't felt before. Astra let go of her hand as she embraced tightly her husband, Non. When she adjusted to the different scenario, Moira lowered her arms, looking around, seeing they were stationed in some kind of desert.

"I was the first to leave from this wing" Non told them, relieved to see both girls out. He looked at the youngest whom his wife had taken under her wing since the first day the girl was arrested. "We can't be caught together or we'll get a fate worse than death"

Moira stared at him with wide eyes.

Astra sighed, grabbing the girl's hands, meeting her eyes "He's right, sweetheart. If we want to survive and live for another day, we must separate" She passed a loving hand down the girl's short hair, smiling slightly "You must run first, okay? We'll stop anyone who tries to go your way"

"But-" Moira began.

"Now, Moira" Non told her sharply. "You must leave, immediately"

Astra hugged Moira tightly, "Take care of yourself. We may see each other soon, when things calm down"

Moira nodded in Astra's shoulder, eyes welling up with tears "Thank you. For everything"

Astra smiled, "No. Thank you for everything" They pulled away, suddenly hearing screams and people yelling out orders, screams of pain, looking at the door. Astra looked at Moira urgently "Go. We'll be fine"

Moira hesitated for another moment before nodding, running off, away from the only people who treated her as family in a long time.

~8~

12 years later

"Smile!"

The woman and man holding a baby did as told, smiling brightly. The flash of a camera was heard, and their smiles' fell a little, touching their cheeks.

"Tiring" The woman joked, chuckling. "How many pictures are left?"

A brunette woman with glasses lowered the profesional camera she was holding with a strap around her neck, looking down at the photos she just took with a smile in her face. "We can stop if you want" She looked up, showing them the photo. The man and woman looked down at the photo, smiling. "Fake smiles are never good. Even if they are from being tired of doing this for a few hours now"

The man chuckled, "Well, thanks. Our last photographer wanted to finish them all in one day"

The photographer cringed, "Yeah. I've heard about them. They want to end as soon as possible"

"Not you though" The woman pointed out, "We've worked in these photographs since last week"

"I fix my schedule depending on the demands of my clients, Mrs Sullivan" The photographer told them.

"And we appreciate that, Ms Kent" Mrs Sullivan told her, smiling softly.

"And as you pointed out, fake smiles aren't good" Mr. Sullivan told them, placing his hands on his hips. "Can we continue this later on?"

The photographer nodded, "Of course!"

A man with glasses walked close by, glancing toward the couple and the photographer, "Moira" The photographer, Moira looked up, tilting her head slightly, seeming to hear the man talking even if he was far away. Mr and Mrs Sullivan didn't seem to notice or hear the man "Gotta talk to you"

Moira looked at the couple "We can rearrange another appointment, if you want" She grabbed her shoulder backpack, opening it, pulling out a notebook. "What day would you like? Or we can continue this later-"

"Can't do, Moira" The man told her, holding a newspaper, pretending to read it, speaking discreetly. "I may take upon all your afternoon"

Moira pursed her lips, looking at the couple apologetically, "Oh, never mind about that. I actually have all afternoon today in another business"

Mr. Sullivan shook his head, "We have some things to take care of this afternoon, too"

"What about-" Moira asked, flipping the pages of her notebook, stopping in one, nodding slightly "Saturday morning? Say about ten or eleven?"

"Sounds perfect" Mrs. Sullivan answered, looking at her husband.

Mr. Sullivan nodded "Ten thirty?" Moira nodded. He smiled, "All set then"

Moira smiled, shaking their hands, "A pleasure seeing you again" She looked at the baby, softly touching his head "And you too, sweetie. See you on Saturday"

Moira gave them another smile, shouldering her backpack across her chest, shoving her notebook inside, walking away from the couple, walking closer to the man with the newspaper.

The man lowered the newspaper, fixing up his glasses, "Hey, Mo"

Moira smiled slightly, "Hey, Clark"

Clark folded the newspaper. They started walking forward, away from the newspaper stand.

"Sorry about that" Clark told her, pointing behind them, toward the couple, "I needed to talk to you"

Moira frowned slightly, nodding "Okay?"

"Remember I talked to you about my cousin?" Clark asked.

"The same cousin whose name hasn't come up and lives in National City?" Moira asked. Clark nodded. "What about her?"

Clark pulled out another newspaper, handing it to her "I need a favor"

Moira read the headline "Mysterious Heroine saves Flight 237"

"Wait" Moira told him, slowing down a stop. Clark did the same, turning to face her "This is the reason why James left to National City, isn't it? Is he doing you a favor too?"

Clark smiled sheepishly "Yes?" Moira gave him an exasperated look. Clark raised his hands in innocence "She's my cousin. I care about her safety"

"I don't" Moira told him bitterly. Clark sighed, giving her a look. Moira realized how bitter she sounded, closing her eyes "Crap. I'm sorry. I have no problems with her at all"

"I would have done the same for you too, you know?" Clark asked. Moira opened her eyes, looking at him. They resumed their walk "If you had decided to leave Kansas or Metropolis after you learned everything about earth and it's costumes"

"Really?" Moira asked, doubtfully "My background has nothing to do with that choice?"

Clark shook his head, "Not at all. At first maybe, but I never saw you capable of doing harm. So, the only explanation was that you were protecting someone. Not hurting them"

"What good did I do? He would have been alive" Moira grumbled. Clark gave her a sympathetic look. She cleared her throat "Anyway. What is the favor you want to ask me?"

"Besides me and my cousin, you're the only Kryptonian around who can make sure she's safe" Clark told her. "Jimmy may need help"

"I'm not a babysitter" Moira told him. "And you know I don't even like your best friend"

They stopped walking, facing each other.

"Moira, I'm not asking you to be a babysitter" Clark told her. "You know you're making this difficult?" Moira shrugged innocently "I would like for you and my cousin to meet. Get to know each other. Believe it or not, I think you two can be good friends"

"But her mother-" Moira began.

"Kara isn't her mother" Clark told her. "She's not the one who sentenced you. Give her a chance. I have the feeling you both feel the same. You miss Krypton" Moira looked down "You and Kara have memories of that place. You both know and remember their traditions. I don't. I may have born there, but I'll never be a Kryptonian like you two are"

"I'll try" Moira told him after a moment. Clark smiled "I'll go to National City next week after I clear my schedule and meet your cousin"

"Trust me. You won't regret it" Clark told her "This will be good for the two of you"