Kara took Barry back to her apartment where she quickly changed into a light t-shirt and a pair of jeans then tossed him some clothes to wear as well. He was amused when he unfolded them to see the same pair of sweats he had given her at their first meeting.

"I can't believe you kept these."

"Why wouldn't I? You did give them to me. I mean, they weren't the best gift I'd ever received, but I have to admit they're extremely comfortable and..."

"And what..."

"You're going to think this is silly..."

"No I won't. Come on Kara, tell me."

"Okay first, I use them to sleep in sometimes, and they smell like you."

"Uh...I'm not sure how to take that. Do I smell bad?"

"No you big dork. It's just, it's you. Knowing that you gave them to me and they carry some of your scent, well, it's just comforting. Don't ask me to explain it. It's just a good feeling."

"Guess I'll go get changed then. Be back in a flash..."

Kara just rolled her eyes at Barry's joke as he headed off to find her bathroom. When she knew he couldn't see her, she started tearing around the kitchen in nervous super-speed, looking for something for them to eat, and a couple of drinks. She knew her nervousness was kind of irrational because she had given him her apartment address, but didn't expect him to be here after just a week and a half. This was a big step for their building relationship, and he was in National as the Flash, so she calmed her nerves. She was glad he was there, and hoped he had some news on the Meta from Central that now had a counterpart in her city.

"Kara...?"

"In the kitchen, Barry. You hungry?"

"Only always, I burn four thousand calories every time I go out as the Flash. Have to keep my strength up."

"Okay, I'll find us something, so what else brought you to National?"

Barry was leaning over the kitchen counter as he watched Kara getting them snacks, thinking it was definitely a sight he could get used to. She was dressed casually and had her hair down instead of in the ponytail she wore at the karaoke bar.

"Well, I was on my way back from Star City where I have some friends."

"Star City? Where Barry has friends or the Flash has friends?"

"Both...I know Green Arrow and he has someone who works with him like Cisco does with me."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, her name's Felicity Smoak, she's a tech genius. There's nothing she can't do when it comes to computers. After we first started working together and you had gone back to National, Cisco asked her for help with our first unknown Meta."

Kara turned around, putting her collecting food for them on hold. Barry had told her how frustrated he was getting with the case on their date, and she now had her attention focused in on him.

"Did Felicity find anything?"

"Well, she found out I met you. Don't worry I didn't tell her who you are."

"I'm not worried about that. I trust you Barry, so..."

"We got a hit after a long search. Neither of us knew this lab was still in existence. But as I think about it now, it actually makes sense."

"What lab? Who found a way to create meta-humans?"

"Ever heard of Cadmus?"

Kara stopped again, her eyes going into laser like focus. Barry thought for a moment he had upset her when a voice spoke up from her window. The voice startled both of them as it had a real wrath of God inflection.

"What about Cadmus?"

Kara quickly looked over Barry's shoulder to see Clark standing in her living room. He was still in full uniform as Superman, and the fact that he had heard Cadmus' name again after all these years put him in an angry state of mind. Before he could step further in, she wrapped her cousin in a bear hug that nearly knocked him off his feet. She had moved so fast that Barry hadn't even seen it.

"KAL!"

"It's good to see you too, Kara. I'm sorry I haven't been around so much lately."

"Shut up...Superman and Supergirl have both been dealing with supervillains a lot lately. And you were off-planet for a month. So don't apologize. You're here now. What brings you by?"

"Well I am a reporter, and I..."

Clark paused as he looked past Kara to see the very confused young man standing in her kitchen. He had heard the man's voice, but didn't really take notice of him as the name of the lab he and Lois had reported on became his primary focus.

"Kara...can we talk privately for a moment?"

"Of course...Barry, go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back."

Barry watched as Kara and Superman stepped into her bedroom and closed the door. For a moment, he thought about suiting back up as the Flash and running all the way back to Central City. The look Superman gave him was one of pure intimidation, and despite knowing that Superman didn't kill, he knew that the older Kryptonian could squash him like a bug.

"Kara...you want to tell me who that is? More importantly, what the hell he is doing in your apartment?"

"Okay Clark...I'm going to need you to drop the angry over-protective big brother routine. He's not going to hurt me, and I don't want you to scare him away."

"Ouch...you called me Clark. You only do that when I've made you angry, or I'm about to make you angry."

"Or when we're out in public and we have to protect our identities as Superman and Supergirl. So give me a chance to explain without flying off the handle."

"Okay, you have my undivided attention."

Kara gave Clark her most intimidating glare, one she knew always slightly scared him. Quickly he sat down and softened his eyes, forgetting his anger at Cadmus for the moment so his cousin could speak.

"Are you good?"

"Yeah, I'm all ears...sometimes literally."

Kara let out a small laugh at his joke, knowing that he was calm and ready to hear what she had to say.

"His name is Barry Allen. He's from Central City, and is a C.S.I. for C.C.P.D. I met him when I was investigating a case for Cat Co."

"The one on the murdered meta-human. Lois was going to cover that but something else came up and..."

Kara gave Clark a look of annoyance for his interruption and he quickly apologized, signaling for her to continue.

"Right, well I got to spend some time with Barry after that, and he's a really great guy. You always told me how maintaining a relationship while having to hide who you really are used to take a toll on you. Lana, Lori, Chloe, everyone up until Lois. She accepts you for who you are, I hope you want me to have that kind of relationship as well."

"Yes, but remember it took Lois and I a very long time to get where we are. And of course I want you to have that kind of relationship. You need someone who's willing to spend time with you, who accepts that you're...wait a minute..., he already knows you're Supergirl, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does."

"Kara, I'm not sure I can approve of this. This Barry Allen, how long have you known him?"

"Just over a week now."

"A week?!"

"KAL! Keep your voice down."

"Sorry, but you've only known him a week and he already knows about Supergirl. Kara; this is dangerous for you. What do you really know about him? How do you know he won't use that against you?"

"I know he won't. Barry's not that type of guy. I trust him."

"Yeah...but are you sure you should?"

"Well, you're just going to have to introduce yourself and find out."

Kara opened the door, allowing Clark to step out of her room first. He came around into the living room to find Barry sitting on the couch, nervously wiping his hands on the Star Labs sweatpants he was wearing.

"Let's get this out of the way. You know who I am?"

Barry nodded as he stood up. He had a feeling he would earn Superman's respect faster if he met the hero eye to eye. Of course this didn't stop Clark from doing everything he could to intimidate the young man in front of him, but inwardly he was impressed that Barry didn't back down.

"You're Superman, and Kara's cousin. She speaks very highly of you."

"Correct on both counts, and there's no point in hiding it, I'm also Clark Kent. I hope you understand how hard it is for us to live on this world as different as we are. You don't need to deny it. I know she already told you that she's Supergirl. Trust me son, you don't want to hurt her, because it wouldn't be good for you if you did."

"I don't intend to hurt her. I really like Kara. And with all due respect Superman, I'm not going to let you intimidate me in an effort to try and keep me away from her. Kara is special to me, and I will do everything in my power to make sure I don't hurt her, and no one else does either."

Clark was even more impressed with Barry now than he was when he didn't back down. The younger man spoke with a confidence well beyond his years, one that Clark could tell that was also tinged with loss. Something about this kid was different. He couldn't put his finger on it until Barry continued speaking.

"Yes, Kara and I have only known each other a little over a week. Yes I know she's Supergirl, and believe me, I accept that about her. I will never try to change her because she accepts me for who I am. In fact, when we first met, I felt like the lightning bolt hit me all over again after the particle accelerator explosion."

Clark was now the one confused. He had heard about Star Labs: Central City's accident, and came to help as much as he could until Luthor tried to destroy half of the East Coast. However; he didn't speak as he thought Barry was about to make some big reveal. He wasn't wrong and fell back in a chair as soon as the words left the younger man's mouth.

"That explosion changed my life forever. My name is Barry Allen, and I'm the fastest man alive. I'm the Flash."

Clark looked past Barry to Kara and she only nodded. As Superman he had heard of the Flash's reputation, the lives he's saved, the friends he's lost. He'd also heard that the Flash had a tendency to be a bit of a smart-ass. But looking at Barry, the determination behind his eyes, the confidence in his stance as he still hasn't backed down in the face of the veteran hero, Clark knows he rushed to judgement to soon.

"Okay Barry, I hope you don't mind if I ask you for proof?"

"You want me to prove that I'm the Flash?"

"Clark! Barry, you don't have to...my cousin is just trying to..."

"No Kara, it's okay. Superman wants proof, I'll be happy to oblige."

Barry sped out of the room and was back in less than a minute after having changed from the Star Labs sweats into his Flash uniform. He had moved faster than Clark had expected, but Kara watched and timed him. In his haste, Barry also created a small vortex of wind, sending the pages of Kara's report swirling through the air. He caught them just as fast and even had time to read it before setting it down, in perfect order.

"That's a really good report, Kara. So in depth on our fight against Godspeed."

"Okay Barry, now you're just showing off."

Kara smiled at him, not remotely serious or angry at him for his actions. Clark had asked for proof, and he got more than he expected from the Flash. Soon enough even he was loosening up and got to joining in on the conversation between Barry and his cousin. More importantly he found it refreshing that Barry didn't act as the typical Superman fanboy he had expected. He was respectful, but not cocky and didn't assume they were equals. By the time Clark needed to leave, Barry had earned his respect and he could see just why Kara was interested and willing to trust him.

"Okay, so I've got to get back to Metropolis. Barry, it was nice to meet you. And don't worry, either of you. I'll figure out if Cadmus is behind these sudden appearances of new meta-humans. If they are, we'll stop them."

Clark nearly flew out the window before turning back to Kara. He had come to talk to her about the reports he'd heard on her latest fight, and almost forgotten the other reason Lois had asked him to come.

"Oh by the way Kara, Lois and I will be in National City next week. We've got a little vacation time that's been overdue and she wanted to see you again. She insists on us taking you out to dinner."

"I'm all for that. It feels like it's been ages since I've seen her."

"Until then cousin, keep up the good work."

Clark then left, leaving Barry and Kara alone as they flopped back down on the couch together. It was in that moment that Barry let out the breath that he had been holding in. Kara noticed and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Were you really that worried Clark wouldn't like you?"

"Kind of, I mean I am the guy who's dating his cousin. I kind of imagined he would think I could never be good enough for you."

"You're not going to have to worry about that. Clark talks a big game when it comes to me and he sometimes has a tendency to forget that I used to change his diapers."

"I bet he gets embarrassed when you tell that story."

"He does, he really does. But you passed his tests. You met him eye to eye and not many people will stand up to him when he's being Superman. And that whole "Kara is special to me, and I will do everything in my power to make sure I don't hurt her, and no one else does either", that was all the reassurance he needed to know that you'd be good for me. Besides, Lois is the one you really have to worry about; she can smell weakness a mile away."

"Great...so I get the big brother talk from Clark 'Superman' Kent, and I'll get even more from Lois Lane."

"Barry...you know it doesn't matter what they think, even if Clark and Lois didn't approve of you, I would still want to be with you. So, you're still here, let's get back to what we were doing. I thought we'd watch Star Wars."

"Episode Four first?"

"Is there any other way to start the saga?"

When Kara agreed to watching A New Hope first, Barry knew she was the one. He honestly didn't expect her to even be a Star Wars fan, but knowing that she was only confirmed that he was going to love her. While they started the movie, Clark was arriving back at the apartment he and Lois shared, changing clothes before greeting her.

"About time you got back, Smallville. You were just going to visit Kara. I expected you to only be gone for maybe ten minutes."

"Well I would have been, if the topic of Cadmus hadn't come up and..."

"Cadmus? I thought our article got them shut down. Harper gave us all the sordid secrets about them."

"He did, but does anything ever truly die? That's not all I learned while seeing her though. I met her boyfriend."

"Cadmus...I can't believe it. If they're still out there...wait...did you just say Kara has a boyfriend?"

"They're not calling it that yet, but it's clear that's where their relationship is going."

"And I bet he was sweating bullets when he found out that not only is Clark Kent Superman, but her cousin as well?"

"Nope, he met me face to face. Didn't even let me intimidate him. Kid's got guts."

"You think he's good for her?"

"Yeah, she even trusted him with her secret identity as Supergirl. She'll be fine."

"She will, but he hasn't met me yet. Clark, you know you're just a big old softie when it comes to Kara."

"Maybe so, but she likes him. Getting back to Cadmus, I'll need to go see Bruce in the morning. We might need Batman and Robin to help us look into this."