Fathers Day. One of the hardest days of the year, second only to his wedding anniversary. J'onn sat in his kitchen staring blankly at the TV, while clips of Supergirl flashed across the screen. For him, this day was just like any other, it wasn't as if he could celebrate. He should have been able to just go to work and spend the day like normal, but something made him feel so incredibly empty inside. J'onn couldn't pinpoint exactly one thing. He had lost his wife and daughters, the very people that made him a father, and on top of that he had just lost his own father. He couldn't bear to leave his home and see other families celebrating, it would just bring back too many feelings of anguish and sorrow. J'onn's eyes began to well up at the thought. It was then that he heard a knock at the door. Quickly wiping his eyes, J'onn stood up and went to open it. On the other side was Kara, holding a box from Noonan's.
"Kara!" he said with surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Happy Fathers Day!" she said happily, giving him a hug as she entered. Kara made her way over to the table and set down the box, opening it to reveal a dozen donuts, all iced and decorated to perfection.
"You shouldn't have," J'onn said with a grin, taking a donut anyway.
"Too late," she said smugly.
"Well in that case we should take them into work."
"Way ahead of you," said Kara. "There are already three boxes there waiting for everyone. You've seen how fast top secret government agents take down a box of donuts, you deserved one that was just for you."
"Well thank you, I really appreciate it," he said. "I suppose we should be getting to work."
"I'm heading over now," Kara replied. "Just wanted you to know that we're thinking of you today. You know I've had more than a few fathers in my life, I know a good one when I see it." Kara stepped behind a door before reappearing in her Supergirl uniform. "See you in a bit," she said, flying off through the open window.
An hour later, J'onn arrived at the DEO where he found three empty Noonan's boxes, as well as a gift box on his desk. He lifted the lid carefully and looked inside, finding a mug and a note. The mug read "#1 Boss." J'onn decided that something this cheesy could only be from one person, he opened the note.
"I've worked so many crappy IT jobs that I almost forgot good bosses existed. You saw my potential when no one else did and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. You took a chance on me, and I can never thank you enough. Not only have you truly been the #1 Boss, you've shown me what it's really like to have a father. Happy Fathers Day, Papa Bear. -Winn"
J'onn smiled as he set the mug down on his desk. This wasn't what he was expecting to come out of this day at all. Before he had a chance to sit down, his received a text from Alex asking him to come to the interrogation room. This couldn't be good. If Alex couldn't handle a suspect, then there was no hope for anyone else. He went straight there and opened the door to find Alex sitting alone, a box in front of her.
"What is this?" he asked.
"J'onn," she began slowly, "I've always fantasized about getting my dad back. I dreamed that he would walk back through the door and everything would go back to normal. And when we found out he was still alive, I thought I finally had that chance, I got my hopes up. Seeing how much he had changed and what had been done to him, it was like my whole world turned upside down. My perception of my father had always driven me, given me something to hold on to. I lost all of that." Alex paused to wipe her now watering eyes. "Last night, I saw this sappy Fathers Day commercial and, if I'm being honest, immediately poured a giant glass of wine." Alex smiled guiltily. "But after wallowing for a while, I realized something. It was never actually him that kept me going. I may have relied on the idea of him, but it was you that gave me my strength. Before you recruited me, I was just a sad, scared graduate student with no purpose in life. You made me so much more than that, J'onn. You gave me a purpose. Jeremiah may be gone, but I still have a father. I just want you to know that."
Alex slid the box towards him, J'onn untied the ribbon and opened it slowly. He pulled out a brass picture frame, and inside was a photo of everyone in Kara's loft at Thanksgiving. Engraved across the top of the frame were the martian words "Ka'ahr ta'ohk," which translated to "Bound by love." J'onn scanned the photo, stopping to look at every face in it. There was Kara, Alex, Winn, Mon El, and James. It occurred to him that all of these people had lost their fathers too, and looked up to him instead.
Family wasn't only determined by blood, J'onn realized. It's who you choose to have in your life. He may have lost his daughters, but he gained many more children here on Earth. A tear ran down J'onns face as he pulled Alex into his arms.
"Thank you," he whispered.