And I’m done. The first SJM book I read, and I loved it. I look forward to the next one whenever that is. I appreciate her wrapping up the current crisis, so we have answers before the next book.
BIG SPOILERS COMING
So, I honestly didn’t think she was going to make the drop. I thought she would shut the gates and that the city would be in tatters. I felt that it would just go to show how Lowers like Lehabah and a half-fae took down an Archangel and that the people the Asteri look down upon were a force to be reckoned with. So I thought she would stay mortal and lead a resistance in the next book. Which she will probably do in a future book, she is just all kinds of powerful now. That’s cool, I guess.
I appreciate the friendships that were shown and how powerful its love and sacrifice is that all-powerful beings think nothing of it.
I also think Hunt’s dad is either the Under King because Jesica knows his father best or that his daddy is the Star Eater, the prince of the seventh pit.
And in huge conspiracy feels because of drama and a possible need for his loyalty to Bryce needing to be tested, I think either his mom or Shahar could also be alive and be used as pawns.
I enjoyed it, I could read again, down the road. I am eager for the next one.
@audiovizualna has been providing amazing illustrations since the first chapter half a year ago. This epilogue’s illustration is hers too and it could be viewed HERE or click this > https://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/159672933839
Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!
Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:
Against The Wind Series
Epilogue
(Set a few years after. Warning: Extreme fluff.)
“I don’t like her, Len,” Sara said, chopping the vegetables she had just washed.
Leonard chuckled and wiped his hands on the kitchen rag. “You haven’t even met her yet. You already agreed to Luke going on a date with this girl, so let him.”
“She’s not good enough for him.”
“Honey, in your eyes, nobody is ever good enough for Luke. He’s 16. He’s bound to go to dates.”
Sara groaned, making Leonard laugh.
“Is Mom still against my date with Steph?” Luke popped into the kitchen, wearing long sleeves, the scent of cologne filling the air.
Leonard looked towards his son and had a head-to-toe sweep of how he prepared for his date. He then turned to face Sara, wiggling his eyebrows to tease her.
“I’m not against it, Lucky. I’m just protective of you,” Sara replied, wiping her hands on her apron and walked close to her son. “Sweetie, you look handsome but why are you drowning in cologne? How long is this date going to last? Three weeks?”
“Too protective,” Leonard immediately supplied and winked at Sara. “You have your things ready, kid?”
Luke laughed, fully knowing that his mother could sometimes be irrationally protective of the three of them. Still very sweet of her. “Yup. Where will Uncle Mick pick me up again?”
“STAR Labs parking lot after your date,” Leonard replied, getting a slice of carrot from the chopping board. “Make sure he doesn’t see you with your date or you’ll never hear the end of it.”
Luke nodded and did the same--got a carrot from behind Sara’s back.
“And your Mom has eyes everywhere,” Leonard replied. “For all we know, Mick’s her spy.”
“Yes, he is,” Sara said from afar.
“Moooooooooooom!”
“No yelling in this house, Lily,” Leonard said from down the staircase. “Come down if you need anything.”
They heard fast footsteps coming down from the second floor of their house and rushing to the kitchen where Sara, Leonard, and Luke are.
“Mom, I think I lost my Judo uniform,” Lily said as she tied her hair into a ponytail. “I looked all over my room but it wasn’t there. I’m already running late for practice.”
“Have you searched for it at Lucy’s room? Maybe I placed it there,” Sara replied, too busy to even look at Lily. “Please hurry up. Your Aunt Lisa texted saying she and your cousin are already on their way to the practice.”
Lily slumped on the stool near the kitchen island. “I don’t know why I still have to go to Judo practice, Mom. You could just teach me and Leona. I’ve seen you do more advanced moves than our instructor.”
“Yes but your Uncle Cisco wants his daughter to have a normal childhood and prefers a mediocre instructor over a real-life ninja,” Sara replied finally facing Lily and tucking in the stray hair that fell on the 14-year old’s angelic face. “And it doesn’t help that his daughter is named after your father. Now go, young lady!”
Lily giggled and hopped off the stool. She then dashed passed them and up to her sister’s room.
Luke stalled to the living room, checking his phone for the time, and left Leonard and Sara in the kitchen.
“So,” Leonard drawled, leaning onto the kitchen island. “Mick is taking Luke to 1975 and Lisa is picking Lily up after Judo. We’re gonna drive Lucy to their house to join the girls’ sleepover and…where does that leave us?”
“We’re going to clean the house,” Sara jokingly replied.
Leonard raised an eyebrow. “In that case, I’m out. Maybe Mick needs help on the ship…”
“I’m kidding, you idiot. It’s our anniversary. We’ll…”
“Mommy?”
The couple looked at the doorway and saw their youngest—nine-year old Lucy. Unlike the curious Luke and the fierce Lily, Lucy grew up shy. Being the youngest, the attention of the family all went to her but it never made her grow up spoiled. She’s the sweetest of them all, always giving hugs and kisses to everyone she meets. She speaks softly, always gracious. Born after a crazy moment in the couple’s life, Lucy never seemed to carry the chaos that led to her birth. She became a ray of sunshine for them—a symbol of hope, even.
“Yes, Lulu?”
Lucy walked closer to them slowly. Once at arm’s reach, Leonard lifter the little girl up and sat her on the counter.
The little girl is clutching a folded paper on one hand and handed it to Leonard.
“I made a drawing.”
It was a drawing of their house with the five of them outside, holding hands. Each of the five figures is labeled with their names below them. On the upper right is a disc-like image and underneath it was the name “Uncle Mick”—probably the Waverider.
“This is beautiful, baby. Do you want me to stick it on the fridge?” Sara asked, smoothing the creases on the paper.
Instead of speaking, Lucy just shook her head and pointed on the small brown figure she drew beside her figure. “Please, Mama?”
A dog.
Leonard smirked and looked at Sara. They’ve been asked by Luke and Lily if they can have a dog for the longest time but they haven’t gotten to decide about that. There were other things to take care of back then.
But this time, it was Lucy asking them. And Leonard chuckled at the thought of Luke and Lily manipulating their baby sister into asking him and his wife for a dog.
“You want a puppy, sweet-cheeks?”
The kid’s cheeks blushed and she brought her hands to her face. “Yes, Mama.”
“Well, I don’t know about that, sweet. Your dad has allergies…”
“But we’ll make it work,” Leonard finished Sara’s sentence. In return, Sara’s eyes brightened. “As long as my baby’s happy, right?”
Lucy immediately landed a wet kiss on her father’s cheek, and then to her mother. “Thank you, Daddy. Put me down now, please?”
And Leonard did. He ran his hand through Lucy’s chestnut-colored hair and kissed the top of her head, then asked her to go back to what she’s doing.
The moment Lucy went out of the kitchen, Luke and Lily were waiting outside, side-by-side.
“Hey Lue, so what did they say?” Lily crouched down to meet Lucy’s eye.
Luke did the same and laid a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. “We’re getting a dog, right?”
To their surprise, Leonard and Sara were looking at them, laughing to themselves.
Lucy bit her lower lip and looked to the floor, making Lily frown.
“Daddy said yes,” Lucy said softly, grinning now.
Cheers from the two older kids erupted and only stopped when Leonard cleared his throat.
“I knew you two were the masterminds,” Len said, grabbing his car keys from his back pocket.
“Lily started it,” Luke said, pointing at his sister, and then grabbed his travel bag.
“And using your baby sister to get what you want? Classic,” Sara responded, removing her apron and placing it on the door handle. “Go on, you three. Take care and come back home safe, okay?”
“Yes, Mom!” Lily said, walking closer to Sara to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I still think you should convince Uncle Cisco that you’ll train us for free.”
“I’ll try. Kick ass, okay? Well, not literally. Please don’t hurt other kids like you did last week with Helen’s daughter.”
“She deserved it!” Lily shouted back as she ran outside to get in their car.
Luke approached Sara next, fidgeting. “Gotta go, Mom. Wish me luck. Don’t worry, I’ll introduce her to you if I get a second date. Steph’s not that bad.”
“I know, Lucky. You wouldn’t like her if she’s not a great girl,” Sara said, placing a kiss on her son’s forehead. “Just have fun, okay? Make her smile. See you in a few days.”
Luke, too, walked outside after kissing the top of Lucy’s head as a goodbye.
It was then Leonard’s turn to say goodbye to Sara before they go. Knowing that Lucy is near them, Leonard settled with a chaste kiss on her lips. Sara snaked an arm around Len’s waist with her free hand stroking his chin, her palm getting tickled by the beard he’s sporting. “Get home fast, alright?”
“Judo practice in the studio in 6th Street, Luke’s date in Jitters, then home. Promise,” Leonard replied and kissed her once more, then Lucy.
---
“Seatbelts,” Leonard said, starting the car.
“Seatbelts on!” both of the kids replied.
The radio is on, reporting how Kid Flash just stopped a robbery. In the middle of the newscast, Lily spoke up.
“Do you miss it, Dad? Going in on missions and kicking bad guys’ asses?”
Leonard looked at the rear-view mirror to see Lily’s bright blue eyes. “Not really,” he answered. “It’s not that much fun since your mom and I had Luke. There’s always the risk of getting hurt or of dying. When you have a family, all that you want is to return home safe and sound. Besides, there’s more thrill in playing Uno with you three and playing cards with your mother than hunting down criminals. The speedsters can take care of them.”
“And Dad seems to enjoy his job at STAR Labs,” Luke added, winking at Lily.
Lily laughed. “Of course he does. He works with his wife and it’s not like a job at all.”
“If your mother hears you two teasing us, you’ll both get grounded. Again.”
It took a few more minutes before they reached the Judo studio. The Snart men dropped Lily off and drove for a couple more minutes to reach Jitters.
“You ready, bud?” Leonard asked Luke when he saw his son checking his phone again.
Luke smirked and ran his hand through his hair. “Kinda nervous, to be honest.”
“You? Nervous? That rarely happens,” Leonard said. They’re almost at Jitters with 20 more minutes before the time of Luke’s date. Of course they have to arrive early. Leonard parked the car at the roadside, giving time to speak to Luke before he goes in.
“I really like her, dad,” Luke finally spoke. “She’s smart and kind and funny and really, really beautiful. I don’t even know what I did for her to say yes to this date.”
“Look at you, Luke. You look exactly like me when I was younger. You’re as handsome as I am. Any girl would say yes to a date with you,” Leonard joked, the two of them laughing.
“But to be honest,” Len said on a serious note, “that’s exactly how I felt the first time I asked your mom out. She’s beautiful and badass and she can have any man or woman she wants, yet she took a chance on me.”
“Mom really loves you, Dad. That’s why she said yes to you.”
“I know, Lucky. But it took me so long to convince myself that we were bound to be together. Or that I deserve what I have with her. I used to wait for the worst things to happen in replacement for all the happiness she brings in my life. But you’re a good kid, Luke. You deserve happiness and if this girl makes you happy, don’t hesitate,” Leonard said, looking at Luke who just exhaled a heavy breath out of his chest.
“I will, Dad,” Luke said with a familiar smirk. “Any more advice?”
Leonard leaned on the headrest of his seat and lifted a finger to count off the things he wants to remind his son.
“Open doors for her. Help her get into her seat. Offer to pay for her order,” Leonard said as-a-matter-of-factly.
Luke scoffed. “I already know that, Dad. You’ve been telling me pretty much ever since my age became two digits.”
“Just don’t do to her what you don’t want your sisters’ dates to do to them,” Leonard replied. “You know what your mother does to men who make women suffer. We raised you right, although our lives are pretty crazy. I trust you’ll do what’s right. Just make her happy, Lucky.“
“I think I can do the last one,” Luke told his father. “I have seen you make Mom happy for sixteen years. I’ve got some tips.”
“Of course you did,” Leonard replied. “Don’t forget, Mick’s picking you up after. Don’t get in too much trouble, you two. I don’t want to form an elite group of heroes and villains to help me save your asses.”
Luke laughed, “I promise, Dad. And I’ll take good care of the Cold Gun. Promise.”
“If you break that, you’re grounded ‘till you’re 30.”
---
“The recipe says carrots first, then onions and garlic, Mommy,” Lucy said as she read from the recipe book while seated on the kitchen island. “Then oregano and salt and pepper.”
“Okay, I got that going, and the meat is in the pressure cooker,” Sara replied, taking off her apron and placing it on the counter. “And now, we wait.”
Lucy’s feet were dangling on the edge, swinging back and forth. “Question, Mommy. Lily looks like you. And Luke looks like Daddy. Who do I look like?”
Sara brought her hands to the girl’s cheek and caressed it. “You look like the both of us, with a hint of Aunt Lisa. Oh, how pretty my little girl is.”
“Another question!”
“What is it?”
“Why do we all start with ‘L’? Why do you start with ‘S’?” the kid asked curiously, a cute little wrinkle forming on her forehead.
Sara couldn’t help but laugh. Leonard insisted that they don’t need to give their kids names that start with ‘L’, but Sara was too pushy.
“Well, sweet, it started with your daddy and Aunt Lisa. I just thought it would be a start of a tradition to name you three with names starting in that letter. Even Leona starts with ‘L’,” Sara said, wrapping her arms around the little girl. “It is to remind your daddy that he is a very important part of all three of you and that you will always carry something in you that are of Leonard.”
“Is the dinner for Daddy?”
“Mhm. For our anniversary celebration,” Sara replied, finally standing to check on the meal being cooked. “That is why when Daddy gets home, he’ll drive you to Aunt Lisa’s. You’ll spend the night and have sleepover with your sister and cousin.”
Silently, Lucy asked, “Why can’t we join the celebration?”
Sara just wanted to have a night alone with Leonard. She’s wanted to have that for a long time, but of course she doesn’t have the heart to tell her daughter. Instead, she leaned over, kissed the little girl on the forehead and carried on with her cooking.
---
Leonard arrived home with the sight of little Lucy carrying her yellow backpack, all smiles and ready to leave. The kid kissed Sara goodbye and took Leonard’s hand, dragging him to the car.
“20 minutes,” Len mouthed to Sara as he opens the car door. Sara nodded in response.
Ninja skills being put to good use, she swiftly took a bath, put on a Persian blue dress she bought especially for this occasion, put on light make up, set the table, and put on old-school music.
Sara heard the door open and when she welcomed the person entering, she saw Leonard with the playful smirk on his face, holding calla lilies on a bouquet.
“How dashing,” Sara said, taking the flowers from him. “Come on, dinner’s ready.”
“First…” Leonard pulled her in for a kiss that lasted so long that they needed to break away from each other to breathe. “Dinner?”
---
The couple spent time talking about many different things over dinner:
“No, you said ‘I love you’ first!”
“You said it first. We were in Germany 1984 and you were drunk. That’s counted.”
“You wanted to name our kid ‘Jar Jar’ just to annoy me.”
“Maybe we could name our dog that.”
“I totally forgot we agreed to get a dog.”
“How do you think Luke’s date went?”
“Amazing, for sure. Anyone would be lucky to go on a date with my son.”
“You remember when Luke was 3 and he saw you use the Cold Gun for the first time ever to make ice and then we just decided to tell him our other job?”
“I didn’t know if he was appalled or impressed.”
“Definitely impressed. He wouldn’t stop asking to borrow your gun for over a month.”
“I bet you can still drink me under the table.”
“No, we’re not going to a pub this late.”
“Why the hell not?”
“We’re too damn old for hard liquors, Len.”
“Too old? Come on, you still look like thirty.”
“Wanna dance, Leonard?”
“You go right ahead. I’ll clean the table.”
“Suit yourself.”
--
Dinner was over and music continued to play. Len brought their plates to the kitchen while Sara swayed to the soft ballad filling their living room.
I met you in the dark, you lit me up
You made me feel as though I was enough
We danced the night away, we drank too much
I held your hair back when
You were throwing up
She closed her eyes as she felt his hands sliding on her hips. “Classic James Arthur, 2016. Nice choice,” the deep voice whispered on her ear.
“Am I getting my dance now?” Sara asked, turning around and placing her hands on his shoulders.
“Not letting this pass.”
Then you smiled over your shoulder
For a minute, I was stone-cold sober
I pulled you closer to my chest
And you asked me to stay over
I said, I already told ya
I think that you should get some rest
Leonard pulled her closer by the waist and so did she with her arms around his neck. Sara could feel both the tickle his beard is giving, as well as his deep breaths.
“You’re not crying, are you?” Sara softly mocked.
I knew I loved you then
But you'd never know
'Cause I played it cool when I was scared of letting go
“I’m Captain Cold. I don’t cry,” Leonard replied, chuckling behind her ear.
“Oh really? Let’s see…” Sara stepped away slightly to look at his face. “There’s when you first saw me after we got you from the Legion. When you proposed. When we exchanged vows. When we found out I was pregnant the first time. And the second time. And the third time. During Luke’s first school recognition. Lily’s first injury. Lucy’s singing contest. I could go on forever, you know?”
I know I needed you
But I never showed
But I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
“Point taken,” Leonard replied, kissing the crook of her neck. “Happy anniversary.”
“Eighteen years,” Sara said. “Who would’ve thought?”
I'll wake you up with some breakfast in bed
I'll bring you coffee with a kiss on your head
Leonard ran his left hand on Sara’s back, his right massaging the back of her neck.
“Now this is something my father could never take away from me,” he said, chin leaning on her shoulder as she ran circles on his back.
“You’ve lived a life different from the one he lived, Len. I’m proud of you for that. You should take pride in it too. Not everyone gets to be this happy.”
And I'll take the kids to school
Wave them goodbye
And I'll thank my lucky stars for that night
“You know, Lucky and Lil made a jab on us earlier,” Leonard said, suddenly reminded of the car ride earlier. “Kinda implied that I’m enjoying my job just because I have someone to flirt with at work.”
“It’s true though. You flirt with me so much that even Caitlyn threatened to kick us out of STAR Labs.”
“What’s new? I’ve been flirting with you for two decades now.”
When you looked over your shoulder
For a minute, I forget that I'm older
I wanna dance with you right now
Sara chuckled. “God, we’ve been together for two decades? I really am growing old with you, aren’t I?”
“Wasn’t that the plan from the very beginning?”
“You got a point there.”
“Of course I do.”
Oh, and you look as beautiful as ever
And I swear that everyday you'll get better
You make me feel this way somehow
“So now what’s the plan?” Sara asked, swaying with the music and taking him with her.
“Stay married longer. Beat other married couples. Establish dominance. Make other couples feel ashamed that they’re not as in love as we are,” Leonard said flatly, acting serious while Sara struggled to stand straight due to how much laughter she’s doing.
Leonard had to step back and pick her up from her crouching position. Sara then went to swat his arm. “Shut up, old man!”
He chuckled and placed their hands to where they were before Sara had to break away and go hysterical again.
I'm so in love with you
And I hope you know
Darling your love is more than worth its weight in gold
We've come so far my dear
“I’ve always loved your laugh,” Leonard said, lightly pinching Sara’s side.
“I’ve always loved your dark humor,” Sara replied.
Look how we've grown
And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Sara pushed Len slightly, pressing her forehead to his. “I don’t have to tell you, right? You already know?”
“Of course. Just like how I don’t need to tell you that I feel the same. It’s never stopped,” Leonard softly said, his hand tracing Sara’s jaw. “I don’t think what I feel will ever stop. I could drop dead right now and my love for you will just go on.”
I wanna live with you
Even when we're ghosts
'Cause you were always there for me when I needed you most
Sara closed the space between their lips. As someone who has been kissing the same man for the last twenty years of her life and for some reason, his lips still feel like how they’ve been the first time. She knows in her heart that every kiss she gives him, she’s treating it like it’s their last. It’s been that way since the Oculus and through the years, it’s never changed amidst Leonard convincing her that he’s not going to vanish and leave her—not again.
Leonard stopped her hips from swaying. He removed his hands from her hips and brought both of them to frame her face as they move so perfectly throughout the kiss
I'm gonna love you till
My lungs give out
I promise till death we part like in our vows
He’s an old man and he knows this. But if this is how he’s going to live the rest of his life—with the woman he loved showing him what love is, his children that are loved and taken care of, and with so much good memories that could replace every single bad one he has throughout his life—then he can say he’s lived a good life.
So I wrote this song for you, now everybody knows
'Cause now it's just you and me till we're grey and old
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Just say you won't let go
Oh, just say you won't let go
“Just for the record,” Leonard said when the two broke away from their sweet kiss, “I loved you first even before you did.”
“You just admitted it first.”
“Hey, I hit on you first.”
“I checked your butt out the moment you walked away from the rooftop the first night Rip recruited us. When you said, ‘Hero ain’t on my resumé’.”
“Okay, you win.”
“Don’t I always?”
--end--
I just want to thank everybody who went with PandART and I on this journey. This story was my first multi-chapter fic and I couldn't have a better partner than her. We're both really happy for those who've read and patiently waited and supported this story.
It took us six months to finish this but from PandART and I--and from the Snarts--thank you so, so much.
I’ve got to stop to get up and stretch for a few minutes. Definitely into it and I’m liking my first experience of SJM’s writing.
I wonder if it will be some big revelation once it is revealed who Bryce’s father is. I assume the book might carry all the way to the summit and have a bunch of big reveals there, but maybe not.
I wonder why Fury won’t talk to Bryce. I just can’t understand it unless she is involved with these deaths and I don’t see that being the case.
In the little flashback about the first time Danika said “I love you,” there seems to be a hint of Bryce having more power than everyone thinks. Like it’s more than just the primal rage that gets mentioned.
My biggest fear for this is that because it is a series, all of the answers won’t be revealed. I’m hoping the deaths are solved and I imagine a war gets sparked over it and that is maybe what would be covered in other books.
Amazing illustration as usual for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/158107644254
Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!
Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:
Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6
Ch 7 Ch 8 Ch 9 Ch 10 Ch 11
Chapter 12: Fragrant Golden Dews
*Sara’s POV
I felt too tired to open my eyes so I began feeling the things that surround me. The air I’m breathing is cold. Something is covering me—a blanket, maybe. I can feel my feet void of my boots. I can’t feel the heavy leather on my body and was replaced by soft cotton. I tried moving my hands. One did, but my right hand was apparently occupied, being held softly by another calloused hand.
“Len?” I finally opened my eyes and stirred up a bit. I saw him sitting on a chair he must have pulled beside the medbay’s medical bed. He is understandably dozing off all the things that happened within the last 24 hours.
Looking around the room, she spotted a couch that was originally inside the Captain’s study. On it are Luke and Lily sleeping side by side. The crew must have placed the couch inside for my family to look after me.
So this must mean—everything’s over and…I missed the whole thing?!
“Leonard,” I said again, squeezing his hand tighter. “Wake up, honey.”
Len groaned and used his other hand to rub his eyes. “Sara? Are you okay? You’re awake?”
“No.”
I watched him smirk and shake his head slightly before standing up from his seat and moving next to me without taking his hand off of mine. “The snark is an indication that you’re fine. Now, how do you really feel?”
I placed my left hand on his cheek, caressing it. Len closed his eyes and leaned into my palm and kissed it. For the first time in a long time, he doesn’t look stressed. He looks relieved and just…relaxed. “I feel fine,” I replied. “Side doesn’t sting. I’m assuming Gideon healed it. But, god, my muscles are aching. I’m not as limber as I once was.”
“You still kicked ass, hon.” Leonard looked at the sleeping kids and then back to me, giving me a small smile. “It’s done, Sara. We can go home.”
I took that time to close my eyes and breathe. I swear I can see the Scrabble board laid out on our coffee table. I swear I can smell Len’s hot chocolate. I swear I can feel the blanket he draped on my shoulders.
“Tell me everything.”
We both asked Gideon not to inform the heroes about my recovery yet. I needed the time to know what happened. Besides, it seems like all of them are either resting in each other’s quarters, eating in the mess hall, or being complete nerds and discovering the Waverider further.
It took a while for Len to organize his thoughts, starting from the moment he carried me to the Waverider to what he heard from his comms. It also included stories from Ollie, Barry, and Mick which they shared to him while he’s waiting for me to regain consciousness.
He then started:
“Gideon helped in tracking the Legion inside the warehouse. They split themselves in three vantage points and left their minions scattered around to distract the rest of them from ganging up on them. The speedsters took on Thawne. The best possible course of action. Merlyn was already knocked out before I got to you, being taken care of by Oliver. The Legends took on Darhk. The rest of them, the archers, the shooters, all disabled the minion. Pretty neat plan by Mick.”
“He was a thief. Of course he makes the best plans,” I immediately replied with a smile on my face, feeling incredibly proud of one of my best friends.
Len was shortly interrupted by Luke’s light snores. We both turned our heads towards the couch to check on them and sure enough, they’re still deep in their slumber.
He looked at me once more and tilted his head. “According to Barry, which may not be 100% true, he took Thawne down. Finally. Kid Flash went in first, circling Thawne and in every attempt from Thawne to pass through, Jessie would bring him back in the speed circle. I’m not exactly sure if what happened next is true but he claimed that some speed ghosts of some sort detected the high concentration of speed in the location. Turns out, they’re after Thawne. Barry barely had to do anything and poof, one of the Legion gone. He mentioned that it was all for Eddie. You remember when Snow told us about him?”
“Yes. His death was now not done in vain. And Barry helped a lot, hon,” I told him. “You have to admit it at least once.”
“Okay, fine. He deserves a lot of thanks,” Leonard said. “Who’d you want to know about next?”
“Merlyn. You said Ollie had him?”
Len sighed and then continued. “Raymond and Cisco devised a plan to knock down Merlyn. The plan needed me to go head-to-head with him so I could trap him on a dead-end and create an ice wall, so they could pump in gas to knock him out. Queen arrived and told me to just get on with it. Kill the bastard for killing you. I said that isn’t my call to make. It’s theirs. His and his sisters. Queen refused to tell me details so I went to Thea. Her brother put an arrow on Merlyn. She said she made a speech prior to that—telling Merlyn that he was never her father, Robert Queen was.”
“That’s very brave of her,” I replied. Thea has always told me how much she admires how Leonard is to our kids. It was something he never got from Malcolm, but something she received unparalleled from the person she knows is her father.
“The Legends came for Darhk,” Leonard continued. “Raymond and Firestorm got him cornered. Nate knocked him down but it was Mick who killed him. Burned him like he burned Savage…”
Before Leonard could finish, Mick entered the medbay with a box of doughnuts on one hand.
“I did a little speech, too,” the man said, extending his arm for me to be able to take the box from him. “Told him he messed up with my family one too many times. Haircut didn’t even try and stop me. Bastard went out screaming.”
“That’s dark,” Leonard replied, grabbing the box from me and placing it on the bed-side table.
“He deserves it. Now all four of you can go back home and be a normal family.”
When Mick left the medbay, we took time for ourselves to reunite and to assure us that both of us are alive. Leonard was in the middle of telling me an overly-exaggerated version of how he heroically carried me and rushed to the kids to check that they’re safe when we both heard a shuffling from the couch across us.
Lily woke up first, rubbing her eyes with a small pout I adore so much.
“Hey baby.”
“Mommy?”
Lily looked at me, then at Lenny, as if asking if what she’s seeing is true.
“Come over here, little bird. I think Mommy wants to say hi,” Leonard said, holding my hand and squeezing it.
Lily shook Luke’s shoulder, making our eldest stir. She then removed the jacket Len draped over them, letting it fall on the floor. She took her time walking to the bed I’m in. And from the lights overhead, I can see unshed tears glimmering in her eyes. Her little feet slowly brought her near, her lips shaking, a pout forming.
I had to hold back my tears right then and there. I could only imagine how the last few hours went for the kids from having to leave the ship to waiting whether or not their parents would ever go back to them.
Lil stopped beside Len. He then grabbed her by the sides and lifted her up to sit on my bedside. I followed her eyes to where it landed on my arms, seeing bruises and cuts. There’s warmth in my stomach that crept up to my throat. Tears blurred my vision and all I can feel was Leonard’s hand holding and squeezing mine.
“Are you okay, Mommy?”
And that did it. I stopped trying to hold the tears back. My little girl, asking me if I’m okay. It should be me asking them that.
“We were worried, Mommy,” Luke finally said, rushing to my other side. His eyes are still puffy from sleeping and crying.
“I’m okay, Lucky,” I replied, my free hand running over his dark hair. “You two okay?”
Luke nodded. “Uncle Rip looked after us after Daddy went to get you back. He kept asking Gideon to play movies for us but Lil and I can’t really focus. We were waiting for Daddy to bring you back. I’m glad he did. We were worried, Mommy. But is it done now? Is it finished? Are we gonna go home now?”
I smiled and looked over to Leonard. He’s already looking at me and nodded.
“I still have some people to thank,” I replied, “but I guess, yeah. We’re going home.”
Mick gathered everyone at the Waverider bridge so the heroes could go back to their respective cities. Rip helped Gideon set a shield of some sort to put the effects and harshness to the time-jump since the ship can’t seat all twenty four of us.
People slowly piled in, some of them taking a seat, some just strolling around, leaning on banisters.
“We’re off to Star City first. Your city needs your mayor. Then we’ll go to Central and bring the Snarts home,” Mick typed in the coordinates and turned to face me, giving me a wink. “Legends, we’ll bring Rip back to his fancy white office and I’m taking requests for our next stop. We need a goddamn break from—“
“Words. Kids,” Leonard drawled from behind me.
“Sorry. Ready to roll?”
I stepped up and touched Mick’s arm. “Can I say something before we go?”
Mick nodded and whispered, “Anything for this ship’s previous captain.”
I stepped up and cleared my throat. My heart is trumping and only when I looked at Leonard did I found my voice again.
“Hey everyone…
I just want to…I really want to, um. Thank you. Just…thank you. All of you. For even coming in and helping us. It’s been years since we thought we took care of the Legion and I know you all have your own lives and problems in your own cities and, um…
Yeah.
Rip, thank you for coming in. Thank you for babysitting the kids, too.
(“I looked after them, not babysit…”)
Barry, thank you for doing this for us. Len still won’t admit it but we’re really thankful. We couldn’t do this without you. You had to leave Iris with the twins and that’s a huge sacrifice to make. Thank you.
Caitlyn, I know you’ve been trying to control your powers for the longest time and you used them to help us.
Cisco. You and my husband have been annoying each other for as long as I remember but you’re still willing to help us.
(“I did it for the kids…”)
No, you did it for Lisa. She would kick you out of your house if you didn’t help her niece and nephew and her brother and his wife. She’d probably call off your wedding, too.
(“That’s 100% true.”)
Wally and Jessie, thank you to the both of you. It would be Wells and not the Legion who’d kill me and Len if we don’t bring you back safe.
Rene, Rory, Eve, you have been too kind to our family. As much as Star City needs you, you three still came to help.
Curtis, thank you for sharing your brain. You, too, Felicity. You probably didn’t want to leave your kids with Lyla but I know you. You can’t resist a good adventure.
Dig. Remember the first time we argued? I told you I didn’t need your back-up. I told you that your training is like kindergarten compared to the League. But from then until now, you keep proving me wrong. How can I even start thanking you?
(“Anything for you, Sara.”)
Thea, I know you’re busy, being Mayor and all, and that you’ve long been retired from this action...I mean, most of us are…but you’re still here, wearing the same red leathers. I know my kids will look up to you. I know I do.
(“I need a break from the office anyways. This is a great change.”)
And Ollie…
(“I know.”)
I know you do. I also know my husband has plans of drinking with you. Now, you’re a tough guy and all but like Mick, I could easily drink you under the table. Len could pretty much do the same. Just saying. He has is ways of saying thank you. This is mine.
And my dear Legends. Oh, where would we be without all of you.
Nate, not once have you said no to us. You know by now that Len and I are very much ready to return the favor anytime.
(“No biggie.”)
God, Amaya, if you were ever hurt while saving my ass, Mick would never let me on the Waverider again. Thank you.
(“Mick would never do that, you know.”)
Martin. You haven’t been on board since we figured out how Jax could become Firestorm on his own. I know you said you want to spend all of your days with Lily and Clarissa and that your days as time-traveller has ran its course but you’re still here. Doing it again for us. My kids adore you, you know? For that alone, Len and I are incredibly thankful. But for the both of us to find friendship with you and your wife is extremely beyond me. We haven’t had our Saturday dinner ritual ever since chaos began again. I promise we’ll host this time.
(“There’s nothing more I look forward to than that, dear.”)
Ray, you’re a hero. You’ve always been a hero from the moment I met you and I will always look at you as the hero who helped saved my family.
(“Are you seriously crying, Haircut?”)
I am incredibly proud of you, Jax. Do you know that Len used to talk about you all the time? He’d tell me how proud he is of you. How much he has learned from you and how much you taught him things he wished he had known at your age. And the little kids clinging on to you now are proof of how grateful our family is.
(“Anything for these little ones.”)
And Mick…
(“It’s nothing, Blondie.”)
No, it’s not nothing, Mick. You’ve always said you’re helping us because you owe Leonard and I a lot but that has long been repaid. Long before we even got married. Now we owe you our lives. We’re here because of you. Because you took care of us, you called all of them in, you hid us and fought for us. You fought with us. I’ll forever be indebted to you and please know that if the day comes you want to hang your Heatgun…there’s a room in Central City waiting for you with fresh sheets and six-pack of beer on the bedside table. We love you, Mick.
(“Of course I’d do that for all of ya. You’re my family.”)
(“Everybody knows you’re an honorary Snart,” Leonard said.)
Thank you, everyone.
Len, hon, I love you with all that I have. And kids, how does going back to Central sound like?”
Windows were shattered and the doors were left unlocked. The inside isn’t really that different. Picture frames were knocked down and the TV was on the floor. My first reaction was maybe we were mugged while we’re away but then Len saw boot tracks of what appears to be similar to what the Legion’s minions wore.
Of course they dropped by our house.
The only thing that keeps my cool at the sight of our trashed house is the fact that I know we got out before the Legion arrived here. That would’ve been the end of the four of us.
“What the f---“, Mick exclaimed upon coming out of the jumpship.
“Rory, language,” I had to swat his arm upon his cussing.
“To be honest,” Len said as he scanned the house, “I’m not really bothered. We’re all safe, that’s all that counts.”
Lily tugged my right arm and I lifted her up to let her position herself on my hips. “How about our stuff, Mommy?”
“Do we have to but new things?” Luke peered beneath Len, scanning the inside the house as well.
“No need,” Mick said, kicking a throw-pillow that somehow landed on the porch. “We have a replicator in the ship. I can’t necessarily ask Gideon to build you a house but it could make all the materials you need to renovate this. Appliances, too. Well, 2100s appliances, if you’re into holograms and shi—“
“Cuss in front of the kids one more time, I’ll cut your tongue.”
“Sorry,” he replied to me unapologetically. “That or you could just…I don’t know…get a new house?”
“But Daddy and I planted flowers around the yard,” Lily replied to Mick. “We can’t move them. I’m staying here!”
“You heard the boss,” Leonard chuckled. “When will we start?”
Having speedster friends come in handy when you need a fast clean-up of the mess a bunch of idiotic bad guys ruin your home. In a flash, slight pun intended, every single thing we have on our house was already on the yard and all the broken glass and broken things disposed.
Ray and Nate helped carry the plywood and the glass and metals from the ship to our yard. The kids were too hands-on on choosing their new things and all that could replace the stuff we lost and broke. Jax and Amaya are helping them out, making sure they stick to the grey-blue-white theme our house has.
It’s early in the day and I’m already feeling exhausted. Must be the tiresome day that went before this. I did got shot on the side not twenty four hours ago. Although it was just a graze of the bullet it still drained me. My age betraying me. I could usually handle a gunshot easily, but then again, it’s been so long since I’ve been on a fight. The last time I’ve had bullets raining on me, I wasn’t a Snart yet. The last time I’ve felt this weak was when I had Lily. But I’m not pregnant. We’ve been too preoccupied with running and hiding that we didn’t really have time to…oh. Christmas at New Zealand under the aurora. But then again, I might be over-thinking things.
I went straight from the fabrication room to the Medbay, wanting something for the intense headache I’m having.
“Gideon, aspirin please.”
“I’m afraid I can’t give them to you, Mrs. Snart,” Gideon chimed in from the overhead. “Aspirin could be dangerous to your child.”
Feeling wuzzy, I sat down on one of the medbay beds I was in yesterday. “It’s not for Luke or Lily, Gideon. It’s for me.”
“I’m well aware, Mrs. Snart. That is why I’m not giving it to you. Pregnant women can’t take aspirin.”
Wait. Hold on.
“Am I...?”
“Yes. Congratulations,” Gideon greeted me flatly.
“But I was shot, Gideon. I was here yesterday. You patched me up. Len was here. You didn’t tell us anything the whole time we were here…”
“You just came from a battle. I don’t think that’s a good time to announce that you’re carrying a human being inside you. You don’t need to worry. The embryo isn’t harmed. You are just a month into your pregnancy and I’ve already given you…”
“We’re gonna have a baby…”
“…vitamins to strengthen the child’s hold, similar to the one I gave you when you were carrying Mr. Luke…”
“Oh, the kids are gonna freak out…”
“…and this is your third child. I don’t need to remind you of what to eat and what not to eat…”
“Leonard is gonna cry…”
“Do you want me to do anything else?”
“Nothing else. Thank you Gideon.”
I didn’t hear what she said next. I was already rushing to the fabrication room to get Luke and Lily. I remember just briefly asking them to come with me back to the house Jax and Amaya just shrugged, so did Nate who was on his way inside the room we just vacated.
With Lily’s hand on mine and Luke’s footsteps after own, we journeyed outside the front hatch of the cloaked Waverider onto our yard where I see Ray installing security cameras on the lawn.
“Where’s Len?” I asked, panting.
“He’s inside with Mick. They’re painting. Is everything okay?”
The kids looked at me for answer, too. I could feel the rush from inside me—my cheeks getting flushed. “Peachy. I’ll see ya!”
I walked in, wincing as I smell the fresh paint around me. The two were in the middle of their loud conversation when Leonard saw me. I squeezed Lily’s hand and let go and rushed over to Leonard with a huge smile on my face.
“You’re acting weird, hon. Everything okay?” Len said as he puts down the paint roller and wrapped his arms around my waist.
I nodded, biting my lower lip.
I can’t wait to kiss him.
But first…
“Mick,” I said without tearing my gaze at Leonard, “could you step out for a while?”
Mick continued painting over the wall.
“I know you heard me, Mick.”
He sighed heavily. “You want Lenny to yourself? Do I need to take the kids? Damn, Sara, can’t you at least wait till we leave?”
I rolled my eyes annoyingly and I saw a flicker of fear and uncertainty in Leonard’s eyes.
“Snart family meeting,” I said sharply, finally turning my head to my amused friend. “Anyone not married to me and didn’t come out of my womb could step out now.”
Of course I know he was making it difficult for me. Mick did eventually stepped out, grumbling about how we’re never gonna finish anything, but left with a wink.
“Okay,” Len said, testing the waters. “What’s the family meeting for?”
I smiled at him and let my hands work their way up to the back of his head, massaging his scalp. The kids are too stunned and too confused to even say a single word.
“Len…”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I placed a hand on his chest and another trailing his jaw. “I have a favor to ask you.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. His right hand drawing circles on the small of my back—a classic Leonard fidget. “And what would that be?”
“I just need you…to love another Snart.”
“W-what? Who?”
“I know I don’t have to ask this from you because you’re gonna love this one anyways but we’ll have to wait eight months to know who this is…”
“Are you telling me…”
“…because I’m only a month along…”
“Sara…”
“…but I think the kinds wouldn’t mind having another sibling…”
“Mommy?”,
“Is this real?!”
“…and we finally have a use for that spare room beside Lucky’s room…”
Leonard lifted me up off the ground and had my feet swinging. I framed his face with my hands and kissed him, slowly deepening it and only stopping when I heard giggles from behind me.
Leonard finally puts me down, without removing his forehead from mine. He pulled me closer, almost hugging me. He’s beginning to breathe deeply. “This is amazing news, Sara.”
“Ready to change diapers again?”, I asked, hands roaming on his chest and shoulders.
“Only if it’s with you.”
And the news is sealed with a kiss. As every important thing is.
—post-script—
*Third-person POV
Mick and the rest of the Legends immediately found out when Lily announced the good news aloud even before her parents got out of their house.
“Mommy’s having a baby!” Lily rushed outside, hugging Mick when she bumped into him. “Uncle Mick, we’re having a baby!”
“I heard you, little bird.”
“I’m gonna be a big sister, Luke-y!”
Luke high-fived Ray and Nate who were both cheering. “I got two little ones to look after now.”
Not much was done after the announcement. Everyone stopped Sara from helping out despite her arguments that she’s done this twice already and that she’s not even big yet. But none of them were taking their chances. The Legends promised to come back everyday just to help the Snarts build their home again.
That night, the couple was looking for their kids, wanting to kiss them goodnight. Unfortunately, both of them weren’t in their respective rooms.
“Where did they go?” Leonard asked as he closed Luke’s door. “They didn’t jump in the Waverider at the last minute, right?”
“No. I helped Lily clean herself up a while ago.”
Just like fate, they heard muffles of whispers from two small voices coming from the vacant room beside Luke’s.
“I hope the baby is a girl so I could play with her,” Lily said, lying down on the carpeted floor with a pillow beneath her head.
Luke was also lying down beside her, hands on the back of his head. “I want a boy,” he said, “but a girl is not too bad either. You’re a good sister. Maybe the baby will be a good sister too.”
“Are you happy that we’re back home, Luke-y?”
“I am,” the boy replied. “I missed my friends. I miss school. But what I miss the most is seeing Mommy and Daddy happy.”
“Me too,” Lily said after a yawn. “My classmates would never believe me when I tell them this story.”
“You could tell it to Dawn.”
From outside the door, Len had his arm wrapped around Sara’s waist.
“You know you have to carry them back to their rooms, right?” Sara whispered.
Leonard chuckled and held her closer. “I know. Let’s just let them sleep first.”
“Why are we sleeping here, Luke-y? It’s empty. Mommy said we have to wait eight months more. That’s a long time,” Lily moped, teary-eyed from her series of yawning.
“We need to make sure, Lil.”
“Make sure that what?”
“That the room doesn’t have monsters in it so that the baby can sleep,” Luke answered. “Now that you’re a big girl, I need to tell you what Daddy told me before.”
“And what is that?”
“We always look after each other. We look after Mommy and Daddy. We look after our family. Soon, we’ll look after the baby.”
Sara can’t help but place a kiss on her husband’s cheek. Leonard was walking Sara back to their room when a thought hit her.
They’ve lived most of their lives in regret. They’ve had their fair share of mistakes and bad moments they could never forget even if they tried. But after the death of the Legion, after spending months away, and having another child, one realization hit her: Destiny must have taken pity on her for once and gave her the life she only used to dream about.
---epilogue soon---
I know we initially plan a 12-chapter long story but a fun and fluffy epilogue came to mind upon talking to my partner. We *had* to make another one. The entire story is far from perfect but as my first multi-chapter fic, I’m pretty proud of it. I hope this gives me confidence to write more multi-chapters. I just want to thank everyone who hang on to this despite the delayed updates and typos and all the issues that came with it. I’m so, so grateful. Enough for now. The rest of the thank yous would go after the epilogue.
Amazing illustration as usual for this Chapter is drawn by @audiovizualna and it could be viewed HERE or click http://audiovizualna.tumblr.com/image/156580258309
Check it out to be able to visualize a scene in the story!
Story is also available in AO3 + precious chapters’ links available below:
Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5
Ch 6 Ch 7 Ch 8 Ch 9
Chapter 10: Unexpected Avalanche
*Third Person POV
One call from the Waverider.
Mick and the rest of the crew discovered a beginning of a time aberration created by the Legion. They were jumping through time, attempting to go back to when Snart was in the Legion, before the Legends could get back to him. They were trying to catch him prior to his conversion as to erase anything else that follows...erasing his reunion with the Legends, erasing his time with Sara, erasing his children.
They’re always so close, but always interrupted with their lack of resources to do so. Or maybe even time itself is against them. Even the Legion were in a trial-and-error process after losing all their source of power the last time they were beaten by the heroes.
But that one call from Captain Rory shook them. One final trial. One last fight arranged by the Legion of Doom. An all out war between the good and the bad and everything in between.
Mick suggested hiding the Snarts and letting the Legends, the Team Arrow and Team Flash deal with the three psychopaths and their minions. Leonard almost agreed. But both former rogues know that Sara isn’t one to back out from a fight, not when the advisories have done so much to hurt her. She needed to be there to see the light from their eyes fade. No one could convince her not to.
It was like the battle with the Dominators all over again. All the leather-clad fighters gathered in the huge Star City parking lot, waiting to be picked up by the remaining third of their bigger team aboard the Waverider.
“This is still insane, you guys know that?”, Diggle said, wide-eyed, as the time ship landed.
Oliver, minus the green hood, was the first to approach the ship. Before the hatch could open he looked back at the superheroes and vigilantes in front of him and said, “We’re not only doing this for our cities. We’re doing this because we love their family. And I will do everything in my power to protect them. I hope all of you will do the same.”
Ever the positive, Barry spoke. “The entire ruckus will end tonight. And we’ll be going back to our cities alive.”
“I’m not doing this for Snart. I’m doing this for the cute little kids,” Cisco said, dragging Felicity to the ship he enjoyed during his last visit.
---
All three teams were gathered in the Waverider’s bridge, all of them throwing out ideas into the table, calculating each move so that they could do the most efficient way of defeating the Legion with the least numbers of casualties from the civilians, as well as from them.
Sara is perched on the center console, leaning on it and listening intently to every course of action. Leonard, however, has his mind far away from what was happening.
He turned on his comm, as it’s all connected to Gideon, and softly said, “Gideon, where could you place your full maximum security? The most impenetrable part of the ship?”
“That would be the brig, Mr. Snart,” the AI said through the man’s earpiece.
Without excusing himself from the group, he strode away from the bridge and towards the room he once shared with Sara, and upon opening it, he saw the kids watching an animated movie being shown from the wall.
The moment he stepped in, Luke carefully sat up from where he was lying, careful not to wake his sleeping sister, and asked Gideon to pause the film.
“Daddy?”, Luke said, waiting for Leonard to sit on the head of the bed. “I have a lot of questions.”
Leonard chuckled at the kid’s statement. “Of course you do. Fire away, bud.”
“Ok-ok, first, why is everyone here?”, Luke said, bright-eyed. “Uncle Ollie is here, and Uncle Barry, and we’re back with Uncle Mick?”
Before Leonard could answer, Luke immediately followed up with another set of questions.
“Are they back, Daddy? The fast man and the two other evil guys? Are you all gonna fight them? Or are we hiding again?”
Allowing Luke to catch his breath, Len spoke in response to his son’s questions. “Okay, hold on, Lucky. Let me answer some of them before you add a bunch more.”
The kid nodded, allowing Leonard to take a deep breath and formulate his answer. “Yes, the Legion is back. Your aunts and uncles are here because, well, the bad guys asked for us. One final battle.”
“Battle? With all of you? You’re gonna win, right Daddy? You’re gonna kill all of them?”
Wincing at the boy’s mention of killing, Leonard ran his hand through his son’s hair. “We’ll do what we can to defeat them. I’ll do what I can to protect you and your sister.”
Luke tilted his head. “And mommy?”
With a smirk, Len replied, “We both know Mommy can defend herself,” earning the smug smile of his son, “but yes, of course. I’ll protect her too.”
---
Sara entered the mess hall, where Gideon said Leonard currently is in. She saw him open a bottle of beer and when Len’s eyes caught Sara, he grabbed another bottle and slid it across the table, fast enough for her to catch it.
“Nice reflexes. You a ninja?” Leonard said with a smirk. “Are you a single ninja though, because I’d like to take you out.”
Sara chuckled before sitting on the mess table, feet on the seat beside Leonard’s seat. “Sorry,” she said, raising her left hand and showing him the ring on her ring finger.
“Damn,” Leonard replied.
The two of them sat in silence, drinking their beer and Leonard finishing his first after two big gulps. He then leaned his forehead on Sara’s thighs, silently sighing.
She placed the beer down and ran her hands through his short-buzzed hair.
“The kids are in the brig,” he said. “Gideon said that’s the most secure place. They’re watching a movie.”
Sara smiled. “I bet it’s Zootopia.”
“Oh yeah. The cute bunny and the criminal fox,” Leonard murmured.
“That’s basically us,” Sara chuckled, and so does her husband. He finally stood up from his seat and took Sara’s hands on his.
“You’re not cute. You’re scary,” Leonard replied, earning Sara’s glare. “Okay, kinda cute.”
They both stared at their joined hands and after a moment of stillness, Leonard spoke. “I didn’t really listen to the plan. Can’t seem to focus.”
“I know. I did tell them I need you backing me up so you’ll just have to go wherever I am,” Sara said without looking at him.
Tilting her chin upwards, Leonard said, “The summary of our marriage.”
Sara laughed at that and pulled him in. She then wrapped her arms around his torso, her head resting on the crook of his neck. “This is gonna be easy.” she said, feeling his hand massaging her nape. “There’s like, a hundred of us out there, ready to send the Legion back to hell.”
“Twenty one,” he replied.
Sara broke away from the hug and stared at Leonard questioningly.
The man sighed and started reciting. “Queen. Glasses. Spartan. Girl Arrow in Red. Girl Arrow in Black. Hockey Mask. Rags. Terrific. Allen. Frost. Ramon. Kid Flash. Kid Flash’s girlfriend. Jax. Professor. Mick. Mick’s girlfriend. Boyscout. Boyscout’s boyfriend. Me. And you. Twenty one. Not a hundred. There’s just 21 of us.”
Grinning, Sara lightly shoved Leonard. “They’re our friends, hon. Use their names when they’re around, at least.”
“They’re gonna save the kids,” he said, turning serious. “I’m gonna call them whatever they want me to call them. I’d finally allow Cisco to marry my sister if he finally pulls his head out of his ass. And if we survive this.”
“We will. We always survive the worst.”
“I hope. Don’t die out there, Snart,” Leonard said, pulling her in for a kiss.
---
Pristina, Kosovo 1984
The battle was at night-time and in attempt to have a good vantage point, they decided to arrive early.
They should’ve known better because the moment the hatch opened, armed men from all sides of the Waverider appeared in front of them, firing at any direction possible. All plans were thrown out of the window and everybody just instinctively surrounded the timeship. The only part of the plan that they executed at that moment was to divide themselves equally according to each of their capabilities. With none of the three Legions in sight, the first course of action is to eliminate the armed men, which is most likely fighting them under the control of Darhk.
The immediate response of the three speedsters they have on their team is to sneak behind the shooters, especially the snipers, and knock them out. The three of them went separate ways, all guarding the front hatch, and the right and left wing of the ship.
The archers also divided themselves in the same sides of the Waverider. Oliver fought alongside Jessie on the front hatch, shooting an arrow or two at the men attempting to gun down his friends. His hits weren’t fatal, but enough to stop them from shooting again. Wild Dog is alongside them, trying to control himself from fatal shots, failing.
Thea was on the left wing with Wally, Diggle, and Ragman. The latter covering the three, Rory tries to get near the men shooting them, so both Diggle and Thea can approach their advisories closer, too.
Felicity and Cisco remained on the ship, with Curtis along with them to protect them just in case some of the Legion’s men got inside. Caitlyn is working on the Medbay for the same reason, and also just in case they need medical attention. She agreed to use her powers only as last resort.
Barry was situated in the right wing, assisting Evelyn as she tends to still give deadly arrow shots. With them is Mick with his Heat Gun at its maximum power, firing large at the men closest to them. The man felt a burst of ice by his side. He turned around and saw his old friend turning his back against him, icing every man that attempts to shoot at them.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with your wife?”, Mick turned his head back and yelled at Leonard. “You’re supposed to be backing her up.”
“Yeah, the plan went to shit and now she’s in the middle of the crossfire with Heywood covering her,” Leonard grunted. “She can handle herself. You need me more here.”
Sara is, indeed, in the middle of the crossfire with Nate and Amaya. All three of them breaking every arm of the enemy, grunting, punching, and kicking their way out of the mess.
“Where the hell is the Legion?!”, Sara yelled as she got her way out of being attacked by three men.
In full metal body, Nate went to cover Sara from the stray bullets and replied, “We should’ve expected this. They would know that we’re bringing everyone. Of course they wouldn’t risk being caught.”
Heat was felt from above them as Firestorm searched the grounds for the Legion, blasting enemy weaponry along the way, together with the ATOM. From the duo’s view, they’ve sent almost all of their advisories down, but a few still kept pouring in.
The fight has been going on for a long stretch of time. Soon enough, they’re gonna get tired and rest will be needed.
They still have a long way to go.
---
“Luke-y!”, Lily whimpered as she scoots closer to her brother.
The sound of the crossfire from outside the ship softly resonates inside the brig. Gideon attempts to cover the sound of gun shots and explosions with increasing the sound of the movie they’re watching. But that has long been forgotten.
“Hey,” Luke said, draping his arms over the little girl’s shoulders. “That’s just noise from the movie, Lil. That’s just the movie…”
“It’s not!” Lily started crying, her fear of explosions triggered. “It’s not the movie! It’s happening outside! Mommy and Daddy are outside, Luke-y. We need to go help them, please, we need to!”
“Daddy asked us to stay here until they come and get us,” the older kid calmly explained. “We just need to trust them.”
“But I’m really scared,” Lily pouts, covering her ears with her brother’s hands. “Will they come soon?”
“Soon. I promise.”
---
The crowd of armed men thinned, giving time for some of the heroes to take a breather. Sara, as soon as her hands were free, left Amaya and Nate and searched the grounds for Leonard. They had a long time fighting and if her assumption is right, her husband’s Cold Gun would be running out of charge soon. Scanning the field, she saw the glare of the Heat Gun a few yards from where she’s standing.
It was as if time slowed down around her. She doesn’t know it it’s because she’s tired or if things are just happening very fast.
She can see Wally transfer the destination of one of Diggle’s bullets from the chest to just the thigh, making less damage. On her far left was Amaya, tackling a group of men like it was nothing. The blast of Ray’s laser beams surrounded her ears. In front of her is Mick, trying to cover Snart as the latter fought with a hand gun, his famous weapon hanging on its leg holster.
She walked towards the former rogues, remembering their earlier days of fighting. Forgetting the fight that’s happening around her, she walked a little bit faster, trying to reach Leonard as soon as she can but still taking her time. Wandering.
“Hey Len,” she whispered, trying to walk faster but then she felt a small sting on her side. She ignored it and kept walking.
Maybe Leonard heard her because he turned his head towards her. His eyes narrowed and his gaze landed on her side. Sara glanced where the man was staring and she saw her leather suit turning crimson red.
“Len,” she said, failing to tell him that she got shot all because they both know it.
All the fuzziness in her brain cleared. Her assassin way of thinking kicked back. Mick covers Leonard’s path as he ran towards her, meeting her halfway.
---
"Sara!" Len said, running towards his injured wife, "get behind my back, I'll cover you.”
He cocked his hand gun back to its original place, replacing his weapon with the Cold Gun and powering it up to use its remaining power.
Sara glanced around and counted the men pouring in. How the hell did the Legion get so many men? Were they promised a good score? Were they recruited or forced into this?
She then turned to Leonard. “No, Len. Go back to the ship,” Sara firmly said.
“You’ve just been shot!,” he replied, gripping her arms tightly.
“I can handle a hit, Leonard,” she responded, her eyes fixated on his. “Go back to the kids, please. Defend them. Don’t let them get hurt. We’ll ward them off from here.”
His hands went from her arm to her bloody side, warm and sticky, staining his gloves. “I’m not leaving you alone here.”
Sara sighed, her hand dropping one of her boe staffs and reaching Leonard’s cheeks. “I’m fighting with every hero we know. I’m not alone. Get Luke and Lily to the jumpship fast. Please. Tell Gideon where you’ll go and I’ll follow you after, I promise. Just make sure they’re safe. Do everything in your power to get them out of this hell-hole if hell breaks loose.”
“No,” he said straight and sternly, staring her down. His jaw tightened, wanting to be as selfish as he can, wanting to just grab Sara with him.
Before he could do so, she replied.
“Just do it.”
So he kissed her. Just like how she kissed him the first time at the Vanishing Point. Except this time, he believes they will see each other again in no time. Everybody is pulling every muscle to try to at least get to the Waverider alive and unhurt. He has to believe it.
He looked at her deeply after they broke away from the kiss. Sara gave him a little smile and he ran. He ran towards the front hatch, asking Gideon from his comms to open it up. Leonard ignored Cisco and Felicity’s questions and ran straight to the brig.
When he got to the brig, he saw the kids hugging each other, waiting for either him or Sara—or ideally, both of them. Luke was whispering something to Lily, blocking the sound aroung them, knowing how much his sister hates it.
“Kids,” he said as he opened the brig. “Let’s go to the jumpship. We need to hide.”
Lily stood first, running towards Leonard and hugging him, “How about mommy?”
“We’ll wait for her there, then we’ll leave,” he said, distracted by his fear of everything that’s happening. “Don’t worry, she’ll follow.”
He carried Lily, kissing her on top of her head as she cowered onto her father, and took Luke’s hand on his’. They made evasive steps in running to the jumphip and as soon as they got inside the jumpship, Gideon locked the bolt door.
Because the jumpship is at the edge, attached to the Waverider, the sound of explosions are sounding nearer and nearer. Leonard was panicking and there’s no way he could hide it.
“Mr. Snart,” Gideon said, interrupting the man from his task of putting on seatbelts on both the kids, “some troops are approaching the Waverider from the right wing, west entrance. Nobody is guarding that entrance at the moment. They’re all situated at the front hatch, preventing a larger crowd from entering. Captain Rory is already informed and is asking you to leave with the jumpship immediately.”
“We will wait for Sara!”, he annoyingly said, strapping himself in between the kids.
“Mrs. Snart is down, Mr. Snart,” the AI added. “You don’t have much time. Captain’s orders are to get the kids safe.”
His right arm was tugged with a small force. “We can’t leave Mommy here, Daddy. There are too many bad guys,” Lily’s big blue eyes tore his heart apart.
“You only have three minutes before they reach the jumpship, Mr. Snart.”
Leonard screams in rage and unstrapped his seatbelt to walk over to the console. He flies his ship anyways, away from the Waverider. Away from the chaos. His kids crying, longing for their mother.
---
Sara is lying on the ground, beaten up and bleeding. The sound of chaos turning into a minimum.
Mick is kneeling by her side, trying to stop the wound from bleeding. Ray and Nate surround them, covering them from whatever may hit the two.
She then sees the jumpship fly away from the timeship and smiles as a tear dropped from her eyes.“Protect them, Len. Keep them safe."
She then turns to Mick. "Too bad I don’t have super powers, huh?”
“Shut up, Blondie,” Mick said harshly, the gentleness on his voice showing. “We all know you don’t need powers or fancy guns to kick ass.”
She chuckled but then became serious immediately after. "Mick, once this is over, track them please. Make sure they're okay, will you?"
Mick gripped on her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Shut up Sara, you're not dying. This is just a gunshot. You’ve survived a
lot worse. I watched you go into labor for Lucky. That was hell. This is just a
gun shot. Live for your family. Your kids are too young to lose you. You know
that.”
She knows. But she also knows she has lost a
lot of blood. Still, Mick is right. She’s survived a lot worse. Hell, she gave
birth twice.
She squeezed Mick’s hand.
"I’ve been in this position for too many
times, Mick,” Sara said, using her upper body strength to get up. “This
almost-dying situation is getting boring. And to be honest? I’m so sick of
this. Help me up. Let’s find the Legion and let’s kill them before they get to
my family.”
---to be continued---
It’s been almost two month since the last update. This chapter took so much time for me to finish and I apologize for that. Mental block and holidays and university stuff got in the way.
PANDArt has been the best, the most patient and understanding partner ever. I love you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
