Author's Notes: This isn't going to be one story but a series of small stories.
Enjoy.
Chapter One - Memories Of Miranda
Rip checked the time on the clock beside the bed when an arm slid around his waist and soft kisses were pressed to his neck.
"You know I've had about three hours sleep in the past four days," he murmured, hearing her chuckle in his ear.
"Then you should have rested more before turning up on my doorstep when I hadn't seen you in five years," she replied amused.
Rip turned smiling at the woman lying beside him, "I just couldn't wait to see you again once I found out where you were hiding."
She kissed him and Rip pulled her close revelling in having her in his arms once more.
"I love you, Miranda," he breathed when they parted, "I have always loved you and I'm sorry it took me so long to find you again."
Settling against his shoulder she gently drew her fingers across his skin, "You weren't supposed to find me. I didn't want you to lose your dream of being a Time Master."
"But I am one now," he replied, sighing while she cuddled close, "They don't need to know I come here to you between missions."
"What about your AI?"
"Gideon was the one who found you," Rip told her, "She wants me to be happy. Or she wants me to stop moping around the ship when we're not on a mission. Either way she won't betray us."
Miranda smiled entwining her fingers with his, "Then I think I can get used to you being here at times."
"I was thinking of something a little more," Rip said, "Like...marrying me?"
Miranda's eyes widened in shock and she stared at him, "What?"
Glancing around the small room Rip spotted his jacket just within reach and stretched out his arm to grab it. Pulling out the small box that was sitting in his pocket, he opened it and offered it to her.
"I did plan to do this a little differently," he grimaced slightly as she stared at the ring nestled inside, "But considering I'm extremely sleep-deprived I'm hoping you don't mind too much that it's not the perfect proposal."
"Are you sure?"
"That I want to marry you?" Rip asked bemused, "Completely."
"No," she whispered, "That you want to deceive the Time Masters like this?"
Rip reached out resting his hand on her cheek, "I don't care anymore. Now I've found you again, I can't let you go. So marry me?"
A smile touched her lips and she held out her hand allowing Rip to slide the ring on before she kissed him again.
x
Rip sat on the floor with his back against his bed staring at the rings sitting in the small box. He'd finally found the courage to sort through the box of personal items he'd brought from the Waverider. Finding them had hit him harder than he expected.
Her engagement and wedding rings were the only thing of Miranda's he'd managed to retrieve, the only keepsake he had.
"Captain," Gideon's voice pulled him out of his memories, "It is almost time to collect Master Hunter from school."
Taking a quick breath Rip closed the box and put it in the drawer before he wiped his eyes.
"Thank you, Gideon," he said softly.
"You do not talk about her now," Gideon noted gently, "Even with me."
Rip shook his head, "It hurts too much, Gideon."
"Mrs Hunter loved you," Gideon reminded him, "She would not want you to grieve her for the rest of your life. You know that."
"Unfortunately, Miranda was the smarter of the two of us," Rip smiled slightly.
There was a pause before Gideon replied, "That is definitely true."
"You're supposed to be on my side," Rip said while he put his jacket on and grabbed his car keys.
"I am," Gideon reminded him, "Which is why I tell you the truth."
x
Miranda admired her rings as she sat in the galley of the Waverider drinking some tea. Her new husband was sleeping, he hadn't been kidding that he had barely slept in several days so once they celebrated their marriage she'd left him to rest for a while.
"Is there anything else I can get for you, Mrs Hunter?" Gideon spoke up.
"No," Miranda smiled especially at the mode of address, "Thank you, Gideon."
This would be the only place she could use that name, the only place where her marriage would be acknowledged. Suddenly she wondered if she'd made a mistake.
"If they ever find out," Miranda whispered, "He'll lose everything he's worked for."
"It is a chance Captain Hunter is willing to take," Gideon soothed, "To have you in his life he will risk everything."
"Even you?" Miranda asked softly, "I know the connection the Captain of a Time Ship makes with their AI. I can tell how close you two are."
"He is my Captain," Gideon reminded her, "And it is my first protocol to ensure his wellbeing. I know that if he has someone he loves then he shall do his utmost to return safely from his missions to that person."
Miranda smiled warmly, "I'm honoured that you have trusted me with that place in his life."
x
"I was wondering where you went," Rip murmured feeling his new wife sliding back into the bed beside him.
"Go back to sleep," Miranda murmured, "You really need it."
"Long few days," he sighed, he cracked open an eye to look at her, "Pretty long night too."
Miranda chuckled kissing him, "You were the one who appeared from nowhere and then whisked me away to get married."
Turning Rip rested his arm over her waist, "And it was completely worth it."
"Go to sleep," Miranda cuddled close to him, "Gideon and I will keep each other company in the morning while you sleep in."
x
Jonas ran out of the school to where Rip stood waiting grinning as he carried a picture.
"What's this?" Rip asked when Jonas reached him.
Handing his father his artwork Jonas grinned, "It's my family."
Rip hesitated for a moment before he looked down at the picture. He smiled at the amount of people Jonas had drawn each with their name beneath the drawing of them.
There was Rip, Clarissa, Cisco and Lily at one side then the rest of Team Flash with Lisa on the other. Jonas had also drawn their house representing Gideon. Spotting the angel in the sky, with Mummy written beneath her, Rip felt his eyes tear up forcing them back as he smiled at his son.
"This is incredible," Rip told him.
Jonas grinned before asking, "Will you put it on the fridge like Grandma would put Lily's drawings when she was my age?"
Rip nodded, "Of course I will."
x
Jonas sat at the dining room table colouring in while Rip made them dinner. The drawing had been photographed and sent round to all those who featured in it before placed on the fridge using the magnets Joe had given with the sage advice he would need them.
After dinner Rip sat with Jonas and helped with his homework before they would watch something, usually a movie Cisco had introduced Jonas to. Any new ones were usually held until Cisco could join them. After the film Jonas would have his bath before climbing into bed where Rip would read him the next chapter of their current book.
"Okay," Rip said closing the book and placing it back on the bedside cabinet, "Good night."
"Night, Daddy," Jonas cuddled down into his pillow, "Love you."
"Love you too," Rip kissed him.
When Gideon put the night-light on Rip closed the door and left Jonas to sleep. He was about to head downstairs before he stopped and returned back into his room.
"Captain?" Gideon asked softly.
Rip took a breath, "I need to finish this tonight."
"Can I do anything?"
Taking the box back out Rip sat on his bed, "Just play some music for me."
"Of course, Captain."
x
"Shall I call Captain Hunter?" Gideon asked worriedly as Miranda knelt on the bathroom floor vomiting.
"No," Miranda stated sharply, "I'm not ill."
"You are currently being sick," Gideon pointed out, "A great deal."
Miranda chuckled pulling herself to a stand and brushing her teeth quickly, "I'm pregnant, Gideon."
"That is wonderful news, Mrs Hunter," Gideon replied before concern filled her voice, "Are you hiding this from Captain Hunter."
Miranda chuckled, "Of course not. I just want to surprise him during our picnic when I give him a babygro with dessert."
"I hope you will be within range of my sensors so I can see his face," Gideon noted, amusement in her voice.
Miranda sighed, "I will do my best for you, if I can get my morning sickness under control."
"Come to the medical bay and I can assist," Gideon told her, "I promise it shall not hurt your child."
Miranda began to laugh tears in her eyes, "I'm having a baby, Gideon. I'm actually having a baby."
"And I am sure you shall be a wonderful mother," Gideon replied.
x
Rip sat staring at the picture of Miranda holding Jonas on the day he was born.
"You should have that framed, Captain," Gideon told him, "A reminder of her is not a bad thing."
Rip sniffed, "I know," he placed the picture down, "I don't want Jonas to forget her."
"Captain," Gideon said softly, "He shall never forget her. You will not let him but it would be nice for you both to see her smile."
"I was always surprised how well you and Miranda got on," Rip noted.
"Mrs Hunter was smart, compassionate and had a sense of humour I enjoyed," Gideon told him, "I would not have allowed someone who was not your equal to marry you."
Rip let out a laugh, "Allowed?"
"You forget that I found her," Gideon replied, "And I only did so once I knew she was someone who deserved your love."
He chuckled a smile on his face, "Thank you, Gideon. She loved you too."
"There are very few people who would accept me as a part of their relationship," Gideon noted.
Lying back on the bed Rip sighed slightly, "I miss her so much, Gideon and every so often I wish you hadn't found her for me."
"Then you would not have Jonas," Gideon reminded him, "And I would not have seen you fall backwards off the wall when you were told you were going to be a father."
"I'm convinced the two of you conspired against me somehow," he replied.
"Mrs Hunter was fulfilling my request to see your face when you were given the news," Gideon told him.
Rip smiled again as Gideon reminded him of the good times with his wife that he sometimes forgot in the heartache of losing Miranda.
"What else did you two conspire against me on?" Rip demanded.