Traveling back in time was rarely fun. Besides nausea and fear, there was the constant lies and strange uncomfortable customs. But this trip was fun. Even if they were in danger. Watching Wyatt fanboy over the race cars and Rufus see a little known role model made her smile. Lucy was more than a little nervous leaving Henry but after all her presence would keep history from being changed. She didn't trust Wyatt and Rufus without her. They would be sure to mess something up.
She found herself happier than she'd been for a long time. Eyes shining she watched Wyatt smile boyishly at the cars and his idol Ryan Millerson. He was adorable. She'd thought he was hot from the start but adorable never would have been a descriptor she would have applied to Wyatt Logan. Now she just wanted to see him smile more like this. Around Henry, he was the closest to this.
Emma was out to kill them. Her cold blue eyes didn't flinch as she condemned them to death for killing Ryan Millerson. Lucy didn't have her mother to protect her. Emma hated her with a passion. And probably hated her more because Lucy's boy would mean that the Rittenhouse line would continue. And Emma wanted that for herself.
In the end, they were fine. Lucy shivered at another close call and waited as Wyatt talked to Wendell about his father. It brought tears to her eyes knowing the abuse he'd suffered at the hands of his father. The pain he must have gone through. Her mother had been cruel but even in captivity, she'd never laid hands on Lucy. Any physical violence she'd endured had not been committed by her mother. She wanted to rush over there and wrap her arms around him. Offer him the comfort and sympathy he'd never received as a child. Now it made sense why he'd been so nervous about Henry. He probably feared he'd become his father.
It was her turn to be nervous trapped in a trunk with Wyatt. The dark sides, combined with her fear of cars, was enough to send her into a tailspin of anxiety. She felt him wrap his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Probably not the best idea for someone so wildly claustrophobic."
"I'm fine," Lucy replied. She heard him chuckle.
"I'm pretty sure that this car would blow up and you'd still be saying that. Listen, you don't have to be strong all the time."
"Was all that stuff you said about your dad true?" She was deflecting again. She'd gotten so good at it.
"Yeah," The soft word was almost too soft to hear. She knew he was telling the truth. He'd never lie about that.
"At least you didn't admire him. I thought my mom was wonderful." Lucy swallowed hard.
"Oh, I admired him. He was my dad. I kept wondering what I did wrong. Why he didn't love me. Then I guess I accepted he just didn't love anyone."
"My mother says she loves me. But she let me think you and Henry were dead. She let me think my son was dead, only saying he might be alive. And that at the very end." Lucy's anxiety was through the roof. Talking about her mother and being claustrophobic made these moments feel like pure torture.
"Well, now you know. And you can move on. Nothing ahead but the open road." His voice soothed her.
"We have Henry. And we can be sure not to become parents like ours." Lucy found her mind drifting back to Henry as a security against the mounting fears.
There was another bump sending him crashing against her. She sighed in relief because this was the kind of distraction she could get behind. Somehow her claustrophobia eased a little when she didn't feel alone. A hand reached out and tugged her closer. She could feel his lips nuzzle her neck. She was keyed up with so much of every kind of emotion that her heart was already pounding. He'd just settled in, lips just grazing hers when the lid of the trunk abruptly popped open. They blinked at the unaccustomed brightness. Lucy saw Wendell and Rufus's knowing stares. Busted.
"I'm sure he was really helping the claustrophobia," Rufus teased as they made their way back.
Lucy shrugged, "At least I didn't have a nervous breakdown. That's a success."
Driving with a bomb might not be unusual for their strange team. She remembered Vegas and their crazy chase of Garcia Flynn in the middle of the desert. It didn't make this moment any less terrifying. As Wyatt took the curves at speeds she knew were way too dangerous with a pressure sensitive bomb she prayed that Denise Christopher would be a good mom to her Henry. Because at this moment it was looking like her child might be an orphan.
She ought to have known and trusted Wyatt more. Because somehow he was an absolutely reckless but still incredible driver. She sat there and laughed with them as he just made it into Wendell's garage with seconds to spare. Rufus was grinning just as broadly as she. And Wyatt was straight on smiling and laughing as if happiness belonged to him. Joy fluttered through her. They weren't dead. Henry was alive. And somehow they'd survived.
After the mission debriefs they went to find Henry. Jiya was playing with him, eyes shining as she bounced him up and down. Obviously "Aunt" Jiya was one of their son's favorite people. Lucy laughed as she saw her son bat at Jiya's hands. He was adorable. Jiya transferred her burden to Lucy. "That kid gets cuter every day. I mean with such attractive parents he's sure to be a real heartbreaker. That's right, Sweetie. You're gonna be the cutest."
Lucy chuckled. "He's a bit adorable but I'm biased."
"He's adorable. Trust me." Wyatt wrapped an arm around her and used his other arm to support Henry. "Of course his loud voice is totally his mom though."
"Oh yes, I mean it's not like you have a temper." Lucy teased. Henry was a really good baby all things considered. He cried but rarely when he wasn't hungry or uncomfortable.
"Oh, no. Of course not." She laughed again, the sleeves of Wyatt's jacket she was wearing brushing Henry's cheek.
Henry was put to bed, she took a long shower to wash away the grime of the race track and she had finished her research early when she slipped into their room. Somehow their odd conversation in the truck had cleared the lingering anger from their relationship. He came in a few minutes later, hair still damp from his own shower. She looked up from the book she'd been reading.
The book dropped to the ground and clattered to a halt across the room. Tension, this time of a much more pleasurable kind, crackled between them. Eyes darkening he looked at her, seeming to try to read her mood. Was she the hysterical person desperate for any distraction from her own pain? Or was she fully open and aware of everything that was going on? Lucy let the covers fall off her as she sat up. Memories flitted through her. She'd been too distracted by the danger to really notice things. Like how adorable he was. And how hot he was when he was taking those crazy curves looking so proud of himself. And almost kissing in a trunk of her car was pretty good too.
"Are you tired?" His eyes found hers.
"No, I'm not."
"Good."
No, she definitely wasn't tired. A shiver passed up her spine as he came near, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulled her close. "I think I made a promise I haven't fulfilled."
The kiss was through, to say the least. She sighed happily. "Did I tell you how adorable you looked?"
"If you say I looked like a pinup model…" Lucy glared at him. Or at least she tried to.
"All I'm saying is red lipstick suits you."
"Too bad it wasn't kiss proof." She murmured. "I think you got a little on you."
There were more kisses, a long string of tender caresses that sent her pulse scattering into some strange rhythm that definitely wasn't natural. "I didn't tell you how hot it was when you were driving."
"Didn't know you liked speed or danger."
"Sometimes I do." Lucy gasped a little as he shed her off her nightshirt with a few easy movements. She was a little self-conscious of her post-pregnancy body. She had a lot of stretch marks and her body still felt out of whack. To distract her mind from going down the old routes of self-doubt she started tugging at his pajama bottoms.
"We have to be quiet." She whispered. Silently he nodded. It was surprisingly difficult because the springs on the terrible bunks creaked if you so much as breathed.
A giggle escaped her as the creaking echoed in the silent room as she fell on her back bracked in by two strong arms. "Who was going to be quiet, now?" His grin lifted her heart.
She pressed her lips against his to cut off any more cheeky remarks. The grin disappeared as the kiss deepened slowly and sensually. Lucy reached up to run her hands up his back. The sudden roughness of recent wounds and his subsequent wince made her pause.
"What happened?" The shift in mood was tangible.
"The explosion. It kinda burned my back. That damn polyester didn't help. It's healing although the doctor said I might always have a scar or two." He was serious again, eyes fixed on hers.
" Wyatt…" The sudden physical reminders of exactly how close she'd come to losing her stared her in the face. With shaking hands, she traced his jaw with a fingertip. Then she dove back into the kiss, pouring everything into that one kiss. The rest of the world faded away. All the darkness and pain seemed irrelevant.
She'd expected this moment to be exploding with tension after so long a separation. Instead, it was quiet and achingly slow. She kept touching his face, trying to remind herself that this was real. He wasn't dead. He seemed to be just as word about the insubstantiality of their lives because he kept holding her hand as if she'd float away if he didn't. As she lay there, skin cooling and eyes falling shut she felt safer than she'd ever been in her life. If this was love she never want to leave it.

The next day they were in Hollywood. Lucy stood there in front of the crowd of people in Hollywood trying to work up the nerve to sing. They'd had a magical time so far. Meeting the beautiful and intelligent Hedy Lemarr and interacting with the famous Hollywood elite made her feel like a star herself. It almost felt like she and Wyatt had been lovers for years as they walked around.
She began "You Made Me Love You" in a warbly voice that soon died off. Apart from singing to Henry, she hadn't sung since her failed band so many years ago. She looked over to Wyatt, saw his encouraging expression and tried again. He was her lifeline in that moment. She wasn't sure she could have completed the song if he hadn't kept up with the encouragement. It was a song for him, anyway. All of it was so true. She hadn't meant to fall in love. She hadn't meant to find him. He was supposed to be that guy she met in a bar and forgot a week later. And somehow they'd become parents and partners and she wasn't sure how that had happened.
The piano hit the jazzy part and she felt herself start to get involved. Swaying, throwing smiles to the crowd and hearing the confidence in her voice. Then the music slowed and soared to its conclusion. She found her eyes meeting his, and it was as if time stood still. That might have been a cheesy parallel but they were literal time travelers. They could turn back time. She found tears coming to her eyes as she considered how she'd nearly lost him. She saw his own eyes water as a look of pure astonishment come over his face.
No one seeing them together could dream they weren't together. Hedy Lemarr said goodbye with a merry, "Goodbye, Love Birds."
Lucy raised her eyebrows and whispered, "Wonder how she'd feel if she knew we had a three-month-old baby?"
"I don't know. She'd probably appreciate Henry." His eyes twinkled as he clinked her glass.
They wandered out towards the pool and stood by the water's edge. He'd loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt and she'd taken off her shoes. The long white and gold dress she wore made her feel like a princess.
"So what's up with Hedy and George?" He asked.
"He's probably in love with her but he's already married and besides Hedy favors tall men." Lucy replied.
"Bad timing, I guess," Wyatt replied. His eyes softened as he came forward and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"You sang so well tonight. I was shocked. Sure you don't see a future career as a singer?" He smiled at her again. She hadn't realized he was capable of smiling so much. She liked the change.
"I have a job. Besides I couldn't have done it without you." Lucy sighed, the stress of performing finally wearing off.
"Lucy, you saved my life you know." His eyes were sincere and tender as he cupped her face in his hands.
"Which time? Watergate? The Alamo?" Her attempt at humor only gained a little laugh.
"That's so not what I meant. After Jessica died… I kinda stopped caring about life. And I only took this mission because it was dangerous. But not anymore. You and Henry, you are my life."
Lucy felt her eyes watering and blinked a bit to keep the tears from falling. "I feel the same way. When I was with my mother, and I thought you and Henry were dead. I just lost it. I stopped caring about anything."
He looked suddenly nervous as if something had happened and she paused a little uncertainty. Then he suddenly knelt in front of her and her hands flew to her face. He'd pulled out a box, it looked new and shiny, and opened it. Lucy gasped. It had to be a joke. Or something. The ring was beautiful. The diamond sparkled in the light as she stared at it until it blurred with her tears.
"Lucy...uhh… is it ok? I mean, it's old. It's been in the family for a long time, and maybe you'd prefer a modern thing and I know it's soon… and…" He rambled on nervously. Lucy fell to her own knees and flung herself at him. Happiness was like an infectious drug, purling through her system until she was lost.
"Of course. I love it. It's beautiful. But…" Lucy hesitated. "It's so soon. I mean, we don't have to marry because of Henry."
"I know. But I just...just felt like...don't worry...if it's too soon." She could see the hesitation on his face and it broke her heart.
"No, that's not what I mean. I just didn't want you to think that I was trying to trap you."
"No, never."
"I want to. I don't care if it's crazy. I want to marry you." Lucy smiled, pushing the fear away. There was a deep-seated insecurity that he was only proposing because of Henry.
"Oh my god." Wyatt grinned and picked up the ring. Lucy felt him slip it on without difficulty. "I've been practicing with Jiya. Poor Jiya. I dropped that damn thing so many times."
Lucy laughed and then asked, "Who did this belong to?"
He laughed joyously, "It was my grandmother's. I got it after she died. I didn't give it to Jessica because she didn't like old stuff and I was young and didn't appreciate it. I thought you would."
Lucy couldn't stop the tears. She flung herself at him, pressing her lips to his in a fervent kiss. They were smiling into the kiss, joy radiating out. He lifted her up bridal style and she stopped, "Don't you dare."
"Dare what?" His mischievous smile made her smile back.
"You're gonna get it." She tightened her hold around his neck and leaned in for another kiss.
She didn't catch what he said but the sudden abrupt plunge into cold water sent a clear message. They were both laughing even though she was protesting, "You're gonna get it. You so are gonna get it."
They were kissing again, the spontaneous dip in the pool only encouraging their ardor. She dropped her shoes in the water, feeling his hand slide down past her back to pull her closer. She was weighed down by the dress but she desperately wanted to get closer.
Finally, they came up for air. "Maybe that wasn't the smartest idea," Wyatt admitted. His grin was infectious.
"I'm wet and cold," Lucy complained. She was smiling too. She didn't have the heart to be actually angry. It was such an uncharacteristically happy moment for him. It made her wonder what he'd have been like without the shadow of his abusive father and Jessica's death.
Somehow they made it out of the water and slipped into the guest house. It was romantic and candlelit, as if Hedy had known he was proposing. The bathroom was tiny but good enough to strip down in and wrap a towel around herself. She tried hanging up the ruined dress but the rack wasn't very good. Lucy then stood by the fire, letting it warm her chilled skin. While Wyatt stripped off his wet clothes she examined her ring in the firelight. It felt so unreal. She loved him so much and it all felt like a beautiful dream. Well, if it was a dream she wanted to never wake up. She wanted to live in it forever.
"I want to see you wearing nothing but that ring." He whispered in her ear. She shivered, this time not from cold.
This was happening. Really happening. It felt like a hazy dream. She didn't think she slept more than an hour or two. They talked, made love and planned as the hours ticked by. Being alone was precious living in a bunker with a three month-year-old baby. They'd never been together in the past before. They had barely even kissed on a mission, apart from 1934, until now. Lucy felt drunk, not with alcohol but with excitement. Finally, they were going to be a family.
Rufus knocked on the door the next morning, waking them up. Lucy blinked and sat up, only realizing she was naked when Wyatt smirked up at her. "I'll get it." He said.
Rufus didn't seem happy to be greeted by his friend wrapped in nothing but a towel but he made his exit quickly enough. Lucy chuckled at his embarrassed face and glanced down at her ring happily. Wyatt leaned over and kissed her before they reluctantly got up and got dressed. His suit was wrinkled but otherwise unharmed. Her dress was a mess and it required stealing another dress before she came back and joined the men.
Rufus whistled when he saw the ring, "Oh my god. You're engaged."
"Yep," Wyatt put an arm around her.
Rufus nodded, "Well, I'm happy for you guys. Jiya will be so excited."
They prevented Rittenhouse from changing history. After the long car ride where they discussed wedding plans, Rufus offering useless information that made them laugh, the Lifeboat touched down in 2018. Lucy jumped out, unable to wait to hold Henry.
Jiya wasn't holding him. Lucy moved towards their room, Wyatt close behind. She could hear Agent Christopher calling their names. Lucy wondered what was so important that couldn't wait for them to see Henry again.
The room didn't have a crib in it. Two bunks were pushed against opposite walls. Lucy recognized her blouse lying across her bed. One of Jiya's jeans lay across the chair. A flicker of panic escaped her. Where was Henry?
"Where is he?" Their voices erupted almost at the same time.
Lucy flew across the room. She made it to the door and opened it. She darted into what was Rufus and Jiya's room. No sign of a baby. She ran to the next door, Wyatt's footsteps following close behind. It was once a storage closet but now had been transformed into a bedroom. Flynn was hanging a shirt up in the closet as they burst in.
"What the hell?" He looked shocked to see them. "Don't you know about knocking?"
"Where is he?" Lucy asked. "Where is Henry?"
"If you hurt him, I swear I'll kill you." Lucy had never heard Wyatt sound so angry. The rage in his voice matched the terror and anger in her own body. She was physically shaking with terror.
"Who is Henry?" Flynn looked mildly alarmed as they stood there, about to spring.
"Our son. He's three months old. Remember?" Lucy asked. Her voice shook as she forced herself to remain calm. Henry was here somewhere.
"Lucy, you don't have a son," Flynn replied. His voice was for once, full of sympathy.
"No….No….No." Lucy felt the scream erupt from her mouth. She whirled around, running for the door. Henry was gone. Her son had been erased. What was the point?
"You're lying." Wyatt was about to spring at Flynn and hurt him. He was still in denial. Still believed that Henry was just hiding.
"Wyatt, you are married to Jessica and you don't have any children. Lucy isn't pregnant. I have nothing to do with this. But Rittenhouse does."
Jessica Logan was alive. And with her reappearance, Lucy's life had just gotten destroyed.

Author's Note: I think Darlington is one of my favorite episodes because it's just so light and happy. All of our team is happy. I think it's where Lucy is finally able to let down her guard again.
I know you're probably all excited by the engagement and stuff but if you notice Lucy is very insecure. I feel like that scene has a bittersweet quality because we all know something bad is coming. And Lucy doesn't really believe that it's all real. So that attitude is going to affect how things happen in the future.
And yes, I brought Jessica back. This is all Emma. Carol is evil but her plan would have been to kidnap Henry to use as leverage so she could get Lucy to join RH. Emma, on the other hand, didn't want Henry to exist because that would be hurting her own chances of taking over RH.
Finally, if you are worried about how close this story will be to canon, I will say a few things. The split between Lyatt is more equal than in canon. I don't believe for one moment Wyatt would have flown out of the bunker without a word in my verse. And I can't imagine him being as determined to make things work with Jessica under the circumstances. Lucy is going to make some poor choices too. And Jessica is even more manipulative and straight up evil here. I do promise a happy ending though. And no, Jessica won't pull the pregnancy card. That would be so cliche.