Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for all the kind feedback on the last chapter! We're so happy you guys liked it, and of course, yes! Sara is pregnant! Now they just have to tell everyone... Expect some more team/family fluff as everyone finds out before we wrap up this story (so knowing us, we still have a ways to go, haha). Hope you enjoy it!
"Alright," Sara said, as they stepped into the kitchen, "we know you guys are…"
"Not here," Len filled in as they looked around the decidedly empty room.
"How long were we in the bathroom?" Sara asked.
"Not long enough for everyone to disappear," Leonard told her, "but I'm not one to question our good fortune. You go make sure the windows by the fire escape are locked and I'll barricade the front door."
That was when they heard Ray from the living room – they couldn't make out his low words, but his tone sounded none too happy.
"We were so close to being free," Len sighed, as they made their way to see what the issue was.
They were greeted by the sight of Ray bent over Thea and wrestling to hold her down on the couch. Ray was panting; Thea had a wicked grin on her face (and honestly, seemed to be only toying with him).
"Uh…you guys need some privacy?" Sara teased, eyebrows raised.
Ray's head whipped around at the sound of her voice, eyes widening as his gaze darted between Sara and Leonard. He sprang away from Thea, the struggle suddenly forgotten.
"How could you guys leave me here?" Ray hissed at the two of them, letting Thea fall back on the couch. She sighed and stretched out like a cat, snuggling into one of the new throw pillows. (Oh, those are nice, Sara mused, noticing them for the first time.)
"For what, babysitting duty?" Leonard asked, tilting his head as he looked from Thea back to Ray. "Well, you did volunteer."
"But where did the others go?" Sara asked. She kept one eye on Thea, not at all sure her sudden compliance wasn't some kind of trick.
Ray harrumphed, waving a hand dismissively. "When Donna heard the unit next to ours was opening up, she insisted on a tour of our apartment since it's almost the same. Mick took everyone downstairs to see it." He sighed, glancing back at the young woman, still innocently curled up on the couch. "Except Thea wanted to stay here and 'chat.' And she was oh so chatty."
Ray's eyes narrowed as he turned back to Sara and Leonard, seemingly trying to glare at them – and failing spectacularly, Sara thought, as his face instantly fell into a pained expression instead. "I can't believe what Thea told me," he moaned, visibly upset.
"Wait – Thea told you?" Sara tried to keep her expression blank, but she knew she was failing. Trust that Thea had told Ray the news in the few minutes since everyone had left!
"So it's true," Ray said solemnly. Sara and Leonard exchanged a glance, eyes silently wondering… "About the baby," Ray added, voice low, giving them a pointed look.
Sara gaped, looking toward Len, who seemed as stunned as she was. No point in denying it, she supposed, although Ray's obvious disapproval wasn't the reaction she'd been expecting.
"Ray," Sara started, placing a hand lightly on his arm. "We didn't mean to upset you –"
She stopped short, as suddenly Ray seemed on the verge of tears.
"Did you ever stop to think about what this would do to me?" Ray was only looking at Sara now. "What it would do to all of us?" His voice broke. "You know how much you guys mean to me!"
"Uh…" Sara stuttered. Was Ray actually upset that she was pregnant? It sounded like he was concerned that things would change, and she hadn't thought that far ahead yet, but…he was probably right. Things would change. Permanently.
She felt tears spring to her own eyes as her heart sank. If even Ray, the most cheerful of them all, wasn't happy, then how would everyone else react to the news? She glanced at Leonard, who was just scowling at Ray. It looked like he was deliberately holding back, maybe choosing not to speak because he didn't trust what he might say.
"I mean, couldn't you have at least warned me this was coming?" Ray continued, voice squeaking.
"It's not like we planned for this," Sara explained, defensively, her pain swinging to frustration in an instant. "It surprised us, too, you know. We weren't exactly…trying."
"You weren't even trying?" Ray gasped. "Your relationship is worth more than that; you should have fought for each other! And now…" he sniffled. Actually sniffled. "Now you're just going to break up?"
"What?" Leonard finally interjected.
"Sara, I want you to know I don't blame you in the slightest," Ray added, ignoring him. Leonard's mouth actually dropped at that, his expression turning dark as Ray took Sara's hands in his. "Why," Ray continued, "even I, on occasion, have been caught under the spell of Oliver's charms."
"Oliver?" Sara frowned, yanking her hands out of his grasp. "What does he have to do with anything?"
"'What does he have to do with anything,'" Ray repeated, sighing. Then he turned to Len, jaw set and eyes blazing. "Leonard, I promise you he won't get away with this – it really is the last straw. First he stole my girlfriend. Now he's stolen Sara away from you…" He rubbed a hand over his face. "The man has to be reigned in – why, to not even use protection with another man's woman!" Ray was getting more and more upset.
Sara wasn't sure if she could wrap her mind around this, but she was trying. It seemed like Ray thought she was having Oliver's child and that she and Leonard were breaking up because of it – but where would he have gotten such a completely ridiculous idea?!
"Ray," she began, carefully, "why on earth do you think it's Oliver's?"
"It's not his," Leonard said, trying to correct him. "It's mine."
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way," Ray told Len, somberly. "But hey, it's the 21st century, you don't have to break up just because Sara's having another man's baby!"
"I'm not having Oliver's baby," Sara insisted. She supposed she should have been more upset at Ray, but it was just so laughably absurd that she was having a hard time feeling anything but confusion.
"You mean you're not keeping it?" Ray asked, stunned.
"No!" Sara gasped. "I mean, yes, I'm keeping it – but it's not Oliver's. Come on, Ray, I've been on the Waverider with you guys for the past, like, two and a half months. When would I have had time to sleep with Oliver?"
"Not the reasoning I'd hoped you'd use," Leonard said, frowning.
"And I'm in love with Leonard," she added, exasperated.
"You two don't have to pretend for my sake," Ray said.
"We're not pretending," Leonard growled.
"Oh yeah?" Ray asked. "Then why is Thea over there prattling on about how she's going to be the world's best aunt? And looking at baby Arrow Halloween costumes on her phone? I admit, at first I was convinced Felicity had pulled one over on all of us, but then I found the incontrovertible proof." He grabbed Thea's phone amidst her protests, hit a button, and held it up to them. "I'd like to see you two refute this!"
On the screen was a text message Thea had sent to Ollie. "Better get here quick. Sara's having U baby!"
Leonard sent Sara a questioning look. "Why would Thea think you were having Oliver's baby, hmm? Isthere something you're not telling me?"
For a second, Sara believed he was serious, until she caught the glint in his eyes. "Thea is drunk!" Sara reminded him. And Ray. "She must have mistyped that text. Look, it doesn't even say 'ur', it says 'u'."
"You don't have to lie anymore, Sara," Len assured her. "The Queens annoy me enough and now I have to raise one, too?" He mock sighed, before patting her on the arm. "I suppose I could do it. For you."
Oh no, there was no hope if he kept playing along – they'd never get Ray (or Thea) back under control. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Stop it and tell Ray –"
"You're such a good man, Len," Ray interrupted, covering his mouth with his hand, sounding in awe. "What you're doing, accepting this child as your own…it's truly admirable." He looked off into space. "What this world would be if only half the men were as good as you."
"Oh for…" Sara leaned against the back of the couch in disbelief as Ray shook Leonard's hand and clapped him on the shoulder. "It's not true, Ray! Leonard, tell him it's not true."
"It's done, Sara," Ray said. "And it's okay."
"No, it's not okay, because it's not true!" she protested, motioning for Leonard to speak. Infuriatingly, he just smiled at her and then shrugged helplessly as if there was absolutely nothing he could do to help.
"Remember that you're making me do this," Ray said with disappointment. "Thea, what did you say about her and Oliver?" he called over his shoulder.
"Oh, they're disgusting!" Thea groaned, swaying up and off the couch to finally come join their conversation. "They're so in love I can hardly even look at them sometimes." She wrapped an arm around Sara to keep herself upright.
"Wait," Ray said, new realization dawning. "Sara, you're in love with Oliver? I thought it was just a night of passion. I didn't realize it was an affair of the heart – how could you do that to Leonard? He'll never recover! And after he offered to raise your child?!"
"What?" Thea asked, her face scrunching up in confusion. "Sara's not in love with my brother, crazy, she's head over heels for Leonard. I meant Ollie and Felicity, duh."
"Ollie and…" Ray trailed off, gulping as he glanced from Sara (who was glaring) to Leonard (who was trying much too hard not to laugh). "But Thea said…and you said…"
"In my defense, I say a lot of things," Leonard smirked.
"And you can't believe any of them," Sara said. "How do you not know this by now, Ray?"
"I'm sorry guys." Ray looked appropriately shamed. "I hope you know it was all Thea's fault, really. I only thought that about Oliver because of the stuff Thea said."
"Heyyy," Thea protested, then squinted over at Ray. "What'd I say?"
"Never mind," he said, pressing a hand to his temple. "But wait, this means you two are really –"
"Having a baby?" Sara filled in. She felt her frustration melt away at the reminder, and she couldn't help but smile. "Yes."
Thea finally registered what they were saying and pointed at each of them in shock. "Before I just thought, well, hoped. But you're…"
"Yes!" Sara cried, wondering how many times she could say it – although she still didn't quite believe it herself.
"Oh my god, Sara!" Thea squealed, rocking them side to side as she hugged Sara even harder. "It is the biggest score of your lives!" She was grinning and suddenly crying. She pulled back, jumping up and down as she looked from Sara to Leonard. "I am going to be such a good aunt. And anytime you guys come to Star City, I have first dibs on babysitting – I promise I won't drink," she added.
"Thea, you didn't even know for sure?" Ray asked, rounding on her.
"Of course I didn't know!" she laughed, wiping away a new tear. "No one was sure."
Ray started to smile and then froze, maybe remembering what Len had just done. "Seriously? You're not putting me on again?"
"No, we're not joking, Palmer," Leonard said. He smiled down at Sara as she squeezed his hand.
"You're having a baby!" Ray exclaimed, throwing himself at them and wrapping the three of them in a hug. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked, as Thea fell on them to join the hug, too. Sara realized that Ray had tears in his eyes, Thea was crying, she was crying – and even Leonard's eyes were looking a little watery.
"We literally just found out a few minutes ago," Sara laughed, when Ray and Thea finally released them. "We were hoping to tell everyone together," she added, as Leonard brushed away a tear from her cheek.
"Well, let's go downstairs and tell them," Ray suggested, the grin on his face positively catching. "And I'll re-pot the ficus for you, too. Mick and I have a couple pots in our apartment that'll work, don't worry."
"What?" Sara asked, sharply.
"Um, there was a slight mishap," Ray said, slowly.
"Sorry about your plant," Thea added, looking blearily up at Sara. "You're not mad, are you?"
"Mad?" Sara asked. "Why would…what happened?"
"Oh," Thea said, lightly, eyes darting away from Sara's gaze. "It was an accident. Ray, uh, he pushed me!"
"What she means is that she made a play to confiscate all the liquor in the kitchen, and in her struggle to keep me from stopping her she knocked over the ficus Felicity brought," Ray explained, watching both Sara and Leonard apprehensively as he spoke. "But we managed to save the plant itself, I think."
"That crash…" Sara began, suddenly remembering the noise she and Len had heard from the bathroom. "My plant?!" She gasped, running to the kitchen, the others forgotten. She rounded the island, only to find a, well, massacre was the word that came to mind as she stared in horror at the mess of dirt and broken pottery strewn across the floor. She put her hands over her mouth, body folding down into a crouch as she surveyed the wreckage. But wait, where was the actual plant?
She jumped to her feet, vaguely aware of Thea and Ray rushing into the kitchen, too. She scanned the room before spotting the ficus in the sink and it was sitting in – was that one of her oversized mixing bowls?
"Yeah, see, plants are hardy!" Ray told them. "Probably. Well, you'll know within a few days if it starts dying –" he stopped when Sara looked at him, horrified.
"It doesn't actually represent our baby you know," Leonard murmured in her ear, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"Leonard, it's in a mixing bowl!" she wailed. "What if something happens to our baby? You can't just put it in a bowl and have everything be fine!"
"Who said that's even an option?" Len asked.
"You could probably put a baby in a mixing bowl," Thea suggested. "I mean, it's small enough to fit."
Sara wasn't listening to her and was both angry and embarrassed that she felt like crying again. "If we can't even keep a plant safe, Len, how are we going to take care of this baby?"
"There will be no safer baby on the planet, I promise you that," Leonard said, fiercely. Something in the way he looked at her left her with a rush of calm, and she knew, in that moment, he was right.
"Yeah, besides, this plant will be just fine," Ray promised, again, as he tapped the top of it and it promptly fell over in the sink. He rushed to right it back into the bowl.
Sara's smile faltered. "You really think so?"
"Sara, please," Ray scoffed, "I designed and engineered the A.T.O.M. suit into reality. I think I can save a house plant." He waited until she was on her way out of the room to mutter, "I hope."
"If you can't, you're going to buy another one and give it to her and tell her it was the original," Leonard informed him.
Ray balked at the order. "I really think Thea should be the one to –"
"You thought she was having Oliver's child. Then said as much out loud. To her."
"Again, that was mostly Thea's fault. And you had a part, too…" Ray coughed uncomfortably under the harshness of Leonard's gaze. "Yeah, so I can spring for a plant."
Ray edged ahead of him, trailing Sara and Thea to the living room. "I just can't wait to tell everyone about the baby!" he announced, like it was his news to share (and maybe, in his mind, it was). He motioned for them all to follow him out of the apartment.
"If their reaction is any preview, I think the others are going to be pretty excited," Leonard whispered to Sara, guiding her to the door.
"If we're using them as our template, then I wonder how many other guesses there'll be for who the father is?" she asked, smartly.
Len just shrugged. "I'd be more upset but…it's Palmer." His tone indicated it was pretty much par for the course.
"I kind of wish I could tell my dad alone, though," Sara admitted. "I'm starting to think it's going to be crazy when everyone else finds out."
"Crazy? With these people?" Leonard shrugged. "Nah."
They reached the door just as Ray opened it to reveal Quentin Lance on the other side.
"Oh hey," Quentin said, stepping inside and clapping Ray on the arm as he passed. "I just came back for Donna's phone. She wants some pictures of the apartment and she said she left it charging in the…oh there," he went into the living room and unplugged his wife's phone, then his eyes stopped on his daughter. "Sara, honey, there you are!"
"Hi Dad," Sara said, going over to hug him. "Um, could I talk to you? Alone?" She couldn't believe her good luck that she'd gotten this chance. Maybe the universe was looking out for her today…in some ways more than others, at least.
"We're going downstairs," Ray offered. "We'll tell Donna you'll be a few minutes."
"Great," Quentin agreed, pressing some buttons on Donna's phone.
"Are you sure you don't want me to tell him with you?" Len asked, quietly, while he was distracted.
She glanced at her father. "Hold on, Dad, I'll be right back."
She stepped into the hallway with Len, Ray, and Thea, who she had to physically push ahead of her – Thea's temporary lucidity from the baby news seemed to be fading fast. Sara pulled the door closed behind her, thinking over Len's offer. It would be so easy to ask him to stay, but this was something she had to do on her own. She wanted – needed – to talk to her father, and she just knew he wouldn't be as open with her if Leonard was there. And she wanted him to be honest…even if she might not like what he said.
She shook her head at Leonard. "I'll do it alone."
"You're sure?" he persisted, looking between Ray and Thea (who was now leaning heavily on Ray to remain upright).
"I'm sure," Sara said, firmly.
"But what if…"
Her eyes narrowed on him. "Are you trying to get out of going downstairs?"
"Uh…"
She pointed toward the elevator. "Go. And make sure Thea doesn't get lost, alright?"
"After what happened with Ray, she'll be lucky if she doesn't mysteriously vanish between now and when we get back," Len said.
Thea was watching him with growing unease. "Sara, I think he's going to vanish me. If I don't return, tell everyone I love them, okay?"
"You've already told them a few dozen times tonight," Ray reminded her. "I think you've met your quota."
"Leonard's not going to 'vanish' you, whatever the hell that means," Sara promised. "But I expect all three of you to keep your mouths shut until either I get down there or you all make it back up here. Remember, Leonard and I want to tell them together."
"I'm like a vault," Ray swore. "Lock me up and throw away the key! After I tell Mick, no one else will –"
"No, Ray," Sara interrupted.
"But if I just mention –"
"No," Len reiterated. "You better not so much as breathe a word of this." He glanced at Thea. "It's going to be hard enough keeping her quiet about it."
"Quiet about what?" Thea asked, having lost the conversation some ways back.
"Alright then," Len shrugged, "so vodka does have its uses after all."
"I don't see why I can't tell Mick," Ray kept on, probably just to be contrary, "you're telling your dad right now."
"I think my dad has earned the right to hear it alone, he'll probably need a few minutes to process it."
"Oh I see, you're right. He might not take the news well. He'll probably freak out," Ray agreed, thoughtfully. "What if he storms out? What if he…" he trailed off when he noticed the anger growing on Leonard's face, and the increasing distress on Sara's. "Not that any of that will happen! No way, no how, Quentin Lance is one of the most rational, level-headed, even-tempered men that I've ever met."
"Oh no," Sara moaned, covering her eyes with her hands. What if Ray's right? What if my father takes this…badly? She honestly had no idea what she would do if her dad looked at her with unhappiness. Or far worse…disappointment.
"Sorry," Ray apologized quickly. "Sometimes I talk without thinking."
"Sometimes?" Len questioned. "Huh, we've never noticed."
Sara felt an arm around her shoulders and opened her eyes, thinking it was Len, but to her surprise it was Ray.
"I really am sorry," Ray said. "I'm sure he'll be fine. And if he's not, then…" his face clouded, "…you just tell me and I'll set him straight."
Sara shot a glance at Len, who looked as surprised as she felt. She tilted her head up at Ray. "Are you saying you'd threaten my father if he doesn't take it well?"
Ray looked suddenly sheepish. "Well, I just…I don't know how anyone would be unhappy about this. And I hope you know that even if he isn't happy – which will not be the case – we'd still all be here for you."
"You all would?" Len asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I know I'm speaking for the others," Ray said, voice getting stronger the more he spoke, "but I'm one hundred percent confident it's true. When it comes to this, we're all in it together, right? I mean I'm going to be Uncle Ray to this kid." He nodded to himself, clearly liking the idea. "Just think of all the things I'm going to teach him. Or her."
Leonard looked mildly concerned. "Don't get too ahead of yourself, Palmer. I don't know how much we should let you teach –"
"I love that idea," Sara cried, standing up on her tiptoes to throw her arms around Ray's neck and hug him. "You could be like their…tutor. You could turn our kid into a genius."
"Please, I think that'd be genetic," Len muttered.
Sara ignored him in favor of pressing a kiss to Ray's check. The beaming smile he sent her in return made something inside her melt and why, why was she getting teary yet again? "I really appreciate the offer, Ray," she said, gratefully.
He hugged her tightly, dropping a kiss on her forehead as he let her go. "You're welcome, Sara. When all's said and done, you might say your kid had two dads!" There was a touch of teasing arrogance in his voice.
"Aw, you and Mick?" Thea asked.
Ray just frowned at her, confused. "Me and Leonard! But you know, Mick could probably teach this kid a thing or two about –"
"Let's hold off on the lessons with Mick for a while," Len interrupted – and Sara figured he must know damn well what Mick would consider as necessary life skills.
"Right, neither of us are opposed," Sara added. "We just don't need anyone bringing that up around Donna or my dad."
"Speaking of which, he's inside waiting," Len reminded her. "And we don't want them all to come wandering back before you've had a chance to talk to him."
"Right, go," she said, pointing them toward the elevator, where Thea had wandered off to; she was pressing the same button repeatedly with mounting irritation each time.
Leonard stayed an extra moment, studying her face in that way Sara knew meant he was trying to ensure she was telling the truth. "You're really okay with doing this by yourself?"
"Yes," she promised, sighing when he leaned down to press his mouth briefly against hers. "It'll be fine."
"Of course," he said, as he took a step back. "I have no worries. After all, Palmer will sort things out for us if need be. Picture him going head-to-head with your dad – in fact, I think we should let him think the worst just to see what he'll do."
She gave him a light shove backwards. "You're insane if you think that's a good idea."
"And yet you love me anyways. What does that say about you?"
"I guess that I'm as crazy as you," she said, trying not to smile, but it was a losing battle. There had never been a day with him that she hadn't smiled; she had a feeling that would hold true for their future, too.
"There you are!" her father exclaimed as she let herself back into the apartment, pulling her into another hug. She could tell by the way he lingered how much he'd missed her. "I was starting to think you were sick or something."
"Not sick," she assured. Not like you think.
"So everything's fine? You're good?"
"Yeah, I'm good. But there is something I wanted to talk to you about. I'm glad you came back alone, actually." She took a deep breath, trying to calm the shakiness she felt. "Want to come sit with me?"
"Sure," he said warmly, smiling at her. She prayed that what she told him wouldn't wipe that smile off his face.
Sara tilted her head toward one of the loveseats and when he sat down, she paced in front of him, unsure how to begin.
He gave her a moment, smile slowly fading to mild concern. And she definitely knew she'd waited too long when his expression slipped into something close to fear. "Honey, what is it?"
"It's nothing bad," she said, hurriedly, trying both to calm him and buy herself more time. She didn't know how she was supposed to tell him this.
She had no idea how he'd take the news – he could be happy, or disappointed, or resigned, or…angry. There was probably no way he'd be ecstatic, but she didn't think he'd be outraged, either. She suspected (hoped?) it would be closer to a middle ground. And knowing him, it'd probably edge more toward wariness than joy...given who the baby's father was.
Her father only had an outsider's view of her and Leonard – an outsider's view of Leonard entirely, in fact. He'd made it clear through veiled comments (especially early on) that he didn't approve of Leonard, didn't approve of his lifestyle or the things he'd done. Sara couldn't fault her father for it, either – she'd felt pretty much the same when she first met Len, when they'd been wary teammates, even when they'd been careful friends. (She thought she'd known him then…she'd thought wrong.)
She'd quickly made it clear to her father that she wouldn't put up with anything overtly meant to make Len feel unwelcome or uncomfortable. Quentin had eased up immediately, and it had actually helped tremendously that he'd married Donna around the same time, since her step-mother loved Leonard and had no problems making it known.
The only issue was that Sara had never truly known if her father had actually accepted Len or if he simply pretended to in order to appease her and Donna. And honestly, up until this very moment, Sara hadn't much cared how her father and Len really felt toward each other – as long as they were civil on the surface, that was good enough for her. She didn't need anyone's approval for her relationship, and she certainly didn't need them to love each other (if that were even possible), but now that she was going to have a child…the thought of her father still not liking Len (or vice versa)…it made her feel unhappy in a way she'd never known. The very thought of them pretending…actually, it made her sick.
She wanted to raise this baby in an environment where everyone loved each other, not where people simply acted like they did in order to keep the peace.
If Leonard and her father both maintained civility for her sake, maybe they could give each other a real shot for…someone else's sake.
But that was asking for a lot and it wouldn't happen overnight. The best she could hope for right now was that this news wouldn't break whatever cordial peace the two of them had managed to maintain for half a year now. The thought of upsetting that careful balance was almost enough for her to not say anything, but she couldn't put it off. Not when so many people already knew, or at least suspected. (And now that Ray knew – forget it, everyone in the building would probably know by night's end. Maybe the whole block.)
She was grateful her father had given her a few minutes – he didn't look afraid now, but the worry was still there. Sara sat down on the coffee table across from the loveseat so she could face him directly. One step at a time, Caitlin's voice whispered in her mind. Just tell him.
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
"Are you okay?" He leaned forward to grasp her hands. "What's wrong? You can tell me anything."
"I'm…" she wanted to look away, more than anything, but she wouldn't let herself. She refused to be afraid of this. "I'm pregnant."
Her father didn't blink. "You're…"
She nodded and he watched her with no reaction. "Please say something," she begged.
He seemed to be choosing his next words carefully. "Are you…not happy about it? Because you look pretty upset."
She let out a breath. "No, I'm happy. I'm beyond happy, to tell you the truth. I'm just worried about what you might…because if there's any way that you think this is anything other than a good thing, then I don't know what I'm going to do." Her words were running together by the end, and her eyes ached with the pressure of tears she was holding back.
"Oh, Sara," he said, quietly, holding out his arms for her and she threw herself at him, hugging him with everything she had in her. He held on just as tight.
"I was afraid you wouldn't be happy for me," she said, into his shoulder, feeling the tears on her face. (She felt like she'd done more crying in the last few hours than she had in the past year – it had to be the hormones – she wouldn't accept any other reason.)
"How could you think that I'd be anything less than thrilled for you?" he asked, into her hair. "My wonderful, loving daughter, being a mother herself." He pushed her back, wiping the tears away from her eyes with his thumb as a grin spread across his face. "I could think of no luckier child than to have you for a mother."
"Stop," she sniffed. "You're going to make me cry."
"You're already crying," he pointed out, laughing.
She laughed too, and brushed at her eyes with her sleeve. "You really mean all that?"
"I mean all that and more."
She felt a weight lift, his reaction much better than anything she could have hoped for – then a sudden, worrying thought struck her. "You do know Leonard is the father, right?"
"I don't know if you've noticed, honey," he joked, "but I am a detective."
"And you still think…" she glanced down, playing with a loose thread at the hem of her sleeve, "that this child would be lucky?"
"I do," he said, without hesitation. "Honey…do you think I hate Leonard or something?"
"I know you're not the best of friends. You two got off to a rocky start and I know you disapprove of a lot of things he's done." Well… "That he still does, actually. And I can't have you two disliking each other. Not now, not when I'm...I just can't."
"Baby, I don't hate him. In fact, it sort of pains me to say it, but I don't even dislike him anymore." He sighed, heavily. "I admit in the beginning I had my doubts, but it didn't take me long to see that, in my opinion, you've definitely picked the right person for you."
"I know I have," she swore.
He smiled a little. "Do you know what made me change my mind about him?"
She shook her head wordlessly.
"It's the way he feels about you. He's never even remotely tried to hide it. I see it when he looks at you, when he talks about you, when he's anywhere near you. I went through my whole life thinking no one would ever love my daughters as much as I do and – well, I'm still of a mind that no one will ever love you the way I do, but this guy, I'm pretty sure he comes as close as possible."
Sara was too overwhelmed to know what to say.
"I don't worry about you anymore, you know?" her father went on. "I used to be afraid all the time, about you being out there on your own, the kinds of trouble you and your team were getting into. I know you can take care of yourself, but Leonard, he'd kill to keep you safe. I'm sure he already has and I'm sure that he'd do it again. And that," he concluded, "that's why I can sleep at night."
"That's kind of morbid," she admonished.
"But is it untrue?" he countered.
"No," she said softly, "it's not. And I've done the same for him. Our whole team has, it's just…part of the cost."
"It's dangerous out there," he agreed. "You don't have to tell me that… Are you going to retire now that you have another person to think about?"
"I don't know, I hadn't thought about it. We'll have to take some time off, at least."
"You could come visit us – wait a minute, is this why Donna was going on about wanting to move here? Why she was so eager to see Mick and Ray's apartment?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if she somehow guessed," Sara said, smile creeping back onto her face.
After a moment of silence, her father asked, "How did Leonard react?"
"He's so happy, Dad. As happy as I am, I think." Her next words came out in a rush, "But I'm also terrified."
"Of what?" Off her look, he guessed, "of being a parent?"
"I feel like I should take a class or something. I don't even know where to begin." If people doubt that I can even keep a plant alive…
"Oh, honey, no one knows. I think most people just do the best they can."
"What if my best isn't enough?"
"You'll figure it out," he promised. "You know when your mother and I had Laurel, we were scared, too. Out of our minds, in fact. But we soldiered through and we figured a few things out by the time you came along – we were still nowhere near perfect. The truth is, no one is. But look how well you and your sister turned out."
Sara shut her eyes, happy childhood memories flitting past in her mind. How happy they'd been. How loved she'd always felt. "It's hard to picture you and mom not knowing how to be parents."
"Well, believe it. We made everything up as we went along." He put his arm around her shoulders. "Despite all that, we survived. And you and your sister were – are – the best things that ever happened to us. You two made everything worth it. I know I've had my issues, and I wasn't perfect, but –"
"You were perfect to me," Sara interrupted, looking up at him. And her words were as unwavering as they were passionate. "Nothing will ever change that."
He swallowed and paused for a moment before saying, "I'm so happy that I get to be a grandfather. And that you get to be a mother; you'll finally know the kind of love I have for you."
"I love you, too, Dad," she said, kissing his cheek.
"I know you do, baby, but it's different, you'll see. And then you'll feel bad for all the grief you put me through during your rebellious teenage years."
"Don't count on it," she laughed. "I was doing my best to keep you on your toes – keep you young."
"Keep me on the verge of a panic attack, is more like it." He glanced down at her. "Remember this in 15 years when you're complaining to me that your kid's sneaking out at night."
"Stop," she chided, but she was still laughing. "Let me get through pregnancy first. And infancy. I have a ways to go before I'm worrying about teenage years."
"It'll go by like –" he snapped his fingers. "So make sure you appreciate every moment, the good and the bad."
"I'll ship them off to Grandma and Grandpa for the bad," she teased. "I'm sure you could keep them in line."
"No way, I'm going to spoil this kid like no tomorrow. No rules at Grandpa's house. Candy for dinner and staying up until midnight is fine with me."
Sara just shook her head, still smiling. They sat in silence for a few minutes, and she stared at the wall across from them, but in her mind, she was seeing something else entirely. Future visits with her family and friends, her child growing up, and…the one person who would never get to see it.
"Only one thing would make this better than it is," she whispered.
"I know," he replied, equally as quiet, and Sara blinked back yet more tears (who knew there were any left in her, at this point). She curled up next to her father, resting her head on his shoulder.
It was something they both already knew, something they both felt, every day. But she wanted to say the words out loud (in fact, she wanted to scream them to the universe a lot of the time).
This time it wasn't a scream, but the anguish in her words said more than enough: "I wish Laurel were here."
"Me too, baby," Quentin said, and she pretended not to hear the catch in his voice as he kissed the top of her head. "Me too."
"She would have loved being an aunt," Sara sighed.
She could feel her father nodding against the top of her head. "She would have been great at it. But," he added, "there area lot of people downstairs who love you. They're going to be here for you just like Laurel would've been. That Caitlin, for one – she's a good egg."
Sara felt herself smile a little at the thought of all her friends. Caitlin, Felicity, Donna, Lisa, Mick – even Cisco and Wells, they were all going to flip when they heard the news. And that wasn't even counting all the people who weren't there – Kendra, Jax, Stein, Barry. Hell, even Rip would probably muster up enough energy to be happy for them. And now that her dad knew, she suddenly couldn't wait to tell them.
"I'll text Len and get him to wrangle the crew upstairs," she said, pulling out her phone.
"Dad is happy. Me, too. Bring everyone back so we can tell them already!" she typed, leaning back into her father's embrace as she waited for Leonard to see the message.
A few moments later, she felt her phone buzz. She smiled as she opened the message, only to frown as she read his reply: "Not sure that's going to be possible."
Sara bit back a sigh and resisted the urge to smash her phone against the coffee table. She should have known better than to jinx things.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to text him back: "What now?"
