Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has read.
I am going to write more stories showing Rip learning to raise his son but for now this is the end of this story.
Enjoy.
Rip sat in the Time Vault hiding for a few minutes while Iris and Caitlin took Jonas for a walk. Today was the day when the Legends would leave with the Waverider and he would be living in one time period for the rest of his life.
"Captain," Gideon said, "Are you feeling sorry for yourself?"
"No," he replied before sighing, "Maybe," Rip rubbed his hand over his face, "I know this is for the best, Gideon. I have to stay here to give Jonas a proper life, I know that and I want to raise my son but..."
"But?" she prompted.
"I'm letting my escape route leave without me," he confessed, "I've always had the Waverider there waiting for me and suddenly..."
"You are feeling trapped," Gideon finished for him.
Rip nodded, "It might be selfish."
"A little."
He chuckled, "I need your help, Gideon with pretty much every part of this."
"I am already searching for suitable living arrangements for you and Master Hunter," Gideon replied, "I am using specific criteria including how easy it will be for you to install what you will need to have me there also."
Rip smiled at her reassurance, "I would be lost without you, Gideon."
"I know."
x
Star Labs was full with the Legends and various members of certain crew members' families along with Team Flash. There was a lot of joking and good natured insults being bandied about. Rip was relieved that Jonas was out with Iris and Caitlin; he didn't need to hear some of the banter just yet. Jonas had been received several hugs goodbye from the Legends before he happily went with the two women.
In one corner Detective...Joe was standing talking to Sara and her father who had arrived last night to see his daughter off this time. Jax's mother and Clarissa Stein were with the two halves of Firestorm along with Mick Rory who, for some reason, Clarissa seemed to think was quite a character.
Lisa Snart was talking with Cisco and Wally, flirting lightly with Wally to Cisco's obvious annoyance. Finally Ray, Nate and Amaya were talking with Barry. Sara broke away from her conversation to where Rip stood staring in at the crowd.
"Have you got everything you need?" Sara asked him.
"A Parenting Guidebook that can predict everything would be helpful," Rip replied wryly, "But other than that I have the things I need. The Waverider is now yours, Sara."
She squeezed his arm, "I will take good care of her."
He nodded.
"The crew want to talk to you in private before we leave," Sara told him, "You up for that?"
To Rip's surprise the first person to appear in the lab he was using for private goodbyes was Mick Rory.
"Okay, Englishman," the former Bounty Hunter stated, "Here's the deal. I promised Snart that if anything happened to him then I'd watch over Lisa. Since I'm not going to be here then it's your job."
Rip nodded, "I promise I will do everything I can to help her."
"Good," Mick replied.
"Mr Rory," Rip said, "You're now the one with the specific knowledge of time travel within the team. Help them not to destroy time."
He offered his hand, keeping it extended as Mick looked at it for a few moments before taking Rip's hand and shaking it.
Without another word Mick walked out.
x
Nate and Amaya came in together and said a very quick goodbye because neither of them had spent as much time with Rip as the other members of the team.
x
Ray arrived next and shrugged, "I'm not sure what to say."
"How about 'I promise not to accidentally leave bits of my suit around history'?" Rip suggested with an amused smile.
"I did it once," Ray rolled his eyes before accusing, "You almost ruined Star Wars."
"Please tell me you haven't told Cisco that?" Rip asked with a wince, "That could make my current living situation extremely awkward."
Ray grinned, "I'm holding that piece of knowledge to myself until I can use it for something really good. Besides he might lock onto the fact that you went to film school with George Lucas."
Rip chuckled frowning confused when Ray handed him a piece of paper with two sets of numbers written on it, "What is this?"
"When I was back in Star City I set up a college fund for Jonas," Ray told him, "And another account for both of you to help you find a proper place to live."
"Ray..."
"I know you said you have resources," Ray cut him off, "But I have plenty of money which I don't use since I'm travelling through time and space."
"Don't most people still think you're dead?" Rip asked, mostly for a moment to get his mind around Ray's generosity.
Ray shrugged with a grin, "True but I still have money under Felicity Smoak's control, she was happy to set it up for me."
"Ray," Rip shook his head in bemusement, "I have no idea what to say."
The other man looked at him seriously, "We're taking your home, Rip. I want to make sure you get another one. Plus your boy is smart so he's going to need a good college."
Rip rubbed the bridge of his nose before offering his hand to the other man, "Take care, Ray."
Ray hugged the other man tightly, "You too, Rip."
x
"So," Jax walked in next, "My mom now knows about Jonas so I think he may have another adoptive grandmother."
Rip chuckled, "Okay."
Jax stared at him, seeing how unbalanced Rip was, "How're you doing?"
"Honestly, Jax I didn't think this would be so hard," Rip confessed.
Jax shrugged, "We're your friends. We may not always have been happy to be on the ship, or with you, but we've gone through a lot together."
Rip winced, "At first you, and the team, were a means to an end but I can honestly say I wouldn't be here without you all."
"Just make sure you remember that," Jax told him.
Rip nodded, "I did a full systems check and everything is in perfect working order. Sara is the Captain but as Chief Engineer you're the one who keeps the Waverider going. I've left some things in your room that may assist you."
Jax hugged him as well before clapping his shoulder and walking out. Rip rubbed his eyes he only had a few more goodbyes to get through and hoped he made it.
x
"Martin," he greeted the older man when he walked through the doors.
"Rip," he replied, "I heard Cisco telling Clarissa how they're trying to get you to understand family use first names. And I think it is something we should have adopted a long time ago ourselves."
Rip shrugged, "Perhaps."
"Clarissa has informed me that she has adopted you and Jonas," Martin chuckled, "So as my now adopted son I am going to remind you to let her and the others here to help you," he became a little more serious leaning against the table, "I know you have a mother but as she cannot know about Jonas then please accept Clarissa's offer to be in his life as a sort of grandmother."
Rip folded his arms, "It's been five days and I am well aware of how unprepared I am to raise Jonas, Martin. I am grateful for all the help I can get. And there is no one I can think of I would be more honoured to have as a father than you."
The two men embraced quickly and Rip wiped his eyes as Martin left the room.
x
"Come here," Sara ordered the moment she walked in and hugged Rip tightly. He was a little stunned by how tactile she had been with him since they'd found Jonas.
"Okay," she said letting him go and leaning on the desk, "I know it's been a bit of an emotional day for you so I won't make it any more difficult."
Rip chuckled wryly, "Good luck with that."
"Well," Sara smiled, "I don't think there is anything else I can say that hasn't been said already."
"Then let me," Rip said, "Thank you, Sara. For saving my life, for bringing me back from what Thawne made me into and for giving Jonas back to me. I told Jax I wouldn't be here without you all and I know for certain I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
Sara smiled, "You are a pain the ass, Hunter and you have a habit of keeping secrets as well as putting yourself in the firing line but I became fond of you."
"I'm touched," Rip replied sarcastically.
"My point, Rip," Sara laughed, "Is you need to make sure you're here when we come back to visit."
Rip looked away before asking, "How are you feeling now you've had the connection to Gideon for almost a day?"
"Beginning to understand you a little more," she rolled her eyes at the change of subject, "Gideon," she called to his Gideon, "Make sure you keep him in line for me."
Rip looked down at the avatar appearing from the disc on his wrist.
"I promise, Captain Lance," Gideon replied.
Sara laughed and hugged Rip once more, "Time to go."
Rip stood in the Star Labs car park watching the team as they headed onto the Waverider after the goodbyes to their loved ones. He thought back to the day he'd been given his ship, how excited he had been but making sure he didn't show it because that would be unbecoming of a Time Master.
He'd been surprised to be given a Gideon programme for his AI, since all his training AI's had been either a Gary or Gilbert. Druce had told him that only a certain kind of person could work with a Gideon AI and they knew he would be able to handle the challenges she would throw at him. Now though Rip wondered if Druce ever realised how big a mistake he'd made when he gave Rip to Gideon.
"Rip," Sara's voice came over the communicator, "Take care."
"You too," he whispered softly.
As the Waverider rose into the air Rip was surprised to feel someone place a hand on his shoulder. Glancing to one side he saw Cisco finding Barry on his other, grateful to have them with him as the Legends left. His eyes followed the Waverider until it had disappeared standing staring at the empty sky hearing everyone head back inside.
x
"Daddy," Jonas' cry pulled him away from staring after what wasn't coming back and he caught his son when he ran towards him.
"Did you have a good walk?" Rip asked smiling his thanks to Iris and Caitlin.
Jonas nodded, "Yes."
Rip looked at the little boy he was holding in his arms and knew he had made the right choice.
"Let's spend the rest of the day having fun," Rip told him.
Jonas threw his arms around Rip's neck in a hug as Rip turned away from where the Waverider had been.
He had his son and Jonas was all he needed.
