Disclaimer: I own nothing. All belongs to Timeless and ABC.

Late Night Musings

Flynn-

Unbeknownst to Lucy, Flynn did wake up when she'd turned over, but when she stayed silent and still, he decided to pretend to still be sleeping. She clearly had something on her mind, and Flynn would leave her to her thoughts. If she wanted to talk or other things, then she would let him know. Well, maybe this Lucy wouldn't. The one from the journal would, he knew that much. Over the next couple of years Lucy would be put through so much shit and so much heartbreak she eventually adopted the personality of a battle-hardened soldier, unafraid to say what she thought, or care how it would come across.

Flynn truly hoped Lucy wouldn't become the hard, bitter woman from the latter chapters of her journal. He knew he shouldn't interfere too much with the progression of the future, but damn, if he didn't want to stop some of the more terrible things that were going to happen to her. If he could get away with killing that bitch of a woman who called herself Lucy's mother, he would in a heartbeat. But it was too soon, and Lucy would never understand. Even if he made sure she would never find out it was him, he would still feel too much guilt. Certainly not for the sake of Carol Preston, she more than deserved an extremely slow, painful death, but for the heartache it would cause Lucy now.

There had been several nights of late, especially after having more and more contact with Lucy, that he spent dreaming of ways to change the future. His heart ached for her as he thought of all the awful situations which awaited her. And it wasn't just Carol he'd gladly take care of. Wyatt Logan was another one Flynn wished he could keep from hurting Lucy, although he understood the why, and Logan's perspective, it still hurt Lucy. Flynn knew it didn't make sense that he wanted to protect Lucy so much, but he did. The more time that went on, especially after tonight, the more dear she became to him. At first, Lucy was a means to an end; getting his family back. It was no longer that simple. He tried not to think about it too often however, as it only clouded his mind and distracted him from his goals.

Lost in his own thoughts, Flynn didn't notice Lucy had moved until her fingertips ran lightly down the side of his face. Not moving, he waited to see what her next move would be. He was honestly disappointed she did nothing else, but he had to remember that this Lucy didn't have much confidence in herself. He didn't want to make her feel more self-conscious so he decided a little humor was the best course of action. "You shouldn't tease a man like that, Lucy," he said, voice low, feigning as if he'd just woken.

"Oh, I—I thought you were still asleep," she said hesitantly.

"Obviously." Flynn opened his eyes to see hers already open. She had a look that suggested she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't have. He almost laughed at how adorable she was. Instead he said, "Have you been awake long?" He knew the answer, but he was curious what she would say.

"No, not really." That was true, it really hadn't been a very long time. At least, he didn't think she'd been up long.

"And what have you been doing?"

"Just thinking." Flynn waited to see if Lucy would elaborate. She didn't.

"Thinking about what?"

"Just...things." Lucy didn't quite pull off the air of nonchalance Flynn was sure she'd been aiming for. He smiled, she really couldn't lie all that well. Not yet, at least. His smile died at that thought.

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Maybe he could help if there was something weighing on her mind, if he could get her to talk to him.

"Not really." There was a pause. Suddenly Lucy grabbed his arm in alarm, startling Flynn. "Oh, my god!"

"What is it?" He asked. What's wrong?!

"I just—thought of—what if—" Lucy began to stumble over her words.

"Thought of what?" What on earth could have her so alarmed and flustered?

"When I came back from that first trip and things were—different, do you think that affected my...my birth control?" Flynn could see in the moonlight that Lucy flushed absolutely scarlet. "What if it did? That means that we—there wasn't any protection. And we—oh—oh, my god." She closed her eyes, panic lacing every word.

Flynn had to admit that she had a point. He couldn't believe that for a man of his age and experience, the last thing on his mind had been protection. Just like some too eager teenager, he thought, chastising himself. Then the rational part of his brain kicked in and his only thought was to calm Lucy. "What kind of birth control were you on?" he asked.

"It was an IUD. I had it implanted a couple of years ago at my mother's insistence. She said the last thing I needed at the time was an unplanned pregnancy since I was on track for tenure, as if there'd been so many opportunities to get pregnant in the first place." She said the last words in a wry tone.

Flynn was momentarily angry with Carol Preston again. He hated how much control she exerted over Lucy, but Lucy also allowed her to. She was so brow beaten though, that it was easier for Lucy to go along with her than to fight against Carol's wishes. That wasn't the issue right now, however. "Do you think you don't have it anymore? Because of the changes?" he asked.

"Well, yes and no." She was quiet a few moments so Flynn let her gather her thoughts. "I wonder if maybe mom didn't insist on the IUD since I woud've been with Noah at the time I had it placed. Maybe she, or I, that still makes my head hurt sometimes, wanted a family sooner rather than later so I didn't get it." Sensible Lucy was beginning to reappear. "But I wonder if any of that matters at all though."

Flynn didn't understand. "How do you mean?"

"Well," she began in what Flynn recognized as her "lecture" voice, "I had my locket with Amy's picture still in it, the only one in existence now, when we came back from 1937. Mason said it was because we were traveling through time when the changes took place to erase Amy, so it was somehow protected. I don't remember the exact words he used or called the theory, and I didn't understand his explanation all that well. A scientist I am not," she laughed a little at that.

"Okay, so what does that mean?" Flynn wasn't sure how that applied yet.

"So I came home engaged, right?" she asked.

"Right." Flynn answered, hating she was engaged to that jackass doctor.

"Before we left for Vegas, Noah gave me the ring. I told him I must've taken it off and forgotten about it, when really I'd never physically had the ring to begin with."

"And...?"

"Before the first trip, I wasn't engaged and I had the IUD. I came back engaged, but I didn't have the ring." It finally clicked for Flynn what she was trying say.

"So you think that since you were in the Lifeboat when those changes took place as well, and you weren't given the ring until you came back, your body is the original, so to speak, and you do have the device." God, this woman is brilliant, Flynn thought.

"Yes, exactly." Lucy said with the pride of a professor when a student grasped what she was teaching. Flynn smiled at her, which Lucy returned.

"Now that that's no longer a worrisome thought, do you think you can go back to sleep? We still have a few hours before we need to be up."

"Yes, I think that's a good idea." Lucy leaned forward and pecked him on the lips. Flynn wanted to kiss her again, thinking, To hell with more sleep, but Lucy turned away from him. He was surprised when she snuggled her back against him, and then reached for his hand, pulling until his arm was wrapped around her. She held onto his hand, nestling it just under her soft breasts. Flynn settled himself more comfortably around her. The top of Lucy's head was level with his chin, so he rested against her. He inhaled the scent of her shampoo and her subtle perfume, letting them surround him, and was soon fast asleep once more.