Beeping around him was the first thing Rip became aware of. Groaning he forced his eyes open finding Alex looking down on him concern in her eyes.
"Here," she placed a straw to his lips allowing him to sip some water.
"Thank you," Rip murmured, "What happened? Where's Gideon?"
Alex pulled a chair over beside him and took a seat at his side, "Gideon is sleeping in the room next to you."
"Is she okay?" he demanded, trying to get his brain working again.
Alex bit her lip, "She's resting. There's some things I need to tell you but, before I do, I need you to tell me what you remember about last night."
Letting out a sigh Rip frowned in thought finally saying, "I finished working on the power source quite late and went home. Gideon was lying on the couch, she wasn't feeling well."
"And then?" Alex asked looking extremely uncomfortable having this conversation.
Rip grimaced, his brain was filled with fog, "I was going to call you for help but she wouldn't let me leave."
He paused and Alex offered him some more water which Rip took thankfully.
"I don't really remember what happened," Rip grimaced, "I remember heat. It was warm, Gideon was burning up, her lips..." he trailed off his eyes widening in shock the memory hit him, "Oh God, what did I do?"
"Calm down," Alex told him, "I needed you to remember before I told you what's happening."
He covered his eyes with his hands, "Tell me it's not real and I didn't..."
"Rip, I need you to focus," Alex said softly, "Yesterday Gideon and I were studying the ship that was brought in. We've now discovered there was an alien trapped in it. Have you ever heard of Blazners?"
Rip shook his head.
"J'onn has confirmed they are a benign people," Alex assured him, "Unless directly threatened. They help create a natural balance within the universe."
"What does this have to do with anything?"
"The Blazner we've discovered was pregnant but dying," Alex continued slowly, "The mother needed a host to protect the child until it's ready to be born. She chose Gideon as the surrogate."
"What?"
Alex held up her hand to calm him, "There's more."
"What else can there be after Gideon has an alien parasite feeding off her?" Rip demanded angrily.
"The Blazner is the reason you and Gideon," she winced before finishing, "Slept together. In very basic terms Gideon is pregnant and the child needed a father, someone who will protect both above all others. It created a psychic and physiological bond between you and Gideon. That's why you were exhausted this morning and why it took some time for you to remember. The bonding, to use J'onn's term, consumed all your energy."
x
Rip sat at Gideon's side holding her hand waiting for her to wake up. Guilt was gnawing at him for what had happened, what he'd done the night before but he needed to make sure she was alright.
A soft sigh came from Gideon letting him know she was waking up.
"Hey," Rip breathed, "You're okay. You're safe."
"Captain?" she sighed, her eyes fluttering open.
Relief filled him, "How do you feel?"
"Strange," Gideon breathed softly, "And cold."
"What do you remember about yesterday?" Rip asked gently, fixing the blankets around her tighter before sliding his fingers through her hair comforting.
She let out another soft sigh as she tried to think back, "I was helping Alex and…" she trailed off for a few moments, "I remember heat. I became so warm and felt tired so I went home."
"Then?" Rip asked, not wanting her to remember because he didn't want to lose her but he knew he had no choice.
A smile touched her lips, "You came home and…" she trailed off her cheeks flushing suddenly,
"I am so sorry, Gideon," he whispered, "I shouldn't have let…"
He was cut off when Gideon kissed him, Rip knew he should end it the moment it started but couldn't. He couldn't help but give in to Gideon's soft lips and gentle caresses. When they broke apart he let out a soft breath, seeing Gideon smile at him.
"It happened because I wanted to be with you," she told him, "I have always wanted you, Rip. Please tell me that you want the same."
"I do, Gideon," he whispered, "But you deserve so much better than me."
She rolled her eyes at him, "But I want you, Rip. And you know I usually get what I want. Why do you think you were given the Waverider in the first place?"
"Gideon…"
"I wanted you then," Gideon told him, "And I want you now."
Rip rested his forehead against hers, "I want you too. I'm sorry I've never told you before but I was…after losing Miranda I didn't know if I could dare love anyone again. Even you."
"And now?" she whispered.
Taking a deep breath Rip told her, "I love you."
Gideon smiled at him, "I love you too, my dear Captain."
Rip kissed her before sighing, "There's more to tell you."
"As long as you are with me," she breathed, "Nothing is so terrible."
Hoping she still thought that once he explained Rip proceeded to give her the details of their current predicament.
x
Alex took the seat beside Gideon's bed as the other woman stared at the ultrasound video she had playing on a loop. Watching the small alien child that was growing inside her.
"You know it's not going to change," Alex noted, checking the readouts beside the bed, "No matter how often you watch it."
Gideon shook her head, "It is something I never expected, even now being human."
"J'onn assures us that the baby will not harm you at all. I'm sorry this is not the way it should happen," Alex took her hand, "On the bright side Rip is not being an idiot anymore and admitting how he feels for you."
A shy smile touched Gideon's lips making Alex laugh.
"And I've known how you've felt for him from the moment he arrived," Alex said, squeezing Gideon's hand she added, "Before he arrived actually."
Taking a breath Gideon nodded decisively, "It will be an experience. One that I want to have and enjoy."
Alex chuckled, "That's the right attitude."
"But can you turn the heat up," Gideon sighed, "Please."
With a frown Alex checked the readouts again, "The temperature is the same as it always is."
Gideon shook her head, "I feel cold."
Alex grimaced, "I've raised the temperature a little. How does that feel?"
After a few moments Gideon nodded, "Slightly better."
It took several more tries to find a comfortable temperature for Gideon by which time Alex was getting worried and Gideon was yawning.
"Your body is adjusting to it's new situation so we'll have to run some tests. But those can wait," Alex told her, "I want you to get some sleep. Okay?"
Gideon nodded, her eyes already closing and she was soon sleeping.
Rip opened the door to the apartment finding Alex standing there, "Welcome to the sauna."
He saw Alex let out a breath of astonishment at the heat hitting her before frowning at the amused look she gave him.
"You own shorts?" she chuckled.
Rip rolled his eyes, letting her in the apartment, "Try living here then you can mock my clothing."
Alex chuckled, "Where's Gideon?"
"Kitchen, having something to eat," Rip replied, "Her appetite has grown considerably since…"
"She's now pregnant," Alex said bluntly, "Rip, you're going to have to say it eventually."
Shaking his head he led her to where Gideon was sitting reading a book on pregnancy while eating a bowl of fruit. Despite the unusual situation Gideon was positively glowing with happiness.
"Alex," she smiled in greeting seeing her friend, "What are you doing here?"
"I have your test results," Alex told her, "Thought you would want them straight away."
Gideon put her book down and nodded, taking Rip's hand when he sat at her side.
"Okay," Alex grabbed the nearest seat, after removing her jacket wishing she was wearing a much lighter top, "You are perfectly healthy, Gideon. The child is healthy as well. However to accommodate the child's physiology your body is now running a little warmer than before, which is why you need the heat."
"A little warmer?" Rip laughed, wincing when Gideon elbowed him, "It's sweltering in here. I sleep with no covers on because you radiate heat."
Alex chuckled, "You've already noticed your appetite has increased, just make sure you eat healthily."
"Rip is making sure of that already," Gideon replied, her head resting against his shoulder.
"Chocolate cookies are not a breakfast food," Rip reminded her with a fond smile, pulling her closer.
Alex smiled at them, "I know this this will drive you crazy, but you now have an appointment every Monday with the doctor to keep up with how you are. Anything happens then you need to tell us instantly. No pretending you're fine when you're not."
"I believe that is Rip's trick," Gideon teased before nodding, "I promise, Alex."
x
Gideon smiled as she and Rip walked along the streets, her arm through his enjoying the change to their relationship. It had only been a few days since Rip had told her how he felt and everything, so far, was going well despite the strange alien surrogate pregnancy.
"Are you sure you want to go out for lunch?" Rip asked, as they neared the small café. It was one he'd found during his first few weeks within this world when he would just walk.
Gideon smiled at his concern, "I am perfectly healthy, Rip. The doctors have confirmed this so lunch outside the apartment is allowed."
"As long as you're sure," Rip said, smiling when she stopped them walking and stretched up to kiss him, "Okay, you're sure."
Starting them walking again Gideon enjoyed the warmth of the sun. Letting Rip take the lead to get them a table she took a deep breath of the flowers surrounding the entrance way. She had noticed that her sense of smell had increased considerably, not quite sure if it was due to the pregnancy or the fact it wasn't a normal one.
"Gideon," Rip brought her attention back to him taking her hand again to lead her to their table.
They ordered their meal and Gideon turned to her Captain thoughtfully.
"What?" Rip asked.
"Do you ever think about trying to return to our world?" she asked softly.
Rip shook his head, "Why would I?"
Gideon frowned slightly at his reply.
"I had nothing left there," Rip reminded her, "Everything was taken by people I trusted. There is one person I wanted to know I'm okay and I sent her a message when I was working on the Phoenix."
Intrigued, and slightly annoyed he'd never told her this before, Gideon asked, "Who?"
"Eve Baxter," Rip shrugged, "She was the only person who understood how hard it was for me that you weren't there while I built the Bureau. The only one who understood the pain our separation caused."
Gideon reached out to take his hand, "You know I would have been with you…"
"I know," he stopped her, "But Gideon, you're here so there is nothing in that world for me."
She nodded.
"Do you miss them?" Rip asked suddenly.
"Sometimes," she confessed, "They may not have treated me the way you did but I do think of them sometimes."
Rip sighed, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she smiled, "I have you and back there, the way things were going, that was not going to happen again unless something dramatic changed. I have also made friends here with people I love and would never give up."
x
Rip wrapped his arm around Gideon as they went for a walk after lunch.
"Before you say anything," she spoke up as they strolled, "I am going back to work tomorrow. I am not sitting around the apartment for the next few months."
He frowned but knew it was impossible to argue against her in this matter. "As long as you promise to take things easy and let any of us know if you're not feeling well."
"Of course, Captain," she chuckled, smiling when he leaned in to kiss her.
"I hate to break this up," an unknown voice said making them turn to find a man with a gun aimed at them, "So give me your money and you can go back to your moment."
Rip instantly pushed Gideon behind him, frowning in annoyance that he had no weapons.
"Oh and I'll take the necklace too," the man said pointing his gun at Gideon whose hand instantly went to the pendant sitting at her throat.
Rip made a grab for the gun, catching the other man off guard but didn't count on a second man who slammed into Rip's back throwing him against the wall.
Seeing the gun suddenly aimed at Rip, Gideon let out a cry.
"No!" she screamed, flames erupting from her hands streaming towards their attackers.
The two men ran.
Gideon stared at her hands for a second before her knees buckled and she collapsed, Rip barely managing to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Okay," he breathed, holding her close, "I think we've found something we might want to tell the others."