Author's Note: So this is going to have at least one more chapter.
Enjoy
Winn spotted Kara, motioning her over to where he and Cisco were setting up times for Cisco to come back to the DEO and Winn to travel to Star Labs. Ostensibly to discuss and work on some of the ideas they'd had for security, tracking aliens/metas they'd had during the past few days. If they could get a few gaming marathons in as well that was just good luck.
"It's a shame you have to go so soon," Kara said to Cisco moving to hug him, "I barely saw you."
He accepted the hug laughing, "I'll be back in a couple of days with Eve Baxter, maybe we can have lunch."
Pulling back Kara swapped a look with Winn who spoke up, "We have something we need you to do for us."
Intrigued Cisco waited.
"Rip," Winn said, "We know back on your Earth the Time Bureau had him under arrest and he was hiding from them before he came here."
"We're worried that they'll try and come take him back," Kara said, "So, we were hoping you could do something to make sure they have no idea he's here."
Cisco grimaced in thought.
"Rip is one of us," Kara continued, "And we won't take kindly to anyone trying to take him."
"I think," Cisco started slowly, "I have an idea. I'll be back as fast as I can. Stall."
Opening a breach, he headed back to Star Labs to see if his idea was feasible.
Gideon was sitting up in her bed in the infirmary, the baby held close as she stared down at him adoringly. Rip stood just outside the room where she couldn't see him, but he could see them and knew that the next few hours would be hard. For both of them.
Taking a slow deep breath Rip stepped into the room, smiling when Gideon looked up at him with a bright smile.
"He is beautiful," she whispered, "So perfect and tiny."
Moving to her side, Rip nodded, "He is."
"Dr Elgin told me that his people will be here to take him home soon," Gideon said, her voice thick, "I just wish to hold him until we have to say goodbye."
Rip sat on the bed, Gideon shifted to lean against him, and he wrapped his arm around her resting his hand on the baby's back.
"What are you thinking?" Rip asked softly.
Cuddling against him, Gideon sighed, "I am going to miss him. He was never ours to keep but…"
"I know," Rip tightened his arms around her. He decided to give her some good news, "I was speaking to Eve while waiting for Cisco and Winn to finish talking."
Gideon frowned, "I have not had a chance to thank her for bringing Gilbert. Have they left yet? Can I talk to her?"
"From what I know they've left but," he quickly continued, "J'Onn has agreed that Eve and Gilbert can stay here."
"What?"
Rip smiled at her, "Eve asked to stay." He frowned when he saw her tears fall, "Gideon, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she sniffed, "I had not realised how much I missed Gilbert and my other siblings until I saw him again. And Captain Baxter is your good friend, isn't she?"
"I don't think she saw it like that," Rip chuckled, "More I was constantly annoying her as I didn't have you to keep me in line. But without you there I trusted her above everyone."
Gideon pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, "Now you can repay her kindness and make her welcome here."
x
"Hi," a knock came with the greeting just before Cisco appeared in the doorway, "Can I come in?"
"Of course, Mr Ramon, You're always welcome," Rip told him, "I didn't realise you were still here."
Cisco moved over to their side and smiled down at the little boy before looking up at them, "We're ready to leave but I wanted to check in before we did. Technically as I created half your code, it makes me one of your dads, Gideon."
Gideon smiled at him, "Thank you for all your help," she rested head against Rip's, "We appreciate all you've done for us."
"Winn and Kara were talking with me," Cisco continued, "They're both concerned about the Time Bureau coming after Rip."
"Sara promised me that she would keep Rip's presence here a secret," Gideon stated.
Rip grimaced slightly, "I might have ruined that."
"What did you do?" Gideon frowned at him.
"It doesn't matter," Cisco interrupted, "I've already been back to Star Labs and the moment we're through Barry is going to hit Sara, Ava and Lowell with the memory wiper. I've modified it so it won't remove the memory. It will basically alter your identities and of course some of the more specific events that happened while they were here."
Rip stared at him, "Why?"
"Rip," Gideon scolded.
"I get it," Cisco said, "We don't know each other, so why would I help you?" he shrugged, "I'm not really, I'm doing it for Kara. She made it very clear that if anyone from our world tried to take you back, Rip then she would not take kindly to it."
Gideon nodded, "Kara loves Rip like a brother."
"Anyway," Cisco continued seeing Rip's discomfort at the declaration, "I really don't want to end up in the middle a fight between Supergirl and the Bureau."
Gideon reached out and caught Cisco's hand in hers, "I am more grateful than you know that you are protecting us."
Cisco shrugged again, "Well, as I said I am basically your dad. It's my way of giving my blessing. Barry's given his too."
Gideon smiled at him.
Rip kissed her temple softly, "I'm going to walk Cisco out."
She nodded and turned her attention back to the baby in her arms as Rip slid off the bed following Cisco out the room.
"If this is something that will cause trouble for you and the Star Labs team…" Rip started only to be cut off.
"It won't," Cisco assured him, "We know what we're doing and, as much as we get on with the Legends, the Bureau are a bit of a pain." He grimaced remembering Rip had founded them so added, "No offence."
"None taken," Rip replied with a shrug, "A bit of a pain is a complete understatement."
"If you want a normal life," Cisco told him, "You should have it. I know why you recruited the Legends, why you created the Bureau. If I were you, I would have barely been functioning if I'd lost all you had."
Rip let out a soft sigh, "Who says I was functioning?"
Cisco offered his hand, smiling when Rip shook it, "Take care of all of them, Rip and I'll see you soon."
A few hours had passed since their visitors from the other Earth had left and now Alex stood waiting to greet their next visitor. The small ship decloaked as it landed at the DEO's base outside the city.
Alex stood to attention as the door opened and a tall slim woman walked down the ramp towards her. She looked human but as she moved closer Alex could feel the heat generated by her.
"Ambassador Sola'ar," Alex gave her a gentle nod, "Welcome to Earth. I'm Agent Danvers, if you come with me then I'll escort you to our main facility."
"My thanks," Sola'ar said softly as she walked with Alex to the car, "I am looking forward to meeting the child. It is a wonderful moment when a child returns to us."
Alex nodded, "Of course."
Sola'ar smiled, "He is more than a lost member of our people. His mother was my sister and I am looking forward to not only welcoming my nephew, but also thanking the people who cared for him."
"They are wonderful people," Alex told her, fondness filling her voice, "Who love him dearly. It will be difficult for them to say goodbye to him."
Sola'ar smiled once more, "It means they were truly the right choice to protect my nephew."
x
Rip could feel Gideon was trying not to cry, when they were told Alex had returned with the Blazner Ambassador. They were going have to say goodbye to the little boy soon.
A soft knock on the door made Rip look up to where Alex stood, she raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Rip pressed a kiss to Gideon's temple, "It's time."
She nodded taking a deep breath, her eyes never leaving the baby.
"Please come in, Alex," Rip took over, his arms tightening around Gideon.
Alex entered the room with a dark-haired woman, and the child in Gideon's arms instantly reacted to her presence. Rip smiled feeling the joy flowing between the boy and ambassador as she moved closer to him.
"Ambassador Sola'ar," Alex introduced, "This is Gideon and Rip."
"I have no words to thank you both," Sola'ar said as she moved to them, "What you did for my sister is something I can never repay. Accepting her child when she was unable to carry him to term herself is something incredible not many would agree to."
Rip was about to argue that Gideon hadn't agreed before he realised that of course she had. The Blazner's were telepathic and Gideon's function as an AI was always to protect, of course she would have agreed to protect the child without even realising she had.
"He gave me a great deal also," Gideon managed to say, "I am sure you can understand that saying goodbye to him is hard."
Sola'ar nodded, "He loves you both a great deal. I can sense his reluctance to leave but unfortunately as he grows this world will not be able to teach him how to control the gifts he has."
Gideon nodded, tears sliding along her cheeks.
"What name did you give him?" Sola'ar asked.
"We didn't name him," Rip answered, "It didn't seem appropriate for us to do so."
Sola'ar smiled softly, "He shall be given a name from his people, but it is our tradition that he be given a name from his surrogate family."
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Gideon spoke up, "I know what I would like to name him."
"You do?" Rip asked in surprise.
She nodded, "If you agree, then I want to give him the name Michael Jonas Hunter."
Closing his eyes, Rip nodded in agreement unable to speak at that moment.
"May I ask the significance?" Sola'ar requested.
Rip swallowed past the lump in his throat, "Michael is the name I grew up with, Hunter is the surname I chose and Jonas…" he took a breath, "Jonas was the name of my son. I lost him many years ago."
Sola'ar rested her hand on Rip's hand, "Names in my culture have great meaning, giving Michael not only your name but the name of someone so dear to you will let him know how special he is to you both."
Gideon whispered, "He is."
"I wish I could give you longer to be together," Sola'ar told them, "But it is imperative I take Michael home, or he will become ill."
"Can you give us a few moments to say goodbye to him?" Rip asked softly.
Sola'ar nodded, "Of course."
"I'll get the car seat," Alex told them, leading the alien woman out of the room.
x
Gideon, unable to hold her tears back, buried her face against Rip's shoulder when he hugged her.
"I know," he breathed, "I know, Gideon but we have to let him go."
"He was never ours to keep," Gideon cried, "I've always known but I didn't realise how hard this would be."
Rip hugged her close, "We have to say goodbye."
Gideon's tears were falling freely as she pressed a kiss to the baby's forehead, "You are always welcome here with us. I know that you will grow into someone we and your true mother will be proud of. We love you and always will."
Rip kissed the baby's forehead before silently taking the child into his arms knowing Gideon couldn't give the child to anyone else. Walking to the door he nodded to Alex who brought the car seat over. Cooing to the child Rip gently settled the boy into the carrier.
"Goodbye, Michael Jonas Hunter," Rip whispered, "You will always be part of our family and if you need anything then you can always come to us."
Sola'ar lifted the carrier, "Thank you again."
Nodding Rip turned back to Gideon, sitting back on the bed he wrapped her in his arms holding her as she cried. Once they were completely alone, Rip allowed his own tears to fall and mingle with hers.