Mick wanted to be the one to go kidnap baby Len, but he got stuck going after Stein instead. He was curious as to what Len was like as a baby. He was hoping it would give him a little insight into what their baby would be like. But, alas, it wasn't to be. Though, there was no reason he couldn't sneak a peek before going after Stein. Meeting Kendra and Sara outside the ship, Mick looked at the tiny bundle in Kendra's arms.
"We got him." she said. Mick rolled his eyes.
"I can see that." Sara smiled.
"Wanna hold him?" she asked. Mick didn't know what to say, so he just nodded. Kendra came up to him and placed baby Len in his arms. He was so tiny. Those big, blue eyes and chubby cheeks... Mick just stared for a moment before bringing an hand up and running a finger down the side of the infant's face. This caused baby Len to light up and giggle. Mick's heart melted at the sight. Was this what it would be like to have his own child? Snapping out of his reverie, Mick looked up to see Kendra and Sara smiling at him. Clearing his throat as a light red color rose in his cheeks, Mick turned and headed toward the hatch of the ship. Opening the door, he was greeted by his younger self and young Sara.
"Is that a baby?" young Sara asked.
"Yes. And, you guys are in charge of him." older Sara responded.
"Wait, I-"
"Made five grand last summer babysitting. You'll be fine." Sara turned to leave and, reluctantly, Mick handed the baby over to his younger self.
"No, I don't do babies." he said, not wanting to take him. Kendra looked on from behind Mick.
"You do now." she said. "Think of it as a thank you for saving your life." Once young Mick was holding baby Len, Mick turned to leave. Thinking of one more thing that needed to be said, he turned back around.
"And, you better not drop my future criminal partner." he said, stern look on his face. "Otherwise, you're in trouble. Comprende?" he growled slightly before finally leaving, his younger self glaring after him.
~x~x~x~
Mick found Len sitting at the table in the kitchen area eating something or other. He walked in and sat across from him.
"I got to hold you as a baby." he said. Len looked up from eating, a light in his eyes that hadn't been there in a while.
"Really?" he asked. "What was it like?"
"Surreal. I was thinking that, maybe that's what it would be like once our kid was born." Len smiled a genuine smile.
"Are you telling me you're ready to be a father?" Mick blushed slightly. Len was causing him to do that more and more lately.
"Maybe." he said cryptically. Len laughed. After a moment of sitting in silence, Rip appeared in the doorway.
"Mr. Rory, we're ready to go get Professor Stein." he said, disappearing once more. Mick sighed.
"Coming."
~x~x~x~
After gathering all the children, the team set off for their new destination.
"We're here." Rip said, moving from the bridge once the Waverider had been set down.
"Where is here?" Len asked. He was skeptical that Rip's plan was going to work. Where were they where the Pilgrim couldn't find them?
"C'mon, I'll show you." Rip said as he walked. Everyone followed the captain's lead and left the ship. What they saw outside was a quaint little house, complete with gardens and flowers. It looked like it had been ripped from the pages of a storybook. Len admired the beauty, but was also getting agitated with Rip's non-answers.
"Again, where is here." He wasn't just trying to be a pain, he was concerned about the safety of everyone. Could the inhabitants of this house truly be trusted?
"We need a safe harbor to keep your younger selves." Just when Len was about to go off on Rip for yet another non-answer, an older woman emerged from the house. She looked like the motherly type, sweet, but stern.
There were children everywhere, of all ages. According to Rip, they were all orphans. Len looked on as the little ones ran about and played. He felt nostalgia. He used to watch Lisa and her friends run around like that when she was little. What would it be like to have his own kid? For Mick and himself to form a little family with the child growing inside of him? Len was pulled from his thoughts when Rip began speaking. Once Rip and and his adopted mother filled them in on what this place was, the team gave their thanks. Instead of saying thank you outright, Len drawled out his own version.
"Look, I know I make a gorgeous baby, but I should warn you, you've got your hands full with me." Rip's mother just smiled.
"I assure you, you're not the first tough case to arrive at my door." she said with a secretive, but amused look at Rip. After she left, Len looked around the room, wondering where Mick had gotten off to. Deciding to go look for him, he got up and walked into the hall. There, he found young Mick, unshed tears in his eyes.
"What's the matter?" he asked softly. Mick straightened and sniffed.
"Nothing, why?" he asked. Len just smirked.
"Because I know you, kid. You look like you're about to cry, now, what's wrong?" Mick looked at Len, gaze calculating. He was trying to figure the older man out.
"Who is that guy? The muscle-head?" Len chuckled slightly at that.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't like him. I didn't think you did, either. The way you reacted when he walked in your room showed me that." Len walked closer to the younger version of his...partner? Friend? Lover? What could he call Mick? Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts, Len looked down at the young man.
"It's not that I don't like him. We just had a slight tiff, that's all. Things are all better now."
"How can you stand to be friends with a guy like that?"
"Oh, we go way back. We've known each other for a long time. You learn to accept people's faults when you truly like them." Young Mick's eyes widened.
"You like him?" he asked. Len sighed.
"Please don't hit me with the 'like like' crap. You're not a fourteen year old girl."
"Hey!" came a voice from behind Len. He turned around and saw young Sara standing there.
"What? Did I hurt your feelings?" he joked. She just glared.
"Keep it up and I'll hurt more than your feelings." she threatened, walking over to the two of them. Mick snickered.
"I like you." he said. "You've got spunk." Len rolled his eyes at the two.
"Great, now you're ganging up on me." he said dramatically.
~x~x~x~
When everyone was back on the ship, the Waverider took off. When it was safe to remove their harnesses, Len went to talk to Mick, who was still seated.
"What'd you say to him?" he asked. Mick looked confused for a moment.
"Say to who?" he asked. Len huffed.
"Your younger self. He seemed upset."
"When did you talk to him?" Mick eyed Len.
"When I went looking for you. I found him instead. Now, what did you say to upset him?"
"I just...I mean..." Mick sighed. "I got after him about the fire. About my family." Len put a hand on Mick's broad shoulder.
"It was an accident, Mick. You've got to forgive yourself." Mick looked at him.
"How can someone forgive themselves for killing their entire family?" A sadness passed through Len's eyes. He knew this was something Mick had struggled with for a long time. It was difficult to see someone that you...loved...in so much pain. Len's eyes widened slightly. Did he love Mick? Looking down at the broken man before him he decided right then and there that, yes, he did love Mick. Len leaned down, hugging Mick and placing a gentle kiss on his temple, not giving a damn about what the rest of the team thought.