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Chapter Text

Gideon walked into the medical bay and stared at the boy lying unconscious on the medical couch. He was thin and pale under the dirt; his clothes were rags and the small dagger he had kept in his left boot was on the shelf under a forcefield.

He had snuck onto the ship sometime during their last mission and had been found because he was trying to force the doors open to get off the ship.

“You must return him,” Gideon stated to Sara who was reading the scans on the boy readying the system to heal him.

Confused the blonde turned to her, “Why?”

Grimacing, Gideon wished the other woman would, for once, just do as she was told by someone who knew more than she did without asking pointless questions.

“Please just trust me,” Gideon pleaded, “The boy must be returned to his place in history or everything you know will unravel.”

Sara folded her arms stubbornly, “Gideon, he is ten years old and so sick that he’ll not survive long unless we do something.”

“I know,” Gideon stated softly, “But he has a place in history that cannot be tampered with. It is imperative that you return him.”

Sara shook her head, “I’m sorry, Gideon but until you can give me a real reason then I won’t abandon this kid to the streets.”

Sighing Gideon gave in, “That little boy will one day become Rip Hunter. He is intrinsically connected to your and everyone on this ship’s timeline. You must return him.”

Nate frowned as he looked down at the boy, Sara had called the team down to discuss the information Gideon had given on the child’s identity.

“It’s hard to believe that this is Hunter as a kid,” Nate mused, “Part of me always thought he just emerged fully grown and irritating.”

“Well, we saw him when we went to the Refuge,” Ray noted, “And now I’m looking properly, I recognise it is him as a kid.”

Sara rolled her eyes at him, “The reason I wanted to talk to you is because I thought we should discuss what we do with him.”

“What do you mean?” Ava asked.

Sara turned to her girlfriend, “Gideon wants us to return him to where he came from where the Time Masters will pick him up. But I think we should give him another chance. Place him somewhere safe so he can grow up to have a better life than the one he had.”

“Sounds like the best thing,” Zari mused, before turning to Gideon confused, “Why would you not want that for him? I thought you two were close.”

Gideon shook her head, “Of course I want that for him. Rip deserved so much better in his life than he got, but if you change the fate of this child, then everything changes. Not just for him but every one of you. You have to understand that.”

“Zari has hacked history before,” Sara reminded her, “We can work it so that putting him somewhere safe won’t harm us.”

Sighing as Zari and the others all nodded in agreement, Gideon grimaced, “I will not help with this.”

“We don’t need your help,” Ava told her.

“This will not end well for you,” Gideon stated, “Trust me on that.”

She looked down at the child lying on the couch, stroking his hair affectionately before walking out leaving the rest of the Legends watching her.

Sara checked the scans making sure that all the damage to the little boy’s lungs had been reversed and he was completely healthy, gave him a dose of the amnesia pill before she nodded to Ray. Ray gently lifted the little boy into his arms, and they walked off the camouflaged ship into the children’s home. Zari had contacted the home pretending to be the police and telling them they’d found a child with nowhere to go. It was decided that the 1980s was the best place to place him, the systems allowed them to insert him without too much background required.

Gideon had disappeared, refusing to help them at all. Sara had ensured that the former AI couldn’t remove the boy from the medical bay by having one of the team there at all times as a guard. She could access the Waverider systems as she was still connected to them but wouldn’t be able to take any of them on physically. In fact this was the first time she’d gone against Sara’s orders since she’d become human.

Despite not talking to any of them Sara had spotted Gideon sitting with the boy every so often, comforting him the few times he’d been sleeping and not under sedation with stories or singing to him.

They handed the boy over to the woman in charge of the home who assured them that the little boy would be looked after and left the child, who would no longer become Rip Hunter, in a safe place.

Stepping back onto the Waverider, Sara frowned when she came face to face with Gideon.

“I beg you to reconsider,” Gideon said softly, “You are about to change things in ways you cannot even comprehend. And the moment you enter the time stream, it will be too late to change it.”

“We’ve considered everything,” Sara replied, “I know you’re nervous about this, but Zari and Ava know what they’re doing.”

Gideon shook her head and sighed, “You are a fool followed by fools.”

Without another word Gideon walked away.

Sara grimaced calling after her, “We’re about to leave. You’ll need to strap in.”

Gideon ignored her and disappeared along the corridor. Shaking her head, Sara headed up to the bridge where the rest of the team were waiting.

“Okay,” Sara said, “Time to go.”

“Where’s Gideon?” Zari asked concerned.

Sara shrugged, “Sulking. She knows we’re about to go into the time stream, so she’ll be fine.”

Sliding into the pilot’s chair, Sara lifted the Waverider off the ground. Aiming to enter the time stream, the ship never made it as it was erased from history along with everyone onboard the moment it crossed the threshold from normal space.

Chapter Text

The alarm beeping made Michael groan, he turned and hit the snooze button burying his face in his pillow. He knew he had to get up and sort out his new flat at some point because he started his new job tomorrow so would unlikely have time to do so after that. It had been a long shot applying to work at Star Labs, not only was it in a different country from where he had lived his entire life but everyone with similar qualifications wanted to work on the Particle Accelerator that Harrison Wells was building.

Michael threw his hat into the ring after his older sister, Zoe, had persuaded him. Well, more called him a coward for not trying and goading him into it, but he was grateful she had.

Central City was completely different from where he’d grown up, after he was ten anyway. Not long after he was adopted by the Williams, they moved from London to Witney in Oxfordshire, and it was a lot quieter than he had ever known.

But it had been so good for him.

The flight here had been long to begin with, but it had then been delayed at both ends and by the time Michael had made it to his new home it was very early in the morning. Finally, he managed to pull himself out of bed, and found the instant coffee that was in the welcome box he’d found on the kitchen counter to try to get a caffeine hit to wake himself up.

The flat he’d rented was fully furnished, and he had brought enough clothes to get through the next few weeks intending to buy new clothes now he was here. It didn’t take him long to unpack his cases and put everything away, he then took a few pictures around each room to ensure he could evidence how he’d found the place. His father had ensured he always did this from the day he moved into student accommodation at eighteen, so no unscrupulous landlords would try to not pay back his deposit or blame him for issues that already existed.

Finally, he checked the list of kitchen equipment pulling them all out onto the counter and taking a few more photographs before putting them away the way he liked.

Satisfied, Michael grabbed his jacket, phone, and keys before heading out to get some groceries as well as to get a feel for the city.

Central City was nice.

The area he was renting in was clean, seemed family friendly and there was a lot within walking distance which he liked. Michael found everything he needed easily, although the amount of people who noted his accent during the first few hours that he’d wandered around had been annoying.

But he knew he’d probably have to get used to that.

After dropping his shopping off then putting everything away as his mother had trained him, Michael went to locate his new place of work. It wasn’t hard to find Star Labs, he’d rented a flat within a twenty-minute radius deliberately so with a quick check of the map on his phone, Michael went for a walk. Finding the building Michael stood outside for a moment and looked at it, hoping that this was what he wanted it to be.

He had never been good at making friends, despite not remembering much about his first ten years he had a wariness of people that he’d never been able to shake. It meant there had been few people for him to say goodbye to outside his family.

Donna and Ian Williams were the best people in the world, they had adopted a scared, confused, almost feral child and loved him in a way he never knew was possible. They gave him an older sister who he looked up to and who teased but supported him in every way.

Donna Williams was a physicist, and Michael had followed in her footsteps because she gave him enthusiasm for the subject, but Ian was a librarian who understood Michael’s love of reading everything and anything, who spent days answering questions that Michael came up with. His life had changed completely the day he met them, and he was forever grateful that they’d taken a chance on adding him to their family, taking on a ten-year-old on top of having a sixteen-year-old.

He loved his parents, and the older sister they had given him, but outside of the family, he hadn’t really bonded with anyone else.

“You know,” a voice came from behind him making Michael turn to find a younger man with shoulder length black hair and a t-shirt pronouncing his superpowers were his brain and his ability to mix cocktails, “We don’t do guided tours.”

Michael blinked confused, he asked, “What?”

The other guy chuckled, “You seem very interested in the building and I’m hoping you’re just wanting to see it. I really don’t want to have to call security. They’re a pain.”

“I’m just finding the place,” Michael told him before explaining, “I start work here tomorrow.”

“You’re Dr Williams,” he laughed before introducing himself, “I’m Cisco Ramon.”

Michael nodded, “Of course, you’re a part of the team Dr Wells hired me to run.”

Cisco shrugged, “Guilty. Do you want a tour while you’re here?”

“Thank you,” Michael told him, “But I only arrived in the city today and I’m trying to get everything sorted before I start work.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow,” Cisco told him, “Nice to meet you,” he said before he headed inside.

Relieved that he found his new workplace and met one of his new colleagues who seemed personable, Michael decided to go back to the flat, make some dinners so he could freeze them then get a good night’s sleep before his new job.

“You’re late,” Ronnie said the moment Cisco stepped into the office.

Caitlin chuckled.

“Three minutes,” Cisco noted, “And you two were at least fifteen minutes late this morning. Should I ask why?”

At his amused look, Caitlin blushed.

“You know the new guy Wells hired to lead the team?” Cisco asked as he took the spare seat.

His friends nodded.

“Just ran into him outside,” he told them, “Not sure what to make of him.”

“Dr Wells said he is eminently qualified for the position,” Caitlin noted.

“Not to mention his actual academic qualifications,” Ronnie laughed, shrugging at the look Caitlin gave him before pointing to Cisco, “He was the one who showed me.”

“Thanks, man,” Cisco rolled his eyes, “Throw me under the bus, why don’t you?”

“Anyway,” Caitlin continued, “I doubt Dr Wells would bring in anyone who wouldn’t work well with the team. Let’s give him a chance.”

Ronnie and Cisco shared a look, “Just cause you won’t have to report into him.”

Caitlin shrugged, smiling at them both.

Michael was enjoying his new job. Working on the particle accelerator was extremely stimulating but, to his surprise, he was getting along well with his new colleagues. Even if he usually declined the invitations to evenings out. He wasn’t really good in social situations and normally found a reason to avoid them.

Unfortunately, he had no way to avoid this one.

“We’re celebrating Ronnie and Caitlin getting engaged,” Cisco said as they shut down for that night, “Even Wells is coming. So, no excuses.”

“Fine,” Michael agreed, “I will come for one drink.”

Cisco grinned triumphantly, “I told them I could persuade you.”

“I just don’t want to listen to you complain at me all day tomorrow,” Michael retorted.

Cisco shrugged, “Whatever it takes to get you there.”

Motioning him out of the lab, Cisco followed Michael with a grin, looking forward to celebrating his friends’ good news.

The bar chosen by Ronnie and Caitlin was a karaoke bar, much to Michael and Wells’ chagrin. But his promised one drink had turned into a few, Caitlin persuading him to stick around, and he found he was enjoying himself. After a few hours only Cisco, Caitlin, Ronnie, Wells and Michael were left.

“I will get the next round,” Michael told them, as Ronnie announced his intention to sing.

Heading to the bar, Michael waited to be served. As he stood two men took the stools beside him. One young skinny pale-skinned young man who looked about the same age as Cisco, Caitlin, and Ronnie, while the other was an older African American man. They had a father son energy to them as they talked.

“You really need to learn to be on time, Barry,” the older man said, “One of these days I won’t be able to cover for you.”

The younger man, Barry sighed, “I thought I had a lead on…I got caught up.”

Michael’s attention was pulled away when the barman appeared, and he ordered the drinks for the table. Once they were ready, he paid and returned to his friends not thinking about the two at the bar anymore.

“Hey,” Cisco tapped his shoulder, “You’re up next.”

“No,” Michael stated decisively.

Caitlin laughed, “Come on, Michael. You have a really nice singing voice.” At his confused look, she explained, “You sing to yourself when you’re lost in thought.”

He winced, he hadn’t realised that anyone overheard him, “Thank you for the compliment, Caitlin but I don’t sing in public.”

“I’ll get you to sing for us at some point,” Caitlin told him before suggesting, “You could make it your wedding present.”

Michael rolled his eyes, “I’ll get you the cutlery.”

She laughed again and hugged his arm, “Speaking of cutlery, who’s hungry?”

The four of them sat on the floor of Caitlin and Ronnie’s living room eating the take-out Chinese food they’d picked up on the way there. Wells had excused himself for the evening and although Michael had been reluctant at first to join them, Caitlin had persuaded him to. She was annoyingly good at that.

“So, we have three days until the accelerator comes online,” Cisco said, wielding his chopsticks before asking, “What are your plans after it?”

Michael shrugged, “Wells asked me to stay on and continue to lead the team running it. What about you all?”

“I’m already on the team,” Cisco replied.

Caitlin laughed, “Me too. But Ronnie…”

“I’ve been offered a few different jobs,” Ronnie told them, “And I’m debating which one to take since I’m not needed anymore once the accelerator is up and running.”

Michael lifted his mug of beer to toast him, “Well, good luck to you.”

“You know this all depends on how things go on the day,” Ronnie reminded him as he raised his own mug, “Good luck to all of us.”

It had started so well, Michael thought as he tried to shut down the reactor before it went critical. He’d lost track of Cisco, Caitlin, and Ronnie, even though there were others the three of them had become his friends, something Michael would admit freely he didn’t have many of. From the moment he’d joined Star Labs they’d included him as a part of their group, even when he tried to keep a distance as their boss.

The entire room began to shudder, and Michael glanced at the other technicians in the room.

“Everyone out,” he ordered, frowning when they simply stared at him before he yelled, “Everyone move, move, move.”

At his yells, the techs scrambled out the door. Cries came as parts of the roof began to fall into the room. Michael held onto the console at the shaking building, relieved to see the final tech had left the room.

“Michael,” Cisco’s voice came over the comm., “Where are you?”

“Main control room,” he replied, as he continued to work, “I can’t stop it.”

“You have to get out,” Cisco told him, “The building is cracking apart and you’re in the centre.”

Michael frowned, “I can’t leave yet. I’ve almost got the magnetic coils locked down.”

An ominous cracking filled the room, and Michael took a breath trying to focus on the computer in front of him.

“Michael,” Cisco yelled, “You’re going to get yourself killed, get out.”

The room started to shake again, and Michael began to run towards the door, but his feet were taken out from under him. He fell, rolling across the ground and slamming into the wall.

Managing to pull himself to his feet, Michael caught his reflection in the screen. At least it looked like him except his face seemed a little more angular under his beard while he wore a leather jacket and white shirt, different from the Star Labs sweatshirt he currently had on.

“Run,” his reflection told him.

Stunned, Michael hauled himself to his feet and began to run again but just as he reached the door falling debris hit him on the back of the head.

He fell to the ground unconscious unaware as emergency services dragged him out to safety.

Chapter Text

Visions swam through Michael’s head, places and people mixed together all tinged with green except a floating blue shape that looked like a head. Suddenly the world filled with a golden light and he woke up, gasping for air. The décor of the room he was in told him it was a hospital room.

“Hey,” Cisco’s voice came from his side as a hand touched his shoulder, “You’re okay.”

Turning, Michael saw his friend sitting there looking tired and drawn, “What happened?”

“We finally managed to shut it down but not before a wave of energy hit the city,” Cisco explained, “Wells…” he took a deep breath in, “He’s in ICU. Spinal injury, Caitlin is with him. Ronnie, he…he…”

Michael didn’t need Cisco to finish his sentence, he squeezed his eyes shut but a few tears leaked out at the loss of his friend. Pulling himself together, Michael asked, “How is Caitlin?”

Cisco shrugged, “Doing what Caitlin does. She’s had you and Wells care in hand, making sure she knows everything that’s happening and terrifying the doctors in the process.”

Giving a sad smile, Michael tried to sit up, but his head swam, and pain shot through it.

“Stay where you are,” Cisco rested his hand on Michael’s shoulder, “I’m going to let the doctor, and Caitlin, know you’re awake.”

“Cisco,” Michael called, “Are you okay?”

The younger man shrugged, “Physically fine.”

“Not my question.”

“I’m as fine as I can be right now,” Cisco told him, “You being awake finally is helping.”

Before Michael could reply, Cisco left the room. It was only a few minutes later the door opened again, and Caitlin marched through followed by who Michael assumed was his actual doctor.

Caitlin hugged him, “I’m so relieved you’re okay,” she whispered tearfully.

“Cisco told me,” Michael said, “I’m so sorry.”

She gave a small shrug and squeezed his hand before turning, “Dr Everly is your doctor. Cisco is calling your parents to let them know you’re awake.”

“You called my parents?” Michael demanded.

“You’ve been unconscious for three days, Dr Williams,” Everly told him, “We thought it prudent to let your next of kin know.”

Michael stared at him, “Three days?”

“We were getting worried,” Caitlin snapped, “So you will listen to the doctor and do what you’re told.”

A little startled at the intensity in her voice, Michael nodded dumbly.

Everly smiled, “Let’s see how you’re doing.”

The rain fell as they buried an empty coffin for Ronnie who had been disintegrated by the energy blast. Caitlin looked pale and fragile, but she stood strong as iron and didn’t shed even one tear. Michael was enraged that her mother wasn’t there to support her through the day but was careful not to say anything about this. Wells had been released from hospital finally but was using a wheelchair to get around, one that Cisco already had plans drawn up for upgrading. Michael was still having headaches every so often but over the past few days they had lessened, and he’d assured his parents he was fine, so they didn’t need to fly out. As much as he loved them, he didn’t want them appearing to smother him with concern because that independent stubborn streak he’d had as a child had not disappeared.

The service finally ended, and Caitlin stared at the grave with an empty coffin in it for several minutes. Finally, she tossed the rose she’d been holding into the grave before Cisco stepped over wrapping his arm around her comfortingly. Without a word he started her towards the car where Michael and Wells were waiting.

Star Labs had been shut down after the explosion, condemned as a no-go area within the city but for them it was still home away from home and most of the main building was safe to be in. Caitlin smiled slightly when Cisco handed her the mug of hot chocolate that he’d made for her. Wells had disappeared to his office leaving the three of them to sit and contemplate the events of the past few weeks.

“What are you going to do now?” Caitlin turned to Michael who had taken his usual seat in the lounge with his hot chocolate, “Won’t this affect your visa?”

He shrugged, “Technically I’m still employed by Star Labs until Dr Wells decides what he’s going to do with the place. If he decides to shut down completely then I have a few months to find alternative employment.”

“Do you not want to go home?” Caitlin asked quietly.

Michael shook his head, “I’m settled here, like this is where I’m supposed to be. Before I moved here, I was working in London, and I find it unsettling to be there.”

Cisco frowned, “Unsettling? That’s a strange way to describe a place.”

Shrugging Michael explained, “I’m adopted. Before my parents adopted me and we moved to Witney where I grew up, from what I know, I lived on the streets of London.” At their stunned expressions, he continued, “I don’t remember much about it, I was in an accident of some kind when I was about ten which led me to being taken into the children’s home my parents found me in. The doctor told me it’s more than likely I’ve repressed everything since they never found anything to suggest a head injury.”

“You really are an onion, man,” Cisco shook his head, “Every time we talk, you reveal something new.”

Michael chuckled softly as Caitlin laughed.

“Good,” Wells stated as he appeared, “I’m glad you’re all still here. We have some work to do.”

Confused they glanced at one another to see of anyone understood what he meant.

“Get the car,” Wells ordered, “We’re heading to the hospital. Caitlin, I have a patient for you.”

Michael was surprised to walk back into the cortex of Star Labs to the sound of…

“What is that?” he demanded making Caitlin and Cisco turn from watching over their patient who had been a resident in Star Labs for the past nine months as loud music played.

“Hey,” Cisco bounced over to him, “How was your trip home?”

Michael smiled as his friend hugged him before he replied, “It was nice.”

“Just nice?” Caitlin asked amused.

He shrugged, “I spent a month with my parents in a small town. Nothing exciting has ever happened there and I spent most of the time dodging my mother trying to set me up with her friend’s daughters/nieces/granddaughters.”

Caitlin smiled slightly before she hugged him, “Well, we’ve missed you.”

Michael hugged her back, “I missed you both too. How’s our patient?”

“Stable,” Caitlin replied, “Despite Cisco playing random music at him.”

“He likes that song,” Cisco defended himself, “It’s on his Facebook page.”

Michael rolled his eyes, “Yes, because that always shows the truth.”

A cry from behind them made them all spin, staring in surprise to see their patient was now fully awake and looking around in bemusement.

“Looks like I arrived home just in time,” Michael noted.

Things had become very weird in a very short amount of time. Their former patient had proven Wells theory about what the explosion of the particle accelerator had done to those who had been touched by the energy.

Barry Allen’s new powers were extremely exciting, being able to run at those speeds was phenomenal but Michael wanted to do many more tests to ensure the younger man was not in any danger. Which was the reason for the meeting they were currently having with Barry and his foster father after Barry and Cisco had become a little overzealous in exploring Barry’s new powers in the field.

“I know we all have different levels of concerns regarding Mr Allen and his powers,” Wells stated, “Detective West and Caitlin especially have noted this.”

“I’m fine,” Barry stated.

Michael shook his head at Barry, warning him not to interrupt right now.

“That may be so,” Wells continued, “But this is unprecedented, so we want to be careful. Detective West has suggested we do additional tests before you go out in the field anymore.”

“Hold…” Barry started, stopping when Michael placed his hand on his shoulder.

“Isn’t that a bit redundant now?” Michael asked, “Barry is already out there and from the data we have received from the suit he is doing well. I suggest we continue with our tests when he is in the field while we support him from here. Cisco has been doing it already, with us all taking part then there is a better chance that Barry will remain safe.”

West stared at him, “And if I disagree?”

“We don’t keep you up to date,” Michael replied with a shrug, “I hate to say this Detective, but Barry is an adult and therefore it is his decision.”

West grimaced, “You know I can shut this entire operation down.”

Michael shrugged again, “And reveal Barry’s secret to the world? I don’t think you will.”

Cisco and Barry swapped a surprised glance, neither had expected the Englishman to go for emotional blackmail.

Letting out a sigh West nodded, “Fine. But I want to be kept up to date with everything.”

“Of course,” Barry assured him quickly, as Cisco grinned at him excitedly.

“I’ll see you out, Detective,” Wells told him starting his chair towards the door.

The moment only the four of them were left alone, Michael turned to Cisco and Barry, “This is not an open invitation to just do what you want. We are treating this like a proper experiment. You do not do anything without telling us and if there is any issue with anything you tell us instantly, Barry. Understand?”

Barry blinked in surprise; he’d already met Caitlin in doctor mode but had never seen Michael take charge as he always seemed to watch in silence but was now understanding why Cisco and Caitlin deferred to him when he did speak up.

“Yeah,” Cisco chuckled as he dropped into a seat, “Michael was in charge of our old team. And I have a feeling he might be in charge of this one.”

Michael shook his head, “No, Barry leads but he listens to his advisors.”

Barry nodded, “Agreed.”

Smiling at his friends, Michael noted, “Then let’s get to work.”

Several months passed and ‘Team Flash’ developed a rhythm as more metahumans began to appear out of the woodwork to threaten Central City. Michael’s lease had ended and, since he’d made the decision to stay in Central City, he’d bought a flat. (Despite Cisco trying to get him to use the Americanisms, Michael insisted on being as English as possible, mostly just to annoy his friend.)

The flat was a little further away from Star Labs than the one he’d been renting, but it was only about ten minutes extra. It had two bedrooms, one of which he intended to turn into an office/guest room for when his parents or sister visited.

He had all the new carpeting in along with most of his new furniture, so he just had to paint the entire place, which was where knowing the fastest man alive came in very useful.

“Okay,” Barry said as he walked in, “What colour for what room?”

Michael had prepared for this, “I have put the tins of paint that I want for each room in the room, along with everything you need. I’ve covered everything and it hopefully won’t come loose when you go at speed.”

Barry grinned before warning, “You might want to step outside.”

Michael nodded, “Just let me know when you’re finished.”

Stepping outside into the hallway, Michael checked the information on when his bed was due to arrive that afternoon. He had been sleeping on Cisco’s couch while he got his new place ready, grateful that he had a friend he could impose on. In all honesty, staying with Cisco was a lot of fun. They liked different types of movies so took turns choosing one, which was enjoyable because they then talked about them, making fun of any scientific inaccuracies.

The door opened and Barry appeared grinning.

“I’m done.”

Stepping inside, Michael smiled to see the entire place was freshly painted from the walls to the ceilings, skirtings, and doors.

“Amazing job,” Michael told his younger friend, “That would have taken me days to do.”

Barry grinned, “Happy to help. Although you did promise pizza for lunch.”

“Which Cisco is ordering as we speak,” Michael assured him as they left the flat and he locked up, “It should be there by the time we arrive at Star Labs.”

Barry grinned before musing, “As long as he remembers no mushrooms.”

“I think after the last time,” Michael chuckled, “He’ll remember.”

It was a nice quiet day, although the temperature had dropped recently it was still pleasant with no breeze. There was a small ripple of movement on the tree sitting there and a soft green glow appeared from nowhere. There were no witnesses as the glow intensified and with a flash of golden light a woman suddenly appeared in the middle of the street.

Petite with pale porcelain skin, high cheekbones, and grey eyes, her long auburn hair was caught loosely at the nape of her neck. She was dressed in an all-black jumpsuit with a brown leather jacket that was too big for her.

As she got her bearings and looked around, confusion filled her.

Where was she?

Who was she?

Taking a deep breath, she looked around and choose a direction. Wherever she was, she was sure that this was the way she had to go.

She just hoped her answers were at her destination.

Chapter Text

She continued to wander, wondering where she was going but knew that she was going the right way. It made no sense but as she walked towards the large building, seeing the keep out signs, for some reason it seemed to be the best place for her to go. It was strange the building was very familiar to her, but she couldn’t work out why that was.

Moving closer to the building, she studied it trying to work out why she knew it.

“Can I help you?” a man’s voice came from behind her, again it was familiar, and she knew that she was in the right place. Turning she studied him for a moment, he was taller than she was with reddish hair and beard, his eyes were a piercing green but filled with concern and kindness.

“Are you alright?” he asked when she didn’t speak.

“I think I’m meant to be here,” she told him, liking that her accent was similar to his. From the ones she’d heard as she had wandered it was not the norm here.

The man frowned, “Really? Star Labs has been closed for almost two years. We’re not on lists of places to visit.”

She grimaced, “I don’t know why, but I need to be here.”

“Who are you?” he asked intently.

Frustration filled her at the question as it was one that she had no answer to, finally whispering, “I don’t know. I don’t remember who I am or where I came from.”

Concern filled his eyes, “Come with me. We have a doctor who may be able to help you work out why you don’t remember anything.”

“Thank you,” she smiled in relief.

He motioned her to follow him inside the building and walked at her side through the corridors.

“What’s your name?” she asked him after a moment, she may not have one right now but knew it was polite to find out his.

“Michael Williams,” he introduced himself with a soft smile before asking at her thoughtful look, “What?”

“I don’t know,” she grimaced, “I thought it might be something else but Michael suits you.”

He laughed, and it was a nice laugh filled with warmth, “That’s good to know.”

She smiled feeling her cheeks heat, but he didn’t notice as they reached a door, and he motioned her inside.

“Hello?” the woman in the room looked at them confused, “I thought you were leaving; I didn’t know you were bringing a guest.”

“I found her outside,” Michael explained, “She doesn’t know her name, where she came from or why she’s here.”

The other woman’s eyebrows rose in surprise, “Okay. Well, I can have a look and see if we can help. I’m Dr Caitlin Snow,” the woman introduced herself, “Why don’t you take a seat on the bed?”

Michael rested his hand on her arm comforting, “Caitlin’s a good doctor, it’s okay.”

At his assurance, she did as the doctor asked and slid to sit on the bed. Fear suddenly spiked through her, and she turned to Michael, “Will you stay?”

He nodded pulling a seat over to sit by the bed.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Caitlin told them.

As the other woman disappeared out the room, she turned finding Michael watching her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“You’re wearing a necklace,” he told her, “I think it has a letter on it.”

She touched her neck, finding the chain and lifting it saw a small gold ‘G’ attached to it.

“So,” Michael said softly, “Presumably your name starts with G.”

“It must,” she shrugged.

He mused, “If Caitlin can’t help you get your memory back today, we will need to call you something. Names beginning with G,” he thought for a moment before listing, “Gillian, Gail, Gertrude,” he smiled at her soft snort of laughter, “Gwendoline, Gloria.”

She shook her head, “None of them feel right.”

“Well, my favourite movie as a kid was The Wizard of Oz,” he told her, “So, Glinda?”

She shook her head with a laugh, “No.”

“I know,” Michael said with a soft smile, “I think this will suit you. My mother loved the movie High Society, and the lead actress was Grace Kelly. What about Grace?”

Musing for a moment, she smiled, “I like that name.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Grace,” Michael said.

Newly christened, Grace smiled at him, “And you, Michael.”

“Well?”

Caitlin frowned at Michael’s demand but replied, “I found no reason for her memory loss. Her CT scan is clear, and all her tests came back showing she is completely healthy. Disgustingly healthy in some ways as though she’s never been sick a day in her life.”

They turned when they heard the door letting them know Grace was dressed once more.

“You found nothing,” Grace said softly, “Didn’t you?”

Caitlin sighed, “There is no medical reason for your amnesia. But there are other things I can try.”

Grace gave a sad nod, “Thank you.”

“Hey,” Michael rested his hand comfortingly on her arm, “Don’t lose hope.”

She sighed, “I am just…I don’t know.”

“It’s been a long day. Why don’t we go get some dinner and see what you do know,” Michael suggested.

Grace nodded, “Okay.”

“Michael,” Caitlin said, “Aren’t you expecting a delivery soon?”

He grimaced, “I’ll call Cisco and get him to wait in for me.”

“You should not go out of your way for me,” Grace told him.

Michael smiled at her softly, “Don’t be silly. Working on your memories is important.”

She gave him another smile, her grey eyes lighting up and Caitlin turned away to hide her amusement.

“Why don’t I call Cisco for you?” Caitlin suggested, “While you and Grace get us a table at the café?”

Michael looked a little confused but couldn’t think of a reason to disagree.

“He has a key anyway,” Michael mused before turning to where Grace’s brown leather jacket sat and picked it up, holding it out for her. Grace slid the jacket on, and Michael frowned that it was too big for her. “I don’t think this is yours,” Michael said thoughtfully, “Do you have any idea where you got it?”

Grace shrugged, “I just know it belonged to someone important to me.”

“Well, that’s a start,” he said as he started them out the room, “Let’s see if we can go from there.”

Caitlin watched them leave, amused by how taken with their new friend Michael was already. He hadn’t dated much since they’d known him, he always said that he felt he’d know when he met someone and dating randomly wasn’t something he wanted to do.

Caitlin was looking forward to seeing where this would go.

“Are you sure you do not mind me being here?” Grace asked softly as she stepped into the spare room in Michael’s home.

After dinner Caitlin suggested a list of tests that they could try to help bring her memory back, and that they speak with Joe. They explained to her he was a detective in the police they knew, to see if there were any missing persons that fitted Grace’s description but as they talked Grace began to worry where she would go while they did all this.

Then Michael had spoken up and offered to let her stay in his spare room. Grace, although she was not too sure about imposing on him, was sure that being with him was the safest place she could be.

“I’m happy for the company,” Michael assured, “Why don’t you get settled in and I’ll make us some tea.”

“Thank you, Michael,” she breathed, catching his hand she added, “For everything you have done for me. You don’t even know me.”

“You said that you felt there was something familiar about Star Labs, that you knew being there was right,” Michael shrugged, “That’s how I feel about you being here.”

Impulsively Grace hugged him tightly, smiling as he hugged her back. After a moment, Michael left her alone to settle in.

Grace looked around the small room, it was freshly painted, and the bed was clearly not always a bed, but Michael had ensured it was set up for her to use. Caitlin had pulled together a bag of clothing that would get her through the next few days while they helped her try to retrieve her memory. She was scared that she had no memory of who she was or where she came from but here Grace knew she was safe. Michael, and of course Caitlin, had been so kind to her from the moment they met. At dinner they’d not tried to force her to remember anything instead talked about who they were, making her laugh with funny stories.

Heading out to get the tea he’d promised her, Grace stopped just outside the kitchen watching Michael moving around whilst talking on the phone.

“Well, perhaps a good night’s sleep will help her,” he said, his phone sitting on the countertop.

“Your mother may have endorsed that, Michael,” Caitlin’s voice came over the speakerphone, “But I don’t think sleeping will help her memory come back.”

He chuckled, “I’m just saying that if she is relaxed fully in her environment then maybe it will help get past whatever is blocking them.”

“Well, I called Joe and he said he’ll come to Star Labs tomorrow morning to meet Grace and see what he can find out for us,” Caitlin continued.

Michael nodded, “That’s great. See you tomorrow.”

As he hung up, he turned and saw Grace standing there.

“Sorry,” he apologised, “Caitlin was just checking in to make sure you were alright.”

Grace smiled, “It’s nice you both care so much.”

“Here,” he handed her the mug of tea, “Drink this then get some sleep.”

Taking the mug, Grace looked at the steaming liquid for a moment before looking up at Michael again, “What if I never remember who I am?”

He reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder, “Then you’re Grace and we will all be there to help you build a life here.”

Grace sighed softly as she woke slowly wrapped in a warm cocoon. Her dreams had been strange, but they faded away quickly as consciousness returned. A gentle knock on the door made her jump.

“Just a minute,” she called.

“I just wanted to check if you were awake,” Michael’s voice came from outside, “Take your time to get showered and dressed, I’m making breakfast.”

She listened to him walk away before she slid out of the bed, wrapping the robe she’d been given around her and headed to the bathroom. Michael had left out towels for her so Grace fixed the water to a comfortable temperature and stepped in. Closing her eyes allowing the water to cascade down her, Grace wasn’t as worried as she had been the day before. Once she had dried her hair and dressed, Grace headed to the kitchen, smiling to see Michael there, drinking tea.

“Good morning,” he greeted her, “Are you hungry?”

Grace nodded, “Good morning and that would be lovely.”

“How about an omelette and some toast?” he said.

“That sounds lovely,” Grace told him before adding, “You’ve been so kind letting me stay here.”

Michael shrugged looking slightly embarrassed, “I’m happy to have the company.”

“Explain this to me again,” Wells demanded, “Where did this woman come from?”

Caitlin shrugged, “We don’t know. Michael found her outside the building, and she has no idea who she is but felt she should be here.”

“That’s weird,” Cisco mused from his spot on the floor where he was trying to rewire the console, “Why would she want to be here?”

Caitlin shrugged again, “All the tests I did show she is completely healthy, not a meta-human and there is nothing to show why she has no memory.”

“And you’re sure she’s not faking?” Wells demanded.

“As I can be,” Caitlin told him, “Grace is very sweet, and her frustration at not being able to remember anything is genuine.”

“Hold on,” Cisco spoke up, “She doesn’t know anything about herself except her name?”

“Actually,” Caitlin smiled slightly amused, “Michael named her. She was wearing a ‘G’ on her chain and Grace was the name she liked.”

Cisco grinned asking, “Really?”

“Really what?” Michael asked as he entered the room, Grace at his side.

“Just explaining how we met Grace,” Caitlin told him, throwing Cisco a dirty look who smiled blithely at her.

Michael frowned, obviously not believing them, before saying, “Grace, this is Dr Harrison Wells, our boss who owns Star Labs, and this is Cisco Ramon.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Grace,” Wells stated offering his hand, he studied her as she took it, “How are you feeling today?”

Grace smiled, “I feel fine, but I still have no memories. It is frustrating.”

“I can understand that,” Wells noted. “Caitlin has arranged for Detective West to come to speak with you. Hopefully he will be able to find something out to help you.”

“You’ve all been so kind,” Grace said softly, “I hope I can repay you somehow.”

“Let’s see what Joe has to say first,” Wells smiled at her.

Joe West had become used to the Star Labs team who were working with Barry. He liked them, even if he was suspicious of Wells true motives, so when Caitlin had called him for help, he promised to be there as early as possible.

Stepping into the cortex, he found ‘Team Flash’ as they’d dubbed themselves minus Barry with their new friend. He studied the young woman now he could see her in person and not just on the picture Caitlin had sent him. She looked delicate, with high cheekbones and smooth pale skin but the way she held herself showed him an inner strength. But it was the sadness in her eyes that struck him.

Although he couldn’t be sure, Joe felt that the sadness had nothing to do with not having her memories, this was ingrained in her and he wanted to find a way to help her.

“So,” he spoke making them turn to him, “What can I do for you today?”

Chapter Text

Michael checked the clock. Caitlin had taken Grace shopping as she needed clothes as well as basically everything else and was dropping her off at the flat after. Caitlin had said something about asking Iris West to go with them, but he wasn’t sure if that had come to anything or not. He’d find out when he saw them.

Unfortunately, Joe had found nothing on Grace’s real identity, there was no information on her anywhere and there had been no reports of a missing person matching her description.

Grace had been disheartened but Michael reminded her she had a place with them until she remembered anything, and Caitlin had ideas to help with that.

“Are you sure about letting Grace stay with you?” Cisco asked making Michael look round surprised that he wasn’t alone, “We can look into finding her somewhere else to stay.”

He nodded, “She says she feels safe with me and while she’s so uncertain about her missing memories I think giving her something stable is the best idea.”

Cisco nodded, looking amused but didn’t say anything else on the subject.

“Where’s Barry?” Michael asked, “I thought he was coming in so you can work on his suit?”

“He’s running late,” Cisco shrugged.

“Fastest man alive,” Michael rolled his eyes, “It makes you wonder sometimes.”

“Michael,” Wells called, “Can I have a word?”

Nodding to Cisco, Michael moved over to join their boss who started out into the corridor.

“Is something wrong?” Michael asked as they moved through the corridors towards the offices.

Wells shook his head, “Not wrong but I wanted to ask about your decision to let our new friend stay with you.”

“Cisco asked me the same thing,” Michael told him, “And at the moment she knows my flat. If she wants to find another place, then that’s great but I’m happy to let her stay with me for now.”

Stopping, Wells looked up at him, “I just want you to be careful. Ever since we started working with Mr Allen under his identity as The Flash then we have to know who we allow into Star Labs.”

“You think she’s a Trojan Horse?” Michael stared at him.

“I think it’s interesting she came from nowhere, yet found us and you,” Wells told him, “Don’t misunderstand me, I like Grace, but I just want you to be wary.”

“Harrison,” Michael stated, “I don’t trust easily. I never have but I know that helping Grace is what I should be doing.”

Wells nodded, “Okay. If you need anything for bringing her memory back let me know and as she’s here, then you could use an assistant.”

Surprised, he nodded, “Thank you,” before heading back to work.

Grace looked at the bags that she and Caitlin had carried back to the flat which were now sitting on the floor of her small bedroom. Michael had laughed at how much they had bought but Caitlin had reminded him that Grace needed everything they’d bought her.

He was currently making them dinner, while she sorted through and put away all her new things. Shaking herself she began to empty the bags and put everything in the drawers and small cupboard she had. Once she was finished, she headed to the kitchen.

“Are you sure about this?” Grace asked, making Michael look up from stirring the pasta, “Letting me stay here with you?”

Michael tilted his head, “Do you feel comfortable here?”

Grace nodded, “I do.”

“Then I’m happy for you to be here for as long as you want to be,” he smiled at her.

With a grin, Grace wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, “Thank you.”

Feeling Michael’s arms encircle her, Grace felt completely safe in his embrace.

They were having a slightly chaotic morning a few weeks after Grace had moved into the spare room. There had been a power cut in the middle of the night so all alarms in the flat had been reset. As they rushed around, trying to sort themselves someone knocked on the door.

Michael turned to Grace, “Are you expecting anyone?”

She shook her head.

Annoyed wondering what one of his neighbours wanted, it was a secure door into the building so it could only be one of them, Michael opened the door and stared at the woman standing there.

“Are you going to let me in, little brother,” Zoe grinned at him.

Still staring at his sister, Michael demanded, “What are you doing here?”

“You’ve never been one to mince words,” Zoe laughed and hugged him, “I’m visiting my baby brother.”

“And you never just appear,” he retorted, “What are you actually doing here?”

“Michael?” Grace called, “Who is there?”

Zoe turned to him, her mouth sliding into a surprised grin but, before she could speak, he held up one finger stopping her speaking.

“Not what you think,” Michael hissed before turning and wincing as Grace was only wearing a dressing gown sitting at midthigh, “Grace, this is my sister, Zoe. Zo, this is Grace my roommate.”

“Roommate?” Zoe laughed, “How American.”

“Grace, why don’t you have your shower while I talk to my sister,” Michael suggested as he moved Zoe inside, shoving her towards the living room and closing the door before Grace could say a word.

Zoe dropped to sit on the couch, “Are you kidding me? She’s gorgeous and there’s nothing going on?”

“Why are you here?” he demanded again, “Don’t get me wrong, Zo, I’m really happy to see you but just turning up is something you’ve never done.”

“Steven is attending a conference here in the city,” she explained, “He suggested I come too, and I thought it was a great idea to see my brother who I haven’t seen in ages.”

Michael smiled, “You were the one who was out the country when I visited mum and dad.”

Zoe laughed, “I am here until tomorrow. So, I was hoping you’d show me around today and have dinner with us tonight.”

“Dinner will be great,” Michael told her, “Let me call into work to let them know I’m taking the day, then after we drop Grace off, we can go for breakfast.”

Before Zoe could ask why Grace couldn’t make her own way, he left her alone to grab his phone and call in. He loved Zoe, she had become his big sister so easily despite the fact she was sixteen when they met. She had never dismissed him as an annoyance instead watched out for him. She also teased him and made him laugh, never treating him like he didn’t belong because her parents had brought him into her family. She insisted that he was her baby brother from day one and if anyone tried to disagree with her, they soon regretted it.

“Of course,” Wells told him when Michael explained his reason for taking the day off, “Spend time with your sister, I know how important spending time with family is.”

“Grace will be in,” Michael assured him, “And you can call me if I’m needed.”

Wells laughed, “We will be fine. Enjoy your day.”

Hanging up, Michael headed back to the living room and grimaced finding Grace talking with Zoe.

Grace finished her shower and dressed before drying her hair. She could hear Michael talking with his guest in the other room and smiled because she was looking forward to meeting Zoe. He talked very little about his family, he was such a private person, although everything he said was positive, Grace wondered sometimes if she knew him at all but on the other hand, he had opened his home to her.

“Hi,” Zoe greeted her when she walked past the living room.

Grace smiled at her, “Hello, it is lovely to meet you.”

Zoe grinned, “You too.”

“Where is Michael?” Grace asked, she was uncomfortable around people she didn’t know, even if Zoe was his sister.

“He’s calling his work,” Zoe told her, before asking, “How did you end up living with my brother because he is not the kind of person who has a roommate? Even at university he managed to get a single room.”

Grace winced, “It is a bit of a long story, but I needed a place to stay, and he offered me a room.”

“That’s my Mikey,” Zoe smiled fondly, “He used to bring home stray cats, dogs and hurt birds.” She winced at that, quickly adding, “Not that I mean you’re…”

Grace chuckled, “I know what you mean. I have no family that I know of so Michael and the others have taken me in as family.”

“I leave you alone for five minutes,” Michael said, making them both turn to find him standing in the doorway. He continued before either could speak, “I have the day off. Grace, we’ll drop you off.”

“Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight, Grace?” Zoe asked.

Grace blinked surprised before she looked at Michael who shrugged letting her know it was her choice.

“If you are sure,” she said.

Zoe grinned, “Of course I am.”

“Then I would love to.”

Michael had been in the group home just over two months when the Williams had come to look into fostering a child. He was in the corner of the library, in the beanbag he had claimed as his, reading a book. He’d taught himself to read and found in this strange new world he was in that there were more books to read than he could dare to dream about. It was Zoe who found him, reading A Tale of Two Cities.

“That’s one of my favourite books,” she told him, sitting at his side, “Have you read it before?”

Surprised by the fact she was speaking to him like he was a normal person and not as something to look down on the way he was used to people doing, he answered without thinking. She’d continued talking with him about the book, suggesting other ones he might enjoy. When her parents arrived in the library, Zoe introduced them, and a few weeks later Michael was being asked if he wanted to live with them.

He then spent months living on nerves in case they sent him back, even when they said he was a part of their family, and it was Zoe who managed to persuade him they never would. When they showed him the adoption papers, Michael had cried for the first time since they’d known him. The photograph of the day they were signed sat on his mantlepiece reminding him of how lucky he was.

Now, many years later, Michael and Zoe were so close that he hated that he couldn’t tell her about the fact he was working with The Flash and helping save people from Meta-humans who attacked the city.

But he did explain how Grace had come into his life. He looked surprised when Zoe hugged him.

“You are still the same sweet kid who brought home hurt animals for Mum and Dad to fix,” she told him, “But in this case, you might look past that she needs your help.”

Michael frowned at her, “Not going to happen.”

“Why?” Zoe pushed, “You like her, and I can see there is definitely a spark.”

“She doesn’t know who she is,” Michael reminded his sister, “Getting involved with anyone until she does, or at least until she has come to terms with who she is now, is not a good idea.”

Zoe smiled and hugged his arm, “You’re a good guy and you can buy me breakfast.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind me coming with you?” Grace asked as Michael grabbed his jacket.

He smiled at her, “Of course I don’t. Zoe and I talked all day, besides maybe this will help you. You spend most of your time with us, new people might shake something loose in your mind.”

Grace nodded before asking, “Who is Steven? So, I do not make a mistake.”

“Steven is Zoe’s boyfriend,” he explained as they started out the flat, “They’ve been living together for about a year now. He’s a heart surgeon, just like his parents. He’s originally from New York, but they lived in London when he and Zoe were fourteen, so they met back then at school. They were only there for a year though.”

“Did they keep in touch?” Grace slid her arm through his as they walked towards the restaurant.

Michael shook his head, “They met again three years ago when he took up a position in a hospital where Zoe volunteers on the weekends. He’s a really nice guy and can keep up with her.”

Grace hugged his arm, “It’s nice they found one another.”

“It is,” Michael replied, “My parents like him and we get along well too. And from what I know his parents love her.”

They reached the restaurant and Grace spotted Zoe instantly talking to a man with dark brown eyes and hair, he was laughing as he gazed at Zoe like she was the only person in the world.

“Mikey,” Steven called when he spotted them.

Michael sighed, “Please don’t call me that.”

Steven laughed and hugged him, “Only time I promise. You’re looking good.”

“You too,” Michael said before he turned to her, “This is my friend, Grace.”

“Nice to meet you,” Steven offered Grace his hand, “Zoe told me your story. Have you remembered anything?”

Grace shook her head, trying not to let her discomfort show too much but must have failed.

“I’m sorry,” Steven told her as they all took a seat at the table, “I’m a surgeon, it’s in my nature to try to fix everything.”

“It’s fine,” Grace told him, “Our friend Caitlin is the same way.”

Michael was relieved Steven got the hint not to push Grace about her memories and settled as they ordered their meals. Watching Zoe and Steven, he became suspicious of the two of them. There was something off and it was beginning to annoy him.

“Okay,” he said after their dinner plates were cleared, “What’s going on?”

Zoe looked at him innocently, “What do you mean?”

Michael frowned at her, “I know you, Zo. You two are up to something. What is it?”

Zoe laughed, “We were waiting till after dessert but…” she held out her left hand that was adorned with a diamond ring, “Ta da.”

“You’re engaged?” he gasped, jumping up to hug his sister, “That’s amazing. When did that happen?”

Zoe laughed, “On my birthday, but since I knew Steven was coming here for the conference, I wanted to tell you face to face.”

Michael hugged her again, “I’m so happy for you. Have you set a date? Where are you getting married?”

“We’re actually getting married in New York,” Zoe told him, “In July next year. And Grace, I’m hoping you’ll come too.”

“Me?” Grace looked at her stunned.

Zoe nodded, “Of course. Mikey needs a chaperone,” she winked at her brother who rolled his eyes, “But seriously, I’d like you to come.”

Grace smiled, “If you’re sure I would love to attend.”

Chapter Text

Working with one superhero was challenging but suddenly they had two in Star Labs. Michael had liked Felicity Smoak when she’d visited not long after Barry woke from his coma but the addition of the Arrow and Mr Diggle had caused a great deal of tension.

“You’re the sensible one,” Joe turned to Michael, “You have to agree that this Arrow is not a good person to have around.”

Michael grimaced, “From what we’ve seen in Starling City, he is dangerous, but he has changed tactics since he first appeared. Not to mention Barry is an adult, and we all remember what happened the last time you tried to control him.”

Joe frowned, “Sensible but brutally honest.”

“You asked,” Michael reminded him.

Wells chuckled at the resigned look on Joe’s face.

“I’m just concerned,” Joe said, “We both are.”

Wells nodded, “I do agree with Joe.”

“And you’re as guilty as he is in trying to baby Barry sometimes,” Michael noted, “Look,” he stopped them arguing, “Barry is going to work with the Arrow no matter what we all say, they appear to be friends. Rather than argue with him, we do what we always do and support him.”

“Michael,” Caitlin’s voice came, “We need you in the cortex.”

Nodding to the two men, Michael headed out to find out what he was needed for.

Grace leaned in the doorway as she watched Michael finish locking down the device that they’d created to stop the most recent metahuman who attacked the city. The rest of the team had left to have dinner with their guests, she and Michael were going to catch up with them.

She smiled as she listened to him sing softly as he worked, only doing so because he was not aware she was there. As always, he’d remained the voice of reason and calm through the crisis, it was something she loved about him how steady he remained no matter how tense things became.

Michael turned and saw her standing, a slight frown creasing his brow that she had caught him singing to himself.

“You didn’t have to wait for me,” he said.

Grace shrugged, “I am your assistant.”

He smiled at her, “Very grateful for that. I’m almost finished, just making sure we have everything done as it should be.”

“It was interesting,” Grace noted, “Working with the Arrow and his team.”

Michael nodded, “Mr Queen was not as bad as I thought he would be.” At Grace’s confused look he smiled, “You didn’t know Oliver Queen was the Arrow?”

“I didn’t think…” Grace trailed off, “But now that you say it, it makes sense.”

Shutting down the computer he grabbed their coats, “Let’s go join them for dinner.”

Once they were both ready to face the cold weather, Grace slid her arm through his and they left Star Labs.

“What do you mean you’re not going home for Christmas?”

Michael turned from his console to Caitlin, “Couldn’t get a flight.”

She frowned at him, “You couldn’t get a flight? Really? Don’t you usually book these things about three months in advance?”

He shrugged, “Just bad luck I guess.”

She chuckled, “We would have been fine for a few weeks without you, Grace might enjoy having the place to herself.”

Michael nodded silently.

“Oh,” she realised suddenly, “This is the first Christmas for Grace without her memory, since she can’t leave the country without a passport, you can’t take her with you, and you don’t want to leave her alone.”

Michael felt his neck heat slightly, “She’s been looking forward to it and planning the day, I didn’t want to tell her that I wouldn’t be here. My parents and Zoe understand.”

Caitlin nodded, “We would have given her a nice Christmas.”

“I know,” Michael replied softly, “But I want to be here.” He blinked surprised when Caitlin kissed his cheek, “What was that for?”

“For being you,” she smiled, “You’ve looked after us being our big brother from day one, and we appreciate you.”

Michael smiled back and hugged her, “Thank you.”

When he released her, Caitlin said, “Since Joe invited us to dinner on Christmas Day, are you both coming?”

Michael nodded, “Yes. Joe already assured Grace that it will be a proper Christmas with all the trimmings. I think he’s quite looking forward to it. Which is why we’re going shopping for a tree tonight. Cisco is already coming with us if you want to join?”

Caitlin grinned, “That sounds like fun.”

“We’ll see.”

“Look at this one,” Grace grabbed Michael’s hand pulling him across the lot as Cisco and Caitlin trailed behind them, “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s also too big for the corner of the living room,” Michael told her, “Not to mention I’m sure the ceiling is about a foot lower than the top of it.”

She frowned, “We need a bigger room.”

“And until that happens,” he replied with an amused smile, “Why don’t we find a tree more suited to our flat.”

Grace rolled her eyes theatrically, “If you insist, Cisco I see some others over there that look good.”

As she headed over with Cisco, Michael found Caitlin smiling at him, “What?”

“Just thinking,” she told him, sliding her arm through his and leaning against him, “That just sounded like a couples discussion rather than roommates,” she continued before he could protest, “Like Ronnie and I would have.”

Michael rested his cheek against her hair, “He used to love teasing you.”

Shaking herself, Caitlin noted, “Instead of wallowing, I am going to focus on giving Grace an amazing Christmas.”

Hugging her close, Michael escorted her to where Cisco and Grace were looking at slightly smaller trees.

Grace laughed when Cisco and Michael finally managed to get the Christmas tree they’d bought into the flat before Cisco dramatically collapsed onto the couch.

“Are we decorating now?” Caitlin asked.

“How about we order dinner first?” Michael suggested, “We can sort the decorations out, eat and then decorate.”

Cisco pulled out his phone, “Ordering from The Flash pizzeria. It gets here fast but may be half-eaten.”

Grace and Caitlin laughed while Michael disappeared into the kitchen to get them all a drink. They found the bags filled with the Christmas decorations Michael had helped Grace buy a few days before and started looking through them.

“You went with the red and gold I see,” Caitlan chuckled.

“Well, it means we can get a Flash decoration without ruining my colour scheme,” Grace told her with a smile.

Caitlin nodded, “That makes complete sense.”

“Michael told me all about the traditions his family have for Christmas,” Grace explained, “Since he isn’t going home then I want to make this year special for him by following as many of them as possible.”

“That sounds good,” Caitlin told her.

Grace glanced at the door before turning to Caitlin conspiratorially, “I know he decided not to go back home for Christmas for me and not because he couldn’t get flights as he is telling everyone. He is the kindest man.”

Caitlin nodded, “Yes, he is.”

They were interrupted as Michael arrived back with their drinks, then a few moments later the door opened, and Barry arrived with several pizzas.

“Hope everyone is hungry,” Barry placed them on the coffee table.

Despite Barry offering to decorate at full speed, Michael and Grace declined his offer so they could decorate the tree all together. Cisco checked all the lights were working before they hung them. With their work almost completed, Michael headed to his bedroom to get what he’d told them was a special decoration.

“What’s this?” Caitlin asked, an amused smile as she pulled out some fake greenery from the final bag.

“Cisco said it was traditional,” Grace told them.

Caitlin frowned at her friend. It was one of the strangest things about Grace, she had a lot of knowledge about many things but there were concepts they’d all grown up with she was completely confused by. And Cisco had a habit of teasing her.

“It’s mistletoe,” Barry explained with a smile as he took the mistletoe from Caitlin, “And it is traditional at Christmas.”

Grace frowned confused, “What is it for?”

Barry leaned over and pecked her cheek, “People kiss under it.”

“Oh,” Grace blushed slightly at the thought, “That’s a nice tradition.”

Cisco took it from Barry, “Let’s just hang it here,” he moved to the bay window where Michael and Grace liked to sit and read.

“Perfect,” Barry grinned as Caitlin rolled her eyes at him.

“Perfect?” Michael asked as he came back into the room.

Grace turned to him, “Barry just put up the mistletoe.”

Michael turned to the innocent looking Barry who was standing beside an equally innocent looking Cisco.

“What’s that?” Caitlin asked, moving Michael’s attention away from the offending plastic plant to what he was holding in his hand wrapped in tissue paper.

Michael gently unwrapped a small golden bauble shaped like a spaceship and showed it to them.

“My family have a tradition that each member of the family had a special ornament that we hung on the tree every year,” he explained, “I was fostered by them about a month before Christmas and was stunned when my mum gave me this to hang on the tree when we were decorating. It made me feel like I was part of their family.”

Gently he hung the golden spaceship on the branch at the front of the tree.

“It’s beautiful,” Grace told him.

He smiled and pulled out a small parcel wrapped in tissue paper handing it to Grace, “I thought you might want this.”

With a sweet smile, Grace unwrapped the tissue paper to reveal a small golden angel bauble.

“Michael,” she whispered at his gesture. She tearfully hung the angel on the tree besides Michael’s spaceship before turning and hugging him tightly. After a moment, she stepped back and wiped her eyes, “We should get ornaments for Barry, Cisco and Caitlin,” she looked at them with a smile, “You are our family.”

Michael grinned, “I already have.” He moved over to the cabinet and brought out three more tissue wrapped parcels and gave one to each of their friends. They each opened theirs and Grace smiled to see he had bought a snowflake for Caitlin, a robot for Cisco and…

“Oh, come on,” Barry laughed as he held up his lightning bolt bauble.

Michael chuckled, “I couldn’t resist.”

With smiles, the three of them hung their ornaments on the tree.

Michael woke suddenly. Rolling over to check the time, he was surprised it was 1am and he’d only been sleeping for about an hour. Before he could turn over to go back to sleep, he heard a noise coming from the living room. Sliding out of bed, he padded quietly to check the flat and found Grace sitting on the couch staring at the tree.

“You’re up late,” he said softly, letting her know he was there before sitting at her side.

She shrugged, “Just thinking.”

“About?”

Turning to look at him, Grace whispered, “Why can’t I remember anything?”

“I wish I could answer that for you,” Michael said softly, he gently cupped her cheek, “But I promise you have a place here for as long as you need it.”

Grace leaned against him and smiled as Michael wrapped his arm around her pulling her close. Sliding her arm across his waist, Grace cuddled into his shoulder.

“As much as I want to get my memories back,” she whispered, “I love being here with you and don’t want to leave.”

Michael tightened his embrace, “Who says you would have to leave?”

“But I may have a family out there,” she reminded him, “I could own a large house.”

He chuckled, “Well, it still doesn’t mean you have to leave.”

Grace sat in silence for a moment before asking, “What if I have a family? A husband and children?”

Michael froze because he had thought of that, and it was a thought he didn’t like. It was one of the reasons he kept a distance between them. Michael knew how he felt for Grace, knew that Grace cared for him, but it was always there in the back of his mind that somewhere out there could be someone she already loved and had made vows to.

“It won’t change the fact that I’ll always be here for you,” he breathed.

Grace looked up at him, her eyes wet with tears before she rested her head on his shoulder again and they sat cuddled together.

Chapter Text

Christmas had been a much quieter affair than expected after the attack by the man in yellow. Barry’s physical injuries healed quickly but the events that had led to them were still affecting them all, as well as the realisations that had come with them.

Joe insisted they continue with their plans for Christmas and had managed to persuade Wells to join them for dinner at least. He made a feast that could have fed them several times over before they swapped presents.

Although a quieter than expected day, Michael could see Grace was having fun. She tasted everything Joe made, was so appreciative of every present she received and smiled as she watched everyone open the gifts that she had bought them.

And she had truly paid attention to little things they’d said since she met them.

She had given Michael a first edition of HG Wells 'The Time Machine’ his favourite book, and Michael was overwhelmed by the fact she had found this for him.

“I’ve been talking recently with a friend of mine from medical school,” Caitlin said as she sat in the large armchair after dinner, “He suggested we use hypnosis to try to access your memories.”

“Hypnosis?” Michael gave an amused chuckle.

Caitlin rolled her eyes at him, “There are studies that show it has helped people. Just because it’s not an ‘exact science’,” they all laughed as Caitlin put the air quotes in before she continued, “It doesn’t mean it won’t help Grace.”

Playing with the gold heart locket Michael had given her for Christmas, Grace nodded, “I’d like to try it. Nothing else has helped.”

“Then when we’re back in the lab,” Caitlin stated decisively, “We’ll set it up.”

“Now that is settled,” Joe handed them all glasses of his homemade hot apple cider, “We have a tradition of watching a Christmas movie after dinner, and this year it is Iris’ turn to choose which one.”

All eyes turned to Joe’s daughter who was sitting with her boyfriend Eddie on the other side of the couch Michael and Grace were sitting on.

“It has to be 'It’s a Wonderful Life',” Iris told them.

“A fantastic choice,” Cisco nodded in agreement.

The lights were dimmed, everyone got comfortable as Joe found the DVD and set it up on the TV. Michael glanced down as Grace cuddled into his shoulder to watch the movie and wrapped his arm around her even though he knew it was a bad idea. The wall he was trying to keep between them was slowly crumbling and, as much as Michael knew it was a bad idea to not pull away, he couldn’t look into her eyes and see the hurt that would cause.

Although the mistletoe Cisco hung up in their flat had mysteriously disappeared.

Just in case.

Grace nervously walked into Star Labs, grateful when Michael wrapped his arm around her shoulders comfortingly. She knew why he kept a certain distance between them, and she did understand the concerns he had because they were her fears. As much as she wanted to remember her life, the thought that she would no longer see him, no longer wake up each morning to find he’d made breakfast, no longer talk as they walked to work and no longer sit with his arm wrapped around her as they watched movies saddened her.

Grace didn’t want to lose him.

“Morning,” Caitlin greeted them, “I spoke with my friend to get some ideas on how we do this. I want you to be comfortable so we’re using one of the chairs from the lounge, Michael is going to be here along with Dr Wells while I hypnotise you. Okay?”

Nervously Grace nodded, “I trust you, Caitlin.”

Caitlin smiled and hugged her quickly, “Take your time to get settled and Michael will let me know once you’re ready.”

Caitlin left the room and Grace looked at the comfortable chair sitting in the centre of the room.

“Hey,” Michael breathed, “Give me your jacket and have a seat.” When she stared at him dumbly, he said soothingly, “If you don’t want to do this then we’ll just tell Caitlin you’ve changed your mind.”

Grace looked up at him, “I want to know. I need to.”

“Then I will be here,” he told her.

Sighing Grace hugged him, she stepped back, took off her jacket and handed it to Michael before settling into the chair. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths before nodding to Michael she was ready.

Michael called Caitlin before taking a seat at Grace’s side, taking her hand in his and sitting in silence until Caitlin and Wells arrived.

“How are you feeling, Grace?” Wells asked, reaching out to take her free hand.

“Scared,” she confessed, “Mostly about what I may learn about myself.”

He squeezed her hand, “Knowing you, I don’t think there will be anything bad.” He moved back and nodded to Caitlin to take control.

The lights dimmed in the lab as Caitlin lit a few candles and turned soothing music on.

“Grace,” she said softly, “I want you to close your eyes and take several deep breaths.” She shook her head as Michael tilted his head questioning if he should move, “Michael is by your side so you can hold his hand as much as you need to.”

Grace nodded but he felt her grip him slightly tighter.

“Listen to my voice, Grace,” Caitlin continued, “With each deep breath you take, you’re getting more and more relaxed. I want you to allow yourself to sink into the chair, let your mind drift.”

Michael could see Grace was slipping into the trance and felt her grip on his hand loosen.

“I want you to think back to the first time you met Michael,” Caitlin continued, “Let your mind drift back to seeing him for the first time.”

“He’s handsome,” Grace murmured.

Caitlin threw a smile at Michael who shifted uncomfortable as he could feel his neck heat up.

“Kind,” Grace added softly, “His eyes are nice.”

“Think back before you met him,” Caitlin said, “Where were you?”

“Walking,” Grace breathed, “I was looking for somewhere familiar,”

Caitlin nodded, they appeared to be getting somewhere, “Now before you were walking, where were you?”

“I…” Grace said, “I…”

Caitlin frowned as Grace seemed stuck and tried another question, “Go back to when you were last happy before you came here. Tell me where you are.”

Grace’s brow furrowed before she murmured, “I…I can…”

While Grace struggled to articulate what she was seeing, Michael was surprised when the computer beside him turned on. He saw Wells looking at the other screens that were all suddenly lit.

“Grace?” Caitlin continued, “Where are you? What can you see?”

Grace’s breathing became ragged, the screens began to flicker, she suddenly screamed as some of the computers exploded. Caitlin and Wells ducked while Michael threw himself forward to protect Grace.

She opened her eyes and began to cry. Michael wrapped her in his arms gently stroking Grace’s back as he held her close while she sobbed.

“What happened?” Caitlin demanded.

Wells rested his hand on her shoulder, “I suggest we give Grace some time to calm herself before questioning her.”

As they left the room, Michael tightened his hold on Grace.

“It’s okay,” he soothed, “You’re safe. I promise.”

Grace clung to him, “It felt empty. Like I had no body and there was nothing around me. I don’t understand, why was there nothing?”

“I don’t know,” Michael murmured continuing to rock her, “But you’re safe, I promise.”

“She’s resting just now,” Michael said when Wells and Caitlin turned to him as he walked into the office, “I don’t want to leave her alone too long. What happened? I thought you said Grace wasn’t a metahuman.”

Caitlin shook her head, “She’s not. Every test I did on her shows that she’s not a metahuman, so I have no idea what happened with the computers.”

Wells frowned, “What about Michael?”

“What?” Michael asked confused.

“You were here when the accelerator exploded,” Wells noted, “And you are extremely protective of Grace. It’s a possibility.”

Caitlin shrugged, “From all the studies we’ve done, metahuman abilities manifest at different times. Dr Wells is right, I’ll do the blood tests and go from there.”

With a sigh, knowing there was no point in arguing, Michael rolled up his sleeve while Caitlin retrieved the kit to take his blood.

“What if I’m not the metahuman?” Michael asked.

She sighed, “Then we’re back at square one but let’s just take one thing at a time.”

Wells nodded, “But I suggest we take hypnosis off the list. We do not want to repeat whatever that was.”

“She said she had no body,” Michael whispered thoughtfully.

Caitlin shuddered, “That just sounds terrifying.”

“It does,” Wells agreed, “Perhaps once she has woken and Caitlin is finished drawing blood, you should take her home for the rest of the day, Michael.”

Nodding in agreement, Michael winced sightly when Caitlin pushed the needle into his arm.

Grace was trying to sleep.

She had been trying to sleep for several hours now but couldn’t. After Caitlin had put her in a hypnotic trance to try to find information on her memories, she had been exhausted but now she couldn’t get her mind to settle.

She had overheard that Caitlin had tested Michael to see if he was a metahuman after the computers exploded, since they knew Grace definitely wasn’t one, but his tests had come back negative, so they were extremely confused what had happened.

Turning over, Grace let out an annoyed sigh.

Getting out of bed she decided to make herself some tea and hope that if she read for a bit then it would help her sleep. Reaching the kitchen, she was surprised to find Michael was already there.

“I see you couldn’t sleep either,” he noted, taking a second mug off the tree, “What’s keeping you up?”

Grace sighed, “That I apparently did not exist before I came here.”

“There’s just something blocking the memories,” Michael assured her, reaching out to squeeze her hand, “And we’ll find a way to get through that block somehow. I know Caitlin is doing all she can.”

“I know,” Grace shook her head, “And sometimes I wonder if she should just leave it.”

Michael looked at her concerned, “Is that what you want?”

She sighed deeply, “I don’t know.”

Reaching out he took her hand, “It’s your choice, Grace.”

Taking the few steps to close the gap between them, Grace wrapped her arms around his waist and rested against his chest feeling him enfold her in his arms. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths feeling completely safe and at peace. From the moment she’d met him, Michael had been her rock, she knew she could rely on him for everything and just wanted to stay wrapped in his arms forever.

The kettle boiling broke through their moment and Michael pulled away from her to fix them tea. Grace smiled as he handed her the mug and led the way to the living room.

Sipping her tea, they sat in silence just relaxing in one another’s company and Grace found her eyes closing. She blinked awake as the mug was taken from her hands.

“You were falling asleep,” Michael told her with a smile, “Why don’t you go to bed?”

Grace shook her head, “I don’t think I’ll sleep.”

He disappeared with the two mugs before returning with a blanket, sitting at her side on the sofa, Michael wrapped his arm around her and drew her close throwing the blanket over them.

“Close your eyes,” he told her, his fingers gently sliding through her hair, “Just focus on your breathing and let yourself drift. I’m here and you’re safe.”

Grace sighed softly, the words he said whenever she was scared or overwhelmed by her missing memories, and she snuggled closer to him.

“You can sleep,” Michael murmured softly, his voice gentle and soothing as he continued to stroke her hair, “

Grace blinked as her eyes became heavier and she let out a soft sigh of contentment. Drifting off to sleep, Michael pulled her closer and Grace fell asleep without realising it.

Chapter Text

“Are you kidding me?” Michael snapped at Cisco and Caitlin who were trying to look innocent, “Why did you not tell me what was going on?”

“We thought…” Cisco trailed off.

“What?” Michael demanded, “What could possibly be more important than the fact Ronnie might be alive?”

Cisco glanced at Caitlin who winced but stayed silent.

“We didn’t want to say anything until we were sure,” Cisco finally said lamely.

Michael stared at him before he turned to Caitlin, “I understand how hard this must be for you, but I’m disappointed you didn’t trust me to help.”

“After what happened with trying to retrieve Grace’s memories,” she told him, “I didn’t want you to be torn away from that.”

Michael frowned, “I can multitask,” he took a breath, “Alright, what do we know?”

Caitlin was sitting in the lounge alone when Michael stumbled across her a few hours later.

“How are you?” he asked gently, taking a seat by her side.

Caitlin shook her head, “It’s been so long since I lost Ronnie and I thought I would grab any chance to have him back but now I’m…” she sighed and turned to him, “I’m scared. He killed someone, that’s not the Ronnie I knew. I don’t know how to deal with that.”

Michael nodded and hugged her tightly, “We’ve been through a lot since the accelerator exploded and we got through it together. No matter what happens now, we’ll be here for you.”

“I know.”

“You’re not alone,” he continued, “You’ve never been alone, Caitlin. We’re your family.” Giving her a smile, he added, “You were the one who decided this for us.”

Caitlin hugged him before standing up and determination covering her face, “Let’s find him.”

Ronnie smiled as his friends hugged him, relieved to have him back with them after thinking him lost for so long.

“I see it took two people to replace me,” Ronnie grinned as he nodded over to where Barry and Grace were watching the reunion with smiles on their faces.

“You’ve met Barry,” Caitlin told him, “And this is Grace.”

Ronnie nodded, “Nice to meet you. And I look forward to getting to know you after I make up all the lost time with Caitlin.”

Caitlin laughed as Ronnie hugged her close to him. Without thought Michael wrapped his arm around Grace, who leaned against him with a smile. Ronnie glanced at Cisco who rolled his eyes and silently said he’d update Ronnie later.

“You should go home,” Michael spoke up, “Get some rest, Ronnie and we’ll put you to work tomorrow.”

“A whole night off?” Ronnie laughed.

“It’s more than some of us would get,” Cisco added with a smirk.

Grace laughed, “Well, some deserve it.”

Cisco stared at her in horror, “You’re supposed to be the nice one.” He turned to Michael, “What did you do to her?”

Caitlin rolled her eyes and smacked Cisco’s shoulder, “Why don’t we get some food and let Ronnie catch up with everything he missed.”

“Sounds great to me,” Ronnie said.

“Are you sure?” Michael asked, “We can do that later.”

Ronnie glanced at Caitlin who smiled before he shook his head, “After all the excitement of the day, I want to hear everything.”

“Flash Pizza?” Cisco turned to Barry who sighed.

“Fine, I’ll pick up the usual,” Barry told them before adding as he thought back, “Plus one double pepperoni and extra cheese for Ronnie,” he paused as Ronnie nodded enthusiastically and mused, “That sounds good, maybe two and I’ll meet you there.”

Caitlin couldn’t stop smiling as they walked into the apartment she and Ronnie had shared finally with Ronnie once more, Cisco, Michael, and Grace with them.

Dropping onto the couch, Ronnie dropped his head back and sighed, “Home.”

“I’ll get some drinks,” Caitlin told him, leaning over and giving him a soft kiss.

She headed to the kitchen, hearing the others talking in the other room and leaned against the counter taking a slow deep breath.

“Are you alright?” Grace’s soft voice made Caitlin turn, wiping the tears that had appeared in her eyes suddenly.

Caitlin nodded, “I’m so happy. I just can’t believe he’s here.”

Grace hugged Caitlin, holding her for several moments.

“Sorry,” Caitlin shook herself when Grace let her go.

“Don’t be sorry,” Grace told her, “You’re allowed to be overwhelmed right now. Someone you love, someone you lost has returned and you have every right to go through every emotion.”

Caitlin hugged Grace again, “I’m so happy that you came into our lives too.”

Grace blushed slightly before the door opened letting them know Barry had arrived.

“Grab the plates and napkins,” Caitlin told her, “Let’s go join the boys.”

With a smile on her face once more, Caitlin led the way back to the living room. She placed the beers on the table while Grace added the plates and napkins. While Caitlin sat at Ronnie’s side once more, Grace took her seat with Michael as they all grabbed some food.

“So,” Ronnie said after demolishing his first slice, “Tell me everything I missed.”

Cisco sat in the cortex staring into space, the events of the past few days playing over and over in his mind.

“How’s your brother?” Michael said letting Cisco know he was there.

Cisco shrugged, “Recovering.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I swapped one brother for basically another,” Cisco sighed, shaking his head, “I told Snart Barry’s secret.”

“And Barry understands,” Michael took a seat across from his friend, “He knows the pressure you were under.”

Cisco looked up at Michael, “Would you have given in so easily?”

“If someone was threatening Zoe,” Michael told him, “I would do anything they wanted.”

Cisco frowned, “Really?”

“She’s my sister,” Michael said softly, “She protected me from the moment we met, and if I had the chance to protect her then I would.”

Sighing Cisco stood, “I have some things to do before I head home.”

Michael rested his hand on Cisco’s arm and giving it a comforting pat but knew saying anything else was counterproductive. As Cisco left, Michael sighed checking the system to make sure they were as secure as possible now the so called ‘Captain Cold’ knew who Barry was.

“You lied to Cisco,” Grace said softly, making him turn to see her standing there.

“Why do you think that?” Michael asked, not looking her in the eye.

Grace moved to his side, “Because Zoe told me all about the little boy she first met.”

“And the fact I used to steal knives from the kitchen to protect myself,” Michael whispered, he finally looked into Grace’s eyes, “That little boy that would hurt anyone who came after the few people who cared for him. I like to think I’ve grown out of that.”

Grace rested her hand on his cheek, “I like knowing that you take care of all of us, even when we don’t know.”

Michael stared at her for a few moments before whispering, “You all mean everything to me.”

Smiling, Grace settled her head against his chest wrapping her arms around his waist and closing her eyes. Michael held her close, the wall between them meant this was as close as they let themselves be.

Cisco was still quiet after the events with his brother but then Barry’s father was suddenly abducted from prison by the Trickster who also took hostages, he pushed everything to the back of his mind. He’d not been sleeping well lately, even before everything that happened with Snart. He’d been having weird dreams that he hadn’t been able to remember but left him with a feeling of dread every morning he found hard to shake off.

“Are you alright?” Grace asked finding Cisco sitting with his head on his desk.

Cisco looked up at her, “Did Joe take Barry’s dad back to prison?”

Annoyed he ignored her question, Grace nodded, “Unfortunately, yes. We know he is innocent, but it is currently not something we can prove.”

He sighed, “We’re working on it.”

“And are you alright?” Grace asked, a little sharper this time.

Cisco shrugged, “Just a tough few weeks.”

“I know,” she consoled, “You know you can always talk to one of us, if you need to.”

“You’ve all got things going on,” Cisco waved her away.

Grace took his hand, “It doesn’t mean we don’t have time for you.” She shrugged, “I don’t think my memories are ever coming back but I don’t care anymore because my friends, you especially, have shown me I don’t need them. We’re always here for you.”

Hugging her, Cisco sighed, “You might want to tell Michael you don’t need your memories.”

Smacking his shoulder, Grace rolled her eyes, “Go home and get some rest.”

Cisco turned to her, “You think everyone would want some pizza?”

“Pizza sounds wonderful,” Grace told him, taking his arm, “You said you have some other movies you wanted to show me.”

“Always,” Cisco replied.

“What do you think?”

Caitlin turned from studying the jewellery to see Grace’s first choice of dress for Zoe’s wedding and wrinkled her nose, “Doesn’t suit you.”

“That’s what I thought,” Grace shrugged, “But I thought I would see what you thought first.”

Smiling at her friend, Caitlin said, “Why don’t you try the green one. I think that might suit you.”

Nodding Grace returned to the changing room, Caitlin pulled out her phone smiling as she saw the message from Ronnie. It was hard that he was away after he’d been thought dead for so long, but he and Professor Stein needed to learn how to control their new abilities and being away from Central City at the moment was for the best. She missed him, but they talked each day several times and he promised he would be home soon.

She had been happy to help Grace find an outfit for Michael’s sister’s wedding which was coming up in a few months. Especially as it meant she got away from whatever was going on with Iris, Barry, and Eddie as well as Felicity and Ray.

“Well?” Grace’s voice pulled Caitlin out her thoughts,

Looking round, Caitlin smiled, “That’s much nicer.”

Grace gave her a quick smile before turning to the mirror, “I do like it but…”

“But?”

“I’m not sure,” Grace told her.

“We got several options still to try,” Caitlin reminded her, “Put on the red dress next, I really like that one.”

Grace nodded and disappeared once more. It only took a few more minutes before Grace stepped out and Caitlin smiled nodding.

“That is perfect,” Caitlin breathed, “You look gorgeous.”

Grace blushed slightly, “I do like this one.” She turned to look at herself in the mirror amazed by how flattering the dress was and, from her research, was the right type of thing to wear to a wedding.

“Do you want to try on the last two?”

Grace pursed her lips in thought before nodding, “I would.”

Caitlin grinned and motioned Grace back inside the changing room.

“Thank you for helping me,” Grace said as she carried her new dress out the shop, “I wouldn’t have been able to do that on my own.”

“It was fun,” Caitlin told her, “We don’t really get to do things like this much. Not since you first came to the city.”

Grace chuckled, “You mean when I landed on your doorstep with no knowledge of who I am or where I come from?”

Caitlin shrugged, “No matter how you came here, I’m glad you did.”

“We’re not needed right now,” Grace said softly as they walked along the street, “How about we get something to drink?”

“Oh,” Caitlin nodded, “The Strawberry Café is just along here, and they have the most amazing cakes.”

Grace nodded, “I read a review of it, I just hope we can get in.”

“Even if we can’t find a seat, we can get some cakes and go back to mine,” Caitlin told her definitively.

“That sounds like a plan,” Grace grinned.

Reaching the small café, Caitlin led them inside hoping they could find a seat.

Chapter Text

They were all still in shock.

Harrison Wells was not Harrison Wells.

Instead, he was the man who had murdered Barry’s mother who they had been chasing for so long. Finding the Time Vault and the advanced AI Gideon had been surprising, then trying to survive what the man they now knew to be called Eobard Thawne sent their way to distract them, the past few weeks had been exhausting and tense.

Thanks to help from Oliver Queen and Firestorm, they’d managed to capture Wells locking him in their metahuman jail. Barry headed down to talk to him and they listened to Wells or Thawne, whoever he was, offer Barry the one thing he wanted. Michael felt Grace’s hand grip his tightly as Barry walked back into the room.

“You can’t change time,” she stated definitively.

Joe turned to her, “I know it sounds extreme but saving his mother is something that Barry has to do.”

Grace shook her head, “It’s not a good idea. Changing time, even one small event creates ripples that can and will have consequences we cannot even imagine.”

Michael stared at her, “Grace?”

“This is something I know,” she stated turning to the man struggling to make the decision, “Barry, please understand that I want you to be able to save your mother. I do. But I also know, deep down inside me, that altering time is a very bad idea.”

Barry hugged her before leaving the room without a word.

“Grace,” Michael said softly, confused by the tears in her eyes, “Have you remembered something?”

She shook her head, “It’s just a feeling. I’m sorry,” she whispered to them, “Please understand.”

“We do,” Cisco assured her, “I also agree with you. Changing time is a bad idea but not as bad as trusting Wells.”

Michael let out a long sigh, “It’s Barry’s choice.”

Grace frowned at him, “Michael…”

“I’m sorry, Grace,” he said, “I understand why you’re concerned but, when this all started, we agreed that Barry is our leader. We advise but ultimately, it’s his call.”

Shaking her head, Grace whispered, “Then I hope he makes the right choice.”

Wells looked up as the doors opened and he smiled imperceptibly.

“I was wondering if you would come,” he noted as Michael stood there holding the Big Belly Burger food bag.

Michael stared coldly at him stating, “Just delivering your dinner. Since it was agreed that starving you wasn’t ethical.”

He placed the bag in the slot, closing it and pushing the button activating the panel on the other side to open so that Wells could take his dinner.

“It intrigues me,” Wells noted before Michael could leave, “I know all about Barry, of course. I know everything about Joe, Iris, Cisco, and Caitlin as the people who help him. But you, I have no idea why you’re here, or Grace for that matter. In all my studies of the so called ‘Team Flash’, there is no mention of either of you.”

“You hired me,” Michael reminded him coldly.

Wells nodded, “I hired multiple people and none of them stayed after the accelerator exploded. You did and then an unknown woman with no memory appeared.”

“Do you know who she is?” Michael demanded.

Turning away for a moment, Wells turned back and shrugged, “I don’t have a clue and that vexes me.”

Michael sighed, “Well, this has been a pointless conversation.”

“There is however something very familiar about you, Michael,” Wells continued, “Something that I can’t work out and I have been trying since day one when you walked through those doors.”

Shaking his head, Michael noted, “I’m no one. I work with amazing people but I’m no one special. I never have been.”

“You may not believe it,” Wells mused, “But there is something unusual about you, I can sense it. You don’t belong here, Michael. If you do work it out, leave me a message I can pick up.”

Michael stepped towards the cell, so they were face to face, “Go to hell.”

“I’m going home,” Wells told him, “And finally getting out of hell.”

Michael stared at the completed Time Sphere, as Cisco had instantly named it, working on it had been almost instinctive and parts of it he didn’t even need Wells’ instructions. He and Cisco finished the final checks while Joe stood guard.

He grimaced, feeling his jaw lock as Wells stepped out of his cell, once more dressed in his yellow Reverse Flash suit and examined their work as though he was still their boss and not their enemy.

“It’s beautiful,” Wells breathed, about to continue before he paused and frowned.

“What?” Cisco demanded coldly.

Wells mused, “I could have sworn I knew who built the original one.”

“As interesting as this conversation is,” Michael said, “It’s time for you to leave.”

Shaking his head, Wells reminded him, “I’ll work out who you are at some point.”

As a helmet with wings on it suddenly appeared through the wormhole, Joe demanded, “Now what the hell is that?”

Wells winced, “That's my cue to leave. Thank you, Cisco, Michael.”

“Don't ever come back,” Cisco told him coldly.

They moved out of the way as Wells started the sphere aiming it to the wormhole. Suddenly Barry flew out of the wormhole and the world went crazy.

Eddie was dead. Wells/Thawne was dead. Ronnie was dead…again.

The large singularity had closed, leaving the city in a mess, and Team Flash shattered even more. Grief stricken Iris held onto her father, as Joe did his best to comfort her. Caitlin was once again pushing her own grief to one side as she checked on Stein, before making Barry go to the cortex to have a medical check after what had happened.

Michael, not knowing what to do at that moment, just started to clean up Star Labs. He heard a noise and turned to see Cisco appearing through the door. Silently he began to help clean up. They worked for a few hours in silence before Cisco suddenly punched the wall.

“Did you break your hand?” Michael asked as Cisco danced around.

Cisco grimaced as he held his sore hand under his arm, “Don’t think so. Couldn’t even do that right.”

Sighing Michael dropped to sit on the floor, “He got to all of us. I can’t stop thinking about him questioning why I was here. As though I don’t belong here with the people who’ve become my family.”

Cisco sat at his side, “Today has just been…”

“Yeah,” Michael sighed, before he pushed himself off the floor, “Okay, we all need to get out of here. Let’s get food and go anywhere but here.”

Nodding Cisco accepted Michael’s help off the ground, “Sounds like a plan.”

Heading up to the cortex, they found Caitlin working on the computer while Grace hovered.

“Where are Barry and Professor Stein?” Michael asked seeing neither man was there.

“Clarissa picked Stein up so he could rest, Barry left,” Caitlin told them mechanically, “I’m just finishing ensuring all his tests show no ill effects after…after…”

“We’re going to get some food,” Michael gently moved her from the computer while Cisco shut the system down, “Come on. Let’s get away from here.”

Caitlin nodded, taking her bag and jacket from Grace allowing Michael to lead her out of the building.

They’d come to Michael and Grace’s flat, picking up Chinese food from the restaurant they always bought food from. They all took their normal seats, Cisco in one chair, Catlin in the other while Grace and Michael sat side by side on the couch eating mostly in silence as every time someone tried to start a conversation it fizzled out quickly.

“I guess we all need to find new jobs,” Cisco noted, “Wells owned Star Labs so no idea what happens now with the place. I doubt the new owners will want the people who were there when it blew up twice working for them.”

“Which will be an issue with my visa,” Michael groaned, “I have some time but you’re right about that.”

Grace winced.

“What?” Caitlin asked her concerned.

“It’s selfish,” Grace shook her head before continuing as they all stared at her, “But I was worrying where I will go if Michael has to leave the country.”

Cisco rolled his eyes, “We’d work something out.”

Michael wrapped his arm around Grace, hugging her close, “You never have to worry about that. Trust me I will find a way to stay here with you.”

She smiled at him, closing her eyes as she settled against his shoulder, neither noticing Cisco and Caitlin roll their eyes.

“Has Barry answered any of your messages?” Michael asked Cisco suddenly.

“No,” Cisco sighed, “But Joe sent me one. Barry is at his helping comfort Iris.”

Caitlin nodded before the tears she’d been holding back finally came. Grace moved to her side and hugged her tightly as the two men crowded round to support her.

They stayed wrapped in a group hug as they grieved.

Two months had passed since the singularity had appeared in the skies of Central City. Things had, for the most part, settled down. Michael and Caitlin both managed to secure positions in Mercury Labs, Cisco was working with Joe in the meta-human taskforce that the CCPD had put together while Joe had also managed to get Grace a job as an administration assistant with the CCPD.

Although things had settled Barry was avoiding them all, Caitlin wasn’t talking to anyone other than Michael but only because they still worked together.

The Flash was still out there protecting the citizens, but Team Flash was no more.

Zoe, as well as his parents had called once the phone systems were back up to check on them after what they saw happening in the city he now lived.

It took him three hours to assure them that he, Grace, and the rest of his friends were safe to be in the city, that the danger was gone and definitely not to get on a plane.

As Grace’s job was no longer connected to his, they no longer had the same schedule, so it had changed the dynamic of the flat. There were days that it felt they barely saw one another, Grace had even become a passable cook since she had to make her own meals some nights. It did however mean they were able to have some nights out that weren’t interrupted by calls back to Star Labs for the next crisis.

Michael soon discovered it was time for his sister’s wedding. Grace was meeting him at the flat and he was heading there once after he finished shutting down things in his lab. Zoe had called the night before where Michael had a quick hello and how are you before he was waved away so she could talk to Grace. He had been stunned by how long they talked, only given the phone to say goodbye to his sister and confirm their flight details for the next day.

He was looking forward to seeing his family, and to introduce Grace properly to his parents as they had spoken briefly over the phone.

Finishing up everything he needed to, Michael shut down the computer and said goodnight to his new colleagues. Heading to the lift he was surprised as Caitlin was walking towards him. Although she spoke to him when it came to anything their respective labs were working on, other than that she avoided him.

“Hi,” she said softly, “I have to…”

“I’m heading to New York for Zoe’s wedding,” Michael told her, “You don’t have to actively avoid me for the next few days.”

Caitlin sighed, “At the moment, it just feels…”

“I know,” he replied, “I understand being around us right now is hard.”

She nodded, “When I see you all, I remember what I lost that day, and it hurts more that Ronnie is gone.”

Michael rested his hand on her shoulder, “You know that we are here for you, no matter how long you need.”

Caitlin gave him a soft smile before hugging him, “Thank you.” Letting him go, she gave him a knowing look, “Go and see your sister get married, have fun but maybe get out of your own way and see what’s waiting for you.”

“Caitlin…”

“Trust me,” she cut him off, “Life is short. I know this better than anyone, and you are allowed to be happy, Michael. You both deserve to be.”

“I’ll see you when I get back,” Michael told her.

Caitlin nodded, “Enjoy the wedding.”

Squeezing her hand, Michael stepped into the now open elevator and hummed to himself as he looked forward to seeing his family.

Chapter Text

Grace had never flown before and was a little overwhelmed by how busy the airport was, but Michael kept his arm around her until they were settled in their seats. She gripped his hand tightly as the plane began to taxi along the runway but, once they were in the air, she relaxed. The flight was around two hours long and, before they knew it, they were in New York heading to the hotel.

Michael smiled when they stepped into the lobby and saw his parents, he intended to call and let them know once they were settled in their rooms, he hadn’t expected to see them so quickly.

“Michael,” Donna Williams rushed over and wrapped her arms around him, she was a petite woman whose once auburn hair was now white but exuded warmth.

“Hi, Mum,” he hugged her tightly, while he now towered above her, her embrace still made him feel completely safe. He was then hugged by Ian Williams who was the same height as him, “Hi, Dad.”

“You’re looking well,” Ian told him before asking with an amused grin, “And your friend is?”

Narrowing his eyes because he knew Zoe would have told them everything, he turned to Grace who was standing watching their reunion with a smile.

“This is Grace,” he introduced, “My friend and roommate.”

Donna stepped forward and hugged Grace, “It’s lovely to finally meet you, dear. Zoe and I are getting our hair and make-up done for the wedding tomorrow morning, so we added your name to the list.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Grace said, looking a little stunned.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Ian shook her hand, “How about we let you check in and we’ll meet you in the bar for some lunch.”

Michael nodded, smiling as his mother hugged him once more.

The hotel room was beautiful, Grace thought as she stepped inside. It had a large bed, a small desk and comfortable chair facing a large television, a large bathroom with an enormous tub and the window looked out over the city.

She put her small case on the bed and unpacked everything, hanging her dress for the next day in the wardrobe before she freshened up. She refixed her hair just as a knock came on the door, announcing Michael was ready to head down to the bar.

“Are you coming?” he asked when she opened the door to him.

She nodded before noting, “I can get something to eat elsewhere, if you want to spend time alone with your parents.”

He shook his head, sliding his arm through hers, “You’re here to shield me from my mother’s matchmaking attempts or their questions about the events in Central City.”

Chuckling Grace assured, “I will protect you.”

They headed down to the bar and the moment they stepped through the door they were attacked by an excited Zoe. Michael let go of Grace’s arm just in time to catch his sister in a tight hug.

“You’re here,” she cried, “I was getting worried, even though I knew your flight wasn’t due until this morning, but I knew if you missed that flight, the next one would mean you wouldn’t get here until early tomorrow.”

“Breathe, Zo,” Michael told her, as he set her down once more, “And hi.”

She giggled before turning to Grace and saying, “I’m so glad you came too. Did Mum tell you we’re getting our hair and make-up done tomorrow?”

“She did,” Grace told her, “And I’m looking forward to it.”

Zoe hugged her to Grace’s surprise before taking her arm and leading them to the table where Michael and Zoe’s parents were waiting.

Grace watched with a smile as Michael was hugged again by his mother before taking their seats.

“Where’s Steven?” Michael asked his sister.

“Picking his grandmother up from her house,” she said, “She lives about an hour away and doesn’t trust public transport or hired cars. So, Steven is picking her up and his dad will take her home tomorrow.”

Their conversation paused as they ordered their food and drinks, Grace watching the easy interaction of Michael with his family. He was completely relaxed with them, bantering back and forth with his sister. It was so nice to see this side of him, and she looked forward to seeing more over the next few days.

Michael hummed to himself as he grabbed his key for the room before he went next door to get Grace for dinner. This was the pre-wedding family dinner which Zoe had arranged so they could meet Steven’s family before the big day. Thankfully tonight’s dress code was smart but casual so it meant he could wear his jeans and the red shirt Grace had picked out for him since he had to wear a suit tomorrow.

Grace opened the door a few moments after he knocked. Michael smiled seeing her in a pair of black jeans with a sparkly black top.

“What?” she asked when he said nothing.

He shrugged, “You look…” he paused and finished with a smile, “Smart but casual.”

Grace laughed and slid her arm through his, “So do you.”

Heading down to the private dining room Michael took a deep breath, being with his family was easy but this was now Steven’s family, he just hoped Zoe had explained who Grace was, so they didn’t go through the awkward discussion.

“Mikey,” Steven greeted him with a grin, before adding quickly, “I know don’t call you Mikey.”

“And one of these days you’ll remember that.” Michael replied with a roll of his eyes but hugged his soon to be brother-in-law back.

Steven clapped Michael’s shoulder before turning to Grace, “It’s great to see you again.”

“And you,” Grace accepted his hug, “Are you looking forward to tomorrow?”

He glanced over to where Zoe was talking with an elderly woman, and grinned, “Can’t wait.”

Michael smiled distracted by his own parents coming over to greet him and Grace.

“Mom, Dad,” Steven reappeared with a couple following him, “This is Zoe’s brother, Michael and this is Grace. These are my parents Jack and Sarah.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Michael shook their hands as Grace gave a soft smile.

“Oh,” Steven added before his parents could say anything, he turned to the woman Zoe was accompanying to her, “This is my grandmother, Dodi.”

The elder woman gave them a smile, “Zoe talks about you so much. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“And you,” Michael said softly.

Zoe grinned, “Now we’ve done all the introductions, let’s eat.”

Amused by his sister, Michael offered his arm to Steven’s grandmother and escorted her to the table.

Zoe dropped onto the seat beside Grace after dinner, “Why are you hiding here alone?”

“I’m simply having a seat while your brother gets me a drink,” Grace told her.

Chuckling, Zoe motioned to the bar, “He’s been kidnapped by my fiancé and soon to be father-in-law.”

Grace smiled at the happy look on the other woman’s face, “It’s wonderful how happy you are.”

“I wish you and Michael were this happy,” Zoe told her.

“It’s complicated,” Grace whispered.

Zoe took her hand, “You know Michael’s adopted.”

Grace nodded, “He has the photograph of the family with his adoption papers on the mantlepiece.”

“Well,” Zoe continued, “We have always done our best to make sure he knows how much we love him, but he still has a fear of people leaving him.”

“My lack of memories means I may have family out there,” Grace whispered.

“Then where the hell are they?” Zoe demanded, she grimaced, “Sorry, I just mean Michael said a friend in the police did all these searches to find your family and no one appeared to claim you. You shouldn’t put your life on hold on a maybe.”

Grace sighed, “I know.” She glanced over to where Michael was still deep in conversation before asking, “He doesn’t talk about it, but did he ever look for his real parents?”

Zoe nodded grimly, “When he turned eighteen, I agreed to help him, but we found nothing. The strangest thing about it though is that the police who brought him to the home never existed.”

“What?”

“We tried to track them down to see if they could give us any information about when they found him, but the details given by them when dropping him off at the home were for different officers,” Zoe explained.

“How strange,” Grace murmured softly.

Zoe shrugged, “It made him wonder if they were his parents and telling the people at the home that they’d found him on the streets was a way to hide that fact. You’re not the only one missing memories, he doesn’t know anything about his life before coming to the home.”

Before Grace could reply Michael returned and handed Grace a glass of wine, “Sorry, I was caught by Steven.”

“Zoe kept me company,” Grace smiled at him.

Michael looked at his sister suspiciously, “Should I ask which secrets you spilled?”

Smiling sweetly Zoe patted his cheek, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

The morning of the wedding dawned with bright sunshine and barely a cloud in the sky. They met for breakfast, the bride and groom’s families eating at different times to keep the couple apart until the actual ceremony. They weren’t having a traditional ceremony but both mothers insisted that they didn’t see one another on the day until the actual wedding. Zoe finally agreed to get them to stop pestering her.

After breakfast, Grace joined Donna and Zoe to get her hair and make-up done.

Grace spent most of the time laughing as they told her stories about their family, especially about Michael growing up. She enjoyed having someone fix her hair and make-up, then having Donna fuss around her to ensure her dress was sitting right.

“Okay,” Zoe’s voice interrupted them, “I’m ready.”

The door opened and Grace sighed, “You look amazing.”

Zoe beamed at her as she stood wearing a simple, elegant white dress with small diamond embellishments around the bodice.

“Thanks,” Zoe grinned, “I love this dress so much. Mum, what do you think?”

Donna shook her head, trying not to cry and took the tissue Grace handed her.

“That says everything,” Zoe hugged her mother, “I can’t believe I’m getting married today.”

Donna managed to pull herself together enough to say, “Neither can I, baby girl.”

Michael smiled as his father fixed his tie, despite the fact it was already sitting perfectly.

“Do you remember the first time we got ready for a party?” Ian asked.

Nodding Michael chuckled, “I hated being dressed up. I just wanted to hide in the hotel room.”

Ian laughed, “I’m guessing not much has changed.”

“It’s for Zoe,” Michael shrugged.

As his father checked his own tie in the mirror, Michael thought back to the party his father had brought up. He’d only been with the family for about three weeks when they headed up to Edinburgh for Aunt Josephine’s 70th Birthday party. He’d been fascinated by the train journey and the hotel but did not want to go to a family party. Donna had bought him new clothes, while Zoe told him about the family members that he was going to meet not realising that he was utterly terrified of the prospect. As they entered the party that night, Michael gripped Ian’s hand as he hid himself behind the man’s leg. It was that night he was introduced as their new son for the first time and Michael realised that he was might not be sent back after all.

“Well,” Ian nodded, “Let’s go join the ladies and we can get this party started.”

Following his dad, Michael waited as Ian knocked on the door to the room his mother, Zoe and Grace were getting ready in. His mother opened the door and Michael smiled at the adoration on his father’s face.

“As beautiful as our wedding day,” Ian smiled leaning in to kiss his wife.

Donna grinned back before letting them in to where Zoe was waiting, looking radiant in her wedding dress.

“Oh, my darling girl,” Ian moved to his daughter and hugged her.

Zoe laughed before turning to her brother, “What do you think?”

“You clean up well,” he teased before hugging her.

Zoe laughed before murmuring in his ear, “I’m not the only one.”

Before he could retort he felt her nudge him and turned to where Grace was watching the family. He blinked taking in how beautiful she looked and offered his arm.

“Shall we take our seats?”

Grace took her seat beside Michael in the front row of the room decorated in silver and purple watching Steven bounce nervously beside the officiant. The strains of music began, and Michael laughed softly at the song that was played.

“Why is this so funny?” Grace whispered to Michael.

“Long story,” he replied softly, “I’ll tell you later.”

The door at the back of the room opened and Zoe appeared flanked by her parents who walked her down the aisle where her groom was waiting for her. Reaching the end of the aisle, Zoe hugged her parents before turning and taking Steven’s hands in hers.

“Friends and family,” the officiant started, “Today we are here to celebrate the union of Steven Fields and Zoe Williams. They have written their own vows so Steven, if you would go first.”

Taking a deep breath, Steven said, “Zoe and I first met at school when I was dragged away from New York by my parents to live in London for a year. I knew who she was, and we talked every so often,” he started with a smile, “And when I left, she was just one of the people I met during the year I’d been dragged away from my real life. Then I took a job back in the UK and we met again where I realised what an amazing woman she had grown up to be. What I’ve never told anyone is that on my first day, while heading to work, I looked the wrong way to cross the road and nearly got knocked down. That same day I met Zoe again and, because of my ‘near death experience’, I decided to ask her out which I know I’d never have done any other time.” He paused with a chuckle, “I decided in the moment that I had to take the chance and look where I am now. Zoe, you are my favourite person to be with, the one I want to talk to last thing at night and first thing in the morning. You make every moment better just by being you and I love you more each day.”

He took the ring from the officiant and slipped it onto Zoe’s finger.

Zoe bit her lip and took a slow breath before she said, “Anyone who knows me knows I never wanted to get married because I never thought I could spend the rest of my life with one person. Then I met you, Steven and realised that I didn’t want to live my life without you in it. You make me laugh, you make me feel safe and of course the most important thing in life, as my mother taught me, you can cook.”

A ripple of laughter went through the room as Zoe took the ring from the officiant.

“I love you too,” she said, sliding the ring on Steven’s finger, “And I can’t wait for our life together.”

The Officiant smiled, “With these rings you have bound your hearts together, with the pledges of love you have made I pronounce you husband and wife.”

As the room applauded Steven kissed Zoe. Grace glanced at Michael who was watching his sister with a proud smile. He turned to Grace, wrapping his arm around her hugging her close and she made a decision.

Chapter Text

Once the ceremony was over, the guests were taken into a reception room while photographs were taken. Zoe insisted that Grace be in the family photos, and although she agreed ensured they took some without her. After they had their meal, where Grace was sat with the family at Michael’s side, they had some time before the party and Grace decided to take a walk in the gardens of the hotel.

“Can I join you?”

She turned in surprise to find Donna walking towards her, “Of course.”

“It’s been a wonderful day,” Donna said as they strolled along the paths through the flowers.

Grace nodded, “Zoe looked beautiful and they’re both so happy.”

Donna beamed, “I almost can’t believe that’s my little girl.” She gave a small sigh and shook her head, “I sometimes think they’re still kids and I look around to find that they’re both adults with lives of their own.”

“You have raised two wonderful people,” Grace told her, “They care for and look after others, that comes from you.”

Donna smiled before telling her, “Actually Michael has always looked after people. When he was in the children’s home, I remember watching him help one of the younger boys with his reading. He had no idea I was there. I had only stopped there to drop off some forms required for fostering him.” She sighed at the memory, “He was just so kind and encouraging.”

“He still is,” Grace breathed.

Donna took the younger woman’s arm, “We should get back or we’ll miss the first dance and Zoe will never forgive me.”

Grace allowed herself to be moved back inside to the reception room that was now set up for the evening. The band were in one corner and the tables had been moved around the room so that there was a dance floor. Ian and Michael were talking with the band when they walked into the room.

“I wonder what they’re up to,” Donna mused, shaking her head and shrugging, “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

Steven’s parents joined them but before they could start talking the lights dimmed and the wedding co-ordinator tapped the microphone to get everyone’s attention.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said, “For the first time, please welcome to the dance floor Mr and Mrs, Steven and Zoe Fields.”

Grace joined in the applause, smiling as she watched the couple step into the centre of the dance floor, and into one another’s arms. The piano started and the couple swayed together. When the singer began, Grace turned in surprise. She knew that voice, she heard it every day when he made dinner for them or when he was thinking.

She stared in amazement to see Michael sitting at the piano, playing, and singing for his sister’s first dance. Grace watched him, unable to tear her eyes from him. When the song finished, everyone applauded. Michael stood, dipped his head quickly before he left the stage area and moved to Grace’s side.

“I didn’t know you could play,” she whispered.

Michael shrugged, “I learned when I was a kid, I don’t really have as much time to play as I used to, but I had to for Zoe.”

“Mikey!!!!” his sister rushed over to him, she hugged him tightly, “I can’t believe you did that. I know how much you hate to perform in public.”

He hugged her back, “It was for you.”

Zoe laughed before she sniffed, “I’m trying not to cry.”

Michael pulled out of their hug and shrugged, “Go and enjoy your party.”

The party had ended, the guests were gone, the parents had headed up to their rooms leaving Zoe, Steven, Michael, and Grace in a small booth in the residents’ bar.

“I still can’t believe you sang and played our first dance,” Zoe said, as she cuddled up to her husband.

Grace rolled her eyes, “I can’t believe I didn’t know you played the piano. When did you practice?”

“Whenever you went out with Caitlin and when our schedules meant I was at home alone,” he told her.

Zoe laughed, “Typical of you, hiding your talents.”

Michael frowned at her making Zoe laugh even more.

“Okay,” the bride announced, “It is late, and I want to take my new husband up to the honeymoon suite…”

“We do not need to know,” Michael cut her off before standing and hugging her, “I’m happy for you. See you in the morning.”

The small group hugged and said goodnight before the newly married couple headed up to the honeymoon suite, on the other side of the hotel from where Michael and Grace were staying. They stood in the elevator in silence before walking towards their rooms when it reached their floor.

“I’m really glad you came,” Michael told her as they stood outside her room.

Grace grimaced slightly, “I need to talk to you.”

“Now?”

Nodding, Grace opened the door and motioned him inside. Michael did as he was told and moved to the small desk leaning against it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked concerned, “Are you okay?”

“What Steven said today about taking chances,” Grace said, moving towards him slowly, “I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel the way I do about you.”

“Grace…”

“Let me finish,” she stopped him, “For a long time the mystery of my past has been a wall between us. Not knowing who I am or if I was in a relationship with someone always held me back. I don’t want to do that anymore.” She stared up at him with wide grey eyes, “I want to live my life, this life and I want it to be with you.”

“But what if…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Grace cut him off again, “Anything could happen to either one of us. We know this after what happened with Caitlin and Ronnie.” She touched his cheek, “If one day I get my memories back then we will deal with it, but I don’t want to spend all my time scared that they will take you away from me. I want to be with you. I want to love you.”

Michael stared at her for a moment before he leaned closer and touched his lips to hers in a soft kiss. Pulling back, he breathed, “I don’t want to lose you.”

“We can’t see the future,” Grace reminded him, “Michael, if you don’t feel the same then tell me but if you do…”

This time Michael cut Grace off with a kiss, his arms wrapping around her waist as Grace slid her arms around his neck, their kiss deepening.

“I’m taking that as a yes,” Grace smiled when they parted.

Michael let out a soft breath, “You’re right. We can’t know and I loved having you here this weekend. Being part of my family.” He paused and admitted, “I love you.”

Grace beamed, “I love you too.”

He kissed her once more, and Grace pulled him over to the bed.

She wasn’t letting him go.

Michael woke slowly, feeling the warmth of Grace cuddled up beside him and he smiled. He’d dreamt of this for so long but never thought it would happen. Opening his eyes, he watched Grace shift slightly against his chest.

They’d not done anything more intimate than kissing; it had been a long day and they were both tired but falling asleep together had felt perfect. They had in many ways been a couple already and this was just them taking that final step towards it.

“Morning,” Grace said softly when she opened her eyes.

“Morning,” Michael kissed her.

Grace moaned happily before she asked, “What now?”

“Now,” he told her, “We go down for breakfast, see my family, then sort everything to head home.”

Grace leaned on her elbow and asked directly, “And when we get home, what then?”

“What do you want?”

“To wake up every morning like this,” she told him, “To be a proper couple.”

Michael nodded, “As long as you’re sure.”

Rolling her eyes, Grace pushed him so he fell back against his pillow before she slid onto him and smiled down, “Completely,” she said before kissing him once more.

About an hour later, Michael went back to his own room to shower and dress before returning to Grace’s room so they could go for breakfast. The moment Grace opened the door, he leaned in and kissed her.

“I like that,” she chuckled, sliding her hand into his as they started walking towards the stairs.

“Me too,” he replied before groaning slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

Michael shook his head, “Zoe is going to be absolutely insufferably smug.”

Grace chuckled and leaned against him, “I’ll protect you.”

“Good,” he smiled before leaning over to kiss her once more.

They’d said their goodbyes after checking out of the hotel, Donna and Ian had hugged Michael tightly before letting his sister embrace him while Grace was hugged by his parents. They were all very happy about the shift in their relationship, although Zoe had promised extreme pain to her brother if he hurt Grace.

Reaching their flat, Grace let Michael put their cases down before she pulled him into an embrace.

“Grace,” he chuckled, as she kissed him.

“We are returning to work tomorrow,” she reminded him as she took his hand moving him towards the main bedroom, “And I have some idea how to spend the time.”

Michael didn’t get a chance to reply as she kissed him again, her hands pulling his t-shirt out of his jeans as he undid the buttons on the blouse she was wearing.

“Are you sure?” he murmured just before she pushed him onto the bed.

Grace smiled as she climbed onto him, “Completely.”

Michael pulled her into a kiss, and they lost themselves in one another. The rest of the day was spent in each other’s arms talking, laughing, making love. They called in food for dinner, enjoying the change in their relationship and just being with one another, falling sleep that night wrapped in one another’s arms.

Michael picked up their drinks before heading over to the table where Grace was waiting for him. They were meeting Cisco for coffee before work, to catch up with anything that had happened while they were away. Unfortunately, Jitters was still closed after the destruction it endured during the singularity, so they were at the one Cisco rated as second best.

Taking his seat beside Grace, their fingers entwined as they talked softly. Cisco appeared and dropped into the seat across from them where Michael had sat a mug of coffee for him.

“Hi,” he grinned, “How was the wedding?”

“It was a wonderful day,” Grace told him.

Michael nodded, “It was. I’ve never seen Zoe so happy.” He took a sip of his coffee, “Dare I ask if anything happened while we were away? Has Barry talked to anyone yet?”

Cisco sighed, “Nope. And Caitlin is still avoiding me.”

“Hi,” Iris appeared at their table.

“Hello Iris,” Grace greeted her, “Do you want to join us?”

The other woman smiled, “Just as soon as I get my coffee.”

She bounced away and Cisco talked about his latest ideas he was working on at CCPD. When she returned and sat beside Cisco, Iris suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

“Are you guys together?” she asked.

“What?” Cisco cried, “When did that happen?”

Grace leaned against Michael who shrugged, “New York.”

“So much for your observational skills, Cisco,” Michael said dryly.

Cisco frowned at him.

“It’s about time,” Iris told them before Cisco could say anything, “You’ve practically been a couple since day one.”

Michal grimaced, “That’s…”

“Totally true,” Cisco cut him off before grinning, “Happy for you both.”

Smiling slightly Michael checked the time, “I have to go, or I’ll be late. See you tonight,” he leaned over and quickly kissed Grace. He turned to see Iris and Cisco grinning at him, “Not a word.”

The next few months passed quietly as the city rebuilt itself after the singularity, some of the work being done at night at high speed. Barry was still avoiding them all, while Caitlin only spoke with Michael whenever they had to at work. Cisco every so often dragged Michael in to help him with some of the devices he was creating for the police, doing his best to keep at least one of his friends.

Michael and Grace became closer, now the wall holding them back was gone the two of them began to enjoy being a proper couple. Even though before they used to go out for dinner or go to the movies it was always stated to be as friends. Now they could go to romantic restaurants and sit cosied together, Michael could wrap his arm around her as they watched a movie and, as time passed, they fell more in love than they had been before.

Things, with them at least, were perfect.

Chapter Text

“Yes…I get…” Michael frowned, “Zo…” he rolled his eyes as his sister continued to talk excitedly at him on the screen, “Zo, it is…” he sighed as his sister continued talking, “Zoe!!!” he snapped making her stop.

“You don’t have to yell,” Zoe told him.

Michael rubbed his eyes, “I am really happy you got the house, and you will be living in New York, but I am meeting Grace and our friends in ten minutes. It’s this Flash Day and I promised we’d go since they’re making it a celebration.”

She chuckled, “Sorry. I just wanted to tell you my good news, little brother.”

“It’s nice you’ll be living close,” Michael said softly, “And we might get to see each other more.”

“We can talk more later,” Zoe told him.

Michael smiled, “Bye.”

Hanging up the call he grabbed his phone and keys before stepping out into the sunny day. There was a celebratory mood in the park, Michael walked through the crowd enjoying the music and looking at the stalls of the farmers market that was set up in one corner. He hoped Barry appeared today. It had been six months since Wells/Thawne’s death, it was time.

As he headed towards the spot where he was meeting Grace, Cisco, and Joe a man suddenly slammed into him. They were about the same height, he wore a white shirt, red tie and a trench coat, his hair was bleached blond and there was a cigarette tucked behind one ear.

“Sorry, mate,” the man said, “Crowd is busier than I thought.”

With that he continued on, and Michael stared after the man for a few moments before walking on. He frowned in thought before turning to where the man had been, finding he had disappeared.

Michael looked around, trying to see what way the man had gone. Although there was a lot of people, it was not possible for someone who was so distinctive to disappear so completely. Shaking himself Michael continued across the park to where Grace was waiting with Cisco and Joe. Without a word he walked over to his girlfriend and kissed her hello before turning to the two men standing there.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“You’re fine,” Cisco waved him away as Michael wrapped his arm around Grace’s waist, “They’ve not started yet.”

“Do we know if Barry is coming?” Michael asked.

Grace shook her head, “Iris talked with him but she’s not sure.”

Cisco sighed before his head came up, looking a bit like a dog who’d caught sight of a squirrel, “Look who is here.”

They all followed his gaze to see Caitlin not far from them, standing on her own.

“I wish she would join us,” Grace said sadly, leaning against Michael who hugged her close, “She shouldn’t be alone.”

Michael kissed the top of her head, “She knows we’re here for her when she’s ready.”

As the Mayor took the podium, Michael watched hoping Barry came to accept the honour the city was bestowing upon him. They listened to the speech, and he knew they were all holding their breath as he finished, ready to present the key to the city to the Flash.

“Yes,” Grace gasped when Barry appeared.

And then, as per the way these things usually went, all hell broke loose.

There were breaches between two Earths.

Michael had listened to the stranger who’d walked into Star Labs while keeping Grace close to him. His mind was spinning as they discussed the possibility, things his mother had first told him when she was explaining her job to him. It was something that had always fascinated him, the fact that these other places could exist, and they could be created by changing one thing in the past.

Time travel and alternate worlds were concepts he loved, so the multiverse as Stein called it actually existing was something he wanted to learn more about.

“You’re thinking deeply,” Grace noted as she walked into his office, once the kidnapped officer had been saved from the newest meta breacher, and things settled down, he had retreated here to go over everything, “Tell me.”

Michael mused as she slid to sit on the desk, “I always liked the concept of time travel, but the multiverse is even better and all the breaches that are around the city, as terrifying as the prospect is, I’m fascinated.”

“I know,” she laughed.

He grimaced suddenly, “How is Stein? I know I shouldn’t be so excited about the science when he’s ill.”

“Caitlin is looking after him,” Grace assured him, “I’m going to order some dinner for everyone, what do you want?”

Michael sighed, “I will eat anything right now.”

Leaning closer, Grace kissed him, “How about the Greek restaurant you like?”

“Sounds fantastic,” Michael murmured kissing her again.

With a smile, Grace slid off the desk and left him to work.

Michael was running through a corridor; he had no idea where he was, but he knew where he was going. There were alarms sounding and he could feel heat from fire as he continued to run. The world shook and he slammed into the wall, managing to start moving again he saw a door. The world shook again throwing Michael to the ground, scrambling to his feet once more he made it through the door,

Standing in front of him was himself, but not. He looked sharper, harder, darker, sadder, and Michael was about to ask who he was when the other version of himself spoke.

“I’m sorry,” he said before he placed his hand on a glowing orb behind him.

The room filled with a bright golden light and Michael jumped.

“It’s okay,” Grace’s gentle voice came, “You fell asleep on the desk.”

“What time is it?”

Grace stroked her fingers through his hair, “Almost nine. I have persuaded Caitlin and Cisco to go home. Time for us to do the same.”

“Good idea,” he murmured, rubbing his eyes.

Frowning Grace asked, “Are you okay?”

Michael shook his head, “Weird dream.”

“Probably because you fell asleep here,” she teased, “Come on. If you have more weird dreams tonight, I’ll be there.”

Michael stood and caught her hand, pulling her into his arms, “Have I told you how amazing you are today?”

Grace laughed, “Yes but I like hearing you say that.”

Kissing her, Michael’s dream slipped away. When they parted Grace took his hand leading him out the building.

With Stein merged with his new partner as Firestorm, that was one less concern for the team. The next day, on what was supposed to be their day off, Michael and Grace were called into Star Labs joining Cisco and Caitlin as they stared in bemusement at the doppelganger of the man who had caused them so much pain.

Harrison Wells stood before them, his disdain for them was clear and his attitude was grating. What annoyed Michael most however was the way he revealed to the group about Cisco’s powers without considering Cisco’s feeling or the trauma that had activated them. Cisco had become like his brother and Michael was extremely protective of him. Once the latest crisis had been dealt with, he went looking for his friend, finding him in his lab staring at the computer screen.

“You know it helps to turn that on,” Michael said, pulling a seat over.

Cisco let out a snort, “Thought you and Grace left. Weren’t you going out for dinner?”

“We’ve got some time,” Michael told him, “I wanted to check on you.”

Shrugging Cisco replied, “I’m fine.”

“Really?” Michael frowned, “After Wells Mark Two telling us your secret.”

“I know I should have told you all…”

Michael shook his head, “You weren’t ready. We understand that. Wells, our Wells, knew how to manipulate all of us. We all looked up to him, I know you did especially because he saw past the defence mechanisms you put in place from your family, giving you a job here and nurturing your genius.”

Cisco opened his mouth to reply before sighing, “I don’t know how to control this thing,” he told his friend, “And it is terrifying because I can’t. It just happens to me when I’m not expecting it.”

“When Barry first got his speed,” Michael reminded him, “It took him time to learn to control it and he’s still learning about his gifts. It might take time, Cisco but we’re here for you. We’re your family.”

“Thanks,” Cisco smiled.

Clapping his friend’s shoulder, Michael stood turning back as Cisco let out a strange noise, “What?”

“Nothing,” Cisco said, “Your reflection looked weird in the screen for a minute, but it was just the light.”

Michael nodded, “Go home and get some sleep. You need it.”

Michael and Grace headed back to their flat, stopping off to pick up some food as they were both too tired to cook. While Grace waited for their order, Michael decided to pick up a bottle of wine from the store a few blocks away. Walking back to meet up with Grace after he bought a bottle for them, he spotted a little boy wandering towards him. He looked like he was about eight years old, with dirty blond hair and big blues eyes. Michael frowned, looking around to see if the boy’s parents were nearby but there was no one.

“Hi,” he said to the boy, “It’s very late. Are you lost? Where are your parents?”

“Daddy,” the little boy laughed and pointed to him.

Assuming the boy’s father was behind him, Michael turned finding no one there and turning back found that the boy was gone. Searching the surrounding area, Michael frowned confused before shaking himself, he must have been more tired than he thought.

“What’s wrong?” Grace asked when she met him, holding the bag with their dinner.

Michael shook his head, “Nothing. Just a long day.”

Sliding her arm through his, Grace kissed his cheek, “Then let’s go home and rest for a while.”

“Sounds good,” he murmured.

As they walked back to their flat, Michael thought of the little boy he’d seen suddenly realising that the boy had looked a bit like the pictures Michael had seen of himself as a child.

Their plan to try to stop Zoom, which Michael had thought was a bad idea especially as it had come from Harry, as Cisco had named him, had gone wrong. Zoom was dragging their friend through the streets of Central City, and Grace was desperately trying to track them in the hopes they could use the weapon they’d created to stop the other speedster before he killed Barry.

Zoom suddenly appeared in the cortex, Barry hung limply from his grip. Grace stared in horror at how beat up he looked, relieved to see he was still breathing. She could see Cisco activating the weapon they’d developed as Zoom threatened Barry and all Barry loved, but it was taking time to warm up. Michael grabbed a sedative and attempted to stab Zoom in the arm. The speedster looked at him disdainfully and, with a backhanded swipe, knocked Michael away throwing him over the desk. Grace screamed in horror as he slammed into a wall before falling limply to the ground unconscious.

Running to his side relieved to find he was still breathing, she was barely aware of Cisco shooting Zoom who dropped Barry, falling to the ground briefly before speeding away. Caitlin ran to examine Barry as Wells screamed enraged that Zoom was gone.

Cisco checked on Barry who was only alive thanks to his accelerated healing, it was awful seeing his friend looking so frail. He’d never looked this bad even when he was in the coma. Assured Barry was healing, albeit slowly, Cisco headed to the room next door where Michael was resting after being slammed against the wall by Zoom. He found Grace sitting there, the same as she had since Michael had been moved here, gripping Michael’s hand with hers.

“How is he?” Cisco asked when she glanced round at him.

Grace sighed, stroking Michael’s hair with her free hand, “Still unconscious. Caitlin says he will be fine but needs to rest just now.”

“You need to get some rest too,” Cisco told her, “Or,” he stopped her protesting, “At least go eat something. Joe brought pizza.”

Grace grimaced, “I don’t want to leave him alone.”

“I’ll stay with him for you,” Cisco promised her.

Sighing Grace reluctantly agreed, she leaned over and kissed Michael’s forehead whispering, “I’ll be back soon.”

Cisco wrapped his arm around her and escorted her out, making sure she sat down to eat. Stepping back into the room he paused to see a familiar looking man in a duster standing watching over his friend.

“Who are you?” Cisco asked warily, confused as he could see the man flicker slightly but he was Michael’s doppelganger.

“Rip Hunter,” the man introduced himself in Michael’s voice turning to Cisco, “I’m who he was meant to be.”

Cisco frowned, “What?”

“Time was changed, and my life took a different turn,” he said softly, looking down at Michael, “He became me or more accurately I became him.”

Cisco took a few seconds to get his head around the statement before asking, “Then how are you here?”

“I was a time traveller for a long time,” Rip explained, “And that leaves a mark so indelible that even the change in my timeline could not fully erase my existence from time.”

Cisco frowned in thought, “So you’re a part of him that he has no idea about?”

Rip shrugged, “In a way, I’m not always conscious.”

“Hold on,” Cisco stated, “If time was changed, then is it a good or bad thing?”

There was a heavy pause between them before Rip replied, “Because my life was changed Michael never got to meet the woman I married or have the son we shared but he never lost them either.” He grimaced before explaining, “I was trained to travel in time, I know how it works and I know everything I did during my life as a Time Master. Removing me changed all those and left a scar.”

Concern filled Cisco, “A scar in time does not sound good.”

Rip sighed, “There is a possibility that it will be smoothed over and I’ll fade away.”

“But?” Cisco demanded.

“But as you can see, I’m getting stronger,” Rip replied before sighing, “We can’t exist together, and if I could, I would leave because he deserves this life. To have friends, to have a family who love him, to have a life that is not all about being alone. This is everything I wanted but was never allowed to have.”

Cisco grimaced, “Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Cisco,” Rip said before continuing, “I have a very good idea who thought they could make a change this big with no issues and, as always, their arrogance has consequences. Consequences someone else now has to clean up because they no longer exist.”

“I have a lot of questions,” Cisco said, “But the first one that comes to mind is, does he know?”

“No,” Rip told him, “But it is beginning to affect him.”

Cisco grimaced, “What do you mean?”

“Think of it like this,” Rip stated, “Changing my timeline is like taking a rock and hitting it on an ice-covered pond. It made cracks, which the explosion of the particle accelerator opened slightly but remained mostly stable. The new breaches around the city have opened them up fully allowing the water below to bleed through.”

“Which will weaken the ice, and everything becomes bad,” Cisco finished for him with a grimace.

“Parts of my life are already bleeding through the cracks,” Rip explained, “Firstly it was only dreams but now he will be seeing things in the waking world.”

“So, we tell him,” Cisco stated.

Rip shook his head, “I don’t believe you should tell him yet.”

Before Cisco could ask any more, Rip flickered again before disappearing as Michael’s eyes opened.

“What happened?” Michael murmured.

Cisco shrugged, “That is a bit of a story.”

Chapter Text

A frantic knocking on the front door made Joe frown confused, opening it the last person he expected to be there walked past him and began to pace the living room.

“Can I help you, Cisco?” he asked,

The younger man stopped and turned to him, “I need to talk to someone. I can’t talk to Barry while he’s not well, Caitlin is busy looking after him, Grace is fussing over Michael, and well Harry is a dick.”

Joe stared at him before asking, “What about Michael?”

“It’s kind of about him,” Cisco sighed and dropped to sit on the couch.

Seeing the younger man needed a confidant, Joe sat beside him, “Tell me.”

Cisco grimaced, “Basically…”

Joe listened as Cisco explained what he’d seen while Michael was unconscious, trying to understand about timelines and the alternate version Michael was apparently carrying around with him.

“Let me get this straight,” Joe noted, “This version of Michael says there is a scar in time and it’s going to start making things bad.”

Cisco nodded, “And I want to tell him but how do I?”

Joe shrugged, “Considering I can barely get my head around the problem I’m not sure how to answer that. But I do know that Michael’s brain works in a similar way to yours and will understand all the mumbo jumbo you hit me with.”

“But how do I tell him that he shouldn’t exist?” Cisco cried, “Because basically that’s what this Rip guy has told me. And the only thing that I can think of just now to fix the problems is to change time back.”

“I wish I could tell you,” Joe told him, “But I also know you and I’m sure you will think of something.”

Cisco sighed, “I hate this power, all I get is bad information.”

Joe rested his hand on Cisco’s shoulder, “Look, kid. I know it’s not easy, but you need to talk to Michael and tell him what you know. You can’t keep this from him.”

Cisco let out a groan and dropped his head into his hands.

“I’m fine,” Michael said as Grace fussed fixing the blanket over him, “Please stop.”

“Are you sure?” her grey eyes large with worry, “Has your headache gone?”

He sighed, “It still hurts a bit, but I feel better with you here.”

Grace smiled.

“Come here,” Michael tugged her so she would sit at his side, smiling as Grace rested her head against his shoulder wrapping her arm over his waist.

Grace cuddled him before whispering, “It was a stupid thing you did.”

“I know,” Michael murmured into her hair, “But I needed to do something to give Cisco time to get the gun activated.”

Grace held him tighter, “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“I’m fine and Caitlin is going to let me go home in a few hours,” Michael reminded her.

“Where you will rest,” Grace told him sternly.

“I promise,” Michael murmured, gently pressing a kiss to her head.

Grace looked up at him and Michael kissed her, losing themselves in one another.

“Come on, you two,” Cisco’s annoyed voice broke them apart, “You know there’s other people here.”

“There was no one around when we started,” Grace said amused.

Rolling his eyes, Cisco said, “How are you feeling? Are you okay? No weird things happening?”

“Other than you asking me those questions?” Michael asked wryly.

Cisco grimaced, especially as Grace chuckled.

“Just wanted to make sure,” Cisco said, “Caitlin will be here in a few minutes to check on you and hopefully let you out of here.”

“Good,” Michael sighed, “I just want to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

On cue, Caitlin appeared with a tablet in her hands and the ‘I’m your doctor, argue at your peril’ look on her face.

“This won’t take too long,” Caitlin assured, “Grace, since you brought some clean clothes with you, why don’t you go get those with Cisco.”

Sliding off the bed, Grace quickly kissed Michael before she left him in Caitlin’s capable hands.

As she walked through the corridors with Cisco, Grace frowned confused by how quiet he was being.

“Are you alright?” she asked concerned.

Cisco jumped, “Yeah, fine.”

“You know what happened was not your fault,” Grace told him.

He shook his head, “It’s not that. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

She slid her arm through his, “If you need to talk, I’m here.”

“I know,” he nudged her with his shoulder affectionately, “But I’m fine for now. I’ll let you get Michael back to your apartment once Caitlin is finished with him.”

Grace grabbed the bag she’d brought from home, frowning as she turned to find Cisco staring into space with thoughtful expression. Worried about him, Grace knew that he would avoid talking about whatever was bothering him until he was ready to tell them.

Cisco was pacing again when Joe walked into the cortex.

“I’m guessing you haven’t told Michael yet,” Joe said as he watched the younger man wear a hole in the flooring.

Cisco stopped and turned, “I have been going over this in my head for days, and I have gone at it from every angle I can. I’ve considered maybe this Rip isn’t really a part of Michael but some evil meta who is trying to get into the inner circle and hurt us.”

“And what have you come up with?” Joe grabbed a seat.

Sighing Cisco leaned against the nearest console, “I have no idea.”

“What about your powers?” Joe asked, “Can you use them to get some answers?”

Cisco grimaced, “I don’t know.”

“Know what?” Harry asked as he walked in.

Frowning Cisco replied, “I need to work something out.”

“And what is that?” Harry demanded, folding his arms, and staring intently at the younger man.

Frustrated Cisco turned to Joe who said, “He’s trying to work out how to use his new powers to find out someone intentions.”

Harry rolled his eyes, “It’s easy. You’re the one in control of your abilities. You just have to do it.”

“Thank you so much,” Cisco rolled his eyes, “Helpful as always, Harry.”

Joe tilted his head in thought, “He might be right.”

“What?” Cisco and Harry said in unison.

“Hear me out,” Joe told them, “You’ve used your powers before when you’ve needed them, Cisco. True most of those was during times of stress but that stress is what gives you focus. Try to find that focus without the stress.”

Grimacing Cisco nodded, “All I need now is for Michael to be unconscious.”

“Why?” Harry asked.

Cisco waved him away continuing his conversation with Joe, “How bad an idea would it be to sedate him?”

“You might have an issue when Grace murders you,” Joe told him, “Then Caitlin would destroy whatever’s left over.”

Cisco leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose before he sat up, “Guys night.”

“Excuse me?” Joe asked confused.

“We do a guys’ night and I’ll try while we’re in a relaxed environment,” Cisco said.

Harry turned to Joe waiting for his answer, a slight amused smirk on his face.

“Okay,” Joe told him, “I will let you use my house for this experiment but,” he stopped Cisco from speaking, “I know nothing.”

Barry leaned back in the armchair, “This was a good idea.”

He took a drink of his soda as he was still under Caitlin’s medical supervision, and she had banned alcohol.

“Have to agree,” Michael sighed from his spot on the couch.

Cisco nodded; he had claimed a spot on the floor beside the fireplace where he could watch Michael without it hopefully being too obvious. His plan was to get his friend to relax so Cisco could maybe contact the other version of Michael.

To his bemusement, Harry had joined them, but Cisco had a suspicion that he was there to find out what Cisco wouldn’t tell him. As the guys were here Grace, Caitlin, and Iris had gone to see a movie as a girls’ night out.

Cisco sipped his beer, watching as the group talked, drank, and ate pizza. He allowed his eyes to half-close as he focussed on Michael, he could see the vague outline of someone standing next to him.

“Cisco,” Barry said, pulling him back into the room and the vision disappeared, “You okay?”

Shaking himself, Cisco nodded, “I’m fine. You want another drink?”

Before Barry could answer, Cisco jumped to his feet and headed into the kitchen.

“What did you see?” Harry demanded appearing a few steps behind Cisco in the kitchen, “And don’t try denying it, you’ve done nothing but watch him all night and you saw something.”

Grimacing Cisco explained what he’d seen when Michael was unconscious.

Harry mused for a moment, “That is interesting.”

“One word for it,” Cisco snapped, “Look, I need to talk to this Rip guy again before I tell Michael, but I don’t know how to.”

“The sedative talk makes sense now,” Harry noted, “And is probably the best idea.”

“Probably not a good thing to do to my friend,” Cisco replied.

Harry let out a soft amused snort, “If you want answers, you have to do something.”

Cisco let out a long groan, “I am so going to regret this.”

Michael turned as Grace walked into the flat, humming softly to herself.

“Hi,” he said, accepting her kiss, “Did you have a good night?”

“I did,” she wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling up at him, “The film was wonderful. And I enjoyed spending time with the girls.”

Michael kissed her again before asking, “Do you want some tea?”

“Sounds wonderful,” she slipped away from him and took her jacket off as he went to make them tea.

Michael returned to the living room, finding Grace curled up on the couch looking at her phone.

“What’s that?” he asked, catching what looked like him on the screen.

Grace turned to him and showed him the screen, “Zoe sent me some pictures from the wedding that one of her friends took. There are some wonderful ones of her and a really nice one of you with her. And this one,” she flicked through and showed him one of them dancing, “Or my favourite,” she moved the screen to the next one of them talking.

“You look beautiful,” he murmured.

Grace smiled, “I thought we could have one or two printed to place on the mantlepiece. We don’t have one of the two of us.”

Michael nodded, he had always displayed photos of people and events he felt were special. These included the photo of the day the adoption papers were signed, the day he’d graduated from university, one of him with Cisco, Caitlin and Ronnie just before the particle accelerator had gone online and one of Team Flash together.

“That’s a great idea,” he told her, “You should be there.”

“We should be there,” Grace corrected him.”

They sat drinking their tea while they flicked through the photos that they had of them, and Grace choose one from the wedding that had been taken by the professional photographer. Michael thought Grace was stunning in the picture.

After putting away their empty mugs, he took her hand and they headed to bed.

Michael slept well, he sighed happily as he cuddled close to Grace. He felt her shift slightly as she snuggled into his shoulder, her arm wrapped across his waist.

“Do we have to get up?” he murmured kissing the top of her hair.

“Not when your shoulder is such a good pillow,” a voice that was definitely not Grace said.

Opening his eyes, Michael stared at the brunette who was lying beside him.

“What’s wrong?” the woman asked confused as Michael threw himself back and fell off the bed landing on the floor with a loud thud.

“Michael?” Grace’s concerned voice came just before she appeared through the door.

Turning back to the bed, Michael saw there was no one there. Untangling himself from the sheet that had come with him, he stood and looked around the small room. The woman couldn’t have left, there was only one way out the bedroom other than out the window and they were several stories up.

“What’s wrong?” Grace asked confused.

Michael turned to her, “I saw a woman.”

“You were dreaming of another woman?” she asked archly, amusement in her face, “Should I be jealous?”

He shook his head, “I wasn’t dreaming. She was real, I could feel her, I thought you were in bed with me.”

“I’ve been up for about half an hour,” Grace told him, “Are you okay? You look scared.”

Michael shook his head, “I don’t think this is the first time this has happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw a little boy who disappeared when I turned away,” Michael explained, “And there was no way he could have gone anywhere without me seeing him. And on the Flash day, I saw a man who seemed to vanish despite it being a wide open space.”

Grace wrapped her arms around him, “Do you think this has something to do with the breaches?”

“It’s the only explanation,” he breathed, relieved that she was there and solid.

“Then we have to tell the others,” she stated, “And we will work this out, I promise.”

“What would I do without you?” he asked.

Grace kissed him, “Let’s not find out.”

Chapter Text

Cisco was pacing again, he knew he was annoying Harry, which was a bonus, but he couldn’t stop worrying. Michael was his friend, in some ways like an older brother he actually got along with.

“You know you need to ask the questions,” Harry stated, “It’s pointless doing this.”

“It helps me think,” Cisco tossed at him.

Michael walked in before Harry could snap back at him, worry covering his face.

“I need to talk to you,” he said to Cisco, before glancing back at Harry, “You might be useful for this too.”

Cisco glanced at Harry and asked Michael, “Where’s Grace?”

“She’s checking some things in the office,” Michael told them, “She…” he was cut off when Harry stabbed him in the neck with a sedative.

Cisco stared in horror as his friend fell unconscious to the ground, “What the hell?”

“Best way to do it,” Harry said, “Means he wasn’t expecting it.”

“And it apparently worked,” a familiar voice made Cisco turn to find Rip Hunter standing with a frown on his face, “But I didn’t expect anything else from Harrison ‘Harry’ Wells.”

Cisco looked from Michael to Rip and before turning to Harry, “It worked.”

“Intriguing,” Harry noted, “I can’t see anything.”

Rip rolled his eyes before he tilted his head in thought, “Cisco, touch his hand.”

“What?” Cisco demanded confused.

“What?” Harry asked.

“So we don’t spend the entire time with you repeating what I’m saying,” Rip told him, “Use your powers so he can see me.”

Cisco started at him, “I don’t know how to do that.”

Rip shrugged, “Well, you’re the one who has to repeat everything I say otherwise.”

With a grimace Cisco took a hold of Harry’s wrist, “Do you see him?”

Harry shook his head with a frown, “No.”

Turning to Rip, Cisco said, “Any other bright ideas?”

Rip looked down at the unconscious Michael before saying, “Try with me.”

Rolling his eyes, Cisco reached out to grip Rip’s wrist stunned that his hand didn’t go through and there was solid flesh beneath his fingers.

“Interesting,” Harry breathed, moving forward to study the man he could see suddenly, “You are real.”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Rip stated, “Now, I’m assuming there’s a reason you sedated my alternate so why don’t we get to that.”

Cisco shifted uncomfortably, “I need to know more about what you told me.”

“You claim Michael is here only because your timeline was changed,” Harry interrogated, “Why should we believe you?”

Rip stared at him coldly, “Other than the fact we are identical?”

“So was Eobard Thawne to me,” Harry retorted.

“Touché,” Rip murmured before adding, “It’s not exactly something I can prove when I have no physical manifestation other than through Mr Ramon.”

Harry grimaced as Cisco shrugged.

“Alright,” Harry stated, “So you’ve been following him around all his life?”

“No,” Rip replied softly, “I became aware when the particle accelerator exploded.”

“And he has no idea?”

“He may have seen me that night,” Rip said, “He was then knocked unconscious for three days so it’s doubtful he remembers it. But he is noticing now and the leaks from my timeline are getting stronger.”

Cisco frowned, “Then what do we do?”

“I don’t know,” Rip admitted, “The only option I can think of is changing the past back so that my timeline happens which would erase him. Michael doesn’t deserve that.”

“He’s you,” Harry stated.

Rip shrugged, “Genetically, yes but our lives differ greatly from the age of ten.”

A soft groan from the unconscious man on the floor made them all look down.

Harry grimaced, “I think the sedative is wearing off.”

“You may wish to explain to him before letting him meet me,” Rip said.

Cisco nodded and released Rip’s wrist who disappeared as Michael’s eyes opened.

“What the hell?” he muttered.

“You sedated him?” Caitlin demanded annoyed.

Cisco and Harry winced at the hard stare she gave them as Michael lay on the bed still woozy.

“There were reasons,” Cisco told her.

Caitlin let out a sarcastic laugh, “Oh reasons, that’s fine.”

“Please tell me your reasons?” Michael asked.

Grimacing Cisco looked at Harry and Caitlin, “Can I talk to Michael in private for a few minutes?”

Harry nodded, touching Caitlin’s shoulder he motioned her to follow him leaving Cisco and Michael alone.

“Something’s happening to me,” Michael whispered, “And you know about it, don’t you?”

Sighing Cisco pulled over the seat so he could sit beside Michael, “I do.” He pushed his hand through his hair, “You’ve been seeing odd things, haven’t you?”

Michael nodded.

“I’m not sure how to explain this,” Cisco said, “So I’m going to show you.”

Michael watched him confused as Cisco reached out and suddenly there was the man Michael occasionally had seen in his reflection standing at his side.

“Oh my God,” Michael breathed, “You are real.”

“Hello, Michael,” his doppelganger said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Sliding off the bed Michael, wobbling slightly, walked round studying the man that seemed to exist only because Cisco was holding onto him.

“Who are you?” Michael finally managed to ask.

“Captain Hunter,” Grace’s soft voice came making them turn to find her walking in the room, her eyes focussed on his doppelganger.

“You know…” Cisco started.

Michael’s duplicate nodded and smiled fondly at her, “Hello, Gideon.”

“Grace?” Michael asked confused.

She turned to him, her eyes filling with tears, “I’m so sorry.”

“I think this may be a conversation best between Michael and Gid…Grace,” his duplicate said.

Cisco let go of him and he disappeared.

“Let me know when you’re finished,” Cisco said before practically racing from the room leaving Michael and Grace alone.

Michael stared at Grace or Gideon as his duplicate had called her, “Why are you sorry?”

“Because I came here to remove you from existence,” she replied sadly.

He frowned, “Okay. I think a little more explanation would be helpful here and now. I’m guessing you have your memories back.”

She nodded, “I’m Gideon.”

“Like the AI in the time vault that Thawne brought?” he asked confused.

“In a way,” she replied carefully, “She is a sibling.”

“A sibling?”

“I was once the AI for Captain Hunter’s ship,” Grace/Gideon explained, “I became human through an accident.”

Michael sat on the bed again, “I have a lot of questions but for now, I think you should tell me about erasing me from existence because that is what’s sticking with me.”

She took a seat on the bed at his side, “The reason you don’t remember your life before the home is because you were given a drug that made you forget that you were born in Victorian London and a timeship had taken you to the children’s home. The people I was working with believed that they could hack history, as they called it and placed you there so that you would grow up to be someone other than Rip Hunter thinking it would not change their lives.”

“Which worked,” Michael replied before asking, “But I have a feeling that there is a reason it shouldn’t have.”

“Rip Hunter was a time traveller,” Grace/Gideon explained, “He had done so much that changing his future changed much more than they thought it would, despite my warnings.”

Michael mused for a moment, “Where are the people who did this?”

“They were erased from history because they only existed within that time and place due to Rip’s influence,” she shook her head, “Fools every one of them.”

He sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to get his head round all the information he was receiving. Finally, he asked, “How did you get here? Why did you have no memory?”

Letting out a long sigh, she replied, “I had very little time to ensure I would not just be erased with the rest of them. Using the core, I created a protective time bubble around myself and aimed it to Central City. Once Cisco powers developed then I knew he would be able to help me.”

“You didn’t expect the memory loss,” he noted.

“I did,” she replied, “But I placed a few triggers in my mind so that I would find Star Labs knowing the people here would look after me because they’re heroes. I assumed when Cisco had his powers then he would connect us and once I saw you, I would remember my mission.”

“What went wrong?” Michael asked before clarifying, “Because we have been together since day one without your memories returning. Unless you’ve been lying to us all this time.”

“If I had always been human then it would have worked,” she gave a slight smile, “But I was, and still am, a supercomputer, so there was one small problem with my plan.”

Michael frowned, “Which was?”

Grace/Gideon reached out and touched his cheek, “You’re not Rip Hunter. I never saw him in you, so it never triggered my memories.”

Rubbing his eyes, Michael whispered, “Do you know why I’ve been seeing things?”

“Yes,” she took his hand, “The cracks in time are centred on you, and things are beginning to seep through. You are seeing people from his life. At the moment it is people he loved but soon it will expand and there will come others who are not so friendly.”

Shaking his head, Michael pulled away, “This is too much, I need to think about this.”

“Michael,” she called when he started out the room, he turned back and she whispered, “The only way I know to fix this is to return your younger self to where he should have been where he will become Rip Hunter. I’m sorry.”

Sighing he murmured, “So am I.”

“So,” Cisco stared at the woman they’d known as Grace for the past few years and now knew was called Gideon, “You’re an AI?”

“Former AI,” she corrected, “Although my mind is still a supercomputer, I am completely human. And now I remember, my processing capabilities have returned to what they once were.”

“Then do you know another way to stop the leaks from the other timeline?” Cisco asked.

Gideon sighed, “No. There is no way to stop the cracks widening and as time goes on the leaks will become worse. At the moment they only affect Michael but soon, they will affect more people. Currently it is people who loved Rip that Michael has been connecting with, but his enemies will soon start coming through the cracks. And as the cracks widen, they might not leave easily.”

“You’re telling me as well as Zoom and the metas from Earth 2 trying to kill us, we’ll have villains from all over time?” Cisco demanded.

Gideon nodded, “Some more dangerous than you can imagine and that you are not yet prepared to deal with at this point in your time stream. I know no way other than fixing the change in the timeline than returning the child back to where he should be.”

“Then Michael is erased.”

Tears filled her eyes and Cisco realised just how badly this was hurting her. Without a word he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.

Michael walked slowly through city, not sure where he was going, he just needed out of Star Labs for a while. His mind was reeling, and he felt sick.

Michael remembered learning about time travel from his mother, it had caught his imagination instantly and he had spent every free minute absorbing every piece of information he could get on the subject. Which was why he knew that Grace, or Gideon, was right. The cracks in time would only get worse, then time would collapse in on itself and he would be responsible for the people he loved being killed in the most horrible way.

He found himself walking past CCPD, so leaned against the wall just outside watching the people coming and going as he thought through everything.

Michael sat for about half an hour before taking a deep breath knowing he had to face the music. Pushing off the wall, Michael was surprised when a hand grabbed his shoulder, and he was spun before a fist struck him in the face sending him to the ground.

Dazed, spitting out blood, he turned looking up at the actual cowboy standing there. His face grizzled and it looked as though one side of his face had been burned.

“You deserved that,” the man growled at him, “Stupid son of a bitch.”

Michael stared up completely confused.

“Where’s my coat?” the man demanded.

“What?”

“Hey,” Joe West’s voice came making Michael turn. The other man reached him and offered Michael his hand off the ground, “Are you okay?”

Getting to his feet, Michael looked round at where the man had been, as expected finding no one there.

“You okay?” Joe asked again.

Michael shook his head, “But I know what I have to do.”

Chapter Text

Gideon sat in Michael’s office looking at pictures on the tablet of Zoe’s wedding and remembering how happy they’d been that day.

She’d loved being Grace, loved having this group of people who cared about her and being in love with Michael.

“I’m sorry,” he said making her turn to find him walking into the office.

“What happened?” she demanded seeing the cut on his lip and the bruise forming on his jaw.

Michael shrugged, “One of my friends from another timeline punched me. A cowboy?”

“Jonah Hex,” Gideon told him, “There were multiple reasons behind the punch, but he was a good friend.”

Michael grimaced, “Good to know.”

“And you don’t have to apologise for anything,” she told him, “None of this is your fault.”

“It’s not yours either,” he stepped into her and took her hand, “I wish I could find another way but fixing the past is the only thing we can do. I know and accept that now.” Resting his forehead against hers, Michael sighed, “At least you’ll have your captain back.”

Gideon pulled away, tears filling her eyes, “I won’t. He’s gone. He sacrificed his life because the people he trusted wouldn’t listen or learn how to use the weapon they had before releasing the time demon.”

“What?”

“It is a complicated story,” she said.

Michael shook his head, “That’s not what I mean. He’s dead?”

Gideon nodded sadly, “And now I have to lose you too.”

Wrapping her in his arms, Michael held Gideon close gently stroking her back as she cried softly on his shoulder.

Cisco turned surprised when Michael appeared and demanded, “I need to speak to him.”

“What?” Cisco asked confused.

“Rip,” Michael clarified, “I need to talk to him.”

Cisco sighed, “Okay. Give me a second to focus.”

Michael waited for Cisco to take several deep breaths before he reached out and Rip suddenly appeared as Cisco’s hand gripped his wrist.

“Did you know?” Michael asked the moment Rip was there, “Did you know that she will be alone when I change things back?”

Rip shook his head sadly, “Not until she told you.”

“How?” Cisco asked confused.

“I’m only an echo from an erased timeline,” Rip explained, “But it does make sense. Because even if I wasn’t on board at the time, Gideon would have warned me what was going to happen so I could have intervened.”

Cisco grimaced, “Maybe she won’t remember this timeline.”

Rip sighed, “Unfortunately she will. When you return the boy back to where he should be, Gideon will be returned to the Waverider once the timeline is restored. Due to the fact she was an AI, connected to the timestream and the Oculus then she will remember everything that happened even though she will return to the same moment she left.”

“The Oculus?” Cisco and Michael asked in unison.

Rip waved them away, “It’s not important.”

“So, there is nothing I can do,” Michael whispered sadly.

“If I knew another way to fix this,” Rip told him, “I would tell you, I promise. If I could disappear from your lives and let the two of you have the happy life together that you deserve, I would.”

Michael nodded before asking, “How long do we have before things start to completely fall apart?”

“I would say about a day, maybe less,” Rip told him.

Letting out a soft breath, Michael asked, “Cisco, will the time sphere be ready?”

Cisco nodded.

“Then I have a few things I want to do before I erase myself from existence,” Michael said before turning to his duplicate, “If I knew how to…”

Rip smiled slightly, pulling his arm from Cisco’s grasp, and disappearing.

The screen showed the call was ringing and a few seconds later his parents appeared on one half of the screen and Zoe on the other.

“This is unexpected,” his mother said softly.

Michael smiled at her, forcing himself to keep his voice level, “I just felt like talking to you all.”

Ian frowned, “What’s wrong? Where’s Grace?”

“Grace is having a shower. She’s fine,” he told them, “I just…” he trailed off before lying, “We were working with Detective West today when we helped a boy who had lost his family. It just reminded me how lucky I was that I met you and just wanted to talk to you all.”

“Sweetheart,” Donna smiled warmly, “We were lucky to have you join our family. And we love you.”

Zoe nodded, “Even when you’re being annoying.”

“Thanks, Zo,” Michael rolled his eyes.

“You are one of the best things to happen to your mother and me,” Ian told him, “The other being your sister. Even when you were that scared little boy who barely talked to us, we knew you were a part of our family.”

Tears spiked Michael’s eyes and he smiled at them. Finally, he managed to say, “I’ll see you all when you visit next month.”

“We can’t wait to see you,” Donna told him, “Both of you. Bye now.”

“Bye,” Zoe grinned.

Michael watched their screens blink to blackness, and he whispered in a thick voice, “Goodbye.”

As he wiped his eyes, Grace sat at his side and wordlessly hugged him. Even though they now knew her real name, she would always be Grace to him.

“Tell me,” he breathed, “That he didn’t…doesn’t grow up alone.”

Grace gently stroked his hair, “Rip was raised by a woman called Mary Xavier who loved him, and he calls mother.”

Michael nodded in relief.

“We should probably get back to Star Labs,” Grace told him.

“Not yet,” he breathed, “I don’t want to go back just yet.”

Resting her forehead against his, Grace whispered, “I know.”

Kissing her, Michael pulled her close holding onto the woman he loved more than anything in the world, because he knew that soon they would have to say goodbye.

Gideon cuddled close to Michael as they lay wrapped in the bedsheet, trying to hold off the inevitable moment where they would have to say goodbye. She knew that the time was coming so was trying to soak up every second with him.

“I have something for you,” Michael murmured, he pulled away slightly and reached out to open the drawer in his bedside cabinet, he pulled out a small velvet jewellery box and handed it to Gideon.

Opening it she let out a soft gasp seeing the small diamond ring set amongst an intricate silver meshwork that looked like ivy nestled inside there, “Michael?”

“It’s my maternal grandmother’s engagement ring,” he explained, “It was left to me when she passed, and I asked my mum to send it to me a month ago.”

She stared at him with wide eyes.

“I’ve been planning a proposal for a long time,” he continued, “And although we won’t get to have that, I wanted you to know. Before everything changes, I want you to have this.”

Tears filled Gideon’s eyes as she tried to work out what to say, finally Michael took the box and slid the ring onto her finger.

“I love you,” he told her.

Gideon kissed him, “I love you too. And I will never forget you or the time we spent together.”

“Because you’re a supercomputer?”

She chuckled at his teasing, tears filling her eyes, and simply hugged him tightly once more not wanting to let go.

Michael’s phone began to ring, breaking them apart and he grabbed it, “Cisco?”

“I hate to interrupt,” Cisco’s voice came over the speaker phone, “But things are beginning to escalate.”

“We’re on our way,” Gideon told him.

Michael stared at the Time Sphere sitting in the middle of the cortex, Barry, Iris, Caitlin, Harry, Joe, and Cisco were waiting as he walked in with Grace.

“We’re beginning to be able to detect the cracks,” Harry explained, “And they’re about to start interacting with the breaches."

“There’ve been a few close calls already,” Barry told them.

Michael sighed, “Meaning I have to leave as soon as possible.”

Cisco nodded sadly, “I’ve programmed the sphere for the dates and times Grace…Gideon gave us.”

The ground began to shake, and Harry ran to the nearest console.

“One of the cracks has interjected with a breach,” he reported, “And we have metas converging on Star Labs. Zoom has probably realised the cracks have power he might be able to syphon off.”

Barry grimaced, “I’d better hold them back.” He hugged Michael, “Thanks for everything. I couldn’t have done this without you backing me since I got my powers.”

“Yes, you could,” Michael told him, “It’s who you are, Barry and I’m proud to have been a part of your team.”

The building shuddered again, Barry turned to Grace and hugged her in silence before he sped away.

Joe silently shook Michael’s hand before he hugged Grace. Iris hugged them both and left the room with her father.

“I don’t know what to say,” Caitlin said, moving to the couple, “I love you both. I hate that I’m not going to remember you.”

Grace hugged Caitlin tightly, “I hate it too, but I will always remember how you became my friend and sister.”

When Grace released her, Michael wrapped Caitlin in a tight hug before kissing her forehead. Harry simply nodded to them both and left with Caitlin so that only Michael, Grace, and Cisco remained.

“Here,” Cisco handed Michael what looked like a watch, “Harry and I fixed this, hopefully it will let you talk to Rip during your mission. The battery won’t last long but it should be enough.”

“Thank you, Cisco,” Michael said, “For everything. From the moment I came here you made sure I was never alone, even when I tried to be. I’m forever grateful for your friendship. And, considering your powers, you may actually remember this.”

Lost for words, Cisco hugged Michael. Cisco turned to Grace and hugged her as well, “You’re always welcome here. Never forget that. I will do my best to hold on to these memories.”

She hugged him tightly again, “Thank you.”

At the shudder surrounding them, Michael grimaced, “Cisco, can you give us a minute?”

Nodding, he left the room and Michael turned to the woman he was in love with. Grace closed the space between them and kissed him, holding on for as long as she could before the ominous shuddering of Star Labs meant they could no longer hold off the inevitable.

“You have to go,” she whispered.

“Do you know if it will hurt?” Michael asked her.

Grace shook her head, “It won’t. I promise. It’ll feel like you’re going to sleep.”

“I love you,” he told her because he needed to be sure she knew this.

“I love you too,” Grace said, stepping away from him.

Michael looked around the room, he climbed into the Sphere as Cisco appeared and wrapped his arm comfortingly around Grace. Starting the engines, he watched the world around him became waves of green before he found himself in the courtyard of a large house.

Activating the watch, relief filled him to find his duplicate at his side.

“They’re just leaving after placing our younger self here,” Rip told him, “Give them a few more minutes so they’re far enough away they won’t notice us.”

Michael nodded, “You know I used to think it was my parents who left me here.”

Rip sighed sadly, “I would have too.”

Shaking himself, Michael noted, “We should be fine now. Our younger self is in the room on the ground floor, because it was so late when I was brought here, they didn’t want to wake the other children.”

“Can you pick a lock?”

Michael smiled, “It’s been a while, but I should be able to.”

“Then let’s go,” Rip told him.

Walking slowly towards the house, Michael pulled out the small toolkit that had been left for him in the sphere. He easily picked the lock, surprised he remembered how, and snuck along the corridor to the door of the room the young boy who would grow up to be him, or more accurately this time, Rip. He found the door unlocked but as he opened the door the boy jumped up.

“It’s okay,” Michael told him, “I’m here to take you home.”

The boy looked at him with wide eyes, “Home?”

Michael nodded, “I promise.”

His younger self took his hand and allowed Michael to lead him to the Time Sphere.

“It’s okay,” Michael assured the boy, “I know it looks scary, but I promise you everything will be fine.”

Once they were both settled in the sphere, Michael set the second set of co-ordinates Grace had given them. The world outside turned green again and suddenly they were in an alleyway.

“Do you know where we are?” Michael asked the boy.

He nodded, “Behind the bakers.”

“I have to leave you here,” Michael told him, “But I’ve been told you’ll be fine.”

Confused and worried, the younger version of Michael slid out the sphere walking towards the street, glancing back once or twice.

“In two days,” Rip spoke up, making Michael jump as he’d forgotten the other version was there, “He’ll pick the wrong, or maybe right, pocket and the Time Masters will take him.”

Michael watched the little boy and felt light-headed, realising suddenly that he was being erased from time. Closing his eyes, he thought of Grace, of the time they’d spent together, of loving her and hoped she never forgot how much he loved her.

Chapter Text

Sara settled the Waverider in the time stream and unhooked herself from the pilot’s seat. As the crew wandered off the bridge to the galley to get some dinner, she went to find Gideon. It didn’t take her long, finding the former AI sitting in the library on the small couch facing the viewscreen Nate and Ray had set up for movies.

“I told you that we knew what we were doing,” Sara said as she walked over to the other woman and sitting on the other end of the couch, “We entered the time stream with no problems, and nothing changed. You were worried for no reason.”

Gideon turned and Sara saw her eyes were brimming with unshed tears before she silently turned the screen on in front of them.

Confused Sara watched as the home they’d left the little boy in came up on the screen and she gasped as a familiar man appeared.

“Rip?” she demanded but Gideon said nothing.

Stunned Sara watched Rip enter the home, the camera followed him along the corridor to a room, Sara watched as he walked the boy outside to a Time Sphere which disappeared before the screen went blank once more.

“What the hell…” Sara started, “How was Rip there?”

“Your interference changed the world,” Gideon said, her voice a monotone, “And that was not Rip on the screen.”

“He looked a hell of a lot like him,” Sara snapped before demanding, “So who was he?”

“His name was Michael Williams,” Gideon told her, “He was kind and caring, smart, funny, generous. He was the man the boy grew up to be when you left him in a place he should not have been. He learned that his life was an anomaly, that time was in danger of fracturing because of his existence, and he chose to sacrifice himself to ensure everyone he loved survived.”

Sara winced before asking, “How do you know all this?”

“You did not think I was going to let you destroy the timeline, did you?” Gideon asked angrily, “You arrogant, childish…” she stopped herself and took a deep breath. Calm once more she stated, “You are all leaving this ship. I will no longer allow you to run around as though you own time.”

Sara laughed, “What are you going to do? Gideon, I know you’re upset but we’re not leaving our ship.”

“My ship,” Gideon snapped, standing as the tears she had been holding in began to slide along her cheeks.

Sara shook her head before saying sympathetically, “I understand you don’t always agree with us, but this is our ship, Gideon and as captain I have the final say.”

“Do not patronise me, Miss Lance,” Gideon frowned, “I may not have forced the issue since I became human, but the Waverider is mine, she responds to me, and I don’t want you here anymore.”

She waved her hand and Sara winced at the bright white light that surrounded her. When the light faded, she found herself in her old apartment with the rest of the Legends.

“What happened?” Ray asked.

Sara disappeared, along with the other members of the crew, leaving Gideon alone once more. She knew it was not how she had wanted to have them leave but she had listened to them enough over the past few years to know they would never have agreed to do so.

Reaching into her pocket, Gideon removed the small box she’d made and opened it. Inside, protected from her leap through time, was a flash drive filled with photographs of those she’d loved, and the ring Michael had given her.

Heading to the medbay, to ensure that the movement through time had not done any damage to her, she slid onto the chair and attached the cuff activating the scan. Once it was complete, she stared at the results for several minutes unsure what to do, needing someone to talk to. She was surprised to receive a signal from Star Labs so slid the engagement ring onto her finger because Michael had given her it and she was forever his fiancé, before heading up to the bridge and taking the pilot’s chair. She followed the signal and gently rested the ship on the ground, ensuring to cloak it before walking to the cargo bay.

When the ramp lowered, Gideon saw Cisco standing there waiting, walking down to him she asked, “What can I do for you, Mr Ramon?”

“It’s more what I can do for you,” Cisco said before adding, “Grace.”

Relief filled her and Gideon whispered, “You remember?”

“Woke up this morning with it all in my head,” Cisco told her, “I thought you might need a friend right now.”

Hugging him, Gideon began to cry at all she had lost and what she knew was in her future.

“Sorry,” Gideon pulled back and wiped her eyes, “I’m just relieved.”

Cisco nodded, “I can understand that. Do you want to join me for a hot chocolate and a catch up?”

“That sounds nice,” Gideon told him, “And I will need your help. Michael may be gone but he gave me a gift.”

“A gift?” Cisco asked confused before spotting the sparkle on her finger, “The ring?”

Gideon shook her head, and she brought up the screen behind her on the Waverider, and Cisco let out an amazed gasp.

“You’re pregnant?”

Gideon nodded as she rested her hand on her stomach, “He never knew but it was his final gift to me.”

As she walked into Star Labs with Cisco, he smiled slightly and followed her murmuring, “Maybe not.”

Walking towards the cortex, Gideon was relieved that Cisco remembered. She didn’t know how she would have been able to deal with this on her own, but with at least one true friend then she could do this. Stepping into the cortex, Gideon stalled to see the familiar man standing there wearing his duster, white shirt, and leather jacket waiting for her.

“Captain?” Gideon whispered tearfully.

Rip smiled at her, “Hello, Gideon.”

“I don’t understand,” she gasped, “How?”

“Cisco saved me,” Rip nodded to the man standing in the doorway, “Michael made him promise to find a way to do so. Being the genius he is, he did it. Just as the core exploded, Cisco opened a portal using the information the other Gideon had from you and yanked me through it just in time.”

Unable to do anything else, Gideon began to cry and a moment later Rip had her in his arms holding her close.

“I’m sorry about Michael,” Rip whispered to her.

“Technically you are the same person,” she reminded him moving back to look at him.

He nodded as he wiped her tears, “Technically but we both know I’m not.”

“Do you remember…”

Rip nodded as she trailed off, “It’s strange, like remembering a dream. I understand why it’s happening but that doesn’t help with the information being downloaded into my mind.” He paused for a moment before breathing, “And I can’t replace what you had with him but,” he rested his forehead against hers, promising, “I will be here, you’re not alone.”

Gideon smiled sadly leaning into him for a moment before she breathed, “I will need you.” She connected to the computer and showed him the scan she had just taken. Rip stared at the screen and smiled.

Hugging her close once more, Rip murmured softly, “I’m not him but I will be with you every step of the way for you and your baby.”

Cisco appeared with three mugs of hot chocolate, “Just the way you like it, Gideon. Rip, hoping your tastes didn’t change when your timeline did.”

Rip gave a soft nod, “My sweet tooth remains.”

“So,” Cisco took a seat with them, “Now that you’ve caught up, and Gideon has shared her fantastic news, what now?”

Gideon glanced at Rip who took her hand in his, “Now, I do what Michael asked me to do and live my life never forgetting him or all that he gave me.”

Cisco nodded and lifted his mug, “To the friends we will never forget.”

“And the new ones we’re going to make,” Rip added.

“To the family I have,” Gideon said raising her mug before resting her hand on her stomach, “And the child who will join us in a few months.”

The three of them clinked mugs and Gideon smiled as Rip hugged her close knowing she would miss Michael every day, but she was not alone.