HUNTRESS.
028. | ❛ hold your horses. ❜

"What the Pilgrim did, the way she turned our attacks back on us, it was as if she was reversing time." Stein came into the main room alongside Rip and Jax. Crystal slumped into the chair with Leonard leaning his back against the side of the chair.

"It's called temporal micro-manipulation. The ability to control time in one's immediate vicinity. We are lucky to have saved Dr. Palmer and Ms. Pierce."

"So basically we have no idea who she's going after next." Sara strutted to the front

"We know it's not Rip, because he doesn't have a past to go back to." Leonard said receiving a glare from Rip, Crystal slowly grabbed his hand knowing that her touch always soothed him.

"Gideon, prepare for multiple time jumps. Plot points here, here and here." Rip tapped the tablet with various different days appearing before them.

"My birthday? Why are we..." Jax puzzled himself

"The only way to ensure you're not harmed in your past..."

"Is to abduct ourselves as newborns, thus removing ourselves from our future timelines." Stein cut Rip off,"It's brilliant."

"It's morally questionable." Rip argued

"It's suicidal. If we take too long in getting them home..." Mick said

"Then history is altered. There won't be a home to go back to. You'll disappear from the minds of everyone who's ever known you." Rip said causing Crystal's eyes to widen. She didn't have much family left but she had Luna and The Mikaelsons back in New Orleans, sure they were supernatural beings but regardless of anything they were always by her side.

"You mean, my own mom won't even know me?" Jax asked

"My wife." Stein lowered his tone to make it sound more somber.

"Yeah, and my... oh, yeah. I don't have anyone." Mick joked

"Sure as hell beats dying." Leonard huffed out
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Crystal snuck out into the generator room where her and Leonard were trapped and on the brink of dying. She huddled herself against one of the machinery, exhaling deeply, reminiscing about everything that has happened so far.

"Do you want to get locked in here again?" Leonard smirked with an alerting tone, scaring Crystal making her jump a little bit

"It wouldn't be the worse thing in the world." She said while Leonard took a seat in front of her

"After all a pretty exciting moment did happen in here," he lifted his eyebrows remembering their first kiss.

"Technically, it would have been in the armory but Kendra walked in ruining that moment."

"I always wondered, if you kissed me because you actually wanted to or because we were dying."

Crystal was taken back by his comment, she knew that it wasn't because they were about to die. It was truly her affection for the man that he was. She was drawn to Leonard's rigid attitude because it intrigued her, more so that he was almost as broken as she was.

She immediately got up and took Leonard by surprise, as she sat down in his lap and pulled him into a deep kiss. Her firm lips brushed against his, as he was taken by surprise but slowly relaxed into it.

"It sure as hell wasn't because we were dying, I love you and if I could go back in time, I would've kissed you that day we met."

"I mean we can go back in time and find out,"

"Unfortunately, I have to go and kidnap your younger baby self," she said using her baby voice and pinching Leonard's cheeks moving them side by side

"I would be careful, I'm a pretty beautiful baby."

"I'll try my best,"
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"All right, this is just like any other mission. The mark may be a newborn, but it might as well be a diamond or a microchip." Crystal said leading herself, Sara and Kendra to the babies.

"You know what? Ever since you've started dating you're starting to sound like Snart." Sara pointed out, resulting in Kendra and the others smiling.

Entering they all heard babies crying, "Okay, which one is Snart?"

"Look for the one with horns." Sara said

"Found him." Kendra overlooked the small baby with cute cheeks.

"Great, grab him. Let's go." Sara commanded as Kendra and Crystal observed the baby, adoring it from where they were standing.

"Well, hello, baby Snart."

"Look at you." Crystal cooed

"Crystal, Kendra, come on. We don't have time for this," Sara got impatient as she walked over to them catching a glimpse of Baby Snart and cooing as well.

"Oh, look at those little cheeks. You are the cutest little baby in the world."

"Poor kid. He's gonna have a rough life ahead of him." Kendra said, as Sara got a hold of the baby passing it off to Crystal

"Good thing we're kidnapping him."

Returning to the ship, Mick, Sara, Kendra, and Crystal looked at their younger selfs almost escaping.

"Where do you think you're going? Give me that." Mick yelled taking the pipe from his younger self, "Inside."

"Is that a baby?" Sara's younger self asked

"Yes, and you guys are in charge of him." Sara commanded

"Wait, I.." her younger self stammered

"You made five grand last summer babysitting. You'll be fine."

"No, I don't do babies." Mick's younger self snapped back as Crystal's younger self stepped forward, "I'll do it,"

"He's so cute," Younger Crystal cooed

Crystal smiled at her younger self, who was such the optimist and now the person she's grown up to. She passed it over to Crystal before Mick made a serious warning.

"You better not drop my future criminal partner. Otherwise you're in trouble, comprende?" He directed to his younger self before he and Crystal walked away.

Leonard appeared from the corner nodding at Mick, commanding him to leave.

"How was it like abducting me?"

"Pretty nice, you're such a cute baby," she said grabbing his cheeks once again and hugging his side, "And I think my younger self seemed to take a liking to baby you."

"See I told you, I'm quite the charmer,"

"Yeah, we'll see about that."
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The shop landed in a sub urban place, with Rip quickly lifted his buckle off, walking quickly.

"We're here."

"Where is here?" Leonard asked

"Come, I'll show you." Rip said leading the group outside to a small house with Leonard again asking the same question

"Again, where is here?"

"Can't stop asking that question can you?" Crystal asked back with Leonard simply rolling his eyes.

"We need a safe harbor to keep your younger selves." Rip replied

"I've been waiting. It's good to see you." An old lady came out an greeted Rip, causing the rest of the team to get puzzled.

"It is good to see you too, Mother."
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"Don't forget to take your boots off before you come back in." Rip's mother yelled at the kids running around, the team seated in her living room drinking some tea.

"So, this is where Rip plans on keeping our baby selves."

"Not a bad place, I wouldn't mind living here," Crystal sipped her tea looking at Stein, Leonard, and Jax.

"What? I could see myself settling down in a house like this." Crystal explained as the men looked away from her, "I'll be quiet now."

"If all goes according to plan, we'll only be here for a few minutes, then presumably never remember." Stein said

"When's the last thing anything went according to plan?" Ray asked

"I don't think there was a last time." Kendra answered.

"I really would sit up if I were you. She'll kill you if she catches you slouching. Don't be fooled by appearances. That woman is as tough as nails." Rip spoke to Jax, who instantly straightened up.

"Funny how you never mentioned having a mother." Leonard spoke playing with one of the vases that Crystal took from his hands and placed back in its correct spot.

"Adoptive mother. Now, can I interest any of you in some more tea?" The old lady came back holding the teapot as Crystal held out her cup

"Thank you."

"So, Michael..." The lady continued

"Michael?" Kendra sounds surprised.

"That's me. My birth name." Rip said somewhat embarrassed

"The Time Masters insist on the adoption of new identities for their protection." Rip's mother said

"How do you know so much about the Time Masters?"

"I work for them," she said causing everybody to look surprised before she continued, "Oh, don't worry. My true loyalty is to my children."

"The Time Masters fill their ranks with children, orphans pulled from throughout the course of history."

"When Michael arrived at the Refuge, he had nothing but the clothes on his back. There's a reason it's called the Refuge, and a reason that it exists in a secret location in history. The Time Masters will never think to look for you here."

"Thank you for your assistance." Crystal thanked

"Look, I know I make a gorgeous baby, but I should warn you. You've got your hands full with me." Leonard said

"I assure you, you're not the first tough case to arrive at my door."

The whole crew departed taking care of the ones, Crystal swaying baby Leonard side by side with Leonard overlooking her.

"Who's the cutest baby? You are, yes you are." Crystal used her baby voice with Leonard smiling at the change of her voice.

Crystal caught Leonard looking at her, "What?"

"Nothing, it's just you look good with a baby. You seem like the mothering type."

"Hold your horses, Snart. I love you but we aren't ready for this yet."

"I would still be nice if this could be a potential future though," he got closer to her looking at his younger self.

"Yeah, maybe. It wouldn't be horrible but could you imagine a little you or me running around?"

"In all honesty, I could." Leonard smiled causing Crystal to smile. Maybe this relationship could go all the way, and possibly be the happiest of both of their lives.