3rd Person POV
Brooklyn is walking down the hallway when she hears a voice yelling words in Russian. She walks into the library and sees Nate reading out of a textbook
"Sara wants us on the bridge." Brooklyn says, turning her head in confusion. "What...what are you doing?"
"Uh...learning Russian..." Nate says, looking from the textbook to Brooklyn. "Do I really sound that bad?"
"No, not at all." Brooklyn tells him. "It sounds fine. But...but why are you learning Russian?"
"I wanted to be able to communicate with Maddie." Nate says, looking at the toddler who was walking around the library
"Maddie speaks English too." Brooklyn reminds him
Nate sighs, standing from the desk and walking around to lean on the desk in front of Brooklyn. "Look, when you...disappeared...Maddie was incredibly upset." He tells her
"I know." Brooklyn says. "Jax told me."
"Did he also tell you that she reverted to Russian?" Nate asks to which Brooklyn shakes her head no. "Well, she did. She only spoke in Russian and none of us could understand her and because she was crying, not even Gideon could understand her. We would try to calm her down but...well, I got worried."
"About?" Brooklyn asks in a whisper
"That she wasn't understanding us." Nate says
"I'm sure she was." Brooklyn tells him
"You weren't there." Nate whispers. "And that was the problem. She wasn't speaking in English, wasn't calming down...I was worried that her ability to comprehend was being taken over by her distress. Nothing we said was helping her, nothing we did was helping her. The only thing that helped was when Jax came and started speaking Russian. That's the only time that I was able to see any type of comprehension."
"Wow..." Brooklyn whispers, tears in her eyes. "Oh my god..." She whispers, putting a hand to her chest and walking over to lean against the desk next to Nate. "That must have been so horrible."
"It was." Nate whispers, putting his arm around Brooklyn. "I want to be able to communicate with Maddie no matter the circumstance."
"That's...that's really sweet of you." Brooklyn says, locking eyes with him. "I'm glad she had you here...even if she couldn't understand you..."
"I'm glad I was here." Nate tells her. "And I'm glad you think my Russian is awful." He says with a small laugh. Brooklyn lets out a small laugh too. "It's nice to hear your voice again, especially your laugh." He tells her
"Life has been...a lot recently." Brooklyn tells him. "I love you." She tells him
"Love you too." Nate tells her, kissing the top of her head. "Come on, we should get to the bridge." He says, standing up. He chases after Maddie who laughs and squeals and then catches her, swooping her into the air
"I missed her laugh..." Brooklyn whispers, following after Nate who was whooshing Maddie through the hallway as if she was an airplane
***
"Okay!" Sara exclaims, seeing Nate, Maddie, and Brooklyn enter the room and the group is now almost complete. "Thanks to Kayla's pod tracker, we have a new advantage in preventing displaced aliens from screwing with the timeline."
"Gideon, can you please run a scan?" Ava asks
"Right away, Co-Captain Sharpe." Gideon says, pulling up the scan
"All right, well, I'm all in, cause mind-melding with that giant sandworm left me with a nasty migraine. But..." Spooner says. "I suped-up my pequeña amiga with a special surprise for the next space vermin."
"No need for surprises, guys." Behrad says, walking into the room in his PJs and eating food
"Uh, called it!" Astra exclaims, pointing at Behrad. "Shows up late, wearing the clothes that he slept in but still had time for breakfast, which means I am out of bathroom cleaning rotation for a month."
"Yeah, no surprises, just slowly losing all of our free will to Astra." Sara says
"Oh, good. 'Cause who needs surprises when smoking a few bowls, watching your favorite sitcom on Bestflix with friends and fam will do?" Behrad says
"Pardon me, but the pod's projected path is Vancouver, British Columbia, 2023." Gideon announces
All right, everybody!" Ava exclaims. "Put on your, uh, toques and Canada Goose, because we are going to the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada!"
"Oh, Raincouver, babe, it was right there." Sara tells her
"But it made sense!" Ava defends. "It's, like...Accurate information."
***
"Not how I thought my day would go, but it's all good." Behrad says, walking through the hallway with Zari. "The universe has bigger plans."
"What's so special about today?" Zari asks
"It's a day that only comes around once a year." Behrad says
"Aw, cute affirmation." Zari tells him. "Anyway, if these baecations between Nate and 1.0 are gonna become the ushe, we need to work out a schedule. I did not sleep a wink this weekend because I was afraid he was just gonna sneak attack and pop out of the Totem."
"Hey, Mick." Zari and Behrad greet as Mick passes by
As the group comes together in the hallway, Mick steals Ava's portal bracelet and opens a portal. "Rory!" Ava exclaims
Through the portal walks Lita. Pregnant Lita. The group is surprised
"She's pregnant." Rory states
"Uh, yeah, Rory, we time-jumped to 2023." Ava says. "You opened a portal to Lita's future." She rushes over to Lita. "Lita, honey! It's so good to see you. You look beautiful, congratulations!"
"Thanks, Aunt Ava." Lita says
"She's pregnant." Rory breathes
"It's family reunion time!" Sara exclaims. "Yes, refereed by Auntie Ava."
"Mick! You're gonna be a grandpappy!" Nate exclaims
"Good luck." Sara tells Ava and Brooklyn
"Wait, me too?" Brooklyn asks, picking Maddie up off the floor
"You're the perfect one to help with this situation." Sara says, gesturing to Maddie
"But we made our promise again." Brooklyn reminds her. "We stay together."
"We're not in any danger right now, I promise you." Sara whispers to Brooklyn. "Ava is here and you're on the waverider. We are both going to be okay." She says, hugging Brooklyn. "I am not breaking our promise, I would never." She says, pulling away. "But I think Rory needs you right now." She whispers and Brooklyn nods in understanding
"I can't believe you went and got yourself knocked up!" Mick yells at Lita after the others are gone
"Got myself knocked up?" Lita scoffs. "What do you call what you did with Mom in my high school gym supply closet?"
"Conceiving." Mick grumbles
"Really?" Lita scoffs. "I haven't see you in over a year, you don't answer any of my calls, and that's all you have to say?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Mick asks
"You know what, here I thought the worst had happened, and that my baby would never get to meet their grandfather, but it turns out I was only half right, because you're totally fine." Lita yells. "And you're still the same Mick Rory. A dead beat." She says, turning and leaving the hallway
"I am not a... I am not a dead beat!" Mick yells. "Come back here, young lady!"
"Yeah, okay, okay, okay." Ava tells Mick, jumping in front of him. "Maybe let's just try a little less shouting and a lot more listening so that we can figure out why you disappeared from your daughter's life, Mick."
"I'm not shouting!" Mick shouts
***
"Okay, Mickey, I get that Lita's pregnancy's unexpected, you know?" Ava says as her and Brooklyn follow Mick down the hallway. "It feels like only yesterday that we were watching her grow up, but if I have learned anything co-captaining the team on this ship, it's that being a parent is really just about being cool when things aren't really that cool, yeah? Okay, where are we at with listening, Mick?" He grunts loudly
"Captain Sharpe." Gary says, walking in. "You want another try at a sassy send-off attempt for the record?"
"No!" Ava tells him, the group pushing past
"Ooh, why are we power walking?" Gary asks as the group makes their way into the library
"Oh, look, she's studying." Ava says. "It's excellent, right? Hi, Lita, honey. See, she's still in school. That's great, right, Mick?"
"Yeah, I have a big test coming up in my intersectionality and feminist activism class." Lita says. "It's where I met Niko."
"You got knocked up by some creep taking a class for women?" Mick questions
"Let's see what else you've missed." Lita says. "I'm vegan. I'm over my Sabbath phase. I'm more into Fiona Apple. And I'm donating all the money you left me in the shed to AOC's future presidential run."
"Wow." Mick mumbles
"Is there anything else you wanna judge me for?" Lita asks
"You know what?" Ava says. "Why don't you tell us how you and Niko plan to raise the baby?"
"We're cohabitating." Lita says. "The institution of marriage is too inherently patriarchal." She says before leaving the room
Mick follows and Ava goes to follow but Brooklyn stops her. "I think I have this one." She tells Ava. "Let me try, okay?" To which Ava nods. Brooklyn follows Mick to the kitchen where he is watching Lita look through the fridge. "Why don't you go and talk to her?" Brooklyn suggests
"I have been talking to her." Mick says
"Yelling at her isn't talking." Brooklyn points out. "Look, when I got pregnant...you were really supportive. And I know how you see me."
"When you got pregnant with Jax, I was happy because I know Jax is a good guy." Mick tells Brooklyn, looking at her
"You knew he was a good guy because you knew him." Brooklyn says. "You know nothing about Niko and you're judging him. Maybe...maybe if you talked to her and got to know the father of your grandbaby then...I don't know, maybe you'd be...happy..." She trails off as Mick looks back into the kitchen at Lita
He makes his way into the room. "Here." Mick says, holding out his hand after seeing Lita struggle with opening a jar
"No, I got it." Lita tells him
"You know, uh, Gideon could have made you something." Mick says
"Yeah, well, I don't have Gideon at school just to make my life easier." Lita tells him. "And usually Niko helps me with this stuff." She can't open the jar. "Okay. I am rational enough to accept defeat, hangry enough to accept your help."
"You know, uh, some jars are like old, stubborn bastards." Mick tells her, taking the jar and opening it. "They, uh, eventually open up." He hands her the jar. "Tell me about Niko." And with that, Brooklyn smiles, leaving the doorway
***
"All right, rise and shine, everyone. We need a new strategy." Sara says as the group convenes around the console. "Where is Behrad?"
"Late. Again." Astra says. "Let's sweeten the pot on the earlier bet. If he doesn't show in the next five minutes, loser becomes my personal fluff and fold."
"Relax, relax." Behrad says, walking in. "I'm right here."
"Is that my brother?" Zari asks, looking at how Behrad looks
"That's my pomade." Nate says. "I know the sheen anywhere."
"Communal bathroom, thought it was up for grabs." Behrad says. "And I just felt like shaking things up."
"I knew you had leading man hair in you." Zari says. "All Tarazis have the gene."
"Okay, let's just show Gary the...Wow, it really is mesmerizing." Sara says, looking at Behrad's hair
"Thank you." Behrad says
"Ohh. A Gusarax!" Gary says, looking at the picture Zari shows him
"Baby Gus-Gus! It's got a nice ring to it." Behrad says
"You're coining merchandisable nicknames now?" Astra asks
"Why was Imran's brother able to grab Gus without causing a Category 5 tantrum?" Nate asks
"Well, Gusaraxes are bonded to their parents during the, uh, developmental phase." Gary says. "So if, uh, Gus-Gus is bonded to Imran's brother, you'll have to get him to bond with one of you, but, heh, good luck with that! They're attached to their parents at the hip because that is where the teat is."
"Ugh. Don't say teat." Sara tells him
"Captain Lance, I've detected that a new Bud Stuy draft has been submitted to the studio. Episode titled, First Contact High." Gideon announces
"New cup?" Nate asks, watching Behrad drink coffee
Behrad looks at the cup with a logo on it. "Hm, weird." He says. "Wharton is the business school my maman and baba think I attend. Wharton is the business school my maman and baba think I attend? What's happening to me?"
"I think the change in your favorite show is having an effect on you." Zari says
"He's better groomed, better caffeinated. I'd say Behrad got a free upgrade." Astra says
"No, no, no, no." Sara says. "This is not good. The butterfly effect from one small change in the timeline is too unpredictable. That's how we lost Zari 1.0." She looks at the scans on the computer. "Okay, they're looking for the role of nosy landlord."
"It's obviously me, I'm the trained actor." Zari tells Gary who tries to volunteer. "I mean, it's gonna be a nosy, glamorous landlord, but Nate, come with, run lines?"
"All right, let's get you ready for that closeup." Nate tells her
"Okay, great. Zari, once you book the part, you'll be in position to separate Gus-Gus from Imran's brother and bond with him." Sara says. "Astra and B, make sure that this new script doesn't make it to air. We have to ensure that Imran stays the star so that Behrad can stay himself." The group separates and Sara looks at Brooklyn. "How's it going with Rory?"
"I think we're getting somewhere." Brooklyn tells her
"Good." Sara says. "I knew you'd help. Come on, I wanna go find Ava."
***
"You okay?" Lita asks as she walks into the parlor where Ava is wrapping gifts and growling
"Oh, yeah. I'm just trying to wrap Behrad's birthday gifts." Ava says. "You know, the edges have to be perfect, or the whole presentation is thrown off, that's all." She sighs. "I'm so sorry, honey. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm just looking for my dad." Lita says. "I should head out soon."
"So I take it you two buried the hatchet, then?" Ava asks
"Well, you know Mick." Lita says as Sara and Brooklyn make their way over. "He runs a little hot, but he cools down eventually."
"Oh, really?" Sara asks
"Yeah." Lita says. "He was even asking all these questions about Niko, like, where he grew up, and his class schedule, and he's really interested in his cross-country training. Even down to the hours and the routes. Niko wants to compete in the Olympics."
"Aw. See, I knew he'd come around." Ava says. "So, should we start planning a baby shower, then?"
"Or a funeral!" Sara exclaims. "Look, take it from a trained assassin, you wanna murder somebody without a trace, you gather as much intel as possible. Lita, your dad is gonna kill your boyfriend."
"Ah, hell." Brooklyn mutters
"What does that mean?" Ava asks, looking over at Brooklyn
Brooklyn sighs. "I...I told Mick to get to know who Niko was before he judged him." She says and Ava stands from the floor. "He mentioned how Jax was a good guy and I said he was because he knew him and if he got to know Niko then he would see how good a guy he was too..." She looks at Sara. "Did I mess up?"
"No." Sara says. "Because we can fix this. Let's go."
***
"Come on, Niko, pick up." Lita groans as the phonecall goes to voicemail
"Oh, my God. Lita, look. Rory's strangling him!" Gary exclaims
"Wait, are they... hugging?" Sara asks. "Huh!" And with that, the group walks over
"I really wanna thank you for looking after my daughter while I was... Away." Mick tells him
"Dad!" Lita exclaims. "I thought you were gonna kill him!"
"I was." Mick answers
"Dad!" Lita exclaims
"No, no! It's okay." Niko says. "We talked it out. Mr. Rory came around to seeing how bad it would look if the author of post-feminist empowerment lit killed his daughter's boyfriend."
"Oh, really?" Lita asks
"I want my grandchild to have something I didn't." Mick says. "Two loving parents."
"You see?" Niko says. "You never told me your dad was this cool. He totally understands how we got caught up in the moment. He said the same thing happened to him and Kayla."
"You mean you and mom?" Lita asks
"Wait. You and Kayla?" Gary asks
Mick covers his face. "Are you okay?" Sara asks Mick. "Are you crying?"
"No!" Mick yells
"It's... It's okay, Mr. Rory." Niko tells Mick. "Let those toxic man-tears flow. Rest in peace, Kayla." Mick walks away
"Um, okay. I'll see you later." Lita tells Niko. "I'm just gonna make sure he gets home okay. He's been acting really strange lately."
"Yeah. Real strange." Sara says
***
The Legends silently jump up as a surprise for Behrad's birthday
"You guys!" Behrad exclaims to which he gets shushed. They getsure over to teh alien who is sleeping in Maddie's baby carrier strapped to Nate
"Happy birthday." Sara whispers to Behrad as Ava gives him a present
"Thanks!" Behrad whispers
The Legends party
"Look at this guy." Nate gushes over the sleeping alien to Ava and Brooklyn. Brooklyn holds Maddie on her hip who whines. "Oh, you're cute too." Nate tells Maddie, gushing over her and she giggles
"My little brother is all grown up." The group hears and it's OGZari" Happy birthday." She tells Behrad and the two hug
Nate and OGZari kiss
***
The Legends have been catching OGZari up on everything that has been going on on the waverider and in their lives. Zari has Maddie on her lap, the toddler sleeping snuggled up in a blanket
"So Avalance is engaged, congrats." OGZari says. "Sara has a new set of healing powers, sweet. Gary's been an alien this whole time. Not at all surprising. The inseparable duo got kidnapped by aliens. Maddie has meta powers from Jax..." She leans in to Brooklyn. "I knew that was gonna happen." She says. "Lita's expecting. Oh, and a baby alien imprinted on my boyfriend. Cool, cool, cool. Hm, well, guess I can count on you to never change, Mick."
"Cheers." MIck grumbles, lifting his beer bottle
Gary hits the beer bottle out of Mick's hands and it shatters. Upon hearing the glass, Brooklyn instinctively reaches over to cover her baby
"Whoa." Nate exclaims
"The hell are you doing?" Mick growls
"When you and Kayla got caught up in the moment, her tentacle entered your ear canal, and she laid eggs in your head, and now you're growing a brood... Pouch." Gary tells him
"So you're saying my dad is... pregnant?" Lita asks
"Yep." Gary says
Laughter comes over the intercom
"Gideon?" The Legends ask
"Sorry, I can't help it. This is the laugh I was programmed with." Gideon says
"Wow. That I did not see coming." OGZari tells Mick
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Hope you all enjoyed that chapter! Make sure to vote and comment! Next chapter will be up NEXT FRIDAY
-MC