#sarafic

“Please don’t make me socialize.”

Sara stares at Rip who is stubbornly refusing to move from his chair in his office.

“Come on, Rip. It will be fine. You have nothing to worry about,” she states as she crosses the room to stand next to him.

He doesn’t say anything.

“I would have thought that after dealing with our team, you’d be able to handle something like this.”

Rip huffs.

“The people you want me to meet are mostly friends and some family of our team and the team is stressful enough all on their own.”

Sighing, she wonders why of all the people she could have fallen for, it would be the stubborn Brit from the future.

“Laurel wants to meet you and it would really mean a lot to me if you did. I won’t make you meet the parents and I’ll stay by your side when we get together with the others.”

At the mention of Laurel, Rip feels his resolve fade away.

He knows how important the woman is to Sara and what it would mean to her.

“Okay, okay. I’ll do it. I will meet Laurel as I’ve been curious about what your sister is like in person from everything you and Dr. Palmer have said about her.”

Sara grins at his words.

“I will hold you to your promise when it comes to your friends,” states Rip firmly.

She nods as she holds out her hand to help him up.

“I hope that’s not all you will be holding of me.”

Rip shakes his head at her words but allows her to pull him into a kiss.

Pulling away, they hold each other for a few more moments until Ray and Mick ruin the moment by coming onto the bridge, arguing as they do so causing Rip and Sara to roll their eyes at the same time.

“Well, we might as well get everyone else up here so we can return to Central City,” states Sara as she lets Rip go.

Rip nods his head in agreement.

“Gideon, please inform the rest of the team we’re ready to make a time jump then set a course for Central City – Star Labs in the current timeline.”

“Of course, Captain.”

He walks across the bridge with Sara then takes his place in the pilot seat as Sara sits in the chair closest to him.

Mick and Ray copy them as the rest of the team joins them.

Once they land, they make plans for a big team meet up tomorrow so everyone can have time to themselves and see people on their own terms.

Rip and Sara plan to take the jump ship to Star City.

A thought occurs to Sara.

“Hey Ray, did you want to come pay a visit to Star City?”

Ray considers her words then shakes his head.

“I appreciate it, Sara but Cisco wants to work on the suit so I’ll hang around Central. Besides, I’ll see everyone else tomorrow so there’s really no need.”

He smiles at the pair before grabbing his bag and heading out with Stein and Jax.

Sara frowns.

“Has Ray ever talked about his family to you?” she asks Rip.

“No, now that you mention it. There’s only been a few vague mentions but this is something to think about later.”

She grabs his hand and her bag before heading to the jump ship.

To be honest, Sara had no idea how this was going to go.

Standing in Laurel’s apartment with Rip, she waits for someone to do or say something.

“So, you’re Rip Hunter. Huh. Not what I was expecting.”

Laurel runs her eyes over him from head to toe then back up causing him to squirm though he tries to hide it.

After a couple moments, Rip gathers his courage to say something.

“It’s really a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lance. Both Sara and Ray have told me and the rest of the team wonderful things about you.”

He shuffles in place as he stuffs his hands into the pockets of his duster.

Laurel smiles warmly at him.

“I’d be careful with what you believe when it comes to what this one says about people,” she says, playfully teasing her sister.

Sara rolls her eyes but smiles, glad things are going smoothly.

The same probably wouldn’t be said if she introduces Rip to her parents, which is why she isn’t any time soon.

They settle in for some lunch – take out from Laurel and Sara’s favorite restaurant and a big pitcher of sparkling mint-lime iced tea.

Sara looks at the pitcher, not sure what to make of it.

Laughing, Laurel pours everyone a glass.

“Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. A lady can only drink so much water safely every day.”

Sara’s pride in how well Laurel is doing is evident on her face.

Just another reason, Rip admits to himself, that he loves her.

As a gesture of good will, he picks up his glass and takes a sip. His eyes widen because the drink is more enjoyable than he imagined it would be.

“Your sister is correct, you should try it.”

Sara smirks.

“I’m not sure I can handle the two of you ganging up on me.”

As she takes a tentative sip, Rip and Laurel share a grin at her comment.

“You know, I could get used to drinking this; not sure you’ll be able to get Mick to drink it though.”

The trio laughs.

Laurel has heard all about Mick Rory from Cisco.

She tells several of her favorite stories about Sara from when her sister was younger causing her to try to not blush and cover her face.

Rip thinks it is charming.

He returns the favor with a few stories from their time on the Waverider and tells Laurel she will get a chance to see the ship one day.

When the meal comes to an end, Laurel hugs Sara then Rip.

Sara heads to the bathroom, giving Laurel and Rip a moment together.

“I think I like you, Rip Hunter. Keep the both of you safe, understand? I’ve lost my sister before, I don’t want to go through that again and you make her happier than she’s been in a long time so I don’t want her to lose you.”

Rip nods his head and gives her another hug as he whispers in her ear,

“Keep yourself safe as well, Black Canary. I quite like you and want to hear more stories.”

They separate just in time for Sara to return.

Later, when Rip and Sara are back on the Waverider and are sharing a drink in his office, he considers the day.

“Thank you, Sara. I enjoyed getting to meet and spend time with your sister. I would have understood if you wanted to just spend the time with her alone.”

Sara grins.

“I told you that you had nothing to worry about.”

Rip kisses her forehead as she leans against him.

“You’re right. Hopefully, tomorrow goes as smoothly.”

Sara snorts.

“Wishful thinking?”

“Very.”

Despite his concern over tomorrow and meeting the friends of his team—of his friends, Rip knows it will be worth it.

Not as worth it as meeting Laurel but close.

Rip runs a hand through his hair and sighs beforedoing as Sara suggested.

Thankfully Mick and Ray to a lesser extent, werepretty predictable because she found them in the kitchen which was the firstroom she checked.

Ray sees her first.

“Hey Sara! Wanna join us?”

He gestured at the third chair at their table.

“You know what? I could do with a drink.”

Mick offers her one of his beers which she takeswith a nod of her head before sitting down.

Sara opens the beer then takes a swig.

The trio sit in silence as Mick and Sara enjoy theirbeers while Ray indulges in a gluten-free cupcake.

“So, boss…did ya need something besides a beer?”

Mick asks after a few minutes pass.

Finishing off her beer, she considers his words andthe fact both men are watching her.

“Just wanted to see how you’re both doing. So, howare you doing?”

“’M fine. Haircut is fine too.”

Sara looks over at Ray who nods his head.

“Mick’s right. It’s not like I’m the one that nearlydied,” Ray states causing Mick to snort.

“This time, Haircut,” Mick points out.

Ray shrugs as he helps himself to another cupcake.

“Good. That reminds me, we do need to talk about thatlater, Ray,” comments Sara as she stands up from her chair to toss out theempty bottle.

Ray opens his mouth to argue when Mick kicks him inthe shin.

With the men distracted, she tosses out the bottlethen leaves the kitchen.

As Sara chilled with two of her teammates, Rip madehis way to the med bay.

He walks into the room but pauses near the doorwayas he watches Martin and Jax.

It is clear that Jax isn’t happy with the eventsthat led to Martin being injured but the professor is trying to calm his partnerdown.

Martin’s efforts aren’t working.

“Ah, Captain Hunter. Can you please tell Jeffersonthat I’m fine now. Gideon took care of my injuries so I would like to leave themed bay.”

Jax glares at Martin before turning it on Rip.

“Grey, you needlessly and recklessly risked yourlife. I’m not okay with that. It’s one thing when we’re working together butwhen we’re separated….”

Crossing his arms, Jax leans against the wall as hiswords trail off.

It gets Rip thinking though.

About why Sara seemed to be so upset with him whenthey returned to the Waverider.

He wants to smack himself in the head.

Clearly, she didn’t approve of Rip risking his ownlife to save hers.

“Anyways, did you need somethin’ Rip?” Jax asks ashe lets up on the glaring.

“Uh, I just wanted to check up on the two of you andmake sure everything has been taken care of,” Rip replies as he crosses theroom to look at the screens Martin is currently attached to.

Everything looks right and proper.

Rip would never doubt Gideon’s capabilities either.

“As you can see, captain, I was in the very capablehands, for lack of a better term, of Gideon with complete success. There is noreason for me to remain here.”

Martin looks over at Jax with a pointed look causinghim to sigh.

“Perhaps, there is a more comfortable location whereyou can continue this conversation and in private, away from prying ears andeveryone who doesn’t need to be a part of this discussion.”

Rip thinks it is a good compromise – it gets Martinout of the med bay but not off of the hook with Jax who has every right to beupset.

The other two men share a look then nod.

Pleased at the resolution, Rip takes his leave to gosearch for Sara.

It is time they have an overdue conversationthemselves.

He checks in the library where he only finds Nateand Amaya talking about his grandfather.

The kitchen is empty so he knows Mick and Ray hadmoved along so Sara definitely did as well.

After checking out both the cargo bay and her room,Rip runs out of places to check.

He knows Sara is an assassin and won’t be found ifshe doesn’t want to be.

Returning to his office, he spots her laying on thecouch.

Rip learns in that moment, that knowing they need totalk and going through with it are two different things.

It doesn’t take Sara long to know he’s there.

“Uh, hey Rip.”

She moves so that’s she is sitting up on the couchas she looks at him.

“So, how’s Martin doing?”

Rip takes the opening as he crosses the room andpulling off his duster, dropping it over the arm of the couch Sara isn’tleaning against.

“He’s all healed up. Gideon took care of him andright about now, Jax is talking to him about his earlier actions.”

A silence fell over them for a few minutes.

Sara raises an eyebrow at his comment about Jax andMartin.

“Oh really? Well, I hope Jax gets through to him.”

Leaning against his desk, Rip considers his nextwords carefully.

“I understand why you are upset with me, Sara. Itoccurred to me when I went to check on Martin and witnessed Jax having wordswith him.”

She crosses her arms as she waits for him tocontinue speaking, giving nothing away with her body language and facialexpression.

“You’re upset that I willingly put myself in dangerfor your sake. You would have been killed, Sara. I don’t want to live in aworld without you in it.”

Rip runs a hand through his hair.

Standing up from the couch, Sara moves across theroom until she’s standing in front of him then takes his hand in hers.

“Do you really think I can live in a world withoutyou? I already have to live in a world where my sister isn’t so I don’t think Icould do it again with someone else who is so important to me.”

Her words caught Rip off guard.

He knows how he feels about her but never thoughtshe could feel the same way.

Clearly, he may not have gotten that right.

Rip cups her cheek with his free hand and smilesslightly as she leans into his touch while meeting his gaze.

Neither one of them knows who moved first beforethey’re both leaning in for a kiss.

The kiss is soft and gentle, neither of them wantingto rush the moment.

When they pull away, they share a smile.

Sara lets go of his hand to wrap her arms around himand lean her head on his shoulder.

“Perhaps, in the future…we should work together inthe effort to make sure we have each other’s back,” Rip states as he wraps hisarms around her waist.

Sara grins up at him.

“Now that’s a plan I can work with.”