Well, this is it! Quite a long chapter, but I wanted to intersperse the epilogue shown at the end of the Timeless finale with a few flashbacks of what I imagine could have happened at significant chapters in Lucy and Wyatt's dating life after the events of the Lifeboat etc.

I hope you all enjoy. It's been great fun writing this story, and I'm so grateful to everyone's feedback. Thank you for those of you who have stuck with this 'till the very end despite the ridiculously long word count!

~ Present Day: December 21, 2023 ~

The day seemed to race by even quicker than usual. Lucy had secretly hoped that something would crop up at the end of work; an emergency staff meeting before breaking up for the Christmas holidays perhaps, or a student in urgent need of help with an essay. But alas, everything seemed to be going swimmingly at Stanford University – in fact, it had been a particularly triumphant afternoon for Lucy after a successful meeting with her superiors – and so her day ended at normal time, where she could no longer avoid the task that she had been dreading for many months now.

Lucy put on her winter coat and gathered her things before leaving the lecture hall, and was pleasantly surprised to see her friend Jenny, a fellow professor over from the English Literature department, stood by the doorway waiting for her.

'Hey, Lucy, we're going to head to the bar later for some drinks, fancy joining?' Jenny asked.

'Oh, I would, but I'm afraid I'm…away with my husband tonight,' Lucy replied apologetically.

Jenny smiled. 'No problem, maybe next time!'

'Definitely. I hope you all have a nice evening. And Merry Christmas!'

Lucy smiled to herself as she headed out of the department building. Husband. Even years later, she still couldn't get over the thrill of using that word. The mere memory of their wedding day still filled her with tingles. The perfect sunny weather as the marquee was set up outside by the stream in that glorious garden…the look on his face as he'd turned to see her walking down the aisle…his perfect vows that still filled her with tears even now…the way he had kissed her and held her face the moment they had been pronounced man and wife…

Lost in nostalgia and happy memories, Lucy walked along the corridor and down the steps; despite their dreaded task for this evening, she was eager to meet her husband, who she knew would already be waiting for her outside. As she frequently did, Lucy found herself thinking back to that day, that oh so perfect day, when he had asked her to be his wife. She could remember it so vividly, as if it had only been yesterday…

~ Spring 2019 ~

'Y'know, for a sabbatical, I'm not doing half the work I should be doing,' Lucy said, amused, as she gazed out at the stunning view that stretched before them.

Wyatt chuckled as he nuzzled her neck and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. 'You have plenty of time for that. You always write best when you're under pressure for a deadline anyway.'

Lucy rolled her eyes, trying but failing not to smile. They were lying side by side on a picnic blanket in a secluded corner underneath the shade of a tree in the Crystal Springs area of Griffith Park. Not a bad location for a supposed sabbatical.

'This is a new book, Wyatt, it's not just an essay. I still can't believe Agent Christopher gave you all this time off anyway.'

'Four weeks. It's not that long, she's cool with it,' Wyatt said airily, shrugging, and they both laughed.

Lucy tilted her head at him. 'Was she still cool with it when you told her we were going on a Lifeboat-nostalgia tour?'

Wyatt groaned. 'For the last time, that's not what this is,' he said, laughing.

'You've literally taken us to New Jersey, Washington, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Arkansas, New York, Chicago, and Darlington,' Lucy pointed out.

Wyatt hesitated for a moment. 'Well at least I saved the best till last,' he murmured, intertwining his fingers with hers.

Lucy squeezed his hand and smiled as she looked up at the glorious sunset in the Hollywood park. 'Okay. Fair point,' she admitted, and with a smile she leaned over and pressed her lips tenderly to his. 'But still predictable. I mean, there's nothing you could do on this vacation that would surprise me anymore.'

A sly smirk on his face, Wyatt turned to face her and propped himself up on his elbow. 'Oh, really?' he said playfully.

'Hm-hm,' Lucy replied, smirking back.

Wyatt gazed at her for a moment, and then sighed as he reached out to stroke her face. 'I wasn't gonna do this now, but you asked for it,' he said, smiling, and he sat up.

'Do what?' Lucy asked, intrigued, as she began to sit up as well.

'Well…I thought it mattered where and how I did it, but…' Wyatt trailed off as he gazed at Lucy's sun-kissed, dazzlingly happy face, and it took his breath away; he smiled lovingly at her. 'You're the only thing that matters about this, and-'

'About what?' Lucy interrupted, bemused. 'Wyatt, what-?'

'Just…listen to me for a minute, okay?' he said, chuckling at her eagerness as he tried not to let the nerves overwhelm him. 'I don't know how this is gonna come out but…'

'Okay. I'm listening,' Lucy said, calmly and softly, and she took his hands in hers as if to calm him.

Wyatt took a deep breath. 'I don't know what I would do without you, Lucy. I honestly don't. You've made me happier than I've ever felt in my entire life,' he said, with conviction, but Lucy saw the nervous look in his eyes, and she could feel the trembling of his fingers…and she felt her lips part as she realised what was happening. 'You're the most wonderful woman I've ever met, and…I love you. And I always will.'

Lucy's bottom lip was beginning to tremble as she smiled at him. 'Wyatt…are you…are you doing what I think you're doing?' she whispered, trying not to well up.

Wyatt smiled. Very slowly, he reached behind him and took out a small black velvet box from his jacket pocket. Lucy's heart was thumping so loudly, she was surprised he couldn't hear it. Smiling at the overjoyed, teary-eyed look on her face, Wyatt held the box out to her on the centre of his palm, and then delicately flipped it open. Lucy let out a tiny gasp as she gazed down at the enchantingly breathtaking ring that lay in the centre of the small box. It was shiny silver with a sparkling tiny stone in it that was so perfectly carved that it reflected all the colours of the rainbow as it glimmered in the light of the Hollywood sunset. Lucy couldn't take her eyes off the small, triangular-cut diamond gem in the centre as it sparkled and glistened, nearly blinding her eyes with the beauty of it. Taking her eyes off the ring, she looked up to smile radiantly at Wyatt again, giving up on trying to stop her eyes from welling up, and she couldn't believe just how lucky she was to have this perfect man who loved her so much. She knew this would be a moment that she and Wyatt would prolong and treasure for the rest of their lives together.

'I know it may be too soon. And if it is, that's okay, I understand,' Wyatt said earnestly. 'We've only been together a few months but…they've been the best of my life-'

'Mine too,' Lucy interjected, smiling, and a tear fell down her cheek as she saw the look of relief on Wyatt's face, and they both laughed softly.

'Okay, good. That's good,' Wyatt murmured, and he exhaled deeply. 'And…it feels like we've been together since the day I met you. I know we went through some major…shit…when we were living in the bunker, but…all that's behind us now, in the past. No pun intended.'

Lucy laughed, wiping away another tear as his fingers stroked hers.

'And…all I know is that I love you with everything in me and that I want to be with you for the rest of my life and…raise a family and…build a life together,' Wyatt went on, and Lucy felt her racing heart soar. 'You're smart, you're kind, you're beautiful, you make me laugh every day. You're incredible. I don't know if I deserve you, and I don't know what miracle has brought you into my life, but you've saved me countless times and…you've made me feel things I didn't know were even possible.'

His words left Lucy utterly speechless, but then Wyatt grimaced.

'And…I've just realised that I should be down on one knee for this and this is wrong and-'

'No, Wyatt,' Lucy said at once, cutting over his awkward rambling, and she stroked his cheek; he took her hand and kissed it as she smiled warmly at him. 'It's perfect. Go on, please.'

Wyatt gave a shaky breath, his eyes watering with emotion as he smiled at her. 'You're my whole world, Lucy. Will you marry me?' he asked breathlessly, and Lucy smiled lovingly back at him, completely dazed.

Lucy wanted to make a speech or something, to say something back to him that was equally as touching, moving and emotional as he had just said. But, as yet another tiny tear of happiness trickled down her cheek, she thought better of it, so she just stuck with the simple, basic, yet ever so true word.

'Yes!' Lucy breathed excitedly, and a delighted laugh escaped her mouth as Wyatt beamed at her. 'Yes, Wyatt, of course! Yes, yes, yes!'

Laughing at how giddy she was, Wyatt then slipped the ring gently onto her finger…the ring that Lucy would now wear forever. Gazing at her with the happiest beam she had ever seen on his face, Wyatt cupped Lucy's face in his hands and kissed her before taking her in his arms. Lucy flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, tears now streaming down their faces as they laughed and kissed. Neither of them had ever been happier…and they both knew that they would have many more days of happiness yet to come.

~ Present Day ~

Lucy was broken out of her reverie when a few students of hers eagerly approached her while they left the building to discuss today's lecture on Grace Humiston and Alice Paul. Once she had bid them farewell and wished them a happy Christmas, Lucy then walked on towards the campus park, where a warm smile instantly fell on her face at the sight of the two little girls running around by the play area, chasing their father. Their long dark hair and dainty facial features gave them away as identical twins, but aside from that, Amy and Flynn were very individual spirits. They were dear friends and loved each other's company, but always insisted that they dress differently – like today, for example: Amy in her pink T-shirt, skirt and favourite denim jacket, and Flynn in her burgundy dungaree and white turtle-neck. Just the sight of them flooded Lucy with warmth as she watched them fling themselves into their father's waiting arms.

'Oh, no, no, no! Oh, no!' Wyatt cried playfully, as Amy and Flynn giggled, and he groaned. 'Oh, it's back to basic training for me.'

Lucy laughed fondly as she watched them; Flynn looked around at the sound and her face broke out in a delighted smile.

'Mommy!' Flynn cried, and she and Amy ran up to her.

'Hello, hello, hello!' Lucy greeted enthusiastically, bending down and taking both her daughters in her arms. 'What are you torturing Daddy with this time, huh?'

'Boot camp!' Flynn and Amy replied, holding onto their mother as she walked over to Wyatt.

'Boot camp? Well, I hope you didn't go too easy on him,' Lucy said playfully, leaning over to kiss Wyatt.

The two adorable girls giggled and squealed as Lucy put them down on the ground, and the pair instantly ran off to play some more. Laughing, Lucy turned to face Wyatt, who was still grinning; he looked slightly exhausted – he always did when he'd spent a whole day with the girls – but overwhelmingly happy. Wyatt took in the sight of Lucy…her long dark hair cascading down her shoulders in luscious curls, her perfect face, her lovestruck eyes, her delightful smile…he still couldn't believe he was lucky enough to call this wonderful, beautiful woman his wife and the mother of his beloved children.

Pressing her lips together, Lucy walked closer to him so that they were merely inches apart. 'Guess what?'

'What?' Wyatt murmured lovingly.

Lucy wiggled her eyebrows at him. 'I got tenure.'

Wyatt stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide, then wound his arms around her waist and picked her up triumphantly; Lucy laughed gleefully as he spun her around, holding onto her tightly with a huge beam on his face before pressing his lips tenderly against hers. He then gently put her down on her feet and cupped her cheek with his hand.

'I am so proud of you,' he said softly.

Lucy gazed at him, overwhelmed with adoration. 'Thank you,' she whispered, and she leaned in to kiss him again.

Wyatt smiled at her, and then looked around for their daughters. 'Flynn, Amy – you ready to go?' he called to them.

'Come on!' Amy said, whooping as the two ran back over to their parents.

'Come over here. Give me your hand,' Wyatt said, and the happy family soon set off towards the car, hand-in-hand. 'All right. You ready for this?'

Lucy's smile faded slightly as she tilted her head. 'Ready as I'll ever be,' she replied, tightening her hold around his waist as the four of them left the campus.

The girls remained giddy for the first ten minutes of their journey in the car, but then soon got bored of the toys they had brought with them and began to get impatient to find out their surprise destination.

'Mommy? Daddy? Where are we going?' Amy asked.

'Yeah, why aren't we going home?' Flynn moaned.

'We're going somewhere special tonight. Mommy and Daddy's old home,' Wyatt replied.

'You used to live somewhere else?!'

Lucy smiled. 'Yes, we did.'

Amy frowned, confused. 'Why are we going there?'

'Well, kids, your mommy and I have some work to do tonight, it's to do with our old jobs that we had before you guys came along,' Wyatt explained as he drove on.

Flynn groaned. 'What are we going to do?'

Lucy raised her eyebrows. 'Well, you're going to be asleep by the time we're working.'

'No, we're not!' Amy protested.

'Yes, you are,' Lucy said sternly.

'Will you still read us a story?' Flynn asked hopefully.

'Well, we actually have someone at our old home who's going to look after you both while we're working,' Wyatt said, sharing a smile with Lucy.

'Who?'

'Don't get too excited, okay?' Lucy said warily, and she turned around in her seat to grin at her daughters in the backseat. 'It's Aunty Denise.'

'AUNTY DENISE!' Amy cheered, as the two girls squealed excitedly.

'YAY!'

The celebration over the fact that Wyatt's boss was babysitting them tonight seemed to last the entire rest of the journey. Once they eventually arrived at the bunker, it came as a relief to Lucy and Wyatt to find Agent Christopher and an outside guard already there waiting for them. Once pleasantries had been exchanged and Amy and Flynn had got over their excitement, Agent Christopher led their way down into the bunker. Lucy was slightly dumbfounded as they walked down the familiar, grimy corridor; recognising from the dazed look on Lucy's face that she needed a minute to herself, Wyatt took the enthusiastic girls on a quick tour of 'Mommy and Daddy's old home'. Lucy felt her bottom lip tremble slightly as the memories washed over her while she looked around the place she had loathed and yet also somewhat loved so much.

It was five years since they had stepped foot in this place, and yet nothing had changed. Even the Christmas decorations that Agent Christopher had put up around the bunker on their last day here were still there. She walked slowly over to her and Wyatt's room, and smiled fondly as she remembered their first and only night in here, and the morning after…the Shiny Brite ornament he had given her that was hung on their own Christmas tree back at home now. Lucy then went to pay a visit to Flynn's old room, only was surprised – and extremely touched – to see that Agent Christopher had converted it into a guestroom for the girls, with two beds and a few toys for them both to play with.

'Mommy!'

Lucy jumped and turned with a smile to see little Amy and Flynn running up to her gleefully.

'You used to live here?!' Flynn said incredulously.

'It's so cool!' Amy said, and Lucy laughed.

'It really is, isn't it?' Lucy said enthusiastically. 'And look what Aunty Denise has done – she's made you both a room!'

'Yay!'

'I love it!'

'Now come on, let's get some food and then you can get ready for bed,' Lucy said, ruffling their hair as the three of them walked down the corridor towards the kitchen.

'Oh, do we have to?' Amy said sadly.

'Yes, it's already late,' Lucy insisted, grinning.

They had bought some takeout on the way to the bunker; once they had all finished eating their dinner, Wyatt then unpacked the girls' bags for them and got them settled in their room. Lucy hung behind anxiously in the kitchen, torn on whether their mission for this evening was a good idea after all.

'I know you're worried about leaving them,' Agent Christopher said softly, and Lucy looked up from the kitchen table that she had been staring at. 'But they'll be in safe hands with me, you know that.'

'I know,' Lucy said softly, taking a sip of water from her glass; her hand shook slightly as she put the glass back on the table.

'And you won't be gone long. You know where you're going. You know what you have to do,' Agent Christopher said reassuringly. 'Won't take you longer than, what, ten minutes?'

'I know. It's just…when we were doing this before, risking our lives everyday going back in time…I didn't really have much to lose then. Things are just so…different now,' Lucy said, staring at Amy and Flynn's empty plates still on the table. 'And I guess…maybe it's just the association of all the grieving and everything in that last week that we were here, but…I'm scared about what could happen.'

Agent Christopher tilted her head at her sympathetically. 'I would seriously judge you if you weren't scared. Going back in that thing after all this time, after all you were put through, it takes real guts to do that. And I so admire you for it.'

'It's not like we have much of a choice though, right?' Lucy said drily.

'Well, I suppose you could look at it that way. But just think once it's done, then…everything's come full circle. You can get closure on this whole business, you can put it all behind you,' Agent Christopher said, trying to sound encouraging.

'I know. Though, in a strange way, I'm not sure if I want to,' Lucy said thoughtfully, frowning. 'I have some good memories of the Lifeboat too, you know.'

Agent Christopher smiled warmly. 'Of course you do. Maybe focus on those memories as an incentive for tonight.'

'Oh-ho, don't you worry, that's what I plan on doing,' Lucy said, laughing.

Wyatt then emerged back in the kitchen; he put his hands on Lucy's shoulders as he stood behind her chair.

'Hey,' he greeted.

'Hey,' she said softly, reaching out to hold his hand.

'Are you ready?' Wyatt asked her. 'We might as well get this show on the road.'

'Yeah, let's do it,' Lucy said heavily as she rose from her chair, but then her face fell. 'Oh, wait…I need to say bye to Amy and Flynn-'

'No you don't. They're playing games right now, Denise will look after them, they won't even realise we're gone for that long – I've already told them we've gone to do our, uh, 'little job',' Wyatt said, smiling reassuringly as he held her by the waist. 'We'll be back before you know it. Besides, you know what will happen if you go to speak to them now. You won't want to go.'

Lucy swallowed nervously. 'I know. You're right, you're right,' she said grudgingly.

Agent Christopher cleared her throat as she got up from the table. 'I'll go and check on how they're doing. I'll give you two a minute and then once Connor arrives, we'll be…good to go?' she said hopefully.

Wyatt nodded gratefully at her. 'Sounds good,' he said, and he turned to face Lucy and kiss her forehead. 'The girls will be fine. And so will we. It's going to be fine. We'll be quick.'

'Otherwise the side effects will kill us and leave our children orphans,' Lucy said without thinking.

Wyatt tensed and stared worriedly at her. 'Wow. Err…Lucy, are you-?'

Lucy closed her eyes and broke free from him, wishing she could calm down. 'I'm sorry, I-I'm fine…I just…I keep remembering when we got stranded when the Lifeboat got damaged, and I can't help thinking what would happen if-'

'It's not going to get damaged, we're not going to get stranded, we're not going to stay there long enough for the side effects,' Wyatt said calmly, stroking her cheek. 'We're just securing our future.'

Lucy raised an eyebrow at him and smirked. 'More like our past and present.'

'Well, that too,' Wyatt said, grinning. 'It's just something we have to do.'

'Something I have to do,' Lucy corrected him. 'You don't have to-'

'Now, Lucy, we've talked about this, you know I'm not letting you go without me. We do this together or not at all, right?' Wyatt said firmly, wrapping his arms around her.

Lucy considered him for a moment and then smiled. 'Together. Always,' she murmured, and they kissed tenderly. 'Thank you, Wyatt.'

'Are you okay, really?' Wyatt asked.

'I'm fine. It's…weirdly nice to be back here,' Lucy murmured. 'I just…I can't bear to leave them.'

'I know, me neither. But we'll be back to them soon,' he said, brushing her hair with his fingers. 'I promise. Come on.'

And so together, the apprehensive couple walked towards the Lifeboat, Lucy's hand shaking slightly in Wyatt's as her thoughts strayed to the two little girls playing in that grimy, old room…completely oblivious to where their parents were about to go…

~ Summer 2019 ~

'Hey!' Wyatt greeted happily as he came into the dining room. 'How was work?'

'It was great!' Lucy replied, as he leaned over the table to kiss her. 'It was so good. I gave a lecture on Hedy Lamarr.'

Wyatt raised his eyebrows at her, impressed, as he put his things down on one of the chairs. 'A whole lecture?'

'Wyatt, you know I could cover ten lectures' worth of content about her if I was allowed,' Lucy pointed out as she closed her laptop on the table, and they grinned at each other. 'How was your day?'

'Good, thanks. Went over a few reports with Agent Christopher – she says hi, by the way. You looking forward to dinner tonight?' he asked, helping himself to a glass of wine. 'You want one, by the way?'

'Err, no thanks,' Lucy replied, blushing slightly as he raised his eyebrows in surprise, putting away the wine glass that he'd got out for her. 'And yeah, of course! It's been too long since we've seen Rufus and Jiya. We'll have to invite them over here soon.'

'I thought you didn't want to do a housewarming until everything was perfect?' Wyatt said, pointedly eyeing all the cardboard boxes strewn around the room that they still had yet to unpack.

'Everything already is perfect,' Lucy said, positively buzzing as she beamed at him. 'We're pretty much done unpacking anyway.'

Wyatt frowned at her, bemused. 'You're in a particularly good mood today, what's the occasion?'

'Nothing,' Lucy replied, but she was laughing giddily.

'Lucy,' Wyatt said playfully, and he leaned over the table. 'Tell me, what is it?'

'I'm serious, nothing!' she insisted, trying not to smile.

Wyatt tilted his head sceptically at her. 'You know I can read you like a book,' he said in a low, almost seductive voice.

Lucy smirked at him and rolled her eyes. 'Damn it. Okay, fine,' she said in defeat.

'Let me guess – you've bought your wedding dress?' Wyatt asked smugly, taking a sip of wine.

'Not yet, no. I'm doing that with Jiya in two weeks, remember?'

'Ah, yeah…'

'No, err, this is something else,' Lucy said, and she bit her lip. 'Um…you might want to sit down.'

Wyatt gave her a suspicious look and sat down on the chair next to her. 'O-kay…Everything's all right, isn't it?' he asked, concerned.

'Yes!' Lucy said at once, looking like she would almost burst from happiness. 'Oh my God, yes, everything's…incredible. Never been better.'

Wyatt couldn't stop grinning at the look on her face. 'Your jaw must be hurting from all that smiling you're doing.'

Lucy laughed. 'I know, I'm sorry, I can't stop it!'

'No, don't be sorry, I love it. You've got the best smile in the world,' Wyatt said, reaching out to stroke her cheek, and she closed her eyes at his gentle touch. 'Lucy, tell me. What is it?'

Lucy gazed at him. She had felt nervous before he'd come home about telling him, but now it just felt right. It felt so right. And she knew she had nothing to worry about.

'Wyatt, I…I'm pregnant.'

There was a stunned silence.

Eventually, Wyatt was able to form words. 'I-I'm not sure that's…it's not really sinking…could you…say that for me again?' he asked, his lips trembling.

Lucy pressed her lips together, determined not to cry. 'We're having a baby,' she said softly.

Wyatt released a shaky breath, and they both laughed softly. 'Are you sure?' he asked, and his voice broke on the last word.

'Yeah, positive. Nine weeks,' Lucy said, slightly giddily, but she paused and tilted her head at him when she realised he wasn't going to say anything; he looked too stunned to even think, let alone speak. 'Wyatt, are you okay? I know it's sooner than we planned but-'

'No, no, God, no, it's not that at all,' Wyatt said at once, taking her hands in his and squeezing them firmly. 'I just…I can't seem to, uh, register what you're saying, I don't know what the hell's wrong with me, I…'

But Lucy was smiling; she understood. 'Would you like me to say it again?' she asked.

'Yes,' Wyatt said, his eyes welling up. 'Please.'

Lucy opened her mouth to speak but then he interrupted her.

'Wait. Just, err…before you do can we just wait, I…I need a moment,' Wyatt said, breathing deeply. 'I need to remember this. I need to remember how perfect this is right now…with you.'

A tear trickled down Lucy's cheek as she squeezed Wyatt's hands; he simply gazed at her with an adoring smile on her face, stroking her fingers with his own. He felt truly blessed.

'Okay,' he said eventually, recovering himself, and he kissed her hands. 'Go.'

Lucy took a deep breath. 'Wyatt. We're having a baby.'

Wyatt didn't realise that he had started crying until she reached out to cup his face; her hands were wet with his tears. Both of them laughing in joy, he then scrambled off his chair and picked Lucy up in his arms, spinning her around in joy as he gave her the best kiss of her life. Putting her down on the floor, he then pulled her to him in a fierce hug; crying as well, Lucy flung her arms around his neck.

'I can't believe this, this is amazing!' Wyatt cried, laughing as he wiped his eyes.

'I know!' Lucy said enthusiastically. 'I'm so happy you're happy, I was worried that…you'd be freaked out or that maybe we've been rushing this whole thing. I mean, we've been dating less than a year and we haven't even got married yet and…'

But Wyatt was shaking his head. 'Lucy, I could never be freaked out – the way I see it, what's the point in waiting? I already know I want to spend the rest of my life with you and…and our family,' he said, and he lovingly placed a hand over her flat stomach.

'Well I feel the same. No point prolonging the inevitable, right?' Lucy agreed, biting her lip as she smiled up at him.

'No point at all,' Wyatt said softly, and another tear escaped as he gazed into her eyes and held her close to him. 'We're really having a baby.'

'Yeah, we are.'

He rested his forehead against hers and smiled. 'I'm so glad I met you.'

Lucy smiled irresistibly back at him. 'Me too.'

Wyatt had never loved anyone more in this moment as he pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back longingly, entangling her arms in his hair and with a special glint in her eye she guided him slowly towards the couch. It felt like they were in paradise. They had moved in together, they were engaged, they were pregnant…and they knew that their adventures in the Lifeboat would be nothing compared to the adventures they would soon be about to have with their children.

~ Present Day ~

The Lifeboat had stayed in the bunker for the past five years, under armed guard. It may have been a risky move not to destroy it, but a necessary one – after all, if someone else somehow built a time machine at some point in the future, the Lifeboat would be needed to stop them. Lucy and Wyatt stood hand-in-hand in the bunker as they stared up at the dreaded time capsule now, the machine that had cost them so much and yet also brought them so much in return. The sight of it made Lucy feel terrified and yet thrilled at the same time.

'Doesn't seem like five years ago,' Wyatt murmured, staring up at the Lifeboat in awe.

'Nope. Sure doesn't,' Lucy replied, breathing deeply, and he squeezed her hand comfortingly. 'Can you believe this was what we did? This was our life? Seems almost like a dream now.'

'I know, it's crazy,' Wyatt murmured, and he glanced at her. 'You good?'

Lucy smiled at him. 'I'm good.'

Agent Christopher then walked up to them from the corridor. 'The twins are in their pyjamas, and they are brushing their teeth,' she said triumphantly.

'They are so excited about their sleepover,' Lucy said, holding Agent Christopher's arm. 'When I told them that Mommy and Daddy used to live here, they didn't believe me.'

Agent Christopher laughed, just as Connor Mason appeared from behind the Lifeboat.

'That's because, like most government-funded housing, it's utterly uninhabitable and always was,' he said, beaming as he hugged Lucy and Wyatt.

'Says the man under federal contract, right?' Agent Christopher said, raising her eyebrows, as they all laughed.

'Well, it turns out I liked, uh, saving the world more than I liked saving money,' Mason said smugly, and Lucy and Wyatt eyed him, half-impressed, half-sceptical.

'So, you ever miss saving the world?' Agent Christopher asked the married couple curiously, and Wyatt chuckled.

'Sometimes,' Lucy said thoughtfully. 'And then I think about North Korea…-'

'French and Indian War-' Wyatt interjected.

'-The Murder Castle, Al Capone trying to kill us…-' Lucy went on.

'-Benedict Arnold-'

'-Confederate slave owners…'

And then Lucy and Wyatt looked at each other. 'Nazis,' they both said simultaneously, their tones heavy.

Agent Christopher smiled at them. 'Ready to do it one more time?'

'We have to, or…all of this could disappear,' Lucy said in a quiet voice.

She glanced at Wyatt. It was something she and Wyatt had been discussing at length for the past couple of months; they were both fearful of what they were about to do, and yet the consequences of what could happen if they didn't do this were even more terrifying. They needed to ensure their past, their story. For their sake, for Amy and Flynn's sake. For the world.

And then Lucy gasped loudly as she caught sight of the two people walking towards them from the bunker corridor.

'Hey! Anybody need a pilot?' Rufus called over to them, grinning.

Lucy laughed happily as she flung her arms around Rufus, while Jiya hugged Wyatt in greeting, all four of them wearing huge beams.

'You didn't tell me he was coming!' Lucy chastised Wyatt, slapping his arm playfully as he hugged his best friend.

'Think we'd let you do it alone?' Wyatt asked her sceptically, and Lucy gazed gratefully back at him, though she was determined not to get in any way teary-eyed or emotional about this.

'Yeah, the three of us started it, so…let's finish it,' Rufus said firmly.

Lucy turned to her husband, and saw the reassuring look in his eyes. She smiled and gave a nervous nod, before leading the way towards the Lifeboat. She'd only made it up the first few steps when she stopped and spun around to face them.

'Okay, but if anything goes wrong-!'

'It won't,' Wyatt interrupted her firmly, and she faltered. 'We get in and we get out. We got this, Lucy.'

She gazed back at him for a moment then turned to Rufus, who tilted his head at her. They were both confident – or, at least, they were both extremely good at hiding their nerves at the prospect of getting back in that infernal machine that had brought them so much pain and danger. A small smile on her face, Lucy then turned and walked up the full length of the steps.

Her lips parted once she had clambered through into the vessel. The tight little space, those complicated seatbelts and harnesses, all the bright control panels, the flickering lights, the whirring engine…it was so real. Five years on and yet it only seemed like five minutes since they had last been in this machine. It took Lucy's breath away.

'Good to be back,' Wyatt muttered sarcastically as he followed his wife in.

'Hey, it's not that bad, and remember this one's auto-pilot, and the ride's less bumpy!' Rufus said enthusiastically, jumping into the pilots' seat.

'I still don't get it…shouldn't this Lifeboat have disappeared? Seeming as the timeline it came from never ended up happening?' Lucy asked, confused, as she struggled to remember how to do her seatbelts; with a smile, Wyatt leaned forward to help her.

'Wish I had the answer for that, Lucy, but that might be one for Jiya and Connor,' Rufus muttered, dumbfounded. 'I think it's best if we just roll with it.'

'Fair enough,' Lucy said, and she kissed Wyatt's hands as he finished strapping her into her seat.

'You've definitely got the journal?' Wyatt asked her.

She tilted her head at him. 'You really think I'd forget it? We planned this about a year ago,' she said, and they smirked at each other.

'Just making sure.'

'Right, guys. December the 24th 2014, São Paulo, Brazil,' Rufus said, plotting the coordinates on the display screen. 'Our last ever trip.'

'Don't jinx it,' Lucy and Wyatt said simultaneously, and they grinned at each other.

When the team walked inside the dark, grimy bar, it didn't take them long to locate their old friend. The broken figure of Garcia Flynn was sat at the bar counter, pouring a glass of whisky from a half-empty bottle. The murder of his family was still so raw to him. It made Lucy shudder.

'Go on,' Wyatt said to Lucy gently, his hand on her shoulder. 'It's okay.'

But Lucy turned around anxiously to face him. 'I can't do this.'

'Yes, you can,' he said reassuringly.

'Look at him,' Lucy said in torment, indicating the pitiful, drunken grieving man sat not too far away from them. 'He's…he's completely…I can't lie to him about what happens-'

'So don't,' Wyatt said, and Lucy faltered. 'Be honest with him. Then you're doing it in good conscience.'

'What if it doesn't work?' she asked hopelessly.

'It will, we know it will-'

Lucy was shaking her head earnestly at him. 'But I don't know what I'm meant to say. It could change things, whatever I decide, we could come back to a completely different timeline, you know how easily they changed before, and Amy and Flynn might never even-'

'The timeline won't change, Lucy. You just need to…say what you feel in the moment. You say what you feel in your heart. And it'll all fall into place,' Wyatt said firmly, his hands on her arms, his gaze tender and comforting.

Lucy frowned at him. 'How do you know that?'

'Because I have faith.'

'What, faith that it'll all just miraculously work out?' she said incredulously.

'No,' Wyatt said, smiling warmly at her, and he cupped her cheek. 'Faith in you.'

Lucy gazed at him for a moment, overwhelmingly grateful that she had such a wonderful man in her life, and then kissed his lips briefly before turning to face the task she had been dreading for so long.

'Okay,' she said, taking a deep breath.

'You've got this. We'll be just here,' Wyatt reassured her.

Lucy turned and slowly made her way over to the bar. It felt so cruel, what she was about to do. But she had no choice. She had to secure their present...their family. She smiled sadly as she watched Flynn take another deep swig of whisky. Close to, he looked unkempt and dishevelled. And empty. She turned back; Wyatt and Rufus had settled on a table not far away from the bar. Wyatt gave her a reassuring nod, encouraging her to go on.

Lucy approached Flynn tentatively. 'Is this seat taken?' she asked politely.

'Eu nao falo English,' the grieving man grumbled without looking at her.

Lucy nevertheless sat down on the stool beside him. 'I know you speak English, Flynn,' she said.

Flynn slowly looked up at her, afraid.

'Don't worry, I'm a friend. I mean, I will be a friend,' Lucy corrected herself.

'What do you want?' Flynn asked, uninterested.

'I don't have a lot of time,' Lucy said in a hushed voice. 'I know about Rittenhouse. I know what they did to your family – your wife, Lorena, your daughter, Iris-'

Flynn's eyes had widened in horror. 'Who are you?' he demanded, leaning towards her.

'Shh!' Lucy said urgently. 'My name is Lucy Preston. I'm from the year 2023, and I know this is going to sound crazy, but…someday you and I are going to work together.'

Flynn's lips trembled as he took in what she was saying. 'My God. The time machine! Connor Mason actually built it?!' he said incredulously, trying hard to keep his voice down. 'I knew it!'

'You were right. You were right about everything. More than you will ever know,' Lucy said softly. 'But you…'

Lucy then paused as a sudden ringing started in her ear. She winced and tilted her head that had now suddenly begun to pound. Wyatt, who had been keeping a close eye on her from the table, frowned as he watched her struggle with the pain; the side effects had already started. She didn't have much time. Lucy groaned, and then sighed as she continued speaking to Flynn.

'Okay, look. You are going to have to sacrifice everything for a cause that almost no one will believe in. The world will think that you're a terrorist and a traitor,' she said, and Flynn shook his head in protest and disbelief. 'Even I'm going to think that at first.'

Flynn raised his eyebrows sceptically at her. 'Wha-what?'

'Wait, listen to me. But you aren't any of those things,' Lucy said firmly. 'And you're going to think that you lost your humanity, but you didn't, and you never will.'

'What about my family?' Flynn asked, and his tone and expression completely caught Lucy off-guard; she felt her heart break as she knew she was left with no choice but to tell the truth.

She shook her head helplessly as the tears welled up in her eyes. 'You won't get them back. I'm sorry,' she whispered, her voice breaking as she imagined herself in Flynn's position…if Wyatt and their daughters had been killed…the thought of it destroyed her.

Flynn simply stared at her, a broken man, clinging onto every word that this mysterious woman was saying.

'You're a hero, I promise. Maybe the greatest hero of us all,' Lucy said tearfully, her tone earnest as she gazed into the poor mans' empty, defeated eyes. 'But you're going to need my help, okay? So-'

But then she broke off again as the ringing pain in her head resurfaced, only this time stronger and much more agonizing. 'Oh, God,' she whispered, closing her eyes as she clutched her head with her hand.

Wyatt turned to the edge of his seat, ready to leap to his feet to get Lucy out of there, but saw that his presence wasn't needed just yet; Flynn seemed to be comforting Lucy, and in that moment Wyatt was overcome with fondness and sorrow for the man. He had deserved so much better.

'Hey, you okay?' Flynn asked her, concerned as he reached out.

Her cheeks streaked with tears, Lucy shook her head, trying to free herself of the pain, before reaching into her bag and pulling out the journal. 'Here, take this,' she said, passing it into his hands and gazing firmly at him. 'You are going to save history.'

Without thinking, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek; Flynn stared at her, stunned, as she gave him one last hopeful smile. And then she turned and left. Flynn watched her go as she joined two men sat in the corner, and the three of them walked out of the door; Lucy looked back briefly before closing the door.

'How'd it go?' Rufus asked urgently as they hurried back to the Lifeboat.

'We don't have time for that, we need to hurry!' Wyatt said urgently, guiding Lucy on as she moaned in agony and clutched her head.

The ringing soon begun in Wyatt's head as well as they ran on, but luckily they managed to reach the Lifeboat in time.

'Get us out of here!' Wyatt said to Rufus sharply once they were all strapped in, groaning as the pain and dizziness in his head took over.

'Wyatt!' Lucy cried. 'Are you okay?'

'I'm-I'm fine,' he lied, wincing as the ringing in his head persisted; he held tightly onto Lucy's hands. 'You?'

'Yeah…just…it just hurts,' Lucy muttered.

'Same with me. But it'll stop any second now. And we'll be home. With our girls. I promise,' Wyatt said firmly, and he squeezed her hands. 'Yeah?'

Lucy nodded and forced a smile at him through the pain. 'Yeah. Yeah.'

She closed her eyes during the journey back, not sure if she could face the possibility of returning to 2023 to discover that she had not been successful in setting things in motion with Flynn and their adventures together with the Lifeboat. If she had failed, then once they landed…they would perhaps disappear? Or come back to an empty, locked-up bunker with no one awaiting their return. Because nothing that had happened to them since first stepping foot in Mason Industries would have happened without Flynn and that journal. And this thought terrified Lucy to her very core.

When the Lifeboat grinded to a halt for the very last time, Rufus gave the control panel a ceremonious pat before turning to check on the welfare of his friends.

'It's stopped,' Wyatt said, letting out a huge sigh of relief; the ringing in his head had been getting unbearably torturous.

'Yeah. We're good,' Lucy said, exhaling deeply as she opened her eyes and removed her hands from her head.

'Do you think it worked? With Flynn?' Rufus asked, his forehead creased with worry.

Wyatt caught Lucy's eye. 'Only one way to find out,' he said.

Right on cue, the Lifeboat capsule door slid open. Lucy stepped out of the Lifeboat first and sat on the edge of the capsule door, while Wyatt and Rufus moved to her side. The three of them looked out triumphantly at Jiya, Agent Christopher and Mason, who were looking up at the team in awe with delighted smiles on their faces. And there, over in the distance by the old-fashioned TV set, were little Amy and Flynn, fast asleep on the couch in their pyjamas with their heads resting on each other. Flooded with warmth, Lucy smiled and turned to exchange a look with Wyatt, who smiled lovingly back at her.

It had worked. The girls were here. And they were home for good at last.

~ Spring 2020 ~

'Wow, you guys were eager, huh? Two kids already and only been married five months!'

Lucy looked up wearily from her hospital bed to smile at the nurse. 'Yeah, we…may have pushed forward the date of the wedding when we found out we were pregnant.'

The nurse laughed. 'I'll leave you two – sorry, you four – to it. I'll be right outside,' she said, and, casting Lucy and Wyatt a fond smile, she left the room.

Wyatt turned to face Lucy, baby Amy cradled tightly in his arms. His face was still tear-streaked, and he was glowing. He had never felt so full or happy; he hadn't stopped smiling since Lucy had given birth to their twin daughters two hours ago.

'Yeah…the right timing for things has…never been one of our strongest suits, has it?' Wyatt murmured, amused, as he swayed Amy slightly in his arms.

'No, you could say that,' Lucy murmured, laughing softly, and she looked up from their other baby girl in her arms to smile lovingly at her husband. 'But I wouldn't have it any other way.'

'Me neither,' Wyatt said, and he sat on the edge of the bed so that he was next to her, the twin sisters close enough to touch in their parents' arms. 'I'm so in love with you. And with our babies.'

'Me too. Can you believe we're actually parents?' Lucy said, her eyes welling up again as she looked down at their two daughters. 'This time last year we'd pretty much only just got used to life outside the bunker.'

Wyatt smiled warmly. 'Yeah. Now look at us. Look what we've made.'

They both gazed down at their daughters in awe. The moment the nurses had carefully placed each baby in Lucy's arms, Lucy had felt herself, as if by magic, become a mother. It had felt as if everything in her life, every moment shared between herself and Wyatt, had led to this moment. It was as if her life hadn't been completely full, until the moment she had felt her daughters in her arms. It was a feeling unlike anything she had ever experienced before, and even better, she had the most wonderful man to share it with. Wyatt had been just as starstruck once the babies had been delivered, and baby Amy had even already grasped Wyatt's little finger, making his heart soar.

'Oh, my God. These are our children, Wyatt,' Lucy breathed, in awe. 'They're ours!'

'Yeah. We get to keep them apparently, I overheard one of the nurses saying-' Wyatt said jokingly, but he was interrupted as Lucy leaned in to kiss him tenderly; when they broke apart, he smiled adoringly at her. 'You're gonna be an incredible mom.'

'And you're gonna be an incredible dad,' Lucy said softly, but then her smile faded. 'Although…we're not that great seeming as we've only named one of them. I feel so bad, I don't want to show any favouritism towards Amy just because we knew what her name would be but-'

'I've got an idea for a name for this little one, actually,' Wyatt said, his lips twitching, as he gestured their baby in Lucy's arms. 'You might like it.'

Lucy tilted her head at him, intrigued. 'Go on.'

'Well…how about 'Flynn'?'

'Flynn?' Lucy said, frowning bewilderedly. 'What's he got to do with-?'

Wyatt laughed softly. 'No, Lucy, I mean…what if we name Amy's sister… 'Flynn'?'

Lucy's lips parted, stunned. 'Flynn?' she said softly. 'Are you serious?'

'Yeah. I am. I think it would be nice,' Wyatt murmured, his tone sincere and gentle.

'Flynn and Amy Logan,' Lucy said thoughtfully, and a smile broke out on her face as she gazed down at their two daughters, yet another tear escaping from her eye. 'I love it. It's perfect.'

And it was. Everything about it was so perfect. It was clear to Lucy and Wyatt, and it was clear to Rufus and Jiya when they visited about an hour later to see the happy new family; Lucy and Wyatt sat side by side on the hospital bed holding their babies. A picture of total bliss. A picture that none of them would ever forget.

~ Present Day ~

'You did it!' Jiya cried triumphantly.

Lucy began to laugh, suddenly feeling rather overcome with giddiness. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this relieved.

'We did it!' Lucy called back, and she hurried down the steps of the Lifeboat to hug Jiya, Agent Christopher and Mason each in turn.

When she turned around, Wyatt was stood there gazing over at the couch where their children slept. There were tears on his cheeks. Lucy felt her lips tremble as she smiled at him; clearly, he had been hiding from her just how worried he had been too. She walked over to him and wound her arms around his waist from behind.

'Hey. Are you okay?' she whispered to him.

'Yeah. I'm great,' Wyatt murmured, and he turned around to take Lucy in his arms. 'Thank you, Lucy.'

Lucy broke apart from him, though kept her hands on his shoulders. 'For what?'

'For what you just did. For those beautiful girls over there. For this,' Wyatt said, kissing the glistening wedding ring on her finger. 'For us. For everything.'

Lucy smiled lovingly up at him and leaned in to kiss his lips tenderly. 'I love you so much,' she murmured once they'd broken apart.

'I love you too,' Wyatt whispered, kissing her again.

'Mommy? Daddy?'

Lucy and Wyatt broke apart and looked over; Amy and Flynn had woken up and were slowly wandering over towards them beside the Lifeboat, scratching their eyes and yawning.

'You're back!' Amy said gleefully, hurrying over to them.

'B-back?' Lucy said.

'Aunty Denise said you went away!'

Lucy and Wyatt turned to frown at Agent Christopher, confused.

Agent Christopher shrugged innocently. 'They woke up and came looking for you, I didn't know what else to say. They wanted to wait up here till you came back,' she explained.

Amy and Flynn both came to a halt as they took in the epic size of the Lifeboat stood before them. 'Woah!' they both said, impressed.

'Mommy, Daddy, where did you go?' Flynn asked inquisitively.

'Oh, that's a long story,' Lucy said, amused.

'Will you tell it to us?'

'Please!'

'When you're older, yes,' Wyatt replied.

But they both frowned in protest. 'Why not now?'

Lucy and Wyatt exchanged a glance.

'Oh, fine,' Lucy said, smirking. 'But only on one condition – that you both go to sleep after.'

'Okay,' the two girls mumbled, and Jiya giggled in adoration.

'C'mon, we'll take you to bed and we'll tell you the story,' Wyatt said, holding Amy's hand while Lucy held Flynn's.

'Okay!'

'Goodnight, guys,' Lucy said to the others as the four of them walked away towards the corridor.

''Night. See you in the morning,' Rufus called after them, and then he lowered his voice. 'Do they seriously expect Amy and Flynn to understand anything that has happened with the Lifeboat?!'

'No, Rufus. They just want to tell their children a bedtime story before they go to sleep,' Agent Christopher said fondly, watching the happy family go. 'Sometimes there's just nothing more precious in the world than that.'

'That sounds nice,' Jiya said dreamily, her eyes on Lucy and Wyatt as they walked away arm-in-arm.

Rufus smiled at her and took her hand. 'Yeah, it does.'

Wyatt gave the rest of the team a goodnight wave before he and his family disappeared around the corner of the corridor. Lucy rested his head against his shoulder as the four of them walked on, Amy and Flynn somehow yawning and yet also bouncing at the same time.

'So…what shall we do tomorrow?' Wyatt asked Lucy, pressing his lips to her head.

'Well…we say goodbye to this place. Probably for the last time, though you never know. And then we…go back home and start our Christmas holiday with the girls,' Lucy suggested, stroking Flynn's hair as they went along. 'How does that sound?'

Wyatt turned to smile at her. 'That sounds perfect,' he murmured.

And so after a brief yet tender kiss, the happy, relieved couple led the way into Amy and Flynn's made-up room to tell their daughters the story of Lucy and Wyatt.

The End

Thank you for reading :)