Ava had to do things at home today. As much as she hated letting the legends work alone on a level 10 anachronism, nobody would take care of the girls. Laurel, who is three now, was a very energetic kid like her mother, always running around, climbing and jumping. Today however Laurel woke up without immediately running and bouncing on Mama's bed. She stayed patient, quiet and slouched on her chair while Mama cooked and prepared the food on the table, almost like she had no extra energy to burn.

"What's wrong babe?" Ava finally asked as she placed baby Dani on her high chair. She crouched beside her daughter and gave her a comforting rub on the back.

"Mommy" She whispered. Sara informed ahead of time that she will be home after three days, just in time for them to celebrate Dani's 4th month birthday. That was two days ago. It wasn't like Ava to worry, but she has been having this weird feeling she couldn't shake ever since Sara left for work. e

"Mommy will be home soon, I promise. Eat your breakfast babe" she said trying to reassure herself more than her daughter.

She fed Dani her bottle and got Laurel bathed. When the girls were settled in the living room floor with toys and television to keep them occupied, she calls the waverider. As expected, Gideon answers the call. The AI briefed her with the legends plan and told her that they were currently out on the field. Gideon promised to call her if anything happened and ended the call with a short goodbye Mrs. Lance.

The call was supposed to calm her but instead it made her worry more. She trusts Sara and her team, they may be reckless but they get the job done and they always have each other's backs. So instead of thinking about her wife, she focused her attention on the girls and work.

Afternoon rolled in rather quickly and Sara was still at work. Ava decided to take the girls out for lunch to cheer Laurel up. She wanted to be there when Sara got home, but staying at the house made her anxious and sick to her stomach. She left a note to Gideon to call if the legends were done and then they headed to a nearby diner which she and Sara loved.

She ordered burgers and milkshake for her and Laurel, who lit up immediately. She was keen on her kids eating healthy and clean, not that Dani can eat solid food anyways, but mommy had all the love for letting Laurel get away with whatever she wanted, from junk food to ice cream to candies. Because Laurel deserves it, she said, but the only reason was that she could have some too.

They happily ate their launch. Ava momentarily forgets her worries and Laurel was talking more again laughing at Mama's jokes and kisses. When lunch was done Laurel begged to go to the park. After checking her courier for the time, she became hesitant at first, but the heat was forgiving and the air was uncharacteristically chilly for this time of day. She was desperate to do whatever it took to avoid the ever growing worry in the pit of her stomach and letting Laurel decide on things seemed reasonable... for now It also crossed her mind that maybe Laurel was acting weird today because she worries for her mom too. she's still a kid, she doesn't understand yet. She thought to herself.

They spent a good hour on the park, Laurel met kids and played with them. She was suddenly back to her normal, giddy and friendly self while Ava stayed at a bench feeding Dani. When the little girl got bored, they decided to go back to the house because Mommy is coming home Laurel jumped up and down with excitement. She even strapped herself into the booster seat and Dani into the backseat carrier.

They drove home singing to Disney hits which Ava memorized because of the million times she had to sit through the movies (which she secretly enjoyed). Though Laurel was slurring most of the words it was evident that she had the talent or so her parents proudly proclaimed. They arrived home with Laurel first through the door enthusiastically shouting "Mommy!" only to be disappointed that Sara hasn't come home yet.

After a few minutes of explaining to Laurel they went back to their routines. Ava changed Dani and let her take her really delayed nap while Laurel was back on the mat in the living room with her coloring books and toys scattered on the floor.

Hours have gone by and Sara was still nowhere to be found, she cooked dinner, checking the wall clock every thirty minutes, almost on the brink of crying. She could portal to the waverider if she wanted too but it would be useless if they were out on the field and their agreement that the girls will not know about the waverider until they were older was a reason she couldn't bring them along.

The girls were bathed and Dani was put to bed. Ava however couldn't let go of Laurel just yet. "Mama is mommy close?" the little girl asked. They were situated on the couch watching a late night cartoon they haven't seen before. It was 10 o'clock and way past Laurel's bedtime, the little girl wanted to wait up for her mom and with the anxiety of waiting she agreed.

"Yeah baby she's coming home. She's almost here" lie. She doesn't know what was going on or where Sara was. She is coming home today, she assured herself, and Sara had two more hours to come home to her.

Maybe she just lost track of time. She lied again to herself. She hugged Laurel tighter and adjusted the blanket that was wrapped around them. She kissed her forehead and rubbed her arm. It was supposed to be a gesture of comfort, to let Laurel know that everything was okay, but it felt like she just needed something to do with her hands. She was desperate and frustrated, feeling like a useless idiot who couldn't do anything but wait. She couldn't stop herself from shaking, her jaw aching from forcing herself not to cry. She couldn't break, not now, not ever. She had to stay strong for her girls.

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock. She immediately lifted Laurel's head on her shoulder and ran for the door. Relief flooded over her when she saw her wife standing on the dimly lit porch with a smile on her face. She immediately pulled her inside and hugged her tightly. She didn't even notice that she was crying until she heard Sara murmuring comforting words into her ears

"Don't ever do that again. Do you understand?" she enunciated every word with a shaky breath when she pulled away, only to wrap her arms around Sara again. Only this time she hears her wife whimper and hiss with pain.

Her heart sank when she finally saw Sara in the light. Her hair caked with blood and matted with dust, her head bruised and bleeding and her lips cracked and swollen. Judging by the discomfort in her breathing, she may have a broken rib or two. Horror was evident in Ava's face and before she could ask what happened Laurel was already running towards her mommy. Before she could leap to Sara's open arms she catches her and swung her to her hip. She brought her daughter closer to her wife.

Sara gave a reassuring smile "It's all right" Tears fell down her cheeks again when Sara gently took Laurel from her. "it's all right" she said again hissing, breathing out the burning sensation throughout her body as she placed Laurel on one side of her hip, like she was comforting herself rather than comforting Ava.

"You are way past your bedtime princess" She whispered to Laurel. She planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead and smoothed her hair. "I guess mama was really worried huh?" She looked at Ava apologetically. Her wife had her hand across her stomach and the other covering her crying face.

"Why don't you go to your room and mommy will be there in a second to tuck you in okay?" She placed Laurel on the floor and thankfully, Laurel obeyed without question. Ava was crying harder this time, her back leaning on the couch for support. She couldn't bring herself to look at Sara bloody and injured.

Sara waited for the little girl to disappear from her view before she spoke "I would've gotten cleaned and fixed but I promised to come home as early as I possibly can" the failed humor evident in her voice. She cups Ava's cheeks and wiped her tears. "I'm okay" she whispered.

The taller blonde shook her head. "We can't keep doing this, I can't keep doing this" she whispered back. "I was worried the entire day! I was sick to my stomach! I've barely had work done, I – I let Laurel eat unhealthy food because I can't get myself to make lunch! I almost burned dinner because I couldn't function properly. Laurel is still awake because I was too scared to wait alone!" She said exasperatedly. "Because I almost thought you weren't coming home" the last part was barely a whisper but the message was loud and clear

She wasn't blaming Sara, she never could, but she hated herself for not doing enough today, for how easily she fell apart because Sara wasn't there, because Sara was hurt and there was nothing she could do but to sit back, and watch her wife suffer in pain.

"Don't. Stop blaming yourself. It wasn't your fault that things got out of hand" Sara walked towards her, or limped was a much fitting description, She tightly hugged her wife. "I'm sorry if you were worried, I just didn't have time to call"

Ava felt Sara's weight pull her down. She knew Sara was exhausted; it was a miracle that she was even standing up. She knew that her wife's legs aren't going to hold her for much longer so she carefully supported her, avoiding her injured rib.

"Laurel is too young, and Dani, god Dani she just turned 4 months today, I..." her sentence was cut when she felt Sara's lips press against her. The taste of iron lingered when she pulled away.

"They are not going to lose me . You are not going to lose me" She let Sara's words sooth her.

"Promise me" she stared at her wife's blue orbs, pleading for her to say the words.

"You know I can't" A tear fell on Sara's cheek. Suddenly, the floor was a much better scene than her begging wife.

"I don't care if you have to lie to me Sara, I need to hear you say it, I need you to promise me" It was desperate, it was pathetic, but it was the only way for her to let this go.

"I promise"

It was a lie. A lie she was willing to accept just to feel the tiniest bit of security. Sara has never broken a promise, not in the entire time they were together. So she trusted her, no matter how difficult it is for her to keep her promise in their line of work. She believed her lie because somehow, Sara always, always comes back home to her.