Author's Note: This is the sequel to Real World which will explain why Rip is where he is and why he did what he did.

However, this may take some time as there was never meant to be a sequel to Real World, there was never meant to be more than one chapter originally.

Anyway, enjoy.

It was quiet on the Waverider.

Almost two months had passed since they had faced off against Mallus. Just less since Constantine had interrupted their vacation in Aruba and put them to work chasing the things that had escaped with the Time Demon.

Except Constantine was away doing something, which even when he explained it to them made absolutely no sense, so the team were relaxing and catching up on a few things they had to do.

"Captain Lance," Gideon spoke up, "Director Sharpe has advised she is coming on board with a request."

Sara smiled to herself, quickly checking her reflection, before turning when she heard the portal open seeing Ava walk on to the bridge.

"Hi," Sara greeted her, "Social call?"

"Afraid not," Ava replied, "I'm here for some assistance from Gideon."

Sara stared at her bemused, "Gideon?"

"What can I do for you, Director?" the AI asked.

A slight grimace covered Sara's face at Gideon's tone. It was as pleasant as always but there was an underlying edge to it that Sara had heard a lot in the past few months.

"We have detected an alert recently which appears, according to former Director Hunter's notes, to be connected to the Time Masters," Ava explained, "Considering that the only one who knows anything about them anymore is Gideon I was hoping you and the team would come with me to investigate."

"We're not busy at the mo…" she stopped as she heard a portal open beside them.

Sara and Ava stared stunned as the doorway opened on it's side before a body was expelled from it. They winced at the sound of the body thumping onto the deck especially at the loud pop which was followed by a cry of pain.

Sara found her voice first as they stared at the man lying there, "Rip?"

x

Pain reverberated throughout his entire body when he was spat out the portal and slammed into solid ground, the noise from his shoulder horribly familiar. His head felt light and he was slightly disorientated as he tried to work out what had happened.

"Rip?" Sara's astonished voice came from above him.

Rolling onto his back Rip looked up sighing in relief when he saw the two women standing staring at him, "I'm guessing we won."

They nodded in unison both looking a little amazed.

"How long has it been?" Rip asked.

"About two months," Sara replied, giving him an amused look, "Do you need help to get up?"

"Give me a minute," Rip told her.

"You have dislocated your shoulder, Captain Hunter," Gideon's welcome voice came.

Rip nodded slightly pain in his voice, "I am very aware of that fact, Gideon."

"That now makes sixteen," she stated, making him chuckle.

"Actually, it's eighteen," Rip replied still staring up at the ceiling, "You missed two."

Her silence spoke volumes of disapproval.

"Gideon?" Rip called after a few moments.

"Please report to the medical bay," she stated with finality in her voice.

Taking a long deep breath Rip forced himself to roll onto his knees and get to his feet holding his injured arm to his chest.

"I'll be in the medical bay," he told the two women standing watching him both looking a little bemused.

Sara nodded, "Sure. After you've been checked out we have something that we need your help for."

"That may take a while," he replied a fond smile on his face, "I'd suggest getting some dinner while you wait."

x

Heading through the corridors Rip sighed in relief he had made it home. Once he was sure he was alone Rip called, "Gideon, are you alright?"

"I thought you were dead, Rip," she replied, making him smile that she was still using his name.

Stopping briefly Rip rested his hand on the bulkhead, "I'm sorry I scared you. In all honesty I wasn't sure my escape plan would work. Activating the courier at the same time was extremely risky."

"Yes, it was," Gideon agreed, "But it worked, Rip."

Rip chuckled starting to walk again, "Not completely. I was aiming for the medical bay."

"At least you found the ship," Gideon replied.

Stopping again he leaned back against the wall, resting his head back and closing his eyes, "I am sorry, Gideon. About absolutely everything. I have missed you for so long."

"I have missed you too," she said softly, "Captain Hunter."

He smiled at the title.

"Are you staying this time, Rip?" Gideon asked him, a tinge of fear in her voice.

"I promise you, Gideon," he said softly, "I promise that I will stay with you from now on."

There were a few more moments of silence before she spoke again, "Please report to the medical bay so I can fix your arm and ensure that you were not affected in any permanent fashion from your latest misadventure."

x

"Rip," Ray's voice greeted him when Rip walked through the door, "I didn't believe it when Sara called down to tell us you were back."

"As good as it is to see you," Rip said softly, "I need to let Gideon fix my shoulder before she gets even more annoyed with me than she currently is."

Ray nodded, "Sure."

"Can you help me?" Rip asked knowing there was no point in trying to get his coat off himself, "My shoulder isn't co-operating."

"It's just dislocated," Mick's voice suddenly came from behind him before two hands grabbed his arm snapping his shoulder back into place.

Rip gasped before turning and managing to force out, "Thank you, Mr Rory."

Mick slapped his shoulder making him wince in pain again before leaving the room. Rip slipped his coat and jacket off sliding onto the chair while Ray helpfully attached the cuff to his wrist.

"I will probably be here for a while," Rip told the other man, "I have a feeling Gideon is going to spend a lot of time testing everything after my supposed death."

"Definitely," Gideon advised.

"Hi, Detective West," Jonas beamed up at the man when he and Rip entered the bullpen at CCPD.

West smiled back, "Hello again, Jonas. Are you here to see Katrina?"

Jonas nodded, "We're going for dinner. It's my birthday."

"Happy Birthday," West grinned at him, "What age are you then? Ten?" Jonas shook his head, "Fifteen?" Jonas shook his head again and West cried, "I know twenty-six."

A giggle came from the boy, "I'm five."

West chuckled at the pride that filled the little boy's voice but didn't get a chance to say anything as Jonas spotted Katrina and ran over to her. She caught him lifting the little boy into her arms for a hug.

Rip watched his son with a smile. Jonas was extremely excited about his birthday dinner with Ali and Katrina. He'd talked about it all day so was buzzing with enthusiasm by the time they'd arrived to pick Katrina up.

"So, five huh," West noted from Rip's side, "How are you doing with that?"

Chuckling Rip shrugged, "Amazed and a little stunned. It seems like only yesterday he was a baby."

"I remember that feeling," West replied.

Smiling Rip called to Katrina and Jonas, "Are you two ready to go? Ali is waiting for us."

"Let's go," Katrina said passing Jonas to Rip, "Night, Detective."

West gave them a wave as they left the building. Rip smiled at the way Jonas waved back before he started chattering away to Katrina about what they'd done all day.

x

"I can't believe our little boy is five," Ali sighed wistfully as they sat watching Jonas playing in the ball pit.

Rip chuckled, "Yeah, I know."

Even a few months ago if either of them had called Jonas 'theirs' he would have become defensive, but he couldn't these days. The two women were his closest friends and had basically become Jonas' aunts.

"I was talking to Bobby yesterday," Ali started.

"No," Rip shook his head, "No blind dates, Ali."

Ali looked at him innocently, "He was simply telling me..."

"I don't care," Rip cut her off, "I'm sure whoever he knows is lovely but no blind dates."

She frowned, "You need to get out a little and have some fun."

"I have fun," he defended himself, "I enjoy spending time with you two and the group I've been forced to become a part of recently."

Rolling her eyes, she sighed, "Most of whom are couples."

Rip shrugged, "What's your point?"

"Fine," Ali held her hands up in defeat, "I will not try to find a nice woman for you to spend time with who could possibly be someone you like."

Reaching out Rip squeezed her hand, "Ali, I was married for over ten years. Meeting someone isn't important to me. I'm fine raising my son and spending time with the friends you've introduced me to. I'm actually content at the moment."

"Okay, I will not try to set you up," she promised, "But you and Jonas are joining us on Saturday."

"Yes," Rip nodded before adding, "Mostly because I know how many people will pester me if we don't."

x

"I had lots of fun tonight, Daddy," Jonas said as he climbed into bed wearing a new pair of pyjamas with the Flash on them.

Rip smiled, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"I loved all my presents," Jonas told him.

"That's good," Rip murmured gently smoothing his little boy's hair.

Jonas caught his hand, "Will you sing Mummy's song to me?"

"Okay," Rip smiled, he sat on the bed pulling his son into his arms and began to sing rocking gently until Jonas fell asleep. Settling the little boy under his covers Rip gently kissed his forehead before leaving him to sleep. Returning to the living room he took the mug of tea waiting for him before sitting on the couch with the girls.

"Is he asleep?" Ali asked.

Rip nodded, "It took less time than I thought it would."

"Why were you singing 'When You Wish Upon A Star'?" Katrina asked, wincing when Ali smacked her arm.

He gave a slight shrug before explaining, "It was Miranda's favourite song. She used to sing it when Jonas kicked during the night and amazingly it would settle him. I would sing it to him as a baby when he couldn't sleep. He likes to hear it sometimes."

"You've never told us what happened," Ali said gently.

Taking a long drink Rip was silent for several minutes before finally saying, "It wasn't that long after Jonas was born. I was holding him while we discussed names and just as we decided on calling him Jonas she..." he sighed sadly, "She stopped in the middle of a sentence and just slumped against the pillows then she was gone," Rip gave a slight smile when Ali wrapped her arms around his leaning against his shoulder, "She would have loved you two."

Katrina squeezed his hand, "I'm sure we would have loved her too."