| Code Name: Shadow | (DC's Legends of Tomorrow)

There were many ways Meg imagined a significant other.

She envisioned many different people, with different personalities, different looks, and completely different stories. As lonely as Meg was the past few years, there were many ways she imagined she'd fall in love. But with Ray- it didn't take a dozen calculations and deductions. It was simple, yet so complex Meg couldn't put her finger on it. He made her heart flutter and her mind go fuzzy. With everything Ray did, Meg learned how to have a more optimistic look on life then basing it on rationale and deducted scenarios.

But as soon as she turned the corner and saw Ray and Kendra returned- it was like there was a barrier standing between Meg and those fluttery feelings Ray gave her. Two years they had been stuck in the 50's, and it was only a few hours that Meg had the pain and guilt of leaving them behind.

As Ray, Stein, and Meg arrived in the quaint little apartment the Atom and Priestess shared, Meg's palms itched as she saw the memories they had shared. Black and white photos were framed on the wall of the two of them going on small adventures. The apartment was neat and homey, with book shelves and stacks of college essays. All Meg seemed to think as she looked around the place was that Ray had apparently moved on, and didn't seem to feel the same emotions he had for her before the Waverider had marooned him here.

"Meg?" Stein walked over to the redhead with a gentle smile on his face. Meg looked over, studying the almost unreadable expression on the former professor's face. Everyone seemed to be expressing some sort of empathy for her, and she didn't even know why.

"Mm?" She hummed, glumly looking at the pictures hung on the refrigerator door from over two years of memories.

"Just go talk to him." The old professor advised. Meg's shoulders slumped forward as she chewed her bottom lip from her worries.

Meg quietly walked through the halls of the apartment to the bedroom where Ray had wandered off to. Before she entered, her pale knuckles carefully rapped on the door before she opened it. Ray looking at something held tightly in his hands, and when Meg saw it, it was clear where everything stood between them.

An engagement ring.

He was going to propose to Kendra.

Hiding the sudden sinking feeling in her stomach and odd ache in her chest, Meg entered the room hiding her anguish.

"Do you need any help in here?" She asked, blinking rapidly to hide her tears. Ray shoved the ring into his pocket with an expression that exhibited pity towards Meg.

"No, just finishing up in here..." Ray pulled a book from a nearby shelf, "Here is your book- the one you left behind. It's a little banged up, but... here."

Meg took the slightly worn Agatha Christie boom in her hands, wiping some dust from the cover as she gripped it to her chest.

"Thanks." Awkwardly, she turned around to head back into the living room. As she put her hand on the knob, an invisible force kept her from moving. Meg sucked in a breath before turning around.

"Ray-"

"Meg, we thought you've been dead for two years." He interrupted her. Taken back by this, the pounding in Meg's chest increased.

"I know... but I promised, Ray." Her voice wavered only slightly, "And you knew that it was only a stun gun... Chronos wanted us all for ransom."