A/N: I'm still a sucker for Caitlin and Harry.

Yes, this is being posted a little early, but I wanted to make sure I had time to finish it before Christmas! :-)

No spoilers as such, but I do mention something that Caitlin is wearing in a bts photo I recently saw for an upcoming episode (not sure which one). I'm not sure if they are what I've assumed they are for the purpose of this story, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

December 13th.

Caitlin was brushing her teeth when her buzzer went. Spitting toothpaste out into the sink, she rushed to answer it, cursing whoever it was that had deigned to call on her so early, especially as her faulty alarm clock had made her late for work. She made a mental note to buy a new one as she pressed the button on the intercom.

"Hello?"

"Doctor Snow?"

"Yes, that's me."

"I have a package for you."

"Oh." She bit her lip in thought. "But I haven't ordered anything."

"Sorry, ma'am, I wouldn't know anything about that, I just deliver what I'm given."

"Yes, of course, sorry," Caitlin said, hearing the impatience in his tone. "Come on up."

Five minutes later, Caitlin was seated on her couch, staring at the small box in front of her on her coffee table. A small tag attached to the festive wrapping paper had her name on it, but nothing else. Either someone had sent her a Christmas gift and had forgotten to put who it was from, or she had a secret admirer. The first option seemed far more likely to her. Smiling, she opened the box, and found, securely nestled inside, a crystal snowflake tree-ornament, with silver ribbon looped through the top of it, about two inches in diameter. Carefully, she took it out and held it up to the light, quickly enchanted with the rainbow it was casting on the she stood and took it over to her Christmas tree, placing it right in the middle, where it sparkled proudly.

She wondered if it was meant to be a nod to her name, or whether the person who had sent it had just thought it was pretty. It was pretty, and Caitlin admired it for a few moments more before flopping back down onto her couch and hugging a cushion to her, her fingers idly playing with the edging as she tried to think of who it could have come from. Then she noticed the time, and jumped up, wanting to leave herself time to stop at Jitters on her way to the lab - her pondering would have to wait until later.

"And you're absolutely sure none of you sent it?" Caitlin asked, eyeing the three men closely. It was mid-morning, and phone calls to her family and friends had turned up nothing. Neither, to her dismay, had her questioning of Cisco, Barry, and HR.

Cisco held up his hands, and then grinned. "Sounds like someone has a secret admirer," he sing-songed.

"Don't be ridiculous. I never have time to meet anyone, let alone be with someone long enough to make that kind of impression."

"Cait, they don't have to know you - maybe they've been admiring you from afar," Barry said, wearing the same stupid grin as Cisco.

"Someone who doesn't really know me has my address? Yeah, that's not creepy at all. The lab, sure, but my apartment?"

"Maybe it's someone in your building," HR supplied, tapping his drumstick against his lips in thought. "Any neighbours you frequently bump into?"

Caitlin considered this information for a moment. "Maybe..." She let out a frustrated sigh. "But then why not sign their name? There's not even a clue as to who it's from."

Cisco paced briefly, then came to a stop in front of his friend, his eyes widening as if he'd just hit the jackpot. "The present must be the clue! But how...?"

Caitlin squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed a hand across her forehead. "Ok, none of this is actually helping me," she said, impatiently. "I guess I'll just... wait and see what happens. But for now, I'm forgetting about it." She sat down in front of one the computers and opened up a file. Luckily, the others took this as a sign that the conversation was over, but she did notice the concerned looks Cisco and Barry gave each other at her tone of voice before dispersing, leaving just her and HR in the cortex together.

"Why did they just look at each other like that? Should I leave, too? I don't mind, if you need to be alone..."

"No, HR," Caitlin replied, looking up at him with a small, tired smile. "It's fine. They just... It's a long story. They worry about me, is all. But I'm sure it's nothing bad, this time."

"This time?"

"Like I said, long story. Another time, perhaps."

HR returned her smile, satisfied with her answer. "Another coffee?"

"Tea would be nice."

He nodded. "I'll get right on that."

December 14th.

"Sign here."

Caitlin scribbled her signature on the touchpad, and tipped the delivery guy before closing the door and moving to sit on her couch. As she had the day before, she placed the package on her coffee table, and stared at it, chewing her lip as she did, eyes momentarily unblinking. It was a little bigger than the one she'd received the day before, and when she finally opened it, she found herself looking down at a beautiful pair of dove-grey cashmere gloves, with little bows on the cuffs. Cashmere wasn't cheap, especially at this quality, she realised, as she ran a hand across the soft material. Not feeling the cold anymore, she hadn't bothered to really wrap herself up as winter set in, but these were too pretty to be left unworn.

As she lifted out the second glove, she noticed a small note tucked into the box. Caitlin's stomach churned in anticipation as she unfolded it and began to read.

'A back-to-front Twelve Days of Christmas - a little artistic license, if you will. You're part of the reason why I'm not alone this year.'

That was it. It wasn't signed, but Caitlin felt a spark of excitement zip through her. So it was someone she'd helped... But who? And whoever it was, she really didn't need them to thank her in such a generous way, especially if it was romantic on their part, because she hated that she'd more-than-likely have to turn them down if it was, but she still couldn't help but look forward to what would come next, mostly because it might give her more of a clue as to who this person was than the gifts themselves, as thoughtful as they were. She was torn about what to do with them. Part of her wanted to keep them packed away, so the sender could return them once she found out who they were, but the other part didn't want to come across as ungrateful, when they'd clearly gone to so much trouble. She read the note again:

'... You're part of the reason why I'm not alone his year.'

Hmm, maybe not romantic after all, although, she supposed, it could be that this person had been reunited with family, and not necessarily found someone to fall in love with, but they'd dealt with so many people and situations this past year, that she couldn't even begin to think of who it could be.

Jiggling her knees up and down as she sat, trying to make a decision, she eventually decided that she would wear the gloves after all - even though she didn't actually need them, it was a bit of normality, and kept up the illusion that she was still exactly who she'd always been - to those outside of her inner circle, anyway.

As she got ready to leave, she slipped the gloves on, the softness comforting her. Maybe that was all she needed, in which case, they still served a purpose after all.

"So, wait - what happens on the twelfth day? What if they show up at your apartment? I mean, I know what I said yesterday, about a secret admirer, but that was when we thought it was one gift. What if they're actually a secret psychopath?" Cisco said, coming to stand in front of his friend with a deeply concerned look on his face.

Caitlin rolled her eyes. "I doubt they're going to come to my apartment. Plus, I think I can defend myself if I really need to," she added, looking down at the inhibitors on her wrists.

"It shouldn't have to come to that, Caitlin. And Cisco's right - this is different, and after-"

"-After what, Barry?" Caitlin snapped, cutting him off. "After Ronnie? After being tricked by Zoom? You think that now every time something good happens to me, that it can't possibly be for a good and honest reason? That this can't really be someone who just wants to say thank you? That someone can't like me without an ulterior motive? For once, can I not enjoy something? Can I not be happy about something that could be completely innocent? And so what if it did turn out to be someone who had fallen for me? You think I'd be in danger if I turned them down, because I can only attract psychopaths? Well, gee, thanks." She walked away from them, but she hadn't even made it out of the cortex before she stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm not made of glass," she said, a little calmer, her back still to them. "I know what I've been through, and I know you care, of course you do - but, let me figure this out myself, and if at any point it doesn't feel right, I'll tell you. I promise."

Cisco nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Ok," he said, quietly, apologetically. "Deal."

Caitlin knew it wouldn't stop them from keeping a wary eye out, but it was good enough. "Thank you."

Later that night, having successfully managed to avoid thinking too much about who her mysterious gift-giver was for a good part of the day, her curiosity was back in full force. Standing in the doorway to her living room, hands wrapped around a hot chocolate and staring at the new ornament on her tree, she tapped one, perfectly manicured nail against the side of her mug as she thought, her eyebrows knitting together as she considered who it could be, but after running through all the options she could think of, none of them seemed to fit.

The crystal snowflake hung from its branch delicately, and she moved towards it, stopping once more to admire its beauty as it twinkled, caught in the moonlight streaming in through the window. It had clearly been picked with thought rather than just at random, and she wasn't sure how she knew that, but she just did. For a moment, she let herself get lost in a daydream, where the person sending her gifts turned out to be the one who would mend her fractured heart, who she would fall in love with... Caitlin shook her head. After everything she'd been through, it wouldn't do to think such things, to once again get her hopes up. If it was just the generosity of someone who wanted to thank her in a special way, then that was just as good.

With a sigh, she turned and headed to her bedroom, ready to curl up with her drink and a book, before settling down to sleep.