It was a strange day, even for a Tuesday in Central City. A large hole had opened up in the sky, not unlike the Singularity, and rained down some glowing stones, a few uprooted and battered trees, bits of brick and building parts, half a car, and apparently-
"I couldn't just leave her out there, she's a baby," Cisco said before Barry or Caitlin could say anything. The main crisis averted, Barry'd returned to STAR Labs from patrolling, and Caitlin from the local hospital, volunteering her skills. Neither were prepared for what they saw. Neither spoke, only gaped. Barry wondered if maybe he'd hit his head; Caitlin simply wondered why.
"Um…you can stop staring at me like that," Cisco offered, waiting for a reaction. He'd honestly expected….anything but silence.
They were too busy staring at the tiny creature cradled in his lap to say anything. Finally, Caitlin found her voice.
"Is that a…Cisco, please tell me that's not a baby triceratops."
"Can't, because it is." Cisco grinned at the scaly peach-colored lump.
"Where?" Barry asked faintly, rooting around for a calorie bar. "Where did you find it?"
"She," Cisco corrected. "I mean, I think she's a girl. Over on….Porter? Near Magnolia. I was heading for shelter from the glowing rock things and she was just… there. Crying. I couldn't just leave her, she'd die! Or get snatched up by some super shady for-profit lab or military group, or get hit by a truck."
Caitlin looked at Barry. Barry looked at Caitlin.
"Cisco….we don't even know what Triceratopses eat." Barry offered.
"Treestars, duh."
"Be reasonable," Caitlin tried. "You live in an apartment that won't even allow hamsters. It's a dinosaur!"
"I'm gonna call her Cera," Cisco said, adamantly. All the sudden movement and talk seemed to have woken the baby, she blinked large, dark eyes, eyes more closely resembling a deer than anything else, and let out a yawn that was half mew, half squeak.
"Oh," Caitlin breathed. "She's…"
"So cute." Barry finished, sighing, as Cisco looked on at his armload with the adoration of a new father. "I'll go find some leaves and…stuff. Um. Ferns? Maybe?" they all shared a look, it wasn't as they they could google "what to feed your pet triceratops" and get serious answers. Cera didn't notice, squealing more and craning her head to look around her. As Barry raced off, Cisco cooed at her, and Caitlin sank into a chair.
"Nothing I say is going to convince you this is a bad plan, is it?"
Cisco debated trying, but just shook his head. "Nope."
"Fine," Caitlin sighed. "Oh God, it's going to be like Jurassic Park."
"But with less death," Cisco said. "No T-rexes, or oversized velociraptors. Wanna hold her?"
He didn't give Caitlin a chance to hesitate. Caitlin squeaked at how light she was, and how warm, and Cera looked up at her. Caitlin rubbed her stubby horn, and the tawny creature leaned into it, making a soft churring noise.
"Welcome to the family."
Inspired by a headcanon chain with Cr1mson5thestranger, me, and Patriotproblems on tumblr. Also by a childhood watching Land Before Time movies.