In the Beginning

I don't own the Flash! I only own Laura Williams and her storyline!

Laura Williams ran as fast as she could after her best friends, Iris West and Barry Allen. Barry was running away from the bullies, led by Tony Woodward, who always picked on him. Iris was running to get her father so he could scare off the bullies with his "I'm a cop do what I say" persona. Laura was running the slowest because, despite her long dancers legs, she was slower than a turtle. She still was trying to get to Barry's home so she could get his parents.

She dashed through the front door of Barry's home, wheezing and panting "Barry...bullies...run!" She gasped out to his mother, sitting on the couch.

Nora Allen sprang up and dashed out the door with Laura spinning on her heels to follow, still gasping for air. By the time they found Barry Joe West, Iris's Father, was helping the beaten and bruised boy stumble home.

"Sorry mom." Barry said sheepishly and looked down at his feet.

"Oh my brave boy."

"They...wheeze...were picking on...wheeze...

Jackson. Barry was just trying to help." Laura said finally catching up and trying to regain her breath.

"Let's head home and get you cleaned up, Barry." Nora took her son's hand and led him home "Joe?" She turned around "Would you make sure Laura gets home safely? It's getting late and her parents are probably worried."

"Of course Nora." Joe took the two girls back to Laura's house and dropped the eleven year old off with her parents who thanked him.

"What happened today Laura?" Her mother teased during dinner "Did Barry get into another fight?"

"Yep." Laura popped the p.

"That boy is always running into trouble." Her father laughed.

"Alright enough. Time for bed Laura." Her mother took her by the hand and led her upstairs to Laura's bedroom "Goodnight my sweet girl. I love you." She kissed her goodnight.

The next morning Laura woke up and hurried to get ready so she could go pick up Barry and Iris like she did every morning. She was out the door before she could hear her parents calling her to wait. First Laura went to Iris's house and was surprised to find Joe awake and waiting for her.

"Laura, come in." Joe beckoned her inside "There's something you should know."

"What? Is everything okay?" Laura asked worriedly.

"Barry and Iris aren't going to school today. Barry's mom, well, last night she was killed. Barry's father was arrested. Barry is staying with Iris and I for the moment. He's very upset, Iris and I are gonna stay with him today." Joe told her sadly.

"Can I call my parents? I want to stay too." Laura whispered with tears in her eyes.

"I already called them, they excused you." Joe told her.

"Where's Barry?"

"Upstairs, second door on the right."

Without another word Laura bolted up the stairs and towards the door. She gently turned the handle and saw Barry, laying on the bed with Iris sitting beside him talking softly.

"Oh Barry..." Laura murmured as Barry sat up.

She moved forward slowly to stand in front of him and hugged him tightly. She felt his tears drenching her shoulder as she rocked him back and forth, letting him cry himself to sleep.

"How did you get him to go to sleep?" Iris whispered "I tried all night and couldn't get him to even close his eyes."

Laura shrugged "I don't know. I just held him."

Six years later

"Come on Laura, all you have to do is change this to that." Barry told the mathematically challenged 17 year old Laura.

"I just don't get it!" Laura threw down her pencil "Math shouldn't have letters in it!"

They kept working for another hour before Laura finally got how to solve the problems. When they were finally done and headed home, Laura dropped Barry off at Joe and Iris's before walking back to her own house. When she got there the first thing she noticed was the cop car parked outside. In a flurry of fear, she rushed through the door and saw Joe waiting for her, her parents were nowhere to be seen and Joe wore a sad expression on his face.

"No."

"Laura I'm afraid there was an accident."

"No."

"I'm so sorry."

"No!" Laura sank to the ground in tears, pulling her knees to her chest and sobbing big, fat tears. She felt Joe hug her but she felt numb. Nothing would ever be the same again.

"They're sending me to Gotham to live with my uncle Mark." Laura told her best friends.

"No!" Iris cried, throwing her arms around Laura "Why can't you stay with us?"

"Something about how they don't think your dad makes enough to support three kids." Laura whispered.

"But you're almost 18," Barry said "Don't you get a say in where you live?"

"Apparently not."

"You'll come back right? And until you do we can text and email and video chat." Iris begged.

"I have to go. My train leaves in an hour. But I'll be back." Laura hurried out the door "Someday." She whispered to herself.

The train ride was long and Laura spent most of it asleep. When the train finally stopped moving she was nudged awake by the social worker next to her. She gathered her belongings and followed the social worker off and towards the car that would take her to her new home.

Laura couldn't bring herself to cry. She hadn't cried since the night she found out about the car crash. It was better, easier, safer to be stony and unfeeling.

She sat in the car as it pulled up to the run down, little house that her Uncle Mark lived in. The social worker got her out of the car and knocked on the door. A tall man in a white tee-shirt and blue jeans opened the door.

"Whatdda you want?" He grumbled.

"It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that your brother and his wife passed away in a car accident a few days ago. It has been decided that you will be the one to look after your niece." The social worker sounded like she was reading from a script.

"I don't want no kid."

"The courts have ruled that she is to be in your care until she is old enough to care for herself." The social worker turned on her heels and walked back towards the car.

"Didn't you hear me?" He called after her "I don't want no kid!" He looked at Laura as the car drove off "Fine then. Come in. I hope you can cook."

Laura scurried inside after her uncle and he led her to a small room in the back.

"This'll be your room then." He muttered "How old are you again?"

"I'm 17"

"Old enough to start working. Tell you what. I'll get you a job with my buddy down at the bar. You can be a waitress. Then when you got enough dough to live on your own you get out. Got it?" Mark growled.

Laura nodded frantically.

"Good. You're quiet. I don't like a bunch of chatter." He started to walk out before stopping "I got some friends coming over to play poker at 6. Stay out of our way."

Laura nodded again and waited until he was out of the room and the door was shut before she let out the breath she had been holding. She was starting to see why her father didn't like his brother very much.

Word count: 1280 words

I love the Flash so I'm doing another story. Please comment, vote, and add to your reading lists!

Love,

The Author