A/N: Written for the Runnin' Home to You challenge on westallenfun's tumblr blog. This is a canon divergent fic initially set in 3x21 where Team Flash inevitably decides to keep Barry from remembering any of his past memories until after Iris is supposed to die, so that Savitar won't ever remember and he will just disintegrate without even realizing what's happening. The canon divergence in this first chap (since most of it is word-for-word what happened in the scene in the episode) is just the fact that Barry didn't sweat on his glasses while he was testifying, so everything went as planned in that regard. Heat Monger did not go free.

*Many thanks to my amazing beta, sendtherain, who looked this over for me.

*I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.

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Chapter 1 - Can't Say How the Days Will Unfold

The babbling euphoria that had followed her all the way home continued as she unlocked the door to their loft, walked inside, and closed it behind Barry.

"I put away a bad guy, Iris. How cool is that? A for-real bad guy. A bad guy that burns things down purposely to hurt people – and sometimes kill them. I put him away with my super cool science-y knowledge about flames and stuff."

Iris smiled to herself and slipped out of her jacket, setting it aside before turning back to him.

"If it hadn't been for those glasses though, we probably wouldn't have been so lucky. I do not remember any of that technical stuff I was expected to know. If I'd gotten those glasses wet somehow…" he sighed. "I'd have probably said something really dumb like the flames being 'very yellow' was proof. And then this guy would've gone free."

The distinct frown on his face just by mentioning the possibility of the criminal on the loose made Iris want to hug him.

"But that didn't happen, remember?" She smiled reassuringly when he met her eyes, and the crease in his forehead faded. "You did great on the stand, Barry. I heard all about your victory from Cisco and Julian. Cecile was particularly grateful."

The reoccurring confusion coloring his features since the moment his amnesia had set in returned to Barry's face.

"Who?"

"Which ones don't you remember?" Iris asked, fighting a grin.

He sighed, aggravated with himself.

"All of them?"

She laughed and steeled herself for the rundown.

"Well, Cisco is your best friend."

"Cisco is my best friend…" Barry whispered under his breath, clearly tucking that knowledge away for later.

"Julian is your CSI co-worker."

"CSI co-worker…"

"And the woman who called you to the stand to testify is Cecile. Who, by the way, is also dating my dad."

An extended pause, and then, "Huh." Not Felicia, he thought to himself.

Iris shook her head, then smiled and ran her hand over his arm.

"Don't worry. We'll get your memories back eventually, and then you won't need these constant reminders."

"Right."

Iris flipped on the light switch and started to walk into the living room. Barry's eyes widened at the space before them, completely unaware of Iris taking in his reaction.

"This is our place?" he asked, walking past her into the room. "How do we afford to live here?"

Iris stayed mum, deciding the explanation was a little too complex for this Barry to handle at the moment.

"Wow," he marveled. "You have great taste."

She followed his eyes as they soaked up the room.

"Uh…actually, this is all you."

"I find that hard to believe."

She laughed, unable to suppress it through her smile.

"Is that me?" he asked, his eyes now on the photo frames set on the shelf against the wall. He picked up the one of him as a small child, seemingly unable to look away.

"Yeah," she confirmed, watching him.

"Who are these people?" he asked, picking up the next one.

"They're your parents," she answered, then hesitated. "You don't remember anything about what happened?"

"Why? Did something bad happen?"

The look on his face gutted her. He didn't remember two of the most painful memories of his life. The two losses that devastated him so completely, he'd actively chosen to erase the life he'd been given just for the chance to see them again.

She couldn't remind him of that now. He was so pure and innocent, unaware of the troubles and burdens that weighed him down on a daily basis.

But could she lie so blatantly to him? What if he wanted to see his deceased relatives? Would he question her honesty? Her genuine desire to help him remember?

"They died," she said, mentally patting herself on the back for telling the truth. "It was unexpected," she continued, "but they died peacefully." She ignored the angel scolding her in her mind, grateful Barry had returned his focus to the picture in his hands.

"That's when you came to live with Joe and me." Covering up your white lie with a truth. Good job, Iris.

Barry smiled fondly at the picture and set it back down, returning to her.

"And that's when we met?" he asked, his eyes lighting up.

"Uh, no, actually we were friends before then," she said cheerfully, glad for the change in subject. "I remember the first time I saw you. You were the happiest boy that I had ever met."

Her eyes sparkled as she recalled the memory, and she knew she was beaming. It was hard not to when he was looking at her the way that he was. Like nothing in the world could get him to look away.

"I have a feeling that's because you entered my life."

Iris fell silent, touched by the certainty in his assumption. The words were so genuinely sweet. Even without his memory, he still managed to take her breath away.

Cautious as ever, Barry's confidence faltered slightly as he lowered his head to kiss her. He pulled back almost immediately, unsure if he was crossing a line. They were engaged, so he knew he probably didn't need permission to kiss her. But he didn't remember any of that. It was his first kiss to him. And not just with her, but with anyone.

Iris raised her eyebrows, slightly amused at his hesitancy, but she nodded her head reassuringly.

"It's okay."

Encouraged, he lowered his head again, letting his hand slide to her waist as he kissed her, while hers grazed the side of his face. He moved the angle of his head when she did, following the nonverbal lead she was giving him, thrilling in the taste of her lips on his, forgetting how awkwardly he must be responding to her. He never wanted to stop kissing her.

But the sudden vibrations from the hand that wasn't wrapped around her made him pull back, confusing her as well.

"What the…?"

And then he was across the room. From one side to the next and back again. He was by Iris's side, circling around her, but she wasn't moving. She stood exactly as he'd left her, one hand still trying to reach for him after he ended their kiss.

And then he was falling over the couch on the far side of the room, knocking over several items in the process, a lamp included.

Time resumed.

"Barry, are you okay?" Iris raced to him, halting on the other side of the couch.

Their kiss forgotten, and his mind spinning, Barry threw up his hands and stared straight at her.

"What just happened to me?"

Iris's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened significantly. It was a look he hadn't seen from her at all today – or from anyone. It wasn't the you-don't-remember-this shock or the that's-what-you-remember shock.

It was recognition.

He had tapped into a memory.

...

A/N: In case you didn't pick it up, every chapter title of this multi fic will be a line from Barry's song to Iris, Runnin' Home to You. Ten chapters are planned.