"Hey Joe, do you know where Iris is?"

Barry came home a few minutes ago expecting to find her there as well, but for the fourth day in a row, he was met with disappointment. He'd been texting her, even called her a few times, but her responses were equivocal and distracted, and he knew that was a result of the mayoral elections, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't currently despise her job just a little.

"I think she's at CCPN Bear."

"Still?"

"Yeah, seems so," Joe answers from the couch, "I went to see her during lunch, but she was heading out to do an interview. Barely got a kiss in before she was running off again."

"Man," Barry sighs, still standing, "but it's 11. I figured she'd be home."

"Last I heard from her was a few hours back. She said she couldn't make dinner tonight. Not sure if that meant she was calling it a night and heading to her apartment or if she's still at work right now."

"Yeah I texted her about an hour ago, but still haven't gotten an answer."

He was trying to be understanding, he really was. It's not like he wasn't one to also get inexplicably busy and lose track of time. So he really had no room to complain. But it sucked to be on the receiving end, especially since they were still figuring out the kinks of their newfound relationship.

They'd been on two dates, both which happened last week. And they'd kissed again on the second date, much to his happiness, given she initiated it. He'd been feeling overwhelmingly guilty for leaving, but Iris was as forgiving as ever, and she told him she understood, that she would always understand, as long as he came back home.

If Barry was being honest, there really was no place like home. Not when she was home. Not when any moment without her felt like a moment wasted. And that night last Thursday had been so special for the both of them, so emotional and tiring, but so worthwhile in the end. He wanted to ask her if he could call her his girlfriend. He didn't know whether that was even a valid question, whether they were dating or already together. But he didn't want to push, and he definitely didn't want her lips to leave his, didn't want her body apart from his, didn't want her hands to stop playing with his hair. So he decided against it, instead choosing to ask her the next time they'd go out.

But when the mayor declared he wasn't running for reelection, the Media Chronicles started and Iris was one of the leading reporters covering the story. Which meant more time at work and less time with him. Which meant no more dates for an indefinite time.

And he missed her. He really did.

"Maybe you could go visit? Go check in on her," Joe suggests.

"I just don't wanna distract her in case she's busy."

The detective smiles, nodding his head, sympathy in his eyes. "It doesn't hurt to just say hi? I'm sure she'd appreciate the break."

And Barry knew that was Joe's way of pushing him, but only subtly, so that he had an excuse to spend time with her. To be honest, Barry wasn't sure if he or Joe was more excited about the prospects of their new relationship.

"Okay, I'll do that," Barry says with a grin and Joe laughs as well as he watches his daughter's boyfriend speed out of the house.

He sees the lights on at CCPN, but notices there wasn't as much chaos as there had been earlier in the morning, when he'd dropped her off at work. Except, even from the outside, he spotted her at her desk, hands on her face, body slouched in the chair.

Barry steps inside, careful not to scare her, but Iris doesn't flinch. He doesn't think she notices his presence, as her hands remain on her face, fingers rubbing her eyes vigorously.

When she sighs, he takes that as his cue to get her attention.

"Hey."

Iris's hands still at the sound of his voice and a smile creeps on her face. Not even her exhaustion could take away the joy of seeing him.

"Hey Bear," she answers, turning around in her chair and watching him walk over to take a seat in the chair in front of her.

"Hope I'm not distracting you."

"No don't worry," the reporter shakes her head, "I wasn't completely focused anyway."

Barry reaches out for her hands and she intertwines them together gratefully.

"Maybe it's time to call it a night?" he suggests.

"I wish I could, I really do. I just need to get this story out."

And he nods his head, but the bags under her eyes hold his attention and he wonders if it's possible to kiss all her weariness away.

He tries just that, as he tugs on her hand and pulls her into his lap.

As soon as he's relocated her, his lips come to her forehead, placing a firm, warm kiss, which elicits another sigh from her.

She nuzzles her nose in the crook of his neck and his arms wrap around her entire body, as he holds her in place, the only sound in the room coming from their respective heartbeats.

"I've been missing my best friend," he whispers into her hair.

Iris grins at that, and one of her hands comes to play with the lapels of his shirt.

"Is that what I am?" she asks, a teasing prosody in her voice.

"Yes."

That wasn't the answer she was expecting, nor the answer she really wanted to hear. But she doesn't get the chance to respond, because he continues.

"You're my best friend" - he kisses her forehead again - "my girlfriend" - his lips move to her nose - "my love" - he puts a bit of distance between their faces and locks eyes with her - "my everything."

And Iris closes her eyes when those words leave his mouth, and soon after, she feels his lips on hers, gentle and soft and welcoming.

So she kisses him back, lets her body relax at his touch, lets the stress fade away just for a few moments.

But the alarm on her phone breaks the quiescence of the mood and brings her back to a sharp reality.

She groans. "I have to get back to work."

"When do you think you'll be done?" he asks sincerely, still not letting her go, which proved to be an easy task given she didn't try to move.

"Maybe another hour? I have everything I need, I just have to actually write it."

Barry lets his fingers play with the hem of her shirt as he softly massages the skin of her waist, careful to not get too far gone, but just enough to help keep her calm.

"Can you procrastinate for another 5 minutes?" he asks.

"Why?"

"Because you're about to fall asleep."

She laughs. "Yeah even the coffee hasn't been helping. I think I've had more coffee this week than I have my entire life."

"See that much caffeine is never healthy," Barry jokes.

"Actually Mr. Science Guy," Iris corrects, "a study came out a few months ago showing that those who drank more coffee live longer lives."

"No."

"I'm serious! There was a positive correlation between coffee intake and lifespan!"

Truthfully, he knew which article she was referring to; he'd seen it a few weeks back and was trying his best to keep it from Iris, because he definitely didn't want to encourage her coffee addiction. But he didn't have much room to speak, given it was his staple too, though not nearly to the extent that it was hers.

So he merely says, "I'll believe it when I see it," which earns him a playful slap to the chest.

"Honestly though," Barry continues, "no more coffee tonight."

"I don't know if I can make it without it."

"Right. Which is why you should take a little nap."

"Here?" she asks.

"Here," he smiles, pulling her in closer to him.

And she smiles again, lets her face come to rest against his chest as he continues to place gentle kisses along her face, willing her to sleep.

A few seconds go by and just when he thinks she's fallen asleep, he hears a small voice. "Promise you'll wake me up?"

So he hugs her tighter and rests his head on top of hers, before whispering a reassuring I promise.