Joe West woke up one morning in his bed to hear through the floorboards the sound of a familiar musical on the television. Knowing exactly what was going on, Joe slowly got up and headed downstairs to see Barry laying on the couch covered by a blanket watching the movie: Singin' in the Rain. Joe sighed and then said, "Barry... this musical again?" Without showing any emotion Barry said, "It's the only one you have. I like it." Joe then sat in a chair near Barry and said, "Barry... you can't camp out here watching this movie every day. Barry... I know it's been less than a week since... well... you moved in here. But it's time for you to go back to school." Barry then said, "I don't wanna go to school. Not yet. I still feel sick. Can I just wait one more day?" Joe sighed, then got up and said, "Okay. One more day."

A few hours later, Barry opened the door to the house and peeked outside for a moment. Then Barry ran out of the house fully dressed and ran towards the main neighborhood sidewalk. Suddenly Joe in his police car came screeching right over to the sidewalk and stopped. Joe then stepped out of the police car causing Barry to stop dead in his tracks. Joe with a very practical look on his face said, "So... guess you're not sick anymore. Care to tell me where you were planning on going?" Barry then with determination his face and voice said, "I'm gonna go to the prison and tell the people in charge there what I saw. My dad didn't murder my mom. It was the man in the lightning! I know prisoners are allowed to see visitors. Let me see him!" Joe then said, "Barry, this is the fourth time you've run out of the house, and the fourth time I'm gonna tell you the same thing. You can't see your dad. And that's an order from your current guardian and a cop. And since you're obviously in a more lively mood now, it's time for you to head back to school. Come on. Get in the squad car."

Later that day Barry was walking through the hallway of his school alone. As he walked the world felt like a blur around him. He couldn't make out any faces around him but could hear distinct murmurs and whispers that mentioned his name. Barry then suddenly had all noises around him become blocked out by the faint faraway sound of ballet music. Barry then walked towards the source of the music and entered a dance classroom where Iris was by herself wearing ballet tights as she was practicing an elegant ballet dance. Barry did a light tap on the door to get Iris' attention. Iris turned to see Barry and with a surprised face she said, "Barry. You came to school." Barry did a light nod and said, "Yeah. That was nice what I saw by the way. How long have you been practicing that routine?" Iris then said, "Much longer than necessary. You know how I've been practicing to be a professional ballerina for years right?" Barry did a little smirk as he said, "Since we were nine. Remember how you used to use me as your first dance partner until your dad finally got you enrolled in classes." Iris smirked too as she said, "Oh yeah. Well I finally got the nerve to sign up for a big recital happening next week and I am so nervous. Can you watch me for a bit and tell me how good my full routine looks?" Barry then said, "Sure. But I thought you usually ask you dad for feedback." Iris began to look up as she said, "Usually I do but he's been so busy this week dealing with you moving in and..." Barry's eyes shifted a bit as Iris's eyes widened with a look of guilt on her face. Iris then began to look worried and ashamed as she said, "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like you moving in has annoyed me but..." Barry then lifted his hand up slightly and said, "It's okay. How about I watch your full routine and let you know how it looks." Iris sighed and then said, "Okay."

Later that afternoon Barry and Iris were walking out of school together when suddenly a taller boy named Tony walked over to the two. Tony smirked as he said, "Heard you living with Iris and her cop dad now huh, Allen?" Barry rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah. Whatever Tony." Barry and Iris then tried to walk away but Tony followed them and said, "Well you better watch your back Iris. You know they say. All kids turn out like their parents you know. So before you know it, Barry is probably gonna try to murder you in your sleep." Barry started to look angry as he began to make a fist. Iris then put a hand on Barry's shoulder and said, "Come on Barry. He's not worth it." Tony then loudly said, "I mean your dad killed the woman he loved, and since you love Iris so much, you must wanna kill her." Barry then quickly turned around and ran at Tony with his fists out as he yelled, "Raaaaaaaah!"

An hour later Barry was sitting in the bathroom on a stool with his shirt off as Iris sat behind him putting band-aids on his back. Iris then sprayed a special disinfectant on Barry's back causing Barry to yell, "Ahh!" Iris then said, "Yeah, I know it stings but it'll help you feel better quicker." Barry then said, "Ugg. I know Tony is bigger than me but how can someone that size hit that hard?" As Iris wrapped a large bandage around Barry's waist she said, "Just be glad he left your face alone. With any luck, dad won't notice a thing. Now stay still. I wanna finish bandaging you up so I can get started on my homework. I've already fallen behind this week a ton having to help take care of..." Iris suddenly stopped talking as she again had a look of guilt, shame, and worry on her face. Barry then stood up and only glanced at Iris as he said, "It's okay Iris. I know this whole thing stinks for all of us." Barry then put his shirt back and on and began to step out of the bathroom. Iris then stood up and said, "Barry, wait!" Barry then turned around to look at Iris. Iris then said, "Do you know that there's a bus that goes through this neighborhood that's on a route close to the prison?"

Later that afternoon Joe walked into the house to seeing Iris working on her homework alone. With a concerned look on his face, Joe walked over to Iris and said, "Where's Barry?" Iris then looked at her dad with a simple expression and said, "Taking a shower." Joe then with a straight forward face said, "At 3:00 in the afternoon? If I got up those stairs, am I gonna see Barry Allen? Or am I gonna ground you for a week for lying to me?"

In a meeting room at the Central City Prison, Barry sat a table by himself. Suddenly a guard opened the door to the room and allowed Barry's father Henry to walk in. Barry then ran over to his dad and yelled, "Dad!" Barry tried to hug his dad but the guard nearby stopped Barry and said, "Sorry. No physical contact. Five minutes Allen." An upset Barry then looked at his father who said, "Sit down son." Barry and Henry then sat on opposite sides of a table as Henry said, "Barry, how did you get here?" Barry then said, "I ran. Joe wouldn't bring me here. He wouldn't let me see you. I hate him." Henry then said, "No. Don't say that. It isn't Joe that doesn't want you to come here. I don't want you to come here. I don't want you to see me like this." Barry then stood up and looked at the guard as he said, "You have to let him go. My dad didn't do these things. He didn't hurt my mom. It was the man in the lightning. The lightning man killed my mom." Henry then sternly looked into Barry's eyes and said, "Barry. Look at me. You can't help me. Okay. Now Joe's gonna look after you until I get out of here. You just be the good boy that your mom and I know you are." Barry then hugged his dad but seconds after, he had to see the sight of his dad being pulled away by a guard. Once his dad was gone, Barry turned around to see Joe standing at the back of the room. Barry put his head down low as he walked towards Joe. Joe then casually put a hand on Barry's shoulder and said, "Come on Barry. Lets go."

Minutes later Joe was driving his car down the road as Barry sat next to him. The two sat silently together for a moment. Eventually Joe broke the silence and said, "I'm sorry for not telling you Barry. It's what your dad asked me to do. But listen. I know this is hard to hear but your dad was right. There's nothing you can do to help him. So rather than keep trying to help him... try to find somebody else who needs your help instead." Barry then simply turned his face away from Joe and looked out the window as he sighed.

A week later it was the evening of the big school dance recital. Barry and Joe were sitting in the front as an announcer said, "And performing next with a solo ballet routine is Iris Ann West." Everyone began to clap as Iris stepped onto the stage in her ballet outfit. A musical recording then began to play on the speakers of the room as Iris looked at the audience. However suddenly... Iris froze up. Sweat appeared in her face as Iris looked panicked and found herself completely unable to move. Joe had a worried look on her face as several people in the audience began to whisper and murmur. Only Iris' eyes moved as she began to look across the room at the disappointed looking people in the room. Then Iris' eyes looked at Barry and Barry looked back at Iris, seeing the pain and shame on her face. Then suddenly without warning Barry jumped out of his seat and ran onto the stage and stood near Iris. Barry then held out his hand, and suddenly Iris felt herself able to move again as she found herself holding Barry's hand. Barry and Iris then both each lifted a knee up and began to do the ballet routine together. As the music continued, the two began to dance around the room, jump, twirl, spin, and gracefully move in unison together. The entire audience became mesmerized as they watched Barry and Iris dance perfectly in sync together. Then as the music reached it's end, Iris tripped and began to fall backwards but Barry instantly caught Iris with his town arms. Then the music ended, and both Barry and Iris looked at the audience smiling making Iris' fall look like it was done on purpose. The entire audience then got up and clapped and cheered for the two. As Barry continued to hold Iris in his arms, Iris looked up at Barry and said, "Barry Allen... you're my hero." Barry smiled as he looked down at Iris and said, "Well I try." The two smiled at one another and then smiled for the audience as the applause continued.

TO BE CONTINUED...

*Author's Note - So what do you all think so far? What other parts of Barry and Iris' back story do you want to see? Any additional tales of when they were young that were referenced on the show that you want to make sure I expand on? Be sure to leave your request and feedback in the comments or via private message. Hope you all enjoy what's to come.