As per usual, shoutouts to those who reviewed:
Ludivine (Guest) -Thanks you so much for all the love for this story, you are amazing!
PewPew (Guest)- Sorry the cliffhangers help keep you guys hooked and I will update probably every day or every other day. Thanks so much for the kinds words!
Abbie (Guest)- Aww, thank you. I'm really not that great but I appreciate you saying that:) I'm really glad you like her!
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karlylove
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Maddypupz (Guest)- Thank you! I'm glad you like Natalie. I kinda got the same vibe from the show too. When Joe was talking about the proposal stuff, Barry didn't really seem to care and was kinda all for it.
Karelly (Guest)- I'm glad you like it! The next chapter is up, as you can tell:)
Disclaimer: I don't own the Flash. I only own Natalie Allen and the plot.
*Caitlin's POV*
"I can't tell you that, Uncle Cisco. Come on, you all should know the rules about time travel. No previews and don't ask questions you know I can't answer" Natalie answered crossing her arms and sitting up straighter. Wow, she really is my child. I glanced up at Barry who was still looking at me intently.
"Cait, can I talk to you for a second?" Barry asked standing up from his chair by Natalie's bedside. I inwardly groaned but gave him a smile and nodded my head.
"I'll be right back" Barry assured Natalie who had grabbed Barry's hand when he stood. She gave the two of us one more glance then relaxed and let go of Barry.
"Just don't take too long, okay?", my heart broke at the quiver in her voice and I knew Barry's did too. Barry smiled at her and said okay back. Cisco stared at all of us like we were crazy then raised his eye brows at Barry and I. When we left the room, I could hear Cisco asking Natalie questions about the future and her repeating that she couldn't tell him anything.
"Cait" Barry's voice brought me back to the current conversation.
"Yeah, sorry, what's up?" I asked with an innocent look on my face. He totally knows.
"I just realized that Natalie can't stay in the past as Natalie Allen and we definitely cant tell Iris and Eddie about her", I breathed an inward sigh of relief. He doesn't know.
"You're right, we need to come up with a cover story for her being here" I answered, Barry furrowed his brow and I pretended to be thinking of an idea.
"We can't say that we are related because it's obvious when you look at her that we are. Plus Iris knows that the only family I have are my parents."
"I thought you'd want to tell Iris" I interrupted, Barry looked back up at me and shook his head.
"No we can't tell Iris or Eddie about Natalie. They would ask to many questions. Just Joe, Cisco, you and I can know. Natalie isn't her daughter anyway so the two of them have nothing to do with it", I was really surprised that Barry didn't want to involve the woman he loved.
"Barry", he looked up at me, "Are you disappointed that you didn't marry Iris?". His eyes widened and his eyes went to the floor then up to look back through the door to where Natalie was laughing with Cisco.
"At first I was but things are different now. When we saw the newspaper clipping from the future, I didn't really know how to process it with everything going on but these past two months with Iris boycotting me, I didn't know how to feel. It's always been about my love for Iris but this morning, when I saw Natalie, I feel like I've been released from my first love. I'll always love her but not in that way. I'm over Iris" he answered turning to look back at me with a sad smile. The weight over my heart disappeared when he said he was over her.
"Barry" I breathed out wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug to which he responded by pulling me tight against him. This is where I belong, where I feel safe. Barry pulled away and coughed.
"Well we should probably get back in there and get ready to meet with Joe" he said his face flushed, why is he blushing? I laughed lightly to myself and turned to walk back into the med bay room.
"For the last time I'm not telling you about the inventions of the future" Natalie said now standing and gripping Cisco's shoulders in frustration. It was quite a sight to see.
"Cisco, leave Natalie alone" I snapped walking towards the two of them. Natalie smiled at Barry and I as we walked in.
"Never leave me alone with him again. I love you Uncle Cisco but you are a pain in this time." she quipped grabbing one of the calorie bars off the counter. Barry and I laughed at Cisco's shocked face.
"I am so hungry, can we go to Jitters now please?" she asked directing the question to Barry.
"Sure but we need to get you some new clothes. You can't wear sweats or the dress you arrived in", Natalie nodded and flashed away and returned a second later looking confused.
"I just remembered that I have no clothes in this time" she sighed and then looked to me, "Do you think I could borrow something?". I smiled at her.
"Of course, don"t you know where my apartment is?", Natalie had a panicked look on her face. Oh yeah, we probably live together and she doesn't know that I know that"
"Um, I...uh...I know... but... you...umm" Poor Natalie must not be a good liar, just like Barry.
"Caitlin, 26 years from now you probably don't live in the same apartment" Cisco cut in saving Natalie who breathed a sigh of relief. Barry looked further confused and looked between Natalie and I again.
"Oh yeah, how silly of me" I said giving her the address, "Take whatever you feel comfortable in". Natalie gave me a smile.
"I'll be back in a flash" she winked and flashed out. About 45 seconds later she reappeared wearing black jeans, boots, a white sweater and her auburn hair in a ponytail. She pulled on some fingerless gloves that I haven't seen in weeks and grabbed her necklace from the stand and pulled it over her head.
"Let's eat" she cheered grabbing me and flashed me to my car. She disappeared and reappeared with Cisco and Barry flashed next to us a second later.
"Sorry M- Caitlin, I know you hate when Dad and I do that but I'm hungry and I'm sure you all have loads of questions. Plus I want to see what Grandpa Joe looks like young", Natalie said innocently smiling at the three of us. I glanced at Barry and Cisco who didn't seem to catch her slip and gave her a smile.
"Just this once, but next time a warning would be nice", Natalie smiled sadly again and nodded.
"I call shotgun" Cisco said running to the passenger seat, Barry turned to Natalie.
"Is he like that in the future?", she shook her head.
"Unfortunately, all my life I've always wondered who the child really was" she answered as we all got in the car. We all laughed and we set off for Jitters. The car ride was silent with Natalie looking out he window with a perplexed look on his face. Barry was watching Natalie, Cisco was quietly sitting and I was driving.
"We're here" I announced as I pulled in to the Jitters parking lot, I looked around for Joe's car but apparently he wasn't here yet. We got a table for five and ordered some coffee while Natalie looked over the food menu.
"Is it okay if I get like three sandwiches, I haven't eaten in two days" she asked leaning her head towards Barry with a goofy smile on her face. Two hours with her and Barry is already wrapped around her finger.
"Go ahead and get whatever you want" he said smiling at her. Natalie smiled wide and ordered one of everything. Barry chuckled and shook his head and asked if they could make it two of everything. I smiled at their interaction as they came to sit back down with us.
"I think we should play 20 Questions but we ask Natalie the questions" Cisco said leaning forward in his elbows to stare at Nat, who was sitting between Barry and I.
"Sure but no questions about what happens in the future. Is that a deal?" Natalie asked leaning forward to be eye to eye with Cisco. I looked to Barry to see him smiling at the two of them.
"Deal" Cisco replied with an excited smile on his face. Natalie shook her head and sat back with her arms crossed.
"Lay it on me" she challenged
"Okay, I'll ask the first question then. When were you born?"
"April 25, 2020" she answered not missing a beat.
"My turn" Barry said before Cisco could ask another question, "What grade are you in?". Natalie gave Barry a 'really' look.
"I graduated from college with a degree in forensic science a few months ago" My jaw dropped open. Our daughter was a genius, graduating at 20 years old. Today is May 4th, so she's been 21 for only a month.
"Your turn Caitlin" Natalie said turning her green eyes to look at me with a smile.
"Um, what's your favorite color?" I asked quickly, Cisco rolled his eyes at my question. Natalie smiled sweetly at me.
"Red" We all laughed at that and then the waitress brought the coffee and food.
"Thanks, I'm starving" Natalie said to the waitress grabbing the first plate of food. We watched as she ate the food at a normal enough speed not to show her meta abilities and fast enough to eat everything in sight.
"So, you like food?" Cisco asked, Natalie nodded and took a sip of coffee.
"Yep, my favorite thing to do is eat especially if its hot." she answered with a big smile on her face. Now that, I don't think she got from either Barry or I.
"Grandpa Joe" Natalie said, "He looks so young, his hair is dark and everything", Joe was in fact walking into Jitters.
"Guess 20 Questions is over" Cisco muttered as Joe sat down next to Cisco and across from Barry, Natalie and I.
"I see you've ordered everything on the menu" Joe joked, "And who is this lovely young lady". Barry looked nervously at Joe as Natalie started eating again.
"Joe this is Natalie Nora Allen, my daughter. She's from the future"
How is Joe going to react? Sorry if you were looking forward to Eddie and Iris finding out and Joe's reaction but I started writing this chapter and decided to focus more on some Snowbarry and getting to know Natalie a little bit. Thanks for reading and the next chapter will be up tomorrow!