The more Barry and Caitlin got to know one another, the more she opened up to him. She was a hesitant person by default but there was something about the man that made her feel like she didn't need to have any reservations. One late evening in mid-November found the pair sitting outside on her balcony, talking. Caitlin had really wanted a cigarette after the stressful day that she had had but she had promised Barry she'd at least try to stop being a social smoker. Something that she had utterly failed to follow through on when she made the same promise to Felicity.
After a comfortable silence had blanketed them for a bit, Caitlin could feel Barry's eyes on her and she looked up, meeting his curious gaze.
"What?" Caitlin asked softly, and he smiled slightly.
"Just wondering what your plans for the Holidays were?" Barry asked.
"Well, for Thanksgiving I'm going to be here. There's no point in going home two times so close together. Plus, the less amount of time I spend at home with my mother, the better," Caitlin commented wryly. Barry smiled sympathetically.
"I wish you two didn't have such a strained relationship," he commented, and Caitlin shrugged a shoulder.
"Not much of a relationship to be strained in the first place," she mused, thinking over the fragile way the mother and daughter worked. It hadn't always been like that. When her parents were still married, Caitlin and her mother got along far better than they did now. Caitlin supposed when her parents got a divorce, her dad took a part of her mom with him, leaving behind a cold woman in her place.
"Where'd you go?" Barry asked, breaking her out of her thoughts. She blinked, looking at him. She shook her head a little to clear her mind before smiling.
"Nowhere of importance," she promised. She took a sip of her tea before directing her attention back to Barry.
"What about you?" Caitlin asked. "What are your plans for break?"
"I'll be spending it with my mom and the Wests'," Barry said, and Caitlin nodded. She knew enough about his best friend to know that West was Iris's last name.
"That sounds fun," she smiled warmly, knowing he'd enjoy the time spent with his mom. From what he divulged to Caitlin, Barry was close to Nora Allen. Had been his whole life. When his dad passed, Barry had to grow up faster than other people his age in order to help his mom out. Barry had confided in Caitlin that he wasn't even sure he wanted to go to college and leave Nora by herself. Caitlin had told him Nora wouldn't have wanted that.
"Yeah, it's just a small family sharing laughter over Joe's phenomenal cooking," Barry said, and Caitlin smiled warmly. She missed intimate moments like that. Ever since her parents divorced, Caitlin noticed a decline in holiday cheer.
"That sounds lovely," she murmured, smiling at Barry again. Barry looked at her, assessing her, before tracing soothing circles into the back of her palm.
"Your Christmas won't be so bad, Cait," he said, and she nodded.
"I know," she murmured.
"And, if it does get to be too much, you can call me anytime you want," he added, and she felt a bit more cheerful.
"Thanks, Barry," she said softly. He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers' once, twice, three times before pulling back; she curled into his chest and they stayed sitting out on her balcony for a while longer.
XXX
The day Caitlin flew out to see her mom for a week, she was woken up earlier than intended by the sound of knocking. Glancing at the clock, she groaned, and got out of bed, pulling a sweatshirt on over her pajamas. Once she reached the door and looked out the peephole, she rolled her eyes, and opened the door.
"Do you have any idea what time it is, Barry?" Caitlin mumbled, trying and failing to stifle a yawn behind her elbow. Barry grimaced apologetically.
"I come bearing gifts?" Barry offered, holding up two lattes. "Extra soy in yours'."
Caitlin looked at the cup in his hand before moving away from the door and granting him access to the apartment – accepting the cup of coffee all the while.
"So, what's with the early wake up call and the gifts?" Caitlin asked, taking a much-needed sip of coffee to help clear away the remaining sleepiness. Barry took a sip of his own beverage.
"I could lie and come up with some excuse about why I had to see but the truth of the matter is I just wanted to. Before we don't meet back up for two weeks," Barry shrugged, and Caitlin rolled her eyes fondly, secretly pleased he wanted to see her before she left. She took another sip of her coffee.
"Well, there's not much to see, unfortunately. I'm just going to get ready and head to the airport with Felicity," she informed him. Just then, the bubbly blonde stepped out of her room.
"I thought I smelt coffee!" Felicity chirped. Barry handed her the third latte Caitlin had yet to notice and Felicity's eyes lit up.
"Thanks, Barry," she grinned, taking a sip. She looked at Caitlin.
"I thought you wanted to sleep for as long as possible so you could avoid having to face seeing your mother for as long as you could," Felicity said.
"Either way, I'm still going to be seeing her by tonight," Caitlin shrugged. In truth, she just really wanted a chance to recuperate from finals but that looked like it might have to wait for the actual three-hour flight to her mom's new home, in a completely different state.
"Well, we have some time to kill before I have to get you to the airport," Felicity said, but Barry cleared his throat.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could take her to the airport?" Barry asked, and Caitlin tilted her head towards him.
"You don't have to," she said, smiling slightly. He grinned.
"But I want to. And, I'd like to see you at least once more before you head off and we can only communicate by text," he said.
"The horror," Caitlin teased. She looked like at Felicity, who was looking between the two of them curiously, and quirked an eyebrow.
"What do you think, Licity? Want Barry to take me since he's offering?" Caitlin asked. Felicity took a sip of her coffee as she nodded.
"That's fine," she assured. "I still need to finish packing, anyways."
"Ah, yes, going home to Ollie's," Caitlin remembered, and Felicity smiled happily. Whatever their issues about their future were, they seemed to have worked them out, together, Caitlin noted.
"Yeah, for the first week. Then to my mom's for the next," she replied. Caitlin knew her friend was happy about seeing her mom, too. As was Oliver. Ms. Smoak was absolutely smitten with him.
"Well, alright. Give me a half hour to get ready?" Caitlin asked Barry, who nodded, and followed Felicity into the living room. Caitlin headed off to her bedroom to put the finishing touches on her suitcase and duffel bag, and then to get dressed.
XXX
An hour later, Barry was taking Caitlin back to the diner she had introduced him too. The one with the mix of meat, vegetarian, and vegan-based food. Stomach rumbling in anticipation, Caitlin sighed happily as they sat back down at a booth in the corner and placed their orders.
As they sipped their coffee, the conversation flowed between them, nice and easy. It was never awkward trying to keep a conversation going with Barry. Over the handful of months that they had come to know each other, Caitlin had grown quite fond of his personality.
"So, what are you going to do when things get too intense with your mom?" Barry asked, and Caitlin tilted her head towards her camera bag sitting next to her.
"Brought my camera should a situation arise. Which, knowing my mom, it totally will," Caitlin laughed, Barry matching it with his own.
"I did mean it though, Caitlin. You can call me at any point if you need a break," Barry reminded her, and Caitlin nodded.
"I know," she replied simply. "Thank you."
She knew she wouldn't call him – she didn't want to be the reason she took him away from his time with his family. She'd just have to push through with her mom. It was only a week. She could handle that much.
"And, don't forget it's just for a week," Caitlin added. "I'm flying to my dad's the day after Christmas and spending a late Christmas with him. Much more excited about that."
Barry chuckled. "Good, I'm glad."
They spent the rest of Caitlin's time she had before her departure just walking the quiet streets of their campus. Barry bought her one more copy of the Bell Jar once she realized she forgot to pack hers', despite her protests.
"You need something to read on the flight," he insisted, and she caved with a quiet 'thank you'. When it came time for the flight, Caitlin and Barry rode to the airport, singing along to the radio. Pulling up to the airport, Barry helped Caitlin get her stuff situated for check in, then kissed her gently.
"I'll see you in two weeks," he murmured.
"It's a date," she murmured back, brushing her lips across his once, twice, three times before pulling away and heading back to see her mom for the first time since school had started.
Author's note: Enjoy Xxx