So, how about that last episode? WOW. That was amazingly awesome! Lol. Took me a few days to get back on track here, I was so busy pondering that. But here I am!

Happy Friday! This chapter is short but has a lot to it. Shout out to member RatchetLover, was this a fast enough update? :D and member babyshan211, your consistent reviews through every chapter and then back through my previous stories was the highlight of my week. Thank you!

Special thanks to all who read, review, and follow this story. You are all awesome! :)

Thanks again for reading, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 7

Red and gold lightning flashed through the woods as Barry and the Reverse Flash streaked through the trees. Barry was glad for his extra training and work on his reflexes, since avoiding trees and branches was particularly tricky. Tree limbs and roots splayed out in an attempt to trip him, and there was no clear unobstructed path.

Barry was slowly gaining on the other man, but he honestly couldn't tell if it was because he was faster or if the man in yellow was allowing it. The deeper they got into the forest the more Barry suspected that this had been the plan all along, and he wondered if he was headed straight into a trap.

But he still kept pursuing. He'd much rather face danger than have the people he cared about in the line of fire.

Finally they both reached a large clearing. The Reverse Flash stopped on the far side of the rough circle. He was waiting for Barry. Barry kept going until he was right next to the other man, ready to fight. But when he stopped the man in yellow was no longer there. He'd moved to the other side of the clearing, keeping them far apart from each other. Barry moved to him again, but the same thing happened. Both of them left streaks of lightning behind, creating a circular pattern made of two colors. Barry gritted his teeth and tried again. And again. And again.

Each time, the Reverse Flash moved to the opposite side. They were like opposing magnets, constantly pushing away from each other. Barry finally stopped, breathing heavy and feeling far angrier than he had when he'd started. The Reverse Flash simply looked at him, waiting to see if Barry was going to move again. He seemed remarkably calm.

Finally Barry gave up and spoke across the clearing. "Why did you cause that accident?"

"I needed to get your attention." The Reverse Flash's voice was disguised as usual but it contained an almost mild quality, as if discussing something mundane. That only made Barry's louder.

"You could have killed people!" His voice echoed through the clearing.

The Reverse Flash surveyed him, as if studying an interesting specimen. "I only kill when it's necessary."

It took Barry a moment to respond to that, because the emotions it brought up were so intense it made him incapable of speech. Necessary? What made killing necessary at all? How on earth was killing his mother necessary?

The Reverse Flash took advantage of Barry's momentary muteness. "You've changed the timeline, Barry. There is always a price to be paid for that."

Barry stared at him. He wasn't surprised that this man could know about time travel and time lines. But what did surprise him was that he was aware of the changes that had been made. Until now only Barry knew, and that was because he was the time traveler.

Unwillingly, he calmed down his breathing so he could get some answers. "How do you know that?"

The man in yellow's head cocked slightly, lending a sly superior quality to his next words. "I know enough about the future to know this timeline won't get us there."

Barry's brows knit together. He was torn between distrust and the desire to discuss the matter with someone who seemed to know something about it. "All I did was save my mom."

"By doing that you've changed what the universe wants the world to be. The universe wants heroes here. This timeline has none. Except for you. And that won't last much longer, will it?"

Barry remained silent, unwilling to admit to weakness in front of this man, but wanting to know more.

The Reverse Flash continued. "This timeline is wrong. The other one is the right one, it's better."

"Better for who? You?" Barry's anger rekindled.

"For everyone. The world needs heroes. And the world needs those that oppose them. We are always tied together, like it or not. You've always been a hero, Barry. But to be a true hero requires sacrifice. By trying to circumvent that, you've now sacrificed your entire city."

Barry felt a sinking in his gut. Somehow he'd known this. "What do you mean?"

"Without you, there are no other heroes inspired to become such. Your team was specifically chosen, did you think it was accidental? You inspire those around you to be heroes. S.T.A.R. Labs created heroes and metahumans. It was meant to happen. Now there is no one to be inspired, no one to save the city. Not even you."

Barry stared at him. Oliver's words floated back, about how the lightning chose him. Joe telling him that the universe has a way of figuring things out, whether it was giving a young man lightning speed or getting two people together. He couldn't help but feel that there was much more to this than he'd ever suspected. Maybe some things were just meant to be.

"This timeline is a dream, Barry. Time to wake up. The whole city is at stake, thousands of lives. You have very little time left."

Barry got the feeling the Reverse Flash was talking about more than him just losing his speed. "What are you going to do?"

The other man looked slightly amused in his posture and stance. Barry couldn't tell if a smile was there through the blurred features, but he heard it in his disguised voice. "I'm not going to do anything. I don't have to. But make no mistake, if I had to I would. You can't stop it."

"If you told me what's coming, maybe I could!"

"Why would I do that? It would only delay the inevitable. The universe will have its way."

Somehow Barry believed him. The Reverse Flash could see it, because it encouraged him to keep talking. "Time is like a rubber band, Barry. You can stretch it out of its shape; you can make it take on another form. But eventually, it will always snap back to its original state. And when it does, beware the sting."

Barry could feel the weight on his chest growing larger as the truth of those words settled on him. He had traded a life for a life, and now a city for a life. Putting it back meant pain and suffering. Is that what it meant to be a hero? Suffering so others wouldn't? Using past suffering to provide a greater good?

His thoughts must have shown on his face, because the Reverse Flash's voice held something close to pity when he spoke next. And something like understanding.

"We don't always get to choose the destiny we want, Barry. Sometimes it chooses us. You are destined to be a hero. And to be a hero, you must know how to sacrifice."

The Reverse Flash sped away, leaving Barry alone with his thoughts and the weight on his chest.

It was so much worse than the ache of that broken rib after the fight in the football stadium.


"Do you believe him?"

"I feel like I shouldn't. He killed my mother. But I know he's right. It's like he just confirmed what I already knew."

Iris exhaled slowly. "I knew you were going to say that."

They were lying on the blanket in the backyard again. The darkness was settled over them as they studied the far away stars. Their hands were fiercely gripped together; each clutching the other for security and comfort.

Iris had called Barry's parents with a fake emergency and asked for help. Thinking off the top of her head, she'd told them Barry was on the train back from Starling City after checking out a job possibility. Henry and Nora had immediately left to assist with her broken down car, which was the best lie she could come up with on such short notice. She had driven to a remote location for them to meet her at, making sure there was nothing around that was a regular part of their lives, just in case the Reverse Flash was looking for them. She had arrived mere minutes before they had. Once Henry had located the problem (Iris had unplugged the wiring on the coil pack and acted surprised when he discovered it) Iris had convinced them to join her for coffee and dessert at a nearby restaurant. The couple found her hyperawareness and edgy quality a bit concerning, but once Barry had contacted her again and told her it was safe she'd been able to relax.

At least, until she'd met him at home and he had filled her in.

Neither could really imagine Barry doing what each was pretty sure he had to do. Barry reflected on the conversation earlier, realizing that it had revealed to him what was truly the only option he had. Deep down, he'd already known it. But recognizing it and doing it were two different things.

Both were silent for several minutes, before Barry offered the silver lining he kept holding on to.

"We'll get Joe back."

Iris nodded. "I'd love that. But…"

"I know." Barry squeezed her hand. Neither mentioned his parents, but both kept thinking about them. Barry didn't mention the other thing he'd be losing, even though thinking about it just increased the weight on his chest.

Iris remembered Henry at Nora at the restaurant. Their warm, caring personalities didn't deserve the fate that would come. Iris stifled a sob, hating the idea of it. Barry rolled her way and cupped her face. "Hey." He waited for her to meet his eyes. "It'll be okay. I swear. We'll get through this together." He smiled gently, but sadly.

The words she'd been telling him for days made her feel better as he spoke them. She smiled tremulously. He wrapped her up in his arms, bringing her close. They stayed that way for a while, until her muffled voice emerged.

"If you're going to do this, we should talk to your parents."

He pulled back to look at her face. "I-I don't know if that's-"

She cut him off, her voice determined. Her face had that familiar look of stubbornness. "If you had known that changing things would hurt my father, would you have talked to him about it first?"

He stared at her, his mouth open slightly. Finally he sighed. "Yes. Yes I would have."

She nodded seriously. "You owe it to them to tell them the truth."

He closed his eyes a moment before he pulled her close again. He whispered against her hair. "I knew you were going to say that."