Disclaimer: The following is a nonprofit Fan based story; The FLASH and all related characters are owned by DC comics, the CW and anyone I may have missed.

A shout out to all you who reviewed the last chapter; changingdestiny40, Violet Eternity, Mr panda, Mason Marek, Killie159, deleriouz2468, Guest, .Life, SnowyDoves, Immortalman18, lunaloveskuna, wildbeast1498, Angel-of-the-Seas, and MikKir6453

Guest reviewers you know the drill;

Violet Eternity: Glad you love it. I'll be trying to update all my stories quicker. Last month has been rather hectic.

Mr Panda: Your question relating to Barry and time traveling to save Iris will be answered in this chapter.

Guest: We'll be seeing present Barry much more frequently after this chapter.

.Life: Nice to hear that you love this. Not sure why doesn't let me type out your username, its really odd.

Also this chapter is a flashback(forward) heavy chapter that is predominantly Westallen so I hope the Westallen Fans enjoy it and don't hate me for what happens in it.


The Flash: Rewriting History

Chapter 9: Labors of Lost Love


People were going about the night life of Central City when a stream of blue blew by them. Thinking it was the Flash they would all turn and anxiously try and catch a glimpse of their favorite hero, unfortunately he was nothing but a blur and he needed to think. When he needed to think he would run or in very rare cases stand still.

Barry tore through Central City like a cobalt bolt of lightning. Barely stopping to save the occasional bystander, stop any mugging or robbery. He eventually came to a stop atop the tallest building in Central City and stood on the edge overlooking the city. Removing his mask and disengaging his lightning Barry Allen just stared silently at the city.

"Can't they see I'm trying to stop this madness? I'm trying to save everyone for the horrible fates that await them?" Barry let his mind drift back to when Iris, his first wife, was murdered because he felt worse now than he did then.


July 16 2021

Iris' wake was open casket, it's what she wanted and there were no external wounds from where the Reverse-Flash had run her through. Barry, a tearful Joe, Wally, Dawn and Don stood next to the casket as people paid their respects to Iris and to her remaining family.

The first one to show up was Caitlin. She paid her respects then promptly pulled the Allens and Wests into fierce hugs and offered condolences. She were followed shortly by the remnants of Team Arrow, Team Legends, the Central City Police Department, Central City Picture News staff.

Once the service was complete they moved on to the funeral, and that was where the real tears began to fall. Everyone stood in a large circle of black around Iris' now closed coffin. Barry didn't know why he did it but he asked, almost begged, Caitlin to help him with Dawn

"Daddy why are they burying Momma?" Don asked while tugging at Barry's collar. Barry turned to his daughter tears were welling up in both their eyes.

"Don…" Barry wanted to comfort her but he choked on the words. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Dawn squirming in Caitlin's grasp. He could only imagine what his daughter was thinking and feeling. Tears welled up in his son's eyes as he buried himself in the crook of Barry's neck.

"Pweese stop…" Over with Caitlin, Dawn was starting to sound like she was begging. "Don' burry Momma!" She made movements to reach out to try and break from Barry's grasp. "Momma can' work if you burry her!" Dawn's words echoed so everyone could hear them and on a dime everyone began to tear up.

"MOMMA!" Both Allen children screamed as the gravediggers began to cover the casket with the pile of earth next to them.


July 17 2021

Barry stood over the freshly buried grave. Hundreds of flowers decorated the headstone and the fresh patch of dirt.

The words on the stone carved deeply into everyone who read them, especially Barry;

Here Lies Iris West-Allen
Beloved Daughter, Sister, Mother, Best Friend

A Wonderful Person Tragically Taken From Those That Love Her

June 24 1988 – July 11 2020

Dawn clung to his chest as if he would disappear if she let go while Don clutched his hand tightly. They were both only one and didn't quite understand the concept of death yet but they learned fast that their mother wasn't coming back.

For Barry seeing that his children were going to grow up without their mother felt like jagged knife to his heart. He had hoped that he and Iris would be able to raise them together so that they wouldn't have to experience the childhoods and the lack of a parent's love. But seeing his children like this Barry could barely hold back his tears as he thought back to the previous day.

"I'm so sorry Iris…" Barry breathed heavily. He crouched down and rested his hand on Iris' tombstone. "I'm so sorry I wasn't able to protect you, to save you, and now…now our kids will grow up like me…no mother to raise them…to shower them with your love…to teach them all the things a father can't…" Barry's tear ducts began to well up as he fought the urge to cry. He needed to be strong for Don and Dawn, he needed to be strong now that Iris was gone. "I promise I will fix this."

He stood up and took his children's' hands.

"Where are we going now daddy?" Dawn asked. He little voice still quivered with sadness. Don just kept staring at the ground as if it were the most interesting thing in the universe.

"You two are going to stay with Grandpa Joe for a while." Barry explained. "I have to go do something important."

"Don't go daddy!" Don snapped his attention to Barry and wrapped his little arms tightly around Barry's leg.

"Hey, buddy…" Barry crouched down to Don's height. "I'll be back, I promise, and things are going to be so much better."

"Really?"

"But daddy, we don' want things better! We want you!" Dawn cried

"Absolutely bud, now let's get you two back to Grandpa Joe's."


Present (2015)

Brief images of what happened next flashed through Barry's mind. After he dropped Don and Dawn off at Joe's Barry made his first jump into the past to try and save Iris, and from there everything went down the crapper.

Barry hit a few buttons on his wrist before a hologram appeared. "Gideon, Show me how much I've changed."

-Certainly Barry Allen- Gideon flickered before showing the Flash dozens of articles dictating how Vibe saved the city written by Iris West in the year 2022, two years after Cisco was supposed to die. Another which was quite troubling to him was one in which an unknown Woman was fighting Killer Frost and Deathstorm and apparently winning. There was also one he saw that brought a small smile to his face where the central picture was Him, Vibe and the woman standing together in a victorious pose as if about to fight.

CENTRAL CITY SAVED ONCE AGAIN BY THE CENTRAL TRINITY

By Iris West

Barry didn't even bother to read the article as he was focused on the name, Iris West, not Iris West-Allen. Had he just destroyed his chances with Iris by revealing who he? But if he did then why was it West and not West-Thawne or just Thawne. He also had no idea who this woman was.

"Gideon...Why does Iris not share my last name?" Barry asked

-There are no records of any Iris West-Allen-

"What!? Why?"

-According to Records after the death of her fiancé Detective Edward Thawne in the year 2015 any potential romantic possibility between you and Miss West deteriorated-

Barry hung his head, had revealing his identity to Iris this early destroy his chances with her? Apparently it did as she was engaged to Eddie but then he was to die in approximately four years. "And what of the woman standing to my left in that picture? Who is she?"

-The Woman's name is Blizzard and she is the hero persona of Dr. Caitlin Snow- Gideon replied confusing Barry.

"What?" Somehow Caitlin's future had been changed and apparently now she Barry and Cisco all would fight together as a superhero team, though it seemed like she had abilities different from the cryokinetic ones she originally developed. "Actually this is a good thing, if she doesn't have her cryokinetic abilities then they won't be killing her, tell me what is her condition on April 24 2024."

-Certainly- A simple photograph came into view before Barry, and it filled him with hope, it was a simple photo one of him and Caitlin on their wedding day, dated June 16 2024.

"This...this...she...Caitlin's alright?"

-Affirmative-

"And our child?" He asked, according to the photo Caitlin showed no signs of being pregnant since by then she should be at least six months along. "Are we still going to be expecting our first child? Or is it lost? Erased from existence?"

-There is nothing that indicates Dr. Snow is or will be pregnant with your child- Barry's heart fell like a lump of lead in the ocean. His actions had erased his and Caitlin's child from existence, they never got a chance to find out if it was going to be a boy or a girl, sure they had decided on some names, Ben if it was a boy and either Ashley or Danielle if it was a girl.

"And there's nothing indicating Dawn and Don were born either correct?"

-Affirmative-

The truth was staring him blatantly in the face, he may have saved Iris and Caitlin, but in doing so it looked as if he erased all his children from existence, and that made him feel as if he had killed them himself. Which made him think back to his original time line where Iris was murdered, to the time he promised himself to never time travel again.


July 17 2021

After dropping Dawn and Don off at Joe's house he took off running to S.T.A.R. Labs. After flipping a few switches, and ignoring Caitlin's concerned pleas, Barry activated the Particle Accelerator while he was running around at Mach 4, He punched a hole in the Space Time Continuum with the power of the Speed Force and took off for six days in the past.


Alternate July 11 2021 – Take 1

Barry and Iris sat together in Jitters talking happily as they sipped their coffee and waited for their breakfast. Barry was just glad he got Iris out long before his arch nemesis could kill her.

"So, what's the big occasion Barry?" Iris asked

"Nothing" Barry said smiling. "I just think we should spend the day together that's all."

"Now that I think about it we haven't done that in a long while." Iris smiled at him as she took a sip of her coffee leaving a little cream mustache on her lip causing Barry to laugh.

"Here you go, one cinnamon raisin muffin." The waitress placed the muffin in front of Iris before placing a mountain of food in front of Barry. "And for you, Three Onion Bagels, with Grape Jam, two breakfast sandwiches with ham, and Two more of our signature Flashes."

Barry shot Iris a smile but then he noticed her clutching her throat and coughing.

"Iris?" She just continued coughing before falling over onto the floor "Iris?" In a heartbeat, but not too fast, Barry caught Iris in his arms and cradled her in his arms. "Help! Some one help!"


Alternate July 11 2021 – Take 2

Barry and Iris once again sat together in Jitters talking happily as they sipped their coffee and waited for their breakfast.

"So, what's the big occasion Barry?" Iris asked.

"Nothing" Barry said smiling. "I just think we should spend the day together that's all."

"Now that I think about ti we haven't done that in a long while." Iris smiled at him as she took a sip of her coffee leaving a little cream mustache on her lip causing Barry to laugh.

"Here you go, one cinnamon raisin muffin." The waitress placed the muffin in front of Iris before placing a mountain of food in front of Barry. "And for you, Three Onion Bagels, with Grape Jam, two breakfast sandwiches with ham, and Two more of our signature Flashes."

"Maybe you should hold off on the muffin Iris."

"Are you saying I'm fat Barry?" Iris demanded jokingly.

"No of course not Iris."

"Then I'm going to eat the muffin." Using his super speed Barry swapped out Iris' muffin with a different one on the counter, and just to be safe.

While eating Iris scrunched up her face before giving Barry a strange look. "Does this muffin taste funky to you Barry?" Before Barry could even answer Iris collapsed face first onto the table, not breathing, not moving.

A shocked Barry just looked at the body of his wife. "Iris?" It was like the universe was conspiring against him and his attempts to save his wife.


Alternate July 11 2021 – Take 10

Barry felt like this was getting ridiculous, so far Iris kept dying but in ways that should have been extraordinarily easy for him to prevent and yet each and every attempt lead to some new and some times bizarre death. So far he had managed to avoid eating at jitters, avoid the going to the park or the river front, this time he took her to the movies to see a movie Iris wanted to see, which she never got to see originally.

Thankfully nothing happened during the movie, unfortunately after the movie is when things went down hill. And this was before the meta-human attack Barry knew he'd have to deal with, at some point, eventually.

"So what do you want to do now Iris?" Barry asked as they exited the movie theater with their arms linked together.

"I don't know Barry, you seem to be the one with the plan for today."

"Yeah, well, I'm kind of winging it right now." Barry confessed truthfully.

"Just hold up for a minute Barry while I use the ladies room." Iris said breaking away from his arms. Barry started to panic at the idea of leaving Iris alone even if it was for her to just go to the bathroom.

"Uh, i don't think that's such a good idea Iris, you never know what could happen in a public restroom."

"Barry I'll be fine its just the bathroom." Iris insisted as she headed off to the Bathroom. "You act like I'm going to die if I go in there." After nine tries Barry though he had seen it all and Iris' comment did catch him slightly off guard."

"That's ridiculous Iris, you're going to be totally fine." He tried to reassure her, well more like reassure himself, to be honest he had no clue what would happen and he dreaded what will happen.

"Then I'll be going to the bathroom now." Iris whirled around and entered the women's room.

Barry stood out side and waited for what seemed like forever. It was far too quiet and it was taking Iris way too long to be in there. "Iris? Iris are you OK in there?" fear gripped him and he kicked to door wide open to see Iris crumpled on the floor with blood pooling around her head. Looking around he could see a part of the porcelain sink was broken off and was splattered with her blood. From What Barry gathered Iris had slipped and hit her head, hard.

"No, no, no, no no, no!" Barry chanted over and over again as he found himself in the familiar position of cradling Iris' body. Once more a day going great was swept away by a dark tragedy.


Alternate July 11 2021 – Take 23

Barry walked down the side walk with Iris, they had just left the Precinct and happily chatted away. As of right now there was still a few hours until a Meta-human attack according to the events of the original July 11, but for Barry he needed to take each moment with Iris one minute at a time.

They made it through breakfast, through the movies, through lunch (after half a dozen tires), and now they had managed to get through the majority of the day and all that was left to do was for them to pick up Dawn and Don and for Barry to deal with the impending meta-human attack, which was easier said than done even if he knew exactly how to take him down.

"Well we've got to go pick up the kids from preschool now Barry." Iris looked down into her bag to grab her car keys. "We should do this more often."

"What? the Date day?" Barry unquired

"Yeah, it's fun. Maybe next time we can make it a family excursion."

"IRIS LOOK OUT!" Barry's warning came milliseconds too late as a yellow car came out of nowhere and collided with Iris at blinding speeds.

Barry was by iris's side in a heartbeat and cradled her limp body in his arms. "Oh god no…" tears and snot dripped down his face onto her still form.

Yeah, the universe was definitely out to get them.


Alternate July 11 2021 – Take 47

Barry's patience was wearing thin as each attempt to keep Iris alive ended in failure, each time he managed to keep her alive a little longer, but it was shortly after that she would be killed in some other horrific way. Just last time Barry helplessly watched as Iris was killed by a hail of shattered glass caused by the upcoming meta-human attack.

The last forty seven times Barry lived this day there was a meta-human attack by someone called Tremor, a meta-human with the ability to generate earthquakes and shockwaves, and every time he left to fight him Iris was usually killed during the fight, either directly or indirectly, whenever she headed to the scene of their fight. After all this was apparently supposed to happen soon but keeping Iris alive seemed to accelerate their meeting. But this time Barry decided it would be best if he left Iris in the safety of the Central City Precinct.

"Sorry about this Iris, but you need to stay here." He handcuffed her to his desk in a flash and grabbed his suit from his locker.

"What the hell Barry!?" Iris yelled at him as he sped out of the room. "What are you doing!?" she demanded as she struggled against the cuffs.

"I'm sorry Iris but you'll thank be tomorrow." Barry whispered as he headed out to fight this dangerous meta-human.

After about five minutes Iris managed to escape form the handcuffs using one of her hair pins, she had to remember to thank her dad for teaching her how to pick a lock or two. Rumbling shook the building suddenly. Bracing herself against Barry's desk Iris looked out the window to see one of the smaller buildings in downtown Central City shake violently before collapsing. "BARRY!" Iris yelled in horror at the thought that her husband was in that building, unfortunately her terror was well placed as Barry was trapped beneath the rubble.

Outside the precinct Marshal Thatch, a once promising architect who lost everything in the Particle Accelerator Explosion, extended his hands towards the precinct. His former partner had been contracted to build the police station using his stolen designs so now he was going to tear it apart. The building shook violently and pieces of it began to fall off

A rush of air behind him made Tremor turn around to see a battered and bruised Flash standing before him. "EDWARDS!" The Flash yelled angrily. "I know you're angry but destroying everything your ex partner built is not the way to get justice for what happened to you!"

"You think I'm doing this because of justice Flash? I'm doing this because I want to!" Tremor turned around and slammed his fist in the direction of the Precinct. Large cracks and fissures ran through the air as if it were made of glass.

"NO!" Barry yelled as he helplessly watched fissures and cracks tear through the Precinct and the building came down in a thunderous crash and throwing up a cloud of dust so think Tremor slipped away as Barry began to viciously shift through the rubble.

Barry found her half her body was crushed under the weight of debris from his lab while her other half was covered in cuts from glass and burns from chemicals.


Alternate July 11 2021 – Take 100

Barry didn't know what else to do. One hundred tries and he had witnessed Iris's death ninety nine times and he had this horrible feeling inside his gut that this time was going to be no different. He knew the only way to set things back to normal was to repeat the day exactly as it had originally went, with the Reverse-Flash murdering Iris. He had no idea how his life would be if she died, he knew he felt dead inside more and more but at the same time, seeing her die over and over again it made him feel, well, ok with the fact she was dead, and he hated that feeling.

"So let me get this straight, you want to stay here, together all day, do nothing, interact with no one, just sit here and talk?"

"That's the gist of it." Barry replied to his wife.

"Ok, what's our first conversation going to be about Barry?"

"There is no easy way to say this Iris, but today you die."

"What?"

"Just...just let me finish Iris." Barry pleaded "The Reverse-Flash was originally going to kill you today, but I stopped that. but ever since then you've consistently died every time."

"Every time? just how many times have I died Barry?"

"Nearly one hundred times." Barry hung his head. "I've watched you die so many times Iris, some weren't as serious as they should have been while others were horrifying to watch." Iris just patted his shoulder reassuringly. "I know I promised that I would always protect you Iris...but I don't...I don't think I can anymore..." Tears freely fell down his cheeks as he burried his face in Iris' shoulder.

The Flash's wife just stroked his hair and rubbed his back trying to comfort the broken man. "Barry...I understand that it hurts but you need to move on from this." Barry looked up from her shoulder and into her eyes. Iris was telling him to move on from her? Why? Didn't she know how much he loved her? He couldn't possibly live without her.

"Iris I...I can't move on...I...I need you...I love you too much."

"Barry there are other people out there who need you more than I do, Dawn, Don, my Dad, Wally and Caitlin..." She said Caitlin's name a little quieter than the other four. She knew there was something between Barry and Caitlin, but she didn't think it was her place to pry into something the two scientist meta-humans silently agreed wasn't there. She never told Barry this but several years ago about a day after She and Barry had a large fight Iris had walked in on Barry and Caitlin kissing. She didn't know what the circumstance behind the kiss was nor did she want to know as it hurt too much to think about it.

"When I'm gone Barry I need you to be strong for everyone," Iris pleaded. "If I am supposed to die today then you should let it happen...isn't that what happened when you went to save your mother?"

"But…Iris…" Iris silenced Barry by placing her lips on his.

"And another thing Barry, I want…no I need you to go back to Dawn and Don when it's over." Barry hung his head. "And please Barry, please don't change anything…" Barry was about to speak but Iris cut him off. "Just, do this for me Barry, I don't want to be the cause of this torture you've subjected yourself to." Barry found himself chocking on his words. Unable to say anything he just let his tears flow. "So…please do this for me Barry."

"OK Iris…"

With a sad smile Iris kissed Barry on the lips. "I love you Barry."

"I love you to Iris." Barry replied against her lips before heading out to redo the day one last time, the way it initially happened.


July 11 2021

Traveling back in time once more Barry found himself repeating the day as he did initially. With a heavy heart Barry entered his house and just like the way it was with his mother he hid and watched the events unfold no matter how painful it was.

The sound of electricity crackling and the sudden rush of air told Barry it was time, and so he forced himself to watch and listen as his mortal enemy murdered his wife.

"Hello Iris." There was another rushing noise. "Did you think you could contact your husband before I could reach you?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Barry heard Iris demand.

"I'm just here to get your answer."Barry had no idea what the Reverse Flash was talking about. "Are you going to leave your husband and come with me?" The Reverse-Flash wanted Iris? Was this not Eobard Thawne? He had never shown interest in Iris' affection before now. "Or am I going to have to kill you?" Barry felt his heart beat much faster than normal as tears welled up in his eyes. "Did you think that would work?"

"I'll never leave Barry!" she declared "I love him too much! And even if I did not I would never choose a monster like you!"

"I am truly sorry, This could have all been avoided if you chose me." Barry tore his gaze away and helplessly listened as his wife was murdered once more. "I never liked killing those I love."

Once it was done Barry was about to burst from his hiding spot he saw something he didn't expect, The Reverse-Flash was kneeling while cradling Iris' dead body.

"I hope you forgive me Iris." The man in yellow whispered into her motionless body. "because I know I'll never forgive myself for this."

Barry couldn't help but watch as the man in yellow closed Iris' eyes and laid her gently on the floor before readjusting her body to a more peaceful position. Barry continued to watch as The man in the yellow suit slit his own wrist and write six words on the wall and as soon as he was done he was gone in a flurry of crimson electricity leaving Barry alone with Iris' body one last time.

Barry cautiously approached Iris' body and knelt down next to her. He brushed away her hair to get one look at her peaceful face.

"I love you Iris…and…I promise I'll never try to change anything again." he said as he leaned down and kissed her one last time before heading back to when he came.


July 17 2021

Barry tore through the wormhole he created and skidded to a halt mere seconds after he had initially left. With nothing left Barry just slid to the floor of the Particle Accelerator and began to cry.

"Barry?" After crying for what felt like hours Barry looked up to see Joe, Caitlin, Wally, Dawn and Don looking at him absolutely radiating concern.

"I failed..." Barry said softly before the dam behind his eyes broke.


Present

Barry came out of his memories and turned his attention back to all the information Gideon was providing him. Sure he had promised Iris he wouldn't meddle with time, but things changed after everyone died or (in Caitlin's case) was dying.

"Gideon, who was next to attack Central City after the Tricksters?"

-Brie Larvan, A.K.A Bug-Eyed Bandit- The holographic head replied. –Her first attack was on April 14 2015-

"That's fairly soon." Barry said to himself. "And if I remember correctly Felicity and Ray came and helped us take her down."

-Indeed-

"Start running a scan for this frequency so that when she shows up we can stop her before she kills anyone, also start running diagnostics of Ray's A.T.O.M. suit, I want to give his a little boost before he joins Rip Hunter."

-Of course Barry Allen-

"Also, how much damage have I inflicted on the Space Time Continuum?"

-By my calculations this last trip along with all the trips you and the Reverse-Flash have made along with your younger selves The Speed Force has worn the Continuum Dangerously thin. If It tears The resulting shockwave will destroy at minimun Central City-

"Dare I ask at max?"

-The Entire Multiverse-

"I was afraid you were going to say that. So as long as neither I nor the Reverse-Flash Time travel the Time Continuum will remain intact until we find a way to repair it?"

-Precisely-

"Alright Gideon start running diagnostics on how to repair any and all damage to the Time Continuum."

-Of course Mr. Allen-


Meanwhile Eobard Thawne entered into the pipeline and with a few strikes of the keypad a meta-human cell was brought before him, inside was Mark Mardon, better known as Weather Wizard.

Mardon sat against his wall throwing a ball against the other side of his cell to pass the time. He honestly wished he was locked up in Iron Heights Prison since at least there he would have some form of Cable TV. Here he got three meals a day and a ball to pass the time. The movement of his cell caught his attention and when he looked up sitting in front of his cell was Harrison Wells, the man responsible for giving him his powers.

"Come to check on one of your pets?"

"If I wanted to do that I could do it from the comfort of my office, actually Mr. Mardon I have a proposition for you, one that helps us both."

"Yeah and what is that?"

"Let's just say I'll be calling in a favor. Do that for me and I'll personally make sure you go free."

"And how do you know I won't kill you and your pet speedster when I get out of here?"

"Oh I'm counting on you going after the Flash but I need you to first create the storm I need."

"Fine I'll do it."

"Good, now have Patience Mr. Mardon. Once I finish with what I need we'll need to act quickly."

"Why not release me now?"

"If I did that I would have no guarantee that you'd stick around to help me." Wells explained. "So do we have a deal Mr. Mardon?"

"I guess so old man."

Wells smiled sinisterly "Good."

Unbeknownst to Wells the Barry Allen from this era was watching the whole conversation, his eyes widening in shock at the revelation of his mentor making deals with the bad meta-humans.

"What the frack?"


This is the end of the chapter

Please tell me what you liked, didn't like, look forward to/think will happen, or your general thoughts and comments, this'll help me make this story better; I'm a big boy so I can take criticism. And if you Review you get a Shout Out and questions answered either privately or in the next chapter.

Have a Fantastic day.

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