Thank you all for following so far. Thank you for the awesome reviews! Sorry that it took a little long to update...

Joe froze. His heart stopped beating for a moment. Caitlin almost dropped the tools she was holding. Iris looked at Barry as if he were a riddle.

"What, Bear?"

His eyes were closed again. Iris softly squeezed his hand.

"Barry?"

Caitlin jumped in.

"Aaaaah, it´s probably just the fever talking out of him…he doesn´t know what he´s saying…" She looked to Joe for help.

"I´ve given him a sedative. He´ll sleep for a few hours hours", Caitlin explained "It would be best if we kept Barry here for the rest of the night so I can have him on the IV until the morning."

Iris looked at Joe. Joe looked at Caitlin.

"You can bring Barry home in the morning. I promise I´ll take good care of him", Caitlin said.

Iris nodded. Caitlin handed her a blanket and Iris covered Barry. She kissed his forehead.

"Bye Barry, feel better", she whispered to him.

It was about 3am when the West´s came home. They wished each other good night and were both relieved that the next day was a Saturday and they could sleep as long as they wanted.

Iris stayed awake in her bed for about an hour. She thought about Barry and what he had said. What was that all about? Was it really just a consequence oh his high temperature?

Sometimes she played with the thought that Barry might like her, but then she always convinced herself that such thoughts were unfounded. And then eventually she digged only a little bit into her own feelings for Barry. She obviously cared a lot about him. She had seen him suffer so much throughout his life that she had always felt the need to protect him. And it would be fair to say that her heart had broken for him many times, but not in a romantic way. It had just been so awful to see him get hurt that Iris felt his pain in her own flesh. First it had been the death of his mother that tore him apart, then his father being locked up in Iron Heights. Later it was his lack of friends and the bullies at school. Then it was the way he came from work with Joe after studying crime scenes that always reminded him of his mother´s death.

Joe woke up early the next morning. He wanted to go pick up Barry on his own. He needed make him aware of what he had said to Iris.

"Daddy, you´re up early", Iris greeted him "Can we go get Barry?"

This was exactly what Joe was trying to avoid.

"Eeeehm why don´t you stay here and have some breakfast ready. Barry is going to be hungry."

"Oh, yes you´re right. I´ll make some waffles."

At STAR Labs Joe found Barry sitting up and looking much better.

"Good morning Dr. Snow"

"Oh, hi detective West"

"Please call me Joe…and how´s this young man doing?"

Joe gently hugged Barry. His cheeks were still a bit flushed.

"Hi Joe", he said weakly.

"The fever is almost down. You can take him home", said Caitlin. She removed the needle from Barry´s arm.

Joe helped Barry down the stairs. His knees still felt so weak. The cold wind outside made him dizzy and he was relieved to get inside the car.

Then Joe broke him news of the events of the previous night. Barry had only vague memories. He remembered Iris being at his side, but he wasn´t sure about his confession.

"She held your hand all the time, you know?", Joe told him "and she didn´t want to leave you here."

Barry smiled, he flushed a little more.

Iris made waffles with syrup, Barry´s favorite. She was setting the table when she heard the door open. She rushed out of the kitchen and ran straight into Barry´s arms. His still weak knees had to put up with all of their strength to catch her. They hugged very tight.

"I was so worried Barry, are you feeling better?"

"I am now…"

Barry wished he never had to let go of that embrace. It felt so good.

"Come, I´ve made you breakfast, are you hungry?"

They sat down on the couch in the living room and Iris brought a blanket for Barry. Caitlin had said that he should rest and sleep a lot. And Iris would make sure he was comfortable and well taken care of. Joe shared breakfast with them and then went upstairs.

"I need to catch up with some sleep, kids", he said "You better go easy on those waffles, Bear". He had already eaten five.

Iris and Barry were left alone. For a while they just chatted a bit about everything. Barry looked sleepy.

"Should I let you get some more sleep, Barry?", Iris asked, concerned.

"No, please stay", he said. Her company made him feel so much better, although his eyes were fighting to stay open. He moved a bit closer to Iris. He hesitated for a moment and then he reached out for her hand. Iris could feel his warm skin holding her gently. Barry swallowed, he opened his mouth, but words refused to come out. He lowered his view before he took the courage to lift his head and looked her straight into the eyes.

"Iris, I- I meant what I said last night."

She was mute for an instant.

"I love you, Iris."

He couldn´t believe he had actually said that. Neither could she.

"You mean-…", she was un sure of how to interpret it.

"When we were kids I loved you, even before I knew what the word love meant…and then my mom died and I had to go live with the girl I had a crush on…"

He looked at her, hoping she would respond. But Iris was wordless. She had not expected that. For some reason her eyes filled with tears and she softly shook her head. She withdrew her hand from his hold.

"You never let me know", she finally said after a while of painful silence.

"I have wanted to tell you for fourteen years…but I was always afraid…I still am", Barry confessed looking down to his hands.

"I…I am with Eddie, Barry"

"I know, I know my timing couldn´t be worse, but I- I couldn´t lie to you anymore…"

Iris shook her head again.

"I am sorry, Barry", it was all that she could say.

Iris lifted herself.

"I need some fresh air…I gotta go. I´m sorry…".

She grabbed her coat and shoes and hurried out, leaving Barry´s heart shattered to pieces.

Thanks you all for following.

Please review, tell me what you like and what not.

And for all of you who love Barry as much as I do, I am sorry I make him suffer so much...