So, here is the final chapter of the story. I would just like to thank everyone of you for your support. Hope you enjoy this.
Star Labs
Afternoon
Barry walked into the pipeline and saw Nora. Her back was to him as she sat down on the floor, she gave no sign she knew he was there as he approached her.
"How'd you know I was here?" Nora asked without turning to face him.
"When I got upset and needed some time alone, I'd come down here to think. Haven't in a while since Iris took over Star Labs," Barry admitted as he sat down next to Nora. "You wanna talk about it?"
"I can't be there when my mom comes," Nora said her voice shaking slightly.
"Why not? Don't you wanna see her?" Barry asked confused.
"More than anything. That's the problem," Nora said, looking over at him and Barry could tell by the redness of her eyes that she had been crying. "In the future, my mom is dead. And when I go back, she'll still be dead."
"So, you figure that it's better to keep your distance so that it won't hurt as much when you go back?" Barry realized and she nodded. "I get it, I do, but you're wrong."
"What?" Nora asked confused.
"I lost my dad when I wasn't much younger than you. But sill, I would give just about anything for a few more days, hours, even just a few more minutes with him, no matter how much it hurt when I lost him again. And the future isn't set in stone. The future you came from was one where I was still married to Iris, had no idea you existed, and your mom lived in Midway City. I'm not married to Iris anymore, I know about you, and your mom just told me that she's moving back to Central City. For all we know, your mom will still be alive when you go back."
"She's moving to Central City?" Nora asked surprised and Barry nodded.
"Yeah, she came to the same conclusion I did: that her parents living in two separate cities, making her go back and forth wasn't a life we wanted for our daughter. I was five seconds away from requesting a transfer to Midway City but, as usual, your mom outsmarted me and beat me to the punch," Barry said with a smile. "So, what do you say, ready to go see your mom?"
"Okay," Nora said after a moment. "On one condition: I'll go to the party if you tell mom how you feel about her."
"Nora…I literally just ended my marriage to Iris," Barry said after a moment.
"I know. And maybe it's none of my business…but I saw the way you looked when I told you she was dead, you looked like you'd just been shot. And I hear the way you talk about her. Maybe it is none of my business…but for what it's worth, I think you should at least talk about it with her. You're right dad; we don't know what the future holds…so maybe we should treat each moment with her like it's our last."
Nora then got and walked out, leaving Barry sitting there as he considered his daughter's words.
Central City
Mid-afternoon
Barry rang a door bell and waited on the outside of the house nervously. After a few moments, a woman with greying blond hair and Patty's eyes opened the door. Barry immediately knew this was Patty's mother.
"Mrs. Spivot," Barry greeted politely before blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "I'm Barry."
"I know who you are," Ms. Spivot said blankly.
"I'm sorry," Barry blurted out.
"Sorry?" she repeated confused.
"For not being there for Patty and Nora," Barry clarified. "You must hate me."
"It's alright Barry, Patty told me everything," Mrs. Spivot said calmly and for a moment, Barry panics until he realized she meant Iris' lie. "You didn't know. And you're doing everything you can to be a part of my granddaughter's life now. As long as you do right by her, you'll be okay in my book."
"You're not scaring him, are you?" Patty asked as she emerged over her mother's shoulder, Nora in her arms.
"Not all," Mrs. Spivot said, a warm smile crossing her face. "Have a good time sweetheart, both of you."
Patty simply gave her mother a pointed look before she and Nora walked out. Mrs. Spivot closed the door behind them as they began to walk down the driveway.
"She didn't try and scare you off, did she?" Patty asked, worried her mother might have said something less than flattering.
"No. She actually seems pretty cool," Barry admitted.
"She wasn't when she found out I was pregnant with my ex-boyfriend's baby. Isn't that right Nora? Grandma was not happy that day," Patty cooed to her daughter and was rewarded by a happy squeal. "So are we running there? Because I'm not sure how well that will work with Nora."
"No, we're driving," Barry said as he gestured to a black SUV. "It's Joe's; he lent it to me for this."
"Barry, you really need to get a car," Patty said trying not to laugh.
Barry simply shrugged and opened the back door so Patty could put Nora in the car seat. Once Nora as secure, Patty closed the door and looked over at Barry. She was surprised that he seemed anxious and even nervous.
"Barry, are you okay?" Patty asked a little concerned.
"I need to tell you something," Barry began carefully. "You don't need to say anything but…I need to say it. I need to know that you heard what I'm about to say."
"Okay," Patty said confused but still gestured for him to continue.
"I love you," Barry said and she stiffened. "This might sound crazy, but I've been in love with you since the first time we kissed. I just couldn't admit it at the time."
"If you loved me… then why didn't you tell me the truth?" Patty asked quietly and Barry winced.
"I was going to," Barry admitted and Patty was surprised. "The night of the gala, I was going to tell you everything. But some bad advice and my fear stopped me. Then you told me about the offer and about becoming a CSI, how could I take away your dream?"
"I'm not sure what you want me to say," Patty said after a moment.
"You don't have to say anything. I just needed you to know," Barry said as he turned to get into the car.
"Barry?" Patty called out and he paused. "I love you to. But you just ended things with Iris; I think we should focus on Nora before we do anything about…us."
Barry simply nodded before getting in the car, Patty getting in the passenger side as Barry started the car.
West house
Later in the afternoon
"You ready for this?" Barry asked Patty as they got out of the car, Patty getting Nora from the back.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Patty sad and Barry nodded.
He led them over to the front porch and opened the door. He led them inside and Patty looked around, almost smiling as she saw the banner that read 'Welcome home Patty and Nora'. It was cute and also touched Patty's heart. Her attention was lifted from the banner as everyone walked into the room.
"Spivot," Joe said jovially and Patty smiled at her old partner.
"Hey Joe," Patty turned to Nora, who was watching Joe with curious, innocent eyes. "This is Nora. Nora, this is your grandpa Joe."
"Papa," Joe corrected automatically, his eyes already on his grandchild. "Can I hold her?"
"If she'll let you. Can Papa Joe hold you, huh?" Patty asked her daughter softly, trying to hand Nora off to Joe.
She fussed a little but quieted when she was in Joe's arms. Barry and Patty almost laughed at the look on Joe's face. It was clear that she already had him wrapped around her finger. As Joe got acquainted with his granddaughter, Barry and Patty made their way towards the others.
"You remember Catlin and Cisco," Barry said, gesturing to his friends.
"Of course. It's nice to see you again," Patty said politely.
"Drink?" Cisco asked, offering her some Champaign.
"No thank you, I don't drink much these days," Patty said politely.
Cisco shrugged and walked off.
"It was nice to see you again Patty. I'm gonna go make sure he's okay," Caitlin smiled before walking after Cisco.
"Was it something I said?" Patty said a little confused.
"No, Cisco's just going through a tough time right now," Barry stared after Caitlin worried for a moment before turning to Ralph. "This is Ralph Dibny."
"The Elongated man, right?" Patty smiled at the look of surprise on Ralph's face. "I used to be a detective."
"I am a detective and I couldn't make that guess. You are good," Ralph said, shaking her hand.
"And I think you met Cecile," Barry said as Cecile made her way over, Jenna in her arms.
"Yeah, we worked together on a case with Joe once," Patty remembered as she let Ralph's hand go. "DA Horton."
"Please, call me Cecile. And this is Jenna," Cecile introduced and Patty smiled.
"I heard about you and Joe, congratulations," Patty said and Cecile smiled.
As they caught up, Barry looked up and saw Nora, adult Nora, lingering in the doorway. Barry smiled encouragingly and she took a deep breath before entering the room. Patty looked up from her conversation with Cecile and Nora looked like a deer caught in the headlights as Patty spotted her. It took only a moment for Patty to remember the picture on Barry's phone and realize this was her daughter. Nora cautiously approached her mother, trying to steel herself.
"I'm Nora…" Nora trialed off, unsure how to continue this conversation.
"I'm Patty, but you already knew that," Patty said and Nora smiled lightly.
As he watched them interact, Barry smiled slightly, feeling like, for the first time everything was going to be okay.
Central City
Night
On an empty street, a blue portal opened up. A red blur emerged from it before the portal closed behind him. The blur stopped, revealing itself to be The Flash. He looked around, seeing a building that he was sure shouldn't be there. Then it was because he realized that it had been destroyed in a battle with Grodd, three years ago (to him).
"When the hell am I?" Barry Allen of 2024 wondered as he looked around.
Yes, there will be a sequel, although I'm not sure when that will be.
I was originally going to have Barry and Patty get back together but I felt like I was rushing it, so I'm to save that for the sequel.
Yes, Barry of 2024 has returned. And that is going to be the basis of the sequel. Until then, this is me signing off on this story.