"I hate you! You're not my real mother!" Abby screamed, and Caitlin felt her heart crack in two.

"Abigail Rose Allen, apologize to your mother this second," Barry demanded, but the nine-year-old shook her head.

"No," she said defiantly.

"Go to your room. Now," Barry said, and the little girl ran off, slamming her door shut as she did so. It had been one hell of day; nothing seemed to be going right for Caitlin. First, it was Charlie being cranky when she woke her up this morning, to Abby not wanting to go play with the kids down the street. Caitlin understood where she was coming from, she truly did. Her daughter had developed anxiety at an early age, and hated being forced into social situations with other kids. However, she also understood where her husband was coming from. Barry wanted Abby to interact with more kids her age. Then, there was the fiasco at school where the teacher, bless her, tried to get Abby to interact too, and Abby fought back, resulting in a note being sent home.

So, that left Caitlin in the middle, trying to do right by both her husband, and daughter. She knew Barry had a point about getting Abby to socialize. She just didn't think her daughter would say such harsh words when Caitlin tried to in force that rule.

Barry looked at Caitlin. "She didn't mean it, sweetheart."

Caitlin nodded her head. "I know."

Just then, Charlie demanded to be picked up, and Caitlin stretched her arms out to her three-year-old, scooping her up, and cuddling her close.

"Don't be sad, mommy," Charlie said, touching her mother's cheeks. Caitlin touched a hand to her cheek and felt traitorous tears sliding down her face. She sniffled.

"Mommy's not sad, baby," Caitlin choked out, trying to keep her composure. For the last nine years, Abby had been a light in her life; had been her real daughter. They never fought, and Abby always came to Caitlin whenever she had a problem; she was her mother, after all. She knew didn't mean what she was saying, didn't even know what she was saying. Still, those three words cut sharp like a knife, living Caitlin wounded and bleeding.

"I'll go talk to her," Barry murmured, kissing his wife on the forehead, before rubbing Charlie's back. Caitlin nodded her head, sniffling as she did so.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Barry knocked on Abby's door, pushing it open gently a moment later. He scanned the room and found his daughter sitting underneath her desk. It was a place she often found solace in when scared or upset. Sighing, he walked over to the desk, and knocked on the top of it.

"Can I join you, Abby?" Barry asked softly, and she nodded her head, scooting over to give him space. Barry sat down on the ground next to her.

"I'm sorry," Abby mumbled, and Barry knew she meant it.

"I know you are button, but it's not me you need to apologize too," he murmured.

"Why did mommy have to take away my Harry Potter book?" Abby asked miserably, and Barry sighed.

"You got a note sent home today, button. You got a note sent home because you talked back to the teacher, so you must pay a price for disobeying rules. Does that make sense?" Barry asked. Him and Caitlin had never really had to punish Abby before; she was an exceptionally well-behaved child.

Abby huffed. "Why couldn't she have taken away another book?"

"Because it's the one you like most, and we needed you to understand the lesson we're trying to teach," Barry supplied, hoping she'd understand that they weren't mad or disappointed in her.

Abby looked like she was thinking about it for a moment, before sighing.

"I need to apologize to mom," she muttered.

"In a minute, button. Right now, I want you and I to talk about something," Barry said, and she looked at him curiously.

"You said she's not your real mom. Why did you say that, button?" Barry asked softly, and his heart bled when her lower lip trembled, but he kept his composure, hoping to get clarity on the situation.

"Well, she's not. Iris is," Abby mumbled, and Barry sighed.

"Just because someone is your biological parent, does not necessarily mean they're your actual parent. Or that they know how to be one. Caitlin has loved you as if you were her real daughter practically since you were born," Barry said, and Abby nodded.

"I know…I just, it's hard," Abby muttered.

"What's hard, button?" Barry asked gently.

"No one in my class comes from a family like I do. Where they have three parents," Abby mumbled, and Barry sighed, trying to find the right words to that would help explain it better.

"You, technically, have three parents, this is true. But you only have two parents who have seen you grow up into the girl you are today. Iris…well, she isn't as permanent as Caitlin is. Who takes care of you when you're sick? Who stays up all night with you when you have a fever, singing softly?" Barry asked, and Abby chuckled.

"Mom really can't sing, daddy," Abby stated bluntly.

"Can't argue with you there, button," Barry chortled.

"Another thing to think about: who built you a tent in the living room and slept out there with you last summer when there was that really bad storm?" Barry continued.

"Mom," Abby whispered.

"You see, button, it's not who gave birth to you that makes a parent; it's who has love, unconditional love, for you. And, Caitlin has never had anything less than that," Barry said gently. He watched as Abby thought his words through, smiling a little when she smiled.

"You're right. I need to talk to her," Abby murmured.

"Let's go then, button," Barry made to stand up, but Abby stopped him.

"Daddy, wait. I need to give her something to make this right," she said, and stood up and headed to where her art supplies were. Barry smiled softly.

"We'll be in the kitchen, whenever you're ready," he murmured, before getting up and making his way out of her arm.

XXXXXXXX

Thirty minutes later, Abby walked out and called for her mother.

"In the kitchen, Abs," Caitlin replied, heart feeling a little bit better. Abby walked in and paused, before looking at Caitlin.

"Made you a picture, momma," Abby said, and pushed it into her hands timidly. Caitlin looked at it, studying the figures Abby had drawn. It was the four of them, with Abby and Caitlin holding hands. Abby was saying, "I love you, momma," to her. Caitlin's eyes welled up, and she looked at her daughter.

"Abs?" Caitlin asked softly, and the little girl threw her arms around her leg, hugging her tightly.

"You're my mom, momma. I'm so sorry," she mumbled, pushing her head into her leg, and hiding. Caitlin ran a hand through her hair.

"It's alright, Abs. You're my daughter, and there's nothing you could do or say that will ever make me stop loving you," she murmured.

Abby sniffled. "Promise?"

"I promise, sweetheart," Caitlin soothed, and she bent down, and gave her daughter a proper hug, heart aching a bit less.

Author's note: Prompt I got. Hope you like it. Have about three to get to. They'll come. If you have any, drop them in the comments. XOXO