Award season was upon them. And Felicity was in her element. Caitlin was currently being dictated to go to every meet and greet scheduled; to sit down and talk to interviewers and television hosts. Of course, naturally, Barry was everywhere Caitlin was, watching from the shadows. Caitlin knew he felt more at ease whenever he was around her, something she was learning to feel herself. They were like two magnetics – they couldn't be pulled apart even if they wanted to be.

Caitlin was currently sitting in her dressing room, getting ready to go appear on the Jimmy Fallon Show. Out of all the hosts she had ever sat down and talked with, Fallon was one of her top five favorites. She knew they'd have a good time. He'd most likely ask about Barry and their growing relationship, something Caitlin had prepped Barry for. Barry's reaction was something out of fairytales.

"Caitlin, I don't care if you talk to the postman about us. I don't care if you talk to your makeup artist. I want the world to know that you're with me."

Caitlin could still remember how his voice was tinged with such desperation that it bordered on possessiveness. Normally, she would feel a sense of indignation at his words but, since it was Barry, she knew that he would never ever claim her in a way that stripped her of her rights to herself.

"Five minutes, Ms. Snow," Cisco Ramon, the stage assistant, called through her closed door. Caitlin caught Barry's eyes in the mirror and they shared a small smile as he made his way to open the door.

"You can call me Caitlin, Cisco," Caitlin reminded him for what felt like the hundredth time that night. Not to mention all the other times she had been a guest on Jimmy's show prior to that. The raven-haired assistant smiled somewhat bashfully.

"Old habits, Ms. – Caitlin," he corrected himself at the look on her face and Caitlin laughed softly.

"Thank you," she said, dipping her head towards him. Cisco smiled in return and then proceeded to tell her he'd be waiting outside for her. Caitlin nodded and watched him walk back out the door. She took a deep, calming breath as Barry shut the door softly and caught her eyes in the mirror.

"Can we have the room?" Barry asked the other members of Caitlin's team. She looked at him curiously and then her team members as they all filed out of the room without so much as a single protest. Caitlin watched Barry through the mirror; watched as he made his way towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders, massaging gently.

"Are you alright, Cait?" Barry asked, and she nodded.

"Yes," she promised. "Just the normal preshow nerves."

"I didn't know Caitlin Snow got nervous," Barry replied, gentle laughter belying his serious eyes.

Caitlin grinned. "Something like that."

His hands never stopped their gentle ministrations as he continued talking to her. "Well, just picture everyone in the audience in their underwear. I heard somewhere that that eased nerves."

Despite wanting to tell him it'd also make her giggle like a schoolgirl, she smiled at him. He was sweet. "Thanks, babe."

"Anytime, sweetheart. Now, go out there and show them just exactly who you are," he replied. She nodded as she stood up and turned to face him expectantly. He seemed to get the hint and brushed his lips across hers' before placing them to her forehead and holding them there for an immeasurable amount of time. Eventually, there was another knock at her door and Caitlin squeezed her boyfriend's hand before pulling back.

"I'll see you when it's through," she said, and he nodded, smile stretching itself across his face.

XXX

By the time Caitlin was through, she was proud that the show went well and the fans seemed excited for her newest movie. She knew that they were also speculating about her and Barry, having been subjected to a few questions about that particular relationship. For his sake, Caitlin tried to keep as much of the relationship as she could under wraps. While she may be used to the limelight, Barry had no clue how to navigate these types of waters.

Once she reached backstage with Cisco chattering away in her ear, she spotted Barry standing stiff and guarded and immediately recognize that as the look he donned whenever he was playing 'bodyguard'. She sighed as she made her way to him and touched his arm lightly. He blinked and looked at her.

"Would it kill you to loosen up some?" Caitlin murmured gently, accepting the water he handed her.

"Probably. And, I'm definitely too young to die," he replied, and she chuckled at his no nonsense attitude. This guy would ultimately end up making her rip her hair out. Or, push him up against a wall and kiss him with such fevered frenzy she wouldn't be able to remember who she was. One of the two.

"Andrew waiting out front?" Caitlin asked, taking a much-needed sip of the water. Barry looked at her almost a little…guiltily as he shook his head. She quirked an eyebrow at him, silently asking him to continue.

"I may have given him the night off," he admitted, and Caitlin scrunched up her eyes in confusion.

"Can you just do that? Without checking with Licity first?" Caitlin asked.

"Wait, you're not mad?" Barry checked, and Caitlin shook her head.

"No, a little curious maybe, but definitely not mad. The poor guy needs a break too every now and then," she reminded him, and she saw Barry's visible relief that flashed across his face.

"Oh. Oh, okay. Well, I did speak to Felicity about it and she thinks that Andrew taking off some nights here and there wouldn't hurt," Barry replied, and Caitlin nodded. If Felicity was in on it, she wasn't going to question it; she so did not want to get on the vivacious blonde's bad side, having been there many a time before.

"So, it's just you and me, then?" Caitlin queried, and Barry sighed.

"Us, and the twenty or so paparazzi waiting for you outside," he grumbled, and Caitlin cringed. That was no fun. Looping her arm through his and interlocking their fingers, she smiled as much as she could.

"Lead the way," she murmured, and Barry nodded. Then, they were walking out of the studios she had just filmed the show in and making their way to wherever he was parked, she supposed.

The cacophony of feverish camera clicks assailed Caitlin as soon as they stepped outside. Immediately, she ducked her head into Barry's shoulder as he guided her forward. In this moment she understood he was her bodyguard first, then her boyfriend, and she needed to act accordingly. She allowed him to clear a pathway for them with simple glares sent in the general directions of the cameras.

When they were a sufficient amount away from the paparazzi, Caitlin exhaled a breath of air she hadn't been aware of holding. She looked at Barry who, for his part, remained as stony faced as ever. She stopped walking, gently tugging on his arm until he came to a standstill, too. He looked at her.

"You don't have to pretend, you know," she said gently, and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Pretend about what?" Barry asked, and she smiled slightly.

"Like you're always going to have to be this tough guy with a hard exterior. I know you're doing your job and I know Felicity entrusted you to keep me safe but it is okay to lose the poker face every now and again," she said.

He sighed and thought her words through, processing them, it seemed, before nodding.

"I'm not sure I know how to do this," he whispered. Caitlin looked around, noting the fact that they were in a parking garage at this point so surely his car was nearby.

"Would you like to have this conversation in your car so we're not feeding the paparazzi's flames?" Caitlin asked softly, and he nodded. He started walking again and she followed him all the way to a Mercedes and she whistled lowly.

"Like to drive fast?" Caitlin asked, and Barry chuckled.

"Something like that." He unlocked the car for her and held the door open, shutting it softly once she was situated. Caitlin watched as he rounded to the driver's side of the car and climbed in. Eyes on him, she began to speak.

"You were saying?" Caitlin asked quietly, comfortingly.

He sighed. "I don't know if I'm able to separate bodyguard from boyfriend," he admitted, and she smiled softly.

"I think you're doing a fantastic job," she murmured. His eyes trailed her face as her eyes chased his. Then, they were leaning towards one another.

"I'm not sure I know how to not do this anymore," she admitted, lips close to his. She inhaled the very scent of him, feeling it swirl around inside of her.

"Me neither. But, I'm guessing we'll figure out how to not do it anymore together," he replied, then he kissed her and she felt it run from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. Heart beating like a humming bird's wings, she pulled back.

"Take me home," she murmured.

"Yes ma'am," he said quietly.

XXX

When they got back to her apartment, they looked at each other. Caitlin knew that things had been shifting between them and now they were reaching a point of no return.

"Remember how I said if we do this, we need to do this right?" Barry asked, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Caitlin nodded.

"Let me love you, Caitlin," he murmured, and she released a shuddering exhale.

"Always," Caitlin replied. Then, she let him pick her up and wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to her room, shutting the door behind them.

Author's note: Just a cute, mushy one. Because I've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately and I can't focus on anything but that and I need to get in a better headspace. I hope you guys enjoy and as usual, feedback lovely.