Chapter 13 [Picture News—Twenty-three minutes later]

[A/N: And yes, here we get that West-Thawne moment….Enjoy.]

Fresh off of the previous night's ordeal at STAR Labs, Iris gulped an extra-strong espresso-shot coffee. Her drowsy eyes managed to focus on the computer screen in front of herself. Still her mind remained a step slow. Yes she was tired…hell…exhausted was the better word for it….

…still all of the romance in the air made her heart ache….

Not that she wasn't happy for everyone around herself. She definitely supported Barry, Patty, Jay and Caitlin's relationships enthusiastically. She wished that her father and Cisco would find someone each.

Still she missed Eddie. She longed for his smile. She missed the amorous embraces, the cuddling and his wonderful cooking. She craved his spontaneous surprises. She frowned. Don't be sad. He wouldn't want you to be like this. Her fingers pecked away aimlessly on the keyboard trying to find their way. Figures Linda's still in Coast City! I'd say girls' lunch. She shrugged and sighed pointedly.

The phone buzzed proving a welcome break from this monotony.

"Good morning, Picture News. This is Iris," she answered.

"Iris, umm…it's Tony out in reception. There's something you need to see out here," the receptionist replied.

She heard the uncertainty in his voice. Now what? "Everything okay, Tony? You sound stressed."

"I'm fine. Trust me…you need to see this for yourself," Tony declared.

"Okay. Be right there." She hung up and arched her eyebrow. She knew Tony never let anything get to him on the job. Hell, as an ex-Marine, he'd already faced things which would make anyone but Barry blush more than likely. So what the Hell is it? She got out of her chair and walked toward the lobby.

As she progressed, people filing past her in the other direction were glancing anxiously toward the lobby.

She felt a particularly weird vibe but pressed ahead. She pushed through the bullpen's door and into the reception area. There she found Tony fretting behind his desk. "Hey. You all right? You seemed anxious on the phone."

Tony shook his head. "I've seen weird stuff, Iris, but this takes the cake." He winced. "There's a visitor for you. You should brace yourself first though." His eyes motioned toward the waiting area.

She shook her head. "You're acting like it's a terrorist or something."

"No it isn't that. I thought you said your fiancée was dead. I think…you'd better look behind yourself. And, as I said, brace yourself," Tony insisted.

"What the Hell? I…." Iris turned and started in, "Listen. I don't have time for the crap. I…" Upon seeing Eddie standing there, her mouth dropped open. "Eddie? Is that…?"

"Yeah it's me," Eddie assured her. He held a bouquet of red roses which he'd bought on the way from the precinct. "I just got back this morning. I…."

Iris felt her eyes watering. She instinctively knew this Eddie, unlike the Earth-2 counterpart at Iron Heights, was her Eddie. She immediately let the accusations and such die on the vine choosing instead to run to him. She literally embraced him tighter than a boa constrictor locking lips with his before anything else could break them apart again.

For his part, he let the flowers drop to the floor desperately returning the gestures with identical ones of his own. Her contact refreshed him after the long wait on the Other Side. His senses sprung to life anew after so long away from her.

"You came back for me?" Iris queried in disbelief.

"Yeah. After I helped Barry yesterday, I got a chance to do this. I wasn't about to question it." His eyes sparkled into hers. "We get our second chance."

"Oh, Sweetie!" She kissed him again. "This is so awesome! Wait until Dad and Barry find out."

"I just came from the precinct. They know and…." He could see a certain other couple's reflections in the glass next to them. "Speaking of which." He grinned.

"Guys, don't you have to be at work?" Iris supposed.

"I can't really do anything with my hands as they are," Patty noted. "The captain gave Barry a couple of days to heal up after the latest pounding." She smiled warmly at them. "Besides seeing this is so worth it!"

"That goes double for me." Barry motioned toward Eddie's car. "How about lunch? We can all celebrate."

"Give me a minute. For this, I'll make it happen!" Iris rushed back into the bullpen area and toward her boss' office.

"Sorry we tailed you over here," Barry apologized. "We kind of wanted to see you two get together again."

"And to offer our support for what it's worth," Patty chimed in. "This is so great." She hugged the revived detective as tightly as possible without using her hands.

"Thank you both. I really appreciate it," Eddie expressed warmly. He glanced at Barry knowing that this time there would be no triangle or jealous feelings between them. "Glad to see he took my advice."

"I'm not letting him go either," Patty declared as she returned to her boyfriend's side. Seeing Iris hustle back with coat in hand, she queried, "Ready?"

"Damn straight I am!" Iris announced while kissing her fiancée again. She gently squeezed his hand in hers. "Just don't let me go again, Eddie."

"Never again," Eddie vowed. "Count on that. Come on. Maybe we can make Carmine's before the rush starts?"

Recalling how she loved that restaurant, Iris nodded. "Definitely sounds like a plan. Let's go." She smiled to her friends. "All of us."

"Right behind you," Barry agreed. "Hope you don't mind if we hitch?"

Eddie chuckled. "I think we can fit you both in. Follow us."

And so the quartet headed off for a well-deserved celebration. Long forgotten were the previously-endured angst, trials and tribulations. Now they had each other and the support they all needed.

And wasn't that what counted?