Caitlin gripped the elevator handle mechanically, her legs still a bit wobbly due to her little scene with Barry. The silence inside is almost deafening, almost dead quiet if it wasn't for the wild beating of her heart that reverberates through her being.

She must be crazy. She must be totally crazy if what she thought happened, really did happen. Because there's no way that the old Caitlin Snow would pull off something as gutsy as that.

But what if she's not Caitlin Snow anymore? What if, somehow, she found a way to be the Caitlin Snow before the storm?

She smiled at herself with the thought of transforming from an empty shell of hatred and pain into someone who's actually human, someone who's finally ready to move on.

Or maybe she had.

She just didn't realize it yet.

The elevator dinged, bringing her out of her thoughts as she readies herself to face yet another day at work. She wonders if the rumors has already reached the top floor and by the looks of it, it had. She shook her head as a fond smile crept up her face, something that her old self wasn't capable of doing so.

She made her way straight into her spacious office, settling down on her leather chair as she let her secretary give her a rundown of her schedule for today.

"You have a meeting with the board at 10am but other than that, your afternoon schedule is pretty much free, Dr. Snow." Her secretary informed, holding an electronic notebook.

"Thanks, Secretary Jones." She smiled at her, causing the elderly woman to have a surprised look on her face.

Caitlin stared at her a bit more, wondering if she said something wrong, "Is everything alright, Ms. Jones?"

"Yes, Dr. Snow. Everything is fine. It's just..." She hesitated and Caitlin gave her another smile to encourage her to continue.

"Proceed, Ms. Jones. I won't mind."

"Well, it's actually the first time you...you smiled wholeheartedly, ma'am."

Caitlin looked at her intently, realization hitting her hard. She knew she'd been horrible these past few months and that meant treating her employees in a not so friendly way. She massaged her temples in irritation for she knew that her actions were unjustifiable.

"Look, Secretary Jones...I want to apologize for the way I've treated you since the turnover. I know what I've been through wasn't a valid excuse for my behavior so I just want to thank you for always being so patient with me."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Dr. Snow. What you've been through, it's such a tragedy no one should experience but look at you now. I can't say that you're fully recovered but I can see there has been a huge progress."

"Yeah. I think there is."

"I bet someone is responsible?" The elderly woman looked at her knowingly and Caitlin pondered how she ended up opening up to her secretary.

However, Secretary Jones wasn't just a secretary. She had been in the company longer than Caitlin ever had. She was her father's secretary and probably one of the longest employee the company ever had.

It reminded her of Marianne, their longtime household helper who took care of her ever since she was a child. Although she doesn't remember her either, Caitlin felt like she was one of the few people she could actually confide in. Now she's having the same feeling towards her secretary.

"Well, I...I wouldn't deny that there is." Caitlin replied, a fond smile forming on her lips once again.

"I'm happy for you Dr. Snow and I know Sir Christopher would've been proud of how his little girl turned out to be."

Caitlin was taken aback by what she said. She never thought that she wouldn't have been that hurt to hear about her father. That topic has always been sensitive to her but now she's starting to feel something else than numbness towards him.

Ever since the accident, her father has been loving and supportive. She remembered calling him the best and she intended for it to stay that way if it wasn't for how he managed to lie to his own daughter.

Sometimes, she refused to believed that it really happened. But she knew better not to be in denial and so she started to accept, slowly but surely.

"Dr. Snow?" She asked as she noticed how the young professional turned silent.

"Hmm?"

"I know I wasn't supposed to meddle with your personal life for I'm just a secretary but I wanted to let you know that although your father made a lot of lies, one thing stays true. He loved you so much."

Caitlin let her words sink in and without actually thinking about it, she made her way to her secretary and hugged her. She seemed surprised but hugged her back nonetheless. Before she pulled away, she whispered,

"Thank you Ms. Jones. And please don't ever think that you're just a secretary because we both know you're more than that."

The elderly woman almost cried at her words. She knew Caitlin wasn't the cold, unfeeling person whom she was forced to be at one point so now that she's returning to her old warm self, she couldn't help but feel like she's doing a great job in keeping Caitlin's father's last wish; to look after her.

"It's my pleasure, Dr. Snow." She said and turned around to leave but before she could touch the door's handle, Caitlin called out to her.

"Ms. Jones?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Could you free my afternoon schedule? There's something I need to do."

"Of course. Just to remind you ma'am, you have a meeting in thirty."

"Oh sure. Thanks."

"And Dr. Snow? You might want to fix your lipstick."

Caitlin blushed a deep shade of red, turning away to find an excuse but it seemed futile. Luckily, her secretary has already left, saving her from embarrassing herself further. She quickly rushed into the comfort room and true enough, her lipstick was a bit smudged. It wasn't that obvious but still, it wasn't as on point as it was supposed to be.

She smiled to herself, thinking that maybe, it's time for her to finally move forward but in order to do that, she needs to accomplish one thing.

Make peace with her past.

The meeting ended earlier than she expected, leaving her more time to finalize her decisions. She checks herself once, twice, just to make sure she's ready for this. She took a deep breath and she just knew it was the right thing to do, her heart couldn't agree more.

She made her way down to the parking lot, only for her to realize that she didn't bring any car for someone insisted on driving her to work. She settled for her company car instead, asking for the keys from her secretary.

Caitlin drove to an Italian restaurant downtown, it was a bit of a long drive but she wanted to make sure she's doing it right. This whole process wasn't easy but it was necessary for her to be able to move past her previous nightmares. And if the first step includes going to a place where she and-

A text message interrupted her thoughts yet again. She waited for the stoplight before glancing on her phone.

From: Your Barry

Time: 11:56 am

I forgot to tell you something this morning.

She didn't know what it is but something seemed off in this particular text message. She took a closer look and there it is, no closing signature, just like what he said. She smiled and thought of complimenting him by replying but before she could tap anything on her phone, another message came in.

From: Your Barry

Time: 11:57 am

You looked so hot in a blazer. How do you manage to pull that off? ;)

Her smile widened at that and as much as she wanted to reply, she didn't. She knew better not to text while driving, one life-changing accident was enough for her, seriously. She tapped on her earpiece instead and gave him a call.

"Hey, sexy."

She rolled her eyes before replying,

"Hi, Mr. Allen. I'd like to commend you for taking my advice on closing signatures. I must say, you've really impressed me."

"Ah, good to hear that, Dr. Snow. I bet you liked my new name on your phone too."

"Your...new name?"

"Yeah. Now we're even. Because that's how I saved your number in my phone too."

"Wait, hold it. I'm not sure what-"

She paused, took a quick glance on her phone screen and there she saw that she's in a conversation with a caller id in bold letters, Your Barry.

"-the hell Barry! So that's what you did to my phone earlier. I knew I shouldn't have trusted you with my phone."

"I'm glad you like it, Cait."

"I don't! Wait until I murder you later."

"Ah, you've threatened me twice in a day, Dr. Snow. That's flattering."

"Barry, this isn't a joke. I told you I needed to keep some things professional and that includes my phone."

"By professional you mean..."

The line went silent for awhile until she heard something that made her cheeks burning.

"Barry! That's not what I meant!"

"Really? Because the last time you wanted to be professional, we kinda ended up... making out in front of the whole company."

"Ugh...I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

"Nope. I'm sorry if I tainted your reputation, Dr. Snow."

"For the record, I'm responsible for that too I'm afraid."

"Well, it's good to know that you weren't held against your will. By the way, are you free for lunch today?"

"I'm actually on my way to a restaurant now."

"Seriously? Why didn't you ask me? Wait, are you with someone? Don't tell me-"

"No, Barry I'm not. You don't need to be jealous, silly. I'm going alone."

"Now, where's the fun in that? Tell me where you're going and I'll meet you there."

"Don't you have work after?"

"I do but I'll just cancel it."

"How about I'll just drop by your office and we'll have lunch together?"

"Sounds great."

"What would you like to have?"

"You."

"Babe, seriously."

"I'm serious...but whatever, surprise me?"

"Okay. I'll see you in thirty."

"See you. Bye sexy, love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

Caitlin hanged up the phone and took a detour to Big Belly Burger, taking a mental note to order for Cisco for she's sure he'd be there too. It's been a while since they last saw each other and she can't wait to visit him again.

"Knock, knock."

A familiar voice took Cisco out of his "thinking zone", making him frown a bit for the disturbance since it was still his lunch break. Whatever irritation he had was erased the moment he laid eyes on Caitlin, his best friend he hasn't seen in a long time.

"Well, well, well. If it wasn't the ever elusive Dr. Caitlin Snow-" He stood up from his chair to give her a hug, "-who also happened to be my multimillionaire of a best friend. You're my best friend, right?"

Caitlin just chuckled at him and returned his hug tighter, "Cisco, I missed you so much." She pulled away a bit and said, "Of course I am. And you're mine, too"

"Ha! I'm totally right. Barry always insisted that I'm not, probably because of that email thing. I bet he was jealous." He said, eyes glinting like it did when he's eating something sweet.

"Where is he anyway? I brought lunch." She raised the takeout bags on her hand and waved it across Cisco's face.

"Woah, BBB. Please tell me you have something for me in there." He grabbed her by her shoulders and looked at her straight in the eyes, making her laugh a bit as she nodded.

"I don't know what you want so I got you a cheeseburger deluxe. Nothing can go wrong with that choice, right?"

"Absolutely. Wait, cheese fries?"

"I got one for Barry..." She trailed off as she saw Cisco's wide smile fading so instead she said, "...but he doesn't know that yet so I guess you can have it."

"Caitlin, you're the best. You know that?"

"Definitely. But I'll only give it to you only if you promise not to tell him."

Cisco made a gesture like zipping his mouth and throwing the imaginary key away, all the while nodding his head furiously.

"It's a done deal then." She said as Cisco took the takeout bags from her, rummaging through like a five-year old.

"By the way, he's in the office talking to Joe's partner. The CCPD needs help in analyzing some data." He said with a mouthful of fries.

"Thanks. I'll just wait for him. Mind if I stay with you? I really miss it here."

"Sure thing. But you remember Joe, right? I mean, of course you don't remember him or anything else but Barry has mentioned him to you, hasn't he?"

"Yeah he did. We actually visited him last week when Henry decided to spend the weekend here in Central City."

"Oohh, getting cozy with the family now, are we? Just send me the wedding invite a month before because I'd totally need time for my best man speech. Wait, I'm going to be the best man, right?"

Caitlin blushed at his mention of wedding, shrugging it off by saying, "Cisco, it's too early for that. Besides, we've only been together for a month come next week."

"Puh-lease. You two have been together like-your whole lives! Yes, you don't remember much of it and there's that thing with your 'husband' but look at you now. You're the only people I know who's very much in love it's almost making me sick. No offense, I love you both but if you two still don't end up together, there's probably something wrong with the world."

"Cisco, I appreciate your concern but Barry and I are just taking things slow. We're happy where we are right now and maybe we'll get there but that's still a long way ahead of us."

"Alright, fine. I'm just...I'm so happy for you guys I wanted it to be forever."

"And here I thought Barry's the only cheesy one." She smiled at him as she nudged his shoulder lightly.

"He still is."

They sat in comfortable silence, catching up from time to time but Caitlin's thoughts were drifting off to the topic of marriage Cisco has just opened earlier. The idea is no stranger to her but she feels like she had some things to secure before actually deciding to settle down, including the issue she had to address by herself this afternoon.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices chatting. She easily recognized the one as Barry's but the other was of a female, a bubbly one at that. She thought Joe's partner was a guy so she was a bit surprised to hear a woman's voice.

"I may have mentioned this like a thousand times but I'm totally a fan of your work. And I'm not saying that out of personal basis, I mean I could have but I'm pretty sure others have took notice of it too. Can you imagine the Oliver Queen hired you personally?" Caitlin heard the woman said as she suspected that they were walking into the cortex.

"Well, I-I mean, thanks. There's not a lot of people who knew that part of my life so uhm...that was nice of you to notice." Barry replied.

"How could I not? I mean you're very talented and good-looking-I mean, you seem like a good person not that I just called you handsome or what. But you are...a good person I mean."

Caitlin didn't know if it was jealousy talking or this girl is making her moves on Barry. She wasn't an expert with this whole flirting thing but by the sound of it, that woman is totally flirting with her Barry. She just hoped that Barry wouldn't flirt back because if he did-

"Uh, thanks. You seem like a nice person too, Patty."

"Thanks. I was wondering if ever you have free time and I'm just saying if ever because you know, you own S.T.A.R. Labs and all and that's totally cool but it also means you're a very busy man-okay, what I'm saying is can you teach me how to write a forensic report some time?"

"Well, Patty I-"

"Just over lunch or coffee maybe? I promise it won't be long. I'm a fast learner I promise."

Okay, she didn't just flirted with him, she's totally asking her boyfriend out. This has to stop and it has to stop now.

"Actually, Patty-"

"Hey, babe." Caitlin called out to him just as he and Patty made it to the cortex. She wrapped a hand around his neck and gave him a searing kiss, much to his and other people's shock.

He kissed her back just as she was about to pull back, making Cisco choke on his burger. Patty's reaction was a mixture of shock and confusion but mostly embarrassment. Of course, he has a girlfriend. How could she overlook that important detail?

"Who is she?" Caitlin asked, her hand firmly placed around Barry's arm.

He cleared his throat before saying, "This is uh, Patty Spivot, Joe's partner from CCPD."

"Hi, Dr. Caitlin Snow. It's nice to meet you, Patty." She said and extended her hand for the other woman to shake.

"It's nice to meet you too." Patty took her hand and shook it. She couldn't help but think that they could be really good friends if they had met in a different setting, one where she didn't try to ask her boyfriend out. Now, she wasn't sure anymore for she only want to just disappear out of sheer embarrassment.

"I should probably go. Thanks for your time, Mr. Allen."

"It's nothing. And please it's just Barry." He said and flashed her a smile which earned him a glare from Caitlin.

When Patty was finally out of sight, Cisco was the first one to address the elephant in the room and he did that by saying,

"I don't if it's just me or that was totally awkward."

"What was?" Caitlin asked nonchalantly, making Barry snort.

"Alright, I'm sensing a lover's quarrel. I'll be in my workstation, thank you very much." Cisco said as he grabbed his food and drink and made his way out of the cortex but not before thanking Caitlin one last time and making her promise to keep in touch which she assured him that she would.

"Okay, now care to tell me what was that about?" Barry asked as he sat down on a chair next to where Caitlin had settled herself.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She shrugged.

"Oh Caity, are you jealous?" He said, as a smirk found its way on his face.

"Please, Barry. Are you hearing yourself? I'm Dr. Caitlin Snow, I don't get jealous." She spat as she stood up and pretended to busy herself with a paper weight on the table.

Barry followed closely behind her, putting both of his hands on either side of the table, trapping her in the process. Caitlin could feel his warm breath tickling her as he spoke,

"Are you sure? Because the Dr. Caitlin Snow that I know wouldn't do such a thing for she values professionalism. And do I need to remind you that we're in my workplace?"

"Barry, that's just a simple kiss of greeting. Don't give too much meaning into it." She spat as she turned around, pushing Barry out of her way but he wouldn't budge.

"Really? You didn't do it because you feel jealous and you felt the sudden need to protect your possessions?" He smiled smugly at her as he moved his face an inch closer to hers.

Caitlin would've commented on his use of the word "possessions" but it didn't help that his face was that close to her, not to mention his eyes that were oh, so mesmerizing-

"Nope."

"Fine, if you say so. I guess you wouldn't mind if I return the favor."

"Barry-"

Before she knew it, Barry was kissing her hard, much like what she did earlier. His lips were demanding and hungry and she couldn't do anything but kiss back. She felt his hands caressing her hips as he lifted her up on the table.

Caitlin felt a sensation that's both foreign and familiar. As if something inside her awakened but the strange thing is, she didn't know it was there in the first place. Barry seemed to be the one provoking it, much like what he did with every bit of her being.

She was brought back to her senses when she felt Barry kissing her neck. She didn't even realize his lips left her mouth until he was whispering something to her ear.

"Jealousy suits you very well, Dr. Snow."

She didn't even try to think of a witty comeback but instead, she put her hand around his neck while her leg went to hook in one of his. She was about to kiss him again when Cisco's voice boomed through the speakers.

"Guys, seriously. If you want to kiss and make up, this isn't the place to do that. Geez, this is still an office you know. People work in here!"

They both chuckled at that as Caitlin got down from the table and this time, successfully shoving him out of the way. She made her way to where the takeout bags were and asked,

"You hungry?"

"Starving." He said and winked at her.

She just rolled her eyes at his double meaning and proceeded to taking out his food from the bag and handling it to him.

After having lunch together, Caitlin insisted on leaving, telling him that she has an important matter to attend to.

"I thought you canceled all your afternoon schedule today." He asked from where he sat as Caitlin went to grab her purse on the table.

"I did." She shrugged.

"So if it wasn't work then what is it exactly?"

"I'll tell you some other time but I really have to go now." She walked over to him and kissed him goodbye but before she can turn around to leave, Barry caught her wrist.

"Mind if I go with you?" His eyes were pleading hers and her heart swelled at his concern but she knew she needed to do this alone.

"Babe, I appreciate your concern but I think I...I need to do this alone."

He sensed something's up with her so he asked, "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I know and I really appreciate it. Don't worry, I'm gonna be fine."

He knew she'd tell him whatever it is that's bothering her so for now, he let the matter go.

"Fine. Just don't forget to give me call later, okay?"

"Okay."

As she drove through the busy streets of Central City, Caitlin let herself reminisce about all that's happened in her life the past few months. Sure there were more difficult ones than good but now she feels like she's ready to move past that. And she's determined to start by accomplishing the first and rather the most important thing that came to her mind.

After several minutes of driving, she reached her destination and proceeded to park her car in the nearest lot. She took a couple of steps on the grass patch until she came face to face to her father's tombstone.

She put the flowers down beside the stone, her fingers lightly tracing the name engraved on it. Tears were slowly building at the corners of her eyes when she thought of the last time she came in here.

She was so angry back then that she didn't even cry tears of longing for his father but tears of hatred and agony. She was a wreck, so messed up that she forgot how to be his daughter.

But now that she had found ways to heal, ways to be his daughter again, she couldn't help but feel guilty for all the anger she held against him. Deep down she knew she wouldn't have the closure she deserved but this is as close as she can get so she decided to make the most out of it.

"Hi, dad. It's been a while...I know our last conversation didn't go as well as I had hoped but I just want to let you know that if only I could go back in time, I would. I would've told you that I've forgiven you...even when I'm still hurting at that time. I would've told you that I love you too even when I didn't understand why would you do such a thing."

The sky seemed to cry with her for the moment her tears dropped into the grass, so has the rain. It's just a light drizzle so Caitlin decided to stay a bit longer.

"I'm sorry if I didn't get to be your daughter until your last minute, Dad. I know it's already too late but I hope you could forgive me."

Tears were now flowing freely from her eyes, together with all the bottled up emotions she kept for a long time. All the pain, hatred and betrayal were slowly fading away as she continued to say the very words she didn't get to tell her father while he was still alive.

With a lighter heart and guilt-free conscience, Caitlin decided that it's time for her to go home. She dragged herself up, together with her soaked clothes and made her way to her car but not before turning around and uttering the words,

"Goodbye, Dad."

END OF PART TWENTY ONE