A/N: Well folks, we've come to an end on this crazy trip called fanfiction. I am just in pure AWE of the support, feedback and love this story has gotten. An author's desire is for their work to be admired by others, and if only one person tagged along until the end, I would have been happy. But all of you? You blew me away, and you kept my motivation and creativity chugging along until the end. To all of you - each and every one, to the ones that reviewed, to the ones that followed, to the ones that lurked in the dark but read nonetheless - THANK YOU. I haven't written and finished a piece of work in a long, long time, and I surely never imagined I'd write and complete 27 chapters, but here we are.

Without further ado - the two epilogue chapters of Causal Nexus. Thank you, and I hope to see you around.

Epilogue

Joe hated paperwork.

It was the bane of his existence, the very thing that had him debating giving up police work altogether. As much joy, honor, and excitement the job had brought him over the past handful of decades, nothing in the world could ease his discontentment for the paperwork that followed.

He had taken off a little over a month from the CCPD, his time spent with Barry while the kid recovered and they waited patiently for his speedster abilities to return. Still, while he wouldn't have considered doing anything else during that time, the paperwork that began to stack up on his desk never disappeared while he was away. It was a little past noon and he had barely touched a quarter of what sat in front of him.

Just as he began to wonder if the Captain would notice a few missing files here and there, a voice from across the room caught his attention.

"Joe!"

His head shot up and over to where David Singh could be seen, storming over to his desk with a sense of urgency he usually contained.

"Captain?" Joe asked, his pen fiddling between his two fingers.

David laid a stack of folders across his desk and on the pile of files he was once sorting.

"I need your task force on a new case." David announced. "This one is getting out of our control."

Joe leaned back in his chair, eyebrows perked up. There hadn't been any meta cases for weeks now, and with curiosity he took the folder, skimming through the pages diligently.

"What's going on?" he asked.

David sighed. "Her name is Rose Canton. She goes by the name 'Thorn' - been causing havoc in the suburbs with her ability to control organic matter, namely plants."

"Why do the crazy ones always name themselves," Joe mumbled.

"You're telling me." he said. "Central City Park Plaza is currently overrun with overgrown bushes and trees, it's begun to look like a damn jungle out there."

Joe tilted his head, closing the folder shut. "And you want me to…"

Singh pursed his lips, his expression incredulous and annoyed. He leaned closer to Joe, his finger pointing upstairs and above them.

"Get The Flash on this before she-"

His words were taken straight out of his mouth, a rush of wind knocking into his chest and stealing any thought from him. Before David could even blink, before he could even recognize the red blur that rushed by them, the CCPD broke into an uproar.

"Contain her!"

"Get a cell ready!"

"Oh, seriously?" Joe grumbled, scooting back in his wheeled chair, allowing the officers to detain the tall, red-headed woman that now suddenly stood before them, her own expression confused and shocked.

"I take it that's Rose Canton?" Joe casually asked, pointing to the skimpily dressed woman with large, bulky handcuffs locked around her wrists - handcuffs that Joe was all too familiar with, and the power dampening the abilities they held.

David frowned, barely taking a couple steps forward before ripping off a yellow sticky note from the cuffs, reading it over with an exasperated sigh.

"Alright, now he's just showing off." David huffed, slamming the note down on Joe's desk.

'Watch out, she's a real THORN in your side!'

Joe bit back a chuckle, rolling his eyes and tossing the note into his trash can.

"Talk to him about it."

Barry slid into the cortex, the wind that rushed around him blowing stacks of paper off the computer consoles and into the air. He barely came to a stop in front of the bare mannequin on the far end of the room, regaining his footing and spinning around with both arms up in the air.

"Whoo-hoo!" he cheered, fist pumping in front of him, spinning once before taking a bow.

Iris laughed, clapping along with Cisco, Caitlin, and Wally, all rising from their spots at the computer consoles.

"That's my boy!" Cisco shouted, jogging over to him. "Way to go, my main man Flash!"

Slapping him on the shoulder, Cisco leaned in for a fist bump, ultimately coming into a small embrace with his friend, their lighthearted laughter soaking the room.

"Not bad, eh?" Barry grinned.

"First outing as The Flash since the meta-catcher crisis?" Caitlin smirked back. "No, I think I'd say you did pretty well, Barry."

He took another bow, waving his arm her way.

"Thank you, thank you." Barry chuckled, stripping off his gloves., turning to Iris as she walked towards him.

"I get the exclusive story, right?" Iris asked. "Flash triumphantly returns; captures plant crazy fiend."

"Why of course, Ms. West." Barry smiled, grabbing her by the hands. "But in exchange, I get your company for dinner tonight."

Iris couldn't help but grin in his happiness, the euphoria that surrounded them practically lifting her off her feet. She squeezed his hands back, nodding her head.

"I think I can manage that."

He leaned in for a kiss, a small peck on her lips that sent a jolt of electricity through her spine. Though tempted to grab her around the backside and never let go, it was Wally who caught their attention, speeding back into the room with five champagne glasses in hand.

"Alright everyone, gather around!" he called out, carefully setting the glasses down near the computers.

Barry looked over at Iris, confused and shy, and she pulled his arm eagerly to the other side of the room.

"What's this?" he asked, chuckling nervously.

"A toast." Wally simply answered, pouring the champagne.

"A toast?" Barry looked around. "To what?"

Cisco took his champagne glass and rose it in the air.

"To you!" Cisco said.

Barry's face fell flat, his cheeks blushing pink.

"Please, guys…" Barry stammered. "That's…not even…"

"Seriously, dude." Wally insisted. "This…this is big. After everything that's happened, with…crazy Nagle and getting you back on your feet…you getting back out there as The Flash is something to commemorate."

Barry shook his head, hesitatingly taking the champagne glass from Iris, feeling himself shrinking inside at the attention directed towards him.

"No, guys, it's…I appreciate that, really…I do. But I wouldn't be here today if not for all of you." Barry stared at the drink below him, the bubbles rising to the surface faster than his heart was beating.

Iris squeezed his hand, and he looked over at her with a soft smile, squeezing it back.

"Everything that happened with Nagle….I wasn't at my best, in more ways than one. I couldn't have gotten through that without your support. Having all of you here…with you being there for me, helping me…I wouldn't have pulled through without all of you." Barry told them.

"Don't under estimate your own strength, Barry." Caitlin said. "This was as much you as it was us."

Iris rose her glass in the air.

"To the Flash."

"To Barry." Wally's glass hung in the air. "Someone who has had…incredible strength in the worst of times. You've gone through hell and back and always seem to come out of it a better man. That's something I admire, Barry."

If it was possible, his cheeks were as red as the suit he was wearing, but Barry rose his glass nonetheless, listening as it clinked with the others that made contact.

"To Barry!"

The champagne tingled as it rushed down his throat, and while Barry never ended up finishing his glass, he listened and laughed as his friends carried on their conversations.