Flash Returns. Part I.
Barry ran out of the red barrier, flying mid-air for a few seconds before landing and rolling along the cold ground. "Shit" He muttered as he struggled to sit up. "That hurts. Ouch...Kara?"
The last thing he remembered was mere seconds ago. Kara's voice calling out for him. But was it real or fake? It seemed more real than fake to him. Barry looked around him and saw that it was different. Snow covered the the city like white cotton sheets, the trees bare of their leaves and the local park trees decorated in red and green lights. Barry stood up and removed part of his mask to get a better look along.
"Christmas in April?" He asked aloud. No way it had to be Christmas already. It was still April Right? He was just gone for a few seconds.
Right?
Barry flashed to S.T.A.R Labs hoping everyone was still there. He arrived inside the building and ran everywhere. Nobody was here. Not even HR.
"The hell is everyone?" Barry asked himself. "Better try Joe's house."
At the West house with music playing loudly on the radio, lights blinking outside as well as on the tree and the perfume of gingerbread and brownies filled the air, it was a nice party. Not the best but good enough for a small gathering of friends and family. Everyone was enjoying themselves and talking among one another.
"Guys, where are Wally and Jesse?" Joe asked.
"They went on a run to California to get pizza at this underground basement bar." Caitlin said as he proceeded to sit on Julian's lap. "But that was ten minutes ago."
"Oh geeze don't tell me we're going to get a fourth pregnancy in the family." Cisco laughed.
"Fourth?" Julian asked. "Who else?"
"I'm still confident that the eggnog loving coffee lovers in the kitchen are having a child." He answered as he hitched his thumb towards the West kitchen.
As if by magic done one cue there was the sound of Kassie laughing out "No! HR No!" and two seconds later she was out of the kitchen with HR holding one of her wrist and his free hand tickling her side. "Stop it! Stop it!" She laughed and fell to the ground laughing harder.
"See? I wouldn't be shocked if she was pregnant."
"Hahahaha No! Hahaha! Not hahaha pregnant hahahaha!" Kassie laughed.
A second later a gust of wind entered the room and Barry entered the room. He had ran fast enough for him to beat time, leaving everyone frozen in place for a few moments, which gave Barry some time to look around. Everyone appeared to look the same as they did 'minutes' ago to him but from the outside looks of it then 'months' ago in April.
Time caught up and everyone was unfrozen. Iris stood up from Jason's lap and was the first to noticed Barry in the room. "Barry!" She cheered and ran to hug him.
Soon after that everyone turned to find their long gone friend.
"Hi guys," Barry greeted as he hugged Iris. "Why are there—" But was engulfed by Joe and Cisco's hugs as well. "Christmas?"
"We thought you might be gone forever!" Cisco said. "You've been gone for nine months."
"Nine?" Barry asked. "But it felt like just minutes ago."
"No son. It's been almost this entire year since you left. Nine months exactly." Joe explained. "We're just glad your here and safe."
"Uh yeah," Barry said though still confused. "But I feel like the big fight just happened minutes ago. Like one second it's the fight and I'm punched, then a second later I'm battling and Reverse-Flash gets trapped in the speed force or something and the next second I'm back...three seconds."
"Maybe the speed force you were in was a different kind? Like one that happens faster and it just felt like three seconds for you." Julian stated.
"That sounds possible." Caitlin added. "We're so happy your back though!" She smiled and held her arms opened for a hug.
"Me too." Barry hugged her, but felt something between the two of them that prevented a full hug. Barry glanced down and found his answer. "Okay, time must of passed because that wasn't there when I battled."
Caitlin giggled in response. "Yep. I just turned five months yesterday." She rubbed her abdomen. "Brad or Emma is due on Julian's birthday in May."
"Brad or Emma?"
"After her father or my sister." Julian explained hugging Barry. "Welcome back mate." He took one look at Barry and said, "Barry, did you have gray hair before April?"
"No. Not unless you counted Dad jokes."
"No," Julian his head. "I mean you have gray hair. Literally."
"Huh?" Barry's mind tried to figure it out. He never had gray hair before now. Did he age? Iris took out her compact mirror and held it up for him to view. Barry examined the sides of his head. Right where his sideburns were and some hair above his ear these was a streak of silver-gray hair. "What the hell?" He muttered.
Caitlin said, "I could test you tomorrow if you want. Maybe you just aged a bit faster, like when you sometimes speed up faster than time and everything and everyone around you is frozen for a few moments."
"Yeah. Maybe." Barry said. "More importantly, how are Kara and the girls?"
"You didn't see her yet?" H.R asked.
"No, I literally came out of the sky speed force replica thingy and saw the snow and ran here." Barry explained. "So how's Kara? Is she okay?"
Everyone remained silent. Though Barry noticed Iris smiling.
"What? What happened?"
