This chapter isn't as long as I hoped it would be but next chapter will be longer, as the plot will get moving after this.

Guest 1: I didn't forget. Patty is not a member of Team Flash and her relationship with Barry is on pretty uncertain ground at the moment. Unlike Iris, she is not as egotistically or entitled enough to believe being in a relationship with Barry or being the mother of his child is leeway to barge into Star Labs like she owns the place. Glad to hear it.

Guest 2: At the moment, future Barry will almost always be referred to as 2024 Barry until he meets Team Flash officially.

Central City Police Department

Mid-Morning

"Wow," Patty said as she followed Barry into the lab, shocked to see all the boxes lying around.

"So I'm a little behind," Barry said sheepishly.

"I'd say more than a little," Patty muttered.

"With everything that's been going on, catching up on work hasn't exactly been a priority," Barry said and Patty nodded in understanding.

"Well, there are two of us now," Patty said and Barry nodded.

"Yeah, I guess there is," Barry said, wondering if she was talking about the cases or Nora. "Let's get started."

Central City

Afternoon

In a rundown apartment, the only thing he could really afford right now, 2024 Barry looked at the wall. Assembled on the wall were pictures of Team Flash, plus Patty and Nora, both the younger and the adult. He had spent the last few days watching them, gathering information on them and this earth he was on. From what he could gather, this earth was identical to his own with one crucial difference: he and Patty had a daughter.

Finding that out had certainly thrown him for a loop. He and Iris had always wanted kids, but it had never been in the cards for them. It had crushed them both when Iris had learned she couldn't have children, a consequence of many Meta attacks. Barry had suggested adoption but Iris had refused. It had certainly put a strain on their marriage, a strain they were still trying to overcome when the crisis had happened and Barry had found himself on this new earth.

Shaking his head, 2024 Barry looked at the picture of the adult Nora. He was confused about this woman who had speed and had the name of his mother all the while bearing an uncanny resemblance to Patty. Was she a sister, he wondered? Maybe a cousin, he mused. Either way, he needed all the facts before he approached them for help.

Central City Police Department

Same time

"You know what sounds good right now?" Patty said randomly as she and Barry went through the files of cases.

"If you say toaster pastry, I'm asking for a new partner," Barry joked and she smiled sheepishly. "Please tell me our daughter didn't inherit your obsession with those things."

"I don't think so. I offered one to Nora, Big Nora, and she looked at me like I offered her drugs," Patty said and Barry laughed. "It's not funny!"

"It kind of is," Barry said with a laugh and, despite herself, Patty laughed with him.

"I missed this," Patty said after a moment. "Just us, talking. I could never talk to anyone the way I could talk to you."

"I know the feeling. Patty, you know how I feel. But, whatever happens between us, I hope we can at least remain friends," Barry said and Patty was silent for a moment.

"Barry, I'm not saying no, that we'll never be together. But I spent two years thinking you didn't want us…want me. I need time," Patty said gently.

"But someday?" Barry asked hopefully and Patty tried to find the words.

"I hope that someday…I'll be ready to let you back in," Patty said and Barry nodded.

"Look, I told you how I felt about you, that's not gonna change. When you're ready…I'll be here," Barry promised and Patty looked away, her stomach doing summersaults at his words.

Star Labs

Not long after

2024 Barry made his way into Star Labs, heading towards the time vault. At least he hoped that the time vault was on this earth as well. As he rounded the corner, he nearly ran smack dab into Cisco.

"Hey, I thought you were at work today," Cisco said as they stopped themselves from colliding, mistaking 2024 Barry for Barry.

"I am, was," 2024 Barry corrected, trying to play it cool. "The Captain let me off early."

"Oh," Cisco said as he eyed his friend, feeling something off. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Just been a long week," 2024 Barry said truthfully and Cisco nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, I get it. First your daughter from the future shows up and then you find out Iris knew and kept her from you," Cisco said and saw the shocked look cross his friend's face. "What's up with you?"

"Just…hearing you say it hits me all over again," 2024 Barry muttered, trying to absorb the shock.

Cisco stared at him; feeling like something was off before deciding that he was just being paranoid.

"Well, if you need me, I'll be in my workshop," Cisco said before he headed down the hall.

2024 Barry nodded absently, letting out a breath. So that's why Iris was gone, because she had kept Nora from this Barry.

Pushing it out of his mind, he made his way to what he hoped was the time vault. Pressing his hand on the key, 2024 Barry sighed in relief as the door opened. Entering the room, he walked over to the control panel and pressed a button.

"Greetings Barry Allen," Gideon said as her holographic head appeared in front of him. "How may I be of assistance?"

"I need you to tell me everything you know about this Team Flash. I need to know if I can trust them…I need to know where I am," 2024 Barry said with a sigh. "Then, maybe I can find my way home."