i'm only me when i'm with you

Well, you drive me crazy half the time
The other half I'm only trying
To let you know that what I feel is true
And I'm only me when I'm with you.

— "I'm Only Me When I'm With You," Taylor Swift

S.T.A.R. Labs

"Who's down for some karaoke!?" Barry asked, practically vibrating with excitement. "I think it'll be a great team-bonding activity."

"You will have to get me veryyy drunk before I sing again in front of people," Caitlin muttered.

"What was that, Cait? You can't wait to sing with me again?" he crowed gleefully.

"Yes, Barry, that's exactly what I said." She rolled her eyes affectionately at the overly enthusiastic speedster. "Not everyone has the voice of a Broadway star, you know."

"Geez, guys. Tone down the sexual tension, already!" Cisco interjected. Both his friends spun around to glare at him. He put his hands up in surrender. "Just sayin', man. Anyway, I'm in. The last time we were going to go, it was just you tricking us into heading to your lab so you could spill the dirt on fake Dr. Wells, and we never actually got to go. It made me real sad, dude."

"Sorry, man. But it's for real this time. Iris and Eddie and Wally and Joe are in too!"

"Sure, when are we going?" Caitlin asked, needing to mentally prepare and also to add it to her planner.

"Tonight! I figured we could go back to the dive bar where Cait and I first sang when we were looking for Clay and Shawna."

Caitlin's Apartment

The boys had gotten to the bar first. Caitlin, who was usually early to everything, figured they could use some guy time alone and used the time to catch up with Iris, who was very talkative. She realized that Iris didn't really have any other female friends either, and thus had no one to gush about wedding details with.

"Have you guys decided on a date already?" Caitlin asked curiously.

"Honestly, I don't know how we're so behind. We keep waffling on it — with all the Flash stuff going on, it's hard to pick a time when we're not… you know, fighting monsters."

"I know," Caitlin said softly. "I think it's better that you pick one though — it'll make it seem more real." She squeezed the other girl's hand. "Like when I married Ronnie — wow, that seems like ages ago — we decided to just do it then and there, because we didn't know how much time we had. You and Eddie… you have the gift of time, but don't keep putting it off until the perfect time."

"Thanks, Caitlin. Ooh, would you like to go wedding dress shopping with me? It's something I'd always thought I'd do with my mom, but —" Her face fell a little. Her mom was alive, but it was still a sore spot that her dad didn't tell her about it.

"I'd love to, Iris," Caitlin said, before the other girl could spiral down in her thoughts.

Iris beamed, then widened her eyes in realization. "Wait, I've been so selfish. I haven't even asked about you and Barry!"

"We're… good. We're really good, actually," Caitlin said, smiling. And she spilled the long story out, sparing Iris the details of her sex life, though (she was sure Barry's surrogate sister didn't want those images of Barry in her mind).

Iris practically squealed in delight. "I'm so happy for you two! I knew Bar would find someone — and I'm so glad it's you."

"Speaking of — he just texted asking where we were. Oops. So, what do you think of this dress? You have amazing style, so I trust your opinion." Caitlin pulled out a deep navy dress, whose thick material would cling to every curve.

"Ooh, yes. That'll look amazing on you," Iris gushed. She stripped quickly and got into her own dress, a dark burgundy form-fitting one that matched her lipstick to the tee.

"Eddie's a lucky guy," Caitlin complimented. "You look amazing as always, Iris."

"Heh, thanks! Now, let's get your makeup done and we'll be ready to go…"

The Karaoke Bar

Caitlin was getting some definite deja vu as she strode into the bar, the sound of tipsy singing filling the air. Despite spending her whole life (or so it seemed) in S.T.A.R. Labs, she loved getting dressed up. Something about a tight dress and heels made her feel more glamorous than her regular self, and walking in with Iris only boosted that feeling. It was like being with the popular girls at school.

She laughed a little to herself at the thought, then spotted Barry sitting with Cisco, Eddie, Wally, and Joe at a large table. The girls strode over to them, taking pleasure in how Barry and Eddie's jaws dropped a little.

"Hi - hi!" Barry said, gulping.

"What?" she teased, role-playing the last karaoke night they had here.

"No-nothing, You just look really nice. Beautiful, I mean. Really beautiful. Not that you aren't always beautiful —"

Out of the corner of her eye, Caitlin could see Iris smother a laugh as she perched comfortably on Eddie's lap. Joe looked like he wanted to facepalm. "Typical Bar," she heard Iris mutter to her dad.

"That is not how you talk to girls, by the way," they all heard Cisco whisper to Wally. "The one thing you probably shouldn't learn from the Flash."

"Don't worry, he got the girl," Caitlin said, shutting them all up. They had agreed that this would be the night they "made their relationship public" (i.e. tell all their friends) so that there were no surprises all around.

Though it looked like no one was really surprised.

"I'll go get us drinks," Barry said, turning as red as his suit.

"Wine, please!" Iris called.

As Barry walked away, Caitlin canvassed his retreating figure with her eyes, drinking in the sight of him. He was, in true Barry fashion, in another sweater, but this one was navy — almost the exact color of her dress. It was tighter than his usual sweaters and clung to his broad shoulders and back in the most delightful way. Dark jeans were slung over his hips — tight but not too tight.

"I see you checkin' our boy out," Cisco said in her ear, making her jump.

"Boundaries, Cisco!" she yelped.

"No, no," he wagged a finger at her. "Boundaries disappeared when you guys were dry humping on my desk."

"We were not —"

"For you, madam," Barry interrupted, setting down a tequila and lime with seltzer in front of her and a glass of red wine in front of Iris.

"Thanks, Barry," they said in unison.

"Drink up, Cait," he grinned. "I have a song queued up for us."

She groaned.

"It's not 'Summer Lovin',' don't worry. But if it makes you feel better, I'll go first." And with that, he hopped on stage.

"I'd like to dedicate this to a special someone," he said, looking directly at her. "And hope that she doesn't make fun of my taste in music."

As the song started, Caitlin bit back a laugh. It was one that she used to love, but she was surprised that Barry knew it. Though, on second thought, she was not surprised at all that Barry listened to Taylor Swift. He was a romantic, after all.

He sang,

Just a small-town boy and girl
Living in the crazy world
Trying to figure out what is and isn't true
And I don't try to hide my tears
My secrets or my deepest fears
Through it all nobody gets me like you do

He really does have a great voice, Caitlin thought, unable to stop the growing smile from spreading on her face.

Never, ever, in her life did she expect to be sung to like this, and to be honest, it felt kinda nice.

"Bar loves singing, but doesn't really do it in front of people," Joe murmured, as they all stood to give him a standing ovation (much to Barry's embarrassment). "He really only sang with his mom around or when he thought no one was listening. So it means a lot that he's singing to you in front of the whole bar." He patted Caitlin's shoulder approvingly.

"Nowwww, it's Caitlin's turn!" Barry announced. "Once upon a time, this girl made the whole bar chant my name to get me up on stage, so it's time we turn the tables on her — right?" The crowd roared, and Caitlin thought that if the whole superhero thing didn't work out, Barry could probably moonlight as a singer if he needed a break from being a CSI.

"Caitlin! Caitlin! Caitlin!" Barry began chanting, and the crowd followed a few beats after, the volume rising.

Caitlin downed her drink quickly (and Cisco's as well), before standing up and making her way to the stage.

"Hey! I was drinking that!" Cisco protested. "I'll need it to protect my ears," he muttered.

Barry tucked her under his arm as soon as she got on stage. "Cait, you ready?"

"I'm ready! Though, I deeply apologize for my voice," she said with a laugh. "I was drunk last time, but I really do not get better as a singer when I'm more sober."

The crowd laughed — with her, it seemed.

And the music began to play. It was a ballad, one that she loved. Barry started off:

What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down

What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

He motioned for Caitlin to sing her turn:

My head's underwater
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

And they traded off, his voice melting through hers. She had fun, laughing at Cisco's pained expression, Joe's amused one, and Wally's straight-up near-hysterics. Iris was making the same face Barry used when he saw a cute puppy, and Eddie wasn't looking at either Barry or Caitlin — he was looking at his wife-to-be with such an intense look of love that Caitlin's heart melted right then and there for the couple.

And you give me all of you, Barry sang.

Cause I give you all of me, they sang together.

And you give me all of you, Caitin finished,

And the whole bar stood up this time, wolf-whistling. "Adorable!" someone shouted.

"Wow, nice crowd tonight," Barry said, with a huge grin. "Well, our time's up. Give it up for Caitlin!" He pulled her arm up in victory as they left the stage.

"My turn!" Cisco said as his friends came back. "Let me show you what real singing is."

"I need another beer," Joe said, laughing.

Barry and Cailin didn't say anything, but held each other's hand tightly under the table, grateful to have this moment of peace and happiness with their friends. Their family.

A/N: If only this were real! The karaoke scene in season 1 was one of my favorites, and I just had to bring it back. Plus, I love me some Iris-Caitlin bonding time. I truly wish they were friends.