I hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy. I hope that wherever you are in this world and whatever you're going through in these tough times that you are not alone. I hope you find a bit of an escape in these stories, something to take your mind off your troubles or a moment for you take a step back and relax.
Thanks to everyone who's still been stuck with me as I write these stories.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Flash nor its characters.
Barry's POV
The mellow sounds of bells and hymns sung in a festive rhythm echoed throughout the lab. A smile played on his lips as Barry drew deeper to the spirit of Christmas as he walked into the cortex. In the centre of the room, HR spun around, twirling in its centre as he remarked in awe at his decorations.
"Holy Winter Wonderland, BARRY!" he bellowed, spilling drops of eggnog around the room as he stumbled.
How many has he already had? He thought laughing.
"Took the words right out of my mouth!" Cisco remarked with a sigh as he sagged into his chair already exhausted by the holiday season.
"Well looks like Earth 19's Christmas is just like ours." Iris commented, making her presence known.
Barry turned around, welcoming his best friend with a hug.
With everything that had happened over the past few days, weeks and even months… he was glad to finally get to a place with where he and Iris were back to normal.
"Some traditions are multiversal." HR slurred.
Barry shook his head in amusement. Refocusing, Barry turned back to Cisco, who seemed to be trying to tune out the festivities by covering his eyes with his hands while he leaned his head back in his chair.
"Hey, any more info on Savitar?"
"Nope."
Barry turned at her voice. Caitlin walked in, her hair down in natural waves that framed her small face. She wore tight blue pants that hugged her in all the best ways with a simple knit high neck tank. She smiled a little in his direction before placing her things under her desk.
Barry's eyes followed her intently. Yes, they were together but they thought for the time being to keep their relationship quiet. She still needed time to process everything he told her. Everything she wanted to know and needed to know. He promised no more secrets. He promised he was here for good.
"All we know is that he is a speed god and you're the only one that can see him." Caitlin added as she stood beside him her eyes watching HR sway around the room curiously.
"Alright, Alchemy… he is Savitar's high priest and he gets his power from the stone he uses to create metas." He paused.
"So… I was thinking if we can find out what that thing is then maybe we can figure out how to stop him." Barry suggested with a shrug.
Cisco cleared his throat, seemingly waking up from his mediation and re-joining their conversation with some sort of epiphany. "I wanted to see if I could dig up."
Cracking his fingers Cisco began to type across the keyboard, until he found what he was looking for.
"Okay." Barry whispered heavily.
Barry tried focusing on the computer screen as he looked over Cisco's shoulder. But he couldn't seem to keep his focus with Caitlin so close to him. It felt like torture. He could smell the sweet flowery scent of her hair as she leaned closer into him trying to see what Cisco was working on. Barry drew a deep breath and his eyes squinting trying to concentrate but it was useless. He could feel the softness of her hand slightly brushing against his. It was driving him crazy.
Clearing his throat he spoke. "Hey Caitlin can is speak to you for a sec. I need your help with a present." He lied trying to sound as normal as possible.
Caitlin looked at him sceptical as he motioned her to follow him.
Barry backed away slowly, no one seeming to pay any interest as he mouthed for her to follow.
Just as they turned the corner and out of sight, Barry reached out grabbing Caitlin by the wrist, surprising her as his mouth claimed hers in a hungry passion.
Caitlin opened her mouth in response, leaning into him as he pinned her against the wall. Breathless, Barry pulled away, but kept his body flush against hers.
"I know this is our first Christmas together as a couple since…" he trailed off in a whisper.
"And I know you wanted to keep this on the down low… I wanted it to be perfect but I know I've been distracted and focused on…"
Before Barry could finish, Caitlin leaned in placing her lips on his silencing him.
"You need to do to this. Yes I know. I totally get it." she smiled.
Barry stared at her in awe. Leaning his forehead against hers, he wish they didn't have to hide their relationship, but she had a lot to process without their friends and families input on their relationship.
"Hey!" Cisco's voice rang out calling them back.
Barry sighed at the reality check and pulled away. Caitlin quickly dusted down her clothes before the walked back into the room.
"I found a dissertation here from Oxford University about a myth about an ancient Hindu weapon called the Gramahstra." Cisco explained.
"Mhmm" Barry hummed with his full focus back on Savitar.
Cisco pulled up the article, scanning quickly through the key notes of information.
"…Legendary artefact with incredible powers capable of… wait for it…" he paused dramatically.
"Creating metas." Barry finished reading.
'Creating meta humans!" Cisco repeated with enthusiasm.
"Guys, that looks just like Alchemy's stone." Caitlin pointed as she scoot Cisco over taking over the reins and pulling up the image attached to the dissertation.
"More importantly…" Cisco began as he took back his keyboard
"Look who wrote this paper."
"Julian." Barry muttered under his breath.
*Immediately after his visit with Julian* - *Earth 3*
"I had that kid." Jay sighed as they pulled the Trickster away in cuffs.
Barry smirked. "That's what I always say." He paused. "Especially when I didn't have it."
Jay shook his head with a smile. "I'm assuming you didn't come all the way to Earth Three to stop my Trickster." He emphasised.
Barry dropped his hands from his hips, his face turning serious.
"I have something to talk to you about." His jaw tensed. "A speedster... calls himself Savitar."
*Cortex later that day*
Eyes red and exhausted, Barry threw the book he had just finished reading on the pile of other discarded books to the side of him. Useless. All of them useless. Barry huffed out in frustration. With the threat of Savitar looming over their shoulder, Barry felt his muscles tense.
Leaning his head over the back of the desk chair he had set up in the middle of the cortex, he drew his eyes to a close in hopes the darkness and silence brought about an epiphany to their foe's identity.
A clearing of a throat startled Barry back up right. Jay stood before him, his arms crossed over his chest and an amused expression as his gaze followed to the pile of discarded books.
"I've read every Hindu text book there is on mythology and spirits and demigods and nothing. No mention of Savitar. Not once." Barry sighed out heavily.
"Then maybe in my experience, the answers usual tend to come in time." Jay responded calmly.
Barry shook his head. "Well I just can't sit back and wait for Savitar or Alchemy to attack!" he argued.
With the little they knew about Savitar, they knew he was powerful and he need protect his family… and the only way he knew how to that was to find out the identity of his enemy so that he knew how to beat him.
"You can't worry about what may or may not lie ahead." He spoke with wisdom of an old man.
"Besides its Christmas." He added with a nudge.
"Time to be with ones you care about."
"But… It's just Savitar is still out there." Barry reiterated the tone of defeat in his words as he spoke.
"Yeah but not right now." Jay said wrapping his arm around Barry's shoulders.
"And your beautiful girlfriend is." He reminded.
Barry nodded slowly.
"Get your head out of the books and back into your life with your loved ones while you have them."
Caitlin's POV
Caitlin fiddled with her hands as she slipped down the hallway. Absentmindedly her feet ran on auto pilot leading her towards Cisco's lab.
"Hey, Jay thinks he's figured out a way to find the stone. You okay?"
"I don't know. I keep seeing my brother. Everywhere. Here. In the cortex…" Cisco trailed off, the pain stinging in his voice.
"This is your first Christmas since Dante died. Maybe you're minds playing tricks on you." Caitlin suggested softly.
"Yeah probably." He whispered back unable to look her in the eye.
"There's this one Christmas." He paused, the memory bringing a saddened smile to his face.
"Big family affair and Dante and I you know used to fight… a lot as kids…" he emphasised. "…but that one Christmas we didn't fight. We just sat and we talked and drank a whole bottle of whiskey. That whole night we were laughing…" he smiled with laughter.
Caitlin smiled with him. She knew how much her friend was hurting. Losing someone you love is never easy. And it never does. You just learn how to live it with. She reached out and took her friends hand in hers.
He looked up at her, tears welling in the rim of his eyes. "And that one night… that one night we felt like brothers!" he whimpered.
Caitlin squeezed his hand in reassurance. He wasn't alone.
Clearing her throat, finding her voice she recalled a bittersweet memory. "The last Christmas before my dad died." She paused. "It snowed and snowed. He and I just sat inside watching old movies while the whole world turned white." She smiled at the memory. Her dad holding her tight as she curled against his body, shielding her from the cold. "It was magical." She finished.
"Hmpf." Cisco snorted, returning a smile.
"Are we about to be the Grinch's this year?" he proposed with a laugh.
Caitlin shook her head with amusement. I hope not. She thought.
Barry's POV
"It's open!" She shouted through the closed door.
Barry let himself inside her apartment gently closing the door behind him. Sighing, a relaxing breath out, Barry shimmied out of his coat, throwing it over the back of the couch as he made his was around it.
"Nice use of restraint." Barry laughed as he sank into the soft cushion of her couch.
"Well since Jay kindly volunteered to help out Cisco it gave me the afternoon free to well… shop and I shopped and now I'm ready to drop into your arms." She smiled.
Barry welcomed her as she dropped onto the couch beside him, her lips finding his immediately. Barry held her tight, all the frustration and worry manifesting into a hard and deep kiss.
Caitlin pushed away breathless, her eyes heavy with lust.
"Sorry I missed Christmas shopping with you." He whispered, his lips still lingering over hers.
"It's okay…" she smiled. "I have everything I need." She teased as she reached for the collar of his shirt, pulling him over her so she lay beneath him.
Barry kissed her again.
Barry pulled away, supporting his weight on his forearms so he could look at her.
"So are you excited to give me my present as I am to give you yours?" she whispered as she moved her arms around his neck.
"Yeah… of course." He nodded nervously.
Caitlin squinted her eyes together as she looked at him curiously. "You did get me something right?"
"I did get you something. I just haven't wrapped it yet, is all." He defended.
And to his credit it was true. He really listened to Jay's words. "Get your head out of the books and back into your life with your loved ones while you have them." He spent the time he should have been helping her shopping to find her that perfect surprise.
And with Jay's words echoing in his mind, he wasn't going to waste any more time without Caitlin by his side. He knew how much it pained him to lose her, and how much he hurt her by leaving. Barry had explained everything to her. She knew all about the original timeline. She remembered most things, he just filled in some blanks and then there was Flashpoint... that she didn't want to know about. She was happy not knowing. And he was glad he didn't have to burden her with the pain of why he needed to come back and fix things. In that life he knew he wouldn't be whole. He wouldn't be happy without her in it. But now… here they were. Together. Her in his arms. Their whole future still ahead of them. He knew this is where he needed to be, and he didn't want to waste another moment. Leaning down, he kissed her.
*Later*
Barry's phone rang beside him as he slid his arm back in his shirt. Reaching out to the table, Barry held his phone.
"It's Iris." Barry stated as Caitlin finished pulling back on her top.
"It's okay you get it. I'm just going to freshen up in the bathroom she smiled as she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
"Okay."
As she jumped off the couch, Barry answered the call, wedging the phone between his ear and shoulder as he used both hands to freely button back up his shirt.
"Hey what's up?"
"Okay by the way after you told me about Julian's archaeology dig…. I started doing some digging of my own." She rambled fast.
"Yeh."
"It turns out a few years ago, four scientists were killed in an excavation in India and Julian…" she emphasised his name. "…was the point person."
"God he didn't mention that." Barry said surprised.
"You said he was obsessed with that stone for years what if he was covering something up… or someone?" she suggested, the hint of her investigatory voice coming through the phone.
"You think this is about Alchemy?" she added.
Barry unclenched his shoulder, allowing the phone to fall into his hands before he brought it swiftly back up to his ear.
"There's only one way to find out."
*Pipeline*
Barry stood half hidden in the shadows casted theatrically by the lights in the pipeline. His mask still tightly fitted to his face, Barry stood in his hero stance waiting as Julian finally came to.
Julian woke up hazed. His eyes adjusting to the bright lights surrounding him.
"Where am I? What's going on?" He scurried to his feet in a scared frenzy.
Barry stood cloaked in the semi darkness, hiding his identity. "Let's just say you're going to be our guest for a little while." Barry's voice vibrated.
"You!" Julian exclaimed pointing his finger at him.
"I've always suspected you had your own private facility for your enemies. Care to explain what I'm doing in it?" he questioned as he took in the padded cell.
Ignoring his question, Barry replied. "I know that you're Alchemy, Julian."
"WHAT!?" he choked in disbelief.
"…turning innocent people into meta humans... worshiping this Savitar." Barry listed.
Julian raised his hands shaking them. "I'm sorry. I'm still not following. You think that I'm Alchemy? " he snorted. "That's the most absurd thing I've heard."
Barry outstretched his hand, holding up the mask as evidence.
"The mask?" Julian pointed ghastly at it as Barry held it up towards him. "I've never seen that before in my life." He defended.
"I caught you!" Barry shouted, frustration getting the better of him. "I caught you wearing this mask!" he continued as he stepped forward shaking it in front of him.
Julian shook his head rapidly. "You're trying to set me up! You're framing me aren't you?!" He protested.
"The Flash out of all people." He emphasised. You're setting me up?!"
Barry turned his back. This was going nowhere. Tapping on the screen to his left, the door to Julian's cell began to close.
"….The hero! The GREAT HERO!" Julian's voice faded out as the door sealed itself shut.
" insane." Barry mumbled under his breath, taking off his mask as he walked away.
Caitlin's POV
*That evening*
Caitlin cradled her tablet in her hands, her eyes scanning over the test results. Thank god everything seemed to be looking normal. Watching her step as she stepped up into the med bay, Jay greeted her as she walked in.
"Hey."
"Hey you feeling?" Caitlin probed as she set her tablet down before approaching him.
"Not too bad for a guy who just got beat up by a myth." He winced as he laughed.
Caitlin's brow creased in concern. Pushing him back down as he tried to get up.
"Yeah." He nodded conceded to her orders easing back and sinking into the bed.
"You stopped him. Well done Barry." He cheered trying to relax amid the pain in his side.
"It was nice having you out there with me." Barry laughed.
"Yeah I never had a sidekick." He chuckled, holding his side to offset the pain in his ribs.
"Oh I'm your sidekick?" Barry snorted.
Caitlin let out a little chuckle only to catch Barry's jokingly side eye towards her.
"Well as the senior partner…" Jay continued to joke.
"Senior citizen is more like it." Barry teased, a broad smile spreading across his face.
"Yeah. I bet your dad would have been proud of ya. Right?"
Barry fell silent. She saw a darkness cross his face. Reacting on instinct, Caitlin's hand found his, her fingers lacing through his own as she squeezed them tight.
"Hey why don't you take it easy alright? We'll see you in a little bit." Caitlin smiled as she pulled Barry along after her, her hand never leaving his.
Barry's POV
With a strike of lightening, Barry made his way back down to the pipeline. Hidden back in the shadows, Barry called out to Julian.
"Have you been losing time? Blacking out? Hours passing, waking up somewhere different no picture of how you got there?" he questioned.
"No." Julian said flatly.
"No?" Barry questioned sceptical. He didn't have time for Julian's defensiveness. Savitar was closer than ever. He needed answers.
"No. I've had enough of these baseless accusations and these ridiculous theories of yours!" he yelled back frustrated.
"Julian I am trying to help you. But you need to trust me." Barry emphasised, the last of his patience wearing thing.
"Says the man in a mask" Julian hinted pointing at him.
"I know you're right." Barry sighed. Dropping his head, Barry reached up pulling back his cowl, revealing his true identity as he stepped forward into the light.
"Ha!" Julian exclaimed staggering back in shock.
"I should have known. I should have guessed it! The unexplained absences, your passion for metas, your general thumbing your nose at authority. I'm sure you had a good laugh behind my back!" he yelled in disbelief.
"I wish I could have told you before…" Barry began.
"So why tell me now?" he questioned, his hands on his hips.
"Because I need you trust me Julian. You are Alchemy." He explained. "I just don't think you're aware of it. Have you been blacking out?" he asked again.
There was a moment of silence. Barry could see Julian staring back at him. Debating his options. With a heavy sign, his hands dropped to his sides.
"Yes." He said deflated.
"When did it start?" Barry asked calmly.
"My sister Emma died when I was 20. It really broke the family up you know. Mum and dad weren't speaking they couldn't even stay at the house. One day I was there alone and she came back to me. She stood right in front of me clear as day. A ghost or a vision I don't know. She was real."
"What happened?"
"She told me about the stone. She told me where to find it. She told me that if I got it that it would bring us back together again. But at that point mate I would have done anything to have her back. That's what I did. I mounted up an expedition to India. Days we searched, weeks nothing. And then we found it. The next thing I woke up in the hotel room. I didn't remember anything. And that's when the black outs started happening. There was a news report saying that every other member of my team had been found. Dead. At the site. I panicked. I thought they were going to blame me for their deaths so I ran. I ran to America."
"What happens when you black out Julian? How does it start?"
Julian's eyes darted back to Barry's. His eyes boring into his he spoke.
"I hear the voice." He whispered.
Caitlin's POV
Everything happened so fast. Everyone in the cortex froze as they stared at the screen, watching the monitors as Savitar appeared out of nowhere. It's as if all the moments blended into one. Barry was down in the pipeline speaking to Julian, and now he lay disoriented in the Speed Lab as an invisible force threw around Wally's body as if a mere rag doll. Caitlin hadn't realised the tension in her body as he knuckles turned to a shade of white while she gripped tightly at the edge of her desk.
As she watched mercilessly and unable to do anything to help them, Caitlin was struck with a realisation. Cisco. Without another moment to waste, Caitlin broke out into a sprint, her feet urgently pounding the ground beneath her propelling her forward.
"Cisco!" Caitlin bellowed as she came barrelling down the hallway towards Cisco's Lab.
Stumbling to a halt, Caitlin raised her hands. Her eyes wide as she watched her friend cautiously.
"Cisco you have to close the box." She pleaded with him, her breathing ragged as she regained back the air in her lungs.
"I'm going to save Dante." He beamed, as he looked up at her from the open box.
Caitlin shook her head. That's not Dante. It's Savitar. Please he's using your memories against you." She cried out to him.
Cisco shook his head in denial. He didn't want to believe her.
Cisco we're running out of time. Please just hand me the box.
"I won't lose him again I WILL NOT LOSE MY BROTHER AGAIN!" he screamed at her. Raising his hand ready to vibe an attack at her.
And I won't lose Barry again. Caitlin stood her ground. Gently raising her hands, she pleaded with her friend. Begging to hear the truth and understanding in her voice.
"Cisco... Dante is gone. I'm so sorry but there is nothing you can do about it. But there are people you can save RIGHT NOW!" her voice rose. "If you don't close that box… Barry and Wally will die!"
She could see the battle waging in his head. Caitlin knew they were running out of time. She didn't know what else to do.
"CISCO! LISTEN TO ME!" She yelled, her voice ringing with urgency.
Without a second to spare, Cisco slammed his eyes shut just as he did the box. Caitlin collapsed over, her hands on her knees as she drew in a sigh of relief. She could hear her heart pounding hard against her chest. Once she regained control of her breathing, she rolled back up and without a seconds thought she put her arms around her friend, bringing him in for a hug.
As everyone returned momentarily back to the Cortex, Caitlin almost broke out into a sprint as she came barrelling into Barry's arms. Before either of them realised they were in a room full of people, Caitlin held his head in her hands watching him carefully.
"You sure you okay?" Caitlin asked.
"I'm still in one piece." Barry whispered back, reassuring her with a smile.
A cough from behind her startled her into the realisation. Her eyes opening wide, Caitlin realised their secret she wanted to keep was now out. Slowly, Caitlin turned around. She felt as Barry's hand found hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
Caitlin waited for shocked gasps and pestering questions. But no one said a word. There were surprised expressions, mostly from HR but no one paid attention. Everyone else seemed to be happy for them. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse in Iris' direction. With a smile and an approving nod, Caitlin felt more at ease.
"I don't know what happened." Cisco apologised to Barry, surprisingly unfazed by the unspoken confession of their relationship.
"So now that the box is closed what Savitar is gone for good?" Iris asked the room.
Barry shook his head unsure. "I don't know but we need to find out."
"Cisco… if we can't use this box…" he paused. "Julian… He may be the only link we have to Savitar now right."
Cisco nodded.
"I think we can use both of them. Caitlin is right." Cisco took a beat, looking at Caitlin. "If this thing messes with brainwaves then I have a plan."
Barry's POV
*Speed Lab*
"So what am I doing here?" Julian asked nervously looking around him as Barry led him into the speed lab.
Every one gathered in, Joe… Iris… Wally… HR… Jay… Cisco and Caitlin all stood in some sort of unorganised circle. Barry stopped dead centre before turning around to face Julian who well hid his discomfort.
"Okay." Barry paused. "Julian today when I was fighting Savitar… him and Alchemy had the same voice."
"Alright" Julian nodded. "What does that mean?"
"I don't think there is 'A Alchemy'." He quoted with his fingers. "I think its Savitar speaking through you."
"Savitar clearly possesses someone who rally worshipers." Caitlin explains.
"But he's like a poultry guy who needs a medium to manifest himself." Cisco added.
"You." Joe pointed.
"Right but what does that mean?" Julian asked again.
"We think we've figured out a way to sync your brain to this stone." Caitlin continued to explain just as Cisco led Julian kindly to sit down, before tinkering away at his computer beside him.
"And it'll allow us to speak directly to Savitar." Cisco confirmed.
"I don—" Julian stuttered in disbelief.
"If you want to try and be free of this. You need to trust us." Barry urged.
"I've never liked you Allen." Julian gritted his teeth.
"Hmpf yeah." Barry raised his eyebrows as he rolled his eyes. That he knew.
"Having a little séance with your friends isn't going to change that fact. You know do know that?" Julian stated.
Without words Barry nodded.
"Fine I'll try it." he responded sounding annoyed.
"Deep breaths. Okay?" Cisco instructed as he placed on the head piece.
"Yeah." Julian mumbled nervously.
"You're going to count backwards from ten." Cisco stated.
"Ten-"
"Out like a light." Cisco laughed, snapping his thumb and forefinger together to be sure.
"That was quick."
"Okay so how long until this works?" Barry asks anxiously.
"Not really sure. It could take a minute for his brainwaves to—" Caitlin began before a loud shrill came from Julian.
"ARRGGHH!"
Barry flinched back at the unpredicted reaction. Regaining his composure just as fast, Barry stepped forward, watching as Julian's body stiffens, his shoulders squaring and his back straightening. His whole domineer changing.
Savitar.
"Hello Barry, it's been a while." His voice deepened, his eyes glaring at Barry.
"Savitar?" Barry whispers his name carefully.
He looks away from Barry disregarding him, his attention now on his friends and family. "None of you are on your knees. It's a smart move to bow before a deity."
The attention Savitar is paying to his friends, spikes a deep rooted anxiety within him.
"You're not a God." Barry bluntly responds.
"To be a God you just need people to believe you are." Savitar retorted as he sizes Barry up. Slowly analysing him from head to toe.
"No one believes in you." Iris noted.
"You should Iris. I hold the power of life and death over all of you."
"How do you know so much about us?" Caitlin questions.
"I know you Caitlin." He paused looking at her a second longer, his eyes never wavering from hers before moving on.
"Cisco. Joe. Wally. The fake Wells. I know your fears, your weaknesses and I know you better than you know yourselves." He smirks before turning back to staring blankly ahead.
"I know your destinies." Beat. "One shall betray you. One shall fall. One will suffer a fate far worse than death. This is the knowledge I have for you… about your everlasting damnation."
"Who are you?" Barry presses.
"I am the future Flash."
"What do you want from us?"
"Everything!" He said flatly turning to face Barry he spoke, his voice even more loudly. "Everything you took from me… I want it back. And I am going to take it back. Then…" he paused. "I will destroy you."
"Why haven't you already? If you're all powerful then why don't you just go ahead and kill us all now and be done with it?" Barry stopped with a realisation. "Because you can't." he whispered figuring it out.
"YOU DID THIS TO ME!" He yelled, his body edging towards Barry. "You trapped me in eternity. Your future self. You did this to me Barry! And now the age of my revenge rises. My freedom is at hand. You will feel my wrath. THE WRATH OF SAVITAR!-" he bellowed.
Barry frustrated, reaches forward and pulls out the link embedded in the head set.
Julian reawakens as himself, panting and out of breath. "Did it work?" he asked curiously as he gazed at the ghostly expressions.
*Cortex*
No one said a word as they made their way back up to the cortex. Everyone set in an eerie silence locked away in their own thoughts. Barry's mind kept replaying his words over and over again.
'One shall betray you. One shall fall. One will suffer a fate far worse than death. This is the knowledge I have for you… about your everlasting damnation.'
It wasn't until HR voiced their concerns that Barry realised they were already gather back in the cortex.
"THAT. WAS. Sooooo. Scary! I mean that was—was it not truly frightening with the voice and the prophecies and the whoa.. that was a scarathon… was it? I'm going to have a mint tea and a coffee, a lay down." HR rambled flustering around the room.
"Do you think the things he said about one of us betraying him and one of us dying could really be true?" Caitlin asked shaken by Savitar's comments.
Barry's jaw tightened. He hated how Savitar had this much control over their fates. That he could instil this paralysing fear, all while he was trapped away.
"I mean if it was really future Barry that pissed him off and locked him up somewhere, then maybe he knows what happens to future us." Cisco replied back, he too still trying to process it all.
"He doesn't." Barry stated firmly. "He's never getting out of wherever he's trapped."
Barry vowed to them. He wasn't going to let that happen. He was going to keep them safe. He'd lost them all once in one way or another and he wasn't about to let that happen again.
"Then how we supposed to stop him?" Iris proposed the question.
"The stone." Jay voiced, coming around to the centre of the room, beside Barry.
"Jay's right the stone's the key to everything. It's how he's controlled Julian. It how he's created more metas…" Barry trailed off, his mind racing.
"So we destroy the stone and Savitar is gone for good."
"It's impossible to destroy. I mean it's been around for forever. There's a reason for that." Julian pointed out.
"Why don't we just bury it again? Put it back in the place where you found it." Iris suggested.
"Nah ah. Jumanji." Cisco explained simply "Someone would just find it and we'd be back to where we started." He finished.
"We need to make that box disappear forever. There is only one thing we can do with it. Throw it into the Speed force." Jay reasoned.
"Wait you can do that?" Wally asked excited.
"The Speed force is eternity in itself, an endless void of time and energy." Jay explained.
"It'll be like trying to find it after it being lost in space."
"But that stone is loaded with gravimetric force. I mean I don't think you can run fast enough to reach the speed force and carry that at the same time." Cisco noted.
"He can with my help." Jay smiled, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"We run as fast as we can. You trail behind me. Syphon off some of my speed to combine with your own and when you have enough, throw that thing deep enough into the Speed force."
Barry nodded in agreement. Determination setting in his face, his shoulders squaring with confidence Barry knew this was how he was going to save the ones he loved.
"And that will work?" Joe questioned sceptically.
Barry shrugged but said "We need to find out."
*The Future*
In a trail of light and speed, Barry's feet kept pushing forward pounding the pavement beneath him until a portal opened up before him, allowing him to throw the box into the speed force, swallowing it whole. Barry breathed a sigh of relief as he saw it disappear. Before Barry could slow himself to a halt, he felt his feet give way before him. Stumbling forward and off balance, Barry fell to his hands and knees.
"Argh!" he screeched as he came barrelling forward.
His eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness, Barry felt the cold cracked concrete under his finger tips.
What the hell? He thought as he pulled himself upright, stumbling around the darkened alleyway until he came out to an opening.
Scoping his surroundings, Barry caught note of the street. 'Infantino St' he memorised. How did I get here? He questioned as he kept moving forward. A small hum of a new anchors voice pulling him forward to a live news report.
"In other legal news the highly publicized trail of Jarred Marello aka Plunder comes to a close. Marello was found guilty of Grand Theft and aggravated assault after her was caught by the Flash robbing the Central City Museum earlier this year." The Channel 52 spokesperson continued.
As Barry edged closer to read the news banner beneath, his voice yelled out into the night. Startled, Barry moved to investigate the sound of his voice when it came again.
"DON'T!" future him shouted, his voice pained with agony.
"Please! Don't! Don't do this!" he begged almost to his knees.
Barry paralysed by what he was witnessing, moved almost autonomously until he was half hidden away the shadow of the tree.
"Now finally I am free of you!" Savitar almost laughed as he held Iris tightly against him.
"Barry. It's okay. I'll always love you." She choked.
"Enough. Don't say that. You're going to be alright." He promised her, tears piercing his green eyes.
"I'm begging you p—" Barry cried out.
"BARRY!" She screamed out his name, as Savitar speared his armour through her torso.
"You lose Barry!" Savitar smirked before retracting his armour and sped away into the night.
Barry fell to his knees. Holding himself up against the tree as he watched the moments unfold in slow-motion. He saw his future self, helplessly move forward, his arms out stretched trying to reach Iris before she fell lifelessly to the ground.
"NOOOOOO!" he screamed out as he caught her.
Barry felt his heart in his throat. It was if the air inside his lungs vanished and he couldn't breathe. He looked up. His future self, cradled her body to his. His whimpers begging her to wake.
"Hey hey hey Iris." He pleaded. "Hey. No Iris. No no no Iris…." His cries rung out into the night.
Before he could muster up the strength to move forward, Barry felt himself being hurled away, the darkened night now flooded with light.
"No Iris!" he screamed.
*The Present*
"No Iris!" he screamed.
"Barry it's okay."
Barry looked around him flustered. Where was he? Panicked and out of breath, Barry stumbled forward, his hands landing on Jay for support.
"Jay? What the hell was that? Where was I?" he asked flustered, closing his eyes hoping it was all a dream.
"The future." Jay answered tensely.
Barry backed away confused. "I've never run to the future. I've travelled to the past but I've always come back to the present. I saw myself…. and Iris, and Savitar wa- he killed her." He relayed.
"It's five months from now" Barry realised in shock "Is that actually going to happen?!" he interrogated Jay.
He needed to know.
"I don't know." Jay responded calmly, as he could see the anxiety rising in Barry.
"You don't know?" Barry exclaimed loudly.
"You shouldn't have seen that."
Barry fell backwards seated on the steps behind him. How was this possible? They got rid of the stone.
Barry closed his eyes. This should have worked. He told himself. Lowering his head into his hands he mumbled to himself. "This doesn't make sense. We… we just got rid of the philosopher's stone. I mean…" Barry took a beat.
"SAVITAR SHOULD EVEN HAVE BEEN THERE!" he shouted violently.
Jay could only watch as Barry processed what he just saw.
"Oh my god." Barry whispered with a newfound realisation.
"This is why the newspaper in the time vault changed. The by-line…. This is why it's not Iris. I thought that Iris didn't write that story eight years from now because of Caitlin and I… but eight years from now she's dead." He said it in almost a whisper.
Barry stared in front of him, his mouth hanging open in utter shock and despair. How could this happen? He was in denial.
"Barry…" Jay spoke trying to reason with him.
"I just watched her die." He paused. "I saw myself try to save her. But I wasn't fast enough." He continued on staring numbingly blind before him.
Barry swallowed hard before looking up at Jay. His eyes red rimmed, tears blinding him.
"Jay tell me that this isn't my destiny." He pleaded, his voice broken and small.
Jay pulled off his helmet, cradling it under his arm as he inched closer to Barry.
"What you saw was one possibility of the future. Of what may be or not."
Barry shot up. "So I can stop this from happening. I can run back there?" he pressed eagerly as he wiped away his tears.
"YOU CANNOT go back there NOT AGAIN. NOT EVER." Jay shouted harshly.
Barry stumbled back slightly, taken back by the harshness in Jay's voice.
"Alright." Barry nodded small. "Then ill figure out exactly how it happened, how we ended up on that street and we don't go there. If we don't go there… then…" he rambled as he began to pace up and down the room.
"BARRY!" Jay yelled, reaching out with his free hand to stop him.
Forcing Barry to look at him he spoke. "This is why speedsters don't travel to the future. Nobody should know this much about their own. Just as there are infinite Earths in the multiverse. There are infinite possibilities to the future. It's always bending, it's always changing. Every decision you make creates another alternative."
Barry tightened his jaw. "I won't let Iris die."
'The future isn't written yet. And it might not even turn out to be what you saw. You need to focus on the here and now. You have to live your life because like you saw none of us are promised tomorrow."
"But we have to do something!"
"And you will. Listen. The future is always changing. That newspaper showed you that. Nothing is set in stone. Don't dwell on things that may or may not happen or else you lose yourself in the time and things you could have changed. Like here and now. Here is where you make those decisions that can change the future. Now is the time you have to make it all count."
Barry looked at him as Jay searched his eyes that he understood. Barry felt his body relax slightly. Jay was right. He had five months to change the future he saw. He had five months to make the future he wanted. And it all starts with here and now.
"Promise me Barry. Here and now."
"Here and now."
Caitlin's POV
Caitlin waited anxiously, her fingers knotted together as she paced up and down the middle of the cortex. Where were they? She asked herself. She couldn't help the sinking feeling she felt in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong. As she stopped and turned to face Cisco who was replaying the video over and over again, trying to figure out where they went, she caught the shadow of his lean, muscular form walking down the hall about to turn the corner into the room.
"Hey guys." He greeted as he ripped off his gloves.
Caitlin felt herself breathe a sigh of relief as she caught sight of him. He was here.
"You okay? You and Jay disappeared and-" she started as he came around towards her.
"Nah I'm okay." He smiled at her. "Just glad to see you." He whispered before leaning down to kiss her.
"So where's Jay?" Iris questioned her eyes drifting towards the archway to see if Jay would soon follow.
"Jay decided to go ahead and go back to Earth 3 but he wanted to wish everybody a Merry Christmas." He explained.
With his arm around her, holding her close, Caitlin eyed him carefully. There was something in the tone of his voice that nagged at her. Something he wasn't telling them.
"So it worked? The stone?" Joe asked hopeful.
'It's gone. It's lost in the Speed force." Barry nodded.
"Okay good." Iris sighed in relief.
Caitlin caught Barry's jaw tighten as he watched Iris carefully. Leaning up she whispered. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Startled by her question, Barry looked down at her. A smile breaking out on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Yeah." He whispered. "Just been a long day."
Caitlin nodded, unconvinced.
"I don't know about you guys but being mind punked by a Speed God that we piss off in the future its- its enough to kill your Christmas spirit." Cisco retorted.
"Guys!" HR exclaimed with glee. "Christmas time is here. We need a little Christmas. Right this very minute. Who's with me? B.A?" he pointed his drumsticks in their direction.
Barry let out a small laugh. "He's right. It's Christmas. We should be together." He paused looking down at Caitlin. "Let's have it." he cheered.
"Joe?" HR raised his eyebrows.
"I'm still in it if everyone else is." He conceded with a broad smile.
"YES!" HR applauded.
"We'll be there." Iris said as she wrapped her arm around her brother.
"Julian?" Barry extended out an invite.
Julian looked around the room and without a word he turned his back and left.
"Where's he going?" Cisco pointed out.
Caitlin slipped out of Barry's arms and with a nod she left after Julian.
"Hey! Where you going?" she called out as she caught him waiting for the lift.
Julian kept silent, his eyes glued to the silver doors, waiting for them to open.
"Do you have Christmas plans? The West's are having a Christmas get together and after what you've been through you shouldn't be alone." She tried persuading.
"I actually prefer to be alone at Christmas." He said flatly as he repeatedly pushed the elevator button until finally it opened.
"Goodbye." He said before the doors closed and he was gone.
*West Residence*
The festivities were in full swing by the time here and Barry arrived to the West's house. HR seemed to be very happy and going for another round of egg nog while the rest of the family filled up the living room, each and everyone around laughing as a quiet hum of Christmas songs played in the background.
Barry helped Caitlin out of her coat leading her into the room with her hand in his. As she looked down at her their hands intertwined, she smiled. She was happy. She was glad that there was no need for explanation and that her friends and family were happy to see them together. She had a feeling they probably already knew. But she didn't care. She thought she would. But she was happy. She was finally happy.
With a round of warm hugs, Cisco offered Caitlin a glass of egg nog both of them leading away into the kitchen.
"Raining on Christmas! It's neither merry or jolly. Hey listen..." He grunted before both of them broke into laughter.
Suddenly his expression turned serious and he pulled Caitlin aside. "About Dante… thank you for talking me off the ledge."
Caitlin reached out taking her friends hands into hers.
"Of course. You'd do the same for me. In fact you did do the same for me." She smiled.
"Calo. Calo. This concoction okay! Pew! You tr—the egg nog? The holiday concoction made by Joe and his hot girlfriend?" HR slurred as he held the almost empty mug to Cisco's face.
Caitlin laughed and welcomed the light hearted distraction leaving Barry with an opportunity to steal back his girlfriend, Barry snaked his arm around Caitlin and stealthily pulled her away. Caitlin watched as Cisco walked back into the living room trying to swat away HR but to no avail.
Barry leaned back into the dining room table, his watching the Christmas family scene before them. Caitlin found herself leaning her side into him, her left arm snaking around his shoulder.
"Hey."
"Hmm" he hummed back.
"What's up?" she asked sensing his absence.
"Nothing." He promised as he tore his eyes away from his family to her curious brown eyes.
"You seem a little weird?"
Barry shook his head that he was fine, but she could sense his uneasiness.
"You do know we won right?" she reminded him.
Barry smiled, burying his head into the neck. Caitlin held him tighter. Both his arms finding their way around her body as he snuggled closer to her.
"We defeated the bad guy."
"Yeah I know." He whispered against her skin.
Caitlin didn't know what was going on but knew that Barry needed her. The way he was holding onto her tightly told her everything she needed to know.
"Guys" Joe whispered loudly, pulling both their attention back to the present.
"BA come on!" HR yelled a little to loudly.
Swatting her gently on the behind, both of them leaned forward and made their way into the living room.
"How many of those have you had?" Iris laughed.
HR shrugged and eyed the bottom of his empty glass.
"Now that Ceclie is away…" Joe paused, looking around to the corner. "This is from all of us to you." He whispered turning back to his son.
Barry dipped under the tree and pulled out a large box, handing it over to Wally.
"Merry Christmas son." Joe greeted just as Wally tore open the lid.
"You serious?!" Wally shouted ecstatically.
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Yeah its time." Barry nodded, wearing his first genuine smile of the night.
"Congratulations Wallace!" HR bellowed as he swayed from side to side.
"Welcome to the team…. Kid Flash" Barry teased.
"Are we really calling me Kid Flash?" Wally slumped his shoulders.
"I think we are." The rest of them said in unison.
Barry's POV
Barry felt more himself that night as he watched the joy and laughter of his family alive in the living room. Here and Now. He repeated to himself he watched the gleam in Wally's eyes as he held his suit up in awe.
The knock at the door pulls them out of laughter. Wally quickly placing the lid back over his present.
"The Police!" HR exclaims.
Barry shakes his head as he makes his way over to the door. "No were the police."
"Were the police." HR repeats.
"Calm down." Cisco indicates with his hands.
A smile still plastered on his face, Barry opens the door surprised to see Julian standing there rocking back and forth on his heels nervously.
"Julian." Barry says his name surprised.
Julian stands there for another moment in awkward silence until Barry comes to his senses and invites him in.
"Come in. I got that." He says taking his coat.
"Thanks. After everything that happened. Being alone kind of felt lonely so…" he tried explaining.
"Yeah." Barry nodded.
"This is for you." Julian extended a small box.
"What's this?" Barry asked as he smiled with a nod of thanks.
"I spoke to Captain Singh. He hadn't put through your resignation paperwork yet so if you'd like you old lab back or share it again…"
Barry was stunned as he look down at his old CCPD ID. He had given up his job for Caitlin. It was an easy choice, but giving up what he loved he had to admit was hard emotionally. As Julian stood before him with an olive branch, Barry was momentarily made speechless.
Clearing out his throat and finding his voice. He extended out his hand. "Thanks Julian. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas mate." He greeted back.
Sensing the awkward silence creeping back in, Barry was thankful as Caitlin join them.
"Can I offer you Eggnog?"
"Yes thanks." Julian stammered.
Barry watched as Caitlin led him into the kitchen.
"Merry Christmas everyone." He cheered as he made his way through.
"Ohh do you hear that?" HR stared wide eyed at the ceiling.
Barry laughed. HR was festively drunk.
"Outside. Carollers." Joe pointed out, angling HR towards the door.
Barry opened up the door again to see a small family huddle close together amidst the cold outside, their voices carrying a beautiful Christmas tune.
Once the carollers were gone and dinner was done, every sat around the fire watching a classic movie, they all silently made their way into Christmas day.
While HR snored quietly in the corner, Cisco was curled up snacking on popcorn and everyone else snugged up in their own corner watching "It's a Wonderful Life", Caitlin leaned into Barry.
"So when we going to exchange presents?" she whispered giddily.
"How about right now?" He smiled as he leaned in his nose bumping into hers.
Caitlin nodded excitedly.
"Let's get out of here." He whispered.
Her eyes immersed in darkness, Barry carried her in his arms to an unknown location. With the sudden absence of light, she could hear the beating of her heart against her chest.
"Where are we going?" she asked nervously.
"Where here!" he said placing her carefully back down.
Caitlin heard her feet as they hit something wooden.
"Where is here?" she mused.
Barry took her by the hand, leading her slowly somewhere.
"Careful there's a door."
Caitlin tightened her hand around his at his warning. It only took them a few more steps until they stopped. Caitlin felt Barry move his way around her, his hands working on releasing the knot until the black piece of fabric slid from her face revealing a familiar setting.
"I, I don't understand. Why are we here?" she mumbled confused looking at Barry.
Barry stepped further into the empty living room. He spun around until he was looking at her once again.
"It's home." He shrugged.
"What?" Caitlin stepped forward. The hardwood floors sounding under her feet as she moved.
"I couldn't sleep on Cisco's couch anymore and you're apartment is a bit small for two." He confessed.
"But why here?"
Barry snaked his hands around her waist pulling her close. His eyes roaming the room before landing back on her.
"I bought out the owners who live here. I've been running away from this place all my life.
"All my life I've been running… running away from this place. It's memories. The pain. But I've realised something…" He paused.
Barry pulled away from her, his hand intertwining with hers as he moved around the room.
"This place is home. It's always been home."
Caitlin tugged at his hand pulling him back to her. Her lips finding his almost immediately. Barry pressed his lips tighter against hers, his other hand at the back of her head holding her to him. Almost breathless they broke apart, his forehead resting on hers.
Barry felt Caitlin open her mouth to speak but spoke before she could.
"I know this is a lot and maybe too fast. But when I was in Flashpoint, I realised that this place could feel like home again. That you and I can make memories to outshine the bad ones. I did have a good childhood here and I know I can have a good future here too." He paused kissing her. "With you."
Pulling away, Barry's eyes searched hers to see what she was thinking. The silence was killing him.
"I got you a wallet." She whispered shyly.
Barry breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sure I'll love it!"
Caitlin stepped back breathing deep and taking in the empty space of his childhood home.
"Barry this is a big step…"
"Not for me." He said cutting her off.
"Look at me." He pleaded.
Caitlin turned around.
"Look. I don't know what's going to happen in the future but all I know is right here, right now I want to spend every moment with you. You're the first thing I want to see in the morning and the last-"
Before he could finish, Caitlin ran into his arms her mouth crashing into his.
"I love you Barry Allen" she smiled against his lips.
Barry pulled away so she could see the meaning in his eyes. "I love you Caitlin Snow."