A/N: This prompt gave me a little more difficulty, but I pulled through! Inspiration definitely came from my recent move, but, sadly, no handsome scientists showed up at my door.

Caitlin had tried to make things work – living in the same apartment in the same city, but the memories and heartbreak eventually overwhelmed her. It was if everything around her only served as a reminder of Ronnie's death. Her friends had attempted to console her as best they could, but they had their own lives and she couldn't help but feel their visits only highlighted the missing presence of her husband. She'd hung on for two years, but, upon the anniversary of his death, a visit to Ronnie's grave gave her the peace to move on with her life and start anew somewhere else.

Still wanting to remain in contact with her friends and be able to visit his grave, she chose a city only a few hours away. It didn't take long for a local hospital's research program to accept her application and schedule an interview, and she had enough in savings to secure a moderately sized house at a reasonable distance from work. The interview was a success and she finalized the details – including the purchase of the house now that she had a guaranteed source of income. Thankfully, her friend group understood her decision and, after both sides promised to keep in touch, helped her with the move.

She'd underestimated all the work involved in a move, but, after a month and a half, Caitlin stood in front of her new house while the movers unloaded the truck. Barry and Cisco had offered to help, but she'd declined – citing how the journey there and back would be a full day's trip and they had their own responsibilities.

Shielding her eyes from the summer sun, Caitlin glanced over at the house next to hers. It was a larger, family home. Her eyes trailed over the immaculately cut lawn and over to the sleek cars in the driveway. Whoever lived there had money and lots of it. She silently prayed they were friendly rather than busybodies or the kind of petty tyrants one often heard about living in an HOA. Shaking those thoughts away, she turned her attention back to the movers and noticed they were nearly finished.

Caitlin directed the last few boxes to the appropriate rooms. On the way back out, she opened the mini fridge she'd set up the prior day. "Before you leave, does anyone need a bottle of water?" She lifted one from the shelf and tilted it towards one of the movers.

He and the rest of the small group accepted her offer and drank a little before making their exit – leaving her to silently take in how the boxes made her new home feel a little less empty.

A knock on the door startled her from her reverie. Thinking one of the movers left something, she hurried over to the door and opened it. Her gaze didn't land on one of the muscular men from before but rather a smiling teenage girl.

"Hi, I'm Jesse," she greeted, extending a hand. "You must be our new neighbor."

Caitlin blinked once before taking her hand and shaking it. "I'm Caitlin, and I guess I am." She looked between both driveways framing hers and tilted her head – trying to place which neighbor that'd make the girl.

Recognizing her dilemma, Jesse jerked a thumb over her shoulder and pointed at the house Caitlin had noticed earlier. "My Dad and I live over there." She bounced on her heels. "I normally don't ambush new neighbors – not that we've had many, but I saw the movers bring in an anatomical model. Do you work in a biological field?"

Caitlin's thoughts shifted from the conspicuous absence of a mother mentioned to the question, and she laughed at Jesse's visible excitement. "Yes, I'm a medical doctor, although I occasionally dabble in bioengineering and biotech research. It's going to be less dabbling and more focused soon, though."

"Biochemistry is one of my majors!" Jesse enthused. "Biology isn't exactly my Dad's forte – he's more about physics and tech. Would you mind talking with me some time about work in that field?"

"Uh, sure, if it's okay with your dad," Caitlin tentatively agreed, trying to reconcile Jesse's youthful appearance and the appropriate protocol for interacting with a potential minor with her desire to share her love for science with someone whom reminded her of her younger self. "I'm sorry if you're already an adult. You look young. How old are you?"

Unbothered by the inquiry, Jesse laughed. "It's okay. I just turned seventeen." She pivoted on her heel and gestured towards her house. "Let me go ask Dad real quick."

Caitlin watched in amusement as the girl didn't wait for a reply before running back over to her house and disappearing inside. Resting her back against the doorframe, she loosely crossed her arms and awaited Jesse's return.

A minute passed and then another before Jesse reemerged from the house. Her gait still maintained its pep, although at a slightly more restrained degree. She made it back in front of Caitlin with a few swift strides.

"Okay, so my dad didn't say 'no', but he also didn't say 'yes.' He'd like to meet you first," Jesse reported, voice not quite managing to disguise her hope that he'd agree after meeting Caitlin. "He's finishing up with some things in the kitchen, but he should be right out shortly."

"I look forward to meeting him." Uncrossing her arms, Caitlin engaged the girl in light conversation as they waited for the latter's dad to join them. She was just in the middle of sharing her own majors from college in response to learning the others her companion was pursuing when she caught sight of a man approaching them. Her sentence stopped short.

Brown eyes took in the tussled dark hair and striking features of the man's face. Her gaze swept over the way his shirt clung to his chest and, most noticeably, his arms. Unwittingly, her lips parted, and she didn't observe the knowing look sent her way by Jesse. She fought against the urge to continue staring and redirected her focus to his face – just in time for him to miss her wandering eyes.

"This is my dad."

The words pulled Caitlin's attention away from the man's startling blue eyes. He's her dad? A quick glance down confirmed he had no wedding band, and she steadfastly ignored looking into why she tucked that information away in her mind. The inscrutable expression he directed her way gave her the push to introduce herself. "Hi, I'm Caitlin Snow. I just moved here."

"I know. I saw the moving truck. Plus, the boxes are a dead giveaway." He tipped his head in the direction of the boxes lining the house entrance.

A flush spread down Caitlin's neck. "Yes, well…" She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.

Jesse nudged her dad's arm, and silent conversation passed between the two before he sighed and held out a hand.

"Hi. I'm Harrison Wells, Jesse's father."

Gaping in response to the recognizable name and at a temporary loss for words, Caitlin took his hand on autopilot and gave a single shake. Her eyes swept over his face more critically as she compared it to the solitary picture of the renowned physicist she'd seen in a scientific journal. Lines were present where they hadn't been back then and he no longer wore glasses – contacts maybe, but he was the same man.

Caitlin's breath left her in a rush. It was then she noticed she hadn't let go of his hand and was merely holding it. The warmth of his palm settled in her skin and traveled up her arm all the way to the tips of her ears. Abruptly, she let go and took a sobering half-step back. She searched for a conversation topic to cover up the awkward moment. "So, Harrison Wells? Harrison Wells the founder of STAR Labs?"

Blue eyes sparked with interest and a touch of pride. "The one and only."

"Cisco and Barry are going to be so jealous," Caitlin muttered, unable to pull her eyes away.

Harrison's brow furrowed. "What's that?"

Shaking her head, Caitlin explained, "Barry and Cisco, my two best friends, are big fans of your work, and they would have taken a vacation day to help me settle in if they'd known you were my next door neighbor."

"Should I be concerned about that? They're not going to ambush me or try sending fan mail to my house? I won't have to get a restraining order, will I?"

Jesse, seeing how Caitlin's eyebrows shot up in alarm, elbowed her dad's side. "He's joking." An exasperated grimace stole over her face. "His sense of humor takes some getting used to, and even I don't find him funny half the time."

"Jesse Quick, that is no way to speak about your father!" Despite the chastising words, Harrison dropped the façade and a smile eased onto his face. He sent an almost apologetic look to Caitlin. "It was a joke….everyone knows my crazed fans just show up at the lab and have to be escorted out by security."

Catching the glint in his eyes, Caitlin easily identified the second joke. "Well, I'm sure STAR Labs has guards by the plenty."

"Oh, easily a hundred or so," Harrison agreed, mouth twitching. He rubbed a hand over his mouth, but it didn't disguise the way he lost his battle against smiling. Once he had his expression back under control, he dropped his hand and flicked a hand in the direction of his daughter. "So, Jesse tells me you're a doctor, but also do research?"

"Yes, I primarily worked as a medical doctor for the last half decade, but I studied various biological fields and dabbled in experiments – both in college and on the rare occasion my hospital schedule allowed it."

"Worked – past tense?"

Caitlin nodded. "I needed a change, and Central City Hospital had an opening in the research division." She absently rubbed her left ring finger. "It all worked out."

If Harrison caught the action, he didn't comment on it. "STAR Labs and Mercury Labs both have contracts with Central City Hospital, so you might just run into me or my friend and rival, Dr. McGee. Full disclosure: Mercury Labs has always pulled ahead when it comes to the biological fields, but STAR Labs is catching up."

Narrowing her eyes playfully, Caitlin cocked a hip and leaned on the doorframe. "Why, Dr. Wells, are you already trying to steal me away from the hospital, and get in an offer before Mercury Labs tries?"

"Maybe." Eyes sparkling, Harrison's mouth stretched into a grin. "Impress me with your work at the hospital, and we can have that conversation, Dr. Snow"

"Hm. What if Mercury Labs impresses me more? You did say they won out in my field."

Harrison scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. "That's only because Tina – Dr. McGee – typically gets to the biologists before I do."

"So, you're saying you don't make biology a priority." Caitlin hummed.

"It's not that," Harrison disputed her interpretation. "She just knows it's the only field she can beat me in, so she makes sure to keep a hand on the pulse of up-and-coming biologists and strike when I'm busy succeeding in the rest."

The boastful assertion startled a laugh from Caitlin. "Well, you're certainly confident."

"It's Wells, actually, but you can call me Harry, and, yes, I am." He winked.

Caitlin didn't know which thing to focus on: the ridiculous 'well actually' pun, the permission to call him by a nickname, or the fact he actually winked at her. Quickly regrouping herself, she countered, "Only if you call me Caitlin."

Harry let out a contemplative hum. "I kind of like 'Snow', though. Would you be fine if I just drop the title?"

Pretending to consider the matter, Caitlin brought a hand to her chin. She waited a few moments before dropping her hand back to her side and turning her attention back to Harry. "Only if you use 'Caitlin' sometimes, and let me talk biology with your brilliant daughter."

"Thank you!" Jesse interrupted, laughing. "I was starting to think you both forgot about me!" Pivoting to face her dad, she grabbed his arm. "Please say 'yes', Dad!"

Caitlin watched as Harry processed the fact he'd forgotten his daughter's presence and a pink tinge swept over his cheeks. The color soon faded, and he rolled his eyes at Jesse before pinning Caitlin with an assessing gaze. She held her breath.

"I accept your terms." Ignoring the victorious shout from his daughter, Harry continued. "If you don't have any plans for supper, why don't you join us? There's easily enough for three, and you and Jesse can have one of those talks while I cook."

Butterflies erupted in her stomach, and Caitlin lifted a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. While it still felt too early to begin dating again as the flash of guilt attested, the warm look in those blue eyes made her want to take the next step: open herself to considering it, and he was the first to secure her attention. Maybe one day. For today, however…

"That sounds lovely, Harry. Let me just lock up here, and I'll join you."

"No rush. Take your time, Snow."

She did – in more ways than one – and would later look back on that day as a wonderful start to what became the rest of her life.

A/N: Feedback is always appreciated. :)