A/N: This idea was one that just came to me, and I decided to run with it, so here's a Snowells Thanksgiving fic! Enjoy.
"Hey, Jesse's going to spend Thanksgiving with the Wests, right?"
Glancing up from his work and turning his head, Harry narrowed his eyes at Cisco. "Yes. Why do you ask?"
Cisco blew past that question entirely to ask his own. "Are you going with her, or spending Thanksgiving alone?"
"Ramon," Harry began, pinching the bridge of his nose, "is this going somewhere, or are you just prying?"
"It's going somewhere. Just answer the question."
Setting down his tools, Harry crossed his arms and swiveled his chair to face the other man. "I'm spending it alone, and, no, I would not like to spend the holiday with you."
"I wasn't going to ask – well, not for me," Cisco clarified, grinning. "It's more of a favor for a friend." When Harry waved a hand for him to continue, he plowed on. "You know my friend Caitlin Snow?"
"Yes, the brilliant Head Of Biotech from Mercury Labs. We've met once or twice," Harry confirmed, tone wary. He carefully didn't mention the impression she left on him or allude to anything his coworker could run away with.
Despite the calculatedly indifferent response, Cisco smirked knowingly. "'Brilliant', yes, that's her." He shook his head and continued. "Well, she has a bit of a situation. Her mom, Carla Tannhauser, decided to throw this Thanksgiving science conference, and, as a top employee from Mercury Labs, Caitlin has to go. Her relationship with her mom is pretty strained, and she typically gets ambushed at these things. I normally go along with her, so she has a buffer, but I already agreed to Thanksgiving with Cynthia."
Harry leaned back and absorbed the implications. He'd heard Cisco offhandedly mention how Caitlin's dad died when she was young, and how her mom had isolated herself instead of grieving with her daughter. The two barely spoke, but, whenever they did, her mom criticized and showed nothing but disregard for her daughter – going so far as to barely bat an eye at the news Caitlin had lost her fiancé. While he typically would not be caught dead interacting with Carla Tannhauser – a previous negative experience severing any chance of a business partnership there, his empathy for Caitlin won out. "Where exactly is this conference?"
"The Central City Grand Hotel."
Ignoring the knowing gleam in Cisco's eye, Harry asked, "You cleared this with Dr. Snow, right? She isn't going to be surprised by this?"
"No. I let her know I'd run this by you, and she didn't object." Cisco pulled out his phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then pocketed it. "I just sent you her contact info. The two of you can discuss the details amongst yourselves." The corners of his mouth pulled up. "Thanks, Harry. The guilt at not being able to help her was bugging me, and you're one of the few people I'd trust with this."
"Yeah, well…" Avoiding Cisco's grateful gaze, Harry shrugged a shoulder and swiveled his chair back to resume his work. "I didn't have plans anyway."
"Uh-huh," Cisco hummed, the right corner of his mouth lifting. "Sure. It's not at all because we're friends, and you happen to like Caitlin."
Huffing in frustration at the teasing, Harry deigned not to respond and concentrated on his task with more focus than necessary.
"Okay, sure. Give me the silent treatment, but I know the truth. Let me know how things go on Thursday, boss."
'Yeah, right.'
~CS~HW~
In the days approaching Thanksgiving, Caitlin and Harry had texted each other numerous times. Not all of their correspondence was related to details of the event or what their story would be for her mom and the others – Cisco had always come as a friend, and it was agreed to maintain a platonic cover. He shared with her the contentious history he had with Carla, but it didn't bother her in the slightest. Instead, she seemed pleased at the possibility it could lead to her mom never inviting her to another event again. The rest of their communication was geared towards getting to know one another better so they could better pass as close friends.
Thanksgiving and the time of the conference came far too soon for their liking. Harry picked Caitlin up from her apartment, and both were dressed in line with the dress code for the evening. It'd taken him a moment for his voice to return to him after seeing her in her formal gown, but he managed to compliment her and offer her help in descending the staircase since the elevator was out of service. The initial awkwardness melted away by the time he'd helped her into his car, and they drove off.
A valet had taken the car at the entrance to the hotel and gave Harry a ticket to collect it later. He'd turned to Caitlin and, once more, offered her his arm. She'd accepted, and the two made their way to the conference hall. A few people had stopped them for small talk along the way – recognizing one or both of them. It'd taken a few minutes, but they arrived on time.
Caitlin looked around the venue. All of the tables had nametags. "It looks like there's assigned seating. Why do I feel like my mother put us at the front?"
"Did past events not have assigned seating?" Harry titled his face towards Caitlin and frowned at the frustration in her eyes.
"There was, but it was in alphabetical order," Caitlin explained. She pointed at the table nearest them. "Ms should be in the middle, not the back."
Blue eyes scanned over the nearby nametags, and Harry nodded. "I see what you mean." He stepped aside to let a passing couple go by. "You know, if you'd like to leave, we can just go now."
"No," Caitlin sighed. "I promised Tina I'd attend. She doesn't like my mom any more than you do, but she has her reasons for wanting me here."
"Women in STEM supporting women in STEM, and getting information on a competitor's operations firsthand," Harry spelled out, shoulders slumping. "I get it, but we both know she wouldn't be mad at you for leaving if you need to."
"Yes, I know that." A slight smile lit Caitlin's face as she faced Harry. "It's not that dire yet, though. Let's just see how things play out and at least stick around long enough for dinner."
Lifting an arm, Harry gestured at the path in front of them. "After you, then." He trailed along after her, and, once she found their table and spots, pulled out her chair for her. "It seems she wanted you at her table." He eyed her nametag next to Caitlin's and his in consternation.
"I guess so." Caitlin's frown faded as she sat down, and Harry pushed the chair underneath her. "Thanks, Harry."
"Of course." Taking his seat next to her, Harry paused to reflect on how the nickname he'd resigned himself to sounded far better when leaving her lips. His right leg began to bounce underneath the table. He looked around the conference hall for any recognizable faces and counted out all the business associates he'd worked with or met in the past. "Are these things usually more business or part of the social aspect of running a company?"
Leaning back in her seat, Caitlin thought it over for a few moments. "My mom does give a rundown on projects – current and those planned for the near future, but there tends to be more socializing than business or science. My late fiancé only attended one before…" She fell quiet as the memories of his loss hit her again, and then cleared her throat before continuing, "and Cisco's gone with me to the past three. I typically stay for the main event, eat the dinner, and socialize a bit – about half an hour. After that, I leave."
"I follow a similar game plan – when it's not my own company's event," Harry confessed, mouth twitching. "People tend to react poorly when a host disappears from the party. If that weren't the case, I'd let someone else handle talking with potential investors and business partners."
"You'd rather just hole up in a lab and work while occasionally sending out company e-mails, wouldn't you?" Caitlin inquired, eyes dancing with humor.
Harry shook his head. "I don't mind speaking with my employees or fellow scientists – within reason. It's more so the business people, politicians, and other high profile people who show up." A grin formed on his face, and he locked eyes with Caitlin. "That being said, I do need my alone time and enjoy any chance I can get to work uninterrupted."
Opening her mouth to respond, Caitlin promptly closed it when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. She watched as a few of her mother's top scientists and business associates along with their spouses took their seats at the table – leaving only her mother's seat unoccupied. "Hello, Dr. Wilcox, Mr. Wilcox, Dr. Owens, Mrs. Owens, and Mr. Jones. Happy Thanksgiving!"
The majority of them returned the greeting politely.
"Hi, Caitlin," Dr. Owens replied, tone dismissive. "You decided not to bring that boy this time, I see."
"You mean Dr. Ramon," Caitlin corrected, staring him down pointedly. "I would have brought him along, but he already had other plans. Dr. Wells was kind enough to agree to accompany me."
That caught Dr. Owens attention, and he finally looked over at her company instead of the cursory glance from before. "Hello, Dr. Wells, it's a pleasure." He reached his hand out for a handshake.
Mouth set in a firm line, Harry reluctantly accepted the other man's handshake. "I'm sure it is." He dropped the hand. "Dr. Ramon is one of my best employees and certainly one of the brightest. Thankfully, he chose to work for me." Giving a half-grin, he turned to Caitlin. "Doctor Snow, on the other hand, decided to work for Dr. McGee, and Tina has not stopped boasting about it since."
"That sounds like Christina."
Shoulders tightening slightly, Caitlin glanced over and met the cold eyes of her mother. "Hi, Mom."
"Hello, Caitlin dear." Carla's gaze moved over to Harry. "Harrison."
"Dr. Tannhauser," he returned evenly.
"I see your little friend didn't come this time, and you haven't brought a partner - again," Carla observed, eyeing Caitlin critically. "It's been over four years. Shouldn't you move on already and meet someone new?"
An angry furrow appearing on her brow, Caitlin did her best to keep her volume lowered. "This isn't the time or place for that conversation, Mom, and, frankly, it's none of your business."
"I'm your mother. Of course it's my business!" Carla was about to continue when something over Caitlin's shoulder grabbed her attention. "That's my cue. I have to head up to the podium to get things ready for my speech, but we'll continue this later." She nodded at her colleagues, and then walked away.
Harry tried to keep a hold of his own temper and glared at Carla's retreating back. Once small talk distracted the others, he leaned over to Caitlin. "My offer still stands. If you want to leave, we'll go."
Considering the option, Caitlin eventually shook her head. "I think there's supposed to be an important announcement, and we should at least get a meal out of this."
"Okay." Harry accepted her decision. "How do you want to handle her during dinner? I could change the subject, interrupt her, make a scene so we can escape…" He lifted his eyebrows playfully on the last suggestion and waited for her input.
Caitlin hummed in contemplation. "That last one's tempting, but I wouldn't want you to take that kind of risk. This event's too public, and I know you work with some of these people." A sudden thought struck her, and she huffed out a laugh. "You know what would maybe work? If I told her we were dating or we pretended to get together. She'd never push for me to move on after that." Eyes glinting, she fully faced Harry, and her grin faded at the serious look on his face. "What?"
His tongue darted out to lick his lips, and lowering his voice even further, Harry proposed, "Well, why don't we – pretend, I mean? It seems like this is a recurring problem you have with her, and I wouldn't mind helping. I know what it's like – how it is when people push after that kind of loss." Unbidden, memories of his late wife rose to the surface, and, remembering the pained look on Caitlin's face, his heart squeezed tight.
"Uh." Blinking in surprise, Caitlin studied his face closely. The understanding she found in his eyes sealed the decision for her, and butterflies flitted in her stomach as she allowed herself to register just how attractive she found him – his bright blue eyes and strong features. "Okay. Let's do it."
"Anything I should stay clear of – things that you'd be uncomfortable with?"
"Well, my mother would be skeptical of us already being together. She knows I would have just dropped that information on her earlier, so we should stick to the behavior expected of two people dancing around getting together – significant looks, leaning in close, occasional touches, and side conversations." Pausing for a breath, Caitlin checked to make sure it was okay with him. She continued after he nodded in agreement. "I think we should reserve something more overt like a kiss for if my mother doesn't seem to buy the charade. If you're not comfortable with that, it's fine. We can think of something else. I want you to be comfortable, too."
Holding Caitlin's gaze, Harry assured her, "You wouldn't be making me uncomfortable, but I agree: kissing only as a last ditch effort."
Caitlin's face relaxed into a smile. "Thank you."
"What are you two whispering about over there?"
Seeing Caitlin close down at Dr. Owens' question, Harry answered for the two of them. "I was just telling her about a proposed joint research project between Mercury Labs and STAR Labs I've been discussing with Tina. It deals partially with biology, so I was just getting Dr. Snow's expert opinion."
Dr. Owens puffed himself up. "Oh, really? Well, I happen to know a thing or two about biology even though chemistry is more my focus."
"Fascinating," Harry said, tone indicating it was anything but, and turned back to Caitlin. "Thank you for the advice. I'll bring that up with Tina the next time we speak."
"You're welcome, Harry." Noticing the silent seething from their companion, Caitlin placed a hand on Harry's arm and her smile stretched wider. She let her touch linger a few moments before dropping the contact and twisting in her seat to face the others at the table. Everyone but Dr. Wilcox seemed uncertain how to respond to the exchange, and Dr. Owens's obvious agitation. "Dr. Wilcox, I read your recent publication about fighting climate change. Could you explain more about your theory?"
The woman's eyes lit up, and she seized the opportunity to elaborate on her work. As she spoke, the table's relaxed atmosphere returned, and Dr. Owens even eased up on his sulking. Mr. Jones seemed very interested in the projects she mentioned, so the two ended up in their own side conversation while the others began discussing their personal lives. Before anyone could ask about how Caitlin and Harry met or specifics about their relationship, Carla's speech started.
As Caitlin had told Harry, the speech consisted of a summarized account of Tannhauser Labs' progress in their projects, the funding they'd acquired, and planned projects for the future. She congratulated various heads of her projects on their work, professed pride in her company and employees, and promised to keep breaking ground in science. All in all, it was a fine speech and clearly rehearsed, but Harry found it lacking compared the times he'd talked with Caitlin about her work. Caitlin had passion and wonder whereas Carla seemed detached in her ambition. The warmth and charisma she tried to project was a thin veneer over a cold personality. Caitlin, on the other hand, had a warmth that shone through even when she tried to close herself off – whether because the person was antagonistic or she felt uncertain.
Harry's thoughts remained on that difference, and how Caitlin acted the first time they'd met. It hadn't been too long after she'd lost her fiancé. He'd been leaving a meeting with Tina McGee when their paths crossed. Recognizing her from her picture in a scientific journal and putting together that she was the friend Cisco mentioned helping, he had made sure to introduce himself. She hadn't known how to interact with him – unsure if there was another motive besides politeness and a connection through friends, but their brief conversation had convinced Harry of two things: she was brilliant, and he hoped to meet her again.
To his relief, he'd encountered her a few more times. They'd slowly transitioned from strictly acquaintances to something closer to friends, but neither had pushed for anything outside of business interactions or gatherings involving mutual friends and acquaintances. Harry had his own reasons for not allowing himself to get too close, but all of those seemed to have vanished when Cisco had requested for him to help Caitlin, and he'd had a chance to talk to her about things other than work.
Guilt settled into Harry's stomach as he wondered whether he was taking advantage of the situation, and he resolved to do no more than necessary to help Caitlin. He'd let her lead in whatever they did as part of the ruse. The end of the speech and the subsequent ambiance music playing barely registered in his mind.
Unaware of his inner turmoil, Caitlin bumped her shoulder into his to gain his attention. "She's coming over now."
"A wonderful speech, Carla," Dr. Owens complimented, beaming at her. "I'm sure you convinced quite a few investors. I wouldn't be surprised if you spend the last half of the evening fielding all kinds of offers."
"Oh, Frederick, you're too kind," Carla simpered. "However, you're probably right." Her eyes drifted around the table, and each person her gaze landed on sent her a compliment until she reached Harry. The feigned modesty slipped as irritation broke through. "What about you, Harrison? What did you think of my speech – CEO to CEO?"
Harry considered his words before he spoke. While he knew Caitlin wouldn't mind him being rude or criticizing her, he still wanted to keep things subtle to avoid a scene or too much gossip. Getting kicked out would also prevent him from providing Caitlin with the agreed upon help. "The delivery was smooth," he offered, deciding to keep it short and simple without any digs. He'd wait for her to say something rude first and avoid coming across as petty.
Seeming annoyed at the lackluster response and missing an opportunity to call him out, Carla turned to her daughter. "What about you?"
"I agree with Harry," Caitlin said. "It worked both as a congratulations to your employees, and a pitch to investors." She carefully avoided mentioning the self-congratulatory aspects.
"Oh, thank you, dear," Carla intoned, taking her daughter's words in a more positive light than her companion's. "Practice makes perfect." She sat down in her seat beside Caitlin. "So, back to your personal life…" Her eyebrows lifted pointedly.
Brown eyes settling on Harry's blue, Caitlin's lips curved into the ghost of a smile. "Not that it's any of your business, but you don't have to worry there. I have a feeling things are going to turn around soon."
Carla didn't miss Caitlin's glance at Harry or the way he met her stare. Her mouth pulled in a tight line. "Oh, is that so?" Despite the question, she kept her tone noncommittal.
"Yes." Caitlin flashed a smile.
Switching her focus to Harry, Carla opened her mouth to say something, but the approach of the wait staff forced her to cut the conversation short. "Ah, here we are. The manager assured me their kitchen's Thanksgiving meal is of the utmost quality. While I haven't had this particular meal by them, he's never steered me wrong in the past."
"I'm sure it will be delightful," Dr. Owens agreed, beaming at his boss.
All of the table's occupants leaned back to give the waiters room to serve the meal. The waiters handled their task with expediency and great carefulness. They worked together as a unified front – while one dished out turkey the other ladled out the mashed potatoes and so on. They slowly rounded the table until everyone had each dish on their plate, a roll in their basket, and the beverage of their preference.
Mrs. Owens regarded the retreating staff and, smiling, exclaimed, "My! What excellent service!"
"If all the employees are trained like that, I see why this hotel comes highly rated," Mr. Jones said, grabbing his butter knife. He picked up his roll and inserted the knife into the side. "I've not before had the pleasure of an extended stay in Central City, so this is my first time here."
"Oh?" Carla turned to him and smiled. "We'll have to change that. Central City has quite a few places of interest. I could show you around sometime."
Setting the utensil down once he finished buttering his roll, Mr. Jones nodded agreeably. "I think that could be arranged."
Caitlin traded a look with Harry before sipping her drink. The crisp champagne danced along her taste buds as she swallowed. Placing the glass back on the table, she shifted to face him better. "I didn't ask before, but how are you doing? From what Cisco told me, it's the first Thanksgiving you're spending without your daughter. That must be tough."
"It is, but it isn't," Harry began, tone resigned. "She's a young adult, and I'm glad things are serious enough where she has someone to share holidays with, but seeing her so grown up…it's taking time to get used to."
Heart squeezing at the vulnerability in his blue eyes, Caitlin instinctively reached out a hand to hold his. "I can only imagine." Her grip tightened in solidarity. "Did she invite you to go along, or was the plan to spend it alone this year?"
Harry brushed his thumb over her knuckles and smiled at the genuine concern he found in her eyes. Despite their ruse for her mother, he knew the conversation she initiated was separate from that, and it made warmth bloom in his chest. "Jesse did tell me I was included in the Wests' invitation, but I declined. It's their first Thanksgiving together as an official couple, and also when Wally's introducing her to his family. I didn't want to get in the middle of that since I sometimes don't make the best first impression. I did, however, agree to go to their Christmas Eve party. Jesse and Wally are spending Christmas Eve there but Christmas with me, and I somehow got roped into handling the Christmas Day festivities for everyone."
Caitlin laughed at the faint exasperation on his face and released his hand. "Not a fan of Christmas?"
"It's not that." Shaking his head, Harry took up his fork and knife and began cutting his turkey into smaller pieces. "I like Christmas just fine. It's hosting people. For over a decade, it's just been the two of us, so we've always celebrated on a smaller scale. I'm not used to so many guests outside of official company business."
"How many people are we talking?"
"Outside of Jesse and myself, there are five certainties, but it could be seven if Ramon decides to invite himself and his girlfriend." Harry attempted to look put off by the thought, but he could tell Caitlin was unconvinced.
Amusement shined in Caitlin's eyes. "That's definitely more than a two-person celebration." She tapped her fingers against her fork. "Maybe I could help. I know a little something about hosting a number of people since I throw a little holiday get-together for the staff in my department."
"I'd appreciate that." Harry's face softened as he regarded her. "You'd naturally be invited."
"It's a deal," Caitlin stated, playfully holding out her hand. She tried not to blush as his warm hand enveloped her smaller one. "As for first impressions, I can help you out there, too."
All of the background chatter faded into a distant buzz as Harry locked gazes with her. "I'm suddenly looking forward to Christmas," he murmured, the words slipping out. Heat shot up his neck, and he dropped her hand. Thankfully, she didn't seem bothered by the admission, but he still shook himself out of the haze to focus on their surroundings.
The Wilcoxes were watching them with matching grins while Dr. Owens discussed business with Mr. Jones, and Carla pretended to listen to Mrs. Owens talk about the latest fashion. If one didn't pay close attention, they'd miss the way Carla's attention kept drifting to the two to her left. A slight frown rested on her features, but, by the bubbly chatter, Mrs. Owens hadn't noticed.
Following the direction of Harry's stare, Caitlin picked up on the situation, too, and they shared a victorious look. She gripped her fork with one hand as the other reached out for her knife. After cutting a bite of turkey, she used her fork to gather mashed potato and gravy on the meat before bringing it up to her mouth. The savory flavors blended together in a way that had her stifling a moan.
"Caitlin dear, are you mixing your food?"
Caitlin barely caught herself before she rolled her eyes. "It's not as if I'm turning it into one big food pile like the younger brother in A Christmas Story, Mom. These foods are meant to be eaten together."
Carla scoffed. "Maybe for those from a different socioeconomic background."
"I think it's more a matter of preference. Most people would prefer combining flavors rather than eating one part of the meal at a time or taking a turn on each one. Unless someone's chewing with their mouth open or making a mess, it doesn't matter," Harry said, struggling to strike a balance between defending Caitlin without revealing the outright disdain he felt for her mother.
"I agree," Mr. Wilcox chimed in. He scooped up some of his potatoes onto his turkey for emphasis. "Turkey – no matter how well prepared – is bland without mashed potatoes and gravy."
Dr. Wilcox, recognizing the tension, switched topics. "Dr. Snow, I heard your department is doing some exciting research. Is there any project at Mercury Labs you're free to talk about? I'd love to hear about it."
"I can't get into details, but we are studying certain degenerative conditions in an effort to find a way to cease the conditions and possibly even reverse the effects. It's all early stages, though. We have other projects, and I take care to put my top researchers in to oversee the day-to-day progress on those, but that's the one I'm most excited about," Caitlin revealed, knowing Tina wouldn't mind her sharing.
"That's an awfully big project," Dr. Owens commented.
Hearing the implication from his tone that it would be too much for her, Caitlin smile sharpened, and she said, "Yes, it is. Dr. McGee has full confidence in my team and me."
"A confidence that is well-founded," Harry added. "Tina takes great pleasure in reminding me how STAR Labs always come in second place with biotechnology and how it went from a slight margin to a landslide."
"Oh, come on, Harry. I'm not single-handedly responsible for our success. It's a group effort," Caitlin maintained, fighting a blush.
"Yes, a group that significantly shot up in efficiency, innovation, and output only after you went from a member to a department head," Harry pointed out. His blue eyes bore into the brown of hers.
Losing the battle against her blush, Caitlin laid a hand above his elbow and squeezed his arm in thanks. The firmness of his bicep made her temporarily forget what she was going to say. "Okay, I admit I play a significant part in our success, but my point still stands." She released his arm and picked up her discarded fork. "I couldn't do it without everyone else – their efforts and skill."
Dr. Wilcox nodded. "I've heard Dr. McGee only hires the best, and there's been some chatter about a couple of your project leaders. Apparently, they do their job so well there have been some attempts at poaching." Her green eyes flickered briefly over to Carla.
"If it weren't for my friendship with Tina and my respect for her company, I'd try to persuade this one to come over to STAR Labs," Harry said, gesturing towards Caitlin. The corners of his mouth twitched as he feigned disappointment. "Unfortunately, I already know she'd turn me down and stay with Mercury Labs."
"Oh, I don't know. It'd depend on what you tried persuading me with," Caitlin posed, leaning in close.
Harry studied her a moment – the sparkle in her eyes and the deliberate flirtatious edge for their audience's benefit, and carefully roughened his voice to match her energy. "I'm sure we could think of something."
"Well," Carla exclaimed, clapping her hands together, "the food's starting to get cold, and dessert will be out shortly. Unless you're already full, I'd suggest eating before the wait staff come to collect plates."
Hiding a smirk, Caitlin dug back into her food. Her eyes occasionally moved in Harry's direction, and they'd share a smile. Light conversation interspersed the rest of the meal, but not to the point where the food was neglected. By the time the waiters returned with dessert, most of them had eaten everything on their plate. Mrs. Owens left her cranberry sauce uneaten and had eaten a small portion of her stuffing while Carla's stuffing was left untouched. The plates were cleared away by two waiters as a third wheeled over a dessert cart.
"We have pumpkin pie, cherry cobbler, chocolate pie, and apple cobbler," the waiter announced. "What would you like?"
Carla declined her dessert, but the others all selected their preference. "Tell the person in charge that the dancing music can be put on in a quarter of an hour."
"Will do," one waiter said, nodding. He secured his grip on the plates and headed towards the kitchen entrance.
Thanking the waiter as he placed her dessert in front of her, Caitlin reached for her dessert fork. "I was tempted by the apple cobbler, but the chocolate pie looked too good to pass up."
H
Harry's gaze switched between her and his own dessert, and a grin pulled at his lips. "For me, it was the reverse." He took his first bite.
"How is it?" Caitlin asked, watching him chew. She lifted her own forkful of dessert to her lips as she awaited his answer.
"Just the right blend of cinnamon and sugar mixed in with the spices, and the crust is buttery yet sweet," Harry described, already using his fork's edge to prepare another bite. "How's the chocolate pie?"
Swallowing her dessert, Caitlin thought it over and then stated, "Creamy and rich without being overly sweet to the point you need a drink after every bite – in one word: perfect" She brought her fork back down on the pie even as she eyed his cobbler. An idea dawned on her. "I have a proposal."
Harry paused with his fork halfway to his mouth and locked eyes with her. "Go on." From the unique light in her eyes, he knew whatever came out of her mouth next was an extension of the masquerade.
"Since you wanted to try the chocolate pie and I wanted to try the apple cobbler, let's share," Caitlin suggested. "You can have the last two bites of this if you let me have the last bites of that."
"You have yourself a deal." Feeling stares on them, Harry doubled down on the flirtation with a wink. He pretended not to notice their audience and instead continued eating his dessert as Caitlin did the same with hers. Once two bites were left, he set down his fork. He waited until she copied the movement before scooping some of the cobbler onto his fork. "Ladies first." Resting an elbow on the table, he held the fork out for her until it hovered a few inches from her lips.
After taking a sip of her water, Caitlin leaned forward and placed a steadying hand on his wrist. Her mouth opened as she gingerly accepted the first bite. The spiced apple flavor hit her taste buds, and a pleased hum left her throat. "You weren't kidding. This is good." Smiling, she moved back a bit to meet his eyes. Her fingers remained on his wrist, and the warmth from the contact didn't compare to the heat that rushed through her at his stare.
"We'll have to ask for the recipe," Harry murmured. Clearing the accidental rough note from his voice, he busied himself with getting the last bite on his fork and fought down his blush. He breathed in through his nose and closed his eyes briefly to center himself. When he opened his eyes, he felt more in control. He raised the fork and held Caitlin's gaze.
Caitlin's hand lifted to rest against his wrist once more, and she leaned in for the last bite. Her mouth closed around the dessert. Pulling back, she let her fingers fall away from his wrist and held his gaze as she swallowed. "Your turn." Brown eyes brightened as she grabbed her own fork to get a piece of her pie.
Dropping his fork, Harry watched her work a piece of pie onto hers. Her brow lowered in concentration, and he felt his expression shift from something intense into one more fond. He opted against steadying a hand on her wrist – not trusting himself to remember it was a ruse, but instead leaned down to take the proferred bite. His lips closed around the fork before he eased off with the dessert. He chewed it for a few moments and swallowed. "We should get the recipe for this one, too."
Caitlin chuckled. "So, you like it?"
"I do," Harry said, biting back the instinct to let her know he didn't just mean the dessert. He didn't think he could play it off as part of the act.
"Good," Caitlin stated. She secured the last of the pie on the fork and held it out for him. "I wouldn't want you to regret trading the last of your cobbler for it."
Swallowing the chocolate concoction, Harry smiled. "No chance of that." His smile dropped as he saw Caitlin frowning at him. "What is it?"
The frown eased of Caitlin's face, and she chuckled. "Nothing serious. You just have a little…" She gestured at her own face by the corner of her mouth briefly before licking her right thumb. Holding his face gently with her left hand, she brushed the smear of chocolate away. "There. All better."
Harry blinked. A ringing started in his ears and drowned out the background noises as the place she touched tingled. "Thanks."
"No problem." Caitlin still didn't lower her hand. As Harry's blue eyes bore into her, all thoughts of their companions vanished. It felt as if they were suddenly thrown together in a bubble, and she was in no hurry for it to burst.
"Have you both finished?" A male voice asked.
Blinking rapidly, Caitlin lowered her hand and turned towards the source of the question.
The waiter smiled between the two of them and awaited an answer. The name Steven was emblazoned on his nametag.
Sound came rushing back to Harry, and he wordlessly nodded and gathered their plates to hand off to the man.
"Thank you. I trust you both enjoyed your dessert." Steven stacked their plates on top of the others he'd collected.
"We did," Caitlin confirmed, grateful for the opportunity to switch the focus off them. "Any chance of us getting the recipe for the chocolate pie and apple cobbler?" She absently used her napkin to wipe the chocolate off her thumb.
Steven chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry. I've tried getting Chef Gutierrez to share with me, but it's a family recipe. He says his grandma would come back from the spirit world just to tell him off." He leaned in conspiratorially. "However, I can tell you that his cousin runs a bakery in the downtown area, and you can get them for a good price there. The name's La Vida Dulce."
A grin stretched Caitlin's face. "I'll look them up."
"And I'll pass your compliments on to our chef," Steven promised. With another smile, he turned around and returned to the kitchen.
"The nerve of some people. I can't believe he was promoting a friend's business while working on the job. Someone should speak to his manager," Dr. Owens grumbled. "Did anyone catch his name?"
Carla wagged her head and sighed. "No such luck. I was…distracted by other matters." Her eyes flitted over to Caitlin and Harry.
"Oh, come on. He looked to be college age, and I specifically asked about the dessert," Caitlin argued. "He did nothing wrong."
"I agree. He was friendly and polite just like all of our other waiters tonight." Dr. Wilcox kept her tone firm. "It's not like he was handing out business cards to all of the guests or neglecting his job."
"Right you are, dear," Mr. Wilcox agreed, smiling pleasantly. He ignored the tension lingering at the table and made a show of recognizing the song playing. "They're playing our song. Would you care to dance, my love?"
Dr. Wilcox smiled wide. "I'd love to."
The two stood from their seats and disappeared in the direction of the dance floor, where a few other people had gathered.
Mrs. Owens eyed her husband and seemed as if she hoped he'd asked her, but he kept his stern gaze fixed on Caitlin.
"You know what his name is," he accused her.
"Whether she does or doesn't know his name, it's none of your business, Dr. Owens. You should celebrate with your wife and appreciate getting to spend the holiday together rather than trying to get a young man fired. If you want to be miserable, keep your own company," Harry cut in, brow drawn low. He switched his attention to Caitlin, and his face relaxed into something softer. "May I have this dance?" He extended his hand towards her.
Caitlin placed her hand in his and ignored the other four at their table. "You may."
Standing up, Harry helped her to her feet and pulled her close as they headed off. More than half of the guests had remained seated to converse with those at or around their tables. The others were split between standing together in groups, moving around from table to table, and swaying on the dance floor. Most of the pathways to the dance floor were unblocked, but some areas required navigating passersby or politely asking someone to step aside for a moment. After a minute or so, Caitlin and Harry arrived at their destination. They found a free spot with lots of elbow room and seized the section of the dance floor.
Harry settled one hand at her waist while the other rose to grip her hand. He kept about a half foot of space between them. "Well, we made it through dinner and dessert, and your mother has yet to bring up dating. I think our mission was a success."
"Yes." Caitlin chuckled as she placed her free hand on his shoulder. "I don't think she's going to bring it up again any time soon – if at all."
Humming low in his throat and grinning, Harry stepped forward to begin their dance. "How long before you'll want to get out of here?"
"Maybe two dances," Caitlin said, effortlessly following his lead. "Then we'll return to the table to say our goodbyes, and I'll grab my purse." She responded to his nonverbal cue for the turn. "You're good at this."
"I find dancing's a skill that can be useful in business, but that's not what caused me to learn it." Harry fell into the rhythm further and relied on his internal metronome to keep them in beat to the music. "You're good at this, too. I don't dance often anymore, but my most recent partners have either stepped on my toes or moved out of time – if not both."
Stifling a laugh, Caitlin squeezed his shoulder in sympathy. "My mother insisted on me learning how to dance, and it took a while, but I figured it out." She considered his earlier words and asked, "Why'd you decided to learn how to dance?"
"I'd just started dating my late wife, and I already knew she was the one I wanted to spend my life with, so I took lessons. I didn't want a time to come where we'd have to dance and risk stepping on her toes. I wanted to impress her." Harry paused as a smirk nudged at his lips and replaced his solemn expression. "And I did. She, however, was more familiar with the stand in place and sway method of dancing."
"Nothing wrong with that," Caitlin said, amused. "I had to teach Ronnie, my late fiancé, but I didn't mind. I had a fun time showing him. We made a lot of memories." Her smile took a bittersweet edge, but she shook herself out of it as she spun under his arm. She heard the song's final notes taper off. "Would you care for another dance, or prefer to head out now?"
Harry's eyes scanned Caitlin's face, and, upon seeing her content expression, said, "I think one more dance would be perfect. I'd forgotten what it's like with a suitable partner." He moved once he found the flow of the new song. "Besides, it looks like your mom, and Mr. Jones joined us. I'm sure you'd hate to deprive her of a show."
Caitlin snuck a discrete glance over in the direction Harry nodded before returning her eyes to him. "You'd be right." Her grin relaxed into something sincere. "Even without that incentive, I'd agree. This has been nice – dancing with you. It's the first time for me since…" She took a shuddering breath. "Anyways, I'm glad it's with you instead of one of my mother's business friends or a notorious toe-stepper."
"I'm honored," Harry whispered, awestruck. "I'd never step on your toes."
"I believe you."
Seeing Carla and Mr. Jones sidle closer to them, Harry pitched his voice low. "How do you feel about being dipped?"
Caitlin considered the question before replying, "It depends on the partner, but I trust you."
"Great. On three then." Harry's fingers tapped down the count on her waist, and, as he finished their rotation, he brought his left leg forward into a lunge while he dipped her low. He felt the hand on his shoulder travel across his back until her arm wrapped around his shoulders. Once he'd held her for a few seconds, he maneuvered them back until they were full upright. Their chests pressed flush against each other, and he couldn't tear his away from hers.
Breathless, Caitlin forgot about her mom nearby. Her pulse quickened as neither of them made a move to step back but instead started swaying in place. She opened her mouth and searched for something to say. Nothing came to mind, and, needing to break the intense eye contact to get her thoughts in order, she turned her head and let her cheek rest on his shoulder. The motion of their sway calmed her heart rate, and she sighed.
They continued swaying together quietly until the song's final strings died down. With great reluctance, they pulled away from each other and glanced around. Caitlin didn't see her mother or anyone they knew on the dance floor, so they walked off arm-in-arm to return to their table. Since a handful of the guests left, they didn't have to move around anyone on the journey back. The sight of their dinner companions seated around the table greeted them.
"Hey, Mom, Harry and I are going to head out for the night. Thank you for the invitation. I had a lot of fun," Caitlin began, smiling. Miraculously, her statement was true unlike the countless other times she'd said as much in the past to avoid an argument.
Carla shifted to glance between them and the lines around her eyes tightened. "Are you sure, dear? I had a few people I wanted to introduce to you."
Knowing that meant either an attempt to get her to switch to Tannhauser Labs or a different kind of set-up, Caitlin fought a groan. "Yes, I'm sure, Mom. I have an early work day and want to make sure I get some sleep." She switched her attention to the others at the table. "Dr. Owens. Mrs. Owens. Mr. Jones" She nodded at them. "Dr. Wilcox, it was a pleasure. I hope things work out with your project." She exchanged smiles with the other woman. "Mr. Wilcox. Have a good night!"
"Good night, Caitlin," Mr. Wilcox said, tone friendly.
Harry leaned down to grab Caitlin's purse, and, straightening up, handed it to her. "It was nice meeting you all." Despite his all-inclusive words, his attention stayed on the Wilcoxes.
"Okay, dear. Good night." Carla rose from her seat to embrace Caitlin. She kept it brief and methodical. "We'll talk later." Her eyes moved to Harry. "Harrison." The line of her mouth tightened. "Glad you could make it."
Resisting an eye roll at the insincerity dripping from her words, Harry nodded. "I'm glad Caitlin invited me."
"Well," Caitlin broke in, "We'll be off now." Gripping Harry's arm with hers, she steered them away from the table and towards the doors. She waited until they were out of earshot. "Thanks for your help with all of that. Despite certain moments, I really did have a good time." Her grip relaxed.
"Me, too." Harry smiled over at her. "Let me know if you need any help with her around Christmas."
Laughing, Caitlin promised to do just that.
The two walked together in comfortable silence. They passed hotel staff and guests, but no one blocked their path or stopped them to chat. Since most of the conference guests hadn't left, they didn't bump into anyone they knew. Caitlin took the opportunity to admire the gold and ivory ascents in the foyer. In her earlier anxiety, the beauty had escaped her notice. Harry took over leading, and he guided her through the inner door.
Stopping for a moment, Harry pulled out his valet ticket. He opened the final door and allowed Caitlin through first. "Here's my ticket." He handed it to the valet who'd parked his car.
"Right on it, sir!" The man disappeared from sight to retrieve the car.
Rubbing her bare arms, Caitlin shivered in the night air. "I forgot how quickly temperatures drop this time of year." She held her arms tight against her body in an effort to keep the night air from stealing her heat. Instinctively, she moved closer to Harry to share warmth.
Harry's eyes lowered, and, seeing the goosebumps along Caitlin's arms, frowned. The chill scarcely registered for him since his feet were fully covered like most of his skin whereas she was more exposed. The fingers on his right hand moved down to unbutton his suit jacket. He worked the two buttons out of their hole and carefully pulled his arms free one at a time. Moving the jacket in front of him, he draped it over her shoulders.
"Oh, you didn't have to do that," Caitlin protested, trying not to sink into the warmth. "My mom's not here. You don't have to pretend you're interested in dating me anymore."
"I didn't do it as part of an act. I did it because I wanted to." Leaning in closer, Harry adjusted the jacket so it rested on her more securely. "There." He pulled back. "Better?"
Gripping the material close, Caitlin nodded. "Much. Thank you, Harry."
"You're welcome." Harry glanced up and down the street. "Not a lot of traffic tonight. I guess most people are at home."
"I guess so." Noticing the familiar car driving around the corner, Caitlin reached out and tugged on Harry's sleeve. "The valet's returning."
The valet drove under the portico and parked right in front of them. He turned the engine off before opening the door and hopping out of the driver's seat. Rounding the vehicle, he smiled. "Here you are, sir. Ma'am." He extended the keys to Harry. "I hope you had a pleasant visit at the Central City Grand Hotel."
"We did," Caitlin confirmed. "Thank you."
"Glad to hear it."
Harry fished out his wallet and grabbed a twenty-dollar bill. After closing his wallet and shoving it back into his pocket, he handed the man his tip. "Have a good evening, Shawn."
Shawn stared at the bill in shock, and then smiled wide. "I will! Thank you, sir!"
"You're welcome." Harry followed Caitlin to the car. Leaning over to open the passenger's door, he held it open for her. He offered her a hand.
Once she lowered herself into her seat, Caitlin released Harry's hand. The door closed beside her, and she buckled her seatbelt. She glanced over as he opened the door on the driver's side. Waiting until he'd slid in next to her and shut his door, she asked, "Do you want your jacket back now?"
Harry shook his head and started the car. "Keep it until we get to your apartment." He reached out to turn on the heat. After ensuring there was no traffic, he pulled out of the portico and turned onto the street. "So, straight home, or is there somewhere else you have in mind?"
"Straight home," Caitlin said. "I may have exaggerated the urgency to get home, but I do have some work to finish before tomorrow. Besides, I'd like to get into my pajamas and relax for the rest of the night."
"Understandable." Chuckling, Harry steered them onto the right road to lead them in the direction of her apartment. "I'm probably going to change as soon as I get home."
Caitlin smiled at the confession. "Me, too."
Relaxing, the two felt no need to say anything further, so they lapsed into silence. Harry kept his eyes on the road as Caitlin watched the buildings and lights through the window. She placed her forearm on the door's armrest to get a closer look at street signs. Harry changed lanes a few times, took a couple lefts, and a few rights. After a while, they pulled into her apartment complex, and he parked in one of the last available spots.
"Let me walk you up," Harry offered, removing his key from the ignition.
"It's fine. You don't have to."
"It's no problem. I insist." The right corner of Harry's mouth lifted. "Please. I just want to be sure you got home safe."
Caitlin sighed, but her mouth twitched. "Okay, fine, but only on the condition you text me when you arrive home, so I know you made it home safe, too."
"Deal."
~CS~HW~
Groaning at the light streaming through his window, Harry rolled onto his side and tiredly opened his eyes. He reached out for the phone on his nightstand and checked the time. The digital clock on the lock screen read 7:16. Stretching his back and yawning, he allowed himself a moment to wake up and find the energy to leave bed. A hand lifted to rub the sleep out of his eyes as he pulled the covers away from his body. He swung his legs over the side of the bed. Pushing himself up, he retreated to his bedroom's adjoining bathroom.
He exited once he'd finished his morning rituals and made a beeline for his dresser. He opened the drawer for his underwear and socks before moving onto the one where he kept his undershirts. Placing the clothes under his left arm, he closed the drawers and headed towards his bed to drop them off. His feet carried him to his closet next. He walked into the open room, and his eyes scanned over his work clothes. He reached for his dark navy suit, a white button-up, and brown pair of Oxfords.
After changing and remaking his bed, he sat down to put on his watch. He secured the clasp, and then checked the time. The small hand pointed just past eight as the big hand pointed at three. Realizing he had time to spare, Harry picked up his phone and contemplated whether to make breakfast or pick something up. Those thoughts froze once he scrolled through his notifications. He unlocked his phone and clicked into his messages. He selected his chat with Jesse first.
The text from the night before, which confirmed everything went well with the Wests, was no longer the most recent message. In its place was something different: Hey, Dad, so Cisco tells me you're seeing someone now. When can I meet her?
"Ramon," Harry growled, clicking out of the chat without replying. He moved onto the text from Tina in the hopes business would calm him down before he dealt with the slew of messages from the other man. Unfortunately, she'd sent him a cheeky inquiry about his attempts to seduce one of her top scientists away from Mercury Labs.
Groaning and resigning himself to the inevitable, he opened the chat with Cisco. He had to scroll a ways up before he reached the start of the new texts. They were a roller coaster.
'Hey, so how did things go? Is Caitlin okay?'
'Wait, I didn't mean that in a 'I expected you to be mean' way, but with her mom and stuff! Was it bad?'
'Come on, Harry! Don't tell me you fell asleep already! It's only 10!'
'I'd ask Caitlin, but she goes to bed absurdly early sometimes.'
'Fine. If you won't tell me, I'll ask one of my other contacts.'
'DID YOU'
'Sent that too early. Hold on…'
'DID YOU HOOK UP WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS? I asked you to be her buffer with her mom – not get in the buff with her!'
'Shit, you're my boss. Sorry for all the capitals.'
'And the swearing.'
'BUT, did you?'
'Okay, I guess it wouldn't be all that bad if you two got together. You're both pretty similar actually, and I know you'd be good to her. I'm just trying to process this.'
'You know, if you don't respond in the next few minutes, I'll assume I'm right and tell everyone.'
'Okay! I'm taking this as you're officially together. Remember to make me the Best Man since I technically set this up even if it wasn't the result I was going for originally!'
'I gotta go to bed, but, seriously, if you two like each other, go for it.'
'Just don't tell me the details!'
Blinking to absorb it all, Harry backed out of the chat. His finger hovered over Caitlin's name for a few seconds before he tapped on it. His unease ebbed away as he read the new text, and a smile formed.
'I know I already said thank you for what you did last night, but I'd like to thank you properly. How about Jitters at 8:30?'
He checked the time, and, seeing he'd have no problem making it, typed his response. 'I'll be there.' Standing up, he crossed the floor of his bedroom to turn off the lights and head out.
'Great! See you soon!'
'Hey…did Cisco bombard you with texts, too, by any chance?'
An amused huff left him, but unease crept up his spine once more as he paused at the top of the staircase. 'He did.'
'Does it bother you?'
'That he thinks we're dating, I mean.'
Weighing the best way to handle the situation, Harry decided to be honest. 'Maybe I should have considered the wider ramifications of our actions last night and how it'd lead others to that conclusion. I didn't. I was focused solely on helping you. That being said, I don't regret it. I can clear things up with Ramon.' He slipped his phone into his pocket, so he could descend the steps without distraction. He reached the first floor and turned to make his way to the entry hallway to gather his keys and a jacket. Once he'd slipped the outer layer on, he retrieved his phone to check for her reply.
'I don't regret it either.'
'…I also don't mind that other people think we're together.'
Harry paused on his way out the door and tried to figure out her meaning. 'I don't mind it either. I just figured it'd be best to let those who matter know the truth, so there's no expectation of keeping up a pretense that'd make you feel uncomfortable.'
'I didn't feel uncomfortable with you, Harry. Quite the opposite.'
'Did you feel uncomfortable?'
'No, not at all.'
'Well, good. I do agree we should tell Cisco the truth, though…although he might not believe us.'
'Or he'll pretend he doesn't just to annoy me.'
'Probably.'
Already exhausted by that thought, Harry locked his front door. He tried to muster up irritation, but the only emotions that rose up were hope and anticipation. 'Maybe we should try annoying him first.'
'I'm game! How do you propose we do that?'
'I'll tell you over breakfast.'
'Okay. I look forward to it.:)'
Harry smiled and tucked his phone back into his pocket. As he entered his car and buckled in, the thought of Caitlin waiting for him and their burgeoning friendship tinged with the possibility of something more buzzed in his veins. The memory of her promise to help him with the Christmas party shot to the forefront of his mind. It'd been a while since he viewed the holidays as anything other than a nice change of pace to spend more time with his daughter in between navigating the business side of things, but, for the first time in a while, he felt cheerful anticipation, and he knew it had everything to do with the woman he was meeting at Jitters.
It was all thanks to one Caitlin Snow.
A/N: Feedback is always appreciated! :)