I don't own The Flash.

Sorry ahead of time for mistakes.

I know this story will be out of character for Iris, and sort of for everyone, but I think it'll be okay.

Coming home after being stuck in the speed force for 6 months was a reality check. His whole life around him changed. Coming out of his haze after saving Iris was particularly troubling. There was a guy in the background screaming her name over and over again. Begging.

The moment they got back to Star Labs this man was all over her. Kissing her and hugging her, and the worst part was, she was doing it right back to him. Putting her hands in his chestnut hair, and reaching up to his face and meeting his lips. Barry didn't move, didn't act upon the sight. He understood. She listened to him and moved on. He couldn't be mad, how could he? He told her to. He had no intentions of coming back, but after endless hours, days, and years of torture, he thought he made it back to his old life. In reality, there was a hole inside him, and it was too large for an ordinary patch to fix. No amount of happiness or love would fix it.

He thought that until Caitlin walked in with a baby in her arms. Barry glanced at Iris. She stared back at him, looking almost guilty. The baby was brought to Barry. Cait let go of the child and put the baby girl in his hesitently outstretched arms.

The young child resembled Iris. But more so himself. He knew instantly that the child was his. Iris must have been pregnant before he left. There was no way her and that, man, had a child in the 6 months he was gone.

Tears whelled in his eye. Despite all that he was feeling, he smiled as tears of happiness slid down his cheeks and onto the babie's forehead. In that moment, he swore to protect her from anything and everything.

He didn't care that he was letting his heart out in front of all of his friends. They starred at him with pity, but he didn't want it. Iris did the best she could, and he can't hold it against her. Although deep down, he wished she had waited. The again she couldn't have known when he would come home, could've been days, weeks, moths, years, decades, never.

Joe came up behind him to put a hand on his shoulder, and lead him towards a chair. The baby opened her newly made eyes and starred at the big man holding her. She'd never seen Barry before. And instead of crying like if any other stranger were to hold her, she stayed silent, even smiled. She felt safe with him.

" Daddy's home," Barry said quietly enough so that no one heard him.

After hours of catching up with people, Barry got sent home with Joe. Iris moved out of their apartment, but left it in his name. It was going to be up for rent no less than a week later, but Barry came back. He was glad that Iris and that guy he now knows as Ryan, moved out of what before was his and Iris' place. Although it was gonna hurt going back there, he would eventually have to. But tonight, he's going to Joe's. He was gonna spend a night with Joe and his new daughter, which he learned was named Autumn. She was absolutely beautiful. She had, remarkably, blue eyes and brown hair, and a bi racial skin tone, although it leaned more whiter.

Him being real smart with science, he knew it would probably get darker as she got older as the pigment developed. Although sometimes bi racial couples could have completely white or black children. It wasn't common, so he knew it probably wouldn't happen.

" Hey Bear, dinner is ready!" John yelled to him from the kitchen. He found it a little unessesary as he was only on the couch. He put the sleeping, warm baby way to the back of the couch and put pillows next to her so she couldn't fall. He got up and walked into the dining room.

Joe was already sitting with food in front of him. He had to admit, it looked really good, but he didn't have that big of an appetite right now.

But he didn't want to put more stress on Joe, so he decided he'd eat as much as he could administer.

" I figure coming back to this was a little tramadic, so I made sure no one else was here," John said smiling at his boy. Joe was thrilled Barry was home. It was about damn time too.

" Thanks, it was," Barry said looking down slightly.

Joe could practically see the thoughts going through Barry's head. All frazzled and broken.

" Look. I know this whole thing with Iris is," Joe searched for his words," Caotic. But I promise it'll get better. I told her she shouldn't get with Ryan, at least no yet, but you know her. She insisted. Then finding out about Autumn with no father, it was hard, and she needed something, or someone. I'm sorry Bear,"

Barry nodded.

" I'm sorry too. But now I have a wonderful, beautiful daughter," Barry smiled at the doorway where inside was his baby girl.

" Well, I think that's enough hecticness for tonight, let's dig in."

Barry mentally agreed and took a bite of the delicious smelling food. He definitely missed this, so , so much.

Although the lack of talking was a little weird, he now had time to think. He really wasn't father material. He was always out as The Flash, always putting the people he loves in danger. He had to fix it, for his daughter's sake. She was so precious and gentle, he can't let anything happen to her, not a thing. This he had to do. If anything he can do right these days, it has to be this.

" You alright Barry?" John said seeing as though Barry was blankly starring off.

" Yeah, it's just, I don't want to mess her up, Autumn. Iris and I were gonna wait a while before we knew we could handle it, and I wouldn't put her in danger with the line of work I'm in,"

Joe nodded, and smiled at the concern that laced Barry's voice. The voice of a proud, scared, concerned father.

" There's always gonna be things that you want to protect them from. Bookshelves, monsters, people who sneeze. But being a father means you try, and you don't have to be perfect. If any father was perfect, they'd be made up," That eased some pressure building in Barry's chest.

" Thanks Joe,"

" You're welcome, now eat your food before I get offended,"

Helping Iris as much as he could to raise their daughter was becoming a challenge. She always tried to take Autumn a for longer and always tried to keep him away from her. Almost like he was gonna hurt her. Barry would never, ever hurt Autumn. He loved her. But one thing he didn't love was Ryan all over her. Ryan wasn't her father, Barry was. She was only two weeks old, and she needed to know who her father was. She shouldn't be raised by this substitute if she didn't have to be. Barry would've done anything to be with his mother and father until he moved out and grew up. He needed this. If Ryan could have his fiancé, he couldn't have his child too.

Despite all that at his home life, he also got his job at the CCPD back. Singh was surprised to see Barry. They all thought he left Joe and Iris. That was a wake up call for the whole precinct.

He also felt angry that they would even think that he'd do that, I guess none of them really knows him.

He thought that his life was lonely, sitting on his couch without his family or friends there. Sitting in his old apartment he used to share with the love of his life sucked when there was no one to join him. But then a knock at the door startled him from his thoughts.

He opened the door not expecting to see Iris standing there nervously. She just standed there, and so did he until she darted at him and kissed him.

Although he secretly wanted the kiss, he was startled and confused. He was too shocked to react.

She knew that he was, and to be honest she was kind of too. All she knew, was she needed to see, feel him for just one more time. Then leave, maybe move on.

" Iri-" He was cut off by Iris taking his over shirt off and continuously kissing him.

" Shh, I need this," she whispered and started to tumble them into their old room. Barry knew he shouldn't be doing this, especially if Iris has a boyfriend, but he craved this. Ever since he came back, he needed her. The night was spent with the two of them in the bedroom, together. Although Barry had craved sex, afterwards he felt guilty. She was with another man now.

He had just woken up to find her gone. He was sort of startled to find himself naked in his bed, but then remembered everything. He almost wanted to groan at the thought of what everyone would think if they found out.

It wasn't until he realized they didn't used a condom before he started to really worry.

If you liked it please review. Not many people usually read my stories.