Barry Allen had never pictured himself as a single dad, yet here he was, looking at the note from one Iris West-Allen at three thirty in the morning, the echoing sound of the door being shut still playing in his mind. He knew he could race to the airport and catch her before caught her flight; knew she knew that too. The only thing stopping him was the fact that Iris left on her volition. She chose to pack her things and walk out the door, ultimately walking out on Abby too. Barry leaned over the crib, staring down at his sleeping daughter as he carded his fingers through her dark curls. "Looks like it's just you and me, kiddo."

It was fine that it was the two of them; he'd make it work.

XXX

Two years later.

"Are you sure you don't mind watching Abby, Caitlin?" Barry asked his best friend, glancing at his wristwatch. He was due to meet Joe in twenty minutes, the grandfather still a very much active member of Abby and his life. Caitlin smiled fondly, shooing him out of the door.

"Barry, you know I love watching Abby," she said. "It's better than a night out with some creep who only wants to bed me."

Barry frowned. He did not like the sound of that. "Okay, how about you watch Abby every night and ignore the creeps?"

Caitlin laughed. "Deal. Now go, before you're late to meeting Joe."

Barry nodded his head, knowing full well he could just run there but since the birth of his daughter, he hadn't wanted to utilize his powers all that much unless it was to save the city. He didn't need his daughter to know he was a hero – not yet. He was working hard to hide the fact that the Flash had a daughter so the supervillains of their world couldn't get to him through her. If anyone so much as laid a hand on his daughter's head, he'd annihilate them. He wasn't messing around when it came to Abby's safety. "Okay, I'm going to head out. Remember -,"

"Call you if we need anything and don't let Abby stay up past her bedtime," Caitlin said in amusement and Barry grinned at her sheepishly. "How many times have I watched Abby over the past two years?"

"A fair amount," Barry admitted.

"And, out of all those times, how many times has something gone wrong?" Caitlin asked.

"Never," he conceded her point and hugged her goodbye the next moment. "Thanks, Cait, you're the best." Then he was out the door and walking to his car, determined to go spend a couple of hours with Joe and to enjoy himself that night.

XXX

When Barry unlocked his door two and a half hours later, it was to the soft sound of Caitlin humming – which, admittedly, sounded a hell of a lot better than her singing. Summer Lovin' playing in his mind as he thought back to their karaoke night with a warm fondness that permeated his bones. As he walked into the house, he noticed Caitlin sitting in his recliner, Abby curled up on her chest with her blanket wrapped around her small body snuggly. The room smelled faintly of Vicks and he was concerned. "Cait?" He made sure to keep his voice at a whisper so he didn't wake up his daughter.

"Hey, Barr," she murmured, rubbing a still-sleeping Abby's back. "Abby wasn't feeling too good so we got her some medicine and her blanket and came and laid out here together."

Barry frowned in worry. "What does she have?"

"Just a little cold," Caitlin assured him. "Nothing some Vicks and Caitlin snuggles won't fix."

Barry crouched down next to the chair Caitlin was sitting, placing his hand at the small of his daughter's neck. "She feels warm."

"Just a little bit and I already her take children's Motrin for any fever that may come," Caitlin replied quietly. "She's just sleeping now."

Barry stood up, picking Abby up into his arms and adjusting her so her blanket was wrapped firmly around her. She turned in his old, opening her eyes blearily. "Daddy?"

"Hey, sweet pea," he said quietly, kissing the crown of her head. "I hear you're not feeling well."

"No but Taitlin cook tare of me," she mumbled, and Barry smiled gently. Abby currently got her C's and T's mixed up but it was still pretty adorable and she was still pretty young that Barry didn't bother correcting her just yet.

"She told me," he said softly, walking with her down the hallway as he rubbed her back. He bumped open her bedroom door with his hip, going to lie her down on her bed. "Just get some sleep Abs, and I'll check on you in a little bit."

"Okay, daddy," his daughter whispered in a sleep-filled voice, already have asleep. Barry walked back out to the living room where he spotted Caitlin putting on her sweater.

"Thanks again for taking care of her," he smiled.

She returned it. "Anytime."

Then she was walking to the door, pausing when she placed her hand on the knob and turning to look back at him. "Not that you need me to say it, not really, but you're doing a great job with her." Then she was kissing his cheek and walking out the door, leaving Barry to stare after her in wonder.

XXX

Thursday nights became Chinese night for them. Caitlin would pick up takeout and they'd all three eat, then when Barry put Abby to sleep, he and Caitlin would have a glass of wine each and unwind from their days. Alcohol did nothing for him but it was nice to still drink socially with his best friend. That night, they were talking about the latest guy she went out on a date with. "Then he had the audacity to invite himself back to my place!"

"I don't know why you date these idiots, Cait," Barry sighed, feeling a twinge of…something low in his gut. "They're all the same."

"Get me a guy like you, Barry," she said jokingly. "You're one of the few good ones left."

"Ah, who'd date me?" Barry chuckled. "I have a kid."

"You'd be surprised," Caitlin commented idly, staring at him softly. Not for the first time, did his eyes fall to her lips and then flicker away again in shame. He should not be looking at his best friend that way.

"Well," he said. "Next time just choose someone who – I don't know – knows your worth."

"Point me in his direction," Caitlin laughed, "and I will."

They laughed for a little bit longer and then Barry was turning serious. "You're worthy of love, Cait. You give so much to so many and do so much for all of us – especially Abby and me. You're worthy of dating a guy who sees how good and wholesome you are, not these jerks who only want to take you to bed on the first date."

"You're worthy of love too, Barry," Caitlin replied sincerely. "No, let me finish. Iris did a number on you when she walked out. I didn't think you'd ever be able to come back. But you did. For Abby. That type of strength is admirable."

Then, not quite sure who was moving first, Caitlin and Barry were setting their wine glasses down and hesitantly brushing their lips across one another's. They kissed once, twice, three times before pulling apart, Caitlin sighing in contentment. "I've always wanted to know what that was like."

"Me too," she whispered, opening her eyes to look at him.

"Where do we go from here?" Barry asked and she smiled.

"Forward."