Response to reviews:
spiderman1fan: Thank you.
Bl4ckHunter: Yeah, she's going through the ringer.
Yes he is.
Team Flash definitely is. Yeah, Iris is obviously going to be a headache but don't worry, I'm getting rid of her soon. Very soon.
Chloe (Guest): Thanks.
"Let me get this straight," Harry said, trying to sum up everything Barry had said to the team. "When you went through that speed force portal, unintentionally, you opened a breach to another earth. Earth 199999?"
"Yeah," Barry said, sitting in a wheelchair.
"How many 9s is that?" Wally asked.
"Five by my count," H.R. replied.
"And you were in this other world for two years?" Joe asked, concerned for his son.
Barry nodded sadly. "The tachyon device was destroyed. So, I became the Flash there. Made a different suit. I worked with that group of people I told you about."
"Yeah, the Avengers," Cisco said. "Sounds like a name out of a comic book."
"How did you survive there?" Jesse asked.
"It was another earth, Jesse," Harry explained. "Allen still had access to basic resources."
"And what about this Daisy person?" Caitlin asked. "Do you…"
"Love her?" Barry asked as everyone nodded, seemingly interested in Barry's answer. "Yeah…I do."
"And she's pregnant with your child?" Harry asked. "And that was in February of 2016 back on Earth 199999?"
"Yeah," Barry said. "By now, she must've had the baby."
"So that's what Luke and Emilia are," H.R. realized. "Names for the baby. If it's a boy, Luke. If it's a girl, Emilia."
Barry nodded.
"Wait, there's something I don't get," Wally said. "How could Barry have gone from October 2016 here to 2014 on another earth? And how did the speed force throw him from February 2016 on that earth to the present here?"
"The tachyon," Harry explained. "Must've allowed Allen to travel through both space and time. So he traveled across different earths and went back in time at the same time. As for the speed force thing, I'm not sure. The speed force exists across all of time and space. Must've been some form of time travel."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," H.R. said, standing in the middle of the cortex, waving his drumsticks. "We can't be talking about all this. Everyone. B.A.'s a dad. Let's congratulate this man. Yeah?"
H.R. began clapping as Wally cheerfully followed. However, the sad and serious look on Barry's face caused the pair to stop while preventing anyone else from joining in on the clapping.
"You okay, man?" Cisco asked, genuinely concerned for his best friend as he ignored their tension from Flashpoint.
Barry let out a deep breath. "Fine. Just worried about Daisy."
"Guys, can Barr and I have the room for a moment?" Joe asked as Barry sighed, worried for the conversation he and Joe were going to be having.
Everyone nodded as they began leaving the cortex, causing Joe and Barry to be alone in the cortex. Joe looked down at Barry, who looked up at him with a worried look.
"Joe, I-" Barry began. "If you're mad-"
Joe shook his head as he got down on his knees, his concerned and caring eyes meeting Barry's broken and saddened ones.
"No," Joe said, pouring as much emotion into the word as he could. "No, I'm not mad. Why would I be mad?"
"For Iris," Barry said. "For me just…moving on from her."
"Barr," Joe began, placing his hands on Barry's shoulders. "I'm nowhere near mad and especially not because of that. You were stuck…locked away…in a whole other world for two years. You did what you had to, Barr. You moved on. You found someone. You have a child with them. You did what you wanted to and I don't blame you for that. I just…I need to know, Barr, are you okay?"
Barry shook his head as he looked down. "I don't know, Joe. It's just…when I was there…stuck on that other earth. It felt like I lost who I was. I wasn't the same cheery, upbeat version of me. No, Joe…when I was there, I became dark. I got bitter and rageful. I was different. But then I met Daisy and she…shined this beautiful, bright light into my life and brought that happy part of me back. She helped me face my darkness and I was able to help her face her's. I thought I knew love when I was with Iris but Daisy came into my life and showed what it was really like. To love someone, to cherish them, to care for them knowing you'll do anything to keep them safe. Whatever I had with Iris…it couldn't touch or compare to what I have with Daisy."
"Sounds like you really love this girl." Joe said with a smile.
Barry smiled, recalling Daisy from his memory. "Yeah, I do. It's just…she has to have already had our child now and I wasn't there. And if Iris finds out about her and me-"
"Don't worry about Iris," Joe said, assuringly patting his hand on Barry's shoulder. "Barr, if you love this girl so much, bring her over here. Be there to raise your child. Besides, I think I'd like to meet her."
Barry chuckled. "You'd love her."
"If she makes you this happy, I definitely would," Joe agreed. "I always told you, my kids are the most important thing to me. And yours should be the most important thing to you."
Barry nodded. "I can still turn to you for fatherly advice, right?"
Joe chuckled as Barry let out a laugh. "Anytime, son."
"I think I need a few hours to heal," Barry said. "I won't be able to run. I can't even walk. I don't know how I'm gonna get to Daisy."
"I'm sure Cisco could use his powers and get to that other earth," Joe suggested as Barry nodded in agreement.
"Actually, I think I need to talk to him," Barry said, putting his hands on the wheels of the wheelchair as he rolled them, moving himself out of the cortex.
"You need any help?" Joe asked.
"I'm alright, Joe," Barry yelled from the hallways.
In the workshop on the floor of S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco was by himself, working on a certain device. The device didn't need any more work on it. Cisco was merely trying to pass some time and take his mind off things, especially with everything Barry had revealed to the team. Cisco then overheard the sound of a wheelchair entering the room as he turned around to see Barry sitting in a wheelchair, moving his head to see the device Cisco was working on.
"What you working on?" Barry asked.
"Just something for the dampeners," Cisco said, focusing on Barry. "It's nothing."
Barry relaxed in his wheelchair as he sighed. "You, uh…you got a minute?"
"Yeah, what's up?" Cisco asked. "You, uh, need some help with getting Daisy and your kid from Earth 199999? Cause I can get 'em, it's no biggie."
"I appreciate that, man," Barry said empathetically. "But that's not what I'm here to talk about."
"What is it?"
"Dante."
Cisco was suddenly silent as Barry cleared his throat, preparing what he had to say.
"I never meant for any of this to happen," Barry said apologetically. "If I take it back or change it, I would. The truth is I was distant…from you and Caitlin before I left. I just…couldn't look at my two best friends, two of the most important people in my life, knowing I had damaged and ruined their lives because of my own selfishness. Cisco…I am truly sorry. For whatever pain I've caused you. I know I can say it a million times but it won't mean or change anything. I just need you to know that there isn't going to be a single second that passes where I don't hate myself for what I've done. Where I'm not sorry. And if you need anyone to talk to, I'm here."
Cisco slowly got off the table as he got down to his knees before placing his hand on Barry's shoulder. He looked up from the ground, engaging in eye contact with Barry, revealing his face to be trying to hold back tears.
"Thank you," Cisco said, pouring as much meaning into the words. "I can't say that I can forget this. But I can move past it. You're my best friend."
Barry smiled. "You know if I wasn't in a wheelchair, I think I'd hug you."
Cisco chuckled as he patted Barry on the shoulder. "Caitlin's gonna kill you when she sees you out of bed."
"On that you are correct." a certain auburn-haired doctor said as she entered the room.
"Cait, I know what you're going to say-" Barry began.
"Have you two finally gotten along again?" Caitlin asked, looking between Barry and Cisco.
"Yeah, I think we're good now," Cisco said with a confident nod, his usual grin appealing to Barry and Caitlin.
"We are," Barry said in agreement as he rose from his wheelchair, groaning in pain as he tried to stand.
Cisco and Caitlin immediately came to his aid as Barry rested his arms on their shoulders, Cisco helped Barry on his right side and Caitlin on his left. Barry managed to stand as he leaned on his friends.
"You seriously need to explain to us what happened to you," Cisco said.
"I'll explain everything, I promise."
"Congratulations, by the way," Caitlin said, flashing a smile at Barry. "Mr. Allen, you are officially a father now."
"Thank you, Dr. Snow." Barry replied, grinning.
"H.R. was right," Cisco declared. "We have to celebrate. And I don't mean the whole team. Just us. Three friends against the whole world. Out in a bar. Getting drunk and nasty."
"If Barry gets better," Caitlin reminded.
"Yes, mom." Barry and Cisco said simultaneously as they rolled their eyes.
Caitlin let out a fake scoff as she stared at them with an awkward look. "Excuse me, gentlemen?"
"You are literally the mother of this group," Cisco said as Barry smirked.
"I am not," Caitlin deflected.
"Cait, he's right," Barry argued jokingly.
"I am not the mother of this group," Caitlin shot back.
"You literally are," Cisco said. "You're the mom, Barry is the older brother, and I'm the little nerdy, dorky, little, young child."
"Caitlin's a good mom," Barry joked as he and Cisco chuckled.
"Boys," Caitlin muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes.
"Don't deny it," Cisco said in a joking tone. "You like being the mom out of us."
"You do like being the mom," Barry agreed. "That is easily true."
"Who wouldn't like babysitting two children non-stop?" Cait asked, shaking her head as she smiled proudly.
The trio all burst out laughing as Cisco and Caitlin helped Barry stand. Eventually, Barry was able to stand on his own, albeit with a limp. However, the limp was the least of his worries or concerns. Here he was, laughing and smiling with his friends like old times. After weeks, months even, of being at arm's length from Cisco and Caitlin, his two best friends, he was finally back with them, cheering and laughing. He was here. Hearing their laughs and seeing their smiles… and for him, it was one of the best things in the world.
Barry limp-walked through the halls as he made his way to the cortex, Cisco and Caitlin walked slower, allowing for Barry to keep up. On the way, Cisco joked about how Barry could barely keep up with them, implying that he and Caitlin were 'faster than the fastest man alive'. The three of them were chuckling on the way back to the cortex as they finally made it back. Barry leaned against the wall as he sighed, feeling the pain spreading through his body. His speed healing was clearly being overworked. After all, he had survived an explosion capable of clearing through several continents. That, combined with all the energy of the speed force, had to have taxed Barry's healing factor to its limit and beyond. Barry had heard that Caitlin estimated it would be at least another six hours until Barry was fully healed and recovered. As Barry, Caitlin, Cisco, and Joe waited in the cortex, everyone else in the team, aside from Iris (who, much to Barry's joy, would be gone for the whole day working on a story), arrived.
"So what's the plan?" Wally asked.
"Yeah, I mean… are we gonna meet these Avengers guys?" Jesse asked.
"I was hoping on bringing them to Earth 1," Barry said as he looked over to Cisco. "If you could-"
"Don't worry," Cisco said reassuringly as he patted Barry's shoulder. "I'll get Daisy and your kid here."
"I'm coming with you," Barry said as he limped over to Cisco only for Caitlin, Joe, and H.R. to walk over to him, stopping him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," H.R. said quickly. "Take it easy, B.A."
"Barry, you're in no condition to go," Caitlin explained. "You still need another six hours at the least and even then, you'll barely heal fully."
"She's right, Barr,' Joe backed up as Barry sighed. "Let Cisco handle this."
Cisco then walked over to Barry, standing two feet away from his friend as he placed both his hands on Barry's shoulders.
"I'll keep them safe and I'll bring 'em here," Cisco assured. "I promise."
Barry wanted to retort but he knew better than to unnecessarily argue. "Okay. Thank you, Cisco. Really."
"What kind of godfather would I be if I couldn't get my godkid to his dad?" Cisco cracked as he and Barry chuckled before Cisco made a serious, concerned look. "I am a godfather, right?"
"Yeah you are," Barry smiled as he looked over at Cait. "And you're a godmother."
"Back up, boys and girls," Joe joked as he pointed at himself. "I'm a grandpa now."
Everyone chuckled.
"So," Cisco said. "Any advice on how exactly I explain to your girlfriend and your other team on how you're alive?"
"Here's what I want you to do…" Barry began as he explained his set of instructions to Cisco.
Earth 199999
Now
"…and then I came here, to this lovely, beautiful, tech-fuelled place and met you guys," Cisco finished as he stared in awe through the windows, seeing the advanced city of Wakanda.
"So that's your story," Steve said. "Barry just shows up on your earth, injured and hurt?"
"I mean, hey, he didn't tell us what happened to him or why he was so banged up," Cisco said. "But he told us about you guys and the time he spent on this earth."
"Cap, this is Barry we're talking about," Sam said. "I think we should go."
"I agree," Steve said. "Barry's our friend, we owe this to him. Plus, I think we could all get to another earth. With Ross, Tony, and the accords, we can't take any risks here."
"I'll talk this over with Laura and the kids," Clint said. "But I'm pretty sure I speak for all of 'em when I say I'm in."
"Barry mentioned that you had a family," Cisco said, looking over at Clint. "We can get them set up in place in Central City. You'll be safe there."
"Thank you." Clint said gratefully as Cisco nodded.
Steve, Sam, Clint, Wanda, Natasha, Daisy, Bucky, and Cisco were all spread throughout the living room of an area. They continued discussing the matter as everyone took their own vote.
"I think we should go," Wanda said confidently. "It would be safer there."
"I second that," Natasha agreed.
Bucky nodded. "I'm down."
"I think we should go," Daisy said confidently, holding a sleeping baby Luke in her arms. "It's Barry."
"Alright," Cisco huffed. "That settles it. Ladies and gents, please get ready, we're heading to Earth 1."
A few minutes later, everyone was in the room, ready to go. Daisy was pacing back and forth, Luke sleeping deeply in her arms. Cisco was chatting with Clint and Laura, who were hugging their kids, holding them close. Steve, Sam, and Wanda were in a conversation of their own about the accords and Tony. In a more distant part of the room, Natasha was leaning against the wall, eyeing Daisy as she saw how she held her son, her child. She continued staring, losing sight of the world around only for Bucky to stand by her.
"Hey, you alright?" Bucky asked as Natasha snapped her head towards him.
"Fine," she said calmly.
Bucky frowned in confusion as he looked between Natasha and Daisy. "Something on your mind?"
"Just looking for Daisy," Natasha lied. "She just found out that the father of her child and the man she loved is alive and that she's gonna be seeing them for the first time in almost a year."
"You know you're a really good liar," Bucky admitted. "But you're not too good at lying to me."
Natasha sighed as she looked down before looking back up at Bucky. "What does this mean to you? Us? You and me?"
Bucky took a deep breath, looking off to the side before he returned to eye contact with Natasha. "I know I care about you. And that with you, I can try to move past everything that's happened."
"And if we could have what Allen and Daisy have," Natasha said. "If we could-"
"What're you saying?" Bucky asked, frowning in confusion. "Are you… do you have a-"
Natasha nodded as Bucky's eyes grew large in surprise.
"Does anyone else know?" Bucky asked.
"Only Shuri," Natasha said. "She was the one who told me."
"How? I thought it wasn't possible."
"Neither did I."
"Are we gonna tell them?" Bucky asked.
"Not now," Natasha said. "There's enough on their minds."
"Natasha," Bucky said as the two of them gazed into one another's eyes. "We can figure this out."
"And if we can't?" Natasha asked. "If our daughter ends up like one of us?"
Bucky eyed her warily. "Daughter?"
"Yeah," Natasha said in a huff. "It's a girl. A little girl. Who deserves better parents than us. We're not what this kid needs."
"But we have to be," Bucky said with a steely determination in his eyes as moved closer to Natasha. "It doesn't mean we shouldn't try. I'm not letting our daughter grow up with her parents and neither should you."
Natasha found herself at a loss of words, which was extremely unusual for her. She almost always knew what to say. Now, here she was, having a daughter, not knowing what to say or do.
"Nat," Bucky said softly as she looked up at him. "Please. Give our daughter a chance. Because that's what you gave me. It worked then and it can work now."
"Okay," Natasha whispered.
"Okay," Bucky repeated as he pressed his lips against her forehead, wrapping her in a hug.
Natasha pulled Bucky close to her as he held her tightly. From afar, Steve watched as he saw his two best friends in their embrace. Bucky and Natasha's relationship was no secret to anyone. However, he couldn't help but feel that there was something they were keeping secret, something they weren't telling everyone. Bucky and Natasha made their way over as everyone gathered around beside Cisco. Bucky stood next to Steve as Natasha was by his side. Steve couldn't help but notice Bucky seemingly being a little off.
"Everything okay?" Steve asked.
Bucky shook his head. "Fine. Just…still tryna wrap my head around this whole multiverse deal."
Steve frowned in confusion. He knew a lot of things about Bucky and vice versa. The two of them were brothers who knew each other better than they knew themselves. Steve knew when Bucky was lying and he knew it now. However, given the current situation, he decided that it wasn't the right time to discuss such a thing. He would talk to him about it later. Maybe it was just a small bump he and Natasha had in their relationship. As everyone gathered around, Cisco stood in front, wearing his gear.
"Alright everyone," Cisco said. "This is fairly simple. I'm gonna open a breach, we're gonna go through and before you know it, we'll be on Earth 1. We'll be in S.T.A.R. Labs soon enough."
"Are you okay?" Wanda whispered to Daisy.
"I don't know," Daisy admitted. "It's just…Barry's back. And I don't know what to say."
"Say whatever comes from your heart," Wanda advised. "Look him in the eyes, listen to your heart, and the words will come to you. You just have to say it all from your heart."
"Thank you, Wanda." Daisy whispered.
"You never need to thank me." Wanda promised.
Then, Cisco opened a breach as a blue portal appeared before everyone. He went through first as everyone else eventually followed. They all saw a few waves of blue before they found themselves inside the breach room of S.T.A.R. Labs. The breach closed behind them as Cisco walked down the stairs, greeting all of Team Flash. The team, aside from Barry, had gathered in the breach room.
"Ah!" H.R. said as he raised his drumsticks with a cheery look on his face. "These must be our guests. Welcome! Welcome to Earth 1. I'm H.R. Wells."
"Thawne?" Daisy said in confusion.
"How the hell is he here?" Clint demanded as the Avengers prepared to fight.
"Oh great," Harry muttered as the Avengers eyed him in shock.
"There's two of them?!" Sam exclaimed.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," H.R. said, raising his hands in surrender. "Take it easy, my friends. There, uh, seems to be a confusion here."
"You think?" Harry sassed.
"Look," Cisco said. "Neither of these guys is Thawne. They're doppelgangers. They're from other earths. This is H.R. Wells and this is Harry Wells."
"Barry said you'd react this way." Caitlin said.
"So that's not Thawne?" Wanda asked warily.
"No," Harry said. "I'm not Thawne."
"N-neither am I." H.R. pointed out.
"Let me, uh, introduce you guys," Cisco said as he pointed to different members of the team. "This is Joe West, Caitlin Snow, you've already met H.R. and Harry. This is Wally, Joe's son. This is Jesse, Harry's daughter…" Cisco then turned to the team. "Guys, meet the Avengers. Barry's dear friends from Earth 199999."
"How many 9s is that?" Bucky asked in confusion.
"Five." All of Team Flash said simultaneously.
"You guys should probably introduce yourselves," Cisco suggested.
"Where's Barry?" Daisy demanded, holding Luke in her arms.
"Right, you must be Daisy," Joe said. "Barry's waiting for you."
"Here," Wanda said as she walked up to Daisy. "I'll look after him. You go get Barry."
"Okay," Daisy agreed, she knew and trusted Wanda enough like a sister, enough to the point where she could trust her to look after Luke.
Wanda slipped Luke into her arms as all of Team Flash watched, all of them trying to get a look at Barry's son.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Caitlin asked.
"It's a boy," Daisy said softly. "His name's Luke. Luke Henry Allen."
"You named him after Barry's father," Joe realized.
"Where is he?" Daisy asked. "Barry?"
"Here," Caitlin said. "We'll take you to him. Just follow us."
Daisy nodded as she followed Cisco and Caitlin through the halls of S.T.A.R. Labs. She could hear from the breach room the sounds of the Avengers acquainting themselves with Team Flash. Daisy, Cisco, and Caitlin walked down the curved halls as they headed to the cortex.
"Barry told me a lot about you two," Daisy said. "He really seems to love you guys."
"How much did he say about us?" Caitlin asked as Daisy let out a small chuckle, remembering a certain memory.
"He always said you two were 'the purest and best people to ever live'." Daisy said as Cisco and Caitlin exchanged glances. "He loved all of you."
Eventually, Daisy, Cisco, and Caitlin stopped a few feet away from the entrance of the cortex as the pair turned to Daisy.
"He's a little injured," Caitlin explained. "So just take it easy on him."
"What happened to him?" Daisy asked. "I-is he okay?"
"He's fine," Cisco assured. "He's a little banged up and he has a limp. He should be fine by tomorrow. Just…like Caitlin said. Go easy on him."
"Okay." Daisy said.
"We'll give you two a moment," Caitlin said as she and Cisco left, heading back to the breach room.
Daisy took a deep breath as the sound of quiet adjusted to her. She could hear breathing coming from the cortex. Breathing that wasn't hers. She could sense the vibrations of someone, a man. The vibrations were different, sped-up and enhanced. Daisy hadn't felt those vibrations for almost a year. Yet here they were. She slowly walked as she found herself out of the hallway and into the cortex. There he was. Standing just two feet away from her. His short, brown hair was straight. His face was soft and clean. He wore gray jeans, sneakers and a zipped-up, dark blue jacket. He stared at her with the same look of shock that she had. Both their hearts stopped, their breaths catching in their throats. They could feel themselves losing control and feeling of their bodies. The two of them moved closer. Closer. And closer. Until they were less than an inch away from each other. Daisy cupped his cheeks with her hands, tears accelerating from her eyes rapidly. He was crying too. Sobbing even. Not just because she was here. It was knowledge. The knowledge that he wasn't there for her when their child had entered the world. The knowledge that he wasn't there to welcome their son into the world. To help her with it. He wrapped his arms around her as the two gazed into each other's eyes.
"Barry." Daisy whispered, breathing through a sob, it was the first time she said his name in nine months.
"Daisy." Barry whispered back and the next thing he knew, his lips were pressed against hers.
A/N: I'll end that chapter right here.
I decided to have a sister-like relationship between Wanda and Daisy because I think Wanda deserves a sibling-like relationship with someone and I decided for that person to be Daisy. Natasha will also take part in that kind of relationship with the two of them. But the main sister relationship is between Wanda and Daisy.
Yes, Natasha and Bucky are together and they are having a daughter. I decided to do a relationship between them as it was inspired by the comics and from Stand with Ward and Queen's story, Torn between two earths.
The Invasion crossover is obviously going to be happening. That'll start in the chapter after the next one. The next chapter will focus on Barry's reunion with Daisy and the Avengers. Him getting familiar with Luke, his son. It'll also focus on Barry adjusting to Earth 1 again. I'm not gonna be bringing in the other agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I already have a lot of characters in this story and I can't work with it if I have too many. So Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, Mack, Hunter, and Bobbi are gonna stay on Earth 199999 for now. We'll see them again. But it'll be later in the series.
Cisco has already forgiven Barry, I decided to include that since I don't see the point in tearing their friendship apart. Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin (and their friendship) has always been the heart of the Flash show and I'll do anything to keep them together as best friends.
