Part 4

Caitlin woke to the smell of breakfast cooking. She made her way downstairs and smiled seeing Crystal sitting at the table eating chocolate chip pancakes.

"Good morning Caitlin. Your daughter takes after you with your love of chocolate." Said Nora

"Yeah she does. Though she is a lot like her father too." Said Caitlin

"Mommy, Ms. Nora made a smiley face in my pancakes." Said Crystal

"I can see that. Did you thank her for making you breakfast?"

"Ms. Nora thank you for making me pancakes." Said Crystal

"You are welcome sweetie." Said Nora

"I am going to tell her who you are. I want to tell Barry about her first."

"It's fine. He will most likely come by after he gets up. He always does when we take in someone. I didn't tell him it would be you."

"I know that he might not be happy to see me. But he does need to get to know his daughter. She does know about him. I have shown her pictures of Barry and told her that he is her daddy and loves her. We just couldn't be with him."

Just then the front door opened. Nora went to see who it was leaving Caitlin and Crystal to finish their breakfast. Nora smiled as she hugged her son.

"Barry, my beautiful boy. How are you this morning?" asked Nora

"Hi mom. I am good. So did your new guests arrive as planned last night?"

"Yes. Barry it's Caitlin."

"Caitlin? My Caitlin?"

"I haven't been yours for a long time Barry. Though you are the only man that I have never objected to claiming ownership over me." Said Caitlin walking out of the kitchen.

Barry gasped seeing Caitlin with a black eye, split lip, broken arm and other bruises. As a CSI and with the other women his parents have helped over the past few years he had seen a lot of abused women. He just never thought it would Caitlin.

"Cait?" said Barry

"Hi Barry. We have a lot to talk about. Barry, Charlie talked to Eddie at their class reunion two years ago. I know what really happened that night."

"Then why didn't you come back to me? Caitlin, you are the only one that I have ever loved. The only one I will ever love."

"Guilt that I didn't trust you. Fear that you would hate me when I tell you the rest. I am sure your mom told you I came with my daughter."

"Yeah."

"She will be six in two months."

Caitlin could see Barry doing the math in his head. She saw his eyes cloud over when he realized what she had just told him.

"She is mine isn't she?"

"Yes. Barry, I didn't know I was pregnant when I left. I know I should have called and told you. But I was still hurt and angry. I didn't know the truth then. I thought you were with her. I was not going to let her anywhere near my child. Iris has never been anything but a mean cold brat to me. I didn't want to chance that around my kid."

"I haven't spoken to Iris other than to tell her off since then. I am not happy I missed so much of my daughter's life. But I am willing to forgive you. As long as I can get to know her now."

"That is why I agreed to come back in the first place. I told Crystal that her daddy loves her and showed her your picture."

"I am surprised that you didn't burn all of them."

"I was so hurt and angry because I loved you so much. I still do. Barry, while I might be open to us getting back together. I can't until I get my life back together. Rebuild it. Richard broke me."

"Richard is that the name of that bastard that did this to you?"

"While I agree that he is that. I don't want that language around Crystal."

"You named her Crystal?"

"That is what we talked about naming a daughter if we had one. Her full name is Crystal Nora Snow Allen."

"Her middle name is after my mom?"

"I sure as hell wasn't going to name her after my mom. Barry are you ready to meet Crystal?"

"Yeah. So she knows who I am?"

"Yes. I am sorry I ran away Barry."

"We can talk more about that later. Right now even though I am not happy you kept my daughter from me. I am glad you are safe."

"I will go get her. Why don't you sit down."

Barry sat on the couch while Caitlin went into the kitchen to get Crystal. They came out a few minutes later. Barry smiled seeing that Crystal looked almost exactly like her mom. The only difference was that Caitlin had brown eyes, and Crystal had green eyes, like him.

"Crystal sweetie remember I told you that one day you would meet your daddy?" asked Caitlin

Crystal nodded. She was a little on the shy side at times.

"Take a look at who is on the couch."

Barry smiled as Crystal looked at him. His little girl smiled big and ran into his arms.

"Daddy!" said Crystal

"Hi honey. You are so pretty just like your mom." Said Barry

"Mommy is prettier. Well when Richard isn't hurting her."

"Well you don't have to worry about that. I am not going to let him hurt your mom any more."

Caitlin felt a tear fall down her face. She knew that there was no way that Barry was going to be able to keep that promise. If Richard found her he would hurt her. Most likely worst then he had ever had before. Richard would try and use the fact that he was both a detective and a sergeant in Hub City to keep out of trouble. It had always been regular patrol officers that would come and investigate when they would fight. He had pulled rank and nothing ever came of it.

"Cait, what is wrong?" asked Barry

"You are not going to be able to keep that promise. Richard will let you keep Crystal. He doesn't like her. But he is not going to give me up easily."

"Caitlin, you know that my parents, Eddie, and I will protect you."

"Richard is a cop Barry. He is mostly undercover. He just left for a new assignment."

"That is why you took the chance to leave."

"Yes. While I know Eddie is one of the good guys. I don't trust many cops because of Richard. He used his rank to get any reports of his abuse of me buried."

"That won't happen here. Cait, he has no pull with the CCPD. In fact Captain Singh he really hates men that beat up on women or kids."

"Barry, I don't want you to get hurt. I love you too much for that to happen."

"I still love you too. But it has been a long time."

"Yeah. It has. We need to get to know each other again."

"True. So uh Cait how about we take our daughter to the park to play? I think Eddie and his wife Patty will be there with their kids. They are a little younger than Crystal but it should be ok."

"That would be great. Crystal honey want to go to the park with daddy?"

"Daddy will you push me on the swing?" asked Crystal

"Of course. But I think you should leave your doggie here so you don't lose him or get him dirty. I don't think he would like taking a bath do you?" said Barry

"Mr. Ruffles hates baths. But he will be lonely by himself."

"Honey he won't be lonely. You want to know why?" said Caitlin

"Why?"

"Because Ms. Nora is your daddy's mommy making her your grandma and if you ask I am sure she will take good care of Mr. Ruffles for you." Said Caitlin

Nora smiled at her granddaughter as she bent down to Crystal's level.

"You really daddy's mommy?" asked Crystal

"Yes sweetie I am." Said Nora

"I can call you grandma?"

"I would love that."

Crystal hugged Nora who pulled the little girl close. Caitlin wiped a tear from her eye. She really regretted keeping Crystal from this loving family for so long.

"Grandma will you take care of Mr. Ruffles so he don't get lonely while mommy and daddy take me to the park?" asked Crystal

"Of course sweetie. I will be happy to watch Mr. Ruffles for you."

"Thank you." Said Crystal

Ten minutes later Barry was carrying a cooler packed with food and drinks for lunch out to his car. Caitlin had helped Crystal with her shoes and made her put on a sweatshirt. The three of the got in the car and headed for the park.