Part 5

Caitlin held Crystal's hand as they walked from the parking lot at the park to one of the picnic tables near the play area. Barry was carrying the cooler his mom had packed for them. Once they reached the table Caitlin let Crystal go play with the other kids. She was watching her daughter when a couple walked over to her.

"Well look who is back."

Caitlin turned to the voice and smiled at seeing her older brother's close friend.

"Hi Eddie it's been a while." Said Caitlin

"Yeah it has. Though I have to say you have looked better." Said Eddie

"I know. Eddie, Charlie told me what really happened that night. I came back because I am running from an abusive boyfriend. Well now ex boyfriend. Before you ask if I reported him to the police. He is a cop. He made all my reports go away."

"What's his name? I can do some digging and ask around."

"Richard Carson, he is a detective and sergeant in Hub City."

"Don't worry Caitlin. You don't have to worry about him here. CCPD will not let him hurt you any more."

"Thanks. So are you going to introduce me to your wife?"

"Oh right. Caitlin this is Patty Spivot Thawne. She actually works in the crime lab with Barry. Patty this is Charlie's sister Caitlin." Said Eddie

"Nice to meet you. Your daughter is beautiful." Said Patty

"Thanks."

"So Barry her dad?" asked Eddie

"Yes. I am surprised Charlie didn't tell you."

"Your brother might be one of my closest friends. But he loves you and would not betray you."

"I know. But I still thought he would say something. Until you told him the truth of what happened he wanted to punch Barry's lights out. But when I found out I was pregnant he told me that I should tell Barry. He told me that I didn't have to be with Barry to have him be a father. But at the time I still thought Barry was with Iris and I didn't want her anywhere near my child."

"I get that. I should tell you that most of the people that we went to school with have shunned Iris when they heard what she did to you. The only ones that are talking to her are her airhead friends from school. I know you were treated like crap because of you being so smart. But without your help Zack Harper, Pete Stone and I never would have passed our basic science class. You were able to explain things in a way we understood."

"Well what Ms. Waters failed to get is when explaining inertia to a bunch of football players is you need to use terms they understand. Telling them that an object in motion stays in motion useless it hits an outside force means nothing to them. Unless you explain to them in terms they understand."

"I believe you explained it by saying a thrown football keeps going until it either is caught or hits the ground."

"I may not like sports but I do understand them some."

"True. For just finding out he has a kid Barry is really good with your daughter."

"Well he might not have known about her. She has known about him her whole life. I kept a couple pictures of Barry and showed them to her telling he was her daddy and he loves her. Even if he wasn't there with us."

Eddie watched as Patty ran off to stop one of their twins from eating dirt.

"So how many kids do you have Eddie?"

"Three a four year old boy Michael, we call him Mikey and twin two year olds. One girl and one boy. Jenny and Kenny. Kenny is the one that was eating dirt."

"This girl in my kindergarten class made me eat dirt once. It wasn't Iris. It was before my mom moved us here. We lived in Coast City then."

"Were you ever not bullied?"

"College. But that is not to say I had many friends there."

"I am sorry that I didn't try to be your friend in school. I mean you were and still are one of the prettiest ladies I know. It is because your beauty is not just on the outside. You have an inner beauty that not everyone has. I mean I love Patty. But I want to be your friend if you let me."

"I would like that. I want to get to know Patty too."

"I think you will like her. So how many kids does Charlie have now?"

"Three with another on the way. Susan is five and a half, Tommy is four, and David is two."

"He always said he wanted a big family."

"Yeah. Eddie do you know what you guys brought for lunch?"

"Uh not sure. Wait you are allergic to peanuts right?"

"Deathly allergic. I mean I do always have at least one epi pen with me. But I would rather not spend time in the hospital being treated for anaphylactic shock or possibly have a breathing tub down my throat."

"I will check. If Patty made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids I will make sure they are kept far from you."

"Thanks."

"Your brother might be one of my good friends. But he will kick my ass if you die because of a peanut allergy."

"Yeah Charlie is very protective of me. Well when he is around anyway. Could I borrow your phone to call him? I kind of left mine back in Hub City. I didn't want it used to track me down."

"Yeah of course."

Eddie pulled out his phone and unlocked it. He then handed it to Caitlin. After hitting the speed dial for Charlie.

"Hey Eddie. Now isn't a good time. My sister is AWAL. She isn't answering her phone and her friends from the clinic are not telling me anything." Came Charlie's voice

"Well big brother I left Richard and didn't want him to track me. So I left my phone behind. I am in Central City. I don't have a new phone yet seeing as I only got here last night." Said Caitlin

"Damn it is about time. You should have dumped and left that asshole the first time he hit you."

"I know. Charlie, I should have listened to you."

"Where are you staying? How do I reach you if I need to?"

"I plan to stay in Central City. Until I get a place of my own and a job I am staying with Barry's parents. It is time that they and Barry get to know Crystal."

"You tell Barry yet?"

"Yeah. We are at the park and he is playing with her. That is where I ran into Eddie who was kind enough to let me use his phone."

"Let me know when you get a new phone. I will try and get out there to see you soon. You know that it is hard with Erin pregnant and the kids."

"Yeah I know. I love you Charlie."

"Love you Caity. Now let me talk to Eddie."

Caitlin rolled her eyes and handed the phone to Eddie.

"He wants to talk to you." Said Caitlin

Eddie took the phone.

"Hey Char what's up?" asked Eddie

"You tell Barry this. You and him are responsible for keeping Caity and Crystal safe. I mean it Eddie. I don't want anything to happen to them."

"I will do my best."

"Good."

Eddie hung up and smiled at Caitlin.

"Let me guess Charlie wants you to act like my big brother."

"More or less. He also wants Barry to look out for you and Crystal. Not that it will be hard to convince him to do that."

"I know. But I need time to heal. To get my life back on track."

"I know."

Patty, Barry and the kids made their way over to them. They all sat down to lunch together. Turns out Patty had made ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch so they were all able to sit together.