Part 10

Six Weeks Later

Caitlin stood by the door of her bedroom watching as her bed was being put together. Barry had insisted that she get a bed that was no smaller than a queen. He had tried to get her to buy a king. But Caitlin didn't want a bed that big. But she understood where he was coming from. If things worked out between them then they would need a bed big enough for the both of them. Once the rest lf the bedroom set was put in place she headed down the hall to Crystal's room where Barry was helping make the bed. She smiled at seeing her daughter with her dad. Barry was such a good dad though she always knew he would be.

"So sweetie do you like your room?" asked Caitlin

"Yes mommy! It is lots better than my last room." Said Crystal

"Good. What about the house?" asked Crystal

"I like it. Can we get a dog?"

Caitlin looked at Barry with a raised eyebrow. He just smiled at her.

"Yeah come on mom can we get a dog?" asked Barry

"I will think about it. But if we do both of you will be helping to take care of it. That means Crystal, you are going to have to start doing some chores. Not just making your bed and keeping your room clean. You will have put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher." Said Caitlin

"Ok I can do that." Said Crystal

"Let me guess you want me to cut the lawn and do other yardwork." Said Barry

"Thank you for volunteering for that."

"Anything for you Cait."

Caitlin smiled at Barry. She had really missed this kind of relationship. She realized that even from the start her relationship with Richard had been toxic. Long before he had hit her the first time. While she could tell Barry was not looking forward to doing yard work when he was off from work. But he was going to do it happily if it made her happy.

"Well seeing as all the furniture is in why don't we unpack everything we need for the night and tomorrow morning. Then have dinner and just relax. We can finish unpacking tomorrow." Said Caitlin

"Sounds good." Said Barry

They spent the next two hours unpacking then ordered Chinese. They sat down at the kitchen table together as a family.

Richard Carson had not been happy when he returned from his undercover assignment to find Caitlin and her kid gone. That had been three weeks ago. It also didn't help that he was now stuck at a desk. He was under investigation for using his position to make the complaints against him when the cops were called to his house to go away. How his Captain found out he didn't know. But he was going to find that bitch and make her pay for ruining everything. Right now he sat at his computer trying to find out where she went. She hadn't used any of the credit cards she had when she was in Hub City. She had also left her cell phone and as far as he could tell didn't get a new one. Or at least one in her name. He didn't even try to call her brother or mother. Neither one would tell him anything. He brother hated him to be honest and her mother well they didn't talk much. Finally he got a hit on his the search he was doing. Security footage caught Caitlin and the little brat getting on a train to Central City nearly seven weeks ago. He smiled coldly. He was going to head to Central City and hunt down the bitch and make her pay for ruining his life.

After putting Crystal to bed Caitlin went down to the family room to talk to Barry.

"She went right to sleep?" asked Barry

"Yeah. Barry we do need to talk."

"I know. Cait, I never stopped loving you. But I get that we can't go back to where we were."

"No we can't. Barry, Richard wasn't the only guy I dated after I left you. I dated a couple of guys. Richard was the most serious of them."

"Cait, I didn't expect you to not date after you left. I tried but it never went past two or three dates."

"I just needed to make sure you understand I am not that girl you fell in love with. As you know I was never one to trust easily. I trust even less now. But I do want us to try again. We just need to go slow."

"I totally understand. That is why I am staying in the basement room. I want you to have your space."

"There is more you should know. I had sex with Richard. He liked to get rough sometimes. So rough I would bleed sometimes."

"Caitlin, why did you let him do that to you?"

"I don't know. I guess I felt kind low about myself. I knew that I was wrong about you and didn't know how to make it right."

"You could have come back and we could have worked things out like we are now."

"I thought you would hate me. I mean I did keep your daughter from you."

"You did. But I forgive you for that. Cait, I don't know what is going to happen between us. But I want to find out."

"As long as we go slow."

"That is fine with me. I'm tired so I am going to go to bed. Goodnight Cait."

"Goodnight Barry."

Barry leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Caitlin's cheek before heading downstairs to his room. Caitlin watched him go realizing that it might not be easy to go slow. But one thing she did know is that she wouldn't mind if things ended up going faster then she wants to. All she knows is that she loves Barry.

Once Barry was down in his room he headed right for the shower. He stripped down nd turned it on as cold as it got. He had forgotten how hot Caitlin made him. After spending fifteen minutes under the cold water he dried off and went to bed falling into a restless sleep.