Part 17

Barry walked into his house with Crystal who he had picked up from his parents. He let her go watch cartoons while he headed into the kitchen to start dinner. Caitlin would be home in an hour and after dinner they would have a talk with their little girl about kicking people. Though Barry would have loved to have seen his little girl trying to protect her mommy. He had just pulled out everything he needed to make spaghetti when his phone rang. Looking at the caller ID he answered putting it on speaker.

"Hey Cisco what's up man?" asked Barry

"Hey Barry. I got some news for you and Caitlin. I was able to get permission from Dr. Wells for the two of you to come to Star labs for the launch of the particle accelerator next month."

"Dude that is awesome! Cait had told me that she saw you a few days ago. Cisco, you knew about Crystal didn't you?"

"Yeah I did. Caitlin told me not to tell you. She was going to when she was ready."

"It's ok man. I am not even mad at her for not telling me. So you coming for her birthday next week?"

"Wouldn't miss it. I love my niece."

"Have you met this jerk Cait got involved with?"

"Dick? Yeah I did. He didn't like me. I just knew he was an ass. Put it this way if I had to be stranded on an island with no hope of rescue with Dick Carson or Hartley Rathaway I would take Hartley any day."

"You and Hartley hate each other."

"Yeah but at least Hartley doesn't think it is ok to hit a woman."

"True. But I don't think that women are actually Hartley's type."

"You are right about that. He is gay, and when he told his parents they cut him off."

"That sucks. If one of my kids told me they were gay I would be cool with it."

"That is because even though you are loaded. I mean didn't your dad's mom leave you like twenty million dollars or something?"

"Something like that. My dad and Uncle Jay each got fifty million. But seeing as Uncle Jay and and Joan don't have kids I got money. Cait doesn't know how much money I inherited. Don't tell her."

"Your parents agreed to it?"

"They know that Cait isn't a gold digger. Her mom is founder and CEO of Tannhouser Industries. Her brother Charlie could get her money if she wants it. Her mom takes forever to return Cait's calls."

"Yeah I know. Met her mom once. Before I went to work at Star labs. I interviewed at Tannhouser. Let's just say an ice burg could take a lesson on being cold from that woman."

"That is what I have heard. I should go. I got to finish making dinner. Cait will be home in about twenty minutes or so."

"Alright I will let you go. Tell Caitlin that if she needs anything call me. I mean it Barry. If you want to take Caitlin out for a night of romance let me know I am more than happy to baby sit so you don't have to keep asking your mom to."

"Yeah not too sure that I will take you up on that."

"What?!"

"Cisco, I get the feeling that my daughter if she doesn't already will have you wrapped around her finger in no time."

"Damn you are so right about that."

"Bye Cisco."

Barry hung up went to check on Crystal who was coloring while watching an old episode of Scooby Doo Where are you.

"Wow. That was old when I was a kid." Said Barry

"Mommy likes Scooby. But said that Scrappy ruined it." Said Crystal

"Yeah I remember that about your mom."

"Daddy, I know I shouldn't have kicked the mean lady. But I am tired of people hurting mommy."

"Grandma, grandpa, Uncle Eddie, Aunt Patty, and I aren't going to let that happen any more."

"I like grandma Nora better then grandma Carla. I don't think that she likes me as much as my cousins."

"I am sure grandma Carla loves you just as much as your cousins."

"She don't like mommy."

"Sweetheart that is not true."

"Then how come she don't talk to mommy? Mommy called her but grandma never call back."

"Your grandma Carla is busy. But I know she loves you and your mom."

"I don't think you are right."

Barry sighed he didn't know what to say to make his little girl believe him.

Charlie Snow walked into his house and kissed his wife who was cooking dinner before going to see his kids. Charlie walked into the play room and smiled. His kids were playing quietly for once. Well it wasn't a surprise to find Susan coloring quietly. She reminded him more of his sister then his wife. Erin had been one of the more popular girls in school. President of the drama club and captain of the debate team. She had probably been Caitlin's closest friend even with the two year age difference between them. The boys at four and two were normally running around like crazy. But today they were playing with their dinosaurs on the floor. He loved all his kids.

"Charlie dinner in five minutes get the kids cleaned up." Yelled Erin

Charlie grabbed the kids helped them wash their hands and headed to the kitchen. Once everyone was seated and the kids started to eat Charlie turned to his wife.

"Caity sent me her new address in Central City today." Said Charlie

"That good. Are we going to stay with her or do we need to get a hotel room?"

"Staying with her. She moved in with Barry. You know that house he bought a few years ago."

"The one he planned to surprise her with after asking her to marry him?"

"Yeah. She didn't go into details but while they are living together they aren't actually together."

"Well she did just leave a bad relationship. I am glad she left Richard."

"I am too. I never liked him. After dinner I am going to have to call my mom and get her to come to Crystal's birthday."

"Why is your mom so cold to Caitlin?"

"It is complicated. Cait was always closer to my dad then mom. Sometimes I think that mom never wanted Caitlin. But dad didn't believe in abortion. So mom had Caitlin. Mom wasn't as cold before dad died. But she never was close to Caitlin."

"I just don't understand that."

"I don't either honey."

Charlie didn't voice it but he had a feeling that when Caitlin found out what was done to her as a kid she was going to be pissed. While their father was the one that actually did it, their mom did nothing to stop it either.