Chapter 37: Fathers

Henry Allen looked up at the shining sun, a small backpack slung on his back. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't dressed in a prisoner's garb, but rather some jeans, a button-up plaid shirt, and a beige jacket. He smiled, greeting all the guards, who all smiled back, genuinely.

Today, Henry was going home.

He watched as the metal gates slid open. Across from him, through the fence, he could see Iris and Barry, attached at the hip as always, arms hooked together. Their grins were wide, and he could see tears welling up in their eyes.

Nothing needed to be said. As the barrier finally opened all the way, Henry found himself wrapped in a strong hug from his son, the one person who had never given up on him, not even for a moment. After Barry (finally) let go, he found himself in another hug, this time from Iris, the woman he had come to see as a daughter.

Henry felt emotion overcoming him. It was real. It was all real.

He was free.

They arrived at the West House, which Henry could already see was decorated quite modestly for a 'Welcome Home' party. Barry opened the door, letting all three of them inside, and Henry was introduced to a small group of people that he had only heard of in passing during Barry and Iris' biweekly visits. Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon, Barry's coworkers; Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, the former being Caitlin's fiancé, both good friends of his son's; Francine and Wally West, Iris' mother and brother, respectively; and Eddie Thawne, Iris' (ex-)boyfriend, who he had seen once before when Iris had brought him to Iron Heights to introduce them. Off towards the back, Henry could even see Joe, who was watching the proceedings awkwardly behind a wall in the dining room. He knew there was a lot to be said there, but the former doctor was content to let things be and wait until they had a moment alone together to talk.

Last but least, however, were the people Henry had been looking forward to meeting the most.

"Dad, Oliver Queen," Henry shook hands with a tall, muscled young man, who was apparently one of the scions of Starling's wealthiest families, "Kara Danvers," hugged a young woman with blonde hair and bright, blue eyes, and "Clark Kent. Or Kal, as we like to call him." A young boy with an air of good-natured mischievousness smiled up at him, and Henry gladly smiled back.

"The three of you came out here to meet little old me?"

Oliver shrugged. "Once we heard, we couldn't say no. We all knew how long Barry has been waiting for this day." Towards the back, Joe winced. He ignored the concerned looks all who noticed gave him, especially those of Barry and Iris.

"Yeah." Henry shook his head. "Thank you." He said sincerely, solemnly, gratefully. "For taking care of my boy."

Kara waved him off. "It was nothing," she insisted, "we owe him as much as he owes us. God knows we wouldn't have survived out there without him to patch us up."

"Oh?" Henry quirked an eyebrow, while Barry's face beheld an uncharacteristic flush.

"What can we say? He inherited your talent in medicine." Oliver smiled softly. "You should be proud."

"I already am." Henry looked to his son, who was on the verge of tears once again. "Far more than any words can say."

The party had been underway for hours when Henry and Joe finally confronted each other. They had gone outside to the porch, where the sky was donning hues of orange as the sun began to set. Joe had gone out a little before, sitting on the steps and sipping a beer, trying to escape the festive atmosphere inside. Henry had noticed him go, and after twenty more minutes or so of conversation, had excused himself, claiming he needed some air. He joined Joe on the staircase, a beer in his hand, and the two sat together for a few minutes, before someone finally said something.

"…I'm sorry." Joe said, sadly. For what, he need not have to say.

Henry quirked the corners of his lips. "I won't deny that sounds a little satisfying, but truth be told, Joe, I forgave you a long time ago. You were just doing your job, and the evidence you had led you to that conclusion."

"The wrong conclusion." Joe stated bitterly.

Henry did not deny that, only sighing. "Don't blame yourself, Joe. Blame him." He finished angrily, the thought of Harrison Wells causing him to seethe. "He played all of us, and then he had the gall to try and involve himself in Barry's life again for more of his games. I hope whatever hell he's in, he's rotting for what he did."

Joe narrowed his eye. "Amen to that." The two raised their beers, toasting, before taking long, hard drinks. After they were done, Joe exhaled tiredly. "But still…I'm sorry. For Barry." For not taking care of him as well as I should have.

"Don't be." Henry looked down. "I'm just glad someone cared enough to try and raise him right. What happened to him, what landed him on that island – that wasn't your fault. No matter what you or anyone else says. No one could've foreseen that happening, and in the end, he still made it out okay. Better than I could've hoped for, in fact." Thoughts of the Starling City residents currently in the West House, mingling with the other guests, brought smiles to both their faces. Yes, Barry had turned out fine despite the circumstances, and that's all could they ask for.

"Listen to him to, Joe. He's talking sense." Both men turned around to see Barry, leaning against the edge of the front doorway, smirking.

"Shouldn't you be in there partying?" Joe looked sternly at him, but the fondness in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

Barry shifted his shoulders. "Needed a little break, thought I'd come out here to see how you two were doing." He walked to the handrail, folding his arms and allowing them to rest there. "You know, he named me the inheritor of his estate."

"He did?" Henry blinked as Joe frowned heavily.

Barry nodded. "Everything's now mine. All his properties, including his house and S.T.A.R. Labs, his belongings, his money – it's all mine." He smirked bitterly. "I'd like to say it was out of remorse, but truth be told, it was probably just to spite me one last time."

"Bastard." Joe uttered furiously.

"Indeed." Barry tilted his head. "Don't worry, though, I think I've found a use for it all."

The two older men looked up at him quizzically, and Barry grinned.

"I think it's about time S.T.A.R. Labs make a comeback, don't you think?"

As the party began to wind down, people began to leave. Iris was at the door, Barry beside her, saying their farewells to Eddie.

"You'll be fine on your own?" Iris asked worriedly.

Eddie smiled genially. "I'll be fine, Iris. I'm returning to work tomorrow, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah. I just can't help but worry, you know?"

"I know." Eddie sighed, and his face took on a look. "We still need to talk, right?"

"Right." Iris smiled slightly, though her body tensed. Eddie and Barry then followed up with their own farewells, and while polite, were hardly warm.

Henry, who had inadvertently eavesdropped as he was helping clean the house, frowned as he watched the scene. More specifically, he frowned at the way Eddie looked at Iris…and at how unconsciously close Iris and Barry were. He was tempted to intervene but thought better of it; it would all work out on its own, it always did.

He just hoped that, regardless of whoever Iris chose, no one would get too hurt.

"So, you're going?" Barry asked sadly, gazing at his father with unabashed longing.

"I'm want to stay, Barry, but, after fourteen years in prison, I need to find myself." Henry stated firmly. "And the memories here…" He closed his eyes and thought of Nora, of how he was forced to watch the light fade from her eyes, powerless. That vision had haunted him for the first few years of his imprisonment, peaking during Barry's disappearance, and being back in Central City had brought it all back to the forefront.

Barry nodded unhappily. "I understand." And he did, truly. Those first few days back on Lian Yu had been a trial for his surrogate family, returning to the epicenter of all their suffering. They had endured as they had been trained to, because they had to, but that hadn't made it any easier. "But, before you go…"

"S.T.A.R. Labs?" Henry asked, looking at the building in wonder. "Why here, Barry?"

"There's someone I need you to meet." Barry pressed his ID against the scanner next to the back entrance, watching the door slide open. He beckoned his father inside, and they made their way to the elevator that led to the Cortex.

"It wasn't just Oliver, Kara, and Kal that were on the island with me." Barry explained as the elevator car descended. "There were two others – adults. A woman and a man. The woman was named Shado. She was a med student who landed on the island while searching for her father. She was like an older sister or even a second mother to us." They exited the elevator, walking down the hallway. Henry didn't miss how his son spoke of this woman in past tense, nor the combined tone of fondness and sadness that overlaid his voice. It saddened him to know that Barry had suffered such a loss so soon after Nora's death and his incarceration. Truly, life had not been very kind to them.

Knowing only asking what happened to her would bring his son pain, Henry changed the subject. "And the man?"

Barry grinned.

They finally made it to the Cortex, and upon entry, Henry blinked. Standing with Oliver, Kara, and Kal was a very muscular man wearing a blank wife beater, a beige coat, and cargo pants. He had tanned skin and graying black hair – Australian it looked like – with what visible skin he had showing faint scarring. But by far his most striking trait was the eyepatch on his face, over his right eye. Henry would've tensed at such an imposing man immediately, had it not been for the kind look on his face.

"Dad, meet Slade Wilson." Barry introduced the man to him happily. Henry held out his hand slowly, and Slade, undeterred, grabbed it firmly.

"It's an honor to meet you." He rumbled warmly.

Malcolm Merlyn glowered slightly. The lack of progress on the Hood's identity was starting to wear down at him, and he knew it was only a matter of time before him, and therefore, the League, was onto him. He picked up his phone, dialing a familiar number.

"Dr. Markov, how soon can you push up your timetable?"

Outside the building, a single arrow flashed silently.

And with that, we move on to Oliver. Now for the upcoming chapters, they mightbe delayed until next weekend because I really need to get a move on homework now. Finish a book, write a paper or two – that kind of thing. Don't worry, though – Arc II will be finished this month, I guarantee it.