"Barry, what if I stay? I can help," she pushes while sitting on the couch watching her husband pace back and forth. The stress of the coming crisis finally expressed across his features. A sigh leaves her lips, knowing her husband is in his own world at this point and anything she says will just go in one ear and out the other. She bites her lip, debating, before trying to grab his attention one last time. "Barry?"

The faint voice cracks through his growing thoughts and concerns. He turns his attention to his wife, sitting so patiently with a blanket covering her growing stomach. He blinks his eyes rapidly and shakes his head, a method to shake away any lingering thoughts to give her his undivided attention. "Did you say something Cait?"

A humorous scoff leaves her lips as she stares at him, tilting her head to the side. She arches her eyebrows up into her forehead causing him to nod in apology before walking over to sit next to her. She licks her lips, gathering some courage to repeat her words - knowing what he was going to say. "What if I stay? I can help you and Cisco and -"

"No Cait," he snaps standing back on his feet. He sees her slightly jump at his booming tone and exhales deeply, placing a hand on his hip while the other wipes his mouth.

There's a silence between the pair. Barry looking up at the ceiling with shut eyes, trying to figure out what to say to ease his wife, while Caitlin looks down at her hands in her lap, debating with her thoughts as Frost remains dormant for the safety of the baby.

A sigh leaves her lips, "Bar, I know you are wanting to protect me - us," she slightly smiles with her hand over her belly as her thumb rubs circles. "But, I will be okay. I want to here with you and help the team."

He squats in front of her, placing his hands on her knees for support, and gives them a gentle squeeze. "I know Cait but, it is better for you to go away until this crisis is over," he looks into her eyes, trying to get her to understand his reasoning. "I need to protect my family," he stresses giving her knees a tight squeeze. His mind starts racing with different scenarios as looks away from her. "If you or the baby get hurt or worse," he breathes, "If I lose either of you..."

"Hey," she coos, placing her hands over his, causing him to look back at her. "I'm right here Barry. I'm fine," she gives him a reassuring smile. "We're fine," she adds. "I just don't want you doing this alone like you always do," she pushes giving his hands a squeeze. "We need you, just as much as you need us."

Barry sighs in content and moves back to sit next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to his chest. He kisses the top of her head then whispers into her hair. "Can you do me a favor Cait?" She nods her head as she hums for a response. He pulls her closer, shutting his eyes finding the courage to speak his mind. He swallows some saliva, "Whatever happens, you remain strong for our family."

Caitlin pulls away from his embrace and faces him. Her face fills with confusion as she looks over at him just to register his words, reading between the lines. "Barry don't. Don't you dare be saying what I think you are saying," she bitterly snaps as she scooches away from him.

Barry leans forward, with his elbows on his knees, as his head drops, looking at the ground. A heavy sigh leaves his lips as he runs his fingers through his hair. A pang of guilt and pain shoot through him, finding it so difficult to look at his wife. "Cait," he breathes then slowly looks over to see her heartbroken expression. He feels his body go numb at the loss of words. He is hurting her - he knew it. "If something happens I need to know you'll be okay," he adds reaching over to grab her hand.

She pulls her hand back, "What part of we need you don't you understand?" She tries to read him to understand his reason for sounding defeated before the battle begins. His response is only silence. Caitlin huffs in annoyance and shakes her head. "Why are so determined you won't make it out of this? Huh?" she pushes but he continues to not say a word. "Because the article said you won't? Or because you are giving up?" she shrugs her shoulders while a sigh, "Either way, that's not the Barry I know. The Barry I know would fight to come home to his family-"

"I'm not strong enough Cait!" he snaps looking over at her with frustration. "I cannot protect the woman I love or the child she carries and is forced to send them away because I'm not," he cries as the tears start to fall fast down his face. "I can't... I'm not strong enough," he whispers out, stuttering with his word, burying his face into his hands.

Caitlin moves closer to him and starts rubbing his back. His body shakes as his emotions overwhelm him. A slight whisper smooths him, listening to her sweet voice. "I don't need you to be strong Barry." He lifts his face up and her hand instantly cups his cheek. "I need to know that when this is all over, you will be there to pick us up and take us home." A gentle smile forms on her face, "That you still have hope."

The word struck a nerve in Barry. Finding comfort in her smooth words as he finally starts to really listen to her. He needed to give her hope - he needed to hold on to hope. He leans over, delicately placing his lip on hers, giving her a long, passionate kiss. "I'm sorry," he whispers on her lips.

"It's okay," she whispers back, leaving her forehead on his, letting silence fill the void. She slowly pulls back to face him, to look him over, and grabs his hand. "Maybe instead of focusing on what you can be lost, you try to remember what you'll never lose," she adds with a smile.

A small smile appears on his face as he incases his other hand around their joint one. "Like you?" he lightly smirks.

Her cheeks instantly burn with the blush that creeps on her face. Her eyes look lovingly into his and nods slightly. "Like me."

Barry swipes a lock of hair from her face, admiring her beauty, as he continues to look into her eyes. "I'm gonna miss you," he breathes out.

Her face softens, the reality of the situation snapping her out of their bubble. She lets a soft sigh leave her nostrils before responding. "I'll be back before you know it and possibly with a smaller addition," she smiles, pulling him into a tight embrace.

He chuckles into her hair then whispers in her ear, "Don't you dare have this baby without me." She giggles into his shoulder then feels him pull away to incase her face into his hands. "Try to keep that baby inside of you until after crisis; I would like to be there for the birth," he adds then pecks her lips.

Caitlin giggles at his request, placing her hands over his. "I'll try my very best but, I'm at our child's command. When they say they are ready, I won't be able to hold back." She leans forward to rub her nose against his before placing a sweet kiss.

The door opens wide revealing Caitlin's mother, Carla. "All set? Car is downstairs," she says walking over to the couple. The couple pulls away from their small embrace to look over at the intruder then back at each other. Caitlin starts to get up as Barry grabs a hold of her upper arm to help her up. As she stands her growing stomach becomes visible and causes a smile to spread across Barry's face. His attention is taken away by his mother-in-law. "I promise I'll get these two back to you and your team as soon as possible," she smiles.

He nods his head, finally hitting him that his love is leaving. A small frown takes over his face, "Thanks," he mumbles then looks back at Caitlin. Carla gives a slight nod towards Barry then motions with her hands for Caitlin to follow her out. After a beat, Caitlin starts to head out but, Barry grabs her arm to hold her back, "Hey um, I need to tell you one more thing."

Caitlin arches her eyebrows up in curiosity, "What is it?"

Without hesitation, Barry pulls her in for a passionate kiss. She kisses back as her arms wrap around his neck, holding her in place. He slowly pulls away, a smile on his face, "I love you Dr. Caitlin Snow-Allen and I will come home to you... both of you," he lightly places his hand on her belly.

She places her hand over his with a smile. "I love you, Barry Allen," she reaches over giving him a final peck on the lips, and slowly leaves his embrace.

Barry watches as she walks out of their apartment. Her mother embraces her in a side hug then leads her down the hall. She looks back over her shoulder one last time as Barry waves with a half-smile. When he no longer sees her, he stuffs his hands into his pockets, looking at where she used to be. A pain instantly fills his heart but he quickly recovers with the memory of her words - of hope.

"I'll miss you..."

fin.