CH 6 The Future
"Let's go out tonight," he cajoled as they walked home from CATCO. The interview had gone smoothly. Barry hadn't ever been so nervous in his life. Having Kara there, literally holding his hand, had helped immensely. The follow-on discussion with Winn had been hilarious.
Cat had a sad expression after they wrapped up and telling them, "Go have the rest of the day off. You two deserve a celebration."
"Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"Well, I may have already made some reservations for the evening." He glanced at his watch, "For an hour from now," he grinned cheekily.
"Of course. Is this a jeans and t-shirt type of place, or…"?
"Nice dress. Definitely."
"Super fancy?" she asked, her tongue in cheek.
He laughed, "Very fancy. Not Super fancy. Dork."
When they got home, she agonized over her dresses before deciding to be daring. She'd found this dress about a year ago but never had the occasion to wear it. A very fancy black and gold combo, it came with elbow length black gloves and hearkened back to the glamour of the Thirties and Forties. Twenty minutes later, she came out of the bathroom having done her hair and makeup with superspeed.
Barry stood there, wearing a tuxedo. Her eyes widened at how good he looked. His look mirrored her feelings, "You are unbelievably gorgeous," he murmured. Barry stared at her for a long moment before recalling himself. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Are you ready?" he asked.
Nodding, she licked her lips. She couldn't wait to tell Cassie that he was definitely yummy in that tux.
They headed down the steps, Kara still speechless at her boyfriend and how good he looked. He had an astonished expression himself. "You look stunning," he repeated himself, a bit dazed.
She blushed lightly, "Thanks. You look great in that."
He shrugged. "I stopped by Brooks Brothers on the way to CATCO. They had this in my size, just having to hem the trousers. They did that right there in just a few minutes." He looked at her with a worried expression, "I don't look like an idiot, do I?"
She shook her head, smiling. He was still the adorkable Barry Allen that she fell in love with.
At the bottom of the stairs to their apartment, a limousine waited for them. "Barry?"
He held the door open for her, "I wanted to make tonight special."
As she gathered up her skirt and ducked into the car, she muttered, "You're doing a good job, babe."
The ride was short. Barry hopped out when they arrived, turning to hand her out of the car. Her eyes bugged when she saw where they were going to eat. "You got us reservations for dinner at Remy on the spur of the moment?"
Looking away, he nervously replied, "Well, I made these reservations a while ago. It just worked out that the S.T.A.R. Lab success fell today."
A small thought crept into her mind, but she squashed it. Best to focus on the moment.
Five minutes later, they were sat side by side at a two-person table shaped like a crescent as they looked out over the darkening skyline of National City. Their server was Francine, from Paris, who explained the menu and the various courses.
"I'd like to order a bottle of the Paullic 2010 if you have it."
Francine's eyes glittered, "Of course, monsieur. I'll inform the sommelier. She'll attend to you shortly."
Now Kara was completely confused. While alcohol had no effect on either of them, they both loved the flavors and red wine in particular. She knew that Barry had just ordered a very expensive bottle of wine. "Barry, what's going on?" He'd been fidgeting the whole time, or bouncing his knee.
He looked to his lap, muttering, "I can't wait." Digging into his pocket he tugged out something small.
A ring box.
Her heart stopped. On some level, she knew her jaw had dropped and her eyes were round but her thoughts just wouldn't seem to form a coherent sentence.
Slipping out of his chair, Barry took to his knee while reaching for her hand. "Kara, I had a fantastic speech to lay out everything, but in the end, I can only offer you all of me. All of my love. All of my loyalty. All of my support. All of my being. I hope that it's enough, because I want to spend the rest of eternity with you. Will you marry me?"
Unbidden, tears began to track down her face. She still couldn't speak, so she nodded. Barry tugged the glove off before opening the box. Inside was a solitaire diamond; large, but not vulgar. Unhurriedly, he slipped it on her finger. For a long moment, they both admired it before he slowly kissed her hand with passion and reverence.
She pulled him up to her, kissing him with abandon. Around them, the unnoticed couples who were witness to their engagement, burst into applause.
Embarrassed, they sat back down. Barry waved sheepishly as everyone resumed their dinner, smiles on most faces.
Completely stunned, she looked back and forth from her hand to her fiancé – her fiancé! – before she sputtered, "How long have you been planning this?"
He smiled that wonderful smile of his, "Since before Fort Rozz."
Shaking her head, she looked back to her ring, "So long?"
Nodding to the sommelier who had arrived with the bottle of wine, he took the glass, evaluating the pour. After a quick sip, he told the Italian woman, "Excellent. Thank you."
"Signore," the sommelier murmured as she poured first for Kara and then Barry. "Congratulazioni to you both," she smiled before moving off.
"Kara, when I said that you were it for me, I meant it. This," he gestured to her diamond adorned hand, "Is just announcing to the world that I'm yours."
"And I'm yours, Barry." She reached for him.
Kara had never felt so complete, so loved, and so in love. Whoever has blessed me, I am grateful beyond words.
He held up his glass, "To us, soon-to-be Mrs. Allen."
She smiled widely returning his toast, "To us."
.oOo.
"That was an amazing dinner." They were strolling along the river walk where they'd first held hands. Barry had his arm around his fiancée as they slowly made their way along the rolling tributary.
"It was, wasn't it?" he replied contentedly. "The lobster on top of the tomato-basil sauce was mouth wateringly good."
She nuzzled into his neck, "The halibut in kohlrabi sauce was delicious."
They laughed. "But dessert was the best," Barry chuckled at Kara's pronouncement.
"Which course of dessert?"
"The olive oil white chocolate chef hats and mango fruit rolls."
He nodded. "You know, originally my plan was to have a wonderful dinner then come out here to propose." Shaking his head amusedly at his own impatience, he asked, "Did I do Ok?"
She stopped, pulling him up short. With an earnest expression, she told him "Barry, you exceeded any dream I'd ever had of that moment."
"Good."
She looked at her ring for what seemed like both the first and thousandth time. "The band is a fascinating color. What's it made of?"
He grinned, "I had it contracted out. It's a gold, tungsten and rhodium alloy. I believe it's the hardest metal I could get that still looked good enough to be an engagement ring."
She glowed at his use of 'engagement'.
Taking his cheeks in her hands, she kissed him deeply. "Thank you for taking my strength into account. Let's go home, almost-hubby."
.oOo.
"She swam by me, she got a cramp," he sang as he unlocked the door to their apartment.
"He ran by me, got my suit damp," she countered striding in and giving him a little shove with her hip.
"I saved her life, she nearly drowned," he grinned.
"He showed off, splashing around," as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Summer sun, something's begun but oh oh the summer nights," together, they met in the middle for a lingering kiss.
"I hated that show," came a voice from the dark apartment.
The Flash and Supergirl broke their embrace and before the intruder could cognitively process that their comment had registered, The Flash had pinned them to the ground and Supergirl hovered over top them, her eyes blazing fire.
"Alex?" Kara said as she recognized her sister in the glow of lights coming in from the street. "It's Ok, Barry. It's Alex."
Another moment and the door had been closed and locked with the lights in the apartment all turned on. Barry pulled up next to Kara, the jacket of his tux unbuttoned, but Kara was still in her dress with her gloves on up to the elbow.
"What the fuck, Kara?" Alex spat. Unsteadily making her way to her feet, the brunette weaved to the couch. Half falling, she sat down. The empty bottle of whisky on the table told the tale of her state.
"Damn. I love that scotch," Barry muttered. Kara glared at him in a not now mode. He shrugged before falling silent.
"So, what are you two all dolled up for?" She grabbed the empty bottle and tried to drink again. "Fuck. Got any more?"
Barry silently took the bottle as he headed to the kitchen, dropping the empty into the recycling bin.
"It seems like you've had enough, Alex. Why are you here?"
"Couldn't just come by to see you? What, are you too good to see me now?"
Kara rubbed her forehead, "You'll always have a special place in my heart Alex. I'll always love you and Eliza."
"Hmph. You got pretty boy, so you don't need your big sister."
Barry looked to Kara, wondering if he should vacate. That answer was provided when Kara reached for him. Without thought, he moved to her side, taking her extended hand.
"Alex, even though I love Barry with everything that I am, it doesn't mean I love you any less."
"Don' listen to me though."
Barry whispered nearly inaudibly, knowing that Kara would hear him. "She's drunk. There's no reasoning with her. I'll get her some blankets and a pillow so she can sleep it off."
"But this is our engagement night," Kara objected.
He shrugged, "I'd give nearly anything to have Joe or Iris drunk on our couch. Alex is family of a sort for you, just like Joe and Iris were for me." He kissed her softly, "We have years and years together, my love."
"You are the best man in the entire galaxy, Barry Allen."
He smiled sadly, "And it means more to me than you know, that that is your opinion of me." He headed to the bedroom to change and grab bedding for Alex.
Kara watched her drunk foster sister roll on to her side and begin to snore. "Better get a bucket, too," she grumped. Tugging off her gloves, she headed to the kitchen to get the mop bucket. More likely than not, Alex would need it sooner or later.
.oOo.
"Oh, God, thanks," Alex groaned as she took four pain relievers with a steaming cup of coffee that Kara had shoved at her.
"Thank Barry, he ran across town last night to the all-night pharmacy because he knew you'd need them this morning." Kara's tone was far less than friendly.
Alex didn't quite catch it. Apparently, her head was still a bit fuzzy. She'd puked for ten minutes in the early morning before awakening around eleven to find a fuming Kara staring at her. She just toasted the not-present speedster with her coffee before taking another slurp.
"Where is pretty boy?"
"If you refer to my fiancé in that derogatory manner or tone again, I'll have to ask you to leave."
Now Alex's eyes opened wide. "Fiancé?"
The lid popped off of Kara's temper. "Yes. Barry planned the most sincere and romantic night possible. He took me to Remy, proposed before the most amazing dinner and we were headed back here to have the perfect end to the perfect night only to find my drunk sister being a total bitch to me and my man and screwing up what would have been a magnificent night of passion. Thanks, ever so much, Alex."
"I knew it! You're having sex with him."
"So, what!" Kara nearly roared across the table, causing Alex to wince at the volume. She'd been interacting with Barry so much, she tended to forget herself. He was much tougher than the average human. Regaining, control, she crossed her arms across her chest, "I'm nearly twenty-six. I'm in love with and engaged to the man of my dreams. If we want to have wild crazy monkey sex on top of the Eiffel Tower, that is none of your business. As it is, I think you missed the salient point here."
"Smaller words and more coffee."
"Shut up and listen for once, Alex," Kara growled. That seemed to pierce the hangover fog surrounding the suffering woman. "I am living my life. I am going to marry Barry. We are together now, and for the rest of our lives. There is no competition between you in my heart. I love you both, but he will always be first for me as I'm always first for him."
Sitting upright, Alex took a more sedate sip of the coffee. With a wince at what seemed to be a twinge of pain well earned, Alex told Kara in a very forced tone, "Congratulations on your engagement."
Kara shook her head, "I don't know what's got into you, Alex. I want us to have the close relationship that we had not so long ago. I don't know what I did wrong in your eyes to earn your…your disdain." Hurt welled up inside her. Alex had never, truly, been her sister, but they had been very close after an adjustment period when Kara had arrived at the Danvers household. For the longest time, Alex had been her only friend. To the lonely immigrant girl who knew very little of the local language, Alex Danvers had been Kara's hero.
There was a long silence as Alex looked into her coffee mug. Finally, she began, "Not disdain. Not at all. I…I just…well, when I was around fourteen, mom told me that I had to look out for you. That you didn't know the way things were done on this planet; the idiosyncrasies of humans or the stupid crap that teenagers can do. She wanted me to protect you."
Kara nodded. She'd been coming into her newfound hearing abilities and overheard the conversation. She'd been both mortified and relieved by Eliza's dictum to Alex. She wanted Alex to watch over her because she wanted to, not because she was told to do so. On the other hand, she was relieved that she would have someone to lean on in school and public in general.
"So, I did. I became your self-appointed protector. At some point, you did the unthinkable and grew up. The thing is that you're so giving and so…you, that it seems like people will take advantage of you if I'm not there."
Kara frowned, "I'm not an idiot, Alex."
"I know. That guy you went on a date with last year. Remember him?"
"Steve, yeah. He was a jerk."
"You see, I could tell he was a jerk that he'd be a jerk on your date, and just be an asshole in general. I tried to tell you, but you still went to dinner with him." Alex gestured with her cup to emphasize the point before taking a long drink.
Kara narrowed her eyes in anger as she rebutted, "And I left after the first thirty minutes because he was such a jerk. I see what you're saying, Alex. But I did grow up. I'm not that same scared little girl who needed a big sister in order to safely function in the world." Leaning forward on the table, she told her foster sister, "Look, I love you. I'll always love you but you don't seem to see me for who I am now. I'm an adult woman. I have a job. I'm engaged to be married. I'm a full-fledged superhero. C'mon, Alex. What else do I have to do before you leave this alone?"
The short haired brunette nodded thoughtfully before taking a long drink of the coffee. "I guess that I have some growing up to do." She smiled at her foster sister.
Relieved, Kara returned the smile.
In a teasing tone, Alex asked, "So, where is your speedy sweetheart?"
"He's setting up some temporary spaces for S.T.A.R. Labs and starting the hiring process. He eventually wants to build a stand-alone facility that will support some of the research he wants to pursue. For now, until they get a better grip on what's going on, he's just going to be renting a building in midtown."
"How many employees are there? It seemed from the interview that S.T.A.R. is a small venture."
"Right now, there are two employees. Barry and Winn who he hired yesterday. He said he was going to hire a secretary and HR person as soon as he could." She chuckled, "He has no idea how to do the paperwork, so he said he was going to hire someone to that as soon as possible."
"Winn, the computer guy?"
Kara nodded sprouting a grin at the memory. "Winn was so excited he could barely contain himself. He gave Ms. Grant his two weeks on the spot. Barry made the offer right after the interview and Winn accepted before they even talked salary."
"How's that going to work with your 'other' job?"
Kara laughed, remembering Barry's response to the same question when she put it to him, "He told me that it's good to be the boss."
.oOo.
A/N
1. I own nothing.