Earth 2

(Eight Months Earlier)

"Oh shit," Iris wished she could have found a better word to summarize discovering the best news of her life, but all she could think about was how her husband was going to react.

The stalls of the CCPD woman's bathroom were small, but thankfully abandoned for the most part lest anyone in the precinct overhear. She rummaged through her purse for the backup pregnancy test- because you always need a second opinion- and ripped it open. As she waited for the result, her mind started to go a thousand miles an hour. Did she really want this? Of course she did, she and Barry always said they wanted a family. But this soon? Time was irrelevant; they were well enough off, both in stable employment and, almost 30, Iris knew that if this was something she desired that it was better sooner than later. She could feel both anxiety and excitement welling up inside her, and deep down she knew what that test would say. It was what her husband would that worried her the most.

After not being able to concentrate on her cases, Iris decided she would be better off leaving early and preparing herself to tell Barry the news. She went home and, after getting sick a second time, cleaned up and set up a romantic candle-lit dinner for them. Rather than being subtle, she knew this would surprise Barry, as it wasn't something they usually did out of the blue, and that might do its job of drawing the conversation out of them. She put on a velvet green cocktail dress and, as she put her hair up, eyed the number on herself in mirror. She soaked in the sight of her in something so petite, as it might be the last time she'll ever get to wear it. She looked at the clock. Barry would be home any minute. She took a deep breath. She should be happy, she thought. Something Iris never forgot was how fortunate she was. She had an adoring husband and comfortable life, and while it had it's up and downs she could always count on their friendship and relationship to get them through anything. That on top of a wonderful career at CCPD…

That was just it.

She was afraid he would ask her to choose.

The realization hit her, and she sat on the edge of their bed with her head in her hands. What was she going to do if that happened? Could she really pick between their life and her career? The entire point of her working to put Barry through school was so that she wouldn't have to be passive, sitting at home cooking and cleaning while her husband pursued his dreams. She wasn't that kind of woman. But could she say no if he asked that of her? The anticipation almost killed her as she heard the front door open.

Well, it was now or never.

"Iris?"

It took Barry a moment, setting his coat and bag by the door, to realize the lavish set up his wife had prepared for them. He marveled at the dinner and candles, being taken aback by the gesture. Iris came up from behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Iris, this is beautiful." He chuckled. "What in the world did I miss?"

He turned and placed his arms around her. She smiled up at him. Part of her wanted this moment to last forever, wished that their night could end like this instead of potentially at war with each other. She took a moment to etch the happiness of his features. She knew that this news would simultaneously inflate that happiness and leave it in strain.

She took off his glasses. "Can't a wife prepare dinner for her hard-working husband?"

He grinned, amused. "Well, of course she can. But only you could do it looking that beautiful."

She pulled him into a kiss. She loved how forward he was with her, despite how it could kill their bedroom talk sometimes. She could depend on, whatever their discussion, him being 100% honest with her every time. But tonight, that was one of her biggest fears. She put on her best poker face smile and led him to the table.

After insisting he take care of the cleanup, Barry met his wife on the couch, where she was uncharacteristically waiting for him. He took a seat next to her, and she laid against him. His surprise turned to concern as he looked down, and saw Iris's eyes looking far away from where they were. He squeezed her hand.

"What is it Iris? What's bothering you?"

Without the least bit of defense, she sighed.

"Barry, there is so much of our life together that I love. I love you, I love our home, and our families. I love our jobs and I love how we both get to do what we love."

She sat up and moved so that she was sitting facing him. She held his face.

"I love that I can look at you and know you love me. That you support me, take care of me, everything."

"Of course I do, Iris." He caressed her face. "Always. Now what is this all about?"

She bit her lip and released her hands. This was a lot harder than she had anticipated. A seasoned detective, she had seen her fair share of gun fights, assaults, robberies, and just about any other violent crime you could picture taking place in Central City. She wasn't afraid to be in the middle of it and doing her job. In fact, there was little that scared her at all because of it. Hell, this pregnancy didn't even scare her. But this, watching what should be the happiest news of their lives potentially divide them, that is what shook her to the core. She was afraid of watching her husband be disappointed in her.

"Okay Barry." She stood up. "I'm pregnant."

He was silent for so long she thought she had killed him. He stood. Say something clever. Say something wonderful, she thought. Make this easier on me, please.

"A-Are you sure?"

Way to go Barry Allen. "Yes babe, I'm sure." She couldn't conceal her nervous laughter. Barry grabbed her and held her tight, literally sweeping her off her feet. "That's amazing! I can't believe this!" He set her down and they beamed at one another, registering the mutual happiness at their new family. He pulled her back to him and kissed her, and they shared their embrace for quiet some time before Iris pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay and popped it open. Barry's eyes furrowed.

"For you…?"

"I'll only have a sip, Mr. Allen, it's okay." She smiled and poured their glasses. She handed him his and they toasted.

"To us trying to be good parents."

"To us being the best parents."

His optimism never failed them. They sat back down, cuddling close. Iris knew it was coming, could feel the tension in her husband's arms, the way he had already become protective of her in her state. She was the one who was pregnant with the dangerous line of work, and someone would have to stay and take care of the baby. The weight of the decisions they would have to make began to sink it's way onto them both. She held him tighter, hoping to put it off, to hold back the inevitable storm.

"Iris…" He sighed.

"Yeah…I know."

"What are we going to do?"

"What are we going to do, or me?"

He released her and sat across from her. "Iris, you know we have to consider this; what you do is not safe and I don't agree with someone in your condition- "

She raised her hands. "Barry, I know what you're going to say. And I understand. But how do you expect me to just give up what I love to do completely because we are having a child?"

Barry bit his lip. He took a long moment to respond, his face curled with something close to anger. "…Maybe we shouldn't talk about this tonight."

Confused, Iris followed Barry as he headed towards the stairs. "Wait a minute. No Barry, we do need to talk about this, because I'm going into work tomorrow to do the same thing I have done every day of my career and that- "

Barry suddenly turned around.

"I know you don't want to admit it, Iris, but you are not invincible! Every day you go out there and you are in danger, and I live with that because that is what you love to do. But you're pregnant Iris! This completely changes things!"

Following him into their room, Iris grabbed Barry's arm and turned him around.

"You think I don't know that, Barry? I do. And it will take time, but I will take care of myself!" She began against her better judgement to cry. "What else would you have me do, Barry? Give up everything I love? My career?"

It broke his heart just as much as hers to hear her say it. Barry knew this was killing Iris, but he couldn't hold back. He just couldn't understand why keeping her child safe wasn't her first priority.

"I helped you go to school to do what you love, Barry." She wiped her eyes and softened. "And I would never change that. I would never want you to stop doing what you love. So why can't you support me like I support you?"

Sympathy took over Barry, but he held firm. "Iris, I'm a CSI. I'm not a detective, who goes out and faces any number of criminals and dangerous situations on a daily basis. And I'm not carrying our child." He shook his head. "Why is this hard for you?"

"Excuse me?" She wasn't sure if pregnancy hormones kicked in during the first weeks of gestation, but fire burned up in her with her husband's remark. Barry's eyes widened.

"Did you just ask why this is hard? Well, let's see Barry, I am the one carrying our child for starters: I'm going to get fat, I'm going to have to share my body, and what's more is I have to stop doing my job in order to do this. And I don't even get my husband's support!" Barry attempted to put his arms around her, to comfort her, but she shooed him away.

"No, you don't get to do that. Having this child, it's so wonderful. Having our family is the most amazing thing I could have asked for. But it comes at a price for me, Bartholomew. Not for you. You can still do what you do. I can't, and I don't know if I can live like that."

She stormed out of the room, leaving Barry desperate, hurt and confused. He wanted to comfort his wife, but everything she said was true: that is what he wanted her to do, and part of him felt ashamed for it. He wanted to lock her in a box and keep her safe with their child- what was so wrong with that? But Iris, Iris was a person. She was a wonderful woman, an incredible wife and the strongest person Barry knew. He didn't have a right to ask her to give up such a huge part of herself to do this thing for them. He sighed and sat on the edge of their bed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Shit…"