Barry felt a headache quickly coming along as Iris kept complaining, which was saying a lot considering Barry couldn't even get headaches anymore. They were currently sitting at Jitters, while Iris was talking at a speed that even he as The Flash was impressed with.
"Iris, slow down. What's wrong?" Barry asked concerned.
Iris sighed, exasperated, as she looked at her hands, "It's nothing really. I'm just super nervous."
"I thought the great Iris West didn't get nervous?" Barry teased his best friend.
"She does when her boyfriends family comes to town from Keystone City." Iris corrected.
"Eddie's family is coming to town? What's the big deal? I thought you already met his family."
"No, I met his cool, relaxed cousins from Happy Harbor. I've never met his parents and siblings. They're coming to town to visit, and I have to make a good impression."
"Ok, I can understand that. But what I don't understand is why you're so nervous. You've never had any problems meeting your previous boyfriend's parents before, so why are you stressing about it this time?" Barry pondered curiously.
Iris sighed once more before she explained, "This time is different. I really care about Eddie, more so then any other previous boyfriend. Plus, his family is... Different."
"Iris, you really suck at explaining situations." Barry confessed.
Iris rolled her eyes, "What I mean is that Eddie comes from a semi well known family. They have money, not enough to call them millionaires, but they're well-off. Eddie is the youngest of his family. Both of his parents are doctors, his brother is also a doctor, and his sister is a doctor. In their eyes, Eddie is the failure of the family, the black sheep."
Barry pulled a little of Sebastian before he replied, "How can Eddie be a failure if he has you?"
"Stop teasing Barry. I'm being serious here!" Iris exclaimed.
Barry chuckled slightly, and reassured her, "It'll be fine Iris, stop worrying."
"It's just we're supposed to have dinner tonight, and I can't help but worry. What if I make a bad impression? What if they don't think I'm good enough for a Thawne? What if…"
Barry did not allow her to finish her thought, "Iris! Everything will be fine! Just be yourself, and if they have a problem with you, then it's their problem! Not yours! And anyways, they're going to love you. You're the perfect girlfriend, and anyone can see that you and Eddie are in love."
"I can't mess up this meeting Barry, I just can't. I've got to go, I'm late for work." And with that Iris picked up her bag, and stormed out of the café.
Barry sighed and put his head on his hands. Iris somehow managed to convince herself that her entire relationship with Eddie relied on this one meeting with his over pompous family. Barry scoffed at the absurdity.
Unlike Iris, Barry knew just how easy it was to impress the upper class, not that he would even consider the Thawne's to be upper class. Sure, they had more money than most, but Barry was a Smythe, who is friends with a Queen, practically a brother to the Andersons, and the figurative twin of a certain St James. Needless to say, Barry was quite familiar with the wealthy.
Barry still thought that Iris shouldn't try to hard to impress the Thawne's, and that she should only be herself, but she was dead set on making a good impression. And knowing Iris as well as he did, he knew the only way she could truly make a good impression was with the help of one Sebastian Smythe. So he set his plan in motion.
Looping his arm with Iris's, she said, "Thanks for helping me out Barry. I really needed this."
"It's the least I could do." He admitted with a smile, as the duo walked into Central City Mall.
They walked straight towards their favorite department store, where Iris picked several dresses before going towards the fitting room. Barry sat right outside the door as Iris changed.
"Thanks again for this Barry! I'd be hopelessly lost without you." Iris called from inside the fitting room.
"No problem Iris." This was usual occurrence for the two. While Iris had some sense of fashion, Barry was the true fashion expert. He was the one who usually accompanied Iris on shopping trips, since they both knew that Iris was absolutely hopeless without him. Buying a dress for the Thawne family dinner tonight was no different.
Not many people know that Barry is good with fashion, but when they ask him, he claims that it's because he's French, and moving to Paris gave him an eye for clothing. Plus, attending an all-male prep school, and being friends with Kurt Anderson-Hummel certainly helped. His sizeable trust fund also helped fund his expensive taste in clothing.
"So what do you think of this one?" Iris said opening the door, and showing her dress to Barry. It was a short, black, strapless cocktail dress.
"Are you trying to impress his family, or seduce them?" Barry questioned teasingly.
"A simple 'no' would suffice you know." Iris stated, before closing the door to try on another dress.
Barry chuckled at Iris's response, and leaned back against the chair. Despite what Barry always tells Iris, he really does love shopping with her. He claims to hate being dragged around stores by her, but he likes that she counts on his opinion. Loving and understanding fashion is the only "Sebastian trait" that Iris knows about, so in these moments he truly feels like himself.
"Ok, what about this one?" Iris asks, once again opening the door.
It was a loose, simple, green dress, with small straps along the shoulders.
"If you want to give off a good impression, I'm not sure that pretending you got knocked up is the way to go."
Iris gasped and examined her dress, "I look pregnant?!"
Barry smirked and replied, "Not really, but the fact that you got that dress in the maternity section definitely gives off the impression."
"How did you know that I found this dress in the maternity section?"
Barry gave her a look, "Seriously Iris? You're still doubting me?"
"Whatever." Iris grumbled before shutting the door so that she can try on another dress.
"You know, you never told me where you guys are going for dinner." Barry reminded.
"Oh yeah. Eddie's parents somehow managed to get a dinner reservation at Grey's. How they managed to swing a reservation for 7 people at Central City's classiest restaurant, I'll never know." Iris told him.
Barry's eyebrows scrunched in confusion, "Wait, did you just say 7 people? It's going to be Eddie, his parents, his two siblings, and you. That's 6 people, not 7."
Iris chuckled nervously, "Yeah, about that…"
"Iris…" Barry warned.
"Well, his family really wanted to meet my family at the dinner, but you know, Dad had some case files to wrap up, and then Eddie let it slip that you were practically family, so they invited you to dinner, and I couldn't think of an excuse to say no." Iris admitted, talking at lightning speed.
"Iris!" Barry exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Bear! But I need you there!"
Barry sighed, "Ugh… Fine, I'll go!" He never could say no to her.
"Thanks Bear! You're the best! Now, what do you think of this dress?" She said, opening the door once more.
Examining the knee length, strapless red dress, Barry couldn't help but smile, "Perfect."
"Great! Now I just have to find some matching shoes!"
Barry groaned in response.
Barry was running late. Typical.
He was supposed to meet everyone at the restaurant at 7:30, but by the time he arrived it was already 8:00. How he still managed to be late, even with super speed, he would never know.
Fixing his hair, and adjusting his red tie, he walked into the restaurant. Approaching the hostess, Barry gave her a charming smile, "Hello, I'm here with the Thawne party."
"Right on time Allen." Barry heard someone say behind him. Turning around, he saw Eddie, Iris, and the rest of whom he assumed was the Thawne family. They were all dressed to impress, and he was pretty sure he could make out a few designer brands.
"I'm actually surprised that you arrived before us." Eddie admitted.
At seeing Iris's chuckle, Barry realized that Iris gave him the wrong time on purpose, so that he could actually be on time for once.
"Of course I'm on time. I would despise being late to something as important as this dinner." Barry stated.
"Thawne family? This way please." The hostess said, leading them to their round table. Barry took his seat in between Iris, and Eddie's sister.
"Let me introduce you guys. Barry, please meet my family. These are my parents, Darren and Jessica, and these are my siblings, Lucy and Chris. Guys, this is Iris's best friend, Barry." Eddie said, introducing everyone.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Barry said politely. Mr. and Mrs. Thawne were impeccably dressed, and they held themselves in a sophisticated and professional matter. Eddie's siblings were the same. All in all, they all looked quite stiff. The women wore expensive jewelry, and the men had on expensive suits.
"It's lovely to meet you as well Mr. Allen." Mrs. Thawne said.
"Please, it's Barry." He corrected.
"Very well Barry, what is it that you do for a living?" Mr. Thawne asked.
"I'm a crime scene investigator for the CCPD. A forensic scientist of sorts."
Barry caught Mrs. Thawne rolling her eyes discretely.
"Law enforcement, of course." Chris scoffed.
"There's nothing wrong with Law Enforcement." Eddie argued.
"Maybe for you." Mrs. Thawne said quietly, and rudely. Both Iris and Barry couldn't help but feel insulted.
"Can we not get into this right now? Let's just enjoy the dinner without any arguments." Eddie said, giving up.
"So Iris, you're a journalist?" Lucy asked, changing the topic.
"Yes, I am. I've always loved to write." Iris admitted with a smile.
"I read your work, you seem particularly interested in the Flash." Mr. Thawne stated.
"I am. The Flash is Central City's hero. He saved my life more times then I can count." Iris answered.
"What made you decide to go into journalism?" Chris asked.
"Actually, it was Barry who convinced me to do so. He said journalism was where all the fun was at."
"Certainly Mr. Allen realized that there was no money or glory in journalism?" Mrs. Thawne inquired.
"Money was never a factor." Barry answered coolly. He was used to these types of comments.
"It certainly wasn't a factor when you decided on your career." Mrs. Thawne pointed out.
"We have a saying from where I come from, 'L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur'" Barry replied.
"Money can't buy happiness." Mr. Thawne translated.
"You speak French?" Mrs. Thawne asked.
"Since when?" Eddie wondered.
Barry smirked, "I was raised in Paris. It was there I realized the validity of that statement."
"Well, money may not buy happiness, but it certainly makes your life easier." Mrs. Thawne reminded.
"True, however money was never an issue for me personally." Barry revealed.
"Why not?" Chris asked.
"Have you ever heard of the Smythe family?" Barry asked innocently.
"Of course. Richard and Hannah Smythe are French Billionaires. They own a multitude of companies all over Europe. Why?" Mr. Thawne inquired.
"My full name is Bartholomew Sebastian Smythe Allen. I'm the only living relative of the Smythe family, and the sole heir." He admitted.
The entire Thawne family looked shocked, especially Eddie. He had no idea that his friend was rich. Iris just smirked slightly. She's known for a while now that Barry was a Smythe, although she didn't find out until Barry moved to Paris during their sophomore year of high school. Barry never did like advertising his wealth, so Iris respected his privacy and never told anyone about it.
There were a few moments of silence before Mrs. Thawne asked kindly, "Have you ever been to the Louvre?"
Barry smiled, "Of course."
Safe to say, the rest of the dinner went without a hitch.
The next morning, Iris swung by the West household for the weekly Sunday breakfast.
"You know, Eddie told me that his parents really liked me." Iris informed Barry.
"Of course they did. I told you they would." Barry replied smugly.
"It's all thanks to you." She admitted.
"Nah, I just helped move the conversation along."
"You know, you never did tell me that you were the sole heir of the Smythe family fortune." Iris declared.
"It never came up." Barry answered.
"Suurreee…" Iris said, not quite believing him.
"What? It's the truth!" Barry exclaimed.
"Sure it is. I have to ask, do you also have a trust fund?" She teased.
"Maybe, maybe not." Barry answered jokingly.
"You know, that actually explains a lot! I was wondering how you were able to afford all of those designer brands! Hummel is a really expensive brand after all, and your closet seems to be full of it!"
"What if I told you that it's only because I'm best friends with Kurt Hummel, and I was actually the Best Man at his wedding? Although, technically I was Blaine's Best Man, but whatever." Barry teased
"Oh sure. Next you're going to tell me that you're a super model. Or maybe you'll tell me that you also happen to be friends with Mercedes Jones?" Iris joked.
"Actually, I am a super model. And I do happen to be friends with Mercedes, but we really aren't all that close. We're mostly friends through association, since I'm close to Blaine and Kurt." Barry admitted with a smirk, knowing that Iris didn't believe him.
"Ok Barry. You know, if you want to lie to me, at least make it somewhat believable." She teased, before getting off the coach and into the kitchen.
Under his breathe, Barry mumbled, "I didn't lie. But that reminds me, I should probably call Kurt to thank him for this suit. "