Part 7

Barry and Caitlin arrived home just before ten that night. It had been nice to spend time with Kara, Alex, Mon-El and Kelly. But now it was time to start working on the plan to take down Thawne once and for all. But tonight it was just them and reconnecting. They both knew in the old reality that they had lost the closeness they had after Flashpoint. But if this new development in their relationship given to them by this new reality they lived in was going to work. Then they would have to reconnect. Caitlin headed into the bedroom to change into something more comfortable for lounging around the apartment while Barry headed into the kitchen to make some of the herbal tea that he knew Caitlin liked before bed. He smiled when she came out dressed in a pair of shorts and a Star Labs t-shirt that hung off her shoulder. He also noticed she had removed her makeup not that she had been wearing much to begin with. She took the mug of tea from him and sat on the couch.

"Thanks Barry."

"No problem sweetie."

Caitlin raised an eyebrow at him.

"What? From what I remember of this reality we do call each other that."

"I know. I just never imagined that I would hear that from you. You were just so hung up on Iris before."

"That was a mistake. Cait, I remember telling you once that sometimes great possibilities are right in front of us. But we don't see them because we choose not to."

"I remember. It was when we were looking for a new Firestorm partner for Professor Stein. When I didn't want to choose Jax because I saw him going nowhere in life without knowing all the facts about him. That the reason he wasn't going to college was because he blew out his knee when the particle accelerator exploded causing him to lose his scholarship. Barry if we can find him if his grades are like they were before I think we should fund a scholarship for him. But establish it for other students too after him."

"I think that is a great idea."

"You really like that idea?"

"Why wouldn't I? Cait, you are one of the kindest people I know. But there is something else we need to talk about."

"Barry can we just forget about what I said before crisis?"

"I can't. What did you mean about giving up on just about everything?"

Caitlin sighed knowing she wasn't going to get out of this conversation.

"Barry, I never had a lot of friends growing up. Let alone really had a boyfriend until Ronnie. Boys only saw me as a nerd."

"Well I have to say you had to have been a beautiful nerd. Cause you are totally hot now."

"Barry, let me tell you this without interruptions."

Barry nodded.

"It wasn't until college that I went on my first date. But I never let anything go very far. It wasn't until I met Ronnie while working on the particle accelerator that I dropped my guard. I mean Cisco had become a fast friend in both realities. In this one Ronnie did ask me out. But we were together and once he found out we became friends. But as you know in the old reality my mom and I were estranged. So Ronnie was my everything. But when I lost him I fell into a pretty deep depression. Without him and my career pretty much over I didn't really see the point of living. But then Dr. Wells or who we thought was Dr. Wells anyway. Brought you to Star Labs. He needed me to use my skills as a doctor to treat you. Suddenly I had a reason to go on living. You saved my life by coming into it. But you should know that I never felt that way in this reality. You are a big part of that. So is Charlie and my relationship with my mom is not nearly as bad. Barry, you don't have to worry about me. I am in a good place now."

"I think part of being a good husband is worrying about my wife. But you are more than my wife. You are my best friend."

Caitlin smiled and leaned over and kissed Barry. It soon became more heated and the next thing Caitlin knew they were in bed making love.

Barry laid next to Caitlin an hour later who was curled up close to him. She had fallen to sleep not long ago. He had to admit that being with Caitlin was nothing like he remembered being with Iris. Caitlin was much more passionate than Iris had ever been. While he knew Caitlin was never going to be big on PDAs but he was fine with that. He knew how she felt about him. He watched her sleep he felt her move closer so he wrapped his arms around her.

"Bare, go to sleep. It won't belong before Clyde Marden shows up." Mumbled Caitlin

"I know. Hopefully I can take him down without him dying."

"That would be nice. Cisco is already working on meta tech so we can arrest meta criminals and real prisons can hold them."

"Good cause I would rather not have dangerous metas locked up in my wife's work basement. Besides I plan to have the particle accelerator dismantled for good. That thing is nothing but trouble and it can be turned on by anyone for no good reason."

"That is a good idea."

"I do have them once in a while."

"Like choosing me in this reality? Or giving Frost her own life separate from me?"

"Why do you think it was me?"

"Well it sure as hell wasn't Lex Luthor. Kate Kane doesn't really know me. Ryan Choi had just met all of us. None of that seems to be something J'onn would do. Kara was as surprised as you were about these changes. As for Sara maybe. But you are the paragon of love. Your goal in our friendship has always been to make me happy."

"Maybe I did subconsciously. Cait, you are happy right?"

"Very. Barry Allen, I will only be happier when we get rid of that bastard Thawne once and for all. Hell I wouldn't even care if he dies. Barry, yes I took an oath to do no harm. But that doesn't mean that I believe we have to save everyone. I did the math. Based on when Thawne took over the real Harrison Wells' life he is the reason on our old earth my dad became Icicle. The reason my mom and I grew apart. I think that was part of his plan all along. He wanted me to let him into my life. That if I had been closer to my mom then I would have taken a job at Tannhouser instead of Star Labs. While mom and I aren't real close in this reality we never developed the hostility we had in the old one."

"For that I am glad. You know when we were investigating the break in at Tannhouser when you and Carla were arguing over which piece of tech to use I kind of felt like I was trapped in a fight between my wife and mother in law. I think Joe felt the same way."

"Sorry about that. But look on the bright side. This time she really is your mother in law."

"Yay."

Caitlin laughed.

"Well we should eat breakfast and you should go see Captain Singh at CCPD."

"Right. What about you? Will you be ok at Star Labs without me?"

"I will be fine. Besides Cisco gave me a cold gun. Don't worry this one is coded to my DNA so I am the only one that can use it."

"Good we really don't need a Captain Cold 2.0."

"Very true. But I don't think that would be a Cisco approved name."

"Probably not. But if you need me call. I will be there in a Flash."

"That was bad Barry."

"But you still love me."

"Always will bad jokes and puns and all."

Caitlin kissed Barry then got out of bed to take a shower. Barry headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.