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The One With Two Gifts
Barry lay sprawled across her couch in what had to be a terribly uncomfortable position. But since he hadn't moved since he'd collapsed there from too much ice cream, Caitlin guessed he was alright.
It had been such a lovely evening, for a while it had been just the two of them and they'd talked over each other, bumped into each other countless times as they'd moved around, not wanting to be too far from the other, and generally come so close to flirting it made Caitlin blush just to think about it. Cisco had turned up when things were just starting to get a little more deliberate, and as much as Caitlin wanted to spend time with just Barry, it had been nice to have Cisco with them.
And had taken the pressure off what was building between them.
They'd made a batch of ice cream with her new maker, decided they'd gotten it wrong somehow – it had to be the boys fault, they must have messed with the settings when she wasn't looking as she'd following the recipe and instructions perfectly – and raided her freezer for properly made bought ice cream.
They'd talked and laughed all evening and Caitlin hadn't felt this happy and relaxed in months.
Cisco had vibed home about half an hour ago, saying if he never saw an ice cream again that would be too soon. They had gorged themselves on it pretty much so Caitlin forgave his hyperbole.
Now she was sat on her couch at one end, blanket wrapped around her as she watched Barry sleep deeply at the other end.
His face was relaxed in sleep and Caitlin was glad for it. He put far too many stresses on himself the rest of the time, what with his crime-solving day job and his extracurricular superhero work; she was pleased there was a time where he had nothing to worry about.
Gently she moved down on the sofa so she was lying next to him, managing to toss a blanket over both of them to provide them with some warmth. Watching Barry at this closer angle she could see the delicacy of his eyelashes, the definition of his jaw and the plumpness to his lips. All things she would have never allowed herself to think before.
But in the darkness and silence of her apartment it seemed somehow safe to think those thoughts, to let herself look at his attributes and appreciate them.
Barry's eyes suddenly cracked open, but they barely stayed open an inch before they closed again. "Hey."
"Go back to sleep," she whispered.
Barry's arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist, pulling her down with him so she was nestled against his chest. "Kay," he mumbled.
Caitlin felt her heartbeat sky rocket as she realised Barry had pulled her very close.
"Time's it?" He muttered into her hair.
"I don't know," she answered. "Very early morning I think."
"S'good," he mumbled sleepily and the hand around his waist tightened as his other hand fumbled in his pocket for something. "Was gonna hide this… but here go."
A small wooden box, more like a jewellery box, was pushed into her hands. Caitlin stared down at the number 12 before looking back up at Barry. But he'd fallen back asleep.
Carefully she opened the box and pulled out a silver flash drive. Scrawled over it in Barry's handwriting was Cait's mix. She grinned at the idea of him making a mix of songs for her and part of her wanted to dash over to her computer now and listen to the music he'd chosen for her.
But there was a much bigger part that wanted something else, that wanted something she normally couldn't have.
Caitlin slipped the flash drive back into its box and carefully leant over so she could place it on her coffee table. Then she smoothed her hands down Barry's chest and placed her head over his heart cuddling up against him. Barry's arm tightened around her and Caitlin felt sleep welcome her as surely as Barry's hold had.
He had given her two gifts tonight, she decided. One from thoughtful planning for an individual advent and one from just being himself and letting her get close. And although it was a little mean against the mix as she hadn't heard it yet, she already knew that Barry's embrace was the best gift out of the two of them.
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