Barry Allen stood at his childhood window, one hand perched on the wall, the other in his pocket. The freak blizzard that could have very well taken Iris's life, just one day ago, had quieted to almost nothing, save for a few defiant snowflakes. Thick sheets of snow still blanketed everything, as far as the eye could see, but given Central City's milder than normal climate, the snow would be gone within another day or two if the storm didn't get started back up.

Patty, who he hadn't heard awaken, walked up and rested her head against her husband's arms left arm and wrapped own around his waist. "It's amazing what can change in a few hours," she said adoringly, peering around his lean body to get a good look at the swirling white landscape.

"Tell me about it," Barry replied, absently. In less than a day, everything he thought he knew about everything had been flipped upside down. He'd found out that Iris loved him, or had loved him, at least. Considering the kiss that followed her admission had rapidly redirected the blood flow within his body, his brain hadn't been running at 100 percent. Truth be told, her exacting wording had been lost on him, but he did know that there was no way in hell he'd ever forget the way her lips felt on his own or the fact that she felt something for him too-whatever that was.

"Earth to Barry, Patty said, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Hmm?"

"Did you hear what I said about the snow?"

"Uhh, it's beautiful, right? Or something."

"Noo," she said, chuckling softly. "I said it would be fun to have a snowball fight before the snow gets all mushy."

"Oh. I don't know," he said, dismissively. "Maybe."

Frowning, she released her grip on him, and placed a weighted hand on his shoulder. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," he said, turning. "Why do you ask?"

"You love snowball fights."

He shrugged. "They're okay I guess."

"Umm, we had a ton of them last Winter."

"Did we?" His days with Patty all seemed to bleed together. Their life was a never-ending cycle of going to work together at the Roman Ville Police Department, interspersed with his Flash duties, and Patty's CSI classes, then coming home together and taking turns making dinner and cleaning.

From the outside looking in, he had everything that society said a man of his age should have. A beautiful wife who loved him, a steady job, and a side hustle that fed his inert desire to do good. And, still, it wasn't it was enough. Coming back home, seeing Iris, had only enhanced those feelings of emptiness he'd been feeling for God knows how long.

"Yeah. During our honeymoon? When we were in the Swiss Alps."

"Oh right. How could I forget?" Barry said, a forcing a weak smile to his face, as he took a seat on his bed.

"Pretty easily, apparently," she said, armed folded. "But then again, that's not the most memorable thing we were doing those two weeks," she added, a seductive drawl in her voice, before taking a seat in his lap. "So I'll give you a pass."

Before Barry knew it Patt's mouth was pressed, hot against his neck. He flinched ever so slightly at her advances, knowing he wouldn't be able to feign arousal for her the second time in less than 12 hours. "Patty," he said, withdrawing, "We just had sex last night."

He hadn't been completely comfortable having sex with her, right next door to Iris, but unfortunately, he hadn't been able to ward off her advances the night before. He hadn't known what would be worse–denying her sexual contact, after what he'd done, or making love to her right after declaring his love for another woman. Now that he'd slept on, it knew that was the latter.

She laughed gently. "Didn't know you'd imposed a sex limit on me." Again, she tried to kiss him, but he slid out of her grasp, causing her to frown. "Barry?"

"I'm just not in the mood, Patty. I'm sorry."

"Oh-Okay. That's okay." The hurt in her voice was evident, but he didn't know how to console her at the moment."I guess… I'll go get ready for the day before the bathroom gets crowded." She slowly closed her robe, stood from his lap, and walked over to his dresser to grab her bath caddy. Before she exited, she looked back at him, quickly; he flashed her a weak smile–all that he could scrounge up, and, once she was out of the room, let his weight fall back onto his bed.

When Iris finally made it downstairs, Joe, Joseph Jr., Patty, and Barry, were already seated at the dining room table.

"There's my beautiful girl," Joe said, lovingly.

Iris leaned down and kissed him on the cheek before taking a seat on the other side of him.

"Morning everyone," Iris said, addressing the rest of the table.

"Good Morning, Iris," Patty said, smiling. "You look nice today.

Doesn't she look nice Barry?"

"Hmm! Uhh. Yeah, I guess," Barry said, quickly.

Iris awkwardly spread her hands down her blue, checkered wrap dress." Thanks. You too. Both of you,' she said, before taking a seat. On the way down, she briefly made eye contact with Barry, but quickly averted her gaze. She couldn't deal with whatever the breakfast-appropriate version of eye-fucking was with the man she'd cheated on her husband with. Not after witnessing how fast that innocence could fade when he was feeling emboldened. Especially not while his wife, who she had nothing against, was right next to him. When Iris's eyes met the spread of bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits, fresh fruit, and cream sitting in front of her, she smiled. Cecile really knew how to put a meal together, but more importantly, stuffing her face meant she didn't have to talk to anyone. She would have eaten a piping hot bowl of porridge if it meant she didn't have to make anymore small talk with Patty Spivot.

"Dada, I hungry!"Joseph Jr. crooned, slamming his little fists onto the dining room table.

"Aww, soon as mama gets the quiche out of the oven, we can. In the meantime, have a strawberry," Joe said, reaching over to the bowl of fresh fruit.

Eyes wide, the four-year-old readily grabbed the fruit from his father's hand and shoved it into his mouth.

"Oh, don't blame the delay on me," Cecile said entering the room smiling, carrying the large, glass casserole dish. "I've had to keep this warm for 20 minutes in the oven waiting for everyone to shower."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to take so long," Iris said, apologetically. "I had to wait for the hot water to replenish."

"Not your fault," Cecile said, taking a seat next to her husband. "5 adults and one child trying to use one bathroom is absolutely ridiculous." Turning her attention to Joe," she said, "This is why we need a bigger house."

Joe chuckled, resting his clasped hand on his belly. "Yeah, well, I'll take people fighting over hot water over none of them visiting, any day. Especially this one."

"Dad," Iris said, gently. "Don't start this. Please."

"I'm just saying. None of us are getting any younger. And you're missing out on your best years with your brother, Joseph."

"Daddy, me and baby bro face time all the time. He knows I love him. Don't you J2?"

"Yes!"

"See?"

"Yeah, but."

"Hey, Joe. Maybe you two should talk about this later," Cecile interjected. "I worked hard on this breakfast for everyone. And no one can eat if you're badgering them."

"But."

"Joseph," she said, voice stern, her gazed locked in on his face.

Iris chuckled.

"And what exactly is funny?" Joe asked, hand on his hip.

"Just never seen anyone silence you like that dad. Did I ever tell you how much I loved you, Cecile?"

Not nearly enough," the older woman said, smiling. "Now. Since this is everyone's last two days in the city, and the last day of Joe and I's vacation days, I thought it'd be fun for us to go out today. Eat a little food, do a little shopping."

"Oh!" Patty said, placing her fork down.. "Speaking of vacation days, I really need to call in and check in on my classes."

"Oh, you're still in school?" Cecile asked.

"CSI school," she said, jumping up. "I have a big exam this week; I need to check in with my professor. Excuse me, everyone."

"Of course," Cecile said. "So Iris," she said, turning her attention towards her stepdaughter. "There's this new, little boutique right across from Jitters that I think you'd love."

"Aww, I'd love to, Cecile, really, I would," Iris said, genuinely touched. "But I'm actually meeting someone today."

"Oh? Who?" Joe and Barry asked, nearly at the same time, causing them to look at each other.

"Just someone I used to know," she said, coyly.

Iris had enough on her plate, without the added prying of her father. Even when she removed everything that had transpired with Barry, Scott Evans, which was two degrees away from being brought up, was the absolute last man she wanted to think about today.

As expected, he'd not responded well to her petition of divorce. Granted, she'd informed him over text message but after the amount of verbal abuse she'd endured over the years, she had had no more options. And honestly, telling him over text, while surrounded by her Cop dad, and superhero friend was probably the safest option. She'd only gotten through about 5 of the 18 expletive-filled text messages he'd sent her before she just archived them – for evidence to use against him when the inevitable court battle started in a few months. Weirdly enough, she wasn't as heartbroken as she thought she'd be. She was more hurt over the years she'd lost married to a man that didn't love or value her. For the friendship with Barry she'd let disintegrate. Not to mention, the fact that she was about to basically start over, with nearly nothing. But she didn't feel much for Scott. And hadn't for a long time.

"Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. Connecting with old friends is just important as connecting with family," Cecile said.

If Iris didn't know for a fact that Cecile wasn't pushy like her father, she'd assume that she was aware of the irony in her statement.

"Right," she said, nearly flubbing her words. "That's why I have to go get my car after I scarf this food down," she added.

"Oh, right," Barry said, eyes wide. Iris could see the wheels turning in his head. "We're supposed to go."

"No!" She said, in haste. It caused the entire table—J2 included—to eye her, curiously. But to hell with that. Barry was not about to trap her in her car, and make her confront her feelings "I just mean," she said, her voice returning to normal. "The snow stopped hours ago."

Barry's face fell, almost like a lost puppy dog's but he didn't say anything. Instead, he resumed eating his meal. And Iris said a silent prayer because she doubted she would have been able to turn down his pleas.

"But how are you gonna get there?" Cecile asked, empathetically.

"Taxi," I guess, she said shrugging. "The trucks have probably salted and plowed the roads by now. I'll be fine."

"I think not," Joe said, shaking his head profusely. "I know you're an adult, but these roads are not safe. Either you take Barry, or you're not going."

Iris looked to Barry, who quickly looked away; of course, he wasn't going to help her, then she turned her sights on Cecile. The older woman's smile dropped ever-so-slightly. "Sorry, Iris," she said, humping her shoulders. "Joe's right sometimes; these icy roads are no joke. In the event that you skid off the road, Barry's speedster powers could come in handy."

Iris sighed, unable to exactly argue with that logic.

"Aww honey, look at the bright side; now you can save that 40 dollars you were going to give the taxi," Joe said, chuckling.

"Great," Iris said, flatly, unable to feign any enthusiasm.

"Hey, Barry," Patty said, returning from her phone call. "Can I talk to you alone for a moment?"

"Uhh, yeah."

Back at the staircase, out of the house's earshot, Barry asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I need to get back home?"

"Why?" He asked, confused.

"Well, my professor moved up my mid-term, and if I miss it, I'm probably going to fail."

"Um. Well, I guess we have to go home then."

"Actually, no."

"No?"

"I want you to stay, here. With your family. It's not often you get to see them, and I couldn't bear to take you away from Joe, especially. He misses you so much."

"What kind of husband would I be if I let you go back by yourself?"

"What kind of wife would I denied you time with people you never get to see?"

"It's okay, really. Joe will understand."

Barry tried to walk away, but Patty grabbed his arm.

"Patty."

Patty shook her head. "I know that being back here isn't easy for you, even if you won't completely let me in, as to why."

Barry sighed. Not this again. "Patty, please."

"But," she added, cutting him off. "I have seen the little bursts of happiness you've expressed since we've been here. Seeing your father. Your little brother. Iris. And that is literally all I've ever wanted for you. You have sacrificed so much for me, Barry so that I wouldn't have to be away from my family, and my hometown. Let me give you a little more time with yours."

To be completely honest, Barry wasn't ready to go home yet. Not just because of Iris, though she was definitely a huge part of it, but because he didn't know how he was just going to resume his life in Romanville after this trip like none of this had happened. His betrayal of Patty was weighing on him heavily. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but he knew he'd have to confess, eventually. And he just wasn't ready yet.

"Okay, but only if you're absolutely sure? You won't be lonely?"

"No, I think I can manage to be by myself for a couple of days. So. You'll stay?"

"Yeah," he said, finally. "I'll stay."

"Good. Now, let's tell everyone. Then I have to pack."

"I'm really sad to see Patty go," Cecile said, taking a seat on the couch, next to Joe. "She's such a lovely woman."

"That she is," Barry, who'd just returned from speeding Patty back home, said. He took a seat in the chair adjacent to the couch. "She really hates that she had to go." Truth be told, he was now sad that she was gone too. Even though she had tried to put on a brave face, there was an air of sadness on her face after he sat her bags down, and he felt bad for leaving her. But he needed a little space to process what he was feeling.

"Well, I'm just glad she talked you into staying," Joe said, rubbing his hands together. "It's so nice that one of my kid's spouses places value on family."

Cecile shot Joe and intense glare that stopped him from proceeding.. Barry laughed, thankful that he didn't have to intervene to stop him from ragging on Scott. Or what would have led to that. "Cecile, you really have to teach us how to do that."

"I'll send you the PowerPoint."

"Like hell, you will," Joe said, laughing himself.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Iris said, her tone just as icy as the snow outside, as she descended the stairs, suitcase in hand.

Turning towards his daughter, Joe chuckled. "Are you going to get your car or a root canal?"

"Very funny, daddy," Iris said, hand on her hip. "Excuse me for not being excited about all of these errands I have."

"What kind of errands can you have in a city you don't even live in anymore."

"Dad. Remember that talk we had about you letting me be an adult?"

He sighed. "Alright, alright. I've already been reprimanded by one woman in my life. Spare me, please."

"Thank you."

"You coming back, though, right?" He said, eyeing her luggage, sat at the base of of her feet.

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow?"

"My errands are going to take all day, daddy. I'll probably just crash in a hotel, then meet back here tomorrow."

Iris turned quickly so that she was facing the door. Probably so that the built-in lie detectors in Joe's retinas wouldn't be able to detect her bluff. Barry had no idea what Iris she had planned, but she didn't sound genuine at all.

"You ready, Barry?" She asked, a softness in her voice that she lacked before. When he hesitated, she beckoned him forwards with her hand, while Joe wasn't looking. Now he knew she was lying.

Barry strapped himself into the passenger side of Iris' car. Iris put her key into her ignition. When the engine roared, she smiled, laying her head over her steering wheel. He laughed.

"What? I love my baby," she said, rubbing her hands over the dashboard, forgetting momentarily the thick awkwardness between them wafting through the air.

"Well, you were willing to spend the night out here with it, so that much is obvious."

She rolled her eyes playfully and smiled. It was nice seeing her smile again. Heaven knows she was gifted one crafted by God himself.

"Anyway, it's gonna take about 20 minutes of this car to heat up, then I have to get gas, and make a few more stops. But I'll be as quick as I can with my errands so you can get back to the house."

"These errands wouldn't have anything to do with Scott, or your divorce would they?"

"Damn. Was it that obvious?" She asked as she buckled her seatbelt into place.

"Only because you told me about what happened."

"Yeah, well, sorry I burdened you with my problem."

"Well, I did kind of insist on you telling me. And if you hadn't, then," he said before trailing off. He'd told himself that he wasn't going to bring up their kiss. Or her admission. Iris looked over at him briefly before returning her gaze ahead of her, words on the tip of her tongue. Words she wasn't ready to share with him. "Anyway, what's the first stop on the itinerary?" He asked, changing the subject before she could.

"After gas, the bank. Then Target. Then-"

"Target. Oh, God. We're really going to be gone for hours, huh?"

"What?"

"You're the only person I know who can spend 500 dollars in Target, and not come out with a single necessity."

"Hey!" she said, hitting him in the arm. "Don't blame me, blame the genius layout of their store, which turns off the logical part of our brains. It makes us want to spend money."

"No, it turns off the logical part of your brain."

Hand over mouth, she laughed. "God, I can't believe you even remember that. We haven't gone on a Target run together in what, six, seven, maybe eight years? Even before everything changed." A frown swiftly followed. Like she'd said too much.

"Let's get going, shall we?" She said, recovering from her flub like it had been nothing.

He sighed, already growing tired of this; they had too much history together. As long as they beat around the bush, innocent conversations would continue to be triggers for them both. "Yeah, of course," he said, allowing her to glide past the awkwardness. The day was young; surely, there would be more to come.

When Iris pulled into the parking lot of the Beaumont hotel, she looked over to Barry, cautiously. Admitting to him that she'd withdrawn a few thousand dollars out of her and Scott's account, and was moving into a suite for the next month or two, until she could find an apartment would snowball into a conversation about Scott, and their divorce. And that's how she'd gotten into this mess with Barry in the first place. And she damn sure couldn't handle this right now. Not after the way, a stupid trip to Target, and other places her and Barry places frequented growing up had somehow made it feel like no time had passed between them. There was still the very large, very loud, pink elephant wedged in between them which, when paired, with all of the stuff she'd picked up from various grocery stores and boutiques, made her car fell very small and very crowded, but, considering everything, things had gone smoothly.

"Oh, come on," he said, mockingly. "I'm not Joe West, but you're gonna have to give me more than that, before I leave."

"Barr, please."

Barry folded his arms and pursed his lips. "I can sit here all night long."

"Oh my God, Barr."

He pretended to clean out his fingernails like he hadn't heard her.

"Fine," she said, relenting. "This is where I'm gonna be living for a while."

The playful smile he was wearing melted into a nasty scowl. "D-did Scott put you out?" He asked, voice raised. "Because he can't kick you out of your shared property until a divorce settlement has been reached. Do you want me to talk to him?"

"Barr. Relax," okay, she said grabbing his arm. It took way too long for her to realize she was touching him, perhaps because she was savoring the feel of his biceps through his shirt. Or because she was enjoying the way the familiarity of his erratic pulse, which would have killed a normal man, and how it pushed against her hand.

Completely enraged by the thought of Scott denying her access to basic shelter, he, however, didn't seem to notice at all. Before he could, she retracted her hand, then ran it through her own hair. "Scott doesn't even know I'm doing this. Or that I took money out of our joint savings to cover my time here or all of the shit I bought today. Not yet at least," she continued.

"Keyword. Joint," Barry said, voice blunt. "That's just as much your money as it is his."

"I-I know, Barry; I really am okay, though," Iris said, overcome with a sense of attraction at how riled up he was getting over her. It had been so long since she'd felt any kind of protective energy from a man. It's not that she couldn't take care of herself, she could, but every girl wants to feel like she can lean on someone from time to time. Iris hadn't had that in God knows how long. And the fact that Barry, the man, she'd finally admitted to loving was providing it, overwhelmed her. Not that she wasn't already overwhelmed.

Barry turned towards her, an earnest plea in her eye if he'd ever seen one. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes, Barr. I'm away from Scott, away from dad, as much as I love him, and his slick comments about my marriage. And I'm not sleeping on the street tonight. Or anytime soon. Life is good, my friend." She smiled, hoping to introduce some levity into the car because, damn it, if he kept looking at her like that, with that genuine concern, she was going to melt into her seat.

"Okay," he said, face softening, after a moment or two to ponder on what she'd said. "I still don't like this. If anyone deserves to live in a hotel, it's him. But I can't force you."

"No, you can't. But what you can do help me carry my stuff up to the 8th floor, suite."

He chuckled. "Oh, can I?"

"Will you? For me?" She asked pouting.

"I'd be happy to, Iris."

"Well this is the last of it." Barry sat the remaining bundle of bags onto her floor. "And now, my back is probably broken."

Iris, who was standing, holding the door open, frowned. "Aww, I forgot you couldn't use your powers cause of all the security cameras."

"I'm only kidding. It wasn't that bad actually. I need to stretch my legs a little. I'm not used to being on vacation."

"Well, you're in great shape, so," Iris said without thinking, her eyes trailing down his long, lean body. Given how amazing he looked, it was a wonder that she hadn't slipped up sooner.

"Thank you," he said, clearly caught off guard, blood rising to his cheeks. "You too."

She lifted her head to meet his, and soon, the fact that they were alone in an expensive hotel suite, complimenting each other's appearances, was soon very much loud and all-consuming. Iris turned back, eyes square ahead her. "Oh, um. So, I guess this goodbye, Barry."

Barry nodded his head, and walked towards confident stride that was present when he cornered her in the kitchen wasn't present, but she still stepped back, instinctively, into the door, until it she'd backed it into the door stopper. "It could be. But it doesn't have to be."

Noticing her stumbling slightly, Barry reached out to help steady her, but she retreated further. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I could stick around for a bit. We could catch a movie or something. It's not often we get to hang out."

"Oh," she said, sighing of relief. "A movie. You mean a movie."

"Yeah, a movie. Maybe some dinner. Someone had me running around the city all day, holding her bags, loading her car. And not once did she offer to feed me."

Iris rolled her eyes. Damn it. "You got me there."

"Great," he said clapping his hands like he'd won some grand debate or something. "You load up Netflix. And I'll order room service."

"Netflix?" She asked voice pitched. The streaming service, known for aiding horny couples with background noise while they engaged in…activities.

"Yeah. Netflix. You okay?" A brief hint of a smile crept over his face, one wiped away by a slow hand across his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Fine. Totally fine."

"Okay. So Netflix?"

"Netflix," she said, trying to match his tone. "Just let me, uhh, find something. In one of these bags. Which may take awhile," she added, knowing she sounded like an idiot.

"Sounds like a plan."

Barry Allen watched Iris as she struggled to walk in a straight line, in her pursuit to find 'something' within the ungodly amount of shopping bags that littered her suite floor. It was amazing the way her demeanor changed with him when she had nowhere to run, and nothing to distract her from the obvious. Why she couldn't just be honest with him would remain a mystery him.

They'd known each other most of their lives. If there was anyone on the planet she could talk to, it should have been him. At least he thought. Despite her inability to be forthcoming, it was obvious that he had some kind of effect on her. One that, he had to admit, he was enjoying being a witness to.

He'd spent the better part of two decades, pining for Iris in secret: getting lost in her eyes when she didn't even know he'd been watching her, being overtaken by her intoxicating scent, each and every time she walked too closely to him, spending night after night imagining what it would be like to hold her in his arms, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. It might not have been fair. And the situation may have been fucked up, but it was nice to see her on the other side for once.

Iris could feel Barry's eyes burning a hole through her. She just wanted to kick herself for being this close to freedom, then allowing him to pull her back in. In the time they'd spent apart, he'd grown up in so many ways. One of the most prominent the way he approached things; she almost missed how he'd finessed her, but it was painfully obvious now. She rose from her spot on the floor and looked back at him for good measure. Sure enough, his eyes were fixated on her, and he made no excuse to hide that fact. The wry smile on his face, coupled with that little wave he gave her, only solidified that further.

"Okay!" She said, at her wit's end. "You win, you win."

"Win?"

"We can talk about the damn kiss. Alright?"

"Kiss?" he said, feigning innocence. "What kiss?"

"Barry Allen, don't think I won't slap you, okay?" She said, face breaking out in a smile that didn't at all fit the mood in that atmosphere, because that's the fucking effect he had on her.

"Okay," he said, laughing. "Was that so hard?"

"Yes," she spit back.

"So."

"Not yet," she said, raising a hand in protest. "I need a stiff drink. Or two. Maybe three."

"Oh, that's fair," he scoffed.

"What?"

"So you get to use liquid courage, but I can't."

"It's not my fault that you can't get drunk."

"But you could give us an even playing field, since you know I can't."

"God, you just won't make this easy for me, will you?"

"I'll make it as easy as I can." Again, Barry walked towards her, this time his stride reminiscent of the way he'd approached her the other night.

And again, she felt so small standing chest to face with him, his piercing green eyes, staring straight into her soul.

He moved the lone tendril of hair from her face and smiled. "Iris," he said, his hand leaving her face, to meet up with her hands, "I love you. And I have been in love with you for as long as I've known you. I love everything about you, from your intelligence to your drive, your sense of humor and your beauty. Nothing, not our fights, or the distance, or our marriages, has affected this love. In some ways, I think, it's only made it intensify."

Iris blinked profusely like the rapid motions would push her tears back into her ducts, but it only made them spill out stronger. Her mouth sat agape, the air invading it, and drying it out. When she realized, she closed it, pressing her lips together, which would keep her from saying, or doing something she'd regret.

"Now," he said, releasing a heavy breath, like the weight of the world had been released from his shoulders. "Your turn."

Her turn. Like they were 12 years old again, playing monopoly at the the dinner table, waiting for Joe to get off of work. Her turn, like she was next in line to play kickball or something. Not like her life was about to be turned upside down, more than it already was.

"Iris," he said when she didn't immediately follow up, his eyes heavy with tears. "Don't make me do all the work. Please. Just tell me," he said.

The lump building in her throat, made it hard for her to respond. She swallowed forcefully, clearing out her airway, then turned, attempting to run from him. Where she thought she was going, she didn't know. There was no going back, at this point.

"Goddammit, Iris!" He yelled, yanking her back by her arm. "Why are you so afraid of talking about this? You had no problem that day in the bathroom."

Angrily, she snatched herself out of his grip and whipped around.

"That was a mistake. I was in a heightened emotional state."

"But that's how you felt, right? Cause if you didn't mean it, just fucking tell me. And I'll put myself out of this misery."

"Of course that's how I felt," Barry, she said softer this time, the trembling in his voice, too much to process.

"Then why can't you just say that!"

"Because I am afraid! And I Didn't want to lose you! Okay? Is that what you want to hear? I didn't want to lose my best friend in the entire world because of some crush. When I realized it was more than that, it was too late. I was engaged to Scott already, and was readying to move to Keystone. I didn't know what to do. "

He humped his shoulders, angrily. "Well, you did lose me, Iris," he said through gritted teeth. 'You just completely abandoned and left me stuck here to pick up the pieces of Joe losing his only daughter, along with me losing my best friend."

He continued, "Do you know how hard it was to be there for Joe when my heart was in stitches?"

"I know, I know," she said, voice breaking. "And I've never regretted anything more in my life. God, you have no idea. I thought about you every single day for five years."

"Then why didn't you call me? My number's never changed. I would have been in Keystone in a heartbeat, and you know this."

"Why didn't you call me?" She asked, instead of addressing his question, knowing that no answer would suffice. Probably because she didn't fully know the answer herself.

"I thought that's how you wanted things," he said, his bottom lip quivering. Gone was the domineering man she'd was re-familiarizing herself with. All that was left was a guy who had been through an unfair amount of pain because of her.

"Oh, Barry. Losing you is the last thing I ever wanted." Iris took a step forward and brought her hands to the sides of his face. She could feel his hot tears streaming onto her hands, but she didn't care. "I love you so much. You have no idea."

Slowly, he raised his eyes to meet hers. There was so much pain in his beautiful eyes, and it absolutely crushed her. They would never get back the precious time they lost, refusing to be honest with each other. Given the dangerous profession that Barry was in, and all of the metas that tried to take him out on a daily basis, it made it sting even more. She couldn't bare to think about anything or anyone hurting a single hair on his body. And yet, she'd put the absolute worst strain on his heart. And for what? An arrogant editor who couldn't even see her? Who didn't even acknowledge her?

Fuck, she'd made such a mess of things. But unlike Barry, she wasn't a speedster. She didn't have the ability to right her wrongs by running back in time. But she did have the power to try to make things right at the moment–even if she knew it was wrong. So instead of trying to find the right words, which would no-doubt end up lost in translation, she kissed him. Hungrily and passionately, pouring a lifetime of repressing emotions into him.

He returned her kiss with equal fervor, one hand in her hair, the other at the small of her back, steadying her in place. Their tears swirled together, adding a salty element to kiss, with every lap of the tongue, every nip of each other's lips. The next thing Iris knew, she felt the soft surface of her bed underneath her. She didn't know if Barry had sped them over, if she was just so lost in him, she hadn't realized him walking them back over to the bed.

He hovered over her, intense longing in his eyes, peppering her mouth with needy kisses, just as his hands started to roam over her body. First, over her clothes, outlining her silhouette with his hands. A firm knee was perched between her legs, parting ever so slightly, as he continued his assault on her mouth, then her neck and her collarbone, and back up again.

Iris' hands were working on ridding Barry of his dress shirt. But she was a bundle of nerves from the tip of her head, to the soles of her feet, her hands harnessing the brunt of it. She couldn't get a single button on his shirt done.

She heard him laugh gently, when she let out a frustrated groan, then broke away from from her. He rose up on his knees, and undid his buttons, until his shirt was opened, showcasing his rock hard abs. Iris ran her hands down the front of his frame, before ridding him of the shirt completely. Up on her knees, she eagerly returned his mouth to hers, never again wanting to know what her lips felt like without his own pressed against it.

Rolling them over, so that Iris was on top of him, his hands rose to up her silky smooth legs, exposed as she dressed stretched to accommodate this new position. They first met her thighs, the key component of her hourglass figure. Iris moaned, as his fingertips pressed into the meaty outer part. But he was not satisfied with a little fondling. Because, soon, she could feel a cool updraft from underneath her dress, as he pushed his way, higher and higher until the black, lacey thong she was wearing was exposed. She felt the first brush of his fingertips on her ass, as his growing erection, was pressed hard against the seat of her crotch.

Quickly, when she caught his hands in hers. Not because she didn't want to know the full depths of this man's affection for her, she did. It just that, it had been so long since she'd had sex–six months at least, and she knew that once he dipped his hands underneath the hem of her thong, like they both so desperately needed, any chance at going back would be lost forever...