Barry was brushing his teeth when his phone dinged. He scooped up the phone from the sink with his free hand, and smiled when he saw that it was Iris. She was outside, and needed to be let in. He tossed the phone down, then rinsed his mouth and toothbrush. One last once-over and he sped to the keypad, near the entrance of STAR Labs.

When the doors gave way, Iris was standing on the other side wearing a pink sundress that was perfect for late Spring. She'd styled her hair in long, curly waves, pushed to the side with a white flower. In her hand was a covered dish, filled with something that wasn't nearly as interesting to him as the blinding smile on her face..

"You gonna let me in?" She urged as he stood there, awestruck. "Or should I take my homemade cinnamon rolls back to Dad's?"

"Oh. Right. I'm sorry. You're just...breathtaking," he said stepping aside so she could enter the facility.

Iris suppressed the surge of roaming butterflies in her stomach. Him and his poetic waxing. She stepped over the threshold. "Thank you, baby. You're the sweetest," is what she said next, though they weren't at all the right words to express how he made her feel.

"I just wish you'd told me that you were dropping by. I would have gotten dressed earlier for you," he said, as he bent down, scooping her up into his arms. A flash of lightning later, they were in the kitchen portion of his living quarters.

"Oh, please," Iris said, as she sat down the cinnamon rolls on his kitchen table. "I love my messy bed haired baby and his wrinkly pajamas. They make you look as cozy and comfortable as being with you makes me feel."

The words rolled off of her tongue with such ease, it made her pause.

"What?"

"I sound like a total sap."

"Yeah, well," Barry said, as he took a step closer to Iris. She pivoted her heels so she was facing him, the angle which allowed him to loop his arms around her waist. "I love sappy Iris."

"Why is that?" She asked, gently swaying in his arms.

"Sappy Iris means happy Iris, and all I want for you is to be happy."

"Really?" She asked with a subtle pout.

"Of course. I mean, if anyone deserves to be happy, it is you. That I can contribute to it is the greatest honor ever bestowed upon me." His words were accompanied by a direct, loving gaze.

"God," Iris laughed, breaking eye contact, "You're going to make me take you back to your bed if you don't stop."

Barry followed suit. "Do not tempt me, Ms. West. It's been three whole days since you gave me some."

Iris gasped. "It's only been five days since our...first official time," she said, voice dipping an octave or two, heat napalming over her body.

Those damn butterflies.

"Oh, don't get shy on me now," he said, closing the gap between them. She slanted him a coquettish glance that preceded a gentle peck on the lips. One which deepened into one more ravenous, sending Barry falling backward into the kitchen chair. His descent brought Iris down with him, legs draped over the side of his.

One of Iris's arms draped daintily around his neck, while the hand of the other one found the tuft of hair at the back of his head. Barry's own hands had PG rated plans. They found her silky smooth thighs, kneading the firm flesh there as they kissed. When Iris felt the steady rise of them, nearing the X-rated territory, however, she swatted them away.

"Hey!" he protested.

"Behave yourself then," she hit back, lips still pressed to his.

He broke the kiss with a laugh. "You're the one who started it."

"And I intend to finish it," she said, her words both a promise and a challenge.

"Oh, really?" He asked brow cocked. "

She nodded, leaning towards him, nearly brushing his lips with her own. "This weekend."

His face dropped, and he pressed his hand over his heart. "Um, ouch."

Iris laughed and slid from his lap into a standing position. She smoothed down her dress, then took the seat across from him at the table, setting her sights on the sweets she'd brought over.

Barry pouted.

"Aww don't be mad," she laughed, as she opened the lid to the warm rolls, and stuck a fingerful of icing into her mouth, "I have court tomorrow. And I gotta put my game face on, which I can't do if I'm still recovering from our sexcapades."

"I almost forgot you had court," He said, as he walked over to the counter in pursuit of plates. "You've been in such a good mood."

"Yeah well, that's because I've had time to clear my head. My marriage has been dead for awhile, but I filed on a whim. And I wasn't prepared. Not to mention, I was an emotional wreck. But unlike the preliminary hearing, I've had time to strategize."

"Glad to hear it." Barry returned to the table with two plates.

"And I might not have worked officially for most of our marriage," Iris kept on, "but damn it, I was a great wife to Scott. I am just as valuable to our union as he was, so I know I'm entitled to half of our money."

"Yes! This is what I'm talking about!" Barry raised his hand, offering her high five.

Iris slowly raised her hand to meet his, a squinty smile on her face. "Wow. You're even more excited than I am."

Barry humped his shoulders. "Well, THIS is the Iris I remember. And I kinda love it," he said, delight permeating throughout the room.

"Yeah, well. I lost her for a while. But I'm getting more of her back day by day. I'm still a little nervous but—"

"Don't be. You got this, Iris. I believe in you."

Iris simpered on his face, then reached over and grabbed his hand. "Thank you, Barr. Your support means everything to me."

"Yeah, well. You mean everything to me."

Iris took in a stirred breath, then leaned over the table with pouty lips. Barry met her with a kiss.

"I must admit, I wish I could see you give Scott hell in court tomorrow," he said, once parted.

Iris's face fell. "Barr, I appreciate your—"

"I know, I know," he said, holding his hands up. "It's best if I stay away. I'm just saying, I'd love to see it."

"Yeah, well. I'm more concerned with getting this over and done with, so I can be free from Scott legally. For myself and for us. Our future."

"You will be. Soon. I believe it."

Iris smiled solemnly. "Yeah, but."

"What?"

"Never mind."

Barry sighed. "Patty can't draw things out forever. I've been completely honest with her. She knows it's always been you."

"That doesn't mean she's ready to give you up. Not that I blame her one bit. You're an amazing guy."

"Oh, I have my faults, trust me."

"In the grand scheme of things...hell yeah," she laughed, "But you're exactly what I need in my life. And I'm really lucky to have your affection."

He returned her loving gaze for a second, but couldn't help but notice that past the affection at the surface, clouded worry bubbled underneath. "There's a 'but' coming, isn't it."

She nodded. "But the fact that you and Patty didn't have a clean break makes it hard to fully enjoy what we have. Especially since I'm partially responsible."

"No."Barry shook his head. "Nonsense."

"You don't agree?"

"No. I messed things up. Not you."

"Yeah but."

"No buts. Like I told Patty, I was going to love you until the day I died regardless of how you felt about me. I'm the one who used our relationship as a crutch. And I'm the one who thought we could build something lifelong from dishonesty. This is my guilt to bear. You've endured enough. Okay?"

Iris nodded slowly.

"Please, let me hear you say it."

"Okay, Barry," she said, smiling, though he could see the bubbly mood she'd arrived in was gone. "So," she said, turning her attention towards the cinnamon rolls, "we should eat these before they get cold."

She didn't wait for his response or his protest. Barry watched her as she piled his plate with 8 of the 10 rolls she'd made, and passed it to him. "I added extra cinnamon to them. Like you like them." The smile that followed didn't reach her eyes.

"Iris. Are you-"

This time, it was her phone that dinged. "One sec," she said, licking the icing off of her fingers before picking it up. There was a text from her attorney. She opened it up, and the already meek smile on her face dropped into a full-on frown.

"What's wrong?"

"Scott's filed an emergency motion to postpone our court date."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack," she said, feeling her own pulse rising exponentially.

"Can he do that? Especially on this short of notice."

"Apparently," she said, voice tentative.

"On what grounds?"

"I don't know yet, Barry. Gimme a minute," she said, fingers racing across her keypad.

"My bad," he replied voice gruff, arms folded across his chest.

Iris's gaze found his, one filled with hurt. "No. I'm sorry," she said, gentler this time. "It's just. God. I'm never going to be free of him like this." she said, slamming her phone down.

It was no time before tears streamed down her face. She pressed her face into her hands, hoping to stifle them.

"Oh, Iris," Barry said, standing and taking the seat closest to her. He ran a gentle hand through her hair. "Look at me, sweetie."

Iris lamented, letting her hands reveal her tear stained face.

"You are going to be free of Scott," he affirmed her.

"Not at this rate. I've already given him five years. Do I have to give him my entire life.?" Her voice collapsed on the word 'entire', and then more tears followed.

Barry pulled her into him, and this time, there was no resistance on her end. "I just want my life back," she sobbed.

"And you will get it back. It might take a little longer than you expected it, but Scott doesn't own you. Nobody owns you. And I know that it's not what you want to hear, but, if you let this break you down, you're giving him what he wants. You have to be strong."

There was silence on her end, as she took in his words, and reveled in his comforting touch. She wanted to stay like this, in Barry's arms forever and a day. After that too.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yes," she sniffled, "I hear you. I have to be strong," she said, attempting to match him. "I'm just tired. I want this to be over." Her voice returned to its original octave.

Barry pressed a kiss into her forehead, then used his other hand to stroke her tears away from her face. "It will be...eventually. And you're already the strongest woman I know. But on those days when you're not up to the challenge, don't ever think that you can't lean on me. I can be strong when you can't be,"

"I know, babe," she said, still crestfallen

"Alright? Don't cry." He kissed her once more.

Iris straightened her posture and wiped her face. Barry watched as she attempted to put herself back together, but he could tell this was wearing on her. It pained him to see her like this, especially since she'd been so sure of herself when she'd arrived. No one should have had that much power over her, to change her moods so drastically.

Especially not Scott.

"Hey," he said when he heard that sniffle, which he was sure would bring on another round of tears. "I have a bit of good news to counter yours."

She turned to him, eyes sparkling slightly at the prospect of something positive, after having the wind knocked out of her. "Really? What?"

"Well, I wasn't going to tell you yet because I wanted it to be a surprise, but today is my last day at the RVPD."

"Seriously?!"

She didn't mean to sound so excited, but honestly, she was ecstatic about having him back in Central City, free from the demands of his job. For as sure as she was about how Barry felt about her, by his own admission, Iris knew that Barry still loved Patty.

Whether or not he ever acted on those feelings again, she still held a sliver of his heart. Knowing that he wouldn't have to work with her anymore gave her that added peace of mins she was too embarrassed to admit she needed.

Barry nodded. "Captain Davis finally found my replacement, so I'm free to leave now."

"Oh, I'm so happy for you," she said, pulling him into a hug. "I know how difficult being there was for you."

"That is has been. But we can put this part behind us. Finally. Would you like that?"

"Of course."

"Good." He smiled, hoping that it would rub off on her because seeing her this way was almost too much to handle. She smiled weakly in return, tears still glistening in her eyes.

He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Do you want to celebrate tonight?."

"Oh, I don't know Barr."

"Come on, you don't have court anymore.

"Do not remind me," Iris said, blowing air through her lips.

"I know it sucks, but at least this way, you'll have plenty of time to recover from our sexcapades," he said, gently mocking her earlier phrasing.

Iris cocked her head to the side. "I love how you just assume sex will be on the table."

"Oh, I don't assume. I just know you."

There was something about how he said those words that made her blush. She bit her lips to keep a smile from showing on her face, but her efforts were for naught.

Barry took head of the mood change, and closed the space between them, continuing with, "And I know how you get when you're aroused,' he placed a kiss to the side of her neck, eliciting a throaty moan from her end," How much you love when I-," he said, voice cutting out, as he whispered her favorite move of his into her ear.

Iris let out a girlish giggle, and pushed Barry in the chest. "Do I have to put you in time out?"

"You can do anything you want. As long as you get happy. It looks good on you."

She rolled her eyes. "Do you know what else looks good on me?" She continued a playful glint in her eye.

Barry bit his lip, falling easily for her act, knowing where she was going. "Oh, do tell."

Iris smiled seductively and walked slowly her fingers down his chest. Just before she reached the ridges of his abs, she zipped her hand past him, to grab one of her cinnamon rolls. "These," she said, amusement heavy in her voice. She broke it stuffing half of it into her mouth, then handed the rest off to him.

Mouth aghast, Barry begrudgingly took the confection, and popped it into his mouth. "Not what I hand in mind, but...these are good. Amazing actually."

"Told you."

He licked the excess sugar from his his fingers, then sat down the rest of the uneaten pastry. "Now. Are we good?"

"Yeah, we're good."

"Good enough for a romantic dinner. And a little after dinner massage?" he asked with a wink.

Iris sighed at his increasing aptness of wearing her down "Yeah, that too."

"Good," he said with a clap. "Now, get out of here, so I can get ready for work. You're a distraction," he said, feigning annoyance.

Iris's mouth dropped, which he returned with a challenging lip smirk.

"Fine. But if I leave, so do my cinnamon rolls," she said, snatching them out of his grasp, before he could stop her.

He shook his head. "You always did play dirty, West."

Break

Barry was sitting idly in his lab, when the clock struck 5 pm, signaling that that his last day at RVPD was officially over with.

The day had gone about as smoothly as someone leaving a job could hope for. That morning, some of his co-workers had led him to the break room where there had been cake and punch and a round of warm exit speeches.

He'd only been needed to collect evidence from the crime scene, but his replacement would be the one to process everything.

That, coupled with the night he had to look forward to with Iris, had Barry beaming.

He didn't want to be insensitive to Patty, who he'd not bumped into once, or disrespectful to his colleagues, but he was more than ready to say goodbye to the place, and the city, that never should have become a second home to him.

He and Patty still had things to work out, but he was hoping that at least this part of their confrontations would be over for now. Perhaps having to be around each other every day, especially during high-stress situations, would give them both time to clear their head and approach things without as much tension.

As he neared the exit doors, he saw Captain Davis descending the stairs. His expression was leveled until he made eye contact with Barry. Clear as day, he saw his boss's face turn downward into a frown.

"You okay, Captain?" Barry asked as he approached him. "Don't be too sad that I'm leaving, okay?" He offered, attempting to lighten the mood.

The older man laughed softly. "Well, too late for that. You're a great CSI. But we'll make do."

"I'm sure my replacement will be great."

Silence followed on Davis's end, concerning Barry. "Is everything okay, sir?"

"Actually, well," he said, looking around the office space, which, though it was later, was still crawling with cops. "Can I talk to you for a minute in my office one last time?"

"Uh, yeah," Barry said voice rigid.

"Please take a seat," Davis said, as he rounded his desk.

Barry did as his boss instructed, looking waywardly around the room. The other man let out a slow breath and clasped his hands together on his desk.

"Now, you know I don't meddle in my employee's personal lives, but..."

Barry winced. There was only one circumstance that would call for that exact phrase. "Patty told you about our divorce," he said, knowingly.

Davis nodded.

Barry huffed and folded his arms.

"Now, don't be upset with her. She didn't offer up the information. I caught her in your lab the other night crying. Just bawling her eyes out."

"R-really?"

"Yeah. She was really broken up. Asked her what was going on, and she told me about your marital problems. Didn't go into detail, but I can tell she's really torn up about it."

Barry let out a constricted breath, pressing his eyes shut. "Yes, sir. Well, we."

Davis threw his hands up. "As I said, it's not my business. I will say, that your decision to leave makes sense now. I assumed you were happy here."

"I was. I mean, I am. I just."

"Again, it makes sense," Davis cut in again. "Police work is high stakes. It's dangerous enough without the added distraction of working with your ex. If you're so sure that you're not going to work out...whatever the issue is, it's honestly best that one of you leave."

Barry nodded. "I agree."

"That's if...you're 100 percent sure," the older man added in a tone that made Barry believe that he knew more than he was letting on.

"Yeah, well—"

"Anyway, guess that all that's left to do is thank you for your service. You've been an exemplary CSI for our department, and I wish you nothing but success in the future."

"Thank you, sir," Barry said, unable to scrounge up much more than that. He stood to leave. When he reached the door, he looked back at his soon-to-be former boss.

"Sir?"

The man, who'd already turned his attention to his computer looked back up. "Yes, Allen?"

"You said Patty was torn up?"

"Honestly, son," he replied with a heavy sigh, "I've never seen anyone so grief-stricken before."

Barry sighed, resigning his head back a few degrees. "Thank you."

"No problem."

"Oh, and sir? Is she off today or something I haven't seen her."

"Oh, I told her to take a couple of sick days, which, as you know she's never done before. But she was pretty eager for the time off."

Barry sighed again."Again, thank you, sir."

Break

In the hallway, Barry let his weight fall back against the wall. He understood that heartbreak took different forms, but up until now, Patty had made sure to involve him her emotional breakdowns.

lt seemed that lashing out on him was therapeutic for her, which is why he'd done his best to bite his tongue when she was at her angriest.

The fact that he hadn't seen her in a few days, or heard anything at all, had piqued his concern, but that was the nature of divorce. He had to admit, though, now knowing she'd apparently taken time off sent him into full on worry mode.

Their last encounter, when she'd led him to believe she was pregnant, had been less than cordial, so in a way it made sense, but this sudden silence was startling.

He exhaled, then pulled out his phone, and dialed her cell. The call went straight to voicemail. Her phone was off, but why? He then called their home phone. Still nothing.

He looked at the time. It was almost 5:30. Iris would be expecting him around six, which meant that he if left now, he had more than enough time to go check on Patty and get back to Iris.

And divorcing or not, it was the least he could do.

He thought for a moment about whether or not he should check in first with Iris, especially given how badly he'd messed things up before, but Iris had made it very clear that she wanted him to be sensitive to Patty's situation, not that he needed her to express that for him to do so.

But it was just a testament to the kind of person she was.

Surely, she would understand.

Moments later, Barry skid to a stop at the front door of the home he hadn't been by in over two months.

He looked around to make sure no one had seen him. Just as he prepared to wiggle the knob free from the lock, he heard a door close behind him.

He glanced back over his shoulder, surprised to see Patty stepping out of a yellow taxi, a sole piece of luggage in hand.

She was dressed in a long, tan trench coat-type dress, and heels. Her blonde hair flowed over her shoulders in loose curls. She looked perfectly content, other than the look of confusion on her face as she walked up their driveway.

"Barry? What are you doing here?"

Embarrassed, he ran a hand down his neck. "I-um. Came to check on you. Davis told me you…kinda had a bad night the other night."

Patty nodded, passing him to step up onto their porch. "I mean, my husband left me, I live in our dream house alone now," she said, nonchalantly, as she searched into her bag for her house key. "So I think I'm allowed that."

Unable to find her key, Patty turned, just in time to see his guilty expression melt away. She chuckled, obviously delighting at the awkward haze in the air. "You wouldn't happen to have your copy of our house key, would you?"

"Nope. But I can go get it," he offered.

"Oh, no, no. Knowing you, you might not come back," she derided him. "Just do your speedster, knob swivel thing that you were about to do before I showed up."

"Uh, yeah," Barry said, face scrunched slightly. Even amidst spewing razor-sharp jabs, she was calmer than he'd seen her in a long time. Almost like the old Patty.

He stepped forwards, and vibrated his hand against the doorknob until the locking mechanism broke free. "I was only trying to break in because I thought you were hurt. You didn't answer my calls."

"Thanks," she said, stepping into the home. "For the knob, and the welfare check, I suppose."

Barry stepped back down into the spot she'd been standing, and started to speak, but cut off his train of thought.

She sat her luggage down onto the floor, behind the door, and removed her coat, giving way to a black high-waisted skirt, and tucked in white blouse. "Did you want to say something?" She asked as she draped her garment over her arm.

A beat passed, and Patty flexed her eyes at his continued silence.

"Oh, yeah, just that, I know it doesn't mean much coming from me, but I am glad to see that you're okay."

Lips puckered, she nodded. "Okay. Now what?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've seen that I'm okay... Now what?"

"Um—"

"Oh!" Patty said, smacking herself against the forehead. "You couldn't possibly have anything else to say to me. Forgot I'm not worthy."

Barry's jaw clenched tightly. By now, he knew that this was all an act, but he'd had it up to here with her combativeness. "Fuck, Patty. I'm trying to be civil, why can't you-"

"Can you come inside?" Her voice was full of cheer, almost as if she hadn't cut him off two seconds ago.

"What?" He asked, befuddled.

"It might be late Spring, but there's a nip in the air. Not everyone has lightning in their veins."

"I can't. I—have plans."

"With Iris?"

"With Iris." He breathed, jaw still clenched.

"Hmm. So let me get this straight. You came here to make sure I wasn't dead or anything, but now that you know I'm not, you can't give me a 10-minute conversation. Because of that woman?" She scoffed, continuing, "And you expect this divorce to go smoothly. What fucking world do you live in?"

It was then that Barry remembered that Patty still hadn't signed their divorce papers. And though she didn't formally threaten him, her words forewarned a lengthy, expensive court battle.

He grimaced at the thought of it.

"Nothing to say?"

"I tried to talk to you before things got this volatile, but you wouldn't have it. And you might be ready tonight, but I already have plans. And by the way," he added, "I know you don't like Iris, not that I expect you to, but if you knew her, and her heart, and our history, you wouldn't feel like that. This is weighing on her just as much as it is me."

"Oh, I know plenty about Iris," Patty said, under her breath. Voice loud enough for Barry to hear, she continued, "Oh, I'm sure perfect Iris feels really bad about having sex with my husband."

"God, why do you have to go there?"

"Better question: why do you feel that I have to like her?"

"I don't. I mean."

"Newsflash: Not everyone sees her through that weird ass lens you do."

"What lens?"

"The 'she's so perfect, and can do no wrong' lens."

"How would you even know that? You've spent two minutes with her. Around her family, the people who know her best."

Patty chuckled. Haven't I? "Yeah, well considering she's fucking my hus-" she stopped herself mid-sentence, "I said I wasn't going to do this," she said, shaking her head. "And I'm not. I've done enough of this. Contrary to what you've convinced yourself of, I don't want to be the crazy ex-wife. I don't even want to hate you. Or Iris for God's sake! I just. I just want you to give a damn about me through this process."

"I do give a damn about you, Patty. You just."

"Am not your soulmate. Trust me, I got it," she said, voice showing the first signs of trembling."

He didn't want to admit it, but it touched him. "But you do mean something to me. I handled this like a jackass, and I'm sorry. But it's not a reflection of what you deserve, I promise you that. I just can't be that man for you."

He hated having to keep reinforcing the fact that there was no chance that he would ever willingly leave Iris, but he felt he had to, given the fact that every other sentence of hers was fishing for a crack in their relationship.

"I-I," she said, wincing as the words flowed, "I know our marriage is over okay. I know you love her. A love that preceded me. But I need time. And I know speed is your thing, but I physically cannot sign those papers until I get closure."

He stepped forwards. "How do I give you closure?"

"Well, since angry sex is off the table, I do recall that you offered me your friendship a couple of months ago. I'd like to cash in that coupon. Or has It expired?" She replied, just as snarky as before.

"You really want to be friends with me? After what I did?"

"What can I say? I don't have many other friends. And divorce is a lonely endeavor."

The causal hump of her shoulders pierced, even more, through the walls he had up. "I'm sorry you've been lonely."

Patty pushed on. "And I know it's unprecedented, but I think if couple…of future exes can make it work, it would be us." She followed up her words with a jab to his ribs.

An easy playfulness, that he hadn't seen in a long time, oozed out of her gesture. It caused an unwilling chuckle to escape from Barry's lips.

"Oh, so every aspect of me doesn't detest you, huh?"

"You don't detest me, Patty. And maybe my actions haven't shone it, but I do care about you."

"Enough not to skirt around my question?"

"O-kay," he said, slowly. "We can be friends. But—"

"No more shit talking, Iris right?" Patty said, letting her weight fall against the door frame.

"None at all," he said, voice stern.

"I bet you let her talk bad about me."

"That's where you're wrong."

"Oh, so you take up for me?" She asked, a hopeful glint in her eye.

"No."

Patty glowered at him.

"Iris has never given me a reason to."

Patty nodded as if Barry's revelation impressed her, but if it did, she didn't express it audibly. Skipping past it, she said, "So, are you going to come inside? So we can have a proper talk?"

"Can I come by tomorrow?"

Patty yawned. "Not sure I'll feel up to talking about this stuff tomorrow."

Barry bit his lip, as his chance to move even a single inch closer to having this divorce finalized slipped further from his reach. "Okay, I'll come in. But I can't stay long," he said, slanting a glance at the time on his phone.

Disbelief spread out over Patty's face. Like she wasn't expecting to get this far. Gleefully, she stepped aside, allowing Barry ample room to enter the home they used to share. Though reluctant, Barry stepped through, hoping that he wasn't making a big mistake."