Chapter 5

Caitlin couldn't believe the dress she was wearing just to eat dinner at her boyfriend's parents' house. She felt like she was more dressed for the Oscars than dinner at home. She realized Iris may have been more correct about the whole Downton Abbey thing than she quite realized. Dressing for dinner in your own home wasn't really an American thing, even in wealthy homes like Caitlin's. She certainly didn't grow up in a sprawling English estate. The estate wasn't heavily staffed, but it was more than the nanny and the once weekly housekeeping service she'd grown up with.

At least Julian's parents weren't old fashioned and making them sleep in separate rooms. She wasn't sure she could handle the stress of meeting the parents and not having him there at night. Even though, so far, things had gone really well.

She found his parents quite nice, actually. They weren't overtly friendly in the way that, say, Joe West is, or Dr. Allen had been, but they were happy to meet her and seemed to like her. And she liked them. They were still far warmer than her own mother and, besides, Caitlin had always been more reserved herself.

She could tell it was a household that had still not overcome its grief from the loss of a beloved daughter and sister, something she could relate to with her own mother. Julian had spent the better part of the year realizing that the divide between him and his parents was more caused by his unknowing role as Alchemy than it was any actions by his parents. It had been Savitar that drove Julian to Central City, to cut ties with his parents, and give up his previous career aspirations to work with Barry Allen instead. But it had been grief that led him to Savitar. While he can't complain about the outcome for him, the damage along the way had seemed irreparable, at least until he found happiness again, with his friends, and with Caitlin. So he started with making amends with his parents. She knew how hard it had been for him to do that, to be honest with himself and with them. But she was so very proud of him for doing it.

"Caitlin, dear, you look lovely," Mrs. Albert said, admiring her long-sleeved burgundy velvet dress as she encountered her outside of her room. Mrs. Albert was dressed in a fine champagne-colored dress herself. "I have just the piece that will perfectly compliment the dress. Come with me."

Mrs. Albert led her into her sitting room and went to retrieve a piece of jewelry. She returned with an antique hair comb, clusters of small glittering diamonds in a silver setting. She suspected it was not costume jewelry.

"Here, if you'll permit me," Mrs. Albert said, inserting the piece into Caitlin's side-swept brown locks. "Perfect, it suits you very well."

"It's beautiful. Thank you for letting me borrow it this evening," Caitlin smiled, admiring the piece.

Mrs. Albert smiled warmly at her. "You're welcome to wear it whenever you like. Come, it's nearly time for dinner."

Julian and his father were dressed in fine suits, and Caitlin's breath caught at how handsome he looked. She remembered this was where he had belonged originally, not working a crime scene, not tracking down rogue metas. A refined English gentleman, with an extraordinary amount of money. She couldn't help but notice, however, how he shifted uncomfortably in his expensive suit, fidgeting with the table-setting. Not how he looked when working at STAR Labs. Not how he looked when he was helping her paint the living room last month. Not how he looks when they're sitting at her dinner table, enjoying a meal he's cooked. No, he doesn't belong here anymore, she realizes. He belongs with her in Central City.

The dinner was magnificent, with several courses. After dessert, they retired to a beautiful sitting room with a fireplace. His parents had one after-dinner drink with them before excusing themselves to retire to bed.

While Julian's behavior towards her had been respectful and reserved in the presence of his parents, once they left the room, he pulled her close and kissed her heatedly. She could taste the smoky scotch on his breath, mixed with the wine on hers. She sighed happily in his arms.

After a few moments he pulled away to look at her. "Thank you for coming here with me. Rebuilding the relationship with my parents hasn't been something I've felt like I deserved until now."

"Your parents love you so much. They're really glad to have you home, I can tell. I'm just glad you've found the strength to forgive yourself. It's a difficult thing to do, trust me."

"It's your strength, Caitlin, your compassion… you make me want to be a better man. I promise I will always strive to be truly worthy of your love and your faith in me."

She smiled at him, and kissed him sweetly. "You make it sound like I'm doing you a favor. I'm not. You've always been the better of us. You never gave up on me, and even when I hurt you, you loved me, you forgave me, and took care of me. There isn't anything more you could give me than that."

He smiled at her and kissed her again, brushing some loose strands of brown hair from her face.

"Hmm. I think I recognize the hair bobble. One of my mum's collection, I believe?" Julian asked, pulling away slightly to examine it.

"It is. She's far too kind to let me wear it. It's a beautiful piece," she said.

"It looks beautiful on you," he said, kissing her softly. "Oh! I have just the thing to go with it, I think it'll match quite well, in fact."

He pulled a black velvet ring box from his pocket and knelt down on one knee. Caitlin gasped.

He opened the box to reveal a diamond ring in a stunning antique setting that looked similar to the style of the hair comb. "Also from my great-grandmother Elizabeth Albert's collection. I've been thinking of this piece since the morning after we'd first made love, since I first woke up with you in my arms, realizing that I never wanted to be anywhere but with you. That all I want is to spend the rest of my life with you.

"Caitlin Snow, I love you. I want to spend every day until my last as your husband. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

With tears in her eyes and a happy smile, she said, "Yes."

He pulled the ring from the box and it easily slipped onto her finger. "It really does suit you, I think."

"It's perfect. I love it. I love you," she said, kissing him.

"Oh, we mustn't get carried away, I imagine we've got eavesdroppers," he grinned, getting up to open the door. There, his mother and father were waiting for him.

"Oh, my dear girl, let me see how it looks," his mother cooed, the most emotive she'd been. "Splendid. It's just splendid. Oh, I'm so thrilled for you both."

"I hope you don't mind, but tomorrow's Christmas Eve festivities here will be an impromptu engagement party as well. Your mother's been very excited about making the announcement. Might as well meet your new extended family, my dear," his father said.

"Only a few of them are completely dreadful," Julian whispered into her ear, his arm wrapped around her waist.

"Sounds wonderful," she grinned.

"Now, we'll leave you two lovebirds alone, we just wanted to congratulate our daughter to be," his mother said, kissing hugging Julian as Julian's father kissed Caitlin's cheek.

Julian's father embraced him and said, "We're proud of you, son. Your sister would be too. We can't change the past, but we can go forward into the future. You've chosen your future well, you both have."

Julian's eyes glistened with tears as they left the room. They sat on the sofa and Caitlin laid her head against his chest, holding him close. "I love you," she whispered. "And I'm so happy to be your fiancée."

"I'm glad," he laughed. "And a bit relieved, I must say."

She smiled. "You didn't think I'd say yes?"

"The insecurities crossed my mind. 'What am I doing here, Julian? I can do so much better. Is that Green Arrow bloke still single?'" he teased.

She laughed. "No. I only want you. How could I possibly say no to this beautiful, romantic piece of jewelry, from the man I am madly in love with?"

"Is that so?" he mused, pulling her close.

"Mmhm," she said, lips pressed to his. He deepened the kiss and she sighed happily as he pulled her onto his lap.

"We should retire to our room, my darling," he said, finally breaking away. "I want to see how you look wearing only your engagement ring."

"It's a good thing our room is far from your parents' room. Otherwise breakfast would be really awkward tomorrow," she grinned, pulling him by the hand towards the door.

Caitlin woke up in Julian's arms like most mornings, but it took her a moment to remember where they were, and then she remembered the ring on her finger. She smiled happily, admiring its sparkle in the early morning sun shining through the window.

"Haven't changed your mind, have you?" he mumbled against her shoulder blade.

"No. Have you? You can't have it back, it's mine," she said, holding it up to the light again.

"And so am I," he said, pulling her closer and kissing a soft trail down her shoulder.

"Mmmm… that's good, I'm glad. I like you both very much," she said.

She melted into him, enthralled by every touch, every nibble, every kiss, turning into every thrust, every moan as they made love.

When they finished, she moved off of him, and laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat as his breathing slowed down.

"I don't suppose we can just have a lay in, can we?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not. We have to greet your extended family, and I have lots of names to learn."

"Whatever for? I don't know any of them," he grumbled.

She laughed. "I'm sure that isn't entirely true. I'm going to go shower. Care to join me?"

"Mm, I suppose that's worth getting out of bed for, then," he said.

They made it down to breakfast about an hour later, his parents both still glowing and happy about the engagement.

The house was soon abuzz with family. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, children, various assortments of other people Julian was certain he was not even related to. Caitlin did her best to map the family tree and learn names. Julian was stubbornly no help at all.

Mid-afternoon, the children had gone out to play, while the adults mostly began to day drink.

"So, Caitlin, Central City I hear is full of metahumans," Julian's cousin Poppy said, refilling her drink for an undetermined time. She was in her early twenties, with bouncing blond curls. "I just love the Flash, he's got quite a nicely shaped arse, don't you think?"

Julian choked on his drink. Caitlin suppressed a smile and gave him a firm hit on the back.

"All of that running is certain to tone the glutes, after all," she answered, Julian still trying to recover from aspirating scotch.

"Have you met any of them? The metas? I bet they're just everywhere in Central City. Probably just crossing the street, and one's there to swoop in and save the day!" she said, dreamily.

"It's been known to happen," Caitlin agreed.

"Mum! Dad! Come quick!" one of the children rushed in, in a panic.

"What's the matter, Charles?" one of the aunts asked.

"It's Millie. She's trapped on the pond and the ice is cracking!" he sobbed.

Caitlin and Julian exchanged a look and rushed outside with the other adults. Sure enough, the little girl was standing in the middle of a pond, with ice cracking all around her, as she screamed for help.

"Caitlin, you've got this," Julian said to her quietly. "Everyone! Clear a path! Look out!"

Confused, they all did what he asked. Caitlin placed both hands on the ice and refroze it. She then walked across the ice, took the little girl's hand, and led her back to her mother, who cried and embraced both the girl and Caitlin. The rest of Julian's relatives were mostly just stunned.

"The, uh, pond is pretty well frozen now. Sorry. I hope I didn't disrupt any fish population by making it too cold. I just tried to solidify the surface. On the bright side, the kids could go ice skating now, it would be perfectly safe for them," she said, rambling nervously as Julian's mother approached her.

"You saved my niece's daughter, dear, that's all that matters. Come back inside and let's get you warmed up," Mrs. Albert said. And that was that.

"So, that just happened," Caitlin said, as Julian brought her another drink.

"Yep," he said, popping the p. "Can't even go on holiday without you being a hero," he teased.

"Hey, everyone, we're getting married, oh, and by the way, I have magic ice powers…" she groaned. He laughed, and kissed her.

Just then, Poppy came bounding up. "I knew it! Everyone in Central City is a metahuman! Do you all have ice powers? Or just some of you? What else can you do? Can you fly? I've always wanted to be able to fly…"