MERRY CHIRSTMAS EVE!

and another chapter is done :)

so enjoy

Having left her apartment as early as she possibly could, Caitlin arrived back in her old childhood town and wasting no time in going to the cemetery to her parent's graves. Parking her car in the small car park that sits beside the cemetery taking a quick glance at the clock on her dashboard nodding to herself in agreement that she made good time getting here; she knows she can't be late for ice skating later on and found herself actually looking forwards to it even if she is more baby giraffe when it comes to skating but isn't that half the fun and she doesn't care if she makes a fool out of herself now. She could end up making the biggest fool of herself in front of the whole of Central City and she wouldn't care because she knows it's going to be fun. Everyone else might be expert skaters and she is letting the group down but she doesn't care she is looking forwards to something for once instead of trying to live in the past.

With the two lots of flowers in her hands she made her way down the small footpath to the final resting place of her parents, the place she had picked for them both lay side by side. Reaching the graves she looked at the two lumps of polished marble reading the names one both of them for some reason every year she does this as if in her mind the name will suddenly change and her parent's names will no long be there carved into the marble but at the same time knowing that they're never going to change no matter how much she wants them too.

"Merry Christmas Dad" she carefully lay one bunch of flowers on top of the grass in front of the marble stone. "Merry Christmas" she turned to her right and laid the flowers on her mother's grave in the same place she had done on her fathers. They both got the same flowers just like their matching head stones. Everything at their funeral had matched because that is who her parents were. They liked most of the same thing but at the same time also hated some of the things the other did loved but that is what made her parents who they were because they would always compromise until they came to an agreement and that is how she will always remember them. In Caitlin's eyes they had the perfect relationship and she wanted to find someone who could give her the same relationship her parents wanted because growing up that is all she ever wanted – to find her other half that completed her.

"I hope you don't mind by I gave your tickets away to Barry and his daughter Evie, if you were still here then I know you would like them. Barry is such a nice guy and I didn't know it at the time but we have so much in common yet at the same time we are completely different it's weird to me and Evie is just beautiful and smart, she melted my heart the moment I met her. I'm going to be spending Christmas with them and their family who are also really nice people. I also know you still wouldn't like the idea of me moving away and I wouldn't have if you were both still here but I needed a fresh start and now I've finally met all these great people. So please don't be angry that I gave your tickets away, I'm looking forwards to seeing the nutcracker tonight but instead of your tickets I brought you both a little nutcracker each" Caitlin smiled to herself having gone back to that little market hut and bought two more little nutcrackers for her parents first thing this morning. Pulling the two little nutcrackers from her coat pocket she placed one on each grave replacing the tickets.

"I miss you both so much but I've learnt to realise that you not completely gone, it's up to me to keep you both alive in my memories and my heart because I'll never forget how much you loved me because I loved you both just as much." Bring her gloved hand up to her cheek Caitlin brushed the single tear away taking a moment to compose herself. "You're not going to believe this but your girl is going ice skating later – yes you heard me correctly ice skating. I just hope there isn't a lot of people there because who knows how many people I could injure" she began to laugh at herself, good thing I'm a doctor she thought to herself that way she can patch up the people she hurts will her clumsiness. "Calamity Cait is hitting the ice" she spoke aloud laughing at the nickname here father had called her when she was ten and ended up wiping out around twelve other children as she hit the ice and slid knocking them over like bowling pins. If she was bowling then she would have got a strike.

Having spent the next fifteen to twenty minutes filling her parent's in on everything she has been up to and telling them anything else she can think off. Finally feeling the cold she pushed herself up from the crouching position she found herself in looking back and forth between the two stones as she spoke to her parents she said her goodbyes, promising to visit them both again soon which will be her mother's birthday in February; Caitlin slowly started making her way back up the small footpath to her car.

Arriving at the ice rink Caitlin saw that everyone else had already arrived and was booted up ready to hit the ice making her wonder one if she was late and two have they been waiting for her to arrive before hitting the ice. Carrying her skates in her right hand she slid onto the bench exchanging greetings with everyone as she slipped her shoes off and started to lace up her boots, with Iris, Wally and Joe excusing themselves they stepped onto the ice taking Evie with them and her rented penguin to keep her upright making Caitlin wondering if those come in adult size as well because she knows that she could do with one.

"Do you need some help?" Barry asked pointing to her skates that she was trying to fasten tight enough so she doesn't break an ankle or worse a leg.

"I think I got it" she smiled at Barry who sat on her left. Without warning Barry knelt on one knee in front of her taking the laces from her hands and pulling at them making them as tight as they possible could be without cutting off the circulation to keep feet and taking no time to tie them – the dad in him clearly showing before moving onto the next skate and repeating the same task as he had with the other. "Thanks" Caitlin watched as he stood back up to his full height again in front of her, holding out his hand to take; not wanting to come across as rude Caitlin placed her hand into his allowing him to pull her up from the bench.

Waiting for Caitlin to settle on her skates he started stepping backwards towards the ice dragging Caitlin along with him. "You do know I am terrible at skating right?" Caitlin asked which only made him laugh in response. "My father nicknamed me Calamity Cait due to the fact I wiped out twelve other kids when I was younger"

"Then I guess I'm best sticking close by just in case you decide to do that again – I got you" Caitlin couldn't help but notice how his green eyes sparkled as he spoke making it clear to her this is something he loves doing, pausing at the edge of the ice she looked around her wondering if this was such a good idea agreeing to come here today.

Barry could see the worry on her face, offering her his other hand to balance herself but also to show his support and hoping that she trusts him enough in the short time they have known each other to know that he will make sure she doesn't fall. Without thinking about it she placed her other hand in his allowing him to pull her onto the ice; for some strange reason knowing that even if only her hands are lay on top of his she feels safe, knowing that if she was to slip the slightest bit then Barry would catch her in his strong arms. Pushing his feet backwards Barry pulled her along with his as they began to glide over the ice, Barry's experience on show for her to see; what she didn't expect is for his hands to leave hers if only for a moment as he span around on the spot and moved behind her, his hands finding her hips as he pushed them both across the ice – Caitlin not daring to take one foot on the ice if only an inch, her feet was going to stay on the ice until the moment they stop off again – it's the safest option for everyone currently on the ice.

"I told you I've got you" his deep silk like voice said into her ear sending a shiver down her spine as she listened to his words and man were they true. For the first time in a long time she actually felt safe and she owed that to Barry.

With each minute that passed Caitlin began to feel a lot more comfortable on the ice but she wasn't going to allow Barry to let go of her, it took him the best part of twenty minutes to even get her to lift a foot off the floor to pull them both along, she felt nowhere near confident enough to try it on her own; as the moments past every now and then she went into panic mode every time Barry's hands left her body thinking he had abandoned her but then he would appear somewhere else, in front of her again making her smile up at him or at her side, grasping her hand once again which calmed her down knowing he was there to save her if she needs saving from fall face first onto the frozen water below her feet – even manging to laugh with him at how stiff she would go each time he started skating faster. It was clear to anyone even if she couldn't admit it to herself that she was having fun and maybe this wasn't the worst idea she has ever had.

Barry pulled up outside of Caitlin's apartment block, sounding his horn to let her know he has arrived. Over hot chocolate's the night before they had arranged for Barry to pick her up and he would drive them to the ballet after Caitlin offered to pick them up but he made the argument that Evie's booster seat is already in his car so it made sense for him to drive and he was amazed when she didn't argue the matter with him any longer. Unsure of what to wear for the evening he dug out a suit and decided that would be suitable as in movies he has seen when they go to the ballet the man is always wearing a smart suit so decided that was the best option; Evie on the other hand dug out her sparkiest dress and glitter shoes without asking Barry to choose her outfit which he normal would this time she did it all on her own and looked like a walking disco ball but he didn't care this is after all her first ballet and she is excited about it whereas he is having very mixed feelings on the matter – unsure if he was going to enjoy it or not but for his daughter he will sit through it.

Moments later Caitlin came out of the entrance to her apartment block smiling as she made her way to the car, all day she's had this feeling in the pit of her stomach unsure on if she should be going but the moment she spotted Barry's car and Evie with her face pressed up against the back window that feeling disappeared.

"Daddy, Cait looks like an angel" Evie commented making Barry turn to look out of the car window at Caitlin to see her walking towards them dressed in what he could only describe as a white cape with small sleeves for her hands to fit through, whatever dress she had on underneath hidden by her cape and white heels on her feet taking small careful steps as to not slip on the ice.

"Yes she does" Barry commented happy with his decision to wear a suit for the evening.

He did have to agree with his daughter the closer she got the car the more she looked like an angel, dressed mostly in white and her hair in loose curls falling below her shoulders. In the stories and movies angels always had blonde hair but Caitlin look amazing and he couldn't deny it. Everything about her all the way down to the way she walks made her look like an angel in his eyes and he never expected that to happen to him.

"Hi" Caitlin smiled pulling the car door open and sliding into the passenger seat beside Barry. "Are we excited about tonight?" she aimed her question at Evie looking over her shoulder to the youngster in the back seat.

"I can't wait, can we go now daddy?" her tiny voice asked from the backseat making Barry pull away from the sidewalk to start their journey to their final destination.

"Did you like it?" Caitlin asked as the trio walked out of the theatre after the ballet had finished.

"It was the best thing ever, can we come again?" Evie asked her smile stretching from ear to ear. During the whole performance Caitlin would look down at Evie every now and then to see her frozen on every movement in front of her, her eyes never leaving the dancers on the stage.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be I must say I did enjoy it myself and I would go again" Barry commented having enjoyed the performance finding at time just like his daughter he couldn't look away. It isn't the worse evening he's had in his life.

"So that means we can come again?" Evie asked all the hope in the world laced into her words.

"Yes we can" Barry confirmed making her smile stretch even wider, something Caitlin didn't know what possible but once again she has been proven wrong.

As the trio made their way into the parking structure in search of the car, they walked in silence all content in the moment. Caitlin content in the fact that she was happy she had decided to attend tonight just for the amazement on Evie's face, Evie content that tonight has been the best night of her life and not just because she got to stay up later than her bedtime and Barry content at the fact his daughter is happy and also at the company he is currently in; to him the night had been perfect and he never thought he would ever feel like this again. Never thinking he would ever feel 'complete' again.

Ok so I am going to try my best to finish the next chapter in time for tomorrow but with it being Christmas day I don't know if it will be completed in time, if not then you can have Christmas day a day late.

What did you think?

Are Caitlin and Barry becoming closer?

What do you want to see happen in this story?

Thank you for reading.