Alright, so I seriously debated whether or not to post this just yet. I had the idea a week or two ago, and got it all typed up today. I thought about waiting because not only is it Christmas-themed, it's a pretty big moment for Barry and Cal, and honestly the furthest point in their lives together that I've currently envisioned. Not to say it's the last of their story I have in mind, just that everything else I've jotted down or started working on occurs before this moment, and I genuinely considered saving it for last. But then I decided I didn't want to, because who knows what moments may unfold in my mind later on? As big a milestone as this is, it's hardly the biggest in their lives, and I enjoy these two crazy kids far too much to just accept that this is where their story ends. So I'm posting this, fully confident that I'll not only continue to write about their early relationship, but their future lives as they grow and change together. I hope you guys enjoy!

I don't own the Flash. Consider yourselves disclaimed.

Barry would never understand why the CCPD Christmas Party was always formal dress when it was held in the precinct. He, for one, was not happy about spending three hours of his free time in a penguin suit at his workplace. Cal had grumbled about it as well, though her strapless, knee-length, dark green dress and purple heels had Barry reconsidering his previous misgivings. This night may end up working out in his favor after all, he mused to himself as they moved among their coworkers.

While they remained steadfastly professional anytime they were there during conventional hours, this was a party during their off time, and Barry had kept his hand set firmly at Cal's waist for most of the evening, as he had the previous year when they'd been together only a few months. Their usual behavior must be convincing based on the surprised looks they were receiving from newer coworkers who apparently hadn't heard it through the grapevine.

The music was lively, and Barry knew how much Cal loved Christmas carols, but he'd noticed her looking around forlornly at the crowded room more than once. Glancing around, it looked like no one was paying any attention to them, and Barry decided he had the perfect idea.

"Hey Nia," he said quietly. She looked up at him, a little surprised - that was a very private name for them, and she was curious as to why he was using it now. He grinned down at her. "Come with me." He took her by the hand and guided her quickly away from the throng, towards the stars that led to their lab.

"And just what is this, Mr. Allen?" she sassed as he shut and locked the door behind them when they'd reached the lab. "Stealing me away to have your wicked way with me?"

"And if I were, my love?" he smirked, pulling out his phone.

"Well all you had to do was ask," she smirked back, hands on her hips. He laughed, setting down his phone as it began to play Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra. Cal dropped her hands, cocking her head in question.

"Oh please, you think I can't tell when you want to dance?" Barry deadpanned, taking her right hand in his left and pulling her towards him by the waist as she smiled up at him.

"I knew I loved you, B." She tucked herself underneath his chin, free hand resting lightly on his shoulder. They danced slowly for several seconds, before Barry began speaking thoughtfully.

"You know, this is a pretty special room for us."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, when you think about it. It's where we met, it's where we had our first kiss," he paused here to kiss her briefly. "It's where we first said 'I love you'. I'd call that special, wouldn't you?"

"You know, you're right. I never thought about all that."

"We should get married here," he continued in the same nonchalant tone.

Cal stiffened immediately and stopped dancing, pulling back to look at him with wide eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Yeah, you're right, this is a weird place to get married." Barry nodded, shrugging.

"I wasn't talking about the location part, Barry Allen, I was talking about the married part," Cal said, eyes still huge.

Barry tilted his head as though he were confused, reaching into his pocket. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I forget something?" There, held casually between his index and middle fingers, was a white gold band with a round aquamarine stone set between two small emeralds, for his birthday in March and hers in May. Cal brought both hands to her mouth in shock, looking from the ring to his eyes and back. He gently cupped her cheek with his other hand.

"Marry me, Nia?"

Then her arms were around his neck and she was raining kisses all over his face. "Yes, B, of course I will marry you!" He could hear her giggling even as he pulled her within proper kissing range, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He held nothing back, kissing her deeply, ravenously, a kiss she returned with equal fervor. It was hard to pull away from her, but he needed to see the look on her face as he slipped the ring onto her finger, and he was not disappointed.

"Cal Marie Allen," she said, voice full of wonder as she looked at the stones sparkling on her hand. Barry felt his grin widen, if that were possible. Suddenly she looked up at him. "Did you plan this?"

"I actually did not," Barry said, clearly pleased with himself. "To be honest, I've had that thing in my pocket for three months. I was just waiting for the right time, and tonight felt like the right time. Can you do me a favor and say Cal Marie Allen again?" She threw her head back in a laugh.

"Cal Marie Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Barry Allen. I'll say it however you want me to say it, future husband."

They made their way back to the party in short order, and were quickly descended upon by Iris and Cisco, each advancing on their respective best friend.

"And just what has the two of you so smiley?" Iris asked, though she managed to make it sound like an accusation.

"You weren't gone long enough for a quickie, unless I need to be ashamed of you both," Cisco said.

"Cisco!" Cal scolded, reaching out one hand to smack his arm. Iris gasped, grabbing her by the wrist, inspecting the ring Cal had momentarily forgotten about.

"No. Way."

Barry and Cal looked at each other, shrugging. It was going to come out sooner or later. "Yes way," Barry answered, one hand finding its home wrapped around her waist.

"FINALLY!" Iris shrieked, loud enough for the rest of the room to go silent as they turned towards her. Cisco wasted no time in taking advantage of the opportunity.

"BARRY AND CAL ARE GETTING MARRIED!" he shouted, grabbing Cal's wrist from Iris and raising her arm in the air like she was some kind of heavyweight champ. She pulled it back, laughing, as the crowded precinct cheered and began swarming them with congratulations, Joe of course reaching them first.

"Welcome to the family!" he told Cal, squeezing her tightly, before letting go to slap Barry on the back. "And it took you long enough!"

"Oh trust me, I know," Barry said sincerely, watching Cal for a moment as she accepted a congratulatory hug from Eddie. "Like I told Cal, that ring's been burning a hole in my pocket for months trying to figure out what to do. I mean, it ended up being perfect, but is it bad that I'm happy it's over and done with?"

Joe started chuckling as Barry fielded a few more handshakes. "What?" he asked, turning back to his foster father. "What's funny?"

"The fact that you think it's over and done with. Barry, you realize you have an entire wedding to plan now, right? As in location, guest lists, flowers, food, all of it. It's not over by a long shot, son."

Barry's expression grew steadily more pained with each item Joe listed. "I hadn't thought about that," he admitted, swallowing thickly. Suddenly he brightened, like he'd had a brilliant idea. "Excuse me!" He walked swiftly to Cal, whispering in her ear before taking her by the hand and pulling her away from the well wishers, towards the doors to the precinct.

"Where do you think you're going?" Joe called after them.

"Eloping!" Barry yelled over his shoulder, and Cal's laughter could be heard as the door swung shut behind them. There was scattered laughter throughout the room as the party resumed, though Joe, Iris, Eddie, and Cisco all exchanged glances.

"They wouldn't," Iris spoke first.

"I don't think I'm one hundred percent sure of that, actually," Eddie said thoughtfully.

"It's 10 o'clock at night, where would they even go to get married right now?" Joe asked, sounding less sure of himself than he'd like.

"How far do you really think Barry would have to run to find an all-night chapel?" Cisco asked. "Not very, I'm guessing."

The four waited only another moment, before turning simultaneously towards the door to chase after the errant couple.

Meanwhile in the Allen-Parks-soon-to-be-just-Allen household, Barry was moving at normal speed to remove his jacket and tie, taking his time to watch hungrily as Cal stepped out of her shoes and lifted her skirts to unclasp the garters holding her thigh highs in place, before peeling them delicately off her legs. In a moment he was right there, wrapping her in his arms even as he unzipped her dress, kissing her voraciously as it started to sink in that she had actually agreed to become his wife.

Cal had been overjoyed when she realized Barry's whispered instruction to 'just go with it' would lead to their early escape from the party, and she threw herself into the kiss with equal vigor, wrapping her legs around his waist, trusting him to support her as she worked the buttons on his shirt.

"Nia," he managed between kisses, "we should probably tell them we're not really eloping."

"Later." She was pulling the dress shirt over his shoulders now, and audibly groaned at the white tshirt underneath. "You and your layers, Barry."

He laughed as he kissed her again. "You know they're just going to start calling."

Cal rolled her eyes as she unwrapped herself from his body, stalking over to her purse where she'd stashed their phones, turning them both off before facing him again. Barry swore his heart stuttered at the predatory desire in her eyes.

"Let them try, future husband."

I thought about leaving it ambiguous about the eloping, but let's be real - like Barry would ever actually do that.

This just felt so genuinely Barry and Cal to me. I wasn't sure about the context when the idea first came to me, just the setting - in the lab, where they've shared some very important moments already. I considered it being a casual, across the room on a workday thing, but thought Barry would probably wait for something a little more special. Escaping from a crowded party at the precinct seemed like a fun little hideaway moment, and I wanted pretty dresses and suits just because, so I figured, Christmas party.

You may notice that neither Caitlin or Patty was mentioned, even though they're around at this point in the timeline. I don't imagine Caitlin would have any reason to attend a CCPD party, unlike Cisco who advises for them. And I haven't decided how Patty fits in with Team Flash in my universe, and probably won't until I see how they handle her in the canon universe. As of yet she's not really part of the family, and I didn't think she was necessary to this story.

I hope you guys enjoyed!