Caitlin couldn't stop staring at the ring on her finger. She had been blown away when Barry popped the question the night before, but completely at ease. It was as effortless as breathing to tell him yes, to want to be his wife. She had always thought it would be Iris that he would be asking to join his life with, especially after the article from the future. Now though, that future no longer existed and a new one was taking its place.
Stopping by CC Jitters for her morning cup of coffee, Caitlin found herself in line behind Iris of all people. She had never felt really comfortable around the woman when there wasn't someone else with them, like Cisco or Joe. She had nothing against Barry's childhood friend, nothing at all. It was just that somehow the spunky woman made Caitlin feel insecure and clunky. Silently she prayed the other woman wouldn't notice her, but the cards weren't stacked in her favor.
"Hi Caitlin!" the dark skinned woman smiled brightly. It took all she had not to cringe at the fact that she would have to make small talk. Even as a child Caitlin didn't make friends easily, preferring to be alone with her books.
"Hello Iris." Caitlin smiled politely back, reaching for her large to go cup of coffee. "How are you? I haven't seen you at the lab the last few days."
It was the truth. Ever since Barry and Caitlin began their relationship Iris only stopped by the lab periodically, and never for long periods of time. She was also usually in the company of her dad or her brother. Caitlin hoped that Barry hadn't lost his best friend, knowing that he would always need the woman in his life as a tether to who he was before the Flash.
"Things are good. I've been busy following leads on a story I'm working on. I've also been promoted to Lead Investigative Reporter" The two women moved to settle at one of the high tables out of the way to catch up. Caitlin swallowed, stepping out of her comfort zone and doing this not only for herself but for Barry.
"That is amazing, I'm glad for you. I know you've been busy but Barry has missed you." Caitlin spoke the truth, knowing her fiancé was missing his best friend.
"I'll make sure to text him in a little bit. Maybe we can grab lunch like we used to." The other woman sipped her coffee, eyes bright and observant.
"I'm glad" Caitlin sighed. "I never wanted to drive a wedge permanently between the two of you." She brushed a curl over her shoulder and about had her elbow thrown out of socket.
"Oh my goodness!" Iris gushed lifting Caitlin's hand and examining her ring, bouncing in her seat. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Yeah. Barry proposed last night." Caitlin bit her lip, watching the other woman closely, stomach roiling in uncertainty. "Are you OK with this?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Iris looked genuinely confused.
"Barry broke up with you to be with me." Caitlin cringed, knowing there was no way to gloss over the facts. Not that she was known to gloss over the facts. She had always been blunt, to tell things how they are. She believed that hedging never helped anyone, everyone deserved to know the truth.
"I'll admit it hurt and made me mad, but I also had to step back and realize he was right. He's not the same person I grew up with. Yes, he's still there, but now he's more. He has a whole life that while I want to understand and be a part of, I just can't. I have no perspective and he needs someone in his life who does."
Caitlin felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Taking a deep breath she smiled at the other woman who continued,
"I'll always love Barry, but I'm not the person he needs to survive. That's you."
"Wow." Caitlin was stunned and confessed. "Thank you. That means so much to me. I was afraid that I had ruined Barry's relationship with you."
"No." the other woman laughed and stood, getting ready to head to the newspaper office. "It will take more than that to drive a wedge between us."
Iris gave Caitlin a hug, squeezing her tight. With a happy smile she added,
"Welcome to the family."
Barry's phone buzzed as he was waiting on the results of a blood sample, pulling him from the paperwork he was filling out. Reaching over to his desk he checked his phone, surprised to see a text from Iris. Things had been off between them since Barry had broken up with her, and he had been wondering how to bring the subject up. It looks like his best friend beat him to the punch.
'Just saw C at Jitters - love the ring! Ur mom's, right?'
He paused, not sure how to answer. He shouldn't feel this way around his best friend. He shouldn't feel the need to tip toe to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. Taking a deep breath he replied,
'Yeah, it is. U OK with this?'
'Why wouldn't I? Wanna meet 4 lunch?'
It didn't seem like she was mad, so Barry decided it wouldn't hurt to sit down with her and get her opinion.
'Sure. C u in half an hour at the Bistro.'
The next half hour crawled by for the speedster, even as he kept himself busy with work. Barry felt no shame in his relationship with Caitlin, part of him wished he had actually pulled his head out of the sand sooner and realized what had been right in front of him. If he had, then he might not have gone back in time and created Flashpoint. It was as if he had found what he had been missing all these years, someone to come home to, to be his calm when he was spinning out of control. He forced himself to leave the CCPD at regular speed, giving him time to think of what he would say to Iris. Speaking of, she was already sitting at a table by the windows, two glasses of ice tea in front of her.
"Hi Barry!" Iris gave him a quick hug before settling back down and waving the waiter over. As they ordered Barry watched his friend, searching for anything that would give away the fact the she was acting, pretending to be fine with him and Caitlin. For what he could tell she was being genuine.
"You said you saw Caitlin this morning?"
"Yes!" Iris beamed at him, giddy and happy. "I didn't realize you had gotten that serious that quickly. It's only been four months."
Barry felt the tips of his ears heating up as he shrugged.
"It felt right, you know? I've already wasted so much time. I didn't want to lose any more." It felt good to be telling Iris these things. Cisco was his best bud, but Iris was his best friend second only to Caitlin, and he knew she would be over the moon happy for him.
"I am so happy for you Barry. Caitlin is perfect for you. She's cute, smart and super protective of you. When I was with Eddie I always wondered in the back of my mind why you weren't trying to get with your 'personal physician'."
Barry had forgotten how Iris liked to tease him relentlessly when it came to his relationships. He loved her, but sometimes it could be a bit much. Just as their lunch arrived, both of their phones went off. Iris got to go boxes and promised that she would drop Barry's food off at CCPD as he flashed away.
Alchemy and Savitar were back.
