"You sure Joe will be happy?" Caitlin asked as she and Barry walked up the sidewalk to the West's house the next day.
"Are you kidding me?" Barry slid his arm around her waist. She loved being tucked up against him like a puzzle piece. She felt him press a kiss to the side of her head. "He's already told me that his grandkids are going to call him 'pop-pop'."
"That is so sweet." Caitlin laughed, feeling excited and nervous at the same time. "I love Joe; he's been the best adoptive father-in-law to be I could have asked for."
"He's loved you in his own way since you and Cisco started taking care of me after the explosion." Barry opened the door, calling,
"Joe, we're here!"
"In the kitchen Bar." Came the booming voice of Joe. Caitlin joined Iris and Wally in setting up the dining room, everyone having gathered at the house for a late lunch.
The three of them made short work of getting plates, silverware, glasses and napkins, chatting about their morning. Caitlin felt her heart swell, never having thought she'd be a part of a warm loving family again after her father died. It was like she was walking in a dream. She prayed that nothing would ever wake her up if she was. Soon everyone was seated, stuffing themselves on spaghetti and garlic french bread. Now that both Barry and Wally were unaffected by alcohol Joe made sure to have a constant supply of sweet tea on hand, as well as beer for himself and wine for the girls. Luckily, Caitlin wasn't much of a drinker, or Joe would have suspected something.
"So Bar, this was your idea." Joe said as he kicked back in the recliner in the living room, his kids scattered around the room. Barry sat in the armchair across the coffee table from Joe, Caitlin in his lap. Before, she would have thought it was improper to do that around others, but with Barry, it seemed to be second nature.
"Yeah, man. Why the short notice? I'm sure Jessie would have wanted to be here." Wally asked, confused look on his face. Iris was the only one relaxed, already knowing what was about to be announced.
Caitlin looked to Barry, watching as a huge grin split his face. He looked happier than a kid at Christmas. Her heart fell for her speedster just a little more right then. She knew everything would be okay since she had her best friend and his family to look after her. It was more than she had hoped for. Every day she counted her blessings.
"Caitlin and I are going to have a baby!"
The world froze, crystallizing into a perfect moment as Joe just about fell out of his chair.
Barry knew he could have handled the announcement better. He was just so excited that he couldn't wait, almost bursting at the seams. He felt Caitlin laughing in his arms, one of the best feelings in the world. He let her go as she stood go over to Joe, the doctor in her never resting, wanting to make sure that he hadn't suffered any lasting damage from the announcement.
"A baby?" Joe asked hoarsely, eyes watering as he looked back and forth between Caitlin and Barry, shock on his face. Barry knew he was simply processing everything, but Caitlin took it to heart.
"Are you not happy?" She asked gently, hands fidgeting with her engagement ring.
"Happy!?" Joe stood and wrapped the woman Barry loved is a tight hug, smile breaking out across his face. "I am beyond happy!"
"Wait, I'm gonna be an uncle?" Wally asked.
"Yeah, man." Barry slung his arm around Wally's shoulder, tucking Iris against his other side as he watched the man who raised him hug and gush over the woman who was carrying his child. Life was perfect; crazy fast and full of strangeness, but not one he would change. "There's gonna be a new Kid Flash in town."
"Or a mini Ice." Iris added. "After all, you're both metas. The kid could get one, both or no powers at all."
"Or they could have powers all their own." Joe said thoughtfully before looking at Caitlin. "Your powers ok with the baby?"
"Yes, I've checked everything over. Even Harry has been monitoring me to make sure nothing happens. We likely won't know if they have powers until the third trimester. We may not even know until they are born."
"No matter what, they will be loved." Barry knew his heart was happier than it had ever been hearing those words come from Joe.
Barry was proud to have Joe call him son. He had been raised by a good man with a large heart. Who taught him right from wrong. Who built him up and offered a helping hand when needed. Who have a scared and lonely boy love, and continued to give the man he had grown into love. There might not be a drop of blood bonding Barry to the Wests, but they were his family. They were his roots, roots that would grow to encompass the woman he loved and their children. To include his best friend besides Iris. To even extend to a masked vigilante who showed Barry that to be a hero didn't mean you had to sacrifice who you were to do it. Even if Oliver didn't follow his own advice, having been shaped long ago by circumstances out if his control.
For once in a very long while, Barry was looking forward to what the future would hold.
