"Ollie? Ollie, wake up! Ollie love!" Barry is shaking Oliver, as the archer is trembling and shouting because of his nightmare.
Oliver jolted out of his slumber and confused blue eyes locked his gaze to the worried hazel-green.
Barry reached out for a glass of water which is usually placed at their bedside and handed it to his fiance "Ollie, you've been having nightmares for how many weeks now. I know you will just shrug it off and be a stubborn guy without telling me. And keep it to yourself until you die. But please, I am here. Please tell me love. I am so worried" he held and caressed his beloved's face to look at him.
Oliver Queen's walls has crashed down and he sobbed at Barry's shoulder.
"Bear I am so sorry. It's just that it is always you that I've been dreaming about" Barry was dumbfounded at the archer's admittance.
"I dreamed of Adrian Chase, he imprisoned you, tortured and he killed you in front of me. I was not able to save you from his grasp. You died in my arms. I was not able to do anything to save you. I thought this is only a one night bad dream, but as you said it keeps on getting back. I can't lose you. What if...what if there is another version of him from another multiverse that holds a grudge against me and….and…." his embrace to Barry's slim form tightened as he told him about his nightmare and worries.
"Shhhh…..Ollie it's just a dream. It won't happen. You said it yourself, when I sacrificed myself in the speedforce that Adrian killed himself in front of you and William. So, it's impossible love and if there is another version of him from the Multiverse. I am sure Cisco and I will know. Remember? I am part of the speedforce, I can feel everything that is not part of this earth and Cisco too, he can vibe anything. Come on, let's go back to sleep" Barry motioned for them to lay down and lulled Oliver to slumber, the archer didn't let go of him the whole night.
"Uncle Oliver? William? Are you both okay? You haven't answered my question yet. Who is that man in Uncle Barry's dream?" Francis' perseverance is tickling as he is waiting for an answer from the Queens. He is already formulating a plan on how to rescue the Central City Hero.
It was then William faced him and explained who the man is. How Adrian Chase kidnapped him when he was a kid, how he blew up the whole Lian Yu by shooting himself in the head, which also resulted to the demise of his Mother and his Auntie Thea in a coma. And how he tortured his Father for how many weeks.
Despite William's story, Francis became more curious, he wants to know more. So what he did is, he discreetly approached Oliver and put his hands on his shoulder as his way of comforting the elder archer and he vibed him.
He saw everything in the past a recollection of memories. Barry and Oliver - how their love grew, Barry's 9 months coma, sadness, happiness, their heroic deeds, their friends, Oliver's suffering in Lian Yu, their little family, the engagement that had happened twice, the torture, his 50 years of grief on what had happened to the Central City Hero. Every emotion he felt, it is so deeply…..indescribable…..overflowing….
Francis tears unconsciously falls into his eyes. He knows how strong Oliver Queen was, he saw how he protected Star City for how many years. His strong leadership, his resolve and strength.
But the strongest emotion that he felt is the archer's undying love to the sleeping speedster and how broken he is. But hope is always there. He will do everything in his power to see their happy ending.
He was broken out of his reverie when Oliver squeezed his hands "Francis, we have to save Barry in that dreamworld. I know you can vibe us there".
"Dad you can't. Let them save Barry and you have to be with him here at STAR Labs, once he wakes up. He needs you." pleading eyes meets piercing blue. William knows his Father is a stubborn man, he doesn't underestimate his skills. But of course he is so worried and it seems that their enemy is still young physically due to his meta powers.
Oliver glowered at William's direction. He doesn't like this. He can't let anyone save Barry, he knows it has to be him. He is the only person that Barry can recognize and trust. His fiance has suffered long enough in that fake world and so was he, in reality.
He needs to get him out of that prison.
Francis can feel the invisible friction that is building up between the Queens "Excuse me Uncle Oliver and William. I have an idea, let us transfer Uncle Barry at the Cortex and we set everything up. I can vibe us there in the dreamworld like what my Father did, when Music Meister whammied him and I need to phone a friend, if that is fine with you. Wallace, please help Katrina in transferring Uncle Barry in the Cortex and call Robert and Samantha and the rest of Team Arrow. We will do a…..Flash Rescue Mission! Yes!" he clapped his hands and made a fist bump with Wallace.
Oliver smiled on how enthusiastic Cisco's son is about this mission. Like Father like son.
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Hello Oliver, sorry to disturb you but this is very important. Do you still have your helicopter with you?" Cisco asked the older vigilante from the other side of the phone.
"Yes. Why? What do you need it for?" he answered coldly from the other side of the line.
Eversince Barry's selfless sacrifice from the speedforce 6 months ago to save Central City. Oliver became a different person - he became hostile and distant towards everybody, he became stricter tenfold, his relationship with William is very unstable. It was like he lost his light forever.
"He is back, we found him. Please bring the whole team arrow here at Central City. We will wait for you at the Cortex and we will see him together" the meta told him.
An hour and a half later the whole team arrow arrived at Central City. Team Flash is also complete at the Cortex. And Oliver is still a bit adamant in this situation and he needs some explaining to do.
So for an hour Cisco explained that he, Felicity, Curtis, Tracy Brand and Harry Wells from Earth-2 had been working on this secret project, to bring Barry back. Of course the Green archer berated Curtis and Felicity for not telling him about this plan.
"We are so sorry Oliver that we didn't told you about this for 6 months ok? Because all of us is still not sure if we could pull this through, to bring Barry back. Speedforce is no fucking joke. So stop throwing your anger at us! So, they say Barry is back. So we are successful and can you please stop your brooding and you're angry mode and let us get our ass out of here and see your fiance at CCPD" Felicity dragged the Mayor of Star City out of the Cortex and everyone followed.
Cisco and Curtis silently made a high five. And Caitlin laughed at their comical exchange.
When they arrived at Central City Police Department, Joe's girlfriend Cecille greeted them. But she warned everyone before they enter the room where Barry was currently in "Everyone, please you have to prepare yourselves on what you are going to see".
Upon entering the room, what they saw was the weird symbols that is drawn around the walls. And they heard someone humming from the corner.
There he is Barry Allen, the fastest man alive. Humming like a kid and still continuing in writing some alien symbols.
"Bear?" Oliver called for his fiance in a soft tone.
When Barry heard someone is calling his attention. He stood up grinning. Oliver was stunned, his Barry looks so different - he looks so lost, he has a beard - but his childlike face and naivety is still there.
He wants to approach him but he needs to be careful as to not scare the speedster.
Barry's eyes landed on Joe, John Diggle and Cecille.
"Sir, . Please I am not a terrorist. I didn't planted those bombs!"
"Your honor I am a good man. I didn't kill anybody. I'm innocent. Don't incarcerate me please!"
Everyone in the room stood silent as they listened to Barry's random ramblings.
"You said the city was safe! That there is no residual, but that's not true! You lied to me Doctor Wells!"
"Bear the City is safe. You save it Barry, don't you remember?" Oliver tried to get Barry's attention and to stop his weird ramblings. His fiance looked at him and smiled but….
"Do you know the vigilante? The arrow? I will make a mask out of microfiber material. That will not hinder his eyesight. My hero! A christmas gift for my hero!…..we will eat ice cream….stars are melting….arrows….ha...ha...ha...ha…...infinite possibilities! Don't you see! Arrrghhhhh! Trajectory, angle of elevation, shooting arrows! Another field of physics! Mom, me and Dad are going to be fine"
"I lost it somewhere…...we need more diapers for Moira and Henry…." Barry continues his giggles and ramblings.
"Ughhhh! I hate morning sickness. I need to…..I need to go…..sink….vomit….dizzy….bumps….kicking…..moving…...kicking…..moving…."
Barry is unconsciously holding and caressing his stomach as if something is there.
"Moira...Henry...cute.."
Oliver Queen can't take the scene before him. His Barry is back and yet he still looks trapped. His mind is imprisoned somewhere.
He needs to pull his love out of there. He will bring his light back.
xxxxxxxxxxx
Team Arrow & Team Flash are complete at the Cortex, except for Francis. Everyone is ready and so is Oliver and William, although they are not wearing their arrow suits.
10 minutes later Francis arrived at the Cortex and he is with an unexpected guest.
"What is he doing here?" Oliver growled in anger and looked askance upon seeing their special visitor.
I'm your superfriend…..superfriend, I'll be there in the nick of time...if you ever need a spot….I'll be there in a flash!
Oliver grabbed the bow and arrow from Robert's hold and he pointed it to the uninvited guest in the Cortex.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Oh wow! You are old but still you are scaryyyyy Green Arrow! I am not here to hurt anyone and to hurt Barry Allen. You know I just whammied people to give them a lesson, you should thank me! Because you got engaged again. Make me your wedding singer! And by the way, here I am and I will help save the day! Doodles! Music Meister on duty!" he bowed to everyone in the cortex and made a side step.
"Francisco Ramon Jr. I need you to explain" Oliver glared at vibes direction and waiting for an answer from the younger meta.
"I am sorry everyone if I have to drag this guy here, you see he recently connected with me through vibrations or telepathy, whatever it is and he is looking for someone and it seems that certain someone is hiding in Uncle Barry's dreams…." as Francis continues to explain, Music Meister cuts him off.
"That idiot stole my Dream Ball. That thing holds strong forces of magic, and it has the capability to imprison someone that you desire so much forever. It lands in the wrong hands then the person they like is doomed. It's like you are living in a false reality. It is untraceable, it can also raise the dead from the ashes. But I wonder….hmmmm…..that I can feel the presence of the Dream Ball, unless something bizarre is happening to our beloved flash's dream world" he is telling everyone in the cortex of what he knows about the magical item.
William furrowed his eyebrows and asked Music Meister "And what could possibly it be? Do you have any theories Meister? Care to share?".
"Ah! Interesting question! Theory number 1: Barry might have encountered someone familiar to him in that fake reality from the real world that jugged his head a bit. And he might starting asking himself if he is in some sort of dream, and number 2: he must be hurt and fighting for his life in that alternate reality in which, he is currently stable and not flatlining. So, I don't think theory number 2 can be applied here. That is the possibility of why we just only knew about what is happening inside his head. And why for how many years of vibing and jiggling, you only see hollow and darkness. Because the Dream Ball is very good at it - hiding someone's presence, following it's Masters desire. The current Master can only be defeated inside the Dream World. Dark Warlock has no physical body, since he is dead decades ago at Lian Yu. Right? I wonder, how he stole my Dream Ball. Unless someone helped him" it leaves everyone baffled in the cortex at Music Meister's theories and explanation.
"And awwww….after all these years, he still looks so adorable!" he approached the sleeping speedsters form and he traced his thumb on his lips.
Oliver squinted his eyes and growled at Music Meister's gesture towards the sleeping speedster.
"Stay away from him!" arrows still pointed at Music Meister's direction.
Music Meister held his hand high as a sign of giving up "Okay! Okay fine! Can't resist! I won't steal him away from you ".
"Are we just going to chitchat here? Vibe what's the plan?" Oliver Queen lowered the bow and arrow as he approached the meta.
"Uncle Oliver, me and Music Meister will save Uncle Barry at the Dream World. I will vibe us there. And Uncle Oliver you will be surprised! You will see about that, once we get there and everyone here will be on standby. Katrina, please monitor his vitals" the young Doctor nodded and gave a squeeze to Francis' forearm.
Vibe and Oliver Queen stood on Barry's bedside holding the speedster's shoulder, while Music Meister is on the foot of the bed closing his eyes and channeling his energy to the other two, as they are about to enter the dream world.
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Mom, Dad I feel so nervous" Barry is fidgeting while his Mother Nora is fixing his white tux.
"Hey slugger, it's fine. Just be yourself. We are sure Adi's jaw will drop on the floor, once he see how alluring you are" Henry's warm eyes gave Barry his confidence and courage.
They made their way on the small church located between Central and Star City - Church of the Holy.
Henry and Nora disembarked on the limousine, they saw a lot of guests gathering on the stairs. While Barry remains inside the luxurious car.
When everyone went inside and the church door closed, it's his queue to disembark from the vehicle while his parents is waiting at the entrance.
As Barry was about to ascend the stairs, he heard a small voice that greeted him.
"Hello Mister. Is today your wedding day?"
The kid looks like not more than 12 years old. But what caught Barry's interest is the child's beautiful eyes. A solid skyblue. He approached him and he knelt in front of the kid to his eye-level. The kid wears a simple jeans, plaid red polo and a converse.
"Yes, it's my wedding day today. I am kinda nervous to be honest" he chuckled.
"Hey Mister where is your boutonnière?" the kid pointed to Barry's lapel from his tux.
"Oh my gosh! I forgot them...thank you kid! I will be checking on it from the car. I might have dropped it there. I am so clumsy" when Barry stood up and headed towards the car, the kid grabbed his hand.
"Use this Mister, I think this will look so beautiful on you" Barry knelt again in front of the kid.
"Wow this is so pretty! A pink and red Carnation combination, I will use this. Instead of my rose boutonnière. Thank you! Did you made them?" the kid nodded, while Barry is putting them on in his tux.
"It looks good on you Mister. Do you know the meaning behind those flowers?" Barry just shook his head.
"It means I will never forget you and my heart aches for you, when you wear that it means that you will never forget me and your heart will ache for me Mister" his eyes widened as the kid explained the meaning behind those flowers.
He is so enamoured to the kid and before he ascend to the stairs he asked for the kid's name.
"I want to thank you for this beautiful boutonnière, it is so rude of me not asking for your name. May I know your name young man?"
"My name is Oliver" the kid reaches for his hand for a handshake. And Barry mirrored the gesture.
"Nice to meet you Oliver! My name is…"
"Bartholomew…"
"How did you know my?"
As Barry was about to question the kid, he heard his Mother calling out to him. So his attention shifted to the beautiful sight of his Mom.
"Bear! What is taking you so long dear?" Nora descended from the stairs with a worried look on her face.
"Oh Mom, I am so sorry I was just talking with…" when he was about to point the kid, he is gone.
"Talking with whom?" she inquired not seeing someone, as to what his son is telling her.
"Come on Bear, everyone is waiting. Adi is waiting" she grabbed his son's forearm and they both ascended to the stairs towards the entrance. Henry, waiting for the both of them.
'With Oliver…..' Barry thought.
'Oliver? Oliver….' the name sounds so familiar and Barry suddenly felt a pain in his chest.