The More Things Change the Less They Stay the Same

Chapter 3

By: fillinwhittynameHERE

"Good then we will meet here tomorrow."

"Hey kid, I mean, impulse let's head to my place. Maybe we can convince Iris to make your favorite, double cheeseburger."

"I'm a vegetarian." Impulse deadpanned.

"What?!" Flash nearly screamed.

"HAHAHA you should see the look on your face, I can't believe you believed me. Me a vegetarian, yeah right."

"Don't do that again." With that they 'beamed' to central city and then walked to Barry's house.

"Wally there's something you need to know. About two years after you guys left Iris was able to give birth. We now have five year old twins, Derek and Daphne."

"Well that explains why the house looks bigger."

"Well yeah we had mine and iris's room, the guest room, Derek's room, Daphne's room, and of course your room. Which by the way is exactly how you left it."

"You didn't have to keep my stuff in there but thank you."

"Let's head inside." With that they went in and Impulse got the first sight of the house of his childhood. As they entered the kitchen Wally realized that nothing had changed yet nothing had stayed the same either. The room was exactly as it always was except the walls were covered in little kid art work.

"Wally is that you?"

"Aunt Iris, look at you, you haven't changed a bit."

"Well you sure have. What happened to hating long hair?"

"Well there really isn't a barber shop in space so I kind of had to live with it unless I wanted it military style and it's kind of grown on me."

"Well let me make you some burgers. I'm assuming three a piece?"

"Actually one is fine for me, thank you."

"One but what about the speedster metabolism?"

"In space we ate different types of foods, and some times only a little bit at a time so I was able to gain control over my metabolism. So basically I use less energy and it lasts me longer."

"Why can't you and the kids have metabolisms like that? It would save so much money on the food bill."

"So I'm guessing the kids are speedsters too?"

"Yeah they are almost as fast as you are."

"Well I'm not so sure about that. You see I mastered my powers and I can tap into the speed force. I can also do everything you can and a little more."

"Wow, just wow. We should race so I can see how fast you've gotten."

"Yeah that sounds like a good idea, but I have some things to do tonight so could we do it in the morning?" At this point both men had finished eating.

"Sure no problem, what reading?"

"Everyone on the team is studying old missions from the league. We try to learn as much as we can both about you guys and the enemies you face because you can never be too careful." Right as he finished speaking a strange beeping noise. Then impulse pulled out what looked to be a cross between a communicator and a cell phone.

"Impulse…..hey yeah we just finished eating…yeah ok…so 1200 at the hall got it….yeah see you there boss man…..later nightwing."

"Wait I thought kaldur was your leader?"

"When kaldur became leader it was only temporary. He and nightwing agreed that wing would become leader when he was ready. They decided that they would share leadership while we got used to nightwing leading and he slowly gave full command to wing. I think he gained control right before the big fight, it was a great test of his leadership I guess." Just then they heard shouting coming from the front door. Impulse just looked at Flash with a raised eyebrow.

"Derek, Daphne no more yelling." Flash shouted.

"Yes sir." They chorused together.

"Hey who are you, are you Wally, you are aren't you, that is so cool. We can hang out and play videogames and watch movies and eat junk food. And we can race, it'll be so cool, we can be like best friends and have our own secret hand shake and everything."

"Whoa slow down kid. Yes I'm your cousin Wally. I can't race you I'm sorry and I would love to hang out but I'm tired so not today."

"Okay." Derek said dejectedly.

"Why don't I make you both a deal? It's going to be kind of crazy for the next couple of weeks so I'm going to need a break every once in a while. So when I have some free time why don't I have a special day with both of you. We can do anything you want and it will just be me and you."

"Okay!" both kids shouted excitedly.

"Thank you Wally, you don't have to do that though. You just got home and like you said it's going to be hectic for you for awhile, so you should spend your free time how you want to." Iris said.

"That's the thing aunt Iris I WANT to spend my free time with them. I knew things were going to be different when I came home but I never expected cousins. I've always wanted siblings so this will give me a chance at that. I also want to get to know my cousins."

After that both kids proceeded to tell the adults about their day and anything else they could think of. Iris quickly fed the kids and then they moved to the living room. The twins decided they wanted to watch a movie so Iris helped them pick one while Barry made popcorn and coffee for the adults. Barry and Iris sat together on the love seat facing the couch with the twins on the floor. Wally excused himself to go put his stuff in his old room and make another phone call.

After a while Barry realized that Wally hadn't come back. He looked behind him and saw Wally standing in the doorway watching them with a sad smile on his face. Barry quickly got up and walked up to his nephew and pseudo son. He led him out to the back yard to talk.

"Tell me what's on your mind Wally."

"This was always my safe place from my parents and their fighting, I mean I haven't even thought of going to see them and I thought of you and Aunt Iris more then my own parents. I look at you and your kids and I realized what I've missed. Not just in these past 8 years but in my whole life. I mean my parents loved me but with their constant fighting it was hard to have 'family moments' like these. You know I used to wish it was you out in space and I was on Earth living my life not…..god the things we saw and did Uncle Barry, but anyways looking at you now I'm glad I went because if you had those two wouldn't be here and you wouldn't be as happy as you are."

"Wally you will always be like a son to me, but I must apologize. After seeing your and the rest of the teams reactions about what happened I realized it must have been really bad. I'm sorry Wally we had no right to place the fate of the world on kids shoulders but we did."

"Yeah you did, because it was your only option Earth needed you more than it needed us. Uncle Barry I'm always going to remember what happened. I heard Derek listing off things I would've loved to have done before I left but now they have little appeal to me."

"I've lost you haven't I Wally."

"No you haven't, I'm wary around you because I'm not sure how your going to take being with ME. Because the truth is Kid Flash is gone, he died the day you sent him into space, but I am still here. I want to be a part of your life Uncle Barry but you have to understand I've changed and its going to take me awhile to being used to being around others without my team. But I love you and I thought of you guys everyday and I don't want to lose you."

"Oh Wally you will never lose us, your OUR nephew and we know this transition back is going to be hard. But we are going to be with you every step of the way. Now I came in here to tell you that tomorrow I'm going to give you something of Barry's to wear and then go and buy you new clothes before your meeting."

"Thanks Aunt Iris, I think I'm going to bed now." With that he walked off to his room.

"What are we going to do Iris?"

"Exactly what we said, we are going to be here for him and take everything a step at a time. I also think he should talk to his parents."

"WHAT, but they kicked him out basically. They never called to see if we had any news on Wally."

"I know but they both have changed since he's been gone. This is a chance for them to reconnect. I think they all need it, they've been In a constant fight for too long and I think it'll help Wally to have their support as well as ours."

"If you think it will help them."

"Good and you and the kids are coming shopping with Wally and I."

"Actually no, this will give you a chance to reconnect with your nephew so you two just go this time and I'll catch up with him more after the meeting. I think this will be good for the both of you."

"You know I hate when you use my words against me."

"I know now why don't we get the kids to bed and go to bed ourselves."

A/n: I'm not really sure about this chapter; I know Wally was ooc which was kind of the point. I tried to have Wally open up without giving too much away. I appreciate feedback thank you, also thanks to Sairey13 who's review I used as a rough outline for my next chapters but not exactly the same, thank you."