West House

Morning

Joe was in his room, tying his tie on his tux when someone knocked on the doorframe. Joe looked up to see Iris and Eddie lingering in the doorway.

"Hey dad, you ready?" Iris asked and Joe nodded.

"Just about." Joe said as he finished tying his tie.

"Where's Barry? I mean, he's not here." Eddie noted and Joe sighed.

"He went to get Caitlin, they're gonna go together," Joe said before looking over at his partner and daughter, "look, today-today's gonna be a hard day for both of them. Just give them both some space today, alright?"

By 'them', Iris knew he meant Barry and that he was mostly talking to her. Displeased, but knowing her dad was right, Iris nodded and Joe gave a slight nod in return.

Caitlin's apartment

Same time

Caitlin smoothed out her dress as she looked at herself in the mirror. She looked presentable, she thought to herself as she heard a knock on her front door. She sighed as she walked out of her room and towards the front door. She opened the door and Barry shifted on the other side.

"Hey, you ready?" Barry said and Caitlin sighed.

"How can anyone be ready for this?" Caitlin asked bluntly and Barry sighed.

"I don't know Cait, I really don't. Look, today I gonna be really hard for both of us, but…if you need me, I'm here for you." Barry told her earnestly.

"Thank you Barry," Caitlin said softly as she reached forward and hugged him, "and I'm here for you to."

Central City Cemetery

Afternoon

Iris glanced across the other end of the isle at Barry. He wore an expressionless face as he held Caitlin's hand tightly in his own, seemingly unaware of Iris' piercing gaze as the priest gave Cisco last rights.

"Francisco Ramirez Ramon, may he rest in peace." The priest said as he closed the book and looked over to the closed casket.

Cisco's mother, sobbing, was escorted over to the casket by his solemn brother. Dante laid two roses on Cisco's casket before they moved on. Several other members of Cisco's family stood and laid roses on the casket before it was Barry's turn. He stood up, rose in hand, walking over to the casket. He eyed the casket silently for a moment before he laid the rose on it.

"Say hi to my mom for me, huh buddy." Barry smiled weakly before moving on.

Caitlin was next, tear trails clearly visible on her face as she made her way to the casket.

"Thank you for being my friend." Caitlin said in a choked voice as she laid the rose on the casket.

She made her way over to where Barry was waiting for her. He took her hand silently, something Iris noticed as she helped Joe over to the casket.

"Thank you for everything." Joe said as Iris laid two roses on the casket.

Father and daughter made their way over to Barry and Caitlin, who simply watched as Eddie laid his rose on the casket.

"I will find the man who did this. I promise." Eddie said before moving on.

After everyone had placed a rose on the casket, everyone silently watched as it was lowered into the ground. Caitlin started to break down as Barry pulled her into a tight hug, a pained, wounded expression finally breaking through the expressionless mask he had worn all day.

Ramon house

Later in the afternoon

As Caitlin talked to Cisco's mother, Barry stood alone, looking around at the house. Try as he might, Barry just couldn't imagine Cisco growing up here.

"You're Cisco's friend?"

Barry turned around to see Cisco's brother, Dante he thought, standing behind him.

"Yeah, I'm Barry, Barry Allen. And you're Cisco's brother, Dante right?" Barry held out his hand and Dante shook it.

"I saw you in the picture at Cisco's apartment when mom and I went to clear it out. You and the woman over there." Dante gestured to Caitlin as she talked to his mother.

"Caitlin. Cisco never mentioned us?" Barry asked surprised and Dante flashed a bitter smile.

"Cisco and I didn't have the closest relationship. I was the golden boy growing up. In our parents' eyes, Cisco could do no right and I could do no wrong. He grew angry over time, not that I could blame him. I milked it, I admit. What Cisco never knew…is that I was jealous of him." Dante confessed.

"Really?" Barry asked gently, not wanting to stop him, sensing Dante was talking to him because he felt like he needed to talk to someone.

"I was jealous because Cisco had ambition. He pursued his passion; he never let anyone stop him. I wish I had told him that while he was still alive." Dante sighed.

"I'm not gonna pretend to understand your relationship with your brother," Barry said quietly, "All I know is the guy I knew. Who was full of life that was taken far too soon. But…if you ever wanna talk about him, I'm more than happy to listen."

"Thanks. I'm glad Cisco had a friend like you." Dante said, smiling weakly before walking off.

"It's a nice wake huh?" Iris said, walking up behind Barry, who sighed wearily.

"Iris, I can't deal with this right now. Today of all days, just don't." Barry told her as he turned around to face her.

"Barry, no matter what happens…I thought we'd always be friends." Iris said hurt and Barry sighed once more.

"I thought so to. But recent events have shown me that I don't know how to be your friend without wanting more. And I can't let myself want more with you. Not now, not ever again. I look around here and I see what wanting more costs me and others," Barry said as he looked at Dante having a drink before his gaze moved to Caitlin and Cisco's mother crying in each other's arms, "I can't be your friend right now Iris. I'm sorry, but when it comes to you, I don't think straight. And I need to think straight if I'm to do what I have to. I'm sorry."

Barry turned and walked away, not seeing Iris begin to cry as he did.

Caitlin's apartment

Night

"You didn't have to walk me home Barry." Caitlin said they walked inside.

"I'm not giving Thawne another chance to take someone I care about. Not again." Barry said grimly and Caitlin sighed.

"Well, today was pretty much the worst day ever." Caitlin said bitterly.

"My dad's sentencing and my mom's funeral top it, but today isn't far behind." Barry said and Caitlin winced.

"Right, sorry. How are things looking for your dad?" Caitlin asked and Barry shrugged.

"Cecile says things are looking good. But it's hard to take any joy in that with what happened to Cisco," Barry sighed, "I just keep thinking back to the last time I say him. I wish…there are just so many things I wish I'd said to him."

"So do I. It's funny; you take so many things for granted until…until they're gone." Caitlin said with a watery smile.

"There's just never enough time." Barry said softly as he looked over at her.

Caitlin nodded silently and the room was filled with a tension, although neither could say of what kind. Later, they couldn't tell you who moved first, but Barry suddenly had her face in his hands as they kissed. After a few seconds, Barry realize what he was doing and broke the kiss, speeding towards the other side of the room with his back facing her.

"Cait…we're both in a very emotional place right now," Barry said awkwardly, "neither of us are thinking straight. Just…god, I'm sorry Cait."

"I'm not." Caitlin said quietly.

Barry looked over at her surprised as she walked over to him. She gently placed a hand on her cheek. Slowly, giving him every opportunity to pull away, she leaned in and they kissed once more.

Eddie and iris's apartment

Same time

"Are you okay?" Eddie said as he and Iris walked down the hall to their apartment.

"Not really," Iris shrugged, "Barry, he's pushing me away."

"He just lost his friend. And let's face it; neither of us were exactly close to him. It's natural that Barry would want to stick close to the people who understand how he's feeling." Eddie pointed out.

"Like Caitlin." Iris said, an undertone of jealousy entering her voice.

Eddie narrowed his eyes as they reached the doo. But before he could say anything there was a yellow blur and Eddie was suddenly pressed against the wall, The Reverse Flash holding him by the throat.

"Hello Detective. I hear you've been looking for me." He said as, with his free hand, he pulled back his cowl to reveal the face of Harrison Wells.

I've debated pretty much the entire story so whether I wanted to have Barry and Caitlin just be friends or if it would evolve into more and if I did decide more I didn't want to just throw them together like the show threw Barry and Iris together. I wanted it to make sense and be organic. Hope I pulled it off.

For those of you who thought Eddie wasp playing with fire last chapter with the press conference, well you were right.