Sorry it's been a while, especially with how I left it last time. There will probably be two more chapters after this one.
West House
Morning
"That's…wow," Joe said lamely as he, Barry, and Caitlin sat in the living room.
"That's one way of putting it," Caitlin muttered.
"Okay, so what happens if you do this?" Joe asked as he rubbed his temple, feeling a migraine coming on.
"Well, my mom would never die. My dad wouldn't go to prison, so I'd never come to live with you," Barry said as he looked over at Joe.
"You might never meet me," Caitlin said lowly and Barry nodded as he swallowed thickly.
"Or Cisco or Oliver or anyone I've met because of my life since my mom died. And I would be the only one who would remember it. And I don't know what to do," Barry sighed.
"The chance to be with someone you love seems pretty cut and dry to me," Caitlin said lowly, even as her heart raced as she wondered if she and Barry would ever know each other in this new timeline.
"She's right."
The three looked over and saw Thawne standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
"I am offering the chance to undo all the evil I have done since I killed your mother. Don't you want that chance?" Thawne demanded as he walked into the room.
"Give me some time to think it over," Barry finally said after several moments and Thawne nodded.
"If you want to reach me, call Eddie's phone," Thawne said as he moved towards the door.
"Eddie, is he still…" Joe trailed off.
"He is still alive Detective. And he will remain so, my survival depends on his," Thawne assured him before he opened the door and sped off, the door slamming behind him.
"I always knew there was something off about him," Joe grumbled as Barry sighed.
"You're really thinking about doing this?" Caitlin asked and Barry shrugged.
"I don't know what I'm thinking. I just…I don't know what to do," Barry repeated.
"There's no choice here Barry," Joe said and Barry looked over at him. "You have to change the past."
"You think I should do it? I will never come to live with you if I do," Barry pointed out.
"You would grow up with both your parents. You wouldn't have to grow up without a mother," Joe said.
"What about without a father?" Barry asked.
"You would have a father, your real father. Wells has messed with our lives long enough. This is why you became The Flash. You have saved a lot of people's lives this year. No it's time to save yours," Joe said and Barry looked away, deep in thought.
"What do you think?" Barry asked as he looked over at Caitlin.
"I think that, if I could save my dad…I would," Caitlin said and Barry sighed.
"This choice should be easy…but it isn't," Barry noted miserably.
Iron Heights
Afternoon
Barry stood outside the gate at Iron Heights, his father standing behind the steel fence door. Then, with a beep, it opened and Henry stepped outside for the first time in fifteen years. Father and Son, finally face to face, not behind a glass wall, hugged for the first time in many years.
"Hey Slugger," Henry said as they pulled back but still didn't let go of each other.
"Hey dad," Barry said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Something going on?" Henry asked, seeing the look in Barry's eyes and Barry sighed.
"Let's head to the car. I have…a lot to tell you," Barry said as they began their journey to the car.
Star Labs
Later in the afternoon
"Thank you for coming," Caitlin said standing to greet their guests as Joe sat in a chair, his leg still needing to heel.
"Thanks for the call Cait," Ronnie said as he and Stein entered the cortex, the younger man frowning as he saw his former fiancé didn't greet him as he expected.
"Quiet a paradox Mr. Allen has been given," Stein noted.
"The opportunity to be with his family again, seems like an easy choice," Joe noted.
"Only at first glimmer. But this…gift has unparalleled risk. The night Nora died, the night his future self saved Barry from being killed, that night changed the course of history. Imagine fifteen years of compounded decisions! One different decision, no matter how big or small, impacts everything from that moment on! Moment upon moment, choices upon choices, relationships, nothing would be as it is today and you'd never know the difference! Because you'd never remember any different," Stein said as Barry and Henry walked in behind him.
"Well said Professor," Henry said and everyone looked over at them.
"Henry," Joe grabbed his crutches and Caitlin helped him to his feet.
"Hey Joe. It's good to see you," Henry nodded.
"Dad, this is Caitlin Snow, Martin Stein, and Ronnie Raymond. Everyone, this is my dad," Barry said as he waved his hand to introduce everyone.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Allen," Stein held out his hand to Henry and Henry shook it.
"You as well Professor," Henry nodded before looking over at Caitlin. "You've been helping my son a lot. Thank you."
"It was my pleasure Dr. Allen," Caitlin smiled and Henry returned it.
"Not a Doctor anymore Ms. Snow," Henry said as he and Stein dropped hands.
"So I take it Barry told you everything?" Ronnie asked and Henry nodded.
"Yeah. You really think Barry should do this?" Henry asked as he looked over at Joe.
"I think you both deserve the chance to have the life you two always wanted. The life with Nora that Wells robbed you of," Joe said and Henry shook his head.
"There's a natural order to things Joe. We can't go around playing god just because we can, especially not if it changes my son," Henry looked back at Barry, only to be startled when he realized that Barry wasn't there.
"Um, where'd Barry go?" Ronnie asked as they looked around the room to see no sign of Barry.
Starling City
Later in the afternoon
"Well, this is…wow," Oliver said as he and Barry sat across from each other in a café.
"Yeah, everyone has their own opinion on what I should do but I just…I don't know," Barry shook his head.
"And are you here to ask for mine?" Oliver asked and Barry sighed.
"I just…I don't know what to do Oliver. My dad says no, Joe says yes, I just…I don't know," Barry said and Oliver was silent for several moments.
"When the Gambit went down, my father, a crew member and I all made it to a life raft," Oliver began and Barry looked up. "We had enough food and water for maybe one person. My father took out a gun, shot the crew member, told me to survive, and then turned the gun on himself. He shot himself in the head, sacrificed himself so that I could live. There was nothing I could do, I was helpless. Less than a year ago, Slade Wilson drive a sword through my mother's heart as my sister and I watched. I stood there, on the ground, completely helpless. I revisit those moments in my head all the time Barry, wishing I could go back and do something. If there was even half a chance I could do so…I would do it in a heartbeat, consequences be damned."
Barry leaned back in his chair, thinking hard on Oliver's words.
Star Labs
Late afternoon
"Ninety-eight point six, normal," Caitlin said after checking Ronnie's temperature.
"I don't even know what that word means anymore," Ronnie admitted.
"Me neither," Caitlin laughed, more to avoid the awkwardness than anything.
"Cait…I'm not just here for Barry," Ronnie said and Caitlin looked over at him, her heart racing. "I'm here now, for good."
"But I thought-" Caitlin began.
"I thought to. I thought too much about what would happen if they tracked us down, if we lost control and hurt someone. But I realize that, even though I'm sometimes more than one man, I'm not whole without you," Ronnie said and Caitlin squirmed.
"Ronnie-" Caitlin began only to be cut off by a shout.
"What is he doing here!?" Henry shouted and they all looked to see Thawne walked in, a smug smile on his face.
"Dr. Allen. Professor. Ronnie," Thawne greeted with a smug smile.
"What do you want Thawne?" Joe demanded, wishing he had his gun.
"Relax, I was invited, isn't that right Barry?" Thawne looked over his shoulder as Barry and Oliver walked in.
"Um, why is Oliver Queen here?" Ronnie asked as he saw Oliver.
"It seems Caitlin and Barry haven't told you everything. Mr. Queen here is the Starling City vigilante," Thawne smirked as Oliver glared at Thane.
"I knew there was something off about you. But I could never have imagined this," Oliver growled as he stepped up to Thawne.
"Oliver," Barry called out and Oliver growled.
"Fine, your city," Oliver conceded as he stepped back.
"Barry?" Caitlin asked but Barry ignored her.
"I'll do it," He said as he looked at Thawne. "If you help me save my mom…I will let you get home, to your time."