So, one more chapter after this.

Guest: I took it down because I wasn't going to continue it.

Star Labs

Afternoon

Barry was in the pipeline, sitting down as he stared into space, deep in thought. Caitlin walked up behind him, hesitating slightly before sitting down next to him.

"Are you okay?" She asked him and Barry scoffed.

"I dreamed my whole life about bringing the man who killed my mother to justice. And now, in order to set things right, to fix what he broke, I have to help him. If there's a devil, I think he's laughing at me right now," Barry said grimly.

"We all have to do things we're not proud of. But…are you sure about this?" Caitlin asked hesitantly.

"I don't know. But…I feel like this is something I have to do. Not just for myself, for my mom, for Cisco, for everyone. I hope you understand," Barry said as he looked over at her.

"I do understand," Caitlin assured him as she put a hand on his cheek. "If I could have any more time with my dad, no matter how short, I'd take it. I get it Barry, I do."

They leaned close, bringing their foreheads together. They were about to kiss when the speakers blared to life.

"Barry, we need to speak. Get to the cortex, immediately," Stein's urgency filled voice said.

Barry and Caitlin pulled back, confusion on their faces. Nevertheless, they got up and made their way to the cortex, where everyone was waiting for them.

"What's going on?" Barry inquired.

"We have a problem. The calculations, there is a danger," Stein began.

"I know, I'm willing to take the risk," Barry promised.

"No, not just to you, but to everyone. Wells didn't tell us everything. Barry, even if you do reach the right speed, colliding with the hydrogen particle, there is a chance that explosion could create a singularity," Stein said and Barry ran a hand over his face.

"Excuse me, what's a singularity?" Oliver asked.

"A black hole," Barry said lowly and Oliver stared in shock.

"Meaning doing this could destroy Central City?" Oliver demanded.

"For starters. If we create a singularity here and cannot control it, we could be looking at a global catastrophe," Stein said as they all stared in shock.

"Well sure, there's a bit of a risk," Thawne said as he walked in.

"I would hardly call potentially causing an extinction level event 'a bit of a risk'," Stein said sarcastically as Thawne got several dark looks.

"Yeah, and your accelerator's been as reliable as the beater I drove in high school," Joe said and Thawne chuckled.

"Let me ask you a question, how many Metahumans, how many dangers, have we faced this year together? Or did you forget that was me fighting alongside each and every one of you? I have been planning this for almost two decades, it will work," Thawne said confidently.

"And how do we know by doing this, we don't create a black hole?" Barry demanded and Thawne chuckled.

"So, once the worm hole stabilizes, you will have one minute and fifty-two seconds to alter the past and return to the present. If and when you do that, you can close the worm hole. Almost two minutes, more than enough time to save Nora," Thawne said and Barry glared.

"But not enough time to stop you from going home," Barry said bitterly.

"Everything's a choice," Thawne said.

"And if he's late?" Henry demanded.

"He won't be. I believe in you Barry, always have," Thawne said and Barry scoffed. "So I guess the question is do your friends and family believe in you as much as I do?"

Barry turned and stormed off. Caitlin, Joe, and Henry each moved to go after him but Oliver was already moving.

"I've got this," Oliver said as he walked after Barry.

Barry was in the room with the treadmill, pacing back and forth.

"Still think I should do it, consequences be damned?" Barry asked as he turned around to face Oliver.

"I don't know," Oliver admitted. "You're not a god Barry, you're just a man. Whatever choice you make, you'll have to live with it. Just make sure it's a choice you can live with. Because you will have to live with it."

"I just…I miss him so much," Barry said, his voice shaking and Oliver's eyes softened.

"I know. I understand," Oliver said as he put a hand on Barry's shoulder. "In The Undertaking, my best friend was killed. And not a day goes by that I don't miss him. I know how it feels Barry."

"Then you know why…you know why I have to do this. I have to Ollie…I have to change the past," Barry said, running a hand over his face.

"I know. I get it," Oliver assured him.

Later, in the pipeline, Barry, Joe, Oliver, Henry and Caitlin all said their goodbyes.

"You sure about this Slugger?" Henry asked as he approached Barry.

"As sure as I'll ever be. I know you think this is a mistake, but I have to do this," Barry told him and Henry sighed.

"Just…do what you think is right Barry," Henry said as they exchanged a hug.

"I do every day," Barry assured him as they let go.

Henry smiled weakly before walking back. Barry smiled before putting a hand on Joe's shoulder.

"Goodbye dad," Barry said.

Joe smiled, trying not to cry as he and Barry hugged, both of them thinking this could be their last.

"Goodbye son," Joe said as he pulled back.

Barry smiled before looking over at Oliver.

"Thank you, for everything," Barry said and Oliver smiled slightly.

"I should be the one thanking you. You saved my life, more than once. You're a better man than I ever will be and I hope you find what you're looking for," Oliver said as he held a hand out to Barry, who shook it.

"So do I," Barry said as they dropped hands.

Oliver stepped back as Barry turned to Caitlin. Barry opened his mouth, but no words came out. He wasn't quite sure what to say. Caitlin walked up and, to the surprise of Henry, Oliver, and Joe, took Barry's face in her hand and pulled him into a kiss.

"I'll see you soon," Caitlin said with a watery smile as she pulled back.

Barry nodded, knowing as well as her that that was not so cut in stone. Caitlin stepped away from him and Barry took one last look at all of them before stepping into the Accelerator. The door panel slide closed behind him as Stein's voice rung through the chamber.

"Remember Mr. Allen, assuming you achieve the proper velocity and open the wormhole, you only have one minute and fifty two seconds to save your mother and return."

"I know", Barry said, suddenly filled with nerves.

"You hold both our futures in your hands now Mr. Allen," Thawne's voice came over the speakers. "And I know you can do it. Now…run Barry. Run."

Barry took off running, pushing himself, running faster than he had ever gone before. He saw images, the moment Joe had brought him home the night his mother had died, a museum with a statue of him in the front, Caitlin with white hair as a beam left her hand.

"What you're seeing is The Speed Force," Thawne told him over the comms. "Your past, your present, your future, all at once. So you need to focus on where you want to go. So think about that night. Think about your mother."

More images flashed before Barry, fading and appearing so quickly Barry could make them out.

Inside the cortex, everyone watched with baited breath as Barry raced before the coffee in Stein's cup seemed to lift up into the air, suspended despite the gravity.

"It's working," Thawne breathed. "Injected the hydrogen particle now."

Stein pressed a button and in the digital map of the Accelerator, Barry and the particle collided before they flashed and seemed to vanish.

"What was that? What happened to my son?!" Henry demanded.

"He succeeded is what happened. Look," Thawne gestured to the screen that showed what looked like a vortex. "Barry created the worm hole. Start the clock; we don't have a lot of time."

Allen House, fifteen years in the past

Night

Barry suddenly appeared in his old room, looking around in stunned disbelief. He actually did it, he thought giddily as he looked around his childhood room. Suddenly, he heard a scream and remembered why he was here.

He opened the door slightly so he could see what was going. He saw a scene that had been burned into his memory for fifteen years: His mom was sitting on the floor, screaming while being surrounded by a ball of lightning. His dad and his younger self watched on in horror and, suddenly, Barry saw his future self, who stared at him in shock. Then, he held up a head, giving Barry a very distinct shake of his head.

Barry's heart sank as his future self grabbed his younger self and sped out of there. His future self was warning him not to do this. However, he saw Thawne grabbed the kitchen knife, the knife that would end his mother's life. Thawne stalked over to Nora, who looked up at him in terror. Suddenly, all Barry could see was Cisco's terror filled face as Thawne vibrated his hand though Cisco's chest. And he snapped.

The door burst open and Thawne looked over in surprise as Barry sped in, tackling him away from Nora. The knife fell from Thawne's hand as Barry slammed him to the floor, punching him in the face. Barry then grabbed him by his suit and slammed him against the wall.

"You're not gonna kill her this time," Barry sneered. "You're not gonna kill her or anyone ever again."

With a hard punch to Thawne's face, Thawne was out cold. Barry let Thawne drop to the floor as he turned around to face the terrified Nora. He approached her as she stared up at him, with tear filled eyes.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, alright?" Barry said as he knelt down in front of her. "You're safe. You're safe."

Suddenly, the room seemed to shake. Barry looked up, worried and confused before suddenly, there was a bright light and Barry knew no more.

Barry saving his mother was always in question here. I went back and forth for a while about whether or not Barry would actually do it; I had two endings planned out, one where he didn't and one where he did. Ultimately, Barry is emotionally compromised in a way he wasn't in the show due to Cisco's death and since Barry wears his heart on his sleeve, I think in that moment, he would ultimately think with his heart and save Nora.