.:43:.

You Can Be Your Own Hero

Caitlin took a deep breath, steeling herself before she walked down into the Pipeline. She paused at the small hallway that led to the individual pod. Glancing over at the screen that hovered over the ground, glowing bright blue across the otherwise darkened room. Finally, she reached out and moved her fingers along the screen; opening the pod.

She turned back as the doors opened to reveal Harrison sitting on the floor, legs crossed at the ankle and hands rested on his stomach. He looked up at Caitlin almost as if he expected her to be there. His eyebrows rose as he lifted his chin. "You know, I really questioned whether or not you would stop by. I figured maybe you would've been hurt enough to stay away. But then I thought long and hard about it and through the time we've worked together I should've known you'd be too smart to stay away."

Caitlin's eyes narrowed. She gently turned her head to the side, waiting for him to explain.

"You always have to get answers to everything. Things have to go a certain way for you to be happy. Some people may think you're 'uptight' which, quite honestly, is the nicest way I can say it. But that's what makes Caitlin Snow, Caitlin Snow and I should've realized that was never going to change."

Caitlin opened her mouth to ask the question that had been moving through her head once his true identity had been realized. But there had been so many things that crossed her mind all the same; most having to do with how Barry was dealing with everything. She thought of herself as well, mostly with Ronnie now having just proposed to her. But the other life that she had when starting out in STAR Labs, when she was hired, watching her research published, having more opportunities than ever before. Then watching it all blow up in her face at the exact moment the Particle Accelerator exploded.

Her career was over, but she couldn't leave STAR Labs, it was a big part of her life and she couldn't abandon that despite all of the bad press and publicity.

"Oh come on…" Harrison slowly smiled towards her, showing off his teeth. "You can't clam up on me now. Once Caitlin Snow has something to say she says. I wonder what the topic of conversation would be this time. I'm sure it's not the cold feeling of your fingertips…"

Caitlin glanced down at her fingers, wondering if they were starting to turn cold. She gently rubbed them together. No, they were still warm. She wasn't exhibiting anything that she had before. Anger and humiliation rolled through Caitlin's body.

"How dare you?" She whispered. "How dare you sit there and act like nothing happened?"

Harrison held up his finger then motioned to himself. "You seem to be forgetting that that wasn't me. It was Harrison. And from what I can tell considering we've shared the same body and existence and everything—"

"You stole it from him," Caitlin snapped back.

"Borrowed," Harrison reminded her. "I borrowed it form him with the full intentions of giving it back. Thing just got away from me."

"Why?" Caitlin asked.

"I thought I already expressed this. I guess you all don't communicate with each other like I thought. I needed STAR Labs to be created sooner than it was going to so I could get back to my own time. If I ever thought Harrison would've come closer and closer to you then I would've re-thought my tactics a little bit. It's just as well, there's something about you I've found interesting myself as well.

Caitlin glared. Then she saw red. "You made me believe that this man loved me that he was the one that I was with! You made me believe there was something in life to look forward to again and continued to jerk my feelings around. I kept your secret because I trusted you."

"No, you kept my secret because you trusted him."

Harrison's statement made Caitlin take pause. The words crashed into her brain like hitting a brick wall. He was telling the truth. She knew nothing about Eobard but knew everything about Harrison Wells. Through late nights of working together, working on papers and research projects, working with the Flash…everything the two and Cisco and Barry had been through…it was as much of a lie as it as the truth.

"You're not angry at me, Caitlin, though I sincerely would not feel bad if you did. You're angry that you've allowed yourself to feel over and over again and you continue to have those feelings squashed. You were in love with Ronnie and he left you to protect you then you fell in love with Harrison—"

"—I—"

"—and you couldn't accept the fact that he was already too damaged for you to realistically be with. Not only that but you were holding onto the last memory you had of your time at STAR Labs where things were going great. Your star was shining to make you the leading scientist in your field and it crashed and burned. You hold as much resentment for him as much as you do for me despite the feelings that you do have for him because you want closure. The only closure I can give you is that I had absolutely nothing to do with the times that Harrison managed to overpower me and came back out. Your anger is well placed for what I've done to Barry's life but I personally have not impact you in any way."

Caitlin lowered her gaze. She shook her head. Clenched her hands into fists. Steadied her breathing. She was cool, calm, and collected. She was stronger than he gave her credit for. She sucked in a deep breath and focused on Harrison's face for a long moment and smiled.

"The way I see it," she said slowly. "You're the one who invested too much time, energy, and emotion into this place, into us…you're the one who's weak!"

Harrison's smile finally faded and a harsh glare crossed his face. He started to get to his feet and Caitlin reached over, closing his pod once more. She waited until it was firmly closed before turning on her heel and. She walked out of the pipeline with calm, confident strides, fingertips glowing bright blue.

..

.

"You can't expect me to know what's going on now and stay back here!" Iris cried as she watched Joe and Eddie gather things together to leave the West House. Once leaving STAR Labs earlier in the day things had been tense between the three. They hadn't spoken once leaving about the secret they had kept from Iris and she didn't know how to bring it up without reducing herself to tears and screaming.

Once arriving back at the West house the three went their separate ways to decompress from all of the information that was given to them. Dinner was eaten in silence and there was a bubble of tension around them waiting to break. With the phone call they just received from Professor Stein, the bubble popped into an explosion.

"It's safer if you stay here, Iris," Eddie reminded her.

"Safer?" Iris repeated. She crossed her arms. "You think staying here is safer? As opposed to what? Walking out the front door every morning?"

"You know the Reverse-Flash is capable of anything and with Barry now deciding to want to work with him he may decide to betray him more than he already has," Eddie pointed out. "And that could mean attacking the rest of us, those that are the closest to him."

"You think we don't run that risk already? You and dad are both police detectives and you put humans and metas in jail all the time. How do I know that I'm not going to be kidnapped whenever I go to work because of someone who wants to get revenge on you?" She turned to Joe, who pulled his jacket on over his gun holster. "You taught me to be on my guard at every moment because of that possibility."

"That was before we knew about metahumans, baby. This is different. The Reverse-Flash has the ability to take down everyone in a room within a few seconds. I know, I've seen it. If he was able to do that then killing Nora was as easy as blinking." Joe shook his head. "No. It's not a good idea."

"Why? Because you think I'll get in the way?" Iris crossed her arms. "That's always what you're afraid of right? That I can't take care of myself and I always need to be protected, right? I don't need any of you to protect me! I can be my own hero."

"Iris—"Eddie started.

"And to make Barry think that he needed to do the same thing…he kept his secret from me, his best friend all because you told him to, Dad!" Ashamed, Joe looked away from his ranting daughter. "Neither of you even thought that I could handle what was going on. And you know what Dad? I can't trust your or Barry anymore! I can't trust to think that you have my best interested at heart—"

"We made the decision for you, Iris," Joe interrupted.

"Exactly, for me," Iris insisted. "Not talk to me, not allow me to make up my own mind. Now I know he's had this other life that I'm not a part of."

"If it makes you feel any better I didn't know much longer than you have," Eddie mumbled, almost in a whisper as the Wests argued with each other. He grimaced and turned away as Iris and Joe both glared at him. "Yeah, I know it…it wasn't the best time to say hat. But Iris, you have to understand that it wasn't something we had the ability to tell you. It was Barry's secret to tell."

Iris closed her mouth. She could understand that. There were some things in her life that only a few people knew as well. And those were things that were important to her. But if she had powers like that…if she were The Flash…she would've told everyone close to her only because she trusted them to so much. She'd trust them to keep the secret; to keep quiet about her abilities…did that mean that none of the men in her life trusted her at all?

"Look, we don't have much time to sit here and argue about this when a singularity…thing is threatening to potentially destroy our city unless Barry knows what he's doing…" Joe rubbed his forehead. "We need to be there to support Barry on whatever decision he decides to make."

"The Singularity will only happen if Barry decides to go back, right?" Iris asked, trying to remember exactly what it was that Professor Stein had said. Science wasn't her best subject and she even had issues dealing with Barry trying to explain his homework to her on a good day. But she understood the city was in danger.

"Do you really think Barry wouldn't take the opportunity to save his mother?" Joe asked her.

Iris hesitated.

She really didn't know what Barry would do. On one hand she knew more than anything he wanted his mother back. But on the other he was someone who had an amazing sense of caring for other people. He wouldn't be The Flash if he didn't care. Single-handedly he saved the city and numerous people in it, taking down metahumans left and right and continued to pretend his life was normal when around everyone else. Barry hated it whenever people were worried about him and even grew to detest it in the few weeks, months, and years after his mother's death. Generally Barry was a pacifist and didn't like confrontation…

Now it's like he's and entirely new person, Iris thought.

"I don't know," She said honestly. "He wants revenge for his mother so badly…but I don't think he'd risk so many lives for it instead." She shook her head, pushing her hair back from her face. "I need to talk to him. You can't leave me behind this time."

"Iris," Eddie started again, but Joe interrupted her.

"Whatever we decide we have to go now. Or else there may to even be a Central City to come back to," Joe interrupted the two. He reached out and placed his hand on Iris's shoulder. "I'm really sorry the way things turned out but you have to understand that, as a parent, I made the decision that was the best for you and Barry. I know you're upset but we can't think about that right now. I need you to be on my side and to know that I will do anything to make sure you're safe."

Iris nodded. That wasn't on her mind at the moment. She just really needed to talk to Barry. Once the three made it to STAR Labs they waited, watched, and listened as Professor Stein, Joe, and Barry demanded some more answers out of Harrison as to the issue with the Singularity that may be presented if Barry were to go back in time. Throughout the conversation Iris shook her head, trying to come to terms with everything that had been kept secret from her, this entire world that had been hidden from her for so long.

She then watched Barry's face as he listened to Harrison explain how to keep the Singularity from forming; he could only be gone for about two minutes or else the wormhole would open up and destroy the city. She could see the fury and indecision on his face despite trying to stay strong for everyone. Her heart broke. This was her best friend who had to deal with this whole thing himself, it was his own decision and it was killing him inside.

She could see it.

Iris watched as he shook his head. Slowly at first then harder and faster. Frustrated tears filled his eyes and he left the room. Iris turned and immediately raced after him. They didn't stop until they were on the roof of STAR Labs, looking out over the city. Barry placed his hands on the railing and stretched out, keeping his head down.

Iris slowly came up beside him. She looked out over the city and smiled. "I should've known you'd come up here to get away," she remarked. "You've always liked to look at the stars. I remember so many times after Dad would go to bed you'd drag me outside with you just so you could mess with your little telescope."

Barry didn't move.

Iris continued. "I had no idea what you were looking for but I knew whatever it was you'd find it."

"I just needed some air," Barry said. "A good way to think. Just me and the stars. The best way to realize that there were more important things out there than my problems and to remind me that I wasn't really alone." He shifted his feet. "You know all those times back then I was looking to see if I could find heaven."

Startled, Iris looked over at him. She didn't know that. If she had…what would be different? Maybe she would've willingly gone out with him instead of complaining all the time. Maybe she would've been more sympathetic. If there was one thing Barry was along with being a pacifist, he was a bit secretive as well. Not on very important things, but on little things that would be embarrassing to reveal to others. How embarrassing would it be to reveal to everyone around you that you were looking for heaven despite not having any scientific proof of its existence.

Especially by that age…

Iris shook her head. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose a mother. Her mother had been out of the picture as long as she could remember so there was no one to miss, no one to grieve. It had just been her and her dad and Barry.

That was all she needed.

"Well, if there was going to be anyone who could find it, especially now, it'd be the Red Streak," Iris said. She smiled when Barry started to laugh.

"I'm glad that name never stuck," he said.

"Hey, I thought that name had pizzazz."

"You also thought the name 'Doggy' was good for a dog," Barry pointed out.

"Hey, that name was short sweet and to the point. And I she ever got lost then everyone would know I was looking for a dog. Cant' forget a name like Doggy." Iris smiled a little. "And I was still really little when I named her that, so sue me."

The two were silent for a long time, enjoying each other's company. But Iris had to know just like everyone else, what Barry's choice was.

"So are you going to do it?" She asked.

Barry shrugged. "I don't know. It's just…a huge decision o make. The biggest of my life and if I'm wrong then I can't undo it."

"Why would you want to? Being able to see your mom again, your dad…have a great career. Maybe get married. Who knows what Barry Allen would have been able to do? All I know is that you'd do so many great things because you have that amazing potential that no one else has."

"But living with you and Joe…you guys becoming my family…I've had a great life even with my parents being where they are. Even with you hating me because I didn't tell you about my secret."

Iris's eyes widened, and then her eyebrows lowered. Hurt spread through her chest. "Barry, I could never hate you. Just because I was angry that you guys all kept this secret from me doesn't mean I'm going to stop being your best friend. I've always been there for you before and I'll be there now."

"Really?

"Yes."

"Then maybe you could figure out what I can do because I have no idea. One second I have my decision made and the second…" Barry pressed his lips together, running his hand over his face. "What do you think I should do?"

Iris crossed her arms and shook her head. "For once, Barry, I think you need to stop caring about other people. I think you should do what's in your heart, for yourself. Because if you keep thinking of everyone else, if you keep wondering what they want then you'll worry about what if you made your decision."

Barry smiled a humorless smile. "My dad said not to do it."

"When did you see your dad?" Iris wasn't surprised that he would go see Henry to decide. Nora was t wife Henry devoted his entire life to. They were certainly in love and Iris was jealous of Barry having both parents when they were younger. Maybe she should've been more appreciative of the life she did have, knowing what she knew now.

"He said everything happens for a reason and that I needed to move on. He's been in jail every since the night mom died and he's been able to move on while he's been trapped. I've been open and free and yet I'm the one who's stuck."

Iris reached out and grasped Barry's shoulders. "You're not stuck, Barry…you're just someone who has a really big heart. And know that whatever decision you make, dad and I are always…always going to be your family. No matter what. "

Barry smiled another sad smile. Then he nodded and turned away. "I want to be alone right now," he said.

"Okay…"

Iris rubbed his shoulder and left him alone.

..

.

Barry stretched his arms over his head as he stood on the grass in front of STAR Labs along with Professor Stein, Ronnie, Cisco, Ryder, Brady, Joe, Eddie, and Tess. They all waited for Caitlin to make her way down to the grass to meet up with them. For probably what was going to be their last happy moment together.

There had been many good moments throughout his time as the Flash. He made and entirely new family with the friends he worked with; Caitlin and Cisco were now like his brother and sister. They had been part of his team from the very beginning and were as supportive of him as much as any family could be. They worried about him and loved him just as much as he did to them. And even when finding out that Dr. Wells wasn't who they thought he was, they stuck by his side. Even when he was in a coma they stuck by him. Cadence and Brady were as much of his family as the others. Cadence made him see there were other metahumans that wanted to help save Central City as much as he did, that there were good metas out there. And she helped remind him that life moves on but it didn't mean that everything actually had to be left behind. Brady, in many ways, reminded Barry of himself when he was little; full of energy and curious about everything. (Though Barry was more of an introvert and Brady certainly was extroverted with how quickly he became friends with people).

Professor Stein was the eccentric friend who had as much passion for science as he did. He hadn't known Ronnie for long but he was someone who certainly made Caitlin happy and was a great help to Cisco in building the time machine for Harrison to get away. Then there was Joe and Iris and Eddie. His actual family. Joe and Iris didn't need to take him in when things went south with his family but they had and he felt nothing but loved because of that decision. Even Eddie, whom he had butt heads with since the very beginning he had grown to see as a good friend, not just because of his connection with Iris, but because of how dedicated he was to helping people. They shared the same values and outlooks in life…

I just wish I saw it sooner, Barry thought.

His mind continued to swirl with thoughts of his decision. He hadn't told anyone yet, despite how many times he managed to flip back and forth the more people he talked to. Letting out a low breath, Barry closed his eyes and continued to focus on the even happening in front of him.

"Did I have to wear a tie?" Brady complained, tugging at the make-shift bowtie that was fastened around his neck.

"Weddings are supposed to be formal," Barry reminded him with a bit of humor in his voice.

"But you're not wearing a tie."

Barry's smile widened and he turned his attention to Professor Stein and Ronnie as they bickered lightly. Ronnie stood up next to his other half fidgeting with his hands or shuffling his feet every few seconds. Professor Stein, holding a bible in his hands, looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Is this actually binding?" Ronnie asked, now starting to mess with his hair.

"My father made me become a rabbi before he would send me to MIT," Professor Stein explained. "So this will be 'legit' as the kids say."

Ronnie smirked. "No kids say that."

"Kids say it all the time."

"No, they—"Ronnie turned to Brady and waved to get his attention. The young boy was still struggling with the tie that had been placed around his neck. "Do kids say 'legit' anymore?"

Brady dropped his hands from around his neck and shook his head. "No," he said dutifully.

Then Ronnie turned to Cisco, who was standing in as his best man and asked the same question, to which he got the same response. "See?"

Professor Stein rolled his eyes. "Let's not fight on our wedding day." He took a step back and his eyes shifted to the side, prompting the others to follow his gaze. Barry turned and watched as Caitlin walked down the makeshift aisle that had been created by her friends flanking two different sides of the grass. She held a bouquet of flowers tightly in her hands, left arm looped through Cadence's right one as she walked at her side.

How Caitlin was able to get a wedding dress so quickly—enough so that Barry didn't have to run to get it—confused him at first. But then he remembered they had been engaged for a long time and she probably had her dress sitting in her office at STAR Labs if not back at her apartment. Nevertheless, she certainly looked beautiful, as did Cadence who had pulled her hair back into a chignon—and not a 'plain ol' bun' as Ryder stated, causing Iris to give him a crash course on different hairstyles—with flowers strewn in her hair.

Ronnie and Caitlin smiled nervously as they faced each other.

"If it's alright with everyone I'd like to skip the Hebrew," Professor Stein said once they reached each other. He closed his Bible and held it against his front. "If there's one thing I've learned about merging my life with someone else's this past year, with all the incredible advancements of science that we've become accustomed to, the mystery that brings two people together in love is still the province of magic. And I don't know anyone who is as much like magic as these two are together." He cleared his throat and turned to Cisco asking, "the rings, please?"

Cisco nodded. Then he made a big show of presenting the rings out to Caitlin and Ronnie as he knelt down on one knee and held his hands out towards them lowering his head as if they were too beautiful to look at directly. Caitlin giggled as he took a ring from his palm then turned to Cadence, handing her the bouquet of flowers.

Ronnie and Caitlin slid their rings onto each other's fingers and Ronnie grimaced when he spotted the cheap ring he placed on his new wife's finger. "I should get you a better one," he apologized.

"I don't need a better ring," Caitlin denied. She shook her head. "I have everything and everyone that I could ever need right here. And if all the events of the past year have led us to this moment then it was worth it. I love you, Ronnie."

"I know pronounce you husband and wife," Professor Stein declared with a bright smile. He took a step back, as if afraid that being so close to the young couple would cause him to merge with Ronnie once more. "You may kiss the bride."

Barry smiled and clapped along with his friends as Ronnie and Caitlin finally became man and wife. Being able to witness the event after the past couple of days was what he really needed. Not only was he happy for Caitlin but it made him figure out what he was going to do.

A couple hours later Barry and Cadence got dressed into their suits and released Harrison from his pod in the Pipeline. Barry went down the line of his friends and family, giving each of them a hug as he came to them. It was hard to do it, each of his friends looked at him with sadness in their eyes but grudging respect of what he was going to do. Brady held tightly onto his waist until Ryder had to forcibly make him let go. The hardest was when he came to Joe, the man that had taken him into his home without a second thought.

Barry gazed at him for a long moment then reached out his hand, placing it on Joe's shoulder. He squeezed it tightly. "Goodbye, dad," he whispered.

Joe smiled back, tears falling down his cheeks. "Goodbye, son," he replied.

Barry nodded and looked over at Cadence, who nodded back. "Protect these guys in case something goes wrong," he said.

"You can trust me," she replied.

"I know I can." Barry reached over and gave her another hug. I just hope everything goes according to plan.

He pulled his mask over his eyes and stepped down into the cavernous Particle Accelerator. He looked around then turned, leveling his gaze with Harrison. Harrison looked back at him with an air of malice in his eyes. Still, he nodded in encouragement for Barry as well.

Barry nodded back and started to run fast, faster than he ever had before. Round and around he went through the Particle Accelerator. Everything around him flashed by in a blur until it was just a swirl of bright and dark colors. Finally, something opened up in front of him and he charged right through it.

Once he was gone, Cisco and Joe took the time machine that Cisco finished building and brought it to the area that Barry had just been. With his gun drawn, Joe watched as Harrison got into his suit and climbed into the time machine. He exchanged a glance with Cisco, the two calming backing away as the machine started up.

There was a low, metal scraping sound and a small metal helmet with yellow wings skidded across the ground. "What is that?" Cisco asked, looking down at it.

"My cue to leave," Harrison replied from the seat of his time machine.

"You only have thirty seconds left if you want to get home before the wormhole closes," Professor Stein's voice broadcasted through the pipeline.

Harrison nodded and started to raise the time machine from the floor. Cisco walked over to the helmet. Just as he reached out to pick it up there was a bright flash of light and a surge of energy from behind him that sent him and Joe flying through the air amongst a shower of glass. Startled, Cisco turned over to find Barry had returned from the wormhole and crashed into the face of the time machine with a supersonic punch that blasted the time machine apart.

The seconds continued to tick by.

"We have to close the worm hole!" Professor Stein cried.

Cisco looked over at Barry as he rolled onto his side. Harrison got back to his knees and glared at Barry. "You didn't save her," he said. "Why? You could've had everything you wanted!"

Barry smiled weakly. "I already do." He looked up, higher than Harrison's forehead, and winked.

Harrison reached up and pulled on his hood, starting to shake with fury. Cisco watched the two, eyes wide, mouth dropped open as he tightly held onto the helmet in front of him. Joe continued to lay on the ground near him, groaning lightly, still alive. Barry hadn't saved his mother, even when he had the chance…

"Not for long," Harrison growled.

There was a sudden blinding light that erupted in front of Harrison's face, causing Cisco to turn away, shielding his face. As the light continued to strobe, he managed to glance through his fingers and see Harrison had turned away under the assault on his senses as well. Then Cisco lifted his gaze to find the source of the explosion and found Brady kneeling on a catwalk high above their heads; staring intently at them.

Then he backed up a step and phased through the bottom of the catwalk and fell to the ground below, landing in a crouch but still hidden in the shadows.

Harrison was then struck in the back by a blaze of fire that took Cisco a second to realize Cadence had projected herself forward with her fire power to crash into him. As he flew forward she teleported in front of him and grabbed him by the neck, arching him around and threw him hard to the ground on his back before sending beams of heat from her eyes onto him.

Harrison thrashed back and forth before he phased out of her grasp and stood behind her. "You don't understand…if you destroy me…you destroy your father."

"I'd rather have him destroyed than have you continue to use his name and body in vain," Cadence responded.

Her eyes started to flicker with flames, the ones around her hands growing bigger by the second. She threw a powerful blast of fire toward Harrison which he dodged. The fire struck a metal beam behind it, immediately turning it into molten lava. Undeterred, Cadence punched hard on the ground and it opened, allowing a wave of fire to rush out and shoot towards Harrison once more before she exploded in a blast of flames.

Cisco watched in awe.

He hadn't ever seen her have so much control over her powers before.

One hit managed to slow Harrison down for a moment before he dodged the hit and struck her hard in the chest, knocking her backwards. Barry then raced forward and crashed into Harrison. They shot back and forth across the pipeline in streaks of lightning, moving faster than the eye could see. Cisco's head whipped back and forth as he watched the two race around, punching and throwing each other, only looking up when the room started to shake.

"What's going on?" Joe groaned from Cisco's side.

Cisco immediately dumped the helmet aside and helped Joe to his feet. "Looks like they weren't able to close up the wormhole," Cisco remarked. "And if they can't do that…then all of us in here…" Joe's eyes widened as the realization of what Cisco said reached him.

He turned and watched as Barry and Harrison continued their entangled battle with Cadence jumped in to help at numerous times. It certainly was a sight to see; Barry had gotten much stronger than he had been when first starting out as the Flash and since having the block on her powers taken off Cadence was showing off immense strength and new powers as well. He couldn't remember a time where she had been able to teleport with flames surrounding her body to protect her as well.

Finally, Harrison got the upper hand and knocked Cadence away from him before sending a sickeningly strong punch to Barry's chest that forced him up against a wall. "Barry!" Cisco called.

"Is he going to be okay?" Brady asked as he hurried over to Joe's and Cisco's side.

"He has to be," Joe murmured. He watched as Barry struggled to get himself off the wall behind him but was struck in the chest, making him fall once more. Then Harrison stood over him, hand around his neck. Barry reached up with his hands to pull him off but found himself too weak to do so.

Cadence flung fireballs towards Harrison but he shifted his hand back and forth, deflecting her fire blasts into the wall and ceiling.

Harrison brought his face closer to Barry. "Just so we're clear after I kill you I'm going to kill them and I'm going to kill your father." He brought a vibrating hand high over his head. "I always win, Flash!" He started to bring his hand down, only stopping when he heard the sound of a gunshot.

Everyone froze.

Cisco turned towards the sound of the shot and his eyes widened when he saw Eddie fall to his knees, dropping the gun in his hand. "Eddie!" Joe shouted. He got to his feet and raced over to his fallen partner. Startled, Cisco looked back over at Harrison to find his eyes widened as he fell to his knees to. A strangled gasp came from Harrison's mouth as he started to shake.

"What…what's going on?" Barry managed to gasp, spitting bloody out onto the ground.

Cisco pressed a hand to his forehead in thought. "He's from the future…he's Eddie's ancestor and if Eddie doesn't exist then…neither does he. He's being erased from time. From existence." Cisco's eyes then widened when he realized Harrison's face was starting to change. It slowly morphed from that of Harrison Wells to an older blond man he had never seen before.

Then there was a suddenly flurry of commotion with Iris racing into the pipeline over to Eddie, her anguished screams combining with Harrison's, his body starting to break apart. But as he started to wither away, parts of his body coming apart he glowed a bright white-blue light. Just as Eobard completely disappeared, complete with an angry snarl, a body was left in its place.

The body groaned and started to push itself up, lifting his head to reveal Harrison.

"What the what?" Cisco whispered. He brought his hands up to his head. It was starting to hurt. Eobard had taken over Dr. Well's body so that he could pretend he was Dr. Wells and start up the creation of the Particle Accelerator faster. And with that he created the Flash. Now that Eddie has…now that Eobard is gone it's released the real Dr. Wells from his body.

Before he had a chance to announce his findings another wormhole opened up at the end of the corridor, starting to suck things into its vortex. "Guys, we have to get out of here." He said.

But Iris continued to grasp onto Eddie's shoulders, leaning over him as her body wracked with sobs. Eddie, still clinging onto life, reached up and gently caressed Iris's face in return. "I hope you're not…still mad at me," he managed to whisper. Iris gulped loudly, shaking her head.

"I'm n-not," she hiccupped. "I'm not mad at you. I love you, Eddie. I love you, so much." She squeezed her eyes shut and two fat tear drops landed on his cheeks. "Why did you do this?"

"I couldn't stand the thought of him hurting anyone else. I couldn't risk it. There needed to be a way to stop…stop him." He closed his eyes, breathing hard. His hand gently fell from her cheek. "I just hope…I made you p-proud…" He turned his head away and faced Barry, who watched him with wide eyes. Eddie managed and nod.

Barry nodded back.

The peaceful smile froze on Eddie's face as his eyes glazed over and his body became still.

"NO!" Iris screamed. She grabbed onto Eddie's shirt, holding onto him as if her own life depended on it. "Eddie! Come back! Please! Come back to me. I'm sorry!" She leaned forward and placed her face against his chest, ignoring the blood from his gunshot wound. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She whispered it over and over again while stroking his hair.

Cisco covered his face with his arms as the wind started to blow harder, bringing in tiny pieces of the broken time machine into its swirling vortex. He then unshielded his eyes and watched it in horror as it started to grow.

"That's not good!" Cisco called.

"We have to get out of here!" Barry called. "The wormhole is reopening." He struggled to his feet, holding to his side. Cadence hurried over and ducked her head under his arm, hauling him to his feet. Then the two turned towards Harrison as he continued to struggle to get to his feet. "Are you okay to walk?" He asked.

Harrison nodded, pushing his clear glasses up his nose. He ducked his head as the wormhole started to increase in size. The group started to turn away from the wormhole, heading towards the opening of the pipeline. Cisco suddenly felt something hit his side and he looked over to see Brady sprinting towards Eddie's body as it started to slide towards the wormhole.

"Brady!" Joe tried to grab him but missed as the young boy dodged out of his way.

"NO!" Cadence shouted after her son. "BRADY! NO! STOP!" Barry grabbed onto Cadence and started to lift her up into his arms. "No! Brady! No!" She watched as Brady leapt atop of Eddie's body as it was sucked into the air and further into the wormhole. "NO!" She started to twist back and forth. "Let go! Barry, let go!"

"I'm sorry, Cade," Barry said, holding tightly onto her. "We have to go." With that, he took the kicking and screaming metahuman out of STAR Labs as quick a lightning.

The group headed outside STAR Labs to find the sky darkened with a large vortex swirling upwards. The strong pull from the vortex started to suck in the tallest buildings in its wake. Cars lifted off the ground and shot up into the air, sucked into the center of the vortex. Barry looked over as an emergency exit door to STAR Labs opened and Ronnie, Professor Stein, Tess, Ryder, and Caitlin all spilled out into the area as well, their eyes widened when they spotted Harrison.

"Tess?" He asked.

"Harrison!" She hurried and grabbed onto him in a tight hug.

All around them the strength of the winds continued to increase, sucking in even more debris as it went. Barry blinked hard, hoping that some of what he was seeing wasn't innocent people getting hurt. His heart rammed against his chest as his eyes moved back and forth from one thing to the other, trying to find anything that'd give them a solution to stop it.

He swallowed hard and lowered his gaze to the ground just as Brady slowly phased up from the concrete by his feet, still holding onto Eddie's lifeless body. Even before he was fully out of the ground Cadence and Ryder both grabbed onto him and held him tightly. Barry watched them then looked at his friend's faces as they watched the singularity continue to form, becoming stronger by the second.

He slowly turned back around. Then he wiped blood off his cheeks and chin and reached up, pulling his mask up over his face. He started to move forward but Joe grabbed onto his arm.

"You can't stop that!" Joe cried.

Barry gently moved Joe's hand off his arm. "I have to try," he said.

He took a few deep breaths, looking over at his friends once more then back at the singularity. He started to step forward but felt a hand move into his. Startled, Barry looked over to find Cadence standing next to him, tightly holding his hand. Then she dropped his hand and reached up to pull her goggles on over her eyes.

At the same time the two raced into the center of the vortex.

A/N: This chapter was originally longer with more added to the scene with Caitlin's wedding, but I had to take it out because it dragged things on a bit. I'll post it as a separate one-shot/deleted scene soon. So after everything that's happened there's one chapter left. There was going to be two more after this one but things progressed this way.

That being said, some storylines from this story will carry over into the next story. I knew that was going to happen with some of them as soon as the story started and I mapped a few things out. So let me know what you guys think.

-Riles