Hey guys, sorry it took so long to update. My muse kinda died after endgame. I'm still recovering right now. I hope this chapter is sufficient.

Only the plot is mine. It's all mine!

Jai West glared out the window of his muggy apartment. It was another steamy August morning. The temperature rested just below 90 degrees and the sun blazed unforgivingly as it climbed in the sky. His mask hung limply in his grip as he observed the citizens of Central City go about their daily lives down below. It had been weeks since he had last donned the cowl. The speedster had not made an appearance since the incident with Irey. The very same incident he had tried his best to forget, the bitter memory caused him many sleepless nights.

Jai glanced at the yellow fabric in his hand and then looked back down at the people. They looked so peaceful as they went up and down the sidewalk. The cars in the street moved smoothly through morning traffic. It was the start of what seemed to be a quiet day for Central. Zoom slipped on his mask and a malicious smirk split across his devious expression. It was time to stir up trouble and put an end to the peaceful silence. Central City was due to another dose of his mayhem and maybe if he was lucky he could finally sort things out with Flash. Permanently.

"Damian, it's good to hear from you. How are you holding up?" Irey answered her phone. It had been almost a week since they had last spoken.

"Better than I thought. The doctors say he is going to be ok. But..."He broke off. The speedster had a bad feeling in her stomach. Something was wrong. Damian wasn't this uncertain unless something was incredibly wrong.

"But?" she replied nervously. This didn't sound good.

"Bruce's heart cannot withstand the strain he puts on it. He has no choice but to retire the cape." he confided with a heavy sigh. "The responsibility is going to fall upon one of us."

"How do you feel about that?" the speedster asked. She was doing her best to be there for him, but it seemed like she never had the right words to say. It killed her inside that she seemed too distant to him.

"I-I really don't know. I'm still trying to process it all. I am rather hesitant to take up the mantle." Damian stuttered. Irey was shocked. Damian never stuttered.

"I'm here for whatever you need." She consoled. Irey knew the dilemma he faced. Three years ago she faced in herself.

"I know." he sighed. "Irey, there is one thing I need you to do."

"Anything." The young woman agreed.

"You need to talk to your father." he ordered. "You've been avoiding this for long enough. It's time to make amends. Your family is not going to be there forever."

Irey bit her tongue to keep her temper in check, "Ok." She reluctantly agreed.

"I'm not saying you have to do it now, but sooner rather than later." Damian added.

"I'll keep that in mind." she murmured. Her stomach did a backflip. The woman was not ready for this, but then again she was not one for waiting either.

"Thank you for your time Irey. I'll be in touch." he promised.

"Send my regards to your family. I'm just a call away if you need anything." She replied distantly and then hung up. Thoughts of confronting her father flooded her mind.

Damian was right though. She needed to do this. It was time to swallow her pride, forget her resentment and face her father. If not for her sake then for her mother's. Artemis had been through more than enough. Irey owed her mother it least this much.

The speedster quickly finished up her progress report and made her way down to Everett's office.

"Here's the report on the project you asked for." She said as she dropped the file on his desk.

"West! I wasn't expecting this until this afternoon." he grunted in approval as he skimmed over the file. "This is probably the first time you haven't been late too. You want something don't you?"

Irey gave him her best smile. "Sir, can I take the rest of the day off? Please? I have something I need to do."

The gruff man took another look at the report. "Fine, this one time."

"Thank you so much sir." The speedster shouted over her shoulder on her way out.

In her office her smile was replaced with a more nervous expression. It was now or never. Irey gathered her things and picked up the phone. She dialed the number and prayed that it would be her mother to pick up.

"Hello?" Artemis answered much to Irey's relief.

"Hi Mom." Irey squeaked.

"Irey! Are you hurt? Are you in trouble?" The mother asked in a concerned manner. It was unlike her daughter to call unless she needed help. The archer was definitely surprised

The speedster rolled her eyes, "No Mom. Why is it that every time I call you assume I'm either dying or I've committed a felony? Actually I was wondering if you and Dad wanted to go to lunch with me this afternoon. Can you?"

Artemis seemed astonished. "It's because you rarely call dear. And we would love to! Where would you like to meet?"

Well there was no turning back now. "There's that new cafe in downtown Central. It's a nice day, we can sit outside." Irey offered.

"That sounds good. We can meet you there in thirty minutes if that sounds good." her mother agreed.

"Great! I'll see you then Mom."

"Bye Irey."

The redhead hung up and tried to ignore the butterflies dancing in her stomach. The speedster kept reminding herself that this was the right thing. She just needed to confront her father. It was the first step she needed to take in order to make things right.

Irey grabbed her things and rushed home. The speedster pushed all of her worries to the side and concentrated on trying to be happy. She didn't want her parents to worry about her.

"...Ok Mom. I'll be there in a minute." Flash hesitantly promised her mother as she walked out of the zeta tube. The hero was about to change into her civvies when a familiar figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Well…Well...What do you know, look what the cat dragged in." The man sneered.

"You!" She hissed. The speedster's body went stiff. Why did he have to show up and ruin everything! Irey didn't need this happen now. "What are you doing here?"

"Hunting elephants...What the fuck do you think I'm doing?!" He exclaimed.

A venomous growl escaped the young woman's throat. "What the hell do you want!?"

"To finish what we started." Zoom proclaimed. "There's only room for one speedster around here." He growled before he vanished in a blur.

Irey shot out after her brother, but it was no use. She was too slow to catch up. The speedster tried to push herself harder and harder to catch up with her nemesis. She knew that she couldn't physically combat Jai right now with her powers not working. It was going to take brains not brawn to stop Zoom. The odds weren't in her favor, but Irey was still going to damn well try.

"She's not going to show up." Wally sighed. He was disappointed in his daughter. The speedster couldn't believe that Irey would stand them up like that. She was the one who invited them to lunch in the first place.

Artemis took another sip of her drink and checked her phone again. "Wally, she's probably just running a few minutes late. Maybe she had to stop a mugger or something." the archer suggested.

Suddenly a yellow streak followed by a scarlet blur blow by. Wally was able to get a clear view of both of his children. He saw everything from the malicious smirk adorned on his son's face to his daughter's determined glare.

He didn't know how Artemis did it. It absolutely killed him inside to catch a glimpse of them like this. Seeing his children destroy each other slowly was almost too painful to bear. The hate between the twins was so strong Wally could feel it as they zoomed past. How did it get this way?

"Or something..." The former Flash echoed distantly.

His wife took his hand. "She's going to be fine Baywatch." The blonde assured him half-heartedly.

"From what I'm told, the last two times they fought Irey wound up seriously injured." The redhead argued. He dug into his pocket to find one of his old flash rings.

"Irey can handle herself dear. If she needs help she'll call." Artemis told him. Wally glanced at his palm and put the ring back into his pocket.

"I'm just worried about her. Something's wrong. I've watched her on the news and just now, there's something definitely off with her. Her movements look strained and forced. She's moving too slow." the worried father whispered, he feared for Irey. "She was struggling to catch up to Jai."

Zoom spat blood out onto the street with a curse as Flash swung another blow. This time he caught her fist in his and sent her flying.

"Since when were you such a slowpoke?" He asked in a caustic snarl. Irey wiped the blood off her cheek and sent him a deadly glare.

"I'm fast enough to beat you!" She roared and swept his feet out from under him with a kick. Before he could get up Irey positioned her boot on his neck.

A dark smirk crossed his features. "Are you going to do it this time?" Jai taunted. "Are you finally going to kill me?"

"I don't have to kill you to take you down." Irey scowled; inside she prayed he wouldn't call her bluff. Flash was too slow to react when he grabbed her ankle and yanked her down to the ground. The scarlet speedster's body exploded with pain as she connected with the cold, hard pavement. She ignored the fresh copper taste in her mouth and tried to pull herself up.

"Wrong." Zoom sneered, looking down upon her. "You're too weak to do it! You were too weak to finish me off the last time and you're too weak to finish me off this time!"

Rage flowed through the woman like a vicious river of boiling lava and she flung herself at her brother. "You're a coward! Your words mean nothing to me Jai." She hissed and threw another right hook.

Zoom flipped his sister over his shoulder and Irey met the concrete with a loud crack. This time she couldn't get up. Her body refused to move. The frantic speedster turned to see the villain charging towards her. Now she had no other choice than to call for help.

Grimacing, she brought her arm to her ear and activated her radio. "Flash to watchtower, requesting urgent assistance." Irey called out in desperation. She rolled over, just missing a shot from Zoom. Dodging his blows was all the speedster could do, as she lay bloody and broken on the sidewalk.

"Flash to watchtower, requesting urgent assistance."

The former scarlet speedster's blood ran cold as his daughter's panicked voice came out the tiny earpiece the league gave him.

"Artemis?" he said urgently, pulling the ring out of his pocket. The look on his face was full of desperation and contempt.

She nodded seeing the ring. "Go." the blonde whispered.

Without another word the father rushed out into the alley behind the cafe. A sense of nostalgia came over him as he pulled on the slightly tight costume for the first time in seven years. Though there was no doubt he was retired, it was time Wally had a little chat with his son.

"You're pathetic." Jai spat bitterly at his sister he had pinned against a building. For her there was no escape. Irey closed her eyes and prepared for the worse but the blow she was expecting never came.

Flash opened her eyes just in time to see a red blur knock her brother off of her. Relief washed over the speedster as she sank to the ground to catch her breath.

Zoom looked like he had seen a ghost as the red figure from his past knocked him off of his balance. "It can't be-it's not possible." Jai stuttered as he faced what he thought to be the ghost of his father.

"Oh it's possible." Wally frowned at his only son. Discontent burned in his green eyes.

"No! You're dead!" Zoom shouted. He rushed up to the man in denial and tossed an angry blow.

Wally caught the punch Jai threw at him and dodged all of the other blows that were pitched. He could read Zoom like a book, predicting almost every move. His disappointed scowl never changed. It covered up his breaking heart.

Irey looked upon the spectacle with astonishment before taking this as her chance to flee.

"Son, stop it." Wally commanded.

Jai sent him a defiant glare. "How?"

"That is none of your concern." The former Flash stated calmly.

"Then if it's none of my concern then why are your here?" Zoom demanded. A malicious grin briefly split across his face. "Come to scrape your replacement off the sidewalk?"

The father's glare intensified. "You know, all those things your mother told me about you about how you were a lost cause I never believed. I still had faith in you son. I hoped there could be a way to find redemption, but it seems that you have proved me wrong. You're too full of hate and spite to change. We used to be a family!"

"You have no room to talk!" the villain roared lividly.

The young man pushed his way past Wally. The former flash grabbed his son's arm, stopping him. "Jai…"

"Stay out of my way old man." Zoom growled, yanked his arm from his father's grip and sped off into the distance.

Wally let out a heavy sigh. He missed the days when they were all a happy family. Now they were barely a family. The man turned to where Irey was to only find she had slipped away too. Where she went, he didn't know, but he knew his daughter well enough to have a good guess. Some things never change

It took a few tries, but Wally soon located the current scarlet speedster.

Irey sat on the ledge of the Grand Canyon and stared off into the distance. She had a lot to think about. The heroine didn't even notice her father sit down next to her she was in such deep thought. The afternoon sun was sinking in the horizon and the warm evening breeze danced through her unruly hair.

"Anything you want to talk about?" the father asked quietly.

Irey let out a sigh. Damian was right. There was no use in fighting it, she was done running from him. "Where do I even begin?"

"Well how about with what happened today." He suggested. From the disparaged look in her tear filled eyes he saw how lost and broken she was.

"What about today?" She asked.

"Irey, you know what I'm talking about. I may be old, but I'm still sharp enough to notice when something is wrong with my daughter."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm losing my powers." she confessed.

"Why?" he inquired gently.

"That's the problem. Physically there's nothing wrong with me, I went into Star Labs and they conducted all these tests and had no answers." Irey sighed. "No one wants damaged goods. That's all I am now."

"Have you ever considered that your problem might not be physical?" He questioned.

"No, but why would my powers vanish if it wasn't physical?" The young woman doubted.

"When Barry passed I had the same problem with my speed." Wally remembered.

"Then how did you fix it?"

"Well I did the same thing that you did at first. I took all the tests and had the same results. I tried to keep it all from your mother too, but she found out eventually." He recalled.

"What did mom do?" Irey wondered.

"She sat me down and told me I couldn't leave until I got everything off of my mind. We talked for hours and she helped me sort through everything. Once I got everything off my chest my problems with my speed went away too." He recounted. "You have to set yourself free from the past and move on Irey."

Irey nodded and took a deep, shaky breath. "Where do I start?"

"The beginning." He advised.

Irey told her father everything from her his death to Jai turning evil, to her taking up the mantle and her bitter feelings towards him after his return. It felt so good to get it all off her chest. The weight on her shoulders vanished and her heavy heart got a little bit lighter. Though there was some baggage that still remained with the few things she had yet to reveal.

"Can I tell you something?" Her father asked.

"Sure Dad." The speedster smiled weakly.

"I'm so proud of you sweetheart. For what you've become, for what you overcame and what you've accomplished." Wally boasted.

The young woman fought back some more tears and took her father's hand.

"I'm going to let you in on a little secret." The former hero squeezed his daughter's hand.

"From the first time I laid eyes on you and your brother I never doubted for a second that there was greatness in both of you. It's what you choose to do with that greatness that defines you." He smiled. "That lightning bolt on your chest defines you. You've earned it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and if they do give 'em hell."

Irey's lip quivered slightly. "Oh Dad…" the speedster whimpered and buried her head into his shoulder. "I missed you so much!" she sobbed.

Wally held her close and comforted her. "I know dear, I know…."

"I was so lost, so afraid. I tried to stay strong for them, but I failed both Mom and Jai." She confessed.

"Irey you failed no one." He assured her.

She let out another sob. "I did. I knew something was wrong with Jai, but I ignored it until it was too late. I distanced myself from mom. I left her all alone!"

"What happened with your brother is not your fault." Her father frowned.

"Isn't it though? I was his sister! I should've seen the signs. Now we attempt to kill each other every time we cross paths." Irey bawled. "I've done terrible things. Do you know what I did when I entered the Speedforce?"

"Irey…" he began but she cut him off.

"I went into the fight that day with every intention to kill him. I hated Zoom and I was ready to put an end to all of it. I led him out of the City and he easily fell into my trap. I was going to draw him into the speedforce. I had more control than he did and I planned to slow down at the last second, but when the final moment came I couldn't bring myself to go through with it. Instead of saving myself I saved him."

Wally's grip on his daughter tightened as he listened in astonishment. "Dear, you did what you thought was right at the time, you're not to blame for your brother's life choices."

"Well I guess some good came out of it." She looked up and sniffled. "You're back."

"I'm back…" He echoed. "…And I'm never leaving again."

"Thanks Dad." Irey smiled weakly. "I needed that."

"I'm here anytime you need me." The former Flash promised. "Just out of curiosity, why did you invite us to lunch?"

"A little birdie told me that it was time to make amends." The heroine smiled sheepishly.

"Ah, so your boyfriend was the one who finally brought you to your senses." Wally chuckled.

"He's not my boyfriend anymore. We broke up after graduation, but he did give me a wake up call this morning."

"Really? I thought you guys were still a thing. Maybe it was from the way that he looked at you in the hospital, but I just assumed that you were a couple." He wasn't sure if he was happy about this news or not. (Damian was not his favorite person)

"We're still friend though. Both of us are too busy for a relationship." She added.

"One last thing Irey. Don't forget to live your life. It's not all about work and protecting the city. Have fun. Live a little. Don't work yourself to death." Her father recommended.

She smiled and stood up. "I'll keep that in mind. Are you ready to go home? Mom's probably worried sick. Also it's been seven years since I've had the chance to run with my old man."

"I think so." He chuckled, pulled on his cowl and smirked. "If you can handle it."

She copied his action. "Oh I think I can. The question is can you keep up?" the current Flash teased.

"I may be old, but I'm not that old. I still have some mileage in me."

"You wanna race Flash?" She asked.

"Not today. Though a nice jog sounds good." Wally nodded. "And you're Flash now so don't call me that. It's your title."

"Ok Gramps…. Is that better?" She giggled.

"Not much, but it'll do for now."

"Good. On your mark, get set, go!" Irey shouted and they both were off. The speedster was relieved and overjoyed to find that her speed had returned. Nothing could hold her back now.

"So what's this I hear about you and Superman not getting along?" Her father asked.

"You want the cliff notes version or the whole story?"

"We've got time. Enlighten me on your reasons for hating the man of steel's guts…" He laughed. This was going to be interesting.

So…what did you think? It's late, I'm about to pass out so leave a review and let me know what you think. I'll get back to you later. Thanks guys for reading. Don't forget to review! PLEASE?