Heya lovely readers ! Sorry for the long wait, uni work is killing me at the moment. Anyways, hope you enjoy this ^.^ Again, the story is taken a completely diferente turn from what I had mapped it up at first, BUT in a better way, I assure you :D ALRIGHTY, with no further ado...!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own any right to these amazing characters.

Spoilers: Well, last episode I've seen was Episode 13 Season 1. But as it comes out, I might add some info from the series.

Chapter 4 - Almost Completely Forgotten

Shelby had been taken by complete and absolute surprise. From all the ideas and theories, she had formulated, from all the possible scenarios and their associated consequences, she could never have foreseen that. And for some reason, now, it seemed senseless to have left it out. Even though she felt overwhelmed, surprised and confused, at the same time, every cell of her body was screaming "eureka". She could never explain it, even if she tried... Her mind was glowing in utter bliss, a feeling so powerful it washed away any trace of shock that might have been there initially. A glimmering so comfortable, she wondered if it hadn't always been there, hidden behind emotions unattainable until then. It wasn't a discovery or the birth of something new and beautiful. It was the astounding realisation of a truth that had always been there. A truth taking shelter on unconsciousness for far too long, feeding on bright smiles and kind words, running from other realities and battling expectations. A truth scared of showing its entire splendour and irradiating at its full potential. A truth that now, embraced Shelby's heart, making it completely aware of that undeniable reality, for the very first time. She took refugee under that tender cloak of deep affection, sewed with the best threats of memories: Cyd's heartfelt embraces and their calmness, the smiles born in tears and the tears healed with smiles, the laughs and the dreams, the past and the history who led them to this future.

A future that amazingly enough, was the actual present.

Shelby's numb arms were brought back to life with the explosion of her restless heart, whose beats were wild and profound, in a hopeless attempt to regain the time lost in oblivion. Her hands wondered through Cyd's sleeveless arms, making every inch of her exposed, wondered skin scream back to her own heart. And just like that, in an unspoken, soundless culmination of too much unsaid, because they felt the same, theirs hearts agreed on each other's beat, a conversation of eternal and unconditional comprehension. Love. They both felt as if their minds and bodies wouldn't be able to contain such great sensation. Their chest was almost hurting from all the pounding, as if their hearts wished to escape and meet in the middle. However, only their lips meet… And a better meeting couldn't have ever existed. They have lived to get to that precise moment and could have spent the rest of their lives there.

When Shelby's hands reached the heated skin of Cyd's cheeks, her fingers toured between their lips, assessing the veracity of the moment, making sure those lips were as real as her feelings. Finding out about their genuineness, only fermented the longing Shelby hadn't shown yet. And so, after gulping for air, she reinforced a kiss already resilient while one of her hands travelled Cyd's back to pull her in closer, making her succumb to all and more.

In her arms, Cyd didn't have to be strong or brave. For the first time, for as long as she could remember, Cyd had never quiver in weakness. Whatever happened, she would rise above, ignore the pain and laugh about it whenever the opportunity came sailing her way. But it never left her… All of the disappointments and regrets, all her troubles and grief, all the hurt, it was all still there. All of it, inside her, stored in the dark, imprisoned somewhere she would be able to ignore its influence and keep moving. She had always been scared that if someday, the chains couldn't hold it all, she wouldn't survive. But as all of the pain broke free, it only slide through Shelby's lips and there was nothing left to threaten Cyd's smile anymore. And she didn't restrain herself from feeling every bit of everything she could feel. Shelby's breath, her skin, her smile against her lips… Every little detail was carefully engraved on her heart. As she felt that hand on her cheek, making its way back to her neck, she couldn't help but to reach it and hold it within her own.

Fingers intertwined, breathless and eager, they pulled apart. In a harmony only love could provide, their eyes met as their lips parted, gasping for air. Entirely blinded by what stood in front of them, they didn't realise what had surrounded them. A whole new reality, ready to swallow them whole was huffing and puffing at their little bubble of time paralysis. A bubble weakened by the instant their kiss came to an end.

Eyes that once showed the purest form of love, now revealed a painful nothingness.

A new reality had been set.

They glanced at each other, curious to the reason why they were both panting. Why were their hearts ready to jump out of their mouths? And why did their hands feel so warm and vibrant? They both looked down, examining that feeling only to realise their linked hands. And suddenly, it burned. As the scalding fingers became scalding hands, they let each other go.

'What just happened?' Shelby was the first one to break the silence.

'I don't know…' Cyd turned around and held her hand to her chest, realising it hadn't been her hand burning, but her heart.

'Last thing I remember is getting downstairs from school.' As Shelby tried to piece together her thoughts and memories, Cyd sat down on her bed, feeling confused and light at the same time. 'How did we get here?'

'Maybe we jumped in time or something…'

'But we always remember when we do. This is different… It's like we lost time.'

'Is that even possible?' Cyd laid back and grunted in frustration 'My head hurts!'

'We need to talk to Barry about this. Maybe he'll know what happened!'

'But I'm hungry! I can't listen to Barry on an empty stomach.'

'Are you serious Cyd?' suddenly, all the concern, panic and confusion Shelby was feeling, was simply drained away with laughter. 'You're unbelievable.' She threw herself onto her friend's bed and laid beside her with a smile. 'You not even a bit concerned about our memory lost.'

'As far as I know, it might be a side effect!'

'A side effect from what?'

'Hunger woman!'

'Cyd, only you are influenced that deeply by lack of food, remember?' and when she moaned again, Shelby couldn't do much but to give in. 'Fine, let's get you fed and then talk to Barry.'

'Uh! I love this plan already!'

As promised, Shelby scavenged the kitchen for something nutritious enough to keep her friend's attention levels moderately high. After a French toast and Snickers bar, Cyd was more than happy to knock on Barry's trailer.

'No no no no no! Renaldo! We've been through this a million times! Just put them back where you found them before there's more than two.'

'But Barry…'

'Renaldo! I have explained this to you, countless times! I shall not have any animals in this trailer who are not directly involved in an experiment. Now go and release the squirrels back into the wilderness.'

'Maybe I'll toss myself into the wilderness with them! Cyd, Shelby, if you want to meet Barry Junior and Little Nalda, I'll be in the backyard.' And this said, he promptly left without another word.

'You know... You could let him have his way once in a while.' Shelby sat down at the table and then made some space for Cyd to sit beside her.

'Chaos needs order. He's chaos and I'm order. It's as simple as that.' He pulled the long metal tube aside and turned to face the girls. 'But I doubt you came here to weigh in on my senseless discussions with Renaldo. What's on your minds?' and so they told Berry their recent amnesia, when they finished, he slid into the seat in front of them and pondered for a while. 'It is quite obvious you both experienced time loss… The main question is, why and how. Tell me more about your day… Did anything unusual happened?'

'Actually, we received a letter from Future Shelby.' Cyd sat up straight, suddenly alert.

'Interesting. Elaborate, please.' they fell into a detailed explanation of that morning's event, and when done Barry had his mind visibly working at 101% full capacity. 'Future Shelby… Because of the note, you would think she had travelled from the future after you escaped the lab. But it isn't a necessary requirement.'

'It isn't?' Shelby looked as confused as Cyd felt, however Barry got to his feet, understanding stamped all over his face.

'No! A version of yourselves prior to the lab captivity, might have jumped forward, into a future where all is well and where you have escaped imprisonment. Didn't you say that this morning you mistakenly went back to the lab?' the girls nodded in response and Barry continued 'What if you decided to use your powers to check if the lab was indeed your final destination? Which, by the way, is a brilliant plan and I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier. Anyhow! You find out that it is indeed true, you have a future after the whole experimental incarceration, and come go back to that morning with such knowledge. However, at some point during the day, probably around the time your memory loss starts, you two went back to that morning to give yourselves that note, altering the time line. However, the time and memory loss could only be due to two things. A glitch in your time jumping power, which is highly improbable, or you can stop time as well!' his eyes were so wide and bright that the girls could almost see his scientist soul skipping in pure excitement.

'Don't you think that a bit farfetched?' Shelby looked unconvinced.

'And why would we bother with the note if we knew already in the future?'

'It's simple! You wanted to forget the future you jumped into and still retain the knowledge that it's safe.' He almost looked bored for a second. 'But what's really interesting here is how you prevented yourselves from being hit by the changing timeline wave at first, which obviously resulted in time loss. Incredible!' and just like that, he completely isolated himself from everything around him and submerged into his theory making land alongside a pen and a notebook.

'But what did we want to forget?' Shelby looked at her friend for the understanding of how weird all of that sounded, and how unsettling it felt. Instead, she was met with a broad smile. A smile she knew all too well.

'Who cares? We can stop time!''

Alrighty guys, hope you enjoyed that ^.^ Don't Forget to leave your thoughts, you know reviews are ALWAYS very much appreciated :p I'll see you all next chapter! Good readings KISS KISS