A/N: Few things I need to say. First, I want to thank all of you who read this. It means a lot. All the reviews give me energy to keep writing. Thank you all again! Second, I never would have posted this story if it wasn't for a friend of mine. She talked me into publishing it on here. So, if you like it give her a little birthday shout out in the reviews. She is turning 21 on Saturday! Third, I LOVE hearing what you guys think of it. Tell me what you like and dislike, what is working for the story and what is not. Any questions and confusion I would be happy to clear up and help the story run more smoothly. Fourth, I realized I haven't put a disclaimer on here. (No, I do not own the Flash or Characters or anything like that!) It's just a fun story.

So, enjoy! :)

Barry was doing great in life. He had finally moved into a nice apartment close to the precinct but not too far away from his dad's house. He and Iris had just gotten together after a four month long break up. He had to promise himself that this was the last time they were going to do this thing. Barry didn't want to do this on/off thing with Iris for the rest of his life. So, he had asked her to move in with him just after three months of being back together. Maybe this would show Iris that he wanted a serious relationship with her.

Cisco was too excited to tell Barry about the top-secret project Dr. Wells had them assigned to. He had needed to hire a whole bunch of new faces to work on this secret project. This got Barry curious but he wasn't as excited as Cisco was.

"I wonder if these new guys are going to be like Hartley or like Jay?" Cisco wondered out loud.

"I didn't think you liked either of them?" Barry laughed.

"Jay is okay. Kind of creepy, but okay. Hartley is just a jerk."

"Do you know any of the names yet?"

"No, we won't know them until we meet them next Monday." Cisco replied glumly.

The wait is going to kill him.

Caitlin was more excited than nervous as she pulled up to her old house. She had driven all the way back to Central City. Saying goodbye to her family in Star City had been hard but she knew it was time for her to be here in Central City. Home.

She knocked on the door and waited a few moments before a man answered.

"Hello. Can I help you?"

Confused Caitlin straightened up, "Umm, Hi. I'm looking for Carla Tannhauser? She used to live here."

"She still does. Wait one moment, please." He turned around to shout into the house. "Darling, there is someone at the front door for you." He turned back towards Caitlin. "She will be right with you. Why don't you come inside?" He stepped aside.

Caitlin stepped inside her old home taking in all the new changes; the new pictures, the new furniture, the new smells. She would close her eyes and remember the way the front entrance of her house always used to smell like her father's old sweat socks when he went jogging in the morning. Her mother would always yell at him to take them to the garage.

A strange memory, but for Caitlin it was one of a happy mother and father.

"Caitlin?" Her mother's voice snapped her out of her dream like state.

"Mom." Carla swept Caitlin into a warm embrace. "I'm sorry it's been so long. I needed some time away from Central City."

"Oh darling, that's okay. I understand that loss is hard. Please come sit. We have tons to catch up on. This is Anthony. He is my new husband."

Caitlin smiled at him, "It's nice to meet you."

"It is nice to meet you too Caitlin. I've heard so much about you."

Together the three of them sat down in Carla's living room and caught up on everything they had missed about each other's lives. Anthony was kind and respectful and treated Carla nice. Caitlin showed her mother pictures she had on her phone of her friends and family at Felicity and Oliver's wedding. Carla had told caught her up with everything going on in Central City. Caitlin had told her mom she had gotten accepted to work on a secret project STAR Labs was working on. But the inevitable conversation had to come.

Caitlin had just taken the last sip of her coffee when her mom finally said it. "He is a CSI for the Central City Police Department. I could tell you have been itching to ask."

"A CSI? Who would have guessed?" Caitlin gave a little giggle before a thought appeared in her mind.

"Oh! Mom, I drove by the Allen's place on my way here. I didn't think Henry would ever get rid of his old car. Did Nora finally talk him into an upgrade?" Caitlin said with a laugh. "I was tempted to stop by before heading here. Nora is probably angry with me since I stopped writing."

Carla was quiet, pain and sadness clouding her eyes. "Nora died, darling. Nearly five years ago. Henry moved soon after."

"What? H–How could you not tell me? I mean Barry... Poor Barry." Caitlin hadn't even realized she was crying until she felt her mother's arms around her.

"Shh... dear it's okay. It's not your fault." Carla cooed.

"I wasn't here. I wasn't here for him Mom! He probably hates me now. How could I do this? I wasn't here." Caitlin sobbed.

After a while Caitlin stopped crying. She had thanked her mother for the news and had asked her if she could come by for dinner next Sunday?

"Of course, dinner sounds lovely! Anthony is a great cook. I'll call you with the plans later this weekend."

Caitlin nodded and smiled. "It's nice to be home Mom."

Caitlin had gotten into her car ready for the drive back to her new apartment. Questions flowed through her mind, What if Barry didn't want to see her? What if he didn't want her in his life at all? What if he blamed her for Nora? She wasn't even in town when it happened but she wasn't there for him.

She shook the thoughts out of her head and focused on driving. Maybe some unpacking when she got home would get her mind off Central City, Nora, and Barry.

But her Barry Allen was always on her mind.

An insistent ringing came from the phone lying on his bedside table. Barry barely registered slipping away from Iris in bed and padding off towards the kitchen to answer his phone.

"Hello?" Groggily he mumbled into the phone.

"Barry, it's your father. I just got on break. There is something you might want to know."

Barry immediately straightened up at his father's urgent voice. "What's wrong?" He asked worriedly.

"Carla called me this evening. Caitlin stopped by her place for a visit. She thought you might want to know she just got in town in case you run into her at some point."

Barry's mind stopped. He had waited for this moment since she left. The moment Caitlin was back in Central City. Back within his reach. "She's back?"

He flinched at how vulnerable his voice sounded. "She is here in Central City?"

"Yes, that's what I am told. She stopped by the old house too. Apparently, she was looking for us."

"Whenever Barry thought of his old house he thought of pain and agony and all the guilt he felt. But thinking of Caitlin there, he was reminded of happier times filled with cheesy movies and holding each other until sleep took them to dream land. He smiled. "I have to see her again."

Barry heard Henry laugh through the speakers. "I thought so too. That's why I asked Carla for dinner plans. It's a special occasion having Caitlin back in town. Carla told me she starts work at STAR Labs so she will be busy for a while settling in and everything. But she told me she would let Caitlin know of my request. I've been meaning to catch up with Anthony anyway."

Barry smiled again. He was afraid his cheeks would start to hurt from smiling like an idiot so much. But Caitlin was worth it. "Thanks Dad. Let me know when you find out anything."

With the news of his best friend finally back in Central City, how could anyone sleep? Barry didn't sleep that night, he was too excited to see Caitlin again.

…

Barry didn't have to wait long. After receiving the phone call Friday night or Saturday morning really, Barry had been antsy all weekend. Iris found it funny. Barry just smiled through the laughter. Barry had a bounce in his step for the next four days. No amount of work Captain Singh gave him could dampen his mood. His Caitlin was back. Sure, he hasn't seen her yet but he could feel her in Central City. Like the city finally brought back to life.

Barry could only wonder how much she has changed.

"Wednesday," His father told him, "Carla made plans for Wednesday. The new Italian place on 5th."

Caitlin was dying to run into Barry. But she knew she couldn't just waltz into CCPD and ask to see him. Yes, technically she wasn't juts back in Central City to see him. She was also really excited to work at STAR Labs. Dr. Wells had praised her work when she had bene introduced to him. He was ecstatic to have her on his team. She had been introduced to a few of the workers would be working there with her in the cortex. Cisco was kind and funny and he welcomed her with open arms. They two immediately became close. Jay was a little too friendly but she was new, and didn't know anything about him. And finally, there is Hartley, he is a jerk but a brilliant one. Surprisingly he didn't hate her and she didn't have a problem with him. Maybe they could be friends.

But still meeting all these guys made her miss being in the arms of her best friend. So, when her Mom called her and told her about the dinner reservation she had made for all of them she nearly burst into tears.

…

It turns out Caitlin and Barry didn't need a dinner to come face to face again.

It was Wednesday morning, Caitlin had woken up early today, to spend a little extra time at the nearest coffee shop. Felicity and Caitlin used to do this all the time before school. Oliver would join them occasionally but this morning-coffee time became their time to spend together before the hectic day separated them.

Caitlin walked up to the counter and smiled at the fashionable barista. "Hi welcome to CC Jitters. How can I help you?" The woman asked politely.

"Hi. I'll just have a chi Latte and a blueberry muffin please." Caitlin payed with a smile. Throwing money in the tip jar.

"Coming right up, just grab a seat and I will bring it right to you."

Caitlin nodded glancing down to her nametag. "Thank you… Iris."

Caitlin headed towards a booth in the back. She threw her stuff on the table. It was only her third day working at STAR Labs and she already had a ton of work to get done. Picking up the first file she began reading it over while she waited for her coffee.

Wednesday morning Barry waltzed into Jitters. The news of Caitlin being back still left a bounce in his step as he walked over to the counter looking for his girlfriend. He had forgotten to tell her about his dinner plans tonight with his father. She had been walking back from delivering the order to the back booth when she spotted him.

"Hey honey! What brings you here this early?" Iris leaned up to kiss his cheek.

"I just wanted to tell you, I have dinner plans with my Dad tonight." He was still smiling when she started to frown.

"But tonight is date night…" She whined.

"Excuse me, do you have a fork?" A brunette asked behind Iris. She had reached out her right arm to tap Iris' shoulder.

"Oh! I'm sorry! Yes, one moment." Iris responded running around the counter to retrieve the fork.

Barry noticed the familiar red bracelet on her wrist. It looked strangely like the one on his left, only with a different letter and color.

He squinted his eyes. "Caitlin?"

The brunette's head had followed Iris back around the counter had snapped in his direction. She studied his face for a moment. Her eyes widened in recognition. "Barry?" She asked hesitantly. "Oh my gosh! Barry!" He nodded and smiled as she threw her arms around him. His arms winding around her waist felt like home again. He held her tight to his chest relishing in the feel of his heart falling back into place with his body. She belonged in his arms. He had his best friend back.

"Do you two know each other?" Iris asked a little sharply at their closeness.

Barry released Caitlin but didn't let her out of his arms fully. "Iris, this is Caitlin. She's my best friend."

Iris furrowed her brows. "Best friend? You haven't seen her in years." She mumbled the last part.

Caitlin nodded, "Yeah, it has been a while."

"Damn Cait, it's been too long." His joy for her return slipping through each word.

"I know. I'm sorry things kind of just fell apart between us when I left. But I'm back now."

"And I am not going to complain about that!" He cheered.

Iris cleared her throat. "Hi Caitlin. I'm Iris, Barry's girlfriend and here is your fork." She smiled but it had hints of hostility surging through it. Barry, being a guy didn't think anything of it, but Caitlin knew she was probably angry at the exchange between her and Barry.

"Thank you, Iris. It's nice to meet you. I remember Barry mentioning you when we talked back in high school. It's so good to finally meet you!" Caitlin ignored the possessiveness Iris had used in her tone. She was happy to meet someone Barry was close to. Barry smiled at the exchange. Iris was taken aback at her kindness. She just blinked and nodded.

"I have to get back to work. What time will you be done with dinner with your dad?" She asked turning back to Barry.

"Probably not until late. Don't wait up for me." He kissed her cheek before she headed back behind the counter.

"Oh, yeah I forgot to ask for the address of the new place we are going to tonight!" Caitlin realized turning towards Barry.

"Don't worry about it. I can pick you up." She opened her mouth to object, "C'mon Cait, I just got you back. Let me spoil you a bit." He gave her that dazzling smile she couldn't say no to.

"Okay fine. Why don't you sit down and have some coffee? It's on me." She smiled. He accepted.

Barry ordered his usual and Caitlin payed. He followed her to her booth in the back of the café He sat down on the seat across from her.

"Okay first things first. What brings you back to Central City?" He asked staring at her. He couldn't stop staring at her. And even if she was reading her notes on the files she couldn't stop glancing at him either.

"I was starting to miss my home," She said putting the file down on the table. "I was starting to miss my family, I was starting to really miss you, Barry." She said honestly.

Barry's heart still skipped a beat every time their eyes met. He still loved her. The moment he saw her, he knew he still loved her. Which, of course, brought trouble to his relationship with Iris. So, he smirked and teased her instead of letting his mind wander down that road.

"You just now started missing me? I'm hurt, Cait!" He placed his hand over his chest. He started laughing after she rolled her eyes and let out a soft giggle.

"Barry, you know I started missing you before I even left." Barry's laughter died down. "It's been eight years, Caitlin. What happened to contact every day?" he probed, pain etched into his voice, "I understand life gets in the way but you had time to call your mom every other Sunday, and even write my mom letters once a month, but not me? Why?"

"I couldn't do it Barry. I couldn't talk to you. It hurt too much. I couldn't handle talking to you but not being with you. I wanted so badly to just come back and run into your arms but I couldn't. My dad needed me. So, I pushed you away. But I could never get you out of my heart, only my head."

Barry lips twitched upwards into a small smile. He reached over the table and picked up her hand. He cradled her hand between his gently rubbing soothing circles into her skin. "You are here now, Cait. You can touch me now. Though I probably feel all different since I started working at CCPD." He cheekily added.

"So, I've noticed. What happened to the scrawny boy I left?" His smile only grew at her playful reply.

"I could ask you the same question. But then again not much has changed." He was staring at her again.

She was slightly offended. "That's rude! I've grown up a whole lot Barry Allen. I was fifteen when I left Central City and I'm twenty-three now!" She tried pulling her hand away, but Barry never let go.

He chuckled. "I only meant that you were beautiful then and you are beautiful now, even more so now actually. I noticed you changed Cait. I'm a guy, that's the first thing we notice. But I'm also your Barry, I saw your beauty when you thought you were invisible." Her eyes were glossy with tears that she refused to let fall in such a public place.

"Damn I missed you!" She scurried off her seat and jumped into the booth he was in wrapping him in her arms.

"You are my best friend Barry. No matter how long it took me to come back, I was coming back for you. I wasn't leaving you by choice. Because you, Barry, you will always be my choice." She whispered to him. With her in his arms, Barry finally felt whole again.

After a while Caitlin finally pulled away. "I'm happy you are back, Cait. We have a lot to catch up on."

She let out a short laugh. "Oh, I'm aware of that. Almost eight years' worth of information revolving around Barry Allen I need to infect my brain with." She sarcastically replied.

"Hmm, I'm thinking a movie night?" He asked hopeful.

"With Pretzels and M&M's?" She questioned excitedly.

"Popcorn and Pizza? My treat? It's been too long since I spoiled my girl!" Barry cheered throwing an arm around her shoulder.

Caitlin had no complaints about being his girl, she knew she was. "How about my place? You could help me unpack?" She practically begged and stuck out her lower lip in a pout. It had always worked on Barry before. Barry smiled. He had no objections.

They spoke in questions but never gave each other direct answers.

They agreed for Friday. The wait would kill them if not for the exchange of phone numbers and a promise for dinner tonight with the rest of the family.