"I saw daddy... I saw him, Mommy"
The words ring in Barry's ears. He has to blink as his brain is processing, trying to make sense of the situation as it unfolds before his eyes. From seeing this little girl in the medical bed cling to Caitlin for dear life with tears running down her cheeks. To then hear the same little girl call Caitlin her mother. However, Caitlin had just told him that this little girl was her niece. Which is it? He needs answers now.
"Mommy?" he whispers under his breath.
It seems to go unheard as the little girl pulls away from Caitlin's grasp. "Da- daddy," she continues with tear-stained cheeks. "He told me to tell you something..." she adds, biting her lip just like Caitlin.
Seeing that familiar nervous tick snaps something into Barry. He lets go of Nora's hand as he steps into their view with a look of frustration and confusion.
"Did... did she just call you mommy?" He asks, his voice shaking.
Val gasps at the sight of him with wide, fearful eyes. His head cocks to the side, not understanding her fear. She clings back to Caitlin's side as Caitlin wraps her arms protectively around the child. "Barry," she breathly states.
"Did she just call you her mommy?" he repeats, with slight anger.
Caitlin opens her mouth, ready to explain when Cisco bursts in. "Someone is awake, I hear!" he smiles, walking up to the bed with Nora behind him. "Did I interpret something?" he asks, looking between Caitlin and Barry.
"No."
"Yes."
The pair says simultaneously before looking at each other in annoyance. Cisco holds his hands up in defense. "Please don't mind the man with the gorgeous long hair. In fact, let me take the child off your hands. She doesn't need to witness any bloodshed," he gestures between the pair before reaching for Val.
"No, she stays here," Barry snaps, halting Cisco's movements.
The best friend duo looks at him in disbelief. "Excuse me?" Caitlin snaps. "You don't have any say here. You, you shouldn't even be here, remember? Let alone giving orders around here," she growls, getting off the bed to stand in front of Barry.
"Then you should have been honest with me from the start. Not lying about things, especially when they involve your children," he snaps back, pointing at Val.
At that moment, time stops around him. He looks into her horrified little eyes and a massive pang of pain courses through him. Those eyes. They look so familiar to him. Almost as if he has seen them before. But where? He tries to bite back his tongue, but the fire of his anger is in control. He doesn't even hear her faint cries for him to stop.
"Stop it! Stop fighting!" the little girl yells with glass eyes as she runs to their side, ignoring Cisco's motion to leave with him.
Suddenly Caitlin's eyes start to glow - revealing her counterpart taking full control. A smirk appears on her face to see the surprised look on Barry's face before her. "My turn to talk, don't you think?"
Barry's mouth hangs open at the sight before him. In his time, his Caitlin is still dealing with her struggle for control with her icy counterpart. "K- Killer Frost?" he stammers, taking a sudden step back.
"It's just Frost now," she comments with a shrug. "And based on your reaction, you wouldn't know that yet, huh?" she raises her eyebrows, crossing her arms.
He swallows hard, taking in the presence before him. From her pale skin to her long silver locks that shaped the same facial features as Caitlin. Seeing her in Caitlin's casual outfit made the ice meta seem normal - different from the version of Killer Frost he met last time during his fight with Savitar. "You... you look different," he stammers out, clearing his throat in the process. "Good different," he adds, stuffing his hands into his pockets
"Aunt Frosty!" Valerie squeals, jumping into her arms. The woman giggles, effortlessly picking her up. Instantly, Val clings to her aunt wrapping her arms and legs around Frost then burying her face into her aunt's shoulder. "I missed you so much," she babbles, tightening her hold.
Frost pulls back with a smile. "Oh, don't be so dramatic snowflake. You know I have been here all along," she smirks shaking her head.
"I know," Val whines, playing with some of Frost's fallen locks. "But, it's not the same," her lip pouts.
Barry feels drawn in by the adorable interaction between the two. A small smile appears on his lips with a light sense of contentment. Almost familiar to him and homey even. He takes a step forward, continuing to watch in admiration. "How is that?" he nervously asks with a weak smile.
Frost smirks at the question as Val tenses in her arms - much to his disliking. "Let's just say Caity and I haven't always been stuck together in one body before," she winks, then places Valerie back on the medical bed. "You can say, we are able to live separate lives from one another."
His eyes widen in disbelief, "Wait... what?" So many questions run through his mind at the new information. "How? How is this possible?"
"Whoa! Whoa! Wait just a second there Elsa," Cisco shouts, pointing a finger in the meta's direction. "Do not say another word to him," he stresses with a high arch eyebrow.
"Or what?" Frost sasses, crossing her arms with a straight face. "What could possibly go wrong with answering his questions? You guys have kept him in the dark long enough."
"What could go...?" Cisco flabbergasts mid-sentence. "Are you serious? Everything can go wrong if he knows too much!" he exclaims, talking with his arms. Frost rolls her eyes and shrugs her shoulders in annoyance. "Can I talk to Caitlin, please?" he stresses.
She smirks, arching an eyebrow, "I guess, once you help us separate again."
Valerie jumps on the bed with excitement. "Really, Aunt Frosty?" a huge smile on her face as she tugs on her aunt's arm.
Frost smiles down at her with a nod. "Yup! It's time and Cait will be okay, I promise," she nods at Cisco with a reassuring smile.
Cisco heavily sighs in frustration with his arms on his hips in disapproval. He shakes his head and looks at the icy meta then at Barry. Lastly, he looks at Valerie, with her hopeful eyes, and sighs. "Fine," he nods in agreement. "Val go with Nora, please. I'll let you know when everything is done," he half-smiles then walks out to the cortex.
Valerie nods giving Frost one more tight hug. Nora appears by Barry's side. A huge smile on her little face causes a smile to spread on his. He bends down on one knee to give her a strong hug. Her little arms wrap around his neck for a brief moment. He looks over Nora's shoulder at Val as she stands to the side waiting on her. That pain from earlier strikes him again as he sees her fidgeting in place, playing with her necklace. He sees the struggle in her little eyes - pain with a hint of longing.
"Take care of each other, okay?" he says as he pulls away from their hug.
Nora nods her head and then walks over to Val taking her hand. "Come on Val, let's go wait with my mommy in the lounge. Maybe she can make us some chocolate milk."
Val nods her head and then follows Nora out the door. Just as they are about to go through the threshold, she looks back at Frost, who gives her a soft smile. Then to Barry's surprise, she looks over at him. He gives her a reassuring smile and that seems to spark hope in her eyes before the girls are out of sight.
"Cute kids, aren't they?" Frost comments, leaning over on her hip.
"Yeah," he smiles. "Almost like sisters, huh?" he adds, looking over at her as his mind wanders. In his thoughts, in this future, he takes in Val as his own in some way to make up for the lost father figure in her life.
"Yeah, maybe," she smirks, playfully nudging his shoulder as she walks out of the room. "You coming?"
Barry's eyebrows scrunch in confusion. "Where? I thought the procedure would be done in here?" he asks with his hands, motioning to the Med Bay room they are in. "Isn't that why we sent the girls away?"
She snickers, shaking her head, "I forgot how naive you were Flash." She stops a moment and rolls her eyes, much to Barry's confusion, and then looks him over before letting out a heavy sigh. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
She starts to take a step, but Barry holds her back, grasping her foreman. "Wait," he breathes as she raises her eyebrow, "You took control when I was asking why Cait lied to me. Why?"
He watches as the icy meta pulls her arm out of his hold and looks him straight in the eyes causing him to shiver. She smirks, crossing her arms and putting all her weight on her left hip. "What makes you think she was lying to you?"
He scoffs in disbelief, "She told me that little girl was her niece when she clearly called Caitlin, mom."
"That little girl has a name," Frost snaps.
"Who no one has introduced me to!" he bites back. He glares at her as that fire ignites inside him again. She stares him down and he notices her eyes glitching between the icy blue and Cait's brown. He looks at her with concern, taking a step forward but, Frost stops him in his place holding her hand up as her eyes settle back on her icy blue color. He lets out a heavy sigh and then licks his lips. Fighting isn't the answer and he needs to stop acting like his friends are the enemy in this future situation. "Val, right?" he softly asks. "Is it short for something?"
Frost gives a soft smile. "Valerie. Her name is Valerie."
"That's such a pretty name," he smiles.
"Yeah? Her father picked it out," Frost smirks, laughing to herself.
Hearing the word - father. He can't help but think of all the little pieces he is slowly putting together. Realizing Val and Cait are without their father and husband creates this weight in his chest. He wants to help them and maybe, just maybe he can make sure they never lose him. A part of him wants to ask who the father is, but he bites his tongue. "He must have been a good man," he says, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah... he was," she bites. A soft sigh escapes through her nostrils, "Listen, Barry, I am very protective of Caitlin and Valerie as you will come to know. Hearing you fighting and calling Caity a liar when she was just protecting Val, I couldn't take it."
Barry's eyes soften with a sad frown on his face. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called her that. I know we are in an uncharted situation and everything that I learn can cause this future to change. It's just..." he sighs.
"I get it. But, I wanted to clear the air that technically Caity didn't lie to you. As you saw, I am Aunt Frosty whereas Caity is mommy. It's that simple," she says brushing it off like it isn't a big deal. "Our situation is confusing enough so why confuse a child too, you know?" she asks, raising her eyebrows up and down.
Barry chuckles, finally understanding the situation, and nodding along. "Very true," he smiles.
"So can we go now? I would really like to be in my own body," she groans, motioning with her head toward the elevators.
"Lead the way," he gestures, following her every step.
• • • • •
"So how does this work exactly," Barry's words echo in her head.
Cisco sighs adjusting the FireStorm Matrix on Caitlin's body that Frost is still in control of. "I am not dealing with your questions, Mr. Time Traveler," he huffs.
"Chill out," Frost snaps. "Don't get your panties in a bunch," she sasses, shooing his hand and she tries to adjust the device to fit better.
Cisco shouts in frustration, "Hey! If Marty McFly over there wasn't here I would be perfectly fine. But, no. God forbid we have a normal Tuesday around here," he exclaims, pulling at his long locks.
"It's Saturday, genius," Frost remarks with a smirk.
"Whose side are you on?" Cisco highly squeals, his voice cracking, while waving his hands in exasperation.
Caitlin can't help but laugh in the back of their mind. Overhearing their banter gives her a soft spot of comfort. She can feel Frost smiling as she can only hear the joyful sound.
"It's so much fun messing with him,"Frost jokes in their joint mind.
Caitlin's laughter turns into a soft giggle, "Yes, but go easy on him. He is only looking out for all of us, you know?"
Frost rolls her eyes and nods. "Fine. I'll lighten up on Cisco," she says aloud.
"Thank you, Caitlin," he shouts, gesturing with his hand toward the ice meta.
Barry's back straightens as he looks between Frost and Cisco with a look of confusion. "Wha- what just happened?"
"Not one word!" Cisco snaps, but Frost pays him no attention.
"Oh, Caity and I talk and listen to each other in our joint mind," Frost says, pointing to her temple with a shrug as Cisco face-palms himself in annoyance. "It's like a small voice in the back of our mind whenever we share the same body."
"So you guys talk to each other in here?" Barry asks pointing to his temple. Frost simply nods. "That's impressive," he half-smiles in awe.
Frost waves it off, "Not really. Once she and I stopped fighting for control and finally listened to each other it became second nature. Caity figured it all out on her own."
"On her own?" Barry asks, taking a step in their direction with a look of concern.
Before Frost could continue, Cisco stepped in. "Enough questions Riddler. Go stand over there," he points to a spot by the control panels, "and wait for the separation."
Barry immediately nods his head following Cisco's directions. The long-haired friend turns his attention back to Frost. "Alright, you need to stop answering questions and let Caitlin back in control."
Frost crosses her arms, "Stop telling me what to do. I'm not stupid. I know what is at stake."
"Do you? Because every time you answer a question, it jeopardizes us even more," Cisco stresses then squints his eyes. "Is Caitlin able to hear everything you are saying or are you blocking her out again?"
Hearing her name causes Caitlin to have a slim breakthrough in the conversation. So far, whenever Barry talks to Frost, her icy sister seems to put her guard up and won't let her hear anything. She understands Frost's protection but, it is starting to worry her just exactly what he is being told by her mind roommate. "Frost, listen to Cisco," she pushes.
"Relax," Frost stresses speaking to both Caitlin and Cisco. "Him knowing about the future of Caity and I's situation isn't a huge time changer. If anything, it gives him that glimmer of hope that we turn out just fine. There is nothing wrong with that, is there?" she asks, arching an eyebrow.
Cisco opens his mouth only to shut it right after. Thinking and overthinking before simply giving up the debate. "Caitlin, take control, please," he begs and walks away shaking his head.
Frost smirks. "Before you do Caity, I have one more thing to say," she says into their mind.
"Frost..." Caitlin warns as her worry deepens. Yes, Frost can mean well but at the same time, Frost can be too open about things. "Let's get this over with then you can say whatever you want."
Caitlin feels her sister shut her out as she proceeds to speak to Barry. No matter how hard she pushes back for control, Caitlin can't get through and eventually gives in to Frost's control.
"Hey Flash," she nods toward the speedster. "Be sure to catch us when we fall. Fainting is a side effect of the replicating... I think," she smirks with a shrug.
Barry stands at a loss for words, "Wait, what?"
Frost opens her mouth but Cisco beats her to it. "Alright enough. We have a little girl waiting to see two people standing here. So can we please get a move on?" he begs.
With a smirk, Frost releases her control and pushes Caitlin to the front. The sliver locks turning back to her auburn looks. Her eyes blink from icy blue to golden brown. Her pale skin became full of color. She didn't bother to look in Barry's direction. She gives a simple nod to Cisco, who pushes a button on the console to activate the matrix.
A sharp pain courses through her body. It feels like a layer of skin is being peeled away. She looks over to her right to see Frost's form take shape. She shuts her eyes tightly, knowing it is almost over. Faint shouts from Barry perk her ears up but are muffled when a final pang bursts through her - notifying her that the separation is complete.
She bends over in exhaustion, releasing a breath she was holding. Looking over to her right, she sees Frost in her own body, examining every feature. "You okay?" she asks out of breath.
Frost nods. "Ten fingers, ten toes, two ears, and a mouth. I'm fine," she waves with a laugh.
Caitlin laughs along with her, playfully rolling her eyes then pulls Frost into a hug. "It's so good to hold you again," she smiles into her ear.
"Right back at you sis," Frost replies.
"Mommy!"
Caitlin pulls away to look over at the entrance of the speed lab to find her little girl running towards her. A huge sigh of relief escapes her as Val wraps her arms tightly around her. Caitlin picks up her daughter with ease, taking in the feeling of having her daughter in her arms again. "Oh, my baby. How are you feeling?" she asks as her doctor mode comes into play.
"I'm good. I don't have any pain," Val half-smiles as she plays with her mom's hair.
She kisses her on her forehead and places her back on the ground with a smile. "I'm glad to hear, but I would like to run some tests just to make sure," she says, tucking a loose lock of Val's hair behind her ear.
"Yes Mommy," Val sighs. "But you aren't going to find anything. Just like last time," she adds with a pout.
"Hey! Don't talk back to your mom," Frost playfully bites as she walks over next to Caitlin. "She is only looking out for you," she smiles bopping Val's nose.
The little girl giggles, "Yes Aunt Frosty."
Caitlin smiles as she watches Frost hug her daughter as the duo starts to have their own conversation. She looks over to see Cisco starting to walk over toward them with two thumbs up.
"All was successful," he smiles. "And I ran the scans to verify that your cells did regenerate and you are in one hundred percent perfect health," he sighs with relief.
She smiles at her best friend, "Thank you Cisco. I know this isn't an easy procedure, but I would trust no one else with my life or our lives," she corrects herself, thinking about Frost.
He waves his hand like it isn't a big deal. "After everything that we have gone through, this," he gestures with his hands, "is the easy stuff."
She lets out a hard laugh, nodding in agreement. In the corner of her eye, she notices the younger Barry standing off to the sidelines, his hands deep in his pockets, bouncing on the ball of his heels as he watches - waiting. She swallows hard knowing she has to come clean about some things but trying to work it in her brain on how to properly explain everything to him. Debating, what to disclose to him and what she will have to lie about in order to secure this - future - for their family.
She bites her bottom lip and crosses her arms. "Soooo," she sighs. "What does he know?" she asks, gesturing with her head, as she recalls being blocked from all the conversations Frost had with Barry.
Cisco heavily sighs, "Only what your sister has told him. And she had decided to sing like a canary with truth bombs," he speaks loudly, rolling his eyes.
"Hey!" Frost snaps, looking at them with a glare. "He asked. I answered. I didn't see the need to lie to him," she shrugs.
"Frost!" Caitlin can't help but whine, pushing her head back and covering her face with her hands in frustration.
Her hands go up in surrender as she shrugs her shoulders up. "As far as I see it, I did nothing wrong," she waves. "Now who wants ice cream?" she smiles at Val.
Her daughter jumps up and down with excitement. "Me! Me! And can we bring Nora?" she asks with her puppy dog eyes.
"Not so fast you two!" Caitlin shouts, giving a soft glare to Frost, who rolls her eyes.
She hears a light chuckle behind her, so she looks over her shoulder to see Barry with a half-smile watching the scene unfold before him. She can't fight the smile on her face and bites her inner lip. She turns her body to face him, "As you can see I am the strict parent," she jokes to him.
His smile stretches, "I expect nothing more from you Cait."
"Hey!" she can't help but laugh, "I resent that!"
He chuckles, shaking his head. She studies him and sees in his eyes the way his brain is still struggling to put all the pieces together. There is so much she wants to tell him but, he can't know - not yet. But, talking to him, she feels like she is traveling back in time to their younger years. She sighs and looks away, afraid to go too deep with no point of return. "Barry," she licks her lips, "I need to explain myself about earlier," she begins, but then a tug at her hand pulls her focus.
Val is looking up at her with frightened eyes. Caitlin scrunches her eyebrows with concern but then she hears her daughter's soft voice in her head.
"Mommy, don't. He is not daddy," her voice so little and full of worry.
Caitlin frowns and bends down to be at her daughter's eye level. "What do you mean,"she relays back, tucking another loose strand behind Val's ear.
Val sniffs as tears start to form in her eyes, "My daddy knows all about me. About us - our family. He doesn't know anything and telling him things can ruin everything."
"Oh baby," Caitlin says out loud as she softly wipes the fallen tears on Val's cheek.
The little girl continues to sniff as more tears fall down her face. "I want my daddy!" she sobs, wrapping her arms around Caitlin's neck and burying her head into her chest.
Instantly, Caitlin pulls her into her arms. Her heart clutches with each tear staining her top. They have been through a lot - just the two of them. The way their family has been torn apart, the lead-up to Barry's disappearance, and the losses right after. It has been one hit after the other. Everyone knew she was falling apart yet, trying to stay strong for Valerie's sake.
That's the whole reason Frost agreed to merge back for so long. If it weren't for her, Caitlin knows she would not have made it out. Granted, they had their times when they had to merge in order to regenerate cells, for Frost's sake, but, that would normally last for a couple of hours and they would separate again so they could continue to live their separate lives. But, this time was different. She knew she was asking a lot from Frost, who enjoyed living her own life separate from hers. Nevertheless, Frost sacrificed her happiness because she knew Caitlin needed her. She needed Frost to push her, wake her up, and continue living for this girl in her arms whom they both love so much.
"Mommy," Val whispers as she pulls away slightly. "Daddy needed me to tell you something... Something important."
Caitlin blinks rapidly as she processes her daughter's words. She swallows invisible salvia before shaking her head, ready to hear the message from her husband. "What did he say," her voice cracks as she tucks Val's hair back.
Val bites her lip as she looks up at her mother. She turns to see the people in the room as they look at the duo in concern - from Cisco to Frost to Iris standing next to Nora. Lastly, her eyes stop on Barry. She shakes her head as tears cloud her eyes and looks back to her mother. "He said that Scarlett is okay and safe with him..." she hiccups.
The world stills around them. Everyone freezes at the mention of the name. Caitlin blinks away the tears that start to form. She barely has the strength to speak, but the words fall out of her mouth, "Wha- what did you say, Val?"
Frost is quick to Caitlin's side, wanting to hear for clarification. "Val, that is serious to say. Who told you that?"
Valerie looks over her shoulder at Younger Barry then shakes her head. "I can't say," she says looking between her mom and aunt. "Not with him here," she adds in a whisper.
Before anyone else can react, Iris steps towards Barry, guiding him to the exit. "This is a very personal matter that does not concern you. You need to leave," she states as Barry tries to stop her. "Why don't you take Nora to get ice cream?" she adds, with a soft tone as she beckons her to her side. "Make sure to bring us some back too," she tells her daughter with a playful wink.
"Will do momma," Nora nods, taking Barry's head and pulling him out the doorway.
Caitlin glances over to see the look of defeat in Barry's eyes with a sense of longing. She knows he will have even more questions at this point, but right now all she cares about is her daughter in her arms and the news she was just given. She gives the little one a tight hug.
"He is gone Snowflake," Frost says. "Now who told you that?" she asks with a serious expression.
"My dad," she replies, biting her lip.
Cisco steps up, "How did he tell you?"
Caitlin gives Val's hands a gentle squeeze of encouragement. "How did you see your dad, Val?"
"In the speed force," she starts. "When I blacked out, I ended up there somehow. That's where I saw him and Grandma Nora... I think" she mumbles.
Frost arches her eyebrow, "What do you mean, you think Snowflake?"
"And how did you get into the speed force?" Cisco adds, stepping forward.
Valerie shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know. I just was." She looks up at her mom, "And it was dark and scary at first." She takes a deep breath as she tries hard to remember everything. "And like, there was Grandma Nora, but she wasn't," the little scrunched her nose, as she recalls the events. "She told me she was the speed force," she explains.
Everyone hangs on the little girl's words. Processing each word and trying to imagine everything that Val described. Caitlin cleared her throat, looking over at Cisco, "How is this possible?"
"I don't know. I mean she does have a connection to the speed force through Barry," Cisco explains with his hands. "I mean originally, I was going to use her to track Barry through her telekinesis to make sure it truly was him in the speed force so I could pull him out. Not physically send her into it. This," he gestures, "is new territory."
"I mean she isn't a speedster like Nora or Barry that would allow her to go there," Caitlin explains, trying to find reason. "Granted I know she connects to it with her mind at times. We know this from before. It's just..." she starts, but can't seem to find the words.
"It's scary. How do we not know they are just going to pull her in again?" Frost snaps. "She is a child for crying out loud."
Iris is quiet but nods her head. "That's why I am careful with Nora's ability. The speed force is unknown territory. I don't know..." But she doesn't have to finish, she locks eyes with Caitlin and both mothers understand each other.
"Val, when you woke up in the speed force, where were you? Like in Star Labs?" Cisco asks, turning to the little girl.
"I don't know," she whines. "I think I was in Daddy's old bedroom."
"Do you think it was Barry's childhood home?" Iris questions. "Every time he went into the speed force that was where it would take him."
Caitlin nods her head, "But why would the speed force take Val there? Why not take her somewhere familiar to her?"
Val simply shrugs her shoulders. "I was scared and all I wanted was to be with you, Mommy. But, the speed force kept saying they had to tell me something... Something important. That's when Daddy showed up."
"What happened next? What did she tell you, Val?"
The little girl shakes her head, "It all happened so fast. I didn't want to leave Daddy behind." The tears started to build up in her eyes. "And then Grandma Nora turned into Mommy," she adds. "And Daddy didn't like that at all, but she claimed she had to change to wake me up." Her little tears start to fall down her cheeks. "That's when he told me about Scarlett," she hiccups.
Frost places an assuring hand on Caitlin's shoulders. To which Caitlin gives a tight squeeze. Hearing the name again brings up so much pain and loss. She takes a deep breath to hold herself together, but as soon as she feels her daughter's small arms wrap around her, she loses it. Frost, Cisco, and Iris all come together for a big group hug.
"It's okay to let it out Cait," Frost whispers, "you can show your emotions. We all got you."
With a final tight squeeze, the team steps back to allow Caitlin and Val some air. Caitlin stands up with her daughter in her arms and gives the team a small thank you.
"Why don't you two head home? I will deal with Mr. Time Traveler," Cisco says, patting her shoulder and pointing with his thumb to the exit.
Caitlin nods her head, "Just please Frost, don't tell him anything anymore." She gives her sister a stern look, to which Frost replies with an eye roll and a nod. Caitlin acknowledges with a small smile, then places Val down, keeping a hold of her hand. "If you need me, just text, okay?" she tells Cisco, who nods. She turns to Iris, "Rain check on Mother-Daughter playdate?"
Iris smiles, "Of course! We will stop by tonight before heading over to my dad's. And we will see you tomorrow before heading back home to Coast City," she adds.
"You don't live in Central City?" Barry asks in shock.
Everyone turns to face the time traveler with a tray of ice cream cups and Nora standing beside him with her mouth covered in ice cream.
"Nora!" Iris snaps at the little girl's appearance.
The little girl giggles, "What? He said I can have as much as I want!" Iris sighs in exhaustion and crosses her arms. Caitlin fights back a smile at the child's sweet demeanor
"Did you bring me some?" Val asks excitedly, wiping her tears away.
"Of course!" Nora smiles, grabbing a cup off the tray and speeding over to her sister's side. "Mint Chip and Rocky Road! Your favorite!"
Caitlin smiles at the duo as the sisters giggle in glee over the ice cream. Her daughter's favorite is one scope of Caitlin's favorite ice cream flavor and one scope of Barry's favorite. Caitlin bends down to their level to quietly tell them to go finish eating the ice cream in the lounge well she wraps some things before she and Val head home. The girls nod and scurry off and Caitlin's attention lands on Barry and Iris as the pair argue.
"Why are we living in Coast City?" Barry asks, scrunching his forehead in frustration.
"We don't," Iris stresses. "Nora and I do," she states.
"But why? Married people should live together! Not hours away in a different city!" he yells.
Iris looks over at Caitlin and knows she is conflicted because her response can affect things for this Barry. Iris bites her tongue and shakes her head, about to speak when Caitlin steps in.
"Barry, we have told you things are complicated in this future. The more we tell you, the more things can change," she stresses.
"I- I get that Cait, I really do. It's just hard for me to understand why we are living apart," Barry softens his tone.
Caitlin licks her lips and takes a deep breath, "It's because -"
"Because I got an amazing journalism job where I even started my own journalism firm," Iris butts in. "It was my dream job. You allowed me to go after my dream while you stayed here in Central City to continue yours," she half-smiles as she tells the truth. "And Barry come on, you are a speedster for crying out loud. You don't think it won't take more than a minute to run over to Coast City?"
Barry half grins, nodding. "True... I just. I'm sorry guys. I was just expecting something -"
"Different," Caitlin finishes.
Barry smiles, "Yeah, exactly."
Caitlin softly smiles back, and tucks some loose strands of hair behind her ear. Then she clears her throat and points towards the exit. "I am gonna head home. It's been a long day. How about we meet here tomorrow to start running some tests?"
Barry nods his head, slowly in understanding. There seemed to be a hint of hurt and longing but, Caitlin figures it is just in her head. She shakes the thoughts away and heads out. Barry takes a step towards her, mouth agape.
"And you Mr. Back to the Future, get to stay with me," Cisco grins as he wraps his arms around Barry's shoulders. "Just like old times!"
"Sound great man," he says forcing a smile, but still staring longingly at the exit. He whispers to the wind as he tucks his hands into his pockets, "See you tomorrow Cait."
Author's Note:
A HUGE thank you to everyone who has been waiting for this long-overdue update to this story! I hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned for more to come!
Thanks to my friend Ashley for the ice cream recommendations 😉
Please leave comments! They really help to see what works, what you like, and don't like with the story (:
Much love! XOXO