Author's note: Uh, sorry about how long its taken me to update this one. Still writing it, I promise.

Caitlin watched as Maddy played with Grandpa Joe. It was amazing the way she folded back into the fabrics of their lives so seamlessly. Joe was absolutely smitten with her little girl and everyone knew it. There wasn't a thing he wouldn't do for her and for that, Caitlin was grateful. She knew that Barry and Cisco were much the same. That they wanted to see her daughter thrive.

And, apparently, Barry wanted to see her thrive too. He loved her. She knew this now. She suspected that a part of him had always loved her, even when he was busy loving Iris. She wondered again why she had stayed gone so long.

After her attack, her parents had made it clear that she was more than welcome to move back in with him and have Maddy in Central City. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate her parents' offer, she did. It was just that she didn't think she could be pregnant in her parents' house comfortably. It was tiny and she would have taken up a lot of room. She knew this. So, being pregnant in her own apartment in the city she lived in was more than enough for Caitlin.

"Cait?" Barry called to her as he sidled up behind her and placed a hand to her lower back. She looked at him, eyes taking in the sincere expression on his face. "We're going to stop Jay. I promise you."

She smiled softly. "I know you believe that, Barry. However, there's nothing to say that Jay isn't planning some nefarious things right now. You don't know him the way I do."

"I know that he's a creep and a bad guy," Barry said, barely concealed fury lacing his tone. "I know that he doesn't deserve to be within 100 hundred feet of Maddy."

Caitlin felt inexpressibly grateful for one Barry Allen. She nodded her head. "I know." Those two words conveyed more than she ever had a hope to otherwise. She knew that he would see his promise through because there was simply no other way for him to be. Caitlin didn't doubt that. What she doubted, however, was her ability to protect Maddy. There was nothing stopping her from moving heaven and earth to protect her daughter, but was it enough? She didn't know. Wasn't sure how to know, either.

Barry's features softened and he interlaced their fingers together, trailing the pad of his free thumb alongside her cheekbone. "Try not to worry, Cait. I know that's asking a lot and that you're preconditioned to worry. But, trust me. I'm not letting anything happen to you or that little girl."

Caitlin swallowed discreetly, pushing down the lump in her throat. How was it that she could be gone for five years and Barry was still as protective of her as the day she left? Sure, he had been dating Iris at that point but that didn't mean he suddenly stopped caring about Caitlin. She had just cared too much, and it hurt her. Pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, Caitlin tried to say more with that touch than she ever had a hope to with words.

Then Cisco ruined it.

"Yuck. If I want to see my two best friends mackin', I'd ask," Cisco grumbled.

Caitlin pulled out of the kiss, laughing lightly. "Didn't I see you and Hartley making out last week?"

Cisco pointed his lollipop at her as he narrowed his eyes. "That's beside the point, Caitlin."

Barry laughed, pulling away from her and squatting down so he was on Maddy's level on the floor. "You and Grandpa Joe having fun?"

"Oh, yes!" Maddy trilled." "He bought me so many fun toys and books!"

Caitlin sighed. It seemed like everyone was determined to spoil her daughter. Joe caught her eye and chuckled. "Give us this, Caitlin. None of us have ever even seen this little girl before now."

Caitlin knew she had been wrong to keep Maddy away from her extended family. Sure, she was trying to protect her from Jay by just letting her parents see her, but now that she thought about it, she realized that wasn't fair to anyone else. Least of all Joe, who adored kids. And loved Caitlin as if she were one of his own. She swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled at Joe tenderly. "I know."

Joe's eyes softened on her, his mouth going lose around the edges. Looking down at Maddy, a twinkle appeared in his eye as he grinned at her. "What do you say, Maddy Mouse? Want to help Grandpa Joe make dinner?"

"Oh, yes, please," Maddy smiled, looking at her mother. "Can I, mommy?"

"I don't see why not," she said, squeezing her shoulder gently. Joe swooped Maddy up into his arms and carried her into the kitchen with Caitlin's mother following. Then Thomas, her father, was speaking.

"I want you to issue a retraining order against Jay, Caity," he said, looking at her seriously.

Caitlin sighed. "I was thinking the same thing."

"If the law tells him he can't come within one hundred feet of you and he breaks that rule, he's looking at serious jail time."

Barry spoke up. "I think Thomas is right. It couldn't hurt to have a restraining order in place. It might not do much but it might protect Maddy just enough."

That was honestly what Caitlin needed to hear just then. Anything to protect her daughter. Turning to face back out the window, she watched as cars drove down their street, and bit her lip. The restraining order would really help. Maddy would be protected and Caitlin wouldn't have to look over her shoulder twice as much as she was doing now. She felt Barry place his hand on her shoulder, resting her hand on top of his the next moment. Then she was speaking. "I'll file it in the morning."