Caitlin drove down the streets of Central City, looking at all the things that had changed since she'd last been there. Five years was enough to mark a definite change in her city, and she wondered how much of it she missed; how much of it she remembered. She expelled a soft sigh, pulling into the Jitters parking lot. She could do with a pick-me-up. Uncle Cisco and Uncle Hartley were watching Maddy and she knew she had this time to herself to do whatever she pleased. She got out of her car, sliding her purse up onto her shoulder, and headed inside the building.

Once inside, she stood in line, smiling slightly at all the people who were in the shop. She knew that if anyone needed a caffeine dose, Jitters was the place they came to. She had loved it back in high school and had she stayed for college here, this is where she would have frequented on nights she needed to pull an all-nighter to study. Luckily, her college campus had a great coffee shop that she was a frequent member at.

She scooted forward in line, inching her way closer to the front of it, near the counter, and she looked at the board to see what drink she wanted. Then something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye and she turned to the right, looking out of the window at the coffee shop. Jay Garrick was standing across the street, staring directly at her, and she felt ice flood her veins.

Stepping out of line, she hurried through the crowded shop, pushing her way through the bodies that collected like masses, and she stepped outside, taking in lungful's of air. She glanced around and didn't spot Jay. Had she hallucinated him? Had the many, many nights of little to no sleep finally caught up to her and she was hallucinating him? She didn't know. She took a steadying breath and turned around. Jay was behind her and she took several hasty steps backwards, getting her footing underneath her. "Garrick." Her tone was cool; nothing more than a vehement hiss.

Jay leered at her and she felt her skin prickle uncomfortably in the after math of it. "Caity. How good to see you. I believe you've got something – someone – that belongs to me."

She was instantly grateful that Maddy was with her uncles and not with her mom; Caitlin was positive that her daughter would want to say something to Jay if she saw how uncomfortable he made her mother and that was just not something she wanted to deal with right now. "She will never belong to you, you asshole."

"You took my daughter from me," Jay said pleasantly. "Imagine what the courts will think."

"No judge in their right mind would let you have her," she snapped, bristling at the insinuation alone. "You raped me. You drugged my drink and took from me what wasn't yours' to take. You had to drug me because you know I would have never willingly slept with you."

Jay's eyes narrowed. He pushed himself into her personal space. "Don't get too comfortable with the notion that you'll keep Maddy. I'll take you to court if I have to."

"I'll drag your name through the mud before you ever even get the chance to drag mine through it," Caitlin hissed, eyes flashing.

Jay just shrugged a shoulder. "If you want to put our daughter through that, I mean. I know that I want this to be as smooth as possible for her but if you're really willing to drag her through court hearings and defense attorneys, then so will I."

Caitlin's heart was hammering and she felt in her purse for the mace she had taken to carrying with her. As her fingers wrapped around the tiny bottle, she heard another voice call out to her; a familiar voice. "Caitlin?" She turned her head in time to spot Barry hurrying towards them, pushing his way through the crowded street. He stopped in front of them and looked at Jay, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you?"

"Maddy's father," he said calmly and Caitlin lost it. She threw a punch, decking him directly in the nose, and Jay stumbled back a few steps. Pinching his nostrils together, Jay tutted. "Got to watch that temper of yours', Caity."

"You'll be her father only when hell freezes over," Caitlin snapped, feeling fury dance along her bones. She was shaking and she felt, rather than saw, Barry place himself in-between them. She could feel the hostility radiating off of Barry like heat, and then he was speaking.

"If you know what's good for you, Jay, you'll stay the hell away from Caitlin," he hissed. "She doesn't deserve to have to put up with you. I swear to God, I'd kill you right here, right now, with my bare hands for what you did to her."

Jay just looked at Barry indifferently before turning back to Caitlin. "I will tell you when I plan to meet up with my daughter. We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way, but one way or the other, she will be with me."

Caitlin stared at Jay in horror. This men was not above scare tactics and she knew that. She shook her head mutely, watching as he grinned at her maliciously before turning on his heel and striding away. She turned to look at Barry, helplessly mouthing wordlessly at him as he pulled her in for a hug. "Shh, it's okay. We're not going to let him get anywhere near Maddy."

"He can't take her from me," she whispered brokenly. "She's all I have."

"She is not all you have," Barry reminded her, gently carding his fingers through her auburn tresses. "You've got an entire village of people who want to see that little girl thrive. We're going to protect her, Cait. I promise you."

And it wasn't enough to soothe all of Caitlin's anxieties but it was a start. And that was good enough for her.

Author's note: Sorry this one has been a long time coming. This story is still very much going to be finished. Thanks for all who have stuck with it this far. Xx