Caitlin had done as she said and filed the restraining order. There was a voice in the back of her mind, telling her it was too much to hope that Jay wouldn't break it, but she had to try. She had to do something. It was Maddy. She would do anything for her little girl.

She and Barry walked out of the precinct, hand-in-hand, and Caitlin took a moment to enjoy the fact that Jay would be getting the restraining order delivered to him sometime that very afternoon. She spotted Barry grinning at her knowingly, and she laughed. "I'm just really relieved it finally seems to be getting put behind us."

"Me too, Cait," Barry replied in a warm voice, tugging on her hand, and pulling her towards him. She met him in a gentle kiss, feeling her heart flutter as he carded his fingers through her hair, pulling her closer and closer.

"I love you." The three words escaped their own volition and Caitlin's eyes flew open, terrified to see his reaction. He was smiling at her tenderly, cupping his cheek.

"God, I love you," he murmured hoarsely, and her heart beat a pleasant tattoo across her ribcage. "I've wanted to tell you for years."

"So have I," Caitlin admitted in a soft voice. Barry's eyes traced her. "I've loved you since freshman year of high school."

Barry pressed his lips to her forehead tenderly, holding them there for a moment, before pulling back to look her in the eye. "I'm sorry I took so long to catch up." His voice was warm but serious around the edges, and Caitlin knew in that moment that he meant his apologies.

"It's okay," she murmured. "It was worth the wait."

He cocked a gentle smile her way and then they were walking back down the street once more, hand-in-hand. Barry threw his arm around her shoulders, to the point where their cojoined hands rested by her. She placed kiss on the back of his palm, and he smiled shyly. She felt the ever-present butterflies in her stomach; the ones that always awoken when Barry was around, and she had no complaints. She scooted closer to him as they walked, determined to share in his space for as long as he'd let her. Then, her phone was ringing and she was pulling away from him apologetically. "One sec. Hello?"

"You really thought a restraining order would stop me?" Jay hissed down the line, and Caitlin felt her stomach plummet. "Come on, Caity, you know me better than that."

She froze, looking at Barry in fear. Then she was swallowing her fear and replying. "If you know what's good for you, Jay, you'll take that restraining order seriously."

He laughed, sending a cold chill up her spine. "Keep an eye on our daughter for me, will you?"

He clicked off the phone and she and Barry were racing to the car, desperate to see Maddy.

XXX

"Joe! Maddy!" Caitlin cried as soon as they got to Joe's house. Caitlin looked around, determined to find her daughter, and there she was. Running towards her. Caitlin bent down and scooped her up, pressing her face into her hair as her daughter's natural scent soothed her. "Are you guys okay?"

"We're fine, Caitlin," Joe assured her in a warm voice, and her heart stopped beating so erratically. "What's wrong?"

Caitlin handed Maddy off to Barry, he swung her up in his arms. "Come on, Maddy Mouse. Let's go see all the new toys Grandpa Joe bought you."

After they walked out of the room, Caitlin turned to Joe, pressing a shaking hand to her heart. "I'm sorry. Jay – he called. Said something about Maddy and I panicked."

"Naturally," Joe replied quietly, squeezing her on the shoulder. "But Maddy is safe with me.
I won't let Jay get within two hundred feet of her."

"The restraining order says one hundred," Caitlin commented.

"Make it three hundred," Joe replied with a wink, and Caitlin felt herself finally calm down. She smiled in relief.

"Thank you, Joe. I know Maddy is safe with you. I just…," she trailed off, shaking her head.

"You're her mother, Caitlin," Joe reminded her kindly. "You wouldn't be doing your job correctly if you didn't worry. Especially when that psycho calls you. Had the restraining order been delivered?"

"I think so," Caitlin replied. "Jay was pissed about it."

"Then, that's his one time to reach out to you," Joe said flatly. "The next time he does, I'll slap handcuffs on him myself."

Caitlin smiled. "Thanks, Joe."

Then they heard Maddy and Barry coming back into the room, and Caitlin rearranged her features into a calm smile. "Hi mommy!"

"Hi, Maddy Mouse," she grinned down at her daughter, scooping her up when she held her arms open. "Did you have fun with Grandpa Joe?"

"He's the best," Maddy grinned, then looked around guiltily. In a stage whisper, she added, "don't tell my other grandpa that!"

The adults all laughed, Caitlin bringing Maddy into a tight hug. Since the call from Jay, it was as if she couldn't let her daughter out of her sight. She knew she'd have to be more aware of things, certainly, but ultimately, her daughter still had a life to live. She pressed a kiss to the top of Maddy's head. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

"Thanks," Maddy grinned, and kicked out her legs, her tell-tale sign that she wanted to be put down. Caitlin acquiesced her wishes and placed her on the ground. The moment her feet touched the carpet, she was racing off to Barry, who caught her in his arms when she jumped.

"Hi, munchkin," he grinned down at her.

"Hi, daddy – I mean Barry!" Maddy exclaimed. Caitlin and Barry shared look of surprise, then both smiled kindly at her daughter.

"You can call me whatever you want, kiddo," Barry said in a choked voice.

Maddy looked at Caitlin, who nodded. "Whatever you want."

"I'll call you daddy, then," she said, pressing her face against his neck. Barry rubbed a soothing hand up her back, sharing a look with Caitlin that she understood perfectly. In that moment, he decided to do whatever it took to protect Maddy.

Too bad, there was a storm coming.