Today was the anniversary of Nora Allen's death and that was why instead of being at work or at school, Barry and Chloe Allen were currently at a cemetery in Central City, visiting their mother's grave like they always did today. It was their way of grieving, which was why Tina always excused Chloe from school and why Barry's boss at CCPD, Captain David Singh, always gave him the day off.
However, it appeared that a new guy at CCPD did not know, since the new Detective Eddie Thawne came storming into the precinct, wondering what was going on and why no one else was wondering why their CSI wasn't doing his job.
"Captain Singh." Eddie said and as he approached him and Joe.
"What is it Thawne?" Singh asked.
"Where the hell is Allen? We've got cases here that need to be processed." Eddie said and Joe rolled his eyes at that.
"He seriously doesn't know?" Joe asked Singh, who shrugged.
"He's still new from Keystone, guess word hasn't gotten around yet." Singh said.
"I'm sorry, what am I missing?" Eddie asked.
"Today's Allen's day off, he always takes today off every year." Singh said.
"Why?" Eddie asked, only to be taken aback by Joe's glare.
"Because today is the anniversary of his mother's murder, so right now he and his little sister are at the cemetery paying their respects." Joe snapped, about five seconds away from tossing Eddie out on his ass, but calmed down when he saw Eddie's whole demeanor change.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. Still learning the ropes around here." Eddie was quick to apologize and Singh waved him off.
"Relax Thawne, had this been any other day, I'd be the first one doing what you were, but today, I know to respect the way Barry grieves. He'll be back tomorrow. But that is why we have more than one CSI. I think either Albert or Spivot should be able to handle it in the meantime, especially since they've both got eyes on Allen's job as our top CSI at this precinct." Singh said, referring to their other CSIs, Patty Spivot and Julian Albert.
"Got it. But I will give Allen some credit, his work is always much more detailed than his." Eddie said.
"Why do you think he's on top in that lab?" Singh said.
"Anyways, just because Barry has today off doesn't mean the rest of us do. Let's get back to work." Joe said and the other two nodded.
Meanwhile, at the cemetery, Barry and Chloe were standing over their mother's grave and standing behind them was their foster mother Christina McGee and Barry's girlfriend, who he'd been living with for over the past year, Iris West.
"I'm glad you could be here today Iris." Tina said to the woman she hoped would become her future daughter-in-law, since even though she was only Barry and Chloe's foster mother, she did consider them her actual children.
"There's no other place I'd rather be, since losing our mothers is something he and I have in common. I just wish I'd gotten the chance to know mine, not that I don't love Cecille." Iris said and Christina nodded in understanding as they watched Chloe on her knees, weeping over her mother' grave while Barry had his hands on her shoulders.
"Every year it gets harder for me to remember what mom looks like. What her voice sounded like, what her perfume smells like. How it felt when she hugged me. It's not fair that we lost her before I could even make any memories with her and the few ones I do have are fading fast." Chloe said, crying as Barry rubbed her shoulders.
"I know, none of this is fair. It's bad enough that dad vanished right after you were born, but then we lost mom too. But Chloe, I promise you, one day, we will find out what happened to both of them and get justice." Barry said.
"Do you think mom would mind if I sang something?" Chloe asked and Barry shook his head.
"I think she'd be the first one to tell you to sing if it would cheer you up and she'd love to hear you sing." Barry said, since he knew his sister had a beautiful voice and that both of their parents would've loved to hear it.
Chloe nodded as she began to sing:
"Sha-la-la-la-la
Sha-la-la-la-la
You used to call me your angel
Said I was sent straight down from heaven
You'd hold me close in your arms
I loved the way you felt so strong
I never wanted you to leave
I wanted you to stay here holding me
I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear, every once in a while
And even though it's different now
You're still here somehow
My heart won't let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha-la-la-la-la
I miss you
You used to call me your dreamer
And now I'm living out my dream
Oh, how I wish you could see
Everything that's happening for me
I'm thinking back on the past
It's true that time is flying by too fast
I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear, every once in a while
And even though it's different now
You're still here somehow
My heart won't let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha-la-la-la-la
I miss you
I know you're in a better place, yeah
But I wish that I could see your face, oh
I know you're where you need to be
Even though it's not here with me
I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear, every once in a while
And even though it's different now
You're still here somehow
My heart won't let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha-la-la-la-la
I miss you
I miss your smile
And I still shed a tear, every once in a while
And even though it's different now
You're still here somehow
My heart won't let you go
And I need you to know
I miss you
Sha-la-la-la-la
I miss you (I miss you)." she sang, tears coming to her eyes as she sang every last lyric.
"That was beautiful Chloe." Barry said and Chloe smiled at her big brother gratefully.
"Thank you, but I think I'm ready to go home now." Chloe said and Tina nodded.
"We do need to stop by school to pick up your assignments since just because I let you take today off doesn't mean you can fall behind on your schoolwork." Tina said and Chloe nodded as she let Tina lead her back to their car.
"I'll meet up with you guys later." Barry said and Tina nodded as she left him and Iris alone.
"Thank you for coming here today. I know you probably need to get to work." Barry said.
"That's the beauty of being freelance. I can pick my own hours. And there was nothing that was gonna stop me from being here for you today, since I know how hard it is for you to come here." Iris said as she hugged him.
"I know and I appreciate it, but there's actually another reason why I'm glad you're here." Barry said.
"And that is?" Iris asked, only to be shocked when Barry got down on one knee and pulled out a beautiful ring.
"Barry?" Iris asked, not believing that he was doing this here, today.
"Iris, I have loved you since the moment that I knew what love was and I knew, from the moment we first got together that I wanted to one day ask you to be my wife and I'm doing it here and now because I want my mom to be here to see the proposal since she won't be at the wedding and the reason I chose today is because for so long, this day has meant nothing but tragedy to me, but I'd like to give it some joy. A reason to be happy and you make me happier than anyone else on the planet. Will you marry me?" Barry asked, hoping that Iris said yes.
"Yes." Iris said immediately and Barry smiled as he slid the ring onto her finger before he got up and kissed her.
The song Chloe sang is called I miss you by Miley Cyrus, who also is the actress who plays Chloe in this series, but think of the younger version of her from the old Disney show, Hannah Montana, since I feel like that fits better for her age and appearance.