song: I Will Return, Skylar Grey

Rachel suddenly seemed to have turned into such a typical girl… She didn't know what to wear for the big date she had that day and she wasn't sure whether she should laugh or hate that she was only proving the stereotype.

Barry had already told her that he loved her and yes, it was true that he'd taken a longer trip to the Speedforce right after, but she didn't think it affected his feelings at all. Otherwise, he would've never asked her out. It stood to reason that he didn't really care what she was wearing, but she wanted to show him that she cared enough to dress up for him nevertheless. Because he deserved it. Because it was Barry. Finally. And it wasn't as though she didn't have a lot of pretty clothes. She was a book writer, therefore she'd attended a fair share of events so far; not to mention she'd used to date Harrison Wells – before she realized that he was really Eobard Thawne – so a filled up closed was a must.

Also, just because it was, indeed, Barry; she wanted to be herself and look pretty for him at the same time, so in the end, she settled for a little black dress and her hair just hanging loosely down her back in red waves. Simple, elegant and hopefully, a little sexy, she thought, choosing red heels just for a little extra.

She hadn't really managed to get any rest before the doorbell rang, but least she was ready.

Once she opened the door, she saw him standing there dressed in a nice suit with a bouquet of red roses in his hands.

"You shaved," was the first thing that slipped her mouth and she immediately felt silly about it. Yes, he did, his face now looking exactly like she remembered, but she deemed it a silly remark and could swear her cheeks flashed crimson as her heart started beating faster.

"Well, yes… I wanted to look like me again," he explained, his pupils dilating on seeing her. "You look beautiful," he then complimented.

"Um… Thank you… You're not so bad yourself," she followed with, glad that she was able to speak normally. After all, they'd been friends for a long time and she always felt comfortable around him even though – yes, there had been something more between them and none of them could really deny it anymore, hence the date right now. They just needed a bit time to come to terms with everything that had happened ever since he'd left and to accept that he was, indeed, back and nothing stood in their way anymore. Her powers were gone. Thawne was dead. They were finally free.

"I was afraid it could be too much, but you also dressed up, so I'm glad I made the right call. Here, for you." He gave her the roses.

"Thank you. They're beautiful." She took them to the kitchen where she found a proper vase and then left it on the table in her living room before joining Barry again. "Shall we?"

"Actually, I was going to ask…" he started slowly, reaching his arm to her. "Shall we go big? I have something pretty special planned and I need your permission to take you there."

"Does this involve using your speed?" she asked, already guessing where he was going with this.

"Yes. Do you mind?"

"No, not at all. After all, you're the Flash, Barry and pretending you're not is denying your very being… That came up way too deep. I intended on something much lighter." Oh my goodness, could she be even more awkward?! She suddenly panicked.

To her relief, they both laughed, even if awkwardly.

"Well, you're the writer," he pointed out and then came closer. Her heartbeat elevated immediately as the world was so open to all the possibilities now that it was quite overwhelming. "Do you mind?" he asked again as though he sensed her tensing up a bit. "Is this ok or…?" he then added.

"Oh, of course. I'm sorry… it's just… " She shook her head, trying to find the right way to express herself. "Barry, nothing changed from my side. It's just… all this time… I was scared of getting closer to you for so long and then… you went into the Speedforce and I… I really missed you. In fact, you have no idea how hard it's been for me… without you here…" she confessed and then bit on her own lip, feeling totally silly.

"I know. I'm… sorry for that."

"Don't be. I know you had no choice. I understand it had to be done. You're the hero, after all."

"Sometimes I wish I didn't have to be," he suddenly confessed, looking her in the eye. "Sometimes I really wish I was just a regular Joe, making his life however he sees fit."

"It's ok," she assured him. "Really. I want to have this date with you. I… I am not afraid anymore. If you being gone taught me anything…" she remembered Cisco's wise words, "it's that denying myself what I really want just because of fear of something that might or might not happen, it doesn't work… In the end, you can't control how you feel anyway and the pain… the pain is the same no matter what."

For a while, they stood there, just looking at each other and Barry was already opening his mouth to say something, but he clearly changed his mind. He acted instead.

He reached out to her and then pulled her to the hall, closing the door behind them as he stepped closer, putting his arms around her and holding her firmly, their faces so close now they could kiss if only they wanted to.

"Ready?" he asked, his breath hot on her skin and she could only nod, suddenly feeling weak in her knees.

He sped. And sped. And she remembered that she didn't really like it all that much, especially when it seemed like a longer distance, so she just held on for dear life, waiting for it to stop.

And it was so worth it.

Because they were suddenly standing on top… of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

"Wha… What?" she gasped, not able to believe her own eyes. "Oh my god, Barry!"

"I realize it's going to be hard to beat this with our second date, but… you deserve all the best, Rachel." He was holding her hand while standing right next to her, admiring the view as well, but soon enough his eyes set on her and she turned to the side to look at him, too.

"I guess nothing will ever beat this," she agreed with an amused smile. "And it's also going to be very hard on the next man I'll date…" she then teased him.

"The what now?!" He pretended to be appalled. "What if there is no next man?" he followed with in such a soft voice that it caused her skin to tingle. Then, he brought his hand up to her face to brush her cheek, putting her hair behind her ear before he moved closer, his lips touching hers in a small and tentative kiss.

She was never not going to respond to this and with her clear permission, he deepened the kiss, savouring her lips. This was nothing like the first date she'd had with Thawne. Barry was his complete opposite. Barry cared, making sure they were on the same page. He didn't just take whatever he wanted without thinking of the consequences and in the end, it made all the difference. The passion was there, Rachel could feel it, already squirming in her body. And truly, if this little kiss set her on fire this much, she was really looking forward to more.

"Hungry?" he asked when moving away, a bright smile on his face. He was happy. And that was a bit odd on him, her heart constricting when she realized why she had this thought. She'd known him for a very long time, but she'd rarely ever seen him truly happy without carrying any burden on his shoulders, nor levelled down by the death of his mother or father, by the betrayal of Thawne or even her keeping her distance or constantly pushing him away. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to show him that he deserved happiness, that he could have it all and he should, too. He was clearly more worthy of it than most men.

"The Return of the Hero, hah?" Barry chuckled as he was slowly walking Rachel back home. He'd sped them back from Paris after a delicious dinner, but not right in front of her door, which only told her that he wanted to extend their time together, that he was not ready to say goodnight just like she wasn't.

"What can I say? I decided to be hopeful for a change and to create a happier sequel for the horribly sad story I wrote before."

"Well, if anyone can pull it off, it's you. But… does that mean… you're willing to give us a chance?" he made sure. This whole time he was holding her hand and she didn't mind that at all. In fact, she liked it. Now, he spun her gently till they were standing face to face.

"Yes," she answered with confidence. "I thought that was obvious when I stood by you when you defeated Savitar. Or when I kissed you before you went into the Speedforce. Or when I said 'yes' to this date."

"Ok, yes, you got me. It's just…" There it was again, this happy smile that seemed to be suddenly illuminating his entire face and presence. It was certainly a different kind of energy and she welcomed it on him. She made him happy. "I guess I still find it hard to believe, is all."

"I don't want to think about the past anymore," she told him. "I don't want to think about visions or prophecies or powers. I love my life now. I am finally happy with myself. I am in control of how I live as well. And I choose you. I need to take this chance, because that is what my heart tells me to do. I can't say it any plainer for you." Except she could tell him she loved him, but she wasn't ready for that just yet. Or at least she didn't want to say it first, even though technically he'd already said it some time ago.

He didn't respond. He seemed to get exactly what she meant, so he simply leaned forward and kissed her. And it felt so right. As she was kissing him back, getting a bit more closer to him, she felt the fire building inside of her again. It felt so right and so good and as it was meant to be. Like ever since she'd met him, they were supposed to gravitate towards each other like this. Like there was no stopping this fate.

"I should probably say goodnight for now." Barry broke the kiss, his breath elevated, heavy.

"Yeah…" she agreed, though it was actually the last thing she wanted.

He saw her off to her door and kissed her again.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

She was standing there for a moment, watching him go down the stairs and somehow feeling disappointed and happy at the same time.

She sighed before disappearing inside her apartment, but before she bolted the door shut, she was led by instinct when opening it wide again and there he was, standing on her threshold once more.

He didn't want to leave as much as she didn't want him to.

They didn't say anything as he reached for her while walking inside her apartment, lips crashing together and bodies melting into one another. She kicked the door shut with her foot, too preoccupied with all the kissing that was taking place and breathless, yet still wanting more. He felt so right against her and she fitted into his arms so perfectly. It was as though they were made for each other, a feeling she'd only ever described in her books but never truly believed was all that true.

Well, maybe it could be.

She led the way to the bedroom where they clashed together again, clothes being slowly discarded and landing on the floor until her bra was gone as well, soon replaced by Barry's warm hands. He pushed her gently towards the bed till she sat down and he knelt in front of her, taking hold of her breasts and bringing his face to each of them in turn, kissing and caressing and then sucking on her nipples till she threw her head back and moaned deeply in her throat, a pool of fresh wetness gathering between her legs.

Barry's lips then traced lower as his hand pressed against her chest so she lied down, feeling him pulling on her underwear, the only remaining garment she was currently wearing. As it was out of the way, she shifted backwards, lying flat on the bed now with her whole body and him following to soon hover above her, capturing her kips in a heated kiss once more.

Finally, he removed his pants and boxer shorts as well and was there again, nearly kneeling in front of her lying form on the bed. She looked down at him and then back up at his face.

"Barry," all she said was his name as he lowered himself into her open arms and fitted between her legs, soon guiding himself inside of her and sliding in there with a heavy groan leaving his lips.

And then, he began to move when kissing her lips and slowly descending to suck on the pulse of her neck and finally, on her breast; his pushes slow and steady, but soon began to grow faster and more desperate as her arms flung around his neck, bringing him closer, her body wanting to melt into him and finally explode all around him.

It was like coming home when they finally both climaxed, her first and him following soon after, the pleasure levelling them down completely.

Even though he finished, he didn't move just yet; his face at the level with hers. He took it into his hands, supporting his body on his elbows as he looked her in the eyes when she opened them again. She felt a bit too exposed, vulnerable even when gazing into the depths of his pupils like this, but he had nothing to hide, was like an open book. And then, he said, "I love you. I love you so much."

And she couldn't respond with anything else but, "I love you too, Barry."

He kissed her again and then she found herself enveloped by his arms that felt so warm and so solid around her. He was her rock and deep down inside she wasn't sure whether it was such a good idea, but she gave in anyway, allowing herself to lean against him, to accept everything he was offering her and to succumb to a peaceful sleep for the first time in weeks.

She saw him.

She saw him clearly.

He was exhausted from all the running. Running for way too long.

He opened his mouth in a silent scream, reaching out to her, but she couldn't get to him. All she could do was to watch him die in absolute agony as his body came apart…

Rachel woke up screaming, immediately sitting up on the bed and not noticing that she actually pushed Barry aside whole doing so since he was still holding her.

"Hey… hey… it's ok." Barry sat up as well, immediately placing his hand on her shoulder. "Rachel, you're ok. It was just a dream."

His presence brought her back to this moment and she realized where she was and that she was there with him. They'd just had an amazing date and then even better sex. And then she had a dream in which the old vision that had always been haunting her, came back as a nightmare.

She couldn't help it as her entire body shook and she started to sob, grabbing the bed cover around herself and covering her chest with it, feeling too exposed out of the sudden.

"Rachel, what did you dream about? Maybe it would help if…" he started gently again, his hand moving up and down her shoulder, but she jumped away from his touch, still seeing his body, this beautiful body of his, that she was now privy to admire, being torn apart by an invisible force she couldn't understand.

"No… I… I can't do this… I can't do this anymore…" she started whispering, still in shock.

Barry froze at once, suddenly terrified of what she was going to do or say next. He wasn't stupid. He already had a pretty good idea of what she might've dreamt of. And how that could've affected her. He also wasn't sure whether he could just leave her alone now after everything that had happened between them. He was in too deep. He finally had her and she wanted him. She loved him. It would be too much to just…

"I can't lose you," she suddenly said while moving closer to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pressed herself against him. "Barry, I can't lose you. Promise me this won't happen. Promise me you will not leave again."

He couldn't find the right words to say to her. He couldn't even tell her what she wanted to hear. Because he simply didn't know. And what he wanted more than anything was selfish, because he just wanted her to stay with him no matter what.

"I thought your powers were gone," he eventually said when she seemed to have calmed down a bit in his arms.

She slowly pulled away, looking at his distraught face, her expression mirroring his.

"They are. This wasn't a vision. This was a nightmare of it. It's my biggest fear. It always has been," she confessed.

Still, he had no words to say to that, so he only gently wiped the tears from her face.

"If it's up to me, if the choice is mine alone, I will never leave you," he promised as much as he could.

"You know… Cisco has this theory…" she suddenly started, sitting up more comfortably now, the covers still around her body. "He suspects it might be all Eobard's fault. That he wanted me to have those powers. That he wanted me to see this vision of you dying to keep us apart… but… Wait… you don't seem too surprised by it. Have you figured it out already?"

"I… had an inkling," Barry admitted. "It wasn't anything he said, more so implied… I could've still understood it wrong, but… I suspected that the reason he was pursuing you, the reason he wanted to be with you, was me all along. Another painful revenge on me."

"Because it feels so right between us?" Rachel made sure. "You think that in the future, before he went back in time to kill your mom; you think we were together, don't you? And that he not only killed your mother to hurt you, but also took me away from you?"

"Basically, yes," Barry admitted, his expression hardening, jaw clenching. "It seemed like a perfect explanation, because… well, I already loved you. I didn't really realize it at first as though it just happened and one day I thought… yes, I already loved you. I just couldn't tell you, because you were going through something tough as well and you didn't want me around that much."

"Because of the vision I had. It was the same with me… Deep down inside I already knew you were going to become someone very special, that I would fall for you, that I already started and I didn't want it to happen. I didn't want to have you just to lose you like this."

"The thing is, we will never know what is going to happen. We will never know whether Thawne somehow manipulated your visions as well or it was enough to give you those powers, because I… because I will die in the future. We can't know that. What we do know is that future can change. His changed because we changed it. Nothing is set in stone, so the best we can do is to live on and keep on fighting."

Rachel nodded, by now having stopped crying.

"I'm going to be strong, Barry. And I am not going to let him manipulate the way I act or feel any longer. He doesn't get this right."

Barry only nodded and then leaned his forehead against hers.

"Would you like to try and get some sleep still?"

She nodded, situating herself with her head over his chest, listening to his heartbeat and just being in the moment. She hated that their relationship would always be tainted like this, tainted by the Reverse Flash, but on the other hand, maybe she should look at it differently. Maybe even despite Thawne, they were still thriving and choosing each other. They would be amazing together despite all the manipulation and Thawne keeping them apart. That was what she should hold onto.