Star City:
It took a matter of minutes for Barry and Laurel to arrive in Star City, they were outside the SCPD as Barry didn't know where to go. He put Laurel down then they walked into the police department.
The pair arrived at the bullpen to see cops working and talking, Laurel walked her Father's office while Barry stayed still, looking around and thinking about his time at the CCPD. Barry's thoughts stopped when he saw Laurel and Quentin walking over to him, Laurel stood next to Barry while Quentin looked at him.
"Nice to see you again, Barry." Quentin spoke and Barry smirked as the pair shook hands. "Laurel told me that she's been helping you heal. She does miracles, doesn't she?" Quentin smiled as Laurel looked away, Barry chuckled and nodded.
"You raised an amazing young woman, Sir." Barry complimented as Laurel looked at him. "In the short time she's been with me, Laurel's helped me feel a little better." Barry explained and Quentin smiled.
"I'm glad, Barry." Quentin nodded then he looked at Barry. "How long are you staying in Star City for?" He asked curiously but Barry shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe for a while, I needed a break from things in Central City." Barry explained and Quentin understood. "I just need to figure out where I'm staying." Barry smirked, he was about to take out his phone but Laurel stopped him.
"You could stay with me," Laurel suggested which surprised both Quentin and Barry. "I got a spare room you can use. But I have one rule; you help out around the place." Laurel told him and Barry smiled then nodded.
"I'm okay with that." Barry agreed and Laurel nodded. "To say thank you, I'll cook." Barry suggested which surprised Laurel. "Would you care to join us, Captain?" Barry asked and Quentin looked at his daughter.
"Dad, it could be nice." Laurel told him and Quentin chuckled then nodded. "What does the chef have planned to cook?" Laurel asked as she and Quentin looked at Barry.
"If I told you, it would spoil the surprise." Barry told them and the pair smiled. "See you around 6, Sir?" Barry asked and Quentin nodded.
"Okay and Barry? Call me Quentin, please." Quentin asked and Barry nodded. "See you later, Laurel." Quentin smiled then he hugged his daughter. Laurel and Barry then left the bullpen, they were outside and headed towards an alley then Barry picked up Laurel sped towards her apartment.
Laurel's apartment:
After a few seconds, Barry had put the stuff he brought away in the spare room just as Laurel walked out of her room. She was about to check on Barry but he was in the kitchen and making coffee.
"Is this what it's like to live with you?" Laurel asked as Barry turned around and gave her a cup of coffee. He smiled as the pair walked over and sat on the couch.
"Basically. Until the Singularity happened, I was living with Joe. Iris moved out to live with Eddie then after he died, she moved back while I moved out and into STAR Labs." Barry explained then his smile faded. Barry sat forward to put down his cup when the flash drive fell out of his pocket, he picked it up and looked at it.
"Have you thought about it more? Watching Wells' message?" Laurel asked as she put her cup down. Barry looked down then looked at Laurel, she looked worried.
"What if I don't like what he has to say?" Barry asked with concern. Laurel moved closer then placed her hand on top of his.
"Like I said before, I'll be here to help. You aren't alone, Barry." Laurel told him and Barry smiled a little. "How about this? You have until the end of next week to watch it, right?" Laurel asked and Barry nodded slowly. "We have four days until the end of this week, use these days to sort yourself out and calm down. Then watch the video to see what Wells has to say." Laurel suggested and Barry smiled.
"I like it, I'll do it." Barry answered and Laurel smiled. "I'll watch it later on one condition." Barry paused as he looked at Laurel. "You, Oliver and Felicity are there. I'll even be happy if John was there." Barry added and Laurel nodded.
"I'll sure we can do that." Laurel smirked and the pair chuckled. Barry got up and walked towards his room while Laurel drank her coffee until her phone rang, she quickly picked it up and answered it.
"Laurel, we're at a motel as we're tired but we'll be in Star City tomorrow." Oliver spoke and Laurel nodded, she looked behind her to see Barry in the kitchen. "How is Barry doing?" Oliver asked as Laurel turned around, just as Barry sped over and sat next to her. Laurel held her phone between them then put it on speaker.
"Hey Oliver," Barry spoke as he smiled and looked at Laurel. "I'm feeling a little better but I still have ways to go yet." Barry explained and Laurel smiled.
"Barry, you know you could've called for help. Or you could've talk the others." Oliver told him and Barry nodded.
"I know, Oliver. But I knew what you and the others were going through and you know me," Barry paused as he looked down then looked at the phone in Laurel's hand. "Sometimes, I care about other people and their feelings before my own." Barry added as he looked at Laurel, who was smiling at him.
"Barry, do me a favour." Oliver started as Barry and Laurel looked at the phone. "Don't shut people out. I did that and it wasn't good. I became a better version of myself when I started letting people in. It might take time but you'll start letting people back in, you made a start with Laurel." Barry then smiled as he looked at Laurel, who smiled back. "Trust me, Barry. If anyone can help find your way again, it's her." Laurel chuckled as she went to wipe a tear away, but Barry took out a handkerchief and wiped the tear away.
"Thank you, Oliver." Barry thanked then he heard Oliver chuckle. "If I had a brother, then I would hope he would be like you." Barry added and that made Laurel chuckle.
"Thank you, Barry. That means a lot." Oliver chuckled and Barry smiled. Laurel looked at the clock then looked at Barry, he saw the time then sped out. "Laurel, I heard a sound. Was that Barry?" Oliver asked and Laurel smiled.
"Yeah, he ran out to get some stuff." Laurel started as she got up and walked into the kitchen with her empty cup. "I offered Barry the spare room at my place and to say thank you, he's cooking. He even invited my Dad and he said yes." Laurel explained as she put her cup in the sink.
"While there are some things Barry isn't good at, like keeping track of time. He makes up with his other skills, like cooking." Oliver told her which got Laurel's interests. "After John, Felicity and me helped Barry with a Metahuman, he invited us for dinner with the team, except Wells. We ate at Joe's and Barry cooked, it was great. Don't tell Barry but he is an amazing cook." Oliver complimented and Laurel chuckled.
"The more you tell me about Barry, the more impressed I am with him." Laurel smirked as she leant against the kitchen side. "Ollie, there's more that happened. But we'll tell you when you get back, okay?" Laurel asked as she looked at the front door, waiting for Barry to return.
"Okay and thanks again, Laurel." Oliver thanked and Laurel nodded with a smile. "See you tomorrow." Oliver then ended the call just as the front door opened, Barry walked in carrying two bags and smiling.
"How do you want me to cook? Normal or with my speed?" Barry asked as he put the bags on the kitchen side. Laurel looked at the stuff Barry had brought then looked at the time.
"We have half an hour, go fast." Laurel told him and Barry nodded. He started getting everything ready as Laurel walked towards her bedroom to change.
Central City:
Cisco and Caitlin were in STAR Labs heading towards the Cortex, they walked in to see everything was covered over and the suit was missing. Caitlin stood by the main desk while Cisco walked over to where the suit was.
"Do you think he's okay?" Caitlin asked as she looked at Cisco, who was still looking at the mannequin. Caitlin walked over to him and stood beside Cisco, the pair looked at the mannequin and thought about Barry.
"I'm sure he's okay," Cisco mumbled as Caitlin looked at him. "You heard over the phone, Oliver and the others are also trying." Cisco smiled as he had hope. "What do you think will happen to this place?" He asked as he looked around.
"Since the real Harrison Wells is dead as well as the fake, anything could happen." Caitlin added as she folded her arms. "Let's go. We're meeting with Iris and Joe for dinner." Caitlin reminded him and Cisco nodded. They walked out of the Cortex whilst turning off the lights, thinking about the future of Team Flash and STAR Labs.
Laurel's apartment:
It was 6pm as the doorbell was ringing, Laurel walked over wearing a grey knee length skirt and black t-shirt whilst Barry was still working in the kitchen. Laurel opened the door and there was Quentin, holding a bottle of wine.
"I didn't know if I should come over empty handed or not, so I bought a bottle." Quentin explained and Laurel smiled, the pair hugged then they walked in to see Barry finishing up. "Something smells great, what are we having?" Quentin smiled as Laurel took the bottle and placed it on the table, while Quentin removed his jacket and hung it up.
"I made Spaghetti Bolognese with added herbs, as well as made Chocolate Cake." Barry explained which impressed Quentin. "I hope it's alright." Barry smiled as he started to dish up the food then carried over two bowls, he placed one in front of Laurel and the other in front of Quentin.
"It smells amazing, Barry." Quentin smiled and Laurel nodded as Barry carried over his bowl. "If you did this before telling me, I would've thought you were trying to flirt with Laurel and get my approval." Quentin teased, he and Barry chuckled but Laurel rolled her eyes and smirked.
"Any man would be lucky to have Laurel, Quentin." Barry smiled then he looked at Laurel, who looked at him back. "I've been lucky to have her help me heal." Barry added and Quentin smiled. "Now, what do you say we open this bottle and enjoy the meal?" Barry asked and they nodded, Barry grabbed the wine key and started to remove the cork.
Barry's in Star City, what could happen?