Central City:
STAR Labs was quiet and everything was still covered, until a gust of wind blew off several dust covers in the Cortex. It was Barry with Laurel, they put down their cases as Barry walked over to a computer and turned it on.
"First things first; I need a place to live." Barry sighed and Laurel nodded. "Then, I got something to watch." Barry reached into his trouser pocket and took out the flash drive containing Wells' message. Laurel was using one of the computers to look for a place for them to live while Barry ran off to look for the spare suit, he ran back in and put it on the mannequin.
"Perfect timing," Laurel smiled as Barry turned around. "I might have found you a place. And it's cheap." Laurel told him as Barry ran over and sat next to her, they looked at the house then Barry saw the address.
"This address, it's next door to Joe's." Barry realised which surprised Laurel. "Laurel, can I ask you for a favour?" Barry asked as Laurel took out her phone.
"Wait a sec, Barr." Laurel smiled as she made a call. "Hey Ollie, I have a question for you. Could you help out a friend with some money? Enough to buy a small house, for example?" Laurel asked with a smile then she looked at Barry.
"Sure, Laurel. I'm guessing it's for Barry?" Oliver asked and Laurel hummed, to make sure Barry didn't hear. "Tell Barry to check his account, Felicity just transferred some money to help." He explained and Laurel smiled.
"Thanks Ollie." Laurel thanked as she walked over to Barry, she tapped on her phone so Barry took his phone out and looked at it. His eyes widened when he saw the account Felicity sent over. "I think Barry's about to have a heart attack. Thank you, Ollie. And pass the thanks to Felicity too, bye for now." Laurel chuckled as she put her phone inside her jacket.
"I didn't expect that. Wow!" Barry exclaimed and Laurel chuckled. "I'll be right back. See you when I get back?" Barry asked and Laurel nodded with a grin.
"I'll be right here, Barr." Laurel promised and Barry smiled then he ran off towards the real estate agent, leaving Laurel alone to explore STAR Labs.
Later:
Joe had returned home from working at the CCPD to check on Iris, he then noticed the house next door had a SOLD sign outside. He walked up the stairs and into his house, just as Iris walked into the living room with her laptop.
"Hey baby girl!" Joe smiled and Iris smiled. "Did you see next door? Looks like we are getting new neighbours." Joe told her and Iris nodded, she looked back at her laptop and her eyes widened.
"Dad!" Iris shouted and Joe ran over, he then could see what Iris was excited about: sightings of a familiar yellow lightning trail had been spotted. "Does this mean Barry's back?" Iris asked and before Joe could answer, they heard a knock on the front door.
"I wonder who that is." Joe wondered and Iris shrugged her shoulders. Joe opened the door and he was surprised, Iris ran over and her mouth dropped: it was Barry. "Barry?" Joe asked and Barry nodded, Laurel was behind him at the bottom of the steps.
"Come on, Laurel." Barry whispered and Laurel smiled, she walked up and stood with Barry. "Can we come in, Joe?" Barry asked and Joe nodded. They all walked into the living room, Joe sat in his armchair while Iris sat in the other one, leaving Barry and Laurel to sit on the couch.
"How have you been, Barr?" Joe asked as he sat forward in his chair. Barry looked at the floor when Laurel placed a hand on his shoulder, he smiled at her then looked at Joe.
"I feel like I'm getting there," Barry admitted and Joe smiled a little. "Being in Star City with Laurel, Oliver and the others; I think it's helped me sort myself out." Barry smiled then he looked at them. "I want to apologise for pushing you away, I felt responsible for what happened so I decided if you weren't involved, you'll be safe." Barry explained as Joe leant forward and placed a hand on Barry's shoulder.
"Barry, you don't need to apologise to us. We understand." Joe smiled as Iris nodded with a smile. Barry smiled and nodded as Laurel sat forward.
"There's more," Laurel paused as Barry reached into his jacket pocket and took out a set of keys. "Your new neighbour… it's Barry." Laurel told them which surprised both Joe and Iris.
"Would you two like to come over for a housewarming party?" Barry asked and Joe smiled as Iris nodded.
"We would love to, Barry." Iris smiled and Barry was happy. "What time should we come over?" Iris asked as Barry and Laurel looked at each other.
"Would 2PM be okay? Just so we have time to get the place sorted?" Barry asked and they nodded. "Great, and could you ask the others to come over? I kinda broke my phone when I was in Star City." Barry explained and Joe chuckled.
"Sure we can, Barr." Joe agreed and Barry smiled. "See you both later." Joe smiled and Iris waved as Barry and Laurel left.
"Barry came back with Laurel Lance? Now they're living together, wow!" Iris exclaimed and Joe smiled. "The way he smiled at her, reminds of how he used to smile at Linda." Iris explained and Joe chuckled.
"Do you ever give your investigative head a break, Iris?" Joe asked as he took out his phone. Iris smiled as she sat down on the couch.
"What can I say? Like Father, like daughter." Iris chuckled, Joe smiled as he held his phone to his ear, telling the others about Barry and the party.
Later:
After getting some new furniture for the house, Barry was setting everything up as Laurel had gone out to get stuff for the party. Barry had just finished building the beds upstairs when he walked downstairs, he heard knocking and walked over to the door to answer it.
"Hey Barry." Cisco smiled and Caitlin waved, Barry nodded with a small smile. "Joe called and asked if we could come over." He explained as Barry let him in. "I like the new place." Cisco smiled and Barry chuckled.
"Guys, look." Barry started as Cisco and Caitlin looked at him. "I want to apologise for pushing you both away. After Ronnie and Eddie, I thought the best way to protect you was to push you all away." Barry explained then he looked at Caitlin. "Because of me, you lost Ronnie and I thought you would hate me." Caitlin shook her head as she hugged Barry.
"I could never hate you, Barry." Caitlin cried and Barry smiled. "How are you doing?" Caitlin asked as she and Cisco sat on the couch while Barry pulled over a chair from the dining table.
"I'm getting there," Barry admitted when the front door opened, the trio looked over to see Laurel walk in with two shopping bags. "Do you need help, Laurel?" Barry asked but Laurel shook her head.
"It's alright, Barr. I got us enough food for tonight." Laurel explained as she took the shopping bags into the kitchen. Caitlin and Cisco looked at Barry, who was smiling.
"Laurel is staying here, with me." Barry told them as Laurel walked in then sat on the couch, sitting near Barry. "I'm getting my life together, but also trying a new path." Barry explained as he looked at them.
"What do you mean, Barry?" Caitlin asked. Barry looked at Laurel and she nodded, he then sat forward and looked at them.
"I haven't decided yet. Except that The Flash… is staying." Barry smiled and they smiled back then looked at Laurel.
"I already knew. Like I know you two know that Oliver is the Arrow." Laurel smiled then she looked at Barry, he smiled at her. "Cisco already knows this, I'm the Black Canary." Laurel revealed which surprised Caitlin.
"There's more but you can't be angry about it," Barry added which made Caitlin and Cisco look puzzled. "I'm getting a new suit made; thanks to Felicity and the others." Barry revealed which surprised the pair.
"A new suit? Really?" Cisco asked and Barry nodded. "Wow! I'm looking forward to seeing it. Sounds like competition." Cisco chuckled and the group smiled.
"It's good to have you back, Barry." Caitlin smiled and Barry nodded. "We better get going. I got work at Mercury Labs and Cisco is meeting up with his brother." Caitlin explained as they stood up. Caitlin hugged Laurel while Barry hugged Cisco then left, leaving Barry and Laurel alone.
2PM:
It was time for Barry's house-warming party as Barry was downstairs setting everything up; he wasn't using speed as he wanted to feel normal getting ready. He was about to head upstairs to change when he saw Laurel, she was wearing a black knee-length skirt, a dark red-shirt and matching heels.
"Wow, you look amazing, Laurel." Barry complimented and Laurel smiled as she pushed her hair behind her ear. "Everything's sorted. Food's on the table to pick and the drinks in the kitchen." Barry explained and Laurel nodded.
"You better change before the guests arrive." Laurel suggested and Barry nodded, he ran upstairs just as someone began knocking on the door. Laurel walked over and opened it, revealing Joe and Iris.
"Laurel, hey!" Iris smiled and Laurel nodded as they walked in. "Wow! The place looks great!" Iris exclaimed and Joe removed his coat, he hung it up then walked into the living room.
"Where's Barry?" Joe asked just as Barry walked downstairs; wearing dark blue jeans, black trainers and a dark red shirt. "Hey Barr." Joe smiled as he hugged him, Barry smiled as he hugged Joe.
"It's not much but we got you something." Iris started as she walked over to Barry. Iris reached into her bag and took out a photo frame then handed it to Barry: it was a photo of the three of them.
"Thank you." Barry smiled then he pulled Joe and Iris into a hug. Laurel smiled as she heard more knocking on the door, she walked over and opened it; it was Cisco and Caitlin.
"Hi Laurel." Caitlin smiled as she hugged Laurel. Cisco walked over to Barry, he turned around then hugged his friend as Laurel and Caitlin walked over.
"We told Doctor Stein about your invite but he was in Coast City with Clarissa." Caitlin explained and Barry nodded as he understood. "We got you something, it's a photo of us when Felicity and Ray were here." Caitlin explained as she handed the photo frame to Barry, he smiled as he put both photos on the mantelpiece.
"Thanks guys." Barry thanked as Laurel walked over and hugged him. Barry smiled then ran into the kitchen, he handed everyone a glass of champagne as he stood next to Laurel. "I would start by saying thank you, for everything." Barry started and everyone smiled. "It's been a tough road then I made it harder by going alone. I thought it was the best thing to do but after getting help," Barry paused as he looked at Laurel, he smiled then looked back at the group. "I realised the only way I could heal is if I fix what I broke: my connections to all of you." Barry explained then he held up his glass. "To new beginnings." Barry spoke as everyone else held up their glasses.
"To new beginnings." They cheered then they drank their drinks. The party then started with everyone talking and smiling. Barry was talking with Cisco while Iris and Caitlin were talking, Laurel was standing by the food when Joe walked over to her.
"Laurel, I don't know I could ever thank you. And the others." Joe started then he smiled as they looked at Barry, who was now talking with Caitlin, Cisco and Iris. "You helped Barry come back and heal. Thank you." Joe then hugged her, making Laurel smile as she hugged Joe. She then looked over at Barry, he was smiling at her then he nodded and she nodded back.
What do you think so far? What will happen going forward? And how will the team react to the new suit Barry's getting?