Chapter 6

"So are you guys visiting your families over the holidays?" Eddie asked as they sat down for hot chocolate at Jitters after bowling.

"No, I have work and my dad would probably have a heart attack if I drove through the weather recently." Caitlin said.

"Yeah, the weather grounded all flights to Vegas so said I'd work." Felicity told him.

"Oh, that reminds me, my dad said you guys are welcome for Christmas dinner, our family can't make it so there's space at the dinner table."

"That sounds nice, thanks Iris." Felicity said.

"I will but I'll have to come after the morning shift, I said I'd work the morning because the other girls all have kids. Which reminds me I need a Christmas Sweater, he wants all the staff to wear one over the holidays."

"We can pick one up tomorrow when we go shopping," Iris said.

Caitlin and Felicity let the couple say goodbye before heading back to campus, Felicity went in a store and bought a bottle of wine for them and they spent the evening decorating their dorm for Christmas with some music playing. Most of the halls were empty so they didn't have to worry about making too much noise.

The next morning the girls dressed warmly for a day in the city to do holiday shopping. After helping Caitlin pick out a Christmas sweater for work they three girl's split up to do personal shopping agreeing to meet up at half 12 for lunch.

Felicity bought a few Hanukkah gifts for her mother and took them along with the University sweater she'd bought to the Post Office to send them first class to Las Vegas. Caitlin met her there to send her gifts to her family in Coast City before they went to meet Iris by the car.

"Find everything you needed?" Caitlin asked.

"Yep, I got her sweater, her favourite perfume, a coupon for a Spa day and some other smaller stuff. How about you?"

"All sorted. Got dad a bottle of aftershave my mom bought him when I was little, I saw he was running low before I left, Mandy had some bath soaps, got Hal a new computer game and his girlfriend Whitney a cute sweater I saw and I got my younger siblings a bear each with a University hoodie. Same one on my bed, I couldn't resist they were so cute."

"I know aren't they? I'm sending my mom one on her birthday in March." She said spotting Iris walking towards her, her shopping complete. "All set?"

"Yep, dad has a cook book by his idol he's been dropping hints about, Barry a new pair of running sneakers, he goes through them really quickly and I couldn't resist getting this tie for Eddie. We said we wouldn't but it's the perfect shade for his eyes." Caitlin and Felicity let out an 'aw' which turned into the trio laughing as they discussed where they should go for lunch. "We always go for burgers, how about the Diner where you work Caitlin?" They hadn't really been much as it was more out of the way than Big Belly Burger.

"Yeah sounds good with me, I think Ray's gone home for the holidays but why don't we ask Barry and Cisco to join us?"

"Sounds good to me." Iris agreed, "'Lis?"

"Fine by me, Cisco's been killing himself over that robot. He keeps emailing me for help with the circuits and stuff."

"Wow, he's really into it."

"Yeah, he really wants to win the competition at the end of the year, he's losing sleep, I had to keep him awake during our last lecture." Caitlin said dialing his number.

Cisco and Barry were at the Diner when the girls arrived.

"Hey guys, Cisco are you OK?" Iris said concerned.

"Hm? Oh yeah, just a little tired, I stayed at my parents over night for my brother's birthday and it went on until three maybe four AM then I was on clean up." He sighed. Iris and Caitlin put their arms around his shoulders in support.

Caitlin's friend Jessica who was on her last shift before heading home for Christmas with her family took their order and brought their drinks, for Cisco this meant hot, fresh coffee with about six sugars to satisfy his sweet tooth.

Back on campus the girls did a sweep of their dorm for any books that needed returning to the library before giving it a good deep clean. By the time they had finished it was 8pm, too late to really do anything and none of them really wanted to go out again, so Felicity logged into her Netflix and they huddled together on Caitlin's bed with hot chocolate in their pjs to watch a Christmas movie.

December 20th, Caitlin was working, short staffed with Peper an older lady when the door was opened hurriedly and the youngest employee, Lisa Snart rushed through the door. "Snart you're late."

"Sorry Mr Krowe, my car wouldn't start, I had to run," she apologized.

Their boss looked at the out of breath teenager and sighed, "alright, just call it in next time, OK?" Mr Krowe had a sweet spot (in a fatherly way) when it came to younger girls, which was probably the only reason Lisa was still there, he'd known her family years and his son was close with Lisa's brother so he knew how things were at home.

Lisa changed into her uniform and went to pull her hair up into a pony tail when her hair band snapped. "Fuck," she muttered.

"Here," Caitlin said as she walked past to use the ladies, "use my spare one," she smiled.

"Thanks," the teenager said.

"Um, table nine is those kids from your school again, Peper said she'd switch with you if they get too much, I would but I'm on bus duty today."

"Oh, thanks Caitlin, I'll let her know." All the girls were protective of Lisa when kids from her high school came in, none of them were particularly nice to her and they were just plain rude to other staff.

"Don't worry about it."

Caitlin and Lisa had lock-up duty that night, they quick cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the counters and mopped the floors before changing for home. The snow had been heavy during their shift but it had slowed to a gentle shower. "See you tomorrow."

"See you- Lisa," Caitlin called, "do you want a ride?"

"Oh, um, I think I'll be OK."

"Are you sure? Lisa it's nearly 11 and it's freezing out, please, get in the car?" Lisa hesitated but the cold was getting to her. She nodded, the snow crunching under her feet as she jogged to the car. "OK, where am I going?" Lisa told her the adress and Caitlin knew the area but not well so she would need directions when they got closer. The drive was spent mostly in silence aside from a few questions as to the direction, they were certainly in the rougher area of town. Caitlin had heard locals refer to as The Glades Ray had told them about a similar area with the same name where his parents currently lived in Starling City. They pulled up to the curb, "what time's your shift tomorrow?"

"Lunch shift, my brother got home tonight, that's his car, I'll get a ride from him."

"Alright, I've got the same shift, here, text if you need a ride OK? It's cold and dangerous, be careful OK?"

"OK, thank you Caitlin," she said taking the piece of paper and stuffing it into her jeans. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Caitlin watched her go inside before driving back to Campus.

Christmas Eve in the dorm room Caitlin and Felicity were alone, Iris and Barry had gone home as was their family tradition as had Cisco. Felicity hung up from her mother and Caitlin from her younger siblings. They were sat on Caitlin's bed, "when's your shift tomorrow?"

"First thing and I'm working until 12."

"I'll probably drop by for some of those waffles or pancakes for my breakfast. Then I'll stick around and bug you and drink coffee."

"Sounds good, I don't think there'll be many people in, but me and Lisa have a shift, her dad isn't big on Christmas so she said she'd rather work than sit around."

"Did you finish wrapping Iris' present?"

"Yeah, it's in the bag we put in the car earlier."

The next morning Caitlin woke early, took a shower and dressed warmly. She drove to the Glades where she agreed to pick up Lisa who's car still wasn't working. Lisa was waiting on the sidewalk for her and climbed in, rubbing her hands together to warm them. "Morning."

"Morning," Lisa replied, "happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas to you, there's a bag on the back seat, I pulled your name in the Secret Santa."

"Oh, thanks, I'd forgotten about that, I got Jess I gave it her before her last shift." Lisa said reaching around for it.

"Go ahead, open it," Caitlin smiled as Lisa stared. Lisa reached into the bag and removed the tissue paper pulling out a beautifully patterned blue scarf.

"Oh my God, it's beautiful, thank you Caitlin."

"You're welcome," Caitlin said as they pulled into the parking lot. It was just before six in the morning, pitch black and freezing. Luckily Mr Krowe was already there and the Diner was very warm.

"Merry Christmas girls."

"Merry Christmas Mr Krowe," they replied.

"Before you change into uniform what do you guys want for breakfast? My way of thanking you for this morning."

The girls both had pancakes with fruit and hot chocolate which they poured some of it over their breakfast.

After the morning breakfast rush with more customers than expected Felicity arrived just before 11, taking a seat at the counter. "Hey 'Lis."

"Hey, the snow really came down last night."

"I know, what can I get you?"

"Waffles and coffee please."

"You got it."

It was quiet when the shift finished, the Diner was only open for the morning as it was Christmas. Caitlin dropped Lisa off home before she and Felicity headed to the West's home. Caitlin rather than a jacket had worn her Christmas Sweater. Iris let them and Caitlin excused herself for a minute to the back porch to call her family.

Hal picked up the phone, he was with Whitney. She then called the house phone her dad answered. "Hey dad, merry Christmas," she said.

"Hey honey, merry Christmas, did you get your gifts?"

"Yes, thank you they arrived yesterday they're back in the dorm, Iris asked me and Felicity to Christmas dinner so I'll open them later."

"Alright oh, Mandy's here."

"Hey Cait, happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas Mandy."

"Thank you for the bath soaps, I can't wait to use them, they smell fantastic."

"You're welcome, I'll have to call back when I open mine, but thank you in advance too."

"You're welcome, your brother is out but do you wanna say hi to the kids?"

"Sure." Caitlin talked to her three younger siblings, two brothers and a sister. Back inside Iris handed her a cup. "What's in this?"

"Granny's special eggnog. I'd stick to the one if you're driving though, it's pretty strong." Iris explained as Caitlin took a sip.

"Oh wow, yeah that's strong, I think I'll stick to non alcoholic with the way the road are though, thanks."

"Don't worry about it, there's coffee, soda, milk or juice."

"Can I get coffee please?"

"No problem." The girls joined Barry, Felicity and Detective Joe West in the lounge. The girls and Iris exchanged gifts.

"There's something else from me but it hasn't arrived yet." Felicity told them.

Eddie arrived soon after the girls, Joe had invited him when he'd told him he wasn't able to visit his family this year. The girls smirked, he was wearing the tie Iris had bought him and he noticed her show the girls the charm he'd bought her for her charm bracelet. It was a little notebook and pen.

They sat down for dinner, the conversation comfortable and friendly.

After dinner the girls volunteered to do the dishes and the guys sat, watched the highlights of the Christmas Eve Hockey Game and had a beer. Eddie headed to the kitchen to get them all another when he came face to face with Iris, Caitlin and Felicity we giggling at them. He looked up to see they were standing under mistletoe. She blushed as he pecked her cheek quickly so her dad wouldn't catch them.

Caitlin and Felicity thanked Joe and left just before four PM, heading back to the dorm together.