Description: Five years have passed since Barry Allen and Caitlin Snow vanished into the Speed Force. Now, rescued by their friends, they must face the world they left behind and try to adapt to the new changes that have occurred not only within their old lives, but also within themselves.

I'm going to be honest, this fic wasn't exactly canon compliant before, and since much of it was written and planned out before Crisis/s6, it certainly isn't now. It's kind of existing in its own canon. Think of it as like...an alternate Season 6/7. I originally planned to finish the story with this chapter, but to make it more manageable I've decided to split it up into smaller parts. Hope everyone enjoys!

If asked, Caitlin Snow was sure she could pinpoint the exact moment that she passed through the dimensional barriers that separated the Speed Force from Earth-1. It was instant and jarring, and to Caitlin felt something akin to what one might feel if they were suddenly transported from a warm bath to the middle of an arctic wasteland.

As her feet hit the floor of the lab, she was pulled from the familiar aether she had come to know and thrust back into the harsh winds of reality. She slid to a stop on the smooth sheet tile, her hand still gripping Barry's tightly.

He looked at her and she looked at him, a range of undefinable emotions coursing through them both. Their eyes began to roam, their surroundings somehow familiar yet alien all at once. Then their gazes slid over to the two other figures in the room.

Cisco stood just a few paces away, his arm still outstretched in front of him. Harry wasn't far away either, his hands still busy with a set of dials mounted on a control panel of some kind.

Caitlin would like to say she remembered the expression on Cisco's face, that the moment of finally seeing them again was clearly imprinted in her mind. But it wasn't, it was all a blur because she was too busy clearing the distance across the lab and throwing her arms around the breacher.

"Caitlin," the word came out as a huff because of the force in which she had hit him. His arms quickly wrapped around her. "You're here, you guys are really here," he said over his shoulder, a note of disbelief in his voice.

"We're really here," Barry assured.

Just as he spoke, Harry moved out from behind the control panel and greeted the other man with a hug. Eventually, Caitlin released Cisco from the death grip she had on him, only for Barry to immediately swoop in and do the exact same thing.

It was then that Caitlin was able to actually get a good look at Harry for the first time. He looked different than he had when she last saw him. He had regained that sharp glint of intelligence in his eyes, only now it was undercut with a softer glow of kindness. "Harry, you're back," she blurted, the older man willingly pulling her into an embrace.

"Thanks to Jesse," he answered quietly, a smile in his words. "And besides, someone had to help Ramon," he gave a slight nod in his direction.

"Uh, excuse me, I believe I was the one that did the heavy lifting in the end," Cisco retorted, patting Barry's back before letting him go.

For a moment, Caitlin had to just stop and smile, the familiar sound of her two friends bickering somehow filling her with both nostalgia and affection. Then the full implication of what Cisco had said finally registered.

"That breach," Caitlin whispered. "Cisco, was that you?

His attention quickly snapped back to her and he nodded slowly, an honest and open look on his face. "I guess it turns out the cure wasn't so permanent after all," he briefly glanced down at the floor, running his fingers over his wrist and palm. "At least not for me. I got them back a few weeks ago."

"Cisco, I'm so sorry—" Her mind was already scrambling to find a solution.

"No, don't be," he interjected, shaking his head as he spoke. "The truth is, I love my powers, they're apart of me. I lost sight of that for a while," he admitted, his gaze drifting down to his hand as he absently flexed it.

"And I love them even more now because they helped me get you guys back," he continued, looking up at Barry and Caitlin. "I've been trying for years to find you without them, and getting them back meant I finally could."

Caitlin beamed at him softly, the happiness she felt at finally being able to see her other best friend slowly spreading through her.

"We missed you so much, man," Barry echoed the sentiments she felt.

"I missed you guys too," Cisco answered, his voice a mix of relief and lingering melancholy. "It's been a crazy five years without you."

The room was quiet for a tick as they all took in the moment and allowed themselves to process it. After the initial rush of emotions calmed, something seemed to occur to Barry.

"Wait, where's everyone else?" He glanced around at the otherwise empty room.

"We—" Harry said with slight hesitancy, "—didn't tell anybody else we were going to try to breach the Speed Force again."

"Why not?" Barry inquired, brow creased in such a way that made Caitlin want to reach up and smooth the lines over with her thumb.

"Because the last time we tried we may or may not have accidentally unleashed an inter-dimensional dragon on the city," Cisco's words came out fast and jumbled, a sheepish look on his face. "No biggie."

"A what?!" Caitlin and Barry both exclaimed.

"Only for a few hours!" He defended, putting his hands up.

"Two hours and twenty-three minutes to be exact," Harry chimed in, unhelpfully. "In which it managed to burn down five buildings, INCLUDING a Big Belly Burger." He threw the last part pointedly in Cisco's direction.

"Oh, I'm sorry, as I recall, weren't you the one that swore the calculations were right?" Cisco fired back, crossing his arms at the other man.

"They were right," Harry jabbed a finger in his direction as he moved across the room, setting to work on powering down the control panel he had previously been stationed at.

"They were right," Cisco mouthed the words mockingly, rolling his eyes.

Caitlin had to stifle a laugh, wondering how on earth they had managed to not kill each other in the past five years.

"Anyway," he turned back to the other two, "Wally and Ralph are on a mission with the League, but Joe is still in town, I'll give him a call."

Cisco then moved to step away, heading in the direction of his workshop.

"Hey, wait, where's Iris?" Barry inquired eagerly, causing the breacher to freeze in his tracks.

His words sent a line of dread through Caitlin, immediately followed by a pang of guilt; she knew the mention of someone who was supposed to be her friend shouldn't evoke those types of emotions. She knew she should be happy to see her again, that she should be happy for Barry.

The expression that crossed Cisco's face was an odd one, and for the briefest of moments, it almost looked apologetic. "She—uh—she moved away a while back," he explained. "To Blue Valley."

"Oh." Barry seemed surprised but otherwise undaunted. It wasn't like he couldn't be there in the blink of an eye.

"Come on," Cisco nodded toward his shop. "I don't think Joe's gonna believe me unless I put you on the line."

Barry smiled faintly and followed along, falling into step next to the other man.

Steadily, the two of them faded from view down the hall, the scuffs of Barry's bright red slippers growing quieter with each step. Caitlin was left standing there, awkward and a bit unsure of what to do with herself. It was about then that it occurred to her that she was still in her sleeping attire, the comfortable pants and shirt hanging loosely off her frame. She had even managed to make it out with her favorite pair of slippers.

"I'm glad you're okay, Snow," the unsure note of Harry's tone cut through the newfound quiet. "For a while, we weren't sure what state you'd be in when we found you."

Caitlin's attention immediately snapped to him, her brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Harry exhaled quietly and took off his glasses, scrubbing a hand over his face. He then stepped out from behind the panel, only to lean back against it as he spoke. "We didn't know how well a non-speedster would handle being saturated in Speed Force for so long," he explained. "If what happens in Flashtime is anything to go by, we theorized that prolonged exposure could result in molecular and even psychological deterioration. We weren't even sure if you were alive until today," he admitted, tapering off into a broken whisper.

Caitlin's features softened as she caught a glimpse of the concern and relief that he wore, his eyes becoming misty in spite of his attempts to hide it.

"I'm perfectly alright, Harry, I promise," she assured gently, reaching out and patting his arm.

Harry nodded and gave a small watery smile.

"If fact, I don't think I ever even—" she continued, only to trail off, a sudden realization entering her mind.

"What is it?" Harry inquired, picking up on the shift in her demeanor.

"It's just—" Caitlin paused, the puzzle pieces slowly starting to click together. "For the first few months after we arrived, I started having nightmares. They were worse than anything I'd ever had before. I couldn't sleep, and I felt drained all the time."

"But they went away?"

"They did," she nodded. "After I started sleeping with—" it was then that Caitlin's brain finally caught up with her mouth and the horror of what she was about to say finally hit her. "—in the same room with Barry." She scrambled to correct herself.

"In the same room. In my own bed. Separately."

Caitlin cleared her throat before speaking again, certain her face must've been the same shade as Barry's slippers. "Barry offered to let me share his room because the only time the nightmares ever seemed to stop was when he was there. After that, I almost never had any."

Harry's eyes, (which for the briefest of moments had gone almost comedically wide) shifted to that of thoughtful contemplation. "Barry's cells are infused with Speed Force; which would mean they not only survive being saturated in it, but thrive. He and every other speedster is living proof that human biology can coexist with those types of energies. So it's possible that—"

"—being in close proximity to him somehow helped my cells adjust and recharge," Caitlin reasoned, the full reality of the situation finally becoming clear to her.

"Exactly," Harry snapped his fingers as he put his glasses back on.

He then moved back around the desk and began jotting down notes on a stray legal pad.

"Did you experience anything else?" Harry began to ask, but was quickly cut off.

"By the way, how did you guys solve the molecular deterioration problem?" Cisco's voice entered the mix as he popped back through the doorway. "Because according to our models you should've been a human raisin after only a few months." He winced a little at his own description.

Caitlin opened her mouth to reply, but Harry spoke first. "They were roommates," he piped up, as if that explained everything.

"Oh my goodness they were roommates," Cisco replied without missing a beat, eyebrows shooting up to his hairline.

"Not like that!" Caitlin quickly interjected, unsure of why she felt such a strong need to defend herself. "We lived together, we had a house."

It was starting to become painfully apparent to her that neither she nor Barry had ever really thought about how they would explain their living arrangements to everyone else. At the time, it seemed like a perfectly logical solution to their predicament. It had just never occurred to her how it sounded when said out loud.

"Okay, so we were technically roommates," she conceded, which only seemed to confused Cisco more.

It was then that Barry reappeared and Caitlin wasn't sure if she should be relieved or all the more mortified.

"How did Joe take it?" She asked, jumping at the opportunity to change the subject.

"He couldn't believe it and he might've started crying," Barry said with a soft, loving smile. "He's on his way right now with Cecile and Jenna.

Caitlin nodded, slowly taking a seat on one of the nearby stools.

"Also he kept asking if you were okay," Barry added in a puzzled kind of way.

Caitlin only smiled warmly and shook her head, despite the small tug of guilt that pulled at her. She couldn't help but wonder just how many of their friends and family had presumed her dead.

It was Barry's voice that pulled her from her musings.

"By the way, what is Iris's new address?" He turned to Cisco. "I'm gonna go pick her up and make this a proper family reunion," he explained, beaming excitedly.

Cisco hesitated for an instant but answered nonetheless. Caitlin didn't hear it, she was too busy trying to swallow down the hollow, sinking feeling that threatened to engulf her. Her eyes remained firmly fixed on the floor as her nails dug into the sides of the leather cushion she sat on.

Faintly, she registered the sound of Barry thanking him, followed by his retreating footsteps. Caitlin finally managed to tear her eyes from the floor, she looked back up, lingering on the speedster's purposeful form. For a brief moment, the world around her slowed, a million fleeting memories and a million conflicting emotions bombarding her all at once.

This was it, this was the moment she had been dreading for longer than she cared to admit. This was the moment that she lost him, once and for all.

Wordlessly, she watched him as he continued to walk away, forcing herself to let him go.

She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn't as if he was ever really hers to begin with. Maybe there was a time when he was, or rather, he could have been. Maybe if the timing had been just a little bit better, or things had happened just a little bit differently.

But now was not the time to dwell on the things of the past; this was the present, this was now, this was reality.

"Barry, don't!" The pitch and urgency of Cisco's voice caught Caitlin by surprise and made her nearly jump out of her seat.

Barry stopped in his tracks and whirled back, equally as jarred as she was.

Cisco didn't say anything at first, looking as though he wasn't sure how to continue.

'Ah frack it,' she could almost hear him say.

"Listen, before you go and see Iris..." he finally gave in and spoke, reluctancy clouding his features.

"There's something you need to know."

...

The drive to Blue Valley was a quiet and uncomfortable one, the trepidation in the air nearly tangible. That didn't surprise Caitlin, but it was fine because she had plenty of other things to be surprised about.

The first thing was the revelation that had been laid before them, the second was that Barry had asked her to come with him in the first place, and the third being his specific request that they drive there.

It was unusual, but Caitlin suspected she knew the reason for the latter. Barry could be at Iris's front door as fast as he wanted to, but at least this way, he could put off the inevitable for just a little bit longer. He could pretend that the others were wrong, or that it was all just some kind of messed up joke.

Caitlin wanted to talk to him about it, to help him, but she knew at that moment there was no point. There was no comforting him, not until he had seen it all for himself and began to truly process it. Instead, she just drove quietly along the sun-lit highway, trying her best to ignore the rapid tapping sound Barry was making on his car door. They were about thirty minutes out now, the scenery steadily transitioning from metropolitan to suburban.

The stoplight up ahead turned red, and Caitlin slowly ground the vehicle to a halt. She took the opportunity to reach forward and turn on the radio, trying in vain to ease the tension. The lyrics to a particularly depressing love song about heartbreak began to drift through the car. Caitlin immediately flipped the radio back off, clearing her throat uncomfortably.

To stop herself from fidgeting, she placed both hands firmly on the wheel and desperately waited for the light to change. For a brief fleeting moment, she thought she saw Barry's rueful yet amused smile in her peripheral, but she was hoping that was just her imagination. Finally, the light changed, mercifully allowing her to do something else besides sit in awkward silence.

If Caitlin were being honest, this was the last situation she wanted to be put in the middle of. Yet, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that maybe it was better this way. Because at least then, Barry wouldn't be alone when it all inevitably came crashing down. At least maybe she could help pick up some of the pieces once the damage was done.

They soon arrived at the unfamiliar address, pulling onto the curb smoothly and unnoticed. The sight that was there to greet them was expected, yet flooring all the same.

Iris was sitting on a porch swing alongside her husband, bouncing a small toddler on her knee.

Barry sucked in a sharp breath from where he sat beside Caitlin, the look on his face sending a physical pang through her. A part of her wanted to reach out, to take his hand, to do something—anything to try and erase the pain that had etched itself onto his features. However, she knew that there wasn't truly anything she could do about it, the entirety of the situation had been (and still was) out of her control. She couldn't change it, nor could she soften the blow that had been dealt. All she could do was be there, and do her best to catch him should he fall.

"I'm so sorry, Barry," Caitlin whispered, her voice barely audible.

He didn't say a word, he just looked on with the same shattered, helpless look she had seen him wear far too many times.

"If you want—" she began after a moment, her voice a gentle and attentive tone, "—I could go and talk to her first. Explain everything."

"No, no, it's okay," Barry replied hoarsely, quickly wiping the tears that had begun to trail down his cheek. "Let's just get this over with."

Caitlin nodded silently and unclipped her seatbelt. Barry followed and opened his car door, his feet hitting the sidewalk not long after her's.

The child on Iris's lap made an unintelligible sound and pointed in their direction. Iris smiled and followed the path of the boy's chubby little finger, only to pale as soon as her eyes landed on the pair that were now slowly making their way up the drive.

Caitlin had meant to talk to Cisco and ask if any of them had been able to get ahold of her on the phone, to give her some forewarning of their arrival. The look on the reporter's face gave her all the answer she needed.

Suddenly, Caitlin felt as though she was right back in her first days in the Speed Force, right back in the loft kitchen. Smack in the middle of it all, wanting to crawl into a hole, or possibly throw herself into oncoming traffic. Only this time there would be no easy fixes, no 'whatever makes you happy.' There was only hurt. Hurt and the complicated mess that was life.

The majority of Caitlin's stay at the West-Thomson home was spent sitting in the living room while Barry and Iris talked with hushed, raised voices in the kitchen. She sat and tried to make small talk with Iris's husband, and even played with the baby for a while.

She learned that his name was Evan, Evan Thomson, and that the toddler's name was Nonny. Apparently, Evan had been a firefighter that had joined the police force a few months prior to Crisis. He met Iris during an interview about the department's efforts to clean up the havoc that the Shadow Demons had left behind.

What was surprising to Caitlin was just how much Evan seemed to know about them all. He knew that Barry was the Flash, and he knew that she was Killer Frost. He even knew about Eobard Thawne and the Particle Accelerator explosion. Caitlin supposed she shouldn't be shocked, he was Iris's husband after all. But still, something about how liberally the knowledge had been given to him left her unsettled.

Eventually, Barry and Iris's voices seemed to quiet, then inevitably fade out altogether. They soon reappeared, somehow bringing an even tenser air back with them. Thankfully, the rest of the visit passed quickly and uneventfully. Barry was stiff and curt, but not impolite. Caitlin could tell he was trying very hard to be okay with this, trying not to make an even bigger scene than he already had.

He introduced himself to Evan and even shook his hand, attempting to at least be hospitable. All the while, Caitlin watched helplessly as a hollowness settled behind Barry's eyes. Watched as his entire being lost its spark and his movements became robotic and rigid.

After about forty-five minutes, Barry made up an excuse about getting back to the city and began heading for the door. Iris gave Caitlin a hug before they left, and told her she was glad she was okay.

After that, they got into the car and peeled out of the driveway, uncertain if they would ever return.

The first twenty minutes of the journey back to Central City was ruled by silence. Barry didn't say a word, he just stared out the window, a weary and blank expression on his face. Caitlin didn't say anything either, she wasn't going to push him. She knew that he would talk to her when he was ready, he always did, and she had to believe that this time would be no different.

So she simply drove; she pressed her foot down on the gas pedal as they merged onto the highway, putting more and more distance between Barry and the part of his world that had left him behind.

The sun had almost completely set by then, the sky giving way to stars as the last sparks of light were extinguished beneath the horizon. Eventually, Barry did speak, but it was so quiet and low that Caitlin almost missed it.

"I'm an idiot," he mumbled under his breath. "A complete idiot," he repeated, this time with a humorless laugh escaping his throat.

"Barry, you had no way of knowing," Caitlin tried to soothe, briefly glancing over at him as she drove.

He just shook his head and ran a hand shakily through his hair.

"I guess I should be happy for her, for both of them. I mean he gave her everything I never could," Barry continued, his voice unsteady. "A normal life, a family, a home that doesn't get destroyed by some kind of catastrophe once every year," he added cynically.

Barry paused for a moment, the only other audible sound in the car being the hum of the traffic around them.

"I just...I thought she'd wait for me," he choked out, his vision blurred with tears. "I thought she'd be here when I got back. That we'd start over, that we could have a future and a family again."

A quiet, shuddery sob escaped Barry, and Caitlin was suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to hug him. Tears began to streak down his face as he drew in a ragged, trembling breath. He leaned forward and hung his head as the tears fell freely, his forehead pressed against the dashboard.

Caitlin soon found herself pulling off the highway and safely onto the side of the road. Without a word, she leaned over (and practically into the passenger seat) wrapping her arms around Barry, and rubbing soothing circles along his back. He didn't say anything more, he just let her comfort him, holding onto her arm tightly.

Eventually, the tears began to slow, Barry began to breathe again, and Caitlin began to drive. They didn't really talk, because there wasn't much to say. It was what it was, and there was no changing it now.

Iris had moved on, she had a life and a family that Barry was not apart of, not anymore. The whole situation was familiar and so horribly ironic from Caitlin's perspective. It was an irony she would not have wished upon anybody, least of all Barry.

Slowly, the speedster nodded off in the passenger seat, the gentle sound of the radio drifting through the dark cab. Caitlin spared a glance at him, feeling the gentle tug of a smile as she saw how peaceful he finally looked. It was the most calm and relaxed he had been since their return.

A yawn bubbled up in Caitlin's throat, and it occurred to her just how tired she actually was as well. The last time either of them had slept was in the Speed Force, and that had been well over a day ago.

She drove for a few minutes more, her weary eyes in search of somewhere they could stop and rest for a while. The neon lights of a motel eventually came into view, and Caitlin decided it would be as good of a place as any. She flipped on her right-side blinker and made the turn, pulling smoothly into one of the parking spaces. After that, she turned off the engine and got out, careful not to disturb Barry.

The nighttime air was crisp and cool to her lungs, momentarily perking up her tired system. She made her way inside and checked in with the clerk at the desk, asking for a room with twin beds. She was informed the only available one was a single. Caitlin agreed without much thought, the last five years having taken away any reservations she had about sharing a sleeping space.

She then handed over a portion of the cash Cisco had given her, which she would repay him as soon as she regained access to her bank account.

It turned out that being a recently reemerged missing person could really complicate certain aspects of daily life. Caitlin was already dreading the mess her finances were going to be after such a long absence. But then again, she supposed she shouldn't complain, she was just a missing person, Barry, on the other hand, had been presumed dead.

The clerk exchanged the cash for a door key with a large black seven etched onto it. Caitlin took it and thanked the elderly gentleman, before exiting and making her way back to the car. When she got there Barry was already awake and waiting for her, his eyes still bleary from sleep.

Their room turned out to be small and minimalistic, yet clean and comfortable nonetheless. It consisted of a bed, an extra chair, and a coffee table, bare beige walls tying it all together.

Barry made his way over to the bed and collapsed, kicking off his shoes and shrugging off his jacket only as an afterthought. Caitlin followed a more methodical process. She took off her shoes and put them in the corner and then proceeded to shed her jacket and scarf, leaving them folded neatly in the chair.

Afterward, she turned off the lights and climbed into bed, all the while, Barry making a clumsy and sleepy attempt to burrow under the covers. Caitlin ended his struggle and pulled the thick comforter over them both. She settled in beside him and laid her head down on the pillows, eyes resting on his turned back. It was about then that she began to mentally debate just how much space would be appropriate to give him.

She scarcely had begun her internal battle before Barry scooted back towards her in an attempt to close the gap between them. Caitlin took that as her silent answer. She moved a bit closer and wrapped her arms around his torso, her head resting gently against his back. Barry reached up and threaded his fingers through hers, drawing in a slow and deep intake of breath. Caitlin closed her eyes and listened, listened to the sound of his lungs expanding and the steady thrum of his heart.

"Barry," she spoke, her voice seeming out of place in the quiet that had enveloped the room.

He made a hum of acknowledgment and she continued, words thick with sincerity. "I know there's not a lot I can say right now, and I can't even begin to imagine what you're feeling, but I just want you to know that it will get better, even if it feels like it won't."

At that, Barry turned towards her and rolled onto his back, his features silhouetted in the low light.

"There have been times in my life where I didn't think I'd ever be okay again, where I didn't think it would get better. But it did, and it will. I promise," she told him softly, the darkness and still atmosphere around them making her all the more sleepy.

Barry was silent, soaking in her words. "I know," he admitted, his tone low.

The certainty and steadiness of his voice caught Caitlin by surprise.

"I know it will," he repeated, a sense of acceptance creeping into his words. "The truth is, I'm not the same person I was when I went into the Speed Force, none of us are. I want...different things," he confessed, his gentle grip on her hand tightening ever so slightly.

Caitlin felt her heart jump, though in her sleep-deprived state she had a hard time pinpointing why.

"I spent so long thinking that if I just tried hard enough we could go back to the way things were, pick up where we left off. But I've changed, and the more I think about it, the more I realize it would've been a mess if I had tried to pretend I hadn't." Barry bled his heart, the tension slowly ebbing from his shoulders and arms.

"Maybe it's better this way. It hurts, but I think it's better. Iris found her happiness after Crisis. Maybe I can find mine again too," he added, his voice tapering off into a murmur and growing fainter with each word.

He didn't speak again after that, and Caitlin soon realized it was because he had dozed again. She only smiled softly and brushed a stray strand of hair away from his forehead, her eyelids heavy.

She snuggled closer and tucked herself into his side, arm draped across his stomach. Slowly, her eyes slipped closed and she drifted away, allowing the darkness to blanket her.

...

When they awoke the next day, it was to soft morning light and unfamiliarity.

Caitlin opened her eyes, expecting to see the walls of their room in the Speed Force. She was shocked to not be greeted by them at first. A moment more and her muddled and sleepy brain finally caught up, the events of the previous day coming back to her.

Caitlin sat up and stretched, unable to shake the lingering feeling that this was not only the start of a new day, but also a new life. Beside her, the lump of pillows and blankets that was Barry Allen made a faint sound of protest as she tried to get up. He then grumbled something about "the crack of dawn" and 'not even having an alarm clock.' Caitlin only smirked and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, wondering how he'd react if she were to pull the curtains open.

Breakfast that morning consisted of fast food and two small bottles of orange juice. Since the table was far too small for both of them, they sat across from each other on the bed and ate, all the while discussing their plans for the day.

Caitlin offered to spare Barry the wait and take the car back by herself, freeing him up to speed ahead of her. He only shook his head and declined, saying he'd much rather spend his time riding back with her. She couldn't help but smile a little at that, a bright warmth spreading through her.

They were back on the road by nine o'clock, miles of faded black pavement stretching behind them. They sped down the open highway, windows rolled down and the radio playing softly in the background. Barry sat quietly and watched the passing scenery with a calm kind of contentment, the rushing wind ruffling his hair as rays of golden light streamed through the windows.

The atmosphere of the vehicle was a stark contrast to what it had been just a day prior. The air that had previously been froth with tension and angst had now given way to ease and the simplicity of their bond. They laughed and drove and sang, Caitlin beginning to hope that perhaps she could reclaim some of the happiness she had felt in the Speed Force. (It wasn't about the where she supposed, it was about the who.) She knew it would likely never be the same, or anything more, but perhaps she didn't have to lose him just yet after all.

At one point, they stopped at a small gas station and Barry volunteered to go inside and pay. After pumping the gas she waited for him in the car, making a vain attempt to scroll through the years worth of emails that had piled up in her inbox.

When Barry returned, it was with snacks and a small souvenir in hand. He opened his palm to reveal a tiny keychain, the words 'do whatever makes you happy' engraved into the flimsy metal. Caitlin only gaped in shock as Barry gave it to her, laughing all the while. She just shook her head and chuckled along at their own little inside joke, slipping it onto her car keys and secretly promising herself that she would keep it forever.

They arrived back at the lab by late afternoon and Wally and Ralph were waiting there to greet them. They all exchanged hugs, and Ralph may or may not have actually started weeping.

After the initial greetings had passed (and the tears had dried) Wally offered to take Barry out for a run around the city.

The older speedster quickly agreed, but scarcely had he gotten the words out before Cisco motioned for them to wait and practically dove through a breach. He reemerged seconds later with a large silver case in hand. Setting it on a nearby surface he popped it open, revealing a brand new Flash suit inside.

The grin that engulfed Barry's features was a bright one. It reminded Caitlin of a time long ago when he was just learning to be a hero and the weight of the world hadn't yet planted itself on his shoulders.

Cisco began to explain all the features and modifications he made with the same giddiness and excitement that had always come with helping Barry craft the Flash persona. Caitlin couldn't help but watch them both with a fond smile, nostalgia seeming to blanket her.

As much as she had grown to truly enjoy her and Barry's time in the Speed Force, she had missed this. She had missed Cisco and S.T.A.R. Labs and helping people and being a hero. She had missed having a team.

After Cisco was done, he and Barry shared a synchronized fist bump and what she had always known was their 'secret' handshake. Barry slipped the suit on in a flash, and in the same instant took a quick run through the speed lab to test it out.

When he was done, he slid to a stop in front of their small group and then turned to Caitlin as if to ask, 'how do I look?'

The suit itself was new but the design was a familiar one; it was all sleek red leather and kevlar, with gold bolt-shaped accents snaking along the arms, legs, and belt. If she were being honest, he looked good. He looked excited and bright and like the Barry she knew and loved.

'Like a hero,' was her silent answer.

Barry beamed at her, and she gave him a sharp nod. "Now get out there, Mr. Allen."

"Sure thing, Dr. Snow," Barry gave a mock salute and winked, the gesture making Caitlin's heart race just a bit.

An instant later he and Wally were gone, a gust of wind leaving the papers in the room in the usual disarray. It made Caitlin smile for some reason.

After they all collectively pitched in to clean up, Ralph was on his way out as well. He gave Caitlin a tight hug before leaving to go pick up Sue, promising that he would be back to see her and Barry again tomorrow.

His departure left only Cisco, Caitlin, and a lab full of memories.

By then Cisco had stationed himself at one of the computer monitors, absently skimming through the data he had collected from Barry's suit. As he did, Caitlin allowed herself a moment to roam the room. So much had changed in her absence (and at the same time, so much hadn't) and she found herself wanting to explore a bit. She wanted to take in all the new details of the place she had come to consider a second home, she wanted to refamiliarize herself with it.

She began to look, to touch and to explore, allowing her curiosity to run free in a way she hadn't in quite some time. She soon made her way to a small workbench in the corner, running her fingers across the smooth surface. She was inspecting a particularly intricate piece of tech when she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. She jumped about two feet off the ground, nearly dropping the delicate, geodesic object in the process.

"Sorry," she quickly blurted out as she turned back to Cisco, who was leaning back in his office chair and wearing an amused smile.

"Do you...do you want a tour?" He offered after a moment, seeming to pick up on her curiosity.

"Yes, please," she agreed without hesitation, her voice coming out a bit squeaky.

Cisco let out a low, breathy laugh and stood up.

"Come on," he nodded his head towards the doorway, and Caitlin fell into step next to one of her closest and oldest friends.

...

The tour was as informative as it was wistful. Cisco had done so much in their absence, and Caitlin couldn't help but be impressed. She had known that Barry had planned to leave S.T.A.R. Labs in Cisco's capable hands long before Crisis had ever arrived, but it had never quite occurred to her just how successful of an owner he would be.

He had not only paid the bills and kept everything running, he had expanded it, he had thrived. In the five years the company had been in his ownership it had put out more groundbreaking software and technology than its days before the Particle Accelerator explosion. He had made national headlines on more than one occasion and even reopened other branches and facilities all around the country.

A sense of admiration bloomed within Caitlin as he spoke of his success, his failures, his doubts, and his triumphs. He had grown so much and she couldn't help but be proud of him.

He told her everything too. He told her about the company and the aftermath of Crisis. He told her about his powers and all his failed attempts to get them back. He told her about Cynthia, and their marriage of two years now. Caitlin was beyond excited about the latter, her only regret being that she hadn't gotten to be there to see it.

In turn, Caitlin told him all about the Speed Force and the changes that had come with it. She filled him in on their discoveries there and did her best to explain her reasons for leaving. She wasn't really sure how she had expected him to react after so long, but she was still amazed by how understanding he was nonetheless.

"I get it, Caitlin, I do," he assured as they stood in the quiet halls, one hand in his pocket, and the other on the back of his neck. "I mean yeah, it hurt at first, of course it did. I missed you so much, both of you, but I understand why you did what you did. You couldn't let him be alone."

Caitlin stopped for a moment, his words ringing familiar in her ears. "You found the letter," it was both a statement and a question.

He nodded, drawing in a deep breath. Then he began to speak, repeating words that she never thought would actually be said aloud.

"Dear Cisco, by the time you find this, Crisis will already be over. Before I say anything else, I want you to know that I'm sorry. I'm sorry this is happening and I'm sorry that I won't be here to help you pick up the pieces," he began, his voice strained and his eyes distant. He swallowed thickly before continuing. "Whatever happens, please don't worry about me, this is my decision and I've made peace with it. Barry won't admit it, but he's scared, he's scared to say goodbye and he's scared he'll be alone. I can't let that happen, not if there's something I can do about it."

He paused for the briefest of moments to collect himself, the onslaught of emotions evident on his features. "Again, I'm sorry for leaving, but I want you to know that I love you, I will always love you. As family, as a brother, as my friend. Goodbye Cisco. Love, Caitlin."

Caitlin drew in a low, unsteady breath, tears pooling in her eyes.

"I—I read it every day for a while there," Cisco admitted, his own eyes watery.

Without a word, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, a few tears spilling over and staining his shirt.

"I'm really glad you're back," his voice broke and his arms wrapped around her shoulders.

"Me too," she answered, her voice a hoarse whisper.

It was then that they finally began to slip back into their old dynamic as one might their best, most comfortable pair of shoes. Caitlin felt lighter, as though the air had been cleared.

After a while, they went and got takeout for a late lunch and ate in the cortex as they had countless times before. All the while, Cisco worked to compile a list of half a decades worth of movies, series, and pop culture for Caitlin to catch up on. Because, according to him, it was his "sacred duty as her best friend, brother, and family, to make sure she knew what happened to Tom Holland's Spiderman."

Caitlin just smiled and shook her head. It went on that way for about a half an hour, and Cisco was right in the middle of laying out all the reasons she absolutely had to watch the epic conclusion of Stranger Things when Barry appeared with a whoosh, sending their napkins and her hair flying.

He came sliding to a stop in the middle of the cortex, a spring in his step and a spark in his eyes.

"How was it out there?" Caitlin inquired, rising quickly from her seat and walking over to meet him.

"A lot bigger than it used to be," Barry replied with a slightly excited grin. "There's more people, more metas, more skyscrapers. You should see it."

"I might take you up on that sometime. I'll need a good tour guide," she gave him a wry smile and began gathering up their used wrappers and napkins.

"Speaking of," Cisco added, setting down his notepad and moving to help her. "Is Killer Frost planning on making her return to Central City any time soon? Because boy have I got some ideas—"

"As wonderful as that sounds," Caitlin cut in gently, "I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves just yet, Caitlin Snow has to make a return first. I still need to come up with a convincing story that explains where I've been for the past five years."

"I can help with that," Cisco offered with a shrug. "I don't mean to brag, but I'm a bit of a public figure now. People listen to me. I'm like a sexy Elon Musk." He added a dramatic hair flip for emphasis.

Caitlin made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "No offense, Elon, but I think I'd better get an actual lawyer for this one."

"Well, lucky for you, I happen to know the best in town," Barry supplied, taking off his gloves and moving to lean against the cortex desk. "Cecile's pretty amazing when it comes to these types of things."

"She is, but I'm afraid she might be too busy legally bringing you back from the dead," Caitlin countered.

Almost unconsciously, she slid in beside him, her shoulder brushing lightly against his.

"Nah, we've got it covered," Barry assured, giving an easy shrug. "She's got a whole story worked out about me being an unidentified coma patient."

Caitlin nodded along as he explained, making a mental reminder to see if they would need any doctor's notes to make it more legitimate.

"She, Joe, Wally, and I are all gonna have dinner tonight and talk it over. You should come," Barry suggested, canting his head toward her and lightly bumping his shoulder into hers.

The offer made an odd sensation bloom within Caitlin; knowing that she was, in a way, counted among his family filled her with a ridiculous amount of warmth. However, she had already made a promise to someone else.

"As tempting as that is, I already told Cisco that I'd have dinner at his and Cynthia's place," she informed softly, almost regretting the way his face seemed to fall a little.

"Which we should probably get going for by the way," Cisco piped up, glancing down at his watch. "She gets off work in twenty minutes and we still need to stop by my old storage unit and get some of your stuff for the spare room."

Caitlin nodded wordlessly and pushed off the desk, moving around to gather her coat and scarf. Cisco soon stepped out to shut down the rest of the lab while Caitlin pushed in the chairs and shut off the lights in the cortex. Barry followed close behind her as she did, wearing a curious and slightly lost expression.

"What did he mean by spare room?"

Barry eventually asked, his voice sounding small and uneven.

Caitlin turned around to look at him, only to stumble a little upon realizing how close he actually was. Instinctively, he reached out to steady her, his hand wrapping around the bend of her elbow.

Caitlin was suddenly overcome not only with an acute awareness of their proximity but also with a guilty and slightly sheepish feeling. It had seemed like a simple thing when she had agreed to the offer Cisco had made, but now face to face with Barry, the whole idea just felt wrong.

She managed to gather herself and speak. "My apartment lease has been up for over four years now, so Cisco offered me a place to stay until things get settled."

"Oh," was the only sound that escaped Barry's lips, his voice quiet and undercut by something akin to surprise.

"What about you?" She inquired softly, shifting on her feet.

"Um..well," Barry chuckled uneasily, running a hand over the back of his neck. "Iris sold the loft when she left. And even if she hadn't, it kinda got burned down during the whole dragon incident..."

"It was an accident!" Cisco's voice echoed from two rooms away.

Caitlin sighed and rolled her eyes while a breathy laugh bubbled past Barry's lips, his gaze falling to the floor.

"So, I guess I'll be staying at Joe and Cecile's for a while then," he concluded, veering back to their previous conversation.

Caitlin only nodded.

This was all happening so fast, so much was changing so fast and she wasn't really sure how to deal with it. She didn't want it to happen this way, she didn't want them to go back to leading separate lives, but at the same time, there wasn't really much of a way to avoid it.

It was then that Caitlin watched a shadow creep over Barry's face, the full reality of the situation finally dawning on him.

They didn't have a house anymore, they didn't have a home together. There was no title with both their names neatly written on it, and there would be no debate on exactly whose turn it was to make breakfast in the morning. They would wake up in different places, brush their teeth in different bathrooms, and get ready for their days with no small talk exchanged between them. They were back to square one, back to the way things were before the Speed Force.

This was how it was always going to be when they got back, surely he must've known that? Did he? Had he not realized? Had he not dreaded it like she had?

Caitlin didn't really have much time to ponder that, because an instant later Cisco came strolling back into the room, causing them both to jump apart a few inches.

The next few minutes passed without much talking, and before they knew it they were going their separate ways. They spared each other a lingering glance before they vanished, Barry with his speed and Caitlin through an awaiting breach.

...

For Caitlin, the rest of the evening passed in pleasant uneventfulness.

Cynthia arrived at the house just a little after she and Cisco had, stepping through a breach and into the living room. The moment she saw Caitlin her face lit up with a controlled yet genuine kind of relief. Cynthia wasted no time in pulling her into a tight hug, echoing the same sentiments that everyone else had so far: that she was happy to see her and she was glad she was safe.

However, no sooner had she pulled away did she speak the words, "don't you two ever do anything like that ever again," in a semi-stern tone.

"We didn't really have much of a choice," Caitlin tried to defend weakly, suddenly feeling a tab bit abashed.

"Still," Cynthia said, giving her arm a gentle squeeze. "Never. Again."

"We'll do our best," Caitlin assured, smiling a little at the other woman's prickly yet endearing brand of concern.

"Also do me a favor and smack Barry upside the head if you see him again before I do," she added, eliciting a near-cackle from Cisco.

Most of dinner was spent talking and catching up as they polished off a homemade casserole. The ingredients seemed a bit off-beat to Caitlin, but they were still delicious and she was told it was a very popular recipe on Earth-19. It was all a nice change of pace and a reminder to Caitlin of just how much she had missed them.

Afterward, they settled onto the couch to watch the first movie on her and Cisco's list, the opening sequence displaying the Marvel symbol proudly. The movie itself was enjoyable, but Caitlin still found her mind drifting to Barry.

She couldn't help it, she wanted to know how he was doing. Had he eaten well? Was he watching a movie now too? Or was he already asleep?

As the evening progressed and the post-credit scene came to a close, they all eventually said goodnight. Caitlin retired to her spare room and settled into the unfamiliar environment as best she could. She changed into the pajamas that had somehow followed her all the way from the Speed Force and turned out the lights. As she lay in the darkness, she caught her mind once again wandering.

She already missed him.

She missed having him close.

She missed the sound of his quiet and steady breaths that she would often fall asleep listening to, her own inhales falling into rhythm with his.

She even missed his high-pitched wheezy snores.

And more than anything at that moment, she missed having the option to go and lay down next to him, to curl up close and have him hold her as she drifted off to sleep.

She missed—

Caitlin abruptly clamped down on those thoughts, stopping herself from falling any further down the rabbit hole. She quickly shooed the previous musings from her mind and took a deep breath, trying to will herself into a state of calm indifference. She managed to succeed at least partially and began to feel herself inch towards an uneasy sleep.

That was when she heard it.

It started as a gentle rapping sound by the window, one that Caitlin initially mistook for the wind. However, they sounded again, only louder this time and in a perfect set of three.

Her eyes were already glowing when they snapped open, cold realization washing over her. Cautiously, she sat up straight and got out of bed, wisps of frost rolling off her hands.

The visitor knocked yet again and she felt her heart rate quicken. She reached out, a million potential conclusions racing through her mind as her icy fingertips inched forward.

What if it was a meta? Or a very strange burglar? Or perhaps it was simply a bird of some kind pecking at the glass?

Whatever it was, man or beast, it knocked again. This time it only made it to two taps before Caitlin violently yanked the curtains open, her palm poised for an ice blast.

Barry nearly fell off the window-ledge from the sudden jolt, a wide-eyed and startled look on his moonlit features.

Caitlin paused at the sight of him and he raised his hands, frantically making a motion for her to stop. She complied, the ice melting from her veins as quickly as it had come.

She then flipped the lock and opened the window, the words "Barry, what on earth are you doing out there?" flying past her lips before the glass was even out of the way.

The speedster clambered inside and onto the carpeted floor, still a little unsteady from his almost-fall.

"And why are you in your pajamas?" She scrunched her eyebrows, her attention drifting to the Superman-themed pants and fluffy red slippers he wore.

"Joe wouldn't hardly let me out of his sight, I had to sneak out after everyone went to bed," he explained a little breathlessly, his tone hushed. "Which, admittedly, I haven't done since I was sixteen and ended up getting lost on my way to an R-rated movie and had to actually call him to come pick me up—"

He was starting to ramble now, and though it was adorable, it was a sure sign to Caitlin that he was nervous.

"Yes, but why did you sneak out?" Caitlin inquired as soon as he paused for a breath, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. "Is everything okay?"

Barry froze and whispered a soft, "oh," realizing he had yet to actually explain the reason for being perched outside her window at almost 1:00 in the morning.

"Everything's fine, I just—" he began, eyes dropping to the floor as he shifted on his feet. "I came to make sure you were okay. I know you haven't had a nightmare in a long time, but I didn't want to take the chance."

Caitlin's expression softened as the full implications of his words sunk in. He had come for her. He had snuck out in the middle of the night and scaled a two-story house, all for her.

"Thank you, I really mean that," she said in a low and soft tone. "But I don't think they're going to be a problem anymore."

He was a bit confused at first, and looked as though he was about to ask her why she seemed so sure. However, he was interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door. They both started at the sound.

"Hey, Caitlin, is everything alright, can I come in?" Cynthia's voice came from the other side.

Without a word passed between them, they both simultaneously dove in opposite directions, as though they were kids who had been caught by their parents. Barry vanished with a flash of lightning and Caitlin practically leapt back into bed, frantically pulling the covers over herself.

"Sure thing. It's open," she soon called back, her voice sounding a little too squeaky for her liking.

The door cracked open a moment later and Cynthia slipped inside, now wearing her own set of pajamas.

"I just wanted to make sure you were settled in before I called it a night—" she began to explain but broke off, "—did I leave that open?" She pointed curiously at the window, white curtains billowing loosely in the nighttime wind.

Caitlin felt a wave of panic surge through her.

"Oh no, I did," she answered a bit too quickly, her words coming out fast and entirely too loud.

Cynthia gave her a strange look as she walked around to the opposite side of the bed, glancing briefly out the window.

"I mean," the doctor continued, calmer and more casual this time, "I was warm and I just wanted to get a little fresh air."

"Okay," the breacher drawled out lightly, not entirely convinced, but trusting Caitlin enough to accept her answer.

"Thank you for coming to check on me," Caitlin veered back to the original subject. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate you guys letting me stay here while I get back on my feet."

"It's the least we could do," she only shrugged. "You're family to Cisco, which means you're family to me too."

Caitlin couldn't help but smile softly, never ceasing to be floored by the amount of care and regard they all had for her.

However, the moment was abruptly cut short when a muffled sneeze came from inside the closet. Caitlin's eyes widened in horror as Cynthia whirled around, striding towards the small compartment without hesitation.

"Cynthia don't!" Caitlin sprang forward onto her knees, but it was too late.

She yanked the closet door wide open, her hands ready to blast who or whatever was inside. Barry came tumbling out as she did, falling onto the floor in an ungraceful heap.

Cynthia took one look at him and cast her gaze skyward, rolling her eyes as hard as humanly possible.

"Heeeeeey," Barry squeaked out from where he still laid on the carpet, trying and failing to sound casual. "This—this is not what it looks like," he blurted out an instant later.

"And what exactly does it look like?" Cynthia tested, raising an eyebrow and putting her hand on her hip.

Barry quickly scrambled to his feet, springing up off the floor with a slight hop. "Look, I would've come through the front door but I figured you guys were already asleep and I just wanted to—" he frantically tried to explain.

"You wanted to check on Caitlin," Cynthia finished with a surprisingly understanding inflection. "It's fine. Cisco told me you two might be a little weird after spending so much time in the Speed Force."

"We aren't weird," Both Barry and Caitlin's defensive tones rang out simultaneously.

They shared a brief glance, each realizing that had done nothing to help their case.

Cynthia only sighed, her point proven.

"Look, I get it, being the only two people in a whole dimension is enough to make you more than a little attached to each other. Just lock the window back when you leave," she concluded, closing the closet and moving to leave the room.

However, she stopped halfway and turned back, as if she suddenly remembered something. She made her way back over to Barry and laid a solid thwack on the back of his head.

"What was that for?" Barry practically whined, jerking away and reaching up to rub the spot on his head that didn't actually hurt.

"That was for going somewhere I couldn't breach," she shook her finger at him. "Never again."

With that she turned and left the room, all the while grumbling something about "stupid Earth-1 and it's different vibrational frequencies."

When the door was finally closed, both Barry and Caitlin found their gazes meeting. They shared a silent look before spluttering into quiet laughter, the ridiculousness of the whole situation not lost on them.

When they finally managed to collect themselves, Barry moved around to the side of the bed and took a seat across from her. Caitlin shifted back to a sitting position, drawing her knees up to her chest and looping her arms around them loosely. He regarded her in silence as he recalled their previous conversation, his unspoken question dancing on the tip of his tongue.

"They think it was the Speed Force," Caitlin's voice rang out softly. "Cisco and Harry," she clarified. "They think that it was what was causing my nightmares. That being there for an extended period of time could cause...deteriorations."

All the color drained from Barry's features as he put the pieces together. It made sense. "Like in Flashtime," he breathed out, as pale as a sheet.

She watched a crushing guilt creep its way across his face and plant itself firmly on his shoulders.

In that moment, Caitlin almost wished she hadn't told him, wished that she was still at least a little bit capable of lying to him. It would have been so much simpler if she was, so much better to spare him the guilt and self-blame he was undoubtedly already putting himself through.

Why couldn't she have kept her mouth shut? She should've just let him believe what he would and curl up next to her.

"Cait, I—" he started, but she quickly cut him off. She knew where this was going.

"Barry, don't," she warned, "I'd do it again."

"You could've died, Cait!" He blurted out, a pained kind of crack in his voice.

"But I didn't," she reason firmly, leaning forward and catching his gaze. "I didn't," she repeated, softer this time. "Thanks to you."

Reaching out slowly, she placed her hand on top of his and curled her fingers around his palm. "We think that being close to you was what helped my cells adjust and recharge."

She watched the new realization slowly mushroom through him.

"You saved my life, Barry," she spoke with the slightest hint of tears in her eyes. "Just by being you."

Without another word he sprang forward, wrapping her in a tight and all-encompassing embrace. She leaned into him, allowing her form to melt into his. He let out a shuddery and uneven breath over her shoulder, rocking back and forth a little as his hand moved up to cup the back of her head.

She burrowed further into his chest, and tucked her head beneath his chin, closing her eyes and allowing herself to breathe in the familiar scent. His lips found the top of her head and he pressed several gentle kisses there, his soul still reeling from the very real possibility that he could have lost her. He hadn't. They were both still there, alive and breathing, and Caitlin had to believe that it was enough.

After a while, Barry pulled away just enough to look at her, an air of unsurety in his eyes.

"Do you still want me to—" he started to say.

"Please," the words flew past Caitlin's lips, a little frantically. "Please stay. At least for a little while," she tried to sound calmer this time. "Nightmares or no, it would be nice to not be alone right now."

Barry nodded slowly, wordlessly, and together they laid down and stretched out. He pulled the blankets over them as he settled in beside her, afterward taking her hand and threading his fingers through hers. She sighed contently and squeezed his hand, her thumb gently rubbing his knuckles.

They stayed like that for several minutes, lapsing into a relaxed silence as the pale moonlight cast shadows across the darkened ceiling.

"I've been thinking," it was Barry's voice that eventually rang out. "I know things are a little crazy and disjointed right now. I mean we're homeless and jobless and technically dead to society," he continued, leaving Caitlin a little unsure of what exactly he was getting at.

"Is this supposed to be reassuring?" She couldn't help but tease him a bit.

"My point is—" Barry kept talking, a lightness to his words.

"I know it's gonna take a bit for both of us to get back on our feet, but when we do, I thought maybe we could...well maybe it would be...it would be helpful if we went in on a place together."

Caitlin turned her head to look at him, blinking rapidly as his proposition sunk in. She instantly propped herself up on her forearms, eyes wide and hopeful. "Really?"

"Only if you want to!" The words spilled from Barry's lips as he tried to backtrack, fresh doubt clouding his demeanor. "I was just thinking maybe it would be easier for both of us if we split the rent. And I mean it isn't like we haven't already lived together before so it wouldn't exactly be—"

Barry's ramblings were cut short as Caitlin all but launched herself at him, throwing her arms tightly around his neck and burying her face in the crook of it. The air that was forced from his lungs on impact came out as a breathy laugh. He soon found himself slowly bringing his arms around to pull her even closer to him, closing his eyes contently.

She had given him all the answer that he needed.

...

Over the course of the next few weeks, they didn't see each other nearly enough as far as Barry was concerned. Not only did they stay in separate houses, but they were also knee-deep in their own individual court cases as they attempted to reclaim their identities.

Despite all that, they still made a point to spend time together. Barry came to check on her every night and would stay until she fell asleep. Every night he would also forget to close the window behind him, much to Cynthia's annoyance.

Besides that, they stole whatever moments they could, usually at Jitters or tucked away in a quiet corner of the lab. It was during once such stolen moment that the impossible happened.

It had begun as a fairly standard morning. Well, as standard as it could be given their current state of limbo. Caitlin was getting ready for her final court hearing and Barry had sped over to ask her opinion on which tie to wear to his first day back at CCPD.

She had been skimming through newspaper adds when he appeared in her room with a whoosh, a coffee for her in one hand and two ties in the other. She helped him choose and even tied it for him. Afterward, she thanked him for the coffee and left a kiss on this cheek before resuming her previous task.

Barry shrugged on his jacket and moved to the bathroom mirror, if only to hide the smile that tugged at his lips and the slight blush that had crept its way onto his cheeks.

No sooner had he left the room did Caitlin's quiet gasp fill his ears. He spun on his heel in an instant and leaned back through the doorway, his eyes immediately finding her. She sat motionless on the edge of the bed, face painted with astonishment and disbelief as she stared down at the newspaper in hand.

"What is it?" Barry inquired, creasing his brow as he moved to stand in front of her.

She quickly turned the paper around, her index finger highlighting the source of her bewilderment. Barry bent down to read it, eyes widening as soon as he saw the picture on the For Sale ad.

"No way," his gaze flickered up to meet hers, voice scarcely above a whisper.

"Yes way," she replied, tone mirroring his own.

"That's not...that can't be possible. It wasn't real, none of it was real," he tried to reason.

"That was what I thought too, but it's right there." Caitlin paused, still trying to process the whole thing. "That's our house, Barry."

They went to see it the next day, if only to convince themselves it was real and that it truly was the home they had shared for nearly half a decade.

They followed the realtor in silence as she explained all the details they were already well acquainted with, their gazes roaming the walls with quiet amazement.

It was all the same, more or less. It was as close as it could be given that apparently no one had lived in it for over five years now. The owners had almost given up on selling it but had decided to run the ads one last time on a gut-feeling.

The house that had once contained a host of memories was now a neglected fixer-upper, but it was still theirs. It was the place that, once upon a time, they had built together. It was just an empty shell now, but that was the beauty of it; it could be filled.

When the tour came to an end and the realtor told them the price, they wasted no time in concluding that it was perfect. The woman nodded and smiled, leaving briefly to go collect the paperwork.

As her footsteps faded and they were left alone in the silence, they couldn't help but beam at each other.

It was real. It was actually real.

Caught up in the moment, Caitlin reached for Barry to hug him but soon found herself being lifted off the floor entirely as he scooped her up in his arms and spun around.

She actually giggled as they made joyful circles around the empty foyer, her face tucked neatly against his neck.

They had been granted a second chance, a real chance. Barry was determined not to waste it.