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“Its mom dad’s wedding anniversary. Now that you are in town, how can you not come sis?” asked Iris.
When Iris got to know that Ryan and her husband were in town, back from Gotham city, she contacted them and ran off to meet her beloved sister.
Both of them decided to catch up in Jitters. Walking on the sidewalk together, Ryan stopped her stride and faced Iris, before sighing.
“I got married without their permission Iris. Everything just happened so fast. I was running from those goons and Dr Ramsey was the one who helped me through it all. We fell in love and…” she paused, releasing a breath. “....when I called mom and dad to tell them that we had gotten married….I still remember how they were so angry..they were disappointed in me…”
Ryan wiped her tears, shaking her head. “...adopted children owe their life to their parents and what did I do?. I ran off because I wanted to fight crime,...how can I face them now?”
Iris touched her sister’s cheek gently. “Ryan, mom dad are not mad at you anymore,trust me. They ask me about your wellbeing all the time. And Wally, he misses you so much. Please you have to come back..”
“Is it…is it true? Do they miss me?”
“Of course they miss you. You both have to come home with me. They’d be so happy to see you.” Iris smiled brightly.
“Really?”
“Yes..”
Ryan smiled looking down. “Then I have another surprise for them.”
“Okk…what?”
“We…we are having a baby..”
Iris’ hands flew to her mouth.. “How could you not tell me this?? Oh my god, congratulations sis!!” She hugged her sister tightly.
“I’m so happy..”
“Thank you..”
Both were laughing with tearful eyes.
“Now I cant wait for you to meet everybody. They’d be so happy to know..!!”
Ryan was so happy. Finally she was gonna meet her parents.
“Ryan!”
They both turn to Ramsey running toward them with a big smile. “Hey, so the hospital called and we have to stay in Central City for a little while..”
“Well that works, right?” Iris asked looking at Ryan hopefully.
“Yes…. we’ll be there, Iris.”
“Lets go? Or have you forgotten your husband now that you met your sister.” Ramsey sweetly asked his wife as he held her hand.
Ryan nodded, smiling at him warmly. “how can I ever forget you charmer?”
Iris grinned seeing them like this. They were so cute.
“Bye Iris..” smiled Ramsey, pulling his wife's hand to cross the road.
Ryan turned towards her sister. “I promise I’ll be there.”
“We will be waiting.” Iris smiled.
The next second she blinked her eyes, and found Ryan and her husband getting hit by a speeding truck coming in their direction.
“Noo!!!!!!!”
Three years later
“Stand still Mr. Dibny” the teacher instructed.
"Yes.."
Sue drops her pencil on the desk and started making faces at the male model, making him laugh discreetly.
"Stand still for just a few more minutes." teacher instructed again strictly.
Iris looks at Sue and shakes her head before getting busy sketching, drawing the model's features.
“What exactly were you doing?” she asked Sue after the class was over.
“What?” she shrugged innocently. “It was fun..and he was kinda cute.”
Iris makes a face. “Ralph- the struggling model? …Sue, its as crazy as Khione finding Mark Blaine cute.”
“Eww…I’m not that crazy… anyway he was just here to assist us in our art, otherwise he has other gigs.”
She stopped seeing someone over her friend's shoulder.
“Uh..Iris, Scott is coming here.”
“Iris…hey!”
“Hi Scott.”
“Um..I’ll see you later Iris.” Sue excused herself leaving her to deal with Scott by herself.
“Ok so I was thinking…umm..Can I take you out on a date tonight?” Scott asked her out after Sue left.
“I’m sorry I cant go.” she turned to go away.
“Iris, wait!” He blocked her way. “How about tomorrow?”
She sighed. “Scott, how many times have I told you that I’m not interested in you like that anymore. I dont like to break your heart again and again. Just because we ended up being in the same art program after years does not mean that we should date again. Please try to understand.”
He scoffed. “Yeah because you are dating that Eddie guy? I dont get what you see in him. Oh wait yeah, for one: he is a detective and your dad’s partner, second: he is white..and earns well.”
Iris huffs humorlessly.
“..are they your dream guy?”
She shakes her head, “I dated you in high school Scott, I thought of you as my dream guy too…yet you cheated on me.” she said moving past him. Scott had a decency to look shameful.
Her eyes snapped open as the car jerked to a stop suddenly.
“Hmm…” she mumbled sleepily. “Why did you apply brakes like that, Eddie?”
“Of course to wake you up. Iris, I don't understand. You behaved like this throughout the whole thing tonight. You didn't talk to anyone, you didn't dance, you didn't smile.”
“Well I'm sorry for finding your ccpd annual events boring.”
“Let me remind you, your dad is a detective too.”
“And you are using it against me Eddie?” She asked tiredly. She said straighter before saying. “Look I'm proud of whatever you do as a police officer. But the world of crime it's too much for me. People there were discussing just all these things. I didn't know anything about the gangs and what your department is doing to catch them. Even if I try to take part in the conversations your friends are quick to shut me off thinking of me as some out of touch silly girl who doesn't know anything. That's why I don't try”
Eddie released a breath before facing her.
“It's ok Iris. You don't have to change yourself for anyone.” He lifted her hand slowly over the console and kissed her knuckles. “I love you.” whispered Eddie.
Iris smiled slightly.
“I... I love you too.”
He kept playing with her fingers.
“So, you free on weekend right? I want you to meet my parents?”
“Parents?”
“Yeah.. Iris, don't worry. Your mom and dad are gonna be there too. It's a nice little get-together of our families.”
“I can't Eddie.”
The smile slowly slipped from his face. “Why not?”
“I have to go for the outdoor assignment for three days,for the last leg of my art program.”
Eddie smiles softly. “You can't be serious.”
“I'm dead serious. This program was important for my career as an artist. I will get the certificate and I will be a professional. And this assignment is-”
“Your career Iris?” He laughs. “Seriously how many paintings have you sold, or drawn? What kind of career is that? It's just a hobby, can't get you any income.”
She closed her eyes in anger and pulled her hand away from him.
“for your information, I’m working ok. And I have sold some of my paintings online. My career may not give me a fixed income like yours, but I do ok for a living, while also completing my studies. It's enough for me.” she said irritatingly.
“Ok..i didn't mean it like that Iris. I respect your career choice even if Joe says anything. You are an artist." He reluctantly says. "It's ok fine..you go complete your program, ok. You can meet my parents some other time.”
Iris dropped color in the middle of the canvas, with long strokes of brush she started preparing the background dissolving the color on the canvas gracefully.
She kept looking at the canvas coming to a standstill.
Her phone ringing brought her out of her reverie.
She answered. “Yes Sue, what's up?”
“Iris!... iris I'm in trouble!!” Sue sounded panicked over the phone.
“Sue? Where are you..what happened?”
“At the Luigi's, I'm scared Iris please come soon.”
“I'm coming, I'm coming!!” saying, Iris quickly headed outside.
Not seeing anyone in the West house, she felt strange. Where were her parents and Wally?
But she’d worry about that later, she had to get to her friend first who was in god knows what trouble.
She tried calling Sue on the way. But it went unanswered.
At last she reached there, and saw Sue standing outside worry evident on her face.
“Sue?? What's wrong, you had me scared.”
“Iris, let's go inside.”
Inside Iris found her whole family, Eddie and Eddie's parents there. They had big smiles on their faces.
“What's happening Eddie?”
Eddie came forward and lifted her hands. “Iris Im sorry we had to call you here like this. But I just wanna ask you something.”
“I love you, Iris. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know this weekend you are going for your assignment. And after that I have to go for the ccpd training in Keystone for about a month. So I wanted to do this as soon as possible because we may not get time after that. And I wanted to do this the right way. So…”
He pulled something out of his pocket and knelt to the ground. “Iris West, will you marry me?”
Iris looked at him shockingly and swallowed.
She uneasily looked at the other people watching them. Their parents and other patrons in the restaurant.
She was caught off guard for sure. Why were these people looking at her like this? She softly smiled and shifted her gaze to Eddie again, who was smiling warmly at her.
Eddie kept waiting on his knees with hopeful and a worried expression. Their parents were on the edge too, anticipating her answer.
She gulped, weighing her options. She loved Eddie. He is a good guy.
She saw from the corner of her eye at the waiting staff with the party poppers and confettis ready to blow them up. Her answer is going to be the trigger. If she said no,they would go to waste and the environment in the restaurant would be awkward and despondent. If she said yes…”
“Umm…” she smiled and quietly said. “Yes.”
The outdoor assignment in Coast City went well. She got the certificate. Professionally she was an artist now. She even got a call for a job for creating sketches for a comic book. Even though it didnt interest her, she took the offer nevertheless.
Iris was currently waiting for the taxi at the station. this part of town was not familiar to her and it was dark.
Suddenly she felt some movement behind her.
She turned around and looked on wide-eyed seeing a fog building at some distance. She saw silhouettes of people fighting there. She got closer hiding behind the pillar. Those suspicious people maternalized in front of her, they looked like thugs. Trailing them were two people in civilian clothes. Fear creeped up on her, it looked like a mob.
Amidst the fog, she saw a person appearing, who jumped to catch the bad guys.
When he got closer Iris finally saw his face.
Green-eyed, brunette, lean and tall. He looked like a hero in a superhero sci-fi action flick..
His face showing anguish and intensity. His disheveled appearance couldn't take away the handsomeness of his features. She found herself getting lost in his eyes.
But when she blinked, all of them just disappeared all of a sudden, except for that one guy.
She realised a second later that he was coming right at her. Looking just at her.
Her breath caught in her throat as she felt him running in her direction.
Before she could do anything, he collided with her, making her fall down along with her handbag and her art supplies.
Him above her, his weight on her body. It all felt too surreal and unexpected. She couldn't breathe properly. Their eyes met and they kept gazing for a few seconds
…. before he stumbled to his feet and started running away.
Iris quickly gathered her things.
Her eyes widened seeing a gun with her stuff. She looked around and quickly placed it in her bag before running for home.
She was huffing breathlessly after reaching home.
“Iris you ok?” Francine asked.
“Yeah ..yes mom.” She said and quickly climbed the stairs to her bedroom.
She pulled out the gun and looked at it. It must belong to that person.
Who was he? Was he chasing those thugs? He must be in law enforcement.
She remembered the way he was on top of her, his eyes gazing at her, his body covering her. She felt butterflies in her stomach and a smile creeped up on her lips.
She stopped smiling, realising that he was a stranger. Why was she having a crush like a schoolgirl?
She hid the gun away securely.
The next day Iris got ready for her interview. At the breakfast table, she asked her father.
“Dad, ccpd recruited a new detective on the force?”
Joe brought his paper down and frowned before answering.
“not recently.”
“Ok.”
On the way to the DC office, she felt someone following her. When she got to the main gate, her eyes widened. She caught the same suspicious people outside near the building. They were talking discreetly behind a tree. She went pale, were they following her?
Before she could turn away, one of them shifted his menacing gaze on her. Iris quickly started running in the direction of the office
She hastily took the elevator. Before the door closed, a figure entered and she opened her mouth to let out a shriek.
The same guy from last night pressed his hand on her mouth blocking any sounds.
He pressed her against the wall. His warm breath was touching her skin as he crowded her. Her breath was caught in her throat feeling him so close.
“I'm going to pull my hand away. Do Not Scream.” He warned her.
She nodded.
He pulled his hand away. “Where is the gun?” he growled.
Iris gulped. “What?”
“Are you deaf? Where is my gun?”
“I have it at my home.”
“I need it. Lets go to your home.”
“You cant come to my house. I live with my family,”
“Ok,” he kept staring her hard before he pulled out his pocket diary and pen. Her stomach grumbled. She was shaking.
Adjusting the diary over her head on the wall with one hand, he started writing down something with the pen with his other hand. The action made her completely pressed between him and the wall. She turned her head sideways as she felt him extremely close. His whole body was pressed against her. Their faces just a few inches away. His lips curling,she could be wrong but it felt like a smirk. Iris wished that he wasn't a creep who would kiss her in this moment. But if he did, would she allow it? Would she stop it?
Her eyes were closed nervously and he handed her the slip of paper “bring it to this address.”
He pulled away and exited the elevator immediately.
She felt her breath returning in her lungs.
The next day she came to give his gun back at the same address.
It was a huge loft. A beautiful place. She was not gonna lie. It was a dream of hers to live in a place like this with her future husband.
“Give me my gun.”
“At least tell me your name.”
“Give me the gun.” The guy repeated each syllable in a no nonsense voice.
Iris handed him over the gun.
“You may go now.”
“Who were those guys you were chasing that day?”
He yanked her arm and pulled her towards the door.
She snatched her arm away. “I’m gonna tell the the cops that you killed those people and you live here. My dad is a detective.”
“You're concerned about them, do you even know who those guys were?”
“Are you like…a undercover agent or something, a spy?”
“Thats none of your business, just get out ok?” he pointed to the door with his thumb.
“Look if you dont want to disclose your identity, I can understand. Im not gonna expose it, I promise.”
He sighed.
“Listen..”
“Iris.”
“Iris, you should not get involved in all this ok, just go.”
“I will, but there is something i want to tell you…uh...”
“Barry.”
“Barry. Before we met in the elevator, I saw two of those same bad guys who you were chasing that day. They were following me.”
Barry looked deep in concentration and nodded. “They saw you with me that day, thats why.”
He closed his eyes regretfully. “should have realised this sooner. But dont worry, they have been neutralized.”
Her eyes widened. “You killed them.?”
“No, I did not.”
“Listen Iris, just watch out for any suspicious activity around yourself and be safe.”
Iris kept thinking about Barry the whole night. She was happy to get to know him. Thank god he trusted her with his identity. Even though he didn't say it in words, all the things pointed to him being a spy. She started dreaming about him. He was so handsome. He had an intriguing personality, something seemed weird about him, well of course besides the whole secret identity thing. But something else.
She just couldnt help coming close to him. He might be very dangerous. And as her dad said -you see danger, you run the other way- but with Barry Iris couldnt find it in herself doing so. Underneath that tough spy exterior there lied a very good human being, she knew.
Even the landline ringing couldn't brought her out of her dreams of Barry Allen.
She picked it up. “Hello Barry?” she answered excitedly.
“Barry? Who is that?”
“Uh…Eddie..Hey..” she stuttered fumbling through her words. She felt silly because how could it be Barry, she never gave him her no.
“Hi Iris. but who is this Barry?”
“Umm.. actually I thought you were the interview guy, his name was Barry”
“Oh yeah, how did your interview go?”
“I got the gig.”
“Wow, congratulations Iris, so did you miss me?”
“Yes.”
“By the way, what happened to your cellphone? I’m trying for the last two hours, but you didnt answer. I had to call your landline.”
Her eyes widened. “Umm..must be on silent. Eddie, I'll talk to you later.”
Maybe she forgot her phone at Barry’s place.
Iris descended the stairs quietly and proceeded in the direction of the door.
“Iris..”
“Yes Wally?” she sighed and faced him.
“Where you are sneaking off to?”
“Wally I forgot my cellphone somewhere, Im going to get it back.”
“Its two in the morning, let me come with you.”
Just then she noticed him dressed.
“But what are you doing dressed up?”
He got embarrassed and said,
“Actually me and Jesse, umm ..” he scratched his neck. “we got carried away a bit earlier, I was coming back from hers.”
Iris shook her head. “Wally, you are just 18, just be careful.”
Wally scrunched his face. “Not the talk please. And you are twenty-five, why are you sneaking around like this?”
“Im gonna go now.”
“I actually left my phone here.”
Barry sighs. “There is no way.”
“Let me just check once.”
Barry opened the door for her to enter.
She started looking for it as he stood there arms crossed.
When she couldn't find it anywhere. Barry intervened. “Check your purse.”
Iris checked her purse and really she found her phone.
She was confused. “I…i didn't check my bag and in a hurry thought that I left it here ..oh god” she dropped her head backward. “I'm such a clutz.”
“Were you stalking me,West? Making excuses to come here?”
“What, no! I hate stalkers. I was not.. trust me, i truly thought that I left it here.”
Barry laughed before smirking.
“Don't worry, I don't mind beautiful women stalking me.”
“You…you find me beautiful?”
Barry grins to himself softly
“Anyway, coffee?”
Iris smiles “sure.”
He prepares her coffee as she wanders around in his loft.
“Hmm…so you use a house phone. You don't have a mobile phone?”
“No.”
“Hmm.. interesting” he looks at her and she explains. “I mean..yeah with the kind of work you do, I understand.”
Barry releases a breath. “Iris, listen -”
“Oh wait..you must have a burner phone, right?”
“Stop projecting.” he says handing her the coffee and starts heating his food on the stove.
“Wait you don't have a microwave either?.”
“No.”
“Oh..”
“And coffee maker?”
“No.”
Barry was opening a package that was delivered to him by his source.
His landline started ringing and he paused.
His sources wouldn't be calling him on his landline. They wouldn't be that mindless. In fact anyone in his line of work wouldn't be contacting each other like this.
He answered it nevertheless.
Hi, it's me.
the chirpy voice of Iris' spoke from the other side
Barry frowned. “How did you get this number?”
”Gave a missed call on my mobile phone and saved it. Smart. ain’t I?”
“I'm regretting letting you into my home now.”
”no you are not. You recognised my voice without me telling you my name. I feel special.”
“Why did you call?”
”Can we watch a movie tomorrow?” she asked straight fowardly. And Barry smiled.
He recalled seeing a ring on her finger.
“Why would I do that?”
Come on, it's just a movie. The new spy movie, that way you can relate to it. It's a 6pm show ok. I’ll get the tickets. Cinepolis , Central City hall. Dont be late.
“I will not come.”
I’ll wait for you. byee.
Iris got ready for the movie date. She reached there at 5.30 and waited for Barry to come.
She got the refreshments and kept waiting for Barry outside the theatre hall.
Time passed and tears clung to her eyes, seeing no sign of him. She was so stupid. Sue would call her completely out of her mind. Who does that with a stranger? She had gone crazy.
It was 6.45 pm when he finally showed up. Iris was angry.
Iris turned away from him going to the hall. Barry pulled her arm making her face him.
“I'm sorry.” He said softly.
“Why are you sorry?” She grumbled. “You said you wouldnt come, I was the one waiting for you like idiots.”
“I got preoccupied somewhere else. Otherwise I wouldn't have missed it at all.”
“Really?” she has tears in her eyes.
“Really.” he wiped her tears gently.
Iris touched the scratch on his forehead which looked fresh. Barry closed his eyes, lingering on her touch.
“I'm sorry.” She let out. “I shouldn't have forced you to come..”
“Hey,” he held her ring-clad hand. “I wanted to come ok. Come on, we are gonna miss the movie.” He pulled her toward the hall.
Inside she kept watching the movie and he kept watching her. Iris turned her face finding him looking at her and blushed before turning his face on the screen. They both giggled.
They were coming out of the theatre hand in hand after the movie was over when someone called her name.
“Hey!! Iris.”
Iris sighed. “Oh god.”
It was her high school friend Felicity Smoak.
“So after such a long time right?”
“Yeah Felicity. How are you? How is Oliver?” Iris smiled good-naturely.
Barry looked lost, standing there.
“I'm good. Um…we are not together actually. Oliver is getting married to his childhood sweetheart Laurel.” She replied quietly.
Iris felt bad for her friend. “I'm sorry. “ She said sympathetically.
“It's ok it wasn't meant to be. In fact I found someone too. His name is Curtis. I'm actually here with him.”
“Thats nice. You are in Central city, why don't you come home someday. My parents will be so happy to see you and Wally too.”
“Sure I will come.” She looked at her with furrowed brows. “But you have changed I didn't know you were a fan of sci-fi movies girl.”
Iris turned to Barry, their hands still intertwined. "Well, because I'm actually here with my friend, Barry. Barry meet my friend Felicity. Felicity this is Barry.”
Barry waved slightly at Iris’s friend. “Hi.”
Felicity finally shifted her gaze to him and her features changed. She looked puzzled.
Her eyes fell on Iris holding his hand and she looked shocked. She kept gawking at them.
“Felicity?” Iris drew her attention back waving a hand in her face.
“Huh..?”
“Are you ok?”
“Umm…yeah..yeah.” she let out nervously.
“We should go. Bye see you soon.”
Iris and Barry left from there.
Felicity kept standing there, frowning and shockingly confused.
She got out of the car after dropping him home but held back.
“You don't wanna come inside?”
“Its late, my parents must be worrying. tomorrow?”
Barry came closer to her, and opened his mouth to say something but the words couldn't come out.
He invaded her space some more. Her breath started coming out in short pants realising the lack of space between them.
He put a hand on her cheek and leaned in slowly.
Iris closed the rest of the inches and let their lips meet.
It was exhilarating, kissing this sweet and kind stranger like this. It should scare her, with what he does. He is practically a stranger to her. She didn't even know if his name was really Barry like he told her or not. But right now she wasn't thinking of those things. She just wanted to drown in the desire she was feeling for this man.
The desire that he felt too.
He took a breath as they came up for air.
She grinned. “Good night.”
“Good night.” He softly replied.
The next day she went to the electronic store.
“I want to buy this microwave, and that coffee maker right over there. Can you please get them delivered to this address.” She instructed the store manager.
“Sure.”
“And it's a surprise, so please don't tell them my name. Ok”
“For sure, I'll get them delivered. Thank you for shopping with us.”
Iris was working for the new issue of the comic. The submission date was late. But she wanted to get it out of the way soon.
From the corner of her eyes. She kept looking at Barry, deep in concentration working on his laptop.
His source delivered something to his address and he was getting a print for it.
Iris pulled a paper out and started drawing his handsome features. Central part of forehead protruding a vein. His lips slightly thinned as if he was examining something. His eyes narrowed.
She kept drawing his tense features and smiled. In a few minutes, a fresh sketch of Barry Allen was there in front of her eyes. She was proud of herself. She had memorized his features quite well and could even draw him without looking. Someday she was gonna try that.
She folded her sketch book and gathered her supplies, putting them in her bag.
They hadn't talked about the kiss yet. She wanted to start the conversation but seeing how Barry was so engrossed in his work, it seemed like he was avoiding it.
All guys are like that. She shook her head and went to the kitchen to make coffee for herself.
Barry was concentrated on his work when he heard a yelp.
“Oww…”
He got to her in a frenzy. “Iris!!”
He crouched near her surveying the broken shards of coffee mug and the liquid around her.
Grabbing the tissues quickly, he started wiping the sticky liquid on her clothes and her hands. “Oh shit!! Are you okay?”
He delicately held her hand blowing over it gently, where the liquid spilled over before realising she must be hurt by the hot coffee.
“You are hurt..” he said,getting panicked
“You have to put it in water..Iris, god, what did you do?” the worry and panic in his voice, evident.
She was grinning to herself, before stopping him from going to get water.
“Barry…..it was cold coffee.”
“Huh?...oh!! Oh .. ok” he was embarassed as he composed himself.
She smiled shyly. “You were panicked.”
He just lifted her by her hands.
“You should wash up, I'm gonna clean this ok.”
She nodded.
“I don't have a change of clothes.”
“Uh..you can….wear something of mine until…” he trailed off looking at her.
“Ok.”
“Ok..I’ll get you a towel. The bathroom is that side.”
Iris shedded the spoiled blouse but kept her jeans on. She washed herself up along with washing her top and waited for the towel.
She couldn't wait any longer and decided to come out in her bra and jeans, hoping he left it on the bed.
She opened the bathroom door and found Barry, hand in air about to knock.
He shifted his gaze away. “Uh..sorry, here is your towel.” he extended it to her.
She shifted on her feet, opening the door wide.
Barry looked her way when she didn't make a move to take the towel.
Barry gazed at her half-naked body.
“We kissed.” She blurted.
He took a few seconds to reply, his intense gaze unwavering.
“We did.”
Taking a step closer, she whispered. “Barry…”
Barry’s eyes turn dark looking at her. His gaze dragging down her body painstakingingly slow. he inches towards her. She watched him watching her and closed her eyes, feeling his sensation on her lips.
"You are so beautiful." His mouth descended on hers in the next second and everything stopped. She held his neck deepening the contact, making the kiss last longer.
His hands roamed over her hot body cascading down her back and hair. Hers glided in his hair, messing it up.
After a few minutes of exploring each other heavily with their mouths, they ended up in his bed with Barry hovering over her. He ran his hands on her bare leg sensually, all the way from her calf to her thigh, clenching his fingers. The deep brown skin of her thighs shivering with his touch. The contact of their contrasting skin was alluring to watch.
She felt herself getting lost in the moment. She felt intoxicated losing all sense of right or wrong as he buried his face in her slender neck, sucking it deeply.
She pulled him over her, pulling his shirt over his head and touched him everywhere, feeling his skin hot to the touch. Her eyes were twinkling with mischief.
Their rest of the clothes come off and he wrapped his hand around her waist pushing into her. She rests her ring-clad hand around his back pulling him closer, dissolved in his arms.
Then they were following a rhythm. He presses into her and she urges him on.
The rest of day was spent with them making sweet and passionate love to each other away from the world, as they moved as one.
Iris came back home in the evening. As soon as she entered Eddie greeted her at the front door.
“Hey, sweetheart!”
The air Ieft her lungs seeing him there.
“Eddie …you?” she looked behind him and saw a commotion there, with Eddie's parents, her parents and Wally.
“Yes the training was for a month. I'm back now.” he squinted his eyes. “What…you are not happy to see me..”
“No..it's not like that..I.., Eddie I have to talk to you about something, alone.”
“What?”
“i have to tell you something please, come with me.”
“Iris, babygirl you back. Come on we have something for you”Joe dragged a frightened Iris inside the house
“Dad wait.. Eddie I have to tell you something please, alone.”
“Yeah of course Iris, but first listen to what they have to say.” He was grinning brightly.
“Iris baby, we talked with Eddie and Mr and Mrs Thawne, and decided your wedding date to be 26th of April.”
Eobard Thawne, Eddie's father smiled at her. “Yes Iris, we hope you don't have any prior engagement that day.”
She was shocked hearing this.
“Iris…” Eddie took her hand before kissing it. “I'm so happy. We are gonna get married.”
She yanked her hand away quickly.
She recalled how an hour ago she was in Barry's arms on his bed.
“We have to make so many arrangements Joe.”
“Yeah and the venue needs to be set...”
Iris couldn't take it any longer.
“I cannot marry you Eddie.” she said loudly.
They all looked at her weirdly.
“What…what are you talking about? Why are you joking Iris?” he laughed nervously
“Eddie I can't marry you because I'm in love with someone else.” siad Iris clearly and defiantly.
Everyone was shocked hearing her.
“Iris!! What the hell are you saying? Do you even realize?” Joe was furious.
“Yes I do!!” She yelled back. She turned to Eddie. “I'm sorry Eddie but I can't keep you in dark anymore. I love someone else not you.”
He scoffed softly not believing his ears.
She gave him his ring back and ran to her bedroom.
Eobard Thawne took a step forward and said in his calm tone “Mr West, this could all have been avoided, before my son got his heart broken.”
“Mr Thawne, I..I apologise..”
“I think we should leave, come on Eddie.”
“Eddie wait…”
“I’ll talk to you later Joe.” Eddie said and left with his family.
“Iris!!!” Joe was very angry.
He dropped on the couch. “How could she do this to him?” Joe wondered
“I’ll talk to her.”
Once inside her room, Iris dialed Barry, but found her mobile’s battery low. “Shit!!”
She dialed him from her house phone.
Francine watched from the doorway Iris talking on phone.
“Barry, are you listening to me?”
Francine quickly left from there and grabbed the cordless receiver, listening on the conversation.
“Barry my parents were going to get me married forcefully. Without even asking me, they set the date. But I love you. You are the only one for me.”
Francine waited for the other side of conversation.
"Iris, I cant do anything about it, it's between your parents and you.”
“I know you never said you love me, but how do I make my heart understand? I'm crazy about you.”
“I love you too Iris, but love and relationships, it means nothing to me, all these things have no value, especially in my line of work. You should... forget me.”
Francine looked at the cordless in her hand, getting puzzled and confused.
“I can't do that. Barry!! Barry please…. Barry!!...” Repeated Iris as he cut the call from the other side.
“Iris…! Who were you talking to on the phone?”
“Barry.”
“Who is Barry?”
“The guy I'm dating.”
Francine looked at her unbelievingly.
“Iris, I was listening through the parallel line, you were the only one speaking, no voice was coming from the other side. You dialed yourself right.?”
Iris’s blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about? I was talking to Barry.. he was on the phone.”
“Iris I-”
“Mom..” Wally interrupted them. “Felicity is here to meet you guys.”
Felicity caught the conversation between them. she greeted them.
“Hi Mrs West, hey Iris.” she gulped nervously.
“Iris your mom is right..”
“What?”
“Mrs West, there is something wrong with her. That day in theatre, she was introducing me to some ‘Barry’ but no one was there. Like just air next to her, nothing was there I swear.”
The color drained from Iris' face. Her breath quickened. What the hell..
“Shut up Felicity! What the hell are you saying??” she raised her voice.
“Iris, I swear I didn't see anyone there with you. Your hand, it was interlaced with nothing, like you were clutching the air.”
“You are lying Felicity, why are you lying? Did my dad tell you to lie? I’ve been meeting Barry for the last one month, mom. You want to meet him too, come with me.”
She pulled her mom with her.
“Iris!!” Joe yelled as she descended the stairs dragging her mom with her. “was this your way to get out of this engagement? There is no Barry right? It was all your -”
“Come with me and see him with your own eyes you will realise I'm saying the truth. let's go.”
They reached his apartment.
“This is his loft.”
“It's locked Iris.”
“So? He must be outside for some work.”
A woman from the neighbouring apartment was passing by, as she asked. “Can I help you guys?”
“We were just waiting for Barry.” Iris answered. “The guy who lives here.”
The woman looks confused. “You must be mistaken, no one lives here. You can ask the super too.”
“Thats not possible. I’ve been coming here.” she raised her voice
Joe ran a hand on his face, tiredly. “Iris, will you stop this.?”
Getting the key from super, she got the door open. “See…this is his loft, his home.” Iris said without looking inside.
After opening the front door, Joe and Francine looked inside to find a deserted apartment, with dust and cobwebs in every corner of the house.
“Iris….”
She turned around and got the shock of her life.. “No..” she whispered.
She frantically started running through the whole house.
“No..no..no it's not possible.. i was…I was here a few hours back…..i used to sit there and here was the couch, here the kitchen…I was with him,..”
“Iris what's happening to you!” Her mother was at the verge of tears.
“Yea, yeah.ok..ok , he must have gotten to know that we are coming here, that's why he moved. His job is like that dad, I can't tell you what. But he has to stay undercover. Otherwise he was..”
“Stop it Iris …! You really think we are idiots.?” yelled Joe
“Wait…no please, I can prove that he really exists. Come on..”
“No ma’am, we delivered the microwave and coffee maker to the desired address as you told us. But no one was there to receive it.” The sales manger said. “In fact my delivery man went there a couple of times, but that apartment was locked. After asking around, we found out it was locked for a few years. And we didn't have your address or phone number to contact you either.”
Iris shook her head with tears in her eyes. “You are lying,..everyone is lying. Oh my god…oh my god.!” She put her hand on her head.
Joe yanked her arm. “stop this nonsense right this second Iris!!” Her parents angrily took her home.
“Why would they lie?”
“You are detective dad, you are asking me that. You know why people lie.”
“There is no Barry, Iris!! Get that straight. Have you gone crazy? and all this because you wanted to dump Eddie right? Because he said something about your stupid career!!”
“Im not crazy!! There is a Barry and I love him!! Fuck everyone else!!!”
“Enough!!!” yelled Joe.
“You are Not gonna step a foot out of this house from now on.” he ordered strictly, anger flashing in his eyes.
“I'm twenty-five, I'm an adult.” Iris whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Start behaving like one first. Go.to.your.room Iris.” siad Joe leaving nothing for argument.
Iris slowly climbed the stairs and went to her room.
She heard the lock turning on the door. They locked it, caging her inside.
She sat down on her bed.
“He exists..he does..he does…” She whispered dreadfully.
Her tears couldn't stop spilling thinking about the moments she spent with him. How she saw him first time, the movie date, their first kiss, how she gave herself to him, had sex with him.
She slowly took the hairpin out of her hair, she pressed it on her wrist harshly.
After cutting the vein with the sharp end of the bobby pin, she felt blood oozing out slowly.
She watched the dripping liquid for a few seconds before unconsciousness took her over.
“Iris is out of danger, but after whatever you told me, I would suggest meeting Dr. Stein, the best psychiatrist around here.”
“Mr West, did something happen to your daughter in the past, was she depressed about something.?”
Joe swallowed. “Not in the recent past, but three years ago something happened which was the cause of her depression.”
“What.?”
“Her older sister, our daughter. She saw her sister and her husband getting hit by a truck along with their unborn child. She saw the accident with her own eyes that took away their lives.”
“She used to love Ryan very much, so for a few months she was very depressed. She used to get scared of any type of violence, road accidents etc. During that period she used to see strange things, but it was all due to depression. She got completely better after that. Normal. In fact Iris is the strongest girl there is.”
Dr Stein nodded very slowly.
“Hmm..she seems completely normal Mr West, normal to anyone, strong to anyone
but there resides a fear in her. Fear of violence, fear of losing a true love like her sister's. She is fighting her demons. An inner struggle is going on inside her mind. And she wants something tangible to hold on to.” Dr Stein explained walking around in his cabin with his audience consisting of Joe, Francine, Eddie listening carefully.
“..and all this fear, and internal struggle has given birth to an image, to an illusion. A creation. He does everything she wants, talks everything she wants. He is a figment of her imagination. Her subconscious has created it for herself. To talk to, to share her grief , her life, her loneliness.
He doesn't judge her. Doesn't scold her, doesn't stop her from doing anything, cares about her,
He is…speaking her mind.
And she fell in love with it.” Stein turned to them solving the puzzle.
“Mr West, your daughter is going through Schizophrenia.
Although she is not crazy and does not behave like a typical crazy person,but she is seeing or believing things that are out of touch with reality. Things that are not real. And for her it's her reality.
These type of people appear normal from the outside doing their everyday activity just fine, but
whenever we try to make them understand that whatever they are seeing or feeling is all in their mind, they wouldn't believe it, their mind wouldn't let them, because they can't separate it from reality. They would push back ,rebel against the whole world. Same with Iris.”
“To get her out of this madness is next to impossible.”
Joe had tears in his eyes and Francine looked shocked to the core. Eddie was listening to all this with a stoic expression,not being able to say anything.
“Can we …can we take her home?” Asked Joe.
“You saw what she did to herself, after you tried making her believe that there is no Barry. The more you try to keep her away from ‘Barry’ the more she can be a danger to herself and to other people.”
“How can I leave my daughter here like this..for how long?”
“In the psychiatric ward-”
“Iris needs our help.” Eddie interrupted firmly.
“I can't leave the woman I love alone. Joe, you don't worry, she needs us and we are gonna help her, I am gonna be there for her.
…We are taking her home.”
“Barry!!”
She was startled as Barry appeared in front of her.
“Barry, where did you go?? Where did you go?” She cried.
“Everyone was saying that you didn't exist, they didn't believe me. Everyone thinks that I'm crazy Barry….and you….you left me alone to deal with it.”
Barry remained silent as he made his way to her bed.
“If you didn't want to do anything with me, why did you bump into me that day, why did you make me fall in love with you.”
“Iris…” Barry took a seat next to her holding her face.
“I love you..ok…but I didn't want to face your family. and I got scared, I had to stay hidden.”
He rested his forehead on her. “I don't know why these people are behaving like this, but you have to trust me.” He pulled away looking puzzled “Something.. something really bad is going on. I'm confused too, I have a feeling someone doesn't want us to meet..”
“Iris..!”
Eddie was in the doorway looking concerned as he saw her hands holding someone in the air.
“Eddie, you?…this is Barry. He is Barry, you see him right?”
“Iris..what..” he was spooked.
Barry pulled her arms away from himself, “I have to go Iris, I can't stay…my identity it can't get exposed.”
“No…no Barry…please don't leave me, please.. Barry I can't live without you,” she lifted her wrist to show him “I did this for you, these people are gonna keep me in hospital, they are gonna let me die…Barry!!”
“I'm sorry..” he expressed regretfully.
She couldn't do anything as Barry left through the open window.
Eddie stood there watching everything weirdly the whole time.
He dreadfully came closer to her.
He slowly made her sit on the bed and gulped.
“It's ok Iris, let him….let him go ..”
She turned to him, surprised. “Eddie you could…you could see him right..you saw Barry.”
He slowly nodded. “yea .. yeah.”
“Thank God.” Iris composed herself. “I'm so sorry,”
“I wanted to tell you the truth sooner. I cheated on you Eddie. I slept with Barry.”
He closed his eyes sadly.
“ I fell in love with him, I should've broken off the engagement sooner, and saved you from it all. You had no fault. I'm sorry.
..But it's the truth that Barry and I love each other. There is no one for me except him.” she was truly regretful.
He nodded. “I get it.”
Iris smiled. “Thanks for understanding.”
“Eddie, um..I don't have my mobile phone, I don't think dad is gonna give it back. Can you …can you please call Barry later and make him understand he needs to come back here so that everyone can see him and they believe me after that. Please…please Eddie for me, just call him once.”
“His number is….umm…,428359.”
“428359?” Joe looked deep in thought.
“Yes..”
“Oh god…oh god..” Joe rubbed his forehead lamenting frustratingly. “How could I ..how could I forget that place?”
“Dr Stein, when Iris was in high school, she was getting some prank calls, some guy was harassing her, talking inappropriately on phone....”
“We traced back the number,....to the same apartment that she thinks belongs to this Barry. Iris and I went there to complain about the guy to his dad.
I couldn't recognise it when Iris took us there again that day because it was empty and dusty. ”
“So that apartment and the phone number stayed with her, in her subconscious. And her mind conjured up an image where ‘Barry’ is living in the same loft where she always wanted to live in with the love of her life.” Dr Stein explained.
“Iris…Iris!” She heard whisper of her name, deep in her sleep
“Iris, wake up.”
She got up with a start.
“Sshh..I have come to take you with me..”
“Barry…really?”
“Yes, come with me. No one is gonna separate us now.”
She looked around entering the loft.
“It's just like before …then why was it empty that day?”
He held her shoulders. “That was all a lie. Thank God, I brought you away from them, otherwise they would've declared you completely crazy.” Barry breathed shaking his head. “But don't worry now you are safe here..”
Iris hugged him tearfully. “I'm scared, if they come here..”
He held her face delicately
“No one is gonna come here. I have secured it with force-field. The Flash is gonna save you.”
“Flash?”
“My codename. Everyone has one in our job.”
“Oh..”
“Come on, you must be starving, and ...I'm starving too..” he came to her smirking.
“Wait…” she let out as he pushed her hair back and started dropping wet kisses on her neck.
“Wait…am I dreaming?”
He pulled away. “what are you saying, no.” and went back to kissing her.
He pecked her forehead gently. “Come on, let's eat something first.”
Barry went to the dining table and opened the lid of the bowl when he felt something metal-like pressed on his neck.
“Don't move!!” She whispered seriously.
He slowly moved his head looking at her from the corner of his eyes, feeling the sharp end of the knife on his neck.
“Iris ..easy..”
“Tell me the truth.”
She came in front of very slowly still pointing the knife at him
“Am I dreaming? Tell me!!”
“Iris, Iris let's put it down ok, we can talk peacefully-”
“No!!!” She raised her voice.
“No, I…I want to know. How can only I see you? How come Felicity couldn't see you that day, or Eddie? Why??”
Her heartbeat was getting faster, her breath was quickening.
“... I’m the only one who sees you, who feels you, everyone else thinks I'm crrazy…” she gritted her teeth.
“So tell me the fucking truth right now!!...” she yelled.
“Or else…I'm gonna..” she raised the knife in a stabbing motion.
“Iris..,Relax relax ok.. everything is gonna be ok, just….just give that to me..”
Her head started hurting.”Mm.”
She swayed and slowly moved to the ground still pointing the knife at him..
“No…just tell me first.”
Barry crouched near her carefully, observing her movements
“Iris..,”
She had tears in her eyes and she frantically said.
“No..no please…please just tell me if I'm dreaming or not…I'm just going crazy thinking about it.”
“I don't know what is real or what is dream anymore, ” she cried. “I can't tell what is true or false, I'm tired..”
“Iris, sshh…ok I'm here I'm here, I'm gonna tell you everything…ok”
“..plea…se.” she hiccuped and cried as he took the knife from her swiftly.
He pulled her to him. “Sshh….it's all real…we are real. Everything is real,ok .”
“Really?”
He softly smiled.
“How can I lie to you? You are the only thing that matters in my life. The world does not allow me to fall in love. But I love you. We are together Iris. That's it. That's the reality….Our reality.”
“Barry…”
She kissed him deeply after that and he reciprocated.
”Will you ever let me meet her , at least let me see her.” Gideon asked.
“No..” Barry answers incredulously. “I told you, she is a very private person, she doesn't go out. She just stays at home.”
“at least just let me see her once.”
Barry rubbed his face. “Ok,ok ..I'm gonna FaceTime you and let you see her ok..but Do not make a sound, otherwise she will know..”
“Don't worry, I promise I’ll be quiet.”
“God I feel terrible and creepy, sneaking into my girlfriend like that.”
“I just want to see just a glimpse, only her face.”
“Ok I'm calling you. She is working on her painting. Engrossed, doesn't want to be disturbed.”
“Ok.”
“So,” Barry whispered. “Did you see her? Happy now.” Barry turned the camera back on him from Iris, who was painting something on the canvas.
“Yeah I saw her.”
“She is beautiful, isn't she? My Iris.”
“Yeah she is Barry, you are lucky.”
“I know, she is out of this world. I love her so much.” He breathed dreamily.
“Good, I'm happy for you. You said she is an artist? Can I see her work, her paintings?”
“Ok yeah.. here is one.” Barry turned the screen on one of the paintings on the wall. “ Here is another.”
“Ok well they are good.. Ok Barry, I’ll talk to you later. Bye”
“Yeah…bye.”
“Hello Dr Ray.”
“Yeah Gideon, give me the update.”
“Well, he is still the same. There was no girl there. There is no Iris West. And you know about the paintings…..” nurse Gideon said.
“Hmm.. as expected. We have to increase the medication.” Ray casually says. “Heavier doses this time..” he wrote that down. “I’m gonna give the report to his parents.”
“Uh..Dr Ray, I need to ask a favor.” Gideon winced.
“Yeah..”
“Can I get two days off? Actually my grandmother passed away. I have to go to my hometown with my husband.”
“But….who is gonna watch over Barry then?”
“Umm Dr Palmer, he is gonna stay the same…it's untreatable, can you handle it for two days.”
“Well…ok sure.”
“Thanks.”
They both were lying on the bed with her head resting on his chest.
“Barry?”
“Hmm..”
“Why does everyone think that we are dreaming? Why do they think that we are crazy? My mom and dad, Eddie, Sue, Wally, Felicity everyone.”
“Let them think whatever they want. We are real. It's real. And anyway whether it's a dream or reality, we belong together.”
He kissed her hair softly. “It's Barry and Iris against the world.”
She lifted herself up and smiled before asking “So they are wrong, right? We are not imagining things, it's not an illusion..”
“Yes.” Barry looked mad for a second. “Maybe someone in my line of business doesn't want us together. Secret agents don't get to have a family.” His voice softened. “But you don't worry, I'm gonna protect you.”
She rests her chin on his chest. “You know what, I'm gonna draw a portrait of you and me.?”
“Yeah?”
“Mm..hmm.”
He smiled.
“I love you Barry. I love you forever.”
“I love you Iris. It's just us. In every reality, in every dream. Doesn't matter if everyone thinks we are crazy, we love each other. That's the reality."