Brave New World: Flash

Chapter 7

"You sure you want to do this?" Wally asked his father and sister as they stood outside his childhood home in Keystone.

"We need to get this over with. Especially since I do want mom to be at my actual wedding this time around." Iris said.

"Not to mention the fact that right now Francine and I are still legally married, which means that technically, I'd be cheating on her with Cecille." Joe said.

"You brought the divorce papers?" Iris asked and Joe nodded.

"Yeah, I did. Now, let's get this over with." Joe said and his kids nodded as they headed towards the door and Wally took a deep breath as he opened it.

"Mom, I'm home." Wally called out.

"Finally, do you have any idea how terrified I was when you just vanished out of nowhere, no phone call or anything?" Francine West asked as she rounded the corner to come into view, only to freeze when she saw who was with him.

"Wally, what are they doing here?" Francine asked.

"I'm surprised you're not happier to see me. Mom." Iris said flatly.

"Iris. I'm sorry, you just took me by surprise. Of course I am happy to see you, I'm just surprised. And you too Joe." Francine said and Joe nodded.

"I think we should all talk." Joe said and Francine nodded as she showed them into the living room.

"You know, I've pictured how it would look when all of us were sitting in the same room together so many times." Francine said.

"Well, since I thought you were dead and Dad and I didn't even know Wally existed until he showed up in Central City a few days ago, I think you're the only one who did." Iris said, not unkindly, but simply stating a fact.

"You're looking well." Joe said to his soon to be ex wife.

"I got clean not long after I had Wally. I've been doing my best to stay that way ever since." Francine said.

"You didn't tell them that your addiction wasn't the only opponent you beat." Wally said with a grin.

"What is he talking about?" Joe asked, since both he and Iris were wondering if Wally meant what they thought he did.

"Shortly after I left rehab, the doctors discovered that I'd contracted MacGregor's Syndrome as a side effect of my drug use." Francine said.

"Fortunately, they caught it early enough for it to still be treatable. We had to make some tough sacrifices to be able to afford it, but we managed to pay for mom to get treatment for her condition. And it worked." Wally said.

"They found a way to cure your syndrome? I didn't think that there was one?" Iris asked.

"There isn't. The reason we were able to afford it at all is because mom was one of the test subjects for the treatment and she was the only one who survived. Of course, that didn't stop the hospital from giving us a bill that we are still trying to pay off today, 5 years later. That's part of why I'm racing. To help pay off the debts." Wally said.

"Well, you won't have too anymore." Iris said before Joe could say anything.

"Iris, you don't owe me anything and based off the ring on your finger, I'd say that you should be saving money for your wedding." Francine said.

"I want to do it and what I mean is that my medical insurance should be able to help cover the remaining bills." Iris said.

"How is that possible." Francine asked.

"Because our daughter has veteran's insurance." Joe said.

"Wait, what?" Francine asked, looking at her daughter.

"Yeah. I joined the air force right out of high school." Iris said.

"Really, and you let her?" Francine asked Joe.

"She was 18 and she did it behind my back. I didn't know until after she left for basic training." Joe said.

"Point is, I served my country and now I get the benefits from it, including veterans medical insurance. Let me use it to help you." Iris said.

"I don't deserve it. Not after I abandoned you and your father." Francine said.

"Maybe, maybe not. But the point is that you're still my mom." Iris said.

"It could really help." Wally said and Francine nodded.

"Okay." Francine said and Iris smiled.

"Also, on another note." Joe said as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a few papers.

"What are those?" Francine asked.

"Divorce papers. Or did you forget that legally, you and I are still husband and wife." Joe said and Francine sighed.

"Have you already signed them?" Francine asked.

"No, I thought that we should go through them together, make sure that we both know agree with it before we do anything." Joe said and Francine nodded.

"Let's get started." Francine said as Joe provided her with the paperwork.

"So, I'm guessing there's a specific reason you made sure to get this done now." Francine asked Joe as they finished filling out the papers.

"Dad's dating the DA of central city, Cecille Horton." Iris said before Joe could say anything.

"Really Iris?" Joe asked.

"What, it's not like she's never going to figure it out." Iris said.

"It's okay Joe. I'm happy that you've been able to move on. I never wanted you to spend the rest of your life alone." Francine said.

"Thank you. So, what about you?" Joe asked her.

"No, been too busy trying to provide for my family while also covering the medical expenses." Francine said.

"Well, maybe now you can find someone new." Iris said.

"Anyways, what about you Iris? The man who gave you that ring?" Francine asked and Iris smiled.

"His name is Barry Allen and he's the sweetest, kindest man you'll ever meet." Iris said.

"Really." Francine said and Joe smiled.

"Iris has known Barry since elementary school. Best friends to lovers." Joe said and Iris smiled, since that was the truth.

"Yeah, too bad we had to live under the same roof for a majority of it." Iris said.

"What?" Francine asked.

"Barry's dad was framed for murder and is still in prison for it, so dad took him in." Iris said, glaring at her father about that.

"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry and that I was wrong about him. Iris, you know I'm doing everything I can to clear his name." Joe said.

"Really." Francine said.

"It's a long story." Iris said.

"Well, why don't you tell me. After all, it's clear that we have some time." Francine said and Iris nodded as she sat back and began her story.