Lucia

Chapter 12: Honey, I Shrunk Team Flash

Joe West's House in Central City was filled with the sound of laughter and chatter as Joe sat on the floor, meticulously assembling the crib for his upcoming bundle of joy with Cecile by his side.

"Cecile, are you absolutely certain we need a crib? I used to just place Iris on some cushions and call it a night," Joe remarked with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Well, I'm relieved to hear that you've learned from your parenting mishaps with your first child," Cecile quipped playfully.

Joe chuckled before responding, "I must say, I think she's turned out quite well."

Cecile let out a sigh, her hand resting on her growing belly. "Oh, darling, I can't believe how big I've gotten already. You know, I barely showed at this stage with Joanie. Alright, here we go. What do you think?" she asked, turning to face Joe.

"Mm-hmm," Joe murmured as he turned to look at her, his eyes filled with adoration.

"Are they?" Cecile inquired, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Are they what?" Joe asked, slightly puzzled.

"Too tight," she clarified.

"Um..." Joe hesitated, trying to find the right words.

"Hey, you just mentioned that my clothes were too tight. Do I look bad?" Cecile questioned, a playful glint in her eyes.

"What? I didn't say that," Joe protested, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"When will things go back to normal?" Cecile wondered aloud.

"I didn't say that either," Joe reassured her, his voice filled with warmth and affection.

Joe rose from his seat and took deliberate steps in the direction of Cecile. As he drew closer, a perplexed expression settled on his face.

"Look at me," he uttered, his voice barely above a whisper, "my lips aren't moving."

Cecile furrowed her brow in confusion. "What are you talking about? I heard you. I-- I can still hear you," she responded, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

A sense of bewilderment washed over Joe as he grappled with the inexplicable situation. "What the hell is going on?" he exclaimed, his tone a mixture of disbelief and concern.

Cecile's eyes widened as a startling realization dawned on her. "Why can I hear what you are thinking? Oh my god, Joe... I think I can read minds," she confessed, her voice trembling with a blend of fear and wonder.

Joe and Cecile arrived at the renowned S.T.A.R. Labs, their hearts filled with concern for the baby and the mysterious ability that Cecile possessed to read minds.

Upon entering the facility, Joe's eyes fell upon his one-year-old granddaughter, Lucy Snow Allen, who was engrossed in coloring within the cortex, her tiny fingers carefully filling the pages of her coloring book with vibrant hues.

"Look, Papaw and Mamaw," Lucy exclaimed as she caught sight of Joe, her face lighting up with joy.

"Hello, little princess," Joe greeted her warmly, planting a gentle kiss on the top of her head, his heart swelling with love for the adorable child.

Just then, Caitlin entered the room, holding Lucy's sippy cup filled with refreshing apple juice, a thoughtful gesture for the little one.

As Joe observed Lucy, he couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance she bore to her father, Barry, at the same age, a resemblance that was evident in the old family photo album that Joe cherished.