Believe in the Impossible ϟ The Flash

Chapter 10: Merry Freakin' Christmas

"Thanks again for having me over you guys," I said as I pulled an ornament out of the cardboard box. "It means a lot to me."

"Tell me again why you aren't spending Christmas with your family?" Joe asked as he took the ornaments Barry and I handed to him. The TV quietly played a A Christmas Carol and the radio was playing holiday music. I had to admire how well the house was decorated given that everyone here was always busy.

"Well, my sister is going to be spending Christmas with her in-laws. My parents are going on a couples' cruise. I tried talking one of my friends into coming to visit since he promised he would this year, but he is busy on a case."

"So he's a cop?" Barry asked, continuing to hand Joe ornaments.

"More like a private investigator," I squinted. "I think." I took out another ornament and admired it. It was a handmade ornament, a snowflake. I flipped it around to see younger Barry's handwriting. It was as messy then as it was today.

"You know, at this rate, we'll be finished by Easter," Barry said. Joe chuckled as Barry got that look on his face. His smile widened more before he sped around and around the tree. It took about two seconds before it was fully decorated. Barry leaned back into the couch next to me, throwing his arms onto the back of it.

"Okay, the only red-suited dude I want in this house right now is Kris Kringle, you got it?" Joe told him. Barry rolled his eyes before taking another two seconds to take it all back down. Having that kind of speed had to make decorating this place a breeze. Joe chuckled and held out his hand. I put the snowflake ornament in his hand as Iris came in with a tray of Santa mugs.

"Uh, these ornaments are not gonna hang themselves," Iris said as she passed out the mugs. "Grandma Esther's recipe...Light on the bourbon." I made a pouting face at the statement as I took a sip from the mug. I choked causing Barry and Joe to laugh.

I laughed, "I thought you said light!" Iris grinned brightly.

"I guess you didn't know Iris' definition of light," Barry continued to chuckle. Joe's phone rang. His face dropped a bit.

"And the Christmas tradition continues," Joe sighed as he answered his phone. We all stared at him until he hung up the phone. "Sorry, kids, the D.A. wants to ask me some questions. Make sure there's some nog left for me when I get back."

I chuckled when Barry murmured "No promises." We all watched Joe grab his coat and walk out the door. Once the lock clicked, Iris put down her mug and started to turn off the TV and the stereo.

"Should I ask what's going on?" I asked as Iris pulled Barry off the couch and onto the floor. I pulled my feet up and tucked them underneath me as Barry leaned back onto the couch. He dropped his head back so he could look at me.

"Iris and I do this thing where we give each other one present before Christmas." I nodded as Iris handed Barry the presents. She took the small box addressed to her from him. Iris was bouncing around as she opened up her present. She pulled out a necklace with a wedding band on it. I quietly choked on my eggnog.

"My mother's wedding band?" Iris looked at Barry. He smiled.

"A replica," he replied. "You were devastated when you lost the real one."

"Our fifth grade field trip-"

"To the zoo," they said in unison.

"You cried for weeks," Barry continued. "Here." He took the necklace from her and Iris turned around in her seat. As Barry put the necklace around her neck, I couldn't help, but think about my first Christmas with Leonard and his sister. I had convinced my parents to let them come over for the day since their father had just gotten into prison. It was during a quiet moment that day that Leonard had pulled me aside and gave me a bracelet. It had been an early first anniversary present that had "My Sweetheart" engraved on the back. Apparently he had been taking a metalworks class at school to make it for me. I was pulled out of my trance as Barry ripped open the paper on his present.