Within Seconds: Flashpoint Edition

Isn't She Lovely?

Hand in hand, Parker and Barry came to a stop in front of her apartment door. He released her hand to reach in his pocket, retrieving the key he stole, then placing it back on top of the door as it once was. 

"I still think that isn't safe," he said thoughtfully. 

"I know."

"And should the kids get home before you, they couldn't even reach the top of the door," he added. 

Parker shrugged. "Valid point."

Barry smirked proudly. 

Rolling her eyes, she found her own keys in her purse. She wiggled the door open, kicking pairs of little shoes out of the pathway into the apartment. She and Barry left their shoes neatly surrounding the pair already by the door. He felt his lips curve slightly at the sight. 

"What?" she wondered. 

Barry shook his head. "Nothing."

"No, tell me," she laughed. 

"I just... Four pairs of shoes. A family. Ours on the end, theirs in the middle. It's just a little... euphoric, I suppose. It's a visual I never thought I'd see," he explained quietly. "Is that dumb?"

Parker smiled adoringly. "Not at all, Bar."

Barry breathed a soft sigh. He tore his gaze from the shoes when he noticed her hand slip from his shoulder. He watched her walk down the hallway and into one of the three bedrooms contained within it. In her absence, he examined what, in another time, was his apartment. 

More thought was put into the decor, he saw instantly. His Parker never truly made time to decorate or paint the walls or think deep into where all the furniture looked good. She had only moved in and made things look okay. It never bothered anyone. It was just her. Her apartment was a reflection of who she was as a person. 

It seemed the statement stood true for this Parker, too. The 'L' shaped couch in the living room was black, as were the pillows on it. She had previously explained it was easier to buy in black, considering stains were hidden easier. 

"Is your whole house black then?" he had asked. 

"I wanted it to be, but my brother made me add a few splashes of color so no one thought I was totally goth," she had explained. 

What 'splashes of color' truly meant was a white coffee table in the center of the living room and a couple shelves on the wall, showcasing photos of Parker and her children. On the walls, photo collage frames were hung nicely. They were all placed highly, away from the grabby hands of most children.

Beside the faint crayon marks on the coffee table and the two toy boxes sat on either side of the television, one could never guess children lived within the house. It was well kept for having two five year old's. He was impressed that this Parker was a stickler for cleaning. 

Before he could examine the photos along the walls, Parker called his name. He walked to the hallway. She asked him to stop at the end of it, crouch, then close his eyes. After a pleading, "Trust me, Bar," he did as asked. 

"Do as Mommy said, baby," whispered Parker. 

Little squeaks, slippers, hit the hardwood. Unsure footsteps approached Barry as he knelt on the floor. Then, tiny arms wrapped around his neck and a head wiggled underneath his chin. His eyes flew open. A little girl was hugging him. His little girl. 

Barry caught Parker's eye, begging his eyes to stop watering, then wrapped his own arms around the small body of his girl. He was the first to let her go, although it was truly the last thing he wanted to do. He could have stayed hugging onto his little girl for all of eternity, if he had the chance.