Forward ϟ The Flash

Chapter 11: Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

"Do you think we should let Nora decorate one?" Rose asked Michelle as she colored the frosting red. It was going to be the year that she had the most people over for the holidays yet. Between spending Christmas Eve at the West house with the Team and having Christmas with both of her families. But for tonight, her apartment smelled like a bakery as the family baked everyone's favorite Christmas cookies. Maybe by this time next year, she hoped, she could get a bigger kitchen instead of having to cram everyone into this time one.

Her niece rolled her eyes. "Aunt Rose, she can't do anything yet."

She laughed, handing her the frosting. "Alright smart aleck. Get to work. Anyone else want to take decorating duty?"

"I will," Jia took up a spot next to her granddaughters, reaching for a gingerbread woman cookie to start with. "So, Rose, should we be expecting anyone special coming in for Christmas?"

It was now Rose's turn to roll her eyes. "Whatever do you mean, Mom?"

"I think Mom wants to know if Barry is your boyfriend yet." Carmen explained, taking a bite out of a chocolate chip cookie, Michelle's favorite. Rose shot a pleading look at her father though he looked just as uncomfortable as she was about it.

"Yet?" she raised a brow. "First of all, Barry is seeing a lovely girl named Patty. Second, there isn't anything going on between me and Barry."

"Liar," Michelle coughed.

"Michelle!" all the girls said in shock, Carmen looking to James. "She gets this from you."

Michelle held a cookie to her father who took the bribe from his little princess. "I'm with her. Frank, please say something to save us from talking about Rose's depressing love life."

Rose reached over and got some frosting on James' face as her father shook his head in defeat. "How about your father and brother? When are they coming in?"

"They be here for Christmas dinner. Gives me time in the morning to do some last minute wrapping and to get over whatever headache Iris' grandma's eggnog will give me. You all can say what you want about my drinks, but that woman knew how to party."

..............................

"Please tell me this is not happening..." Barry begged Joe as the two arrived at the crime scene. Last night, when she was having what she thought was going to be a nearly perfect Christmas, Mardon showed up and broke out Jesse James and Leo from prison. There went the holiday of actually relaxation.

"It's official, Santa hates us," Joe said as he lead them towards James' cell in the basement. "This sudden blizzard took out cameras and the security system. I mean, thank God nobody was killed, but there's no trace of Mardon, Jesse, or Snart. So Rose, if Snart stops by..."

Her voice dropped to a whisper, "If you expect me to call the cops on him, I still don't think I can do it. Besides, something has been happening with him lately. He seems... good."

"Barry..."

"I'll handle it," he told Joe. They all knew Rose's weak spot with Leonard was a problem, but even Joe was willing to let someone else handle him in her place despite the fact that she could probably catch him a lot more easily than anyone else.

"Speaking of sore spots," Joe added, looking to Barry. "With Mardon back on the scene... Patty might not be thinking so clearly."

Barry's brows furrowed, "What do you mean? What does Mardon have to do with Patty?"

Joe didn't get into all the details of it, but it was enough to break Rose's heart. Knowing your father's killer was on the loose would be tough for anyone to handle. She only hoped that Patty would let the one person in who cared for her and had been in her shoes know what she was feeling.