A Second Chance- Snowbarry AU

Chapter 33

Early November. Barry and Caitlin had taken James out to Jitters so they could have some time outside in the world and get some much-needed coffee.

They sat at the same table that they sat at years ago when they first met. Or met again. They sat drinking coffee and eating chocolate chip muffins that they have both earnt over the last few days.

"James, did you know that this is where mommy and I first met. Right here at this coffee shop and we sat at this table. We knew each other in high school but we didn't properly meet until we ran into each other here. If we hadn't met here then we never would have had you, son," Barry spoke to the baby who was laying in his stroller on his back, clutching his favourite teddy bear.

James wasn't asleep. He just lay there,  holding his teddy and looking up happily at his parents from his stroller. He was wrapped up warm in his blue blanket and a little hat on his head. He was the most adorable baby and his parents' pride and joy.

"Yes and daddy loves to tell that story, doesn't he, darling?" Caitlin replied, smiling down at their child and clutching at her husband's hand. "I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be back on a second, honey," she said, getting up and kissing Barry's cheek then their son's forehead before heading off to the ladies room.

"Mommy will be back in a second, James, she won't be long," Barry assured the baby as James looked quite upset to see her leave, rocking the stroller back and forward a little to soothe him.

A minute or two later Caitlin returned, smoothing out her white sweater and blue skinny jeans as she walked back to their table.

"What do you want to do once we're done? Go straight home? Or do we need to get something from the store?  It's too cold for us to keep James out in the cold for too long so we can't really do anything in town so..." Barry asked, stroking the back of her hand casually and drawing lots of little shapes which he knew that she loved.

"I don't think that we need anything from the store and I don't want to keep James out in the cold any longer than we have to so I think that we should just go straight home and make sure he is put down on time for his nap. We have another hour and a half until it's time for his nap though so we can take our time. Besides it's warm in here and he looks happy and warm," Caitlin replied, taking another sip of her latte.

"Okay, I have a bit of work to do but it can wait a little longer. It won't take any longer than an hour anyway so that will be fine. Besides, I would much rather spend time with my beautiful wife and son," Barry smiled happily.

Just as he finished talking, Caitlin's phone began to ring. She wasn't sure who was calling her as she wasn't expecting anyone to but she had no idea what was waiting for her on the other side of the phone.

"Hello. Yes, this is Caitlin Allen speaking..."

Barry smiled as he heard her name. Caitlin Allen. They had been married for some time now but still, the sound of that name still made him happier than anything else. She was truly his. His Caitlin and he was her Barry. They were husband and wife and that always filled him with such pride.

"What!? What do you mean she has... Yes I know what it is, I'm an MD for God's sake. I'll be there as soon as I can..." she hung up and let out a shaky breath. She sounded upset, really upset.

"Cait, what's wrong?" Barry asked, obviously concerned, walking to the other side of the table to sit next to her.

"It's my mother, she has aspiration pneumonia," she stammered, wanting to continue but not wanting to say it so loud as James was here and even if he didn't understand what they were talking about she knew that babies can sense when their parents are upset and it makes them upset and that was the last thing that she wanted for her baby son.