Episode 20 - Flash Fanfiction - A Snowy Flashmas

Chapter 9

Barry picked up Caitlin and brought her to the Christmas Ball, they were currently standing outside. Caitlin was dressed in a green silk gown that clung to her figure. "I always love when we hold events like this," Caitlin said, "There's something about dressing up in a gown and dancing all night that takes me back to high school."

"Well, your gown is absolutely beautiful," Barry said with a smile, "Not as beautiful as you are though... I meant that..."

"Barry, I know what you meant... let's just go inside." She said, as she took his arm and led him through the open doors.

As they entered the crowded hall they saw numerous people, some that they knew and many that they didnt. But then, over by the punch bowl they saw two people that they knew very well.

"I didn't know that Oliver and Felicity were coming!" Barry said, a little surprised.

"Weren't you and Felicity seeing each other?" Caitlin asked him.
"Seeing each other? No, we kissed, but that was it. We actually talked after I woke up from my coma. She's in love with Oliver."

"But Oliver doesn't reciprocate those feelings." Caitlin said, as she gestured to Oliver walking towards Astrid and Cisco.

"Caitlin, are you okay?" Barry asked her, realizing that she seemed a little off.

"I'm fine... I guess, it's just a little daunting. The last time we came to one of these... Ronnie was here." She said.

"Oh wow, how could I forget? You know what, tonight... let's just forget about everyone else, let's go and dance." He took her hand and invited her to the dance floor.

"Let's do it, Barry. Last I knew... you were great on your feet!" she said with a smile.

Barry laughed at her joke and kissed her on the cheek, the two of them started dancing.

"Hi, Ollie, Hi Felicity!" Astrid said as she and Cisco were approached by the couple.
"I didn't realize the two of you were coming." Cisco said, noting the glass of champagne in Oliver's hand. Oliver seemed a little tipsy. "Oliver... How much have you had to drink? Don't we normally save getting drunk for after these events?" Astrid asked.

"Can I speak with you, Astrid? You know one on one?" Felicity asked her.

"Sure," Astrid replied, leading the girl away. "What's going on, Felicity? Is Oliver okay? He has this..."

"...This dark cloud over his head? In a word, no. I don't think he's okay. Last night, his mother was killed... by this man named Slade. He isn't taking it very well. Sara returned to Star City, and now, she is gone again too. Oliver wanted to come here, he said that you are the only one he wants to speak to. You know that he's in love with you, right?" Felicity was close to tears.

"Felicity, I'm with Cisco. How am I supposed to help him? But yes i know he does, back when I first received my powers and I came to Star City, he told me."

"He doesn't know that you and Cisco are together. He keeps holding out for hope." Felicity said looking over at the two men.

"Hey man, is everything okay?" Cisco asked Oliver after an uncomfortable moment of silence.

"Not really... Cisco. But I had to come tonight. We haven't seen you guys since Gotham and things have been pretty bad in Star City. I was hoping to... you know what? never mind..." Oliver stopped speaking as he saw Astrid and Felicity walking towards them.

"So, Felicity told you about my mom, didnt she?" Oliver said to Astrid.
"Yeah, Oliver. I'm so sorry!" she replied.

"It was either her or Thea... He made me choose, I couldn't... I just couldn't..." Oliver looked at them, "You know what, I really shouldn't be here ruining every body's night." He went to leave. Felicity took his arm.

"Felicity, Just leave me alone!" he snapped at her, making people look over at him. She removed her arm from him and was stunned that he had talked to her in such a way. Just as Oliver left, Ray Palmer arrived to speak with Cisco.

"Cisco, can you and Ray wait here with Felicity?" Astrid asked, "I am not going to let him get away with talking to her that way!" Astrid left angrily through the doors, that led to the street, after Oliver.

Back on the dancefloor, Caitlin and Barry were enjoying their time. They hadn't yet spoken with their friends, but they had become enraptured within each other. Suddenly, the song Galaxy came on. "Hey, our song is on." Barry said.

"Our song?" Caitlin asked.

"Remember? We sang this at karaoke, that night." Barry laughed.

"Huh! That would be Astrid and Cisco's doing, they created the playlist." She said, amused.

"...I'll travel at the speed of light, so I can be right by your side..." Barry began to sing under his breath, making her giggle.

"Oh no! Don't start singing, Barry." She said.

"Ey, there's no time or space... everything just melts away..."

"Shh, Barry!" Caitlin tried to stop laughing, but she couldn't.

"I'll stop singing, if you make me!" he teased, "...in your galaxy..."

Before he could sing anymore Caitlin kissed him. As the music played, and people danced around them, they shared a long passionate kiss.

Astrid had followed Oliver out into the car park, where he was standing alone with his back to her. "How dare you talk to Felicity that way, Oliver! I get that you're hurting. But you can't just go around treating people like that! Particularly, her. She cares about you! I'm so disappointed in you."

"I get it! I'm still a jerk! I'm still the same Ollie that you dated back when you were in high school..." Oliver said as he turned around.

"No, Oliver. You're not a jerk. You're just acting like one. You said you had to choose between your mother and Thea... I can't imagine how hard that would have been." Astrid said.

"You've had it hard too... remember back in Smallville?"

"We're not talking about me right now. You need to vent... I get that... But Felicity, you didnt treat her very well!" Astrid began.

"I'll apologize to Felicity later... but right now..." Oliver stopped speaking midsentence he ran up to Astrid and kissed her.

They hadn't seen Cisco approach from behind, but he had seen the moment that Oliver had kissed his girlfriend. The moment he saw what had happened, he ran back inside of STAR Labs. He felt the moment that his heart had shattered into pieces.

Astrid pushed Oliver away from her. "What are you doing, Ollie! Get off me! I'm with Cisco! I love Cisco! Don't ever do that again!"

"I'm sorry, Astrid... I shouldn't have done that... I'm going to go..." Oliver took off into the night, as Astrid went to find Cisco. She found him as he was heading towards the elevator.

"Astrid, don't! I just saw you and Oliver, don't try to stop me. I need to go away for a little while." He snapped at her.

"Cisco. Oliver kissed me. I pushed him away. Because, I love you! It's always been you!"

"But you're not brave enough to even consider me proposing to you? I know that you say that you love me, but right now, maybe we just shouldn't be together!" he said as he pressed the call button to the elevator. "I'm going up stairs to collect my things. Please, don't try to follow me."

"Okay." Astrid said softly. She couldn't stop the tears from falling as he stepped into the elevator. The doors closed behind him, breaking her heart.