Destiny

Thirty eight

"So this is where you ran off to," Dr. Tanhauser said following her kids off the elevator of the poorly guarded laboratory.

"Yep," Caitlin groaned, not wanting to hear this again. "We all will be staying downstairs until the deal on the house closes since there is no room in the apartment. But we should be able to move in in a couple days."

"Oh for lord sake Caitlin, thank god I came," Dr. Tannhauser exclaimed at her daughter. Charlie seemed to always be amused by his mother and sister's ramblings.

"What, mom?" She replied as the walked down the hallway towards the cortex.

"Do you think it's healthy for a pregnant woman to sleep on a cheap air mattress in a basement of a hazardous laboratory, eating Big Belly Burger every day. Seriously, you're a doctor," Carla replied. "You need a bed, pregnancy pillow, a fashioned diet that is good for the babies. I'm booking a hotel." 

"Whatever..." Caitlin replied, entering the cortex.

"Hey we're back," Caitlin announced as they entered. Cisco was at the desk, monitoring the city for metas.

"Hey," he replied.

"Mom, this is Cisco my co-worker-" Caitlin was interrupted by Cisco's obvious cough. "And best friend," she finished.

"Nice to meet you," she said.

"You too, it's nice to finally meet you. Caitlin's told me a lot about you," Cisco replied.

"Can't wait to hear what she's said," she sighed sarcastically, bringing Caitlin to change the subject.

"Where's Barry?" She asked.

"He should be back any-" Cisco was interrupted by a woosh of air "He's here, he's back now," he said and resumed his work.

"Hey," Barry said wrapping his arm around Caitlin as he took off his cowl. "Oh, you must be Dr. Tannhauser," he said putting out a hand for Carla to shake.

Stunned, she slowly shook his hand and pulled away. "Your boyfriend is the Flash... Any more things I should know about Caitlin?"

Going through the list in her mind, Caitlin responded, "I mean we're a team of superheroes who protect Central City and occasionally teams up with other superhero groups to fight criminals, interdimensional doppelgangers, and even aliens."

"Oh," Carla replied, "I see, I've missed a lot."

"Yeah, you have," Caitlin whispered to silently to herself. Although she felt mad it was only now that her mother came to her aid, but she was happy that she at least willingly came to help. Even though the next few months may be tough, living with her mother. 

"Why don't we get you settled," Barry said to break the awkwardness. "Hopefully we won't we staying at Star Labs too long."

"No it's fine, I told Caitlin I am booking a hotel until you have the house," Carla replied. 

"Okay, I guess we," Barry said looking at Caitlin and Charlie, " can get unpacked her and we can stop by your-." 

Interrupting Barry, Carla said, "Oh no, we all will be staying in the hotel, on a bed. I hear that new hotel near downtown is pretty nice."

"Mom, we can't afford that place," Caitlin said to her mother. 

"I can, I put away lots of money after you decided you didn't need me anymore," Carla replied. "Plus, the whole reason I'm here is to take care of everything before the babies come." 

Reluctant, Barry and Caitlin looked at each other as if they were communicating without words. They did not like relying on Caitlin's mother, but sleeping in a five-star hotel suite seemed much more appealing than an old cot in the basement. Plus, Caitlin's back pains were getting worse. 

"Thank you, Dr. Tannhauser," Barry said. 

"Carla, Barry really," she replied. 

"Thank you, Carla," he replied, "I hope we can return the favor somehow." 

"I know a way you can," she suggested, and from the look in her eye, Caitlin knew what her mother was talking about.

"Okay!" Caitlin interrupted, "let's go finish packing up the old apartment, and head down to that hotel..."

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

"Dang, this place is dope," Cisco said, as they all walked into the entrance of the modern, extravagant, five-star hotel. 

"Yeah," Barry agreed. "Thanks for letting us keep some stuff in your apartment, by the way, dude." 

"Thanks, Cisco," Caitlin joined, "Star Labs doesn't really seem like the best place to keep valuables considering the number of break-ins we have had."

"No problem," their best friend replied, "See you guys tomorrow." Before turning around, Cisco said, "Oh, and bring me some of those fancy hotel towels." 

Barry and Caitlin laughed as they waved him goodbye. 

Sitting down in the waiting area, Barry and Caitlin waited as her mother booked the room, Charlie is with Carla. Sitting on the fancy, comfy, leather couch, Barry sat back with his arm around Caitlin, who was leaning next to him rubbing her stomach. 

"What do you think they'll be like?" she asked. "What they'll look like, their personalities, whether they'll have my powers or yours?" 

Barry smiled, wondering himself. "I don't know. But whoever they are, I love them endlessly," he replied, gaining a peck on the cheek from Caitlin. 

"I love you," she smiled, returning back to her original position, she said, "Almost as much as them." 

_________________________________________

I want to start trying to write longer chapters, but I also want to get chapters out more often and that won't happen with long chapters. What would you guys prefer? 

What do you guys think of the fluff so far? It's something to lighten the mood before everything. The mother-daughter dynamic with Caitlin and Carla is going to be fun to write, as well as the mother-son. 

Be sure to leave a vote and/or comment. They really encourage me to continue the story.

THANK YOU