Moving Forward

November 2029

November 2nd, 2029

It was with his elbows on his knees and the bottom of the palm of his hands pressing hard against his forehead that Barry was desperately trying to keep control over his emotions. It wasn't supposed to happen, it shouldn't be happening. It just wasn't happening. That's what his mind was trying to convince him as it would somehow make it real. Everyone always says that the first birth is with the hardest one and it shouldn't be any other way considering how Iris gave birth to premature twins the first time around. Thankfully last time, despite the long labour and the fact the children came out a bit prematurely, everything ended up smoothly.

But now?

Things went from good to worst as complications started piling up one after the other, which quickly prompted the doctors to shove Barry out of the room and rush his wife in urgent and immediate surgery. Was his wife going to be ok? What about the baby? How long has he been sitting there, silent and waiting for news? Every time he would look at his watch, his brain would almost instantly forget the information he got as his whole soul and body were too profoundly preoccupied with the fate of his family to think about anything else.

The vibrations in his side jean pocket had him clumsily plunging his right hand in his pocket to retrieve his cell phone while walking out of the waiting room under the annoyed glance of the nurse pointing at the no phone sign on the wall.

"Hey man," he tiredly said after accepting the call the second he stepped outside in the cold November's wind.

"Hey," answered back Cisco's tired voice, which wasn't surprising considering it was three am, "any news?"

Barry silently shook his head for a moment before realizing his friend couldn't see his motion over the line, "nothing. She's still in surgery as far as I know."

On the other side of the line, Cisco exhaled deeply, "I'm sorry, man, if there's anything I can do-"

"You already are doing something," interrupted Barry, "by taking care of the twins."

"Of course, you know I love taking care of these two," answered Cisco, even if he really wished he could do more. He was supposed to be a superhero, and yet, there was nothing he could do to ensure his best friend's wife and newborn well-being.

"How are they?" Asked Barry.

"They're good. In fact, the twins played so much with Holly that Gypsy and I had quite the hard time putting the kids to bed."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Barry couldn't contain his half-smile; it sure sounded like his two firstborns. It was always nice to know these two were slowly starting to bond with Cisco and Cynthia's two-year-old little girl. Except, his smile faded quickly as his brain reminded him of the situation he now found himself in. Taking a peek inside the hospital's waiting room, he spotted his wife's doctor looking around and exchanging a couple of words with the guard nurse. Barry's heartbeat instantly picked up the pace, "the doctor's back, I gotta go," he informed his friend.

"Keep me updated," hurriedly requested Cisco before the call ended and the speedster walked as fast as possible, without running or using superspeed to get back inside.

His quick movements caught the eye of the doctor who instantly recognized the worried husband, "Mr. Allen, your wife is out of surgery now and she's resting."

"Is she okay? What about the baby?" Barry asked worriedly.

The way the other man kept his neutral composure while the hero was throwing his desperate questions was driving the speedster crazier that he was willing to say. He needed answers and he needed them now.