Keeping it together {Snowbarry}

Birthdays matter

Later that night...

"Yeah it was sweet and all but it was kind of weird that he proposed in the room with his ex wife..."

Cisco rolls his eyes then he sits the chopping board down and begins chopping the onions.

"He and iris have been over for like a year. He's with Caitlin now, why can't you leave it?"

Amanda rolls her eyes then she stands up from the couch and sets her wine glass down on the counter "Caitlin Is my best friend and I don't want her getting hurt if Barry decides to go back to his sister"

Cisco nearly chopped his finger off, he looks up at her for a moment before laughing loudly "you've had too much to drink if you think Barry and iris are getting back together"

He resumed his cooking and Amanda scrunched her brows and pours more wine "aren't they though? They are close friends, Iris trusts him, and she has a bigger rack- no offense to Caitlin"

Cisco shakes his head disgusted now. "Let's talk about something else... how did your talk with Trevor go? Does he want custody with Milo? Is he drinking again?"

She slowly screws the cap back on the wine bottle and swallows a big gulp of her drink.

"How's the tacos coming?" She turns to face the stovetop and he rolls his eyes "you can't keep avoiding it, we have to talk about this at some point..."

Amanda sighs through her nose then she turns around, gripping his waist "Cisco" she said firmly.

He sets the knife down and props his hands against the counter.

"How about we turn off the stove, and you come prove how much of a better man you are than Trevor?"

Her hands slowly ran up to his chest and then grips his body down further.

"No, Amanda. I want to talk about this" he stops her hands by her wrists, turning so he was looking her in the eyes.

"Look, I care about you" his voice was softer now.

"I care about your feelings and what's going on in your brain, okay?" She nods looking down when he gently touched her cheek.

"You really wanna know?" She Lets his waist go and takes a small step backwards.

"Yeah. I think we could talk it out" he nods reassuringly, his hands resting on his hips now.

Amanda takes a sharp inhale then she crosses her arms, he could feel the tension in the room shift even before she spoke.

"When I got to his house he was drunk, he yelled at me about not visiting while he was in jail, then he asked where Milo was and what he could get him for his 12th birthday..."

Cisco sideways looks at her then he gave a half shrug "he's made mistakes... he's trying to be involved in his kids life I think that's-"

"Milo is turning 13 this year"

Cisco makes a silent oh then he looks down and sighs.

"Look babe..." he gently moves his hands to hold her arms.

"If you don't want him in your life, just tell me and I'll handle it"

She stares up at his eyes, searching for any sign of lying or falseness but only found Love and adoration.

"You're not gonna kill him.. right?"

Cisco gave a slow shrug then he raised a devilish brow and she laughs.

***

"Has he been moving around? Kicking yet?" Barry interlaced his fingers with Caitlin as she leaned against him.

"No... not yet, I have a few more months until then..." she slowly brings his hand up to her lips and just rests it there.

"Your birthday is coming up..."

The smile on his face drains slowly. He stares out the window, images flashing through his mind, blue lightening, the growling and then the strangled feeling that the world was closing in around him.

He lets her hand go and climbs out of bed swiftly.

"Barry?" She said confused, she pulls the blanket up to her chest as he shakes his head and begins pacing back and forth.

"Barry? What's wrong?"

"I- I can't... we shouldn't..." he ran his fingers through the back of his hair firmly and she finally stands up

"Barry, What is going on?" She grabs his shoulders, forcing him to look at her.

"No. I won't do it" he lets out a shuddering breath and finally opens his eyes to look at her.

"Okay.. it's okay... we can get you a cupcake and celebrate at home" she rubs his cheek gently, still trying to reassure him.

She had no clue he wasn't talking to her, but the quiet whispers in his ear. The prison he still was apart of.

"Let's go to bed, okay?"

He looks back and forth between her eyes then he glances out the window, the blue lighting and dark figure.

He turns his gaze back to Caitlin then he nods, pulling her into a kiss.

Her body practically melts against his as she kissed back.

Barry grips her waist, opening one eye to look out the window.

The lightening and dark figure had vanished without further question.

Good. It was over.