A Promise Made - Ronnie & Caitlin

Prologue

Author's Note: I've kinda been wanting to do something like this for a while, and I've been rewatching a lot of the show lately for a different story and this is a result of a spark that came while watching 5.07. Still kind of working on some of the details, but I wanted to post at least the prologue to feel out if anyone would be interested in reading this or not. Oh, and the title for the story comes from the song "Heartbeats" from Jose Gonzalez.

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"Hey mama . . ." Nora trailed off, watching her dad and his friend across the room from where she sat in the living room with her mother. "You said that Caitlin's husband died the day of the singularity. Her husband was Ronnie, right? Ronnie Raymond?"

"That's right." Iris nodded. "Together with Professor Stein they were Firestorm. They flew up into the singularity to stabilize it when Barry's speed wasn't enough. I'm really not sure why it wasn't in the Flash museum in your future. Ronnie sacrificed himself that day to save your dad and everyone. Your dad managed to save Professor Stein but we never found Ronnie's body."

"So you don't actually know that he's dead though?" Nora raised an eyebrow.

"Honey, it's been years. I'm sure if he was still alive he would've found a way to come back to his wife." Iris told her.

"But . . . what if he wanted to he just hasn't been able to?" Nora gulped.

"Nora, he's gone. Just like Professor Stein is now, and HR, and Snart." Iris turned to where her husband was still talking to Caitlin, thankful their friend was out of earshot.

"Right, I know. And like your mom, and dad's parents, and your fiance Eddie." Nora's head dropped.

"Exactly." Iris released a heavy breath. "So please can we just focus on the happy stuff for today? Your dad is so excited about our first family holiday together, and Caitlin's just getting back to her old self after losing her dad again and getting Frost back."

"I'm sorry, Mama, I just . . ." Nora sighed. Iris reached forward and took hold of her daughter's hands. "It's probably nothing, and I probably shouldn't say anything, but . . ."

Iris turned her head. "What is it?"

Nora frowned. "Well . . . growing up I wasn't around yours and dad's friends much. Mostly just Papa Joe and Mama Cecile and Jenna, and the occasional visit from Uncle Wally. You didn't keep them from me, they just had different lives. You didn't talk about them much, just every once and awhile. But you gave me a few pictures for my notebook when I asked about your friends."

"That's how you knew who they were when you came back." Iris nodded.

"Yeah. And . . . I don't have any pictures but you told me who they were all married to as well." She said.

"Nora . . ." Iris shook her head, letting go of her daughter's hands. "Remember that talk we had about telling us too much about the future?"

"I know, but Mama!" Nora huffed. "This is important, I promise."

"Just by telling us you could change the future, sweetie." Iris tried to reason with her.

"But you see, the way things are now it doesn't seem like it'll ever happen - like they'll never happen." Nora said.

"You're not making any sense. Maybe we should just stop talking about this." Iris said.

"But Mama, it's about Caitlin." Nora stood up. "She thinks he's dead! How can they get together if she doesn't even know he's alive?"

"Nora, stop!" Iris whispered, rising to her feet herself.

Nora crossed her arms. "I'm sorry, Mama but I won't. It doesn't feel right not to tell her."