New Earth: Flash

Chapter 3

Barry was currently sitting in the living room of the West house with Joe and Iris after J'onn restored their memories.

"So, you survived the crisis after all." Joe said.

"Yeah, I did. Thanks to the Barry Allen of Earth 90. He found the loophole we completely overlooked. Novu just said the Flash had to die in crisis, he never said specifically that it had to be me." Barry said.

"I can't believe we never thought of that." Iris said.

"Actually, I think I know why I never did." Barry said.

"What do you mean?" Iris asked.

"I didn't want the death of one of my dopplegangers on my hands just so I could live." Barry said and Iris nodded.

"Makes sense. But Barry, that version of you simply made the same choice that you did. He died to everyone. Including you." Iris said.

"Yeah, but anyways, on the topic of people who survived the crisis, I'm not the only one who was supposed to die in it that survived to this new world." Barry said.

"What do you mean?" Iris asked.

"Oliver's alive. Apparently he was some kind of hidden paragon. The paragon of life. But that required him to die to gain the powers he'd need to restart the universe." Barry said.

"So, that explains why the top story on every news station is his return from that island. Though why we're back in time, I don't know." Joe said.

"Honestly, I think there are some things that are better left unknown, including that mystery. Best I can figure, since Oliver's the one who lit the spark that created this new world, he also brought us back to the beginning of his mission. Not that I'm complaining, since it gives me another chance to save my dad and make sure Thawne doesn't hurt anyone else." Barry said.

"So what's the plan in the meantime?" Iris asked.

"I've already had Gideon blind Thawne, his surveillance cameras won't show anything out of ordinary, allowing us, plus Cisco and Caitlin to to talk in peace." Barry said.

"What about Ralph and Cecille?" Joe asked.

"I don't want to tip Thawne off, so for now, only people he wouldn't suspect being around Star Labs are aware of what's happened." Barry said and they nodded.

"Still dad, you should ask Cecille out." Iris said.

"I will once I'm done wrapping my head around the fact that in addition to being Barry's foster father, I was also Jesse's." Joe said.

"Yeah, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around being Jesse's brother. But I mean I guess it makes sense, since even before, we did look alike and we both became speedsters." Barry said.

"So, are you going to restore her memories?" Iris asked.

"No. Mainly because I think that would just cause more harm than good." Barry said and they nodded.

"I guess it's a good thing she's still at Hudson University." Iris said.

"Well I'm kind of insulted that my own sister wouldn't leave school because I was in a coma, especially since she's not even that far away." Barry said.

"Barry, she was by your side as often as she could, but in the end, she had to get back to school." Iris said and Barry nodded and Joe could see that there was something that they needed to talk about and since he had a pretty good idea of what it was, he decided to give them some privacy.

"So, you have your double's memories?" Iris asked.

"Yep and you have your's." Barry said.

"Then we both remember one positive from having Jesse here?" Iris asked and Barry smiled.

"Yeah, she kept pushing me until I asked you out in high school and we've been together ever since." Barry said and Iris smiled.

"So I guess that will make this less awkward for me to do this." Iris said with a smile as she kissed him.

"Glad we won't have to wait two years for me to work up the courage to do that." Barry said.

"So am I. Now, maybe we should start looking into getting our loft back." Iris said with a smile.

"Agreed." Barry said with a smile.

"What exactly are you working on now?" Caitlin asked her boyfriend as she entered his workshop.

"Barry's suit. Need to make sure the Flash is ready to make his debut when the other metas choose not to play nice." Cisco said.

"And what about my suit?" Caitlin asked.

"So, you need one?" Cisco asked.

"You tell me?" Caitlin asked as she shifted to Frost.

"So, you're still here on this earth? Are you gonna kill me?" Cisco asked, honestly worried about that.

"Don't worry, since Caity is still the dominant mind of this body, you're safe. Besides, I never really hated you, I just hated your choices. Especially how frequently you disregarded Caity. Now that's clearly no longer a problem, we won't have any. But just know, if you break her heart, I will break yours. Literally." Frost said as Caitlin took back control.

"Did you have to let your crazy twin threaten me?" Cisco asked.

"Hey, you wanted to know if I still had my powers." Caitlin shrugged.

"But anyways, yes, I am working on your suit." Cisco said.

"And what about yours?" Caitlin asked and Cisco sighed.

"I don't know." Cisco said.

"What, you don't know if you have your powers back?" Caitlin asked.

"No, not that?" Cisco said as he blasted a nearby bucket across the room.

"So you have your powers back." Caitlin said.

"Yeah, I'm just not sure if I want them back. I mean yes, when Novu gave me my powers back for Crisis, I was reminded of how powerful I used to be, but at the same time, he didn't give me a choice about whether or not I have my powers back and but now that I have them back and crisis is over, I'm not sure if I want to keep them." Cisco said.

"So what, you just want to forget about all the people you saved as Vibe. Cisco, not everyone is meant for a normal life. Look, I didn't agree with a lot of what Mar Novu has done, but giving you your powers back, that's something I did agree with. I missed having you out there. I missed Vibe and I know you did too. Vibe is not just something you can set aside. He's a part of you, powers or no powers. Just like how Frost is a part of me. You can't turn your back on your destiny Cisco and like it or not, your destiny is to be a hero." Caitlin said.

"I know, I just wanted a normal life." Cisco said.

"Normal is overrated. And let's face it, our lives stopped being the normal the moment we started working for the man posing as Harrison Wells. Why try to be normal now?" Caitlin asked and Cisco chuckled.

"You're right. I just didn't want to believe it. I did miss being Vibe and I did feel incomplete without my powers." Cisco said.

"Barry will be very happy to find out that Vibe is back." Caitlin said.

"So, when are we going to tell him?" Cisco asked.

"Once the team is assembled, since I'm sure that Barry and Iris at least have some kind of wager going on." Caitlin said and Cisco smiled.

"I wonder how much they bet on us." Cisco said.

"Well, we'll find out later." Caitlin said with a smile as they kissed again before Caitlin let Cisco get back to work.