Short on Time

Chapter 142

"I'm just saying, you worry too much," I told Barry as I gave him another cup of tea.

"How do I not worry when you're on your feet?" Barry asked.

"That's perfectly normal, even healthy," I said defensively as I messed with my teabag.

"Not when Caitlin told you to go on bedrest," Barry said. 

"My iron levels are low, that's nothing serious," I told Barry as we walked into the cortex. 

"It's okay. Barry's on it," Kamilla said as we walked in. 

"What am I on?" Barry asked.

"Wally," I said excitedly as Barry sped away. 

"Who?" Kamilla asked.

"You'll see."

~*~

Esther reached for what Wally was making, and Barry had to pull her back quickly, in case she got shocked on accident. "A lotus flower," I told Henry as he pointed at it excitedly. 

"Okay, that is seriously beautiful," Joe said. 

"Yeah, I'm definitely gonna need you to teach me how to do that," Barry said. 

"I think the kids will like that more than lights," I said with a wink.

"The lotus is one of the eight auspicious symbols meaning purity and renunciation, practice which I'm currently being guided through by Bhikkhuni Amala, the Buddhist nun assigned to my Peace Corps camp," Wally said. 

"Wow, purity and renunciation. Guess that means more wine for me," Cecile said.

"Just being here celebrating with family, new friends is all the joy I need," Wally said. 

"Look at you getting your Zen on," Iris said. 

"It's working," Wally told her.

"Where's Georgie?" Cecile asked.

"Esther stole him," I told her. "But she didn't want to deal with the terrible twos and a sick baby."

"Can't blame her," Joe said. 

"Greetings, Earth Prime-lings!" I heard, and I turned to see Cisco.

"Cissy!" Henry said happily as he ran after Kamilla. 

"Babe, you're home early!" Kamilla said to him. "Wow, you look-"

"I know, right?" Cisco asked as he picked up Henry, and then gave Barry a hug. "Hey, little man. Hey, Barr." 

"You're finally back," Caitlin said happily Cisco as she gave him a hug, and I wandered over slowly holding Esther's hand. 

"I am. Well, after a while, all the post-Crisis anomaly hunting starts to catch up with you," Cisco said, "that, and I wanted to wash all the Atlantean fish smell off of these clothes." 

"Mm-mm. Hugs from here," Cecile said. 

"We are scrubbing Henry and burning those clothes when we get home," I whispered to Barry. 

"Welcome home"? You guys shouldn't have," Cisco said, and I coughed on a laugh. 

"Shame. Well, it's good to see you, friend," Wally said.

"Wally West? What? Where have you been? Welcome home... "Welcome home"... I see. I am crashing your party," Cisco said, and Esther giggled. 

"You know we're always happy to have you back, Crocodile Dundee. Come on, let me make you a drink," Iris told Cisco.