Yes It's True (Happy To Be Stuck With You) - a Killervibe quarantine ficlet

Chapter 3: Perfect Sense

Chapter Summary: Another virus quarantine situation, also in the distant Flash future. Caitlin and Cisco are married with some kiddos, and when the world goes on lockdown the family of four has to make the best of it. Chapter title comes from the song "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw. This song is absolutely perfect for Killervibe, it's almost too perfect.

Day 1

"But Mo-om, I'm supposed to go to Nora's for a sleepover tonight. We're starting a weekend-long Gilmore Girls marathon on Netflix!" Eight-year-old Lia Ramon had her arms sprawled dramatically over the kitchen island, her face buried in the marble top.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but your dad and I already explained this." Caitlin shook her head as she wiped down the tray of her two-year-old's high chair table. Now finished eating, the toddler was occupied with one of his toy cars zooming it around his mother's attempts to clean him up. While normally quiet and settled enough to eat at the dining room table, her son Milo still used his high chair on occasion especially if his parents were occupied in the kitchen or elsewhere.

"C'mon, we already had this planned for weeks - it's not like I'm just asking today." Lia huffed.

"I realize that, but this is important. The entire world is now on lockdown because of this virus. I couldn't let you go to the West-Allen's if I wanted to." Caitlin shrugged her shoulders. Milo fussed as she attempted to wipe the spaghetti off his face and hands. "Oh you silly boy, it's not that bad." She chuckled, quickly taking the toy car to clean it off as well - and back into her son's hand before he even realized it was gone.

"This stupid virus isn't even that bad, not yet. I'm sure it'll be fine. Besides, Uncle Barry and Nora never get sick anyways." Lia argued.

"That may be true, but your Aunt Iris and the new baby could get very sick." Caitlin unlocked the tray and unbuckled the belt, lifting Milo onto her hip.

"I bet daddy would let me." Lia grumbled.

"Elliana Louisa Ramon, knock it off!!!"

Lia jumped at the sound of her other mother's echoed meta-voice, looking up to find Mama Frost's glowing eyes and silver-white hair. Milo just giggled on her hip, tugging on Frost's hair.

"Quit sassing your mom! Caity's right - you won't be going to Nora's any time soon which you already knew, so get over it and lay off the attitude. And your father would say the same thing, because it's out of all our control. Okay?" Frost scowled at her daughter, before turning to Milo and grinning widely. She booped him on the nose, blowing raspberries on his tummy.

"Mama!" Milo giggled, leaning his head against her shoulder.

Lia's face scrunched to a pout, her elbows up on the marble counter staring at her mother.

"But it's not fair." She whined.

The air around Frost smoked cold, her blue lips opened slightly before they pursed into a tight line. She was silent, a mental conversation going on in her head and then Caitlin resurfaced suddenly. The cold smoke, blue lips, and white hair were gone. She walked over to her daughter, still holding her son with one arm while the other hand softly rubbed her daughter's back like she had since both her children were babies. "I know it's not fair, baby girl, but there's a lot of not fair things happening in the world right now. And I know that isn't your fault, and you don't much understand, but we just have to do our part and stay home right now. Okay?"

"Okay geez...." Lia drawled. "Can I just go watch tv then?"

"You may - if you've finished your school work for the day." Caitlin raised an eyebrow, adjusting Milo to her other hip. Lia's mouth opened to speak but her mother cut her off. "I realize it's the weekend but the goal is not to already be behind. Even with school postponed indefinitely, we're still staying on the online schedule that your teachers worked hard to put together."

"Yeah yeah . . ." The young girl trudged her feet out of the room. Caitlin sighed and shook her head as Frost mumbled about attitude in her head.

"Someone looked awfully grumpy as I passed by her, geez." Cisco mused as he entered the room.

"I had to tell her - again - that she wouldn't be going to Nora's this weekend." Caitlin carried Milo over to the pack and play in the corner, setting him down inside with his toys. "Cisco, all of this is just starting and she's already restless and fighting back. How are we supposed to keep her here indefinitely?"

"Hey," Cisco wrapped his arms around her waist, slowly spinning them around. "We got this, okay? You and me, we've always been a good team. Caitlin and Cisco, Frost and Vibe, Mom and Dad - this is gonna be a breeze. You'll see."

"You're so sure, huh." She leaned her head back as they shuffled back and forth in their kitchen, softly chuckling as she rolled her eyes.

"That's right, Mrs. Ramon." He pulled her to him, smirking. He kissed her briefly before dipping her and she let out a shriek. Milo watched them, giggling where he stood holding on to the rails of his play pen. They both laughed as he brought her back up, kissing again.

"Mo-om, Da-ad - I need help with my homework!" The shout came from the other room.

Caitlin and Cisco both let out a sigh, lips stilling against each other. He turned his head to face the living room before turning back to his wife. "What do ya say, Professor Snow with your PHD and two doctorates...shall we go play school?"

"Please . . . you're usually the one that ends up figuring out what those schools are teaching these days." She scoffed, picking Milo up and setting him on the kitchen floor. The toddler ran right into his father's legs, wrapping his arms around one of them.

"Aah, my little Emilio, you've got me!" Cisco feigned pain, dragging his laughing son with him as he walked.

"Come on, my two silly boys, let's go save Lia from the homework monster." Caitlin followed them out of the kitchen, a warm smile on her face. Together they'd get through the strange, scary times together as a family, no matter what came their way.

to be continued...