82

Barry and I walked into the cortex, both holding coffees from Jitters. I was dressed in one of Barry's burgundy crewnecks, and a pair of light wash ripped jeans, converse worn by my feet, my hair was straight as per usual.

"Holy winter wonderland-" Barry stares at everything HR had done to the place, considering Christmas.

"You took the words right out of my mouth." Cisco sipped his own coffee out of his mug, then looks at me, "Oh, thank god."

"What?" I look at him confused, my eyebrows furrowing.

"You're wearing ripped jeans-" Cisco puts his mug down. "You've been wearing too many skirts lately- I thought we actually lost you."

Barry lets out a laugh, wrapping an arm around me, Cisco's joke earning a laugh from me also.

"Oh my god-" I looked around, beaming with excitement as my eyes scanned over everything he had set up, "We didn't even get to actually celebrate last year."

"Yeah," Barry pressed a kiss to my head, "Everything with Mardon and The Trickster, we didn't get to celebrate."

I look up at him, "The best present this year would be- just to have a normal Christmas. With no- crazy villains trying to kill hundreds of people- with a nice get together with our friends and family- man, would that be great."

"You're right, and I love you." Barry shoots me a look, "But, we live in Central City."

"Some traditions are multi-versal." HR smiles, sipping his coffee.

"Any more info on Savitar?" Barry asks Caitlin.

She shakes her head, "Nope, all we know is that he's a speed god and you're the only one who can see him."

"I'd love to stay and figure out how to defeat our new villain, but-" I look down at my watch, "I'm gonna be late for work."

"I'll meet up with you for lunch, alright?" Barry pecks my lips, "I love you."

"Alright, I love you too." I turn, quickly walking out the cortex, leaving Star Labs, and heading to CCPD.

-

"Julian, as much as I dread coming up here now that I don't get to see Barry Allen every time I come, I have to ask you if-" I cut himself off when I see Barry standing in front of Julian's desk of his new rearranged CSI lab, them seeing to have a conversation.

Barry turns at the sound of my voice, a boyish grin on his lips from what I decided to say entering.

"Barry- honey- hey- what're you doing here?" My footsteps slow down, and come to a stop when I'm just a few inches away from Barry.

"To pick you up for lunch-" Barry began, "But, I also had to talk to Julian about something."

Julian looks at me, ignoring my comment I had made when I came in, "What did you need, Detective?"

That was the thing about Julian and I. We made comments about each other, right in front of each other, but we always pushed it to the side, ignored it, and continued as professionals.

"I needed to know if you found anymore huskies at any of the most recent crime scenes." My gaze staying on Barry, as I spoke to Julian.

"None so far, no." Julian answered.

"Good- uhm-" My eye contact broke with Barry, I looked at Julian, "I'll be downstairs- just tell me if there's any updates, okay?"

"Will do, Detective." He nods.

I nod back, backing out of the lab, pointing at Barry, "See you downstairs."

I turn, walking out the lab fully, and I was only halfway down the steps when Barry caught up to me, grabbing my hand, interlocking our fingers.

The corner of my mouth turns up, my gaze falling onto him, "What were you guys talking about?"

"He knows something about Alchemy. And he's heard about Savitar before, he's obviously hiding something. I mean- considering he had a whole expedition about this- Philosopher's stone." Barry told me, as we continued to walk down the steps.

"What's the Philosopher's stone?" I question, coming to a stop when we had a few steps left.

"Some sort of stone that Julian spent most of his future funds on to find." Barry told him, "It supposedly gives humans- powers. Like the Particle Accelerator did to all the meta's."

"Did he ever find it?" I look at him, "Because if he did- that could mean that Julian's Alchemy."

"He never found it." Barry shrugged lightly.

"And by what he's hiding- it must be about finding that stone." I thought out loud, letting my detective skills free.

Barry opens his mouth to speak, but is cut off when we see Cecile and Joe walk to the center of CCPD. They spoke for a little, as Barry and I willingly eavesdropped from the stairs.

A minute or two later, Cecile leaves Joe alone, Barry and I taking the opportunity to talk on him instantly, jumping down the steps, making our way over to him quickly.

"Hey now- I'm on Cecile's side for that nog off. Grandma Millie sounds like she makes a eggnog." I joke, nudging Joe, winking at him.

Barry puts his hands up in surrender, as we both tried to keep our excitement contained, along with our laughter, "Hey- Grandma Esther's nog is some good nog."

"You two are evil." Joe points at us, but couldn't help the smile that was forming on his lips.

"You guys are so cute." I let out a very squeal, clapping my hands together, "I can't wait to see you guys together at the Christmas party."

"Neither can I." Barry smiles at Joe, Joe shaking his head at us, the smile widening on his face.

"I need to go grab my purse." I kiss Barry's cheek, turning, heading to my desk.

-

[ ]

"Anything on Savitar?" Joe asked me when Zee walks away, my hands shoved into my jacket pockets.

"No- not yet." I shook my head, grabbing my phone that was inside one of the pockets my hands was in, pulling it out, accidentally dropping a small black velvet box onto the ground.

Joe's eyes widen once his eyes land onto the tiny black velvet box. I immediately crouch down and grab the box, shoving it back into my pocket, looking to the side, looking at Zee's desk, where she was grabbing her hand purse, along with her jacket, "You don't think she saw, do you?"

"Barry-" Joe's eyes are still wide when I look back at him, "You're going to propose to her?"

"I-" I trail off, taking note that I had been caught red handed.

"When?" Joe quickly asks, his eyes glancing at Zee to make sure she wasn't coming over here.

"Soon-" I shove my hands into my jean pockets, "I've just been keeping the ring with me the entire time- I've been afraid that I'd lose it or she'd fine it. I mean- I live with her for Pete's sake."

"How are you gonna do it?" Joe questions.

"I mean- we all know Zee. She never wants too much. She's fine with the little things. She'd never want me to go over board with this if she knew I was going to propose to her." I lower my voice. "And she-"