{{Hey, guys this takes place during Season 6 of Arrow and Season 4 of Flash. And of course, the same actors are portraying the same characters. I hope you all enjoy this, as I enjoyed making it.}}

Six months later

In Central City

At STAR Labs

Wally grabs an ice pack and hears on TV, "The Flash hasn't been seen in almost 6 months, leaving us to speculate what can save us from this newest threat." 

Wally walks out and says, "There are other superheroes in this town." 

Cisco said, "Yeah, and your boy, Kurosawa, over there blew us away like ragdolls performing his reverse Excalibur. We haven't faced anything like this before." 

Joe asks, "Why do you think he only wanted The Flash?" 

Cisco said, "He said he wants to fight the best." 

Iris says, "He's threatening to destroy the city. Do we think he can do it?" 

Joe said, "I say yes." 

Cisco says, "Then he has to fight The Flash." 

Joe interrupts, "Who isn't here?" 

Cisco asked, "What if he was? Iris, you said it yourself. Just us trying to keep the city safe, we're barely getting it done. And this guy, *pulls up a picture on the TV* he's no joke. If we don't offer up The Flash, there's gonna be serious damage. People are gonna die, and that's gonna be on us. We need to bring Barry back." 

Joe said, "Cisco, we can't. If Barry comes out, the Speed Force prison goes..." 

Wally says, "...it becomes unstable. It could destroy the city, and the whole world."

Iris said, "Which is exactly what we're trying to prevent." 

Cisco asks, "What if I can solve that?" 

Wally asked, "In the next 24 hours?" 

Cisco said, "Yes! Guys, I've been working on this." 

Iris asked, "For how long?" 

Cisco said, "Since the night he left." 

Iris says, "Cisco?" 

Cisco said, "I've had help. I've consulted with Harry and... and Tina and Tracy and Felicity and Curtis, and I'm pretty sure I figured out a way to stabilize the Speed Force Prison and free Barry without unleashing another lightning storm on the city. I just need a couple more things." 

Joe says, "Maybe we should."

Iris said, "No. You've been working on this for how long and you never told us?" 

Cisco says, "I didn't want to say anything until I was certain." 

Iris asks, "Are you certain that the Speed Force won't take Wally in his place? Are you certain that you can even close it before it rips Central City in two? Are you certain that Barry is even still alive?" 

Cisco said, "He's gotta be. Iris, you, of all people, how can you not be in on this?" 

Iris says, "Because Barry is gone. That is the only thing any of us can be certain about. Now, let's do what we can to come up with a plan to take out this Samurai. Okay?" looking at Wally and Joe. 

Then she looks at Cisco and asks, "Okay?" 

Cisco said, "Okay... But I'm gonna need some coffee."

Much Later

At the Airfield

Cisco walked out as Joe and Wally approached him. 

Cisco said, "Mr. West, Mr. West." 

Wally asked, "So, what are we doing out here, Cisco?" 

Cisco replied, "It seemed like an appropriate venue. We've had good luck here before." 

Joe asked, "Why do we need good luck?" 

Cisco explained, "Because we're bringing Barry back." 

Joe said, "Cisco, son, Iris said–" 

Cisco interrupted, "We know what Iris said, Joe. I also know that Barry said everyone would look to me after he was gone. So look to me." 

Joe asked, "Cisco, is it a good idea?" 

Cisco replied, "I've been working on this for a while now. And now someone is asking for the Flash. We'll give him what he wants. Then... He's gonna wish that we never brought him back." 

Cisco added, "Yeah. So look to me. The four of us can do this." 

Joe asked, "What do you mean the four of us?" 

Caitlin greeted Joe, saying "Hi, Joe." 

They turned to see her and Cisco reassured, "It's okay. It's Caitlin. Our Caitlin. She's here to help us. So... What do you say?"

Joe says, "You better be right." 

Cisco responds, "I am." 

Caitlin approaches and says, "Joe, I know that I can never make up for the things that I did to you, to Cecile. I just hope– I just hope that one day you can forgive me." 

Joe smiles and says, "Come here." 

They hug each other. 

Joe says, "Let's bring everybody home today, okay?" 

Caitlin nods and says, "You got it." Wally asks, "So how are we gonna bring Barry back without blowing a hole in the world?" 

Cisco says, "Ha! In the spirit of bringing back old friends," He walks over to the sheet, pulls it off, and says, "May I present the Speed Force bazooka." 

Joe says, "Ah..." 

Cisco says, "I made a few slight modifications, as Captain Solo would say. Caitlin and I spent all of last night working out some kinks and fine-tuning the Quark Sphere." 

Joe asks, "What?" 

Caitlin explains, "The Quark Sphere is filled with Barry's unique genetic marker and programmed to track his specific DNA, using the electrical current of the Speed Force." 

Cisco adds, "Once we track Barry and pull him out, the Quark Sphere will trick the Speed Force into thinking he's still there."

Caitlin requests, "Wally, can you put that on the center pylon?" 

Wally nods, runs over to the pylon, sets it on, and runs back.

Caitlin, at the computer, says, "Ready." 

Cisco declares, "Let's bring our boy home." 

Caitlin announces, "Quark Matter scanning electrical current."

The Sphere glows and starts to float in the air. 

Caitlin yells, "Triangulating Quark Matter on his location."

The computer beeps as she types, and she yells, "I've got a lock on something." 

Cisco exclaims, "It's him. It's him!" 

Caitlin yells, "Now, Cisco!" 

He fires the bazooka, an electrical blast opens a portal, and then it closes, taking the Sphere with it. 

On the computer, it displays "System Failure." 

Iris shows up in front of the van. Caitlin turns to see her. Iris looks at Caitlin and then the rest of the team.

On a street in Central City

Cars were driving past, and people were walking. 

A group of people were petting a dog. 

Then, a girl was walking away with her coffee when it started to float out of the cup. 

A portal opened as a bus stopped in front of it, and orangeish-yellow lightning came running out and ran down the street. 

It continued running past the bridge to Ivy City. 

Suddenly, a man stopped in the middle of nowhere in front of a truck, sparking off lightning. 

It was revealed to be Barry, as he had a beard and fell backward.

At STAR Labs

The team walked into Cisco's workshop. Iris said angrily, "I can't believe you did this behind my back." 

Wally responded, "You would've tried to stop us." 

Iris retorted, "Because it was a waste of time." 

Cisco walked to his computer and said, "I don't understand. This should've worked." 

Iris added, "Or you could've killed us all." 

Caitlin interjected, "I don't know, Iris. I think we were pretty close." 

Iris then said, "I'm sorry, 'we'? Where have you been the last six months again?" 

Cisco shouted, "What is your deal!? It's like you don't even want him back!" 

Iris flinched at Cisco, and Joe said, "Hey, hey, hey! No!" 

Joe received a call and said, "Cecile, can I call you back in a minute? We're in the middle of something here." 

Then Joe's face changed and he said, "What?"

At CCPD

The team was walking to the room with Sam, and Cecile said, "State police picked him up on 112 outside of Ivy City." 

Joe responds, "That's 300 miles away." 

Cecile explains, "Yeah, one of the cops is a Keystone vet. He recognized him." 

Cisco exclaims, "I knew it would work. I knew it." 

Cecile pauses at the door, looks at it, and says, "You should prepare yourselves." 

She walks in, and Barry is on the floor, writing on the wall.

Iris is the first one to walk in and she says, "Barry?" 

He turns to see them and smiles. 

Caitlin's face brightens up as she sees Barry. 

Iris smiles and says, "Barry..." 

Barry gets up and says, "Nora shouldn't be here." 

Iris reassures him, "Your mother isn't here, Barry. It's me, Iris. You're home." 

Barry looks at Cecile and says, "Your honor, I'm innocent. I didn't do this. I didn't kill anyone. Can you hear the stars singing? Rhyming, chiming, timing every hour, every minute. You said the city was safe, and that there was no residual danger, but that's not true. What really happened that night–" 

Iris says, "The city is safe. You saved it. You saved us all." 

Barry smiles, then groans and walks to the other wall, and says, "Nora shouldn't be here." 

Joe remarks, "I'm guessing this isn't just shock." 

Caitlin shakes her head and says, "Shock results from a drop in blood pressure. This is neurological. But I can think of a few theories that could have caused this." 

Barry says, "It's a whole new way of looking at physics. It will change the way that we think about everything, from a single atom to an entire galaxy. God!" and he falls to the ground holding his head, groaning, and says, "Stars so loud. Loud, cloud, proud." 

Then he stops holding his head and says, "Dad and I are okay. Both of us are okay. We're going to be fine." 

He stands up and says, "I'm just not sure we're like you, Oliver." 

Caitlin says, "We need to get him back to STAR Labs now." 

Joe walks up with her and she injects Barry; he passes out and Joe catches him.

== Time Skip ==

At Barry and Iris' apartment

Iris returned home after putting Barry in the containment cell. 

She sighed as she stretched on the couch. 

Then, she saw something fly past the window. "What the hell?" she exclaimed. 

Walking up to the window, she saw the Samurai in the air in front of the window. 

Iris quickly pressed the panic button on her phone. 

But right as she did, she saw a blue pulse blast as a hole was ripped into the wall. 

Breathing heavily and looking up, she saw the Samurai's sword fly into her chest. 

Just then, a portal opened behind her, and Vibe and Kid Flash came out to see the Samurai. 

Kid Flash saw Iris and shouted, "No!" as he sped next to her. "Iris, hey, look at me, sis," he said. 

Vibe fired vibe blasts at the Samurai, knocking him back. 

Then he summoned his sword, causing Iris's eyes to widen as she screamed in pain. 

The Samurai said, "That's for not bringing me the Flash. You have about 3 minutes before she bleeds out. Tick tock, Vibe," and then he flew away from the broken wall. 

"Cisco! We need to get her back to STAR Labs! Now!" Kid Flash urgently said. 

Vibe opened a portal, and they rushed into it, carrying Iris.

Back at STAR Labs

The three came out of the portal and Wally shouted, "Caitlin! Help!"

Caitlin came out to see Iris bleeding and says "Shit!" as she rushed over to help them put her on a gurney.

Caitlin said, "What caused this?"

Wally says "The samurai's sword."

Caitlin said, "The sword hit an artery. We have to do surgery. But... I don't know if she can make it, Wally. This isn't good. That'd be a different question if the sword was still in her. Cause if the sword were in the wound, it would be keeping pressure on the wound. But, I'll try my best, Wally."

Wally nodded as Caitlin went to work on trying to keep Iris alive.

Caitlin worked meticulously to repair the damage inflicted upon Iris's body, but as the minutes passed, a sense of dread washed over her. Despite her valiant efforts, Iris's vital signs began to dwindle, and her hope of survival grew increasingly grim. The once-bright and vibrant young woman now lay lifeless on the gurney, her future uncertain.

Caitlin pleaded, "No, Iris, stay with me! You hear me? Stay with me!" as she administered chest compressions.

"Come on, damn it! Breathe! Just breathe, please!" Caitlin exclaimed.

Caitlin paused to check the time. It had been over three minutes, and she couldn't stop the bleeding.

As Caitlin stood there, tears filled her eyes, and she couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss.

Iris's absence would create an immeasurable void.

The weight of the situation bore heavily on Caitlin's shoulders as she realized she had failed to save her friend's life.

Caitlin said, "No," and began to cry with sadness in her voice as she covered her mouth.

Caitlin looked out and saw Wally crying from the window in the other room. 

Joe had walked in with Wally and noticed that Iris was not moving. 

Overwhelmed, Joe collapsed onto the floor at the sight of his daughter on the ground. 

He shouted, "No! Please, God, no!" as he cried into his hands.

Wally walks over, bends down, and hugs his dad as Joe cries out for Iris, "Iris, Iris! Baby, I need you. I need you!"

Cisco was in the Cortex and he cried at hearing his friends break down. 

He knew what it meant. It meant that Iris West was dead.

Cisco walks out of the Cortex to go see Barry.

In the Pipeline

Cisco approaches Barry's cell where he is sitting quietly. With a heavy heart, Cisco begins to speak, unsure if Barry can hear him. 

"Barry," Cisco starts, his voice filled with sorrow, "I don't know if you can hear me. But I have some bad news." 

He pauses to compose himself before continuing, "Iris... she's gone. She didn't make it."

Barry's hand halts its movements on the walls of his containment cell, and Cisco notices the change in his demeanor. Concerned, Cisco asks, "Barry?"

Meeting Cisco's gaze, Barry inquires, "What happened to Iris?"

Struggling to hold back tears, Cisco replies, "Barry, I'm so sorry. We did everything we could, but we couldn't save her in time. I wish we could have."

Tears begin to fall from Barry's eyes as he reassures Cisco, "Don't blame yourself. You did your best. Can you please let me out?"

Wiping away his own tears, Cisco stands up and releases Barry from the cell. Barry immediately embraces him, seeking comfort in his friend's presence.

"It's okay, Barry. I'm here for you, just like you were there for me when Dante passed." Cisco murmurs, offering his support during this difficult moment.

Barry asks "Can I see her?" with a heavy heart.

Cisco nodded as he said, "Follow me."

The duo left for the Cortex.

== Time Skip ==

At a Karaoke bar

In Star City

Barry was in a bar, drinking his pain away.

Barry had Cisco make him multiple bottles of his Flash alcohol.

Barry was mixing it with different drinks to make sure he got drunk, even though human alcohol doesn't affect him.

Then a man walked over and said, "Allen, good to see you, man. How long have you been coming to this bar again?"

Barry said, "A couple of months. Why?"

The man replied, "Well, you never came up to sing. It's a Karaoke bar, Allen."

Barry downed his drink and said, "I'll sing a song then. But I'll play something slow."

The man said, "Fine by me. If that's what you like singing, I'll continue to play that."

Barry asked, "Are you sure the other people in the bar won't mind?"

The man said, "Come on, Allen. You've been coming in here for a couple of months. They should get over it. Everyone deserves to sing if they want to. Come on." 

Barry threw his hands up in defeat and walked over to the stage.

{{I'm using the Luke Evans version to help the illusion that it's a male singing.}}

https://youtu.be/yCx8H_4E4H0

Barry told him to put on Lady Gaga - Always Remember Us This Way

The song began to play and Barry sang "That Arizona sky 

Burnin' in your eyes

You look at me and babe, I wanna catch on fire 

It's buried in my soul 

Like California gold 

You found the light in me that I couldn't find 

So when I'm all choked up and I can't find the words 

Every time we say goodbye, baby, it hurts 

When the sun goes down 

And the band won't play 

I'll always remember us this way

Lovers in the night 

Poets tryna write 

We don't know how to rhyme, but damn, we try 

But all I really know 

You're where I wanna go 

The part of me that's you will never die 

So when I'm all choked up and I can't find the words 

Every time we say goodbye, baby, it hurts 

When the sun goes down 

And the band won't play 

I'll always remember us this way 

I don't wanna be just a memory, baby, yeah(Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)(Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)(Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo hoo hooooooooo) 

So when I'm all choked up and I can't find the words 

Every time we say goodbye, baby, it hurts 

When the sun goes down and the band won't play 

I'll always remember us this way

When you look at me and the whole world fades 

I'll always remember us this way."

Barry had tears as he pulled away from the microphone and stepped down from the stage.

Barry ordered another drink.

Then a man sat next to him.

Barry turned to see Oliver Queen.

Barry chuckled and said, "Hey, Ollie. Did you come here to drink too?"

Oliver said, "I hear you destroyed that Samurai thing that killed Iris. Good job, bud."

Barry smiled and said, "Yeah." He got his drink and poured the Flash alcohol into it and mixed it when no one was looking, besides Oliver.

Oliver asked, "How many drinks have you had? This is not healthy, my friend."

Barry looked up at the ceiling and said, "I think about 5, including this drink."

Then they heard a woman sing Paramore - We Are Broken.

https://youtu.be/tcckFDk9RQo

A woman sings "And I've been waiting for the sun 

With my wide eyes 

I've seen worlds that don't belong 

My mouth is dry 

With words, I cannot verbalize 

Tell me why 

We live like this 

Keep me safe inside 

Your arms like towers 

Tower over me, yeah 

Cause we are broken 

What must we do to restore 

Our innocence 

And all the promise we adored? 

Give us life again 

Cause we just wanna be whole 

Lock the doors 

Cause I'd like to capture this voice 

It came to me tonight 

So everyone will have a choice 

And under red lights 

I'll show myself it wasn't forged 

We're at war 

We live like this 

Keep me safe inside

Your arms like towers 

Tower over me 

Cause we are broken 

What must we do to restore 

Our innocence 

And all the promise we adored? 

Give us life again 

Cause we just wanna be whole 

Tower over me(Ah...) 

Tower over me(Ah...) 

And I'll take the truth at any cost 

Cause we are broken 

What must we do to restore 

Our innocence 

And all the promise we adored? 

Give us life again 

Cause we just wanna be whole"

Barry continued to drink his whiskey sour.

Oliver said, "Barry, come on. Let's go."

Barry said, "Fine. But let me finish my drink. And one song. You wanna sing with me?"

Oliver sighed and said, "No, Barry. I don't sing. But finish your drink and one song."

Barry salutes Oliver and says, "Yes, Daddy." 

Then he downs his whiskey sour, walks over, and asks the man from before to play Kane Brown's "Whiskey Sour."

https://youtu.be/2wUoUPh_hgE

Barry sang "We were two heartbeats away 

From wedding rings and a pretty ballgown dress 

At the church off 40 West 

And we were talking 'bout our future on the steps 

Of your daddy's screened-in porch 

That if I'd ask, you'd tell me, 'Yes'

Well, it only took a month or so to be someone you used to know 

You didn't really have to go, but you did 

And I've never been a somber soul 

But part of me ain't here no more 

And I've been tryna find him ever since

So now I take my whiskey sour 

Sittin' barside after hours 

Thinkin' how can I get over if the love was never ours? 

Hell, I know you got my message 

All my X's and my O's 

And it kills me by the hour 

Now I take my whiskey sours alone

'Cause that one night under neon 

Was the first time you ordered me one 

And you told me that you loved me 

But was it ever true? 

'Cause your promises were empty 

Now I'm drinkin' one too many 

Drowning out the memory of you 

So now I take my whiskey sour 

Sitting barside after hours 

Thinking how can I get over if the love was never ours? 

Hell, I know you got my message 

All my X's and my O's And it kills me by the hour 

Now I take my whiskey sours

And I don't know why I do it 

It's supposed to help me through it 

But it's harder when it always tastes like you 

And every time I hit rock bottom I don't know what I should do 

Should I call you up again or should I settle for round two? 

And just take my whiskey sour 

Sitting barside after hours 

Thinking how can I get over if the love was never ours? 

Hell, I know you got my message 

All my X's and my O's And it kills me by the hour 

Now I take my whiskey sours alone 

And it kills me by the hour 

Now I take my whiskey sour alone"

As Barry finished, he said, "Thank you, thank you," as he bowed.

Then he stepped off the stage and back to where Oliver was.

Barry said, "I'm finished. We can go now."

Oliver stood up and said, "Good, let's go."

Barry said, "Hold on. Not ready," as he sped to the bathroom.

Oliver sighed as he leaned against the bar.

Never in all his days would he think his friend, Barry Allen, would drink like this.

Barry sped in front of him and said, "Sorry. I had to use the little boys' room. Now we can go."

Oliver shook his head at that as he led Barry to his car.

Later

At Oliver's apartment

Oliver leads Barry in and lays him on the couch.

Barry lays there as Oliver takes off his shoes.

Oliver said, "Sorry, bud. But, I don't like shoes on my couch. Then again, I don't think anybody does."

Then the light turned on and Oliver saw his son staring at him.

Oliver asks "What are you doing up, Bud?"

Barry said, "I'm about to go to sleep, I promise."

Oliver says "I was talking to William, Barr."

Barry said, "William? Will, are you here?"

William says "Hey, Uncle Barry. What are you doing here?"

Oliver said, "Uncle Barry is gonna be staying with us. He moved to Star City not too long ago. And I hear he has been bouncing from hotel to hotel. So, I offered him to stay with us. Is that cool?"

William says "Yeah, it is. But, is Uncle Barry okay? He looks kinda out of it."

Barry said, "That's cause, I am, Buddy. I'm kinda drunk. Don't worry. I'll be better in the morning."

William shrugs and says "That's true. I'll go to bed. Night, Dad. Uncle Barry."

Barry said, "Night, Bud."

Oliver said, "Night, son." and William walked into his bedroom.

Oliver looks at Barry and says "And you need sleep. I'll get a pillow and a blanket. Just... rest for me, okay?"

Barry nods.

After Oliver got a pillow and blanket, Barry went to sleep and Oliver went to his room and slept.

{{Hey, guys. This is the end of the first chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Cause I can't wait to make the second chapter. Let me know what you all think, by commenting and I'll respond to any questions you have about this book. Bye, guys.}}