"So Eddie. When all of this blows over, care to watch Avengers: Endgame? I already know how it ends but it doesn't hurt to watch." I said with a chuckle, one that Eddie barely reciprocated.

"I-I'm not so sure, Cora." Eddie said as I frowned.

"What do you mean?" I asked, crossing my arms as Eddie sighed.

"Wells showed me the future. See. . . Iris lied, about saying how I proposed." Eddie said as I frowned.

"What? Why would she lie about that?"

"Because. . . Wells showed me the future. I-I don't have a purpose in the future. I don't, become the hero or get the girl. I don't leave an impact." Eddie said as I scoffed.

"So? That's Wells showing a future that has yet to happen. You still have time to be the hero, Eddie. You have the girl." I said as Eddie looked down at his shoes, sighing. "Besides, why are you being so depressing and dark when all I asked was to watch a movie with you?" I laughed, and this time, Eddie only smiled.

"And besides Eddie, what are the odds of your great-great-great-great-grandson appearing here, with the same profession in the same building? And that part of his plan to get home would mean that he'd have to preserve and protect your life. That makes you this rare thing that no scientist can plan for." I said with a smile.

"Which is?" Eddie asked with a raise of his brow.

"An anomaly. Or, coincidence. But there is no science in coincidence." I said as Eddie chuckled quietly. "You are the only person in this whole story
who gets to choose his own future." I said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I guess you're right. I shouldn't really be sad about any of this. How about tomorrow for the Avengers?" Eddie said as I smiled, clapping my hands together.

"Sounds great! Then we can start off with Captain America series!" I skipped away to the Cortex as I heard Eddie chuckle before he went silent, and my gut told me to turn back around to Eddie, but I still pushed forward.

As I entered, the computer blipped, alerting Cisco. His face practically told us what happened. There was still a danger to this, mainly to everyone.

A chance that a huge black hole could erupt and suck us up faster than my vacuum can suck up my food.

"Your particle accelerator's been about as reliable as the beater I drove in high school." Joe said as I forced back a chuckle, watching as Wells- Eobard, frowned at Barry's foster dad.

"Let me ask you a question. How many meta-humans... how many dangers... have we faced this year together? Or did you forget that was me fighting alongside each and every one of you? I have been planning this for almost two decades. It will work." Eobard said in a menacing voice, one that made me step closer to Barry.

His arm immediately snaked around my waist, my hand gripping his.

"And how do we make sure that this black hole doesn't appear and eat us up faster than I eat my tacos on taco Tuesday?" I asked as Eobard rolled his eyes.

"So, once the wormhole stabilizes,

"Barry will have 1 minute and 52 seconds to alter the past and return to this time. If and when he does that, you can close the wormhole, and we can all live happily ever after." He said quickly as I looked up at Barry, but he didn't dare to meet my gaze.

"Almost two minutes. More than enough time to save Nora." Eobard continued as I squeezed Barry's hand.

I forced myself to zone out, my mind racing as I thought about what my life would be like once Barry changed it. But my mind couldn't think of that.

I couldn't think of a life outside of S.T.A.R. Labs. A life without Barry, or Iris or Joe. Or Cisco or Caitlin, or Eddie. Or Oliver, Thea, everyone that I have met in the past year has changed my life so drastically.

What if I ended up living a terrible life without them?

☀︎︎

I fixed the pale pink dress I was wearing as I watched Caitlin walk down the 'aisle' in front of STAR Labs, a smile plastered on her face as she walked up to Ronnie.

"If it's all right with everyone, I'd like to skip the Hebrew." Stein said as we all chuckled. I looked at Caitlin, who no doubt looked like she was ready to cry.

"I've learned a lot about merging one's life with another this past year. Yet, for all the incredible advancements in science we've all been party to,the mystery that bring two people together through love is still the province of magic. Mr. Ramon, the rings please." Stein continued as Cisco handed Ronnie and Caitlin their rings.

I could faintly hear Caitlin breathe in a shaky breath, a small smile on my face as I watched the two love birds exchange rings.

"I love you, Ronnie." I heard Caitlin say, having completely ignored the short conversation the two had.

"I now pronounce you-"

"Oh just kiss already!" I yelled, interrupting Stein as Cait and Ronnie laughed before embracing in a kiss.

And now, the two were finally married.

If only they had a chance to get to their honeymoon.

☀︎︎

"Are you ready, Mr. Allen?" Eobard said, zapping me out of my train of thought as I turned to Barry, who slowly nodded.

We all headed down to the pipelines, and while everyone met in that weird little hallway, Barry and I stood out, talking alone.

"You're going to save her?" I asked, holding back the tears as I forced a smile. Barry nodded, looking like he was going to regret the decisions he was going to make.

"I have to, Cora. She's my mom."

"I know Barry. I'm not upset. I- Well I am upset, but not because of the choice you are about to make." I said as I sniffed, wiping my nose just as Barry brought me into a tight hug.

"Promise you'll find me Barry. I can't imagine a world without you in it." I said, my eyes shut tightly as Barry nodded. We let go of one another as Barry smiled.

"You are my lightning rod, Cora. I'd never live a life without you." He said as I choked out a laugh, pulling him into a kiss.

"I'll come running home to you."  He whispered before we both walked in, hand in hand as everyone gave us a solemn look.

"I'm ready." Barry said to Eobard, both of them putting on their masks. I have Barry one final look as Cisco pulled me into a side hug, a weak and almost fake smile on my face.

"Remember, There are gonna be three yous back there... the you from the future who saved younger you from the Reverse-Flash and now you you. Remember, wait until future you gets younger you out of there, and then you can go and save your mom. Piece of cake." Eobard said as Barry nodded.

"May the speed-force be with you." Cisco said as I chuckled, sniffling. Barry turned to Joe, a sad smile on his face.

"Goodbye, dad." Barry muttered as I forced back tears.

"Goodbye son." Joe smiled, embracing his foster child. And then Barry turned to Cisco and Caitlin, hugging them goodbye. Then to Iris, who told him something about living his best life before he turned to me.

"Goodbye, Cora." Barry told me as I started to breakdown, letting a few tears fall as I hugged him tightly.

"Goodbye, Barry." I croaked out, a weak smile on my face. Barry gave me a quick kiss in the forehead before Stein spoke up.

"Remember, Mr. Allen, assuming you achieve the propel velocity and open the wormhole, you will only have 1 minute and 52 seconds to save your mother and return. Or else-"

"Yeah I know." Barry said quietly, a few electric bolts dancing across his suit.

"Well... you hold both our futures in your hands now, Mr. Allen. And I know you can do it. Now run, Barry, run." Eobard said as I shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath as I heard them speed off, the sound of them running in circles ringing in my ears.

I followed Cisco back to the cortex, a blank expression on my face, drowning out everyone's talking as I furrowed my brows, listening to the voice of someone I know too well.

"This is for the safety of Iris, and Joe and Cora. And everyone. Be the hero like she said you can be."

Before I had time to call out Eddie, there was a loud noise, and suddenly. . .

Barry was gone.

"Start the clock!" I said quickly, my mind immediately racing back to Barry.

You can't forget him, Cora. You will not forget Barry Allen.

Iris placed her hand over mine as I gripped it tightly, taking in shallow breaths. How would we know that the time changed? Would we suddenly be somewhere else? Would we be here and start questioning how we got here?

The clock beeped, my eyes darting to hits flashing numbers. "I think it's time to say farewell to Eobard Thawne." I mumbled as Cisco slowly nodded.

We entered the particle accelerator, where a round, hamster-ball with a chair and electronics was sitting in front of a wormhole.

"Rip Hunter would be impressed. He built the first one." Eobard said as I rolled my eyes. Suddenly, a metal hat flung its way in front of my feet.

"Oh shiny." I said as I picked it up, Cisco giving it a weird look.

"That's my cue to leave." Eobard said before Cisco could question anything. I flipped off Eobard as he walked towards the ball, a snicker leaving me as I pulled out my phone, turning it on full blast as I played 'Ridin'

"They see me rolling! They hating!" I sang as Cisco broke into laughter. Eobard was clearly unimpressed, causing me to frown as I paused the music.

"Thank you, Cisco and Cora." He said as me and Cisco gave him a fake smile.

"Don't ever come back." Cisco and I mused as Eobard waved us off, getting in the ball.

I looked at Cisco, giving him a sad smile before turning to the wormhole, frowning as I saw something race towards Eobard.

"Barry-?" Barry came crashing through, knocking Eobard out of the hamster ball, both of them falling to the ground.

I stood there in shock. Why was he back? He didn't save his mom? What the hell stopped him?

"You didn't save her." Eobard started, his voice clearly making it show he was angry. "Why?! You could have had the life you wanted. You could have had everything you ever wanted!" He screamed as Barry slowly turned to me, his eyes glistening.

"I already do." Barry answered as I smiled. Eobard turned to me, and suddenly I was frozen in fear as he smiled wickedly.

"Not for long. After I kill Cora, I'm going to kill Cisco, then Caitlin and all your friends upstairs. And then you. I always win, Flash. I always w-"

BANG

My head snapped around, and everything in that moment paused. Life seemed to slow down as a piercing scream escaped me at the sight of blood leaving Eddie's chest, his gun aimed right at it.

"EDDIE!" I yelled, bolting towards him as he fell, his gun dropping from his hand. I kneeled in front of him as Iris ran up, holding his face in her hands as I tried to apply pressure to his wound.

"Eddie?! Eddie please stay with me okay?!" I begged, tears streaming down my face as Eddie said something to Iris before turning to me.

"Y-you said to-to be the hero. . . Cora. I wanted to b-be the hero." He answered as I made a sad grimaced face, shaking my head.

"I didn't mean it like this! We-We didn't get to w-watch out movie. . ." I sobbed as Iris just stared at Eddie.

"M-Maybe we will. . . I-in the a-afterlife. . ."

And then. He was gone. I shook my head as Iris cried. I had been s o distracted by Eddie's death that I never realized that Eobard had been wiped from existence, and that the wormhole was reopening.

"Cora get up we have to go!" Barry yelled as Cisco tried to pry Iris off of Eddie. I sobbed into Barry's chest as he ran me out of STAR Labs.

The last thing I saw of Eddie was his body being dragged into the black hole.

Barry set me down, and I quickly found the time to collect myself as I watched the black hole erupt and appear in the sky. "W-Whats happening?!" I yelled through the gusts of wind, my hair flying around.

"It's feeding!" Cisco answered as I looked at Barry, fear in both of our eyes.

Once again, everything in time slowed down for me. Barry held me close, placing a long kiss on my lips before he ran, watching as a red streak of lightning raced up into the sky.

I watched as Ronnie kissed Caitlin goodbye for the last time, Stein merging with him before they were engulfed in flames, and then they too, disappeared into the singularity.

I latched my hand into Caitlin's, who squeezed mine so tightly I thought it would rip off.

And then, an explosion.

I saw two people falling from the sky, a quiet sigh of relief escaping me as I started to run towards Barry, my hopes that Stein and Ronnie were also safe.

But by the time me and Caitlin got to them, we already knew Ronnie was gone.

Everything had changed in the matter of 10 minutes. Ronnie was once again dead, Eobard and Eddie Thawne were dead.

The second I saw Barry and ran to him, jumping into his arms as I sobbed, all the terrible thoughts I had as I watched I'm him run circles in the black hole suddenly vanished as they were filled with joy.

"W-why didn't you save her. . ." I asked as I heard Barry barely chuckle.

"Because I couldn't change my life knowing you wouldn't be in it."

☀︎︎
GET READY YALL. The next chapter will be the epilogue, and then I'm going to be working on book 2!

The epilogue will most likely be really short tho- so stick around for that.