"And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

>>>·<<<

CHAPTER NINETEEN

>>> Aspen's P.O.V. <<<
>>> Christmas Day <<<

Christmas morning, I hear two, very distinct noises: the screams of excitement from my daughter and the sizzling of food from the kitchen. I pull myself out of bed and wrap my mocha-colored robe around my body. I fix my long, braided hair and walk out into the living room.

As my eyes adjust to the daylight, Persephone tackles me in a hug, exclaiming, "Merry Christmas, Mom!"

Stunned, I hesitate in hugging her back. "Merry Christmas, darling. What's all the shouting about?" I look up, towards the smells in the kitchen, and see a skillet of veggies being cooked on the stove. "Who's here?"

Before Seph can reply, a familiar speedster skids back into the room, in his hands, a basket of muffins. "Crap!" Barry exclaims, placing the muffins down and stirring the skillet of veggies. Once he's recovered, he looks up at me with a nervous grin. "Surprise?"

Confused, I look between Barry and Seph. "Who let you in?" I laugh, walking into the kitchen, taking a deep breath through my nose. "Mmm, something smells good."

Barry grins shyly. "Thanks...I...kinda, let myself in. Sorry, but I wanted to make breakfast. Seph heard me, though. She helped me out, didn't you, Seph?" He and Seph high-five each other.

"Sure did! Tofu and veggie breakfast scramble, just like you like, Mom." She leans over, whispering to me, "I even convinced him to run to our favorite bakery to get those vegan muffins we love!"

Barry turns around, picking up a steaming hot tea cup from the counter. He offers it to me with a smile. "Green tea with a teaspoon of Agave syrup, just like you like it, right?" He winks at Seph, and Seph gives him two thumbs-ups.

I take the cup of hot tea from Barry's hand, replying, "You are a goddess-send, Barry Allen." I turn and kiss Persephone's forehead. "This is amazing, you two. It smells wonderful! Let's eat, then we'll open presents! Then I need to run an errand before we head to the SoA."

"Yeah, about that," Barry says, "I'd like to come along and help. Y'know, just tell me what to do."

"She's good at that," Seph mumbles under her breath. I give her a look, and she innocently smiles, grabbing two muffins and running off towards the Christmas tree and her presents.

Barry and I share a laugh, and we turn back to each other. "This was really sweet, Barry. Thank you."

He grins wide, his eyes squinting. "It's the least I could do. Merry Christmas, Aspen."

I smile. "Merry Christmas, Barry."

I start to lean in, and Barry follows suit, but we're cut short by Seph saying, "Mom, Barry, hurry up! I made both of you gifts!"

I pull away, embarrassed and red in the face. Barry turns away to get breakfast for the two of us. The feeling in my stomach, the butterflies, they don't go away. And I feel the fireflies on my fingertips warm my palms. "Coming, darling."

>>>·<<<

"Are you sure you want to do this alone?" Barry whispers as well pull up in front of the District Attorney's office in downtown Central City.

I take a shaky breath in and nod my head, my brown eyes meeting his green. "I can do this. I'm stronger now."

He nods, and I quickly place a kiss on his cheek before darting out the car door and up the steps of the building.

Once inside, the law offices are mostly empty. As they should be; it's Christmas. People should be home with their families and friends, not here working. But, as usual, I see my mother leaning over a pile of court files. Once again, she's chosen work instead of happiness.

I fold my arms across my chest, secure in my thick, emerald pea-coat. "Working on Christmas again, I see."

My mother, the elegant Korean woman that she is, turns her dark eyes up from her files. She glances me over, then turns her attention back to her work. "The court waits for no one, Aspen. You of all people should know that."

I sigh, disappointed. "You know, I used to think, when I was little, that maybe I would get to spend one Christmas with both my mother and father. But Dad was the only one to ever want me around, especially on the holidays. I never got to have a white Christmas growing up because he always flew me out to New Mexico to be with my sister and his lovely wife, who loved me more than you ever did."

Aeri Sado's attention turns to me once again, and she drops the file from her hand, folding them on the table in her office. "I loved you, Aspen."

"You never once showed it," I spit back.

"I showed you love the only way I knew how; I taught you how to succeed in life. I taught you how to run a business, make a living. That's love."

I scoff, tears filling my eyes as I shake my head angrily. "I never wanted advice from you. All I have ever wanted from you was a hug, a smile, a simple 'I love you' or 'I'm proud of you' would've made my life." I take a deep breath as my powers start to bubble up. "That's not even what I came here for."

"Tell me, then: why did you come here?"

My eyes meet hers. "I know you did it."

"Did what?"

"Broke into the Boulevard Building, cleared it out, sent all the volunteers home, told the homeless to go back to begging in the streets, and sent the animals back to the animal shelters. I know it was you. I had proof."

"Before you blew the building apart, you mean?" Sado gives a small smile as I clench my fists. "I figured that was you on the news. You and your sister, Trillium. I can't believe I figured it out before you. Your sister, the superhero. Her father would've been proud."

I breath in and out, heavily, trying to get a handle on my abilities. "I will take you to your court, I swear to the goddess. I will get back everything you took from me, and you better thank the goddess that I was able to get the animals and homeless back and into a safer place because if I hadn't..."

"You'd...what? Blow me up, too?" She shakes her head, writing something down in one of her files. "You can't touch me, Aspen. I was completely within my legal right to take that building back."

I release the anger inside me, breathing it out in a heavy sigh. The tension leaves my body, and I unclench my fists. All I can do is laugh.

Aeri Sado turns to me with confusion. "What's so funny? I won, Aspen. You lost."

I shake my head, continuing to chuckle softly. "You think you won? You actually think you won?" I cross my arms again, smiling sadly at my mother. "It's Christmas, and I've already had breakfast with my daughter and a very kind man who I might have a future with. I'm getting ready to go give out hot meals and gifts to the homeless and poor of the city. I am loved, and I love in return. It's Christmas Day, and later, I'm going to spend the evening with both old and new friends."

I motion to her office. "You're here in an old office, doing work that makes you money, with only your money to spend the day with. Even if you lost me my building, I have others. I have plenty, I have an abundance. I would call you a Scrooge, but even Ebeneezer Scrooge was redeemed in the end. You think you won?" I shake my head. "I'm the winner here. You know why?" My mother doesn't respond. "Because I have a life worth living for others. All you have is a life worth living for yourself."

Aeri Sado doesn't reply, she only turns her emotion-less gaze back to her work. "Is that all you came here to say?"

I turn to leave, turning over my shoulder to say, "Merry Christmas," then I leave, feeling an intense weight come off my shoulders.

>>>·<<<

It's the perfect white Christmas to be celebrating in the main building of the Society of Animals, giving out hot food and drinks to those who need it. I've put dozens of volunteers in charge of the food and drinks, blankets, and gifts. Everyone has a spot, and we're nearly at full capacity by the time it's near six p.m.

I put the Jiayang twins, Kepler and Halley in charge of food and drinks. Seph helps me give out gifts, and she gives little sweaters to the animals that come in. I have Barry give out blankets, as well as find spots to rest. Between everyone under their command, we have hundreds resting and eating, making Christmas that much more fulfilling.

As things start to settle down, after everyone that's come in has a place to rest for the night, I thank each of the volunteers that have come in and give them a small gift to leave with. Kepler and Halley volunteer to stay the night to watch over the building and everyone in it. "We're just glad you're okay," Kepler says, hugging me tightly. "I was worried about you when that building collapsed."

"We're glad you're okay, too, Seph," Halley adds, hugging my daughter tightly. "You should tell your mom before you run off to stay at a friends house!"

Seph gives me a knowing smile. "You're right, Halley."

The twin smiles. "Have a great Christmas, all of you!"

I nod, wish them the same, and turn to Barry, who's just finished giving out the last of the extra blankets. He walks over to me as the Jiayang twins wander off. He reaches for my hand, and we walk together with Seph towards the car.

The ride to Joe West's house is swift. Seph heads straight inside, spotting Joe and Iris from the door. Iris grins widely at the eight year old, hugging her tightly.

Barry stop me before I can enter behind her. "What is it?" I ask, as he closes the door, letting us wait outside on the porch.

Barry shoves his hands into his pockets, looking at me with a blush spreading across his cheeks. "I've been trying to find the right time to ask you this, but every time I tried, either someone interrupted or it just...didn't seem like the right time."

I nod, understanding where he's going with this. "I think I know what you mean."

Barry chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I want to make sure I'm not stepping out of bounds. Tril says you're not mourning Vlad or Glory anymore, but I wanted to make sure..." He trails off.

I nod, looking down at the wedding band on the chain around my neck. "I will always love Vlad and Glory. They were huge parts of my life for so long, and they left me too soon. But I have moved on from them both. I have let them go. They're in better places now, and I can live with their loss now." I look back up to Barry, who's staring at me with sad eyes. "I know you know what I'm talking about."

He nods. "I do."

I close my eyes, adding, "I just need you to promise me something."

"Anything."

I open my eyes again, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. "Try not to die on me?"

Barry's eyes soften, and he pulls me into a tight embrace. His chin rests on my head as I try to regain control of my breathing. When I do, I pull away, wiping my eyes. Barry cups my face in his hands, replying, "I promise I will never leave you like that. If we go down this road, you're stuck with me."

I give a smile and a nod, and Barry lets his hands drop. He shuffles his feet, changing the subject slightly. "What Eobard Thawne said, about us being married in another lifetime, did you hear that? The day he died?" I nod my head. "I hope you know that none of that means anything unless you want it to. We're not bound by the history he knows. We make our own fate."

I take his hand in mine. "I know that. But that doesn't mean he wasn't on the right path. I like you, Barry. I really do."

Barry blushes a deeper shade of crimson. "I like you, too. And I wanted to ask you something...What I mean to say is...Aspen Penrose, would you like to go on a date with me?"

A smile spreads across my face, and I reach up to place my palms on either side of his face. "I'd love to, Barry Allen."

Barry grins widely, and he starts to lean down. I meet him half-way, pressing my lips to his. The kiss we've almost had, twice now, has finally happened. And it's better than I ever imagined.

Barry pulls back, and I open my eyes. He's staring at me with an expression I've only seen two times before, and one I haven't seen in many years. It's a look of pure love and adoration. He cups my face and kisses me again, and I wrap my arms around his neck, stepping on my tip-toes to match his height. Our lips move in sync, and if it weren't for the sound of a car pulling up into the driveway, we definitely would have continued to kiss.

I break away, seeing a smirking Trillium getting out of the car, into her wheelchair, with the aid of Julian. He rolls her up to the front door, getting the chair over the few steps with Barry's help. "So," she grins, eying Barry and I mischievously. "Where's the mistletoe?"

END CHAPTER NINETEEN