~ S.T.A.R. Labs ~

Merry Christmas!" said Sophia and
Barry as they walked into the cortex.

"Merry Christmas!" Caitlin and Cisco say back.

"Hey, Sexy," Barry said walking towards his girlfriend's desk.

"Hey, Handsome," Caitlin said. He then flashes mistletoe above them.

"Guess you have to kiss me now. Oh, well." Barry smiled leading in. Caitlin smiles back and leans in too. They share a passionate kiss. Then the sound of a long-suffering sigh comes from behind them.

"God, you two are insufferable. I thought we agreed that you wouldn't kiss in front of me." Cisco said.

"Oh, right? I forgot. But come on it's Christmas. Don't be such a Grinch. You may not have fallen in love yet but you still have us." Caitlin said.

"Yeah, friendship rules," Sophia said cheering. Cisco shakes his head and smiles.

"Yeah, I may not have a girlfriend but I still have you guys. My best buds." Cisco said and they hugged.

"Oh, is that what I think it is?" Caitlin said excitingly. She points to a red canister that Barry was holding.

"Yep. Grandma Ester's famous eggnog." Barry beamed.

"Maybe later for me. I don't want to drink and drive." Dr. Wells said and rolled out of the room. Looking back at Cisco and Caitlin, he noticed how their faces fell.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asks.

"No... It's just that this used to be his favorite time of the year. But the accident happened before Christmas. So, it kind of ruined the holidays for him." Cisco said.

"Oh, you know what. I should buy him a present. That should cheer him up." Sophia said.

"I'll join you," Caitlin said.

Barry felt bad for Dr. Wells. He no longer trusted him but he was still his mentor... His friend.

"Let's crack that baby open!" Cisco beamed as he returned with some
cups.

It's early in the afternoon. Caitlin and Sophia are at the city's shopping mall.

"So, what are you gonna get Barry for Christmas?" Sophia asks.

"Well, I ordered a pair of custom shoes online. They are his favorite brand Converse. Also, the shoes are Flash themed." Caitlin said.

"Well, I'm sure that he'll love it," said Sophia. They arrived at the parking lot and Sophia catches a glimpse of a man lurking in the shadows.

"It can't be," Sophia whispered. Caitlin puts a hand on her shoulder. "What is—" Sophia quickened her pace routing the corner she snuck a glance of a hooded figure turning around the other side. They both stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the stranger back facing them. Their hearts began to quicken and Sophia caught sight of him.

"Ronnie?" They said in unison.

"Is that really you?" Sophia said inching closer. She then holds his hand.

"Sophie, I missed you so much," Ronnie said cupping her cheek

"I missed you too, Love," Sophia said as they leaned their foreheads together and for just a moment the pain and loss washed away.

"I'm sorry," Ronnie said and pulled away from her embrace.

"No, no, no, please don't leave me," Sophia begged but it was too late he then bursts into flames.

"Look out!" Caitlin said and grabbed Sophia's hand running back towards the car. They catch their breaths and are shocked at what just transpired.

After leaving S.T.A.R. Labs this morning, Barry's phone rang alerting him that his day job beckoned him to get to work at Mercury Labs. Inside the large industrial floor of Mercury Labs, Barry was kneeling and assessing the massacre in front of him.

"Hey, what you thinking?" Joe called out as he made his way over towards him.

Barry rose from his feet meeting Joe's eyes.

"Just looking at the blood spatter patterns and trajectory of the remains, only a high-speed collision could have done this. But to cause this much damage to a human in this space... Whatever hit them had to be fast." Barry stated over the facts.

Looking back down at the security guards, Barry could only figure that this crime was not humanly possible but metahuman possible. Suddenly Eddie's voice calling out to him and Joe caught his attention.

"Get this. All the witnesses say that they saw was a blur. Sound familiar?" Eddie said with a sly smile.

Eddie was leading a new task force focused on apprehending the Scarlet Speedster. Which is causing mayhem in the city. And by the look on Eddie's face, Barry figured, Eddie was ready to implicate the Flash... him for this crime. But he knew it wasn't him. He was with Caitlin all night. It couldn't be. Catching Joe's eye, both of them brushed past Eddie and paced over to the shaken witness.

"You saw a blur? What was it?" Barry probed with his urgency to know to trickle into his voice.

"Whatever it was... It was looking for something." He answered.

Barry needed more. He needed to know that what he was thinking wasn't just a coincidence.

"W-What did it look like?" He pushed more eagerly.

"Like a man. In some kind of yellow suit." He stammered.

"It's him..." Barry whispered.

He's back. This was his chance he thought. Barry could only think of one thing and that was catching the man in yellow. This could be it. He needed to go check over his files. His mind racing as fast as his heart, Barry moved back eager to get back to CCPD and go over everything he knows and has just learned.

"Barry!" Joe called to him.

"I have to check my files."

"Barry!" Joe pulled Barry to a stop.

"No, Joe. You heard him. The man who killed my mother... He's back!" Barry loudly whispered.

"I know. He's been in town for a few weeks now. He paid me a visit to the house. He took all the evidence from your Mother's case. The files are gone." He finished.

What!? Barry couldn't believe what Joe had just said to him. How and why hadn't Joe told him? Barry stepped back hurt. How could Joe keep this from him?

"Why wouldn't you tell me sooner, Joe!?" he said raising his voice.

"I couldn't."

Barry was furious. Out of all things. He couldn't believe that the man who raised him could keep information about the man who killed his mother from him. Barry's chest tightened in anger.

"Why?!" he raised his voice.

"Because he threatened to kill Iris!" He said silencing Barry.

Barry's face fell. Suddenly all the anger he felt towards Joe at that very moment eased away at the reason why. What were they going to do was all he could think of.

After their encounter with Ronnie. Sophia and Caitlin are at Jitters talking to Iris about her blog. She had posted something about a man in flames. That had to be about Ronnie. It was a long shot but Iris was the only lead they had.

"Sophie. Caitlin. What's up?" Iris asks smiling warmly.

"So, um, I was catching up on your blog and a story caught my eye... It's about a man whose head and hands burst into flames?" Sophia said.

"The burning man as you call him," Caitlin added.

"Yeah, I haven't updated that story in a while... But there are some reports that I can send you." Iris offered.

"Thanks," Sophia said. Iris nods and smiles sadly.

"Can I ask something girls?" Iris said.

"Sure. What's up?" Caitlin and Sophia say.

"So, um, Barry's been acting differently around me lately. Like he's keeping some sort of secret from me. You're his sister and you're his girlfriend. So, is there anything you girls know that I should know about?" Iris finished.

Caitlin and Sophia looked at each other slightly worried. We can't tell her that Barry's the Flash. We promised Joe.

"If you feel like Barry's keeping something from you then you should just ask him yourself," Sophia said.

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll give you an explanation to why he's been acting differently towards you," Caitlin adds.

"Okay, I'll go do that. Thanks for the advice." Iris said smiling. She hugs them and they hug her back.

"No problem. Well, we're gonna get going now. See you tonight at Joe's." Sophia said grabbing Caitlin's hand and quickly hurrying towards the exit.

"That was a close one," Caitlin said.

"Yeah, no kidding. I thought she was on to us. Barry better tells Iris that he's the Flash soon." Sophia said.

"Are you going to tell Barry about Ronnie?" Caitlin asks.

"No. This stays only between you and me," Sophis said.

"But..." she starts.

"Please just give me some more time. I'm not ready yet to tell him." Sophia begged.

Caitlin bites her lip. She didn't like keeping secrets for him... She sighs.

"Oh, okay."

Sophia smiles and hugs her.

"Thank you. You're the best, Caity," she said. Caitlin smiles and hugs her back.

"I just don't get why he left me again," Sophia said sadly. "I had him in my arms again and now he's gone again," she said and cries softly.

"Oh, Sweetie. Everything will be okay. We'll bring Ronnie back home to you. I promise. And a promise is unbreakable." Caitlin said comforting her like a mother to a daughter. She then hugs her tightly.