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Star Labs
Morning
Wanda stirred slightly, feeling the warmth of Barry's arms around her. She opened her eyes and her vision came into focus. At first, she didn't know where they were but then it came back to her. The Raft, Wakanda, coming to Earth-1. And the news, Wanda thought as she looked down at her still flat stomach, knowing her and Barry's baby was inside of her now.
"How'd you sleep?" Barry's voice nearly made her jump. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"I slept fine," Wanda said softly and felt Barry nod beside her.
"What are you thinking?" Barry asked, noting she had a pensive look on her face.
"I-I never pictured myself as a mother. Every day was just 'how do we survive the next week'. Even after Sokovia, I could never picture bringing a child into this life. And yet now…I am," Wanda said with a faraway look in her eyes.
"Are you saying you want to get rid of the baby?" Barry asked cautiously.
"No!" Wanda said quickly. "It just…surprised me. That's all. My mother died when I was ten, I don't know how to be a mother. But…I want this baby," Wanda admitted.
"So do I," Barry said and Wanda nodded, an uncertain look on her face.
"And what about iris?" Wanda asked, taking Barry back. "I know you…were together while you were here."
"Wanda, I broke up with her. And I would have made that same decision regardless of whether you were pregnant or not. I cared about her very deeply at one point, but it was never love. I fooled myself into thinking I did, but I don't. I love you and I love our baby. It hasn't even been born yet but I love you both so much," Barry told her softly and Wanda smiled slightly.
"I love you to," Wanda said, leaning up slightly and they kissed.
West house
Same time
Joe walked down the stairs, rubbing his eyes. He had had a hard night's sleep, they all had. Which was Iris' fault, to be honest. Once sleeping arrangements for the Avengers had been assigned (Sam with Cisco, Natasha getting Barry's old room with Steve crashing on the couch at the West House and the Bartons unquestioningly staying at Star Labs with Barry and Wanda), they had all gone home. Once they reached home, Iris had stormed up to her room. They had heard the sounds of crashing like something was being thrown around. The rest of the night, only the sound of Iris crying could be heard.
Joe heard the sounds of things moving around the kitchen, bringing him out of his thoughts. Joe looked over at the couch and, seeing Steve not there, assumed it was Steve in the kitchen. Joe walked into the kitchen and saw Steve separating an egg and putting it in a skillet. Natasha sat on the counter, she and Steve quietly talking in a way that was familiar to Joe. It was the way partners on the force who had been at each other's side for years would talk, like they knew exactly what the others would say.
"Joe," Steve said as they saw him. "How do you like your eggs, sunny side up or scrambled?"
"Scrambled. Look, I'd like to apologize for the rough night we all had last night. I don't know what caused Iris to be that upset," Joe said before noticing the look is guests exchanged. "But clearly you do."
"It's not our place to say," Steve hedged.
"It's probably best he hears it from someone who won't try and twist it," Natasha argued and Steve shot her a look even if he silently agreed.
"Twist what?" Joe demanded.
"As you know, Barry thought he'd never find his way back here," Steve began carefully, trying to word this delicately. "As far as Barry was concerned, his relationship with your daughter had ended. And after a few months, he and Wanda…"
"Oh," Joe said as he caught the implications. "I see. This certainly…complicates things."
"Like one of those teen shows," Steve agreed.
"Does he…love her?" Joe asked hesitantly.
"That's something you need to ask Barry," Steve told him.
"Yes," Natasha said and Steve shot her a look. "What, he needs to know what he's walking into. Barry loves Wanda, not Iris. He's not that little kid who worshiped the ground she walks on anymore. That is why Iris threw her temper tantrum last night. He told her this and she didn't react well."
Upstairs, Iris laid awake, eyes wide open. After some long thought, she had come to a conclusion: Barry still oved her, he'd just forgotten. Therefore, it was her duty to remind him that he loved her and not some twenty-one year old distraction.
Star Labs
Later in the morning
"A Flash?" Clint said as he held the beverage in his hand.
"Yeah, they named a drink after him apparently," Sam said taking a drink of coffee from Jitters that he and Cisco had brought over. "I kind of want a drink named after me now."
"Yeah, I'm sure people will just be lining up to get a Falcon," Clint said sarcastically.
"Hey, where are Laura and the kids?" Sam said as he noticed the absence of them.
"Caitlin took them out shopping. Don't know how long they'll be here," Clint sighed, hating that he put his family in this position.
"Don't blame yourself man. Zemo played us all, none of us could have seen this coming," Sam assured him, placing a hand on Clint's shoulder.
"Nat put in The Iron Man file 'Tony Stark not recommended'. Should've listened," Clint said bitterly.
"Won't hear any arguments from me," Barry said as he and Wanda walked in.
"Hey kid," Clint said as he walked over to Wanda, putting a hand on her shoulder. "How are you doing?"
"I am fine. I am hungry though," Wanda noted.
"I brought donuts," Cisco gestured to the box on the table.
Barry speeds over, grabs two donuts, and speeds back over, holding one out to Wanda. Wanda smiled and took one as Barry took a bit out of the other.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Sam asked as Barry swallowed and Wanda began eating her donut.
"I set something up in the speed lab," Barry said and was met with several looks. "But first, we need to wait for Wally to get here."
"I'm here," Wally said as The Wests, Steve, and Natasha walked in.
Barry is surprised to see Iris there, given their last conversation, but gives it no further thought. Iris is more than welcome to come here if she wants.
"Good, I want to show you something in the Speed lab," Barry said, gesturing for Wally to follow him.
Everyone heads down to the speed lab and find an apple on a stool in the center of the room. There is also a line drawn several feet away from it.
"Um, what's this?" Wally asked confused.
"This is your training," Barry said Wally perked up as Joe and Iris looked at Barry in disbelief.
"You're not messing with me here?" Wally asked eagerly and Barry smiled.
"Nope. Get on the line and we'll get started."
"Um, Barry, can I talk to you?" Iris interrupted, looking at Wally nervously.
Barry nodded, knowing she would have a problem with this. Barry and Iris walk off into the hall as Wanda watched nervously.
"I thought we agreed we weren't going to give Wally any ideas he could be you," Iris said once they were out of earshot.
"You have this habit of giving orders and expecting everyone to follow them. We didn't agree to anything regarding Wally's speed. He's not me, but he's a lot like me when I first found out about my powers. He's gonna use them, the more you try and tighten your grip on him, the more he'll rebel. He doesn't need your permission to use them and I'm not asking your permission to teach him. I know it's been a year for me, but last time I checked, this was my team, not yours. You can stay as a guest, or you can leave, but this is happening with or without you," Barry told her firmly.
"What happened to you over there Barry?" Iris asked, not even being able to recognize the man that stood before her as the same man who she had comforted over Cisco and Caitlin less than two weeks ago.
"I grew up. And learned the meaning of sacrifice and duty," Barry said bluntly.
Iris, unable to take it anymore, turned and walked off. Barry stared after her, hating that things were like this between them but not regretting any of his actions.
"That was a little harsh, don't you think?" Joe said as he walked up behind him.
"Maybe, but necessary," Barry said as he turned around to face Joe. "I know you have some reservations about Wally learning how to control his speed Joe but-"
"But I can't stop him anymore than I could stop you, I know," Joe cut him off as he eyed him. "I'm just…concerned. You seem so different."
"Because I am different Joe. The man I was, the boy I was, is gone. You can either accept that or not, but I'm not who I was," Barry said bluntly.
"I know. I guess I'll just have to get to know you as you are, not as you were. This Wanda girl…you love her?" Joe asked and Barry sighed.
"Let me guess, Natasha?" Barry asked and Joe nodded. "Should've known she'd spill the beans. Yeah, I love her. She's important to me Joe. I really hope you can accept that, because whatever happens, she will always be an important part of my life."
"I understand. I guess I should start by getting to know her. You two, come to dinner tomorrow," Joe said and Barry was thrown.
"But Iris-"
"I can make sure she's…occupied. I'm more interested in getting to know the new woman in your life," Joe said and Barry grinned.
"Okay. For now, we should get back before Wally loses it," Barry said and Joe laughed as they walked in.
"What took you so long, let's go!?" Wally said impatiently as he stood on the line..
"Alright," Barry laughed before speeding a few feet in front of the apple. "Your first lesson is to get this apple."
"That's it?" Wally said unimpressed and Barry smirked.
"You've to get passed me to do it. Think you can handle that?" Barry goaded and saw Wally fall for it hook, line, and sinker.
"Hell yeah!" Wally said, taking off towards the apple.
Only for Barry to stop him in his tracks. Barry sped over and, with a well-aimed him to Wally's stomach, Wally doubled over before Wally suddenly found himself on his back, staring up at Barry.
"Know what you did wrong?" Barry asked him.
"I got hit?" Wally asked in pain.
"You rushed n. All you were concerned about was the apple. It takes more than speed to do what we do. You need to think. You're faster than me, I admit, but speed will only get you so far," Barry told him.
"Can't Barry go easy on him?" Joe asked concerned.
"That was him going easy," Wanda said and Joe blinked.
"Relax, we were a lot harder on him than he's being on Wally," Natasha said as she gestured to herself and Steve.
"You need more than speed," Barry held a hand out to Wally and helped him up. "You need strength, strategy, and you need to know how to react. You can't run your way out of everything Wally. That's lesson one."
"And lesson two?" Wally asked and Barry smiled.
"Lesson two…is let me teach you how not to get yourself killed."
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 50+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11