-------------
If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
-----
A few days had passed since The Dominator Invasion, as the press was calling it. Every news station in the world was buzzing about the existence of aliens in the universe. Iris was having a field day being able to write about it.
Now that the news had broken that Wanda was expecting, it seemed everyone had a reaction. Joe was over the moon about being a grandfather and was already planning to turn Barry's old room into a nursery once they had found other living arrangements for Natasha and Steve. Wally had been taken back at first but seemed excited at the prospect of being an uncle. HR…well, he was HR.
The only person who reacted negatively was Iris, which Barry admitted he wasn't surprised about. She had since refused to step foot in Star Labs and was refusing to speak to Barry. Barry was sad that his and Iris' relationship was so broken but he couldn't bring himself to regret loving Wanda or their child.
Star Labs
Morning
Steve got off the elevator, being the last to arrive at Star Labs this morning.
"Hey Cap," Barry said as he and Wanda approached their leader.
"Hey. Sorry I'm late, went for a run," Steve said and the couple shot him alarmed looks.
"Steve, it's freezing outside," Barry pointed out.
"Barry, I spent almost seventy years frozen in ice. I think I can handle some cold weather," Steve told him.
"Fair point," Barry shrugged as they led Steve into the cortex.
"Wow," Steve said as he noticed all the decorations HR had put up. "Looks like Christmas is the same on every earth then."
"Same traditions are multiversal Captain," HR said with a twirl of his drumsticks.
Steve grimaced, his former title feeling wrong.
"So, I know a lot has happened since I've been back, but did you guys dig up anymore Intel on Savitar?" Barry asked, seeing Steve's discomfort.
"Nope. All we know is that he's a speed god and you're the only one who can see him," Caitlin supplied.
"Alchemy is Savitar's high priest. He gets his powers from the stone he uses to turn people into Metas. If we can figure out what that thing is, maybe we can figure out how to stop him," Barry suggested.
"I like that, let me see if I can dig something up," Cisco said as he stood up.
Unnoticed to everyone else, Cisco seemed to freeze before he shook it off, heading to the computers.
"This Savitar is one of the things you said you wanted to take care of when you came back here?" Wanda asked and Barry nodded.
"I know it's Christmas and we should just enjoy ourselves, but I have to stop him before he hurts anyone else," Barry told her and she smiled softly as she took his hand.
"You feel it is your responsibility. I understand," Wanda said before Cisco spoke up.
"I got a dissertation here from Oxford University about the myth of an ancient Hindu weapon called the Brahmastra. Legendary artifact with incredible powers capable of-wait for it-"
"Creating Metahumans," Steve finished and Cisco nodded.
"Creating Metahumans," Cisco echoed.
"Guys, that looks just like Alchemy's stone," Caitlin said as she got a look at the paper.
"More importantly, look who wrote this paper," Cisco said as he pulled up a picture on the big screen.
"Julian," Barry said surprised.
"Who's Julian?" Steve inquired.
"He and I used to work together at the CCPD," Barry said.
"He's also the reason Barry doesn't work there anymore," Cisco grumbled.
"What?" Steve asked confused.
"When I went a little…crazy with my powers, I kidnapped Julian to make him help me find Alchemy," Caitlin said guilty. "Barry made a deal with Julian that he would resign and in exchange, Julian wouldn't report me or my powers."
"And I'd make that decision again. It wasn't you Cait," Barry assured her.
"Wasn't it?" Caitlin asked before she got up and walked off.
"I'll go talk to her," Cisco said as he stood up.
"Mind if I handle this one?" Steve asked and Cisco paused.
"Let him try. He's usually pretty good at reaching people in dark places," Barry said with Wanda nodding.
Cisco shrugged and Steve walked after Caitlin.
"You get the feeling something's going on there?" Cisco asked.
"Could be, but that's a problem for another time. I gotta go talk to Julian," Barry said, giving Wanda a kiss on the cheek before walking off.
Steve found Caitlin in the hallway, a hand over her mouth as she obviously struggled to gain control of her emotions.
"Barry's right," Steve said and Caitlin, startled, turned around to face him. "Whatever you did, it wasn't you."
"How can you possibly know that? You weren't here," Caitlin said emotionally.
"No, but I feel I've gotten a good sense of who you are while I've been here. And the person I'm seeing in front of me doesn't seem capable of hurting anyone, at least not on purpose," Steve said as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Barry said something to me once: We're not gods, we make mistakes. Those mistakes have consequences Caitlin, but feeling sorry for ourselves won't help."
"I'm just so afraid of what these powers will do to me," Caitlin said as she stared down at her hands. "Or somebody else."
"I understand that, but you need to be able to control that fear. Because if you don't, you could make a mistake that you can't come back from," Steve warned her.
"Like Barry did with Flashpoint?" Caitlin said softly and Steve nodded. "Thank you…for the advice."
Steve nodded with a smile and Caitlin, to his surprise, hugged him before kissing him on the cheek and heading back to the cortex.
West house
Late morning
"And these are the presents for the Christmas part tonight," Clint said as he gave Joe a bag.
"How did you afford this?" Joe asked surprised and Clint smirked.
"It's amazing what Lyla is willing to pay for when you save the world from aliens," Clint joked and Joe laughed. "Seriously though, if we're gonna stay here for the time being, I need to find a job. Any suggestions?"
"I think we have a few openings at the precinct. I'll see what I can do," Joe promised.
Clint nodded in thanks when his phone went off. Digging it out, he saw a text from Steve.
"Well duty calls. They need me down at Star Labs. See you tonight," Clint said as he waved at Joe.
He made his way to the door and walked out as Iris made her way down the stairs.
"He gone?" Iris asked and Joe sighed.
"You know, they don't deserve to be treated like that. Barry's the one you have issues with, not his friends. I raised you better than that," Joe scolded her.
"So what, am I supposed to make nice with them, try and forget the fact that they are the reason I lost Barry?" Iris snapped and Joe looked at her in disapproval.
"You lost Barry because he chose to move on with his life in a time when he thought he would never see us again. I know that hurts and I am sorry for that baby, but Barry and Wanda are starting a life together, starting a family together, and nothing is going to stop that from happening," Joe told her.
"Thank you for the reminder," Iris said stiffly before turning around. "I'm going to work for a bit."
"You know, I thought there was nothing you could do to make me ashamed of you," Iris stopped as Joe spoke up. "I was wrong. Because the way you've been acting the last few weeks…that's not how I raised you. I don't recognize you and I don't like this person you're turning into, so full of bitterness and anger. You need to find a way to deal with the fact that you lost Barry, because I am putting my foot down. I'm not gonna let you treat Barry's friends this way anymore."
Star Labs
Afternoon
After Barry had talked with Julian, who seemed to know nothing (although Barry found it odd that Julian was so defensively and insistent that Barry stop looking into Savitar) Barry had decided to get help from another speedster. Hence heading to Earth-3 to get Jay.
"Savitar was the very first Speedster," Jay explained to Team Flash and The Avengers as they all assembled in the cortex. "And over time, he became the god of motion, the fastest of us all. Before Savitar graces an earth with his presence, he sends a predecessor to prepare for his arrival."
"Alchemy," Natasha noted and Jay nodded.
"What's he preparing for?" Barry inquired.
"A battle, with you. I can't believe you've grown powerful enough to challenge him," Jay said with equal parts worry and pride.
"Why Barry?" Clint demanded.
"My best guess is that Barry has grown so powerful Savitar feels threatened," Jay said.
"Lucky me," Barry said sarcastically as Wanda took his hand.
"You won't be alone," she assured him.
"I don't think it's that simple Miss Maximoff," Jay said and they looked over at him. "If Savitar's come for Barry once, he'll come for him again."
"Then I'll be ready for him," Barry said firmly.
"No man, we'll be ready for him," Sam said and Barry smiled in appreciation.
-------------
If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
-----