Archive of Our Own ^beta

Caitlin had not been watching Iris talk to the Flash. Not at all.

He seemed like a nice young man. Sad, but kind, and brave.

And Iris was supposed to love him. She was supposed to have been sent to this time as an infant, to be raised a West, she was supposed to meet the Flash, and she was supposed to love him.

Someone had changed time. Prevented that happening, prevented them meeting. That was why the time anomaly had led them to Iris. That was what the speedster wanted from her.

Something had changed, the Flash had told them. Something in his life felt wrong, felt like he couldn’t quite remember.

But he knew her. Iris. In his heart he knew her, Caitlin could see it. This was the time she belonged to, even if it was not the time of her birth.

Caitlin would have died sixty years ago by this time. She should never have seen it at all. She should have died, she was only alive because Sara had saved her, and to solve their blunder the Legends had pulled her out of her own time. If she were to try to return home...

She wasn’t destined for a happy ending. She was destined for tragedy and murder, one deserved for helping Doctor Knox, even if she had not known the truth behind any of it.

She wasn’t like Iris.

She felt her heart sink a little as she saw Iris press a kiss to the Flash’s cheek. She saw her speak with Sara, no doubt to tell her she was staying in this time. She kept back as she saw Iris speak with the other Legends, saw her hug Ray and Jax, and Caitlin stayed back, stayed near the Waverider, delaying the inevitable just for a moment longer.

And then Iris was in front of her, eyes so bright and beautiful and happy and Caitlin fought down the tears she could feel trying to break free.

“Hi,” Iris said, all rushed and excited.

“He seems like a good man,” Caitlin said, nodding at the Flash. “Your conversation went well.”

“It did,” Iris said. “He’s interesting. I can see why a version of me might have loved him once.”

“I hope he makes you happy.”

“He knows your friend Kendra,” Iris said. “She dated his boyfriend once. He was there when she first met your friend Carter and she visited him after you returned from your first travels and she was conflicted over his reincarnation. He had someone trying to direct his life once too, who made him feel like his choices had been taken away from him, and both he and Kendra decided damn destiny, no one is allowed to choose for them again.”

Caitlin felt a frown, felt her confusion rising.

“I’m not the Iris West of the 21^st century another version of him loved,” Iris said. “I’m Iris Russell of the 30^th century. I’m my own person, and destiny doesn’t get to tell me where to find my home, not when I already found one.”

Caitlin looked up with wide-eyes.

“You’re staying?” Caitlin asked.

“For as long as you want me,” Iris said. “May I kiss you, Caitlin?”

Caitlin immediately pulled them together, kissing Iris in a way she had never kissed anyone, never dreamed of kissing anyone.

A cheer came from somewhere and Caitlin ducked back, feeling herself flushing furiously as she caught sight of Amaya swat Nate with an apologetic look as well as her smile.

Sara was nodding approvingly. Jax too. Most of their friends were smiling.

The Flash was clearly giving Iris two thumbs up and beaming as she looked a little embarrassed at the attention.  

“Perhaps inside the ship might have some more privacy?” Caitlin suggested.

“I doubt it,” Iris smiled, but she headed in with Caitlin regardless, wrapping their hands together and leaning against her.

Caitlin had never been so thankful time travel had changed her life.

If she ever met this Barry Allen Rip had said had developed most of the technology the Waverider was based on, she was certainly going to owe him a drink.