Broken. That is how Barry felt watching Kara collapse through the portal.

"Kara!" My arms are around her in an instant as her limp body falls to the harsh ground. Her blond hair sticks to her face. My eyes rake her body searching for any harm. She is wearing her suit but nothing is out of the ordinary. "Kara," I let out in a broken whisper.

"Barry," Caitlin's tone comes out in a warning just as Alex steps through the portal. She kneels down next to her sister, still tightly in my embrace. Her eyes are filled with tears as she moves her gaze from the girl of steel to me. "She needs you," her voice comes out strong. "She needs you more than the world needs her." Placing a hand on my arm she leans down to kiss the forehead of the blond in my arms. "Take care of her Flash."

Picking Kara up I move to place her on the table but I think better of it. "I am going to take her home." Looking down at her tear-stained cheeks, "She will be more comfortable there." Harrison Wells, now returned after HR, Cisco, and Caitlin all nod in understanding. I am so lost in thought of what could have possibly broken the girl of steel that Iris's hard voice causes me to jump. "What's going on here?" Her hands on her hips she stares at Kara. "You explain?" I nod to Cisco. Then I use my speed to go to my home.

Laying Kara in my bed I grab a warm washcloth and wash her face. Opting to leave her clothes alone I pull the comforter up to her shoulders.

It doesn't fill right leaving her alone so I cook. And cook. And cook. Putting headphones in I dance around the kitchen tossing pancakes over the counter and onto the plate. I try to clear my mind. We defeated Savitar. I saved Iris. Thinking back to the speed force I cringe. I look at the buffet of breakfast food, even though it's 2:00 pm, placing my hands on the counter I take a deep breath just as the blaring music is removed from my ears.

"Hey," Kara says in almost a normal tone. Her smile is a tad smaller than usual. "Hey!" I can't help pulling her into a hug. Her arms go around my torso, but she doesn't crush me. "What happened?" The last time I saw her was with the Music Meister. Stepping back slightly to look at me, I took note of her change of clothes, she rolls her eyes to fight the waterworks on the way.

"A lot." Turning away from me she looks around the flat. "Where's Iris?" I take her distraction allowing her to collect her thoughts. "Umm," my hand goes up to my hair. Her blue eyes hold mine and for the first time, I see the immense pain in hers. "After Savitar...." I grab her hand pulling her to the bar. Sitting down I continue. "I had a responsibility to make sure everyone was safe and the only way to do that was to go into the Speed Force." Bringing my hands up to my face I rub circles around my eyes.

Kara places her hands at my wrist pulling slightly. "Iris gave me an ultimatum." Looking at Kara I conclude, "I choose the city." "I understand." Her eyes flash down to our hands. "We are heroes. It's our job. It's our responsibility to save our city, our world." Laughing a dry laugh I quote Oliver, "a friend once told me people like us never get the girl."

"Can we eat?" Kara motions toward the food. "Of course!" I try to be peppy. Using my speed I pull it a set up for us to eat. Grabbing our plates we both attack the mountain of food together.

"So good." Kara lays back on the couch and me on the floor. "Thanks. I cook when I'm anxious." I feel her gaze even though she isn't looking at me. "I'm sorry for scaring you, Barry." Nodding I turn on my side facing the bottom of the couch. "Where's Mon El?" Alex said that she needed to be here. Why?

I hear her intake of breath and there is a momentary pause as she collects her words. "He," there are tears in her voice, "we had to release a toxic." Her cheek pressed against the cushion. I can see her blond hair and an outline of her face but her eyes are hidden. "He left in my-" her voice breaks. "I choose to save my world instead of him." She sits up with the speed of a speedster. I copy her movement.

"Hey," my hand goes up to catch a fallen tear. We just sit there barely touching, a few mummers, and quite a few tears. We sit and mourn the toll of being a hero.

"Kara!" Cisco hollers as soon as we walk down the hall. A smile graces the blond's lips next to me. I send a mental thank you to Cisco. "You going to help us?" Cisco turns to his computer. "I think Super Flash would be totally cool." I can't fight the laugh at our apparent nickname. "Cisco Kara came to relax not-" Kara turns to me making me swallow my words.

I see more life in her eyes. "You afraid of a little competition Flash?" Her cheerful nature makes me want to dance, or maybe that's because the last time we were together we were in a musical. "Not afraid Supergirl. Just don't want you to get in over your head," I mimic her playful tone. "Okay, robbery at-" I quickly read the screen and grab my suit.

Running I laugh as I don't see Kara. "What are you laughing at Speedy?" She appears out of nowhere and then she flies up in the air flying over buildings before landing in front of the jewelry store. Skidding to a stop, "no fair. You flew over the buildings!" Hands-on her hips let's out a carefree laugh that warms my heart. "And you can run up buildings."

Looking behind her I nod to the store. "Good old fashion robbery." "Let's get em Flash. Your city. You first."

Leaning against the desk I watch as Joe talks with Harrison. "It feels good taking down the old criminals." Kara leans next to me. "Yeah, it's like going back into a musical. Everything is simpler." Looking down at the floor I try to untangle my thoughts. I can't keep my eyes off of Kara. I'm just being a friend, right? Studying her skirt I am shaken slightly when Caitlin's voice calls my name.

"Your both doing great. Both of you are completely healthy." Kara's question gaze examines my form, "both of us." She remembers her own examination from yesterday but, "were you hurt?" Her hand goes to my shoulder and her eyes continue to search for damage. "No-" I go to reassure her but Iris cuts me off.

Standing behind me I feel her gaze on both Kara and I. Kara either not feeling the drilling hole or choosing to ignore it keeps her hand on my shoulder. "Barry was stuck in the Speed Force for quite a while." Her heels clack in the ground as she walks around the desk and examines the hand on me. "He wasn't so well when he returned." Her eyes soften as she tries to meet mine. But all my attention is on my racing heart. Kara's touch is making my thoughts go into a whirlwind.

"I'm fine," I reassure Kara before slipping out of her touch. I can feel her hand on me still. Wake up, Barry! I shake my head. What is going on?

"Barry?" Joe calls out. "I'll be back." I then run. Still, in my suit, I keep running. Thoughts flash through my mind.

You jerk you left her all alone.

She's not alone!

But she needs you. She needs me.

Says who?!

Her sister!

Yah because Mon El is gone.

And so is Iris.

Stoping I get on my knees. I'm on a beach. It's deserted.

I can't fall for her. I can't.

"Barry," her soft melody voice floats in the air. Keeping my head down I can't meet her eyes. "I'm so sorry Kara. I want to be there for you as a friend as a shoulder to cry on but-" "Sometimes the hero falls for the fallen." She falls in the sand next to me. "Barry," my gaze meets hers. "You can't help who you fall for-" She looks down as the water crashes into the shore. "I feel it too. I just need time." Grabbing her hand I listen, "I just- I just lost Mon El. I need time to grieve. To heal. Because this," She looks at our hands, "deserves all of me." "So Mr. Allen are you okay with being Superflash for now and waiting for Kara to catch up?" "That's all I want." Pulling her into a hug I think maybe Oliver is wrong after all.

Cisco

"Good job," spinning in the rolling chair I turn to SuperFlash. "You know I like SuperFlash." My eyes go to Kara's waist. Not her waist really but the hand attached to it. Barry notices my gaze and gives me a small smile.

. . . . .

"She is smoking!" I study the red-headed killer that is gracing my screen today. All of a sudden two quarter size holes are drilled an inch away from my precious screen. Mouth open I turn to glare at the new superhero, but my words are frozen as I see her arms crossed and back pressed up against Barry.

. . . . . . .

Barry

"You are going to have to go back home soon," I let the words fall hoping that the sound would disappear. Sitting in my flat I watch my roommate for the past two months turn to me. She came here broken. Searching for herself. Now she is stronger than ever. Healthier and if possible more beautiful.

She is watching the passing cars. I have learned to read her and now I know that she is thinking of a way to stay but she knows that she must go home. Getting up I go to stand behind her. She turns around to look at me, "You know what you taught me?" I take a deep breath not ready for goodbye. "What?" I move a hand up to capture one of her blond curls.

"We don't owe a thing to this world. To our cities." A small smile graces her lips, "but we give everything we have anyways because we are heroes. We love, protect, and fight for our cities but sometimes we forget the most important thing."

"What is that?" I ask running a finger along her cheek. "To fight for ourselves." Our lips then collide. Two heroes finally earning our reward. We both pour our fear, passion, and love into the kiss. "You taught me, Barry Allen, that the hero has to fight for the girl. That we have to fight for what we want and nothing can stand in our way when we take a stand."