Charlie's mind raced as she crossed Central City's streets, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious. She'd managed to shake off the villain for now, but she couldn't afford to let her guard down. The timeline was already fragile, and her arrival had stirred up more problems than she'd anticipated. Eddie's recent death weighed heavily on her, not only because she hadn't grown up with the news of his sacrifice but because of the grief it brought to those she cared about, especially Iris.

Charlie had to help, even if she couldn't tell them the truth—at least, not yet. For now, she could focus on someone who mattered deeply in her time. Iris West. The woman who had mentored her, who had taught her to keep fighting for justice even when the world seemed too dark to bear.

"So, you're a fangirl, huh?" Iris asked again with a small smile as she unlocked her office door. "I can't believe you wanted to come to the paper."

Charlie's heart leapt. "You're going to be one of the greatest journalists in the world," she said, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. "I couldn't pass up the chance to meet you."

Iris chuckled as she entered her office, setting her purse on the desk. "Well, flattery will get you everywhere."

Charlie smiled and trailed behind Iris as they headed into the office. The place was relatively quiet, a sign that most people had already left for the day. Except for one man, a coworker of Iris's, who was frantically pacing around on his phone while a young girl—his daughter, Charlie noted, ran around him. She squinted, her heart pounding in her chest as the realization hit.

That girl...

In Charlie's timeline, Iris and Eddie had adopted this very child. But here, now, the girl was still living with her biological father, unaware of the twist that the future could hold. Or not, who knew anymore?

The man hung up his phone and fell back in his chair. Iris noticed too.

"Everything alright, Cody?"

Cody turned towards Iris, frustration evident on his face. "My sitter canceled on me for tomorrow too, can't find anyone else, and I've got this thing... It's driving me nuts!" He pulled out his hair.

Before Iris could speak, Charlie stepped forward, all smiles. "Iris has nothing going on tomorrow!" She spoke quickly before the woman could protest.

Iris opened her mouth to object but found herself stammering, caught off guard. "I—uh—"

"She's great with kids," Charlie added smoothly. "And I promise you, they'll have a great time. What do you say?"

Cody gave a relieved smile, already on board with the idea. "Really? That'd be fantastic. Thanks, Iris. You're a lifesaver."

Iris could only nod, still too bewildered to refuse. "I—yeah, no problem," she muttered, shooting Charlie a look that said they'd be talking about this later.

As Cody took Gigi home, grateful for the quick solution, Iris turned to Charlie with raised eyebrows. "What was that?"

Charlie's smile softened. "I figured you could use the distraction," she said gently. "Besides, you're amazing with kids. Trust me."

Iris frowned slightly, still confused but less resistant. "How would you know that?"

Charlie's eyes glinted with a knowledge she couldn't yet share. "Let's just say I have a good feeling about you."

Iris shook her head, her curiosity piqued, but decided to let it go for now. "Alright, mystery girl. The promenade, then?"

"Definitely." Charlie exhaled in relief.

As they entered the mall, the bright lights and chatter of other shoppers gave a warm, lively atmosphere, contrasting sharply with the quiet stillness that Iris had been feeling for the past few weeks. She hadn't been out like this in a while—just relaxing, window shopping, or doing anything that didn't involve the Central City crime beat.

Charlie grinned as they strolled past store windows, her hands brushing along the racks of clothing, accessories, and shoes. It felt familiar in a way she couldn't explain—this was something she and Iris had done many times in her timeline. Seeing Iris laugh as they passed a rack of particularly outrageous hats sent a pang of nostalgia through her. But she couldn't let herself get too caught up in that. She was here to help, not to cling to what had been.

"I think this hat would be perfect for you," Charlie teased, picking up a wide-brimmed, neon-pink sun hat. "Very Pulitzer-Prize-winning-journalist chic."

Iris glanced at the hat and snorted, unable to hold back her laughter. "Oh yeah, I'm sure I could get a lot of credibility wearing this to an interview."

"Totally. You'd be setting trends. Louis Lane could never!" Charlie quipped, twirling the hat on her finger.

They walked into one of the boutique stores, perusing racks of clothes while chatting about everything from Central City's ever-evolving crime scenes to lighter topics like Iris's favorite travel destinations. Charlie took mental notes, filing away bits of information that might help her understand more about this timeline—and, more importantly, about Iris.

"So, I... make it out right then, huh?" Iris asked after a while, glancing at Charlie as they flipped through a rack of summer dresses.

"Bestest," Charlie replied smoothly, though her eyes flickered with something deeper—memories of all the times Iris had inspired her to push forward, to keep fighting even when the odds were stacked against her. "You've done so much good in the world. It's... motivating, to say the least."

Iris smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Well, I'm not sure how much good I've been doing lately." She sighed, shifting uncomfortably. "Ever since... Eddie, it's been hard to focus. I'm trying, but I feel like I'm just going through the motions sometimes."

Charlie paused, her heart aching at the sight of Iris's grief. She knew this pain, had seen it in her time, but now, witnessing it firsthand, it hit even harder. She wasn't sure what to say without giving away too much, so she opted for something simple.

"It's okay to feel like that," Charlie said softly. "You don't have to have it all together right now. You've been through a lot."

Iris blinked, surprised by Charlie's insight. For a girl she barely knew, Charlie seemed to have a wisdom beyond her years. Iris wasn't sure what it was, but there was something comforting about being around her—something that made her feel like things might actually be okay, eventually.

"Thanks," Iris murmured, giving Charlie a small smile before moving on to the next rack. "Anyway, let's find something fun. You need to leave here with a shopping bag or two. Consider it part of the girls' day out initiation."

Charlie grinned, her heart warming. "Deal."

They spent the next hour trying on everything from sundresses to statement jackets, laughing at some of the more absurd outfits and complimenting each other on the ones that actually looked good. They stopped by a few jewelry stores, where Iris tried on necklaces and earrings, and Charlie commented on how well they'd suit her.

Finally, they decided to take a break, settling down at a small café within the mall. As Iris and Brina sat at the café, sipping their iced lattes and people watching, the light mood began to shift. Iris absentmindedly stirred her drink, her eyes drifting to a couple walking hand-in-hand through the mall. They were laughing, carefree, entirely wrapped up in each other. The sight brought a dull ache to her chest.

"I know I should be grateful for a day like this," Iris said softly, breaking the silence. "And I am. But..."

Charlie looked up from her drink, sensing the change in Iris's tone. "But?" She got chills, and for some reason she knew it wasn't her mom's DNA coming out.

Iris sighed, placing her drink down and leaning forward, her hands clasped in front of her on the table. "I'm happy to spend time with you, I really am, but... seeing people happy like that—like that couple—" She gestured subtly toward the couple walking away. "It's hard. I feel like I'm surrounded by people who still get to be with the ones they love, while I've had to watch mine die."

Her voice cracked a little, and she took a deep breath before continuing. "It's selfish, I know. But I can't help it. I feel jealous. I watch Barry trying to get a date, dad with Cecile, and everyone else somehow moving on or finding new reasons to smile. And I'm still here, stuck with this... emptiness."

Charlie's chest tightened. She had always known Iris was strong, the kind of person who carried the weight of others without ever letting it show. But hearing her admit her jealousy and grief, seeing the raw pain on her face, was something else entirely.

"Iris," Charlie said quietly, her voice filled with sympathy. "That's not selfish at all. You've lost people you loved—of course you'd feel that way."

Iris shook her head, her jaw tightening. "I just... I thought I'd have more time with Eddie. We were building something, a future. And then it was ripped away in a second. I'm trying to be happy for the people around me, but I can't help but feel like the universe is playing some cruel joke on me. I have to smile and pretend I'm fine, but inside... I'm not."

Charlie stiffened at Iris's words. She expected sadness, but the anger at the end of Iris's statement scared her. Jealousy, and loneliness, and anger were never a good combination. If her suspicions were correct, then she was on the right track.

So, Charlie reached out, gently placing her hand over Iris's on the table. "You don't have to pretend with me," she said softly. "You don't have to be okay all the time. It's okay to be angry, to feel jealous. No one expects you to be perfect, Iris."

Iris blinked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She squeezed Charlie's hand, grateful for the understanding. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that."

Charlie smiled, her heart heavy but warm. "You've been so strong for everyone else. You deserve to feel whatever you're feeling. And you deserve to heal."

Iris nodded, wiping at her eyes with her free hand before letting out a shaky laugh. "You're wise beyond your years, you know that?"

Charlie grinned. "I've been told that before. That's why I get all the babysitter gigs easy!"

Iris's head snapped up, a laugh bubbling out despite herself. "Oh my God. I forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me," she said, her voice laced with playful sarcasm. She shook her head, letting out a soft groan. "I can't believe you got me stuck in that."

Charlie shrugged innocently, widening her eyes. "I thought you'd be perfect for the job! And besides, what could go wrong? A quiet night in with a kid. Easy, right?"

Iris gave her a skeptical look, but there was a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "You know what? You owe me for this. You're not getting away with it that easily. You're coming over and helping."

Charlie feigned shock, holding her hands up in defense. "Wait, me? I thought this was your gig. I was just being a helpful bystander."

Iris laughed again, the sound lighter this time, and shook her head. "Oh, no. You're in this now, whether you like it or not. You're going to help me wrangle that kid tomorrow."

Charlie chuckled, her heart lifting as the mood brightened. "Fine, fine. I guess I'm in."

Iris pointed at her, a smirk on her face. "You're lucky I like you, or I'd be much more annoyed right now."

Charlie beamed. "I'll take that as a win."

They both laughed, the lingering darkness of their earlier conversation dissipating as they leaned into the playful banter. Tomorrow might be challenging, but for now, Charlie was just glad to see Iris smile again.