**Any flashbacks will be in italics**

Shannon sighs happily and burrows back into the pillow she is laying on. Cuddled deep underneath the covers she relishes in the deliciousness of the dream she just had.

The warmth of his skin.

Sweetness of his words.

Her Sebastian....

Hers.

But alas it's just a dream because that man doesn't exist anymore.  He was replaced years ago, back to his original first name.  Back to being Barry Allen. Lost to Iris, to his family. 

Shannon grumbles, stretching on the bed. Body feeling sore.

And as she reaches out with a yawn, her hand hits something that crinkles.

What in the world would do that?!

Slowly, cautiously she opens her eyes and pulls herself into a seating position on the bed, blankets clutches over her chest.  Her naked chest.  Her brown eyes open wide in shock.

"This isn't my apartment..."

She blinks a few times and then rubs her eyes, trying to clear away the rest of the residual sleepiness. The things that seem to be playing tricks with her eyesight. But when she opens them again she is still in the same room as before.

The heavy curtains, pulled shut.

Gilded trim on soft burgundy linens.

Deep, rich colors.

The Le Méridien back in Westerville.

"It was real..."

Her clothes from the night before are folded neatly, placed on a plush armchair.  Heels sitting primly in front of it.  And her suitcases....

They're placed nearby as well.

She didn't bring those with her last night.  Not when Sebastian...   when Barry sped her out of that party at Star Labs.

Turning to her left she finally sees what is on the pillow next to her, what made the crinkling sound as she stretched out on the bed.  Her fingers close over the note as she lifts it up off the pillow.

•••••••••••••

Sebastian lifts her gently out of the whirlpool tub, wrapping a soft white fluffy towel around her body.  Rubbing soothingly up and down her arms, warming up her skin.

Shannon blushes as she looks up at him through her eyelashes. The look that sends renewed shivers down his spine. Reinvigorating him, even though after their initial escapades on the bed and their latest romp in the tub he should be exhausted. But with her....

Its like they're picking right up where they left off all those years ago.

Things with her....

They've always been so much easier than they are with Iris.

And it's making Sebastian feel so much better about this whole screwed up situation.

"Bastian?? Why are you looking at me like that??"

The way she is gazing at him, so sweet yet insecure, nibbling on her lower lip. His heart melts. He reaches out to brush her hair out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear.

"Because you're beautiful, Ma Cherie. Always have been... Come, lets go back to bed. Okay?"

Shannon nods as he unwraps the towel from around her body, dropping it on the bathroom floor. He interlaces their fingers together and leads her back out into the main area of the hotel room. Back to the bed.

Sliding onto the bed, Sebastian looks up at her with hooded dark green eyes. Sparkling playfully as he reaches out for her hand to pull her down after him.

"I'm not done with you yet, Ma Cherie."

Shannon giggles as she allows him to pull her closer towards his naked body, getting wrapped up once again in his touch, his kisses.

The night drags slowly into morning, eventually both of them falling into a contented sleep, wrapped up in each others arms.

But it doesn't last long.

Eventually Sebastian's mind catches up with him. With a dissatisfied groan he opens his eyes, trying to not awaken the petite brunette girl whose head is resting on his chest.

'She's so peaceful like this. I've missed her.... I love her....'

He doesn't vocalize his internal thoughts though as he gently runs his fingers up and down her spine, for fear of waking up the girl. Reluctantly he raises his eyes to check the time on the alarm clock, knowing that he can't stay here forever. Regardless of the fact that he really, really wants to.

And that's when he sees it. The small flicker of gold illuminated in the pre-dawn light that is filtering through the curtains.

His wedding band.

Which he distinctly remembers leaving on the floor of the speed lab at Star Labs before he sped them both out of Central City.

It can only mean one thing, that someone else has been here. Has seen them.

And Sebastian knows now what he must do. That at least for a little he needs to go back to being Barry Allen.

•••••••••••••

Shannon carefully opens the folded paper that she plucked from the pillow case.  And immediately she recognizes the handwriting.

Belonging to one tall, devastatingly handsome green eyed man who was with her not that long ago.

'Ma chère Shannon,
Je suis tellement désolé de devoir vous laisser comme ça, encore une fois. Croyez-moi, je ne veux vraiment pas. Et mon amour, je ne serai pas parti pour toujours. C'est ce que je vous promets. Je vous ai loué une voiture, aussi longtemps que vous le souhaitez. Et nous reviendrons vous retrouver une fois de plus. Je t'aime, jolie fille, pour toujours et à jamais. Amour,
Sebastian'

Leave it to that man to write her a note in French.  But now what is she going to do??

(French translation:

My dearest Shannon,
I'm so sorry I had to leave you like this, again.  Trust me, I really don't want to. And my love, I won't be gone forever.  This I promise you.  I've rented you a car to use, for as long as you need to.  And will be back to find you once again.  I love you Pretty Girl, forever and always.
Love,
Sebastian )