It had been about a week since everyone woke up in this new reality and they'd had time to adjust. Now the team were preparing to go to Joe's house for a party to celebrate Barry and Iris's engagement, since they'd had time to establish covers about why Team Flash was already so close.

During that time, Barry had met Frost's new separate form, who had the name Crystal Snow, who, similar to how Frost had been during her brief time at the helm in the old reality, was an artist, not a scientist like Caitlin, but Crystal was one of the richest and most famous artists in the city and she was dating a scientist named Mark Blaine, who as it turned out was another cryokinetic metahuman like Crystal was, since she still had her powers in this reality, and honestly, from meeting him, Barry could see why Crystal, he was still getting used to calling her that, liked Mark, since he was a lot like her, even including a juvie record. He could tell that Frost had always had a thing for the bad boys.

Anyways, Barry was also very happy to find out that Ronnie was still alive and had no powers, probably because according to Caitlin, Stein had not been in Central City when the particle accelerator exploded. Barry found out that Caitlin and Ronnie were still engaged in this reality and this time Barry planned on making sure that they got the chance to live a long, happy life, though Barry did tell Caitlin that if she wanted things to work out between them, she'd have to bring him back into this life, something she knew, but wasn't exactly in a rush to do.

Barry also met her and Ronnie's adopted daughter Kayla Snow and she was so adorable, Barry immediately understood why Caitlin had chosen to run her clinic instead of going to work for Mercury labs, since after Caitlin told him about the condition Kayla had been in when she'd found her, Barry knew she'd done the right thing and was very happy that Kayla's birth parents were now in prison where they belonged. He was also very surprised by Kayla's power, which was that she could create very realistic and almost lifelike illusions. Something that Caitlin was very happy with, though it did mean that she and Ronnie needed to keep a close eye on Kayla, since that power literally meant Kayla could bring anything she imagined to life. Luckily she was still young and innocent enough that it was only harmless things. Caitlin was honestly expecting to walk into Kayla's room and find her daughter riding a unicorn, though hopefully one that was as nice as the children's books said they were and not one that was as evil as the Legends told them they were.

Barry felt that raising a daughter like Kayla was exactly the kind of happy life Caitlin deserved, since honestly, it felt like in the old reality she'd done nothing but lose in some way, now it felt like she was finally getting a win. Something Barry intended to make sure stayed that way. He had the advantage over all his enemies now. Including Thawne, that was one he was very proud of, since for once, he could beat Thawne at his own game and be one step ahead of him.

Anyways, Cisco had also used this time to not only finish Barry's new suit, but also remake Crystal's Frost suit and his own Vibe suit, since he'd definitely be needing that again now that he had his powers back. He was also working on a way to make all their suits easy to transport, not just Barry's and he was close. He'd wanted to make a suit for Iris too, but she refused, since apparently her totem would cover that when she needed to.

Speaking of Cisco, it turned out that Caitlin wasn't the only one who'd been given a second chance in the romance department, since he was also reunited with a lost love. The one he'd been the most serious with before Kamila in fact. Gypsy or as she was known in this reality, Cynthia or Cindy Reynolds, who in this reality, hadn't shown any sign of vibe powers yet, but she was still in the law profession as a cop at the CCPD. In fact, she was Joe's new partner at CCPD on their new metahuman task force. But the thing that actually made Barry laugh was that apparently in this universe, Cindy was a secret nerd, since Cisco had met her at a Harry Potter convention of all places, though Cisco had promised not to tell anyone about that, since it kind of ruined her whole tough girl image, though she'd kind of been forced to reveal some of it after she'd agreed to move into Cisco's apartment with him, or as he called it, Nerdvana and she couldn't disagree with that.

Iris was also surprised to find that in this reality, her parents had adopted Allegra Garcia while she was overseas, thinking that all the girl needed to keep from going down the same path she did in the old reality was a positive influence in her life and they were right, since in this reality, Allegra was now in her teens and more importantly, her life had completely turned around, since instead of bouncing around the system and in and out of prison her whole life, now Allegra was raised by two loving parents who supported her and her dreams to become a journalist. Allegra was now the editor-in-chief of Central City High's newspaper and she also had an internship at the Central City Citizen. All of these things made Iris smile, since she had a soft spot for that girl.

Anyways, that night found Barry, Iris, Joe, Cecille, Wally, Allegra, Henry, Tina, Chloe, Cisco, Caitlin and Crystal all in the backyard of the West House, where Joe and Cecille were hosting a small party to celebrate Barry and Iris's engagement, since even though Henry, Tina and Chloe weren't aware that technically, Barry and Iris were already married, since they didn't know about the old universe, everyone knew that this day had been coming for a long time.

Champagne had been handed out, though Cecille and Tina did need to confiscate glasses from Allegra and Chloe respectively, since they were both underaged, even though it wouldn't affect Chloe due to her being a speedster, but still.

Anyways, after they were given sparkling juice instead, Joe called for a toast.

"I know that a couple of people here are new to this group. This family in fact," Joe said, looking at Caitlin and Cisco, but only because Henry and the others were there, since he knew that Cisco and Caitlin had been family for years, "but one thing I think we all know is that this day has been a long time coming. Barry and Iris, you two have been in love with each other for as long as I can remember, maybe even longer than either of you realized. But one thing I think we all know is that you make one hell of a couple and I'm sure you'll both have a long happy life together." Joe said, but before he could go on, he was interrupted by a sound that Barry would know anywhere and he so grateful Cisco had already given him his ring, which he slipped onto his finger, literally right as there was a burst of red lightning that appeared out of nowhere and when the smoke cleared, Barry was seething at who he saw standing there.

"Miss me?" Eobard Thawne, using his real face, asked as he showed off his new bright yellow suit with red boots, it literally looked like a reverse version of Barry's new Flash suit.

"Who the hell are you?" Barry asked, desperately hoping this didn't mean what he thought it meant.

"Oh please, don't insult me Barry. You know exactly who I am." Thawne said as Barry realized that his worst nightmare had come true.

"You remember?" Barry asked, confusing his dad, stepmom and sister, along with Allegra, but everyone else quickly realized what that meant as Iris reached for her necklace and Joe reached for his gun while Cisco prepared to vibe while Crystal prepared to go Frost and Wally prepared to run.

"Everything. The negative speed force preserved me and even fixed the problem I was having." Thawne said.

"You've got your full speed back." Barry said.

"That's right. And now, I think it's time I make this world more like the old one." Thawne said.

"Get my family inside now." Barry said to Wally who nodded.

"I don't think so." Thawne said as before any of the other speedsters could move, there was a blur of red lightning and now he was holding Chloe by her throat, his hand vibrating and now Barry was furious.

"You're just asking to die now." Barry said.

"Tell them the truth, Allen. Tell them or I'll do to your precious little sister what I did to your mother." Thawne said.

"Please, they have nothing to do with this." Barry practically begged him.

"I think you're forgetting Allen, my whole life is devoted to destroying yours. And what better way to destroy your life than to start by killing someone who never should've existed." Thawne said.

"This universe is not the original one." Barry blurted out after seeing the look of terror on his little sister's face.

"What?" Henry aside.

"It's a long story, but the universe was destroyed in a crisis. The one we're living in now is a new one that was created after the fact. A lot of things are different." Barry said.

"See, was that so hard?" Thawne asked as he then proceeded to attempt to put his hand through Chloe's heart, before Barry or Wally could make a move, they heard someone else speed in as Henry sped forward and pulled his daughter out of Thawne's clutches.

"No." Thawne said.

"Looks like dad has his speed back and now that Chloe's safe." Barry said sas he activated his own ring to release his own suit, which materialized in the form lightning based nanites covering this body.

"Your ass is mine." Flash said, electricity coursing through his eyes he sped forward and took Thawne out of the backyard and into the streets to resume their race.