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Christmas is a magical time of year for many cultures, but for some, they don't celebrate which means they miss out on the awesome gifts and delicious Christmas dinners. But Christmas just happened to be Haylee Noelle Brager's favourite time of year and she was convinced that not even a meteor heading to Earth to take out mankind could ruin it for her. She loved the magic of Christmas, the love that surrounds it in a comfortable blanket. It was also the only time of the year that she switched out her usual Latte with nice hot cocoa instead.

Which is how she found herself sitting on the couch in the West household beside Barry as Joe puts ornaments on the Christmas tree with Iris in the kitchen making Eggnog. "There are only two boxes left," Joe told the two metahumans that were cuddled up stealing each others warmth. "You know, at this rate, we'll be finished by Easter," Barry teased making Joe laugh while Haylee sipped on her Hot Chocolate, she was enjoying the familiar scene from her childhood.

"Don't even," Joe warned but Barry jumped up and put the decorations up with his speed before sitting on the couch again. "Okay, the only red-suited dude I want in this house right now is Kris Kringle, you got it?" Joe told Barry who sighed before removing the decorations he put up. Barry collapsed to the couch as Haylee set her empty mug aside, he smirked before pulling her into his lap and moving into the corner of the couch.

Joe smiled at the sight before him; Haylee was cradled in Barry's lap with her head back laughing from his seating decision while Barry looked at her with a smile and pure love in his eyes. "Uh, these ornaments are not gonna hang themselves," Iris told them as she walked into the room before looking at Barry and Haylee, the sight made her 'aw' at them. "Grandma Esther's recipe..." Iris held out a mug to Haylee who took a sip.

"Light on the bourbon," Iris told them but Haylee laughed at the sarcastic comment. "I always love her definition of light," Joe said before he drank more of his eggnog. Joe's phone began to ring which made Barry, Haylee and Iris look at each other with knowing expressions. "And the Christmas tradition continues," Joe stated before answering the phone. Haylee put her glass aside and rested her head in the crook of Barry's neck, the speedster kissed the top of her head.

"Sorry, kids, the D.A wants to ask me some questions. Make sure there's some nog left for me when I get back," Joe warned before kissing Iris on the head followed by Haylee after she lifted her head with an innocent smile that made him laugh. "Iris..." Haylee warned as the girl approached the Christmas tree and pulled out two presents. "Oh, come on, we're doing this already? Christmas isn't for a few days," Barry told Iris as Haylee moved from his lap to the floor next to Iris.

"I couldn't wait any longer," Iris replied to them like it wasn't a big deal. "You're still that inpatient child. Now pass me the red one, it's for Barr," Haylee told her making Iris laugh before doing as asked. "Oh, wait, me first," Iris volunteered so Barry handed her the present from him with a smile on his face. "My mother's wedding band?" Iris asked with glassy eyes as she looked at the ring on the chain. "A replica, yeah. Haylee actually made it," Barry told her.

"You were devasted when you lost the real one. Our fifth-grade field trip..." Haylee started with a kind smile on her face. "To the zoo," Iris spoke with her. "You cried for weeks," Barry added as Haylee helped Iris put it on. "I don't know what to say. My gift sucks in comparison..." Iris said as Barry unwrapped his gift from Iris, revealing a microscope. "Oh no, he needed a new one," Haylee pointed out with slightly pink cheeks.

"Haylee broke my other one," Barry told Iris before smirking at Haylee who went a deeper shade of red. "Technically you were at fault too!" Haylee argued as she handed Iris her gift from her. "Wait! Did you two make out in his lab and knock it off the table!" Iris squealed out with a wide grin which only made Barry smirk wider while Haylee cleared her throat. "Open your gift or I'm taking it back," Haylee warned before nudging Barry.

Iris laughed before unwrapping the gift, she let out a gasp at the silver chained bracelet that stared up at her bringing tears to her eyes. "Oh wow..." Iris breathed out while Barry smiled softly. "You were always talking about how much you loved it but could never afford it so I bought it for you," Haylee told her with a smile. Iris hugged Haylee as Barry grabbed his gift from Haylee, "Alright, attention on me, I've got a present to open."

Haylee and Iris laughed before pulling away, Iris wiping the tears as Haylee put on the bracelet for her. "Go on then," Iris told him as he ripped the neatly wrapped present. He opened the box and let his eyes focus on the canvas in his hands, his eyes became watery as Haylee swallowed dryly. "I know how much you miss your parents so I had a painter create a family portrait with older you then I remembered how the family has grown and got everyone added to it," Haylee told him.

Barry let his fingers lightly glide across the smooth surface of the painting, his parents smiling faces staring back up at him. Henry and Nora stood next to each other, Henry's arm around Nora's waist and her arm around his with present-day Barry standing between them, a smile on his own face. Slightly behind the Allen family on the left of Henry stood Joe, Iris and Eddie; Iris had her left hand interlocked with Eddie's while Joe rested a hand on her shoulder.

On the right of Nora, Caitlin and Cisco stood in line with Joe and Iris; Cisco had a teasing grin on his face while Caitlin had a small smile on hers. In front of them was Harrison Wells in his wheelchair, a smile resting on his face. Behind the Allen family, just above them slightly to the right was Haylee and Jesse with wide smiles on their faces as they stood in a similar stance to Henry and Nora. On the left of Haylee - the same side as Joe and Iris - was Oliver, Diggle and Felicity.

"So, your honest opinion?" Haylee asked softly while Iris smiled at the painting. "I-I love it..." Barry told her, his voice cracking slightly as a tear ran down his face. He put the canvas to the side and pulled Haylee into a tight hug, "Thank you." Haylee melted into his embrace while Iris watched with a warm smile. A sudden knock on the door caught their attention, Iris excused herself to open the door as Haylee pulled back from Barry and wiped the tears from his face.

"I feel like my gift for you sucks," Barry told her making her laugh before kissing him sweetly ignoring Iris and Eddie's presence. "You being here is more than enough for me," Haylee replied to him before he kissed her again. "Well, open the gift anyway," Barry encouraged as Eddie and Iris sat together on the couch. Haylee grabbed the gift and carefully unwrapped it to reveal a box typically for necklaces, she lifted the lid of the box off to reveal a necklace.

"It's beautiful..." Haylee breathed out as she lightly touched the charm, her eyes got watery as she huffed a laugh. It was The Flash's symbol, a silver-plated charm of a lightning bolt but what Iris and Eddie wouldn't notice was the G symbol charm that rested with it - The Glitch. "Is that because of your obsession with The Flash?" Eddie asked only for Iris to nudge him, "Don't interrupt them in their shy flirty nature."

Haylee rolled her eyes before moving for Barry to clip it on for her, he let his fingers linger against the skin of her neck before he left a soft kiss on the side of her neck. After that, along with Eddie complementing the family painting, the four of them got to work finishing the tree with smiles on their faces and talking endlessly about the crazy year they've had. Barry kept stealing glances at Haylee, the girl was beaming in joy as she celebrated the joyous holiday with the people she loved - clueless to the plan Barry had forming in his head.

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Haylee and Barry walked hand in hand into the Cortex where Harrison, Cisco and Caitlin were currently working hard. "Merry Christmas!" Haylee cheerfully shouted, the smile on her face was contagious and the three scientists couldn't help but smile back. "Just a small token of our gratitude. For everything you guys have done for us this year," Barry told them as he handed Cisco and Caitlin their gifts, Haylee handed the final gift to Harrison who smiled brightly at her.

"I think I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say you've both been a gift for us, Barry and Haylee," Harrison spoke up as Haylee held up the eggnog. "What's that?" Cisco asked her. "This is compliments of Iris... Grandma Esther's famous eggnog," Barry replied to him. "That's what I'm talking about," Cisco cheered making Haylee laugh. "Maybe later for me. Wouldn't want to drink and drive," Harrison told them before making his way out of the Cortex.

"Did we say something wrong?" Barry whispered to Cisco and Caitlin. "No," Caitlin said with a shake of her head as Haylee hugged her. "No, man. He, um... this used to be his favourite time of year, but the accident happened before Christmas, so... Kind of ruined the holidays," Cisco explained to the two metahumans. "I'm gonna go get him a present. Maybe that'll cheer him up," Caitlin voiced with a small smile. "Thank you very much," Caitlin told Barry and Haylee.

"I'm gonna go talk to Harris- I mean, Dr Wells..." Haylee cleared her throat before making her way down the hallway. "Dr Wells!" Haylee called out, the mentioned man stopped and turned his attention to her. "Haylee?" Harrison raised a brow. "I know I handed you a gift from Barry and me, but I got you something else and uh, I know Christmas may be a downer for you but... I hope this cheers you up," Haylee explained before pulling a present from the bag in her hand.

Harrison smiled before unwrapping the gift, similar to Barry's family canvas, this painting had the team painted on it but Harrison was the main feature of the painting. "I thought it would be something you'd like to hang up in your home to remind you that... Yes, while your creation may have caused some destruction, it ultimately brought this team together and I'm thankful for that because I finally have the family I've always wanted but if you don't like it..." Haylee rambled.

"I love it, Haylee. I will hang this up somewhere I will always see it. And you are right, despite what happened, we all got a family out of this and that's what matters," Harrison told her. "I'm gonna hug you now," Haylee warned him. Harrison welcomed the hug, letting her hold him in a form of comfort that made him feel like he actually belonged. Harrison pulled away first, Haylee smiled at him before letting out a breath. "I'll let you go now, bye Dr Wells!" Haylee skipped down the hall leaving Harrison smiling.

Haylee approached Cisco and Barry as they were in the middle of a fake battle with lightsabers, they froze in place as they all stared at each other in pure silence. Haylee glitched onto the table with a lightsaber, "I've got the high ground now!" Cisco and Barry looked at each other and fist-bumped before teaming against Haylee in their pretend battle, Haylee giggling like a child as she dodged them.

Meanwhile, Harrison was entering his hidden office, the door closed behind him. "How can I do this to her?" Harrison muttered to himself before approaching Gideon. He placed his hand on the stand before him, his eyes landing on the photo that appeared before him. Eobard Thawne stood with his arm around an older version of Haylee, the Glitch was smiling widely as Eobard focused his attention purely on her. Harrison sighed, "I will protect you, Great Aunt. I promise..."

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Author Note
Did I just do that? Yes, yes I did... And now you know why he cares about her.
{Also his words are vague... So is there blood relation? We shall see!}
This is also the first proper mention of Eobard in my story!

-Rose <3
{2179}