In the staff lounge, Alexandria stands on the balcony, the chilly December air stinging her tear-stained cheeks. In the palm of her hand, a perfectly crafted snowflake dances in the wind, never leaving her palm. Nothing will ever come between Barry and his idea of being a perfect hero... I'm going to tell you from experience that you won't be enough for Barry, because I wasn't enough for him either. These thoughts play through her brain like a record stuck on loop. She gently tilts her hand, and the snowflake falls, catching the fading rays of sunlight in its details as it falls. Almost simultaneously, another snowflake appears in her trembling hands, tears rolling down her cheeks. Maybe she's right. Maybe I don't stand a chance with him. Perhaps I won't mean anything to him like being a hero means to him. She thinks to herself, staring out at the city, the snowflake twirling around her palm. Maybe- her thoughts get cut off by another voice in the room behind her.
"That is quite exquisite." The voice behind her says, and she turns around to see Barry leaning against the entrance.
Alexandria sniffles and shakes her hand, causing the snowflake to disappear entirely. "Thanks." She replies stiffly and wipes the tears rolling down her cheek.
Barry nods slowly. "Why the snowflake?"
"Sometimes when I feel a lot of emotion coming up, I try to focus on something small so I don't get angry and freeze everything in a hundred-mile radius. It helps me center myself." She whispers.
Barry nods again. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks, gesturing towards the couch, and Alexandria shakes her head before turning back around and gazing out at the city again.
"I think I've heard enough for one day. I don't think I can handle any more disappointment today." Alexandria whispers, more tears rolling down her face.
"How do you know I'm going to disappoint you if you don't even let me explain?" Barry whispers, walking over to stand next to her, and wipes the tears rolling down her cheek.
Alexandria turns her head to peer over at Barry over her shoulder, marveling at how the setting sun casts a golden glow that highlights his emerald-green eyes. "I suppose you have a point." She whispers.
Barry smiles sweetly and brushes a strand of her blonde hair out of her face, staring deeply into her ocean blue eyes. "Alex, I don't know what Iris said to you, but I think it's only fair you hear what I have to say." He whispers, his thumb brushing her cheekbone. Alex nods slowly, and Barry continues, "When Iris and I got together, I had just received my powers, and I didn't have a handle on balancing a love life, work life, and hero life all in one swoop. I often overlooked her, and I wasn't always there when she needed me most. I couldn't help it. Everywhere I turned, there was a hero-related problem I had to solve. She is correct on that. What she failed to mention was that she had already started seeing someone else. She was already with Chester by the time I got a handle on everything. I came home one night to the home I bought for us, and they were in bed together. It broke my heart, but not as badly as I was expecting, because what I failed to accept within myself was that my heart was already moving on elsewhere. I had met someone who completed me in more ways than Iris ever did. I met you, Alexandria, the girl I have dreamt of."
Alexandria looks at him, her sad expression fading like the setting sun, and a smile warming her cheeks into a rosy pink. She looks Barry deep into his eyes, and there is no sign that he is lying to her. Every word that escapes his lips is the truth and comes from deep within his heart. "Barry, I have been trying to get you to notice me for the last three years. What changes now?" She whispers.
"Everything has changed, Alex. With that warning from the sky a few nights ago, we learned that we have at least three years to live. I want to spend these next three years by your side. I have been in love with you for so long, I just didn't want to admit it to myself. I didn't know how to admit it to myself." He whispers, his breath smelling of mint and licorice, and fans across her cheek. He peers into her eyes before moving his gaze down to her lips, and one of his hands caresses one of her cheeks, and the other caresses her back, pulling her into him. He leans in and presses his lips against hers passionately, a strike of lightning warming her lips.
Alex kisses him back, her arms winding around his neck and her fingers tangling in his hair. After a few moments, they pull away from each other, their chests rising heavily as they both try to catch their breath. Barry is the one who breaks the silence first, "So will you be my girlfriend?" he asks, smirking softly.
Alex looks back at him, her hands still in his hair as she combs her fingers through it. "Yes, Barry, I will be your girlfriend." She whispers, her eyes twinkling in the fresh moonlight that spills into the room. They both smile gently, and Barry hugs her tightly, picking her up off the floor and spinning her around, causing her to laugh abruptly. When he places her on her feet once more, he grabs her hand in his, and they walk back towards the Cortex, hand in hand.