A Glorious Interlude

 Doctor Harrison Wells, crippled in the course of fighting a meta-human is doing exercises in the gym when Barry walks up to him. Also, Joe West is the only father Barry has known since he was 11 and passed away a few months ago.

Noticing a weirder than normal look on Barry's face. “Barry, are you alright?”

“Shouldn't I be asking you that?” Barry joked.

“We have like a Olympian amount of smart people helping us out; we'll find a way to get me up and running again. I just need to make sure my muscles aren't pudding in the meantime.” He sighed as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “Honestly Barry you seem, preoccupied. Not like one lost in love awaiting his big day.”

“I'll swallow the witty comeback I had for that one because I really want you in a good mood, for what I'm about to ask you. Joe asked you to stand by my side in this winding, wacky journey I've chosen as my life..”

“I've tried to do my best. You know I'm not good at the whole emotions. Caring for others thing since Tess left me Not at making it obvious anyway.”

“No, you've done amazing you've been amazing. I...was hoping I could convince you to_ literally, be by my side...when Caitlin and I say our vows.”

“Allen, I...for the first time in my life I'm not sure what to say.”

“You've been by my side, lock-step with me, almost like a second father since I became the Flash. Joe...I know he would have approved...because he asked you to look after me.”

“Barry, I accept of course but, you know it'll look...extremely awkward.”

“Our lives ARE weird...Caitlin's and mine. It's wrong to hide who we are, weird is in our job description. It's because of you I don't care what people think who can't understand that we ARE different than them.”

“Actually, I just meant I'll still be in a wheelchair but that's a point too.”

“Felicity and Curtis came up with an implantable bio-stimulant for vets and Paralysis victims. They're going to surprise you at the rehearsal dinner.”

“In that spirit, may I seek your counsel on a similar matter?”

“Okay color me intrigued.” Barry said uncertainly but wholeheartedly.

“I want to ask my partner to marry me, that is to make our partnership official. Do you think Martin would say yes, if I asked him?”

“I didn't know the two of you were that serious. You're meant for each-other, as much as two people can be. And I think he feels the same way.

“I am, beyond honored you've offered this to me...I accept.”

“I might actually start calling you 'Harrison' after a while.” Barry joked.

“I think I'd like that. By the way, who is your best man?”

“That's an easy one: Oliver Queen.” Barry Allen answered with a chuckle.

“The Arrow, I shouldn't be surprised.” Wells said with a broad smile.

“You knew who he was.”

“Barry, you're a hero, always have been. Not just to me and the team, to the entire city. It makes sense you'd have another hero in your life. Someone closer to your age but someone we wouldn't know. And yes I knew he was the Arrow. He made a pretty strong point of it at one time.”

“You got an 'If you hurt Barry, I'll hurt you' message from him?” Harrison nodded quickly. “Yeah, sounds like something he'd have done.”

"Can't say I blame him." Harrison said amiably. "Protecting YOU from people he is not sure can be trusted is not hard to understand.”

"I think that's the first time I've ever heard you SAY something like that."

"It's the first time I've admitted to it."

"But you did. And you're aware of it. You know what it means and you stand by it. That is why I want you at my side at my wedding."

“How nervous are you Barry?” Oliver Queen said with a smile in his eye.

“Nervous, I'm not. Confused. Yes. I really never thought I could be this happy. So why am I so on edge like I'm about to get shot at?”

“From what I understand literally everyone feels that way the night before their wedding. And I actually have someone in my own life to tell me that.” Barry looked over at his friend with a thoroughly perplexed look. “No, I'm not looking to get hitched any time soon. I think I'd need a girlfriend. A man I think of as my step-dad asked me how I would feel if he proposed to my mom.”

“That would do it. Is it wrong of me to ask if you gave your blessing?”

“Hey, this is about your special day, not ours. And I hate to say it but that feeling, might not have anything to do with the pending happiness.”

“My super-senses might sense something off about the world, and want me not to zip into my own little world, giving me a healthy dose of humility?”

“Barry, seriously personal vision check?” Barry Allen nodded and without taking a breath Oliver began. “You said you'd never known your father right? And the man who raised you died less than a year ago. You're not ambivalent about the wedding, you regret that Joe missed it. And it's weird being the one to tell you 'these feelings are normal', but you'd have to be an inhuman bastard not to feel sad about that.”

“Yeah, can't deny that. And here's another one for the college library of everything happening at once: when I asked Harrison if he would stand as father of the groom he was flustered...Then asked me if I thought his partner would accept his wedding proposal.”

“Are you freaking kidding me? What is in the air right now?”

“Learning that things can get seriously screwed up so fast, and so frequently, pretty much everyone in our orbits has decided it's better going through shit hitting the fan with someone by your side. Let's face it, we both have our cities and our friends to fight for. Having someone we love by our side during that fight, makes it easier to weather.” Look of realization. “Man I'm sorry I...”

“It's okay. I let her go. The vigilante didn't get in the way. My not being able to tell someone I needed them in my life was the problem back then. Something I will forever be grateful to you for...letting me know feelings are okay and how badly some people need to hear how I feel about them from me. I just...haven't really found anyone since.”

“Take her for dinner, see if you feel that way...when you find her.”

“Subtly is not your strong suit is it?” Oliver joked.

“Usually it is, actually. Just not to someone who already means so much to me.” Barry Allen smiled brightly, if awkwardly at the look of surprise his comment brought.  They had gone through a-lot in the past five years. They saw hope and despair in each-other the instant there was even a glimmer of it to be seen. As a result they told each-other everything. It didn't hurt that they were only 5 years apart in age. Neither of them were gay, neither gave the other any love advice. But they did love each-other...as brothers and dearest friends. Tomorrow at 1 in the afternoon Oliver Queen would stand as Barry's best man as he married his other best friend...Caitlyn Snow of STAR Labs. First Barry would have to calm his nerves and get a good night sleep. Something that, as fate would have it was not in the cards for either of them.

The Genesis of my entire Earth 21 story came from Earth-2 Harry Wells quiet smile at Barry and Iris' wedding. Earth-2 Harrison Wells is family to them. Although it took a-while for them to get there. I thought of what Harry Wells relationship with Barry and the rest of the team would have been like if they weren't doubtful and wary of him at first because of the Harrison Wells of season one. If someone with his personality and genius was the original Harrison Wells. I need to get back to that. To that approach to the story.