Within Seconds: Sylas & Allen

M. N. A.

"Let me make a run to the store. Do any of you need anything?" asked Henry.

A chorus of cheerful, "No, thank you," rang out.

Parker tossed Henry a pair of keys. She was sure to keep him as far away from the number eight van as humanly possible.

"How are you feeling today?" asked Iris, sitting on the chair beside Parker.

"It's a little unnerving, knowing there's something inside you," admitted Parker.

"You said you were twelve weeks?"

"Should be. We should probably go to the Doctor to check it out, though."

"I can make an appointment later today," offered Barry.

Iris breathlessly chuckled. Hand over her mouth, she shook her head unbelievably at the two in front of her. "Never thought my best friends..."

"Crazy how life turns out, huh?" smiled Barry.

"Park, how did you not know for twelve weeks? There wasn't any sickness? No swelling? Nothing?"

"She did throw up once, but we both thought that was from the Thai food," said Barry, reminiscing in their 'exotic' food phase.

"It did taste funny," agreed Parker, "see, Iris, once you're married, you totally let go on trying to look good, so I wasn't concerned of my weight."

"Is it too early to start thinking of baby names?" asked Barry abruptly.

"Nora's going to be the middle name, if it's a girl," said Parker casually.

Barry felt the whole world stop. "What?" he mumbled.

"You really think it's not going to be after your mother?" asked Parker, looking at him in an obvious fashion.

"Does that automatically mean if it's a boy, he'll be after your father?" wondered Barry.

"Nathan Mitchell Sylas, my Dad was."

"Mhm. What a man," hummed Iris.

Barry raised his eyebrow at Parker.

"All my friends had crushes on my Dad. He was still in his prime when I hit high school," explained Parker.

"Okay, then. What about Mason Mitchell?" offered Barry.

"I'm not feeling the back-to-back M."

"Charlie Mitchell Allen?"

"Nathan Drake Allen?"

"We're not naming our kid after a fictional character."

"What's a more subtle reference than that? Mario Waluigi Allen?" snapped Parker.

"Shrek Donkey Allen," challenged Barry.

"Oh, see, that's beautiful," praised Parker. Barry winked. Her eyes lit up. "Better yet, Bartholomew Mitchell Allen. Bart for short."

Barry glared. "You know what, just for that, I hope you have twins so I can name them Don and Dawn."

"Fuck you, Barry!"

Henry chose that exact moment to return into the Cortex. Shaking his head at their antics, he set his grocery bag on top of the computer desk. He drew out the gel and disappeared into the Med Bay.

Soon after, Cisco and Harry wheeled the ultrasound equipment into the Cortex.

Barry slapped his hands on the handles of Parker's chair. "Are you ready, baby?"

"Let me finish eating," begged Parker.

"You had an hour to eat," whined Barry.

"You were bombarding me with names," said Parker.

"Names?!" yelled Cisco.

"You didn't wanna be here for that," admitted Iris.

"Waluigi Mitchell Allen, if it's a boy," introduced Parker.

"And Melody Nora Allen, if it's a girl," continued Barry.

Cisco's mouth opened, ready to say something to counter their ideas. Then, he shook his head, agreeing to let the lovebirds do what they pleased. Either way, he would love them and their little child.

"Can we do it now? I'll heat your food up later," begged Barry.

Parker shrugged. "No, you'll just have to wait."

"I don't like you."

"What else is new?"

"Actually," said Henry, exiting the Bay with the gel, "you aren't supposed to eat or drink anything up to six hours before the exam."

Barry grinned, happy to have a second opinion on his side of the argument. He won an argument.

"That's my breakfast, anyway," sighed Parker. She stood, wiping her hands on her jeans. "Well, come on, then. Let's do this so I can eat."

Barry took his wife by the shoulders and set her in the chair again. He wheeled her to the center of the room, setting her next to the machine. He reclined the back of the chair. He squatted beside her.

Parker lifted her shirt for Henry to spread the gel on her stomach. She winced when he applied it. Henry, knowing exactly why, moved past it immediately. His son didn't do the same.

"What? Does it hurt?" he asked hurriedly.

"It's cold, leave me alone," said Parker, swatting his hands from her.

Henry turned the screen from their view. With Cisco peering over his shoulder, the two searched for the baby in Parker's stomach.

"Is that it?" wondered Cisco excitedly. He pointed low on the screen.

"Yeah, that's the baby... Wow," mumbled Henry.

"Can we see?" asked Barry impatiently.

"Uh, you go ahead, baby," encouraged Parker.

Barry didn't notice her sensitivity to the subject. Eager to see his child, their child, he scurried behind the screen to see. He gasped. His hands slapped over his mouth. "Parker," he said softly, "Parker, we made that..."

"I'm sure it's beautiful," said Parker awkwardly. Her hands ran throughout her hair. She tilted her head back on the chair, staring at the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" asked Cisco.

"Are you feeling sick?" wondered Iris, placing the back of her hand on Parker's forehead.

"Incredibly," said Parker quietly.

"Maybe its the Big Belly Burger," suggested Harry. He and Parker looked to one another, both showing signs of varying amusement. Together, they shook their heads. "Nah."

"Do you two want to know what gender you've got?" wondered Henry.

"No," said Barry, and unsurprisingly, Parker breathed a tiring, "Yes, Barry. I'm not waiting nine months to decorate a goddamn room. Tell us."

"She's only at week twelve, though," said Iris.

Cisco nodded. "Isn't that a bit early?"

"It is, however, if you know what you're looking for..." said Henry mysteriously. He squinted at the screen. "Oh...Oh. Barry, come on. You have to know."

"Fine," he agreed.

"You're having a girl."

Barry and Parker met each other. "Melody Nora," they said simultaneously, though one was in fear and the other was in excitement.