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"--But this gift has unparalleled risk," Martin Stein's voice was what Haylee heard as she walked into the Cortex where everyone stood. "Barry, the night your mother died... the night you saved yourself from being killed, that event altered the timeline you were already on and changed the course of history," Martin Stein explained to the meta-human. "So what you're saying is we're living in a parallel universe?" Cisco asked the older scientist. "Just like when I time travelled before," Barry added. "But he--he only changed one day that time," Joe defended. "Exactly. Now imagine fifteen years of compounded experiences. One different decision, no matter how big or small, impacts everything that follows," Martin explained for everyone to understand.

"Moments upon moments, choices upon choices. No relationships, nothing would be as it is today, and you'd never know the difference because you'd never remember any of it," Martin finished explaining. "So if I go back and save my mom, my dad doesn't go to prison. I never live with Joe and Iris," Barry theorized. "You might never meet me. Or Caitlin or Ronnie," Cisco added before Haylee stepped forward. "We would never meet... Without the path of you living with Joe and Iris... You and I would be strangers walking past one another in the street," Haylee spoke, she swallowed carefully as Barry avoided eye contact with her which only caused her heart to ache knowing he was still going to change his mother's fate.

"Truth is, there's no real way of knowing what your life will be," Martin clarified clearly. "There's no choice here, Barry. You have to do this. You gotta change the past," Joe told him before grabbing his coat and leaving the room. Barry followed behind Joe, and Haylee shared a look with everyone else before following behind the two of them. "You think I should just do it?" Barry asked Joe, his mind trailing back to his fiance. "Yeah, I do," Joe answered with slight hesitation. "Which means I will never come to live with you, and Haylee..." Barry trailed off not wanting to really continue that thought. "Barry, you get the chance to grow up with both parents. You don't have to grow up without a mother," Joe told him.

"What about growing up without a father?" Barry asked, his tone saddened as Joe had always been a father to him. "You will have a father-- your real father," Joe replied to him. "Wells has messed with our lives long enough. This is why you became The Flash, Barry. To put things right," Joe expressed openly despite the hurt he felt at losing a son. "You saved a lot of people's lives this past year. Now it's time to save yours," Joe told him before nodding, he walked out of the room leaving Barry alone. "He's right..." Haylee's voice startled Barry, the Flash turned to look at Haylee who had a small smile on her face.

"It sucks... And it hurts... But Joe is right, Barry. You've done so much for everyone else and now... It's your turn," Haylee told him. "But... we may never meet," Barry whispered as he stepped closer to her. "If there is one thing I know about you, Barry Allen... Is that, no matter the timeline, we'll find each other every time. You, Barry Allen, are my soulmate and I trust that we will find each other again," Haylee told him with teary eyes and a wide grin. Barry grabbed Haylee's waist and pulled her forward before slamming his lips against hers, the two sharing every emotion they felt; A promise that no matter the timeline, they'd find each other.

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"According to Wells' calculations, Barry super-speeds inside the Accelerator ring. Once Barry reaches optimum speed, we then launch a hydrogen proton into the Accelerator," Martin explained, Haylee stood next to Joe while Cisco sat in a chair behind the desk. Haylee could feel Iris' occasional glances of sympathy and concern from across the room, the West daughter had spoken to Barry privately revealing her knowledge about her apparent marriage to Jesse Brager in the future but also encouraging Barry to make the decision that feels right for him; but Iris knew it would be taking a toll on Haylee but the Glitch would keep it to herself and let Barry be happy, even if his happiness doesn't involve her.

"Once the collision happens, a wormhole forms, opening a gateway into time itself," Martin finished off, turning to look at everyone else rather than the blueprint on the screens. "It's at that moment I plan on shouting something along the lines of Eureka or possibly Excelsior. I'm uncommitted," Martin added bringing a small smile to Haylee's face. "What do you think?" Barry asked Cisco. "I mean, on the one hand, it does make a kind of sense. On the other hand, why? Why, why would ever consider doing this?" Cisco asked with his hand resting in the palm of his hand. "You know why," Barry replied in a soft tone. "So for this to actually work, how fast would Barry have to go?" Caitlin inquired.

"By my estimates, Mach Two at a minimum," Martin answered her. "You've never gone that fast," Caitlin told Barry. "Glitch has," Cisco muttered making Haylee sigh. "I saw someone I care about in danger, it pushed me over the edge. Emotions play with our abilities but I should be able to project some extra energy to you to build some extra momentum but the rest relies on you," Haylee explained to Barry before stepping closer to him. "But if I think for a second that you aren't gonna survive this, I will glitch in and get you out. You can hate me all you want but I'd rather you be alive," Haylee added, Barry smiled down at her before pulling her into his side.

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Haylee smiled as she looked at Caitlin, she and Ronnie were getting married. They all knew that everything was about to change, they knew the risk of the singularity that Eobard kept to himself and the fact that the world could end if Barry is a moment too late; And so Ronnie and Caitlin wanted to be married before that happened. "Is this actually binding?" Ronnie questioned Martin Stein. "My father made me become a rabbi before he would send me to MIT. This will be legit, as the kids say," Martin answered Ronnie. "No kids say that," Ronnie argued back making Haylee laugh. "Let's not fight on our wedding day," Martin teased back, Ronnie grinning at Haylee.

Ronnie turned to Caitlin, she was in a beautiful white dress with her hair done nicely by Iris. Haylee smiled as she leaned into Barry, her eyes filled with sisterly love as she looked at Ronnie and Caitlin. "If it's all right with everyone, I'd like to skip all the Hebrew," Martin spoke making everyone laugh. "I've learned a lot about merging one's life with another this past year. Yet, for all the incredible advancements in science we've all been party to, the mystery that brings town people together through love is still the province of magic," Martin continued fondly. Haylee felt Barry place his arm around her, pulling her closer to him.

"Mr Ramon, the rings please," Martin requested, Cisco pulled the rings from his pocket and presented them to the bride and groom. "I owe you a real ring," Ronnie told Caitlin with his usual cheeky grin. "I don't need one. I have everything and everyone that I could ever need right here And... if all the events of the past year have led us to this moment, it was worth it. I love you, Ronnie," Caitlin replied to him. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," Martin told them. "Stop telling me what to do," Ronnie teased before kissing Caitlin, the two officially wedded.

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Everyone stood outside the Particle Accelerator, Barry stood before them in his suit. Caitlin gave Barry a hug before stepping back allowing Cisco to walk forward. "Okay. There are gonna be three yous back there... the you from the future who saved younger you from the Reverse Flash and now you, you. Remember wait until future you gets younger you out of there, and then you can go and save your mom," Cisco explained to Barry. "Piece of cake," Barry whispered back. "May the speed force be with you," Cisco added before stepping back. Barry turned to Joe, "Goodbye dad." Joe smiled at Barry and hugged him, "Goodbye son."

"Iris..." Barry breathed out as she stepped forward. "You don't have to say anything, my brother, I hope whatever life you get, it's enough for you. That it makes you happy," Iris smiled up at him before they hugged. "You too," Barry told her before nodding at Eddie and then turning to Haylee. Haylee rushed forward and jumped into Barry's arms, his own arms tightening around her waist to hold her close. "I believe in you, Barry. I always have, I always will," Haylee whispered to her fiance, her heart breaking at the knowledge she may never see him again. "I love you, Haylee..." Barry whispered back before the two kissed, soft and gentle. Barry pulled away and walked toward the door to the Accelerator.

The others had returned to the Cortex, and Haylee stood next to Joe anxiously. "Remember, Mr Allen, assuming you achieve the proper velocity and open the wormhole, you will only have one minute and fifty-two seconds to save your mother and return. Or else..." Martin reminded Barry sending more waves of anxiety to everyone else. "I know," Barry replied. Haylee watched through the screen, she focused on her energy before projecting some of it onto Barry to give him the smallest extra energy that helped him mentally push himself to run faster. Haylee didn't focus on anything else but the energy that she always felt from Barry, right up until it vanished.

"The wormhole," Caitlin pointed out. "And it's stable. Start the clock," Martin spoke while Haylee fell into Joe's arms. They were all anticipating anything but soon the time to send Eobard through time had reached them, Haylee followed behind Cisco and Joe. "It's beautiful," Eobard complimented the time machine. "Rip Hunter would be impressed," He added, the name striking Haylee with a sense of familiarity. "He built the first one of these. Interesting man," Eobard continued before a hat came flying out of the wormhole. "Now what the hell is that?" Joe questioned. "That's my cue to leave. Thank you, Cisco," Eobard turned to Cisco.

"Don't ever come back," Cisco told him. "And Haylee, my apologies for leaving you with so many questions but you will learn in due time," Eobard expressed before getting into the time machine. The trio began stepping back as Eobard powered it up and prepared to go through the wormhole when suddenly Barry came through the wormhole and straight into the time machine purposefully. Haylee had pulled Joe and Cisco out of the way before letting out a slight breath of relief seeing Barry had returned yet she was saddened because clearly, he hadn't saved his mother and she didn't know how that would affect him.

"You didn't save her. Why?" Eobard asked Barry as the two stood up, Haylee moving to stand with them. "Why? You could have had the life you wanted. You could have everything you ever wanted!" Eobard shouted at Barry. "I already do," Barry said before looking at Haylee, the Glitch smiled at him with teary eyes. "Not for long," Eobard snapped back angrily before the two began fighting, Haylee moved to help Joe and Cisco knowing Barry could handle himself. Haylee looked up in time to see Barry being held by Reverse Flash, but before she could move a gunshot echoed through the room causing Eobard to stumble back.

Haylee was confused till she looked over to see Eddie, a gunshot wound to his chest and a gun in his hand as she put the pieces together. Eobard dropped to the ground but something was holding him down, she realised that it had been her blood that helped create him. She knew blood doesn't just stay in the system like that, she knew her energy is the final tie to his existence. Haylee closed her eyes trying to ignore the bullet currently in Eddie's chest, someone she considered a brother and focused on the dose of energy that was within Eobard's bloodstream. Finally finding the small source that kept him there, she focused on destroying it which was the final surge of pain through Eobard before he faded from existence.

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The wormhole reformed and was unstable, growing larger as it manifested above Star Labs. Haylee looked at Barry before seeing the distress on Iris' face, her heart breaking at the sight before she approached Martin. "It's feeding, isn't it?" Haylee asked Martin who nodded. "A singularity won't stop, not even after the earth is gone," Martin expressed while the singularity was tearing up the buildings and streets. "I'm afraid the accretion disc has already assembled," Martin added. "What?" Joe questioned. "The diffuse material that's in orbital motion around the singularity," Martin explained further. "What does it mean?" Caitlin asked next. "We have to disrupt the motion," Barry answered.

"Basically, it's just like the tornado, only upside down," Haylee added before stepping up next to Barry. "And bigger. And scarier," Barry finished off. "Barry, that event has an energy level of at least 6.7 Tera Electron Volts. It cannot be stopped," Martin told Barry but Haylee scoffed. "You doubt us, Professor Stein," Haylee said to him, he and Barry turned to her as she adjusted her mask. "I don't doubt us. We can do this... We have to try," Haylee said before rushing forward. Barry followed after Haylee, the two pushing themselves at a speed neither had successfully reached in the past; jumping across items until they reached the middle of the singularity.

Together Haylee and Barry pushed past their limits of the speed force, Haylee using the energy of the singularity to move faster. Haylee's heart pounded in her chest, and her head was heavy with exhaustion but the red streak of light next to her kept her moving. Haylee watched as Ronnie and Professor Stein flew up into the middle of the singularity, Haylee's eyes widened at the realisation of what they were doing; the very thing she was gonna do herself. "NO!" Haylee screamed before Firestorm burst with power effectively stopping the singularity. Barry managed to catch Martin but Ronnie's body was gone, Haylee stopped next to the group; her heart breaking at the loss of not just Eddie, but Ronnie too.

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Two days had passed, a memorial was held for Eddie at the police department and one for Ronnie in the local cemetery. Finally, after those two days, Haylee managed to catch Barry before he disappeared. "Barry," Haylee's voice was stern, her eyes puffy from crying and her nose red. "I've gotta go, Haylee," Barry replied but Haylee stopped him. "No, we need to talk. Barry, you've been avoiding everyone and--" Haylee was cut off by Barry. "I can't do this," Barry whispered to Haylee, his eyes heavy with guilt and shame. "Do what?" Haylee asked him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Us..." Barry answered before running his fingers through his hair.

"No, no, no... Don't do this Barry. Don't push me away, don't block me out," Haylee stepped forward but Barry took two steps back. "Everything is different now, Haylee. And we can't... I just don't feel the same as I did before," Barry expressed causing Haylee's heart to drop to the pit of her stomach. "Of course, you don't, Barry! Look at what we've been through, the ones we lost and the chaos we've survived... It'd be strange to feel the same as before but instead of pushing me away, we need to heal together!" Haylee argued through the tears forming in her eyes. "I just can't be with you, Haylee... It's just-- it doesn't feel right anymore," Barry said with finality.

Haylee stood frozen at those words, her heart felt as though it had stopped and like all the light within the room had been overtaken by haunting shadows. "Doesn't feel right... Barry, are you breaking up with me?" Haylee asked doing her best to keep her voice steady. Barry looked up at Haylee finally making eye contact with her, the two stood silent. "Yes, Haylee. I'm breaking up with you," Barry spoke, his voice steady and calm. And like that, Haylee's world fell apart and as she pulled the ring from her finger and placed it calmly on the table next to her; she didn't say a single word. She turned and walked out the door, leaving Central City and not looking back.

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The End of Book One...