Preface

An AU fanfic! Whether Barry, nor anyone else has superpower.

Barry and Caitlin are best friends since high school and Iris is Caitlin´s best girlfriend.

Story starts after Caitlin´s fiancé Ronnie suddenly came back months later after a big explosion at work- although everyone had assumed that he was dead.

That´s enough for now. You will get the rest after reading the chapters. =)

"We know the bad guys are out there."

Chuck Humby

Chapter 1

Caitlin´s POV

"You look amazing. This dress fits you perfectly," Iris commented, nodding her head slowly. "Ronnie is going to faint, seeing you like this." Turning away from the mirror, I glanced in her direction, rolling my eyes.

"It´s just a dress. No one is going to faint because of a piece of cloth."
My friend glared at me, hitting me with her purse in the side.

"Caitlin Snow, you are really impossible. Your fiancé practically came back from the dead, and is now throwing an official engagement party to show his love and you are standing here, pulling a long face. What´s the matter with you?"

We were standing in one of the three elevators of a huge mansion Ronnie had rented especially for our "second" engagement and his resurfacing, riding to the top floor where the party would be held. I should be more than happy, celebrating life and everything, but I was confused and annoyed. Two days ago I was the happiest girl alive because my fiancé, who I thought was dead, came back but now I wish I could take a pass on the party and just spend the evening at S.T.A.R Labs, calculating something or reading an article or whatever.

"DING" The elevator doors opened on the 18th floor with Iris still waiting for an answer.

"I am fine," I let out, while a group of middle aged men get into the elevator.

"Ladies," one of them greeted us, pushing the button for the 24th floor. Our floor for the party. I guessed they were invited to my engagement party but I didn´t know them at all.

"I know it´s because of Barry," Iris suddenly said in a lower voice. I turned around, glaring at my friend.

"No, it´s not!" I replied way too quickly, almost pouting.

"Of course it is," she hissed back, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "It´s always because of Barry when you are behaving like this," she added just as we finally reached the top floor. I hated her for always assuming that it was because of Barry. Primarily because she was right. "What is it this time? Did he say something bad about your latest research?" she asked sarcastically, while the doors opened. I shook my head as we get out of the elevator, waving with my hand for her to stop.

"Just for-"

"Caitlin," a blonde woman interrupted me, rushing towards us. She was taller than I was and was extremely overdressed. In comparison to her, I felt like I was wearing pajamas. "You look adorable," she let out, hugging me tightly. I had never seen this woman before, so I quickly detached myself from the bear hug, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. "Oh, I am sorry. I should have introduced myself first," the blonde smiled, fishing for my hand. "I am Brenda. I am your bridesmaid." Iris´ purse fell to the ground and I guessed that she was as shocked as I was. I freed my hand from the grip, shaking my head.

"I am sorry, but that must be a misunderstanding," I started, when I suddenly saw Ronnie, making his way towards us.

He was grinning like a Cheshire cat, but it seemed false. It was strange. In the past, I had always felt a tingle in my stomach whenever I looked at my gorgeous fiancé, but now there was just nothing. Something had disappeared with him months ago and it didn´t come back at his return.

"Darling," he greeted me, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a second?" He didn´t wait for my answer but instead pulled me into a hidden corner behind the bar. It was another strange fact, that he was calling me "Darling". Apart from the point that I hated it and he knew that I hated it, he had never done it before his disappearance. "How do I explain this," he started, scratching his head. I noticed a big and unfamiliar ring on his finger. But it was not the most important thing right now.

"You got me a bridesmaid for our wedding?" I asked annoyed, crossing my arms in front of my chest. He put one hand on my bare shoulder and again, I didn't feel so much as a tingle or even any warmth. It was like he was a stranger to me.

"Darling, it´s complicated. She is my boss' daughter and-" I shook my head in disbelief.

"Ronnie! Are you crazy? Why the heck does your boss have anything to do with our wedding?" I yelled, pushing his hand away from my shoulder. "And who are all these guys anyway?" I added, pointing behind me to the room full of people I had never seen before. "I don´t know any of them. I thought this is our engagement party. And with "our" I mean yours and MINE. So, how come there are only people who-" Something flickered in his eyes that made me stop talking. I even backed up against the wall, fearing what was coming next.

"Your behavior is unacceptable! Since when do you talk to me with such disrespect, Caitlin?!" His voice was low and dark and it made me shiver. "You really think I'm not doing this for you? It´s all for you, Snow! But you are standing here, like a teenage girl, opposing me in every way! Let me explain it to you." I didn´t want to hear it and I didn´t want to be there. Something was terribly wrong and I had a bad feeling about my fiancé standing in front of me, looking like a different person. "My boss was telling me about the-" he started explaining in a normal voice again but I didn´t listen.

Something must have happened to Ronnie there. Wherever 'there' was. He had changed. And he had changed for the worse and only now I started to realize it. Now I could see it in everything. His eyes. His touch. Even his voice seemed different from the Ronnie I knew. I started to get mad. Mad at myself for playing it down and acting like I didn´t notice anything.

But especially mad at Barry. My sometimes frustrating and at the same time loveable best friend Barry. He was right. He was always right and I hated that. He had warned me on the first day of Ronnie´s return that something was very wrong about my fiancé, but I had ignored him. We had argued the whole past two days about it. Whether it was in person or on the phone or even via text. I had been so stressed out that I hadn't even invited him to the engagement party. I doubted now that he would have come even if I had, but that wasn´t the point. I just- "Are you even listening, Caitlin?" Ronnie brought me back from my thoughts and I nodded absent-mindedly. "So, are we good now?" he asked, grinning at me. I took a deep breath. It had to end now. I had to admit, it was probably the worst time to have this conversation, but I just couldn´t handle it anymore.

"Ronnie, I can´t," I sighed, closing my eyes for a second. Opening them again, his grin was gone and he was standing very close in front of me.

"You can´t what?" he asked slowly. I took a deep breath. I knew this was the right thing to do, although it was hard and disappointing.

All the effort spent to organize the party would be wasted. The guests, although I didn´t know any of them, had still made the effort to come. All that for nothing. But now I couldn´t back out of my decision.

"Ronnie, it´s too early," I replied, "You just came back two days ago, after being missing for more than half a year. You never explained what exactly happened to you there. You changed. I changed, and I think we need time. Time to figure out our feelings. I am so sorry, but I don´t want to marry you." He watched me closely, listening to every word I said and, for a brief moment, I had the feeling that he understood me. But before I could continue to speak, I felt his hand against my cheek, hitting me back against the wall. I was shocked, grasping at my wounded cheek. There was blood. His enormous ring must have cut my face.

"You dare to cancel the engagement?" he asked furiously, pointing at my face. "After all I did for you? I planned this stupid party and you dare to cancel it?" he yelled, but no one seemed to notice since we were pretty hidden behind the bar and the music was loud enough to hide the noise of our argument.

"You hit me," I just stated unbelievingly. He stepped closer and I could feel his breath on my face.

"And I will do even more, if you try to disobey me." Now I was scared and I had the urge to start crying like a little baby.

"This is what you're going to do now," he ordered coldly. "You will go into the washroom downstairs and clean your face. Then you will come back to the party with a big grin on your lips and we will start with our speech. You will play my little happy financée and kiss me whenever I want you to. Do you understand me?" he said, shaking his fist at me. Even though I was rigid with fear, my bad habit of talking back to people who gave me orders started to surface, probably thanks to Barry's influence.

"What part of I don´t want to marry you didn´t you understand?" I asked him, trying not to shake out of fear. He grinned devilishly, before putting his hand on my neck.

"Darling," he said tauntingly, "if you won´t do what I tell you, you will never see your friend again."

Was he crazy?

"Iris? What did you do to her?" I asked, slapping his hand away from my neck and trying to glance around the bar to catch a glimpse of my friend. He let out a laugh.

"Iris? Oh please. As if you care enough about that annoying girl for me to threaten you with her. I mean your "oh so great friend" Barry. I got a sinking feeling but I couldn´t believe that Ronnie would do something to Barry. Apart from that…my best friend really could defend himself. "You look pale, sweetheart. It appears that I took the right one. Well, I never liked Barry anyway, so it was a win-win situation. I always knew that you liked him and he liked you, and in my opinion he likes you way too much, but that doesn´t matter anymore. I have your dear friend and if you won´t marry me, you will never see him again. End of story." Before I could ask him more, he started to walk away and, at that point, my shaky knees would no longer support my weight. I sat on the cold ground, unable to believe what had just happened in the last five minutes. He turned around again, glaring down at me. "I forgot something. If you try to call the cops, Barry will die. If you try to get out of this building without me , he will die as well. I have eyes everywhere, Darling."

I know there must be tons of questions but just hang on! You will get it- sooner or later.. ;) Always appreciating reviews though! Will try to answer all of them..

Big thanks to my beta writer Caitlin51!