Caitlin wasn't in an abusive relationship, she wasn't. Her husband just didn't have a gentle way with words. If he felt like she wasn't doing something right, then he bluntly told her. He would also tell her in a raised voice, but she digressed. Her best friend hated him. He thought he wasn't good enough for Caitlin.
"When are you going to leave him?" Barry asked one day, after Caitlin had spent the past hour complaining about her relationship. She leveled him with a look.
"When you leave Emma," she replied matter-of-factly, knowing full well he wouldn't do that. Barry sighed.
"She doesn't make me cry the way Jeremy makes you cry," Barry pointed out, and Caitlin rolled her eyes.
"Jeremy doesn't make me cry. Much," she replied, closing that topic. "But that's not the point."
"What's the point then, Caitlin?" Barry asked amusedly, and she laughed a little herself.
"The point is, is that Emma isn't good enough for you. She doesn't even understand you," she murmured, sighing. She wished, not for the first time, that Barry could see what a catch he was, and that any girl would be lucky to have him. Barry shrugged.
"She understands me better than Jeremy understands you," he muttered, and she snorted. Then thought about his statement. She wasn't sure if she could refute his statement. Sighing, she nodded her head.
"We'll agree to disagree," she said, and he nodded, too, taking that statement for what it was worth. He leaned in and kissed her gently. She relished in the way it warmed her from head to toe. The other thing about being best friends with Barry Allen? They were in a secret relationship. It wasn't something Caitlin was proud of, not by a long shot. But, he understood her better than anyone; better than she understood herself sometimes. And, while that was thrilling, it also left her scared to death. Scared to be vulnerable in ways Jeremy told her she wasn't allowed to be. Sighing, she kissed him once more before standing up.
"I should go. Jere will be off in an hour," she murmured, and Barry rolled his eyes.
"Heaven forbid the guy's dinner is late," he muttered, standing up too. She shook her head.
"Don't, please," she said, and he looked at her.
"Alright," he replied, bending down and kissing her forehead gently; her eyes closed upon contact.
"I'll see you tomorrow, alright sweetheart?" Barry whispered, and she smiled. They always met up between three and five; it was the perfect time because Jeremy was still at work and Emma was working on her novel. She didn't even realize Barry was gone. Pulling her sweater on, she nodded her head.
"Of course," she agreed, before kissing him once more and walking out of his office. His office was in the back corner of his work building, right by the stairs, so she always snuck down them. She hadn't been spotted to this day, and they had been having this affair for six months. Everything was going according to plan.
XXX
By the time Caitlin got home, she had chewed several pieces of gum, to get rid of any lingering hint of Barry. She walked into her kitchen and started preparing dinner. She knew Jeremy, depending on his day, was going to want comfort food. So, she made him his favorite: chicken spaghetti. It was simple and always filled their home with a delicious smell. She just hoped he was in a good enough mood to enjoy it.
When Jeremy came home forty-five minutes later, she could tell he was in a bad mood by the way he slammed the door shut. Sighing, she painted a smile on her face and turned around expectantly. He walked into the kitchen only a moment later.
"Hey, Jere," she greeted him softly. He grunted as he kicked off his shoes.
"What's for dinner then?" Jeremy demanded, and she nodded her head a little.
"Chicken spaghetti; your favorite," she smiled encouragingly and watched as he wandered over to the stove.
"It's burnt, idiot," he muttered, and she didn't have to work hard to smell the whisky emanating from his breath. So, he stopped at the bar before coming home. Great. Swallowing her sigh, she looked at the spaghetti. It wasn't burnt. However, she knew better than to contradict him. Nodding, she smiled.
"I can make a new pot," she promised, but he was already shaking his head.
"Don't want to wait around for you to mess it up again. Just order me a pizza," he snapped, before walking out of the kitchen and going to his study, shutting the door. Caitlin knew he'd be busy drinking a generous amount of whisky until the pizza arrived. Sighing, Caitlin called their local pizzeria, ordering their usual from them. While she waited for it to be delivered, she got rid of the chicken spaghetti, preparing herself for what would undoubtedly be a long night.
XXX
"You know as well as I do that the spaghetti wasn't burnt," Barry said flatly, carding his fingers through her hair. She sighed from where she was wrapped around him and nodded her head.
"No, you're right. It wasn't. He just wanted something else to eat," she murmured, and Barry sighed in frustration.
"Quit making excuses for him, Caitlin," he said. It was Caitlin's turn to be frustrated.
"Quit making excuses for Emma, and I'll quit making excuses for Jere," she stated firmly. Barry smiled.
"I'm leaving Emma," he murmured, and Caitlin blinked.
"What?" Caitlin asked, certain that she had misheard. His grin widened.
"I said, I'm leaving Emma," he repeated.
"When was this decided?" Caitlin asked, shell shocked. Barry kissed her hand.
"Last night. I moved out and into the apartment I have," he murmured. Caitlin stared at him for a long moment.
"Why are you telling me this?" Caitlin asked finally. She watched as Barry frowned.
"Because, Cait, you can leave Jeremy now," he supplied. She shook her head, trying to get her thoughts in order.
"It's not that easy, Barry," she said, standing up. He stood up too.
"Yes, it is," he said, frowning. She returned it.
"What's easy about leaving my husband of four years?" Caitlin demanded, folding her arms.
"Because, we've been best friends for three of those years, and dating for the passed six months. I thought this was something you wanted," Barry said in confusion. She unfolded her arms and walk towards him; he automatically wrapped his arms around her.
"It is something I want, I promise. It's just, not something that can happen overnight," she replied softly.
"But, it can happen?" Barry checked, and she thought about it, nodding her head.
"Yes," she replied, and he kissed her gently.
"Good enough for me. I'll wait for you, Caitlin Snow," he murmured. She smiled, kissing him back.
"Always?" Caitlin asked, and he nodded.
"Always," he verified. That was enough to ease her worries and she left in good spirits.
XXX
By the time she had gotten home, she noticed Jeremey's car in the driveway: a rarity for him to be home before her. Gulping, she walked into their house, looking for him.
"Jere?" Caitlin called out and was startled by him pushing her up against the wall: she hadn't even noticed him walk into the hallway.
"Where the hell have you been?" Jeremy demanded, and she winced, rubbing at her shoulder.
"N-Nowhere," she stuttered, trying not to smell the sharp scent of alcohol on his breath. Jeremy rolled his eyes.
"Funny, I thought you were with Barry," he said lowly, and, heart in her throat, she looked at him.
"W-Why would you think that?" Caitlin whispered.
"Ran into Emma Allen. Very funny things she had to say to me, too," he murmured, and Caitlin bit her lip, but didn't say anything.
"You know her, and Allen got separated?" Jeremy asked. Caitlin just stood there.
"No point in lying to me, darling, I have the proof," he murmured. He pulled away from her and reached into his briefcase that was on the ground. She was terrified to watch him pull out what appeared to be photographs. On closer inspection, she realized they were photographs of Barry and Caitlin. They were getting food, at his office, at his spare apartment, wherever.
"How'd you get these?" Caitlin whispered, and Jeremy laughed.
"Emma got a little interested in why Barry spent all of his time at the office when he could've easily been working from home," Jeremy snarled. Caitlin's legs shook, but she was proud she was holding herself up. Squaring her shoulders, she looked at Jeremy haughtily.
"Well, I guess the charade is up," she said calmly, far calmer than she was a moment previously. He saw the pictures; no turning back now. Laughing a little, she shoved passed Jeremy.
"Get out," she said lowly, and he blinked.
"What?" Jeremy asked dumbly, and she shoved against him.
'I said, get out!" Caitlin shouted. Gone were the days where she was afraid of her husband.
"You're not good for me, you're not good for anybody!" Caitlin continued to shove against him. He must've been so surprised because he just let it happen. She got him out of the house and into the yard, before shutting the door and locking it quickly. She knew his keys were inside the house, and she'd change the locks as early as the next day. He pounded on the door.
"Let me in," he demanded, but she laughed.
"No," she called back, and ran up the stairs and to his chest of drawers in their bedroom. She marched over to the window and began dumping all his clothes out onto the driveway, laughing all the while. She knew that she must've looked like something else, as she was dumping his clothes out of her window, but she didn't care. It felt invigorating to be free of him.
"Free clothes!" Caitlin called out to her neighbors who were all watching her amusedly.
"Finally getting rid of Jeremy?" Charlie, her next-door neighbor, asked, and she nodded.
"Yes!" Caitlin replied enthusiastically. His grin mirrored hers'.
"About time," he called back.
Jeremy just stood there, too stunned to say anything. Barry came driving up just then and parked the car.
"Caitlin?" Barry called up, and she grinned.
"Barry, hey!" Caitlin called back and raced down the stairs. She opened the door to see him watching the scene bemusedly.
"What's going on?" Barry asked, and she walked outside.
"Kicking Jere out. We're getting a divorce," she smiled. Barry stood there, just staring at her.
"Are you serious, Cait?" Barry whispered, and she grinned.
"Absolutely," she replied. He laughed, and picked her up, spinning her around a little. Jeremy cleared his throat.
"Caitlin?" Jeremy asked weakly, and she looked at him.
"Go pick on someone your own size," she said quietly, before kissing Barry. He carried her in his arms into her house, kicking the door shut with his foot, and fumbling with the lock as he continued to kiss her.
When they came up for air, she smiled at him.
"It was always you, Barry," she murmured. He matched her grin and just kissed her.
Fin.
Author's note: Prompt I got about them having an affair and leaving their spouses. Here was my take on it. Hope you like it, friend! Prompts accepted in the comments. Xxx
