Recovery

Chapter 2

When Archie wakes up, he sees that Veronica is already up and showered, moving around in the kitchen and then opening all of the curtains.

"I need to look at your face," Veronica comments, not looking him in the eyes. "The cut is pretty bad."

"I'll take care of it," Archie tries, wanting to take the burden off of her.

"I can do it," she insists, coming back around with some bandages that she presses to his face after cleaning it up.

"Thank you, Ronnie," he mumbles after she's done. She still won't even look at him- he's so embarrassed because he knows she's upset with him and it's all his fault. All he wants is for her to talk to him, so they can fix this.

"You should shower and get dressed," Veronica finally comments, leaving him alone on the couch. He does as she asks, letting the hot water run down his back for a long time. He wants to punch something, wants to scream because he needs things to be okay and they're not right now. After stepping out of the shower and getting dressed, he makes his way out into the living room.

He wants to tell Veronica how sorry he is, he wants to make things right, and be able to kiss her and hold her and just be happy about their baby. But when he steps in the living room, Veronica is not alone.

Both of his parents, Reggie, and Betty all sit with Veronica, facing him.

"Um, hi guys," Archie mutters, completely confused. "I didn't know there were people coming over."

"They're not over to hang out, Archie," Veronica lets him know. She just looks so sad, and the guilt creeps back in. "We're all going to have a talk with you."

"A talk about what?" Archie questions again, looking back and forth between Veronica and his dad. His Mom has tears in her eyes, and he really just wants to know what's going on. "What's wrong?"

"You have a problem, Archie," Reggie finally says. Archie somehow still doesn't understand.

"What does this have to do with everyone being here?" Archie keeps pressing, and Veronica still won't look at him. She has a few tears in her eyes that are threatening to spill over.

"We're here because V can't do this all on her own," Betty jumps in. "And because we are the people who care about you the most in this world."

"Son, we found a spot for you at a 90-day rehab 20 minutes away," Fred explains slowly. "If we don't go today, you'll lose the spot."

"A rehab?" Archie's face turns white. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"You're a drunk, Archie," his mother speaks up, making him wince. Veronica is still crying. He can't comprehend why this is happening right now, why all of these people are here and how everyone's voice is bouncing around in his mind. "And you've left us no choice but to send you to rehab. You've put Veronica through this for way too long, and she's too kind to do this to you, but I assure you that your father and I will not let this go on any longer."

He glances around at everyone, and finally makes eye contact with Veronica. She's so hurt, so scarred and it's then that it hits him- he did this to her. He broke them, he ruined their chance at a perfect little family.

"I'm sorry I-" Archie stutters, walking backwards. This feels like some sort of bad dream, the words that everyone is saying. He watches his Dad mouth something else but it doesn't click in his brain.

"Why don't we give them a moment?" Betty suggests, hugging Veronica before leaving the two of them in the living room alone.

"Ronnie," Archie lets out.