New Beginnings

An Announcement

A/N: First of all, and this applies to all of my stories, I apologise for my updates being slower than usual over the past few months. The thing about adulthood is that in the coming weeks my life has become more hectic than usual, especially with my personal circumstances and honestly, engaging in hobbies and interests has been an after thought and less of a priority than I held it before, especially over the past with being out of work due the pandemic, I obviously had nothing but time on my hands but now that the world is slowly getting back to normal, I've returned to regular scheduled programming, and that includes working full time and being tired because of it. Even Twitter, if you follow me over there, you'll notice I'm there less and less.

I just wanted to makes things clear and state my piece just in case anybody was under the impression that I had just given up or abandoned my stories. That is not the case at all, I've just been too busy to write as often as I usually do, and that will be the case from now on, so please be patient, thank you ❤️. (PS, an announcement is the name of the chapter, not referring to my authors note. Enjoy reading 😃)

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"What time will they be here?" A curious Jughead questioned his very occupied Father as he absentmindedly dusted the mantle piece.

FP had decided to invite Alice and the girls over for brunch that very day. He had called Alice prior to the arrangements, and they had both agreed it would the perfect set up and opportunity to tell their kids about the pregnancy and both their families living together under the same roof.

"I told Alice 11:30, so knowing her, she'll be here by 12:45." He joked. There was a lot of things he loved about that woman, her time keeping skills and general punctuality weren't one.

"Daddy!" An excited Jellybean chirped as she came running into the living area. "I finished setting the table.

"Thank you sweetie." He replied, quickly giving her a brief kiss on the forehead before racing into the kitchen to double check on everything he had prepared. He brought the dishes out one by one, placing them onto the table, and once he completed what he was doing, he turned around upon feeling a strong presence stood behind him.

He awkwardly turned to find a rather inquisitive looking Jughead with the corner of his lip pointed upwards as a suggestive smirk crossed his features.

"What?" FP wondered out loud as he stared the teenage boy down.

"Is there.....something you wanna tell us?" Jughead enquired curiously, his eyebrow quirking as a questioning smirk cross his face.

"Like what exactly?" FP chuckled casually, playing innocent as he finished off dusting the counter. He knew what was going through Jughead's mind.

"It's just the last time you went all Mary Poppins on the place, you told us you were-"

As if FP had been struck by luck, he was literally saved by the bell that very moment, knowing it was most likely Alice he raced to the door.

"Sorry boy, looks like you're gonna keep that statement in mind." He smiled smugly before strolling to the door.

He opened it up to find a more than radiant Alice grinning wide upon seeing him, along with Polly and Betty stood behind with a babbling and fidgety Tyler on her hip. Pregnancy had given Alice an ever loving warm glow, especially in her cheeks, it had seemingly boosted her mood as well, seeing as  this was the happiest FP had seen her since he first met her all those months ago.

"Hey, you made it." FP greeted warmly with a gleaming smile, stepping aside to allow his guests to enter.

"Now when have I ever turned down free food?" Alice jested as she stepped into her boyfriends home with her daughters on her tail, untying the sash from her trench coat and removing it from her shoulders before FP caught a hold of it and politely placed it onto the hook.

"Girls, why don't you take a seat in the living room, make yourselves at home." FP kindly advised, and they followed suit, making their way to the couch and immediately switching on the television, not caring for whatever Jughead and Jellybean may have wanted to watch.

"This all smells good." Alice complimented, glancing around his home and eyeing up the delectable mouth watering spread he had began to lay out.

He wrapped his hands around her waist, silently thanking her before leaning his head into her ear. "Jughead suspects something." He whispered warily, staring directly into her now tense filled sapphire blues before biting down onto her red painted lips.

"Well we better tell them all as soon as possible, right?"

Around 30 minutes after the Smiths arrival, the final dish was ready to be set and the two families gathered around the now extended mahogany dining table, tucking into and enjoying the delectable spread of croissants, bagels, french toast, muffins, bacon, salmon, sausages, fruit before them and engaging in brief conversation with one another as they basked in each other's company.

"Is Tyler okay?" FP asked Betty as he chewed down on the last of his bacon.

"Oh yeah, he's cool Mr Jones." Betty assured as she continued to bounce the infant on her lap. "He'll pretty much eat anything off my plate."

FP had begun to see the tot as sort of a grandchild, and Betty and Polly as daughters so it was only natural he engaged anyway he could with them all the way a Father would, after all, they'd be living together soon enough.

"He's really scoffing down those muffins." Jughead jokes, staring over at the infant who has made a mess all over his shirt and bib and his mother's lap, his chubby little face covered in crumbs and chocolate chips.

"Says you! That's like your fifth one!" Polly points out laughing and sipping on her drink. "They are really good though."

"Because I made them!" Jellybean excitedly boasts, raising her hand proudly and baring a toothy smile.

"She helped." Jughead condescendingly corrects with a smug smirk.

"Nuh uh!" The young girl denied with a scoff and pout at her elder brother.

"She's right Jug. She did it all herself, I merely offered guidance and measuring." FP confirmed with a voice laced with pride.

Upon hearing her Fathers confirmation of her culinary skills, Jellybean smugly stuck out her tongue at her older brother, making everybody around the table laugh and snicker.

And as time went one that early afternoon, Alice and FP observed their hyper and gleeful children quietly from their positions at the table as they playfully bickered and engaged in fun conversation the way any normal set of siblings would at the dinner table, and the scene before them gave the couple the extra assurance and push they needed to reveal all and made them realise that perhaps this joint family unit could work after all.

"Kids, we have something to tell you." FP declared, clearing his throat and sharing a mutual look of mental preparation with Alice before taking a hold of her hand, and of course the intimate act sparked wild thoughts to run through Polly's head immediately.

"Are you getting married?" The teen blurt out in confusion, slightly baring her teeth. She knew her Mother had a ridiculous concept of love but marrying FP this soon? Even that was too much for her.

"Oh, God no!" Alice denied as FP stroked her knuckles with his thumb. "But, it is about FP and I, and really all you guys too. You see, the brunch was an ulterior motive. We just needed you all together."

"Okay, now you're both scaring me." Jughead added with a mild tremble to his face.

"It's nothing to worry about boy." FP assured him.

"So, what's wrong?" Polly implored once more.

The children all turned their heads in anticipation, their beady and questioning eyes boring into their parents directly as the two adults held onto each others hands, preparing to disclose all.

"FP-" Alice nervously began her eyes remaining on FP for support, which he silently offered. "Your Father and I, we're having a baby."

The second the sentence left Alice's lips, the room was hit with an air of tension, followed by glares of mass confusion and bewilderment amongst the Smith and Jones teenagers.