New Beginnings

An Announcement II

A/N: Once again, I apologise for the late update. As I have stated in previous chapters and my other stories, I now have a full time job so updates aren't as frequent but I am trying to be more organised so I can at least update a story each week or fortnight. Enjoy this chapter

"Y- you're having a baby?" Polly repeated, her perfectly angled eyebrows furrowing as her gloss lips parted.

Alice tensely nodded in response, clutching her abdomen subconsciously as she witnessed her eldest child's reaction. Of course Alice wasn't expecting pure cheers and celebrations from the kids but she at least hoped she and FP would receive much more than awkward silence.

"So, when did this happen?" Jughead blankly questioned, wanting to break the silence throughout the room.

"I'm sure you don't wanna know the answer to that boy, but also, there's more." FP added. He took another glance at a very tense Alice, squeezing her hand reassuringly as his thumb continued to softly circle her bare knuckles. "We've also, decided to move in together, onto Elm street, so we can raise the babies together-"

Before FP realised what he had just let slip, a collective mouth drop from the youngsters at the table, followed by an aggressive neck tilt from Betty on the other side.

"Wait, babies? As in, more than one? You're having twins?" The younger Smith screeched out in surprise.

A silent "damn it" was written all over Alice's face. The whole reason she wanted to ease into the reveal was to avoid this, but FP's accidental slip of the tongue put a halt to those plans.

"I'm, not babysitting." Polly expressed in discontent, her lips frowning in the process. And her statement encouraged the others to voice their bold but childish demands

"And I'm not changing diapers." Jughead stated with a hint of disgust in his tone.

"And I'm not sharing my toys!" Jellybean whined with a huff, slamming her elbows onto the table.

"Alright, enough!" FP interrupted strongly, hitting his hand onto the table. He had had enough fo their spoilt attitude. "Look, we get it. You're not happy and this is all sudden, but you sound spoiled, entitled and childish right now. Jug, Jellybean, you should know better. I didn't raise you like this." He softly expressed, the disappointment in his tone abundantly clear.

"And Polly and Betty, you should be happy for your mother." He gently concluded, not wanting to overstep.

Alice carefully raised her hand up to halt his words, wanting to kindly intervene on the tense moment and resolve things, and he tenderly accepted, pulling in the reigns and allowing her to take the floor.

"Guys, we know that this feels rushed, and forced onto you and we didn't want to ambush you all, we really didn't but, what we feel for each other, it's unexplainable." Alice detailed lovingly as she gazed at a tender looking FP, her eyes practically sparkling like diamonds and FP couldn't get enough of it. He truly loved this woman with his entire being.

"And we want to work on building our family, and that starts with all of us coming together as one." She concluded.

The children's faces were etched with guilt, followed by regret over their behaviour and reactions before their expressions all softened looking at one another. Their parents stern words had seemed to force them to rectify and reflect on how immature they were being over the scenario.

Jughead was well aware of how lonely his Father had been since his Mother's death, the girls were in agreement that their Mother deserved to be happy.

"Well, if you're both really sure, then I guess we can work this whole blended family thing out." Betty stated as she gave them her blessing, and the agreeing smiles on the other three's faces also made their feelings clear.

"Aren't you excited JB?" FP enthusiastically asked his youngest. "Having two little brothers or sisters to play with?"

"Only if they're girls." She playfully argued with a little sass in her adorable tone, making the whole table giggle.

"I guess we can settle for that Bean." "What about the rest of you? You ready to give this Brady Bunch thing a try." FP jokes, watching their young faces contort into confusion. Clearly they're were all too young to understand that reference. the kids are too young to get the reference and give questioning looks.

"Oh boy I'm old."

"Yes, you are." Alice jokingly snapped back with snicker before leaning in for a passionate kiss,  naturally grossing the kids out.

"Hey! Just becuase we settled this, doesn't mean we're good with the PDA!" Jughead scoffed

"Get used to it, because you'll be seeing a lot more." Alice argued and bragged before kissing him again.