𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖

13: It's Never Too Late

Chapter 13: It's Never Too Late

The first thing that happened was Jughead waking up In the middle of the night with pain In his heart, pounding headache and tears In his eyes; feeling so guilty about the way he yelled at his dad! He couldn't take this anymore! He scrambled out of the bed and booked It downstairs. He saw his dad at the sink getting a drink of water, but his dad hadn't noticed him. But all of a sudden FP felt tight arms around his waist and a face sobbing hard Into his back.

Jughead's face muffled the words but FP understood. "Daddy! I'm s-sorry!! I'm SO SO SORRY!!" As he sobbed hard into FP's chest.

FP could still smell the liquor on his son's breath as the man relinquished all of his pain. He knew that Jughead would really understand what happened when he finally woke up in the morning to the aftermath. He had more than his fair share of hangover mornings. And he already knew that Jughead would be kicking himself.

FP slowly turned around so his boy was sobbing Into his chest Instead "Oh my boy, my beautiful baby boy."

He gently grabbed his boy's cheeks and forced his tear filled brown eyes to look Into his eyes. FP left a long kiss on his forehead as he took In his baby's scent. FP's heart wanted to burst out of his chest. No matter what happened he had his son back!

FP's voice had been gentle as Jughead stumbled still drunk."Come here." He gently led his son to the couch."Sit here, I'm going to set up the couch for us to sleep on." FP left his boy still crying at the guilt of everything. Until FP returned with a pillow and some blankets. FP sat down before gently forcing his boy on top of his chest and tight Into his arms."I'm here Juggie, I'm always right here. I love you SO MUCH baby!!"

"I-l-love you d-d-daddy!!" Jughead sobbed, half-wasted. "I'm sorry I got drunk... I-I--"

"It's okay, Juggie. I'm not mad at you." His dad started softly humming as his fingers ran through his hair. Something about the song felt familiar and he knew In his heart It was a song his dad used to sing to him as a baby. Jughead drunkenly whispered as he snuggled his head Into his dad's neck "Don't stop." His dad gently kissed his cheek."I won't,baby boy, I won't." He felt the shifting weight of Jughead moving against him.

He returned to humming as he held his boy tighter. He felt like It was the first time all over again. When his boy was finally sound asleep FP couldn't help but stare at his boy's sleeping form; eyes filled with strong love! But with tears of both happiness and sorrow. Even when the boy's drunk he still looks so peaceful. He almost lost his boy, again!! But now, he had his boy back and he was holding his boy In his arms as he slept with his daddy, not In a hospital bed!!

It was In the morning when Alice found her husband and son sound asleep and wrapped tightly In each other's arms. She could smell the alcohol pouring off them. But she knew that FP didn't drink so figuring out from Jughead's drunk text messages that it was him.

"Honey."

FP's eyes blinked up at her." He's still asleep?" She nodded." It looks like you two had a rough night..." She sighed as FP carefully removed himself from under the sleeping man. "Yeah, Tom dropped him off early this morning. Oh, god, Al! He was so hammered. I don't know what set him off but he drunkenly forgave me..."

Alice smiled a bit more. "See I told you he'd come around. He's going to be in hell of a hangover when he finally wakes up."

He and Alice went downstairs to see the kids eavesdropping. He shook his head, stifling a laugh. It wasn't very uncommon for the kids not to poke their heads into his business. Polly and the twins were waiting patiently. "He's home but still asleep."