You Can't Hurry Love

3| Andrews Construction

Fred places a batch of pancakes on the table for FP and Charles to enjoy. Hermione brings over the orange juice Charles requested before pecking a kiss on his cheek. The boy smiles up at her.

FP sets down his coffee and thanks Fred for the food. "Is this your mom's recipe?"

"The Virginia Andrews special."

"I can tell. It's an honor to eat this."

Fred chuckles. "It's good to know I have her touch."

"What about you, sweetheart? Do you want syrup?" Hermione asks the little boy. "We can add chocolate chips into a small batch the way you like."

"I like it, auntie. It's okay."

FP looks over to the boy. He wants to talk to him, but he feels too guilty. He doesn't want to give his mother one more reason to hate him.

As if on cue, Alice comes down dressed in her work uniform. She has an earlier shift today.

She turns around the corner and enters the kitchen. FP turns away from her, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

"Good morning, Alice." Fred chirps.

"You're in a good mood," Alice teases. "Did you get lucky last night or something?"

"No comment."

Hermione flicks the back of his head. "No, he didn't. He wishes."

"I'm just excited to show FP around the site. That's all. Makes me feel young again having him around."

"Well don't go stealing my man, Jones." Hermione tells FP. "I'm watching you."

"You're safe. I'm way out of his league anyway."

Fred gapes. "I could so pull you if I swung in that direction. I'm a very good looking man. Tell him, honey."

"I'm not going to be a part of this conversation." Hermione shakes her head and walks over to her seat.

FP eases up. He feels a bit more welcomed now that they're joking around. It's just like back in the day.

"There's just no way you could hold me down," FP chuckles. "The star quarterback was a man for the ladies."

Alice rolls her eyes and mumbles to herself. "Classic FP Jones."

"You played football?" Charles perks up.

"You bet," FP smiles at the boy.

"I was the star of the baseball team. I could get us to any base." Fred winks. Hermione kicks him under the table. "Ow!"

"There's a child in the room," Hermione scolds him.

"You didn't tell him anything," Fred huffs.

"I can't reach him."

Charles innocently looks around the room. "I want to play football, too. But mommy says I'm too little."

"You are, baby." Alice says. "You can get hurt."

FP turns to look at Alice to make a suggestion on the boy's behalf. "Maybe he can play flag football with kids his age. He doesn't have to tackle."

"Don't tell me what to do with my son, Forsythe." Alice bitterly barks back.

FP wants to say sorry but he figures he should just shut up. Nothing he says will do any better.

Fred and Hermione awkwardly look at each other. Neither wants to get into it. Charles just frowns.

"Come on, Charlie. It's time to go to school." She puts her hand out for him to come to her.

"But I'm not done."

"We can take it to go. I'm dropping you off on my way to work."

Charles jumps out of his seat and takes his pancake to go. He trails behind the woman to get to the car.

FP tries to avoid the sympathetic looks from the other two.

"She'll warm up to you," Fred sighs. "Give her some time."

+++

FP spins in the chair that will now belong to him. He looks over at Fred's desk right across to see a framed picture of Hermione sitting on top. He thinks that's nice. He knows Fred has always been weak in the knees for her.

"I take you like your new desk. This used to be Vic's, my old foreman, before he moved a few weeks ago."

"It must be nice to work with your girl." Hermione's desk is only a few feet away. "Surprised she's not tired of seeing your face all day."

"She can't get enough of me."

"I beg to differ," Hermione walks back in. "Fred, why don't you take him out to meet the crew? I just gave them the news."

"Let's go," Fred gestures for FP to follow him. "They'll love ya. I think you may recognize a couple of faces."

"Hey, can I talk to you before we do?" FP asks him once Hermione was out of hearing range.

"Sure, what's up? You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Fred shuts the door to the office.

"No, it's not about that. There's just something I wanted to talk to you about yesterday, but I didn't really have the guts to." FP sheepishly rubs the back of his neck. "It may be important before I officially join the business."

"What is it?"

FP breathes out and looks him in the eye. "I've struggled with..." FP feels too embarrassed to admit it now. "Actually, never mind. Forget I said anything."

"No, what is it? You can tell me." Fred tries his best to make him feel safe. FP can sense that. "Is this about Alice?"

"No, it's not about her. Though that's hard on its own, too. It's just, around the end of my deployment I was having a hard time dealing with stuff, so...I kind of became someone I wasn't proud of."

"What do you mean?" There's no judgment in his voice. This gives him enough courage to confide in him.

"I picked up a nasty drinking habit I'm trying my best to get rid of. I'm doing well now, but I really do prefer not to be around alcohol."

"Oh."

"It's nothing like my old man. Believe me." FP defends himself quickly before he can say anything more. "I just...yeah."

"I believe you," Fred gives him a small smile. "Thank you for telling me. I know it's not easy."

"You're not going to look at me the same anymore. That's why I didn't want to say anything."

"That's not true. I'm glad you told me. You should have someone you can talk to about this." Fred is willing to support him in whatever way he can. "Do you? Are you seeing anybody about this?"

"No, I mean I did get some support from the VA, but it wasn't much. I guess all I'm asking is if you can help me keep away from the bottle. I've been controlling myself so far, but I'll admit it's very tempting sometimes."

"There's AA meetings at the community center if you're up for it. I'd be happy to sponsor you."

"Can this stay between us? I'll go, but I really do want to keep this private. I mean look at me. I'm twenty three years old and already an alcoholic." FP scoffs. "It's hereditary. Surprise, surprise."

"This can stay between us, alright? I'll help you. You just need to trust me. As for the other thing, you're not him. You have to trust yourself. You're a good man, FP. Don't let go of that."

"I'm trying not to."

Fred nods. "Let's go talk to the guys. We can forget about this for now. You could use a little distraction."