Falice 2

There's a Light that Never Goes Out

Grey's Anatomy (6.23/6.24) inspired
Set in season 2

Alice stares down at the test in her hand. It's clear as day: positive. She can't believe it. It's happened once again. Classic FP Jones.

"Mom?" Betty's voice trails up the stairs.

Alice shoves the pregnancy test into one of the bathroom drawers. She then steps out into the hall. "Yes, Elizabeth?"

"I'm going out with Jughead tonight. And I know you're not exactly his biggest fan, but can you at least put in the effort to be nice to him?"

Alice crosses her arms. "Will you put in the effort to be nice to your brother?"

Betty sighs. "Mom, he starts it. He's just so...weird."

"I know Chic can be a tad on the strange side, but he is still a part of this family. He didn't get to grow up with everything you and Polly had. There's so much I have to make up to him, so please bear with me and try to welcome him into our family."

"Fine, only because I know how much having him here means to you." Betty agrees. It was a challenge finding Charles as it was and the way he reacted when they first showed up at the hostel messed with Alice's head.

"Thank you," Alice nods. She hopes she will feel the same about her next sibling.

"But it means everything to me that you like Jughead," Betty adds. "And his dad. He's everything to Jughead so be civil. Please."

"For you, I can."

Betty smiles. "Thanks." She walks back to her room to what Alice presumes will be to call her boyfriend.

"I just hope you two can be civil with us about the baby," Alice mumbles to herself.

+

"You're what?" Fred's jaw drops. Alice had to tell somebody and she wasn't ready to go tell the father of her soon to be baby.

"I don't know how I'm going to tell him. He doesn't even know Chic is his." Alice drops her face into her hands.

"Chic?" Fred looks at her confused.

"Our twenty five year old son," Alice explains. "I've only recently found him. He's staying with me right now."

"I didn't even know you had a son." Fred's flabbergasted. "Wait, is that why you were just suddenly gone?"

"I gave him up for adoption," Alice frowns and nods. "FP, he apparently saw Hal and I arguing the night before I left. Pretty sure he heard everything said in that hallway. Except, he didn't know the baby was his. I should have tried harder to tell him instead. I shouldn't have lied."

"Oh, Alice."

"What am I supposed to do this time?" Alice weeps. "How do I fix this?"

"There's one thing to decide first. How do you feel about this pregnancy? Do you want to have this baby?"

Alice brings a hand to her abdomen. "Is it bad that I do? I mean I know it's not ideal but I-"

"Alice, it's okay. It's your choice," Fred supports whatever she wants to do. But he does sigh. "My only concern is that eventually you won't be able to hide your affair with FP, especially if you can't pass this kid off as Hal's again. You know, at least until it's safe to admit the truth. And coming from me, a man who got shot for hooking up with a married woman; I don't think the Black Hood is going to take this lightly. Be careful, Alice. You have every right to have this baby, but be careful."

"You're right. Having this baby isn't the safest choice," Alice understands the risk of her decision. "Yet, I can't give up a second baby. Not after everything I dealt with after losing Charles." Her eyes widen. "Oh god. What is he going to think? Chic. Would he hate me for having this baby? I know Betty is going to be furious. But I haven't thought about Chic. Hell, not even how FP is going to react to everything."