New Beginnings

Struggling to Hold on

A/N: Hey guys, so I'm officially back. For those that need a recap, make sure you read the previous chapters if need be, but in short; The parentdale core four have murdered Hiram, his body has been found but not yet identified, and they're struggling to keep a handle on everything going on in their lives, Alice's pregnancy being one thing.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Hermione's brown orbs remained fixated on the one speck of dirt on her kitchen island that she just couldn't scrub off no matter how hard she tried.

Ever since disposing of Hiram's body, her house, her dear home had felt scoured with dirt from top to bottom. She couldn't count the amount of scrapes and scars that had donned her knuckles from scrubbing the ever living life out of the floor Hiram was killed on, and ever her children had noticed how obsessive she had become with housework as of recent, but were too scared to ask anything.

She was determined however to remove this speck no matter what. She felt like she had lost control of

Everything around her felt consumed with Hiram and she couldn't get the image of the blood and his brains seeping out of his head and onto her rug, not to mention the rug now being removed was just a constant reminder of what she had done, and it left her feeling utterly helpless, and Archie and Veronica remaining fixated on the news wasn't helping either.

"Yesterday afternoon, a body was discovered by a passerby and his dog in Fox Forest." The reported on the news station announced to all viewers. "The local sheriff department has yet to identify the body, but one things we know for sure, the quiet and tranquil town of Riverdale, may have a killer in its midst."

"Dead body? Holy shit." Archie exclaimed in astonishment as he chewed down on his cereal. "How long do you think it was buried?"

"Who cares? There's a murderer in town." Veronica callously spat out.

"Right- that's enough!" Hermione snapped with authority, storming over to where the teens were seated, snatching the remote from the coffee table and switching the television off, not being able to handle any more of the conversation.

Veronica scoffed, twisting her neck around to frown at her rattled mother, confused by her sudden outburst. "Mom, we were watching that-"

"I don't care! You shouldn't be watching that. Just go upstairs to your rooms."

Meanwhile over at the Smith/Jones house, Alice and FP were curled up comfortably in their California king bed, finding it difficult to enjoy the peaceful day ahead as the only thing that ran through their mind was the discovery of the body. FP was trying his best to keep her at peace and assure her everything was going to be okay despite being wreck himself on the inside, but she just wasn't convinced, and all she could feel was overwhelming despair and terror take over.

"You think Hermione's doing okay?" Alice pondered out loud as she ran her fingers up and down her boyfriends clothed chest. Fred had asked them to keep an eye on her in his absence whenever they could, noticing how distant and stressed she had been given the circumstances, and concerns only aroused when Alice had spoken to her the prior day and she was more on edge than ever.

"Fred going away on business now of all times was not wise." FP practically scolded with a roll of his eyes, silently cursing his best friend for his inconvenient planning.

"Tell me about it." Alice agrees.

Losing herself in the moment, Alice began to calmly caress her protruding stomach. All she has thought about since the prior night is the discovery of Hiram's body and how long it would be before the police would come knocking on their door, how she could be giving birth in jail and would she be around to raise them.

This was the complete opposite of what she had wanted for her family when she moved here. It was all about a a fresh start and new beginnings, a chance to start over for all of them and make up for past mistakes. Betty and Polly were her world, the reasons she breathes and she couldn't be any prouder of who they've become, but the twins were her chance to get it right for once, and raise children in a happy and secure home with a Mother and Father. She couldn't stomach the thought of having her babies in jail or being away from them, all because of one stupid mistake.

"What are you thinking about?" FP softly questioned his girlfriend, noticing her distant eyes and furrowed brows.

"Do you really have to ask" Alice sighed deeply, looking on into the distance.

"You're right, I'm sorry." He comforted, brushing her hair out her face calmly before laying a kiss upon her forehead.

Suddenly, as it became clear as day just how effected Alice was by everything, something within him just awoke, something snapped abruptly sending him into protective mode. The drive and motivation to keep her and his family safe roaring through him and keeping him alert.

Alice arose, sitting up abruptly "Where are you going?"

"I've gotta sort this." He states boldly as he puts his boots on. "Not just for us, but for the kids." He rises sternly from his position and makes a beeline for the door, and right before he leaves, he turns to her, glaring into her deep blue orbs filled with such vulnerability. "I'm gonna call in a favour."