Isn't it strange that people pay more attention to you when you almost die rather than during your actual life? Because if you consequently end up dying after all, surely the suddenly-drawn attention from family and friends mean nothing, for you would be dead, not able to acknowledge it.
Betty got many visitors during those last few days in the hospital. The small amount of time that she'd be spending there confused Jughead because of the horrific beating she'd taken, but the nurses assured him the bruises would heal, and she'd be more comfortable in her own home. However, she wouldn't be able to do much physical activity for a little bit, which he was sure would majorly piss Cheryl off. He was wrong.
Cheryl was also one of the visitors, along with Veronica, Archie and Kevin. Alice and FP visited too, in fact, they'd been there since they'd found out what had happened to Betty and Jughead, from when Jughead was being checked over and given the all-clear, to finding out that Betty may never wake up.
Alice didn't give an explanation to where Hal was.
Now, it was the same day Betty had woken up, about a few minutes after the familiar occurrence with Jo the nurse. Jughead had gone to tell Alice and FP, who were waiting outside, that Betty had woken up.
No sooner had he left the room, Alice was rushing into it.
The older woman's face looked paler than usual. Her blue eyes looked red-rimmed and tired, with dark bags underneath them symbolising that she was. She wore little makeup, a simple pink lip and mascara, so unlike her (she always looked businesswoman-like, ready to slay the dragons of today with her bold lipsticks) but also so much like her (even through this defeating time, she wore makeup for empowerment).
Alice hurried towards her weak daughter. Somehow, she looked more vulnerable and desperate than Betty did as she engulfed the younger blonde in a heart-wrenching hug.
"Ow, Mom." Betty winced, causing Alice to pull away quickly, like she was on fire.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry baby," She spilled out, rapidly sitting on the chair Jughead had used earlier. "You scared us so much Betty. When you never came home I was a bit worried and then we got that call from the hospital and I didn't know what to think. The doctors had said that you mightn't wake up!" Tear spilt down Alice's face, as Betty watched in shock at her mother's vulnerability.
"I'm okay, Mom. Really. Just a little sore." A small, hesitant smile spread onto her face, which the older blonde soon returned.
"Where's Dad?" The smile from Alice's face soon dropped as the mention of Hal created a thick tension-full atmosphere.
"We don't need to talk about that right now." Mrs Cooper's monotoned voice spoke. She wore a pokerface that Betty knew all too well.
Betty and Alice had a rough past. Throughout Betty's life, Alice had always compared her to Polly, the eldest, Betty's sister. She'd put so much pressure onto Betty to be perfect, and to not be like Polly (reckless and rebellious). So, Betty's relationship with Alice was mostly a cold one, up until recently.
Recently, Alice and Betty had grown close. Betty decided she wasn't going to be compared and controlled anymore. With Betty's resistance, Alice finally decided to soften up with her daughter. The two discovered they had the potential to be peaceful and loving with one-another, as daughter and mother. They had grown an incredibly strong, unexpected bond. And they both loved it.
