Love Him Like He's Yours [FPJones] [JugheadJones] [O.F.C]

2004

The first time Gladys Jones came across the photo album, she was twenty five years old.

Her son was already three and her marriage to FP was still several months shy of its fourth anniversary, when the elder Miller daughter would find the cardboard bound album covered in clouds and rainbows.

The inside of the front cover had been addressed to Jughead by FP himself, and the album was dated to cover the first two years of her sons life.

The very first picture had shown Gladys and FP holding Jughead for the first time, while still in hospital.
The rest of the album however, portrayed a more honest family scene.

Each and every page was bursting with photos of Nerys, or FP, or the two of them together, taking Jughead on various adventures throughout Riverdale and the surrounding towns.

Gladys knew she had not been a very involved or hands-on mother, but the book managed to hurt her still.
Every image of her vibrant younger sister, laughing and smiling, while clutching Gladys' own child to her hip, cut through down to her notoriously small and cold heart.

The end of the book was completed with what was probably the nicest, and yet most damning photo of all.

A proud looking FP held a balloon in his hand and smiled brightly as his eyes angled down towards a sitting Nerys, who threw her head back as she laughed along with Jughead who was sprawled across her lap.

In the background, the outline of a tent could be seen, along with what appeared to be a Ferris wheel.

Gladys couldn't help but peel back the plastic sheet to get a closer look. After removing it from the page, she realized there was an inscription on the back.

"With Nerys & Jughead,
at the Greendale Carnival, 2003."

Like most of the book, it had been written in FP's hand.
Gladys' couldn't hold back the anger building within her.

She had known the past couple years had been rough. She and FP were nothing short of awkward and distant.

It didn't help that once she had found the strength to not only leave their bedroom, but their trailer after the trauma of Jughead's birth, there had been the odd occasion where Gladys had found herself in other bedrooms, in other trailers, seeking comfort and validation that her husband wouldn't provide, and she had since realized that she couldn't tell if FP knew already, or not.

They had hardly spoken, he had long since taken up sleeping on the couch, and it had been well over a year since they had coupled together as man and wife.

But Gladys never stopped to think that maybe FP didn't seem to care because he was too wrapped up in playing house with her sister.

Her younger sister, who was no longer a child and had been not-so-secretly in love with FP for most of her short life.

Gladys would think back on how it was actually Nerys' absurd little crush that brought her attention back to the roguish Jones.

At that time, she hadn't paid any mind to the younger Forsythe after Alice Smith had dumped him for Hal Cooper, and left him hanging like he did her.

But at learning of how close Nerys and FP had become, piqued her curiosity and Gladys soon found she couldn't bring herself to walk away.

She quickly uncovered both her sister's and FP's alliance to the Serpents, and not only was Nerys FP's right-hand associate, she was also his best friend.

Gladys knew an "in" when she saw one. Unlike her little sister, time had been on her side, as she knew that would be the entirety of FP and Nerys' relationship due to the girl's younger age.

Before Nerys could even attempt to stand in her way, Gladys had sealed the deal by giving FP his first chance at a real family, and she had received a ring in return.

But then the years had passed quickly, much quicker than Gladys thought they would, and now she wasn't so sure on where she stood with either FP or Nerys.

She knew that look though.
That look that had taken over FP's face in the photo she still gripped tightly.
She remembered a time when that look had been just for her.
Now it seemed it was only for Nerys.
As the two of them gallivanted about, with *her* son in tow.

Gladys would squeeze her eyes shut and tear at the photo without thinking.

The photo's edge fell to the floor and the remaining piece in her hand revealed a solo FP now appearing to gaze over at nothing.

The anger within her, it seemed, had finally come to a head and simmered down to a steady calm.

A familiar feeling then washed over her. Gladys knew one thing was for sure.

Nerys had to go.