Collateral Damage ▻ Riverdale [1]

2.21

THE AFTERMATH
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  At the Pembroke, Queenie and Polly sat beside each other, opening up their gifts, "Okay, now Mom's." Betty spoke up with a smile as she handed Polly her gift.

  Alice stopped Betty when she was about to hand Polly the other one, "The the second one isn't for Polly, it's for Queenie," She spoke up, causing them to stare at her in confusion, "It's a thanks for all you've done for my daughter."

  Queenie sent her a smile, holding the gift bag in her lap as Polly opened up her gift. Polly took out the gift wrapped in tissue paper and opened it to find her find her childhood night light, "It's my nightlight, from when I was a little kid. How did you--Where did you even--"

  Alice smiled, "I saved it. I know how you loved it and how it made you feel safe, and I wanted you to be able to pass it down to your baby." She told her daughter.

  "Alice, it's lovely," Hermione commented.

  Polly smiled as she and her mother intertwined hands before she looked over at Queenie, "Queenie, you might not want to open that up--" Before Alice could finish warning the girl, Queenie opened the bag and took out two onesies with the Southside Serpents logo on the front. One of them was a pink onesie and the other was blue.

  She didn't care for the looks people were giving, she looked up at Alice and smiled, "Second Serpent tagged thing today." She spoke up referring to the one her friends bought her, "I love it, Alice. Thank you."

  Queenie wondered how the hell Alice got two custom made onesies with the Southside Serpent logos on it, but didn't bother to ask her in front of everyone, "Open one of ours, dears." Penelope spoke up. Queenie picked up one with her name on it and Polly found one with her name on it, too.

All eyes seemed to be on Archie as he entered the apartment room. He sent Queenie a glare before heading straight for Jughead, who didn't know what was going on. Betty and Veronica made their way over to the two boys, who were arguing. Queenie stayed where she was, knowing if she did get up, it would only make things worse.

  Queenie opened her bag to find two teddy bears. One was a pink one while the other was blue, "They belonged to Cheryl and Jason when they were children. Jason would carry his everywhere, not matter the place. I thought you might want to have them. As a keepsake." Penelope told her with a smile.

  "Thank you, Penelope." Queenie thanked her before it was Polly's turn.

  "That is a family heirloom. Great grandfather Blossom used to play with it. Isn't it magnificent?" Penelope told her as Polly held it in her hands.

    "Oh, Polly, Oh, Queenie, come stay with us at Thornhill," Cheryl begged them with a smile.

  "Cheryl's invitation is...genuine," Penelope added in, "Thornhill's gates will always be open to the two of you. The children would want for nothing, the two of you would want for nothing." Penelope informed the two girls and Queenie could see Alice was becoming fed up with her antics.

  Alice dramatically sighed as she turned her head around and stared at Penelope, "Do you really think you can waltz in here with a bedbug-infested trojan horse and two worn out teddy bears, wave a blank check around and steal my daughter and steal Queenie away from her family?" Alice asked her with attitude and Queenie began to become confused when Alice added her name in it all.

"I didn't think you wanted her. And I didn't think Queenie seemed to care about being away from her family. Else why would they be hiding out in some trailer on the Southside of town like some pariah." Penelope argued, causing Queenie to let out a small sigh.

"Maybe so we could all keep them away from your psychotic family," Alice argued back as she stood up from her chair.

"Ohh," Penelope remarked as she stood up also, "And not because you're ashamed of Polly for both being pregnant and associating herself with the Serpents. I mean, why is your own daughter not living with you?" Penelope questioned.

"Polly's not going to step foot in that twisted, poisonous, house of yours. Neither will Queenie." Alice told her sternly and Penelope slyly smiled.

"She should be so lucky," Cheryl added in her own comment, causing Queenie stand up.

"Cheryl, I don't think that's helping," Queenie spoke up.

   "Polly would do a lot better there than with you. And Queenie would do a lot better with us than on that side of town." Penelope commented, knowing it would anger Alice.

  "How dare you!" Alice growled angrily as she got up in Penelope's face, but Penelope didn't seem phased by it.

    Polly suddenly got up from her seat and stood beside Queenie, growing fed up with the waging war between the families, "Enough!" She shouted out, her voice stern and strict, "Both of you!"

  "If you believe one word--" Alice started, but Polly cut her off.

  "This is why Jason is dead. Because of this hate, because of this pointless, stupid, fighting!" Polly complained as Alice tried to reach and comfort her.

"Honey--" Alice began to speak up, extending her arm out, but Polly moved away.

   "No, don't touch me!" Polly yelled at her before she headed for the door with Queenie following after her.

   "Polly," Queenie spoke up as she followed the blonde down the hallway, "Look, this is my fault--"

  Polly scoffed as she turned to face Queenie, "Queenie, this lie is getting out of hand. They're going to find out sooner or later. What was even the point of this lie anyway?" Polly complained and Queenie shrugged.

  "I don't even know anymore, Polly. I don't know," She admitted quietly, "Maybe you should tell them soon. "

  "Tell them all what?" Polly questioned curiously, "Who the real father is? My mother would hate me even more."

  "I know," Queenie sighed, "It's your choice in the matter. If you want to tell everyone Chuck Clayton is the father of your babies, it's on you. I don't care."

  AN: There's the reveal...you people thought it was Archie for some reason 😂 Reggie, I understood, but Archie? Only like two people got it right in the comments.