A Falice Story

3. Again

"Okay, this has to be some kind of a sick joke," I say trying to rationalize what was happening. "Seriously, you guys, who the hell put this in here?" The kids slowly shake their heads, "Mom, we would never do that to you--or anyone for that matter." Betty said as she crossed over to take the paper from FP. "What about one of your interns?" I shake my head, "Most of them aren't even from Riverdale and they would have no reason to." 

"I say we head over to Fred's place and see if he's gotten anything like this," FP says putting his hand on my back. "That's a good idea, Dad," Jughead says picking up his backpack. The three of them exit the building and I lock the door. Betty and Jughead climb into the back and we take off at full speed for Fred's. The tension is strong during the drive, probably because all of us are having the same thought, "This can't be happening again."  We pull into our driveway and practically sprint across the lawn to Fred's door. FP rings the doorbell and Fred comes into view shortly. "Hey--you guys, what's going on?" He asks, stepping aside for us to come inside, noticing how nervous we all look.

FP passes the paper over to Fred, "Alice found this in her desk drawer at the Register." Fred slowly unfolds the sheet and his eyes grow wide as he reads it. "I take it you haven't gotten anything like this?" I ask as I lean against the kitchen island. Fred shakes his head, "If I have, I haven't found it yet," he pauses, "This is insane! When's it going to end?" Jughead sighs, "Not until every single one of those assholes are eliminated--permanently."  We all know who he's referring to; the Blossoms, the Ghoulies, Penny Peabody, and ultimately Hiram Lodge--who although sits behind bars, is probably still behind this. 

As if on cue, Archie yells from outside, "Dad! Dad!" He storms in through the front door, "Look at this! It was under your windshield wiper on the truck--I--I thought it was a parking ticket or something, but read it." Fred felt like he didn't even need to read it, he already knew. Sure enough, he got the same letter as I did. Archie was hysterical, "Is this happening all over again--is it just a never ending cycle?!" Fred puts a hand on his son's shoulder, "Alice got the same letter. She found it at the Register." He shakes his head, "I just don't understand..."

I can tell Betty is trying to stifle her tears, so I move towards my daughter, wrapping my arms around her. She immediately starts to sob into my chest. "Honey, it's going to be okay. We're going to get to the bottom of this." She looks up, "But Archie's right--when's it going to end?" I stroke her hair, "It will, Betty. Everything's going to be okay." FP puts one arm on my shoulder and one on Jughead's. "Until we get this sorted out, we all need to be exceptionally careful. Especially Fred--and you too Archie. For whatever reason, your family was targeted last time--it might happen again."  Fred nods, "Good thing I still have the bullet proof vest," he jokes, lightening the mood. "Should we turn this over to the sheriff?" Archie questions. FP shrugs, "I don't know how much good that'd even do--considering Minetta is still technically the sheriff." 

"We could tell Tom about this though," Fred states, "He may not be the sheriff, but he still cares about this town and would be able to check into things for us." We all agree to this, and the four of us leave Fred's house. Betty and Jughead walk ahead, FP and I trailing behind, hand in hand. I stop suddenly, and he turns to face me. "Ali, are you okay?" I nod, "Yeah, I just got really light-headed for a second." He kisses my cheek and wraps his arm around my waist as we walk up the steps to the house. My mind starts to run over all of the crazy things I've been feeling the past couple weeks--cravings, light-headedness, Hermione telling me I'm 'glowing'... "No, it can't be," I think to myself. I push the thought out of my head and start making dinner. 

*

After dinner, I take a shower and decide to get some sleep. FP is in bed already, on his phone. I get under the covers and he pulls me into his arms. He starts to kiss me and after several kisses, I pull away quickly. "Ali, what's wrong?" I sit on the edge of the bed, "I just feel really nauseous." He rubs my back, "Oh, well thanks, I thought I was a better kisser than that," he jokes, making me smile. I turn to look at him, tears welling up in my eyes. "Seriously Alice, please tell me what's going on?" I wrap my arms around his neck and cry into his chest. "If this is about the note you got today, it's freaking me out too. But I'll be here to protect you. This time, nothing bad is going to happen." 

"It's not exactly that--" I whisper. He strokes my hair, "Then what is it?" I finally bring my head up from his chest and meet his gaze, "I think I'm pregnant." He looks at me, almost like he doesn't think he heard me right, "Wait, what? You're--what?" he says softly. I wipe the tears from my cheeks, "I don't know for sure--but I've been having symptoms and I'm late. I thought it was just from all the stress that it's been so inconsistent--but, I just have that feeling..." He softly strokes my hair, "Do you want to find out now? I'll go get you a test--" I stop him, "I actually have one," I admit. "I had a couple scares and I'm pretty sure I still have one sitting around." I dig through my dresser and closet, but I find it in my nightstand. "Should, I?"

FP nods, smiling, "Let's find out if we're having a baby." I feel tears resurface. Just to hear him say that, 'if we're having a baby,' makes me fully realize what I could have had. When I told Hal I was pregnant, he never really got that excited. It wasn't until the girls we're older that he really started to bond with them. Just seeing how excited FP is--and I still don't even know for sure yet--kind of makes me hope the results are positive. 

I can't hide my smile anymore, "Okay, I'll be right back." I go into our bathroom and take the test, leaving it on the counter. I come back into the bedroom and climb into his arms. "We'll know in 5 minutes." He kisses me, "How are you feeling about this?" I take a deep breath, "I--I think I kind of want it to be positive," I admit. "You and I missed the chance at raising our son--I feel like this is our second chance." The smile on his face is all I need for confirmation that he's on board with it too. "I love you Ali," he says brushing a stray piece of my hair back. "Whatever happens is meant to be." Soon, the timer on my phone goes off and we both sit up, neither of us moving. "Shall we?" he asks grabbing my hand. I nod, my whole body shaking. "Baby, it's okay, it's okay," he says rubbing my back. He has the most calming voice of anyone I know. I follow him into our bathroom. "You look," I tell him. "Are you sure?" I nod, "Look." 

He takes a deep breath and picks up the test, still not turning it over. It feels like an eternity before he finally turns it over in his hand. He looks at me, a smile creeping over his face. He turns the test around so I can see it, "We're having a baby." I immediately start crying, while FP scoops me up in his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist. "Oh, my God, Ali! We're having a baby! You're pregnant!" I kiss him passionately, "I'm pregnant!" 

I truly can't believe this is happening. I'm so excited to have another baby--and this time get to raise him or her with the love of my life--but I'm also really scared. What will Betty and Jughead think? Am I too old to do this all over again? What about the note I received earlier today? I try to push all of the negative thoughts out of my mind. FP finally sets me down--extra gently--on our bed and crawls over next to me, pulling me into his arms. I roll over so I'm facing him and I notice the tears in the corners of his eyes. "You're going to make me cry again," I say kissing him.

He blinks back his tears, "I just can't believe your pregnant," he says softly. I place a hand on my non-existent baby bump, "I know. It's crazy. You don't think we're too old to start over again, do you? He smirks joining his hand with mine, "Us? No way. We're still a couple of kids ourselves." I laugh, rolling my eyes, "Well, alright then," I pause. "What do you think Betty and Jughead will say when they find out?" FP runs his free hand through his hair, "Well, according to my smart ass son, these walls are 'paper thin' so they probably already know," he laughs. I groan. "But either way, you know they are going to give us--especially you plenty of shit for this, Miss Safe Sex." I sit up so I'm facing him, "It isn't my fault you clearly don't know how to pull out." He scoffs, "I guess we're just too compatible together..." I roll my eyes and climb on top of him. "Oh you think so, huh?" He puts his hands around my hips, "I know so." 

I flip over so I'm at his side and rest my head on his chest, wrapping my legs around his. He plays with my hair until I'm practically asleep. "I don't know how I ever lived without you," he whispers. I smile, "I love you FP," I whisper back. He kisses my head and we both drift off to sleep.