I sat in the bay window in Feds kitchen. It was christmas in Riverdale and snow was covering the ground. It was bright white outside. It was the third christmas since Gladys left. Jelly Bean, Jughead and I come over every year. It became a tradition. I have known Fred since middle school, so he was like a brother to me. Jughead and Archie quickly became best friends and Jelly tagged along, but usually played with Betty Cooper. She lived next door to Fred. She was Jughead's age, but didn't mind playing with Jelly bean. Her parents are Alice and Hal cooper. I know both of them from high school. Me and Hal were familiar with each other, but Alice was a different story. We had an on and off story. She was from the southside also, but wanted out. We were reckless and crazy and her parents hated us being together. Alice hated when she was being a disappointment, so we broke up for good. We loved each other, but deep down I knew she wanted a northside life to.
Jelly, Jug, and Arch came running downstairs in their snow clothes. "Can we go outside and play?" Jug asked almost jumping up and down. "Go have fun kids." I smiled and the three ran outside. I watched them for awhile throwing snowballs at each other. Soon Jelly went and asked for Betty. She came out in her big fluffy pink coat and played with the other kids. I started to look away when Fred got my attention. "You have been looking out there all morning and now you turn away." Fred smirked and I gave him a confused look. I looked back out to see her playing with the kids.
I stared at her, still sitting in the window, watching the snowflakes twirl in the air. We had not spoken in years, much less made eye contact, but there was something about her. Something that was impossible to ignore. "Your still in love." Fred set a cup of coffee next to me. "Who says?" I looked back at him like he was crazy, but he wasn't falling for it. "Why don't you go say hi. I heard Hal was kicked out of the house and they are getting divorced because he has been getting it back on with a little someone." Fred smirked. "Really he went behind her back, with Penelope again." I was angry.
Alice deserved everything. She was, is the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I was pulled out of my gaze when Fred shoved my coat into my hands. "Go." He basically pushed me out the door locking it behind me. I sighed and walked out into the snow with the kids. "Dad!" Jelly bean yelled running towards me. "Hey baby." I picked her up and spun her in the air. I set her back down and looked over at Alice. She looked happy. With a beautiful smile on her lips.
"Hi Fp." She waved. "Alice, its been awhile." I nodded back. It was awkward for a moment, until Jughead threw a snowball at me. "Hey what was that for?" I chuckled wiping off the snow. "We were having a snowball fight before you came. Your in now, run!" Jughead ran behind a tree followed by Betty. The kids ran around the yards throwing snowballs and finding new hiding spots. I laughed at the kids watching them run when I felt pure cold hit my cheek. I looked over to see a giggling Alice standing behind a tree.
"He told you to run." She giggled some more. "Your on." I picked up a pile of snow and ran after her. She squealed and ran from the tree. I chased her around the yard, until she ran over Freds sidewalk and slipped on some ice. I was right behind her, so I did the only thing I could and that was to catch her. She fell into my arms and our eyes hooked. Our chest rose and fell catching our breath from all the running. I could feel her heart beat fast. We stood like that for a couple minutes just gazing into each other's eyes. A snowball was thrown and hit the side of my head. I turned to see Fred standing on his porch with a smirk. "Ok kids why dont we come in for some hot chocolate." All the kids ran inside including betty. I stood Alice straight up. "Thank you." She cleared her throat. "Oh..no problem." I shyly smiled at her. "Alice would you like some hot chocolate to?" Fred offered still standing on the porch. "Um..sure I will have some." I gestured her towards the door following behind her.
The kids were in the living room around the coffee table watching cartoons, while we sat at the window. "So, I heard about Gladys. I'm so sorry." Alice took a drink of the chocolate. "Ya we have gotten through it. The kids are happy. Especially since betty started playing with them. They really love her." It's been three years since Galdys left why would she bring it up now? "It's just been me and her since Polly wants to live with Hal who..is a damn bastard." She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Fred told me I'm sorry. You don't deserve to be treated like that. You deserve to be treated like a..." "Let me guess a queen." She smiled putting her hand on my knee. "How did you know?" I asked. "When we were young, all you did was call me a queen. Your queen." Alice sighed squeezing my knee. "You remember?" I am actually shocked. I thought she forgot all about me. "I have always tried to forget about my old life, but I find it pretty hard to forget a man you love." A tear rolled down her cheek. "Hey I know how you feel. It is impossible to forget about you." We locked eyes again
But this time we leaned in closer and closer until our lips touched. It was soft and gentle. It felt like we were in high school sneaking behind the bleachers or into a empty classroom. "Ok love bids, kids are in the other room." Fred said with a smirk. We smiled into the kiss and broke apart. We looked into the living room to see dropped mouths and an excited Jelly bean. "Does this mean betty is going to be my sister!" Jelly squealed and hugged onto Betty. We all laughed and I wrapped my arm around Alice. "I don't know Jelly that's up to Alice." I smiled and she leaned into my side. "There is a pretty good chance." Alice hugged me and the kids actually seemed happy.
That night Betty and Alice had Christmas Eve dinner with us and to my surprise even Christmas morning. I had been sleeping in a bed with Jug and Jelly, so Alice offered me a bed at her house. I said yes thinking it was her spare bedroom, but she had other plans in store. "So..um..you want me to sleep in here? I asked. Confused why she wanted me with her. "Yes." Alice smiled moving the blankets farther down on the bed. "Let me go get my pajamas." I started to leave when she grabbed my hand. "You can sleep in your boxers Fp. Plus I love sleeping in your shirt." She smirked and tugged at my shirt.
Little did we know that Christmas Eve we started our own little family. Now every Christmas Eve Fred makes his famous joke about him being nosey created a beautiful little human being and lets hope we don't make anymore anytime soon. But me and Alice thank Fred every year for him being nosey because it definitely restarted something that should have never finished.
