I don't know how to help my mom Jug." Betty sniffed. "We will get through it together. All of us." Jughead caressed her cheek. "I have never seen her so broken and lost." Betty leaned into his side. "Does she have any family or friends to speak of. Being with them might make her feel more comfortable to open up." Jughead stroked her hair. "Non that I can think of, the only friend I could think of would be either Fred or Hermione and that's just because she doesn't hate them." Betty sighed. "Well they went to school together maybe they can tell us who she hung out with." Jug suggested. "I am up for anything at this point."
The next morning Jughead and Betty went next door to Fred's and the pembroke. Fred was almost an open book. There was one thing he held back though. Everytime he started to say a name other than Hermione's or Mary's he backtracked. The same happened with Hermione. "Why don't me and Fred see if we can help one afternoon and then we will get back to you kids?" Hermione asked. "That would be great. How is tomorrow?" Betty asked glad they were offering to help.
"I will talk to Fred, but I am sure we can make it. See you kids tomorrow." She waved goodbye and we headed back to my mom. "Mom I'm home with Jughead." Betty yelled coming into the house. "Hi kids." Alice said softly. "How are you doing today?" Betty asked giving her a hug. "I'm dealing still." Alice scoffed and shook her head. "We are doing it one day at a time." Betty smiled and rubbed her back.
Betty and Jughead stayed with Alice for the rest of the day. Betty made dinner for the three and then Fp picked Jughead up. "My dads here." Jughead said grabbing his jacket. "I'll walk you out." Betty and walked Jughead out after saying goodbye to Alice. "Hi Mr.Jones." Betty smiled. "Hey Betty. Hows you mom?" Fp wondered. The kids may not know, but he really cared about her and wanted, needed to really know she is doing ok. "She is hanging in there. One day at a time." She sadly smiled.
Fp nodded and everybody said their goodbyes. "Mom you ready for bed?" Betty asked locking the front door. "Ya." Alice smiled and headed upstairs. Betty got a glass of water for both of them and went into her moms room. "Here is some water. I will see you in the morning." Betty kissed her head and shut the light off.
*the next morning*
"Mom." Betty said opening her door slightly. "Yes Betty." She said walking out of her bathroom. "You showered?" Betty said surprised. "You start to feel pretty disgusting after a while." Alice dried her hair in the towel. "Good because I have a surprise." Betty said excitedly dragging Alice into the living room. "Betty what are.." "Hi Alice." Hermione and Fred said sitting on the couch.
"I will give you guys some time. I will be at Pops." Betty left the adults alone. "I'm sorry to come, but I was worried Ali." Fred said as Alice joined them on the couch. "I already knew. Betty and Jughead don't whisper very well." Alice chuckled. "How can we help?" Hermione asked. "I don't know?" alice laughed hopelessly. "Can I take you somewhere?" Fred asked standing up. "Ok, but where?" Alice questioned following him and Hermione. "We won't kill you I promise. Just trust us." Hermione smiled. We got into Fred's truck. Alice stared out the window sitting in the back seat.
They arrived at their destination and Alice was filled with memories, good memories. Before life became so fake and horrible. "Why are we here?" She questioned as we walked toward the old abandoned sewer pipe that she played in as a kid. "Alice we know we can't help you, but and don't hate us. We know who can." Fred said. Alice heard their footsteps stop, but continued to walk. She turned around and looked back at them and gave a sad smile. They are trying so hard even after she was a bitch to them for years.
Alice took a deep breath before entering the pipe. She new he would be inside, but when she sees Fp there her breath hitches. He is just sitting there staring at the other side of the pipe. "Fp." Her voice cracks trying to hold back tears. "Hey Ali." Fp smiled and patted the ground next to him. Alice obeyed and sat down. "Should I even ask?" Fp turned to look at her. His face looked full of pain and sorrow. "Ask what?" She looked at the ground in front of her afraid to look into his eyes. He is the only one that can get her to be open and completely honest and she is scared to do that after all these years.
"How are you?" He laid his hand on hers still not breaking his view on her. "Broken and completely lost." She meant it to come out as a short laugh, but it came out as a whimper. "That's normal." He sighed. "How would you know?" She scoffed and moved her hand away from his. "I don't." Fp put his head back against the pipe. "Then why lie?" She asked copying his motions.
"When you get mad you tell the truth." He confessed. "What if I was going to tell you anyway." Alice turned her body towards him. "Your not that broke. I can see the fire in your eyes. You still have a tiny part of you in their that's a fighter. The one who is stubborn enough to get herself killed." Fp smiled a little looking into her eyes. "That fire was put out long time ago." She shortly laughed.
"That's why you showed up to the So Dale event in a snake print dress with a gold snake wrapped around your neck?" "You know about that?" She questioned confused how he found out since he was in jail. "And what about at my retirement party. You came in all black leather and a see through shirt. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I know that was you and not that sick bastard." He placed his hand on top of hers again.
"Am I wrong?" He questioned giving her a little smirk. "No, but Fp this is different. I lived with a man who killed people. For twenty years and I had no idea." All of the tears that were being held back are spilling out. "That's not your fault. He is sick. You had no idea, nobody did." Fp said moving closer.
Her sobbing started to become harder and her breathing shortened. "Alice, talk to me your going to have a panic attack. "Fp...i..It's..my.." He wrapped his arms around her before she could finish.
"It's ok Ali. your not at fault here he is. Everybody's safe now. You and Betty are safe and I will never let anything harm either one of you again." He kissed the top of her head. Her breathing started to become normal and her cries became softer. "How do you know?" She lifted her head off of his chest.
"How do I know what?" He tilted her head up so he can see her eyes. "That Betty and I will be safe." She sniffed and looked deep into his eyes. "I will never leave you alone, or shut you out, or do anything that I have done to hurt you in the past." He remembers the other day at Pops he rejected her after their wonderful night before. He was scared that she only wanted the night when he wanted forever. "I will always be here for you." He left a lingering kiss to her forehead.
"I love you Alice." He whispered into her hair as she leaned into his chest. "I love you to Fp." She looked up at him. They stood still in the middle of the tunnel staring at each other. They both slowly started leaning in not really caring about the world's problems at the moment. "We are going to get better together. One day at a time." He broke the kiss and held her for what seemed for hours.
