A Falice Story

7. Emotions Run High

"Betty, Jughead! We're home!" I yell as FP and I walk into the kitchen. They come from upstairs, and based on their nervous looks, I can tell they don't really want to see us. I immediately turn on my suspicion and start putting away the groceries we had just bought.  "So what did you two do today?" Betty looks over at me, but won't make eye contact, "Just school..." 

"Well, how was school?" FP asks. Betty distracts herself by pouring a glass of juice, and Jughead meets his father's gaze, "School was good. Learned a lot. Excited to be done in a couple weeks," he spoke rapidly. The tension in the room is so thick you could just about cut it with a knife. We all just awkwardly stand around, until Jughead grabs Betty's hand and pulls her into the other room.

I turn to FP, making sure they're out of earshot, "They know," I whisper. He gives me a confused look, "Know what?" I sigh, and make an obvious gesture to my stomach. "Oh, right, right--I doubt they do." I make sure they're still gone, "I know my daughter and how much she loves to snoop. I'm sure they found out one way or another and they're waiting until we bring it up." 

He wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my forehead, "Let's rip the bandaid off and tell them then." I rest my head on his chest in defeat, "They're going to freak out. They're not going to take it well at all..." He picks me up and sets me on the kitchen island in front of him, "Everything's going to be fine. They might not take it well at first, but they're good kids. They'll come around to it." I look up at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, "Are you sure?" He gently rubs my back, "I am. It'll be okay, Ali." 

FP wipes the tears that had accumulated on my cheeks away, and helps me down. "Thank you," I whisper, kissing him. He takes my hand, leading me into the other room where our children were. They're sitting on the couch, talking quietly, and when we walk in they stop mid-conversation.

"Betty....Jughead," I start, and FP squeezes my hand in reassurance, "Can we talk?" They nod and turn so they're facing us, while FP and I sit across from them. He places one hand protectively on my back and grabs my hand with the other. I grip his hand tightly, not exactly knowing what to say. The kids already look upset, which is not making it any easier to spill it. 

"I guess there really isn't any other way to say it--but, well...I'm pregnant," I admit. Betty looks down at her hands, biting her lip. Jughead makes eye contact with FP, slightly shaking his head. The silence lasts a few more moments before FP breaks it, "Aren't you going to say anything?" Jughead looks up again, "We already knew," he whispers. 

"What do you mean, you 'already knew'?" FP questions. Betty shifts positions, refusing to look at me, "We found your test." I sigh loudly, growing more irritated with both of them, "So you snooped? Through our bedroom?!" She finally looks up at me, a look that speaks volumes of how upset she is, "What do you expect, mom? That we wouldn't have gotten suspicious after your late night puke sessions and how you've become an emotional rollercoaster?" 

"Elizabeth! I do not like the way you're speaking to me right now--" She lets out an angry sigh and stands, "Do you want to know what I don't like?! I don't like the fact that my boyfriend and I are going to be sharing a sibling! It's bad enough that our parents are dating--but getting pregnant, mom?!" I let go of FP's hand and stand to face her, "Here's a newsflash for you Elizabeth! I didn't try to get pregnant, okay? We weren't trying--it just happened!" I yell at her.

"Seems to me you weren't trying very hard to prevent it," Jughead butts in. "Especially after hounding Betty and I about it, over and over again!" FP comes to my side, "Boy! That's enough out of you!" Jughead runs his hand across his face, "Dad, come on! You don't think we have a right to feel this way?! Do you both realize how messed up this is--" 

"You do have a right to feel upset. I'm not denying you that. But to speak to me or Alice like that--that's where I'm drawing the line," FP calls out his son, "And you," he turns to Betty, "Talking to your mother like that? Have you even taken into consideration how she feels about this? She's scared Betty! We both are! This isn't exactly a minor thing! We have to re-plan the rest of our lives now," he pauses, taking a shaky breath, "So you can be angry. Go ahead. You can whine, and cry and be pissed that this whole thing is happening. You can even take it out on me. But what you can't do--is take it out on her," he takes my hand in his, squeezing it gently.  

Betty looks completely stunned and Jughead is sitting on the couch, staring at his father with somber, regretful eyes. I look up at him, trying to choke back tears, "I think we all need to calm down," I manage to say quietly. Betty slowly turns and goes upstairs. Jughead stands and goes out through the back door onto the porch. I collapse into FP's arms, unable to control my sobs. He strokes my hair, holding me tightly into his chest. 

"Ssshhh, Ali, it's okay--it's okay. Everything's going to be okay," he whispers. I pull my head away slightly, "I just--I just didn't know they were going to react like that," I tearfully say. "I know, I know. They're just really shocked, that's all. They will eventually come around to it. They just need some time," he says, still holding me tightly. I take a few deep breaths, taking in the scent of his cologne, "I hope you're right." He leads me to the couch, pulling my legs across his lap.

"I know I am. When Jug found out he was getting a little brother or sister, he was so mad. I mean--mad," FP chuckles, remembering how dramatic his son was, "But, once Jellybean was born, he was so excited to be a big brother." I give him a small smile, hoping that's the case this time too. 

FP shakes his head, "He really misses her, you know? I--I really miss her," his voice is full of emotion. This time it's my turn to comfort him. I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his shoulder. "I feel like I don't even know her anymore. She's going to be twelve soon," he chokes back tears. "I just don't want to mess up with this one, like I did with her," FP places his hand on my stomach. 

"You aren't going to! You're a great dad. Gladys keeping Jellybean from you, isn't your fault," I assure him. He sighs, "But if I wouldn't have been drinking so much, she probably would have let her see me more." I run my hand through his hair, "Babe, please. You're a different man now. You should call her. I bet she'd love to talk to you." He smiles, "Thanks, Ali. I'll do that," he kisses the side of my head, "Are you hungry?" I nod, "Especially after all that."

We go into the kitchen and make pasta and garlic bread, and FP drinks a glass of wine for both of us. Eventually, Jughead comes inside and enters the kitchen. "There's pasta for you," FP tells him, "Garlic bread's in the oven." Jug nods, "Thanks," he says quietly, grabbing a plate. Betty also comes downstairs a few moments later, helping herself to some. We decide to head upstairs and go to bed after the long day we've both had. FP grabs my hand, "Goodnight," he says to the kids. They both look up at us, what FP said to them earlier still weighing heavy on their minds, "Goodnight," they say quietly.

FP and I make our way up the stairs and I let out a sigh. He turns to me, "Hey, everything's going to be alright, okay?" I nod, and lean in to kiss him, "I know."