A Falice Story

21. Home Invasion

"FP! You're being ridiculous!" 

"Am I? Just because I don't want to leave you here alone for a week?!" 

"I'm not going to be alone. I have Betty and Jellybean here along with Hotdog, plus I can always call Hermione if I need anything, okay?" We've been arguing about FP going on the annual fishing trip he takes with Fred, Archie, Tom, Kevin and Jughead. They go every year--and it really should be called something other than a fishing trip, because in reality, they do very little of that and mostly just goof off for a week. 

He sighs, "I just--I don't feel right about leaving." I walk towards him pressing a kiss against his cheek, "FP. I know you want to go. Please, go spend some quality time with your friends and your son. I promise you I will be just fine." 

"Are you absolutely sure of it?" I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest, "Yes, baby. Trust me. I'm halfway through this pregnancy, I feel great, I won't be alone because the girls will be here--gooooooo!" I tip my head up to kiss him. I can tell he's still hesitant, but he can't help but smile. 

"How do you do that?" he questions. I furrow my brow, "Do what?" He wraps his arm around my waist heading to our bedroom, "Convince me to do whatever you want," he chuckles. I jump onto our bed, "Hmmm, I don't know...you just can't say no to me?" I say innocently. 

He smirks and hovers over me, "Now that--is one-hundred percent--true," he kisses me between every couple words. FP lays down next to me resting a hand on my belly and rubbing it gently. The baby has been really active lately and right now it is moving around like crazy. "Jeez! We're going to have a little kick-boxer on our hands," FP jokes, "Do they ever settle down?!" I let out an exasperated sigh, "Only when I'm not trying to sleep."

FP caresses his thumb against my cheekbone and kisses my forehead, "Poor baby. You've been such a trouper." I snuggle in closer to him, "You've been pretty wonderful yourself--I couldn't have done it without you." He snorts, "Well, that is true--you really couldn't have done it without me." I swat his chest, "Not what I meant, but yes, that too," I pause, "You have gone above and beyond to take care of me--getting me whatever I'm craving, staying up with me at night when I was sick, giving me the most amazing back rubs--" he kisses me and I stop talking.

"I want to take care of you. I love you more than anything. You're carrying our baby, Al. The least I can do is cater to your needs--even if that does mean cleaning up puke," he quips. I groan, "Way to take a beautiful moment and ruin it," I laugh, "I am really sorry for that by the way." 

He plays with my hair, "Baby, that was not your fault. You were feeling so miserable you could hardly get out of bed. It was my fault for not being faster with the bucket." I run my fingers across his chest, "I'm so glad that's behind me now. I couldn't imagine still being sick." 

Suddenly our bedroom door pops open and a ball of fur flies onto our bed, trying to get between us. Hotdog will always manage to somehow get in our room if the door isn't completely shut. "Okay, okay, buddy that's enough," FP says through laughter, trying to get the dog off of him. Hotdog sits at the edge of the bed wagging his tail. 

FP sits up, staring back at the dog. "Okay, Hotdog, you have a very important job this week. You need to protect mommy at all costs." I chuckle, "Are you for real?" FP grins and turns back to Hotdog, "Do you promise me you can do that?" The dog sits back on his hind legs and barks a couple of times. "Shake on it?" FP asks, and Hotdog places a paw in his hand. "Great!" FP says and turns back to me pressing a kiss against my lips. "I feel better about this already," he smiles. I roll my eyes and climb out of bed, "Come on mister, let's get you packed up."

*

It's Thursday afternoon when I get my daily check in from FP. "Hi, baby!" I answer. "Everything still okay?" I giggle, "Yes! Everything is just as okay as it was yesterday--how's the fishing?" He grunts, "Fred still is winning with the biggest catch--bastard won't shut up about it either," I can hear Fred laughing in the background, "It's not my fault that you can't catch a fish to save your life!" he shouts. I shake my head, "Every time you boys get together I swear you morph back into teenagers." I don't even have to see him to know that he's grinning, "You better believe it baby. Got any plans for tonight?"