Broken Home

9 | Somebody That I Used To Know

The news about Hal's and FP's arrest spread through town faster than a wildfire. To what would be FP's surprise, the news travelled all the way to Toledo.

"Hey, dad?" Charles stares out the kitchen window. "You're not going to like this."

"What?"

A knock at the door pulls FP's attention away from the television. Jughead remains glued to the cartoon as FP checks the door. He pulls the door open and glares at the woman on the other side of the door.

Gladys puts a hand out before he can shut the door in her face. "Where are your manners?"

Jughead turns around and his face lights up when he sees his mother. He jumps off the couch. "Mom!"

"Jug," Gladys picks up her son. "Mama missed you."

FP rolls his eyes.

"I missed you!" Jughead beams.

"Then it's a good thing you won't have to anymore. How would you like to come with me to grandma and grandpa's?"

"We're going to Toledo?"

"Me, you, and JB."

"What about dad and Charlie?"

"You're not taking them anywhere," FP interjects.

"If I were you, I would start saying my goodbyes." Gladys smugly states. "I'm taking my kids one way or another. I met with a lawyer. I'm demanding full custody."

FP keeps his cool in front of his sons. "Charles, can you take Jughead into the other room." He watches them head into the bedroom before turning back to Gladys in a hushed tone. "You're not taking my kids. I'm their father. I have every right to keep them all together here. You only wanted to take the baby before. You were willing to abandon our son. I could never do that."

"I was figuring things out and the baby is a newborn. Of course she was going to need me more."

"We've been doing just fine without you."

"The court favors the mother. Good luck with that."

"I'm not letting you take them without a fight."

"I'll declare you unfit. I've heard about your little run in with Cooper. Who's to say you won't snap one day and take it out on my kids?"

"Get out."

"I'm his mother whether you like it or not. I'm here for the kids not you. I'm not going anywhere." She challenges. "Do you want to break his little heart for kicking mommy out?"

FP contemplates it but settles the matter for Jughead's sake. "You're sleeping on the couch."

"Very chivalrous of you."

+

Charles takes a solo trip down to the diner to clear his mind. He takes a seat in one of the booths. Pop comes by to take his order not so long after.

He hasn't been out much after what went down between his father and stepfather. He was allowed a few days away from school, but he soon went back after hiding away in his dad's trailer for a week.