Falice oneshots At Midnight

He's Home

He saw the boy's pain like it was his own. Archie, the redhead he had known for years. His father, Fred Andrews has passed on; tragically— all so sudden.

FP saw many things that led to the boy's fall. His dad had been shot by Hal Cooper, two years ago. And now his dad had finally died. He understood where Red was coming from. Fred had taken upon himself too— do stuff like drugs to cope with his father's passing.

The day he gotten the call— or his son, Jughead - was the day Archie had died inside. FP had caught him sneaking sips from behind the gate to their shared backyard.

"Archie..." He shook his head in disappointment. He knew deep down in his heart that Fred wouldn't like this.

Archie looked up, almost in shock to the elder Jones catching in his sinful act. He tried hiding it behind his back, but it was far too late.

"Mr. Jones...." He whispered through his teeth. FP slowly walks up to the gate, reaching his hand out for the flask in Archie's loose grip.

"Why?" He asked a few minutes later, seated in his chair.

Archie looked down, unable to look in the man's eyes. He knew that Mr. Jones wasn't judging him. It was out of concern. He had fallen into the darkness and he might be the one to get him out as well.

Archie fidgeted with his fingers, prolonging the misery hidden in his eyes. He let out a soft sigh of disparity." I-I don't know..."

FP laid a hand on the young men's shoulder, gently squeezing," I think you do, Red." 

Archie's eyes start well up," I guess, I do." He inhales for a second before breathing out." I feel so lost without him, you know? And, now that he's gone.... I just don't know how to cope."

FP didn't say a word. He just let the son pour his heart out to him. Archie went on- staring at the flask that laid before him on the table. FP could hear the desperate pleas for the pain to stop in the boy's eyes.

"He was taken from me, I didn't even get to say my final goodbye. It's not fair. I see no reason for me to go to college. I want to continue Andrews Construction. I have to repeat junior year. I won't be graduating with Jug or Betty. I feel like I failed him."

FP finally stepped in," Listen here, Archie. You didn't fail him. He wouldn't want to see you drowning in your sorrows. And, I know you're not failure."

Alice came around the corner. She couldn't bare the pain that was shown on that poor boy's features. She stopped behind the hallway wall, listening in on FP's words to Archie. She wasn't shocked. She knew FP was right about every word.

"Red, look at me!" Archie looked up, meeting the elder's promising eyes," I came a long way from a drunk. I don't want to see you or any kid suffer the way I did. Don't suffer with a bottle to your lips like I did. And, you'll finish high school— who the hell cares if it's not as fast as your other classmates. From the things I've heard from the town, you saved Cheryl, protected my son while I was in slammer. You're no failure. Sure you make your share of mistakes, but you know what? Everybody makes their mistakes." FP told him every word from his heart.

Archie wipes his eyes with his fingers roughly," Thanks." He cleared his watery throat. "Thanks, Mr. Jones."

FP stood up, pulling him into his arms," You're welcome, Kid. I'm still grieving too. He was my best friend. He helped me through my toughest times."

—xx—

He stepped into his room, closing his eyes for a few minutes. As he tried to keep his eyes from watering, his breathing began to feel ridged. He started to sink into his bed as he sat.

He felt the dam begin to burst. His throat  closed with tears causing him to choke back his sobs. The reality hit him like a boomerang— and kept returning. Each hit was more powerful than the next.

He had so many questions. Why did they take him? He also wondered why didn't like they take him instead. Fred didn't deserve to die. He hadn't done at damn thing wrong. He was loved by the whole town. He loved Riverdale— he stayed until his very last breath.

Stuck in his own drowning thoughts he didn't hear the door open or the soft hands embrace him tightly. He didn't hear the soft words shushing him or telling him it's okay.

"It's okay, FP. I'm here." He broke just like that," shhh, it's alright. Let it all out." Tears rolled down his cheeks like rainfall.

He squeezed his eyelids tightly, falling apart into the sound of his own grief. When he reopened his eyes, the image of a blonde woman with chestnut hair came into his view. He felt slightly embarrassed that he broke down in front of his former girlfriend-slash-hookup buddy.

Alice held him in her arms, rubbing circles into his lower back. She didn't bother with the fact his tears were drenching her blouse. She knew that FP needed her instead her yelling at him.  It was on her hands ever since she walked into his private room to find him in grievance.

She understood what grief was like. She had lost one of her great-grandparents. She still cries about the loss to this day. She understands that grieving is like a rollercoaster. One day you could be okay and the next— you could be breaking down at work in the middle of the copy room. 

"Why?" She heard his hoarse voice choke  out.

"Why? What?" She was confused.

FP's eyes looked red and puffy," Why did they take him instead of me? He didn't deserve to die. He did nothing wrong."

The cracking in his voice broke her heart into pieces. He sounded so depressed and it choked the life out of her.

"He wasn't taken, FP. He went home. He's at his home. It probably looks just like our town. Freddie loved this town. He died caring for each and everyone of us."

FP listened deeply to her words and started to have a realization. Fred knew that his life was going to be valued. Alice was right. He wasn't taken. He just went to a better place. He also laughed at that thought of a better place.

"He went home." He whispers as he shuts his eyes.

Alice looked back at him and noticed that all the grieving made him so exhausted. She carefully pushed him back on the bed, pulling the covers over his body.

Before she let his room, she leaned forward kissing his forehead as he slept. She stepped closer to the door, closing it behind her and sighed deeply.

"He's at home." She uttered softly as a tear slips down her cheek.

—-xxx—

I wanted to write this before the new season starts on Wednesday. I also wanted to explain why I haven't been writing recently. Three weeks ago as of tomorrow, my grandpa passed away. I didn't feel like writing. I basically have been a little depressed. I'm going to cry so much on Wednesday. I can relate to the actors and characters. His death was pretty sudden.

So I appreciated your patience. I might update more but I also work a lot now. I don't have a lot of time to write.

I decided to write about Archie's coping skills and have FP help him. I've have doing my own grieving. No I'm not drinking or doing any drugs. I'm trying my best to cope. It's been hard I won't lie. I also wanted to show how Archie might cope. I'm not saying he will cope in that way. I think Archie is very strong.

Until next time, love aut.