He could tell Alice wasn't being herself when she woke up, and it was his job to make her feel better.
She was dipping her tea bag in her mug as FP wrapped his arms around her from behind. She let a smile appear on her lips, as one of her hands moved to trace circles on his arm.
He inhales her shampoo, kissing her neck softly. "You are so gorgeous."
She groans. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stop it." He tells her, turning her around gently to face him. "You're so beautiful, Al."
She rolls her eyes fondly, placing her hands on his shoulders rubbing them slightly. "I love you."
"I love you too." He kisses her softly, only breaking apart when he hears her stomach rumble.
They laugh together, a nice change in mood for them both. "Why don't we go get some pops?" He suggests.
"I'd love to." She brushes her nose against his.
He kisses her once more before grabbing her hand and dragging her out to their car. They smoothly drove to pops, entering hand in hand with cute smiles.
"There are my two favourite customers." Pop grins, seeing them enter the building.
"You say that to everyone." Alice chuckles.
"Yeah, well I really mean it with you two." He winks at them. "A match made in heaven."
"I think so too." FP looks lovingly at Alice, watching her smile a Pop Tate.
"Would you like your usuals?" He raises an eyebrow.
"Yes, please."
"It'll be out soon."
"Thanks, Pop." FP gives him a grateful nod, before the couple made their way to a booth.
They sat across from each other, having simple conversations as they ate their food. He tried to make her smile as much as he could, knowing she needed it after the day she had yesterday.
"I did not do that." She scolds him.
"Al, you punched the kid so hard, she had to be hospitalized." He chuckles.
She giggles. "I was something else back then."
"You were really hot back then. Even hotter now." He quirks an eyebrow, watching her laugh sweetly at his comment.
She looks up as the bell above the door rings and FP watches her face drain of colour. She went dead silent as she watched Russel walk towards the counter.
"Al, who is it?" His eyebrows furrow, as he prepares to turn around to look at who just walked in.
"Nobody." She stops him, grabbing his hand.
"It's obviously somebody if it's got you acting like this." He turns to see a man, and frowns.
He turns back to face her and can practically see the shame take over her, making his heart shatter into a million pieces.
"Is that him? Is that Russel?" His nostrils flare.
She gulps, eyes glistening as she nods slowly. She feels him caress her hand with his thumb before he stood up with a grunt and started making his way over to him. Alice's body filled with worry as she was up in an instant, running after him.
"FP, don't." She whispers violently.
He ignores her, tapping the man on the shoulder who gives him a smug look.
"Yes?" She arrogantly answers, still not seeing Alice standing behind FP.
"Russel Dickerson?"
"That's me, what can I do for you." He smiled, a smile FP wanted to punch off of him.
He breathed in deeply, moving slightly revealing Alice who was anxiously clinging onto FP's shirt.
"Smith? Well hey, looking lovely today." He smirked eyeing her.
FP was fuming. "Did you hit on my girlfriend?"
Russel knew how bad this would look if this got out, he'd loose everything. But he knew Alice was too scared to come out with it, so he shook his head.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yeah you do, you know exactly what I'm talking about." FP whispers, fists clenched.
Russel rolls his eyes, standing up from his seat with a chuckle. "So you're her boyfriend?"
"Proudly."
"Proudly?" He chuckles, watching FP nod to confirm.
"So it's an accomplishment having an accomplice to a murderer, and a brainwashed lunatic as your girlfriend?"
"Shut the hell up." FP spat out, inching closer towards him.
"Let's not forget south side trash, or better yet serpent slu-" He doesn't get to finish his sentence as he's met with FP's fist connecting with his face.
He lets out a grunt as he stumbles to the ground, the force of FP's punch overwhelming him.
"FP!" Alice cries out, stepping in between the two.
"You son of a bitch, you deserve nothing!" FP yells at the man, wiping the blood from his nose.
"FP." She says lowly, urging him to stop.
"Forcing yourself onto women, real classy." He hisses, feeling Alice place her hands on his chest.
Russel chuckled as he got up, straightening his tie. "I didn't do anything, she was asking for it"
"That's what you say all the time isn't it?" He spits out, growing angrier.
"The truth? Yeah." He cockily smirked.
"You'll regret ever laying a hand on her, and I will see to it." He growls, placing a twenty dollar bill on the counter before grabbing Alice's hand and running out of the dinner.
She stays silent, so does he. The drive home being awkward until he reaches out and grabs her hand, linking their fingers. She gave him a little squeeze, telling him that she was okay, that they were okay.
They made it home, FP taking Alice's jacket off for her and hanging it up along with his. She sighed, taking his hand in hers and pulling him towards the couch. They sunk into the cushions together, Alice pulling her leg up, letting FP's hand lay on her knee stroking it gently.
"Alice, I'm sorry." He breaks the silence.
"Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for." She caresses his cheek.
"I just- god hearing someone talk about you like that, talk about anyone like that is so horrible." He shakes his head, pulling her in closer.
"Yeah, not exactly a confidence booster." She sighs, not meeting his eyes.
"Hey, you are nothing like that man said, don't ever believe him." He reassures her.
"But I am, I truly am." She breathes out. "I am the wife of a serial killer, who used me as his accomplice. I was engaged to a cult leader, brainwashed to hell." She lets the tears roll free.
"You are so much more than that, baby. That's what those two made you out to be, but you aren't. You are a strong, intelligent, loveable, compassionate woman, Al. And it's on them if they don't see how beautiful you are, because they are missing out." He tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, watching her eyes gleam.
"You really mean that?" She sniffles.
"I really really mean that." He reassures her, placing a sweet kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you." She breathes out, leaning on his shoulder.
"Anything for you, Al. Anything." He says it like it's a promise.
"I love you." She tilts her head up to look at him.
"I love you too, Al." He smiles, leaning down to connect their lips.
