Falice 2

Leaving

With the high school graduation right around the corner the adults were preparing to have their homes feel a little more empty once their children leave for college.

Mary had gone next door to join her neighbor for lunch seeming as their kids went out for the day. It would just be the women coming together since FP was out with Jellybean.

"Our babies are all grown up. Hell, Archie is off to the naval academy and I'm terrified of having to let him go. He's my only baby and he won't really be needing me anymore from here on out."

"I know the feeling. Charles is our amazing young man doing the craziest things all around the country. Polly has her own babies and they're already getting so big. Now Betty is leaving for New Haven and Jughead is looking into going to Iowa. It's going to be hard, Mary. The only baby left in the house will be Jellybean."

"You have really fallen in love with his kids, haven't you? I think that's real sweet."

Alice smiled at the mention. "They're our kids. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"The house is going to be real quiet once the time comes to say goodbye."

"I'm hoping to take in my grandchildren. With Cheryl going off to college and Polly currently away, I think it's finally my opportunity to bond with the twins the way I would have wished to before. Maybe it will help with the empty nest feeling. I have been favoring the idea of raising them with FP. It would almost be like what could have been with Charles."

"Have you talked to him about it?"

"Not exactly, but we have talked a bit here and there about our family. I think a part of me feels strongly about him being on board."

"I have never seen that man so in love with someone until you two reconnected. Fred and I had noticed the way he was around Gladys when they stopped by to let the boys play. I think Fred would agree with me here that you two were destined to find your way back to each other."

"I love him so much. I think it was worth the wait to find each other again."

While the women chatted away, FP was having his own little conversation with Jellybean. They had stopped by the diner to get one on one time. "Your brother is going to college soon. Are you going to miss him?"

"Maybe I'll miss that dork a little," She shrugged. Honestly, she was going to miss her big brother. She considered them to be close. "Are you?"

"Of course, it's going to be hard having him so far way, but I'm proud of him for getting this opportunity. He's worked so hard for this." He tried to smile, but it faded. "I missed you when you were living with your mom."

"I missed you, too." She admitted. "Maybe I didn't show it then, but I did."

"I'm sorry for not being there for you. I was going through a dark time, but that's no good excuse for being a bad father."

"I missed when you were happy," Jellybean had noticed when things between her parents were not okay anymore. "Maybe that wasn't with mom. I understand that now. Alice makes you really happy."

"She does," He smiled. "It makes me happier that you and your brother are okay with the idea of us."

"We are because she's been a good addition to the family. She's motivated you to stay true to yourself, whether that be with the Serpents or the sheriff. You may not be sheriff anymore, but the Serpent life still lives inside of you and I know Alice has been your biggest supporter."