Falice 2

Father Dearest

Alice heard when FP entered the house. She wasn't expecting him home for a couple of more hours, but nevertheless it was nice to know he was. She peeked around the corner to see him hanging up his hat and shrugging off his jacket.

"Hi, honey." His back was to her so she couldn't see the scowl on his face. "You're home early." When he turned to make his way to the stairs she saw that something was definitely off. "FP? What's wrong?"

He didn't say anything. He stomped up to their room. Alice trailed behind. "Did something happen at work? FP?" She followed him into their room. "Are you going to say anything?"

"I'm not in the mood, Al."

"Okay, what happened?" Alice wasn't letting this go. FP knew that very well. He knows she's just trying to help. "We agreed to talk to each other, remember?"

He let out a sigh with a nod. "I know. I'm sorry." He sat down on the bed.

"So do you want to talk about it?" Alice gently attempted to get him to talk again.

"Not really."

"Maybe it will help. You know you can always talk to me, baby." Alice took the spot next to him. "What's bothering you?"

"He came into my office," He frowned.

"Who came?"

The look on his face proved to her that he didn't even want to mention his name. It was hard for him. He had harbored all of these feelings deep inside for years. He did his best to block him out of his memory. "My old man."

Alice was not expecting that to come out of his mouth. "Where did he even come from? What happened?"

"I walked out before he even got the chance to have an actual conversation with me. I couldn't stand being in the same room as him." He rubbed his temples to ease the growing headache he was getting. "If he couldn't come see me while I was in a damn hospital bed, why should I give him the time of day now?"

"I didn't know you were expecting to see him." He never mentioned his father being around before.

"I have a feeling Jughead probably has something to do with his reappearance." He knew how curious he was about him ever since he found out he wrote the books he loved so much. Many times he felt like he chooses to overlook the truth about the horrid man. "Alice, is it wrong to feel a little jealous of him? Does that make me a bad father?"

"What are you talking about?"

"My own son praises the man over a talent they both get to share. As much as I were to try to understand the way they put words together, I can't. I'm not good enough for that. Out of everything he could have passed down to me, it wasn't what could make my boy proud."

"FP, he's proud of you. We're all proud of you."

"I know I had a moment in my life where I was just like my father. I have owned up to my mistakes, but this man had the audacity to ruin everything for me then walk out of my life. As much as I consider that a blessing in disguise it doesn't make it hurt any less."

"Are you listening to me, honey? You're not your father. You are a man who worked hard to be where you are now. That's something he could never do. Don't dare compare yourself to him, okay? You, baby, are the one we are proud of."

"I don't have the heart to take that joy away from Jughead. If you were to see the look on his face when I gave him those books he sent to the trailer, you would put all those negative feelings aside, too."

"You have always put the kids first. I couldn't imagine it any other way."

"Alice, can you be honest with me? Two years ago, would you have thought I would have stayed exactly like I was, forever? Drunk and alone?"