"It's just here.."

The driver rolled his eyes over to the rear view mirror, seeing the girl sat in the back of his cab flashing him a small smile. Sighing lighting, the cab driver pulled over at the end of the street and went back to looking at her.

"That'll be 25$, Miss." He informed her, before handing out his hand to her.

Rolling her eyes at the expensive charge, Emma pulled her wallet out from her purse and handed the driver the correct amount, before quickly shoving her wallet away.

Taking the money from her, the driver turned back to the front of his cab and counted out his money, before he went to take another call in for another pick up.

In this time, Emma took the cell phone that had been sat on her lap on the ride over here and quickly placed it into her purse, before pulling out a brand new looking one.

Putting that into her pocket, she took out a pale pink lipstick from the purse and began to apply it into her lips, using the rearview mirror for some guidance, much to the cab drivers to dismay.

"Are you done, Miss?" He asked, clearly not in the mood to deal with her lack of ability to get out of there, "I have another pick up."

"Don't worry. I won't keep you much longer," She answered, before popping her lips and putting the lipstick back away, "have a good day."

Emma took hold of the cab door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, her tote bag in one hand and the suitcase she brought with her now joining her outside also.

"Goodbye, Miss." The cab driver bidded her farewell, as she closed the door and he slowly began to pull away.

Looking around at her new surrondings, Emma checked the time on her watch, before she plucked up the courage to begin her small walk down the street, looking for one house in particular.

The suburb she was currently walking in felt very different to what Emma had ever been used to. The last few years things had been modern and high up. Everything she had called home had been accessible by an elevator and a front yard had been non exsistent in the world Emma was from.

But here she was, in the middle of Riverdale, her home town, coming back to the one place she so badly wished had always been her home, but so much had happened since then, Emma did not even know where home was now.

The sound of a front door opening from only a few yards away, brought Emma out of her deep thoughts and onto the teenaged boy now stepping out of his home.

Upon seeing her walking the streets, he flashed her a warm smile, the warmth very much matching the aurbun hair that covered his head in a messy do, as he turned to look at the house beside his own.

Emma found her own attention turning towards the exact same property, her name suddenly being called excitedly, and it was only then that it actually hit Emma that she was back in Riverdale, that she was back to reality in someway, seeing people she hadn't seen in nearly a decade.

"Emma!" Her sister called excitedly from the front porch, as Emma arrived at the steps below, "You're finally here!"

Emma began to laugh, she didn't know if it was due to nerves to be back in town, or whether it was a strained laugh, trying to muster up the energy to show real happiness, when that was an emotion she hadn't felt in a long time.

Coming up the steps, she joined the woman on the front porch, before she was engufled into a warm embrace, an embrace that had been very much needed for the longest time.

Sinking into the hug, Emma wrapped her arms back around her sister and said softly, "Hi, Alice. It's good to see you."

"I'm so glad you're back here with your family," Alice told her as the two seperated, Emma now seeing more people had exited the front door from behind her sister, "we've missed you."

"I've missed you too," She answered, trying to hold back the emotions that were trying to bubble to the service, as she took in the young woman now coming towards her, "Oh my god, Betty! You've grown up so much."

"Hi Aunt Emma." Betty responded shyly, but just as sweetly as she remembered.

Emma found herself moving into another hug, but with her neice this time. It had been so long since Emma had seen Betty. She had been just a little girl when Emma had last seen her. And yet here she was now standing tall, all grown up and very much a teenager.

Just like after embracing Alice, another appeared from behind Betty, a much older looking man, one who Emma very well knew as her sisters husband, Emma's brother in law, Hal.

Flashing him a uneasy smile, Hal and Emma shared a brief hug, before he welcomed her inside their home, "Nice to see you again, Emma."

"Yeah, it's good to be back." Emma answered him, clearly the tension from before she held towards him never leaving after all this time.

"Come inside," Alice encouraged her inside, just like Hal had before, "you must be starving. I got you your favourite breakfast," she wrapped her arm around Emma, before walking her towards the front door, "Hal, take her things,"

Hal did as he was told and took Emma's suitcase from her, whilst Emma kept her bag close to her, knowing she had to for her own reasons right now, as Alice continued to order everyone around in true Alice fashion,

"Betty, you head to school," She told her daughter, who was now holding her school bag and meeting with the boy next door for their walk to school, "have a good day."

"Have a good first day back, Betty." Emma informed her neice, before following her sister inside.

"How was your flight?" Alice asked, as she walked her through their home and into the dining room.

"It was fine." Emma answered, taking a look over at the spread Alice had put her on for her welcome breakfast.

There was a plate of pancakes, along with a varied selection of pancake toppings for Emma to endulge herself in, as well as a choice of drinks, ranging from orange juice and fresh smoothies to tea and coffee.

"Alice, you didn't have to do this.." She told her sister, slightly taken back by how much effort Alice had gone into for her return.

It wasn't neccessary. Nor did Emma think she even deserved it. It had been a very long time since Emma had seen her sister and her family. Emma didn't think she was worthy of such a welcome back.

"No, but I wanted to because you're my little sister and we wanted you to feel welcome, right Hal?" Alice looked over at her husband for support.

Alice knew her younger sister would not be so accepting of so much fuss, but she wanted to prove to Emma that now she was back, she was safe and more than welcome in their home with them.

"Right." Hal said, almost forcefully.

Emma flashed them both a smile in thanks, before she took a seat down at the table, only then noticing that there was only one seat laid for her, signalling that she would be eating alone that morning.

But that didn't stop Alice from taking a seat beside her and start asking her, "So, do you need any help unpacking? I can come back at lunch and help you."

"No, Alice. I'll be fine. I didn't really bring much." Emma answered honestly.

"Well, how about I lend you some clothes or maybe some money for you to get some more things?" Alice then suggested, going already to take out some cash.

Emma quickly stopped her from continuing, "No! No way! I'm fine. Honestly. I don't know how long I'll be here, so I didn't want to bring too much.."

"You're not seriously thinking about going back, are you?" Alice questioned her sister in astonishment.

"I don't know, Alice. New York has been my home for the past 7 years. I don't know what's going to happen." Emma admitted truthfully, as she poured herself some orange juice.

"You can't go back there!" Her older sister exclaimed.

"Alice..." Hal went to interupt, not wanting her to intergate Emma in the way she was, and that they also had to get out of there to go to work.

"I never said I was, Alice." Emma breathed, trying to keep her cool.

Now Emma knew why she had moved away for college and had stayed away. Alice always jumped to conclusions and tried to mother her. She hadn't even been here five minutes and it was like the past was repeating itself.

"You just said, Emma, that you might go back.." Alice pointed out.

"I didn't.." Emma went to say.

"Alice, please, we really have to get going.." Hal tried to stop the two of them.

"Hal, just five more minutes!" Alice said to her husband.

"Alice, c'mon," He wasn't going to give up, Hal knew how Emma used to get when Alice use to intergate her before, and this was no different, "let the girl eat her breakfast."

Alice looked away from him with an annoyed look, as Emma turned to meet with her sister, "I'll be fine," She assured her, wanting her to leave her in peace also, "just go. We can't catch up."

"I just don't want to leave my sister alone here.." Alice expressed her concerns.

"She'll be fine," Hal reassured his wife, "she's not going to run off anywhere, plus she's not sixteen anymore."

"I know," Alice sighed in defeat, before she slowly began to stand up, 'you're right."

"For once, he is right," Emma added, as she watched her sister pull on her coat and grab her bag, ready to head to work, "you'll see me later."

It had been a couple of hours since Alice and Hal had left Emma alone in their home. After eating a delicious breakfast that Emma knew she was going to be thanking her sister over and again for, she headed on upstairs with her things to locate her new room for the duration of her stay.

It was a fairly decent sized room, a little on the small size from what Emma was used to living in her own home, taking the master, but she was the guest after all and had to go back to living with more than one person again.

She had taken a short nap for an hour or so, tired from the plane journey earlier this morning and also all the stress from the past couple of weeks. Now she was heading outside for some fresh air, Emma never coped well cooped up inside all day long.

As she slipped outside the front door, Emma came onto the porch and brought out one of her cell phones, the one she had been so quick to hide after the taxi ride earlier.

She switched it on and took a seat down on the top step of the porch, her bare feet coming to contact with the wood below and her light jean clathed bottom sat down on the surface.

After a couple of seconds sitting down, the cell phone in her hand beeped, signalling a new text message had come from. A nervous feeling bubbled in her stomach, as she opened it up and saw a automated looking message come to the screen.

'48 hours until pick up.'

Emma felt her stomach churn after reading the message and a sick feeling came over. She knew what the message meant. It was now starting all over again. Or maybe it had never actually finished.

This was just the last of it. Or Emma hoped it was. She had been promised that way too many times. But here she was, still carrying out deeds, she hated herself for doing.

Slipping the cell phone into her back pocket in distress, Emma quickly pulled out a box of cigarettes from her jacket pocket and quickly lit one up, needing something to just take the edge of the unease she felt inside.

Emma knew that if Alice had been around, there would have been no way the cigarettes would have even made an appearence. But Alice wasn't here right now and what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

She also knew that smoking in an area like this of town would be so forbidden, but Emma wasn't afraid to break the rules anymore. Emma had paid her time for trying to follow orders, she was tired of that now.

Taking a drag from the cigarette, Emma shut her eyes briefly taking in the smoke and letting her stress drift away as she breathed it out, her eyes slowly reopening when she heard a voice.

Looking opposite her, Emma saw a very famaliar looking man stood on the side walk, dog lead in his hand and a light coloured labradoor dog stood beside him attached to the lead.

Emma couldn't believe her eyes right now and just whom she was seeing. It was face she hadn't seen in years. Not since she had been a young goofy teenager and had been hanging out with her sisters friends after dark.

Smiling at the man and also his dog, Emma politely stumped out her cigarette and went to climb to her feet, hopeful the man would remember her also.

"Uh, are you looking for someone?" The man questioned her, clearly not having recorganised her, "Are you looking for Alice?"

"Uh, no," Emma couldn't help but smirk slightly, not thinking she had changed that much, but maybe she had, it had been nearly ten years after all, "I'm her sister, Emma."

"No way!" He exclaimed in complet surprise to see her stood there after all this time, "of course you are," he chuckled lightly in embarrassment, "you're little Em, Huh?"

"That's me," She came to meet him down on the pavement, "how you doing, Fred?"

"I'm not too bad," Fred answered her, as Emma bent down to stroke his dog, "you look so grown up, I can't believe it."

Emma smiled at him once again, as she stood back up straight, "You look.."

"Old?" He half joked for her.

"No," She shook her head in amusement, "I was going to say different. But yeah, you look older now."

"It's been years," Fred reminded her, although Emma hadn't really forgotten, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you now?"

"I'm twenty seven." Emma answered him.

"Wow," He couldn't believe she was that age, Fred had known her since she was just a kid, "has it really been that long?"

"Yep." She laughed lightly.

"I bet Alice is thrilled to have you home."

"Yeah, I thought it was about time I returned." Emma answered, although it was more like she was forced to.

"Is this permently?" Fred asked.

"I'm not quite sure yet.." She answered him honestly, Emma hadn't decided herself yet, "I mean if I do decide to stay, then I'm going to need to get a job, although I don't know many people hiring PA's right now,"

His eyes sparked up slightly at her explanation, but allowed her to continue, before he had his say on the matter, "but then again, I'd have to sort myself out somewhere to stay, I can't live under my sisters feet forever."

"Hey, I've got a position going at my place." Fred announced to her.

"Oh you do?" Emma folded her arms, surprised it had been that easy to have found something so soon.

She hadn't even thought about how she was going to pay for things whilst she was here. Emma knew she'd have to get a job. Her money was running out fast. The money in her accounts were being wiped every single day. Emma had to get some money coming in from somewhere, she just didn't neccessarly think it would be from Riverdale.

"Yeah an office assistant," He explained the position more to her, "someone to do my books. My guys on paternity leave."

"What's your place exactly?" She asked interestdly.

"Construction, of course." Fred said proudly.

"Well, I guess, maybe I could accept your offer," Emma thought it seemed decent enough and something she could do whilst she was here, it would save her having to look or feeling bad that she couldn't pay her way in her sisters home, "if you wanted me there of course."

"Sure," He nodded enthasutcally, rather havijng someone he knew than any old person,"why don't you swing by on Monday and have a trial run?"

"That sound's great," Emma agreed with him, "thanks, Fred. I really appreciate it."

"No problem," Fred was more thankful for her right now, "I just live next door, so pop over around 8 and I'll give us a ride to work."

"Brilliant," She looked over at the house, just as he was about to walk off, before she asked, "say, you don't have a son, do you?"

"Uh yeah, why?" He asked confused, then something inside of him caught on, "Has Alice warned you about him to stay away from Betty?"

"Oh no!" Emma quickly shook her head, although that did sound like Alice, "it was just...I saw a teenager come out of their earlier and now I'm putting the pieces together."

"Uh yeah, that would have been Archie."

"Him and Betty are still close then?" She asked.

"Oh yeah," Fred nodded, a happy smile coming across his face, "much to your sisters dismay, they're still going strong since they were kids."

Emma smiled back at him, before saying, "I guess I'll see you Monday then."

"See you Monday." Fred bidded her goodbye, before walking with his dog over to his front door as Emma made her way back up the porch to head on in herself.

Her eyes caught the newspaper sat on the front porch, completely having missed it earlier when she had come out in distress, but as she bent down to pick it up and unravelled it to see the front page, her eyes widened slightly.

A picture of a young teenager, not much older than Betty, his face was plastered over the front of it. The words 'Missing' across the headline. Her sister and her brother-in-law worked down at the paper, but Emma was surprised they would cover such a story.

Taking the paper and herself back inside the house, Emma closed the door and went through into the living room. She sat down on the couch and began to read through the article, catching up on just exactly what had gone on before Emma had got into town.

Her mind flashed back to a week or so ago, when she had finally took the plunge to seek for some help and had been the whole reason Alice had welcomed her back to town.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

Emma had been over this a hundred times in her head, but still she was finding it difficult to pick up her phone and make the call. She knew if she did, then it would mean game over and she'd have to come clean.

But if she didn't, then she knew she would be stuck here, alone and scared, worried what might happen next and that if she didn't get away now, then she might have lost her only chance to.

Hitting the call button once more, Emma finally brought it up to ear, her hands shaking and her heart pounding, as she waited for the person to pick up on the other end.

There was no backing out now. She had taken the first step. Emma knew she had to go on.

After a few rings, the person picked up and answered, "Hello?"

"Alice," Emma breathed, her voice quiet and strained, it was clearly evident the girl was in a bad way, but she was trying her best to pull it together, "it's me, Emma."

"Emma," Alice, exclaimed in surprise, before saying, "oh my goodness! How are you? Are you alright?"

"Is this a bad time?" She asked her older sister, not wanting to trouble her if it was.

"No, no," Alice responded, just happy to hear her sisters voice, it had been so long, "of course not. I'm so relieved to hear from you."

"It has been a long time," Emma found herself saying shamefully, as she tried to fight off the tears, "I miss you."

"Oh sweetie," Alice could hear that Emma just didn't sound right, not what she remembered her sister to be, she always knew Emma as a bright and happy go lucky girl, "is everything ok?"

"Um, I," She couldn't find the words to say, to answer her sister with the truth, because it was too hard to do, "I..could I come stay with you?"

"What now?" Her older sister asked.

"Soon, maybe next week, I don't know," Emma said, she really did not want to have to tell her sister everything, especially not over the phone, "could I please?"

"Emma, you know you are always welcome here," Alice reminded her, just like she had every phone call they had rarely had the past few years, "but you're starting to worry me now, is everything alright?"

"I can't explain right now," She managed to tell her, her voice breaking as she felt the tears silently roll down her face, "but I will."

"Oh, Emma," Alice couldn't bare to hear her sister this way, "I'm going to take the day off work tomorrow and get the next flight out there."

"No!" Emma quickly snapped, not meaning to, but it was a bad idea Alice coming here, "no, please, just don't.."

"Emma, I can hear that something is troubling you and I'm not leaving this until next week," Her sister explained in a strict tone, "I am your sister and it's my duty to look out for you.."

"You just can't come here, I," She glanced around at her surrondings and sighed, "I've lost my home, Alice. I'm in and out of hotels right now."

"Why? What's happened?" Alice then questioned, before she made a guess, "have you and John split up?"

Emma rolled her head down, the tears falling again, before she plucked up the courage and admitted, "It's worse than that, Alice."

"What's going on, Emma?" Alice pressed again.

"He, um, he," She was finding it hard to say what she so desperately wanted to, saying it out loud made it feel so much more real, "he's been abusing me, Alice.. I, need to come home and get away from it all.."

"Emma, that's it!" Emma heard her older sister say sternly from down the other end, "I am coming to get you.."

"No," Emma quickly shook her head, although her sister couldn't see her, "as I said you can't. I'm in hotels. And I need to stay here. He's gone to jail."

"What do you mean he's gone to jail? For his crimes against you?" Alice presumed.

"I can't talk about this right now," She sighed, knowing Emma couldn't answer that, it would open more and she'd already shared way more than she intended to, "just know that I am safe and he can't hurt me anymore. I'll call you in the morning when I know more, but please don't come here."

"How can I not? You're my little sister.." Alice pointed out, clearly worried.

"I know, but I can look after myself. I appreciate you offering, but all I need is you to welcome me home when I'm ready." Emma said, as she mopped up her tears.

Alice was quiet for a moment, before she sighed, giving into her sisters requests, "I'm glad you called. We need help over here. Things haven't been good for us either, Emma."

"What do you mean?"

Now Emma was freaking out.

"Polly's got herself into a slight situation..I'm so ashamed," Alice began to explain, but Emma knew whatever had happened, Alice was taking it badly and worrying about her own image, "I don't know what to do.."

"What's happened?" She asked her older sister.

"I've had to send her away. Something happened with her and her boyfriend, Jason Blossom..now he's been reported missing and I don't know.."

"Hey, this is exactly why you need to stay put, Alice," Emma reasoned with her over this, everything sounded just as bad for Alice as it had for Emma recently, "your family needs you."

"But you also need me.."

"And I'm also an adult who can look after herself.."

"You call me in the morning when you know more! I want to hear from you everyday until you get off the plane back home." Alice made her promise her.

"Of course. I'll call you tomorrow." Emma vowed back.

After saying goodbye and assuring Alice she'd be alright, as well as to send her love to everyone, Emma hung up the phone and sighed, before turning around at her former home.

Her suitcase was half packed on her bed, everything that had been ramsacked by the police a few nights ago was still spread all over the bedroom, as well as other parts of her house.

The apartment was dark and quiet, only the sound of Emma's heavy breathing and clocks ticking ran through it. She felt a coldness. One that had been there a very long time, but now it was starting to feel with warmth again, somehow like the war was coming to a slow end.

But Emma knew it was probably only now just beginning.

Yet at least once she got to Riverdale, Emma would be one step closer to ending it all.

Or maybe just maybe, she'd be starting another one.


Author note: Hello there! I've wanted to write an Fp Jones fanfiction since Riverdale first started and his character was introduced. I did upload a couple of chapters of this story to Tumblr, but I much prefer stories on fanfiction so I thought I would continue to upload them on here instead.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed the first part.

This story is one I have so many ideas for and hope to really make Emma's involvement as realistic as it can be to try bring her into the show. She has a lot of secrets of her own and a lot of back story. This isn't just some soppy romance story. This has depth and a propery story to it.

So I hope you'll be there for the journey through 'Then There Was You'

I'd love to know your thoughts on the first part :)

Happy Christmas!

Best wishes,

guiltypleasurexo