CHAPTER THREE: THE MORNING AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE

AN: Hi guys, thanks for reading my lil fic. I'm really enjoying writing it. I haven't written anything in a while now, but after watching the last episode, these two were just calling me to write something. The rating might go up to an M, but I'm not too sure as of yet. I'll keep you guys posted. Enjoy!

My eyes open groggily and then immediately shut again. It's far too bright. I flip myself over and bury myself in the mounds of duvet spread across the king bed. The other side of the bed is cold. He must already be up, probably at work. I should be there with him, in my place as editor, not in bed nursing a sore head after a night out at the Whyte Wyrm. What was I thinking? I'm not a teenage anymore from the wrong side of town. I don't even remember going home. The night floods back to me; Betty doing the Serpent dance, FP isn't retiring, FP leaning in to kiss me and Betty being there. Did she see? I feel sick to my stomach about last night. Betty did the one thing in life I wish I could protect her from. It was horrific. I should have stopped it, but I was frozen and couldn't move. I could have stopped it. I let the tears roll down my face. Why didn't I stop it? I know I should get myself up and get ready, but I can't bring myself to leave the cocoon of warmth. I look over at the clock, it reads 10:58. Shit. I really shouldn't have slept in that long. Why did Hal not wake me up? The bastard probably wanted me to be running around to get to work on time. I'm taking the day off. He can work extra hard to get the paper out in time.

I finally get out of bed and pad over to the shower. I need to wash the bar grime off me. I turn on the shower head, strip down and jump into the steaming water. Sighing as the water soaks my body. My mind once again drifts back to last night. To that moment when FP leaning in. I know it should feel wrong, but it feels so right. Just the thought of it sends shivers down my body. Why does he do this to me? I never thought I would be the kind of woman to cheat on her husband. Technically, I haven't cheated on him and I do not plan too. But I can't get FP out of my head. I wonder if he thinks of me as often as I do him. It was so much easier when he was locked away, there were no reminders of our past. Now he's out, I see him everywhere. I step out of the shower and turn my thoughts to something more important, Betty.

Once I'm dressed and slightly more ready for the world, I leave my room and head towards Betty, having no idea whether or not she went to school this morning. I slowly and quietly turn the knob and poke my head around the door. She's still tucked up in bed, her eyes flick up to me and sighs. I walk in and close the door behind me. She sits up and pulls the duvet with her.

"Betty..."

"Mum. Please don't. I don't think I can handle an argument right now."

"Betty, we have to talk about what you did last night."

"Does it really matter mum?" I sit at the end of her bed.

"Yes, it does. Betty, you are 16. You should not be dancing like that in front of anyone, let alone a large crowd of men of all ages. I don't think you realise the impact it can have on your life. Betty misogynistic traditions like that have been around for a lot longer than you could ever think. I will never forget when I..." I cut off. I didn't mean to say as much as that. Betty's face contorts. She's clicked. She's realised that her own mum once did that dance.

"Mum… You did the Serpent dance." She looks down at her entwined hands. "Sorry, I didn't think that you would have had to do that."

"Well, I did. Granted, I was not quite as young as you. I was 18 and I wore something very similar to you. What you did was one of the things I was trying to protect you from. When I moved away from the southside, I vowed to myself that none of my children will ever have to go through that."

"Well, it doesn't matter now anyway. I don't have any reason to go anywhere near the Serpents anymore." A tear slid down her face. "Juggy… he dumped me. I'm so sorry mum." She breaks down crying. I pull her to me and hug her fiercely. I remember the aftermath of a Jones man well. I was a mess when it was me. I'll let her take a day. I know it's not easy. There really was something there with them two.

"Shh, baby. Don't cry. It'll be okay. Why don't you get Veronica to come round and have a girls day at home today? I'll call the school and tell them you're not very well. Us girls, we get through the pain." She nods and grabs her phone. "If you need me I'll be downstairs okay honey?"

"Thank you, mum."

After calling Betty in sick, I find myself walking downstairs angrily. I'm furious for Betty. I could scream. The anger is bubbling up to the top. Why are the Jones men such selfish pricks? Now history truly is repeating itself. I gather my bag and grab the keys. I need to sort this for Betty. This will have a happy ending. "I'll be back soon Betty," I call upstairs.

"Where are you going?" A cold voice says from behind me. I swivel round on Hal.

"None of your damn business."

"Alice. What the fuck is wrong with you recently? The way you're dressing, the way you're talking to me, the drinking?"

"No. You…"

"Do you even remember coming home last night? You know Betty dragged you in? I was sat on the couch having a drink and reading and there is our 16-year-old daughter basically carrying you home. You were absolutely slaughtered. I expect she drove the car home, with you in the back. She looked devastated. How could you let her see you like that? It's disgusting Alice. No mother should eve…"

"Shut it, Hal! You have no idea what went on last night. You do not get an opinion. You understand? YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN OPINION." I feel myself about to explode.

"I'm going out," I say, spinning on my heel and slamming the door behind me.

How dare he? How can he justify saying those things? He's trying to shame me, like when we were teenagers. Well, you know what Hal. I'm stronger now. I understand now.