IMPORTANT: I am actively dealing with Jason's murder and FP's arrest from chapter 7 on, which means I will be following some episode happenings a bit more closely than i have before and I will NOT change the overall involvement FP has in the murder. There will be of course continue to be divergences from canon, but only in what happens around the FP gets arrested story line. So, if for some reason you are reading this without actually having seen any episode from 1x10 on, I am issuing a spoiler warning! I repeat: DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER EPISODE 1x10.


The pre homecoming dinner had been Betty's idea and everyone involved thinks it's a bad idea. When she had received four less than enthusiastic * I don't know *'s the girl had poured her heart out to Veronica, about just wanting to make all of this a little more normal. The other girl had immediately encourage her to try again, and be more insistent. In her words, it would do any of them some good to get out of the house and in the open and try to be civil with each other. It's a small town, and even with her parents now living on opposite sites of it, they * are * bound to run into each other at some point. Clearing the air now would make this a whole lot less awkward.

Ever since Betty and Alice had talked last week the girl has been looking for a way to reach out to her mother more. She's constantly texting her, they had talked on the phone for a few minutes every day and there had even been a visit at the trailer, but Betty still doesn't think it's enough. She's behaved like a spoiled brat, attacked her mother in public and refused to listen to logic and reason – just like the six year old she hasn't been for the last ten years. She'd even tried to make her come to Jug's birthday party two days ago, but FP had shown up alone, because * this * had been his time to make things right with his son and he has a right to do this alone, just like Alice had with Betty.

Alice had said more than once, that it's okay, she takes what she gets, because she knows she no saint in this either and nothing of this would even have happened if * she * hadn't started all this.

The two of them had spent hours in their booth at Pop's. Alice had done most of the talking, Betty listening intently. Here and there, the girl had thrown in a question but for the most part, she had let her mother tell her the story of how she'd grown up and had fallen in love with FP Jones. It had turned out, that teenage Alice had been involved in enough illegal and reckless activities, not all of them FP had been responsible either, and suddenly Betty understood why her mother had tried to keep her and Polly from doing something stupid. But Betty had also seen her mother's face light up when she'd talked about her younger self, about the times she'd spent with FP and the serpents back then and Betty also understood, that this right here, * this * is her mother. No tailored skirts, manicured fingernails, hair appointments and make-up will ever be able to change that, even though Alice had given it a respectable try. The fact that she'd so easily moved back into her old life once she'd slipped has Betty believe she doesn't really know her mother. And it makes her swear she's doing everything she can to change that.

Betty had also seen her mother's face crumble when she'd talked about the last time she'd been with FP and how they had ended. She'd gripped her mothers' hands tighter, assuring her that it's okay, that there's nothing she needs to hide, not even her tears. But Alice hadn't cried, she doesn't do that in public. That doesn't mean she hadn't been devastated recounting what had happened, and in the end Betty had realized, that all this drama could have been avoided had their teenage selves handled the situation better. Hadn't she been such a bitch and just told him she'll stay with him no matter what instead of accepting Hal's invitation just because she'd been pissed and hadn't he been such a coward and just told her he's terrified of being a father in his situation instead of pushing her away; maybe neither of them had ever married anybody else. Maybe they would have made it work. And maybe Betty wouldn't exist then, but she finds she wouldn't even mind if it meant someone else had been able to see * this * side of Alice for the last twenty years.

There'd been little to no talk at all about her brother, and Betty hadn't dared to ask about him. Betty had learned that her pregnancy had ultimately been what had broken them up in High School and, that her own father had even pressured her into terminating the pregnancy. She'd known, that her parents had given the boy up for adoption, Alice had reluctantly admitted that weeks ago when Betty had asked why exactly Alice had been so infuriated with Hal over Polly. Not that she'd know that her father wasn't * his * father also, the girl had actually been able to picture Hal and the abortion. She'd understood it to some extend, but she would never see her father in the same light anymore. No matter who the father had been, how can you just so easily decide for another person to abort a child? What if it had been her or Polly? For all her brave words said in anger against her father that day, she'd still been to chicken to bring it up with him yet. But she'd calmed down at least, she would not lat any situation evolve into the one she had just started to fix.

A day after her heart to heart with Veronica, who'd seemed incredibly persistent to make this work for Betty, Jughead is the first one she's able to convince. She needs a lot of time and bribing, but she manages to convey all the positive effects that dinner could have – she comes up with exactly two off the top of her head and a lot more negative but she won't be deterred – and misses the moment he agrees through her constant rambling. She stops talking when he laughs at her, thinks back over his last words and throws herself around his neck in a tight hug with a heartfelt thank you. Then she enlists his help in getting the others to agree to that. She tasks him with FP and Alice, because as much as she would like to talk to her mother about this, she doesn't really think her father would appreciate it if she sends the son of the man responsible for his divorce.

It's another day later and Betty had almost given up hope, when Jughead grabs her by the hand in the crowded school hallway and pulls her into an empty class room. So far none of the adults have agreed to be there, but he starts off with 'About that dinner...' and she can't help but be intrigued to what he's up to. And then he tells her, that his father just texted him he and Alice will come and Betty thinks she couldn't be happier until her own cell phone beeps and she finds she has a text from her father confirming he'll show up, too. There had been a time not so long ago, Betty had been sure it had been her mother's influence that got him to change his mind, but in this particular situation, the girl is sure that had Alice tried to even talk to Hal about this, there's no way either of them would come.

Betty and Jughead are the first ones at the restaurant. It's not exactly how she had planned to host a dinner to get her parents into the same room, but even she had realized that doing this at home would be an incredibly stupid idea. So they let themselves be led to their table, Betty clinging to his hand like a lifeline and Jughead tries to reassure her that it won't be too bad. That's what they'd picked the public spot for after all. Nobody would dare to make s scene in front of all these people. At least that had been the idea behind it, now they just hope it would pan out.

Hal arrives first, dressed sharply in a black suit and Betty's almost afraid to hug him because it would wrinkle his jacket. After greetings the three of them make polite conversation while waiting for Alice and FP. It's not long until the girl sees them enter the restaurant and being shown their way. With a smile on her face she watches them walk over, rolling her eyes when she sees them drop their joined hands at sight of Hal. This is ridiculous. They might have agreed not to rub this relationship into her still-husband's face but showing up hand-in-hand at a dinner they didn't even want to attend is totally fine in Betty's book. She makes a mental note to tell all of the adults that respectively, but not right now. Or tonight in general. Tonight is for trying to get along.

Her mother's black dress matches FP's dark jeans and shirt perfectly and though it's just that little bit shorter than Betty is accustomed to with Alice, it's modest and beautiful and fits her greatly. She feels stupid, but even in her blue and incredible homecoming dress, Betty feels like nothing compared to her mothers' looks. She greets the newcomers with a gentle hug, Jughead right behind her, and it's the first time she calls FP by his given name which earns her a very suspicious looks from her father. He'd never offered Jug the same, but then, as strange as that may sound, Betty momentarily has more interaction with her mother's new boyfriend than her own father, and definitively more than Jughead has with Hal. When Jughead tries Alice for the first time, too, after she'd told him to more than once, Betty thinks for a moment her father is about to leave. This was supposed to bring her family back together, and right now it seems like it's heading in the exact wrong direction.

Then Hal seems to come to the same conclusion, sits himself more relaxed into his seat and acknowledges the other two with a short but polite greeting. Maybe one day he'll be able to forgive Alice for what she did, but tonight he's doing this for his daughter; nothing more and nothing less. After they had all retaken their seats and a waiter has taken their drink orders Betty gains control of the conversation and purposely steers it in a safe direction. And it's just as awkward as that first breakfast meeting they'd had, but awkward is so much better than the alternative.

They spend some time making small talk and polite dinner conversation that actually turns out to be just that, and when there's a lull in conversation after their food is served Betty takes the opportunity to discreetly watch the four people around the table. Jughead looks content, probably glad he hasn't had to break up a fight between their respective fathers yet. She can see him also stealing glances around, making sure the peace and quiet is not just an illusion. His shoulder are just tense enough that she knows he's ready to interfere should the need to arise. Hal looks uncomfortable, but does his best to hide it for her sake. He'd never come up with the idea and as much as he is okay with the girl making amends with her mother, he doesn't want to take part in it. Betty can see as much just from his posture, but she admires the man right this moment for being civil and even exchanging words with his soon-to-be ex-wife and her new boyfriend – however short they were. Alice looks happy, and Betty knows it's because she's allowed to even be part of this. After how she behaved herself, the girl isn't surprised her mother sometimes forgets she's forgiven. But right now it seems like not even the simultaneous presence of her husband and boyfriend at the same dinner could spoil her good mood. She can't quite read FP, his mood seemingly changing every so often from uncomfortable to content to happy and Betty has the stark suspicion it has to do with the woman sitting beside him, hands entwined on his thigh.

"Mom, are you still coming to the dance with us?" The question effectively kills the calm that had settled over them. For the last minutes they had tried to pretend they were nothing more than a few people sharing a meal, people without history and lies and problems, because it had been just easier tonight. There will come a time where they would sit together and talk this over like adults and try to get to a point where they can at least be nice to each other in passing, but this night is not for that conversation.

Alice looks torn between saying yes and no and a few other things running through her head and she doesn't know how to formulate any of them into words just yet. "I..." she starts, still no words forthcoming. She shares a helpless look with FP, because how do you tell your highly enthusiastic daughter, that you don't think this is a good idea, but he just nods his head at her once, seemingly saying * he * thinks it's a good idea.

"You should" It's Hal who answers and four stunned faces stare back at him. It's the last thing any of them had expected him to say. But he just shrugs his shoulders. He might not be extremely happy with Alice and he has moments when sticking needles into his eyes sounds better than spending any time with her, he also can't and won't deny her this. She's been looking forward to this for a long while and this is her daughter, too, and nobody said anything about them going there * together * anyway.

"But..." Certain she would not be spending tonight at homecoming with her daughter, Alice had planned for a nice night in with FP, a bed and a lot less clothing. Maybe they'd have thrown in a movie somewhere in there, too. She looks at him now, sees him smile and nod, again. It looks like the decision has been made for her.

"I'll just relax on my own and patiently wait for you to come home. The movie will still be there tomorrow" In the end it's her daughter's hopeful expression that does it for her and she agrees without overthinking it too much.

"You could come with, you know?" It's his son's school dance, too, sure there would be a way to get him inside even without a ticket. She purposely doesn't look in Hal's direction as she says it, she does not need to see his face when she invites her boyfriend to tag along.

"I * could *" FP laughs and she shouldn't have worried about Hal's reaction, because even he has to smile at that suggestion. FP Jones hasn't even been thrilled to go to his own school dances, and as much as he loves his son, he won't set foot into another one of these unless he absolutely has to.

An hour later Alice leaves the restaurant first to say a proper goodbye to FP without Hal having to witness it. He keeps kissing her until he senses the others coming up to the parking lot and then he takes her keys and drives off. Hal had reluctantly offered to drive her home later and as awkward as * this * is going to be, she had been talked into agreeing nonetheless. She'd be arriving with the three of them, too.

The dance is exactly like Alice imagined it would be. Her daughter had done an incredible job of putting it together, and, for the first time, Alice doesn't hold back in telling her exactly how proud she is of her. Alice just wishes FP had agreed to accompany them – her. This is not his scene and it never will be and as much as * she * loves it here despite transforming back into the bad girl, she's still alone there. She's not lonely, no, but during the times Betty and Jughead are off dancing Alice waits for them to split their time between two people standing alone on two opposite sites of the gym.

The next time there is a break in dancing Betty and Jughead walk over to Alice again, having spent the last one making conversation with Hal, but the blonde spots Archie and Veronica just entering the room. Both of them should have been here an hour ago, meeting the two of them outside. But they hadn't shown and there'd been no text and Betty had feared something had happened to them. And now they'd walked in here, looking rather suspicious but alive and Betty can tell they are actively avoiding her. So she grips Jug's hand in hers, pulls him over to their two friends and follows them into the hall when they leave again. In a deserted hallway she finally catches up with them enough for her voice to carry the question through the air without shouting.

"Where have you been?" It's not her place to ask, not her place to know. For all she knows they could have done god knows what and lost track of time, but the twin looks of guilt on her friends' faces give them away. This obviously involves them, too.

"We broke into your dad's trailer" Archie admits readily, looking rather apologetic at Jughead. Veronica sends him a look that would have killed any other person. She would have obviously not told them.

"Why would you do something like that?" Jughead asks, the hurt obvious in his voice. How could they? There are only a few people in this world Jughead Jones trusted with his life, and right up until this moment, both Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge had belonged to that group.

"And how did you even know they wouldn't be home?" Betty throws in, obviously just as pissed as her boyfriend. The two girls have had this conversation and Veronica had promised she didn't believe FP to be a murderer.

"I needed to know that my father wasn't involved in this" Veronica sees, that in hindsight, it had been the wrong way to go about proving * her * father's innocence. Maybe she'd been better off doing that in her own home, or by questioning her mother. "And we knew they would be at dinner with you guys" At least she has the decency to look ashamed.

"So that's why you pressured me into arranging that dinner?" Betty can' believe it, wiping a few angry tears from her cheek. Jughead's beside her, providing comfort and strength. "So you can snoop around in peace?!" She takes his hand in her's grips hard to keep herself grounded.

"I'm sorry..." Veronica starts, but Betty doesn't let her finish.

"No. You don't get to say that right now" And there's more she wants, needs, to say, but they are interrupted by three sets of parents rounding the corner, lead by Kevin Keller.

The first thing the teenagers notice is Alice Cooper, looking like she might break any second now, flanked by Hermione Lodge and Mary Andrews who seem ready to catch her should they be required to. The woman holds herself incredibly well for someone who must have just gotten some terrible news, but Betty knows her mother. If it's actually that bad, she'd break down later, when she's on her own. Speaking of bad, the children still have no idea what is actually going on, but before either of them can even open their mouths to ask, Kevin beats them to it.

"My dad just told Mayor McCoy about your dad" It's undoubtedly directed at Jughead but that doesn't mean any of them, least of all Jughead himself, know what he means by that.

"What about my dad?" He swear, of somebody isn't going to tell him soon, he'll be forced to hurt someone. Kevin can't just start a conversation like this and the just stop there. People don't * do * that.

"Jughead, your father..." But she can't say it. She thought it best to be the one telling him, after all she's his father's girlfriend, spends the most time with him of the people around her. But she can't get the words to leave her lips. She's never been exactly friends with both Hermione and Mary but right now she couldn't be happier about their presence next to her. She feels like fainting.

"He's just been arrested" Fred Andrews finally provides, and as if there had been any question about it, he continues. "For the murder of Jason Blossom"

And, hearing it again, Alice does something she's never done in front of people. She stumbles against the wall to her right, sinks down and cries.