Give Thanks
This is a work of fanfiction, no copyright infringement is intended. I own nothing pertaining to the Archie Comics/Riverdale universe.
…~*~...
Thanksgiving had finally come to Riverdale. Betty was still in bandages, both on her face and her ribs. The boys had helped her at school, alternating who held her books and bag for her. Tia hadn't shown up, her face was worse for wear, and she hadn't tried to reach out to Betty so they could shake on their squashed issues.
Either way, there was turkey in the oven, Malachi hadn't been able to rearrange his family's meal time, so Alice changed hers. Polly came into town with the twins and was more than a little weirded out by the presence of FP and Jughead, who had also shown for the occasion. How could they not be invited for Thanksgiving? They'd been around nearly everyday since the fight, FP staying over more often than not.
The timer dinged on the oven and Alice scampered over in her slippers, wrenching the oven door open, baster in hand.
"Calm down Mom. You're going to have a heart attack." Shaking her head, Betty continued to pipe the deviled egg mixture into the egg whites.
"It has to be perfect. I don't want these boys eating dry turkey. Did Jughead tell you? They eat tv dinners every year. How could Gladys do that to them?" Squirting the buttery chicken stock on the bottom of the roaster pan over the slightly browned skin, Alice huffed to herself.
"Not everyone is a domestic Goddess for a Mom. We can't all live up to your standards." The last of the mixture had been deposited into the final egg white, and Betty was dusting paprika over the tops of the eggs.
The oven door shut, then the front door shut. Betty looked up from her perch at the kitchen island. A huge bouquet of autumn flowers came through the door, followed by a beaming Malachi.
"Malachi! Those are beautiful, let me get a vase." Depositing the baster on large ceramic spoon rest, Alice flew to a cupboard on the other side of the kitchen.
"It's no problem Mama Coop. I just wanted make the house festive. Check this one out." He wagged his brows at Betty, bringing a longer flatter arrangement from behind his back. The flowers were small yellow delicate bunches dispersed with shoots of wheat and large multicolored leaves.
"That's beautiful. You have hobbies I don't know about?" Betty kissed him, and waited for a reply.
"Nah, I was helpin' Grams with all the settings for the soup kitchen. She let me make a couple to bring over. She said it's rude not to bring gifts. Can't be rude on Thanksgiving beautiful." He gave her smug half smile.
"This one should do it. Large enough to fit the stems, and quant enough to let the blooms shine." Placing a simple yellow glass vase on the island, Alice's eyes fell to the arrangement already sitting there. "You made this one too?"
"Yeah, I was watchin' Grams, thought I'd try it out. It's not bad is it? You can fix it if you want." Suddenly feeling like a scalded seven year old,
Malachi ran his fingers nervously through the curls on the back if his head.
"Oh no honey, this is perfect, it goes exactly with my settings. Thank you Mal, it's very beautiful." Alice leaned up, kissing Malachi's cheek before scooping the arrangement up to place it on the dining room table.
"You did good Cardenas, it's hard to please Alice Cooper." Picking up the tray of deviled eggs from the counter, Betty took them to the fridge.
"What about these?" Malachi had placed the stems in the vase, letting go of the bunch so they could fall into place.
"Oh, I'm not about to tell you where to put decorations in my Mother's house. She might behead me." She'd come to stand next to him, admiring his large hands touching the delicate petals of the sunflowers and lilies dispersed in the vase.
"Is there anything else you need to help with? Put me to work." Satisfied with how the bouquet looked, he met her arched eyebrow and arms folded over her chest with a toothy grin of his own.
"Put you to work?" Her hip jutted slightly, she was still in a little bit of pain.
"Tell me where you want me beautiful." His voice was low, driving home his double entendre.
"I want you alive, so maybe tone down your innuendos until after dinner." She had missed him just as much he missed her, but if her Mom walked in and heard the illicit mumblings of Betty's intoxicating boyfriend. Alice would blow a gasket.
"After dinner huh? Is that a promise?" The tips of his fingers ran along the column of her throat, a shiver moving down her spine.
"I promise that if you keep this up and Mama Coop hears you, the Ghoulie King will be missing an appendage." A maniacal smirk spread across Betty's face. Despite her bandages, it was the perfect hint of danger and it revved Malachi's engine. He leaned forward, eyes bouncing from hers to her feline like smirk.
"I'm not even on Mama's radar babe. It's you who's gonna be the death of me, and damn if I don't welcome it." He kissed her quickly, hearing the sweeping of Alice's slippers on the hardwoods behind him.
"See? That's just incredible. You're sure Alma didn't make this, it was you Malachi?" She winked at him. Taking the vase in her hands, holding up for the sunlight to catch the individual petals.
"No Ma'am, it was all me. We made roughy a thousand pieces this week. Abuela would never let me have my breaks from school, I had to help in the shop every year." He beamed at Alice, greedily soaking in the compliments like sunshine on a beach.
"Well, this is as good as Alma's work, wouldn't be able to tell the difference. You did good hon. Okay, go get dressed, FP and Jughead are coming from the Wyrm with Sweet Pea and Fangs." Alice took the vase, looking for the perfect place to set it.
"What's wrong with what I have on Mama Coop?" Malachi lifted his arms, looking at his chains, studded cuffs and his wide open shirt front, the smile he gave Alice almost reminded her of his Father.
"You listen to me young man." A long polished nail poked into the shirt over his heart. "This attire may be appropriate for your Southside meetings with ignorant children adorned in stolen Halloween decorations, but here, in this home, you will dress accordingly. I love a man in leather and chains myself, but there's a time and a place. Today, your all on my time. I have some things in Betty's room you. Button your shirt." Alice, tugged at the edges of Malachi's shirt, a smile playing on her lips. He simply nodded at her in compliance.
"Come on, this should be fun, and you can help me with my face." Betty took his hand, tugging him from toward the stairs.
...*...*...
Dinner went off without a hitch. The table was filled with good food, good spirits and plenty of conversation to go around several times over. By the time the plethora of pies hit the autumn themed tablecloth, the topic at hand was a bit of sore spot for half od the table.
"So you guys have all this times four tomorrow right?" FP waved his hand over the table, looking from Sweet Pea and Fangs to Malachi.
"Oh jeez FP, don't remind me. I was trying to forget the shit parade we're about to go through." Malachi set his fork down on his plate, taking a deep breath and looking to his cousin and friend.
"That bad?" An eyebrow swiftly lifted on Alice's face is questioning.
"It's pretty bad Mrs. Cooper. Between my Mom and Malachi's, we might as well be dining with Satan himself." Stuffing a large spoonful of pumpkin pie and whipped cream into his mouth, Sweet Pea let his eyes roll closed in adoration.
"I'd rather eat with old Lucy, it'd be way less dangerous." Fangs sucked in a breath, shaking his head at the thought of what could possibly happen the next day.
"It can't be worse than the last time, can it?" Alarmed, Betty looked at the three boys, panic began to settle in her chest.
"Let's just say that what you endured was a fancy dress party compared to a full frontal holiday situation. Wait til you see it." Fangs laughed to himself, reaching for the blueberry pie.
"I think I should put the babies to sleep, this conversation is a little much for them. It was nice to meet you all." Polly stood, sending apprehensive smiles to all around the table.
"Let me help you. Boys, you'll have to pardon me for a little while." Reaching for of the yawning babies in a highchair, Alice smiled at everyone and followed her daughter to the stairs.
"Now that the kiddies have left the room, be serious, how much do they hate Betty?" FP leaned over the table a bit, eyes locked with Malachi's.
"Full on hellfire from my Mom. She hates Alice, hates me, Betty's just a casualty of war." A warm palm rubbed over Betty's spine, reassurance more Malachi than for her, she placed her hand on his thigh under the table. They let the silence fill in the blanks, they were all thinking the same thing.
"I can honestly say I'm not envious." Jughead offered a playful smile. "Having Mrs. Cooper hate me seams a whole lot better than an entire family."
"I dunno Jug, Mama Coop is pretty damn fiery." Fangs reached for the cherry pie now.
"Either way, if you need a way out, let me know and I'll send a flare." Winking at Betty and Malachi, FP stood from his seat. "Oh, Betty, I've been meaning to ask you. How do you feel about Baxter high school?"
"In Greendale? It's not bad. Their principal is a little backwards, but other than that, it's alright." Betty looked at smirks around the dining room table, this had something to do with her last task, and they all knew it.
"Good, good, anyway. I have dish duty." Walking from the dining room with dirty plates in hand, FP smiled to himself.
"Alright, explain." Folding her arms over her chest, Betty sat back in her chair and waited.
"Don't look at me, I became a Ghoulie." Hands raised in surrender, Malachi couldn't help the knowing smile that was etched on his face.
"Relax Betts, it's not a big deal. Your job will be simple enough. You won't even break a nail." With a wink and his signature smirk plastered to his face, Sweet Pea rose from the table, gathering the empty dishes and the whipped cream. "This challenge won't land you in a surgical procedure."
"Maybe a jail cell, but definitely not a hospital." Finally finished with the tasting of all pies present, Fangs picked up his own dish and the remaining pies and went to the kitchen.
"You have to break in. There's something in the auto shop that may interest you. If you can pull it all together, you get your patch and bottom rocker upon your return to the Wyrm. If you decide to do this, you're lookin' at two weeks from now. Oh, and bring your tools." Sitting quietly, gauging Betty's reaction, Jughead waited.
"Okay. I'll do it." Determinedly, Betty reached across the table, taking hold of Jugheads clasped hands. "Thank you Juggie."
"If anyone deserves this Betts, it's you." Taking hold of Betty's hand, he smiled at her. A small pang of longing jolted his heart, but he was happy for her.
Alice came strolling in, obviously in the know already. "Who's ready for clean up?"
"Do we get to stay for the slumber party too?" Fangs stood, smile wide over his face.
"You can, as long as you don't keep the babies up young man. That goes for you too Sweet Pea. Jug, extra pillows and blankets in the closet at the top of the stairs. Come on. I don't want to be up all night." Alice was already giving out orders, sending the five of them in all directions.
…*...*...
It was quiet, the boys downstairs had taken to turning to living room into a giant fort they'd never had the luxury of building as children. Even Jughead got excited at the prospect of turning the stodgy area into a seriously well constructed sleep dome. Malachi laughed when Sweet Pea had asked Alice if it was okay to move the couches around and use extra sheets. Amused, Alice let them grab the hammer and nails and some extra sheets and blankets from the basement. They all hugged her and promised to put it back before everyone had to leave for the Cardenas family meal.
With a calloused finger running over her pulse point in the darkness of her room, Betty hooked a leg over Malachi's boxer clad hip. Dragging her thigh over his muscled abdomen, he hummed low.
"You trying to get me murdered? FP knows how to get rid of a body." His fingers wound through the hair at the base of Betty's head, his thumb running over her bottom lip.
"He's not that good at it. Or you wouldn't be here, an ex addict making truces in county. Saving me from freezing on my way home." Her tongue snuck out from her mouth, tasting the tip of his thumb.
"Careful beautiful." Sucking in his bottom lip, his teeth sunk into the full flesh of it. Allowing his hips to buck into her, her eyes fluttered closed.
"Or what baby?" She whispered.
"Or your Mom won't let me stay over anymore." His teeth grazed over her jaw, a hot palm slid south over her side, coming to rest over the same thigh that was perched over his hip.
"Her lack of permission never stopped you before." Betty was right, he'd never asked to stay before now, but he'd taken every article of clothing from her body while her Mom slept just down the hall.
"So, maybe I'm turning a new leaf." He was already tugging her pajama shorts down over her hips even as the words left his lips.
"Right. More like trying your luck at keeping quiet." Her fingers were pushing the elastic band of his boxers over his ass, the tips of said fingers pushing gently into his skin.
"Me needing to keep quiet? You're just wrong beautiful." The moonlight illuminated the room enough that he could see her brilliant smile, that she was teasing him along.
"I think you're pretty vocal all on your own. Especially when I-" Her words were swallowed when his tongue plunged into her open mouth.
Shorts and boxers and panties all done away with under the frilly duvet, Malachi's finger tugged the spaghetti strap of Betty's shirt down over her shoulder, effectively rolling her onto her back at the same time.
"Think you can keep from waking the house up?" Their noses were touching, and his hands held onto her shoulders.
"Just love me Chi." Her fingers were tickling his sides.
"I'll love you as long as you let me, beautiful."
…*...*...
The boys woke early the next morning careful not to wake anyone with their deconstruction of the fort. Jughead folded the blankets and sheets and took them back to their tote in the basement. Sweet Pea took their slept on bedding and ran it all through the wash. Fangs cleaned up the nails and took them and the hammer back to their home, then started in on some pancakes for the house.
By the time Alice and FP came down for coffee, Fangs had made enough food for a small army. Grateful not to have to cook, Alice hugged the boy and sipped from her steamy mug. Polly and the babies came down the stairs next, freshly dressed and ready for the day. Feeling a little overwhelmed with the leather clad boys the night before, Polly was more at ease this morning. She accepted help from Fangs, who offered to help with feeding. The four other souls in the room collectively smiled and went on eating and talking about the day.
Malachi padded into the kitchen first, his shirt was buttoned, much to Alice's surprise. Jughead handed him a plate, which Malachi accepted with a nod of his head. Stacking several pancakes in the middle, drizzling syrup over top, he placed it in front of Betty when she came to sit at the island.
"Who's ready for today?" Sweet Pea had a nervous smile plastered to his face. "I'm not."
"Will you relax? Just keep stuffin' your face, refrain from answerin' anyone directly and we might be able to escape unscathed." Fangs clapped a hand on his buddy's shoulder.
"I wouldn't bet on it. The Aunty's are in full swing today. Fresh meat, remember?" Malachi sipped at his coffee, eyes meeting Betty's.
"Please stop talking about it like we're jumping into a lake filled with piranhas." Betty stabbed a bit of pancake, shoveling it begrudgingly into her mouth.
"Oh, but we are Betty. It's worse than the league of evil ex boyfriends. This is worse than Gideon." Malachi laughed at their inside joke.
"Haha. I don't think it's funny. I'm nervous." Gulping down half her mug of coffee, Betty side eyed Malachi. She missed her nice normal mornings. Mornings when she didn't feel like she might die from the stress. "Is my face alright? I don't want everyone asking about it."
"You've healed up nicely sweetheart. It's barely noticeable. We should all be so lucky." Alice smiled at Betty, then went for a baby. Scooping up Dagwood in her arms and kissing him on his chubby cheek.
"Let me finish getting ready and we can leave early. I promised Miss Alma I would stop by before everyone else got there." Betty finished her coffee, placing the mug in the sink with her already soaking dish, then raced for the stairs.
…*...*...
"I was hoping you'd come by soon. Today is as good as any." Pulling a box from the top shelf in her closet, Alma swiped at the layer of dust that had collected on top.
"I probably should have come sooner, but I had to catch up on school work. I was a little embarrassed too." Twisting her fingers in her lap, Betty wiggled her nose and looked out of the bedroom door toward the living room.
Malachi was sitting on the couch with Sweet Pea. They both smiled at her and winked, she felt the blush rise over her cheeks. The bed dipped next to her, Alma's hand took hold of Bettys, warm and inviting. Smiling, Alma lifted the wooden lid. Inside was a dark satin material, it was sectioned off into several smaller spaces. Alma's fingers took hold of a small black hinged box. A jolt of excitement shot through Betty at the sight of it. Glancing back at Malachi, Betty bit her lip, he definitely knew what was going on.
"My Anthony was supposed to get this box, give it to Benny, but she's not like you." The older woman smiled at the nervous girl next to her. "I know it seems like a lot, you're young, a senior in high school. You can handle this mija, you're everything he needs, and so much more. Come here you little shit!"
A loud obnoxious laugh rang out, Betty watched as Malachi and Sweet Pea playfully punch each other. A scuffle from the couch to the bedroom door had Alma shaking her head, the chandelier earrings she wore made a tinkling noise with her movement. The boys righted themselves before entering their Grandmother's bedroom, smoothing out their button up shirts and adjusting their belts and ties.
"You really don't know what you've got yourself into Betty. Payasos. Knock it off, be serious for once in your life." Looking from one of her grandsons to the other, Alma silently prayed for strength.
"Sorry Abuela." They spoke in unison, hands straight to their sides, no nonsense going on now.
"Sure you are, a picture of grief the both of you. Mira, Malachi, you give it to her." Alma had waited for quite some time to hand this particular piece down. Fil would be sure to throw a fit, let him, if he dared. Alma was sick of the mind games between Benny and the boys. This Thanksgiving wouldn't showcase her Mal as the piñata for everyone to take a verbal whack at.
Malachi took the small hinged box from his Grandma, looking her in the eye for reassurance. She winked at him, a small smile playing at her lips. Taking hold of Sweet Pea's hand with her own, Alma tugged him to her. His long arm swung up and over her shoulders. They watched and waited.
"You don't have to marry me for real for real, but you're inked so you can't run now." The look on his face was fierce, her heart skipped several beats with its intensity.
"I'd follow you to hell back Chi, now open the box." Betty's eyes didn't leave his, not until Malachi lifted the lid, exposing a chain and pendant. Now her eyes welled with emotion, the significance of what was attached to the silvery chain was almost too much.
"Leopoldo gave this to me as an engagement present. I was a Ghoulie you see, no one really talks about it anymore. Little bits of information everyone likes to forget. Abuelo carved it himself." Alma touched the small pendant, remembering a time long since past.
"Grandpa was a badass." Smiling to himself, Sweet Pea looked at the necklace too, remembering when his grandma used to wear it.
"You want me to have it? Seriously?" She'd never been given something so important. A one of a kind family heirloom, handcrafted by a fallen Serpent, she felt so honored.
"No offense, but I don't want Fil to get his hands on this, it wouldn't mean to him what it means to you Betty. I want you to have it." Alma took hold of the box, and Malachi pulled the silver cord from it's resting place.
Unclasping the necklace ends, Malachi looked the pendant closer. A small skull wrapped in the body of a snake, it was the perfect symbol for who and what Betty was. Malachi had been swallowing hard against the ball that rested in his throat, painful and unmovable. He wasn't one to cry, especially at times like these, so he cleared his throat as Sweet Pea turned Betty around. Malachi lifted the ends of the necklace, bringing it above Betty's head so he could lay the skull between her clavicles and fasten the ends at the back of her neck. Betty's fingers instantly reached for the carving, wanting to touch the detailed knife strokes. Her cheeks flamed, all she could do was try not to cry as Sweet Pea looked at her with much more respect than he ever had before.
"Damn Betts. That's sick." Seeing his friend wearing the symbols of his family's past had Sweet Pea puffing out his chest. He felt the shift the same that his Grandma and Malachi did. They all held their heads up a little higher at the sight of Betty representing them, because that's what she was doing. Betty had inadvertently brought their skeletons out closet for all to see, for everyone to stop feuding and act right, a reason for Alma to finally tell Benny what was really on her mind.
"It's perfect mija. I knew it was for you when you held this one together at family dinner." Alma laid her hands over Malachi's and Betty's arms, she nodded at Sweet Pea for him to do the same. He obliged, his large hot palms nearly scorching Betty's skin when they touched; it almost felt like electricity.
"This is the blessing Abuela?" Nervousness overtook Malachi all of a sudden. Meeting Bettys eyes, he seen that she was already smiling. Releasing a deep breath, Malachi kissed Betty's cheek, then hung his head.
"Mira Betty, you're family now. No turning back, you couldn't shake us if you tried." Sweet Pea winked at her.
"Let's do this before your Mothers show up and ruin everything, pinche pendejas." Alma hung her head and began to speak in Spanish. Nothing Betty had ever heard before, but she kept her eyes shut tight, her fingers pressing into Sweet Pea's and Alma's forearms.
With her eyes shut, surrounded by her new family, Betty felt a surge like sensation, she almost opened her eyes, but something told her not to. It was one of the most spiritual sensations she'd ever experienced in her life. The heat from Malachi being pressed in behind her settled her nerves, keeping her from tipping over at the wildly unusual feeling of energy's being shared between the four souls in this room right now. Alma's fierce rolling tongue began to slow, words coming out longer, with a quieter tone. The older woman loosened her grip over Betty and Malachi, stepping back slightly. A final squeeze from Sweet Pea and he whispered "Amen", and released them from his grasp as well. Betty took a deep breath, and opened her eyes.
Nothing was the same, but everything had stayed exactly how it had been before the closed her eyes. Alma wiped a stray tear from her cheek, a smile of adoration turning the corners of her lips up.
"Now we can set the damn tables. Making me cry, you little shits." Alma waved a hand in the air, and exited the room. The wooden box on her bet almost forgotten, she turned back around, picking it up. "Sweet Pea, when you stop acting like a five year old, and bring your hyna home to dinner, I have something for you too. Put this back in the closet please. And don't snoop damn it."
"Who says I haven't snooped already Abuela?" What a way to break the tension.
…*...*...
How on earth were there so many people in one place at one time? How had Betty not anticipated this happening? She stood still next Malachi, he had worn the jacket from Halloween at his Grandmother's request that they dress up for this occasion. Tugging at the necklace that was a stark contrast to the all black form fitting modern victorian dress she mow wore, she had found it laid on her bed this morning. Malachi noticed the action from the corner of his eye. Leaning in close to her he whispered in her ear.
"You look amazing. Perfect with that necklace, wifey." His fiery lips pressed into her cheek, a shiver ran it's way down her spine.
"I'm going to be the subject of hate for years to come, I just know it." Worried, Betty looked over Malachi's smug face for any sign of reassurance.
"Fuck 'em beautiful." His eyebrow shot up slightly, and he kissed her again.
"You'd think they'd learn from previous experience that they all suck. You're stunning by the way Betts. Good choice 'Cuz." Sweet Pea wagged his brows at Betty, popping an olive stuffed with cream cheese into his mouth.
"Thanks Man, you didn't do too bad yourself with that jacket. A frock coat yeah?" Malachi stole an olive from the small container Sweet Pea was holding.
"Hell yeah, I hope you don't mind, I kind of snagged it from The House of the Dead. You had like six." Another olive, Betty shook her head. She'd spent almost two hours stuffing cream cheese into those damned olives and the boys kept sneaking hand fulls. She had to send Fangs to the store for more.
"Where's Fangs?" Looking all over the room, Betty couldn't seem to spot him.
"All these people staring at you and you're worried about Fangs?" Leaning in close to Betty's ear, Sweet Pea whispered. "He had a few drops to make, should be back from Greendale by the time Grams allows us to carve the bird."
"Alright Pea, back up off my lady. Maybe find your own?" A protective arm snuck around Betty's shoulders. Smiling to herself, she put a hand over the middle of Malachi's chest, the pads of her fingers feeling the smooth surfaces of the buttons there.
"Wasn't tryin' to snag the only pre-approved babe in the room Mal. I was letting her in on Serpent's business." The olives were all gone now, Sweet Pea left the empty container on the table full of unopened bags of chips, then folded his arms in front of him.
"So you admit it, you think she's hot?" A wicked smile graced Malachi's features. Sweet Pea let his head fall back, a wide toothy grin so much like Malachi's Betty had to smile too.
"You are a son of bitch Mal. Truly, you are demented." Meeting Betty's gaze, Sweet Pea kept his wide grin. "I must say though, if you hadn't of been wooed by my Cousin over here, I would have definitely swooped in and stole you right out from under Jughead's nose. No question there." With a wink and nudge on her chin with his bent finger, Sweet Pea walked away.
"Well, I'm not uncomfortable or anything." Again, Betty played with the pendant, running her fingers over the smooth and textured surfaces.
"Uncomfortable because you would have been fine with Sweet Pea snaggin' you, or because he just admitted he thinks you're fine as hell?" Tugging Betty away from the room, Malachi snuck them down a hallway. Reaching for a doorknob, he pushed the door open and pulled her inside the dim room, locking the door behind him.
"Uncomfortable because you two seem to always be having a pissing contest, and I'm almost always the reason for it." He'd already lost his jacket as Betty spoke. Her hands ran up his silk covered forearms as he ran his over her fishnets under her dress.
"It's not a pissing contest beautiful. I knew the whole time he liked you. You're just too innocent to see when these boys are lustin' after ya." His lips and tongue left a hot wet trail down her throat.
"He's not lusting after me Chi." His name came out almost as a sigh when he lifted her to straddle him.
"God I love when you say my name like that." Laying her down over the bed he'd managed to bump into, his fingers found her cheeks.
"Your whole family is showing up here soon. Some are already-" He cut her off with his tongue, urgent and plundering her mouth. His hips bucking up into hers.
"Wow! Last night wasn't enough?" A voice slid through the room, effectively turning Betty's body rigid. With wide eyes, and a tightening grip in Malachi's hair, Betty searched for the point of origin.
"I totally fuckin' forgot." Malachi lifted himself slightly from Betty's body. The two males speaking simultaneously.
"Jack and Jill bathroom." It was Sweet Pea who flicked the bathroom light on, letting the light spill around him in the doorway.
"I ain't tryin' to steal your lady man. She's my friend. I care a lot about her, and you. Feel free to mark your territory though, but I'd do it quickly. Your Ma just rolled through with Fil and Dre." Turning from the display on the full size mattress of the spare bedroom, Sweet Pea pulled out his phone to check messages.
"How long were you lurking in there Pea?" Tucking his shirt back into his pants, Malachi came to stand next to his cousin.
"Long enough. I was smokin' a bowl. Couldn't you smell it? Nah, probably not through the toilet paper roll and dryer sheets." Handing Malachi his chillem and lighter, Sweet Pea let his eyes wander over to Betty who was pushing her dress down over her thighs. He was a sucker for fishnets afterall.
"Hey! Who's in that room Sweets?" Fangs came into view on the other side of the bathroom. Betty let out a long breath, pushing through the boys to get to the bathroom mirror. "Oh, well damn."
"Damn is right. I have to fix my hair and my lipstick." Betty started pulling pins from the back of her head.
"You might want to check your lipstick too cuz. It's not exactly your color." Making a little grimace at Malachi, Sweet Pea moved out of the way of his irritated cousin.
"I came to find you, your Mom is here." Fangs leaned is backside on the bathroom counter, looking at Betty for the first time. "Oh shit. Is that what I think it is?" His fingers skimmed her sternum as he lifted the pendant from between the lapels of her dress.
"It sure is. Abuela gave the blessing this morning. You missed it man, but duty calls." Sweet Pea handed the toilet paper roll to Malachi.
"Damn! Oh well. At least I'm here for the brawl." Rubbing his hands together much like Montgomery Burns, Fangs face lit up.
"It's not gonna end in a brawl. Didn't you bring anything nicer to wear Fogarty? Grams is gonna get your ass if you walk in there like that." Giving Sweet Pea back his weed and lighter, Malachi pointed to the jeans and t-shirt Fangs was wearing.
"I have to change. That's why was coming in here, but you clowns were all locked away. Hope you don't mind, I took a few things from your never ending supply of suits and vests." Leaving the bathroom, Fangs went for the black bag on the bed in the adjacent room.
"All is well brotha. Did the Moms look pissed?" Wiping at the lipstick on his face, Malachi nudged Betty's hip with his own.
"Not any more than usual. Although, I am glad I get to go home to my Mom. She's crazy, but damn, not like your Mom's." Fangs had disappeared somewhere in the other room, the sounds of belt buckles and zippers coming from the recesses of the dim lit room.
"Well, I'd take your crazy Mom over mine anyday Fangs. Total bullshit, I have to get high just to eat a meal with Kitty, the super fun meth addict." The lighter came to life, the flame lapping at the darkened end of the glass tube that was in Sweet Pea's mouth. Betty watched it with fascination.
"Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em all. Let's get this shit done already. All I wanna do is get my Lady home and chill. You jokers comin' over tonight? I've got four other rooms with no one in 'em." Slipping his arms through the sleeves of his coat, Malachi waited for an answer from Fangs and Sweet Pea.
"I'm too down. Can we roll with you after this? I got a ride back from Red." Fangs came into view, the brilliant gold vest he wore was a stark contrast to the charcoal frock coat he wore.
"Of course. Are we all adequately inebriated and ready to be dead inside?" Raising his arms in the air beside him, Malachi let that devilish smirk tug at his lips.
"Let's do this. Betts?" Sweet Pea held out an elbow to her and she smiled at him. Accepting his arm, she laced her own through his and they exited the bathroom together.
"This doesn't exactly backup your claims of innocence Sweets." Malachi flicked his cousin's ear from behind.
"Ow. Son of a bitch man! I was just being a gentleman. Damn!" Holding Betty's arm tighter to his side, Sweet Pea led her through the doorway to the hallway. "This is where I have to leave you to the wolves Betts. May God bless and protect you." Half kidding, Sweet Pea kissed her cheek and let her arm loose.
"What a moron. You'll be fine. At least we know you can take a punch." Fangs clapped Betty on the shoulder, winking at her as he moved past her in the hallway.
"Last chance to escape beautiful." Taking her face in his palms, Malachi searched Betty's eyes.
"I know I'm not going to win your Mom over, or Fil, but I'm here for the long haul. I'm not going anywhere." Lifting herself up on her tiptoes, Betty kissed Malachi lightly on the lips. Wiping the lipstick from his mouth with a smile.
"Good, because they spotted us. Come on, let's sit." Guiding Betty through the throng of cousins and aunts and uncles, hugging every person amd introducing Betty to them, it felt like took about fifteen minutes to get to the table with Sweet Pea and Fangs.
"Jesus. Took you long enough. At least you're still alive, for now." Fangs was laughing, slapping the back if his hand on Sweet Pea's arm.
"Don't forget you're sitting at the big table Fangs, there's room enough for the bitches of Southside to impale you and set you in the lawn." Malachi slid Betty's chair in for her, then took a seat himself.
"Hey now, let's not give those bitches any ideas alright Mal?" Sweet Pea leaned over the table a little.
"Sweets, have you been drinking?" Concern written all over her face, Betty grabbed at Sweet Pea's lapels, sniffing him again.
"Just a little baby girl, don't trip. Fangs partook in the pre dinner drinky drink. You're not yellin' at him." Laughing loudly, Sweet Pea gave Fangs knuckles.
"Keep it down Pea, what the hell. Your Grandma will be disappointed. Here, eat one of these." She popped a mint into Sweet Pea's mouth, he started chewing, leaning on his elbow and watching Betty.
"You gonna save us from our junkie Mother's Betts? Where were you ten years ago?" Patting Betty's arm, Sweet Pea sat back in his seat, shaking his head.
"I'm trying to save you from the wrath. I can't keep you from their terrible choices, or what they've already done, but I can save you from yourself. Betty felt her heart break at the look Sweet Pea gave her. She wished like hell she could take away every angry instance, every hate filled word, every sting of a belt or the clap of a hand that Sweet Pea and Malachi endured. She wanted to keep them locked away in her heart, safe from the inhuman degree that her boys had grown up in, but alas, she couldn't. She could only hold a hand, give a breath mint or send home food weekly. Sweet Pea would never say it, but he could seriously call Betty one of his best friends.
"Let me see you." Bettys fingers slid through his thick black hair; so different from Malachi's, but so very similar. She fixed his jacket, and did her best to put as much love in her small touch as she could. He deserved at least some love, from someone other than their Grandma.
"Thanks Betts. Honest to God, thank you." His face set in seriousness, Sweet Pea squeezed Betty's smaller hand in his own. For an instant, Sweet Pea forgot that his Mother was making her way over to their table. That she was drunk or high on meth, maybe both; a far cry from his toke in the bathroom amd a swig from Fangs flask of whiskey in his breast pocket. For a split second, he felt what last night was like. To sit with family, peaceful and calm. But they all sat in the eye of the storm, the center of the chaos and hell that would be let loose in mere moments as Kittie and Benny made their way toward the table.
"How convenient, the Northsider is holding down the fort. Alas Benny, all is well in the world." A beyond skinny woman, looking about forty years their senior pulled on the back of a chair with long chipped red nails.
"I bet that's not all she's holdin' down." Fil laughed to himself, well aware that he'd been heard.
"Fil, enough!" Alma's booming voice shut the catty bunch right up. "Sit down and just shut your dirty mouth. I'm so tired of it."
With dirty glances in Betty's direction Benny, Kittie and Fil sat down at the table. Andrea and Alma followed after them. It was the most awkward silence Betty had endured yet. She could feel the eyes all over her, scrutinizing her silently.
"I'd introduce you Betty, but there really is no need. That's Kittie, my Mom. She's really very lovely, as you can see." Sweet Pea's face fell, meeting his Mother's angry glare.
"You should be more respectful Sweet Pea. You only get one Mom." Kittie smiled at her son, it wasn't lost on Betty that the woman was completely high out of her mind. Her frantic little movements and ticks reminded her of when she had volunteered at the rehab center in Riverdale.
"My bad Ma. I'll try to remember next time." Deflated, ashamed, wishing he hadn't have had that last swig of whiskey. Sweet Pea let Betty hold his hand under the table. She was grounding him, being the friend he desperately needed at this dinner.
"When are we sayin' grace Miss Alma? I'm starvin'." Kitty plopped herself into the folding chair, letting her purse flop to the floor in a thud.
"Actually, now. We were waiting for you to get here. GRACE everyone!" Alma made the sign of the cross then bowed her head, took hold of Malachi's and Fil's hands. The whole room seemed to follow suit, signing the cross then holding hands and heads dropping, it was total silence as everyone waited.
"Bless us oh Lord, for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord, Amen." There was a collective "Amen" around the room. Then the sign of the cross and everyone lifted their heads.
"The boys cut up the turkey for us this year, be thankful for them. Be thankful our newest generations coming up. For their protection, both Ghoulie and Serpent. Be thankful for those that ground us and help us in our darkest hours. Be thankful for your life. Go on, eat." Abuela waved a hand. Legs of chairs began to screech all over the room, people standing and moving to the large banquet table that Betty and the boys had set up earlier.
"Malachi. Sweets, Betty, Fangs. Go on. I need a moment with these ones here." Alma motioned toward the rest of the table.
"Okay Abuela." Fangs waited for Betty rise, when she did, the whole table seen the skull wrapped in a snake pop out from under the lapels of Betty's dress.
"What the hell is that? Where did you get that?" Benny was clear in her hate filled tone, the venomous words falling from her lips as she stared daggers at Betty.
"My necklace? Abuela gave it to me." Not knowing what else to say, Betty touched the skull, holding it dear to chest. The others around the table looked at her with shock.
"Let's see the ink baby girl. I don't believe this one settled down for one minute." Kittie pointed a boney finger in Malachi's direction.
"You don't have to show anyone anything Betty. You don't owe them shit." Sweet Pea ran his thumb over Betty's wrist, offering her the same comfort she gave to him.
"It's okay Sweets. I'm not ashamed. Malachi, would you?" Turning around, she motioned toward the zipper of her dress. Reluctantly, he took hold of the zipper and tugged it down her back. His fingertips pushed the fabric from her shoulders. She turned around again, allowing almost everyone to see her exposed shoulder blade.
"Nice work man. It's beautiful." Running a finger over her skin, Fangs admired the skilled work on her back.
"Thanks Fangs." With his irritation piqued, Malachi tried his damndest not to let it show.
"So you inked her. Good for you little brother. Don't change what she is and isn't." Leaning back in his chair, an arm dangling over the back of it.
"Imma let Grams deal with you Fil. Ignorant ass sonuvabitch. Come on beautiful." Taking hold of Betty's hand, Malachi turned her back around and tugged the zipper back up.
"I'm glad I showed up for this one Miss Alma, you've had your hands full. Congratulations to you both! Seems a little odd though, skippin' generations." Salty and sulking, Kittie crossed her scabbing arms over her lap.
Fangs tugged on Sweet Pea's jacket, then walked toward the table. Tapping on Malachi's shoulder, Sweet Pea followed his friend. Malachi put an arm over Betty's shoulders, holding her tight to his side.
"Does this happen every time? I mean, do they have to be so goddamned mean Chi?" On the verge of smacking the hell out of Malachi's aunt and Mother, Betty had balled her fists at her sides. The familiar bite of nails digging into her flesh gave her the much needed energy release that she craved. Malachi stopped their strides, taking both of Betty's hands in his own.
"Yeah. We tried to tell you. It's their favorite past time. It won't ever change." Malachi's heart ached when a tear slid down Betty's cheek. Immediately he wiped at the moisture.
"I'm surprised you made it this long Deville, those women are ruthless. You're lucky it's only been verbal assaults." Fangs handed her a plate.
"I don't want to eat with them Chi. I don't like them, not Benny or Kittie or Fil. I'm doing this for you and Sweets." Swallowing against the emotion lodged in her throat, Betty began piling food on her plate. Ignoring Fangs and Sweet Pea's attempts at getting her to laugh, she grabbed two beers from the ice buckets. Eyebrows raising on the foreheads of her friends.
"What will the Aunties think Sweet Pea?" With a fist on his hip, and pursed lips, Fangs mocked astonishment.
"Fuck 'em." Betty let the words fall freely from her mouth, not bothering to feel ashamed for her act of defiance.
"That's my girl." Hot breath flowed over Betty's ear, sensing a shiver of pleasure through her body. "I love that dirty mouth of yours Elizabeth Cooper."
Forgetting his plate on the table, Malachi pulled Betty's body into his. Holding tight to her hips, breathing her scent at the base of her skull. She imagined this was what her heaven would be like. Calloused fingers grasping her hips from behind, heated breath over the shell of her ear. She longed for this type of attention from Malachi almost every waking moment. It had become something of a past time, daydreaming about this man and all the ways he could get her eyes to flutter closed, or have her arching into his touch. She could think of nothing more enticing, more delicious than the pads of his fingers committing every curve of her body to memory. Then she opened her eyes. Remembering that she was in a gigantic dining room with roughly one hundred of Malachi's closest family members and she felt an icy chill replace the heat that rolled through her body.
"Later." Was all she could say, gripping the bottle necks with one hand and holding her plate with the other, she turned to look Malachi in the eye.
He couldn't help but run his hands over her curves, taking great pleasure in pissing off his Mom and Brother, Malachi was on cloud nine when Betty repeated his earlier statement about his family. Reluctantly, he let go of her hips, picked up a bottle opener and proceeded to pop the tops off of the beer bottles. When he picked up his plate, he followed Betty back to the table. Amusement played at his lips when Betty smiled brightly at their grumpy dinner guests. She simply sat, placed a bottle in front of him and took a sip of her own.
Alma rose from her seat, rolling her disgusted eyes at the group of adults left sitting at the table and went to the food table. The awkward silence was broken first by Benny.
"I believe congratulations are in order. Welcome to the family Betty. Who knew you'd be the one to wear the pendant. Such an honor." Poisonous words slicing through the thick atmosphere between the two women, sitting stone faced across from each other at the table.
"It is an honor. I wear it with pride, I'm blessed." Betty's smile never reached her loathsome green eyes.
"How does your own family feel about all of this? Surely your birthday hasn't passed yet." Choosing her words carefully, Benny simply raised an eyebrow in questioning.
"My birthday is of no concern to you. As far as my family goes, they love Malachi. Some of my family is actually here, at this table. I'm sure they love Malachi too. Don't you boys?" Taking a long pull from the sweating bottle, Betty wagged a perfectly filled in brow at her new mother in law.
"Mmm. Needless to say, you must be nearly patched. We heard about the brawl at the Whyte Wyrm. Filemon told us all about it. Quite the knock down, drag out ringside fight. Too bad we missed it." Fil laughed to himself as his mother wrinkled her nose at Betty.
"It is too bad you missed it. You seem to miss a lot." Narrowing her eyes, Betty lifted her fork in the air. "Salud." She said with a smile, stabbing into the mound of turkey and mashed potato drenched in gravy.
A large hand squeezed Betty's thigh under the table, eliciting a shiver that wound its way through each column of her spinal cord. It was the type of touch she knew Malachi would give her as reward for her catty tone with his bitch of a mother.
"Damn Benny, looks like there's a new queen in town now." A loud cackling laugh came from the thin figure next to Benny. Kittie let her head fall back with each bray she let loose. Sweet Pea turned to look at Betty, his eyes wide in mortification. Betty gave him a reassuring glance, they would make it through this together.
"A new queen? Get fucked Kittie." Fil was not shy about his feelings.
"Excuse you Filemon? Jealous much over there, you're as green as that snake on your back maricon! You get fucked pendejo." Throwing her glass of water in Fil's face, Kittie stood from her seat. Her boney little arms snaking into the sleeves of her cardigan. "It was nice to meet you Betty. I love you Sweets. I just can't be here." Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lighting the one she'd managed to tug from the pack before leaving through the front door.
"Fuckin' crank whore! Stupid goddamn bitch, Im fuckin' soaked now." Fil had stood up abruptly, ice falling to the floor from his crotch. The whole room turned to watch the anticipated meltdown.
"Why don't you keep it down. Maybe choose your words more wisely." Sweet Pea said after swallowing a mouth full of food.
"Shut the hell up, son of crank whore! No one wants you here anyway. You or the Ghoulie tramp you obviously pass around." Fil flung a piece of ice at Sweet Pea's face. It hit him on the cheek, and Sweet Pea let the ice slide down his frock coat, watching it inch by inch.
What happened next was a long time coming, a fact Betty had no idea of. Sweet Pea laughed, quite loudly in fact, picking the ice up from his lap. Then in one fell swoop, Sweet Pea stood on his chair, using it to catapult himself over the table. Effectively head butting Fil in the chest, bringing the older boy breathless, to the floor.
There was yelps of pain, and a crash as the two rolled into Benny's chair and she came tumbling down onto the floor with them. Betty continued to eat silently, as if nothing was happening, like there were no fighting Serpent's on the floor. Benny scrambled away on her hands and knees to get away from the brutal punching match she had momentarily been a part of. Even Fangs and Malachi had jumped to their feet to pull the boys apart, even to help Benny up to her feet.
Taking one last bite from her dish, Betty smiled at a bleeding and disheveled Benny, then drained her beer bottle and rose from the table. She tapped Sweet Pea on the shoulder, He looked sideways at her, narrowly missing a punch to the skull. Turning his full attention back to the task at hand, Sweet Pea punched his cousin one last time and jumped to his feet.
A crying Andrea flung herself over her nearly unconscious boyfriend, small sniffles being muffled as she tucked her face into the crook of Fil's neck. Malachi just watched speechless as Betty hugged his Grandma, took her purse and leather from the hall closet and left out of the front door, not a single word spoken. Sweet Pea and Fangs wordlessly followed her and finally, Malachi's brain caught up to him. Absently he hugged Alma, who was quite smug as she sat down at the forgotten table with her plate of food. Malachi pulled the keys from his pocket and walked out to meet his cousin, friend and Lady. This would be a Thanksgiving to remember, one they'd talk about for years to come. Spotting Betty already sitting in the Cutlass, he shook his head, taking not of the fact that he had locked the doors before they went inside the house. Opening the car door, he slid inside and slammed it closed.
"Who the hell are you?" He asked Betty, who was sitting cool as a cucumber in the passenger seat. Turning her head to look at him, she blinked once.
"You said fuck 'em." And she smiled.