Chapter 53- Aftershocks
Wind whispers in the ears of the visitors. It's been a few days since Jughead had been released from the hospital. There were things that Jughead had a difficult time talking about. His dad was suggested a support group for victims of torture. He found that idea pointless. How was a support group suppose to figure out or overcome his trauma? He didn't understand what was the fuss about. He was in his room when he heard his dad call through the thin wooden door.
"Jug, it's time to get up. Betty will be here soon." Fp called through the door.
He sighed when he heard his son's groan. He didn't understand why Jug was being so pushy. He thought the group would be a good idea for everybody. It wasn't only him who was making sure their kids were taking care of. Fred, Tom, Alice, Sierra and Mary were all on board too with the idea. Jughead threw the sheets off him and groaned as he turned the knob. He was met with his father. Fp could see the exhaustion on his son's face. He knew Jughead wasn't okay. Jug hadn't said or utter a word since he left the hospital about what happened. His doctor also required a psychiatrist. He wasn't happy to hear his son was going to be on meds for a couple months. He also knew his son had gone through irreversible damage. When Jughead first came home, it was his first time back home. He remembered being abruptly woken up by his son's screams. He rushed in, comforting him in any possible way. It broke his heart to see his son beyond repair. He knew it would a extremely excrustating road to recovery but that didn't make it anymore bearable.
Betty pulled up to the trailer. She removed the key from the ignition and sat in the drivers seat letting her thoughts catch up. She knew exactly how Jug's condition was. She heard from her mother's not so discreet calls at night. One night Betty was really thirsty and decided to get a drink. When she reached the last step she could hear her mom calming Fp down over the phone. She could hear his desperation in his voice. She could tell he was crying. She was able to make out a few sentences before she gave up and went upstairs. Hearing that Jug was waking up screaming just like her broke her. She hated that her Juggie was hurting. She just wanted this miserable pain to disintegrate into its own bitterness.
She knocked on the door, the door opened with a hushed whisper. She saw Fp with tired eyes. She knew that he was drowning. He was only one person and he was taking care of a million things at once. Fp welcomed her in with a smile on his face. She loved how he could be in pain but still have this happiness in his face that wouldn't disappear. She wished that was true. The cold hard truth was that he was barely holding himself together and she knew it.
"Morning, Fp." She smiled the best she could bring herself to. If she was being honest with herself. She would rate her pain about an 8. Fp smiled back at her while frying up some eggs for the three of them.
"Morning, Betty. Jug will be ready in a bit. He was giving me a hard time this morning." He confessed as his smile fell from his face. Betty watched as his smile quickly disappeared from existence.
"Oh that's alright. You look exhausted, Fp. You should go lay down. Hey don't lie to me. I know you haven't been sleeping." She chirped as she eyed him closely. She then grabbed the spatula from him and smiled. "Let me finish, go take a nap." She ordered kindly as she pushed him toward his bedroom. Fp just smiled and reluctantly followed her orders. He couldn't help but smile. She was just like her mother. Will all his kids be like that? Oh dear god He hoped not, he thought to himself as he crawled under the covers.
Nine months went by, things were rocky around the sweet now returning innocents. Alice was now ready to pop any day now. Kevin decided to let go of his grudge with his father and gave him a second chance. Cheryl and Toni were going strong but a few bumps in the way cause a little chaos. Veronica was still dealing with loss of her parents. She missed love them more than anything. Though she didn't regret her decision and deep down she knows it was the right one to make. Fp was still overcoming his obstacles. He had been sober for eighteen months, he was so proud of himself. Jughead still had his nightmares but they had died down. He was getting better each day. Knowing his siblings were going to be here any-day now. He was excited. He had come to term with his obstacle. He was willing to be a big brother and it was still weird that his father and Alice were dating. But he tried not to let it bother him. It was inevitable to happen anyway. Betty still was struggling with her PTSD, she got some help to deal with her thoughts. It had been helping her for six months. She couldn't wait for her twin siblings to be here.
Fp was out shopping with Betty and Veronica. He hated shopping, but he had to learn how to deal with it. He and Alice decided to have the gender be a surprise. They always liked taking risks and gambles. Betty grabbed Fp's hand forcefully and dragged him to show him what she was looking at.
"Fp! Come, come look! This is the one!" She squealed in excitement as her eyes sparkled. Fp groaned and looked over at her way too excited face. Betty then pursed her lips and started working her puppy dog eyes. Fp rolled his eyes and sucked in his breath.
"Betty, that's way too expensive." He informed as he put his hands on his hips. Betty wasn't giving up she continued sparkling her green puppy dog eyes. She took a huge breath and rolled her eyes.
"Come on, I know my mom. She will love it. I have been saving up from my job I got at the Bijou." She stated sweetly as she used her puppy dog eyes one more time to get him on broad. Fp wasn't surprised by her persistence. She was just like her mother. She wasn't going to let go without a fight.
"Betty, you don't have to do that. I will just get something in my price range." He offered trying not to lose his patience. She was really wearing his patience down. This time Betty had back up. Veronica started to the puppy dog eyes to him to. Oh he was screwed now. "It's not going to work, Girls." He tried to fight their eyes but damn they were good at getting what they wanted. B V smiled at his face. They knew he was giving in soon, they just didn't know how much longer he would stay stubborn.
"Fp, please just get this one. I know you don't have the money but with mine and V's money combined we can get it. Just let us help you." Betty begged as she blinked her eyes one last time and smiled. Fp sighed and gave in. He knew that they were right. Alice would love it and it was more than the ring Hal bought her.
"Fine." He groaned as he took the money they handed to him. He went over to the rings and handed them the stacks of cash. Betty and Veronica smiled and started squealing. Fp turned to them and they shut up. They could tell he wasn't happy with them at the moment.
After he payed for the beautiful 14 carte rose gold diamond ring. Betty and Veronica start looking at wedding dresses. Betty was excited for her mom to finally be happy. She knew her mom deserved a happy ending like what fairytales have. Fp was just happy to be out of that store. He hated the shopping , it was long and gave him a huge ass migraine. He wonder what Jughead had been up to. He hoped his son was having a good day.
Though Jughead was actually having a very tough day. But his dad didn't know. He was just stopping by to drop off some supplies that Betty told him to bring to the house. He got off his motorcycle and knocked on the door. He didn't get a response. So he knocked a little harder but still no response. This worried him, he broke down the door. He hoped Alice wouldn't be too upset about the door he had just broke down. He heard high pitch screams coming from upstairs. He raced up the stairs quickly and turned the corner. He was Alice on the floor holding her stomach to her knees. Alice was screaming as her next contraction started. Jughead watched as she let out a pain filled scream. He knew that she was in labor. He got down on the ground and got right next to her.
"Alice, grab my hand." He insisted. She grabbed his hand and squeezed tightly. He felt his hand get this instant amount of pressure on it. She felt another contraction coming. She grabbed even tighter and screamed.
"God that fucking hurt!" She screamed as she gripped his hand. Jughead felt his hand going numb. He thought she almost broke his hand. She released his hand and he shook it to wake it up. She felt bad. She didn't mean to hurt his hand. The last night she gave birth to FP's spawn, she was alone cuffed to the bed, screaming in agonizing pain. Jughead smiled at her.
"Alice we need to get to hospital. I only have my motorcycle and my dad would kill me if I rode with you in this condition. I will have to call Mr A. Let's just first get you in bed." He calmly ordered through his mind struggles. He had never done this before. He helped her stand up the best he could and they walked over to the bed. Alice couldn't be more greatful that he came when he did. She was blessed that he was so helpful. She also really was angry that Fp wasn't here.
Jughead left the room and quickly dialed Mr A's number. He hoped that he wasn't busy. There was no way he was going to be able to do this by himself. He had never seen a real birth. He couldn't image the pain she was in.
"Jug it's 9 in the morning. Archie and I were just about watch the game. Would you like to come over and watch with us?" Mr A offered kindly. Jughead who was still very in panic didn't know how to say the word.
"I will have to decline the offer, Mr A. Alice's in labor and I have to bring her to hospital. But I only have my bike." He said as calm as he could. He could hear just silence from the other line.
"Okay Jug, stay calm. We will be right there. Make sure not to worry Alice too much. Fp and the girls went shopping for rings. I will need you to call him after we end this call." Mr A stated calmly. Jughead nodded his head and smiled.
"Okay. See you soon." He replied as he hung up and dialed his dad's number. The phone just kept ringing and ringing. Come on dad pick up the phone, he hissed into the phone. The line went straight to voicemail. He decided to leave a message. "Dad it's me Jug. I need you to come home right now. By home I mean Alice's. Alice's in labor. Mr A is on his way to bring us to the hospital. Meet me at the hospital immediately. Love you dad." He left a message and hung up. Why did his dad have to go to ring shopping today?
Thirty minutes later, Fred showed up with Archie. He helped Jughead carry Alice into his truck, laying her carefully in the back. Alice laid on her back the whole ride, moaning and screaming in pain. She hated every second of it. Each contraction was more intense then the others. She felt like her stomach was being stabbed multiple times. Once they arrived at the emergency entrance, she was carried onto a gurney and transferred to the delivery room. She was petrified. She missed Fp. Why the hell could he be?
