Chapter 27: Other Baby

The following morning, Alice rubbed her hands over the exposed bump. The first she rubbed her belly she felt a powerful kick. Joy filled her insides, but then that quickly turned into guilt. She had a hard time enjoying those kind of moments when FP wasn't able to experience them with her. And that also been her fault. She was the one who didn't tell him about her being pregnant. Not once, twice.

Softly she crept downstairs for early morning breakfast. Normally she wasn't a morning person, but lately ever since she got back from the 'farm' she started to have more or a liking to mornings.

"Morning." She whispered softly to the girl sitting at the breakfast nook.

JB lazily lifted her head." Morning," She mumbled against the glass.

She bent down and touched JB's head again." How you feeling today?" Jellybean thought about telling her to back off, but instead she barely gave an answer.

"Eh, I guess."

Alice opened the fridge, pulling out a carton of almond milk and retrieved Apple Jack's from the cupboard. She didn't feel like cooking a big nutritious breakfast this morning. FP would be back in a day or two and hopefully by then JB's cold surpasses.

"Did you try honey for the throat?" The girl shook her head. "Oh, you should. Honey is a natural soother and it should help with the inability to speak correctly."

"Where's Polly and Juniper at?" This was first time JB actually acknowledged them.

"Polly went to see a friend in Nashville and decided to take Juni with her. They'll be back tomorrow evening."

JB's smile appeared and she began eating the dry toast she made in the toaster. Jellybean wasn't a fan of these remedies but at this point she was willing to try anything to help.

"Oh."

Alice grabbed a few strawberries and decorated her cereal, earning a look from the pre-teen which she ignored anyway.

—xxx—

When Alice returned from grocery shopping she heard hurling sounds coming from the bathroom. She went to the living room and found the couch empty. She followed the sounds and knocked her knuckles against the mahogany cherry wood door.

"JB, are you in there?" Her only response was the continuation of vomiting. "Do you--" Her face grimaced.

"N-n..." JB began before her words were cut short by the urge to gag back the acid bubbling in her stomach.

"Are you sure you are alright in there?"

"Yes...no, I'm not. My stomach hurts."

"Can you open the door?" Two clicks were heard as the door handle turned.

The door revealed a sweaty pale pre-teen with her head hovered over the toilet-bowl. She winced in sympathy. She must be in real hell right now. Alice grabbed her two hand towelettes, dunked them in cool water and swiped them gingerly over JB's forehead.

JB's eyes looked redden and puffy. With her other hand Alice took the opportunity while Jellybean was distracted, checked her temp.

"JB... I think we need to get more fluids in you." JB shook her head vigorously.

"No. No. I'm not taking anymore."

"I know you don't want to but you need to keep hydrated, JB. You lost a lot of fluids from losing your stomach acids." Alice retracted her hand and simple held it out.

"Fine." She grumbled out of annoyance, stomping passed Alice on the way.

Alice helped JB back to the sofa, curled up in purple velvet blanket. She pulled the thermometer from JB's mouth and cursed lightly.

"100.1" She caught onto the miserable look on her face and sighed." I'm sorry, JB. Looks like you got a little bit of a fever."

"Ugh! No! This day can't get any wo--" Her words cut short and she used frantic hand signals to urge Alice to know.

"Shit! I'll get you something!" She ran out of the room and quickly returned with a wastebasket.

JB took it and leaned over, spewing her stomach acid into the plastic-lined trash can. After she finished puking, JB pulled her head away, wiping the corner of her mouth with the tissue paper Alice gave her. She muttered a "thank you," to Alice and she took the cup filled with water graciously.

A few minutes after she stomach settled down again Alice gave her some cold medicine to get her fever to go down. When Alice returned JB's head was turned away from the TV. and light snoring could be heard within the small living space.

And then her phone rang... carefully Alice reached over the coffee table, silencing the ringer and answered. "Ello?"

-xxx—xxxx—-xxxx

FP and Fred reached their hotel at 3:15 P.M. He threw himself onto the hotel bed and let out a loud yawn before his eyes closed. When his eyes re-opened -- it was 6:00 o'clock the next morning. He quickly ate breakfast, brushed his teeth and headed out the door. He arrived at the work site twenty-six minutes later and followed Fred to meet the work crew.

When he finally got his lunch break. He decided to check in with Alice to see how JB was doing. He waited until he heard her say. "Ello?"

"Hey, it's me, FP."

"Oh, Hi!" He heard Alice's voice peak up.

"How's my little girl feeling?" A sigh filled the background," What's wrong? Is she okay?" His heart felt a jolt when the sigh escaped Alice's mouth.

"She's doing better, but she has 100.1 fever, FP. I gave her some medicine to keep her temperature down." He let out a sigh of relief he didn't realize he was holding.

"My poor baby, I wish I could be there with her. Is she treating alright?"

"She's fine. We are both fine. Now how's your work trip?"

"Ugh!" He groaned loudly." It's exhausting. I cannot wait to be back in Riverdale. Wow... I can't believe I'm actually saying that."

Alice lightly laughed." Me neither."

There's a pause in between the two of them. A soft utter made her heart jolt with wonder. It was a little out of the blue and for a second she had forgotten.

"How's my other baby doing?" He asked as he plopped down onto the recliner, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table to rest.

"He-or-She is doing fine, FP. It has been kicking me all day and I think whatever gender it will be may want to play a sport when their older." She joked.

He smiled at the thought of having a kid that actually wanted to play a sport for a change. Both of his kids weren't really into sports -- which FP had been okay with that. Not that dancing was a sport, but for Jughead is thing is writing and FP wasn't going to discourage his son from doing what he loves. Having this thought or possibility made an idea pop into his head before he could stop it.

Imagining throwing the ball in the background with his son or daughter -- he didn't see boundaries when it came to gender equality. He didn't care if it was a girl. If she wanted to play sports... he was more than okay with that. In fact he was overjoyed by that idea.

"And you... erm... how are you doing?" It slipped his lips without a single thought.

He could tell by the silence on the other end it threw her into a shock. He really hoped she was having an easier time. He knows ever since he found out... the way he acted was kinda harsh. She was scared and when he reacted like that it must've scared even more.

It had been a couple months since then and honestly he wasn't even bothered by it anymore. He loved having her around, taking care of his children, helping his son with college essays --but most of her.

He was in-love her, not the idea of her. No. He was in-love with Alice Susanna Smith. And someday maybe when the time was right he'd tell her. He wasn't even sure if she felt the same for her as he felt for her.

"Uh...wow, I wasn't expecting you to ask how I was. But since you're asking... I'm good actually. I sleep as best as I can for being pregnant. Thanks for uh... asking." She answered with uncertainty clear in her tone.

"Al... uh.. I was going to see if --" He stops, trying to figure out what to say.

"Yes?"

His throat becomes tighter from the lack of air reaching his lungs. "I-I just wanted to tell you I'm happy that you're... uh happy."

"Thanks, FP. That means a lot me."

"Me too, Al."

"Are you okay? You seem like there's something on your mind."

Thrown by her question, FP couldn't come up with the words. What was he supposed to say? I forgive you. I love you. He thought to himself as he pinched his arm to wake up.

"I-I... yeah I'm fine. Nothings bothering me..."

"Are you sure?" There came the question he still had no clue how to respond.

He cleared his throat." Uh... yeah. No... I mean yes." And at that point he wished she was in his arms, helping him to figure out the right words to say. He wasn't good at this all on his alone.

She could tell he was lying even over the phone. She knows him better than he knows himself. As soon as he lied -- her heart filled with worry. She stared at the clock (on the far left of the room) as her eyes sensed something wasn't right in those words.

"You are lying. I know you, FP. Better than you know yourself." A soft curse could be heard slightly over the phone. "It's okay. You can tell me, I won't judge you."

"Okay, fine, I'll tell you." She set down a load of laundry that she carried from the basement all by herself. "I miss you! Okay. I said it."

She couldn't contain her shock as the basket fell from her grip and all over the floor. "W-what?"

"I miss you," He repeated," You're all I think about when I try to sleep at night. I have a hard time not thinking about you -- when I eat it's about you, or sleep my dreams are all for you, Al. I can't be mad anymore... I guess what I'm saying is that... I forgive you."

The words she never thought she'd ever hear happened. He forgave her for everything, but what stuck out to her the most was his dreams. He had dreams about her? She didn't think he even thought of her like that anymore. I mean she guessed he must've to pull her out of a burning building, risking his own life for her. Then it finally clicked.

He was willing to risk his life, possibly die all for her safety. It never occurred to her until today what he really meant when he said those very words. Their fight seemed so long from now - maybe because it was only a couple months ago when he found out. Maybe that's why it felt like years, but only in fact it was two months ago.

"You really mean that? Just like that you forgive me for everything?" She asked completely speechless.

"Yes, I do. I realized that I was a little too harsh when I found out you lied to me. I should've given you a second to explain why. Gladys... she well lied, cheated... so when I found out you were pregnant through VIA Cheryl and Toni I was crushed. I'd honestly thought you'd never do that to me. And I was wrong... but now I've thought it out..." He took a breath to recollect himself."... I came to realize that I spent so many days being angry with you, instead of helping when you'd needed me. I've been in the wrong for the way I've been treating you for last couple months."

On the other side... she fought back the tears she had been holding onto. It's safe to say she wasn't expecting that.

"Uh... wow.. I can't believe it." Her heart skipped a beat. "You seriously don't have to do this if you truly don't believe it--"

He cut her off." No. I really do believe what I'm saying. I've been an asshole to you... I should've been supporting you especially with your condition in right now."

"Awww... FP." A tear escaped from its trap and slid down her cheek.

"Hell, you're carrying my child, I should be treating like a queen." His words were filled with adoration. And Alice was trying to keep herself from melting into a puddle.

"Oh, FP, don't make me cry... I'm so emotional. I-I-I just can't cry right now."

"Shh... it's okay. Let it out." He softly consoles as Alice tries to keep from melting.

Ten minutes after breaking down freely she finally had composed enough. Her eyes reddened by the tears she shed and FP calmly consoled her during all of that. She was quite impressed by his effort to keep calm. After they got off the phone, Alice was about to say," Goodbye, I love you." But she kept her mouth shut before those dear words slipped passed her soft lips.

She really did love him with all her heart and knowing he was starting to forgive what she had done melted away at her heart. He said he forgave her, but she knew deep-down that it was going to take time to heal her wound -- she caused with her lies.

Again only time would tell what could happen in the next seven months down the road. Right now she's focus on her baby and finding out it's gender. She and FP couldn't wait for the reveal on next Friday.