Chapter 30: Name That B-A-B-Y!

Three Month Later...

Six months pregnant felt a lot different than the other months. Her changes were more significant. Along with the symptoms. She now had sore feet, waddled as she walked and her bump was bigger than it had been before. Three months had passed and now she's 24 weeks into her pregnancy also known as six months along. Her baby was now the size of an cantaloupe. Her and FP's kids came up a fun and inventive way to name the baby.

Betty wrote on the white board in three rows - Yes. No. And Maybe columns. She had been planning this since she found out that the baby was going to be a girl. Veronica, Cheryl and even Josie joined in on the game. Also in the last three months Archie and Veronica found out their parents love exchange. At first they were pissed, but over time they weren't as upset anymore.

"Now that we have our names, now we have to narrow it down." Betty announced.

Alice and FP sat by each other, nodding along with Betty. They had their names written down on the white board in front of them. As for how they felt for one another -- they haven't told each other yet. Both of them loved one another, but were too afraid to say so.

"Crystal." Cheryl said, earning a few looks," What? It's a very chic name."

FP and Alice shook their heads. "Veto."

Fred and Mione came up to the board, grabbed a pastel pink marker pen and started writing down their name suggestions. Alice seemed to like it by the nod she gave and FP looked uncertain by the name choices. Next Jughead, Betty and JB went up.

"So I was thinking since it's a girl, her name could be Angel." Betty pointed, toward the white board.

Alice sighed." I like the name, but Angel it just seems not like a name FP and I could possible agree on, I'm sorry... Betty."

Betty shook her head," It's okay, Mom." She headed back over the couch and sat next to Juniper who smiled.

"Grammy!" She squealed. Alice looked over and smiled back." Yes, June?"

"A name!"

FP could see that the young child seemed eager to say something. He got down off the couch, knelt on his knee." You gotta a name?"

Juni nodded eagerly." Yes! What about Daisy?"

"Like Daisy Duck from Mickey Mouse?" FP questioned the little kid, who nodded.

"Yeah! I like Daisy, she's my favorite!" He looked over to Polly, who giggled. Lately Juniper's taste for TV developed earlier than Polly had expected. Juni's obsession with Mickey Mouse Club only just started three weeks ago. She was over the princess phrase already and moved straight to Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse.

"Pleeease?" Juniper says with her tiny eyes narrowed and her lips puckered like a puppy. He sighed. How could he say no to that face? He always had trouble with Jellybean when she did the Puppy dog eyes. Alice couldn't stop smiling as her granddaughter tried the puppy eyes look on FP. She could see that FP's struggle to say no was very clear.

"We'll see, princess."

Juniper smiles and goes back over to her mama. She sat down on her lap and played with her stuffed bunny. FP continued what he was doing before and now it was Polly's turn.

Polly picked her daughter off her lap, placed Juni onto the couch before walking up. She took the marker from Josie's hand and began listing a few names she thought about naming the twins before she had them. She took a step back and revealed the white board again.

Alice's eyes started to tear up. "Oh, Pollyanna those are so cute." She got off the couch, waddling her swollen feet as Polly reached out to hug her with her arms around the bump. "Damnit I can't stop crying!" She exclaimed, furiously rubbing away at her waterline.

"It's okay, it's normal, mom. I was like this towards the middle of my pregnancy too. It's a bitch, but it happens." Polly stated, handing her mom a pack of tissues. Alice nodded in agreement and took the tissues pack.

"Yeah, it is a bitch."

-xxx—xxxx

FP strummed the stings on his classic guitar sitting on the front porch step of his trailer. His mind was wired with thoughts. And those thoughts were mostly about a certain Smith. No matter how hard he tried to stop thinking about her. Sure he forgave her all the months ago - only three months ago. He still hadn't utter a single word about his love for her.

"Dad?" He looked up from strumming his guitar, sighed when he saw it was just Jug.

"Yeah, son?" Jughead walked over him, sat down next to his father.

"So, Alice Huh?"

"What about her?" His son rolled his eyes.

"Are you that obvious, Dad? I saw how you were looking at her during the naming party game. You couldn't keep your eyes off her. You've already told JB and I, you love her so what's stopping you."

He removed the strap from his shoulder and set down his Guitar. A hollow hole in his chest widened a bit more as he fought back a sigh. He knew his son was right, but he wasn't ready to let her know yet. They've been doing so good without all the complications that come with telling her how he feels. Months earlier he wouldn't have been able to let it all go. He was willing to pull her out of a fiery building because he cares for her that much.

"I can't, Jug. I'm afraid alright." Jughead's hand squeezed his shoulder.

"It's okay to put afraid, Dad. She really hurt you and it's okay not be ready, but you can't sit there wondering what it may feel like if you would just tell how you feel. I know it's scary putting yourself out there, not knowing if the person you like will like you back. But you'll never know if you don't try it." His son parted with those very words, releasing his shoulder and letting FP think.

He looked passed the closed door his son just went through and breathed out in the magnificent sky filled with starry light. At night time always had been FP's favorite. He could let his thoughts escape him just enough for his head to clear. He threw his head back, yawning out loud. He grabbed his guitar, strummed some more keys before heading back inside, finding his son and daughter bonding over some stupid cartoon.

"Goodnight." He muttered before gliding into the dark hallway.

"Night, Dad." JB murmurs, barely taking her eyes off the TV screen just long enough to see her dad pass by her. Jughead waved at his father, sinking back into writing on his laptop while watching cartoons with his little sister.

FP shook his head, softly chuckling underneath his breath while he went for bedroom, closing the door behind him with a dreaded sigh. He changed into his PJ's and got into the coziness of his bedsheet. He turned his bedside table lamp off, closing his eyes as soon as his head hit the pillowcase.