Chapter 32: Longtime Confession
With thoughts bubbled up inside, FP made his way towards the kitchen using the back door. His heart leapt in his chest when he caught her walking by. He tapped on her shoulder, spooking her. She sighed in relief when she saw it was FP.
"Hey." Her smile enticed him.
"Alice, I need to tell you something." She stopped in her tracks, watching him very critically.
"Oh. What do you need to tell me?" She whispered, inching closer to him.
He began opening his mouth to say the words. I love you, no-- I'm in love with you, Alice. After all these months of holding back his feelings for her. Today, right now he was about to tell her how he feels.
"I-I haven't been really honest... I, erm.." He swallows thickly as he struggled against his confession. Why won't the words just come out? He's been practicing since he left the backyard. He knows what he wanted to say, so why won't his lips make his tongue dance out the word.
Alice looked at him with confusion in her eyes. What is going to tell her? Did he regret forgiving her? No. Please not be it.
"Are you okay?" She asked out of concern," Is something wrong?" He shook his head.
"No, no. Nothing is wrong. Everything is fine, nobody is hurt."
"Then what is it?"
"I-I am...
"Am what, FP?" Ugh! Why won't my mouth spit out the word? He cleared his throat, taking in the sparkle in her eyes.
"I'm--" and just then his words are caught off guard by an shrieking voice.
They both turn to see what is the commotion about. FP smiled when he spots Alice's granddaughter, Juniper sprinting towards them.
"Grammy, look!" Alice's eyes shoot around and find her grandchild, sprinting at them.
"I see!" She said in fake awe. "Be careful, Sweetie, you don't want to knock anything over!" Juni nods happily.
"Yes, Grammy!" She grabbed her brand new bouncy ball she got from Aunt Betty and started dribbling it on the hardwood. "Look what I can do, Grammy!"
Before she could catch it, Juniper tripped over her untied shoelace and the blue ball hit picture frame by the island and then the bouncing object flew over Alice and FP's head as they dunked. Alice felt the ball fly over her head and looked over at a stunned FP. He was throw off by Juniper coming in and then the ball fiasco left him lost for words.
Alice quickly raced towards the crying child. She picked her off the ground and set her down on the nearest chair. Then appeared Polly who dropped to her knees, tending to the upset tot. "Are you okay?" Juniper doesn't respond instead she curled her head into her mother's dress and latching her tiny arms around Polly's frame.
"Juni, do we need to go to the doctor?" Juni shakes her head.
"No, no." The little child cried. Alice looked over at FP, " FP, can you get me an ice pack from the freezer?" He tersely came back with the pack and handed off to her.
She wrapped the cold ice pack with a drying towel from the rail on the oven and placed it on the forming boo-boo. "All better, Juni." She whispered softly as she kissed the kid's forehead.
A few minutes later, after everything settled down, Polly took Juniper into the other room while her pain decreased. FP and Alice cleaned up the broken picture frame. Alice handed FP the broom and dustpan.
"What did you want to tell me before Juni came in here?" Alice asked catching him off guard.
With his eyes wide open, he stared at her, unsure what to say. "Erm... it wasn't important." Alice sighed and returned her attention elsewhere. "Ok-kay."
Later when it was time to sing happy birthday. He couldn't keep his eyes off her as she sang. Her lovely voice was music to his ears even as cliché as that sounds. It was nothing but the truth. He helped serve the birthday girl a slice of cake. When presents were all opened, FP grabbed pieces of torn wrapping paper and threw them into the black garbage bag in his hands. Alice came back into the room after Juniper and JB settled down with all the others to watch a movie in the living room.
"Thank you." FP's eyes flickered in the darkened room. Alice went over to flip on the switch and caught him staring at her. "What?" She blinked her eyelashes as he strolled closer.
Soon they were just inches away from each other. She could feel his body heat warming her insides as his eyes lowered to her trembling lips. The color had since faded and she hadn't reapplied some more. "FP..." His eyes register that he heard her. "What are you doing?"
He answered by placing his hands on both sides of her hips, pulling her body towards him and looping his fingers delicately around the fibers of her honey blonde curls before tucking one strand by her ear. She could feel his breath hovering over her lips.
"Something I've been wanting to do for a long time." His voice filled up with wanting.
Her heart began fluttering inside her ribcage as she saw his lips moving closer to hers. He drawls her in with a swift kiss. Her arms rope around his neck as his tongue searches her mouth with desire. She felt herself back into a wall as the kiss grows hungrier. His arms captured her in a blanket of safety. She feels his hands lift her off the ground and he carries her over to the island.
After sometime they break for air. Her eyes search his for an answer. Why? She wanted to know why he kissed her.
"Why?" She says in an almost whisper as his hands stayed on her sides.
He looked her deep in her blue eyes and muttered those three words. "I love you, Alice." Her heart crashes with the impact of those lovely words. She stared up at him. Seeing she is speechless, he continued," I've been not honest. Every time I'm with you I can't stop thinking about you. I missed you, sure sex is amazing but that doesn't stop the aching wanting for your love."
She looped her arms around his neck again and said almost touching his lips." I love you too, FP. I think I never stopped loving you even after we broke it off during the midnight club. I'm sorry I lied and I'll never -- "
His hands cupped her cheeks, stopping her from uttering a word. "I already forgave you. Sure I was mad, pissed, but not having you... I don't want to ever feel that way again." He captured her lips again and this time more passionately than before.
Alice felt him starting kissing her again, found herself getting lost in his dreamy eyes and wrapped up in their love for one another. Then all of a sudden she felt a huge jolt coarse through her body.
"Whoaaa!" She yelped out of nowhere.
FP pulled away, looking horrified. "What? D-did I do something wrong? If I did I ca- -"
She shook her head chucklingly," No, no. You didn't -- here give me your hands," She grabbed his hands and placed them on the bump.
"W-wow... she is a strong kicker." He uttered with his voice filled with awestruck. Another jolt hit his hands and he smiled. "This is so amazing, Al."
Alice nodded," I guess she thought Daddy was playing too much with mommy, huh?" She said giggling at his priceless reaction.
"I guess so," His hands circle around the large bump on Alice's abdomen. Then he lowered himself down to his knees into a kneeling position and said," Baby girl, close your eyes, Daddy is about to kiss mommy again."
Alice shook her head, laughing at him. She watched as he got back up and leaned forward. "Oh--" she was cut short by his lips latching onto her again and drew him closer, laughing. "That tickles, FP!" She squealed against his beard rubbing at her neck.
"It does?" She could hear him practically smirking through his lips. "No, no not again!" She yelped again.
He felt a jolt ricochet from her. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry!" He laughed," I'll stop!" Alice shook her head. "Baby Jones won, Huh?"
"Mmmmh, yeah our Sweet potato won."
Alice made a face," Sweet Potato, you are calling our baby a fruit?" FP nodded with a knowing smile. "Are you hungry?"
"No." He went in for another kiss but was stopped by her belly," Is our baby cock blocking me?"
Alice bursted into laughter." I guess." She rubbed her belly and whispered," Daddy's silly isn't he?" The baby responded by kicking.
"I'm not silly." FP defended with a smile." I still can't believe I'm being cock-blocked by my own baby!"
—xxxx—
Later that night, FP was at the table helping JB with her math homework while Jughead wrote his paper for the school newspaper; Blue & Gold. Ten minutes later, he got off his chair and grabbed his truck keys from the dish.
"Dad, where you going?" He looked around and spotted his son smirking at him.
"Just out." His son shot him a look," Are you going to Alice's?" Then JB's attention was caught and she smiled at her dad.
"Are you going to ask her out on a date?" Jug and JB exchanged looks and then looked back at their dad who was blushing like a red tomato. "Please say you are." JB pleas.
"I-Uh- just work on your homework." He stammered as he closed the door behind him.
Jughead darted his eyes at the door and then back at his sister," Wanna make a bet?"
JB's eyes flicker with mischief." How much?"
"10."
She countered." Wanna make it more interesting?" Jughead's eyebrow raised.
"What do ya have in mind?" He caught the evil look on her eye." No pranks." She frowned.
"Fine no pranks. I don't want to do that ever again." He knew what she was implying. The last time they had a prank war, their dad came home and made them clean it up. It took four hours in total. "20 bucks says that that Dad and Alice have a date and then Dad messes it."
"30 bucks says that he doesn't mess it up and they have sex!"
JB faked a gag." EWWW! JUGHEAD!" She covered her ears with the palms of her hands. "Gross. Ughh! Now I have that mental image, thanks A LOT!"
After the disgust wore off," Fine. The bet is 30 bucks!" They shook pinkies.
FP shuts off the engine and steps out of his truck. He walked over to the crosswalk, rang the doorbell and waits. The door opened, revealing Polly in her PJ's.
"Mr. Jones, what are you doing here?" Polly asked as her eyes floated over the flowers. "Are those Peonies?" He shook his head.
"I'm not an idiot." He replied, earning a small chuckle from the twenty-two-year-old.
"You'd be surprise." That comment made FP wonder. "My dad-Hal got her those when he came to win my mom back during before he was the Black Hood reveal."
"Seriously? They were married how many years and he got her flowers that she's allergic to."
"Yes, that imbecile did." Polly and FP turned their heads and saw Alice walking towards them. Alice noticed them and asked," FP, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to ask you something or more tell you." Polly excused herself.
"I'm going to see if Juni is still in bed. She has been refusing to go to bed all night long." She then looked at FP," Treat her nicely." She winked before walked away.
Alice returned her attention back to him." Are those for me?" She said looking at the flowers under his arms.
He nodded, retrieving them and handed her the roses. "I wanted to ask you if you would like to... Uh I don't know go on a date."
Alice smiled brightly as she took the flowers and then looked at his nervous features. "These are splendid, FP." She brought them close to her nose. "Oh, they smell amazing! Thank you!"
"So is that a yes?" She nodded eagerly.
"Yes, I'll go on a date with you, Jonesy!"
"Good, I'll pick you up tomorrow night at 7 P.M." He said, smiling at her.
He leaned closer and draws her in with a subtle kiss. Her arms roam through his thick locks as he deepened their kiss. Once they break for air, he withdrew and smiled as he disappeared behind the closed door.
She sighed in relief as soon as she heard his truck roar to life and the silent rubbing of tires against the asphalt road.
"Did I hear correctly? Are you two going out... you know like a date?" Polly's excited tone popped out from behind her.
Alice reopened her eyes and grinned widely. "Yes! He asked me out!" Then a thought popped into her head," Oh, no I have nothing to wear!"
Polly noted the stressed look on her mother's face and placed a gentle hand on her back. "It's okay. You can borrow my red maternity dress." The look on Alice's face gave it away. "Or, we could just go to Jenny's maternity and buy one there."
Alice shot a relieved smile. "Okay, sounds like a plan. Oh, my. I'm so nervous."
"You'll be fine, Mom. Did he say where?" Alice shook her head. "No? Maybe he wants it to be a surprise."
"I can't be it! He told me loves and now we are going on a date!" She stressed.
Polly's hand goes up. "Wait?! What! He told you he loves you and you never told me!"
"I'm sorry, Polls. We... well it kinda just happened. We were cleaning up the party room and you were with the kids watching Finding Nemo... it just slipped my mind."
"It's okay." Polly sighed. "See I told you that he felt the same way you do!"