Chapter 21 - Midnight Cravings
In the middle of the night, Alice woke for a raging craving. She started to slip out of bed, when she felt a hand stop her. "Where you going?" Fp mumbled through his sleep. He knew she was trying to leave again.
Alice rolled back onto her back and sighed. "Babe I want ice cream." She heard Fp groan. "We have ice cream in the freezer." But she didn't want that ice cream. She wanted brownie explosion. And it was only at sonic. She wanted it so badly. "It's not the same." She complained as she shuffled her feet over to her closet and grabbed her slippers.
Fp heard shuffling in the background. God this women was going to be the death of him. But he sure loved her too much. He turned on the side table lamp and caught her red handed. "Uh uh. Get back in bed." He ordered as he saw her form a pout.
She rolled her eyes and stood her ground. "No, I want brownie explosion and if your not getting up I will!" She snapped as she changed into more suitable clothes.
She was just in a nighty not very appropriate for a night errand. He sighed as he pressed his feet to the ground and walked over to her. "Fine I'll go. Where?" She grinned with satisfaction when she got her way. "Sonic." She said softly as his face turned to frown. "That's all the way across Centerville, Alice." He stated with a frown widening. She rolled her eyes again and snarled angrily. "And what did you say yesterday?" Oh great she actually remembered.
He huffs his chest and throws on his boots and jacket before closing the door. But not before he heard. "Thanks Baby" He sighed again before headed downstairs. Her cravings were going to kill him. He loves her so much. But he has work in the morning. Veronica asked him to manage the speakeasy and he took her up on the offer. He was having a baby. He needed a better paying job. He was grateful for having such an opportunity. He always had took the hard routes. And now he didn't have to.
As he peaked down, His eyes were met by his son. He wondered what had his son up at. He checked his watch. At 12:25 in the morning. "Jug? Where you heading?" His son jumped back and looked to face him while holding his hand to his chest.
"Betty has bad cravings." He shot his son a look. "No, not like that. She's on her month." He didn't like saying the word Period. But that wasn't the situation right now. "What got you up?" His son asked him as they stood in quiet hallway.
He grabbed his keys and turned to his son." Alice and her pregnancy cravings. Geez she's going to kill me." Jughead chuckled at his father's expression. He could tell he was exhausted. "What's Betty's craving?" He asked as he started opening the door.
"Brownie Explosion." He looked at his son for a second. "Alice too? Wow they really alike." Jughead joked as he grabbed his wallet.
"My these Smiths might end us Joneses." Fp joked too as he started to walk over to his truck. He then turned back to his son. "Hop in. It's going to be a long ride." Jughead opened the passenger side door and hopped in.
After a few minutes of dead silence, Jughead opened his mouth as his father turned on Lincoln. It was going to be a long ride. "Where we headed?" He questioned as he looked up at the stop sign.
Fp sighed as he gripped the steering wheeling as they turned the corner. "Centerville" He heard his son groan and he chuckled. "Yeah I told you it was going to be a long ride, Boy." Jughead settled in.
"You might be right. They will be the causes of deaths." He grumbled as he looked ahead. Fp chuckled again as he made another turn and turned on the radio.
After a 35 minute drive. They finally arrived. He pulled the truck into the drive thru and began telling them the order. Jughead looked at the menu and sighed. He sure wanted a burger. Would his dad be mad? He was starving. Fp looked over at his son and saw the look. "I need food" look. He knew that Jughead was like a human garbage disposal. Before his son could open his mouth. "Yes go ahead." This surprised Jughead. He didn't expect his dad to give in so quickly. He didn't even get to brag. "What you want?" Jughead skimmed the menu and thought long and hard about his decision. He was important to pick critically.
When he finally made his decision. He knew it was the right. Jughead Jones knew his food. It was like he was their own family. Well besides him eating them. That was too cannibalism. And no need to get dark. Maybe he didn't want to be dark. "10 deluxe burgers." He finally answered confidently as his mouth watered. Yep he made the right decision.
Fp knew his son ate a lot but he didn't think he was that hungry. He turned to the screen and started to place the order. "Two brownie Explosions and 10 deluxe burgers. And one corn dog." He told them. "$ 23.56. Second window." He put the truck back into drive and headed to the window.
After he pulled up to the window and got their order. He swiped his hand into his pocket and takes out his wallet and pays with his credit card. A couple seconds later they hand him his card back and he drives off. As he turned out of the parking lot and took a right down the road his son opened up the bag. He could smell the food whiffing in the small ventilated truck. He looks at his son who had already finished two of the 10 burgers and smirks as he was handed him his corn dog. "It looks like I have three people with cravings." He teased his son as he bit into one of the burgers earning a glare from his son.
"Jughead doesn't share food!" Jughead snapped as he took the burger out of his father's hand.
He rolled his eyes at his son. "Okay Joey Tribbiani. You watch too much friends." Jughead rolled his eyes in defense.
"No! Friends is the best show! And you can't change my mind!" He retorted defensively as he chewed his bite.
He just ignored his son's comment as he pulled into the driveway. He didn't want to get into debate with him. Jughead was very good at debating. He has been able to debate his way all the time. It drove him nuts. He twisted the keys out of the ignition and opened the door before trying to snatch the food from his son. His son might eat all the food. And he didn't need two Smiths kicking his butt. That was the last thing he needed. And he was sure Alice would still kick his ass. It didn't matter if she was pregnant or not. She would find away.
When they walked in the front door, Alice was sitting in the couch with her legs and arms crossed. She had been waiting for so long. She was hoping it would be a short drive. Fp knew he was in trouble. Jughead also saw Betty walking downstairs. She was in her pajamas but he still thought she looked incredible. He looked at her as her blonde hair shook as she walk down the steps. Betty saw the bags in his hand and came running down. She snatched the bag and pulled out her ice cream and smiled as she spooned it in her mouth.
"Thanks guys." She said as she ate more bites and kissed her boyfriend's cheek.
Jughead smiled as he felt her cold lips brace his cheek. "Your welcome, Betts." He said as he sat them down on the couch.
Meanwhile Alice stayed put on the couch as Fp made his way to her. He saw the look on her face and sighed. "What?" He asked as he made a confused face. She rolled her eyes and stood up. She couldn't believe he was late.
"You said it would be quick." She stated as she kept her hands on her hips.
"Jughead made me get 10 deluxe burgers. I'm sorry." Damn she was raged. He knew it was her mood swings. She pressed her lips as she listened to his explanation. She knew her mood swings were very tempting all the time. She knew that he drove pretty far away to get her some ice cream.
She loosened her hands and kissed his cheek. She couldn't believe she had the best boyfriend ever and would deal with her uncontrollable mood swings. She was overjoyed about the new baby. And the move put a little more stress than she already had. It had calmed since they moved into a new house. Fp watched her carefully trying not to set her off even more.
She cupped his cheek and looked into his eyes. "Thank you." She said as she felt her eyes tear up. Great her come the waterworks. She didn't want to cry. She was so sick of the constant mood swings. It was driving her insane. He watched as her eyes teared up and grabbed her hand gently and rubbed her back with the other free hand.
"Don't cry." He soothed as he moved in circles on her back.
She wiped her eyes furiously and she was annoyed she couldn't stop crying. Her back was killing her. Her feet were swelling up like a balloon. She hated how she looked in clothes. She felt fat. And now she couldn't stop crying. No matter what she did. It always ended up with crying. She was so hormonal all the time. So tired and cranky. She just wanted to be less hormonal.
"I'm trying, Fp!" She snapped not intentionally. She sighed and blinked back the tears. She watched him wince at her outburst. "I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't mean to snap. It's just I have these mood swings that I can't control. And I'm so freaking emotional. My feet are killing me. I feel fat My back feels like it has knifes. I'm tired of crying. And now I'm crying again, Ugh! I'm so fat!" She explained as hormonal tears rolled down her cheeks.
Fp watched as she expressed her frustrations. He understood she was emotional and was carrying his baby. Their baby. He just wanted to make her feel less cranky and more happy. He pulled her close and kissed lovingly on her forehead
"Alice, shh! Calm down, Baby. It's going to be okay. I will be there. And no your perfect. Your not fat. You're pregnant. It's normal. I can give you foot massages. More trips to the store for your cravings. Whatever you like. I'll get it for you, Allie." She started to calm down. "And soon we'll be having this bundle in our arms. It will be all worth it in the end." She smiled up at him as he kissed her tears away.
She couldn't be anymore thankful for such a supportive boyfriend and father of their baby. She appreciated all his efforts. She knew she was a lot to handle.
She grabbed her ice cream and started eating her feels away. It was helping. She didn't feel like crying anymore. She looked up at him as they sat on his lap. "I love you so much. I know I'm a lot to handle. And I'm so happy that I have you. You make me feel the way I should feel. It took me a long time to try to tell you this. But I can't stand the overbearing and protectiveness. I just wanted Pop's yesterday and I snuck out to get some space. And I know you just are worried after what happened. But I'm not going. I'm here to stay." He listened to her words carefully.
Then he realized that he had been way overbroad. He knew he shouldn't be so protective. He just felt like after everything that happened three months ago that it was better to keep them close.
"Oh Allie. I didn't mean to be like that. It's been hard not to act like that after what happened. I'm happy you brought that to my attention. I'll try to not do that so much." He apologized kissing her lightly, before sneaking a bite of her ice cream.
She glared at him and snatched it away from him. "Mine! What's up with people stealing my food!" She snapped as she and Jug shared a look.
"I know. It's annoying." Jughead budded in earning a glare from his father. "What? It is." He side-eyed Alice. Who got his point.
"He's right, Fp." She added as she walked over to Jughead. "Jug, can I have one of your burgers? Please?" She asked nicely as she lowered her eyes into puppy eyes.
Jughead walked over to the abandoned bag and pulled out one of the burgers and handed it her. Alice took the burger into her mouth and moaned. "Thanks Jug." She said with her mouthful. Fp and Betty glared at him.
Jughead put his hands up in defense. "Hey she asked and I can't say no to pregnant women." He defended as he sipped his drink. Betty's eyes widened and her ears peaked up. Alice caught the look on her.
"Don't get any ideas, Elizabeth." She warmed as she ate the burger in three whole bites. The baby was making her eat like Jughead.
"Jughead that's not cool! You yell at me for just looking at your burger." Betty complained with her hands on her hips. Sometimes she didn't like her boyfriend. Especially when It came down to food. Fp rolled his eyes and sighed.
"I told you to treat her like a gentleman, Boy." He said sternly as he pointed his finger at his son.
"But—"
"No even with food! Let her have some of your food! But you let my pregnant girlfriend! Your girlfriend's mom have your food but not me or Betty?" His son nodded his head with a evil smirk.
"She asked. You just take my food. I get my eating habits from you! You know!" Jughead agreed as he ate his last burger.
Alice started walking away. "I'm going to bed. Night." She called as she started heading for the stairs. Fp stood put with his finger still pointed. She turned back around and glared. "Fp!" He turned to face the furious Pregnant woman. "Coming." He called as he watched her closely.
"This Isn't over, Jug." He said as he walked away with his head facing him. "Forsythe Pendleton Jones the 2nd! Get your ass up here! Your pregnant girlfriend wants to go to bed!" Alice shouted from upstairs.
Jughead and Betty quietly snickered as they watched Fp hurry upstairs as quick as he could. "He's whipped." Jughead muttered to Betty. Betty rolled her eyes and slapped his arm. "Knock off Softy." She taunted as she dragged him to her bed room and they laid down.
Jughead knew he wouldn't never get out of that comment. Smiths were sassy. That was a known fact. Everybody knew that a Smith was sassy. It was just knowned to mind. Fp knew that wasn't an mood swing that was just straight Alice Susanna Smith. And he was glad to have her back and also terrified. If he was going to be honest? Alice did scare him. What man wouldn't be? She's more feisty than a tiger. That's a whole lot of feisty in one person.
As he laid his head down on the pillow as he spooned her in his arms. He laid his hand over her rounded stomach and smiled. "Here to stay" he mutters softly as he closed his eyes.
He could get used to this. And he was lucky to have such an amazing women in his life. A women with only one name that fit. Alice Susanna. Maybe one day it will be Jones at the end. But for now. He was content with what he already had.