Chapter 25- Fragile In The Mix
September, 14th, 2018
The next First few hours were critical for Fp and Alice. Sleep schedule was a mess. Getting little to no sleep. They were fighting their eyes to stay awake. Koel kept them up for hours on end.
Alice groaned as she flipped from her side to her back. She cried as she hit the call button on the side of her bed. She wasn't happy to wake up like this. She knew the baby would need a lot of her attention but she already missed her sleep and it hadn't even been a day. "Fp?" She whisper-yelled to get him to wake up. She was too sore to move her legs.
Fp heard someone calling his name. He slowly blinked his eyes and adjusted to the new sounds. A baby's cry. He groaned and headed over to Alice. He looked at the clock on the wall and groaned quietly again. It was two in the morning. It was too early and he would need to be at Pop's soon. He didn't want to leave Alice alone but he had to.
"Yes, Al?" He muttered as he handed Alice their little baby.
He watched as she sat up and undid her gown and Koel latched on. He never seen a baby learn that quickly. Alice was surprised as well. Normally Babies take longer to figure things out on their own. She could tell that Koel already got her smarts.
"Thanks for getting Koel. I just still can't quite move my legs. Their still sore."
Fp understands and was happy to help in anyway. Tomorrow they could go home. They both couldn't wait to go home. Alice hated hospitals and their food was just terrible. She really still craved Pop's. She always craved Pop's diner. Their the best burgers in town and no doubt on that.
"You're welcome, Al." He said softly as he kissed her forehead. Alice smiled and returned the kiss to his forehead as well. Fp sighed as he looked at the clock and laid by her side.
September, 15th, 2018
Alice was released to go home. Fp helped her get Koel into their car seat. It only took him a few Minutes to figure out the stupid buckle. After that was all figured out. Alice handed him the car seat and he set him down on the base. The ride back to the house wasn't horrible. Fp drove into the driveway and parked. He took the car seat off the base and walked inside. They were met by the kids. Betty held the door open for her mother as they walked inside. It was a nice day. No rain and it wasn't too windy. All very good signs. Jellybean hopped on one foot as she waited patiently for Baby Koel to come in the house. She couldn't wait to hold her baby brother again. He was still just as tiny as he was a few days ago.
She sat on the couch with her arms already in the cradle position. Alice smiled at the ten-year-old. She could just tell how excited she was by the way her legs her crossed and her feet cemented to the carpeting. "Alright, JB, I see you're already, huh?" She giggled as she set Koel in her arms.
Then she turned to Betty." Make sure you watch her. I'll be back. I just have to put this in the fridge." She instructed before grabbing the freshly made bottle and left the room.
Alice walks into the kitchen, dancing over to the fridge and places the fresh bottle inside. The first thing she can't wait to do— was a nap. She read online that you really should sleep while the baby's sleeping. Before she heads upstairs, She grabs her purse and takes out her wallet.
Betty watches as her mother came into the living room looking pissed. Oh shit— She found out. The way her eyes burned into hers only frightened Betty even more.
"Who ate my ice cream sandwiches?'! Fp glances at Jug. Jughead shook his head and looked at Jellybean.
Jellybean who was completely zoned out looks up and huffs. "No, I didn't take any." That only left Alice with one last person. And she knew exactly who it was.
"Betty." Betty tries to keep her eyes from lying. "Did you eat my ice cream?" Again Betty tries to lie. She doesn't want to upset her mother.
Betty fights the truth and sighs with a straight lie. "No. I didn't." Alice eyes her daughter one time.
"You did. Didn't you?"
She already knew. Her eyes water out of nowhere. Great she still was hormonal. She hated this so much. More than her hate for mustard. She won't. Will not eat anything with mustard on or in it. It had to be honey mustard. Otherwise she wouldn't lay a finger on or eat it.
Betty nodded her head as she avoid to look in her in the eye. "I did mom. I'm sorry." Alice could hear the fake apology from a mile a away.
She stiffened before meeting her eyes and rolls them. "I was just really wanting them and now there gone." Her voice quickly turned tearful.
She groaned again as she felt herself getting emotional over ice cream. Ice cream! Fp slowly put his hands on her shoulders and eyes her with compassion before turning back to the kids. He could tell she was beyond emotional. Her doctor said she will be a little hormonal for little bit. It will eventually go away. But for now this was what he happened to deal with. "Al, why don't you go take a nap, sweetheart." He lightly suggested. Alice nods her head before she turns for the stairs.
"I'll be upstairs if you need anything. In the kitchen, there's a small blue bottle in the fridge for when he's hungry later." She mutters as she walks upstairs.
Moments later Betty notices the sleeping children on the couch and pulls the blanket off the side and throws it on top of them. She carefully snugs Koel into her arms before heading up to the nursery. In the nursery, Koel was placed into his new crib-set. She remembered as she looked at the wood ;on how much hours it took Fp to figure out how to set it up. She was surprised that there was no wood shavings around the room from him throwing the wood at the wall when the pieces didn't match or fit together.
A knock stirred her attention away from the sleeping infant. She looked up and over to see who it was. "Koel looks so small." Jughead walks behind her and puts his hands on her waist.
"Yeah he does." She shifted her body into his hands as they watched Koel. He was truly an markable human and Definitely a treasure in most eyes.
The very next day, Alice awoke to softness in her ears. She was expecting to hear crying or something disturbing her sleep. Nothing. She heard nothing. She flipped on her side and eyes meeting sweet eyes. She notices that Fp must've broughten Koel into bed that morning. Fp looks right at her with his arms swaddled with little Koel. He was smiling and giggling. All the signs of a good start.
"Morning." She kissed him lightly on his forehead before leaning forward to peck at Fp's irresistible smile.
With two short stokes from her fingers Koel's Smile stayed printed brightly on his cheeks. "I brought him in bed around five this morning. He actually didn't scream his head off like we thought he would. No. He barely made a peep this whole morning." Alice's face drew with shock.
She smiled and peppered the little one's cheeks and forehead with motherly kisses. "Oh who's mama's good-boy." Koel giggles. Her voice was full with delight. "Yep that's you, Koel. You're mama's good-boy."
Fp, Alice and Koel just laid down like that for the rest of the morning. Didn't move a single muscle. Just stayed completely relaxed. Betty would bring them breakfast and they swatted her off. Jellybean went to swim lessons and Jughead helped out at Pop's. Betty stayed home to clean the house for them. She didn't want them to have to lift a single finger until further notice. When they all came downstairs to a clean house. Alice was blessed for her daughter. She couldn't ever asked for another daughter like Betty. She was one of a kind. She helped even if not exactly needed. Which really put the weight off her exhausted shoulders.
Things went by much quicker by the second week. It was moving in a much soother pace now that he was sleeping more. Which Fp and Alice loved very much. It was now the first day of Autumn; Otherwise known as Fall by many. Again Alice's favorite season.
She bundled up Koel in a soft fleece sweater before carrying him into their backyard. They watched as the bright-orange leafs blew through the breezy sky. Koel seemed to like the leaves changing as much as she did. He was smiling, giggling and his eyes were wide.
Fp was at work that fall evening. He had an emergency meeting at Pop's speakeasy. Alice didn't mind spending a little time with her baby boy. She loved her time off. She had a few more weeks before her maternity leave would be ending. She was sad and also a little happy to get out of the house. She had been cooped in their house for the past two weeks. Not that was a bad thing. No it was quite good. She didn't do the grocery shopping. No Betty wouldn't allow her. She ended up doing the laundry and other household chores. Which she never minded. She couldn't wait for the classic holiday; Halloween. Dressing up in funny or even scary costumes was always a highlight of her life. And maybe also stealing the kid's trick-or-treat candy. On many occasions Alice would do to her kids. Betty would always get mad and then finally forget after sometime. Now with Jellybean in the house; she had an opportunity to steal her candy. Many could say she was mean for stealing their candy. Others would join her.
During her last two days before she had to go back, a special person came to visit. She was sad that her six-week leave be over already. She was expecting to see—
"Mary?" Oh my god Mary was back. "Mary!" She exclaims quietly; not to wake Koel from his daily nap. Mary smiles as Alice's arms were wrapped around her. "I couldn't not visit my best friend. I can't believe you had another baby." Alice just laughs as she leads Mary into the family-sized kitchen.
Mary looks around the room and eyes were wide. It was much bigger than the old house. Nobody has spoken about it months. It was better off that way. She just adored the large cabinet space and oh the counters. Mary was already in-love with the house. Alice's eyes rolled at her best friend. "I can't believe that Koel is such a well-behaved baby. He sleeps through night and takes naps. He loves the outdoors and Fp's dumb jokes. But I'm not holding that against him. He'll learn sometime." Alice stated before she caught her best friend rolling her eyes. "I hope." She chuckled.
Mary rolled her eyes and sipped some coffee. "Be nice to Fp. His jokes aren't that bad." Mary couldn't keep a straight face. "Okay his jokes are pretty terrible."
"See you agree with me." Alice singled her nose at the little smirk on Mary's face.
"Let me see."
A confused expression appeared on her face. "See what?" Mary couldn't help but laugh at Alice's obliviousness.
"Your rock on your finger, Al." She pointed at with a grin. It wasn't too fancy but it sure was quite a sight.
Alice's face light up and her expression changes as she extended out her hand for Mary to see. Mary's eyes went wide and a smile rounded her lips. She's always know that Fp and Alice would find their back to each other; even since they broke it off all those years ago.
A Disparaging feeling stung deep like a surgeon cut. A deep cut silenced the voices and murmurs in The Wyrm. Such dispassionate stabs from heavy glass heels roaring caused such a Mean-Spirited chaos and malicious devil enter the seclusive hideaway.
Resentful glares grew upon the bar. Heavy drinkers became restless. Who the hell? And what evil Satan came to their territory.
Cheryl was working a minimum wage job; where Tips and drinks were her only pay. Cheryl Blossom never worked a day in her life. So when she had to slave over older, maybe senile old man; it came to her unassuming pleasure that she would be a bartender. What were the odds? Cheryl Blossom working a low end job. At a bar. Which wasn't as glamorous as it sounded. Who was she kidding? It wasn't meant to sound any Patronising fun.
And it all came detached by one seditious comment; or Hostel farcical remark.
"Oh for heaven-sakes, Cheryl! You're one of them? I expect this coming from Betty. But you…?" Someone scoffed. And everyone turned. "Like I said you were always a starving anorexic for attention you, ghoulish slut."
And Cheryl saw red. Blood crimson red. Her eyes hung like a dead human after a vampire sucked all their blood. Of course she never put it in the back of her mind. She always knew that she would come back and taunt her. It was never finished. Well maybe when she said it was.
Incensed Cheryl rolls her eyes and batts her long wicked eyelashes like a killer in a horror film. "Oh nice to see you too, Mother." Her voice full of Pretentious love and true scathing hatred for the woman in front of her.
Penelope Blossom snorts scornfully as her eyes stayed on her Ghoulish ex-daughter. "Oh please save the melodrama for acting, Sweetheart. Just because your empicated doesn't mean you talk to your mother with that impressionable tone of yours." Cheryl stood there with an incredulous look on her fair-skinned face.
"These people. The Serpents are my family. No matter how much you fake it. You've never loved me. Jason was always your priority and you know it!" She was getting indignantfied. Her birth-giver didn't have the right or the audacity to say what she can not like.
"A family? Cheryl, get your head screwed on straight. You destroyed our family. You and your uptight issues. You don't have no one and that's the way it is. Live with it, Darling." Penelope snapped acerbically at her former acquaintance.
"Enough!" Another ardent voice shook the bar glasses on the wall behind the bar.
Cheryl whipped her head around to see belligerently heated Ex-Serpent King, Fp Jones. Others felt another wave of ambivalent enter the now stolic room. No room for argument. Only one voice could fry them all into dust. No expiate could be spoken.
"You've got be kidding me? You think I'm scared of some forty-something gangbanger?" Penelope laughed egotistical to the bar filled with angered Serpents.
Again Fp wasn't in no mood. He was alerted by some of the Serpents about the disturbance and immediately got on his bike. And his mood only flourished when he met eyes with Penelope Blossom. Who his opinion needed a huge life check.
Now he was fighting his true anger building in his body like blocks and stacked very sky-high. "I didn't think I would see you on the southside, Blossom." He spitted out her last name like bomb on his tongue.
"I didn't Jones." She iced his name like he did to hers. To could play at this game. "I just heard from a close person that she was one of you ruthless thugs. You destroyed my daughter."
Fp just laughed with no humor in his stolic voice. "From what I saw and heard. You were the one that destroyed your own daughter and she's one of us. If you have a problem? Then get off my territory, Penelope Blossom." His voice was dangerously low. Cheryl could hear the revamped king hidden underneath.
"Go? Fine. Just to let you know. I won't stand for this foolishness. Cheryl, grow up." She let it linger before she turned back around. "Oh and Cheryl. I wished your father shot you in the forehead like Jason. Maybe, I wouldn't have such a Starving whore for a daughter." Unaware how damaging those words were to herself, Cheryl stayed strong.
Who did her mother think she was? Some classless rich harlot? Check ️Horrendous mother-figure? Check️And that was all that mattered. Cheryl fought all those hense words from her it was Illegitimate mother. Fp heard the bar door slam shut and quickly reverted his worrisome eyes to Cheryl.
"Bloss?" She didn't move or look like she was breathing. Fp sighed before signaling Jughead and Sweet Pea to call Toni. "Ignore her, Cheryl. She's nothing. You've come such a long way from that broken girl you once were. Don't let her get under your skin." As much as Cheryl wanted to do that. She couldn't stop hearing the words on autopilot.
"Oh and Cheryl. I wished your father shot you in the forehead like Jason. Maybe, I wouldn't have such a Starving whore for a daughter."
No matter how hard she tried that's all she heard. Was her mother right? Was she a whore? She was dating a girl. And that was wrong— according to Penelope Blossom.
Once Toni arrived, angry like she was rightfully so. Cheryl didn't feel any better. How could she left her mother affect her like this? She didn't want to. But she couldn't stop thinking like that. She wrapped her arms around her scarred deep-down girlfriend and listen to the disheartening sobs escape from the Blossom's throat. There was nothing she could say to make her feel better and it broke Cheryl's heart.
When His expression furrowed as he sat down in his chair. He couldn't find a way to calm himself. He knew very well that some stuff had to be let go. But this particular thing he couldn't get himself to let that go.
"Babe, what's wrong?" He heard Alice's voice flow over his thoughts. He shifted in his chair and sighed.
"Penelope Blossom came into the Wyrm today. And didn't have anything exponential to say." Alice could see the anger still boiled up inside and pressed her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry you didn't have a good day, Hun. Penelope is a cheap halot and she doesn't know the difference between classy and Total witch." That statement was enough to make Fp laugh.
"Although, I know you're right on that doesn't help the fact on what she said to Cheryl."
Alice's eyes flicker and her gaze increases. "What did the bitch say to sweet fiery Cher bomb?"
And what exited his mouth only pushed Alice further into outraged cloud in the dark hatred. She couldn't believe it. A mother said that to her own child; her own blood. Yet it again it was Penelope Blossom; but still wasn't right either way. It was also coming from the woman who sent her to a nunnery: yet Alice did that too. She felt sympathy for the young Blossom. She didn't deserve that. No what she deserved was a loving mother and she wished Cheryl had that.
Then a thought popped into her mind. It might be insane or psychopathic. But she didn't care.
"I have an idea." Oh boy what did she mean by that? Fp was excited and also fearful.
"What kind of idea?"
"I know it might seem like a insane or diabolical idea. But I need you to be completely honest with me."
Fp nodded his head. "I'll support you whatever crazy idea you have cooked up inside that brain of yours."
"Maybe we could adopt?" Now Fp was thrown way off the track.
"You mean like another kid?" He got a nod. "Al, we just had Koel and our expenses aren't the greatest." He told her honestly.
Alice sighed knowing she could be going insane. "I know… I just thought maybe we could adopt. Be good for once, you know?" Fp knew she was a little emotional still. He also did like the idea of saving another human bean from poverty. But also was a little apprehensive about that idea.
"Al… I know you want this but are we financially ready for this? Not to mention we're not even married yet." She knew he was displaying the facts and the cold hard truth.
"Fp, please…" She begged with wide eyes. "Someone like Cheryl needs as." Once Fp heard the example he knew why.
"You want to adopt Cheryl? Us adopt her? Al, she's been emancipated."
Alice began typing on her laptop and found some links about adopting a emancipated minor. "See, it can be done, Fp." She said pointed to the several links.
Fp leaned forward and looked almost speechless. There were several cases about it. He didn't even know that was a thing. He knew Cheryl was almost eighteen. "I see, Al. But there could be a likelihood that she might just want to stay the way she is." He noticed her sigh and came behind her and massaged her shoulders. "Hey, Al don't cry. It will be alright."
Then he sighed again," Alright, if she wants this Al, all go along with you. I do agree that Cheryl needs a family and maybe we could be that for her. Also we have to talk to Betty, Jughead and Jellybean about this. This isn't just a decision we can make without telling them, Al."
Alice groans just a bit before calming down. "I know that, Jonesey. I just hate seeing her like this, Fp. No teen or child should have to deal with that. And what her mother said was just cruel."
Alice and Fp waited for the right time to bring the topic up. They were both anxious and nervous to bring it up. This wasn't something you could blurt out or do without crucially and deeply thinking about it. After hours of going over and analyzing they finally called a family meeting.
Betty, Jughead and Jellybean all sat down at the family table in the kitchen with diplomatic expressions written clear in their faces. They were just as confused as ever. A family meeting. What was kind of stunt was this?
Jughead was the first to speak up. "Now what crazy idea do you have now, Dad?" He asks as he analyzes critically his father's stance.
Fp swallows his lump-sized answer down his throat and slowly flickers his eyes in-between the three curiosity filled faces in front of him.
"I know that this might seem insane but we thought about this for a few days now. And, I hope you guys don't think we're nuts." Jughead hears the nervousness in his dad's voice.
Betty switched her eyes back and forth carefully before she looked back at Jughead and JB; who were just as confused as she was. "Uh what's going on?" Again silence lingered behind.
Alice's breathing hitched just a tiny bit and she felt her throat closing up with all the anxiety attacking her insides. "Uh… well, Fp and I were wondering how you guys felt if we adopted." She explained as she squeezed Fp's hand with hers as they waited.
The question hung loose off her tongue and no answers were found. Betty's eyes wielded shut before opening again. Her mouth fell a-gaped with shock. Her mother wanted be unselfish. Which was a complete surprise to her. Jughead's head was spinning. First, finding them in bed, then surprise baby and, now this. He didn't know if he could held anymore out-of-this-world-ideas like this. JB being only Ten-years-old didn't know everything. But adoption wasn't something she wasn't aware of. Many of her friends from Toledo were adopted.
"Can you guys please say something? I know it's a huge shock and we're very aware of that." Fp added as he surveyed their blank expressions.
Again no word was said. Just eerily quiet humming from the fridge and the air conditioning unit. He could feel his teeth scrape against his tongue. Hear his heart pounding against his chest and blood rushing through his veins. Betty didn't know what to feel.
"Wow… I can't lie and say I'm not shocked. You guys are for real about?" She asked still trying to wrap her mind around the fact.
She watched Fp and Her mom their heads and then she shifted in her seat. Jughead could see the hope in their eyes and almost fought back chuckles.
"What made this wacky idea come to mind?"
Fp watched as Alice licked her lip she was biting. And then Alice open her mouth. It was still dry from lack of water.
"Uh… well, Fp told me what happened at the Wrym a few days and since I'm still emotional lately since I had Koel." And then it clicked.
"Whoa wait…Cheryl?" Jughead and Betty simultaneously said together. "You want to adopt Cheryl?" Alice and Fp nodded slowly and Jughead was completely shocked.
"Chery?" JB added to claifry what she was hearing.
Alice put her hands on Betty's flat hand that was on the table and slowly nodded again. "I know it's a lot. If you're not okay with that's co—" She was cut off by her daughter.
Betty shook her head and smiled. "No, no, I think that's amazing Idea. Cheryl's more like my sister anyway. Plus we have the room." Betty shocked both Alice and Fp. They didn't expect this to go so well.
Fp turned to Jug, who looked a little more apprehensive about that idea. Jughead didn't know what to stay. Betty completely took the wheel and dodged the oncoming traffic with that. But he didn't know how well this was going to go. He saw Cheryl's face at the Wrym that day. She looked so broken almost like the day at the river; before she fell through the ice. Now she was stronger then she was then. But there were complications with all this. One: Cheryl was emacipated. And Two: Cheryl seemed like she loved her freedom.
After take his time to figure out what he was going to say." I guess that I'll be okay with this. It's a shock to me to be honest. But I'll support you crazy idea." Fp smiled at his son and got up from his chair.
He hugged his son and then Jughead told him another thing. " I'm proud of you, Dad. You came a long way since you slipped off the deep end. You've changed so much. Even though I find this idea completely insane. I'll support you." He held his son in his arms and blinked his eyes.