Chapter 26- Do The Unexpected

One thing that Cheryl never expected was having such a horrible mother. She remembered all the kids in her first year of elementary school; having their parents support them at the talent show. Not for Cheryl; her mother scolded her for even entering but praised her twin brother. She never hated her brother. No she loved him more than anything. He was the one who cheered her on when she came onto the stage. Her father did show affection for her. But when his maple syrup business came his main attention; he neglected her. She faked smiles almost her whole childhood. The only time she was happy was with her brother and now that was gone. Her father killed him. And her mother was just abusive. Verbally, emotionally and physically. You name it she could tell you off the back her head. It didn't matter what you call it. Her mother never loved her. She didn't even think her mother once held her. That was the cold truth.

It's been a few days since the encounter with her horrible halort mother. And Cheryl still had those words running through her brain.

"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."

She rocked in her bed alone besides Toni stopping by every few hours to check on how she was doing. She never missed school until now. She always had the best attendance in all her years of school. And then her mother's words started to have a great impact on her. She had found it hard to get out of bed. She felt like Jason had passed all over again. And this time she knew that it was forever. She had days where she wanted to have him back. And others she wanted to be with him. Or maybe she might be already—darkness.

She heard knocking on her front door. She rolled around in her bed fighting the insomnia within. She didn't want to get out of bed. But the nagging knockers didn't give up. What could they possibly want? She shoved her blankets off her body and stomped her heels into the expensive rug. She dragged her heaviness as she climbed downstairs.

She whipped open the door and was stunned who was there. She didn't even think anybody cared; besides Toni.

"Uh hello." She mumbled barely above a whisper. Fp and Alice were there. How extremely rare? She never seen them near here before. "What are you doing here?" She watched as the two looked at one another. They looked in different then before. What was it about them?

Fp watched as the door opened, Cheryl's eyes were red rimmed and had dark cycles. The poor girl didn't look like she stopped crying since that day. Alice felt her heart stop for Cheryl. What they were about to ask was a lot. How would she react? They hoped she would act better than she acted in the past. He knew she wasn't quite a fan of him and that was perfectly fine. But the father in him didn't like what he saw.

Alice was the first to open her mouth. She looked nervous and yet she was. "Can we come in?" Cheryl looked at them skeptically before inviting them in.

Cheryl stepped aside putting her nails by the door handle and pushed it closed before locking it. Fp took Alice's hand into his. He looked around at the expensive merchandise. Three portraits with unknown people, two candlesticks by the main foyer. She led them a smaller room with dimmer lighting and dark maroon curtains. Alice could feel the odd absence in the home. It wasn't a family home. She only felt more sorry for Cheryl as she scanned the room. Each time more pain for her.

"So cut to the chase." Cheryl's voice came through both of their thoughts. "What would you even want from me? I'm nothing. Nobody even cared enough to take on me when Jason turned up dead. So why now? All the constancy. For what? It's not like I matter." Her voice was grim and her eyes had almost no color.

Fp was the first to speak. He could tell Cheryl's pain was much further than a band aid wound. "Cheryl, we are here to make sure your alright."

A scoff just breaks the uncomfortable silence. "Yeah right. I doubt you cared when I almost killed myself last winter." Pain still evident and raw in her voice and eyes.

Fp hadn't forgotten. He knew that she was still affected deeply by this. Alice's eyes grew wide and tears threatened to well in her eyes. "Oh god, Cheryl. I had no idea. I can't believe what you've been through."

"Cheryl, you're not thinking like that are you?" Fp asked as he looked her in the eyes. Cheryl couldn't believe how good he was. He could see through her.

"S-sometimes, I do. It's usually when I think about Jason. The guilt still burning me alive." Cheryl never said anything out-loud like that before. She never had the courage to. She was always locked it up tight. For so long she had been.

Alice didn't even wait for her permission, she just threw her arms around her and Cheryl tensed up. She didn't expect someone to care. She never thought anybody would care about her. She still struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. She wanted to be held. Nobody and she seems nobody noticed or even cared enough. She thought that— until Veronica, Archie, Betty and Jughead saved her life that day. She was ready to end it all. She didn't care anymore. She was willing to die. Fp watched holding in his own tears. He didn't want to show weakness. He couldn't believe that Cheryl almost died. Jughead almost died. Betty almost died. Alice almost died. He was barely holding on.

Cheryl finally breaks down after two whole Minutes of affection. She knew that someone cared. Alice was technically related to her. "Cheryl, you are strong and don't take shit from anybody. You sorta remind of myself when I was your age." She giggled at Alice as tears rolled.

"Thank you." Cheryl says as she wipes her eyes with her sleeve. She takes a deep breath and sighs. "It's just nobodies cared enough to hold me." Alice's heart broke in half hearing that.

"Never?" She asked speechlessly. Cheryl's head shook and tears brimmed her eyes again. "No. Never. Mother never held me once. Or even cheered me on at the talent show when I was in 5k. I was always a curse or whatever. She would praise Jason. And scold me for even trying. Telling that I'll never be anything. I spent most of my childhood faking smiles and crying." The details made Alice's eyes blur with tears. Fp never heard such pain before. Another deep breath was taken. "The only two people to care were Jason and Nana Rose."

Now Alice wanted to make Cheryl happy. Make cookies for her or go shopping like mother's should. "Cheryl, we came here to ask you something. And if you don't want to that's fine. We completely understand." Cheryl looked at them with red brimmed bloodshot eyes.

What was going on? Why are they being so kind? Why aren't they running away? Could they actually care? Or were they lying to save her from the misery and disappointment?

"How would you feel about being adopted? By us for real. No jokes involved. Pure from the heart."

Was she hearing this right? They wanted to adopt her? Like be part of their family? This can't be real? Was she dreaming? She had thoughts of thoughts running through her head. She stared at them with glossy eyes.

She looked up at them with her eyes dazzling. "Wait you want me? You want to adopt me?" She watched them nodded their heads with smiles on their lips.

"Yes, you need a family. And I know you already feel like you have a family. And yes the Serpents are and always will your family. But I was thinking about a more permanent situation like a real family. All completely legal and with actual papers involved." Fp explained as he watched her eyes. She looked so happy. It made his heart swell.

Alice pulled her into her arms like she would do with all her kids— each and every one of them. This time Cheryl didn't hesitate to hug back. "This isn't for charity, Cheryl. I generally want to do this. I'll treat you the way I treat all my kids. I know that Hal brings us together and that wasn't what I want. No, I want to be your mom. I want you to be my daughter, Cheryl. And it's okay if you don't want that I understand that." Cheryl couldn't believe it.

She was saved not once. But twice. And this time involved a family. A real family who cares and loves one another. Still completely taken back she opens her mouth and tears rolled. "Betty and Jug are okay with this?" She sees another nod and she feels her heart filled with something.

What would she call it? A feeling? No it was something much stronger than that. Way more powerful than a normal feeling. Something she never felt before. A family with real love. Not the fake kind. Real unconditional love.

"So what do you say?" No words were spoken. Tears filled everyone's eyes. Fp didn't even hold them in anymore. He didn't care if he was called weak. It was a beautiful moment. And nothing could ruin it.

"Yes! Yes! I'll be your daughter!" Cheryl happily exclaims as she throws her arms around them.

Fp and Alice held onto her until she felt like releasing. Cheryl helped Nana Rose pack her stuff. And once that door was shut. A new enlightenment struck. She never felt this happy in her life and it was true happiness. No more tears just pure happiness.

Arriving to a new home felt strange but also so right at the same time. Betty and her talked for hours and fell asleep watching old movies from their childhood. It was rare for Cheryl to feel happiness. And now that she felt happy. She wasn't going to ever— ever let that go.

Everything was at peace. Nothing was broken anymore. Nobody could wreck that—or so they thought….