5

FP or Pop wasn't expecting to see her that day. They expected that she would in a painkiller induced coma but they learnt, never to underestimate Grace Andrews. FP was in the back too busy cleaning up, to look up. Before he heard from the doorway

"Dude, where's my stuff?"

"Dude, why aren't you at home"

"Because I need my stuff"

"Heaven forbid, you don't have your laptop for a day" he chuckled flinging the tea towel over his shoulder "Did you shimmy down the drown pipe one handed?"

"No, I snuck out the back door when Fred wasn't looking"

"He's going to kill you"

"Fred talks a big game. He won't notice me missing"

"Well, you still look like shit"

"You're lying and my bruises are practically gone"

"Are we sure this isn't broken?" he asked before cupping her face in his hands and gently prodding her cheekbones "Because you have make up on, so I can't tell about the bruises and you didn't say anything to the doctor last night, so how can we know that for sure"

When she finally looked up at him, what little space between them there was filled with tense. It was thick with tension and she realised that maybe her brother was on to something. He checked her cheek bones and around eye socket, padding his fingertips lightly around her face and if it pained her, Grace was getting better at covering it.

"See, totally fine"

"Mmm-hmm, sure"

"Dude, where's my stuff?"

"In Pop's closet of an office, Princess"

"Don't call me Princess"

"Don't call Dude"

He watched her walk away and wonder what the hell he was doing. Everything about this whole situation should have felt wrong but damn it, it didn't.

The bell above the front door rang and he heard an unfamiliar voice. That in itself was unusual in Riverdale.

He walked out to see a guy, he wasn't exactly tall but he had blonde hair, blue eyes. Basically an adult version of a corn child.

"Can we help you?"

"Can I get a cup of coffee?"

FP watched as Pop's poured him a coffee. Why did FP have this feeling in his gut that told him this guy was bad news. He knew this guy, was the guy. He looked over his shoulder to see Grace frozen up against a wall so she could be seen, eyes wide, listening to his guy's voice as he made small talk with Pop.

"Where you from?"

"New York"

"Long way from home"

"Yeah, I'm looking for someone actually. Grace Andrews"

"Wow, that's a name I haven't heard in a while" FP told him as Pop frowned "What's in been ten or twelve years, Pop's?"

"At least. Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm old friend of hers. Wanting to get in touch"

"You got a name. old friend?" FP asked him

"Dalton" he said reaching his hand over to introduce himself

"FP"

"FP?" Dalton questioned while shaking his hand. If FP could have crushed it, he would have

"Yeah, Dalton"

"You know of any way I could track her down. Someone I could talk to?"

"I mean, I would say her brother Fred. He has always been pretty protective, so if someone was to know, it would be him but he is out of town. Maybe he is with her"

"You know how I could get in touch?"

"Ohh well Fred is notorious for forgetting his phone" Pop's chuckled "Even if I had his number around here somewhere. Possibly be no use to you"

"Ok, well thanks for the coffee"

"Yeah no problem" FP told him "Have a nice trip"

They watched in silence until he was out the door and close to his car

"How bad is this?" Pop asked quietly

"Bad enough for a cast"

"Jesus"

"Princess, stay out there for a bit, okay?"

They heard the fainted, weakest

"Okay"

Pop walked out the front and FP walked through the diner and out the back to check that this guy was actually gone. It wasn't until FP was sure that he went, that he got Gracie out from where she was hiding.

Pressed up against the wall, next to the door in the kitchen. Big wide brown eyes staring at him

"Hey, it's okay" he said gently holding out his hand. She slowly reached for it before he quickly pulled her in tightly "You're okay"

"I heard his voice and I just froze" she said muffled by his shoulder

"Come on, I'll take you home"

"No" she told him quickly pulling away "I can't go back to Fred's, what if he follows me. I can't go anywhere because it pulls people into this. No, I have to get my car and I have to go"

"What? Out there by yourself?" he was angry suddenly "No way in hell"

"FP, Dalton is not a guy that gets walked away from. He's not a guy that gets dumped"

"No, he's is a guy that is going to get his teeth knocked in"

"You can't. You're on probation and Jug and Jellybean are too important. I can't stay here"

"Well, you're not leaving town either. You've picked yourself a charmer Gracie"

"Take her to the Wyrm" a new voice said.

They both turned around and saw Jughead standing in the hallway.

"Jug" she pleaded "How long have you been here?"

"A while"

"Honey.."

"Wait, just listen okay?" he told them "You won't go to the trailer park because Dad and I are there. If he is still here and he follows you, there is no way that he is going into The Wyrm. He's too chicken shit"

"He's got point" FP told her

"I'm sure there would be a clause in your probation about known associates"

"It's Wednesday night. They're not there"

"Where are they?"

"Elsewhere" he said vaguely

"Yeah you're right, I don't need to be knowing any of that"

"You can't go, Aunt Gracie. You can't. Think of how boring life would be without the Jones boys in your life" Jughead told her hugging her tightly.

Suddenly she realised just how grown up all the kids were now. Somewhere in her mind they all remained ten years old. Jughead dwarfed her now, as did Archie.

"I don't actually get a say in this, do I?"

"Nope" they both answered before she sighed defeated

She really didn't have the energy to fight them anyhow. She gave in.

#####

Once again, thanks for all your support and thanks for taking the time to read my little story.

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Should I get them together?

xxL