It was easy to fall into a routine in Riverdale, people did it all the time. When she was younger, Grace fought against that, she ran for it but now somehow she found comfit in it.
Maybe it was just being around FP.
She ran the business the best she could, thank god for internet connection. She had to leave and there was a dull ache in her stomach that had nothing to do with Dalton and everything to do with leaving Riverdale.
Not that she would never admit that to anybody else, but to herself.
They weren't together, although the whispers around town said different. They weren't a couple or even sleeping together, she would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about it but they were both seeing less action then the kids in their lives and yet. She was content
It was amazing how simple life could be when you wanted it to be.
Grace sat at a counter with Fred as she watched, at the back of the diner a red haired girl giving FP a death glare as if she was throwing daggers with her eyes. She quietly watched the scene unfold.
Red hair and the air of arrogance, she had to be a Blossom.
It had to be the girl that Archie and the gang were telling her about. It wasn't until the situation excavated that Grace knew for sure. Once she belittled FP and there was no doubt in Grace's mind that she was Penelope's daughter.
"Pop's?" she asked quietly "Does that happen often?"
Both Pop's and Fred looked over, saw what she was talking about. None of them liked it but they were used to it, right or wrong. Pop's shook his head
"More often than not"
"Cheryl Blossom?" she asked looking out into the carpark
"Yep"
"Red convertible?"
"Yes"
"Hmmm" she said hopping off the stool and taking a step in the direction of the door, before she felt Fred take her elbow gently
"She is a child, remember and FP can take care of him"
"I know he can but she's old enough to know better"
"FP covered up.."
"Fred" she cut him off "FP would never have been involved, if neither of the Blossoms got him involved. If she has an issue with it, she can hate on her own father. He is the one that pulled the trigger after all"
"It's not that black and white"
"I'm not condoning what FP did, but he shouldn't have to live this way either"
They watched her walk out and disappear around the corner. Fred had hoped that all her years in New York and all the responsibilities that Grace now had, would have softened this side of her but it hadn't. Maybe it was just being back in Riverdale that got his little sister in touch with her juvenile delinquent side
Still he kept an eye out. She may have been a delinquent, but she was still his sister.
Cheryl got up out of the booth and pony walked out of the diner. Fred looked outside nervously before texting his sister as FP joined them
"What's with the face?"
"My sisters gone back to high school"
FP looked at Pop's for clarification but got a mischievous grin in return. Maybe he didn't want to know, on second thought.
They heard high heeled booth click from out the back, near the kitchen before Grace walked into the dining area. She appeared behind the counter and leaned on the countertop next to FP.
"Please don't tell me that you keyed her car" Fred pleaded
"Boys please, I have more style than that" she laughed "I disabled the motors on her soft-top. She's going to have a very interesting ride home, when that storm hits"
As if on cue, the sky started to rumble and her smile reached her cheeks and her eyes started to sparkle. FP didn't have to ask her why she had done it. The reason was pretty clear.
"You didn't have to do that"
"Just doing my part to fight the forces of evil in Riverdale"
This was only phase one, if Cheryl kept going the way, she was going.
A messed up car would be the least of her worries. Grace knew things wouldn't change and she already had a plan in her mind but she need to do it when she went back to New York.
She needed to call in a few favours. She was going to hit Cheryl where it would hurt her the most.
#
They drove across town. She was still kind of ticked off that nobody would let her drive. She thought she was going to get away with it when FP asked her if she had taken her pain meds. She actually had that morning but it was a trap. Grace wasn't allowed to drive on medication that strong. Clearly Grace was never going to learn that.
"You know I'll have to drive the car back to New York"
"Why?"
"It's not mine"
"It's his?"
"Correct. Maybe I should drive it into a ditch before I get there"
"You're very vindictive today. I like it"
"No, I'm just tired of mean people. It's not that difficult to be nice. If they tried it, they may even like it. Just give it a chance"
"You told Fred yet?" There was a sudden silence that told him everything he needed to know "Gracie!"
"I'll tell him tonight"
"When are you going?"
"Tomorrow morning"
"Grace!"
"What?" she whined "What good would it do? He's only going to worry and now it's less time for either of you to worry"
"Well, you've thought of everything haven't you?"
"Always try too"
He didn't say anything for a little while.
Trying not to bring it up. The guy. The New York guy. The guy that FP didn't like thinking about because of all the thoughts that followed. He didn't want to bring it up, just in case they fought. He didn't want to fight with her, especially now but he couldn't help it
"Just don't fall into his line, okay?"
"What line?"
"Preppy guy. Dalton"
"You really think I would go back after all this?"
"Babe, anything is possible and he won you over once"
"That's not going to happen again, FP"
"Promise me?"
She looked over the cabin of the truck and looked at him softly, sweetly
"You have nothing to worry about"
FP wished that was true but his instincts were going off and the thought of her being so far away made her uneasy.
She wasn't a woman who could be caged. Grace had spent her whole life proving that. She was somewhere in between a wild cat and a bulldozer. He didn't dare ask her to stay. He was wasting his breath and wanted to keep his dignity
"Just check in with someone. So we know you're ok?"
"Of course"
"Although I don't know what I'll do without my protector"
"Your protector?" She laughed "I don't know how good I'd be when it got down to it. I might be able to take them out at the knees"
"Nothing wrong with little and fierce"
"Hey, if anyone threatens me or mine. Expect a fight. Even if it is a sixteen year girl. She's lucky that she still has use of her legs"
"And I wronged her family, so I guess"
"No. No. There is dealing with it and then there is prolonged torture. We all live in the same town. She could show a little decorum"
"You're New York is showing"
"Hey" she laughed "Takes more than a car ride to see my New York, Mister"
"I have no doubt"
He chuckled, knowing that she was hard work but utterly worth it. FP kind of wanted to be there when she told Fred, just to see the reaction. He doubted that it do be any different than his own. As much as they knew she was more than capable of taking care of herself. Heading off to face something like this, that was difficult for him but he just had to do it.
#
FP sat at the Andrews dinner table both families together for one last supper. If he was honest, he was actually looking forward to finding out the way Grace was going to tell them all. Dinner was basically over and she still hadn't said a word yet. Surprisingly, for a New York girl that hadn't cook a single meal in seven years, she was a damn good cook. She was struggling with telling them, she was struggling with not knowing what the reaction was going to be.
He found her hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze, before she looked over at him. FP nodded his head and smiled before she looked down at her plate again.
"Um, so I am driving back to New York tomorrow morning" she said as quickly as possible before standing up from the table "Who wants pie?"
Grace only took two steps away from the table before her big brother stopped her
"Wow. How about no"
"Fred, I don't have a choice and it will only be for a little while"
"Did you know about this?" Fred stared at FP
"I didn't know when, until she told me today"
"You're not well enough to drive and you can't with your meds"
"Then I won't take them. I'm barely in any pain anyhow"
"How is this a good plan?"
"It's not but it's the only one I have. I'll come straight back, if it makes you feel better"
"Jesus, Gracie"
"It will be fine" FP gave a soft but bitter chuckle before she stared at him and sighed "Listen, I know why you don't want me to go but I have to, so I can cut ties completely. We have to sell the apartment, get lawyers involved and we both have to be there for that. Okay?"
As much as they all hated it. She was right.
#
Gracie quietly shut the front door behind her, trying her hardest not to make a sound or wake anybody else up. It was four twenty in the morning and she really didn't want to make a big scene when she was only going to be back in a few days. She turned around to see him leaning against Dalton's car, smirking thinking he was king
"Ugh, seriously" she muttered to herself before walking over to him "Are you stalking me?"
"No, just know your sneaky as shit"
He moved enough for her to put her bag in the back seat and waited until she had closed the door. Although she felt his eyes on her the whole time. She stood up and placed her hands on her hips
"Stop worrying"
"Mmm-hmm"
"What's really bugging you?" she asked playing with the zipper of his jacket "It's only a few days"
"Yeah but few days rolling into a week and things start to pile up. I've already lost you to that city once, Grace. I don't want it to be a decade before I see you again"
She pulled him closer by the opening of his jacket
"That's not going to happen. I already have the lawyers working on things, okay? I'll walk in there, have a chat, and sign some papers. Pack up my stuff, put it in storage. Have a few meeting and fly back to you"
"Promise me"
"I swear"
"No matter what he says, baby. Please, just" he stopped talking and steadied himself "He won't change"
"I know that"
"He may seem like it was a one-time thing" he stopped talking again before she was holding in laughter "Grace, I'm serious"
"I know it's cute"
"I'm not trying to be cute"
"Listen, you will be the first person I go and see when I get back here, okay?" Defeated he lent against the car again, only to wrap his arms around her waist and bring Grace with him. "The city is not going to swallow me whole"
She knew that a part of him didn't believe her but she had to say it anyhow. They stared at each other for the longest time, without saying a single word. Eventually he reluctantly let go of her and opened the driver side door
There wasn't much more they could say to one another.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for sticking with me. Thank you for all the new followers to this story. I promise I will try and update quickly.
xxL
