This chapter takes place another 2 weeks after the 'special night' scenario. Yes, they did a run-down of the plan for Wilma, but it went almost exactly the same as Betty's. The only differences were: 1.) Her favorite meal was different- salad rather than casserole... /
2.) Wilma got to have her way with Barney, much like Betty did with Fred.
3.) Fred and Barney didn't get a chance to be alone together, this time.
Finally, 4.) They danced to the music on the radio until they all got tired.
That summarizes the night with Wilma, and the rest of the time was the boring daily routine. Wake up, go to work, come home. The boys had less time to spend with each other, being busy with the kids since they got sick at daycare.
Hopefully that will change here.
We'll see.
-Skinttt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's a snippet of a visit from an old friend:
No POV:
Fred approaches his front door after arriving home from work.
The cold weather -and the shivers it brings him- only makes him more eager to be in the warmth of his own home.
He opens the door, steps inside, but as he proceeds towards the kitchen, an unfamiliar voice catches his ear.
"Who could be visiting today? -weather's terrible." Fred mentally questions.
As he crosses the threshold, more confusion sets in.
Hot Lips Hannigan, an old friend of Fred's, is standing in the middle of his kitchen. They had a band together, that's how he earned his nickname- being a very talented musician.
-But that doesn't come close to answering his question. His voice has changed too, making it even more confusing.
...
"Hannigan!??" Fred asks, with a gasp
" 'Ol Freddie! How's things?" He plays it off like nothing's out of the ordinary
...
"Eh... I don't mean to be impolite but- ...why exactly are you in my house?"
"This is YOUR house? I was just here hangin' out with a lovely lady... Name's Wilma- she your sister or somethin' ?"
Fred starts to get irritated, thinking that Hannigan has to be joking- because he'd introduced Wilma to him when they met up last.
"Sister? I think you've finally lost your marbles, Mac."
...
Fred begins heating up with annoyance and slight anger.
"You feelin' alright? You look a little red. Here, I'll feel your forehead, c'mere." He raises his arm, attempting to touch Fred's face.
Hannigan is startled as Fred smacks his hand away, keeping a tight grip on him by the wrist.
"You know damn well who Wilma is- and if you dare lay hands on my wife..."
Fred screams right in Hannigan's face, no longer feeling quite so keen towards his old friend.
"I did nothing with the woman- just had a nice talk, is all." He tries the smooth-talk routine, but the nervous look on his face makes his lie as clear as clean glass.
Choosing to say nothing, Fred simply slings Mr. Hot Lips (a pretty big boy) over his shoulder, carries him out the front door, then drops him right into the trash can at the curb.
"THAT'S what you are, and where you belong."
...
"-and don't come back."
"...or you'll have to try singin' with no teeth. Bastard."
Fred spits before turning around and heading back into the house.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wilma had overheard the whole conversation from the hallway. As Fred walks back into the house, her nerves already begin to sting- fearing the questions she already knows she'll be asked.
Thinking up a lie is not easy at moments notice- especially while being a mess of nerves.
She catches herself twirling her hair- force of habit from being worried. Fixing it back into her bun while Fred approaches the kitchen.
"Wilma!" He calls out, in a raised voice, though, not an angry one.
"U-uh... yes- F-Fred?" Wilma sputters as their gazes meet
...
"I introduced you to Hannigan when we saw him at the bar, right?" Fred asks, trying to figure out if he remembers correctly.
"Yes, dear." She replies, "That's why he reached out to me. A real sleaze-ball but a nice man if you try and see through it."
...
Fred raises his left eyebrow while continuing to examine Wilma's facial expression.
"You two been hitting it off?" He tries to sound innocent in questioning her
"W-well..."
"Spit it out, Wilma!" Fred slowly begins to appear saddened.
"Yes." She starts to look guilty
"...and, truth is, this wasn't his first visit."
"-oh." Fred's response is mediocre, he begins to slump.
All these secrets lately... they've been making him feel almost as he can't trust his wife, anymore.
He's aware he also had an affair- but with his already-close best friend, a man, who was quick to open up honestly about it. Wilma said she was okay with it, Fred remembers vividly.
It was then that she confessed to have been in semi-romantic relations with her best friend- which is Barney's wife- and he was okay with it for that reason.
Mutual.
But, Hannigan? That's a whole different ballgame. A smooth talker like him... Fred worries that Wilma might turn her back for good after being swept off her feet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As he turns to walk out the door, he's quickly startled as Wilma calls out after him
"Please, Fred. Don't be mad!"
He keeps walking, replying just before shutting front door behind him, "I need some time to think... we'll talk about this later."
-Then, the door dramatically closes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With nowhere else to go, Fred begins walking towards the Rubbles' house.
Seeing the car and the garage door open, he knows that someone is home, whether it be Betty or Barney... or both for that matter.
He knocks, gently, on their door. Barney opens the door with a "Hey Fred!"
Although his demeanor changes when he sees the tired look on Fred's face.
"What's going on, pal?" He sincerely asks, concerned.
"Some issues at home."
...
"Figured I'd come talk to you- you're good at helping me feel better." Fred answers honestly, lacking the energy for any charade- or the energy to explain the whole thing right now.
Barney steps aside and gestures for him to come in
"You can stay here with us... and when you're ready to talk about it, I'm ready to listen." He gives a warm smile.
Fred's POV:
Damn it- now I'm feeling even more lucky to have Barney. Why's he so nice? I wouldn't stick my foot out for some people like he does... since I have nowhere near as much patience he has.
But he's mine. All because he's so forgiving.
Now I'm acting weird. I don't usually talk people up- but I'm doing it now.
"Thank you, Barney." is all I'm able to think of saying. That, and "I frickin' love you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We make our way towards the couch and sit down together.
No POV:
Fred has a distressed look on his face, Barney immediately takes notice
He scoots close to him and rests his head on his shoulder
"Y'know, Fred... I've been falling apart these past few days. Missing you that much." Barney admits, giving his best effort to comfort Fred.
The best way of doing so is by being totally honest, so that's his go-to way of helping him. It helps him get things off his chest at the same time, giving Fred a chance to hear how he really feels.
"I've missed you too." He takes Barney's hand in his own, fighting the fear that the rest of the statement might sound strange- but he goes for it anyways. "Truth is, I missed holding onto you. Ever since the kids got sick, I've not been able to see you as much."
...
"I know... Bamm-Bamm is getting better everyday, on top of worrying about him, I couldn't stop thinking about you 24/7." He says, shamelessly and then asks "-How's Pebbles doin' ?"
"She's back to her usual, sunny self. She brought me flowers from Wilma's garden this morning- Wilma was sort of annoyed but she can't stay mad at Pebbly-Poo. "
...
"He-he, that's cute" Barney giggles
"She really loves you."
"Yeah, she's a sweetheart."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Then again, maybe she got that way, learning from her 'Uncle Barney.' -'Cause you're a real sweetheart too. Always have been."
...
"You're the best." He smiles at Fred, followed by a squeeze of his hand- as their fingers remain interlocked.
...
After they spend a few moments in silence, snuggled up together in front of the TV, Betty enters the room.
"Awww- I see Fred finally got to come over." She says to Barney
"Yeppers" is all he says, not wanting to bring up the 'why.'
They continue to sit there on the couch, enjoying each other's company despite not saying much. Though, Fred begins to feel somewhat better after a while. Barney happily clings onto him, trying his best to help.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How will it end? Hannigan being a turncoat,Wilma having an affair? -should Fred forgive? -or leave? -what about Pebbles?